Dec 11, 2025 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:17]

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. GOOD MORNING! THE TIME IS NOW 9:01 A.M. ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2025 AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED

TO ORDER. >> GAVITO:. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MAY HAVE HAD COUNCILWOMAN

ALDRETE GAVITO'S INVOKE INVOCAT. >> HE IS PART OF A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY ACCOMPANIMENT. HE WAS BORN IN MEXICO AND RAISED IN A BILINGUAL MEXICAN-AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD. HE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND PHILOSOPHIES FROM MOUNT SEMINARY IN OREGON. AND ALSO A DEGREE IN THEOLOGY FROM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AT ST. LUKE'S HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS DEDICATION TO PARISH FAMILIES AND HIS OUTREACH TO MINISTRIES.

IT INCLUDES HOMEBOUND VISITS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN UNITY AND FAITH. HE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CREATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL FORMATION AND SUPPORTING THE WELL-BEING OF PARISHONERS THROUGHOUT THE WESTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. FATHER JORGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. LET ME INVITE YOU TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH. IF YOU WANT, CLOSE YOUR EYES.

LET US GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE ANOTHER DAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER THIS MORNING WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LOVING PROVIDENCE OVER THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ALL WHO DWELL HERE. WE HAPPILY ASK YOU TO SEND FORTH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM, COUNSEL AND UNDERSTANDING UPON OUR MAYOR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL WHO SERVE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP. MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE THEIR DELIBERATIONS, STRENGTHEN THEIR RESOLVE TO PURSUE THE COMMON GOOD AND INSPIRE IN THEM A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON.

WE COMMEND TO YOU THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY, OUR FAMILIES, OUR ELDERLY, OUR CHILDREN, THE POOR, THE VULNERABLE, AND ALL WHO LABOR TO BUILD A COMMUNITY MARKED BY JUSTICE, PEACE AND COMPASSION. THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF MARY, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, MOTHER OF THE AMERICAS, WHOSE FEAST WE ARE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE, AND ST. ANDREW, PATRON OF OUR WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL, MAY WE LET OUR UNITY, UNDERSTANDING AND AUTHENTIC SERVICE. MAY YOUR GRACE THROW IN THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ACCOMPANY THE WORK UNDERTAKEN IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY AND MAY YOUR BLESSING REST UPON ALL WHO ARE PRESENT. WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST

OUR LORD. AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

[00:05:03]

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

>> THANK YOU. TODAY I'M SO HONORED TO HONOR DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT AND LONG TIME FRIEND EDDIE AGUILAR FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIC LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO. HIS STORY IS SO ENEXPIRING THAT IT'S BEING BROUGHT TO THE SCREEN IN COLLABORATION WITH ACTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER JAMIE P GÓMEZ IN THE UPCOMING FILM BEARIO DOGS, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDWARD EDDIE AGUILAR, EVERY MAN IS A SUPERMAN, NOW IN PRODUCTION. FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES EDDIE HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE LATE 1950S HE FOUNDED TRIPLE A RECORDS, AN INDEPENDENT LABEL THAT WENT ON TO PUBLISH OVER 70 SONGS.

AMONG THEM WERE MAJOR HITS SUCH AS 96 TEARS AND MIDNIGHT HOUR BY QUESTION MARK AND THE MYSTERIOUS. IT WAS LATER COVERED BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND ARETHA FRANKLIN. THE RECORDS ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT BY COLLECTORS AROUND THE WORLD WITH SOME SELLING FOR AS MUCH AS $2,500. IN ADDITION, HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MUSIC CITY HE HAS A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN BUSINESS.

HE SERVED AS FACILITATE MANAGEMENT DIRECT FOR CPS ENERGY OVERSEEING PROJECTS.

HE ALSO LED HIS OWN COMPANY, NORTHWEST PAINT AND CARPET CENTER, WHERE HE CREATED JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY FOLKS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.

EDDIE HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED IN SUPPORTING POLITICAL LEADERS WHOM HE FELT COULD SHAPE SAN ANTONIO'S FUTURE. HE HELPED WITH CAMPAIGNS FOR CONGRESSMAN HENRY B.

GONZALEZ AS WELL AS SEVERAL DISTINGUISHED JUDGES AND OTHER OFFICIALS WHO SERVED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WITH DISTINCTION. HE HAS ALSO BEEN AN AMAZING SUPPORTER OF MINE, WHICH I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR. THE VERY TIME I MET THEIR FAMILY THEY WERE ALL IN AND THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS CIVIC INVOLVEMENT WAS SERVING AS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE [INDISCERNIBLE] FAREWELL SUBCOMMITTEE DURING THE 1987 PAPAL VISIT TO SAN ANTONIO.

HE WORKED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II'S HISTORIC EVENT THAT BROUGHT THE CITY TOGETHER IN FAITH AND UNITY.

EARLIER THIS MORNING EDDIE CONTRIBUTED HIS MUSIC MEXICAN-AMERICAN MEMORABILIA TO TOTALLY TEJANO MUSEUM. THEY ARE NOW ON DISPLAY FOR SAN ANTONIANS TO ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME. I CAN'T WAIT TO VISIT THE MUSEUM AND TO SEE THE DOCUMENTARY WHEN IT COMES OUT.

EDDIE TURNS 89 YEARS OLD NEXT TUESDAY AND CONTINUES TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO THOSE WHO KNOW HIM. HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO OUR CITY HAS LEFT A LASTING MARK ON SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, EDDIE, FOR YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND I DO ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS FAMILY ALSO TRAVELS IN PACKS. IT'S SO NICE TO SEE. WHEN I'M OUT AT THE ELECTION SITE, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE CAR WILL COME IN AND IT'S JUST SO NICE TO GREET THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FAMILY WITH HUGS AND ALL OF IT DEFINITELY STEMS FROM YOU, EDDIE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND WE HAVE THIS CERTIFICATE TO DO. IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, TODAY I WANT TO IN AUDIO] THAT WE SAW FROM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN WE HAD THE INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE. IT'S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO WITH THE UPCOMING TEXAS SPACE SUMMIT, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 21ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 23RD OF NEXT YEAR. IT WILL BRING TOGETHER INDUSTRY LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS AND INNOVATIVERS TO CHART THE NEXT FRONTIER, STRENGTHENING TEXAS' ROLE IN THE COMMERCIAL SPACE ECONOMY AND BUILDING A SUPPLY CHAIN TO POWER THE NATION'S FUTURE AND BEYOND.

THE GATHERING WILL TURN MISSION CRITICAL IDEAS INTO HIGH QUALITY JOBS AND INVESTMENT ACROSS OUR STATE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR AWHILE.

[00:10:02]

WE ALREADY HAVE WORLD CLASS ASSETS IN AEROSPACE, CYBERSECURITY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND EDUCATION RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. THE SUMMIT IS GOING TO SHOWCASE THAT STRENGTH AND HIGHLIGHT HOW OUR CITY CAN CONTINUE EXPANDING ITS FOOTPRINT IN SPACE AND DEFENSE-RELATED INNOVATION. IT'S ALSO A SIGNAL THAT TEXAS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE NATION IN SPACE ECONOMY AND IN SHAPING POLICY THAT WILL BUILD A ROBUST TEXAS-BASED SPACE SUPPLY CHAIN.

I WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT. IN PARTICULAR ITS CHAIR JEFF WEBSTER.

EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP EVALUATE OUR CITY'S PROFILE, ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR HIGH-PAYING JOBS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE MILITARY, PRIVATE SECTOR AND OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES. SO I THINK I SAW JEFF HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS AND WE APPRECIATE OUR

TEXAS SPACE SUMMIT SHIRTS THAT YOU GOT US. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND BEING THERE AND A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE THERE. IT WAS KIND OF QUICK NOTICE.

THIS IS AN EXCITING EVENT. I'M JEFF WEBSTER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER JOINING ME IS TIM FERRELL RUNNING THE COMMITTEE FOR US AND KATIE FAR REMEMBER WHO MANY SEE AROUND CITY HALL ADDRESSING PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES. REAL QUICK, I WON'T TAKE UP TIME, WE DID THIS BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE, THE GREATER CHAMBER TOOK THIS ON NOT AS A CHAMBER EVENT, BUT AS AN EVENT FOR SAN ANTONIO TO SUPPORT THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE BEING LED, THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD OF ADVISORS IS ADAM HAMILTON. WE HAVE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE ON THE BOARD. THIS WOULD NOT BE A STATE EVENT, THIS WOULD BE AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT. THANK YOU. WE'LL BE ENCOURAGING AND REACHING OUT TO ALL OF YOU TO PARTICIPATE. WE'LL HAVE ELEMENTS THAT WILL THROUGH OUR YOUTH AND STEM AND HOW TO ENGAGE THEM IN PART OF THE CONFERENCE, BUT THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR BEING A WILLING PARTNER TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WE EXPECT ABOUT 2,000 ATTENDEES A THIS THE CONFERENCE JUST A YEAR FROM NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR SHIRTS. THEY ARE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THE NEW LOGO AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> WHYTE: AND THERE'S A WEBSITE SET UP, RIGHT? >> YES, THERE IS, TEXASSPACESUMMIT.COM. ALREADY TAKING REGISTRANTS AND SPONSORS.

THIS IS A HUGE EVENT FOR SAN ANTONIO. GIVE US A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR INVESTMENT INTO THIS MARKET.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GUYS. WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE. JEFF, LET ME REITERATE SOME OF THE COMMENTS I MADE THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE. IT WAS GREAT TO WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION TO OUR CITY AND AS FRANKLY SOMEBODY WHO SPENT THEIR ENTIRE CAREER IN NATIONAL SECURITY, SPACE IS DECISIVE. SPACE IS DECISIVE BOTH FROM A MILITARY CONTEXT BUT ALSO A ECONOMIC CONTEXT. I SPOKE WITH JEFF COX WHO IS LEADING THE COMMAND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT IS QUITE FITTING THAT MILITARY CITY AH IS A, THE HOME OF TEXAS CYBER COMMAND WILL HOST THIS TEXAS SPACE SUMMIT. THE LINKAGES BETWEEN SPACE AND CYBER ARE UNDENIABLE.

IT ALSO MADE ME THINK ACTUALLY DURING THE TRIP LAST WEEK TO MEXICO WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE U.S. MCA REVIEW, WHICH I KNOW THE CHAMBER AND MANY OTHER BUSINESS PARTNERS WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT TRADE ROLE CONTINUES TO SPAY DIVIDENDS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING THE SUPPLY CHAINS WE HAVE NOW, TOYOTA, ET CETERA, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTORS TO INCLUDE SPACE, BY THE WAY, THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO ENSURE THAT WE NATURALLY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NOT ONLY THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION, BUT ALSO THE 99,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT CURRENTLY WORK IN MANUFACTURING, THE 10,000 CYBER PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE PART OF OUR CYBER PRESENCE HERE, THE SECOND LARGEST OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C. ALL OF WHICH MAKE US COMPETITIVE NOT ONLY TO HOST A SUMMIT, RIGHT, NOT ONLY TO HOST A SUMMIT, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAY AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THE SPACE MANUFACTURING THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE. THOSE AREN'T JUST GOOD JOBS, THOSE ARE ALSO KEY, KEY TO THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.

THANK YOU AGAIN. AS YOU POINT OUT, THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A SUMMIT, IT IS REALLY OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S UNIQUE ROLE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO SPACE MANUFACTURING. THANK YOU.

[00:15:03]

>> GAVITO:. I DID WANT TO QUICKLY INVITE EDDIE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, TO CLOSE OUT, ANOTHER POINT OF PERSON PRIVILEGE. THIS IS A BIG CELEBRATION,

IT'S A BIG DAY. >> THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL PERSON, LADY MAYOR, THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG ROAD.

MOST OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF THE LOVE THAT I HAVE FOR THE CITY. AND EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED FOR -- OR TRIED TO FOR MY NINE KIDS. I HAVE A FAMILY OF NINE, BEAUTIFUL WIFE, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP OUR CITY PROSPER AND LOOK BETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I AM ALSO PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE CITY PARTNERS FOR LOCAL K-12 EDUCATION. IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM. JOIN IS US ARE THE CEO, THE CHIEF INVESTMENTS AND OPERATIONS OFFICER, THE DIRECTOR OF TALENT, THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND THE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS HERE WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS WAS FOUNDED IN 2015 BY A COALITION OF LOCAL VISIONARIES. THE NON-PROFIT EMERGED IN RESPONSE TO AN URGENT QUESTION. WHAT IF EVERY SAN ANTONIO STUDENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN HISTORICALLY UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES, HAD ACCESS TO AN EDUCATION THAT PREPARES THEM FOR A CHOICE-FILLED LIFE? THAT VISION CONTINUES TO GUIDE CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS' ESSENTIAL WORK TODAY.

AS AN EDUCATION CHAMPION THIS ORGANIZATION CONNECTS THE DOTS BETWEEN SCHOOL QUALITY, TALENT, POLICY AND PARENT POWER. BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN TRADITIONALLY SILOED SYSTEMS. WITH GREAT SCHOOLS AS ITS NORTH STAR, CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS MAKES SPACE FOR EDUCATORS TO INNOVATIVE, PARENTS TO ADVOCATE AND PHILANTHROPY TO INVEST BOLDLY.

OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS HAS SUPPORTED LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CREATING MORE THAN 25,000 NEW HIGH QUALITY SEATS FOR SAN ANTONIO STUDENTS, TRAINED OR RECRUITED MORE THAN 1100 NEW TEACHERS THROUGH CEP SUPPORTED INITIATIVES, INCLUDING INNOVATIVE, PAID RESIDENCIES THAT GRADUATED MORE THAN 100 NEW TEACHERS. INVESTED IN PARENTS AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING MICROGRANTS TO CONNECT STUDENTS TO ONLINE LEARNING DURING COVID-19, TRAINING MORE THAN 200 PARENTS IN EDUCATION ADVOCACY AND SUPPORTING PARENT-FACING ORGANIZATION IN AMPLIFYING THE FAMILY VOICE. AND ATLIZED NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY WITH LOCAL INVESTMENT FROM AN AVERAGE OF SEVEN DOLLARS OF FUNDING FROM ORGANIZATIONS PLEDGED FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED THROUGH CEP LOCAL DONORS.

WHILE THE CITY COUNCIL TRADITIONALLY ENGAGES MOST DIRECTLY WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD AND HIGHER EDUCATION, OFTEN VIEWED IN K-12 HAS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY, IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONSISTENT, INTENTIONAL WORK HAPPENING IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS. TODAY IS A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE MEANINGFUL WAYS FOR WHICH CITY -- FOR HOW CITY LEADERSHIP CAN SUPPORT AND ELEVATE K-12 EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS OFFERS US A ROADMAP TO SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION.

WHETHER THAT BE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND NON-PROFITS, INVESTING IN INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED BY CEP AND ITS PARTNERS OR SIMPLY I ELEVATING THE ISSUES FACING OUR K-12 STUDENT.

I DO BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO HELP SHIFT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND MEET STUDENTS AND FAMILIES' NEEDS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS' CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BUILDING QUALITY SCHOOLS, TEACHER TALENT AND FAMILY ADVOCACY. IN CELEBRATING THE FIRST DECADE OF IMPACT, CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS HAS ALSO DOUBLED DOWN ON ITS PLEDGES TO LEAD BOLDLY AND FOCUS ON WHAT STUDENTS NEED. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS TO HELP ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ACCESS TO EDUCATION -- TO THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR K-12 STUDENTS. DAHLIA, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO

YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN FOR THIS

[00:20:03]

AND THAT HAS BEEN RECENT, BUT ALSO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE TOUCHED THAT THROUGH YOUR DISTRICT, SO THANK YOU. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT YOU ALL AND ANY INITIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE THAT'S GOING TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY. SO OUR TEAM THAT'S HERE, OUR BOARD THAT'S BEHIND US AND MANY FRIENDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SITTING IN COUNCIL TODAY, WE INVITE YOU TO COME TO US AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE CITY THAT OUR CHILDREN DESERVE AND WE'RE SO WELL ON OUR WAY THERE, SO THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME TO JOIN US THIS AFTERNOON. THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT K-12 EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY IS EXACTLY WHY I SET UP THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY OUR VERY OWN COUNCILMAN RICK GALVAN.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE MANY, MANY INEQUITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE SOURCES OF THAT AND THE FUTURE OF ADDRESSING THOSE THINGS, YOU'RE RIGHT THE CITY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WE DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES LATER ON.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COLLABORATION WITH THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE AND WHERE THERE ARE POTENTIALLY DISAGREEMENTS WITH ISDS WE WORK ON THOSE TOGETHER. CHAIR GALVAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE GROUP? THANK YOU.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS HERE TODAY.

I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO BE IN THE ROOM FOR FOLKS CHAMPIONING EDUCATION HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING ON WAYS TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPAND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. WE'RE MAPPING OUT SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY AT OUR MEETING, WE HAD A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION IN THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE NOT ONLY ARE WE TAILORING OUR PROGRAMS, HAVE THE DEALT READY TO DO THAT WORK. WE DO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS WHEN WE LOOK AT K-12 HERE IN THE CITY WITH PARKS OR DHS OR METRO HEALTH THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY WORKING ON THE DIRECT SERVICE TO STUDENTS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS, BUT ALSO THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT TOO, HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THE THINGS ARE BEING DONE IN A WAY THAT IS EFFECTIVELY WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO DESPERATELY NEED IT SOMETIMES MORE COMMUNITIES THAN OTHERS. IT'S SOMETHING I'M EXCITED TO WORK ON WITH MY COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS YOU ALL AS WELL.

I CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATION WITH YOU AND MANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL

ADVOCATES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKING THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS SO WE CAN CLEAR THE BUSINESS FOR THE DAY? OKAY.

THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, ITEMS 4 THROUGH 24 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP AND THERE WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? THIS IS NOT THE HIGHLIGHTS, THESE ARE THOSE TO BE PULLED INDIVIDUALLY? HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS KRISTIN BENO.

I'LL CALL INDIVIDUALS IN ORDER OF THE SIGN-UP AND ALL ITEMS -- TO SIGN UP FOR ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO AGAIN, THE FIRST MEMBER IS KRISTIN BENO FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS KRISTIN BENO.

I'M WITH MAGIC THEATER. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT CONCERNS MAGIC THEATER AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF THERE WERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE HERE AND PRESENT FOR IT. WITH ME IS OUR BOARD MEMBER PAM BRAHAM BELL, OUR IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT AND OUR TREASURER DOREEN FINE.

AND THAT'S IT. WE JUST WANTED TO BE HERE AND BE AVAILABLE.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. JACK FINGER? SIR, YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR THREE ITEMS. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TOTAL.

THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD, MADAM MAYOR. THE BIG ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA

[00:25:01]

THESE WERE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE HORSES AND BUGGIES.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HITCH UP HORSES TO OUR BUGGIES. AND OVER TIME THE AUTOMOBILES ALLOWED US TO GO ANYWHERE WE WANTED TO GO ANY TIME WE WANTED TO GO, MS. GAVITO. SO YES, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FORCE GRANDMA TO RIDE HER BICYCLE IN FREEZING WEATHER TO TRAVEL SEVERAL MILES FROM HER HOME.

WE COULD DO ANYTHING WE WANTED TO. HOWEVER, IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO TODAY WITH ITEM NUMBER 23 IS RESTRICT OUR FREEDOM TO DO SUCH THINGS. YEAH. CURRENTLY OVER IN -- RIGHT NOW ON BANDERA ROAD WE HAVE THREE LANES DEDICATED TO TWO CARS THAT WISH TO TRAVEL NORTHBOUND ON BANDERA ROAD. AND YOUR PLAN, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, IS RESTRICT THAT TO ONLY TWO LANES WITH ONE OF THEM BEING A BUS ONLY. TAKE A CLOSE LOOK THE A THAT AND YOU WILL SEE THERE'S A BUS END LANE NUMBER TWO AND A WHOLE LANE DEVOTED TO BUSES IN LANE NUMBER THREE. WHAT'S MOTORISTS SUPPOSED TO DO? WHAT IF SOME JERK TRAPS TO -- DO THE ILLEGAL EXAMPLE OF TRAVELING IN A BUS ZONE? WHO IS GOING TO STOP HIM? IS THERE GOING TO BE A COP ON EVERY CORNER TELLING HIM NOT TO DO THAT? IF YOU COULD SHOW THAT, HOW MANY LANES ARE YOU GOING TO RESTRICT US TO? YOU NOTICE THAT RIGHT NOW WE AT LEAST HAVE THREE LANES GOING UP AND DOWN BANDERA ROAD. YOU PUT A MEDIAN IN THERE, THERE WILL BE NO LEFT TURNS IF A PERSON WANTED TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THEIR CAR. WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW HERE? LET'S SEE. WE HAVE TO BLOW THAT UP A LITTLE BIT AUDIO/VISUAL MAN.

IF YOU CAN READ IT THERE. LET'S SEE. IT SIMPLY SAID YOU WILL REDUCE OUR SPEED LIMIT FROM 45 TO 35. A 10-MILES PER HOUR DECREASE? AND YES, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, ABOUT -- YES. THE CONSTRUCTION OF MEDIANS CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN U TURNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MEDIANS RESTRICT LEFT-HAND TURN ACCESS.

HOWEVER, THIS DESIGN IS INTENTIONAL. [BUZZER].

U-TURNS ARE INTENTIONAL. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

RAY DAVID CAR DON'T INDONA, FOLD BY MONTANA WILLIAMS. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR. HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME IS RAY CARDONA SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ST ENGINEERING, SAN ANTONIO ARROW PACE.

WE ARE A MAINTENANCE REPAIR AND OVERHAUL FACILITY HERE AT THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT.

I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, HOW IT'S BENEFITING US, THE INDUSTRY IN GENERAL, PROVIDING FUNDING AND TRAINING FOR UP AND COMING TALENT HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROVIDING WORK. WE'RE ACTUALLY LEVERAGING THAT TALENT TO INCREASE THE WORKFORCE FOR THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING THOSE MECHANICS AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS. WE'RE USING THEM FOR TRAINING FOR OUR [INDISCERNIBLE] SYSTEMS, 80 HOURS, AIRFRAME AND POWER PLANT TRAINING. WE'RE ALSO USING THE FUNDING FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE HERE AT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

ST ENGINEERING. AND ALSO WE'RE USING IT FOR SIMULATOR TRAINING FOR ENGINE-RUN PROCESSES, REALLY BUILDING THE TALENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I WANT TOCY TO YOU AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN CONTINUE USING THIS

FUNDING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: MONTANA

WILLIAMS. >> THANK YOU. I'M ACTUALLY -- I NEED TO SWITCH THE ORDINANCE FROM 24 TO 23. I'M MONTANA WILLIAMS, I'M

[00:30:03]

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, FROST BANK IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE. THE SA READY TO WORK PROGRAM HAS GIVEN US ANOTHER MEANINGFUL WAY TO DO EXACTLY THAT, BY HELPING US PROVIDE LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES IN INVESTING IN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EAGER TO GROW. WE BEGAN PARTNERING WITH SA READY TO WORK PROGRAM IN 2024 AND THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP WE LAUNCHED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. WE HIRED THREE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT PROGRAM AND EACH HAVE NOW GROWN FROM AN APPRENTICE INTO A NEW CONTRIBUTING ROLE WITHIN FROST. MORE RECENTLY IN OCTOBER WE BEGAN PARTNERING WITH A PLACEMENT AGENCY THROUGH THE SA READY TO WORK PROGRAM CALLED TRI STAR.

THEY ACTIVELY PROVIDE US WITH RESUMES OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR OUR CONTACT CENTER. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP SINCE WE HIRE COHORTS FOR OUR CONTACT CENTER EACH MONTH. THIS COLLABORATION HAS NOT ONLY STREAMLINED OUR HIRING EFFORTS, BUT HAS ALSO ALLOWED US TO OFFER CAREER GROWTH PATHS FOR INDIVIDUALS, HIGHER PAYING OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PACKAGE AND A COMPANY CULTURE THAT REALLY CARES ABOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS. I WANT TO EXTEND A SINCERE THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE SA READY TO WORK PROGRAM FOR THE CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR GIVING INDIVIDUALS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BUILD BETTER FUTURES. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PORTION. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR JONES: IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE HIGHLIGHTS.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA, HOWEVER?

WE'LL MOVE ON TO HIGHLIGHTS. DISTRICT 2? >> THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 8, THE APPROVAL OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR OUR BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND RENOVATION OF THEIR EXISTING CLINIC.

BACK IN 2021 I TOOK A TOUR OF THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES CAMPUS AND IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO MEET WITH THE STAFF TO SEE UP CLOSE THEIR OPERATIONS, THE WORK THAT THEY DO DAY-TO-DAY AND ESPECIALLY AT THE TIME THE WAY THEY OPERATED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND THE WINTER FREEZE OF 2021. I DID GET SO ETHE VETERINARY CLINIC WHICH NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, WHERE THEY WERE PERFORMING SURGERIES FAR BEYOND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY HAD CAPACITY FOR.

WHEN I ASKED IF THEY COULD HAVE ANYTHING, BE IT BUDGET OR BOND, THEY SAID WE REALLY NEED A NEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL. SO WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP FOR IT TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOND COMMITTEE ON A SHORT LIST OF PROJECTS FROM THE COUNCIL, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE IT WAS NOT ON THAT PRELIMINARY LIST. IT WAS THEN THAT I MADE THE PLEA TO MY COLLEAGUES TO PRIORITIZE THIS PROJECT SO I WANT TO THANK MY PROJECTS PAST AND PRESENT AND THE VOTERS WHO APPROVED THE PROJECT. THOUGH IT IS NOT IN MY DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY QUITE FAR FROM MY DISTRICT, I WAS PROUD TO CHAMPION THIS HOUSE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE NEEDS OF ACS ARE GREAT AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PERFORM WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IT HURTS TRUST AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO A GROUNDBREAKING AND I AM EXPECTING AN INVITATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE GOOD THAT WILL HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THIS ITEM TODAY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS.

