Dec 16, 2025 Economic and Workforce Development Committee

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>> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THE TIME IS NOW 10:01 A.M. ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2025. AND THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.

[Approval of Minutes  ]

CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? >> SECOND.

>> VIAGRAN: I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. AND MADAM CLERK, THERE ARE -- I

[Public Comments  ]

YOU WILL GET A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT IF YOU'RE WITH A GROUP, YOU GET SIX MINUTES.

YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON THE ITEMS YOU SIGNED UP FOR. SO IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR A FEW ITEMS, YOU WILL INTEREST -- BE SPEAKING ON BOTH THOSE ITEMS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

LAUREN MANDEL, AND THEN NEXT WILL BE MICHELLE DAVIS, IF YOU COULD GET READY.

AND LAUREN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LAUREN.

I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS. OUR MISSION IS TO CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION, EMPOWERING OUR MEMBERS THROUGH EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND ADVOCACY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF OUR 275 PLUS MEMBER COMPANIES, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO -- WHILE PREPARING FOR THE EXCITING FUTURE PROJECTS AHEAD OF US.

REGARDING THE CREATION OF THE TRADES ADVISORY BOARD, SAN ANTONIO AGC AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS COALITION ARE HERE TODAY TO ENSURE THAT THE BOARD IS REFLECTIVE OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE EVERYONE INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

OUR INDUSTRY IS DIVERSE. AND THIS BOARD SHOULD REFLECT THAT, WITH BOTH UNION MEMBERS AND THOSE WHO REPRESENT OPEN SHOP CONTRACTORS. IT SHOULD BE FILLED WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND ON ACTIVE JOB SITES AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP. BALANCED REPRESENTATION ENSURES THAT NO ONE STRUCTURE, AND RESPONSIBILITIES. AS CITY ATTORNEY SEGOVIA HAS STATED, THIS GROUP DOES NOT HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY. WHEN ADVISORY BOARDS EXPAND BEYOND THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE, THEY RISK BECOMING POLITICIZED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE TO REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS IN THE TRADES. I AM CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A BALANCED TRADE ADVISORY BOARD THAT WILL SUPPORT A STRONG, FAIR, AND COMPETITIVE LOCAL WORKFORCE.

THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, LAUREN. NEXT UP, MICHELLE DAVIS.

>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS MICHELLE DAVIS, PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SOUTH TEXAS, 185 MEMBER COMPANIES, MORE THAN 10,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, PLAYERS, AND PROFESSIONALS. WE ALSO OPERATE A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN CARP TRI, PIPE-FITTING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND SHEET METAL. REGARDING THE CCR, AS OUTLINED IN A JOINT LETTER SUBMITTED IN NOVEMBER, THE PROPOSED 35% APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENT NOT ONLY EXCEEDS THE TRAINING CAPACITY WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT IT GOES WELL ABOVE AND BEYOND THE FEDERAL MANDATE OF 15%. MANY TRADES DO NOT HAVE DOL-REGISTERED PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO, SUCH AS HEAVY EQUIPMENT, ROOFING, CONCRETE, CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, DRYWALL, PAINTERS, AND MASONRY. THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD UNINTENTIONALLY EXCLUDE QUALIFIED WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND MINORITY CONTRACTORS WHO ALREADY CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO CITY PROJECTS.

IEC JOINS US IN ASKING THAT THE PROPOSAL BE RECONSIDERED. AND IF MOVED FORWARD, THAT A DIVERSE INDUSTRY WORK GROUP BE FORMED. OUR MEMBERS ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP DEVELOP A DATA-DRIVEN, ACHIEVABLE STRATEGY.

ON THE TRADES ADVISORY CCR -- I AM HERE WITH MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COALITION AND THE

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WE ARE UNIFIED IN REQUESTING EQUAL REPRESENTATION THAT REFLECTS OPEN SHOP AND LABOR.

IN TEXAS, 98% -- AGAIN, 98% OF THE INDUSTRY -- IS OPEN SHOP. AND ANY ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD INCLUDE ALL WORKERS WHO BUILD THIS CITY. WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THIS BOARD REMAINS ADVISORY IN NATURE TO AVOID LEGAL CONFLICTS. AND WHILE NO DATA HAS BEEN PRESENTED SHOWING A NEED FOR THIS BOARD, OUR MEMBERS WHO WORK IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY STAND READY TO SERVE AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND PRODUCTIVE FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MICHELLE. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THOMAS AND THEN

AFTER THAT WILL BE CHRIS. THOMAS. >> THANK YOU FOR SAYING MY NAME CORRECTLY. APPRECIATE THAT. MOST PEOPLE SCREW IT UP.

OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? MY NAME IS TOM.

I REPRESENT AMERICAN SUBCONTRACTOR SAN ANTONIO, AN ASSOCIATION WITH OVER 230 MEMBERS OF VARIOUS TRADES ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE AND TALK ABOUT ITEM 3, WITH REGARDS TO, AGAIN, EQUAL REPRESENTATION AT THE TABLE ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD. WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS, OPEN SHOP LABOR SHOPS, OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 33 YEARS IN A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT'S OVER 61 YEARS 'OL. SO, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING HIGH AND LOW FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO WORK. AND WE FIND A WAY TO GET IT DONE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW.

I KNOW IT'S A NEW THING RIGHT NOW WITH THE ADVISORY ASPECT OF IT AND INCLUSION, BUT REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS CALL FOR REAL-WORLD ANSWERS AND SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO TRAIN IN-HOUSE TO GET THE JOB DONE. AND I THINK ALL OF US AT AGC, ABC, ASA, AND VARIOUS DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION ENTITIES HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB, DOING THE JOB CORRECTLY.

ALL THE MEMBERS WITHIN THESE ASSOCIATIONS ARE DOING IT ABOVE BOARD.

AND HONESTLY, WE THINK WE COULD ALREADY START SEEING THE BRIDGING OF THE GAP WITH THE EFFORTS AT THE STATE LEVEL HERE JUST TO GET MORE KIDS, MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE TRADES.

WE DON'T NEED A SMALL PERCENTAGE TO DICTATE HOW THIS PROGRESSION SHOULD GO.

AND WE WORK WELL, OPEN, AND LABOR SHOPS IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY.

AND WE SHOULD CARRY ON THAT COOPERATION MOVING FORWARD, NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO GET ALL THE GLORY FOR IT. I HOPE Y'ALL CONSIDER US TO EQUALIZE THE TABLE SO WE COULD ALL GET A VOICE IN, BECAUSE I THINK ULTIMATELY, I THINK THOSE WHO DO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE

PROBLEM. THANK YA. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS CHRIS MORALES, A LOCAL PRESIDENT OF CWA LOCAL 6143 IN SAN ANTONIO. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THESE ITEMS. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST ESTABLISHING THE SAN ANTONIO TRADES ADVISORY BOARD AND THE ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES. THE PROPOSED TRADES ADVISORY BOARD REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS FORMALIZING WORKER INPUT IN CITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC. THIS WOULD INSTITUTIONALIZE WORKER INPUT IN CITY DECISIONS INVOLVING MAJOR PROJECTS, JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ADOPTED SIMILAR WORKS IN THEIR MODELS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AND PROVED PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES.

ALIGNING PUBLICLY-FUNDED PROJECTS WITH CLEAR WORKFORCE EXPECTATIONS PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY, AND JOB QUALITY. WE ALSO RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CCR ON ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES.

THIS REPRESENTS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO'S WORKFORCE BY STRENGTHENING TRAINING STANDARDS AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CAREER PATHWAYS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR. THE CITY CAN ENSURE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH TRANSLATES INTO STABLE, FAMILY-SUSTAINING JOBS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, PRIORITIZING SKILL DEVELOPMENT, SAFETY, AND

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>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. CHARLES. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M CHARLES FUENTES, WORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL, AS WELL AS THE SAN ANTONIO LABOR COUNCIL, FLCIO. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE TRADES ADVISORY BOARD AS WELL AS THE ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES CCR.

TOO OFTEN, WORKER INPUT DEPENDS ON GOODWILL AND/OR INFORMAL OUTREACH.

AND THAT MEANS VOICES ARE HEARD UNEVENLY. AND MANY WORKERS ARE NOT EVER HEARD AT ALL. THE TRADES ADVISORY BOARD IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S AN INTENTIONALLY WORKER-CENTERED BOARD. IT CREATES A FORMAL, RELIABLE SPACE FOR THE VOICES OF WORKING PEOPLE, INCLUDING BOTH ORGANIZED AND THOSE WORKERS WHO HAVE YET TO BE ORGANIZED. TO INFORM THE CITY ON DECISIONS. IT RECOGNIZES WHAT EXISTS ON THE JOB SITE, NOT JUST IN THE BOARDROOMS. WORKERS UNDERSTAND HOW POLICIES AFFECT SAFETY, SCHEDULING, AND WORKFORCE STABILITY. BY EMBEDDING THAT PERSPECTIVE INTO CITY PLANNING, THE BOARD ENSURES WORKER INPUT IS CONSISTENT, NOT OPTIONAL, AND INCLUSIVE, NOT SELECTIVE. THE ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES CCR SUPPORTS THE SAME GOAL BY SETTING CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ON PUBLICLY FUNNEDD PROJECT, HELPING TRANSLATE GROWTH INTO OPPORTUNITY. TOGETHER, THESE MEASURES STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY, IMPROVE PROJECT OUTCOMES, AND ENSURE THAT SAN ANTONIO'S GROWTH REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF ITS WORKING FAMILIES. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO ADVANCE BOTH ITEMS.

THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, CHARLES.

NEXT UP IS MALINA AND AFTER MALINA, DALE. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS MALINA, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO CFLIO, REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF UNION WORKERS.

THE TRIED ADVISORY BOARD IS A LONG-OVERDUE STEP TOWARDS ENSURE THAT WORKERS HAVE A VOICE THAT DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM. FOR FAR TOO LONG, MAJOR DECISIONS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION, WORKFORCE, INVESTMENTS, AND PROJECT STANDARDS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT WORKERS.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE ALL KNOW WHO PAYS THE PRICE -- THE PEOPLE ON THE JOB SITES WHO KEEP OUR CITY MOVING, WHO DESERVE DIGNITY, SAFETY, AND RESPECT. THAT IS THE WORKING PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT THE MANAGEMENT. THE WORK PEOPLE. THIS CREATES A FORMAL, CONSISTENT WAY FOR WORKERS AND UNIONS TO GIVE INPUT ON HOW PROJECTS ARE PLANNED, WORKFORCE NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED, AND PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE MANAGED. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THINGS ARE DONE RIGHT. WORKERS KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO STAY SAFE, WHEN TIMELINES ARE REALISTIC, WHERE THE WORKFORCE PIPELINE IS STRONG AND WHERE IT NEEDS SUPPORT.

THE TAB BRINGS THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO THE ROOM SO THE CITY ISN'T MAKING DECISIONS IN A VACUUM.

TODAY, AS A LABOR MOVEMENT, WE URGE THE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF TAB BROUGHT FORWARD. THEY HAVE CHAMPIONED A PROPOSAL THAT RESPECTS WORKERS VOICE AND BUILDS A STRONG PROCESS FOR OUR CITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS SUPPORT OUR LOCAL UNION WORKFORCE RIGHT HERE.

WHEN WE INVEST IN LOCAL WORKERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SKILLS THEY BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT INVESTMENT COMES BACK INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, SCHOOLS, AND LOCAL ECONOMY.

THE TRADES ADVISORY BOARD IS A SMART STEP AND IT REFLECTS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY VALUE -- RESPECTING WORKERS AND LISTENING TO PEOPLE WHO BUILD SAN ANTONIO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE WORKING PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> VIAGRAN: DALE HANSON. THEN DANIEL WILL BE AFTER THAT. >> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS DALE, A JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN IN TEXAS.

AND I RISE IN SUPPORT OF ITEMS 1 AND 2 ON TODAY'S AGENDA. SPEAKING ON ITEMS -- ITEM 1,

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IN A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM YOU GET A MIXTURE OF PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL COMPONENTS, WHICH IS CRITICAL WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A CITY.

AND FROM MY OWN INTERPRETATION, THOSE WHO GO THROUGH A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM -- IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN UNION OR NONUNION.

BUT THOSE WHO GO THROUGH A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHERE THERE IS AN ENSURED EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE JOB SITE, THAT TYPICALLY YIELDS A SUPERIOR RESULT WHEN IT COMES TO CRAFTSMANSHIP. ONCE AGAIN, SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE, THERE'S A DREADFUL PRACTICE RIGHT NOW WHERE JOURNEYMEN WILL TAKE ON APPRENTICES AND TEACH THEM JUST ENOUGH TO DO THIS OR THAT. IT'S THIS IDEA THAT IF I TEACH MY APPRENTICE EVERYTHING, I MIGHT LOSE MY JOB. TOTALLY IN CONTRAST TO THE REALITY WHERE THERE'S A HUGE DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKMEN OF ALL DIFFERENT TRADES.

AND I FEEL THAT BY HAVING THIS ITEM 1, THAT WOULD DO A GREAT DEAL TO REMEDY THAT.

IS IT GOING TO BE A SILVER BULLET? NO.

BUT IT IS ONE TOOL IN THE BOX THAT WE COULD USE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.

SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 2, I THINK REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, WE COULD ALL AGREE THAT HAVING FAIR REPRESENTATION, WITH WORKERS AT THE TABLE WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ABOUT THEIR JOB SC SITE CONDITIONS ONY MAKES SENSE. IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A READING FROM FEDERALIST NUMBER 56 WHERE YOU WANT TO HAVE AMBITION COUNTERING AMBITION, THAT'S ONE STEP YOU COULD TAKE TOWARDS THE PATH OF THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT.

IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. DANIEL. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS DANIEL. IVW LOCAL 60 UNION MEMBER.

I AM FOR ITEMS 1 AND 2 ALSO. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, DANIEL.

