[ PROCEDURAL  ] [00:01:21] THE TIME IS NOW 9:06 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2025, AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. >> GAVITO:. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. >> MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA TO INTRODUCE THE INVOCATEUR. >> I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE BENITA HOLGUIN WHO IS A PASTOR AT LIFE CHURCH CAMPUS WHERE SHE HAS SERVED OVER SEVEN YEARS. ATHANK YOU, PASTOR, FOR JOINING US TODAY. >> GOOD MORNING. LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL MORNING, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TODAY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, GOD. THANK YOU FOR OUR LEADERS AND THANK YOU FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE, LORD, IT IS, TO BE A CITIZEN OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR PROTECTION AND YOUR WISDOM IN ALL BUSINESS THAT IS CONDUCTED TODAY. MAY YOU ALWAYS BLESS, GUIDE, AND PROTECT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MANIPULATE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 13TH, 14TH, 19TH, 20TH AND 21ST, 2025. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR EDITS TO THE MINUTES? IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WE WOULD LIKE A VERBAL, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES. TODAY WE TAKE A MOMENT TO [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] RECOGNIZE TWO IMPORTANT MILITARY OBSERVANCES, VETERANS' DAY AND OF COURSE THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS. A COUPLE OF DEVIL DOGS HERE. ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, WE CELEBRATE 250 YEARS OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. FROM THEIR FOUNDING IN 1775, MARINES HAVE SERVED WITH UNMATCHED HONOR AND COURAGE, EARNING THEIR PLACE AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ELITE FIGHTING FORCES. SINCE PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S AUTHORIZATION OF THE MEDAL [00:05:03] OF HONOR IN 1861, A TESTAMENT TO BRAVERY. HERE IN MILITARY CITY USA, MARINES HAVE A PROUD PRESENCE FROM THE FOURTH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION AND MARINE INSTRUCTORS AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO TO RECRUITERS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND MORE THAN 300 CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MARINES, RESERVISTISTS OR MARINE FAMILY MEMBERS. TO ALL MARINES PAST, PRESENT, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND SEMPER FI. WE ALSO HONOR VETERANS' DAY THAT WAS STARTED FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I, THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH. IT BECAME VETERANS' DAY THANKS TO RAYMOND WEEKS AND PRESIDENT ICE ENHOW WE ARE TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED OUR NATION. THEY REPRESENT LESS THAN ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE WORN OUR NATION'S CLOTH. HERE IN MILITARY CITY U.S., WE ARE HOME TO 100,000 REVERED VETERANS AND RETIREE AND CLOSE TO 1,000 WHO HAVE SERVED. FOR THOSE, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE, YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR CONSTITUTION, WHICH I KNOW CONTINUES TO THIS DAY AND OF COURSE YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR COUNTRY. GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS, OUR MILITARY AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND NOW WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CAKE. >> THE CAKE WILL ALL BE BROUGHT FORWARD. WOULD ALL VETERANS COME LINE UP BEHIND MAYOR JONES AND MAJOR GENERAL AELLA. [SINGING]. >> TRADITIONALLY REGARDLESS OF LOCATION SERVICE MEMBERS WILL HONOR THEIR SERVICE AS SHARING A CAKE. SERVICE MEMBERS ARE A BAND OF WARRIORS, COMMITTED TO CARRYING THE SWORD, SO THAT OUR NATION MAY LIVE IN PEACE. TODAY WE HONOR NOT ONLY THE PROUD HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, BUT ALSO THE MARINES WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DUTY, HONOR AND COUNTRY AS WE CELEBRATE 250 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE, LET US REMEMBER THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO STAND WATCH AROUND THE WORLD TODAY. ON BEHALF OF MILITARY USA, HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. SEMPER FI. [APPLAUSE]. >> WHAT YEAR WERE YOU BORN, SIR? >> 1952. >> ANYBODY OLDER THAN 1952? OLDEST MAR REAP MARINE PRESENT. [APPLAUSE]. >> THIS IS MASTER GUN SALAZAR. >> WHO IS THE YOUNGEST MARINE? WHEN WERE YOU BORN? >> 2026. >> WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> VICE CORPORAL HENDRIX. >> HE'S THE YOUNGEST ONE. YOU CAN SHAKE HIS HAND, YOU [00:10:01] CAN BURP HIM, WHATEVER YOU WANT. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: MAY WE BE REMINDED, MANY MARINES ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE DOING THE NATION'S WORK DURING THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN OUR GOVERNMENT'S HISTORY. TODAY WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. I'M PROUD TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT WILL BE DEDICATING THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH 7TH, 2025 AS MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE VITAL ROLES AND SERVICES OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS THAT FAIRLY ADMINISTER JUSTICE AND BALANCE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE WELL-BEING OF TEXAS COMMUNITIES AND DETERRING FUTURE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. AND WHEREAS THE MUNICIPAL COURT OPERATES AS THE JUDICIAL BRANCH FOR THE CITY, SERVING AS THE COURT OF RECORD AND AS THE PRIMARY INTERFACE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM. AMONG ALL COURTS IT IS THE ONE THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ENGAGE WITH THE MOST. THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL SIGNIFICANTLY SHAPES THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE TEXAS JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. AND WHEREAS AN OBSERVANCE OF MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEKS, WE SALUTE THE JUDGES AND COURT SUPPORT PERSONNEL, INCLUDING CLERKS, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, PROSECUTORS,& JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS, BAILIFFS AND WARRANT OFFICERS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WORK TIRE HOMELESSLY TO ENHANCE COURT OPERATIONS WHILE UPHOLDING JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS AS THE BEDROCK OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ, JONES, MAYOR OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, DO RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 3 THROUGH 7, 2025 TO BE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. JUDGE AN LET TA IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, ALSO FOR HAVING US HERE THIS MORNING AND ACKNOWLEDGING MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. ESTABLISHED BY THE 86TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE THROUGH HOUSE RESOLUTION 1658, MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK IS DEDICATED TO HONORING THE VITAL ROLE THAT MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAY IN MAINTAINING SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CITIES. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ACROSS THE STATE THERE ARE MORE THAN 900 MUNICIPAL COURTS AND OVER 1300 MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES. TOGETHER THEY MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF ALL JUDGES IN TEXAS. MUNICIPAL COURTS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PRESERVING PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS. FOR MANY RESIDENTS IT IS OFTEN AND SOMETIMES THEIR ONLY INTERACTION THEY WILL HAVE WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHETHER AS A DEFENDANT, A WITNESS OR A JUROR. IN FACT, MORE TEXANS COME INTO CONTACT WITH MUNICIPAL COURTS THAN ALL OTHER TEXAS COURTS COMBINED. IN LIGHT OF THIS, OUR COURT TEAM IS DEDICATED TO OPERATING AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE COURT THAT RESPECTS THE PUBLIC'S TIME, PROMOTES THE HIGHER STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, UPHOLDS THE INTEGRITY OF THE COURT AND BUILDS PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE. IN CELEBRATION OF MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK, OUR COURT WAS HONORED TO WELCOME MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS FROM LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE STUDENT VISITORS PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF ENGAGING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING MOCK TRIALS, INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND INSPIRING GUEST PRESENTATIONS. A HIGHLIGHT OF THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAFE CITY PROJECT, A HANDS ON EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AWARENESS AMONG ADULTS, TEENS AND CHILDREN. WHY CREATED BY COURT STAFF, THE SAFE CITY PROJECT TEACHES IMPORTANT LESSONS ABOUT TRAFFIC SAFETY, RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING AND REAL WORLD CONSEQUENCES OF IMPAIRED OR DISTRACTED DRIVING. AS WE CELEBRATE MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO FRED GARCIA, OUR MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK, OUR JUDGES AND OUR [00:15:04] INCREDIBLE COURT TEAM WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH DEDICATION AND INTEGRITY EACH DAY. THEIR COMMITMENT ENSURES THAT JUSTICE IS ADMINISTERED FAIRLY, EFFICIENTLY AND WITH COMPASSION, HELPING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A SAFER AND STRONGER PLACE FOR EVERYBODY. THEY ARE WHAT MAKE THE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT THE BEST COURT IN TEXAS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, JUDGE. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK FROM THE DAIS? COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND HAPPY MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO SEE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE MUNICIPAL COURTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OF COURSE THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES, BUT ALONG THAT INJURY ANY WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOU ALL AND SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITIES AND OUR DELEGATE OWING PROCESS CONVERSATION, A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SEEK TO ADDRESS YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON AS WELL. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF COLLABORATION AND CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR NEXT MUNICIPAL COURT MEETING. >> THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION, YOU ALL ARE THE COURT THAT SAN ANTONIANS INTERFACE WITH THE MOST. AND I'M GRATEFUL WHETHER YOU'RE A JUDGE OR WORKING AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, THE INTERACTION IS ONE OF FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE IN ENSURING THAT SAN ANTONIO ITS RESIDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. I WILL NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE JUVENILE TRUANCY COURT AND THE WORK THAT THE TEAM IS DOING THERE IN TERMS OF CONNECTING SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY MAY NEED. WE KNOW THAT TRUANCY CAN LEAD TO OTHER ISSUES FOR OUR YOUTH AND CATCHING THEM THERE AT MUNICIPAL COURT AND CONNECTING NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL, THE JUVENILE, BUT THE FAMILY TO RESOURCES, NOT ONLY HELPS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF OUR KIDS, BUT ULTIMATELY THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EACH FAMILY AND ULTIMATELY ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT I THANK YOU ALL AND WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT VERY IMPACTFUL WORK THAT YOU DID AT MUNICIPAL COURT. THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. OF COURSE Y'ALL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A TOUR WITH YOU ALL RECENTLY. WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT EVERYBODY THERE JUST WANTS TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME IN. NO ONE IS HERE TO PUNISH SOMEBODY. AND I THINK ALL THE RESOURCES YOU OFFER AND SECOND CHANCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO DO BETTER IS REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR TRUANCY AND OUR YOUNG KIDS. THAT'S WHERE SO MUCH OF IT BEGINS AND SO MUCH OF IT STARTS. I KNOW YOU DO A LOT OF OUTREACH. YOU WERE AT MY BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT OVER THE SUMMER. I THINK YOU WILL BE AT MY FALL FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY JUST DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S GOING ON. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. CONGRATS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: HAPPY MUNICIPAL COURTS WEEK. I ALSO TOO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE LEADERSHIP OF JUDGE ABLETA AND FRED. Y'ALL DO SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB. YOU ALL WERE SUCH GREAT PARTNERS OF OURS FOR THE LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS AND REALLY TACKLING THAT ISSUE THAT SO MANY RESIDENTS FACE ON A DAILY BASIS. AND IT'S BEEN REWARDING TO HEAR FEEDBACK BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING, HEY, I GOT THAT TICKET, I DIDN'T WANT THAT TICKET. I'M LIKE DON'T LET YOUR DOGS OUT, YOU KNOW. OR HEY, Y'ALL FINALLY HAVE MY NEIGHBOR KEEPING THEIR DOG IN. SO IT'S LITTLE CHANGES LIKE THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH YOU ALL ON. I KNOW THAT WE'LL -- WE HAVE SOME OTHER ISSUES TO WORK ON AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TACKLING THOSE ON THE MUNICIPAL COURTS COMMITTEE. I JUST WANTED TO APPLAUD Y'ALL FOR BEING SUCH GREAT PARTNERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: JUDGE, IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU AT THE RED MASS AND ARCHBISHOP HAD A OFFLINE THERE IN CHISHOLMLY THAT SAID LOVE MAKES THE LAW PERFECT. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'VE HEARD IN THE COMMENTS IS THERE IS THE LAW, BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY THE WAY THAT YOU ADMINISTER IT TO ENSURE WE ARE IN FACT ACHIEVING THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN LINE WITH THE LAW, BUT ALSO REFLECTIVE OF THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I COMMEND YOU FOR THE WAY YOU LEAD YOUR TEAM TO DO JUST THAT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, ALL. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. TODAY WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING SAN ANTONIO RECYCLES DAY. LESLIE OSBOURNE WITH MONTERREY RECYCLING IS HERE WITH US AND SHE HAS SEVERAL YOUNG FOLKS FROM SAISD AS WELL. I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM A [00:20:05] MINUTE TO MAKE THEIR WAY UP HERE. RECYCLING IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M GLAD THAT SO MANY YOUNG FOLKS COULD BE HERE TODAY AND I'M PROUD TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT RECYCLING CONSERVES VALUABLE RESOURCES, REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF MATERIALS SENT TO LANDFILLS, CONTRIBUTES TO A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT METAL SUCH AS STEEL, ALUMINUM, COPPER AND BRASS AND OTHER THINGS SUCH AS PAPER, PLASTICS AND OTHER RECYCLABLE ITEMS CAN BE RETURNED TO USE, STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND REDUCING THE NEED FOR NEW RAW MATERIALS. AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN RECYCLING INITIATIVES ON DECEMBER 8TH BY FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT CAN BE REUSED RATHER THAN DISCARDED. WHEREAS LOCAL SAN ANTONIO ORGANIZATIONS HAVE JOINED IN CALLING FOR A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT TO EXPAND RECYCLING PRACTICE AND INCREASE THE BENEFITS OF RECYCLING, NOW THEREFORE I, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 8, 2025, TO BE SAN ANTONIO RECYCLES DAY. LESLIE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING. I'M JORDAN BERXLER, A FOURTH GENERATION FAMILY OWNED COMPANY THAT'S BEEN SERVING SAN ANTONIO'S RECYCLING NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM, SOME OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR PROCLAIMING NOVEMBER 8, SAN ANTONIO RECYCLES DAY. THIS IS A MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION AND IMPORTANT REMINDER OF HOW EVERY ONE OF US PLAYS A ROLE IN PROTECTING OUR CITY AND OUR PLANET. OUR GOAL TODAY IS SIMPLE, SO REMIND EVERYONE THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE USE EVERYDAY CAN LIVE ON THROUGH RECYCLING. METAL IN PARTICULAR, A FINITE RESOURCE, THE MORE WE CAN CAPTURE, RECYCLE AND TURN INTO NEW PRODUCTS, THE BETTER WE ARE. LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU'RE CARRYING AROUND A SODA CAN, WHERE DO YOU PUT IT? IF YOU SAY YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN THE RECYCLING BIN, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AND THAT CAN WILL BE ON THE SHELF AS A NEW CAN IN 60 DAYS. IF TOSSING IT IN THE TRASHCAN IS WHAT TO MIND, WE HOPE THAT TODAY HAS YOU RETHINK THAT CHOICE. WE'RE JOINED TODAY FROM STUDENTS FROM SAISD WHO GET IT. THESE MADISON ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE PART OF THE RECYCLING CLUB AND THEY ARE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF RECYCLING HEROES. AS WE KNOW, OUR STUDENTS TAKE THE MESSAGE HOME AND PRACTICES IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS EXTEND TO THE REST OF OUR LIFE. LAST YEAR THEIR CLUB, ALONG WITH 29 OTHER SAISD RECYCLING CLUBS COLLECTED MORE THAN 800,000 POUNDS OF RECYCLABLE METAL. THAT'S A LOT. THAT'S LIKE 20 TRACTOR TRAILERS' WORTH OF RECYCLABLE METAL, PLASTIC AND PAPER DURING RECYCLING DRIVE. THAT'S 800,000 POUNDS OF RECYCLABLE MATERIAL THAT DIDN'T GO TO OUR LANDFILL. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF OUR CIRCULAR ECONOMY. THE PAPER YOU WRITE ON, THE SODA CAN YOU DRINK FROM, EVEN THE CAR YOU DRIVE IN AND THE BRIDGE YOU DRIVE OVER LIKELY WERE MADE TO SOME EXTENT WITH RECYCLABLED MATERIALS. WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL PARTICIPATE IN THE WE CAN CHALLENGE. RECYCLE TODAY, RECYCLE TOMORROW, MAKE IT A DAILY HABIT. THIS CELEBRATES HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND RECOGNIZES HOW WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. EACH OF US CAN DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFORT RECYCLING ONLY TAKES A SMALL SHIFT IN OUR DAILY HABITS BUT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR AND FOR HELPING MAKE SAN ANTONIO A CLEANER, GREENER CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME BY PROCLAIMING NOVEMBER 8, SAN ANTONIO RECYCLES DAY. AS A COMPANY THAT'S BEEN RECYCLING FOR MORE THAN A [00:25:01] CENTURY, BEFORE THE WORD RECYCLING EVEN EXISTED, WE CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND ANY METAL SAVED FROM THE LANDFILL EQUALS LESS CARBON, LESS SOLUTION IN OUR AIR AND MORE WATER IN OUR LAKES AND STREAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, JORDAN. >> AND CONGRATULATIONS, KIDS. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, JORDAN. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MONTERREY METALS FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU TO THE KIDS. THANK YOU TO ALL THE MADISON STUDENTS. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MANY LESSONS THAT YOU'RE LEARNING RIGHT NOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TEACH AND THAT YOU ARE TEACHING ADULTS MUCH OLDER THAN YOU. AND WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN WHEN IT COMES TO PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY, PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTING OUR PLANET FOR SO MANY MORE YEARS TO COME. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT DO YOU AND I HOPE THAT THESE BE HABITS THAT YOU BUILD AND CONTINUE TO USE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: GOOD MORNING TO THE KIDS. MONTERREY METAL IS HOUSED IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M PROUD TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT CITY COUNCIL DO ON THIS DAIS, IT'S WITH YOU ALL IN MIND, RIGHT, TO THE KIDS THAT ATTEND MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND EVERY OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND WHEN WE GOVERN AND WE TALK ABOUT REGULATION AND HOW TO MAKE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SAFER, WE HAVE YOU IN MIND BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU WILL GROW UP WITH HEALTHY AND STRONG LUNGS, AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING UP HERE ON THIS DAIS. SO JUST KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, CONTINUE TO RECYCLE AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL BE UP HERE ONE DAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO YOU AND ALSO MADISON ELEMENTARY IS IN DISTRICT 7 AND I KNOW WE HAVE WORKED, MY OFFICE HAS WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 7 TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING. IT'S SO NICE THAT IT'S ALL COMING TO LIFE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO AND HOW YOU ALL CAN HELP TEACH YOUR FAMILIES THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE A BIG VOICE AND Y'ALL ARE OUR FUTURE. SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING YOUR PART. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN HAS ASKED FOR THE KIDS TO SAY THEIR NAMES, PLEASE. IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND PLEASE DO THAT. >> EDGAR MARTINEZ. >> DIEGO. >> AARON. >> ALEX. >> DAMIAN. >> MARIA. >> NADIA. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> ARIANNA. >> KIMBERLY. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND PLEASE CONTINUE IN PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PRIVILEGE. AND I WILL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. SO AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, THIS SUMMER PUBLIC BROADCASTING TOOK A BIG HIT FROM FEDERAL FUNDING, AND TODAY WE HAVE LEADERS FROM KLRN AND KPR HERE, SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE HAVE ARTHUR, THE LEADER AT KLRN AND ASHLEY AND SOME OTHER TEAM LEADERS FROM KLRN AND TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO. MANY OF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING, BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED IN 1967 BY PRESIDENT LYNDON B JOHNSON AT THAT TIME. AND IT WAS CRITICAL TO OUR ABILITY TO HEAR AND LEARN IN A FACTUALLY CORRECT WAY, PROVIDING A LOT OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO LEARN. SO WE WANTED TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF BOTH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS. SO KLRN IS THE PBS AFFILIATE STATION. IT'S FAITHFULLY SERVED THE [00:30:03] COMMUNITY FOR OVER 62 YEARS BY BROADCASTING AND PRODUCING AWARD WINNING PROGRAMS, DOCUMENTARIES AND LOCAL FEATURES THAT HIGHLIGHT SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY, GASTRON MY, CULTURE AND CURRENT EGENTS. IN 1982 TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO JOINED OUR COMMUNITY. PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE CLASSICAL MUSIC THROUGH KPAC AND IN EXPANDING TO KATXS IN 1988 AND HAS CONTINUED TO ENSURE THAT NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE IN THE CENTRAL SOUTH TEXAS AREA. AND MOST PROUDLY I THINK IS THEIR SPANISH PROGRAMMING THAT THEY'VE REALLY STARTED TO ENHANCE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND WE NOW, ASHLEY, I WAS A PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER, DISCLAIMER, OF TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE ASHLEY COME IN AND IT TAKEN ON THE NEW ROLE AFTER THE PASSING OF OUR PREVIOUS CEO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. TODAY WE HONOR BOTH OF YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR YOUR UNPARALLELED COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND ELEVATING THE PROFILE OF OUR REGION AT A STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. I'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT IN WHAT HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING. WE HAVE FELT INCREDIBLY SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, THANK YOU. ESTEEMED COUNCIL, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. WE LIVE AND WORK IN YOUR DISTRICT. KLRN BELONGS TO YOU. WE'RE THE ONLY LOCALLY OWNED TELEVISION STATION IN THE CITY. WE COVER 33 COUNTIES. I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE AIR WITH ONE OF OUR MANY PROGRAMS AND WE INVITE YOU TO COME VISIT US OFTEN. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. WE'RE VERY HUMBLED AND WE ASSURE YOU THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LONG TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM UP FOR EVERYBODY. I WANTED TO SHARE I REALLY APPRECIATE I WAS AT KLRN YESTERDAY, AT SOME POINT IN THE DAY. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND IT MAKES IT EASY WHEN YOU ARE SO CLOSE, BUT THE COMMUNITY EVENTS Y'ALL HOST, THE PUBLIC INFORMATIONS Y'ALL PROVIDE, THE OF COURSE COVERAGE ON MAJOR THINGS GOING ON NOT ONLY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT REGIONALLY TOO THAT ARE MISSED IN OTHER OUTLETS, I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW INCREDIBLE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANT PART YOU PLAYED IN MY LIFE GROWING UP AS WELL AS MY FAMILIES' LIVES GROWING UP, WHETHER CHECKING ON NEW RECIPES, WHETHER MY COUSINS AND I WATCHING DIFFERENT SHOWS AND PROGRAMMING AS KIDS GROWING UP, OR THE HISTORY THAT I ALWAYS TRY TO FOLLOW AND WHENEVER I HAVE A CHANCE, ALWAYS WILL BE A HISTORY NERD ALL THE WAY THROUGH. AND Y'ALL ALWAYS PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES AS WELL AS PODCASTS WHEN I'M DRIVING FROM 151 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CITY HALL. IT'S A GREAT TIME TO SPEND WHILE STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON 90. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO AND WE'LL CONTINUE SUPPORTING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. WHETHER IT'S -- >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. I RAN INTO DAVID MARTIN DAVEEES AT THE LAKE. I WAS AT THE KLRN STATION A WEEK OR TWO AGO, LIKE COUNCILMAN GALVAN, THE WEEKS RUN TOGETHER. IT WAS FUN TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY. I KNOW YOU KNEW MY FATHER AND THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE. Y'ALL PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SAN ANTONIO'S STORY AND THAT CONNECTION POINT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU FOR THIS, COUNCIL MEMBER. I WANT TO SUPPORT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. MY MORNINGS SINCE I WAS A KID HAVE STARTED WITH NPR, AND KXTN, IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS THAT. MY DAUGHTER'S FIRST CRUSH WAS DANIEL TIGER. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE IMPORTANT TO ME. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PERFORMANCE, KLRN KIDS DAY THAT WE HAD OVER AT THE [00:35:02] MISSION. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. I WANT TO COMMUNICATE MY COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION, PUBLIC RADIO AND HOW WE CAN HELP IN THE FUTURE AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TIMES. SO HUGE FAN OF MASTERPIECE THEATER AND MYSTERY AND VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PROGRAMMING, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING ON HOW WE NAVIGATE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR BRINGING THIS UP. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE EVENTS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR FOR RAISING THIS. I WANT TO REITERATE THE THANKS TO KLRN AND TPR. FOND MEMORIES AT THE TELETHON RAISING MONEY WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND BUCK, CALVIN, WHO I KNOW YOU KNOW, THE ONLY VOLUNTEER CAMERAMAN, IS A DEAR, DEAR FAMILY FRIEND. OUR DEMOCRACY REQUIRES AND INFORMED PUBLIC. IT ALSO REQUIRES A FREE PRESS. AND IT'S NICE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN AT LEAST COUNT ON KLRN AND TPR TO PROVIDE THE NEWS THAT IS UNBIASED, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE ATTACKS AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF OUR GOVERNMENT ON THOSE TWO FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY INFORMED. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HAS A POINT OF PRIVILEGE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS MORNING IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE A VERY SPECIAL DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT. SAUL, HERNANDEZ, IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE DAIS. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT 5 MY IMMIGRANT PARENTS WHOSE WORK POWERFULLY CAPTURES THEMES OF IDENTITY, CULTURE AND RESILIENCE ROOTED IN HIS LIVED EXPERIENCES. RECENTLY HE RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION BY WINNING A LITERARY AWARD FOR HIS POETRY COLLECTION, HOW TO KILL A GOAT AND OTHER MONSTERS, PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON PRESS. AND HE IS ALSO THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2025 NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS FELLOWSHIP. THE AWARD HONORS EXCELLENCE IN THE LBGTQ+ LEGITIMATE AND THIS ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS NOT ONLY HIS WHAT IT MEANS TO GROW UP ALONG THE BOARD HER TO AND SELF AND TO TRANSFORM THOSE EXPERIENCES INTO ART THAT RESONATES FAR BEYOND SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE DEEPLY PROUD TO HAVE SAUL AS PART OF THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM AND AS A VOICE REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY'S CREATIVITY AND HEART. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING HIM ON HIS OUTSTANDING LITERARY ACHIEVEMENT AND FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE DISTRICT 5 PROUD. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY AS A PROUD RESIDENT WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT 5 IT IS A HIGHLIGHT TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR FROM THE COUNCILWOMAN. WITH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ALSO BEING BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT 5 HERSELF AND SEEING ALL THE INCREDIBLE THINGS SHE HAS DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY, I'M INSPIRED TO INSPIRED TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING AS WELL NOT ONLY TO DISTRICT 5, BUT ALSO TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. REAL QUICK WILL I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE INCREDIBLE AWARDS YOU'RE RECEIVING FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO. SOMETHING I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE IS EVER SINCE I MET YOU, YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY HUMBLE AND WHENEVER SOMEONE MENTIONED, DON'T FORGET HE'S A WRITER AND POET AND HE'S LIKE, NO, NO. AND IT'S ALWAYS INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU ARE WITH US THERE WITH THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES TO KNOW YOU NOT ONLY DO INCREDIBLE WORK BUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR ENTIRE CULTURE, THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE WORK YOU DO INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES. AGAIN, YOUR HUMBLENESS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS INCREDIBLE, BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO SHINE YOU OUT EVERYWHERE WE CAN, INCLUDING DISTRICT 5, 6 AND BEYOND. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ IS RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE TO A DISTRICT 8 STAPLE THROUGH THE METHODIST HEALTH CARE NETWORK. SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO LEAD SOUTH TEXAS IN ADVANCING WOMEN'S HEALTH AND MATERNAL CARE. THE RECENT INTEGRATION OF PERRY NATAL ASSOCIATES INTO SAN ANTONIO BUILDS ON THE MEDICAL CENTER'S LONG HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE, BRINGING TOGETHER OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERTISE IN HIGH [00:40:02] RISK PREGNANCY CARE TO SERVE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR CITY. THIS EXPANSION REPRESENTS MORE THAN AN INSTITUTIONAL MILESTONE. IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH TEXAS. BY STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUTPATIENT SPECIALISTS AND THE ADVANCED INPATIENT SERVICES AT METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, INCLUDING THE REGION'S ONLY DEDICATED OBSTETRIC CRITICAL CARE PROGRAM AND LEVEL 4 NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, OUR MEDICAL CENTER CONTINUES TO SET THE STANDARD FOR COMPREHENSIVE, COMPASSIONATE CARE. SAN ANTONIO'S GROWING POPULATION DESERVES ACCESS TO HIGHEST QUALITY MATERNAL CARE CLOSE TO HOME. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR MEDICAL CENTER IS NOT ONLY A HUB OF INNOVATION AND MEDICAL EXCELLENCE, BUT ALSO A PLACE WHERE WOMEN'S HEALTH IS PRIORITIZED, STRENGTHENED AND SUSTAINED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY -- THIS IS A GREAT GROUP OF WOMEN. DR. REBECCA WATSON OUR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICE. OUR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, JUAN VALDEZ, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND RACHEL GOLDSMITH, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. IF RAVE HE WILL CAN COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE SO PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE. ON BEHALF OF METHODIST HEALTH CARE AND METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WE TAKE THIS AS AN IMPORTANT PRIVILEGE THAT WE GET TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. SO WE ARE THE LARGEST HOSPITAL THAT TAKES CARE OF BABIES AND MOMS AND CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH WELCOMING NEARLY 20,000 BABIES EVERY YEAR TO SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO OFFER THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A LEVEL 4 MATERNAL CENTER WITH ALL OF THE SUBSPECIALTIES TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST COMPLEX AS THEY DELIVER, BUT ALSO BABIES, WE ARE THE LEVEL 4 NICU, NEONATAL UNIT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT WE WANT TO BUILD UPON. ON THIS MILESTONE OF ALIGNING WITH EIGHT PROVIDERS, MATERNAL, FETAL MEDICINE PROVIDERS WHO ARE SPECIALISTS IN A VERY COMPLEX AREA WHERE THERE ARE ONLY A THOUSAND OF THESE PROVIDERS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, WE WERE ABLE TO JUST BRING EIGHT ON TO HELP OUR MOMS TO HAVE SAFE DELIVERIES HERE AT OUR HOSPITAL. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE ACQUISITION OF PERINATAL ASSOCIATES. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE WORK AT METHODIST HOSPITAL AND WOMEN'S SERVICES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US TIME TODAY TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. YOU DELIVERED TWO OF MY GIRLS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO FOR SO MANY BABIES AND SO MANY WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO JUAN VALDEZ, D7 RESIDENT, MY FAVORITE. Y'ALL HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM. SOUNDS LIKE A POWER HOUSE TEAM. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WITH CHANGES IN THE LANDSCAPE AFFECTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, WE KNOW IT'S A VERY -- YOUR WORK IS MORE CHALLENGING. I THINK WE'RE ALSO COGNIZANT HERE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT SUFFICIENT TALENT INTO OUR COMMUNITY TO DO THIS WORK. VERY CONCERNING. I THINK I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CHANGES IN LANDSCAPE HAVE MADE IT POTENTIALLY NOT AS ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK FOR MANY IN THIS FIELD. UNFORTUNATELY WE KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY ONLY MEANS THAT WE POTENTIALLY HAVE LESS HIGH QUALITY CARE AS WE WILL POTENTIALLY SEE -- NOT POTENTIALLY. WE WILL SEE MORE CHILDREN AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES IN ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BUT IF YOU HAVE IDEAS ON HOW TO SUPPORT THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO, PLEASE FLAG THOSE. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT [CONSENT AGENDA  ] AGENDA. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKE THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS SO THAT WE MAY CLEAR THE BUSINESS FOR THE DAY? OKAY. 22. WE'RE PULLING ITEM 22. DO YOU HAVE A HIGHLIGHT? AT THIS POINT I'M JUST RECOGNIZING ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED. 22 IS BEING PULLED. I'LL ASK FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS. PULLING? >> 24. 22 AND 24. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN, NOTHING TO PULL? WE'RE PULLING ITEMS 22 AND 24. OKAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS [00:45:04] SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND I WILL CALL THEM IN THE ORDER THAT THEY HAVE SIGNED UP. EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, ALL GROUPS OF MORE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS CECILY ARMSTRONG, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL RAMOS. DANIEL, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LINE UP RIGHT BEHIND HER AND WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS QUICKLY. THANK YOU. >> HI. HELLO MAYOR JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER WALSH AND CITY STAFF. I'M CECILY ARMSTRONG, A NATIVE SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDER WHO AFTER MORE THAN 25 YEARS WORKING IN MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT IN NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES CHOSE TO INVEST IN MY BELOVED HOMETOWN OF SAN ANTONIO AFTER MUCH DUE DILIGENCE AND MARKET TESTING. I'M THE CEO AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE BEXAR STUDIOS AND CEO AND BOARD CHAIR OF THE NON-PROFIT WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION TEXAS. WE ARE AN OFFICIAL CHAPTER OF THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF 13,000 MEMBERS FOUNDED UNDERSTAND HOLLYWOOD IN 1973. ALL BASED IN D1 AND IMPACTING ALL OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEYOND. I'M GOING TO BE CANDID IN THIS THREE-MINUTE OPPORTUNITY ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF STORYTELLING. THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TEXAS MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND SAN ANTONIO'S ROLE, STARING ROLE IN THAT STORYTELLING. SUCCESS IN THIS INDUSTRY MEANS CREATING SKILLED JOBS, TRAINING PROGRAMS, WHILE DRIVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL POSITIONING, ALL GENERATED THROUGH FILMED STORYTELLING. ASSISTANT'S CREATIVE ECONOMY IS A POWER HOUSE WITH STUDIES CITING OVER 5 BILLION IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT IN 2023 ALONE. FILM, TELEVISION AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT IMPACT. TODAY YOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTE WILL GROW THAT NUMBER. STATE DATA SHOWS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON PRODUCTION, TEXAS RECEIVES ROUGHLY $4.69 IN ECONOMIC RETURN. THAT'S A GOOD BET. THAT SUPPORTS OVER 182,000 JOBS AND GENERATES 2.52 BILLION IN STATEWIDE SPENDING EACH YEAR ALONE. THE UPDATES PROPOSED TODAY WILL CEMENT SAN ANTONIO AS THE TEXAS HUB OF THE MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. AS THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE LOCATION OF THE FIRST FILM STUDIO IN TEXAS, THE FIRST ACADEMY AWARD WINNING FEATURE FILM AND THE MOST IMPACTFUL INCENTIVE PROGRAM IN THE STATE, AS THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE TEXAS AND MEDIA INFORMATION SUMMIT TAKING PLACE ON JANUARY 15TH THROUGH THE 17TH AT THE TOBIN CENTER, I CAN GUARANTEE THAT SAN ANTONIO AS A LOCATION AND PRODUCTION DESTINATION WILL BE THE MAJOR TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE U.S., EUROPE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING. AS A PRODUCER, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE INCENTIVES ARE OFTEN THE DECIDING FACTOR ON WHERE A PROJECT IS MADE. OUR CITY ALREADY HAS ALL THE ASSETS IN PLACE, A MORE THAN CAPABLE FILM COMMISSION, A DESIRABLE AUDIENCE AND EAGER POOL OF TALENT. IT'S TIME TO STEP UP AND OWN BEING THE MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB OF TEXAS AND AMP UP THE SUPPORT FOR OUR OVERPERFORMING DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND FILM COMMISSION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. [BUZZER]. >> MAYOR JONES: DANIEL RAMOS FOLLOWED BY PAUL ARDUAN. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DANNY RAMOS. FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES I'VE WORKED ACROSS FILM AND TELEVISION AS BOTH AN AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND A LONG-STANDING MEMBER OF THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA, THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AND THE DIRECTOR GUILD INTERNATIONAL. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING OUR CITY CREATIVE EXPERIENCE ON SETS FROM SAN ANTONIO TO NEW YORK, BUT MY HEART AND THE FUTURE OF OUR INDUSTRY IS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, MY HOMETOWN. THESE PROGRAM UPDATES ARE ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE PRODUCTION BUDGETS. IT'S ABOUT GIVING WORKING ARTISTS, CAMERA OPERATORS, SET DESIGNERS, MAKEUP ARTISTS, ACTORS, THE ABILITY TO MAKE A STABLE LIVING AT HOME CLOSE TO THEIR FAMILIES, LIKE MYSELF. EACH NEW PROJECT BRINGS CONTRACTS, CREATES JOBS, FILLS HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND HELP PAVED THE WAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SAN ANTONIO CREATIVES. NOW, I KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE STRONG LOCAL SUPPORT AND ACTION, WE LOSE TALENT TO OTHER CITIES. [00:50:04] AND WITH IT MILLIONS OF UNTAPPED REVENUE THAT OUR CITY DESERVES RIGHT HERE. THIS INCENTIVE UPDATE WILL HELP US ATTRACT MORE MID-SIZED PRODUCTIONS AND LARGE INDEPENDENT FILMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BYPASSED SAN ANTONIO FOR CITIES LIKE AUSTIN, DALLAS. IT WOULD ALSO HELP OUR FUTURE FILMMAKERS PURSUE THEIR PASSION, LIKE MYSELF WHO WAS A HIGHLANDS GRADUATE ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE IN DISTRICT 3, WENT TO SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE ALUM, TAKING THEATER ART CLASSES JOKING IN TELEVISION, RADIO AND FILM, FILM PRODUCTION. NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND HELP SECURE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR THREE DECADES ALREADY AND IT'S TIME TO PASS THE BATON. AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE FRONTRUNNER. LET'S MAKE SURE SAN ANTONIO IS NOT JUST THE BACKDROP, BUT A LEADER IN STORYTELLING STORYTELLING, AND THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE CULTURAL REPRESENTATION IN THE FILM AND TELEVISION AND THE MEDIA INDUSTRY. NOW, WE HAVE THE TALENT AND THE MOTIVATION TO BECOME THE TOP SPOT IN TEXAS TO FILM. AND I URGE YOU TO INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO'S CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND THE PROSPERITY IT BRINGS BY APPROVING THESE UPDATES UPDATES. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: PAUL ARDUAN FOLLOWED BY SAMUEL LERNA. >> MY NAME IS PAUL AND I HELP STEER A FILM PROGRAM AT A LOCAL INSTITUTION. WE CURRENTLY HAVE MORE THAN 325 MAJORS IN FILM AND MEDIA THERE. AND A CRAZY NUMBER OF GRADUATES EACH SEMESTER. I DO NOT AND CANNOT SPEAK HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT INSTITUTION, BUT AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN WITH A PARTICULAR KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL FILM EDUCATION AND CAREER PREPARATION. THE PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE SAN ANTONIO FILM INCENTIVE PROGRAM AS I UNDERSTAND THEM TO BE ENORMOUSLY BENEFICIAL FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR HANDS ON TRAINING, NETWORK BUILDING AND THE IRREPLACEABLE OPPORTUNITY OF ON-SITE EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CAN PROVIDE EXPERIENCE AND HELP CONNECT STUDENTS TO LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THEY CAN'T CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH THESE UPDATES SEEK TO DO. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CAN HOWEVER QUICKLY MOBILIZE LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKFORCE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY ARISE TO THE COMMISSION CAN ENSURE SAFELY VISITING PRODUCTIONS SO THEY CAN MEET THE PROGRAM NEEDS ON THAT END. TO ADDED STATE INCENTIVES, A GROWING BASE OF SUPPORT IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE FILM COMMISSION, I SEE THE PROPOSED LOCAL INCENTIVE EXPANSION AS NOTHING LISTEN TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF SAN ANTONIO. TALENTED YOUNG ARTISTS AND CRAFTS PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR DREAMS AND MOVING OUT OF TOWN. WE ARE DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE SKILLED LABOR COMING THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS JUST AS CITY OFFICES ARE WORKING HARD TO SPREAD THE WORD NATIONALLY ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE A MAJOR FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION HUB IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: SAMUEL LERNA FOLLOWED BY [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS SAM, I'M A LOCAL FILM MAKER. I OWN A VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY ALONGSIDE MY WIFE. WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW, BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE FILM INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT 20-PLUS YEARS. WE SPECIALIZE IN PRODUCTION, SPECIAL PRODUCTION, DOCUMENTARY, CORPORATE WORK. ON TOP OF THAT WE WORK ON OTHER PROJECTS WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES. IN MY MANY YEARS OF WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY I'VE NOTICED A RECENT TREND. SAN ANTONIO'S FILM SPACE IS GROWING AT AN EXPONENTIAL RATE. TA HAS TOW DO WITH NEW PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITIES, OUR GROWING POPULATION AND OUR PEOPLE'S APPETITE FOR CONTENT. ONLINE VIDEO IS KING. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE LEARNED TO MAKE A LIVING MAKING SOME OF THAT CONTENT. MANY COMPANIES BOTH LOCAL AND FROM OUT OF TOWN COME HERE LOOKING TO FILM THEIR COMMERCIALS. THEY LOVE OUR CULTURALLY RICH LOCATIONS, OUR HISTORY AND HOW FILM FRIENDLY WE ARE AS A CITY. THEY RELY ON US TO SOURCE LOCAL CAST AND CREW. I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN, LOCAL CAST AND CREW. THESE BUDGETS CAN RANGE DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE SHOOT, REGARDLESS, THEY'RE COMING AND SPENDING LOCALLY. JUST LIKE A BIG FILM, ALL THIS MONEY GOES BACK INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. IF SAN ANTONIO PROVIDES A COMMERCIAL INCENTIVE THEY WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK, NOT TO AUSTIN, OR HOUSTON, [00:55:01] BUT TO SAN ANTONIO. TO SUM IT UP, THIS INCENTIVE NOT ONLY HELPS OUR INDUSTRY BY KEEPING LOCAL FILMMAKERS WORKING, IT WILL ALSO ENTICE FUTURE BUSINESS THAT WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A FUTURE GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS. WE WANT THAT NEW GENERATION TO STAY HERE FOR WHAT'S TO COME. THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: SUE [INDISCERNIBLE], FOLLOWED BY DEBRA GUERRERO. >> GOOD MORNING, CITY MANAGER, MAYOR JONES, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, FILM AND MUSIC COMMITTEE OF THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BELIEVING AND INVESTING IN THE ARTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES FOR TAKING THE TIME TO OPEN THE 28TH SEASON OF MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD LAST MONTH AND I SAW MANY OF YOU AT THE BALLET SAN ANTONIO ON SATURDAY. AND WE KNOW THAT WE INVEST AND SHOW UP FOR ARTS AND CULTURE. SAN ANTONIO IS WITNESSING A RENAISSANCE IN ARTISTIC PRODUCTION AND WE STAND TOGETHER TODAY AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT WHEN STRATEGIC INVESTMENT CAN DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY. THESE UPDATES TO THE DECADE OLD INCENTIVE PROGRAM WILL GENERATE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM RETURNS WITH POSITIVE AND WIDE-REACHING RIPPLE EFFECTS ON SAN ANTONIO'S ARTS AND [INDISCERNIBLE] CENTERS. AS WE KNOW PRODUCTIONS DON'T EXIST IN ISOLATION. THEY CONNECT TO OUR LOCAL ORCHESTRAS, OUR THEATERS, VENUES, HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES AND THE CULTURAL VIBRANCY THAT DEFINES SAN ANTONIO. FROM FOOD TRUCK TO FOLKLORICO, PERFORMANCES IN OUR CITY THRIVE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. SO FILM PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIAL SHOOTS MEANS AN INCREASE IN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE, INCLUDING JOBS, REVENUE, DINNER RESERVATIONS, POSITIVE PUBLICITY, AND THE LIST GOES ON. THE INITIATIVE ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE CITY'S BROADER GOALS FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE READINESS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION. BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS. WHEN FILMMAKERS AND MUSICIANS CHOOSE SAN ANTONIO, THEY BRING NOT ONLY JOBS AND COMMERCE, BUT ALSO VISIBILITY AND PRIDE, FURTHERING AND POSITIONING SAN ANTONIO AS A FILM FRIENDLY CITY WHERE CREATIVES CAN THRIVE AND LIVE AFFORDBLY. THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WITH THESE CHANGES EXTENDS BEYOND DOLLARS. IT STRENGTHENS OUR CIVIC IDENTITY AND INSPIRES OUR YOUTH THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROPOSED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS WILL HELP GIVE THE NEXT GENERATION REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE BY WORKING ON SETS AND COLLABORATING WITH STUDIOS, DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. LET'S ENSURE SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO GROW AS A DESTINATION FOR CREATIVE INNOVATION BY ENDORSING THIS EXPANSION TODAY AND MOVING TOWARDS BECOMING THE MOST COMPETITIVE DESTINATION IN TEXAS FOR CREATIVE PROJECTS. I'M A BOOMERANG. I GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO, GRADUATED MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL. I CAME BACK AFTER A DECADE AWAY AND IT'S THE CREATIVE SECTOR AND ARTS COMMUNITY THAT KEEPS US HIRE AND MANY OF US THAT GROW UP, GO AWAY, RETURN HOME. >> MAYOR JONES: THOSE ARE ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AND I UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, MINUS ITEMS 22 AND 24 THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEMS 24 AND 24? -- ON 22 AND 24? IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEMS 22 AND 24 THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED. AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS THIS MORNING. FIRST I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ANDREA TO THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS WELL AS REAPPOINTING ROLAND TO THE HISTORIC DESIGN REVIEW. AND OUR NEW APPOINTEE ROSEMARY TO THE PARKWAY ADVISORY BOARD. LASTLY I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 23, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH CPS ENERGY IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $750,000 TO ASSIST WITH SMALL-SCALE HOME REPAIRS. WHAT THIS DOES IS IT EXPANDS WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO QUALIFY, MAKING THEIR HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT BY MEETING THE MINIMUM STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. MANY HOMES IN MY DISTRICT WERE BUILT BEFORE 1960 AND ALTHOUGH MANY HAVE BEEN KEPT UP WITH, THEY DO NEED MINOR REPAIRS AS WELL AS MAJOR REPAIRS, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR IN DISTRICT 5, ESPECIALLY WORK THAT REALLY BRINGS OUR CONSTITUENTS INTO THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION STANDARDS. SO I'M EXCITED FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT CENTERS MEETING THE CITY'S STANDARDS BY QUALIFYING SOME HOMES WITH UP TO 10K IN REPAIRS, INCLUDING MORE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND MID LEVEL [01:00:05] ELECTRICAL WORK. REALLY GRATEFUL FOR CPS'S CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND INVESTMENT IN THE CASA VERDICT PROGRAM. I KNOW IT'S A PROGRAM THAT DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR REALLY VALUE AND ARE SUPPORTIVE OF. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 135, REAPPOINTING JOHN TO THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM TO BE RECOGNIZED. JOHN IS A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT AND RESPECTED ENTREPRENEUR AND PHILANTHROPIST WHO IS DEDICATED TO BE PART OF HIS COMMUNITY. HE IS A LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT AND WORKED AS A RIVER WALK RESTAURANT MANAGER FOR NEARLY TWO ACADEMIC DECADES. HE SERVES ON THE SAN ANTONIO HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION AND THE MISSION HERITAGE PARTNERS. HE'S A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT PROMOTING AND PRESERVING THE RICH CULTURAL HISTORY THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS TO OFFER. JOHN HAS SERVED ON THE ALAMO CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE SINCE JULY OF 2023. HIS DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF OUR HISTORIC MISSIONS, OUR DOWNTOWN, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY MAKE HIM A WELL ROUNDED AND VALUABLE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR OUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPRESENTING DISTRICT 7 ON THIS BOARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE ABILITY TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 14, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF KRYSTAL TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR DISTRICT 8. IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAND. KRYSTAL I BELIEVE IS HERE. THERE SHE IS. KRYSTAL IS A LIFELONG SAN ANTONIAN AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 8. SHE HOLDS A MASTER'S OF SCIENCE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING AS WELL AS A BACHELOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION BOTH FROM UTSA AND HAS PROFESSIONAL STERNS IN CONSTRUCTION AND TEXT. SHE IS ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE SOUTHSIDE FIRST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN ADDITION TO BEING A MEMBER OF THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE, LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. WITH ALL OF THIS EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND DEDICATION, I KNOW SHE WILL BE AN ASSET TO THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, KRYSTAL. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO QUICKLY TAKE A MINUTE TO CONGRATULATE ALSO THE U.S. MARINE CORPS ON THEIR 250TH BIRTHDAY AND SAY THANK YOU TO SO MUCH SAN ANTONIANS WHO HAVE WORN THE UNIFORM. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SACRIFICE AND LEADERSHIP. AND A QUICK SHOUT-OUT TO MY DEAR FRIEND PRECINCT COMMISSIONER GRANT MOODY WHO IS A MARINE AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF'S FIANCE NICK WHO PAC ANDO NORTHWEST VISTA. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PROGRAM AND ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEMS 22 AND 24. PLEASE VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN. >> >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR JONES: THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL PROCEED WITH THE [4. Consideration of applicants, and an ordinance appointing up to three individuals to at-large seats on the VIA Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Trustees. [Debbie Racca-Sittre, City Clerk]] BUSINESS OF THE DAY IN THE ORDER PRESCRIBED. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 4 IS INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENT OF UP TO THREE NEW VIA BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE REMAINDER OF AN UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. THE CITY CLERK HAS A PRESENTATION. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DEBBIE AND I'M THE CITY CLERK. GIVING YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOARD APPOINTMENT ITEM. VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT WAS CREATED IN 1977 BY VOTERS AND OPERATES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE. VIA IS GOVERNED BY AN 11 MEMBER BOARD OF TRUSTEES. BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED FOR STAGGERED TWO-YEAR TERMS BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, SUBURBAN MAYORS AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD IS ELECTED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ALSO SERVES A TWO-YEAR TERM. CITY CLERK CALLED FOR APPLICATIONS STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 2024, DID SOME OUTREACH WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH WEB POSTING, SOCIAL MEDIA, TVSA [01:05:02] AND TEXT ON APRIL 17TH, 2025 AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2025. VIA ALSO DISTRIBUTE AND POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE. WE HAD 33 RESIDENTS SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION BY THE DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 22ND SEPTEMBER 22ND. THOSE WERE VETTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR ELIGIBILITY. AN AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS CREATED BY THE MAYOR CHAIRED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS. THEY REVIEWED AND SHORT LISTED THE APPLICANTS AND THERE WERE 11 APPLICANTS IN THAT SHORT LIST. THE PROCESS WOULD INCLUDE CITY COUNCIL INTERVIEWING THOSE 11 APPLICANTS, TAKING ACTION TODAY, THEN THE CITY CLERK, MYSELF, WOULD SWEAR IN THE NEW MEMBERS. THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WOULD SEND THE CONGRATULATIONS LETTER AND THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FILE DISCLOSURE REPORTS AND TAKE THE MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TRAINING OFFERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AND BEGIN SERVING ON THE BOARD FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR TERM. THERE ARE THREE OPEN SEATS. NOTE THAT ONE OF THE 11 APPLICANTS, LUCAS HOLLAND, HAS WITHDRAWN. SO WE ONLY HAVE 10, BUT 10 PEOPLE ARE HERE TODAY TO BE INTERVIEWED. AND THEIR TERM WOULD -- THE THREE PEOPLE SELECTED WOULD HAVE A TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 31. SO THE WAY THIS WILL HAPPEN IS EACH APPLICANT WILL GIVE A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT. WE HAD NO APPLICANTS THAT PROVIDED A WRITTEN STATEMENT, BUT THERE WERE PREVIOUS QUESTIONS THAT WERE SENT OUT, AND ALMOST ALL THE APPLICANTS RESPONDED TO THOSE QUESTIONS. CITY COUNCIL WILL INTERVIEW THEM, TAKE ACTION IN OPEN SESSION. OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DELIBERATE, BUT NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND THEN AGAIN, ONCE THEY'RE SELECTED AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, I WILL SWEAR THEM IN. AND THAT'S IT FOR TODAY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. LET ME REITERATE MY THANKS TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL AS TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A GOOD POOL. I KNOW WE HAD AGAIN LOTS OF APPLICANTS, BUT WHITTLING IT DOWN CAN BE TOUGH, SO THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS WHO DID THAT AS WELL AS THOSE ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. PUBLIC TRANSIT IS NOT EASY WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW TO GET FOLKS WHERE TO GO, AND TO DOWNTOWN AND PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AS WELL CONNECTED TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THAT AND WE KNOW WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO PLACES LIKE HOUSTON AND DALLAS, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS REALLY CORE SERVICE IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND MEETS OUR REQUIREMENTS MOVING FORWARD. SO WE'VE GOT A STRONG POOL OF FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. AS MENTIONED, APPRECIATE THE APPLICANTS THAT TOOK THE TIME TO PROVIDE WRITTEN RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS FROM THIS BODY. AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN PROVIDED THOSE RESPONSES, EVEN THOSE THAT WERE RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE. OKAY. SO EACH APPLICANT WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL INTERVIEW EACH WITH A QUESTION. IF THE QUESTIONS, IF THEY ARE CLARIFYING BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND SPECIFIC TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, THEN THAT'S FINE, BUT IF IT'S A UNIQUE QUESTION THAT WOULD REALLY APPLY TO EVERYBODY, THEN AS A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS. OKAY. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL -- EXCUSE ME? THAT'S RIGHT. FOR THOSE AS A REMINDER, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU ASK A QUESTION THAT RESPONDENT WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO RESPOND. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAVE IS GLORIA MADDOX. >> LET ME DO A MIC CHECK BECAUSE I'M SHORT. EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME? YEP. ADRIAN IN A. GOOD MORNING. I STARTED TALKING. MY NAME IS GLORIA ATTICS. I GO BY ADRIANA. I GREW UP RIDING THE BUS ON WURZBACH. EVERYDAY THE BUS DRIVER WOULD STOP IN FRONT OF MY SCHOOL AND HE WOULD DROP US OFF TO GET US WHERE WE NEEDED TO GO. IT WAS THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE THAT I LEARNED WHAT COMMUNITY COULD LOOK LIKE FROM A TRANSPORTATION [01:10:03] VIEW. THIS SMALL -- IN MY 20S -- MAN, OKAY. IN MY 20S I WORKED DOWNTOWN FOR SENATOR VAN DEPEW AND EVERYDAY I WOULD DRIVE AND I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. SO I WAS COMPLAINING TO MY MOM HOW CAN I AFFORD TO GO DOWNTOWN EVERYDAY? SO I WENT TO THE INGRAHAM TRANSIT CENTER DOWN CULEBRA AND IT TOOK WILL AN HOUR TO GET DOWNTOWN AND I DID IT EVERYDAY FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND A VIA RIDER IS I COULD USE VIA WHEN IT WORKED FOR ME. FROM THAT PLACE OF PRIVILEGE I REALLY SAW VIA'S UTILITY. THAT'S WHY I BECAME A TRANSIT ADVOCATE BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES FREEDOM AND ACCESS. I ROAD THE PRIMO THIS MORNING. IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO GET DOWN FREDRICKSBURG. I THOUGHT ABOUT RIDING IT FROM MY HOUSE, THAT WOULD TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF. THROUGH THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO REFLECT ON WHAT VIA MEANS TODAY. THROUGH MY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THROUGH VIA COMMUNITY COUNCIL, I WAS PART OF THE KEEP US MOVING SA INITIATIVE AND I SPENT THIS TIME LISTENING TO RESIDENTS REALLY HEARING WHAT THEY NEEDED. I STOPPED BEING USEFUL AS A TRANSIT ADVOCATE IN 2023 SO I STEPPED AWAY. I AM NOW BACK BECAUSE I MANAGE $300 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP CALLED SEYA GROUP. I HAVE MANAGED TWO FEDERAL REVIEWS SO FAR, $100 MILLION, AND THEY WERE APPROVED AND SO IN CLOSING, AS I HAVE FOUR SECONDS, I AM HERE BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN? OKAY. THANK YOU. >> GOOD, THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: OUR NEXT PERSON, RACHEL SIWINSKI. >> HELLO. I AM RACHEL. MY VISION IS THAT NO SENIOR ADULT EXPERIENCE RAPID DETERIORATION OF BODY AND MIND SOLELY BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR. AND THERE IS NO REASON TO FEAR BEING ALONE OR IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS AT A BUS STOP. THAT ALL VIA PASSENGERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND THAT WALKING, BICYCLING AND ACCESSING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WILL RIGHTFULLY BE CONSIDERED TO BE SAFER THAN DRIVING A PERSONAL VEHICLE IN BEXAR COUNTY. I LIVE ON STEVES AVENUE. FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS I HAVE RESIDED IN MY HOMESTEAD THERE IN ONE OF THE OLDEST BUS ROUTES IN THE VIA SYSTEM. IT FOLLOWS THE ORIGINAL STREET CAR LINES WHICH WERE CONVERTED IN 1930. VIA PLANS TO SUBSTANTIALLY REALIGN SUCH ROUTES BEFORE THE RAPID GREEN LINE, ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR CONNECTS FROM STEVES AVENUE ALONG SOUTH ST. MARY'S. RESIDENTS HAVE MADE DECISIONS ON WHERE TO LIVE BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORTATION SINCE 1900. THE SEVERAL VIA ROUTES THAT SERVE THIS AREA, INCLUDING 20, 30, AND 42, HAVE HISTORIC USE BY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES IN THE CITY CENTER AND CONTINUE TO USE THIS AS SENIOR ADULTS QUALIFYING TO USE THE REDUCED FAIR AND CONTINUED TO WORK WELL INTO THEIR 70S TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. MY EXPERIENCE IS IN GRADUATE --E EDUCATION AND PLANNING, WORKED FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN CREATING A DATABASE FOR MAINTENANCE OF ITS HEAVY RAIL SYSTEM AND HAVE SERVED -- LONGEST SERVING RESIDENT ON OUR LOCAL METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ANY QUESTIONS? >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MA'AM. NAVIN DARIAM. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS NAVINE. MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE I WAS IN THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY. I WORKED IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY, IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, AND FOR [INDISCERNIBLE] ALL IN SOUTH [01:15:06] AFRICA. WORKING HERE IN AMERICA AFTER 1998 WE CAME HERE FOR THE Y2K TO HELP ON THE OUTLOOK BUG. FIXED THAT -- Y2K BUG. FIXED THAT, I WAS OFFERED A PERMANENT JOB WITH ONE OF THE COMPANIES WHERE THEY ALSO OFFERED US A GREEN CARD, WHICH WE GLADLY ACCEPTED. IN 2022 I JOINED VIA AS A BUS OPERATOR. I REALIZED AND I RETIRED THIS LAST SEPTEMBER. I REALIZED WHILE WORKING FOR VIA AND BEING A BUS DRIVER THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND SORTED OUT TO HAVE A BETTER RIDING EXPERIENCE FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND FOR THE BUS DRIVERS. WITH MY COMPUTER BACKGROUND I FEEL THAT I CAN HELP IN MANY AREAS IN THE TRANSPORTATION, IN THE MECHANICS, THE ORGANIZATIONS BETWEEN THE OPERATORS AND MANAGEMENT WHERE THERE'S ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING COVERED. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE VIA A BETTER PLACE TO WORK AND TO BE A MORE SUCCESSFUL ENTITY IN THE FUTURE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR OUR STAFF, OPERATORS AND ANYBODY ELSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, SIR. PAOLA FERNANDEZ IS THE NEXT PERSON. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES. MY NAME IS PAOLA. I'M AN URBAN PLANNER, TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST AND MULL DI MODAL USER. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A BOARD MEMBER. IT HAS BEEN TO LISTEN, LEARN, CREATE SPACE FOR VOICES AND TO HAVE PLANNING WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE. THAT'S THE MINDSET I BRING TO THE BOARD, GROUNDING EVERY DECISION IN BOTH DATA AND PEOPLE IT IMPACTS. FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS I'VE WORKED ACROSS EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT, HELPING SHAPE CONVERSATIONS ON PLANNING, HOUSING, SEMI CITY PLANS. THROUGHOUT THAT WORK I'VE SEEN ONE COMMON GOAL, THE DESIRE FOR A SAN ANTONIO WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE. I THINK OF A RESIDENT I MET WHILE DOING ENGAGEMENT IN THE WESTSIDE THAT SHARED SHE HAD TO TAKE MULTIPLE GROCERY TRIPS EACH WEEK BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T BRING A CART ON THE BUS. STORIES LIKE HERS REMIND ME THAT IMPROVING TRANSIT ISN'T JUST ABOUT ROUTES AND SCHEDULES, IT'S ABOUT REMOVING DAILY BARRIERS AND MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, WE ALL SHARE ONE THING, WE NEED TO GET SOMEWHERE, BUT HOW WE MOVE ISN'T THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. SOME CAN DRIVE, OTHERS SHARE A CAR AND MANY RELY ON WALKING, RIDING OR ROLLING. THOSE EXPERIENCES AREN'T ALWAYS EQUITABLE AND THAT'S WHAT DRIVES ME, ENSURING EVERYONE CAN MOVE SAFELY, RELIABLY WITHIN WITH DIGNITY. MY VISION IS A 83 VA, CONNECTED AND TRUSTED. CONNECTED NOT JUST THROUGH TRANSIT, BUT RELATIONSHIPS, ONE THAT CREATES SPACE FOR COMMUNITY VOICES, BUILDS TRUST, TRANSPARENCY AND REFLECTS THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR RIDERS. I WANT VIA TO CONTINUE EXPANDING ACCESS, CONNECTION AND KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND THAT PAOLA UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN-PERSON TODAY SO IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS? >> MAYOR JONES: DID YOU PROVIDE THEM IN WRITING AT ALL? >> I DID THIS MORNING. >> MAYOR JONES: THIS MORNING. OKAY. >> I ONLY SAW JASON'S IN THERE. IF THEY'RE THERE, IT'S OKAY. >> MAYOR JONES: CAN I GET A READ FROM THE LAWYER? >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE FOR HER TO ARTICULATE THE ANSWERS AS LONG AS THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT SHE SUBMITTED IN WRITING. >> MAYOR JONES: THE EXACT SAME ANSWERS. SO WE'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE. >> KAUR: IT'S OKAY, MAYOR. IF WE HAVE THEM IN WRITING, I'M HAPPY TO READ THEM IN WRITING. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO BE SUBMITTED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WERE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID? NO? [01:20:01] OKAY. RAMON FLORES. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS RAY FLORES, SVP OF STRATEGIC DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT AT PORT SAN ANTONIO. I'M A NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE LIVED HERE ALMOST ALL MY LIFE. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF LIVING IN DISTRICTS 8, 7, AND NOW DISTRICT 1. MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN IN REAL ESTATE, FINANCE, ECONOMIC, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. I CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE THAT I'VE BEEN -- THAT I HAVE WORKED IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. MY CURRENT JOB AT THE PORT IS OVERSEEING OUR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, STRIVING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXECUTION IS ON TIME AND ON BUDGET. OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS OUR GROWTH AT THE PORT HAS REQUIRED A LOT OF CREATIVITY TO ADDRESS INTERESTING CHALLENGES IN ORDER TO ADVANCE OUR PUBLIC MISSION. I'VE LED PROJECTS THAT REQUIRED THE ALIGNMENT OF INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THOSE ON AND OFF OUR CAMPUS. MY ROLE HAS BEEN TO GUIDE, AS I MENTIONED, THOUGHTFUL AND CREATIVE EXECUTION AND THE DIVERSITY OF THOSE PROJECTS IS REALLY DEEPENED MY UNDERSTANDING IN THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION, LAND USE, ZONING, AS WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY. MY TEAM AND I WORK REGULARLY WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC WORKS, OF COURSE, AND OTHERS. OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES, SAWS, AND CPS. OTHER FUNDERS AND PUBLIC ENTITIES, OUR LARGE AND SMALL EMPLOYERS AT THE PORT, THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND US, AS WELL AS THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY WHO HELPS US EXECUTE ON A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS. VIA'S ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL. FOR US AT THE PORT, WE RELY ON VIA TO HELP KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK THERE CONNECTED TO THEIR JOBS. WE WANT TO BE CONNECTED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE -- >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. JACK LLOYD-REILLEY. >> HI. I'M JACK LLOYD-REILLEY. I AM A SENIOR RESEARCH ENGINEER AT SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE FOR SAN ANTONIANS FOR RAIL TRANSIT , AUTHOR OF THE MINIMUM VIABLE SERVICE PLAN PROVIDING RAIL SUPPORT BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN USING A MINIMUM OF RESOURCES. AND I HAVE A BACHELOR'S IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM UTSA. WHEN GOING TO UTSA I TOOK THE BUS PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY AND EVERY DAY WE WOULD GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON I-10. I WOULD LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND WONDER HOW COME THE BUS GETS STUCK IN THE SAME TRAFFIC AS DRIVING? PUBLIC TRANSIT REDUCES CONGESTION AND POLLUTION. IT IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY. AND YET THERE'S REALLY NO INCENTIVE FOR MOST SAN ANTONIANS TO RIDE IT. THE BUS SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HAS VERY SPARSE, DEDICATED INFRASTRUCTURE. IT RUNS IN MIXED TRAFFIC AND SO IT'S BASICALLY ALWAYS SLOWER THAN DRIVING AND ONLY 3% OF SAN ANTONIANS ACTUALLY USE IT. I THINK THIS IS KIND OF AN UNDERUTILIZATION OF RESOURCES AND WE CAN DO BETTER. SO I BELIEVE THERE'S TWO CORE ISSUES HERE. ONE IS THE SPEED OF THE BUS AND THE SECOND IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF THE CITY DOES NOT SUPPORT MOST SAN ANTONIANS' ABILITY TO ACCESS THE SYSTEM. SO I BELIEVE IN FOUR BASIC FOCUSES. I THINK I SUPPORT EXISTING INITIATIVES LIKE THE ART LINE AND THE BETTER BUS PLAN. I SUPPORT DIRECT INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION ALONG EXISTING ROUTES, ESPECIALLY SMALLER PROJECTS THAN THE SCOBEE PROJECT. I HAVE A RAIL PLAN FROM HERE TO AUSTIN AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD TRY TO EXECUTE ON THIS PLAN AS KIND OF OUR FIRST STEP IN THE WATERS OF A FASTER, MORE EFFICIENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. AND I SUPPORT SLIP LANES, UPGRADED BUS STOPS, IMPROVED SCHEDULES AND TIMING. AND THEN LAST, I THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON A FULL CITY METRO PLAN. BUILDING A SUBWAY SYSTEM IS THE KIND OF THING THAT PEOPLE WILL NEED AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY TO BUILD. IF WE DO NOT HAVE A PLAN, WE WILL CONTINUOUSLY BE BEHIND [01:25:10] THE 8-BALL. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> NONE AT ALL? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: LAWSON PICASSO. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LAWSON PICASSO AND I AM HERE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN APPOINTMENT TO THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES . LAST NIGHT, AS I PLANNED MY TRIP HERE, I LOOKED UP VIA ROUTES BECAUSE IF I'M ASKING TO SERVE THEN I BELIEVE IN WALKING THE WALK, NOT JUST TALKING THE TALK. TO ARRIVE HERE THIS MORNING AT 8:30, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE LEFT MY HOME AT 6:16 A.M., WALK 34 MINUTES TO THE FIRST BUS STOP, TAKE THE 618 TO THE TRANSIT CENTER, GET ON THE 76, MAKE 39 STOPS AND TRAVEL OVER TWO HOURS, IF EVERYTHING WENT PERFECTLY. AND THAT HIT ME. AND IT REMINDED ME OF WHEN I WAS A KID LIVING IN HOUSING WITH MY MOM AND SISTER IN HOUSTON, WHEN WE WOKE UP ONE MORNING TO WATCH A TOW TRUCK HAUL MY MOM'S CAR OFF. SHE PLEADED WITH THEM TO LET THEM LET IT DOWN, AND THEY DIDN'T. SUDDENLY, WITH THE NO VEHICLE, WE WEREN'T REGISTERED TO RIDE A SCHOOL BUS. SO METRO BECAME OUR ONLY OPTION. WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ROUTES, THE FEES, OR IF IT WOULD EVEN HAVE A STOP NEAR OUR SCHOOLS. BUT MY MOM PACKED US UP, GOT US ON A BUS, AND WE FIGURED IT OUT. FOR MONTHS, THAT SYSTEM WAS OUR ONLY LIFELINE. TODAY WHEN I START MY CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONLY 24 MINUTES DOWNTOWN, I DIDN'T TAKE THE KEY IN MY POCKET FOR GRANTED. BUT I KNOW MANY FAMILIES IN OUR CITY DON'T HAVE THAT SAME PRIVILEGE. THEIR TWO-HOUR COMMUTE ISN'T A CHOICE, IT'S THEIR DAILY REALITY. AND I KNOW THERE ARE FAMILIES ACROSS SAN ANTONIO WHO WOKE UP THIS MORNING FACING THE SAME STRUGGLE, TRYING TO GET TO THE SOUTHSIDE TO DOWNTOWN FROM HOME TO WORK, FROM SURVIVAL TO OPPORTUNITY, RELYING ON VIA TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING ON TRANSIT PROJECTS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY INCLUDING RIGHT HERE WITH VIA WITH THE PLANNING AND DESIGN TEAM FOR THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT GREEN LINE WHERE I LED THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO HELP SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING. MY WORK HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED WHERE I PRESENTED ON HOW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ONE SECOND. CONFIRMING THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. JASON RODRIGUEZ. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS JASON RODRIGUEZ. I'M A PROUD NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO. MY JOB IS I'M A TRANSPORTATION PLANNER WORKING PRIMARILY IN CAPITAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECT MANAGER. I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT PART OF MY CAREER FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS. THE FIRST 10 OF WHICH WERE SPENT AT VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT WORKING IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THE LAST ROLE I HAD WAS MANAGER OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND THE LAST PROJECT THAT I GOT TO WORK ON WAS THE CORRIDOR STUDIES THAT ACTUALLY DEFINED THE GREEN AND SILVER LINES. SO SINCE THEN I HAVE MOVED ON TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THAT AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AS A GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTANT FOR CAPITAL METRO IN AUSTIN FOR FIVE YEARS . I'VE ALSO BEEN DOING A LOT OF CORRIDOR AND SAFETY PLANNING, WHICH REALLY ENGAGES MORE THE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE SAFETY COMPONENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES THAT I'VE BEEN ASSISTING. AND I'M ACTUALLY ABLE TO DO THAT WORK HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH MY ADVOCACY WORK WITH ACTIVATE SA. WITH ACTIVATE SA , DEFINITELY WORKED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, THE TOD FRAMEWORK THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL AND SO FORTH. I REALLY DO SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS COMMUNITY IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. MAKING MY EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE DIRECTLY AND MORE FORMALLY TO JOHN AND THE TEAM THERE AT VIA. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME THIS MORNING. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. MELANIE TAWIL. >> GOOD MORNING. IN TRUE LAWYER FASHION, I [01:30:06] HAVE MY IPAD HERE WITH MY NOTES. IF YOU DON'T MIND ME USING THEM, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER WALSH, CITY STAFF, AND INDIVIDUALS HERE AND. IF WE HAVEN'T HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. I AM MELANIE ARANDA TAWIL. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING MANY OF YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO THE DAIS AND I'M GRATEFUL TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS A PROUD VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD TRUSTEE AND CHAIR OF THE ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SHARE MY STORY, MY CONNECTION, EXPERIENCE, AND VISION. I KNOW YOU ALL RECEIVED MY RESUME THIS MORNING. I HOPE IT CONVEYS JUST A GLIMPSE OF PASSION. I HAVE NOT ONLY FOR VIA BUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE AN OUTLINE OF MY PERSONAL CONNECTION, MOTIVATION, RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, PERSPECTIVE, AND MY VISION FOR TRANSIT MOBILITY. SO I'LL GO AS QUICKLY AS I CAN. SO MY PERSONAL CONNECTION AND MOTIVATION. MY CONNECTION TO VIA IS BOTH PERSONAL AND GENERATIONAL. MY FATHER WAS A VIA BUS OPERATOR AND BEFORE HIM, MY GRANDFATHER, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5, I MIGHT SAY, SERVED ON THE VERY FIRST BOARD FOR EIGHT YEARS. FROM BOTH OF THEM I LEARNED THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS MORE THAN JUST ROUTES AND SCHEDULES, IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PURPOSE. THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR INDEPENDENCE. LIVING WITH CHRONIC INVISIBLE DISABILITIES GIVES ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTAND THE INCLUSION LUXURY BUT IT'S DIGNITY, SAFETY, AND FREEDOM. MY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE IS AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I AM IN THE BUSINESS OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. THAT'S WHAT I AM AND THAT'S WHAT I DO. THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. I'M RUNNING SHORT ON TIME AND I APOLOGIZE. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ART VELIZ IS THE FINAL INTERVIEWEE. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ART VELIZ. I GO BY ART. I'M HONORED TO BE SELECTED TO A SEAT TO THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT TRUSTEE. I'M A RETIRED CPA WITH EXPERIENCE IN FINANCE AND OPERATIONS. I MILLION BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGETS AND COORDINATE WITH TEAMS. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, INVESTMENT PRINCIPLES THAT I WOULD BRING TO THE BOARD. BUT NUMBERS DON'T MOVE THE CITY, PEOPLE DO. THAT'S WHY I REMAIN DEEPLY ENGAGED IN CIVIC ACTIVITY. I HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE SHERL HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE GREEN LINE WILL BE RUNNING THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION. I WILL -- I HAVE SERVED ON THE POLICE MANAGEMENT STUDY -- I HAVE BEEN ON THE BEXAR APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD AND I AM ON THE VIA, KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING COUNCIL. SAN ANTONIO IS EXPECTED TO REACH 2 MILLION RESIDENTS. OUR SYSTEM NEEDS UNDERSTANDING. WE NEED A CORRIDOR THAT WILL BRING GROWTH, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, MIXED-USE TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES, ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WE BROUGHT RESIDENTS TOGETHER TO IMAGINE WHAT'S POSSIBLE WITH VIA. I BRING THE SAME ENERGY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, STRATEGIC INSIGHT TO THE BOARD AND WORK ALONGSIDE YOU TO BUILD A RESILIENT SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SORRY FOR THE STUTTERING. I'M VERY NERVOUS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? [Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ] >> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 10:42 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2025. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO 551.074 OF THE TEXAS [01:35:05] GOVERNMENT CODE AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS PERSONNEL ISSUES PURSUANT TO >> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 11:27 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2025, AND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MAY I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO BEGIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION? >> I MOVE TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2026. RAMON FLORES, PAOLA FERNANDEZ, AND MELANIE TAWIL. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A SECOND. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, HAVE YOU JOINED US? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MAKE BOARD APPOINTMENTS TO THE VIA BOARD. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MAKE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES. LET ME REITERATE MY THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS THAT TOOK TIME TO APPLY. WE KNOW THAT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS AND THEN TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND CERTAINLY ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND. THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE, AND IF YOUR PARTICULAR INTEREST IS IN TRANSPORTATION, THERE IS IN PARTICULAR THE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION BOARD, AND THAT OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE TO PURSUE THAT OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU, AGAIN. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR LEADING THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE. WOULD THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS PLEASE COME FORWARD TO BE SWORN IN? >> CLERK: IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, STATE YOUR NAME, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF VIA METROPOLITAN VIA METROPOLITANTRANSIT AUTHORIF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME, GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. WE HAVE SOME THINGS FOR YOU TO SIGN. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: LET ME JUST SAY, MS. FERNANDEZ, MR. FL, CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INPUTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO DESERVE. IN PARTICULAR, OUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE REFLECTS OUR TRUST IN YOR ABILITY TO NOT ONLY RESPECT THE RIDERS OF TODAY, THE RIDERS OF TOMORROW, AND THOSE WHO, CERTAINLY WHO RELY ON THIS FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AS WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTIVITY AND TRANSPORT IN OUR CITY BUT CONNECTIVITY AND TRANSPORT TO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE THAT ARE CRITICAL TO STRENGTHENING OUR OWN COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU. LET ME SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO ADD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OF CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ELSE THAT APPLIED. THIS WAS A REALLY TOUGH DECISION AND YOU GUYS HAVE SOME REALLY STRONG BACKGROUNDS. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL [01:40:03] AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSES TO THREATS TO THE GREEN LINE. YOU KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR DISTRICT 1 AS WE GET THAT RIGHT, IN THE UPCOMING YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS ON Y'ALL'S CONTINUING LEADERSHIP IN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO DO INDIVIDUALLY IN YOUR OWN CAPACITY. MANY DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET FROM SCHOOL, WORK, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, AND SO MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO CENTER THE RESIDENTS WHO AREN'T CHOICE BUS RIDERS BUT USE IT TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. BECAUSE WITHOUT VIA, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT THAT HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S NOT THAT WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY. BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK THE FOLKS WHO DRIVE THE BUSES AND MAINTAIN OUR BUS STOPS AND KEEP THEM AT THE CENTER OF THE WORK AS WELL. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE VIA LEADERSHIP WE HAVE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP AS WELL. THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE. GOOD LUCK AND WE'RE REALLY COUNTING ON YOU ALL TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. I'M EXCITED FOR YOU ALL. I DID WANT TO TELL ALL THE APPLICANTS THANK YOU. IT IS A LOT TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE FOR THIS. THANK YOU FOR TRYING. THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED. I HOPE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLUG THE SKILL SETS. WE SAW SO MANY GREAT SKILL SETS. THIS WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION. OBVIOUSLY, BEING A FORMER VIA BOARD MEMBER, YOU KNOW, VIA IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND SO WE'RE PLACING A LOT OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU ALL TO KEEP US ON THE RIGHT TRACK. WE HAVE SOME HUGE PROJECTS COMING UP. AND I THINK THAT Y'ALL'S SKILL SET LENDS ITSELF -- BECAUSE THERE IS A BALANCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND ALSO GETTING STUFF DONE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROJECTS. BUT I THINK THAT YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FOR [22. Ordinance approving an agreement with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas to coordinate the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative and provide school-based behavioral-health and counseling services in Edgewood ISD, Harlandale ISD, Judson ISD, and San Antonio ISD for an amount up to $565,190 for the term October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, with the option to renew for four, one-year terms for a total contract amount up to $2,825,950, inclusive of renewals. Funding for the initial term in the amount of $565,190 is from the FY 2026 General Fund Budget. Funding for subsequent years is contingent upon City Council approval of the annual budget and funds. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Claude A Jacob, Director, Health]] INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEM NO. 22 WAS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 22 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH POLICY INSTITUTE FOR TEXAS TO COORDINATE THE SAN ANTONIO MOBILE MENTAL WELLNESS COLLABORATIVE AND PROVIDE SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES NO EDGEWOOD ISD, HARLANDALE ISD, JUDSON ISD, AND SAN ANTONIO ISD FOR AN AMOUNT UP TO $565,190 FOR THE TERM OCTOBER 1, 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR FOUR, ONE-YEAR TERMS -- >> MAYOR JONES: EXCUSE ME. CAN WE KEEP IT DOWN IN THE BACK, PLEASE? >> CLERK: FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF UP TO $2,825,950 INCLUSIVE OF RENEWALS. FUNDING FOR THE INITIAL TERM IN THE AMOUNT OF $565,190 IS FROM THE FY2026 GENERAL FUND BUDGET. FUND FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS IS CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND FUNDS. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: SECOND FROM COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 22. WOULD YOU LIKE A PRESENTATION? >> GONZALEZ: I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE OF ITS RELEVANCE TO ONE OF THE ONGOING ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH. I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE ON THIS DAIS HAS PARENTS AND SOME UNCLES, MENTORS. WE KNOW THE STRESSORS CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND HAVING THAT QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS IS CRITICAL TO LONG-TERM WELL-BEING. ACCESS TO EQUALITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE RANKS AS A KEY PRIORITY. AS STATED IN THE FINDINGS, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS EMERGED AS DOMINANT THEME ACROSS SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS. DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND OTHER CONDITIONS AFFECT PEOPLE ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS. ACCESSING CARE IS DIFFICULT FOR EVEN THOSE WITH INSURANCE AND POOR MENTAL HEALTH MAKES IT HARDER TO MAINTAIN OUR HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, CREATING A CYCLE OF CHALLENGES. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS. WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE BEING SERVED WITH THIS PROGRAM? >> YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M JESSIE HIGGINS, I'M THE CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER. I'M IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS, COUNCILWOMAN, SO WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THIS. AS PREVIOUSLY SAID IN THE [01:45:04] MEMO -- EXCUSE ME. I'M GETTING MY NOTES TOGETHER HERE. THIS CONTRACT HERE, THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, SERVES HARLANDALE ISD, EDGEWOOD ISD, SAN ANTONIO ISD, AND JUDSON ISD. I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT WE HAVE ANOTHER CONTRACT THAT SERVES OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL. >> GONZALEZ: CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT ONE TOO? >> OUR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS CONTRACT, WHICH HAS BEEN FUNDED AT $400,000. BUT THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $150,000 TO THAT CONTRACT. THAT SERVES NORTHEAST, NORTH SIDE, SAISD, EAST CENTRAL, SOUTH SIDE, AND SOUTH SAN . WITH A COMBINED OF THOSE TWO CONTRACTS, WE'VE GOT ABOUT $1.1 MILLION GOING TO SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELING SERVICES FOR OUR KIDS. >> GONZALEZ: HOW DO STUDENTS KIND OF GET THESE SERVICES? >> ABSOLUTELY. SO SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF, WHETHER IT'S A TEACHER, A COUNSELOR, A PRINCIPAL, OR EVEN A SCHOOL DISTRICT SOCIAL WORKER IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHEN A STUDENT HAS A NEED. ALSO PARENTS ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IF THEY'D LIKE TO REFER THEIR KIDS. AND THEN THEY DO A REFERRAL TO ONE OF THESE CONTRACTORS. >> GONZALEZ: GREAT. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. I JUST REALLY APPLAUD THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE OFFERING THROUGH MEADOWS AND THROUGH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS. WE KNOW THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR STUDENTS AND AN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE TELLING US ABOUT. NOT THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO ASK ANYMORE. JUST REALLY APPLAUD THE WORK. AND IF WE CAN GET REGULAR UPDATES ON HOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOING, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. JUST FOR OUR EDIFICATION, AGAIN, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE A FEDERAL SHUTDOWN HERE BUT QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ANY FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WOULD IMPACT YOUR WORK. JUST FOR OUR EDIFICATION, WOULD YOU CLARIFY IF THERE ARE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE ALLOWING YOUR WORK TO BE DONE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THAT QUESTION. NO. THE WORK THAT WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING RIGHT NOW IS THROUGH OUR CITY'S GENERAL FUND. IT'S NOT THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THESE CONTRACTORS RECEIVE A TON OF FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH TITLE I, THROUGH SAMSA AND I KNOW THEY WILL BE PART OF THE TABLETOP EXERCISE AS WELL. WE'LL BE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING THIS PORTION. SO THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 22. PLEASE VOTE. [24. Ordinance amending the City’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit Resolution Policy for the issuance of resolutions of support and resolutions of no objection for applicants seeking housing tax credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. [John Peterek, Assistant City Manager; Veronica Garcia, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services Department]] THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NO. 24 WAS ALSO PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 24 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY'S LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT RESOLUTION POLICY FOR THE ISSUANCE OF RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT AND RESOLUTIONS OF NO OBJECTION FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING HOUSING TAX CREDITS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. >> MAYOR JONES: TH THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 24. WOULD COUNCILMEMBER KAUR LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION? NO ONE ELSE? OKAY. WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. DEBORAH GUERRERO IS FIRST. YOU'LL HVE THREE MINUTES. AND THEN FOLLOWED BY JEAN -- >> SHE HAD TO LEAVE. SO IT'S JUST ME. >> MAYOR JONES: GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS DEBORAH GUERRERO WITH THE NRP GROUP. I HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF MEETING WITH ALL OF YOU TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN NOT ONLY REAFFIRMED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BUT DEEPLY APPRECIATED. BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF US TO BUILD QUALITY AFFORDABLE UNITS. I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING PRETTY MUCH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND THE MEMBERS OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT MET AND DISCUSSED THIS PARTICULAR POLICY FOR ALMOST AN EIGHT-WEEK PERIOD. AND IT REPRESENTED -- THERE'S REPRESENTATIVES HERE. STAFF LED AN AMAZING, AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE IN A DIALOGUE. NRP, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS NOW WITH THE NRP GROUP. WE HAVE BUILT 11,000 UNITS HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 8,000 OF THEM BEING AFFORDABLE. WHICH MEANS AT 60% AND BELOW. WE HAVE USED EVERY FINANCING [01:50:02] MECHANISM TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MEET THE SHIP GOALS, BOTH THE 4 AND 9%. WE DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME AND HOUSING TRUST . IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BALANCE THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITY WITH THIS VERY COMPLEX STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCING MECHANISM. AND WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DOES THAT. I KNOW THAT THERE IS TALK ABOUT AMENDING, AT LEAST THE 9%, TO BETTER REFLECT THE CITY'S PRIORITIES. THAT IS GREAT. ON THE 4%, WE ASK THAT YOU LEAVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS IS. BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE CITY HAS PRIORITIES BUT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINANCING, THEY DON'T ALWAYS ALIGN. AND THE STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN MAKING SURE THAT WE BALANCE THAT AND THAT, IN THIS CASE, THEY DO. WE HAVE SEEN CITIES THAT IS NOT SAN ANTONIO. THANKS TO STAFF AND TO YOU ALL AS POLICYMAKERS. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BRINGING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND US LEVERAGING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS LOCATED HERE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON ITEM 24. PLEASE SIGN IN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME PULL THIS ITEM TODAY TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. I WANT TO FIRST START OFF BY THANKING NHSD STAFF FOR RESPONDING TO OUR MILLIONS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS POLICY ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN WE APPROVED THE LAST ROUND OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND NO OBJECTION. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, ALMOST. AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE PRESENTED WITH ALMOST 23 THAT WE HAD AUTHORIZED FOR SUPPORT BEFORE WE EVEN GOT TO ALL OF THOSE. MANY OF THEM HAD ALREADY DROPPED. SO I STARTED DIGGING INTO THE STATE PROCESS FOR LOW-INCOME TAX CREDITS AND IT'S VERY CONVOLUTED. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSING TRUST AS WELL, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE APPLICANT THAT MAKES IT TO THE STATE PROCESS KNOWS HOW TO GET THE MAX AMOUNT OF POINTS AT THE STATE. SO EVERYONE IS AT THE SAME LEVEL AND THEY HAVE THIS DIE-BREAKER PROCESS THAT'S BASICALLY AN ADDITION OF THE AMOUNT OF FEET OF HOW FAR AWAY YOU ARE FROM SCHOOL, TRANSPORTATION, GROCERY STORE, LIBRARY, ET CETERA. AND THEN THEY USE THAT TO RANK THE PROJECTS. SO OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL -- THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT I NOTICED IS WE HAD ONE PROJECT THAT WE LOST LAST YEAR FOR LITECH AND ALMOST HAD ANOTHER ONE POTENTIALLY THIS YEAR. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY IS THE CITY GETTING THESE CREDITS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OR BEXAR COUNTY, THERE'S OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR REGION AS WELL AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE TO TWO TO THREE THAT ARE POSSIBLE THIS YEAR. BUT ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, THE ONE GOAL THAT WE'RE NOT REACHING IS OUR 30% AMI UNITS FOR OUR SHIP GOALS. WE'RE PRETTY ON TRACK FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE EXCEPT FOR 30% AMI. THE OTHER REALITY IS THAT WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF OUR HOUSING BOND DOLLARS. WE HAVE VERY FEW HOUSING BOND DOLLARS LEFT. AND IF WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S LESS THAN 100 UNITS, BASICALLY A 9% LITECH IS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE. SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME PROJECTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE HOUSING TRUST THAT WE HAVE TO GET MORE STRATEGIC ON THAT BOARD OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE PURCHASING LAND AHEAD OF TIME IF WE CAN'T BUILD A 4% DEAL. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, 9% DEALS ARE SO INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE. SO, I WANT -- WE NEVER GOT TO EVEN PUT A CCR FORWARD BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAPPENING. BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, NHD DID AN AMAZING JOB WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WORKED THROUGH ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT I WAS TALKING WITH FOLKS ABOUT. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU HAVE SET. IN THIS NEW RUBRIC, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL POINTS LED FOR AFFORDABILITY WITH 20% UNITS OVER 30% -- OVER 20% UNITS OVER 30% AMI AND PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS TO GET THE MAX POINTS. IN ADDITION, THEY ADDED POINTS FOR LOCATION. SO IF YOU'RE WITHIN A QUARTER OR HALF A MILE OF WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THE GREEN OR SILVER LINE WITH ART, YOU GET ADDITIONAL POINTS. THERE'S ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR HIGH-QUALITY PRE-K, ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR WORKING WITH READY TO WORK, AND THOSE PROJECT AMENITIES ARE WHERE WE CAN ENHANCE OUR PROJECT ARE NO LONGER REALLY AS IMPORTANT, SO THOSE WERE TAKEN AWAY. AND ANOTHER ONE, WHICH IS NOW GUARANTEED IS POINTS FOR LOCAL SUBCONTRACTORS, USING [01:55:03] LOCAL CONTRACTORS IS NOW JUST A REQUIREMENT VERSUS ADDITIONAL POINTS WHERE IT WAS BEFORE. ALL OF THAT TO SAY, I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK NHSD HAS DONE. CITY STAFF HAS A TOUGH JOB OF BALANCING ALL THE PERSPECTIVES DURING THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES AND I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB WITH TOD AND HERE. AS WITH WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE, IF WE ARE GOING TO SET POLICY BARS FOR THESE THINGS WHERE YOU ARE GETTING ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR PRIORITIES, I THINK YOU SHOULD UP THE THRESHOLD FOR -- THE BAR THEY HAVE TO REACH TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE 9% LETTERS OF SUPPORT. IT'S REALLY OUR ONLY WAY TO PROVIDE LOCAL CONNECTION TO THESE STATE PROJECTS. SO THAT BEING SAID, I AM GOING TO BE MAKING AN AMENDMENT TODAY TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLD FROM 75 TO 80, ONLY FOR 9% DEALS. INITIALLY, I HAD TALKED TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT DOING THE 4% LETTERS OF NO OBJECTION AS WELL, BUT BECAUSE THOSE PROJECTS CAN ALSO BE IN ETJ OR BEXAR COUNTY AND DON'T GET AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THE LEVELS OF POINTS THAT SOME OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS DO, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT HOUSING. SO WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE TOO MANY BARRIERS TO HOUSING AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO BALANCE MAKING SURE SOME OF THESE PROJECT AMENITIES, DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, AND ACCESS TO THINGS THAT WE KNOW OUR RESIDENTS CARE ABOUT IS PRIORITIZED. THAT IS WHY I AM MAKING THE AMENDMENT TODAY AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP OUR FOLKS THAT ARE SUBMITTING PROJECTS THIS UPCOMING YEAR REALLY CHOOSE SERVICES THAT HAVE GREAT VALUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS WE DID AN ANALYSIS -- WELL, NHSD ON THE SAME APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED LAST YEAR WITHIN THE NEW RUBRIC. ALL OF THE 13 FOLKS THAT GOT LETTERS OF SUPPORT LAST YEAR, ONLY TWO OF THEM WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN A LETTER UNDER THE NEW THRESHOLD, IF WE SET IT TO 80. AND SO EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT GOT A STATE AWARD WOULD STILL HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE AFFECTED THOSE PROJECTS. SO THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT -- I DON'T THINK THIS THRESHOLD IS GOING TO ELIMINATE FOLKS FROM GETTING LETTERS OF SUPPORT. IT WILL JUST HAVE THEM THINK TWICE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHICH OTHER THINGS THAT WE REALLY PRIORITIZE WITHIN THE HOUSING TRUST AND OTHER ENTITIES CAN THEY BRING TO THEIR RESIDENTS. ON THAT NOTE, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION BY CHANGING THE MINIMUM SCORE FOR A PROJECT TO BE AWARDED A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE RECOMMENDED 75 POINTS TO 80 POINTS. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE CRITERIA AS DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ THAT FOR EVERYONE'S EDIFICATION. >> CLERK: LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS RIGHT. THE MOTION IS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM SCORE FROM 75% TO 80% TO QUALIFY FOR THE 9% TAX CREDITS. >> KAUR: IT'S FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. WE CAN'T QUALIFY. SO IT'S JUST FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. AMEND -- CHANGE THE MINIMUM SCORE FOR A PROJECT TO BE AWARDED A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM 75 POINTS TO 80 POINTS. >> MAYOR JONES: MADAME CLERK, PLEASE SHARE THAT AGAIN. >> CLERK: IT'S TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM SCORE TO RECEIVE A 9% TAX CREDIT RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM 75% TO 80%. >> SEGOVIA: CORRECTION, CLERK. IT'S POINTS, NOT PERCENTAGE. POINTS. >> MAYOR JONES: IT'S THE POINTS. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE RESTATE IT. >> KAUR: CAN YOU CLARIFY? BECAUSE 4% DEAL COULD RECEIVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT BUT THEY ONLY NEED A LETTER OF NO OBJECTION. SO WE SHOULDN'T CLARIFY THE 9%. SO IT'S JUST -- >> THE THRESHOLD TO RECEIVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT. THE AMENDMENT IS TO MAKE THAT 80 POINTS INSTEAD OF THE RECOMMENDED 75 POINTS. [02:00:05] >> KAUR: SO WE'RE NOT INCLUDING THE 9% BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WERE SUBMITTING FOR A 4%, THEY COULD GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT IF THEY REACHED THE 80 POINTS BUT THEY ONLY NEED A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. THAT'S WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECIFY? I'LL REPEAT THE AMENDMENT. IT'S TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION BY CHANGING THE MINIMUM SCORE FOR A PROJECT TO BE AWARDED A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM 75 POINTS TO 80 POINTS. >> YOU'RE CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN. THE TEAM IS CLARIFYING THAT THERE IS NO OPTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR A 4%. BUT I THINK YOUR AMENDMENT STANDS. THE THRESHOLD FOR THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, RECOMMENDING AT 80 POINTS. AND THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION REMAINS AT STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF 60 POINTS, I BELIEVE IS YOUR AMENDMENT. >> MAYOR JONES: SEVERAL OF US MAY HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THIS. SO WHILE YOU'RE THERE, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? AGAIN, YOU DIDN'T DO THE PRESENTATION. WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR SLIDES. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE ON IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THIS MAY HAVE? I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THIS MAY MAKE US POTENTIALLY LESS COMPETITIVE AND I WELCOME HEARING FROM YOU DIRECTLY IF THERE'S ANY MERIT TO THAT ARGUMENT. AND SPECIFICALLY DATA THAT SUPPORTS THAT ARGUMENT. >> OKAY. SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE. AS THE COUNCILWOMAN REIT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND I'LL EMPHASIZE, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED, WE DID GO THROUGH A LENGTHY PROCESS. STARTED IN AUGUST. WE VISITED WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AND GOT INPUT ON THEIR PRIORITIES FOR WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND CONSIDER FOR ADJUSTING OUR CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING THESE RESOLUTIONS. ALL OF THAT WAS SHARED IN DETAIL WITH THE FAIR SUBCOMMITTEE. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED. THEY HAD THREE MEETINGS. THEY WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATED AND PROVIDED FEEDBACK. SO WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS SINCE AUGUST, AND THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE. >> MAYOR JONES: YEAH. AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. I UNDERSTAND THIS CAME TO PLANNING LAST WEEK. AND SO WHILE IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST, THE FORMAL, YOU KNOW, INPUT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS I THINK WE WOULD APPRECIATE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND MAYBE EVEN BETTER CLARITY ON THE DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE SUFFICIENT TIME TO INCORPORATE THAT. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DO APPRECIATE THE COUNCILWOMAN'S EFFORT TO TRY TO CHANGE THIS A LITTLE BIT. BUT YOU SAID IT'S BEEN AN EIGHT-WEEK PROCESS? >> YES. WE STARTED IN AUGUST WITH THE COUNCIL INPUT AND THEN PROCEEDED INTO THE FAIR HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE, MULTIPLE MEETINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY VOTED ON ALL THE VARIETY OF SCORING CRITERIA POSSIBLE. AND THEN THAT WAS THEN BRIEFED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL, ALL PRIOR TO HOUSING COMMISSION AND PCDC LAST WEEK. >> MUNGIA: PCDC LAST WEEK. RIGHT. WAS THE COUNCILWOMAN'S AMENDMENT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAD CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY? AND WHY WASN'T THAT TAKEN AS A RECOMMENDATION BY THE FOLKS DOING THE WORK? >> YEAH. SO IT WAS SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE WAS ASKED TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD FOR THE NO OBJECTION LETTERS AND RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. THEY VOTED NO, WANTING TO SEND AS MANY COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS TO THE STATE AS POSSIBLE FROM THE SAN ANTONIO REGION. AND IF THEY DO NOT GET THE FULL LETTER OF SUPPORT LOCALLY, THEY JUST REALLY WON'T BE AS COMPETITIVE AT THE STATE LEVEL. >> MUNGIA: AND YOU'RE MAKING CHANGES TO THE SCORING CRITERIA THAT WE ALL SAW, WE HAVE ALL BEEN BRIEFED ON, WE HAD AT PCDC. IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT THESE CHANGES RAISE THE BAR FOR PROJECTS TRYING TO APPLY FOR THESE RESOLUTIONS? >> YES. ABSOLUTELY. WE ELIMINATED POINTS THAT DEVELOPERS COULD CLAIM FOR THINGS THEY MAY HAVE HAD TO DO AT THE STATE LEVEL ANYWAY, SUCH AS WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES. SO THAT'S NOW A MINIMUM THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT. SO WE DID MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON FULL INPUT. ELIMINATING THE EASIER POINTS AND MAKING IT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET SOME OF THE POINTS BASED ON OUR LOCAL CRITERIA. >> MUNGIA: YEP. I APPRECIATE THOSE CHANGES. I THINK THEY'RE GOOD. I THINK IT'S WORTH SEEING THAT OUT FOR A YEAR OR TWO. AND CERTAINLY COMING BACK TO COUNCIL WITH FEEDBACK. I THINK ESPECIALLY IF ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH EVEN WITH THE AMENDMENT, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD CHANGE THE AMENDMENT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A REAL CHANGE IN THAT. SO I THINK THE POINTS ARE GREAT CHANGES THAT Y'ALL ARE MAKING. [02:05:01] YOU WENT THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS SO I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING STAFF RECOMMENDATION TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ANYTHING ELSE? MEMBER KAUR, I APPRECIATE EFFORT, AS WE JUST EXPLAINED HERE, THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANYBODY LESS COMPETITIVE, WHAT IT DOES IS FRANKLY RAISE THE STANDARD IN TERMS OF WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY THINK WE DESERVE, RIGHT? AND WE WANT TO BE HIGHER QUALITY PROJECTS PUT FORTH AND WE DO THAT BY RAISING THE STANDARD FOR WHAT WE WILL THEN ISSUE SUPPORT FOR. I APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT. I THINK IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. I APPRECIATE ALSO THE NEW CRITERIA THAT YOU ALL HAVE INCLUDED HERE, HIGH QUALITY PRE-K, TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS FOR EXAMPLE FOR OUR VETERANS AND WHATNOT. I THINK ALL OF THAT MAKES SENSE. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE COUNCILWOMAN'S EFFORT TO RAISE OUR STANDARD ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO COMPETE FOR THOSE IN LIGHT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEEDS AND THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE THOSE. THIS DOES, AS COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA HIGHLIGHTS, THOUGH, THERE WAS A PROCESS IN PLACE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MESSIER THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED, BUT I THINK IT IS WORTHWHILE. I UNDERSTAND YOU ALSO HAVE A DEADLINE BY 1 DECEMBER TO MAKE A DECISION HERE NOT ONLY ON THE CRITERIA, BUT ALSO ON THE SCORING. SO I WOULD JUST REITERATE BOTH TO THE STAFF AND CERTAINLY TO MY COLLEAGUES AS BEST OF A -- OF AWARENESS OF A DECISION AND THE TIMELINE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE AND WHEN YOU NEED OUR INPUT INTO THAT TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS AS SMOOTH OF A PROCESS AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: REAL QUICK. CAN YOU INFORM ME WHO WAS ON THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AGAIN? >> SURE. THE FAIR HOUSING SUBCOMMITTEE OR COMMITTEE INCLUDED KATIE WILSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLOSE TO HOME. MICHAEL REYES WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME. PETE ALANIZ WITH THE HOUSING TRUST. CHRISTINE AVILA. JEAN LACHA. DEBRA GUERRERO FROM NRP GROUP. THANK YOU. BRAD NECK MCMURRAY. >> MUNGIA: AND THEY ALL GOT TO WEIGH IN ON ALL THIS STUFF? >> YES. >> MAYOR JONES: GO AHEAD. >> KAUR: I EMAILED THEM ALL TOO YESTERDAY TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE NOT BLINDSIDED. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD SOME QUICK QUESTIONS. LOOKING AT THE PRIORITY POINTS -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING. JUST QUICK MATH WITH IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IF WE MOVED TO 80, NEARLY EVERY PRIORITY POINT TO BE MET, EXCEPT FOR PICK YOUR TWO OF 10 AND FIVE OR I GUESS HOWEVER YOU WANT TO BREAK IT DOWN, BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT ARE THERE CERTAIN POINTS WE'RE NOT SEEING MET TOO OFTEN THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO BUILD THE HOUSING BY ANY MEANS? >> I CAN'T THINK OF ANY CATEGORY THAT'S NOT BEING MET. I THINK WITH THE NEW CRITERIA THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS LIKE PRE-K FOR SA, WHICH DEFINITELY NOT EVERY DEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE, BUT LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO WE SAW THAT BEING A PRIORITY AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO WE DID HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS INCLUDE THAT, SO TO TRY AGAIN AND ALIGN HOW WE ARE PROVIDING LETTERS LOCALLY AND ENSURE THEY MEET OUR LOCAL PRIORITIES WITH HOW THE STATE IS ACTUALLY SCORING THESE PROJECTS, WE CREATE THAT AS A PRIORITY SERVICE ITEM WITH MAXIMUM POINTS FOR THAT CATEGORY. >> GOT IT. >> BUT PREVIOUS TO THE STATE INCLUDING THAT, WE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IN A THAT IN PROJECTS HERE LOCALLY. >> MAYOR JONES: A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. IT'S NOT PRE-K FOR SA, IT'S HIGH QUALITY PRE-K. >> YES, MAYOR, HIGH QUALITY WITH THE SAME STANDARDS WE MAINTAIN FOR PRE-K FOR SA. >> MAYOR JONES: THE SAME MINIMUM STANDARDS. >> YES. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S THE MINIMUM STANDARD, PRE-K FOR SA FAR EXCEEDS THOSE VERSUS SOME OF THE OTHER HIGH QUALITY PRE-K PROVIDERS, TO CLARIFY. >> YES, THANK YOU. >> GALVAN: I THINK THAT WAS THE BIGGEST QUESTION I HAD WAS MAKING SURE I WON'T GET TOO, TOO DIFFICULT, AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR YOU DID THE BACK WORK. I GUESS THAT WAS MY MAIN WORRY IS IF WE'RE -- I CHOSE [02:10:05] MY OWN TO MAKE THIS MATH WORK. I WAS LOOKING AT IF TARGETED AREAS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OR SBEDA OR THINGS THAT ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE OR THINGS OF THE SORT I GUESS WHAT IT MEANS FOR THEMSELVES. >> I WILL ADD AGAIN FROM A SCORING PERSPECTIVE HERE LOCALLY, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT SCORE HIGH AT THE STATE LEVEL ARE BASED -- AS THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED, THE STATE'S LOCATION PREFERENCES. SO A PROJECT HERE LOCALLY, THOUGH IT MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF CRITERIA WE LIKE, IT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE JOB POINTS AND THEREFORE IT WOULD NOT EVEN APPLY AT THE NINE PERCENT LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION THAT SCORED WELL STATEWIDE. >> GALVAN: I SEE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, VERONICA. SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE AMENDMENT. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE RESTATE THAT AGAIN FOR EVERYONE'S EDIFICATION AND WE'LL PROCEED TO THE VOTE. >> THE MOTION IS TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION BY CHANGING THE MINIMUM SCORE FOR A PROJECT TO BE AWARDED RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT BE CHANGED FROM THE RECOMMENDED 75 TO 80 POINTS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK. SO PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. AND NOW WE WILL -- THANK YOU. AND NOW WE WILL VOTE ON THE MAIN -- THE AMENDED MAIN MOTION. THANK YOU. PLEASE RESTATE THAT, MADAM CLERK. >> THE VOTE IS FOR THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED PREVIOUSLY. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. ERIK, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE [City Manager's Report  ] CITY MANAGER'S REPORT IF YOU HAVE ONE THIS WEEK. >> YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. FIRST I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT THE SAN ANTONIO'S NAACP BRANCH RECENTLY HOSTED THEIR JUBILEE DINNER WITH OVER 800 ATTENDEES. AS PART OF THAT CELEBRATION OUR VERY OWN FORMER CITY MANAGER WAS WARDED A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AND DAVID DID AT THE EVENT READ YOUR PROCLAMATION AT THE EVENT AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE AWARD AND DAVID FOR HIS CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NAACP, AND WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR REPRESENTING -- CONTINUING TO REPRESENT US WELL. THANK YOU, DAVID. SECONDLY, MAYOR, I WANTED TO ASK MARIO MARTINEZ FROM METRO HEALTH, JESSICA AND MEL FROM HUMAN SERVICES JUST TO DROP BY COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON AND RECOGNIZE AND THANK THEM FOR REALLY THE RAPID WORK THEY PULLED TOGETHER LAST WEEK. AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS, OVER $1.4 MILLION WAS RAISED LAST WEEK FOR THOSE RECIPIENTS OF SNAP BENEFITS THAT ARE SEEING AN INTERRUPTION AND RAISED BY THE MAYOR. THE TEAM AT METRO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ON CONTINUOUSLY SHIFTING GROUND OVER THE COURSE OF LAST WEEK SAILED UP AND LAID OUT A PROGRAM TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE, WHICH BEGAN YESTERDAY. AND I WANTED TO THANK THEM. THEY WERE VERY NIMBLE LAST WEEK AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL, BUT THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE ONGOING. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH A NUMBER OF THE COUNCIL OFFICES, AND I THINK IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF RECOGNIZING WHEN THE COMMUNITY'S IN NEED AND SETTING PRIORITIES AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO OPERATIONALIZE. SO THANK YOU TO BOTH TEAMS FOR THEIR WORK. I DID NOT MENTION CLAUDE ONLY BECAUSE CLAUDE WAS OUT LAST WEEK, BUT THANK YOU, CLAUDE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. BUT MARIO HAD BROAD SHOULDERS LAST WEEK AND REALLY TOOK THE BALL AND RAN. [02:15:03] AND THEN LASTLY, MAYOR, REALLY AN INTERESTING SPOTLIGHT VIDEO FROM RACHEL WHO JOINED THE CITY ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO IN OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND HAS REALLY TAKEN ON A PROGRAM TO HELP STEWARDSHIP AND MAINTENANCE IN OUR HISTORICAL CEMETERIES. SO LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO. >> WE ARE HERE IN THE EASTSIDE CEMETERY TRAINING RESIDENTS IN HANDS ON CEMETERY CONSERVATION. SO THE CEMETERY STEWARD PROGRAM IS REALLY TRYING TO FILL IN THAT GAP OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RESPECTING AND REPAIRING OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES. AND PART OF THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS IT'S ACTIVATING THESE SPACES SO IT DID HETERS ANY TYPE OF NEGATIVITY ACTIVITY THAT AN ABANDONED SPACE MIGHT ATTRACT SO THAT IT'S THE SACRED PLACE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. >> I'M FROM ARM ARNOLD THAT'S WHERE ALL MY FOLKS ARE BURIED. I'D LOVE TO GET UP THERE AND CLEAN THEIRS OFF. THIS WILL GIVE ME THE SKILLS TO TRAVEL BACK THERE AND DO THAT FOR THEM. >> THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TENDS TO BE INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES IS ALSO CLIMATE ACTION. WHAT I APPRECIATE MOST ABOUT WORKING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS THAT THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE IN OUR HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND IT CREATES THE CHARACTER THAT'S UNIQUE TO SAN ANTONIO AS WELL. ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE CEMETERY STEWARD PROGRAM IS WELCOME TO JOIN US. THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY ABOUT ACTIVATING THE SPACE SO EVERYONE FEELS SAFE USING THE CEMETERY AS A PARK SPACE AS IT WAS HISTORICALLY INTENDED. >> I'M HOOKED. I HOPE SOMEBODY WILL DO ME ONE DAY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, CLEAN MINE. >> THAT'S IT, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. LET ME ALSO REITERATE MY THANKS TO HUMAN SERVICES AND TO METRO HEALTH. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING HARD. THEY WORK HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY. I WAS JUST AT THE DISTRICT 5 SENIOR CENTER. BERTHA FRANKLIN IS WONDERFUL, A JOY. WE WERE THERE EARLY MEETING WITH SOME OF THE SENIORS THAT WERE GOING TO BE THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE GIFT CARDS. SO THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT AS ERIK MENTIONED, THE NEED TO, FRANKLY, GET INTO ACTION AND DISTRIBUTE THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE RESOURCES, THE SMALL RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AND HOPEFULLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS UP AND RUNNING HERE SHORTLY. BUT REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. AND IN FACT, YESTERDAY ACTUALLY SOME OF THE VETERANS THAT JOINED US ON THE STEPS WERE ALSO PART OF THAT DISTRIBUTION TEAM AS THEY WORK AT HEAD START. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR TEAM'S EFFORTS. LET ME SEE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE COMMENTS HERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE WILL RECESS UNTIL 12:30, AND AT 12:30 WE WILL RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO I'LL GOING TO READ US OUT INTO THAT. THE TIME IS NOW 12:11 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BEGINNING AT 12:30 TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 551.087. THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE >> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 2:12 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 6,E SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE TIME IS NOW 2:12 AND THIS MEETING IS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.