Jun 22, 2026 City Council Special Session

[ ITEM FOR BRIEFING ONLY]

[00:00:08]

>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 10:01 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY -- EXCUSE ME, ON MONDAY, JUNE 22ND, 2026. AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPECIAL SESSION IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL

ROLL. >> CLERK:

>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANKS, MADAM CLERK. THIS MEETING IS THE RESULT OF A MEMO FILED BY THREE COUNCILMEMBERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY CHARTER, SECTION 11, THE SPECIAL MEETING MEMORANDUM REQUESTED A REVIEW OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATION PROTOCOLS CONSISTENT WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD PARAMETERS.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT ALL THE RIGHT FOLKS IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE, 10:00 ON A MONDAY, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE CAN AS OUR LAWYERS WILL PROBABLY SAY 100 DIFFERENT WAYS TODAY, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION AND THERE'S NOT REALLY A LOT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY, BUT WE WILL TRY TO ANSWER AS MANY OF THE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN, UNDERSTANDING THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES ARE THE LEADER HOO.

OKAY. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO JUST A BRIEF INTRO, LIZ AND SHANNA WILL KIND OF WALK THROUGH THE PRESENTATION BOTH FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS CPS.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO FRANK ALMANERES WHO IS THE ENTER ITEM CEO, THIS IS FRANK'S FIRST OPPORTUNITY IN HIS CURRENT ROLE IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL, AND HE WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS.

FRANK? >> YEAH, THANK YOU, ERIK.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, I'M FRANK ALMARAS, PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR THE CPS ENERGY. I'M PLEASED TO WORK WITH YOU TO MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD. I'M HERE WITH YOU TODAY TO ADDRESS THE IMPORTANT MATTERS THAT YOU'VE ASKED US TO DISCUSS WITH US AND OTHER CITY PARTNERS.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE COMMITMENT TO A COLLABORATIVE AND TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COUNCIL. MY GOAL IS TO WORK CLOSE LOI WITH YOU, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS WITH EXCELLENCE.

I BELIEVE IN A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON MUTUAL RESPECT AND OPEN COMMUNICATION. AS I TRANSITION INTO THIS INTERIM ROLE, IT IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO UNDERSTAND YOUR PERSPECTIVES. WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ALL OF YOUR OFFICES TO SCHEDULE INTRO DUCTEDRY SESSIONS, AND WHILE I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEGINNING THESE CONVERSATIONS, I LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL AS YOUR CALENDARS PERMIT TO HEAR ABOUT THE SPECIFIC PRIORITIES OF YOUR DISTRICTS.

REGARDING OUR DISCUSSION TODAY, I WANT TO MOAT THAT CPS ENERGY HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE.

WE ARE LIMITED BOTH BY ACTIVE LITIGATION AND THE CURRENT NTSB INVESTIGATION AND WE WILL RESPECT THOSE LIMITS WHILE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE TODAY A VALUABLE DISCUSSION. I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND LOOK FORWARD TO A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING SOME TIME WITH EACH OF YOU SOON.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

LIZ PROVEN SEE OWE, FIRST ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND I WILL START THE BRIEFING ON THE REQUESTED REVIEW OF COORDINATION PROTOCOLS THAT WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NTSB LIMITATIONS. AND AS WE GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, THESE REQUESTS CAME FROM A THREE-PERSON SIGNATURE MEMO BY COUNCILMEMBERS WHYTE, ALDARETE GAVITO AND CASTILLO IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESTON HOLLOW INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED APRIL 21ST. THE THREE-SIGNATURE MEMO REQUESTS REVIEW OF COORDINATION PROTOCOLS IN RESPONSE TO THAT INCIDENT AND MORE BROADLY. AS ALREADY BEEN ALLUDED TO AND AS ARE YOU AWARE ON APRIL 22ND, THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION WHICH LIMITS THE TOPICS THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION FROM PUBLIC DISCUSSION. SO THAT INCLUDES

[00:05:02]

AS A RESULT, TODAY'S BRIEFING WILL INCLUDE HIGH-LEVEL NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORT OUTLINE, AS WELL AS THE RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE FIRE AND POLICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO ADDRESS GAS SAFETY GENERALLY. WITH REGARD TO THE NTSB ROLE -- GAITION -- INVESTIGATION. IT'S A FACTUAL PHASE AS WELL AS AN ANALYTIC PHASE. IN THE FACT WAZ PHASE -- FACTUAL PHASE THEY COLLECT POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS THAT GOVERN THAT INCIDENT AND THEY BEGAN THAT FACTUAL PORTION ON APRIL 22ND.

THEY PROCEED INTO AN ANALYTICAL PHASE WHERE THEY TEST THE PIPELINE INTEGRITY, PRESSURE AND THEY ANALYZE THE PRESSURE AND MONITORING DATA, MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND DETERMINE IF THERE WERE ANY HUMAN OR OPERATOR FACTORS INVOLVED, AND ULTIMATELY WILL DETERMINE THE PROBABLE CAUSE WITH THE INTENT TO ISSUE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. NTSB IS CHARGED IN DETERMINING PROBABLE CAUSE. AS A RESULT, THE CITY WILL NOT BE DETERMINING CAUSE AND THERE WILL NOT BE A DISCUSSION ABOUT CAUSE TODAY.

WITH REGARD TO THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS, THE PIPELINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 12 TO 24 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT. THE PRELIMINARY REPORT PROVIDES A SYNOPSIS OF FACTUAL INVESTIGATION COLLECTED DURING THE ON-SCENE PHASE OF THE INVESTIGATION. THAT PRELIMINARY REPORT, WHICH WAS RELEASED ON MAY 21ST AND CAN BE FOUND BY THE PUBLIC AT NTSB.GOV AT THE INVESTIGATION'S TAB IS ALSO AT YOUR SEAT, SO YOU HAVE THAT HANDY AS WELL.

THE FINAL REPORT WILL PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF RELEVANT FACTUAL INFORMATION, ANALYSIS, FINDINGS, PROBABLE CAUSE AND SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE INVESTIGATION. SO MOVING TO THE MAY 21ST PRELIMINARY REPORT THAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, IT IS AN INCIDENT OVERVIEW.

AND ON APRIL 21ST, 2 NATURAL GAS FUELED EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES OCCURRED ON PRESTON HOLLOW DRIVE. THE FIRST EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 6:04 P.M. AT 15066 PRESTON HOLLOW DRIVE.

IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO RESIDENTS AND SERIOUSLY INJURED THREE OCCUPANTS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED ABOUT 6:09 AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE IMMEDIATELY. CPS ENERGY REACHED THE SCENE ABOUT 6:32 P.M. A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT ABOUT 8:25 P.M. AT A NEARBY RESIDENT, 15058 PRESTON HOLLOW.

LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 65 FEET AWAY. IT INJURED TWO RESIDENTS AND ONE RESPONDING CPS ENERGY EMPLOYEE, AND THE SECOND RESIDENCE DID NOT HAVE ACTIVE NATURAL GAS SERVICE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE ABOUT 11:59 P.M. THE RESIDENTS OF BOTH ACCIDENTS HOMES WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT.

THE CPS ENERGY EMPLOYEE WAS TAKEN TO A CARE FACILITY FOR EVALUATION WHERE HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSIONS, THE WEATHER WAS RAINY WITH WINDS AND TEMPERATURE OF 63°.

WITH REGARD TO THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ON THE GAS SYSTEM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD GAS SYSTEM INCLUDED TWO-INCH UNDERGROUND POLYETHYLENE GAS MAINS AND A 1 INCH POLYETHYLENE SERVICE LINES.

THE GAS MAIN AND SERVICE LINES WERE INSTALLED IN 1993 AND THE SYSTEM PRESSURE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 9 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH GAUGE, BELOW THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATING PRESSURE OF 33 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH GAUGE. WHAT THE PRELIMINARY REPORT ALSO TELLS US THAT ABOUT 6:50 ON THE DAY OF THE EXPLOSIONS A CPS ENERGY EMPLOYEE SURVEYED AND CONDUCTED BAR HOLE TESTING IN THE AREA NEAR THE ACCIDENT HOME AND LOCATED A LEAK IN THE SERVICE LINE AT 15062 PRESTON HOLLOW, A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED BETWEEN THE TWO ACCIDENT HOMES.