ALEJANDRA LOPEZ AND BRADY WILLIAMS. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

OOP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRWOMAN VIAGRAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS NOT STRAPPED DOWN. MY NAME IS ALEJANDRA, PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO AFL-CIO CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, RESPECTING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS ON THE CREATION OF THE SAN ANTONIO TRADES ADVISORY BOARD AND ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES. THE TRADES ADVISORY BOARD IS ENVISIONED AS A WORKER-CENTERED BODY TASKED WITH PROVIDING INPUT ON CITY PROJECTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ALL INITIATIVES BENEFIT FROM INPUT FROM THOSE WHO ARE NOT ONLY EXPERTS, BUT ALSO REPRESENT THE THOUSANDS OF WORKERS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE PROJECTS. ITS AIM IS TO PROTECT LABOR STANDARDS, ENSURE FAIR WAGES AND PRIORITIZE LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IN OUR LOCAL, MY HOME LOCAL THAT REPRESENTS TEACHERS AND SUPPORTS STAFF, WE HAVE A SAYING WHICH IS NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US, WHICH MEANS THAT THOSE THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY DECISIONS SHOULD HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND BE INVOLVED IN DECISION-MAKING. AND THAT'S WHAT THE FORMATION OF THE TAB DOES. REPRESENTS A BEST PRACTICE APPROACH ALREADY BEING ADOPTED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS SUCH AS HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, WHERE WORKER-FOCUSED BOARDS HAVE STRENGTHENED ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST ON ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS A WIDE AWAY OF POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN WHILE YOU LEARN. WE SEE THIS INITIATIVE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL CAREER PATHWAY IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY USING HIGHLY TRAINED WORKERS.

IT WOULD ALSO STRENGTHEN THE CURRENT APPRENTICESHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPE AND LEVERAGE THE GROWTH WE'RE EXPERIENCING BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS.

THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WOULD TAKE A MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARDS ENSURE THAT PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS BENEFIT THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE SPENT IN WAYS THAT REFLECT THE CITY'S VALUES OF EQUITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INCLUSION.

WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THESE TWO CCRS. THANK YOU.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. BRADY WILLIAMS. >> GOOD MORNING.

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MY NAME IS BRADY WILLIAMS. I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST ONE PRACTICAL WAY TO IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION EFFICIENCY, REDUCE COSTS, AND STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE STRUCTURE.

A MAJOR SOURCE OF DELAY ON JOB SITES IS NOT POOR EFFORT, IT'S WAITING.

CREWS WAIT FOR ANOTHER WORKER WITH A DIFFERENT TRADE. A CERTIFIED WORKER WHO CAN TAKE THAT TASK TO THE NEXT STEP, BECAUSE THAT TASK IS CONSIDERED "NOT MY SCOPE OF WORK." THOSE SMALL DELAYS ADD UP TO DAYS OR WEEKS ON A PROJECT AND SIGNIFICANTLY ADD COST.

CROSS-TRAINING HELPS SOLVE THAT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT MAKING EVERYONE AN EXPERT AT EVERYTHING THEY DO, IN EVERY AREA. I MEAN ENSURING WORKERS CAN COMPLETELY PERFORM TWO OR THREE RELATED TASKS W. WHEN CREWS ARE CROSS-TRAINED, WORK KEEPS MOVING EVEN WHEN ONE SPECIALIST ISN'T AVAILABLE. FOREMEN GAIN FLEXIBILITY AND SCHEDULES BECOME MORE RELIABLE INSTEAD OF FRAGILE. THIS ALSO BENEFITS WORKERS, MULTISKILLED WORKERS WHO ARE MORE EMPLOYABLE, ADAPTABLE, AND BETTER-POSITIONED IN A CHANGING LABOR MARKET, ESPECIALLY AS THE INDUSTRY FACES SHORTAGES AND RETIREMENTS. THERE'S A SAFETY BENEFIT AS WELR DURING HANDOFFS BETWEEN TRADES. WHEN WORKERS UNDERSTAND THE WORK BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR OWN TASK, THEY MAKE BETTER DECISIONS AND FEWER UNSAFE ASSUMPTIONS. TRAINING DOES COST MONEY, BUT WAITING COSTS MORE. IDLE LABOR, EXTENDED SCHEDULES, AND REWORK ARE EXPENSIVE.

EVEN IF THOSE COSTS ARE LESS VISIBLE. IF THIS COMMITTEE WANTS A HIGH-RETURN WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, I ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR CROSS-TRADE TRAINING THROUGH CONTRACTOR INCENTIVES, PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR UNIONS, OR FUNDING FOR MODULAR CERTIFICATIONS. CROSS-TRAINING IS ONE LEVER THAT IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY, SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AT THE SAME TIME. IT ALLOWS US TO DO A LOT MORE IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, BRADY. THANK YOU ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE ON THESE ITEMS.

[Briefing and Possible Action on the following items  ]

THE PRESENTATIONS TOGETHER. THE CCR FROM COUNCILMEMBERS CASTILLO ON ENHANCING TRADES, ITEM 3, THE CCR FROM COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

AND TO HAVE THAT PRESENTATION IS OUR NEWLY FORMED -- IT'S NOT THAT NEW, BUT OUR DIRECTOR OF THE NEWLY FORMED DEPARTMENT, WHICH -- CAPITAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT.

I WAS GOING TO CALL IT THE BOND DEPARTMENT.

>> VIAGRAN: SO, MIKE SHANNON, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

MIKE SHANNON, CAPITAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE TWO CCRS. THEY'RE DIFFERENT. BUT AS YOU HEARD, THEY'RE IN THE SAME BALLPARK. IT'S APPROPRIATE WE'LL GO THROUGH TWO.

SO, FIRST WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES CCR SUBMITTED BY COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO BACK EARLIER THIS YEAR, APRIL. WHAT THIS IS LOOKING FOR IS FOR THE CITY TO ENACT OR LOOK AT ENACTING AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, A REQUIREMENT POLICY FOR CITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHERE WE HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS OR GRADUATES THAT ARE IN CERTIFIED U.S. DOL, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, OR A CERTIFIED BILINGUAL TRAINING PROGRAM. THE IDEA IS WHAT CAN WE ADD TO OUR CITY CONTRACTS TO INCENTIVIZE THIS MORE OR REQUIRE IT.

A FEW OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE CRR, SMALLER PROPHETS, LESS THAN $10 MILLION, SHOULD CARRY A TRAINING REQUIREMENT THAT WE WOULD SCALE. THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT OUR CONSTRUCTION READINESS PIPELINE, INCLUDING OUR READY TO WORK INITIATIVES.

PRE-APPRENTICE, APPRENTICE READINESS, ETC. AND THE DOL REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, CERTAINLY THOSE MUST BE PAID AS PART OF OUR PREVAILING WAGE

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THE ORDINANCE WAS UPDATED IN 2008. I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL CCR ASKING US TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS AND ENHANCEMENTS THAT COULD OR SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.

SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AS WELL ON THAT.

BUT IN THE CDD DEPARTMENT WE HAVE SOME STAFF THAT LOOK AT ON EVERY PROJECT, LABOR COMPLIANCE, WHERE WE REVIEW PAYROLLS WEEKLY AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS MEETING THE PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN OUR ORDINANCE SO THAT EVERYBODY'S GETTING PAID THE RIGHT AMOUNT.

NOW, IN THAT IT ALSO HAS SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS.

SO, IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT IN OUR CURRENT LABOR COMPLIANCE ORDINANCE, BUT THERE IS A SECTION THAT SAYS THAT, OF COURSE APPRENTICESHIPS ARE PERMITTED.

IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO HAVE APPRENTICESHIPS, YOU CAN PAY THEM AT THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVEL. AND THOSE ARE SPELLED OUT.

WE NEED SOME DOCUMENTATION IN ORDER TO PUT THOSE IN OUR SYSTEM FOR THAT PROJECT.

THINGS LIKE THE DOL APPRENTICESHIP REGISTRATION FORMS, CERTIFICATIONS, ETC.

AND AGAIN, THOSE APPRENTICESHIP WAGES ARE A PERCENTAGE OF THE TYPICAL JOURNEYMAN CLASSIFICATIONS IN THE DIFFERENT TRADES. SO THERE IS AN ELEMENT ALREADY IN THERE, BUT NOT A REQUIREMENT. BUT IT IS PERMITTED. SO I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE READY TO WORK. MIKE'S HERE. BUT READY TO WORK IS ON THE BOOKS. A LOT OF ACTION THERE. A LOT OF GREAT WORK THERE.

BUT CONSTRUCTION OF COURSE IS A TARGET INDUSTRY IN OUR READY TO WORK.

THERE'S 20 TRAINING PROGRAMS THERE. SEVERAL OF THE TOP EMPLOYERS IN TOWN HAVE READY TO WORK GRADUATES. SOME OF THEM ARE LISTED.

WE'VE HAD OVER 350 PARTICIPANTS TRAINED, MOST HIRED. 300 WERE HIRED.

AND WE HAVE A READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD. WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR TRAINING, ETC., FOR MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE. SO, WE JUST THREW THIS UP HERE BECAUSE THIS IS CERTAINLY, IF WE TALK ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENTS, THE READY TO WORK INITIATIVE AND PROGRAM WILL DEFINITELY BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. SO WE'LL WORK WITH MIKE AND HIS TEAM AS WE MOVE THIS FORWARD IF WE DO TODAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO THROW UP THERE A COUPLE OTHER COMPARISON CITIES. AND AS MENTIONED IN THE CCR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS SOME REQUIREMENTS. WE SUMMARIZED SOME OF THEM.

OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, PROJECT GREATER THAN 10 MILLION REQUIRES 15% OF THE LABOR FROM A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

TRAINEE REQUIREMENTS BASED ON THE TOTAL SOLICITATION, ETC. AND A FEW OTHERS.

SO, CITY OF AUSTIN DEVELOPED SOMETHING IN THIS REALM. WE ALSO FOUND NOT TEXAS, BUT STILL BIG CITIES, CHICAGO AND DENVER HAVE DONE SOMETHING IN THIS.

CHICAGO IS MORE OF A BID PREFERENCE ORDINANCE. YOU CAN GET SOME EXTRA POINTS IN THE BID SELECTION PROCESS. FOR EXAMPLE, UP TO 1% ON A CITY-FUNDED CONSTRUCTION WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNION APPRENTICES. 5-10% OF LABOR HOURS, YOU CAN GET A HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT. MORE THAN THAT, MAKE ONE PERCENTAGE.

NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT BUILT IN AS YOU CAN GET MORE POINTS IN THAT BID PREFERENCE PROCESS FOR CHICAGO. DENVER, ANOTHER ONE WE FOUND HAS SOME TARGET HIRE APPRENTICESHIP UTILIZATION GOALS. VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION REQUIRES 15% OF HOURS MUST BE FROM A REGISTERED APPRENTICE AND THEN FOR HORIZONTAL THEY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, THE 3%, 4% AS YOU SEE. I SHOW THOSE ONLY AS WE WILL DO LIKELY MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE. BUT AS WE DO IN SAN ANTONIO, IF WE DEVELOP SOMETHING, WE LIKE TO DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT FOR US HERE AS WE BRING SOMETHING BACK TO YOU. SO, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS -- AND THIS SLIDE WILL PROBABLY AFTER THE NEXT ONE -- AS YOU CAN TELL, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS AND A LOT OF GREAT KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, WHETHER IT'S LABOR OR OPEN SHOP, AND ALL THE TRADES. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR US TO ESTABLISH A DIVERSE

[00:30:02]

SO, AGAIN, SIMILAR. YOU HEARD THIS MENTIONED. THIS IS OUR TRADES ADVISORY BOARD CCR. THIS WAS ALSO SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5.

IN ADDITION WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 BACK IN APRIL. THIS ONE REQUESTED THE CREATION OF A TRADES ADVISORY BOARD TO SERVE AS A WORKER-CENTERED ADVISORY BOARD, I THINK THAT WAS THE KEY IN THE LAP LANGUAGE OF E REQUEST. TO HELP ENSURE PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS BENEFIT NOT ONLY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT CERTAINLY THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND ALL INVOLVED IN THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SO, ASKED US TO LOOK AT MAYBE LAUNCHING, CREATE THE ADVISORY BOARD A ONE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON CITY CONSTRUCTION TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS THAT. AND THEN CREATING A PUBLIC COMPLIANCE BOARD IF WE DO THIS TO LOOK AT PUBLIC COMPLIANCE ON THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. WE ALSO WENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE. THIS ONE WENT TWICE. WE HAD TO CLARIFY SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE CCR AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.

IN THE CCR, IT RECOMMENDED, ATTACHMENT A, THE STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY BOARD THAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE CCR, TO GET US STARTED. THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ON WHETHER THERE WAS -- IT WAS TRULY AN ADVISORY BOARD OR IT WAS MAYBE A BOARD WITH LEGAL AUTHORITY. THAT WAS REALLY ALL DISCUSSED, WRESTLED THROUGH.

WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WORKING WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE CCR.

SO, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS CLEARLY AN ADVISORY BOARD EXAMPLE MAKEUP.

IT DID GIVE US SOME DIRECTION. AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD IN DISCUSSION WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, WHICH WILL BE MY RECOMMENDATION, THIS WILL BE OUR LAUNCHING POINT.

SO I DID WANT TO THROW UP HERE, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED ONE OF THE SPEAKERS -- IT WAS ALSO NOTED IN THE CCR THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF JURISDICTIONS, RIGHT UP FRONT, THAT HAVE A SIMILAR TYPE OF BOARD. ONE IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS BOARD, THEY DEVELOPED A MISSION AND PURPOSE. I PUT THEM ON THE SCREEN, 13 MEMBERS.

AND PROTECTING COMMUNITIES, WORKERS, AND BUSINESSES, WHETHER IT'S DURING HEALTH EMERGENCIES, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARDS, PROTECTION ON THE JOB, ALL THAT STUFF THERE.

AND CITY OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, HAS A WORKERS RIGHTS COMMISSION.

THEY DEVELOPED A MISSION AND PURPOSE EXPLORING ISSUES, WORKERS RIGHTS, WORKER PAY, BENEFITS, ETC., WORKERS' CONDITIONS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

A 13-MEMBER BOARD. IT JUST SO HAPPENS THEY'RE BOTH 13 MEMBERS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO SHOOT FOR THAT. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS -- I PUT THIS UP HERE TO SAY IT'S IMPORTANT. A COUPLE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID IF WE GO FORWARD WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR, BRING BACK TO YOU A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT THE MISSION, PURPOSE, AND GUARDRAILS SHOULD BE. WE DO THAT WITH MOST OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

THEY HAVE A MISSION AND PURPOSE. SO WE WOULD DEVELOP THAT WITH THE GROUP.

