Apr 28, 2026 Comité de Planeación y Desarrollo Comunitario

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>> MUNGIA: THE MEETING OF THE PCDC COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> SIR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MUNGIA: EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE SPANISH TRANSLATION AVAILABLE? YES. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT? APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE. CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL ON OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO WE'LL BEGIN HERE IN A SECOND. EVERY MEMBER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. SO FIRST ON THE LIST IS ANITA KEGLEY.

>> GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR SERVING.

I SUPPORT EXPANDING ACCESS TO HOUSING AND HELPING VOUCHERS HOLDERS FIND STABLE HOMES. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THE ISSUE ISN'T THE GOAL, IT'S HOW THE POLICY DISTRIBUTES THE COST.

RIGHT NOW IT PLACES A DISPROPORTIONATE FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS. RENTAL HOUSING IS A BUSINESS WITH FIXED COSTS SUCH AS MORTGAGES, TAXES, MAINTENANCE AND INSURANCE. WHEN POLICIES REQUIRE BELOW MARKET RENTS OR ADD DELAYS IN COMPLIANCE COSTS, THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT WHETHER A PROPERTY REMAINS VIABLE. IF THE CITY OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS TO ACHIEVE A PUBLIC GOOD, THE COST OF THAT POLICY SHOULD BE SHARED PUBLICLY, NOT CARRIED BY A SMALL GROUP OF HOUSING PROVIDERS. A MORE BALANCED APPROACH WOULD INCLUDE INCENTIVES LIKE TAX CREDITS, RISK MITIGATION FUND, DIRECT SUBSIDIES SO PROPERTY OWNERS CAN PARTICIPATE WITHOUT TAKING A FINANCIAL LOSS, SIGNING BONUSES FOR VOUCHER TENANTS, FASTER INSPECTIONS, PAYMENTS, DAMAGE PROTECTION FUNDS, PARTIAL RENT GUARANTEES. IF POLICIES MAKE IT FINANCIALLY UNSUSTAINABLE TO OPERATE RENTAL HOUSING, THE LIKELY RESULT IS FEWER UNITS, HIGHER RENTS OVERALL OR OWNERS EXITING THE MARKETS, OUTCOMES THAT WORK AGAINST THE CITY'S GOALS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A POLICY THAT WORKS BOTH FOR TENANTS AND HOUSING PROVIDERS, MANDATING PARTICIPATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION EFFECTIVELY TURNS PRIVATE HOUSING PROVIDERS INTO UNPAID PARTNERS IN A PUBLIC PROGRAM. THAT APPROACH RISK REDUCES SUPPLY RATHER THAN EXPANDING ACCESS. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS MARTHA SPINX. >>> GOOD MORNING, I'M A COLONEL IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, RETIRED. I KNOW THAT HOUSING IS THE MOST IMPACT OF THE FACTOR IN SECURING PEOPLE UNDER STRESS.

I KNEW THAT WHEN I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF SOLDIER AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. I KNEW THAT WHEN I WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NON-PROFIT IN INNER CITY LOS ANGELES AND I KNEW THAT WHEN I WROTE GRANT PROPOSALS FOR A HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM FOR VETERANS. THE EVIDENCE IS SOLID: FIX HOUSING AND YOU WILL MINIMIZE MANY OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS. WE TELL THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHEN THEY COME FOR TRAINING HERE IN MILITARY CITY AH THAT THEY'RE TOUGH AND STRONG AND THEY'LL KEEP THE OTHER 99% OF US SAFE.

BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATED FROM TRAINING, THEY BELIEVE THAT.

WE SEE THEM WHEN THEY GRADUATE DOWN ON THE RIVERWALK WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND WE REMIND THEM THAT SAN ANTONIO IS MILITARY CITY USA.

NOW FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS WHEN THE SHINY NEW FACES NOW SHOW THE EXPERIENCE OF VETERANS. MOST ROTATE ALL THE MILITARY INTO WHAT WE WOULD CALL A NORMAL LIFE, BUT SOME COME HOME DEEPLY WOUNDED PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY FROM

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NOW WE TREAT OUR HEROES AS BEGGARS. THEY DON'T DESERVE ASSISTANCE OR THEY AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO LIVE IN NICE PLACES OR IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE OR CONVENIENT FOR LANDLORDS WHO ARE NOT SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT ARE VERY LARGE COMPLEXES THAT PROBABLY DON'T EVEN SHOW A BLIP ON THEIR BUDGET WHEN THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF FINANCING WITH THE GOVERNMENT. MAYBE THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER THIS SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT -- MAYBE THEY WHICH ARE THIS A SMALL OR INSIGNIFICANT ISSUE, GIVEN THE OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU MUST DEAL WITH.

I UNDERSTAND 800 VETERANS ARE POTENTIALLY IMPACTED AND ONLY ONE PERCENT OF RENTALS.

[BUZZER]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

UP NEXT IS TONY FUENTES. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TONY FUENTES.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECT EITHER OF THE SAN ANTONIO COALITION FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES. AND ME AND MY TEAM ARE HERE TO SUPPORT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST VETERANS. LANDLORDS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DENY VETERANS WHO USE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS. THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO ADVANCE THIS ORDINANCE TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST OUR VETERANS.

WHO USE THESE VOUCHERS. AND OUR ORGANIZATION IS SOLDIERS BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE HELP VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS. IN THEIR LAST 16 MONTHS, WE'VE HELPED ALMOST 300 VETERANS THAT HAVE COME TO US THAT NEED SUPPORT FOR HOUSING.

WE GIVE THEM SEVEN DAYS. WE TRY TO GIVE THEM THAT TIME TO BE ABLE TO USE THESE VOUCHERS TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO APARTMENTS TO HELP THEM FURTHER FOR MORE STABLE HOUSING. AND YOU KNOW, WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO.

AND WE SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE NEED TO GIVE THE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES THE ABILITY TO GET STABLE HOUSING. A THIRD OF THE VETERANS THAT WE HELPED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS OR LAST YEAR WAS 500. HALF OF THOSE WERE FEMALE VETERANS SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

SO WE NEED TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FINDING TOO, AND THIS IS KIND OF GOING A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE LINE, IS THE PROGRAM FOR THE HUD VOUCHERS IS GREAT, BUT THE PROCESS TOO LONG. THAT'S WHY WE CREATED THE OPERATION EMERGENCY NEED BECAUSE VETERANS NEED THAT SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY, NOT THREE WEEKS OR A MONTH ON THE ROAD. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT -- ALSO THAT WE LOOK AND TRY TO STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS. I KNOW LANDLORDS HAVE A RIGHT TO SCREEN THESE VETERANS THAT ARE COMING IN THERE TO GET THEM IN THERE SO THEY ARE LEGITIMATE AND ABLE TO BE THERE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO LOOK AT THAT.

WE'RE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE HELPED SO MANY VETERANS THAT ARE IN NEED WITH AN IMMEDIATE NEED AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND MILITARY CITY USA, YES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

EVEN MORE WORK WITH THIS ORDINANCE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

EVERYONE AND -- IT IS MY HONOR TO BE HERE REPRESENTING OUR COALITION I AM A PROUD COMBAT VETERAN WHO DID TWO TOURS AS A IN VIETNAM.

WE TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO. AS A COMBAT MEDIC WE DIDN'T LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND.

WE DO TO THESE VETERANS THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE STRUGGLING THAT WE DO OUR

BEST NOT TO GO UNHEARD. THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

UP NEXT IS HUH NEXT IS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF UNHOUSED VETERANS. I DON'T WANT TO THROW ANY NUMBERS AT YOU THIS MORNING. YOU GET PLENTY OF THOSE. I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A RETIRED SOCIAL WORKER WORKING IN THE MANAGE DEPARTMENT AT THE VA HERE IN

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MANY APPLY FOR HUD VOUCHERS. THEY WERE ELIGIBLE AT THE TIME BASED ON INCOME REQUIREMENTS, BUT IF YOU LIVE ON S.S.I., I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LATEST NUMBERS ARE AS FAR AS S.S.I. IS CONCERNED, BUT AT THE TIME THAT I WAS WORKING IT WAS LESS THAN $1,000 A MONTH. SO ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT IS EXPECTED TO GO TOWARDS RENT.

MANY OF THESE VETERANS COULD NOT LIVE ON SIX OR SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, SO THEY CHOSE TO WALK AWAY. THAT'S A PROBLEM. THEY REHAPS ON THEIR PROBLEMS, RETURN TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, STABILIZE, HAPPENS ALL OVER AGAIN. IT'S A REVOLVING DOOR. IN 2024 THE RULES WERE CHANGED THAT ALLOWED DISABILITY PAYMENTS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VETERANS FOR THE HOUSING VOUCHER. WITH THIS VETERANS, THOSE THAT ARE RECEIVING THOSE DISABILITY PAYMENTS, THAT ARE NOW IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION FINANCIALLY TO APPLY FOR THESE VOUCHERS. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE HOUSING IN ORDER TO GET STABILIZED PERMANENTLY. IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT IF YOU'RE UNHOUSED TO FIND A JOB, TO STICK TO YOUR TREATMENT PLAN. IT IS JUST SO VERY DIFFICULT. SO HOUSING IS THE FIRST THING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER FOR THESE VETERANS TO HELP THEM REGAIN THEIR FOOTING AND BECOME HOPEFULLY EMPLOYED. SO WITH THIS I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ANY LANDLORD OUT THERE TO CONSIDER THIS WHEN THEY MAY BE FEELING THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD RISK FOR ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I GET THAT.

BUT WITH MORE INCOME I REALLY STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SEE MORE VETERANS THAT SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. MARTIN GUTIERREZ. >>> GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARTIN AND I SERVE AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY FOR THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS.

WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 13,000 LICENSED REALTORS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY AND SOUTH TEXAS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.

FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS ON VETERANS. WE ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL, ENSURING THAT THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS STRONGLY SUPPORTS OUR VETERANS AND OUR MEMBERS WORK EVERYDAY TO HELP VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FIND A PLACE TO CALL HOME. AS YOU CONSIDER THIS ITEM WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE DISCUSSION BE FOCUSED ON A SOLUTION TO ENSURE OUR VETERANS HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. THE DATA PROVIDED TO YOU BY CITY STAFF SHOWS LOCALLY APPROXIMATELY 95% OF HASH VOUCHERS AND 93% OF HUD VOUCHERS ARE SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED BY HOUSING PROVIDERS. WHILE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME VETERANS DO FACE CHALLENGES FINDING HOUSING, WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE EFFORTS WITH THE FIVE AND SEVEN PERCENT WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO TO FIND A HOME.

WE BELIEVE A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH WILL NOT EFFECTIVELY FIX THOSE GAPS AND HAVE CONSEQUENCES THAT REDUCE HOUSING OPTIONS.

INSTEAD WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO FOCUS ON A TARGET SOLUTION ORIENTED STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDES STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS, OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS TO CONNECT VETERANS WITH AVAILABLE HOUSING.

IT ALSO INCLUDES INVESTING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS TO WORK WITH VETERANS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE HOUSING PROCESS. WE ALSO SUPPORT INCENTIVE- INCENTIVE-BASED APPROACHES, WHICH ENCOURAGES GREATER PARTICIPATION IN VOUCHER PROGRAMS THAT EXPANDS HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. OUR MEMBERS ARE ALSO HELD TO STRICT FAIR HOUSING LAWS AND CODE OF ETHICS THAT DOES NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ALL

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WE STAND READY TO BE A PARTNER IN THAT EFFORT AND WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

UP NEXT IS BRANDON RODRIGUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, ALL.

MY NAME IS BRANDON. I'M THE SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM OF BEXAR COUNTY. I'M ALSO AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY TRAINING INSTRUCTOR. WHILE MY POSITION AS AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER IS NOT ENDORSED OR THE COMMENTS I'M MAKING TODAY ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE DODD, I BELIEVE MY STATUS IS BRINGING THE KNOWN TO THE UNKNOWN IN THIS DISCUSSION.

AS PART OF THE SEPARATION PROCESS, IT IS DODD MANDATED THAT SERVICE MEMBERS ATTEND AN INITIAL COUNSELING PREVIOUSING, TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT'S MANDATORY BEFORE THEY CAN BE DISCHARMED. I AM RETIRING FROM ACTIVE DUTY THIS YEAR IN JULY, AND I JUST ATTENDED MY PRE-SEPARATION BRIEFING ON 14 APRIL, AND TO MY SURPRISE THEY'RE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING HUD BASH IN THOSE BRIEFINGS NOW. THE TOTAL OF FOUR THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IN MY VEER THEY WERE NOT BEING DISCUSSED AT ALL. I LEARNED THAT SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE AT RISK OR WILL BE HOMELESS ARE IDENTIFIED DURING THOSE INITIAL COUNSELING BRIEFINGS EARLY ON AND IN AN EFFORT TO BE ADDING TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION. IN THE AIR FORCE WE HAVE A SAYING, ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT.

IT EFFECTIVELY MEANS THAT WE DO NOT DO ANYTHING FOR OURSELVES.

WE DO NOT ACT FOR OURSELVES. WE HAVE EACH OTHERS' BACKS. I AM NOT AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS, BUT SERVICE MEMBERS SERVING ALONGSIDE ME RIGHT NOW ARE.

AND THAT IS WHY I AM STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO PROTECT ALL OF THOSE MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT. TO SAVE TIME MY QUESTION IS RHETORICAL AND JUST MEANT FOR FOOD FOR THOUGHT. NOT AN ATTACK.

WHY WOULD MILITARY CITY USA NOT ALIGN WITH THE DODD'S IN THIS MANNER TO SHERIFFLY COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AMONG THE VETERANS POPULATION OF SAN ANTONIO.

WE GAVE UP OUR RIGHTS TO PROTECT OTHERS AND AT LEADERSHIP EVERY LEVEL TO INCLUDE TODAY. ONE TEAM ONE FIGHT ISN'T JUST A SAYING.

IT IS A COMMITMENT TO NEVER LEAVE AN AIRMAN, SOLDIER, MARINE OR GUARDIAN BEHIND.

PLEASE DO NOT THANK ME FOR MY SERVICE, IN EXCHANGE PLEASE EXERCISE THE OPPORTUNITIES WE SAFEGUARDED FOR YOU TO LEAD THIS CITY, HAVE OUR BACKS, BE WING MEN TO SAN ANTONIO'S HOMELESS VETERANS. PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE.

THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS THERESA BROWN.

>> I AM THE DAUGHTER OF AN ARMY VETERAN, GRANDDAUGHTER OF AIR FORCE, STEPDAUGHTER OF MARINES. I'M ALSO A PROPERTY MANAGER SO I'M GOING TO GIVE A DIFFERENT CONTEXT ON THIS. AS A PROPERTY MANAGER WE ARE NOT AGAINST VASH.

MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS, WE DO ACCEPT SECTION 8. WHEN WE APPROACH OUR OWNERS TO ASK THEM IF THEY WILL ACCEPT SECTION 8, BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY DECISION, IT IS THE HOMEOWNER. THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS THEY DON'T WANT IT BECAUSE OF THE STIGMAS OF SECTION 8. ALSO, IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET THEIR MONEY.

THREE-FOURTHS OF MY PROPERTIES -- I HAVE ABOUT 158 THAT I MANAGE.

THREE-FOURTHS OF THEM ARE EITHER ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY OR THEY ARE VETERANS.

AND THE WAY Y'ALL HAVE IT -- THE WAY THIS IS BEING PRESENTED NOW, I ASK Y'ALL TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT BECAUSE IF IT GOES FORWARD IN THE WAY IT'S BEING PRESENTED NOW, IT WILL ALSO HURT VETERANS. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH SECTION 8 AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST FOR OUR VETERANS BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY EVER TURNING AWAY A VETERAN. THIS IS MILITARY CITY. THAT'S ALL I KNEW GROWING UP UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 30 WHEN MY EX-HUSBAND GOT OUT OF THE MILITARY.

SO YOU CUT ME. >> BLEED GREEN, ARMY GREEN. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT 6 AS A WHOLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE ACTIVE DUTY VETERANS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN COUNTRY.

I'M MANAGING THEIR HOUSE, I HAVE TO ACCEPT VASH WHEN THIS OWNER DID NOT WANT TO.

I HAVE AN OWNER NOW ABOUT TO GO INTO FORECLOSURE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WAITING ON MONEY FROM SECTION 8. I'M NOT SAYING TO TURN THIS DOWN, I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE. NO ONE IS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST VETERANS.

WE LOVE OUR VETERANS. I HAVE OWNERS WHO ACCEPT SECTION 8.

I DON'T ASK IF A VASH VOUCHER, I DON'T ASK WHAT IT IS.

IF THE OWNERS ARE ACCEPTING IT, THEY'RE ACCEPTING IT. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT

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HOMELESSNESS AS A WHOLE IS A PROBLEM IN THIS CITY AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, INCLUDING OUR VETERANS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT THE

WHOLE PICTURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

LAUREN? >> GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND GOOD MORNING TO MY FELLOW CITIZENS.

I AM A 28 YEAR VETERAN BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO. SEVEN YEARS I WORKED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C. RUNNING A FEDERAL AGENCY.

I SERVE AS THE LULAC VICE-PRESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. FORT WORTH ALREADY HAS AN ORDINANCE THAT'S WORKED WELL FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, OKAY.

