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>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS NOW 10:09 A.M. ON AUGUST 4TH, 2026. AND WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELSES COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
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WELCOME BACK FROM JULY RECESS, AND SUPER EXCITED FOR OUR FIRST IGR COMMITTEE MEETING. IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY FRUITFUL FIRST MEETING AND HOPEFULLY A FRUITFUL SERIES OF MEETINGS UNTIL WE PASS A WONDERFUL LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SALLY.>> COYLE: SALLY'S GOING TO GIVE OUR PRESENTATION.
THIS IS OUR FIRST DRAFT OF THE STATE PROGRAM, SO WE'RE SEEKING YOUR INPUT ON WHAT WE'RE MISSING, WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENTLY, AND THEN SHE'LL COME BACK -- JEFF. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS. LET'S GET STARTED. MY PRENLTTATION TODAY -- PRESENTATION TODAY IS A BRIEFING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 90TH STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. AS YOU MAY RECALL IN MY JUNE COUNCIL MEETING I PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM. THIS PROCESS UNDERTAKES SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THE GA TEAM AND COSA DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ARE INVOLVED IN THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A MULTIMONTH PROCESS THAT LEADS US TO TODAY.
THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK FROM THIS COMMITTEE. PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND HAVE WITH YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM AND WHAT WE HAVE SOFA R WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, AS YOU KNOW, THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS COMPRISED OF 150 MEMBERS AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER PRESIDES OVER THE HOUSE.
ON THE TEXAS SENATE SIDE, THERE ARE 31 SENATORS AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PRESIDES OVER THE SENATE. THERE ARE 140 DAYS INCLUDED IN THE REGULAR SESSION, AND THAT SESSION BEGINS JANUARY 2027.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE ARE ANTICIPATING AND TRACKING THAT THERE WILL BE A PIVOT IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEW LEGISLATURE IN 2027.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT ELECTION DAY ON NOVEMBER 3RD WILL BRING A THURN-OVER IN MANY OF THE SEATS AS YOU SEE HERE. ANTICIPATED 24 PLUS ON THE HOUSE SIDE, TWO OF THOSE ARE PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO DELEGATION, AND FIVE OR MORE SENATORS ON THE SENATE SIDE. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY RECONCILE AND WE'LL BE CLOSELY TRACKING, IF ANY OF THESE MEMBERS OR -- INDIVIDUAL CRITICAL COMMITTEES THAT WE MONITOR CLOSELY AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CITIES AND TML TO DETERMINE THE CHAIRMANSHIPS SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO NOT JUST TRACK THEM, BUT ALSO REACH OUT, ENGAGE AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
HERE ARE A FEW 90TH LEG KEY DATES. AS I SHARED IN JUNE, WE'RE WORKING TOWARD THE INITIATION OF BILL FILING.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEE ALL THE DISCUSSIONS INTURG THE INTERIM SESSION WILL MATERIALIZE INTO PROPOSED BILLS THAT THE MEMBERS WILL BEGIN FILING. WORKING TOWARDS JANUARY 12TH, THE BEGINNING OF THE 90TH REGULAR SESSION AND MEMBERS ARE A ABLE TO FILE THOSE BILLS THROUGH MARCH 12TH. WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DEADLINE BECAUSE THAT GIVES US A VERY CLEAR PICTURE AS TO ALL THE BILLS THAT WE WILL BE TRACKING. AND IF YOU RECALL FROM MY PAST PRESENTATIONS, WE'RE LOOKING UPWARDS OF EIGHT, NINE, MAYBE EVEN 10,000 BILLS FILED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR HANDS FULL AGAIN. NO ANTICIPATED CLEAR PATHS FOR LARGE URBAN CITIES OR CITIES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE MUCH OF THE SAME AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST SEVERAL SESSIONS AS FAR AS CITIES HAVING TO PLAY HARD BALL IN HIGH-LEVEL DEFENSE.
