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THE TIME IS NOW 2:13 P.M. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 AND THE SAN ANTONIO'S ZONING AND LAND USE SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER . MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
ITEMS TO CONTINUE TO DECEMBER 4TH: ARE 1, 19, AND 20.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE ITEMS? >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A
MOTION TO CONTINUE. . >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE NO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THOSE ITEMS. IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS TO BE CONTINUED? MY APOLOGIES.
JACK FINGER HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. NOW, MADAME MAYOR, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, JUST A CLARIFICATION, THOSE BEING CONTINUED ARE ITEMS 1, 19, AND 20. IS ITEM NO. 5 ALSO BEING CONTINUED?
>> MAYOR JONES: THAT WOULD NOT BE NUMBERS 1, 19, OR 20. NO, SIR.
>> SO IT'S PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS 5?
>> MAYOR JONES: SIR, 1, 19, AND 20. >> OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO GET A CLARIFICATION THERE. OKAY.
TO BE CONTINUED. ITEM NO. 1 IS ABOUT AN ALCOHOL VARIANCE AND IT IS IN MS. SUKH KAUR'S DISTRICT AND SHE IS NOT SITTING IN HER SEAT AT THIS TIME.
FOR THOSE INTERESTED, THE TEXAS ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE COMMISSION TELLS US THEY DON'T WANT ALCOHOL BEING SOLD WITHIN 300 FEET OF A SCHOOL.
NOW, THEY DO GIVE THE RULING ENTITIES A CHANCE TO SAY NO TO THAT, BUT IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE SOME GOOD REASONS FOR THAT. AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALCOHOL BEING SOLD WITHIN 300 FEET OF WHERE SCHOOL KIDS PLAY AT TIMES.
AND SO, YES. AND SINCE ALL OF YOU DO HAVE A VOTE ON THIS AND SO I'D APPRECIATE IT IF INSTEAD OF MERELY JUST CONTINUING IT AND KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, IF SOMEONE WOULD MOVE FOR AN ACTUAL DELIBERATION ON THIS AND SAY -- IN ORDER TO SAY NO TO IT. YEAH. YEAH.
THE SCHOOL THAT'S BEING PLACED NEXT TO IS THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SAN ANTONIO . IT'S RIGHT ON BABCOCK ROAD THERE.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY NO TO THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MS. KAUR IS NOW. I DID SEE HER EARLIER IN AUDIO]. CONSEQUENTLY, I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT
WHILE WE HAD A CHANCE TO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS THE ONLY SPEAKER SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS TO BE CONTINUED? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE ITEMS 1, 19, AND 20 TO DECEMBER 4TH. PLEASE VOTE.
OKAY. THE MOTION PASSES. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ITEMS 5, 7, 8, 13, 18, AND 21.
THE REMAINING ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO PULL AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS
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THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON -- EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.OKAY. JACK FINGER IS THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BRENDA PACHECO.
>> MADAME MAYOR, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I WISH TO BRING TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, OH, SOME ILLUSTRATIONS ON AT LEAST ONE OF THE ITEMS I'M GOING TO BRING ABOUT. THIS IS ITEM NO. 5, AND THAT'S ONCE AGAIN IN MS. KAUR'S DISTRICT AND SHE'S STILL NOT THERE. BUT, ANYWAY, I WOULD LIKE
FOR ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT -- >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE SPEAKING ON THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
NO. 5 IS ON THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. >> OH, INDIVIDUAL.
GOOD TO KNOW. I'LL ADJUST MY PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR JONES: AS A REMINDER ON THE CONSENT AGENDA YOU SIGNED UP FOR 3, 9, AND 10.
>> THAT'S GOOD. >> MAYOR JONES: AND 15 AND 17.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NOW, A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE A LESSON IN SPECIAL INTEREST AND THEIR ZONING PROCEDURES. USED CAR LOTS.
DO WE REALLY NEED MORE OF THEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? I MEAN, YOU GO UP AND DOWN SAN PEDRO EVERYWHERE. IT JUST -- YES, WE NEED TO BUY USED CARS AT TIMES BUT THEY TEND TO BE EYESORES AT TIMES, YOU KNOW? BUT, YEAH.
WE HAVE THEM IN VARIOUS PLACES IN ONCE AGAIN, MS. KAUR'S DISTRICT, SHE'S STILL NOT THERE. SHE HAS ONE OVER ON BASSE ROAD SHE'S PLANNING ON PUTTING. MR. -- VIAGRAN ON CHAVANEAUX ROAD.
YOU'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING ONE THERE AS WELL, AS I SEE. MR. MUNGIA, YOU'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING A USED CAR LOT OVER ON -- I BELIEVE IT IS -- WELL, SOMERSET THERE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. YES, AND, YEAH. AND ALSO DO WE NEED MORE BARS OR TAVERNS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? YES.
THERE WAS ONE BEING PLANNED, MR. MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, SIR, THAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON ALLOWING ONE TO BE PLACED OVER ON AUSTIN STREET THERE.
I MEAN, GEE WIZ, LET'S SAY NO TO SOME OF THESE. DO WE REALLY NEED MORE ALCOHOL FLOWING AROUND EVERY PLACE AROUND HERE ? THAT'S THERE.
AND, FINALLY, MR. MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, ONCE AGAIN, THE VERY NEXT ONE, ITEM 10 IS ABOUT PLACING A PARKING LOT OVER ON, WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT IT SAYS HERE.
LET'S SEE WHAT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS SAY. A LOT OF THEM HERE TODAY.
SEQUIN STREET. YEAH. IT'S NESTLED RIGHT IN AND AMONG SOME RESIDENCES. I MEAN, NO BUFFERS. NOTHING THERE.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I NOTICED. CONSEQUENTLY, SIR, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO LIVE NEAR THIS, JUST A BLAND PARKING LOT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD. JUST SAY NO TO IT.
GET IT OVER WITH THERE, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
AND -- THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: BRENDA PACHECO FOLLOWED BY ANDREW
TEJEDA. >> I MEANT TO DO INDIVIDUAL FOR ITEM 14.
IS THAT WHAT I DID? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SIGNED UP ONLINE.
>> MAYOR JONES: YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON WHICH ONE? >> 14.
>> MAYOR JONES: THAT ITEM IS ON CONSENT, SO YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT NOW, IF YOU
WOULD LIKE. >> THAT'S FINE. WELL, THANK YOU.
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COUNCIL, MS. VIAGRAN, THANK YOU FOR JUDGING OUR DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CONTEST ON SATURDAY. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR MAKING AN APPEARANCE.THAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. MY NAME IS BRENDA PACHECO.
I AM A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE SAN JOSE MISSION COMMUNITY AND CHURCH .
IF I CAN BRAG A LITTLE, MY FAMILY, THE POMPOPA INDIANS ARE CREDITED WITH BUILDING SAN JOSE WHEN IT WAS BUILT INITIALLY, AND I HAVE LIVED IN THAT AREA ALL MY LIFE.
AS YOU CAN PROBABLY UNDERSTAND, ALL THINGS SAN JOSE MISSION IN THE COMMUNITY MATTER TO ME. TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THE PLANS THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS TO BUILD AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE VENUE SPACE. I WASN'T AT THE ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY, SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE WERE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP. ONE OF THEM WAS PERHAPS THERE AREN'T ENOUGH VENUES, WEDDING VENUES IN THE AREA. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, OKAY? HANGAR 9 IS A VENUE. IT'S ONLY FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED VENUE. 3.9 MILES. THE VIA CORONADO CENTER IS EIGHT MINUTES AWAY, 3.5 MILES . THE EMPORIUM ON CHAVANEAUX.
ST. LEO'S CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS A VENUE AT THEIR CHURCH, IT'S FIVE MINUTES AWAY, 1.4 MILES. AND FINALLY, PIKA, PIKA, THE LARGE MARKETPLACE AND ALSO VENUE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROPOSED VENUE.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY VENUES IN THAT AREA, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING AND NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH INTO THE DISTANCE OF THE OTHER BINGO PARLORS THAT ARE IN THE AREA. THERE'S ONE AT 1131 SOUTHEAST MILITARY. IT'S A MINUTE AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED VENUE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF. THE MISSION BINGO CENTER IS ONE MINUTE AWAY ON 1219 MILITARY. AND ALSO ON MILITARY THERE'S CIRCUS BINGO.
OVER THE PAST YEARS, EVERY SINCE WE ACHIEVED UNESCO STATUS, THERE'S BEEN MUCH TALK ABOUT REVITALIZATION IN THAT AREA. I AGREE.
IT DOES NEED TO BE REVITALIZED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED VENUE IS A BAR. A POPULAR BAR CALLED MUSTANG SALLY'S. IT HAS MUCH PARTICPATION ON THE WEEKENDS .
THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PARK ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT PARTICULAR ESTABLISHMENT, WALK ACROSS ROOSEVELT AVENUE, AND PARK IN OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY FIND SPACES. LONG STORY SHORT, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT
YOU CONSIDER -- >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> TABLING THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU
CAMBELL. YOU HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES. >> WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, YOU KNOW THAT'S A VERY CONGESTED AREA AND YOU DO SEE IN THE EVENING PEOPLE PARK ACROSS THE STREET IN AREAS THEY SHOULD NOT BE PARKING.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND ON TUESDAY, THERE WAS A FORMULA THAT THE CITY FOLLOWED THAT SAID, YES FOR THE SIZE OF THE VENUE AND WHAT'S PROPOSED, THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF PARKING. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW AND BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO BE 70, THAT SOMETIMES DEVELOPERS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY DON'T DO IT. AND THERE'S HARDLY THE STAFF AMONGST THE CITY EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVELOPER DID WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. WHAT I WOULD HAVE HOPED WAS THAT THE DEVELOPER HAD COME TO THE AREA FIRST BEFORE HE PURCHASED IT AND TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORS AND TALKED TO THE OTHER BUSINESSES AND GOT A FEEL OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THAT AREA. AND I DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENED.
APPARENTLY, THE DEVELOPER HAS MANY OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THEY'RE VERY -- THEY DO WELL.
THEY DO WELL. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THAT SPACE WILL DO WELL AND I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE. IF YOU COULD PLEASE CONSIDER TABLING THIS FOR MORE DISCUSSION AND MORE RESEARCH, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
ATTENTIVE. >> MAYOR JONES: ANDREW TEJEDA FOLLOWED BY PETER GARCIA. PETER, IF YOU WOULD LINE UP BEHIND MR. TEJEDA, PLEASE.
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THANKS. >> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN FOR SUPPORTING THIS. I WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ADDRESS YOU AS A RESIDENT AND AS A PROFESSIONAL.
I'VE PERSONALLY LIVED IN D3 FOR 60 YEARS SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT MS. PACHECO IS TALKING ABOUT. BUT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT THERE. AS FAR AS TRAFFIC AND ALL THAT, AS YOU KNOW ROOSEVELT IS TWICE AS LARGE AS FLORES OR PLEASANTON. I MEAN, IT IS A LARGE THOROUGHWAY, WHICH ON WEEKENDS WE HAVE PROBLEMS NOT ONLY WITH HOMELESS THERE, A LOT OF VAGRANCY, A LOT OF HOT RODDERS AND ALL THAT.
THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT IS NEEDED IN THAT AREA TO PROMOTE MORE DEVELOPMENT.
I'VE SPOKEN TO PETER GARCIA. HE'S A WONDERFUL MAN. I THINK THE WAY HE RUNS HIS BUSINESS IS PROPER. THE D3 ZONING COMMISSIONER HIMSELF WENT OUT THERE, SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE, ASKED THEM WHAT THEY WANTED. HE'S IN FAVOR.
I WENT OUT THERE. I SPOKE TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE PEOPLE WITHIN 200 FEET. NONE WERE OPPOSED. NO BUSINESSES WERE OPPOSED.
NO EMPLOYEES WERE OPPOSED. NO OWNERS WERE OPPOSED. SO, I WANT TO GET THAT ON THE RECORD. NOW, I'VE SPOKEN TO REVITALIZATION.
YEAH, IT IS THE KEY TO GROWTH IN THIS AREA. WITH RESPECT TO BINGO, THAT IS A BIG THING. AS WE ALL KNOW, BINGO IS A GENERATIONAL THING FOR US.
ESPECIALLY WHERE WE LIVE. MY GREATEST MEMORIES WERE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER PLAYING BINGO. MY DAUGHTER PLAYED BINGO WITH MY MOTHER.
I WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO CONTINUE. YES, THERE'S OTHER BINGO HALLS BUT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WHERE THEY WANT.
PICA PICA CAN DO BINGO AS WELL IF THEY WANT. WITH RESPECT TO THE VENUE ITSELF , THERE ARE OTHER VENUES -- I KNOW SHE SPOKE ABOUT ONE THAT WAS RUN BY TEXAS SUGAR DADDY'S. I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WANT MY DAUGHTER TO GO TO THAT ONE. I KNOW THAT PICA PICA PERSONALLY IS INSIDE A FLEA MARKET. LET'S BE REAL. WE NEED A REAL VENUE THAT'S BEAUTIFIED JUST AS A VENUE FOR OUR QUINCEANERAS, OUR WEDDINGS, FOR ANY PARTIES YOU KNOW WE LIKE TO DO, ESPECIALLY IF WE LIVE ON THE SOUTHSIDE.
WE DON'T NEED MUCH TO THROW A PARTY ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE HOA PRESIDENT THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE IN DIRECT CONFLICT TO THE MISSION.
WE'RE MISSION MEMBERS AS WELL. MY MOM'S --
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD, YOU CAN DO SO.
UNLESS YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. PETER GARCIA FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THERE ARE GOOD OPERATORS AND THERE ARE BAD OPERATORS FOR ANY KIND OF BUSINESS. WHETHER THAT BE A RESTAURANT, EVENT CENTER, BINGO HALL, OR EVEN YOUR DRY CLEANING.
WE ARE A GOOD OPERATOR. WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO. I'M NOT A BIG BELIEVER IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
WHEN I SEE SOMETHING, I'VE GOT TO TACKLE IT. IF YOU EVER VISIT ONE OF OUR VENUES, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL. THEY ARE CLASSY. THIS IS A PLACE FOR MEMORIES TO BE MADE, FAMILIES TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE, FOR TEENAGERS TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE.
FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE A LIVING AS WELL. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE, PARKING. WE ARE EXCEEDING THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS NOT A PLACE, AN EVENT CENTER -- THIS IS NOT NIOSA, THIS IS NOT FIESTA. THIS IS A CLASSY EVENT CENTER.
THE WORLD HERITAGE HAS BEEN SPOKEN TO. THEY HAVE NOT VOICED ANY CONCERNS AS WELL. LANDSCAPING, WE WILL LANDSCAPE THE PROPERTY.
WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN OUR PROPERTIES. THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 40 YEARS. BECAUSE WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND WE TAKE PRIDE.
