Dec 18, 2025 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

[00:01:22]

THE TIME IS NOW 9:15 A.M. ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2025. AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AGAIN.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S

INVOCATOR. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[APPLAUSE], FROM UNIVERSITY METHODIST CHURCH IN DISTRICT 8.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO IN 2011 AND THE SEMINAR IN 2013. AFTER SERVING CHURCHES IN THE AREA FOR SEVEN YEARS, HE AND HIS FAMILY MOVED TO UNIVERSITY METHODIST CHURCH IN NORTHWEST SAN ANTONIO IN THE SUMMER OF 2021. HE AND HIS WIFE HANNAH ENJOYING ABOUT OUTSIDE BIKING, PLAYING GUITAR, FISHING AND COOKING WITH THEIR THREE YOUNG CHILDREN.

UNIVERSITY METHODIST CHURCH IS A GREAT FRIEND AND PARTNER IT TO NOT JUST DISTRICT 8, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY. THEY HAVE HOSTED COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UNIVERSITY METHODIST CHURCH ALSO HOSTS CHRISTIAN SAN ANTONIO MINISTRY WHOSE MISSION IS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST BY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS. I'D LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO PASTOR ZIMMERMAN FOR GIVING THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING AND FOR ALL YOU DO AND YOUR CONGREGATION DOES TO SERVE

SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, PASTOR. >> THANK YOU.

MAYOR JONES, CITY OFFICIALS, ALL WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE TODAY, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU GIVING TODAY'S INVOCATION, ESPECIALLY IN THIS SEASON OF ADVENT AND WE WAIT WITH HOPEFUL EXPECT NOT JUST FOR THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS, FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT'S HAPPENING HERE. I WANT TO OFFER A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THEN A READING FROM A BOOK CALLED EVERY MOMENT HOLY, A COLLECTION OF LITURJYS AND COMMENTS.

THIS IS FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO SERVE IN OFFICIAL ROLES, BUT FOR ALL OF US TRYING TO DO THE GOOD WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY. LET US BEGIN OUR TIME TOGETHER IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. LET US PRAY.

OUR LIVES ARE SO SMALL, OH LORD. OUR VISION SO LIMITED.

OUR COURAGE SO FRAIL, OUR HOURS SO FLEETING. THEREFORE GIVE US GRACE AND GUIDANCE FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD. WE ARE GATHERED HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CALLED TOGETHER INTO A WORK WE CANNOT YET KNOW THE FULLNESS OF. AND STILL WE TRUST THE VOICE OF THE ONE WHO HAS CALLED US. AND SO WE OFFER TO YOU, OH GOD, THESE THINGS, OUR DREAMS, OUR PLANS, OUR VISION. SHAPE THEM AS YOU WILL.

OUR MOMENTS AND GIFT MAY THEY BE GIVEN TO BRIGHTLY GIVES.

LEST US GROW UNLESS WE BECOME ENTRENCHED IN OLD HABITS.

WE LISTEN TO THE QUIET BECK ONINGS OF YOUR SPIRIT IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

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IT'S IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE LIVE AND PRAY. AMEN.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF DECEMBER 3RD AND DECEMBER 4TH. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IS THERE A

MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? >> I MOTION TO APPROVE

MEETING MINUTES. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. PLEASE VOTE.

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT IS MY HONOR TODAY TO ACTUALLY BRING UP TWO OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ACTUALLY DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT IGO

MENDOZA, SO IF YOU WANT TO COME UP WITH YOUR TEAM. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HONORABLE COUNCIL. WE HAD A KIND OF LONG PRESENTATION, BUT WE'LL DO AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE -- AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF MOVING THE ELECTIONS. OKAY? MY NAME IS HENRY RODRIGUEZ, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LULAC [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I ALSO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS CHAIRMAN FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS. WE'RE HERE TODAY VERY BASICALLY TO TELL YOU THAT ON THIS NEW ADVENTURE THAT WE'RE GOING INTO WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS ABOUT THE MOST LOYAL FAN BASE THAT YOU COULD HAVE ANYWHERE. WE ARE TRULY LOYAL TO OUR SPURS. WHEN THEY WIN, IT'S LIKE A CHAMPIONSHIP EVERY TIME.

WHEN THEY REALLY WIN, WE PARADE AROUND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OKAY? WE GO CRAZY. AND IT'S A GREAT THING BECAUSE WHEN WE GO TO THE GAMES, IT'S JUST TAKING AWAY FROM ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

IT REALLY IS THE TIME TO EVEN MEDITATE FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND SAY WE ARE FAITHFUL TO OUR PRAYERS HERE WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE HERE, MR. IGO MENDOZA, HE'S A PROLIFIC SONGWRITER, VERY TALENTED. HE CAN WRITE A SONG ABOUT ANYTHING. THE SPURS HE'S WRITTEN QUITE A FEW AND IT'S GONE VIRAL.

IN MANY LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND THEY KNOW ABOUT HIM AND THEY KNOW ABOUT OUR SPURS BECAUSE OF HIM. AND HE HAS [INDISCERNIBLE].

WE'RE VERY GOOD AT SAYING THE SPURS ARE SPECIAL, BUT WE ARE LOYAL.

AND THAT'S WHY MY PRESENTATION HERE IS ALL ABOUT.

AND WE SENT IT TO YOU. YOU HAVE IT AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IT REAL CLOSELY AGAIN AND PLEASE, BE WITH US LIKE WE ARE WITH YOU. AND I WANT TO PASS IT ON TO

MR. JOE FLORES HERE. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, HENRY.

[00:10:02]

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO IS SIMPLY INTRODUCE IGO AND I'M GOING TO READ A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT IGO RELATIVE TO THE IMPACT HE'S HAD WITH WRITING SONGS ABOUT THE SPURS. IGO MENDOZA IS OFTEN CREDIT THE AND HE GAINED WIDESPREAD ATTENTION BEHIND THE SPURS FAN SONG GO SPURS GO.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY RECORDED IN 2008. HE'S RECORDED AT LEAST SPURS-RELATED SONGS OVER THE PAST DECADE INCLUDING TITLES LIKE BACK TO BACK AND SAN ANTONIO SPURS NUMBER ONE. HIS MUSIC BLENDS FAN ENTHUSIASM WITH OTHER INFLUENCES AND HE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A TALENTED LATINO COMPOSER CAPABLE OF CREATING SONGS EFFICIENTLY AND CREATIVELY.

HIS ALBUM LIBRARY OF THE SPURS RELEASED IN 2024 FEATURES 18 SONGS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 55 MINUTES. THE WHOLE REASON FOR US TO BE HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU COUNCIL AND MAYOR IS TO JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE FRIENDLY REMINDER OF THE FAN BASE.

YOU'VE SEEN THESE SHIRTS ALL OVER TOWN. I'VE GOT AN OLD SHIRT FROM THE 2005 SPURS CHAMPIONSHIP, 20 YEARS OLD. I'VE GOT A RAINBOW HAT THAT'S BEEN VERY POPULAR. SO THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT IN MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP, THE GREAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE SPURS HAVE ENJOYED WITH THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN HISPANIC COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY THE CITIZENS, BUT BUSINESS OWNERS, WE WANT TO ENSURE THE PROVERBIAL SEAT AT THAT TABLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN GROW ALONG WITH THE SPURS AS THEY SUCCEED FINANCIALLY, HOPEFULLY THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL ALSO GROW WITH IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I BELIEVE IGO HAS A FEW WORDS IN SPANISH.

THANK COUNCILWOMAN KAUR AND COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO FOR THIS.

AND ALSO WE HAVE HERE -- HE'S NOT GOING TO SPEAK, BUT THIS MAN HERE IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR EFFORT. HE IS AN HISTORIAN AND QUITE AN ACTIVIST FOR MANY YEARS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I USED TO BE, I WOULD COME OUT SWINGING EVERY TIME.

NOT ANYMORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> KAUR: WE'RE GOING TO PLAY IT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR WORKING WITH US.

JUST TO SUMMARIZE WHAT IGO WAS SAYING, HIS SONG HAS BEEN SUNG ACROSS THE WORLD, ACROSS MANY AREAS. HE'S FROM THE WESTSIDE AND QUITE EXCITED TO HAVE HIS MUSIC AND BACKGROUND AND STORY TO BE SHOWN HERE AND HE HAS A LOT OF PRIDE TO BE HERE TODAY AND FEELING VERY HONORED. I WANTED TO SUMMARIZE THAT FOR FOLKS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO. WE HAVE YOUR CONGRESS CUED UP SO WE'LL PLAY IT FOR A FEW SECONDS.

[00:16:08]

[APPLAUSE] >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR THIS CATALYST FOR THIS PRIVILEGE WE ARE HONORED WITH. AND MS. CASTILLO, HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE BOARD CAN UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR IGO MENDOZA TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

>> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OH, LATER, AFTER.

OKAY. >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY SIGNED UP FOR -- TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I WILL CALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS UP IN THE ORDER THAT THEY SIGNED UP.

THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS OLIVIA DE LA GARZA. ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES. OLIVIA, PLEASE. RICK SINKFIELD WILL FOLLOW HER, SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND HER. AND THEN JACK FINGER WILL BE

THE FINAL SPEAKER. >> YES, HELLO, MAYOR JONES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY NAME IS OLIVIA AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE, JUST ESPECIALLY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK. EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORTH IN OUR CITY ARE ALL THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT MY FAMILY AND I REALLY CARE ABOUT.

SO YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB, AND KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR JONES. SECOND OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN GAVITO.

I'VE NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING YOU, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR ADVOCACY TAKE INTO HEART THAT A LOT OF MY FAMILY LIVES IN YOUR DISTRICT, ABOUT SAFETY IN THE STREETS. SHE WENT AHEAD AND PROPOSED TO LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT FIVE MILES PER HOUR AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER TRIES TO MAKE IT HOME EVERY NIGHT FROM HER OVERNIGHT JOB AS A SUPERVISOR, AND THERE ARE STREET RACERS THAT TAKE OVER THE HIGHWAY IN YOUR DISTRICT AND THE STREETS WHILE SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE MY GRANDKIDS TO SCHOOL.

BECAUSE OF YOUR -- INSTEAD OF JUST TALKING THE TALK, YOU WALK THE WALK.

YOU ACTUALLY TAKE YOUR CONSTITUENTS -- WHATEVER WE ADDRESS TO YOU, YOU IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS IT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND I HOPE THAT GOES FORWARD.

ALSO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOCATING MONEY SO STUDENTS DO NOT MISS SCHOOL.

BECAUSE OF THAT YOU ARE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE. SOME OF MY CHILDREN WHILE THEY WERE GOING TO SCHOOL, EVEN COLLEGE, USED THE VIA BUS TO MAKE IT AND THEY'RE VERY SUCCESSFUL NOW. SO WHAT YOU INTRODUCED TO THE CITY IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT -- WILL PREVENT STUDENTS FROM MISSING SCHOOL.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. CONTINUE THE AMAZING WORK.

MY FAMILY IN YOUR DISTRICT APPRECIATES IT AS WELL AS MS. CASS TEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. SOME OF MY FAMILY LIVE NEAR YOUR DISTRICT AND BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT SPEED BUMPS IN YOUR DISTRICT IT'S GOING TO HELP SO PEOPLE ACTUALLY DON'T SPEED. AND IT'S GOING TO JUST PUT IT THIS WAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. YOU DO AMAZING WORK. AND ANOTHER THING, IF YOU ALL COULD PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING NO ON THE MUD BECAUSE THIS FLORIDA-BASED GROUP

[00:20:02]

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK

YOU, MS. CASTILLO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: RICK

SINKFIELD FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS RICK SINK FIELD. I'M A RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL FROM THE AIR FORCE AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OUR IDEA OF SUPPLEMENTING THE NAME OF IOWA STREET TO TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WAY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DONE THAT WAY. TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, THERE WERE 992 PILOT TRAINEES AND THERE WERE ABOUT 14,000 SUPPORT

PERSONNEL, THAT INCLUDE BLACKS,. >> WHYTE:, BROWNS, EVERYBODY FROM ALL OVER WERE REALLY PART OF THIS IDEA. SO WE WANTED TO MEMORIALIZE THE IDEA OF WHAT THEY STOOD FOR DURING WORLD WAR II, AND THAT'S HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT. SO WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS -- AS I SAID, I'M WITH THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF TUSKEGEE AIRMEN INCORPORATED.

WE RESEARCHED A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN WORLD WAR II AND HOW PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER TO DEFEND THE NATION. SO AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, THERE'S JUST OVER 20 INDIVIDUALS THAT JOINED THE MILITARY TO FIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME.

AND MANY OF THEM LIVED ON THE EASTSIDE. SO WE WANTED TO MEMORIALIZE THAT IDEA THAT THESE FOLKS THAT ARE SAN ANTONIO PEOPLE WOULD BE MEMORIALIZED IN SOME WAY. AND WE CHOSE IOWA STREET BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN CONNECTORS FROM THE EASTSIDE TO DOWNTOWN SO WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START. SO WITH THE COUNCIL'S HELP AND PARTICULARLY DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMAN PUT TOGETHER THE PROCEDURE FOR GETTING SUCH A NAME CHANGE APPROVED. AND WE WENT THROUGH -- I'M NOT EVEN FAMILY WITH ALL THE THINGS WE WENT THROUGH -- NOT EVEN FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE THINGS WE WENT THROUGH, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROCEDURES THAT HAD TO GO THROUGH AND WE HAD TO -- AND EVEN THE COMMUNITY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE WHOLE IDEA AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR -- I WANT TO SAY THAT CLAYTON WALLACE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SECTION AND SEVERAL OF THE OTHER FOLKS THAT HELPED US GET IT

THROUGH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE WE ARE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

SIR. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: JACK

FINGER. [APPLAUSE] >> MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD MY NAME A JACK M FINGER AND I WANT TO WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. YOU WILL ENJOY WHAT I HAVE TO SAY HERE.

ITEM NUMBER 24, MR. MUNGIA, IT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT, IT'S ABOUT WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING. I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE POORER DISTRICTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S ABOUT TO GET EVEN POORER. YEAH. I MEAN, ITEM NUMBER 24 IS SALES THROUGH ASBESTOS [INDISCERNIBLE] SO THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS YOU HAVE MORE DELIBERATION HERE. AND I DON'T SAY THESE WORDS LIGHTLY.

I'VE LOOKED AT THE DOCUMENTS FOR THIS ITEM AND, WELL, IT'S JUST CHOCK FULL OF A LOT OF INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE HERE. COULD YOU PUT THAT UP THERE?

[00:25:04]

AND IT'S BASED ON -- WHAT GOES INTO THIS IS A NUMBER OF THINGS.

HOUSING TAX CREDIT, OR HGC'S HERE OR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ARE CODE WORDS FOR, YES, WELFARE HOUSING. AND THIS IS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, NOT JUST YOU, BUT IF YOU ARE A VIEWER LOOKING AT IT, HAPPEN TO LIVE ALONG SOMERSET ROAD YOU WILL WANT TO LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE WELFARE RECIPIENTS THAT WILL BE LIVING NEXT TO YOU.

IN A CERTAIN COMPLEX AND NEARBY, MR. MUNGIA YOU WILL BE SUPPORTING SO-CALLED HOUSING TAX CREDITS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE -- GET ONLY ABOUT, WELL, SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. WHAT'S IT SAY, THE AMI SERVED, PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLY ABOUT 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AS SHOWN BY THE LITTLE CIRCLES THERE. ONCE AGAIN YOU SEE THE WORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH. AND FURTHER ON YOU SEE THE PHRASE CENSUS TRACKS WHERE MORE THAN 20% OF THE TOTAL HOUSEHOLD UNITS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE ACC. 20% OF THEM ARE ON WELFARE, MR. MUNGIA.

FURTHER ON IT SAYS CURRENTLY 453 UNITS [INDISCERNIBLE] IN THE CENSUS TRACK ARE 39%, ALMOST 40%. WITH THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT BY UNITS OF 437 TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS AROUND 51, 52%, SIR. DO YOU REALLY, MR. MUNGIA, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO DOWN THIS PATHWAY EVEN FURTHER? YOU CAN SAY YES. JESUS CHRISTMAS. MR. MUNGIA, OUR CITY WILL

ONLY GET POORER AS A RESULT. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE

CONSENT AGENDA? >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEM 16.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA?

COUNCILWOMAN KAUR? >> KAUR: I WOULD QUICKLY LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER 18B, WHICH IS APPOINTING NATALIE GARZA TO THE CREEKS PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.

THIS IS A -- IF YOU WANT TO STAND. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BOARD AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW OUR LINEAR CREEKWAY AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND PRESERVE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I KNOW ALSO A TEAM MEMBER AND SUPPORTER OF COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA WHO WANTED TO

SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT YOU AS WELL. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS, NATALIE. WE MET WHEN WE WERE COUNCIL AIDES BACK IN THE DAY. YOU ARE THE MAIN REASON THAT I'M SITTING UP HERE TODAY.

YOU CAN THANK HER OR BLAME HER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NATALIE. APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE].

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I AM DELIGHTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 22, WHICH DESIGNATES A PORTION OF IOWA STREET AS TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WAY.

YOU ALL HEARD FROM MR. SINKFIELD EARLIER. THERE WERE PILOTS AND SUPPORT FORCES WHO HELPED BECOME PIONEERS DURING WORLD WAR II.

DUE TO EXCELLENCE IN COMBAT THE MILITARY WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESEGREGATED.

WE HONOR ALL THOSE WHO SERVED AS ONE WAY TO CONTINUE THEIR LEGACY.

IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS HISTORY WAS BRIEFLY REMOVED FROM THE AIR FORCE'S TRAINING COURSES AS PART OF A PRESIDENTIAL ORDER TO SUSPEND DEI AND ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES. THIS WAS SOON REVERSED AS IT WAS AN OUTRAGEOUS BETRAYAL OF OUR VALUES AS AMERICANS. IT IS MY HOPE THAT IF SOMEONE DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS HISTORY, THE ROAD OFFERS A NEW TOUCH POINT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR YOUR HELP GUIDING US THROUGH THIS VERY LONG PROCESS AS WAS DESIGNED EARLIER AND OF COURSE I WANT TO THANK LIEUTENANT COLONEL SINKFIELD FOR BOTH THIS IDEA AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. I SEE YOU IN THE CROWD IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING AND RECEIVING A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] I MOSTLY MEANT JUST THEM, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

[00:30:09]

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

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WAS JUST REMINDED ACTUALLY TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 24. I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE SOME NEW UNITS COMING TO SOMERSET, A MUCH NEEDED AREA. THANK YOU TO NHSD AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR FACILITATING THAT. AND ALL ARE WELCOME TO MOVE INTO THESE NEW UNITS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO SPOKE AGAINST THEM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 25, WHICH WILL HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS.

MANY RESIDENTS WHO EXPERIENCED THE UNFORTUNATE HOUSE FIRE THEN FACED FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF REBUILDING THEIR HOME. I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM AND THE DISTRICT 4 TEAM WHO MET TOGETHER AND TO DISCUSS TRENDS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND WHAT WE SAW IS THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO REBUILD THEIR HOME AND THEY'RE UNINSURED. WHAT WE SEE HERE IS MORE SUPPORT AFTER A HOUSE FIRE SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM FOR THEIR QUICK WORK TO MAKE THIS POLICY CHANGE A REALITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 27, WHICH IS FOR THIRD-PARTY PARTNERS. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A QUICK ANECDOTE. WHEN CONSTITUENTS CALL OUR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY NEED RAMPS, RAILS, SO ON, THESE ARE THE THIRD-PARTIES THAT OUR TEAMS REACH OUT TO.

AND BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ONE THAT WE CONNECTED A RESIDENT TO.

WE HAD A RESIDENT WHO HER SON HAD AN UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE WITH A GUN SO WE CONNECTED THEM TO BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES TO SEE WHERE RAILS COULD BE INSTALLED.

AFTER DOING INVENTORY AND WALKING THROUGH THE HOME THEY SAW THAT THE FAMILY NEEDED SO MUCH MORE THAN RAILS AND RAMPS. SO WHAT BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES DID IS THEY FULLY REVAMPED THIS HOME AND HIGHLIGHT THAT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE ADVOCACY AND HOW THESE ORGANIZATIONS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO NATALIE. I'M SURE SHE WILL BE AN AMAZING APPOINTMENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 9, APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR WORK IN DISTRICT 7.

I AM HAPPY TO SEE THIS WORK MOVING FORWARD IN COORDINATION WITH THE NEIGHBORS IN ALAMO FARMS. IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO RUN, WALK, BIKE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M PROUD TO APPROVE STATE DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT LAST YEAR AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT COME TO LIFE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WAY.

WHEN I WALKED INTO MY OFFICE AS THE UNDERSECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE THERE WAS A HUGE PICTURE THAT HUNG ON MY WALL AND AT THE TIME IT WAS SIGNED BY ALL THE LIVING PILOTS OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. AND TO THINK THAT THOSE MEN, AS THEY WERE ALL MEN, THAT THEY WERE LOOKING OVER THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR AND THE FIRST OUT LESBIANS TO SERVE AS THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR ANY DEPARTMENT, IT SHOWS THAT OUR PROGRESS BUILDS UPON EACH OTHERS' SERVICE AND CHARACTERIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, MILITARY CITY USA.

[APPLAUSE]. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. PLEASE VOTE.

OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKING ITEM 16, WHICH IS ONLY EMINENT DOMAIN. PLEASE READ THE CAPTION FOR

ITEM 16. >> ITEM NUMBER 16 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTEREST IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES OF PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY AND DECLARING THE LEON CREEK PROJECT FROM THE RIM TO RIM IN ROUGHLY PARK A 2015 PROPOSITION FOR A SALES FUNDED PROJECT TO BE A PUBLIC USE PROJECT AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF 1.321 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED IN NEW CITY BLOCK 3670 ALONG LEON CREEK.

>> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION?

[00:35:04]

>> A TOTAL OF 1.321 ACRES TO ACQUIRED AS A PERMANENT EASEMENT INTEREST FOR THE LEON CREEK GREENWAY PROJECT FROM THE RIM TO RIM AND RUSSELL COUNTY PARK LOCATED IN DISTRICT 8. THESE PROPERTIES ARE OR PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS THE EXHIBIT ATTACHED AS INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THIS MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 16.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON TO ITEM 4, MADAM

[ACTION ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION]

CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> ITEM NUMBER 4 IS A RESOLUTION TO MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S GENERAL ELECTION FOR CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS AS RECENTLY AUTHORIZED BY AN AMENDMENT TO TEXAS ELECTION CODE SECTION 41.0041.0052 DURING THE 89TH

LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. IS THERE A STAFF

PRESENTATION? >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. I'M GOING TO STEP US THROUGH A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR THE ITEM BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.

SO CURRENTLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE IN MAY OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. THIS ITEM WOULD MOVE, IF APPROVED, THE ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN STATE LAW DURING THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SOIENT 1494 WAS FILED BY FOUR DALLAS AREA LEGISLATORS, SENATORS JOHNSON, WEST AND REPRESENTATIVES ENCHIA AND ROSE. THIS IS AFTER VOTER APPROVED PROPOSITION D WHICH AMENDED THE CITY CHARTER TO HOLD ELECTIONS ACCORDING TO STATE LAW SO THEIR CHARTER ALLOWED THEM TO BE READY FOR THIS CHANGE RATHER THAN IN MAY.

THE INTENT WAS TO MOVE TO NOVEMBER, BUT STATE LAW AT THE TIME WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CHANGE. SO THE PREVIOUS DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2016 HAD EXPIRED SO MOVING THE ELECTION DATE REQUIRED A CHANGE TO STATE LAW.

SO THIS LAW DID THAT. MOVING THE CITY ELECTION WAS NOT A PART OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S MOST RECENT CHARTER PROVISIONS AND CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEFORE YOU AND SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO.

IT WILL STAND IN OPPOSITION OF THE CHARTER AT THIS POINT UNTIL WE CAN AMEND THE CHARTER IN THE FUTURE. AS THIS BILL WAS CONSIDERED, NO OTHER CITIES SUPPORTED OR OPPOSED THIS BILL. A DALLAS CITY COUNCILMEMBER TESTIFIED ON HIS OWN BEHALF.

THE BILL IS PERMISSIVE, THOUGH, MEANING IT DID NOT MANDATE ANY CHANGE, BUT RATHER EXTENDED A PREVIOUS DEADLINE AND ALLOWS FOR CITIES IN STATE TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION DATE. THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAS BEEN CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES IN ITS HISTORY SO YOU CAN SEE THE ARTICULATED HISTORY THERE.

IT CHANGED IN 2009, 2011, 2015, 2025. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT IF THE COUNCIL TODAY PASSES THIS RESOLUTION BY THE DEADLINE OF THE 31ST, WE CANNOT CHANGE BACK. SO IF WE MOVE TODAY TO NOVEMBER, WE CAN'T UNDO THAT AFTER THIS CHANGE IS MADE. CURRENTLY THE CITY CHARTER HAS A COUPLE OF REFERENCES TO OUR CURRENT ELECTION CYCLE. SO I JUST POINT THOSE OUT SO WE HAVE THEM IN OUR HEADS. SO IN SECTION 5 IT REFERENCES THAT THE TERM WILL BEGIN ON THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE SO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED IF THIS CHANGE HAPPENS TO YOUR TERM BEGINNING ON THE FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER.

ADDITIONALLY IN SECTION 20 OF ARTICLE 3 THERE'S A TEMPORARY PROVISION BASED ON US CHANGING TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS THAT REFERENCES A MAY ELECTION.

THAT WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED A SPECIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF 2032. RUNOFFS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY ELECTION ARE RUN BY THE

[00:40:05]

SO PRETTY QUICKLY. DALLAS IS MAKING THIS CHANGE AND THEIR CHARTER STATES THAT COUNCIL WILL TAKE OFFICE ON THE MISS FUND FOLLOWING THE 30TH CALENDAR DAY AFTER THE FINAL CANVAS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION. A LITTLE BROADER THERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE IN MAY OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. CURRENTLY NORTH SIDE ISD, SAN ANTONIO ISD, JUDSON ISD, ALAMO HEIGHTS ISD, HARLANDALE ISD, SOUTHSIDE ISD AND MEDINA VALLEY ISD.

I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINT ELECTIONS FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO THEY WOULD NEED A PARTNER IN WHICH TO HAVE AN ELECTION. SO THE ELECTION OF THEIR GOVERNING BODY, THEY WOULD NEED EITHER A STATE PARTNER, A COUNTY PARTNER, A HOSPITAL DISTRICT PARTNER, SOME SORT OF GOVERNING BODY OF A JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT'S WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES TO PARTNER WITH. THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT COST. SO THIS SLIDE REVIEWS OUR COSTS FROM OUR ELECTIONS IN 2023, '24 AND '25. ADDITIONALLY THIS CHANGE, IF ENACTED, WOULD NEED FOR YOU ALL TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS. SO THE MOVE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER WOULD NECESSITY STATE EACH OF YOU TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS.

THAT'S SIGNIFIED IN THE PURPLEISH-PINK COLOR HERE ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND OF EACH SET OF NUMBERS. SO THOSE ELECTIONS ARE ILLUSTRATED FOR EACH OF YOU AND WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED AND WHEN YOU WOULD NEED THE EXTRA SIX MONTHS.

THE HOLDOVER IS ENACTED IN STATE LAW SO IN ISSUE HERE, JUST SIMPLY POINTING IT OUT.

SO FOR THIS CHANGE TO HAPPEN, IT MUST HAPPEN BY THE 31ST OF THIS MONTH.

THE STATUTE REQUIRES A RESOLUTION FROM YOU ALL AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY. THE RESOLUTION WILL SUPERSEDE THE CITY CHARTER IN THIS CASE UNTIL WE CAN AMEND THE CHARTER. AND IF THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED, THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM WOULD DO A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF THE MAY 29 TIME FRAME WHEN THE ELECTION IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED AND THEN AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER 29 TIME FRAME WHEN THE ELECTION WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS CHANGE IS ENACTED. MAYOR, WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE'RE

AVAILABLE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. OF NOTE, IF ANYONE WAS CURIOUS, ON THE TWO BILLS THAT PASSED, SENATE BILL 1494 AND HOUSE BILL 4546 PASSED THAT ALLOWED FOR US TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM VOTED TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS. OKAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I WILL CALL INDIVIDUALS

UP -- >> I'M SORRY, POINT OF ORDER.

DID WE GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DISCUSS THIS? >> MAYOR JONES: WE'RE AT

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANKS. OKAY. SO THE FIRST -- SOME FOLKS HAVE ALSO FLAGGED THAT THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO.

FOR EXAMPLE, TEACHERS NEED TO GET BACK TO TO THE CLASSROOM, SO I WILL TAKE THE LIBERTY TO MOVE SOME OF THOSE UP. THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS THE HONORABLE DOLORES HUERTA. MY UNDERSTANDING IS OTHERS HAVE YIELDED TIME TO HER. YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING YOU TODAY. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AGAIN IN TEXAS. MY CONNECTIONS IN TEXAS GO WAY BACK TO THE STRIKE IN

[00:45:03]

IT AFFECTED OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS BECAUSE WE HAD TO USE LIMITED RESOURCES TO COUNTERACT THIS ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY AND WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR OWN STATE DISTRICTING POLICIES. IN THESE CRITICAL TIMES WHEN OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK, WE REALLY HAVE TO INSTILL IN ALL CONSTITUENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING.

MY OWN PERSONAL STORY, AND I DO LIKE TO SHARE THIS, IS WHEN I TURNED 21 YEARS OLD BACK IN THE DAY YOU HAD TO BE 21 TO VOTE, MY MOTHER DRESSED ME UP AND WE CAN WENT DOWN TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AND REGISTERED TO VOTE.

AND OF COURSE WE HAD THAT CUSTOM IN MY FAMILY. I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER

DRESSING UP -- >> MAYOR JONES: FOR THE REMAINING SEVEN MINUTES AND 11 SECONDS THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY SPEAKING ON THIS. WE'RE ALL GOING TO

[INDISCERNIBLE] TO MS. HUERTA. >> THANK YOU.

MY GRANDFATHER DRESSING UP WITH HIS SOMBRERO AND WHITE SHIRT AND CANE AND GOING DOWN TO THE BALLOT BOX TO VOTE AT THE POLLING PLACE.Y FAMO A HABIT.

LIKE THE ACT OF OUR PHYSICAL BODIES, THE ACT OF VOTING NOURISHES AND KEEPS ALIVE OUR DEMOCRACY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TEXANS HAVE SUFFERED SUPPRESSION AS VOTERS, AS OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH. OVERCOMING THE STIGMA OF THIS PUNISHMENT FOR VOTING, LIKE THE POLL TAXES THAT THEY HAD HERE IN TEXAS, IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY TO OVERCOME THAT, AND ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT TEXAS HAS PRODUCED MANY GREAT POLITICAL LEADERS LIKE CONGRESSMAN HENRY GONZÁLEZ AND OTHERS WHO ALSO ARE GIVING YOU OF THEIR OPINIONS TODAY.

TEXAS LIKE OTHER STATES HAS NOT FULFILLED ITS POTENTIAL. VOTING IN TEXAS IS FAR LESS THAN OTHER STATES, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY. SO SOMEHOW WE MUST MAKE VOTING A HABIT IN TEXAS.

