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>> MUNGIA: 2026 AND THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> CLERK:
>> MUNGIA: GREAT. THANK YOU. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES AND CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
(AYES.) >> MUNGIA: ALL OPPOSED? IT PASSES.
EACH PERSON WILL GET THREE MINUTES AT THE PODIUM, AND THE FIRST PERSON IS GOING TO BE DAVID MARTINEZ. IS THERE A DAVID MARTINEZ
HERE TODAY? PLEASE COME ON UP. >> WE'RE HERE IN OPPOSITION TO AN APARTMENT BUILDING THAT IS BEING BUILT ON GUILBEAU. THE MAIN REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE THEY'RE BUILDING IT BEHIND MY -- BUILDING AND WHAT I WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON IS THAT WE GOT SOME BACK -- SOME INFORMATION FROM MRS. GAVITO, AND SHE TOLD US THAT THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE BILL SB 840, AND THE BILL ADDRESSES THE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING IN TEXAS. AND SUPPOSEDLY IT IS TO DEVELOP UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL AREAS. THE PROJECTS ARE TO BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY AND THEY BYPASS ZONING PROCESS, SO SHE TOLD US MORE OR LESS THAT WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUT WE'RE HERE ANYWAY.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHO ARE THE ADMINISTRATORS? WHO IS THE ONE THAT DETERMINES WHAT IS AN UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL AREA? AND -- OKAY. THAT'S QUESTION NUMBER 1.
THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND HAS BEEN THERE FOR -- WE'VE BEEN HERE NINE YEARS. NOBODY HAS EVER TOUCHED IT.
NOBODY HAS EVER DONE ANYTHING. IT'S BEEN ZONED COMMERCIAL. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? IT'S NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY TO BUILD ON THERE? IT PROBABLY TELLS YOU THAT THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS ARE NOT GOOD. SO THAT'S THE REASON THEY HAVEN'T TOUCHED IT. NOW, THE CITY STILL HAS THE CONTROL OVER WHAT IS BUILT THERE IN THIS WAY: THIS IS A COMMERCIAL AREA AND THEY ARE PLANNING ON BUILDING 65 UNITS IN A FOUR-STORY BUILDING. IS THERE ENOUGH -- DOES THE CITY -- WILL THE CITY HAVE TO UPGRADE THE WATER, THE SEWER, THE ELECTRICITY? AND IF THEY HAVE TO DO IT, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT, THE DEVELOPER OR IS IT GOING TO BE THE CITY? SAME THING FOR TRANSPORTATION. IF THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR POORER PEOPLE, LET'S SAY, THERE ARE NO BUSES IN THAT AREA.
THERE USED TO BE MANY YEARS AGO, BUT THERE ARE NO -- THERE IS NO TRANSPORTATION. THE CITY WILL HAVE TO -- EXCUSE ME, THE CITY WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NEW BUS SCHEDULE.
THE TRAFFIC ON GUILBEAU IS TERRIBLE. GUILBEAU, ALL THE WAY FROM BANDERA ALL THE WAY UP -- PAST THE H-E-B THERE ALL THE WAY UP TO 1604, THERE ARE NO TURNING LANES. THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE. WILL THE SCHOOLS BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THE INPUT -- YOU KNOW, OF PEOPLE? REMEMBER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 65 UNITS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE FAMILY. NOW, THE BUILDING
ADDRESSES. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ.
YOUR TIME IS UP. THROUGH, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU.
>> OKAY. CAN SHE TAKE UP THREE MINUTES?
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
JOHNETTE MCCART, I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT. YOU'LL HAVE THREE
MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> HI, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JOHNETTE MCCART, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BRAWN STATION WEST, WHICH WILL BORDER THIS AREA WHERE THE APARTMENT BUILDING THAT MY CONSTITUENT WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT. IN THAT AREA, THERE IS A HIGH AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I DO REALIZE THAT THE STATE COMES DOWN WITH
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THESE MANDATES AND LAWS THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, JUST AS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS CAMPAIGNING, WE CANNOT DENY THEM TO POSTING A SIGN OR USING OUR CLUBHOUSE FACILITY, WHICH IS VERY NICE, BY THE WAY, TO DO THEIR PROMOTIONAL AND PRESENTING THEIR PLATFORMS. WE CAN REGULATE, THOUGH, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO PAY RENT FOR THE USE OF THE CLUBHOUSE. WE CAN TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN ONLY POST ONE SIGN AT EACH ENTRANCE, AND THE SIGN CAN ONLY BE AT A CERTAIN SIZE. SO WE HAVE THE POWER TO REGULATE.MY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL IS, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO REGULATE? WILL YOU SAY THAT THIS IS NOT AN AREA FOR A FOUR-STORY BUILDING? THIS IS AN AREA FOR ONLY A ONE OR TWO-STORY BUILDING? YOU HAVE TO GUARANTEE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING AND THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE TRANSPORTATION FOR THESE FOLKS. WE DO REALIZE THAT SAN ANTONIO'S NEED OF HOUSING, BUT I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTACTING ME, TEXTING ME ALL NIGHT WITHIN 24 HOURS WE'VE HAD OVER 280 SIGNATURES OF OUR HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE AGAINST THIS FOUR-STORY BUILDING. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE LAURA BUTTERFIELD.
>> HI, I'M LAURA BUTTERFIELD. I WAS JUST ELECTED TO THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION ON SATURDAY EVENING. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT.
I CAME IN SUPPORT OF NOT BUILDING A FOUR-STORY APARTMENT COMPLEX AT THE PROPOSED SITE. EVERY REASON GIVEN SO FAR IS VERY STRONG.
IT FEELS THAT IT'S ALMOST -- I KNOW IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE SECRETIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T INVOLVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL, AND IF YOU WANT TO MOVE INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU WANT TO BECOME PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THIS PROCESS THAT THE STATE HAS CREATED THROUGH THE SB -- I BELIEVE IT'S 840, EXCLUDES THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETELY. SO YOU'RE ALREADY SETTING UP A POTENTIALLY UNCOMFORTABLE, DIFFICULT SITUATION.
THERE IS A DAY CARE CENTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM WHERE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS TO GO INTO, THEN THERE IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN THERE IS LESS THAN HALF A MILE AWAY AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO GO TO, BUT IF YOU PUT A FOUR-STORY BUILDING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE NO BUILDING ANYWHERE, EVEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS HIGHER THAN TWO STORIES, YOU'RE IMMEDIATELY SETTING IT UP AS -- I HATE TO SAY IT, ALMOST AN "US" AND "THEM." AND NOBODY WANTS TO BE "THEM" AND NOBODY WANTS TO BE THE "US" THIS CAN CERTAINLY BE DONE IF WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH MORE PUBLIC HOUSING, WHICH IS TRUE, WE DO. WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT INVOLVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HOMES SO THEY CAN INTERFACE AND BECOME A GOOD UNITED COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT SAN ANTONIO'S ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT LOOKING OUT FOR PEOPLE AND BUILDING A GOOD, UNITED COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, I SAY THAT IF WE CAN BLOCK IT, WE WOULD LOVE TO. BUT IF WE CAN'T, WE NEED TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS. AND THESE -- THIS BUILDING COMPANY THAT HAS THE PROPOSAL NEEDS TO REDESIGN, LOWER IT DOWN TO TWO STORIES, PUT UP A NICE BIG -- ONE OF THOSE USER FRIENDLY FENCECRETE WALLS ALONG THE BACK, MAKE IT LOOK NICE, MAKE IT SO THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS ACCOUNTED FOR AND THE NEW PEOPLE COMING IN FEEL LIKE, OH, THEY STUCK US HERE AND NOW THEY DON'T LIKE US. I THINK WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY. AND BEING EXCLUDED BY THIS SB 840 WAS AN VERY UNFRIENDLY WAY TO TREAT THE STUDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO AND MY COMMUNITY OF BRAWN STATION SPECIFICALLY.
. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION. WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK. NEXT IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER, JAMES STOPPER.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JAMES STOPPER AND I'M A RESIDENT OF BRAUN STATION AND MY HOME IS -- WILL BE DIRECTLY BEHIND -- OR IS BEHIND THIS PROPOSED I JUST WROTE OUT WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY. SO I'M -- THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE INTEGERTY OF THE ADJACENT
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NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY HOMES DIRECTLY BEHIND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.DAVID SPOKE EARLIER, HE'S ONE OF THEM, THERE'S A FAMILY WITH FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN WITH -- YOU KNOW, THERE AS WELL. THEY WILL HAVE LOSS OF PRIVACY, RESTRICTED VIEWS SAFETY ON GUILBEAU ROAD, HOME VALUES, ADDED NOISE ARE ALL CONCERNS. I HAVE PLANS TO MAKE MY CURRENT HOME A LIFELONG RESIDENCE AND THE IDEA OF STEPPING OUT MY BACKYARD EVERY MORNING AND HAVING A BEHEMOTH FOUR-STORY BUILDING STARING DOWN AT MY EVERY DAY IS JUST DISCONCERTING, HAVING SOMEBODY PEER DOWN DIRECTLY INTO MY BACKYARD. CURRENT HOUSING COSTS ARE CREATING STRESS ON US ALL. I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THE POSSIBILITIES OF RETAIL BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY BUT LIMITED ONE-STORY STRUCTURES.
NEVER IMAGINED THE BUILDING OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD EVER BE PLACED ON THAT PROPERTY. GUILBEAU ROAD IN FRONT OF THE BRO POSED DEVELOPMENT IS FOUR LANES WITHOUT ROOM FOR EXPANSION. CLOSE BY INTERSECTIONS, NEARBY SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND ACCESS TO AND FROM 1604.
THE ADDITION OF THE VEHICLES FROM AN EXTRA 65 HOUSEHOLDS WILL ONLY ADD TO THE CONGESTION AND CREATE SEVERE SAFETY HAZARDOUSES.
EXCEPT FOR THE 1604 THERE ARE NO THREE-STORY BUILDINGS AROUND.
I HOPE MY OPPOSITION IS NOT CARRIED LIGHTLY AND THAT YOU CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEW. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR TODAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 2, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE CAPTION.
>> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 2 IS A BRIEFING ON THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST SUBMITTED BY FORMER COUNCILMEMBER MELISSA CABELLO HAVRDA, DISTRICT SIX, ON ENHANCING PERMITTING TRANSPARENCY AND
EXPEDIENCY. I CAN'T SPEAK TODAY. >> MUNGIA: CLOSE ENOUGH.
THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS AMIN TOMAS, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
I'M HERE TO BRIEF YOU ON ENHANCING PERMITTING TRANSPARENCY AND EXPEDIENCY. SHE MADE ME MESS UP. THANK YOU.
