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THE TIME IS NOW 9:01 A.M. ON MAY 14TH, 2026. AND THE MEETING OF THE
SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS CALLED TO ORDER. >> GAVITO:.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU.
QUIET IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE, WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED.
COUNCILMAN WHYTE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S INVOCATEUR, WHEREVER
YOU ARE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT'S MY HONOR TODAY TO INTRODUCE PASTOR NELDO SCHMIDT, WHO WAS BORN IN SANTA ROSE KA IN BRAZIL ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 1960. HE'S MARRIED TO HIS WIFE LORI SCHMIDT AND THEY HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS -- SORRY, A DAUGHTER VANESSA AND A SON PHILLIP. FOLLOWING HIS YEARS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT ST.
MATTHEW'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL IN SANTA ROSA, HE GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL THERE IN 1978.
ONE YEAR LATER HE ENTERED THE SEMINARY, GRADUATING IN DECEMBER OF 1983.
PASTOR SCHMIDT HAS SERVED IN IELD, THE BRAZILIAN PARTNER CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, FROM FEBRUARY 1984 UNTIL AUGUST OF 1993. IN DECEMBER 1994 HE BEGAN SERVING AT THE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH IN MINNESOTA.
HE WAS ELECTED CIRCUIT COUNSELOR FOR THE LYNDELL EAST CIRCUIT OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT IN 2003 AND 2026. AND IN OCTOBER OF 2026 HE ACCEPTED THE CALL TO SERVE AT ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WOODBURY, MINNESOTA. THEN IN 2017 CAME HERE TO KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S OUR HONOR TO HAVE YOU
HERE TODAY. >> IT'S MY HONOR TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
LET US FOCUS ON A WORD FROM THE LORD GOD RECORDED IN I PETER 3:15.
HERE IS WHAT THE LORD GOD SAYS. BUT IN YOUR HEARTS HONOR CHRIST, THE LORD, AS HOLY. ALWAYS BEING PREPARED TO MAKE A DEFENSE OF ANYONE WHO ASKS YOU FOR A REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU. YOU MAY NOW BE SEATED.
WE WILL RISE LATER IN PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. DEAR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I BRING TO YOU GREETINGS FROM OUR CONGREGATION, KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH, AFFILIATED WITH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SENATE. IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.
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A JAPANESE SOLDIER WHO FOUGHT THE WAR, WORLD WAR II, 29 YEARS AFTER IT WAS OVER, HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THE FLYERS, THE LETTERS THAT FAMILY MEMBERS SENT HIM TO THE ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINES WHERE HE WAS STILL FIGHTING THINKING THAT THE WAR WAS STILL GOING ON. IT WAS OVER. WHEN HE FINALLY RECEIVED SOMEONE FROM JAPAN THAT CAME AND ACTUALLY COMMUNICATED TO HIM THAT THE WAR WAS OVER, THEN HE FINALLY RETURNED. HE ACTUALLY CAME TO BRAZIL. HE HAD A NICE FARM THERE, AND RETURNED TO JAPAN BEFORE HE DIED. QUESTION: WHAT WOULD LEAD A MAN TO SUCH AN EXTREME COMMITMENT AND NOT BELIEVE THE MESSAGE, TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY, TO SERVE THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN TO THAT KIND OF SACRIFICE? I BELIEVE THAT LEADS ALL OF US TO QUESTION THE MOTIVE FOR WHY WE ARE SERVING.I HAVE TO START WITH MYSELF, WHY AM I SERVING CHRIST? WHY AM I SERVING A CONGREGATION IN THIS COMMUNITY? AND PERHAPS OF COURSE LET'S EXTEND THAT SELF-EXAMINATION TO ALL OF YOU STARTING WITH THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AND WHY NOT ALL YOU IN THE AUDIENCE. WHY ARE YOU SERVING IN THE ROLES THAT YOU ARE SERVING? IS IT COMMITMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE NATION, FOR THE STATE? IS IT COMMITMENT TO A CERTAIN IDEOLOGY? IS IT COMMITMENT BECAUSE OF PERSONAL GAIN? LET'S BE VERY HONEST AND LET'S BE VERY BLUNT ABOUT THIS, WE AS PASTORS FACE THE TEMPTATION TO DO THIS FOR PERSONAL GAIN AND I'M VERY MUCH AFRAID THAT YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU ARE NOT FACING THOSE SAME TEMPTATIONS CHALLENGING YOU, YOUR MOTIVES, WHY YOU ARE SERVING, -- NOW WE ARE SPEAKING AT OUR OWN LEVEL. WE WILL NEVER BE PERFECT.
NONE OF US IS, OKAY? THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE FOR YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS REALIZE THAT, THAT YOU ARE NOT PERFECT, WE ARE NOT PERFECT. BUT CHRIST WAS.
CHRIST IS. CHRIST SERVED UNTIL DEATH. HE WAS NOT ASHAMED TO HANG AND DIE ON A CROSS ONLY FOR ONE BIG REASON, THAT YOU, YOU, WOULD HAVE ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN. NOW, THAT'S A KING. THAT'S NOT JUST AN EMPEROR.
THAT WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE. YOU SEE PETER, THE APOSTLE PETER, SAID IN YOUR HEART SET APART CHRIST AS LORD, WHO WAS THE EMPEROR, WHO WAS THE LEADER? NERO, THE ROMAN EMPEROR NERO. AND PETER SAID YOU HONOR THE EMPEROR BUT YOU DON'T CALL HIM LORD IN THE GREEK WORD BECAUSE THAT LORD IS ONLY CHRIST. HE'S THE ONLY LORD THAT WAS EVER WILLING TO DIE FOR YOU.
THE ONLY LORD WHO IS CAPABLE TO REALLY GIVE A FORGIVENESS OF SINS THAT COMES BEFORE A HOLY, HOLY GOD, AND THAT FORGIVENESS IS YOURS. THAT'S CALLED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. IT'S VERY INTERESTING THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE AND WE TEACH IN OUR SENATE, IN OUR DENOMINATION, ABOUT HOW WE ARE TO RESPECT THOSE WHOM GOD PLACED IN AUTHORITY OVER US. I THINK YOU SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT WE TEACH ABOUT YOU IN OUR DENOMINATION.
BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD, ROMANS CHAPTER 13 AND OTHER BIBLE PASSAGES, WE INSTRUCT OUR YOUNG, OUR CHILDREN IN OUR CONFIRMATION CLASSES, IN OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL, THAT WE OUGHT TO RESPECT AND HONOR THOSE PLACED IN AUTHORITY OVER US.
YOU WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF YOU WOULD GO AND WATCH OUR WORSHIP SERVICES FROM KING OF KINGS LUTHERAN CHURCH SAN ANTONIO THAT WE CONSTANTLY PRAY FOR YOU.
WHY IS THAT? THERE IS A LEVEL THAT IS ABOVE POLITICAL PARTISAN.
THAT LEVEL IS WHY GOD PLACED YOU IN THIS OFFICE AND IT IS OUR HOLY SACRED DUTY TO
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HONOR YOU, RESPECT YOU AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO PRAY FOR YOU THAT GOD WOULD GIVE YOU WISDOM, THAT GOD WOULD GIVE YOU THAT KIND OF INTEGRITY THAT OUR CONGREGATION, OUR COMMUNITY, EXPECTS FROM YOU. IN OUR DENOMINATION WHEN CHRISTIANS PLACE THEMSELVES PROPERLY UNDER A GOD OF LORD CURIOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING AND ALL, WHAT HAPPENS? THERE IS NO CONFLICT ACTUALLY BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE, AND THE JAILS ARE PRETTY MUCH EMPTY. IT'S INTERESTING.THAT IS THE POWER AND THE EFFICACY OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT WE PREACH, CONFESS AND TEACH TO OUR PEOPLE. NOW THAT'S MY LITTLE INTRODUCTION MESSAGE.
WHAT IS VERY INTERESTING, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE, THAT THIS WEEKEND IS THE WEEKEND OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEDICATION OF THIS NATION TO THE LORD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS. YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT IN MAY OF 1994, IF THAT IS CORRECT, PRESIDENT EISENHAUER ICE EISENHOWER, THAT OUR NATION, OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WHICH WE WILL SPEAK IN A MINUTE, ALSO WOULD HAVE THE WORDS UNDER GOD. WHY WAS IT DONE? WHEN UNITED STATES DURING THE DAYS OF THE COLD WAR WAS GROWING IN ANXIETY OVER THE RISE OF THE SOVIET UNION, WHICH STATED THAT THERE IS NO GOD, AN ATHEIST NATION, THE UNITED STATES STRONGLY FELT WE NEED TO SAY UNDER GOD.
AND THAT'S WHY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SIGNED IT INTO ALLOW.
NOW TODAY IS THE CELEBRATION, 250 YEARS OF THE DEDICATION OF OUR NATION
AS A NATION UNDER GOD. >> MAYOR JONES: PASTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. WE'RE READY TO GO TO THE
INVOCATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S RISE FOR PRAYER.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. >> I'D LIKE TO SAY THE PRAYER THAT -- I'D LIKE TO READ THE PRAYER THAT THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON WROTE. IF IT IS THY HOLY WILL THAT WE SHALL OBTAIN A PLACE AND NAME AMONG THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH, GRANT THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO SHOW OUR GRATITUDE FOR THY GOODNESS BY OUR ENDEAVORS TO FEAR AND OBEY THEE. BLESS US WITH THY WISDOM IN OUR COUNCIL, SUCCESS IN BATTLE, AND LET OUR VICTORIES BE TEMPERED WITH HUMANITY.
ENDO YOU ALSO OUR ENEMIES WITH ENLIGHTENED MINDS THAT THEY BECOME SENSIBLE TO THEIR INJUSTICE AND WILLING TO RESTORE OUR LIBERTY AND PEACE.