[00:10:03]

CPS ENERGY PERFORMED PRESSURE TESTING OF THE REMAINING GAS MAIN AND SERVICE LINE TO THE FIRST ACCIDENT HOME. THESE TESTS FOUND NO ADDITIONAL LEAKS. CPS ENERGY ALSO MARKED UNDERGROUND UTILITIES AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THIS EFFECTIVELY SUMMARIZES THE POINTS IN THE PRELIMINARY REPORT THAT THE NTSB HAS ISSUED.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH THE NTSB AS IT PROCEEDS THROUGH BOTH ITS FACTUAL PHASE AND ITS ANALYTICAL PHASE.

AND AS WE PROCEED THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ONLY THE NTSB CAN RELEASE INFORMATION PUBLICLY. THEY WILL LIMIT IT TO VERIFIED FACTS ONLY. THEY WILL NOT BE RELEASING ANY OPINIONS OR CAUSE DETERMINATIONS UNTIL THEIR FINAL REPORT.

AND THE MEDIA CONTACT WILL BE HANDLED SOLELY BY NTSB.

VIOLATIONS OF THESE TERMS CAN LEAD TO EXPULSION FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS BY BOTH THE CITY AND CPS ENERGY. WITH REGARD TO THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR BRIEFING, WE'LL COVER THE RESPONSE OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORT IN THE EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY SUBSEQUENT TO THE INCIDENT.

>> VILLAGOMEZ: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS THIS COMMUNITY RESPONSE AFTER THE INCIDENT.

FOR THIS PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, DEANNE HARWICK, OUR CPS CUSTOMER STRATEGY OFFICER WILL ALSO BE COPRESENTING ON THE WORK WE COORDINATED BETWEEN THE CITY AND OUR CPS ENERGY. SO LET ME START WITH OUR WORK RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE INCIDENT, AND AFTER THAT THERE WAS A REUNIFICATION CENTER THAT WAS OPENED AT THE NORTHEAST SENIOR CENTER FOR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO GO TO A SAFE PLACE AS WE WERE WORKING THE AFTERMATH OF THE INCIDENT. ALSO TO GATHER INFORMATION. SO WE OPENED THAT NORTHEAST SENIOR CENTER, WE ALSO PROVIDED TRANSPORTATIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE INTERESTED. THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF INTEREST THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT. WE ENDED UP TRANSPORTING ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THE SITE. BUT THE GOAL OF THIS REUNIFICATION CENTER WAS ALSO PRIMARILY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE INTERESTED IN GETTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WAS -- WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND ALSO TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OUR CPS PARTNERS.

NOW, AFTER THE EVENT, OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT [INDISCERNIBLE] REED, HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPANY COUNCILMAN WHYTE ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON SITE. THERE WAS A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE RESIDENTS AT THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE TOOK THOSE ACTIONS AND CREATED A RESOURCE WEB PAGE WHERE THE RESIDENTS COULD OBTAIN INFORMATION, POINTS OF CONTACT FOR THE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD.

BASED ON THESE MEETINGS THAT WE ALSO HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE ALSO PROVIDED OUT-OF-CYCLE DEBRIS CLEARANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ALSO PROVIDED THROUGH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BARRICADES TO BE ABLE TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE STREET WHERE THE IMPACTED HOMES WERE LOCATED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDED ON-SITE SECURITY TO THOSE PROPERTIES THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE SECURE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE INDIVIDUALS GOING INTO THOSE PROPERTIES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH CPS WERE ABLE TO INSTALL SOME METHANE DETECTORS AT THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE IMPACTED BY THE EXPLOSION.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DEANNE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN TERMS OF THE WORK WE DID WITH CPS.

>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DEANNA HARWICK, I'M THE CHIEF

[00:15:03]

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ME PERSONALLY, I'M A MEMBER OF D10, AND WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PEOPLE LIVING THROUGH THIS, IT WAS NOT JUST -- NOT SIMPLY JUST AN OPERATIONAL EVENT, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPACTING THEIR LIVES AND WE KNEW THAT OUR FOCUS WAS TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND FIND A WAY TO CARE FOR THE IMPACTED RESIDENTS, COMMUNICATE WHAT WE KNEW, WHEN WE KNEW IT, AND FIND A WAY TO STAY ENGAGED LONG ENOUGH TO HELP THE COMMUNITY MOVE THROUGH THE CRISIS TO STABILITY.

AND WE KNEW THAT CUSTOMERS IN THE COMMUNITY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS THROUGH SEPARATE BUCKETS OF OPERATIONS, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COORDINATED WITH THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, MOBILIZED OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS AND CUSTOMER RESPONSE RESOURCES, SO WE WERE THERE ON SITE THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT AND REMAINED ENGAGED FOR UP TO 12 DAYS, INCLUDING 10 DAYS OF SUPPORT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. WE WERE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE ON THE SITE AND BE ABLE TO PUT OUR MOBILE SUPPORT CENTER THERE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND WE KNEW THAT THIS WASN'T, AS I SAID, A ONE-NIGHT RESPONSE.

SO WE WERE ALSO -- DID EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF IMMEDIATE BURDEN ON THE FAMILIES, SO WE WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH LODGING, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND BOTH HOTEL ROOMS AS WELL AS AIRBNB SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES THAT NEEDED IT. WE ALSO HAD -- SAW OTHER PRACTICAL NEEDS THAT WERE COMING UP, SO WE FOUND SOME ANIMAL SUPPORT WHERE WE COULD.

WORKED WITH THE CITY TO FIND RESOURCES AS WELL AS WHOEVER NEEDED -- LIKE THE AIRBNB, FINDING AIRBNB RESOURCES TO RESOURCES SO PEOPLE COULD TAKE THEIR ANIMALS WITH THEM, BECAUSE WE KNOW AS MUCH RESOURCES TO OFFER THAT MENTAL SUPPORT THAT PEOPLE NEEDED. SO WE ALSO KNOW THAT AT A CERTAIN TIME YOU NEED FOOD. WE HELPED WITH GIFT CARDS, WE HELPED SOMEONE GET A PHONE THAT LOST THEIR PHONE DURING THE EVENT, SO EVERYTHING FROM NOT JUST GAS SAFETY, BUT ALSO WHAT YOU NEED TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE SPECIFIC EVENT. WE KNEW THAT -- LIKE I SAID, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL -- NEIGHBORS IN THIS COMMUNITY, SO WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE CENTER OF MENTAL HEALTH AND GOT EMOTIONAL SUPPORT NEEDS THROUGH THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS TO THE RESIDENTS WHERE WE COULD. ANSWER WHILE WE WERE LIMITED IN WHAT COMMUNICATIONS WE COULD PUT OUT THROUGH THE MEDIA AND WE LIMITED WHAT WE COULD WORKING WITH THE NTSB, WE PROVIDED DIRECT OUTREACH, DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENTS. WE HAD ABOUT 175 CONTACT INFORMATION THROUGH PHONE NUMBERS AND E-MAILS AND TEXT NUMBERS, SO WE COULD SEND OUT MESSAGES. YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGES WE SEND FOR -- AUDIO] -- WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT TO BE ABLE TO SEND DIRECT MESSAGES ABOUT WHAT WE KNEW, WHERE WE WERE GOING TO BE, WHERE YOU COULD CALL IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING YOUR HOUSE CHECKED OUT FOR GAS SAFETY SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR HOUSE. SO WE WERE ABLE TO COORDINATE GAS SAFETY INSPECTIONS, WALK-THROUGHS RELATED TO GAS SAFETY AS WELL AS RELIGHTING PEOPLE'S PILOTS.