(. [LAUGHTER] (IN NOVEMBER 2024 FORMER COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA ISSUED OR SUBMITTED A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST ASKING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO HAVE A MULTISTAKEHOLDER REVIEW TO REVIEW ALL THE PERMITTING AND COMMUNICATION PRACTICES AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE EFFECTIVE REVIEWS FOR THE CUSTOMERS. OBVIOUSLY TO IDENTIFY ANY GAPS WE HAVE AND THEN DO EVALUATION ON ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT AND FINALLY FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE ISSUES. SO BEFORE I MOVE ON, OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE DID IS WE REVIEWED THE CCR AND THEN WE ANALYZED ALL OUR PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE AND WE COMPARED OUR PROCESSES TO THE -- WITH THE REQUESTED CCR, AND WE NOTICE WHAD WE DO IS ACTUALLY INLINE WITH THE REQUEST, SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO TODAY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS WE ENGAGE WITH THE RESIDENTS AND DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT STAKEHOLDERS IN A SECOND.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS WHEN WE MEET WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, WE DO PROVIDE THEM WITH OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS, WE DO COORDINATE WITH ANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL TO THE CITY, AND WE MAKE SURE WE ALIGN OUR PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE CITY. IN REGARDS TO TRANSPARENCY SPECIFICALLY, WE DO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ONLINE, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ONLINE. SO -- THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT ONE.
IS THIS THE RIGHT SLIDE? NO. OKAY.
FOR SOME REASON I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL PRESENTATION.
BUT THERE IS TWO TYPES OF SYSTEMS, I GUESS, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT.
WE HAVE THE BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY DASHBOARD.
SO WE HAVE A DASHBOARD ONLINE, AND I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT.
I THINK IT'S ON ONE OF THE FURTHER SLIDES. IT DOES SHOW YOU ALL THE PERMITS AND THE TIMELINES THAT THE PERMITS TAKE. ALSO WE HAVE THE OPEN DATA OF SAN ANTONIO, WHERE IT DOES PROVIDE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECTS, PRELIMB PROJECTS, APPLICATIONS, THE BUILDING PERMITS.
AND ALL THAT INFORMATION IS ONLINE AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS, DEVELOPERS AND
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ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO -- TO REVIEW THAT. SO TALKING ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS, I MEAN, WE PARTNER WITH THEM. WE MEET WITH THEM.SOME OF THOSE STAKEHOLDERS WE MEET WITH ON MONTHLY BASIS, SOME QUARTERLY, SOMETIMES BASED ON DEMAND, IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL MEETING, WE IMMEDIATELY HAVE THAT. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THOSE STAKEHOLDERS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW, AND ANY DECISIONS -- ANY CHANGES WE HAVE, WE GO THROUGH THEM TO MAKE SURE WE GET THEIR BUY-IN, TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROCESSES DO MEET THE REQUEST AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT STREAMLINES THE PROCESS FOR ANY PERMITS OR ANY DEVELOPMENT. AND AS I SAID, WE DO INFORM THEM WITH THE DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE AND ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE, AND ANY UPDATES WE HAVE. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY GIVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC UPDATES THAT HELPS US BUILD OUR PROCESSES. ON THE SLIDE THERE IS, AGAIN, SOME EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS LIKE RECSA, GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDER ASSOCIATIONS, THE ENGINEERS, THE ARCHITECTS. WE DO HAVE ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS, ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REAL ESTATE, SO, AGAIN, WE MEET WITH ALL THOSE STAKEHOLDERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. SOME OF THE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS IS, LIKE, CPS ENERGY, SAWS, THE COUNTY AND, AGAIN, ANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT THAT WE NEED INFORMATION FROM THEM TO HELP US WITH THE PROCESS. SO TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL PERMITS, BEFORE I GO THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE OUR GOALS, I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT WE OFFER. SO WE DO OFFER SOMETHING CALLED PRELIMINARY PLAN REVIEW PROJECTS, WE RARELY SEE IT ON SMALL PROJECTS OR ON RESIDENTIAL, IT DOES HAPPEN BUT VERY FEW AND FAR IN BETWEEN. MAINLY ON BIG PROJECTS.
SO THEY COME TO US PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THEIR PLANS, AND THAT WAY WE GO THROUGH THE PLANS, WE GO THROUGH ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE, ANY CONCERNS THEY HAVE, THAT WAY WHEN THEY FINALIZE THEIR PLANS, WE ARE KIND OF ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND HOPEFULLY IT GOES THROUGH WITH THE PROCESS A LOT QUICKER. WE DO HAVE A TEAM OF THREE THAT ARE IN OUR BUILDING, AND THEY PERFORM FREE CONSULTATION.
A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT THEY WALK IN AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HOME BUILDERS OR OWNERS WHO WANT TO BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSE, THEY WALK IN AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS. CAN YOU HELP ME? WHAT DO I DO AND ALL THAT, AND WE WALK THEM THROUGH THAT.
AND THAT IS FREE OF CHARGE FOR ANYBODY WHO WALKS IN OR THEY CAN CALL AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT OR THEY CAN SCHEDULE IT ONLINE AS WELL. WE DO OFFER AFTER HOURS REVIEW, AND THAT HELPS ANY PROJECT THAT THEY WANT IT TO BE REVIEWED FASTER, WE HAVE THAT FEATURE OR OPTION AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO REQUEST IT.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE DID IS AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE SWITCHED FROM PAPER APPLICATIONS AND PLAN REVIEW TO DIGITAL OR ELECTRONIC ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO OR FIVE YEARS AGO NOW. SO EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH BUILDSA, THAT'S OUR SYSTEM OF RECORD. NUMBER ONE, IT'S AVAILABLE 24/7, SO WE DO GET SOME APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AT 1:00 A.M. OR WHATEVER, OR OVER THE WEEKEND, WHICH IS GOOD. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL WE HAVE OFFICIALLY OPENED TO LOG IN AND BRING THAT APPLICATION. -- WALK IN AND WRING BRING THAT APPLICATION. ONLINE WE DO HAVE SAMPLE APPLICATIONS TO HELP THEM THROUGH IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S MOM AND MOP OR EVEN A RESIDENT THAT WANTS TO BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSE. WE HAVE SAMPLE APPLICATIONS THAT THEY CAN SEE, IT HELPS THEM WALK THROUGH AND NAVIGATE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WE DO HAVE A CHECKLIST OF ALL THE DISCIPLINES ONLINE.
SO, AGAIN, ANYBODY CAN LOOK AT IT AND SAY HERE IS WHAT THE CITY'S REVIEWING, SO WHEN I APPLY, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I CAPTURE ALL THIS INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE IT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH MY APPLICATION.
AGAIN, WHICH HELPS THEM TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS A LOT SMOOTHER.
SO NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR COMMERCIAL PERMITTING, ANY MINOR REPAIR, YOU KNOW, SMALL THINGS LIKE DOORS, WINDOWS, THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S ONE BUSINESS DAY TO GET THEIR PERMIT.
IF IT'S MINOR STRUCTURE OR FENCING OR SIDING, RETAINING WALLS, IT'S THREE BUSINESS DAYS. IF IT'S MINOR PLANS, MOSTLY LIKE NEW BUILDINGS OR ANY ADDITIONS THAT THEY'RE SMALL, LESS THAN 1,000 SQUARE FOOT, OR REMODELS UNDER 8,000 SQUARE FOOT, THAT TAKES EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS.
ANYTHING ELSE, BASICALLY, THE COMPLEX PROJECTS, IT'S 18 CALENDAR DAYS FOR US TO REVIEW THAT PROJECT. MOVING ON TO RESIDENTIAL, SAME EXACT THING, WE OFFER THE SAME THINGS, BUT AS I MENTIONED PRELIMB REVIEWS, WE DON'T GET A LOT OF THOSE FOR RESIDENTIAL, BUT IT IS
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AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS IT. THE FREE CONSULTATION AND AFTER HOUR REVIEWS IS AVAILABLE AS WELL. OUR BUILDSA IS THERE, THEY CAN APPLY 24/7. THE ONE ADDITIONAL THING WE DID HERE IS IF A CUSTOMER APPLIES OR ATTEMPT TO APPLY, IF YOU WILL, AND THEY DON'T FINISH THEIR APPLICATION, WE CALL THEM BACK WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. SO WE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT ON THEM A COUPLE OF DAYS TO SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO FINISH THEIR APPLICATION. IF THEY DON'T, WITHIN SEVEN DAYS WE CALL THEM BACK, SAY YOU ATTEMPTED TO APPLY, DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH IT, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? SO WE HELP THEM, AGAIN, WITH THE PROCESS. AND MAINLY WHAT WE NOTICED IS THE PEOPLE THAT START APPLYING AND THEY DON'T FINISH ARE THE SMALLER DEVELOPERS OR BUILDERS, AND I GUESS THEY NEEDED HELP BUT THEY DIDN'T CALL US, SO WE CALL THEM. THAT'S WHY WE PUT THAT POLICY IN PLACE.NOW, IN REGARDS TO PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR RESIDENTIAL, ANY, AGAIN, MINOR OR SMALL REPAIR, IT'S ONE BUSINESS DAY. IF IT'S A NEW BUILD, NEW HOUSE, IT'S THREE BUSINESS DAYS. THAT'S OUR TARGET AND I'LL SHOW YOU IN A SECOND, WE DO MEET THOSE GOALS.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SLIDE THAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU EARLIER.
THIS IS THE BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY DASHBOARD.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR RESIDENTIAL NEW HOMES AND THIS IS FY '25 FROM CALENDAR YEAR, JANUARY ALL THE WAY TO DECEMBER, FY '25.
SO IT SHOWS THAT WE RECEIVED -- OR WE ISSUED, I'M SORRY, 3,834 PERMITS AND OVERALL AVERAGE FOR THE PERMIT FROM THE TIME IT WAS SUBMITTED UNTIL THE PERMIT WAS ISSUED IS 20 DAYS. NOW, YOU CAN SEE SOME CERTAIN MONTH WE WERE WAY UNDER, LIKE WE WERE 12 DAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MARCH. NOW IN JULY, WE WERE AT 44 DAYS, SO IT KIND OF FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WE GET.
SOMETIMES WE GET 20, 30 PERMITS SUBMITTED BY A BUILDER WITHIN AN HOUR AT THE SAME TIME. SO, OBVIOUSLY, BY THE TIME WE GET THEM AND WE REVIEW THEM, WE CAN'T MEET THE THREE DAYS. AND, AGAIN, THE THREE DAYS IS OUR TIME THAT WE UTILIZE. THE ISSUE HERE WITH THE 20 DAYS AVERAGE, THAT INCLUDES THEY SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION TO US, WE DID THE REVIEW WITHIN THREE BUSINESS DAYS. AND LET'S SAY THERE'S SOME DEFICIENCIES OR QUESTIONS WE HAD, WE ASKED THOSE, WE SENT THEM THAT E-MAIL WITH THE REQUIRED INFORMATION, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T SUBMIT FOR A WEEK OR 10 DAYS. THEN WHEN WE GET IT, WE REVIEW IT AGAIN. SO THE 20 DAYS INCLUDE OUR TIME AND THE CUSTOMER'S TIME TO RESUBMIT ALL THE INFORMATION.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS IN THE CCR TALKED ABOUT ADOPTING NEW CODES AND, I GUESS, EITHER NOT GIVING THE CITIZENS OR THE DEVELOPERS PLENTY OF TIME TO REVIEW THE CODE AND TO LEARN IT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS HERE. WE UTILIZE THE BUILDING RELATED AND FIRE CODES APPEAL AND ADVISORY BOARD TO HELP US THROUGH THAT PROCESS, SO EVERY THREE YEARS THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, THEY COME OUT WITH NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR THE NEW CODES. AS SOON AS THEY COME OUT, MY TEAM INTERNALLY, WE GET THE BOOKS AND WE START REVIEWING IT INTERNALLY. IT TAKES US ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING AND COME PAISH IT WITH THE EXISTING CODE -- COMPARE IT WITH THE EXISTING CODE AND TO SEE WHAT MAJOR CHANGES HAPPENED IN THE CODE.