I WON'T TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
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>> MAYOR JONES: PATRICIA. >> MY NAME IS PATRICIA DUARTE AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE 3317 ROOSEVELT AVENUE PROPERTY. I'M GOING TO YIELD MY TIME
TO ROSEMARY ZUNIGA. >> MAYOR JONES: MA'AM, YOU'RE NOT SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE YOU, PATRICIA, THAT SPEAKS. >> I'M SIGNED UP TOO.
ANGUIANO ZUNIGA. >> MAYOR JONES: NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, MA'AM.
I DON'T SEE HER ON THE OTHER ONE. >> THE YOUNG LADY IN THE
FRONT, I TOLD -- >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THE CLERK SAYS YOU CAN SPEAK, SO IT WILL BE SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU.
SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK. >> I'M KIND OF NERVOUS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ROSEMARY ANGUIANO ZUNIGA.
ON LAND THAT WAS ONCE OWNED BY PEDRO, THE SCULPTURE OF THE ROSE WINDOW AND A MISSION DESCENDANT AND DAUGHTER OF THE LATE ROBERTO ANGUIANO, WHO FOUNDED THE MISSION SAN JOSE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND SERVED ON THE SAWS BOARD FOR EIGHT YEARS . I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE MISSION SAN JOSE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER BOWLING ALLEY AT 3371 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, LOCATED WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION, UNESCO, WORLD HERITAGE DISTRICT . OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF MR. GARCIA'S PROPERTY AND WE WELCOME THE IDEA OF AN EVENT CENTER THAT COULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND ADD LIFE TO THE CORRIDOR. WE BELIEVE A WELL-MANAGED VENUE WOULD FIT THE AREA IF IT'S DONE RESPONSIBLY WITH CLEAR LIMITS AUDIO]. HOWEVER, WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE INCLUSION OF BINGO OR GAMING OPERATIONS IN THEIR PLAN. THERE ARE ALREADY TWO BINGO HALLS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF MR. GARCIA'S PROPERTY AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ALREADY 26 BINGO LOCATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO. TWO OF THEM, WHICH ARE IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WORLD HERITAGE AREA. THE ONES THAT BRENDA BROUGHT UP. ADDING BINGO HERE WOULD MOVE THIS PROJECT AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY PURPOSE AND TOWARDS SOMETHING PURELY COMMERCIAL.
IT SIMPLY DOES NOT BELONG IN THE MISSION ROOSEVELT CORRIDOR .
WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVELOPERS AND CONSISTENCY. AT ONE POINT THEY AGREED TO DROP THE IDZ ZONING AND THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR POSITION. THAT KIND OF FLIP-FLOP MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO TRUST THE PROCESS. FRANKLY, THE SAME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD NOT BE APPROVED ON BROOKS CITY-BASE WHERE HIGHER PLANNING AND DESIGN STANDARDS ARE REQUIRED. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES THE SAME RESPECT AND OVERSIGHT. QUESTIONABLE DEVELOPMENT AROUND MISSION CONCEPCION HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPEAT SUCH DEVELOPMENT CLOSE TO SAN ANTONIO'S QUEEN OF THE MISSIONS.
SAN JOSE MISSION IS ONE OF THE FIVE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LOCATIONS IN TEXAS.
OUR MISSIONS ARE SACRED, CULTURAL LANDMARKS. MISSION SAN JOSE WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER PROTECTED UNDER THE STATE OF TEXAS, PERHAPS THROUGH THE TEXAS HISTORICALLY COMMISSION, WHICH HAS SHOWN STRONGER STEWARDSHIP OF HISTORIC RESOURCES . FINALLY, WE WANT CONSCIOUS PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TO BE CATALYSTS FOR HERITAGE-BASED REDEVELOPMENT, TO ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO STAY LONGER AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. THAT'S THE KIND OF INVESTMENT THAT ALIGNS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, UNESCO'S FOCUS TO PROMOTE PEACE AND SECURITY BY FOSTERING INTERNATINAL COOPERATION IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, AND CULTURE. IN CLOSING, WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE REDEVELOPMENT OF MR. GARCIA'S PROJECT BUT WE DO NOT SUPPORT BINGO OR ANY USE THAT UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF THE MISSION SAN JOSE AREA.
LET'S MAKE CHOICES THAT HONOR OUR ANCESTORS, OUR HERITAGE, AND PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
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>> MAYOR JONES: PRISSLIANA FOLLOWED BY ENZO BANELLI. >> I'M PRISONSLIANA AND I
YIELD MY TIME TO BRADY ALEXANDER. >> MAYOR JONES: BRADY
ALEXANDER, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. >> MY NAME IS BRADY ALEXANDER. I REPRESENT THE HOT WELLS MISSION REACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND RESIDE AT 1839 EAST ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION TO THE BINGO ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT AND AGREE WITH THEM ABOUT THE OTHER TOPICS THEY HAVE BROUGHT UP. BASICALLY, I'M NOT A MISSION DESCENDANT, IN CASE YOU CAN'T TELL, BUT I CARE. AND I'M GOING TO ASK Y'ALL TO CARE AS MUCH AS YOU DO ABOUT RAINBOW SIDEWALKS AND PEOPLE THROWING A BASKETBALL THROUGH A HOOP. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO CARE THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THAT AS YOU DO FOR THE MISSIONS. SPECIFICALLY, MISSION SAN JOSE.
THE AREA AROUND THERE IS GOING TO BE REDEVELOPED AND WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THE CITY WORLD HERITAGE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS CREATED AFTER THE FIASCO OF MISSION CONCEPCION TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND IT'S REALLY SAD TO SAY THAT THE GREATEST THREAT TO ALL OUR MISSIONS IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL MENTALITY. WE ARE SEEING WHAT IS OCCURRING OR PROPOSED TO OCCUR AT MISSION SAN JOSE BEING UNDONE BY THE STATE AT THE ALAMO.
WE SEE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PURCHASING PROPERTY BY SAN JUAN AND ESPADA TO KEEP INAPPROPRIATE INFILL DEVELOPMENT FROM OCCURRING BY THOSE TWO MISSIONS.
THEY BASICALLY HAVE GIVEN UP ON SAN JOSE, CONCEPCION, AND OF COURSE THE ALAMO IS UNDER THE STATE. IT'S VERY CONCERNING WHEN WE SEE THIS.
WE WANT LEGACY AND HERITAGE BUSINESS BUT NOT OF ALL TYPES.
WHEN IT COMES TO BINGO, THAT'S AN EXPLOITIVE TYPE OF BUSINESS, JUST AS A PAYDAY LENDER, CASH IT HERE, ET CETERA. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS A HERITAGE BUSINESS BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, SAN ANTONIO IS ABOUT EXPLOITATION.
WE EXPLOIT THE POOR. WE EXPLOIT THEM BY GIVING THEM LOW-PAYING, MENIAL, SERVICE-INDUSTRY JOBS IN THE NOW DOWNTOWN AMUSEMENT PARK, WHICH WE WILL DO ALSO AT THE RODEO. SO NOW WE BASICALLY HAVE FOUR AMUSEMENT PARKS IN TOWN. AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE RESIDE IN THE POORER PARTS OF TOWN, NOT BY CHOICE BUT THEY HAVE TO. AND WHAT DO WE PUT IN THOSE AREAS? EXPLOITIVE BUSINESSES THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.
THIS IS WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS. THOUGH, IT IS AUTHENTIC.
AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE AUTHENTICITY THAT WE SHOULD PROJECT AT THE MISSIONS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF THE MISSIONS HAD NOT BEEN FOUNDED IN THAT LOCATION AND WE WERE NOT BLESSED WITH A WATER SUPPLY, ET CETERA. WHEN WE DESECRATE THAT PAST, WE ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO ALL. AND THAT'S JUST WRONG.
AND PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THIS. WHEN THEY COME DOWN TO VISIT, MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY GET TO SEE THE ABJECT POVERTY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TOO FAR FROM THE MISSION TO THINK YOU JUMPED A COUPLE OF RIVERS SOUTH OF HERE.
IT LOOKS BAD AND THAT REFLECTS BAD ON THIS TIME AND WE NEED TO GET RID OF THAT BORDERTOWN MENTALITY THAT I SEE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT CITY STAFF AND OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. IT'S REALLY SAD THAT THIS HAPPENS.
AND I WOULD BE PERSONALLY ASHAMED TO PERPETUATE THAT. I WILL NOT, AS LONG AS I AM A RESIDENT OF THIS TOWN AND I CHOOSE TO BE, NOT THAT I HAVE TO, I WILL NOT TOLERATE IT AND I WILL NOT BE SILENT ABOUT THIS AND WATCH THINGS THAT REALLY DON'T AFFECT ME.
IF THERE'S A BINGO HALL THERE, HEY, IT'S DOWN THE STREET.
I DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE. I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
BUT I LIVE IN THE AREA AND I SEE THE DAMAGE THAT IT DOES TO MY NEIGHBORS.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE POOR. IT'S JUST REALLY SAD TO SEE THIS.
AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL WILL HAVE THE VISION TO NOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF EXPLOITIVE BUSINESS IN THERE. BINGO IS GAMBLING. IT IS, WHAT I LIKE TO CALL A
[00:30:03]
TAX ON THE NAIVE. SO IS LOTTO, ET CETERA. IT CAUSES SO MANY PROBLEMS AND IT IS NOT THE PATH TO A CAREER. IT IS JUST A SHORT-SIGHTED WAY OF TRYING TO MAKE MONEY, IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DO THAT, THAT'S FINE AND DANDY.BUT BY CONCENTRATING IT IN MARGINALIZED AREAS, AS IT IS BEING DONE, IT CAUSES A PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM ABOUT A BINGO HALL BEING PLACED NEXT TO THE ALAMO OR THE LA CANTERA BINGO HALL IS NOT ON THE DOCKET YET. BUT EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE. LET'S FACE IT, SAN ANTONIO ROTS FROM THE SOUTH UP. IT'S GETTING WORSE. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE CAR DEALERS, CHURCHES, ET CETERA HEADING OUT I-10, I-35. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. I WANT TO LIVE IN AN INTEGRATED SOCIETY, NOT A SEGREGATED. AND WITH SEGREGATION, ECONOMIC -- LET'S PUT IT BLUNTLY, RACIAL. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THIS BUSINESS HELPS PERPETUATE THAT AND WE WISH THAT THE OWNER WOULD HAVE KEPT HIS WORD TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE ZONING COMMISSION AND DROPPED THE BINGO ASPECT OF THAT.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW. EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY GOOD. SO WE ASK THAT THIS BE DROPPED AND THAT HE KEEP HIS WORD, REAPPLY MINUS THE IDZ FOR THE BINGO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: ENZO BANELLI.
MR. HARMAYER, IF YOU WOULD LINE UP. THANKS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ENZO AND I RESIDE AT 222 EAST HOUSTON STREET. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN FOR HER SUPPORT OF THIS ZONING CASE. AND I STAND IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 14 FOR TWO KEY REASONS: ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY. ECONOMICALLY, THIS PROJECT MAKES VERY STRONG SENSE. MY BACKGROUND IS IN ECONOMICS UP TO AND INCLUDING THE GRADUATE AND DOCTORAL-LEVEL COURSEWORK. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS INITIATIVE WILL BRING REVENUE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH TO AN AREA THAT HAS LONG NEEDED INVESTMENT. FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, THIS PROJECT OFFERS SOMETHING SPECIAL. CITIES LIKE HELOTES AND BULVERDE HAVE FARMERS MARKETS AND THEMED LOCAL EVENTS THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THOSE ARE OFTEN THE ONES THAT I VISIT. IF THIS PROJECT DOES PROVIDE SOME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY LIKE THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT SHOULDN'T KEEP US FROM HAVING THAT HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR JONES: CORY HARMAYER FOLLOWED BY KEVIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I RESIDE AT 222 EAST HOUSTON STREET. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PHYLLIS VIAGRAN FOR SUPPORTING ITEM 14. A LITTLE BRIEF BACKGROUND ABOUT MYSELF. I'M A PROUD BORN AND RAISED SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT.
I HAVE NOT BEEN ISOLATED IN ONE DISTRICT. I HAVE LIVED THROUGHOUT ALL SAN ANTONIO. SO I HAVE SEEN ALL ASPECTS OF ALL COMMUNITIES AUDIO]. SO TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS ITEM NO. 14.
TODAY I WANT TO STATE BY APPROVING THIS ZONING CASE AND THE RENOVATION OF THE CURRENT BUILDING, I HAVE VISITED THE AREA. IT HAS BEEN IN THIS STATE FOR A WHILE. IT IS NOT A PLACE TO WHERE YOU CAN FREELY ENJOY YOURSELF IN TERMS OF THE LACK OF THE ENERGY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S NOT SOMEWHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE RUNNING DOWN THE STREET WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.
THERE'S A LOT OF HOMELESSNESS. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN IMPROVE. JUST LIKE IN ANY OTHER DISTRICT.
WITH THAT SAID, I BELIEVE APPROVING THIS WOULD ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUT THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THIS LOCATION. BY RENOVATING THIS BUILDING, BINGO IS NOT LIKE A CASINO IN LAS VEGAS, THEY TEND TO BE AN OLDER DEMOGRAPHIC, WHERE THEY CAN RELAX AND ENJOY THEMSELVES. THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL SERVICES. I KNOW THERE'S AN ASPECT, I HAVE HEARD OF FARMERS MARKETS, STUFF ALONG THOSE LINES. THESE FARMERS MARKETS FROM THE PAST SPEECH I HEARD A FEW DAYS AGO, THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL OWN THIS PROPERTY IS NOT GOING TO BE CHARGING VENDORS TO BE THERE.
SO HE'S LOOKING OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY. EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS A STRUCTURED WAY TO OUTLINE THEIR BUSINESS SO THEY CAN IMPROVE AND THRIVE.
BUT THE MAIN QUESTION IS COMMUNITY? AND MY BELIEF, THEY'RE ACTING AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY ENHANCE THIS COMMUNITY. WITH THAT SAID, I BELIEVE APPROVING ITEM NO. 14 ISN'T JUST THE RIGHT DECISION, IT'S THE MOST OPTIMAL
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DECISION AND IT WILL LEAD, FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, FOR GROWING AND EXPANDING THISCOMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: KEVIN SECOOLA FOLLOWED BY AIDEN GAMBLE. FINAL SPEAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS KEVIN SECOOLA, I AM A BUSINESS OWNER AND RESIDENT OF THE MISSION SAN JOSE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. IT IS MY HOME. IT IS HOME TO THE MISSIONS NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK. THE ONLY UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION. AGAIN, WE CAN STRESS UNESCO. THAT IS THE ONLY SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF ONLY 26 NATIONWIDE. AND IT CARRIES WITH IT A GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE CULTURE.
WE ARE VERY UNIQUE. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THIS IN OUR BACKYARD.
IN MY FRONT YARD, ACTUALLY. BUT THIS DESIGNATION IS NOW AT RISK.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BEAR RESPONSIBILITY IF WE LOSE OUR UNESCO STATUS DUE TO DECISIONS THAT PRIORITIZE SHORT-TERM COMMERCIAL INTEREST OVER PRESERVATION AND THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED THERE ARE TWO BINGO HALLS RUN BY THE GOLDEN BINGO, WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THIS PROPERTY.