THE CHALLENGE FOR POLITICAL LEADERS IS TO MAKE VOTING A POSITIVE HABIT TO FEED DEMOCRACY LIKE EATING IS A HABIT TO NOURISH OUR PHYSICAL BODIES.

THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION ON THE PROPOSAL FOR US TODAY. AN AYE VOTE WILL AUTOMATICALLY INCREASE THE VOTER TURNOUT AS VOTERS ARE MORE IN THE HABIT OF VOTING IN THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER. AND THIS WILL GIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS A GREATER MANDATE TO GOVERN. I LIKE TO SAY THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN YOUR LIFE IS ELECTION DAY. NEXT TO YOUR BIRTHDAY.

BECAUSE ELECTION DAY IS THE DAY THAT YOU CHOOSE WHO WILL GOVERN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE. SO AS I SAID BEFORE, THE AYE VOTE TODAY, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DOUBLE THE VOTE. SO A VOTE IS A VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY NOW, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY RIGHT NOW AND WE COULD ACTUALLY SAVE IT. SO IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE YOUR POWER THAT THE VOTERS HAVE GIVEN YOU TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE VOTER TURNOUT HERE. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT SAN ANTONIO IS SUCH A SYMBOLIC PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY IN TEXAS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SO WHAT YOU DO HERE TODAY WILL HAVE AN APPLICATION ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. SO IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, SO YOU MIGHT SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY HISTORICAL MOMENT.

AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG, YOU KNOW, AND WE KNOW THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TRY TO ENHANCE AND INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT, THAT WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE POLLS. AND BY THE POWER OF YOUR VOTE, YOU ARE ACTUALLY EXTENDING THAT POWER TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO VOTE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AGAIN, MOST PEOPLE THINK OF

[00:50:02]

YOU KNOW, ST. ANTHONY IN THE CATHOLIC RELIGION, THAT IS A PERSON THAT YOU PRAY TO WHEN YOU SOMETHING. YOUR SYMBOLIC FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP MANY OF THE LOST VOTERS FIND THEIR WAY TO THE BALLOT BOX. I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD SYMBOL AND ONE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW. SO AGAIN, I WISH TO ASK YOU ALL, MAKE IT UNANIMOUS, YOU KNOW. PUT THIS ON THE RECORD BECAUSE IT WILL BE ON THE RECORD, IT WILL BE PART OF THE HISTORY OF TEXAS.

AND AGAIN, IT WILL HELP NOT ONLY YOU, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT ALL OF OUR COUNTRY. YES, WE CAN DO IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MCBURNEY, FOLLOWED BY MIKE GALLAGHER. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'VE BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND FOR MOST OF THOSE YEARS I'VE TAUGHT GOVERNMENT. AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE TEACH STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE. IN FACT, THERE'S A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES US TO OFFER ELIGIBLE STUDENTS VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS TO GET THEM REGISTERED TO VOTE. AND WE HAVE A HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS STATE OF WANTING TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION AND WANTING TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT. FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN A TEACHER, FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEARS, VOTER TURNOUT IS USUALLY AROUND 55%.

OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS IT'S USUALLY AROUND 33%. AND IN TEXAS IT'S USUALLY LOWER THAN THAT. IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS, FOR US IT'S NOT REALLY OFF YEAR, IT'S WHEN WE VOTE FOR GOVERNOR AND THAT SORT OF THING, SOMETIMES IT'S IN THE 20S. IN OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, ONE OF THE MORE RECENT ONES IN MAY OF 2023, VOTER TURNOUT IN SAN ANTONIO WAS 15% AND THAT WAS AN ELECTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER POSITIONS. WE HAVE IN A CITY OF 1.5 MILLION, WE HAVE OVER A MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS, AND THAT'S GOOD.

BUT IN THAT ELECTION 150,000 TURNED OUT TO VOTE. THERE WAS A HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT RATE THIS PAST NOVEMBER IN AN ODD-NUMBERED YEAR.

AND SO GENERALLY WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE THAT IS GOING TO INHIBIT OR DISCOURAGE VOTER TURNOUT. AND SO WHEN WE GROW UP WE LEARN THAT ELECTIONS ARE IN NOVEMBER. AND GROWING UP IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS ARE IN NOVEMBER. AND IT'S ALMOST AN AFTERTHOUGHT THAT, OH, WAIT, BUT CITY ELECTIONS ARE IN MAY AND CITY ELECTIONS HAVE ALWAYS HAD LOWER VOTER TURNOUT. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION, INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND, YOU KNOW, IN A SENSE WHY WOULDN'T WE DO THAT? PEOPLE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE, THAT'S PART OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THEY HAVE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, THEY HAVE TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT ISSUES. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GET OUT AND VOTE, WHICH IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND SO WE SHOULD -- AND I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF MOVING THE ELECTIONS, THE CITY ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER BECAUSE NOT ONLY WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT, BUT IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE THE CITY.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT AS WELL.

AND THEN ONE LAST THING, IF WE ALREADY HAD ELECTIONS, CITY ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER

[00:55:07]

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: MIKE GALLAGHER FOLLOWED BY DENNIS

GONZÁLEZ. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT GOING TO GO WELL WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTENDING THIS MEETING, BUT IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE. I AM NOW EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO RETIRE, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. THAT'S AN ALLIANCE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, OF COURSE, DISTRICT 10, BUT ALSO DISTRICT 2 AND ALSO FROM DISTRICT 9. AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ALLIANCE, THE ONE THING THEY DO IS THEY SPREAD THE WORD. AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE VOTER TURNOUT IS THE BEST, IT'S AMAZING HOW THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH THAT. ONE OF THE BLESSINGS THAT WE'VE HAD AS A CITY IS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON WHO'S RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WHAT ARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. WE HAVE THESE CANDIDATE AND BALLOT FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO TALK OVER THOSE ISSUES. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL OF THIS. THEY HAVE TURNED OUT AND HELPED US UNDERSTAND. TAKE A LOOK NOW AT WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR LAST NOVEMBER ELECTION. THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE. I HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND SAYING THEY ALMOST WENT TO SLEEP TRYING TO VOTE. THINK OF ALL OF THOSE STATE AMENDMENTS THAT THEY HAD TO LEARN ABOUT AND GO THROUGH. THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR OWN PROPS THAT WE HAD. THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAD TO PUT UP, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS BOND ISSUES GO. LET'S KEEP THE PROCESS SIMPLE. THINK ABOUT, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE ADDED THE ELECTION OF OUR MAYOR AND OUR COUNCIL TO THAT BALLOT THAT TOOK FOREVER JUST TO GET THROUGH. WE CAN'T DO THAT. WE HAVE TO STAY MUCH MORE FOCUSED AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR OUR VOTERS.

YES THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY AND STATE TO TELL PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE. LET'S EDUCATE OUR VOTERS SO THAT THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB IF THEY'VE GOT A PACKED BALLOT THAT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO KNOW HOW TO SEPARATE ALL THOSE ISSUES AND ALL OF THOSE CANDIDATES.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE IDEA THAT FOR THE MAYORAL ELECTION, WHICH BY THE WAY, THE MAYOR HAD TO TURNOUT FOR FOR OUR CANDIDATE FORUM, AND FOR THE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

WE WANT OUR VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT ARE ON THAT BALLOT, SO WE WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THAT OCCUR BY NOT APPROVING A QUICK DECISION HERE THAT SHOULD BE MADE BY OUR VOTERS.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT. AND THE LAST THING --

>> MAYOR JONES: MR. GALLAGHER, YOU CAN PUT THE REST OF THE COMMENTS YOU

CAN SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> YOU BET.

AND JUST REMEMBER, TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE STATISTICS -- >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS YOU CAN SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: DAN NECESSARY GONZÁLEZ, FOLLOWED

BY -- DENNIS GONZÁLEZ, FOLLOWED BY MIA RAMIREZ. >> GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS DENNIS GONZÁLEZ AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF [INDISCERNIBLE] IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT TO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. AS A FORMER RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO AND FORMER EMPLOYEE, THIS IS AN ISSUE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART: I WORKED ON [INDISCERNIBLE] INITIATIVES AT UTSA AND WORKED INTIMATELY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES ALL ACROSS SAN ANTONIO. SO FROM COLLEGE TO THE GUADALUPE COMMUNITY CENTER TO BARBARA JORDAN COMMUNITY CENTER. NORTHSIDE, EASTSIDE, WESTSIDE. WHAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF, AND VOTING ACCESS AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT ARE TWO OF THOSE ISSUES.

SAN ANTONIO REPRESENTS A LARGE OPPORTUNITY FOR LATINO VOTERS TO MAKE THEIR VOICE

[01:00:01]

THIS IS VERY TELLING. THIS ROUGHLY REPRESENTS 9.7 PERCENT OF ALL REGISTERED VOTERS THAT WERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. ONLY 116,000 OF THEM WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY DECIDE HOW THEIR GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR THEM.

SHIFTING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DISCUSSED IS NOT JUST GOOD POLICY BUT IS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL SAN ANTONIO VOICES ARE HEARD. SAN ANTONIO IS THE LAST MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS STILL HOLDING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MAY.

AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, VOTER TURNOUT IN MAY WAS EXTREMELY LOW.

I DON'T WANT TO BEAT THAT TO THE GROUND. WITH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MAY, MANY YOUNG VOTERS, WORKING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE OF LACK OF AWARENESS, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT VOTING. ON THE OTHER HAND, NOVEMBER ELECTIONS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN HIGHER PARTICIPATION RATE. WHEN WE ALIGN OURSELVES WITH NOVEMBER ELECTIONS WE ARE CREATING A CADENCE IN WHICH MORE VOTERS SHOW UP ALLOWING THE CITY TO TRULY REFLECT THE WILL OF ITS RESIDENTS. IN A CITY AS DIVERSE AS SAN ANTONIO, EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM.

IT TRULY REFLECTS AND UP LIFTS THEIR VOICES. CONTINUING TO HOLD MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MAY KEEPS PARTICIPATION LOW AND LEAVES MANY RESIDENTS OUT OF THE PROCESS. BY MOVING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER THIS COUNCIL CAN TAKE A STEP FORWARD TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE CITY AND ONE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST A FEW. SAN ANTONIO DESERVES AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM THAT REFLECTS THE FULL DIVERSE NATURE OF ITS PEOPLE WITH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAVING ALREADY ESTABLISHED BIPARTISAN FRAMEWORK WE URGE YOU TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE].

>> MAYOR JONES: MIY VALDEZ FOLLOWED BY [INDISCERNIBLE] DURAN.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND FELLOW CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MIA AND I AM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MOVE TEXAS, A STATEWIDE NONPARTISAN NON-PROFIT DEDICATING TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH CIVIC ADVOCACY. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND A CURRENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1. I WANT US ALL TO GO ON A JOURNEY OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE LIKE A FIRST TIME VOTER AND A NEWLY REGISTERED VOTER IN 2026.

SO I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THAT YOUNG PERSON.

SO I'M GETTING REGISTERED TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME. LET ME RESEARCH HOW.

WAIT? I CAN DO THIS ONLINE. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH HAS TOLD ME I NEED TO DO THIS IN-PERSON AND I NEED TO FIND A TEACHER, CO-WORKER, POLITICALLY ENGAGED FRIEND WALK ME THROUGH AGAIN WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY IN-PERSON PROCESS. I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE, I FOUND A FRIEND EITHER AT [INDISCERNIBLE], RADICAL REGISTRARS, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, SOUTHWEST EDUCATION VOTING PROJECT. ET CETERA. SO THEY'RE GOING TO WALK ME THROUGH THIS FORM AND THEY'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS TURNED IN BY THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE. THEY'RE TELLING ME I REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER WHERE I WILL BE WHEN THE VOTING TIME COMES.

SO I MADE THE DECISION THAT I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S MY HOME.

I'M GOING TO REGISTER IN BEXAR COUNTY. SO I'M OFFICIALLY REGISTERED, THEY'RE TURNING IN MY FORM. NOW WHAT HAPPENS? WHEN IS THE NEXT ELECTION? I HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT MAJOR SEATS BEING UP FOR ELECTION IN 2026. I KNOW IT'S A GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, I DON'T REALLY HAVE MORE THAN THAT. THOSE ARE THE BIG TICKET ITEMS, BUT WHERE DO I ACTUALLY GO VOTE? AND WHERE -- LIKE WHEN DO I EVEN HAVE TO GO VOTE? LET ME LOOK THIS UP NOW. IN BEXAR COUNTY IT'S SAYING THAT THERE'S A MAY ELECTION TOO. AND I'M NOW PULLING UP ARTICLES THAT SAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DID ENTERTAIN THE IDEA TO MOVE TO NOVEMBER.

SO NOW AM I VOTING IN MAY OR ONLY VOTING IN NOVEMBER? IS IT ONE OR THE OTHER? I'M NOT SURE REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. I ALSO NOW HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THE ELECTION IS AND WHERE I CAN GO VOTE. I KNOW THAT THERE'S MULTIPLE PLACES WHERE VOTING DOES HAPPEN. I'M GETTING A FULL LIST OF LOCATIONS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I SHOULD REALLY GO. WHAT DO I HAVE TO BRING WITH ME? I KNOW I WAS SUCCESSFULLY REGISTERED THROUGH THAT ORGANIZATION, DO THEY JUST LOOK UP MY NAME? DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING WITH ME? RIGHT NOW I'M GETTING SUPER CONFUSED AND I'LL HAVE TO SORT THIS OUT LATER. I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO REACH BACK OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO

[01:05:02]

THERE IS A STEP IN THIS PROCESS AND A QUESTION IN THIS PROCESS THAT THIS COUNCIL RIGHT NOW HAS THE ABILITY TO CLEAR UP EVEN A LITTLE BIT.

BY MAKING IT SO THAT ELECTIONS IN 2026 ARE MOVED TO NOVEMBER AND WE HAVE ONE CLEAR ANSWER AS TO WHEN PEOPLE SHOULD GO AND SHOW UP TO THE POLLS.

YOU HAVE THE RESEARCH, YOU HAVE THE TESTIMONY, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

LET'S MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO TURN OUT IN 2026. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: NIA DURAN. >> I'M GOING TO YIELD MY

TIME TO VALERIE REEFER. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M VALERIE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I RUN A VOTER REGISTRATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION NON-PROFIT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY SPEAKING WITH RESIDENTS, CITIZENS AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION, RESOUNDINGLY THEY WERE LIKE WHAT ELECTION? WHAT'S HAPPENING? THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AS BIG ELECTIONS -- BIG ELECTIONS AND BIG DECISIONS ARE MADE IN NOVEMBER. THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE EQUATE IT TO. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO I KNOW YOU BROUGHT UP WANTING TO TAKE THIS TO A VOTE, BUT LIKE I RECALL ONLY A HANDFUL OF US SHOWED UP TO VOTE FOR Y'ALL EARLIER THIS YEAR AND THE PEOPLE WHO DID VOTE LIKE WERE HERE, WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE HERE, WE'RE EMAILING, DOING SURVEYS, WE'RE CALLING, WE'RE TELLING OUR COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DO THE SAME BECAUSE WE WANT THE ELECTION MOVED TO NOVEMBER. AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE IT TO A VOTE, THERE IS TIME TO PREPARE THE CITIZENS AND THE COMMUNITY FOR THIS CHANGE.

TOO BAD HE'S NOT HERE BECAUSE COUNCILMAN WHYTE WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS FOR PROJECT MARVEL, A BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, TO BE PUSHED ACROSS THE FINISH LINE SO FAST, BUT YET THIS IS THE COUNCILMAN WHO WANTS US TO MOVE VERY SLOWLY ON MOVING AN ELECTION, SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US MONEY.

[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. IT REALLY MAKES ME WONDER WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE A WIN FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISDS I AGREE, I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD MOVE AS WELL OR PAY THE COST.

BUT LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THIS LIMITED FUNDING AND WILL IT GO TO THE STUDENTS OR WILL IT GO TO MAINTAINING STATUS QUO? SO I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE --. THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE THE BEST MOVE FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AS THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR. AND THEN PROJECT MARVEL, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, YEARS OF TRAFFIC. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MOVING AN ELECTION DATE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, WHICH IS WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE WANTING.

IT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR, IT IS WHAT WE ARE SAYING, THAT WE ARE WANTING THIS. IN CONCLUSION, I REALLY WAS EXPECTING A BIT MORE FROM THIS SIDE OF DAIS, 6 THROUGH 1, I WAS EXPECTING A BIT MORE FROM YOU GUYS OVER HERE AND I REALLY HOPE THAT HEARTS AND MINDS CAN CHANGE AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS MOVING THESE ELECTIONS.

THANK YOU.

TO RECOGNIZE TWO FOLKS THAT DID NOT SIGN UP TO SPEAK, BUT ARE EXPERTS ON THIS ISSUE. COMMISSIONER CALVERT IF YOU'RE STILL HERE.

SEASONS GREETINGS TO EVERYONE. I WANTED TO SHARE HOLIDAY CHEER. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO START WITH THAT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LITTLE TENSE HERE AT CITY HALL. EVEN STEVIE WONDER CAN SEE THAT. [LAUGHTER]. AND WE'RE PRAYING THAT THIS WILL BE A SEASON OF UNEXPECTED GIFTS. EVERYTHING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, MACRO, MICRO. NATIONALLY WE'VE SEEN DIVISION AFFECT US, AFFECT US IN MOVING THINGS FORWARD AND HAVING THINGS THAT ARE PRODUCTIVE IN POLICY. AND POLYDIVISION MAY HAVE THAT IMPACT AS WELL.

SAN ANTONIO IN MY OPINION HAS STRUGGLED MORE THAN ANY OTHER BIG CITY IN TEXAS WITH

[01:10:08]

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WE START WITH THE CITY THAT ONLY PAID ITS COUNCIL MEMBERS $20 A MEETING. AND THAT MEANT THAT THE WEALTHY AND ONLY THOSE WHO WERE EMPLOYED BY THE WEALTHY WERE ABLE TO SERVE AT CITY HALL.

WE HAVE A STRONGER THAN MANY BIG CITIES CITY MANAGER SYSTEM BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE POWER AWAY FROM YOUR ABILITY REPRESENTING A MAJORITY MINORITY CITY FROM CLEARLY MOVING FORWARD A LOT OF THE POLICY INITIATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

WHEN CIVIL RIGHTS USHERED IN MINORITIES TO COUNCIL, GOD FORBID THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TERM LIMITS. WE PUT IN TERM LIMITS. WE HAD THE HOMEOWNERS' TAXPAYER ASSOCIATIONS TALK ABOUT SPENDING CAPS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN THE INCLUSION OF OUR COMMUNITY CAME IN SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE THE WINNERS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST PATH FORWARD.

BUT WE HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRACTION THAT KEEP US FROM TURNING TOWARD PROGRESS PROGRESS. I'VE HAD SOME REALLY PUBLICIZED DISAGREEMENTS WITH JUDGE WOLF OVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PRETTY FAMOUS DISAGREEMENTS WHEN JUDGE ZAKI PUT SPENDS CAPS ON THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO INITIATIVES THAT NEEDED TO PASS THAT WERE GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE, I STILL SUPPORTED THEM. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE THE WORKING CLASS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE CONVENIENCE OF HAVING MORE ELECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

EFFICIENCY, CONVENIENCE, NON-DUPE NON-DUPLICATION OF SERVICES HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN THE HALLMARK OF BEST PRACTICES AND GOVERNANCE.

I STAND TODAY TO ASK THIS COUNCIL TO JOIN THE REPRESENTATIVES IN MAKING OUR DEMOCRACY MORE INCLUSIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GARZA. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THOUGH I SERVE AS A TRUSTEE OF THE SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL BOARD, I'M HERE SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. LAST MONDAY COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR CONVENED SCHOOL LEADERS TO DISCUSS MOVING OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER. I THANK HER FOR ADVOCATING FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR ATTENDING THE MEETING. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD MOVE ALL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS.

BUT BECAUSE DEMOCRACY REQUIRES PARTICIPATION, AND OUR CURRENT SYSTEM MAKES PARTICIPATION NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. CONSIDER THE CHALLENGE.

EACH SPRING WE ASK CITIZENS TO ENGAGE COMPLEX LOCAL ISSUES, SCHOOL BUDGETS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, LEADERSHIP CHOICES. DURING OUR MOST DISTRACTING MONTHS, MARCH THROUGH MAY, ATTENTION FRAGMENTS ACROSS FIESTA, EASTER, SPRING BREAK, MARCH MADNESS AND PRO BASKETBALL IF THE SPURS ARE WINNING.

AGAINST THIS BACKDROP WE EXPECT VOTERS TO FOCUS ON ELECTIONS.

IT'S NOT WORKING. NEARLY 90% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS SKIP OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS. THE ELECTIONS THAT MATTER MOST TO THEIR DAILY LIVES.

WHEN NINE OUT OF 10 DON'T VOTE, WE'RE WITNESSING A CRISIS OF SELF-GOVERNANCE.

DEMOCRACY DOESN'T FUNCTION AS INTENDED WITH SUCH LOW PARTICIPATION.

SELF GOVERNANCE REQUIRES PRACTICE AND ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES.

MOVING LOCAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER CREATES A PREDICTABLE RHYTHM.

IMAGINE WE'RE VOTING EVERY NOVEMBER, YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THIS CONSISTENCY BUILDS CIVIC HABITS, REGULAR PATTERNS BECOME ROUTINES, VOTING JOINS FILING TAXES OR BACK TO SCHOOL I'VE HEARD CONCERNS THAT THIS COSTS SCHOOLS. MONDAY'S MEETING REVEALED THAT THE IMPACT ON SCHOOL BUDGETS IS UNCLEAR. IT DEPENDS ON UNPREDICTABLE FACTORS. HERE'S WHAT WE DO KNOW. HIGHER TURNOUT MEANS

[01:15:03]

BUT THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROBLEM WE SHOULD WANT, SPENDING MORE -- [APPLAUSE].

YES. SPENDING MORE IS NOT A BUG IN THE SYSTEM, IT'S THE FEATURE OF A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY. MY FRIENDS, HERE'S WHAT'S TRULY AT STAKE: IF WE INCREASE COUNTY-WIDE VOTER TURNOUT BY 50% IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE WOULDN'T BE A SINGLE STATE OFFICIAL DETERMINED TO DEFUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR TEAR AWAY OUR LOCAL CONTROL. [APPLAUSE].

SO THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD THIS CHANGE, IT'S WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD NOT TO.

GARZA FOLLOWEDLY LYDIA CAMARO. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MANUEL GARZA AND I'M A FIELD DIRECTOR AND SENIOR ADVISOR WITH SOUTHWEST EDUCATION AND VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECT.

BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON MY BEHALF. SO MY FAMILY IS A 12TH GENERATION FAMILY HERE IN TEXAS AND IN SAN ANTONIO. I STARTED WORKING ON IMPROVING MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING WATER. OUR WATER WAS DELIVERED IN BARRELS.

AND THAT CONTINUED INTO THE 1960S. FROM THERE I BECAME EVEN ENGAGED SOME MORE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. AT THE AGE OF 16 I WAS REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE EVEN THOUGH I COULDN'T VOTE, I WOULD TELL PEOPLE YOU ARE MY VOICE IF YOU VOTE AND REGISTER. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING. WHEN I WAS 24 YEARS OLD I CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL TO ASK FOR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS. I WAS FIRED THE NEXT DAY FROM MY JOB. SO THE STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE OUR DEMOCRACY I HAVE TAKEN A LONG ROAD TO GET TO WHERE WE'RE AT. I'M IN SUPPORT OF CHANGING THE -- FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. [APPLAUSE]. AND I URGE ALL OF YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE VOTE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CAST.

SO REALLY PUT YOUR MIND AND YOUR HEART INTO IT. NOT JUST TRIVIAL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OR THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT. IT'S ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY.

IT'S ABOUT OUR COUNTRY. IT'S ABOUT OUR CITY, IT'S ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO PLEASE VOTE YES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: LYDIA, FOLLOWED BY [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> GOOD MORNING.

I'VE SUBMITTED A WRITTEN REPORT FOR Y'ALL MY COMMENTS SO I WILL TRY TO BE FAST.

I AM PRESIDENT OF SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE AND HONOR OF WORKING FOR SOUTHWEST VOTER FOR 28 YEARS. I AM A DISTRICT 9 RESIDENT. I'M A VOTER.

AND MY JOB AT SOUTHWEST VOTER IS TO ORGANIZE, MOBILIZE VOTERS IN SAN ANTONIO, IN BEXAR COUNTY, IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE VOTE. WE HAVE BEFORE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL VOTE. WILL THEY VOTE? ONLY IF WE MAKE THE OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE. WHEN YOU MOVE AN ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER YOU CAN GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE A DOUBLE OR MORE, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF TURNOUT. WHY? BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USED TO VOTING IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE IT'S EFFICIENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL YEAR WHERE WE START THINKING ABOUT THE ELECTIONS AND MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT. ARE YOU WORRIED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS? SO ARE WE.

WE CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. WE CARE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION SO THEY CAN FULFILL THEIR DESTINY.

A DESTINY THAT HAS TO BE ABOUT DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS WHERE THEY HAVE A REAL VOICE AND REAL CHOICES. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN CHANGE THEIR ELECTIONS LATER. THEY DON'T HAVE A DEADLINE. THEY HAVE AS LONG AS THEY WANT TO AND WE PROMISE TO WORK WITH ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ENGAGE THEIR CONSTITUENCY, THE STAKEHOLDERS, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

WE HAVE AN ACTUAL BILL THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. FRANKLY SPEAKING, WE ALREADY

[01:20:10]

ON THE BONDS, I KNOW THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE WITH BONDS.

WHEN YOU HAVE MORE LATINOS VOTING, LATINOS VOTED 83% TO PASS BONDS.

THEY UNDERSTAND THEY THEMSELVES CANNOT PAY FOR THE NEW SCHOOLS, THE NEW ROADS. MY TIME IS OVER BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE'RE HERE, WE NEED TO SUPPORT. I'M IMPLORING YOU I'M GOING TO BEG.

VOTE YES. LET THE PEOPLE STAND WITH YOU AND LET'S VOTE.

GRACIAS. >> MAYOR .>> NICOLETTE. >> MY NAME IS NICOLETTE.

I AM A PROUD SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT. WE ARE A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, UPLIFTING AND AMPLIFYING THE 2 MILLION ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO CALL TEXAS HOME. WE DO VOTER AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ESPECIALLY IN HOUSTON, AUSTIN, DALLAS, AND OF COURSE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE DON'T GUESS WHAT VOTERS NEED.

WE LOOK AT THE DATA. SO ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, THE API COMMUNITY IS INCREDIBLY MOTIVATED. IN FACT, OUR POLLING SHOWS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF ASIAN VOTERS IN TEXAS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO VOTE. HOWEVER, THERE'S A MASSIVE GAP BETWEEN MOTIVATION AND ACCESS. IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE STATE, ONE-THIRD OF API ADULTS HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

WHEN WE KEEP ELECTIONS IN MAY WE LOSE THAT SAFETY IN NUMBERS THAT NOVEMBER PROVIDES. DATA SHOWS THAT LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND POLL MONITORING ARE FAR MORE ROBUST IN NOVEMBER. WHEN WE FORCE OUR COMMUNITY TO VOTE IN ISOLATED MAY ELECTIONS WE'RE CUTTING THEM OFF FROM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE THE BALLOT. FROM OUR WORK IN HOUSTON AND AUSTIN WE HAVE SEEN HOW FOR ONE MAJOR EVENT THAN FOR SEVERAL SMALLER ONES SPRINKLED THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR. DALLAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED THAT LOGIC AND THE TIME IS NOW FOR SAN ANTONIO TO DO THE SAME. IN TEXAS, THE API POPULATION HAS GROWN 3.5 TIMES FASTER THAN THE OVERALL POPULATION. WE ARE THE DECIDING MARGIN IN MANY ELECTIONS BUT THE COALITION REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THAT PERPETUAL FOREIGNER SYNDROME AND A LACK OF OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY KEEPS OUR PEOPLE ON THE MARGINS. MOVING TO NOVEMBER BRINGS THESE VOTERS TO THE FOLD OF THE GENERAL CIVIC CONVERSATION. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE COMMUNITY, IT'S ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S COLLECTIVE VOICE. DATA FROM SIMILAR SHIFTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOWS THAT MOVING TO NOVEMBER CAN INCREASE LOCAL ELECTION TURNOUT BY 10% ELECTION POINTS OR MORE. IT WILL ALSO SAVE US MONEY.

SO THE DATA IS CLEAR. ASIAN TEXANS ARE READY TO SHOW UP BUT THE CURRENT FRAGMENTED SYSTEM ACTS AS A BARRIER. BY ALIGNING SAN ANTONIO WITH THE NOVEMBER CYCLE, JUST AS HOUSTON, AUSTIN, AND DALLAS HAVE, WE MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY MORE ACCESSIBLE, MORE EDUCATED, AND MORE REPRESENTED.

LET'S LISTEN TO THE DATA, SUPPORT OUR VOTERS, AND LET'S MOVE TO NOVEMBER.

THANK YOU. MICHELLE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS COMMISSION .

HOWEVER, I'M HERE AS A VERY INTERESTED CITIZEN. THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, THIS IS SENATE BILL 1494, IT WAS AUTHORED BY A DEMOCRAT. ALL OF THE CO-SPONSORS WERE DEMOCRATS BUT IT HAD OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

IT PASSED THE TEXAS SENATE UNANIMOUSLY. NO SMALL FEAT.

IT PASSED WITH 125 OUT OF 150 VOTES. AND DO YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE. VOTER TURNOUT FOR OUR MAY ELECTION IS APPALLINGLY LOW.

[01:25:04]

THE LAST ELECTION, ALMOST THE ENTIRE EARLY VOTING PERIOD COINCIDED WITH FIESTA. ELECTION DAY WAS THE SAME DAY AS THE FLAMBEAU PARADE.

WE HAD OVER A MILLION ATTENDEES AT THE FIESTA EVENTS.

WE ONLY HAD ANTONIO COME OUT TO VOTE IN MAY. LESS THAN 10%.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS KNOCKED ON DOORS TO GET OUT THE VOTE, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THAT I HAVE HEARD ANOTHER ELECTION. WHAT ARE WE VOTING ON THIS TIME? WHEN ELECTIONS ARE SPREAD ACROSS MULTIPLE DATES IN A SINGLE YEAR, IT CREATES CONFUSION. IT LOWERS VOTER TURNOUT AND MAKES CIVIC PARTICIPATION HARDER FOR EVERYONE. THIS HAS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. I URGE YOU TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER SO MORE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A VOICE IN SAN

ANTONIO. >> JILL FOLLOWED BY JULIA GRESARD.

>> MY NAME IS JILL TORBERT AND I SPEAK TODAY AS THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN EDUCATING VOTERS AND DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 85 YEARS.

WE ARE A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION. WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR ENDORSE CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL PARTIES. AS WE HAVE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN THIS MORNING, SAN ANTONIO HAS A VOTE PROBLEM AND YOU SITTING HERE ON COUNCIL KNOW THAT ALL TOO WELL. WHEN YOU RAN FOR OFFICE, ONLY 9% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS TURNED OUT TO VOTE DURING FIESTA.

AND FOR THE RUNOFF IN JUNE, ONLY 17% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS SHOWED UP.

WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY DURING THE YEAR. MANY TIMES WHEN WE ASK PEOPLE ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT ELECTION? THEIR RESPONSE TO US IS A QUESTION. WHAT ELECTION? WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT? AND WHEN IS THE ELECTION? THE LEAGUE BELIEVES THAT MOVING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAN HELP INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT. WHY? IT WILL MOVE THE ELECTION TO A MONTH THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH VOTING, NOVEMBER.

IT WILL MOVE IT AWAY FROM FIESTA, GRADUATION, MOTHER'S DAY, AND THE BEGINNING OF MANY PEOPLE'S SUMMER VACATIONS. BY CONSOLIDATING WITH OTHER IENTITIES -- WE SAW THAT IN NOVEMBER. WE ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ELIMINATE VOTER FATIGUE BY HAVING FEWER ELECTIONS. IN THE SPRING OF 2026, WE WILL HAVE THREE ELECTIONS IN THREE MONTHS. WE WILL HAVE THE PRIMARY ON MARCH 3. WE WILL HAVE LOCAL ELECTIONS ON MAY 2, WHICH ALSO INCLUDE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS. AND ON MAY 26 WE HAVE THE PRIMARY RUNOFF.

SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE RELUCTANT TO MOVE THE ELECTIONS.

THEY SAY THAT THEY WANT MORE TIME FOR VOTER INPUT. TO THAT I SAY TWO THINGS: VOTER TURNOUT IS VOTER INPUT. SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT 80 TO 90% OF THE PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO THE POLLS TO VOTE. THEY ARE TELLING US THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. WE NEED A CHANGE. SECONDLY, VOTERS IN OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE VOTED ON THIS ISSUE HAVE VOTED TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION.

THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THAT VOTERS IN OTHER CITIES WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN THOSE VOTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE DON'T NEED TO DELAY WHEN DELAY MEANS A LOST OPPORTUNITY. ANOTHER ARGUMENT.

>> IS THERE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO YIELD THEIR TIME?

>> I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYONE ELSE UP HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND PLEASE VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY. VOTE TO MOVE TO NOVEMBER. THANK YOU.

>> JULIA GRESARD. >> I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BEXAR COUNTY EDUCATION

[01:30:03]

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY AS BUDGETS ARE INCREDIBLY TIGHT FOR ALL OF US.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND COLLECTIVELY TO ENSURE THAT ALL MAJOR MOVES FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT ONLY FOR OUR DISTRICTS, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO FOR THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THIS TERRITORY ARE DONE TOGETHER AND THAT WE DON'T LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND.

WE DON'T WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, PLANT SOMETHING IN THE GARDEN WEDNESDAY AND THEN MOW ON THURSDAY. I HOPE THAT METAPHOR MAKES SENSE.

I NEED TO WORK ON MY MOWING KNOWLEDGE. NOW, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY ISDS ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THIS IDEA.

WE ARE NOT OPPOSED OR SUPPORT -- WE'RE NOT TAKING A STANCE.

WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ON THE RECORD TODAY IS THAT THE BRISTLING THAT YOU ARE FEELING FROM THE DISTRICTS, AGAIN, IS NOT A RESISTANCE TO THIS BUT IT IS A REACTION TO AN UNEXPECTED -- WHAT THEY FEEL IS A FORCED CONVERSATION AT THE END OF AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND END OF BITTER VALUES THAT HURT OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. WE HEARD THAT WE SHOULD JUST SPEND THE MONEY.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF OUR FUNDING.

WE ARE UNDERFUNDED AS A STATE FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN BY $2 BILLION. THAT IS NOT A JULIA NUMBER. THAT'S NOT A THINK TANK NUMBER. THAT IS A TEA NUMBER. WE CURRENTLY ARE FUNDED AT $10 FOR EVERY $100 THAT OUR DISTRICTS SPEND ON SCHOOL SAFETY.

IN SPITE OF MINOR RAISES WE WERE GIVEN, OUR TEACHERS ARE STILL IN THE BOTTOM QUARTILE OF PAY FOR THE COUNTRY. PROPERTY TAXES RAISES DO NOT EQUATE TO MORE SCHOOL FUNDING. THAT IS SET BY THE STATE AND NOT BY THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE SEE. WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO FOCUS ON VOTER ACCESS. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PRACTICE SESSIONS ON REGISTRATION AND VOTING. IF THIS VOTE GOES THROUGH TODAY WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

THAT'S WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO. WE FIGURE IT OUT.

AS A FORMER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT WHO SAFFE OFFICER, I KNOW THAT WE CAN WORK ON COMMUNICATION WITH OUR 16 AREA DISTRICTS.

I HAVE A CHART THAT HAS A FULL REVIEW OF WHEN OUR DISTRICTS HAVE THEIR ELECTIONS, INCLUDING THE SEVEN. ONLY TWO OF WHICH WILL BE

FORCED TO MOVE BECAUSE OF TERMS -- >> YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MADAME MAYOR, I WROTE SOME COMMENTS.

>> YOU CAN HAVE MY TIME. JASMINE HERRERA. >> AND ALSO SUZANNA SEGURA.

BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS AN HISTORIC VOTE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I SPOKE -- AND I'M MISSING SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS. ONE IS LEAVING.

JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT. WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT THIS IS A HISTORIC VOTE. PEOPLE WILL READ ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE MANY OF US ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE DOCUMENT IT. I AM HAPPY TO BE IN THE MIDDLE WITH SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. I'M HAPPY WITH OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM RIGHT NOW. THE HISTORY OF VOTING AFFECTS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WOMEN AND THEIR STRUGGLE TO OBTAIN THE VOTE CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM TODAY'S ACTION. THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS A CIVIL RIGHT THAT SAN ANTONIO'S

[01:35:06]

AND TODAY I AM SO PROUD THAT WE HAVE A COUNCIL WITH SEVEN WOMEN SERVING.

[APPLAUSE] THAT EFFORT, SADLY, DOES NOT INCLUDE MEN OR WOMEN OF COLOR. FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN PAINFUL AND BLOODY. WE CANNOT FORGET THE STRUGGLES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE 1960S FOR THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 1964 THAT LITERACY TESTS, POLL TAXES, AND NEW GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT MADE IT EASIER.

BUT THAT WAS NOT THE END OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1975 WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT FOR LANGUAGE MINORITIES, THAT HISPANICS RECEIVED BETTER OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE. SAN ANTONIO IS PART OF THIS STRUGGLE BECAUSE IT WAS WILLIE VELASQUEZ, FOUNDER OF SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT IN 1964 WHO LED THE EFFORT TO EDUCATE AND INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION OF LATINOS AND LATINAS. THE MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND ACCOMPLISHED THIS WITH LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST UNFAIR PRACTICES IN VOTING. THERE CERTAINLY WAS PROGRESS BUT EXISTING STRUCTURE IMPEDIMENTS TO VOTING CONTINUED TO EXIST. OUR CITY CHARTER WAS CREATED IN 1951 BY THE GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE, WHOSE MEMBERS WERE WHITE MEN.

TO MAKE IT LOOK FAIR, THEY HANDPICKED TWO HISPANIC MEN AND ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN TO BE IN THEIR SLATE OF CANDIDATES. THEY ALWAYS WON.

AT A TIME WHEN HISPANICS WERE BEGINNING TO ELECT PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITIES FOR COUNTY AND NATIONAL OFFICE, ALBERT PENA AND HENRY GONZALES, THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE CITY CHARTER MADE OUR ELECTIONS NON-PARTISAN.

THEY ESTABLISHED, THE CITY COUNCIL-CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH AT-LARGE ELECTIONS . THEREBY THE VOTES IN THE EAST, WEST, SOUTH COULD NOT ELECT OUR CHOSEN REPRESENTATIVES UNTIL 1977. BECAUSE OF THAT ELECTION SYSTEM. WE WORKED VERY HARD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR CANDIDATES GOT THE MAJORITY OF VOTES IN OUR PRECINCTS YET WE NEVER WON.

WE ARE PROUD AND GRATEFUL TO THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CHICANO MOVEMENT OF THE 1960S WHO SACRIFICED MUCH TO OPEN DOORS IN CIVIL RIGHTS.

IT WAS THE HARD WORK OF THAT GENERATION TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE 10 SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS. THAT IS WHAT IT TOOK TO HAVE THE DIVERSE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE TODAY. THE NEW VOTING SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ELECTION OF 1977. RESULTING IN A CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTING THE POPULATION OF THE CITY RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE ONLY TWO WOMEN. TODAY WE ARE STEPPING BACKWARDS. THERE HAS BEEN LEGISLATION LIMITING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, PARTICULARLY AS IT APPLIES TO MINORITIES. GERRYMANDERING HAS BEEN PURPOSELY CREATED TO ELIMINATE OR LIMIT THE CHOICES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS TO ELECT OUR OWN REPRESENTATIVES. A MYRIAD OF LEGISLATION AND POLICIES HAVE BEEN PASSED THAT MAKE VOTING MORE DIFFICULT.

MUCH OF THE ELECTION CODE HAS BEEN REWRITTEN TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE AND HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS NOW LIMITED.

VOTING BY MAIL HAS BEEN MADE MORE DIFFICULT AND PROBABLY OR POSSIBLY COULD BE

[01:40:02]

A SUPREME COURT RULING ON THE SIDE OF GOVERNMENT TO PERMIT UNFAIR REDISTRICTING IN TEXAS HAS SIDED WITH THE STATE. OUR HIGHEST COURT IS NOT ON THE PEOPLE'S SIDE. THERE ARE LIMITS ON NUMBERS OF POLLING PLACES AND THERE ARE RIDICULOUS CHANGES IN VOTER IDENTIFICATION AND OTHERS.

WE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL CANNOT DO MUCH ABOUT STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS VIOLATING OUR DEMOCRACY BUT OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO CHANGE WHEN WE VOTE. DATA SHOWS THAT MORE PEOPLE, INCLUDING MINORITIES WHOSE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN ATTACKED, VOTE IN LARGE NUMBERS IN NOVEMBER.

THIS IS ONE STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE. OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISEN AS IMPEDIMENTS TO ACCEPTING NOVEMBER ELECTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH RESPECT, COLLABORATION, AND A DESIRE TO DO THE BEST FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRESIDENT, CONGRESS, AND SUPREME COURT WHO ARE UNRAVELING OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AND A STATE ADMINISTRATION WHO IS FOLLOWING ORDERS FROM THE TOP, IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE CAN COUNT ON OUR LOCAL LEADERS, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHO HAVE BENEFITED BY THE WORK OF GENERATIONS BEFORE YOU.

VOTE YES ON THIS ISSUE. I TRUST YOU WILL USE YOUR VOTE TO SAY YES TO ONE ACTION OVER WHICH YOU HAVE POWER. YOUR VOTE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE HOPE IN YOU. MY BLESSINGS FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

I'M HERE BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS AT ITS BEST, ITS STRONGEST, AND ITS BRIGHTEST WHEN WE OPEN THE DOORS OF DEMOCRACY WIDE. NOT FOR A FEW, NOT FOR THE LUCKY, BUT FOR EVERYONE WHO CALLS THIS CITY HOME. THOMAS JEFFERSON ONCE SAID WE DO NOT HAVE GOVERNMENT BY THE MAJORITY. WE HAVE GOVERNMENT BY THE MAJORITY WHO PARTICIPATE. RIGHT NOW TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE LOCKED OUT OF THAT PROCESS. MAY ELECTIONS COLLIDE WITH FIESTA, WITH GRADUATIONS, WITH CHAOS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND WITH THE PRESSURES THAT WORKING FAMILIES ALREADY CARRY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHEN TURNOUT FALLS, REPRESENTATION FALLS. TRUST FALLS.

BELIEF IN THE SYSTEM FALLS. AND I SAY THIS ESPECIALLY AS SOMEONE CONNECTED TO DISTRICT 8. A DISTRICT FILLED WITH IMMIGRANTS, WITH REFUGEES WHO HAVE CROSSED OCEANS AND CONCONTINENTS. FOR THEM, NOVEMBER IS FAMILIAR. NOVEMBER IS ACCESSIBLE. NOVEMBER IS WHEN THEY KNOW THEIR VOICES BELONG. CIVIC GROUPS ARE READY IN NOVEMBER.

LANGUAGE SUPPORT IS READY IN NOVEMBER. NEW VOTERS FEEL READY IN NOVEMBER. AND THE DATA BACKS THIS UP. ACROSS MORE THAN 2,000 CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, AVERAGE TURNS OUT IN NOVEMBER ODD-YEAR ELECTIONS IS AROUND 30%. BUT IN CITIES THAT HOLD THEIR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MAY, LIKE OURS, TURNOUT AVERAGES UNDER 17%. THAT IS A NEARLY 50% JUMP IN PARTICIPATION SIMPLY BY ALIGNING ELECTIONS WITH THE MONTHS AMERICANS ALREADY UNDERSTAND WITH VOTING SEASON. SO THIS CHANGE DOESN'T JUST FEEL RIGHT, IT WORKS. IT BRINGS MORE PEOPLE IN. I KNOW SOME HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE COST. WILL IT SAVE MONEY? WILL IT COST MONEY? MY ANSWER IS THIS: EVEN IF IT COSTS MORE, DEMOCRACY IS STILL WORTH IT BECAUSE THE STRENGTH OF A CITY IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW COST EFFICIENT IT IS TO RUN AN ELECTION. IT'S MEASURED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ELECTION INVITES IN. BY HOW MANY FAMILIES FEEL SEEN AND BY HOW MANY VOICES ARE HEARD. MRS. HUERTA, WHO I DIDN'T KNOW WOULD BE HERE, WHO I'M QUOTING. SHE SAID ONCE THAT EVERY MOMENT IS AN ORGANIZING OPPORTUNITY. EVERY PERSON A PERSON ACTIVIST.

EVERY MINUTE A CHANCE TO CHANGE THE WORLD. AND I BELIEVE THAT AND I

[01:45:01]

READY TO PARTICIPATE AND READY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY WE ALL LOVE.

THIS ISN'T A PARTISAN QUESTION. IT'S A VALUES QUESTION.

IT'S ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE ASPIRE TO BE. IF WE BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, LET'S EXPAND IT. IF WE BELIEVE IN REPRESENTATION, LET'S STRENGTHEN IT. IF WE BELIEVE THE STILL BELONGS TO ALL ITS PEOPLE, LET'S OPEN THE DOORS WIDE AND WELCOME THEM IN. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE STRIP EVERYTHING ELSE AWAY, THE TRUTH IS CLEAR.

PARTICIPATION ISN'T A SIDE EFFECT OF DEMOCRACY, IT'S THE POINT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> TRISHA GRANAVEK.

>> HOLIDAYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAYOR JONES AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM A FOURTH-GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN AND I HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT 8 FOR 20 YEARS.

I TOOK OFF WORK THIS MORNING BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO BE HERE, TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND MOVE OUR ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER AS WE'VE ALL HEARD THIS MORNING SO MUCH ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT BEING ABYSMALLY LOW.

TURNOUT ONLY REACHED 17% IN THE RUNOFF. ELECTIONS SHOULD REFLECT THE FULL VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF VOTERS.

ACROSS TEXAS AND THE COUNTRY, TURNOUT IN MAY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IS CONSISTENTLY MUCH LOWER THAN TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER. WHEN ELECTIONS ARE HELD OFF-CYCLE, FEWER PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND IMPORTANT DECISIONS BEING MADE BY A VERY SMALL SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION. WE HEARD EARLIER IN A CITY WITH OVER A MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS, LESS THAN 150,000 CAST BALLOTS.

KEEPING MULTIPLE ELECTIONS IN MAY WHEN FEWER PEOPLE ACCEPT THEM OR ARE BUSY WITH FIESTA AND SUMMER PLANS MAKES IT HARDER FOR RESIDENTS TO STAY INFORMED.

ALIGNING WITH THE NOVEMBER SCHEDULE SIMPLIFIES THE VOTING CALENDAR AND IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE. NO OTHER MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS STILL HAS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN MAY. THIS IS A NO-BRAINER.

THIS IS INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER TEXAS METRO AREAS. ADDITIONALLY, WE SHOULD ALL CARE ABOUT BEING WISE STEWARDS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS. MOVING OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE COST OF ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS.

RUNNING A STAND ALONE MAY ELECTION REQUIRES ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.

IT'S BEEN PROJECTED TO SAVE US NEARLY $1 MILLION MOVING FROM NOVEMBER TO MAY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, DEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN MORE OF OUR CITIZENS ARE BEING REPRESENTED. SHIFTING OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER INCREASES EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION AND ENSURES THESE VOICES ARE HEARD.

HIGHER TURNOUT MEANS WE HEAR FROM A BROADER CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WORKING FAMILIES, YOUNG VOTERS, SENIORS, RESIDENTS ACROSS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS.

DECISIONS ABOUT OUR CITY SHOULD BE MADE WITH INPUT FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS DETERMINED BY THE SMALL NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO JUST HAPPENED TO PARTICIPATE IN MAY. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, HIGHER TURNOUT, LOWER COST, CLEARER COMMUNICATION, AND STRONGER REPRESENTATION. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT MOVING OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER.

THIS SIMPLE CHANGE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY AND ENSURE MORE VOICES HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR

YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY. >> NINA PERALES.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS NINA PERALES. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF LITIGATION FOR MALDEF. FOUNDED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, MALDEF IS THE NATION'S LEADING LATINO LEGAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW FIRM. AMONG MALDEF'S MANY COURTROOM VICTORIES ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VOTING RIGHTS CASES INCLUDING U.S.

SUPREME COURT WINS IN 2006 AND 2018 ON BEHALF OF TEXAS VOTERS.

I'M ALSO A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 8. MALDEF SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE THE ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS.

MOVING THE ELECTION DATE PRESENTS THE CITY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION IN MUNICIPAL OFFICE ELECTIONS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ELECTION DATES THAT VOTERS HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF AND ALSO BY OFFERING THE CITY

[01:50:01]

IN ADDITION, AUSTIN, EL PASO, AND CORPUS CHRISTI ARE AMONG OTHER LARGE CITIES THAT HAVE MOVED THEIR MUNICIPAL OFFICER ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER FROM MAY.

THE HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT IS IN NOVEMBER. FOR EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN BEXAR COUNTY, THE VOTER TURNOUT WAS 59%. THAT CONTRASTS STARKLY WITH THE VOTER TURNOUT THAT WE'VE SEEN IN MAY OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS FROM MUNICIPAL OFFICER ELECTIONS. OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE COVERED THAT AND I WON'T GO OVER IT AGAIN. THERE WAS AN EARLIER SPEAKER IN OPPOSITION TO THIS MOVE THAT TALKED ABOUT SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS. AND TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF THE ELECTION IS MOVED TO NOVEMBER OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS, THE BALLOT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON IT MIGHT BE LONGER.

AND IT'S TRUE. A VOTER MAY HAVE TO STAY ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO TO VOTE ADDITIONAL OFFICES ON THE BALLOT. BUT THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE TIME AND THE USE OF RESOURCES THAT VOTER HAS TO MAKE TO GET IN FRONT OF THE BALLOT WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ELECTION ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DAY.

THAT VOTER HAS TO DO WHAT ALL OF YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THE ELECTION, PLAN, AM I GOING TO LEAVE FOR WORK A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TO SWING BY THE POLL ON MY WAY IN? DO I HAVE TO LEAVE WORK A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TO VOTE ON MY WAY HOME? THESE ARE ALL SORT OF WHAT WE CALL OPPORTUNITY COSTS.

AND THEY EXIST EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT ELECTION.

SO THAT SIMPLIFICATION FOCUS MEANS MOVING THE ELECTION DATE TO NOVEMBER.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> JAQUELINE TACALANTE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS . THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING BEFORE WE HIT LUNCH SO WE CAN GET A TACO OR CHICKEN ON A STICK. MY NAME IS JAQUELINE AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVOCACY FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER AND A CHAMPION THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION .

I HAVE SPENT MY CAREER ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO CAPITAL, OPPORTUNITY, AND ACCESS TO PARTICIPATION. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DO NOT FEEL THE SAME. TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF JMT MEDIA AND LA PRENSA, A TEXAS NEWSPAPER WHO IS HERE.

I STAND BEFORE YOU AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, FIRST IN THE CREEK, THEN IN HERITAGE PARK. I'M A PROUD GRADUATE OF SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL. GO, DRAGONS, GO. AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO . THIS COMMUNITY HAS RAISED ME, SHAPED ME, AND TAUGHT ME THE POWER OF SHOWING UP. AFTER RELOCATING BACK HOME FOLLOWING MY FATHER'S UNTIMELY PASSING, I MADE A COMMITMENT TO LISTEN BEFORE I SPEAK.

I'VE BEEN SITTING AT MANY OF THE TABLES THIS PAST YEAR ATTENDING GALAS, ATTENDING MEETINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, SHOWING UP TO NUMEROUS PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND ASSESSING HOW I CAN BEST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, VETERANS, AND CHILDREN WHO LACK ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS MY FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT SINCE MOVING BACK HOME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MANY MORE.

I'M ADDITIONALLY HONORED TO BE JOINED BY YVETTE, THE NEWEST PUBLISHER AND OWNER OF LA PRENSA TEXAS, WHO IS ENSURING COMMUNITY VOICES ARE HEARD .

TODAY I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MOVING LOCAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER BECAUSE ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON CONVENIENCE, AWARENESS, OR EVEN PRIVILEGE. MAY ELECTIONS PRESS PARTICIPATION.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT. THEY LIMIT TURNOUT FOR WORKING FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. WHEN ELECTIONS ARE HELD OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL CYCLE, FEWER PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE HAPPENING. FEWER PEOPLE CAN TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK AND FEWER VOICES ARE HEARD. THAT'S NOT DEMOCRACY.

IT'S EXCLUSION BY SIGN. DESIGN. IN NEW YORK CITY I ADVOCATED FOR LOCAL LEGISLATION TIED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT GENERATED OVER $24 MILLION IN REVENUE. EXPANDING WORKFORCE PIPELINES AND CREATING REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. POLICY MATTERS, PROCESS

[01:55:02]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> SUSAN CORBELL FOLLOWED BY DR. DANETTE BLOOM.

SUSAN? DR. BLOOM FOLLOWED BY CELIA CROSS.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM MARIA DANETTE BLOOM. IT'S AN HONOR TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU, MAYOR JONES, AND THE CITY COUNCIL ON MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS.

I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION BUT I'M HERE TO YIELD THIS FLOOR TO MY SON, WHO HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION. HIS NAME IS DANE BLOOM. THIS IS DANE'S MESSAGE.

I HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING APPOINTED TO THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION.

I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS RESOLUTION COULD SAVE THE CITY MONEY AS WELL AS INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AS WE ONLY HAVE TO REMEMBER AND ATTEND TO ONE ELECTION. AS A YOUNG BOY, I HAVE ACCOMPANIED MY MOM WHEN SHE VOTED AND PROUDLY WORE THOSE I VOTED STICKERS.

I HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASKED BY HER TO VOTE AND HER DISMAY, AFTER SHE REMEMBERS AFTER EARLY VOTING, THAT SHE HAD TO MAKE TIME DURING HER BUSY SCHEDULE TO GO VOTE DURING ELECTION DAY. I SURVEYED MY FRIENDS AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH INSTAGRAM ABOUT HAVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MAYORAL ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER INSTEAD OF MAY. RESULTING IN ONE ELECTION PERIOD IN THE YEAR.

REMEMBER ONE ELECTION. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT AS WE ONLY HAVE TO CARVE OUT ONE TIME TO GO TO THE POLLS ONCE IN THE YEAR.

THEY AGREE THAT THIS COULD SAVE THE CITY MONEY AS THEY DON'T HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THE LOGISTICS OF ANOTHER ELECTION. THERE WERE ALSO SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO WANTED TWO ELECTION DAYS AND THE REASON THEY WANTED TWO PAID TIME-OFF DAYS. THEY ALSO REASONED THE RESULT IN TOO MANY ITEMS ON THE BALLOT TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING. BUT I THINK WITH PREPARATION THIS COULD REALLY BE RESOLVED. IN SUMMARY, I AND THE MAJORITY OF MY PEERS SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. AND WE ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

I HOPE YOU WOULD HEAR OUR VOICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] >> CECILIA CROSS FOLLOWED BY RACHEL MELENDEZ.

>> HELLO, MAYOR JONES, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CECILIA CROSS.

I AM A BORN AND RAISED SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT AND I'M HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF DISABILITY SA, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO MAKING SAN ANTONIO THE NUMBER ONE PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE, WORK, LEARN, PLAY, AND THRIVE. AND I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF MOVING OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN ODD YEARS TO NOVEMBER. WHILE ENCOURAGING THE CAREFUL PLANNING TO AVOID CREATING NEW BARRIERS FOR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES.

FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, NOVEMBER ELECTIONS OFFER SEVERAL CLEAR BENEFITS. THEY ARE ALIGNING LOCAL ELECTIONS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE DATES MEANS ONE CONSISTENT ELECTION FOR THEM, WHICH REDUCES CONFUSION AND THE COGNITIVE LOAD OF TRACKING MULTIPLE LOW TURNOUT ELECTION DAYS.

IT INCREASES TURNOUT WHICH CAN AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DISABLED VOTERS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. BUT MAY MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRIORITIZE A SEPARATE MAY ELECTION. FINALLY, CONSOLIDATING ELECTIONS CAN HELP FOCUS RESOURCES ON MAKING OUR ELECTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF POLL WORKER TRAINING AND TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION. INSTEAD OF SPREADING THOSE EFFORTS OVER MULTIPLE DATES. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, MOVING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

[02:00:03]

LONGER BALLOTS CAN INCREASE PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE FATIGUE FOR MANY DISABLED VOTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE USING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY OR NEEDING MORE TIME TO NAVIGATE EACH CONTEST. CROWDED POLLING LOCATIONS, LONGER LINES, AND MORE COMPLEX BALLOT LAYOUTS CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES, CHRONIC PAIN, SENSORY SENSITIVITIES, OR PERSONAL CARE NEEDS.

AND IF COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE CHANGE IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND MULTILINGUAL, DISABLED VOTERS WHO MAY RELY ON PLAIN LANGUAGE, ASL, OR OTHER FORMATS FOR THESE REASONS, DISABILITY FOCUS GROUPS STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS MOVE AND THAT THIS MOVE BE PAIRED WITH A ROBUST ACCESSIBILITY PLAN.

SO THIS PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE INTENTIONAL BALLOT AND SIGNAGE DESIGN THAT IS CLEAR, CONSISTENT, AND EASY TO NAVIGATE WITH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.

EXPANDED ACCESSIBLE EARLY VOTING OPTIONS AND CURBSIDE VOTING SPACES.

TRAINING FOR POLL WORKERS THAT FOCUSES ON SENSITIVITY AND AWARENESS.

TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION WITH PARATRANSIT AND OTHER MOBILITY PROVIDERS.

AND TARGETED OUTREACH AND ACCESSIBLE FORMATS TO DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, ADVOCATES, AND SELF-ADVOCACY NETWORKS TO ENSURE VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES KNOW THEIR RIGHTS. A MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION WITH VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DURING

IMPLEMENTATION IF PROBLEMS ARISE. >> YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

RACHEL MELENDEZ FOLLOWED BY AMANDA MOSELEY. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. RACHEL MELENDEZ, THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR LOCAL 23. WE'RE THE HOSPITAL'S UNION. I'M JOINED TODAY BY OUR WORKERS WHO WORK AT THE GRAND HYATT AND THE HYATT REGENCY.

WE SUPPORT MOVING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER .

AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, AND I THINK AS MS. HUERTA WOULD ATTEST TO, UNIONS ARE GROUNDED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. WE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION. WE BELIEVE THE MORE PARTICIPATION FROM OUR MEMBERS, THE STRONGER OUR UNION AND THE MORE WE CAN WIN.

OUR MEMBERS HERE ACTUALLY JUST PROVED THAT LAST WEEK WHEN THEY WON A NEW CONTRACT, MAKING THEM THE HIGHEST-PAID HOTEL WORKERS IN THE CITY.

THE MORE PARTICIPATION, THE STRONGER OUR DEMOCRACY. I HAVE KNOCKED ON THOUSANDS OF DOORS. I'VE CALLED HUNDREDS -- NOT AS MANY.

HUNDREDS OF VOTERS IN THIS CITY TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT VOTING.

AND OFTENTIMES THE FIRST THING I HEAR AGAIN IS I JUST VOTED IN NOVEMBER.

I SAY, THAT'S GREAT. THERE IS ANOTHER ONE. I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID BUT WE AGREE WITH THEM. THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THIS IS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS GOOD FOR OUR CITY.

IT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU.

>> AMANDA MOSELEY. AMANDA MOSELEY? RUMBLETTE METZ.

GRACIELA SANCHEZ FOLLOWED BY ANANDA THOMAS.

>> CAN WE ADD AMY CASTLEY FOR THREE MINUTES AND SHERRY CAMPOS? I HAVE UP HERE WITH ME GLORIA RAMIREZ, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS LIVING IN DISTRICT 1. SHERRY CAMPOS, DISTRICT 5. WHAT HAPPENED TO SANDRA

MARTINEZ? SHE'S IN DISTRICT 4. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU

HAVE NINE MINUTES. >> NINE MINUTES, RIGHT? WE'RE HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER . ALTHOUGH THERE ARE ONLY FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE HERE, ESPERANZA REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. WE'RE ALMOST 39 YEARS COME JANUARY AND WE'VE ALWAYS

[02:05:11]

UNDERSTANDABLE THAT YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP THE CITY ELECTION SYSTEM AS IT IS BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, IT'S THE SYSTEM UNDER WHICH YOU WERE ELECTED AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. BUT WE URGE YOU TO LOOK BEYOND YOUR OWN FAMILIARITY AND THINK ABOUT THE LARGER ISSUE OF VOTER SUPPRESSION. IN SAN ANTONIO, MAY ELECTIONS WERE ADOPTED AS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO RESTRICT VOTING BY MEXICAN AMERICAN AND BLACK CITIZENS, ALONG WITH POLL TAXES, ENGLISH LITERACY TESTS, AND THE LIKE. BECAUSE MANY FAMILIES LEFT SAN ANTONIO IN THE SPRING TO WORK AS MIGRANT FARM WORKERS, HOLDING ELECTIONS IN MAY EFFECTIVELY REDUCED THE ABILITY OF THESE CITIZENS TO VOTE. PART OF OUR RESISTANCE TO VOTER SUPPRESSION SHOULD BE THE ELIMINATION OF THESE REMNANTS OF BLATANT DISCRIMINATION. WE ALL HAVE A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES.

WE NEED TO END ALL FORMS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION AND TO ENCOURAGE VOTING PARTICIPATION. THIS PROPOSAL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP WE CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY IN SAN ANTONIO. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR MAY ELECTIONS OTHER THAN A DESIRE TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE.

MOREOVER, NOT ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS MADE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO BE CREDIBLE. ONE, THE IDEA THAT THE CHANGE WON'T INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION. ALTHOUGH EVERY NATIONAL OBSERVER INSISTS THAT A CHANGE OF THIS SORT WILL RESULT IN LARGER AND MORE DIVERSE VOTER PARTICIPATION, ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SAID THIS CLAIM IS DISPROVED BY COMPARING THE SAN ANTONIO TURNOUT 17%. BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS A MISLEADING COMPARISON.

MORE APPROPRIATE WOULD BE TO COMPARE HOUSTON WITH SAN ANTONIO'S MAY 2025 ELECTION, WHICH ONLY HAD A TURNOUT OF 9%. NUMBER TWO, ARGUMENT THAT THE CHANGE WILL COST THE SCHOOL BOARDS TO BEAR MUCH HIGHER ELECTION COSTS.