THEN WE GO -- WE CALL IT EXTERNAL REVIEW. WE BRING THE SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE BUILDING RELATED AND FIRE CODES APPEAL AND ADVISORY BOARD, WE HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES, IT TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS EVERY TIME WE DO THIS TO GO THROUGH ALL THE CODE AND REVIEW EVERYTHING, AND THEY'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND WE DO A COUPLE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE CHANGES MIGHT BE.
THEN WE GO TO THE FULL BOARD TO GET THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN WE COME BACK TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE, LIKE PCDC AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD -- BLESS YOU -- AND THEN WE GO TO FULL COUNCIL. NOW, WHEN WE GO TO FULL COUNCIL AND WE GET THE APPROVAL, WE ALWAYS ASK FOR BETWEEN 90 DAYS UP TO 120 DAYS AS A GRACE PERIOD. THE REASON FOR THAT GRACE PERIOD IS REALLY TO TEACH OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE OUR TEAM KNOWS ABOUT THE CHANGES 100%, AND TO TEACH THE COMMUNITY. WE DO A COUPLE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WE JUST GO THROUGH THE CHANGES. WE DO MEET WITH THE AGENCIES AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER. WE DO ACTUALLY -- WE GO TO THEIR LOCATION AND WE DO EDUCATION TO THEIR MEMBERS WHEN THEY ASK US FOR IT. SO, AGAIN, WE UTILIZE THAT TIME TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD. KEEP IN MIND, ANY PROJECT THAT WAS SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE DATE OF ADOPTION -- UNDER THE PREVIOUS CODE, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NEW CODES, WE STILL REVIEW IT UNDER THE PREVIOUS CODE, SO THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO SUDDENLY CHANGE THEIR PROJECT MIDTERM TO MATCH THE NEW CODES. THAT'S -- I CALL IT THE
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SUPER BOARD. THE BUILDING RELATED AND FIRE CODE.I DON'T WANT TO KEEP SAYING THAT. THE SUPER BOARD ACTUALLY HAS EXPERTS FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, WE HAVE MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING CONTRACTORS, WE HAVE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEER, WE HAVE -- ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE THE BUILDING OWNERS AND MANMANAGERS -- OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE NEED. SO WHEN WE REVIEW THE ELECTRICAL CODE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ENGAGE CPS ENERGY, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY DO. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PLUMBING CODE, WE ENGAGE SAWS AND SO FORTH. WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON ALL THE CODES, WE WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON ALL THE CODES AS WELL. SO IN THE LAST YEAR, WE DID A COUPLE MORE IMPROVEMENTS. AS I SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ONLINE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID ABOUT A YEAR AGO IS WE CREATED TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE PAGE, WE CALL IT THE COMMERCIAL PROJECT RESOURCE HUB, AND THAT, AGAIN, GIVES A LOT OF INFORMATION ALMOST FROM DAY ONE. IF YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH LAND DEVELOPMENT TO ZONE YOUR PROPERTY OR PLAT YOUR PROPERTY, YOU WANT TO CREATE ADDRESSES AND SO FORTH, THEN ALL THE WAY TO, AGAIN, PLANNED REVIEW AND THEN TO INSPECTION. SO IT WALKS THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, AND WHWE HAVE, AGAIN, THE CHECKLIST ON THAT APPLICATION, SAMPLE APPLICATIONS, SO THAT'S HELPING ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO A COMMERCIAL PROJECT. WE ALSO CREATED SOMETHING ELSE, WE CALL IT GETTING STARTED WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND THAT'S IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH, WHERE, AGAIN, IT EXPLAINS WHAT THE CONSULTATION TEAM THAT WE HAVE PANDEMAND WHAT THEY DO, AND IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS, HOMEOWNERS, WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND SO FORTH. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ONLINE AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY. SO BASICALLY, OUR -- OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, AND WE CAN UPDATE THE PROCESSES AND STREAMLINE THE PROCESSES, IF NEEDED, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY MAJOR CHANGES AT THIS TIME.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, AMIN. I APPRECIATE IT.
AND, OF COURSE, THIS WAS A CCR SUBMITTED TWO YEARS AGO BY 10 OUR FORMER COUNCILMEMBERS, SO IT WAS STILL LEFT IN THE QUEUE AND TO RESPECT THE ORDINANCE THAT OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES PASSED WE WANTED TO REVIEW IT AND FORMALLY CLOSE IT OUT IF IT NEEDED TO BE. WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN UP DISCUSSION. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR? >> KAUR: I CAN START ON THIS. AMIN, I THINK THIS IS WAY TOO ROSY OF A PRESENTATION. TO SAY THAT WE'RE DOING JUST FINE WITH ALL OF OUR [INDISCERNIBLE] ANALYSIS TO ME IS AN INSUFFICIENT RESPONSE TO THE THINGS THAT MY RESIDENCE ARE EXPERIENCING AND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS ARE EXPERIENCING.
SO DURING THE BRIEFING, WE ASKED FOR SOME FOLLOW-UP EXAMPLES.
WERE YOU ABLE TO GET ANY OF THAT DATA THAT WE ASKED FOR?
>> YES. WE MANAGED TO GET THE DATA ACTUALLY TODAY FIRST
THING IN THE MORNING. >> KAUR: AWESOME. CAN YOU SHARE IT.
>> WE E-MAILED IT TO YOU MAYBE AROUND 9:00 OR SO. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS LAST
MINUTE. >> KAUR: OH, NO, THAT'S OKAY.
CAN YOU SHARE ANY OF THAT? SO THE -- AS FAR AS PERMITTING GOES, THE CHALLENGE THAT I HEAR THE MOST OF IS WITH IDZ PERMITTING IN THE URBAN CORE, SO INFILL DEVELOPMENT IS MUCH TRICKIER THAN BUILDING 300 HOMES IN THE SUBURBS.
INFILL DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES CREATIVITY, IT REQUIRES THINGS TO FIT THINGS IN SPACES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS FIT AND IT REQUIRES FOR OUR PERMIT REVIEWERS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL IN JUST -- RATHER THAN JUST DENYING COMMENTS. I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PROJECTS, MINE INCLUDED, WHICH IS SEPARATE, BUT ONE SPECIFIC HOUSING PROJECT IN DISTRICT ONE THAT WAS TOLD ONE THING AND THEN THREE MONTHS LATER TOLD ANOTHER. AND I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.
WHERE THEY'RE LIKE TOLD, YES, YOU CAN DO THIS WITH THIS KIND OF PARKING AND THEN TOLD ACTUALLY, NO, WE HAVE TO DO A VARIANCE AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND GET ALL OF THESE PROCESS THINGS IN ORDER.
AND WHEN YOU'RE A SMALL DEVELOPER -- AND I KNOW YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH RECSA AND ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT REPRESENT BIG GUYS, AND THE CHALLENGE I THINK IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE A SMALL, MAYBE IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME DOING A PROJECT AND YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK THROUGH AND YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SOFT COST, SOFT CAPITAL JUST LYING AROUND AND YOU'RE HAVING TO GO BACK AND PAY THAT ARCHITECT THREE OR FOUR TIMES FOR REVISIONS, THOSE AREN'T THINGS THAT ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THESE BUDGETS. IT'S REALLY HARD FOR EVERY SINGLE TIME AN ARCHITECT HAS TO GO BACK AND REDO PERMITS BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD ONE THING BY DSD BY ONE REVIEWER, AND THEN DONE ANOTHER. AND, YOU KNOW, I -- IT
[00:30:01]
ALMOST SOMETIMES FRUSTRATES ME SOMETIMES WHEN I CAN GO TO LEADERSHIP AND WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION AND ADDRESS IT, BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PLAY THE, ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO TO LEADERSHIP, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION. WE SHOULD HAVE -- THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS REVIEWING THE PERMIT SHOULD BE TRAINED WELL ENOUGH.I ALSO THINK WE HAVE A TRAINING OF REVIEWER CHALLENGE -- A PROBLEM WITH TRAINING OUR REVIEWERS, BECAUSE ONE PERSON CATCHING ONE THING AND ANOTHER PERSON NOT CATCHING IT ALL WITHIN THE THREE-MONTH SAME PLAN OF A REVIEW OF THE SAME PLANS IS WILD TO ME. HOW DID ONE PERSON SEE THIS MISTAKE AND ANOTHER PERSON DID NOT? AND THOSE ARE -- THOSE MISTAKES LEAD TO REAL EFFECTS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT THEN CANNOT DO PROJECTS AND DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S THE PERSON THAT WE NEED TO DO MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE WE NEED MORE INFILL DEVELOPMENT THAT FITS WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE BIG GUYS, EVEN THE HOUSING TRUST, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT, RIGHT? IT'S GOT TO BE THE SMALL FOLKS THAT WANT -- WE HAVE TO SUPPORT AND WE HAVE TO BUILD PROGRAMS AND CREATE FOR. SO I TRANSPARENTLY DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB FOR INFILL DEVELOPMENT AND THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A REVAMPED REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DIDN'T GATHER ANY OF THAT INFORMATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED WAS CAN YOU ACTUALLY SELECT WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT THAT THEY'RE DOING WHEN YOU'RE TRACKING THESE DAYS, RIGHT? LIKE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, HOW LONG -- AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THAT, AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO. I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY -- AND IT SHOULDN'T FALL ON THE PERSON SUBMITTING FOR THE PERMIT. I THINK IT SHOULD FALL ON CITY STAFF SIDE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELECT THAT THIS IS INFILL, MULTIFAMILY, SMALL SCALE, WHATEVER IT IS AND TRACK THE DATA. BECAUSE TO ME, EVERY TIME YOU GO BACK, IT EXTENDS. AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY PROJECTS HAVE TO GO BACK TIME AFTER TIME FOR REVISIONS. SO THAT'S ONE THING ON THE PERMITTING SIDE. THE SECOND THING IS WE'VE ALSO SEEN RESIDENTS THAT ARE JUST WORKING TO REPAIR SOMETHING IN THEIR HOME THAT HAVE GOTTEN CONFUSING INFORMATION. I KNOW, AMIN, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM. BUT WHEN IT IS -- I THINK INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE AS SMOOTH OF A PROCESS AS POSSIBLE IF THEY'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH, AND THAT WE'RE -- SO -- AND WE CAME TO US -- WE HAVE 73 TOTAL CASES SINCE WE'VE TAKEN OFFICE FOR DSD, 33 CASES THIS PAST YEAR OF INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED IN TWO DIFFERENT CONTRADICTORY WAYS TO THE RESIDENT. AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN MY OPINION, IF THAT'S JUST DISTRICT ONE.
