[00:01:15] >> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:14 A.M. ON MAY 7TH, 2026, AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. >> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS IS RECOGNIZED TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S INVOKE INVOKE TENURE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT IS THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND I ASKED MY PASTOR TO COME HERE BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DAY. I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO PASTOR RICK GOD WIN. GODWIN, THE PASTOR OF SUMMIT CHURCH OUT IN DISTRICT 9, AND HE IS THE PASTOR OF THAT CONGREGATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ALL WALKS OF LIFE WITH SHARED COMMITMENT TO FAITH, SERVICE AND COMMUNITY. HE IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AN AUTHOR AND A SOUGHT-AFTER SPEAKER WHO LEADS BOTH BUSINESS AND MINISTRY AUDIENCES WITH THE MESSAGE REAL WORLD LEADERSHIP. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT PASTOR RICK IS HE'S ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOUNG NEW CHRISTIANS OR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING THEIR FAITH, BUT ALSO TO A MATURE CHRISTIAN ALSO IN ONE SERMON, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS SO SIGNIFICANT AND SPECIAL ABOUT HIM. HIS WORK CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGES PEOPLE TO RAISE THEIR STANDARDS, PURSUE PURPOSE AND SERVE OTHERS IN A WAY THAT CREATES MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. HE EXHIBITS THIS DEEP COMMITMENT BY LEADING HIS CONGREGATION AND THE COMMUNITY WELL IN ITS SUMMER REBOOT PROGRAM. THIS IS A 12-WEEK FAITH-BASED PEER-LED COURSE THAT HELPS VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES HEAL FROM SERVICE-RELATED TRAUMA. I'M PERSONALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE STEADY WISDOM AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM HIS FAMILY AND HE HAS PROVIDED TO ME OVER THIS -- OVER MY TIME HERE ON COUNCIL AND PRIOR TO THAT AND WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, AND IT HAS MEANT MORE TO ME THAN YOU KNOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY, PASTOR RICK AND THE EXAMPLE YOU SAID IN LEADING THROUGH SERVICE. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CHURCH AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE, I WANT TO PERSONALLY INVITE YOU TO START COMING TO SUMMIT. SO PLEASE JOIN US AS PASTOR RICK LEADS OUR INVOCATION. >> GOOD MORNING. , MAYOR JONES, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GATHER HUMBLY BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING, GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING OF THIS CITY, ITS HISTORY, ITS DIVERSITY AND EVERYDAY COURAGE OF THOSE WHO WORK TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL WHO CALL THIS CITY HOME. WE ASK FOR YOUR GUIDING WISDOM AS WE BEGIN THIS COUNCIL SESSION. GRANT US CLARITY OF MIND TO LISTEN WITH PATIENCE, DISCERNMENT TO PURSUE WHAT IS JUST AND COMPASSIONATE, AND COURAGE TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY EVEN WHEN DECISIONS ARE DIFFICULT. HELP US TO SEE THE COMMON GOOD, TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE, AND TO HONOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON WHO ENTERS THIS CHAMBER. WE LIFT UP OUR LEADERS TODAY, THE CHAIR, ALL [00:05:05] COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALONG WITH CITY STAFF, AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHOSE EFFORT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. INSTILL IN US WE PRAY A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY, SERVICE AND COOPERATION, THAT OUR WORK MAY REFLECT YOUR LOVE IN PRACTICAL WAYS THROUGH JUST POLICIES, RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP AND RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE. WE PRAY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PEACE WOULD PREVAIL, SCHOOLS WOULD THRIVE AND FAMILIES WOULD FIND SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE. MAY OUR DECISIONS RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY AND THE VALUE OF EVERY CULTURE, FAITH AND BACKGROUND REPRESENTED IN THIS GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPENDENCE ON YOU, LORD. WE ASK FOR YOUR MERCY AND YOUR GRACE TO GUIDE OUR NATION TOWARDS UNITY, JUSTICE AND HEALING. INSPIRE LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL TO GOVERN WITH INTEGRITY, TO PURSUE TRUTH, TO DEFEND THE VULNERABLE AND TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS WE CHERISH. BLESS THIS COUNCIL TODAY, THE CITIZENS WE SERVE AND THE PATH AHEAD. MAY YOUR WISDOM ILLUMINATE OUR STEPS, YOUR PEACE GUARD OUR HEARTS, AND YOUR LOVE BIND US TOGETHER IN SERVICE TO OTHERS. WE ASK HUMBLY IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE]. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CEREMONIALS. I WILL READ A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF MUNICIPAL CLERK'S WEEK AND THEN RECOGNIZE OUR VERY OWN CLERK TO SPEAK. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES MUNICIPAL CLERK'S WEEK FROM MAY 3RD THROUGH MAY NINTH TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AND WHEREAS THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PUBLIC SERVICE POSITIONS FOR RECORD-KEEPING, TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNANCE. WHEREAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS PROVIDE A MULTITUDE OF CRITICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING CONDUCTING ELECTIONS, PRESERVING OFFICIAL RECORDS, ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. PROVIDING VITAL BERTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES TO BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY DEPARTMENTS AND SERVING AS A PASSPORT ACCEPTANCE FACILITY. AND WHEREAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY, ACTING AS IMPARTIAL LINK BETWEEN RESIDENTS, GOVERNING BODIES AND AGENCIES AT ALL LEVELS. AND IT IS FITTING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HONOR THE 41 MEMBERS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK FOR THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THERE OF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 3RD THROUGH 9TH, 2026 TO BE MUNICIPAL CLERK'S WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS. MADAM CLERK, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK. MUNICIPAL CLERKS ARE HERE TO KEEP TRANSPARENCY, ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR RECORDS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OUR HISTORY IS KEPT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICE, BUT I MOSTLY WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, MY TEAM, BEGINNING WITH THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK, AURORA PERKINS, BUT EVERY DIVISION MATTERS, EVERY PERSON IS IMPORTANT IN OUR TEAM AND EVERYBODY HAS A VERY CORE RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS CITY. OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM IS HERE WITH US AS WELL AS OUR ELECTIONS AND ETHICS TEAM, BUT THOSE THAT COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING ARE WORKING SERVING EVERYDAY OUR PUBLIC, OUR PASSPORTS TEAM, OUR VITAL RECORDS TEAM, WHO SEE THREE TO 500 PEOPLE A DAY IN OUR MUNICIPAL RECORDS CENTER, AND THEN OUR MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS STAFF. AND I DO WANT TO THANK MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE AND CITY MANAGER OF BEING SUPPORTIVE OF US OPENING THE VERY FIRST MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM TO SHOWCASE OUR CITY'S HISTORY. [00:10:05] SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY DOES AND MY STAFF. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: HOLD ON, DEBBIE AND TEAM. I THINK THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO AND ALSO GIVE A REALLY AMAZING PLUG TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO, AND THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW OVER AT THE MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES. DEBBIE GAVE ME A TOUR OF THE MUSEUM OVER THERE AND IT IS SO INCREDIBLY COOL. YOU CAN SEE ARTIFACTS FROM ALL THE SISTER CITY GIFTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, [INDISCERNIBLE], A LOT OF HISTORY IS THERE. IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC, YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY DOING AN AMAZING JOB AT THE WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT ALSO ADVOCATING TO SHARE OUR CITY'S HISTORY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, DEBBIE. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IN TERMS OF VITAL RECORDS AND ENSURING OUR RESIDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO KIND OF JUST LIVE THEIR LIVES, CLOSE EVERYTHING FROM THEIR TRAVELING TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO WHEN THEY LOSE PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE. IT'S SUCH IMPORTANT WORK AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU DO. AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH THEY DO AND JUST HOW MUCH FACE TO FACE YOU HAVE WITH THE ACTUAL RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I'M GLAD WE GET TO CELEBRATE YOU. AND JUST CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: I WANT TO REITERATE EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID. Y'ALL DO FANTASTIC WORK AND YOU DO SO MUCH THAT WE DON'T REALIZE LIKE ELECTIONS, PASSPORTS, VITAL RECORDS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS, WHICH I KNOW IS A REALLY LARGE TASK. AND HAVING GONE TO ACROSS THE STREET AS A STAFFER TO SUBMIT CCRS, I KNOW YOU DOCUMENT THAT, WHICH I KNOW HAS BEEN A VERY SEASON OF THOSE. SO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE MINUTES, THE RECORDS OF OUR CITY. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO THANK DEBBIE AND THE ENTIRE TIME TEEM FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. AGAIN, YOU ARE GUARDIANS OF HISTORY AND VITAL RECORDS. AND A KEY PILLAR TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT YOUR ROLE WITH ELECTION, VOTER ENGAGEMENT, WORKING WITH NON-PROFITS TO MOBILIZE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS. AS FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED WITH VITAL RECORDS FROM GETTING PASSPORTS TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES, THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NO CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT CAN GET A JOB WITHOUT, CAN TRAVEL WITHOUT, AND AS AN HISTORIAN OF URBAN POLICY WHO FILED A NUMBER OF OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS IN THE EARLY 2000S, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK. AND OF COURSE THE GRANTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE GONE AFTER FOR THE MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM. AGAIN, IT WILL SERVE AS A HUB OF NOT ONLY HISTORY, BUT OF RESEARCH. SO JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE NUMBER OF HATS THAT YOU ALL WEAR. IT'S A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, DEBBIE AND TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERYDAY. NOT ONLY FROM THE DAIS, BUT THE BACK END TOO TO MAKE SURE THE CITY CONTINUES RUNNING AND HISTORY CONTINUES TO LIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY. I HAVE A QUICK COUPLE OF THINGS TO MENTION. I THINK TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN'S COMMENT OFTEN THAT RELATES TO A LOT OF THE RECORDS THEY NEED AS WELL. WHEN I HAD FAMILY PASS AWAY EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS INTERESTING -- IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, ANY DEATH OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT, BUT IN PARTICULAR IT'S ALSO THE HANDLING OF RECORDS, FUNERALS, ET CETERA, BEING TABLE TO GET TO THE PERSON'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND DEATH CERTIFICATE QUICKLY MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER TO BE ABLE TO GRIEVE BEYOND GOING THROUGH ALL THE SYSTEMS. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE DIGITIZED RECORDS TO POINT PEOPLE TO AND SAY YOU CAN QUICKLY GO TO IT. I WAS ABLE TO DO IT QUICKLY TOO. THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE TOO. ONE LAST THING OF COURSE TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S POINT, HISTORY IS IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF US AS WE'RE BOTH TRAINED IN HISTORY. I ALWAYS WISH THAT THE DIGITAL ARCHIVE WAS AVAILABLE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE EVEN KNOW WHEN WE'RE ON THE COUNCIL, EARLIER OUR FIRST CONVERSATION AROUND THE POLICYMAKING AND THE CFRS I WAS ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF IT BECAUSE OF THE DIGITIZATION YOU DID WITH OUR RECORDS AND CCRS. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR ALL OF US. I'M HOPE WILL IN THE FUTURE AFTER COUNCIL I'M ABLE TO GO INTO THE ARCHIVES MYSELF AND HAVE A GOOD TIME THERE AND DIG IN. THANK Y'ALL. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. [00:15:05] >> GAVITO: >> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. I FEEL LIKE I HAD AN EARLY PEEK AT THE IMPACT OF CITY CLERKS. OBVIOUSLY NORMA RODRIGUEZ, WHO WAS OUR CITY CLERK FOR MANY YEARS, IS MY GODMOTHER. AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE CHAMBERS THAT WE SIT IN ARE NAMED AFTER HER. AND WE DON'T NAME BUILDINGS AFTER JUST ANYBODY. YOU KNOW, SHE CARRIED SUCH GREAT IMPACT AND YOU ALL AND DEBBIE AND AWE R4 RA AND THE EN-- AURORA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM ARE MAKING THAT WORK SO MUCH BETTER. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE CRUCIAL ROLE YOU PLAY WITH SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE ELECTIONS. THOSE ARE REALLY IMPACTFUL MOMENTS FOR SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE YOU ALL AND Y'ALL'S IMPACT THIS WEEK. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU. WE KNOW THIS TAKES A TEAM SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERYDAY ALL DAY FOR US. AND FROM EVEN REMINDING US WHEN TO VOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU ARE OUR HISTORY KEEPER AND YOU PRESERVE THE PRESENT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES WORK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WORK AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR US, THE WAY YOU KEEP US ALL ON TRACK WITH THINGS AND KIND OF GUIDE US THROUGH. SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I ALSO OFFER MY THANKS AND I GOT THE SAME TOUR THAT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR GOT OVER THERE. AND DEBBIE BY, IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU'VE DONE. I ALWAYS SAY WHAT I LOVE THE MOST IS HOW MUCH YOU ENJOY YOUR JOB. YOU DO IT WITH SO MUCH PASSION AND ENERGY EVERYDAY. THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND LET'S KEEP IT IT UP. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, DEBBIE, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. THE ENTIRE TEAM TRULY KEEPS THE OFFICE MOVING. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH. I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF SAN ANTONIO. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TOGETHER WITH THE ASIAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF SAN ANTONIO, THE CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE OF SAN ANTONIO LODGE CHAPTER AND THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO, PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE MONTH OF MAY, 2026, AS ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND SPECIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, HONORING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AANHPI COMMUNITIES TO THE CITY'S CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC. AND WHEREAS THESE GROUPS FOSTER UNDERSTANDING, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND ENRICH SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THEIR LABOR, LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND SERVICE ACROSS A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING BUSINESS, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE ARTS. AND WHEREAS THE RICH TRADITIONS, LANGUAGES AND HISTORIES OF AANHPI COMMUNITIES STRENGTHEN SAN ANTONIO'S MULTI-CULTURAL OUT OF THE AND CONNECT GENERATIONS THROUGH SHARED CULTURAL HERITAGE. AND WHEREAS THE 2026 THEME OF COMMITMENT CELEBRATES THE ENDURING DEDICATION OF AANHPI COMMUNITIES TO FAMILY, SERVICE, ADVOCACY AND THE COMMON GOOD TO BUILD STRONG AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THE ANNUAL ASIAN FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON MAY 9TH IT IS A VIBRANT DISPLAY OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE THAT OFFERS FAMILIES OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE DIVERSE FOOD, ARTS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING. WHEREAS PROCEEDS FROM THE ASIAN FESTIVAL WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO, A FIRST OF ITS KIND FACILITY DEDICATED TO CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, PROUD ASIAN AMERICAN, IN RECOGNITION THERE OF, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MAY 2026 TO BE AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. [APPLAUSE]. NICOLETTE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE HERE. AS YOU CAN SEE I'VE GOT AMAZING LEADERS THAT ARE STANDING BEHIND US. ON BEHALF OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN AIRLINES OF SAN ANTONIO, THE CHINESE LODGE AND THE ASIAN RESOURCE [00:20:02] CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO, HAPPY ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH! WE ARE ALWAYS IN A TREAT WHEN OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR THE OFFICIAL AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION APPROXIMATE. THAT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, GOVERNMENT WORKERS, STUDENTS, VETERANS, REALTORS AND EVEN ADVOCATES LIKE MYSELF. THE FOLKS WHO STAND WITH ME TODAY ARE THE LEADERS WHO HELP SHAPE SAN ANTONIO TO BE THE GREAT CITY THAT WE ARE TODAY. MY NAME IS NICOLETTE AND I HAVE THE PROUD HONOR OF SERVING AS THE SECRETARY OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT BRINGS YOU ARE COMMUNITY TO ACTION. THE VICE-CHAIR FOR THE PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SAN ANTONIO. THESE ARE FRAGMENTS OF THE LARGER GROUP THAT I GET TO REPRESENT. WHAT I MEAN BY THIS IS THAT THIS PROCLAMATION IS MORE THAN A YEARLY ACTIVATION AT CITY HALL. IT'S A CULMINATION OF HARD WORK THAT THIS COMMUNITY DOES TO MAKE OURSELVES KNOWN TO YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO, AND TO OUR CITY. AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DESERVE DIGNITY, RESPECT AND LEADERSHIP. THIS IS EVIDENT IN OUR UPCOMING GROUNDBREAKING, AS YOU MENTIONED, OF THE NEW ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO HAPPENING ON JUNE 5TH. WE WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF Y'ALL AT OUR GALA THIS PAST WEEKEND. THIS PLACE AND THE SPACE ALONGSIDE THE SILK ROAD TEAR TAJ DISTRICT ARE THE LEGACY OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDERS CONTRIBUTION TO 16. WITH THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO INVITE YOU TO THE 2026 ASIAN FESTIVAL HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND TO COME CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY THE BEST WAY WE KNOW HOW, FOOD, FUN AND CULTURE. BUT ALSO FUNDRAISE TO MAKE THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO THE COMMUNITY HUB WE NEED IT TO BE. SO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR JOINING US THIS WEEKEND, MAY 9TM 4:00 TO 10:00 P.M. IT'S A NIGHT MARKET, Y'ALL. IT WILL BE SO MUCH FUN. LASTLY WE WANT TO CELEBRATE ALL MONTH ALONG WITH OUR RESTAURANT MONTH DIGITAL PASSPORT FEATURING 24 AMAZING AANHPI-OWNED RESTAURANTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO ENJOY 10% OFF AT ANY OF THEIR PARTICIPATING RESTAURANT OR FOOD TRUCKS, SPEARHEADED BY THE AMAZING CAMILLE OF THE [INDISCERNIBLE] EMPIRE. YOU SEE WHEN WE ENJOY THESE AMAZING RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, YOU'RE NOT JUST DOING IT ONCE OR TWICE, YOU'RE REALLY CELEBRATING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO FROM THE ENTIRE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, HAPPY APAM. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. NICOLETTE, YOU LITERALLY MAKE ALL OF US SMILE. [LAUGHTER]. YOUR PASSION EXCEEDS FROM YOUR SKIN AND WE ALL LOVE IT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A BIG ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY. I CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE THIS SATURDAY WITH YOU GUYS. I WILL BE THERE, 4:00 P.M. SHARP. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE SPACE GOING UP AND IT WILL BE AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THANK YOU ALL. THANKS MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I LOVE CELEBRATING THIS EVERY YEAR AND I'M LIKE THIS IS AMAZING ABOUT HOW WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO AND THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS. AND NOW WE GET TO COME TO CITY HALL AND CELEBRATE THIS. SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THE ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT ARCRSA IS MY RESIDENTS AS THEY CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WERE LIKE WHERE CAN I GO? I NEED HELP. WHERE'S MY COMMUNITY? AND I'M LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE IN DISTRICT 8, BUT NOW THERE'S ACTUALLY A PLACE AND YOU GUYS CAN GET CONNECTED. BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY HARD THEN. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO AND THEY WANT TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. AND WITH THIS WE KEEP THOSE CONNECTIONS AND WE'RE BUILDING THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YAY. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: NICOLETTE, YOU REALLY BROUGHT THE YEA INTO THE CHAMBER TODAY. WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND I THINK THE WAY YOU SHINE YOUR COMMUNITY AND UPLIFT EVERYBODY AND ALSO ADVOCATING FOR VOTING ACROSS TEXAS AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IS VERY, IMPORTANT BECAUSE. SO WHILE WE HAVE LOTS OF ROOM AND OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE, WE REALIZE THAT THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLITICAL SYSTEM WORKS FOR US. NOT JUST HERE, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF OUR COUNTRIES IN OUR AREA, IN THE ASIAN AREA, ARE DEALING WITH REALLY HARD POLITICAL CLIMATE ISSUES AND POOR LEADERSHIP, BUT WE KNOW WE CAN BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY HERE AND HELP AS MUCH AS WE CAN. AND IN DISTRICT 4 WE LOVE THAT. UNFORTUNATELY Y'ALL HAVE MOVED, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HAPPY TO BE THERE. WOULD LOVE TO BE AT THE [00:25:03] OPENING OF THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH I KNOW IS YEARS IN THE MAKING AND TOOK SOME CITY ASSISTANCE TO GET THERE, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ADVOCATING. APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU NICOLETTE AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO ENSURES THAT THE FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO BE DOWNTOWN IN THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO. AS NICOLETTE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS MORE ABOUT MUSIC AND FOOD, IT'S ABOUT HISTORY, CULTURE AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THE ASIAN COMMUNITY HAS IMPACTED HEALTH CARE, LABOR AND SO MUCH MORE AND TELLING THAT HISTORY. AND I WAS REMINDED DURING NICOLETTE'S COMMUNITIES THAT IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT I TRAVEL TO STONE OAK, BUT IT'S BEEN FOR THE BLESSING OF ARCRSA THAT TAKES ME TO DISTRICT 9 AND THIS CELEBRATION THAT'S TAKEN ME TO DISTRICT 9. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING ARCRSA AND ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO TELL THAT STORY. JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK AND LEADERSHIP OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, NICOLETTE FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORDS TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO DOES THIS WORKDAY IN AND DAY OUT NOT ONLY TO BUILD COMMUNITY, MAINTAIN COMMUNITY, BUT TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY ALL ACROSS THE CITY. WE KNOW THERE ARE POCKETS ACROSS THE CITY, BUT KEEPING THEM TOGETHER IS CRUCIAL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OFIZATION AMERICANS IN OUR CITY. IT WASN'T JUST FOLKS ON THE WESTSIDE. ASIAN AMERICANS ARE ALL OVER THE CITY. THERE'S A LONG HISTORY ON THE WESTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR ASIAN AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY CHINESE AMERICANS SETTLED IN SAN ANTONIO AS PART OF OUR INCREDIBLE LABOR FORCE AND OFTEN USES CHEAP LABOR TOO, UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT? SO ADVOCACY STARTS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS. I KNOW IT'S CENTRAL TO WHAT Y'ALL DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. ADVOCACY FOR ANTI-DISCRIMINATION, ADVOCACY FOR STRENGTHENING YOUR COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHENING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THROUGH THAT PROCESS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE KEN FROM DISTRICT 6, OUR INCREDIBLE ZONING COMMISSIONER, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT FOR THE LONGEST AND OLDEST ASIAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATION HERE IN OUR COUNTRY, THE CHAI PLEASE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE, AN INCREDIBLE PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND LEADER AND SOMEONE I'M THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND RELY ON AND TALK WITH ABOUT DIFFERENT ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS WAYS TO SUPPORT THE ASIAN COMMUNITY. I WANT TO END OFF THAT IT IS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER FOR THE CHINESE AMERICAN ALLIANCE THIS PAST THIS YEAR. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ORGANIZATION GOES TO ALL OF THEM. WHEN OUR FEDERAL LAWMAKERS 100 YEARS AGO OR SO WERE STARTING TO DO DIFFERENT ACTIONS ON IMMIGRATION IN PARTICULAR, IT STARTED WITH CHINESE AMERICANS. AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE STEPPED UP, WERE FORMED AND PUSHED BACK AGAINST THAT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHY SO MANY FOLKS CONTINUE TO STAY ROOTED IN THAT NETWORK TODAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW AT ANY POINT THINGS LIKE THAT CAN HAPPEN UNLESS WE'RE ORGANIZED TOGETHER. ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUSH BACK NOT ONLY AGAINST ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS NOT ONLY FOR ASIAN-AMERICANS, BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE. I WANT TO AWE FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERYDAY AND KEEPING OUR CULTURE AND COMMUNITY STRONG. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. NICOLETTE INTRODUCTION CONTAGIOUS. THANK YOU FOR -- YES, I THINK COUNCILMEMBER KAUR SAID IT BEST, WHEN YOU'RE PRESENTING ALL OF US ARE SMILING. I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE ENERGY THAT YOU BRING. ALSO TOO I'M GOING TO JOIN COUNCILWOMAN KAUR AT 4:00, BE THERE ON SATURDAY, BECAUSE THE CULTURE IS BEAUTIFUL AND EVEN THOUGH SARI-SARI IS TECHNICALLY ON THE BORDER OF OF MINE. NOW I'M HUNGRY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH OR HAPPY ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH TO BEGIN WITH AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO UPLIFT YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU'RE MAKING IMPACTS IN THIS COMMUNITY AS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AS ENTREPRENEURS, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES HE, YOU NAME IT. SILK ROAD HERITAGE DISTRICT LIVES IN DISTRICT 8 SO I WELCOME MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A RIDE IN DISTRICT 8, TERI, COME ON BY, TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS DONE FOR OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID. YOU HAD A WONDERFUL GALA OVER THE WEEKEND. VERY WELL ATTENDED. SO JUST APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS CITY AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU. I'M VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT THE ASIAN-AMERICAN MONTH. AND EVEN MORE PROUD THAT THE RESOURCE CENTER WILL BE IN DISTRICT 9 SO TERI WILL BE THERE A LOT AND SHE'S GOING [00:30:03] TO HIT UP [INDISCERNIBLE] DISTRICT TOO. SHE WILL BE OVER A LOT. I'M SO PROUD OF IT BECAUSE 10% OF THE ENTIRE ASIAN POPULATION OF SAN ANTONIO IS IN DISTRICT 9. AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE Y'ALL OWN BUSINESSES, YOU'RE ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, YOU'RE GOOD NEIGHBORS. YOU'RE REALLY ACTIVE IN THE CIVICS OF OUR CITY. I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. I'M GLAD THAT I GET TO HONOR YOU TODAY AND ALL MONTH. AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE POINT THIS OUT ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE DIVERSITY OF THIS CITY AND HOW IMPORTANT YOUR PRESENCE HERE IS FOR THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GROWTH IN OUR CITY, OUR SCHOOLS, EVERYTHING ABOUT SAN ANTONIO YOU ARE A HUGE PART OF THAT. SO WE HAVE TO BRING AWARENESS TO THAT. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE GET TO DO THAT TODAY. AND I WAS GLAD TO GET TO GO TO THE GALA, GALA. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SAYING IT RIGHT. [LAUGHTER]. I'M GOING TO BE IN A DANCE COMPETITION THIS WEEKEND, BUT IT'S AT THE CONVENTION CENTER SO I CAN HOP ON OVER ONCE THEY DO AWARDS. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENT. I'M GLAD WE'RE CELEBRATING YOUR COMMUNITY THIS MONTH. WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND EVERYTHING ALL AROUND OUR CITY THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE US ONE SAN ANTONIO. AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY, AS HAS BEEN SAID, MEANS SO MUCH TO THE CITY. YOU BRING SO MUCH LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT AND BUSINESS, EVERYTHING THAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO WHAT IT IS TODAY. SO COMMISSIONER HUEY, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL, I SERVED ON ZONING COMMISSION WITH YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. I WAS ALSO THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO JOIN FOLKS AT THE GALA THIS WEEKEND. AND FRANKLY, SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND SEE ALL OF THE VERY BEAUTIFUL FASHION SHOW. AND I GOT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH MY WITH MI LAM. THAT WAS STARTED MANY YEARS AGO AT THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM WHEN I WAS DANCING AS A YOUNG KID THAT'S WHERE IT WAS. SO THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH HER AND ALL THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WORK SO HARD AND ARE CONTINUING TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT'S A RESOURCE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR COMMUNITY, FRANKLY, ALL COMMUNITIES, BUT I'M LOOKING AT ROBERT NOW SO HE'S CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. ROBERT IS A WEST POINT GRAD, IS A VETERAN, AND THIS MORNING YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT HE AUTHORED AN OP ED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT DISCRIMINATING ON VETERANS BASED ON HOW THEY PAY FOR THEIR HOUSING. IT'S IMPORTANT WE THINK ABOUT CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY AND THE CULTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE STAND UP FOR OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE NEEDLESSLY BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND MAKING THE CONNECTION ACROSS COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WHEN ONE COMMUNITY IS DISENFRANCHISED, WE ARE ALL NOT LIVING UP TO OUR BEST SELVES. I WANT TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHT THE WAYS IN WHICH THE STRENGTH OF THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR IS HELPING NOT ONLY AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE COUNCILMEMBER AND I WERE JUST IN TAIWAN AND WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING FOLLOW ON VISITS BY SOME OF THOSE ENTITIES. WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST A TAIWANESE DELEGATION I BROUGHT THEM TO BEST QUALITY DAUGHTER. JENNIFER IS TAIWAN KNEES AMERICAN. HER MOTHER IS FROM TAIWAN. I THINK IT'S A NICE TOUCH WHEN WE'RE MAKING CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY WHAT THAT ASIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE LOOKS LIKE, BUT IT HELPS THEM TO ENVISION THEMSELVES IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND WE'RE CERTAINLY DOING THAT WITH SOME OF THE OTHER FOLLOW-ON VISITS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS A RESULT OF THAT TRIP. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE. WE ALL NOW WANT A LITTLE BIT OF FUNSET AND LUMPIA, WE WILL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY. [APPLAUSE]. OKAY. AND I WILL NOW READ THE FINAL PROCLAMATION FOR THIS MORNING, WHICH IS A PROCLAMATION FOR JEWISH AMERICAN AIR HAG MONTH. -- JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES MAY AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, A TIME TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEWISH [00:35:02] AMERICANS TO OUR COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL, CIVIC AND ECONOMIC FABRIC. WHEREAS JEWISH AMERICANS HAVE APPLIED A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND TEXAS THROUGH LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS JEWISH HERITAGE IS RICH WITH TRADITIONS, VALUES AND STORIES THAT EMPHASIZE JUSTICE, EDUCATION, RESILIENCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH WAS FIRST OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMED IN 2026 ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL OBSERVANCE DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING THE INFLUENCE OF JEWISH AMERICANS ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROUDLY JOINS WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HERE BY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY, 2026, TO BE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT CELEBRATE THE JEWISH HERITAGE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY. CRAIG, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND SAY MAZEL TOV TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE ASIAN-AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY FOR SUCH A JOYFUL MONTH. WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THIS MONTH WITH THEM. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ON BEHALF OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN RECOGNIZING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. MOMENTS LIKE THIS MATTER. THEY AFFIRM THAT THE STORY OF JEWISH AMERICANS IS PART OF THE STORY OF SAN ANTONIO, WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY FOR TWO CENTURIES FROM EARLY SETTLERS IN THE 1840S TO TODAY'S FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PROUD TO HELP BUILD, SERVE AND LEAD ALONGSIDE OUR NEIGHBORS, CONTRIBUTING TO CIVIC, CULTURAL AN PHILANTHROPIC LIFE THAT MAKES THIS CITY SO SPECIAL. BUT THIS RECOGNITION IS ABOUT MORE THAN HISTORY, IT'S ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY. AT A TIME WHEN ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATE ARE RAISING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, THIS RESOLUTION SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE, SAN ANTONIO STANDS FOR INCLUSION, FOR DIGNITY AND FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT SAYS THAT WE DON'T JUST CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, WE PROTECT IT. JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL OUR STORY OPENLY, PROUDLY, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, THROUGH PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS, THROUGH INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM AND THROUGH EVERYDAY ACTS OF ENGAGEMENT, WE ENSURE THAT UNDERSTANDING REPLACES IGNORANCE AND THAT CONNECTION REPLACES DIVISION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP, FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND FOR STANDING WITH US. FOR OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS, TAKE THIS MONTH AS AN INVITATION. LEARN A STORY. VISIT A PROGRAM. BUILD A BRIDGE. BECAUSE WHEN WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER, WE BECOME STRONGER TOGETHER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, I'M EXCITED THAT WE JUST GET TO CELEBRATE JUST HOW DIVERSE SAN ANTONIO IS. AND HOW THIS CITY CAME TO BE. AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN DO THIS NOW BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE ASIAN-AMERICAN ISLANDERS, LATINOS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, COULD NOT COME INTO THESE HALLS AND SHARE THEIR STORY. BUT WE ARE HERE WHERE WE CAN AND WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATION AND WE CAN BUILD COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN ANTONIO IN PARTICULAR FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE ON THE SOUTHSIDE IN TERMS OF INVESTING WHEN NOBODY ELSE WOULD, IN TERMS OF COUNSELING AND SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY THERE. IT JUST -- IT MEANS A LOT. AND TO DO IT WITHOUT ASKING FOR ACCOLADES, WITHOUT ASKING FOR RECOGNITION, JUST GOING IN, SEEING A NEED AND DECIDING TO MEET IT. AND AGAIN, I KNOW WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY TO CURB ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN AND WOMEN IN THIS ALWAYS HUGE [INDISCERNIBLE] IN OUR EFFORTS TO CURB DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN. THIS IS WHO OUR COMMUNITY IS. THIS IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CORE, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS, IT IS ABOUT GIVING BACK AND SERVING OTHERS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JUST A LOT TO [00:40:04] CELEBRATE THIS MONTH. I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET IT ALL DONE. THANK YOU! >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING WITH THE PROCLAMATION. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT WHAT YOU Y'ALL WERE SAYING, IT'S NOT JUST HONORING, BUT IT'S ALSO CALLED ACTION AND IT'S A REMINDER OF THE INJUSTICE THAT CONTINUES ACROSS THE WORLD AND HISTORICALLY HAS HAPPENED. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR TALKING ABOUT THAT. AND FOR ALL THAT DO YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY. APPRECIATE IT AND HAPPY TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VAS KEOGH. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. AMERICA'S STRENGTH COMES FROM DIVERSITY, CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR AM COMING FORTH WITH THIS PROCLAMATION AND ALL THAT DO YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, CRAIG, FOR THE OPENING REMARKS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE AND THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY THROUGH THE CULTURAL WORK AND RELIGIOUS WORK TOO, BUT THE WORK IN EDUCATION AND THE WORK IN SUPPORTING FOLKS THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES IN THEIR LIVES. I REALLY APPRECIATE, OF COURSE, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH FAITH AND THE JEWISH HISTORY HERE IN OUR CITY, UNDERSTANDING THE FACT THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS OF COURSE ALSO DEEP-ROOTED HISTORY WITH JEWISH COMMUNITIES. THE GROUND OF HEMISFAIR ITSELF WHERE HISTORICALLY FOLKS LIVED. THINKING ABOUT ALL THAT AND HOW IT LEADS TO THE FULL CONFLUENCE OF CULTURES IN OUR CITY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BE HERE IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERYDAY AND THE WORK THE COMMUNITY DOES TOO. A COMMUNITY SO ROOTED IN JUSTICE AND A FAITH SO ROOTED IN JUSTICE TOO AND EDUCATION, IT'S PERFECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, CRAIG, LISA. NOW I REMEMBER SEEING YOU EARLIER FROM THE [INDISCERNIBLE]. I REMEMBER BECAUSE MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WENT TO WORK AT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE AND IT WAS REALLY FORMATIVE YEARS AND LOVE, LOVE THAT PLACE. AND STILL PLAY SOCCER THERE. BUT CRAIG, I THINK WHAT YOU SAID WAS SPOT ON, SO I WANT TO REPEAT IT WHERE YOU SAID UNDERSTANDING [INDISCERNIBLE] AND CONNECTION REPLACES DIVISION. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THAT IN -- WE SEE THAT SPLIT AND THAT DIVIDE IN SO MANY WAYS, WHETHER IT'S RELIGIOUS BATTLES, WHETHER IT'S POLITICAL BATTLES, WHATEVER. SO WHEN WE TAKE THAT TIME TO UNDERSTAND, TO REALLY LISTEN, ACTIVELY LISTEN, NOT JUST SAY WE'RE LISTENING, IT JUST DOES SO MUCH. SO I -- AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO YOUR WORDS BECAUSE THEY'RE SPOT ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE HERE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK? COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, LISA, CRAIG, AMANDA WITH THE JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, ALL THE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AND HAZEL TOV TO THE SPURS FOR WINNING LAST NIGHT. WE CAN'T FORGET THAT. YOU SAID IT WHEN YOU SAID THIS MONTH IS ABOUT LEARNING. WHEN YOU GO TO THE ASIAN FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND OR LEARN A STORY AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM IT'S THERE AT THE CORNER OF DISTRICTS 8 AROUND 9. RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS GO OUT AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW THIS MONTH. WE HAVE SO MUCH HISTORY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS SO MUCH HISTORY WITH OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 50-PLUS YEARS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO UPLIFT YOUR COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: HEY Y'ALL. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE GET TO HONOR YOU THIS MONTH. Y'ALL HAVE BECOME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS AND I'M HONORED EVERY TIME I GET TO COME TO AN EVENT AT THE JCC IN DISTRICT 9 AND I SHARE THIS WITH COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZÁLEZ. Y'ALL HAVE AMAZING FOOD, YOU HAVE AMAZING CULTURE. IT'S DEEPLY ROOTED IN MY FAITH AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR LEARNING, FOR PRESERVING THE HISTORY. WE HAD THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM. WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET, QUESTION WITH NEVER FORGET OCTOBER 8TH. THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER AS A COMMUNITY. AND IT'S AN HONOR TO GET TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY IN THIS SEAT, AND CELEBRATING THE JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE INSTILLED IN ME, TAUGHT ME, AND I HOPE OTHERS CONTINUE TO COME AND LEARN FROM YOU AND THAT Y'ALL CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR >> WHYTE: YEAH, I'M ALSO PLEASED WE GET TO HONOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY THIS MONTH. A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T ABOUT THE STRONG TIES BETWEEN [00:45:04] ISRAEL AND SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE THE FRIENDSHIP AGREEMENT WITH TEL-AVIV SIGNED IN 2011. THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS TRADE MISSIONS AND VISITS BETWEEN LOCAL DELEGATION HERE AND ISRAEL. AND AGAIN, THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU ALL MAKE TO SAN ANTONIO I THINK SOMETIMES GO UNNOTICED AND THEY SHOULDN'T. BECAUSE IT'S A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THIS CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU STAND FOR, FOR ALL THAT YOU TEACH OUR COMMUNITY, AND REALLY FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO A BETTER PLACE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, AGAIN. HAVING VISITED THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM LAST YEAR AND BEING ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU ALL THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW OUR HISTORY, WE'LL REPEAT IT. THANK YOU FOR THE INVALUABLE WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS IS RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE A BEAUTY QUEEN IN THE HOUSE AND SHE LIVES IN DISTRICT 9. AND IT IS MY HONOR TO CALL OUT PORTLAND TIDWELL. YOU WANT TO STAND UP, PORTLAND OR COME TO THE FRONT? PORTLAND IS CURRENTLY MISS UNITED USA TEXAS 2026 AND SHE WILL REPRESENT OUR STATE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE HERE THIS JUNE . MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ALREADY KNOW HER THROUGH HER YEARS OF SERVICE. BY THE TIME SHE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, SHE HAD COMPLETED MORE THAN 3,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. SHE HAS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND SHE CONTINUES TO SHOW UP. THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS DAY AND SHE USES HER PLATFORM TO BRING ATTENTION TO ADULT BULLY AND PROMOTE A CULTURE OF RESPECT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY . PORTLAND REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF SAN ANTONIO. SHE LEADS WITH SERVICE AND FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH ACTION. I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT HER AND PROUD TO SEE HER REPRESENT OUR CITY AND OUR STATE. AND WE KNOW SHE WILL MAKE SAN ANTONIO PROUD ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. TODAY WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE PORTLAND TIDWELL FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU HAVE A GREAT MOM, TOO. THANK YOU, PORTLAND. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO. THE TIRELESSLY-HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO. SAN ANTONIO IS MY NATIVE PLACE AND TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO ON STAGE AT A NATIONAL PAGEANT IS A HUGE DEAL. IF I WIN THIS NATIONAL PAGEANT, I WILL COMPETE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL TITLE. A LOT OF PRESSURE BUT A LOT OF REPRESENTATION FOR SAN ANTONIO. MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE A LOT OF MISS TEXAS THAT COME FROM DALLAS OR THE FORT WORTH AREA BUT TO BE A SAN ANTONIAN IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT WITHIN ITSELF I'M MORE THAN JUST A PAGEANT QUEEN, I AM AN ACTIVIST, A PRE-K TEACHER, I HAVE A BACHELOR'S IN COMMUNICATION AND MINOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I HAVE SO MUCH UNDER MY BELT ALREADY AND ACHIEVING THIS NATIONAL TITLE WOULD BE AMAZING FOR MY PLATFORM, FOR MY SERVICE WORK. I CAN BRING IT HOME AND SAY SAN ANTONIO DID THIS. AND THE JOURNEY DOESN'T STOP HERE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING ME. MY JOURNEY WILL NOT END AND I THANK YOU, GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> WHYTE: BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE PASSING OF KENDRA MEADOWS. KENDRA WAS A FIXTURE IN THE NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE OF HER, HER ABSENCE IS TRULY FELT. KENDRA WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT SHOWED UP TO MEETINGS, PLANNING SESSIONS. SHE DID THE UNGLAMOROUS WORK THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE BUT THAT REALLY HOLDS A NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'LL REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT HER WAS BACK IN 2018, SHE'S REALLY THE ONE THAT GOT ME INVOLVED WITH THE NNA IN THE DISTRICT 10 NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE TOOK ME TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT IN THE DISTRICT [00:50:01] AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT ALL THE THINGS I COULD DO TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA. THAT'S REALLY SORT OF WHAT GOT ME STARTED IN DISTRICT 10. I'LL ALSO REMEMBER HER FIGHT TO GET SAFE SIDEWALKS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. FAMILIES WALKING THEIR KIDS TO NORTHERN HILLS ELEMENTARY ARE DOING SO TODAY ON SAFER GROUND BECAUSE OF KENDRA MEADOWS. THAT'S WHAT REAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE. IT'S NOT ABOUT TITLES BUT IT'S ABOUT PRODUCING REAL OUTCOMES. DISTRICT 10 AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS BETTER BECAUSE KENDRA WAS HERE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE AND WE WILL CARRY HER WORK FORWARD. AND SO MAYOR, IF IT'S OKAY, I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO JOIN ME IN A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR KENDRA MEADOWS. REST WELL, KENDRA. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. OVER TO YOU, ERIK. >> WALSH: THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ONE ITEM. AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, FIESTA JUST RECENTLY ENDED. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF FUN-FILLED, COLORFUL PARADES, LIVE MUSIC, AND OTHER EVENTS, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU KIND OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT THE CITY DOES BEHIND THE SCENES THAT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T SEE. AS THE PARADES END, PEOPLE START TO HEAD HOME AND THE SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC WORKS CREWS BEGIN A MASSIVE OPERATION THAT MOST NEVER SEE. SO TODAY'S VIDEO REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THREE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE ENTIRE TEAMS OF SOLID WASTE AND PUBLIC WORKS AFTER BOTH OF OUR PARADES. BRENDA AND JOSHUA HAVE ALL BEEN WITH THE CITY BETWEEN 11 AND 18 YEARS, ACTUALLY. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO. IT'S NOT SEEN BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WE JUST SHOW BACK UP DOWNTOWN AFTERWARDS AND IT LOOKS CLEAN. THESE FOLKS DO A GREAT JOB. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO. [VIDEO] >> FOR FIESTA, A BIG EVENT FOR US IS THE BATTLE OF FLOWERS AND FIESTA FLAMBEAU TO PARK. THAT EVERYBODY IS SET UP AND THE STAFF IS GOOD TO GO. EVERYBODY SEES US CLEANING UP AT THE END BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT BEFOREHAND. SO IT'S ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK, PUBLIC WORKS, SAPD. OUR WAREHOUSE STAFF PLACE THE CARTS ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE. >> WE PLACE THE CARTS ON THE PARADE ROUTE. WE HAVE ABOUT 232 CARTS FOR THE PUBLIC TO DISPOSE OF THEIR TRASH AND RECYCLING AFTER THE PARADE IS OVER WITH. WE PICK UP THE CARTS AND THE TRASH, JUST TRYING TO GET THE STREETS CLEANED UP FOR THE NEXT DAY. WE WANTED IT TO LOOK THE WAY IT LOOKED BEFORE, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL. >> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIESTA PARADE IS CLEANED AND PICKED UP AND READY FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO COME ALONG AND DO THEIR PART. >> DURING THE PARADE, WE SPREAD OURSELVES ACROSS THE STREET AND WHILE MANY WORKERS BLOW THE DEBRIS ON THE STREET. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 25 STREET SWEEPERS. IT HAS TWO SIDE GUTTER BROOMS AND THEN IT SUCKS IT UP FROM THE PICKUP HEAD AND PUTS IT INTO A HOPPER AND IT HOLDS 6 CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS. >> THE CORE VALUE THAT ME AND MY TEAM EXEMPLIFY IS TEAMWORK. >> IT IS A TEAM EFFORT CITYWIDE TO GET THE JOB DONE. >> WE CAN HAVE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE WITH COLLECTIONS, PICKING UP THE TRASH, PIG UP THE RECYCLING FROM THE STREET. >> PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL US THANK YOU AND IT LETS US KNOW WE'RE NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT. THAT WE DO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CITY. THEY MAY SAY THAT'S JUST A GARBAGEMAN, TO SOME PEOPLE. BUT TO OTHER PEOPLE WE'RE LIKE SUPERHEROS. >> WALSH: I THINK I JUST GOT THE IDEA FOR NEXT YEAR'S FIESTA MEDAL. THOSE GUYS DO A GREAT JOB, THOSE TEAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. [APPLAUSE] MANY THANKS TO THE ENTIRE SOLID WASTE TEAM. WE KNOW A LOT OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WORKED OVERTIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS A SAFE EVENT. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK TO ENSURE WE HAD A SAFE FIESTA. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKING THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS SO THAT WE MAY CLEAR THE BUSINESS FOR THE DAY? OKAY. HEARING NO OBJECTION, ITEMS [00:55:07] 5 THROUGH 16 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS MEANS -- SORRY? ONE SECOND. I'LL CALL FOR THAT. ITEMS 5 THROUGH 16 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP AND THERE WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED FOR CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? WE WILL BE PULLING ITEM 9. ARE THERE OTHERS? >> KAUR: ITEM 10. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO? TO PULL. PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PULL ITEM 16. OKAY. I WILL CALL INDIVIDUALS IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP FOR THE ITEMS ON THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAVE IS ANTONIO DIAZ. ANTONIO, YOU HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON 7 AND 8, AS WELL AS DIANA URIAGA FLORES. >> ON THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT I SIGNED UP I BELIEVE ARE FOR CONSULTATIONS AS FAR AS THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. IS THAT CORRECT? >> MAYOR JONES: NO, SIR. YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS HAVING TO DO WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. >> THAT IS STILL OVER THAT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, CORRECT? >> MAYOR JONES: IT IS NOT. THESE ARE RELATED TO DRAINAGE PROJECTS. >> WELL THEN, I SIGNED UP FOR THE WRONG ITEMS. Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND DO THE WORK YOU NEED TO DO. >> MAYOR JONES: DIANA URIAGA FLORES. SHE SAID NO? OKAY. ISHMAEL HERRERA. ISHMAEL HERRERA. ON THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT. >> >> MAYOR JONES: NO. 14 WOULD BE RENEE DOMINGUEZ. RENEE DOMINGUEZ FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RENEE DOMINGUEZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VELOCITY TEXAS, A 41-YEAR-OLD NONPROFIT, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION . VELOCITY TEXAS IS DEVELOPING OUT A 12-ACRE INNOVATION CAMPUS ON THE EAST SIDE IN D2 AND INCLUDES THE HISTORIC MERCHANT'S ICE CAMPUS. THIS MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES AN INNOVATION CENTER, INCLUDES OFFICES, LABS, RETAIL, AND NOW WE'RE WORKING ON COMMUNITY-FACING AMENITIES AND SOME WORKFORCE HOUSING. BUT VELOCITY TEXAS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL SPACE AND BUILDINGS. WE'RE DRIVING ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING A FOCUS ON EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND LEVERAGING MILITARY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGIES. OUR INNOVATION STRATEGIES INCLUDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND VERY STRUCTURED COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS LIKE THOSE THAT WE HAVE WITH UT SAN ANTONIO, SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, TEXAS BIOMED. WE HAVE A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY AND WE'RE WORKING ON ONE WITH THE VA. THAT'S WHAT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT, AN MOA WITH THE CITY. THIS MOA IS A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT AND A FRAMEWORK FOR UNIFIED PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS JUST LIKE THE AIM R AND D SUMMIT ON THE 18TH AND 19TH. I HAVE PUT SOME FLIERS ON YOUR DESK. WE INVITE YOU TO ATTEND . THIS FOCUSES ON SAN ANTONIO'S CAPABILITIES AND RESEARCH ASSETS INCLUDING ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT U.T. SAN [01:00:01] ANTONIO AND OUR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS. THIS SUMMIT'S BEEN GROWING TO OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE AND ITS FOUNDING PARTNERS INCLUDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, U.T. SAN ANTONIO, VELOCITY TEXAS, AND THE COUNTY. SO WE THANK YOU FOR ESTABLISHING THIS MOA TO CROSS-PROMOTE THIS EVENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ESTABLISHING OTHER MUTUALLY-BENEFICIAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. JACK FINGER IS NEXT. >> WELL, MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE ITEMS ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA THAT MIGHT JUST BE SAILING RIGHT ON THROUGH. ITEM NO. 15. IT'S ABOUT YOUR APPROVING THE BUDGET FOR THE PRE-K 4 SA PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR FOR JULY 1ST THROUGH, OH, 2027, IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,000 IN PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT AS ADOPTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EARD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL, ET CETERA , ET CETERA. I THINK I WAS READING ABOUT YOU EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM FOR THE CHILDREN BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE FACED WITH A BIG OBSTACLE WITH THE ECONOMY . YOU'RE GETTING FUNDED BY THE SALES TAX AND YOU MAY NOT GET AS MANY DOLLARS AS YOU NEED FOR ALL THOSE KIDS. YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER. THOSE KIDS NEED THIS PROGRAM. IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH IT. AND YOU EVEN CITE -- SOME PEOPLE HAVE CITED THE WORTH OF THIS PROGRAM. IT DOES HAVE ITS DETRACTORS BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT THE PRO PRE-K 4 SA PEOPLE SAY. THE UNDERLINED AREA, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. WHAT DOES IT SAY? BLOW IT UP A LITTLE BIT. 2019 COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS ESTIMATED PRE-K 4 SA GENERATED $59 MILLION IN BENEFIT DURING ITS FIRST EIGHT YEARS. I'M GOING TO -- HAND ME THAT BACK AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A FEW DETRACTORS OF WHAT THEY THINK THAT IS THERE. WHAT IS REALLY THE CASE. YEAH. THAT SAME STUDY TELLS YOU THAT THE CRITICS OF THAT SAME STUDY, ANALYSIS FOR THE PRE-K PROGRAM, ARGUE THAT IT RELIES ON SPECULATIVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PROJECTIONS. IF YOU SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT, CRITICS NOTE THAT THESE LONG-TERM ASSUMPTIONS CAN BE HIGHLY UNRELIABLE WHEN APPLIED TO YOUNG CHILDREN. WAY DOWN. SEE, THERE ARE OTHER LEGITIMATE REASONS BUT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OTHERS HERE. SKEPTICS FOR EARLY EDUCATION FREQUENTLY CITE THE FADE-OUT EFFECT WHERE INITIAL BOOST IN STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES FROM PRE-K PROGRAMS DIMINISH OVER TIME THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS PREDICTED IN THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS MAY NEVER FULLY MATERIALIZE. THEY'RE FINDING OUT THIS THING DOESN'T EVEN WORK AFTER THEY HIT THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE. THE BENEFITS JUST AREN'T THERE. YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER PRE-K 4 SA AND JUST, WELL, WHY NOT ASK THE TAXPAYERS IF THEY WOULD LIKE THE BALANCE OF THEIR MONEY BACK, HUH? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS THE FINAL SPEAKER ON THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND TO CLARIFY, THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS ITEMS 7 THROUGH 16. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 12, WHICH IS [01:05:08] APPOINTING ART VELIZ TO THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOARD FOR US, ELSE ESPECIALLY AS WE DISCUSS POTENTIAL UPCOMING CHANGES TO CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN OUR TERMS OF SERVICE, WE KNOW THEY HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT DECISIONS TO BE MADE. ART HAS BEEN A LONGTIME ENGAGED CIVIC RESIDENT AND IS ALWAYS WILLING TO DO ANY SERVICE THAT IS ASKED UPON HIM. I'M SUPER GRATEFUL THAT HE IS WILLING TO STAND UP TO THE CHALLENGE. I KNOW CREATE POLICY THAT IS GOING TO BE EQUITABLE FOR ALL. THANK YOU, ART FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO? YOU'RE NOT PULLING ANYTHING? OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 7, WHICH IS APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR THE SEELING DRAINAGE PHASE 4 PROJECT. THIS AREA HAS HAD HISTORIC DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, WHICH WILL BE ADDRESSED WITH THIS PROJECT. ADDITIONALLY, I AM SUPER PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH CPS ENERGY TO TRADITION FROM ABOVE-GROUND UTILITIES, LIKE ALL THESE UNSIGHTLY UTILITY POLES WE SEE, TO HAVE THIS AREA HAVE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. THIS ENSURES RESILIENCY IN THE AREA AND WILL HELP BEAUTIFY THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO MIKE AND HIS TEAM FOR JOINING ME AT SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THIS PROJECT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A SEAMLESS CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 13, WHICH IS APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL. RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO DOES SUCH AMAZING WORK AND OUR TEAM IS ALWAYS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THEM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTRACT. I KNOW RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE GREAT CARE OF NOT ONLY WOODLAWN LAKE BUT LAKES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 14 BUT RENEE, WHO SPOKE A FEW MINUTES EARLIER, REALLY STOLE A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. BUT WAS RIGHT ON. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ITEM BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO, AS WE ALL KNOW, HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND THIS MOA IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO SUPPORT THEM. VELOCITY TEXAS HAS BEEN DOING THIS WORK SINCE 1984. THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT RENEE MENTIONED WITH UTSA, TEXAS BIOMED, DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY, THEY'RE ALL SO IMPORTANT. AND THE BIOSCIENCE INNOVATION CENTER IS WHERE A LOT OF THIS WORK COMES TOGETHER. THIS MOA CONNECTS THE CITY TO THE SAN ANTONIO MILITARY MEDICAL INNOVATION EFFORT THAT'S FOCUSED ON GETTING MEDICAL RESEARCH OUT OF THE LAB AND INTO REAL-WORLD USE. VELOCITY TEXAS IS BUILDING THIS REGIONAL RESEARCH SUPPORT CENTER STARTING WITH THIS SANDBOX ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP AND TEST THESE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES. AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF WORK THAT PRODUCES JOBS AND ATTRACTS OUTSIDE INVESTMENT THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE OF HERE IN OUR CITY. AND IT'S GOING TO HELP KEEP OUR VETERANS CONNECTED TO CARE THAT'S ACTUALLY ADVANCING. I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE R&D SUMMIT. HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT AND WILL CERTAINLY BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANKS, MAYOR. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS WANTED TO TALK ON THIS AS WELL. QUICKLY. >> MAYOR JONES: IF IT'S TWO OR MORE YOU HAVE TO PULL IT. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEMS 9, 10, AND 16. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ITEM 9 -- >> VIAGRAN: OBJECTION, I ASK FOR ORDER OF THE DAY. >> MAYOR JONES: MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM NO. 4. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 41 IS AN UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, OVER TO YOU FOR THE STAFF [01:10:08] PRESENTATION. ITEM 4 IS FOR BRIEFING ONLY, SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY THE ITEM TO THE B SESSION FOR DISCUSSION IN JUNE. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DELAY THIS ITEM TO A B SESSION IN JUNE. SECONDED WAS MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION FROM MY COLLEAGUES? OKAY. HEARING NONE -- GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: SO THE WAY I UNDERSTAND ITEM 4 IS THIS IS JUST FOR A BRIEFING, AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, ERIK? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. IT'S AN UPDATE FROM OUR PREVIOUS PUBLIC PRESENTATION TO YOU ALL IN JANUARY. SO IT WAS AN UPDATE ON ALL THOSE COMPONENTS. >> WHYTE: OKAY. YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT A CONTINUANCE AND I THINK ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON TODAY, 5 AND 6, THAT MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THAT BRIEFING AFTER WE'VE MOVED FORWARD ON ITEMS 5 AND 6. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN IS THINKING, BUT IF THAT IS THE LINE OF THINKING, I THINK THAT MAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SENSE. >> MAYOR JONES: ONE SECOND. >> WHYTE: SO ITEM 4 IS JUST A BRIEFING. SO WE WOULD PUSH THAT TO A B SESSION. TODAY WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON ITEMS 5 AND 6. SO WE GET THOSE, HOPEFULLY APPROVED, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE FULL BRIEFING WITH THOSE APPROVED AT A LATER DATE. >> MAYOR JONES: THE BRIEFING ON THE UPDATE TO THOSE, THOUGH, WOULD IDEALLY INFORM YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VOTE ON THOSE TWO CONTRACTS. THEY'RE RELATED. WHY YOU WOULD TAKE ONE BEFORE THE OTHER -- IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY, GO AHEAD. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. ITEM 5 AND 6 COULD HAVE STAYED ON CONSENT. BECAUSE OF HIGH PROFILE WE LEFT IT ON INDIVIDUAL. LOOKING AT THE SLIDE SLOW -- BEN, YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB, BUT IT IS 37 SLIDES. AND I THINK ITEM NO. 5, WHICH IS NINE SLIDES AND ITEM NO. 6, WHICH IS 12 SLIDES EXPLAINS EVERYTHING AND WE DO NOT NEED THAT 15-SLIDE ITEM FOR BRIEFING. I WOULD MUCH RATHER BRING IT BACK TO A B SESSION, AS COUNCILMAN WHYTE INDICATED, WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY. THAT WAY YOU CAN PUT ON SOME INPUTS, HOWEVER THE VOTE GOES TODAY. BUT THESE ITEMS WERE PULLED BECAUSE I BELIEVED THAT MORE THAN ONE PERSON WOULD WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON ITEMS 5 AND 6. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AGREED AND THAT'S WHY WE MOVED IT FORWARD THIS WAY. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO DELAY ITEM 4 FOR A B SESSION DATE SO WE HAVE MORE TIME. AND THAT WILL INCLUDE WHAT WE DO TODAY WITH ITEMS 5 AND 6. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST THE ONE THING THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IS SOME OF US WERE WORKING IN JANUARY, ERIK MENTIONED THAT SOME OF US COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE GOING TO BE GETTING TOGETHER TO CREATE A DOWNTOWN WORKING GROUP. WE JUST HAD OUR FIRST MEETING IN APRIL JUST TO SET THE STAGE. AND OUR SECOND MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF THIS MONTH. IF WE DO DELAY, IT WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY BRING BACK SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FROM THAT STAKEHOLDER GROUP. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THE MEETING THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, THAT WAS NOT A PUBLIC MEETING, CORRECT? >> KAUR: NO, MAYOR. BUT EIK CREATED A GROUP BASED ON WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AT B SESSION IN JANUARY. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. BUT IT WASN'T A PUBLIC MEETING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ISN'T A SUMMARY AVAILABLE OF IT JUST YET. >> KAUR: IT WAS JUST AN INTRO MEETING AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ACTUAL DISCUSSION AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. SO MY POINT WAS IT WOULD GIVE ERIK AND THE TEAM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK WITH ACTUAL DISCUSSION RESULTS. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. IS THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON ITEMS 5 AND 6? MADAME CLERK, IF YOU WOULD, [01:15:02] READ THE CAPTION FOR THOSE ITEMS FOR EVERYONE'S EDIFICATION. I'M SORRY? >> UNDERSTOOD. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE UPDATE TO THE DOWNTOWN PLAN, FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE TWO ITEMS ARE. HOW THEY'RE RELATED, THE THREE ITEMS. THE DISTRICT STUDY AS WELL AS THE TWO CONTRACTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE THINGS IN THE DISTRICT STUDY. >> VIAGRAN: CORRECT BUT WE'LL BE TAKING THOSE ITEMS NEXT. IN THE AGENDA. SO I CALLED THE QUESTION. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE A REASON YOU DON'T WANT TO -- YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO HEAR THEM AT THE SAME TIME? >> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE WE'RE NOT VOTING ON -- THE ITEM NO. 4 IS A BRIEFING ONLY. ITEM 5 AND 6 ARE AN ACTION. AGAIN, WHY WE'RE HAVING BRIEFINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN A SESSION, WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING. BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND -- I MEAN, SHE'S GOING TO READ IT TWICE, THEN. I CALL TO QUESTION THAT WE VOTE ON THE BRIEFING AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR ACTUAL ACTION ITEMS, WHICH ARE ITEM 5 AND 6. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IN LOOKING AT THE PRESENTATION FOR ITEM 4, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH 5 AND 6. IT IS LITERALLY JUST THE SCORING MATRIX OF THE THINGS WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO BE REVIEWING WHEN YOU BRIEF US ON ITEMS 5 AND 6 WHEN WE TAKE ACTION, SO I WOULD RATHER WE DO THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ANOTHER ITEM AND US GOING THROUGH THE SAME SLIDES OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS A LITTLE REDUNDANT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, LAST TIME WE HAD AN UPDATE ON THIS IN B SESSION, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING THE MAJOR -- SO WE CAN AVOID THIS KEFUFFLE. SO WE'LL FOLLOW THAT IN THE FUTURE . OKAY. ANYTHING, ERIK? GO AHEAD. >> WALSH: I GUESS LET ME MAKE SURE I'M FOLLOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING. THE COUNCILWOMAN HAS PROPOSED DELAYING THE GENERAL DISTRICT BRIEFING TO A B SESSION IN JUNE. AND YOU ALL WILL TAKE ACTIO FOR SOME CLARIFICATION. UNDERSTAND THE POINT ABOUT THE 37 SLIDES. FRANKLY, I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU GUYS TELL ME WE'RE GIVING YOU TOO MUCH INFORMATION THAN GIVING YOU A THREE-SLIDE PRESENTATION. WE'LL WORK ON NARROWING THAT DOWN BUT IT'S NATURAL THAT IF WE ARE TALKING -- WE FELT IT WAS NATURAL TO GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE, PUBLICLY. WE CAN CERTAINLY MOVE THAT TO JUNE. I GUESS BASED ON YOUR MOTION, COUNCILWOMAN, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS THE DELAY IN JUNE FOR THE BRIEFING AND ACTION TODAY FOR 5 AND 6. >> VIAGRAN: YES. >> WALSH: OKAY. GOT IT. AND I DO THINK, WHILE I HAVE THE MICROPHONE, I DO THINK WHAT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR MENTIONED, THAT WORKING GROUP NEEDS TO REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL THEIR FRAMEWORK OF DISCUSSION. AND SO WE CAN WRAP THAT INTO THAT JUNE PRESENTATION ON THE GENERAL UPDATE. PERFECT TIMING. >> MAYOR JONES: DURING THE AUDIT BRIEFING, THERE WERE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE ASKED FOR IN TERMS OF TO HELP THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE. I DIDN'T SEE THOSE IN THE MATERIALS. WERE THOSE PROVIDED ELSEWHERE ON THE TWO CONTRACTS? COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN OR MAYBE BEN. >> VIAGRAN: AGAIN, POINT OF ORDER. WE'RE TALKING NOT ABOUT THE ITEMS 5 AND 6, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ITEM 4, WHICH IS THE BRIEFING. I'VE CALLED THE QUESTION SO IF WE COULD VOTE ON ITEM 4 AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATIONS FOR ITEM 5 AND 6 SO WE CAN ACTUALLY DISCUSS THOSE MOTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. I CALL TO QUESTION, AGAIN, ITEM NO. 4. >> MAYOR JONES: AS ALL OF THESE ARE RELATED TO THE EXACT SAME THING, THE EXACT SAME THING, THERE WERE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE ASKED FOR BY THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR CLARIFICATION IN REVIEWING EACH OF THESE THINGS. >> VIAGRAN: AGAIN, I WILL TELL YOU I HAVE CALLED TO QUESTION. I ASK THAT WE VOTE ON ITEM 4. I HAVE CALLED TO QUESTION. >> COUNCILWOMAN IS ESSENTIALLY CALLING TO CUT OFF DEBATE. THAT REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF COUNCIL. SO I SUGGEST WE GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AND VOTE WHETHER THE COUNCIL WANTS TO CUT OFF DEBATE ON THIS OR NOT. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. SO THERE'S A CALL TO QUESTION. WE HAVE TO VOTE AT THIS [01:20:02] POINT . SO THIS VOTE WOULD BE TO CUT OFF DISCUSSION ON ITEM 4. OKAY. THE VOTE IS JUST TO CUT OFF DISCUSSION. >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT. JUST TO CUT OFF DISCUSSION AND THEN THERE WILL BE A SUBSEQUENT VOTE ON ITEM 4, ACTUALLY. >> IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY ON THIS TOPIC, I UNDERSTAND THE -- >> VIAGRAN: POINT OF ORDER. >> MAYOR JONES: GOT IT. I UNDERSTAND THE SLIDE DECK MIGHT BE LONG BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE THE INFORMATION. THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT THE OVERALL PICTURE WHEN WE'RE TAKING ACTION ON CONTRACTS RELATED TO THE PROJECTS. IT'S A TRANSPARENCY ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO CUT OFF DEBATE. UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, THE NEXT VOTE WOULD BE ON THE COUNCILWOMAN'S MOTION TO DELAY UNTIL JUNE. >> MAYOR JONES: YEP. IS THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE DELAY? >> WHYTE: I'LL BRIEFLY SAY THAT THE B SESSION THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ON THIS ISSUE WILL BE IN PUBLIC AND ALL THE SLIDES CAN BE PRESENTED AND IT WILL BE TRANSPARENT. WE'RE JUST DOING THINGS IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ORDER. >> MAYOR JONES: YES. THAT ORDER IS VOTING ON CONTRACTS RELATED TO THE THING YOU HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED ON. >> WHYTE: MAYOR, ALL OF US, MAYOR, ACTUALLY HAVE MET WITH STAFF OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND BEEN UPDATED ON THE DETAILS OF THIS. SO WE ARE ALL PREPARED TO VOTE ON IT. WE'RE ALL INFORMED ON IT. BECAUSE IF WE WEREN'T, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE JUST SEEN A 10-0 VOTE TO MOVE ON TO THE QUESTION AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO CONTINUE THIS. APPRECIATE YOUR CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE ARE ALL CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A B SESSION IN FRONT OF THE WORLD WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS. WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: YES. WE'RE VOTING ON THE CONTINUED ITEM. A YES VOTE IS TO CONTINUE THE ITEM. THE CONTINUANCE CARRIES. MOVING ON TO ITEM 5. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 5 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH MUNICAP, INC. TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO PROVIDE PROJECTED COST OF SERVICE IMPACTS, PERFORM REVENUE FORECASTING, AND IDENTIFY NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROPOSED SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR A BASE CONTRACT OF $316,350 WITH A CONTINGENCY OF $33,650 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE OF $350,000. THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT WILL BEGIN UPON AWARD AND RUN THROUGH APRIL 30, 2027. >> WALSH: MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A DISCUSSION THAT THE CLERK READ THE SECOND CAPTION, NO. 6, BECAUSE THIS PRESENTATION COVERS BOTH OF THEM. >> MAYOR JONES: SURE. GO AHEAD. [01:25:02] THANK YOU. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 6 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ACCENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS LLC TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AN EXECUTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE PROPOSED SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $6 MILLION FOR PHASE 1 FOR SERVICES THROUGH MARCH 30, 2027. THE CONTRACT TERM BEGINS UPON AWARD AND EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2031 WITH A FIVE, ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS. FUNDING FOR THE CONTRACT WILL COME FROM THE HOT REDEMPTION AND CAPITAL FUND. >> THIS IS RELATED TO A DISTRICT STUDY. WE ASKED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO ENGAGE A CONSULTANT DO TO DO A STUDY OF THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. WE WANT THIS CONSULTANT TO DEVELOP A COST OF SERVICES MODEL RELATED TO THE CORE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO THE DISTRICT AROUND TRAFFIC, SECURITY, FIRE, EMS, AND PARK MAINTENANCE . WE WANT THAT COST OF SERVICES MODEL TO BE SCALABLE. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND WHAT IT COULD BECOME AND YOU THINK ABOUT SPECTRUM OF THE LEVEL OF ACTIVATION THAT COULD OCCUR IN THE DISTRICT, ON ONE END WE COULD HAVE PEOPLE IN THE PARK. ON THE OTHER END WE COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME. WE COULD HAVE AN EVENT GOING ON AT THE COURTHOUSE. WE COULD HAVE AN NBA EVENT GOING ON AND A MAJOR EVENT AT THE ALAMODOME. WE WANT THAT COST OF SERVICES MODEL TO BE SCALABLE AND WE WANT TO PORTION THOSE COSTS BACK TO THOSE EVENTS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW THAT'S WORKING. THE SECOND PART OF THE SCOPE IS REVENUE FORECASTING. THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR REVENUES NOT PLEDGED TO THE BOND. THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. THESE ARE GOING TO BE MORE GENERAL FUND REVENUES LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SALES TAX. THAT WAS TOUCHED ON ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS LAST YEAR BUT THAT WAS KIND OF A BROADER LOOK. THIS IS GETTING MORE GRANULAR. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF A PROJECTION IN THE GENERAL FUND? WE'LL LOOK AT SOME OTHER REVENUES AS WELL IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT MAY BE DERIVED IN THE DISTRICT AND HOW THOSE IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND. THE THIRD ELEMENT IS LOOKING FOR INNOVATIVE AND NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES. AS WE LOOK AT OTHER DISTRICTS, WHAT ARE THOSE NEW THINGS THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT AS PART OF THIS DISTRICT. AND THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US IDENTIFY THOSE. AS THEY IDENTIFY THOSE, THEN WE'LL PUT A FORECAST AROUND THOSE. SO WE DID A PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IN JANUARY. POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING ON APRIL 14. YOUR CONSIDERATION IS FOR THE CONTRACT TODAY. IF YOU APPROVE THAT, WE WOULD BEGIN WORK IMMEDIATELY WITH THE CONSULTANT. THIS SLIDE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, YOU SEE THE EVALUATION CRITERIA BROKEN DOWN, THE POINTS ALLOCATED TO EACH OF THE CATEGORIES. ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU SEE THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE INCLUDING MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MYSELF, JUSTINA TATE, TROY ELLIOTT, AND FREDDIE MARTINEZ, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. THIS SLIDE CAPTURES FOR YOU SOME OF THE SUBCOMPONENTS WE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND, AND QUALIFICATION. OR IN THE PROPOSED PLAN, THE KINDS OF THINGS WE WERE LOOKING FOR. ON THE EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND, AND QUALIFICATIONS, HAVE THEY DONE THIS ELSEWHERE, THE TEAMS ASSIGNED TO THE ENGAGEMENT. WE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY WORKED ON ON THE PROPOSED PLAN. HOW WELL DID THEY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF WORK WE WERE LOOKING FOR, WHAT WAS THE APPROACH THEY WERE TAKING TO THIS STUDY, THE METHODOLOGY AND HOW THEY WERE GOING TO CAPTURE THIS INFORMATION AND CREATE THESE FORECASTS AND THESE MODELS. THIS SLIDE IS THE INITIAL EVALUATION SCORE MATRIX. THERE WERE FOUR FIRMS THAT RESPONDED TO THE RFP. ONE WAS DEEMED NONRESPONSIVE. THEY HAD AN INCOMPLETE PROPOSED PLAN SO WE HAD TO DEEM THEM NONRESPONSIVE. THIS IS THE SCORING FOR THE THREE FIRMS THAT DID MEET THE SCOPE OF REQUIREMENT. MUNICAP, OLIVER WINEMAN AND BAKER TILLEY. THIS IS BASED ON A REVIEW OF THEIR INITIAL PROPOSAL. AND THEN THE EVALUATION PANEL WE DID NOT SHORT LIST. WE HAD THREE FIRMS. WE MADE A DECISION TO INTERVIEW ALL THREE FIRMS. THIS NEXT SLIDE IS THE FINAL EVALUATION SCORE MATRIX. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE FROM THE INITIAL MATRIX. ALL THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BOTH LOOKING AT THE WRITTEN PROPOSAL AND AFTER THE INTERVIEW, CONTINUED TO SCORE MUNICAP AS THE NUMBER ONE FIRM TO PROVIDE THIS SCOPE OF WORK. MUNICAP DOES HAVE A CO-RESPONDENT OR SUBCONTRACTOR, E-CONSULTANT SOLUTIONS. YOU CAN LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND, AND QUALIFICATIONS. THEY'RE ALL PRETTY SIMILAR. [01:30:04] ALL THREE FIRMS HAVE DONE SOME LEVEL OF WORK AROUND SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS OR VENUES. MUNICAP HAD A STRONG PROPOSED PLAN, A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE OF WORK WE WERE LOOKING FOR, AND THEY HAD A WELL-DETAILED MAP OF THE DATA, THE METHODOLOGIES AND WORK THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING. AND THEN THE ROLE BETWEEN MUNICAP AND E-CONSULT WAS DEFINED AS WELL SO WE UNDERSTAND WHO THE LEAD IS ON EACH PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT . OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THIS RFP IS TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO MUNICAP. WE PUT THE CONTRACT AMOUNT AT $350,000 SO WHEN THEY BID THE SCOPE OF WORK IT CAME IN AT JUST OVER $316,000. WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO YOU THAT WE PUT THE OTHER ROUGHLY $34,000 IN CONTINGENCY. IT'S ABOUT A TEN-WEEK PROJECT FOR THEM TO DO THIS WORK TO COME BACK TO US WITH THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THEIR STUDY. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTINGENCY THERE SO AS THE DISTRICT EVOLVES AND WE GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AROUND HOW MUCH RETAIL IS GOING TO GET BUILT OR AS ASSUMPTIONS CHANGE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RUN THAT BACK THROUGH THIS MODEL, IF WE NEED TO. IT'S JUST A CONTINGENCY. IT WILL HELP US DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THE STUDY. WE DID PUT THE TERM THROUGH APRIL OF NEXT YEAR. I'LL HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF RELEVANT ENGAGEMENTS FROM MUNICAP. THEY HAVE DONE A SIMILAR 35-YEAR DEPARTMENT LEVEL COST OF SERVICE. SO VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE. 76 PLACE, WHICH IS THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS AND THEIR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT. THEY DID A MULTI-DECADE GENERAL FUND REVENUE PROJECTION THAT INCLUDED INCORPORATED RETAIL AND SALES TAX FORECASTING. THEY HAVE DONE SIMILAR WORK THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS ON E-CONSULT, KIND OF THE SUBCONTRACTOR HERE. THEY HAVE DONE WORK FOR THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO INCLUDE TAX IMPACTS. THEY ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF CLEVELAND EVALUATING PLANS BY THE BROWNS TO DEVELOP A STADIUM OUTSIDE THE CITY . THEY HAVE A DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE HERE IN THIS SPACE AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TEAM. IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING FOR THE CONTRACT, IT IS COMING OUT OF THE HOT CAPITAL AND REDEMPTION FUND. I WILL SHIFT TO ITEM 6, WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER . THIS SOLICITATION WAS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, NOT AN RFP, BUT A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A CONSULTANT TO SERVE AS THE CITY'S EXECUTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER OR EPM ON THE DISTRICT. THEY WOULD BE PART OF THE CITY-LED TEAM TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT PROGRAM. THE EPM REALLY ACTS AS A SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE PROVIDING PROGRAM-LEVEL LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. THEY REALLY HELP US COORDINATE AND MANAGE ALL THE CAPITAL ACTIVITIES HAPPENING ACROSS THE DISTRICT. MANAGING ALL OF THAT WORK, COORDINATING THAT WORK, PHASING, SEQUENCING, LOOKING AT THE INTERDEPENDENCIES AND HELPING US MANAGE THE PROGRAM. WE DID A PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IN MID-JANUARY, POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING ON APRIL 14, AND WITH YOUR APPROVAL TODAY WE WOULD ENGAGE THEM AND BEGIN THAT WORK WITH THEM AS AN EPM STARTING IN MAY. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE EPM DOES. THEY KIND OF ACT AS OUR SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE. THEY HELP US LOOK AT ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE VENUE PROJECTS, ALL THE CAPITAL THAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE DISTRICT. THEY PROVIDE PROGRAM GOVERNANCE AND EXECUTIVE DECISION SUPPORT SO THEY SET UP A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT HELPS US IDENTITY ISSUES, VET ISSUES, DUE DILIGENCE, AND GET TO AN APPROPRIATE DECISION-MAKING LEVEL QUICKLY SO THAT DECISIONS CAN BE MADE, PROJECTS CAN STAY HOPEFULLY ON TRACK AND ON SCHEDULE AND WITHIN BUDGET. THEY ARE A STRATEGIC ADVISOR TO US. AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISTRICT, HOW WE PHASE THINGS, HOW WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE OPTIONS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THEY'RE A STRATEGIC ADVISOR WE CAN PULL RESOURCES IN AND PULL FROM. I MENTIONED THEY MANAGE THE PORTFOLIO. SO THIS IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, NOT NECESSARILY AN EPM THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. THEY PUT IN PLACE THE PROGRAM CONTROLS. YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT ALLOW US AGAIN TO MANAGE BUDGET. THEY HELP US WITH ALL THAT. DASHBOARDS. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT DASHBOARDS. THEY WILL HELP US BUILD THE [01:35:03] INTERNAL DASHBOARDS THAT WE WILL NEED FOR DECISION MAKING. AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THEY WILL HELP US DEVELOP THE PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARDS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE BECAUSE THEY ALLOW US TO BE SHARING REALTIME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE DISTRICT AND HOW WE'RE PROCEEDING. PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING AND SERVICE DELIVERY IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE. AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER, WHEN WE GET THE DESIGN, WHEN WE GET TO CAPITAL DELIVERY, HOW SHOULD WE PROCURE THAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE. THEY'LL HELP US WORK THROUGH THAT. THEY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT US ON THE STAKEHOLDER, THE PUBLIC INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION AND A SUPPORT ROLE ON ANY KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'RE DOING AT THAT POINT. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT WE REALLY WANT OUR EPM TO ENGAGE WITH THE SPURS AND THEIR EPM. THAT WAS IN THE TERM SHEET. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE HERE FOR POTENTIAL SAVINGS. IF WE'RE ASSUMING THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT AND THE SPURS ARENA ARE MOVING FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME, WE CERTAINLY BELIEVE THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SAVINGS AS WE PROCURE THINGS. MAYBE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HOW WE ORDER STEEL FOR BOTH PROJECTS. THERE MAY BE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE WHERE WE CAN GET SOME SAVINGS THERE. THE OTHER THING WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE NOT AT LEAST GETTING THAT SAVINGS THAT WE DON'T CREATE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE TWO PROJECTS. IF THEY'RE MOVING AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO NOT WANT TO CREATE COMPETITION FOR MATERIALS OR SUPPLIES WHERE WE'RE DRIVING EACH OTHER'S COSTS UP. THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION OCCURRING IF BOTH THOSE PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD ON A SIMILAR SCHEDULE. FROM A CAPITAL PERSPECTIVE, I WILL TELL YOU THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DESIGN BUILDINGS, WE LOOK AT BUILDINGS, WE LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS OF THE BUILDINGS. IN THIS CASE WE WANT TO MAYBE TAKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT OPERATIONAL FROM A DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE. THOSE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO BE WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF EACH OTHER. AS WE THINK ABOUT ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE WANT TO EXPLORE THINGS LIKE COULD WE SHARE DOCK SPACE? IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT WHERE WE CAN CREATE SOME SAVINGS BY SHARING THAT BUT STILL MEET THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL VENUES. THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE KINDS OF THINGS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT. AND THE PROGRAM. THIS IS THE EPM MODEL, JUST A GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE. WE ARE EXPECTING TO SET UP A CITY STEERING COMMITTEE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE AT THE AIRPORT. THE MEMBERS OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE AT THE AIRPORT INCLUDE THE CITY MANAGER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MYSELF, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CITY ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER THE AIRPORT, AVIATION DIRECTOR, DEPUTY AVIATION DIRECTOR. WE MEET VERY WE'RE STAYING ON TRACK. IF THERE'S ISSUES, THEY GET ELEVATED. WE'RE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE. I WOULD EXPECT WE WILL HAVE A SIMILAR STEERING COMMITTEE SET UP FOR THIS PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD. YOU SEE BELOW THAT THE EXECUTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER WITH THE CITY TEAM. THAT WILL BE OVERSEEING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. AND THEN BELOW THAT, WE HAVE EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, THE FIRST PHASE PROJECTS OF THE DISTRICT LISTED THERE. THEY'RE NOT ALL ON THE SAME TIME-FRAME. THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, THE ARENA LIKELY WOULD BE ON SIMILAR TRACKS. INFRASTRUCTURE DOME CONNECTIVITY WOULD LIKELY BE ON DIFFERENT TRACKS. I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THIS IS THE EPM FOR THE PROGRAM. WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL CONSULTANTS AND WORK ON THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES, MUCH LIKE WE DO ON AN EXPANSION PROJECT. WE WILL NEED PROJECT MANAGEMENT TO BE A PART OF THAT PROJECT. THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD . THIT MAY BE DIFFERENT CONSULTANTS AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME. BELOW THAT, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE DESIGN CONTRACTS, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, CONTRACTS THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO DELIVER AND EXECUTE ON THE CAPITAL PROGRAM. AND THEN YOU SEE A BOX THERE, SECOND TO THE RIGHT FOR THE ARENA. IT'S ACTUALLY ARENA MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT. THOSE WOULD BE THE SPURS CONTRACTS. THEY WILL ENGAGE THOSE CONSULTANTS, THOSE CONTRACTORS, THOSE DESIGN FIRMS. THEY WILL CONTRACT FOR THOSE THEMSELVES. THAT WILL NOT BE PART OF OUR CONTRACTING PART. BUT YOU MAY HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT THEY MENTIONED LAST WEEK THEY ARE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE SEEKING LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESSES TO BE A PART OF THEIR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM. SO WHILE THIS IS THE EPM OVER THE PROGRAM, THERE WILL BE OTHER CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES AS WE MOVE [01:40:06] FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM. THE RFQ IS EVALUATION CRITERIA. THE POINTS THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THE CATEGORIES. EVALUATION COMMITTEE INCLUDED MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, MYSELF, ALEX LOPEZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JOHN PETEREK, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TROY ELLIOTT, MICHAEL SHANNON, DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL DELIVERY, AND ERIK, A REDEVELOPMENT OFFICER WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT . ON THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WE WANTED A MIX OF CITY MANAGERS, OFFICE, LEADERSHIP, CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION, FINANCE AS WE LOOKED AT THESE FIRMS AND EVALUATED THESE PROPOSALS. THIS SLIDE BREAKS DOWN THE EVALUATION CRITERIA. IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND, AND QUALIFICATIONS. LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCE ON MANAGING A PROGRAM, A DISTRICT, SMALL GEOGRAPHIC AREA. WANTED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF WORK THEY HAD DONE IN THOSE AREAS, THE ASSIGNED STAFF. WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CORE TEAM. THAT WAS GOING TO BE SUPPORTING US FROM AN EPM PERSPECTIVE. SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE WORKED ON BEFORE ON THE PROPOSED PLAN, THEIR APPROACH TO MANAGING THE PROGRAM, THE GOVERNANCE MODEL THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. HOW THEY MANAGE THE PHASING COMPONENT. STAFFING. REALLY WANTED SOMETHING THAT'S SCALABLE SO WE CAN GET THE RESOURCES WE NEED. WE DON'T ALWAYS NEED THE HIGHEST-EXPERIENCED PERSON WORKING ON SOMETHING SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT THAT BASED ON THE TASK AN WORK WE WERE DOING. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A SCALABLE MODEL. IN TERMS OF SOME OTHER AREAS THAT WE EXPANDED OUR FOCUS ON, THEY'RE LISTED HERE. AS WE THINK ABOUT RELEVANT EXPERIENCE. WANTED TO SEE EXPERIENCE ON A COMPLEX DISTRICT OR COMPLEX PROGRAM OR COMPLEX PROJECT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO RUN INTO AS WE TALK ABOUT A DISTRICT THAT IS A LOT OF INVESTMENT AND A SMALL GEOGRAPHIC AREA. TEAM STRUCTURE AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. AGAIN, WHO IS ASSIGNED TO THAT CORE TEAM AND THEIR EXPERIENCE. WHO THE ASSIGNED PROGRAM MANAGER, THE LEAD EXECUTIVE WAS, WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS IN DOING THIS KIND OF WORK. THE PRIME CONSULTANT AND THEIR SUBS. HAVE THEY WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE, WHAT KIND OF HISTORY DO THEY HAVE. ON THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY SIDE, THAT GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, WE WANTED A WELL-DEFINED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AS WE THINK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM. AND THEN WE ASKED ABOUT PROPOSED APPROACH AND KEY DIFFERENTIATORS. WHAT SET THEM APART FROM OTHERS. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PLAN, AND THEN SOME OF THE PUBLIC-FACING THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE THE DASHBOARD AND THE REPORTING TOOLS. THIS IS THE EVALUATION SCORING MATRIX. THERE WERE EIGHT FIRMS THAT RESPONDED TO THE RFQ SO WE GOT A GREAT RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. NORMALLY WHEN WE GET THIS MANY FIRMS, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE PROPOSALS. WE WOULD SCORE. WE WOULD SHORT LIST. IN THIS CASE, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE DETERMINED THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO INTERVIEW ALL EIGHT FIRMS, SO WE DID THAT. WE BROUGHT IN ALL EIGHT FIRMS AND INTERVIEWED EACH OF THEM. BASED ON OUR EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSALS, THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED, THE INTERVIEWS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING ACCENTURE LLC. YOU CAN SEE THE FINAL SCORES ON THE SLIDE . I DO WANT TO POINT AND NOTE THAT THERE IS A CHANGE ON PROJECT CONTROL. IF YOU LOOK UNDER LOCAL PREFERENCE -- I'LL COME BACK TO THE OTHER SCORING IN A SECOND. IF YOU LOOK AT LOCAL PREFERENCE, THERE ARE TEN POINTS THERE. THAT WAS NOT THERE ON THE INITIAL SCORE SHEET WE HAD. WE DISCOVERED THERE WAS AN ERROR THERE. THERE WAS SOME CLARIFICATION SENT BACK TO THE FIRM ASKING THEM ABOUT IT. BUT WE SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH AND THAT WAS AN ERROR ON OUR PART, AND DONE THAT DUE DILIGENCE. BUT THEY SHOULD GET THE TEN POINTS. THOSE TEN POINTS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN. YOU CAN SEE ACCENTURE IS STILL AT 73 POINTS. PROJECT CONTROL AT ABOUT 52 POINTS. AND THEN YOU SEE KIND OF A GROUPING OF THREE TO FIVE IN THE 40-POINT RANGE. AND THEN YOU SEE 6 THROUGH 8. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT ALL THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS , AS WE DID OUR EVALUATION AND OUR SCORING, ALL HAD ACCENTURE RANKED NUMBER ONE IN TERMS OF MEETING THIS SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE EPM FOR PROGRAM SERVICES. I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ACCENTURE ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES AND THEN I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT LED TO [01:45:04] SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES IN THE SCORING THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE MATRIX. SO IN TERMS OF ACCENTURE AND SOME OF THE MAJOR PROGRAM EXPERIENCE, YOU'VE GOT THE NEW ALOHA STADIUM ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN HAWAII. IT'S A 98-ACRE DISTRICT INTEGRATING MIXED-USE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE GOT THE ATHENS ARENA DISTRICT ANCHORED BY THE AIKENS. YOU HAVE A 1.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET INCLUDING CLASSROOMS, A NUMBER OF OTHER AMENITIES. THEY'RE WORKING ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER INTEGRATED WITH SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY HAVE DONE WORK FOR THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY ON THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. AND SOME OF THEIR MODERNIZATION OF SOME OF THEIR LINES BUT ALSO SOME OF THE EXTENSIONS OF SOME OF THAT WORK. ANOTHER THING I WILL NOTE IS THERE THEY'RE A TECHNICAL ADVISOR TO METRO LINKS, PART OF A JOINT VENTURE TEAM. THAT'S A RAIL LINE IN ONTARIO, CANADA. THAT PROJECT IS A $14.1 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT INCLUDE EXPANDED TRACKS, 15 STATIONS, SIX INTERCHAINS WITH OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION. THEY'RE SUPPORTING THE PROCUREMENT OF THE EARLY WORKS AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTSES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN PHASES. THEY'RE PROVIDING TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES ON THAT. CERTAINLY SAW THEIR PROGRAM EXPERIENCE, THEIR TEAM EXPERIENCE WORKING ON A PROGRAM THAT IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX AND BROAD AND EXPERIENCE OF THE ASSIGNED CORE TEAM -- I'LL TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND. IN TERMS OF THEIR PROPOSED PLAN, THEY REALLY DID FOCUS ON THE DISTRICT PROGRAM RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS OR VENUE WITHIN THE DISTRICT. THEY OUTLINED FOUR DIFFERENT WORKSTREAM MANAGEMENT MODELS. THERE'S A -- LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. I'LL START WITH THE EXECUTIVE PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION. THAT'S THE LEAD EXECUTIVE THAT WILL BE LEADING THE PROGRAM. THEY'RE PROPOSING DAN MALLOY WOULD FILL THE ROLE AND RELOCATED TO SAN ANTONIO. HIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDE BEING THE PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE ON A $3 BILLION AIRPORT TERMINAL IN ABU-DHABI. THEY PROPOSED FOUR WORKSTREAMS THAT INCLUDE PROGRAM CONTROLS AND ADMINISTRATION THAT FOCUSES ON GOVERNANCE, THE PROGRAM, AND CONTROLS FOR SCOPE, SCHEDULE, AND PROJECT. THE INITIAL LEAD TO SET IT UP HAS EXPERIENCE WITH LARGE CAPITAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION OF CHICAGO'S $2.4 BILLION CAPITAL PLAN. THE NEXT SECTION WAS PLANNING AND DESIGN MANAGEMENT. THIS REALLY OVERSEEING THE PLANNING COMPLETION, DESIGN, ENGINEERING FUNCTIONING. THAT WILL BE LEAD BY JONES AND CRAWFORD, HAS DONE MASTER PLANNING FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII'S ALOHA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. PRECONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SUPPORTED REVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS AND OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS. MARK ADDISON IS THE INITIAL PROPOSED LEAD WITH EXPERIENCE PROVIDING OVERSIGHT TO THE JV TEAM FOR THE CHICAGO TRANSIT PROGRAM REDLINE EXTENSION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT ENSURE ALIGNMENT ACROSS KEY STAKEHOLDERS AS THE WORK PROGRESSES AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNAL EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF BOARD. THERE IS EXPERIENCE AS A DEVELOPMENT AND ADVISOR ON THE ALOHA ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN HAWAII. I WILL MENTION A COUPLE OTHER QUICK RESOURCES HERE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THE CONTRACT. AGAIN, IT'S A CAPACITY CONTRACT, SO WE WILL GET THE RESOURCES AT THE LEVEL WE NEED THEM TO SUPPORT THE TASK FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING; BUT AS WE THINK ABOUT ADVISORS OR OTHER EXPERTS OR EXPERTISE WE COULD BRING IN, I WILL HIGHLIGHT BEN PEAVY OVERSEEING PUBLIC SERVICE AND HIGHER EDUCATION BUSINESS. HE'S SERVED AS CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES AND OF COURSE AS, YOU KNOW, THE CHAIR OF OUR READY TO WORK PROGRAM. ADAM SHAW SERVED AS PRINCIPAL ADVISOR TO CRAWFORD IN STATE OF HAWAII ON THE ALOHA STADIUM AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. JANET SMITH IS A COFOUNDER AND CHAIR OF CANOPY, ONE OF ACCENTTURES SUB-CONSULTANT. SHE'S PLANNED AND DEVELOPED WORK FOR THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS, BOSTON RED SOX, AND BALTIMORE [01:50:03] ORIOLES. FRAN WELL IS A COFOUNDER AND CEO OF CANOPY. PRIOR TO THAT, SHE WAS THE SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, LEADING THE DESIGN, FINANCING, AND ENTITLES FOR MISSION ROCK, A $2.6 BILLION, 28-ACRE WATER FRONT DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO ORACLE PARK. SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW, THAT DIFFERENTIATED ACCENTURE FROM SOME OF THE OTHER RESPONDENS WERE SOME DIDN'T HAVE THE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE, THE BROADER MANAGER A BIGGER, COMPLEX PROGRAM, MORE EXPERIENCE IN SINGLE VENUES OR PROGRAMS SPREAD OUT OVER A LARGE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OVER TIME. SOME OF THE MAJOR TEAM MEMBERS THAT WERE ASSIGNED HAD LIMITED OR NO LARGE PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. IN SOME CASES, WE SAW UNCLEAR ROLES BETWEEN TEAM MEMBERS. SOME HAD LARGE NUMBERS OF SUB-CONSULTANTS PROPOSED AS PART OF THEIR TEAM, AND THEN WE, OF COURSE, SAW DIFFERENCES IN THE ASSIGNED PROGRAM MANAGER, THAT LEAD EXECUTIVE TO LEAD THIS PROGRAM FOR THE CITY. SO AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS TO AWARD TO ACCENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS, LLC. STRONG, RELEVANT EXPERIENCE -- AGAIN, WELL-DEFINED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT REALLY STOOD OUT. YOU KNOW, THE WORK ON THE DASHBOARDS SUPPORTING GETTING SOMETHING UP QUICKLY AND THEN WE'LL LET THAT EVOLVE OVER TIME. WE'LL BUILD THAT TAB POOR HERE, BUT GETTING SOMETHING UP QUICKLY. I THINK ACCENTURE AND THE TEAM'S DEPTH OF RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US AS WE MOVE FORWARD -- AGAIN, IT'S A CAPACITY CONTRACT SO WE'RE ABLE TO PULL THE RESOURCES WE NEED. THEY'VE GOT A BROAD RANGE OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE COULD TAP INTO. EVERYTHING FROM DISTRICT PROGRAMS, TRANSPORTATION, SPORTS, AND TECHNOLOGY. AND THEN THE SCALABILITY OF THE RESOURCES. AGAIN, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE ARE GOING TO WANT SOME EXECUTIVES I MENTIONED, THEIR FEEDBACK, INSIGHT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, BUT WE DON'T NEED THAT ALL THE TIME. IT'S REALLY BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE RESOURCES UNDER THE EPM CONTRACT AND DAY FOR THE TO, TAILOR TO THE TASK AND WORK WE'RE DO. SOME OF THE KEY CONTRACT TERMS IS IT WILL BE A PHASED APPROACH SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AT THE AIRPORT IF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO YOU THAT PHASE 1 BE $2.6 MILLION THROUGH MARCH OF NEXT YEAR. AGAIN, IT IS RESOURCE BASED AND EXHIBIT A OUTLINES WHAT WE SEE THE FIRST INITIAL STAGE IN TERMS OF THE WORK THEY WILL BE DOING. WE BELIEVE THE STAFFING RANGE WILL BE ABOUT 10 TO 15 FTES INITIALLY. ONE THIS INITIAL FIRST PHASE OF THE CONTRACT IS OVER, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU TO AMEND THE CONTRACT TO ADD THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE BASE TERM. THAT IS THE SAME PROCESS WE USED FOR THE AIRPORT ENGAGEMENT. IT IS UP TO $6 MILLION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THIS CONTRACT, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THAT WOULD BE FUNNED FROM THE HOT REDEMPTION AND CAPITAL FUND, BUT AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE PROGRAM, THEN MUCH LIKE OUR CAPITAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT CHARGES COST BACK TO PROJECTS, THESE COSTS ARE TO GET CHARGED BACK TO THE WORK THEY'RE DOING. SO IF WE GET TO A POINT, FOR EXAMPLE THAT YOU ALL WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COULD BE VENGE CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND THAT PROJECT BECOMES A CAPITAL PROJECT, SOMETHING WE CAN CAPITALIZE, WE START SO CHARGE THEIR WORK TO THAT PROJECT. IT WILL SHIFT AT SOME POINT, BUT WE'RE IN THE EASILY STAGES. MORE OF THIS IS GOING TO OPERATE IN NATURE AND WILL COME OUT OF THE HOT CAPITAL AND REDEMPTION FUND. IT IS A FIVE-YEAR BASE TERM WITH FIVE ONE-YEAR OPTIONS TO EXTEND. THAT BASE TERM WOULD TAKE US TO ABOUT 2031, WHICH REALLY CAPTURES MOST OF THE FEES OF THE DISTRICT; AND THEN THOSE FIVE ONE-YEAR OPTIONS ARE AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE CITY AND THE CONTRACT DOES HAVE A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE -- SO FOR WHATEVER REASON WE NEED TO END THE CONTRACT, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT WRAPS UP MY PRESENTATION ON ITEMS 5 AND 6 AND COULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, BEN. WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE PUBLIC THAT IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. JESSICA PALACIOS. [01:55:11] >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. MY NAME IS JESSICA PALACIOS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT THE SAN ANTONIO MISSION PANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTING NEARLY 900 BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR REGION. I'M HERE TODAY ALSO ON BEHALF OF OUR CEO, LUIS RODRIGUEZ, A STEADFAST ADVOCATE FOR SAN ANTONIO'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND REGRETS HE COULDN'T BE HERE TO JOIN YOU IN PERSON. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ON ITEM 6 REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH ACCENTURE. AS WE HEARD, IT'S TO ADDRESS PHASE 1 OF THE PROPOSED SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND OPPORTUNITY THAT IS PRESENTED FOR SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND AS THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE BENEFITS ARE FELT BROADLY ACROSS OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE SMALL AND LOCALLY OWNED FIRMS. AND WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF THE 14% FOR SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GOAL, WE BELIEVE THE BENCHMARK SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AND STRENGTHENED TO A MORE MEANINGFUL REFLECTION OF THE DEPTH AND CAPABILITY OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM. IN TEXAS, SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE UP OVER 90% OF BUSINESSES STATEWIDE, AND THIS, A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT LIKE THIS SHOULD REFLECT THAT REALITY. SO THERE ARE STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THAT. FIRST, WE CAN, WE ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO REVISIT THE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION GOALS, AS I JUST MENTIONED. SECOND, WE RECOMMEND STRENGTHENING THE CITY'S EXISTING POINT PREFERENCE FRAMEWORK TO BETTER SUPPORTER EVEN VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES. CURRENTLY THERE'S 5 POINTS AWARDED TO VETERAN-OWNED FIRMS COMPARED TO 10 POINTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WE THINK THAT COULD BE STRENGTHENED. AND THIRD, ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS. SO AS THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TRACKING OF HOW MUCH CITY DOLLARS ARE SPENT AND HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY REACHING LOCAL BUSINESSES, IT'S CRITICAL TO ESTABLISH CLEAR BENCHMARKS AND PUBLICLY REPORT ON THE LOCAL UTILIZATION TO GIVE US THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO SET STRONGER AND MORE INFORMED GOALS FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS FUTURE PROJECTS. SO WITH THAT, THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STANDS READY TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE AND A PARTNER TO ENSURE THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED AND THAT THIS INVESTMENT DELIVERS SIGNIFICANT AND MEASURABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT ACROSS SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS 5 AND 6. OKAY, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 5 SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? ? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> (AWAY FROM MICROPHONE ). >> YEAH. ANTONIO, IF THAT'S THE SAME ISSUE FOR DIANA, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED BECAUSE ONLINE I, I SAW THIS ITEMS AND WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR, SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING IT. MY ISSUE IS THE TRANSPARENCY. AGAIN, WE EVEN SAW IT TODAY. I KNOW THAT THE PRESENTATIONS ARE KIND OF LONG, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PUBLICLY MADE, SO THEY MAY HAVE BEEN MADE PRIVATELY. AND THE PUBLIC IS NOT AWARE OF MUCH OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND THERE IS MUCH OPPOSITION TO THIS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, IN CASE Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW. AND HOW THE MONIES ARE SPENT, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW BECAUSE, AGAIN, ACTUALLY, THERE'S BEEN NO PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT IT. SO ITEM 4 WOULD HAVE, I THINK, FIT RIGHT IN, BEING IT WOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE INFORMATION. IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE TIME, BUT IT WOULD HAVE INFORMED WHATEVER PUBLIC IS HERE AND ALSO VIA THE TELEVISION. SO THEY WOULD BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT IS OCCURRING AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE VOTING ON, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE NOW AND THEN HAVE THE ACTUAL ITEM 4 INFORMATION SOME TIME IN THE [02:00:04] FUTURE. THAT'S KIND OF ASININE TO ME, NOT JUST REDUNDANT BUT SOMEHOW -- HOW WOULD THEY SAY? PUTTING THE WAGON IN FRONT OF THE HORSE INSTEAD OF THE HORSE IN FRONT? ANYWAY. THERE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH CREATING THIS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND WHAT IS FOR PROJECT MARVEL. ALL THIS HAS OCCURRED SO RAPIDLY AND AT A GREAT EXPENDITURE TO THE PUBLIC. WE'RE NOT GOING TO, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE GET IT CAN TAX DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE NORMALLY JUST GONE TO THE STATE, WILL STILL NOT BE GOING INTO THE GENERAL BUDGET AT ALL. SO IT WILL NOT HELP US IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM WHILE IT'S GIVING AWAY QUITE A LOT OF AREA IN OUR EAST DOWNTOWN REGION, WHICH IS BEEN IMPOVERISHED FOR SO LONG. SO I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT GOING TO BENEFIT ANY RESIDENCE NEAR THAT AREA AT ALL AS IT WILL RAISE PROPERTY TAXES ON THEM AND THEY WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE GENERAL BUDGET AT ALL FOR SERVICES. SO THAT IS WHAT I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR MORE OF A PRESENTATION -- I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE CONTRACTING AND PAYING SOMEONE OVER THREE OR SOME-ODD MILLION DOLLARS TO BE THE EXECUTIVE MANAGER OR CONSULTATION FIRM WITHOUT THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY KNOWING WHAT BENEFITS WILL COME TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS MY ISSUE TODAY. AND I THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR ALLOWING THIS, MAYOR JONES. THANK YOU. >> DIANA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M AGAINST MARVEL. I LOVE THE SPURS. WE ALL DO, DON'T WE? YEAH. THEY WON THESE PAST FEW GAMES, AND THEY MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS, OKAY, BUT THEY ALSO SHOULD HAVE PAID THEIR DUES TO THE CITY. WE BUY ALL THEIR STUFF; THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY BACK. WHY CAN'T THEY DO IT? INSTEAD, THEY KEEP TAKING THE MONEY FROM THE CITY, OUR TAXPAYERS. WE'RE ALL TAXPAYERS HERE. THAT'S MONEY COMING FROM OUR HARD WORKING HANDS AND EVERYTHING. Y'ALL NEED TO GET UP TO PAY BACK THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY NEEDS THE MONEY TO FIX FOR THE FLOODINGS AND THE STREETS AND TRY TO MAKE MORE ROADS SO THAT THE CITY WON'T BE TOO CONGESTED IN THE STREETS AND THE HIGHWAYS. Y'ALL DISTRICTS, Y'ALL NEED TO FIX STUFFING YOUR DISTRICTS, TOO! HOW YOU DOING TO FIX IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY? YOU KEEP GETTING IT FROM FROM, FROM TAXES. REMEMBER WHAT YOU DO. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. Y'ALL KEEP HURTING THE CITY; Y'ALL GOING TO BE HURTING, TOO, NOT JUST US. WE'RE CITIZENS. I LOVE SPORTS. I LOVE TO SEE IT. WHY DON'T WE PAY THE LITTLE ONES PLAYS BASEBALL ALL THAT MUCH MONEY THAT THEY PAYING THE GROWN-UPS? DON'T YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO BE PAID, TOO? I KNOW YOU DO. BUT YOU DON'T ASK FOR IT. ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING, ASKING, ASKING, ASKS; AND THEY KEEP RECEIVING AND WE DON'T GET NOTHING IN RETURN. YOU KEEP DISPLACING PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES, THEIR LANDS. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. Y'ALL GIVING THEM 25 ACRES. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. GIVE IT TO ME. I COULD USE 25 ACRES. AND I BET A WHOLE BUNCH OF OUR [02:05:02] CITIZENS WOULD LOVE THAT, TOO, BUT Y'ALL KEEP GIVING THEM REBATES AND EVERYTHING AND MAKING US PAY. THANK YOU. >> THAT WAS THE FINAL SPEAKER FROM THE PUBLIC. A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 5 SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. COUNCIL WOMAN KUR SECONDED. CONTINUE SILL MEMBER VIA GRAND RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. DURING THE APRIL 14 MEETING, I RECOMMENDED BOTH ITEM 5 AND ITEM 6 BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AS INDIVIDUAL ITEMS TO ENSURE THE FULL COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN, ASK QUESTIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRANSPARENT AND THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION. AGAIN, THE COUNCIL AT ANY TIME CAN TALK WITH TROY AND BEN REGARDING THIS, AND OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT, I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH BEN AND TROY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PURPOSES AND THE GOALS. THE VOTERS DID COME OUT IN A COUNTY ELECTION, STATING THEY WERE READY TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THE CITY DID AGREE TO BE PART OF THAT PARTICIPATION, AND HERE WE ARE, AND THIS IS JUST THIS NEXT STEP. I TRUST IMPLICITLY TROY AND BEN AND THEIR TEAMS IN DOING THE BEST TEAL. THIS IS WHAT WE DECIDED AS A COUNCIL, SO THIS IS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE STILL SOME RESERVATIONS, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT, AND THE JOBS IT'S GOING TO BRING, THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO A STUDY -- AND I DON'T KNOW ANY STUDY THAT'S GOING TO TELL YOU YES, YOU SHOULD GET RID OF AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM THAT'S IN THE FINALS. I DON'T KNOW ANY STUDY OUT THERE THAT'S GOING TO DO THAT. SO HERE WE ARE, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THESE STEPS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO, AGAIN IF UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THIS IS ON A DASHBOARD. YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND LOOK. WE ARE BEING, WE ARE PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION, SO MUNICAP CAME FORWARD WITH ITEM 5. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE THE RIGHT GROUP FOR THIS TEAM AS WE MOVE OUT, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD; AND ITEM 6. THANK YOU, BEN, FOR THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT WILL SERVE ON THIS TEAM. I THINK THE NUMBERS SPOKE FOR THEMSELVES. WE DO NEED SOME EXPERTISE, WHICH I FEEL ACCENTURE WILL BRING REGARDING HOW WE MOVE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND HOW WE GET PEOPLE TO PLACE A AND PLACE B WHEN WE HAVE THOSE MULTIPLE EVENTS, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND I TRUST THE CITY TEAM THAT IF WE, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, ARE HEARING FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DO NOT SEE THE GROWTH COMING ON THIS PROJECT LIKE WE INTENDED, THAT ACCENTURE HAS NOT SENT THEIR BEST TEAM, THEIR A TEAM, THAT WE HAVE A CITY TEAM THAT IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. SO FOR ME, I TRUST TROY AND BEN. THEY HAVEN'T LET ME TOWN IN THE LAST -- AS I'VE SAT HER, THEY DIDN'T LET COUNCIL DOWN. I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THESE ITEMS FORWARD, GETTING A LARGER BRIEFING, HEARING HOW WE'RE DOING, AND MAKING SURE WE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE ONLINE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING INSIGHT FROM MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST -- THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT, AND WE KNOW THIS IS ONE OF MULTIPLE BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES WE WANT TO BRING TO SAN ANTONIO. SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT IS SOMETHING THAT HELPS ATTRACT OTHER BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY LIKE, THEY LIKE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO STAY IN THE CITY AND NOT TRAVEL TO HOUSTON AND AUSTIN FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT. SO THANK YOU, AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THISSED. >> COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE TAKING DISCUSSION FOR ITEMS 5 AND 6 TOGETHER BUT THE VOTES WILL BE DIFFERENT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. YES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. I GUESS I WILL -- HMM. I'M A LITTLE IRATE RIGHT NOW, A LITTLE AGGRAVATED AT ALL THIS THAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE BRIEFING DID NOT NEED TO HAPPEN AND WANT TO CONVEY TO YOU ALL EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, RIGHT? AND SO THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU ALL GOT WAS THE SUBS STANTIVE INFORMATION WE WERE GOING TO GET AS A PART OF ITEM 4. THERE'S A FEW UPDATES HERE AND THERE BUT THINK LARGELY THE PEOPLE WHO WANT ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH PROJECT MARVEL, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THAT PRESENTATION. [02:10:02] I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT SAID. EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU WILL REMEMBER WE TOOK A VOTE -- ACTUALLY, I WILL GO BACK A LITTLE BIT. I WENT -- I CAST MY VOTE NO ON BOTH PROPOSITIONS A AND B AT THE BALLOT BOX. I MAINTAINED THAT WE, AS A CITY, WITH THE GREAT NEEDS WE HAVE, SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING MONEY ON ARENAS AND NICE-TO-HAVES WHEN WE HAVE MUCH BETTER USES, MUCH MORE, MANY MORE USES THAT WILL BE MORE IMPACTFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS A CAMPAIGN THAT COST HOWEVER MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IT WAS THAT ENDED UP PREVAILING, AND SO WE, AS A CITY, NOW HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN AN ARINA WITH COUNTY APPROVED TAX DOLLARS AND WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN AND NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT FUND. Y'ALL WERE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF HELPFUL INFORMATION ON THAT AND NOT A LOT OF MOVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. JANUARY 15, COUNCIL APPROVED SUBMISSION AT OFFER AT A PUBLIC MEET FOR ACQUISITION OF THE ITC PROPERTY. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL CLOSE BETWEEN JUNE AND JULY AND APPROVED ACCEPTING $30 MILLION FROM THE SPURS. THEY DID CONTRIBUTE THEIR $3 MILLION FOR THE INITIAL PART OF THE ACQUISITION, AND AS SOON AS CLOSING HAPPENS, THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE THE LAST $27 MILLION. WITH REGARD TO THE LAND BRIDGE THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S UP IN THE AIR, WE ARE CONDUCTING AN EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS, COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS WILL BE HAPPEN BETWEEN JUNE AND AUGUST WITH OPEN HOUSES TAKING PLACE IN NOVEMBER. THEN DEVELOPMENT OF THE FINAL PLAN FOR THE FRAMEWORK AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING OF THE PREFERRED PROJECTS WILL BE HAPPENING BY DECEMBER. THE ITC PURCHASE IS IN NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH JUNE AND AN APPRAISAL OF THE PROPERTY WAS REQUESTED APRIL 30. WE ANTICIPATE ACQUISITION BY DECEMBER 31. THE SPURS ARENA TERMS, THE CONTRACT THAT WE'RE NEGOTIATING, RIGHT, THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE BY DECEMBER 31, SO ONGOING BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31 WE EXPECT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN BY THEN. THE CONVENTION CENTER IN SEPTEMBER STAFF -- IN SEPTEMBER, STAFF IS DOING TO PRESENT AN UPDATED FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ITS EXPANSION. FOR THE ALAMO DOME, STAFF IS REVIEWING THE CAPITAL PLANNING REPORTED WITH RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED IN DECEMBER. STAFF IS GOING TO PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS IN SEPTEMBER. FOR THE MOBILITY STUDY, WE'LL CONSIDER CONSULTANT IN JUNE. THAT WILL TAKE EIGHT TO 12 WEEK AND WILL RECEIVE A REPORT IN SEPTEMBER. THE WATER PLANT STUDY IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE PLANT THAT EXISTS WILL RECEIVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR AN EXPANSION OF WATER CAPACITY MUCH LATER AT ANOTHER DATE. SO REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION Y'ALL WERE GOING TO GET TODAY. I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. THE NEXT BIG OPPORTUNITY THE PUBLIC HAS TO VOICE THEIR OF OPPOSITION TO PROJECT MARVEL -- ERIC, WHEN WILL IT BE? >> SO MORE THAN LIKELY AS WE WORK THROUGH THOSE DETAILED DOCUMENTS WITH THE SPURS AND BRING THEM TO COUNCIL BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEARS THAT'S REALLY A MAJOR TIPPING POINT FOR YOU ALL AS A GROUP. >> OKAY. WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL BE? DECEMBER 31? >> NOT ONS 31. >> BEFORE? >> BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR; YES, SIR. >> WE STILL DO NOT HAVE THAT ANSWER, SO IF THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR THAT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS BASED OFF THIS PRESENTATION, I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE INFORMATION BEYOND THAT. SO WITH REGARD TO ITEMS 5 AND 6 TODAY, WHEN I RECEIVE RECEIVED MY BRIEFING -- THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I SAID. SO FOR ITEMS 5, THERE WERE THREE BIDDERS. THEY'RE ALL OUT OF TOWN. I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THEM. GIVE IT TO THE ONE THAT SCORED THE HIGHEST AND THE STAFF SAID IT'S THE COMPANY THEY WANT TO WORK WITH BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE BEST PLAN, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATIONS. THE SECOND ITEM, WE RECEIVED A LOT MORE INTEREST, A LOT MORE APPLICATIONS. IT'S A BIGGER CONTRACT AND MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS -- YOU KNOW, ON THE TABLE. WE HAD A LOT MORE COMPANIES THAT HAVE A SAN ANTONIO PRESENCE, AND WHAT WE SAW AND WHAT YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION WAS THAT, ONE, ACCENTURE WAS LEAPS AND BOUNDS ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE IN TERMS OF THEIR POINTS SCORED, EVEN BEFORE ANY LOCAL PREFERENCE POINTS, VETERAN POINTS, ANY OF THAT. AND SO FOR ME, MY CONCERN IS THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TERMINATE SHOULD WE DECIDE THE WORK IS NOT BEING DONE TO OUR SATISFACTION AND NOT MEETING EXPECTATIONS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS NOT AN ECOSYSTEM OF INTEREST THAT CAN STEP UP AND TAKE THE PLACE IN -- BECAUSE NONE OF THE OTHER ENTITIES SCORED NEARLY AS WELL. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT WE END THAT CONTRACT AND WE HAVE TO TERMINATE? SO MAYBE -- BEN, WOULD YOU MIND ANSWERING THAT? HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IF WE HAVE TO GO RE-ISSUE A SOLICITATION, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST QUALITY PAR [02:15:07] PARTNERS? >> SO IF YOU WOULD PULL SLIDE 17 UP? SO COUNCILMEMBER, WHEN WE EVALUATED THIS, YOU'RE EVALUATING WRITTEN PROPOSALS, ALL THE INFORMATION THEY PROVIDING TO US, THE INTERVIEWS, THE ASSIGN TEAM, ALL OF THAT. WE'RE COMPARING THE PROPOSALS TO EACH OH, RIGHT? SO IF YOU TAKE ACCENTURE OUT OF THIS MIX AND WE'RE DOING THE EVALUATION, IT MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT. SO PROJECT CONTROL, WHO'S NUMBER TWO HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, REALLY STRONG IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COST CONTROL. WE HAVE USED THEM ON SOME PROJECTS LIKE THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. WHAT THEY NECESSARILY DIDN'T HAVE IS AS MUCH PROGRAM EXPERIENCE. IF WE HAD TO DO AN RFQ, WE WOULD REDO IT AND PUT THE REQUIREMENTS BACK OUT AND WOULD INTERVIEW THOSE, LOOK AT THOSE, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON WHO WE THOUGHT COULD DO THAT WORK. >> OKAY. I GUESS MY CONCERN REMAINS IS SAY ACCENTURE HAD NOT ASUBMITTED. THE SCORES WOULD HAVE LOOKED A LOT DIFFERENT, AS YOU JUST SAID, AND MAYBE WE WOULD END UP WITH A PARTNER WHO WASN'T -- ONE OF THE OTHER ONES. AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE, IN OUR PROCESS, BUILD A LITTLE MORE -- I'M A LITTLE CONSIDERED ABOUT THAT. I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE AN ANSWER THAT IS SATISFACTORY FOR ME TODAY BUT WANTED TO CONVEY THAT TO YOU AND PUBLICLY. WE'RE GOOD ON THAT. I WILL SUPPORT THE ITEMS. I WANT TO, AGAIN, EXPRESS WHAT THIS WAS AND WHAT THIS WAS NOT BECAUSE WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE POSED IS AS THE MAYOR -- OH, THIS 10-1 VOTE TO KEEP THIS PRESENTATION ON THE TABLE. IT'S NOT THAT. THIS IS MANY OF US STILL STAND EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE ON PROJECT MARVEL. NOTHING CHANGED ON THAT. IT WAS ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE PRESENTATION, QUALITY OF THE PRESENTATION, AND THEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE HAVING A VERY BIG DISCUSSION ON HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND JUST ANOTHER HOUR, I'M SURE. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR YOU. I WANT TO GIVE Y'ALL THE CHANCE TO SPEAK. PEOPLE WILL LEAVE BY THE MINUTE THE MORE SLIDES THAT GO BY. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, JUST THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE AND REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL. LOVED A PACKED HOUSE. >> MAYOR, REAL QUICK -- >> GO AHEAD. >> EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF THE OF VIEW AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED, WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE ONLINE. >> COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CLEARLY DEFINE SPECIFIC GOALS. JUST A FEW QUESTIONS. I THINK -- WHERE IS IT? WHAT SPECIFIC CRITERIA WILL STAFF USE TO DETERMINE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DRAW FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND? >> ON THE DISTRICT STUDY? >> MM-HMM, ITEM 5. YES, SORRY. >> SO THE $316,000 ROUGHLY WILL COMPLETE THE SCOPE OF WORK AS WE HAVE IT, RIGHT? SO THE TEN-WEEK PROJECT DONE ROUGHLY AT THE END OF JULY SHOULD COMPLETE THAT SCOPE. THE CONTINGENCY WE REALLY PUT IN PLAY, AS THE DISTRICT EVOLVES, THINGS WILL GET MORE CLEAR. HOW MUCH THE FIRST PHASE IS MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT? HOW MUCH RETAIL IS IN THERE? WHAT'S DOES THE FIRST PHASE OF MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE? THIS GIVES US THE OPTION TO GO BACK IF WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO AND SAY, "UPDATE YOUR MODEL. LET ME SEE THE DIFFERENCE ON THE SALES TAX FORECAST," FOR EXAMPLE. IT GIVE FUSS A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY -- NOT THAT WE NECESSARILY USE IT -- BUT WOULD BE UPDATING SOMETHING IN THE COST OF SERVICES MODEL OR SOMETHING IN THE REVENUE FORECAST THAT CHANGES BETWEEN THE SUMMER AND APRIL TIME FRAME THAT WE'D WANT TO RUN THROUGH THEM AND THEIR MODELS TO SEE IF WE NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. DOES THAT COME THROUGH US, OR IS THAT DONE BY THE CFO IF WE HAVE TO? >> YEAH, IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE POOL OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY; BUT AS WE UPDATE YOU, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WE WILL DO THAT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW THIS STUDY BUILDS OR TIFFS FROM PRIOR WORK DOAN BY CSL OR INSIGHTS WE EXPECT TO GAIN FROM THE WORK WE HAVE DONE? THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT AND SPECIFIC TO OUR ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU MENTIONED CSL. THAT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE BROADER IMPACT IMT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE FOCUSED ON COST OF SERVICE AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN THE DISTRICT IS LIGHTLY ACTIVATED OR WHEN IT'S HEAVILY ACTIVATED? WHAT DO THE COSTS LOOK LIKE? THE REVENUE SIDE IS VERY [02:20:03] SPECIFIC TO US. WE WILL FOCUS ON THE REVENUES THAT ARE NOT PLEDGED TO BONDS SO SALES TAX WILL PROBABLY BE THE BIGGEST ONE OUT OF THAT. WHAT DOES THAT SPECIFICALLY LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF A FORECAST OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS? SO IT IS WORK THAT IS MUCH MORE SPECIFIC TO OUR BUDGET AND OUR ORGANIZATION. >> THANK YOU. AND THEN GIVEN THAT THIS RUNS THROUGH -- I THINK IT'S APRIL -- >> OF NEXT YEAR. >> 2027, RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> AT WHAT POINT DO WE GET PRELIMINARY REPORTS? >> YOU GET THE FIRST PRELIMINARY REPORT IN THE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME, SO THE TEN-WEEK TIME FRAME WE SHOULD BE DONE LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST? SO IT SHOULD BE IN THAT SAME A LOT OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND WORK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ WENT OVER IN THE UPDATE, A LOT WILL LAND IN THE SAME TIME FRAME BECAUSE IT IS ALL KIND OF INTERDEPENDENT A LITTLE BIT, SO WE'RE ALL TIMING AROUND AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR THAT SUMMARY. THAT WAS GREAT. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAYBE PROPOSE THAT AS THE STUDY IDENTIFIES NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, IF STAFF WILL ENSURE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO KEEP THOSE MARKETING AND HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES ACCESSIBLE TO SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, MAKING SURE THAT IMPACT REALLY HITS US AT HOME, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK JUST I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BUILD ON THE PRIOR WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING UPDATES, AND I'M PLEASED TO SPOT THIS ITEM, ITEM 5. >> IF I COULD JUST ADD ON THAT. >> YES, PLEASE. >> ABSOLUTELY. AS WE IDENTIFY NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S REALLY JUST THE IDENTIFICATION. WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY COME BACK TO YOU ALL AND HAVE POLICY CONVERSATIONS HOW WE IMPLEMENT THOSE, WHAT DO THOSE LOOK LIKE. THAT WOULD BE AN ONGOING POLICY CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL. >> GREAT; THANK YOU, BEN. DO I MOVE ON ITEM 6 NOW? IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. SO ITEM 6, JUST A FEW QUESTIONS THERE. YOU MENTIONED ACCENTURE WAS SELECTED IN PART BECAUSE ON SLIDE 21, DEMONSTRATED A STRONG COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. DOES THIS INCLUDE THE EFFORTS ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SIDE OR IS THAT A SEPARATE LANE? >> BOTH. SO THERE'S A STRONG PLAN THERE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION AMONGST TEAM MEMBERS, OUR PARTNERS, STAKEHOLDERS. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ALIGNMENT IN COMMUNICATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BOTH EXTERNALLY AND INCH TERMLY THERE, AND THEN THEY CAN SUPPORT US IF WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL OR IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THEY CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT EFFORT AS WELL. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. AND ON, I THINK IT'S -- REGARDING AFTER PHASE 1, DO WE EXPECT -- WE HAVE $6 MILLION. I THINK IT'S AT PHASE 1, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> DO WE EXPECT THE COST FOR THOSE FOLLOWING PHASES TO BE MORE OR LESS OR DO YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THAT YET? >> I MEAN, TO BE DETERMINED. >> OKAY. >> THIS COVERS US THROUGH -- I MEAN, ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE BRIEFED YOU ALL IN JANUARY, ALL THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO BASICALLY HELP US MANAGE, AND WHEN I SAY "MANAGE," WE HAVE GIVEN ROUGH SCHEDULES. THEY WILL TAKE THAT AND GET VERY GRANULAR ABOUT THAT SCHEDULING, SEQUENCING, PHASING, INTERDEPENDENCIES, GAPS, WHERE WE CLOSE THEM, STAND IT CAN GOVERNANCE. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THIS INITIAL PART BEFORE WE GET INTO JUST KIND OF MANAGING THE WORK STREAMS, RIGHT? SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE $6 MILLION OR UP TO $6 MILLION THROUGH MARCH, WE'LL THEN BE COMING BACK TO YOU AND ASK YOU TO AMEND THAT CONTRACT TO THEN GET THE BALANCE OF THE BASE TERM, WHICH WILL BE ANOTHER 3.5 YEARS, ALMOST 4 YEARS. THAT WILL BE A BIGGER NUMBER, BUT SOME OF THAT WILL GET BACK TO THE PROJECTS AS WELL. >> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING BOTH OF THESE ITEMS AND THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS A COUNCIL THAT WE STAY AS, YOU KNOW, UPDATED AS WE CAN AND SHARE THIS WITH OUR RESIDENTS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IF WE START EXPLAINING TOO LATE, WE'RE LOSING, RIGHT, AT THE END OF THE DAY. >> RIGHT. >> OUR RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTING US TO GIVE UPDATES WHEN APPROPRIATE, AND I JUST WENT TO AN -- EVERY HOA I HAVE BEEN TO PROBABLY IN THE LAST MONTH. ONE QUESTION COMES UP ABOUT THIS PROJECT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE SHARING THIS INFORMATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SO THANK YOU TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THE WORK THEY DID AND TO YOUR STAFF AND AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER MCPHEE FOR THE SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION ON SLIDE 4. THAT WAS HELPFUL. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK THAT COUNCILMEMBER KKR BROUGHT UP WITH THE COMMITTEE FORMED IN JANUARY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT INFORMATION BACK TO RESIDENTS NOT SO MUCH DOWNTOWN BUT DEFINITELY WANT TO BE DOWNTOWN, SO I WOULD THINK THAT'S MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 8. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> IF I COULD JUST ADD TWO THINGS REAL QUICK -- JUST SOME [02:25:04] CONTEXT ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT. IT WILL FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS WE USED FOR THE AIRPORT, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT AMENDMENT, PROBABLY AROUND THE SAME RATIO. THE OTHER THING WE'LL DO WHEN WE COME BACK IN B SESSION WE CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU MENTIONED GETTING MORE INFORMATION OUT. I THINK ONE THING WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING UP AND GETTING UP QUICKLY IS A PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD. >> YEAH. >> WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE. I THINK WE NEED TO ORGANIZE IT DIFFERENTLY AND WHAT WE HAVE TALKED TO ACCENTURE ABOUT IS NOT GOING OFF AND SPENDING THE NEXT YEAR BUILDING THE DASHBOARD, BUILDING ALL THE WORK AND LAUNCHING IT. WE'LL BUILD IT AS WE GO. YOU ALL WILL SEE IT, THE COMMUNITY WILL SEE IT. WE CAN GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND CONTINUE TO ADJUST, BUT I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WILL HELP ON THE COMMUNICATION SIDE. I KNOW IT WILL HELP ON THE COMMUNICATION SIDE BECAUSE WE'LL KEEP THAT UPDATED. THERE WILL BE PROGRESS THERE THAT WE CAN SHOW WHAT'S HAPPENING MORE QUICKLY AND WILL BE MORE ACCESSIBLE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MUNFIO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ON ITEM 5, I THINK THIS IS GREAT. IT WAS CERTAINLY A LARGE COMMUNITY REQUEST AND THINGS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING OUT F FOR. SO COULD YOU GO TO -- LET ME SEE WHAT SLIDE IT IS. SLIDE 4, PLEASE. BEN, I HAD A REAL QUICK QUESTION. YOU MIGHT HAVE COVERED THIS ALREADY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SECOND AND THIRD POINTS HERE, REVENUE FORECASTING AND REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> SURE. ON THE SECOND BULLET, THE REVENUE FORECASTING WE'RE LOOKING FOR ARE REVENUES THAT ARE NOT PLEDGED TO THE BONDS. I'M TALKING ABOUT ARENA, CONVENTION CENTER, ALL THE STUFF WE'RE DOING. SO THINGS LIKE OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, THE PFZ OR PROJECT FINANCING ZONE REVENUES; DETIERS REVENUES. WE'LL KEEP UPDATING THOSE AS WE GO. THIS IS GETTING AT REVENUES LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, SALES TAX WHERE THERE'S BEEN SOME FORECASTING WE'RE DONE AS PART OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS. THIS WILL GET GRANULAR TO THE IMPACT OF THE GENERAL FUND ON THE REVENUE SIDE. SALES TAX, MAYBE CITY PAYMENT FROM CPS. WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER SMALLER ONES, BUT WE'LL FORECAST THOSE AS PART OF THIS EFFORT. NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, WE JUST WANT TO LOOK AT AS YOU LOOK AT DISTRICTS ELSEWHERE AND THINK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO US THAT WE IDENTIFY THOSE. WE SEE IF WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO THEM, AND THEN WE COME BACK AND HAVE A POLICY CONVERSATION WITH YOU. A SIMPLE ONE THAT, AS WE TALK TO OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE SIMILAR DISTRICTS OR VENUES THAT CAME UP WAS WHEN YOU ACTIVATE A DISTRICT AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, THEY SAID POP-UP MARKETING AND SPONSORSHIPS WAS A NEW REVENUE STREAM THAT YOU COULD DEVELOP QUICKLY AND DO MARKETING ADVERTISING AND CREATE REVENUE. THAT'S A VERY SIMPLE VERSION OF THAT, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT WE WANT TO EXPLORE WITH THE CONSULTANT AND BRING THOSE BACK TO YOU. >> THE LAST POINT YOU WOULD MADE, I WOULD SAY A FUTURE FOCUS WITH THAT ON SMALL I AND PERHAPS LOTTERY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE THERE SO WE JUST DON'T WANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONNECTIONS, RIGHT, TO HAVE A MARKET THERE BUT PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR DISTRICT WHO CAN MAYBE SIGN UP AND THEN GET CALLED SO UP TO DO THAT. THAT'S IMPORTANT. WHAT YOU HAVE SHOWN US IN THE PRESENTATIONS, REVENUES ARE COMMITTED TO CERTAIN TOURS AND THE POND AND THE PFZ STUFF. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THESE ARE NEW THE U.N.S THAT DON'T EXIST IN THAT AND ASSUME THESE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ONES THAT GO TO THE GENERAL FUND -- YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SALES TAX AND ALL THAT? >> YES. SOME WOULD BE -- OBVIOUSLY SALES TAX, TALKING ABOUT 1% THAT GOES IS INTO THE GENERAL FUND. WE'RE GETTING A MORE GRANULAR FORECAST AROUND THAT. >> SURE. >> THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE DISTRICT. THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO IDENTIFY THOSE AND THEN BRING THOSE BACK. >> YEAH. >> YOU KNOW, I THINK TO YOUR COMMENT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS THING, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO AS WELL. WE BRING THESE BACK. IT'S REALLY JUST IDENTIFYING THEM. WE'LL DO SOME ROUGH FORECASTING ON THE NEW REVENUE ONES BUT THEN HAVE THAT POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT DOING BEFORE. IF SO, HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT IT? I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF REVENUES. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO MENTIONED IT. ONE OF YOU MENTIONED IT TO ME. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DISTRICTS [02:30:04] ACTIVATED FOOD TRUCK. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WILL COME INTO PLAY WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE ACTIVATED IN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA LIKE THAT. >> IT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF THE TERM SHEET DISPERSED BY THE COUNCIL. >> YES. >> OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NOTE THERE ARE STILL POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXIST TO GENERAL FUND OUTSIDE OF THAT CONTRACT. MOVING TO ITEM 6, MOVING ON THAT ONE, I WAS PLEASED TO LEARN ACCENTURE IS PART OF THE AIRPORT AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT WORK OVER THERE. THE DASHBOARD IS IMPORTANT TO GET THROUGH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MONITOR ALL THE WORK AND SEEING ALL THE PUBLIC MEETINGS. CAN YOU WALK THROUGH VERY BRIEFLY TWO THINGS -- NUMBER ONE, IN CASE THEY DON'T LIVE TO EXPECTATION, GETTING OUT OF THE CONTRACT, WHAT DISCUSS THAT LOOK LIKE? AND TWO, IF YOU COULD REITERATE WHAT YOU PRESENTED ON, HOW THEY'RE GETTING PAID. IT UP FRONT? IS IT OVER TIME? IS IT BASED ON THE WORK THEY'RE PROVIDE 1:00 FOR IT? CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THOSE QUICKLY? >> IN THE EVENT WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH PERFORMANCE, IT'S A TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. THAT'S WITHIN THE CONTRACT, SO WE SIMPLY GIVE THEM NOTICE AND TERMINATE THE CONTRACT. WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHY OR GET INTO TELECONFERENCE ISSUES; IT'S A SIMPLE TERMINATION. >> IF I COULD JUMP IN, BEN. THERE'S AN ADDITION TO THAT. THERE'S PROVISIONS IF, FOR EXAMPLE, WE IDENTIFY WHERE THEY'RE FAILING TO PERFORM. WE CAN NOTIFY THEM AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CURE THAT. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE REMEDY SHORT OF TERMINATION. >> IN TERMS OF HOW THEY GET PAID, THEY'RE ASSIGNING A TEAM TO US, RIGHT? THAT WILL FLEX BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY'RE DOING. I DON'T REMEMBER THE ATTACHMENT IN THE CONTRACT BUT IS AN ATTACHMENT IN THE CONTRACT THAT LISTS THE TYPES OF POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO US AS PART OF THE DISTRICT AND CAN AMEND OR CHANGE THOSE. THERE'S A BASE LIST THAT RANGES FROM COST ESTIMATORS TO DESIGNERS TO WHATEVER WE NEED FOR THAT PARTICULAR TASK, AND AS WE MANAGE THOSE TASKS AND ASSIGN PEOPLE TO THAT, THEY BILL US FOR THAT BASED ON THOSE BILL PUBLIC RATES. BILLABLE RATES. WE'RE PAYING FOR THE WORK AS THEY'RE DOING IT. THEY'RE ALMOST AN EXTENSION OF STAFF BUT BRING SPECIFIC EXPERTISE AND HELP US MANAGE THE PROGRAM. >> GREAT. >> I HOPE IT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> YES, IT DOES. I DON'T KNOW IF ACCENTURE DOES BUT THE EPM, JUST TO CLARIFY, IS NOT ABLE TO BID ON WORK RELATED TO THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY HAVE A CONCRETE COMPANY, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BID ON CONCRETE WORK FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. >> THAT'S CORRECT. IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND LOOK FOR AN EPM THERE, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BID ON THAT. >> OKAY, SO EVEN OTHER EPM POSITIONS THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO. >> RIGHT. >> AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION. >> RIGHT. >> OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING POSITIVE TO KEEP US ON TRACK AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FILTERING OUT THE INFORMATION FOR THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE IN THE PUBLIC DASHBOARD. I THINK, YEAH, DEFINITELY COLLABORATION WITH THE SPURS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, WE WANT TO TRY TO BUY IN BULK IF WE CAN INSTEAD OF TWO DIFFERENT PARTIES PURCHASING THE SAME THING AND KIND OF COSTING MORE. SO I THINK AS MUCH AS WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TOGETHER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> I THINK TO SUMMARIZE WHAT THAT LAST QUESTION IS, THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT, IS THEY WILL BE DOING WORK TO SUPPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. THEY CAN'T BE IN A ROLE AND BID ON A CONTRACT WHERE THEY'RE HELPING US OVERSEE THAT CONTRACT THAT IS EITHER WITH THEM OR THEMSELVES; THAT WOULDN'T WORK. WE HAVE TOLD THEM YOU CAN'T. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BID ON. THAT'S HOW WE HAVE SEPARATED THAT. >> GOTCHA. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I'M SUPPORT GO THOSE TWO ITEMS AND THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BOTH OF THEM, ACTUALLY, TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE BRIEFING ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THAT. >> APPRECIATE IT; THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE. >> THANKS, MAYOR. I GUESS I WILL JUST BEGIN ON THE PROCESS TO SELECT ACCENTURE. I WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW THERE WAS A BUNCH OF GREAT APPLICANTS THAT PUT FORTH STRONG PROPOSALS TO BE THE EPM, PARTICULARLY I'LL REFERENCE PROJECT CONTROL, WHICH I KNOW HAD A VERY STRONG BY AND DOES REALLY PHENOMENAL WORK. [02:35:01] THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROJECT CONTROL TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME WAY OR THE PROJECT OR AT LEAST SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY, GREAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE PICKED ACCENTURE. THE TERMINATION CLAUSE, WE CAN TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE. I'M NOT SURE WHERE ANDY WENT. THERE'S A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING TO GO THROUGH A NOTICE OF CURE PROCESS AND JUST TERMINATING FOR ANY REASON; BUT AM I CLEAR WE CAN TERMINATE THIS FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT A CURE PERIOD? >> THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCIL MEMBER, IF WE TERMINATE FOR CONVENIENCE. >> TO ME THE ROLE OF THE EPM IS TO MAKE SURE THIS JOB FINISHES ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET AND WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DISRUPTION TO THE DAILY LIFE OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE. I TAKE IT FROM THIS SELECTION, BEN, WE BELIEVE ACCENTURE IS THE BEST GROUP TO DO THAT. >> YES, WE BELIEVE THEY'RE THE MOST QUALIFIED TO BE THE EPM FOR THE DISTRICT. >> OKAY, AND WE ALSO -- THE MAIN THING HERE, OF COURSE, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS ENTIRE PROJECT IS WE WANT A PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO AND BE DONE IN A WAY THAT ALL RESIDENTS CAN BE PROUD OF. AGAIN IF I THINK YOU TELLING US TODAY THAT YOU BELIEVE ACCENTURE IS THE BEST GROUP TO DELIVER THAT. >> WE BELIEVE ACCENTURE IS THE BEST GROUP TO MEET THIS SCOPE OF WORK; YES, SIR. >> SO I DON'T HAVE MANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ITEMS 5 OR 6 BECAUSE I THINK I APPRECIATE THE BRIEFINGS THAT WE GOT OVER THE PAST WEEK, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE HEARD TODAY. I DO WANT TO SAY THIS: THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DISTRICT, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SPURS ARENA AND HOW WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING FORWARD, A LOT OF DIVING OPINIONS. TODAY IS A DAY THAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT, AND WITH ONE VOICE, WE SHOULD SAY, YES, TO THESE TWO ITEMS. WE SHOULD BE PLEASED WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TODAY BECAUSE THIS CAN BE A PROJECT THAT BENEFITS THIS ENTIRE CITY AND ALL OF ITS CITIZENS FOR DECADES TO COME. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE SPURS. LOOK, WE LOVE THE SPURS. WE LOVE THEM FOR THE SUCCESS THEY'VE HAD ON THE COURT, WHICH OF COURSE NO NBA FRANCHISE HAS HAD MORE SUCCESS OVER THE PAST QUARTER CENTURY THAN OUR SAN ANTONIO SPURS; BUT MORE THAN THAT, OF COURSE, WE LOVE THE SPURS FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE PARTNER THEY ARE. THE CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS THEY TAKE ON, THE JOBS THEY PROVIDE FOR OUR CITIZENS. AGAIN, THIS PROJECT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE SPURS; THIS IS ABOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND CREATING A DISTRICT THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE PROUD OF AND IS GOING TO CREATE REVENUE FOR THIS CITY THAT WE CAN USE ON ALL THE CORE CITY SERVICES THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME. IT WILL CREATE REVENUE TO HELP US FIX STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. IT WILL CREATE REVENUE TO HELP US WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY NEED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL ALSO CREATE A NUMBER OF JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS. LONG TERM, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I BELIEVE, IF DONE PROPERLY WITH THE GUIDANCE OF OUR CITY STAFF, WITH OUR EPM, AND EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED, THAT WILL HELP OUR CITY DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PROMISED OUR CITIZENS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. IT WILL BE A PROJECT EVERYBODY WILL BE PROUD OF AND EVERYBODY CAN ACCESS AND THAT EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY. SO TO BEN AND THE TEAM, I APPRECIATE THE WORK. I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THESE ITEMS TODAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THIS FORWARD. >> COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION. AS SOMEONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, WHEN THIS MOU CAME TO CITY COUNCIL, I WAS IN OPPOSITION TO THAT VOTE, AND THEN OF COURSE WHEN IT CAME TO VOTERS, THAT WAS MY POSITION AS WELL. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THE COW HAS LEFT THE FARM, AND VOTERS, WHILE THEY SLIMLY APPROVE THIS, THIS WAS THE WILL OF THE VOTERS TO MOVE FORWARD. NOW OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A BODY IS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST DEAL WE CAN AS WE ENTER INTO CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE DEFINITIVE DOCUMENT. THOSE DOCUMENTS IS WHERE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE FOR BETTER WAGES, BENEFITS, LOCAL [02:40:03] CONTRACTS, SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO THAT'S OUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE PRODUCTIVE AND SQUEEZING THE MOST WE CAN FOR SAN ANTONIO AND COUNTY RESIDENTS. WITH THE BRIEFING THAT WE RECEIVED, I APPRECIATE BEN AND TROY WALKING JUSTIN AND I THROUGH THESE PRESENTATIONS. YOU KNOW, I REMAIN COMMITTED, AS WAS MANY COLLEAGUES, TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO REMAIN TRANSPARENT AND SHARE INFORMATION AND CONTINUE TO GAIN PUBLIC INPUT AS THIS LARGE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. THAT'S WHY COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE AND I FILED A CONSIDERATION REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC DASHBOARD TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC, AS COUNCIL IS MAKING DECISIONS AND STAFF AND THE GROUP IS MEETING IN TERMS OF THOSE DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTS, THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED, HOW MUCH IS IT COGS, AND WHERE IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM. SO BEN, CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE WORK OF THE EPM WILL FEED INTO THE PUBLIC DASHBOARD? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT PUBLIC DASHBOARD ESTABLISHED? >> SO THAT IS ONE OF THE TESTS OF THE EPM, TO SET UP TWO DASHBOARDS, AN INTERNAL ONE, BUT ALSO THE PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD. WE WOULD EXPECT TO GET THAT UP QUICKLY, PROBABLY WITHIN THE FIRST 60 TO 90 DAYS TO AT LEAST HAVE A FRAMEWORK SET UP. I WOULD ANTICIPATE, DEPENDING ON WHEN WE HAVE THE BRIEFING IN JUNE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE AN UPDATE. >> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACTOR EXPECTATIONS AND ENSURING THAT OTHERS ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHEN WE COULD POTENTIALLY END THE CONTRACT. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THERE IS CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT, WHICH IS GETTING INTO THE WEEDS WITH THE DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTS AND EXTRACTING THE BEST WE CAN, GIVEN VOTERS APPROVED THIS ITEM; AND THEN THERE'S DESTRUCK INSTRUCTIVE DISSENT WHERE WE SPIN OUR WHEELS AND DON'T GET ANYWHERE. THE END RESULT IS THE CONSENSUS AND BODY MOVES FORWARD WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. I APPRECIATE BEN WALKING US THROUGH THIS ITEM AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTS AS WE ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND GETTING INTO THE WEEDS TO ENSURE WE GET THE BEST WAGES FOR SAN ANTONIO WORKERS, THE BEST BENEFITS, AND OF COURSE WE'RE SUPPORTING AND WORKING WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SEE A RETURN ON THIS LARGER PROJECT. THANK YOU, BEN. >> COUNCIL MEMBER? >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT. YOU KNOW, THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN. NOW IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK Y'ALL HAVE DONE TO BRING THESE ITEMS FORWARD. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH CONTRACTS TODAY. I WILL JUST ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF COUNCILMAN WHYTE. RIGHT NOW, SAN ANTONIO HAS INVESTMENT IN EASILY CHILDHOOD. WE HAVE INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE TO BE BOLD AND INVEST IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE DO KNOW THAT -- AND THE VOTERS KNOW THAT -- THIS PROJECT WILL ELEVATE OUR CITY. WITH THAT ELEVATION COMES MORE FUNDS JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, COMES MORE FUNDS FOR NOT ONLY POLICE AND FIRE AND CORE SERVICES BUT ALL THE OTHER THING THAT THE CITY WANTS TO DO, TOO. SO THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER FOR OUR CITY, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO STRESS IS THAT I'M GLAD THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO MENTIONED THE DASHBOARD, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IN MY CONVERSATION WITH ACCENTURE AND BEN IS FOR US TO SET UP THE PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STAYING ON TOP OF HOW MANY LOCAL IS ARE GOING TO BE GETTING THIS WORK. I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHEN I'M TALKING TO RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, THEY'RE CONSISTENTLY ASKING ME, "HOW CAN WE DO SOME WORK? WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS, TOO." SO, YOU KNOW, I'M FAMILIAR WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT WORK, SO HOWEVER WE CAN HIGHLIGHT MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE ON THE SPURS SIDE, OUR SIDE, I REALLY THINK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE A CLEAR PICTURE OF THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT WILL BE A KEY PIECE OF THE DASHBOARD AND WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT IS PART OF THAT. >> AWESOME; THANK YOU, BEN. YEAH. AND OTHER THAN THAT, I'M EXCITED TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KUR IS NOT HERE; WE'LL COME BACK TO HER. COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL BE BRIEF. A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED BY MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA. YOU TOOK A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU. I FEEL THAT YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THIS, BEN, AND EVERYONE, REALLY. I TOOK A LOT OF COMFORT IN KNOWING ACCENTURE SCORED SO HIGHLY ON THE MATRIX, AND WE [02:45:05] HAVE TO HAVE A QUARTERBACK HERE. IT'S JUST SUCH A VAST UNDERTAKING AND OWE TO IT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS HERE. HOW MUCH WAS ACCENTURE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE AIRPORT A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THIS DECISION? WAS THAT A BIG, INFLUENTIAL FACTOR IN LOOKING AT THEM, SEEING THEIR SUCCESS AT THE AIRPORT? >> CERTAINLY THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDERED. THIS IS ONE WITH YOU HAVE A SCOPE OF WORK AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PROPOSALS AND SCORING ALL OF THAT. THEY REFERENCE THE AIRPORT AS A PROJECT THAT DEMONSTRATES THE KIND OF WORK WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THE DISTRICT. WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS AT THE AIRPORT AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY HOW THAT PROJECT HAS MOVED AND STAY ON TRACK, SO THAT WAS CERTAINLY A POSITIVE PART OF THAT BUT WASN'T -- THERE WASN'T THE ONLY REASON WE SELECTED ACCENTURE. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE EXPERIENCE IN THE SPORTS ENTERTAIN DISTRICT, THE TRANSPORTATION INVOLVEMENT THEY GOT, THE TECHNOLOGY PIECES, THEY HAVE A REALLY BROAD DEPTH OF RESOURCES, AND THE OTHER THING THAT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN THE PROPOSED PLAN THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US AGAIN I WILL HIGHLIGHT IS SCALABILITY OF RESOURCES. IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE NAMES I MENTIONED, THAT'S GOING TO COME AT A HIGHER COST, RIGHT, THAN -- AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WORK AND THE TASK AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH VERY SPECIFIC THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCE AT THE RIGHT LEVEL DOING THE WORK AND THEY DEMONSTRATED THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE THAT RESOURCE. >> OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT GO LOCAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE OUR OWN CAMPAIGN ABOUT THAT AND NEED TO EXECUTE TO THE EXTENT WE HAVE THE ABILITY WITHIN OUR OWN PROJECTS. IT'S MY EXPECTATION THEY WILL HELP US REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE ON THE REGULATORY, THE REGULATIONS AROUND THE DISTRICT, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> OKAY. WELL, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH OF THESE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED REPORTING TO COUNCIL, AND I'M ASSUMING ACCENTURE WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT PART AS WELL. >> YES, THEY WILL BE HELPING US PROVIDE OR BUILD THE UPDATES THAT WE GIVE TO YOU ALL ON A REGULAR BASIS. >> GREAT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KUR. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO, I WAS SO CONFUSED BY THE FACT THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS LOVE OUR OWN AND ARE SO PROUD TO SELECT FOLKS AND SUPPORT OUR FOLKS AND LIFT EACH OH UP. I'M LIKE, "MAN, WE REALLY DON'T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN." I'M NOW ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. SO WHEN I GOT THE RESPONSES TO THE R., MY FIRST QUESTION WAS LIKE," BUT NO LO LOCAL? ." I WANTED TO DIG IN AND BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THESE TWO WERE SELECTED BECAUSE TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO'S POINT, IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SELECTING THE RIGHT VENDORS FOR THESE REALLY IMPORTANT WORKS AND WE SAW THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS ON THOSE CONTRACTS. THEY'RE BIG CONTRACTS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE CAN IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE THOSE FUNDS GO TO COMPANIES THAT HAVE THE EXPERTISE HERE. SO I THANK YOU FOR SENDING US THE PROPOSALS FROM ACCENTURE AND MUNICAP. MY TEAM -- THANK YOU, CAMERON -- HELPED ME DIG INTO PROPOSALS. THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKED ABOUT THEM SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SO YOU COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND. SO THE FIRST ONE ON ACCENTURE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SHOWED WAS THEY ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGED ALREADY THE COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHALLENGES THAT HAVE EXISTED IN THE PROJECT. ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THEY SAID THEY HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY LIKE IN HUDSON YARDS IN NEW YORK CITY WAS A COMMAND CENTER. VIAS A A COMMAND CENTER ON SAN PEDRO WHERE FOLKS CAN ASK QUESTION. THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL. I THINK HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THE ITC SPOT WOULD BE WONDERFUL OR SOMEWHERE IN THAT HEMISPHERE WOULD BE WONDERFUL. I WAS AT KEN WILLIAM LAST NIGHT -- MANY FOLKS ARE ASKING, HEY, HOW DO I GET AN UPDATE? I GET TOLD TO SPEAK UP, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN I GET TO THE SPEAK UP WEBSITE. THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT IT'S ALMOST INFORMATION OVERLOAD. SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE. I ACTUALLY REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THE COMMAND CENTER AND THINK THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL ASSET TO BE ABLE TO CREATE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GETS PROPOSED AS A PART OF THIS. IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THEIR PROJECTS ON TIME AND ON BUDGET, WHICH IS THE [02:50:06] EXACT LANGUAGE "HAVE NOT FAILED TO COMPLETE A CONTRACT. " I THOUGHT GIVEN ALL THE COMMUNICATION ABOUT OUR PROJECTS HERE THAT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT, SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS MOVES FORWARD AND THE FACT THAT THE OTHER THING THAT WAS CLEARLY OUTLINED TO ME WITH PEN WAS THE EXPERTISE BEING BROUGHT FROM SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENED NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRY BUT AROUND THE WORLD. WE DO NEED THAT EXPERTISE HERE TO MAKE SURE -- I WILL ACTUALLY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE -- WE HAVE A WORLD-CLASS PROJECT FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS. I KNOW, SHOCKER. (LAUGHTER.) OKAY, THE NEXT ONE FROM MUNICAP FOR THIS PROJECT, THE DISTRICT STUDY IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, ONE, IT'S A REALLY SHORT TURNAROUND TIME. I'M LIKE, WOW, YOU WILL COMPLETE THIS ANALYSIS IN TEN WEEK, WHICH IS PRETTY SHORT TIME. ALSO, THERE IS, WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A STUDY LIKE THIS, IT'S BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS. I WAS TAKING A CLASS IN BUSINESS SCHOOL ONCE. WAIT, IF YOU CHANGE ONE ASSUMPTION THE ENTIRE MODEL CHANGES. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE BEST HISTORICAL DATA TO MAKE SURE THE ASSUMPTIONS ARE THE MOST ACCURATE. AND I LIKE THE WAY THAT IN THEIR PROPOSAL THEY MENTIONED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIXED AND VARIABLE COSTS AND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA MENTIONED, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCLUDING REVENUES THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THE LOTTERY IDEA IS GREAT. I WILL TELL YOU, HAVING WORKING WITH THE SNOW CONE VENDORS RIGHT NOW, LOTTERIES CAN GET TRICKY. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THA THAT LOOKS LIKE BUT SUPPORT THAT IDEA AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME DO MY DUE DILIGENCE, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU DID VERY MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE THE RESULTS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THEM FORWARD. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE: FOR THE EXECUTIVE PROJECT MANAGER, THE PMS UNDERNEATH EACH OF THOSE, WHO SELECTS THAT? IS THAT US OR THE ACCENTURE TEAM? >> IT WOULD BE YOU ALL. WE WOULD BE COMING BACK AND ISSUE SOLICITATIONS FOR CONSULTANTS WE EITHER NEED ON A PM, CM, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ALL OF THAT. IT WOULD BE PART OF WHAT COMES BACK TO YOU ALL FOR APPROVAL. >> OKAY, GREAT. AND SO THE SMALL BUSINESS ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, IT SAID 15% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SMALL BUSINESS REQUIREMENT. WHAT IS THAT FOR? >> 14% OF SMALL BUSINESS REQUIREMENT FOR THE ACCENTURE EPM CONTRACT. THEY'RE COMMITTED TO -- WELL, THEY HAVE TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. AS WE ISSUE TASKS AND THEY DO THE WORK, THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION. >> OKAY, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THEY DID HAVE IN THE CITY. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT. GREAT TO SEE THERE IS SOME LOCAL PRESENCE THERE. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD FOR THE MUNICAP TEAM: ARE THOSE COSTS THEY COME YOU WITH -- SO FOR EXAMPLE, OPERATIONAL COSTS FROM POLICE THAT MIGHT HAVE TO WORK ON EXTRA WEEKENDS -- IS THAT GOING TO GO BACK TO US? HOW ARE WE GOING TO DECIDE WHERE THOSE COSTS GO? >> WHEN YOU SAY "COSTS," IN TERMS OF THE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY? >> YES, SORRY. >> IT WOULD GO BACK TO YOU ALL. YES. >> NO. >> WHO COVERS THE COST? >> OH. SORRY. >> WE'RE IDENTIFYING THOSE COSTS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THESE EARLIER IN THE YEAR LAST YEAR, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED OR MAINTENANCE OR TRASH PICKUP OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THOSE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISTRICT BROADLY IS WHAT MUNICORPS WILL HELP US IDENTIFY. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO APPORTION THOSE COST TO THE USERS LIKE WE DO AT THE CONVENTION CENTER OR ALAMO DOME. WE DON'T WANT THEM TOMMING BACK TO US. >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT HEATING IT ALL. >> NO, WE'RE NOT EATING ANYTHING. >> EXCEPT FOR REALLY GOOD GREEK FOOD AT LUNCH. THE OTHER THING THEY INCLUDED IN VARIABLE COST I WANTED TO MENTION IS OUR BUSINESSES TELL US A LOT ABOUT THE SEASONALITY OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING OR CONCERTS LIKE -- QUITE FRANKLY WE KNOW BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO HAS GREAT WEATHER IN THE WINTER. WE GET A HUGE AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT COMING OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. I'M GLAD THEY'RE ALSO INCORPORATING SEASONALITY BECAUSE WE KNOW DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IS BUSY IN THAT AREA. SO I SUPPORT THESE TWO ITEMS; THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOUTY, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING, LETTING US REVIEW THE PROPOSALS. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO SHANNON MILLER, OUR NEW CHIEF DOWNTOWN OFFICER, WHO'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB OF ALL THINGS DOWNTOWN. THIS SUNDAY -- SHAMELESS PLUG -- THIS SUNDAY WE ARE DOING A SPURS WATCH PARTY FOR MOTHER'S DAY AND WILL BE AROUND THE CORNER AT LA ZONA WITH FREE MASSAGES FOR MOMS, FOOD, SNACKS. THANK YOU TO LA ZONA AND TPR TO LET US HOST IT THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SHANNON FOR ALWAYS BEING WILLING TO SAY YES TO AN IDEA AND EXPLORE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. [02:55:03] THANKS, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR FOR THE WONDERFUL INVITE FOR THE MOTHERS OUT THERE AND FOLKS WHO ARE BIG FANS, TOO. I DON'T KNOW IF PETS COUNT, BUT ANYWAY. THANK YOU, PEN, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE MATERIALS AS WELL. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS ON THE DISTRICT STUDY PORTION. I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR'S QUESTION AND HELPED MAE FRAME A LITTLE BIT. FIRST THING, HOW ARE WE EXPECTING THE DISTRICT STUDY TO ALIGN WITH PARKING MOBILITY STUDY? DO WE EXPECT ANYTHING, ANY SUCCESS WITHIN THE DISTRICT STUDY TO BE TIED TO ANY KIND OF PARKING INVESTMENTS OR CENTRAL STATION NEEDS OR HOUSING, THINGS THAT ARE LARGER TO THE LARGER AREA? >> I THINK I WOULD ANSWER THIS WAY, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHICH IS WHY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LITTLE BEHIND ON THE PARKING AND MOBILITY STUDY AND TRYING TO GET THAT CONTRACT TO YOU ALL IN JUNE. THEY'RE ALL KIND OF TIED. >> RIGHT. >> THE KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE, HOW WE SOLVE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN DOWNTOWN -- YOU KNOW, HOW WE MOVE PEOPLE AND VEHICLES IN AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN -- THEY WILL IMPACT THE COST OF SERVICE, RIGHT? SO THE MORE EFFICIENTLY WE CAN DO THAT, THE MORE WE CAN USE VIA PARK AND RIDE AND OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET PEOPLE IN. THE LESS STRESS THAT PUTS ON, FOR EXAMPLE, TRAFFIC AND SAPT HAVING TO DO MORE TRAFFIC CONTROL. THEY'RE ALL TIED TOGETHER AND WILL ALL SOMEWHAT INTERDEPEND TENT AND WILL BE SOME CROSS-POLLINATION ACROSS THOSE STUDIES, IF YOU WILL. >> OKAY, AND ANY RECOMMENDATION FROM THE STUDY TO GIVE US FEEDBACK ON WHETHER IT'S VIA OR FOR US TO INCORPORATE WITHIN? >> I DON'T THINK IN THE DISTRICT STUDY SIDE; YOU'LL GET THAT ON THE MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION SIDE. >> OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CROSS-POLLINATION IS HAPPENING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT CONTRACT AND TIMES. MAYBE IT'S JUST MY PERSONAL VIEW ON IT BUT ANTICIPATE THERE'S A DIRECT CONNECTION THERE OR AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT ONE, RIGHT. >> YOU'RE -- >> -- SUCCESS OF WHAT REVENUE COME FROM IT, MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH, PEOPLE LIVING NEARBY, THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S JUST MY -- >> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LOT OF THE TIMELINE, IF YOU GO LOOK AT THE BRIEFING PART OF IT. >> RIGHT. >> A LOT OF IT, THEY ALL ALIGN IN THAT AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TIME FRAME BECAUSE OF THAT. >> OKAY. >> THEY'RE INTERDEPENDENT DENT. IF YOU MOVE SOMETHING ON THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE, IT AMAZE AFFECT COST OF SERVICE. >> WILL THE EPM OR THE CITY STAFF OR ALL THE ABOVE WORK TOGETHER TO PUT THOSE PIECES TOGETHER DURING THE SUMMER; IS THAT WHAT I ASSUME? >> YES, SIR. THE E P.M. WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THAT AND WILL WORK ON THE EFFORTS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING ALIGNMENT, COORDINATION, COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL THOSE SPECTRUMS. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> YES, SIR. >> WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY AND INCORPORATED. COULD YOU GO A LITTLE MORE INTO THAT ONE OR REPEATED WHAT YOU MENTIONED ON THAT PART ON HOW ANY COSTS THAT COME OUT OF IT -- ARE WE LOOKING THAT TO BE INCORPORATE IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS AT ALL OR A SEPARATE CONVERSATION? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> SO THE PURPOSE OF THE DISTRICT STUDY IS TO OUTLINE THE ANTICIPATED COST AND POTENTIAL -- BEN GAVE EXAMPLES EARLIER OF SALES TAX, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE DISTRICT. I MEAN, IDEALLY ON THE COST SIDE WE WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT POTENTIAL COST IMPACTS THERE ARE FOR HAVING A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE GO TO THAT PART OF DOWNTOWN THAT DOESN'T EXIST NOW. IDEALLY, AS WE IDENTIFY THOSE COSTS, THAT BECOMES A COST OF THE EVENT OR COST OF THE FUNCTION OR COST OF THE DISTRICT. (OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION). AND WE DO THAT WITH THE ALAMO DOME AND CONVENTION CENTER MAP. THE OFFICER THAT ARE WORKING ARE BEING PAID BY THE FUNCTIONS OR EVENTS HAPPENING. SO MAKING SURE THE DISTRICT ITSELF, BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE, IS DIFFERENT THAN THE CONVENTION CENTER, SO WE WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HELP IDENTIFY. IDEALLY WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THOSE COSTS IMPACTED TO THE GENERAL FUND, AS WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY. WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL COSTS. THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE ADDITIONAL COSTS. THE IDENTIFICATION IS IMPORTANT TO US TO AVOID THAT, TO SET THE PROPER RATES, AND ALSO, FRANKLY, TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE WE GET ANY DETAILED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SPURS ABOUT FINAL DOCUMENTS LATER IN THE YEAR. >> THAT'S HELPFUL, AND THINKING ABOUT THE CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, SEEING WHERE COSTS WILL BE TALKED ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE OR FUTURE ONES AND IF IT'S REGULAR PROCESS AS ALL. >> I ANTICIPATE THOSE WOULD BE EITHER RATES OR CHARGES WE WOULD [03:00:07] LOOK AT GLOBALLY. I DON'T KNOW. IF THERE'S A BIG PLAZA OVER THERE AND SOMEBODY RENTS THE PLAZA FOR A FUNCTION WHETHER THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AND THAT SHOULD COVER THE IMPACT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY, MAINTENANCE, CLEAN UP. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL. THE ONE LAST QUESTION I HAD -- I'M SORRY. REALLY APPRECIATE THE POINT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASPECT. ONE THING I WANTED TO ASK -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS A LOT AND NECESSARY FOR US BUT ALSO LARGER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO COME TO CONSTITUENTS LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT SO GRATEFUL TO SEE THE EPM IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE WORK, INCLUDING INCORPORATING THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THINGS OF THAT LIKE DESIGN AND WAYS TO INCORPORATE MORE PUBLIC ART IN THE AREA, TOO. THE LAST THING I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT, THE DISTRICT STUDY, HOW DOES THE DISTRICT STUDY -- WELL, YEAH, I WILL ASK IT ANYWAY. HOW DOES THE DISTRICT STUDY, INCLUDING HEMISPHERE OR ANY OF THE SURROUNDING AREA -- I KNOW THERE ARE SEPARATE ENTITIES AND CONVERSATIONS. THINKING OF CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE TWO PRAISES AND SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT WITH THE OPEN SNEER ITSELF VERSUS THE DISTRICT ITSELF. >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRICT STUDY AND WHETHER WE'RE CONSIDERING H PARK'S ROLE IN HEMISPHERE? >> RIGHT. >> I WOULDN'T SAY H PARK ROLE SPECIFICALLY BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DISTRICT AND HOW IT GETS ACTIVATED, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE GARDENS -- >> RIGHT. >> -- THAT ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE PARK TO THE OTHER END OF THE PICTURE WHERE HEMISPHERE IS COMPLETINGLY ACTIVATED, WOODHOUSE EVENT, NBA GAME. THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS A BIG EVENT. THEY'RE OPPOSITE ENDS SO IT COULD BE PICKED UP THAT WAY IN TERMS OF HOW WE LOOKED IT BUT NOT THE H PARK, THE ENTITY, SPECIFICALLY. >> GOT IT. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL AND THERE IS A LITTLE -- JUST MY OPINION -- HOW WE'RE ABLE TO TIE THOSE KNOTS LITTLE MORE THINKING ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS INCLUSION AND HOW HEMISPHERE IS PART OF THAT EQUATION A LITTLE BIT. WE TALK ABOUT SALES TAX REVENUE. IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO THE VENUE ITSELF BUT BEING IN AREA OVERALL SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO INCORPORATE THAT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN THE DISTRICT ITSELF OR THE EPM OR ANOTHER ROLE TO SHEPHERD THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT CAN BE PLUGGED IN MORE. >> YEAH. I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM AND DISTRICT AND WE'RE GIVING YOU UP DAYS, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THAT WILL EVOLVE AND CHANGE BASED ON HOW THE DISTRICT EVOLVES. >> RIGHT. >> I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON AN ONGOING BASIS WITH YOU ALL. >> GOOD. THANK YOU, BEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> ARE THERE ANY OH COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. I APPRECIATE HOW WE VIEW THIS DIFFERENTLY. THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE INFORM THE PUBLIC IS VERY IMPORTANT. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND OF INTEREST ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE UPDATE HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR'S POINT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSUMPTIONS, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. IN JANUARY'S B SESSION, WE WERE BRIEFED ON A PARKING FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH WOULD "ENGAGE A CONSULTANT TO PERFORM A PARKING FEASIBILITY BASED UPON PROJECTED VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SCENARIOS." AT THE TIME, THE COST WAS TBD. TODAY, WE ARE LOOKING OR WOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON A DOWNTOWN MOBILITY AND ACCESS STUDY, WHICH HAS A DIFFERENT FOCUS, BROADER FOCUS, A STUDY WHICH WILL EVALUATE PARKING AS ONE COMPONENT OF A BROADER, INTEGRATED DOWNTOWN MOBILITY SYSTEM SAT A COST OF $500,000. SO TO ME, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT UPDATE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTHY OF DISCUSSION AS WE ARE VOTING ON THESE CONTRACTS, UNDERSTANDING A THAT WILL, IN FACT, INFORM WHAT THOSE CONTRACTS THAT ARE COMPLETED. AGAIN, OF COURSE, GIVEN NOT ONLY HOW WE PREVIOUSLY WERE SOLVING FOR JUST PARKING AROUND THE ARENA, NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A DOWNTOWN MOBILITY STUDY, WHICH IS MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSUMPTIONS LIKE HOW MUCH, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE SOLVING FOR? HOW MANY BUSINESSES? HOW ARE WE DEFINING CONCRETELY DOWNTOWN? I UNDERSTAND THE WORKING GROUP THAT WILL CONVENE TO DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE THINGS, BUT WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO PROVIDE SUCH A MAJOR UPDATE AND VOTE ON THESE CONTRACTS, IT IS WORTHY OF A PUBLIC UPDATE, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANCE AND COST ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE DIFFERENCES. ADDITIONALLY, NO LONGER IN THE [03:05:03] BRIEFING, HOWEVER SIGNIFICANT POINT OF CONTENTION PREVIOUSLY -- JUST GIVEN THE COST OF IT -- THERE IS NO LONGER ON THE SLIDE, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, DISCUSSION OF RELOCATION OR EXPANSION OF THE WATER PLANT ON MARKET STREET. IT'S JUST NOT ON THE SLIDE. AGAIN, AN UPDATE TO THE PUBLIC AS TO WHY THAT WAS -- AND I UNDERSTAND WE WILL GET THAT LATER -- BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU ARE QUEENING THESE THINGS, IN THE INTEREST OF HELPING THE PUBLIC, BRINGING THEM ALONG ON THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES ARE PROVIDED. AND OF COURSE THE DOWNTOWN WORKING GROUP, I'M THANKFUL FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. WE'LL WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADEQUATELY APOUNDING FOR WHAT PUBLIC INPUT LOOKS LIKE INTO THAT AS WELL AS THE APPROPRIATE ASSUMPTIONS. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WE WANT A DOWNTOWN THAT SERVES EVERYBODY, BUT OUT DOWNTOWN, WE'RE NOT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE ARENA, AND THEN DOWNTOWN OF WHICH IS KIND OF PART OF IT. IT'S THE DOWNTOWN OF WHICH THIS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS AN IMPORTANT PART, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SOLVING AND EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC EXACTLY THE PROCESS BEING USED HERE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY DISRUPTIVE. I THINK THAT'S JUST A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE UNDERSTAND PROCESS AND TRANSPARENCY. BEN, ON THE CONTRACTS THEMSELVES ... ON THE CONTRACTS THEMSELVES, THIS IS FOR THE DISTRICT STUDY. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND OR JUST ACTUALLY LEVEL SET FOR THE PUBLIC? THERE WAS THE INITIAL EVALUATION AND THEN THE FINAL EVALUATION WHERE YOU SAW SOME INCREASES, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ANOTHER FIRM THAT WAS NOT INSIGNIFICANT -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE BAKER TILLY FIRM. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FINAL EVALUATION THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A HIGHER SCORE THAT WAS NOT REFLECTIVE IN THE INITIAL? >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON THE DISTRICT STUDY, THE INITIAL EVALUATION MATRIX FOR BAKER TILLY, 49 TO ROUGHLY 56 POINTS? >> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AS I LOOK ACROSS CONTRACTS IS IN THE PROPOSE PLAN, WHICH GOES BACK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THE OVERALL THING IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE UNDERSTANDING -- OF WHICH, OF COURSE, IT'S EITHER, I MEAN, TALKING ABOUT OVERALL DOWNTOWN MOBILITY -- ON THE PROPOSED PLAN, YEAH, YOU SAW AN INCREASE OF FIVE FOR BAKER TILLY ON THE PLAN. THAT IS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF IT. CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY THE JUMP? >> SURE. I MEAN, OVERALL -- I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT AS SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT -- BUT AS WE WENT FROM THE PROPOSAL AND LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED PLAN, THE FIVE POINTS ACROSS THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE, I THINK, WAS BASED ON THEIR EXPLANATION OF THEIR APPROACH TO THE STUDY. WHILE I DON'T THINK THAT WE SAW IT IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY IN TERMS OF HOW IT COMPARED TO WHAT WE SAW FROM MUNICAP, I THINK THEY DID OFFER SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE PROPOSED PLAN THAT MADE THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE AROUND THAT, AND YOU SAW A LITTLE MOVEMENT ON THE PROPOSED PLAN. SO THE INITIAL EVALUATION MATRIX IS GOING TO BE BASED ON JUST THE WRITTEN PROPOSAL. THE INTERVIEW GIVES US A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT OF WHO THE TEAM IS, THEIR APPROACH, AND THEN AS THEY'RE WALKING THROUGH THAT, YOU WILL GAIN SOME CLARIFICATION ON HOW THEY'RE APPROACHING IT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING. >> AND BUILDING OFF OF ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST ASKED, HENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF AN OVERALL UPDATE ON WHAT IS GOING ON, ALL THE MOVING PIECES -- ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCALABLE COST OF SERVICES IN A REVENUE FORECAST MODEL FOR A 30-YEAR PERIOD, HOW DOES THAT CHANGE BASED ON SOLVING FOR JUST PARKING VERSUS OVERALL DOWNTOWN MOBILITY? >> I GUESS I WILL OFFER A COUPLE OF CLARIFICATION POINTS. FROM MY STANDPOINT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT A PARKING FEASIBILITY STUDY VERSUS THE US IS THE MOBILITY AND ACCESS STUDY WE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THE SCOPE IS ROUGHLY THE SAME BECAUSE THE PARKING FEASIBILITY STUDY -- AND REALLY WHY WE CHANGED THE NAME OF IT --TY GOT FEEDBACK FROM A COUPLE OF FOLKS FROM YOU ALL THAT SEEMED TO BE GIVING THE ITCHILY CASING BECAUSE WE CALL IT A PARKING FEASIBILITY STUDY WE'RE INTERESTED IN SOLVE IN TERMS OF BUILDING MORE PARKING. WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE OPPOSITE AND LOOK AT WHEN YOU HAVE THE IMPACT, OF A DISTRICT, IF IT GETS BUILT THE WAY WE'RE PLANNING AND THE WAY THE VISION LOOKS AND YOU HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN VEHICLES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE OUT OF THAT AREA OF DOWNTOWN COUPLED WITH, YOU KNOW, THE NORMAL PEDESTRIAN AND [03:10:07] VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WE HAVE; HOW DO WE SOLVE FOR GAPS? DOES IT HAVE TO BE A PARKING GARAGE? RECALL THE INITIAL PLAN HAD A PARKING GARAGE IN THE SOUTH PARKING LOT OF THE ALAMO DOME IN THAT INTERSECTION. WE HOPE TO SOLVE THAT A DIFFERENT WAY AND NOT HAVE TO BUILT THAT GARAGE. MAYBE IT'S BUILT SOMEWHERE ELSE OR NOT A GARAGE AT ALL. TO SOLVE FOR THE PARKING PIECE, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR FLOWS AND KIND OF THE BROADER DOWNTOWN AREA AND WHAT ASSUMPTIONS WE CAN MAKE FOR WHAT WE DO WITH VIA PARK AND RIDE, MICROMOBILITY, HOW TO MOVE THOSE PIECES WILL INFORM THAT. TO THE EXTENT AND HOW IT SYNCS WITH THE COST OF SERVICES STUDY -- THE MORE EFFICIENTLY WE CAN MOVE PEOPLE AND CARS IN AND OUT OF DOWNTOWN AND AROUND THAT DISTRICT AREA -- THE LESS PRESSURE IT WILL PUT ON OUR NEED TO HAVE TO PROVIDE COST OF SERVICES LIKE TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM SAPD. >> CITY COULDN'T AGREE MORE. WHEN WE TALKED IN JANUARY, IT WAS BRIEFED DIFFERENTLY THAN NOW, WHICH IS REFLECTIVE OF, AGAIN, A MORE EXPANSIVE -- IT'S A DIFFERENT CONTRACT WHEN YOU'RE SOLVING JUST FOR TALK VERSUS A BROADER INTEGRATED DOWNTOWN MOBILITY SYSTEM. (OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ). >> THE SLIDE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS JANUARY. >> NO. >> WE TALKED ABOUT OTHER THE TITLE. I MEAN -- >> NO. >> THE FUNCTIONS -- >> GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. SO I MEAN, THE FUNCTIONS OF WHAT WE CALL IT, WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN JANUARY WITH PARKING GEEZBILITY. IT'S BROADER THAN THAT. IT'S ABOUT VIA AND TNC AND UPER/LYFT AND MOBILITY. THAT AND ESTIMATED COST ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BUT IS NOT A MAJOR CHANGE AT ALL ABOUT THE SCOPE AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND IS NEEDED BE. LET ME RE-EMPHASIZE. WHEN UTSA FINISHES ACROSS THE STREET, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MOVE 5,000 STUDENTS IN AND OUT SO IT'S A BROADER CONTEXT OF MOBILITY DOWNTOWN BECAUSE IF WE SOLVE FOR JUST UTSA OVER HERE AND DON'T CONNECT TO HOW FOLKS WILL GO TO THE ALAMO OR RI RIVERWALK,IVE CENTER MALL, WE HAVE A DISJOINTED CENTER. >> YEAH. FOR CLARIFICATION, THE SLIDE IS DIFFERENT IF YOU WERE TO BRING IT UP. SLIDE B SESSION: ENGAGEMENT OF A CONSULTANT TO PERFORM A PARKING FEASIBILITY STUDY BASED UPON PROJECTIVE, VEHICLE, AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SCENARIOS. THE WORDING IS DIFFERENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU CAN BRING UP THE SLIDE IF YOU'D LIKE TO. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON >> ITEM 10 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT ARTICLE IV OF THE CITY CODE. [03:15:47] LICENSES AND BUSINESS REGU REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE FRAUD PREVENTION SIGNAGE BE POSTED IN DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT OF ALL VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AMENDING CHAPTER 20 ARTICLE II OF THE CITY CODE ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION HEARINGS TO GRANT JURISDICTION THEREIN. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: WOULD YOU LIKE A PRESENTATION? >> NO. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: WE HAVE GOT TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE'LL START WITH LISA RODRIGUEZ. >> LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY SO FAR. I'M LISA RODRIGUEZ, THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR A.A.R.P., I RESIDE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR MORE THAN 150,000 MEMBERS AND 2.5 MILLION IN TEXAS, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS IMPORTANT CONSUMER PROTECTION MEASURE. BY REQUIRING WARNING SIGNAGE, A CRYPTO CURRENCY KIOSKS, SAN ANTONIO HAS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO TAKE THIS PROACTIVE STEP AND HELP PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, AND PARTICULARLY OUR OLDER RESIDENTS. IT -- ALSO, IT IS A GREAT WAY TO FIGHT FRAUD AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION THAT'S OFTEN TARGETING OLDER ADULTS, AND SPECIF SPECIFICALLY, 60 PL PLUSSERS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS AN EMERGING ISSUE WITH PRACTICAL COMMON SENSE SAFEGUARDS, YOUR ACTION HERE CAN ALSO HELP INFORM BROADER STATEWIDE POLICY DISCUSSION DURING THE NEXT TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE LOOK FOR EFFECTIVE WAYS TO COMBAT CRYPTO CURRENCY-RELATED SCAMS. THANK YOU, AGAIN, ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING SAN ANT ANTONIOIANS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: MEL HE HEREDA. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBERS. MI'M HERE ON BEHALF OF A.A.R.P. SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO BEGIN BY S SAYING THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBERS ALDERETE GAVITO, CASTILLO, AND WHYTE FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT IN CENTERING CONSUMER PROTECTION ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER SAN ANTONIOIANS IN THISSED OTHIS ORDINANCE. I WANT TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY STAFF WHO WORKED ON THIS POLICY, SHERIFF SALAZAR FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF KIOSK RELATED FRAUD AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL -- AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND THE MAYOR AND THE FULL COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS PERSPECTIVE TODAY. A.A.R.P STRONGLY SUPPORTS THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES A REAL AND COSTLY PROBLEM. IN 2025 AMERICANS LOST $333 MILLION TO KIO KIOSK-RELATED FRAUD, AND ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF [03:20:04] 60 SUFFERED THE MAJORITY OF THESE FINANCIAL LO LOSSES. THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT NUMBERS. THESE ARE LIFE SAVINGS, RETIREMENT SECURITY, AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE BEING TAKEN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. SCAMMERS SUCCEED BY CREATING URGENCY AND ISOLATION, VICTIMS ARE OFTEN COACHED TO STAY ON THE PHONE WHILE THEY WITHDRAW OR DEPOSIT CA CASH, TOLD NOT TO TALK TO FAMILY, BANK EMPL EMPLOYEES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S WHY SIGNAGE MATTERS. A HIGH VISIBILITY, FIPHYSICAL WARNING PLACED DIRECTLY ON A KIOSK AS A CRITICAL PATTERN INTERRUPT REACHING PEOPLE AT THE EXACT MOMENT WHEN MONEY IS CHANGING HANDS. THAT PAUSE FOR A FEW SECONDS CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROTECTING SOMEONE'S LIFE SAVINGS AND AN IRREVERSIBLE TRANS TRANSACTION. TO BE CLEAR, THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT ST STOPPING -- IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING INNOVATION OR LEGIT MAT BUSINESS, IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THAT ENSURES TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT BECOME A TOOL FOR ARM, ESPECIALLY FOR O OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED. A.A.R.P BELIEVES THIS ORDINANCE STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE AND PROTECTS RESIDENTS, EDUCATES CONSUMERS AT THE MOST CRITICAL POINT OF DECISION, AND HOLDS OPERATIVES ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR PRIORITIZING SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL WELL BEING OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. A.A.R.P IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE AND WE URGE US ADOPTION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. IS THERE MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 10 TO GO TO DISCUSSION. OKAY. IT'S MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE ITEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP? JUST THE ONE. GO AHEAD. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU. I WAS PROUD TO HEAD THIS ALONG SIDE CASTILLO, SPEARS AND WHYTE IN ORDER TO PROTECT VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FALLING VICTIM TO SCAMS, I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO SHERIFF SALAZAR, WE KNOW REQUIRING SIGNAGE AROUND BIT COIN KIOSKS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE ON THE GRIPS OF A SCAMMER, THESE SCAMS CAN DESTROY A PERSON'S LIVELIHOOD IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO TAKING MEANINGFUL ACTION TO STOP THESE CRIMES, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WO WORKING WITH STATE LEGISLATURES TO PASS ADDITIONAL LAWS TO PROTECT VULNERABLE RESIDENCE, I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO A.A.R.P TO THEIR WORK AND PROTECT OLDER ADULTS, BUT RECOMMENDATION -- AND I WANTED TO PUT THIS CORRECTION ON THE RECORD THAT I RECEIVED FROM A.A.R.P IS TO AMEND THE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE TO SAY USER INSTEAD OF CUSTOMER. THE TERM USER IS SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE USING THE MACHINES ARE WILLING CUSTOMERS, AT TIMES THEY'RE UNDER THE CONTROL OF A SCAMMER. CUSTOMER BY DEFINITION REQUIRE THAT THE PERSON BE -- REQUIRES THAT THE PERSON BE PURCHASING A COMMODITY OR SERVICE, BUT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO SOMEONE BEING SCA SCAMMED, SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I REQUEST THAT WE CORRECT THE LANGUAGE IN THE FINAL ORDINANCE TO REMOVE THE WORD CUSTOMER FROM THE DEFINED TERMS AND INST SUBSTITUTE IT WITH THE WORD USER. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: DO I . >> IF I MAY, MAYOR, THE CLARIFICATION THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN ASKED FOR, THE TWO TERMS ARE IN THE DEFINITION, AND THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT IN INTERCHANGEABLE, BUT FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT I COULD SEE WHERE IT WOULD BE BR BROADER, UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION IN THE ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: ANY OBJECTION TO MAKING THAT CHANGE? OKAY. THANK YOU, ANDY. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANKS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO, I JUST ALSO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO SHERIFF SALAZAR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND TO A.A.R.P. OUR SENIORS NEED PROTECTION, AND THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, AND THEY REALLY CAN'T RECOUP THEIR MONEY. THEY CAN'T GO OUT AND WORK AND MAKE THAT MONEY BACK. AND THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP, AWARENESS IS KEY HERE. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO LIGHT, FOR THIS SIGNAGE IS GOING TO BE AMAZINGLY HELPFUL. BUT I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS AT YOUR SENIOR CENTERS AND TO -- AND YOUR TOWN HA HALLS BECAUSE THESE SC SCAMMERS ARE SMART AND FIND WORK AROUND, THEY KNOW HOW TO GET TO PEOPLE. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO ALL DAY. INSTEAD OF BEING PRODUCTIVE. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO ALL DAY. WE'VE GOT TO BE SMARTER THAN THEM. WE'VE GOT TO PREDICT [03:25:02] THEIR MOVES, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT OUR SAPD AND CHIEF SALAZAR -- CHIEF SALAZAR ARE DOING TO HELP HERE, AND I LOVE HOW FAST WE MOVED ON THIS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THANK YOU, AGAIN TO MY COLLEAGUE, REALLY GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: BRIEFLY. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENTS SHOULD WORK. AS WAS JUST SAID. WE MOVED QUICKLY ON TH THIS. COUNCIL WORKED WITH BOTH BEXAR COUNTY AND SAPD AS WELL AS A.A.R.P, EVERYBODY GOT TOGETHER AND WE GOT SOMETHING DONE QUICKLY, I WISH WE COULD DO MORE JUST LIKE THIS. SO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU CHIEF SAL MAY FOR YOUR WORK, BUT WE'RE TAKING ACTION ON THIS FOR SHERIFF SALAZAR IDENTIFYING AN ISSUE FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD BUT OF COURSE ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND INITIATIVES IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL CRIMES AND THE UNITS THAT ARE ADD ADDRESSING THAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE IS AN UPWARD TREND WHERE WE'RE SEEING MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FA FALLING VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES, AND IT'S HA HARD-EARNED MONEY BEING WITHDRAWN, AND PARTICULARLY THESE SENIORS THAT WE'RE S SEEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, SO GRATEFUL FOR COLLABORATION, LEADERSHIP OF EVERYONE, THE CITY STAFF HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME CHIEF SALAZAR TO ADD ANYTHING HE WOULD LIKE ON THIS INITIATIVE. >> SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. LOOK, AT THE RISK OF FURTHER IRRITATING A VIETNAM VETERAN THAT'S OVER MY LEFT SHOULDER, I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT. YOU KNOW, WITH REGARDS TO GOVERNMENT, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT. YA'LL KNOW THAT. WE DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT. AND SOMETIMES THE SAUSAGE MAKING CAN BE UGLY, BUT IT HAS BEEN A GENUINE TREAT TO WORK WITH YOU ALL ON THIS, AND I'M SUPER HAPPY TO SEE IT COMING TO FRUITION. YOU KNOW, WHETHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WORKING ACROSS THE ISLE, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, DIFFERENT CITIES OR SHERIFFS WORKING APART FROM THIS LIKE MYSELF AND SHERIFF HANSEN FROM OKLAHOMA NEBRASKA HAVE DONE, THIS IS THE FRUITS OF THE LABOR, SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO TAKE THE PREVENTATIVE STEP BECAUSE WE KNOW AT LEAST IN MY OPINION, THE BEST APPROACH TO CRIME FI FIGHTING IS CRIME PREVENTION, AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE GOING TO BE HO HOPEFULLY UNDERTAKING A VERY, YOU KNOW, FORW FORWARD-LEANING PROCESS TO INCREASE AWARENESS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA, SOMETIMES IT COMES DOWN TO WHEN A SCAM VICTIM IS IN THE MIDST OF THE SC SCAM, STANDING AT THE A ATM, TERRIFIED BECAUSE THEY THINK GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE COMING TO TAKE THEM AWAY AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO DEPOSIT THEIR LIFE SAVINGS, LITERALLY L LIFE SAVINGS INTO THE MACHINE, SOMETIMES IT COMES DOWN TO THE LOW TECH NOTICE SAYING STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE SCAMMED. AGAIN, WE SAW IT WORK IN OKLAHOMA, NEBRASKA, WE'VE SEEN IT WORKING HERE LOCALLY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING VOLUNTARY TYPE SIGNS WITH CERTAIN STORES AND IT HAS WORKED WITH CERTAIN CASES, AND I HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN THE WORLD, THIS WILL WORK. I'LL CONTINUE TO PLEDGE TO YOU ALL AS FAR AS -- ALTHOUGH I KNOW THE WORK IS -- WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SIGNS AND MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE IN OUR JAIL PRINT SHOP, FREE OF CHARGE TO COUNTY TAXPAYERS, OF COURSE, AND WE WILL ACTUALLY ALSO DISTRIBUTING THOSE SIGNS USING MY RESE RESERVEDDED DEPUTIES AND VOLUNTEER FORCE AT THE AGENCY AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO CHECK ON COMPLIANCE AND EDUCATION OF THE CLERKS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE GET THE SIGNS OUT THERE AND GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND WITH WHOMEVER MY NEXT PARTNER AT THE SAPD MIGHT BE, AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON NOT JUST THIS, BUT OTHER EFFORTS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, SHERIFF AND CHIEF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK A.A.R.P FOR THEIR WORK IN ENSURING THAT OUR SENIORS ARE GETTING CONNECTED TO INFORMATIO IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU. I THINK ERIC -- THANK YOU, SHERIFF FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE. AND AS I THINK ERIC MENTIONED LAST TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS, THE IMPORTANT COMPLIMENT TO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE LEGISLATION IS NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THIS HAS TE TEETH. SO I KNOW COUNCILMAN M MCKEE RODRIGUEZ WILL MAKE SURE WE PRIORITIZE THIS ACCORDINGLY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 10. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. [03:30:01] MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 9 IS AN ORDINANCE CREATING SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM, AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE TO GET TO WORK, SO I WILL CALL THOSE FOLKS UP THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS SUCH. IRENE WHYTE. EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO SPEAK, SO IRENE WHYTE FOLLOWED BY BRANDON TRIEN. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WASN'T EXPECTING TO BE FIRST BUT THANK YOU. MY NAME IS IRENE WHYTE. I'LL A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER, I'M ALSO THE WIFE OF A PROUD AIRFORCE VETERAN HAVING SERVED FOR 24 YEARS. WITH EMPOWER HOUSE SERVING AS A HEALTH WO WORKER, I WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON ALL SORTS OF ISSUES, AND HOUSING BEING ONE OF THEM. AND POWERHOUSE PROVIDES TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES THAT EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS OF COVER. TODAY I'M ADVOCATING FOR VETERAN COMMUNITY MEM MEMBERS AND A GOOD NUMBER OF WHOM ARE WO WOMEN. FROM THE CAVEAT THAT HOUSING IS HEALTH. THESE VETERANS ARE SE SEEKING STABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, AND IN SUPPORT OF SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS TO TODAY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE USING VASH HOUSING VOUCHERS, RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN 70% OF VET VETERANS USING THESE VOUCHERS ARE CONCE CONCENTRATED IN AREAS OF HIGH SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, AS DEFINED BY THE CDC. THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGHER POVERTY, LIMITED TRANSPORTATION, AND FEWER OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING FURTHER AWAY FROM HEALTHCARE FACILITIES. THIS ISN'T BY CHOICE. IT'S THE RESULT OF THE VETERANS WITH VASH VOUCHERS ARE LIVING IN MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES, NOT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT BEST FITS THEIR NEEDS, BUT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT'S AVAILABLE. MANY LANDLORDS OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SIMPLY R REFUSE TO ACCEPT VOUCHERS, AND YET, THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE VETERANS HAVE DISAB DISABILITY, THEY'RE ELDERLY, OR SOME ARE RAISING CHILDREN. FOR VETERANS LIVING WITH PTSD AND OTHER CONDITIONS, THE QUIET, SPACE, AND STABILITY OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THEIR HEALTH AND RECOVERY. THE REALITY IS STARK. AS OF 2024, ONLY ABOUT 8% OF RENTAL LISTINGS IN SAN ANTONIO INDICATE THEY ACCEPT VOUCHERS, THAT MEANS EVEN WITH SUPPORT IN HAND, VET VETERANS ARE LOCKED OU OUT -- VETERANS ARE LOCKED OUT OF MOST OF THE HOUSING MARKET. SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS WOULD CHANGE THAT. THEY WOULD ENSURE THAT A VETERAN'S HOUSING VOUCHER IS TREATED THE SAME AS ANY OTHER FORM OF INCOME. THEY WOULD OPEN UP ACCESS TO SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, BETTER SCHOOLS, AND HOUSING THAT TRULY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO TW TWO-FOLD. LET'S MAKE IT HARDER FOR VETS TO BE DENIED USING THEIR VOUCHERS AND WORK TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEMS THAT DETER LANDLORDS FROM ACCEPTING THEM. OUR VETERANS HAVE ALREADY DONE THEIR PART. THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN DO OURS, BY REMOVING UNNECESSARY BARRIERS AND CREATING A FAIR HOUSING SYSTEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. GIEGOS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND THE PLATFORM TO SPEAK. I APPRECIATE IT. I WANT TO KEEP THIS SHORT AND SWEET. I'M THE SON, GRANDSON, BROTHER, AS WELL AS NEPHEW OF VETERANS. I HAVE MANY IN MY FAM FAMILY. I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR EVERYTHING THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE EVER DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND YOU, MAYOR, YOU'RE A VET YOURS YOURSELF; CORRECT? PL PLAINLY, YOU CAN AGREE THAT YOU WERE GIVEN ORDERS THAT LED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRETTY MUCH THE RIGHTS TO ALL OF THIS LIBERTY AND FREEDOM WE ALL ENJ ENJOY; CORRECT? I JUST THINK THAT IT'S BEST THAT WE GIVE THAT SAME ENERGY TO OUR VETERANS. [03:35:02] THE ONLY NUMBER I REALLY WANTED TO BRING TO YOU GUYS TODAY. I LOOKED IT UP NOT TOO LONG AGO, THERE'S 33,882 VETERANS THAT ARE HO HOMELESS. I BELIEVE ORDINANCES LIKE ORDINANCE 9 CAN DEFINITELY HELP THAT. WE CAN TRIM THAT NUMBER DOWN. BUT WE HAVE TO START TAKING IT MORE SERI SERIOUSLY. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, I RESPECT THAT. I'M A FINANCIAL ADVISER FOR A COMPANY CALLED WEALTH SOLUTIONS, ONE OF MY TARGET MARKETS ARE VETERANS BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, I COME FROM WA WATCHING THEM MAKE BAD MONEY DECISIONS. AND I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT I FEEL LIKE IF I CAN DO MY PART IN JUST THAT LITTLE AREA, I THINK WE CAN ALL LIKE KIND OF STEP UP IN THE BIGGER AREAS WHERE YOU GUYS HAVE A MUCH BETTER FORUM TO PASS THESE ORDINANCES THAT WILL GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE TO JUST LIVE COMFORTABLY. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. SEBASTIAN GIAGOS. >> HI, MA'AM. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE. I'M REPRESENTING THE SAN ANTONIO MILITARY PURPLE HEART. JUST A QUICK LITTLE FIX ABOUT MYSELF. I WAS BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, AND AS SOME OF THE VETERANS COMMUNICATED EARLIER, I WAS ACTUALLY CAZVAKED BACK TO SAN ANTONIO WHEN I WAS WO WOUNDED, I WAS BORN HERE AND WOKE UP IN A HOSPITAL HERE BECAUSE OF SAN ANTONIO MEDICAL CENTER, AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF STRUGGLES THAT THE PURPLE HEART CHAPTER HERE HAS HELPED ME BRING ATTENTION TO, GETTING SERVICES FROM THE VA SPECIFICALLY, AND I HAD MULTIPLE CONGRESSMEN GET INVOLVED TO HELP ME GET PROSTHETICS HERE AND HAVE HAD AN EASIER TIME GETTING HELP FROM THE CITY THAN I HAVE GETTING HELP FROM THE VA. AND SO I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY FROM VOUCHERS AND HOW EASY IT IS TO GET FROM THE VA, AND WHEN SOMEBODY LIKE MYSELF HAS ISSUES, I REPRESENT PROBABLY THE MOST DECORATED CHAPTER OF MILITARY PURPLE HEART IN ALL OF THE U.S., AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MULTIPLE CONG CONGRESSMEN GETTING INVOLVED AND MY PERSONAL STORY TO GET PROSTHETICS FROM THE VA, THAT GIVES PEOPLE AN IDEA THAT THE VETERANS NOT AS DECORATED AS ME, NOT AS VISIBLY WOUNDED AS ME WITH THE CONNECTION TO SOMEBODY AS BIG AS THE MILITARY, ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, I WORRY ABOUT THE VETERANS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT VISIBILITY THAT I HAVE, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF VISIBILITY TO THE LARGEST PURPLE HEART CHAPTER IN THE U.S., AND ASK -- LIKES TO CALL ITSELF MILITARY CITY USA, AND I HATE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO GET HOUSING ASSISTANCE, BUT JUST TO EDUCATE SAN ANTONIO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO GET THESE KINDS OF THINGS FROM THE V.A. AND WHY A CITY PROGRAM WOULD HELP SO MUCH, AND HERE ARE THE REST OF THE PURPLE HEART GUYS. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: SO I KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP, SO WE'LL JUST . >WHAT NUMBER IS THIS?>> HOW IS ? I HOPE FINE. I'M REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN GI F I FORUM AND THE MILITARY PURPLE HEART. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: ONE SE SECOND, SIR, WE'RE GOING TO START THE TIME. THREE MINUTES. YOU DID. OKAY. NUMBER 24. GO AHEAD. SIR. >> I'M HERE REGARDING THE LONG DELAYED VET VETERANS HOUSING VOUCHER SYSTEM. IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS THAT VETERANS ARE NOT A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL. WE GOT 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMAN GOT THREE HOURS, SO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT SYSTEM THERE. BUT IN ANY RATE, WHEN WE WERE ORDERED TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY IN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, WE DID NOT HESITATE. BY THE SAME TOKEN, I BELIEVE OUR GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR U.S. VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS TO ENSURE THAT LANDLORDS DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OUR VETERANS IN NEED OF DECENT HOUSING. LIVING UNDER TINY TENTS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR FREEWAYS IS NOT DECENT HOUSING, AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF OUR VETERANS ARE FACING THAT SITUATION. BEAR IN MIND THAT SOME OF THE VETERANS MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY MEMORY PROBLEMS. [03:40:04] THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO CERTAIN BENEFITS THROUGH THE V.A. AT MY LAST VISIT, I P PROPOSED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE A VETERANS OUTREACH SYSTEM TO CHECK ON THE ENC ENCAMPMENTS OR DWEL DWELLINGS, AND IF ANY VETERAN IS OCCUPYING THAT ROADSIDE DWELLING, ESPECIALLY IF ACCOMPANIED BY HIS OR HER LOVED ONES, EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO PUT THAT VETERAN IN TOUCH WITH THE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER AT THE V.A. HOSPITAL OR BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY, AND ALL PROBABILITY THEY DO QUALIFY FOR SOME ENT ENTITLEMENTS TO INVESTIGATE FOR POSSIBLE ENTITLEMENTS IN THE FORM OF SERVICE-RELATED I ILLNESS OR INJURY TO PERHAPS ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE VETERAN HOUSING PROBLEMS MAY BE WE NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN ACROSS THE STREET AT DELL ROSA STREET, ALL OF THOSE BOARDED BUSINESSES AND THE OLD HOTEL ON TOP OF THAT, ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHICH MAY BE A GOVERNMENT GRANT COULD TAKE CARE OF R RENOVATING THOSE FACILITIES AS LI LIVING SPACE FOR SOME OF OUR VETERANS. RIGHT NOW, THOSE BOARDED UP SHOPS ARE A SORE-EYE FOR OUR CITY AND FOR BEXAR COUNTY. ANOTHER POSSIBLE VENUE TO LOOK AT ARE THE NUMEROUS EMPTY BUILDINGS AT ONE -- AT OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, RENTAL, FORE SAM, AND, AGAIN, MAYBE SOME RENOVATIONS WOULD PROVIDE LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR OUR VETERANS. THOSE VETERANS SERVED OUR COUNTRY. NOW IT'S OUR TURN TO SERVE THEM. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE NAMES OF ANY CITY COUNCILMEMBERS THAT VOTE AGAINST THEIR VETERANS, I'LL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU FREE PUBLICITY ON MY RADIO SHOW. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENT FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. CHAR LEAN HER HERNANDEZ. OKAY. PLEASE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >FOLLOWED BY NADIA MIRANDA. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR JONES ORTIZ, COUNCILMEMBERS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MY NAME IS CHARLEAN HERNANDEZ, COMMANDER OF AMERICAN LEGION JOHN F KENNEDY POST 45. I'M A UNITED STATES ARMY COMBAT VETERAN WHO SERVED THE COUNTRY FOR THE 12 YEARS AND EARNED THE RANK OF SERGEANT. I JOINED WHEN I WAS 38 YEARS OLD BECAUSE I WAS TOLD, CHAR LEAN, THE WORLD NEEDS YOU, BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE. I TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY, AND TODAY, I CONTINUE SERVING, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH VETERANS FOR THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. I'VE SEEN VETERANS STRUGGLE, NOT ONLY WITH HOUSING, BUT WITH HO HOMELESSNESS, HOPE HOPELESSNESS, ISOLATION, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND SUICIDE. HUDVAS PROVIDES VETERANS WITH A PATHWAY TOWARDS STABILITY THROUGH HO HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING SUPPORT BUT TOO MANY VETERANS WILL STRUGGLE TO ACTUALLY USE THESE BENEFITS BECAUSE THERE ARE BARRIERS, A VOUCHER CAN ONLY WORK IF IT CAN ACTUALLY BE USED. LANDLORDS ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SCREEN TENANTS AND PROTECT THEIR BUSINESS, BUT VETERANS ALSO DESERVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO USE BENEFITS THEY EARNED. BECAUSE WHEN A VETERAN CANNOT ACCESS HOUSING, THE CONSEQUENCES GO FAR BEYOND HOMELESSNESS, HOPELESS WE SEE VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION. WE SEE VETERANS ISOLATED FROM THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. WE SEE VETERANS TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER SERVICE, WHILE FEELING ABANDONED BY THE VERY SYSTEM THAT'S MEANT TO SUPPORT THEM. AND WHEN STABILITY DISAPPEARS TOO OFTEN, HOPE DISAPPEARS. THAT IS WHY HOUSING MATTERS. SAN ANTONIO CALLS ITSELF MILITARY USA. MILITARY CITY, USA. SUPPORTING VETERANS CANNOT STOP WHEN THE UNIFORM COMES OFF. SERVICE DOES NOT END WHEN DEPLOYMENT ENDS. MANY VETERANS CONTINUE FIGHTING BATTLES PEOPLE CANNOT SEE. PTSD, ISOLATION, FINANCIAL [03:45:01] HARDSHIP, AND STRUGGLES TO TRANSITION BACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE. WE SHOULD HONOR THAT SERVICE BY ENSURE THEY CAN REBUILD THEIR LIVES. IN COMBAT WE ARE TAUGHT NEVER TO LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE. THAT SAME COMMITMENT SHOULD CONTINUE WHEN OUR VETERANS COME HOME. SAN ANTONIO NEEDS US AND NOW VETERANS NEED OUR HELP TOO. PASS THIS ORDINANCE WITH ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. OUR VETERANS KEEP THEIR PROMISE TO THIS COUNTRY. NOW IT'S TIME WE KEEP YOURS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. JP LANE, IF YOU'RE STILL HERE. JP LANE. OKAY. ROBERT TREVINO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ROBERT ALEX TREVINO. MEMBER OF WHEELCHAIRS FOR WARRIORS AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MAYOR JONES FOR NOT ONLY HER SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY BUT HER SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY, AS WELL AS EVERYBODY HERE ON CITY COUNCIL LISTENING TO ME. BEFORE I ADDRESS AN ISSUE OF VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST ADDRESS VETERAN SUICIDE. VETERAN SUICIDE IS THE BIGGEST THREAT THAT VETERANS FACE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO VETERAN HOMELESSNESS IS RIGHT ON THE HEEL OF THE BIGGEST THREAT OF THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, WHICH IS VETERAN SUICIDE. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> FOR MANY HOUSING POLICIES, THE POLICY STATES THAT THE VETERAN MUST MAKE THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE VETERAN TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR THE HOMESTEAD. I'M HERE TO SAY TODAY THAT THAT POLICY IS CONTRADICTORY AND COUNTERACTIVE TO VETERANS DURING A PORTION OF THEIR LIFE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO REBUILD AFTER SERVICE. FOUNDATIONAL HOUSING IS CRITICAL AND WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING EVERYTHING ELSE BECOMES HARDER. EMPLOYMENT, ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH, ACCESS TO PHYSICAL REHABILITATION, FAMILY STABILITY, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE VETERAN. IS ANYBODY HERE WITH THE TWO NAMES ENRIQUE AUDIO] THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD IN COMMON WAS NOT ONLY DID THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY, NOT ONLY DID THEY TAKE THEIR LIFE IN THE AUDI MURPHY PARKING LOT, BUT ONE THING THEY HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT THEY WERE DENIED SOMETHING. THEY WERE DENIED SOMETHING THAT WAS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS THAT THEY WERE RIGHTFULLY PROMISED WHENEVER THEY SIGNED ON THAT DOTTED LINE TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY. THE REASON WHY THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IS BECAUSE SINCE I HAVE LEFT THE MILITARY FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW, I HAVE LOST EIGHT FRIENDS TO SUICIDE. HERE'S THE KICKER. NOT ONE OF THEM WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. IF WE TRULY CARE ABOUT VETERAN SUICIDE LIKE WE SAY WE DO, WE MUST FIRST ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND DOING AWAY WITH ALL OF THESE BOUNDARIES. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IS MILITARY CITY, USA AND THAT NAME DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: JOSE ARZOLA. >> MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS JOSE ARZOLA. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AROUND THE EDGEWOOD AREA, KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL. I'M A 20-YEAR NAVY VETERAN AND I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS SINCE I RETIRED IN 1999. I REPRESENT -- I AM THE NATIONAL VICE COMMANDER FOR THE AMERICAN GI FORUM. ON TOP OF THAT , I AM A COMMANDER OF A LOCAL AMERICAN GI FORUM CHAPTER [03:50:02] AND THE CHAPTER IS NAMED AFTER SAN ANTONIO'S OWN AND A AGGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. THE MIGUEL HERNANDEZ MEMORIAL CHAPTER. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME. OUR FORMER NATIONAL COMMANDER STATED IT VERY, VERY SIMPLE. KEEP IT SIMPLE. DON'T MAKE IT COMPLICATED. IN FIGHTING FOR OUR BENEFITS, WE CONTINUE TO RUN AGAINST WALLS, AGAINST BARRIERS, AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE ARE TREATED AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS. WE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. WE PLAYED BY THE RULES. I'M A GRADUATE OF ST. MOTION STS WITH A MASTER'S OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE PLAYED BY THE RULES BUT YET MANY OF OUR VETERANS CONTINUE TO BE VIEWED AS A SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING THAT WE DIDN'T EARN. AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF NUMBERS, OKAY? IF ONE VETERAN IS HOMELESS, THAT'S ONE TOO MANY. PERIOD. I SAW THE SBEDA ALLOTMENTS FOR PROJECT MARVEL. 14% IS WAY TOO LOW. IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER, 14% IS WAY TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 25% OR HIGHER. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. AND ALSO, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING DOWN CAMPUSES. YOU CAN EASILY TRANSFORM THOSE FACILITIES INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR VETERANS. THEY HAVE SHOWERS. THEY HAVE KITCHENS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT YOU CAN ALSO HAVE IN THERE COUNSELORS THAT CAN PROVIDE NOT ONLY A NICE, CLEAN BED BUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. WE'RE ASKING COMMON-SENSE APPROACHES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: ROSIE GONZALES. FOLLOWED BY DONNA HICKS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS A NIECE TO A WORLD WAR II NAVY VETERAN WHO'S FOUGHT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE NIECE TO A KOREAN VETERAN WHO SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE AND GOT TO INFORM THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION OF THE CUBAN MISSILES BEING MOVED. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A COUSIN TO TWO NAVY SERVICEMEN. ONE WENT TO ANNAPOLIS, AND MY BROTHER WHO SERVED AS A MARINE. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE VETERANS FOUGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO BE HERE. IN SAN ANTONIO, MILITARY CITY, USA IS NOT JUST A MARKETING SLOGAN, IT'S A PROFOUND RESPONSIBILITY. WE ARE HOME TO 159,000 VETERANS, THE SECOND LARGEST CONCENTRATION IN TEXAS AND THE FIFTH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. WHEN YOU ADD OUR ACTIVE-DUTY MEMBERS, NEARLY ONE IN FIVE OF US ARE TIED TO THE MISSION OF DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY. YET, HERE WE ARE. WE CALL VETERANS OUR HEROES BUT WE ALLOW THEM TO BE TURNED AWAY FROM HOUSING SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE VOUCHER THEY CARRY, THE ONEROUS PAPERWORK AND BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO VOTE IN A MANNER THAT BENEFITS THE SOUL AND THE STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. BARRING LANDLORDS FROM REJECTING VETERAN HOUSING VOUCHERS IS A VOTE YOU CAN PROUDLY JUSTIFY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS ALIKE. SUPPORTING VETERANS IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS BUT IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR A SUSTAINABLE SAN ANTONIO. OUR VETERANS DID NOT CREATE LOOPHOLES OR EXCEPTIONS WHEN THEY WALKED INTO A RECRUITER'S OFFICE AND COMMITTED TO LAYING DOWN THEIR LIVES SO WE COULD LIVE FREELY. TO ALLOW LANDLORDS TO USE THESE VERY TOOLS TO DENY THEM HOUSING -- I'M SORRY. I HAD A -- I ALMOST GOUGED MY EYE OUT THIS MORNING. OUR VETERANS DID NOT CREATE LOOPHOLES OR EXCEPTIONS WHEN THEY WALKED INTO A RECRUITER'S OFFICE AND COMMITTED TO LAYING DOWN THEIR LIVES SO WE COULD LIVE FREELY. TO ALLOW LANDLORDS TO USE THESE VERY TOOLS TO DENY THEM HOUSING IS A BETRAYAL OF THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE THEY SERVE TO UPHOLD. SOME MAY ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS RATHER THAN MANDATE FAIRNESS. I ASK YOU TO REVIEW THAT LOGIC WITH A CRITICAL EYE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY [03:55:05] SOMEONE A PREMIUM TO TREAT A VETERAN WITH BASIC DIGNITY. FAIRNESS SHOULD BE OUR BASELINE, NOT A TAX-FUNDED BONUS. HAVING PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THE STIGMA OF DISCRIMINATION, I KNOW THE IMPACT OF BEING EXCLUDED. DISCRIMINATION IS A PAIN THAT NO PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE. THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT GIVING VETERANS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE, IT'S ABOUT ESTABLISHING A FUNDAMENTAL BASELINE OF DIGNITY. TODAY YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TANGIBLE IMPACT. TODAY YOU CAN ENSURE THAT EVERY VETERAN HAS A PLACE TO LIVE AND TODAY YOU CAN CLOSE GAPS IN HOUSING AND MAKE SAN ANTONIO A TRUE SANCTUARY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD. DONNA HICKS FOLLOWED BY THE HONORABLE LARRY ROMO AND THEN ALLEN ROSS. >> ORIGINALLY IT SAID GOOD MORNING BUT NOW IT SAYS GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STAFF SERGEANT DONNA HICKS. I'M A MASTER-LEVEL LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND LICENSED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELOR. THE REASON I HAVE THOSE TITLES IS BECAUSE WE HAVE VETERANS WITH PROBLEMS AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T HAVE A STABLE PLACE TO LIVE. I WILL GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT BECAUSE MY TIME IS SHORT. OUT OF THE 15,000 VOUCHERS THAT WERE ISSUED IN 2023, 1,000 OF THEM WENT UNUSED. WHY? DO YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE LIVING ON THE STREET, LIVING AT HAVEN FOR HOPE OR COUCH SURFING? SORRY. I GOT A LITTLE AGITATED BUT I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY FRIEND ROSIE WHO STOOD UP HERE AND DEFENDED ALL OF US. THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT INCENTIVIZING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT GIVING AWAY SOMETHING. THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE VETERANS WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIFE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN ALL GO HOME TO YOUR HOMES AND YOUR FAMILIES HAVE A FAIR SHOT AT HAVING THEIR OWN HOME. HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INCENTIVES THAT NO ONE ELSE SHOULD GET JUST TO BE FAIR TO A VETERAN. I HAD A WHOLE THING PREPARED BUT THE REALITY IS Y'ALL DON'T NEED TO HEAR ANY MORE NUMBERS. Y'ALL DON'T NEED TO HEAR ANY MORE STATISTICS. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AROUND BECAUSE MILITARY CITY, USA HAS BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN AN AD CAMPAIGN. ALL OF THESE VETERANS ARE IGNORED. DON'T BELIEVE ME? TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOOK "SUICIDE STALKS A SNIPER" AND THEN LOOK AT WHERE HE IS TODAY . THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: LARRY ROMO FOLLOWED BY ALLEN ROSS. >> BEFORE I START MY REMARKS, I HAVE TO BRING THIS UP. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE DURING RESPECTING THE VETERANS THAT ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO US. PLEASE COUNSEL YOUR COLLEAGUES THAT AREN'T HERE OR ARE LATE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD BE HERE, EVERY ONE OF THEM. NO EXCUSE. GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAYOR JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MY FELLOW VETERANS. MY NAME IS LAWRENCE GUZMAN ROMO. BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, PROUD 28-YEAR VETERAN. FORMER UNITED STATES SELECT SERVICEMEN DIRECTOR. FORMER GI FORUM NATIONAL COMMANDER AND SERVE AS LULAC VICE PRESIDENT FOR VETERANS. SAN ANTONIO IS IN A DEFINING POINT TODAY. ARE WE REALLY MILITARY CITY, USA OR ARE WE USING THAT SLOGAN AND NOT MEANING IT. I THINK MAYOR JONES AND THE CITY COUNCIL BRINGING UP THE VOUCHERRER ORDINANCE TODAY FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE. I SALUTE ALL OF YOU FOR ENHANCING THE WELLNESS OF OUR CITY. I REQUEST THAT YOU VOTE YES FOR THE STRONGEST ORDINANCE POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THERE'S NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST VETERANS USING A VOUCHER TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR RENT PAYMENT TO SAN ANTONIO LANDLORDS. I ASK THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS, SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, APARTMENT AND HOMEOWNERS RENTING THEIR PROPERTY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. OPEN YOUR HEARTS SO THAT YOU SHOW YOU ARE PATRIOTS AND ACCEPT VETERAN VOUCHERS AND SUPPORT THIS NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE. NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED MAXIMUM CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE SAN ANTONIO REAL ESTATE BOARD. [04:00:01] THEY LOBBY TO SEE THEIR WAY --R WAY. WITH THAT POINT IN MIND, SUDDEN AND DESERVE OUR SUPPORT AND PROTECTION. ONLY 1% OF OUR CITIZENS PROUDLY SERVED OUR COUNTRY, SERVED ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND THEN COME AND THEY WANT TO CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. SAN ANTONIO'S PROUD TO SUPPORT MILITARY MISSIONS AND WANT TO KEEP OUR MISSIONS AND ADD TO OUR MILITARY MISSIONS. LET'S SHOW THAT WE TRULY CARE ABOUT VETERANS THAT ARE LOCATED HERE AND NEED A HAND UP. RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES FOR THE VETERANS NONDISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE WITH NO EXCEPTIONS AND NO LOOPHOLES. WE REALLY SHOULD COPY THE VETERANS VOUCHER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE THAT FORT WORTH PASSED TWO YEARS AGO. THIS IS A GOOD FIT FOR OUR CITY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU, SAN ANTONIO, MILITARY CITY, USA, AND THE UNITED STATES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ALLEN ROSS FOLLOWED BY FRED ALVARADO AND THEN HARRY ROBINSON. >> GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, SARAH TAYLOR ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND SHE IS GOING TO ALLOW ME HER THREE MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ALLEN ROSS AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. WE REPRESENT THE HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE VAST MAJORITY OF RENTAL HOUSING ACROSS THE CITY AND WHO EVERY DAY ARE WORKING TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HOUSED, INCLUDING OUR VETERANS. AND LET ME BE CLEAR. WE SUPPORT OUR VETERANS. IN FACT, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, VALOR HILL IN DISTRICT 8, LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE AUDI MURPHY VA HOSPITAL HAS BEEN BUILT TO SERVE VETERANS THROUGH THE VOUCHERS. THIS WORK THAT WE DO IS NOT THEORETICAL BECAUSE WE ARE DOING IT EVERY DAY. AND BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR MEMBERS TODAY, OUR INDUSTRY HAS THE CAPACITY TO HOUSE ALL THE VETERANS CURRENTLY HOLDING VASH VOUCHERS. THE NARRATIVE BEING PUSHED IS THAT HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH THE PROGRAM BUT THE DATA SAYS DIFFERENTLY. HOUSING IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT FOR BOTH THE RESIDENT AND THE HOUSING PROVIDER AND IT IS NOT JUST A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION. FOR THE PROCESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE, THERE ARE STILL OTHER QUALIFICATIONS THAT MUST BE MET SUCH AS RENTAL HISTORY, LEASE COMPLIANCE, AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS. IT IS NOT ABOUT EXCLUSION, IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT WHEN A VETERAN IS PLACED IN HOUSING, THEY CAN REMAIN THERE AND SUCCEED. TODAY, SAN ANTONIO'S OCCUPANCY SITS AT APPROXIMATELY 81%, ONE OF THE LOWEST LEVELS IN RECENT HISTORY. HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE NOT TURNING AWAY QUALIFIED RESIDENTS, WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO FILL UNITS AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT SAN ANTONIO ALREADY HAS A NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT IDENTIFIES VETERANS AS A PROTECTED CLASS. SO LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US. A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT SEEKS TO PENALIZE HOUSING PROVIDERS FOR CONDUCT THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY OCCURRING AT THE SCALE BEING SUGGESTED OR AT ALL. AND JUST AS IMPORTANT, IT WAS DEVELOPED WITHOUT THE INPUT FROM THE VERY INDUSTRY IT SEEKS TO REGULATE. FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, OUR ASSOCIATION HAS CONSISTENTLY ASKED FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN HOUSING POLICY IS BEING SHAPED SO THAT WE CAN PROACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO SOLUTIONS THAT WILL ACTUALLY WORK. WHEN THE INDUSTRY'S PERSPECTIVE IS ABSENT FROM THE PROCESS, IT CREATES FRICTION, RESISTANCE, POST-IMPLEMENTATION. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A CHOICE BETWEEN ACTION AND INACTION. THERE'S A PATH FORWARD THAT ALLOWS THIS COUNCIL TO SAY YES TO VETERANS WHILE ALSO ENSURING THE POLICIES THAT WE ADOPT WILL WORK. THAT PATH IS A THOUGHTFUL, COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF HOW THE VOUCHER SYSTEM OPERATES AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE PARTICIPATION AND OUTCOMES. THAT IS WHY WE SUPPORT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S CCR. ALLOWING THAT PROCESS TO BE FULLY VETTED IS NOT A REJECTION OF THIS EFFORT, IT IS A COMMITMENT TO GETTING IT RIGHT. GOOD POLICY IS BUILT ON DATA, COLLABORATION, AND [04:05:08] IMPLEMENTATION REALITIES. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO ALL THREE AND WE SHOULD TAKE IT. NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO HOUSE VETERANS, WE WANT TO HOUSE EVERY RESIDENT WHO SEEKS A PLACE TO CALL HOME. HOUSING SHOULDN'T BE A DIVISIVE ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT BRINGS ALL STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO PRODUCE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR OUR CITY. WE STAND READY, AS WE ALWAYS HAVE, TO BE AT THE TABLE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU AND TO MAKE HOUSING HAPPEN EFFECTIVELY AND AT SCALE. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COUNCIL ALLOW THE CCR PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED AND FULLY VETTED BEFORE ADVANCING THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN ACT. AND WHEN WE DO SO, DO IT WITH CLARITY, CONFIDENCE, AND THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR OUR VETERANS AND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> MAYOR JONES: FRED ALVARADO FOLLOWED BY HARRY ROBINSON. FRED ALVARADO? HARRY ROBINSON. FOLLOWED BY MYRA CARRIER. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR ORTIZ JONES AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR HEARING US ON THIS ISSUE. MY NAME IS HARRY ROBINSON AND I'M THE STATE COMMANDER FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BLACK VETERANS . I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING I'M THANKFUL THIS AFTERNOON AND I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU SITTING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THE POSITIONS YOU'RE SERVING IN AND I'M THANKFUL FOR OUR MOTHERS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY THIS WEEK. I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE SERVICE MEMBERS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING OUR NATION AS WE CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY THIS MONTH. AS A CHILD, I RELIED ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. MY FAMILY RELIED ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING. IT IS THAT VERY HAND UP THAT ALLOWED ME TO SERVE OUR NATION FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN THE MILITARY SERVICE. I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO GIVE THAT HAND UP TO OUR VETERANS. I PLEAD WITH YOU NOT TO STAND AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING ASSISTANCE BUT TO LOOK IN THE FACE OF THOSE WHO DENY OR HAVE THE POWER TO DENY. BECAUSE WHEN YOU OVERLOOK THE FINANCIAL DISCRIMINATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE. VETERANS FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN FINDING SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WHEN WE CAN LANDLORDS WHO CAN REFUSE TO ACCEPT VOUCHERS. I ASK YOU FOLLOW THE MAYOR'S LEAD ON THIS ISSUE AND PLEASE PASS THIS ORDINANCE. STOP IGNORING VETERANS. LET'S DO WHAT OUR MOTHERS WOULD DO. LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING. I ALSO ASK WHY IS IT THERE ARE SO MANY WHO STAND IN OPPOSITION OF THIS ORDINANCE? FOR ME, IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IF YOU THROW A ROCK OVER A FENCE, THE PERSON IT HITS WILL HOLLER. WITH THAT, I ASK YOU TO MOVE FORWARD AND APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE FAIRNESS OF OUR VETERANS, FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE THAT FORT WORTH FOLLOWED, AND SO THAT WE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, MILITARY CITY, USA, DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: MYRA CARRIER FOLLOWED BY KAYLA MIRANDA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING. I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYBODY HERE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE MENTALITY OF AN OPEN MIND. WELL, EVERYBODY HERE HAS AN EMPLOYMENT HERE THAT YOU WERE ELECTED BY THE CITY AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, YOUR CONSTITUENTS. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE THAT A LOT OF MY BATTLE BUDDIES HAVE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT THE MAYOR HAS TO LEAD AND TO PUSH THINGS FORWARD. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT OF YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MYRA CARRIER. I'M A TEN-YEAR ARMY COMBAT VETERAN AND I WAS APPOINTED TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION. TODAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT STABILITY ACTUALLY MEANS FOR A VETERAN. STABILITY MEANS BEING ABLE TO LIVE NEAR MEDICAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND SYSTEMS THAT HELP VETERANS STAY HEALTHY, EMPLOYED, AND CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY. BUT RIGHT NOW MANY VETERANS ARE USING VASH VOUCHERS DON'T TRULY HAVE THAT CHOICE. EVEN AFTER QUALIFYING FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE THROUGH [04:10:05] THE VA, THEY ARE BEING SCREENED OUT BEFORE THEY EVER GET A FAIR OPPORTUNITY. AND THE DATA REFLECTS THE CONSEQUENCES. MORE THAN 70% OF VETERANS USING VASH VOUCHERS IN SAN ANTONIO ARE CONCENTRATED IN CENSUS TRACTS WITH HIGH VULNERABILITY. NEARLY 84% IN ARE IN MULTIFAMILY AND ONLY 80% OF LISTING INDICATE THEY ACCEPT HOUSING VOUCHERS. THESE BARRIERS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT VETERANS WHO ARE ALREADY VULNERABLE. THREE-FOURTHS OF THE OPPORTUNITY HOME ARE VASH VOUCHER HOLDERS HAVE DISABILITY, MORE THAN HALF ARE ELDERLY, AND 17% HAVE CHILDREN. FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD OR SERVICE-CONNECTED TRAUMA, ENVIRONMENT MATTERS. TO THOSE THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SYSTEM ITSELF, I HEAR YOU . ILET'S WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM BECAUSE AS A VETERAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO NAVIGATE BROKEN SYSTEMS. I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WAIT MONTHS FOR CARE. AS A VETERAN, I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGH THE VA. AND AS A FEMALE VETERAN, I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO FINALLY ASK FOR HELP, FINALLY ADVOCATE FOR YOUR HEALTH, AND THEN HEAR THAT THE NEXT OB/GYN APPOINTMENT IS SIX MONTHS FROM NOW. I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WALK INTO AUDI MURPHY KNOWING VETERANS HAVE TAKEN THEIR LIVES IN THAT PARKING LOT. VETERANS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING THE PRICE FOR A HOUSING SYSTEM THAT THEY DID NOT CREATE OR BREAK. LESS THAN 1% OF AMERICANS CHOOSE TO SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND TODAY WE'RE DISCUSSING A POLICY THAT IMPACTS LESS THAN 1% OF RENTAL PROPERTIES IN OUR CITY. TODAY YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO CLOSER AND TO HELP VETERANS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: KAYLA MIRANDA. FOLLOWED BY FELIX RODRIGUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING OR AFTERNOON, ACTUALLY. FIRST I'VE GOT TO SAY YES, I AM A COMMISSIONER FOR OPPOROPPORTUNITY HOMES, NO I AM NOT SPEAKING ON THEIR BELAUGH. I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND BEING A TENANT ADVOCATE. 