THIS ARGUMENT DOESN'T FLY BECAUSE UNLIKE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FREE TO MOVE THEIR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER IF THEY ARE SINCERE ABOUT WANTING TO HOLD DOWN THEIR COSTS AND TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION AT THE SAME TIME. WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM MIKE VILLAREAL WHO SAID IT BEST.

IF THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO MAINTAIN THEIR MAY ELECTION DATES SIMPLY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE WITH EXTREMELY LOW VOTER TURNOUT, THAT IS NOT A GOAL WE SHOULD SUPPORT. PLEASE DON'T SUPPORT THAT GOAL.

MOREOVER, WHEN THE CITY PROPOSED AND THE VOTERS DECIDED TO EXTEND YOUR TERMS FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS, NEITHER THE COUNCIL NOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS NOR ANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THIS CHANGE, THIS 50% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF COUNCIL ELECTIONS WOULD FINANCIALLY BURDEN LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS. THIS JUST IS NOT A CREDIBLE ARGUMENT.

THE ARGUMENT THAT NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ARE NOT DESIRABLE BECAUSE NOVEMBER DAYS ARE COLDER AND DARKER, POR FAVOR. THIS POINT IS NOT CREDIBLE,

[02:10:02]

YOU HAVE HAD TIME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOUR CONSTITUENTS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THE CHANGE. SEVERAL TV REPORTS HAVE CONCLUDED INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AND ESSENTIALLY EVERYONE ASKED SUPPORTED THE CHANGE.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS ALSO IN FAVOR OF MOVING THE DATE. PEOPLE WANT TO VOTE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR NATIONAL AND STATE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, BUT WE CAN WORK TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OTHERS.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL. PLEASE REAFFIRM SAN ANTONIO'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY AND MAKE CLEAR THAT WE WILL RESIST VOTER SUPPRESSION IN WHATEVER FORM. THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE. DECADES OF YEARS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT UNDERSTAND VOTER SUPPRESSION MORE DEEPLY AT THIS MOMENT. IF YOU WILL EVER BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM YOUR ELDERS OR TO HONOR AND RESPECT THOSE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, NOW IS THE TIME.

STAND TALL AND VOTE YES OR ACCEPT THAT YOUR EGO IS TOO LARGE TO JOIN THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

>> MAYOR JONES: ANANDA TOMAS. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANANDA TOMAS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FOR ACT U.S. WE'VE BEEN ON THE FRONT-END LINES OF BALLOT INITIATIVES AND CHARTER AMENDMENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW REAL CHANGE DOESN'T JUST COME INSIDE CITY HALL, IT COMES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP, ORGANIZE, AND DEMAND IT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY TO STRONGLY SUPPORT MOVING SAN ANTONIO'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. THIS ISN'T ABOUT CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT JUSTICE, REPRESENTATION, AND BUILDING A DEMOCRACY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. FIRST, THE CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT MOVED CITY COUNCIL TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS DID CREATE A MISALIGNMENT WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS.

CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE BOARD SEATS UP FOR ELECTION IN MAY WHEN THE CITY WON'T BE HOLDING THOSE ELECTIONS, MEANING LOWER VOTER TURNOUT.

OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALREADY HOLD ELECTIONS IN DIFFERENT MONTHS.

AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE WHEN THEY HOLD ELECTIONS.

BY MOVING THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER OF ODD-NUMBERED YEARS, WE CREATE A CLEAR PATH FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FOLLOW. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT COST SAVINGS, IT'S ABOUT GIVING VOTERS A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THE FUTURE OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR CITY AT THE SAME TIME. A WIN FOR REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. AND DOING IT NOW GIVES DISTRICTS TIME TO ADJUST BEFORE 2027. SECOND, THIS CHANGE ALIGNS WITH THE CITY BUDGET CYCLE, WHICH MATTERS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. RIGHT NOW, NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS GET ELECTED IN MAY AND MUST JUMP INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS BY JUNE, WITH ONLY A FEW MONTHS TO LEARN THE ROPES, TO HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS, AND ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME. MOVING ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER GIVES NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS A FULL YEAR TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET, TO GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT, AND BUILD REAL POLICY BEFORE THEIR FIRST BUDGET VOTE.

THAT MEANS VOTERS CAN TRUST THEIR VOICES WILL BE HEARD AND CITY STAFF WON'T HAVE TO SCRAMBLE WHEN PRIORITIES SHIFT BECAUSE OF ELECTION RESULTS.

IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR FOR CANDIDATES TO TALK ABOUT BUDGETS AND POLICY BEFORE THEY'RE SWORN IN, NOT AFTER. FINALLY, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING SHUT OUT.

OVER 150,000 IN SAN ANTONIO, MANY OF THEM ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

[02:15:03]

STUDENTS ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS BECAUSE OF THIS.

NOVEMBER IS MID-SEMESTER. IT'S WHEN STUDENTS ARE SETTLED, ENGAGED, AND MORE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE. HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE'RE ASKING FOR.

IF THIS CHANGE SAVES THE CITY MONEY, AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL, THOSE SAVINGS MUST BE REINVESTED INTO COMMUNITY. NOT POLICE BUDGETS BUT INTO VOTER EDUCATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE. LET'S FUND WORKSHOPS AND SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES THAT TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO VOTE, HOW TO RUN FOR OFFICE. LET'S FUND COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

SANCHEZ FOLLOWED BY CARLOS RAYMOND. >> HI.

BEFORE I BEGIN WITH MY FORMAL COMMENTS, I WANT TO SAY HOW HONORED I FEEL TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GREAT LEADERS SUCH AS DOLORES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. MY NAME IS LETICIA SANCHEZ AND I'M THE CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE HISTORIC WESTSIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AND I'M JOINED WITH JASMINE HERRERA, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

OUR RESIDENTS SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE OUR CITY'S GENERAL ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. OUR ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS A LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO EARN THE LOWEST WAGES IN SAN ANTONIO. MANY OF WHOM MUST WORK MORE THAN ONE JOB TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND SOME WHO ARE SENIOR CITIZENS OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THESE THINGS MAKE IT DIFFICULT AND LIMIT OUR RESIDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN OUR SOCIETY'S SUPPOSEDLY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

WHEN MOST CITY COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS MEET DURING WORKING HOURS OR REQUIRE RESIDENTS TO FIND THEIR WAY TO CITY COUNCIL TO PARTICIPATE.

PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS IS ONE WAY THAT OUR RESIDENTS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ENGAGING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. HOWEVER, STATISTICS SHOW THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE A POOR TURNOUT AT ELECTIONS AND MOST PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW OUR RESIDENTS WOULD ATTRIBUTE THAT TO APATHY. IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO SPEAK TO OUR RESIDENTS, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT A LARGE REASON FOR NOT PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS IS THEY'RE VERY BUSY WORKING AND TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

OUR FEDERAL AND STATE LEADERS CONTINUE TO WORK ON ERODING OUR ACCESS TO OUR RIGHTS TO VOTE. SO NOW OUR CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO OUR RESIDENTS BY CHANGING THE ELE ELECTION DATES. OUR ASSOCIATION ASKS THAT YOU SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT IS BURDENSOME FOR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: CARLOS

RAYMOND. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. COUNCILMAN RIC GALVAN. MY NAME IS CARLOS ANTONIO RAYMOND . I'M A VETERAN AND A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY LIVING IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 6. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON MATTERS THAT DEEPLY AFFECT OUR CITY'S DEMOCRATIC HEALTH. THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL ELECTION FROM NOVEMBER -- I THINK IT'S ODD YEARS. I RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL IN MAY 2025. I WAS HONORED TO STAND FOR SERVICE BUT I EXPERIENCED -- BUT WHAT I EXPERIENCED AS A CANDIDATE AND AS A VOTER WAS DISCOURAGING.

TURNOUT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. WHY? BECAUSE OUR ELECTION WAS SCHEDULED ON MAY 3, 2025. IT WAS SCHEDULED IN THE MIDDLE OF FIESTA AND OTHER MAJOR COMMUNITY EVENTS. TOO MANY RESIDENTS CHOSE THE CELEBRATION OVER CIVIC PARTICIPATION. NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE BUT BECAUSE THE DATE MADE IT HARD, EXTREMELY HARD FOR THEM TO SHOW UP. LOW TURNOUT -- SORRY.

[02:20:13]

IT BENEFITS ONLY THE MOST MOTIVATED FEW. AS A VETERAN WHO TRAVELS TO SCHOOL ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING.

I KNOW EVERY VOTE MATTERS AND THAT OUR ELECTION SCHEDULE SHOULD ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION, NOT TO DISCOURAGE IT. WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS THINKING. CITIES LIKE HOUSTON AND DALLAS, WHICH I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE MOVED THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO NOVEMBER AND SAW GREAT VOTER INVOLVEMENT. ALIGNING OUR LOCAL ELECTION WITH STATEWIDE AND NATIONWIDE BALLOTS MEANS THE FOLLOWING.

PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WORK OR THE POLLS. MORE WORKING FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE WITHOUT SACRIFICING INCOME OR TIME. AND OUR CITY CAN ELIMINATE CONFUSION AND REDUCE ELECTION COSTS. THIS CHANGE IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN SAN ANTONIO.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. RAYMOND. >> SENIORS AND ESPECIALLY VETERANS TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS THEY CARE ABOUT. MOVING ELECTION TO NOVEMBER WILL MEAN MORE VOICES, MORE REPRESENTATION, AND A COUNCIL WHO REFLECTS THE

FABRIC OF OUR CITY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. RAYMOND.

YOU CAN SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH THE CLERK. [APPLAUSE]

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: UP NEXT WE HAVE NORMA AVAYA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS DR. NORMA AVAYA AND I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC NURSES FOR SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER. I'M ALSO FULL-TIME FACULTY, ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR AT THE SCHOOL OF NURSING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO. IN MY PROFESSION, I HAVE WORKED SHIFT SCHEDULES FROM 6:30 IN THE MORNING TO 7:30, 8:00 AT NIGHT FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS AS A NURSE ADMINISTRATOR AND A HOSPITAL IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. IN MY EXPERIENCE, I HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO NOT VOTE DUE TO WORK HOURS AND SCHEDULED SHIFTS DURING EARLY VOTING AS WELL AS MAY AND NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. ONE THING NURSES MUST DO IS THEY MUST ENTER THEIR WORK SCHEDULES 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE.

I BELIEVE THE ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER WILL ALLOW NURSES AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO FOCUS AND MAKE IT A SCHEDULED DAY TO GO VOTE. I URGE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE THE GENERAL ELECTIONS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO BE MOVED TO NOVEMBER, TO UNIFORM THE ELECTION DATES IN THE ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND NURSING.

CURRENTLY NURSE PROFESSIONAL SHIFTS BEGIN PRIOR TO VOTING POLLS OPENING AND CLOSING, DUE TO THEIR SHIFT HOURS. THESE ARE POTENTIAL VOTERS WHOSE VOTE GOES UNACCOUNTED FOR. THE FIVE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS EMPLOY APPROXIMATELY AROUND 452,000 NURSES, PHYSICIANS, AND HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL.

THESE HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL ARE INTERESTED IN OUR CITY AND THE OUTCOMES THAT COME FROM THESE ELECTIONS. FURTHER, ACCORDING TO THE CITY MANAGER, THIS COULD SAVE SAN ANTONIO ANYWHERE FROM $800,000 TO $1 MILLION PER ELECTION CYCLE IN WHICH THOSE FUNDS COULD BE UTILIZED OTHERWISE. I URGE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO PASS THE GENERAL ELECTIONS RESOLUTION TO IMPLEMENT THIS LEGISLATION, THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL AND MY CITY COUNCILMAN, RIC GALVAN, TO APPROVE IT TO MOVE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR ORTIZ JONES FOR SUPPORTING THE SAN ANTONIO NURSING CONSORTIUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[02:25:05]

. >> MAYOR JONES: GABRIELA IBARRA.

GABRIELA IBARRA? >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE. MY NAME IS GABRIELA IBARRA.

I AM A LATINA LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY. A CURRENT PHD CANDIDATE AND A PROUD I STAND HERE REPRESENTING WORKING MOTHERS AND STUDENTS.

NEIGHBORS WHO DESERVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL VOTER PARTICIPATION IN ORDER FOR THE PROCESS TO CHANGE. WE MUST INVEST IN THE PEOPLE.

INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO BY MOVING THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER.

INVEST IN OUR WORKING MOTHERS AND FATHERS. INVEST IN OUR WORKING STUDENTS. INVEST IN OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

INVEST IN OUR CITY. AND LASTLY, INVEST IN US. PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO WORK, STUDY, AND TAKE AREA OF A FAMILY HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE. I BELIEVE MOVING THE ELECTIONS WOULD GIVE THEM A BETTER FLEXIBILITY OF VOTING.

I EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING OUR CITY A CHANCE FOR HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT.

MOVING ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER, ALLOWING WORKING FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND EVERYDAY RESIDENTS A BETTER CHANCE TO PLAN, EDUCATE THEMSELVES WHILE OTHER PEOPLE ARE BALANCING THEIR JOBS AND LIFE. THIS WILL GIVE THEM TIME AND ACCESS NEEDED TO BE INFORMED. ENGAGED AND PRESENT.

IT GIVES OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS ON THE BALLOT BEFORE CASTING THEIR VOTE. AS A COMMUNITY LEADER, I RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF MOVING OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER.

THIS IS ABOUT ACCESS, EQUITY, PARTICIPATION, AND INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY.

>> MAYOR JONES: TRISTA ORDECKS. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS TRISTA AND I'M A MARINE CORPS VETERAN, A TEXAS VOTER BASED OUT OF DALLAS, AND THE ORGANIZING DIRECTOR AT VET VOICE FOUNDATION .

I'M ALSO PART OF A MILITARY FAMILY THAT VOTES IN EVERY ELECTION.

BECAUSE OF MY WORK I'M ABLE TO STAY CONNECTED AND UP TO DATE ON ELECTION DATES AND VOTING INFORMATION. THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR MY FAMILY TO PARTICIPATE CONSISTENTLY. BUT FOR MANY MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHOUT SOMEONE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN CIVIC WORK, IT COULD BE MUCH HARDER TO KEEP TRACK OF CHANGING ELECTION DATES AND REQUIREMENTS.

PARTICULARLY, WHEN ELECTIONS ARE HELD OUTSIDE OF THE NOVEMBER CYCLE.

THIS YEAR THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO MOVE ITS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO THE NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. RECOGNIZING THAT ALIGNING ELECTIONS TO HELP REDUCE CONFUSION AND MAKES IT SO THAT WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN A MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY AND SO THAT WORKING FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE COULD TURN OUT AT GREATER NUMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF VET VOICE FOUNDATION, A VETERAN-LED, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EXPANDING VOTER ACCESS IN OUR DEMOCRACY. ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT VETERANS, MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, AND MILITARY FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES HAVE CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT PATHWAYS TO VOTE.

VETERANS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION. ALIGNING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION DATE IS A PRACTICAL STEP THAT STRENGTHENS THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES WE SERVE TO PROTECT. SO ON BEHALF OF VET VOICE FOUNDATION, I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: PETRA MATA.

PETRA MATA? AMANDA LEE KEMER FOLLOWED BY CARMEN GAMEZ.

[02:30:01]

>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. I HAVE NOTES ON MY PHONE SO BEAR WITH ME. MY NAME IS AMANDA LEE KEMER. I'M A DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT OF COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. I'M AN SAISD KID, ALL THE THINGS GO ON AND ON.

I'M HERE IN MY ROLE AS A CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONAL, A NATIONAL-RECOGNIZED NATIONAL SECURITY LEADER AND COMING FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE I FEEL LIKE IS MISSING FROM THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MOVING THE ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER.

SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T LIVE IN CYBERSECURITY AND ELECTION SECURITY, NATIONAL SECURITY WORLD. ELECTION SECURITY IS CONSIDERED CRITICAL UNDER PROTECTING GOVERNMENT FACILITIES. SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASES, I.T. SYSTEMS, I.T. INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCOUNTING, AND DISPLAYING RESULTS. STORAGE FACILITIES, AND POLLING PLACES, INCLUDING EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS. THAT IS A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER. THAT'S A LOT OF THINGS TO PROTECT, BOTH VIRTUALLY AS WELL AS IN PERSON. SO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN TODAY, WE ARE PROUD TO BE MILITARY CITY, USA AND I'M PROUD TO BE A MILITARY FAMILY MEMBER.

MY BROTHER SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS. WE COME FROM A LONG HISTORY OF MILITARY MEMBERS. WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF THREATS. AS MUCH AS WE'RE PROUD TO BE MILITARY CITY, USA, WE ARE ALSO A TARGET. AND WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT.

WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT OUR VETERANS, OUR MILITARY BASES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE'RE ALSO A TARGET, AS MUCH AS I'M AN OPTIMISTIC, HAPPY PERSON, WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THESE THREATS AS THEY EVOLVE AND INCREASE WITH THE INFLUENCE OF AI. BY MOVING THE ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, WE CAN POOL OUR RESOURCES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING VOTERS, SITES, AND POLL WORKERS, NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE THEY ARE ON, NO MATTER WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

EVERYBODY DESERVES TO VOTE IN A SAFE AND SECURE WAY. WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR STUDENTS, IF THE ISDS WERE ALSO TO FOLLOW AND MOVE THEIR ELECTIONS, WE CAN USE JIMS AND OTHER WAYS TO FACILITY VOTING.

THERE'S ALSO AN ISSUE OF MORALE. WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING POLL WORKERS, THERE ARE SECURITY CONCERNS. AS WE POOL RESOURCES AND MOVE THE MAY ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER, WE CAN SHARE AND WORK TOGETHER.

WHAT I WANT TO LEAVE Y'ALL WITH IS FROM A GENERAL WHO USED TO RUN THE NSA.

VOTING IS AN ENDURING, NO-FAIL MISSION. NOT JUST FOR THE U.S. BUT FOR ALL OF US. TOGETHER WE CAN BRING SPEED AND UNITY OF EFFORTS AGAINST ANY FOREIGN ADVERSARIES WHO MIGHT SEEK TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS.

I HOPE WE CAN COUNT ON Y'ALL TO PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL AND MOVE THEM TO NOVEMBER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: CARMEN GAMEZ FOLLOWED BY CORELLI IBARRA.

>> GOOD MORNING, MADAME MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CARMEN GAMEZ.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 8. I LOOKED AROUND THIS ROOM AND I WANT TO COMMEND ALL OF THE PRIOR CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO CAME, CIVIC LEADERS. I GUESS THAT'S WHY MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH. SPEAKING TO THIS COUNCIL TODAY AND VOICING OUR WE FEEL AND MAKING SURE OUR VOICE IS HEARD IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I APPRECIATE THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH THE COUNCIL IS APPROACHING THIS ISSUE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THESE CONCERNS DESERVE TO BE HEARD, HOWEVER I RESPECTFULLY BELIEVE THEY

SHOULD NOT BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE. >> MAYOR JONES: QUIET ON

THE DAIS. THANK YOU. >> GUIDING PRINCIPLE MUST BE VOTER PARTICIPATION. FOR TOO LONG SAN ANTONIO'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS HAVE PRODUCED COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY FACE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.

MAY ELECTIONS DURING FIESTA, GRADUATIONS, AND PEAK WORK SEASONS MAKE IT HARDER, NOT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE. AS A CITY WITH A LONG AND PAINFUL HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEXICAN AMERICANS AND BLACK COMMUNITIES, WE MUST BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES. SYSTEMS THAT SUPPRESS TURNOUT DO NOT AFFECT EVERYONE EQUALLY. THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY SILENT THE VOICES WHO HAVE STRUGGLED FOR GENERATIONS TO BE HEARD. FOR SOME OF YOU WHO ARE

[02:35:02]

I HAVE ALSO HEARD DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLY DELAYING THIS CHANGE.

LET ME BE CLEAR AND RESPECTFUL. I DO NOT SUPPORT A DELAY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN US A VERY NARROW WINDOW TO ACT. WE HAVE THE DATA.

WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY INPUT. WE HAVE DECADES OF LIVED EXPERIENCE TELLING US THAT MAY ELECTIONS DO NOT WORK FOR MOST SAN ANTONIANS. DELAY ONLY PRESERVES A SYSTEM THAT ALREADY NOW EXCLUDES TOO MANY PEOPLE. SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE OTHER INSTITUTIONS ARE CAPABLE OF ADAPTING AS THEY HAVE IN CITIES ACROSS TEXAS.

BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MUST FIRST DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ITS OWN VOTERS AND PEOPLE. I AM PROUD TO STAND TODAY WITH FORMER MAYORS, WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, WITH THE SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT AND WITH GENERATIONS OF ORGANIZERS WHO FOUGHT TO EXPAND DEMOCRACIES.

I JUST WANT TO THANK MS. HUERTA FOR BEING HERE. SHE'S VERY GODSEND.

THANK YOU . [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: VICTORIA DE LEON. MY MISTAKE. CORELLI AND THEN VICTORIA.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK UP HERE. I KNOW IT IS YOUR DUTY TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT THANK YOU, REGARDLESS. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH TEXAS, IF YOU COULDN'T TELL. I WORK REQUEST RADICAL REGISTRARS, A NON-PARTISAN, NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO UPPING THE NUMBERS OF REGISTERED VOTERS HERE IN OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY . I SUPPORT MOVING THE ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT REMOVING BARRIERS TO THE BALLOT BOX. TEXAS ALREADY MAKES IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO VOTE. NO ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTING BY MAIL RESTRICTIONS, AND STRICT DEADLINES 30 DAYS BEFORE EACH ELECTION.

THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE -- A LOT FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP UP WITH AND MAKES FIGHTING VOTER FATIGUE A HUGE CHALLENGE. FOR WORKING FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND PEOPLE JUGGLING MULTIPLE JOBS, REMEMBERING MULTIPLE DAYS CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOTING AND SITTING OUT.

THE PEOPLE IN HERE WILL NOT BE THE ONES MOST AFFECTED BY THE VOTE.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COLLEGE STUDENTS, WE SEE HOW ENERGIZED THEY ARE. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT VOTING IS A WAY TO BUILD COMMUNITIES THEY WANT TO LIVE IN.

AND EMOTION IS ABOUT GIVING MORE PEOPLE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

NOW THE NUMBERS, AS WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, 17% IN MAY IS, FOR THE RUNOFF, YOU GUYS DON'T VOTE FOR CHANGES THAT AFFECT 17% OF SAN ANTONIANS.

YOU VOTE FOR STUFF THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE 100% TURNOUT IN EVERY ELECTION BUT MOVING THIS ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IS GOING TO INCREASE THE VOTER TURNOUT. I UNDERSTAND MAYBE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I GET THAT THAT'S A BIT DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT AND SEE THAT THEY MIGHT STRUGGLE. BUT THAT SHOULDN'T AFFECT US DOING SOMETHING.

I URGE YOU GUYS TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE 63 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY.

PRETTY SURE THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS IN FAVOR TO THIS VOTE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT HERE BEGGING YOU GUYS TO VOTE FOR IT.

TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD. TO HAVE MORE SAN ANTONIANS VOTE IN THESE ELECTIONS.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: VICTORIA DE LEON FOLLOWED BY FAY. >> HI.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS VICTORIA DE LEON AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7.

I'M HERE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT OF MOVING SAN ANTONIO'S ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER BECAUSE BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS ABOUT INCREASING ACCESS TO PARTICIPATION AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR VOTERS. THIS WOULD ESPECIALLY BE A WIN FOR WORKING FAMILIES, THOSE BALANCING WORK, CHILDCARE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT LIFE THROWS AT THEM. MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE IN SURVIVAL MODE AND WHEN THAT'S THE REALITY, STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED IN LOCAL ELECTIONS CAN FEEL IMPOSSIBLE OR JUST BOTTOM LINE DOESN'T TAKE PRIORITY.

[02:40:02]

SHE FELT HER VOICE AND VOTE DIDN'T MATTER AND IT PAINS ME TO KNOW THAT SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY FEEL THAT WAY. THAT SENSE OF EXCLUSION IS ESPECIALLY REAL IN OUR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHERE THE DISTRUSTING GOVERNMENT KEEPS PEOPLE ENGAGING IN POLITICS. ANY STEPS TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY MATTERS.

CONSOLIDATING ELECTIONS CAN HELP REDUCE VOTER FATIGUE AND ALLOW MORE TIME AND ENERGY FOR US TO BE SPENT ON EDUCATING VOTERS, ENGAGING COMMUNITIES, AND BUILDING TRUST IN SYSTEMS THAT SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THEM AND NOT AGAINST THEM.

I ALSO PROUDLY SERVE AS BOARD CHAIR FOR RADICAL REGISTRARS, A NONPROFIT.

SUPPORTING THIS MOVE WAS AN EASY DECISION, INFORMED BY THE CONVERSATIONS OUR TEAM HAS WITH VOTERS ACROSS THE CITY NEARLY EVERY DAY. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS MOTION IN OUR DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: FAY FOLLOWED BY LOUISE VASQUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS FAY AND WE ARE A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SPENT OVER A DECADE BUILDING CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT FOR FILIPINO AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT VOTER PARTICIPATION, WE ORGANIZE IT.

ORGANIZED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THROUGH THIS WORK WE HAVE LEARNED ONE SIMPLE AND THAT IS WHEN ACCESS IS THERE, ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR COMMUNITIES FOLLOWS. ASIAN AMERICAN VOTERS ARE A GROWING COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO. BUT ONE OF THE LEAST REPRESENTED OF THE BALLOT BOX. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES WORK ON THE FRONT LINES OF INDUSTRIES THAT KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. THEY WORK IN HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, HOSPITALITY, AND THE MILITARY. THESE ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THEY WORK LONG, UNPREDICTABLE SHIFTS. SO WHEN ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN MAY, THEY'RE MUCH HARDER TO TRACK AND HARDER TO PRIORITIZE, NOT BECAUSE THEIR COMMUNITIES DON'T CARE, BUT BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE OF THESE ELECTIONS MAKES PARTICIPATION HARDER. IN CIVIC ORGANIZING SPACES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH MANY OF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM WOULD KNOW, WE'RE OFTEN TOLD THAT LOW TURNOUT IS JUST THE REALITY IN SAN ANTONIO. BUT LAST MONTH PROVED OTHERWISE. WITH NEARLY A 10-POINT INCREASE IN TURNOUT COMPARED TO THE MAY AND JUNE ELECTIONS, SAN ANTONIO SHOWED US WHEN ELECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE THEN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL SHOW UP. SO WITH THAT, I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON MOVING SAN ANTONIO'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: PATRICIA CASTILLO. LUIS AND THEN PATRICIA

CASTILLO. >> THANK YOU. IT'S ALMOST GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW SECONDS OF PRIVILEGE TO SHOUT OUT TO THE YWLA, YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

STUDENTS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS LIVE RIGHT NOW. MY SISTER IS A SENIOR THERE.

I AM JOINED BY KANETRA HEIGHTS. SHE WILL BE DELIVERING

REMARKS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. ANY NAME IS KANETRA, HEIGHTS. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LGBTQ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 4, THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS, AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

THE CHAMBER REPRESENTS LGBTQ+ AND BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND PROFESSIONALS ACROSS OUR CITY. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT PARTICIPATION, ACCESS, AND A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY.

MAY ELECTIONS CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE LOWER VOTER TURNOUT, PARTICULARLY AMONG FAMILIES, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, YOUNG VOTERS, AND COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY FACE BARRIERS TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WHEN WHEN FEWER

[02:45:04]

ENTREPRENEURS THRIVE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE RESIDENTS FEEL CONNECTED TO THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CONFIDENT THAT THEIR VOICES DO COUNT.

ALIGNING CITY ELECTIONS WITH NOVEMBER ELECTION CYCLES REMOVES UNNECESSARY BARRIERS WHILE ALSO CREATING COST EFFICIENCIES BY SHARING ELECTION EXPENSES WITH OTHER ENTITIES. THE SAN ANTONIO LBGTQ+ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESPECTFULLY URGES CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AS A POLICY DECISION THAT EXPANDS ACROSS, STRENGTHENS DEMOCRACY AND BENEFITS THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: PA TRISH IS A CASTILLO FOLLOWED BY

CAR CARMENA CARDONA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. PATRICIA CASTILLO. I HAVE SPENT 46 YEARS SERVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, MAINLY IN POSITIONS THAT HAVE DEALT WITH PEOPLE LOSING THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK, THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION, THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE A VOICE, BECAUSE I'VE WORKED IN FAMILY VIOLENCE THOSE 46 YEARS.

SO I'VE WITNESSED WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND MEANS TO BE DENIED THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE LIFE'S WORK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT ENSURE THAT EVERY VOICE IS HEARD. HAS A CHANCE AT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE HAVING THAT DENIED, VERY FRANKLY IN SOME CASES, IT KILLS. AND SO PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY WITH CASTING THIS VOTE. IT'S GOING TO MAKE LIFE CHANGES FOR SOME PEOPLE. AND I WANT SAN ANTONIO TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT KIND OF TRANSFORMATION FOR OUR NATION, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE DARK TIMES WHEN EVERYBODY IN OUR GOVERNMENT, STATE AND FEDERAL IS TRYING TO DENY US THESE OPPORTUNITIES, TAKE THEM AWAY. LONG, HARD FOUGHT-FOR RIGHTS, AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED, IT WOULD BE OKAY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THEM.

IT WOULD BE OKAY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE. IT WOULD BE OKAY IF WE WERE ALL STUCK AT HOME HAVING BABIES AND COOKING AND CLEANING AND RUNNING AROUND WITH A PIECE OF TAPE ON OUR MOUTH. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS. THIS COUNTRY NEEDS THE PARTICIPATION OF EVERYBODY, AND IN A TIMELY FASHION AND WITH THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY SHARE WHAT IT IS THEY THINK AND WHAT IT IS THEY WANT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO URGE ALL OF YOU TO PLEASE VOTE YES FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT'S A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'M HERE HAVING LIVED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS, BUT I'M SORRY SORRY, RIC, I'M LEAVING YOU FOR EDWARD, OKAY? DON'T BE HEARTBROKEN.

[LAUGHTER]. AND MY WORK WILL CONTINUE WHEREVER I LIVE IN THIS CITY. IT'S MY HOME AND I LOVE IT. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE IF YOU DO, I'M GOING HONKING, OKAY? THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: CARMENA CARDONA FOLLOWED BY FATHER RICHARD AGUILAR.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR GINA ORTIZ JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY

[02:50:06]

I AM A NIGHT SHIFT NURSE OF 10 YEARS, AND I AM A DISTRICT 2 CONSTITUENT.

I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE OUR CITY'S GENERAL ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. I LOVE WHAT I DO.

I LOVE CARING FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO, HOWEVER, I FACE REAL CHALLENGES TO CIVIC PARTICIPATION. MANY HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME AND EXPERIENCE LONG OVERNIGHT HOURS, ROTATING SCHEDULES AND SPEND OUR DAYTIME HOURS RECOVERING SO THAT WE CAN RETURN TO WORK TO SAFELY CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS.

MOVING THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER WILL BETTER ALLOW US TO PLAN AHEAD TO VOTE AND ENGAGE. IT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY US HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO LIVE IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE].

