[00:01:19]
>> 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,
[00:05:05]
FATHER. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.WEEK. WE ALSO DO NOT HAVE ANY CEREMONIALS SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. DISTRICT 7 IS RECOGNIZED.
>> 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.
[00:10:04]
SAN ANTONIO IS REALLY WELL POSITIONED TO LEAD THIS EFFORT.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.
[00:15:05]
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER POINT OF PRIVILEGE FROM D7. GO AHEAD.>> 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
[00:20:05]
RECOGNITION. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HEAR YOU ELEVATE THE ROLE THAT THE CITY CAN HAVE IN ADVANCING AND ENSURING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR K-12. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF CITY EDUCATION PARTNERS IN SAN ANTONIO. IT MEANS WE'VE HAD 10 YEARS TO WORK WITH FAMILIES, LEADERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN SAN ANTONIO DOES HAVE ACCESS TO THAT QUALITY EDUCATION AND TO CATALYZE THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO THRIVE.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, COUNCILMAN GALVAN. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE 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
[00:25:03]
TODAY IS ITEM NUMBER 23. IT'S ABOUT REMAKING BANDERA ROAD, A MAJOR ARTERY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND HERE, ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO, 120, WE AS AMERICANS, WE STARTED USING SOMETHING CALLED AUTOMOBILES.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 A 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
[00:30:01]
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT WERE BEING INVESTED TO GIVE SOMEBODY LESS THAN A 50-CENT PAY INCREASE, YOU CAN IMAGINE OUR DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR. 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
[00:35:07]
INVEST. BECAUSE UP UNTIL THIS POINT, WOMEN WEREN'T SITTING ON THIS DAIS. 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 THERE AND GOING THAT'S NOT 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
[00:40:04]
FRANCISCO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AS WELL TO LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD.AND WE'VE RECEIVED AWARDS FOR THE DASHBOARD, THAT INFORMATION THAT IS UP THERE. 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.
[00:45:05]
THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM PROVIDED BY COUNCIL TO EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING THROUGH READY TO WORK, TO GET CONTINUED TRAINING ON THE JOB WITH THOSE LOCAL EMPLOYERS . THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.WHAT WE GATHERED FROM THE B SESSION, IT'S AN ART TO GAUGE WHERE THE COUNCIL IS
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
[00:50:02]
IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS PROGRAM. AND I DO APPRECIATE THE INVITATION>> 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 THAT'S GOING, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG FOCUSES I HAVE ON
[00:55:05]
THIS POINT. 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. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> 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,
[01:00:07]
MAYOR. THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT EVALUATION PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.PRETTY RIGOROUS PROCESS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN TERMS OF POLICIES, PROCEDURES, ACTIVITIES, SERVICES. 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.
>> 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. THE TIME IS 11:04 A.M. ON DECEMBER 11.
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. NOW 1:15 P.M. E 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 MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.