[00:00:06] >> VIAGRAN: THE TIME IS NOW 2:01 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 2026, AND THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> >> VIAGRAN: ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION CARRIES. MADAME CLERK, ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEMS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> CLERK: CHAIR, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ITEM NO. 2 AND 3. WE ONLY HAVE TWO ITEMS? LOVE IT. OKAY. SO WE HAVE TWO ITEMS. ITEM 2, CHAIR, GO AHEAD AND LET'S TALK ABOUT -- I'M SORRY. MADAME CLERK, EVERYBODY WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK THE FIRST ROUND, THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK THE SECOND. AND THEN ITEM 2 IS AN UPDATE ON BROOKS AND THERE IS A STAFF PRESENTATION. CAN WE GO AHEAD AND GET THAT? >> YES, MA'AM. THE STAFF PRESENTATION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GIVEN BY LEO GOMEZ. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, LEO. COME ON UP. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAME CHAIR. MAY I CALL YOU THAT? YOU ARE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. IT'S WONDERFUL TO JOIN YOU ALL AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. MS. ALEX LOPEZ, PLEASURE TO BE HERE. MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHO IS DRIVING THIS PRESENTATION? IS THERE A -- >> VIAGRAN: I THINK IT'S YOU. NEVER SAY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DOESN'T HAVE GREAT TECHNOLOGY. >> GOT IT. IT REALLY IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON BROOKS WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST 10 TO 20 YEARS, ACTUALLY, AND ALSO GET TO WHERE WE PLAN TO GO MOVING FORWARD AND SOME REQUESTS WE MAY HAVE OF YOU ALL STRATEGICALLY IN THE LONG RUN. IF I MAY, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW US WHAT BROOKS USED TO LOOK LIKE. BACK IN 2003, ABOUT THE TIME IT WAS CONVEYED TO THE CITY AND THEN TO THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. YOU CAN SEE THE ESTABLISHED RUNWAYS AND PLENTY OF OPEN FIELDS. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE CAMPUS PLUS THE 1200 ACRES AROUND IT THAT MAKE UP THE BROOKS TIRZ WERE VALUED AT $38.6 MILLION. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, THOSE RUNWAYS ARE GONE, MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO STREETS , MANY THANKS TO SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THROUGH BOND PROCEEDS IN THE PAST FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ITS VOTERS. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT TODAY'S VALUE IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT IS $2.1 BILLION. I WOULD DO THE QUICK MATH FOR YOU AND TELL YOU THAT'S A 57 TIME IMPROVEMENT OVER THE $36.8 MILLION THAT IT WAS VALUED AT IN 2003. $2.8 BILLION THAT WE HAVE DONE THERE. IF THERE IS A HEADLINE REGARDING BROOKS THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS THE FACT THAT OUR COMMUNITY OF 1308 ACRES, PLUS SOME DEVELOPMENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A PROJECTED POPULATION OF 10,000 RESIDENTS. 10,000 RESIDENTS ON 1308 ACRES. WE HAVE SEVEN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES TODAY AND SEVEN ON THE WAY. ACTUALLY, LET ME BACK UP. THE STRATEGY FOR HOUSING FOR US OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, YOU SHOULD KNOW, HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING MARKET-RATE RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA. WE WERE LACKING MARKET RATE. AND SO FOR THAT TIME PERIOD, IT'S BEEN MOSTLY MARKET RATE. GOING INTO THE FUTURE OF THE SEVEN THAT WE HAVE COMING, WE HAVE OUR FIRST AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN INDEPENDENT SENIOR OF 55 PLUS THAT WILL BE LOCATED THERE AT BROOKS, OPENING SOON, ACTUALLY. AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY THAT'S ACTUALLY A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT PLUS ANOTHER FIVE MARKET-RATE DEVELOPMENTS. ALL COMING ONLINE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS. IF WE PROJECT A MINIMUM OF 2.2 OR 2.3 RESIDENTS PER APARTMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE GOING TO BE AT [00:05:04] 10,000 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION TO OUR MARKET-RATE DEVELOPMENT, THEN OUR FIRST FORAY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE'VE WORKED WITH SAMMINISTRIES ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. WE OWN 55 ACRES LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM BROOKS OFF PRESA STREET AND WE WORKED WITH SAMMINISTRIES TO MAKE A PORTION AVAILABLE FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT WILL BE KNOWN AS THE COMMONS AT ACEQUIA TRAILS. A TOTAL OF 200 UNITS AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM TO DEVELOP THAT 55-ACRE PARCEL IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WILL WORK INCLUDING ANOTHER MIX OF RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RETAIL. THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AT BROOKS. I POINT THESE OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SIX COMPANIES AT BROOKS THAT ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF DIRECT INVESTMENT. WE HAVE TWO COMPANIES WHOSE PARENT COMPANIES ARE ORIGINALLY BASED IN FRANCE. WE HAVE TWO FROM SOUTH KOREA. A THIRD COMPANY IS A PROSPECT THAT WOULD COME FROM SOUTH KOREA, BY THE WAY. WE HAVE NISA AMERICA FROM JAPAN AND THE OKON PROCESS. Y'ALL HAD A PRESENTATION, THE WHOLE COUNCIL DID A WEEK AGO , AND I NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT WE REALLY ENJOY OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GREATER:SATX. EVERY ONE OF THESE INVESTMENTS REPRESENT OVER 200 JOBS STARTED OUT AS A LEAD FROM GREATER:SATX. OUR JOB WAS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD A SHOVEL-READY SITE FOR THESE PROSPECTS AND THEN HELP CLOSE THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE THAT NEEDED TO BE PROVIDED TO SECURE THESE COMPANIES FOR SAN ANTONIO AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE THEM ALL. EDUCATION. I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE THAT ON THE 1308 ACRES AT BROOKS, SIMPLY PUT, THERE ARE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM. WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAS A DEDICATED MEDICAL CURRICULUM. WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S A S.T.E.M. CERTIFIED CURRICULUM AND ONE THAT IS AN I.T. CERTIFIED CURRICULUM. IN ADDITION TO THOSE HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE THEIR PARTNERSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND A COUPLE OF THEM ARE K-12. WE ALSO HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD'S SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE WITH A STUDENT BODY OF 800 THERE AT THAT MEDICAL SCHOOL, ALREADY WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY WHILE THEY'RE STUDENTS THERE. WE ALSO HAVE, ON THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SIDE, THE COUNTY'S TEXAS FAME PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES US WITH A STEADY STREAM OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNICIANS, NOT ONLY FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE AT BROOKS BUT THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ALAMO COLLEGES INCLUDED IN THEIR LAST BOND PACKAGE, A $98 MILLION PROJECT, A FACILITY THAT WILL BE BUILT AT BROOKS, THAT WILL BE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS THAT WE NEED FOR THE ENTIRE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD EVER SINCE TOYOTA CAME ON BOARD AND ALL OUR SUCCESSES WITH OUR MANUFACTURING EMPLOYERS, MANY OF THEM ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THEY HAVE A REAL NEED FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNICIANS. WE'RE GOING TO BE GLAD TO BE THE HOME OF THAT FOR ALAMO COLLEGES. I'VE MENTIONED THE $2.1 BILLION IN DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE AT BROOKS. $1.8 MILLION OF THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED AND WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER $300 MILLION THAT IS ON THE WAY. THAT WILL BE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL PROSPECTS GOING FORWARD. AS I TALK ABOUT THOSE PROSPECTS GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ZONES AND INCENTIVES TIED TO SOME OF THESE ZONES TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. SO YOU HAVE THE BROOKS TIRZ, WHICH IS THE DIAGONAL STRIPING. IT INCLUDES THE BROCKS CAMPUS PLUS 1200 ACRES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE BROOKS CAMPUS. IF YOU CONSIDER THE BROOKS CAMPUS PLUS THE GREENISH COLOR TO THE LEFT OF THAT MAP, THAT INCLUDES TWO ADDITIONAL CENSUS TRACTS. THOSE TWO PLUS BROOKS MAKE UP THE BROOKS OPPORTUNITY ZONE, WHICH I WILL ADDRESS A LITTLE LATER. BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY MAKES BROOKS AN INVESTMENT AT BROOKS OF GOOD APPETITE FOR INVESTORS IN OUR PART OF TOWN. WE'RE PROUD TO BE THE TOWN CENTER OR THE FOCUS OF THE BROOKS REGIONAL CENTER . THE FIRST REGIONAL CENTER COMPLETED IN THE SAN ANTONIO TOMORROW PLAN BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE TIRZ, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY BUT I LOVE TIRZ. AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE SHARING WITH YOU ALL ALL THE SUCCESSES AND SOME OF THE [00:10:04] CHALLENGES WE HAD ALONG THE ROAD ON DEVELOPING THE TIRZ TO THE CAPACITY THAT IT HAS. THE TIRZ IS MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO COVER THE COST OF A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AT BROOKS AND WE'LL HAVE INCREDIBLE CAPACITY GOING FORWARD. I NEED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU AND THE CITY STAFF FOR WORKING WITH MY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REFINANCE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEBT THIS LAST YEAR AND THE PROCEED FSARE GOING TO HELP OFFSET $17 MILLION OF THAT DEBT, CALLED BY $17 MILLION CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY BY BROOKS TO BRING DOWN OUR DEBT. IT IS GOING TO PUT US IN A VERY SUSTAINABLE POSITION AS WE CARRY DEBT GOING FORWARD -- OR LESSER DEBT IS REALLY WHAT I SHOULD SAY. THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE IMPACT. IN ESSENCE, ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE INVESTORS -- AND IF YOU TOTAL THEM ALL UP FROM THE TWO OFFICE BUILDINGS TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO A CLIMATE-CONTROLLED FACILITY WITH BUSINESS OFFICES, ET CETERA, IT'S NEARLY $500 MILLION THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE HAD A TOUGH TIME ATTRACTING BUT FOR INVESTORS BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT BROOKS IS A DESIGNATED OPPORTUNITY ZONE THE AVAILABLE PROPERTIES ARE THE ONES IN COLOR HERE. EVERYTHING ELSE IS TAKEN FOR ALREADY. THE MIDDLE OF IT IS PRIMARILY GOING TO BE A TOWN CENTER IN THE LIGHTER PINKISH, REDDISH COLOR. THE BLUE, IN THE CENTER, WE HOPE TO DEVELOP AS A MEDICAL CENTER/OFFICE COMPLEX ALONG WITH SOME COMMERCIAL OFFICE DEVELOPMENT. ASIDE FROM THAT WE HAVE TWO PARCELS LEFT THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, MORE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. BUT THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT WE HAVE LEFT. IN A NUTSHELL, WE HAVE ABOUT 300 -- I SAY LESS THAN 300 AS OF TODAY WITH THE PIPELINE THAT WE HAVE THAT'S AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF ACREAGE FOR ADDITIONAL EMPLOYERS. THAT'S GOOD NEWS BUT IT'S ALSO BAD NEWS IN THAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF LAND TO KEEP ATTRACTING COMPANIES. BEFORE I GO ON TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS, LET ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU. THIS IS THE REVENUE TO THE CITY, TO THE BROOKS TIRZ, AND TO THE COUNTY FROM VARIOUS TAXES COLLECTED WITHIN THE BROOKS TIRZ. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IN 2023 THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BENEFITED TO THE TUNE OF $9.5 MILLION FROM TAXES COLLECTED WITHIN THE BROOKS TIRZ. THAT'S ASIDE FROM THE MONEY THAT GOES TO BROOKS FROM THE TIRZ. THAT'S ASIDE FROM TAXES COLLECTED THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY. I'M NOT INCLUDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER TAXING ENTITIES IN HERE. BUT OF THAT $9.5 MILLION, IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT MAKES UP MOST OF IT, I WOULD ANSWER SALES TAX. IT'S AMAZING. OUR DEVELOPMENT OF RETAIL AND RESTAURANT DEVELOPMENT, 150-PLUS IN THE BROOKS AREA, GENERATED $8.5 MILLION IN SALES TAXES THAT GO TO THE CITY ALONE. NOT TO MENTION WHAT GOES TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, ET CETERA. SO IT'S INCREDIBLE IN TERMS OF THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT IT HAS PRODUCED FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A DESIGNATED TIRZ AND MOST OF THE PROPERTY TAX GOES TOWARDS THAT TIRZ AND BENEFITING BROOKS. I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED ON THE 1308 ACRES BUT OUR VISION SHOULDN'T BE DOUBTED. OUR VISION IS TO HAVE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE REGION SURROUNDING BROOKS. AND THAT REGION THAT SURROUNDS BROOKS, THE BROOKS REGIONAL CENTER OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, HAS HAD HOUSEHOLD INCOMES GO UP BY 36%. COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD, SAN ANTONIO HOUSEHOLD INCOMES WENT UP BY 32%. A FEW GOOD PERCENTAGE POINTS AHEAD OF THAT. THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, UP BY 10%. POVERTY RATE DOWN BY 2% AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN BY 4%. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WORKING. IF YOU THINK THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT EMPLOYERS' INCENTIVES BUT ABOUT CREATING JOBS FOR PEOPLE THAT GIVE THEM A REALLY GOOD PAYCHECK WELL ABOVE THE POVERTY LEVEL PLUS A GOOD HEALTHCARE PACKAGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THEIR KIDDOS GOING TO SCHOOL. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND BROOKS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. UPCOMING PRIORITIES FOR US IS THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE 2.0 DESIGNATION. OF COURSE, YOUR WONDERFUL CITY BOND PACKAGE OF $5 BILLION -- DID I GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION? WHATEVER IT MAY BE, WE OBVIOUSLY WILL HAVE A PROJECT. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT [00:15:03] THE CITY HAS DONE TO SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND WE WILL HAVE A PROJECT TO SUBMIT TO YOU ALL FOR THIS NEXT ONE. WE ARE ALSO IDENT DEVELOPING A PLAN WHICH WE THEORETICALLY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF AND CONTINUE DEVELOPING AS SITES READY, SHOVEL-READY SITES FOR CONTINUED ATTRACTION OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS TO THIS CORNER OF SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THE PALO ALTO FACILITY BUT I'LL HAVE A FEW MORE WORDS TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, AGAIN, IS THE BROOKS CAMPUS PLUS TWO CENSUS TRACTS TO OUR WEST. I WILL CONFESS TO YOU ALL THAT THE BROOKS CAMPUS ITSELF IS A CENSUS TRACT DOES NOT MEET THE POVERTY RATES THAT AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE WOULD HAVE TO MEET ALONE. IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE ADDED THE TWO CENSUS TRACTS TO THE IMMEDIATE WEST WITH POVERTY RATES OF 23% AND ABOVE TO MAKE UP A PART OF THE ZONE THAT WE QUALIFIED AS AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE. WE WILL BE RESUBMITTING FOR REDESIGNATION. THE CITY WILL BE MAKING ITS NOMINATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HUD AND THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE NEXT YEAR. WE WILL WORK WITH BRENDA AND HER TEAM AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. MS. ALEX. AND HOPEFULLY BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD WITH THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, WE WON'T BE PENALIZED BUT INCENTIVIZED TO KEEP GOING TO WORK WE ARE DOING . WE WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS THAT COMES BEFORE YOU AND THE COUNCIL OVER THIS NEXT YEAR. THE BOND PROGRAM. AGAIN, I WILL START BY SAYING THANK YOU. THE LAST BOND ISSUE THERE WAS $15 MILLION TO HELP REBUILD OUR MAIN STREETS, SIDNEY BROOKS. THAT'S THE MAIN ROAD THAT GOES EAST TO WEST THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF BROOKS CAMPUS. OUTLINED IN THE YELLOW THERE IS THE $15 MILLION PROJECT THAT WAS IN THE LAST BOND PACKAGE. THAT TWO-LANE STREET OF TODAYWILL BE TURNED INTO A COMPLETE STREET WITH TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION PLUS A MEDIAN, TURN LANES, TEN-FOOT SIDEWALKS, ALL UTILITIES UNDERGROUND, ET CETERA. A CONTRACTOR HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO COMMENCE THIS SPRING. AS WE LOOK AT OUR SUBMITTAL FOR THE NEXT BOND PACKAGE, WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TO COMPLETE THE SECOND HALF OF SIDNEY BROOKS. IT'S OUTLINED IN THE YELLOW. IT'S FROM NEW BRAUNFELS OUT TO PRESA. THAT PROJECT IS ABOUT THE SAME LENGTH AS THE CURRENT ONE BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS IT GOES OVER A FLOODPLAIN AND IT WILL REQUIRE A BRIDGE TO TAKE THE ROAD OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN. SO I AM TELLING YOU AS OF TODAY THAT WE WILL BE MAKING A REQUEST OF OVER $15 MILLION EQUAL TO THE PROJECT THAT IS STARTING THIS SPRING. BUT ACKNOWLEDGING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS NEXT ONE WILL INCLUDE A BRIDGE TO GET THE ROAD OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN AND THEREFORE WILL BE MORE COSTLY. WE'RE WORKING ON FINALIZING OUR NUMBERS AND WE'LL WORK WITH YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, AS WE FINE TUNE THOSE NUMBERS AND PREPARE A REQUEST THAT WOULD COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE BOND PACKAGE. THIS IS A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE PUBLICLY-OWNED PARCELS OF LAND SURROUNDING BROOKS AND THEY ARE DESIGNATED IN THAT BABY BLUE COLOR. LIGHT BLUE, BABY BLUE IS WHAT IT IS. THOSE ARE OWNED BY EITHER THE CITY, THE COUNTY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, AND OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES. ALL AVAILABLE AND CURRENTLY OFF THE TAX ROLLS. MOST OF THEM DO NOT HAVE DEVELOPMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS UPON THEM TODAY AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH -- WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND WANT TO BE WORKING WITH YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON IDENTIFYING SOME OF THOSE PARCELS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO BE ADDED TO THE INVENTORY THAT BROOKS CAN CONTINUE TO DEVELOP. WHAT MAKES THEM AN OBVIOUS TARGET FOR US IS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY OWNED BY PUBLIC ENTITIES AND THEREFORE ALREADY OFF THE TAX ROLLS. THEORETICALLY CONVEYING A PARCEL TO BROOKS WOULD NOT TAKE A PIECE OF PROPERTY OFF THE TAX ROLLS THAT TODAY ARE PUBLIC ENTITIES ARE BENEFITING FROM. THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME ON THAT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO BUT DO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT AS WE FINISH DEVELOPING BROOKS AND ITS 1308 ACRES -- AGAIN, WE HAVE LESS THAN 300 ACRES, CLOSER TO 200 ACRES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY. [00:20:03] THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU AND SHARING WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. PAL APALO ALTO COLLEGE, $98 MILLION INVESTMENT. IF THERE IS A NEED ON -- I WOULD EXTEND THAT TO ALL MANUFACTURING FIRMS -- THE TALENT NEEDED TO FILL SKILLED MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS. PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SKILL SETS THAT INVOLVE PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, ALL THOSE TOGETHER. THE PEOPLE WHO MANAGE, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATE THE ROBOTS WITHIN OUR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, THE MANUFACTURING LINES WITHIN OUR FACILITIES. I'M DELIGHTED THAT FACILITY WILL BE AT BROOKS. OF COURSE IT WILL BE THERE NOT JUST TO SERVE THE BROOKS' EMPLOYERS BUT THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND I'M PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIP WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH ALAMO COLLEGES. WITH THAT, MADAME CHAIR, I'LL CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION. I WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE SOME QUESTIONS. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAM THAT IS HERE. I SHOULD HAVE DONE TO BEGIN WITH. SHAME ON ME BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GET THE WORK DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SAMANTHA BROOK, OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US AT BROOKS FOR OVER 13 YEARS. WE HAVE CONNIE GONZALES, WHO IS OUR CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER AND HAS BEEN WITH BROOKS OVER TEN YEARS. WE HAVE STONY BROOK, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND HAS BEEN WITH US NEARLY TEN YEARS . THAT SOUNDING FAMILIAR? NOW, THE NEWEST ONES, WE HAVE VICTORIA SHOEMAKER. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH US NOW? SEVEN MONTHS. NOT QUITE A YEAR . OUR NEW ESG EEST ADDITION. I'M GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, MADAME CHAIR, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION WE MIGHT HAVE HERE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, LEO. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. BROOKS HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE STORIES WITH THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING THE RIGHT MOVES. WE HAVE SEEN SOME GREAT SUCCESS THERE AND SO I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AS Y'ALL KNOW, MY HEADQUARTERS ARE THERE. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HAS COME BY TO VISIT AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ HAS TOO. IT'S JUST A GREAT STORY OF WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND BUILD COLLABORATION AND COALITION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UNDERSTAND THE ASKS. I THINK THE ONLY THING WE ARE LOOKING AT -- AND YOU ADDRESSED IT A LITTLE -- RIGHT NOW AT THIS COUNCIL IT IS THAT THE TWO THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ONE, HOUSING. WITH STABLE HOUSING BRINGS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN, TWO, IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT NOT JUST THE JOBS BUT LEVELING UP FOR THE JOBS AND THEN WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE THERE IF THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANIES ON THE CAMPUS. >> FIRST OF ALL, HOUSING. THE ADDITIONAL PUBLICLY-OWNED PARCELS AROUND BROOKS THAT I TALKED ABOUT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE ACTUALLY COULD THEORETICALLY DO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THERE TOO. WE COULD PARTNER WITH YOU ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THOSE PARCELS. WE'VE ALREADY VISITED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON SOME NEEDS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE FOR TEACHER HOUSING AND IN SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE HOUSING. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT QUITE WORK YET BUT WE CONTINUE TO VISIT THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER ON AND EXPLORE WITH WHATEVER RESOURCES THE CITY MIGHT HAVE ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SIDE. PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT WE WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY AND WOULD BE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU ALL ON THAT. ON THE WAGES SIDE, WE ARE IN INTERESTING TIMES AND I'VE GOT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT WHILE WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS ON CAMPUS, THEY'RE ALL DOING WELL. BUT THIS ENVIRONMENT OF NOT KNOWING WHAT YOUR COSTS ARE GOING TO BE REGARDING YOUR INPUTS INTO YOUR PRODUCT AND YOUR PROCESS -- NAMELY I'M TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS. WHAT THAT DOES, AS YOU SAW, SIX OF OUR COMPANIES AT BROOKS, SIX OF OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS ARE FOREIGN BASED. THEY HAVE PARTNERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD SO THEY BUY A LOT OF THEIR PRODUCT, A LOT OF THEIR INPUTS INTERNATIONALLY. AND SO THE TARIFFS ARE CAUSING SOME INSTABILITY IN WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO GOING FORWARD. I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT A COUPLE OF THEM WOULD HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED GROWTH IN TERMS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT BUT FOR THAT INDECISION [00:25:05] CAUSED BY THE INSTABILITY THAT IS BROUGHT ABOUT BY TARIFFS. AS WE GO TO S.A. TO D.C., AS WE TALK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE CLOSER AND THE SOONER SOME OF THESE FINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE REGARDING TARIFFS, THE SOONER THESE COMPANIES CAN MAKE THEIR BUSINESS DECISIONS. RELATED TO THAT AND JOBS AND WAGES, WE HAVE A CONTINUED CONVERSATION -- AS ALEX WELL KNOWS -- ON OUR BOARD. AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE ALEX ON OUR BOARD. PLEASE DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. IT'S GOOD TO BE WORKING WITH ALEX ON OUR BOARD AND BE ABLE TO SORT THINGS OUT BEFORE THEY BECOME A PROBLEM. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THAT. I MEAN THAT, ALEX. WE APPRECIATE YOU. LET ME TELL YOU WE WORK VERY HARD AT ATTRACTING HIGH-PAYING JOBS. WE'VE ALSO GOT TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR THE FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND US. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR IF ALL YOU HAVE IS A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, A JOB THAT PAYS 80 GRAND A YEAR IS PROBABLY NOT A JOB YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL. I'VE GOT TO SUBMIT TO YOU THAT BROOKS, FOR A LONG TIME, WAS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DROVE DOWN FROM OTHER PARTS OF TOWN, CAME OFF THE HIGHWAY, EARNED A PAYCHECK, AND THEN TOOK IT WITH THEM AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO BALANCE THE GOOD-PAYING JOBS WITH THE JOBS THAT ARE NEEDED BY THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY SO THAT THAT COMMUNITY CAN EARN A PAYCHECK AND SPEND IT IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S CREATING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT LEADS TO THAT 36% INCREASE IN HOUSEHOLD INCOME. THAT LEADS TO THAT 10% INCREASE IN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES. THAT LEADS TO THAT DROP IN THAT 2% POVERTY RATE. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, LEO, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING THE TENURE OF YOUR TEAM. I THINK IT'S VERY TELLING OF LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD AND THE WAYS IN WHICH Y'ALL WORK COLLABORATIVELY. ALWAYS GRATEFUL TO HEAR WHEN FOLKS HAVE BEEN WITH THE TEAM TEN-PLUS YEARS. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE COUNCILWOMAN AND HER PREDECESSOR FOR LEADING THIS INITIATIVE OR HELPING TO FACILITATE, RATHER. IN DISTRICT 5 THIS IS WHERE MY CONSTITUENTS SHARE THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL GO TO SHOP AND SPEND THEIR MONEY IS AT BROOKS CITY BASE BECAUSE IT IS THE CLOSEST SHOPPING CENTER TO US WITH A DIRECT INTERSTATE TAKING THEM TO BROOKS CITY BASE. I THINK WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF THE REQUEST FOR BOND SUPPORT, I THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN SEEING IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND THE RETURN -- I KNOW YOU MENTIONED WHETHER IT'S WITH BEXAR COUNTY OR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TAXES, THIS DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE SALES TAX, HAS GENERATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE. I THINK WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WE NAVIGATE THOSE BOND CONVERSATIONS, TO SEE THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT OF THOSE PUBLIC DOLLARS, WHICH IS IMPRESSIVE. AND THE RECORD OF IMPACT Y'ALL LAID OUT IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES AND THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE AS WELL. SO JUST I THINK THAT CAN HELP US IN TERMS OF WHEN WE'RE HAVING THOSE LARGER BOND CONVERSATIONS, TO JUSTIFY THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT OF THOSE PUBLIC DOLLARS. >> THANK YOU. I'LL HAVE A MATH PARTY WITH MY TEAM AND WE'LL GET YOU THOSE RIGHT NUMBERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE VARIOUS --S SALES TAXES, HOTEL/MOTEL TAXES, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, ET CETERA. WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THOSE NUMBERS AND HOW YOUR INVESTMENT HAS INCREASED THAT OVER THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS. ALSO, COUNCILWOMAN, I'M GOING TO ASK MY TEAM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THE CITY, THROUGH ITS BOND PROGRAM, HAS INVESTED IN BROOKS AND HOW MANY JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED AT THAT SAME TIME. BECAUSE I WOULD SUGGEST TO Y'ALL THAT INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT HELPS US CREATE THOSE JOBS. >> CASTILLO: SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO MAKE MONEY AND I THINK THIS IS POTENTIALLY ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES, THAT THERE IS A HUGE RETURN. WHETHER IT'S WAGES, SALES TAXES, SO ON AND SO FORTH. ONE THING THAT IS EXCITING IS TO SEE THE RESIDENTIAL THAT'S OCCURRING. THERE'S ALREADY A LOT OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES CONSTRUCTED. IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE INITIATIVES, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE SEVERAL MOVING PIECES WITH HOUSING. CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A QUICK --T GOING ON RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IN THAT AREA? >> WE GOT A NUMBER OF MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS [00:30:01] RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE SENIOR AFFORDABLE AND THE MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE ALONG WITH TWO -- IS IT TWO, CONNIE? TWO MORE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE CONTINUING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SINGLE-FAMILY FOR RENT NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST PHASE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THEY WILL BE MOVING INTO THEIR SECOND PHASE. THAT WILL BE A TOTAL OF 500 HOMES AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND WE ARE ACTIVELY VISITING WITH DEVELOPERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN 18-ACRE SINGLE-FAMILY FOR SALE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES. MULTIFAMILY MARKET RATE, MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE. THE SINGLE-FAMILY FOR RENT. SINGLE-FAMILY FOR SALE. AND, OF COURSE, WORKING WITH SAMMINISTRIES ON THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE SOLUTIONS. >> CASTILLO: I APPRECIATE THE MIXED-USE. THAT YOU HAVE A SPECTRUM OF HOUSING OPTIONS ALL WITHIN THAT SPECIFIC FOOTPRINT. REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT INITIATIVE AND Y'ALL'S FOCUS ON THAT AREA. LASTLY, IN TERMS OF THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, ALEX, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP AS THAT GETS DEVELOPED AND THE CITY AND CITY COUNCIL'S ROLE WITH THAT PIECE? >> YES, MA'AM. SO THERE IS A WHOLE PROCESS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR HOW COMMUNITIES, HOW CITIES WOULD PUT FORTH RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN OFFICIAL LIST -- I THINK IT'S FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY THAT WOULD PROVIDE THEM THE MAP OF ELIGIBLE CENSUS TRACT. OUR PROCESS IS TO REVIEW THAT, COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. REALLY GET FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM THESE DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIES AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THOSE GEOGRAPHIES. AND THEN COME TO THIS COMMITTEE. I BELIEVE WE'RE SHOOTING FOR MAY BECAUSE WE NEED TO SUBMIT THAT UP IN JUNE. >> CASTILLO: LASTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SECONDS I HAVE LEFT. ONE LAST QUESTION. I THINK IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN MARKET RATE. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE, PARTICULARLY WITH PUBLIC LAND, MY EXPECTATION WOULD BE IT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH IS 30 TO 60% AMI, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT BALANCE THROUGHOUT THAT AREA. >> AS I SAID A LITTLE BIT BEFORE, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY IS IN SOME OF THAT VACANT LAND THAT IS AROUND BROOKS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BROOKS. SOME OF THOSE PARCELS MIGHT BE OWNED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I KNOW A COUPLE OF THEM ARE OWNED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO PARTNER AND ADDRESS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THOSE LEVELS ON THOSE PARCELS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, LEO. APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, LEO. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THE INCREDIBLE DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT WE HAVE PRESENTING TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK ACROSS THE BOARD. ONE THING I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE -- FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW THIS. I NEVER OFFICIALLY LIVED ON BROOKS CAMPUS BUT I WAS THERE FREQUENTLY WHEN A SPECIAL PERSON IN MY LIFE LIVED THERE UNTIL SHE MOVED TO DISTRICT 6 WITH ME. I ENJOYED THE LUXURY OF BEING THERE BECAUSE IT WAS NICE SEEING THE NEW DEVELOPMENT COME ONLINE. BEING THERE, IT WAS IN 2022. IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THE NEW PLACES, THE WALKABILITY, THE CLEARLY THOUGHT THROUGH MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT OF REPLICATING -- NOT REPLICATING BUT SIMILAR TO MUELLER IN AUSTIN. IT WAS VERY FAMILIAR TO MYSELF, OF COURSE, BUT IT WAS WELL DESERVING FOR THE CITY AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. WHEN WE DO WELL-PLANNED AND WELL-THOUGHT OUT COMMUNITIES, WE CAN MAKE IT WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE GROWING THERE. A LOT OF SENIORS ARE GOING TO MOVE IN AS WELL. IT WAS INTERESTING TO BE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY BRIEFLY AND IT WAS VISIT MY NOT-YET IN-LAWS DOWN THE ROAD. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM HAS DONE TO MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY. IN PARTICULAR, ALWAYS HAPPY TO SHARE TOO WITH VIA BEING THERE, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE HUB FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. NOT JUST FOR THE SOUTH SIDE, FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. IT WAS VERY EASY FOR ME TO COMMUTE TO GO VISIT ON THE 103 AND THE 552 FROM DISTRICT 6 TO DISTRICT 3 IN A QUICK TIME. I DIDN'T HAVE TO TRANSFER MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE WE INVESTED IN TRANSPORTATION THERE TOO. MY BIG CELEBRATION FOR BROOKS. THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO CELEBRATE BUT I WANTED TO SHARE MY PERSONAL STORY. I DO WANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS ON SLIDE 2 AND 3 WE TALKED ABOUT ASSESSED VALUE AND DEVELOPMENT. IS THERE A REASON THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN USING ASSESSED [00:35:01] VALUE ON THE FIRST SLIDE AND THEN DEVELOPMENT ON THE NEXT SLIDE? >> YES. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ASSESSED VALUE FOR THE ENTIRE TIRZ TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES YET. ALTHOUGH, WE COMPLETED THAT A YEAR AGO? >> SO THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE DIRECT APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON THERE. AND EVEN IF WE DID THAT ASSESSMENT THROUGH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WHICH WE WOULD THEN GET A VALUE FOR, IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. SO IT'S A MATTER OF I COULD HAVE GONE THAT ROUTE AND ENDED UP WITH A SMALLER NUMBER, QUITE FRANKLY. I LIKE THE BIGGER NUMBER. >> GALVAN: FAIR ENOUGH. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE THE PROJECTS COMING ONLINE. >> THAT'S THE REASON, BECAUSE OF THE PROJECTS COMING ONLINE AND NOT YET BEING ASSESSED BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. >> GALVAN: I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THIS DEVELOPMENT ALONE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER THERE BUT HAVING THE APPLES TO APPLES FOR BOTH ENDS IS GOOD, AS MUCH AS WE CAN. ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THE AFFORDABILITY COMPONENT. I KNOW WE HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION TOO ABOUT THE MARKET RATE AND THE AFFORDABILITY CONVERSATION THERE. I THINK IT'S VERY SIMILAR WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BASE THERE TO STABILIZE IT AND THEN YOU BRING ON EVERYTHING ELSE YOU CAN FOR THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS OVERALL. JUST GRATEFUL FOR THAT WORK. >> A MIX IS THE ANSWER. WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES AND RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP PAYING THE RENT. >> GALVAN: ESPECIALLY THE FOLKS WE'RE HELPING FINDING JOBS. IF THEY CAN'T LIVE NEARBY, WHAT'S IT ALL FOR? APPRECIATE WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY WHERE FOLKS CAN LIVE ON THE CAMPUS. ON SLIDE 4 FOR THE PROJECTED RESIDENTS, IS THAT WITHIN THE CAMPUS OR THE LARGER REGIONAL -- >> IT IS 90% WITHIN THE CAMPUS. AND THEN TWO OF THEM ARE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF BROOKS. >> GALVAN: OKAY. JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC NUMBER. ON THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT, I WANTED TO ASK JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS HEARING CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO THE ISD'S DIFFICULTIES IN THE NEARBY AREA. BUT WHAT'S THE COORDINATION BEEN LIKE? OF COURSE, I KNOW CAST MED IS ON CAMPUS BUT WHAT'S BEEN THE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE ISDS, THE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE AREA? . >> OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAISD, IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL AS EAST CENTRAL HAS BEEN THERE FROM THE GET-GO. CONNIE GONZALES, OUR CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER HAS SAT -- I HAVE SAT ON THE SAISD FOUNDATION, FOR EXAMPLE. CONNIE SITS ON IT TODAY. I GUESS THEY STILL KEEP ME AS ONE OF THE OLD MEN OF THE COUNCIL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM TO THE POINT THAT WE'VE HAD THOSE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TEACHER HOUSING AND HOUSING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AND WE'RE BIG SUPPORTERS OF THE CAST HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S THERE ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT HIGH SCHOOL THRIVES AND IS SUSTAINABLE. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, LEO. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK. REALLY JUST COMMENTS, REALLY. I SECOND WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND ESPECIALLY AS FAR AS THE CHAMPION YOU HAVE IN COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. THE VIAGRANS, RIGHT? HER AND HER SISTER HAVE BEEN SUCH CHAMPIONS FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND YOU REALLY COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE. IN FACT, I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A MEDICAL CENTER-ISH TYPE THING GOING HERE. I WISH WE HAD A MULTIMODAL SLIDE LIKE YOU DO IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. IT'S HITTING ON EVERYTHING FROM JOBS TO EDUCATION TO TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT PROPEL US INTO THE FUTURE. GROWING UP AROUND THIS WORK AND BEING IN THIS WORK, I WOULD HEAR A LOT OF TIMES -- YOU HAVE HEARD IT TOO -- THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE TALENT. AND WE CAN'T SAY THAT ANYMORE. >> NO. >> GONZALEZ: WE'RE IN 2026 AND WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY AROUND US TO BRING IN THAT TALENT. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT HERE AT BROOKS. I REALLY LOVE THE WORK WITH PALO ALTO, WITH TEXAS FAME, SAMMINISTRIES. YEAH, JUST CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE. >> WELL, THANK YOU. I NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I REALLY -- THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THE VIAGRANS. MY TENURE AT BROOKS OF -- WHAT IS IT, Y'ALL? I CLAIM 13, 14 BUT IT'S 12? 13 YEARS AT BROOKS. [00:40:06] I'M BAD AT MATH. I NEED TO ASK THEM. 13 YEARS AT BROOKS HAVE ALL BEEN WITH A VIAGRAN ON THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AT BROOKS HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN AND COUNCILWOMAN PHYLLIS VIAGRAN . THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING THAT. I SHARED EARLIER HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE TO HAVE A MANAGER'S DESIGNEE ON OUR BOARD. I MEAN THAT SINCERELY AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE ALEX ON THE BOARD. I'M GRATEFUL TO EACH I DON'T OF YOU.YOU GIVE THAT THOUGHT ANE HAVE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE TO BE WORKING WITH US AND GUIDING OUR PROCESS THERE. WHEN WE GET A LITTLE OUT OF LINE, WE'VE GOT ALEX TO GET US BACK IN LINE. I SAY THAT LOVINGLY, OF COURSE. BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, LEO. THE LAST THING I WANT TO BRING UP IN TERMS OF THE MULTIMODAL -- I KNOW COUNCILMAN GALVAN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS. HOW WE'RE LOOKING WE MOVE IN THE FUTURE. HE'S WORKING WITH VIA AND YOU SIT ON THE BOARD, LEO. WHEN WE LOOK AT A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION HUB LIKE WE HAVE ON BROOKS, IT REALLY IS A PILOT WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. SO IN OUR DISCUSSION, WHETHER IT'S REDUCED FARES, NO FARES, THIS FARE, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT IF WE WANT PEOPLE -- RIDERSHIP. WE NEED RIDERSHIP TO GO UP. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE GREEN AND SILVER LINE AND SAY HOW FAST ARE THEY GOING. IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO FASTER, IF I CAN GET SOMEONE FROM MY HEADQUARTERS OR MY FIELD OFFICE TO DOWNTOWN WITHIN 15, 20 MINUTES, THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT RIDE IF IT IS FAST. THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION -- AND I REALLY THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IN BROOKS IS THE FUTURE IN HUBS AND SPOTS IN EVERY DISTRICT. THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THERE. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE TRY A MIX OF THINGS BEFORE WE FIND OUT WHAT REALLY FITS WITH VIA. BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT BROOKS IS THAT WE CAN PILOT A LOT OUT OF THERE TO SEE WHAT WORKS BEST IN EACH DISTRICT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. LEO, I THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY JUST WILLING TO SERVE THERE BUT STEPPING UP AND SERVING ON THE VIA BOARD. BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT GREEN LINE IS AND HOW WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE NORTH/SOUTH BUT WE NEED TO GET THEM EAST-WEST ALSO. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DOES ANYBODY WANT TO CHIME IN ONE MORE TIME? >> GALVAN: ON THE EDUCATION ONE, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGE KIDS LIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES? >> NO. COULD WE FIND OUT? OF COURSE WE COULD BUT I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >> GALVAN: I KNOW SOME OF THE SCHOOLS HAD SOME CLOSURES OVER THERE BUT THERE ARE ANY NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS COMING ONLINE. >> COUNCILMAN, YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT. WE'RE VISITING WITH SARA BARAY AND WE LOVED WHAT THEY DEVELOPED OUT THERE BY THE WHOLE PROPERTY. WE HAVE VISITED A COUPLE OF TIMES. WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH HER HERE SOMETIME SOON. WE WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK ON A SATELLITE OF THAT LITERALLY ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS TO SUPPORT ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT GO TO WORK THERE EVERY DAY. BUT CHILDCARE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND I THINK THERE'S A VERY NATURAL PARTNER IN A CITY-RELATED OR CITY-SUPPORTED PROGRAM THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THAT. SEVERAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, INCLUDING A SPECIAL PERSON, BUT ALSO MULTIPLE, ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE GREEN LINE MEMORIES FOR US BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT YOU BUILT THERE TO MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S SAFE. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE GREEN LINE MORE AND MORE OFTEN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING COME OVER FOR AN ACTUAL FORMAL TOUR OF BROOKS. IT WAS OBVIOUS THEN THAT YOU ALREADY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT AND SO I THANK YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE AND YOUR FUTURE IN-LAWS FOR THAT. >> GALVAN: I'M ALWAYS ASKING WHEN THE NEXT GREEN LINE IS COMING FOR DISTRICT 6. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LEO. >> THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 3. THIS UPDATE ON THE -- I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO STAY AROUND FOR THIS. THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS REVIEW. I BELIEVE THERE IS A STAFF [00:45:04] PRESENTATION. SO IS IT VICTORIA AND ANA PRESENTING? >> YES. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE TROY A BREAK TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M VICTORIA ROEDER. I AM THE DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR AND I'M HERE WITH ANA BRADSHAW TO GIVE YOU ALL THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS REVIEW UPDATE. THE AGENDA FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THE BACKGROUND, LIKE WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, WHY WE'RE HERE. AND THEN ANA IS GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT CAPACITY BUILDING, SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT. I'M GOING TO CONCLUDE OUR PRESENTATION AND TALK ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT ARE THE ONES WE IMPLEMENTED AND WHAT ARE WE LOOKING TO DO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SAPD UPGRADE. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND HERE. THE MAYOR DID CHARGE THE COMMITTEE WITH TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND SEEING HOW WE CAN MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT TWO KEY AREAS. THE FIRST WOULD BE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THEY LOOKED AT HOW THEY HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH OUR DIVERSE BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS. FINANCE, WE LOOKED AT OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS IN GENERAL AND HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS MORE EFFICIENT. THIS PAST DECEMBER WE HAD RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. WE LOOKED AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONDUCT THIS REVIEW. WE GAVE THE PROPOSED TIMELINE AND WE COMMITTED TO COMING BACK TO YOU ALL AND LETTING YOU ALL KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. SO THE FOCUS AREAS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE DIFFERENT AREAS. ANA IS GOING TO GO OVER MORE DETAIL WITH TWO OF THEM REGARDING CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT. AND I'M GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS REVIEW AND HOW WE WORKED WITH CIVIC INITIATIVES AND TOOK THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND USED THOSE AS OUR TRANSFORMATION ROADMAP. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, ANA BRADSHAW, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HAPPY TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE PROCUREMENT TEAM. WE SHARE THE 18TH FLOOR OVER IN CITY TOWER SO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY. BUT OUR FOCUS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ON CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT. IN MAY OF LAST YEAR WE PRESENTED ON OUR OVERALL STRATEGY, SO THIS FITS RIGHT IN. IN THE AREA OF CAPACITY BUILDING, WE'RE REALLY ABOUT HELPING THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES COMPETE AND WIN THE CONTRACTS AND WHEN THEY'RE ON THEM, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THEM OVER THE LAST YEAR WE COMPLETELY REVAMPED THAT PROGRAM, INCLUDING GIVING IT A NEW NAME. NOW WE'VE REDUCED IT FROM A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM TO A ONE-YEAR INTENSIVE PROGRAM WHERE THE VENDORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ALAMO COLLEGES CLASSES, WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR AND BEING PAIRED WITH A MENTOR WHO IS ALSO IN BUSINESS. SOME OF THESE ARE BUSINESSES WHO ARE ON CITY CONTRACTS AND WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR SBEDA PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS TO CULTIVATE THOSE MENTORS. SOME OF THEM ARE BUSINESSES WHO DO IT AS VOLUNTEERS. SO WE'RE EXCITED WITH THIS NEW COHORT OF 15 BUSINESSES WHO HAVE BEEN PAIRED AND ARE COMPLETING THE TRAINING NOW. AS PART OF OUR REVAMP OF THE PROGRAM, HAVE REALLY LOOKED AT OUR METRICS OF SUCCESS TO ENSURE THAT THE BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING ARE GETTING OUT OF THE PROGRAM WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO DO AND ARE LOOKING AT THOSE CITY OPPORTUNITIES AND ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THEIR MENTOR AND LEVERAGE THOSE CLASSES THEY'RE TAKING, INCLUDING ESTIMATING, BONDING, THEIR BUSINESS FINANCE, DIFFERENT AREAS SO THEY CAN BE PREPARED AND COMPETE FOR THE CONTRACTS. THE OTHER AREA WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING IN ON FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPPLY SA. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MELANIE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AND LEO JUST LEFT. WE HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PARTNERSHIP FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WHERE IT'S LOOKING AT IT ON A REGIONAL LEVEL, A SYSTEMS-BASED LEVEL OF HOW CAN WE LOOK AT OUR VENDOR COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE THEY'RE NOT JUST BIDDING ON CITY PROJECTS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES AND FOCUS ON CERTIFICATION THROUGH SUPPLY SA, WHICH HAS BECOME THAT FIRST POINT OF ENTRY WHERE MELANIE AND HER TEAM ARE ABLE TO FLAG AND REFER THEM TO LAUNCH SA, TO SBDC TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THEY ARE SEEKING BIDDING ON OUR PUBLIC SECTOR CONTRACTS. AS WELL AS BUILDING OUT THE PROCUREMENT NAVIGATION SERVICES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO HERE THROUGH OUR OUTREACH IS IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES AND THEY WANT SOMEONE TO WALK THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. SO RECOGNIZING, AS PUBLIC AGENCIES, THAT'S NOT [00:50:01] SOMETHING WE CAN READILY DO ON THE SPECIFICS BUT IF WE HAVE A PARTNER TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION, THAT IS ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL. IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT BONDING AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE BUSINESSES ON OUR VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS ALONG THE WAY. THEN IN THE AREA OF SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT, THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, IT'S REALLY ABOUT INCREASING THAT POOL, MAKING SURE WE'RE CASTING A WIDE NET. ONE OF THE THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR IS MONTHLY OFFICE HOURS AT LAUNCH SA. WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR NEXT ONE COMING UP LATER THIS WEEK. AND STAFF ARE THERE AT THE LIBRARY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BOTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF, PROCUREMENT STAFF, AS WELL AS WE'VE ADDED STAFF FROM SUPPLY SA. REALLY CREATING THAT ONE-STOP SHOP WHERE THE BUSINESSES CAN COME IN, ASK ALL THEIR QUESTIONS. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO START THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS WHILE THEY'RE THERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DO THIS. COME SPRING AND SUMMER WE'RE LOOKING TO GO ON THE ROAD TO VARIOUS LIBRARIES AND HAVE THESE OFFICE HOUR OPPORTUNITIES. SO MORE TO COME ON THOSE FUTURE OUTREACH EVENTS. IN ADDITION, OUR TEAM ALONG WITH CAPITAL DELIVERY, PUBLIC WORKS, AND AVIATION, ARE CONTACTING THOSE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, THE PROFESSIONAL AND TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. WE DO AN EXCELLENT JOB DURING THE DISPARITY STUDY OF GOING OUT AND GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESSES AND THESE ASSOCIATIONS. BUT WHEN THE STUDY IS DONE, WHEN THE SBEDA ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS ARE DONE, IN THE PAST SOME OF THAT ENGAGEMENT HAS DWINDLED AND SO WITH THIS WE ARE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GO OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS, GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND SHARE THE INFORMATION. WHETHER IT'S THE ANNUAL PROCUREMENT FORECAST, WHICH THE PROCUREMENT TEAM GOES THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS IN REALTIME, RATHER THAN WAITING FIVE YEARS IN THE STUDY. YOU CAN SEE A LIST OF GROUPS THERE WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH ALONG THE WAY. I'LL HAND IT BACK OFF TO VICKY. >> THE LAST THING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. SO LIKE ANA SAID, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT'S BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE WORKED WITH CIVIC INITIATIVES TO COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND SEE WHERE THERE ARE GAPS AND HOW WE CAN FILL THOSE IN. SO CIVIC INITIATIVES WENT OUT TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND THEY ASKED THEM WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAD WHEN YOU WANTED TO BID ON AN ITEM? THEY GAVE US A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. HERE'S A LIST OF ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS. FROM A HIGH LEVEL, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID CAN YOU ELIMINATE SOME STEPS TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT? MAKE THE PROCESS GO A LITTLE FASTER. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCUREMENT METHODS, THE THRESHOLDS. TELL US -- IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RESOURCES OF DEFICIENCIES AND ADJUST YOUR PROCUREMENT PLAN. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL, MORE FOR STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT. HAVE TRAINING AND OF COURSE ESTABLISH A PROACTIVE APPROACH WITH OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. SO WE TOOK THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE FIRST ONE BEING THE CITY MANAGER DELEGATION. ALLOWING THE CITY MANAGER TO AUTHORIZE APPROVED CONTRACTS FOR THOSE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. IF IT'S A FLEET ITEM, AS LONG AS IT IS APPROVED BY THE BUDGET. IF IT'S GOODS AND SERVICES, UP TO $2.5 MILLION. ANY SORT OF CONSTRUCTION, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, OR ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING AND OTHER SERVICES UP TO $1 MILLION, THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE IS ABLE TO EXECUTE THOSE CONTRACTS. BY DOING THAT, WE ARE ABLE TO SHORTEN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND GET THE CONTRACT DONE FASTER. ANOTHER THING WE LOOKED AT WAS THE HIGH-PROFILE PROCESS, REDEFINING THAT. SO NOW THERE'S DIRECT PLACEMENT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE LESS THAN $5 MILLION OR ANY ON-CALL OR ANNUAL CONTRACTS, THEY ARE DIRECTLY PLACED ON THE AGENDA INSTEAD OF GOING TO PRE AND POST AUDIT SOLICITATION. OF COURSE WE KNOW THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT BY DOING IT THIS WAY, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE SOME OF THAT TIME. LIKE ANA MENTIONED, OUR ANNUAL PROCUREMENT FORECAST. TWO THINGS HERE. FIRST, WE DEVELOPED A TEMPLATE AND A TRAINING FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN USE THAT. BUT WE ALSO INCLUDED THE FORECAST NOW INCLUDES ITEMS THAT ARE $50,000 OR MORE WHEN BEFORE IT USED TO BE A MILLION OR MORE. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR -- EXCUSE ME, FISCAL YEAR '26 -- THERE'S 386 ITEMS ON THERE. THIS GIVES OUR VENDORS A TIME THAT -- WHICH ONES THEY [00:55:01] WANT TO BID ON, WHICH ONES MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THEM TOO. ONE OF THE FEEDBACKS WE HAVE HEARD IS TO UPDATE THIS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THINGS DO CHANGE SO WE DON'T WANT THEM WASTING THEIR TIME ON SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE ALSO DID A FINANCE PROCUREMENT REORGANIZATION. OUR PROCUREMENT SPECIALISTS, THEY USED TO BE A SHARED SERVICE AND NOW WE BROUGHT THEM IN-HOUSE AND WE HAVE THEM IN FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS. WE HAVE THEM UNDER CONSTRUCTION, GOODS AND SUPPLIES, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. WE HAVE NOW A TRAINING TEAM. THIS TRAINING TEAM IS NOT JUST FOR INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, IT'S ALSO FOR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY A BIG ROLE WHEN WE DO OUR SAP UPGRADE AND HELPING OUR VENDORS WITH THAT. THESE RIGHT HERE ARE A LIST OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THE FIRST WOULD BE DO WE CONSIDER ALIGNING WITH THE STATE REGARDING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD. THE STATE WENT FROM $50,000 TO $100,000 THIS PAST SEPTEMBER. IF THE CITY WERE TO DO THE SAME THING, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO CITY ORDINANCE TO DO THAT. RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH A FORMAL BID THAT TAKES ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF 90 DAYS, NOW DEPARTMENTS CAN GO ASK FOR QUOTES FOR INFORMAL BID. ALSO LOOKING AT MAYBE CONSOLIDATING OUR PREFERENCE PROGRAMS THAT'S UNDER DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, LOCAL AND VETERAN OWNED ARE UNDER THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. DBE IS UNDER AIRPORT. ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS CONSIDER INCREASING THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL LIMIT FOR A CHANGE ORDER TO $250,000. RIGHT NOW IT'S $50,000 OR $100,000, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF FUNDING. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT. AS WE GET STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK, THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE SAP UPGRADE. SO AS YOU MIGHT BE AWARE, WE ARE UP GRADING OUR ERP SYSTEM. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO COME TO B SESSION IN APRIL TO, AS WE PICKED OUR SYSTEM INTEGRATION SERVICE, THIS IS THE COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO HELP US INTEGRATE THE NEW SAP. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WANT THEM TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO WANT THEM TO REACH OUT TO VENDORS AND CONTRACTS DURING THE DESIGN TIME AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK. LET US KNOW WHAT ARE THE PAIN POINTS. WHAT IS THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES THEY HAVE AND WHAT CAN WE DO AS WE UPGRADE SAP TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM. THIS IS A TIMELINE I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE LAST ARROW BECAUSE NOW IT SAYS "ONGOING." IT DOESN'T HAVE A SET DATE ANYMORE. WE'RE GOING DOWN TWO PATHS. OF COURSE WORKING TOGETHER BUT EDD THEY'RE LOOKING AT CAPACITY BUILDING. FINANCE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, SPECIFICALLY WITH SAP. WE WANT TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR SUPPLIERS. WE WANT TO ENGAGE OUR VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS IN THE SAP UPGRADE AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO REVIEW THIS AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS PROCESS EASIER FOR THEM. THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. WE'RE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, LADIES FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO ADD A LITTLE TO THE BACKGROUND BECAUSE THIS DIDN'T START WITH -- I AM THANKFUL THAT THE MAYOR PUT IT ON OUR CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE FAST. BUT, AGAIN, I WAS ON ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BEFORE, TERI WAS ON ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BEFORE. THIS STARTED WELL BEFORE THEN AND THIS IS WHY YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO MOVE SO FAST. WOW, THEY GOT THIS DONE IN SEVEN MONTHS? NO, THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT. WE JUST KIND OF GAVE THEM AN END DATE. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONGRESSMAN CASTRO WHO MADE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE WORKING ON THIS AND LOOKING AT HOW WE STREAMLINED THIS PROCESS. AND THE OTHER IS JUST SEEING HOW THIS WORKS IN CONJUNCTION -- AND TROY IS HERE AND HE KNOWS THAT -- WITH AUDIT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROCUREMENT WITH AUDIT ALSO. SO IT DOES HELP THAT YOUR CHAIR OF ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TWO OF THE MEMBERS SIT ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ALSO . THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCESS. I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROCESS IS EASIER, ESPECIALLY AS THINGS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE IN WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BID ON AND WHAT DO THEY ORDER AND WHEN DO THEY ORDER IT. LEO ALLUDED TO THE TARIFFS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS WE DO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS. THIS IS FOR BRIEFING ONLY. I WOULD LOVE TO GET Y'ALL'S [01:00:01] INPUT ON WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE THE UPDATES AND WHETHER THAT'S IN E-MAIL OR IF COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD ATTEND THE MEETINGS, JUST TO KIND OF WATCH AND SEE WHERE THE DISCUSSION IS GOING. WE HAVE TONS OF OPPORTUNITIES AT THE DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT LEVELS FOR THIS. AND WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND THANKFUL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOREVER BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHERE WE WERE LIKE LET'S PUT IT ALL ON PAUSE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO TALK SBEDA BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. NOW I THINK WE'RE AT A GOOD POINT WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE VENDORS. WE'RE GETTING THE TECHNOLOGY WE NEED AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO GO UP TO WASHINGTON AND SAY WE GIVE THIS MONEY BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE GET THESE FEDERAL GRANTS AND WE ASK FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS I HAD. ON SLIDE 10, I THINK IT'S PRIMARILY JUST THE RECOMMENDATIONS. YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ASK WITH THAT IS DO WE HAVE ON AVERAGE -- YEAH. I GUESS DO WE HAVE ON AVERAGE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROCUREMENT ON OUR END FROM CHANGING THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL LIMITS? HAVE YOU SEEN ANY NEW VENDORS? >> FROM THE $50,000 TO $100,000? IT WOULD BE THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, LIKE 33 MORE OF THEM. THEY WOULD BE THINGS LIKE REPLACING THE CARPET AT THE ALAMODOME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. OKAY. AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR SUPPLY SA, BUT JUST PUTTING IT TOGETHER. WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW WAS DO WE HAVE A LIST OF THE CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT MADE IN WORKING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKING WITH LOCAL GROUPS AND HOW MANY NEW VENDORS HAVE WE BROUGHT INTO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THROUGH SUPPLY? >> SO LAST YEAR ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THE TEAM DID WAS WORKING WITH PROCUREMENT IS TO REVERIFY OUR VENDOR REGISTRY. EACH ENTITY WE HAVE OUR OWN SYSTEM. AND SO AS PART OF THE PROCESS, WE WENT THROUGH TO ENSURE THAT THE BUSINESSES THERE WERE STILL OPERATING AND WISHED TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. WE DID SEE A DECLINE FROM -- I BELIEVE WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND BUSINESSES -- SMALL BUSINESSES REGISTERED. IT'S DOWN TO -- I BELIEVE IT WAS 400. BUT WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN THIS NUMBER, WHICH IS SPEAKING TO THE OUTREACH THAT THE TEAM IS DOING, INCLUDING -- SORRY. 690 IS HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES WE HAVE REGISTERED AS OF TODAY. THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID WE WANT TO DO PEOPLE WITH THE CITY. WE KEEP DOING THAT OUTREACH. I ALSO DID MENTION WE ARE CALLING VENDORS NOW SAYING WE HAVE A SOLICITATION FOR CAR WASHING SERVICES. WE SEE YOU DO CAR WASHING. YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY? SO WE HAVE SEEN SOME INTEREST COMING FROM THAT DIRECT OUTREACH TO THE BUSINESSES TOO, IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL KIND OF PUTTING IT OUT THERE. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE HITTING THE METRICS WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE. BUT I THINK IT WILL TAKE THAT APPROACH. I'M GRATEFUL Y'ALL HAVE IMPLEMENTED THAT TO REACH OUT TO ALMOST LIKE THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL OF BRINGING THE FOLKS IN WHERE THEY'RE AT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK WAS -- OH. I THINK IT'S ON SLIDE 10 AS WELL ABOUT ALIGNING PROCUREMENT. YEAH, ALIGNING PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THE CITY'S BROADER ECONOMIC GOALS. WHAT'S THE KIND OF BACKGROUND FOR THAT? WAS THERE DISALIGNMENT AT SOME POINT? IF SO, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? >> I WOULDN'T SAY DISALIGNMENT BUT RECOGNIZING THAT THE CITY'S PURCHASING POWER IS VERY POWERFUL AND CAN REALLY HELP ELEVATE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNED WITH THAT. AS WE GO THROUGH EDD'S STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK DISCUSSIONS, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE'RE BRINGING IN THOSE STAKEHOLDERS TOO WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR INCENTIVE GUIDELINES REFRESH TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, HOW ARE WE LEVERAGING THAT PROCUREMENT THAT HAPPENS, WHETHER IT'S PRIVATE OR THE CITY'S, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE. >> GALVAN: I SEE. I GUESS I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE SO FAR, PRIOR TO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK REFRESH, WHAT HAS THE ALIGNMENT BEEN LIKE? >> SORRY. I'LL JUMP IN HERE, JUST TO BASICALLY KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT SENSE THE INCEPTION OF THE SBEDA PROGRAM 30-ODD YEARS AGO, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PART OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE ALWAYS SEEN PROCUREMENT, SPECIFICALLY OF OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, AS THAT TOOL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. LIKE ANA MENTIONED, CIRCULATING THAT DOLLAR HERE LOCALLY REALLY HAS THAT KIND OF IMPACT. SO WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT KIND OF APPROACH WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT [01:05:03] DEPARTMENT. >> GALVAN: IT JUST MAYBE MADE ME FEEL LIKE WERE WE MISSING SOMETHING. UNDERSTOOD. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, VICTORIA AND ANA FOR THE PRESENTATION. IN TERMS OF THE FOCUS AREA, PRIMARILY ON THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THERE IS DIRECT OUTREACH BUT CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS THAT YOU ALL ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING OR WHAT'S CHANGED IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS? >> FOR OUR DIRECT OUTREACH, SO WE CALL VENDORS NOW. WE DEFINITELY POST ONLINE OUR OFFICE HOURS EVENTS. WE'RE SHARING THEM WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES OUT THERE SO THEY'RE AWARE. WE'RE ALSO SHARING THROUGH SUPPLY SA BECAUSE WE KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THEM. SO WHEN THEY'RE PROVIDING THOSE NAVIGATION SERVICES CAN REFER THEM TO IT. I'LL LET VICTORIA TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO ON THE PROCUREMENT SIDE WHEN THEY'RE ADVERTISING. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. TROY ELLIOTT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS. AS FAR AS COMMUNICATION, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANNELS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FORECAST. THE FORECAST IS A GREAT TOOL FOR BASICALLY ADVERTISING. THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SOLICIT FOR THE CITY FOR THAT COURSE OF THE YEAR. ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE LOOKED AT MAKING AS WELL, IT USED TO BE A STAGNANT ONE TIME A YEAR. WE'RE LOOKING AT REFRESHING THAT QUARTERLY BECAUSE BY THE TIME WE PRESENT THAT TO YOU, THE NEXT DAY IT'S CHANGED. AND SO KEEPING THAT REFRESHED GIVES OUR VENDORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. SIMILAR TO WHAT ANA SAID, WE REACH OUT TO OUR VENDORS. WE TRY TO DIG UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BID. WE ADVERTISE IN THE PAPER. WE ADVERTISE ON TV. WE REACH OUT TO KEY STAKEHOLDERS OR TARGETED VENDORS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF AND WE TRY TO SATURATE THE MARKET TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE AND MAKING IT AS AVAILABLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. >> CASTILLO: REGARDING THE OFFICE HOURS THAT YOU ALL CONDUCT ABOUT HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE OPEN OFFICE HOURS? HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE? >> IVAN SUAREZ, GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING TO THE COMMITTEE, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME . WE SEE GOOD TURNOUT ACROSS THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS SPECTRUMS. WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 15 COMING TO OUR SESSIONS. AS ANA MENTIONED, WE TRY TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT IN A MORE INTIMATE SETTING. ABOUT 15. WE'RE HOPING TO GROW IT BUT IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR. >> CASTILLO: THAT'S A GOOD TURNOUT. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN ON SLIDE 8 WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, FOR THE UPDATED PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, ARE THESE THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED? I KNOW IT SAYS RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THE FOLLOWING SLIDE SAYS IMPLEMENTED RECOMMENDATIONS. THE ROOT OF MY QUESTION IS AS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO ELIMINATE STEPS ARE IDENTIFIED, WILL THAT COME BACK TO COMMITTEE? WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? >> THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, YES, YOU'RE CORRECT. THE NEXT SLIDE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED BASED ON THAT. YES, AS WE COME UP WITH MORE, THERE'S MORE WE'RE GOING TO COME TO THE COMMITTEE AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THAT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM. >> VICKY TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOW. AP UPGRADE. AS PART OF THAT UPGRADE, IT REALLY GIVES OUR VENDORS A VOICE INTO HOW THE SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE DESIGNED, WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE. AS WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE VENDORS AND WE GET THAT FEEDBACK, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AS A COMMITTEE. SHOW YOU THE CONCERNS THEY'RE EXPRESSING AND THEN WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE TO ADDRESS THOSE THROUGH EITHER THE SAP IMPLEMENTATION OR THROUGH CHANGING OUR PROCESSES. WE DO INTEND TO COME BACK AND UPDATE YOU THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS. >> CASTILLO: I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ON SLIDE 5 FROM THAT VENDOR DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY, I THINK IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP TO HAVE CURRENTLY AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE BIG PROJECTS, WHETHER IT'S A BASEBALL STADIUM OR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OR TYPICAL BOND PROGRAMS, TO MAKE SURE WE REALLY DO HAVE THOSE LOCAL VENDORS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS. I ALMOST WANT TO MAKE IT A GOAL THAT WE CAN POINT TO A NUMBER OF VENDORS THAT HAVE [01:10:02] GONE THROUGH THE ACADEMY THAT ARE ON THESE PROJECTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A GOAL IN MIND THAT YOU HAVE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE BIG PROJECTS OR IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE A GOAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THAT WAY WE CAN POINT TO THESE FOLKS TO SAY THEY WERE PART OF THIS VENDOR DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY AND NOW THEY ARE ON THIS, WHETHER IT'S A BOND PROJECT OR THOSE TWO LARGER PROJECTS I MENTIONED. >> YEAH. DEFINITELY IS A GOAL OF OURS. I THINK THE BIGGEST SUCCESS METRIC WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR MENTORS WHO ARE PAST PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM. SO THEY SEE THE VALUE AND ARE PAYING THAT KNOWLEDGE FORWARD. WE WILL START RECRUITMENT FOR NEXT YEAR'S COHORT COME THIS SUMMER. SO CERTAINLY IF YOU AS MEMBERS HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FOLKS WE CAN INVITE TO APPLY, WE'LL DEFINITELY BE BLASTING IT OUT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE THESE OPPORTUNITIES -- AND WE'LL WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND CAPITAL DELIVERY TO IDENTIFY FIRMS. IT'S NOT JUST FOR CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES. WE ALSO WANT TO RECRUIT MORE MENTORS. WE'RE A LITTLE BIT LIMITED BY THE NUMBER OF MENTORS WE CAN ATTRACT TO THE PROGRAM SO IF THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THAT AREA, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THE OUTREACH AND GET THEM ON BOARD. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS MORE THAN CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. YEAH, JUST REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND REALLY WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. ON THAT SAME SLIDE, THE FOCUS ON CERTIFICATION AND PROCUREMENT NAVIGATION SERVICES, CAN YOU SHARE MORE ON WHAT THAT MEANS? >> SO FOR OUR SOLICITATIONS THAT WE PLACE A GOAL ON, A SBEDA GOAL ON, WE'LL EITHER PLACE A SMALL BUSINESS GOAL OR EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS GOAL. EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES ARE 25% OF THE MAXIMUM SBA SIZE FOR A BUSINESS. IN ORDER TO GET THOSE POINTS, IF THERE'S POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT OR TO SATISFY SUBCONTRACTING GOALS, WE REQUIRE THOSE FIRMS BE CERTIFIED THROUGH SUPPLY SA. SO A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE THEY'LL GO, WHETHER THEY'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING OR WE REFER THEM, IT'S TO SUPPLY SA TO COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS. AND THEN FROM THERE, MELANIE AND HER TEAM ARE THEN ABLE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM IN WHATEVER INDUSTRY AND SAY ARE YOU AWARE CITY, COUNTY, SAWS, CPS HAVE SOLICITATIONS IN THIS AREA, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. AND THEN WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING OUR VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS, HELP THEM BUILD THAT SUBMISSION OR REVIEW THINGS. AND THEN BE ABLE TO SUBMIT IT TO US. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. SO IS THAT LIKE THE -- WHAT WAS IT? THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A NEW -- I REMEMBER THE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. >> IT IS FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL CERTIFICATION AGENCY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE WORKING WITH -- THANK YOU. ON COUNCILMAN GALVAN'S POINT , ON THE ALIGNED PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES, I THINK IT'S KIND OF LIKE STREAMLINING PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE -- IS THAT -- >> THAT'S CERTAINLY PART OF IT IS STREAMLINING. >> GONZALEZ: SO MANY DEPARTMENTS -- >> RIGHT. RECOGNIZING WHEN WE'RE APPLYING GOALS AND TOOLS THAT PROCUREMENT IS NOT A STAND ALONE. IT FITS INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY. WHEN WE'RE GROWING THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY. THAT'S KEEPING THE DOLLARS LOCAL, AS ALEX SAID. WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR BUY LOCAL DATA THAT SHOWS THAT 60% OF THE DOLLAR, WHEN SPENT LOCALLY, STAYS IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY. THAT'S GOOD FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND BECAUSE WE BUY SO MUCH, THAT HAS A MULTIPLIER EFFECT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. >> GONZALEZ: UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. AND THEN ON SLIDE 10 ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF PREFERENCE PROGRAMS, THAT IS A RECOMMENDATION OR IMPLEMENTED? >> THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS RECOMMENDED THROUGH CIVIC INITIATIVES, THAT STUDY. >> GONZALEZ: WHAT'S REQUIRED TO -- >> THAT'S A POLICY DECISION THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN. WE WOULD HAVE TO EXPLORE THE IMPLICATIONS. EACH ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAS SEPARATE REQUIREMENTS. DBE IS ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. LOCAL PREFERENCE IS GOVERNED BY STATE STATUTE AS WELL AS VETERAN AND SBEDA IS LOCAL ORDINANCE. WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THINGS COULD POTENTIALLY ALIGN AND THEY COULD BE ALL HOUSED UNDER ONE DEPARTMENT. >> GONZALEZ: SORRY. ONE MORE. SORRY. ALL OF THOSE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS WERE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CIVIC INITIATIVES? >> CORRECT. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. [01:15:01] SECOND ROUND. ANYONE? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THOSE UPDATES. AGAIN, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY SEE OR SIT ON, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO ALEX CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. THE TIME IS NOW 3:16 AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.