>> MAYOR JONES: FATHER AGUILAR, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM RIPTOW.

>> MAYOR JONES, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE PERSONS SPEAKING TODAY. I'VE BEEN IN THE CHAMBER ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME AND I'VE HEARD ONLY ONE PERSON SPEAK AGAINST THIS SUGGESTION THAT YOU VOTE TO CHANGE THE ELECTIONS FROM MAY TILL NOVEMBER.

I SAY TO YOU WE LIVE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS RIGHT NOW, AND THE QUESTION THAT ALL OF US NEED TO ASK OURSELVES EVERYDAY IS WHAT CAN I DO FOR DEMOCRACY? YOU, REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR CITY, THAT'S THE QUESTION YOU'RE BEING ASKED, WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR DEMOCRACY TODAY? WHEN I RECEIVED MY VOTER REGISTRATION CARD IN 1975, MY MOTHER CAME TO ME AT THE DOOR WHEN I GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL AND SHE SAID, YOUR POLL TAX ARRIVED. SHE GREW UP IN A TIME, AS A LOT OF YOUR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS AND PERSONS IN THIS CHAMBER, WHERE THERE WAS VOTER SUPPRESSION, AND IT WAS SIMPLY CALLED THE POLL TAX BY PERSONS OF COLOR.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT BE COMPLICIT WITH THE VOTER SUPPRESSION THAT IS OCCURRING NOW IN 2025. I HAVE A FRIEND NAMED DESMOND MEAD IN FLORIDA WHO IS IN CHARGE OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED FLORIDA RIGHTS RESTORATION COALITION. AND DESMOND'S LOGO FOR HIS ORGANIZATION IS LET MY PEOPLE VOTE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU, TO LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU MOVE THESE ELECTIONS. THE OTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN SAID IS THAT PERSONS CLOSEST TO A PAIN ARE CLOSEST TO A SOLUTION.

ALL MORNING AND NOW INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PERSONS WHO KNOW THE PAIN, WHO KNOW THE PAIN OF BEING DENIED THE VOTE, WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED RIGHTS, WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PARTICIPANT.

I'M PROUD TO BE FROM SAN ANTONIO. WHEN MY FAMILY -- WHEN I WAS BORN MY FAMILY LIVED IN THE ALAZAN COURTS, SO IN MY LIFETIME I LIVED IN WHAT IS NOW DISTRICT 5. MY MOTHER IS A SINGLE PARENT, ACQUIRED A HOUSE THAT STILL BELONGS TO THE FAMILY IN DISTRICT 9, AND UPON MY RETIREMENT, MY WIFE AND I LIVED IN DISTRICT 3 AND NOW IN DISTRICT 10. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM CITIZENS FROM EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON.

PLEASE MAKE THIS CHANGE. I'M SURPRISED THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY IS CALLED BIPARTISAN. YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A GIFT, A GIFT TO MAKE IT WELL FOR SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: WILLIAM RIPTOW FOLLOWED BY ADRIANA ATTICS.

WILLIAM RIPTOW. OKAY. ADRIANA ATTICS FOLLOWED BY

REBECCA FLORES. >> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.

I AM STANDING IN FOR ADRIANA ATTICS. I USE SHE AND THEY PRONOUNS

[02:55:01]

CONTINUE HOLDING CITY ELECTIONS AT A TIME WHEN MOST OF OUR NUMBERS DON'T VOTE OR WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WE CAN GRAB RIGHT NOW TO UNIFORMLY SHIFT OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER. WHEN TURNOUT HISTORICALLY SURGES AND MORE PEOPLE ARE CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND AS MANY HAVE SAID, SAN ANTONIO IS THE ONLY CITY WHO DOESN'T ALLOW THIS AND OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY. ESPECIALLY FOR LBGTQ+ AND BIPOC COMMUNITIES WHO WORK HARD TO BE SEEN AND TURN THE LOW TURNOUT TURNS OUT TO BE LOW INFLUENCE. THIS MEANS CRUCIAL DECISIONS ABOUT POLICE PRACTICES, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, HUMAN SERVICES, DIGNITY IN PUBLIC SPACES AND REPRESENTATION AT CITY HALL ARE MADE BY A FRACTION OF THE POPULATION. THE CURRENT SITUATION IS NOT EQUITABLE AND IT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE. MOVING TO NOVEMBER IS NOT A A-ALL TO THE TURNOUT CHALLENGES WE ARE FACED WITH, BUT IT IS A CLEAR AND CORRECT STEP TOWARDS FAIRNESS. IT ALIGNS ELECTIONS WITH A DATE SAN ANTONIANS AND THE NATION AT LARGE ARE FAMILIAR WITH, EXPECT AND PLAN FOR.

IT ALSO INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF NEIGHBORS INCLUDING BLACK FOLKS, QUEER FOLKS AND OTHER LATINO FAMILIES SHOW UP, AND IT CAN AFFECT MILLIONS AND CAN INSTEAD FUND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. SOME ARE EXPRESSING CONCERNS OR MORE TIME. THAT IS REASONABLE, BUT THIS DEADLINE ISN'T A BUREAUCRATIC SQUEEZE, IT IS A SIMPLE CALL TO ASK FOR BASIC INCLUSION AND WE CANNOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY PASS US BY AS WE WILL NOT GET ANOTHER EASILY ACCESSIBLE WINDOW SOON. IF THIS OPPORTUNITY IS LOST, WE RISK LEAVING ANOTHER GENERATION WITHOUT A STRONG VOICE. AND ANOTHER GENERATION WITHOUT A STRONG VOICE EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR TIME IS NOW AND WE MUST ACT QUICKLY AND JUSTLY. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE POWER TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO MORE JUST DOES NOT START WITH RHETORIC, IT STARTS WITH ACTION, WHICH MEANS ACCESS TO THE BALLOT. ALIGNING OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WITH NOVEMBER IS NOT JUST SMART GOVERNANCE, IT'S ABOUT EQUITY AND ACTION. IT'S SAYING THAT IN SAN ANTONIO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COUNTS.

I ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR PRACTICAL ACCESS TO VOTING. I ASK YOU TO VOTE YES.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: REBECCA

FLORES FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE DRENNAN. >> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5. MY NAME IS REBECCA AND I STAND HERE TO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO MOVE THE MAY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER. THIS MOTION ACTUALLY FORCED ME TO WALK AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 AND I HAVE A PETITION THAT I WANT TO GIVE YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, FROM MY NEIGHBORS. BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE ANSWERS THEIR DOORS OR THEY GO TO SLEEP EARLY OR WHATEVER, THEY ALL SAID THEY WOULD APPRECIATE THE MOVE FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, EVERY ONE OF THEM. AND MOST OF THEM CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT IT WOULD SAVE MONEY. AND THEY TALKED ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES THAT WERE GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE NEED SPEED BUMPS. THERE'S SO MANY ACCIDENTS ON THE CORNER WHERE I LIVE, WHERE YOUR MOMMA LIVES TOO. AND THAT WOULD DECREASE THE CAR REPAIRS AND THEIR CAR INSURANCE. SO SPEED BUMPS. SO A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE HERE MIGHT GO BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE HAVE A FOOD PANTRY ON THE CORNER THERE ON GIVENS AND EDWARDS BECAUSE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY FOOD. AND MY NEIGHBOR JUST SAID THAT HER LANDLADY WAS INCREASING HER RENT BECAUSE OF THE WATER FEES THAT ARE GOING TO BE INCREASED. SO WE'RE ALL SUFFERING, RIGHT? THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SUFFERING. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE, MAYBE, HOPEFULLY, THE COST THAT WE COULD SAVE WITH THE MAY ELECTION, MAY RUNOFF AND ALL OF THAT, PUT IT ABOUT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. IF NOT FOR THIS, THEN AT LEAST FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. YOU KNOW THE PROJECT MARVEL VOTE DID SOMETHING.

IT REALLY -- I SAW SO MUCH INTEREST IN THIS VOTE, SO MUCH INTEREST.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO THE DISTRICT MEETINGS TALKING AND ASKING QUESTIONS THAT WERE SO PERTINENT TO THIS PROJECT MARVEL ELECTION. PROJECT MARVEL DID NOT HAVE A MANDATE WHEN THEY WON THIS ELECTION, EVEN THOUGH THEY PUT IN $12 MILLION OR $15 MILLION, THE OTHER SIDE

[03:00:03]

THEY WANTED TO WIN. AND THE QUESTION OF COURSE IS ALWAYS WHY.

AND OF COURSE THE REASON, OF COURSE, IS ALWAYS MORE AND MORE MONEY FOR THEMSELVES.

SO PROJECT MARVEL WAS MARVELOUS FOR US BECAUSE IT REALLY ENGAGED PEOPLE.

SO NOW INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THIS, VOTE ON IT, VOTE ON THE MOTION, VOTE FOR IT, BUT THEN FOCUS YOUR ENERGIES ON WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT STEPS FOR PROJECT MARVEL BECAUSE WE ARE INTERESTED, VERY INTERESTED IN WHERE OUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS GOING TO.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DO -- WE HAVE TO WATCH EVERY STEP, EVERY STEP, ALL OF YOU OF THIS TERM AGREEMENT, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GET CONTINUOUSLY BILKED BY THE BILLIONAIRES IN THE CITY.

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE MOTION, TERI. I LEAVE YOU THE PETITION.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: CHRISTINE

DRENNAN FOLLOWED BY DR. CARMEN DEFOLA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINE. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1.

AND I CHAIR THE URBAN STUDIES PROGRAM AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY.

ELECTIONS ARE THE ONE OPPORTUNITY IN WHICH MOST OF US ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. IN OUR POLITICAL CLIMATE NATIONWIDE IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO VOTING OR TO PARTICIPATION. IN FACT, IT'S DISCOURAGED.

MOVING AND CHANGING VOTING PLACES, CHANGING REQUIREMENTS, INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL 86 REQUIREMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCOURAGE PARTICIPATION NATIONWIDE AND NOW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SEEMS TO JOIN THE GAME. RATHER THAN EXTENDING THE FRANCHISE TO INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE, WE CHOOSE TO MAINTAIN A CONFUSING, OBFUSCATING CALENDAR THAT DISCOURAGES PARTICIPATION. SINCE THE 1970S THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS EXTENDED THE FRANCHISE AND THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT AND IMPLEMENTED THAT ARE HERE NOW IN THIS ROOM. AND NOW THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO REVERSE THAT TREND AND GO BACKWARDS. AND WHY? TO A LOT OF US IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS SELF-PRESERVATION FOR YOU ALONE. SAN ANTONIO'S BEEN A SAFE HAVEN DURING THIS OTHERWISE TUMULTUOUS YEAR DICTATED BY A NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION, AND NOW IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE FALLING IN LINE. AND IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT THE CITY, WHICH HAS BEEN A FOREFRONT IN INCLUSION AND IN EQUITY AND IN JUST EXTENDING THIS FRANCHISE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY NOW SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL TREND OF BACKING UP AND REVERSING THAT, AND -- I'M SORRY, IT'S EMOTIONAL. BUT IN MINIMIZING VOTER PARTICIPATION.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: DR. CARMEN DEFOYA, FOLLOWED BY DEANNE CUELLAR. SHE'S NOT HERE.

DEANNE. FOLLOWED BY ISABEL GALVAN. >> HELLO.

I'M GOING TO -- CAN I SEE THE TIMER? IT WILL HELP ME.

HI. HI. MY NAME IS DEANNE.

I'M A DISTRICT 1 RESIDENT. HERE -- TODAY IS THE FOURTH DAY OF MY VACATION.

I HAVEN'T HAD A VACATION IN A REALLY LONG TIME. I'M JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT HERE FOR WORK. AND I DECIDED TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TIME SINCE I'M HERE ON MY VACATION. I SAID THAT BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY LAST NIGHT AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW OFTEN AS AN ACTIVIST WE MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE WHO STAND IN LINE FOR CHICKEN ON A STICK OR PEOPLE WHO STAND IN LINE AT COMIC CON OR STAND IN LINE FOR VOTING AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW PRECIOUS TIME IS.

AND THESE PEOPLE ARE STANDING IN LINE FOR AN EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR FAMILY, THE SAME WAY WE STAND IN LINE TO VOTE BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THAT EXPERIENCE IS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY OF MOVING THE ELECTION, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU CAN'T BUY TIME, YOU KNOW.

THERE'S PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY AND THERE'S PEOPLE IN MY LIFE WHO ALL THEY WANT IS MORE TIME, YOU KNOW. SO I JUST FEEL LIKE AS A SAN ANTONIAN, TIME IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON, AND AS A JEW AND AS A QUEER PERSON, I THINK ABOUT EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT NOT BE ALWAYS PRACTICING THE SABBATH ON EVERY FRIDAY AND EVERY

[03:05:02]

MY TALKING POINTS ABOUT TIME IS ALSO ABOUT HOW EMOTIONALLY IT MAKES ME FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST TIME DUE TO MY HEALTH AND DISABILITIES.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY MOVING ON FROM THIS ELECTION AND VOTING NO. I ALSO WANT TO STOP WHEN I THINK ABOUT TIME, DOLORES IS NOT HERE AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT HER TOO LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS WASHING DISHES BECAUSE SHE GAVE ME A PIECE OF ADVICE A LONG TIME AGO, JUST DO THE DISHES.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE CLEAN, BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE DONE, RIGHT? SHE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW -- SO I FEEL LIKE IF WE DON'T VOTE YES FOR THIS WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT IMPORTANT, THAT WE'RE RESERVING THIS TIME FOR THE FEW. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S EVIDENCE AND THE DATA EXISTS THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT THIS. AND I FEEL LIKE ELECTION TIMING IS NOT A SCHEDULING DETAIL, IT'S A POWER CHOICE. AND VOTING NO IS CHOOSING A RIGGED SYSTEM AND THE STATUS QUO. AND HISTORICALLY SAN ANTONIANS, OUR LEADERS HAVE WORKED TO EXPAND THE CIRCLE WHO COUNTS AND I TRUST THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: ISABEL GALVAN FOLLOWED BY KATE SANCHEZ. ISABEL GALVAN.

KATE SANCHEZ. >> OH MY GOSH. WE MADE IT.

I NEED SOME MATCHA AND TACOS. I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THIS MANY PEOPLE SIGN UP. MY NAME IS KATE. I AM THE SENIOR MANAGER OF ORGANIZING OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTH TEXAS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 BUT WE HAVE CLINICS IN DISTRICTS 1, 3, 6, 7 AND 10. STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM A COUPLE OF YOU ON THE TOURS. I'LL KEEP MY INBOX OPEN.

BUT YEAH, I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE POTENTIAL OF MOVING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER. WHILE OUR PASSION IS PROVIDING HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY, OF COURSE, WE ALSO VERY MUCH ENGAGE IN NONPARTISAN GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS.

WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT VOTING IS -- THE VOTING PROCESS MUST BE MADE CLEAR, EASILY ACCESSIBLE, TIMELY, RELEVANT, AND THAT'S IF WE WANT ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES, TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

DATA FROM SEVERAL UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES SHOW THAT OFF CYCLE ELECTIONS ARE NOT LIKELY A REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

THEY TEND TO SEE TURNOUT FROM AFFLUENT VOTERS AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.

FOR TEXAS SAN ANTONIO ACTUALLY HAS A HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT THAN OTHER CITIES AS HAS BEEN SAID BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE HERE, BUT WE WILL SYSTEM SEE 10 TO 15% OF REGISTERED VOTERS WHO ARE MAKING THEIR VOICE HEARD. DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT WHEN MAJOR TEXAS CITIES MOVE THEIR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS THEY SAW HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT. SO OUR CITY WILL BECOME MORE VIBRANT AND IT WILL BE -- IT'S JUST A BETTER, TIGHTER KNIT PEOPLE WHEN MORE PEOPLE ENGAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. RIGHT NOW IN THE MOMENT WE LIVE IN WITH GREAT FREQUENCY WE'RE SEEING A PATTERN IN LEGISLATION THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND SILENCES GROUPS WHO ARE MARGINALIZED AND THIS INCLUDES HEALTH CARE.

WE ALSO SEE THE GERRYMANDERING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WHEN WE'RE LIVING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS THIS HOSTILE WE UNDERSTAND AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE URGENCY, MAYOR JONES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

WE WANT SAN ANTONIO VOTERS TO BE ENGAGED IN CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE. WE ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CONSTITUENTS AND GET THEM INVOLVED. WE REMAIN CURIOUS AND OPTIMISTIC OF THAT. ULTIMATELY IF THE GOAL IS FOR SAN ANTONIO TO SEE HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THIS INITIATIVE MIGHT PROVIDE THAT, THEN PLANNED PARENT SOUTH TEXAS STANDS IN SUPPORT OF IT IN THE HOPES IT WILL HELP US REACH A MORE REPRESENTATIVE VOTE AND COMMUNITY.

SO THANK Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: MICHAEL

VALDEZ, FOLLOWED BY PETE BERNAL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MICHAEL. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, BUT I'M ALSO A UTSA STUDENT AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6 IN CEREMONY EDGEWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M HERE TODAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION REGARDING THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER IN ODD YEARS. I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AND I BELIEVE IT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL DEMOCRACY.

[03:10:04]

CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS SERVE THE SAME COMMUNITIES AND THE SAME VOTERS.

SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS EVEN HAVE NOVEMBER ELECTION DAYS OFF FOR STUDENTS.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LEARN ABOUT BEING CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE ONES THAT OPEN THEIR DOORS AS POLLING SITES. LESS ELECTIONS MEANS SAFER SCHOOLS BECAUSE ANYONE CAN WALK INTO A SCHOOL DURING A POLLING SITE AND THAT MEANS LESS DISRUPTION TO IMPROVE STUDENT SUCCESS. THE CITY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY AS A PARTNER IN STRENGTHENING LOCAL DEMOCRACY ACROSS ALL INSTITUTIONS.

THERE ARE ALSO COST CONSIDERATIONS. CONSOLIDATED ELECTIONS CAN REDUCE PER-VOTER COSTS AND IF THIS CHANGE RESULTS IN SAVINGS, THOSE RESOURCES SHOULD BE REINVESTED IN YOUTH SERVICES AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS SO YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BETTER EQUIPPED AND ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. ULTIMATELY THIS DECISION SHOULD BE ABOUT COLLABORATION, ALIGNMENT AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AT EVERY LEVEL OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE, INCLUDING OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES. I ALSO THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN THE MINDSET OF LOOKING AT OUR CITY AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TOGETHER. SAN ANTONIO IS DIFFERENT FROM PLACES LIKE DALLAS OR HOUSTON THAT MAINLY WORK WITH ONE LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE MORE THAN 16 INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH MAKES COLLABORATION HARDER, BUT IT ALSO IS IMPORTANT.

IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING DEMOCRACY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, THE CITY HAS TO WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS PARTNERS AND TREAT LOCAL GOVERNANCE AS ONE CONNECTED SYSTEM. I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND AMPLIFY THE YOUNG YOUTH COMMISSIONER WHOSE SPEECH WAS READ TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: PETE

BERNAL, FOLLOWED BY LUPITA GONZÁLEZ. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

I'M PETER WITH AMERICAN GI FORUM OF BEXAR COUNTY. I WAS ALSO FOR 20 YEARS I LIVED IN DISTRICT 4 AND AN ADVOCATE FOR DISTRICT 4. RIGHT NOW HE JUST SPOKE ON SOUTHWEST ISD. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A VETERAN WHO RAN FOR THE SOUTHWEST ISD BOARD AND WAS A VICTIM OF THE NOT ALIGNING WITH THE CITY.

WHEN -- CURRENTLY THE ELECTIONS IN 2020, WE WERE FORCEFULLY, SOUTHWEST ISD, WAS FORCED TO GO TO ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER. IN NOVEMBER ONE OF THE PERSON THAT RAN WAS A VET, AND THIS VET WON WITH 3,800 VOTES.

HE WON THAT ELECTION, BEATING THE INCUMBENT OF OVER 40 YEARS.

THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THREE YEARS LATER THEY CHOOSE TO GO WITH ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY, NOT SAN ANTONIO, WHICH THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR VOTERS -- THEY SAY THOSE VOTERS DON'T HAVE THE SAME PERSPECTIVE AS SOUTHWEST.

SO THEREFORE I LOST, ME BEING THE VET, I LOST MY ELECTION WITH 400 VOTES.

I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS A WAY THAT CREATES BARRIERS. NOW, THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THIS. THIS IS A TIME FOR ALL OF YOU TO COME TOGETHER AND AFFORD OPPORTUNITY TO ALL VOICES TO BE HEARD. THIS IS A TIME FOR OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR -- DON'T MAKE IT PERSONAL. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE PERSONAL ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BE PERSONAL ON OTHER ISSUES, BUT LET PEOPLE VOTE.

THE ISSUE IS THAT IT'S FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO VOTE AND BE ABLE TO GO TO THE POLLS. RIGHT NOW SOUTHWEST ISD CREATES BARRIERS IN CREATING A DIFFERENT BALLOT, A DIFFERENT PLACE TO VOTE, A DIFFERENT PLACE EVEN TO VOTE FOR MR. MUNGIA AS A COUNCILMAN. IT'S CRAZY HOW THEY CAN USE THIS AND DON'T USE THIS TO DO THIS. DON'T BE SOUTHWEST ISD.

BE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BE YOUR OWN PEOPLE AND MOVE THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: LUPITA

GONZÁLEZ FOLLOWED BY SALINE IN A MONTOYA. >> THANK YOU.

BEFORE MY CLOCK BEGINS I NEED SUPPORT WITH SLIDES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, I PROVIDED SOME SLIDES FOR YOU.

THE VERY FIRST PAGE HAS A PIE CHART. SO MY NAME IS LUPITA AND I'M

[03:15:02]

ACCORDING TO THE 2024 STATUS OF POVERTY REPORT, ONE IN TWO SAN ANTONIANS STRUGGLE TO AFFORD BASIC NECESSITIES OR ARE ONE EMERGENCY AWAY FROM FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.

I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT AGAIN. ACCORDING TO THE 2024 STATUS OF POVERTY REPORT, ONE IN TWO SAN ANTONIANS STRUGGLE TO AFFORD BASIC NECESSITIES OR ARE ONE EMERGENCY AWAY FROM FINANCIAL INSTABILITY. I WORK WITH THINK TANKS, POLICY ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS TO EVALUATE HOW POLICY DESIGN AFFECTS ACCESS, LEGITIMACY AND OUTCOMES ESPECIALLY FOR RESIDENTS FACING PREDICTABLE BARRIER. I'M HERE TO OFFER AN EQUITY IMPACT PERSPECTIVE ON THE QUESTION OF ELECTION TIMING. NOT AS A POLITICAL ARGUMENT, BUT AS A GOVERNANCE ONE.

IN THIS CONTEXT, EQUITY ASKS A SIMPLE QUESTION. DOES A POLICY WORK FOR RESIDENTS WITH THE LEAST TIME, MONEY AND FLEXIBILITY OR DOES IT DEPEND ON PEOPLE HAVING SURPLUS RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATE? MAY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS CONSISTENTLY PRODUCE VERY LOW TURNOUT. WHEN PARTICIPATION IS THIS LIMITED, ELECTION OUTCOMES REFLECT WHO CAN OVERCOME BARRIERS, AND IT'S NOT THE FULL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THAT IS NOT A FAILURE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S A PREDICTABLE OUTCOME OF SYSTEM DESIGN. AND THAT FAILS OUR WIDE CITIZENRY. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE CHART? THANK YOU, YES. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, I'M NOT GOING TO GO WORD FOR WORD, BUT THERE'S SOME POPULATIONS THAT ALREADY -- REPRESENTATIVES OF THESE POPULATIONS SPOKE, FOR EXAMPLE DISABILITY. THERE'S -- IF WE -- THE MAY ELECTION TIMING, THERE'S MORE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

IT'S A STRAIGHT GREENLIGHT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION FOR PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT POPULATIONS THAT EXPERIENCE BARRIERS FROM THE MAY ELECTION AS OPPOSED TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. SO FEEL FREE TO DIVE IN AS I SPEAK.

THE RESIDENTS MOST AFFECTED BY MAY ELECTIONS, MEANING WHO ARE EXCLUDED DUE TO SYSTEMIC BARRIERS ARE HOURLY AND LOW WAGE WORKERS -- LET'S KEEP IT THERE PLEASE ON THE CHART. SORRY. SYSTEMIC BARRIERS ARE HOURLY AND LOW WAGE WORKERS, CAREGIVERS AND SINGLE PARENTS, PUBLIC TRANSIT-DEPENDENT RESIDENTS AND YOUNGER VOTERS. SO SIMPLY LOOK AT THE SLIDES AND I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO HONOR OUR DEMOCRACY, WE NEED TO HAVE OUR ELECTIONS MOVE

TO NOVEMBER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: SALINE IN

A MONTOYA FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE JENNINGS. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS SELENA MONTOYA AND NORMALLY RIGHT ABOUT NOW I WOULD ACTUALLY BE SINGING JINGLE BELLS WITH A CLASSROOM OF FOUR-YEAR-OLDS. SO IN THIS CASE I FELT BEING HERE THIS MORNING WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE IMPORTANT. I'M AN ACTIVE VOTER, A FREQUENT VOLUNTEER AND A SOMETIMES CONSULTANT FOR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE RANGING FROM SCHOOL BOARD TO NATIONAL RACES. I'M ALSO THE BOARD CHAIR OF A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION CALLED ANNIE'S LIST. THERE WE SUPPORT WOMEN WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WHILE ALSO RECRUITING AND TRAINING INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORT THEM. THIS YEAR ALONE WE SUPPORTED MORE THAN 150 SUCH CANDIDATES ACROSS THE STATE. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF HOLDING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER. THIS MOVE HAS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL BENEFITS NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR CANDIDATES AND ESPECIALLY FOR VOTERS.

WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CITY THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS APPROACHING A MILLION DOLLARS AND IN THIS CASE I'LL NOTE IN DALLAS WHERE THEY RECENTLY PASSED IN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THIS, THEIR COST SAVINGS WERE ABOUT HALF THAT.

IN MY WORLD I FOCUS ON CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES.

PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU WHO MAYBE RAN FOR THE FIRST TIME RECENTLY.

THEY ARE LIKE MYSELF AS WELL. THEY'RE HOME ROOM PARENTS, PTA VOLUNTEERS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THEY'RE RUNNING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. MANY FIND THAT WHEN THEY KNOCK ON DOORS FOR THEIR FIRST DOOR THEIR POTENTIAL CONSTITUENTS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE THAT THERE IS EVEN AN ELECTION. IN MY OWN COMMUNITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS, HALF THE TIME THE ELECTION IS CANCELED FOR LACK OF CANDIDATES TO CONSIDER.

[03:20:02]

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT PERSONALLY IN PRECINCTS WITH EVEN THE HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT WE SEE A MARKED DECREASE IN MAY ELECTIONS. THIS YEAR THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN US AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY, ALBEIT WITH A DEADLINE, TO MAKE AN EVIDENCE-BASED CHANGE TOWARDS EASING VOTER CONFUSION, INCREASING TURNOUT AND PROMOTING DEMOCRACY. SO TO SUMMARIZE, COST SAVINGS, CANDIDATE SUPPORT, VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER TURNOUT ARE ALL COMPELLING REASONS TO SUPPORT MOVING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER AND TO DO SO BY THE STATE MANDATED DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 31ST. I KNOW WE'RE ALL GIVING UP SOMETHING TODAY. BEING HERE TODAY, WHETHER THAT'S PAID TIME OFF, FAMILY OBLIGATIONS OR IN MY CASE THE JOYFUL SOUNDS OF A CLASS OF FOUR-YEAR-OLDS.

SO IN CLOSING I HOPE IN VOTING TO APPROVE THIS CHANGE YOU WILL ALSO ACCEPT THE GIFT OF TIME YOU WILL EACH RECEIVE AS A RESULT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

CONSIDERATION. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: DEBBIE JENNINGS, FOLLOWED BY LARRY ROW MOW. ROMO.

DEBBIE JENNINGS. OKAY. LARRY ROMO, FOLLOWED BY JACK

FINGER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LARRY ROMO. I'M A PROUD BORN AND RAISED MILITARY CITY USA SAN ANTONIANS, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY GRADUATE, 28 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE, VETERAN, FORMER UNITED STATES SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM DIRECTOR AND CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE LULAC NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS AND A FORMER NATIONAL AMERICA GI FORUM COMMANDER.

SALUTE TO YOUR SERVICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR OUR CITY BY YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY BY ENSURING YOU'RE OPTIMIZING OUR COMMUNITY WELLNESS.

WHEN I AND OTHER MILITARY MEMBERS JOINED THE MILITARY, WE TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES LIKE YOU DID, MAYOR JONES. TO BE PATRIOTS AND WARRIORS WHO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY.

CLEARLY MOST TAKE THIS OATH SERIOUSLY. YOU ALL TOOK A SIMILAR OATH OF OFFICE TO SUPPORT THE LAWS OF TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. YOU ARE THE DOMESTIC WARRIORS AND PATRIOTS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND TO IMPROVE AND DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY.

I ASK BASED ON THE PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE THAT ALL THE PROS AND CONS -- ALL THE PROS OUTWEIGHING THE CONS TO MOVE THE ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, THAT YOU VOTE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. ESPECIALLY SINCE MORE CITIZENS WILL COME OUT TO VOTE AT LEAST TENFOLD AND SAVE SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS FROM 500,000 TO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN HONORED PATRIOT AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.

PLEASE SUPPORT ENHANCING OUR DEMOCRACY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: JACK FINGER, FOLLOWED BY THE

FINAL SPEAKER, RENEE GONZÁLEZ. >> WELL, MAYOR JONES, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK AND YOU'RE TAKING UP THE IDEA OF MOVING ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER.

I SEE, OH, A COUPLE OF ADVANTAGES, BUT MOSTLY NEGATIVES IN THIS ONE.

THE -- YES, IT WOULD DEFINITELY AVOID THE FIESTA AREA OF TIME.

IT WOULD ALSO AVOID THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN CASE YOU NEED TO GO UP AND BACK AND FORTH TO AUSTIN, BUT I ALSO SEE THAT THIS WOULD PUT PRESSURE ON COUNCIL ELECTIONS AS PARTISAN ELECTIONS, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, MS. GONZÁLEZ.

YEAH. ALSO -- BUT I ALSO SEE MANY NEGATIVES.

YOU SAY THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION.

I REALLY DO NOT SEE HOW. WHY? BECAUSE OF THIS: WHAT WE HAVE NOW, WE HAVE MAY ELECTIONS. THEY ARE COUPLED WITH SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS WHERE YOU AT LEAST HAVE NAMES AND FACES OF PEOPLE RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARDS. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE IN NOVEMBER?

[03:25:01]

YOU SAY IT'S GOING TO SAVE MONEY? NO.

I SAY THE SAME REASON, YOU'VE GOT THEY CALL IT COST OF SERVICE HERE COUPLED WITH SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE IN NOVEMBER? MAYBE SOME CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. IT DOESN'T WORK.

BUT THE BIGGEST BUGABOO I SEE IS THIS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE AN EXTRA SIX MONTHS IN OFFICE. WE THE VOTERS DID NOT VOTE FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEAR TERMS FOR YOU! NO, WE DIDN'T.