GRANT A PETITION OF OUR SERVANT FOR THE SAKE OF WHOM WHM THOU HAS CALLED THEIR BELOVED SON. NOT MY WILL BUT THY BE DONE. AMEN.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS TO CELEBRATE SOME MAJOR EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WILL -- ACTUALLY, WE'LL START OFF, ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APRIL 29TH AND APRIL 30TH, 2026. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? HEARING NONE, IS THERE MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES?
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES, THANK YOU.
OKAY. SO TODAY IS -- THIS YEAR RATHER IS A BIG ANNIVERSARY, 40 EARTH ANNIVERSARY FOR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I WILL READ A PROCLAMATION OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR THIS CELEBRATION, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE PODIUM IF YOU'RE ABLE TO. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HEREBY
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PRESENTS COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE.COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS IN EVENTS HAS REMAINED A INSTEAD TAFT CHAMPION FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ACROSS OUR CITY. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1985, THE ORGANIZATION HAS FULFILLED ITS MISSION TO SURROUND STUDENTS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, EMPOWERING THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE.
FOR FOUR DECADES, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO HAS WORKED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE CAMPUS-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING STABILITY SUPPORT AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION HAS HELPED TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND FOSTER PATHWAYS TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS. ROOTED IN COLLABORATION AND GUIDED BY COMPASSION, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO HAS STRENGTHENED STUDENT WELL-BEING, IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. ITS WORK CONTINUES TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, BUT ALSO THE FUTURES WORKFORCE AND OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR CITY. AS COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO COMMEMORATES THIS MILESTONE THROUGH A GALA CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF CHAMPIONS, WE RECOGNIZE THE COORDINATORS, CLINICIANS, EDUCATORS, MENTORS, VOLUNTEERS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS WHOSE SHARED COMMITMENT HAS MADE THIS LEGACY POSSIBLE AND CONTINUES TO SHAPE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THIS REMARKABLE MILESTONE AND EXTEND THEIR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND IMPACT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JESSICA WEAVER AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS COMMUNITY AND CEO OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO.
ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OUR STAFF, AND THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE, WE THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF FOR THIS MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION. WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S LEADERSHIP AND FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WE SHARE IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE BROADER COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT THAT MAKES THIS WORK POSSIBLE. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CAMPUS LEADERS AND EDUCATORS, ALONG WITH OUR NON-PROFIT AND CIVIC PARTNERS, PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY YOU WORK ALONGSIDE US EVERYDAY TO ENSURE THAT KIDS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES, STABILITY AND THE CARE THAT THEY NEED ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. I AM ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR CIS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, OUR SITE COORDINATORS, CLINICIANS, SUPPORT TEAMS WHO ARE REPRESENTED THIS COLLECTIVE EFFORT WHERE IT MATTERS MOST, BUT THEY'RE ON CAMPUSES AND WORKING HARD TODAY. THIS YEAR MARKS 40 YEARS OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1985, OUR MISSION HAS BEEN SIMPLE AND STEADY, TO SURROUND STUDENTS WITH COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT SO THEY CAN STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH SCHOOLS, THE CITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
OUR FOUNDER BILL MILLICAN SAID IT BEST, IT NOT PROGRAMS THAT CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, IT'S RELATIONSHIPS. AND RESEARCH BACKS THIS UP.
TWO RECENT STUDIES FROM HARVARD AND CORNELL HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR MODEL OF INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS SURROUNDING OUR STUDENTS WITH A WEB OF SUPPORTING SYSTEMS IS A POWERFUL PROTECTIVE FACTOR, IMPROVING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, STRENGTHENING MENTAL HEALTH AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE OVERCOME ADVERSITY.
IN FACT, RELATIONSHIPS CONSISTENTLY MATTER MORE THAN CIRCUMSTANCES ALONE.
THAT SAME RESEARCH HAS TOLD US THAT TRUSTED CARING ADULTS ARE NOT ONLY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR STUDENTS, THEY ARE ALSO POWERFUL DRIVERS OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND TOOLS FOR PREVENTION OF NEGATIVE OUTCOMES, WHILE PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO GRADUATE, THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO AS WE CULMINATE THIS MILESTONE YEAR WE DO SO WITH BOTH GRATITUDE AND EXCITEMENT, ESPECIALLY AS WE CELEBRATE STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING AND STEPPING CONFIDENTLY INTO THEIR NEXT CHAPTERS OF LIFE. NEXT WEEK WE'LL GATHER FOR THE HE UNION GALA. AND TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO FOR ALIGNING AROUND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THEIR SUCCESS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY. WE'RE NOT SEPARATE. WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED AND INSPIRED TO CONTINUE THIS WORK TOGETHER IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
AND THANK YOU AND HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY TO COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SAN ANTONIO.
[APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WEAVER.
WOULD ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES LIKE TO MAKE REMARKS? COUNCILMAN KAUR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
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AND CONGRATULATIONS. I ALWAYS USED TO LOVE WHEN DR. ROCHA HAD TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM VOTES WITH CIS BECAUSE SHE WAS A BOARD MEMBER AND SHE PROUDLY RECUSED HERSELF. YOU KNOW I'M A HUGE FAN AND I THINK THE WORK THAT COUNSELORS ARE DOING IN CAMPUSES EVERY SINGLE DAY I WISH EVERY CAMPUS IN OUR CITY WOULD HAVE SO MANY MORE BECAUSE IT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK AND I HOPE YOU GET -- CONTINUE TO GET FUNDING THAT YOU NEED TO SERVE OUR KIDS THAT NEED IT THE MOST. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YES, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR 40 YEARS AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
AND SOMETIMES JUST WORKING, NOT LOOKING FOR THE ACCOLADES, BUT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT NEED IT MOST, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE MOVING FORWARD, THAT THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO MOVE FORWARD. IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE HERE AND THEN I THINK ABOUT COUNCILMAN SALDANÃ AND HIS EFFORTS AND HIS WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST HELPING, BUT WE ARE UPLIFTING THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS. I LOOK FORWARD TO 40 MORE YEARS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. AS WAS MENTIONED, DISTRICT 4 HAS VERY LONG-STANDING TIES TO CIS. AND WE HAVE A BOARD MEMBER HERE, COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA, AND RAY HAS A SMALL JOB DOING SOMETHING OVER THERE, DOING SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATES AND CREDITED CIS WITH THEIR SUCCESS IN LIFE AND HOW MANY KIDS WOULDN'T BE WHERE THEY ARE TODAY WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FOR CIS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND HAVE THESE PROGRAMS THERE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS YOU ALL BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A CRITICAL PROGRAM FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR FUTURE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. YOU DON'T GET HAD THAT ENOUGH, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. PLEASE CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANTED TO COMMEND JESSICA AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS BOARD FOR THE IMPACT AND VALUE THAT Y'ALL BRING TO THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND BEYOND ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM, YOU ALL DO SO MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES, CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES, BUT ALSO THE ROLE THAT Y'ALL PLAY WITHIN SECONDARY EDUCATION. I'M REMINDED OF MY TIME WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL TO BE A U.S. GOVERNMENT TEACHER AND FOR MY SERVICE LEARNING THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT SOME OF MY SERVICE LEARNING THROUGH COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS AT COLLINS GARDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO READ TO STUDENTS AND TEACH THOSE LITERARY SKILLS TO OUR OUT. SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT THAT Y'ALL HAVE BETWEEN K-12 EDUCATION, BUT BEYOND IN HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL, PROVIDING THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH SERVICE LEARNING, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVING AND EXPANDING THE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOT JUST THE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS.
OF COURSE THERE, BUT ALSO FOR THE FAMILIES TOO. LOOKING AT IT HOLISTICALLY IN TERMS OF SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS NEED ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST AT SCHOOL, BUT AT HOME TOO. OF COURSE THANK YOU TO THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE TO OUR EDUCATORS TOO WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES THEY CANNOT ADDRESS THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST EVERYDAY THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO STEP IN, INTERVENE AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR MISSION AND MAKING SURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
I WANT TO SAY A PERSONAL THANK YOU FOR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS BEING AVAILABLE AT HOME SIDE SCHOOL WHEN I WAS THERE AND HELPING MY FRIENDS BUT MYSELF TOO.
IT HELPS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO STAY IN SCHOOL, FOCUS ON SCHOOL AND REACH THEIR BEST POTENTIAL AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: HAPPY FORTTH. YOU HAVE AN AMAZING CREW UP HERE. WHEN I THINK OF COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS AND THE IMPACT YOU ALL HAVE, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE TEACHING STUDENTS' LIVES, BUT IT'S ALSO PREPARING THE WORKFORCE FOR SAN ANTONIO FOR TOMORROW. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED A HEALTHY WORKFORCE SO THAT WAY WE CAN BRING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF US HERE. SO THE SHORT-TERM GOAL IS OBVIOUSLY MAKING THOSE STUDENTS' LIVES MORE IMPACTFUL SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, BUT YOU ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO A THRIVING SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK WITH
THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
I SEE A LOT OF FAMILIAR FACES ON THE BOARD AND I KNOW THESE PEOPLE LEAD WITH THEIR HEART. GLAD TO SUPPORT THE WORK YOU DO.
