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9:08:00 A.M. ON THUR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026, AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ IS RECOGNIZED TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S
INVOCATORY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS, TODAY I HAVE THE UNIQUE PRIVILEGE AND INTR INTRODUCING A FRIEND OF MINE, REVEREND STEWARD WHO BRINGS A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, MINISTRY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. SHE'S ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN MINISTRY AS A PASTORAL MINISTER, COMPLETING THE OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN 2019. SHE SERVED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMISSION WHERE SHE'S SERVED FOR THE MLK MARCH COMMITTEE FOR 3 YEARS. SHE SERVES FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN COMMUNITY MUSEUM. SHE'S BEEN SELECTED FOR A WORTHY MATRON FOR CHAPTER 8 87, STEEPED IN DEEP AFRICAN HISTORY.
A DEVOTED WIFE, MOTHER AND TRUSTED COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, SHE'S DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BUILDING AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS AND FOSTERING SPACES WHERE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY INTERSECT, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US TODAY REVEREND DEBORAH STEWARD. THE DAY IS YOURS.
>> WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW DAY TO GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE.
LORD, EACH DAY IS ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH OF US TO SHARE YOUR LOVE, HOPE, WITH THOSE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH. LORD, HELP US FIND BETTER WAYS TO LIVE IN PEACE AND UNITY WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SHOW FORGIVENESS ONE FOR ANOTHER AS YOU HAVE DONE FOR EACH OF US.
I PRAY FOR EACH OF OUR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR OUR MAYOR, FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, THEIR FAMILIES, AND EVERY SINGLE CITY EMPLOYEE FROM THE CUSTODIAN TO THE STAFFERS. IT'S MY PRAYER THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY FOR THE EQUALITY OF EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS CITY. LORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE THAT EACH OF THEM HAVE -- THE SACRIFICE THAT EACH OF THEM HAVE MADE TO SERVE THIS CITY AND I ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS FOR EACH PERSON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HELP EACH OF US TO SHOW YOUR LOVE TO EVERY PERSON WE MEET AND BLESS OUR WORLD TO BE A BETTER PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING AND INDIVIDUALITY FOR ALL.
LORD, I ASK, AS YOUR CHILDREN THIS DAY IN YOUR SON JESUS' NAME TO HEAR OUR PRAYER. AMEN. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: BEFORE WE TURN TO THE PLEDGE, I'M ACTUALL GOING TO INVITE ANGELA JOY M MCCULLLY TO COME TO THE FRONT. SHE'LL SING LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING, THIS IS REFERRED TO AS A BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM, IT WAS WRITTEN AS A POEM WAS JAMES WE WILL DON JOHNSON AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, JOHNSON'S LIERICS ILLAQUEATELY CAPTURED THE SOLEMN APPEAL.
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SET AGAINST THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM, THE SONG WAS ADOPTED BY THE NWCP, AND USED DURING A RALLY AND CRY DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF 1950S AND 6 60S SHE'S THE FOCAL DIRECTOR AT CROSSING POINT CHURCH.>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. ♪ LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SI SING ♪ ♪ TO EARTH AND HEAVEN. ♪ UNTIL EARTH AND HE KNOW RING ♪ ♪ RING WITH THE HARMONIES OF LIBERTY ♪ LET OUR REJOICING RISE ♪ ♪ HIGH AS THE LISTENING SKIES ♪ ♪ LET IT RESOUND LOUD AS THE ROLLING SEA ♪ ♪ SING A SONG FULL OF THE FAITH THAT THE DARK PATH HAS TAUGHT US ♪ ♪ SING A SONG FULL OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US ♪ ♪ FACING THE RISING SUN OF OUR N NEW DAY DAY BEGUN ♪ ♪ LET US MARCH ON TO ON TO VIC IS WON.
♪ ♪ LET US MARCH ON UNTIL VICTORY IS WON ♪ THANK YOU.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPU REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF FEBRUARY 4 AND 5. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR EDITS OF THE MINUTES? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION FOR THE ANNUAL BASHURA BASH RIVER CLEANUP. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO WILL KICKOFF 2026 RIVER CLEANUP EFFORTS ON MARCH 7, TO 26, AND WHEREAS BASHURA BASH IS THE LARGEST SINGLE DAY CLEANUP OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES AND IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT INV INVOLVING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, CORPORATE SPONSORS. ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, AND WHERE 1900 VOLUNTEERS COLLECT AND SORT TONS OF TRASH, AND MATERIALS DIVERTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WASTE FROM OUR GROWING LANDFILL, AND P PRESERVING THE COMMUNITY'S RESOURCES, IT FOSTERS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY AND HELPS ENSURE THAT THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER BASIN ENSURES A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE PLACE. I ANYHOW, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DO HEREBY P PROCLAIM MARCH 7, 2026, RESPECTIVELY TO BE BASHURA BASH IN SAN ANTONIO, AND COMMEND ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CLEANUP EFFORT FOR DOING THEIR PART TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
CHARLES BANK WITH RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES. AND THANK YOU ALL, COUNCILMEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR PARG PARGES IN THIS EVENT. THE DISTRICT ENGAGEMENT OF
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BASHURA BASH HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S A VITAL PART OF IT, AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT 31 YEARS WITHOUT THE HISTORIC COM COMMITMENT OF ALL OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS AND DISTRICTS. RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO IS JUST THE HOST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS. WE'RE VERY HUMBLED TO CARRY ON THAT LEGACY.LAST YEAR WITH THE HELP OF CITY DEPARTMENTS LIKE SOLID WASTE, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION, MANY OF YOU AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, BLACKEN RIDGE PARK, WE GATHERED 2,130 VOLUNTEERS, AND IN A SINGLE DAY, PICKED UP 125 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM WATERWAYS ALL ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY AND OUR CITY.
NOW ONE DAY, IT'S FANTASTIC THE MAGNITUDE OF BSHURA BASH AND IT STATES TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD, THAT SAN ANTONIO IS THE TYPE OF CITY THAT CARES ABOUT ITS WATERWAYS, BUT OF COURSE THAT CARE NEEDS TO EXTEND YEAR ROUND.
AND MUCH LIKE THIS CARE NEEDS TO EXTEND YEAR ROUND, THESE WAT WATERWAYS IS WHAT CONNECTS US, WHETHER IT'S S SALADO CREEK THAT'S RUNNING THROUGH 8, 9, 2, 10 AND 3 OR A CREEK RUNNING THROUGH 7, 6, 4 AND 1. THESE WATERWAYS BIND US.
THEY DON'T RESPECT YOUR POLITICAL BOUNDARIES, AND WE ALL KNOW YOU KNOW THAT, AND YOU'VE PROVEN YET AGAIN THIS YEAR THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO BACK THAT FACT AND SUPPORT AN EVENT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR ALL OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BECAUSE OF THAT HISTORIC SUPPORT, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED ALMOST 2 MILLION POUNDS OF TRASH RECOVERED, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS YEAR, AS LONG AS THE EVENT CARRIES FORWARD, WE WILL HIT THAT 2 MILLION-POUND MARK.
SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR HISTORIC SUPPORT, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS, OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN YEAR ROUND. WE KEEP OUR PROGRAM GOING.
SO IF YOU HAVE A NEED THAT SAN ANTONIO CAN -- RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO CAN HELP YOU ADDRESS FOR SAN ANTONIO, PLEASE REACH OUT BASHURA BASH IS JUST THE MOST FUN WE HAVE TOGETHER, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF WORK TO DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: ANY COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO SPEAK? COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND GIVE A PLUG FOR OUR SITES, TWO SITES THIS YEAR, ROC CREEK RUN, THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR DISTRICT, AND THEN A SPOT NEXT TO THE ALAZON CREEK. SO WE LIKE TO SEE EVERYONE OUT.
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF A COMPETITION THIS WEEKS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE PICK UP ALL THE TONS OF TRASH WE CAN, THANKS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER MUNG GOING TO YA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU FOR ALL TH WORK YOU DO, NOT JUST THE BASH, BUT YEAR ROUND, AND THE AMOUNT OF TRASH YOU PICK UP FROM OUR RIVERWAYS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR ECOSYSTEM, AND YOU ALWAY HELP US WITH INDIAN CREEK, WHIC IS A MAJOR CREEK IN OUR DIS DISTRICT, IT GETS POLLUTED A LO BECAUSE OF THE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL IN THE AREA.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CHARLES, AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO. AS WITH THE LONE STAR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE TRAILS AND COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER TO BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITIES.
EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YA'LL DO, NOT JUST WITHIN THE CREEKS OF DISTRICT 5, BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH TODAY, AND, WELL, EVERY DAY TO THE RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO FOR ALL THE WORK YA'LL DO TO KEEP OUR RIVERS AND CREEKS CLEAN, MAKE SURE OUR FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THE TRA TRAILWAYS ARE ABLE TO E A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO GO TO AND TO ENJOY AND JUST TAKE EVERYDAY RECREATION OUT IN NATURE AND OU COMMUNITIES. I'M EXCITED FOR MY FIRST BASH WITHIN DISTRICT 6 TO GO OUT TO THE CREEK, THE FURTHEST EDGE OF OUR DISTRICT RIGHT NEXT TO THE PARK, EXTENDED ARROW AND WILL BE THERE AS WELL, AND I THINK ALL OF MY STAFF WILL BE PRESENT AS WELL. SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MOMENTUM BEHIND US, AND I'LL BE SURE TO PUSH AS MUCH AS I CAN TO GET AS MANY VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE. THANKS.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU, SO MUCH, CHARLES TO YOU AND YOU TEAM FOR HELPING MAKE BASHURA BASH SUCCESSFUL EVERY YEAR, AND YOU'RE GREAT PARTNERS TO DISTRICT P AND I. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BASH EVERY YEAR, IT'S A GOOD TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING A CHANCE TO TALK WITH RESIDENTS.
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THIS YEAR, WE'RE EXTRA EXCITED BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE LAKE IS ADDED AS A TRANSCRIBE TORY, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE KNOW AFTER A RAINSTORM THERE'S SO MUCH TRASH. AT WOOD LAWN LAKE. SHE'S NOT EXPECTING TH THIS, BUT I WOULD LIKE LATIKA TO STAND UP. I HAVE THE BEST TEAM.AND SHE ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF SO IN DISTRICT P RESIDENTS.
SHE ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF SO MANY DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS TO ADD WOOD LAWN LAKE, AND SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE OPENED UP 100 SLOTS, THOSE FILLED UP RIGHT AWAY.
WE OPENED UP 50 MORE SLOTS. THOSE FILLED UP RIGHT AWAY, SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EVENT THIS YEAR, BUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THIS IS A HUGE EVENT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSISTENT WORK, NOT ONLY ON, BUT ASHURA BA BASH, BUT EVERY DAY OF
THE YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER'S VALUELESS MEZA GONE DOOZE LEVEL. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE AN ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURS COME TO LIFE 18 YEARS LATER, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS FOR US AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE BASH IN DISTRICT 8, SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: WELL, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO DO BASHURA BASH THIS YEAR AND THE IMPACT IT'LL HAVE ON WALKER RANCH.
AND, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE WAY THAT IT'S BR BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. IT HELPS TO LEAVE A LA LASTING IMPACT, EVEN AFTER YOU'RE OVER. YOU'RE MORE MINDFUL AFTER WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE RECORD, BUT IN DISTRICT 9 WE'RE ON THE RECHARGE ZONE AND ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WATER, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EFFORT AND REMINDING US HOW PRECIOUS IT IS TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU MR. BANK FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AN
ADVOCACY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MEMBERS,
THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I AM VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME TO CITY ALL UNITE 23 LOCAL -- UNITE HERE LOCAL 23 CHAPTER. SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE
COME UP. >> UNITE HERE LOCAL 23 RECENTLY SECURED A 3 3-YEAR CONTRACT, AND THIS IS THE UNION HOTEL FOR -- UNION FOR HOTEL AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, MANY OF THE UNION MEMBERS ARE BOTH AT THE GRAND HYATT AND HYATT REGENCY AND HAVE WORKED AT THE HOTEL FOR DECADES, AS SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I WERE AT YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY SLASH VICTORY PARTY AND WE GOT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE HOTEL AND TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE WORK WELCOMING VISITS TORS TO THE CITY OVER DAY.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS CONTRACT IS SIGNIFICANT.