HELPED WORK WITH THE CITY TO DO GAS DETECTOR DISTRIBUTION, AS WELL AS ASSESSMENTS SO WE COULD HELP DO CLEANUP SUPPORT BASED ON ANY RESIDENT REQUEST THAT WE RECEIVED. WE DID EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD, BECAUSE IT'S CPS ENERGY, WE DO KNOW THAT ENERGIES DON'T ONLY JUDGE US BY THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT BUT ALSO BY THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND WHAT WE CAN DO BY CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

SO EVERYTHING THAT WE DID, WE DID WITH URGENCY, CARE, AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY AS WE COULD PROVIDE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO KEEP THAT CONNECTION OPEN WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD.

I'LL HAND IT OVER TO --

OPERATIONS. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL, ERIK, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR GAS SYSTEM OPERATIONS. WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS REALLY AN ANNUAL AN ANNUAL SNAPSHOT. WE HAVE OVER 400,000 CUSTOMERS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH AND READ ALL OF THESE, BUT I THINK THAT THE IMPORTANT ONES TO UNDERSTAND IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE IN A YEAR. SO OVER 10,000.

ALSO THE VOLUME OF UTILITY LOCATES THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR, ALMOST 280,000 HERE. TAKING A LOOK AT THE MILES THAT WE DO, WE DO SURVEY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION IS OUR GAS

[00:20:03]

THERE'S ALSO SOME INDICATION IN THE STRENGTHENING OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND UPGRADE OUR GAS SYSTEM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GENERAL GAS SAFETY, AGAIN, I MENTIONED IT BEFORE, BUT REALLY MAKING SURE THAT YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU SMELL GAS AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU CALL US FOR LOCATES BEFORE YOU DIG. THIS IS A NO COST SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO FOLKS, THEY CAN DO IT AT ANY TIME.

IT IS 811 AND IT'S 48 HOURS BEFORE DIGGING. THAT WAY YOUR UNDERGROUND LINES CAN BE MARKED. YOU CAN CALL US, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT DOING WORK IN YOUR YARD, AND IF RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR GAS LINES ARE LOCATED AND YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW, CALL US AT 811 OR 353-HELP, AND WE CAN MARK THOSE LINES FOR YOU. IF YOU SEE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AROUND GAS LINES, AND IF YOU'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S SUSPICIOUS, JUST REPORT IT. USE THOSE SAME NUMBERS, SAME LINES TO CALL.

IF YOU SMELL GAS, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AND THEN CALL FROM A SAFE PLACE TO LET US KNOW.

IF YOU THINK YOU SMELL GAS BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE, I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TREAT IT SERIOUSLY AND DO THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL 9-1-1, BUT IF YOU CALL US DIRECTLY, WE'LL BE THERE VERY QUICKLY. MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH GAS DON, OUR SNIFFER. WE WILL SEND THAT OUT TO DO GAS DETECTIONS.

A LOT OF TIMES WE DO THAT AT NIGHT, AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY, IT IS A LOT EASIER TO GET BETTER RREADS AT NIGHT THAN IT IS IN THE DAYTIME.

IF YOU SEE GASDON IN YOUR AREA, IT DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN YOUR AREA, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL US AND ASK WHY IT'S THERE, IT MAY JUST BE PREVENTATIVE DETECTION THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE AREA AT THAT TIME. YOU KNOW, DEANNA TALKED ABOUT HANDING OUT DETECTORS, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE IS DEVELOPED AN INVENTORY OF THOSE, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED THAT ARE LEFT THAT COULD BE HANDED OUT. AFTER WE EXHAUST THAT INVENTOR, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE COST OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL DETECTORS, BUT RIGHT NOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CALL, THEY CAN USE THAT SAME NUMBER.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SYMPTOMS, THEY'VE GOT THEM LISTED THERE, MOVE THE PERSON TO FRESH AIR IF YOU'RE AT ALL CONCERNED AND CALL FOR HELP. BUT AS WE MOVE INTO THE SUMMER, NOT A LOT OF CHANCE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING HEATERS ANY TIME SOON, BUT WHEN WE MOVE INTO THE COOLER MONTHS, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU VENTILATE ROOMS THAT HAVE GAS HEATERS AND KEEP CHILDREN AND MATERIALS AWAY FROM THOSE HEATERS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GAS SAFETY, YOU KNOW, CPS ENERGY DOES ALL THAT IT CAN UP TO YOUR HOUSE. ONCE IT'S INSIDE A HOUSE OR A BUSINESS, WE REALLY DO ASK FOR THE RESIDENTS OR THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO HELP US WITH, YOU KNOW, REASONABLE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR OWN SYSTEM.

SO KNOW WHERE YOUR GAS APPLY RANSES ARE LOCATED.

IF YOU SPELL SOMETHING AROUND THAT GAS APPLIANCE, RESPOND IN THE SAME WAY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CHOOSING PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE CERTIFIED TO DEAL WITH GAS APPLIANCES WHEN WORKING ON THOSE.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PIPELINE MAINTENANCE, I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A FULLY COMPLIANT INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT IS IN PLACE AT CPS ENERGY, AND, AGAIN, WE MEET ALL OF OUR INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES AND OUR REGULATOR SAFETY STANDARDS.

[00:25:03]

CPS ENERGY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. YOU'LL EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES. TONY FLORES. FOLLOWED BY KEVIN JOHNSON

AND THEN SANDY VILLARREAL. >> GREETINGS, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME'S TONY FLORES, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PRESTON HOLLOW HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE AND HIS STAFF FOR THE MEETINGS THEY'VE HELD, FOR THE RESIDENTS AND KEEPING US INFORMED AS BEST HE CAN DESPITE THE LIMITED INFORMATION AVAILABLE DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.

HOUSES DON'T BLOW UP. THERE ARE SAFE HAVENS, A PLACE FOREST, A PLACE TO RELAX AND FEEL SAFE. THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC AND EXTRAORDINARY EVENT.

WE BUY HOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS, WE WANT TO FEEL SAFE, AS YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR US. TWO HOMES WERE DESTROYED, RESIDENTS WERE INJURED, FAMILIES ARE DISPLACED. AND LIVES HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY CHANGED. WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE MANY RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AND DIN MINISHED SENSE OF SECURITY IN THEIR OWN HOMES. RECENT REPORTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT AGING GAS INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE POSSIBLE INTERACTION BETWEEN MATURE TREE ROOTS AND UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.

RESIDENTS RESPECTFULLY REQUEST EXPERT GUIDANCE ON GAS LINE SAFETY, UTILITY EASEMENT LOCATIONS AND PREVENTATIVE MEASUREMENTS THEY CAN TAKE TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

ADDITIONALLY, OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED THAT GAS ODOR COMPLAINTS MAY NOT BE ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY DOCUMENTED OR ACCOUNTED FOR.

WE ASK THE CITY AND CPS ENERGY TO EXPLAIN HOW GAS ODOR REPORTS ARE TRACKED, AUDITED AND VERIFIED SO RESIDENTS CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT EVERY CONCERN IS PROPERLY INVESTIGATED. THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF DEBRIS SERVES AS A DAILY REMINDER OF THIS TRAGEDY, RAISES CONCERN ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD RECOVERY, PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ON NEIGHBORHOOD MESSAGE BOARDS AND COMMUNITY FORUMS CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SAFETY, GAS INFRASTRUCTURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND UNCERTAINTY, ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE HAD INVESTED OUR HOMES AND OUR FUTURES.

WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO HELP RESTORE THIS CONFIDENCE.

HOW WILL YOU RESTORE THE CONFIDENCE? HOW CAN THE SAFETY BE IMPROVED, AND ABOVE ALL, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED, SAFETY.

THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC AND EXTRAORDINARY EVENT AND EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY ATTENTION. WE WANT TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMUNICATION AND A CLEAR PLAN FORWARD TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE EVERY FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OWN HOME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. KEVIN JOHNSON.

FOLLOWED BY SANDY VILLARREAL. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. RESIDENTS OF PRESTON HOLLOW SUBDIVISION WERE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH THE WAY THE CITY UTILITIES BOTH CPS AND SAWS HAVE IGNORED MANY CALLS PRIOR. WITH THOSE TWO EXPLOSIONS ON 21 APRIL HAVE OCCURRED IF SAN ANTONIO'S UTILITY COMPANIES HAD RESPONDED TO THE NUMEROUS REPORT -- THERE DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANYONE TAKE CONTROL OF THE SCENE, IF THERE WAS A COMMAND CENTER ON SCENE, IT WASN'T EVIDENT.