WE HAVE ONE CONSTITUENT WHO'S NAME I WON'T CITE, BUT SHE WAS GIVEN INCORRECT INFORMATION, PULLED THE INCORRECT PERMITS, AND THEN HAD TO REVISE HER PLANS AND ENDED UP NEEDING A VARIANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT SHE WAS TRYING TO DO. SO WE WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE FOR US TO GO BACK AND -- AND I ASK, LIKE, CAN WE -- CAN WE FIGURE OUT HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE DONE THAT, WHERE WE, LIKE, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND THEN REALIZE, OH, IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THE CORRECT.
AND IT'S HARD TO TRACK, RIGHT? YOU DON'T KNOW -- THERE'S NO WAY TO BE, LIKE -- TO TRACK -- THAT'S HARD TO TRACK, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD DEFINITELY AT LEAST EXPLORE OR SEE HOW MANY CASES THAT AT LEAST EACH OF OUR OFFICES HAD -- RESIDENTS REACHING OUT TO US BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION. SO I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT DSD DOES, AND I'VE, LIKE, LITERALLY HEARD FROM ALL OF THE BIG DEVELOPMENT GROUPS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ISSUES, BUT THEN I DON'T HEAR THE SAME THINGS FROM RESIDENTS AND FROM SMALL SCALE DEVELOPERS, SO THAT'S WHERE I'LL END WITH. THANKS.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, AM MIN FOR THE PRESENTATION IN DISTRICT FIVE, WE HAVE SIMILAR GOALS WITH INFORMATION. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO MY TEAM AND I MET WITH ASK ME, AND WE HAD SOMEONE MENTION THE WAGES, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT YOU AS THE DIRECTOR, RIGHT, IT'S MORE HR FUNDERING FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, WITH OUR LGC STRUCTURE, THERE'S NOT OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FOLKS UP AND PROMOTE TO EARN MORE, SO YOU OFTEN SEE HIGH TURNOVER, AND MY TEAM'S GUILTY OF POACHING SOME OF THOSE FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THAT'S INSTITUTIONAL PROCESS. AND I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, VALUE IN INCREASING WAGES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, BECAUSE THIS IS KNOWLEDGE THAT WE OFTEN LOSE BECAUSE FOLKS NEED TO EARN MORE, RIGHT, AND TIMES THAT REQUIRES LEAVING A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT. I SAY THAT TO SAY, RIGHT, I KNOW THIS IS A COUNCIL THAT VALUES CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK WHEN WE TAKE AN APPROACH WITH THE FRONT-FACING POSITIONS THAT OFTEN ABSORB A LOT WHEN IT COMES TO INTERACTION WITH CONSTITUENCIES, THOUGHS ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SHOULD -- REWARD IN TERMS OF THEIR WORK. I DO HAVE A
[00:35:02]
RECOMMENDATION AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, BUT SOME OF THE CASES THAT WE HAVE WHERE THEY RECEIVE CONFLICTING OR QUESTIONABLE INFORMATION IS PRIMARILY AROUND HISTORIC STRUCTURES, AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, BUT I DO THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE OF HAVING -- ON THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PAGE, LIKE A HYPERLINK TO TAKE YOU TO THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION'S WEBSITE TO HELP NAVIGATE THAT PERMITTING PROCESS. YOU KNOW, PRIOR -- AND I JUST WANT TO THANK AMIN, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A CASE IN D5 WHERE HE AND HIS TEAM ADDRESSED SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, BUT PRIOR TO PRISCILLA FROGS, A SMALLER SCALE DEVELOPER HAD RAISED SIMILAR POINTS THAT COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR HAD RAISED, SO I THINK IT'S VALUE WITH SITTING WITH HER TO SEE WHERE SMALLER ONES ARE RUNNING INTO. SOME OF THE CASES WE'VE LEARNED, RIGHT, THE VALUE OF WORKING BACKWARDS, RIGHT, TO PLAN BASED OFF OF THE INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS ON THEIR WEBSITE BEFORE MAKING PLANS FOR A GRAND OPENING OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL DO LAY OUT IN TERMS OF -- DEPENDING ON THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT HOW MANY DAYS, LIKE UP TO 18 DAYS IF IT'S A LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT, BUT I THINK JUST EMPHASIZING THAT TO SOME OF THE SMALL SCALE DEVELOPERS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO WORK BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINES THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS LAID OUT ORCH THEIR WEBSITE. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.THANK YOU, AMIN, THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILWOMAN
GALVAN? >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, AMIN FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY. BEING IN THE FAR WEST OF SAN ANTONIO, I HAVE TOO MANY BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, BUT I STILL HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON IN THE INNER CITY, I THINK THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION EVEN RELATED TO THE TAX CREDIT, THERE'S ALWAYS OUR VARIANCE IT'S AN OLDER PART OF THE CITY, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ESPECIALLY IN THESE UNDERUTILIZED LOTS OR VACANT BUILDINGS OR WHATEVER IT IS, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL BUILDING IN THE INNER CITY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN AND JUST TRYING TO SEE WAYS WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN'S KAUR VIEW ON IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA THE MOST. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED IN THE PRESENTATION ITSELF ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY PLANNING, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME FOR IT, WITH THE CONSULTATION SUPPORT. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON
THE MONTH-TO-MONTH USE OF IT WITH APPLICANTS. >> I DON'T HAVE IT ON ME,
BUT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. >> GALVAN: HEARING BEFORE FROM DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS, I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS SOONER, TION TAKING SIX MONTHS GOING BACK AND FORTH, OF COURSE IT CAN COME FROM LEARNING EXPERIENCE, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT UTILIZING THE CONSULTATION, I GUESS I'M SURPRISED AS TO WHY IF THAT'S THE WAY WE CAN HOPEFULLY FAST TRACK SOME OF THIS WORK. I KNOW IT'S A SMALL TEAM AS WELL. YOU MENTIONED THREE STAFF AT THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S DIFFERENT FRR THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, BUT INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE POTENTIAL OF GROWING THAT WILL BE.
I KNOW OUR BUDGET WILL BE A BIGGER CONVERSATION LATER, I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD YIELD. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY
QUESTIONS. OR COMMENTS. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILWOMAN
KAUR? >> KAUR: SORRY, JUST A COUPLE OF REQUESTS AS FOLLOW-UP. THIS IS FOR BRIEFING ONLY, RIGHT?
>> MUNGIA: IT'S FOR BRIEFING, BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK THEM TO DO A
WRITTEN FOLLOW-UP. >> KAUR: OKAY. >> MUNGIA: AND THEN BASED ON THAT, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ANOTHER BRIEFING OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE A SUBCOMMITTEE OR SOMETHING ELSE BASED ON SOME OF THE
INTERESTS. >> KAUR: THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF REQUESTS THEN FOR FOLLOW-UP. THE ONE THING THAT I ASKED FOR, AND THIS CAME UP BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS MENTIONING THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE, WE HAVE ALSO NCDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE WAS AN INCIDENCE WHERE WE HAVE -- IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICULARLY, WE HAVE THIS FENCE REQUIREMENT AND CONSTITUENT SUBMITTED THE PERMIT FOR A FENCE, THAT FENCE IS EXISTED, BUT IN THE NEW NCD REQUIREMENTS WAS NO LONGER ALLOWED, SO THEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MADE THEM GO TO A BOA.
THE BOA DENIED IT, AND THEN THEY -- INSTEAD OF, LIKE, TRYING TO REMOVE THIS $20,000 FENCE THEY JUST MOVED UP, THEY JUST LEFT THE DISTRICT.
AND SO I -- THE REASON I SAY THAT STORY IS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS, LIKE, KNOWS THE HISTORIC OR NCD GUIDELINES, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO KNOW EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT MAYBE LIKE A POINT PERSON THAT REVIEWS THOSE PERMITS SO THAT THEY DON'T -- SO THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR AND IT'S NOT JUST A REGULAR, YOU KNOW, THINKING, OH, THIS IS JUST IN ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS FENCE IS GOING TO BE FINE. SO I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK -- EXPLORE AT THAT.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS IN THE CHART -- THE DATA THAT YOU SHOWED, IT -- WHERE DO MIXED USE -- SO IF YOU'RE DOING COMMERCIAL AND -- IF
[00:40:04]
YOU'RE DOING, LIKE, RETAIL PLUS MULTIFAMILY, WHICH -- WOULD THAT SIT UNDER -- IS THAT GOING TO BE IN COMMERCIAL PERMITS.>> IN COMMERCIAL PERMITS. >> KAUR: SO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE FOR COMMERCIAL PERMITS, IT SAYS 70% WERE DONE WITHIN 90 DAYS OR LESS, BUT THEN MY AVERAGE TIME FOR DISTRICT ONE IS 111, SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TIME IS FOR THE NON70 -- FOR THE 30% THAT'S NOT IN THAT. MAYBE I'LL SEND THAT IN AN E-MAIL BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING IN THE WAY THAT I JUST SAID IT.
OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: YEAH.
YEAH, SO, AMIN, IF YOU CAN -- AND WE HAD TALKED YESTERDAY AND THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS I HAD, TOO, IF YOU CAN MAYBE GATHER ALL OF OUR CONCERNS INTO A WRITTEN FORM, AND E-MAIL IT BACK TO US.
AND I THINK -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CCR IS PRETTY BROAD, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THERE'S SOME VERY PARTICULAR AREAS WE CAN REALLY HONE IN ON WITH INFILL, I THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE MOSTLY IN DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, 1, 2 AND 5 PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE, AND THEN THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, TOO, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY, TOO, THAT THAT ADDS AN EXTRA LAYER OF TIME.
IF YOU HAVE TO GET A VARIANCE, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER POSSIBLY MONTHS ADDED TO THE TIMELINE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
AND I THINK THIS IS PERFECT TIMING, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A -- WE HAVEN'T PASSED OUR CODE COMPLIANCE STRATEGIC PLAN YET, BUT I THINK THAT PART OF THE OUTREACH THAT WE TALKERRED ABOUT IN THAT -- TALKED ABOUT IN THAT PLAN GOES TO SOME OF THIS. I LIKE VIDEOS, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY HELPFUL WAY FOR PEOPLE TO KIND OF WATCH AND LEARN HOW THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND FIGURE THESE THINGS OUT. SO HOWEVER WE CAN KIND OF COMMUNICATE THAT BETTER, I THINK, IS IMPORTANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW IN AN EASY MANNER. SO BASED ON THE FEEDBACK YOU GIVE US, WE'LL TALK TO OUR COLLEAGUES AND WE'LL SEE WHAT OTHER FOLLOW-UPS WE NEED TO DO
WITH THAT. >> OKAY. UNDERSTOOD.
THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, SIR.
APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHTY, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE
CAPTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 3. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 3 IS A BRIEFING ON TAX INCREMENT FINANCING, TIF, PROGRAM POLICY.
>> GARCIA: GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
VERONICA GARCIA, DIRECTOR FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES.