YOU WERE RECENTLY AT OUR DISTRICT 8 TEEN TOWN HALL. THERE'S A LOT TO DO IN THAT SPACE AND I THINK THE WORK DO YOU IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS HAVE THE RESOURCES IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME MORE THAN AT HOME.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU,
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MAYOR. 40 YEARS, THAT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.AND A BIG MILESTONE AND IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE TESTAMENT OF YOUR IMPACT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEED FOR IT AND THE CONTINUED EFFORTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING AND REMOVING THE BARRIERS FOR ALL THE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES BOTH INSIDE AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY THAT YOU CONNECT, THE MENTORSHIP THAT YOU PROVIDE AND THE RESOURCES AND ENCOURAGEMENT, THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT'S CHANGING THE WAY THESE KIDS ARE THINKING ABOUT THEMSELVES. AND THAT'S THE CHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL AND THAT'S HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S HOW -- AND Y'ALL KNOW THIS. SO I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE EDUCATORS AND COUNSELORS, THE STAFF, THE VOLUNTEERS. THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS WORK, RIGHT? SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON THE 40 YEARS AND THANKS FOR INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I JUST WANT TO READ THE MISSION OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS. FROM THE WEBSITE IT SAYS OUR MISSION IS TO SURROUND STUDENTS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, EMPOWERING THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE. AND I MEAN, THERE ISN'T A GREATER MISSION AROUND, I THINK, THAN THAT. AND YOU ALL, THE EFFORTS THAT YOU MAKE TO PROMOTE THAT MISSION AND HAVE THAT MISSION SUCCEED I THINK IS SPECIAL.
IT HELPS US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IN SO MANY WAYS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU AGAIN PRESIDENT WEAVER AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ANNUALLY, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING, 12,000 KIDS ANNUALLY, 12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND I KNOW IT SAYS COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT YOU'RE IN UVALDE AND PEARSALL AND DIVINE.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT TO STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE REGION. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY WEEK.
WHEREAS THE -- FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE, PLEASE. GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY WEEK WAS FIRST DECLARED BY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER TO RECOGNIZE THE LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE SINCE ESTABLISHING ROOTS IN PHILADELPHIA IN 1978. WHEREAS NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY WEEK TAKES PLACE MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 17TH AND OBSERVED GLOBALLY BY 132 COUNTRIES AND IN THE SAN ANTONIO SALVATION ARMY ALONE PROVIDED OVER 50,000 MEALS AND NIGHTS OF SHELTER IN 2025. AND WHEREBY ITS MOTTO DOING THE MOST GOOD AND SUPPORTED BY GENEROUS DONORS, VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, THE SALVATION ARMY RESPONDS ON THE FRONTLINE OF DISASTERS WORLDWIDE TO DELIVER COMPASSIONATE RELIEF AND LIFE-CHANGING ASSISTANCE AND HARDSHIP.
WHEREAS THE SALVATION ARMY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THOSE FACING HUNGER, POVERTY, ADDICTION AND SPIRITUAL HARDSHIP WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AND SERVES AN ENDURING ROLE IN THE AMERICAN STORY. WE HONOR VOLUNTEERS, DONORS AND ALL WHO SHARE IN THE MISSION OF HOPE AND HEALING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNIZE THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 11TH THROUGH 17TH, 2026, TO BE NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK, SIR. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND HONORED GUESTS. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SALVATION ARMY. AND ON BEHALF OF OUR STAFF, OUR OFFICERS, VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS, THE FAMILIES WE SERVE EVERYDAY, WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. THE SALVATION ARMY HAS BEEN PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 137 YEARS AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO BEING A RESOURCE AND DOING THE MOST GOOD.
EVERY MEAL SERVED, EVERY CHILD SUPPORTED AND EVERY FAMILY HELPED IS ALSO POSSIBLE BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO STAND BESIDE US AND WE ARE PROUD TO HARN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND ON A PATH TOWARDS LONG-TERM STABILITY. THIS RECOGNITION BELONGS TO THE DEDICATED PEOPLE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY EVERYDAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR AND FOR SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF HELPING THOSE MOST IN NEED THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WOULD ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU SO
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MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND BEING THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND WE WORK SIDE BY SIDE. YOU HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT THIS ENTIRE TIME. IT HAS BEEN CRITICAL ON THOSE HOT DAYS AND THOSE COLD DAYS FOR A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE. AND THEN THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING A SECOND CHANCE AND MOVING ON IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I ADMIRE AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY AND WE ARE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. I THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CENTER IN DISTRICT 4 ON SOUTHWEST MILITARY DRIVE.
AND WHEN I GOT ELECTED I WANTED TO HAVE A MEETING THERE.
THE COMMUNITY IS WELCOME, YOU OPENED UP YOUR DOORS TO US.
WE'VE HAD A FEW THINGS GO ON THERE THANKFULLY. I ALSO KNOW YOU RUN A SENIOR CENTER, SOME ACTIVITIES WITH SENIORS THERE, AND IT'S AMAZING THE THINGS YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR THE SOUTH FLORES LOCATION IN DISTRICT 5 WHERE YOU HOUSE THOSE IN NEED, BUT ALSO SERVE AS A DONATION STATION.
AS SOMEONE WHO ALSO ENJOYS THRIFTING IT'S ALLOWED ME TO RECONNECT WITH A CHILDHOOD FRIEND WHO WAS THERE WORKING THROUGH ENTRY WORK. REALLY GRATEFUL, SALVATION ARMY HAS HELPED HIM RECONNECT WITH JOB OPPORTUNITY.
NOW HE'S WORKING DOWNTOWN IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY BUT STILL RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF THE SALVATION ARMY. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK WITH THE ANGEL TREE THAT YOU ALL DO. I KNOW MANY DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO RELY AND VALUE THOSE SERVICES AND AS A CHILD IT'S HOW I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE MY FIRST CD PLAYER. SO JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK AND OPPORTUNITY THAT Y'ALL PROVIDE TO KIDS AND FAMILIES IN NEED, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR Y'ALL'S REENTRY WORK.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: I WANTED TO QUICKLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SALVATION ARMY YOU THINK OF A LONG-STANDING TRUSTED FRIEND AND THAT'S OFTEN HARD TO KEEP UP THAT TYPE OF BRAND THESE DAYS. SO I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOU ALL, THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOUR MISSION AND A TESTAMENT TO YOUR WORK.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANOTHER 40TH.
EVERYONE IS TURNING 40 TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW YOU DURING CHRISTMAS TIME WITH THE BELLS RINGING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, BUT YOU DO WAY MORE THAN THAT AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SURROUNDING AREA AND THE THRIFT STORE TOO. I ACTUALLY FELL WHEN I WAS A KID AND I STILL HAVE THE STITCHES, THE MARK FROM THAT, I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SALVATION ARMY BECAUSE OF THAT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU DO TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT DO YOU TO STRENGTHEN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND BIKE TO WORKDAY. I SEE YOUR HELMETS BUT I KNOW YOUR BIKES ARE NOT IN HERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO -- YOU CAN WALK UP HERE, THOUGH, PLEASE. HELMETS ARE COOL. ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES MAY 2026 AS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND WILL HOST THE NINTH ANNUAL BIKE TO WORKDAY ON MAY 15TH FOR ACCESSIBLE MOBILITY AND CONSIDER RESIDENTS TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. WHEREAS THE PLANNING ORGANIZATION IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ACTIVELY SUPPORTS NATIONAL BIKE MONTH BY ORGANIZING EVENTS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS THAT ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE REGION TO TRY BICYCLING THROUGHOUT MAY. AND WHEREAS WALKING, BICYCLING AND PUBLIC TRANSIT ARE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AFFIRMS BICYCLING AS A VIABLE AND ESSENTIAL MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND CONTINUES TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICIES, INCLUDING THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN, COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, AND VISION ZERO SA INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE SAFETY, IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY, REDUCE TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND ELIMINATE TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES.
AND WHEREAS THE BIKE TO WORK ENERGIZER STATIONS ON MAY 15TH WILL BE HOSTED
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THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO TO OFFER BICYCLISTS RESOURCES, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, REFRESHMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOGNITION AND PRIZES AND CELEBRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY, 2026, TO BE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH AND MAY 15TH, TOMORROW, TO BE BIKE TO WORKDAY INSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. [APPLAUSE]. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS SOLOMON MENDOZA. I'M A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNER WITH THE ALAMO AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.
ON BEHALF OF US AND OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING BIKE MONTH AND BIKE TO WORKDAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE PROUD TO HELP FUND BIKE AND PED PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION THAT IMPROVE SAFETY, CONNECTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THROUGH OUR REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS WE HELP INVEST MILLIONS IN FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT HELPS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES MOVE AROUND MORE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. THESE INVESTMENTS NOT ONLY EXPAND TRANSPORTATION CHOICES, BUT ALSO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.
BIKE MONTH REMINDS US THAT TRANSPORTATION IS ABOUT PEOPLE, CREATING A REGION WHERE RESIDENTS CAN SAFELY CHOOSE HOW THEY TRAVEL, WHETHER BY CAR, TRANSIT, WALKING OR CYCLING. WE APPRECIATE THE CITY'S CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING TRANSPORTATION AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET OUT, RIDE
SAFELY AND PARTICIPATE IN BIKE TO WORKDAY. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I'M ISAAC LEVY, SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WHO LEADS THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN, A PLAN THAT HAS RECOMMENDED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE CYCLISTS. AS WE LIKE TO REMIND OURSELVES AT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, A PLAN IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP AND IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS EXECUTION. I WANT TO GIVE A THANKS TO OUR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, MAYOR ORTIZ JONES, ALL COSA MEMBERS AND OUR PARTNER AGENCIES FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO HELPING IMPLEMENT THE GRAND VISION SET FORTH FOR OUR CITY. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ADVOCACY GROUPS AS WELL AS OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS THE CITY. WITHOUT THEIR INPUT, THIS PLAN WOULD HAVE NEVER CAME INTO FRUITION AS IT IS TODAY. IN NUMEROUS PROJECTS LIKE CAMDEN AND WOODLAWN LAKE AREA, WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OFF THE GROUND.
AS WE IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED YOUR INPUT TO HELP SHAPE YOUR CITY. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, LET US REMEMBER OUR FELLOW CYCLISTS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN UNFORTUNATE FATAL INCIDENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR. THEY ALLOW US TO BE REMEMBERED AS WE CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO MAKE CYCLING SAFER ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, HAPPY BIKE MONTH.