ONE OF THEM WAS ALREADY MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 5, WHICH IS AN ITEM GRANTING -- SOME FUNDING TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THE MAGIC THEATERS, FOR RENOVATIONS FINALLY TO BEGIN, WHICH I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN EAGERLY WAITING. THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN WHILE IT OCCURS BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING IT ADA ACCESSIBLE AND WORKING ON HVAC WHICH MIKE FIGURED OUT A WAY FOR THEM TO GET THEIR SCOPE OF PROGRAMMING IN THIS BOND PROGRAM.

I WANT TO THANK CITY LIP FOR THEM TO GET WHAT THEY NEEDED OUT OF THIS ROUND AND THAT WAY WE CAN GET TO THE NEXT ROUND. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOU GUYS ARE RELENTLESSLY SUPPORTING ARTS FOR OUR KIDDOS AND MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THE AMAZING PROGRAMMING YOU OFFER THERE.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE DRAGONS LOVE TACOS ON THE ROAD THIS SPRING AND WE'LL BE DEFINITELY SHARING YOU WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL.

I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 14, WHICH IS REAPPOINTING A BOARD MEMBER OF OURS, KATIE, TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD, AND THEN LASTLY, IS KRYSTAL HERE? KRYSTAL? KRYSTAL JONES, IS SHE HERE? OKAY. WELL, ITEM NUMBER 21, Y'ALL, I WAS SKEPTICAL, AND SHE

[00:35:01]

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: I SEE THEM STILL HERE. ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE, AND THE DOCUMENTARY AND THE CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS, THE SPACE SUMMIT, WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE IN SAN ANTONIO AND I DIDN'T WANT TO LET THAT OPPORTUNITY GO BY BEFORE I COULD SAY THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER CELEBRATION IS THE APPOINTMENT OF ASHLEY PEREZ, DISTRICT 3, TO THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM OF THE OFFICE THAT EXPIRES MAY 31ST, 2027, AND HOPEFULLY SHE WANTS TO CONTINUE AND MOVE ON. OUR REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ASKED BY OUR COUNCILWOMAN, WHICH IS ME, TO SIT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE NEEDED AN ARTS LEADER AND SOMEONE THAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE TO BE PART OF SMALL BUSINESS AS WE TALK. SHE TOOK UP THAT CHALLENGE.

AND THEN ASHLEY DECIDED TO TAKE UP THIS CHALLENGE FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SHE HAS WORKED SO HARD TO HELP ENHANCE THE STORY AROUND THE WORLD HERITAGE TRAIL THROUGH PUBLIC ART AND THROUGH HER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T, YOU CAN COME BY MY OFFICE AND SEE A PIECE SHE DID IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER ARTISTS AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE -- DRIVE BY WHERE SHE HAS PUT OUT THE SCULPTURE AND IT'S CALLED KINDRED LGBTQED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HALF AVENUE AND MISSION ROAD AND IT DEPICTS THE RIPPLING WATERS OF UNITY ACROSS TIME AND CULTURE. AND I THINK AS WE SHARE OUR POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, AS WE SHARE OUR STORIES OF OUR CITY IN REAL-TIME AND NOT AFTER WE LOSE PEOPLE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE THAT IN THE PUBLIC ART THAT'S GOING ON.

AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS ONE IS THE DESIGN DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE HANDS OF MISSION SAN JOSÉ DESCENDENT VINCENT WHO PASSED AWAY THIS NOVEMBER.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE VIDEO BECAUSE I KNOW THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE RECORDED IT, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE OUR CELEBRATION OF MR. JEZARE, OF THE ART PIECE AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, ASHLEY, FOR AGREEING TO SERVE AND THANK

YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

MUNGIA. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY CONGRATULATING MR. JIMÉNEZ. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO STEPHANIE WHO IS WITH US TODAY ON HER APPOINTMENT TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

SHE'S BEING APPOINTED TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD.

SHE IS A PRELAW STUDENT AT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY AND HAS INTERNED WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ, JUDGE MELISSA SAENZ AND SHE'S NOW INTERNING WITH OUR COUNCIL OFFICE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE. AND STEPHANIE ALSO SERVES AS A SOCCER COACH, A YOUTH SOCCER COACH. WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR HER WORK AND LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, STEPHANIE. I'D LOOSE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 13.

IT'S AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING FUNDS FOR ITEM AND HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE TO CONTINUE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS GRANT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR RESIDENTS. THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> I HAVE TWO ITEMS TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY.

FIRST I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 17, APPOINTING PASTOR JONATHAN PYLE TO THE COMMITTEE ON STRENGTHENING FAMILY WELL-BEING. IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING TO BE RECOGNIZED. HE IS A BELOVED MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT 7 COMMUNITY SERVING AS THE COMMUNITY CARE PASTOR AT CITY CHURCH ON BANDERA ROAD.

HE SEED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND A MASTER'S IN BIBLICAL STUDIES.

HE STARTED HIS CAREER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT TRANSITIONED TO WORKING IN THE CHURCH IN 2011 AND HE HASN'T LOOKED BACK. HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVIDING BOTH SPIRITUAL AND TANGIBLE CARE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. HE HAS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING

[00:40:04]

HE HAS LED A LARGE FAITH-BASED SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK CALLED FEED SA AND HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER, HE REGULARLY VOLUNTEERS AT HIS CHILDREN'S SCHOOL. HE HAS LED A LIFE OF SERVICE THAT BRINGS COMFORT TO SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HAS ALSO BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER TO OUR DISTRICT 7 TEAM. PASTOR JOHN WILL BE AN AMAZING ADDITION TO THIS COMMISSION AND I'M SO HONORED TO APPOINT HIM TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR DISTRICT 7 AS OUR CITY AS A WHOLE.

PLEASE HELP ME GIVE PASTOR JOHN A ROUND OF I A PLUS. [APPLAUSE] I HAD ONE MORE QUICK ITEM. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 23, ADOPTING THE BANDERA CORRIDOR PLAN PHASE 2 AS A COMPONENT OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN. ANYONE WHO HAS DRIVEN UP THIS STRETCH OF BANDERA ROAD KNOWS THAT THE LANES ARE RIDE, THAT CARS DRIVE FAST AND IT IS NOT FRIENDLY AT ALL TO PEDESTRIANS OR CYCLISTS. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT APPROVING THIS ITEM IS JUST APPROVING THE PLAN. WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO -- OF WORK TO DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TXDOT TO PUT THIS PLAN IN ACTION.

THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE VISION AS IT LAYS OUT.

AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE I'VE ADVOCATED FOR A MORE WALKABLE, BIKABLE CORRIDOR WITH MORE TREE COVER TO MITIGATE THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

THANK YOU TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM TO MAKE SURE IT COMES TO LIFE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO CONCUR WITH MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS SPACE SUMMIT REAL BRIEFLY. THIS IS A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO AND IT SHOWCASES OUR STRENGTHS AND CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AT PORT SAN AND JBSA. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE STEM PATHWAYS AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND EXCITED TO SEE WHAT OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS START PARTICIPATING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE VISIBILITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IT BRINGS TO OUR CITY.

I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 11 AND 12. THESE ARE TWO PUBLIC SAFETY ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA I THINK THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR CONTINUED COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY, THE STATE AND OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS.

THE FIRST IS THE ORDINANCE THAT'S ACCEPTING ROUGHLY THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE, HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS DIVISION FOR THE TEXAS ANTI-GANG PROGRAM.

AND I'VE BEEN ON ONE OF THE ANTI-GANG UNIT RIDE ALONGS AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GO. IT IS REMARKABLE WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.

AND HOW THEY SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS. THIS FUNDING ALLOWS THE CITY TO CONTINUE CRITICAL ANTI-GANG PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AND ALSO STRENGTHENS LOCAL, INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THE SECOND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZES THE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 FOR OUR TKDNA TESTING PROGRAM FOR THAT SAME PERIOD.

THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS TIMELY AND ACCURATE DNA TESTING, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR SOLVING VIOLENT CRIMES, SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND ENSURING INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TOGETHER THESE ITEMS REINFORCE OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, EFFECTIVE USE OF STATE RESOURCES AND STRONG COLLABORATION ACROSS AGENCIES TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 17, THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF DREW STAMPER TO THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD. DREW HOLDS A BBA AND YOU CAN STAND UP IF YOU WANT,' DREW.

AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IS HERE, LILY AND CLARKE. LILY IS A LONG TIME FRIEND OF MY DAUGHTER. AND HIS WIFE CATHERINE WHO SERVES ON OUR COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AS WELL. WE'RE HERE TO HONOR YOU, DREW.

DREW HOLDS A BBA IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM BAYLOR UNIVERSITY AND A JD FROM UT AUSTIN. HE'S BEEN AN ATTORNEY SINCE 2002 WITH TWO YEARS AS A JUDGE ADVOCATE. HE'S A CIVIL LITIGATION ATTORNEY IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 2009 AND HE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE RESERVES WHERE HIS GREATEST SATISFACTION WAS LEADING AND MENTORING JUNIOR AIRMEN.

HE'S ALSO A LONG TIME COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER THROUGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THE CHILDREN'S HUNGER FUND AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING AND YOUTH BASKETBALL COACHING.

I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE DISTRICT 9 ON OUR ETHICS VIEW BOARD.

THANK YOU, DREW, FOR AGREEING TO SERVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[00:45:02]

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THAT COMPLETES ALL OF THAT. SO THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 3,

[3. Ordinance extending the term of the San Antonio Ready to Work Advisory Board; amending the Board member composition and term length; approving Board member appointments for terms ending May 31, 2029; and waiving the residency requirement for Jerry Graeber and Benjamin Peavy. [Alejandra Lopez, Assistant City Manager; Michael Ramsey, Executive Director, Workforce Development Office] A. Reappointing Alexandra Perez to the Community Organization seat B. Reappointing Jerry Graeber and Amanda Wright to the Current or Previous City Workforce Development Program Participant seats, and waiving the residency requirement for Jerry Graeber C. Appointing Maria Jimena Saenz, and reappointing Jennifer Cantu, Stefanie Gaines, and Benjamin Peavy to the Local Employer – In Demand Occupations seats, and waiving the residency requirement for Benjamin Peavy D. Reappointing Priscilla Aguilar to the Training Provider or Higher Education Institution seat E. Appointing John Champion to a newly added Training Provider or Higher Education Institution seat]

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> ITEM APPROXIMATE IS AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD, AMENDMENTING THE BOARD MEMBER COMPOSITION AND TERM LENGTH, APPROVING BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS TO TERMS ENDING MAY 31ST, 2029, REAPPOINTING ALEXANDRA PEREZ TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SEAT. REAPPOINTING JERRY GRAEBER AND AMANDA WRIGHT TO THE CURRENT OR PREVIOUS CITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANT SEATS. APPOINTING MARIA JIMÉNEZ SAENZ AND REAPPOINT BE JENNIFER CANTU, STEPHANIE GAINES AND BENJAMIN PEAVY TO THE LOCAL EMPLOYER IN DEMAND OCCUPATIONS SEATS. REAPPOINTING PRISCILLA AGUILAR TO THE TRAINING PROVIDER ON HIGHER INSTITUTION SEAT. APPOINTING JOHN CHAMPION TO A NEWLY ADDED TRAINING PROVIDER OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION SEAT.

>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN

DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 3.

WE'LL TAKE A STAFF PREPARATION AT THIS POINT. >> MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING TO PRESENT THE ADVISORY BOARD ACTION ITEM. THE BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER OF 2020 AND CURRENTLY SUNSETS DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.

THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 15TH WAS TO EXTEND THE TERM TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2030 AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SEATS. THE BOARD MEMBER TERM WILL ALIGN WITH CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER TERMS. NEXT SLIDE. PROPOSED BOARD COMPOSITION CHANGES, CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR LOCAL EMPLOYERS BEING REPRESENTED, THE LARGEST COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO GIVE THAT EMPLOYER VOICE TO THE PROGRAM. CURRENT LR PREVIOUS WORKFORCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TWO INDIVIDUALS, TRAINING LABOR ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION, TRAIN PROVIDER INSTITUTION AND TWO CITY COUNCIL LIAISONS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. ADDITIONAL SEATS BEING REQUESTED TO BE ADDED, ADDITIONAL TRAINING PROVIDER ON THE HIGHER INSTITUTION SEAT AND A HIGH BARRIER SERVING ORGANIZATION POSITION SEAT AS RECOMMENDED BY EWEC. THE NINE APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED TODAY -- [INDISCERNIBLE]. JERRY GRAEBER AND AMANDA WRIGHT AND THEN THE FOUR IN DEMAND EMPLOYER SEATS, JENNIFER GAINES, BEN PEAVY AND AMANDA SAENZ.

PRISCILLA AGUILAR AND IF APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, JOHN CHAMPION.

THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT. WE APPROVE THAT YOU AMEND BOARD COMPOSITION AND TO APPOINT THE BOARD APPLICANTS. AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE NOVEMBER 12TH B SESSION WE HEARD COUNCIL'S FEEDBACK ON THE PROGRAM GENERALLY TO REEVALUATE THE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM WAS ECHOED BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE ABLE TO SPEAK. JOB PLACEMENT IMPROVEMENT WAS CRITICAL. FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST PERFORMING OCCUPATIONS AND ELIMINATE LOW-PERFORMING OCCUPATIONS. OUR STAFF AND ADVISORY BOARD HAVE BEGUN FOLLOW-UPS TO THAT B SESSION AND THE IWT PROGRAM WILL BE ELIMINATED BEYOND THE CURRENT AWARDS, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PARTICIPANTS COHORTS WITH EMPLOYERS AND INTERNSHIPS CAN CONTINUE. THE ADVISORY BOARD MOVED SWIFTLY AND DURING THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING FORMED A WORKING GROUP THAT HAS MET TO BEGUN REVIEWING THE OCCUPATIONS FOR SWIFT ACTION.

ON DECEMBER THE 16TH THAT WORKING GROUP, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF LEADERSHIP FROM

[00:50:02]

WE'RE GOING TO MARKET THE HIGHEST PERFORMING OCCUPATIONS TO INCREASE EARN IN THOSE CAREER PATHWAYS STARTING FROM THE TOP. WE'RE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE CONTRACT EXTENSIONS BEYOND THE CURRENT EXPIRATION DATES IN JUNE 2026.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

SUPPORT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. I'LL CALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP IN THE ORDER THAT THEY HAVE DONE SO. THE FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK IS [INDISCERNIBLE], FOLLOWED BY AARON ALBRECK. ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES. IF YOU WOULD LINE UP SO WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS

EXPEDITIOUSLY. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I SERVE AS THE CHIEF BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT OFFICER FOR GREATER SATX AND WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING THE MANY EMPLOYERS THAT YOU SEE HERE WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY AS WELL AS SPEAKING FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF THE MISSION THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS CITY, WHICH IS THE RECRUITMENT AND THE RETENTION OF THE DIVERSIFICATION OF KEY INDUSTRIES WHO ARE REPRESENTING HIGH GROWTH HIGH WAGE JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WILL SAY THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH MANY OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS INNED IDEATION AROUND WHAT IS READY TO WORK AND VERY CLOSELY ALSO WITH THE STAFF. AND FOR US IT'S A CRITICAL DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE POSITION SAN ANTONIO MORE COMPETITIVELY TO COMPETE FOR JOBS. IT'S A COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE AND I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE SEEN A SHIFT IN WHAT COMPANIES LOOK FOR IN THE PAST, WHICH WAS MOSTLY AROUND INCENTIVES TO TODAY IT IS ALL ABOUT WORKFORCE, IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA THAT COMPANIES WILL UTILIZE TO LOCATE THEMSELVES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AS A PROUD SAN ANTONIAN MYSELF, I WORK IN A VERY PURPOSE-DRIVEN POSITION TO MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIANS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE ABLE TO TAKE ON THESE HIGH-WAGE JOBS AND WITH GOOD EMPLOYERS THAT WE ARE RECRUITING TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. I WOULD SAY FOR US IT'S BECOME A COMPETITIVE AND DIFFERENTIATING ADVANTAGE. OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE OTHER KINDS OF WORKFORCE RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN OFFER. THE STATE OF TEXAS, IF YOU LOOK AT ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, WILL ALSO OFFER COMPANY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND, BUT THE ONE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IS READY TO WORK THAT DIFFERENTIATES US FROM ALL OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO COMPETE WITH. AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY FOR THE EMPLOYERS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR REGION, THAT'S WHAT I DIRECTLY OVERSEE IS BUSINESS ADVANCEMENT.

SO OUR TEAM IS OUT MEETING WITH COMPANIES. THE NUMBER ONE ASSIST THAT THEY ASK FOR IS TO HELP US WITH WORKFORCE, HELP US IDENTIFY THE RIGHT RESOURCES, THE RIGHT TALENT POOLS AND HELP US READILY CONNECT TO THAT.

I WOULD SAY THAT IS ANOTHER KEY FACTOR TO WHY WE FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TEAM IN PROVIDING LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND ENSURING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT JUST BEING PREPARED FOR THE JOBS THAT WE HAVE TODAY, BUT REALLY ALWAYS FORWARD LOOKING.

WHAT ARE THE JOBS AND THE KEY OCCUPATIONS THAT WE SEE? I'M PROUD TO SEE AND YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY FROM DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS FROM DIFFERENT KEY SECTORS, FROM AEROSPACE TO FROST BANK AND THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR. YOU ARE HEAR FROM OTHER EMPLOYERS AND I WILL MENTION ONE SPECIFIC COMPANY, GUIDE HOUSE, THAT WE ARE SO PROUD OF THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECRUIT OVER A THOUSAND PROFESSIONAL JOBS.

A KEY FACTOR FOR WHY THEY CHOSE SAN ANTONIO. THEY DID NOT ASK FOR ANY INCENTIVES. IT WAS SPECIFICALLY KNOWING THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO GREAT WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, AND SO WE ARE HERE TO SAY WE ARE A GREAT PARTNER TO READY TO WORK AN HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: AARON ALBRECK FOLLOWED BY ERROLL SYKES.

>> GOOD MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE. AARON COULD NOT MAKE IT HERE TODAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PERMISSION TO SPEAK ON BEHALF?

>> MAYOR JONES: MA'AM, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? >> TAB THAT LONG.

>> MAYOR JONES: MA'AM, YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND QUESTION CAN'T JUST ALOT

ON YOUR TIME SO YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ERROLL SYKES FOLLOWED BY [INDISCERNIBLE]. SHAMEKA ELLISON?

FOLLOWED BY RENA ODEN. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

[00:55:06]

AT THE TIME I WAS LIVING IN THE SHELTER WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN.

IT WAS A CHALLENGING PERIOD, GETTING TO AND FROM CLASS. IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY.

BUT THANKS TO THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MY CASE MANAGER, THOSE BARRIERS WERE REMOVED.

WITH THE SUPPORT I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TRAINING AND INTERNSHIP WITH THE YWCA SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK PROGRAM. INITIALLY I DIDN'T FULLY GRASP THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS INITIATIVE. THAT CHANGED WHEN I WAS OFFERED AND APPRENTICESHIP WHERE I COMPLETED AN ADDITIONAL 240 HOURS OF FORMAL EDUCATION AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. THE OPPORTUNITY LED TO SOMETHING EVEN GREATER. ON MAY 13TH OF 2025, I WAS HIRED FULL TIME BY YWCA SAN ANTONIO. TODAY MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE A HOME, WE HAVE STABILITY, AND FOR THAT I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. NOT JUST FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN TO ME, BUT FOR THE FUTURE THAT'S BEEN MADE POSSIBLE FOR MY FAMILY. NOW AS A PROUD AND DEDICATED EMPLOYEE, I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD'S TERM.

WHEN THIS INITIATIVE LAUNCHED, IT WAS MORE THAN A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, IT WAS A PROMISE, A PROMISE TO EQUIP SAN ANTONIANS WITH THE SKILLS, TRAINING AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE IN A RAPIDLY EVOLVING ECONOMY.

THE ADVISORY BOARD HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE PROMISE IS KEPT. THROUGH STRATEGIC GUIDANCE, COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE, TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLED TRADES AND BEYOND, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT TRUE WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT REQUIRES SUSTAINED EFFORT, LONG-TERM VISION AND CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP. EXTENDING THE ADVISORY BOARD'S TERM ISN'T JUST A PROCEDURAL STEP, IT'S A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. IN SHORT, READY TO WORK IS NOT JUST A PROGRAM, IT'S A MOVEMENT. AND EVERY MOVEMENT NEEDS STEADY HANDS TO GUIDE IT.

LET'S NOT LOSE THE MOMENTUM WE'VE BUILT. LET'S EXTEND THE ADVISORY BOARD'S TERM TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. FAR.

>> MAYOR JONES: RENA ODEN, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER MAMMON.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M RENEE OWE DON, MACEDONIA CHURCH. IN 1992 THOUSANDS OF WORKERS WERE IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WORK WHEN THE LEVI PLANT AND KELLY AIR FORCE BASE WERE CLOSED. PROJECT QUEST WAS FOUNDED TO HELP SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO GAIN SKILLS FOR EMPLOYERS IN SECTORS OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY. THEY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN COMPLETING THOSE PROGRAMS, OBTAINING CERTIFICATES, PASSING CERTIFICATION EXAMS AND OBTAINING JOBS. A 14-YEAR STUDY BY ECONOMIC MOBILITY CORPORATION CONCLUDED QUEST'S OVERALL IMPACT WAS DRIVEN BY PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE THE LEAST LIKELY TO SUCCEED ON THEIR OWN. PROJECT QUEST HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON EARNINGS FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE AGES 25 AND OLDER.

AND PARTICULARLY THOSE AGE 35 AND OLDER. QUEST PARTICIPANTS EARNED ON AVERAGE NEARLY 139,000 MORE THAN THE CONTROL GROUP: IN 2020, THE COVID PANDEMIC THREW THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS OUT OF THEIR JOBS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SERVICE

[01:00:01]

>> MAYOR JONES: CHRISTOPHER MAMMON, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER CAMACHO.

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY REGARDING THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER MAMMON, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE D HOWARD FOUNDATION.

WE'RE AN EDUCATION PATHWAY ORGANIZATION FOCUSED RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE REPRESENT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS LIKE BOEING, STANDARD ARROW, NIGHT AEROSPACE, SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ALAMO COLLEGES, UTSA, HALLMARK UNIVERSITY, IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LEADING INDIVIDUALS INTO HIGH DEMAND, HIGH WAGE ROLES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WERED EARLIER ABOUT THE NEW SPACE CONFERENCE THAT'S COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S LEADING DIRECTLY INTO ROLES THAT MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT THAT ARE GROWING IN THE FUTURE, AND WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT GROWTH. SPEAKING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE READY TO WORK INDIVIDUALS, THE APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT OF THE PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS ON THE BOARD, THEY'VE LISTENED AND LEARNED AND LED OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE MANY YEARS OF READY TO WORK. SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THINGS LIKE TRAINING FOR JOBS AS WELL PRIOR TO THAT, AND WE'VE LEARNED WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T. I WAS LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD TODAY, THIS MORNING, AND OVER 3500 OR NEARLY 3500 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO ROLES WITH WAGES THAT START AT $21.50 AN HOUR. THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWTH, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SERVE THE UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS, THOSE WHO WE'VE HEARD FROM ALREADY TODAY WHO HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND TO EDUCATION PATHWAYS. AND THESE LEADERS ON THE BOARD AND APPOINTED WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD READY TO WORK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THESE HIGH DEMAND, HIGH WAGE ROLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF READY TO WORK AND FOR ALL

INDUSTRIES IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. PRISCILLA CAMACHO, FOLLOWED

BY ALI VACARI. >> MY NAME IS PRISCILLA, I'M THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE INDUSTRY AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE ALAMO COLLEGES.

ON BEHALF OF DR. FLORES AND THE 6,000 EMPLOYEES, 89,000 STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE DISTRICT, WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON THIS INITIATIVE.

WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS, WE KNOW THAT EVERY -- THAT OUR CITIZENS NEED OPPORTUNITY AND THAT SOMETIMES IT'S A PAYCHECK, SOMETIMES IT'S THE ZIP CODE THAT THEY LIVE IN.

WE RECOGNIZE AND WE ARE PARTNERS WITH YOU ON THIS EFFORT.

WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF ALSO THAT YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARE THE ONLY CITY TO INVEST IN THE MOST IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE, WHICH IS OUR HUMAN TALENT. WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT IS GOING THIS KIND OF WORK AND IT IS HARD WORK.

IT'S NOT EASY WORK. AND AS YOU HEARD MY COLLEAGUE, CHRISTOPHER MENTION EARLIER, WE'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE BOARD AND WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE TO SEE IT EXTEND INTO 2029. AND THEY HAVE LEARNED AND THEY HAVE GIVEN US FEEDBACK EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. MAKING US IMPROVE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN WHAT WE DO FOR OUR CITIZENS AND FOR THE LEARNERS AND OUR COLLEGES. AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR DISTRICT WE'RE CONTINUE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO MAKE CHANGES. THE GOOD THING IS THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE HEARING THE SAME LESSON. THEY'RE TELLING US TO DO THE SAME THING.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON PERFORMANCE. OUR STUDENTS COMPLETING THOSE CREDENTIALS OF VALUE -- COMPLETING THESE CREDENTIALS OF VALUE IN OCCUPATIONS AND AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO LEAD THEM TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES.

YOU HAVE AS A COUNCIL COMMITTED TO US THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT CITIZENS GET THOSE WAGES AFTER THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AND WE'RE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. WE'VE CHANGED OUR OWN POLICIES.

WE'RE ACTUALLY REEVALUATING OUR PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND WE ARE HAVING SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR

[01:05:02]

SO WITH THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE MUCH MORE TIME BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS HERE THAT WANT TO SPEAK THEIR MIND. JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING PARTNERS WITH YOU IN THIS EFFORT AND ANYTHING YOU NEED FROM US PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: ALI, FOLLOWED BY KATIE FARRIER. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ALI, AN EXECUTE AT GUIDE HOUSE.