ACROSS THE CITY, THERE ARE 16 GOLDEN BINGO LOCATIONS , NONE OF THEM FEATURING ANY OUTDOOR MUSIC. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY NONE OF THEM BEING NEAR MISSIONS.
THIS SHOULD BE A SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL.
THE GROWTH OF THE MISSIONS CORRIDOR HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY STIFLED, HINDERED, A LACK OF DEVELOPMENTAL FUNDING, CONFLICTS WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS REGARDING THE ROOSEVELT CORRIDOR. FINANCE CHALLENGES FACED BY DEVELOPERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE HAD TWO MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS DROPPED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THAT WILL SEVERELY IMPACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE MINDSET FROM THE CURRENT CITY ZONING POLICY SEEMED TO SUGGEST THAT THIS AREA IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR TIRE SHOPS, AUTO REPAIR SHOPS, VAPE SHOPS.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THAT TRUTH. THE ROOSEVELT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH WE ARE STILL WAITING ON SINCE 2017, HAS YET TO SEE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS. THE SAME SAN ANTONIO RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WITH ITS LIGHTS, INVESTMENT, AND ATTENTION ALSO RUNS THROUGH MY BACKYARD, THE MISSIONS DISTRICT.
OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES THE SAME RESPECT, THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE, AND THE SAME VISION FOR GROWTH. WE CALL ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE MISSION DISTRICT, UPHOLD OUR UNESCO DESIGNATION, AND COMMIT TO EQUITABLE
INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: AIDEN
GAMBLE. >> HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AIDEN. I AM 12 YEARS OLD. I LIVE THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM MR. GARCIA'S PROPERTY AND I CARE A LOT ABOUT MAKING IT A GOOD PLACE FOR EVERYONE. I THINK THIS EVENT CENTER IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA.
IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A SAFE AND FUN PLACE TO GO. FAMILIES COULD HAVE PARTIES THERE, SCHOOLS COULD HAVE EVENTS THERE, AND OTHER WHOLE COMMUNITIES COULD HAVE MORE THINGS TO DO TOGETHER. I THINK THIS WILL HELP BRING PEOPLE CLOSER AND MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL MORE CONNECTED. BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT INCLUDING A BINGO HALL IN THE EVENT CENTER. BINGO IS SOMETHING THAT IS MOSTLY ADULTS PLAY AND SOMETIMES IT CAN FEEL MORE LIKE A GAMBLING ACTIVITY.
THAT'S A COMMUNITY ACTIVITY, I DON'T THINK IT WILL HELP BRING KIDS, TEENS, AND FAMILIES TOGETHER. THE SAME WAY OTHER ACTIVITIES COULD.
THE EVENT CENTER SHOULD FOCUS ON THINGS THAT INCLUDE EVERYONE, LIKE DANCING,
[00:40:02]
CONCERTS, CLASSES, AND PARTIES. THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WILL HELP MORE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE.ALSO, SOME PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH GAMBLING AND ADDING A BINGO HALL COULD MAKE THINGS HARDER FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. OTHER COMMUNITIES SHOULD TRY TO SUPPORT HEALTH AND PROPERTY ACTIVITIES THAT HELP EVERYONE.
SO I WANT TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE EVENT CENTER BUT I DO NOT WANT TO SUPPORT ADDING A BINGO HALL. I BELIEVE THAT EVENT CENTER WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND BETTER FOR FAMILIES IF MR. GARCIA USED THE SPACE FOR ACTIVITIES THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: MR. GAMBLE WAS THE FINAL SPEAKER.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> VIAGRAN: MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH ARE ITEMS 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, AND 17. PLEASE VOTE.
THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.
STAFF, PLEASE START WITH ITEM NO. 5. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5.
THIS IS LOCATED AT 2619, 2615, AND 2607 NORTH ST. MARY'S STREET AS WELL AS 227, 225, AND 221 ROSE LANE. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL APPROVAL FOR IDZ 1, LIMITED INTENSITY DEVELOPMENT ZONE WITH USES PERMIT IN NC, A COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT AND NON-COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 2619, 2615, AND 2607 NORTH ST. MARY'S STREET. HOWEVER, STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL FOR IDZ 1S, LIMITED INTENSITY INFILL DEVELOPMENT ZONED WITH USES PERMITTED IN NC, COMMERCIAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT WITH A SPECIFIC-USE AUTHORIZATION FOR PARKING LOT REQUIRING DEMOLITION OF DWELLING UNITS FOR THOSE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 227, 225, AND 221 ROSE LANE. ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED AN UPDATED SITE PLAN, SHOWN ON YOUR SCREEN, WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS FOR THE PARKING LOT USE ONLY. THAT THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE PARKING LOT USE WILL BE MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY FROM 5:00 A.M. TO 12:00 A.M.
TOBIN HILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IS IN FAVOR OF THE REQUEST .
NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT 1 RESIDENT ASSOCIATION. AND OUTSIDE OF 200 FEET, ONE NOTICE WAS RECEIVED IN
FAVOR, AND ONE OPPOSED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THE FIRST ONE IS NANCY OLENBUSH FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. NANCY OLENBUSH?
JACK FINGER. >> YES, MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR. I WAS CONFUSED EARLIER.
I GOT SOME ERRONEOUS INFORMATION SO I'M GLAD WE'RE ON TRACK NOW.
ITEM NO. 5 -- AND THIS IS IN MS. KAUR, YOUR DISTRICT. GLAD YOU'RE BACK, MS. KAUR.
WE MISSED YOU. ANYWAY, YES. IT'S ABOUT PUTTING SOME PARKING LOTS NEAR SOME RESIDENCES. WELL, I SPOKE ABOUT THIS ON MY LAST PRESENTATION. BUT TO ILLUSTRATE IT MORE CLOSELY, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PLEASE PUT THAT ON THE AUDIO-VISUAL SCREEN, IF YOU COULD.
[00:45:05]
WELL, EITHER ONE. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE MAP OF THINGS.AND SO MS. KAUR, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT CENTRAL AREA THAT'S KIND OF BOXED IN THERE WITH THE RED OUTLINE, THAT'S WHERE SUPPOSEDLY A PARKING LOT IS GOING TO BE PLACED. AND IF YOU LOOK ALL AROUND IT, JUST TO THE LEFT AND TO THE TOP OF IT, YOU'LL SEE RM-4 OR WHATEVER. THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS THERE.
RIGHT NEXT TO THIS BIG PARKING LOT. NOW, THE IDEA HERE, MADAME, IS THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD SAY NO TO THIS ONE. YEAH.
PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO A PARKING LOT. AND, WELL, WHAT IS IT CALLED? A COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT -- YEAH.
YEAH. I'M TRYING TO LOOK. COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT, NON-COMMERCIAL PARKING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. IT'S RIGHT THERE ON ROSE LANE. KIND OF A COMPLICATED ZONING CASE HERE RIGHT THERE JUST BY LOOKING SQUARELY AT THAT CENTRAL RED BOX THERE.
I THINK, MS. KAUR, IT'S TIME TO SAY NO TO SOME -- TO SPECIAL INTEREST, AS I CALL THEM, WANTING TO PUT A PARKING LOT RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE
SO, PLEASE, SAY NO TO IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM 5 IS IN
DISTRICT ONE AND COUNCIL KAUR IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> KAUR: I WANT TO THANK FOR THE COMPROMISE AND SOME NEIGHBORS HAVE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE SOUND SO WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT A COMPROMISE WITH AN 8-FOOT WALL TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS THERE AND THE PARKING LOT WILL HAVE A GATE AND CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT. SO WITH THAT I BELIEVE THAT A SITE PLAN WAS SUBMITTED WITH AMENDMENT SO I MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED WITH THE CONDITIONS
READ BY STAFF. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: ANY OTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 5? OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. ON THE ITEM NUMBER 5.
PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WELL WE'LL MOO UP TO ITEMS 7 AND
8, STAFF, PLEASE MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> AMENDING THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY PLAN FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, TO A COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL MIXED-USE AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. AND REZONING THE PROPERTY FROM I2I1 AND C2 TO L -- L WITH A SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR A FREIGHT DEPOT, C3, C3 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR FACILITY.
C3 WITH A SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR MACHINERY, TOOLS AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SALES AND SERVICE. AND C2, C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR AN OFFICE/WAREHOUSE FLEX SPACE, AND C2 DID WITH A CONDITIONAL USE FOR MACHINERY AND TOOLS AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND SALES AND SERVICE. C2, CD WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR CONSTRUCTION TRADES CONTRACTORS.
C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR FACILITY.
AND C2CD WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK AND C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR MANUFACTURED HOMES/OVERSIZED VEHICLE SALES, SERVICE OR STORAGE.
C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR A FREIGHT DEPOT, C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR PLASTICS/VINYL MANUFACTURING OR PROCESSING. AND C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR METAL PRODUCTS FABRICATION, AND C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR GASOLINE FILLING STATION FLEET.
C2 WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR VOCATIONAL TRADE OUTSIDE STORAGE AND TRAINING AREA PERMITTED.
R5, IDZ2 WITH USES PERMITTED IN C2 AND RM6 AND IDZ2 WITH USES IN MF25, AND IDZ1, WITH USES PERMITTED IN RM6. AND THE PROJECT IS GENERALLY BOUNDED BY FROST BANK CENTER DRIVE TO THE WEST, AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS TO THE NORTH, AND SALADO CREEK TO THE
[00:50:04]
EAST AND WILLOW SPRINGS GOLF COURSE TO THE SOUTH. AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS: TO REMOVE 1039 BRUSSELS, 1011 PAULSON, 1015 PAULSON, AND 1006 THROUGH 1014 PAULSON, 1002 PALSON, 914 PAULSON, 1102 PAULSON AND 111 PAULSON FROM THE PLAN AMENDMENT SUCH THAT THEY REMAIN AS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL LAND USE. TO REVISE 1030 BRUSSELS AND 639 GEMBLER FROM HIGH RESIDENTIAL AND PARKS OPEN SPA IS TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, AND REVISE THE PROPOSED ZONING FOR 1030 BRUSSELS AND 1039 BRUSSELS AND 1011 PAULSON AND 1015 PAULSON AND 1006 THROUGH 1014 PAULSON. 1002 PAULSON. 914 PAULSON.AND 1102 PAULSON AND 111 PAULSON TO L LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND 639 GEMBLER WITH L WITH SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR OVERSIZED VEHICLE AND SALES AND STORAGE. THE STAFF DOES MAKE ONE ALTERNATE AMENDMENT TO 34442 BELGIAN LANE AND 139 GEMBLER LONE TO BE ZONEED TO L, WITH SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR A FREIGHT DEPOT. THE STAFF MAILED 454 NOTICES, 111 WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR, AND 12 WERE RETURNED IN OPPOSITION. AND THE UNITED HOMEOWNERS IMPROVEMENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE AND HARVARD EAST PLAIN LAWN ASSOCIATION ARE IN FAVOR. OUTSIDE OF THE 200-FOOT NOTIFICATION BOUNDARY AND TWO
NOTICES WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGNED UP TO PEEK AND THE FIRST IS JACQUELINE ALLY, AND FOLLOWED BY SHARIDA
PLUMBER. >> I HAVE SOMEONE THAT WOULD YIELD THEIR TIME FOR ME.
>> THEIR NAME, MA'AM? BEVERLY. OKAY.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE] YOU CAN YIELD IT FROM THERE, MA'AM.
YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, MA'AM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: YES, MA'AM, YOUR
NAME? >> LAVELLA BRYANT. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY,
UNDERSTOOD. YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES, MA'AM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE ALLY AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED HOMEOWNERS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE LARGE AREA REZONING PROPOSAL TO TRANSITION OUR COMMUNITY FROM HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO A MORE COMPATIBLE MIXED USE AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DESIGNATION. FOR YEARS, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ENDURED THE IMPACTS OF INCOMPATIBLE ZONES, HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC, NOISE, DUST, AND AIR POLLUTION FROM NEARBY INDUSTRIAL USES. OUR STREETS HAVE BECOME ROUTES FOR 18 WHEELERS AND OUR FAMILIES LIVE WITH CONSTANT NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS THAT WERE NEVER INTENDED FOR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. ON B BELGIAN LANE THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED DAILY TO DIESEL FUMES AND UNSAFE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THESE ARE NOT THEORETICAL CONCERNS.
THEY ARE REAL PUBLIC AND SAFETY -- HEALTH/SAFETY ISSUES THAT OUR RESIDENTS FACE EVERY DAY. AND THE PROPOSED REZONING IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OUTLINED IN SAN ANTONIO'S "SAN ANTONIO'S TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN" WHICH EMPHASIZES SMART GROWTH AND COMPATIBLE LAND USE, PROTECTING ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ENCOURAGING MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT IN TRANSITIONAL AREAS. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITY
[00:55:01]
REPRESENTS EXACTLY THAT. WE ARE A TRANSITIONAL AREA READY TO EVOLVE INTO A HEALTHIER, SAFER AND MORE BALANCED NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR VISION IS NOT ANTI-BUSINESS, OR ANTI-DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE PRO-HEALTHY AND SAFE AND CLEAN NEIGHBORHOODS.WE ENVISION SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY. TOWNHOMES AND CONDOS THAT OFFER ATTAINABLE HOUSING. AND GREEN SPACES THAT SUPPORT WALKABILITY AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. NOT JUST FOR TODAY'S RESIDENTS, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THEREBY, WE ASK THE COUNCIL TO STAND WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LIVE THESE INDUSTRIAL IMPACTS FOR FAR TOO LONG. HELP US TAKE A STEP TOWARDS A CLEANER, SAFER, AND MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY, ONE THAT TRULY REFLECTS SAN ANTONIO'S VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE PEOPLE-CENTERED GROWTH. SO ON BEHALF OF THE UHIA, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR LISTENING, AND YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU SERVE. WE ASK FOR YOUR VOTE IN FAVOR OF OUR REZONING REQUEST.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> SHALITA PLUMBER AND FOLLOWED BY CLIFF SEDONO. CLIFF IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LINE UP, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MY DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN, AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU AS WELL.
MY NAME IS CHARLITT EVERYONEA PLUMBER AND I'M WITH THE UNITED HOMEOWNER IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND I AM AT 452 CHÂTEAU DROVE. AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO AFFIRM MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF HEAVY INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES, LOCATED WITHIN THE UNITED HOMEOWNERS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY. MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 1962. AND MR. L.R. PLETTS WHO BUILT OUR HOMES HAD A VISION FOR THIS COMMUNITY. HIS VISION WAS WELL DEFINED IN A COVENANT DOCUMENT HE RECORDED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON OCTOBER 30TH, OF 1961. THAT COVENANT AND PLAT IS RECORDED AND HOUSED AT 1901 SOUTH ALAMO STREET. NOWHERE IN THIS COVENANT DOES MR. PLETT'S ENVISION HEAVY INDUSTRIAL AND CHEMICAL BUSINESSES IN OR NEAR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT WHAT DID MR. PLETT ENVISION? QUALITY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING, QUALITY PRESERVED PAVED STREETS, LIGHTING, SIDEWALKS, SCHOOLS, SMALL BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, AND CONVENIENT FAMILY SHOPPING CENTER.