MY NAME IS JOEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACTIVATE SA. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN MAKING SAN ANTONIO A BICYCLING CITY WITH THE ADOPTION OF A BICYCLING BICYCLING PLAN AND POLICY FRAMEWORK, AS WELL AS PROJECTS THAT ARE NEARING COMPLETION SUCH AS THE SANTA ROSA PROJECT.
OUR EVER EXPANDING NETWORK IS ALSO SOMETHING OF A TRUE JEWEL IN SAN ANTONIO ACROSS OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO OUR CITY STAFF, CITY COUNCIL AND AWESOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CYCLING INITIATIVES, WHO HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER IN ADVOCATING FOR THESE TOPICS AND IMPROVEMENTS. THESE PLANS AND POLICIES ARE INCREDIBLY NEEDED. NOT ONLY TO HELP US FEEL SAFER, BUT MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN WE, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDPARENTS ARE OUT THERE ON OUR STREETS.
I THINK YOU WOULD AGREE THAT ONE PERSON KILLED ON OUR CITY STREETS AND ROADWAYS IS ONE TOO MANY. BETWEEN 2021 AND 2025, 33 CYCLISTS WERE KILLED AND ANOTHER 10 UN9 WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS YEAR ALONE ONE MAN LOST HIS LIFE, THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE REPORTED IN THE TXDOT CRASH INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THESE PEOPLE ARE FELLOW SAN ANTONIANS, FRIENDS, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS AND CO-WORKERS NOT COMING HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES OR LIVES DRAMATICALLY ATERED.
THESE POLICIES HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT VISIONS. NOW WE'RE CALLING ON YOU TO MAKE THE VISIONS A REALITY. WE NEED A BIKE NETWORK PLAN THAT IS TRULY SAFE, COMFORTABLE, PROTECTED AND CONNECTED, BUILT FOR USERS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
ON BEHALF OF OUR CYCLING COMMUNITY, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY, THANK YOU AND LET'S MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE PREMIER CYCLING COMMUNITY THAT WE DESERVE. THANK YOU. HAPPY BIKE MONTH.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, YOU'RE
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RECOGNIZED. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING THIS MORNING AND HELPING US TO ORGANIZE AND CELEBRATE NATIONAL BIKE MONTH. AS I WAS BIKING TO WORK TODAY, I WAS BIKING DOWN FLORES AND THERE WAS THREE TIMES WHERE THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE BASELINE AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CONSTANTLY FACE EVERY TIME IF YOU ARE BIKING. YOU ARE RIGHT, WE SAID IT. WE HAVE ALL OF THE PLANS IN PLACE NOW AND WE HAVE ALL VOTED ON A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY, WE HAVE A VISION ZERO POLICY LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE HAVE OUR BIKE NETWORK PLAN WHICH INCLUDED SO MUCH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT WAS DONE SO THOUGHTFULLY. NOW WE'VE GOT TO GO. SO I'M GOING TO BIKE THIS EVENING TO MARTINEZ CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING AND I'M GOING TO BIKE DOWN CINCINNATI AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROTECTED BIKE LANE, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE CHALLENGE OF WORKING WITH RESIDENTS TO SEE HOW WE CAN BEST ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEEDS WITH PARKING AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. WOULD Y'ALL BE OKAY WITH PLASTIC DELINEATORS TO SUPPORT BIKE LANES? YEAH. LET'S GET STARTED.
THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR AND I KNOW MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT SO THAT WHEN WE ARE ALL ENJOYING OUR STREETS, WHETHER IT'S FOR COMMUTE OR TRANSIT OR WHETHER IT'S JUST FOR JOY, THAT WE GET TO DO SO SAFELY AND NO MORE ACCIDENTS.
AND I WILL JOIN YOU GUYS NEXT WEDNESDAY FOR OUR BIKE MEMORIAL OF SILENCE FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF THAT WORKED SO HARD FOR THIS. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE TODAY AND ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND CONTINUE TO DO AND YOUR ADVOCACY AS WELL AS EVEN THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU ALL DO AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE BOARD IS EXCITED AND ENJOYING BIKING HERE IN OUR CITY.
DISTRICT 6 IS A VERY ACTIVE CYCLING COMMUNITY. FROM OUR MOST SENIOR RESIDENTS TO EVEN OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS. I SHOUTED THIS OUT EARLIER, BUT I WAS GOING TO SHOUT OUT AGAIN THE TAFT HIGH SCHOOL BIKE CLUB IS AN ACTIVE GROUP AND CONTINUES TO NOT ONLY ENJOY CYCLING IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER STREET PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND CYCLING SAFETY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, ALL THE WORK THEY DO IN CREATING THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN, THE COMPLETE STREETS PLAN, CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATING AND PUSHING US ON THE VISION ZERO PLAN. WHEN I WAS FIRST DOING MY PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE FIELD OFFICE AND LOOKING AT THE BIKE NETWORK PLAN AND LOOKING AT THE CRASH REPORTS AND WONDERING HOW TO USE THE DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE ISSUES HERE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING THINGS NICE, ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD ALSO BE NICE AND BEAUTIFUL, BUT MAKING SURE THINGS ARE SAFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. ONE LAST THING, I WON'T GO INTO MY PERSONAL ABILITIES OF CYCLING THAT I DID BEFORE EARLIER THIS MORNING, BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION THIS, EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT BE THE BEST CYCLIST IN MY OFFICE, I DO HAVE TWO FOLKS ON MY TEAM, BOTH WORK IN POLICY, ERIK AND DERRICK, WHO WERE THE TOP B CYCLISTS IN OUR ENTIRE CITY, COMPETE IS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
DID NOT KNOW EACH OTHER, AND WE CONTINUOUSLY PUSHED AND ASKED ME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE B CYCLES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT KEEPS OUR CITY MOVING. I WANTED TO SHARE THAT THE [INDISCERNIBLE] IS THERE AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THIS BECOMES A REALITY IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I AGAIN WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK, ACTIVATE SA, ALL OF THE BIKING GROUPS, OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM. AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING IT'S REALLY GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN KAUR FOR REALLY SPEARHEADING, SHE AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, FOR TEAMING UP ON THAT.
WHILE WE HAVE ALL THE PLANS, THEY'RE WELL THOUGHT OUT, IT'S TIME TO EXECUTE.
I LOVED WHAT MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED THIS MORNING OF DOING TWO PRONGS A YEAR IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. WE NEED 15, 20 PROJECTS A YEAR.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE NORTH STAR IS. WE'RE ALL ALIGNED THERE.
WE'RE NOT FIGHTING ABOUT THAT. IT IS NOW TIME TO EXECUTE.
SO I -- AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, ME AND COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN NEED TO HAVE A COMPETITION ON WHO IS THE WORST CYCLIST. MAYBE I'LL WIN, BUT I AM A LONG DISTANCE RUNNER AND OFTEN TIMES LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS AND CYCLISTS FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES. AND SO I COME AT IT FROM THAT LENS, ALTHOUGH I THINK I AM A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE ON MY FEET. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S WORK ON FINALLY THE COMPLETE BIKE PATH AROUND WOODLAWN LAKE TO KEEP SO MANY FAMILIES SAFE.
WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I MEAN, THE COMMUNITY IS -- IS EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO. AND YEAH.
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WE NEED TO GET TO WORK. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] IF OUR POLICE OFFICERS WOULD JOIN, COME TO THE PODIUM.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
THIS IS A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF POLICE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. SO WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT IN 1962 PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY DESIGNATED MAY 15TH AND THE WEEK IN WHICH IT FALLS RESPECTIVELY AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, A TIME TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
WHEREAS DURING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK OUR NATION AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY COME TOGETHER ALONGSIDE THOUSANDS OF OFFICERS, SURVIVORS, FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES TO GATHER IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE LINE OF DUTY. WHEREAS EACH DAY POLICE OFFICERS PLACE THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY, FACING UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE EVEN ROUTINE CALLS CAN QUICKLY ESCALATE INTO LIFE-THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCES, ALL WHILE WORKING TO PROTECT INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND SAFEGUARD OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THROUGH THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, POLICE OFFICERS UPHOLD THE LAWS OF OUR NATION AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS GUARANTEED BY OUR CONSTITUTION AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR CHALLENGES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND SACRIFICES REMEMBERING THAT BEHIND EVERY BADGE IS A STORY OF SERVICE AND FAMILY. AND WHEREAS IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL FALLEN OFFICERS CEREMONY ON MAY 29TH, 2026, AT THE SAPD TRAINING ACADEMY TO HONOR THE 62 OFFICERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 15TH, 2026, TO BE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICER'S MEMORIAL DAY AND THE WEEK OF MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 16TH, 2026, TO BE NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND EXTEND PROFOUND APPRECIATION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OUR
CITY. CHIEF, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SAPD DURING POLICE MEMORIAL DAY AND NATIONAL POLICE WEEK.
IN OUR 180 YEARS OF EXISTENCE AS A DEPARTMENT WE TALK ABOUT SACRIFICE OF THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US, AND THAT LOSS IS A CONSTANT REMINDER TO ALL OF US OF THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MADE AND THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MAKE EACH DAY TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE. AND TODAY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT REMEMBERING THOSE THAT WE LOST, BUT HONORING THEIR LEGACY OF SERVICE, COURAGE AND DEDICATION THAT THEY LEFT BEHIND FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR THIS DEPARTMENT TO GROW FROM.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION. I WANT TO THANK THE GREAT RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THE FALLEN OFFICERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US. AS YOU SAID, MAYOR, EVERYBODY IS INVITED TO OUR MEMORIAL CEREMONY AT THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE ACADEMY
FRIDAY MAY 29TH AT 9:00 A.M. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERYDAY. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND ALL THE SERVICE THEY HAVE PROVIDED.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MY DISTRICT 1 SAFE OFFICERS WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OUR CITY. SO STARTING WITH OFFICER CANO, OFFICER GARCIA, THE SUBSTATION OFFICER [INDISCERNIBLE], OFFICER MCCAMPBELL, NORTH SUBSTATION OFFICER RICHARDSON AND OFFICER THOMAS, THE CENTRAL SUBSTATION OFFICER DOMINGUEZ, TAPIA AND SCOTT. AND THEN THE DOWNTOWN SUBSTATION OFFICER TERRERO, GUZMAN, HINOJOSA, HERNANDEZ, ROMERO AND SANCHEZ.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR DISTRICT 1 RESIDENTS.