THE END OF THE REGULAR SESSION ENDS MAY 31ST, AND THEGOV THOR HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VETO ANY BILLS THROUGH JUNE 20TH. HERE'S SOME OF THE BACKGROUND LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. AS I'VE SHARED BEFORE, THE PROGRAM GIVES THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM AND TO THAT EXTENT ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE IGR COMMITTEE, THROUGH YOUR REVIEW AND APPROVALS, AND ULTIMATELY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION OF A COUNCIL-APPROVED STATE
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LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM THAT GIVES OUR TEAM THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST THE COUNCIL, BUT OF COURSE THE COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU REPRESENT. WE ENGAGE WITH ALL OUR STAKE STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, ANALYZE AND ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT, AND, OF COURSE, TAKE THE RIGHT, OPPOSITIONS -- WHETHER IT'S IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITIES. THIS COORDINATION IS NOT A ONE-TIME DEAL.WE HAVE A BROAD OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, AND WE COMMUNICATE CLOSELY WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. OF COURSE, THE IGR COMMITTEE, THE FULL COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. THAT OUTREACH, COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION IS ONGOING. THERE IS NO PAUSE THERE, EVEN DURING THE INTERIM SESSION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW. HERE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE AND FUNDING PRIORITIES. YOU WILL RECOGNIZE ALL FOUR OF THESE THERE.
HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND ROBUST DISCUSSIONS WITH THESE FOUR AREAS OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE NTH PROGRAM.
AS YOU'RE AWARE, THERE'S BEEN EXTENSIVE INVESTMENTS NOT JUST BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, BUT ALSO PARTNER, AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THESE AS ISSUES OF PRIORITY, THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT AND COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION.
FIRST ONE ON THE LIST IS THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY OR THE EAST/WEST STATE SPUR, THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, AND, OF COURSE, OUR UTILITY PARTNER, CPS ENERGY AND SAWS. HERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION DIGGING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF EACH OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING.
THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY IS PROPOSING A MULTILANE CORRIDOR THAT CONNECTS I-35 AND I-37 BETWEEN 410 AND 1604. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE AIMING FOR THIS ROADWAY TO PROVIDE THAT SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY TO HELP WITH THE REDUCTION -- INTERNATIONAL TO FUNCTION WITHIN THEIR OPERATIONS AND FURTHER EXPAND.
Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF THE GREAT NEWS OF THE TOYOTA EXPANSION ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED COORDINATION WITH TOYOTA AND ALL THE OTHER LONG LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS THAT ARE PART OF THIS FOOTPRINT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
ON TO THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, WE ARE PROPOSING TO SUPPORT THIS MISSION AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES MADE AVAILABLE BY THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR ADDITIONAL INNOVATIVE FUNDING IN ORDER TO HELP CONTINUE THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS DOWNTOWN FOOTPRINT TO INCLUDE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, TO STRENGTHEN NOT JUST OUR DOWNTOWN, BUT OUR REGION AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE. WHAT'S GOOD FOR SAN ANTONIO IS GOOD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE EXPANSION OF TOURISM CREATING JOBS AND IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPANDING THOSE INVESTMENTS. ADDITIONALLY FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE, SINCE LAST SUMMER AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, BUT THERE'S BEEN A MUCH GREATER ROBUST COORDINATION WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY IN THIS SPACE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INFORM THE LEADERSHIP AND THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATORS BEYOND OUR DELEGATION THE IMPORTANCE OF FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING THAT WE BELIEVE CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO HELP STRENGTHEN OUR REGIONAL FLOOD RESILIENCY, MODERNIZE THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURISH THE ULTIMATE AIM TO PROTECT LIVES, PROPERTY AND OUR CRITICAL ASSETS HERE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR AREA HERE IS KNOWN FOR VERY EXTENSIVE FLOOD EVENTS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S CALLED FLASH FLOOD ALLEY, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OUR PARTNERS AND CONTINUING THAT COORDINATION TO TRY AND BRING SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. ON TO CPS ENERGY AND SAWS, WE KNOW THAT EVERY SESSION THERE IS ATTEMPTS TO UNDO THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY MODEL THAT, OF COURSE, SAN ANTONIO REPRESENTS HERE WITH SAWS AND CPS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RETAIN THE LOCAL OWNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE OF OUR UTILITIES, AND WE WILL OPPOSE LEGISLATION WITH YOUR AUTHORIZATION ANYTHING THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE MOU MODEL AND REDUCES THE CITY'S RETURN ON THIS. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE POLICY OBJECTIVES.