SO HOW IS IT THAT HEAVY INDUSTRIAL AND CHEMICAL BUSINESSES ARE NOW LOCATED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? HISTORICAL DISCRIMINATORY ZONING PRACTICES.
FAILURE OF THE CITY PERSONNEL TO PROTECT MINORITY COMMUNITIES FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, DUE TO REDLINING WHICH LABELS MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS AS RISKY, AND HAZARDOUS WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTMENT IN THESE COMMUNITIES. THEREFORE, IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES TO BUY LAND AT CHEAPER PRICES. ALSO HISTORICAL POLITICAL IMBALANCE DUE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES NOT HAVING REPRESENTATION OR CITY PLANNING ON ZONING BOARDS. THE FAILURE OF THE CITY AGENCIES TO ENFORCE ITS OWN CODE COMPLIANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS. AND SO HOW DOES THE PRESENCE OF HEAVY INDUSTRIAL AND CHEMICAL BUSINESS IMPACT MY NEIGHBORHOOD? PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS, TRAFFIC AND SAFETY HAZARDS, INFRASTRUCTURE STRAIN, LEADING TO CONGESTION AND ROAD DETERIORATION. AIR POLLUTION FROM THE DUST AND OTHER EMISSIONS, AND THE DISRUPTION TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ITS ORIGINAL COVENANT.
THE CITY'S OUTDATED AND LOOSELY ENFORCED ZONING REGULATIONS ALLOW HEAVY INDUSTRY TO SET UP IN AN AREA WHERE IT WOULDN'T OR SHOULDN'T BE PERMITTED. YOUR CONTINUED APPROVAL OF HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ERODES THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY, AND VIOLATES YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WHILE ALSO UNDERMINING THE VISION OF MR. PLETT.
YOU HAVE A MORALE DUTY TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. >> ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WOULD
[01:00:02]
LIKE TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO MS. PLUMBER? OKAY, MA'AM, YOU HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES. WHAT IS YOUR NAME, MA'AM? 33.LINE 33. OKAY. OKAY -- THREE ADDITIONAL
MINUTES, MA'AM. >> I WON'T NEED THAT MUCH JUST TO CLOSE OUT.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS ZONING TO LIGHT MIXED-USE ZONING. GREEN SPACES.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO IN CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO PRESERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1961.
AND HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> CLIFF SEDANO AND FOLLOWED BY JESUS.
>> AND VILLE COME VAL-AROMAN WOULD LIKE TO YIELD THEIR TIME TO ME.
>> OKAY, ONE SECOND. OKAY, YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES, THANKS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR ORTIZ JONES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS CLIFF SEDANO AND I'M A VETERAN OF THE U.S. ARMY AND A COMMISSION OFFICER AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT WITH THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT. AND I STAND BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY AS A PROUD HOMEOWNER AND MEMBER OF THE UNITED HOMEOWNER IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
REPRESENTING MEADOW VIEW PARK AND MEADOW VIEW NORTH, AND ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S PRISTINE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE EAST SIDE. ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1963. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE LIVED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING, PRESSED AGAINST THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES. BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
IT WAS A DECISION THAT WAS PLACED -- THAT PLACED INDUSTRY ABOVE HUMANITY AND PROFIT ABOVE PEOPLE. I INVITE YOU TO DROVE DOWN GEMBLER ROAD AND PAULSON AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT HISTORY HAS LEFT BEHIND. DIESEL TRUCKS BLOCKING SIDEWALKS AND GAS TANKS STACKED BESIDE HOMES, BLACK DUST ON WINDOW SILLS, AND LAUNDRY LINES AND AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THAT'S NOT ECONOMIC GROWTH -- THAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, WRITTEN INTO THE CITY ZONING. AND TODAY EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO IS SITTING HERE HAS A POWER TO EITHER STOP IT, END IT, OR TO CONTINUE IT. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ZONING, VOTING FOR ZONING. IT'S ABOUT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS -- THE RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND SAFE STREETS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING -- WE ALL SHOWED UP AS RESIDENTS.
THE BUSINESSES DID NOT. OUR COMMUNITY HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS ASKED OF US. WE'VE WORKED WITH DISTRICT 2 OFFICE, FILED A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST, AND PARTNERED WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
WE HELD OPEN MEETINGS AND EVERY BUSINESS WAS INVITED -- EVERY ONE OF THEM.
THEY HAD THEIR CHANCE TO COME AND THEY DID NOT. NOW AFTER IGNORING THE PROCESS, SOME ARE HERE SUDDENLY OPPOSING IT. WHAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP IS THAT? WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP AVOIDS THE COUNCILMAN, AVOIDS THE RESIDENTS, AND THEN SHOWS UP ONLY TO THREATEN WITH LAWSUIT? OH, YEAH, WE WERE.
WE WERE TOLD BY ATTORNEYS THAT ARE REPRESENTING SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE TODAY THAT THEY WOULD SUE US FOR ASKING FOR CLEAN AIR AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IMAGINE THAT. AND CITIZENS BEING THREATENED FOR DEFENDING THEIR FAMILY'S RIGHT TO BREATHE. THAT IS INTIMIDATION. AND THAT IS INJUSTICE AND IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE? I HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, BOTH ABOUT ZONING AND ABOUT SAN ANTONIO POLITICS. AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT OUR OWN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONERS ALL AGREED THAT I TOO, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING, DOES NOT BELONG NEAR HOMES OR SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS EVEN SAID THAT YOUR PAST LEADERS FAILED YOU, OKAY? GO BACK ON THE RECORD AND YOU WILL SEE THAT.
BUT THEN THOSE SAME COMMISSIONERS WHO AGREED WITH THAT -- THEY VOTED AGAINST REZONING ANYWAY. THAT IS HYPOCRISY AT ITS FINEST. AND ONE COMMISSIONER EVEN WENT
[01:05:05]
EVEN FURTHER AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE -- YOU'RE AN APPOINTED PERSON AND MAKING PERSONAL PHONE CALLS TO BUSINESS OWNERS, TRYING TO RALLY THEM TO OPPOSE THE REZONING, SPREADING MISINFORMATION, AND DISRESPECTING THE COMMUNITIES' INTEGRITY.THAT BEHAVIOR IS NOT NEUTRAL. IT IS CORRUPT. IT DEMANDS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE NO PUBLIC OFFICIAL SHOULD BE USING THEIR POSITION TO UNDERMINE A COMMUNITY WHO IS JUST SEEKING JUSTICE. IF THIS IS HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE IN BACKROOMS, THROUGH PHONE CALLS, BY INFLUENCE INSTEAD OF EVIDENCE -- THEN SAN ANTONIO HAS A DEEPER PROBLEM THAN ZONING.
FOR 50 YEARS, LEADERS HAVE FAILED THIS COMMUNITY. IF THIS COUNCIL VOTES AGAINST REZONING, YOU ARE REPEATING THAT FAILURE. AND YOU CANNOT SAY PAST LEADERS FAILED YOU AND THEN YOU FAIL US AGAIN. NOW THE SPURS ARE LEAVING THE EASTSIDE -- WE ALL KNOW THAT, THEY GOT THEIR WAY AND IT'S CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.
BUT THAT SHOULD SAY EVERYTHING -- JUST THE BLOCK AWAY THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'LL BE LEAVING THE FROST BANK BY 2032. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.
THEY'RE GETTING A BRAND-NEW DOWNTOWN ARENA AND MILLIONS OF FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SURROUND THAT AREA TO BOOST TOURISM, BUSINESSES AND REVITALIZATION.
BUT THAT WASN'T BUT LET'S BE HONEST -- THAT INVESTMENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED -- IT DIDN'T -- BECAUSE NO ORGANIZATION WANTS TO INVEST NEXT TO AN INDUSTRIAL WASTELAND, AND I DON'T BLAME THEM, AND THEY SAID THAT THE ARENA WAS OUTDATED BUT WHAT WAS TRULY OUTDATED IS THE ZONING ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS IT. AND NOW WE HAVE OUR SACRED SAN ANTONIO RODEO PARTNER -- THEY ARE A TRUE PARTNER OF THE UHIA AND THEY UNDERSTAND US AND WE FIGHT THE SAME FIGHT AND WE HAVE THE SAME VISION FOR OUR AREA. WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BEAUTIFY THE CORRIDOR, IMPROVE LIGHTING, CREATE ARTWORK AND TO MAKE THIS A FAMILY DESTINATION AGAIN.
THEY BELIEVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND THEY SUPPORT THIS REZONING. AND SO DO OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD WITH -- BUSINESSES AND PARTNERS -- AGAIN, THE SAN ANTONIO RODEO SUPPORT THIS IS AND THE ARTISTS AND APARTMENTS AT WILLOW SPRINGS THAT HOUSES 250 RESIDENTS AND THE REHAB CENTER AND THE KOA CAMPGROUNDS -- THEY HOUSE MORE THAN A HUNDRED FAMILY MEMBERS AT ONE GIVEN TIME. WE'VE WORKED WITH MR. PEACOCK AND HIS REPRESENTATIVES TO GIVE HIM AN L COMPROMISING ON THAT. AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF THESE ATTORNEYS HERE, AND ALSO WORKING TO GIVE THEM THE L THAT THEY NEED. AND WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND FROM D2, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF D2 ROUNDTABLE, WE HAVE OUR SUPPORT. AND GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE. THESE ARE OUR ALLIES.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE EAST SIDE. AND SO I ASK YOU AGAIN, WHO WANTS TO SPEND THEIR MONEY OR RAISE THEIR FAMILY IN A PLACE THAT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE AN INDUSTRIAL DISASTER ZONE? HOW CAN BEXAR COUNTY HAVE INVEST MILLIONS, IF THE CITY REFUSES TO CLEAN UP THE GROUND BENEED IT? IF WE TRULY WANT THE RODEO, THE COUNTY, AND THE FAMILIES TO THRIVE, THIS COUNCIL MUST ACT. REZONE THIS AREA AND GIVE US A CHANCE TO BREATHE AND REBUILD.
THIS VOTE WILL BE REMEMBERED. YOUR NAMES WILL APPEAR BESIDE THAT VOTE AND ONE DAY HISTORY WILL ASK DID YOU STAND WITH THE PEOPLE, OR DID YOU PROTECT THE POLLUTERS? IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS REZONING, YOU ARE VOTING FOR POLLUTION, FOR INEQUALITY, AND FOR SEGREGATION. THE SAME INJUSTICES THAT HAVE DEFINED THE CITY PLANNING IN THIS AREA FOR DECADES. WE WILL NOT LET THE PUBLIC FORGET WHO STOOD FOR JUSTICE, AND WHO STOOD AGAINST IT. YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO CHOOSE DIFFERENTLY.
YOU CAN STAND WITH THE PEOPLE, UPHOLD THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND GIVE THIS CITY WHAT IT'S WAITED HALF A CENTURY FOR, CLEAN AIR, SAFE WATER AND A REAL OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS NOT JUST ZONING CORRECTION -- IT'S A MORAL CORRECTION. IT'S THE MOMENT THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN PROVE THAT EQUITY ISN'T JUST A SLOGAN -- IT'S A PROMISE. COUNCILMEMBERS, MAYOR, THIS MOMENT WILL DEFINE YOU. WE'VE DONE OUR PART. WE HAVE ORGANIZED, STUDIED AND COMPROMISED, ON BEHALF OF THE UIHIA AND EVERY RESIDENT WHO STILL BELIEVES IN THE EASTSIDE
[01:10:03]
FUTURE AND TO ALL RESIDENTS NO LONGER WITH US TODAY -- LOOKING DOWN ON US -- THEY FOUGHT FOR THIS, AND THIS MOMENT IS DEDICATED TO THEM. DO WHAT'S RIGHT -- ADOPT THE LARGE AREA REZONING AND PROTECT OUR AIR, OUR WATER AND OUR FUTURE.THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> JESUS RODELZ AND FOLLOWED BY
WILL MASHAD. >> THEY WILL YIELD THEIR TIME TO ME.
>> OKAY, ONE SECOND. YEP, THE SECOND NAME, SIR? >> SO WILLIAM MITCHELL AND RAY
RASHAD AND I MAY NOT NEED ALL OF THAT TIME. >> YOUR MAXIMUM IS ONLY TWO THAT CAN YIELD. SO RAY RASHAD AND WILLIE MITCHELL, OKAY, YOU HAVE NINE
MINUTES, SIR. >> HI, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FUR OUR FREEDOM. JALEN, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE OUTCRY OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR SEEING WITH YOUR OWN EYES WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS GONE THROUGH. I AM FOR THE REZONING OF -- REZONING OF 7 AND 8 FOR THESE REASONS. SO HERE... SO I AM THE GRANDSON OF THE GREAT MIGRANT LEADER MANUEL, AND CESAR CHAVEZ IN CALIFORNIA AND MY GRANDPA OF SOUTH TEXAS AND PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND I'M ALSO A VERY RESPECTED LATIN ARTIST AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DOCUMENTARIES DONE ABOUT ME AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. I HAVE BEEN A VERY RESPECTED -- ALSO, UM, INFLUENCER AND SOMEBODY THAT BRINGS JUSTICE TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE EXTREMELY CORRUPT. I PERSONA PERSONALLY FILMING A W IN CALIFORNIA SO I WASN'T HERE FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND NOW I HAVE MOVED BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY AND I AM SHOCKED THAT I HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD TO SEEK JUSTICE, AND NOW I'M HAVING TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE.
50 YEARS OF INJUSTICE! 50 YEARS OF RACISM. 50 YEARS OF FAILED LEADERSHIP.
50 YEARS FIGHTING FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. 50 YEARS OF BEING IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN. 50 YEARS OF DISCRIMINATION. TODAY WE SAY NO MORE.
WHEN ALL WE HAVE ASKED FOR IS BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS -- CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND NOT TO BE SURROUNDED BY DEADLY TOXINS. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BLACK BUILT COMMUNITY AND NOW EXTREMELY ECLECTIC WITH ALL DIFFERENT CULTURES AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. WE ARE HERE TO FIGHT FOR OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
THE HISTORY OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DEVELOPED IN THE LATE 1950S, EARLY 1960S.
HISTORICALLY RACIAL RESTRICTIVE IN PROPERTY DEEDS AND SYSTEMATIC RED LINES WERE USED TO ENFORCE SEGREGATION IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU ON A HISTORY CLASS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE EASTSIDE -- BACK IN THE DAYS OF RACISM -- WAS -- WERE THE BLACKS, WERE GOING TO BE PUT THERE BECAUSE OF RACISM. STILL TILL THIS DAY IN 1003 GREEK, STILL SAYS, SAID PROPERTY SHALL NEVER BE SOLD OR LEASEED TO NEGROES OR MEXICANS -- STILL THERE. TODAY WE NEED TO BREAK THIS WALL.
WHY WAS THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS CREATED? WELL, LET ME HELP YOU GUYS.
