[00:00:11]
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE TIME IS 10:06 A.M., APRIL 15, 2026.
THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
QUORUM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
TODAY SHOULD BE A STRAIGHTFORWARD TODAY. WE'LL START OFF WITH THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO
APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES.
WE DO HAVE THREE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS FOR ITEM ONE, ANGELICA AND JUAN RAMOS. WE'LL START OFF WITH ANGELICA.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANGELICA AND I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR YWCA SAN ANTONIO. WE WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT AND OUR SUPPORT OF THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO INCLUDE YOUTH. YWCA DIRECTLY SERVED YOUTH SO WE SEE FIRSTHAND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH AND SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE. YWCA SAN ANTONIO IN PARTNERSHIP THAT WE FEEL CAN HELP BENEFIT THE INITIATIVE AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE LENGTH OF TIME OF THE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM THAT THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM ALSO CURRENTLY OFFERS. WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND COMMENT ON, YOU KNOW, HOW BENEFICIAL THIS WOULD BE FOR OUR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH AND CONTINUE TO THINK OF WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PARTNER AND EXPAND THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. JUAN RAMOS.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JUAN RAMOS. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF R3 STUDENT OUTREACH. IN SHORT R3 PROVIDES MENTORSHIP, CAREER READINESS SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS ADULTS.
WE GIVE OUR STRONG AND EVER WAIVING SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNSHIP PILOT PROGRAM AS PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. CURRENTLY BEXAR COUNTY IS GRAPPLING WITH A CRISIS OF OVER 36,000 DISCONNECTED YOUTH.
WHILE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S AMBASSADOR PROGRAM SERVES AS A VITAL AND PROVEN BRIDGE TO PROVEN CAREERS, ITS CURRENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS WHICH ASK FOR A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE, EXCLUDE THE VERY DISCONNECTED YOUTH WHOA NEED THESE OPPORTUNITIES THE MOST. THIS PILOT PROGRAM REPRESENTS A CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO MEND THE GAP AND CONNECT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MEANINGFUL, GAINFUL, PAID EMPLOYMENT. AT R3 STUDENT OUTREACH, WE SEE THE HUMAN FACES BEHIND THESE STATISTICS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ENDURING, INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND UNQUESTIONABLY RESILIENT, BUT HAVE BEEN SIDELINED BY THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUVENILE OR MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEMS. WHEN WE FAIL TO PROVIDE LEGITIMATE PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT WE LEAVE A VACUUM THAT ILLEGITIMATE MARKETS ARE TOO HAPPY TO FILL.
THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT WHEN YOU PROVIDE A YOUNG PERSON WITH A PROFESSIONAL MENTOR AND A PAYCHECK, THEIR TRAJECTORY CHANGES INSTANTLY.
BY EXPANDING INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES LIKE WHEN COUNCILWOMAN TERI IS PROPOSING TO AT-RISK YOUTH 16 OR OLDER, WE AREN'T JUST OFFERING A SUMMER JOB, WE ARE PROVIDING THE OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS AND SUPPORTIVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE PROVEN TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, LOWER YOUTH VIOLENCE AND IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY.
WE HAVE WATCHED R3 STUDENTS WHO WERE ONCE CONSIDERED AT RISK BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMEONE GAVE THEM A LEGITIMATE PATH TO FOLLOW.
WITH MAJOR FUNDING CUTS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO NON-PROFITS AND PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE NEED PROGRAMS LIKE THESE NOW MORE THAN EVER.
WE ARE SEEING NATIONAL TRENDS IN 2026 WHERE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING FOR CRITICAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE BEING REDUCED, LEAVING MANY LOCAL SAFETY NETS UNDER SIGNIFICANT STRAIN.
AS MENTIONED IN THE CCR, SAN ANTONIO WOULD BE FOLLOWING A PROVEN MODEL ALREADY ESTABLISHED SUCCESSFULLY IN CITIES LIKE CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE AND ATLANTA, WHICH HAVE ESTABLISHED PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH. I MYSELF HAVE SAT WITH CITY LEADERS AND WALKED THROUGH THESE VERY PROGRAMS IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO WHERE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NEW LIFE CENTERS ARE REDUCING CRIME, WORKING WITH JUST-INVOLVED YOUTH AND PAVING THE WAY FOR BRIGHT FUTURES. IN CHICAGO, THE RELIABILITY
[00:05:02]
AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THESE PROGRAMS TO LOCAL JUST-INVOLVED YOUTH HAVE SHIFTED THE PERSPECTIVES NOT ONLY OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT OF YOUTH WHO HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THEY COULD LIVE BEYOND THE LIFESTYLES AND BARRIERS THEY WERE BORN INTO. WITH OUR UNIQUE BLEND OF LOCAL TALENT AND DEDICATED ORGANIZATIONS, SAN ANTONIO IS POISED TO LEAD THE NATION IN DEMONSTRATING THE PERFORM ACTIVE POWER OF INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE LEADERS. DID I GO TO THREE MINUTES? OH MY GOSH, I AM SO SORRY. I AM JUST HERE SAYING I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THIS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS.
UP NEXT FOR ITEM 4 WE HAVE JESSICA. >> HI, GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JESSICA AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTING NEARLY 900 BUSINESSES ACROSS SAN ANTONIO. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 4 AND LIKED TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND TO REQUIRE TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING OF CITY FUNDS GOING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. IT AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY AND ENSURING THAT THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IS DELIVERING A MEANINGFUL IMPACT.