GRAND HYATT WON THE FOLLOWING IN THE NEW CONTRACT; RIGHT? THE FIRST, THE FIRST HOTEL IN SAN ANTONIO TO EVER HAVE A $20 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE FOR BACK OF THE HOUSE WORKERS.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE THINKING. WHAT'S BACK OF THE HOUSE, THAT'S HOUSEKEEPING, LAU LAUNDRY, FOLKS MAKING IT HAPPEN, THEY ALSO -- HOUSEKEEPING IS ONE OF THE MOST PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS IN THE HOTEL. REDUCED INSURANCE COSTS.
JUNETEENTH ADDED AS A PAY HOLIDAY TIPPED EMPLOYEES ENJOYED INCREASE, PAID TIME OFF, AND ALSO THERE WAS SUCCESSOR SHIP LANGUAGE THAT YOU WERE ALSO ABLE TO SEC SECURE, MEANING IF IT CHA CHANGES, THE OWNERS WOULD HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRACT THAT IS. SO RACHEL HAS BROUGHT MANY OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE.
THANK YOU, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO FOR YOUR WORKERS, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, WHEN UNION WINS, THE REST OF THE CITY WINS; RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU LIFT THE STANDARD AND SHOW EVERYBODY WHAT'S POSSIBLE. SO LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE. YOUR COURAGE TO ASK FOR REALLY, REALLY DEMAND DEMAND; RIGHT? REALLY DEMAND WHAT YOU ARE WORTH AND WHAT YOU DESERVE, AND FRANKLY THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS'LL MAKE THIS A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR OTHERS THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO BENEFIT FROM YOUR HARD WORK. SO, RACHEL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN SOME OF YOUR MEMBERS AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING AS WELL. >> TOTALLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU TAKING TIME TO HONOR MEMBERS, I'M HERE JOINED BY NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE, SO THE FOLKS THAT SIT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM THE COMPANY AND BARGAIN THE CONTRACT. SO I WANTED TO PASS IT TO
TOOTSY AND MARY TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS. >> ALL I HAVE TO SAY, MAYOR,
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AND EVERYONE HERE, THANK Y YOU, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN, STANDING BESIDE US, BUT I KNOW THIS SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE CHAL CHALLENGE, BUT I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE AND WE'RE WILLING TO GO ALL THE WAY.THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> HI, THANK YOU. I'LL SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU; RIGHT. YES, WE ALL HAVE THE COURAGE; RIGHT? AND WE STOOD AND LIKE YOU SAID, WE DEMANDED BECAUSE WE DESERVE IT, LIKE, LIKE A SINGLE MOM, LIKE, TO ME, IT'S TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE, LIKE NOW I HAVE RIGHT AND TO SUPPORT AND HAVE WHAT I CAN GIVE TO MY CHILDREN, RIGHT, AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU. >> SO I JOINED THE UNION IN 2010, AND I WAS WORKING ON THE CAMPAIGN TO HELP THEM WIN RECOGNITION; RIGHT? UNION RECOGNITION, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE TOLD YOU THIS STORY, MAYOR, BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY WHO WERE TELLING ME I SUPPORT THE WORKERS, BUT THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE GOING TO WIN AGAINST THIS POWERFUL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.
I HAD OTHERS TELLING ME, THEY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THEY HAVE A JOB, AND IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT, THEY SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY NEVER GAVE UP, AND HERE WE ARE BREAKING GROUND, THIS LIFE CHANGING CONTRACT. I'M SO PROUD TO KNOW THEM.
AND WORK WITH THEM. AND THEY ARE CONTINUALLY SHOWING, LIKE I SAID, THE CITY; RIGHT? WHEN WE JOIN TOGETHER, WE CAN WIN BIG THINGS, AND WE WILL WIN BIG THINGS, AND I ALSO THINK THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED; RIGHT? WHEN WORKERS AND THEIR EMPLOYER SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AND COME UP WITH A FAIR CONT CONTRACT; RIGHT. SO WE PLAN TO KEEP WINNING FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS IN THE CITY. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TALKING TO WORKERS ALL OVER, AND ONE -- STANDARD FOR EVERYBODY. SO THANK YOU, AGAIN, MAYOR, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BRING US HERE TODAY, THANK YOU TO YOUR COUNCIL FRIENDS AND
ALLIES WHO HAVE STOOD WITH US AND, YEAH. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: CONGRATULATIONS, IT' A BIG DEAL, AND GOES TO SHOW TH COMPANY KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE HOTEL.
AND WHEN I LOOK AROUND, I SEE MOSTLY WOMEN RIGHT HERE TODAY; RIGHT? YOU'RE ALL THE ONES -- THERE ARE A FEW TOKEN MEN IN THE BACK, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES; RIGHT? AND IT IS COURAGEOUS, SO THANK Y YOU, NOT ONLY FOR YOU, WHAT YOU DID FOR YOU AND ALL THE COWORKERS THAT YOU HAVE, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING THE REST OF THE CITY WHAT'S POSSIBLE. AND THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A HUGE CORPORATION. YOU HAVE TO BE THERE, YOU HAVE TO PURSUE IT,
AND THEN YOU CAN GET IT. SO CONGRATULATIONS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS.
I ENJOYED HAVING DINNER WITH YOU GUYS NOT ONLY TO TALK TO YOU AND GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER BUT YOUR PARTNERS BECAUSE MANY OF YOU ARE MISSING YOU WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE WORKING NIGHT SHIFT, SO IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR FROM THEM. AND I WAS ONE OF THE O ONES THAT I WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, IT'LL BE AN UPHILL CLIMB, BUT YOU SHOWED ME WHAT'S POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR RECOGNIZING THIS. CONGRATULATIONS. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT THANK YOU FOR NOT JUST STANDING UP AND FIGHTING FOR YOURSELF, AND KNOWING WHAT'S FAIR AND JUST, BUT CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE WHAT'S MORE, THERE'S MORE THAT YOU DESERVE AND WILL WIN IN THE FUTURE, BUT THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING, AGAIN, NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT THE REST OF THE CITY BECAUSE IN A FEW MONTHS AND A FEW YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE REST OF THE HOTELS DO THE EXACT SAME THING THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AND WHILE YOU GUYS ARE ONWARD AND U UPWARDS, THESE CHAINS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CATCH UP. SO, AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FOR YOURSELF, YOU'RE FI FIGHTING FOR EVERYONE ELSE AND EVERY OTHER WORKER IN THE CITY, NOT JUST HOSPITALITY, BUT EVERY WORKER. SO, AGAIN, CONTINUE TO SET A NEW STANDARD, AND
THANK YOU ALL FOR YA YA'LL'S WORK. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR LEADING THE WAY AND BEING UNITED IN ENSURING THAT NOT JUST HOSPITALITY WORKERS IN THE C CI OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GUARANTEE BETTER WAGES, BUT AS MARY AND TOOTTY MENTIONED; RIGHT? THERE WAS WORKERS ORGANIZING IN THE WORK PLACE TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS, AND WHILE I' PROUD TO BE AN ALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT COMES FROM YOU ALL ORGANIZING I THAT WORK SPACE AND HAVING GOOD UNION STEWARDS, MAKING SURE THA YOUR DUES ARE WORKING FOR YOU ALL TO -- ON THE END, THAT YA'L RECEIVE THOSE BENEFITS, BUT IT' ABOUT COLLECTIVE AND I REALLY APPRECIATED BREAKING BREAD WITH YOU WHILE CELEBRATING THE VICTORY, LEARNING HOW YOU NAVIGATED THROUGHOUT THE
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PANDEMIC AND DIFFERENT SHIFTS W SAW THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT HO IT IMPACTED THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. ANYWAYS, I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHL HIGHLIGHT; RIGHT? IS THE WORK AND LEADERSHIP THAT HOSPITABLE TEAC TEACHES; RIGHT? HOSPITALITY TEACHES TE TEAMWORK, AND WHAT WE SEE HERE WITH THE BARGAINING GROUP AS WELL AS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S HOW CAN I HELP YOU, HOW CAN WE HELP EACH OTHER, AND HOW CAN WE STAND TOGETHER ON THE PICKET LINE TO ENSURE NOT JUST IN THE STATE OF -- CIT ANTONIO, BUT HOUSTON, DALLAS, SO FORTH ARE G GETTING THOSE INCREASED WAGES. SO THANK YOU, ALL, AND THE WORK CONTINUES.THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER GALVAN.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I INCREDIBLE THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO UNITE HERE, NOT ONLY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ACROSS TEXAS, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY PAVING THE WAY FOR EVERYBODY HERE IN THE ENTIRE STATE TO PROVE THAT WHEN WE WORK, WHEN ORDINARY PEOPLE ORGANIZE TOGETHER TALK TO COW COWORKERS, NEIGHBORS, WE CAN WIN MATERIAL CHANGE FOR COMMUNITIES, OURSELVES AND FAMILIES. SO I'LL PIGGY BACK OFF OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO SAID. YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WARM GRATITUDE YOU'VE BROUGHT HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU ALL DID THIS. YOU ALL MADE THIS HAP HAPPEN. YOU'RE ORGANIZING, YOUR COMMITMENT.
YOU STOOD UP. YOU DEMANDED. YOU NEGOTIATED.
YOU WON, AND YOU DESERVE THIS. SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR THAT I APPRECIATE THE GRATITUDE TOWARDS US BUT YOU ALL MADE THIS HAPPEN, AND I CANNOT THANK THAT ENOUGH.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT UPON ALL OF U US; RIGHT? THAT I TALK ABOUT SAP'S GROWING ECONOMY, AS WE'RE WO WORKING ON MAKING THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZE, THE ENTIRE CITY'S ECONOMY GROW, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE CANNOT LEAVE LABOR OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION EITHER. WHEN OUR DOWNTOWN BEING TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT CAN BE, WHAT IT SHOULD BE, WHAT IT CAN LOOK LIKE, WHAT INVESTMENTS ARE MAKING IN THERE, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE ONLY WAY DOWNTOWN THRIVES IS WHEN
LABOR WINS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: I'LL BE BRIEF. RACHEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK. TOOTSY AND MARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH ON ALL OF YA'LL'S WORK AS WELL. YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BIGGY BACK OFF OF COUNCILMAN'S MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. YOU KNOW, THIS WIN IS FOR YOU ALL, BUT THE IMPACT THAT YOU ALL HA HAVE, NOT ONLY IN THIS INDUSTRY, BUT OTHERS IS MASSIVE. SO THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE WAY. THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE CHARGE.
AND THANK YOU FOR, AG AGAIN, THE IMPACT THAT YA'LL ARE GOING TO HAVE ON SO MANY PEOPLE'S LI LIVES THAT YA'LL DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT, AND THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. SO THANKS, AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL AND YOUR TEAM THAT ISN'T HERE TODAY, BUT THIS IS A WIN -- A WIN FOR ONE IS A WIN FOR ALL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID TO FIGHT FOR WORKERS, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY ARRESTED AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MADE A THREAT AGAINST MY LIFE, AND THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO EXPEDITIOUSLY IDENTIFY AND ARREST THAT PERSON IS NOT LOST ON -- GIVEN ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE WAY IN WHICH, AGAIN, THEY QUICKLY IDENTIFIED AND APPREHENDED THAT INDIVIDUAL, I APPRE APPRECIATE.
THERE IS JUST NO ROOM -- AND WE'VE SEEN TOO MANY INSTANCES ON THIS DIAS, THERE'S NO ROOM IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE, AND MY THANKS TO THE FUSION CENTER AND SAPD. ITEMS 4 AND 35 -- 4 THROUGH 35 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE PULLED -- THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS THAT GR GROUP, AND THERE WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNTIL PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. IN TERMS OF ITEMS THAT ARE PULLED, I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER PULLING ITEM NUMBER 9. I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO PULLING ITEM 32. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AND MEZA GONZALEZ PULLING 34. CORRECT.