THE GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS RECOGNIZE CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER AS BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, CREATES LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE OBLIGATIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT RESPECTED OFFICIALS TO FULFILL THEIR DUTY WHEN THE OUTCRY OF THE COMMUNITY COMES TO THEM, AND IT IS THEIR DUTY AND THEIR JOB LAWFULLY TO MAKE THE CHANGE. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. IT PROVIDES A POWERFUL TOOL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND ADVOCATES TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, ENSURING THAT THE BENEFITS OF HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS ARE NOT JUST BASED ON THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, THAT WE COULD ALL HAVE OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS -- CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER. AND A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE. HERE.
I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS ENDURED. AND I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE STILL ENDURING. IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SHIT, I AM SORRY THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IN FRONT OF -- NOT EVEN 200 FEET AWAY FROM A HOUSE, THE SMELLS SO BAD, I WANT Y'ALL GUYS TO IMAGINE THIS -- YOUR TURKEY DINNER AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE A PILE OF SHIT NEXT TO YOU AND YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY EAT.
[01:15:04]
I WANT Y'ALL TO NOW ADD THE SAHARA DESERT LITERALLY, SOME DUST IN YOUR AC SYSTEMS AND LET'S ADD THE SHIT TO THE DUST, AND ALL COMING WITH THE FAN. ALL OF THIS IS UP THERE, EVEN SOME BUSINESSES LIKE THE CAMP KOA HAS THIS ON LINE AND TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THAT.I'M GOING TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE TO THAT DINNER THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
LET'S ADD THE GAS -- THIS AMAZING GUY -- I'M NOT GOING TO EXPOSE HIM BUT HE ALLOWED ME TO TAKE THIS PICTURE. IT'S CLOSING DOWN A LEAK OF GAS RIGHT IN THE FRONT YARDS OF MOMMA D.. 50 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING! THESE ARE NOT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. THIS IS CORRUPTION, AND THIS IS RACISM.
LET ME ADD TO THIS TOO -- NOW THEY WANT TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT SMELLS SO BAD.
BUT YOU CAN'T -- BECAUSE YOU'RE STUCK IN TRAFFIC FOR AN HOUR. BECAUSE THE TRUCK IS STUCK IN THE BACKYARD OF PEOPLE. NOW POOR MOMMA D, A LOT OF THE OLDER COMMUNITY -- OUT THERE PICKING UP TRASH FROM SOME BAD NEIGHBORS, UM, PARTYING OUT THERE IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE.
THIS IS NOW ILLEGAL. IT'S ILLEGAL IN SAN ANTONIO. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE A RESIDENT WITH NO BUFFER ZONE. HEAVY INDUSTRIAL CANNOT BE NEXT TO AN ELEMENTARY.
WHY IS THIS BLACK BUILT COMMUNITY, WHY IS IT OKAY HERE? THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY.
THERE'S A NURSING HOME. 50 YEARS OF FIGHTING INJUSTICE, AND THIS IS NOT OKAY.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU SOME AMAZING AND POSITIVE STUFF. THANK YOU TO THE RODEO -- THANK YOU TO OUR GREAT NEIGHBORS THAT CHOOSE TO STAY INVOLVED. HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
THANK YOU TO THE OFFICERS. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS, OUR COMMISSIONER -- HERE'S ANOTHER ONE, SORRY. FOR BEING INVOLVED. WE ARE PRO-BUSINESSES.
BUT WE ARE NOT FOR PRO-SHIT AND DUST IN OUR HOUSES. I ASK FOR AN APOLOGY FOR THE DISRESPECT, BUT, GUYS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. THIS IS INHUMANE.
THIS IS NOT OKAY. THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU TO OUR OFFICERS.
THANK YOU TO THE PLETT PARK. OH, YEAH, LET ME SEE -- YEAH, THANK YOU YOU TO PLETTS PARK.
AND I'LL BRING UP SOMETHING TOO THAT IS VERY, VERY CRAZY. OKAY.
DO Y'ALL KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO DOME? HAVE YOU STUDIED THE RED LIGHTING MAP OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHY WAS THE EASTSIDE CREATED? WE'RE ON THERE.
HAVE Y'ALL STUDIED THAT OR DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT HISTORY ABOUT THE EASTSIDE WERE FOR BLACKS AND THE WEST SIDES FOR MEXICAN AND ALAMO HEIGHTS WAS FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, CAUCASIAN AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE NEED TO FIX THIS. AND TODAY WE NEED TO BREAK THIS WALL DOWN AND THIS DISCRIMINATION DOWN. THAT WHICH YOU SEE RIGHT THERE ARE HILLS OF THE DIRT FROM THE ALAMO DOME. DO Y'ALL KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO DOME? THAT DIRT WAS CONTAMINATED. THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OF THE EASTSIDE IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO DOME, INCLUDING THE GRANDPA THAT DIED FROM LUNG DISEASE, WHICH WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW BATTLING LUNG DISEASE -- THAT'S THE CHEMICALS THAT'S GOING THROUGH OUR AIR RIGHT NOW. IS THAT OKAY? THAT'S A FLOOD ZONE. THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. TODAY IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A CHANGE. TODAY IS A CHANCE TO STAND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.
I AGREE WITH WHAT CLIFF SAID, YOU GUYS ARE HERE TO FIGHT FOR OUR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.
YOU GUYS ARE SELECTED OFFICIALS -- PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THESE BUSINESSES TO CORRUPT AND LIE TO YOUR MINDS. THEY HAD THE CHANCE, JUST LIKE WE DO.
AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME AND I AM JESSE MELEDEZ. [APPLAUSE]
>> VERÓNICA SANTS AND FOLLOWED BY BEATRICE ANDERSON. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]
YIELDING HER TIME TO ME. >> OKAY. SO BEATRICE ANDERSON IS YIELDING
THEIR TIME, IS THAT RIGHT? SORRY? >> MITCHELL.
>> OKAY, BEATRICE MITCHELL. >> YEAH. MY NAME IS VERNONICA SANTE AND MOST PEOPLE DO PRONOUNCE IT LIKE YOU DID, SANTZ, BUT THE CORRECT PRONUNCIATION IS SANTE.
>> THANK YOU. >> YES. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO MAYOR AND MY COUNCILMAN IN DISTRICT 2 AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AND THE
[01:20:01]
BOARD HERE TODAY. I AM ASKING -- I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE HISTORY LESSON AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD IT, BUT I DO HAVE SOME HISTORY TO SHARE WITH YOU.I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A 92-YEAR-OLD RETIRED SAPD POLICE OFFICER, THAT HAS LIVED IN MEADOWVIEW NORTH FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I'M ONE OF THE KIDS THAT GREW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN IT WAS A CORNFIELD. WHEN IT WAS A FISHERY, WHERE WE COULD GO GET OUR GOLDFISH FOR OUR -- YOU KNOW, HOBBIES AND STUFF.
THE CONDITION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CURRENTLY, PRESENTLY, AS IT STANDS -- IS A DISGRACE TO ALL OF THE ELDERS THAT BOUGHT THOSE HOMES, LIKE MRS. WILLIAMS. ONE OF THE FIRST HOMEOWNERS IN THAT COMMUNITY IN 1961-1962, WHENEVER IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED.
MY FATHER IS A LATE BLOOMER AND HE CAME IN THE EARLY 1970S, BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO GOOD, CLEAN, QUALITY AIR, WATER, SOIL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN ADDITION, TO NOT BEING SUBJECTED TO GAS TRUCKS THAT ARE SOMETIMES FULL OF GAS AT THE LOT AT 639 GIMLER, I BELIEVE, AND THE GAS TRUCKS ARE 50 FEET FROM OUR RESIDENTS, FROM THE FIRST HOME. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S NOT RIGHT.
I USED TO LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, AND I AM NOW BACK HERE TO TAKE CARE OF MY DAD.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE FIRES DID IN LOS ANGELES THIS YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR -- I AM AFRAID THAT THAT SAME SITUATION CAN HAPPEN LESS THAN 200 FEET FROM MY FATHER'S HOME.
BUT IT'S ALREADY DEFINITELY LESS THAN 50 FEET FROM HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY OF MEADOWVIEW NORTH.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, IT'S UNSAFE, IT'S NOT FAIR. WE -- HUMAN RIGHTS ARE FREE.
AND OUR COMMUNITY IS ENTITLED TO THE SAME HUMAN RIGHTS THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SITTING UP HERE HAVE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES. WOULD YOU HAVE -- AND WOULD YOU TOLERATE -- [APPLAUSE] THESE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS AND BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY? I THINK NOT. IT'S NOT HAPPENING NORTH OF 1604, AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING OUT THERE IN THE DOMINION AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING -- I KEEP SAYING ALAMO HEIGHTS AND I'D LIKE TO THROW THAT UP IN THERE TOO BUT EVERYONE REMINDS ME THAT IS NOT PART OF THE CITY. WELL, WHEN I GREW UP I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS.
THAT'S WHERE MY GRANDMOTHER WORKED IN ALAMO HEIGHTS. IT WAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THEN, AS FAR AS I KNEW, WHEN SHE WAS A DOMESTIC WORKER. THE RACISM THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY SUBJECTED TO IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN THIS CITY, AFRICAN-AMERICANS ONLY 6.5% OR 6.9% IN THIS CITY. WE HAVE NO RIGHTS. AGAIN, FORMALLY FROM LOS ANGELES, I KNOW CITY CORRUPTION ALL TOO WELL. AND THIS -- YOU CITY COUPLE CITL PEOPLE -- FOR YOU TO CONTINUOUSLY TO ALLOW THIS RACISM TO GO ON, MEANS TO ME THAT YOU AGREE AT THE REZONING COMMITTEE, UM, I'M NOT GOING TO NAME THE NAME -- BUT IF HE'S HERE AND WHOEVER WAS THERE, THEY KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT. IT'S THE SAME PERSON THAT HAS BANDED TOGETHER ALL OF THESE OTHER OWNERS THAT DEFINITELY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE MEETINGS. BUT THEN WHEN THEY DO SHOW UP WE HEAR, OH, I WAS IN EUROPE ON HOLIDAY, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE MEETING. WELL, WHAT WERE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? PUT THE MEETING ON HOLD BECAUSE SOME OF THE OWNERS WERE ON HOLIDAY AND THEY WEREN'T AVAILABLE? THEY GOT A NOTICE JUST LIKE DIAND THEY GOT A NOTICE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DID THAT IS SITTING IN THIS SECTION.
BUT, NO, WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. WHAT ABOUT US.
WHEN ARE THE RESIDENTS IN SKYLINE AND MEADOWVIEW GOING TO BE ACCOMMODATED? AND APPEASED? I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOU PUTTING A BAND-AID ON IT, AND JUST SAYING, OH, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO DO -- WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT FROM HEAVY INDUSTR&-Ú. AND NOW YOU STILL DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. QUALITY AIR IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND WE LIVE IN A FEW -- IN A FOOD DESERT, AND WE NEED A QUALITY GROCERY STORE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOT JUST ATP, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT H-E-B IS THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD
[01:25:05]
IN THE CITY -- I MEAN, THE ONLY GROCERY STORE IN THE CITY. YEAH WE HAVE A TRADER JOES AND, YEAH, YOU CAN GO TO COSTCO AND YOU CAN GO TO THE COMMISSARY IF YOU'RE A MILITARY, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION FOR A WHOLE OTHER DAY -- WHY IS IT ONE GROCERY STORE CHAIN HERE? WE NEED VARIETIES. THE GROCERY STORES THAT ARE ON THE EASTSIDE -- THEY'RE HORRIBLE TOO. I HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO CITY BASE OR GO TO CENTRAL MARKET TO GET MY QUALITY OF PRODUCE AND MEATS THAT I'M ACCUSTOMED TO. NOT -- THE NOT THE POOR QUALITY OF SELECTION OF ITEMS IN -- AT THE H-E-B ON HOUSTON -- WE'RE IN A FOOD DESERT. WE NEED A GROCERY STORE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.AND WE DO NOT NEED ALL OF THIS INDUSTRIAL -- HEAVY INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE KILLING US.
MY FATHER HAS ALL KIND OF ALLMENTS AND IT'S PROBABLY FROM THE CONDITIONS OF THE AIR QUALITY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SAY THE LEAST. AND WHAT ABOUT THE SALADO CREEK, THAT FLOOD -- WHATEVER MONTH IT WAS -- SEVERAL MONTHS AGO -- BEFORE THAT -- ALL OF THOSE DEATHS IN THE HILL COUNTRY. WE HAD WATER ALMOST UP TO OUR BACK DOORS ON THAT PLETZ PARK SIDE. WHO IS GOING TO DO SOME INVESTIGATING AND REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? I DON'T WANT MY NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODED OUT LIKE IT WAS THERE OFF OF MARTIN LUTHER KING. NOW, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
IT IS THAT WE VOTED YOU PEOPLE INTO OFFICE AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP US, NOT HURT US. AND IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSIST US IN THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS THAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO. YOU HAVE THEM. WE WANT THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE THEM. THE RED LINING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, IT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE 1960S, I WAS BORN IN 1960 AND MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS ME LISTED AS COLORED, NOT NEGRO.
AND MY MOTHER COULD NOT LEGALLY VOTE IN 1960. NOW ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO GET THIS TOGETHER. EVERYBODY'S MENTALITY IS -- IS LIKE -- UH, THAT CURRENT PRESIDENT'S MENTALITY -- YOU'RE SELFISH AND YOU'RE ALL ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOU'RE NOT ABOUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU NEED TO BE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE PUT YOU IN OFFICE AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED YOU GUYS TO APPROVE THIS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL CHANGE, AND NOT ONLY FOR MY 92-YEAR-OLD FATHER'S LIFE AND MOMMA D AND THE REST OF THE ELDERS THAT ARE HERE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 50 TO 60 PLUS YEARS -- NOT TO MENTION ME. I'M GOING TO BE A FUTURE INHERITOR OF THIS PROPERTY THAT MY FATHER OWNS AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE FIGHTING FOR IT. I KNOW MY RIGHTS.
AND I'M CITY COUNCIL BOARD HERE -- TO ASSIST US IN WHAT WE NEED. THIS IS THE THIRD MEETING.
WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP CONTINUALLY COMING TO THESE MEETINGS.
DO THE RIGHT THING. I'M BEGGING OF YOU -- TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR ALL OF US THAT NEED IT. AND DESERVE IT. PLEASE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING. [APPLAUSE]
>> GREG OBLOY. FOLLOWED BY DELORES WILLIAMS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M WITH CROWN ENTERPRISES AND WE OWN 139 GEMBLR AND322 BELGIAN. AND I HAVE NO DISCUSSION ON THE MASTER PLAN.
I WAS IN OPPOSITION AND WORKING WITH STAFF I HAVE LIFTED MY OPPOSITION.
SO WE'RE FINE WITH THE REZONING AS IT APPLIES TO OUR PROPERTY THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE'RE NOT TERRIBLE FOLKS. [APPLAUSE] WE CAN OPERATE OUR BUSINESS.
BUT I DO WANT TO EXPRESS JUST A LITTLE POINT OF FRUSTRATION FOR US.