AT ITS CORE THIS EFFORT IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT AND BY ANALYZING WHERE THE PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE GOING, THE CITY CAN BETTER IDENTIFY THE GAPS IN THE SUPPLIER NETWORK AND STRENGTHEN PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES AND INCREASE THE TRANSPARENCY FOR RESIDENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN INDUSTRIES SUCH AS ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION, WE OFTEN SEE STRONG PARTICIPATION AT THE PRIME CONTRACTOR LEVEL, BUT FEWER OPPORTUNITIES REACHING LOCAL SMALL SMALL SMALL BUSINESR SUBCONTRACTORRING OPPORTUNITIES. SO IMPROVED VISIBILITY TO HOW THE FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED CAN HELP HIGHLIGHT WHERE PARTICIPATION CAN BE EXPANDED. SIMILARLY ACROSS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND EMERGING SECTORS, THERE ARE QUALIFIED LOCAL BUSINESSES READY TO COMPETE, BUT NOT ALWAYS CONNECTED TO THE CITY OPPORTUNITIES, AND THIS TYPE OF REPORTING CAN HELP BRIDGE THAT GAP AND CREATE MORE INTENTIONAL PATHWAYS FOR ENGAGEMENT.
THE STRONGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS BEGIN WITH A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE: SUPPORT, RETAIN AND GROW THE BUSINESSES ALREADY SERVING OUR RESIDENTS AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION EFFORTS IS CONSISTENTLY GENERATE THE MAJORITY OF NEW JOBS IN LOCAL ECONOMIES. AND SAN ANTONIO IS FORTUNATE ALREADY TO HAVE STRONG PARTNERS IN THIS WORK, PROGRAMS LIKE SUPPLY SA ARE HELPING BUSINESSES BECOME PROCUREMENT READY AND BETTER POSITIONED TO COMPETE FOR GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTRACTS. EFFORTS LIKE THESE COMBINED WITH IMPROVED REPORTING CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE POOL OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, AND THIS IS WHERE THE HISPANIC CHAMBER CAN ALSO BE A STRONG PARTNER.
WE'RE READY TO CONNECT LOCAL BUSINESSES TO OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDE INSIGHT DIRECTLY FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT EFFORTS TO EXPAND PARTICIPATION ACROSS UNDERREPRESENTED INDUSTRIES. ULTIMATELY THIS INITIATIVE ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE REPORTING, IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE LOCAL ECONOMY.
I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP BEHIND THIS AGAIN AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE THREE STAFF PRESENTATIONS. I WILL TAKE THEM ALL AT ONCE AND THEN WE'LL DO ONE DISCUSSION ON ALL THREE ITEMS.
>> SO GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M MELODY WOOSLEY, HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. SO THIS ITEM PROVIDES A BRIEFING ON A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST THAT WASST THAT WAS FILED BY COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO ON MARCH THE 5TH. THE ITEM WAS ALSO SUPPORTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS VIAGRAN, MUNGIA, VALUE BEGAN AND MEZA GONZÁLEZ.
THE CCR REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEVELOP A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW AT-RISK YOUTH AND YOUTH WHO MAY BE INVOLVED IN THE JUST SYSTEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AMBASSADOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP OR A SIMILAR PROGRAM.
SO HUMAN SERVICES OPERATES THE AMBASSADOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND PROVIDES AN EIGHT-WEEK PAID CAREER OPPORTUNITY TO STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN COLLEGE. EVERY SUMMER APPROXIMATELY 200 INTERNS PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE IN PRIVATE, GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS.
THESE INTERNSHIPS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN OR RETURN TO SAN ANTONIO UPON GRADUATION AND THEY OFTEN LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT FOR THE GRADUATES.
[00:10:02]
THE PROGRAM REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS TO BE IN A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.THEY MUST PASS THE CITY'S HUMAN RESOURCES BACKGROUND CHECK, WHICH INCLUDES CRIMINAL HISTORY AND DRUG SCREENINGS. AND THEY MUST CURRENTLY BE ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY AND HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST TWO SEMESTERS, ONE YEAR. THEY ALSO MUST HAVE A MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 2.5. SO AMBASSADOR INTERNS WORK UP TO 30 HOURS PER WEEK THROUGH THE EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM. THEY ARE PAID THE CITY'S CURRENT MINIMUM HOURLY RATE OF $18 AND HOUR, AND CAN EARN UP TO $4,300 OVER THE SUMMER. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS SUCH AS RESUME WORKSHOPS, SPEED INTERVIEWING WITH HR REPRESENTATIVES FROM ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AND WORKSHOPS ON LANDING THE JOB YOU WANT.
WE ALSO CO-HOST THE STAY IN SA EVENT WITH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WHERE AMBASSADORS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE NETWORKING SKILLS WITH THE CHAMBER BOARD MEMBERS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND CITY LEADERSHIP.
THE FISCAL YEAR '26 BUDGET, ADOPTED BUDGET, INCLUDED A TOTAL OF $838,000 TO OPERATE THE PROGRAM. SO AS NOTED IN COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S CCR, OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ADMINISTERED INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUTH. THERE IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING THE BENEFITS OF PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE AT-RISK YOUTH. THREE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLIGHTED ON THE SLIDE THAT FOCUS ON AT-RISK YOUTH, DISCONNECTED YOUTH AND/OR JUST-INVOLVED YOUTH.
THE PROGRAM HAVE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES, SERVE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AGE OF THE POPULATION, BUT IN ALL ANYWHERE FROM 14 TO 24 YEARS OLD.
IN CHICAGO A RANDOMIZED CONTROL DEMONSTRATED THAT IF THOSE WHO RECEIVED PAID EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES SOFT SKILLS TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SHOWED A 43% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN THE 16-MONTH POST-COMMISSION LIAISON. WITH THE ACTION FOR BOSTON SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, THE PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS SHOWED A 35% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME CHARGES AND A 57% DECREASE IN PROPERTY CRIME CHARGES IN THE 17TH WEEK AFTER COMPLETION. THE NEW YORK CITY SUMMERY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM USED A LOTTERY TO PLACE YOUTH IN-- YOUTH WHO WERE 14 TO 24, IN SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. THOSE YOUTH WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SHOWED A 10% REDUCTION IN INCARCERATION AND A 20% REDUCTION IN MORTALITY RATES.