THEY'RE A MUNICIPALITY LIKE WE ARE, THEY HAVE MILITARY BASES, THEY HAVE VETERANS LIKE WE DO IN TARRANT COUNTY. SO WE SHOULD JUST KEEP IT SIMPLE AND LOOK AT THEIRS AND EITHER USE THAT ORDINANCE OR BETTER.

NOW, THE VICE-PRESIDENT FROM SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS JUST SAID THEY ARE DISCRIMINATING. THEY ONLY SERVE 93-95%. IT SHOULD BE 100% IN MILITARY CITY USA. THESE PEOPLE 100% SERVE OUR COUNTRY.

ONE PERCENT. THE OTHER 99% CAN SACRIFICE A LITTLE BIT. IT'S LIKE A DOCTOR.

WHEN YOU USE YOUR TRICARE MILITARY INSURANCE IT TAKES PAPERWORK AND TAKES AWHILE TO GET REIMBURSED. IT'S THE SAME THING. YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY'RE PROTECTING YOUR FREEDOM AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE MILITARY CITY USA.

WE SUPPORT OUR MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I WANT TO BRING THIS UP IN A POSITIVE WAY. THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REAL THINK HAS A PAC AND THEY RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT ELECTIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR ADVOCATE FOR THEIR INTERESTS. IT EMPOWERS REALTORS TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES DEDICATED TO PROTECT PRIVATE HOME RIGHTS AND STRENGTHEN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

I WON'T MENTION ANY NAMES, BUT ONE PERSON ON THIS COMMITTEE RECEIVED $1,500, $2,000, ANOTHER $1,500, ANOTHER ONE $500 AND ONE POOR PERSON, GALVAN, SAID HE HADN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING, ACCORDING TO THE PAPERWORK SINCE 2025.

IT SAYS THAT YOU'RE HERE TO LOOK AT THEIR INTERESTS, OKAY.

I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE HAVE MANY MORE VETERANS AND MILITARY AND FAMILY MEMBERS HERE. WE WANT TO LOOK AT OUR INTERESTS SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. LET'S HAVE A TRIFECTA RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REAL THINK, SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AGAIN, WE'RE MILITARY CITY USA.

AND ONE LAST THING IS WE JUST LOST OUR ARMY NORTH, ARMY SOUTHSIDE.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LOOKS AT WHO THEY'RE GOING TO CUT THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE, NOT JUST HOW WE SUPPORT THE ACTIVE DUTY, BUT ALSO OUR MILITARY AND VETERANS. IF WE START THIS WAY BY NOT HAVING AN ORDINANCE, THOSE ARE MINOR THINGS, BUT THEY SAY SAN ANTONIO ISN'T REALLY SUPPORTING THE VETERANS. WHY SHOULD WE SUPPORT THE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE A TEAM EFFORT IN MILITARY CITY USA.

AGAIN, SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTY, SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, LET'S OPEN UP YOUR ARMS AND SAY HEY, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT'S THE PATRIOTIC THING TO DO. LET'S GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

TIME. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. LARISSA MARTINEZ.

>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS LARISSA -- [LAUGHTER]. I WORE MY HEELS TODAY.

MY NAME IS LARISSA MARTINEZ AND I AM THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CIRCLE OF ARMS, A GRASSROOTS LOCAL NON-PROFIT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I'M ALSO A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN. MY HUSBAND IS AN ARMY VETERAN AND I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS FULL OF MILITARY SERVICE.

EVERYDAY WE ARE ON THE GROUND, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, HELPING VETERANS ACCESS HOUSING OPTIONS. LET ME BE CLEAR, HOUSING IS NOT A LUXURY.

IT'S A BASIC NEED. YET MANY OF OUR VETERANS, WE SERVE DESPITE HAVING THE HOUSING VOUCHER, ARE STILL BEING DENIED SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PAY.

THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AND STILL BEING TOLD NO.

GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO AT LEAST GET THROUGH THE DOOR. NOTHING IS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THE LANDLORDS AS FAR AS CREDIT CHECKS, BACKGROUND CHECKS.

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IF THERE ARE ISSUES WITH DELAYS OR PAYMENTS, THEN FIX THE SYSTEM.

STREAMLINE INSPECTIONS, ENSURE TIMELY, RELIABLE PAYMENTS, CUT THE RED TAPE.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO SET A CLEAR STANDARD.

HOUSING DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE APPLICANT, NOT THE SOURCE OF INCOME.

LET'S CUT THE STEREOTYPE. ONE PERSON IS NOT BETTER THAN ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY USE A VOUCHER FOR HOUSING. THIS POLICY DOES NOT STOP A LANDLORD'S RIGHT TO SCREEN TENANTS, BUT ENSURES THAT PERSONAL PREFERENCE IS NOT A BARRIER FOR SOMEONE WHO IS OTHERWISE QUALIFIED. AND IF LANDLORDS ARE RECEIVING TAX BENEFITS, CITY SUPPORT, THERE MUST ALSO BE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. ACCESS TO HOUSING SHOULD ALIGN WITH THE WITH FIRENESS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. WE CAN ALSO MEET LANDLORDS HALFWAY, PROVIDE RISK MITIGATION FUNDS, STREAMLINE PROCESS AND CREATE CLEAR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS. THERE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT BOTH TENANTS WITHOUT LEAVING VETERANS BEHIND, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHEN A VETERAN IS DENIED HOUSING, THAT BURDEN DOESN'T DISAPPEAR, IT SHIFTS.

IT SHIFTS INTO SMALL GRASSROOT NON-PROFITS LIKE MYSELF, LIKE SAN ANTONIO VETERANS COALITION, AND MANY OTHERS DOING THE WORK. BECAUSE WE ARE OPERATING WITH LIMITED FUNDING, LIMITED VOLUNTEERS AND MINIMAL SUPPORT, DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP VETERANS OFF THE STREET. BUT THE TRUTH IS WE ARE REACHING OUR LIMITS. [BUZZER]. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. HARRY ROBINSON. >> I'D LIKE TO THINK THIS COMMITTEE FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY AS A COMMUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.

NEXT MONTH WE RECOGNIZE MOTHER'S DAY, CINCO DE MAYO, AND IT'S ALSO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. BUT I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT STANDS OUT FOR ME AS A VETERAN. IT'S TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED IN ACTIVE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY, MEMORIAL DAY. LAST WEEK DURING THE MAYOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE I EMPHASIZED HOW WE AND MANY OTHER MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS NATION AND CURRENTLY ARE IN HARM'S WAY, ON DUTY AROUND THE WORLD IN SERVICE OF OUR NATION. 13 AMERICANS EPIC 30. MORE THAN 30 DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS, VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, STOOD HERE ON THESE STEPS AND SUPPORTED THE MAYOR'S ORDINANCE.

AGAIN, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS ISSUE IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME.

MY FAMILY GOT A HAND UP THROUGH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. BECAUSE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT SUPPORT, THE ASSISTANCE WE RECEIVED DIDN'T JUST CHANGE MY LIFE, IT INSPIRED ME TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY FOR 30 YEARS. THIS ORDINANCE HAD NO BUDGET IMPACT. IT HAS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT, IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY ANOTHER CITY IN THIS STATE. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICS BEHIND THIS ORDINANCE. VERY FEW PEOPLE SITTING HERE ON THIS COMMITTEE HAVE SERVED THEIR MILITARY. SO LET'S HIGHLIGHT WHAT THAT MEANS. THEY LACK FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ON DEPLOYMENT OR TO BE IN UNIFORM AND THEY HAVE TRULY NEVER HAD ANY SKIN IN THE GAME. INSTEAD WE RELY ON HALFTIME ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK PERSPECTIVES TO INFLUENCE A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THIS IS CLEAR, IT'S A COMMON SENSE CHOICE. SO I ASK, SOMEONE ON THIS COMMITTEE OR SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM, TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS ORDINANCE HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE FOR A VOTE? OR SHOULD WE AS VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AS A COMMUNITY AND MILITARY CITY USA CONCLUDE THAT BUSINESSES, OPTIONS THAT PROSPERED ON THE BACKS OF OUR VETERANS, NOW STAND IN OPPOSITION TO AN ORDINANCE BECAUSE OUR VETERANS SERVICE IS NO LONGER VALUED? I ENCOURAGE EVERY CITIZEN TO HAVE THEIR BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT ASK THE QUESTION OF WHY THIS ORDINANCE HAS NOT PASSED. I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS COMMITTEE AND EVERYONE HERE WHO IS STANDING FIRM WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND I ASK THIS COMMITTEE WHY THE CITY COUNCIL OF FORT WORTH CAN APPROVE AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS, BUT WE CAN'T HERE IN MILITARY CITY

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[BUZZER]. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS CYNTHIA GARCIA.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. TO ADDRESS THIS ORDINANCE, WE'VE HAD THIS IN THE WORKS FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS, IF NOT MORE, THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ALL THE STATS ON IT. WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THIS TODAY AND MOVE IT ON. IT'S A CRITICAL ASSUMPTION, WE THINK WHERE VETERANS LIVE NOW IS EXACTLY WHERE THEY LIVE IF THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE.

SOME HAVE NOT, THEY'VE BEEN TOLD WHERE THEY CAN GO. WHERE THEY'RE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED, THEY GO WHERE THERE'S AN OPENING. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WHERE THEY WANT TO BE. TAKEN WITH THIS, IF THEY PASS THIS ORDINANCE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE AND DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FOR THEMSELVES, MAKE THEM CLOSER TO THE VA HOSPITAL, ET CETERA. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE REASON WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PASS THIS IS WHILE WE ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THERE'S SECTION 8 HOUSING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THOSE VOUCHS ARE NOT ACCEPTED EVERYWHERE IS TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE. THE STATE HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM. WHY WOULD WE NOT. AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST ANYONE AND EVERYONE? NOTHING. IT'S NOT COSTING ANYONE AN EXTRA PENNY TO PASS THIS AT ALL. IT'S NOT TAKING AWAY THE RIGHTS OF THE LANDLORDS. IT'S JUST SAYING PLEASE ACCEPT VASH VOUCHERS.

YOU CAN SAY THE DIFFERENT THINGS, IF I DON'T PASS FOR CREDIT, FOR THE REASON OF MY RENTERS, HOWEVER I TREATED THE APARTMENTS, YOU CAN CAN BE DENIED FOR ANY OTHER REASON, BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE VASH VOUCHER. SO WE'RE ASKING TODAY THAT YOU DO THIS AND PASS THIS ORDINANCE. FORT WORTH HAS ALREADY DONE IT, AS WAS ALREADY MENTIONED. THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY YOU WOULDN'T. AND IN TERMS OF JUST SO YOU KNOW THE VA -- SOUTH TEXAS VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SUPPORTS MORE HOUSING UNITS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ACCEPT VOUCHERS SO VETERANS IN NEED ARE ABLE TO SECURE SAFE LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS.

IF THEY CAN DO THAT AND THEY'RE BEHIND THAT, WHY WOULDN'T WE BE BEHIND THAT? WHY WOULDN'T YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND WHY WOULDN'T YOU PUSH THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH? IT'S NOT COSTING ANYONE ANYTHING AND IT GOING TO HELP ALL OF OUR VETERANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE STILL ON THE STREETS OR THAT ARE LIVING IN HOMES OR AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

IN ADDITION, SHOULD YOU WANT IT, I ALSO HAVE A LETTER FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE RAY LOPEZ, JOSIE GARCIA. THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

AND I HAVE COPIES IF ANYONE NEEDS IT SO THAT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS WELL. IT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR

YOUR TIME. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JOHNNIE GARCIA.

>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR MUNGIA AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOHNNIE GARCIA, LIFELONG PUBLIC SERVANT WITH THE FAMILY TREE OF MILITARY VETERANS.

AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR VETERANS. WE ARE PROUD TO CALL OURSELVES MILITARY CITY USA, BUT RIGHT NOW TOO MANY VETERANS ARE BEING TOLD THEY'RE NOT WELCOME.

NOT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY, BUT BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PAY. THAT'S WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO. HUD VASH IS NOT A HOT, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP -- IS NOT A HANDOUT, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP. THE LANDLORD GETS PAID ON TIME.

IT IS STABLE, IT IS STRUCTURED, AND IT WORKS. AND HERE THE REALITY, THIS ORDINANCE IMPACTS A SMALL GROUP, VIEWER THAN 800 VETERANS IN A CITY WITH MORE THAN 250,000 RENTAL UNITS THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. WHILE THESE VOUCHERS CAN

[00:35:03]

AND IN SAN ANTONIO, LOCATION MATTERS. WE ALREADY KNOW THERE IS A NEAR 20-YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP IN OUR CITY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

WE KNOW ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION AND OPPORTUNITY IS NOT EQUAL, ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90. SO WHEN WE LIMIT WHERE VETERANS CAN LIVE, WE'RE NOT JUST LIMITING HOUSING, WE'RE LIMITING ACCESS TO CARE, STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY. WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO CLOSE THE GAP, NOT REINFORCE IT. AND LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THE MOMENT WE'RE IN, FAMILIES ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING OUR VETERANS, ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE OF RISING COSTS. GROCERIES COST MORE, GAS COSTS MORE, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS COST MORE. FOR VETERANS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES, THOSE PRESSURES HIT EVEN HARDER. SO THE QUESTION BECOMES WHY WOULD WE MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO ACCESS STABLE HOUSING WHEN THEY'VE ALREADY DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT? IF A VETERAN QUALIFIES, IF THEY CAN PAY THEIR PORTION, IF THE RENT IS GUARANTEED, WHY ARE WE TELLING THEM NO? THIS ISN'T ABOUT OVERREGULATION, IT'S ABOUT REMOVING A BARRIER THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND LET'S BE CLEAR, TEXAS LAW ALREADY ALLOWS US TO ACT.

CITIES LIKE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH HAVE ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO PROTECT VETERANS FROM THIS KIND OF DISCRIMINATION AND WHAT SAN ANTONIO'S CONSIDERING TODAY IS NOT SOME RADICAL IDEA. IT MIRRORS A BROADER EFFORT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THROUGH THE FAIR HOUSING IMPROVEMENT ACT WHICH WOULD PROTECT VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND VOUCHER HOLDERS FROM BEING DENIED HOUSING SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PAY RENT. UNTIL CONGRESS GETS DONE, CITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN TEXAS LAW CLEARLY GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS.

OUR VETERANS DIDN'T SERVE THIS COUNTRY TO COME HOME AND BE TOLD WHERE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO LIVE. WE NEED TO BREAK THIS QUIET ECONOMIC BARRIER THAT SAYS YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO SERVE, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO LIVE HERE.

PASSING THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT JUST POLICY, IT'S PRINCIPLE.

IT'S ABOUT DIGNITY. IT'S ABOUT FAIRNESS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU OUR NATION AS MILITARY CITY USA. THANK YOU.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. MYRA CARRIER. >> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. BEFORE I BEGIN I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS: A VETERAN IN SAN ANTONIO WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY FINALLY QUALIFIES FOR HOUSING.

THEY FIND A PLACE NEAR AUDIE MURPHY, CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAKE THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND CLOSE ENOUGH TO STAY CONNECTED TO THEIR CARE, THEIR ROUTINE AND THEIR STABILITY.

THEY START PLANNING THEIR NEXT STEPS, HOW TO GET TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS, HOW TO READ BILLS, HOW THEY WILL FINALLY HAVE SOME CONSISTENCY AGAIN.

THEN THEY GET THE CALL AND THEY'RE TOLD THAT WE DON'T ACCEPT VOUCHERS.

EVEN THOUGH THE RENT IS GUARANTEED, DESPITE HAVING SUPPORT THEY'VE EARNED.

MY NAME IS MIRANDA, A 10 YEAR ARMY VETERAN, A COMMUNITY LEADER AND I WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY LISTENING TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS AND WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THIS: VETERANS ARE NOT JUST STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING, THEY'RE BEING SHUT OUT OF IT.

IN MILITARY CITY USA, THEY'RE STILL HEARING, WE DON'T ACCEPT SOUTH KOREAS.

ACROSS OUR CITY THE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS PROVIDE ALL TYPES OF SUPPORT, BUT WHEN VETERANS ARE DENIED HOUSING THEY'RE PUSHED FURTHER FROM THAT CARE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT. SO WHAT HAPPENS? THEY LOSE PROXIMITY TO DOCTORS, THEY LOSE ACCESS TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND LOSE STABILITY. THIS IS NOT JUST A HOUSING ISSUE, IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE.

OUR CITY. THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

MEANWHILE WE HAVE OVER 250,000 RENTAL UNITS AND FEWER THAN 800 VETERANS RELYING ON THESE VOUCHERS. IT'S NOT ABOUT SUPPLY, IT'S ABOUT ACCESS.

THIS AFFECTS A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE MARKET, BUT AFFECTS MANY VETERANS.

CITIES LIKE FORT WORTH HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THIS STEP, SHOWING IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE HOUSING MARKET. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ACT. OUR VETERANS HAVE ALREADY FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY.

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIGHT FOR A PLACE TO LIVE IN.

I ASK YOU TO STAND WITH VETERANS AND MOVE THIS ORDINANCE FORWARD.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. ROBERT M. >> MY NAME IS ROBERT, I'M A RETIRED U.S. ARMY OFFICER, WEST POINT GRADUATE HERE TO COMMENT ON NUMBER 5 ON THE

[00:40:05]

I TAKE IT FOR GRANTED WE SHARE A COMMON GROUND, EVEN THOSE LEERY OF THE ORDINANCE WANTS VETERANS HOUSED AND ABLE TO BUILD A STABLE LIFE HERE IN MILITARY CITY USA.