WE ARE A GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY AND ADVISORY COMPANY. WE HAVE 18,000 EMPLOYEES GLOBALLY. WE OPENED UP OPERATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AND IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WE ANNOUNCED OUR COMMITMENT TO CREATE 1,000 JOBS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THIS YEAR WE'VE ADDED OVER 200 ALREADY. BUT WHAT I'M REALLY THRILLED ABOUT IS SO FAR EIGHT, SOON-TO-BE 10, OF THOSE JOBS HAVE REALLY BEEN CREATED OUT OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. WE HAVE FOCUSED OUR PROGRAM INITIALLY IN THE AREA OF MEDICAL CODING. YOU KNOW, THE INDIVIDUALS, ONE INDIVIDUAL HAD BEEN A CAREGIVER FOR 10 YEARS, HAD BEEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

SHE'S NOW IN THE WORKFORCE WITH BENEFITS, WITH UPWARD MOBILITY.

ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WAS DOING A MINIMUM WAGE JOB AT TACO CABANA.

HE'S NOW EMPLOYED BY US AND THRIVING. WE ARE GOING TO BE -- WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO OUR PARTNERS AND WITH TRI STAR AND OTHERS IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM WITH THE CITY. THERE ARE THREE OTHER COHORTS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS COMING YEAR. IN ADDITION WE WILL BE EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF OUR WORK TO INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER AREAS AS WELL. THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

AS WAS SAID EARLIER, WE LOOKED AT A LOTS LOCATIONS BEFORE WE CHOSE SAN ANTONIO.

WE DID NOT APPLY FOR NOR DID WE RECEIVE ANY INCENTIVES TO BE HERE.

THE BIG PULL TO COME TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS THE COMMITMENT OF THE CITY ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND WE'RE CERTAINLY AN ADVOCATE OF IT.

IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM. AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO GROW AND LEVERAGE THE PROGRAM. AND IT'S PHENOMENAL AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>> MAYOR JONES: KATIE, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER CANTU. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS KATIE. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SUPPORT OF EXTENDING THE EFFORTS OF THE SA READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD. OUR CHAMBER SUPPORTS THE CITY'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WE RECOGNIZE SA READY TO WORK IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT ECOSYSTEM. WE'RE NOT HERE TO GIVE A BLANKET ENDORSEMENT OF EVERY ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAM, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THE INITIATIVES SHOULD CONTINUE.

WE APPRECIATE THE SA READY TO WORK HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS ENROLL IN EDUCATION OR TRAINING PROGRAMS. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE SOME SUCCESS IN JOB PLACEMENTS AND INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS. BUT THERE IS ROOM TO REFINE THIS ALIGNMENT WITH EMPLOYER NEEDS AND STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUTCOMES.

THE PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE SHIFTING TOWARD DEMAND-DRIVEN TRAINING THAT REFLECTS JOB OPENINGS IN THE SAN ANTONIO REGION AND ENGAGE EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATION ADVISORS IN HOW BEST TO PRIORITIZE PATHWAYS THAT SUPPORT UPWARD MOBILITY. IT REMAINS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO INVOLVE EMPLOYERS EARLY IN THE PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN DESIGNING TRAINING PATHWAYS AND VALIDATING THAT CURRICULUM MATCH REAL WORLD SKILL REQUIREMENTS.

WE HOPE THE ADVISELY BOARD WILL CONSIDER FASTER ON-RAMPS AND CREDENTIALS THAT LEAD TO IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT. AND PLEASE DON'T SHY AWAY FROM TRANSPARENCY. EMPLOYERS, TAXPAYERS AND PARTICIPANTS ALL BENEFIT FROM CLEARER, MORE FREQUENT REPORTING ON JOB PLACEMENTS, WAGE GAINS, RETENTION AND COMPLETION RATES. CONSIDER SUNSETTING PROGRAMS THAT CONSISTENCY UNDERPERFORM OR DO NOT LEAD TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES. WE ENCOURAGE REPORTING BY INDUSTRY SECTOR SO WE ARE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE OUTCOMES ARE THE STRONGEST AND WHERE ADJUSTMENTS ARE NEEDED. EMPLOYERS I SPEAK WITH OFTEN REPORT CHALLENGES WITH SOFT SKILLS, ATTENDANCE, TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDCARE, AND THE PROGRAM SHOULD EXPAND WRAPAROUND AND RETENTION SUPPORTS IN THOSE AREAS. THE GREATER CHAMBER STANDS READY TO STRENGTHEN EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT AND SHARE LABOR MARKET INSIGHTS FROM OUR MEMBERS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO CONVENE SECTOR LEADERS AND GIVE DIRECT FEEDBACK ON IN-DEMAND SKILLS AND HIRING TRENDS. OUR GOAL IS TO NO SIMPLY CONTINUE THE PROGRAM, BUT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO EMPLOYER

[01:10:04]

SUPPORT A STRONGER WORKFORCE IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR JONES: JENNIFER,

FOLLOWED BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ. >> HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M JENNIFER, I'M THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET EXECUTIVE FOR BANK OF AMERICA.

I OVERSEE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY.

I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND I AM THE CO-SHARE OF THE EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

AS WE'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE MENTION THAT THIS PROGRAM IS VERY UNIQUE IN THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE MAKING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S LIKE NONE OTHER ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER, I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE BROADER ECOSYSTEM THAT WE HAVE CREATED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND UP SKILLING OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

STARTING ALL THE WAY FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD WITH EARLY MATTERS TO PRE-K 4 SA TO THE FUTURE READY INITIATIVE TO THE ALAMO PROMISE INITIATIVE TO THE READY TO WORK INITIATIVE. IT IS ABOUT CREATING A PATHWAY FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR ADULTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

IT SHOULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT ZIP CODE YOU'RE BORN INTO DETERMINES THE REST OF YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR OUTCOMES AND THAT IS WHY READY TO WORK WAS BORN WAS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE AVERAGE PARTICIPANT IN READY TO WORK IS OVER 25 YEARS OLD AND A FEMALE LATINA. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IN THE POPULATION WE ARE LOOKING TO SERVE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT JOB PLACEMENT AND HOWE DO WE INCREASE THAT AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

NO ONE WANTS THAT MORE THAN OUR PARTNERS, PROJECT QUEST, WORKFORCE COLLUSIONS, ALAMO COLLEGES, THEY ARE THE EXPERTS AND THEY ARE THE ONES GUIDING US IN THAT CONVERSATION.

TO REITERATE, WE HEAR YOU AND WE ARE MOVING AND TAKING ACTION.

WITH THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL ARE AWARE THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE THE PROGRAM HAS GONE ON, WE NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE DATA AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSE AND THEN BY OCCUPATION AND BY AGE OF THE PARTNERS, WE ALSO GO INTO EACH OCCUPATION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT TRAINING PROVIDERS ARE UNDERNEATH THAT.

WHAT ARE THE FIVE OR SIX OR 10 TRAINING PROVIDERS FOR EACH OCCUPATION AND HOW ARE THEY PERFORMING? SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, WE HAVE CUT OVER 400 TRAINING PROVIDERS THAT DID NOT MEET OUR STANDARD. WE ALSO HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PARTNERING WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND BRINGING THEM ON EARLIER ON FROM THE BEGINNING. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE CREATED COHORT MODELS WHERE WE HAVE BROUGHT IN BUSINESSES LIKE FROST BANK, GUIDE HOUSE, SEVERAL OTHERS THAT HAVE SAID WE'LL START EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS, HAVE A COHORT AND BUILD FROM THERE. WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO AMPLIFY AND PROMOTE THE OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE DOING WELL THAT HAVE THE HIGHER JOB PLACE AM.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO MARKET AND PROMOTE AND DO MORE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR THOSE JOB PLACEMENTS.

AS MIKE MENTIONED, AFTER FOLLOWING THE B SESSION WE CREATED A WORKING SESSION THAT MET WEEKLY. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF CALLS AND MEETINGS I'VE HAD. SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES IN A WEEK IN ORDER TO EVALUATE SO THAT WAY NEXT WEEK WE CAN PULL BACK UP WITH OUR ADVISORY BOARD AND MAKE STRONGER RECOMMENDATIONS HOW WE CONTINUE TO REFINE THIS PROCESS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS ROLE AND CONTINUE THE WORK.

[APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: FRANCISCO MARTINEZ FOLLOWED BY RUBY

DUARTE. >> I STAND HERE READY TO SHARE THE GOOD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS, THE RIVERWALK, CYBERSECURITY, SPACE, ALL THIS WORK THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE US UNIQUE.

UNFORTUNATELY SAN ANTONIO ALSO HAS A SIDE OF ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY. AND WE'VE KNOWN THAT.

AND FOLKS LIKE COPS METRO MADE THAT WORK A CALL FOR THEM, A CALL TO ACTION THAT CREATED PROJECT QUEST THREE YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN READY TO WORK HAS BEEN LIFTED UP BY THE COMMUNITY, BY THE VOTERS, SUPPORTED BY THIS COUNCIL AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, AND WE URGE THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLKS WHO DO THE WORK, WHO ANSWER THE CALL TO CIVIC DUTY OF THE ADVISORY BOARD TO KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE.

AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO CONTINUE.

WE CAN'T OVERCOME DECADES OF ECONOMIC SEGREGATION IN THREE YEARS, PROBABLY NOT FOUR YEARS. QUEST HAS BEEN AT IT FOR 33 YEARS AT A SMALL SCALE, BUT THE UNPRECEDENTED SIZE OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, THE INVESTMENT, THE COMMITMENT AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STEPPED INTO THE RING, WHO HAVE TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF HELPING GUIDE THE PROGRAM THROUGH, HELP KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE. ACCOUNTABILITY IS IMPORTANT. NO ONE WANTS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY THAN THOSE OF US DOING THE WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THE WORK FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE, WHO NEED THIS PROGRAM MORE THAN EVER.

THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER ON ITS METRICS. THE CITY HAS FORMULATED A

[01:15:03]

SO WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT AND I STAND HERE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO STAND IN THE ARENA AND TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HELPING GUIDE, HELPING SUPPORT, BUT ALSO KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE. SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THAT WORK TO MAKE YOUR FOOTPRINT IN THIS PROGRAM THE FACT THAT WE COMMIT TO THE COMMUNITY GROUP WHO HELPS KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE, WHO HELPS KEEP US MOVING FORWARD AND WHO ULTIMATELY WILL BE THE FOLKS TO SEE THIS PROGRAM THROUGH AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE A SUCCESS AS WE KNOW, AS THE STUDY HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED, WE KNOW THIS WORKS. WE KNOW IT TAKES TIME.

WE KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. IF IT WERE EASY, EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT.

IF IT WERE EASY, WE WOULD BE ONE OF MANY CITIES ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS.

THE WORK IS NOT EASY BECAUSE WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO DESERVE MORE THAN AN EASY ANSWER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I URGE YOUR SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR JONES: RUBY DUARTEE FOLLOWED BY DANIEL HERRERA.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RUBY AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A PROUD PARTICIPANT OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, A SINGLE MOTHER TO A FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON AND A FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN-AMERICAN SOON-TO-BE GRADUATING WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT FROM UAW.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE READY TO WORK DIDN'T JUST HELP ME, IT CHANGED MY LIFE. WHEN I FIRST APPLIED FOR READY TO WORK I WAS STRUGGLING TO BALANCE EVERYTHING ON MY PLATE, RAISING MY SON, WORKING FULL-TIME AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL. LIKE MANY SINGLE PARENTS I FELT STUCK IN THE CYCLE OF WANTING TO ADVANCE, BUT NEVER HAVING ENOUGH TIME, MONEY OR SUPPORT TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP. EDUCATION FELT LIKE A LUXURY, NOT SOMETHING ACTUALLY ATTAINABLE. READY TO WORK TURNED THAT AROUND. THIS PROGRAM DIDN'T JUST OFFER FINANCIAL SUPPORT, IT OFFERED HOPE, STABILITY AND A REAL PATHWAY FORWARD. IT REMOVED THE BIGGEST BARRIERS THAT OFTEN STOPPED PEOPLE LIKE ME FROM CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION.

IT HELPED ME COVER THE COST OF SCHOOL, CAREER GUIDANCE AND ALLOWED ME TO FOCUS ON BEING A STUDENT AND MOTHER INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY WORRYING ABOUT HOW I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT ALL WORK. BECAUSE OF READY TO WORK I WAS ABLE TO STAY ENROLLED, STAY MOTIVATED AND STAY ON TRACK. I WAS ABLE TO STUDY AFTER PUTTING MY SON TO BED KNOWING THE PROGRAM HAD MY BIKE.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR CLASSES OR PAYING FOR GROCERIES.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INVESTING IN MY FUTURE OR BEING PRESENT FOR MY CHILD. READY TO WORK MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO BOTH.