THESE STUDIES SUGGEST PARTICIPATION IN PAID WORK PROGRAMS GUIDE YOUTH AWAY FROM DANGEROUS OUTCOMES AND NOT JUST FOR THE DURATION OF THE SUMMER WORK.
AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUTH WITH PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO NEXT STEPS WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THIS ITEM TO INCLUDE REFERRING RECOMMENDED ACTIONS TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND THEN STAFF WILL DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO BEST PRACTICES AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUTH TO DEVELOP POTENTIAL BEST PRACTICE MODELS AND COST ESTIMATES.
AND SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PROGRAM. OR MY PRESENTATION.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. ITEM NUMBER 3?
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM. >> GOOD MORNING. LET ME LOWER THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT SO I CAN SEE YOU. I'M ELANA REED, THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT. AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT ON CITY HALL FOR ALL, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
CITY HALL FOR ALL, THIS CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY DISTRICT 5, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO,.
IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PROMOTE THE INCLUSION OF UNDERREPRESENTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND INCREASE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND TRUST BY CREATING A PILOT PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IMPACT OF HOLDING
[00:15:01]
SELECT B SESSION MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL OR MUNICIPAL PLAZA AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE GOAL OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM WOULD BE TO EXPAND ACCESS, INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT AND REACH RESIDENTS WHO FACE REAL BARRIERS TO ATTENDING WEEKDAY MEETINGS DOWNTOWN. TODAY THE CITY OFFERS MULTIPLE WAYS FOR RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CURRENTLY HOSTS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AT CITY HALL AND MUNICIPAL PLAZA, SPACES THAT WERE BUILT FOR BROADCASTING, WHERE ESTABLISHED TELEVISION INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTS PUBLIC ACCESS, LIVE BROADCASTING AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES.MEETINGS ARE ALSO STREAMED ONLINE AND BROADCAST THROUGH TVSA ENSURING RESIDENTS STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED FROM ANYWHERE. THROUGH CONTINUED INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY AND ADA COMPLIANT FACILITIES, THE CITY HAS BUILT A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCESSIBILITY AND RELIABLE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
THESE SYSTEMS SUPPORT COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND FEDERAL ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS WHILE DELIVERING CONSISTENT ACCESS TO CITY GOVERNANCE. IN ADDITION TO OUR FORMAL MEETINGS, THE CITY OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING OUR BUDGET TOWN HALLS IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE WE JUST CAN HAD OUR COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS. INPUT THROUGH SA ME UP AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE. THEY CREATE ACCESS AND MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. AND WHILE THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS FOR RESIDENTS TO ENGAGE TODAY, WHAT WE DO NOT CURRENTLY DO IS RELOCATE OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS INTO COMMUNITY SETTINGS. IN A ALIGNING THIS REQUEST WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS OR PRIORITIES, AS IDENTIFIED IN THE COMMUNITY SATISFACTION SURVEY, THIS REQUEST DOES SUPPORT GOALS AROUND TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY FUNDED OR IDENTIFIED AS A BUDGET PRIORITY.
IN THE TWO 2024 STATISTICALLY VALID COMMUNITY SATISFACTION SURVEY, 58% OF RESIDENTS POSITIVELY RESPONDED THAT THEY STRONGLY AGREED OR AGREED THAT THE CITY GAVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE AND SHARE.
THERE'S ALSO MANY NEUTRAL RESPONSES AND LESS THAN 10% DISAGREEING OR STRONGLY DISAGREEING. WE ALSO WILL HAVE UPDATED DATA ON THIS AT OUR BUDGET GOAL-SETTING MEETING ON MAY 22ND WITH THESE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS.
FOLLOWING DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FROM A LEGAL AND POLICY STANDPOINT, THE CHARTER IS SILENT AS TO PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WHEN WE ASK DOES THE CFR REQUEST CONSISTENT WITH CITY ORDINANCES, WE WERE TOLD YES, A PROCESS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS LISTED IN CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 2 UNDER MEETINGS.
AND WHEN WE ASKED ARE THERE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT WOULD IMPACT IMPLEMENTATION, WE WERE TOLD YES, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT OR TOMA, REQUIRES PROPER NOTICE OF MEETINGS, ACCESS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PRIOR TO COUNCIL ACTION ON AN ITEM.
ALSO THERE ARE FEDERAL ADA REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL ACCESS.
WHEN WE ASKED IF THERE ARE ANY LEGAL RISKS, WE WERE TOLD NO, NOT WITH THE REQUEST OF THE CCR. IN LOOKING AT THE FUTURE STATE OF THE CCR THERE ARE A FEW CONSIDERATIONS AND ALSO QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. AS WE EVALUATE THE CITY HALL FOR ALL CONCEPT, AGAIN, THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND. FIRST, THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT.
COUNCIL B SESSIONS ARE TYPICALLY BRIEFING FOCUSED AND DO NOT GENERATE HIGH LEVELS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THAT RAISES AN IMPORTANT QUESTION ABOUT PROCESS OR ABOUT PURPOSE. WHETHER THIS EFFORT IS INTENDED TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY OR MEANINGFULLY EXPAND ENGAGEMENT.