I THREW THIS UP HERE TO REMIND EVERYBODY. WE DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW THAT TALKS ABOUT LABOR PROTECTION, WAGE THEFT, ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS.

SO I THINK I'M JUST REPEATING MYSELF THERE. AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I'LL JUST MENTION. WE DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE GUIDELINES FROM THE EDD OFFICE. IF WE DO ISSUE SOME ECONOMIC INCENTIVES THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS IN OUR CURRENT POLICY, PREVAILING WAGE REPORTING, SAFETY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, LOCAL HIRE REQUIREMENTS. THOSE ARE INITIATED.

MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THOSE BEFORE. WE ESTABLISHED THOSE THROUGH BRENDA AND HER TEAM. WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE THERE. SO, AGAIN, MY STAFF RECOMMENDATION HERE, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, WORK ON WHAT THIS TRADES ADVISORY BOARD COULD AND SHOULD LOOK LIKE, AND BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE -- I'LL SAY IT OUT LOUD.

IT REALLY SHOULD BE ONE GROUP TACKLING THESE ISSUES. IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE SIMILAR ISSUES IN TERMS OF THEY'RE DIFFERENT, BUT THEY'RE IN THE SAME BALLPARK.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THE GROUP BE ESTABLISHED AND THEN WE TACKLE THESE ISSUES.

MAYBE THE SAME GROUP THAT TACKLES THE TRANSPORTATION ITEM FOR THE LABOR COMPLIANCE ORDINANCE, THAT'S THE GENERAL THOUGHT. BUT I'M OPEN TO THOSE COMMENTS

[00:35:03]

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MIKE. CAN I GET -- TO HAVE DISCUSSION, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ITEMS 2 AND 3? AND DO I NEED TO SEPARATE THEM, OR CAN WE TAKE THEM TOGETHER?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER WE WANT THE ONE BOARD. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

SO, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ITEME PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER GROUP CONSISTING OF INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES TO FURTHER ELEVATE AN APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENT POLICY FOR COSA CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS AND THE TRADE ADVISORY BOARD?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE CAN BEGIN DISCUSSION. I'M GOING TO GO FIRST. AS CHAIR, AND THEN I WANT TO PREFACE THIS. WE'LL HAVE GO AROUND, TEN MINUTES THE FIRST ROUND FOR THE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO UNPACK HERE.

BUT LET ME LAY EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS BOARD, THIS COUNCILMEMBER D THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE COME.

IF WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH A NEW COMMITTEE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS DONE RIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS AND WATCHED MIKE DO THIS JOB AND OTHER ASPECTS.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS SOME THINGS SUNSET, SOME THINGS COME BACK. WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A LOT OF WORK COMING TO EWDC AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE WHAT I LIKE TO CALL A WORKING BOARD, OR COMMITTEE, A WORKING ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS REALLY GOING TO LOOK PAST MY FOUR YEARS AND AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE WITH CONSTRUCTION HERE. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS, MIKE, IN BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS. BECAUSE IN TERMS OF GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS, I THINK FOR SAN ANTONIO MOVING FORWARD SHOULD BE THAT WE CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS A MODEL FOR US NATIONALLY. THAT WHEN PEOPLE GET THOSE PRESENTATIONS AND THEY SEE CITY OF DURHAM, COUNTY OF HARRIS, THAT THEY SEE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALSO IN THAT ASPECT.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KIND OF SET FORTH AS WE DO THIS. WE HAVE TWO -- WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CCRS HERE TO DISCUSS AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW IN THE QUEUE. BECAUSE I SIT IN GOVERNANCE I KNOW WHAT'S IN THE CUE AND IS -- QUEUE AND IS COMING DOWN THIS WAY.

THE ONE THING IN TERMS OF GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS IS ONE, MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT ADVISORY ROLE IS. AND IF WE ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE MORE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, HOW DO WE DO THAT. AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

BECAUSE AS MIKE KNOWS THIS, WE DO THIS THROUGH -- PARTIALLY THROUGH UDC WHEN HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE OTHER GROUP. SO HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS. THE OTHER IS THE LEGAL CONTEXT.

I'M VERY PLEASED WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY TEAMS, BECAUSE THEY WORK VERY HARD NOT TO GET US INTO TROUBLE, AND MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT LEAVING ANYBODY OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.

THE OTHER THING IS I THINK WE NEED TO ELIMINATE REDUNDANCY. THERE ARE SOME SLIDES THAT MIKE BROUGHT UP THAT SAYS WE ALREADY COVER THAT. WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT OR WE CAN REINFORCE THAT, OR WE CAN CREATE OUR OWN POLICY.

THE OTHER ASPECT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IS UNDERSTANDING WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO GO TO THE STATE. AND IT'LL HELP ME IF I CAN GO TO THE STATE AS A CITY WITH AN AGENDA, WITH BOTH MY LABOR UNIONS AND MY ASSOCIATIONS AND CONTRACTOR AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS WORKING FOR POLICY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS WE BUILD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT US TO LOOK FOR THAT'S IN THE FUTURE. WHAT I THINK WE CAN DO WITH AN ADVISORY BOARD LIKE THIS. HERE'S ONE THING WHEN I TALK ABOUT A WORKING ADVISORY BOARD AS YOU TAKE THIS TO THE STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

YES, I WANT TO HEAR YOUR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS. BUT AS CITY COUNCIL, AS WE GO AROUND THIS COMMITTEE, I NEED TO HEAR YOUR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS ALSO.

IS ONE, I EXPECT SAN ANTONIO SOLUTIONS. I EXPECT SOLUTIONS THAT FIT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH YOU UNDERSTAND IS TODAY, IT IS 45°. WE ARE ALL BUNDLED UP.

TOMORROW IT COULD BE 75° AND WE'RE THERE. UNDERSTANDING THAT, OUR HEAT WAVES, OUR RAIN DAYS, OUR FLOODING POSSIBILITIES AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WHEN WE ARE CONSTRUCTING THINGS. I NEED SAN ANTONIO SOLUTIONS. THE OTHER IS I NEED -- IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE REGISTERED PREP APPRENTICE THAT THE UNIONS ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED, I NEED TO

[00:40:01]

I NEED TO SEE THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTOR, THE UNITED BROTHERHOOD OR OF CARPENTERS, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, AND ORNAMENTAL IRON WORKERS, AND THE UNITED STEEL WORKERS. I NEED TO SEE THOSE UNION MEMBERS HERE. BECAUSE THOSE ARE ON -- THOSE ARE -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WORKING PEOPLE IN -- GROWING AND BUILDING, I AM NOT GOING TO EXPECT THEM TO COME INTO A FOUR-HOUR MEETING. THIS IS WHY I WANT TO GET THE STAKEHOLDERS TO GET IT RIGHT.

BECAUSE IF I'M GOING TO ASK WORKERS THAT SPEND AN 8-10 HOUR DAY OUT ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE, GETTING THINGS DONE, AND THEN YOU ASK THEM TO COME INTO A TWO-HOUR MEETING AND WE JUST TALK IN CIRCLES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. IT'S THE SAME ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE. IF I ASK YOU TO SEND A FOREMAN IN TO TELL ME WHAT THE WORKERS I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE WORKERS, BUT I CAN DO THAT HAVING OFFICE HOURS, ALSO.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REPRESENTATION IS WE WANT.

AND I CAN GIVE YOU SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, BUT I'M NOT.

BECAUSE LEGAL'S HERE. BUT THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO SEE WHERE I'M LIKE, WHERE IF THE WORKER HAD COME TO ME SOONER AND SAID THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK HERE BECAUSE OF X, Y, AND Z, WE COULD HAVE MADE THOSE CHANGES. SO I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.

BUT I NEED EVERY STAKEHOLDER AT THE TABLE. BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY IS A UNION MEMBER. AND I NEED NOT TO WASTE THEIR TIME.

AND WE HAVE HAD -- MIKE, YOU CAN ATTEST TO THAT. WE HAVE HAD COMMITTEES THAT HAVE COME IN AND HAVE MET FOR WAY TOO LONG WHEN THE QUESTION I ASKED THEM WAS, YOU KNOW, IS FLOODING A PROBLEM. AND WE WENT IN CIRCLES ON THAT. SO, I REALLY THINK THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS RIGHT, BUT WE NEED EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE.

AND I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO SIT HERE, WHO ARE ABOUT TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS WITH ME. I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM WITH BRENDA, ALEX, AND EVERYBODY THAT HAS HELPED TO PUT THIS EFFORT FORTH. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU -- TERRY HAS AUTHORED A LOT OF THE CCRS. YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW WHAT IS COME THAT WE WANT THIS ADVISORY BOARD TO TAKE A LOOK AT. THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IN TERMS OF YOUR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS. I'M FULLY HAPPY SENDING THIS OUT TO MIKE AND HAVE HIM BRING THE STAKEHOLDERS. BUT WHEN WE GET INTO THE ACTUAL BOARD, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING, I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE THEIR TIME IN THE MEETING.

I WANT IT TO BE CLEAR. I BELIEVE THAT A MEETING CAN BE DONE WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO HOURS, IF CLEARLY STATING THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. AND THE CITY CLERK WILL BE HAPPY, WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY GO THROUGH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AS WELL.

THANK Y'ALL FOR ENTERTAINING ME. I'LL GO AROUND. YOU HAVE TEN MINUTE.

MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

WE KNOW THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND WITH ONE SMALL BUT LARGE PROJECT, PROJECT MARVEL, THE SPORTS DISTRICT IS NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS OF PUBLICLY BACKED INVESTMENT. THAT'S JUST DOWNTOWN.

WE STILL HAVE THE 2017 BOND, THE 2022 BOND, AND CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE 2027 BOND.

AND THESE ARE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS THAT DESERVE HIGH-QUALITY WORK AND A LONG-LASTING PRODUCT.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BONDS OR LARGE-SCALE INVESTMENTS, THE CONCERN I HEAR FROM SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS IS WILL IT BE DONE ON TIME AND WILL FOLKS HAVE TO GO BACK OUT TO RECONSTRUCT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TWO COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS, WHEN WE HIRE AND FOLKS GO THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, THE DATA SHOWS THAT IT'S HIGHER-QUALITY WORK, BETTER WAGES, AND MORE LONGEVITY IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF PRODUCT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE QUALITY JOBS THAT PROVIDE UPWARD MOBILITY, OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE WITHIN THE RANKS, AND, OF COURSE, ENSURE THAT THEIR FAMILIES H HAVE AN EARNING TO GO HOME WITH AND SPEND IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY. WITH THAT, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR BOTH LABOR AND INDUSTRY WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT

[00:45:05]

AND I'M GOING TO POINT TO SOME OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL BOARDS THAT MIKE SHANNON HAS LED.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION. THAT WAS LED THROUGH A BOARD.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE AUTO METAL RECYCLING ENHANCEMENT. THAT CODE WAS UNDER MIKE WITH STAKEHOLDERS FROM BOTH INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY WORKING TOWARDS A PRODUCT THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AT COUNCIL. SO, THAT'S MY GOAL AND EXPECTATION HERE.

I KNOW MIKE HAS THE EXPERIENCE IN LEADING AND PROVIDING RESULTS IN TERMS OF POLICY.

AND THESE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUESTS DID COME FROM OPEN OFFICE HOURS AND SPEAKING TO LABOR FOLKS AND HERE WE ARE TODAY TAKING ACTION ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH SAN ANTONIO CONSTITUENTS. SO, AT ITS CORE, THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BEING INCLUSIVE OF ALL INDUSTRY FOLKS AND, OF COURSE, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT. WHEN OTHER CITY COUNCILS ARE GIVEN EXAMPLES OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BEING THAT CITY THAT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE AND THAT'S WHAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS EXPECT AS WELL. SO, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON BOTH ITEMS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU, SIMILAR TO THE RECYCLING TASK FORCE WHERE WE CONVENED ON WHO THE STAKEHOLDERS COULD BE FOR THAT COMMITTEE. AND THEN OF COURSE I TRUST THE FORMULA. I WOULD RECOMMEND -- YOU'VE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY IN TERMS OF HOW TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF BOTH LABOR AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO GET TOWARDS A SHARED GOAL. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ROBUST DISCUSSION, BUT ULTIMATELY TAKING ACTION TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.

SO, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORKFORCE LABOR WHO'S HERE TODAY AND, OF COURSE INDUSTRY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO UPDATES AS THIS MOVES ALONG THE PROCESS AND, OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO SET UP MEETINGS IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED AND/OR MISSING. AND I ALSO AGAIN, TO LAND THE PLANE, ALSO EXPECT THAT IT'S A BOARD THAT PRODUCES RESULTS. I KNOW AS A FACILITATOR, YOU CAN ONLY FACILITATE SO MUCH.

WE DO HAVE A ROBUST COMMITTEE THAT CAN HELP SHAPE WHAT COUNCIL DOES IN TERMS OF OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. SO, THANK YOU, MIKE. I'LL PROBABLY CHIME BACK IN IN A

BIT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THE BACK END. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE OFFICE WHEN WE WERE DOING PART OF THAT WORK AND BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT FOLKS WERE TALKING TO, MAKING SURE WE HAD FOLKS AT THE TABLE TO MAKE CLEAR IN THE POLICY ITSELF, PARTICULARLY WITHIN -- BOTH OF THEM.

BUT I'M REVIEWING THE ADVISORY BOARD CCR RIGHT NOW AND ATTACHMENT A, WHILE IT NEEDED SOME EDITS IN TERMS OF SOME COMPONENTS THERE, OVERALL THE GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE VERY CLEAR, MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR PROJECTS DELIVER QUALITY BENEFITS, QUALITY PAY, QUALITY WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS. AND DELIVERING THE PROJECTS IN THE SAME TIME, WHETHER IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE OR BUILDINGS, OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THAT WE ARE DELIVERING ON, WE HAVE THOSE FOLKS AT THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING WAYS WITHIN OUR OWN POLICY, OUR OWN FRAMEWORK AND CONTRACTS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES OF WAGE THEFT OR PAID SICK LEAVE, OR CONCERNS OF QUALITY PAY AND BENEFITS, AND ALL THE SAME WITHIN EVERY LEVEL OF CONTRACTING. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART TO ME. THE OTHER COMPONENT FOR BOTH, THE ADVISORY BOARD AND FOR THE ENHANCING LOCAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES COMPONENT, WORKING WITH OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, WITH MIKE AND HIS OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, AND OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS, COLLEGES OR OTHER ENTITIES THAT DO THIS KIND OF WORK, SEEING WHAT WAYS THEY CAN ALIGN WITH THIS WORK SO WE ARE ALMOST STEERING THE SHIP. IT'S HELPFUL WHEN WE HAVE THE CITY BE A FACILITATOR. EVEN THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE, WE ARE OFTEN TALKING ABOUT WAYS -- NOT FOR THE CITY TO WEIGH IN SO WE ARE PRESCRIBING ACTIONS, BUT WE ARE BRINGINGPING FOLKS IN TO ADDRESE ISSUES. AND THEY ALSO ARE SEEING THESE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERTS, WHETHER IT'S WORKERS OR INDUSTRY.