AND NOW I WILL BE GRADUATING WITH MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT ONCE FELT IMPOSSIBLE. THIS PROGRAM DIDN'T JUST HELP ME, IT HELPED MY SON. HE GETS TO SEE HIS MOM WORK HARD, STAY COMMITTED AND ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING BIG. HE GETS TO GROW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD WHERE EDUCATION IS NOT ONLY ENCOURAGED, BUT MOTIVATED. THIS IMPACT, THAT IS COMMUNITY IMPACT. READY TO WORK HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS JUST LIKE ME. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES, CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND BUILD A STRONGER FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO GO ON TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE IN HIGH DEMAND FIELDS, STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY. SAN ANTONIO IS STRONGER, MORE SKILLED AND MORE HOPEFUL BECAUSE OF READY TO WORK.

I AM LIVING PROOF THAT WHEN YOU INVEST IN PEOPLE, THEY COME BACK AND INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE OPPORTUNITY, THEY BUILD SOMETHING MEANINGFUL WITH IT. I AM ASKING YOU TODAY TO KEEP THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, CONTINUE SUPPORTING IT AND TO CONTINUE BELIEVING IN THE RESIDENTS WHO JUST NEED A CHANCE TO SUCCEED. THIS PROGRAM WORKS.

I AM HERE TODAY STANDING BEFORE YOU AS A GRADUATE, A MOTHER AND A PROFESSIONAL, BECAUSE READY TO WORK GAVE ME THAT CHANCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM THAT CHANGES LIVES.

[APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: DANIEL HERRERA, FOLLOWED BY JERRY

GRAEBER. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DANIEL HERRERA AND I'M HERE AS A SUPPORTER OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. IN MY NATIONAL ROLE AT RESULTS FOR AMERICA, I WORK WITH GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON WORKFORCE, EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION. THAT PERSPECTIVE GIVES ME A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR SOMETHING THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY RECOGNIZED.

AND THAT IS THAT GOOD IDEAS ONLY MATTER IF THEY ARE CARRIED OUT WITH RIGOR, WITH DATA AND WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW REAL PEOPLE MOVE THROUGH COMPLEX SYSTEMS. SO FROM THAT NATIONAL VANTAGE POINT, I CAN SAY THERE ARE NO LARGE SCALE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY THAT ACHIEVE 90%

[01:20:06]

SO THIS MEANS THAT THE PROGRAM IS WORKING AND PERFORMING WITHIN THE EXPECTED RANGE FOR ITS MISSION AND TARGET POPULATION.

PART OF THAT MISSION AS YOU'VE HEARD IS TO BREAK INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY FOR FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO. BUT THERE ARE MODELS THAT REACH HIGHER PLACEMENT RATES WHEN THE EMPLOYER DESIGNED AND EMPLOYER IMPLEMENTED COHORTS ARE USED.

SO YOUR PUSH FOR CLEAR EMPLOYER ALIGNMENT FOR FOCUSING RESOURCES ON MODELS WITH DEMONSTRATED PLACEMENT SUCCESS AND FOR REMOVING BARRIERS THAT SLOW DOWN HIRING IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF IMPLEMENTATION DISCIPLINE WE SEE IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE CITIES. AS YOU KNOW, BREAKING POVERTY IS COMPLEX AND RARELY LINEAR. BUT READY TO WORK IS MAKING STEADY, MEASURABLE PROCESS, ONE CREDENTIAL, ONE PLACEMENT AND ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.

AS COMMUNICATE BORN AND RAISED ON THE WESTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE AND WORKING FAMILIES OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> MAYOR JONES: JERRY GRAEBER FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.

>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS JERRY GRAEBER. I SERVE AS BOARD MEMBER FOR WORK SOLUTIONS ALAMO, VICE-CHAIR OF SAN ANTONIO ADVISORY BOARD AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I HAVE THIS THREE-PAGE SPEECH THAT I WAS GOING TO READ TO YOU TODAY, BUT I SEE THERE'S A LOT OF GLASSY-EYED FOLKS HERE SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIT ON SOME HIGH POINTS FOR YOU. READY TO WORK IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM ECONOMIC MOBILITY STRATEGIES OUR CITY HAS EVER UNDERTAKEN. AT ITS CORE THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING SAN ANTONIO'S WORKFORCE. I WROTE IN HERE ELIMINATING GENERATIONAL POVERTY, RIGHT? THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO HIT ON THE MOST.

WHEN THIS THING ROLLED OUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO HIT ON, AND I THINK WE ARE DOING THAT. AND ELIMINATING IT, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH CHALLENGE. I THINK PUTTING A DENT IN IT, DEFINITELY. THE ADVISORY BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALIGNMENT ACROSS PARTNERS.

WE HAVE FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE ARE DOING THAT.

THE BOARDABILITY AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN CITY STAFF, WORKFORCE EXPERTS, HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS. I WANT TO COMMEND CITY STAFF, TRAINING PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING A PROGRAM OF THIS MAGNITUDE WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPONSIVENESS.

AS VICE-CHAIR I SEE FIRSTHAND THE DEDICATION AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AMONG OUR PARTNERS. WE'RE BUILDING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND THE MOMENTUM IS REAL. I DO URGE THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION AND REAFFIRM YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME GENERATION INVESTMENT IN OUR WORKFORCE. I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT HERE REAL QUICK.

I UNDERSTAND AND I REALIZE YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, AND I RESPECT THAT. I URGE AND RECOMMEND YOU GUYS TO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS.

GIVE US OUR LIAISONS. ATTEND OUR MEETINGS. JOIN US SO YOU UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH US. THAT'S ALL I ASK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT FOR READY TO

WORK. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: JACK

FINGER IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. >> MADAM MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR I WILLLOUS TREE US SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.

SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK PROGRAM, WHAT DOES THE REPORT CARD SAY ABOUT IT?

[01:25:03]

I THINK THE REPORTS THAT I'VE READ SAY IT'S A LARGE, RESOUNDING FLOP! YEAH, YEAH. THE NUMBERS PROMISED TO THE VOTERS YEARS AGO, THEY NEVER MATERIALIZED. THE RECRUITED TRAINEES NEVER CAME FORWARD.

AND THE COMMENSURATE GOOD PAYING JOBS NEVER CAME FORWARD EITHER FOR THEM.

AND I DON'T RECALL THE BOARD OR THE ADVISORY BOARD ADVOCATING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE THINGS THAT REALLY WORK SUCH AS SCHOOL CHOICE WHEN THEY WERE DELIBERATING UPON THAT. NO. INSTEAD OF ORDERING THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO STOP BY THE ROADSIDE AND PICK UP THIS ROAD KILL AS I CALL IT, WHAT ARE Y'ALL GOING TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WE KNOW WHAT, WE WILL REAPPOINT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO GOT US INTO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE'LL EXTEND THEIR TERMS BY TWICE. TWICE THE AMOUNT OF TIME.

HERE'S THE SUGGESTION. YOU MIGHT IN YOUR CAPACITY AS CITY COUNCIL, PLACE ON THE BALLOT ONE MORE TIME A MEASURE ASKING THE VOTERS TO TAKE AWAY THIS WHOLE PROGRAM THAT IT ONCE APPROVED. YEAH, ERADICATE IT. AND HAVE THE MONEY SAVED GO BACK TO EACH AND EVERY TAXPAYER, THE PROPER AMOUNT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SEE IF IT PASSES. I THINK THAT WOULD BE -- IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO BE HONEST WITH THE VOTERS, YOU MIGHT TRY SUCH AN INITIATIVE. OF COURSE, IT'S A LITTLE FARFETCHED, BUT WHAT THE HECK, WE SEE ALL KINDS OF FARFETCHED THINGS COME BEFORE YOU EVERY WEEK OVER HERE. YEAH. TRY THAT IF YOU WOULD.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS OUR FINAL COMMUNITY SPEAKER.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. LET ME EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE READY TO WORK BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AGAIN. I THINK WHEN WE HAD THE INITIAL DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT THE B SESSION ABOUT INITIALLY, ACTUALLY, THIS WAS JUST THE ACTION WAS JUST TO APPROVE RATHER THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD.

BUT FRANKLY, FOR THE EXACT COMMENTS, JACK FINGER, WE'RE GOING TO AGREE ON SOMETHING HERE. TAKE NOTE. BUT THERE WERE MANY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SENTIMENTS VERY SIMILAR TO JACK FINGER'S, AND THEY'RE VALID. WHICH IS WHY BEFORE I HAD THIS COUNCIL VOTE ON REAPPOINTING THE BOARD MEMBERS, I REALLY WANTED US TO LEVEL SET ON WHERE THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM STOOD TO ENSURE THAT WE IN FACT HAD THE RIGHT FOLKS ON THE BOARD MOVING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE NOT WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE, RIGHT? I THINK WE TAKE GREAT HEART JOURNEYS AND WHAT THE PROGRAM HAS MEANT TO YOU. AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE INVESTMENT THAT ALSO SHOWS US THAT AFTER A FULL YEAR, 25% OF THE FOLKS ARE STILL NOT IN AN APPROVED JOB. AND WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO, AGAIN, WE ARE HEARTENED BY YOUR SUCCESS.

UNDERSTAND, THOUGH, THAT THE ROI, WE MUST SHOW MUCH, MUCH, FRANKLY, BETTER NUMBERS TO OUR COMMUNITY TO JUSTIFY THIS INVESTMENT THAT COULD BE INVESTED ELSEWHERE, RIGHT? I WOULD PUSH BACK. I THINK THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT SAID THERE IS NO PROGRAM THAT HAS 90% OF FOLKS IN A JOB WITHIN 90 DAYS. ACTUALLY, MIKE RAMSEY HAS SHOWED US THERE'S A COUPLE OF OCCUPATIONS IN THIS PROGRAM THAT HAVE THAT. AND NOW, AS WE LOOK AT BEING MUCH MORE DISCIPLINED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION, I AM THANKFUL, AGAIN, THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO SERVE AGAIN. AND I'M THANKFUL, AS IMPORTANTLY, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN. YOU HEARD THE FEEDBACK AT THE B SESSION. I AM THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE ELIMINATING THE INCUMBENT WORKER PROGRAM. WHEN WE SAW THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT

[01:30:01]

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE COMMUNITY SIGNED UP FOR. SO, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE FEEDBACK. AGAIN, A VERY REGIMENTED APPROACH THAT ENSURES WE ARE MEETING NUMBERS, MAKING OURSELVES AS COMPETITIVE AS POSSIBLE.

AND ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I WILL SAY TO THE BOARD, WHILE I HAVE YOU, I AM A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT HAD WE NOT HAD THAT PROGRAM OVERVIEW THAT I REQUESTED, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INCUMBENT WORKER PROGRAM AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KILL IT.

SO WHEN I TALK TO THE BOARD, THE DIRECTION, MY DIRECTION AT LEAST, IS THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO US, NOT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO ASK ABOUT.

OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM. ROUTINELY.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON ENSURING THAT WE ARE MEETING PLACEMENT.

AND I RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN THIS PROGRAM STARTED, I MEAN, WE'RE IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. AND SO YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS AND LISTEN TO THE FEEDBACK, AS WELL AS LOOK AT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, LABOR STATISTICS, ET CETERA, THAT HELP ENSURE WE ARE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION THAT DOES MEET THE INITIAL OBJECTIVES OF THIS, WHICH IS TO ADDRESS GENERATIONAL POVERTY. WITH THAT, LET ME MOVE ON TO HEAR FROM MY -- SO YOU CAN ALSO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES. THE FIRST ONE WE'VE GOT,

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC ECONOMICWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, I STAY CLOSELY INFORMED IN THE READY TO READY O WORK PROGRAM AND REMAIN ENGAGED IN ITS ONGOING IMPACT.

LET ME TELL YOU THE NUMBER THAT MATTERS TO ME. LET ME TELL YOU THE DATA THAT DRIVES ME AND MY DECISION. AS THE CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AS THE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS AND WATCHED THIS CITY GROW . A 20% POVERTY RATE. OF THAT 20% POVERTY RATE, 50% WOMEN. SO WHEN THE CITY CAME IN 2020 AND SAID THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS, AS WE GOT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, I WAS NOT SITTING ON THAT COUNCIL. BUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE DECIDED THIS WAS THE RIGHT MOVE FORWARD. AND AMONG PIVOTS, ADJUSTMENTS, AND AMONG ACCOUNTABILITY WITH DIFFERENT FACES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF FACES HERE SINCE 2020, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THIS BOARD HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE. AND MY PARTNERS, ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES, RESTORE EDUCATION, HAS CONTINUED TO SERVE . WHEN SHAMEKA CAME UP AND SAID THIS IS A STRATEGIC STEP, I WAS LIKE, I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK.

SHE IS TELLING THE STORY FOR ME. IT IS A STRATEGIC STEP AND IT IS A MOVEMENT. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY.

YOU HEARD FROM THE COUNCIL, AND WITH THE HELP OF THE COUNCIL, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ENHANCING THE PROGRAMS AND THE EFFICIENCY. WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND THE ACCESS TO RESIDENTS THAT ARE NEEDED AND WILL STILL HAVE AND CONTINUE WITH THAT EDUCATION. BUT WE CAN TALK A LOT ABOUT NUMBERS.

BUT THE ONE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS THAT 20% POVERTY RATE.