SO THE QUESTION ON OUR MINDS HAS NEVER BEEN WHETHER VETERANS DESERVE HOUSING -- [BUZZER]. THE QUESTION IS REALLY WHO SHOULD EXPECT TO BEAR THE COST OF ENSURING THAT VETERANS CAN FAIRLY ACCESS THAT HOUSING? BUT NO POLICY IS WITHOUT TRADE-OFFS. THAT POLICY IS EASY TO OVERLOOK PRECISELY BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO OBVIOUS, BUT IT MATTERS HERE.

VETERANS ARE HANDED THE HUD VASH VOUCHER PROGRAM HAS IT EXISTS.

ITS ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, ITS PAYMENT TIMELINES AND ITS LIMITATIONS. THEY CAN'T CHANGE IT ON THEIR OWN.

WHAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN DETERMINE IS WHETHER VETERANS CARRY THAT BURDEN ALONE OR WHETHER PROPERTY OWNERS, FELLOW RESIDENTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STEP UP TO SHARE IT. IF THE VOUCHERS ARE A HEADACHE, APARTMENT ASSOCIATIONS CAN JOIN VETERANS ADVOCACY GROUP IN PRESSING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS AND OUR STATE TO FIX SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. THAT IS THE PLACE FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE VOUCHERS.

THE PLACE WHERE WE SHOULD NOT OF OUR VETERANS. THE QUESTION THIS COMMISSION MUST HELP ANSWER IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. DO THE SACRIFICES OF THESE VETERANS WARRANT SOME SACRIFICE IN RETURN FROM US? OR DOES THE INCONVENIENCE OR BUSINESS RISK OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAM'S FLAWS MAKE SHARED SACRIFICE TOO DEAR A COST FOR US TO BEAR? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS CLEAR. I RESPECTFULLY URGE THIS COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. IRENE WHITE. >> GOOD MORNING.

MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS IRENE WHITE.

I AM THE WIFE OF A PROUD AIR FORCE VETERAN, BUT WORKING AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WITH EMPOWER HOUSE SA HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. EMPOWERHOUSE SEEKS TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITY THROUGH WOMEN AND GIRLS OF COLOR WHILE SERVING ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH ACCESS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY. IN THAT VEIN, I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT ADDING THE SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS TO SAN ANTONIO HOUSING POLICIES, SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT VETERANS WHO RELY ON HOUSING VOUCHERS OR FIXED BENEFITS ARE NOT SHUT OUT OF THE RENTAL MARKET. RIGHT NOW MANY VETERANS DO EVERYTHING YOU ASK THEM.

THEY SECURE A HOUSING HAVE VOUCHER, RECEIVE VA BENEFITS LIKE HUD VASH OR DISABLE INCOME. THEY SHOW UP READY TO LEASE WITH RENT LARGELY GUARANTEED. AND STILL THEY CAN HEAR WE DON'T ACCEPT VOUCHERS.

THAT IS NOT A CREDIT ISSUE, BACKGROUND ISSUE OR A BEHAVIOR ISSUE.

IT'S A POLICY CHOICE THAT CLOSES THE DOOR ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY EARNED STABILITY FOR THEIR SERVICE. THIS MATTERS BECAUSE VETERANS ARE OVERREPRESENTED AMONG THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE HAPPEN TO BE WOMEN. WE'VE MADE REAL PROGRESS AS A COMMUNITY, BUT PROGRESS STALLS WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T USE THE VERY TOOLS DESIGNED TO HOUSE THEM.

A VOUCHER THAT CAN'T BE USED IS NOT A SOLUTION, IT'S A DELAY AND OFTEN A RETURN TO A CRISIS. SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS ARE A PRACTICAL PIECE.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO LOWER STANDARDS, THEY SIMPLY SAY IF RENT IS LEGALLY PAID -- IF RENT IS PAID LEGALLY AND RELIABLY, WHETHER BY WAGES, VA BENEFITS OR A VOUCHER, IT MUST BE CONSIDERED. CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ADOPTED THESE PROTECTIONS AND SEEN BETTER VOUCHER UTILIZATION, FASTER LEASE-UPS AND REDUCED RETURNS TO HOMELESSNESS. FOR LANDLORDS THIS IS NOT A BURDEN, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. VOUCHER PROGRAMS PROVIDE CONSISTENT PAYMENTS AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT REDUCE RISK. CLEAR LOCAL POLICY AUDIO] ACROSS THE MARKET SO EXPECTATIONS ARE FAIR AND PREDICTABLE.

[00:45:04]

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS WAYNE -- I CAN'T SEE THE WRITING.

MARIONESE. >> MY NAME IS WAYNE AND I'M THE OWNER OF A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY HERE IN TOWN HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL THE VETERANS AND THE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS THAT WERE PROUD TO SERVE.

ROUGHLY OVER 55% OF THE HOMES THAT I CURRENTLY MANAGE IN NORTHWEST, WEST AND NORTH CENTRAL BEXAR COUNTY ARE OWNED BY ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS THAT HAD TO RELOCATE OUT OF THE AREA. TODAY AS WE SPEAK ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL, THE GREATEST CONCERN ISN'T SO MUCH ABOUT THE SOURCE OF INCOME CONSIDERATION AS MUCH AS IT IS THE COST TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM TO HOW IT IMPACTS OUR CURRENT SERVICE MEMBERS. RIGHT NOW IT TAKES ROUGHLY 60 TO 90 DAYS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT ONCE A VASH HOUSING VOUCHER IS APPROVED AND THE LEASE IS SIGNED. AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE ASKING OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS WHO HAVE A MORTGAGE TO WAIT 60 TO 90 DAYS WHILE WE RECEIVE PAYMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, THAT SAME HOME CAN BE OPERATED IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS PROPERTY CODE 92, WHICH GOVERNS ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE CAN BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH EVERY REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT YET WHEN IT COMES TO ACCEPTING A VASH VOUCHER THERE'S A SECONDARY INSPECTION THAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF THE HOME TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA.

THAT INSPECTION IS A BIT GRAYER AND WE DO NOT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THE ADDITIONAL COST REQUIREMENTS WILL BE THAT WILL HAVE TO RELATE TO THAT ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBER WHOSE HOME IS NOW IN THE VASH PROGRAM. AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGERS WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO INCLUDING THE SOURCE OF INCOME REQUIREMENT, OUR CONCERN IS HOW THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED, SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT NOT ONLY THE VETERANS SEEKING HOUSING, BUT ALSO YOUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT HOUSING.

AS YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU GO FORWARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS MARTY HUTCHINSON.

>> GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M MARTY HUTCHISON.

I'M A PROPERTY MANAGER PROFESSIONAL OPERATING IN SAN ANTONIO.

I APPRECIATE THE CITY'S EFFORT TO EXPAND HOUSING, INCLUDING THE VOUCHER HOLDING TO INCLUDE HOUSEHOLDS AND VETERANS. HOWEVER I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PRIMARY BARRIER TO PARTICIPATION. PROGRAM RECONCILIATION. THE CONCERN IS NOT REFUSAL, IT IS FEASIBILITY. IN THE PRIVATE RENTAL MARKET, QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE TYPICALLY PLACED INTO A HOUSE WITHIN THREE TO SEVEN DAYS.

UNDER CURRENT VOUCHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY, INSPECTION TIMELINES CAN EXCEED 30 DAYS.

DURING THIS PERIOD PROPERTY OWNERS CAN RECEIVE NO RENTAL INCOME.

IF A PROPERTY FAILS INSPECTIONS, EVEN A MINOR OR A SUBJECTIVE ITEMS, THE PROPERTY IS DELAYED FURTHER. THIS CREATES A FURTHER FINANCIAL BURDEN, PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS AND MILITARY HOMEOWNERS.

IN MANY CASES, THESE OWNSERS RELY ON TIMELY MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THEIR MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS, EXTENDED DELAYS CAN RESULT IN LATE PAYMENTS, CREDIT DAMAGE OR IN THE CASE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL, POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THEIR SECURITY CLEARANCE.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS INCLUDE LACK OF RENT GUARANTEES DURING THE INSPECTION DELAYS, RENT INSPECTION CYCLES CAUSED BY EXTENDED VACANCIES, ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AND INCREASED OPERATIONAL COSTS, RENT RATIONALIZATION AND EQUITY AND LIMITED MARKET RELIANCE. THESE FACTORS COLLECTIVELY DESTROYS PARTICIPATION IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM. A MANDATE REQUIRING ACCEPTING OF VOUCHERS WITHOUT ADDRESSING THESE OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE AN OPPOSITE TO THE INTENDED EFFECT, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE UNITS FOR

[00:50:03]

ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES WILL NATURALLY INCREASE PARTICIPATION WITHOUT IMPOSING MANDATES THAT MAY RESTRAIN THE HOUSING SUPPLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS ALBERT ACEVEDO. >> THANK YOU.

I'M GOING TO SPEAK. I HAVE PTSD AND HE'S ONE OF THE VETS ON MY ORGANIZATION.

HE'S THE SERGEANT OF ARMS OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF. I'VE HEARD EVERYBODY IN HERE IN SAYING THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY BEING AFFECTED BY THE VASH VOUCHER. THIS MAN HERE THAT BE AFFECTED BY THE VASH VOUCHER. IN SAYING THIS, THIS MAN RIGHT HERE HAS BEEN TURNED AWAY ABOUT EIGHT TIMES IN OUR CITY BEFORE HE FOUND A HOUSE. BUT GUESS WHERE HE WORKS NOW? CANYON LAKE, NOT IN OUR CITY, NOT IN MILITARY TERI CITY USA -- MILITARY CITY USA. WE HEAR ABOUT 90% GET ACCEPTED BUT THEY GET PUT INTO PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE. HE WANTS TO RETURN BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT WITH SOME OF HIS DISABILITIES HE'S NOT ABLE TO GET INTO A SITUATIONAL HOME WHERE IT'S PORTABLE OR WHERE IT'S FEASIBLE FOR THAT BECAUSE HE HAS PTSD. NOW THERE ARE LAWS THAT THROW HIM OUT IN THREE DAYS IF HE YELLS OUT BECAUSE HE HAS PTSD. HE CAN'T LIVE IN AN APARTMENT BECAUSE OH WHY? HE'S GOT A DISTURBANCE AGAINST HIM.

THE ISSUES OUT THERE THAT CREATE THESE BARRIERS FOR OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WANTING TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY, HE DOESN'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT ISSUE, BUT HE'S LETTING ME DO THAT FOR HIM. LET'S PASS THIS ORDINANCE FOR THIS MAN SO THAT WAY HE CAN GET BACK INTO SAN ANTONIO.

WE HEAR FROM ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THE MANAGERS AND ALL THIS STUFF, BUT WHEN WE GO TO PUT THE VOUCHER IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY CONTINUE TO SAY NO.

THIS ORANGE JUST SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE THE -- THIS ORDINANCE JUST SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO TO A MAN WHO HAS A VOUCHER THAT SAYS SECTION 8

VOUCHER. THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

AARON HUNN. >> I'M MS. AERIN HUNN, WITH A NON-PROFIT ENSURING THAT LOW INCOME TEXANS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, STABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF VASH VOUCHERS. TEXAS LAW ALLOWS CITIES TO PASS THIS FOR PROTECTIONS AND IT WOULD EXPAND HOUSING CHOICE FOR LOW INCOME VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO. ACCORDING TO MLS DATA, AROUND EIGHT PERCENT OF AVAILABLE RENTAL LISTINGS IN SAN ANTONIO INDICATE THEY ACCEPT VOUCHERS.

SOURCE OF INCOME RESOURCES IS CLEAR. IT SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 70% OF VETERANS USING VASH VOUCHERS ARE CONCENTRATED IN AREAS OF HIGH SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AS DEFINED BY THE CDC, AREAS WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF POVERTY, LIMITED TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND OTHER BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY.

IT ALSO SHOWS THAT 84% OF SAN ANTONIO'S VETERANS USING VOUCHERS LIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING. AS TEXAS HOUSERS WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM VETERANS ABOUT WHAT THESE BARRIERS LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE. THEY'VE SHARED WITH US THAT MANY VETERANS LIVING WITH PTSD OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES ARE NOT JUST LOOKING FOR ANY AVAILABLE UNIT, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ACCESSIBLE HOMES AND QUIETER SINGLE-FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS CLOSER TO THE VA HOSPITAL ON THE NORTHSIDE AND OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES. TOO OFTEN THOSE OPTIONS ARE OUT OF REACH BECAUSE LANDLORDS WON'T STEP VOUCHERS. ALTERNATIVELY WE HEAR THAT HIGHLY SUBRATE FOR VASH VOUCHERS MEANS IT'S WORKING. THAT DOESN'T MEASURE SUCCESS, IT DOESN'T MEASURE WHETHER VETERANS HAVE MEANINGFUL CHOICE IN WHERE THEY LIVE OR ACCESS THE HOUSING THAT SUPPORTS THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

GIVEN THAT THERE ARE FEWER THAN 800 VETERANS USING HOUSING VOUCHERS THROUGH OUR LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES, ENSURING THESE VETERANS CAN USE VOUCHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING TYPES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS IS THE FOCUS OF ACHIEVABLE GOAL. A PROTECTION WOULD HELP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HOUSING ACROSS MORE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MORE HOUSING TYPES, MOVING US CLOSER TO A SYSTEM WHERE VOUCHERS PROVIDE NOT JUST ACCESS, BUT REAL CHOICE.

[00:55:02]

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. CRISPIN PEREZ. >> GOOD MORNING.

RETIRED U.S. ARMY COMBAT VET. I'M ALSO A 29 YEAR RETIRED VET. I MOVED TO YOUR FAIR CITY OCTOBER 2023.

THE FIRST EXPERIENCE HERE IN YOUR CITY THAT I LOOKED FORWARD TO MOVING TO FOR MANY YEARS. ACTUALLY BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN UNTIL THE DAY I TURNED 18 AND JOINED THE ARMY, 1974. BUT IT WAS THANKSGIVING 2023 WHEN I WAS DRIVING OVER OFF THE FRONTAGE ROAD THERE OFF OF 410 AND 35, I NOTICED A BUNCH OF -- A WOODED AREA THERE BY THE GENTLEMAN'S CLUB AND THE TRAIN TRACKS AND HIGHWAY 35. I NOTICED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT WERE LIVING IN THERE.

AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT AS I WAS EXITING TO GET ON THE EXIT OF 35, I NOTICED A GUY HAD A FIRST CAV PATCH AND I QUICKLY STOPPED AND I TURNED INTO THE DIRT AREA THERE BY THE TRACKS AND I GOT OFF AND I WALKED OVER BECAUSE IT WAS THANKSGIVING DAY, I WAS OVER ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY BROTHER AND BRING HIM OVER FOR THANKSGIVING MEAL. ANYHOW, I PULLED OVER IN THERE AND I WALKED OVER TO SEE THIS GUY WITH THE CAV HAT AND I STARTED TALKING TO HIM AND FIND OUT THIS GUY WAS IN THE FIRST CAV AROUND THE FIRST TIME I WAS. I WAS IN THE FIRST EIGHTH INFANTRY, BRIGADE. HE WAS IN THE SAME BRIGADE. I GOT TO TALKING TO HIM AND HE INVITED ME INTO HIS MAKESHIFT HOME IN THE WOODED AREA WITH HIS THREE CHILDREN AND HIS WIFE. AND I DID EVERYTHING FROM CRYING.

IT HURT ME SO BAD. THIS COMBAT VET, THIS GUY THAT I HAVE KNOWN -- I DIDN'T KNOW HIM THEN, BUT HE WAS ONE OF MFI BROTHERS BECAUSE HE SERVED IN THE CAV LIKE ALL THESE VETS OUT HERE. WE STAND HERE EVERY MORNING.

I GOT UP THIS MORNING I BRUSHED MY TEETH IN MY NICE HOUSE WITH A SWIMMING POOL AND HAD A TACO BEFORE I CAME HERE WITH A CUP OF COFFEE, TOOK A SHOWER, SHAMPOOED, PUT MY SMELLIES ON, OLD SPICE, BEFORE I CAME HERE. WE ALL SIT HERE CLEAN, SHOWERED, BRUSHED TEETH. FORTUNATE AT LIFE. SO. TO HIM FOR A LITTLE BIT, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES WERE.

HE COULDN'T FIND HOUSING IN THIS CITY THAT THEY CALL U.S. MILITARY USA.

SO I LEFT, PICKED UP MY BROTHER, CAME BACK, I TOOK HALF OF EVERYTHING I HAD, I HAD TWO TURKEYS, SOME HAM, HAD SOME PEZOLE, OTHER FOODS WE LIKE TO ENJOY, SOME TAMALES. AND I BROUGHT IT EVERY TO THAT AREA THERE.

COME TO FIND OUT THERE WERE OTHER VET FAMILIES THAT WERE LIVING IN THAT MAKESHIFT COMMUNITY THERE ON HIGHWAY 35 AND 410. AND I BROUGHT MY GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME. SHE WAS ONLY 10. AND SHE WOULD ASK ME WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE LIVING HERE, GRANDPA? AND I WOULD LOOK AT HER AND I SAID, BECAUSE WE FAILED THEM. WE.