SO WHAT ARE YOU -- YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, JACK, THE STATE LEGISLATURE GIVE US THIS OPTION. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT, JACK? YOU WANT US TO JUST QUIT? WELL, THAT MIGHT BE AN IDEA. HERE'S A SUGGESTION, ADD AN AMENDMENT TO THIS RESOLUTION SAYING EVERYONE WHO IS IN OFFICE IN MAY 2029 SHALL RESIGN. RESIGN. WHY NOT? YOU SAID YOU WERE ONLY GOING WE EXPECTED THAT.EARS.- YEAH.

IN A RANDOM ACT OF RESIGN HERE IN MAY OF 2029, A COUPLE FOLLOWED -- COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR AND JALEN AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU RESIGN IN 2029. YOU CAN SAY JACK, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WE COULDN'T HAVE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS?

RIGHT, I WOULD FINALLY GET A VACATION! >> MAYOR JONES: RENEE

GONZÁLEZ. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SURE YOU'RE GLAD TO SEE THE LAST SPEAKER UP HERE. MY NAME IS RENEE. I AM A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT.

I HAVE ATTENDED TOWN HALL MEETINGS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND THE POSITIVES HAVE ALL BEEN LAID OUT BEFORE ME BY THE SCORES OF SPEAKERS. THE CONCERNS I HEARD THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD WERE DUE TO COST, HAD TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HAD TO DO WITH EXTENDED TERMS AND COMMUNITY INPUT. I THINK IT'S BEEN SHOWN TODAY THAT YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY INPUT, YOU'VE HAD PLENTY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SPEAKING FOR THE RESOLUTION. I AM ALSO FOR THE RESOLUTION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT UPSET ME THE MOST TODAY ABOUT THE TESTIMONY IN FRONT OF YOU WAS WHEN THE ONE SPEAKER THAT WAS SPEAKING AGAINST THE RESOLUTION MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE IT BECAUSE THAT'S TOO MUCH INFORMATION FOR THE VOTERS.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY I WENT WITH MY GRANDFATHER, I REMEMBER HIM PAYING THE POLL TAX. IT WAS TWO TO FOUR DOLLARS THEN.

WHEN I WAS 15 I WENT TO WORK IN THE FIELDS, WORKING THE WATERMELONS.

TWO HOURS INTO IT, I REALIZED THAT I WAS GETTING PAID ONE DOLLAR AN HOUR, AND WHAT IT MUST HAVE COST MY GRANDFATHER TO PAY THAT MONEY TO VOTE.

I MADE MYSELF A PROMISE THEN THAT I WOULD VOTE AS OFTEN AS I COULD.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS 78, HE WAS STILL WORKING IN THE FIELDS AT 78 WHEN I WAS 15.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT LET PASS.

AND BY THE WAY, THAT TIMER SHOULD BE UP FRONT TO FACILITATE US KEEPING TRACK.

BUT I AM FOR GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE. I THINK YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH THIS FORWARD. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY OF RARE BIPARTISANSHIP AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE. IF YOU HAVE SOME ISSUES, PERSONAL ISSUES WITH YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE, PUT THEM ASIDE.

THINK OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITING FROM THIS BOTH IN TERMS OF COST, IN TERMS OF TIME, AND IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTERS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO RECOGNIZE TWO MORE FOLKS. ARCELLI HERRERA FOLLOWED BY DEBRA JOHNSON.

[03:30:17]

DO WE HAVE A TRANSLATOR? >> MAYOR, WE DO. JUST GIVE US ONE MOMENT.

DEBRA, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK FIRST WHILE WE AWAIT THE TRANSLATOR?

THANK YOU. >> HELLO, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DEBRA.

I'M A DISTRICT 4 RESIDENT. I'M ALSO A CLIMATE JUST ORGANIZER FOR A NON-PROFIT CALLED PUBLIC CITIZEN AND MEMBER OF ECO USA. MY PERSPECTIVE AS A PARENT AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IS WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE TODAY.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY BOTH AS -- AS BOTH. I HAVE A -- HE'S 25.

25-YEAR-OLD SON WHO GREW UP VOTING WITH ME. FROM THE TIME HE WAS YOUNG HE WAS PART OF THE PROCESS COMING TO POLLS TO SEE THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AS SOMETHING WE JUST DO AS A FAMILY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT MATTERS AND I THINK ALL OF US PARENTS -- A LOT OF ONES IN MY CIRCLE TRY TO DO THIS.

ALL OF THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN UNTIL HE WENT OFF TO COLLEGE.

AT THAT TIME CITY ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN IN MAY SO MY SON WAS STUDYING AT UT AUSTIN DURING THE FINALS, WHICH IS MAY SEASON, HE SIMPLY COULDN'T AFFORD THE TIME TO COME HOME AND VOTE. NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ON THE OTHER HAND WERE DOABLE.

IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER AND HE COULD PLAN FOR IT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED Y'ALL TO THINK ABOUT. NOW, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MY OTHER ROLE AS A CLIMATE JUSTICE ORGANIZER. TEXAS WEATHER IS NO LONGER WHAT IT USED TO BE. WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME HEAT HAS BECOME UNSAFE AND VERY COMMON, ESPECIALLY IN MAY. HOLDING ELECTIONS DURING THE HOTTEST MONTHS CREATES REAL BARRIERS FOR VOTERS, ESPECIALLY PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND SENIORS. THERE'S ALSO A NEW LEGAL ISSUE THAT HAS POPPED UP IN OUR STATE IN TEXAS. IT HAS BECOME A FELONY FOR ANYBODY TO HAND WATER TO A HOT VOTER IN LINE DURING THE MAY EXTREME HEAT. IT'S DANGEROUS.

AND IF YOUR INTENT TO GIVE THE WATER IS NOT TO INFLUENCE THE VOTE THAT'S NOT ILLEGAL, BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT INTENT? SO IT CONTINUES TO BE DANGEROUS. AND LAST THING I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IS BUSINESS OWNERS. MANY BUSINESS OWNERS OFFER PAID VOTING HOURS. MY COMPANY DOES, MY NON-PROFIT DOES.

WE GET PAID FOUR HOURS. SO OUR COMPANIES ARE PAYING FOUR HOURS TO ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES TWICE A YEAR, AND NOW THAT'S GOING TO BE REDUCED TO ONCE A YEAR FOR ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. THAT'S HUGE SAVINGS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS WHO A LOT OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE OTHER IDEAS THAT I THOUGHT OF THAT WEREN'T SAID EARLIER. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO VOTE -- I MEAN TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: MS. HERRERA.

WELL, FOR THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY, VERY POOR AND FORGOTTEN, BUT VERY HARD WORKING. TODAY MORE THAN EVER IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION.

BECAUSE WE ARE BEING -- WE ARE BEING HIT FACING HOSTILE POLICIES, BECAUSE EVEN ICE HAS PERMISSION TO KILL US. YES, THAT IS TO BE KILLED WITH BEING FRIGHTENED.

THE HARD-WORKING COMMUNITY, THE CONSUMERS, WE ALL -- I'M ASKING YOU THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE DATE, JUST ONE ELECTION SO THAT WE DON'T MISS ANY VOTE.

[03:35:03]

TO MAKE JUST ONE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER IS GOING TO HELP US SURVIVE.

TODAY WE ARE ONLY SURVIVING. WE ARE BEING HIT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS VERY EXPENSIVE EXPENSIVE. WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES AND SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE RENT OR WE'RE GOING TO EAT, IF WE BUY MEDICATION. WE PAY EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO PAY. WE HOPE WE CAN GET SOME MORE EQUALITY IN THINGS.

WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE WASTED. WE NEED THOSE RESOURCES TO EDUCATE AND NOT TO CLOSE SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS OUR FINAL SPEAKER.

IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION?

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT TODAY TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON THE ERROR, AND I KNOW SHE'S NOT HERE WITH US, BUT TO HAVE DOLORES HUERTA HERE, WHO IS A HERE ROW OF MINE, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY REASONS I'M HERE, BUT ONE OF THEM IS BECAUSE SEEING HER IN A VIDEO, WATCHING HER USE HER VOICE, I KNEW I COULD TOO.

SO I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW HER AND I WAS LIKE, SHE'S A BROWN GIRL LIKE ME.

AND TO COME FULL CIRCLE HERE TO BE ABLE TO SIT AND HAVE HER SPEAK AND ASK US TO VOTE AND TO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY ON THIS DECISION, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES KNOW AND MANY OF YOU ARE SITTING ON THIS, POLITICS IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AN ELECTION TO NOVEMBER IN THE ODD YEARS FOR THE TIME BEING, IN THE ODD YEARS, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY -- TO NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE AND LOBBY FOR THIS. IN THE NEXT SESSION OR THE SESSION AFTER THAT. AND WHILE I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR YOUR CONCERNS, I THINK WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS UNTIL 2029, WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, EVEN THE ONES ABOUT US STAYING AN EXTRA SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE I SAID HEY, LET'S GIVE AN EXTRA TWO YEARS TO THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TERM OUT. WE COULD WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH THE CHARTER AMENDMENT IF THE PEOPLE WANT TO. BUT RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE OUT, IT'S CALLED POLITICAL SCIENCE FOR A REASON, IS THAT WE GET A BETTER TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE WE ARE -- WE INSTILL --N SCHOOL AT THE VERY BEGINNING THAT ELECTION DAY IS IN NOVEMBER. SO THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE -- THIS IS WHAT CHILDREN LEARN, WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND, WHAT THEY'RE PROGRAMMED TO DO. WHETHER IT'S AN ODD YEAR OR EVEN YEAR, THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ELECTION DAY IN NOVEMBER.

SO THIS IS ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT AT ITS HEART. THE STATE OF TEXAS NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING VOTERS OUT. THIS IS NOT A PARTY ISSUE.

THIS IS A GETTING PEOPLE OUT ISSUE. WE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE FALLING BEHIND OTHER STATES THAT ARE SMALLER THAN US, BUT GET MORE ATTENTION.

WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LARGER VOTER TURNOUT.

AND THAT IS WHAT WHEREVER YOU SIT, AND THIS IS A NONPARTISAN RACE UP HERE, AND I'M TEAM TEXAS. TEXAS NEEDS TO DO BETTER. IF WE CAN HELP THE STATE OF TEXAS TO DO BETTER BY MOVING OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER BECAUSE WE KNOW PEOPLE WILL COME OUT AND VOTE FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTION, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THIS FEELS RUSHED. I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME WORK TO BRING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALONG.

[03:40:08]

AND I'M HAPPY TO HELP ANYONE WHO SITS OUTSIDE THEIR DISTRICT ALSO.

[APPLAUSE]. BUT I SENT OUT A POLL. IT WAS THREE QUESTIONS.

THREE QUESTIONS AND THE ANSWER WAS YES, NO OR UNSURE, DOESN'T MATTER IF WE MOVE THE ELECTIONS. AND IT WAS A WEEK MAYBE PLUS A FEW DAYS, AND IT ENDED, AND OF MY VOTERS, BECAUSE THIS IS HOLIDAY SEASON, OF VOTERS OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEAU WE DIDN'T ASK, 124 RESPONDED AND 91 SAID MOVE IT TO NOVEMBER.

SO THAT'S 73%. [APPLAUSE]. SO I AM SURE MATHEMATICALLY, AND THIS IS A SMALL UNIVERSE. AND I WAS I DID NOT EVEN POLL MY SENIORS, I DID NOT TAKE THEM THE SURVEY. I FELT IT WOULD BE SLANTED BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING A PARTY, BUT I'M SURE IF WE GO IN OR WE DO THIS AND I KNOW Y'ALL WANT INPUT, BUT THE INPUT IS GOING TO BE THE SAME.

IT IS JUST GOING TO BE THE SAME. WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS OPPORTUNITY. SO I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS. I'M HERE TO HELP AND I ASK THAT YOU VOTE AND WE CAN GET THIS UNANIMOUSLY THAT EVERYBODY IS SITTING ON THE DAIS THAT TAKES A VOTE, VOTES TO MOVE THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

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

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY. IT WAS A LONG SESSION TO PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE].

AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK ON THE GROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO MS. HUERTA, AN ICON IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

I ALSO REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL WATCHING A VIDEO ABOUT VARIOUS CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIS MOVEMENTS AND WATCHING HER PLAY A ROLE. SHE HAS PUT IN HER TIME AND MADE OUR STATE AND COUNTRY MUCH MORE STRONG AND EQUITABLE.

I FEEL DEEPLY THAT SHE FELT OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WAS WORTH HER TIME, EFFORT AND PRESENCE. IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, MOVE TEXAS, RADICAL REGISTRARS, SOUTHWEST VOTERS, REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT, ACT FOR SA, TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.

FORMER COUNCILWOMAN [INDISCERNIBLE] WHO HAS PUT IN HER TIME TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER AND PAVED THE WAY FOR MANY OF US TO BE HERE TODAY.

I KNOW THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE.

IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO THIS WORK THAT THEY WANT THIS MOVE. I WANT TO SAY I'VE PREVIOUSLY HEARD MY COLLEAGUES DISMISS SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS WE'VE HEARD TODAY BECAUSE A FEW OF YOU HAVE REFERENCED IT IN EVEN YEARS WHICH IS NOT ON THE TABLE. YOU KNOW THIS WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS, RIGHT? SO Y'ALL ARE STILL SUPPORTIVE?

>> YES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: JUST WANTED TO DO A DOUBLE-CHECK REAL QUICK. IF WE CONVENED A STAKEHOLDER GROUP IT WOULD CONSIST OF MEMBERS OF ALL OF IT THESE ORGANIZATION. MANY OF US HAVE PUT OUT SURVEYS AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE THESE ELECTIONS BE MOVED. SURE, WE MAY PREFER ELECTIONS TO BE CONSOLIDATED ON CYCLE, BUT THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE AND IT WILL NOT BE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

A CHARTER AMENDMENT WHERE WE ASK VOTERS TO VOTE ON A CHANGE THAT RELIES ON US TO LOBBY FOR STATE ACTION AND ASKING THE STATE TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ONLY FOR US TO TAKE ANOTHER VOTE IS NOT ONLY UNLIKELY, BUT IT IS ALSO PASSING THE BUCK AND IT WILL BE PASSING THE BUCK TO EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TO BE HERE TODAY TO ORGANIZE AGAIN AND AGAIN WHEN WE COULD MAKE THEIR JOBS SO MUCH EASIER RIGHT NOW.

[APPLAUSE]. VOTERS ELECTED US TO DO ALL OF THE LITTLE DAY-TO-DAY THINGS, BE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CAST VOTES ON THE MUNDANE, BUT THEY EXPECT US TO VOTE IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS EVEN IN A TIME CRUNCH WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.

FUTURE ACTION IS HYPOTHETICAL AND IS NOT ON THE TABLE. WHAT IS ON THE TABLE IS WHAT WE SAW THIS PAST NOVEMBER. OVER 100,000 VOTERS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE SHOWN UP TO THE POLLS CAST VOTES NOT ONLY FOR COUNTY PROPOSITIONS BUT FOR STATEWIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE NOT JUST THE PEOPLE VOTING ON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYORS AND SOME SCHOOL BOARD SEATS, BUT THEY WILL ALSO BE VOTING ON STATEWIDE ISSUES.

ASKED EARLIER IF IT WAS AN OPTION FOR OTHER CITIES TO MOVE THEIR ELECTION FROM NOVEMBER TO MAY AND THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY NO. I WANT TO SHARE AN ANECDOTE WITH YOU. IN 2010 BLACK PERSON WAS VOTED TO A SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. BLACK VOTERS SHOWED UP AND IT WORKED.

HOWEVER ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION AND BEFORE THE NEW CANDIDATES COULD TAKE

[03:45:02]

AND ANYONE ELSE WHO IS GOING TO SHOW UP IN THAT ELECTION WILL HAVE TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO BECOME INFORMED AND HAVE TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO VOTE.

CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TO KNOCK ON DOORS TWICE AS OFTEN TO GET UNLIKELY VOTERS TO TURN OUT AND IT'S BECAUSE OF EVERY BARRIER DESIGNED TO PREVENT THEM FROM COMING OUT IN MAY. MAY ELECTIONS OCCUR OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE KNOW TO BE VOTING SEASON AND MOST VOTERS DO NOT KNOW AN ELECTION IS HAPPENING.

WE HEAR IT AT THE DOORS CONSTANTLY. EVERY MAY, OH, THERE'S AN ELECTION HAPPENING? I JUST VOTED IN NOVEMBER. YOU HEARD IT HOW MANY TIMES TODAY FROM SPEAKERS? MAY ELECTIONS ALSO DIRECTLY CON CONFLICT WITH ACADEMIC CALENDARS AND THE COSTS FOR WORKING CLASS VOTERS, NAVIGATING SCHOOL SCHEDULES, CHILDCARE PROBLEMS AND IN WAYS THAT DOES NOT EXIST THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.

YOU HEARD ABOUT THE HEAT AND HEALTH WORKERS THAT MAY ELECTIONS POSE.

I WANT TO END WITH SOME NUMBERS FOR Y'ALL. WE PUT OUT A SURVEY TO DISTRICT 2 RESIDENTS ASKING FOR THEIR THOUGHTS AND OVER 82% SAID YES.

I DON'T KNOW OF A SINGLE SURVEY WITH THAT MANY RESPONDENTS WHO GETS THAT KIND OF ANSWER UNLESS YOU JUST SAID DO YOU WANT MORE MONEY FOR DISTRICT 2, AND EVERYBODY WOULD SAY YES. I ALSO LOOKED AT TURNOUT FROM 2015 TO 2025 FOR ODD MAY ELECTIONS, EVEN MAY ELECTIONS ANDED ON NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

BEAR WITH ME. OUR ODD YEAR MAY ELECTIONS WHICH INCLUDE OUR CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS, YIELD AN AVERAGE OF 12.8% TURNOUT. EVEN-NUMBERED MAY ELECTIONS TURNOUT. NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS LARGELY WITH JUST CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT SEES ALMOST 10% TURNOUT, DOUBLE THAT OF A MAY ELECTION WITH DAMN NEAR NOTHING ON THE BALLOT OUR CONSTITUENTS WILL SHOW UP IN NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS AT A RATE THAT RIVALS OUR CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

I ALSO LOOKED AT TURNOUT IN NINE PRECINCTS, UIW, TRINITY, ST. MARY'S AND UTSA. THESE ARE THE NINE PRECINCTS IN THE CITY PAID UP PRIMARILY OF STUDENTS. WE SEE TURNOUT DOUBLE IN NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS COMPARED TO MAY OF EVEN YEARS EVEN WHEN THERE IS EVEN MORE TO VOTE FOR SUCH AS AGAIN LIKE PRIMARY RUNOFFS, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND ALAMO COLLEGES, TRUSTEES AND BONDS.

IF WE GIVE VOTERS SOMETHING TO VOTE FOR COULD YOU IMAGINE THE TURNOUT THAT WOULD HAPPEN ORGANICALLY ALL BECAUSE WE ELIMINATED THE BARRIERS THAT EXIST IN MAY? I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES --. I KNOW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES CAME HERE WITH AN IDEA OF HOW THEY WOULD VOTE AND I DO HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU WERE MOVED BY THE COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD TODAY. I WOULD HATE TO RETURN TO THE DAYS OF CITIZENS TO BE IGNORED. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WHO CHALLENGE ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS, LABOR AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RECOGNIZE THIS AS THE OPPORTUNITY IT IS.

FOR ME IT IS A VERY EASY DECISION, I WILL BE VOTING YES AND I HOPE TODAY THE COUNCIL DOES THE RIGHT THING AND FOLLOWS SUIT. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. AS I MENTIONED DURING LAST WEEK'S CONVERSATION, ELECTIONS ARE PILLARED TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON CHANGING WHEN OUR RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS REQUIRES THOROUGH DUE DILIGENCE.

I BELIEVE IN GOOD GOVERNANCE AND KEY PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WHICH REQUIRES DIALOGUE WITH ALL OF THOSE IMPACTED AND INVOLVED. THERE IS POWER IN CONVENING, DEBATING, DISAGREEMENT AND ET CETERA. AND ONE AREA OF CONCERN WAS HIT ON BY JULIA. WHAT WE KNOW THAT FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE ISDS THAT HAVE THEIR ELECTIONS IN MAY OF ODD YEARS ARE IN DISTRICT 5, WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, THAT WE HAVE FOUR THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EDGEWOOD, BUT THEIRS IS IN EVEN YEARS AS CITED. THEY HAVE HIGHER PARTICIPATION, BUT IT'S IN AN EVEN YEAR, NOT ODD YEAR. AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER WHO SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH TO THE TEXAS CAPITOL TO CHALLENGE THE DEFUNDING OF OUR SCHOOLS, THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING IN COALITION AND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AGAIN, MY AREA OF CONCERN WAS FIT ON BY A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO TOUCHED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND FURTHER, WHEN ATTENDING SEI'S DISCLOSURE MEETINGS BECAUSE I'M AN OBSERVER, THERE WERE CASES IN WHICH MEMBER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, DISTRICT 5 PARENTS, RAISED THEIR HAND AND SAID WHERE IS OUR COUNCIL MEMBER? WE NEED HER TO FIGHT FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

[03:50:05]

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS ARE TIRED OF ELECTED PASSING THE BUCK AND ME SAYING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO SEE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEFUNDED BY THE STATE. YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER THAT GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, HE EMPHASIZED THAT IT'S UNCLEAR -- IT'S NOT CLEAR THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACTION TODAY, BUT WHAT IS CLEAR WAS THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD AT A ROOSEVELT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH A PARENT WHO SAID TERI, I NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEARBY FEEDER SCHOOL ON CLOSURE WITHIN THE WESTSIDE DISTRICT OF DISTRICT 5 AND WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED AND WHAT'S CLEAR IS BECAUSE OF THE DEFUNDING BY THE STATE, THIS PARENT HAS SEEN HER SCHOOL GOING FROM HAVING ONE LIBRARIAN TO ONE LIBRARIAN SHE'S SHARING WITH MULTIPLE CAMPUSES TO NO LIBRARIAN WITHIN HER CHILD'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. AND WHAT'S CLEAR IS WE CANNOT THROW OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FIGURE AND FEND ON THEIR OWN.

YES, THEY WILL FIGURE IT OUT, BUT WE OWE IT TO THE CHILDREN OF THIS CITY THAT WE COLLABORATE AND BRING ALL STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO COME UPON A DECISION IN COALITION, IN COORDINATION. AND I CANNOT SERVE ON AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE WHILE TAKING AN ACTION THAT'S GOING TO POTENTIALLY TAKE DOLLARS OUT OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NOW, GOING BACK TO THE POINT THAT THIS IS UNCLEAR.

THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET THE DATA AND INPUT FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENTS, FROM OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THEM TO TAKE FUNDING OUT OF THE CLASSROOMS AND INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET.

I BELIEVE WE OWE IT TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO WORK IN COALITION AND IN COORDINATION AGAIN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR SCHOOLS. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION, I AGREE WITH THE OVERALL INTENT OF TODAY'S DELIBERATION. I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS WHO GAVE COMMENT TODAY THAT HIGHLIGHTED. THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE MISSING FROM THIS ROOM. AND I VALUE THAT THERE'S DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS WHO DID HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR IN TERMS OF THE INITIATIVE, BUT ALL DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS, ALL 146 RESIDENTS THAT I REPRESENT DESERVE AND DEMAND THAT SAME CONVERSATION.

SO I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, WORK WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION ON HOW WE CAN MATERIALIZE CHANGING THE ELECTION DATES, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE GLASSES. I FIND IT FUNNY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOTING BUT DON'T NEED TO TAKE IT TO A VOTE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS TO THEIR ELECTIONS AND ULTIMATELY HOW THEY ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. THIS IS A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY HAVING SUCH A HASTETY 18-DAY CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES. A COUPLE OF OUR PIECES I THINK THAT ARE OF VALUE HIGHLIGHTING, I WANT TO THANK REBECCA FOR GIVING ME THE SURVEY AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALSO HEARD FROM DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS OR SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CHANGE IS IT WILL 15 FROM 800 TO $1 MILLION.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF OR DEBBIE OUR CITY CLERK WHO OVERSEES ELECTIONS IN TERMS OF COST SAVINGS WITH ANALYSIS AND LOOKING AT THE HISTORY, WILL WE BE

SAVING 800 TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS? >> MAYOR JONES: AND FOR CLARITY THAT WAS A QUESTION I POSED TO CITY MANAGER AND THAT WAS HIS INITIAL

RESPONSE. SO WITH THAT... >> YES, COUNCILWOMAN.

SO THE ANTICIPATED SAVINGS OR ESTIMATED SAVINGS THAT THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR WAS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 800 AND $1 MILLION. THAT SAID, IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE SAVINGS WILL BE AS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ENTITIES WILL BE PARTICIPATING DURING THAT ELECTION. SO THAT WAS JUST AN ESTIMATE

THAT THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDED AT THE TIME. >> CASTILLO: AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. BECAUSE AS ERIK MENTIONED IT'S UNCERTAIN AND IT'S UNCLEAR. AND WE'RE TAKING SUCH A HUGE ACTION ON OUR ELECTIONS IT SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR. WE SHOULD HAVE THE SOLID CORE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF US AND MAKING A DECISION LIKE WE ARE PROPOSED TO MAKE TODAY.

NOW, AGAIN, I DO SHARE THE INTENT OF THIS CONVERSATION. I APPRECIATE ALL THE ACADEMICS WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. THERE'S THIS REALLY GOOD BOOK CALLED MASTERY ADRIFT, PROFESSIONAL CLASS LIBERALS SINCE THE 1960S.

AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE INVISIBLE AND THE -- THE DISAPPEARING VOTER.

AND THIS MADE ME THINK ABOUT SOMETHING MY COLLEAGUE BROUGHT UP LAST' WEEK IN TERMS OF LOW VOTER TURNOUT IN TERMS OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT IN MAY WHEN I WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS TO A REGISTERED VOTER

[03:55:02]

THEY ASKED HOW I GOT MY JOB? I SAID BY KNOCKING ON DOORS. WE TALKED TO ENGAGED VOTERS AND GOT THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. AND I ASKED IF HE WAS REGISTERED TO VOTE. HE SAID NO, I'M A FELON. I SAID ARE YOU OFF THE PAPERS? HE SAID YEAH. I SAID IF YOU'RE TWO YEARS OFF THE PAPERS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. HE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT, NOT RISK GOING BACK. NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT. I THINK WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENGAGING LOW VOTER TURNOUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT DISAPPEARING VOTERS. I KNOW MANY OF YOU TOUCHED IN TERMS OF THE VOTER SUPPRESSION AND ID LAWS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN BRING MORE INDIVIDUALS INTO THE PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE GOING BACK TO THE KEY POINT, IT SHOULD BE DONE IN COLLABORATION, IN COALITION WITH KEY ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, GIVEN HOW WE CONTINUE TO SEE THEM DIVESTED, DEFUNDED.

AND AGAIN GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PARENT YESTERDAY, NOT ONLY DID SHE HIGHLIGHT THAT THE LIBRARIAN NO LONGER EXISTED AT RODRIGUEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IT'S THE PARENTS THAT NOW HAVE TO STOCK THE SHELVES, BUT SHE ALSO POINTED TO THE ASBESTOS IN THE WINDOWS. THIS IS SOMETHING OUR KIDS ARE INHALING, BREATHING AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO LIBRARIES IN THEIR SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 5. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IF THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE GEL GAT AGENCY, BUT I DID HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS THAT I'LL CIRCLE BACK IN TERMS OF HOW COUNCIL COMES UP WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, HOW COUNCIL PRIORITIZES, AND EMPHASIZING THROUGH THAT PRACTICE AND PROCESS OUR TEAM WORKS WITH JEFF, WORKS WITH SALLY ON WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE, AND THEN WE FOLLOW THOSE BILLS AND WE TRACK THEM SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND LEFT WITH 18 DAYS TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION. I'LL CIRCLE BACK TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

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

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY AND FOLKS WHO HAVE FILLED OUT THE DISTRICT 6 SURVEY AS WELL AS REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE DIRECTLY AND MYSELF DIRECTLY BY PHONE CALL, EMAIL, IN-PERSON. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING HERE AND OVERALL ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR POINT. BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY CLOSE TO. AS I TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK DURING OUR B SESSION, PRIOR TO BEING ON COUNCIL A LOT OF MY WORK WAS BEING A DEPUTY FIELD ORGANIZER, DOING A LOT OF VOTER REGISTRATION, CANVASSING, VOTER TURNOUT. MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE GOING OUT TO VOTE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG VOTERS, WHETHER THEY'RE AT COLLEGE OR NOT, ON CAMPUS OR NOT. THAT WAS THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE.

IT WAS JUST UNTIL LAST YEAR THAT I STOPPED BEING A VDR BECAUSE I STARTED DOING THIS THING CALLED CAMPAIGNING AND IT BECAME TOUGH TO MAKE TIME FOR THAT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I STILL HAVE VDR'S WHO WORK FOR ME IN MY OFFICE BECAUSE WE ARE ADMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION THAT COMES AROUND. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DATA TURNOUT. THAT IS MY GOAL IS MAKING SURE AS -- IF WE ARE LOOKING TO MOVE ELECTIONS, WHETHER IT'S AN EVEN YEAR OR ODD YEAR OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT WE ARE MOVING ELECTIONS SO WE HAVE INCREASED VOTER TURNOUT NOT JUST IN AN ELECTION THAT IS ALREADY LOW TURNOUT, BUT IN THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE. THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO DON'T TRADITIONALLY VOTE. THAT MEANS LOOKING FOR WORKING CLASS VOTERS, MAKING SURE VOTERS OF COLOR, RENTERS, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DON'T TRADITIONALLY VOTE IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS, DO TURNOUT. AND WHAT DOES THAT BASED ON THE RESEARCH, INCLUDING THE ONES FROM COMMON CAUSE, FROM DR. MICHELLE'S RESEARCH, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'S RESEARCH, FROM TUFT'S UNIVERSITY RESEARCH, WHAT WE KNOW TURNS PEOPLE OUT, PARTICULARLY FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OR WHO DON'T TYPICALLY VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS IS A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE, IT IS TIMING. WE KNOW FOR SURE IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS PEOPLE DO TURN OUT MORE. IT IS ALSO RESOURCES AND COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS. THERE ARE RACES THAT ARE MORE INTERESTING BECAUSE OF MORE COMPETITION FOLKS TURN OUT TO VOTE. MORE INSPIRING CANDIDATES PEOPLE TURN OUT TO VOTE. THE ELECTIONS THEMSELVES HAVE MORE RESOURCES TO TURN PEOPLE OUT, PEOPLE TURN OUT MORE. IT'S ALSO POLLING ACCESS.

HAVING A POLLING SITE NEARBY YOU WHERE YOU LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS VERY CRITICAL

[04:00:04]

THE SAME THING CAN HAPPEN IN AN EVEN YEAR ELECTION REGARDLESS BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS THAT MEDIA ATTENTION, ALWAYS THAT FOCUS, ALWAYS THAT VOTER ENGAGE, THERE ARE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME DURING AN EVEN YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE ALIGNED WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION OR AT LEAST A STATE ELECTION, A STATEWIDE ELECTION WITH A CANDIDATE ON THERE. THAT'S WHAT THE DATA SHOWS.