WE RECENTLY JUST PURCHASED THESE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE LAST ONE, TWO AND THREE YEARS.
AND IN REAL ESTATE YOU PAY WHAT YOU CAN USE THE PROPERTY FOR, WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS ZONED, SO IT'S ZONED HEAVY INDUSTRIAL AND WE PAID THAT PRICE. WE HAVE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT PICTURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE SITE, AND I THINK THAT THE NEIGHBORS WILL BE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS PROPERTY IN THE FUTURE. AND WE HAVE A SITE PLAN
[01:30:03]
SUBMITTED -- THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CITY SINCE THE SUMMER.AND WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS REZONING IN THE END OF JULY. SO SPEAKING AS A LANDOWNER IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, MORE -- I AM SURE THAT THE CITY STAFF AND EVERYBODY DID EVERYTHING TO THE LETTER TO THE T, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. BUT WE PURCHASED THESE PROPERTIES AT A PREMIUM AND WE HAVE A HUGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THEM AND HERE WE ARE THREE MONTHS LATER AND HAVING OUR PROPERTY DOWN ZONED. AGAIN, WE'RE OKAY WITH THE DOWN ZONING FROM HEAVY INDUSTRIAL 2, TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. AND WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT AND WE CAN CONTINUE OUR OPERATIONS IN THAT MANNER. SOA WE SUPPORT THE REZONING AS IT APPLIES TO OUR PROPERTY. BUT JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THAT LITTLE FRUSTRATION ON THAT END.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> DELORES WILLIAM AND FOLLOWED BY ANA MARIE AGUILAR.
>> TO THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE, I AM THE ONE THEY CALL THE MOMMA D.
FOR 62 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN LIVING ON THE CORNER OF BELGIAN LANE, 3435.
I HAVE SMELLED THE CABBAGE AND I THE POTTIES AND THE GAS AND NOW THESE BIG TRUCKS ARE COMING IN AND I CAN'T HARDLY GET OUT OF MY GARAGE. SO ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID FOR THE REZONING. PLEASE HELP US. I'M 92 NOW.
AND I WANT TO BE LIVING VERY COMFORTABLE AT 3435 BELGIAN LANE.
PLEASE CONSIDER US FOR THE REZONE. [APPLAUSE]
>> ANA MARIA AGUILAR. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> OKAY.
OKAY, ALONZO, ARE YOU COMING UP TO SPEAK NOW. ALONZO JONES.
ALONZO JONES. AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS COLBY GILROY, PLEASE LINE UP.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, SIR. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I COME TO YOU TODAY TO EDUCATE YOU ON A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY, ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. MY PARENTS PURCHASED A HOME THERE IN 1964. I WAS BORN IN 1964. AND WE WERE IN EUROPE AND WE GOT THERE, STARTED LIVING.
THAT TO THIS DAY I'M STILL THE LONGEST TENURED PAPER BOY AFTER 10 YEARS THAT I THREW PAPERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WORKING FOR DOD FOR 35 YEARS AND 25 YEARS STATIONED HERE AT RANDOLPH TO OPERATE MY DUTIES HERE. I HAVE SEEN -- AND I HAVE PAID ATTENTION -- AND I LIVE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE SAME ONE THAT I GREW UP IN.
SO I CAME BACK, REARED MY TWO DAUGHTERS THERE AND I HAVE BEEN THERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND I'M NOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKE TODAY THAT HAVE GONE AGAINST PARKING LOTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BEING BUILT AGAINST OUR -- OR NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS -- BUT THEY'RE OKAY WITH THESE TYPE OF INDUSTRIAL THINGS GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH SPEAKS SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD EARLIER. BECAUSE IT HAS NOT CHANGED. YOU ASK WHY -- OR PEOPLE ASK WH? BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE THE SAME QUIET DUST-FREE, POLLUTION-FREE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALL OF OUR OWNERS AND EVERYONE STRIVES TO HAVE. WHY DO WE WANT TO REZONE? FOR FAR TOO LONG WE HAVE WITNESSED ZONING IN -- FREE HAND ZONING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT IS FREE HAND ZONING? THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT I CALL FREE -- I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I CALL FREE HANDED ZONING. HAZARDOUS BUSINESSES THAT MOVE INTO THE AREA THAT DO NOT GET PERMITS, AND THEN THEY COME BACK TO THE CITY YEARS LATER AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN FINED, WANTING THE CITY TO GIVE THEM PERMITS. BUT THEY NEVER HAD A RIGHT TO BE
[01:35:06]
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE DOING WHAT THEY WERE DOING. AND NOW PEOPLE SAY, WELL, HOW DID THEY GET THERE, WHY ARE THEY THERE? THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE WE WERE FAILED. AND NOW WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE IN HERE IN 2003 WAS IN FAVOR OF THE EASTSIDE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME WITH THE SBC CENTER WHICH IS RIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THERE WAS NO TALK OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE EAST SIDE, THERE WAS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT LET'S REVITALIZE THE INDUSTRIAL AROUND THE SBC CENTER.
IT WAS EASTSIDE DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO STAND UP AND TO FIGHT FOR OURSELVES, BECAUSE WE -- WE WERE WAITING ON THE SPURS, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND WE WERE WAITING ON THE COUNTY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND WE'RE WAITING ON THE CITY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
BUT NOW WHEN WE STAND UP ON OUR OWN TO GO FORWARD AND TO GET WHAT WE WELL DESERVED AND AS THESE PEOPLE -- MOMMA D AND MY PARENTS AND EVERYONE BEFORE US HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR, IT'S NOW OUR TURN TO GET IT, AND WE HAVE OPPOSITION OF JUST COMMON HUMAN RIGHTS.
WHAT IS THAT? I MEAN, WHO WANTS THESE THINGS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR HOME? WE DEFINITELY DON'T ANYMORE. YES, THEY SLID IN ON US, BUT NOT ANYMORE. WE ARE DONE, WE ARE TIRED, AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO REZONE THIS AREA, AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE REVITALIZATION THAT WAS PROMISED BY THE SPURS, BY THE CITY, AND BY THE COUNTY. IF WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND START DOING IT OURSELVES, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. SO WE WANT TO LIVE IN DUST-FREE, HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DOES, AND WE ASK FOR EVERYONE'S VOTE TO CHANGE THAT WRONG. WE NEED THIS WRONG REWRITTEN, IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG THAT WE HAVE CONTINUALLY COME DOWN HERE -- MY PARENTS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US NOW -- THEY HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE FIGHTING FOR COMMON RIGHTS -- THAT IS ON RECORD -- YOU CAN LOOK THAT UP IN THIS CITY FOR THE LONGEST TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND NOW WE KNOW THAT IT'S UPON YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND YOU'RE NOT THE ONES WHO FAILED US, BUT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CORRECT IT. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND WE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND, PLEASE, HELP US TO PASS THIS FOR UIHA. THANK YOU.
>> COLBY GILROY. FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> HELLO, MRS. MAYOR AND OUR HONORABLE COME COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN, MISTY SPEARS, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
MY NAME IS COLBY GILROY AND I'M REPRESENTING A NON-PROFIT THAT IS OPERATING IN THE EASTSIDE THAT IS STUDYING LAND-USE AROUND THE FROST BANK CENTER. AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REVITALIZE THE AREA AND TO BRING IN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED SINCE BACK IN THE SBC DAYS. I HAVE BEEN AT THIS PROJECT FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.
WHICH IS HOW I MET THE FINE PEOPLE FROM UHIA. AND I REMEMBER BACK IN FEBRUARY, WHEN THIS AGENDA ITEM FIRST APPAPPEAR AND WAS POLLED FROM TE SAME COMMITTEE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND THAT PREVENTED THIS ISSUE FROM BEING RESOLVED AND THAT LED IT TO BE DRAWN OUT THIS FAR. I BELIEVE THAT THE DECISION TO REZONE HAS NOT BEEN MADE LIGHTLY. WHEN THE ORIGINAL I-2 ZONING WAS LAID DOWN IT WAS DONE WITH A WIDE BRUSH THAT LEFT NO ROOM FOR A GRADIENT OF DEVELOPMENT TO EMERGE. THESE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ACCURATELY REFLECT WHAT IS ON THE GROUND, AND IT WILL BRING THE EXISTING BUSINESSES INTO COMPLIANCE, AND SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK THAT THE TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND THAT THERE'S NO MORE TIME NEEDED TO LOOK AT THIS ANY FURTHER. IT'S ALREADY BEEN MOST OF THE YEAR, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL READY TO CHECK THIS ONE OFF AND GET ON WITH THE HOLIDAYS.
MAYBE HAVE SOME TURKEY AND ENJOY CHRISTMAS. AND SO I THANK YOU ALL-YOUR TIMR TIME AND ATTENTION AND PLEASE HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT AND VA SAN ANTONIO.
>> JACK FINGER AND FOLLOWED BY DAISY RAMSO. >> MADAM MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. MR. MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ THIS IS
[01:40:03]
THE ITEM THAT YOU HAVE INITIATED SOME TIME AGO, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT'S ALMOST A YEAR IN THE MAKING. BUT NORMALLY -- AND NORMALLY I WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS. YES, I WOULD. BUT I'VE LEARNED A NUMBER OF NUMBEROF THINGS SINCE THAT POINT MAKE ME START TO SCRATCH MY HEAD ON THIS ONE.I DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE I'M TRYING TO SUPPORT SOME BIG BAD INDUSTRIES, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, I'M LOOKING AT THE NOTION OF FAIRNESS HERE. YOU KNOW, I CANNOT HELP WHAT HAPPENED 65 YEARS AGO -- YEARS AGO OR SO. I'M SORRY THAT THOSE -- THE THEN LEADERS OF THE CITY ALLOWED THIS VERY POOR MISTAKEN ZONING SITUATION TO OCCUR.
I'M SORRY THAT THEY HAD INDUSTRIES THERE AND THEN THEY ALLOWED THE ZONING FOR RESIDENT -- RESIDENCES TO BECOME SITUATED RIGHT NEXT TO THEM WITHOUT ANY BUFFERS.
BUT SOMEBODY DID. AND SOMEBODY DEVELOPED NEIGHBORHOODS THERE, AND PEOPLE
STARTED MOVING INTO IT. THE -- [INTERJECTIONS] >> MAYOR JONES: ORDER, ORDER.
>> THE QUESTION IS, WHERE ARE THE INDUSTRIES SUPPOSED TO GO? [INTERJECTIONS] THEY HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED THERE. I'M SORRY THAT THERE'S THIS GIGANTIC CONFLICT THAT HAS ARISEN HERE. AT THE ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
YOU HAD AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS THING. >> SIR, PLEASE LET HIM TO
COMPLETE HIS COMMENTS. COUNCILMAN, PLEASE. >> I THINK THAT THE REAL QUESTION IS, SIR, WHY WAS THIS THING STARTED SOME TIME AGO, BUT THE INDUSTRIES ONLY LEARNED ABOUT IT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO? WHY WEREN'T THEY NOTIFIED PROPERLY? MAYBE THAT'S WHY -- WHY THE ZONING COMMISSIONERS STARTED CALLING THEM AND LETTING THEM -- DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? NO, THIS IS REALLY A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, SIR, AND I THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, THIS NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED.
SO THAT MORE INFORMATION GETS OUT THERE. >> DAISY RAMSO AND FOLLOWED BY
DORIS VIX. >> I YIELD MY TIME -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> OKAY. MA'AM, I'M SORRY YOU ARE DAISY? YOU'RE DAISY, OKAY AND YOU'RE
YIELDING TO WHO, MESSAGE? MA'AM? >> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> ONE SECOND, ONE AT A TIME. MS. HILL, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ROSE HILL. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT HILL ALLIANCE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND I'M THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE D2 ROUNDTABLE. A FIRST AND A ONE-OF-A-KIND NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE FINEST THAT YOU CAN FIND IN DISTRICT 2. ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT 2 ROUNDTABLE THAT HAS 30 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN DISTRICT 2, I AM HERE TO ASK FOR YOU TO PLEASE TO VOTE FOR THESE RESIDENTS HERE. THEIR HOMES. THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND THEIR HEALTH. NOT TOO LONG AGO -- CAN YOU PUT -- NOT TOO LONG AGO I SYMPATHIZED WITH THESE RESIDENCY SENIORS BECAUSE SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THAT HAPPENED IN GOVERNMENT HILL. AND IF WE CAN RECALL -- COULD YOU PUT THAT PICTURE THING UP, PLEASE? CAN YOU? CAN YOU MAKE IT A LITTLE BIGGER? THIS IS WHAT ENDED UP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ACTUALLY RECYCLING, TWO STORIES HIGH OF CARDBOARD AND WE HAD A DEVELOPER THAT CAME IN THERE AND DIDN'T WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
SOME BUSINESSES ARE GOOD AND SOME BUSINESSES ARE NOT. AND WE HAD RATS, INFESTATION AND DUST, PEOPLE GETTING SICK. BUT THEY GOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING -- THE SAD PART IS THEY GOT A PERMIT. AND WE HAD TO LOOK AT THAT AND WE HAVE TO AND WHAT THE TRUE MEANINGS ARE IN A COMMUNITY AND WHAT WILL THEY BRING, IF THEY WILL BRING A PARTNERSHIP, THAT'S
[01:45:01]
ONE THING. BUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO BRING DUST, TRASH AND RATS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT LOOKING AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLANS AND TAKING THE CONSIDERATION FOR THE SENIORS AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN THAT COMMUNITY FOR SO, SO MANY YEARS.AND ALSO WHAT IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ARE THE HEART OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE. WHAT ABOUT THEM AND WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THOSE CHILDREN? DO WE WANT THEM TO INHERIT THAT SICKNESS AND THAT HEALTH? RIGHT NOW WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. SO I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO -- THIS COMMUNITY WANTS TO PRESERVE THE CHARACTERS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO I ASK YOU FOR THE SENIORS AND FOR THE FAMILIES AND FOR THE VETERANS, FOR ALL THAT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD -- PLEASE SUPPORT THEM TODAY. GIVE THEM THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> DORIS VIX. FOLLOWED BY OSCAR VIX. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.
SHIRLEY ALAN IS GOING TO BE NEXT. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEN. I'M JUST SPEECHLESS. YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM, I HEARD ASK NOT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY, BUT ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME BACK, WE HAD A COLORED RESTROOM, A COLORED WATER FOUNTAIN, A COLORED RESTAURANT -- AND NOW I WENT ALL THE WAY HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD AND FIGHTING FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTS AND I COME HOME AND I DON'T HAVE NO RIGHTS. NOW HERE I AM, 75 -- 50 YEARS LATER, STILL FIGHTING FOR MY RIGHTS. AND NOW YOU GOT PEOPLE HERE THAT'S OVER 90 YEARS OLD. Y'ALL OUGHT TO BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GIVE US SOMETHING, INSTEAD OF US COMING DOWN HERE AND ASK FOR SOMETHING. I JUST CAN'T RELATE TO IT.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE UNREAL WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW. IT JUST DON'T MAKE NO SENSE.