AND HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THAT WHEN WE LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS, WHAT, A $7 MINIMUM WAGE. SO WE, AS THE CITY, HAVE BEEN CREATIVE AND WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATIVE AND WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO THIS, MANY OF YOU SITTING ON THE BOARD, FOR NO PAY OR STIPEND FOR HOURS AND HOURS. SO I'M ASKING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

TO CONTINUE TO GIVE YOUR INPUT ON HOW WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. BUT UNDERSTANDING THE SHAMEKAS AND THE RUBYS AND ALL THE OTHERS GOING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THEY MATTER. AND IF IT JUST TOOK TWO, I WOULD STILL SPEND THE MONEY. BUT WE KNOW IT'S BIGGER THAN TWO.

AND WE KNOW IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER. AGAIN, I COULD GIVE THE HISTORY LESSON OF WHY WE ARE HERE AND WHY WE HAVE TO INVEST.

[01:35:05]

SOUTHSIDEERS, IT WAS NOT A FAIR THING ABOUT WHO COULD VOTE.

BUT WE ARE VOTING AND WE'RE USING OUR VOICES. AND WE COULD TAKE THIS BACK TO THE VOTERS AND THEY'D STILL SAY YES. BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO.

THEY'VE SAID CONTINUE, MAKE THE CHANGES, AND ALLOW US TO USE THIS.

SO, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THIS HERE TODAY. IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE SECURED EMPLOYMENT ARE EARNING AN AVERAGE STARTING SALARY OF MUCH. IT'S A 242% INCREASE FROM WHAT THEY WERE MAKING BEFORE. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT DISPARITY, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT MOVING THIS CITY FORWARD, WE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE TALENT PIPELINES COME WITH WORKING WITH OUR EMPLOYERS. SO I AM GLAD THAT WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, BUT NEXT TIME WE WANT TO HAVE A READY TO WORK CONVERSATION, I WILL HAVE MORE THAN 13 SPEAKERS HERE. I WILL HAVE 30. YOU SEE THEY WERE ALL CHARGE AND SAT HERE TODAY. LET'S START MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MIKE FOR THE PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS TO ALL THE READY TO WORK PARTNERS, WHETHER YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER OR PROVIDING THE WORKFORCE TRAINING. WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP AND ENSURING WE WORK TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AS MANY FOLKS MENTIONED THROUGHOUT YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, THIS IS ABOUT REDUCING POVERTY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CURRENT AMENDED COMPOSITION NOW INCLUDES ONE SEAT FOR A HIGH-EMPLOYMENT BARRIER-FOCUSED ORGANIZATION. I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR COUNCILWOMAN MISTY SPEARS WHO SERVED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE, BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW SPEAKING TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM -- AND MY CONSTITUENTS IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT FOLKS DO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TRAINING AND THE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIRING PART, THEY'RE FACING BARRIERS BECAUSE SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD OR AN ADDITIONAL BARRIER.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYERS ON HOW WE CAN REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS AND WITH THE REDUCTION OF BARRIERS, WE'LL SEE MORE PARTICIPANTS WITH PLACEMENTS AND EARNING HIGHER WAGES. BECAUSE A STATISTIC THAT STICKS WITH ME IS THAT ONE IN SEVEN U.S. ADULTS HAVE BEEN JAILED AND/OR INCARCERATED. AND ONE IN THREE U.S. ADULTS HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD.

WHEN I SPEAK WITH MY CONSTITUENTS, THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY BARRIERS, DESPITE HAVING CERTIFICATIONS, DESPITE HAVING DEGREES, FACE BARRIERS IN GETTING HIRED.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY AND ROOM TO WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYERS TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONTINUED WORK. AND THAT'S WHY I'M GRATEFUL, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED, OF THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.

I THINK WITH THIS NEW MAKEUP, THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN REALLY REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS.

I BELIEVE WITH THIS MAKEUP AND THE ADOPTION OF IT, IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IT WILL ALSO COMPLEMENT SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF SECOND-CHANCE HIRING IN DISTRICT 5. D5 IS HOME TO THE COUNTY JAIL AND IS HOME TO THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. MANY OF THESE ISSUES INTERSECT AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THE PROVIDERS, THE CITY, AND EMPLOYERS TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK AND LEADERSHIP OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE TASK AND WITH THIS MAKEUP, IT IS REDUCING ONE OF MANY BARRIERS BUT IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ENSURING THERE IS A VOICE AT THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LEAVE ANY FOLKS OUT OF THE

CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS, AND PARTICULARLY THE FOLKS THAT CAME OUT AND SHARE THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES. I THINK THAT'S THE MOST TOUCHING FOR US AND IT MAKES THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING REAL. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING VULNERABLE AND WILLING TO SHARE YOUR STORIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU TO MIKE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALSO THE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. WE KNOW THIS IS REALLY TOUGH WORK.

I THINK WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT READY TO WORK.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO DIG INTO THE DATA.

NO ONE'S GOING TO BE SURPRISED THAT I'M A SUPER BIG DATA NERD WITH THIS STUFF. I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO FRANCISCO A COUPLE OF WEEKS

[01:40:03]

I STILL THINK THERE IS WORK THAT WE COULD BE DOING ON HOW WE ARE SHOWING THE NUMBERS. SO IE, SOME PROGRAMS TAKE TWO YEARS TO FINISH AND THOSE ARE SEEN AS INCOMPLETIONS RIGHT NOW . BUT I CAN'T GO IN RIGHT NOW AND FIGURE OUT OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STARTED THREE-MONTH PROGRAMS, HOW MANY OF THOSE HAVE COMPLETED. OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STARTED TWO-YEAR PROGRAMS, HOW MANY OF THOSE HAVE COMPLETED.

I THINK THERE'S WAYS WE CAN SPLICE THE DATA DIFFERENTLY TO SHOW WHERE FOLKS ARE ON THEIR TRAJECTORY. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE LAST B SESSION, BECAUSE WE LOST QUORUM THAT DAY. BUT I WAS REFLECTING ON THE CONVERSATION THAT DAY. AND THE THING I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I ITERATE IS JUST LIKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES AND EVEN US AS ADULTS AND WHICH JOBS THAT WE PICK. AND WE HAVE ALL HAD THE LUXURY OF CHOOSING TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUR NAME ON THE BALLOT TO SERVE HERE. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR INCOME BRACKET, HAVE THAT EXACT SAME CHOICE. SO EVEN THOUGH, I GET IT, I.T. JOBS ARE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW. AND THAT IS HARD FOR FOLKS TO PLACE.

AND WE SHOULD BE COACHING PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME. THAT WHEN WE ARE -- IF YOU ARE CHOOSING TO GO DOWN THIS PATHWAY, IT IS NOT THE SAME THING AS GETTING A CDL, WHERE ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HIRE YOU IF YOU GET A CDL. THERE ARE PLENTY OF POSITIONS FOR THOSE. BUT AS LONG AS THAT COACHING IS OCCURRING, I DO BELIEVE IN INDIVIDUAL WILL AND CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE IN THE -- IF THAT IS YOUR WHOLE HEART AND PASSION, THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I THINK WHAT THE ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD FOCUS ON IS MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS SO THAT IS COMMUNICATED ON THE FRONT END. I UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM, IT'S HARD TO ASSESS. BUT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND SEE WHAT OUR INDIVIDUAL COACHES ARE DOING.

BECAUSE THEY ARE THE KEY PIECES IN THIS PUZZLE. FROM THE INTAKE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING THEM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS. THE OTHER DAY AT THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE -- I GETS THAT WAS GUT WAS JUST YESTERDAY -- WE WERE DISCUSSING THE CARE PROGRAM FOR FOLKS THAT NEED CHILDCARE.

WHAT WE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNERS IS IF THE PERSON DOING THE INTAKE DOESN'T REALLY UPSELL THAT AND THE OPPORTUNITY, THE INDIVIDUAL MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND THE COUNCIL BEFORE US ACTUALLY PUT A LOT OF FUNDING INTO THAT AND I THINK WE COULD REALLY ADVERTISE THAT MORE WITH OUR PROVIDERS TO SAY WE ARE PROVIDING CHILDCARE.

AND WE WILL HELP YOU FIND A HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE THAT YOU COULD SEND YOUR KIDS TO WHILE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM. BECAUSE I'M SURE, EVEN FOR SOME, THAT'S A BARRIER. AND SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONTINUING TO PUSH AND CONTINUING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE WORK WITH OUR COACHES HAND IN HAND SO THEY KNOW HOW TO PROVIDE AND SUPPORT FOR THE FOLKS IN THE PROGRAM. AND HOW CAN WE REALLY MARKET THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED SO MUCH, ANOTHER PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS CONTINUING TO SHARE THE UPDATES TO THE PROGRAM AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND ALTERED. SO LAST THING, I GET TO SERVE AS AN ADVISORY MEMBER ON THE BOARD WITH COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE SO I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO DIVE INTO THE DATA AND HOW WE CAN SHOW IT DIFFERENTLY.

I WANT TO CLARIFY FROM B SESSION -- THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE APPOINTMENTS.

I WILL SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENTS. BUT THE OJT AND INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, IS IT OKAY IF I ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? I SAW THE B SESSION RESULTS AND I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE COMPLETELY SCRAPPING THE PROGRAM. THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I'VE HEARD FROM PROVIDERS IS THAT WHEN FOLKS LEAVE AND GRADUATE THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN THE SKILL. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THESE TWO PROGRAMS WERE TO HELP GET THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY NEED TO THEN BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE HIGHER-PAYING JOBS. SO I UNDERSTAND -- AND I WENT BACK TO THE B SESSION SLIDES AND LOOKED UP THE 50-CENT INCREASE. CAN YOU HELP US REFRESH OUR MEMORIES ON THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE, AND NEXT

STEPS. >> FOR INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING, IT IS FOR EXISTING WORKERS WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.

THE PURPOSE WAS TO UP SKILL THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO THEY COULD EARN MORE MONEY IN THE FUTURE AND EVENTUALLY BE PROMOTED. THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

[01:45:04]

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. WHAT WE GATHERED FROM THE B SESSION, IT'S AN ART TO GAUGE WHERE THE COUNCIL IS SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPORTED, AND THAT'S WHY WE MOVED TO ELIMINATE IT.

>> KAUR: SO WE DID ELIMINATE IT ALREADY? >> FOR FUTURE AWARDS, THAT

IS CORRECT. >> KAUR: THAT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHOWING THE SUCCESS THAT WE WERE HOPING FOR WITH ACTUAL PROMOTIONS IN THE JOBS?

>> INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. SOME OF THE TRAININGS OCCUR AT THE BACK END OF THAT 18-MONTH AGREEMENT. IT TAKES TIME.

THE SENSE WE GOT FROM COUNCIL IS THE 35-CENT RAISE WAS NOT ENOUGH SO WE MOVED

SWIFTLY TO PIVOT DIRECTIONS >> KAUR: WE'RE STILL DOING THE OJT PROGRAM?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> KAUR: I THINK THE OJT PROGRAM WAS VERY IMPORTANT, SO I'M GLAD THAT DIDN'T SHIFT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- I SAW THE BASE SALARY FOR AN INCUMBENT WORKER WAS AROUND 33 ALREADY, SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT OUR OJT FOLKS ARE. I APPRECIATE THE PIVOT AND I GUESS THAT WAS -- IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFUSING DAY BUT I, AGAIN, APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS WERE HEARING OUR FEEDBACK AND WOULD CONTINUE TO LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN GROW THE PROGRAM. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I THINK THE BIGGEST TARGET WE CAN GET TO IS COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING, IF THAT IS THE ONE TARGET THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND BREAKING THAT DOWN TO REALLY SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS COMPLETING THEIR TRAINING. I THINK WE HAVE A HIGH SUCCESS RATE OF ACTUALLY GETTING THEM INTO THE JOB. ANY OTHER BARRIERS THAT COME UP. AND THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION IS COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I, LAST YEAR OR SOMETIME BEFORE THAT, ASKED FOR FOLKS TO DO SOME QUALITATIVE RESEARCH FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY COMPLETE IN X AMOUNT OF TIME. NOW THAT WE ARE SEVERAL YEARS IN, I THINK WE SHOULD DIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DEEPER INTO THE FOLKS THAT AREN'T COMPLETING, AND DOING SOME INDIVIDUAL SURVEYS TO SAY WHAT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN TRUE TO HELP YOU FINISH SO WE CAN LEARN FROM THAT EVEN MORE. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. IT WASN'T ON THE SLIDE, BUT AS A RESULT OF DOING AWAY WITH THE INCUMBENT WORKER PROGRAM, THAT WILL SAVE $3 MILLION.

ADDITIONALLY, I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE SLIDE, BUT IN CASE IT'S HELPFUL FOR ANYBODY ELSE, ONE OF THE THINGS THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO START DOING IS TO ALLAY THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY. IS THERE GOING TO BE TRACKING WHERE FOLKS ARE AFTER THEY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM, TO GIVE US SOME ASSURANCE THAT, YES, PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO.