IS TIMING EVERYTHING REPORT BY DR. MICHELLE AND DR. LAPPE, IT STATES CLEARLY LIKE OTHER STUDIES THAT TURNOUT IS HIGHER IN MAYORAL ELECTIONS WITH MIDTERM ELECTIONS COMPARED TO OFF-CYCLE YEARS. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S IN NOVEMBER, MAY, IN THE SUMMER, IT'S IN ODD YEARS THAT WE SEE THE SAME TYPICAL REGULAR VOTERS WHO ALWAYS VOTE IN THESE ELECTIONS, A SMALL AMOUNT TURN OUT TO VOTE IN THEM VERSUS YOUNG VOTERS, PEOPLE OF COLOR. WHAT CONTINUES TO MAKE ME STRUGGLE ON THIS ISSUE IS THAT POINT. IF OUR INTENT IS TO GET FOLKS OUT TO VOTE, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVEN YEARS. OF COURSE WE KNOW OUR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED, WE KNOW THAT. THE STATE LAW IS VERY LIMITED, MAKING SURE IT'S ONLY ODD YEAR ELECTION THAT WE CAN DO.

I GUESS MY POINT THERE IN THAT IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, WHETHER THIS MOTION FAILS OR GOES FORWARD, I BELIEVE IT'S CRITICAL AND I'M ASKING EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL AS FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC, FOLKS I'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, FOLKS WHO I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT WE KEEP PUSHING, WE DON'T SETTLE FOR THIS ONE.

AS DIFFICULT AS IT MAY BE, GETTING OUR STATE DELEGATION TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL IN THAT MOMENT. IT'S IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD TO GET TO AN EVEN YEAR ELECTION. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS SELL PEOPLE THAT THIS WILL BUILD A MASSIVE TURNOUT BECAUSE THE DATA DOES NOT SHOW THAT.

IT DOES NOT SEE A MASS MFI TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER. I THINK IT'S FINE AND OKAY THING TO TALK ABOUT. IF OUR FOCUS IS TO GET THESE FOLKS WHO TRADITIONALLY DON'T VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS TO TURN OUT IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS WE'VE SEEN IT DONE ALREADY. JUST LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THIS ELECTION ABOUT OUR CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS, ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT WERE NOT ABOUT CANDIDATES, ABOUT PROPOSITIONS, ABOUT OUR TERMS, PAY, ABOUT CITY WORKERS BEING ABLE TO POLITICALLY PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS ON THEIR OWN TIME. WHEN WE THAT THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, HAD HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE VOTED ON EACH ONE OF THOSE PROPOSITIONS. THAT IS A FEATURE TIMES ROUGHLY INCREASE OF WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE IN OUR OWN MAY ELECTIONS.

COMPARE THAT TO WHEN WE SEE ANY NOVEMBER ODD ELECTIONS IT'S COMPLETELY DOWN.

NINE PERCENT, 10 PERCENT. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE ARE MOVING THIS ELECTION AND WE CAN SEE AN INCREASE THERE, BUT I'M WORRIED IT WILL BE THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S MY BIG CONCERN. IS THAT A WIN FOR US? SAYING THAT THIS ELECTION THAT'S ALREADY LOW TURNOUT WILL NOW HAVE NEW TURNOUT, BUT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING IN MAY OF THAT YEAR. IF THAT'S THE CASE WHAT DID WE EFFECTIVELY DO HERE? AM I HOPEFUL AM I HOPEFUL IT WILL CREATE A CULTURE OF VOTING? I DO HOPE THAT. I'VE ORGANIZED VOTER ACTIONS AT UT, AT UTSA, AT ZACH. I'VE BEEN PART OF THAT WORK BEFORE.

EVEN TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSH BACK FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOW US TO REGISTER VOTERS ON CAMPUS AND WE STILL ABOUT IT.

AND WE DID THE TURNOUT. BECAUSE THERE WASN'T THE RESOURCES THERE ON THE FOCUS OF THE ELECTION, BECAUSE IT WASN'T COMPETITIVE, BECAUSE OF IT AN ODD-YEAR ELECTION, WE DIDN'T SEE THE YOUTH TURN OUT IN THE SAME WAY AND I WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE. I WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN, BUT WE KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS IS WHEN IT'S A BIG ELECTION IN AN EVEN YEAR, 2018, 2022, 2020, 2024.

IT JUST ISN'T IN THOSE OTHER ELECTIONS, AND IT FRUSTRATES ME THAT'S THE FOCUS HERE AND IT'S BECOME THAT CONVERSATION THAT THIS WILL BE THE MAYBE NOT A SILVER BULLET, BUT A BIG STEP IN THAT DIRECTION, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE AND IT PAINS ME TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE. I DON'T SEE THE DATA ON IT.

WE HAVE LIMITED AMOUNT. I KNOW MESQUITE IS THE ONE EXCEPTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT ONE TOO. IT'S STILL EVEN THEN 10% OF THEIR TURNOUT.

THE INCREASE WAS DOUBLE, BUT IT WAS 10%. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE THIS BEST DECISION HERE ON THIS WITH THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.

THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE. THE DATA WE'VE HAD FOR 40

[04:05:01]

AND DURING THAT CONVERSATION I HAD TO WEIGH THE FEELING THAT I HAD KNOW OF MY LOVE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ENTITY, THE SPURS, AND BUT IS THIS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THIS? IS THE DATA CLEAR? ARE WE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY BY DOING THIS ACTION? AT THAT POINT I SAID NO FOR THAT POINT. NO DATA SUPPORTED THE FACT THAT MUNICIPALITIES FUNDING STADIUMS WOULD BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I STILL THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN DATA CHANGE ON THAT. IF ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IT INCREASE ON THAT. FOR THIS ISSUE TOO I THINK IT'S VERY SIMILAR.

MAYBE NOT THE SAME THING. I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN DO.

WE CAN DO A LOT MORE ON THIS THAN CAN BE DONE ON THAT ONE, BUT I THINK IT'S THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH OF WHAT KIND OF DATA ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. THAT'S WHERE I'VE BEEN TORN WITH IT. THE ISDS ARE MY CONCERN AS WILLIAM.

THE REAL HEART OF THIS HAS BEEN THE TURNOUT PIECE. I'LL LEAVE MY COMMENTS THERE AND COME BACK AROUND WITH MY DECISION. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S ENGAGEMENT ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I WANT TO START OFF BY STAYING THIS: EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS DAIS HAS A SHARED GOAL OF INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT. NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE ON THE ARGUMENT, ALL OF US WANT TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT. I HATE THIS PHRASE, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CASE WAYS TO SKIN A CAT. I NEED ANOTHER PHRASE.

BUT WE DO HAVE ALL OF THAT IN MIND. I THINK ABOUT MY PAST -- MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS BOARD CHAIR FOR MOVE TEXAS AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ HAVE A BACKGROUND IN ORGANIZING AND REGISTERING YOUNG VOTERS. AGAIN, NO MATTER WHERE WE'RE FALLING AT ON THIS ARGUMENT, WE ALL WANT TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT.

THAT BEING SAID, I DID HOST A TOWN HALL TWO WEEKS AGO. WE DID GET RESIDENT FEEDBACK ON IT. WE ALL LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

WE HAD A B SESSION LAST WEEK AND AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ASKED, WE CAN SEE THAT THE COST SAVINGS IS -- THERE'S A BIG QUESTION MARK THERE. SO IF WE'RE DOING THIS IT IS NOT TO SAVE MONEY OR FOR THE CITY BUDGET. THE OTHER CONCERN I HAD THAT I'VE SHARED IS THAT I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE EXTENDING ALL OF US UNILATERALLY VOTING TO EXTEND OUR OWN TERMS BY SIX MONTHS. WE'RE HERE AT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, AND SO FOR US TO JUST EXTEND OUR TERMS FROM FOUR YEARS TO FOUR AND A HALF YEARS FEELS EXTREMELY ICKY AND WRONG TO ME. IT'S NOT TRANSPARENT AND I THINK THAT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO RESIDENTSS FEELING THAT LOT GOVERNMENT ISN'T TRANSPARENT. ONE OF THE BIG PIECES I FEEL IS MISSING, ONE OF THE BIG PIECES OF DATA THAT I FEEL HAS BEEN MISSING, IS WHEN WE DO TALK ABOUT OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES WHO HAVE VOTED -- WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, IT WAS VOTER APPROVED.

SO FOR US TO RUSH THROUGH THIS DECISION AND NOT HAVE OUR RESIDENTS' VOICES AT THE TABLE, ALSO FEELS WRONG. I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD AND FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN GET RESIDENTS INPUT, NOT JUST THROUGH OUR ONE OR TWO SURVEYS AND NOT THROUGH THE ONE OR TWO TOWN HALLS, BUT TRULY GET RESIDENTS' INPUT ON THIS CHANGE.

I DO HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, JEFF -- [INDISCERNIBLE].

IF THE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO APPROVE THIS, BUT TO TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS, WOULD WE

STILL NEED APPROVAL FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE. >> IF THE COUNCIL -- IF YOU TOOK IT TO VOTERS IN THE CHARTER, YOU WOULD STILL NEED A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE AT

THE DEADLINE AFTER THIS CALENDAR YEAR. >> AND HOW WOULD WE GO ABOUT

GETTING THAT APPROVAL? >> MAYBE THIS ANSWERS THE QUESTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID SHE WAS GOING TO ANSWER. THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION

[04:10:03]

WE BRING IT TO FULL COUNCIL. YOU APPROVE. IF THIS WERE AN ITEM IN THAT, WE WOULD GO OUT AND SEEK AUTHORS TO FILE A BILL AND WORK ALL SESSION TO

SHEPHERD IT THROUGH THE PROCESS. >> GAVITO: OKAY.

WOULD THE PROCESS BE THE SAME TO TRY TO MOVE OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER OF

EVEN NUMBER OF YEARS, LIKE AUSTIN DID? >> COYLE: SO WHEN AUSTIN MOVED IT IN 2012, I BELIEVE, THE LEGISLATION THAT PASSED IN 2011 ACTUALLY DIDN'T SPECIFY ODD OR EVEN. IT JUST TALKED ABOUT MOVING FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER.

THEY CHOSE TO MOVE IT TO THE EVEN YEAR. THE BILL THAT PASSED THIS YEAR, THIS PAST SESSION, SPECIFICALLY SAID ODD-NUMBERED YEARS.

IF IT WERE A DESIRE OF THE BODY TO MOVE IT TO EVEN YEARS IN NOVEMBER, WE WOULD

SEEK TO HAVE THAT LANGUAGE FILED. >> GAVITO: GOT IT.

SO WE COULD TAKE THIS TO THE VOTERS MAY OF 2027 IN A CHARTER ELECTION AND WORK WITH OUR BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION TO GET A BILL PASSED SO THIS WOULD BE COMPLETE IN TIME FOR THE 2029 ELECTION. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> COYLE: I THINK THAT WORKS RIGHT. WELL, ANDY.

>> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, BECAUSE OF THE RECENT CHARTER VOTE, THE NEAREST ELECTION WE CAN HAVE FOR A CHARTER CHANGE IS NOVEMBER. SORRY.

MAY OF 2027. >> MAY OF '27, COUNCILWOMAN. BECAUSE OF THE DATE, TWO YEARS AWAY, THE NOVEMBER DATE HAPPENS BEFORE THAT DATE SO YOU HAVE TO WAIT

UNTIL MAY OF '27. >> GAVITO: SO THEN THAT IS CORRECT THAT WE COULD

COMPLETE THIS IN TIME FOR THE 2029 ELECTIONS? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. TO THAT END, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY RUSHED PROCESS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S TOWN HALL AND MY TOWN HALL, WE HAD 100 PEOPLE THERE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING SURVEYS AND ALL BEEN GETTING E-MAILS. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TALK AT MY MONTHLY COFFEES WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN TO RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TALK AT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. DECEMBER IS BUSY WITH HOLIDAY EVENTS AND HOLIDAY PARTIES AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A WELL-INFORMED DISCUSSION WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS. AGAIN, AT MY TOWN HALL ALL OF US LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. JULIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE BECAUSE I DO THINK -- AND COUNCILWOMAN KAUR HOSTED THAT TOWN HALL WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE'RE ALSO STILL LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. WE DON'T HAVE COMPLETE OR FIRM INFORMATION TO MAKE ONE DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO MOVING OUR ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER. I THINK IT'S A WORTHY IDEA. LET'S HASH IT OUT.

LET'S WORK THROUGH IT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, LET'S WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SAY HOW CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER? HOW CAN WE DO THIS RIGHT? IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE RUSHED. AS Y'ALL JUST HEARD, WE COULD STILL DO THIS IN TIME FOR THE 2029 ELECTIONS. SO I THINK SAN ANTONIO IS BUILT ON RELATIONSHIPS.

SAN ANTONIO IS BUILT ON PARTNERSHIPS. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR ME FOR US TO RUSH THROUGH THIS CHANGE WHEN WE COULD TAKE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT WITH OUR EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PARTNERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE VOTING NO TODAY BUT I'M HOPE TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION AND MAKING SURE WE DO THIS

THE RIGHT WAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I ALSO WANT TO THEY DOLORES HUERTA FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE HER HERE IN CITY HALL. TODAY I NOTICED THERE WERE PROBABLY MORE D4 RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE CONNECTED TO D4 THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY THAN ANY OTHER TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY. THAT SHOWS ME WHAT'S INTERESTED TO OUR FOLKS IN D4. THE FORMER COUNCILMAN SPOKE, AND I DO RESPECT COLONEL GALLAGHER AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT MAY IS GOOD FOR DISTRICT 9 AND 10. WE WANT HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT FOR EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO. BUT BASICALLY HE SAID IT WORKS FOR US IN MAY.

WE HAVE A GREAT VOTER TURNOUT. IT DOESN'T NEED TO CHANGE.

[04:15:04]

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING. MAY ELECTIONS REPRESENT A STATUS QUO THAT SIMPLY JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR MY PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 4. HALF OF THE CITY, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING, ACTUALLY. SO I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT BETTER. AND, YOU KNOW, I STARTED OFF, BEFORE THIS WAS EVEN AN OPTION FOR US, I GOT ELECTED AND TOLD ALL MY INTERNS, WE'RE GOING TO BLOCK WALK, NOT FOR THE CAMPAIGN BUT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE WENT TO NEIGHBORHOODS, MAYBE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FELT IGNORED, AND KNOCKED ON DOORS AND PASSED OUT INFORMATION. WE HIT ABOUT 5,000 DOORS, WHICH WAS ALMOST EQUIVALENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT TURNED OUT TO MY ELECTION FOR DISTRICT 4. AND SO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT HAS TO BE ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES ALWAYS IN D4. AND SO WE HAVE TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING.

SO I DID A POLL AS WELL, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. I GOT MINIMAL RESPONSES BUT VAST MAJORITY SAID YES. I ATTENDED ABOUT FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS THAT I GOT TO GO TO THIS MONTH. IT WAS A COMMON-SENSE SOLUTION TO ALL THOSE FOLKS.

THAT'S A MINORITY OF MY DISTRICT. OF COURSE, THAT'S A PERCENTAGE OF 1%. BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS EVERY MONTH. THEY TRY TO GET THE WORK TO GET THE REST OF THEIR COMMUNITY ON BOARD. I TRULY VALUE THEIR INPUT ALSO.

FORMER ISD TRUSTEE, I COMPLETELY GET THE CONCERN FOR ISDS.

I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT ALSO. I HAD TO PASS THE BUDGET WHEN I WAS IN AN ISD AND AS THE SUPERINTENDENT PUT IT, THE HARDEST BUDGET HE HAD EVER SEEN MY FIRST YEAR THERE. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NEVER TURNED DOWN A UTILITY RATE INCREASE. OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS, ALL THESE RATE INCREASES WE HAVE PASSED, WHAT'S BEEN THAT COST TO ISDS? WE HAVE NEVER EVER BROUGHT UP NORTHSIDE ISD AND SAID, DR. KRAFT, TELL US HOW THE SAWS INCREASE IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL YOUR SCHOOLS. IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE.

I IMAGINE IT WILL BE DONE THIS UPCOMING TIME BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE.

WHEN WE PASSED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE LIHTC OR PFC AND ARE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE DON'T ASK THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS, RIGHT, WHAT THAT IMPACT DOES TO THEM.

NOW, OF COURSE, THESE PROJECTS COULD MEAN ADDITIONAL STUDENTS TO THEIR SCHOOL. OF COURSE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY SUPPORTIVE. BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT'S A DECREASE OF TAX REVENUE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET. SO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, ISDS COMING AND SAYING THEY'RE CONCERNED.

IT'S NOT EASY FOR US TO SAY FIGURE IT OUT AND MOVE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT POINT ALSO. BUT I ALSO NEED ISDS TO BE EQUALLY AS CONCERNED ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION IN THEIR OWN HIGH SCHOOLS. EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN BEXAR COUNTY NEEDS TO HAVE VOTER REGISTRATION TABLES AT THEIR SCHOOL.

I KNOW FROM SEVERAL FOLKS THAT I KNOW HERE WHO DO THAT WORK, A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE NOT COOPERATIVE WITH THAT. THEY DON'T WANT THAT. THEY THINK IT'S TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN. THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT.

I UNDERSTAND WHEN ELECTIONS IMPACT THE BOTTOM LINE. WE HAVE TO DO A FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CARE FOR FOLKS IN THE SCHOOLS TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND BECOME CITIZENS AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS. WE HAD A FORMER STUDENT HERE FROM EDGEWOOD ISD WHO NOW IS ON THE BOARD OF EDGEWOOD ISD AND RAN AS SOON AS HE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

WE NEED THAT IN MORE PLACES IN SAN ANTONIO. FOR ME, THIS DECISION WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY TO MAKE. IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO GIVE A CHANCE. IT'S ABOUT HOPE. IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AN ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY.

BUT WE KNOW THAT FOLKS KNOW NOVEMBER IS THE TIME TO VOTE.

AND SO I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY. THE STAKEHOLDERS, THEY'RE HERE. THEY'VE SPOKEN. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HEARD THE QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VOTER APPROVAL. ALL OF US UP HERE ARE TECHNICALLY VOTER APPROVED, RIGHT? AND WE JUST PASSED A CONSENT AGENDA WITH OVER 20 ITEMS. HOW MANY OF US WENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TALKED TO THEM ABOUT ALL THESE ITEMS THAT WE PASS EVERY SINGLE DAY? YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND INPUT AND THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH FOR ANY DECISION, REALLY, IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY THAT'S GIVEN TO US AND I THINK WE HAVE TO

[04:20:01]

CHANGING THE STATUS QUO ISN'T EASY AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT. BUT WHEN YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND YOU DO WHAT'S RIGHT, EVERYTHING ELSE KIND OF COMES INTO PLACE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT, OH, WELL, THE BOND MARKET IS GOING TO FLOOD IF WE CHANGE THE DATE. WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE CAN COORDINATE THAT.

NORTHSIDE ISD, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY PASSED THEIR BONDS IN EVEN-YEAR MAY.

WHEN THE LAST CITY COUNCIL AND VOTERS DECIDED TO CHANGE THE TERM LIMITS FROM TWO YEARS TO FOUR YEARS, THAT OMITTED AN ELECTION PARTICIPATION WITH NORTHSIDE ISD AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THAT TOPIC DID NOT COME UP AT THAT POINT. THEY WANTED THE FOUR YEARS, NOT THE TWO YEARS.

IT MADE IT HAPPEN. ISDS WERE NOT CONSIDERED IN THAT DECISION.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ALWAYS HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THEM AND DO OUR BEST TO HELP THEM. THEY ALSO HAVE GREAT LEADERS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ALSO. SOMETIMES DECISIONS COME UPON US THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. AND WE ALL KNOW OUR DISTRICTS VERY WELL. WE ALL REPRESENT THEM. SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO MAKE A CALL. AND YOU GOT TO DO YOUR BEST WITH ENGAGEMENT BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CALL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS TODAY.

I HOPE MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WILL AS WELL. BUT I THINK IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT'S NOT PERFECTION BUT WE CAN'T LET TRYING TO BE PERFECT RUIN A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US. AND SO THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD IS. I RESPECT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS VERY INTENTIONAL AND HAS SOME REALLY GOOD THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS BEHIND THEM. WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING. WE ALL WANT OUR DISTRICTS TO BE 100% VOTER TURNOUT, EVEN IF THAT MEANS WE DON'T COME BACK.

BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO HALF OF THE CITY TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING BETTER.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT AND SPOKE AND EVERYONE THAT'S STILL HERE LISTENING TO OUR CONVERSATION CONTINUE. SO, AS I'M HEARING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TALK AND I'M SURE AS YOU GUYS ARE HEARING IT TOO, I THINK WHAT WE'RE DEBATING ABOUT IS NOT WHAT WE CARE ABOUT IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION BUT HOW WE GOVERN.

AND TO ME HOW WE GOVERN IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. &-Ú, IMAGINE IF OUR SAISD VOTER

[04:29:39]

THOSE WERE THE CONCERNS I SAW. LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER, IF WE

[04:30:02]

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, TO JUST INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT FOR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ISOLATING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS DOESN'T SEEM TO ME LIKE WE ARE CARING ABOUT LOCAL ELECTIONS AS A WHOLE. AND AS WE WOULD HATE IF THE STATE PREEMPTED US, I WOULD HATE TO BE THE ENTITY PREEMPTING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MOVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEM TO SAY, HEY, LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER.

LET'S TRULY CUT OUR MAY ELECTION OUT, FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE, BUT LET'S COLLABORATE RATHER THAN SAYING, SORRY. THIS IS WHAT WE DECIDE TODAY SO YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHERE I AM TODAY. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE

>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. DEMOCRACY IS BUILT UPON THE IDEA OF FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. AS HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED HERE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS DAIS WANTS INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS, WITHOUT QUESTION.

BUT I WANT TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ELECTIONS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT. FIRST, MOVING OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER -- FIRST, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT EVERYBODY ON THIS DAIS.

BECAUSE THE WORK I'VE SEEN PUT IN AND THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE SEEN PUT IN BY EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER LEADING UP TO TODAY IN MAKING THEIR DECISION HAS TRULY BEEN REMARKABLE. AND THAT PROBABLY GOES DOUBLY FOR COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. SHE HAS REALLY DUG IN TO THE DATA, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW, THE DATA AND HAS LOOKED AT THE DATA BETWEEN MAY AND NOVEMBER ELECTIONS IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS MORE THAN SHE HAS. AND SO I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT MOVING FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, COULD IT SLIGHTLY INCREASE THE TURNOUT? MAYBE.

MAYBE NOT. COULD IT SAVE US MONEY? MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

THE ISSUE HERE FOR ME, THOUGH, IS THE ELECTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS PAST MAY AND THE ELECTION THAT WE HAD LAST NOVEMBER. BECAUSE LAST NOVEMBER WE HAD A CHARTER ELECTION WHERE THE VOTERS OF SAN ANTONIO SAID THAT OUR TERMS SHOULD BE FOUR YEARS. NOT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. AND THIS MAY THE VOTERS OF SAN ANTONIO WENT TO THE POLLS AND THEY ELECTED US TO BE HERE THROUGH MAY OF 2029.

AND WHAT'S IRONIC TO ME IS THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS AND GETTING PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT ELECTIONS MATTER.

THE WILL OF THE VOTERS MATTER. WHAT VOTERS SAY SHOULD BE THE FINAL WORD AND YET IF THIS COUNCIL WERE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TODAY, WE WOULD ALL BE, WITHOUT ANY VOTER PARTICIPATION, GIVING OURSELVES SIX MORE MONTHS IN OFFICE. A 12.5% INCREASE IN OUR TERM WITHOUT EVER HAVING THE VOTERS SAY YES YOU CAN BE UP HERE FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. WE WOULD THEN BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND VOTE IN THE 2029 BUDGET. WHEN NO VOTER WENT TO THE POLLS THIS PAST MAY AND CONTEMPLATED ANY OF US BEING HERE TO VOTE ON THAT BUDGET.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE ARGUMENT TODAY AS TO WHY IT'S OKAY FOR THIS BODY TO GIVE OURSELVES SIX MORE MONTHS IN OFFICE. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VOTING, I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST REASON FOLKS DON'T GO OUT TO VOTE IS BECAUSE

[04:35:05]

WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY CALLING IT THE DALLAS BILL, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED IN DALLAS -- I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE. WHAT HAPPENED IN DALLAS IS THEY HAD A VOTE.

MORE THAN 300,000 PEOPLE VOTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2024 IN DALLAS ON THEIR PROPOSITION D WHERE THE VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS AND SAID, OKAY, COUNCIL.

WE'RE OKAY WITH YOU MOVING THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER EVEN IF IT EXTENDS YOUR TERMS. THEY TOOK IT TO THE VOTERS. THEN THEY WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE, ASKED THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT THIS BILL INTO PLACE AND PASS IT.

THE LEGISLATURE DID AND THEN DALLAS WENT AND MOVED THEIR ELECTIONS.

AS COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO MENTIONED, THAT'S THE EXACT SAME THING THAT WE COULD DO HERE. THE VOTERS DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN.

THERE'S BEEN THIS TALK ABOUT --E TALKING ABOUT THE ARENA. THE ARENA WAS BROUGHT UP TEN MONTHS BEFORE THE VOTE ON THE TERM SHEET. TEN MONTHS IT WAS OUT THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE. AND THEN AFTER THE TERM SHEET WAS APPROVED, EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS DAIS HAD I THINK SIX WEEKS OR SO.

AND HELD MULTIPLE TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IN THEIR DISTRICTS WHERE THEY COULD HEAR FROM THE VOTERS. AND THEN THERE WAS A VOTE.

THE PEOPLE OF BEXAR COUNTY GOT TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE BASICALLY ON WHETHER THEY WANTED THE ARENA PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT.

NONE OF THAT IS PRESENT HERE. WE GOT AN E-MAIL.

I THINK IT WAS THE TUESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING WHEN THIS WHOLE IDEA WAS BROUGHT UP. AND NOW A FEW WEEKS LATER WE'RE SUPPOSED TO VOTE TO CHANGE HOW OUR CITIZENS ELECT OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS AND GIVE OURSELVES SIX MORE MONTHS IN OFFICE? I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I THINK THIS IS A WORTHWHILE DISCUSSION. AS MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN GALVAN HAS BROUGHT UP AND HOW COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT MOVING THIS TO NOVEMBER OF EVEN-NUMBER YEARS WHEN WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE VOTER TURNOUT WILL BE GREATER.

I'M NOT SURE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO THINK ABOUT THAT EITHER. BUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS TAKE THE NEXT YEAR, TALK ABOUT IT WITH OUR RESIDENTS, SEE WHAT THEY THINK. AND THEN IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON, IF WE WANT TO ASK OUR CITIZENS ABOUT

[04:40:01]

LET'S SEE WHAT THEY SAY AND THEN IF THEY'RE FOR IT, LET'S GO TO THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, DO WHAT THESE OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE. GET IT PASSED THERE.

AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AFTER WE HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME FOR COMMUNITY INPUT AND AFTER THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE GOTTEN TO HAVE A SAY. THANKS, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN HERE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR A LOT OF US AND A LONG 21 DAYS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH RESIDENTS. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS. I'VE TALKED TO RESIDENTS AS MUCH AS I COULD.

I WAS JUST AT A HOLIDAY LUNCH WITH A NUMBER OF MY RESIDENTS THAT ARE APPOINTEES TO MY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING OF DATES AND TIME AND MONEY AND IT WAS, TO ME, A GOOD REMINDER ABOUT HOW COMPLEX THIS CONVERSATION IS. AND FOR ME, MY CONCERNS THAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IN THESE LAST 21 DAYS IS AROUND THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE LAID OUT FOR FOLKS. THE LACK OF COMMUNITY INPUT. THE IMPACT THAT THIS HAS ON OUR ISDS. IN DISTRICT 8 WE HAVE GOT A GOOD PORTION OF NORTHSIDE ISD. I SHARE THAT WITH 6, 7, AND 8.

BUT THAT IS THE FOURTH LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO BRINGING THEM IN I THINK IS KEY. I WILL SAY I HAVE HEARD SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPLAIN ABOUT RATE INCREASES. THEY MAY NOT DO IT HERE BUT THEY DO IT AT CPS. THEY DO HAVE VOTER REGISTRATION WITH YOUTH AND THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. IT'S NOT TO POINT OUT WHAT THEY'RE NOT DOING BUT I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE TOO OF A DEMOCRACY THAT MAYBE THEY WEREN'T BROUGHT INTO THE CONVERSATION TWO, THREE YEARS AGO BUT THIS COUNCIL IS BRINGING THEM IN. AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG DEAL WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WHO ARE SAYING, HEY, WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? AND WE HAVE AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE THAT I'M SO SUPPORTIVE OF.

I'M GLAD TO SEE IT HERE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WE GROW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND TWO OF THE LARGEST ONES THAT ARE ON THIS MAY CYCLE WITH US.

SAN ANTONIO ISD AND NORTHSIDE ISD. I THINK OBVIOUSLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE LACK OF CLEAR COST SAVINGS. IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE MAY 2025 ELECTION AND THE NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTION, THAT IS A -- YOU COULD SEND THAT TO ANY POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASS AND YOU COULD DISSECT THAT THING THROUGH AND THROUGH. THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN FROM THAT IN THAT OUR MAY 2025 ELECTION HAD OVER 20 MAYORAL CANDIDATES AND 116,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THAT.

THAT'S VOTER FATIGUE. IT'S A LOT OF FOLKS. AND FOLKS STAY OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY LET ME WAIT UNTIL THERE'S A RUNOFF. TWO PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO MAKE IT. WE SAW THAT TURNOUT IN JUNE. 142,000 PEOPLE CAME OUT IN THAT JUNE ELECTION. WE SAW NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTION THAT FOLKS POINT TO BUT I SAID THIS LAST B SESSION AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

IT IS AN ANOMALY BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT IN THAT ELECTION.

AGAIN, TO ME ANOTHER PROOF OF PHY IF YOU TAKE THAT TO A POLITICAL SCIENCE CLASS THEY CAN RUN THROUGH THOSE ELECTIONS AND HOW DO WE NOT JUST FOCUS ON MOVING AN ELECTION DATE BUT EVERYTHING THAT ENCOMPASSES THAT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FILING FEES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOLLARS THAT WE CAN ASK FOR DONATIONS. ALL OF THAT MATTERS. HOUSTON -- I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT HOUSTON HAVING A NOVEMBER ODD YEAR. HOUSTON IS DOUBLE OUR SIZE AND HAS A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. AND DIFFERENT IN A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER WAYS. MESQUITE, TEXAS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP.

I HAVE MORE RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT THAN MESQUITE, TEXAS.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS HERE. AND I THINK FOR ME I BELIEVE IN A DEMOCRACY THAT COMMUNICATES WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.

NOT MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR VOTING RIGHTS.

I THINK THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS -- I'VE SEEN AUSTIN, HOUSTON, DALLAS.

I ACTUALLY WATCHED THE DALLAS COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT ON NOVEMBER 12TH.

[04:45:03]

THAT VOTE TOOK THEM ABOUT 45 MINUTES. IT WAS QUICK AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS. AND A LOT OF THE SAME CONCERNS WERE RAISED.