ALL OF US. WE VOTE, WE PAY TAXES. THERE'S HOMELESS RIGHT THERE ACROSS 35 WHERE THIS CITY IS SPENDING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUILDING UP THE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO. I COME TO EAT AT I THINK IT'S CALLED PETE'S TACOS SOMETIMES -- [BUZZER]. AND I KNOW A FEW VETS THAT LIVE RIGHT OVER THERE UNDER THE BRIDGE. AND I'LL BUY ME A HANDFUL OF TACOS AND I'LL BUY THEM AND GIVE IT TO THEM BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST I CAN DO FOR THESE VETS.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ. APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: JASON BRIDGEMAN.

>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MY NAME'S JASON BRIDGEMAN. I'M A BROKER, OWNER OF TRUE ASSET MANAGEMENT IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WE CURRENTLY MANAGE NEARLY 600 HOMES IN AND AROUND THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. MY GRANDFATHER, MY FATHER, MY WIFE, MY TWO SONS AND MYSELF ARE ALL VETERANS. PROUDLY SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

THE LAST THING THAT PROPERTY MANAGERS IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA WANT TO SEE AND PROBABLY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IS VETERANS WITHOUT A HOME.

IT'S PERSONAL TO ME BEING A FORMER MILITARY INSTRUCTOR AND WELCOMING KIDS KINDLY INTO THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. IT'S PERSONAL.

IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A PROPERTY MANAGER OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, WE HAVE

[01:00:01]

WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR DISCRIMINATION. THAT'S NOT HOW WE OPERATE.

I PERSONALLY HAVE HELPED VETERANS UNDER THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT UMBRELLA THAT HAVE FACED CREDIT ISSUES, THAT HAVE FACED DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.

THE WAY WE'VE DONE THAT IS WE'VE WORKED WITH THOSE HOMEOWNERS.

AND AS ALREADY SAID, THE MAJORITY OF OUR HOMEOWNERS ARE VETERANS, THEY GET IT, THEY UNDERSTAND IT. THEY UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES WHILE ACTIVE DUTY AND WHILE -- WHEN YOU LEAVE ACTIVE DUTY. THERE ARE STRUGGLES.

I WAS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND I WAS GETTING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, EATING GOVERNMENT CHEESE. SO I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES.

I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE. I'VE BEEN ON W.I.C. WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY.

SO I UNDERSTAND IT AND WE WOULD NEVER DENY SOMEONE BASED UPON A CREDIT VOUCHER OR ANY VOUCHER, CITY, STATE OR COUNTY, WE WOULD NEVER DENY THAT.

EVERYDAY WHAT I'VE WITNESSED OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS IS A WAY TO GET TO YES AND A WAY TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT. IF THERE ARE VETERANS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE BELIEVE THE WAY TO FIND A CONNECTION IS TO BRING THOSE VETERANS TO THE PROPERTY MANAGERS. I'VE BEEN THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO [INDISCERNIBLE]. I'VE BEEN ON MANY COMMITTEES AND THE CONNECTION NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERANS NEED TO CONNECT WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES IN SAN ANTONIO AND GET THESE VETERANS TO US. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FIVE TO SEVEN PERCENT NUMBER OUT THERE OF VETERANS THAT ARE NOT BEING SERVED, BUT YET THE CITY IS NOT BRINGING THEM TO THE PROPERTY MANAGERS.

THERE'S COMPANIES THAT MANAGE 100, 200, 500, 600, 1500 PROPERTIES.

THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND THE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGERS THAT MOST OF THE COMPANIES IN SAN ANTONIO ARE VETERAN OWNED. I COULD LIST THE NAMES OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT ARE VETERAN OWNED.

[BUZZER]. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. PETE BERNAL. >> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE, FOR HAVING ME HERE TO GIVE YOU A FEW RESPONSES. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENING WITH ALL THE RESPONSES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING UP TO YOU.

FOR YEARS THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION SAID INSPECTIONS, ADMINISTRATION BURDENS AND MANY TIMES THE ADMINISTRATION CONCERNS ARE NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR ALLOWING OUR VETERANS TO CONTINUE TO BE DENIED HOUSING. THERE IS BURDENS. WE SEE IT, WE KNOW IT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THEM REDUCE FROM ANYWHERE BETWEEN GOING FROM THE 60 DAYS OUT THAT YOU HEARD TO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FIVE TO 10 DAYS WE GET THE INSPECTIONS DONE. I'VE SEEN HOW YOU ALL INCREASE ALL THESE ISSUES, BUT THE MAIN ISSUE RIGHT HERE IS THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE IN SUPPORT OF IT.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE I'VE HEARD OF, EVEN THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION.

THE THING IS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN HERE, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE DENYING THIS. LET'S RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE IN HERE NOT TELLING YOU THAT THEY'RE DENYING THIS.

AND WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU STOP THEM FROM DENYING THIS. IT'S AN EASY FIX.

IT'S SIMPLE. WE ARE NOT USING ANY TAX DOLLARS.

WE CAN ADD ON, WE CAN PASS IT AND ADD ON TO IT. I APPRECIATE TERI CASTILLO'S MOVE ON ADDING INCENTIVES, BUT ONCE THAT MONEY RUNS OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WE SHOULDN'T BE DEPENDING ON SOME MONEY THAT WILL BE THERE TO ASK PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THIS. WE SHOULD BE ALLOWING THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE FOUGHT FOR THESE RIGHTS. THE HOMEOWNERS' RIGHTS, WE WENT OVER THERE AND FOUGHT FOR THOSE RIGHTS BECAUSE THEY COULD END ANY TIME. OUR ADMINISTRATION IS OUT THERE, HEAD ADMINISTRATION, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP, WE'RE DOING -- IT COULD END ANYTHING AT ANY TIME. WE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZING THAT, THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING WHAT WE CAN DO HERE, NOT OVER THERE, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

DO NOT DENY THESE VETS AN OPPORTUNITY. WHEN THEY SEE THAT VASH VOUCHER, SECTION 8, LET THEM RUN THE GAUNTLET, THE GAUNTLET THAT SAYS HEY, THEY DON'T HAVE A -- THEY HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND. THEY HAVE A -- THEY ARE NOT A -- THEIR CREDIT IS NOT WELL. LET THEM RUN THE GAUNTLET THAT THEY BE DISQUALIFIED, BUT NEVER AN ISSUE FOR HAVING THE VASH VOUCHER.

AND I HEAR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT I GET FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE I WENT TO EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL AND Y'ALL SAID, OH, YEAH, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE. YES, IT'S TIME TO BE SUPPORTIVE NOW. WE WENT BECAUSE THERE WERE LEGAL ISSUES.

WE FOUND OUT THE WAY WE WROTE IT WAS LEGAL. IN ANYTHING YOU CAN DO THERE'S ALWAYS POLICY 101. YOU CAN CREATE THE POLICY, GO UP AND CORRECT THE POLICY

[01:05:01]

IT'S A SIMPLE FIX. PASS IT, WE FIX IT LATER. IF WE NEED ADMINISTRATION, ALL THE STUFF THAT TERI CASTILLO WANTS, WE CAN DO IT LATER.

BECAUSE DO YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER VET GOING TO THE PARKING LOT OF THE VA AND OFF THEMSELVES. TWO VETS THIS PAST YEAR, BUT THEN I HEARD THE LAST NUMBER THAT I GOT FOR LAST YEAR WE HAD 25 VETS OFF THEMSELVES IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S A LOT. AND THAT NUMBER CAME FROM THE VA. [BUZZER]. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS ANTONIO ROMAN.

>> GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.

MY NAME IS ANTONIO ROMAN. I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

I'M A TWICE WOUNDED VIETNAM VETERAN AND HAVE BEEN AWARDED TWO PURPLE HEARTS.

AT THE AGE OF 19 YEARS OLD I WAS ASKED TO WRITE MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT BEFORE I WENT INTO THE JUNK ELSE OF VIETNAM. -- THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM.

THIS ORDINANCE IS SIMPLE, LANDLORDS NOT TO DENIED METHOD OF PAYMENT BECAUSE YOU ARE A VETERAN. FORT WORTH PASSED THE ORDINANCE TWO YEARS AGO.

SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, LET'S LIVE UP TO THE NAME MILITARY CITY USA.

I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. I'VE HEARD ALL THE CONCERNS, AND I UNDERSTAND, APPROXIMATE BUT NOTHING CAN BE FIXED WITHOUT MOVING THIS

ORDINANCE FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

THOSE ARE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE VETERANS FOR YOUR SERVICE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AS WELL. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA DOES ANY MEMBER WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM CONSENT FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING? NO OBJECTIONS, THE REMAINING ITEMS ON CONSENT WILL BE

VOTED ON TOGETHER? >> EXCUSE ME, CHAIR. I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT THE AGENDA RIGHT NOW HAS AN ITEM UNDER CONSENT THAT'S STATED AS A BRIEFING.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PASS ANY ITEM THAT'S LISTED FOR BRIEFING ON CONSENT.

SO IF THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ACTUAL BRIEFING OR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS TO

STAFF ABOUT THE ITEM, THAT WILL NEED TO BE PULLED. >> MUNGIA: OKAY.

SO TO PASS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PULL IT. >> WELL, IF THERE'S GOING TO

BE A BRIEFING ON THE MATTER. >> MUNGIA: WE DON'T NEED A BRIEFING, DO WE?

>> NO. >> OKAY. >> MUNGIA: ALL RIGHTY.

IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 4 -- >>

>> MUNGIA: MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL RIGHTY.

MADAM CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE CAPTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 4?

>> ITEM NUMBER 4 IS A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST TO CREATE A HOUSING

VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROGRAM. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. VERONICA.

>> GARCIA: GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS VERONICA GONZÁLEZ, DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

TODAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR A REQUEST FROM COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO DATED ON APRIL 23RD, 2025. CCR PROPOSES THAT WE PROVIDE A CITY-RUN HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM CALLED CASA VOUCHERS. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THE SEPARATE AND SEPARATE FROM THE VOUCHER PROGRAMS WE ALREADY HAVE.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE CCR, WE'LL BRIEFLY LOOK THE A HOW HOUSING VOUCHERS WORK TODAY.

THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S FUNDED BY HUD AND RUN BY LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO HELP LOCAL FAMILIES AFFORD PRIVATE MARKET RENTALS.

FAMILIES PAY UP TO 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARD RENT AND UTILITIES, AND VOUCHER COVERS THE REST. TO QUALIFY, TENANTS MUST EARN BELOW 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND THE FACILITY MUST PASS AN INSPECTION.

RENTS ARE MORE THAN 10% AVERAGE AREA INCOME, TO PREVENT OVERCHARGING.

LANDLORDS DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT VOUCHES UNLESS IT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF FUNDING THEY RECEIVE FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ABOUT A THOUSAND VOUCHERS

[01:10:03]

THE CCR OUTLINES THREE POSSIBLE WAYS THE CITY COULD HELP ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES. CREATING BRIDGE FUNDING TO HELP LANDLORDS WHILE THEY WAIT FOR HUD APPROVAL TO GET THE FIRST VOUCHER PAYMENT. PROVIDING GAP PAYMENT TO LANDLORDS WHEN HUD'S LIMIT IS LOWER THAN ACTUAL RENTS IN THE AREA.

AND EXPLORING OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT COULD REMOVE BARRIERS AND ENCOURAGE MORE LANDLORDS TO PARTICIPATE. VOUCHER PROGRAMS ARE ADMINISTERED BY BLOUSING AUTHORITIES, AS I MENTIONED. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, OPPORTUNITY HOME ADMINISTERS ABOUT 87% OF OUR LOCAL VOUCHERS WITH THE REMAINDER ADMINISTERED BY HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY. ACROSS BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, ABOUT 800 HOUSEHOLDS WITH VOUCHERS ARE EITHER LOOKING FOR A NEW APARTMENT OR RENEWING THEIR CURRENT LEASE. AROUND 100 OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS ARE HEADED BY VETERANS. WHILE THE CITY DOES NOT ADMINISTER VOUCHERS, COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR WAYS THE CITY CAN SUPPORT VOUCHER USE, ESPECIALLY FOR VETERANS.

INCREASING VOUCHER AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION IS ALSO PART OF THE SHIP WHICH AT TIMES BE DELAYED. A FEW EFFORTS HAVE ALREADY ALIGNED WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION INCLUDE THAT SINCE APRIL 2025, BOTH OPPORTUNITY HOME AND HABC HAVE REDUCED PROCESSING TIME FROM 30 TO 60 DAYS TO AS FAST AS 14 DAYS.

MOST PAYMENTS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN POE DAYS. OPPORTUNITY HOME HAD IMPLEMENTED AN INCENTIVE OF UP TO 500 FOR LEASING TO A NEW VOUCHER HOLDER OR LANDLORDS PARTICIPATING FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS INITIATIVE -- I'LL SHARE MORE DETAILS ON LATER ON IN THE SLIDES. VETERANS USING VOUCHERS CAN RECEIVE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE INCLUDING HELP WITH SECURITY DEPOSITS, WHICH CAN HELP COVER TEMPORARY PAYMENT DELAYS. A FEW CHALLENGES WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION TO CONSIDER IS THAT ADVANCED PAYMENTS COULD BE MADE TO LANDLORDS WHO LATER TURN OUT NOT TO MEET HUDS REQUIREMENTS OR THE RENTER MAY DECIDE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE UNIT. IT COULD LEAD TO DOUBLE PAYMENTS IF BRIDGE FUNDING AND THE REGULAR PAYMENT HAPPEN AT THE TIME. OPPORTUNITY HOME CANNOT REIMBURSE THE CITY BECAUSE THEIR PAYMENTS CAN ONLY GO DIRECTLY TO LANDLORDS, IF REIMBURSEMENT WERE REQUIRED, IT WOULD ADD EXTRA CONTRACTS AND SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS.

HAVING CITY STAFF REVIEW DOCUMENTS, CREATE CONTRACTS AND ISSUE PAYMENTS WOULD NOT SPEED THINGS UP, FOR COMPARISON, PAYMENTS IN OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CAN TAKE MORE THAN TWO WE WEEKS. THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION DEALS WITH COVERING THE GAP. SOME OF THE CURRENT WORK IN THIS AREA TO HIGHLIGHT INCLUDES THAT HOUSING AUTHORITIES COMPLETE A RENT EVALUATION FOR EVERY UNIT LOOKING AT FACTORS LIKE SI SIZE, CONDITION, AND LOCATION.

THEY CAN APPROVE HIGHER RE RENT, BUT THAT TAKES FROM THE SAME FIXED BUDGET, SO FEWER HOUSEHOLDS ARE SERVED AS A RESULT. HOUSING AUTHORITIES MAY APPROVE RENTS UP TO 110% OF FAIR MARKET RENT DEPENDING ON THE ZIP CODE, BUT ANYTHING ABOVE THAT MUST BE COVERED WITHIN THEIR EXI EXISTING BUDGET.

A FEW CHALLENGES WITH THIS APPROACH INCLUDE HUD ONLY ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO RECEIVE THE APPROVED CONTRACT RENT, SO ANY EXTRA PAYMENTS FROM THE CITY WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNAUTHORIZED SIDE PAYMENT AND IS NOT ALLOWED. THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY INCLUDED TO STRENGTHEN VO VOUCHERS.

CITY HAS WORKED CLOSE TO HOME TO CONVENE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, ALSO KNOWN AS RENTAL ENGAGEMENT AND RENTAL ENGAGEMENT. IT INCLUDES HOMELESSNESS SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND RENTAL HOMEOWNER OPERATOR INCENTIVES.

IN OCTOBER OF 2025, THE GROUP DEVELOPED 29 RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SUCCESSES INCLUDE FASTER JOHN BOARDING PAPERWORK, SIMPLIFIED DOCUMENTATION WITH INSPECTIONS HAPPENING IN AS LITTLE AS 24 HOURS. ENHANCED ACCOUNTING PRO PROCESSES. RENTAL PAYMENT PROCESSING AS FAST AS 17 KAYS.

MOST PAYMENTS PROTESSED BY 350 DAYS AND LAST, THEY MAXIMUM NOW KATE WHEN THEY

[01:15:04]

A 500 INCENTIVE COULD SUPPORT ABOUT 900 HOUSE HOUSEHOLDS.

THIS INCENTIVE WOULD BE FU FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY'S EXISTING RENTAL AND R RELOCATION PROGRAM, BE BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027. THIS APPROACH COULD ALSO HELP CONCERNS RELATED TO POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS, AND IF THE COUNCIL PREFERS, THE INCENTIVE COULD BE TARGETED SPECIFICALLY TO VETERAN HOUSEHOLDS.

SECOND, STAFF RECOMMENDS U UPDATING RELOCATION ASSISTANCE QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD ALLOW VOUCHER HOLDERS WHO NEED MORE TIME TO FIND HOUSING TO QUALIFY FOR THE ASSISTANCE. VOUCHER HOLDERS TYPICALLY HAVE THREE MONTHS TO LEASE UP, BUT HOUSING AUTHORITIES OFTEN GRANT EXTENSIONS. UNDER THIS CHANGE, AN A APPROVED EXTENSION WOULD COUNT AS A QUALIFYING HARDSHIP FOR THIS PROGRAM, MAKING THE HOUSEHOLD ELIGIBLE FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.

STAFF WILL CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH REACH AS WE MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD.