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REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME AND MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW I SERVED AT CRT FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE FEAR OF HEARING THAT E TONE GO OFF WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN THE OFFICE AND TRYING TO FOLLOW UP ON CASES THROUGH DISPATCH. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE JOB WHERE I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE AND YOU ALL TAKE THIS JOB AND YOU TAKE THIS OATH AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT YOUR PLANS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU FOR YOUR FAMILY. AND WE HAVE 62 OFFICERS THAT HAD THAT DONE AND THEN THEIR FAMILIES SURVIVED. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO THE MEMORIAL, I HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT YOU GO. BUT AGAIN, ON NATIONAL POLICE WEEK I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WITHIN OUR FIVE YEARS FOR SOME OF US, OUR TERM, THAT GOT SHOT AND MADE IT AND RECOVERED BECAUSE OF YOUR TRAINING AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU WERE THERE TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE LINE OF FIRE. AND WE'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS. SO, YOU KNOW, MY PRAYER IS CONTINUALLY THAT YOU GUYS ARE SAFE OUT ON THE STREETS, THAT YOU FEEL APPRECIATED FOR THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MAKE, AND FOR THE SACRIFICE THAT YOUR FAMILIES MAKE ALSO.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. REMEMBER THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN. THOSE THAT I KNEW BECAUSE THEY SERVED WHILE I WAS THERE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH Y'ALL'S TRAINING AND Y'ALL'S WORK AND Y'ALL'S EFFORT THAT WE IN THIS PAST FIVE YEARS HAVE SEEN PEOPLE COME OUT OF VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND TRY TO RECOVER. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT OATH AND THAT SACRIFICE.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA.
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FALLEN OFFICER THAT PASSED AWAY IN 1983, GILBERT RAMIREZ. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR COMMUNITY CENTER IN DISTRICT 4 NAMED AFTER HIP. HE WAS AT THE END OF HIS SHIFT AND SAW A CALL COME IN AND RECOGNIZED THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY SOMEBODY THAT HE WENT TO CHURCH WITH WHO WAS ABUSING HIS WIFE. AND MADE THE CALL AND WAS AND SO THAT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO WAS FROM THE AREA, KNEW HIS FOLKS, WANTED TO PROTECT HIS OWN IN THE COMMUNITY. AND HE ALSO HAPPENED TO BE MY UNCLE HOMER'S BEST FRIEND AND THAT WAS -- THEY WERE LIKE BROTHERS.
AND MY AUNT TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE DIED IT WAS THE MOST DEVASTATING THING MY UNCLE WENT THROUGH AT THAT TIME. SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY ARE FATHERS AND MOTHERS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO -- DESPITE EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND THE COUNTRY, RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY, RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY BEHIND THE UNIFORM, RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY BEHIND THE SUITS, RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY BEHIND EVEN A PROTEST LINE. THESE ARE ALL INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AND WE ALL HAVE THAT SHARED COMMON THEME. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE EVERYDAY. IT'S HARD TO PUT ON THAT UNIFORM AND GO OUT AND SAY GOOD-BYE TO YOUR FAMILIES AND HOPE THAT YOU COME BACK IN ONE PIECE.
SO THANK YOU ALL -- THANK YOU TOO TO OFFICER HERNANDEZ FROM SOUTH SUBSTATION WHO DOES SO MUCH GREAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. DOES WORK ON HIS TIME OFF, FINDS OUR MISSING SPEED RADAR TRAILERS ON HIS DAY OFF AND GOES TO SO MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALL OF YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR COURAGE AND SACRIFICE IN SERVING SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO OBSERVE MANY OF YOU ALL, WHETHER YOU'RE WITH THE WEST SUBSTATION, THE CENTRAL SUBSTATION OR THE SOUTH SUBSTATION THAT SERVE DISTRICT 5 TO SEE YOU ALL LEAD WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPASSION FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL SERVE.
NOW I CAN'T GO DOWN THE ROLL CALL OF THOSE SAFE OFFICERS WHO HAVE HELPED ME REBUILD MY RELATIONSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT THE OFFICERS AND SO MANY OTHERS, THERE ARE A LOT OF OFFICER HERNANDEZ, BUT SERGIO HERNANDEZ IN PARTICULAR. AND JAKE HERNANDEZ.
BUT EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK AND THE SERVICE THAT YOU ALL DO IN SERVING DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS AND BEYOND. AND WE'RE ALSO HERE TO HONOR THE FALLEN OFFICERS. AND I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH A CHILD WHO IS NOW AN ADULT OF A FALLEN SAPD OFFICER WHO WAS RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC
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VIOLENCE PHONE CALL, AND OUR THE CITY LOST THEIR FATHER BECAUSE OF THAT CALL.I'VE SAT WITH THE SIBLINGS OF FALLEN OFFICERS. WHILE THOSE AREN'T MY STORIES TO TELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I REALLY VALUE THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL PUT WHEN YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM AND GO OUT TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT Y'ALL DO. AND I JUST AGAIN WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT THOSE STATIONS THAT SERVE DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY, AND YOU KNOW, A QUICK ANECDOTE.
I WAS ON A RIDE-ALONG WITH OFFICER HERNANDEZ WHEN THERE WAS A RESPONSE BECAUSE THERE WERE SHOTS FIRED AT AN OFFICER, AN OFFICER HAD BEEN SHOT.
AND I WAS, YOU KNOW, GRATEFUL THAT THE OFFICERS WERE OKAY, BUT I WAS GRATEFUL AND IMPRESSED WITH THE RESPONSE AND THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT I SAW FROM SO MANY OFFICERS RESPONDING TO THAT CALL, GRABBING THEIR EQUIPMENT, RUNNING TO THE SCENE, IT WAS JUST VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THAT PROFESSIONALISM, THAT EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST KEEPING AN OFFICER SAFE, BUT RESIDENTS AROUND AS WELL. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALWAYS LEADING WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE THAT YOU ARE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE IS NOT AN EASY JOB. WE ALL KNOW THAT. IT TAKES A LOT TO DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. TAKES A LOT FOR YOUR FAMILY TO BE BEHIND YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THE RECENT CADET -- HE IT WAS FURTHER BACK NOW, CADET GRADUATION. AND SEE SO MANY FOLKS EXCITED TO NOT ONLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES BEHIND THEM, SUPPORTING THEM, CHEERING THEM ON, KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TOUGH TIMES IN THIS ROLE, BUT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO IT. A LOT OF US HERE ARE FROM OUR SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR [INDISCERNIBLE] NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE COME FROM. I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR CITY AND IN PARTICULAR I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SAFE OFFICERS, OF COURSE, AND ALL THE FOLKS WITHIN OUR WEST SUBSTATIONS THAT SERVE DISTRICT 6. I STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEART -- A HEART FOR CENTRAL SUBSTATION 2 FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID WHEN I WAS IN D5 AS WELL WORKING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT OVERLAP THERE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO GO TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, TO RESPOND TO CALLS DURING DATE AND ALL THE -- ANSWERING ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS HAVE THAT MAKES IT SEEM TRIVIAL TO THE WORK THAT WE DO, BUT MEANS A LOT TO THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO NEIGHBORS ABOUT WHAT THINGS YOU'RE SEEING AND HEARING AND DEALING WITH. TO TO NOT ONLY ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT CALM THE NERVES OF A LOT OF OUR FOLKS, MAKE SURE WE FEEL SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEMORIALIZING A LOT OF OUR FOLKS WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE LINE OF DUTY, TWO OF THE FOUR PARKS IN OUR CITY THAT ARE NAMED AFTER FOLKS WHO HAVE FALLEN ARE IN DISTRICT 6. CUELLAR PARK AND OUTSIDE OF 410, THERE IS A COMMITMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HONOR AND RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB. IT'S NOT A THANKFUL JOB ALL THE TIME, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL, THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS THERE WITH YOU ALL TOO. AND I WAS TOLD BY MY AUNT THAT I HAD TO RECOGNIZE ALSO CELESTE AND BOBBY WHO WORK, MY COUSINS, IN SAPD, WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR A VERY LONG TIME ON PATROL AND ON THE BACK END SO YOU HAVE THE TOOLS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO KEEP ALL OF US SAFE AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE LISTENING TO THE PROCLAMATION, IT SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES YOU ALL FACE, AND I KNOW MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I AND I HOPE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I CAN RELATE TO THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF CONTEXT SWITCHING ALL THE TIME, ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE GET THINGS THROWN AT US ALL OF THE TIME AND THEN WE HAVE TO GO HOME AND SOME OF US HAVE TO BE MOMS AND SISTERS AND PARTNERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, RIGHT? SO ON THE DAYS IT GETS REALLY HARD, I OFTEN THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO DO.
BECAUSE YOU ALL, AND FIREFIGHTERS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW MY BROTHER'S A FIREFIGHTER. YOU ALL ARE WITH PEOPLE AT THE WORST MOMENTS AND YOU ALL FACE A LOT OFCRAPTHROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THEN YOU HAVE TO GO HOME. AND YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, CONTEXT SWITCH.
YOU HAVE TO BE A FATHER, BE A BROTHER, BE A HUSBAND, BE A WIFE.
SO ON OUR REALLY HARD DAYS, I MEAN, WE CAN'T HOLD A FLAME TO WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE THINK IT GETS HARD, I KNOW THAT'S THE HARDER ON Y'ALL TIMES 10.