ONCE THE LEAK WAS FOUND AND PLUGGED, THE CPS TAKE IMMEDIATE SAMPLES BEYOND THE INITIAL LEAK AREA TO DETECT OTHER AREAS, AND IF NOT, THEN WHY? HOMEOWNERS WERE TOLD TO GO BACK INSIDE THEIR HOMES BEFORE THE SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURRED. WHY? WHY DIDN'T PRESTON HOLLOW RESIDENTS GET EVACUATED AFTER THE SECOND EXPLOSION? ONCE THE LEAK WAS FOUND AND PLUGGED, DID CPS TAKE IMMEDIATE SAMPLES TO DETECT OTHER ISSUES, AND IF NOT, THEN WHY? WE UNDERSTAND INVESTIGATIONS TAKE TIME, BUT WE ARE TWO MONTHS OUT AND NOTHING IS REALLY HAPPENING SO FAR. HOMEOWNERS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE TWO

[00:30:01]

WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO SPEED THINGS UP? WE KNOW THERE'S INVESTIGATION, THERE'S LEGAL AND ALL THAT, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT, AGAIN, IT JUST -- THE PILE THERE IS JUST A DAILY REMINDER OF WHAT HAPPENED. IF THE FINAL CPS REPORT IDENTIFIES TREE ROOTS AS BEING THE CULPRIT, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? SHOULD TREES ALONG THE EASEMENT BE REMOVED AND THEN WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? FOUR OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR PETS WERE SEVERELY INJURED.

WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS IN THE CAPACITY OF THEIR JOBS WERE ALSO INJURIED.

LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS KILLED. IS TODAY THE DAY CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE ACTION, INITIATE AN AGGRESSIVE INSPECTION REPLACEMENT PROCESS? CAN SAN ANTONIO AFFORD NOT TO INITIATE THIS PROCESS? FIVE INDIVIDUAL'S LIVES WERE DRASTICALLY CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. SAN ANTONIO CAN AND MUST DO BETTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS SANDY VILLARREAL. SANDY VILLARREAL. OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS -- LET ME JUST SAY, THERE IS A -- THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR THOSE THAT PRESENTED TODAY AND ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT IS POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT, AS WE'RE QUITE LIMITED BY WHAT THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE -- HAVE DESCRIBED AS THEY UNDERGO THEIR INVESTIGATION.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE RAISED BY MR. FLORES, THOUGH, SHANNA SPEAK TO PROCESS STUFF. IS THERE -- CAN WE GO AHEAD -- IS THERE -- THE THINGS THAT HE OUTLINED, SOME OF THOSE THINGS YOU DID COVER IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING THAT REALLY HELPS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE JUST RAISED WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> MR. FLORES ASKED ABOUT RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE AND OTHER ITEMS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ANSWERING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

>> MAYOR JONES: TO BE CLEAR, I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE THINGS THAT HE LAID OUT IN TERMS OF PROCESS AND REPORTING AND HOW TIMELY SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE DONE, JUST IN GENERAL FROM A PROCESS STANDPOINT, MAYBE FOLLOWING UP WITH HIM SEPARATELY AND THAT HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION SEPARATELY WOULD BE HELPFUL, NOT ONLY HIM, BUT ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAY ALSO HAVE THOSE SAME QUESTIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR JONES: JUST TAKING THAT BACK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS FROM PRESTON HOLLOW THAT SHOWED UP.

AND I WANT TO JUST BEGIN, AGAIN, BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUES FOR AGREEING TO HAVE THIS MEETING TODAY AND TAKING THIS MATTER SO SERIOUSLY AS I KNOW THEY CERTAINLY DO. WHAT HAPPENED ON APRIL 21ST WAS REALLY A TRAGEDY THAT HAS LED TO WEEKS AND MONTHS OF FEAR, UNCERTAINTY A AND DISRUPTION OF DAILY LIFE. AND WHILE WE'RE NOT HERE TODAY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHY THIS HAPPENED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THE NTSB IS CONDUCTING THAT INVESTIGATION, WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE RESIDENTS OF PRESTON HOLLOW DESERVE -- HAVE DESERVED BETTER OVER THESE PAST TWO MONTHS AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS AND LOOK BACK AT HOW THE CITY CONDUCTED ITSELF, AND SO IN THE, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE EVENT THAT THIS -- OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WERE TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN, WE CAN DO BETTER. I WANT TO -- BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, THANK A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. WE'VE HEARD FROM DEANNA WITH CPS, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. ALANNA FROM THE CITY WAS INVALUABLE IN ASSISTING WITH THE COMMUNICATION AND GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS REALLY PHENOMENAL WORK BY HER. AND THEN FROM MY OFFICE, NATHAN, IF YOU COULD STAND UP OR JUST WAVE YOUR HAND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW NATHAN, NATHAN IS WITH OUR DISTRICT 10 TEAM DOING CONSTITUENT SERVICES, AND WE APPOINTED HIM TO BE THE PRIMARY CONTACT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THIS TIME. AND HE REALLY DID AN AMAZING JOB.

SO, LOOK, PRESTON HOLLOW, AS I SAID, DESERVED BETTER.

THERE ARE SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AS WE SIT HERE TODAY.

MY OFFICE WAS ON THE GROUND TRYING TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS POSSIBLE -- THAT WE JUST COULDN'T ANSWER. WHO WAS IN CHARGE?

[00:35:04]

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WAS NOT ACTIVATED FOR THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET. THE -- MOST INCIDENTS REALLY DON'T REQUIRE THE ACTIVATION OF THE EOC. IT IS GENERALLY ACTIVATED IF IT REQUIRES MULTIDEPARTMENTS OR MULTIAGENCY COORDINATION, OR ACTUALLY WHEN IT HAS POTENTIAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT LIFE SAFETY, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

IT OFTENTIMES IS ACTIVATED ALSO WHEN IT EXCEEDS THE CAPABILITY OF ROUTINE FIELD OPERATIONS OR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO EXCEED OUR CAPACITY.

ALSO WHEN IT REQUIRES STRATEGIC POLICY, DECISIONS, RESOURCE, PRIORITIZATION OR EXECUTIVE INVOLVEMENT, OR ALSO WHEN IT'S EXPECTED TO BE PROLONGED OR AFFECT MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL PERIODS.

AND THAT BEING THE 24-HOUR SHIFT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> WHYTE: OKAY. THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> WHYTE: THE CHIEF JUST MENTIONED MULTIAGENCY COORDINATION, LIFE SAFETY AND SORT OF A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY, I GUESS.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER THE EXPLOSIONS, THERE WERE MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT WERE INVOLVED.

I KNOW FROM THE RESIDENTS WE HAD SAPD THAT WAS OUT THERE, WE HAD YOUR FOLKS, CHIEF, FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD CPS ENERGY THAT WAS ON THE GROUND. SO WE DID HAVE MULTIPLE AGENCIES OUT THERE.

AND AS WE'VE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT NUMEROUS TIMES, THE CITIZENS SEE THAT ALL AS THE GOVERNMENT OF SAN ANTONIO. SO WHO WAS IN CHARGE? WAS THERE A POINT PERSON THAT WAS HAVING ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES COORDINATE DURING THOSE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER THE EVENT?

>> CHIEF, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, SO THAT GOES INTO THE PART OF THE NTSB INVESTIGATION THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THAT WILL BE PART OF THEIR FINAL REPORT. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

>> SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE MULTIPLE AGENCIES THAT ARE INVOLVED OFTENTIMES, BUT THAT GOES FOR -- THAT CAN BE SAID FOR EVERY SINGLE INCIDENT THAT WE RESPOND TO. WE OFTEN RESPOND WITH SAPD, WITH OTHER AGENCIES SUCH AS PUBLIC WORKS OR CPS ENERGY. AND IN THOSE INSTANCES SUCH AS EVEN A STRUCTURE FIRE, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ACTIVATION OF THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. EVERY INCIDENT IS MANAGED USING THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM AND IT IS VERY STRUCTURED AND COMMUNICATION PATHWAYS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, SO HOPEFULLY THAT

CLARIFIES. >> WHYTE: WELL, LET ME ASK THIS THEN: WE HAD RESIDENTS THAT SOME HEARD FROM ONE OF THE AGENCIES SAYING YOU CAN GO BACK INTO YOUR HOMES. AND, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE NIGHT OF.