OKAY. ARE THERE OTHERS TO BE PULLED? OKAY. OKAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL
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INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP, -- OH, THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL BE BROUGHT UP DURING THIS TIME. JACK FINGER.THERE HE IS. SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> YES. MADAM MAYOR, WHICH ITEMS ARE ON CONSENT TO REMAIN THERE THAT I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON ARE 3 32 AND 34 PULLED FORWARD.
OKAY. SO I'LL BE SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 33.
YES. MAYOR ORTIZ, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.
ITEM 32 IS ABOUT THE -- WELL, I'M -- EXCUSE ME. 33.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. YEAH. ITEM 33 IS AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING THE -- WELL, I'LL LET YOU READ IT T TO -- YOU, THE READERS TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF THERE. 32.
THAT'S RIGHT. ORDINANCE DESIGNATING MEXICAN-AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL, MAUC, CLEAR UP THE BLURS THERE. YES, THE DEVELOPMENT FUND AS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. OKAY.
NOW PLEASE RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE -- I HAVE WITH THIS IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK OF DOCUMENTS, YOU'LL FIND THAT IT GIVES THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN UN UNITY COUNCIL A WHOLE LOT OF LAND THAT SOMEBODY HAD TO PAY FOR EARLIER. WHEN YOU DO THAT AND THEY IN TURN GET A CHANCE TO LEASE IT OUT, RENT IT OUT TO PERSONS, SUPPOSEDLY BELOW THE PERSONS BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
WELL, ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE PLACING PRICE CONTROLS UPON THESE PROPERTIES. AND THESE PROPERTIES ARE ALL AROUND THE NORTH WESTERN PART OF TOWN. AND -- WELL, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT PRICE CONTROLS ON SOMETHING? WE DID IT NATIONWIDE BACK WHEN INFLATION WAS REALLY HIGH BACK IN THE 70S, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GIGANTIC MIS MISTAKE. WHEN YOU PUT PRICE CONTROLS ON SOMETHING, YOU SKEW THE VALUES. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE PROPERTIES WHEN THE FREE MARKET CANNOT BUY IT OR SELL IT AT A NATURAL PRICE? WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PROPERTIES? DO THEY -- WHEN THE O OWNERS CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT, AND THE MAINTENANCE, THE OPERATIONS INCREASE, BUT THEY CAN'T -- IF THEY WANT TO SELL IT FOR A CERTAIN PRICE, IT AIN'T GOING TO WORK, YOU HAVE A MAJOR BOONDOGGLE ON YOUR HANDS. THAT'S WHAT PRICE CONTROLS DO, PLUS THE FACT IT GETS US WITH PEOPLE, LIKE I SAY, BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, 30%, 50% BELOW IT.
SO, NO, YOU WHO ARE LI LIVING NEXT TO THESE, YOU'LL BE WELCOMING YOUR
NEW WELFARE NEIGHBORS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE O THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO MOVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE SEVERAL HIGHLIGHTS, COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ HIGHLIGHTING 2 24, THAT 26, AND 27, ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT? COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, WHAT NUMBER? OKAY.
FOUR AND 20. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER, NOTHING? 15. YES. THANK YOU.
ANYTHING ELSE? 13, 14, AND 28. OKAY.
[00:35:17]
YEAH BASICALLY. SO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER HAD AND TO. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ WILL HIGHLIGHT 5.COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO WILL HIGHLIGHT 8 AND 23. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO WILL HIGHLIGHT 15. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONE ZEL LESS.
24, THAT, 26, 27. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE, 13, 14, AND 28.
A HAVE I MISSED ANY? COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING? 21. 22.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, THE MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT ITEMS 9, 32, 34, WHICH HAVE BEEN IF YOU WOULD FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, PLEASE VOTE.
SORRY, YOU'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THEM NOW, OKAY, IN THAT ORDER.
OKAY. APOLOGIES, WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
NUMBER -- GO AHEAD. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. TWO QUICK HIGHLIGHTS.
ITEM 4 IS A REHAB FOR CITY TOWER ELEVATORS, AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT SUPER, SUPER EXCITING FOR A LOT OF RESIDENTS, BUT THEY KEEP BREAKING DOWN, AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY STAFF -- IS THAT M ME? SORRY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY STAFF IS TAKEN CARE OF. SO I'M GLAD WE HAD A FUND TO BE ABLE TO PULL FROM TO DO THAT. AND THEN ITEM 20 IS R REAPPOINTMENT OF ROGER PEREZ TO THE ALAMO CITIZENNED A VIE RI COMMITTEE, HE PREVIOUSLY SAT IN THIS SEAT AND DID A GREAT JOB LEADING ALL THE CHANGES GOING ON OVER THERE. SO WE'RE SENDING HIM LOTS OF POSITIVE VIBES
TO DO THAT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I'LL BE BRIEF.
I'M HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 5, WHICH IS $6.3 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN OF A RAISED INTERSECTION ACROSS RID MONDAY ROW, IT IS TIMELY BECAUSE I'M CONSTANTLY BEING STOPPED BY THAT TRAIN. I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME BY MY CONSTITUENTS, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP IN THIS -- IN THE RAIL RAILROAD -- IN THE CR CROSSING ELIMINATION FOR THIS INTERSECTION, AND THIS IS IT. IT'S -- IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE $4.8 MILLION AND A FEDERAL GRANT TO FINISH THE STUDY AND COMPLETE THE DESIGN.
MY GOAL IS SHOVEL READY PROJECTS, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BEGIN IN 2026, THE DESIGN, AND END BY FALL OF 2028, AND SO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WE MUST FIND THE 100 PLUS MILLIONS DOLLARS IT'LL TAKE TO ELIMINATE THIS RAILROAD CR CROSSING, BUT WE'RE ON IT. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT APP APPOINTMENTS REAPPOINTING GRACE GARZA TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONI COMMISSION OF FAMILY WELL BEING. GRACE IS A LIFELONG B4 REZ DEBIT AND GREW UP IN MY OFFICE BUILDING BECAUSE HER FATHER BUILT THAT BUILDING WE'RE OFFICERED IN. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE APPOINTMENT OF DREW GAL LOWWAY, TO THE HISTORIC COMMISSION, WHICH IS A TOUGH COMMISSION TO GET APPOIAPPOINTMENT FOR IN D4, AND HE'S A GREAT RESIDENT IN D4.
WE'RE PROUD OF HIM. I WANT TO REAPPOINT SA SAGURA TO THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION, OUR DEFAULT D4 IN MANY YEARS, AND WE'RE GLAD TO
HAVE HER. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER C CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS, BEGINNING WITH 8, WHICH IS AN ACQUISITION OF A SERVICE ALLY, WHILE IT MAY NOT SOUND SEXY, IT'S A KEY PIECE IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FIRE STAYING 33, SO WE'RE JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE FACILITIES, BOND COMMITTEE THAT HELPED ADVOCATE FOR A NEW FIRE STATION.
OF COURSE, FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, MIKE SHANNON, RAZI WHEN HE WAS WITH THE TEAM, AND THE SWEET ACQUISITION TEAM, WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS ON COUNCIL, THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOC ASSOCIATIONS INVITED MY TEAM TO GO WALK THROUGH THE EXISTING FACILITY AND HELPED TO ADVOCATE TO ENSURE THAT WE SECURED FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW FACILITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER 33, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST WITH THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL THAT SERVICES DISTRICT 35 AND BEYOND, WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK AND SERVICE AND HOUSING THAT YA'LL PROVIDE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT AS WELL FOR ENSURING THIS COMPONENT OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M VERY EXCITED, MY TEAM IS EXCITED BECAUSE IT HELPS COMPLIMENT THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST WE FILED WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST RATHER, ENSURING THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE DEEPEST AFFORDABILITY AS WE MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD, AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THE OTHER ITEM
[00:40:02]
HIGHLIGHTED AND GRATEFUL TO SEE NADIA HERE AS WELL.BUT REALLY EXCITING ITEMS THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU.
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HIGHLIGHTING ITEM 15, WHICH IS APPROVING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $2 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT FOR WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK. WE ALL KNOW THAT WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK IS NOT ONLY A GEM OF DISTRICT 7 BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE EARTH DAY, JULY HAD4, AND THE COMMUNITY GATHERS TO CELEBRATE ALL SORTS OF EVENTS THERE. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST UTILIZED PARKS IN THE CITY ON A DAILY BASIS, SO IT WAS LONG OVERDUE FOR MUCH NEEDED TLC. IN 2024 MY TEAM AND I IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN ANTONIO PARKS AND RECK, THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF STATE REP MARTINA, JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ, CONGRESSMAN, WE ALL SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET $3.25 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PA PARK. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MATCH THAT WITH CITY'S BOND FUNDING. AND SO THAT FUNDING WILL BRING A SPLASH PAD, FI FISHING NODES TO OUR PARK, AND CONSTRUCTION IS SET TO BEGIN THIS YEAR. TO BUILD OFF OF THIS MOMENTUM, I'M PROUD TO APPROVE THIS ITEM THAT ADDS 2 MILLION MORE DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO FURTHER PROVE THE PARK WHICH IS A TOTAL INV INVESTMENT OF 6.5 MILLION. THIS WAS BROUGHT IN THINGS TO THE ADVOCACY OF STATE REP MARTINEZ FISHER WHO FOUGHT FOR THIS PROCESS.
WHAT THESE DOLLARS, WILL FINALLY, FINALLY, FI FINALLY HAVE A COMPLETE BIKE PATH AROUND WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE SO MANY FAMILIES RIDE BIKES AROUND THE PARK AND THEY'LL HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO DO THIS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS FULL VISION TO COME TO LIFE, AND I WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE MARTINEZ FISHER FOR HIS WORK ON THIS. AND HE'S HERE WITH US TODAY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE HIM TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, AND THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN FOR HAVING ME HERE. WE'RE VERY INTENTIONAL AND PASSIONATE ABOUT WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK. I WILL TELL YOU, THE LATE SENATOR JOE JOE B BURNEL WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF 97 WOULD REMIND US OF THE TIMES HE WOULD WALK TO AND FROM WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL BAREFOOT AND NOT BE ACCEPTED TO SWIM IN THE PARK POOL BECAUSE OF THE TIMES BACK THEN.
WE'RE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING THAT PARK THE PEOPLE'S PARK.
AND SO JUST TO GIVE THE COUNCIL'S AWARENESS AND FLAVOR, LOCAL PARK GRANTS GIVEN BY THE STATE ARE VERY COMPETITIVE.
WE HAVE 181 LAWMAKERS THIS ALLOCATION, THIS B BIINYUM WAS ONLY $60 MILLION. EVERY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WANTS A PARK GRANT IN THE DISTRICT, NOT EVERYONE GETS ONE. THIS IS THE SECOND ALLOCATION FOR WOOD LAWN LAKE, THERE WAS A $1.5 MILLION ALLOCATED AND 3.5 MILLION PACKAGE BACK IN TO IS A WITH THE STATE OF JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ. WE PUT 1.5 IN WOOD LAWN, 1 MILLION TO SEE THE BRIDGE AT THE PARK, AND HALF A MILL FOR ROSEDALE AND LOW MEN PARK.
THESE PARK DOLLARS ARE HARD TO COME BY, BUT WE CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH GREAT WORK AND LEADERSHIP, AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE STAFF, IT WAS THE THEN PARKS DIRECT TOR COMPETITIVE YOUR WHO P PINNED ME DOWN AT A LUNCH AND ASKED WHY DID ALL THE LOCAL GRANT MONEY WENT TO HOUSTON AND NONE OF IT WENT TO SAN ANTONIO, AND LOW AND BEHOLD, WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
AND BECAUSE OF HIS ADVOCACY, WE PUT THE FIRST ONE IN 2014, AND NOW WITH THE CONTINUED ADVOCACY, WE TAKE THE VIEW THAT IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE STRATEGY WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING MONEY IN WOOD LAWN LAKE.