NEXT, PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS. THESE MEETINGS REQUIRE LOCATIONS THAT ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT LIVE BROADCASTING, INCLUDING RELIABLE WI-FI, ADEQUATE SPACE AND PROPER ACOUSTICS. TAKING PRODUCTION ON THE ROAD ADDS COMPLEXITY, INCLUDING TRANSPORTING EQUIPMENT, EXTENDING SETUP AND TESTING TIMES AND POTENTIALLY INCREASED COSTS. LOCATION IS ANOTHER CRITICAL FACTOR FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND. SITES MUST OFFER ADA ACCESSIBILITY, FREE PARKING AND BE LOCATED NEAR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
THERE IS ALSO AN EXPECTATION OF GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL DISTRICTS
[00:20:03]
HAVE ACCESS OVER TIME. WE MUST ALSO ENSURE LANGUAGE ACCESS, INCLUDING SPANISH AND ASL INTERPRETATION, ALONG WITH ANY ADA ACCOMMODATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SPACE. SECURITY PROTOCOLS MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED, INCLUDING EITHER CONTROLLED ENTRY AND/OR STAFFING TO ENSURE THAT SAFE PUBLIC -- THAT WE HAVE A SAFE PUBLIC MEETING ENVIRONMENT. FROM A STAFFING AND SUPPORT STANDPOINT THESE MEETINGS REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT COORDINATION, MULTIPLE CITY TEAMS MUST BE INVOLVED, INCLUDING TVSA, ITSD, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT. IN SOME CASES WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER VENDOR SUPPORT FROM THE PRODUCTION STANDPOINT.TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE FACTORS HIGHLIGHT THAT WHILE THE CONCEPT IS ALIGNED WITH GOALS AROUND ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE CAREFUL PLANNING, CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AND POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE ABOVE SUCCESSFULLY. SO AS WE CONSIDER THIS PILOT, THERE ARE A FEW CORE QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS AND HOPEFULLY WORKSHOP TOGETHER. FIRST, IF THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND ACCESS, INCREASE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT, I WANT US TO HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE THAT SUCCESS BEYOND JUST ATTENDANCE. SECOND, WHAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT CAN WE EXPECT? AGAIN, B SESSIONS ARE TYPICALLY BRIEFINGS, NOT HIGH PARTICIPATION MEETINGS AND DON'T INCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO ARE WE REACHING NEW AUDIENCES OR JUST SHIFTING A NEW AUDIENCE TO A NEW LOCATION. THIRD, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM VIABLE PILOT THAT WE CAN EXECUTE WELL? HOW MANY MEETINGS, WHAT FORMAT AND WHAT LEVEL OF PRODUCTION CAN WE REALISTICALLY SUPPORT WITHIN OUR CURRENT CAPACITY? WE ALSO NEED TO BE CLEAR ON BUDGET. IF THERE IS -- IF THERE IS NO DEDICATED FUNDING TODAY, ARE COSTS ABSORBED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR DOES THIS REQUIRE A NEW FUNDING STRATEGY AND WHAT IS THE COST PER MEETING, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE MOVING THOSE MEETINGS TO THE EVENINGS? NEXT, ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVES TO ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL? AND FINALLY, ARE THERE ANY RISKS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER OR PLAN FOR? WILL THIS CREATE CONFUSION ABOUT MEETING LOCATIONS, INCREASED COSTS OR STAFFING DEMANDS? WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH WI-FI FOR BROADCASTING? AGAIN, JUST ITEMS TO DISCUSS AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. SO FIRST, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT THIS TODAY. AGAIN, THE INTENT OF THIS CCR DOES ABSOLUTELY ALIGN WITH OUR CITY'S ENGAGEMENT GOALS AND WITH WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT DOES BEST.
THIS RECOMMENDATION HAS SLIGHTLY CHANGED THIS MORNING FROM WHAT WE WERE SENT IN YOUR PACKET. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IMPACT OF HOLDING SELECT PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS INSTEAD OF B SESSIONS OUTSIDE OF MUNICIPAL PLAZA AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GIVE US TIME TO MEET WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, COMPLIANCE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS, THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR SAFETY PROTOCOLS, I.T. AND BUILDING EQUIPMENT SERVICES, AND WE COME BACK IN 60 DAYS TO PRESENT WHAT THAT PILOT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. ITEM 4.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS TROY ELLIOTT, I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY. THIS MORNING I'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU A CCR THAT WAS COMMITTED BY COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO WITH RESPECT TO CITY FUNDS GOING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. THIS ITEM WAS SUBMITTED LAST MONTH ON THE 19TH. KIND OF GOING THROUGH AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE BACKGROUND OF THE REQUEST, ONE OF THE KEY ITEMS IN THIS ITEM IS REALLY HOW DO WE DEFINE THE TERM LOCAL? IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES I'LL GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WE DO TODAY AND THEN HOPEFULLY AS WE LOOK FORWARD THROUGH THE CCR WE'LL BETTER FIND AND COME TO AGREEMENT ON WHAT THAT TERM IS. SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT IS REQUESTS IS DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENT A CITYWIDE REPORTING FRAMEWORK BASED ON THAT DEFINITION OF LOCAL. HOW TO REPORT DEPARTMENTAL AND CITYWIDE EXPENDITURES TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ALSO TO IDENTIFY THE GAPS IN LOCAL SERVICES.
MORE SPECIFICALLY A AND I'LL KIND OF READ THROUGH THESE, BUT IN MORE DETAIL DEFINING WHAT A LOCAL BUSINESS REPORTING FRAMEWORK IS OR THE SPECIFICS OF THE REQUEST, IS COMING FORWARD AND DEVELOPING A STANDARDIZED REPORTING PROCESS TO TRACK HOW MUCH THE CITY IS SPENDING GOING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING GRANTS, PRIME CONTRACTS, SECURITIES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES, IN OTHER WORDS, PRESENTING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK OF WHAT WE SPEND IN TERMS OF OUR
[00:25:02]
LOCAL BUSINESSES BASED ON THE DEFINITION THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE AND COUNCIL WOULD ULTIMATELY APPROVE. REQUIRED DEPARTMENTS TO INCLUDE LOCAL SPENDING DATA WHENEVER THEY PRESENT DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC SPENDING TO COUNCIL, INCORPORATE THAT INFORMATION INTO OUR BUDGETING PROCESS FOR VISIBILITY DURING OUR SIX PLUS SIX BUDGET PRESENTATION AND THEN CONTINUING EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER.AS I MENTIONED, ESTABLISHING A CONSISTENT DEFINITION OF LOCAL FOR REPORTING PURPOSES. THEN USING THAT DATA BASED ON KIND OF YOU HEARD EARLIER, LOOKING AT CERTAIN INDUSTRIES AND IDENTIFY WHERE THERE MAY BE GAPS AND WHERE LOCALS PARTICIPATE ON OUR CONTRACTS. AND OUR SERVICES. AND USING THAT INFORMATION TO INFORM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WE DO TODAY AND SOME THINGS WE'LL BE CONSIDERING AS WE LOOK AT DEFINING THIS DEFINITION. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS IN PLACE TODAY.