REALLY, IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WHAT YOU THINK YOU HEAR IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU'RE NOT SURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND IT WAS ALMOST VERBATIM THE CONCERNS THE FOLKS HAD. BUT AFTER SOME OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT VOICED CONCERNS, THEY ALWAYS ENDED IT WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS WHAT GOT THEM TO THAT VOTE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. I'M LOOKING FOR US TO TAKE THOSE SAME STEPS THAT AUSTIN TOOK, THAT DALLAS TOOK TO ASK THE VOTERS. THESE ARE LARGE -- FOR ME I THINK THIS IS VOTER-LED CHARTER CHANGES SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH OUR CHARTER COMMISSION. RIGHTFULLY SO BECAUSE WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO TELL US WHAT THEY WANT. WHEN THEY WANT TO RAISE OUR SALARY, CHANGE OUR TERM LIMIT, AND WHEN WE WANT TO CHANGE ELECTION DATES, WE SHOULD ASK THEM.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT VOTE HERE BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESS THAT THIS CITY NEEDS TO TEND TO AND WE HAVE A LOT HAPPENING IN THIS NEXT NEW YEAR AND I HOPE WE GET THIS SAME AMOUNT OF INTEREST, AS WE TACKLE THROUGH OUR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, BOND ELECTIONS, BASEBALL STADIUMS, CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. THERE IS A LOT ON THE TABLE. PLUS MY OWN DISTRICT 8 NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH I DO NOT WANT TO FORGET ABOUT BECAUSE THAT'S WHO PUT ME HERE.

AND THAT'S WHERE MY FOCUS NEEDS TO BE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME, THAT PARTICIPATED, THAT HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ME THAT I CALLED, THAT THEY CALLED. I'M STILL GETTING TEXT MESSAGES RIGHT NOW. AND SO I'M WRAPPING MY HEAD AROUND ALL THAT AND THAT'S

WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JOHN, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. SORRY.

SO WHAT STEPS CAN OR ARE WE PLANNING IF THIS WERE TO GO THROUGH REGARDING -- CANDIDATE FILING, VOTER EDUCATION HAVE WE LOOKED AT ANY OF THOSE THINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY WE WOULD DO SOME VOTER EDUCATION OUTREACH .

WE WOULD WORK WITH C&E TO MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW THERE WOULD NOT BE AN ELECTION IN MAY OF '29 BUT THERE WOULD BE AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. AND SO THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN WOULD NEED TO BE PLANNED. IT HASN'T HAPPENED BUT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO THAT. THE ELECTION FILINGS WOULD NEED TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT.

THAT WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET THOUGH, COUNCILWOMAN. >> SPEARS: OKAY.

SO I PUT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME -- THANKS,ON. , JOHN.

I PUT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND THOUGHT INTO THIS TOPIC AND I'VE BEEN SOLELY FOCUSED ON WHAT MY DISTRICT IS TELLING ME AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.

I'M SOLELY FOCUSED ON INCREASED VOTER PARTICIPATION.

I DID REACH OUT TO MY CONSTITUENTS. WE DID A SURVEY, STARTED ON FRIDAY. A DISTRICT-WIDE SURVEY AND WE RECEIVED 743 RESPONSES.

THIS IS TELLING ME SO MUCH THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THIS AND THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS DECISION. I HAPPEN TO HAVE A MORNINGS WITH MISTY SCHEDULED AND I DID GET TO TALK WITH MY CONSTITUENTS FACE-TO-FACE.

I WAS SHOCKED AT THE RESULT. ONLY 13% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY OPPOSED CHANGING THIS ELECTION SCHEDULE AT ALL. THIS MEANS THAT NEARLY 9 OUT OF 10 OF THE PARTICIPANTS SUPPORTED MOVING AWAY FROM MAY ELECTIONS.

WHEN MY VOTERS TOLD US THAT THEY PREFERRED INSTEAD THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR NOVEMBER ELECTIONS MADE MORE SENSE. THERE WAS AN EVEN SPLIT BETWEEN EVEN AND ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. NOVEMBER ITSELF RECEIVED VERY STRONG SUPPORT.

MOVING ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER PUTS MUNICIPAL RACES IN A TIME OF YEAR WHEN VOTERS ARE ENGAGED, ALREADY INFORMED, AND ARE IN THE HABIT OF SHOWING UP.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PERFECT SOLUTION. WE ARE UNDER SOME SERIOUS CONSTRAINTS FROM TEXAS LAW. I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A PRACTICAL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THINK THIS VOTE WILL REFLECT THE BEST OPTION AVAILABLE TO US TODAY BUT IT DOES NOT CLOSE THE DOOR ON FUTURE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES.

[04:50:04]

I THINK THAT THAT IS CLEARLY THE RIGHT MOVE. BUT MY CONSTITUENTS SAID THEY WANT NOVEMBER AND THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE INCREMENTAL REFORM. IT ALIGNS WITH WHAT MY VOTERS TOLD ME AND WHAT WE CAN LEGALLY DO TODAY. I DO WANT US TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS. I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT TURNOUT, PARTICIPATION TRENDS, AND CONTINUED COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

AND I'M WILLING TO RECESS TO RES THAT AS NEEDED. I THINK THIS DOES REFLECT CONSTITUENT INPUT. I AM LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT IN DISTRICT 9. AND I THINK THIS WILL FORCE US TO MAKE SERIOUS CHANGES TO MOVE US TO EVEN-YEAR NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GREAT DISCUSSION. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT WAS HEARD. BUT, JEFF, I WANT TO BRING YOU UP HERE.

WE ALLUDED A LOT TO DALLAS. THIS IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY. DALLAS NOW TOOK ALMOST TWO YEARS TO DO THIS PROCESS AND THEY DID HAVE A CHARTER AMENDMENT VOTE.

IS THAT CORRECT? >> COYLE: YES. THE CHARTER ELECTION

HAPPENED FIRST AND THEN THEY WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE. >> VIAGRAN: SO I WANT A FULL TIMELINE FOR THIS COUNCIL. WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US IS WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A CHARTER. WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THE EARLIEST WE COULD DO ANOTHER CHARTER VOTE WOULD BE NEXT NOVEMBER.

>> SO THE NEXT AVAILABLE CHANCE TO AMEND THE CHARTER WOULD BE IN MAY OF '27.

>> VIAGRAN: SO MAY OF 2027. >> CORRECT.

>> VIAGRAN: AND THEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS WHEN?

WHEN IS THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION? >> JANUARY OF '27, MA'AM.

>> VIAGRAN: SO WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO GO IN THE '27 SESSION.

WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE '29 SESSION TO GET THIS MOVED?

>> COYLE: NO. A BILL CAN BE FILED. >> VIAGRAN: A BILL COULD

BE FILED BUT HOW -- >> COYLE: NO, AN ELECTION TO CHANGE THE CHARTER WOULDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL MAY. SO THAT WOULD BE ALMOST UNTIL THE END OF THE

SESSION. >> VIAGRAN: BUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE PUT A BILL FORWARD AND THE CHARTER FAILED? I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IS THE EARLIET THIS COULD GO. I WOULD RATHER GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE WITH A CHARTER AMENDMENT IN HAND AND THAT WOULD BE 2029.

BECAUSE WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF HAVING AN ELECTION IN '27 IF THE STATE SAYS NO.

>> COYLE: RIGHT. I'M FOLLOWING YOUR TIMELINE. SO IF YOU WANTED A VOTER-APPROVED CHARTER CHANGE FIRST BEFORE ENTERTAINING THE IDEA --

>> VIAGRAN: YES. >> COYLE: YOU'RE RIGHT. THE NEXT SESSION WOULD START

JANUARY '29. >> VIAGRAN: WE'RE LOOKING AT JANUARY '29.

THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITY. THE OTHER THING -- JEFF OR JOHN IF YOU COULD ANSWER THIS. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE'VE GOT 16. IF WE MOVE AND WE'RE LIKE WE WANT TO HELP YOU MOVE, THEIR SCHOOL BOARD COULD SAY, NO THANK YOU. WE'RE STAYING IN MAY.

WE CAN'T FORCE A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MOVE WITH US IN NOVEMBER.

>> IT IS UP TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR ELECTION.

THERE IS A STATE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE THEIR ELECTION WITH ONE OF THE

OTHER ENTITIES I LISTED EARLIER. >> VIAGRAN: SO THE ONLY --

>> I CAN READ THOSE AGAIN IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> VIAGRAN: NO, I'VE GOT IT HERE. OKAY. AND THAT IS THE KIND OF CRUX. IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF WE HAD TWO OR THREE LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE'VE GOT 16. I MEAN, I HEAR COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S CONCERN ALSO. GRANTED, IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO LOOK AT MY THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT I HAVE AND SAY I'LL GO OUT THERE AND HELP THEM RALLY AND GET WHAT THEY NEED TO MOVE TO NOVEMBER. BUT I KNOW IT'S HARDER FOR OTHERS. I JUST WANTED THAT CLARIFIED, JEFF.

LET'S SAY WE MOVE IT TO 2029. IS THIS GOING TO PASS? DO I GET WHAT I WANT AND WE MOVE TO NOVEMBER? WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

>> COYLE: ARE YOU ASKING WOULD THE BILL PASS? >> VIAGRAN: YEAH.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS? >> COYLE: THERE'S NEVER A GUARANTEE WITH THE LEGISLATURE. WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT OVER THE YEARS.

SO HISTORICALLY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE. AS WAS SAID BEFORE, IT HAS

[04:55:04]

>> VIAGRAN: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE WALKING OUT AND SAYING, OH, BEFORE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN 2027.

I THINK I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD REALLY WANT THAT CHARTER AMENDMENT IN HAND BEFORE WE GO TO THE STATE LEG AND LET THEM KNOW WE'RE SERIOUS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE US SERIOUSLY IF WE'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO DO A VOTE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INPUT

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING ON THIS VERY SOON. >> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYBODY SPOKEN ON THIS ISSUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?

COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SURE. I'LL DO IT THIS WAY.

SO I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, IF WE WERE TO VOTE YES ON THIS, THERE'S AT LEAST FOUR YEARS BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT ELECTION. IF IT WERE TO BE IN NOVEMBER OF 2029 AND THIS PASSES. DURING THAT TIME, DURING THOSE FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS ANY OF THE CONCERNS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE FOUR OR FIVE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED. THEY CAN STAY IN MAY IF THEY WOULD LIKE. THEY CAN MOVE TO NOVEMBER, IF THEY WOULD LIKE.

EXCEPT FOR THOSE OF COURSE THAT WE'RE THE ONLY MUNICIPAL BODY THAT THEY ALIGN WITH. THEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WE ULTIMATELY WANT TO DO -- THIS COMES FROM COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. IT WILL BE ODD -- ONE, WE DON'T KNOW IF THE STATE WILL SAY YOU CAN MOVE IT TO NOVEMBER OF ANY YEAR.

IF WE GO TO VOTERS WITH A CHARTER AMENDMENT TO SAY WE WANT TO MOVE IT TO THE EVEN YEAR OF NOVEMBER AND IT'S LESS LIKELY THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL PASS THAT, ONE, WE HAVE JUST CONFUSED OUR VOTERS BECAUSE THEY VOTED YES TO MOVING TO NOVEMBER OF EVEN YEARS. AND THEN BUT THEN THE ELECTION HAPPENS IN MAY OF ODD YEARS ANYWAY. AND SO HERE I THINK IF WE WERE TO MOVE TOWARDS NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS, WE KNOW IT'S A MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT, I WOULD MAKE THE CASE THAT WE ARE HERE FOR AS MUCH GOOD AS WE CAN GET, WHETHER IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE OR MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT UPON A SYSTEM THAT IS BUILT TO DISENFRANCHISE US. WE CAN FOCUS OUR EFFORTS FROM MOVING THE ELECTION FROM NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS TO NOVEMBER OF EVEN YEARS. I THINK IT WILL BE EASIER.

I THINK IT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE. I WANT TO TOUCH ON THIS ONE ISSUE, JUST BECAUSE IT BOTHERS ME. WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE GO OUT OF THEIR WAY -- AND TO REMAIN HERE FOR GOING ON FIVE, SIX HOURS. WE KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO MOVE TOWARDS NOVEMBER. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY MAY EVEN BE SPLIT BETWEEN NOVEMBER OF EVEN YEARS AND BEING AT THE BOTTOM OF A REALLY LONG BALLOT OR NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS WHERE IT'S AN ADDITIONAL NOVEMBER THAT THEY HAVE TO GO VOTE.

REGARDLESS, IF YOU WANTED THE ENGAGEMENT, YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN IT.

YOU COULD HAVE ISSUED A SURVEY. YOU COULD HAVE DONE THE TOWN HALL. YOU COULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOUR VOTERS.

THERE WERE FOLK WHO ACTIVELY CHOSE NOT TO MAKE A DECISION OR DUG THEIR FEET IN.

AND SO I CHALLENGE THE IDEA THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THIS WHEN WE RUSHED A VOTE BEFORE EVEN KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING TO BE ON OUR TERM SHEET. WE KEEP BRINGING THIS BACK TO PROJECT MARVEL.

WE DIDN'T PUT OUR CONTRIBUTION UP TO VOTERS. THE COUNTY DID.

WE DID NOT. AND SO I CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF THIS COMMUNITY -- AND EVEN THEN SO MANY FOLK HAD TOWN HALLS AFTER THE FOLKS WHERE IT WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE VOTERS THAT PROJECT MARVEL WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO YIELD XYZ THING AND IT WAS GOING TO BE ENTIRELY PAID FOR BY THE SPURS. IT WAS SO MUCH CONVINCING. ALL OF THE TOWN HALLS LEADING UP TO THE VOTE THAT WE SAID YES TO THE TERM SHEET, ALMOST EVERY AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAD SAID NO DON'T DO THIS.

AND SO I CHALLENGE THAT. I REALLY STRUGGLED WITH IT. THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING DEEP IN MY SPIRIT THAT IS BOTHERING ME AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT HOW I WANT TO GO ABOUT SAYING IT. AND I WILL THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE READING WHATEVER NEWS -- I'M LOOKING AT THE MEDIA BOX. THERE'S THREE WAYS THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AND THREE WAYS IT'S GOING TO BE POSED. MAN, MAYOR JONES LOST ANOTHER VOTE AND COUNCIL JUST -- SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO CORRAL COUNCIL AROUND THIS ISSUE. IT'S LESS THAT THAN THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS THING.

WHICH I DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT'S THE SECOND THING.

THAT RELATIONSHIPS ON COUNCIL ARE REALLY STRAINED AND PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO GET

[05:00:02]

I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH A FEW OF Y'ALL AND I DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE. YOU HAVE SAID IT'S NOT THE CASE BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE POSED. THE THIRD THING IS MAYBE YOU BELIEVE THE THINGS YOU ARE SAYING ON THE DAIS AND THERE ARE ARGUMENTS AGAINST EVERY PIECE OF IT.

I DO FEEL AS THOSE STRAWS HAVE BEEN GRASPED AT. NONE OF US KNOW MORE THAN THE DOZENS OF ORGANIZERS WHO CAME OUT HERE TO TELL US THIS WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.

NO ONE -- YOU CAN LOOK AT ALL THE DATA IN THE WORLD. THE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS WORK TELL US THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE RESEARCHERS TELL US THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IF IT COMES DOWN TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM. WE HAVE FOUR YEARS TO DO THAT.

AND THEY STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN TWO YEARS SHOULD WE NOT HAVE A BOND ELECTION. SHOULD WE NOT HAVE A CHARTER ELECTION.

AND SO LET'S DO IT, Y'ALL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYONE SPOKEN THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? OKAY.

LET ME REITERATE MY THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES. YOUR DECADES OF LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. MY MOM ALWAYS REMINDED ME JUST BECAUSE IT'S NEW TO YOU DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NEW. RIGHT? AND WE HEARD THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN FROM FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S CONNECTED TO SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL IN OUR COMMUNITY. FROM HOUSING TO INFRASTRUCTURE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER, A REPORTER ASKED ME, WELL, YOU KNOW, GINA, WHAT WOULD THIS HAVE MEANT FOR YOUR IN YOUR ELECTION? I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T CARE. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS BIGGER THAN ANY ONE PERSON AND ANY ONE ELECTION. THIS IS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN WE HEAR FROM THE MOST PEOPLE. FROM MOST NEIGHBORS.

AND LOTS OF DATA SHOWS THE ODDS OF THAT ARE HIGHEST WHEN IT IS IN NOVEMBER.

YES, IN AN EVEN YEAR, THE HIGHEST. BUT HIGHER IN AN ODD YEAR, JUST BECAUSE PSYCHOLOGICALLY PEOPLE ASSOCIATE VOTING WITH NOVEMBER.

THE TIMING ISN'T PERFECT. THE TIMING ISN'T PERFECT. BUT YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED -- WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED LETTERS FROM NATIONAL VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, LETTERS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE. SUPPORT FROM FIVE FORMER MAYORS THAT HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN -- AND SHOULD PUT WEIGHT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND AUSTIN.

AND THIS IDEA, WELL, DALLAS DID IT A CERTAIN WAY SO WE'VE GOT TO DO IT THAT WAY.

YOU KNOW WHY YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF TELEPHONE POLES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF AFRICA? THEY DIDN'T NEED IT. THEY JUST JUMPED TO A SOLUTION THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS CELL STRUCTURE. SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE BENEFIT OF WHAT DALLAS HAS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE MACHINATIONS. IT'S GOING TO BE THE EXACT SAME BENEFIT.

THEY HAD TO UPDATE THEIR CHARTER BECAUSE THE DATE OF THEIR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IS IN THEIR CHARTER. BUT EVERYBODY THAT TAKES THE STEPS CITES THE SAME TWO THINGS. IT SAVES MONEY AND IT'S HIGHER TURNOUT.

I WAS JUST AT AN EVENT OVER THE WEEKEND -- EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

AND SAT NEXT TO A COUNCILWOMAN THAT SITS ON THE COUNCIL OF WINDCREST.

AND SHE SAID I KNOW YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT THAT. WE DID THAT YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT SAVES MONEY AND IT'S HIGHER TURNOUT. AND WHILE WE MIGHT NOT KNOW THE EXACT SAVINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY THAT HAS TAKEN THIS STEP HAS CITED THE SAVINGS AS A REASON. DALLAS, $432,000.

EVEN IF WE GET HALF OF THAT. THE THINGS THAT WE COULD INVEST IN THAT ARE MUCH MORE MATERIAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I CAN APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO SEE DATA. BUT WE CAN IN FACT NOT PROVE THE COUNTERFACTUAL. WE CANNOT SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE BENEFIT OF THIS IN NOVEMBER OF AN ODD YEAR. WE HAVEN'T DONE IT YET.

WE HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. [APPLAUSE] WHAT WE DO KNOW, THOUGH IS THAT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE MOVED FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER, THEY HAVEN'T SEEN FEWER VOTERS. THEY HAVEN'T SEEN FEWER VOTERS.

[05:05:03]

YOU'VE GOT ALL THOSE GROUPS THAT THEN WORK AROUND THE NOVEMBER ELECTION TO INCREASE TURNOUT, INCREASE ENGAGEMENT. YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY DISTRACTIONS, AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, FIESTA. AND THERE'S THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF FOLKS VOTE IN NOVEMBER. SO THE ABSENCE OF BARRIERS LENDS ITSELF TO HIGHER TURNOUT, EVEN IF THE DATA IS ABSENT.

BUT IT'S ABSENT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. I DON'T WANT SAN ANTONIO TO LOOK BACKWARDS. AUSTIN, HOUSTON, DALLAS. IT IS INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT ANY COMMUNITY IS GOING TO SAY, HUH. THE THIRD MOST IMPOVERISHED CITY WHOSE MUNICIPAL ELECTION TURNOUT IS RANKED 45 OUT OF TOP 50 CITIES KNOWS BETTER THAN THE REST OF US ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE TURNOUT IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. THAT'S NOT A THING. WE CANNOT LET PROCESS GET IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS. DALLAS WORKED ON THAT CHANGE FOR TEN YEARS.

TEN YEARS THEY WORKED ON THAT. GO TALK TO THOSE COUNCILMAN.

I TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

THE LEGISLATURE -- OKAY. THE LEGISLATURE, GETTING A LAW CHANGED, HOW DIFFICULT COULD THAT BE? AND IT'S NOT GUARANTEED, AS SO MANY FOLKS HAVE ARTICULATED. AS OUR OWN STAFF HAS ARTICULATED.

AND WHY WOULD WE ADD SOMETHING TO THEIR PLATE WHEN WE HAVE A LIST -- A LONG LIST OF OTHER THINGS WE NEED THEM WORKING ON? WHY WOULD WE NOT JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY IF WE UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT? SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE LET'S GO TO H-E-B BY WAY OF PARIS. LIKE, WHY WOULD WE MAKE THIS HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE WHEN THE BENEFITS ARE SO CLEAR AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WE WILL HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN? I DO WANT TO FOOT STOMP THE POINT, BECAUSE IT FRANKLY GRATES ON ME, ABOUT THIS IDEA OF THIS IS NOT HOW WE SHOULD GOVERN.

WITH RESPECT, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ASKED TO VOTE ON A TERM SHEET TO SIGN OUR COMMUNITY UP FOR $489 MILLION BEFORE THEY SAW THE TERM SHEET.

BEFORE THEY SAW THE TERM SHEET. GOT THE DRAFT ON A MONDAY AND VOTED ON THAT 72 HOURS LATER. DO YOU KNOW WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THAT 72 HOURS? A TOWN HALL. A SURVEY.

$489 MILLION THEY SIGNED FOLKS UP FOR. SO, PLEASE YOU CAN SPARE US THE LECTURE. THIS IS AN "AND." AS MANY FOLKS HAVE DESCRIBED, THIS IS AN "AND." WE CAN TAKE THIS STEP FORWARD NOW AND TRY TO DO WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

BUT, AGAIN, WITH A LEGISLATURE THAT HAS REDISTRICTED MID-DECADE, IS MAKING IT ACTIVELY HARDER FOR FOLKS TO VOTE, IT SEEMS INCONCEIVABLE AND QUITE UNLIKELY THAT WE WOULD HAVE THIS CHANCE AGAIN. SO WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. ON THE ISDS, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA. 17 ISDS, THIS WOULD ONLY IMPACT 7.

WHEN WE TAKE AWAY THOSE ISDS THAT ARE NOT IN CITY LIMITS, THAT ALREADY HAVE THEIR ELECTIONS IN AN EVEN YEAR. OR THOSE THAT ALREADY ARE IN NOVEMBER. AND OF THE TWO, ALAMO HEIGHTS AND JUDSON, MOST OF THOSE ARE NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS. IN THIS LAST MAY ELECTION, FOUR OF THOSE SEVEN ISDS HAD A TURNOUT OF LESS THAN 2500 VOTERS.

ONE OF THEM -- TO INCLUDE ONE WHO CANCELED THEIR ELECTION ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE ALL THEIR CANDIDATES RAN UNOPPOSED. WHY WOULD WE HOLD UP THE BENEFIT OF ADDITIONAL TURNOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY WHEN, AGAIN, THIS IS A CHOICE THAT THE ISDS WOULD MAKE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE LOW TURNOUT. THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE MORE EXPENSIVE ELECTIONS.

[05:10:01]

WE NEED TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR SAN ANTONIO. THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE OF THE ISDS BEING LEFT BEHIND, IT'S AN ISSUE OF THE ISDS MAKING A DECISION THAT THEY UNDERSTAND TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR STUDENTS. TOMORROW ISN'T GUARANTEED.

IT'S NOT. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE TODAY.

HELP PEOPLE TODAY. TODAY WE ARE REMINDED BY PEOPLE LIKE DOLORES HUERTA AND SO MANY THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE THAT WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF SO MANY. WE WERE REMINDED OF THAT. WE WERE ALSO IMPLORED, FRANKLY BEGGED, TO BE THE SHOULDERS UPON WHICH OTHERS ALSO STAND.

NOT BE THE BARRIERS THAT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE FUNDAMENTALLY ASKED TODAY. OKAY.

SO WITH THAT, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM GROUPS, AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO LISTEN. WE WILL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE. WHEN THE CLERK CALLS, PLEASE STATE AYE OR NAY.

>> CLERK: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: NAY.

>> CLERK: COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AYE.

>> CLERK: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE.

>> CLERK: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: NAY.

>> CLERK: GALVAN. >> GALVAN: AYE. >> CLERK: COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILR

GONZALEZ. >>

>> MAYOR JONES: AYE! THE AYES HAVE IT. [APPLAUSE] .THE MOTION CARRIES.

WE'LL TAKE A 15-MINUTE >> MAYOR JONES: ALL RIGHT, THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL RECONVENE. FOLLOWING RECESS. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM 5, MADAM

CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM 5 ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK WITH HENSEL PHELPS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO HAVE A MAXIMUM PRICE GMP OF $1,309,702,171 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW TERMINAL FACILITY AND ENABLING PROJECTS AT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. FUNDING IS FROM THE AIRPORT GRANTS, INTERIM AIRPORT FINANCING AND THE PASSENGER FALT CHARGE FUND AND THE AIRPORT IMPUSHMENT AND CONTINGENCY FUND, INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET.

>> MAYOR JONES: STAFF, MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION. >> THIS IS A CRITICAL MILESTONE FOR THE TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. AND SPECIFICALLY THIS ITEM WILL SET THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TERMINAL C, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, THIS PROJECT CONTINUES TO BE ON SCHEDULE, AND WITHIN BUDGET.

AND THE GOAL OF THE DELIVERY IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TERMINAL C IS TO BE COMPLETED BY MID-2028.

AND SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO ASK OUR AIRPORT DIRECTOR, JESUS SAENZ TO MAKE A VERY BRIEF

PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JESUS SAENZ, DIRECTOR OF AIRPORTS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AS HAS BEEN OUTLINED, THIS IS ABOUT BRINGING IN AN ACTION ITEM FOR Y'ALL'S APPROVAL WITH REGARDS TO NOT NECESSARILY THE BUDGET, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE CAPACITY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.

AS WE LOOK AT THAT, THIS ACTION IS TO, YOU KNOW, BRING THE GMP AS WE BRING FORWARD THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK TO THE TOTAL SUM OF $1 FINISH

[05:15:06]

PROCESS AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE TERMINAL OPENING. THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT WE HAVE REACHED THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE THAT WE WERE WORKING ON WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK RIGHT IN THE TIMELINE THAT WE EXPECTED TO BE AT. HOW DID WE GET HERE? WE WENT THROUGH THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. WE WENT THROUGH MASTER PLANNING, ALL OF THAT INITIATED ADVANCED TERMINAL PLANNING AS YOU SEE THAT THE ROAD THAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH. WE BUILT A TEAM WITH AN EXECUTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER AND A MASTER ARCHITECT CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AND BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT HAPPENED IN LATE 2023, EARLY 2024, AND THEN CHOSE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK TO BEGIN WORKING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. FOR CLARITY, THE DEFINITION WAS THE DELIVERY MODEL THAT WE SELECTED WAS TO GO THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED A CMAR, A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND THE COST CONTROLS ASSOCIATED WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WITH CONSTRUCTION, AND COORDINATING AND WORKING WITH THE MASTER ARCHITECT THAT WE SELECTED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

THEY WORK FOR US AND WORK AS A PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, AS WE COORDINATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE FOR THE NEW TERMINAL C.

THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE IS AN ENORMOUS MILESTONE FOR US AS WE LOOK AT THE WORD CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, DEFINED SPECIFICALLY THAT. AND WE ARE TRANSITIONING THE RISK THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED THE DESIGN WORK, ALL THE WAY THROUGH 90% OF WHERE WE'RE DOING NOW CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE NEW TERMINAL AND THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, THE RISK TURNS OVER TO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, THE CMAR AT RISK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR INCLUDING THE COST AND LABOR AND MATERIALS AS THE COSTS MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS POINT ON AS WE GET APPROVAL FOR THIS COUNCIL ACTION.

THE STRATEGY HAS BEEN THE SAME FOR US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE BROUGHT THIS IN LATE DECEMBER, EARLY JANUARY OF 2024. WE AWAR AWARDED CMAR TO NOT EXCA BILLION DOLLARS, AND WE BROUGHT THAT BECAUSE THAT POINT IN TIME AT 15% WE DIDN'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE COST WOULD BE. AND WE HAD ESTIMATES BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST PUT A NUMBER OUT THERE AND SAY THIS IS WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE UNTIL WE DO DUE DILIGENCE AND THE WORK WAS DONE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD THE WAY THAT WE ARE TODAY. THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE CIP AT $1.4 BILLION AND WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THAT EFFORT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AS WE GOT TO 60%, WHICH WAS IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, EARLY THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM THE AIRLINES THAT THEY WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER GATE. THEY WANTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL LOUNGE SPACE.

THEY -- WE WANTED TO ADD THE CONNECTOR TO CONNECT THE GARAGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND ALL OF THAT WAS ADDED AND ADDED ABOUT $200 MILLION TO OUR OVERALL BUDGET AT 1.69 IS THE TOTAL THAT YOU SEE IN THE BUDGET BOOKS THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD IN OCTOBER 2025 THIS YEAR.

SO THAT WAS AT 60%, WE WERE AT 1.6 AND THE BUDGET APPROVED AT THAT AMOUNT NUMBER.

WE'RE NOW AT 90%. WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE BUDGET, IT STILL SITS AT 1.69 AND WE ESTABLISHED THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE AS OUTLINED IN THE $1.3 BILLION AND IT INCREASES CAPACITY FROM A BILLION TO $1.3 AND THAT'S OUR ASK TODAY. NOT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL BUDGET, JUST TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY, TO BRING THIS TO CLOSURE AS WE SPEND THE NEXT 30 MONTHS BUILDING OUT THE NEW TERMINAL COMPLEX. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE'RE ON SCHEDULE, WE'RE ON BUDGET AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE MILESTONE AS WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK. I HAVE GIVEN A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE TEAM AS WE WORKED WITH THE MASTER ARCHITECT AND WORKED WITH HENSEL PHELPS AND THEY HAVE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND OUR TEAM HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF DOING DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET THIS MILESTONE. WE'RE ON SCHEDULE TO OPEN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2028, ABOUT 30 MONTHS AWAY. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE CMAR FOR THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1.3 BILLION WITH HENSEL PHELPS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TTERMINAL C.

IT'S ALSO BEEN FOCUSED ON THE LOCAL FIRMS. WE'VE HAD AT LEAST 27 EVENTS AND SOME THAT WE HOSTED AND SOME THAT WE'RE JUST PART OF TO INCLUDE THE LOCAL PARTICIPATION.

WE'VE HAD CLOSE TO 750 ATTENDEES. THE PACKAGES THAT WE SOLICIT LEAD WE STARTED WAS GOING TO BE 20, WE INCREASED THOSE PACKAGES TO GET MORE PARTICIPATION,

[05:20:01]

AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU, JESUS. FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAY BE LISTENING AND JUST WANTS TO KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY OTHER -- IF THERE ARE INCREASES

IN THE FUTURE, THOSE ARE ALL ON THE CONTRACTOR, CORRECT? >> SAENZ: YES, MA'AM, THAT IS

CORRECT. >> MAYOR JONES: YES, GREAT. OKAY.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

IS THERE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO THAT WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: SORRY? WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK -- N THIS ITEM? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 5. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES.

THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. MARIA, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT?

>> NO, MAYOR, NO REPORT FOR TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: ALL RIGHT, WELL, WITH THAT THIS IS OUR LAST DAY SESSION OF THE YEAR 2025, AND WE'RE GOING OUT WITH A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS PRESENT. SO THANK YOU -- THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT HAS WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THESE SESSIONS A SUCCESS. AND I WISH YOU A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU. AND NOW THE PRESENTS CONTINUE WITH ZONING.

WE WILL DO

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.