IF YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT THE BUSINESSES IF WE HAD WENT OUT THERE AND WE HAD MADE MEADOWVIEW AND WID WILLOW WOOD AND MEADOWVIEW NORTH A SLUM, THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE AROUND US.
BUT WHAT DID WE DO? WE WENT OUT THERE THE FIRST TIME THEY RODE THROUGH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, 1975 -- I SAID, WHATEVER IT TOOK TO MAKE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK LIKE THIS -- I'M GOING TO DO MY PART. I HAVE SERVED AS PRESIDENT SIX DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I HAVE BEEN EVERYTHING FROM THE CLEANUP, TO THE PRESIDENT.
AND SOMEBODY SAID LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD, Y'ALL CAN'T DO THE BUSINESS LIKE THIS.
WHEN I MOVED OUT THERE THERE WASN'T NOTHING BUT CORNFIELDS AND NICE YARDS AND FRESH AIR.
NOW Y'ALL HAVE LET ALL OF THIS INDUSTRIAL COME IN HERE, AND NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THEM TIME AND MORE TIME -- THEY'VE BEEN MESSING WITH US FOR 50 YEARS.
50 YEARS! AND WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH THIS. AND THESE PEOPLE -- 90 YEARS OLD, THEY HAVEN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS. AND THE LADY ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY AND I WAS PARKING IN A PARKS PLACE AND I HAD A PURPLE HEART AND THE LADY SAID YOU DON'T HAVE A HANDICAP. AND I SAID, MA'AM, I SAID, I'VE SERVED MY COUNTRY ALL MY LIFE, AND YOU OUGHT TO BE LOOKING FOR ME A PARKING SPACE INSTEAD OF SAYING WHERE I CAN'T PARK.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT OUR CITY COUNCILMEN ARE. [APPLAUSE] IF Y'ALL GOT TIME TO COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND CAMPAIGN AND YOU GOT TIME TO COME OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. AND THEN SAY TO YOURSELF, WOULD I WANT THIS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? WOULD I PUT UP WITH THIS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? NO, YOU CAN'T DO IT. SO WHY CAN'T YOU SEE WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM? AND WE HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE EVERY TIME THAT YOU ASKED US TO. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE. WE SHOULD HAVE A COUNCILMAN AND EVERYBODY ELSE -- AND I HAVE ADMIT NOW THAT COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ HAVE THERE BEEN OR HAD SOMEBODY REPRESENTING, BUT I SAY IF Y'ALL GOT TIME TO HAVE CAMPAIGN, YOU OUGHT TO HAVE COME TIME TO LOOK AT PEOPLE'S LIFE SITUATIONS AND WHAT T THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH EVERY DAY.
AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS TO COME TO NO VOTE. YOU SHOULD SAY, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SOME VIBE. AND RIGHT NOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS LIKE 90% OF WHAT IT LOOKED
[01:50:02]
LIKE 50 YEARS AGO -- WE TAKE CARE OF OUR YARDS AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE. WE DIDN'T LET IT TURN INTO A SLUM.AND WE ARE THE MOST PREDOMINANT BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT HAVE SURVIVED THIS LONG AND NOW WE HAVE TO COME DOWN HERE AND BEG. [APPLAUSE] WE GOT TO COME DOWN HERE AND BEG FOR THINGS THAT Y'ALL OUGHT TO BE GIVING US.
Y'ALL SHOULD GIVE US AN AWARD FOR KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD UP FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS AND TRYING TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO BEAUTIFUL. INSTEAD OF JUST DEPRIVING US OF SAID WHY DON'T Y'ALL MOVE? WHY DON'T WE MOVE? WE WERE HERE FIRST! AND IT'S LIKE TELLING ANY OF YOU, WHY DON'T Y'ALL MOVE? WE WERE HERE FIRST.
I MEAN, LET'S BE REAL WITH ONE ANOTHER. IF YOU MISTREAT SOMEBODY AND MISUSE SOMEBODY AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING IT AND ALL YOU CCITY COUNCILMEN AND THE WAY THT WE HAVE NEGLECTED DISTRICT 2, WHY Y'ALL CAN'T COME TOGETHER AND SAID WE ALL DONE SPEND ALL OF THIS MONEY IN THIS DISTRICT BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING IN THIS DISTRICT AND LET'S DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THAT DISTRICT AND MAKE THE WHOLE CITY LOOK GOOD.
AND DON'T JUST BE A CITY COUNCILMAN FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR JUST YOUR DISTRICT, AND FIGURE OUT, YOU GOT EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEEDED AND HELP SOME OF DEPRIVED DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR. WE ARE TRYING TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY. THE FIESTA, FLAMBO DECIDED TO DO THE FIESTA AND DOING THE JUNETEENTH, AND I HAVE DONE THE JUNETEENTH PARADE FOR 25 YEARS AND THEY DECIDED TO DO FIESTA STUFF ON JUNETEENTH. AND I CALLED THEM AND, MAN, I'M PISSED OFF AND UPSET AND I AM NOT THE SAME TYPE OF PERSON TO STAY PISSED OFF, AND YOU WILL PUT SOME IN THE JUNETEENTH PARADE, AND WHY WE CAN'T WORK TOGETHER AND GET ALONG WITH ONE ANOTHER? THEY HAD THREE FLOATS IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR AND WE EVEN HAD A FLOAT IN THE FIESTA PARADE, SO WHY CAN'T WE FIGURE A WAY TO WORK ALONG TOGETHER AND MAKE SAN ANTONIO A GREATER PLACE TO LIVE?
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> SHIRLEY ALLEN.
FOLLOWED BY KEN BROWN. >> I YIELD MY TIME -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> SHIRLEY ALLEN? >> SHE'S GOING TO GIVE HER TIME --
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> OKAY. COME UP, PLEASE, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU. AND KEN BROWN WILL FOLLOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PUT THAT UP ON THE MONITOR AS I SPEAK.
THAT ILLUSTRATION THAT I HAVE THEM PUTTING UP THERE IS JUST BUT ONE OF THE MANY ILLUSTRATIONS THAT I HAVE CREATED IN THIS TIME TO WELCOME BUSINESSES TO COME AND ATTEND ANY MEETING THAT WE HAVE. THAT IS ONE OF THE VERY LAST. AND WE HAVE PUT THEM OUT PERSONALLY AND INVITED YOU PERSONALLY. GOOD EVENING ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR CAUSE. WE ARE IN AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD, DEVELOPED LATE 1950S, HOMES BUILT 1960S, EARLY, AND MY PARENTS' HOUSE, 1962.
HOUSES AND FARMS UNDER THE PLETZ COVENANT, A COVENANT OF LAND USE.
AND COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS WERE INCLUDED, NOT HEAVY INDUSTRIAL.
WE ARE HERE TO CONTRADICT THE 50-YEAR CLASSIFICATION OF HEAVY INDUSTRIAL FOR NO BETTER REASON THAN LEASING A RENTAL WITH NO RULES. WE'VE HAD SOME BAD ACTORS WHO HAVE RENTED THE PROPERTIES, BUSINESS PROPERTIES, NEAR US. AND WE HAVE HAD HUMAN WASTE, ABUSE OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM, AND THE STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM, AND STORAGE OF QUESTIONABLE MATERIALS, AND EQUALLY -- AND I AM A LANDLORD, I HAVE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES AND PROBABLY SEVERAL OF THE DISTRICTS HERE AND I HAVE 171 PROPERTIES AND I CONSIDER MYSELF A GREAT LANDLORD, BUT WE HAD LANDLORDS THAT DO NOT POLICE THEIR PROPERTIES OR INSTILL RULES.
[01:55:01]
OR EVEN PERIODICALLY EVEN CHECK ON THEIR PROPERTIES. WE ASK RELIEF.IT IS NOT THE JOB OF OUR ELDERLY, OR OUR RESIDENTS TO MONITOR BAD BUSINESS.
CODE COMPLIANCE HAS TO THE BEST OF THEIR REGULATIONS TO ASSIST US.
WE HAVE RANG THAT DOORBELL MANY TIMES. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER. I'M A RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEE. I'M CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN TRYING TO PUT SOME OF MY EMPLOYEES BACK ON THE CLOCK. I DID ARBITRATIONS AND UNION FIGHTS FOR A LIVING. AND WE HAVE A BIG ONE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
I'VE COME BACK TO MY HOMETOWN TO REPRESENT MY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND I LOVE THIS TOWN.
AND I WAS RAISED BY MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS TOWN. I LOVE PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS TOWN. THIS IS MY TOWN. BUT I'VE HAD TO APPLY FOR A FEW FEDERAL THINGS TO SOME OF THE ISSUES HERE, EAP, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T GET IT.
YOU CAN'T POLLUTE N NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A BUFFERED AREA.
WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH ENCROACHMENT AND PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY SUB-LET TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THE PROPERTY. WHAT HAVE WE DONE? WE HAVE ASKED, CHALLENGED, SEARCHED FOR BOTH LAWS AND REGULATIONS AS TO SUCH PROBLEMS. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TO THE WATER BOARD, WE HAVE BEEN TO THE CITY WASTE. WE HAVE BEEN TO CITY PLANNING.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY WON SOME AGREED ORDERS AND I HAVE WRITTEN AGREED ORDERS FOR SEVERAL OTHER DISTRICTS HERE AND I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR SOME OF THE WRITS THAT I HAVE WROTE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN IN CITY PLANNING. BUT, YES, I WRITE SUCH DOCUMENTATION. THOSE PAMPHLETS THAT I HANDED THAT I WRITE.OF THE MATERIAL- SURELY NO ONE HAS TO DEMAND A BUSINESS CORRECT THE EFFORTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. PREJUDICE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AS TO THE BUSINESSES THINKING THAT THEY WERE HERE FIRST. AND THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO RUN THE RESIDENTS OFF.
WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON MANY SIDES OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AGAIN, I'M ALSO A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE. AND EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE A HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR OPINION IS SIMPLY -- CHANGE. THE EASTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IS SO OFTEN JUDGED BY ITS LOOKS. FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, PLEASE DRIVE BY.
I HAVE REPAIRED AND CORRECTED OVER 310 HOUSES AND STILL HAVE 171.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN AN UGLY PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT'S NO SUCH THING IF YOU'RE A REAL LANDLORD OR A BUSINESSMAN. WE ARE WORKING WITH SOME OF THE PROPERTIES, AND WE HAVE ASSISTED SOME OF THE PROPERTIES IN CLEANING UP THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WILL TALK TO US AND WE HAVE ASSIST INSIDE CLEANING UP YOUR PROPERTY. MR. VICKS, IF YOU COULD STAND UP. WE HAVE PHYSICALLY ALSO CLAIMED UP SEVERAL CITY PROPERTIES, AND SMALL PORTIONS OF THE CITY TO RID OF OBSTRUCTIONS ON ROADWAYS, SINCE WE HAVE AN ELDERLY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND NO ONE NEEDS TO LOOK AROUND A BUSH OR A BUILDING, IF WE CAN WORK WITH A BUSINESS TO CORRECT SUCH SMALL PROBLEMS. WE WELCOME YEAR-ROUND RODEO.
ANY BUSINESS THAT WOULD HIRE ME FROM THE AGE OF 13 -- I WORKED AT COCA-COLA, FORT SAM HOUSTON AND SOLD TICKETS TO CONAWAY TWITY AT THE COLISEUM. I KNOW WHICH BUSINESSES DIDN'T MIND A LITTLE BLACK JOB ASKI GUG FOR A JOB. WE APPLAUD THE RODEO WANTING TO USE MORE OF THE GROUNDS -- AND WE STILL --
SUBMIT REST OF YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD. >> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> KEN BROWN. FOLLOWED BY MIA MARIA PUGH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, KEN BROWN HAD TO STEP UP AND I'M MIA MARIA PUGH.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS MIA MARIA PUGH AND I WORK FOR BROWN AND MACDONALD LAW FIRM AND WE REPRESENT FOUR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE IN THIS AREA OF REZONING AND NOTABLY THE SAN ANTONIO RODEO AND THE WILLOW SPRINGS AND TWO INDUSTRIAL USERS AND WE WANT TO KRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS LARGE AREA REZONING. WE WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES, LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS.
AND COMING UP WITH A ZONING DISTRICT THAT ADDRESSES EVERYONE.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND, AGAIN, WE ARE IN SUPPORT.
[02:00:03]
[APPLAUSE] >> JOHN WITSEP AND FOLLOWED BY JAMES MCKNIGHT.
>> JOHN WITSEP. OKAY. JAMES MCKNIGHT AND FOLLOWED BY
DAYTON SIMMS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JAMES MCKNIGHT WITH ORTIZ MCKNIGHT ON BEHALF OF 639 GIMLER. AND I HAD COME HERE TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO RESIDENTS ABOUT OUR USE. BUT REALLY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING WHAT THE ZONING COMMISSION AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED FOR THAT PROPERTY. THEY HAD RECOMMENDED AN L FOR SPECIFIC USE FOR MANUFACTURED HOMES, OVERSIZED VEHICLES AND SALES AND STORAGE. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY. IT'S PRIMARILY FLOODPLAIN AND IF IT'S C2 BASED ZONING, THERE'S ESSENTIALLY NOTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THE PROPERTY SO WE WERE ASKING FOR L TO SIMPLY LOOK TO FUTURE USES. REALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE WERE DOING CURRENTLY AND IT HAD TO DO IF THE POINT OF THIS IS TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH FUTURE USES AND WHAT IS MOST APPROPRIATE IS FOR THAT TO BE L SO THAT'S OUR REQUEST TODAY.
THANK YOU. >> DAYTON SIMMS. FOLLOWED BY THE FINAL SPEAKER,
JOE MALONE. >> THANK YOU. I'M HERE REPRESENTING A GROUP OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THE REZONING. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A BROAD REZONING AND WE WOULD BE ANXIOUS TO MEET WITH THE APPROPRIATE STAFF OR HOMEOWNERS TO SEE IF THERE WASN'T SOME LESSER ZONING THAT COULD BE MORE ACCEPTABLE TO OUR PARTICULAR GROUP OF PROTESTERS. SO THAT WOULD BE ONE REQUEST FOR TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE A POSTPONEMENT OF THE DECISION TO GIVE TIME FOR THAT POSSIBLE CONVERSATION TO TAKE PLACE.
WE'RE PROBABLY MOST OPPOSED TO THE PROCESS THAT HAS OCCURRED, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR GROUP AND OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE'VE CONTACTED FEEL THAT THEY REALLY DIDN'T GET PROPER TIME OR NOTICE TO PRESENT THEIR POSITION. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IF COUNCIL COULDN'T POSTPONE THIS DECISION UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. [INTERJECTIONS] ANYWAY, THAT'S OUR CURRENT REQUEST. THERE'S BEEN SOME FACTUAL -- OR STATEMENTS MADE THAT WE TEND TO DISAGREE WITH IT, WE FEEL THAT OUR GROUP OF ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL USERS IN THE AREA ARE RESPONSIBLE, AND WOULD WORK WITH THE HOMEOWNERS IF THEY HAD SOME SPECIFIC OBJECTIONS. BUT IT'S A BASIC PROPERTY RIGHTS ISSUE WHEN YOU DO A DOWN ZONING, AND YOU HAVE AFFECTED THE FUTURE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTIES. WE WILL HAVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMISSION TO USE THE PROPERTY AS IT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED, BUT YOU DEFINITELY AFFECTED THE VALUE OF THOSE PROPERTIES. WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY HARMED BY THAT WITHOUT MEETING NECESSARILY ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THE HOMEOWNERS. THEY BASICALLY HAVE REQUESTED A DOWN ZONING TO WHAT I REFER TO AS ALMOST A QUASI RESIDENTIAL ZONING.