YOU GOT TO BE READY TO WORK IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT HOUSTON OR OTHER PLACES.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE TWO MODIFICATIONS AND BEING WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE

FEEDBACK. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT I WANT GOOD-PAYING JOBS FOR OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS. AND SO THIS IS WHAT REALLY FUELS MY PASSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. I'M PROUD TO SERVE ON THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR HER COLLABORATION ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH ME TO ADDRESS THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD. I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE HIGH-BARRIER POPULATION SEAT CAN BRING TO THE TABLE. I DID CHAMPION TO ADD THE ACADEMIC -- THE HIGHER-EDUCATION ADDITIONAL SEAT TO CHAMPION TO ENSURE THAT ACADEMIC PATHWAYS AND WORKFORCE PATHWAYS ARE ALIGNED FOR SUCCESS.

WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IS THE REVITALIZATION OF THIS ADVISORY BOARD.

I KNOW Y'ALL ARE GOING TO WORK HARD TO ALIGN WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR EMPLOYMENT. THAT WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY BEYOND PROVIDING JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, WHICH IS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT. ALSO, WE HAVE TO HELP OUR PARTICIPANTS SEE THEIR POTENTIAL, BUILD THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SECURE THE PARTICIPANTS' HOME AND THEIR FUTURES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THIS BENEFITS SAN ANTONIO, OUR RESIDENTS, FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND ENABLES THIS BODY TO GROW OUR ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT IN TEXAS AND OUR NATION OVERALL.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, ALEX, AND TO ALL OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD FOR YOUR SERVICE AND COMMITMENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS

[01:50:04]

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO THE READY TO WORK TEAM WHO IS HERE TODAY AND THE BOARD.

ALSO, I SAW A LOT OF OUR READY TO WORK PARTNERS HERE, SO METHODIST HEALTH CARE, ALAMO COLLEGES, HALLMARK, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO, GREATER SATX, PROJECT QUEST.

I THINK GOODWILL SAN ANTONIO IS HERE AND COPS/METRO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH READY TO WORK AND ALL OF THE WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I AM ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS HIGH-BARRIER POPULATION SERVING ORGANIZATIONS POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED. I THINK THIS IS A KEY TO REMIND US OF THE POPULATION THAT READY TO WORK WAS INTENDED TO SERVE.

WE KNOW THAT THE BARRIERS THAT THESE FOLKS COMING INTO THIS PROGRAM HAVE AND THE RESILIENCY TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM IS KEY. THE READY PART OF READY TO WORK IS WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS SO MUCH OF OUR TIME.

BECAUSE FINISHING THESE PROGRAMS IS WHAT MAKES IT A READY TO WORK PROGRAM, HONESTLY. I WANT TO COMMEND EVERYBODY HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN AN UPHILL CLIMB. I KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN THIS PROGRAM STARTED. BUT WE'VE BEEN STUDYING AND LISTENING TO FOLKS.

YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FACES ON THIS COUNCIL SINCE THIS PROGRAM STARTED.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND JUST VERY SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MIKE AND ALL THE FOLKS HERE WHO PRESENTED TODAY BUT ALSO GAVE THEIR COMMENTS, WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD OR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC OR INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS PROJECT COME TO LIFE AND CONTINUING TO SEE IT THROUGH ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THE PIVOTS WE'RE MAKING TO MAKE SURE THIS IS AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE. I THINK I TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE B SESSION, THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY DO BELIEVE IN AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE ON ADDRESSING POVERTY HERE IN OUR CITY. ENSURING AS OUR CITY AND ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW, THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE GAINING IN THAT GROWTH AND ABLE TO LIVE MORE QUALITY AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES HERE IN OUR CITY. ONE QUESTION I HAD, I KNOW DURING THE B SESSION WE TALKED ABOUT PHASING OUT DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS.

THERE WAS A POINT ON THERE ABOUT FOCUSING ON THE HIGH -- DOING WELL PROGRAMS OR OCCUPATIONS, CURRENTLY. MIKE, I KNOW WE'LL BE MARKETING THOSE MORE BUT ARE WE PHASING OUT THE OTHER ONES THAT AREN'T PERFORMING AS WELL?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. ONE OF THE BULLET POINTS WAS ELIMINATING THOSE OCCUPATIONS THAT AREN'T PERFORMING WELL, AND THAT'S THE GROUP THEY HAVE STARTED, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT SESSION. WE'LL HAVE SOME ACTION ON

THAT IN JANUARY. >> GALVAN: DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE ABOUT -- I GUESS THIS IS A JANUARY CONVERSATION. BUT IS THERE A TIMELINE

CURRENTLY ON THAT? >> JANUARY 20TH IS WHEN THE BOARD WILL MAKE THEIR

RECOMMENDATIONS. >> GALVAN: WILL IT COME TO US TO REVIEW OR WILL IT BE A

BOARD ACTION? >> WE'LL UPDATE THE COUNCIL AND PROVIDE A MEMO.

THAT BOARD MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND YOUR INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY

APPRECIATED. >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, I THINK THE RESULTS OF THAT,

WE WILL BE UPDATING THE EWDC COMMITTEE. >> GALVAN: PERFECT.

SOUNDS GOOD. DO WE HAVE A LIST OF TARGET OCCUPATIONS CURRENTLY BEING

LOOKED AT THE MOMENT? >> THE ENTIRE LIST IS BEING REVIEWED BY THE BOARD.

THERE ARE HIGH PERFORMING THEY ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON AND THE ENTIRE LIST IS BEING

SCRUBBED AND REVIEWED BY THE BOARD, AS WE SPEAK. >> GALVAN: SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT DURING THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE AS WELL WAS BUILDING UP THE WORKFORCE.

IF WE'RE NOT SEEING THE GROWTH THERE, THAT'S SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ASPIRING TO BUT IF WE'RE NOT SEEING THE GROWTH THERE. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS MAJORLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

WE HEAR IT THROUGH CHILDCARE. WE HEAR ON THE EMPHASIS THERE ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A STRONG EARLY CHILDCARE HERE IN OUR CITY.

IT COMES WITH A WORKFORCE COMPONENT. SAME WITH EDUCATION ACROSS THE BOARD. I WORRY IF THAT'S A PROGRAM TO BE PHASED OUT, GIVEN ITS HIGH IMPORTANCE AS WELL. BUT I'M INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE DATA, SEEING THE BARRIERS THERE. IF WE CAN JUST STAY UP TO DATE WITH THAT TO SEE HOW

[01:55:01]

OTHERWISE, I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB ON THIS AND I UNDERSTAND MAKING SOME EFFICIENCIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS PROGRAM AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE.

LET'S JUST STAY IN TOUCH AND THANK YOU, MIKE. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE BEING APPOINTED.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTS THE LARGEST SHARE OF PARTICIPANTS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE LIVES THAT ARE BEING CHANGED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. I ALSO APPRECIATE GREATLY YOU HEARING ME AT THE B SESSION AND ELIMINATING THE IWT PROGRAM.

I LOOK FORWARD TO US WORKING TOGETHER FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS SO LIVES CAN BE TANGIBLY AND REMARKABLY CHANGED. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. I THINK THERE WERE SEVERAL CALLS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THAT. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR STEPPING UP. THIS IS HARD WORK. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD OFTEN TELL MAYOR NIRENBERG IS THAT THIS PROGRAM, WHILE IT DOES HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. AND I APPRECIATE THE INTENT OF TRYING TO CHANGE JUST GENERATIONAL POVERTY. I MEAN, THAT IS NOT AN EASY TASK. SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS, THEIR TIME AND DEDICATION. YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE SERVING ON A BOARD. IT IS A LOT OF COUNTLESS HOURS ON THE BACK END TO MAKE SURE THIS GOES RIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PARTNERS FOR READY TO WORK. BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO -- READY TO WORK CANNOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT YOU ALL AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS AND ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL.

DO YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLKS WHO CAME AND SHARED THEIR PERSONAL STORIES . THANK YOU. THAT MAKES THIS MEANINGFUL FOR US. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU ALL, MIKE AND TEAM, FOR LISTENING TO THE FEEDBACK. THERE'S PROBABLY MORE FEEDBACK COMING. BUT THANK YOU FOR PIVOTING ACCORDINGLY.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF IT. AND THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD

MEMBERS AND THEIR EFFORTS. THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: HAVE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE SPOKEN? OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ATTENDANTS.

THANKS, MIKE FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING QUICK IN LISTENING AND IMPLEMENTING THE FEEDBACK. AS I THINK YOU HEAR THIS MORNING A REAL COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO UPSKILL THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PUT THEM ON THE PATH. THANK YOU.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 3. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES.

[City Manager's Report  ]

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THREE QUICK ITEMS. THE FIRST I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY OUR TVSA TEAM HAS RECENTLY BEEN AWARDED TEN STATE AWARDS, WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF AWARDS WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED.

SAN ANTONIO, AS A CITY, COMPETES IN A BUDGET CATEGORY AGAINST OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES HERE FOR THESE EFFORTS. I WON'T MENTION THEM ALL BUT SOME OF THE ISSUES OR PROJECTS THAT RESULTED IN THE TOP-PLACE AWARD INCLUDED HOW TO PRONOUNCE STREET NAMES, OUR POTHOLE PATROL COVERAGE.

>> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN IN THE BACK. THANK YOU.

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORIES. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TVSA TEAM. EVERY YEAR WE CONTINUE TO CAPTURE MORE BEACH IN TERMS OF AWARDS. SECONDLY, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND COUNCILMAN GALVAN WHO PARTICIPATED WITH ME AND DR. JACOB ON OUR REACCREDITATION EFFORTS WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD DID ANNOUNCE THAT METRO HEALTH --

>> MAYOR JONES: SORRY. EXCUSE ME. OUR MEETING IS STILL GOING ON. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE GO OUT INTO THE FOYER.

THANK YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[02:00:06]

IT'S A VOLUNTARY PROCESS AND THE METRO HEALTH INITIALLY RECEIVED THIS ACCREDITATION STATUS IN 2019 AND REACCREDITATION IS EVERY FIVE YEARS.

IT WAS A HUGE LIFT FOR THE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE Q&A THAT WE WERE INTERVIEWED BY THE ACCREDITATION BOARD, BOTH FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE. BUT BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, THE PRIOR CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE, AND COUNCILMAN GALVAN, THE CURRENT CHAIR, WERE ABLE TO LAY OUT HOW METRO HEALTH INTERSECTS WITH THAT COUNCIL COMMITTEE. AND THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF LAYING OUT HOW THE TRANSITION OF POWER WAS OCCURRING AND NO GAPS WITHIN THAT.

SO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND FRANKLY, IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REINFORCE THE CITY'S STRONG INVESTMENT IN WORK IN THAT DEPARTMENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO DR. JACOB AND THE ENTIRE METRO HEALTH TEAM. DR. JACOB IS ALSO -- HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON THAT NATIONAL BOARD. AND SO CONTINUES TO PROFILE US BROADLY.

LASTLY, OUR SPOTLIGHT VIDEO, THERE ARE VERY FEW -- MOST EMPLOYEES ONLY HAVE ONE JOB.

AND LAURA SLAVIN DOES HAVE ONE JOB BUT SHE TAKES ON TWO RESPONSIBILITIES FOR US.

SHE WORKS IN OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT AND DOES A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF.

SHE HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS. BUT SHE'S ALSO BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HER TIME WITH THE CITY AS BEING A FOSTER FOR ACS.

SHE DOES A GREAT JOB OF DOING BOTH JOBS AND CERTAINLY WE'RE THANKFUL FOR HER VOLUNTEERING FOR THE WORK SHE DOES WITH ACS. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.

>> I WORK FOR ITSD. I'M AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS ENGINEER.

I LOOK DOING THOSE SMALL PROJECTS THAT HELP THE DEPARTMENT ALONG.

RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AS A FOSTER WITH ACS.

THEY REACH OUT TO EMPLOYEES TO GET THEM TO FOSTER DOGS FOR THEIR BIG EVENTS.

THE ONE THAT JUST HAPPENED WAS THE DOGTO BEER FEST. 266 DOGS GOT ADOPTED.

I HAVE BEEN FOSTERING WITH ACS NOW AND I HAVE SEEN THEM GO THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS, PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY OUR DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE THAT IN EFFECT IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND HELPING IN THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE ANIMAL POPULATION HERE SAFE AND HOW FAMILIES FIND THEIR PET. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THINGS LIKE IMPROVING THEIR WAIT LIST PROCESS, GOING TO CLINIC, OR PICKING UP SUPPLIES. THEY PROVIDE EVERYTHING WHEN YOU'RE A FOSTER.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM. I LOVE DOING THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE SEEN OUR DEPARTMENT HAVE AN IMPACT ON RECENTLY IS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AT ACS. I HAVE SEEN THEM IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THINGS I.T. HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT HAS MADE THE FOSTERING EXPERIENCE EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE. I WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR OR MAYBE SOONER TO FOSTER WITH

THEM AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] >> WALSH: I WANT TO THANK LAURA AND THE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATE IN FOSTERING ANIMALS FOR LARGE EVENTS LIKE THE DOGTOBER. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR

THEIR LEADERSHIP. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK.

I WOULD ASK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO REMAIN SEATED WHILE I TAKE US INTO

[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND COLLECTIVE

BARGAINING, ALL PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. >> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 1:15 P.M. ON DECEMBER 11E SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE TIME IS NOW 1:15 AND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.