ONE IS THE LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM. IT WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINATED UNDER -- VERY EARLY ON, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY PREDICATED OR BASED ON STATE STATUTE.
IT'S DEFINED AND DESIGNED AFTER STATE STATUTE. AND IT IS IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS THAT IS HEADQUARTERED AND RESIDES IN THOSE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES AND YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR OR MORE, YOU GET CERTAIN PREFERENCES, PRIMARILY ON OUR DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS AT A PRIME LEAF.
THAT IS BASED ON TWO DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS. IF YOU'RE HEADQUARTERED YOU CAN GET A FULL 10 POINTS. IF YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS PRESENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES, THEN YOU GET HALF OF THOSE POINTS, WHICH IS FIVE.
AND THAT IS DESIGNED TO BASICALLY INCENTIVIZE ON OUR PROCUREMENTS THE LOCAL PARTICIPATION. IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVOCACY PROGRAM OR SBEDA AS EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH. THIS TAKES A DIFFERENT FLAVOR THAN THE LOCAL PREFERENCE. BASICALLY IT IS LOOKING AT THE EIGHT COUNTIES, BEING BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING SEVEN COUNTIES, AS OUR GEOGRAPHIC PREFERENCE, SO IT DIFFERS FROM THE LOCAL PREFERENCE AND I'LL TALK TO YOU WHY WE DO THAT AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT. THAT FOCUSES, AS I MENTIONED, ALL THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HEADQUARTERED IN THE SAMSA SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL AREA. YOU HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED AS AN EMERGING OR SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE THROUGH SUPPLY SA AND EACH MAJORITY OWNER MUST HAVE A PERSONAL NET WORTH NOT EXCEEDING ROUGHLY $2 MILLION. IN TERMS OF OUR PROCUREMENTS, THESE THINGS KIND OF LAYER ON TOP OF EACH OTHER IN CERTAIN CASES.
WE LOOK AT THE SAMSA AND SMALL BUSINESS AND THEN WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PREFERENCES, NARROWING DOWN ON THE MUNICIPAL GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY FOR OUR LOCAL AND THEY KIND OF STACK ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. IN ADDITION TO THESE TWO PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE COME TO CITY COUNCIL PRIMARILY IN THE FORECAST OF CERTAIN TIMES TO AUDIT COMMITTEE AS WELL. WE WILL ALSO REPORT OUT TO THE COMMITTEES AND TO THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF WHO WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH WHO DO WE PAY IN TERMS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES. BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE BENEFIT OF A LOCAL PREFERENCE OR THE SBEDA PROGRAM, YOU MAY HAVE WON A CONTRACT NATURALLY JUST BEING THE LOW BID OR BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE, THE QUALIFICATIONS BACKGROUND AND YOUR PROPOSED PLAN. ROUGHLY I THINK THAT'S BEEN IN EXCESS OF ABOUT 40 TO SPECIALIST% IN THE PAST OF WHO WE ACTUALLY DO BUSINESS WITH. SO THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A CONSIDERATION AS WE DEFINE THIS DEFINITION OF LOCAL AND BRING THAT FORWARD. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, DEPENDING ON HOW WE DEFINE LOCAL.
THERE MAY BE GAPS IN OUR DATA THAT WE MAY HAVE TO PULL FORWARD AND ACTUALLY IDENTIFY THOSE SO WE CAN ACTUALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE SUBCONTRACTING LEVEL WITH LOCAL, WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION. SO ONCE WE HAVE THAT DEFINITION, WE'LL DEFINE THE PROGRAM, WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT THE GAPS ARE AND HOW WE'LL PROCEED FORWARD. WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT THE LOCAL DEFINITION IS TODAY. WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT MORE IN-DEPTH, AND WE'VE STARTED THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND ALSO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AS YOU HEARD TODAY, DEAL WITH SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS SUPPLY SA.
GO FORWARD AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND GET POLICY IMPACT FROM THE EWDC, THE WORKLOAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND COME FORWARD WITH WHAT THAT DEFINITION OF LOCAL LOOKS LIKE AND HOW THAT PROGRAM MAY BE ACTUALLY DEFINED AND HOW WILL WE BE REPORTING OUT IT. SO CHAIR, THAT ENDS MY PRESENTATION. I THINK WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORDS, ITEM 2 AND 3, WE HAVE LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM CASTILLO.
[00:30:02]
AND I DO SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TOCOME SPEAK ON YOUR ITEM. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, TROY, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND JESSICA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SO I FILED THIS CFR BECAUSE WE TA TALK -- CCR BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR SHOW OF HOW THE FUNDING IS STAYING IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT IS THE GAP THAT THE CCR IS MEANT TO ADDRESS.
BEFORE WE SET GOALS OR EXPAND PROGRAMS WE NEED A FULL PICTURE.
THIS CCR ASKS FOR STANDARD REPORTING ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS SO WE CAN TRACK HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING LOCALLY, WE'LL DEFINE WHAT LOCAL IS, AND FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I TO RECEIVE THESE REGULAR LIEUTENANTS. I KNOW TROY HAD MENTIONED HOW THE CITY DOES REPORT THIS EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, BUT I REALLY WANT THIS INFORMATION TO BE FRONT AND CENTER FOR US AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS.