THESE POLICY OBJECTIVES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO LEAN IN ON THESE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THESE ARE THE -- ESSENTIALLY THE CORE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO DURING THE LEGISLATURE.
WE SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF OUR TIME ADVOCACY EFFORTS, IF I HAVE TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT, 75% AT LEAST IN ORDER FOR THESE PROTECTIONS TO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, WHICH IS NOT AN EASY FEAT, BUT WE DON'T DO THIS ALONE. WE DO THIS IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER
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LARGE CITIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TML.AS YOU CAN SEE HERE UNDER MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, WE AIM TO PRESERVE THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOURSELF, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS HERE LOCALLY IN THE BEST INTEREST REGARDING HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR NEIG NEIGHBORS IN OUR CITY COMMUNITY.
UNDER FISCAL STABILITY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR AAA RATING AND PRESERVE THE ABILITY TO GENERATE THOSE REVENUES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GROW OUR CITY AND PROVIDE THE NEEDED SERVICES, ESPECIALLY UNDER, OBVIOUSLY, THE FISCAL CLIMATE THAT SAN ANTONIO AND MANY OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE ENCOUNTERING WITH BUDGET DEFICITS. ADDITIONALLY UNDER THAT PARTICULAR AREA AS WELL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO UNFUNDED MANDATES.
ESSENTIALLY WE WILL OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT PROPOSES NEW LAWS AND LEGISLATION THAT WILL PASS ON THE BURDEN TO SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS WHERE THERE ARE NEW LAWS PROPOSED OR, WORSE, IMPLEMENTED AND PASSED THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE CITY TO EXECUTE CERTAIN MANDATES WITHOUT HAVING ANY RESOURCES FROM THE STATE. CONTINUED POLICY OBJECTIVES UNDER COMMUNITY WELFARE, WE'LL SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT SAN ANTONIO.
THIS ONE'S REALLY A BROAD STATEMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND THE ECONOMY IN SAN ANTONIO. NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT, OPPOSED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER ABILITY, WE INCLUDED THIS AREA IN THE PREVIOUS STATE PROGRAM DURING THE 89TH, SO THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE CARRYOVER ITEMS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE 90TH. ONTO ISSUE AREAS, THESE ARE THE AREAS, MANY OF THEM YOU WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH. THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT HAVE RISEN IN IMPORTANCE AND WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING AS WE HEAR YOUR COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FEEDBACK OF OUR COSA DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL STABILITY.
OF COURSE, MILITARY CITY USA IS A STAPLE IN OUR STATE PROGRAM, INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. A LITTLE BIT MORE ON EACH OF THEM HERE.
THESE ARE SUPPORT STATEMENTS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.
FIRST ONE IS SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PRESERVE LOCAL DECISION-MAKING.
YOU AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THE LOCAL DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS.
PROTECT MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, THIS IS THE DSD PROTECTIONS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING. MANY OF THESE BILLS AIM TO REDUCE OUR AIBILITY RELATED TO ZONING, LAND USE, DEVELOPMENT REGS, PERMITTING AND INSPECTIONS. WE'VE INCLUDED HISTORIC PRESERVATION HERE AND OF COURSE THE COST RECOVERY FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WITH OUR DSD TEAM.
OPPOSED LEGISLATIONTIA OVERRIDES FISCAL DISCRETION.
AGAIN, YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY HERE TO MAKE THOSE RIGHT DECISIONS THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT MUNICIPAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
POSTLEGISLATION THAT LIMITS SAN ANTONIO'S ABILITY TO ISSUE DEBT.