WE'RE TALKING THREE, FOUR, FIVE DAYS AFTER THE EVENT.

SOME SAID -- HEARD THAT YOU COULD GO BACK INTO YOUR HOMES.

OTHERS HEARD FROM CPS OR ONE OF THE OTHER AGENCIES, NO, YOU CAN'T GO BACK INTO YOUR HOMES. WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DISSEMINATING THAT

INFORMATION TO THE RESIDENTS? >> AGAIN, WITH RESPECT, COUNCILMAN, THAT'S PART OF THE NTSB INVESTIGATION, SO WE CAN'T SPEAK TO THOSE SPECIFICS TODAY. WE CAN SPEAK IN GENERAL

TERMS. >> WHYTE: OKAY. SO IN A GENERAL SCENARIO WHERE YOU HAVE FIRE, POLICE, ONE OF OUR UTILITIES INVOLVED, WHO DOES THE COORDINATION AND IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE ACCURATE INFORMATION TO

THE CITIZENS AFFECTED? >> IN GENERAL TERMS, WE CAN DISCUSS THAT.

[00:40:05]

>> WHYTE: IS THERE ANYBODY INVOLVED HERE AT THE CITY MANAGEMENT LEVEL

THAT GETS INVOLVED? >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES. THAT'S ME.

>> WHYTE: THAT WAS YOU? >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES. >> WHYTE: OR WOULD BE

YOU? >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES. >> WHYTE: IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD-CENTERED EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE VERSUS CITYWIDE FLOODING OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, IS IT HANDLED DIFFERENTLY FROM AN EMERGENCY PERSPECTIVE OR FROM THE CITY MANAGEMENT'S PERSPECTIVE?

>> IT IS ALWAYS BASED -- ACTIONS ARE ALWAYS BASED ON NEEDS.

SO IT IS VERY DEPENDENT CASE SPECIFIC AND IN THIS INSTANCE, WE, YOU KNOW, EVALUATED THE OVERALL INCIDENT AND THOSE IMPACTED, DETERMINED HOW -- WHAT WE COULD DO TO ASSIST THE RESIDENTS AND THEN ESTABLISHED THE, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES THAT WERE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY DURING THE POWERPOINT.

COUNCILMAN, I WOULD ADD THAT HERE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE A BASIC EMERGENCY PLAN THAT WE UTILIZE FOR DIFFERENT MJEMERGENCIES THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS TO HANDLE THAT WILL IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, DEPENDING ON THE EMERGENCY.

>> WHYTE: IN THE WEEKS AFTER THIS, WE'VE HEARD THE DAILY LIFE DISRUPTIONS OF THE FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SOME WERE PUT IN AIRBNBS, THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF OTHER NEEDS THAT WERE REQUIRED OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IS THERE A DESIGNATED POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE CITY THAT THE FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN REFER TO TO GET SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TAKEN CARE OF OR IS IT -- HAS IT LULZ BEEN THAT IT GOES THROUGH THE COUNCIL OFFICE IN THE SPECIFIC DISTRICT?

>> AS FAR AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE MANAGE THE ACTUAL EMERGENCY INCIDENT. ONCE THE INCIDENT IS OVER AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE NEEDS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, THOSE ARE NORMALLY ADDRESSED BY THE CITY, AND THAT IS AT THE CITY COUNCIL LEVEL. THAT IS WHERE WE FOCUS OUR COMMUNICATIONS, AND IT IS ALSO, DEPENDING ON THE AREA IMPACTED, IT WILL ALSO BE MESSAGES OR COMMUNICATION DELIVERED BY THE CITY PUBLIC

INFORMATION OFFICER. >> WHYTE: THANKS, CHIEF. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> MAYOR JONES: WE DIDN'T FREEZE THE TIME WHEN THE CHIEF WAS SPEAKING, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK SOMETHING ELSE OR SAY SOMETHING ELSE,

COUNCILMAN WHYTE, YOU'RE FREE TO DO SO. >> WHYTE: I MAY HAVE A COUPLE MORE, BUT IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO WEIGH IN, THAT'S OKAY.

COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WAS GLAD TO SIGN ONTO THE MEMO URGENTLY REQUESTING THIS MEETING THAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE WANTED AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO HIS RESIDENTS ON, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN DISTRICT 10 WAS A STARK REMINDER OF HOW IMPORTANT SWIFT ACTION AND COMMUNICATION ARE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE PROTOCOLS SO THAT WAY WE CAN RELAY THAT TO RESIDENTS. BEFORE I BEGIN, AND I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH, I DO WANT TO STOP AND THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR CPS ENERGY WORKERS, WHO GO INTO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EVERY DAY, NOT SURE WHAT LIES AHEAD, BUT Y'ALL GO IN AND FACE THAT ANYWAY, SO IT'S NOT LOST ON ME OR MY COLLEAGUES THAT Y'ALL PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE EACH DAY TO DO THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I HAVE A VERY GENERAL QUESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 7, AND I DO WANT TO STOP ALSO AND THANK THE RESIDENTS WHO DID COME TODAY TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. I GNOMON DAY AT 10:00 A.M. IS AN AWKWARD TIME, BUT THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERN.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE POINTS THAT YOU ALL MENTIONED ARE VALID.

BUT WHEN I'M TALKING TO MY RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS, THEY WANT TO KNOW, HEY, HOW DO I KNOW THAT THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY VALID QUESTION. SO THIS QUESTION IS FOR CPS ENERGY, WHAT DO YOU ALL HAVE IN PLACE FOR RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY A GAS LEAK PROACTIVELY? JUST LIKE SAWS HAS WATER LEAK DETECTION IN OUR

[00:45:04]

THERE'S NO GAS LEAK. >> ABSOLUTELY. SO I WOULD SAY THAT, AGAIN, THE BACKDROP OF ALL THIS THAT THE TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION IS OUR REGULATOR ON GAS SAFETY, SO THEREFORE, COVERS ALL OF THE GAS LEAK. THEY SET VERY RIGOROUS STANDARDS ON LEAK RESPONSE TIMES BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF LEAK. SO ANY TIME WE HAVE A LEAK, WE HAVE A TIME LIMIT THAT YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT LEAK.

AND WE MAINTAIN A VERY SATISFACTORY COMPLIANCE WITH THAT AS WELL AS WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS, SO I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE ALSO JUST HAVE THE ROUTINE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.

SOME OF THOSE STATS THAT I WENT OVER BEFORE, RUNNING THE GAS OPERATIONS BUSINESS REALLY IS BUILDING THOSE NEW SYSTEMS AND SPENDING THE REST OF THE TIME MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS. IT IS NOT A BRAND-NEW SYSTEM, SO THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH ALL OF THE TIME, AND WE DO SO IN A VERY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

WE ALSO HAVE -- YOU SAW THAT 30-MINUTE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME TO CALLING IN LEAK ODORS. THAT IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THE PRIMARY WAYS THAT WE FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE LEAKS. THERE ARE RULES THAT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION SETS THAT TELLS US HOW OFTEN WE HAVE TO SURVEY THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM. SO -- HOW MANY MILES OF PIPE, WE GET THROUGH A YEAR, SO THAT WE ARE THERE LOOKING AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE LEAKS, TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SYSTEM AND TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING ALL THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE THAT WE CAN.

>> GAVITO: AWESOME. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL SUPER HELPFUL, BUT JUST LIKE HOW WE CAN HAVE A CARBON 'MO KNOX I'D DETECTOR IN OUR HOUSE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE AT THEIR HOUSE TO

PROACTIVELY -- >> THERE IS A DETECTOR THAT WORKS FOR NATURAL GAS, AND THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT WE WERE DISTRIBUTING AFTER THE PRESTON HOLLOW EVENT. THAT'S T THE INVENTORY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, SO YOU COULD GET THAT FROM US WHILE WE HAVE THEM.