WE SAW THIS MODEL REALLY WELL WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AIRPORT CONCESSIONS.
WE WERE ALL SAYING WE WANT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN OUR AIRPORT.
SO WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE PUSHY WITH THIS AND WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO HIRE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.
SO I WANT US TO TAKE THAT SAME ENERGY FOR ALL OTHER ITEMS TOO.
I ALSO INTENDED FOR THE CCR IS IF WE ARE FINDING THAT WE ARE NOT HIRING LOCAL BUSINESSES IN CERTAIN AREAS OR ANOTHER, THEN WE CAN START PARTNERING WITH OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, GREATER SATX, AND OTHERS TO SAY WHAT DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE SO THAT THEY CAN GET THESE ENGINEERING CONTRACTS, SO THAT THEY CAN GET THESE MARKETING CONTRACTS, SO THAT THEY CAN GET THESE DESIGN CONTRACTS. AND SO THAT WAY WE CAN COMPETE IN THAT WAY TOO.
WE ALL KNOW THAT BETTER DATA LEADS TO BETTER DECISIONS AND WITH THIS WE CAN BETTER SEE HOW WE ARE TRULY INVESTING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND PUTTING SAN ANTONIO'S MONEY BACK INTO THE HANDS OF SAN ANTONIOIANS.
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. SINCE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL THREE ITEMS, I'LL DO A 10 MINUTE DISCUSSION AND FIVE-MINUTE DISCUSSION BECAUSE I KNOW I DIDN'T GIVE YOU A HEAD'S UP WE WOULD BE DOING THAT. I'LL BE BRIEF WITH MY STATEMENTS. I AM IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I'LL RESTATE FOR THOSE AT HOME. ITEM 2, THE FINDINGS SENT TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, NUMBER 3 WILL BE PUT INTO A PILOT PROGRAM AND WE CAN EXPECT FEEDBACK IN 60 DAYS AND ITEM 4 WILL BE DEVELOPED IN A FRAMEWORK SENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR DIRECTION AND FEEDBACK. I'LL GIVE INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK ON EACH ITEM AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH COMMITTEE. I GUESS FOR THE BIG ONE FOR ITEM 3 WITH REGARDS TO CITY HALL FOR ALL AND PUBLIC COMMENT BEING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT OR THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, SHOULD WE MOVE TO THE FULLER MODEL, WHICH WAS WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO MENTIONED, WHICH WAS B SESSIONS. I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CERTAIN ITEMS BEING HELD IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS VERSUS OTHERS IF WE WERE TO, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT 9 IT WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THAN IF WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION IN DISTRICT 2 IN TERMS OF WHO WOULD COME OUT TO SPEAK AND WHAT THE RESOUNDING MESSAGE WOULD BE OR THE PREVAILING MESSAGE WOULD BE, JUST AS IF WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AIRPORT IN DISTRICT 5 VERSUS DISTRICT 9 OR 10.
SO THOSE ARE QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION AS IT PROGRESSES.
OVERALL I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEMS TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MY
COLLEAGUES' FEEDBACK. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, I'M GOING TO START WITH ITEM 2. WHY IS IT GOING TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
AND NOT ECONOMIC WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT? >> SO WE HAVE GONE TO THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE ON SEVERAL ITEMS RELATED TO THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, ALSO THE NEXT LEVEL PROGRAM, HAS SOME CONNECTION TO THIS AS WELL SO WE WERE
FOLLOWING UP. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. YOU CAN TAKE IT TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THAT'S FINE. AS CHAIR OF ECONOMIC WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT, I SEE A LOT OF HOLES IN THIS REGARDING DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AT-RISK YOUTH WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS NEED TO MAKE THEM BECAUSE THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO WITH
[00:35:01]
EWDC. YOU CAN TAKE IT THERE, THAT'S FINE.I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE AS EFFECTIVE AS IF YOU BROUGHT IT TO EWDC.
I'LL BE SUPPORTING THAT, BUT AGAIN THIS IS A SPECIALIZED UNIT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE. IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING KIDS COLLEGE READY, THAT'S FINE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS THAT DON'T WANT TO BE COLLEGE READY? AND WE SEND THEM TO WORK, THEN IT SHOULD BE THROUGH THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT. I'LL SUPPORT IT MOVING FORWARD TODAY BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING IT TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT AGAIN, A COMMITTEE THAT I APPRECIATE, BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT -- THEY JUST HAVE A LOT TASKED TO DO RIGHT NOW AND I WAS WITH -- I WAS AT SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.
I'M THERE BECAUSE I'M CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT.
I NEED TO BE THERE, BUT IN TERMS OF MY PARTICIPATION, THAT'S GETTING KIDS COLLEGE READY, THAT'S NOT GETTING THEM READY FOR THE WORKFORCE.
SO JUST -- THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS THERE. SO -- I DON'T WANT TO CREATE MORE WORK FOR MY COMMITTEE, BUT I WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WILL BE. I'M THINKING WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT I WOULD NEED TO SEE MORE AS IT COMES FORWARD. FOR ITEM NUMBER 3, I AM IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC COMMENT. I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF B SESSION.
I THINK WE HAVE B SESSIONS THAT COULD BE JUST MEMOS, SO I AM FINE WITH TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. THE THING I THINK WE NEED A PRICE TAG ON THAT, AND WHAT I NEED TO SEE IS IF THERE IS A COUNCILMEMBER THAT WANTS IT IN THEIR DISTRICT THEY SHOULD BE TAKING FROM THEIR FUNDS TO HOST THAT IN THEIR DISTRICT, AND ASKING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE NEIGHBORS. SO IF I HOSTED ONE AT SOUTHSIDE LIONS, YOU CAN BET THEY WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE I WOULD ASK FOR MONEY FOR AND HOST TO MAKE SURE MY RESIDENTS HAVE SNACKS. BUT I THINK PUBLIC COMMENT IS BEST. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGYWISE. IT'S TOO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO HACK IN, TOO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO DISABLE OUR WI-FI SYSTEMS IN SOME PART OF TOWN. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD WITH A PILOT PROGRAM, BUT I DO THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO PUT SOME MONEY IN THIS BECAUSE IT IS NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP.