SO MANAGER I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS -- I'M LO LOOKING FORWARD TO LO LOOKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING THAT FOOTPRINT AT WOOD LAWN BECAUSE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, AND I HOPE EVERYONE WHO ENJOYS THAT PARK WOULD PARTAKE AND COUNCILMAN WE LOOK TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO MAYOR GOOD TO SEE Y YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
BER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. HIGHLIGHTING ITEMS 13 AND 14 TOGETHER. THESE ARE GRANTS THAT WE ARE -- WE'VE APPLIED FOR AND ARE GOING TO ACCEPT FROM THE STATE HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAM.
THE GRANTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO PREVENT, RESPOND TO, AND RECOVER FROM ACTS OF TERRORISM AFFECTING OUR AREA, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL. ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 28, WHICH IS THE R REAPPOINTMENT OF JOE NICKS.
MR. NICKS HAS LENT HIS EXPERTISE ON VARIOUS LAND COMMITTEE, I
[00:45:04]
ININCLUDING OUR ZONE COMMISSIONER FROM 2016 TO 2019.MR. NICKS OF APPOINTED TO THE BOARD IN JANUARY OF TO 20, HE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCIL AND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE, SO WE'RE THRILLED TO REAPPOINT HIM TODAY. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. GREAT. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA -- I'M SORRY. I'VE GOT -- SORRY.
COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. PLEASE.
>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I'M HIGHLIGHTING A NUMBER OF DISTRICT 8 APPOINTMENTS TODAY.
IF THOSE APPOINTEES CAN PLEASE RISE, I'M GOING TO START WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. ALEX TRAVIOSO TO THE HISTORIC AND REVIEW DESIGN COMMISSION, AS A LIFE LONG SAN ANTONIOIAN, AND A GRADUATE FROM CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL AND TEXAS UNIVERSITY, A DESCENDANT OF THE CANARY ISLANDS, I KNOW HE APPRECIATES OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE AND WILL BE AN ASSET TO THIS COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. NEXT, WE HAVE CHRIS FU FULLERTON HERE.
I BELIEVE I SAW HIM IN THE BACK. DISTRICT 8 RESIDENT, APPOINTMENT TO THE HISTORIC COMPLIANCE AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD AS A DISTRICT 8 RESI RESIDENT, HE BRINGS EXPERIENCE IN HISTORIC WATER LAW AND ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, CHRIS HAS SERVED ON MANY DIFFERENT COMMITTEES SUCH AS THE DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL, THE PLANNED COMMISSION TECHNICAL ADVISORY BO BOARD, AND THE CPS RATE ADVISORY BOARD, WITH ALL OF THAT EXPERIENCE AND DEDICATION TO CIVIC DU DUTY, CHRIS WILL BE A BENEFIT TO THIS BOARD, THANK YOU, CHRIS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE NEXT, WE HAVE PEGGY PETERSON HERE, APPOINTMENT TO PETTY PETERSON TO THE JOINT COMMISSIO ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS.
PEGGY PETERSON IS -- SHE'S MY NEIGHBOR, NUMBER 1, BUT SHE'S A RETIRED NORTHEAST I ISD PRINCIPAL AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICTEL FOR MORE THAN 20 DECADES, A LIFELONG EDUCATOR WORKING AS A TEACHER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND ENDIING HER CAREER AS PRINCIPAL RETIRING IN TO 10. SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S IN ELEMENT INDUSTRY EDUCATION FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND GRADUATE DEGREE FROM OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY.
WITH HER PASSION OF HELPING OTHERRINGS, I KNOW SHE'S BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, PEGGY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MIGUEL CASTRO, THE APP APPOINTMENT OF MIGUEL TO OUR DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MIGUEL IS A GRADUATE OF BUSINESS CAREERS HIGH SCHOOL AND IN HIS SPARE TIME, NOT MUCH HE DOES SO MUCH, HE HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF VIA'S ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT COMM COMMITTEE, BOARD SHARE OF SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT LI LIVING SERVICES, A MEMBER OF THE WEST SIDE LIONS CLUB, AND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS WELL AS AN INTERN, EXCUSE ME, FOR CONGRESSMAN WALKEN CASTRO'S OFFICE. MIGUEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL, MAYOR, THANK Y YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: GREAT. I WILL ALSO HIGHLIGHT M MUJANJJPANA WHO WAS MY APPOINTEE TO THE ZONING ME. MUJAN SOME OF YOU MAY NODE SHE WAS RE RECENTLY I INDUCTED AS THE SAN ANTONIO ASIAN ALLIANCE, SHE STARTED THE SAN ANTONIO PERSIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY IN 2018, IS INVOLVED IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IS A LE LEADER IN SO MANY FRO FRONTS, SO THANK YOU, M MUJAN FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY AS ELLE. OKAY.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, ACCEPT FOR ITEMS 9, P 2, 34, PLEASE VOTE.
OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY.
ITEM THE WAS PULLED BY COUNCIL GALVAN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM THE IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF THE CP ENERGY THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTERESTS IN LAND SUFFICIENT FOR THE PROJECT PURPOSES INVOLVING 17 PERMANENT ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION EASEMENTS AND TWO TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS ON PRIVATELY-OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE GUEST SIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY IN COUNTY BLOCKS 45088, 45 SO, 4 4577, 4577A, 4578, 4598, 4597 GIBBING ON THE RANCHTOWN SUBSTATION ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 16 AND FOLLOWING AN EXISTING ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION DOOR DOOR IN A SOUTHWESTERNLY DIRECTION ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 211 TO THE TALLY ROAD SUBSTATION DECLARING THE PROJECT TO BE FOR PUBLIC US
[00:50:03]
AND PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER GALVAN IS RECOGNIZED TO MAK THE MOTION. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU MAYOR AND DEBBIE FOR READING THE CAPTION. I ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROPERTY TO THE RANCHTOWN BY ACQ ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK AND I
INCORPORATED AS PAT PART OF THE MOTION. >> CONSISTENTING OF 17 PERMANENT ELECTRIC AND TWO TEMPORARY EASEMENTS FOR THE TALLY ROAD IN COUNTY BLOCKS 4508, 45 4510, 4517, 45778, 4598, 4597 BEGINNING AT THE RANCHTOWN SUBSTATION ALONG HIGHWAY -- STATE HIGHWAY 16 AND FOLLOWING AN EXISTING ELECTRON TRANSITION CORRIDOR IN A SOUTHWESTERNLY DIRECTION ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 211 TO THE TALLY ROAD SUBSTATION, THESE PROJECTS ARE DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXH EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND I INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION. AND THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THERE BEING A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 9. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 32 IS PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION.
>> CLERK: 32 IS A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE VBGSA26LP APPLICATION FOR 2026 COMPETITIV 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NUESTRA A TIERR A 65 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT LOCATED IN THE 9000
BLOCK IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 7. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: WOULD YOU LIKE A PRESENTATION?
>> ALDERETE GAVITO: NO NEED, I DO HAVE COMMENTS, THOUGH. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY.
WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. THE FIRST ONE BEING JAMES STOPPER, FOLLOWED BY VALUE DELEON, AND THEN JACK FINGER. SIR YOU HAVE THREE
MINUTES. COME ON UP. >> GOOD DAY.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED KNEW ES THAT TEE AREA DEVELOPMENT AND IN FAVOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITHDRAWING ITS SUPPORT. COMMUNITY OPPOSITION IS GROWING AND WILL CONTINUE AS MORE RESIDENTS LEARN ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD HARM THE CHARACTER, STABILITY OF ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WITH THE NEAREST EFFECTS ON THE HOMES NEAREST ITS DEVELOPMENT. KEY CONCERNS INCLUDE LOSS OF PRIVACY, INCREASED TRAFFIC AND SAFETY, SECURITY ISSUES, NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION, REDUCED PROPERTY VALUES.
STRAIN ON UTILITIES, LOSS OF A GREEN SPACE, AND THE INEVITABLE PHYSICAL THE PROJECT'S HIGH DENSITY LAX ADEQUATE BUFFERING AND LIGHTING CONTROL OF NEIGHBORING HOMES. PUBLIC SAFETY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. GILL BOW ROAD IS A 4 LANE WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF EXPANSION, AND BUSINESSES AND DIRECT ACCESS TO 1604. ADDING TRAFFIC FROM 65 UNITS COMPILED WITH THE RIGHT IN RIGHT OUT DESIGN WILL INCREASE CONGESTION, THERE'S NO BUS SERVICE ALONG THIS ROAD.
THERE ARE LIMITED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN REASONABLE WALKING DISTANCE. THE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WILL MAKE ON SITE PARKING INADEQUATE, CREATING OVERFLOW OF RESIDENTS ON VISITOR PARKING ON COMMERCIAL PARKING AREA. THE PROPOSED APPROACH OF MAXIMIZING DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY WHILE MINI MINIMIZING STANDARDS ON THIS LIMIT OF SIZE IS CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC WELFARE.
IT UNDERMINES COMMUNITY LIVABILITY, TRAINS SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FAILS TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE BROADER NEEDS AND SAFETY OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. DISTRICT 7 IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST BY LAND AREA AND SECOND MOST POPU POPULOUS, MAKING IT THE MOST DENSITY POPULATED, THESE CON STRAITS CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES, SUCH AS MORE LAND XMA XMASTY.
WHERE A LARGER SITE COULD BETTER SUPPORT THE PROJECT AND PROVIDE BETTER AMENITIES FOR FUTURE RESIDENCES. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
[00:55:03]
GAVITO HAS HONORED THE WILL OF OUR CONSTI CONSTITUENTS.WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO DO THE SAME BY WITH WITHDRAWING ITS SUPPORT OF NUESTRA TIERRA. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: VAL DE DELEON. FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER,
AND THEN YA NET MCC MCCART. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS VAL DELEON, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BASINO GROUP AND HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR IN THE, ITEM 32. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING STAFF FOR THE -- WHILE OUR DEVELOPMENT HAS MET THE THRESHOLD FOR WHAT WOULD QUALIFY US AND IS APPROPRIATELY ZONED FOR MULTIFAMILY, OUR DEVELOPMENT IS LOCATEDDED A GAITED TO SINGLE FAMILIES HOME, AND THERE IS ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO OUR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SEVERAL OF THE THESE -- SORRY.
I LOST MY PLACE HERE. SEVERAL OF THESE HOMEOWNERS ON JANUARY 29 WHERE I WAS ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENG ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THAT MEETING WITH YEAR GUIDANCE TO GIVE MY DESIGN TEAM TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SPECIFICALLY WE'VE ELIM ELIMINATED MOST OF THE EXTERIOR GREEN SPACE AT THE MEETING ON THE 29TH THAT WAS SHOWN ON THE SITE PLAN WITH THE DOG PARK, AND CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND, AND THE OVERWHELMING FEEDBACK I HEARD WAS THE NOISE CONCERNS FOR THE ADJACENT HOMEOWNERS WOULD BE AN ISSUE.
FORTUNATELY FOR US, THE PROPERTY IS A FOUR-MINUTE WALK TO THE NEW TERRITORIES PARK WHICH FEATURES ALL OF THESE AMENITIES AND THEN SOME.
SO WHILE I'M NEVER THRILLED TO REDUCE SITE AMENITIES, WE WERE ABLE TO, BY ELIMINATING THAT, EXTERIOR SPACE, STRETCH THE BUILDING A LITTLE BIT MORE, REDUCE A PORTION OF THE BUILDING THAT IS CLOSEST TO THOSE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO TWO-STORY, AND WE'VE ORIENTED ALL THE UNITS ON THOSE THIRD AND FOURTH STORY FACING THOSE ADJACENT NEIGHBORS TO NOT HAVE ANY WINDOWS FACING THOSE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN THE BACKYARDS. PRIVACY WAS A LARGE CONCERN FOR MOST OF THE HOMEOWNERS, AND WE WERE DOING OUR BEST TO ADDRESS THOSE COMMENTS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE PLAN.