I'LL DO THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
SO OUR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING OR OUR TIF PROGRAM POLICY WAS LAST ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 2022. KEY UPDATES TO THE PROPERTY INCLUDED REMOVING LENGTHY LANGUAGES AND REFERENCES, REALLY TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR APPLICANTS AS WELL AS ALIGNING THE PROGRAM WITH OTHER CITY PLANS AND POLICIES.
OUR CURRENT ADOPTED POLICY INCLUDES INFORMATION SUCH AS FEES FOR CREATING OR EXTENDING A NEW TIF OR TIRZ ZONE. THE OBJECTIVES FOR TIRZ FUNDING WHICH INCLUDES ARTS AND CULTURE, COULD BE HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, MANY OTHERS.
IT ALSO OUTLINES THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHAT THE ELIGIBLE EXPENSES INCLUDE, AND GUIDELINES FOR CREATING, EXTENDING OR TERMINATING A TIRZ.
THE POLICY ALSO OUTLINES THAT INDIVIDUAL TIRZ BOARDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ADOPT THEIR OWN GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR HOW THEY INDIVIDUALLY DECIDE TO AWARD FUNDING. OUTLINED IN THE CURRENT TIRZ POLICY IS A REFERENCE TO WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF PROVISION ON DISPLACEMENT, AND THIS IS LANGUAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE TIRZ POLICY. IT MENTIONS THAT TIF-FUNDED PROJECTS SHOULD NOT CAUSE DIRECT RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT, AND THE POLICY AND THE CITY DEFINED DIRECT RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT AS ANY OCCUPIED HOUSEHOLD LOCATED ON THE PROPOSED PROJECT THAT WILL REQUIRE PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT OF THOSE RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE TIF POLICY, OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ALSO INCLUDES LANGUAGE REGARDING DISPLACEMENT. THERE ARE TWO STRATEGIES SPECIFICALLY THAT SPEAK TO IT: THE FIRST IS THAT THE CITY SHOULD CEASE PUBLIC SUPPORT OF ANY MARKET RATE PROJECTS THAT WILL DISPLACE RESIDENTS PERMANENTLY. WE DO PROJECTS WITH REHAB AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND USUALLY THOSE INCENTIVES COME WITH COMMITMENTS FROM THE DEVELOPER TO HELP RELOCATE TEMPORARILY RESIDENTS AND BRING THEM BACK.
SO THOSE PROVISIONS ARE POSSIBLE. THESHIP ALSO HAS A STRATEGY -- THE SHIP ALSO HAS A POLICY FOR PROJECTS RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDING. WE DID IMPLEMENT THAT STRATEGY AND WE DO HAVE THE DISPLACEMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT WHICH IS CONDUCTED BY NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING TEAM SERVICES, WHAT IS THE DIA, IT IS REALLY AN INFORMATION-GATHERING EXERCISE WHERE WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE PROJECTS. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT
[00:45:01]
UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THE VULNERABILITIES OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A PROJECT IS PROPOSED, AND THEN LITERALLY FOCUSING ON THAT -- THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD FACTORS RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON WHAT IS THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT AND CONDUCT A DISPLACEMENT, THIS IS THE NEIGHBORING PROPOSED PROJECT, WE LOOK AT RECENT DEED CHANGES, WE'LL CONSIDER THE PERCENTAGE OF RENTERS AND OWNERS WITHIN THE AREA. WE LOOK AT THINGS SUCH AS THE HOUSING PRICES, SUCH AS ARE THERE EXISTING AFFORDABILITY COVENANTS, WHEN DO THEY EXPIRE.WE'LL LOOK AT THINGS SUCH AS RECENT PERMIT RAICT ACTIVITY, IS THERE A LARGER NUMBER OF DEMOLITIONS IN THE AREA VERSUS AVERAGE FOR THE SURROUNDING CITY. WE LOOK AT OVER TWO DOZEN FACTORS AND THEN SCORE THE PROPOSED PROJECT BASED ON THAT INFORMATION.
AND THE PROJECT MAY BE GIVEN A SCORE OF LOW RISK, MODERATE RISK OR HIGH RISK AREA. AND, AGAIN, THIS IS THE AREA AROUND IT, WHAT DOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOK LIKE, WHAT ARE THE VULNERABILITY FACTORS TO CONSIDER. A PROJECT THAT SCORES MODERATE OR HIGH RISK FOR DISPLACEMENT IS NOT DISQUALIFIED FROM RECEIVING FUNDING, IT SIMPLY IS INFORMATION THAT WE CAN THEN USE ON HOW WE FURTHER LOOK -- PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE VULNERABILITIES AND BASED ON THOSE VULNERABILITIES, WE WOULD LOOK AT CONSIDERING MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
SO THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM INSURING THAT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD HAS INFORMATION ON EVICTION ASSISTANCE, EVICTION PREVENTION ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THE EXEMPTIONS THEY QUALIFY FOR.
SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT -- IT COULD ALSO INCLUDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SUCH AS RELOCATION AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, MAKING SURE THEY KNOW WHAT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE. SO WE LOOK AT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND, AGAIN, NOT NECESSARILY DISQUALIFYING A PROJECT, BUT INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT WHAT THOSE VULNERABILITIES ARE AND THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND. SO IT'S A VERY QUICK HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT TIRZ POLICY AND THE PROVISIONS THAT IT CONTAINS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, VERONICA, I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH, IN 2022, YOU KNOW, THIS COMMITTEE AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS HERE, MADE A LOT OF GREAT CHANGES TO THE TIF POLICY, AND I THINK SLIDE 3 WAS A HALLMARK OF THAT POLICY, WHICH WAS TO CODIFY A RECOMMENDATION OF SHIP TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT WHEN WE FUND PROJECTS THROUGH THE TIF POLICY.
THIS RESURFACED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN WE HAD A B SESSION AND WE HAVE -- OF COURSE, THIS WAS USED TO HELP FINANCE THE BASEBALL STADIUM.
AND THERE WAS DIRECT DISPLACEMENT. THEY'RE DEMOLISHING APARTMENT COMPLEXES DOWNTOWN. THERE WAS A DISPLACEMENT FUND PROVIDED TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE BECAUSE THEIR APARTMENT WAS GOING TO BE DESTROYED. SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO RELITIGATE THAT ISSUE, BUT THE POINT WAS ON THE SLIDE SHOW IT SAID THERE WAS NO DIRECT DISPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF THAT PROJECT, WHICH WAS HOW THIS WAS ABLE TO GET ALONG AND GET FUNDED. SO I THINK THAT THAT IS AN ISSUE. I RAISE THAT ISSUE. I THINK IT -- WHILE IT MAY FIT THE LETTER OF THE POLICY, IT DOESN'T RESPECT THE SPIRIT OF THE POLICY, WHICH IS ON SLIDE 3, WHICH WAS TO AVOID DISPLACEMENT.
AND WHEN I BROUGHT THAT UP, THEY SAID, THAT'S FINE, COUNCILMAN, THE COUNCIL CAN GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THAT POLICY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY TO GET A BRIEFING AND GET FEEDBACK FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SO WE CAN ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, NHSD AND JOHN TO GET TOGETHER AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR US TO REVIEW AND SUBMIT TO THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT COUNCIL TO FINALLY CHANGE THAT AND BASICALLY OUTLINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE OUTLINED BECAUSE WHILE THE EXACT STADIUM ITSELF MAY NOT BE WHERE SOAP WORKS IS, AND I THINK THAT'S THE LINE THAT THEY USED, THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY THAT IS PART OF THEIR PROJECT DOES AND IS RESULTING IN THE DEMOLITION OF THESE APARTMENTS. SO WE NEED TO FIX THAT, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. COUNCILMAN GALVAN?
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU, VERONICA FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF CHANGING THE POLICY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REDUCING ANY KIND OF DISPLACEMENT OR FRANKLY NEGATING ANY KIND OF DISPLACEMENT THAT OUR TIRZ, TIF PROJECTS MAY HAVE, DIRECT OR INDIRECT. I THINK THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO.
I WON'T BELABOR THE DISPLACEMENT IMPACTS TOO MUCH.
I THINK MY BIG HANGUP WITH THIS IS JUST MAKING SURE, TOO, OF COURSE, IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL DISCRETION TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE
[00:50:02]
MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS BUT JUST EVEN SEEING A DIRECT KIND OF COMMENT THAT IT MAY CAUSE DIRECT/INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT IN FUTURE PROJECTS MAY BE HELPFUL, SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT MAYBE THERE'S -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE A STAFF DENIAL OR WHAT, BUT IF IT'S A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE POLICY, THAT THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD WOULD DO THAT, I THINK AT LEAST THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT.IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO OVERRIDE THAT, THAT'S OUR OWN PROBLEM, BUT FOR OUR INTERNAL POLICY, I'D PREFER TO NOT PERMIT THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK I'LL LEAVE THAT THERE. THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU, VERONICA FOR THE PRESENTATION. IN SHORT, I'M IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S RECOMMENDATION WITH BOTH THE TIF AND THE TIRZ
POLICY. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR IN.
>> KAUR: ? >> KAUR: YEAH, I AGREE. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DEFINITIONS FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT SO IT'S CLEAR FOR CITY STAFF AND RESIDENTIAL MEMBERS. DIRECT DISPLACEMENT, SCALE, IS A QUARTER MILE RADIUS, IS IT HALF A MILE RADIUS, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, LIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES ARE REALLY QUESTIONABLE, SO DO WE PICK THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD? SO I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DEFINITION FOR WHAT INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT LOOKS LIKE, AND MAYBE THERE IS VARIATION IN IT. MAYBE THERE IS -- LIKE IN THIS INSTANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, DISPLACEMENT THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PROJECT, LIKE YOU COULD DEFINE PHASE 1, PHASE 2, PHASE THREE AS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE BASEBALL STADIUM AS INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT AND FOR THAT REASON IT CAUSES X, Y, Z, BUT I JUST THINK -- I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINE THAT CLEARLY. AND THEN THAT WAY WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL AND MAYBE THAT DISCUSSION WOULD STILL LEAD TO SOME LEVEL OF SUPPORT VERSUS, LIKE, DIRECT DISPLACEMENT CLEARLY INSTEAD OF NO
SUPPORT. THANKS, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.
AND TO A POINT THAT A COUPLE OF YOU MENTIONED, IT COULD COME OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT WILL -- YOU REMOVE SO MANY UNITS OF HOUSING OR CAUSE THIS TYPE OF DISPLACEMENT AND THE COUNCIL CAN STILL APPROVE IT. I MEAN, THAT'S OUR AUTHORITY, RIGHT, TO IGNORE OUR OWN POLICIES APPARENTLY, SO WE CAN DO THAT, BUT WE SHOULD KNOW. AND IT SHOULD BE PRETTY UP FRONT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT PLAYED OUT WITH THE BASEBALL SITUATION, SO WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT. I'M GOING TO ASK JOHN TO BE OUR POINT PERSON ON THAT. SO THAT'S -- IS THAT
ENOUGH DIRECTION, JOHN, FOR Y'ALL TO WORK ON? >> YEAH, WE'LL WORK ON SOMETHING AND BRING IT BACK HERE --
>> MUNGIA: PERFECT. SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
>> UNDERSTOOD. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, SIR.
APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4.
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 4 IS RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS SEEKING 2026 COMPETITIVE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS I'M ERIKA RAGSDALE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND DEPARTMENT. OUR LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS ARE A PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION. THESE ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF HOUSING TAX CREDITS. THERE ARE 4 PERCENTS AND 9 PERCENTS. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITIVE 9 PERCENTS. THIS APPLICATION OPENS ONCE PER YEAR WITH AWARDS MADE IN JULY. THIS YEAR SAN ANTONIO'S EXPECTED TO SEE TWO TO THREE PROJECTS AWARDED. THAT'S JUST OUR PROJECTION BASED ON THE SCORING TODAY. AND I'LL ADD A NOTE THAT THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL FUND THAT COULD FUND ADDITIONAL REHAB PROJECTS.
IT'S CALLED THE AT RISK SET ASIDE THAT COULD ALLOW SAN ANTONIO TO SEE A FEW MORE REHAB PROJECTS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT NUMBER, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING. GENERALLY IN THESE PROJECTS, AT LEAST 10% OF THE UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AT OR BELOW 30% AMI. THEY'RE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WITHIN REGIONS, THERE ARE FIVE COUNTIES WITHIN OUR REGION, AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE APPLICATION THAT'S OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S A PROJECT LOCATED IN CONVERSE. 9 PERCENTS COVER ABOUT 70% OF THE DEVELOPMENT COST AND USUALLY WE SEE AROUND OR FEWER THAN 100 UNITS.
SO DEVELOPERS CAN EARN POINTS ON THEIR STATE APPLICATIONS BY HAVING RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR OF NO OBJECTION FROM THE CITY.
THE RESOLUTIONS WILL INCLUDE THE NECESSARY WAIVER LANGUAGE, WHICH I'LL COVER IN AN UPCOMING SLIDE, AND ALSO THE CITY ISSUES LETTERS CONFIRMING IF A PROJECT IS LOCATED AND CONTRIBUTING TO A REVITALIZATION PLAN AND CONFIRMING THAT THE CITY WILL CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST $500 TO THE PROJECT, AND
[00:55:02]
WE USUALLY DO THAT THROUGH CITY FEE WAIVERS.THIS YEAR'S APPLICATIONS WERE SCORED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY ADOPTED BY COUNCIL LAST NOVEMBER. SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE TIMELINE FROM DECEMBER THROUGH JANUARY NHSD COLLECTS APPLICATIONS FOR PROJECTS AND REVIEWS THOSE, SCORING THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT COUNCIL-ADOPTED POLICY. CITY COUNCIL THEN CONSIDERS PROVIDING RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION BASED ON THAT SCORING. I WILL HIGHLIGHT ALSO THAT ISSUING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE TAX CREDITS WILL BE AWARDED TO THE PROJECT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE MAY RECOMMEND THIS YEAR 12 RESOLUTIONS BE ISSUED OF SUPPORT, AND MAYBE TWO OR THREE OF THOSE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION. AND THEN FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF THE RESOLUTIONS, THE FULL APPLICATIONS GO THROUGH THE STATE PROCESS, THROUGH JULY, WHEN TAX CREDITS ARE AWARDED. SO SUMMARIZING THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR, WE HAVE 12 NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, FOUR REHABILITATION PROJECTS AND OF THOSE 16 APPLICATIONS, 10 ARE SERVING GENERAL POPULATION, FIVE ARE RESERVED FOR OLDER ADULTS AND ONE IS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WITH ON-SITE SERVICES. AND I MENTIONED THE OTHER REGIONAL PREAPPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR PROJECT IN CONVERSE. SO OF THE 16 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, FOUR OF THEM HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE SEEING PROJECTS DROPOUT IF THEY ARE NOT SCORING COMPETITIVELY, THEY WILL MAKE THAT CHOICE TO DROP OUT OF THE STATE TAX CREDIT APPLICATION PROCESS. SO THOSE SHOWN IN GRAY HAVE ALREADY DROPPED OUT. I'LL FOCUS ON THOSE STILL IN PLAY. SO WE HAVE EMANUEL VILLAGE IS A PROSPERA PROJECT IN DISTRICT FIVE. THERE ARE TWO SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST PROJECTS, JUDY AND JULIAN AT VIDA IN DISTRICT FOUR.
NEW HOPE HOUSING HAS PROPOSED NHH CULEBRA IN DISTRICT SIX.
NUESTRA TIERRA, RAZOR LOFTS IN DISTRICT FOUR, THE VILLAGE AT ELLISON, DEVELOPER ATLANTIC PACIFIC. THOSE ARE ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED. THESE LAST FOUR ARE THE REHABILITATION PROJECTS. 111 WEST TRAVIS IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ROBERT E LEE BUILDING PROPOSED BY THE HOUSING TRUST IN DISTRICT ONE, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE CONTRACTS BY NATIONAL CHURCH RESIDENCES, FRIO BEND, WESTMINSTER SQUARE AND WOODLAWN PINES IN DISTRICT 7 AND 1.
THIS IS A MAP SHOWING ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVED.
THERE WERE NO APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED IN DISTRICTZ 2, 3, 8 AND 9 THIS YEAR, AND THE RED DOTS ON THE MAP INDICATE THE REHABILITATION PROJECTS. ALL 16 OF THE PROJECTS HAVE AT LEAST 10% OF THE UNITS AT 30% AMI, 14 OF THOSE HAVE ADDITIONAL 30% UNITS, AND FOUR OF THEM HAVE AT LEAST 20% OF THE UNITS AT 30% AMI, INDICATING THAT THEY DID GO FOR THAT ADDITIONAL AFFORDABILITY AND EARN MORE POINTS.
THERE ARE THREE PROJECTS PROPOSING TO INCLUDE HIGH QUALITY PREK.
THAT IS DEFINED AS MEETING EITHER THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN ACCREDITATION OR THE STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR EARLY EDUCATION RESEARCH.
SO THOSE THREE PROJECTS, PROPOSING PREK ARE EMMANUEL VILLAGE, JULIAN AT VIDA AND VISTA AT CULEBRA. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS REQUIRING A WAIVER IN THEIR RESOLUTION, AND SO VISTA AT CULEBRA WILL REQUEST THE ONE-MILE THREE-YEAR WAIVER WHICH MEANS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT IS WITHIN ONE LINEAR MILE OF ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT AWARDED TAX CREDITS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND SERVING THE SAME POPULATION. AND JUDY AND JULIAN AT VIDA, 20% OR MORE OF THE HOUSING UNITS ARE FUNDED BY TAX CREDITS, SO THEIR RESOLUTION WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THAT WAIVER. THIS IS A LIST OF -- WE STARTED WITH 16 PROJECTS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THOSE 12 THAT ARE STILL IN THE RUNNING TO RECEIVE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT. THEY ALL SCORED THAT 80-POINT THRESHOLD TO RECEIVE THE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, AND SO, AGAIN, JUST TO LIST THOSE OUT, THAT'S EMMANUEL VILLAGE, JUDY AND YOU'LL YEAH AT VIDA.
NHH CULEBRA, NUESTRA TIERRA, RAZOR LOFTS, VILLAGE AT ELLISON, VISTA AT CULEBRA, 111 WEST TRAVIS, FRIO BEND, WESTMINSTER SQUARE AND
[01:00:04]
WOODLAWN PINES. WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, ERIKA. I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENTS. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THESE ARE A HANDFUL OF EXCITING PROJECTS TO SEE. I'M REALLY HOPEFUL WITH MANY OF THESE PROJECTS I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HEIGHT AND THANK PETE OF THE HOUSING TRUST, IF WE LOOK AT THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE DEEPEST AFFORDABILITY, THE MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL WITH THE DEEPEST, 30% AMI ARE WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, SO JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST AND AS WE TALK ABOUT A 2022 HOUSING BOND, I THINK THAT'S OUR PRIME PARTNER, MAKING SURE THAT WE --
AUDIO] -- THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: I THINK YOU
MEAN 2027 BOND. >> CASTILLO: YES. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, GALVAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY... YEAH? GO AHEAD.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, ERIKA, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'LL ECHO MY COUNCILMEMBER COLLEAGUE'S STATEMENTS ABOUT THE HOUSING TRUST, IT'S VERY CLEAR WITH THE SUPPORT WE CAN DO THERE.
HOPEFULLY MORE IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE JUST A QUESTION, DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE OTHER PROJECTS
DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD OR THEY WERE WITHDRAWN? >> THE FOUR THAT WITHDREW WERE BASED ON THEIR SCORES WITH THE STATE. AND THEY WERE JUST LOOKING AHEAD TO REALIZE THEY WERE NOT SCORING HIGH ENOUGH TO BE
COMPETITIVE. >> GALVAN: OKAY. GOT IT.
I THINK THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILWOMAN KAUR?
>> KAUR: THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE BRIEFING Y'ALL GAVE ME. DID YOU NOT INCLUDE THE STATE SCORES PURPOSELY?
>> WE HAVE THEM IN THE BACKUP SLIDES. >> KAUR: CAN YOU BRING
SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS JUST OUR ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL AT THIS POINT, KNOWING THAT THERE'S A LOT THAT STILL COULD
SHIFT. >> KAUR: OKAY. I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THIS JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS HERE, IF I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF YOU ALL ARE UPSET ABOUT THE NUESTRA TIERRA DEVELOPMENT, SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SPEAKING. I HOPE WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN WORK BETTER WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS AND STILL ADD MORE UNITS. LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK WHAT YOU HEAR FROM ALL OF US IS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR CITY, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON THE FRONT END WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND US AS COUNCIL OFFICES, I KNOW WE ARE WORKING TO DO THAT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN UNDERSTAND AND COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT FOR THINGS LIKE FENCES AND OTHER REQUESTS THAT ARE BEING MADE.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL AS LIVING THERE, YOU HAVE THOSE REQUESTS.
AND WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER AND AT THE SAME TIME ADD AS MUCH HOUSING AS POSSIBLE. THAT BEING SAID, I WANTED TO BRING THIS SLIDE UP BECAUSE THESE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO GET FUNDED. SO THE ONE -- EVEN IF WE DO -- WE LIKE TO WRITE THE MOST AMOUNT OF LETTER OF SUPPORTS BECAUSE IT GIVES -- WE DON'T WANT TO PRELIMIT -- OR LIMIT TOO MUCH THE STATE, AND WE ACTUALLY INCREASE THE BAR FOR WHAT COMPLEXES -- PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO GET OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, THEY CAN'T REALLY AT ALL BE COMPETITIVE. BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, LIKE IDEALLY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE CONVERSE ONE, SORRY, CONVERSE, AND THEY DROP OUT, MAYBE ANOTHER PROJECT COULD GET IN, BUT I WANTED TO SHOW THAT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE TOP SCORING AT THE STATE. AND TO BRAG, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID, TWO OF THEM ARE THE HOUSING TRUST ONES, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT MOST OF THE OTHER ONES WOULD BE REHAB.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE TWO IN DISTRICT 7 ARE FOR THE ELDERLY POPULATION, TOO, WHICH IS A BIG NEED THAT WE HAVE. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT. AND JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY, COULD Y'ALL SHARE IN THE RUBRIC, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SOME LEVEL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS ONE OF THEM. DO YOU HAVE A SLIDE THAT SHOWS THAT, BY ANY CHANCE OR WHAT THEY GOT ON THAT SCORE?