SO THANK YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION AHEAD.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, VERONICA. THIS WAS A CCR FILED BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.

SO START WITH YOU FIRST. THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: SURE.

THANK YOU CHAIR AND VERONICA AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

ON THE RIGHT OF CITY HALL THERE'S A STATUE OF FDR WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT DURING ONE OF HIS STATE OF THE ADDRESSES TO COIN HO HOUSING IS A HUMAN RI RIGHT. SO THAT PHRASE THAT WE OFTEN USE WAS GIVEN BY FDR IN ONE OF HIS SPE SPEECHES.

SO I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR SERVICE BUT YOUR CONTINUED WORK TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. NOW MORE THAN EVER WE'RE SEEING HOUSING AUTH AUTHORITYS IN BEXAR COUNTY, HOUSING AUTHORITIES AS WELL SEVERE LIGANS FUNDED AT FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO PLEASE, THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WO WORK.

AGAIN, FOR VASH AND SECTION 8 AS WELL BECAUSE VETERANS OFTEN APPLY FOR A SECTION 8 VOUCHER AS WELL, AND TO THAT POINT, RIGHT, HE HEARING THE COMMITMENT FROM COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH, HO HOUSING, AND HOME HOMELESSNESS, THE SA SPEAK UP SURVEY IS CURRENTLY LIVE AND CL CLOSES FRIDAY. IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THAT BUDGET SURVEY, IT'S STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BECAUSE THAT DATA SERVES AS A GUIDE FOR COUNCIL TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR POLICY IS. SO PLEASE COMPLETE THAT SURVEY IF YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED IT. I WANTED TO THANK VERONICA, AND OF COURSE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE OF AGENDIZING THIS ITEM.

I DO BELIEVE THIS ITEM COMPLIMENTS ITEM 5 THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING IN A BIT. AGAIN, SOME CONTEXT OF HOW THIS CCR WAS BORN OUT OF. IN DISTRICT 5, RACHEL TUCKER AND CYNTHIA, THEY'RE HOUSING IN DISTRICT 5, SO APPLYING FOR HOMEOWNER REHAB IN ONE ROOF OR HELPING CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE A VOUCHER GETTING CONNECTED WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THEN FOLLOWING UP WITH ANY PAPERWORK LIKE THAT. AND A TREND WE SAW PRIMARILY WITH SECTION 8 VOUCHERS SERVED IN TERMS OF PLACEMENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE HEARING THAT THERE MAY BE I INSTANCES IN WHICH VASH VOUCHERS MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED. SO WITH THIS PROPOSAL AND AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, WITH THE 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT 900 FAMILIES, AND MY RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF HOW THAT'S UTILIZED IS OF COURSE TO TARGET VASH HOLDERS FOR VET VETERANS BUT ENSURE THAT REMAINING BALANCE AND FUND IS USED TO SUPPORT SECTION 8 HOLDERS AS WELL. I DID WANT TO THANK THE HOUSING ADVOCATES THAT BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO OUR ATTACKS, AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRY FOR C COCREATING THE COUNCIL REQUEST, BUT I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. I THINK IT'S A KEY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A PROVISION WHICH, IF THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING VASH VOUCHERS THAT WE'RE TRACKING; RIGHT? BECAUSE I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT -- THAT WE'RE OMITTING PARTICIPATION FROM THOSE ALREADY ACCEPTING THE THEM; RIGHT? SO THAT

[01:20:02]

ALREADY PROVIDING HO HOUSING. >> SO THE CONSIDERATION WAS TO CONSIDER BOTH, BUT THAT'S PART OF WHY WE WANTED TO GET THE FEEDBACK. ONE CONSIDERATION WE HAD WAS WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE AND/OR WHO ARE ALREADY ACCEPTING VOUCHERS TO STOP ACCEPTING THEM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WERE HOPING -- IT IS A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS, AND WE ARE HOPING TO DRAW IN NEW LANDLORDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. SO IF THE FEE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMITTEE IS THAT WE FOCUS ON NEW LANDLORDS ONLY OR TARGET AREAS OR VETERANS WITH THE VOUCHERS, ALL OF THAT IS WELCOME TO HELP US FINALIZE THAT

RECOMMENDATION. >> AGAIN, GIVEN ITEM 5 THERE IS A VALUE IN HAVING A TARGETED INITIATIVE WITH THIS INCENTIVE FOR VETERANS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, OF COURSE, NEAR V.A. CARE, BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON THE NEXT ITEM FOR OPPORTUNITY HOME BECAUSE THERE WERE JUST RE RECENTLY APPROVED SOME LEASE AGREEMENT CHANGES ONE OF WHICH YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THE PROPERTY BEING OFFERED TO YOU.

SO I'M CURIOUS IF OPPORTUNITY HOME WILL CREATE AN EXCEPTION FOR VASH HOLDERS, SO I'LL ASK THAT ON ITEM 5, BUT I GUESS THE GOAL IS THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF MULTIFAMILY AND SINGLE FAMILY LANDLORDS TO ACCEPT VASH AND EX-SECTION 8, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE WE'RE PRIORITIZING NEW PARTICIPANTS WITH THIS PILOT.

AND A QUESTION REGARDING HALF A MILLION, WILL ANY BE USED TOWARDS ADMINISTRATION COST OR ALL TOWARDS THE INCENTIVES?

>> WE'LL BE FINALIZING IF WE DO WORK DIRECTLY WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME TO ADMINISTER IT, WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WE HAVEN'T FINALIZED THAT YET, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THOSE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR TEAM.

>> OKAY. AND THEN A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TRACK IS THE NUMBER OF NEW LANDLORDS, NEW AND EXISTING VO VOUCHING UNITS PRESERVED HOUSEHOLDS AND TYPES OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED AS WELL AS DEMOGRAPHICS OF RESIDENTS, SUCH AS WERE THEY HOMELESS, UNHOUSED, AND ARE THEY MOED INTO HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREAS, SO THESE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO TRACK, BUT BEYOND THE PILOT, RIGHT, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY JUST LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY HOME PROGRAM. THEY HADN'T -- A LOT OF SUCCESS IN HOUSING FAMILIES WITH UNSENTIVE PROGRAM, SO MY GOAL AND EXPECTATION IS THAT THIS BECOME BAKED INTO THE CITY BUDGET. THIS IS PART OF THE STRATEGIC HOUSING PLAN THAT WAS VETTED THROUGH COMMITTEE, VOTED BY COUNCIL, SO HOPEFUL WITH THAT. THIS WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE THERE'S VALUE IN US BAKING KOSA VOUCHERS INTO THE NEXT SEVERAL CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET CYCLES, BUT THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, VERONICA AND CHAIR.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, DO ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR AND TO ALL THE FOLK WHO IS SPOKE TODAY AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO PUSHING THIS FORWARD AND IT BEING ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

ONE QUICK QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK WAS I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, ON THE LAST SLIDE WAS LOOKING TOWARDS RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE I INCORPORATED IN THE F FY2027 BUCKET PROCESS, SO WOULD THESE FUNDS FOR THE EXISTING RENTAL R RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO IT OR ANTICIPATED TO BE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS OR JUST MOVING THE CURRENT REGULAR FUNDING AMOUNT?

>> IT WOULD BE UTILIZING OUR EXISTING FUNDING. >> GALVAN: OKAY.

>> AND CREATING A SET ASIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NEW INCENTIVE.

>> GALVAN: OKAY. I SEE. OVERALL SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF WE LOOK CONCURRENTLY WITH THE OTHER ONE THAT WE'LL DISCUSS LATER. I THINK WE CAN'T LOOK AT THEM SEPARATE OR AS SEPARATE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADD ADDRESSING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMOVAL, I GUESS, OF COURSE FUNDING FROM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE OR RENTAL PROBLEMS BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD WORK ON AT COUNCIL, TRY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING IT BECAUSE MY EXPECTATION IS MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT OTHER FOLKS WHO NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN SOME OTHER FORM. I THINK THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION HERE.

YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CH CHAIR.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUN COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN MEZA

GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. QUICK COMMENTS.

THANK YOU STAFF FOR P PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND COUNCILWOMAN C CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK EXPANDING ACCESS TO HOUSING THROUGH THIS VOUCHER INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS ADDRESSING AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO FACE, AND WE CLEARLY HEARD THAT WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I APPRECIATE FOCUSING ON THOSE -- CREATING PATHWAYS FOR MORE FAMILIES TO ACCESS STABLE HOUSING.

[01:25:02]

THE REVOLVING LOAN IS COMING FROM WHERE? IS WHOSE -- IS THAT -- ON PAGE -- ON SLIDE 4. YEAH. THE REVOLVING LOAN.

>> THE BRIDGE FUND. >> COUNCILWOMAN, THAT WAS PART OF THE CCR.

SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO DO MORE OF A GRANT WHERE WE WOULD INCE INCENTIVIZE $500 FOR LAND -- FOR PROPERTY O OWNERS WHO WOULD TAKE

THE HOUSING VOUCHER. >> GONZALEZ: WHERE WAS THE REVOLVING LOAN COMING FROM IS M

QUESTION. >> IT WAS PART OF THE C CCR.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REQUESTED FOR US TO LOOK

AT. >> OKAY. GOT IT.

GOT IT. >> AND THEN I THINK I -- I JUST WANTED TO TAG TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS SAYING ON TARGET THE VASH HOLDERS WITH THE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND, THE NINE HUNDRED FAMILIES, SO I SUPPORT THAT RECOMMENDATION AS WELL. THOSE ARE ALL OF MY

QUESTIONS, THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> SUKH KAUR: THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOMETIMES WHEN FO FOLKS DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCESS A PROGRAM, PROVIDING AN INCENTIVE ALLOWS THEM TO TRY AND SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE WITH DOING THAT, SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE P PUTTING THIS FORWARD TODAY BECAUSE WE SEE THAT THE NEED IS SO HIGH IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE HEARD FROM PUBLIC COMMENT. MY -- JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. FOR THE GRANT PROGRAM, ARE -- SO TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S POINT, HOW IT DID YOU COME UP WITH FIVE

HUNDRED DOLLARS AS THE INCENTIVE AMOUNT? >> SO WE MODELED THE CONCEPT AFTER A PROGRAM THAT OPPORTUNITY HOME DID BACK IN 2023, AND THEY FOUND THAT THAT DID GREATLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NEW LANDLORDS THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO THE PROGRAM, SO WE WERE SIMPLY USING THAT SAME

INCENTIVE AMOUNT. >> SUKH KAUR: AND DO WE KNOW HO MANY OF THOSE FOLKS RETAINED IN

THE PROGRAM THAT WERE IN THE PILOT? >> I WILL -- WE DO HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME THAT CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION,

STEPHANIE, SO I'LL INVITE HER. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO WE DON'T -- OR MORNING -- WE DON'T CURRENTLY TRACK IT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE COULD PULL DATA IN ORDER TO VERIFY. MOST OF THE RESIDENTS THAT DID MOVE IN THAT WE KNOW OF ARE STILL ON LEASE, BUT IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU, LIKE MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION, WE WOULD NEED TO PULL THE DATA, BUT WE COULD PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. CAR CAR OKAY.

YES. I WOULD BE CURIOUS ABOUT SEEING WHAT THAT NUMBER IS BECAUSE I KNOW THE TOTAL NUMBER INCREASED BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RETAINING THEM IN THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IF WE'RE JUST CONTINUOUSLY FUNDING AN INCREASE THAT'S GOING TO BE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT IF THEY'RE NOT CHOOSING TO STAY OR

GO BACK -- STAY IN THE PROGRAM FOR EXAMPLE. >> ABOUT 300 NEW LANDLORDS WE GOT DURING THAT TIME FRAME, AND WE DID TRACK THEM SEPA SEPARATELY BECAUSE WE DID GET NEW LANDLORDS AFTER WE STOPPED THE INCENTIVE BECAUSE WE DID MAKE CHANGES THROUGH THE REACH PROGRAM SO WE WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT FROM THE GROUPING BUT WE

COULD GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> SUKH KAUR: OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND I KNOW SOME OF THE METRICS THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SHARED ALSO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING AND WHEN WE REVISIT ALL OF THIS STUFF IN SIX MON MONTHS, WE COULD SEE WHAT THE METRICS LOOK LIKE FROM THERE AND HOW MANY FOLKS ARE INTE INTERESTED. BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS INCENTIVE WOULD NOT START UNTIL FISCAL YE YEAR -- THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR; RIGHT? AND CAN YOU -- TO COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN'S POINT ARE WE ADDING $500 OR TAKING IT FROM THE OVERALL R RELOCATION BUCKET.

>> AS OF TODAY WE P PROPOSE FISCAL YEAR 2027 FUNDING AND IT WOULD BE PART OF THE ALLOCATED RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUD BUDGET, NOT IN ADDITION

TO. >> SUKH KAUR: NOT IN ADDITION TO.

>.AND WHY NOT. >> WE WOULD PLAN OBS OBSERVING THE SAME AMOUNT OF FOLKS. CAR CAR I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WHY ARE N WE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BY

500,000. >> WE CAN CONSIDER THAT OF COURSE THAT WOULD BE

COUNCIL'S PRIORITY AT THE TIME TO THE PROCESS. >> SUKH KAUR: OKAY.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US WHEN WE COME INTO THE BUDGET AND IF MY COLLEAGUES AGREE TO SAY THIS IS AN ADD-ON BECAUSE THAT BUCKET OF FUNDING RIGHT NOW GOES SO QUICKLY AND WE HAVE SUCH A LONG WAIT LIST FOR IT, I KNOW IT OPENS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY IT'S ALREADY GONE, AND SO WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING JUST ONE FOR ONE EXCHANGES, WE SHOULD BE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HELPING SUPPORT GET INTO

HOUSING, SO THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST. >> JUST TO COMMENT ON THAT. SO WE'LL BE DOING OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST NEXT WEEK, AND THAT WILL GIVE US AN IDEA OF THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

[01:30:04]

>> SUKH KAUR: YEAH. FOR SURE AND SO IF THERE -- MY SOME OF THEM ARE SHAKING THEIR HEAD, LET'S MAKE SURE WE WEIGH THAT AND MANY OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING BEING THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE BUDGET FORECAST CONVERSATION. THANKS, CHAIR.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I ASKED VERONICA AND HER TEAM WAS THIS IN ADDITION TO OR WITHIN THE CURRENT FUND.

AND VERONICA, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH A LITTLE BIT THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS PILOT PROGRAM STREAMLINES AND HOUSES FAMILIES FASTER AND JUST HELP US TO UNDERSTAND, LIKE, THAT PROCESS, PLEASE.

>> SURE. SO A COUPLE OF WAYS. IT CAN HELP, AS MEN MENTIONED, HELP NEW LANDLORDS KIND OF LEARN HOW TO USE THE PROGRAM, TAKE A CHANCE ON IT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE INSPECTION PROCESS CAN DELAY WHEN SOMEONE MOVES IN, CAN BE A BIT OF DELAY ON THAT FIR FIRST-MONTH'S PAYMENT THAT'S MADE AND THAT $500 INCENTIVE CAN HELP WITH THAT. THE SECOND PART OF THAT WOULD BE ENSURING FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THREE MONTHS AT LEAST COULD QUALIFY FOR THAT ADDITIONAL RELOCATION ASSISTANCE HELP.

SOMETIMES FAMILIES MAY NOT HAVE THE FULL SECURITY DEPOSIT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THEY'RE ONLY PAYING A PORTION OF THE RENT, SO WE COULD HELP WITH THOSE UP FRONT COSTS RIGHT AWAY, AND SO ALLOWING US TO PARTNER WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES DIRECTLY ENSURES THAT LANDLORDS ARE REALLY WORKING WITH THAT PRIMARY AGENCY, THAT HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WE'RE NOT INTRODUCING YET ANOTHER GOVERNMENT PARTNER THAT MAY CAUSE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES WITH GETTING THAT UP

FRONT INCENTIVE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND LASTLY I WANT TO THANK OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THEIR WORK IN CRE CREATING THE FIRST INCENTIVE PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE WORK THAT YA'LL DO IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT WHETHER YOU'RE SECTION 8 OR VASH VOUCHER HOL HOLDER, DOING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH THE FEDERAL RESOURCES YOU HAVE, AND I LOOK FORWARD AS WE DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE HOUSING IN THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY FOR OPPORTUNITY HOMES SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU VERONICA. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEM. >> MUNGIA: A MOTION AND A SE SECOND, AND FURTHER DISCUSSION. DID ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER WANT TO

ADD SOMETHING TO THE DISCUSSION? >> GALVAN: ONE LAST THING, THAN YOU, CHAIR, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I VOICE MY SUPPORT THAT ENSURING THAT ONCE THESE FUNDS ARE UTILIZED WE CAN USE THEM FO SECTION 8 OVERALL AND THEN OF COURSE FOCUSING ON NEW LANDLORD

AS WELL OR PRIMARILY. >> MUNGIA: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> SUKH KAUR: THANK YOU.

ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD WHICH I KNOW WILL COME UP IN THE NEXT ONE IS HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS HAVE LESS DATA ON THEM FROM WHAT I WAS UNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF WHO'S RECEIVING THEM AND IF VETERANS ARE RECEIVING THEM, WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND SO I WOULD LIKE NOT JUST VASH BUT IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO -- VASH MORE EASILY IDENTI IDENTIFIABLE, VETERANS DOING AND THEN THE REST, THANKS.