BUT I DO HOPE THAT I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN KIND OF MY MESSAGING TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THIS LOCATION IS MOST LIKELY THE MOST OPPORTUNITY AND CHANCE FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE INPUT AND COLLABORATION WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SINCE THE PROPERTY IS ZONED FOR MULTIBEING REBUILT FOR GOOD, UP TO 90 UNITS AND NOT BEING REQUIRED TO ENGAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR REACH OUT TO COUNCIL FOR ANYTHING. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL HAVE A TOUGH DECISION THIS MORNING AND THAT YOU WERE ELECTED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHOSE VOICES MATTER. SO I COMPLETELY RESPECT TH THAT.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENT FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: JACK
FINGER FOLLOWED BY YA NET M MCCART. >> MADAM MAYOR, OTHER MEM MEMBERS OF OUR COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER, AND ONCE AGAIN, AS I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO, I'VE BEEN OBSERVING AND PRESENTING TO YOUR -- FOR YOUR ATTENTION SOMETHING THAT I, AN AVERAGE CITIZEN HAPPENED TO UNCOVER, THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PLACE WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING.
YES, AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST ANY POOR SECTION OF TOWN, WE'RE TALKING AB ABOUT, WELL, MS. GAVITO, IN YOUR AREA OF TOWN, DISTRICT 7 UP ON GUILBEAU ROAD.
9,000 BLOCK OF IT. I'M GUESSED WITH PERSONS SUPPORTING SUMP INITIATIVES LIKE THIS. THEY SAY IT'LL HELP PEOPLE WITH LOWER INCOMES AND SO FORTH. BUT I WONDER, DO THEY, SUCH PROPONENTS, ACTUALLY EVER -- ACTUALLY EVER LIVE IN THOSE AREAS THEMSELVES? UNLIKE MANY OF THE OTHER
[01:00:05]
NEIGHBORS WHO DO HAVE TO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS. YEAH.LET'S SEE. JUST EXACTLY WHAT -- HOW LOW IS THE RENT GOING TO BE ON THESE THINGS? WELL, ARE THESE FOR WHAT PERSONS ANYWAY? YES. SHOW THAT IF YOU CAN KIND OF -- OUT THERE, COULD YOU MANAGE TO DARKEN IT A LITTLE BIT THERE? I DON'T KNOW.
ANYWAYS, HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME AT OR BELOW 30% AND 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. YEAH. AND LIKE I SAY, 9,000 BLOCK OF GUILBEAU ROAD. ALSO, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT. IN YOUR VETTING, VETTING OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE LOWER INCOMES, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION, IS IT -- ARE THE PERSONS GOING INTO THESE APARTMENTS, GIVING THEM THE EXTRA BENEFIT OF A LOWER REN TA TAL -- LOWER RENTAL RATE, HAVE THEY EVER BEEN VETTED AS TO THEIR CITIZENSHIP? ARE THEY AMERICAN CITIZENS, OR LACK THEREOF? JUST AN INTERESTING QUES QUESTION. YOU MAY WANT TO ASK YOURSELVES ON THESE INITIATIVES. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: JANNATTE CA MCCART. MA'AM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF PRON STATION WEST ASSOCIATION, ALL OF 26 DAYS. WE HAVE 1,156 HOMES DIRECTLY BORDERING THIS PROPERTY ON GILL BOW. THE RESIDENTS HAVE COLLECTED 919E SIGNATURES AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL. BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT.
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BUT NOT ALL, AND THESE ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THIS IS AN OVERCROWDING OF THIS AREA, WHICH IS 2. 2.34 ACRES.
THE LIMITED PARKING SPACES OF 1.5 SPACES PER UNIT -- AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HALF A CAR LOOKS LIKE, THEY ARE ONLY -- AND THERE ARE ONLY FIVE HANDY CAPPED PARKING SPACES. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST EIGHT. THERE IS NO WAY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE INCR INCREASED TRAFFIC THAT IS ALREADY HEAVEN ON GUILBEAU, AND FINALLY, BUT NOT LAST, WE'RE CONTINUING WITH THE CITY TO WORK ON THE DRAINAGE ISSUE THAT COMES FROM OV OVERFLOW FROM THAT PROPERTY INTO OLD AS IT EL, INSWITCH, AND KINGS CROSS.
THERE ARE TWO EXISTING 311 SERVICE CALLS PRESENTLY THAT HAVE BEEN FILED, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS SAYS THEY HAVE TO WAY UNTIL THERE IS SUFFICIENT RAIN IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. THAT MIGHT BE A WHILE. ALL OF THESE THINGS CANNOT BE ADDRESSED, EVEN WITH THE CHANGES THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGERS HAVE MADE.
WE HIGHLY OPPOSE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT BUT DO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A NECESSITY FOR OUR CITY. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE OPPOSE THIS PROJECT AND CONSIDER SOMETHING ELSE THAT WOULD BE PUT IN ON THAT VACANT PROPERTY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. THAT WAS THE FINAL SP SPEAKER FROM THE PUBLIC. IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? OKAY. IT IS MOVED, AND A SECOND TO APPROVE, ITEM 32, ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. ING AING A THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, JAMES AND YA NET FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND MAKING SURE YOUR VOICES AND ALSO THE VOICES OF YOUR NEIGHBORS ARE HEARD.
YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT WHERE IT GOES. JUST LAST WEEK I SUP SUPPORTED APPLICATIONS TWO REHAB APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT 7 THAT ARE LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT MAKES SENSE. I WAS ALSO HAPPEN TO SUPPORT THE SNOWED IN SENIOR LIVING PROJECT NEAR THE MEDICAL CENTER WHICH IS STRATEGICALLY PLACED LOCATED NEAR HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND GROCERY STORES. THIS PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS OTHERS IN DISTRICT 7, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THIS LOCATION IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE SPOT FOR A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE, AFFORDABLE OR NOT. THIS PART OF GUILBEAU
[01:05:03]
SEES MAJOR TRAFFICS THROUGHOUT THE DAYS, SO MORE CARS FROM AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WILL ONLY ADD TO THAT. THIS AREA DOES NOT HAVE BUS SERVICE, SO IT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO RELY ON VIA.THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS ALONG THAT CORRIDOR, WHICH RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROJECT IS PLANNED TO BE A FOUR-STORY BUILDING THAT WOULD OVERLOOK THE BACKYARDS OF SEVERAL HOMES. THIS -- YOU KNOW, I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE NEW HOMES BEING BUILT NEXT TO ME. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A POOL AND TWO LITTLE GIRLS, IT IS NOT A COMFORTABLE FEELING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE LOOKING INTO YOUR BACKYARD, THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF PRIVACY FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PASSAGE OF SB40 HAVE LIMITED THE LIMITATION OF HOW CLOSE A STRUCTURE CAN BE BUILT NEXT TO A LINE, AS A RESULT, THIS COMPLEX COULD TOWER OVER SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. IT WOULD GO AGAINST THE CURRENT UNIFORMITY IN THE AREA, WHICH IS PRIMARILY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS ISSUES NOT APARTMENTS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS OVERWHOVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST IT. THERE HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT HAVE RESULTED IN OVERWHELMING ON SESSION WITH RESIDENTS. I'M OPEN AND HAD A CONVERSATION WITH VAL EARLIER THIS WEEK. I'M OPEN TO IDENTIFY OTHER AREAS IN DISTRICT 7 MORE SUITABLE FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, BUT GIVEN THE FACTORS LISTED AND OPPOSITION FROM MY RESIDENTS, I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS ITEM TODAY AND WRITING A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO
TDHCA. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE, COUNCILWOMAN
KAUR. >> KAUR: WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A PCDC, AND WHILE I CAN ABSOLUTEL UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNCILMAN IS SAYING IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT W ARE WORKING WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE WILLING TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO FIGURE OUT A RIGHT COMPROMISE AND NOT JUST SAYING NO RIGHT AWAY.
THIS PROJECT UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO FOR US TO -- THIS IS KIND OF A MOOT POINT.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT ON THE DATE SCORING, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FUNDED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A WALMART RIGHT NEXT DOOR, A CVS, IT'S ALL COMMERCIAL THERE RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S NOT IN, LIKE, INSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT HEIGHT, BUT I THINK YOU CAN DESIGN A PROJECT THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE PATIOS DIRECTLY OVER THE BACKYARDS.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE SOME COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE REJECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT MAKES THEY SAD. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO AS A COMMUNITY TO START WO WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING DIVERSITY INTO ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS A GREAT AREA WITH GREAT SCHOOLS, AND OUR FAMILIES DESERVE A SPACE THERE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE CONVERSATION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO RELOOK AT THIS SITE BECAUSE I ACTUALLY DO -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE M MAP, IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A SPACE WHERE IT'S NOT IN THE HEART OF NEIGHBORHOOD -- IT'S NOT INSIDE THE STREETS OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S ON A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR, AND THERE'S A CHURCH RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, THINGS THAT WE WANT FO FOLKS TO WALK TO IS IN THAT AREA.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION, ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPER TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT ALTERING THE LAYOUT SO THERE'S SOME ROOMS THAT DON'T HAVE BALCONIES OR WINDOWS ON THE BACK SIDES, BUT WE'VE GOT T TO -- WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, AND UNTIL EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY STARTS THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS CHANGE AT A LARGER SCALE.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE PCDC COMMITTEE WHO HAD A ROBUST CONVERSATION AND DR. COR RUM IN PARTICULAR THAT WALKED US THROUGH THE MATRIX. IS THERE ALREADY APPROPRIATE ZONING TO CONSTRUCT? CAN SOMEONE ON STAFF
SHARE WHAT THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED AS. >> YES, COUNCILWOMAN, THE PROPERTY IS ZONED C3, WHICH WITH THE CHANGE AT THE STATE LAW ALLOWS UP TO MF33.
>> CASTILLO: WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS MORE ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT THAN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING BECAUSE BY RIGHT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSTRUCT. WHAT THIS LOW HOUSING INCOME TAX CREDIT WOULD PROVIDE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEVELOPER TO BUY DOWN AFFORDABILITY, SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THE NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE CAN BE MU MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PARCEL.
NOW, THE CONVERSATION IS ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF THOSE RENTS, BUT -- THANK YOU. AND -- BUT I DO SHARE IN THE OPPORTUNITY AND SOME DISTRICT 5 PROJECTS, WE DID TERRY THE MU MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT,
[01:10:03]
WHERE IT'S TWO STORIES, AND AS YOU GET CLOSER INTO THE PROPERTY, IT GOES HIGHER SO THAT WAY YOU'RE ALLEVIATING THE CONCERN OF FOLKS POTENTIALLY LOOKING INTO BACKYARDS SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT I APPRECIATE THE COUNCILWOMAN ON ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF HER CONSTITUENTS BUT MY SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A CITY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY GOALS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING TH THAT -- I WANT TO RESPECT THE COUNCILWOMAN BUT ALSO WE DID HAVE A ROBUST CONVERSATION PC PCDC, SO I'M INTERESTED ON HEARING OTHERCOMMENTS THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER MEZA GONZALEZ. GOAL GOAL COULD CITY STAFF CLARIFY THE POINT THAT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR MADE REGARDING THE MATRIX AT THE STATE
LEVEL, AS FAR AS THEM NOT . >> SO I THINK WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR WAS REFERRING TO, BASED ON THE PREAPPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE STATE, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, BUT BASED ON THE WAY THOSE ARE SCORING, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS NOT LINED UP FOR AN AWARD, THAT COULD CHA CHANGE, PROJECTS DO FALL OUT, WE SEE IT FROM TIME TO TIME, SO NOT TO SAY IT WOULDN'T BE COMPETITIVE OR GET AN AWARD, BUT AS IT CUR CURRENTLY STANDS,
THEY'RE NOT SLATED TO RECEIVE THAT TAX CREDIT. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AN I RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE COUNCILWOMAN'S VIEW AND HER DISTRICT, AND I KNOW SOME OF YO CAME TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND SPOKE AT THAT MEETING AS WELL, BUT I JUST DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT IT'S NO MISSED ON ME THAT IT IS ALREADY ZONED MULTIFAMILY.
SO YOUR ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH HOW THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS AND YOUR PROXIMITY AND HEIGHT GOES AWAY. SO THESE FOLKS WERE WILLING TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED A RESOLUTION, THE NEXT FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN AND BUY THAT PROPERTY DO NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. SO I JUST WANT YA'LL TO BE AWARE THAT THAT NEGOTIATION PROCESS WILL NO LONGER BE THERE IF SOMEONE ELSE COMES IN AND DOES A MULTIFAMILY PROJECT. BUT, YEAH THIS DID COME TO PLANNING DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, SO I WOULD URGE ALL OF MY COLL COLLEAGUES THAT ANY TIME YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT AND YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT IT, PLEASE LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THAT WAY WE CAN DISCUSS IT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL AND AVOID THIS TYPE OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESS UP HERE.
SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING ALL THE TIME, AND WE CERTAINLY NEED MORE WORK FORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALL CORNERS OF THE DISTRICT, BUT IT HAS TO BE IN PROPER LOCATIONS.
AND JUST BECAUSE A PROJECT IS AN AFFORDABLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD THROW OUT ALL THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE THESE MU MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS SHOULD BE. I THINK THE COUNCILWOMAN OUTLINED SOME REAL REASONS WHY THIS PROJECT DOESN'T FIT THE PROPOSED LOCATION, AND IT'S FOR THOSE REASONS THAT I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE COUNCILWOMAN AND VOTING
AGAINST THIS ITEM. THANKS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM
BER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING AT THE SLIDE SHOW RIGHT NOW, AND I WANTED TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF -- OBVIOUSLY I DON'T LIVE IN THIS AREA. I DON'T FREQUENT THIS AREA.
IS THERE AN EXACT ADDRESS? BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE SAME THING, 9000 9000GUILBEAU, IT IS HEAVY RIGHT THERE, BUT IT IS -- WHAT PART OF THE STRIP IS IT. WHAT PART OF THE STRIP
IS THIS PROPERTY. >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE AN AERIAL VIEW.
SO IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS.
>> IT'S ON THE IN INTERSECTION OF GUILBEAU AND OLD TEZEL.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ARE THERE TWO TEZEL'S. I DISLIKE THAT FOR YA'LL VERY MUCH. I'M LOOKING AT THE SLIDE SHOW BECAUSE, AGAIN, I WANTED TO GET A BETTER SENSE, AND I HEAR THE CONCERNS THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN BRINGS UP, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE HOUSES IN BACKYARDS AND YOUNG KI KIDS, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO LOOK OUT OF THEIR WINDOW OR OFF THEIR BALCONY INTO THE BACKYARD IS CONCERNING AND A SITUATION YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM ONCE IT HAPPENS, AND I'M HE HEARING WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA MENTIONED, AND I'M LO LOOKING AT SLIDE 8 RIGHT NOW, AND IT MENTIONED A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK WE HEARD. ONE IS -- ALONGING AT VERSION 1 AND THEN VERSION 4, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE AT RIGHT NOW, LOWER THE BUILDING HEIGHT NEAR EXISTING HOMES FROM 4 STORIES TO 2 STORIES.
REMOVED WINDOWS ON THE 3 AND 4TH FLOORS FACING EXISTING HOMES.
PROVIDED ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPES NEAR HOMES, SO I IMAGINE THAT THAT'S -- IT' DEVELOPER -- WOULD YO YOU -- ARE THOSE GOING TO BE FULLY GROWN TREES
[01:15:04]
OR PLANT THE LITTLE BABY TREES? >> SO WE'RE OPEN TO DISCUSSION WITH THOSE ADJACENT HOMEOWNERS ON KIND OF WHAT EXACTLY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THERE'S ALREADY EXISTING KIND OF MATURE TREES THERE, SO WE'RE WILLING TO -- LIKE, IF YOU WANT A BIG FENCE WE'LL LOOK AT DOING A FENCE OR PROVIDING MATURE TREES. IF WE DO A FENCE ROUTE I DID LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW ON THE MEETING AT THE 27TH THEY MIGHT LOSE THOSE EXISTING TR TREES THERE, AND SO WE'RE OPEN TO BOTH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, WHETHER THAT'S MORE, YOU KNOW -- AND SO I WOULDN'T BE HERE ASKING FOR THIS RESOLUTION IF THERE WASN'T A CHANCE TO MOVE FORWARD AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY ALL I'M ASKING FOR THIS MORNING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT AND SEE HOW WE FALL IN THE PECKING ORDER WITH THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. THANKS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AND WOULD YOU MIND -- AS THIS MOVES FORWARD, WHAT ROLE DOES COMMUNITY FE FEEDBACK AND BUY-IN PLAY INTO ITS SUCCESS FOR THE -- SOR
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: DOES IT PLAY -- IS THIS THE LAST POINT IN WHICH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND
BUY-IN IS SIGNIFICANT? >> FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CITY'S INVOLVEMENT
IN THE PROJECT, AT THIS POINT THEY'RE ASKING FOR -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: DOES THE
STATE -- DOES THE STATE WEIGH BUY-IN AT ALL? >> THE STATE WILL LOOK AT SUPPORT FROM THE CITY IN TERMS OF A RESOL RESOLUTION.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN SPEAK AT THEIR BOARD MEETINGS, AND THE BOARD IS OPEN TO THAT FEEDBACK, HOW THEY WEIGH THAT PER PROJECT IS KIND OF BASED ON THEIR DISCRETION. THAT WOULD BE THE END OF THE PROCESS IF THE PROJECT IS SELECTED, HOW ARE IF THEY NEEDED SOMETHING ADDITIONAL FROM THE CITY, WHICH WE ALREADY KNOW THEY DON'T NEED ZONING, BUT IF THEY CAME BACK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THEN THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ADJUST THE PLAN, BUT BASED ON WHAT THE DEVELOPER SAID, HE SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD IF THE PROJECT IS COMPETITIVE AND THEY GET TO THAT POINT.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AND SO I GUESS I WANT TO DO TWO THINGS WITH MY VOTE TODAY -- I WISH I COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE COUNCILMEMBER.
I DO BELIEVE I'M GOING TO BE VOTING YES ON THIS ITEM, BUT I WANT TO -- I WANT TO DO TWO THINGS. I OF COURSE WANT TO SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE HOUSING REGARDLESS, AND SO THE SECOND THING IS I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, THOSE OF YOU HERE TODAY AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED, CONTINUE TO ENGAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS, CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEVELOPER, I THINK YOU CAN STILL GET A REALLY GOOD DEAL OUT OF THIS, AND ANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE, ASIDE FROM MAYBE TRAFFIC OR THE CONCERNS YOU WOULD HAVE WITH ANY KIND OF HOUSING, I THINK YOU CAN GET THOSE FURTHER BAKED INTO THE FINAL DESIGN. I THINK YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER HERE WHO -- THIS IS MY FIRST INTERACTION RIGHT NOW IN THIS CONTEXT, AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S WILLING TO WORK, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ON VERSION 4 OF DESIGN. IF THERE'S ANY FURTHER CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE DESIGN, PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE IT A PUSH.
IF IT ENDS UP BEING SOMETHING THEY CAN'T SUPPORT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'LL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO SPEAK AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL. I KNOW THAT'S LESS CONVENIENT THAN SPEAKING AT CITY HALL, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE WILLING TO GO HARD AND FIGHT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY EITHER WAY. SO I HOPE YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILWOM
AN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: HI, YES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I FULLY SUPPORT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO.
I THINK SHE KNOWS HER DISTRICT WELL. SHE WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT, AND SHE HAS CLOSE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I TRUST HER JUDGMENT HERE, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I'LL BE PLANNING TO DO THAT FOR EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS BECAUSE I THINK YOU UNIQUELY UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN DISTRICT AND WHAT'S BE BEST.
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOES HAVE A PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IS NEEDED, BUT IT'S GOT TO MAKE SENSE. SO I COMPLETELY TRUST HER IN THIS AND I'LL SUPPORT HER DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER VIA GRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I APPRECIATE COUNC COUNCILMAN'S ALDERETE GAVITO'S EFFORTS TO REPRESENT HER COMMUNITY. I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO A HOUSING, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE HOUSING ANYWAYS, AS COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ EXPLAINED.
WE SHOULD MAKE IT AFF AFFORDABLE. WE NEED AFFORDABILITY AND WORK FORCE AFF AFFORDABILITY ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE DEVELOPER FOR COMING AND GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I KNOW THIS ISN'T IDEAL. HOWEVER, WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS AND WE HAVE BEEN
[01:20:02]
ADDRESSING THE HOUSING ISSUES, AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON OUR GOALS.SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE STATE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME FORWARD, AND WE ARE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, SO I WANT TO GIVE EVERY OPTION WE HAVE AVAILABLE OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND SHARING, BUT I WILL BE CHOOSING HOUSING FIRST, AND I WILL BE CHOOSING TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMEM BER ALDERETE GAVITO ON THE SECOND ROUND.
>> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU. I DID JUST WANT TO QU QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, YOU TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY INPUT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS IS THE IMPACTS OF COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND AND I HEAR AND I AGREE WITH MANY OF YOU ALL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NEEDED IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S OBVIOUS. WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED TO PUSH AND FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE PLACES THAT IT MAKES SENSE AND ARE GOING TO BE PLACES IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH VAL EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THE DEVELOPER, THANK Y YOU, VAL FOR BEING HERE, AND I'M TOTALLY WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM ON PLACES IN DISTRICT 7 THAT THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT MAKES SENSE. IN THIS PARTICULAR SPOT, IT DOESN'T MAKE -- IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THE IMPACTS OF SENATE BILL 840.
YOU KNOW, A COMMERCIAL PIECE OF PROPERTY CAN NOW BE USED FOR MARKET RATE OR AFFORDABLE HO HOUSING WITH VERY LITTLE INPUT FROM COUNCI COUNCILCOUNCILMEMBERS. YOU KNOW, THIS USED TO COME TO ZONING, WE USED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS AND EITHER ACCEPT OR DENY IT, AND NOW THE LEVEL OF INFLUENCE WE HAVE IS OPPOSITION, POTENTIALLY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WEIGHT THAT'LL CARRY, I'M NOT SURE, THAT'S GOING TO GO UP TO THE STATE LEVEL AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE IT FROM THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT SENATE BILL 840 CAME INTO PLAY IN SEPTEMBER. THIS IS GOING TO COME TO ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS. WE ALL KNOW OUR DIST DISTRICTS THE BEST.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PROJECTS THAT MAKES SENSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER PROJECTS THAT DON'T, AND SO I JUST WANT US TO BE AWARE, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST WHERE SENATE BILL 840 IS REALLY COMING INTO PLAY, AND YOU'RE SEEING THE -- THE INFLUENCE OF COUNCIL -- COUNCILMEMBERS WHO DO GET THEIR FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS
>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT.
I UNDERSTAND MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK WE ALL KNOW OUR DISTRICTS BEST AND WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS MAKES SENSE.
I FEEL THAT THERE'S A WILLINGNESS THAT WE CAN WORK AND FIND ANOTHER
PLACE FOR THIS. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER
VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CAUTION MY COUNCILMEMBERS WHEN THEY USE THE TERM WHERE WE THINK AFFORDABILITY MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOUTH SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE AND THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO WHEN YOU COME AND YOU'RE SAYING IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, PROVIDE SPECIFIC AREAS IN YOUR DISTRICT WHERE YOU THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO START TALKING THAT AFFORDABILITY MAKES SENSE ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BECOME RESIDENTIAL AND MULTIFAMILY BECAUSE OF THE SENATE BILL.
I JUST WANT TO CAUTION Y'ALL ON THAT BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING OUR GOALS, WHICH OUR GOALS WERE HOUSING AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND, AGAIN, I WILL STRESS IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR HOUSING GOALS, I BELIEVE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF OUR CITY'S ILLS THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE WHO LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR AND
THEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> DO YOU HAVE THIS UNDER CONTROL?
DO YOU HAVE THE SITE UNDER CONTROL? >> I DO HAVE SITE CONTROL THAT -- WITH THE ABILITY TO EXTEND THROUGH JULY THIS YEAR.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO APPLY AGAIN FOR TECH NEXT YEAR IF YOU DON'T
GET IT THIS YEAR? >> WE'RE OPEN TO COMING BACK AND WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE AND WITH COUNCIL TO TRY. IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THIS PARTICULAR SITE FALLS THROUGH, MOST LIKELY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION. SO WE WILL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER
ON ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE DISTRICT. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU MEAN THE LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE TIEBREAKER AT THE
STATE? >> WELL, NO. I MEAN, I --
[01:25:04]
>> LIKE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION TO MAKE
IT MORE COMPETITIVE FOR TECH AT THE STATE. >> THE SITE THAT WE HAVE IS RELATIVELY COMPETITIVE. WE'RE IN A SIX-WAY TIE FOR SECOND PLACE. IT COMES DOWN TO TIE BREAKERS.