>> ARE YOU ASKING SPECIFIC TO THIS PROJECT?
>> >> KAUR: YEAH, IF YOU HAVE IT.
THIS PROJECT DID EARN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT POINTS BY DOING TWO THINGS.
THEY MAILED A LETTER SIMILAR TO THE ZONING NOTIFICATIONS, THE 200-FOOT BUFFER OF RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THAT BUFFER, A MAILED NOTICE ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND THEN ALSO A
[01:05:04]
PUBLIC MEETING THAT WILL BE HELD THIS THURSDAY. >> KAUR: OKAY.
>> WHERE THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COME AND SHARE SOME FEEDBACK.
>> KAUR: SO WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO GO AND ATTEND THAT MEETING AS WELL TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS ARE, AND THEN THE REQUESTS THAT YOU HAVE. IF BY CHANCER -- I DON'T KNOW IF -- DO THEY HAVE THAT LAND ALREADY PURCHASED OR IS THIS
JUST A PROPOSED -- >> THEY DO HAVE SITE CONTROL.
>> KAUR: SINCE THEY HAVE SITE CONTROL, I'D REALLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO TELL THEM WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER AND COME WITH SOME IDEAS, LIKE THE FENSZ -- I THINK SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT, I THINK COMING TO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. OKAY.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THANKS, CHAIR.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. AND, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT ALL THE RESIDENTS CAME OUT HERE TO VOICE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE PROJECT.
WE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THAT STATE LAW THAT WAS PASSED, THAT YOU REFERRED TO, BECAUSE IT KIND OF CEDES CONTROL AWAY FROM US IN ZONING AND THAT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE THING THAT PASSED FROM THE STATE LEGE.
FORTUNATELY AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A 100% GUARANTEE. PLEASE GO TO THAT COMMUNITY, CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE BEST PROJECT POSSIBLE. I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT PETE FOR THE PROJECT, ESPECIALLY THE TWO IN D4, YOU MUST HAVE A REALLY GREAT BOARD LEADING YOU.
I'M JOKING, BECAUSE THREE OF US ARE ON THE BOARD. SO -- NO, THIS IS REALLY GOOD STUFF. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. THE HIGH QUALITY PREK ALSO IS VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA NEAR A&M WHERE THESE TWO ARE GOING TO BE IN D4 IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE DESERT THAT EXISTS. SO, OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENT -- YES --
>> KAUR: DO YOU HAVE THE OTHER DEVELOPERS HERE? WE SHOUT OUT PETE ALL THE TIME BECAUSE WE'RE ON HIS BOARD. ARE THERE -- IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? WHO DO YOU REPRESENT, SIR?
>> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON REHAB. WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
SORRY, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: THE REHAB FOR 111 WEST TRAVIS IS A REALLY GOOD PROJECT, VERY IMPORTANT FOR DOWNTOWN AND I'M SURPRISED MY DEVELOPER GOT UP AFTER YOU SAID THAT, COUNCILWOMAN.
SO REALLY GOOD. BUT WITH THAT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON
THIS ITEM. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE
SAY AYE (AYE. >> MUNGIA: ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE
READ THE CAPTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 5? >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 5 IS A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE SILK ROAD COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AS A
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBER MY NAME IS SARA WASLEY ESTRADA WITH THE HOUSING... THIS ITEM IS BOTH 5 AND 6 COMBINED, BOTH OUR CLTS. SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO TODAY IS FORWARD TWO RESOLUTIONS OFFERING THE CHT DESIGNATIONS TO MAUC'S DEVELOPMENT FUND AND TO CULTUREINGUA, I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THEY'RE BOTH HERE WITH US TODAY.
BY WAY OF A QUICK REFRESHER, WHAT IS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST? IT IS A NONPROFIT CREATED TO OWN AND STEWARD LAND. IN OUR CASE FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE FOR COMMERCIAL AS WELL.
AND THE GOAL IN THIS TOOL IS CREATING AND MAINTAINING LASTING AFFORDABILITY. TYPICALLY THEY HAVE A DEFINED SERVICE AREA.
FOR OUR POLICY, WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT BEING A VERY SMALL AREA, LIKE A FEW CITY BLOCKS OR IT CAN BE AS LARGE AS THE WHOLE CITY.
YOU JUST HAVE TO TELL US WHAT IT IS. AND THEIR BOARD NEEDS TO CONSIST OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS IN THE TRADITIONAL MODEL, THAT'S USUALLY A TRIPAR-TYPE BOARD, INCLUDES HOMEOWNERS WHO OWN HOMES WITHIN THE CLT, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE SERVICE AREA BUT AREN'T NECESSARILY HOMEOWNERS THROUGH THE CLT ITSELF AND OTHER PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT HAVE SPECIFIC EXPERTISE.
IT IS A SHIP STRATEGY TO SUPPORT CLTS AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED A STRATEGY TO DO THAT. HERE IS A LOT BIT OF HOW CLT'S WORK COMPARED TO HOME OWNERSHIP. NORMALLY WHEN WE GO TO BUY A HOME WE PURCHASE THE HOME AND THE LAND TOGETHER WITH THE GOAL OF MAXIMIZING THE SALES PRICE WHEN WE LEAVE THE HOME AND THAT EQUITY AND WE ARE TAXED ON THAT SALES PRICE EVERY YEAR.
IF YOU GO TO OUR EVENT YOU CAN GET MAYBE SOME SAVINGS. IN A CLT HOME OWNERSHIP WE'RE SEPARATING THE HOME FROM THE LAND SO THEY ARE OWNING THE HOME, LEASING THE
[01:10:01]
LAND. THEY CAN RESELL AT A LIMITED VALUE AND THEY EARN EQUITY BASED IN THEIR LEASE WITH THE CLT. SO THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE DESIGNATION IS THAT IT HELPS PROTECT THAT MODEL, WHICH RESULTS IN A LOWER PRICE AT INITIAL SALE, LOWER ANNUAL COSTS AND ULTIMATELY AFFORDABILITY THAT IS LONGER LASTING COMPARED TO THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT. IN TEXAS THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IF YOU ARE SEEKING TO OPERATE A CLT YOU HAVE TO GET A DESIGNATION FROM THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO OPERATE. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS SO THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS KNOW THAT THEY ARE GIVING THAT TAX TREATMENT TO VETTED CLT ORGANIZATIONS. IN OCTOBER 2024 COUNCIL ADOPTED OUR CLT POLICY AND THE PROCESS LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS. ONCE WE RECEIVE APPLICATIONS, WE VET THEM, WE WORKED WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT, TO ENSURE THAT OUR APPLICANTS ARE MEETING THE TERMS OF OUR POLICY.THEY WILL GET A RESOLUTION FROM YOU ALL IF YOU CHOOSE TO GRANT IT AND TAKE THAT OVER TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WHO WILL APPLY IT TO THEIR PROPERTIES.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THESE ARE THE FIRST DESIGNATION APPLICATIONS WE'VE RECEIVED AND OUR POLICY REQUIRES INITIAL DESIGNATION GETS COUNCIL ACTION. THE ANNUAL DESIGNATIONS AFTER THAT WE CAN DO ADMINISTRATIVELY. A COUPLE OF COMPONENTS WE'RE LOOKING AT IN OUR POLICY JUST BY WAY OF REFRESHER HERE, FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. THEY HAVE TO BE NON-PROFITS, THEY HAVE TO MEET AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLDS. THE STATE OF TEXAS LAYS OUT THAT THERE CAN'T BE MORE THAN 75% OF THE HOMES AT 80% AMI UNLESS THERE ARE -- UNLESS THE HOMES ARE LOCATED CLOSE TOGETHER, IN WHICH CASE ONLY UP TO 20% CAN BE UP TO 120% AMI.
IF THEY ARE SEEKING A PARTIAL TAX EXEMPTION THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT AN AUDIT AND THAT IS THE CASE FOR ONE OF OUR CLTS SO WE'LL SHARE THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THE STATE REQUIREMENTS, WE ALSO REQUIRE THEY BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH KIDDO ENFORCEMENT, ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FAIR HOUSING AND IF THEY ARE OPERATING RENTAL HOUSING THAT THEY ALSO COMPLY WITH OUR HOUSING VOUCHER COMPLIANCE POLICY. AND LASTLY, WE ASK THEM TO REALLY LAY OUT FOR US HOW THEIR CLT WILL MEET COMMUNITY NEED, GIVE US A SOLID BUSINESS PLAN, AND TELL US ABOUT WHO IS ON THE BOARD. THE LAST PIECE OF OUR POLICY OFFERS A CITY TAX EXEMPTION OF 50% ON THE CITY'S COMPONENT OF PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS IS A VERY NARROW EXEMPTION, I WILL SAY. IT ONLY APPLIES TO PROPERTY THAT THE CLT ITSELF OWNS, SO THAT COULD BE AN OFFICE SPACE OR IT OBJECT PROPERTIES THAT ARE INTENDED TO BE SOLD TO HOMEOWNERS, BUT ARE ON THE MARKET AND NOT OWNED BY THE HOMEOWNERS YET. IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THAT EXEMPTION YOU DO HAVE TO SUBMIT A FULL AUDIT. SO WE HAVE TWO APPLICANTS TODAY. THE FIRST IS MAUC DEVELOPMENT FUND CLT.
THEY ARE BASED ON THE WESTSIDE SERVING PRIMARILY DISTRICT 5, BUT ALSO 4 AND 6 AND THEY HAVE A GOAL OF UP TO 55 HOMES IN FIVE YEARS DEPENDING ON THE PROXIMITY OF THOSE HOMES TO ONE ANOTHER, UP TO 20% OF THOSE COULD GO UP TO 120% AMI.
BUT IN THE INITIAL EARLY TWO YEARS WE'RE LOOKING AT UP TO 10 HOMES, THREE OF WHOM WOULD BE UP TO 60% AMI AND SEVEN UP TO 80% AMI. I WILL HALT THAT MAUC RECEIVED A MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT FROM THE HOUSING TRUST IN 2023.
THE NEXT IS CULTURINGUA SILK ROAD CLT. THEY ARE AIMING FOR AN APPRAISAL LAUNCH THIS YEAR. THEY ARE NOT REQUESTING A TAX EXEMPTION AT THIS TIME AND THEIR GOAL IS FOR 24 HOMES BY 2028. AT LEAST SIX WILL BE 60% FOR AMI AND THE REMAINDER FOR 61 TO 120. THE 120 WOULD BE BASED UPON THE STATE STATUTE. HAVING REVIEWED BOTH THESE APPLICATIONS, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO MOVE FORWARD GRANTING THESE RESOLUTIONS.