>> MUNGIA: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ADD THAT -- I APPRECIATE THIS ISSUE AND CCR. I DO SUPPORT THIS. I DO THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO ADD FOLKS WHO ACCEPT VOUCHERS SO WE LOOK AT OUR HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT THAT WE RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCESS FOR VETERANS IN THE NEXT YEAR. ENCOURAGE MORE PROPERTY MANAGERS TO ACCEPT VOUCHERS. AND ADD 100 MORE RENTAL PROPERTIES THAT ACCEPT AND IDENTIFY HOUSING TO INCREASE CAPACITY WITH THE V.A.

SO THESE ARE SOME GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING RIGHT TO THE THINGS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED REC RECENTLY AND ALSO IN THE FUTURE NOW THAT WE HAVE TWO ITEMS, THE SHIP AND THIS, I THINK EVERY HOUSING ITEM COMING HERE SHOULD HAVE A TAG AS WHICH ITEM IT'S FOLLOWING OR WHICH ITEM WE'VE ADOPTED THAT IT'S SUPPORTING OR ENHANCING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO S SEEING THIS AT THE BUDGET, THE CONVER CONVERSATION, AND I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE THOSE WITH V VASH AND WORK WITH THE OPPORTUNITY HOME TO ENSURE IT'S A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

JUSTINE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? >> I WANTED TO SUMMARIZE REALLY QUICK SO WE I INCORPORATE THE COMMITTEE'S FEEDBACK.

SO PART OF THE PROGRAM FOCUSING ON NEW LANDLORDS AS WELL AS VETERANS WITH VASH AND THEN VETERANS WITH HO HOUSING CHOICE AND THEN FINALLY, SECTION 8. OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> MUNGIA: WE'LL SEE WHAT THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE TO SAY AT BUDGET.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED?

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ

THE CAPTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 5. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 5 IS A

SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FO VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MUNGIA: GOOD MORNING.

.>> GOOD MORNING, VERONICA GARCIA. TODAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT

[01:35:07]

THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY, FUNDED BY HUD AND ADMIN ADMINISTERED BY OUR LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES. WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO TEAM MEMBERS AS WELL AS BEXAR COUNTY HOME TEAM MEMBERS TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE ABOUT HOW THAT ADMINISTRATION TAKE PLACE. IN ADDITION TO THE HO HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER OR SECTION 8 VOUCHER, THERE IS ANOTHER SECTION OF CATEGORY SPECIFICALLY WITH VETERANS CALLED THE VETERANS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OR VASH THIS IS FUNDED BY HUD WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIRECTLY PROVIDED BY VETERANS AFFAIRS. IT SERVES VETERANS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HO HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK WITH NOT ONLY A VOUCHER BUT THAT DIRECT CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT. WHAT WE HEARD A LOT THIS MORNING IS BECAUSE OF THAT EXTRA CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, A LOT OF VETERANS WITH A SPECIAL VASH VOUCHERS ARE ABLE TO GET HOUSED MORE QUICKLY AND ABLE TO KIND OF NAVIGATE THE HOUSING SEARCH PROCESS.

UNDER TEXAS LAW, SOURCE OF INCOME LEGISLATION PREVENTS CITIES FROM ADOPTING BROAD SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR ALL RENTERS.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS ADOPT THESE PROTECTIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR PROPERTIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED CITY INCENTIVES OR FOR VETERANS, SPECIFICALLY IN ALL PROPERTIES CITY WIDE. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE A LOT TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BACK IN 2021, CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE THE FIRST PART OF THAT TEXAS LAW WHICH WAS ENSURING ALL PROPERTIES WHO RECEIVE CITY INCENTIVES MUST ACCEPT VOUCHERS OR NOT TURN AWAY A TENANT SIMPLY ON SOURCE OF INCOME.

THAT WAS HOUSING VOUCHER INCENTIVE POLICY AGAIN ADOPTED IN MAY OF 2021.

IN APRIL OF 2024, OUR TEAM BRIEFED THE EX EXISTING PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION FOR VETERANS. THE DIRECTION FROM THE COMMITTEE AT THE TIME WAS TO EXPLORE MORE BROADLY HOW WE CAN HELP ALL VOUCHER HOLDERS BETTER UTILIZE THIS BENEFIT. WE WERE ASKED AND WORK CLOSELY WITH CLOSE TO HOME TO SET UP A DIVERSE WORKING GROUP, MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS WHO LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE AND, AG AGAIN, AS SHARED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE SYSTEM OVERALL THAT HAS HELPED ENSURE BROADER ACCEPTANCE.

AFTER REACH CONVENED IN JULY OF 2024 WE SHARED THOSE KEY RECOMME RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE HOUSING COMMISSION, AND THEN AGAIN WITH THE PL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN 2025. AGAIN, THE DIRECTION WAS CONTINUED OR CONVENED THE REACH WORKING GROUP AND CONTINUED TO WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE CONTINUED STREAMLINES AND WHAT MORE WE COULD DO TO ADDRESS HOUSING VOUCHER ACCESS FOR EVERYBODY.

ON APRIL 1 WE PRESENTED TO B SESSION TO ALL COUNCIL ON A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF INCOME -- SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION FOR VETERANS, AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE ASKED TO COME TO THIS MEETING AND HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE TODAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT VETERANS ACROSS ALL OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE NEARLY 9,500 VETERANS AND WE NOTED ABOUT 830 HAVE V VASH VOUCHERS AND OF THOSE, APPROXIMATELY 39 ARE SEARCHING FOR HO HOUSING NOW. OF THOSE NUMBERS, THERE ARE 14 THAT ARE PENDING INSPECTION AND IN THE ACTIVE LEASE UP PROCESS. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOUSING CHOICE VASH HOLDERS OVERALL THERE ARE 1400 FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THESE VOUCHERS AND WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 1100 OF THOSE ARE VETERANS AND ESTIMATED 61 ARE SEA SEARCHING. AS WE HEARD THIS MOR MORNING, WHILE THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER, LESS THAN 100 WHO ARE ACT ACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR HOUSING, THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY DICTATE HOW MANY MAYBE HAVE BEEN DENIED HOUSING BASED ON THE VOUCHER.

WE HAVE HAD CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS SINCE THE APRIL 1B SESSION WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS T TOPIC, AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF WHAT YOU HEARD THIS MORNING FROM OUR VETERAN ADVOCATES. WE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS CENTERED ON MAXIMIZING HOUSING CHOICE OVERALL FOR VETERANS AND ENSURING THE VOUCHER IS NOT THE BARRIER TO BE HOUSED.

ALSO HEARD A GENERAL CONSENSUS ON WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE SIGMA FOR ALL VOUCHER HOLDERS AND HELPING ENSURE THAT VETERANS HAVE HOUSING CHOICES CITY WIDE, PARTICULARLY IN DESIRED AREAS PARTICULARLY NEAR

[01:40:03]

AGAIN, THE VOUCHER CANNOT BE A REASON FOR DENIAL.

LANDLORDS WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT ALL OTHER RENTAL CRITERIA THAT THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR OWN POLICY SUCH AS CREDIT HISTORY AND OTHER ITEMS. THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE FOCUSED ON A COMPL COMPLAINT-BASED ENFORCEMENT, WHERE CALLS WOULD BE ROUTED THROUGH 311 OR THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AND WE WOULD HAVE SUPPORT FROM COMPLIANCE, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS, CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE AND MUNICIPAL COURT TO E ENFORCE AS NEEDED.

VIOLATIONS COULD LEAD TO REQUIRED TRAINING FOR FIRST OFFENSES, INCLUDING UP TO MISDEMEANOR FINES OF UP TO $500 PER VIOLATION.

TODAY'S DISCUSSION, AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU ALL ON APPLICABLE OF THE ORDINANCE SHOULD IT APPLY TO ALL PROPERTIES, SHOULD WE BEGIN WITH LARGE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES AND INSTEAD EXCEPT SMALLER PORT PORTFOLIO, LIKE FOUR OR FEWER UNITS.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED ENFORCEMENT WHERE FIRST OFFENSES JUST LIKE CITY POLICY FOR CITY INCENTIVIZED POLICIES, WHERE FIRSTS OF IS MANDATORY TRAINING AND THEN WE ESCALATE FROM THERE WITH NONCRIMINAL PENALTIES AND UP TO $500 FINE, AND THEN I WANTED TO NOTE THAT REGARDLESS OF THE ACTION, OUR TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BOTH ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES, OUR VETERAN'S ADVOCATES AND PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS ACROSS THE AISLE TO HELP ENSURE WHAT EDUCATION IS NEE NEEDED, WHAT'S OUT TH THERE, AND IF THERE IS AN ORDINANCE THAT'S EVENTUALLY ADOPTED, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PARTIES UNDERSTAND THOSE CHANGES AND THAT WE'RE THERE TO HELP AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE IN GOING TOWARDS.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR DISCUSSION THIS MORNING, I WANT TO INCORPORATE YOUR FEEDBACK ON TO THE PROPOSED, AND BEFORE ANY ORDINANCE WOULD BE FI FINAL, IT WOULD REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. THANK YOU.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, VERONICA. APPRECIATE THAT. BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON OUR CONVERSATION, I DO WANT TO ASK STEPHANIE FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME TO SAY A FEW WORDS, I THINK I MISSED YOU EARLIER FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP AND ADDING A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU. >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, AGAIN.

I JUST WANT TO REPRESENT -- SO STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO. I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR OUR VOUCHER PROGRAM, AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPR EXPRESS -- SO LANDLORDS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR PROGRAM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING COLLABORATIVE.

WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE PROGRAM IS WORKING FOR OUR VOUCHER HOLDERS AND OUR LANDLORDS TOGETHER BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE MORE HOUSING OPTIONS, RIGHT, THAT'S ONE MORE PERSON THAT DOES GET HOUSED, AND SO HAVING THAT OPTION AVAILABLE TO THEM, IT'S NOT -- EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY GET HOUSED, IT'S WHERE THEY GET HOUSED THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS. AND SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE REACH GROUP, AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND OUR LANDLORDS, SO WE DO TRY TO MEET WITH SABAR, NA NARPUM.

GO TO THEIR QUARTERLY MEEMEETINGS TO MEET WITH THEM ABOUT THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN TRY TO MEET THEM, COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE G GETTING THE PROGRAM TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO HELP OUR VETERANS AND ALL OF OUR VOUCHER HO HOLDERS IN THE PART OF THIS PROCESS FOR THIS SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING AT MAKING SURE WE'RE STREAMLINING WHERE WE CAN. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RED TAPE RELATED TO OUR PROGRAM, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN EASE

[01:45:05]

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. STEPHANIE. AND I WANT TO ADD YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS, SO THE BETTER JOB WE CAN HELP YOU WITH, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL BE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO START OFF THE CONVERSATION BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE ENGAGED WITH YESTERDAY HERE ACROSS THE HALL FROM 4:00 TO 5:00, THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US HERE IN OUR OFFICES PRESENT. SEVERAL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WERE THERE AS WELL. AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION, AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT I WANTED US TO HAVE IS ALLOW DIFFERENT IDEAS AND TAKES ON IT, SITTING TOGETHER AND TALKING IN A VERY CALM AND DELIBERATE MANNER, AND I THINK WE ALL WALKED AWAY WITH SOME NEW INFORMATION ON THAT, AND POSSIBLY NEW PARTNERSHIPS REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING. I THINK THIS IS A -- AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT'S A THIS AND THAT APPROACH. THERE'S A CARROT AND A STICK APPROACH TO THIS. AND IF WE LOOK AT OUR SHIP THAT WE ADOPTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, PAGE 27 SAYS TEXAS LAW ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO TURN DOWN APPLICATIONS ON THE BASIS THEY'RE USING A HOUSING VOUCHER, HOWEVER THE STATE DOES ALLOW CITIES TO PROHIBIT THIS AT CITY-FUNDED PROPERTIES OR FOR VETERANS WHO APPLY AT ANY PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. THAT'S A VERY NARROW WINDOW THE STATE GIVES US TO ADD ANT ANTIDISCRIMINATION EFFORTS WHICH I THINK IS RARE THAT THE STATE WOULD GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO I SAY THAT WE WORK ON THIS, GET THIS TO COUNCIL, GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK, AND PASS IT. I THINK THIS IS A PACKAGE DEAL.

THE STICK APPROACH THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW WITH THE THINGS THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO IS TALKING ABOUT, WITH THE REACH COMMITTEE THAT IS WORKING WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME TO STREAMLINE THEIR PROCESS, AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO DO THAT. SO I THINK IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE TOOL BOX THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE STICK IN THE TOOL BOX. BUT WITH THAT, WE'LL START OUR COUNCIL CONVERSATION. DO ANY COUNCILMEMBERS

WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT? COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR AND VERONICA FOR THE PRESENTATION AND STAFF WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THIS PROCESS FOR YEARS ON OUT AT THIS POINT.

AS THE PUBLIC COMMENT GIVEN TODAY, AND I WANT TO START OFF, I THINK THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WITH THIS WHOLE THING IS IT'S JUST A SHAME OF HOW OUR COUNTRY HAS SERVED VETERANS AFTER THEY SERVE US, LEAVING FOLKS TO LIVE ON THE STREETS. STRUGGLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE IN THE COMMUNITY, EVEN WITHIN SOME OF THE V.A. HOSPITALS, NO SHADE TO THEM, BUT JUST PART OF THE PROCESS, STRUGGLE TO ACCESS EDUCATION, RETIREMENT BENEFITS, WHAT VETERANS FACE IN AND OUT PARTICULARLY WITH POVERTY IN OUR CI CITY. IT'S FRUSTRATING, SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTED MY LIFE AND MY FATHER, AND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CONTINUED TO STAY LAXED ON THE ISSUE CREATING OV OVERCOMPLICATED PROGRAMS FOR NOT ONLY VETERANS TO GO THROUGH BUT VULNERABLE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE LEAST MEANS TO NAVIGATE THROUGH SOMEHOW TO ACCESS BASIC HUMAN RI RIGHTS, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, EDUCATION, ET CETERA. AND SO WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS, I THINK THIS COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCILS AS WELL HAVE TRIED THEIR BEST TO INTERVENE IN SOME WAY WITH A LOCAL SOLUTION THAT IMPACTS FOLKS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE, AND THIS IS FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEMS OF A COMPL COMPLICATED SYSTEM, A CONTINUOUS STALLED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ALL OF THAT BEING SAID. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MOVING FORWARD. STAFF RECOMMENDED IT. AND GRATEFUL, AGAIN TO THE CHAIR FOR AGENDIZING BOTH OF THESE TODAY IN TANDEM BECAUSE I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU MENTIONED, A HOLISTIC APPROACH WE HAVE TO TAKE, MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT LEAVING ONE OUT FOR THE OTHER. IT MAKES SENSE TO DO OUR BEST, WE HAVE GOOD SENSE OF COMMUNICATION ON GOING, GROWING THAT SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATION. AND MAKING SURE WE'RE CONNECTING FOLKS TO PROGRAM THAT WE'RE L LAYING OUT, IF THERE'S SOMEONE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STILL GET THAT ACCESS RESOURCE TO JOIN INTO ACCESS VOUCHERS AND NOT GET PENALIZED THE WHOLE TIME.

SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING A VETERAN HOUSING NAVIGATOR WITHIN THE MILITARY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OR HSD WHICHEVER FEELS TO HAVE THE BETTER OUTCOME TH THERE. AND OVERALL, I MEAN, I JUST THINK WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE OUR HOUSING DISCRIMINATION -- MAKE IT EASIER TO HOUSE PEOPLE HERE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CH

CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, COUN COUNCILMAN.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> SUKH KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK THE FO FOLKS WHO CAME OUT TO ADVOCATE FOR AN ISSUE AND EDUCATING ME AND A LOT OF US ON SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. I LEARNED -- I WAS SH

[01:50:02]

THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET MORE VOUCHERS INTO THE -- INTO FOLK'S HANDS, MORE VOUCHERS BEING USED QUICKLY, AND ALSO G GETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE LANDLORDS PAID MORE QUICKLY.

I HEARD THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION THAT'S STILL NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN THE SUPPORTIVE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO BE AND NOT GETTING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY FIND THE SUPPORT AND PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING.

I HEARD EARLIER TODAY FROM PETE, A CHALLENGE ABOUT -- AND FROM FOR MENTAL HEALTH TH THAT -- WITH FOLKS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH PT PTSD. AND THEN OVERALL, I HEARD THAT WE HAVE JUST A CHALLENGE WITH SUFFICIENT HOUSING FOR OUR VETERANS.