I KNOW IT'S HARDER ON FIREFIGHTERS. MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BRING UP FIREFIGHTERS IN A ROOM FULL OF POLICE OFFICERS. IT GETS HARDER FOR OUR FIRST
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RESPONDERS TIMES 10. SO I SEE YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU, AND I WILL CONTINUEFIGHTING FOR YOU. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ? >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. I SEE SOME OF OUR SUBSTATION SAFFE OFFICERS. OFFICERS FERGUSON, WHO IS BLUE SANTA SOMETIMES, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. A LOT OF US ARE BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND THAT GOES THE SAME FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, SO WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE FACT THAT YOU WAKE UP EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE FOR YOUR FAMILY, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR FOLKS THAT YOU WILL NEVER MEET, THAT'S REALLY PUBLIC SERVICE, RIGHT? WE'RE DOING WORK FOR FOLKS THAT WE WILL NEVER SEE, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT EVERY DAY AND WORKING TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS?
>> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SPEAKING AT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE AND POLICE PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL THIS WEEK. WE HONORED 57 FIREMEN AND WOMEN AND POLICEMEN AND WOMEN THAT HAD PASSED IN THE PAST YEAR.
IT WAS REALLY A MOVING CEREMONY. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO GET THROUGH. I ALMOST CAME UNDONE MYSELF. BUT IT'S A REMINDER THAT YOU KNOW, YOU SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE TRYING TO PROTECT EVERYONE ELSE AND WE'RE JUST TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO HONOR YOU. SO WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL EVERY DAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT YOUR FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH.
REALLY, WHAT YOUR FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH, AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.
WE HAVE TO SPARE NO EXPENSE IN DOING THAT. WE TAKE OUR FREEDOMS FOR GRA GRANTED. BUT WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE, WE CALL YOU, AND YOU RUN IN THERE AND YOU HELP US. WHEN WE ARE AFRAID AND WE'RE SCARED, THEN YOU TAKE THAT HOME, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING T THAT. I HAVE SOME FUNNY MOVIE LINES IN HERE, I PROMISE.
BUT ALSO, WE ARE TRYING TO CELEBRATE YOU THIS WEEK. IT'S NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU CHOOSING THIS CAREER AND I KNOW YOU RECEIVE A LOT OF CRIT CRITICISM, AND A COMMUNITY THAT SOMETIMES ISN'T IN FAVOR OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT WE ARE GRATEFUL. WE REALLY ARE.
THERE IS NO WAY THIS WORKS WITHOUT YOU. NONE OF THIS DOES.
NOTHING WE ARE DOING, LET'S NOT PRETEND THAT ANY OF THIS WORKS WITHOUT YOU.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. I'M SORRY I GOT SO EMOTIONAL. I WASN'T PLANNING TO.
BUT YOU MAKE US THE STRONG CITY. YOU HELP US ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS HERE. YOU HELP OUR COMMUNITIES PROSPER, OUR PROPERTY VALUES STAY HIGH. YOU DO SO MUCH AND DON'T EVEN KNOW.
THANK YOU. IT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THIS IS THE JOB. RIGHT? SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR KIDS, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR HUSBANDS AND WIVES, BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE SCARY TO WORRY ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH EVERY DAY.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.
WHEN I THINK OF ALL OF YOU AND THE WORK YOU DO, I THINK OF COURAGE, I THINK OF HONOR AND I THINK OF SACRIFICE. IT IS I THINK UNQUESTIONABLY THERE'S NEVER BEEN A TOUGHER TIME TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN AMERICA THAN RIGHT NOW, AND THE WAY YOU GUYS, MEN AND WOMEN, GO ABOUT DOING YOUR WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, IS TRULY REMARKABLE AND WE OWE YOU A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS NEEDS TO BE A TWO-WAY STREET, AND IT'S OUR JOB HERE ON COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALL THE PERSONNEL AND ALL THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED SO THAT YOU CAN DO THOSE JOBS TO THE VERY BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES, AND SO I KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO, AS MY COLLEAGUE JUST MENTIONED, NOTHING WORKS, NOTHING WORKS
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UNLESS THE COMMUNITY FEELS SAFE. PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES. PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE TRAVELING AROUND THIS CITY.OUR VISITORS NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY COME HERE TO ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS TO OFFER, THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE WHEN THEY ARE HERE.
YOU ALL MAKE ALL OF THAT HAPPEN. WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL AND FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT HAS PASSED ON BEFORE US IN THE LINE OF DUTY, YOU WILL NEVER, THOSE FOLKS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF THERE'S ANYTHING, OF COURSE, THAT ANY OF YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOBS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK AND WE WILL GO ABOUT GETTING IT FOR YOU HERE AT THE CITY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ?
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR CHOOSING TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY. I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME LEVITY IN THIS MOMENT. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO BUT I'M GOING TO DECIDE IF I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT I THINK I WANT TO SAY BUT I'LL START OFF BY SAYING THAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL IN THE AFTERMATH OF A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR ENTIRE NATION AS IT RELATES TO POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND I THINK AS WE SEE THE WAY THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE RESPONDED, WHAT ALWAYS STANDS OUT TO ME AND THE FEELING AND SENTIMENT I GET IS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS DIFFERENT, AND THE REASON THAT WE'RE DIFFERENT, THE REASON THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DIFFERENT, IS BECAUSE OF THE MAKEUP AND THAT SO MANY OF YOU COME FROM COMMUNITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO. MANY OF YOU COME FROM SAN ANTONIO. MANY OF YOU COME FROM INNER CITIES, YOU COME FROM COMMUNITIES LIKE THE EAST SIDE AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SPOKEN TO AN OFFICER AND THEY SAY YOU KNOW, I COME FROM A COMMUNITY WHERE THE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS WEREN'T GREAT, AND I JOINED BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I WANTED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM. I WANTED TO MAKE MY COMMUNITY SAFER. I WANTED TO BE THE CHANGE THAT I WANTED TO SEE.
SO WHEN I'M SHAKING YOUR HANDS AND LOOKING YOU IN YOUR EYES AND HAVING CONVERSATION WITH YOU, THAT'S THE OFFICER THAT I SEE. AND SO THERE'S A DIFFERENCE AND YOU'LL HEAR, I'M OFTEN ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL CRITICS OF POLICING AND OF THE MILITARIZED NATURE OF POLICING AND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, A PERSON IS DIFFERENT FROM THE SYSTEM IN WHICH THEY'RE PARTICIPATING AND THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IS BASED OFF OF THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO SEE -- THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CHOOSING TO ACT WITH COMPASSION AND CARE AND LOVE AS YOU EACH ARE, THAT MAKES OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT MUCH BETTER.
THAT HELPS SAPD RISE ABOVE THE LEVEL OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER CITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. SO I WANT TO SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THAT, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. I KNOW I HAVEN'T SAID THAT IN THAT WAY PUBLICLY BUT I DO WANT TO CONVEY THAT, AND THAT SITS WITH MY HEART. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT YOU KNOW, VERY FEW PEOPLE -- MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY WANT THE POWER, AUTHORITY, THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH WEARING THE UNIFORM AND HAVING THE BADGE.
VERY FEW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY DO THAT OR HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY DO THAT. AND SO I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU'RE HEARING US HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POLICING AND THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE BETTER AND THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN HERE, I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT IT COMES WITH RESPECT, IT COMES WITH LOVE AND IT COMES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING AND A BELIEF THAT YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO BETTER.
SO THANK YOU ALL. WHAT WAS THE NAMES OF THE GOOD ONE?
>> MAYOR JONES: NATIONAL POLICE WEEK? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: HAPPY POLICE WEEK AND OF COURSE, REMEMBERING ALL THOSE WHO YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO COME BEFORE YOU, WHO HAVE FALLEN. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I KNOW IT'S A RISK EVERY DAY THAT YOU TAKE. WE DO APPRECIATE YOU FOR IT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. LET ME REDIRECT THE THANKS AND APPRECIATION THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SO ELOQUENTLY SHARED.
I WAS THANKFUL THE OTHER DAY TO COUNCILMAN WHYTE AND I WERE AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO LAY A WREATH FOR THOSE FEDERAL POLICE OFFICERS, THOSE PEACE OFFICERS THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAD BEEN LOST. SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE 62 MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO SERVE AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE LOST THEM IN THE LINE OF DUTY BUT WE'RE A STRONGER COMMUNITY BECAUSE SUCH COURAGEOUS FOLKS WERE WILLING TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND OF COURSE, SUPPORT AND DEFEND OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ALSO THANKFUL, AS HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO YOU, SO MANY OF YOU CONTRIBUTE IN OTHER WAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK ABOUT MY OWN KARATE INSTRUCTOR WHO SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW. ANTHONY LINSON TAUGHT ME KARATE OFF MAPAC, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM JAY. TO KNOW HE WAS A POLICE
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OFFICER BY DAY AND A KARATE INSTRUCTOR AND THEN CHILD CARE PROVIDER, WHICH HE STILL CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, SO THANKFUL FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU ALL SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS AND IF MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE 62 LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.MAY PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM. THANK YOU.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING REMAIN AMONG THE MOST FREQUENT AND DANGEROUS NATURAL HAZARDS IMPACTING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE BROADER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS REGION WRANS THE CITY'S UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY, WATERWAYS AND RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE STORMS AND FLASH FLOODS THAT THREATEN LIVES, HOMES, BUSINESSES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WHEREAS THE CITY COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING RESIDENTS THROUGH FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS EFFORTS AND COORDINATED EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND WHEREAS INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FLOOD RISKS, EVACUATION PROCEDURES, WEATHER ALERTS, SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES, HELLO, INCLUDING THE CRITICAL WARNING TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN, HELPS PREVENT INJURIES, LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND WHEREAS THE CITY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS THE DEDICATION OF FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, PUBLIC WORKS TEAMS, METEOROLOGISTS, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK YEAR-ROUND TO STRENGTHEN FLOOD SAFETY PREPAREDNESS AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. NOW THEREFORE, I, GINAORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY, 2026 TO BE FLOOD AWARENESS MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. CHIEF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SAY A FEW WORDS. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE JUNE 12TH FLOODING EVENT, AND IT SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF THE DANGERS FLOODING PRESENTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. FLOOD WATERS RISE VERY QUICKLY, WE ALL KNOW THIS, AND THEY CAN BE DEADLY. ONE OF THE GREATEST RISKS WE CONTINUE TO SEE IS MOTORISTS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS, AND THAT IS WHY THE MESSAGE TUN AROUND DON'T DROWN IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.