AND WE STRONGLY OBJECT TO THAT. THANK YOU. >> JOE MALONE IS THE FINAL
SPEAKER. >> MAYOR, I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU AND THE CITY COUNCIL. I THINK THAT SIMPLY APPLIED, THE GOLDEN RULE WOULD WORK IN THIS SITUATION. WE ARE MAKING OUR OWN GOLDEN RULE AND WE'RE DOING UNTO OTHERS AS -- BEFORE THEY CAN DO IT TO US. AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT OUR SITUATION IS GOING OUT IN THE AREA. WHAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO
[02:05:02]
IS -- ALL WE WANT ARE BASIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLEAN AIR, AND CLEAN WATER.AND BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS. THAT'S ALL. WE CAN TALK ABOUT COMMERCIAL ENTITIES AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WE'RE STILL WANTING THOSE THREE THINGS AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE REQUESTING.
SO I ASK THAT YOU FAVORABLY TO CONSIDER OUR REQUESTS. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: ITEMS 7 AND 8 ARE IN DISTRICT 2, COUNCILMAN
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ TO SPEAK. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.
TODAY'S AREA OF REZONING IS A CULMINATION OF MANY, MANY, MANY HOURS OF STAFF BY THE STAFF AND MY TEAM AND THE FORWARD ON JANUARY 15TH OF THIS YEAR AND ON THE 7TH THE PROCESS WAS APPROVED AND STARTED AND EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER IN THIS BOUNDARY WAS NOTIFIED AND INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.
TODAY I JOIN MY CONSTITUENTS AND THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY IN CALLING FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. I WANT TO THANK FOREST AND ASHLEY WITH DSD FOR THEIR DILIGENCE IN THIS CASE AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE UNITED HOMEOWNER IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND THEIR TASK FORCE FOR ADVOCATING FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMITTEE AND STICKING WITH US THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE COMPROMISE -- EVERY SINGLE COMPROMISE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
SO GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, THIS IS AN ISSUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
AND WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE GOLDEN RULE, RIGHT, DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD OURSELVES AND WE WOULD WE ACCEPT THIS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? WHAT WOULD WE DO IF OUR RESIDENTS CAME TO US WITH THIS CONCERN? THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS INSTANCE HAS VERY THREE STORIED BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE MANY HAVE CALLED IT HOME FOR DECADES BEFORE ANY BUSINESSES EXISTED AND BEFORE ANY OF THEM GOT THE ZONING THEY HAVE TODAY.
THEY REMEMBER WHEN THE AREA WAS MOSTLY FIELD AND RANCH LAND AND HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THE IMPACTS OF UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS AND EVERY TRAIN THAT COMES THROUGH AND STOPS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE FAILED PROMISES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING THE FROST BANK CENTER, WHICH ONE POINT WAS THE AT AND T CENTER AND WHICH IS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NO GROCERY STORES AND LITTLE MEDICAL CARE AND LITTLE GREEN SPACE AND NO AFFORDABLE ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES BUT AN ABUNDANCE OF DIRT IN THE AIR AND DAMAGED ROADS CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL TRAFFIC AND THE ABUNDANCE OF TRAFFIC CAUSED BY THE TRAINS.
I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE, PLEASE, TO ENTERTAIN ME EYE WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO CLOSE THEIR EYES FOR A SECOND WHILE I WALK YOU THROUGH AN EXERCISE, IF YOU MAY. YOU ARE SITTING IN YOUR FRONT YARD. IN THE HOME THAT YOUR FAMILY HAS LIVED IN FOR DECADES.
YOU'RE IN A ROCKING CHAIR. YOU FEEL THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF YOUR PORCH ON YOUR FEET.
YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF WIND CHIMES, AND IN THIS STORY IT WAS A GIFT FROM YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW AND SO YOU HEAR THE WIND CHIMES THAT WERE A GIFT FROM YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW.
YOU HEAR BIRDS CHIRPING AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL SOUND. AND THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST AND YOU ARE THERE TO WATCH IT SHINE AND YOU FEEL THE WARMTH ON YOUR SKIN.
NOW IMAGINE ALL THAT YOU CAN SMELL IS HUMAN EXCREMENT. ALL YOU SMELL IS LITERAL SHIT FILLING THE AIR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND YOU WALK TO YOUR MAILBOX AND YOU FEEL A LAYER OF DUST IN THE AIR CLINGING ONTO YOUR SKIN AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE BREATHING IN AND THE ONLY PERSON IS WHEN YOU CHECK YOUR MAIL IS THE SMELL OF HUMAN EXCREMENT AND THE FEELING OF DUST. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT YOU FEEL IN ANY WAY BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A STRONG STENCH AND SUCH AN IMPOSITION THAT IT BECOMES THE CHARACTER OF THE WORLD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU LIVE IN AND IT PLACES LITERAL MEANING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF BEING THE DUMPING GROUND FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME IN THAT.
IT'S NASTY, AIN'T IT? [APPLAUSE] IT'S NASTY.
THIS LARGE AREA OF REZONING WAS INTRODUCED AFTER A PORT-A-POTTY COMPANY CAUSED DISTRESS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT LIVING ACROSS STREET FROM A BUSINESS WHERE HUMAN EXCREMENT IS SLOSHED ON TRUCKS AND DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHERE PORTABLE TOILETS ARE STORED IS NOT WELCOME OR IDEAL FOR ANYONE.
AND, AGAIN, NONE OF US WANT THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ANYONE THAT WE REPRESENT.
LET ALONE FAMILIES AND RETIRED PEOPLE, TRYING TO ENJOY THE HOMES THAT THEY WORKED SO HARD FOR. AND TODAY WE ARE CORRECTING A DECADES LONG ZONING MISTAKE.
AND THE EAST SIDE HAS EXPRESSED THAT WE'RE THE LITERAL DUMPING GROUND FOR THE CITY AND OF PART OF MY GOAL AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR MY CITY TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO SAFE AND CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES AND THAT WE PROVIDE JUSTICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY WRONGED. TODAY REPRESENTS A VERY STRONG COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES. AND NOBODY GOT EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANTED.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WILLING TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS IN GOOD FAITH AND I
[02:10:01]
WANT TO BE REALISTIC THAT IF AND WHEN THIS PASSES TODAY THE RESULT WILL NOT BE IMMEDIATE.I WANT TO GROUND US IN THE REALITY THAT LARGELY WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE PREVENTING USES THAT WILL BE HARMFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES YEARS AND YEARS FROM NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO STILL NEED TO WORK WITH BUSINESSES THAT EXIST TODAY TO ADJUST SOME OF THEIR PRACTICES, AND YOU HAVE ME HERE WITH YOU IN THAT FIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE QUICKLY 111 NOTICES WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR WITH 12 OPPOSED. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU SAW 111 NOTICES IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING ZONING RELATED FOR THE CITY RETURNED BACK TO US? AND IT'S NOT COMMON SO I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS CASE AND WHEN YOU CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT. AND YOU HAVE HEARD AMENDMENTS BY THE ZONING COMMISSION AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND ACCEPTED GRACIOUSLY BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'M GOING TO HAVE READ A FEW OF THEM AGAIN IF I CAN FIND THAT PAPER SOMEWHERE.
SO ALL OF THAT BEING SAID I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PLANNING AND ZONING RECOMMENDATION WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS, REVISE PROPOSED ZONING FOR 1114 PAULSON AND 1115 BRUSSELS WITH LIGHT SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR FACILITY, AND REMOVE 11 GRIMLER FROM THE PLAN AND LEAVING AS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND THE REZONED TO SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR FRAITD DEPOT. AND TO ALIGN WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR C2, CD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT FOR HOME OVERSIZED VEHICLE SALES AND SERVICE OR STORAGE AND COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL LAND USE DESIGNATION. AND 3442 BELGIAN LANE AND 139 GRIMLER LOAD TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL
WITH SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR A FREIGHT DEPOT. >> SECOND.
>> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 7 AND 8 AS AMENDED.
PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION PASSES. [APPLAUSE]
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 13, STAFF, PLEASE PROCEED. >> ZONING FOR TOBACCO STORE/RETAIL, LOCATED AT 431 SOUTH FLORES STREET AND THE STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION. NO TEMPORARY SIGNS WHEN WAVERS OR SNIPE SIGNS AND THE STAFF MAILED 23 NOTICES AND ZERO RETURNED IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED AND NO RESPONSE FROM THE ST. LEO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. JACK FINGER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> MAYOR JONES AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, AGAIN MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
AND THIS ITEM, ITEM NUMBER 10, FALLS IN MS. -- >> MAYOR JONES: THIS IS ITEM 13.
>> MY MISTAKE. THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME. 13.
AND DISTRICT 3. IS MS. VIAGRAN DISTRICT. IT'S ABOUT ESTABLISHING A
TOBACCO STORE. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN? >> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> YEAH, TOBACCO STORE, MS. VIAGRAN. WHERE THEY SELL CIGARS, CIGARETTES, TIPARILLOS TO QUOTE AN OLD ADVERTISEMENT -- AND THEY ALSO SELL VAPE -- WELL, SELL VAPING PRODUCTS THERE AS WELL. I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD SAY NO TO THIS ONE, MS. VIAGRAN.
WE ALL KNOW THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH. YES, THEY ARE LEGAL, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SAY
NO TO THIS ONE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM 13 IS IN
DISTRICT 3, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, I MET WITH THE APPLICANT AND WE SAT DOWN AND DISCUSSED LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY MOVING FORWARD AND I HAVE MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS AS READ.
[02:15:04]
>> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
PLEASE VOTE. OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. STAFF LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 18.
>> ITEM 18 IS A REZONING TO C2S WITH SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR A CAR WASH AD 3602 KILEBRA ROAD. WITH THE APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, LIMITED ONLY TO BE ON HOLY CROSS DRIVE, AND 8-FOOT SOLID FENCE ON THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE, CLOSEST TO THE RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY USES AND HOURS OF OPERATION TO BE LIMITED TO THOSE BEING MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 9:00 P.M., AND NO EXTERNAL SOUND SYSTEMS OR LIVE MUSIC PERMITTED. AND STAFF MAILED 27 NOTICES, ZERO WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR AND ZERO IN OPPOSITION. THE CULEBRA PARK ASSOCIATION IS NEUTRAL TO THE REQUEST AND WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE UNIVERSITY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. BRANDON DENNISON. SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BRANDON DENNISON AND I REPRESENT THE FUTURE OPERATOR OF THIS CAR WASH. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED APPROVAL WILL CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE'LL BE A GREAT PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY. QUICK QUACK IS A EXCELLENT OPERATOR AND THEY HAVE EXCELLENT SERVICES AND EXCELLENT STAFF AND WE'LL ALWAYS KEEP THEIR SITES CLEAN AND FREE OF DEBRIS. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE CONSIDERATION AND I HOPE YOU THAT WILL APPROVE THIS REZONE. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: ITEM 18 IS IN DISTRICT 5, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO IS RECOGNIZED.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY TEAM FOR WORKING TO SECURE THE CONDITIONS WITH THIS, WHICH INCLUDE THE LIMIT -- WELL AS A MASONRY WALL UP TO EIGHT FEET AS WELL AS HOURS OF OPERATION FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 9:00 P.M. AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS AS WELL. SO WITH THAT I HAVE A MOTION TO
APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS? OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. PLEASE VOTE.
OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. THE FINAL ITEM IS ITEM 21, PLEASE, STAFF, PLEASE PROCEED.
>> CERTAIN, REZONING FROM R6 TO PUDMH-18 WITH A PROGRAM TIFER SETBACK OF EIGHT FEET AT 14840TOEPPERWIN ROAD. WE HAVE THE STAFF MAILING 80 NOTICES AND ZERO RETURNED IN FAVOR AND NINE RETURNED IN OPPOSITION ANDS THERE NO REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITHIN 200 FEET. OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARY, ZERO WERE RETURNED IN FAVOR AND 12 IN
OPPOSITION, THANK YOU. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] THERE'S A HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION BUT THEY'RE NOT A REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WITH THE CITY.
>> MAYOR JONES: ITEM 2 IS IN DISTRICT 10, COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS NOT HERE, BUT COUNCILWOMAN
SPEARS WILL SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF. >> SPEARS: A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 21, WITH THE AMENDED SITE
PLAN. >> MAYOR JONES:COUNCILWOMAN, MY APOLOGIES, WORN SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM. JACK FINGER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, MAID AM MAYOR. ITEM 21 IS ABOUT CHANGING THE ZONING FROM -- [COUGHING] --
[02:20:01]
EXCUSE ME. FROM A RESIDENTIAL TO A MULTIFAMILY -- AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. I'M SORRY, MR. WHOIT WHYTE IS NT HERE, BUT ONE THING -- WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I SAW IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.THE FACT THAT THERE ARE 80 NOTICES SENT OUT, AND ABOUT -- ALMOST 10% OF THEM, ONE OUT OF 10, SAID, NO, WE DO NOT WANT THIS. WHY WOULD THEY -- ALL OF THE SURROUNDING PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING 200 FEET SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT THIS? WELL, I GUESS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE EXTRA INTENSITY THAT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX BRINGS, BUT ALSO I NOTICED THAT THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE TINY LITTLE ITEM IN THIS CASE THAT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. IT SAYS WITH A REDUCED PERIMETER SETBACK.
A REDUCED PERIMETER SETBACK. MEANING THAT IT COULD GET CLOSER TO THE STREET THAN WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SAT NEXT TO. YEAH, UM, I GUESS THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THEIR RESIDENCES ARE BECOMING MORE ENCROACHED. SO, YES, AT THE ZONING COMMISSION AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE HAVE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THIS THING.
I THINK THAT JUST MAYBE, MS. SPEARS, IF YOU'RE CARRYING THE WATER FOR MR. WHYTE, WOULD YOU PLEASE SAY NO TO THIS ONE, BECAUSE LIKE I SAY, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE TO LIVE NEXT TO THIS SPECTER OF -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD CALL IT COMMERCIAL ENCROACHMENT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A MORE INTENSE SCENARIO THAN YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE A RESIDENT LIVING NEXT
TO THAT AREA THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM NUMBER 21 IS IN DISTRICT 10, COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS NOT HERE BUT COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS IS
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 21 WITH
THE AMENDED SITE PLAN. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE AS AMENDED ITEM NUMBER 21.
PLEASE VOTE. OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S ZONING AND LAND USE SESSION AND THE TIME IS 4:35 AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.