WE ARE A AAA CITY AND WE WILL HAVE A ROBUST STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ISSUE DEBT RESPONSIBLY THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND OTHER FISCAL TOOLS.
OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND/OR UNDERMINES THE CITY'S [INDISCERNIBLE] ORDINANCE.
AGAIN, THIS IS A CARRYOVER ITEM FROM OUR PREVIOUS STATE PROGRAM.
NDO. . MILITARY CITY USA, WE HAVE AN ONGOING AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, AND OF COURSE OUR TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD INSTALLATIONS. WE HAVE HERE LANGUAGE TO PROTECT THOSE MILITARY MISSIONS, TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THEIR MISSIONS AND ULTIMATELY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE 250,000 AND MORE MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS THAT ARE OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL. THIS WILL INCLUDE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT I MENTIONED EARLY ON. STATE INVESTMENTS, WE'RE HOPING TO WORK WITH OUR STATE LEADERSHIP TO INCREASE THE INVESTMENTS IN FLOOD MITIGATION. SINCE THE UNFORTUNATE WEATHER INCIDENTS AND THE MULTIPLE MANY DEATHS THAT HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2025, INCLUDING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THERE'S BEEN AN ONGOING ROBUST DISCUSSION WITH LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE WITH MANY MEMBERS INCLUDING OUR DELEGATION TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS FOR FLOOD MITIGATION. SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE ARE TRACKING AND --
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IDENTIFIED THAT FOCUS MORE ON MODERNIZING FLOOD MAPPING, FORECASTING, EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANTICIPATED ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT SO THIS IS A GREAT NEED FOR THIS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE STAICTSTATE OF TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THESE IMPLEMENTATIONS.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND SUPPORT FUNDING FOR LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVES OUR TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY, MOBILITY, SAFETY AND INTO SUPPLEMENT THE CITY'S VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROGRAMS. YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT MUCH OF THE ADVOCACY, SUPPORT IN THESE ISSUES WE WILL AIM TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, MEMBERS IN LEADERSHIP, TO TRY AND BRING AS MANY RESOURCES BACK TO SAN ANTONIO TO HELP SUPPLEMENT OUR GENERAL FUND. SUPPORT FUNDING FOR RESILIENT WATER, ENERGY, UTILITY AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE THE ONGOING GROWTH FOR THE CITY.
CONTINUED INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCE, THANKS TO CHAIRMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, WE'VE HAD THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF LANGUAGE IN PAST PROGRAMS BEFORE, NOT JUST IN THE STATE PROGRAM, BUT IN THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND INCLUDING THIS HERE, SUPPORT FUNDING FOR RAIL GRADE SEPARATION INITIATIVES, AN ENHANCED POLICY WITH ADMINISTRATIVE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WE HAVE SUSTAINED TWO GRANTS. IN 2023, WE RECEIVED A FEDERAL RAILROAD AND FRA GRANT FOR 4.8 MILLION THAT CAME TO SAN ANTONIO AS WELL AS $5 MILLION THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, WITH ART AND HIS TEAM AND SAMCO AS WELL.
THERE'S A STATE HEARING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 25TH THAT WE WILL BE PRESENT AND MONITORING TO MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO'S STORY IS HEARD, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT THAT INFORMATION BACK TO YOU POSTHEARING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE RECOMMENDING SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT ENSURES THE DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER, ELECTRICITY, AND, OF COURSE, ULTIMATELY PASS ON ANY OF THOSE COSTS TO HOMEOWNERS OR HAVE HARMFUL IMPACTS ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ON DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT AND HOW THE STATE OF TEXAS, THROUGH THE PUC, FOR EXAMPLE, IS REVIEWING THEIR WORK AND ALLOWING FOR DATA CENTERS TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND WITHIN THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR HAS REALLY LEANED IN IN THIS AREA, AND HE HAS DIRECTED A REVIEW AND AN AUDIT OF ANY NEW DATA DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD. AND IT'S POSSIBLE WITH ADDITIONAL REVIEW DURING THE INTERIM SESSION THAT SPECIFIC -- AUDIO] -- TO DETERMINE WHERE THIS IS GOING. ADDITIONALLY HERE SUPPORT FUNDING FOR LOCAL PARKS THROUGH THE ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION OF OUR PUBLIC PARKS AND SPACES.