43 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH I WAS BORN AT AN AIR FORCE BASE IN ILLINOIS. TWO YEARS LATER IN 1995, MY YOUNG BROTHER WAS BORN HERE AT LACKLAND. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WATCH A FAMILY MEMBER THAT IS A VETERAN STRUGGLE. MY FATHER WAS A VERY PROUD MAN. HE WAS A VERY HARD WORKER. HE DID NOT HAVE AN EASY LIFE. MY YOUNGER BROTHER WAS HIT BY A CAR WHEN HE WAS 3 YEARS OLD. MY MOM, WHEN I WAS 11, CAME DOWN WITH A NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER THAT MADE HER PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN. AND MY FATHER STRUGGLED UNDER ALL OF THAT WEIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY. I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. EVERYBODY SAYS IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THEY'RE EMPTY WORDS. MY FATHER NEVER ASKED FOR PITY. HE NEVER ASKED FOR A HANDOUT. HE COULD HAVE USED A HAND UP AND A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN A "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE." WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MUCH , WE'RE ASKING FOR EVERYONE TO SAY MORE THAN THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. HERE IS A VOUCHER. THIS IS PAYMENT FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RENDERED TO THIS COUNTRY. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISCRIMINATE. I DON'T AGREE WITH THE AMENDMENTS ON FOUR UNITS OR LESS. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISCRIMINATE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISCRIMINATE, PERIOD. IT'S NOT A LOT TO ASK. VASH VOUCHERS ARE PAID FASTER THAN SECTION 8 VOUCHERS AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, LET'S WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO FIX IT BUT NOT ON THE BACKS OF VETERANS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: FELIX RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY PETE BERNAL AND CYNTHIA GARZA. >> I KNOW WE WOULD ALL RATHER BE HOPEFULLY NOT TO BORE YOU. MY NAME IS FELIX RODRIGUEZ. I'M THE COMMANDER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, INC. AND I'M HERE -- THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN ADD TO WHAT'S ALREADY [04:15:05] BEEN SAID BEFORE ME BY MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS AND MY SISTER IN ARMS HERE, MAYOR ORTIZ JONES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. AND ALL OF YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS AUGUST BODY OF SAN ANTONIO , THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO. THERE WAS A CRY FOR HELP FROM MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M FROM THE RIO GRANDE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HIDALGO COUNTY SERVICES, RETIRED NOW THREE YEARS . PRIOR TO THAT I WORKED WITH TEXAS RURAL LEGAL AID WORKING WITH VETERANS AS WELL. I'M HERE NOW FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK, WHEREVER MY FEET ARE PLANTED, THAT'S WHERE I'M FROM. TODAY I'M FROM SAN ANTONIO. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING AS WELL. THERE'S A MODEL THAT WE LIVED BY WHEN WE WERE IN SERVICE AND WORE THE UNIFORM OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND THAT WAS THAT WE LEAVE NOBODY BEHIND. I HEARD A CRY TODAY. I HEAR A CRY NOW AND I'M SURE YOU HEAR THAT CRY AS WELL FROM VETERANS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT NEED HOUSING. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE NOW BECAUSE I HEAR THAT CRY AND WE LEAVE NOBODY BEHIND AND WE WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. NEVER. SO WHAT I AM HERE TO SAY TO YOU IS THAT IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND THROUGHOUT OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY HERE WHERE I GO AND VISIT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS THAT WERE IN VIETNAM WITH ME IS THAT WE DON'T ASK ANYMORE. WE DEMAND FOR BENEFITS THAT WE EARNED AND DESERVE. I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER WHAT'S BEFORE YOU, AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT. BECAUSE YOU DO A WONDERFUL JOB. NOT JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT FOR VETERANS AS WELL. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A GLASS BEING FULL -- NOT JUST HALF FULL BUT FULL TODAY -- AFTER YOUR VOTE IN SUPPORT OF VETERANS. GOD BLESS YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO. GOD BLESS SAN ANTONIO FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT THEY DO FOR CITIZENS. AND GOD BLESS OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: CYNTHIA GARCIA FOLLOWED BY PETE BERNAL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM CYNTHIA GARCIA. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM. MY CITY IS MY HOME IN SAN ANTONIO, HERE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO ASK THAT YOU FULFILL THE PROMISES THAT YOU MADE BACK IN 2024 AND IN 2025. I KNOW THAT WE'VE MET WITH ALL OF YOU AT ONE POINT IN TIME THERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO US WHEN WE ASKED YOU, PRIOR TO BECOMING MAYOR AND WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN MAYOR, YOU'VE LISTENED TO OUR HOPES AND OUR DREAMS. THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR VETERANS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE SAME THING. YOU PROMISED THOSE THINGS TO US IN THE PAST. DID THAT NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU? I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER GOING BACK TO THOSE THINGS THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD DO. YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD FIGHT FOR THE VETERANS. YOU COULD SEE THAT YOU WANTED TO STAND BEHIND THIS PROPOSAL THAT WE HAD MADE TO YOU FOR THIS ORDINANCE, ONCE AGAIN. AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE STILL HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. BUT WE ARE AND SO I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YUR SUPPORT ONCE AGAIN TO STAND BEHIND OUR VETERANS, TO NOT GIVE UP ON THEM. TO FOLLOW EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD DO. BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT WHATEVER YOU DO YOU'RE AFFECTING THE VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND YOU'RE NOT STANDING UP TO THE MILITARY CITY, USA SAYING THAT WE HAVE. IT'S NOT JUST WORDS, IT'S NOT JUST AN EMPTY PROMISE THAT WE'RE MAKING. WE NEED TO SUPPORT EVERYONE THAT WE CAN. IT'S JUST BEEN A WHILE. TWO YEARS, TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR [04:20:04] YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR THIS. AND SO NOW HERE WE ARE. WE BELIEVED YOU WHEN YOU TOLD US THAT YOU WOULD FULFILL THAT PROMISE OR THAT YOU WOULD STAND BEHIND US. THE VETERANS BELIEVED YOU. THEY WERE WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY YES. WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY NOW YES AGAIN. HERE WE ARE AND THE QUESTION IS SIMPLE: WILL YOU STAND FOR THE SUPPORT? BY THAT SUPPORT WHEN ORGANIZED INDUSTRY PRESSURE SHOWS UP? THIS IS A LEGACY VOTE, COUNCIL MEMBERS. YEARS FROM NOW NO ONE WILL REMEMBER THE TECHNICAL ARGUMENTS FROM THE APARTMENT LOBBY, BUT VETERANS WILL REMEMBER WHO STOOD WITH THEM WHEN IT MATTERED. TODAY YOU ALL GET TO DECIDE WHOSE VOICE CARRIES MORE WEIGHT. THE INDUSTRY ASKING FOR LOOPHOLES? PASS THE VASH ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN ORIGINALLY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: PETE BERNAL FOLLOWED BY GABRIELLA NORIEGA. >> MADAME MAYOR, IS IT OKAY? I KNOW ACE ASABELLO IS ON HERE AND I'LL TAKE HIS SPOT. >> MAYOR JONES: DOES HE WANT YOU TO GIVE YOU HIS TIME? >> HE WANTS ME TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF. >> MAYOR JONES: WE'LL ALLOT HIS TIME TO YOU . IF HE WANTS TO STAND NEXT TO YOU, HE'S MORE THAN WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEN. THIS IS ACE. HE'S ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM OF BEXAR COUNTY. I WANT YOU TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THIS MAN . HE CAN'T REALLY PRONOUNCE ALL THE STUFF BECAUSE HE HAS PTSD AND HIS ISSUES HAVE RELEVANCY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF LARGE -- OR THESE ELEMENTS. SO HE ASKED ME TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF. HE HAS PTSD. HE HAS THE VASH VOUCHER. Y'ALL WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH A VASH VOUCHER. THIS MAN HAS BEEN TURNED DOWN MORE THAN 60 TIMES IN SAN ANTONIO. A PLACE WHERE WE CALL MILITARY CITY, USA. 60 TIMES TOLD NO. WE DON'T TAKE YOUR VOUCHER. THE OWNERS DON'T ALLOW IT. BUT WE DON'T THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM. WE ARE CREATING INCENTIVES TO WHERE IT SAYS THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH THE LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, THAT THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM. I AIN'T SAYING THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THESE. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. IT'S WHEN THIS MAN GOES TO SOMEONE THAT TELLS THEM NO. IT'S VERY AFFECTIVE TO THIS MAN. DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE LIVES NOW? HE LIVES IN CANYON LAKE. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO BUT HE CAN'T FIND A HOUSE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S WHERE DISCRIMINATION'S AT. IT'S HERE. IT'S NOW. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU WANT TO CREATE THE CARROT, THE STICK? YEAH, LET'S DO IT. BUT THE STICK NEEDS TO ALSO HIT TOO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING NO. THAT IS THE BIGGEST THING. THE STICK NEEDS TO HIT WHERE THEY'RE SAYING NO. JUST TO CORRECT THEM BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW IF THEY'LL FIX IT. I JUST SAW SOMETHING THAT'S AWESOME HERE IN THIS ELEMENT OF Y'ALL'S. Y'ALL VOTED 11-0 TO PROTECT ELDERLY BUT I WANT TO SEE 11-0 TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS. 11-0 TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS. I JUST SAW A LITTLE BIT OF DISCRIMINATION HAPPEN HERE RIGHT NOW TOO. SHE WAS GOING TO -- WE WERE GOING TO TALK FIRST. WE GOT HERE EARLY. WE WANTED TO BE HERE EARLY AND THEN Y'ALL PUSHED US BACK LIKE WE WERE THE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS TO SPEAK LAST. WHEN WE HAD OVER 40 PEOPLE HERE. WHEN THERE WAS ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN ONE ELEMENT BEFORE THAT WHERE WE HAD TO HEAR THREE HOURS OF IT. THAT'S NOT FAIR TO US! IT'S NOT FAIR! YOU JUST SHOWED US THE DISCRIMINATION. HELP US STOP THIS. THIS NEEDS TO STOP HERE AND NOW. I WAS VERY UPSET, AND YOU COULD HEAR IT IN MY VOICE. BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S HOW IT AFFECTS US. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT VETS IN VIETNAM WERE SPITTED ON. THEY WERE SET ASIDE. THEY WERE GIVEN -- LIKE, WE HAVE ONE VET HERE, HE EXPERIENCED THAT. SILVER STAR MEDAL. THE THING IS TODAY WE CAN [04:25:03] ECHO THAT 11-0 MEANS YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF US. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: GABRIELLA NORIEGA. DR. GODLUCK. DR. GODLUCK? GABRIEL ROSALEZ FOLLOWED BY LEO CASTILLO. >> I'M THE STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS. IN 1929 WE FOUNDED AN ORGANIZATION -- WAS PARTLY FOUNDED BY VETERANS. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT LULAC WAS FOUNDED WAS BECAUSE OF THE DISCRIMINATION THAT WAS TAKING PLACE AGAINST OUR VETERANS THAT CAME BACK FROM WORLD WAR II. FOR ANYONE TO SIT THERE AND SAY THE NUMBERS DON'T SHOW, I'VE SEEN SO MANY TIMES WHERE APARTMENT COMPLEXES -- WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE OUR PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THERE'S ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO THOSE. AND IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WAGES. MY FATHER'S A VETERAN. MY UNCLES SERVED IN VIETNAM. THEY'RE NOT WITH US ANYMORE. A WHOLE CLASS OF BURBANK DIDN'T COME BACK. SO THEY EARNED -- SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VETERANS AND WE TALK ABOUT LULAC, WHAT WE SAY IS THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU FOR FAVORS, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU FOR ANY KIND OF SPECIAL FAVORS BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS GIVE THESE VETERANS DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AND THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT DIGNITY AND RESPECT IS HOUSING. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION HAPPENS IN HOUSING. I GET PHONE CALLS ALL THE TIME WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME RESIDENTS, IN THE COURTS, AND MANY OTHER DIFFERENT COMPLEXES WHERE MANAGEMENT ARBITRARILY TARGETS PEOPLE. TO SAY THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THAT THE NUMBERS DON'T SHOW, THAT'S NOT TRUE. OUR VETERANS HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED -- THEY ARE DEPORTING OUR VETERANS FOR GOD'S SAKE. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SET THE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND PASS THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT ANY LOOPHOLES. THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THE REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION OR ANYBODY FROM DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO. I'M SURE THEY DO AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SEE WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR VETERANS AND OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AS WELL. SO I STAND HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE . I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I HAVE AN UNCLE WHO DIED HOMELESS IN DALLAS, TEXAS, AND HE WAS A VETERAN. AND I LIVE IN A FAMILY OF VETERANS AND IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THE SUFFERING THAT OUR VETERANS GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS. SO I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. LEO CASTILLO ANGIANO. MARIELLA MURILLO FOLLOWED BY SARAH LUCY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARINELLA MAYORAL AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE AFG LOCAL REPRESENTING MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT EMPLOYEES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BUT WE ALSO REPRESENT HUD EMPLOYEES ACROSS TEXAS, LOUISIANA, NEW MEXICO, AND OKLAHOMA. OUR LOCAL IS ALSO AN AFFILIATE MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO AFL-CIO WHERE I SERVE AS AN ELECTED BOARD OFFICER. LASTLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM AN AIR FORCE BRAT. TODAY I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT. DURING MY TENURE AT HUD I [04:30:05] WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR FAIR HOUSING STAFF IN ENSURING APPLICANTS FOR HOUSING UTILIZING TENANT-BASED, PROJECT-BASED, AND VASH VOUCHERS WERE NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. WHILE VETERANS ARE NOT EXPLICITLY LISTED AS A PROTECTED CLASS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, THEY ARE PROTECTED IF DISCRIMINATION IS BASED ON A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY, WHICH IS A COVERED CATEGORY. LAST YEAR, UNDER THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION, OUR ENTIRE AGENCY, LIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY, SAW OUR STAFFING SLASHED AND OUR BUDGETS CUT DRASTICALLY. THOSE DOGE CUTS AND FIRINGS ARE LIMITED HUD'S ABILITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND NATIONWIDE TO ENFORCE LONGSTANDING FAIR-HOUSING LAWS. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE IS NEEDED TO SPECIFICALLY PROTECT OUR VETERANS AND I URGE THAT CITY COUNCIL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE. LASTLY, THIS IS NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT WORK OF FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES, ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF, AND ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY MY AFSCME LABOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. CPS ENERGY EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY IBE LOCAL 400 500WHO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. AND MY AFGE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AND LASTLY BUT NOT LEAST, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: SARAH LUCY FOLLOWED BY MARTHA SPHINX FOLLOWED BY UTE HALL. >> I'M MARTHA SPHINX, UNITED STATES ARMY RETIRED. MY JOB IN THE ARMY WAS TO ADMINISTER SOLDIER AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE MILITARY RECOGNIZED WHAT EXTRAORDINARY DEMANDS WE MAKE ON THE MILITARY AND THAT DOES NOT END WHEN YOU LEAVE THE MILITARY. I ALSO HAVE A PHD IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY, SO INDULGE ME TO BE A LITTLE WONKY IN MY COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR PROPOSED POLICY. I WILL SAY UP FRONT I SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL POLICY. THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL THAT WAS PUT FORWARD. BUT I ATTENDED THE B SESSION LAST WEEK AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING EXERCISE IN PEOPLE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS. IT WAS A LONG MEETING. AT THE END OF THAT LONG MEETING, ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE, SORT OF TACKED ON, OKAY. THE POLICY SHOULD ONLY APPLY TO LANDLORDS WHO HAVE MORE THAN FOUR PROPERTIES. THAT'S REALLY WEIRD THAT YOU WOULD JUST SLAP THAT ON TO A POLICY AT THE END OF A MEETING. THE OTHER THING THAT COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO PROPOSED WAS THAT WE PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE, AND THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED ALREADY. BUT THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD ASK, FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, IS WHAT EVIDENCE DO WE HAVE THAT THAT'S A GOOD IDEA? OR WAS THAT JUST SEEMED LIKE A COOL IDEA? I DON'T KNOW. NOBODY PRESENTED ANYTHING THAT PERSUADED ME THAT THAT WOULD MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. MAYBE IT WILL. LAST NIGHT -- BECAUSE I'M A STUDENT OF MY WORK -- I WENT OUT ON THE WEBSITE TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA ITEMS. AND THE AGENDA ITEM FOR NO. 9, WHICH WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY, HAD A VERY SHORT PARAGRAPH AND IT LITERALLY BEGAN WITH A QUESTION MARK. THAT WAS THE FIRST MARK THAT WAS ON THAT PARAGRAPH. A QUESTION MARK. AND THEN IT WAS FOLLOWED BY SOME SORT OF CONFUSED, WANDERING WORDS THAT SORT OF TRAILED OFF. THEN I LOOKED AT THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. OBVIOUSLY, MUCH BETTER PREPARED, WELL-RESEARCHED, WELL-WRITTEN BUT IT LOOKED A LITTLE SLAP DASH TO ME AND THAT CONCERNS ME, BOTH AS SOMEBODY WHO EXPECTS ME AND YOU TO DO A GOOD JOB, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE MAKE SO MUCH OF HOW MUCH WE CARE ABOUT VETERANS. [04:35:01] THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE CARING. REALLY BOTHERS ME. SO HAVING A LITTLE STRUGGLE WITH THE MICROPHONE HERE. THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE WILL HELP, IN SOME INCREMENTAL WAY, TO IMPROVE UPON THIS PROBLEM. BUT THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE OR ANY ORDINANCE DEPENDS ON PEOPLE TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY AND DEPENDS ON OPEN CONVERSATION WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU PASS THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. UTE HALL. FOLLOWED BY FAY AND THEN JOHNNY GARCIA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS UTE HALL. I AM A FAMILY MEMBER OF A VETERAN AND ALSO A RETIRED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER. I HAVE SPENT 32 YEARS OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER SUPPORTING THE ACTIVE DUTY AND VETERAN COMMUNITY. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK IN SUPPORT OF UNHOUSED VETERANS. EXCUSE ME. MY VOICE IS A LITTLE RASPY. AS YOU KNOW, THE HUD VASH PROGRAM FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON HOUSING FIRST AND AS SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALREADY SAID, HOUSING IS THE FOUNDATION TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT OUR VETERANS MAY FACE. AND SO I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN THIS CITY, NOT JUST FOR VETERANS BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE VETERANS TODAY. AND WHILE WE CANNOT SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS FOR EVERYBODY HERE, I THINK WE CAN SOLVE IT FOR VETERANS. SO A LOT OF MY -- THE OTHER VETERANS THAT WERE HERE SPEAKING BEFORE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING VETERANS, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND SUS STANCE USE DISORDERS. BUT ALSO WHAT THEY'RE FACING OFTEN IS SIMPLY POVERTY , AND THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT. SO MANY OF THE VETERANS ARE LIVING ON SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T SERVE LONG ENOUGH OR THEY DO NOT HAVE A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY THAT INCREASES THEIR INCOME. WE KNOW THAT IN 2024, THE VASH VOUCHERS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN CUTTING HOMELESSNESS, VETERAN HOMELESSNESS TO ABOUT HALF. SINCE 2024, THERE HAVE BEEN RULE CHANGES THAT SAID THAT THE DISABILITY PAYMENTS THAT VETERANS RECEIVE FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY ARE NO LONGER COUNTED TOWARDS THE WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS THAT ARE LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY ONLY OR SSI. IF I CAN GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS. THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL STANDS AT $15,960. SSI INCOME IS AT $11,929. THAT'S $994 A MONTH. A THIRD OF THAT WILL GO TOWARDS HOUSING. SO SOMEBODY TALKED EARLIER ABOUT LEASE COMPLIANCE. MAYBE SOME VETERANS WALK AWAY FROM THEIR LEASES BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE ON $633 A MONTH FOR THEIR OTHER NEEDS. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY WALK AWAY. SO AGAIN, HOUSING FIRST TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES. I REALLY WOULD LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROPOSITION THE WAY IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: FAY SUPPERSENSIA. JOHNNY GARCIA. RUBEN [INDISCERNIBLE] AND THEN STEPHEN PRICE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL. I'M A STAKEHOLDER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2. I WANT TO SAY OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDES STANDING WITH GROUPS THAT HAVE STOOD WITH US IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE. SAN ANTONIO'S VETERAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES MUST BE PROVIDED HOUSING ACCESS AND ANY OTHER RESOURCES OUR CITY HAS AVAILABLE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE HISTORY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL JUDGE OUR VALUES BASED ON THE MERITS OF OUR ACTIONS. IN DIFFICULT TIMES OUR [04:40:02] VETERANS RESPONDED TO THEIR CALL OF DUTY AND I BELIEVE CITY COUNCIL MUST DO THE SAME. AS A SON OF A VIETNAM VETERAN, I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE LEGACY OF SERVICE AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT IT HAS LEFT ON OUR FAMILIES IN MOMENTS OF GOOD AND BAD. FURTHERMORE, AS A VOLUNTEER WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE, TRAVIS PARK CHURCH, AND CUP SAN ANTONIO, A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION WITH VETERANS THAT REQUIRE HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT THEY REMAIN STRONG BELIEVERS IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THEM. VETERANS ARE NOT ASKING FOR A HANDOUT OR UNDESERVED WELFARE, THEY ARE DEMANDING A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT THAT WE MUST PROVIDE. MOREOVER THIS FORM OF LEGISLATION IS VITAL IN PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER INEQUITIES. ADEQUATE HOUSING IS AN IMPERFECT PROCESS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE LANDMARK FAIR HOUSING ACT OF 1968, IT HAS PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AND THE SALE AND FINANCING OF HOUSING AND THE PROVISION OF BROKERAGE SERVICES. I BELIEVE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MUST ACT ON THIS PROTECTION AS THE CURRENT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND PRESIDENT HAVE SEVERED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT ANYONE OTHER THAN THE MOST WEALTHY AMERICANS. AGAIN, I ASK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO AUGMENT THE PROTECTION OF VETERANS BY REINFORCING THE USE OF THE VASH SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THE EXCUSES USED BY THOSE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE VOUCHERS AUDIO]. I UNDERSTAND THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE REAL ESTATE LOBBY IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS OWNERSHIP GROUPS. HOWEVER, THIS GOAL IS SECOND TO THE HUMAN RIGHT OF EQUITABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE TIRED EXCESS OF STORIES THAT FRAME SAN ANTONIO AS A POVERTY-RIDDEN METRO STRUGGLING TO ELEVATE ITS FUTURE. HOUSING IS A CORNERSTONE OF PRODUCING GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND IN ITS ABSENCE, RESTRICTED RACIAL COVENANTS IS AT THE CORE OF OUR CITY. I JUST WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A QUOTE BY NELSON MANDELA WHO SAID TO DENY PEOPLE THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS IS TO CHALLENGE THEIR HUMANITY. TO IMPOSE ON THEM A LIFE OF HUNGER AND DEPRIVATION IS TO DEHUMANIZE THEM. IT IS TO PERPETUATE POVERTY AND INEQUALITY AND TO UNDERMINE THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. >> MAYOR JONES: STEPHEN PRICE FOLLOWED BY MADELINE MILLET. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST, LET ME SAY THE VETERANS IN THIS CITY, WE APPRECIATE WHAT SAN ANTONIO AND FORT WORTH ARE TRYING TO DO. WE SEE THE PROBLEM. THE LANGUAGE. THE CITY CAN ONLY GO SO FAR BECAUSE THE STATE WON'T ALLOW THEM TO GO FURTHER. RIGHT NOW IN TEXAS, CITIES ARE RESTRICTED BY STATE LAW, SPECIFICALLY TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 250.007. THE LAW STATES CITIES CANNOT REQUIRE LANDLORDS TO ACCEPT VOUCHERS AS A FORM OF RENT. EVEN IF A CITY WANTS TO FULLY PROTECT VETERANS, THEY LEGALLY CAN'T APPLY THAT RULE TO EVERYONE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING PARTIAL SOLUTIONS. CITIES ARE FORCED TO WORK AROUND THE LAW ONLY APPLYING RULES TO PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDING OR LIMITING PROTECTIONS TO VERY SPECIFIC GROUPS, LIKE VETERANS, INSTEAD OF CREATING A CLEAR AND UNIVERSAL STANDARD. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ASIANS EARLIER NOT GETTING TREATED PROPERLY. THE VETERANS ARE GETTING IT EVEN WORSE. LET'S TALK ABOUT ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THIS HAS JUST AS IMPORTANT. EVEN WHEN CITIES PASS ORDINANCES THE PENALTIES ARE SMALL. FINES MAY BE CAPPED AT A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR VIOLATION. ENFORCEMENT DEPENDS ON VETERANS FILING A COMPLAINT AND THERE'S LITTLE FOLLOW-UP OR CONSEQUENCE FOR REPEATED BEHAVIOR. WHAT HAPPENS? FOR MANY LANDLORDS, A SMALL FINE BECOMES JUST ANOTHER COST OF DOING BUSINESS. NOT A REAL REASON FOR CHANGING BEHAVIOR. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT ABOUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IT EASIER THAN EVER FOR VETERANS TO QUALIFY FOR HOUSING. THEY FIXED HOW INCOME IS COUNTED AND EXPANDED VASH VOUCHERS. BUT HERE'S A PROBLEM. A LANDLORD IN TEXAS CAN SAY WE DON'T ACCEPT VOUCHERS. WE HAVE CREATED A SYSTEM WHERE THE VETERAN DOES EVERYTHING RIGHT AND STILL GETS TURNED AWAY AT THE DOOR. IT'S NOT SOMETHING CITIES [04:45:03] CAN FULLY FIX ON THEIR OWN. THAT WHY I PASSED ON A RESOLUTION TO MY VETERAN STATE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BEXAR COUNTY LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AT THE STATE LEVEL. HERE'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN: THE STATE NEEDS TO UPDATE THE LAW SO CITIES CAN FULLY PROTECT VETERANS USING HOUSING VOUCHERS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLEAR RULE SO IT DOESN'T DEPEND ON WHAT CITY YOU'RE IN. WE ALL AGREE THAT IF PROPERTY TAKES TAXPAYER MONEY IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ACCEPT HOUSING ASSISTANCE. ENFORCEMENT NEEDS REAL CONSEQUENCES, NOT JUST SMALL FINES. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A LACK OF EFFORT, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE EFFORTS BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM. YES, WE CAN APPLAUD WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING. MAYOR, I APPLAUD WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A STATEWIDE PROBLEM WITH TOOLS THAT THE STATE HAS LIMITED. UNTIL THAT CHANGES, VETERANS WILL BE QUALIFYING AND STILL GETTING TURNED AWAY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD NEVER ACCEPT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND MILITARY CITY. THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: MADELINE MILLET FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MADELINE AND I AM AN ARMY VETERAN OF 21 YEARS OF SERVICE. WHEN I HAD MY FAMILY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH GOVERNMENT HOUSING ON POST SO I WAS FORCED TO LIVE IN THE ECONOMY. HERE WE ARE TODAY, 15 YEARS LATER, TODAY I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE AIR FORCE AND THEY TOO HAVE TO LIVE OUT IN THE ECONOMY. WE DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE. WE WERE FORCED. HOWEVER, TODAY YOU ALL HAVE A CHOICE TO HELP US AND TO HELP ALL OUR VETERANS. TODAY BEING PRAYER DAY, I HOPE THAT ALL OF OUR VETERAN PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED TODAY AND THAT AS OF TOMORROW WE HAVE NO MORE SUICIDES BECAUSE OF HOMELESS OR LACK OF HOMES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: ANTONIO DIAZ FOLLOWED BY DIANA FLORES AND THEN SYLVIA SOTO. >> I AM A SON, NEPHEW, BROTHER OF VETERANS AND I AM ALSO A VIETNAM VETERAN. THAT PROPOSAL THAT THE MAYOR HAS BROUGHT FORWARD IS TRULY NEEDED BY MANY VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO. YOU CAN SEE MANY HOUSELESS VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE STREETS OF OUR CITY PITCHING TENTS, PUSHING CARTS AROUND WITH WHATEVER BELONGINGS. AFTER SERVING THIS COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. SOMEHOW OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS SEEM TO IGNORE VETERANS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HOW CAN THIS BE MILITARY CITY, USA WHEN SO MANY HOMELESS VETERANS ARE OUT ON THE STREETS? LANDLORDS ARE REFUSING VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY CAN GET MORE MONEY FROM PRIVATE RENTERS. SO THIS REMEDY OR THIS APPROACH HOPEFULLY WILL BE UNANIMOUS. IT SHOULD BE UNANIMOUS IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE IT WAS WRITTEN IN. BECAUSE VETERANS DESERVE IT. THEY HAVE ALREADY SERVED. MY FATHER WAS A WORLD WAR II VETERAN WOUNDED IN THE PACIFIC. DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING. HE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO WALK BY A SHINY APPLE FOR FREE. I ALREADY GOT PAID. BUT HE CAME BACK VERY, VERY INJURED, VERY DAMAGED AND PRIDE DOES NOT PAY YOUR [04:50:05] BILLS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL IF YOU DO THIS UNANIMOUSLY AND FOLLOW THE MAYOR'S LEAD IN TRYING TO HOUSE VETERANS IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: DIANA FLORES FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA SOTO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. AND I KNOW MOTHER'S DAY'S COMING UP THIS SUNDAY. IT'S THE TRUE DAY OF MOTHER'S DAY. BUT HOW MANY OF YOU ARE VETERANS HERE ON THE COUNCIL? RAISE YOUR HAND. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE VETERANS, RAISE YOUR HAND. ONE, TWO? OKAY. I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE VETERANS. COUSINS, UNCLES. Y'ALL HAVE ANY UNCLES, COUSINS, GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE VETERANS? ANYBODY HERE ON THE COUNCIL? RAISE YOUR HAND. THINK ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU VOTE, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE VOUCHERS THAT Y'ALL, THE HOUSING IS GIVING OUT, THE REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING THESE VOUCHERS IS BECAUSE IT'S LACKING MONEY OFF OF IT. IT STARTED WITH $2, THEN IT WENT THE FOLLOWING YEAR WENT TO 4, THEN 6, 10. HOW ARE YOU EXPECTING THESE PEOPLE TO GET A PLACE TO STAY? VETERANS AND CITIZENS. SO Y'ALL ARE SAYING WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS HERE DOWNTOWN AND WHATEVER AND Y'ALL DON'T WANT THEM THERE? WHY ARE YOU TAKING OUT THE MONEY FROM THE VOUCHERS? THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY DON'T WANT THEM. WE TRY TO GIVE THE MONEY, MONEY,YOU KNOW, UPFRONT. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TRY TO GIVE THE MONEY OUT IN FRONT BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE IT THAT WAY. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY THEIR MONEY UPFRONT THAT THEY WERE LACKING ON THE VOUCHERS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE A PLACE TO STAY. THEY'RE HERE ALIVE. THEY DON'T NEED THIS THING, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY. THEY WANT TO LIVE WHEREVER THEY WANT TO LIVE. IT'S JUST LIKE Y'ALL. Y'ALL WANT TO LIVE WHEREVER YOU WANT TO. LET THEM LIVE WHERE THEY WANT TO. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. SYLVIA SOTO. >> THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. SYLVIA SOTO. CARELLI GUEVARA. Y'ALL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. I AM NOT A VETERAN BUT I AM FAMILY AND VERY DEAR FRIENDS TO SOME. I AM NOT A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE BUT SINCE MOVING HERE, I QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THAT EVERYONE AROUND ME HAS ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION OR LESS TO A VETERAN. THEY ARE OUR TEACHERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, NURSES, DOCTORS, CIVIL SERVANTS, AND MORE OFTEN THAN ANYBODY WOULD EVER WANT, UNHOUSED. EVERYBODY WHO TRAVELED HERE TODAY TRAVELED ANYWHERE DOWNTOWN MORE THAN LIKELY CAME INTO CONTACT WITH SOMEONE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND THE PROBABILITY OF THAT PERSON BEING A VETERAN IS TOO HIGH FOR OUR CITY. LIKE MANY VETERANS STATED, THERE IS NO ASKING FOR WHAT IS ALREADY OWED TO THEM. AND THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE EXACTLY WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. IF YOU WANT A LOOK AT THEIR STRUGGLES, LOOK AT THE ROOM. ALMOST EVERY SEAT WAS FILLED THIS MORNING AND [04:55:04] UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO CHRONIC PAIN AND OTHER ILLNESSES, THE AUDIO]. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE BEING DENIED THE ACCESS THAT BELONGS TO THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO IMPART THE MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ON COUNCIL AS YOU CONTINUE TO CONTEMPLATE WHICH WAY YOU WILL VOTE. AS COUNCILMAN WHYTE MENTIONED EARLIER, SAN ANTONIO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. DO YOU PRIORITIZE THE COMFORT OF LANDLORDS AND MILLIONAIRES AT THEIR EXPENSE? I ASK THAT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS CITY'S HISTORY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: RHETT SMITH FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. RHETT SMITH? JACK FINGER FOLLOWED BY KAREN FISHER. >> WELL MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YES, WHO COULD BE AGAINST VETERANS? WELL, I CERTAINLY AM NOT AGAINST VETERANS BUT I DO OPPOSE THIS PROPOSAL THAT YOU'RE MAKING. NUMBER ONE, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP THERE. SHOW THE -- WHAT DOES THE ACTUAL CAPTION READ THERE? ORDINANCE CREATING SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO. RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS. IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO STEAL THEIR MONEY. NO. NO ONE IS TRYING TO STEAL THEIR MONEY. NOW, AM I ANTI-VETERAN? NO. I AM PRO-TAXPAYER AND I AM ANTI-CITY COUNCIL MISMANAGEMENT OF OUR FUNDS. YOU KNOW, IS THERE -- I WANT TO FIND OUT HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM THIS REALLY IS. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP THERE, IF YOU WOULD. THESE ARE YOUR VERY OWN DOCUMENTS. WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? THE CAPTION READS VETERANS AND VOUCHERS IN SAN ANTONIO. THE LEFT-HAND SIDE SAYS 90,474 VETERANS IN SAN ANTONIO. YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT AND IT SAYS 39 ARE SEARCHING FOR HOUSING. YOU EVEN ADD ANOTHER GROUP OF PERSONS FOR CHOICE VOUCHER RECIPIENTS. ANOTHER 61, IF YOU LOOK FURTHER DOWN INSIDE THAT CIRCLE THERE. I ADDED UP 39 AND 61 EQUAL 100 OUT OF 90,000. YES. AT MOST, 100 OUT OF 90,000. THAT'S ONE OUT OF EVERY 900. NEARLY ONE OUT OF A THOUSAND. FOLKS, THIS IS A SOLUTION SEARCHING FOR A PROBLEM. IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A PROBLEM. NOW, YOU HAVE HAD PEOPLE -- THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEE THIS IS A PROBLEM IS WITH THE APARTMENT OWNERS NOT GETTING THEIR MONEY IN A TIMELY MANNER. NOW, ALLOW ME TO SEE THAT. BUT ONCE AGAIN, IN YOUR VERY OWN DOCUMENTS, THIS IS WHAT I SAW. THIS PROBLEM IS IMPROVING. SINCE APRIL 2025, BOTH OPPORTUNITY HOME AND HABC HAVE REDUCED PROCESSING TIME TO AS LITTLE AS 14 DAYS, HALF A MONTH. MOST PAYMENTS ARE RECEIVED WITHIN THAT 30 DAYS. YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE VETERANS CANNOT EVEN SCRAPE UP ONE MONTH'S RENT FOR THIS STUFF. YOU'RE SAYING BRIDGE FUNDING --N THE CAMERA HERE. THAT THE MONEY IS NOT ENOUGH FOR IT. WELL, ARE THEY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S TOO RITZY? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: FOLLOWED BY ROBERT MIHARA. >> I'M KAREN FISHER. I AM A FEMALE DISABLED VETERAN. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR GREAT NATION AS A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE AIR FORCE AND THEN WORKING AT THE AUDI MURPHY VA. I ALSO SERVE MY COMMUNITY AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. WE LOVE OUR VETS, EVERYONE DOES. I'M A VET AND I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL WANTS TO HELP [05:00:02] VETERANS. HOWEVER, ACCEPTING VOUCHERS SHOULD BE A VOLUNTARY ACTION, NOT FORCED. EVER. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH MANDATING VASH IS THERE ARE ANCILLARY EFFECTS TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ME. WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD "VETERAN" TAKING CARE OF US AND FORCING A VOUCHER MAY SOUND LOGICAL UNTIL YOU HEAR THE NUMBERS BEHIND IT. MY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES ARE GREAT FOR VETERANS IN THE $1300 RANGE. BUT ONCE ALL EXPENSES ARE PAID, I'M LEFT WITH $200 A MONTH. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PROGRAM IS DELAY OF PAYMENT, WHICH TAKES 30 TO 60 DAYS, AFTER INSPECTION IS COMPLETED. IF I HOLD THE SLOT FOR A VOUCHER, I AM NOW IN DEFAULT OF MY MORTGAGE AND PUT IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. MANDATING THIS ORDINANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE ME IS NOT FEASIBLE. I AM NOT A CORPORATION THAT HAS MILLIONS IN RESERVES NOR ARE LENDERS GOING TO WAIT OR ACCEPT THE EXCUSE A VOUCHER IS PENDING. VOUCHER PROGRAMS OFTEN SET LIMITS ON HOW MUCH RENT CAN BE CHARGED BASED ON LOCAL FAIR-MARKET RENT. WHEN PROPERTY TAXES, INSURANCE, MORTGAGES, AND OTHER EXPENSES RISE, I AM STILL RESPONSIBLE TO PAY. YET THE FIXED PAYMENT DOES NOT OFFSET THE NEW INCREASES. MY FELLOW VETERANS AND I SERVED OUR GREAT COUNTRY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR FREEDOM AND LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. BUT WHY DON'T I HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DECIDE HOW TO RUN MY PRIVATE BUSINESS AND WHY MUST I, AS A SMALL BUSINESS VETERAN OWNER, BE PENALIZED? BY ENACTING THIS ORDINANCE, YOU CAN JEOPARDIZE EVERYTHING I HAVE WORKED HARD FOR WHICH LIMITS MY ABILITY TO SUPPORT MY FELLOW VETERANS IN THE FUTURE. AND ON BEHALF OF OTHER VETERANS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND ME, I HUMBLY ASK YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ROBERT MIHARA FOLLOWED BY AARON HAHN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORTITUDE THIS VERY LONG DAY. I AM ROBERT. I'M A RETIRED ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND FORMER MILITARY STRATEGIC PLANNER HERE TO COMMENT ON ITEM 9 ON THE AGENDA. THE PRINCIPAL LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE WOULD PROHIBIT LANDLORDS FROM REJECTING A VETERAN'S APPLICATION SOLELY BECAUSE THAT VETERAN PAYS RENT WITH A VOUCHER. IT IS A SIMPLE PROTECTION ROOTED IN A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE. IT IS EITHER ACCEPTABLE TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VETERANS OR IT IS NOT. I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. I MYSELF HAVE RENTED OUT A HOME AS A SINGLE-UNIT OWNER THROUGH A PROPERTY MANAGER. INSPECTIONS CAN OFTEN TAKE TIME AND VOUCHER PAYMENTS CAN SOMETIMES BE DELAYED. THESE ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND THEY DEMAND WELL-CONSIDERED SOLUTIONS. BUT THE EXEMPTION IN ADVANCE OF SECTION 2 OF THE DRAFT I BELIEVE SWINGS TOO WIDE. AND THE OWNER WITH FOUR OR FEWER PROPERTIES COULD REFUSE A VETERAN'S APPLICATION AS A MATTER OF POLICY WITHOUT A SHOWING OR AFFIRMATION OF HARDSHIP. THIS IS A POTENTIAL BACK DOOR AND IT RISKS MAKING WHAT SHOULD BE AN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE INTO A FORMALIZED OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCRIMINATION. WE CANNOT MAKE VOUCHER-QUALIFIED VETERANS THE BILL PAYERS FOR THE FAILURES OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS. IN A MOMENT OF FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY FOR MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, WHEN GAS PRICES ARE INCHING TOWARDS $5 A GALLON, OUR LOW-INCOME VETERANS NEED COMMITMENT FROM US AND NOT SYMPATHY. IF VASH HAS ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS, AND IT DOES, OUR ENERGY SHOULD GO TOWARD FIXING IT. I BELIEVE THAT MANY OF THE PROPERTY MANAGERS HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE PROHIBITION AND BELIEVE IT TOO. BUT VETERANS MOST IN NEED OF PROTECTION NEED THAT RELIEF NOW. AND WE CAN DECIDE TODAY THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO FACE THE HOUSING SITUATION THIS HOUSING MARKET ALONE, WITH THE REST OF US TURNING A BLIND EYE BY MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO REJECT THE VOUCHER THAT THEY RELY ON AND THAT THEY'VE EARNED. THIS COUNCIL MUST ANSWER A MORAL QUESTION. DO THE SACRIFICES OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN, THE SACRIFICE THAT THEY MADE, BEING FAITHFUL TO THEIR OATH, WARRANT AN EQUAL MEASURE, A COMMITMENT FROM US IN RETURN? SAN ANTONIO'S ANSWER MUST BE YES. I JOIN WITH OTHER VETERANS IN ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS SO BROAD THEY SWALLOW THE RULE AND PROVE THAT THE TITLE MILITARY CITY, USA EXPRESSES AN UNCOMPROMISES COMMITMENT TO THE VETERANS THAT CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THE FINAL SPEAKER IS AARON HAHN. >> MY NAME IS ERIN HAHN. I'M WITH THE NONPROFIT TEXAS [05:05:14] HOUSERS HERE IN SUPPORT OF A PROPOSED SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION FOR VETERANS USING VASH VOUCHERS. I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD WEAKEN IT. LAST WEEK AT PCDC AND TODAY, VETERANS AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THEM MADE IT CLEAR THAT DISCRIMINATION IS A BARRIER, A REAL BARRIER TO VETERANS' HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO. TO WATER DOWN THE POLICY THEY'RE ASKING FOR WOULD BE TO DISMISS THEM. WE SHOULDN'T ACCEPT A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS A VETERAN TO BE DENIED HOUSING SO MANY TIMES IN MILITARY CITY THAT HE IS FORCED TO MOVE OUT TO CANYON LAKE TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO LEASE WITH A VOUCHER. FAR FROM THE VA, FROM SERVICES AND COMMUNITY HERE. THAT'S NOT HOUSING CHOICE, THAT'S EXCLUSION. A HIGH VASH LEASE RATE DOESN'T MEAN THE SYSTEM IS WORKING. SOMEONE DENIED OVER AND OVER IS COUNTED IN THAT FIGURE. [INDISCERNIBLE] IN HOUSING THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, VETERANS HAVE REACHED OUT TO TEXAS HOUSERS AND SHARED THEIR CHALLENGES OF USING A VOUCHER TO OBTAIN ACCESSIBLE HOMES NEAR THE VA TO SUPPORT PTSD AND RECOVERY. SO WE COLLECTED AND MAPPED VASH ADDRESS DATA FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME AND FOUND MORE THAN 70% VETERANS USING VASH VOUCHERS ARE CONCENTRATED IN AREAS OF HIGH VULNERABILITY, AREAS OF HIGH POVERTY, FEWER RESOURCES. 84% LIVE IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. LAST WEEK AND TODAY WE HAVE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT BURDENING LANDLORDS WITH PARTICIPATION IN VASH. WE ALSO HEARD FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME AT PCDC LAST WEEK THAT INSPECTIONS ARE EXPEDITED FOR VASH UNITS AND THAT THEY ARE OPEN TO FURTHER STREAMLINE VASH PROCESSES. THEY SHOULD BE YES ANDS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH ONLY TO SUPPORT VETERANS WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, WE SHOULD BE INCENTIVES VOUCHER ACCEPTANCE AND PROTECTING VETERANS FROM SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FROM PCDC. A SMALL LANDLORD EXEMPTION WOULD LIMIT ACCESS TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN HIGHER-OPPORTUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WITHOUT A RENTAL REGISTRY IT'S VERY UNCLEAR HOW THE CITY WOULD ENFORCE THAT THRESHOLD. REMOVING THE FINE UNTIL A THIRD OFFENSE WOULD MAKE ENFORCEMENT EVEN MORE AMBIGUOUS. WITHOUT CLEAR ENFORCEMENT, A POLICY BECOMES A PROMISE WITHOUT MEANINGFUL FOLLOW-THROUGH. TEXAS LAW ALLOWS SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS ONLY AND SIMILAR POLICIES HAVE BEEN PASSED IN CITIES LIKE DENTON AND FORT WORTH. THIS WOULD NOT PROHIBIT LANDLORDS FROM SCREENING BASED ON OTHER THINGS LIKE CREDIT AND RENTAL HISTORY. JUST SOLELY PREVENTING LANDLORDS FROM TURNING AWAY VASH VOUCHERS. ANYTHING LESS THAN A YES VOTE WITH A CLEAR AND EFFICIENT WAY TO ENFORCE IT ADMITS DEFEAT TO A SYSTEM WHERE SOMEONE WHO HAS SERVED OUR COUNTRY CAN BE DENIED HOUSING UNTIL THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE IT. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER ON THIS. MOLLY, IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, YOU CAN SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS MOLLY AND I SUPPORT ITEM 9. AS A HOUSELESS, HOMELESS ADVOCATE, AND FORMERLY HOMELESS MYSELF I KNOW THE STRUGGLES AND OBSTACLES THAT PEOPLE FACE DAILY. I USED TO WORK FOR THE TRLA RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROJECT, SPEAKING TO MANY TENANTS, VETERANS FOR WHOM I HAVE PREPARED HUNDREDS OF CASE FILES FOR ATTORNEYS TO REVIEW. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LANDLORDS THAT ACCEPT VOUCHERS OF ANY TYPE. OPPORTUNITY HOME OVERSEES 13,000 VOUCHERS AND YET THERE ARE A LITTLE OVER 2,000 LANDLORDS THAT ACCEPT THEM. MANY WHO ARE KNOWN SLUM LORDS. I KNOW THE STATE DOESN'T ALLOW A SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION FOR ALL VOUCHERS BUT IT DOES FOR VETERANS. SO WITH LOVE, TRUE LOVE, WHY WOULDN'T WE HONORABLY DESIRE TO PROTECT ALL VETERANS. I AM AGAINST THE AMENDMENTS THAT ALLOW SOME DISCRIMINATION IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN FOUR UNITS. THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY LOOPHOLES AND AMENDMENTS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A FINE [05:10:03] ASSESSED IMMEDIATELY TO LANDLORDS, NOT ON THE THIRD OFFENSE. WHY WOULD THE LANDLORDS LISTEN IF THEY'RE GIVEN SO MANY CHANCES? DID YOU NOT FORGET HOW THE LANDLORDS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE RISK MITIGATION DURING COVID? THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THAT IS ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 9 SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. THANK YOU. LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND CERTAINLY FOR YOUR PATIENCE. NOT ONLY TODAY BUT FOR THE MANY YEARS IN WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS. WHAT I WOULD ARGUE IS A VERY BASIC PROTECTION. I DO FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I PROUDLY SERVED. WHEN I SERVED, I SERVED UNDER DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL AND SO I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, DO THAT FAITHFULLY, DEPLOY, AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE OPEN ABOUT WHO I AM. AND MY NUMBER ONE LESSON FROM SERVING UNDER DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL IS ALWAYS TO QUESTION WHO AM I NOT HEARING FROM AND WHY AM I NOT HEARING FROM THEM? OFTEN IT'S THOSE EXACT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND OF YOUR COMPASSION AND OF YOUR ADVOCACY. AND TODAY WE ACTUALLY SAW AN EXAMPLE OF WHO WE ARE NOT HEARING FROM. AND I'M THANKFUL TO GROUPS LIKE AMERICAN GI FORUM. THANK YOU, COMMANDER PETE BERNAL FOR GIVING VOICE TO ACE WHO, BECAUSE OF HIS SERVICE, WHICH LEFT HIM WITH PTSD , HE IS NOT ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR HIMSELF, HAS HAD TO ENDURE DISCRIMINATION, HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN MILITARY CITY, USA, SIMPLY FOR HOW HE WANTS TO PAY FOR THE HOUSING THAT HE HAS EARNED. I ALSO FEEL QUITE STRONGLY AS SOMEBODY WHO BENEFITED FROM A VOUCHER AS A YOUNG CHILD, THAT ALLOWED MY MOM TO WORK SEVERAL JOBS SO THAT SHE COULD TAKE CARE OF MY YOUNGER SISTER AND I. AS WAS JUST MENTIONED, THE STATISTICS ABOUT WHERE VOUCHERS ARE ACCEPTED, HIGHER RATES OF POVERTY, MORE SOCIALLY-VULNERABLE, ALL OF THAT LENDS ITSELF TO ENSURING THAT WE ALLOW VETERANS THE ABILITY TO TAKE THESE VOUCHERS AND LIVE IN PLACES THAT PROVIDE THEM WITH WHAT THEY NEED. AS MENTIONED, MANY HAVE PTSD AND DISABILITIES. SO WHILE THEY MAY BE PLACED -- I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATS SHOW. THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT THE STATS DON'T SHOW. THEY DON'T SHOW WHERE VETERANS WOULD PREFER TO LIVE, IF GIVEN THE OPTION. THEY DON'T SHOW THAT. THEY DON'T SHOW THE NUMBER OF VETERANS THAT ARE MANY, MANY MILES AWAY FROM THE VA CLINIC THAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO LIVE CLOSER TO IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. OUR VETERANS, MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEG TO NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEG TO BE NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. I UNDERSTAND SOME FOLKS SEE THIS ISSUE DIFFERENTLY. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH THIS ISSUE. SENATOR CAIN IS LEADING AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS VETERAN SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AT THE STATE, THEY HAVE AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY, WHILE WE CANNOT PROHIBIT SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION FOR EVERYBODY, WE CAN AT LEAST DO IT FOR VETERANS. THE STATE HAS ALLOWED THAT. AND AS WAS JUST POINTED TO BY MOLLY, WHY WOULD WE NOT DO THAT? WHY WOULD WE NOT HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE MOST VULNERABLE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY? IF THIS PASSES BY EIGHT VOTES, TOMORROW WE CAN WAKE UP IN A CITY THAT SAYS UNEQUIVOCALLY WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VETERANS BASED ON HOW THEY PAY FOR THEIR HOUSING. WE CAN HAVE THAT TOMORROW. TOMORROW MORNING. [APPLAUSE] IF IT PASSES BY SIX, WE WAIT TEN DAYS. THESE ARE CHOICES. THESE ARE CHOICES THAT WE CAN MAKE TO HELP OURSELVES AND HONOR THE COMMITMENT, HONOR THE SERVICE, HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF VETERANS IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHY WE WOULD BE OKAY WITH A LITTLE [05:15:08] BIT OF DISCRIMINATION AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. WHY WOULD WE NOT BE OKAY WITH NO DISCRIMINATION AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS IN SIX MONTHS? I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, AND I SUPPORT THE CCR TO INCENTIVIZE FOLKS TO TAKE VOUCHERS. I MEAN, IF WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO. WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, THOUGH, WE HAVE SEEN INCENTIVES HOPE THAT PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING. WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY HOW WE HAVE HOPED PEOPLE WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING BUT OFTENTIMES WHAT HAS BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE IS PROHIBITING PEOPLE FROM DOING THE WRONG THING. I WOULD ARGUE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST A VETERAN SIMPLY FOR HOW THEY PAY FOR THEIR HOUSING IS THE WRONG THING. AS MENTIONED, WITH EIGHT VOTES, WE CAN CHANGE AND THOSE VETERANS CAN START LOOKING ONLINE FOR WHERE THEY'D LIKE TO LIVE, VERSUS WHERE THEY HAVE TO LIVE BASED ON THE CURRENT RESTRAINTS. I'M ALSO SURPRISED BY THE -- BY THE PUSHBACK OF SOME. I DON'T THINK IF THIS WASN'T AN ISSUE AT THE SCALE THAT IT IS BEING DISCUSSED, I DON'T THINK THAT FOLKS WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR THIS AS HARD AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR AS LONG AS THEY HAVE BEEN. I THINK THAT FOLKS HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH THEIR TIME AND THEIR ENERGIES THAN TO TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST. WHICH THEN LENDS ITSELF TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IS, IN FACT, A PROBLEM. IT MAY ONLY AFFECT A HANDFUL -- WELL, IN PART BECAUSE LESS THAN 1% OF OUR POPULATION WILL WEAR THE NATION'S CLOTH. AND, YES, A SMALL PERCENTAGE WILL COME BACK FROM THEIR SERVICE DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENT -- AND MORE IN NEED OF OUR HELP. AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE OWE IT TO THEM TO PROVIDE THAT. TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME. TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME, UM, T. AND TO BE ARGUABLY HAVING THE EXACT SAME DISCUSSION. I WISH THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS. AND WE WILL ADD THAT TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WILL SUPPORT THAT, AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, ABSOLUTELY, ARE FOLKS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. BUT WE HERE IN MILITARY CITY U.S.A. HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. TOMORROW FOLKS CAN WAKE UP IN A CITY THAT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST. I HAVE A COUPLE OF -- I UNDERSTAND THAT -- AND I APPRECIATED THE CONVERSATION AT PCDC WHICH RELATED IN AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS -- THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPLIED BY THE AMERICAN GI FORUM. AND AS WAS MENTIONED, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THE INTENDED IMPACT. SO I ASKED, UM, OUR HOUSING TEAM VERÓNICA G GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS, I ASKED OUR HOUSING TEAM, HEY, HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSING UNITS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE VERSUS THOSE UNDER -- WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE BASED ON THE AMENDMENTS. SO VERÓNICA, FOR THE EDIFICATION OF MY COLLEAGUES, PLEASE SHARE THE RESPONSE. >> YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON, VERÓNICA GARCIA, HOUSING DIRECTOR. UNDER THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2021, THAT ONLY APPLIED TO HOUSING, UM, SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS IN CITY PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVED CITY INCENTIVES. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSING BONDED FUNDING NEW RENTAL APARTMENTS. SO SINCE THAT TIME THERE'S BEEN 85 PROPERTIES IMPACTED BY THAT ORDINANCE SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 18,000 UNITS. >> MAYOR JONES: I'M SORRY, VERÓNICA, IT'S ABOUT THE ORDINANCE GOING INTO -- >> YES, SORRY. SO THEN THE ONE THAT -- THAT WAS RECOMMENDED -- THERE ARE 357,000 TOTAL RENTAL UNITS, AND OF THOSE WE DID NOT HAVE, UM, VERY GOOD DATA ON HOW MANY WOULD BE IMPACTED, MEANING OWNERSHIP DATA FOR FIVE OR MORE UNITS. WE CAN QUITE EASILY LOOK UP HOW MANY UNITS IN THOSE PROPERTIES -- HOW MANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES HAVE FIVE OR MORE UNITS. WE HAVE THAT DATA THAT WE CAN SHARE. AND THAT IS WHAT I SHARED, MAYOR. IN TOTAL, OF THE 357,000 POOL OF [05:20:03] ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES, 227 OF THOSE ARE IN WHAT WE WOULD MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES. SO THE PROPERTY ITSELF HAS FIVE OR MORE UNITS. WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON MORE OF THE PCDC AMENDMENT WHICH FOCUSES, INSTEAD OF GEOGRAPHICAL IT LOOKS AT SPECIFIC OWNERSHIP -- SO WHAT HOUSING PROVIDER OWNS OR RENTS FIVE OR MORE UNITS, UM, THAT IS THE DATA THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO PROVIDE. WE DON'T HAVE IT AT ABGAT LEVELE LEVEL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OWNERSHIP LIKE THAT. IF THERE'S A VIOLATION ON THAT ORDINANCE THAT IS PASSED AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE RECORDS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND SO LOOK AT THAT DATABASED ON WHAT THE BEXAR COUNTY RECORDS ARE AND IF THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD APPLY. >> MAYOR JONES: SURE. THERE'S A REQUEST FOR YOU TO CLARIFY -- CLARIFY THE NUMBERS. >> SO 357,000 PROPERTIES? OR -- >> UNITS. THANK YOU. AND 227,000 UNITS WOULD BE LIKE A MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY. SO THE PROPERTY ITSELF HAS FIVE OR MORE UNITS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS POTENTIALLY SOME CONFUSION. THE AMENDMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH, UM -- THIS ORDINANCE ONLY APPLYING TO THOSE THAT OWN FOUR UNITS OR MORE. >> FIVE OR MORE. >> MAYOR JONES: FIVE OR MORE -- THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FIVE OR MORE. THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN HOW MANY UNITS ARE IN A PLACE. >> YES. >> MAYOR JONES: AND THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT SPEAK TO THE LATTER. WHEN I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD ENFORCE, UM, AN ORDINANCE THAT -- THAT IS BASED ON HOW MANY PROPERTIES THAT SOMEBODY OWNS AND I WANT TO READ THIS VERBATIM FROM VERÓNICA. QUOTE -- AND I HAVE SHARED THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES -- THE E-MAIL. WE CAN IDENTIFY WHICH PROPERTIES CONTAIN FIVE OR MORE UNITS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RELIABLE DATA SOURCE THAT SHOWS WHO OWNS INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES OR UNITS. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WITH MULTIPLE PROPERTIES OFTEN CREATE LEGAL ENTITIES, LLCS, WHICH FURTHER COMPLICATES THE ACCURATE OWNERSHIP TRACKING. FOR ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULD INVESTIGATE AN ALLEGED VIOLATION AND LOOK AT BEXAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT OWNERSHIP FOR PROPERTIES ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY, UM, BURDENSOME PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO DO IT BUT I IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE BETTER USES OF YOUR STAFF'S TIME AND ENERGY AND RESOURCES AND, FRANKLY, JUST UTILIZING THAT FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET HOUSING, VERSUS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DOES THIS PERSON OWN THEM IN THEIR NAME, AND VERSUS DO THEY HAVE LLCS? I MEAN, THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY DIFFICULT ENFORCEMENT PROCESS WHICH ULTIMATELY IS A WASTE OF YOUR TIME AND ENERGY BUT IS ALSO, UM, NOT WELL SERVING VETERAN. AND CAN ANYBODY IMAGINE TRULY SOMEBODY LIKE ACE TRYING TO NAVIGATE SOMETHING AS ARDUOUS AS THAT ENFORCEMENT PROCESS? THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING THOUGHTFUL, UM, SO THE ORDINANCE -- EXCUSE ME -- THE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE, UM, AND THERE'S NO DATA THAT SUGGESTS THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY ENFORCE THAT AS INTENDED. SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL. I'M ALSO CONCERNED -- GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> WE WOULD LOOK THAT THE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS BY OUR TEAM. >> MAYOR JONES: SURE. >> WHAT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY, KIND OF LIKE THE OTHER DATA THAT I SHARED, SO HOW MANY UNITS CITY-WIDE WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS AMENDMENT. SO WE'D REALLY TO HAVE GO CASE-BY-CASE-BY CASE OR TO HAVE OWNERSHIP TRACKING. >> LET ME ADD, WHAT I MEAN BY CASE-BY-CASE IS IF Y'ALL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AND THERE'S A COMPLAINT, THAT'S WHERE THE STAFF WOULD DIG DOWN INTO, YOU KNOW, THE OWNERSHIP ASPECTS OF IT. >> MAYOR JONES: YEAH, UNDERSTOOD. BUT FOR ME THE KEY POINT OF THIT THERE'S NO RELIABLE DATA SOURCE THAT SHOWS WHO OWNS THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES AND UNITS AND THOSE WITH MULTIPLE PROPERTIES HAVE LEGAL ENTITIES SUCH AS LLCS WHICH FURTHER COMPLICATES THE OWNERSHIP TRACKING. SO IF THE CRUX OF THE ORDINANCE IS BASED ON HOW MANY SOMEBODY OWNS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA, THAT SHOWS HOW MANY SOMEBODY OWNS, THEN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF IS QUITE INEFFECTIVE. AND YOU WOULD BE CHASING DOWN A RAT HOLE TO FIGURE OUT IF IT'S IN THEIR NAME OR IN AN LLC, ETC., ETC. I SAY ALL OF THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE POLICIES ARE IMPLEMENTED IN A WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE FAITH IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. OKAY. I ALSO, UM, UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WERE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE, UM, THE PENALTIES. SO MUCH SO THAT SOMEBODY WOULD NOT BE FINED UNTIL THEIR THIRD OFFENSE. THREE TIMES YOU COULD -- WELL, TWO TIMES AND THEN IDEALLY ON [05:25:05] THE THIRD TIME THAT YOU WOULD BE, UM, ALLOWED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A VETERAN BASED ON HOW THEY PAY WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING TO PAY A FINE TWICE. ARE PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOGS OFF A LEASH ARE ACTUALLY MORE STRICT THAN THAT. >> SO THE PCDC ASKED US TO CONSIDER ESCALATING PUNISHMENTS SIMILAR TO THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM AND OUR DRAFT IS LOOKING AT THE MANDATORY WARNING, MANDATORY TRAINING, ESCALATING TO AN ACTUAL FEE IMPOSED. AND REFERRAL TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, VERÓNICA. WHEN YOU SPOKE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES IN FORT WORTH ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE THEY PASSED AS ORIGINALLY PUT FORWARD BY THE AMERICAN GI FORUM THAT HAS A $500 PENALTY ON FIRST INSTANCE OF DISCRIMINATION, WHAT WAS THEIR FEEDBACK? >> SURE. WE DIDN'T ■GOT!!!! GET A TON OF INFORMATION BACK FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, AND I AM SURE THEY HAVE A LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON. BUT WE DID UNDERSTAND THAT THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A LARGE VOLUME OF CITATIONS OR VIOLATIONS NOTED. SO THE ORDINANCE STILL STANDS AND WE AREN'T REALLY HEARING BACK FROM THEM THAT IT HAS, UM, CAUSED A LOT OF DIFFICULTY FOR LANDLORDS. IT COULD BE LOTS OF FACTORS, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE POSSIBLE EDUCATION ISN'T WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. SO PART OF WHAT WE WERE ASKED TO CONSIDER WAS HOW WE WOULD ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUTREACH AND MAKING SURE THAT BOTH VETERANS WITH VOUCHERS KNOW OF THIS PROTECTION, SO IF THERE IS A VIOLATION THEY CAN REPORT IT AND WE CAN HAVE SOME EFFECTIVENESS THERE. AND THAT THE HOUSING PROVIDERS, LANDLORDS, OWNERS AND ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS PROPERTY OWNERS ARE AND HOW THEY WOULD CONSIDER THESE VOUCHERS. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU, VERÓNICA. SO BASED ON, UM, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BASED ON THE POSSIBILITY, IT SOUNDS OF ACCURATELY ENFORCING THIS ORDINANCE, GIVEN THE AMENDMENTS, I MOVE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE AS FOLLOWS. IN SECTION 1, REVISE THE DEFINITION OF HOUSING PROVIDER TO INCLUDE "MANAGING AGENT OR OTHER PERSON HAVING THE RIGHT TO LEASE, SUBLEASE OR RENT A HOUSING ACCOMMODATION." AND SECTION 2, REMOVE THE WORDING "THAT RENTS MORE THAN FOUR UNITS REGARDLESS OF LOCATION", AND IN SECTION 3, ARE MOVE THE ENTIRE CURRENT SECTION AND REPLACE AS FOLLOWS, "THE CCITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHALL ENFORCE THIS ORDINANCE THROUGH MONITORING AND INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS FILED BY VETERANS WHO BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION. BE UPON FINDING A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE CITY SHALL TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS THAT MAY INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO $500 FINES PER VIOLATION AND MANDATORY COMPLIANCE TRAINING FOR HOUSING PROVIDERS. COMPLAINTS REGARDING VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE MAY BE FILED BY CALLING 311, THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FAIR HOUSING DIVISION OR THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS. AND THAT INCLUDES SECTION 6, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO CITY COUNCIL TO ASSESS THIS ORDINANCE SIX MONTHS AFTER PASSAGE." YOU HAVE THE SECOND? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED BASED ON THE AMENDMENTS. WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION. COUNCILMAN MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FOR BEING HERE FOR SO MANY HOURS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO THE PLANNING COMMITTEE LAST WEEK AND AS WELL AS THOSE WHO JOINED OUR STAKEHOLDER MEETING WHICH I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY, VERY PRODUCTIVE. YOU HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME THE COUNCIL OFFICES, AND THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AT THE SAME TABLE TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE. WITH EVERYBODY OFFERING A SOLUTION. DESPITE, UM, MAYBE SOME DISAGREEMENTS ON HOW TO GET THERE. SO I THINK THAT WAS EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO AGREE THAT THE BEST WAY TO HAVE THIS POLICY DONE IS WITHOUT THE AMENDMENTS FROM PCDC. AND THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS RELATIVES WHO ARE VETERANS, THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD HAVE PERFECT CREDIT, NO EVICTIONS ON YOUR RECORD, NO CRIMINAL HISTORY, BUT BE TURNED AWAY SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A VOUCHER IS -- IS JUST UPSETTING TO KNOW THAT. SO I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A NET POSITIVE WITH WHATEVER WAY THAT THIS POLICY COMES OUT TO BE. I RESPECT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, VETERANS DON'T REALLY COME DOWN HERE ASKING US FOR STUFF. IT'S VERY RARE TO SEE THIS MANY [05:30:02] VETERANS ORGANIZING, COMING TO CITY HALL, AND ASKING TO US PASS A POLICY IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY. AND I APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO TAKE AWAY THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY HAVING THIS ON THE BOOKS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AS WELL AS THE INCENTIVE APPROACH. AND WE DO HAVE FOLKS HERE FROM OPPORTUNITY HOME THAT WE WORK WITH VERY CLOSELY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PAYMENTS COME ON TIME, AND THAT INSPECTIONS HAPPEN SEAMLESSLY. THAT'S A LOT MORE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPLY THAT SUPPORT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU HERE THAT THE FOLKS HERE ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT VETERANS WITH VOUCHERS ARE FIRST IN LINE TO GET THEIR LANDLORDS PAID. THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND YOUR ADVOCACY. >> MAYOR JONES: ONE SECOND. SURE. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IF YOU WANT TO BRING UP THE PRESENTATION, GO AHEAD. >> VIAGRAN: I'LL CHIME IN BEFORE AND THEN YOU CAN GIVE THE PRESENTATION. BECAUSE IF WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THIS FIRST PORTION TODAY. WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO THE VETERANS IS WHICHEVER AMENDMENT COMES THROUGH, YOU ARE WINNING. BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING ACTION. AND I KNOW THAT WE LOOK PAT WHAT FORTH WORTH DID AND WE SHOULD DO WHAT FORT WORTH DID, AND FORT WORTH DID OKAY. HERE'S WHAT I AM THINKING BECAUSE WHEN STEVEN PRICE TALKED HE MADE A POINT -- WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO ORGANIZE, GET TOGETHER AND HEAD UP TO THE STATE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THIS FIGHT BELONGS. SO WHAT HAPPENED I BELIEVE IS THAT OUR PCDC COMMITTEE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS AND CAME OUT WITH A SOLUTION WITH A COMPROMISE. AND WE HAVE GOT A COMPROMISE HERE SO THAT WE CAN -- IF WE TAKE IT AS WRITTEN BY OUR PCDC COMMITTEE AND APPROVE THAT TODAY WITH EIGHT VOTES, WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT. I KNOW WE WANT TO USE CERTAIN TERMS FOR THE AMENDMENTS. THE THING IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS A COMMITTED COUNCIL THAT'S COMMITTED TO VETERANS AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE RESPONSE THAT YOU NEED, CALL YOUR COUNCIL OFFICE. AND THIS IS WHAT I KEEP ON STATING. THE ONE THING THAT BOTHERED ME THROUGHOUT THESE PRESENTATIONS -- AND I WAS IN THE BACK WATCHING -- UM, IS THE DEMONIZATION OF MULTIFAMILY AND CERTAIN ZIP CODES. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THOSE ZIP CODES ARE MY ZIP CODES. SO IF YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 3, AND THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING YOUR VOUCHER, I SUGGEST THAT YOU CALL THE DISTRICT 3 COUNCILWOMAN AND I WILL WORK WITH VERÓNICA AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT GETS IN. THE FOOT RIGHT NOW IS AT THE STATE. OUR BEST OPTION IN GOING TO THE STATE IS TO PASS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AS IT COMES OUT OF PCDC. SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT HERE, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING AN AMENDMENT AND A CHANGE -- AND WHAT I WILL BE DOING IS GOING UP TO AUSTIN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DIRECTING THIS. THIS. SO YOU CAN BE AS UPSET AS YOU WANT, BUT THIS IS WHAT I'M STATING HERE TODAY. BECAUSE THIS IS A STATE LEVEL -- >> MAYOR JONES: ORDER, PLEASE. ORDER, PLEASE. >> MAYOR JONES: VERÓNICA, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, GO AHEAD. OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU. SO THE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM AND SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS REALLY DOES AS WE HAVE HEARD TODAY ENSURE THAT VETERANS AND RENTERS DO NOT GET TURNED AWAY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HOW THEY PAY FOR HOUSING. WE HAVE TWO TYPES. THE SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS IS ADMINISTERED LOCALLY BY OUR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND FUNDED BY HUD AND THEN WE HAVE THE VAST VOUCHERS TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE ALSO FUNDED BY HUD AND MANAGED LOCALLY WITH SERVICES BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. I SHARED THE TEXAS LAW ALLOWS US TO ADD SPECIAL SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS IN CITY INCENTIVIZED PROPERTIES, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT. AND WE COULD ALSO ADOPT PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS ON ALL [05:35:02] PROPERTIES. WE CANNOT, HOWEVER, APPLY THESE PROTECTIONS BROADLY FOR EVERY RENTER AND EVERY PROPERTY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S BEEN SHARED TODAY THAT THESE PROTECTIONS ONLY APPLY TO THE SOURCE OF INCOME. IT DOES NOT MANDATE THAT RENTERS WITH VOUCHERS MUST BE ACCEPTED AND IT MUST SIMPLY ALLOW A LANDLORD TO LOOK AT THE OPTION AND TO UTILIZE WHATEVER OTHER LANDLORD SCREENING CRITERIA THEY MAY HAVE AND THE VOUCHER CANNOT BE THE SOLE REASON FOR A DENIAL FOR HOUSING. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A WHILE. BACK IN 2021, IS THE HOUSING CHOICE INCENTIVE POLICY WAS ADOPTED, AND THOSE PROTECTIONS DO APPLY TO CITY INCENTIVIZED PROPERTIES. IN APRIL OF 2024, WE BRIEFED THE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS. WE HEARD AT THE TIME, JUST LIKE WE DID TODAY, A LOT OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM, ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS, AND THE DIRECTION WAS TO CONVENE A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS TO REALLY TO HELP TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE FOR ALL VOUCHER HOW OLDERS AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS TO UTILIZE THIS BENEFIT. WE HAVE DONE THAT, AND CONVENED A WORKING GROUP AND THEY CAME UP WITH NINE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WE SHARED WITH THE HOUSING COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER OF 2024. AND THEN WITH PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN APRIL OF 2025. THE DIRECTION, AGAIN, WAS TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND IMPROVE HOUSING ACCESS FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS A VOUCHER. LAST MONTH, WE BRIEFED CITY COUNCIL DURING FULL B SESSION AND THE DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO DISCUSS A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AT PCDC. AS MENTIONED, THERE ARE OVER 90,000 VETERANS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND OF THOSE VETERANS, THEY HAVE TWO TYPES OF VOUCHERS. ABOUT 852 HOLD THE VASH VOUCHER THAT COMES WITH THE SUPPORT CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. AND THEN APPROXIMATELY 1200 ARE VETERANS WHO HOLD THE REGULAR SECTION 8 HOUSING VOUCHERS. COMBINED THERE'S ABOUT 100 VETERANS WITH VOUCHERS SEARCHING FOR HOUSING RIGHT NOW AND THAT NUMBER IS FLUID AND CHANGES ALL OF THE TIME AS PEOPLE GET HOUSED OR GET A NEW VOUCHER AND NEED TO START LOOKING AGAIN. WHILE THE NUMBER OF SEARCHING IS LOW, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DID HEAR FROM LOTS OF SPEAKERS THAT THE -- ALTHOUGH THEY MAY HAVE A HOUSING SITUATION, IT MAY NOT BE IDEAL. AND THERE COULD BE LOTS OF REASONS WHY THEY WOULD LIKE BROADER OPTIONS, INCLUDING BEING CLOSER TO MEDICAL CARE SERVICES AND EXPANDING THE RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS WOULD BETTER SUPPORT LONG-TERM HOUSING STABILITY. AND SO WHEN WE PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON APRIL 28TH, AGAIN, WE HEARD FROM MANY SPEAKERS AND WE ASKED COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS WELL AS TO CONSIDER SEVERAL ITEMS OF HOW THAT ORDINANCE SHOULD BE APPLIED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SHOULD WE LOOK AT CITY-WIDE? SHOULD WE CONSIDER, BASED ON SOME OF THE FEEDBACK AND THE POSSIBLE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WE CENTERED LOOKING AT APPLYING TO SMALLER PORTFOLIOS, SUCH AS PROPERTIES WITH FOUR OR FEWER UNITS. WE DISCUSSED WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS, UM, AND HOW SHOULD PENALTIES BE APPLIED FROM TRAINING TO CRIMINAL OR NON-CRIMINAL PENALTIES OR FEES. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AGAIN, FOR BOTH THOSE WHO HOLD A VOUCHER AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RENTAL. DURING THEIR DISCUSSIONS, PCDC MEMBERS DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND AS WELL AS ALL OF THE CONSIDERATIONS. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED MAKING THE ORDINANCE APPLICABLE TO PROVIDERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS RENTING FOUR OR MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WHICH WOULD BE EXEMPTING PROPERTIES WITH FOUR OR FEWER UNITS. I WOULD LIKE, AGAIN, TO CLARIFY THE PCDC IS NOT GEOGRAPHICAL SO IT'S APPLIED BASED ON HOW MANY UNITS THAT AN OWNER OWNS. ADDITIONALLY, PCDC RECOMMENDED THAT WE INCORPORATE ESCALATING PENALTIES TO MAYOR THE PROACTIVE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS HOW VIOLATIONS SHOULD BE REPORTED AND REVIEWED. AND, FINALLY, PCDC RECOMMENDED THAT WE EVALUATE THE STATUS OF THE ORDINANCE AFTER SIX MONTHS. BASED ON THOSE DISCUSSIONS, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS IT IS WRITTEN DOES ESTABLISH SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS, MEANING THAT THE HOUSING VOUCHER CANNOT BE THE REASON THAT THE VETERAN IS DENIED ACCESS TO HOUSING. AS PROPOSED, THIS IS APPLIED TO HOUSING PROVIDERS RENTING FIVE OR MORE UNITS REGARDLESS OF THE LOCATION OF THOSE UNITS. THE CITY WILL BE INVESTIGATING REPORTED VIOLATIONS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. AGAIN, UTILIZING THE BEXAR COUNTY OWNERSHIP RECORDS AND OTHER TOOLS. WE DON'T HAVE THIS DATA AGGREGATED BUT, AGAIN, WE WOULD BE REVIEWING IT AS VIOLATIONS ARE REPORTED. THESE VIOLATIONS WILL BE SUBJET TO ESCALATING PENALTIES WITH THE FIRST OFFENSE IN A WRITTEN [05:40:02] WARNING AND THE SECOND EVENTS WOULD BE MANDATORY TRAINING PROVIDED BY OUR TEAM, PERHAPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A STAKEHOLDER. AND THE THIRD OFFENSE WOULD BE THE $500 FEE THAT WOULD BE A NON-CRIMINAL PENALTY AS WELL AS REFERRAL TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR FURTHER ACTION. WE WILL -- IN ORDER FOR THE ORDINANCE TO BE EFFECTIVE, PEOPLE MUST KNOW ABOUT IT AND HOW IT IMPACTS THEM. SO OUR TEAM WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, INCLUDING THROUGH OUR IN-PERSON RENTERS' WORKSHOPS AND OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND, OF COURSE, OUR VETERAN PARTNERS TO HELP TO SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH BOTH THE OWNERS AND THE PROSPECTIVE RENTERS. WE WILL, OF COURSE, COME BACK AND BRIEF PCDC ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE SIX MONTHS IF IT PASSES APPROVAL TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. [INTERJECTIONS] >> MAYOR JONES: AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, UM, THE -- THE REGULAR INSPECTIONS WOULD BE BASED ON COMPLAINTS, ERIK, ANY ISSUE FOR THAT? >> NO IT CLARIFIES IT FOR ME, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION BASED ON THE AMENDMENT? OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS AS READ. PLEASE VOTE. ACTUALLY, WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. THIS IS, AGAIN, TO WAKE UP IN A CITY TOMORROW MORNING -- >> POINT OF ORDER. >> MAYOR JONES: GO AHEAD. >> WHY ARE WE DOING A ROLL CALL VOTE? >> MAYOR JONES: BECAUSE I ASKED FOR IT. TWO AND A HALF YEARS, THESE FOLKS SHOULD HEAR WHERE EVERYONE STANDS ON THIS ISSUE. >> THIS IS JUST ON THE AMENDMENTS, LET'S BE CLEAR. >> MAYOR JONES: YEAH, YEAH. >> ON THE CHANGES TO THE AMENDMENT. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT. SO TOMORROW MORNING WE CAN WAKE UP IN A CITY -- WE CAN WAKE UP IN A CITY THAT SAYS THAT UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VETERANS BASED ON HOW THEY PAY. THOSE ARE THE AMENDMENTS. ROLL CALL VOTE. >> NOW, WAIT -- ANDY, ANDY, THOSE ARE NOT THE AMENDMENTS. >> MAYOR JONES: NO, THAT'S A SUMMATION. >> NO IT'S NOT A SUMMATION AND WE WILL PASS AN ORDINANCE TO STOP ANY VETERAN DISCRIMINATION BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW. THIS IS YOUR AMENDMENT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IF WE COULD STOP WITH THE BACK AND FORTH THAT WOULD BE LOVELY. >> MAYOR JONES: HOLD ON ONE SECOND. ANDY -- ANDY -- IS THERE ANYTHING -- IS THERE ANYTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT WHAT JUST SAID? >> I THINK THAT IT'S CLEAR, MAYOR, THAT THE COUNCIL IS VOTING ON YOUR AMENDMENT. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. ROLL CALL VOTE. >> ON THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT, TO ITEM NUMBER 9, COUNCILMEMBER -- AND A YES MEANS THAT YOU'RE APPROVING THE AMENDMENT. AND A VOTE NO MEANS NOT APPROVING THE AMENDMENT. COUPLE MEMBER KAUR. CIP NO. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> THEY. FAILS. [INTERJECTIONS] >> MAYOR JONES: SO THIS -- THIS GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE ORIGINAL -- ON THE ORDINANCE OUT OF PCDC, BUT THIS IS ITEM 9. [INTERJECTIONS] >> MAYOR JONES: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BASED ON GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TODAY AND I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD. THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD AT PCDC ALSO I BELIEVE WAS AN IMPORTANT ONE AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES WHO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO MOVE THIS ORDINANCE THAT IS PROPOSED FOR YOU AS ITEM9 OUT OF PCDC TODAY. AND SO IN THAT DISCUSSION, WHAT WAS -- WHAT WE -- THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD WAS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS YOU SAID THAT NOT A SINGLE VETERAN HAS -- DOES NOT HAVE A HOUSING OPTION FOR THEM. WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE VASH VOUCHERS AND THE NUMBERS THAT AREN'T USED. AND SO OUT OF THE 800 VASH VOUCHERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN [05:45:05] PLACE THERE'S A LOT OF SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP BY MANY OF YOU THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO GET MORE ACCESS TO VOUCHERS AND GETTING THE SYSTEM TO WORK. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT FOLKS DON'T WANT TO HELP A VETERAN AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A PLACE TO STAY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE THREE MONTHS TO GET A PAYMENT FOR A VOUCHER THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR HOUSE IF THEY HAVE TO DO THAT, RIGHT? SO THE COMPROMISE THAT WE MADE ALLOWS FOR THE BUSINESSES -- AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HEARD A BUSINESS OWNER SPEAK TODAY -- AND THAT BUSINESS OWNER WILL BE AFFECTED BUT, QUITE FRANKLY, THE BUSINESSES HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CUSHION THAN A SINGLE PERSON RENTING OUT THEIR HOUSE WHO MAY IF THEY HAVE TO GO THREE MONTHS WITHOUT PAYMENT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT. AND THEN THEY LOSE THEIR HOME. AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM WHILE ENSURING THAT WE'RE NOT UNINTENDLY HURTING SOMEONE ELSE WHILE DOING THAT. SO THIS COMPROMISE ACTUALLY BRINGS 257,000 UNITS AT THE MINIMUM ONLINE. THAT'S ALMOST -- THAT'S MORE THAN HALF OF THE AVAILABLE RENTALS, AND IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL SINGLE FAMILIES THAT ARE OWNED BY A BUSINESS THAT HAS MULTIPLE SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS. SO YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO GO ACCESS MORE THAN 250,000 UNITS ACROSS THE CITY IF WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE. IF WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE AS IT IS TODAY. ON TOP OF THAT, THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO IS HELPING THOSE OF YOU THAT NEED WAYS TO FIND HOMES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT PCDC IS HAVING A HOUSING NAVIGATOR ON THE MILITARY AFFAIRS TEAM WITH GENERAL AOLLA AND THAT IS IMPORTANT. BECAUSE SOMETIMES TO THE POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP -- SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW DO I KNOW WHERE I CAN GO. HOW DO I KNOW HOW TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE UNITS -- FOR EXAMPLE, VALOR HILL. ONE OF YOU BROUGHT UP SAYING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE OLD SCHOOLS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GETTING RID OF AND TO MAKE THEM INTO VETERAN HOUSING. AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE AND FIVE OF US ARE ON THE HOUSING TRUST BOARD AND WE JUST ACTUALLY CREATED A WHOLE HOUSING COMPLEX THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT AT VALOR HILL. AND THEY HAVE SPOTS OPEN AND THEY ACCEPT THE WHOLE -- THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS TO ACCEPT VOUCHERS. SO WE CAN CREATE A HOLISTIC SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP EVERY SINGLE VETERAN WITH A VOUCHER GET INTO A HOME WITHOUT CREATING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK TO -- THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT BACK TO PCDC IN SIX MONTHS BECAUSE AS WAS STATED, WE CAN GO OUT, SEE WHERE THESE PHONES ARE HAVING STRUGGLES AND THEN DETERMINE IF IT'S WORKING -- GREAT. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT NUMBER DROP FROM WHAT IT WAS LGBTQIA , LIKE, TWOMONTHS AGO TO 51, I T WAS IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY. SO THAT NUMBER IS DROPPING. DROY SINGLE DAY AS WE MOVE ON. SO I AM ACTUALLY REALLY PROUD OF WHAT PCDC CAME UP WITH BECAUSE IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION -- IF WE PASS THIS TOMORROW MORNING, THERE WILL BE A SOURCE OF INCOME PROTECTION IN OVER HALF OF THE UNITS IN ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT AT LEAST GETTING TO US A PLACE WHERE IT'S A COMPROMISE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD -- AND I'LL BE PROUD OF. AND I KNOW THAT MYRA WORKS FOR CHOICE FOR SCHOOLS AND WE THINK THAT WE NEED CHOICE -- WE NEED CHOICE FOR ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND WE ABSOLUTELY DO. WE NEED CHOICE. AND THIS IS HOPEFULLY WHAT THIS WILL GIVE YOU GUYS MORE OF. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN, THE 227,000 UNITS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT -- SO THIS WAS -- THIS WAS THE DISTINCTION THAT VERÓNICA WAS ALLUDING TO. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE. THE QUESTION OF HOW MANY UNITS HAVE FIVE OR, UM -- FIVE OR MORE UNITS -- PROPERTIES, RIGHT -- THAT'S THE NUMBER. [INDISCERNIBLE] YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT CAME OUT THAT YOU ALL MADE. YOUR AMENDMENT HAD TO DO WITH SOMEBODY OWNING FIVE OR MORE UNITS. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> MAYOR JONES: YOU'RE MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT THE NUMBER OF UNITS EQUATES TO OWNERSHIP, AND IT DOESN'T. THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION. >> SORRY, MAYOR. UNLESS THE LEGAL TEAM WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT ME, THAT WOULD BE OUR INTERPRETATION IS THAT IF THE PROPERTY HAS MORE THAN FIVE, THAT OWNER OWNS MORE THAN FIVE, BUT AS THE COUNCILWOMAN NOTED IF A PROPERTY OWNER HAS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND HAPPENS TO OWN MORE THAN FIVE, THAT ALLOWS THOSE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES TO ALSO FALL UNDER THE ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR JONES: RIGHT, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT IS ACTUALLY THE CASE. IT MAY NOT BE THE CASE. OKAY. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] [05:50:01] >> THEY WOULD ALL BE INCLUDED BECAUSE THE PROPERTY ITSELF WOULD HAVE MORE THAN FIVE UNITS SO THAT WOULD BE OWNED. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. SO WE COULD -- WELL, DEPENDING, RIGHT, ON HOW YOU ACTUALLY ENFORCE IT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS WHAT THOUGH AND THE AMENDMENT IS BASED ON WHO OWNS WHAT -- YOU DON'T HAVE -- EARLIER YOU SAID THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF FIDELITY. SO UNDER ONE OPTION YOU HAVE 227,000 AND UNDER NO DISCRIMINATION YOU HAVE 357,000. AND YOU HAVE A LESSER BURDEN IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT. >> YES. >> MAYOR JONES: TO BE VERY CLEAR. >> MAYOR LET ME CLARIFY THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET WRAPPED AROUND THE WHEEL HERE. IF YOU ALL ASK VERÓNICA AND ME TO PRODUCE A LIST OF THE 227,000 UNITS AND THE OWNERS -- WE CAN'T DO IT, BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T EXIST. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S RIGHT. >> IF WE GET A COMPLAINT ABOUT OWNER A -- OWNER WALSH, THEN WE CAN -- WE WILL FOLLOW A PROCESS TO NAIL DOWN THAT PERSON, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY -- HOW MANY PROPERTIES THEY HAVE. BUT WE CAN'T PRODUCE THE LIST OF OWNERS OFF OF THE 227 BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST. SO THERE'S TWO -- I THINK THAT Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS HERE. >> MAYOR JONES: THE POINT THAT YOU MADE IS EXACTLY THE ISSUE. IS THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY UNITS THAT SOMEBODY OWNS -- >> NO, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT IS IN FACT WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS BASED ON. THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. >> NO, MA'AM. THAT'S NOT THE CHALLENGE. THE CHALLENGE IS THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS. WHATEVER YOU GUYS VOTE AND APPROVE -- WE'RE GONNA ENFORCE. YOU POINT TO THE HILL, WE TAKE IT. SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHETHER WE CAN PRODUCE A LIST OF THE 227 OR THE 357 -- IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. IT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE CALLS FOR AND WHAT THE PROCESS OF ENFORCEMENT IS FOR US. >> MAYOR JONES: COMPLETE -- COULDN'T AGREE MORE. THE DIFFICULTY -- DIFFICULTY APPOINTED OUT BY VERÓNICA IN HER RESPONSE ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF ENFORCING THE AMENDMENTS BASED ON THE LACK OF RELIABLE DATA, WHICH YOU ALSO JUST DESCRIBED. >> MAYOR, I'M -- I REALLY DON'T WANT -- I DON'T WANT TO REALLY DEBATE YOU ON THE ENFORCEMENT PART OF IT, BUT IT'S WANT UP TO VERSONICA TO DECIDE WHAT YOU GUYS APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: NO, THAT'S RIGHT. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT. >> WE DON'T HAVE A LIST OF OWNERS. IT DOESN'T EXIST. BUT IF WE GET A COMPLAINT, WE WILL INVESTIGATE AND DO THE ENFORCEMENT. IT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT ON VERÓNICA. >> MAYOR JONES: YEAH, I THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S ON VERÓNICA. I AM SAYING WHEN ASKED WHAT ENFORCEMENT LOOKS LIKE BASED ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT CAME OUT OF PCDC, THE AMENDMENTS ARE BASED ON HOW MANY UNITS THAT SOMEBODY OWNS. VERÓNICA IN HER E-MAIL CLARIFIED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY UNITS THAT SOMEBODY OWNS, THEREFORE, IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA UPON WHICH YOU ARE ACTUALLY MAKING THOSE ENFORCEMENT DECISIONS. >> MAYOR, THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S PUT ON VERÓNICA. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNTMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: , THANK YOU, I WANTED TO BEGIN BY THANKING ALL OF THE VETERANS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND, OF COURSE, FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE ALL OWE YOU A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE. AND -- AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS -- THAT IS VOICED TODAY. LOOK, THIS TO ME IS REALLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN HERE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN THE BEST AND THE WORST OF POLITICS. ON THE GOOD SIDE, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE AND COUNCIL IS MOVING TO ADDRESS IT. AND I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS AS WELL AS THE MAYOR FOR RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM AND WANTING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. BUT ON THE BAD SIDE, TO INFER THAT THIS IS EITHER -- YOU'RE EITHER FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST VETERANS OR YOU'RE NOT -- IT IS SIMPLY WRONG. AND IT IS DIVISIVE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER UP HERE IS UNITED IN THAT WE WANT ANY DISCRIMINATION AGAINST OUR VETERANS TO STOP. AND -- [INTERJECTIONS] >> MAYOR JONES: ORDER, ORDER PLEASE. >> WHYTE: IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PASS TODAY IS A BALANCED PRO-VETERAN ORDINANCE THAT IS ACTUALLY THE STRONGEST ORDINANCE BETWEEN THE TWO OPTIONS. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY -- IT IS STRONGER BECAUSE IT HAS STAKEHOLDER INPUT. BECAUSE WHEN YOU RUSH SOMETHING TO THE DAIS THAT ONLY TELLS ONE SIDE OF THE STORY, WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE IS THAT YOU GET PEOPLE TRYING TO GO AROUND THE ORDINANCE, FIND LOOPHOLES, CHANGE THE ORDINANCE, NOT ABIDE BY THE ORDINANCE. BUT WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW [05:55:03] WEEKS IS DISCUSSION THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS. IT WENT THROUGH THE PCDC COMMITTEE LED BY COUNCILMAN MUNGIA AND WE ARRIVED IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS BELIEVE IN AND THAT THIS COUNCIL BELIEVES IN. THAT WILL BE ENFORCED AND IT WILL PROTECT OUR VETERANS. AND EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS. SO I'M PROUD OF THE PROCESS AND I'M PROUD OF THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, THE DIVISIVENESS NEEDS TO STOP. WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS TODAY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOING TO PASS WITH MORE THAN EIGHT VOTES. AND SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THI- >> MAYOR JONES: ORDER, PLEASE, ORDER. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS DONE TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, IF I CAN SPEAK, PLEASE. SO, ONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THAT THE VOTE THAT WE JUST TOOK WAS DISAPPOINTING FOR MANY OF US AND I WANT TO CONVEY GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PUT FORTH SOME SOLUTION, SOME SORT OF IDEA AND TRIED TO FIND A PATH FORWARD FOR THIS ITEM. I WILL CONVEY A FEW THINGS. ONE, I GUESS A FEW POINTS OF CONTENTION. ONE IS THAT SOMETIMES -- I KNOW THIS ONE STARTED AT A B SESSION AND THEN IT WENT TO COMMITTEE AND IT CAME BACK STRAIGHT TO AN A SESSION AND I KNOW THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS GOT TO WEIGH IN AND THEY TOOK VOTES ON AMENDMENTS AND ALL OF THIS. I DO NOT SIT ON THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SO I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. SO I WOULD REQUEST IN THE FUTURE AS COMMITTEES WORK THROUGH ORDINANCES AND THINGS LIKE THIS THAT ARE PRETTY HEAVY IN NATURE, I WOULD ASK THAT WE SEND THEM TO B SESSION SO THAT THE FULL BODY CAN WEIGH IN. THERE'S THREE MAIN POINTS OF CONTENTION THAT I WANT TO CONVEY WITH -- THIS DOESN'T STAND -- I WILL BE VOTING YES, BUT I CAN ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE APPLICABLE AND IF THERE IS A SMALL -- THERE'S A -- ONE PERSON WHO OWNS ONE UNIT AND IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR MONEY BACK FOR THEIR VOUCHERS, I CAN ACCEPT THAT IS A CONCERN FOR NOW. BUT I WON'T ACCEPT THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS THAT WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE TO THAT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT SOME POINT THIS APPLIES TO EVERY SINGLE UNIT. I WON'T ACCEPT COMPROMISE FOREVER. AND SECOND ON THAT IS CONSEQUENCES. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SO FEW NUMBER OF IMPACTED PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING AND, YOU KNOW, SEEKING HOUSING -- IF YOU GET ONE WARNING, THAT SHOULD BE YOUE DOING SOMETHING WRONG AT THAT POINT. YOU DO NOT NEED A TRAINING AFTER THAT AND THEN A FINE ON THE THIRD TIME. AT THAT POINT YOU ARE MAKING A CALCULATED AND AN INTENTIONAL STEP TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE. AND SO THE THREE STEPS IS WAY TOO FAR IN MY OPINION. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE THAT TO A -- MAYBE A WARNING AND THEN THE FINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT THE WILL OF THIS BODY. AND THE THIRD PIECE IS THE INCENTIVES AND INCENTIVIZING PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THEM AN INCENTIVE IN ORDER TO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VETERANS AND I ESPECIALLY -- I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO COME AS PART OF OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE ESPECIALLY TAKE FROM THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUND THAT WE HAVE. AND SO IF WE DO HAVE TO CREATE D REALLY HOPE THAT WE LOOK ELSEWHERE BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW WHEN MY COLLEAGUES ARE TALKING ABOUT CORE SERVICES AND IMPORTANT SERVICES, AND WHERE DOES THE HOUSING FALL ON THAT LIST. I'M GOING TO BE CONCERNED THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FUNDS THAT GETS CUT AND IT GETS CUT FURTHER TO MAKE DO FOR MAYBE AN EQUALLY HIGH AND NOBLE EFFORT BE, BUT WILL HAVE HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE BROADER SERVICES. SO THERE'S, OF COURSE -- TODAY WAS A ROUGH DAY, Y'ALL, AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX AND SOME CHANGE HOURS AND THOSE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, EVEN LONGER. AND, AGAIN BE, I WANT TO CONVEY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND ONGOING ADVOCACY AND YOU WILLING TO DEMAND AND TO ASK OF YOUR GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE FOR YOU AND TO THINK OF YOU AND TO SHOW UP AT THE TABLE. I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU WOULD RATHER TO BE SOMEWHERE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THIS AND YOU CHOSE TO BE HERE AND TO ADVOCATE. THOUGH TODAY MAY FEEL LIKE A LOSS I DON'T WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY FEELING THIS WAY. AND THIS IS NOT FOREVER EITHER. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA. >> AS WE KNOW I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE PLANNING COMMUNITY [06:00:04] DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON WHAT TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT THAT I'M THE ONLY COUNCILMEMBER THAT REPRESENTS 100% URBAN COUNCIL DISTRICT WHICH MEANS THAT WE HAVE MANY SINGLE FAMILY UNINTENTIONAL LANDLORDS, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE SENIORS THAT HAVE INHERITED A PROPERTY THEY DIDN'T INTEND TO BE A LANDLORD AND WE KNOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VASH PROGRAM YOU HAVE TO REGISTER AND YOU HAVE TO GET SPECIFIC INSPECTIONS. WHAT WE ARE MOVING TODAY ENSURES THAT IF MS. GARCIA WHO INHERITED A HOME AND DIDN'T INTEND TO BE A LANDLORD AND SOMEONE COMES WITH A VASH VOUCHER THAT SHE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW TO REGISTER AND GET THE APPROPRIATE INSPECTION TO BECOME A VASH LANDLORD. SO, AGAIN, THIS ALLOWS US, ONE, TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS HAVE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACCESS AND WHAT IS THAT PROCESS WITH HUD TO BECOME A VASH LANDLORD. BUT, AGAIN, THERE'S ALSO THAT ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE AND THERE WILL BE THAT $500 PENALTY BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT UNINTENTIONALLY IMPACTS THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DIDN'T INTEND TO BE IN AN INDUSTRY AND TO LOOK AT REAL ESTATE AS THOUGH A CAPITAL INVESTMENT. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT WE LEARNED MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS -- AND I COMMEND COUNCILMAN FOR CONVENING ALL STAKEHOLDERS SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE MOVING TOGETHER. AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT CONVENING IS THAT MANY LANDLORDS IN THE NORTH SIDE AROUND THE VA CLINICS ARE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS, RIGHT. THEY PURCHASE A HOME AND THEN THEY GET SERVICE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY PUT THEIR HOME ON THE RENTAL MARKET. SO THIS COULD POTENTIALLY IF YOU ARE AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER WITH A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND YOU GET STATIONED ELSEWHERE YOU COULD BE UNINTENTIONALLY BE IMPACTED WITH THIS PENALTY. SO WHAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY MITIGATING THOSE UNINTENDED IMPACTS FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR A PROPERTY THAT THEY MAY SELL IN THE FUTURE BUT NOW THEY HAVE IT AND WHILE THEY NAVIGATE THAT WE'RE ENSURING THEY WON'T BE PENALIZED AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HUD'S EXPECTATIONS ON HOW TO BECOME A VASH PROVIDER, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, I WILL BE BRIEF AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN FOR BRINGING THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER IN PCDC BECAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK THE AMERICAN GI FORUM FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD OFFICIALLY. AND ALSO WORKING WITH THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO COME OUT WITH THIS -- WITH THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE. I MEAN, THIS IS CITY GOVERNMENT 101, AND WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE WORK SMARTER, AND NOT HARDER. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM GOING TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID AND I THINK THAT IT IS SO IMPORTANT IS THAT THIS ISN'T A LOSS TODAY. WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY DOES ENHANCE PROTECTION FOR OUR VETERANS. WHILE ALSO PROTECTING THE OWNERS OF SMALLER PROPERTIES FROM UNINTENDED FINANCIAL BURDENS. SO THIS IS NOT A WIN FOR US AND I GET THAT IT'S A LONG DAY FOR ALL OF US, BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A GREAT SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR -- FOR SMALL, UM -- FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, SORRY. SO THIS IS A WIN. LET'S MOVE FORWARD. LET'S GET THIS DONE. >> MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. CAN YOU HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE WHEN THERE'S A COMPLAINT? >> SO AS VIOLATIONS ARE REPORTED, AND THEY COULD BE REPORTED THROUGH 311 OR DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE, WE WILL LOOK UP THE PROPERTY IN BCAD AND DETERMINE IF IT'S A MULTI-UNIT OWNERSHIP OR NOT. AND THEN WE WOULD CONTACT THE PROPERTY OWNER, MANAGER, WHOEVER THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY IS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S A REPORTED VIOLATION. WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE TENANT WAS DENIED, IT WAS RIGHT OFF THE BAT SIMPLY FOR THE VOUCHER? OR WERE THERE OTHER REASONS AND PERHAPS THE VOUCHER DIDN'T COVER THE COST OF THE RENT? >> SPEARS: OKAY. HOW ARE WE GOING TO INFORM LANDLORDS ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS ORDINANCE? >> SURE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SAN ANTONIO APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS, AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGERS. ALL THREE OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS AND ARE AWARE OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE SO WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM TO HELP TO EDUCATE THEIR MEMBERSHIP. WE ALSO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO, AND DO IN-PERSON TRAININGS FOR RENTERS. BUT ALSO FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND SO WE COULD GET THE WORD OUT AS WELL. AND WE HAVE A WEBSITE, SO WE CAN PUT IT ON THERE TOO. >> SPEARS: OKAY. WILL THIS -- WILL THIS ORDINANCE IN ITS CURRENT FORM ENCOURAGE MORE VETERANS TO APPLY FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE DO YOU THINK? [06:05:07] >> IT COULD -- GETTING A VOUCHER IS -- AS HAS BEEN SHARED -- IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS. IT COULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THE VASH VOUCHER, HAS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FROM HUD AND THE VA. BUT, SURE, IT COULD CREATE A BROADER AWARENESS OF THIS RESOURCE AND THAT PEOPLE COULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO APPLY. >> SPEARS: I ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT, UM, WELL, FIRST LET ME ASK YOU -- HOW MANY VASH VOUCHER DISCRIMINATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE? >> WE DO HAVE OUR FAIR HOUSING DIVISION THAT TAKES DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A RECORD -- LESS THAN FIVE PROBABLY, REGARDING VOUCHER DISCRIMINATION. AGAIN, IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE OTHER THAN IN CITY PROPERTIES SO IT'S VERY LIMITED WHERE IT APPLIES TODAY. AND THE DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE DOES OFFER FOR, UM, VETERAN STATUS SPECIFICALLY. OH -- WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REGARDING THE VETERAN STATUS SPECIFICALLY IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. >> IF I MAY, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT BEEN AN ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS IT, RIGHT? >> I THINK THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE NON-DISCRIMINATION -- VETERAN STATUS SPECIFICALLY. >> SPEARS: SO I GUESS THAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ARTICULATE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FROM THE ORDINANCE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW. SO I GUESS THAT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT HOW -- HOW TO LAY THAT OUT. AND MAYBE PUT A DATE ON THAT WHEN WE CAN LOOK AT -- LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF THE ORDINANCE IN SIX MONTHS. >> OKAY. >> SPEARS: I WANT TO THANK THE VETERANS WHO CAME TODAY. I'M HUGELY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR VETERANS. I'M ON THE MILITARY TRANSFORMATION TASK FORCE. ANY CHANCE THAT I GET TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF VETERANS, I DO THAT. THROUGH ACTION, UM, THROUGH ADVOCACY, AND, UM, I -- I HAVEN'T SERVED. I DO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE. AND THERE REALLY IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS. BUT I WANTED TO BE MEANINGFUL AND THOUGHTFUL AND EFFECTIVE. I THINK THIS IS -- THIS SHOULD BE ONE PIECE OF A BROADER STRATEGY THAT INCLUDES SUPPLY AND PARTNERSHIPS AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR OUR VETERANS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE INTENT BEHIND THIS. I KNOW THIS WAS REALLY SORTED OUT IN THE PCDC AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNCILMAN MUNGIA FOR HIS EFFORTS THERE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SIX-MONTH MARK LOOK BACK, BECAUSE THAT -- I'M GOING TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THAT AND SEE HOW THIS IS MEASURING UP. AND IF WE NEED TO DO ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE -- I'M PREPARED TO DO THAT. I REALLY WANT TO SEE MORE VETERANS GETTING INTO HOMES. I DON'T WANT TO SEE ADDITIONAL REGULATION AND I WANT TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS FOR THEM TO GET INTO HOMES OR MULTIFAMILY -- WHEREVER THEY WANT TO LIVE. WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH EVERYONE AT THE TABLE. AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING, UM, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR LANDLORDS THAT OWN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE HOME -- LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND MAYBE THIS ISN'T A CORPORATE ENTITY, BUT THE SINGLE FAMILY LANDLORDS. OR THE SINGLE OWNER LANDLORDS -- BUT ALSO WE'VE GOT TO BE HELPING OUR VETERANS. SO I'M REALLY LOOKING AT THIS THOUGHTFULLY. THIS HADN'T BEEN AN EASY DAY. AND I -- I'M VERY -- I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PCDC ORDINANCE AS LAID OUT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN MEZ MEZ. >> GONZALEZ: I'M GOING TO GO OVER POINTS THAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN SPEARS SAID, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST ONE PIECE OF A BIGGER PICTURE, I THINK THAT IN THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING NAVIGATORS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EDUCATING OUR LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT UNINTENGDED CONSEQUENCES TO OUR LANDLORDS WHO WEREN'T EVEN EXPECTING TO BE LANDLORDS. SO I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND I THINK THAT I WOULD BE MORE UPSET IF THIS IS ALL WE DID. CONSIDERING THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THIS PROCESS. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE STEPS AND REALLY EDUCATING THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO ACCEPT VASH VOUCHERS. THERE'S A LOT ON THE LANDLORD SIDE THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE [06:10:01] SURE THAT THE HOUSES IS, UM, INSPECTION GOES THROUGH AND I THINK THAT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE EDUCATING OUR NON-PROFITS THAT WORK WITH VETERANS AND I HAVE ENDEAVORS LOCATED AND HEADQUARTERED IN MY DISTRICT. WE SHOULD HAVE SIGNS THERE TALKING ABOUT THIS. AND SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT THE LAST THING THAT WE DO AND THE ONLY THING THAT WE DO FOR OUR VETERANS TODAY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INCENTIVIZING OUR LANDLORDS. AND WORKING WITH, AGAIN, THE USAAS AND TO GET THAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM GOING AS WELL, BECAUSE WE NEED BOTH. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO WAS HERE TODAY. I WAS IN THAT MEETING THAT COUNCILMAN MUNGIA TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS FROM APARTMENT ASSOCIATIONS, SABOR AND GI FORUM AND ENDEAVOR WAS THERE AS WELL AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEEDED TO I HAVE A LONG TIME AGO. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAD THAT AND WE NEED TO HAVE MORE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY'S TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE SPOKEN? OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR LAYING OUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE, WHAT IS A BIT DIFFICULT. AND TWO AND A HALF YEARS -- THIS IS WHAT WE CAN GET TODAY. SO WE'LL REVISIT THIS IN SIX MONTHS. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 9. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK. ME CAPTION FOR ITEM 16. CLERK. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH -- OH -- SORRY. WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS. OH, THANK YOU -- FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. DR. SANDY WOLF, PLEASE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. OKAY. SANDY WOLF HAS LEFT. JACK FINGER, ARE YOU STILL HERE? OKAY. JACK FINGER HAS ALSO LEFT. OH, IS HE COMING IN? OKAY. JACK FINGER, SIR, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16 IF YOU'D STILL LIKE TO DO SO. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I THINK THAT YOU SAID ITEM NUMBER 16. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S CORRECT, THE READY TO WORK ITEM. >> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I DID REQUEST TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT WAS THE -- ONE DEALING WITH THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK. OVER LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, YEARS, WE'VE BEEN GETTING BAD REPORTS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK. IT HAS BEEN FAILING. YES, SOMETHING THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED SOME TIME AGO BUT THE -- THE RECRUITS JUST DIDN'T PAN OUT. IN FACT, I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTS AND THIS IS WHAT I SEE RIGHT THERE, TOWARD THE BOTTOM, MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN. YEAH, UNDERLINED AREAS THERE. YEAH. OKAY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2027, READY TO WORK PLANS TO INTAKE 6,773 NEW APPLICANTS -- [INDISCERNIBLE] ETC., ETC., AND ACHIEVE 38 -- 25 NEW TRAIN -- [INDISCERNIBLE] AND -- AND SUPPORT 2,410 APPROVED JOB PLACEMENTS. [06:15:02] THAT'S 6773 NEW APPLICANTS AND 2,ACTUAL JOB PLACEMENTS. RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS JOB PLACEMENTS AND TARGETED JOBS AND TARGETED INDUSTRIES. AND READY TO WORK APPARENTLY HAS NOT BEEN DOING ITS JOB. IN FACT, FROM THE FIGURES THAT WE SEE THERE, 6,000 COMING INTO THE PROGRAM AND ONLY 2,000 GETTING TO DO WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO -- GETTING GOOD JOBS. I -- BY MY ESTIMATION THAT'S A LITTLE OVER ONE-THIRD -- ONE-THIRD -- IN SCHOOL -- A STUDENT THAT ONLY GETS 33% RIGHT, HE GETS AN F. YOU KNOW? SO, UM, MAYBE -- MAYBE JUST MAYBE IT'S TIME TO -- INSTEAD OF APPROVING -- WHAT IS IT -- THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN READY TO WORK, WE ACTUALLY START ASKING SOME HARD QUESTIONS AS TO DO WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS PROGRAM? YEAH, VOTERS HAVE VOTED FOR IT BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD DO -- DO AN HONEST TAKE ON THIS AND SAY, HEY, VOTERS, THIS AIN'T WORKING OUT. WOULD YOU -- PUT ON THE BALLOT A CHANCE FOR THE VOTERS TO RETRACT AND TO GET A TAX -- GET A TAX CUT FROM ALL OF THIS. YOU KNOW, MONEY BACK INTO THEIR POCKETBOOK. AND SEE HOW THEY WOULD REACT TO. THAT I MEAN, IT'S THE HONEST THING TO DO, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S THE FINAL MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAS SIGNED TOWN SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 16 SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GALVIN TOO. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 16. THANK YOU, MIKE RAMSEY. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A VETERAN, A PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AS WELL. I DID WANT TO JUST, ONE, GIVEN HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED WITH THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET AND BASED ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED DURING THE READY TO WORK -- THE B SESSION BRIEFING ON THIS. I WANT TO, UM, TO LAY FLAT THE STEPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE $42 MILLION THAT WE HAVE LEFT HERE AND I WANTED TO LAY FLAT -- WE DIDN'T TALK AS MUCH AT THAT B SESSION ON, UM, THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDING FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO THE OTHER ENTITY. SO I'D LIKE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS -- IS CLEAR ON -- ON THAT PIECE. SO IF YOU COULD, PLEASE, ADDRESS THE STEPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS LIKE OUR FELLOW VETERANS WHO HAVE RESOURCES, SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY VETERANS BUT THEY HAVE OTHER RESOURCES, AND TO HELP WITH THE TRANSITION THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE WITH THE $42.8 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS YEAR, HOW WE'RE ENSURING THAT WE ARE BEST SERVING THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO, UM, TO ACCESS THIS LEVEL OF TRAINING AND SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR OUR MILITARY CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY OUR VETERANS, INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. WHAT WE HOPE TO DO WITH READY TO WORK IS TO EASE THAT TRANSITION WITH THE RESOURCES FOR TUITION SUPPORT AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES. I WILL SAY DIRECTLY THAT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN READY TO WORK AND MAKE THAT TRANSITION OVER, ARE PARTNERS AND HELPING TO CONNECT TO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. SO WE HAVE A FUNDING MODEL WITHIN READY TO WORK, JUST LIKE INDIVIDUALS USE PELL GRANTS TO OFFSET SOME TUITION COSTS. MANY OF OUR MILITARY MEMBERS WHO HAVE THE GI BILL BENEFITS ARE ABLE TO USE THAT IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM TOO. SO WE'RE HOPING TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND TO FIND OUT HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE USING THE GI BILL, AND HOW MANY STILL HAVE ACTIVE GI BILL MONTHS TO USE IN READY TO WORK. AND IF THAT MODEL CAN TAKE PLACE. SO WE'LL COME BACK WITH NUMBERS AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. >> MAYOR JONES: I APPRECIATE THAT, BASED ON MY QUESTIONS AT THE B SESSION BECAUSE IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF CHANGE. I MEAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S 800 SOME ODD VETERANS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THAT HAVE BEEN UTILIZING SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHEN, IN EFFECT, THEY COULD HAVE USED THEIR G I BILL TO REIMBURSE THE CITY AND THOSE MONEYS USED BY SAN ANTONIO TAX DOLLARS COULD HAVE GONE TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS IF SOME OF THE VETERANS WERE LIVING IN THE COUNTY. AND I SAY ALL OF THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY GENEROUS PROGRAM THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS VOTED -- HAS VOTED FOR. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- WE ALL DO, WANT TO MAKE THIS BEST ALLOCATED TO THOSE [06:20:06] WHO, ONE, LIVE IN THE CITY AND HAVE NO OTHER ACCESS TO SOURCES AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THAT WHAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION BUT I WOULD WELCOME IF YOU HAVE AN UPDATE FOR US NOW. WHEN THIS WAS PASSED WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT AI IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE ARE IN JOB DISPLACEMENT ETC., ETC. AND YET WHEN I LOOK AT THE STILL 58 JOBS -- 58 JOBS, UM, THAT SOMEBODY COULD SELECT FROM ON THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, I WOULD WELCOME A STRONGER UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU HAVE IT NOW, ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE FOCUSING THE REMAINING -- THE REMAINING DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE, UM, INVESTING IN AS MANY AI PROOF JOBS AS POSSIBLE. UM, 5 8 IS ACTUALLY THE RIGHT NUMBER AND AS WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF AI AS A RESULT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE BOARD IS WORKING EVERY OTHER MONTH WHEN THEY MEET AS WELL AS IN THE OFF MONTHS WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO REVIEW ALL OF THE OCCUPATIONS WITHIN READY TO WORK TO SEE WHICH ONES HAVE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR GRADUATES AND WHICH WILL HAVE THE MOST POTENTIAL LONG-TERM GROWTH FOR THE CITY. AND AI IS HAVING TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THAT AND SO THANK >> RAMSEY: SHE'S INTRODUCED A PROPOSAL FOR A PROGRAM TO SEE HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PATHWAYS CAN BE SUPPORTED THROUGH READY TO WORK THROUGH SUPPORT SERVICES THAT PARTICIPANTS OFFER. SO GOING ABOUT THAT WORK RIGHT NOW, REACHING OUT TO OUR PLEDGED EMPLOYERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR HIRING PRACTICES WILL BE AND HOW THEY'LL BE IMPACTED THROUGH READY TO WORK, WORKING WITH GREA GREATER SA TX AND OUR PARTNERS OVER AT ALAMO COLLEGES TO MAKE SURE NO MATTER WHICH OCCUPATION THEY'RE PURSUING WILL HAVE THOSE ESSENTIAL AI SKILLS AS WELL AS SKILLS TO ENHANCE THEIR FOOTPRINT IN THAT SPACE. AS FAR AS IS 58 THE RIGHT NUMBER? I THINK THE BOARD IS CONTINUING TO FOLLOW DIRECTION OF THIS COUNCIL AND TO LOOK AT WHICH OCCUPATION IS GOING TO YIELD THE BEST RESULTS AND THEY'LL CONTINUE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR STREAMLINE THAT NUMBER TO THE NUMBER THAT'S GOING TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS. MAIR >> MAYOR JONES: AND I APPRECIATE THAT WORK. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WORK, DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL STENOGRAPHERS, CUSTOMER SERVICE WORKS, MARKET RESEARCH ANALYSTS, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE QUITE SUSCEPTIBLE TO AI, SO A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRAINING PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT ONLY YIELD A JOB, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO SEE BETTER STATS. THE FACT THAT 25% OF THE FOLKS THAT GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM STILL DON'T HAVE A JOB AFTER A YEAR, WHAT IS IT 57%, ARE ONLY PLACED AFTER -- THAT'S THE NUMBER AT SIX MONTHS, SO REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AS TIGHT OF A CONNECTION OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR, NOT JUST WHAT FOLKS MAY BE INTERESTED IN, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, THE IMPLICATIONS OF AI. AND, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT TO SAY IN ANY WAY THAT YOUR TEAM DOESN'T DO GREAT WORK. YOU DO. AND I THINK THE VIGNETTES THAT WE HAVE SEEN, ANECDOTES ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING FOR SOME, I DON'T DISPUTE THAT. WHAT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS BEING COGNIZANT OF, THOUGH, IS, IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO SPEND THAT DOLLAR? RIGHT? IS THIS THE HIGHEST RETURN OF INVESTMENT, NOT TO SAY, AGAIN, THAT IT HASN'T BEEN GOOD FOR SOME FOLKS, YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, WORKING VERY HARD. BUT IS THIS THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR THE PEOPLE'S RESOURCES IN LIGHT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE VERY CLEAR DATA THAT SHOWS THE HIGHEST RATE OF RETURN ON INVESTING IN PEOPLE IS ALWAYS WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, RIGHT? AS EVIDENT BY THE STATS THAT THE PRE-K FOUR SA PROGRAM CONTINUES TO SHARE. OKAY. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE -- THERE WAS SOME MONIES THAT WERE NOW GOING TO BE TRANSITIONED FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO THE OTHER PROVIDER IN THE PREBRIEF WITH ALEX, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS BECAUSE, AS WAS DESCHIEBED, THE WORKFORCE SOLUTION ALAMO IS NOT NECESSARILY PERFORMING THE WAY THAT WE WANT IT TO, AND SO WE'RE NOW MAKING SOME MODIFICATIONS SO THAT IDEALLY THEY GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN THE TIME THAT WE HAVE LEFT WITH THIS PROGRAM, THEY WILL HOPEFULLY, MAYBE, KNOCK ON WOOD, GET TO WHERE WE WANT THEM TO B AND THEN THIS PROGRAM RUNS OUT OF MONEY AND THEN THEY'RE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE. SO WE WILL HAVE SUBSIDIZED FOLKS DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD ALREADY BE DOING, AND THEN ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO DOING AS WAS DESCRIBED KIND OF BELOW WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. AGAIN, ALL THAT TO SAY, IS THIS THE BEST USE OF OUR RESOURCES GIVEN -- GIVEN THE PLACEMENT RATES, BUT ALSO GIVEN THE -- WELL, LARGELY, THE [06:25:05] PLACEMENT RATES, FRANKLY. SO PLEASE SPEAK TO THE REAPPORTION OF RESOURCES. >> THEY'VE BEEN AN ORIGINAL PARTNER FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM. 2500 OF THE 5,000 JOB PLACEMENTS NOW HAVE COME THROUGH THE WORK OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO AND THEIR PARTNERS. WE MADE A STRATEGIC SHIFT IN WORKING ON A MORE EMPLOYER-LED STRATEGIES IN ORDER TO HELP PEOPLE GET IN THE JOBS QUICKER. THEY'VE GOT THE CAPACITY, THEY'VE GOT THE SCALE, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THAT WORK LONG AFTER READY TO WORK SUNSETS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON IMPLEMENTING MODEL THAT THEY ARE THE HUB FOR NOW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALAMO COLLEGES AND TOYOTA AND SOME OF THE MANY SUPPLIERS AT THE TOYOTA PLANT TO EXPAND THAT MODEL AND OTHER INDUSTRIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF READY TO WORK. WE'RE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WSA HAS DONE UP UNTIL THIS POINT IN READY TO WORK AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT EMPLOYER-LED COHORT MODEL EXPANSION THROUGHOUT OTHER SECTORS. THEY WERE THE SMALLEST CONTRACTOR WITHIN READY TO WORK WHEN THE PROGRAM FIRST BEGAN AND THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN IN HELPING OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO, OF COURSE, GET THROUGH THAT BASIC CREDENTIAL OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND GET CONNECTED TO WORKFORCE TRAINING AND GET INTO A GOOD JOB. THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OVER THE LAST YEAR, 18 MONTHS OF IMPROVING THEIR JOB PLACEMENT RATES AND THEIR CAPACITY EXPANSION WITH THIS TARGET GROUP FLEW THIS INVESTMENT IS GOING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY GET STRONGER IN THIS SPACE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED WITH RESTORE EDUCATION AND THE IMPROVEMENT THEY'VE SHOWN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE RESULTS FOR THE CITY. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU. I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE FOCUSED DISCUSSIONS WITH THOSE IN THE TRADE IN LIGHT OF FRANKLY, ALL THE CONSTRUCTION ARE THAT WE ANTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO START THOSE DISCUSSIONS. HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ALREADY STARTED? CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW THOSE ARE GOING? >> RAMSEY: CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY BEEN A FOCUS OF READY TO WORK. OUR BOARD MEMBERS, JERRY GRABER, FORMER APPRENTICE, ROGER O'BRIAN AND ALLEY PEREZ WHO'S NO LONGER WITH US HERE TODAY, BUT TEXAS WOMEN AND TRADE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHE SPEARHEADS AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE CONSTANTLY HAPPENING AT THE BOARD LEVEL AS WELL AS WITH OUR PARTNERS. OUR PARTNERS ARE VERY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT ELECTRICIANS AND CARPENTERS AND WELDERS ARE A BIG PART OF THE TRAINING PIPELINE FOR READY TO WORK. IT'S AN INDUSTRY ISSUE, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU SPOKE ABOUT AI EARLIER, AS THE DATA CENTERS ARE COMING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PEOPLE TO BUILD THOSE. IT'S A CRITICAL AREA THAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE PIPELINE, BUT WE HAVE TO MARKET BETTER TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING THOSE CAREER PATHWAYS THAT WILL SELECT THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHOICE FOR NEM AS THEY LOOK TO BETTER THEMSELVES. AND THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDING ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. I APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH READY TO WORK TO HELP TO MARKET THESE OCCUPATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR JONES: SO IN LIGHT OF THE CONVERSATIONS ONGOING AND THE RESPONSE THAT YOU PROVIDED, OR I GUESS I'M NOT SURE WHO IT WAS, MAYBE IT WAS ALEX, THE RESPONSES YOU ALL PROVIDED REGARDING THE CONVERSATIONS YOU ALL WOULD BE HAVING, HOW DO THOSE KOFERTIONZS NOW LOOK DIFFERENT SARYS US WHAT THEY HAVE -- VERSUS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN LIKE RAMENTZ THEY'VE BEEN RENEWED. IT'S A RENEWED SENSE OF URGENCY IN ENSURING THAT WE CAN MARKET TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT BENEFIT FROM THESE CAREER PATHWAYS. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS? OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AS TO THE ENTIRE TEAM THAT LEADS THE READY TO WORK TEAM. I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE PRESENT BUT HAD TO LEAVE, GIVEN THE LONG MEETING. WE KNOW THAT THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM HAS BASIC CHALLENGES, BUT WITH DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD AND COUNCIL, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION, JOB PLACEMENT, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE DISTRICT FIVE DATA, RESIDENT WHOSE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM HAVE SEEN A ROUGHLY $34,000 INCREASE IN THEIR SALARY. AND, DPEN, AS I'VE MENTIONED IN COMMITTEE, OFTENTIMES WHENS WE EVALUATE THE METRICS OF READY TO WORK, WE OFTEN LOOK AT IT AS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FILLING SIDEWALK GAPS OR INSTALLING STREETLIGHTS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WITH VERY COMPLEX LIVES, NEEDS AND WE HAVE A ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE WHETHER IT'S RESTORE EDUCATION OR PROJECT QUEST, WHOEVER THE SERVICE PROVIDER MAY BE, TO PROVIDE THAT HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE SUPPORT THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT UPON COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING THAT THERE IS PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT. I'M GRATEFUL, AGAIN, FOR THE PROVIDERS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. WE JUST HAD A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT VETERANS, AND MY FATHER, [06:30:02] UNITED STATES NAVY VETERAN, WAS PART OF THE FIRST PROJECT QUEST COHORT, RIGHT, AND HE'S STILL ON THE SAME TRAJECTORY IN THE SAME INDUSTRY FROM THE SKILLS THAT HE GAINED FROM PROJECT QUEST. SO, AGAIN, HE DID HAVE GI BENEFITS, THE HAZELWOOD ACT, SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT IT WAS THROUGH PROJECT QUEST THAT HELPED PROVIDE THE FUTURE THAT SUSTAIN AND RAISED A FAMILY OF FOUR. SO GRATEFUL FOR, AGAIN, ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS, AND, AGAIN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC DATA, AGAIN, TO DATE, OVER 1,195 VETERANS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN READY TO WORK WITH 481 COMPLETING THE TRAINING SO FAR, WITH APPROVED JOBS THAT ROUGHLY $49,000. AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC GOODS, WHETHER IT'S WORKFORCE, PUBLIC HOUSING OR PUBLIC EDUCATION CONTINUE TO BE UNDER ATTACK AND FACE THREATS FROM AVOWED OPPONENTS OF PUBLIC GOODS AND SERVICES, BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO INVEST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND WITH BOTH SA READY TO WORK AND PRE-K FOUR SA, IT CANNOT BE A CALCULATION PURELY BASED AND FOCUSED ON WHO GETS WHAT PART OF THE DOLLAR AND HOW THE FUNDING'S DECIDED BASED OFF THE ROI, BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE JUST THIS AND THAT. IT NEEDS TO BE THIS AND INVEST IN OUR YOUTH BUT ALSO INVEST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR ADULTS, BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THAT IMPACTS, BUT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT AS QUICK AS A PROJECT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A PROJECT, SOMETIMES BACKGROUNDS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BUT JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO SEE THE DIRECTION THAT YOUR TEAM HAS TAKEN READY TO WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. >> RAMSEY: THANK YOU. . COUNCILMAN WHYTE? >> WHYTE: YEAH, I JUST BRIEFLY WANT TO ECHOA COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS OF THE MAYOR. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY WE'RE ALLOCATING TO THIS PROGRAM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO SECRET THAT READY TO WORK GOT OFF TO A VERY SLOW, SLOW START. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS MADE THAT I'VE SEEN. MOST PARTICULARLY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE EMPLOYERS ACTUALLY NEED. THE NUMBERS STILL CONCERN ME, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE PLACING A LOT OF FOLKS -- PEOPLE ARE GETTING JOBBED IN HEALTHCARE FIELD AND WE'RE HIRING THEM HERE AT THE CITY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE INDUSTRIES TAKE NOTE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS PROGRAM AND US TRAIN FOLKS TO FILL SOME OF THE POSITIONS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES, BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. I THINK WE NEED TO SEE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PROGRAM AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL. THANKS, MAYOR. >> RAMSEY: THANK YOU, SIR. >> MAYOR JONES: ANY OTHER FOLKS LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? NOW YOU WOULD? OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANKS, MAYOR. SORRY SH I JUST WASN'T -- I WAS STILL COLLECTING MY THOUGHTS ON IT. MIKE, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A BIG FOCUS FOR ME, BEING ON COUNCIL, AND I'VE WORKED A LOT WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, ON THE CONCERNS THAT WE ALL SHARE. I THINK YOU SHARE, TOO. I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST REALLY WANTING TO SEE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AND THE MOST SUCCESS FOR THE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WORK THIS OUT. IT'S STILL PRETTY NEW, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REALLY, REALLY GET THIS DONE WELL. AND TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WE DID GO ON TO TAIWAN AND LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT WORKFORCE IS AND HOW IMPORTANT THESE -- LIKE AI IS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR WORKFORCE FOR ATTRACTING MORE BUSINESS HERE. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT AND RECEPTIVENESS TO HOW WE REALLY INTEGRATE THAT INTO READY TO WORK. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY DID A GOOD JOB. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A STRATEGIC DECISION AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU'RE SHIFTING TO THE EMPLOYER-LED MODEL. SUPER IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO, BUT I WOULD AGREE IF WE CAN HONE IN ON THE AREAS WE CAN GUIDE PEOPLE INTO WHERE THEY CAN GET THE BEST JOB, HIGHEST PAYING, STILL BE ENGAGED AND ENJOY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF HARD, RIGHT? IT'S COMPLICATED. IT SOUNDS EASY ON ITS FACE, BUT IT'S KIND OF HARD. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT -- I APPRECIATE WANTING TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND HOW WE CAN REALLY STRETCH TAX DOLLARS THERE. SO ON RESTORE EDUCATION, THOUGH, YOU MENTIONED IT'S FOR UNDERSERVED, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AND IS IT -- DO YOU KNOW AN AGE RANGE REALLY WHERE IT'S KIND OF -- MAYBE THEY ADDRESS MORE THE YOUNGER SET THAT THE MAYOR WAS REFERENCING? >> RAMSEY: YEAH. RESTORE EDUCATION WITHIN READY TO WORK, 18 TO 80, WE HAVE WITHIN OUR INITIATIVE AND OUR PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE DOING A FE FOLLOW NATURAL JOB HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS MORE MATURE INDIVIDUAL THAT NEED TO SECURE THAT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND THEN ADDITIONAL SKILL TRAINING, BUT THEY'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN HELPING PEOPLE THAT NEED [06:35:01] NARE ASSISTANCE. >> SPEARS: OKAY. IT IS A HUGE DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND I THINK YOU HEAR THE CONCERN AND I THINK YOU SHARE THE CONCERN. AND I'M HYPERFOCUSED ON IT, BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT'S A FOOL WE CAN USE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT HERE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THE MAYOR ASKED, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ALL REALLY TOP OF MIND FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE KUSESP OF OPPORTUNITY AND Y'ALL CAN REALLY HELP HERE. SO THANK YOU. >> RAMSEY: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: BASED ON THE CONTINUED FEEDBACK, BUT THEN ALSO BASED ON YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EMPLOYERS, HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY COULD YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU SPEND THE FY '27 BUDGET? >> RAMSEY: THE MAJORITY OF IT IS FOR TUITION, 50% OF OUR BUDGET IS FOR TUITION, AND THEN OUR CONTRACTS WITH OUR PARTNERS, ABOUT ANOTHER 25% OF THE BUDGET GOES THERE, SO IT'S ABOUT 25%. 5% IS OUR ADMIN FEES, BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET IS PRETTY LOCKED IN. DEPENDING UPON WHICH PATHWAYS OUR PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE ARE BASED UPON WHERE THAT TUITION MONEY GOES. SO THE BIGGEST DETERMINATE ABOUT WHERE MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT IS WHICH PATHWAYS OUR PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE. >> MAYOR JONES: I'M THINKING OF A SCENARIO, IF YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, TBREKS, WITH THE TRADES GROUPS AND -- FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE TRADES GROUPS AND IT FRANKLY COMES AND SHOWS THAT ACTUALLY, WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS, JUST BECAUSE PLACEMENT WOULD BE IMMEDIATE, RIGHT, AND THE STARTING SALARY IS ON PAR WITH WHAT OTHERS WOULD WANT, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD HAVE A READY TO WORK PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON, FOR EXAMPLE, 10 CAREER FIELDS, THAT GIVES US AN ASSURANCE THAT PLACEMENT COULD BE WITHIN 30 DAYS? IS THAT -- IF, IN THE COURSE, AGAIN, OF YOUR CONVERSATIONS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE, COULD YOUR ORGANIZATION QUICKLY PIVOT TO SUPPORT THAT? >> RAMSEY: WE ALREADY SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION AND SKILL TRADE PATHWAYS, SO IT'S NOT A PIVOT THAT WOULD NEED TO OCCUR IN. THE PIVOT WOULD BE ON WHICH OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS AND IF THEY CHOOSE THOSE OPTIONS OR CHOOSE NOT TO CHOOSE THOSE OPTIONS, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A HARD PIVOT FOR US AT ALL. >> MAYOR JONES: JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK WHAT YOU JUST SAID THOUGH, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MARKETING WHAT THESE OPPORTUNITIES LOOK LIKE. >> RAMSEY: CORRECT. >> MAYOR JONES: SO IN THE COURSE OF YOUR BETTER MARKETING AND REFINED CONVERSATIONS AND FEEDBACK THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM THE EMPLOYERS, IF THAT ALL RESULTS IN, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, Y'ALL? THE BEST ROI FOR THIS PROGRAM MEANS FOCUSING ON 10 THINGS BECAUSE PLACEMENT IS IMMEDIATE AND THE WAGE IS AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL THAT WE WOULD SUPPORT, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. >> RAMSEY: NO PI 5 PIVOT FOR US IF THAT OCCURRED JUST CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> MAYOR JONES: IT WOULD BE A PIVOT BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE GOING 58 POSSIBILITIES TO 10. >> RAMSEY: AGAIN, CHOICING FOR PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE DECREASED BUT AS FAR AS THE WORK THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING IT WOULD CONTINUE WITHOUT A PIVOT BECAUSE WE ALREADY OFFER THOSE THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, THERE ARE ALREADY TRAINING PROVIDERS ALIGNED TO PRODUCE TALENT IN THOSE AREAS. GETTING MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED WOULD BE THE SHIFT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE. POTENTIALLY AS YOU'RE REFINING WHICH OCCUPATIONS COME OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER NECESSARY. AND I WOULD IMAGINE IF YOU DID SEE A SURGE IN, FOR EXAMPLE, 10 OCCUPATIONS, RIGHT, BASED ON BETTER -- NOT BETTER, BUT DIFFERENT MARKETING THAT LENT ITSELF TO THAT, THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD PIVOT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW SUPPORTING A VERY FOCUSED COHORT OF INDIVIDUALS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING ALL OF THAT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. ERIK, I WOULD APPRECIATE AN ANALYSIS THAT HELPS US, AGAIN, GET TO THE ROI OF THIS. I THINK AS DR. BARAY SHARED AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING ON THIS, THE RESEARCH IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE HIGHEST ROI ON INDIVIDUALS, WHEN YOU INVEST IN THEM, IS WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT GETS US THE DOLLAR -- THE MOST -- THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, I WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE SOME ANALYSIS THAT SHOWS -- I KNOW THERE'S ALREADY DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING AN EARLIER VOTE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF PRE-K FOUR SA, BUT IF ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT WE SHOULD, IN FACT, CONTINUE TO DOUBLE DOWN ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND EXPAND FURTHER PRE-K FOUR SA OPTIONS BECAUSE IT HAS THE HIGHEST ROI WHEN COMPARED TO THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DATA SO WE CAN HAVE AN INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER WE JUST CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM OR WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY PLUSSING UP THE OTHER PROGRAM. OKAY. >> WALSH: SO, MAYOR, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT, BUT JUST TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IN THE LAST PRESENTATION WE GAVE [06:40:03] TO YOU ALL, WE HAD THE ROI REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED THAT BROKE OUT AN $11.8 BILLION IMPACT IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS, 7.5 BILLION IN TERMS OF IMPACT FROM THE INCOME, THE INCREASES IN THE INCOME FOR THE PARTICIPANTS THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER. 3.8BILLION FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THAT ADDITIONAL SALARY AND ADDITIONAL SPENDING, AND THEN $497 MILLION IN SOCIAL SERVICES SAVINGS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW -- YOU KNOW, THEN, FORGET ABOUT THE ECONOMISTS IN THE ROOM, JUST IN TERMS OF THE 5,024 PEOPLE WHO ARE IN APPROVED JOBS ON AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF $33,644, JUST THEIR SALARIES ALONE IS $169 MILLION A YEAR, AND WE HAVE ONLY SPENT $106 MILLION IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS. SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS AND JUXTAPOSE IT, CERTAINLY WITH DR. BARAY AND KIND OF LAY IT OUT SO YOU ALL CAN SEE WHAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS IN BOTH AREAS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF THAT REPORT WE GAVE YOU ABOUT A MONTH AGO. >> MAYOR JONES: NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND FULLY APPRECIATE THE ROI ANALYSIS THAT WAS PROVIDED ON THE PROGRAM AS IS, BUT AN ANALYSIS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN DR. BARAY'S THAT SHOWS THE FOLKS THAT GO THROUGH PRE-K FOUR SA ARE, YOU KNOW, 80% HIGHER LITERACY RATES, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO MUCH HIGHER, SO HOW WE HAVE QUANTIFIED, AGAIN, THE ROI -- I'M NOT SAYING THERE IS NO ROI IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT ALLOWS FOR THE HIGHEST ROI FOR THE DRAR. >> WALSH: JUXTAPOSITION, THERE ARE DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WILL LOOK AT, ULTIMATELY THE ROI IS DO WE INVEST IN FOLKS THAT NEED HELP RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'VE SAID THIS 100 TIMES, OR DO WE INVEST EARLY CHILDHOOD. BUT WE'LL JUXTAPOSE THAT. APPRECIATE IT. >> WALSH: MORE TO COME. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. 16. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT'S THE CONCLUSION FOR THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY. THE TIME IS NOW 4:16 AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.