IT'S CRITICAL WE HAVE THOSE FOLKS AT THE TABLE TO ENSURE WE ARE DOING THIS IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE. WHEN WE DO THINGS WITHOUT IT, IT BECOMES TOUGH.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR BOTH OF THESE CCRS HAVING THAT STAKEHOLDER GROUP IN MIND AT THE TABLE WHEN

[00:50:02]

I THINK IT WAS ON SLIDE 4 THERE WERE POINTS ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP, WHERE IT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR. I WANTED TO ASK, WHO WERE THOSE WITH AND HOW MANY FOLKS WERE

TRAINED THROUGH THOSE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS? >> THE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS, WE HAVE A ROBUST NUMBER OF PRE-APPRENTICES, SEVERAL HUNDRED IN VARIOUS AREAS SUCH AS PLUMBING, ELECTRICITY, PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, CONNECTIONS TO LONE STAR TRADES CONSTRUCTION TRAINING IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> GALVAN: GOT IT. HOW MANY OF THOSE FOLK WERE HIRED?

>> 47. >> GALVAN: DURING THE APPRENTICESHIP AS WELL?

DOES THAT INCLUDE WITH THE FOUR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS? >> WE HAVE FEW REGISTERED

APPRENTICES. >> GALVAN: OKAY. GOT IT.

THANK YOU. AND THEN ALSO, ON SLIDE 4, THERE WAS A POINT ABOUT SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE HIRED THROUGHOUT READY TO WORK OVERALL IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE STARTING WAGES ARE FOR ELECTRIC, IBW?

>> IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OVERALL FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS IT WAS $18 AN HOUR FOR CONSTRUCTION. WE CAN GET YOU MORE SPECIFICS ON EACH OF THOSE EMPLOYERS

DIRECTLY. >> GALVAN: THAT WOULD BE PERFECT.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL IN THE PRESENTATION THE LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, BUT I WANTED TO ASK WHERE THERE ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH CHICAGO, DENVER, OR AUSTIN ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS, SOME OF THE DRAWBACKS OR BENEFITS, SOME OF

THE RESULTS OVERALL? >> YEAH, NOT YET. CERTAINLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE GET THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP TOGETHER, THAT'S SOME WORK THAT MY STAFF WILL DO, NOT JUST TO GIVE THEM THE ORDINANCES AND SOME OF THE WRITTEN STUFF, BUT WE'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OF THOSE. SO WE TYPICALLY WILL HAVE A TEAMS CALL OR PHONE CALL WITH THOSE. LESSONS LEARNED, WHAT'S WORKING WELL, WHY DID IT HAPPEN, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THEY SEE. WE WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP SO THEY KNOW. AS WE THINK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO SOLUTIONS WE TRY TO MASSAGE THAT MOVING FORWARD. BUT THAT'LL BE PART OF THE NEXT STEP.

>> GALVAN: GREAT. ONCE THE GROUP IS FORMED, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THOSE CONVERSATIONS COULD HAPPEN WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP SO FOLKS CAN ASK THOSE QUESTIONS DIRECTLY WITH THE FOLKS WHO HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. I'M INTERESTED IN THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL CONSTRUCTION COMPONENTS. I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND THE RESULTS. IT FEEL LIKE THERE COULD BE SOME BARRIERS.

BUT WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW EFFECTIVE IT HAS BEEN AND WHAT KIND OF RESULTS HAVE COME

FROM IT FOR DENVER AND AT LARGE FOR ALL THESE. >> SURE.

>> GALVAN: FOR THE LAST THING ON THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, FOR BOTH OF THEM, DO WE KNOW WHO WOULD MAKE THAT UP, OR WE COME BACK AROUND IN ONE-ON-ONES WITH US TO FIGURE OUT WHO WE'RE

LOOKING FOR? >> RIGHT NOW IT'S OPEN. BUT AS YOU CAN TELL, THERE'S A

LOT OF INTERESTED PARTIES. >> GALVAN: ABSOLUTELY. >> THE KEY ISSUE IS TO CREATE ONE THAT IS DIVERSE AND BALANCED SO WE CAN HEAR FROM EVERYONE, SO THEY CAN WEIGH IN ON HOW WE DEVELOP EITHER THE TRADES ADVISORY BOARD OR AN APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENT.

SO, RIGHT NOW I JUST HAVE AN IDEA OF 10-20. THAT WAS ASKED IN GOVERNANCE.

WE'VE DONE SOME AS SMALL AS TEN AND SOME AS LARGE AS A LITTLE OVER TWENTY.

THAT'S THE SWEET SPOT. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN AND ANY OF YOU ALL TO SAY I THINK THESE ARE THE ONES I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE ON THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP. THE OTHER KEY IMPORTANT PIECE IS WHEN I HAVE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, THEY'RE OPEN TO EVERYBODY. THEY'RE NOT -- EVEN IF YOU DON'T SIT ON ONE OF THE 10-20 SEATS, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE A LOT OF PARTICIPATION.

WE USUALLY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. THAT'LL ALL BE SHAKING OUT AS WE

START. >> GALVAN: PERFECT. ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO CONNECT WITH MY OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOME POINTS THERE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE POINTS ABOUT BUILDING TRADES WHO AREN'T PRESENT TODAY. I TRUST THE AFL-CIO WILL BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE ON THIS STAKEHOLDER TASK FORCE.

I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. THANK YOU, CHAIR.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT FORWARD. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE FOCUSED SO MUCH, CHAIR, ON WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE LOCALLY IN SAN ANTONIO.

[00:55:03]

I THINK THE APPRENTICESHIPS -- IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE THIS COMING BACK.

IT'S AN OLD TRIED AND TRUE WAY OF DOING THINGS. AND IT CAN BE EXPANDED INTO A LOT OF INDUSTRIES. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING TO OUR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, THE BUSINESSES.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERYTHING. WE DON'T WANT TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT HEM AND THEIR ABILITY TO DO BUSINESS HERE, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD AS A CITY. THERE IS A SHARED INTEREST IN DELIVERING WELL FOR SAN ANTONIO AND FOR OUR WORKFORCE, AND BEING ON TIME. AND THEY TAKE ON A HUGE PART OF THE RISK. SO WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WHILE WE'RE SERVING OUR WORKFORCE AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S . . . THAT THEIR WAGES ARE FAIR, THAT THEIR LABOR PRACTICES ARE ALL WORKABLE, THAT WE'RE ALSO MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRY ITSELF. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE ■WE CANTAKETHISAND REALLY INCLUDE EVERYONE AT THE TABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING EVERYONE'S NEEDS REALLY WELL. SO I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. LET ME GO OVER TO THIS ONE.

SO, DO WE KNOW THE COST IMPACT OF PUTTING THE 35% APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENT ON

OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OVER 10 MILLION? >> WE DON'T.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP -- THE COST OF ANYTHING WE DO IS ALWAYS PART OF THE DISCUSSION. AND SO I THINK THAT'LL BE ALL WORKED OUT, WHERE IT'S 35% OR ANOTHER NUMBER. IS IT PHYSICALLY DO-ABLE AND WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE TO THE PROJECT SPECIFIC, OVERALL, ETC. SO I EXPECT THAT'LL BE A GOOD PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> SPEARS: THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS LIE, IS ON COST. I K CARE A LOT ABOUT WHERE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS GO. I'M GLAD THAT -- I KNOW YOU WELL ENOUGH NOW TO KNOW THAT YOU'D BE LOOKING AT THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DEEP DIVE ON THAT.

I WAS THINKING A LOT ABOUT READY TO WORK AS WELL. SO, WOULD WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FULFILL A LOT OF THE APPRENTICESHIPS THERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN PUSHING THIS FORWARD? IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN EXPAND ON READY TO WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY?

>> WE ABSOLUTELY WANT MORE APPRENTICES THROUGH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.

APPRENTICESHIPS ARE THE GOLD STANDARD FOR WORKFORCE. PARTICIPANTS GET TRAINED AND

EARNING AND BENEFITS. >> SPEARS: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN MEET THAT CAPACITY?

>> CAN WE MEET THE 35% CAPACITY THROUGH READY TO WORK? NO, NOT READY TO WORK ALONE.

WE ONLY HAVE A VERY FEW THAT ARE APPRENTICES NOW. >> SPEARS: WOULD THERE BE A

PATH FORWARD TO INCREASE YOUR IMPACT ON THE CAPACITY? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SPEARS: OKAY. IF WE CAN LOOK AT THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, TOO, AS WE'RE DOING THIS FURTHER ANALYSIS. OKAY. THEN ALSO, WHAT IS OUR STAFFING AND ADMIN COSTS WITH THE LABOR COMPLIANCE OFFICE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE APPRENTICESHIP

PROGRAM? >> THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE LOOK AT.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT AT THE GOVERNANCE.

IF WE CREATE A NEW ADVISORY BOARD, CITY STAFF GENERALLY PROVIDES SOME SUPPORT.

THAT WOULD ADD SOME STAFFING LEVELS. WHETHER WE COULD ABSORB THAT WITH OUR CURRENT STAFFING OR NOT, DEPENDING ON THE SCOPE, HOW OFTEN THEY MEET, THE NEEDS.

PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE NEEDS GETTING IT UP AND RUNNING. SO WE WILL PUT THAT PACKAGE TOGETHER, THAT COST ESTIMATE WITH WHATEVER WE COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION.

THIS TRADES ADVISORY BOARD WOULD NEED X AMOUNT OF FTES TO STAND UP, AND THE SAME ON THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. IF WE NEED MORE COMPLIANCE STAFF BECAUSE WE'RE CHECKING MORE THINGS ON EVERY CONTRACT, OR COULD WE ABSORB THAT WITH OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS.

IT WOULD KIND OF DEPEND ON WHERE WE LAND. BUT I'LL BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH MY STAFF SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS WE CAN TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS. THIS WILL COST MORE, THIS WILL COST LESS, AT THE STAFFING AND ADMIN LEVEL. SO THAT'S ALREADY SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WE'LL BE DISCUFF. DISCUSSING. A LITTLE BIT OF IT CAME UP AT THE GOVERNANCE. IT'LL BE SOMETHING WE BRING BACK TO YOU.

>> SPEARS: I NEGLECTED TO MENTION OUR FIREFIGHTERS UNION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AS WELL.

[01:00:03]

AT? >> NOT RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR MISSION, PURPOSE, GOALS, AND WHAT WE GIVE THEM. LIKE ANY OF OUR BOARDS WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME METRICS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME -- I THINK THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID, IT HAS TO BE A BOARD THAT DOES. IT PROVIDES GOOD ADVICE TO THE POLICY-MAKERS AND STAFF.

I DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT NOW. BUT WE'LL HAVE TO BUILD THAT IN, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE -- I DON'T THINK THE INTENT IS TO JUST CREATE A BOARD THAT MEETS AND NOTHING GETS DONE.

SO, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO DEVELOP THAT. THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION IN A FEW MONTHS, OR IT MAY BE JUST AS PART OF A NEW BOARD, THEIR FIRST QUARTER OR FIRST YEAR THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP SOMETHING AND BRING BACK TO YOU ALL.

>> SPEARS: OKAY. >> BUT I AGREE WITH YOUR CONCEPT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE METRICS FOR

THE BOARD IF WE COME UP WITH IT. >> SPEARS: I NEED A LITTLE EXTRA CLARITY.

SO, THE ADVISORY BOARD WILL BE ADVISORY IN NATURE. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY

DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY, CORRECT? >> YEAH.

LIKE OTHER ADVISORY BOARDS WHERE EITHER STAFF AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU ALL AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY HAVE A TOPIC THAT'S IN THEIR WHEELHOUSE.

WE WOULD ASK THEM TO TACKLE AND BRING A RECOMMENDATION OUT OF THAT BOARD, OR OUT OF THAT ADVISORY BOARD. SO, WHATEVER TOPIC WE GIVE THEM IN THEIR LANES.

COUNCILWOMAN? >> IF WE NEED TO PAUSE HER TIME. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER A STAKEHOLDER GROUP. A STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO CREATE A NEW BOARD, WHICH WOULD POSSIBLY BE A TRADE ADVISORY BOARD WHICH IN OUR CONVERSATION HERE, WE'RE HEARING -- WHAT I'M COMMUNICATING THAT INCLUDES THE UNION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE CCR AND OUR CONTRACTING ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS. FROM THAT BOARD, WE WOULD TASK THEM, FROM ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OR TRANSPORTATION, WITH GIVING US ADVICE ON SOMETHING. SO RIGHT NOW, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP IS JUST COMING TOGETHER TO SAY THIS IS WHAT THIS BOARD WOULD DO. WE HAVE NOT FORMED THE BOARD, BECAUSE WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, MIKE CAN SAY, WITH THIS NEW WORK, DO WE HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER APPOINT EACH MEMBER OR DO WE HAVE SOME COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTEES, SOME AT LARGE, WHICH WOULD BE CHOSEN BY THIS COMMITTEE TO BREAK VOTES, BASICALLY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TASKING THEM TO DO, FOR MIKE TO DO, IS TO BRING HOME A STAKEHOLDER GROUP.

SO, WE CAN GET IN HERE. AS WE GET THE TIMELINE, WE CAN GET IN HERE AND DECIDE.

THEY CAN SAY WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THIS AUTHORITY TO SAY NO. AND WE CAN SAY NO, I JUST WANT THEM ADVISORY. OR WE CAN CHANGE THAT. BUT WHAT WE NEED IS THEIR OPINIONS. AND THE BEAUTY OF BRINGING THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER IS THEY KNOW WHAT THE TRENDS ARE COMING. AND AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED, THEY KNOW WHAT A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS GOING TO BRING IN TERMS OF WORK, AND WHAT COMPETITION IT'S GOING TO BRING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE URGENCY IS THAT WE GET TOGETHER. AND THE OTHER IS MAKING SURE THAT WE SHORE UP THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE WORKERS LOCALLY TO DO THIS. SO, THAT IS WHY. AND I HOPE THAT HELPS KIND OF

CLARIFY. >> SPEARS: IT DOES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DO APPRECIATE THAT. THAT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND MORE.