THIS IS AN AREA THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT ALMOST EVERY SESSION A GOOD AMOUNT OF ROBUST FUNDING. THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE OR MORE LOCAL PARKS PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF THE TEXAS FUNDING COFFERS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MEMBERS SUCH AS SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE TREY MARTINEZ FISCHER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TAP INTO ADDITIONAL FUNDING RESOURCES IN GRANTS. WE APPRECIATE THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT IN COORDINATION WITH HOMER, OUR PARKS DIRECTOR, TO BE ABLE TO TAP THESE RESOURCES.
SAN ANTONIO, BUSINESS RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND, OF COURSE, OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SAN ANTONIO IS CONTINUOUSLY GROWING, SECOND LARGEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I'VE EVEN HEARD ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO WE'LL WORK WITH ALL OF OUR RELEVANT PARTNERS IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO ENSURE THAT WE IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO SUSTAIN THE SUPPORT IN THIS SPACE.
WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN CAREER PATHWAYS AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND JOBS. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH MIKE AND OUR READY TO WORK TEAM AND OTHER PARTNERS TO REVIEW THIS ONE FURTHER, WE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK FROM CHAIRMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ YESTERDAY.
WE WILL -- WE ARE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY ADDING CHILDHOOD OR DAY CARE
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SUPPORT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A JOB OR HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ROLE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE DAY CARE OR CHILDCARE IS ALWAYS AN OBSTACLE THAT WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HEARD GOES HAND IN HAND, SO WE'LL BE LEANING ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH THERE. THE NEXT ONE IS SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, OF COURSE, QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN ALIGNING WITH OUR SHIP AND THE VOTER APPROVED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM. THE NEXT ONE IS SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO EXPAND AND ADDRESS EFFORTS REGARDING HOMELESSNESS AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING NEEDS ACROSS THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. THIS ALIGNS WITH THE WORK THAT MARK CARMONA AND HIS TEAM ARE ALREADY WORKING ON.UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, WE'RE PROPOSING SUPPORTING LEGISLATION AND FUNDING DEDICATED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND INCREASE FUNDING TO PROMOTE A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL, MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO REGIONAL PREVENTION, REPAIRNESS, RESPONSE, RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY.
THIS IS A LONG STATEMENT TO SAY THIS IS THE SUPPORT FOR OUR HOMELAND SECURITY TEAM UNDER THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TEAM UNDER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CASE THERE'S ANY NEEDS. OF COURSE, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY DOING REGIONAL, LOCAL AND STATE PREPARATION IN CASE OF A DISASTER OR MAJOR EVENT. ON TO LEGISLATION AND FUNDING TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND THEN LASTLY SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PREVENT DOMESTIC AND TARGETED VIOLENCE. THIS IS A JOINT COORDINATION BETWEEN OUR METRO HEALTH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION TEAM AND SAPD. AND SAFETY, SUPPORT LEGISLATION AND FUNDING FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND THE CREATION OF A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM FOR DIVERSION AND RECOVERY.
AS I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, THERE'S ONGOING QUESTION BETWEEN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, BEXAR COUNTY, THE CITY AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THIS SPACE, AND WE WILL AWAIT OTHER GUIDE ABS NOT JUST FROM IGR BUT ALSO FROM THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE. OUR DEPUTY MANAGER, MARIA VILLAGOMEZ IS ENGAGED IN THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN TERI CASTILLO, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION AS THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE UNPACKS THEIR DISCUSSIONS. THE NEXT ONE IS SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY, HEALTH DISPARITIES AND COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS. THIS IS, AGAIN, A METRO HEALTH GENERAL CATCH-ALL STATEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THESE PARTICULAR AREAS THAT FALL UNDER THE METRO HEALTH PORTFOLIO. SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND ANIMAL WELFARE. THIS IS A TOPIC THAT -- LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT THERE, SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO INCLUDE THIS AND CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS WITH THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TEAM AND OUR MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE ANIMAL WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR PETS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AS I'VE SHARED BEFORE, WE'RE REALLY PROUD THAT WE HAVE A STRONG LIST OF PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS THAT RUNS WIDE AND DEEP.