SO THANK YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THAT FORWARD. AND IN TERMS OF THE LAST ONE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE REPORTING, PROVIDE, YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO SAY, SO IF YOU COULD COME ON UP HERE. SO WE'VE GOT LOCAL, WE'VE GOT SAMSA.
DO WE HAVE LIKE A STATE WHERE WE THINK BY TEXAS, DO WE HAVE THAT WHEN WE GIVE
POINTS FOR AS PEOPLE COME? >> NO, MA'AM. WE FOCUS PURELY ON THE CITY LIMITS FROM A LOCAL PREFERENCE AND SAMSA FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS.
>> VIAGRAN: I THINK WE NEED TO DO TWO THINGS HERE, REPORT AND GET THE DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENTS OF WHO IS USING WHAT AND WHAT BEST VALUE VERSUS LOW BID VERSUS WHAT STAYS IN TOWN, WHERE THEY FIT IN THAT PROCESS. THE OTHER THING I THINK WE NEED TO DO, THOUGH, IS REALLY START TALKING TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS OR THE PURCHASING PEOPLE IN EACH DEPARTMENTS AND WHAT DOES LOCAL MEAN TO THEM. BECAUSE YOU AND I KNOW WE HAVE BOTH HAD SOME CONTRACTS COME THROUGH AUDIT WHERE MAYBE THEY WERE NOT HERE IN TEXAS, BUT THEIR VALUES AND PRIORITIES FOR CARING ABOUT EMPLOYEES SPOKE TO OUR VALUES AND PRIORITIES HERE AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DEFINITIONS THAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE IF I HAVE TWO GROUPS COMING OUT OF HOUSTON AND ONE OF THEM DOES REALLY WELL WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES AND BEST PLACE TO WORK IN HOUSTON AND ONE OF THEM IS LIKE NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS, HIGH TURNOVER, I'M GOING TO LEAN TOWARDS IN TERMS OF STATE, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LEAN TOWARDS SOMEBODY THAT DOES A GOOD JOB FOR TEXAS TOO. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO WORK PARALLEL IN THAT AND NEED MORE CONVERSATIONS. I REALLY DO THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO GET THOSE MAPS OF WHAT A MAP OF LOCAL LOOKS LIKE, WHAT SAMSA LOOKS LIKE. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR OFFICES NEED TO START GIVING YOU MORE INPUT AND INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THEY SAY LOCAL WHAT DO THEY THINK? WHEN I THINK LOCAL, I THINK BEXAR COUNTY BECAUSE MY BORDER IS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FLORES AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER COULD YOU EITHER. SO IF THEY SIT RIGHT OUTSIDE OF ME THEY'RE LOCAL TO ME.
AND THAT MAY BE SOME OF THE WAY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THINK.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, LOOK AT THOSE MAPS, LOOK AT THE COUNTY.
[00:40:02]
THE OTHER THING IS I'M GOING TO TEND TO THINK LOCAL MORE VALLEY THAN I DO AUSTIN.SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THAT MAY BE KIND OF HELPING US AS WE GO AND WE USE THAT WHOLE REPORTING SYSTEM OF LOCAL AND THEN LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW IN TERMS OF SUPPLY SA AND THINGS WHAT DO WE DO.
ARE THEY SOUTHERN REGION? ARE THEY NORTHERN REGION? ARE THEY STATE OF TEXAS? AS WE START TO REPORT THAT. BECAUSE HONESTLY WE HAVE TO START THINKING TEAM TEXAS AND START THINKING ABOUT OUR STATE AND GDP AS WE MOVE INTO THESE NEXT PHASES. IF WE COULD DO THAT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND JUST LET'S START WITH WHAT THE CCR ASKS FOR LOCAL AND SAMSA AND DO WE WANT TO MOVE IT TO STATE AND WE CAN DISCUSS THE EWDC. THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHEN IT COMES TO ITEM NUMBER 2, I THINK IF WE COULD GO TO SLIDE 5 ON THAT PRESENTATION.
THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT MENTORSHIPS AND SUMMER JOBS FOR THE AGES 14 THROUGH 24 ACTUALLY REDUCES CRIME. I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY WHO IS WATCHING THIS MEETING. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO REDUCE CRIME IN THIS CITY, GOOD OPPORTUNITY. I THINK THIS IS GREAT TO EXPAND THIS.
EVERY YEAR WE GET INTERNS IN OUR OFFICE THROUGH AMBASSADOR AND ALSO PEOPLE WHO FIND US OUTSIDE OF THE PROGRAM AT SOME OF THOSE YOU MIGHT CONSIDER OPPORTUNITY YOUTH AND THEY'VE DONE EXTREMELY WELL AND LEARN A LOT.
TOTALLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM. IF THAT'S A BUDGET ASK WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT THIS UPCOMING CYCLE. FOR NUMBER 3, I KNOW IN AUDIO] RECOMMENDATION AND START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT GOING BACK TO SOME THINGS HERE, I KNOW BACK IN 2019 WE DID A B SESSION AT PRE-K 4 SA ON THE
EASTSIDE CAMPUS. DID THE CITY PAY FOR THAT? >> I'M PROBABLY THE OG HERE SO I'M CHIME IN. ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS A PART OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. IT WAS AT A CITY FACILITY. IT LOOK SOME LOGISTICAL WORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEET THE STANDARD THAT WE'RE AT TODAY, TO BE CLEAR, RIGHT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF.
>> MUNGIA: YEAH. I THINK WE'VE GOT GREAT PARTNERS OUT THERE.