THESE ARE JUST THE QUESTIONS I WAS KIND OF THINKING THROUGH, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

BUT THAT HELPS A LOT TO UNDERSTAND THE NEXT STEPS BEFORE WE GET ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD. SO. WELL, THEN, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU B BRING BACK, MIKE. I APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS A MUCH-NEEDED BOARD, GIVEN WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON, AND A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR BUSINESSES

HERE LOCALLY. SO, THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: MIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT AS SOON AS YOU CAN GET IT.

ALEX, YOU CAN SEND IT TO THIS COMMITTEE IN AN EMAIL, IS ANTICIPATED COST.

[01:05:02]

WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AN APPLICATION PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DID IT WITH THE WORKERS.

BUT I WOULD LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO TO BE, KIND OF, THE SUBCOMMITTEE LEADING ON THIS.

AND THEN SHE WOULD CONSULT WITH ME. SO I REALLY WANT YOU TO BE THE POINT OF CONTACT NOT JUST WITH OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BECAUSE YOU ARE ALSO POINT OF CONTACT, BUT WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT MAY HAVE -- MAY WANT SOME INPUT ON THIS.

THIS IS THE STAKEHOLDERS COMING TOGETHER, TELLING US WHAT WOULD WORK.

I THINK WHAT WE HEARD FROM COUNCILMAN GALVAN AND WHAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STRESS IS -- WHICH SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD AND HAVEN'T -- IS VERTICAL IS KEY. WE NEED TO START LOOKING ABOUT GOING VERTICAL. AND I NEED TO HEAR FROM BOTH GROUPS THAT SPOKE WHAT ARE THE TRENDS THAT ARE COMING, WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR AS WE SEE CONSTRUCTION HERE NOT JUST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN TEXAS IN PARTICULAR. SO, I THINK IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS. IF YOU COULD GET US AN EMAIL BEFORE THE MEETING SO IF WE NEED TO MEET -- IF WE NEED TO AGENDIZE NEW BUSINESS FOR OUR NEXT EWDC MEETING. BUT DEFINITIVELY BY FEBRUARY I NEED AN UPDATE.

I NEED YOU BACK HERE WITH AN UPDATE WITH AT LEAST A COST AND AT LEAST A PRELIMINARY TIMELINE.

I KNOW YOU GAVE US A TIMELINE OF I THINK QUARTER 32026? >> YEAH, I THINK THE IDEA WAS, I'VE WORKED ON A FEW OF THESE IN THE PAST. I DON'T WANT TO SET US UP FOR A YEAR-LONG STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING. BUT I THINK IN A FEW MONTHS WE SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF RECOMMENDATIONS. IF FOR SOME REASON WE NEED MORE TIME, SOMETIMES WE COME BACK WITH AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE MIGHT BE DISCUSSING A LAST COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE WOULD BRING IN THE NEXT MONTH.

BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A TIMEFRAME THAT I THINK THIS IS A 3-6 MONTH PROCESS, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY BE BACK WITH SOME INFORMATION NEXT MONTH AND IF NOT FEBRUARY, WITH COST, TIMELINE. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD IS AT.

SO -- TAKING SOME OF THIS FEEDBACK TODAY WILL HELP ME FIRM THAT UP.

>> VIAGRAN: BEFORE I SEE IF MY COUNCILMEMBERS WANT ANOTHER GO-ROUND, I KNOW WE HAVE UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT CODE COMMITTEES THAT WE SOMETIMES ACTIVATE AND THEY HAVE ATTENDANCE ISSUES.

THIS IS WHAT I WANT THE STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERSTAND. IF YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE ON THE STAKEHOLDERS. ATTENDANCE IS GOING TO BE KEY FOR THIS COMMITTEE.

SO, I DO WANT TO SEE WHERE WE HAVE PROBLEMS IN OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE NOT MEETING THEIR ATTENDANCE LEVEL AND NOT HITTING QUORUM, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO FORM A NEW BOARD OR COMMITTEE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE -- BOARD OR COMMISSION -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING THEM IN ATTENDANCE AND HAVING THAT REPRESENTATION.

AND THAT IS WHERE I NEED THE HONESTY. IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY -- IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM THE WORKER THAT'S THERE EVERY DAY AND SUPERVISING A TEAM, WE CAN ONLY HAVE AN HOUR MEETING. OR YOU HAVE TO BE -- I NEED TO HEAR THAT, BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO GET DISCOURAGED AND THEN NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.

SO I THINK THAT'S KEY. AND THE OTHER ISSUE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT -- BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO LOOK AT THE SILOS. WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENERAL CONTRACTING AND OUR CONTRACTORS IS WHAT THE CITY HAS EVENTUALLY IN TERMS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DISCUSS REGARDING THE BONDING. BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG HINDRANCE ON SOME OF OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT BIG PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO NEED TO TALK ABOUT IN THIS TRADE ADVISORY BOARD.

AND ALL OF YOUR INPUT WAS INSIGHTFUL. ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT CAME AND SPOKE. BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, TRADES ADVISORY, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, WHAT'S REALLY WORKING, WHO IS BUILDING SAN ANTONIO AND WHO WE NEED T ON THAT BOARD. THANK YOU, STAKEHOLDERS, FOR COMING.

DOES ANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WANT TO CHIME IN AGAIN? ALL RIGHT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES FOR ITEM 2 AND 3. IT'S GOING TO BE ONE STAKEHOLDER

GROUP. >> THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 4. ITEM NUMBER 4 --

[01:10:10]

>> ALFRED WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A QUICK INTRO BEFORE HANDING OFF TO HEATHER FROM BIOMEDSA. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH BIOMEDSA. WE'VE HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH BIOMEDSA SINCE FY 2012.

WE CONTRIBUTE IS HUNDRED IS -- O SERVE AS THE BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY LIAISON.

THE BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY IN SAN ANTONIO PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT OVER $8 BILLION A YEAR. AND IN THE HEALTHCARE AND BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY, ONE IN FIVE JOBS IN SAN ANTONIO ARE TIED TO THAT. OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THEM IN BIOMEDSA IS TO HAVE THEM SUPPORT US AS OUTREACH AND EXTENSION OF THE CITY AND TO SUPPORT BIOMED GROWTH. THIS INCLUDES CONDUCTING BUSINESS RETENTION AND OUTREACH GROWTH VISITS. IT ALSO INCLUDES SUPPORTING FOREIGN AND DIRECT INVESTMENT AND ATTRACTION EFFORTS. THEY ALSO DO MARKET RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS AS THE EXPERTS.

AND THEY WILL THIS YEAR BE SUPPORTING THE UPDATE TO THE ECONOMIC STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.

BEFORE I HAND IT OFF, I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS. THEY HAVE CONDUCTED 72 KEY BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH VISITS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES. THEY'VE IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE THEY CAN GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND WORKED WITH THE CITY AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THEM. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED A NUMBER OF DELEGATIONS INTO SAN ANTONIO.

THEY HAVE SHOWED INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WHAT ASSETS EXIST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THEY ARE CREATING AND GROWING AWARENESS OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEY HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED ADVOCACY AND POLICY. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THE PASSAGE OF FUNDING THAT WILL TIE TO SAN ANTONIO AND PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE. AND NOW I WILL HAND IT OFF TO HEATHER.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

BIOMEDSA IS A NONPROFIT. WE ARE THE HUB OF THE LIFE SCIENCES IN SAN ANTONIO, AND YOUR SOURCE FOR ALL EXPERT INFORMATION ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS INDUSTRY AND HOW THIS INDUSTRY THINKS, NOT ONLY FROM MY BACKGROUND OF OVER 25 YEARS OF INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO THOSE OF MY BOARD AS WELL. WE ARE DEDICATED IN OUR MISSION TO GROW THE HEALTHCARE AND BIOSCIENCE SECTOR IN SAN ANTONIO. AND WE SERVE THIS ROLE AS A NEUTRAL CONVENER TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN ORDER TO SOLVE BIG PROBLEMS AND MAKE PROGRESS.

WE DO THIS BY IMPLEMENTING OUR MISSION. WE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE, CATALYZING ACTIONS FOR GROWTH, AND PROMOTING THE REGION AND ALL OF ITS ASSETS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY THAT WE REPRESENT IT IS THE LARGEST ECONOMIC SECTOR IN SAN ANTONIO, CONTRIBUTING OVER $44 BILLION ANNUALLY.

AND IT ALSO PROVIDES THE HIGHEST-PAYING JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL ALL THE WAY TO AS ADVANCED AGREES AS YOU CAN GET. THIS INDUSTRY FOCUSES OR INCLUDES CLINICAL CARE, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND WHAT WE THINK OF TRADITIONAL INDUSTRY, MAKING THINGS AND PROVIDING SERVICES. AND IN SAN ANTONIO, WE ALSO HAVE THE LARGEST MILITARY HEALTH COMPLEX, WHICH ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT PILLARS THAT MAKE UP WHAT WE HAVE HERE. LOOKING AT SUPPORT IN THE BIOMEDICAL CENTER, HIT OR MISS MEETS WITH THE COMPANIES AND FACILITATE SOLUTIONS.

WHILE WE DO THE BUSINESS RETENTIONS VISITS EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALLER MEETINGS TO GET INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PEOPLE'S PAIN POINTS ARE AND AGAIN, MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING THOSE. AN EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE FROM THE LAST YEAR IS A COMPANY LAID OFF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WORKERS.

WE WANTED TO KEEP THOSE WORKERS IN THE SAN ANTONIO ECOSYSTEM SO WE CONNECTED THROUGH THE HR DEPARTMENTS OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THOUSAND THAT COULD HIRE THOSE WORKERS AND WE DID THAT CONNECTION.

THOSE RESUMES WERE TRANSFERRED TO KEEP THOSE JOBS AND THOSE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF WHAT WE DO.

WE ALSO CREATED THE BIO MARKET SA PROGRAM, LOOKING AT WHAT SMALLER COMPANIES NEED IN THE START-UP SPACE, NOT HAVING ACCESS TO COMMERCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES, TRAINING, AS WELL AS SELLING TO HOSPITALS.

WE'VE BEEN FINDING A LOT OF COMPANIES WILL EITHER DISAPPEAR AFTER THEY GET THEIR FDA APPROVAL OR GO TO OTHER REGIONS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS AND HAVE THEIR

[01:15:01]

WE ALSO DO A LOT OF EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE AND HELP THEM GET THE CONNECTIONS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS BIO FEST INVEST, WHICH IS A PITCH COMPETITION OPEN TO TEXAS COMPANIES ONLY FOR PITCHING. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOUNDERS IN SAN ANTONIO IN PARTICULAR WHO DON'T COME FROM MONEY. A LOT OF FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES THAT ARE SATURDAY STARTING COMPANIES AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE CONNECTIONS TO THE INVESTORS.

INVESTORS HERE. SO WE CREATED BIO FEST INVEST TO BRING ACROSS INVESTORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COME AND HEAR THESE COMPANIES AND AS A RESULT OF PITCHING IN THE BIO FEST INVEST COMPETITIONS SINCE IT STARTED IN 2021, START-UPS HAVE RAISED $85 MILLION SINCE PITCHING AND WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. PART OF THE PROCESS IS THEY GET A LOT OF TRAINING THROUGH THE UTSA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER ON HOW TO PITCH AS WELL AS ALL THE CONNECTS AND ALL THAT OTHER GOOD STUFF THAT HAPPENS AT THIS EVENT.

THIS EVENT ISN'T UNDERWRITTEN BY ANY PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.

IT IS REALLY DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT GROWTH AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING TODAY, WORKERS ARE A KEY COMPONENT OF THAT, AND WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TWO YEARS AGO TO PUT OUT THE LIFE SCIENCE CAREER MARKETING BOOKLET IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. IT'S ABOUT 50 PAGES AND IT COMMUNICATES TO HIGH SCHOOL AND ADULT JOB SEEKERS THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ALL THE WAY -- RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL TO ALL THE DIFFERENT ADVANCED DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES AND SALARIES. AND REALLY TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO PICK THIS INDUSTRY BECAUSE THIS IS THE INDUSTRY THAT HAS THE MOST STABLE JOBS FOR SAN ANTONIO.

IT PAZ THE MOST AND HAS THE MOST BENEFITS. IT IS THE MOST RESILIENT SO WE WANT TO REALLY MAKE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES KNOWN TO PEOPLE AS THEY'RE PICKING OUT THEIR CAREERS OR CAREER CHANGES. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS SOMEBODY WITH A ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE CAN GO ON THE CLINICAL TRIALS PATH AND END UP WITH SIX FIGURES RUNNING CLINICAL TRIALS FOR A LARGER ORGANIZATION.

SO THAT CAREER MOBILITY IS POSSIBLE IN THIS INDUSTRY WITH HARD WORK AND JUST THE PASSION OF HELPING PEOPLE WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE. WE ALSO BRING TOGETHER INDUSTRY TO CREATE A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ECOSYSTEM AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE RESULTED OUT OF THAT.

SOME OF THOSE ARE IN LAB SPACE, EITHER COLLECTING THE DATA, THE 8.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF LAB SPACE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO HELPING ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE EXTRA SPACE, TURN THAT INTO SPACE FOR CO-WORKING FOR INDUSTRY.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT WITH ALAMO BIO CENTER WHO HAD EXTRA SPACE AND THEY CREATED A CO-WORKING SPACE WITH DEDICATED LABS THAT DON'T EXIST ELSEWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE PARTICULAR INDUSTRY SEGMENT THAT THEY SUPPORT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ADVOCACY, I WANT TO POINT OUT DPRIT, PROP 14, ONE OF THE KEY ONES THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR. THE REASON IT'S SO IMPORTANT IS YES, THE STATE WILL SPEND $3 BILLION ON DEMENTIA RELATED RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT FOR CORPORATIONS AND THAT IS ALL EXCITING, BUT WHY IT'S PARTICULARLY EXCITING FOR SAN ANTONIO IS WE HAVE THE ONLY NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER IN ALZHEIMER'S IN THE ENTIRE STATE. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT POOL OF MONEY, IT MAKES SENSE THAT MOST OF IT, A GOOD CHUNK OF IT, MAYBE NOT OVER 50%, BUT MAYBE, SHOULD COME TO SAN ANTONIO. AND THAT IS WHY WE PULLED TOGETHER LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO HELP GET THAT OVER THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY FOR SAN ANTONIO. AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HEAR ABOUT -- OF THAT KIND OF CONNECTION, WE HEAR ABOUT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT IS HOW WE HEARD ABOUT THE BIO MANUFACTURING TRAINING PROGRAM THAT IS A STATEWIDE CERTIFICATION BEING RUN OUT OF TEXAS A&M. SAN ANTONIO DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR PROPOSAL THEY WERE ABOUT TO SUBMIT.