IT'S NOT JUST THE LOCAL REACH THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS STAKEHOLDERS AND COUNTERPARTS, BUT IT ALSO EXTENDS TO THE REGIONAL LEVEL. WE ARE -- WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO, FOR EXAMPLE, AACOG TO TRY TO EXPAND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, THEIR FOOTPRINT GOES WAY BEYOND SAN ANTONIO. THE RIVER AUTHORITY ALSO HAS A MUCH LARGER FOOTPRINT BEYOND BEXAR COUNTY THAT INCORPORATES OVER 12 COUNTIES, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE THOSE ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS, TML, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE HAS DONE A PIVOT DURING THIS INTERIM SESSION AND HAS BEEN WORKING ALSO VERY CLOSELY WITH MUCH SMALLER JURISDICTIONS AND SAN ANTONIO ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE SMALLER ENTITIES AND JURISDICTIONS. WE'RE ALL CITIES AND WE ALL GET IMPACTED WHEN THERE'S LANGUAGE PROPOSED AND/OR WORSE PASSED DURING THE LEGISLATURE THAT AFFECTS CITIES. A LOT OF THE TIMES FUNCTION CAPS ARE NOT IMPLEMENTED, SO JUST LIKE IT WILL AFFECT SAN ANTONIO, IT WILL AFFECT SMALL CITIES, SO WE WANT TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND THOSE COALITION EFFORTS THAT WILL EXPAND BEYOND LARGE CITIES THAT WE'VE COORDINATED WITH IN THE PAST. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COME TO THE IGR COMMITTEE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BE ABLE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR DIRECTION AS WE TRAVERSE THROUGH THE
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VARIOUS STAGES AND PHASES OF NOT JUST THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT ONCE WE START PAST JANUARY WHEN THE NEW LEGISLATURE BEGINS TO MEET, AROUND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, OUR COORDINATION LEVELS ARE AT THE LOCAL REGIONAL LEVEL WITH ORGANIZATIONS. TWO WEEKS AGO, MY TEAM ATTENDED THE IGR ROUND TABLE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY OUR COUNTER PARTS ACROSS THE CITY SO WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH THEM ONGOING BUT THIS IS A FORMAL MEETING WE'VE HAD WITH THEM, WITH ALL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY TO START HAVING THOSE ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ON THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR THE NEW YEAR BECOME FORMALIZED AND/OR APPROVED BY THEIR GOVERNING BODIES. I MENTIONED TML EARLIER, AND, OF COURSE, THIS OFTEN EXTENDS TO NATIONAL COORDINATION.THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP IN ALIGNMENT NOW WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AND CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE, SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A LAYOVER, A LAYER WHERE THERE'S A COORDINATION HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP AN EYE ON HOW THE STATE OF TEXAS IS COORDINATED AND COMMUNICATING WITH CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SEAT AT THAT TABLE WHEN POSSIBLE.
HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS. I MENTIONED TO A FEW OF YOU, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WHERE I WILL SCHEDULE ONE-ON-ONES WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS EXTEND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO NONIGR MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GET YOUR INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK ON -- BEYOND TODAY AND BEFORE WE COME BACK TO YOU FOR THE NEXT IGR COMMITTEE.
WE'LL COME BACK WITH, LIKE JEFF MENTIONED EARLIER, WITH ANOTHER LAYER AND SOME EDITS TO THE PROGRAM BASED ON THE FEEDBACK TODAY, AND THE ONE-ON-ONES, AND THEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING YOUR RECOMMENDED PROGRAM TO THE B SESSION COUNCIL BRIEFING AND ULTIMATELY A SESSION COUNCIL APPROVAL.