A LOT OF OUR COLLEGES HAVE GREAT AUDIO SYSTEMS ALREADY EMBEDDED.
SO I THINK -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT FREQUENCY WE'RE LOOKING AT IF WE START WITH ONCE A QUARTER OR SOMETHING JUST TO KIND OF GET THE BALL ROLLING, BUT I JUST WANT US TO BE AWARE THAT MOST OF US HERE HAVE REALLY GOOD PARKING WHEN IT COMES TO DOWNTOWN, RIGHT. AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO PARK IN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET, IT'S NOT ALWAYS CONVENIENT AND ELEVATORS ARE SOMETIMES OUT.
FOR RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 4 AND YOU HAVE TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN AND IT TAKES 30 TO 45 MINUTES TO GET HERE, IT'S NOT EASY TO SHOW UP AND SAY SOMETHING.
DISTRICT 4 USUALLY HAVE VERY, VERY LOW NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC COMMENT, EVEN ON IMPORTANT TAKES, WHEN IT'S HERE AT THIS -- IMPORTANT TOPICS, EVEN WHEN IT'S HERE AT THIS BUILDING. WE BLOCK WALK, WE LET FOLKS KNOW IT'S EASIER TO GET TO.
THERE'S FRONT ROW PARKING FOR FOLKS, IT'S EASILY WALKABLE, BUT AGAIN I THINK WE DO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PEOPLE -- IT'S CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE TO GET HERE DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY WITH CONSTRUCTION AND WHAT IT'S BEEN.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUSHING FOR THIS. SOME OF US REALLY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE THAT. IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER FOLKS TO SEE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DISTRICTS WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN OUR ROADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU CAN SEE THE PERSPECTIVE FROM SOMEBODY IN DISTRICT 4, DISTRICT 2, DISTRICT 3. I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO START THAT PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND ITEM NUMBER 4, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS, GREAT JOB, COUNCILWOMAN. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY DELIVERING ON A PROMISE THAT WE ALWAYS SAY WE'RE GIVING TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND IF YOU TALK TO SMALL BUSINESSES THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE WE DO ENOUGH FOR THEM OR THAT WE'RE DOING ENOUGH LOCAL. I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN THAT WE SHOULD NOT JUST HAVE THE SPEED LIMITS BUT BEXAR COUNTY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE THEIR BUSINESS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THEY ARE A SMALL BUSINESS AND THEY MIGHT LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS ALSO.
THAT'S A LOT OF AGRICULTURE FOLKS WHO DO TREES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT LARGER SCOPE THAN THE CITY LIMIT, BUT I DO SUPPORT THAT. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS,
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
[00:45:01]
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: BACK TO THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES.
HOW YOUNG CAN THE CITY HIRE AT? I THINK IT'S PARKS THAT THEY
CAN HIRE THE YOUNGEST AT 16? >> THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS. THERE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN HR FOR AWHILE. DO YOU KNOW, ALEX?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, WE CAN CONFIRM THAT WHETHER IT'S 16.
I'LL REACH BACK OUT. >> VIAGRAN: JUST BECAUSE DISTRICT 3 HAS PILOTED HIGH SCHOOL -- THEY DO IT FOR FREE, THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY WANT THE EXPERIENCE OR THEY NEED THE OFFICE HOURS. WE'VE HAD HIGH SCHOOL KIDS THERE.
WE NORMALLY REQUIRE THEM TO BE IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND I DON'T KNOW IF 14 IS HIGH SCHOOL STILL. AND THEN AGAIN, WITH THIS PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, WE MAY HAVE 14-YEAR-OLDS THAT -- WE MAY NOT HAVE 14-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR WE MIGHT NOT HAVE 16-YEAR-OLDS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
JUST REALLY THINK THROUGH THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I REALLY DO WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO LOOK AT IF IT WAS COMING TO EWDC IS COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO BE -- WHEN WE PILOT, COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO THIS. SO IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO FIND A WAY TO HIRE IN THIS YOUTH INTERNSHIP PILOT PROGRAM, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.
SO LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITY, WHETHER IT'S TABLING AT EVENTS, HELPING OUT ON DAYS WHERE WE PAY THEM WHERE WE DO OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY, KNOCKING ON DOORS, THINGS LIKE THAT WITH ACS, THIS INCOME FROM THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET ALSO AND WHAT WE HAVE FOR OUR STAFF. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US CAMP A PATH OF EXPECTATION THAT AT LEAST EVERY COUNCILMEMBER HIRES ONE AT LEAST YOUTH INTERNSHIP TO HELP KNOCK ON DOORS, TO HELP YOUTH DO SOMETHING IN THE SUMMER. IT WON'T BE FUN BECAUSE IT WILL BE HOT, BUT WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. JOHN?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, I WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT 16 IS THE YOUNGEST THAT WE CAN HIRE,
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? ANY SONGS MAYBE? ACTUALLY, COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION -- WE'LL DO EACH ITEM SEPARATELY. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
ITEM 2. >> MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION?
>> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ITEM 3. >> MOTION TO MOVE ITEM NUMBER 3 TO -- WHERE ARE WE
MOVING IT TO? >> I'LL HELP YOU, MA'AM. IT'S GOING TO COME BACK HERE
IN 60 DAYS. >> TO MOVE TO GOVERNANCE BACK IN 60 DAYS.
>> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ALL IN FAVOR? LET'S ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, MOVE TO ACCEPT.
>> IT'S THE FULL COUNCIL, I THINK. >> VIAGRAN: MOVE TO ACCEPT
STAFF RECOMMENDATION. >> SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 4?
>> MUNGIA: MOTION TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
>> VIAGRAN: SECOND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ALL IN FAVOR? BUSINESS TO CONSIDER, THE TIME IS NOW 10:55 AND THIS MEETING OF OUR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.