WE GOT TOGETHER WITH ALAMO COLLEGES AND GOT THEM ON BOARD SO THEY ARE A PARTNER OF THAT PROGRAM. HERE'S WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR SAN ANTONIO.

AS WE LOOK AT AND GREATER SATX TALKS TO LARGER BIO MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATIONS WHICH IS A VERY GROWING INDUSTRY IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, THOSE COMPANIES ASK FOR WHAT KIND OF TRAINING DO YOU HAVE? AND THE ANSWER PREVIOUSLY FOR SAN ANTONIO WAS NONE. SO IF YOU THINK OF A HUGE GROWING INDUSTRY IN OUR

[01:20:04]

NOW WE WILL, AND THAT IS COMING ONLINE VERY SOON AND THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING FOR FUTURE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND HIGH PAYING JOBS THAT ARE VERY RESILIENT WITH GOOD BENEFITS. PROMOTION IS A KEY THING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM BECAUSE A LOT OF DOLLARS IN THE BIOMEDICAL SPACE ARE FLOWING NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. SO IF WE FOCUS BECAUSE IN OUR OWN CITY, IN OUR OWN REGION, WE WILL LOSE OUT ON A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE RESEARCH DOLLARS AND PROGRESS DO REQUIRE THAT NATIONAL FUNDING EMPHASIS. SO WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE THINKING OF SAN ANTONIO AS A PLACE TO DO THEIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

SO AT BIOMEDSA WE PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES AND OUR ASSETS WE HAVE HERE FROM A TALENT PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS BUSINESS DOLLARS FLOWING INTO THE REGION.

WE DO CREATE THE MARKETING MATERIALS FOR THE INDUSTRY FOR SAN ANTONIO.

YOU CAN SEE PICTURES OF THAT THERE. WE ALSO GO OUT AND PROMOTE IT DIGITALLY AS WELL AS THROUGH EVENTS. A BEEIO WE EVENT IS THE BIO CONVENTION, WHICH IS THE LARGEST BIO TECH CONVENTION IN THE WORLD.

AND WE HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO BOOTH FAIR THAT WE PUT ONLINE LAST YEAR THAT AGAIN, THIS ISN'T UNDERWRITTEN BY ANY LARGE GRANT OR ANY GRANT.

WE PUT THIS TOGETHER IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SAN ANTONIO AND GET THE LEADS THAT ARE HELPFUL FOR OUR CITY AND THE COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE HERE. THIS LAST YEAR WE HAD NEARLY 300 LEADS FROM SUPPORT THROUGH THAT CONFERENCE. AND LASTLY I'LL TALK ABOUT BIOFESTDAYS, WHICH IS A CONCENTRATION OF BIO THEMED EVENTS IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT TWO YEARS NOW. WE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF EVENTS FOR 2025. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT SPOTLIGHT ON TO SAN ANTONIO NATIONALLY AS WELL AS WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THE MORE VISIBILITY THIS ECOSYSTEM HAS, THE MORE DOLLARS THAT WILL FLOW INTO SAN ANTONIO FROM THOSE NATIONAL FUNDING MECHANISMS AS WELL AS A COLLABORATIONS THAT HAPPEN WITH ORGANIZATIONS PUTTING TOGETHER LARGE RESEARCH GRANTS THAT WE WANT TO BE PART OF OR THE INDUSTRY THAT IS NEEDING THEIR RESEARCH DONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO SUPPORT THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEN ULTIMATELY MANUFACTURING. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY HIGH QUALITY, UNIQUE ASSETS IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT IT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS TO COME HERE. AND ONE OF THE KEY ROLES WE PLAY THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT FOR THIS INDUSTRY THAN MAYBE SOME OTHERS IS THAT IT GETS VERY TECHNICAL VERY QUICK, AND OUR TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHO IS DOING WHAT AT A VERY DETAILED LEVEL IS WHAT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO MAKING THOSE RESOURCE CONNECTIONS AND MAKING THOSE DOLLARS FLOW TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

ANY QUESTIONS? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK I WAS AT BIO FEST DAYS. I WAS THERE AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT GETS TECHNICAL REALLY QUICK, BUT WHAT I WANT TO SHARE AND OPEN UP TO THE DISCUSSION, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES THE FIRST ROUND, THREE MINUTES IF YOU NEED A SECOND ROUND. THE ONE THING IS HOW THIS IS CONNECTED TO OUR HEALTH AND OUR LONGEVITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND WHAT I APPRECIATED IS NOW THAT -- BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH ISSUES I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED MORE TO JUST HOW MUCH MEDICINE HAS EXPANDED AND JUST HOW MUCH THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE RESEARCH IS KEY. SO I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY AND FIND A WAY OF COMMUNICATING THAT WHAT BIOMEDSA IS DOING AND WHAT THIS INDUSTRY IS DOING, HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE DAILY LIVES OF THE INDIVIDUALS? AND THAT IS IF YOU GO IN AND YOU GET TESTED FOR A BLOOD COUNT LEVEL, YOU CAN GO IN, THEY CAN CHECK YOUR BLOOD AND BY THE TIME YOU MEET WITH THE DOCTOR THEY HAVE RESULTS. THE OTHER IS THE FACT THAT -- AND THIS IS A HARD CONVERSATION TO HAVE, BUT I HAD SPARK THAT WORKS WITH THE DOJ ON BRAIN DONATIONS COME IN AND TALK TO ME, AND HERE I'M SITTING THERE THINKING, OH, I'M AN ORGAN DONOR SO OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MY BRAIN.

NO, THE WHOLE THING OF TAKING YOUR TISSUES FOR RESEARCH IS DIFFERENT, AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THING IT'S LIKE IF WE WANT THESE INDUSTRIES TO EXPAND, WE NEED TO BE DONATING. NOT JUST OUR ORGANS, BUT HAVE OUR TISSUES DONATED FOR

[01:25:05]

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PRACTICAL LEVEL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE CLINICAL RESEARCHERS ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY AROUND ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER NEUROIO -- NEURO-- KIND OF NEUROTHINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN THEY AGE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGING COMMUNITY HERE AND WE HAVE A MILITARY COMMUNITY HERE AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING TO HAVE ISSUES.

SO WE SHOULD ACTUALLY LET THEM KIND OF PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A CLINICAL RESEARCH OR WHETHER IT'S THROUGH GOING INTO THIS AND BEING PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND NETWORK OF THIS INDUSTRY IS A REAL INTERESTING THING.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO HERE AND THAT WE TAKE IT INTO OUR DISTRICTS AND LET THEM KNOW HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

RICK. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

IS IT HEATHER? >> YES. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, HEATHER, FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AROUND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH OVERALL. AND HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE SOME OF THINGS BEING DONE TO ACTUAL PEOPLE'S HEALTH CARE AND EVERYDAY TREATMENT.

AS A CHRONIC ASTHMATIC MY WHOLE LIFE AND I JUST WENT TO THE DOCTOR THIS MORNING, IT IS GOOD TO SEE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IMPACTS OUR HEALTH CARE OVERALL IS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND A BIT MORE, BUT UNDERSTAND OUR OWN HEALTH AND HOW TO BETTER TREAT IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

WITH ASTHMA AND OTHER DISEASES, REGULAR DISEASES AND HEALTH CONCERNS WE MAY HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I ORIGINALLY STRUGGLED AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE TOUR WE TOOK EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY TEAM AND I AT BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.

FOR ME WHO WAS SOMEONE THAT WASN'T ALWAYS INVOLVED IN THE HEALTH SCIENCE PART OF IT, THE HEALTH CARE PART OF IT, UNDERSTANDING WHERE IS THE TIE-IN HERE, WHERE IS IT WHEN WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING CRITICAL BARRIER TO RECEIVING HEALTH CARE, RECEIVING INSURANCE OR AFFORDABLE. WHERE DOES THIS TIE-IN? THERE'S THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE GAP IN CARE ITSELF. NOT ONLY THAT YOU NEED TO GET TO THE DOCTOR, BUT NOW WE HAVE A TREATMENT FOR YOU TOO THAT WORKS FOR YOU, WORKS FOR THE PERSON, FOR THIS POPULATION. I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND HERE WITH IT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS MEZA GONZÁLEZ AND I OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW THERE'S A CONNECTION ABOUT ON THE NORTHSIDE HOW RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE INTERSECT. PUSH THAT CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OVERALL EVEN INTERNATIONALLY TO YOUR POINT.

SO I WANTED TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESULTS FROM THE BUSINESS RECRUITMENT BUSINESS THAT YOU HAVE HOSTED OR HAD HERE?

>> >> SO GREATER SATX TAKES THE LEAD ON LARGER COMPANIES SO THEY ARE BETTER SUITED TO SPEAK TO THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS ON THE LARGE COMPANY SIDE THEY ARE NOT GETTING AS MANY LEADS AS WE WOULD LIKE.

THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT THEY COULD SPEAK TO.

WHAT I SEE AND WHAT THE INDUSTRY SEES IS A BIG LACK OF MARKET VISIBILITY WITHIN SAN ANTONIO, WITHIN THE STATE, WITHIN THE COUNTRY, WHERE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE HUGE ASSETS WE HAVE HERE. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON CHANGING. WHEN IT COMES TO -- MOST OF WHAT WE WORK IN, THE CONFERENCES AND OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE LARGE COMPANIES DON'T COME UP TO A TOOTH P BOOTH AND SAY HEY, I THINK I WANT TO MOVE TO YOUR CITY, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SMALLER COMPANIES AND WITH THOSE SMALLER COMPANIES IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE BUSINESS DOLLARS COMING TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY UNIQUE RESEARCH ASSETS. AND THE IDEA IS WE GET THEM IN WITH ONE MONEY FLOWING.

FROM A REPORTING PERSPECTIVE, COMPANIES NOT PARTICULARLY IN THE BIOMEDICAL SPACE, BECAUSE THE MARKET IS HUGE SO WE DON'T GET THE VISIBILITY TO A LARGE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS ON A REGULAR BASIS. I CAN SAY THAT ONE OF OUR BIOFEST INVEST WINNERS TOLD US THAT AT THE BIO FEST INVEST WHERE THEY SPOKE WITH PEOPLE IN AN EXPO AREA WITH BOOTHS AND THAT SORT OF THING, THAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE SOME OF THE ASSETS THAT WERE HERE AND THEY ALREADY LINED UP TO SPEND IT IN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOME OTHER SPACE. THEY SPENT THAT MONEY HERE AND IT WAS AROUND $200,000. THAT WAS ONE COMPANY WITH ONE INTERACTION.

[01:30:02]

UNFORTUNATELY WE WON'T GET THAT DATA. >> NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOLDEN QUESTION. HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, OUR SPECIAL TRAITS THAT ARE HERE. AND IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT AREN'T IN THE MEDICAL CENTER OR DOWNTOWN, OKAY, MAYBE IT'S NOT THERE.

BUT IT IS HERE. SO THE LARGEST ENTITIES HERE ARE WORK IN AN ENTIRE REGION AND COUNTRY. I THINK THAT'S -- YOU HAVE TO WORK OUT HOW TO BE HELPFUL WHEREVER I CAN, BUT I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ON HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY CAN ALWAYS SUPPORT IN SOME WAYS AND ADVERTISING THAT AND WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE ALREADY IN THIS WORK, IF THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT SEEM TO MAKE SENSE WITH TEXAS BIO MEDICINE OR SOUTHWEST OR OTHER ENTITIES HERE. I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WE CAN DO IT MORE COLLABORATIVELY.

THANK YOU AGAIN -- OH, I WAS GOING TO ASK. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED WORKING WITH ALAMO COLLEGES AND I ASSUME UNIVERSITIES TOO. WHAT HAS BIO FEST OVERALL CONNECTING WITH ISDS AND ANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY?

>> BIOMEDSA IS NOT DIRECTLY WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOL K-12.

WE HAVE A STAFF OF FOUR OF US. SO WE HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE. WE RELY ON OTHER PARTNERS, ENCOURAGE OTHERS.

LIKE ALAMO BIO CENTER IS DOING THE TRAINING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS AND ENABLE THEM TO TAKE THAT BATON AND DO THAT WORK.

WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO ALL THAT. WITH OUR LIFE SCIENCE CAREER PACKETS WE DID DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN EACH OF THE 10 DISTRICTS TO

MAKE SURE IT WAS UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED TO THE CENTER. >> GALVAN: THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU CAN COMMUNICATE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR YOU TO HELP COMMUNICATE WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> CHAIR, IF IT'S OKAY I WAS GOING TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK AND HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN WAS BRINGING UP ABOUT HAVING THAT CONNECTIVITY AND HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THESE ASSETS ARE KNOWN, WE'VE KIND OF MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL TIMES. I KNOW ALFRED WENT THROUGH SLIDE 3 VERY, VERY QUICKLY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW WHAT THOSE ASSETS ARE. SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT BIO MEDICINE AND LEATHER LED IN HAVING THAT ATTORNEY AND THAT WORK THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO SO WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY COMES UP WE KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO, WHETHER IT'S GREATER OR WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY THAT HEATHER MEETS OR SOMEBODY THAT'S AT ONE OF THE EXPO EVENTS. WE QUICKLY KNOW WHAT ASSETS WE HAVE FROM SAN ANTONIO FROM TEXAS BIOMED TO WET LABS.

LIKE, WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE. SO THAT WAS IMPORTANT WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED.

>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHERS? NO?

>> SPEARS: I THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT AND DISTRICT 9 WANTS TO HELP.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SEND YOUR MEDIA KIT OVER WE'LL HELP PROMOTE THIS.