WE'RE LITERALLY MEASURING FEET FROM THE WAL-MART, THE PARK, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO FINDING SITES THAT KIND OF MEET ALL THAT CRITERIA AND STILL WILL MAKE NEIGHBORS HAPPY TO HAVE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. >> JUST HOPING FOR A DIFFERENT TIEBREAKER
NEXT YEAR? >> EXACTLY. >> IS IT 8185?
IS THAT THE ACTUAL PARCEL? >> IT'S KIND OF HARD.
IT DOESN'T HAVE AN EXACT ADDRESS. IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE
9401. >> WE HAVE A MAP IF YOU WANT US TO PULL IT UP.
>> YEAH, I WOULD. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME PINNING IT DOWN.
>> YEAH. SO AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT HERE, IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY BETWEEN THIS KIND OF RESTAURANT, THE CHURCH'S CHICKEN TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, THE LA PETITE ACADEMY.
>> OKAY. WHAT ARE THE -- SO I SEE THAT THEY LOWERED THE TWO STORIES ALREADY AND YOU'VE REMOVED THE WINDOWS ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH FLOORS. SAD TO SEE YOU TOOK OUT THE AMENITIES.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DESERVES A POOL AND DOG PARK.
IF THAT WAS NEGOTIATION, THAT WAS NEGOTIATION. WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO CHANGE THAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR THAT YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED?
>> WELL, SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE A LITTLE MORE ABSTRACT AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, LIKE TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, IMPACTS ON CRIME.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE UNFORTUNATELY DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CONTROL OVER. WE DO FEEL LIKE BY KIND OF STRETCHING THE BUILDING OUT, PARKING AT ONE AND A HALF SPACES PER UNIT, WHICH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, WHICH WE OWN AND OPERATE SIGNIFICANT PORTFOLIO, THAT'S GENERALLY ENOUGH PARKING FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
LIGHTING IS THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT WE'RE REALLY IN THE PROCESS, THAT I'VE COMMITTED TO DARK SKYLIGHTING. ALL THE LIGHT FACING DOWN NOT TO PROTRUDE LIGHT POLLUTION INTO NEIGHBORS.
>> OKAY. I'M ALSO VERY TORN. I RESPECT THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNCILMEMBER, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING TO VOTE YES FOR THE RESOLUTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M 100% CLEAR. IS IT -- WHAT IS THE
PROPERTY ZONED AS RIGHT NOW? >> C3.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: C3. YOU COULD HAVE TATTOO PARLORS.
I'M THINKING OF -- SO IT DOESN'T -- MIGHT NOT BE HOUSING.
LET ME -- LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT. IF SOMEBODY ELSE CAN TALK, THAT WAY WE HAVE MORE TIME BEFORE THE VOTE.
>> PARTI COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: , WE GET CONFUSED ALL THE TIME. YEAH. SO YEAH.
C3 IS VERY INTENSE ZONING, AND COULD ONE OF YOU FROM HOUSING TELL US AGAIN, WHAT QUALIFIES FOR C3 ZONING? ANYBODY KNOW?
>> YEAH. YOU'VE ALREADY TICK LATED PRETTY CLEARLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTENSE USES THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE THERE.
MINUTELY CENTERED AROUND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF IT ACROSS THE STREET AND NEIGHBORING PIECES. RETAIL FACILITIES TO INTENSE USE THAT'S ARE ALLOWED IN C3 ARE SOME BUSINESS TYPES.
RIGHT? ADDITIONALLY, I THINK WHAT WAS BEING ARTICULATED IS WITH THE CHANGE IN STATE LAW, IT'S MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES, BOTH AFFORDABLE AND NOT AFFORDABLE.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS. IF YOU HAVE A --
>> BUT CAR LOTS, WAREHOUSES, WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF C3
USES? >> THOSE ARE SOME EXAMPLES.
YEAH. THEY COULD BE BIG DEVELOPMENT ON THE PIECE
OF PROPERTY. >> OKAY. AND CAN YOU PULL UP THE
MAP AGAIN? >> SO CONSIDERING THAT IT'S NEXT TO A PETITE
[01:30:07]
ACADEMY AND RESTAURANT AND LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A STEVENSON MIDDLE SCHOOL RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS NORTH SIDE, I THINK THOSE ARE WORSE FOR THE AREA. AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND I DON'T RESPECT THIS AREA AND I RESPECT THAT. SENATE BILL 8 IS GOING TO HURT AFFORDABILITY.WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW, BUT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHEN THEY COME FOR A RESOLUTION OR COME FOR CITY FUNDING, THAT MEANS WE CAN NEGOTIATE SOMETHING. WHEN IT'S A PRIVATE MARKET FOR SENATE BILL 8, THERE'S NO NEGOTIATION. THEY CAN COME IN AND DO WHATEVER. WHEN IT BECOMES AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND THERE'S FUNDING TIED, THEN THE CITY CAN SAY, WE WANT THESE THINGS. OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SENATE BILL 8 WASHES AWAY OUR INPUT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE STILL HAVE SOME ABILITY TO MAKE CONCESSIONS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. SO I, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THERE'S THE CONCERN ABOUT THE PROXIMITY AND PEOPLE ON SECOND STORIES BEING ABLE TO SEE INTO YARDS. LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A NICE TREE CANOPY IN THAT AREA ALSO. I WOULD SAY IT SEEMS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GOING TO BE THE SAVING GRACE BECAUSE WE CAN STILL PUT CONCESSIONS AND SETBACKS AND LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE ON TOP OF THAT.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK IF WE DON'T PURSUE THIS -- MAY NOT WORK OUT AT THE STATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, AND IF THIS GOES AWAY AND THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE, IT COULD BE MUCH WORSE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST WANT FOLKS TO REALIZE IT COULD BE WORSE.
THE COUNCILWOMAN AND THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO AT THAT POINTED. THE FACT THESE FOLKS ARE ON THEIR FOURTH DESIGN, NO WINDOWS ABOVE SECOND STORY, SOME GOOD SET BACKS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOOD, AND THAT SHOWS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE.
SOMEBODY ELSE COMES IN THERE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT TO THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: , LOOKING AT THE SCORE SHEET, IN TERMS OF THE MAX POINTS FOR OWNER, DEVELOPER EXPERIENCE, THEY RECEIVED A 4 OUT OF 4 MAX POINTS. THREE OUT OF THREE FOR PROPERTY MANAGER. IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, 10% OF UNITS AT 30% OF THE AVERAGE INCOME, 40% AT 50% OF THE AVERAGE INCOME. IN TERMS IT OF AMENITIES, 11 OUT OF 11 MAX POINTS WITH ELECTRICAL CAR CHARGING, ENERGY SAVING APPLIANCES, FITNESS CENTER, PROXIMITIITY TO GROCERY STORE, PHARMACY, AND PARK. 11 OUT OF 11 FOR RESIDENTS SERVICES.
WORKING WITH READY TO WORK PARTNERSHIP ON SITE.
ACCOMMODATION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS. ANNUAL INCOME TAX PREPARATION. PROJECT FEASIBILITY, SIX OUT OF SIX AS IT HAS THE APPROPRIATED ZONING AND SITE CONTROL. TARGETED REINVESTMENT, EIGHT OUT OF TEN. IT'S IN A CENSUS TRACK WITH THE POVERTY RATE BELOW 20%. ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, IT IS IN A VIA LINK ZONE AND FIVE OUT OF FIVE FOR PROXIMITY TO JOBS LOCATED WITHIN 2 MILES. THEN, OF COURSE, 10 OUT OF 10 FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. AGAIN, THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD IN PCDC, AND I REALLY VALUE THE COUNCILMEMBER'S LEADERSHIP IN REPRESENTING YOU ALL WELL AND MAKING SURE YOUR VOICE IS REFLECTED HERE AT CITY HALL. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, THIS IS A PROJECT GOOD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. DID YOU WANT TO COME BACK IN? YOU'RE OKAY? GOOD. CAN YOU BRING UP THAT SLIDE COUNCILMEMBER KAUR BROUGHT UP SOME OF THE CONCESSIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE? CAN WE BRING THAT UP, PLEASE?
>> SLIDE 8. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. SO I THINK WE ALL HAVE MEMORIZED THE MAP AT THIS POINT. SO THEN AS MENTIONED, IT IS VERY CLOSE TO STEVENSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AT WHICH 47% OF THAT STUDENT BODY IS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED WHICH MEANS 47% QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. 52% ARE AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS A TITLE ONE SCHOOL AS WELL. IT IS ALSO WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO
[01:35:01]
CHILD CARE, WHICH WE HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT BEING IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY WEIGHS LOOK AT NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL FOLKS. I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH COUNCILMEMBER KAUR THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE LESSER QUALITY OF LIFE. WHY YOU WOULD REMOVE THINGS LIKE A POOL OR A DOG PARK OR A PLAYGROUND UNLESS YOU DON'T WANT THOSE KINDS OF KIDS PLAYING IN YOUR AREA OR THOSE KINDS OF DOGS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHY COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS WOULD NOT BE AS DESERVING OF BASIC AMENITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO QUALITY OF LIFE. SO I THINK THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AS MENTIONED. OUR COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH OUR EDUCATORS.THE ABILITY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLTEACHERS AT STEVE SON HIGH SCHOOL TO ALSO LIVE AT THIS COMMUNITY AND ENJOY THESE AMENITIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL AND THE COUNCILMEMBER IN PARTICULAR TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ISN'T A BUS STOP NEAR, WE WORK TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND WHILE I CERTAINLY RESPECT COUNCILMEMBERS' INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS OF THEIR DISTRICT ARE, I APPRECIATE ALSO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT SPEAK TO THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, BY FAR THE NUMBER ONE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT, WHICH IS HOUSING. I CAN'T ALSO -- I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WE NOT SEPARATE THIS DISCUSSION FROM THE DISCUSSION THAT WE JUST HAD WHEN IT CAME TO UTILITIES. WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING DENSITY IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR UTILITIES AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO LACK OF DENSITY INCREASES MAINTENANCE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THIS ACCOMPLISHES SEVERAL THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IMPORTANT IN THAT REGARD.
SO THANK YOU TO THE STAFF. THANK YOU TO THE DEVELOPER. IT IS NICE TO SEE A DEVELOPER COME AND WORK AND NEGOTIATE. I WISH YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE ON THOSE THINGS. SOMEONE BENEFITED FROM SECTION 8 HOUSING AT ONE POINT AS WELL. I KNOW SOME OF THE OTHERS ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE LIVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT SOME POINT. THIS IS A COMMUNITY INVESTED THAT PAYS DIVIDENDS. SO THANK YOU.
OKAY. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 32. PLEASE VOTE.
SO THIS WOULD BE APPROVING THE ITEM. YES.
OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 34 WAS PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER MESA GONZALES FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> ITEM NUMBER 34 IS AN ORDER BEGAN DESIGNATING CULTURE INGUA AS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
>> WOULD COUNCILMEMBER LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION?
>> NO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE TWO -- I HAVE ONE ON HERE. NADIA. AND JACK.
OKAY. WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. NADIA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOLLOWED BY JACK
FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS NADIA.
I'M THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT'S FOCUSED ON PRESERVING, PROMOTING AND ENHANCING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT.
COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE FOR THE LAND TRUST AS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTOR CLT PER STATE STATUTE AND CITY POLICY.