-- ALSO JUST ORDER ONE FOR YOUR HOUSE AS WELL. IF YOU GET THEM FROM US, YOU CAN ALSO ASK US HOW THEY WORK. ONE OF THE CRITICAL THINGS, I THINK, THAT'S IMPORTANT -- I'LL PUT MYSELF IN THE CATEGORY OF YOUR AGING CUSTOMERS, HAVING SOMEONE SHOW YOU HOW TO USE IT SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT, YOU MAKE SURE YOU MAINTAIN IT IN YOUR HOME AND YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE THE INDICATINDICATOR GO ON.

>> GAVITO: THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE CPS ENERGY TEAM, NOW MORE THAN EVER IS THAT TIME WHERE WE CAN USE THIS OPPORTUNITY SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THESE GAS LEAK DETECTION MONITORS, I GUESS IS WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

>> YES. >> GAVITO: AND, YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL ON A DISTRIBUTION EVENT FOR DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS, BUT I THINK A LOT OF US WOULD KIND OF CALM THE UNEASY THAT I THINK A LOT OF -- AS SOME OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED, YES, THIS WAS DISTRICT 10 AND NEIGHBORHOOD-SPECIFIC, BUT IT JUST FELT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEELING UNEASY, RIGHT? BECAUSE HOW DO WE KNOW IT COULDN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE NEXT? AND SO IF WE CAN USE SOME OF THOSE GAS LEAK DETECTION MONITORS AND PROACTIVELY DISTRIBUTE IT TO RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 10 AND OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 10, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP.

>> ABSOLUTELY. AND FOR SOME FOLKS, AGAIN, I THINK FINDING OUT WHERE YOUR GAS FACILITIES ARE LOCATED IS CRITICAL.

A LOT OF TIMES IF THERE IS A MINOR GAS LEAK, EVEN IF YOU DON'T SMELL IT, YOU MIGHT SEE DEAD GRASS OVER THE AREA, SO KNOWING WHERE YOUR GAS LINES ARE IS IMPORTANT, KNOWING WHERE YOUR GAS LINES ARE IN YOUR EASEMENT IS IMPORTANT SO THAT IF YOU'RE DIGGING IN THE AREA, EVEN IF YOU'RE DOING JUST REGULAR YARD MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SO YOU CAN AVOID THAT AREA. I THINK IS ALSO CRITICAL.

KNOWING WHERE THEY ARE AND LOOKING OUT. >> GAVITO: YEAH.

I THINK ALL OF THAT GENERAL AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THIS INVESTIGATION IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS -- SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN ARM THEMSELVES AND FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> GAVITO: BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING NTSB'S FULL FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ONCE THEY'RE RELEASED. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS -- REALLY QUICK, THANKS AGAIN TO COUNCILMAN MARC WHYTE FOR INITIATING THIS.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. MARIA, WHEN DO WE THINK NTSB WILL BE COMPLETED WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION, DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE OR

NOT YET? >> VILLAGOMEZ: WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, COUNCILMAN,

IT COULD TAKE 12 TO 24 MONTHS. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

SO I WANT TO SPEAK JUST TO THE KIND O OF ISSUES AT HAND, ERIK, I KNOW WEF EVE TALKED BEFORE. WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO

[00:50:03]

I'M GLAD I SEE ALANNA AND THE COMMUNICATION'S TEAM HERE, WHILE CPS AND UTILITIES HAVE THEIR SYSTEM, I KNOW FOR ME AND MY DISTRICT IS WE HAVE ACCESS TO A TEXT MESSAGING SYSTEM, AND WE USE THAT IN EMERGENCIES ONLY OR IN BIG EVENTS ONLY WHEN WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLES OF THE COUNCIL OFFICE, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE DAYS AFTER A NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY EVENT AND HOW DO WE DIRECT THEM, WHERE DO WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM, AND HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM? BECAUSE THERE IS TECHNOLOGY WITH THE -- WITH THE TEXT MESSAGING SYSTEM.

WE ALL HAVE OUR E-MAILS, SOME OF US HAVE NEWSLETTERS, I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S A MEANS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, BUT THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY THAT WE AS COUNCILMEMBERS NEED TO KIND OF BE ON TOP OF. AND SO I THINK WHAT THIS GIVES US IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK ABOUT HOW WE TRAIN OUR STAFF, HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE BY PRACTICE AND REALLY KIND OF MAKE IT MORE FORMAL AND POLICY AS WE GO THROUGH JUST DIFFERENT CHANGES AND DIFFERENT CRISES THAT WE SEE IN NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS JUST A NECESSITY AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE.

AND IN THE DAYS AFTER A CRITICAL EVENT LIKE THIS THAT WE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE INCONVENIENCES AND HOW DO WE GUIDE THEM.

AND I THINK THAT IS OUR ROLE AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO KIND OF CREATE THAT PROCESS AND THAT PROGRAM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO IN ADDITION TO GETTING THAT TRAINING AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE -- I DON'T KNOW, MAYOR, IF YOU COULD TASK IT TO ONE OF THE COMMITTEES OR WE DO A SPECIAL -- WE DO RESTART THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE, BUT I THINK WITHIN THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, HEALTH, PLANNING, OTHER COMMUNITIES WE COULD FIND THAT ASSIGNMENT THERE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

NEIGHBORS, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP AND SHARING YOUR CONCERNS.

I THINK IT'S KEY THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT HOW WE GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO YOU AND MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHAT'S THE EASIEST AND FASTEST WAY TO GET MESSAGES TO YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS, AND I -- WE HAVE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE GET THE MESSAGES OUT TO OUR COMMITTEE -- I MEAN, OUR COMMUNITY AFTER

EVENTS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, TO PUT IT INTO A THREE-SIGNATURE MEMO TO HAVE THIS SPECIAL SESSION TODAY.

I KNOW THE TIME ISN'T IDEAL, BUT HAVING THIS MEETING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOT IN MY OPINION. SO AS WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, JUST REITERATING THAT THERE IS A LEVEL OF CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS NOW HEIGHTENED AFTER ANY CATASTROPHIC EVENT, QUITE FRANKLY, EVERY OTHER SITUATION FOLLOWING THAT, THERE IS A SENSE OF FEAR THAT IT COULD BE REPEATED. AND SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN THE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED BUT ALSO PUT INTO PLACE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PREVENT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

EVEN IF IT'S NOT PREVENTION, MAYBE WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS MENTIONING ABOUT COMMUNICATION. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THERE IS FEAR, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO COMMUNICATE WHAT IS HAPPENING. WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION, THE FEAR INTENSIFIES. I THINK, AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT, WE HAVE THESE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PREPARATION SESSIONS BUT WE ACTUALLY, AS A COUNCIL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS. AND THE KEY THING THAT I ALWAYS GET AWAY FROM THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TAKE THE INFORMATION THAT IS BEING PROVIDED TO US AND HELP COMMUNICATE THAT OUT. THE BETTER THAT WE CAN CREATE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS EVEN WITHIN OUR ENTITY, THE BETTER WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AT-LARGE WITH THE RESIDENTS. I KNOW IT ALWAYS GETS TRICKY BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEWHAT OF WHAT WE CAN SAY AND WHAT WE CAN'T SAY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE SURE -- WHATEVER, TO THE MAX AMOUNT THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE, WE SHOULD DO THAT. OBVIOUSLY, KEEPING LEGAL RISKS AT, YOU KNOW, AT THE FOREFRONT BUT I THINK IF WE CAN GET INTO THE MINDSET OF

[00:55:05]

THERE WAS AN INCIDENT THAT I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY MENTION THAT HAPPENED IN DISTRICT 1 A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COMMENT ON IT BUT SOME OF MY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING ABOUT IT.

I JUST WANTED TO USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION.

CPS WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED.

BUT I THINK IT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE HEIGHTENED INTENSITY OCCURRED BECAUSE THERE WAS THE SMELL OF GAS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS CAUSING PANIC.