BECAUSE MAUC IS REQUESTED THE 50% TAX EXEMPTION AND PROVIDED THEIR AUDIT, WE RECOMMEND THEIRS INCLUDE THAT 50% TAX EXEMPTION ON THE UNSOLD HOMES.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THEIR INVENTORY JUST YET. AND SILK ROAD HAS NOT REQUESTED THE TAX EXEMPTION, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THEY RECEIVE THEIR RESOLUTION. AND WITH THAT I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, SARAH, APPRECIATE IT. DO ANY OF MY COUNCIL
[01:15:01]
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMAN GALVAN.>> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE FROM THE LAND TRUST AND I SEE THEM IN THE AUDIENCE. I APPRECIATE THE WORK WE'VE DONE BEFORE RELATED TO LAND TRUSTS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. FIRST IS JUST FOR [INDISCERNIBLE].
LAND TRUSTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SHIP, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AND THE RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONAL -- THE RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO WORK WITH THE TAX APPRAISER'S OFFICE AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THE ENTITIES THAT WORK WITH.
WHAT HAS THAT PROCESS BEEN LIKE TO BETTER DO THAT COLLABORATION AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING IN ON HOW TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS VACANT LOTS, ADDRESS BACK TAXES AS WELL AS LOOKING AT LAND TRUST POTENTIALS?
>> GREAT QUESTION. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH VCAD VERY CLOSELY THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO MAKE SURE AS SOON AS CLTS ENTERED COUNCIL CONVERSATION EVEN BEFORE THE SHIP WE WERE MEETING WITH STAFF TO UNDERSTAND HOW DO YOU -- WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT POLICIES AROUND TEXAS ON APPRAISAL AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY OPEN AND VERY RECEPTIVE. WE KNOW THEY'VE ALSO MET WITH OTHER CADS IN TEXAS AND HAVE EXPERIENCE AND STAFF IN OTHER CADS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THESE
RESOLUTIONS ARE ON THEIR WAY. >> GALVAN: THAT'S GREAT.
ANOTHER THING FOR THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AS WELL AS THE DISPOSITION PROCESS
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, IS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? >> I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT ONE. IT'S A SEPARATE DIVISION FROM MINE.
>> GALVAN: GOT IT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOING FORWARD WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES WORKING WITH THE LAND TRUST, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THAT UNIFIED STRUCTURE HERE.
OF COURSE A LOT OF IT IS NOT IN OUR HANDS, BUT WE WANT TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE IT IS A JOINT EFFORT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ON THE TWO LAND TRUSTS, I WAS WONDERING DO WE HAVE ANY OF THE MAPS FOR THE OPERATING AREAS.
>> IN OUR BACKUP SLIDES? LET ME SEE IF I CLICK FORWARD.
SO HERE IS MAUC SERVICE AREA. YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT BLACKOUT LINE ON THE WESTSIDE. LITTLE BITS OF COUNCILS 4, 5 AND 6 HIGHLIGHTED IN THERE. AND FOR SILK ROAD YOU'RE GETTING MOSTLY DISTRICT 7 AND 8 WITH A LITTLE BIT OF 6 AND 1 RIGHT AROUND THE MEDICAL CENTER.
AND THERE ARE SOME EXCLUSIONS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THERE AS WELL
IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF SHIPMENTS. >> GALVAN: RIGHT.
THANK YOU. OF COURSE THE BIG AREA OF THE PROJECT OVERALL IS A BIG TASK TO TAKE ON. MAYBE IT WILL BE OFFLINE AS WELL.
BUT IF EITHER THE LAND TRUSTS OR THE ENTITIES, WHAT THE STRATEGIES ARE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT HERE. IS IT GOING TO BE MORE SO SCATTER SITE OR EVEN BLOCK BY BLOCK? I'M WONDERING WHAT THE BACKGROUND IS.
>> AT THIS TIME BOTH ARE FOCUSED ON SCATTER SITE. IT CAN INCLUDE A HOMEOWNER INITIATED MODEL WHERE THE HOMEOWNERS ARE LOOKING ON THE MARKET FOR EXISTING
HOMES. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILWOMAN
KAUR. >> I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE IT'S NOW COMING TO FRUITION AND THIS IS I THINK ANIMASSING IDEA THAT WE HAD TO REALLY GET -- BECAUSE MULTI-FAMILY IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WE KNOW THAT, BUT THE NEXT STEP AFTER MULTI-FAMILY IS HOME OWNERSHIP IF WE TRULY WANT TO BREAK THE BARRIERS OF POVERTY. SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO THANK ALSO MAUC AND CULTURINGUA. I GOT TO WORK WITH THEM AND SEE THE WORK. AND ALSO THE HOUSING TRUST HAS BEEN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZED YOU WERE GOING TO BE A HOME DEVELOPER WHEN YOU STARTED CULTURINGUA, RIGHT, BUT THAT'S THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE -- WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY GOOD ABOUT LIKE NO REACHING OUT TO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AS THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WHY IS CULTURAL LINK WITH A NOT REQUESTING A TAX
EXEMPTION? >> SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY STEADILY SINCE -- OVER THE YEARS ON BUILDING UP OUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES AND WORKING WITH OUR AUDITOR TO KIND OF STEP UP ALONG OUR ASSURANCE PATHWAY. WE STARTED OFF DOING COMPILATIONS AND THEN WE'VE DONE REVIEWS. SO FOR FY26 WE'RE PLANNING TO DO AN AUDIT, SORT OF A THIRD STAGE OF ASSURANCE. ONCE WE HAVE AN AUDIT TO SUBMIT WE WILL REQUEST THAT EXEMPTION, BUT THE ONLY THING WE HAD TO SUBMIT WAS A
REVIEW, WHICH IS A LOWER LEVEL OF ASSURANCE. >> KAUR: GOT IT.
AT THIS TIME IS THE KEY PHRASE. GOT IT.
>> SO WE APPROVE THESE TWO -- I THINK THESE ARE THE FIRST ONES WE'RE DOING,
[01:20:03]
RIGHT? >> AT THE MOMENT. >> KAUR: WE APPROVE THEM AND DO LIKE THE HOUSES THAT ARE IN -- HOW DO WE GET UPDATES? WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR WHEN WE KNOW OKAY, THIS HOUSE IS BEING PURCHASED UNDER THE CLT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR US?
>> SO EACH YEAR THE CL TS WILL HAVE TO RENEW THEIR DESIGNATION AND AT THAT TIME UPDATE US ON EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THEIR INVENTORY. RIGHT NOW THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN EITHER OF THESE INVENTORIES, BUT AS THEY GROW WE CAN CONTINUE TO
UPDATE YOU AND WE PROCEED WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE. >> KAUR: SO WE'RE ESSENTIALLY PREAUTHORIZEING 12 HOMES -- 10 HOMES IN TWO YEARS FROM MAUC.
10 HOMES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE'RE PREAUTHORIZING PREMIUM TO BE CLTS.
>> EFFECTIVELY, YES. >> KAUR: SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT LANGUAGE. IT'S GREAT. I'D LOVE TO -- I DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE EVERY HOME THAT GETS DONE I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT.
THAT'S PROBABLY OVER THE TOP. BUT AT LEAST THE FIRST COUPE OF HOMES THAT Y'ALL DO I'D LIKE TO SEE AND CELEBRATE PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA.
AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION THAT I JUST HAD IS HOW DO YOU GUYS DETERMINE WHAT THE RIGHT LEVEL OF DESIGNATION OR NUMBER OF GOALS -- ARE YOU BASICALLY SAYING AS MANY YOU CAN DO WE'LL COMMIT TO AND AUTHORIZE. IS THAT KIND OF --
>> SO THE RESOLUTION IS BASICALLY GRANTING THEM LANGUAGE THAT THEY TAKE TO BCAD. THEY HAVE TO UPDATE US EVERY YEAR ON HOW THEY'RE PLAYING THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THESE LOTS ARE NOW PART OF A CLT.
>> KAUR: GOT IT. BCAD IS GOING TO DO THAT. INTERESTING.
>> YEAH. >> KAUR: DO WE KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DESIGNATE
IT ON BCAD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WILL SHOW IT IN THE SYSTEM. THAT'S INFORMATION WE CAN GET FROM BCAD.
>> KAUR: JUST CURIOUS. THANK YOU, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM TODAY.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
AS PEOPLE MENTIONED THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING STEP THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS TAKING WITH THE DESIGNATION OF THESE TWO COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS.
IT'S BEEN THE PART OF THE SHIFT THAT MY TEAM AND I HAVE FOUND MOST INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING, BUT GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF SARAH, VERONICA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR WALKING THESE NON-PROFITS ON HOW TO WALK THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF FOLKS INTERESTED AND IT'S OVERWHELMING BECAUSE IT'S NEW FOR US. SO JUST WANT TO THANK NADIA AND OF COURSE MAUC AS WELL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK AND INITIATIVE IN THIS AREA. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE AREAS THAT Y'ALL WILL BE LOOKING AT, RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'RE HUGE AREAS AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND NEED. SO JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THINGS MOVE ALONG.
I'D LIKE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. >> MUNGIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. BEFORE WE VOTE, WE'LL GO ON WITH DISCUSSION.
IS IT OKAY FOR ONE MOTION FOR BOTH RESOLUTIONS? >>
>> MUNGIA: CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE RECOMMENDATION PAGE? THAT WAY WE CAN CLEARLY READ
THEM OUT REAL QUICK? >> IT SHOULD BE JUST ONE -- SLIDE 10.
THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THERE WE GO. I'LL WELCOME ANY MOTIONS BASED ON THIS. THE MICROPHONE.
>> CASTILLO: I MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEMS 5
>> SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'LL MARK BOTH OF THEM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO MOTION FOR BOTH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TWO SEPARATE VOTES AND THE SECOND FOR COUNCILWOMAN
KAUR BECAUSE YOU NEED TWO SEPARATE VOTES ON IT. >> MUNGIA: BECAUSE THEY'RE POSTED SEPARATELY. BEFORE WE VOTE WE'LL FINISH UP CONVERSATION.
I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR EFFORTS.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, RIGHT? WE WANT TO SEE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN, ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMUNITY, WORK ON THESE TYPES OF LAND TRUSTS AND NOT OUTSIDE DEVELOPERS COMING IN. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING STEPPING UP. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT, BUT HOWEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP
WE'RE THERE AND I'M GLAD TO SUPPORT THIS. >>
>> MUNGIA: YES, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE MAPS. IS THERE A WAY TO GET THE PRESENTATION WITH THE BACKUP SLIDES AS WE GET THEM FOR REVIEW? SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SUCH GOOD INFORMATION IN THE BACKUP SLIDES THAT WE DON'T GET TO SEE. CAN I REQUEST THAT?
>> WE'LL REVIEW THE REQUEST, YES, MA'AM. >> MUNGIA: ALSO THERE'S A RESOLUTION COMING UP ABOUT THAT TOO. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
SO ANYWAY, WE WILL GO ON TO VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 5 WITH THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE? NAY?
[01:25:06]
MOTION CARRIES. AND THE MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 6, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.CONGRATULATIONS. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PCDC SHOULD BE ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
PLEASE COME IF YOU CAN. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT AGENDA, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MUCH. AND WITH THAT THE TIME IS NOW 11:29, AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.