THE C LT WILL PROVIDE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN NORTHWEST SAN ANTONIO AND ITS ESTABLISHMENT SET OUT IN THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE HERITAGE DISTRICT WHO CRAFTED THE CLT STRATEGY ALONGSIDE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT COALITION. AND WHO ADVOCATED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLT TO SUPPORT AND OVERCOME EXISTING BARRIERS TO MEANINGFUL WEALTH BUILDING AMONG LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS. IT'S BY WORKING WITH AND SHIFTING POWER TO THOSE MOST DEEPLY IMPACTED BY INEQUITIES IN THIS CITY THAT WE CAN TRULY MAKE SAN ANTONIO A PLACE FOR ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS INITIATIVE INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TIM BAR AND THE METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES
[01:40:04]
TEAM, LILA POWELL AND JULIA MARTINEZ AND THE LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION TEAM. PETE ALANIS AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST TEAM. THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE ENTIRE TEAM AT NOW CAB, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LATINO ASITY BUILDERS, THE TEAM AT NATIONAL CAPACITY, THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ASIAN DEVELOPMENT. OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED AND CHAMPIONED THIS WORK. KATIE CIRACOS OF ASSET FUNDERS. THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO SHARED CLT BEST PRACTICES IN AUSTIN, HOUSTON, MINNEAPOLIS ST.PAUL, BOSTON, AND THE COALITION. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT AT THE FESTIVAL ON MARCH 28TH FROM 11:00 TO 3:00, AND I INVITE YOU ALL THE AND BROADER COMMUNITY TO JOIN US IN THE CELEBRATION. THANK YOU.
>> JACK FINGER. >> FINGER: MADAM MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND THROUGHOUT ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS, IT OCCURRED TO ME A CERTAIN THOUGHT.
YOUR GOAL IS SUPPOSEDLY SO-CALLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I USE IT -- MY DEFINITION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY WELFARE HOUSING BECAUSE YOU'RE ATTRACTING PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE INCOME TO AFFORD SO-CALLED REGULAR HOUSING. BUT I -- IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY BE DEFEATING YOUR PURPOSE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY DOING THESE THINGS. I MEAN, LOOK AT THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH COLLEGE TUITION. THE GOVERNMENT GIVES COLLEGE STUDENTS ALL KINDS OF MONEY FOR THEIR TUITION.
THE AMOUNTS EVERY YEAR. THE COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION IS SEEING THIS. THEY RAISE THEIR TUITION RATES.
THEY SAY, HEY, THESE STUDENTS ARE GETTING MORE MONEY.
WE CAN AFFORD TO RAISE THEIR TUITION. DO YOU SEE THE SAME SCENARIO HERE? BY ALLOWING -- BY THIS -- ITEM 34 SETS THE STAGE FOR THIS VERY THING. THEN YOU GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN. DEVELOPERS SEEING THESE THINGS SAY, HEY, LET'S BUY SOME MORE LAND AND WE'LL -- MORE APARTMENT SPACE AND WE'LL RAISE THE APARTMENT RATES, KNOWING THAT IF YOU -- IF THE DEVELOPERS APPLY TO YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES LIKE THIS, THEY BRING IN MORE POOR PEOPLE TO COME AND RESIDE AT THESE LOCATIONS. AND IT'S A CATCH-22.
YEAH. THAT'S HOW THIS IS WORKING.
I MEAN, ASSUMING -- MAYBE YOU WANT MORE WELFARE HOUSING.
MAYBE YOU WANT MORE PEOPLE TO BE DEPENDENT UPON THE DOME.
THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT.
YES. YEAH, THE -- SHOW SOME OF THOSE UNDERLYING AREAS THERE. ON THE 34, WHAT'S HAPPENING? THIS IS IN DISTRICTS 1, 6, 7, AND 8. SO IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE IN DOWNTOWN -- NEAR DOWNTOWN AREA OR NEAR NORTHWEST OR THE FAR NORTHWEST OR EVEN THE FAR WEST PART OF TOWN, YOU ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS WITH -- YOU'LL BE BLESSED WITH MORE AND MORE POOR PEOPLE LIVING NEXT TO YOU, BY GOLLY. YES.
SO WHAT ELSE -- LIKE I SAY, ONCE AGAIN, SOME OF THE OTHER ARGUMENTS
ABOUT HOW THIS -- THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. IS THERE MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO
WE CAN BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MAYOR JONES: I NOW TWO COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS.
MEZA GONZALEZ. >> MEZA GONZALEZ: TODAY I'M SUPPORTING THIS
[01:45:04]
ORDINANCE. THE MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, AND ENHANCE A CULTURAL CHARACTER IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO HERITAGE DISTRICT. I'M THRILLED TO SEE THEM EXPAND THEIR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO NADIA FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I SAW YOU TAKING PHOTOS A MINUTE AGO.THIS IS A TRUE TEAM EFFORT. SO IN DECEMBER OF 2024, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION PASSED THE FOURTH DISTRICT IN SAN ANTONIO, LOCATED IN DISTRICT 8, TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES WHOSE ROOTS STEM FROM NORTH AND CENTRAL AFRICA TO ASIA. COMMUNITY LAND TRUST ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CREATED TO ENSURE LASTING AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THIS HOUSING MODEL IS USED TO HELP STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUILD WEALTH FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO MAY OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO BUY A HOME. CLTS PRESERVE LONG-TERM AFFORD ABILITY, PREVENT DISCRIMINATION PLACEMENT, STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND KEEP HOUSING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. A FORMALLY RECOGNIZED CLT STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, RESIDENTS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE EQUITY ABILITY DEVELOPMENT. THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS SUPPORTED BY METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES, SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST.
SUPPORTING THE C LT IS PART OF OUR HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN STRATEGY AND ADOPTING IT WILL GO A LONG WAY IN OUR COMMITMENT TO LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS CLT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR GOALS. I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR BRINGING THIS TO LIFE. I SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR VISION BACK IN 2024. IT'S REAL EYE SPECIAL TO SEE THIS BECOME A REALITY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER TERI CASTILLO FOR HER WORK IN PUSHING FORWARD THE COMMUNITY'S LAND TRUST POLICY AND ALWAYS BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTRICT 7 FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. FIRST OFF, NADIA IS A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT. WE ARE PROUD OF HER AND HER WORK.
SECOND, THE LAND TRUST WILL ENCOMPASS ALMOST ALL OF DISTRICT 7 WITH A SMALL EXCEPTION NEAR THE DECO DISTRICT. THERE ARE A LOT OF ARE VACANT LOTS THAT CAUSE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.
IT'S A GREAT TOOL TO ADDRESS VACANT PROPERTIES WHILE ADDING TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STACK AND CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR FAMILIES. I AM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MY TEAM AND I ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PROPERTIES IN DISTRICT 7. I CAN'T WAIT INFORM SEE THIS LAND TRUST GROW AND PROSPER AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU MUNGIA. IF OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK, SIGN UP. >> MUNGIA: I'M EXCITED TODAY.
WE SAW YOU AT PCDC. THIS MIGHT BE A PIECE OF LAND AVAILABLE.
OLD OR NEW. BUT I'M SO HAPPY FOR Y'ALL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR BEING A LEADER.
IT WAS A GOAL AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES COUNCIL ACTION TO GET IT DONE. ALSO, PROUD OF KRYSTAL. WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER. THIS IS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, AND NEAR WEST. THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD PRODUCT FOR PEOPLE. I CAN'T THINK OF TWO BETTER INSTITUTIONS TO RUN THIS. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT THE CITY IS THERE FOR YOU ALL. WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE HOPE TO SEE SOME GOOD PROJECTS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THAT SHARED VISION PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WANTED TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST FOR HIS WORK IN LEADERSHIP ON PRIORITIZING ALTERNATIVE HOUSING MODELS. CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU TO NADIA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AS WELL AS FOCUSING ON THIS ITEM.
OVERALL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.
NADIA, WE HAD A CONVERSATION WHEN I WAS A STAFF MEMBER ABOUT WHAT CLTS ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND MAKE SURE YOU GET THE POLICY AND WE GO FORWARD ON EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CITY.
IN PARTICULAR, TALKING ABOUT HOW HOUSING CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE IN OUR CITY LIMITS. THIS IS A KEY AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ALL BE SOME OF THE LEADERS IN THAT WORK HERE LOCALLY AND HAPPY TO BE A PARTNER ANY STEP
[01:50:02]
OF THE WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENED. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.>> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANTED TO CO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL AND USE THIS AS A SIGNAL TO A LOT OF OTHER NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPLORING GROWTH OF THIS WORK. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT FOR CLTS AND WE NEED MORE.
I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE TWO WE'RE APPROVING TODAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY -- COMMEND YOU BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE WORK THAT NONPROFITS DO AND REAL ESTATE DOESN'T COME TO MIND.
WE NEED MORE NONPROFITS WILLING TO STEP UP. SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, I COMMEND YOU ALL FOR STEPPING UP AND TAKING ON THIS WORK AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 24.
PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM IS CITY
MANAGER'S REPORT. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. ONLY ONE ITEM I WANTED TO -- THIS WEEK'S EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO. REALLY HIGHLIGHTS OUR DEPARTMENT RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. YOU'LL SEE IN THE VIDEO AN EMPLOYEE NAMED KATIE HUSALELLO. KATIE JOINED THE CITY THREE YEARS AGO AND HAS WITHIN OUR CLIMATE ADAPTATION MANAGER IN THE DEPARTMENT. A LOT OF WORK IN THAT AREA IN TERMS OF STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS BUT ALSO INMATERIALLY THE ORGANIZATION. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.
>> OUR WHOLE OFFICE EXEMPLIFIES TEAM WORK AND INNOVATION BECAUSE WEAR REALLY OUT THERE SEEING WHAT THE NEW EMERGING BEST PRACTICES ARE. ONE PROJECT THAT OUR OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IS MUNICIPAL. THAT'S 42 CITY PROPERTIES WHETHER IT'S BUILDING OR PARKING LOTS, GETTING SOLAR TO REDUCE EMISSIONS.
THAT'S THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. THE LARGEST IS IN NEW YORK CITY. WE'VE BEEN A LEADER ON THAT AND SHOWING OTHER
CITIES HOW THEY CAN PUSH THEM FORWARD. >> WITH THE CLIMATE READY NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK, WE BRING TOGETHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, NONPROFITS, FAITH COMMUNITIES UP HAVE ALL OVER THE CITY THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHANGING CLIMATE IMPACTS. SO WINTER STORM YURI, EXTREME HEAT THE LAST FEW SUMMERS AND FLOODING. SO WE HAVE CREATED TOOLS TO FORM PODS WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, FIGURE OUT WHO ON THEIR BLACK IS MORE VULNERABLE OR COULDN'T LEAVE THEIR HOUSE IN CASE OF A DISASTER. YOU WANT TO KNOW THEM AND BUILD CONNECTIONS, REALLY ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND PLANNING FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION. SAN ANTONIO IS DOING A LOT TO BECOME A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CITY. IT TAKES THE WORK OF EVERY RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER TO HELP US REACH THOSE GOALS.
>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM SEVERAL OF YOU, WE'LL COORDINATE WITH YOU. WE'RE GOING TO ADJUST THE TIMING OF THE REPORT NEXT WEEK IN PARTICULAR BASED ON LAST WEEK'S CONVERSATION. WE'RE GOING TO DO AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THOSE IMMIGRATION-RELATED ITEMS. WE'LL DO THAT AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT NEXT WEEK.
I'M SORRY. IN TWO WEEKS. BEGINNING OF MARCH.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT EARLIER UP IN THE AGENDA WHERE IT MAKES SENSE, MAYOR, AND I'LL WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE TO
FIGURE THAT OUT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. NICE SEEING INDICATE JUSALDO. THAT'S A NICE EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT. HER FATHER-IN-LAW IS TURNING 100 IN APRIL AND GOES TO OUR CHURCH. I KNOW HE'LL APPRECIATE THAT VIDEO.
THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TAKE COUNCIL INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WOULD ASK OUR COLLEAGUES TO REMAIN SEATED. IT'S 11:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19TH, 2026. THE CITY COUNCIL OF SKI OF SAN ANTONIO WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AS OFFICE AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087, THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY SECTION TO 551.072 AND LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE CITY, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNITY TO
[01:55:03]
>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS NOW 2:08 P.M. ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, AND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE TIME IS NOW 2:08 AND THIS MEETING IS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.