IF WE COULD -- WHATEVER YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT, SHANON, WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS OCCURS, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU ALREADY MENTIONED IF YOU SMELL GAS CALL, ET CETERA.

BUT ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT SIMPLY BECAUSE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE DETAILS.

WE HAVE RECEIVED MORE CALLS IN RECENTLY THAN IN THE PAST.

WITH THINGS LIKE -- AND I'M GENERALIZING. I SEE THE POLICE, FIRE, AND CPS DOWN THE STREET, WHAT'S GOING ON? I KNOW MY NEIGHBOR CALLED AND Y'ALL CAME OUT. DO I NEED TO EVACUATE MY HOUSE? SO ALL OF THOSE THAT I CAN GIVE TO PEOPLE. NUMBER ONE, KNOW THAT THEY CAN ALWAYS CALL AND ASK.

IF YOU SMELL GAS AND YOU DIAL 9-1-1, YOU ARE GOING TO GET FIRE, PD, AND CPS RESPONDING. SO WHY ARE THEY ALL THERE? PROBABLY BECAUSE THE CALLER DIALED 9-1-1 RATHER THAN CALLING TO SAY I SMELL GAS, WHICH IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE. ALTHOUGH, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU SMELL GAS IN YOUR HOME, LEAVE AND CALL FROM A SAFE PLACE. GENERALLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WAS THE CALL. IF WE FIND A GAS LEAK AND WE PAIR IT, GENERALLY WE LOOK FOR THE LEAK, YOU REPAIR IT, AND YOU MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MORE GAS IN THE AIR, IN THE GROUND. AND THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW YOU HAVE REPAIRED IT, BEING VERY GENERAL HERE. SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE ACTIVITY. SOMETIMES YOU MAY NOT SEE ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT'S INSIDE OF THE HOUSE THAT YOU CAN'T SEE OR BECAUSE IT WASN'T REQUIRED.

MUCH LIKE WHAT YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID ALSO APPLIES TO RESPONDING TO GAS INCIDENTS. YOU KNOW, OUR FOLKS GET THERE AND IT IS THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES AT THAT INCIDENT THAT DETERMINE WHAT THEY DO.

BUT I DO WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IF THEY SEE ALL THREE OF THOSE, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE 9-1-1 WAS CALLED. SOMETIMES WE'RE USING GASSED ON BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CALLS IN AN AREA AND WE ARE DOING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION.

WE ALSO USE GASSED ON AS A PREVENTIVE MITIGATING MEASURE THAT WE SEND OUT OVER THE CITY ALL THE TIME. IF YOU CALL, WE WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER INFORMATION WE WILL GIVE YOU. CPS DOESN'T ISSUE EVACUATION ORDERS SO WHEN PEOPLE CALL AND SAY DO I NEED TO EVACUATE? MY GENERAL ANSWER WOULD BE IF YOU FEEL UNSAFE IN YOUR HOME AT ANY TIME, LEAVE. DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO ORDER YOU TO LEAVE. MUCH LIKE IF YOU SAW YOUR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, DON'T WAIT FOR THE FIREMEN TO TELL YOU TO LEAVE, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

BUT IF YOU ARE CALLING TO SAY IS IT SAFE? WE CAN ALWAYS COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND CHECK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE TO SEE IF THERE'S GAS THERE TO LET

YOU KNOW AND REASSURE YOU AND IT'S NO COST TO YOU. >> KAUR: THE ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE SITUATION IS WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN DO IN TERMS OF AIR MONITORING SYSTEM AND THE BAR HOLD TESTING THAT YOU DO? I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE CAPABILITIES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT ALL, SO I APOLOGIZE. I JUST CAN'T SPEAK ON THAT.

WE ARE GENERALLY -- IF YOU CALL US TO YOUR HOUSE TO SAY I THINK I SMELL GAS BUT I'M NOT SURE. WE CAN TEST IN THE AIR AND WE CAN TEST IN THE SOIL.

WITHOUT COMMENTING ABOUT WHAT BAR HOLD TESTING DOES, BECAUSE I SEND THE ENGINEERS AT MY COMPANY INTO A TAILSPIN IF I DO THAT BUT WE CAN TEST THE GROUND AND THE

AIR. >> KAUR: CHIEF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO

ADD TO THAT? >> FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPABILITIES, AS FAR AS HAZMAT DETENTION, OUR MONITORING IS ONLY FOR OPEN AIR.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITIES THAT CPS MAY HAVE.

I CAN'T SPEAK ON WHAT DEVICES THEY UTILIZE BUT I CAN SAY THAT OUR DETECTION

[01:00:07]

>> KAUR: IT'S DIFFERENT. IT'S THE LEVEL OF DEPTH YOU GUYS CAN GET TO.

>> IT'S LIMITED. >> KAUR: I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DO A ONE PAGER, THIS IS WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN DO, THIS IS WHAT CPS CAN DO, THIS IS WHAT THE PD CAN DO. IF THEY CALL 9-1-1, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF SERVICES THEY'RE GOING TO GET.

IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE MORE DETAIL AND FOLLOW-UP ON THE INCIDENT AT LEADER ROSE, THAT WOULD HELP. THAT WAY WE CAN TALK TO OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT IS OCCURRING AND ASSURE THEM WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT THINGS IN PLACE .

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT AND SPOKE. YEAH.

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CITY LEADERSHIP AND CPS ENERGY FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRAGEDY THAT DID OCCUR AND I SYMPATHIZE WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SUCH A TRAGEDY OCCURRED. AND I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ALL, MR. FLORES AND JOHNSON FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BEING ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN ASKING THE QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT OCCURRED AND HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD BETTER TOGETHER.

I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE FOR MOVING WITH URGENCY TO CONVENE COUNCIL TO ENSURE HIS CONTINGENCY AND ALL RESIDENTS EMERGENCY AND ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS EMPHASIZE, WHETHER WE ARE AT THE EOC OR TALKING ABOUT THE RISK MITIGATION PLAN IS THE WORK STARTS BEFORE THE DISASTER HITS.

KNOWING THESE SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE AND THAT INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION IS VITAL.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW WHAT OCCURRED IS A TRAGEDY AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, ONE, BETTER UNDERSTAND. AND THEN, OF COURSE, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO STREAMLINE THAT COMMUNICATION. ONE QUESTION THAT MR. FLORES ASKED -- AND I'M CURIOUS AS WELL. IF IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO RECEIVE OFFLINE, I UNDERSTAND. BUT THE POINT IN TERMS OF ROUTES IMPACTING GAS LINES.

I THINK IN TERMS OF A TREE HITTING A POWER LINE AND CPS ENERGY TRIMMING THAT LINE.

I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS AN INSTANCE IN WHICH A RESIDENTS OR ARBORIST IDENTIFIES THAT A ROOT MAY BE HITTING A GAS LINE, WHAT IS THAT NEXT STEP AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE? I WANT TO ENSURE WE'RE NOT PUTTING AN ARBORIST IN A POTENTIAL RISK WITH REMOVING THAT ROOT NEAR A GAS LINE. BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING SO THAT WAY WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO OUR CONSTITUENCY ON WHAT IS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. WE KNOW ADDRESSING TREES JUST TO TRIM THEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE, IN THE THOUSANDS. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH SOMETHING WITH A RISK BY BEING NEAR AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY NEAR A GAS LINE.

OFFLINE, IF WE CAN GET A BRIEFING ON WHAT STEPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS. I WANT TO THANK THE CONSTITUENTS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, BEING THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND COMMUNICATING TO YOUR NEIGHBORS ON WHAT YOU'RE ASKING AND ALSO ENSURING THAT EVERYONE IS SAFE.

JUST APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND GRATEFUL FOR COUNCILMAN MARC WHYTE FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PATH FORWARD IS HERE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, GO AHEAD

ON THE SECOND ROUND. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN SAID. I DO THINK WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT SOME SORT OF PROCESS OR PLAN WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO HAVE A MORE UNIFORM COMMUNICATION SYSTEM GOING FORWARD. AGAIN, ALANNA WAS GREAT BUT IT DID FEEL LIKE IN THOSE FIRST THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX DAYS AFTERWARDS THAT THE COUNCIL, OUR COUNCIL OFFICE WAS SORT OF OUT THERE ON OUR OWN, TO A LARGE EXTENT. YOU KNOW, WE PULLED TOGETHER THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ON THAT EMPTY LOT Y'ALL HAVE OUT THERE.