NO DESTINATION IS WORTH RISKING A LIFE. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS, DISPATCHERS, PUBLIC WORK CREWS AND PARTNER AGENCIES LIKE THE STATE WHO RESPONDED DURING THE RECENT FLOODING EVENTS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PERSONAL DECISION-MAKING PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN PREVENTING TRAGEDIES. WE ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO STAY WEATHER-AWARE, RESPECT BARRICADES AND AVOID FLOODED AREAS.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
I WANTED TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL AND ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED ON THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE WORK STARTS BEFORE THE DISASTER HITS. AND THE WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL DO, PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM AND THE STORMWATER TEAM, IS ENSURING THAT WE MITIGATE RISKS. DISTRICT 5 HAS EXPERIENCED THE IMPACT OF A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD, SO MUCH THAT A BOOK WAS WRITTEN CALLED WEST SIDE RISING BECAUSE WE KNOW 1% CAN RESULT IN LIVES LOST AND WHILE DRAINAGE FLOOD CONTROL IS NOT SEXY AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECTS, AND SOMETIMES THEY DO REQUIRE PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND/OR RELOCATION, THE GOAL IS TO MITIGATE RISK AND SAVE LIVES.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T UNDERMINE. IT'S AN IMPORTANT
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CONVERSATION AND THEY ARE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE, BUT THE GOAL IS THAT WE'RE SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING FOLKS FROM ANY IMPACT OF DISASTER.SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE ROLE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS, PARTICULARLY JESSICA AND VICTORIA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN NAVIGATING DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN, THESE ARE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND WORKING WITH CONSTITUENTS ABOUT FEMA, WATERSHED, SO ON AND SO FORTH, IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING BUT YOU ALL HAVE SERVED AS EXPERTS TO WALK COMMUNITY THROUGH WHAT THIS MEANS AND HOW TO FEEL COMFORTABLE. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL AND COMMEND YOU ALL.
I WOULD BE REMISS, SINCE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT HOW GREAT JESSICA AND VICTORIA ARE, THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WORK WITH FLOOD CONTROL HAS ENCOURAGED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTOR TO GO EARN HER MASTERS INHYDROLOGY, UNDERSTANDING AND WATCHING THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, THE WAYS THEY TEACH COMMUNITY THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF FLOOD CONTROL HAS ENCOURAGED STEPHANIE.
JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE STORMWATER TEAM AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND KEEP PLANNING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALSO RESPONDING IN THE INSTANCE OF
DISASTER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN? >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE WORDS YOU SPOKE TODAY. THANK TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, IN BOTH THE PREVENTION SIDE AS WELL AS THE RESPONDING SIDE. WE KNOW WHEN DISASTER HITS WE WANT TO BE AS READY AS POSSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FOLKS. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO GO OUT DURING EXTREME EVENTS, WHETHER WEATHER OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT THAT CAUSES THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN. HAVING FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT QUICKLY AND TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS IS REALLY CRITICAL.
THERE ARE FOLKS IN MY LIFE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED BY FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS WORKERS DURING FLOODS THEMSELVES, PARTICULARLY IN DISTRICT 6. SO IT MEANS A LOT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE GREAT SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THOSE RESPONSE BUT PREVENTION SIDE, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO SAID, THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE DO PROPER INVESTMENTS WE NEED ACROSS OUR CITY AND EVERY FOCAL POINT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR FOLKS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF A SITUATION, HAVING TO CALL 911 DURING A FLOOD OR SEVERE RAINSTORM.
I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS I HAD WHEN I WAS ELECTED WAS WITH THE RIVER AUTHORITY, PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS TALKING ABOUT HOW TRAIL SYSTEMS AND OTHER PORTIONS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT 6 IN PARTICULAR ARE GOING TO BE LOOKED ALTHOUGH AT FOR THIS UPCOMING BOND CYCLE. HOW CAN WE ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE UPSTREAM, LITERAL UPSTREAM ISSUES THAT COME HERE.
I'M EXCITED FOR THAT WORK, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THAT. I'M TELLING ART, HOLD ME TO IT, MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING AT THOSE INVESTMENTS WHEN THE BOND COMES AROUND AS WELL AS LOOKING AT TWO MAJOR ROADS IN OUR CITY THAT CONTINUE TO HAVE FLOODING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, KNOWING THEY ARE CRITICAL PLACES WE NEED TO ADDRESS MAJOR FLOODING ISSUES THERE. I'M HAPPY TO BE PARTNER IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WE CAN GET THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO?
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHEIEF, FOR PRESENTING THIS TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND INSPIRATION TO WOMEN HERE. APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL'S WORK.
AS WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCILMAN GALVAN, THESE FLOODING PROJECTS AREN'T SEXY AND THEY'RE NOT EXCITING BUT THEY ARE NEEDED.
SO YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THAT WE SHOULDN'T HOLD OUR BREATH AND WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOND.
THESE FLOODING AND -- FLOODING PREVENTION PROJECTS NEED TO BE BAKED INTO OUR GENERAL FUND AND YES, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR BUDGET NEEDS TO WORK ON. SO THOSE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS BUT YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GET UNNERVED BY THE FACT WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT BOND.
THIS NEEDS TO BE BAKED IN BECAUSE RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE PROTECTED, AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, I THOUGHT HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN SHE SAID ALL OF THE WORK IS THROUGH PREVENTION, RIGHT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE PREVENTED AND SO IT NEEDS TO BE AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON 365 DAYS A YEAR. SO THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S WORK IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SO I THINK YOU HEAR OVERWHELMINGLY THAT WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF HOW WE CAN MANAGE FLOODING IN OUR REGION. ART, I FEEL ESPECIALLY COMFORTABLE WITH YOU AT THE HELM, TOO. I KNOW YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. AND YOU KNOW, I'M REMINDED OF THE TRAGEDY THAT WE HAD, THEN ALSO, WE LOST TWO OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IN SALEDOCREEK IN SEPTEMBER.
IT CAN ALSO IMPACT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT ARE SEEKING SHELTER IN MAYBE
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A LESS THAN SAFE AREA AND THEN IMPACTED IN THAT WAY. THIS IS ALL ABOUT BEING PREPARED AND I TALK A LOT ABOUT THE BEDROCK UP IN DISTRICT 9 AND HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR DISTRICTS, AND THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS BUT THEY'RE NECESSARY AND EXACTLY WHAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT FROM US, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GO AND TALK TO OUR LEGISLATURE AND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND HOW WE CAN JUST BE LOUD AND ADVOCATE TO HELP GET THESE FUNDED, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING. IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE MORE WE WORK ON THIS, WE ARE REMEMBERING AND HONORING THE TRAGEDIES THAT WE'VE SEEN HERE AND THEN WHAT WE SAW JULY 4TH LAST YEAR. THIS IS ALL OVER THIS STATE. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS -- SOMETHING WE HAVE TO MANAGE AND IT'S EXPENSIVE.IT IS EXPENSIVE. BUT IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HANDLING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
THANK YOU TO OUR FIREF FIREFIGHTERS. NO WORDS FOR WHAT Y'ALL GO INTO. THAT IS SCARY. SO THANK YOU FOR ENTERING INTO THOSE SITUATIONS, AND WE OWE IT TO YOU, TOO, TO KEEP YOU OUT OF THOSE SITUATIONS.
SO REMEMBER TO TURN AROUND AND DON'T DROWN. EVERYONE NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE ALERTS WHEN THEY COME THROUGH. I URGE EVERYONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEM WHEN THEY COME IN. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS.
BRIEFLY, I ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND YOU ALL ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT. SO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. LAST YEAR ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT 10 AND 2, OF COURSE, WE HAD THAT TRAGIC FLOODING INCIDENT AT THE LOW WATER CROSSING.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU KNOW, ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE CITY, THESE ISSUES ARE OUT THERE AND SO I AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN PUT OUR DOLLARS TOWARDS SOME OF THESE FIXES, WE NEED TO DO IT. THESE ARE VERY MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ADDRESSING.
SO THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
AS YOU HEARD IN OUR DISCUSSIONS JUST THE OTHER DAY, MANY OF US WANT TO PRIORITIZE THIS TOPIC, IN PARTICULAR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE KLEINFELDER REPORT AND WE WILL DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY.
ERIK, OVER TO YOU FOR A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> WALSH: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TODAY'S VIDEO SHOWCASE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS TWO OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO COORDINATE BUILDING SAFETY. MAY IS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH.
THIS YEAR'S THEME OF BUILT TO LAST HIGHLIGHTS HOW OUR MODERN BUILDING CODES PROVIDE PROTECTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF OUR DSD EMPLOYEES WHO EXEMPLIFY THIS THEME.
YOU WILL SEE FROM THE VIDEO, VALERIE GLEASON, WHO IS AN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION SUPERVISOR WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR OVER 31 YEARS. AND CRYSTAL TOWNE, A DANGEROUS PREMISES OFFICER, BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 11 YEARS.