WE HAVE WHAT I CALL MINI MEDICAL IN DISTRICT 9, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE A TON OF ASSETS HERE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THAT SORT OF KEEPING IT QUIET BECAUSE IT'S PROPRIETARY. SO THIS IS FANTASTIC.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY AN INDUSTRY WE SHOULD BE PURSUING OR ALL THESE DIFFERENT FACETS OF THIS INDUSTRY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND WE WANT TO HELP ANY WAY WE CAN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

>> IF ANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP WHERE YOU NEED THE INDUSTRY DEEP DIVE, DEFINITELY REACH OUT AND A WE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS OR HAVE A MEETING.

JUST LET US KNOW. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM 4 WAS A BRIEFING. ITEM 5 IS OUR NEXT BRIEFING ITEM AND THIS IS ON THE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THERE IS A STAFF PRESENTATION. SHERRI WILL BE PRESENTING IT.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING. AND MY NAME IS SHERRI, I HEAD UP OUR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW.

I KNOW I STAND BETWEEN YOU AND LUNCH RIGHT NOW, SO I WILL GO VERY QUICKLY.

IN TERMS OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE A VERY GLOBALLY ENGAGED CITY. VERY PROUD OF IT.

WE ARE INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT ONE BY ONE.

YOU HAVE IT ON THE SCREEN. BUT WE HAVE OUR OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE ENGAGED IN DIPLOMACY AND PROTOCOL SPECIFICALLY WITH DIP DIPLOMATIC AND CON CUE LAR CORPS. WE ARE INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND TRADE BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT, BRG.

WE WORK WITH OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO PROMOTE SAN ANTONIO AS A DESTINATION

[01:35:03]

AND WE ARE ENGAGED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR INCREDIBLY DIVERSE DIASPORA THAT IS IN SAN ANTONIO. LAST YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR '25 WE TWO NEW SISTER CITIES IN MEXICO AND CANADA. SO TODAY WE HAVE 13 SISTER CITIES AND FOUR FRIENDSHIP CITIES.

IN FISCAL YEAR '25 I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS ENGAGED WITH 97 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. NOW, IN THIS MAP THAT YOU SEE WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED MAYBE THE TOP EIGHT COUNTRIES WHERE WE HAD THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENTS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF COURSE, NO SURPRISE, IT'S MEXICO. AND THEN IN SECOND PLACE WE HAD SPAIN.

SPAIN THERE'S A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH SPAIN.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE JAPAN, WHICH AGAIN SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE.

AND THEN CANADA, COULOMB BEE I COLOMBIA. AND IN COLOMBIA WE ARE VERY ENGAGED AS PART OF OUR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EFFORTS AND LATIN AMERICAN TASK FORCE. AND OF COURSE COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, INCLUDING FRANCE AND GERMANY AND THE PHILIPPINES. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IN THIS MAP IS THE COUNTRIES YOU SEE IN BLUE AND GREEN IS WHERE WE'VE HAD THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT. YOU CAN SEE THESE INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENTS.

AND WHERE YOU HAVE YELLOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN JUST ONE ENGAGEMENT IN THE WHOLE YEAR. AND MOST OF THAT ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH IS RUN BY A COMMUNITY PARTNER, THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, OUT OF THEIR 20 DELEGATIONS THEY BROUGHT 18 DELEGATIONS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO INTERACTING WITH MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY IN TECHNICAL EXCHANGES. AND THIS SLIDE ALSO GIVES YOU A SUPER HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR UNIQUE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT FISCAL YEAR '25. WE HAD ALTOGETHER OVER 900 ENGAGEMENTS, WHICH OVER 600 WERE WERE INTERNATIONAL RELATED AND IF WE BOIL IT DOWN, 406 OF THOSE WERE CENTER CITY RELATED. SO WE'RE FINDING IN TERMS OF THE WORK WE DO, JUST ABOUT HALF OF THE WORK IS INVOLVING OUR OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS, OUR SISTER CITIES PROGRAM. AND THEN IN TERMS OF KIND OF THE TYPES OF ENGAGEMENTS, WE USUALLY CLASSIFY THEM AS OUR INBOUND DELEGATIONS OR OUTBOUND DELEGATIONS.

LOCAL ENGAGEMENTS, WHICH REALLY INVOLVE OUR DIASPORA GROUPS IN SAN ANTONIO OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON ON THE INTERNATIONAL SIDE.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE STAFF TIME GOES INTO PLANNING A LOT OF THIS WORK.

AND THEN FINALLY, THE CATEGORIES THAT YOU SEE THERE, I THINK IT ALSO VERY INTERESTING TO LOOK AT BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DO THOSE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENTS LOOK LIKE, YOU SEE WE'VE GOT BUSINESS AND TRADE, CULTURAL, SPORTS DIP POLICEMEN METRO ACCESS, EDUCATION, TECHNICAL EXCHANGE.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THERE'S A REAL BALANCE BETWEEN BUSINESS AND TRADE AS WELL AS THE CULTURAL ENGAGEMENTS. THOSE WERE THE TWO TOP CATEGORIES. IN FISCAL YEAR '26 SO FAR IN QUARTER 1, WE'VE HAD SOME INBOUND GROUPS, DELEGATIONS WHO COME IN, AND IN OCTOBER WE HAD THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA HERE. WE HAD THE CZECH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES HERE WITH A BUSINESS DELEGATION. WE HAD A CULTURAL DELEGATION FROM OUR SISTER CITY IN SOUTH KOREA, FROM QUEBEC CANADA WE HAD OUR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND WE HAD THE MAYOR OF SALTILLO FROM MEXICO COME IN. GOING OUT, RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U.S. CONSULATE IN MONTERREY, MEXICO ARE HERE. AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME A U.S. CONSULATE HAS COME TO SAN ANTONIO FROM MEXICO WITH THEIR STAFF TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEIR WHOLE IMPETUS WAS WE SEE SAN ANTONIO DOING GREAT THINGS WITH MONTERREY. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT AND WE WANT TO HELP PROMOTE AND FOSTER IT. IN TERMS OF OUR OUTBOUND DELEGATIONS, IN IS NOT-OCTOBER THERE WAS THE PARTICIPATION IN THE SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL JAPAN SUMMIT AND THERE WAS ALSO AN INVESTMENT MISSION TO JAPAN. IN NOVEMBER WE HAD A MISSION, WE CALLED IT A ROAD TRIP TO MONTERREY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

[01:40:03]

AND MOST RECENTLY THERE WAS A TRADE MISSION TO MEXICO CITY THAT WAS LED BY OUR MAYOR. AND THAT WAS OFFICIALLY HER FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP AS MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO. SO IT WAS VERY EXCITING AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSION TO MEXICO CITY EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS TWO DAYS LONG, HAD HUGE IMPACT.

AND CAUSED A LOT OF INTEREST. SO IN TERMS OF OUR STRATEGIC INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT DURING FISCAL YEAR '25 WE UNDERTOOK A KIND OF DATA RESEARCH TO UPDATE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PRIORITY MARKETS. AND OUR PRIORITY MARKETS ARE KOREA, JAPAN, GERMANY, CANADA, AND HAVE BEEN SINCE 2019, 2020. AND SO THIS YEAR, IN FISCAL YEAR '26, THERE WILL BE AN UPDATED STRATEGY PRESENTED AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK REFRESH. SO YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT.

BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED NOW NOT ONLY HAVE WE VALIDATED THE FIVE COUNTRIES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING AS OUR TOP PRIORITY COUNTRIES FOR THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS, ARE THE SAME FIVE COUNTRIES. SO THERE WASN'T A CHANGE OR A SHIFT. THE DATA IS STILL POINTING TO THEM.

WE HAVE OPENED IT UP AND WE'RE KIND OF HIGHLIGHTING NOW 10 COUNTRIES.

AND SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE ORDER ON THE SCREEN KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE SEE THE DATA POINTING. SO THE COUNTRIES THAT WE'RE ADDING ARE THE UK, AUSTRALIA, TAIWAN, SPAIN AND SINGAPORE.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA, REALLY THE FOCUS IS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND STRENGTHENING THOSE SUPPLY CHAINS. NOW, FOR THE WORK THAT IS DONE IN THIS AREA IN TERMS OF PROMOTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT TO SAN ANTONIO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS, PRIMARILY GREATER SATX, SO OUT OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED IN GREATER SATX ARE ACTUALLY USED SPECIFICALLY FOR ENGAGEMENT IN SOME OF OUR TARGET COUNTRIES AS WELL AS ACTIVATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THROUGH SELECT USA. AGAIN, ALL FOCUSED ON INVESTMENT ATTRACTION FROM THOSE PRIORITY MARKETS. WE ALSO FOCUS ON MEXICO. I MENTIONED THE ROADSHOW EARLIER. AND THEN FOR LATIN AMERICA WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO SUPPORT AGAIN SUPPORTING FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA.

AND THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN TERMS OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT.

SO AS A RESULT IN FISCAL YEAR '25 THERE WERE 121 COMPANY LEADS THAT CAME FORWARD, AND OF COURSE MOST OF THE LEADS WILL BE FOLLOWED UP ON, PRIMARILY BY GREATER SATX. FIVE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT WINS.

THERE ARE $54 MILLION IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH A CREATION OF 371 NEW JOBS. AGAIN, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PURELY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS IN THE WORK IN GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, VERY OFTEN THE SOFT DIPLOMACY WORK STARTS AT THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS, CREATING RELATIONSHIPS, HELPING US AS A COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND HOW OTHER COUNTRIES WORK, KIND OF BLEEDS INTO WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THE CHAIN FROM OTHER STAKEHOLDERS COME IN AND DO THE WORK AND THEN THE NARROWING DOWN INTO WHAT ULTIMATELY ARE BIG WINS FOR SAN ANTONIO. IN FISCAL YEAR '26 WE HAVE SOME FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS THAT WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT. WE KNOW THAT THE MONTH OF MARCH IS GOING TO BE VERY BUSY FOR US. THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL BE COMING IN FROM JAPAN. WE WILL HAVE A SPORTS DELEGATION, BUT A BUSINESS DELEGATION COMING IN WITH ONE OF OUR SISTER CITIES.

THERE WILL BE A FRIENDLY GAME BETWEEN THE SAN ANTONIO FOOTBALL CLUB AND THAT CITY'S FOOTBALL CLUB. AND THEN AGAIN THE PRESIDENT OF LAZAROTE, ONE OF OUR SISTER CITIES, WILL BE COMING BACK. THE HISPANIC SOLUTION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IS HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO,

[01:45:01]

AND THEN WE WILL HOST THE -- AN EVENT FOR THE FOREIGN -- FOREIGN DIP LOTMATIC CONSULAR CORPS IN MAY BRINGING IN AMBASSADORS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, PRIMARILY IN HOUSTON TO VISIT US, LEARN ABOUT US, AND WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THEM.

IN JULY WE'RE FOCUSING ON YOUTH AND SISTER CITY YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF 25 YOUTH FROM OUR DIVERSE SISTER CITIES ALONGSIDE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY STUDENTS OF SERVICE, ONE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSING ON YOUTH AND SERVICE. AND THEN IN TERMS OF TRAVEL, I CAN POINT TO THREE CONCRETE TRIPS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE. OUR MAYOR WILL BE LEADING A DELEGATION TO TAIWAN IN MARCH, GOING TO TAIPEI AND OTHER CITIES.

SHE'S BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE SMART CITIES SUMMIT THERE.

AND THEN IN THE FALL GREATER SATX WILL BE ORGANIZING THEIR ANNUAL INVESTMENT MISSION NOT GET DEFINED WHETHER IT'S GOING TO JAPAN OR KOREA, BUT ONE OF THOSE TWO COUNTRIES, IF NOT BOTH. AND THEN THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS ALSO COMMITTED TO ORGANIZING A TRADE MISSION TO SPAIN, SPECIFICALLY TO MADRID, CONTINUING WITH SOME OF THE INTERESTING EXCHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE THERE, AND AGAIN FOCUSING OUR INTEREST VERY MUCH IN BUILDING CONNECTIVITY WITH SPAIN. AND WITH THAT I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.

THIS ITEM IS FOR BRIEFING PURPOSES ONLY SO YOU EACH HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

IF WE NEED A SECOND ROUND WE'LL DO THREE TO FIVE MINUTES IN THE SECOND ROUND.

SHERRI, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I THINK AS WE CONTINUE -- AGAIN, AS THIS ALL WORKS TOGETHER AS WE CONTINUE TO TELL THE SAN ANTONIO STORY WE NEED TO TELL IT GLOBALLY AND WE NEED TO KIND OF GAUGE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING INTERNATIONALLY WILL SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT US INTERNATIONALLY. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO.

I THINK THE ONE THING WHEN WE DID OUR TRIP TO MADRID AND LA ZAROTE, WHAT WE NOTICED IN MADRID IS YOU HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE VISITS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE SAME PERSON EVERY TIME, BUT I WILL VOLUNTEER EVERY TIME TO GO TO SPAIN. MIAMI WAS THERE IN MADRID WHILE WE ARE THERE AND THEY GO A LOT AND THEY DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THEY SOLIDIFY THAT RELATIONSHIP AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN IT. AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MOVES FORWARD, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, YES, WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO CONSISTENTLY, AND REALLY WE ALL HAVE OUR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT WE ALSO DO NEED TO GET ELECTED OFFICIALS OUT THERE AND NOT TRULY JUST FOCUS ON ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL IN PARTICULAR OR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY GO. AND I KIND OF AM PREACHING TO WHO IS GETTING VOLUME UNTOLD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE COMMITTEE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL AND GET THAT IMPRESSION OF WHAT ARE OTHERS THINKING OF US BECAUSE, OF COURSE, BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO COME IN AND SAY THEY LOVE US. WE NEED TO KNOW DO THEY REALLY. WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY SEEING, WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY HEARING? WHAT IS THE ACTUAL IMPRESSION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE REGION OF SOUTH TEXAS AND THE COUNTY OF BEXAR.

SO I THINK AS WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS THAT SHE PUTS FORWARD AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S POSSIBLY ON Y'ALL'S AGENDA AND SCHEDULES AS WE LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT WHERE WE CAN GO AND KIND OF BUILD THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE -- I'VE ALWAYS SAID, NATIONALLY THEY WANT TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO. INTERNATIONALLY THEY'RE GOING TO START ON WANTING TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND WE NEED TO BE THERE COMMUNICATING AND REPRESENTING OUR CITY WELL BECAUSE WHILE WE ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENCY, PART OF THAT IS GOING OUT AND FIGURING OUT WHAT INTERNATIONALLY THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT SAN ANTONIO.