AND LITERALLY, THAT MEETING WAS PUT TOGETHER 12 HOURS ADVANCE NOTICE AND THERE WERE 70 OR 80 FOLKS THERE. WHEN YOU'RE GETTING QUESTIONS LIKE: ARE WE SAFE TO BE IN OUR HOMES? THAT IS A SITUATION I DON'T THINK ANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT SHOULD BE PUT IN. WHAT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR SAID, WHEN WE GO TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND WE DO OUR USUAL THING THAT WE DO THERE, I THINK WE DO --

[01:05:03]

I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT THERE'S AN INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM AND AN EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER.

ARE THESE TWO DIFFERENT STRUCTURES OR SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE

HERE? OR DID I MISUND MISUNDERSTAND T? >> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILMAN, THE INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM IS A TRAINING THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT GO THROUGH TO RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY SO THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT LOGISTICS, WHO'S RESPONDING, WHO IS THE INDIVIDUAL IN COMMAND OF THE INCIDENT.

THAT'S WHAT THE CHIEF WAS REFERRING TO. WHAT I REFERENCED AS FAR AS THE EMERGENCY PLAN, THAT IS A PLAN THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO OUR EMERGENCIES AS PART OF OUR EOC. WE HAVE OTHER DOCUMENTS, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED, IT HAS THE MITIGATION PLAN. SO THERE'S SEVERAL PROTOCOLS THAT WE FOLLOW FOR WHEN WE RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND WHEN WE ACTIVATE THE EOC.

>> WHYTE: MAYBE THIS AGAIN WE CAN ADD TO THAT PRESENTATION WHEN WE GO TO THE EOC. SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT GOING FORWARD. CPS MENTIONED KNOWING WHERE THE GAS LINES ARE, BOTH ON YOUR PROPERTY AND IN THE EASEMENTS. THE RESIDENTS DID ASK ME FOR THAT, FOR A MAP OR AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE EVERYTHING IS.

I WAS TOLD WE COULDN'T GET IT AT THE MOMENT BUT I DON'T KNOW IF NOW IN THE WEEKS AHEAD THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO SO THAT THEY KNOW IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE

EVERYTHING IS. >> SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN PROVIDE IT FOR ANY RESIDENT FOR THEIR OWN GAS LINES. FOR SECURITY REASONS, WE WOULD NEVER PRODUCE A MAP OF AN ENTIRE GAS SYSTEM. IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE A MAP OF HOW TO DISRUPT THAT GAS SYSTEM. BUT FOR EACH PERSON'S ON

PROPERTY, WE CAN GIVE THEM THEIR INFORMATION. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

AND SO WE CAN HAVE THEM, IF THEY WOULD LIKE THAT, MAYBE CONTACT DEANNA WILL GET A

LETTER OUT AND GET THEM THAT INFORMATION. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHYTE: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

ON THE CLEANUP ISSUE, I HEARD THIS MORNING THERE'S ONE OF THE LARGE TREES IS JUST LAID OUT IN THE EASEMENT SOMEWHERE. MAYBE THESE ARE BEING PRESERVED FOR LEGAL PURPOSES, I DON'T KNOW. BUT I KNOW THERE'S STILL SOME CLEANUP FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WHERE ARE WE ON THAT? >> I'M NOT SURE ON THE CLEANUP BUT I DID WANT TO JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW -- AND ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS WERE COMMENTING -- THAT THE TWO HOUSES THAT ARE STILL STANDING ARE BEING PRESERVED THROUGH A COURT ORDER THAT PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL MADE. CPS HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE

DEMOLITION OF THOSE HOMES. >> WHYTE: SO THAT'S A LEGAL MATTER.

REALLY, IN MY LAST 30 SECONDS HERE, I WANT TO -- AGAIN, I APPRECIATE WHAT THE CITY DID. I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT CPS DID IN THE DAYS AFTER.

FIRE DEPARTMENT, CERTAINLY, FOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE OUT THERE ON THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT. BUT LET'S NOT JUST FORGET ABOUT THIS NOW IN THE WEEKS GOING GUARD. FORWARD.THAT WOULD BE A DISSERVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER. AND THAT'S THE CITY, THAT'S CPS, THAT'S ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS. THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS.

IF IN THE UNFORTUNATE EVENT THIS HAPPENS SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE AGAIN IN SAN ANTONIO -- AND OF COURSE LET'S TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BUT IF IT DOES, LET'S LEARN FROM THIS SO THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS IN SUCH AN OCCASION IN THE FUTURE. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. LET ME ALSO JUST TAKE THE TIME TO THANK A CRITICAL PARTNER THAT WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT, IS BAMC. I WAS THANKFUL FOR THE WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED. IT WAS ALSO IN THAT INTERACTION, THOUGH, THAT I ENGAGED WITH SOME FAMILY MEMBERS THAT REALLY SPEAK TO THE POINT ABOUT HOW ARE WE BETTER COMMUNICATING THE NIGHT OF, BUT ALSO WITH THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED. ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS -- ACTUALLY THEY'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN -- AND THEY HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING INFORMATION. I KNOW, MARIA, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

ERIK, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS. BUT THE COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED, JUST TRYING TO GET DETAILS ABOUT

[01:10:05]

THESE WERE THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE SECOND -- AT THE SECOND HOME, THE OCHOAS.

THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO, WHEN I FLAGGED THIS FOR RUDY, GET THEM HOUSING HELP SO THAT NOT ALL OF THAT WAS COMING OUT OF POCKET. BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL KIND OF IN-CRISIS COMS HELP THAT NEEDS TO BE AUGMENTED FOR THE COUNCIL OFFICES. IF THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR BROTHER LIVES IN DISTRICT 10, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PHONE NUMBER THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO, WHETHER IT BE THE NON-EMERGENCY POLICE LINE AND THOSE FOLKS ANSWERING THAT CALL, THEN HAVE THE BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IS WHERE YOUR FAMILY MEMBER IS.

THIS IS HOW TO REACH THEM. THE OCHOAS TALKED ABOUT HAVING TO CALL AROUND TO VARIOUS HOSPITALS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEIR FAMILY MEMBER WAS.

SO THE COMS PIECE IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE HELPING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS BE CONNECTED TO RESOURCES, MARIA, IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO THAT. IN TERMS OF THE FOLLOW-ON ACTION, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN JUST MENTIONED -- I THINK THERE IS VALUE IN LOOKING AT WHAT A STRONGER COMMUNICATIONS PIECE LOOKS LIKE IN THE CONTEXT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WOULD ASK COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, IN WORKING WITH THE C&E TEAM TO FIGURE OUT, EVEN BEFORE WE GO TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, IF IT'S AN INCIDENT, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY, THIS IS HOW IT'S DEFINED AND WE ALL HAVE THAT FOR EASY REFERENCE. I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO TAKE THAT ON . >> WALSH: I WAS GOING TO ADD, MAYOR -- AND YOU JUST MENTIONED PART OF IT -- AND SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO TALKED ABOUT IT. WE DO NEED TO SCHEDULE OUR ANNUAL EOC TRAINING EXERCISE FOR THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I DO LIKE THE IDEA -- AND IT'S CERTAINLY PERTINENT, TO LOOK AT A NEIGHBORHOOD-CENTRIC SCENARIO WITH EITHER UTILITY OR MAYBE OTHER THINGS. AND WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL OFFICE AND HOW DOES IT INTERPLAY IN THAT COMMUNICATION AND THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, POTENTIALLY, FOR FAMILY MEMBERS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD

SCENARIO FOR US TO WORK ON, AND WE'LL GET THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

[ EXECUTIVE SESSION At any time during the meeting, The City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

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 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.087. PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.072. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING,

ALL PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. >> MAYOR JONES: THE TIME IS NOW 12:18 P.M. ON MONDAY, JUNE 22ND, AND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE TIME IS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.