CRYSTAL IS IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY. I DON'T THINK VALERIE WAS
ABLE TO MEET US HERE TODAY. LET'S ROLL THE DAY'S VIDEO. >> YOU KIND OF SEE IT'S CHANGED A TAD. I'M A SUPERVISOR FOR FOUR SENIOR ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS AND SIX ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS. PART OF MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE DONE CODE COMPLIANT. A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I END UP DOING IS VERIFYING CODES. SOMEBODY CALLS, THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH SOMETHING AND IT'S A CALL AN INSPECTOR'S MADE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO TO THE SITE AND TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION. BUILDINGS AREN'T JUST ELECTRICAL. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ASPECT THATS THAT HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT BUILDING COME TO FRUITION. MANY TIMES WE WORK WITH CODE
BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE CITATION PROCESS. >> SO MY ROLE AS A DANGEROUS PREMISE OFFICER IS TO ENFORCE THE CITY ORDINANCE FOR EXISTING BUILDING AND STRUCTURES. I INSPECT STRUCTURES FOR THE DANGEROUS ASSESSMENT RESPONSE
[01:25:03]
TEAM, CITY-WIDE, STRUCTURES THAT MAY BE POSING A NUISANCE, A HAZARD OR SAFETY CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY. WE LOOK FOR STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES, FOR THE THREE MAIN COMPONENTS, THE FOUNDATION, WALLS AND ROOF, AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SAFFE UNIT SPECIFICALLY, AND WE DISCUSS PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A TWO-YEAR HISTORY OF CODE HISTORY AND CRIMINAL HISTORY, SAPD WILL SECURE THE PROPERTY, MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE SO THAT ALL OTHER CITY ENTITIES CAN GO IN. WE CONDUCT OUR INSPECTION AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S TO GO TO BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD OR IF IT'S MAYBE THEY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR MAYBE SOME OTHER TYPE OF ASSISTANCE THEY MAY NEED. WE SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND WE SEE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE ANDWHAT WE CAN BEST DO TO ASSIST THEM. >> THE TEAMWORK IS THAT WE ALL CONFER WITH EACH OTHER ON THINGS, AND I BELIEVE MY OTHER ONE IS INNOVATION.
PART OF OUR JOB, TOO, IS SOMETHING GETS TURNED DOWN FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH CURRENT CODE. WE ACTUALLY SOMETIMES WILL COME UP WITH IDEAS TO HELP, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WE ARE NOT HERE TO PUT THE BRAKES ON ANYBODY'S PROJECT.
IT'S JUST AN EMPHASIS ON THE SAFETY OF THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES AND HOW AS A COMMUNITY, WE OWE THAT TO OUR NEIGHBORS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HOUSE IS SAFE.
MY HOUSE IS SAFE. YOU KNOW, THAT THE BUILDING YOU GO AND EAT LUNCH IN IS
SAFE FOR YOU TO GO TO. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CRYSTAL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
ERIK, FOR THAT. OKAY. THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. ITEMS 5-16, MINUS NUMBER 13, THAT WAS WITHDRAWN, ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP AND WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY? OKAY. HEARING NONE, WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FROM THE PUBLIC. I WILL CALL THE INDIVIDUALS UP IN THE ORDER THAT THEY SIGNED UP. THE FIRST PERSON IS MONICA GUERRERO FOLLOWED BY KATHY JONES. EACH OF YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. MONICA? KATHY JONES? KATHY JONES? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT
AGENDA? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> MAYOR JONES: MOVED AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA FROM MY COLLEAGUES? HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS? WHAT NUMBER? WHAT NUMBER WOULD YOU LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OR QUESTION? 10? YOU ARE NUMBER 15.
OKAY. THANK YOU. GOT A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE MADE SOME APPOINTMENTS OUT. I VOWED THAT WE WOULD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FILL THAT REMAINING SEAT AND SO WE DID, SO I'M EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE CAMILLA MONTOYA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR BEING WILLING TO STEP UP AND SERVE IN THIS WAY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 10. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CHAIR OF ECONOMIC AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS ALL THE APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED FOR THE AT-LARGE POSITIONS OF THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD, FOR THEIR INVESTMENT AND TIME AND ENERGY. I'M GRATEFUL FOR SA READY TO WORK'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SERVING RESIDENTS WHO FACE HIGH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, TO HAVING ORGANIZED LABOR AT THE TABLE AND TO THE INCLUSION OF THESE NEEDED VOICES IN OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSIONS. WE KNOW THAT A FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM'S SUCCESS IS HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVERCOME THE MANY VARYING BARRIERS THEY FACE WHEN SEEKING FULFILLING, GOOD-PAYING EMPLOYMENT.
THE PRESENCE OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS ENSURES THAT NEEDED VOICES ARE HEARD AND IN TURN, MAKE OUR PROGRAM BETTER OVERALL. MY CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHAEL PENAON HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE ADVISORY BOARD AS A LABOR REPRESENTATIVE. HE IS A 16-YEAR MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF THE
[01:30:02]
IBEW BOARD. BARBARA'S WORK PROVIDES CRITICAL RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SHE'S GREAT AT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT LACK NEEDED RESOURCES AND WHO FACE CYCLES THAT ARE VERY HARD TO BREAK. SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED AN INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO BUILD BRIDGES SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HER PRESENCE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD AND I WANTED TO THANK BOTH MICHAEL AND BARBARA FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THESE POSITIONS, THEIR DEDICATION TO STRONG ATTENDANCE AT THE ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS AND TO ENSURING THAT LABOR AND HIGH BARRIER POPULATIONS ARE REPRESENTED AND HEARD. THANK YOU.>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GALVAN? >> GALVAN: THANK YOU.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 7 AND 8 FOR MY TWO APPOINTEES, THE STREETS BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS BOARD. CYNTHIA AND AARON AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP.
PAST SIX YEARS. SHE HAS RECEIVED HER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING IN 1992. SHE HAS BEEN ACTIVE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS MEMBER AND CURRENTLY SERVES IN THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT FOR SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER.
CYNTHIA HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE I'M VERY EXCITE TD TO HAVE YOU ON THAT BOARD. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ARE GOING TO DO THERE. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON THE TEAM.
I'M ALSO GOING TO HIGHLIGHT AARON GONZALEZ, WHO WORKS AT THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY AND HAS A STRONG INTEREST IN PUBLIC SERVICE AS WELL AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS PARENTS AND LOCAL RESIDENT, HE VALUES THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS, RECREATION ACROSS THE CITY. HE'S EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO AND SUPPORT THE BOARD AND I'M HOPEFUL HIS SON WILL BE AN EAGLE AS MINE WAS IN DISTRICT 6. WE TALKED ABOUT BIKE MONTH TODAY, MAKING SURE THAT NOT ONLY WE ARE MAKING STREETS SAFER FOR DRIVERS BUT ALSO PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS ALIKE, NOT ONLY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK BUT TO ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND RECREATIONAL AREAS, PARKS AND TRAIL SYSTEMS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR MORNING AND LIVES TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SPEARS?
>> SPEARS: YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 5, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION AND HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREA GRANT APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS UP TO $2.1 MILLION FROM THE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY. LOT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY. PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE AS A CITY AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS THAT KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, FAMILIES AND FIRST RESPONDERS SAFE.
DRUG TRAFFICKING CONTINUES TO HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CONTRIBUTING NOT ONLY TO ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE DEATHS BUT ALSO TO VIOLENT CRIME, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND BROADER PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
THIS GRANT FUNDING HELPS STRENGTHEN COORDINATION BETWEEN LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS SO THAT THEY CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY TARGET HIGH LEVEL TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS AND CRIMINAL NETWORKS OPERATING IN AND AROUND OUR REGION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE LEVERAGING OUTSIDE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES AND REDUCE THE BURDEN ON LOCAL TAXPAYERS. THESE RESOURCES ALSO HELP ENSURE OUR OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS HAVE THE TOOLS, PERSONNEL AND INTERAGENCY SUPPORT NECESSARY TO RESPOND TO INCREASINGLY COMPLEX CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
RESIDENTS WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, PARKS AND BUSINESSES AND INVESTMENTS THAT HELP DISRUPT THIS DANGEROUS DRUG TRAFFICKING ACTIVITY DIRECTLY SUPPORT THAT GOAL. I ALSO APPRECIATE THIS FOCUS ON COLLABORATION AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING BECAUSE THESE CHALLENGES DO NOT STOP AT CITY BOUNDARIES.
AN EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUIRES STRONG REGIONAL AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS.
ULTIMATELY, THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING LIVES, STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS AND ENSURING LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 15. TODAY WE ARE PASSING AN ORDINANCE THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A TAXPAYER IMPACT STATEMENT TO BE PUBLISHED EVERY YEAR SO THAT OUR CITIZENS KNOW WHAT'S BEING DONE WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS, AND YOU KNOW, AFFORDABILITY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE OF AN ISSUE, I THINK, THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AT LEAST IN RECENT TIME. COST OF LIVING IS SO HIGH AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS
[01:35:04]
BEING DONE WITH THEIR MONEY. SO THIS TAXPAYER IMPACT STATEMENT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.WE MADE SURE THIS MORNING THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS SLIGHTLY CHANGED WHERE THE GOING TO HAVE IN THERE THAT THIS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR MONEY.
I'M ALSO TOLD THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH CPS ENERGY AND SAWS TO HAVE THEIR RATES PUBLISHED AS WELL BECAUSE OF COURSE, THAT'S OF GREAT INTEREST TO OUR CITIZENS, TOO. I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS, MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING IT, GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE FOR MOVING THIS ALONG QUICKLY THIS YEAR, AND EXCITED THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS
PASSED TODAY. THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND TO IM AN PAPPROVE TH CONSENT AGENDA. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES.
I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO REMAIN SEATED WHILE I TAKE US INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE TIME IS 10:36 ON THURSDAY, MAY 14TH, 2026. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE X THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SERVICE THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEAD OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUA
>> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 11:52 A.M. ON THURSDAY, MAY 14TH, 2026, AND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE TIME IS NOW 11:52 AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.