BECAUSE IF NOT THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO THINK WE HAVE HORSES AND COWBOY HATS AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ALL AND KIND OF GETTING YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY. I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL ONLY LIMIT IT TO A FEW AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO 12. SOMETHING I -- FIRST OF ALL,

[01:50:06]

I WAS INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT WAYS OUR CITY HAS BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR AWHILE.

ALL OUR SISTER CITY AGREEMENTS HAS BEEN YEAR SINCE THE '70S OR '80S.

FOR AWHILE. UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT IT'S HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. AT LARGE I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WE BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND MAINTAIN THEM. TO COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN'S POINT ABOUT MAINTAINING THE RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING CONSISTENT THERE, SOMETHING THAT I REALLY AM APPRECIATIVE OF WHEN THE MAYOR HOSTED SOME FOLKS FROM TAIWAN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY VISITED SOME SITES IN DISTRICT 6 SO I WAS ABLE TO JOIN SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS IT LEFT ME THINKING ABOUT WAS THAT CONSISTENT CONVERSATION. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, WHETHER IT'S WITH TAIWAN OR OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

WHAT'S THE -- HOW DO WE MAINTAIN SOME OF THAT ENGAGEMENT EITHER WITH EVEN SMALLER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT ARE HERE LOCALLY AS WELL AS OVER HERE IN WHATEVER CITY IT IS LOCALLY, ARE THERE CERTAIN GROUPS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER OR JUST ON VISITS?

WHAT DOES THAT CONSTANT COMMUNICATION LOOK LIKE? >> I THINK IN MY VERY FIRST SLIDE I HAD HIGHLIGHTED THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO FOR INSTANCE, REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONSULAR CORE, WITH TRADE COMMISSIONERS, WHEN WE ARE INTRODUCING OURSELVES AND GETTING THEM TO SAN ANTONIO, THAT COMMUNICATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. IN TERMS OF OUR OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS, THE OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS, WE HAVE VERY CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH ALL OF OUR SISTER CITIES, FRIENDSHIP CITIES, BUT ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS HIGHLIGHT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THOSE SISTER CITIES OR FRIENDSHIP CITIES, IT'S ABOUT THE COUNTRIES THEY REPRESENT. SO HAVING OUR FINGERS ON THE PULSE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRIES AND OF COURSE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY STAYING CONNECTED, COMMUNICATING WITH ALL THE IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS.

SOPHIC WE ALL THINK OF GREATER SATX, WE THINK OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE ALSO THINK ABOUT OUR UNIVERSITIES, WHAT ARE UNIVERSITIES DOING? BECAUSE BELIEVE ME OUR BIGGEST UNIVERSITIES ARE ACTIVE, THEY'RE OUT IN THE WORLD, THEY'RE GOING OUT INTO CONFERENCES, GOING TO CONFERENCES, SPEAKING OR EVEN WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE. THEY'RE ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS SPECIFICALLY AROUND UNESCO. SO THE REGULAR COMMUNICATION AND KNOWING WHO IS THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED WITH US. THAT'S REALLY -- THAT'S A BIG DRIVER OF WHY I WAKE UP EVERYDAY AND COME TO WORK, IS WHAT CAN WE DO, WHERE ARE WE FALLING SHORT IN TERMS OF KEEPING THOSE CONNECTIONS GOING.

BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, IT'S NOT ONLY EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND COORDINATION, BUT ALSO INTERNALLY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AND WHERE IN OUR COMMUNITY DO WE SEE THESE DAIS DISAS PORE RA GROUPS GROW. THE SAN ANTONIO I CAME TO IN 1987 IS NOT THE SAN ANTONIO WE ARE NED IN 2025. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE, RICH COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE

FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO CALL IT HOME. >> GALVAN: YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING TOO AND MAYBE SPEAKERS] ABOUT TALK ABOUT IT OFFLINE. THE GROUPS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH MORE, WHO ARE THE MAIN INDUSTRY FOLKS THAT ARE A PART OF IT, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE, I THINK THAT OF THE WAYS WE CAN CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER SIMILAR CITIES OR PLACES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THERE ABOUT HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS YEAR-ROUND EVEN IF IT'S OUR -- I THINK ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE PART OF IT, BUT IF THERE ARE SOME TIES WITH THE FOLKS DOING THE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY VERSUS THE FOLKS MOVING TO DIFFERENT PLACES ALL THE TIME TOO.

I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO SEE HOW WE CAN KIND OF FOSTER THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH IT. >> CAN I ADD TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID? THAT GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT WE DO IN THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL, BUT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, CULTURAL COMMUNITY, AND AGAIN AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL AND THAT'S WHY THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE WORKING, COLLABORATING WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR ABILITY TO DO OUR WORK AS WELL.

BECAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, SETTING UP -- YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT IT, OUR PROGRAM AROUND THE YOUTH SISTER CITIES AMBASSADOR SUMMIT. THAT -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. IT WILL BE A SELECTIVE PROCESS, BUT WE'RE NOT ORGANIZING IT, IT'S STUDENTS OF SERVICE.

BUT WE ARE ENGAGING I THINK SO FAR EIGHT SISTER CITIES WHO ARE SENDING YOUNG PEOPLE HERE. [BUZZER]. IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE THIS, BUT THAT'S THE GRASSROOTS KIND OF COLLABORATION THAT DOES TAKE

[01:55:03]

PLACE. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IN REGARDS TO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK REFRESH, SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS TIED TO HOW WE ARE A CITY OF GASTRONOMY AND WE HAVE SO MANY UNESCO RESTAURANTS. WHEN I LOOK AT THE FRIENDSHIP CITY THAT WE HAVE WITH JORDAN, I THINK ABOUT THE CLIMATE AND TERRAIN THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH THEM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS THAT ARE RECEIVING THIS WORLD RECOGNITION, MANY OF THEM VALUE USING FRESH INGREDIENTS. AND I THINK STRENGTHENING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO TALK ABOUT THAT ASSET IN TERMS OF CULTURAL CAPITAL I THINK WILL HELP BRING MORE TOURISM TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO HELP SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY.

AS YOU MENTIONED IN HIGHLIGHTING YOUR PRESENTATION IT'S THAT CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE IN STRENGTHENING THOSE TIES RELATED TO OUR CALLNARY ARTS HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT TYING IT TO OUR FRIENDSHIP AND SISTER CITIES THAT HAVE SIMILAR TERRAINS THAT ARE WORKING --

>> THE CITY THAT WE HAVE IS A UNESCO OF GASTRONOMY DESIGNATION.

AND BELIEVE ME, WE ALL PROMOTE IT, SUPPORT IT. OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE IS THE LEAD. AND -- BUT

>> DEFINITELY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE TO DO BASICALLY THAT, TO COULD'VE WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE. WE ALWAYS LOOK AT OUR SISTER CITIES TO FIND OUT WHERE THE UNESCO RELATIONSHIPS ARE. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE CITIES WE LOOK AT THE CHECK BOX, ARE THEY A CREATIVE CITY AND IN WHAT? IT'S BEEN NICE TO USE THAT AS A FILTER AS WELL WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH NEW RELATIONSHIPS.

>> CASTILLO: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, CHAIR.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU, SHERRI. REALLY GREAT PRESENTATION. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS TRULY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I AGREE SO MUCH WITH WHAT CHAIR GALVAN -- CHAIR VIAGRAN SAID, IS THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE AS INVOLVED AS POSSIBLE. WE -- I MIGHT APPEAL TO ONE SISTER CITY AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO MIGHT APPEAL TO ANOTHER ONE. WE COULD TAG TEAM IT AND IDENTIFY OUR STRENGTHS WITHIN THIS BOARD AND WITHIN THE COMMITTEE AND WITHIN OUR LEAGUES IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND AS WE TAILOR OURSELVES AND IDENTIFY THOSE COMMONALITIES THAT WE HAVE WITH THE DIFFERENT CITIES AND COUNTRIES ABROAD SO THAT WE CAN BRING MORE GROWTH ECONOMICALLY HERE. I THINK SAN ANTONIO IS SO SPECIAL BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY THE MELTING POT PORTION OF TEXAS. I EMBRACE MY COWBOY BOOTS AND HORSES, BUT I'M ALSO LIKE -- LOVE THAT OUR HISPANIC CULTURE AND HERITAGE HERE TOO. SO I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THAT THEY JUST LOVE OUR TEXAN DRAWL. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN NOT HEAR IT.

I KNOW I HAVE IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I GO HOME TO LUBBOCK AND I COME BACK REAL WEST TEXAN. BUT I LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THESE OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER AND WHERE WE CROSS AND WHERE WE CAN EXPAND ON THIS HERE. I THINK THIS IS WHERE WE WILL SEE OUR OPPORTUNITIES SORT OF DISTINGUISH US FROM THE REST OF TEXAS. AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK MORE DILIGENTLY WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON HOW WE CAN BE HELPFUL IN OUR OFFICE AND WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AND I JUST THINK IT'S TRULY THE IMPORTANT WORK WE'VE GOT TO BE FOCUSING ON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU

NEED US TO BE FOCUSING ON IN PARTICULAR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL

MEMBER. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCILMAN GALVAN.

>> GALVAN: LAST TWO THINGS. I KNOW IN THE METRO PRIORITY PLAN THERE'S A BENCHMARK OF REVIEWING THE PLAN IN 2025. I KNOW WE'RE AT THE TAIL

>> YES. THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK REFRESH

[02:00:04]

DEVELOPMENT. >> GALVAN: PERFECT. THANK YOU.

AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT BUSINESS VENTURES, AND SPECIFIC TRADED GOODS BETWEEN SISTER

CITIES? >> SO BETWEEN SPECIFICALLY TWO SISTER CITIES?

>> GALVAN: CORRECT. >> THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD QUESTION.

MANY OF OUR SISTER CITIES THERE IS NO TRADE AND INVESTMENT DIRECTLY COMING FROM THEM UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT, SAY, MEXICO CITY OR MONTERREY OR PLACES LIKE THAT, BUT FOR INSTANCE LIKE THE CANARY ISLANDS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T HAVE TRADE INVESTMENT. AND I THINK THAT'S -- I ALLUDED TO IN ONE OF MY COMMENTS. OUR OFFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD ENABLE US TO ENGAGE IN A GIVEN COUNTRY. IT HELPS OUR GLOBAL FLUENCY, WE BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A REASON WHY WE BUILD IT WITH THE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, BUT IN THE LARGER SCOPE SOMETIMES IN COUNTRIES LIKE JAPAN, KOREA, JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, OR CANADA, THE REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES MAY NOT BE IN THE SISTER CITY, BUT IT MAY BE, SAY, IN TOKYO OR IN SEOUL, THOSE ARE CAPITAL CITIES. EVEN THOUGH WE MAY CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS, THE CULTURAL SIDE, REALLY WE FOCUS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE KNOW THOSE BUSINESSES ARE, WHERE THE POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES LIE. SO I WOULD SAY THAT RATHER THAN TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC SISTER CITY BRINGING IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT, I WOULD SAY WE KIND OF LOOK AT IT MORE ON THE COUNTRY LEVEL.

AND I THINK THAT HELPS US WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING. NOT TO SAY THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE THAT, BUT EVEN WITH TOYOTA, THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT EXAMPLE GIVEN BECAUSE TOYOTA IS NOT HEADQUARTERED IN CO-MOTO, HOWEVER, TOYOTA CHOOSING TO OPEN UP A PLANT IN SAN ANTONIO, IT CAME AFTER 20 YEARS OF THAT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WHICH INVOLVED OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT GROUPS HERE GOING TO JAPAN CONSISTENTLY TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT, REPETITION, REPETITION, SHOWING UP EVERY YEAR. AND THEN THAT DECISION TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE WE HAD A COMMUNITY THAT WAS OPEN, ENGAGED, RECEPTIVE TO HAVING THIS JAPANESE INVESTMENT. SO THAT IS WHERE THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE MADE.

>> GALVAN: RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S HELPFUL.

DO WE HAVE THEM BY COUNTRY, THOSE KIND OF STATISTICS? THE FDI AND THE BUSINESS

VENTURES THAT WE HAVE? >> YES. THERE ARE -- WE CAN

CERTAINLY PULL THOSE TOGETHER. >> GALVAN: PERFECT.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. SO THE ONE THING AND FOR MY NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BECAUSE TERI SAT ON THIS COMMITTEE WITH ME FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IN THE PAST THE CHAIR TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AS MUCH AS THEY COULD WITH THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMITTEE TRAVELS AND UNDERSTANDS.

SO THANK YOU, SHERRI, FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND THE TEAM WILL WORK -- IT IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE COUNTRY. BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS -- MADRID IS NOT OUR SISTER CITY, BUT YOU CAN SPEND TIME IN THE CAPITAL AND THEN MAKE IT TO THE SISTER CITY. THE OTHER THING IS IF WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO OR WORLD HERITAGE, LET'S CREATE MORE WORK FOR SHERRI AND WE CAN TURN THIS INTO A TRADE MISSION WHERE SHE HAS TO COME AND SET UP MEETINGS WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. I THINK PART OF IT IS FINDING, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, WHERE OUR INTERESTS AND WHERE WE CAN KIND OF PUT YOU, BECAUSE THIS IS TEAM SAN ANTONIO AND WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THIS IS A COUNCIL-CITY MANAGER TYPE GOVERNMENT SO I NEED -- WE NEED, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO NEEDS THE COUNCIL OUT THERE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE CONVERSATIONS YOU WANT, BUT IT COMES BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE MAKE DECISIONS. AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE.

SO AS -- BRENDAN I KNOW YOU'RE HERE. AS YOU GET THAT AND YOU PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, I ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO TAKE THE CHRISTMAS BREAK AND GO, WHERE AM I GOING IN 2026 TO BRING IN NEW BUSINESS TO SAN ANTONIO? SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

THANK YOU, SHERRI. I I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF WORK WITH THIS COMMITTEE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ISN'T ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, THE TIME IS -- THIS WAS FOR BRIEFING ONLY. THE TIME IS NOW 12:05 AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.