AND SO FOR ME, I WOULD SAY ALL OF US ARE ZOO% COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE NO VETERAN HAS TO SLEEP ON THE STREETS AND WHAT WE PUT INTO PLACE ADDRESSES THAT, AND THAT HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST FOCUS IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS AS WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH THE VOUCHER PROGRAM IS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BY TALKING TO THE FOLKS THAT AREN'T RECEIVING THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED, AND WHEN WE DUG INTO THE DATA BECAUSE EVERYONE HERE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE THE DATA, THE FIRST I WAS SHOCKED BY WAS WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VETERANS ARE OUT THERE. THE VASH GIVES US GOOD DATA BUT THE HCB IS AN ESTIMATE, SO THE 127 WHICH IS NOW DIFFERENT THAN THE PRESENTATION TODAY COULD BE DIFFERENT FROM TOMORROW BECAUSE IT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS HCV, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING FOR THE SUMMATION OF NUMBER OF VETERANS WITHOUT HOUSING. WE HAVE TO AT LEAST KNOW WHO IT IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM. SO IF WE CAN'T EVEN GET THE LIST OF PEOPLE, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE MISSING A BIG STEP. SO THEN LOOKING AT THE DATA THAT WE DID HAVE, WHICH IS THE VASH PROGRAM DATA, OF THE 39 PEOPLE, WHERE THEY WERE IN THE SYSTEM, THERE WERE 7 FOLKS THAT HAD NOT FOUND OUTSIDING IN OVER 60 DAYS, SO I WANT TO KNOW WHERE THOSE 7 FOLKS ARE LOOKING, WHERE THEY WANT TO BE AND WHY THEY CAN'T ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY FIND HO HOUSING IN THE AREA THEY WANT TO BE AT.

AND I THINK IT'S INCUINCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO REACH OUT, WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO GO FIND THOSE PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE WE GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE BECAUSE THAT -- LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ALL HAVE TO STAY REALLY COMMITTED TO HOUSING OUR VETERANS, AND SO I WOULD TRIED TO MAKE CALLS TO FIGURE OUT WHO ARE THE SOCIAL WORKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE OFFICE COULD BE A SUPPORT. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN MEN MENTIONED HOUSING NAVIGATOR AND OUTREACH WAS ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, SLIDES 7 AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS COULD DO MORE FOR OUR VOUCHER HOLDERS AND HOW WE COULD BE SEEN AS A SERVICE. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WORKED WITH HIM TO HELP SUPPORT ONE OF HER RESI RESIDENTS, AND EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THAT SUPPORT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PUT THAT IN OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO HAVE A HOUSING NAVIGATOR WITHIN HIS OFFICE.

AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO FIGURE OUT WAS HOW TO MAKE MORE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN AT VALOR HILL WITH THE ACCESSIBLE UNITS AND HOW WE'RE USING THE HOUSING BOND DOLLARS, THAT HAS SHOWN A TRUE LIGHT ON WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE PUT REAL PUBLIC DOLLARS BEHIND A HOUSING SUPPORT SPACE FOR OUR VETERANS. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS WHOLISTICALLY BY MAKING SURE THE SOLUTIONS WE'RE PUTTING INTO PLACE ARE TRULY HELPING OUR VETERANS. BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT IT IS -- THAT THAT IS WHAT WE ALL WANT TO DO. I THINK AN INDIVIDUAL LANDLORD WHO -- AND WE'RE TALKING TO THE FOLKS WHO -- A VETERAN WHO HAS NOW LEFT, BOUGHT A HOUSE ON A V.A.

LOAN HAS NOW LEFT WOULD OF COURSE LOVE TO RENT THEIR HOME TO A VETERAN, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT TWO TO THREE MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT REIMBURSEMENT. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT -- IT'S NOT THAT IT'S MORE THAN LIKELY NOT THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO, BUT THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO. SO HOW DO WE HELP FIX THE GAP OF THEM BEING ABLE TO

[01:55:01]

SO I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT FOLKS WHO OWN MORE THAN FOUR PROPERTIES, AND THAT WE ASSESS ENFORCEMENT IN SIX MONTHS, SO TAKE OUT THE FEE FOR NOW AND ASSESS -- EVALUATE THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE ON THE PROACTIVE PROGRAM IS ACCELERATED PAYMENTS.

SO AFTER THE FIRST VIOL VIOLATION, YOU GET A FEE, AND THEN IT GOES UP HIGHER AND HIGHER IF YOU GET MORE, THAT WAY THE FOLKS THAT ARE BAD ACTORS CAN BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE CAME UP TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AS WELL. SO I'LL RECOMMEND THE CITY DEPARTMENT ESTABLISH SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT OWN FIVE OR MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITHOUT A FINE AND

THAT CITY REASS REASSESS THED O NANS AFTER ADOPTION. >> MUNGIA: SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'LL CONTINUE COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

BUT TO BE CLEAR, YOUR MOTION IS TO SEND THIS TO THE FULL COUNCIL WITH

THE STIPULATION OF FOUR OR MORE PROPERTY OWNERS. >> SUKH KAUR: THAT OWN FIVE OR

MORE. >> MUNGIA: THAT OWN FIVE OR MOR PROPERTIES.

OKAY WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION. COUNCILWOMAN GONE DOLL

LESS. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. CHAIR.

I WAS IN THE MEETING YESTERDAY WE HAD WITH A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE ROOM. I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION, AND IN THIS, I INVITED ENDEAVORS TO ATTEND THAT MEETING, THEY'RE HEAD CARRIEDED IN DISTRICT 8 AND DO A NUMBER OF THINGS NATIONWIDE THEIR NONPROFIT IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING VETERANS. AND SO THEY WORK WITH 100 OR MORE LANDLORDS WITH FOLKS THAT ARE ACCEPTING VOUCHERS, AND I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP THE VETERAN HOUSING NAVIGATOR, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR US TO DO THAT AS A CITY BUT WE HAVE PARTNERS ALREADY IN THIS SYSTEM AND DO THIS WORK EVERY DAY, AND I THINK WE WOULD BE BEST SERVED WORKING WITH ENDEAVORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THEY'RE NAVIGATING THIS WITH THEIR VETERANS AND IT ALL -- IT SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE WORK WITH OUR ENDEAVORS ON THAT, VETERAN HOUSING NAVIGATOR PIECE, AND MAYBE THAT'S A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE COULD DO WITH ENDEAVORS.

AND I THINK IT -- I FEEL LIKE WE ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL, ENSURING THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVED OUR COUNTRY AR ARE -- HAVE A HIGH QUALITY PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND WE HAD A GREAT MEETING YESTERDAY WITH SO MANY STAKEHOLDERS. WE HAVE ONE THOUSAND UNITS IN DISTRICT 8.

I REPRESENT DISTRICT 8, THAT ALSO REPRESENTS THE MEDICAL CITY AND AUDREY MURPHY. WE HAVE OVER ONE THOUSAND UNITS THAT ACCEPT VOUCHERS IN DISTRICT 8 RIGHT NOW. VALOR HILL IS A WON WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT VETERAN HOUSING LOOKS LIKE THAT HAS THAT WRAP AROUND SERVICE IN THERE WITH SAM MINISTRIES, ENDEAVORS, GI FORM IS BASED IN THERE. SO I -- AS FAR AS THE -- I THINK THE MOTION, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT IMPACTING THOSE MOM AND POP VETERANS WITH ONE OR TWO, YOU KNOW, TENANTS.

REALLY. THAT'S WHAT SO MANY OF OUR PROPERTY MANAGERS DEAL WITH, I WOULD SAY A MAJORITY OF THEIR CLIENTS ARE PROBABLY LANDLORDS THAT HAVE ONE OR TWO TENANTS. AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO HURT THOSE LANDLORDS IN THIS PROCESS. AND SO I SUPPORT THE MOTION THAT COUNCILMAN KAUR MADE. THOSE ARE ALL OF MY

COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

AND BEFORE WE CONTINUE ON WITH DISCUSSION. I'LL HAVE LEGAL ADD A COUPLE ITEMS OF CONCERN THAT THEY HAD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR ON THE

[02:00:04]

MECHANISM. >> MUNGIA: YEAH. AND COUNCILWOMAN KAUR I'LL OFFER MAYBE TO HELP STREAMLINE THIS A LITTLE BIT WOULD YOU CONSIDER AMENDING YOUR MOTION TO SEND THIS TO COUNCIL WITH PCDC FEEDBACK, BROADLY SPEAKING THAT WAY WE CAN GET SOME GREATER DETAIL AS FAR AS AMENDING THE ORDINANCE, AND OBVIOUSLY STILL HAVE INPUT AT FULL COUNCIL.

>> SUKH KAUR: I'D LIKE TO VOTE ON A MOTION TO PUT IT FORWARD, BUT THIS IS THE LANGUAGE I GOT

FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO I'M NOT SURE . >> WELL, SO IT -- THE LANGUAGE THAT WE PROPOSED AS THE MOTION WAS BASED OFF OF THE ORDINANCE THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION. THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL ASK THAT THERE -- THE PENALTY BE ASSESSED AS A $500 FINE.

AND SO WE WERE GOING OFF OF THAT. AND SO IF YOUR MOTION WAS TO PROPOSE -- HAVE OUR OFFICE PREPARE AN ORDINANCE BUT REMOVE OR NOT INCLUDE A $500 FINE, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS THE COMMITTEE AND ULTIMATELY COUNCIL'S ORDINANCE WOULD BE E ENFORCED IF THERE WAS IN

FACT A VIOLATION. >> SUKH KAUR: CAN -- >> MUNGIA: JOHN P PETERRIC DO Y

HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD. >> YEAH. THERE COULD BE SOME CLARITY WITH WHAT WAS IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND THE AMENDMENT.

I WAS GOING TO ASK VERONICA TO STEP UP, CHAIR.

OKAY. >> SO WHAT WE COULD CONSIDER IS MAYBE THERE'S NO FINE ON THE FIRSTS OF OR SECONDS OF AND THAT THERE COULD BE A FEE INSTEAD OF A FINE. THE FEE -- I KNOW WE HEARD SOME FEEDBACK THIS MORNING ON IS IT A CRIMINAL PENALTY OR A CIVIL PENALTY.

I THINK THE WORD FINE LEANS ITSELF MORE TOWARDS CRIMINAL PEN PENALTY. SO MAYBE FEES INSTEAD AND IT COULD BE STRUCTURED ESCALATING MAYBE LIKE THE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM, SO ALL THINGS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ON HOW WE LOOK TOWARDS THAT

ENFORCEMENT PROVISION. >> MUNGIA: YEAH. SO MAYBE -- YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL THING IS MAYBE AMEND IT TO NOT BEING SO PRESCRIPTIVE GOING TO FULL COUNCIL. WE SHOULD SEND THIS TO COUNCIL.

EVERYONE HAS THE FE FEEDBACK, THE REST OF COLLEAGUES GET BRIEFED BEFORE THAT WITH THE DIFFERENT RECOMME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE. AND I THINK IT JUST HELPS US GET A LITTLE MORE STREAMLINED OUT OF HERE IF IT'S NOT SO DETAILED THAT YOU'RE A ADDING TO IT. OKAY. SO WE WILL GO ON TO COUNCILWOMAN -- AND I'M SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN MEZA

GONZALEZ. YOU HAD A FINAL POINT. >> GONZALEZ: WE AMENDED THE NDO IN 2013 TO INCLUDE VETERAN STATUS, COULD WE AMEND IT TO INCLUDE VETERAN SOURCE OF IN

INCOME. >> YES, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT AMENDMENT CAN BE

MADE. >> GONZALEZ: AND THAT WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY SEPARATE FROM THIS

MOTION. >> WELL, IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT, BUT WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU WOULD WANT IT E

ENFORCED. >> GONZALEZ: BUT THE CURRENT ND DOESN'T HAVE FINED ATTACHED TO

IT EITHER; RIGHT. >> SO ANY PART OF OUR CODE THAT STATES THAT DOING SOMETHING OR FA FAILING TO DO SOMETHING IS A VIOLATION.

>> GONZALEZ: SURE. >> WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ASSESS A

FINE. >> GONZALEZ: THERE'S LANGUAGE I THAT, THAT .

>> FOR ANY VIOLATION OF ANY ORDINANCE. SO THE WAY THE NDO IS SET UP, IN THE ENFORCEMENT SECTION IS PROVIDES FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO A VIOLATION CONDUCTED BY STAFF, AND UPON A FI FINDING OF A VIOLATION, THEN THE ENTIRE FILE IS PROVIDED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR FURTHER HANDLING, AND THEN THERE ARE A RANGE

OF WAYS THAT WE CAN HANDLE A VIOLATION. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY.

I GUESS THAT WAS MAYBE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IN ESSENTIALLY ADDING THAT LANGUAGE TO OUR EXISTING FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCE OR NDO, EXCUSE ME. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU CHAIR AN VERONICA FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I COMMEND CIRCULATING AROUND THE CITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND HE'S A HUMBLE MAN WHICH MAY BE WHY HE'S NOT HERE, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING HE'S BEEN BRINGING TO COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HOW TO BEST SUPPORT VETERANS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND SO HE'S NOT PRESENT BUT JUST WANTED

[02:05:01]

THERE WAS JUST AN ARTICLE THAT WAS REL RELEASED THAT LAUREL RIDGE WILL HAVE TO LET GO OF SEVERAL -- OR HUNDREDS RATHER OF EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH CARE TO SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND HOW COULD WE CONTINUE T TO, ONE, INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM BUT ALSO MENTAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE SEEING FIRST HAND WITH CONSTITUENTS AGAIN GOING BACK TO ONE CONSTITUENT. VASH AND SECTION 8, BECAUSE HE WAS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH HE DIDN'T USE EITHER THE SECTION 8 OR VASH THEY EXPIRED AND THEN HE CAME BACK AND SAID CAN YOU HELP ME R REAPPLY, CONNECTED HIM TO OPPORTUNITY HOME AND WE DID THAT.

AND WE WERE GRATEFUL WE COULD WORK WITH THAT TO FIND HIM TEMPORARY SHELTER UNTIL THE WEATHER WARMED UP AND OF COURSE HE WAS ABLE TO FIND LONG-TERM HOUSING, BUT I HIGHLIGHT THAT PIECE BECAUSE HIM NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLE, HE'S TRACKED AS NOT HAVING -- THE VOUCHER BEING ACCEPTED RIGHT.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LANDLORDS DENYING AND/OR ACCEPTING A VASH VOUCHER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STRUGGLES SOMEONE WHO HOLDS A VOUCHER MAY HAVE AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEM NEEDED FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, A AND, AGAIN, THIS WAS A MARINE VETERAN WITH MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, AND WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING A LOT OF ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT HE'S SAFE AND HO HOUSED, BUT OF COURSE THAT WAS WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENERAL RO ROYALYA AND HIS TEAM, SO I BELIEVE THERE'S VALUE UNDER PROVIDING HOUSING SUPPORT UNDER THAT TEAM.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF JOHN WHO WORKS WITH HUMAN SERVICES AND ALSO SERVES AS A POINT OF HOMELESS VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO AND JUST A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE, ALL THINGS VETERAN AND IS A VETERAN HIMSELF, SO THANK YOU, JOHN, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PRIOR PRIORITIZING HOUSING FOR ALL SAN ANTONIOIAN RESIDENTS.

NOW WITH THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE BEFORE US, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOTION PUT FORTH. I DO THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, 1, THIS WAS A LEARNING PROCESS IN WHICH I LEARNED THAT THE MAJORITY -- NOT MAJORITY -- THA THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS ARE ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT U UNINTENTIONAL LIMB PENALIZING ACTIVE DUTY WHO HAVE THEIR HOME ON THE MARKET. SO I BELIEVE WITH THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION WITH DR. KAUR THAT THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT U UNINTENTIONALLY IMP IMPACTING OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I AM ONE OF THE ONLY COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAT'S 100% URBAN, AND AS WE TALK ABOUT PROJECT MARVEL, INNER CITY DEVELOPMENT, MY CONCERN WITH THE PENALTY IS TH THAT, AS FOLKS HAVE SHARED, YOU MAY SEE INCREASED RENTS OR REMOVAL OF ENTIRE RENTAL UNITS, AND WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IS VACANT HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, VACANT UNITS, AND ALSO LOOK LIKE AIRBNBS SO THEN R REMOVING LONG-TERM HO HOUSING OFF OF THE MARKET.

SO I THINK THE VALUE IN US REEVALUATING US IN TERMS OF THE PENALTY WILL ALLOW US TO TRACK TO SEE HOW MANY VIOLATIONS ARE WE SEE SEEING, AND THEN ASSESS TO HAVE THAT FEE AND THAT PENALTY.

BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE MOVING LONG-TERM HOUSING PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE INNER CITY WHERE WE'RE SEEING LAND SPECULATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN OF COURSE JUST THE INCREASE OF AIR BNBS, AGAIN REMOVING LONG-TERM UNITS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL USE.

BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ACTION ON THIS ITEM AT FULL CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. CHAIR.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. AND HAVE WE'LL CONTINUE CONVERSATION, I'LL ADD THAT I THINK THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING INTO THE -- YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT BUCKETS. INCOME AND OUTPUT BUC BUCKETS VERSUS OUTCOME SO WE WANT TO INFLUENCE OUTCOME OF THIS PROCESS, BUT THIS IS NOT GOING TO MANDATE, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT'S NOT GOING TO MANDATE THAT SOMEONE MUST TAKE A VOUCHER HOLDER, SIMPLY ADDING -- SIMPLY ASKING THAT YOU GIVE SOMEONE A CHANCE TO APPLY FOR IT. SO VERONICA, CAN YOU

KIND OF WALK US THROUGH THAT? >> YES.

SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE FORCED, OTHER THAN THEY COULD NOT, AT THE ONSET SAY I DON'T ACCEPT VOUCHERS, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER THE VOUCHER AND EVALUATE THE PROSPECTIVE TENANT AGAINST OTHER LEASING

CRITERIA THEY HAVE. >> RIGHT. SO YOU COULD ALSO THROUGH THIS PROCESS EDUCATE AND FIND -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A GREAT EXAMPLE. WE ASKED THEM -- YOU HAVE A PROCESS THAT'S DUE, A TIMELINE THAT'S DUE, WORK WITH US IF YOU CAN'T COMPLETE IT, AND IF NOT, YOU WILL BE FI FINED. SO IS THAT A SIMILAR PROCESS YOU COULD IMPLEMENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE.

>> YES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH THE EXISTING HO HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER POLICY. WE START WITH ANY

[02:10:03]

>> SO THAT'S UNDERWAY WITH THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER.

>> RIGHT. POLICY. >> MUNGIA: AND HAS THERE BEEN

FEES ASSESSED THROUGH THE ORDINANCE. >> NO.

THERE'S NOT. >> MUNGIA: HOW LONG HAS BEEN IN AFFECT.

>> 2021. >> MUNGIA: OKAY. IT REMINDS ME OF BAND THE BOX IF YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD YOU'RE STILL ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR THE JOB AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT'S GIVING SOMEONE A CHANCE, IT'S A SIMILAR ANALOGY. GIVING SOMEONE A CHANCE TO HAVE A VETERAN WITH A VOUCHER ANY CHANCE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR

SOMETHING; CORRECT. >> YES. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY

OTHER POINTS? COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> SUKH KAUR: OKAY.

I AMEND THE MOTION TO SAY MOVE THAT WE RECOMMEND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION FOR VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT OWN FIVE OR MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WITH AN ESCALATING FEE STRUCTURE SIMILAR TO THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND THAT THE CITY REASS REASSESS THE ORDINANCE 6 MONTHS AFTER ADOPTION.

>> MUNGIA: OKAY. A MOTION AND A SECOND. CONTINUE COUNCIL DISCUSSION? COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: I WANT TO CLARIFY. I SAID ONE THOUSAND PROPERTIES THAT ACCEPT VOUCHERS. I MEANT ONE THOUSAND UNITS.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU FOR THE NUANCED CLARIFICATION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SLASH POINTS OF CLARIFICATION? OKAY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THIS MOVING TO FULL COUNCIL.

I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE -- ST STARTING OFF OF FIVE, YOU KNOW, LISTINGS OR MORE. I THINK ANYTIME THERE'S A DENIAL BASED ON A VOUCHER FOR APPLYING, YOU KNOW, ONE TOO MANY TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT OUR VETERAN POPULATION.

HOWEVER, THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ORDINANCE TO CONTINUE.

THERE IS A FEE ATTACHED NOW, YOU KNOW, AS IT'S BEING RECOMMENDED WITH SOME WARNING AND EDUCATION. SO WHILE I DO HAVE PAUSE ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT ABOUT FIVE OR MORE PROPERTIES, I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS GOING TO FULL COUNCIL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO SAME

NUMBER 6. PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: TIMELINE FOR AMEN

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 35 UNIFIE DEVELOPMENT CODE, UDC. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

AND, FOLKS, WE'LL ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE QUIET AS WE LEAVE THE ROOM HERE SO WE COULD GET STARTED ON THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.

I'M TOE MASS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

I'M HERE TO -- F >> MUNGIA: FOLKS IN THE BACK, I YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN A WE BEGIN UDC CONVERSATIONS. OUR MEETING IS CUTTING INTO LUNCH.

THANK YOU. >> I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. OKAY.

SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT UDC, THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT PROCESS, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS CCR THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN B SESSION. SO JUST REALLY QUICK, UDC IS UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS BASED ON OUR ORDINANCE.

NORMALLY, IT'S EVERY YEAR THAT I SAY WITH 05 BUT THEN WITH COVID HIT IN 2019, WE PAUSED AND DIDN'T DO AMENDMENTS IN 2020 BECAUSE WE COULDN'T MEET IN PERSON AND TO U UPDATE IT'S A LOT OF I IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS SO WE PAUSED THAT AND WORKED ON UDC AND ADOPTED IT IN 2022 WITH ADOPTION DATE OF JANUARY 1, 2023. IN THAT ORDINANCE WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT CODE CYCLE BEING IN 20 2027; THAT'S FIVE YEARS FROM 2022. THE BIG REASON WE UPDATE THE UDC, YOU KNOW, NEW LAWS, REGULATIONS, FROM THE CITY, FROM THE ST STATE, FEDERAL RULES AS WELL. NEW TECHNOLOGY TIC T KICKS IN, AND NEW MATERIALS KICK IN, AND NORMALLY WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ADOPT ALL OF THAT AND INCLUDE THAT INTO OUR CODE. THE STANDARD PROCESS TAKES ABOUT YEAR.

WE BREAK IT DOWN TO FOUR SECTIONS. EACH SECTION IS 3 A MONTH, A QUARTER. SO NORMALLY, THE FIRST QUARTER STARTS, IN THIS CASE JANUARY 1, 2027. AND WE OPEN UP THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR

[02:15:07]

WE ACCEPT ALL OF THAT, AND THEN THE SECOND QUARTER, WE GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEN TO THE PTAC, THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THEY REVIEW ALL OF THOSE PROPOSALS AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE TWO, THE ZO ZONING COMMISSION, AND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. WE GO THROUGH THOSE THREE COMMISSIONS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND THEN WE TAKE IT TO COUNCIL FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION. WHEN IT'S ADOPTED, AT THAT POINT, HOPEFULLY THEN THE EFFECTIVE DATE THAT WE ASK FOR IS JANUARY 1.

WHAT THAT DOES IS GIVE US THE LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR TO DO FULL EDUCATION FOR INTERNAL STAFF AND FOR EXTERNAL DEVELOPERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECAUSE, AGAIN, MAJOR CHANGES AFFECTS THOSE PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE DESIGNING OR WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS SOMETIMES, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THOSE CHANGES.

SO AS I SAID, THAT'S THE NORMAL PROCESS FOR THE UDC. NOW, TALKING ABOUT THE CCR THAT WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCILMAN GALVAN IN OCTOBER OF 2025, IT DID TALK ABOUT, SPECIFICALLY, THE DATA CENTERS, AND MAINLY THE BIG ITEM WAS THE UTILITY USAGE, MAINLY POWER, AND WATER, AND THE CCR, THERE WAS A TOPIC OR CONSIDERATION TO LOOK INTO THE UDC AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY POSSIBLE CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS THAT MAKE IT MORE RESTRICTIVE FOR DATA CENTERS. WE WENT TO GOVERNANCE IN DECEMBER OF 2025 AND THEN WENT TO FULL -- NOT TO FU FULL -- I'M SORRY TO B SESSION COUNCIL ON MARCH 4. AND WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK AT THAT TIME ABOUT POTENTIALLY CREATING A STAKEHOLDER ME MEETING OR GROUP AND COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND MAKING SURE WHAT KIND OF AMENDMENTS WE COULD ADD TO THE UDC. SOME OF THE TOPICS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING B SESSION IS POTENTIALLY ADDING AN S TO THE ZONING, WHICH IS SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR ANY NEW DATA CENTER. WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, SUCH AS FENCING, LANDSCAPES, BUFFERS, DEP DEPENDING ON THE SITE, OBVIOUSLY, EACH CASE IS CASE BY CASE, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION, THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AROUND IT. WE TALKED ABOUT NOISE MITIGATING TECHNIQUES BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT SOME RESIDENTS, THEY SAY THEY HEAR THE HUMMING NOISE ALL THE TIME. SO, AGAIN, ALL OF THESE T TOPICS WERE PRESENTED AND ALL OF THESE WOULD BE CASE BY CASE AT THE TIME IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS AT THE TIME THEY COME TO COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL USE AUTHORIZATION. SO WITH THAT SAID, THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT SHOULD WE DO THIS WITHIN THE NORMAL CYCLE OF UDC OR DO THIS OUT OF CYCLE.

SO I JUST PRESENTED THE NORMAL CYCLE, WHICH TAKES A FULL YEAR IN 2027.

IF THE DECISION IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUT OF CYCLE FOR DATA CENTERS, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT SHORTER TIME. WE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THE FIRST MEETING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS ON MAY 8. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT -- WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH IT. WE CAN CONTINUE SEVERAL ME MEETINGS IN MAY AND JUNE, AND THEN DEVELOP THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

WE CAN TAKE THOSE IN JULY TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS, AND THEN BRING IT TO COUNCIL IN AUGUST WITH EFFECTIVE DATE. IT COULD BE AUGUST, END OF AUGUST, COULD BE JANUARY, COULD DEPEND ON WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO, BUT THAT TIME FRAME IS A LOT SHORTER AND CAN BE DONE OUT OF CYCLE. SO NEXT STEPS, BASICALLY AS I SAID, WE ESTABLISHED STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS ON MA MAY 8 AS THE FIRST ONE.

BUT WE REALLY NEED FEEDBACK FROM YOU ON WHICH WAY DO YOU WANT US TO TAKE THIS.

WOULD WE TAKE IT AS NORMAL CYCLE WITH UDC. STILL MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOP ALL OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUT THEM INTO THE REGULAR CYCLE WITH THE UDC OR, AGAIN, MOVE FORWARD WITH OUT OF CYCLE. THAT'S MY PRESENTATION, AND

I'M JUST SEEKING FEEDBACK FROM YOU. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCILMAN GALVAN.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, CHAIR, AN AMINE FOR THE WORK ON THIS. IT WAS A CONVERSATION WE HAD -- FEELS LIKE MONTHS AGO BUT PROBABLY A MONTH AGO.

BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK STAFF HAS BEEN DOING ON THIS.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT GOING THROUGH OUT OF CYCLE.

I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE ME MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR STAKEHOLDERS.

[02:20:02]

LISTED ON THE SLI SLIDE; CORRECT. >> CORRECT.

THOSE ARE TOPICS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING B SESSION, BUT WHEN THE DISCUSSION HAPPENS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, IT'S FULLY OPEN AND WE CAN

SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF I IT. >> GALVAN: GREAT.

IS SAFD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

AS WELL. PART OF THE FIRE CODE. >> YES.

WE'LL HAVE THEM INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS JUST IN CASE THEY HAVE ANY

RECOMMENDATIONS. >> GALVAN: GREAT. I KNOW ONE OF THE CEN CENTERS IN THE COMMUNITY RESULTED IN AND WAS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THE PERSON IMPACTED WAS UNDERSTANDING HOW THESE PARTICULAR BUILDINGS OPERATE, WHERE FOLKS ARE AT, WHERE FOLKS ARE DOING WORK IN THESE PLACES AND MAKING SURE THERE'S A CLEAR FIRE ROUTE. THANKFULLY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MADE IT OUR SITE WITHIN A MINUTE, WHICH IS REALLY I INCREDIBLE, BUT REG REGARDLESS, I KNOW THAT ENTITY IN PARTICULAR WAS EXCITED TO SEE HOW COULD WE BE MORE COLLABORATIVE WITH THE FIRE DEPAR DEPARTMENT, HOW WE'RE CONNECTED AND ANY YOU'D RELATED TO THAT, HAPPY TO OPEN UP CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT. SO MAKING SURE I VOICE SUPPORT FOR THAT AS WE WELL. BUT OTHERWISE SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS LEGISLATIONED. THANK YOU, AMINE, THANK

YOU, CHAIR. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, ANY OTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION?

COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> SUKH KAUR: I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN FOR PUTTIN THIS FORWARD. I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY EMAILS FROM FOLKS ASKING FOR SUPPORT ON THIS, SO THE COMMITTEE IS DOING REALLY GOOD AT ADVO ADVOCATING. I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT OF AN ISSUE IT IS FOR COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN, BUT I, LIKE, HAVE SO MANY UDC AMENDMENTS I'VE ASKED FOR OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND I NEVER GET THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN OUT OF CYCLE. SO I -- YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF POWER BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFFERED THAT.

I'VE BEEN TOLD KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND WAIT UNTIL 2027.

OKAY. I'M BEING FACETIOUS. I WOULD NEVER -- LAUGHTER ]. NO. BUT WE DO GET -- YOU KNOW, WE DO GET SAD, LIKE YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, SINGLE STAIRCASE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND THERE'S SO MANY THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP AROUND HOUSING THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME FOR UDC, AND SO I SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE OF THE UNI UNIQUENESS OF THIS SITUATION, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO R RECONSIDER WHEN UDC COMES AROUND, WHY DO WE HAVE IT ON AN EVERY FIVE YEAR CYCLE.

I ASKED AMINE THAT IN MY BRIEFING. AND HE WAS LIKE IT'S JUST WHAT WE -- AFTER WE TALKED YESTERDAY, I ASKED MELISSA, I'LL LET

HER EXPLAIN WHY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCICOUNCILMEMBERS, YES I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE UDC PROCESS FOR THE LAST DECADE, AND IN THE BE BEGINNING WE USED TO HAVE THEM EVERY THREE YEARS, JUST LIKE OUR OTHER CODE CYCLES, BUT THIS IS SO BROAD, AND THERE'S SO MANY AMENDMENTS THAT COME IN, LAST CYCLE WE DID OVER 200 UDC AMENDMENTS.

SO IMAGINE SITTING DOWN AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS WORD FOR WORD FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE, IT'S QUITE CONSUMING. SO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TOOK THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, TRAINING OUR STAFF, TRAINING OUR CUSTOMERS, TRAINING OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AND OUR RESIDENTS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE CODES, AND ONCE WE GET THROUGH THAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE PASS THOSE ORDINANCES AND THEN WE START AGAIN, IT'S ALMOST READY FOR THE NEXT CYCLE. SO IT IS TIME CONSUMING. SO WE RECOMMENDED AND IT

WAS PASSED FOR EVERY FIVE YEARS. >> KAUR: COOL.

WE CAN RECOMMEND THE OPPOSITE BACK; RIGHT. >> YOU CAN.

IT WILL BE CONSUMING FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST ST STAFF, BUT ALSO FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. THE CERTAINTY IN THE CODES IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, AND IF THEY HAVE THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS, THEY CAN ENSURE WHAT THEIR DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO LOOK TOW TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, THE

NEXT UDC AMENDMENT CY CYCLE. >> SUKH KAUR: I HEAR THAT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S SO MUCH EVOLVING IN OUR HOUSING SPACE, AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE NIMBLE, AND SO IT'S A BOTH-AND CONVERSATION THAT I KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE, BUT I KNOW WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE A LOT MORE CHANCES TO DO THAT BEFORE JANUARY BECAUSE AMINE DID TELL ME I COULDN'T MAKE THAT CHANGE, AND I SAID WHY DON'T WE START THAT PROCESS THIS SUMMER. AND HE SAID THAT WASN'T POSSIBLE.

SO HE SAID AFTER THE NEXT ONE IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE IT WE COULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. SO I GUESS WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION THEN TO SEE HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET -- WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT X AMOUNT OF FIVE YEARS EVERY TIME WE HAVE SOMETHING WE WANT TO HELP FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY. I'M DONE.

[02:25:02]

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR HAS A GREAT MEMORY.

COUNCILMEMBER CAST KE KEOGH. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

AMINE AND MELISSA AND COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE CYCLE CONVERSATION ON THIS UDC CODE GIVEN HOW FAST THIS INDUSTRY IS EVOLVING AND EXPANDING IN OUR CITY. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO EVALUATE THE UDC BEFORE WE SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE LARGE DATA CENTERS. SO IN SHORT, SUPPORTIVE OF THE COUNCILMEMBER'S RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: LIKEWISE. SUPPORTIVE OF THE RECOMMENDATION FOR UDC AMENDMENTS, AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN GALVAN THIS WAS THE FIRST CCR I THINK I SIGNED. RIGHT? YEAH.

YEAH. ANYWAYS. AND I ACTUALLY WENT ON A TOUR -- WE DID A DATA CENTER TOUR A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND SO THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 6, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE PREPARE FOR THAT IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN. SO IT'S A CCR THAT CA CAUSED SO MANY WAVES IN A GOOD WAY. I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. THERE'S SO MANY GREAT HOUSING THINGS, BUT TO THE POINT THIS IS A SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, FAST GROWING, OBVIOUSLY ALL THE HOUSING THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IS GOING TO BE FAR-REACHING GOING TO AFFECT EVERY PROPERTY WHEN THEY R REDEVELOP OR BUILD SO WE COULD BE QUICK AND NIMBLE ON THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A HIGH CONCERN, WE HAVE SO MANY RESIDENTS THAT REACHED OUT TO US AND EVEN ON A TOWN HALL WE HAD, I MEAN, IT CAME UP FOR FOLKS IN THAT AREA.

SO I SUPPORT THE EXPEDITED TIMELINE, AND THEN WE WILL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL THE PRIORITIES FOR PDCD FOR THE UPCOMING NORMAL PROCESS THAT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GET A HEAD START ON.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WAS ENOUGH FEEDBACK FOR YOU TODAY.

QUICK AND EXPEDITED. AWESOME. WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE?

I THINK THE FEEDBACK IS SUFFICIENT. >> FOR BOTH ITEMS WE'LL MOVE TO THE ORDINANCE ON THE SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION FOR COUNCIL, UPDATE THE ORDINANCE BASED UPON THE MOTION, AND THEN FOR THIS, MOVE FORWARD WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND BRING THEM TO CITY COUNCIL OUT

OF CYCLE. >> MUNGIA: AWESOME. GREAT.

THE TIME IS NOW 12:29, AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.