WE'RE AIMING FOR OCTOBER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE COUNCIL APPROVED PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER BEFORE BILL FILING BEGINS.
CHAIRMAN, COUNCILMEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENCE TEATION.
PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. PLEASE KNOW THAT WE MONITOR YOUR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND YOUR DISCUSSIONS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM YOU.
THIS IS A STARTING POINT OF THIS DRAFT PROGRAM. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. MY TEAM AND I ARE AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU AND HEAR WHAT YOUR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS ARE ON HOW WE DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM. AND A BIG THANKS GOES OUT TO NOT JUST MY TEAM, BUT ALSO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LIAISONS THAT ARE PART OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STAGE SO FAR.
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH, SALLY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, JEFF, ALL INVOLVED.
AND I CAN TELL THAT YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING COUNCIL MEETINGS AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S HARD TO IDENTIFY VERY MANY GAPS, I THINK, IN OUR PROGRAM, BECAUSE I THINK YOU HIT ON -- YOU'VE HIT ON ALMOST EVERY TOPIC.
MY APPROACH AS CHAIR WILL PRIORITIZE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND HOPEFULLY GREATER PROACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY SO THAT WE'RE NOT WAITING UNTIL JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS TO BEGIN WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATE -- OUR DELEGATIONS. SO AS WE GET FURTHER INTO DRAFTING OUR PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN HAVING SOME MEETINGS WITH EVERY MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION AND THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SHARE CONSTITUENCIES. I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL -- AUDIO] -- I THINK THAT WILL ALSO HELP US STRATEGIZE IN TERMS OF WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GO OUT TO AUSTIN, ARE THERE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PRESENT. I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE OFTEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY IN A STRONG WAY. IDEALLY, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE START OF FILING, WE CAN IDENTIFY MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION WHO CAN CHAMPION LEGISLATION ON OUR BEHALF AS WELL AND WE CAN COBUILD A STRATEGY.
THEY CAN LET US KNOW, HEY, WHO DO WE NEED TO BE SPEAKING TO, WHAT ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS WE NEED TO BUILD AND HOW CAN WE BE HELPFUL TO THEM.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO, BEYOND OUR DELEGATION, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MEETING WITH SOME OF THE MOST -- I'LL USE THE WORD INFLUENTIAL, BUT PEOPLE WHO IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO ENGAGE WITH, THOSE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WHO, YOU KNOW, WOULD BENEFIT FROM US HOSTING THEM HERE, SO THAT THEY CAN SEE SOME OF OUR CHA CHALLENGES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL SO WE CAN BEGIN GAINING SOME ALLIES OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. I THINK THAT WOULD BE
[00:30:03]
EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE MORE RURAL AREAS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN A MAJOR CITY LIKE THIS, SO THEY CAN SEE SOME OF OUR ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES, MUNICIPAL ISSUES AND MAYBE THEY CAN INTERACT WITH OUR UTILITIES, MAYBE THOSE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY SAN ANTONIO OPERATES THEY MIGHT GAIN SOME PERSPECTIVE AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE SUPPORTIVE IN SOME OF THOSE BATTLES AT THE LEGISLATURE.AS THE PROGRAM BEFORE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S A STRONG START.
I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU INCORPORATING SOME OF MY INITIAL FEEDBACK INTO THIS DRAFT, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES THEIR THOUGHTS SO WE CAN SHAPE THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE. BEYOND THIS LIST, I THINK EDUCATION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, I'D LIKE US TO BUILD SOME SYNERGY AND STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLSES SPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOL FUNDING. I THINK ONE OF THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS IS GOING TO HAVE THAT AS A FOCUS. I'LL ALSO ADD THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WHAT'S LOOMING BEFORE US IS A MAJOR BUDGET DEFICIT AND WE AREN'T THE ONLY CITY EXPERIENCING THIS. I'LL SAY THAT TEXAS IS EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE IN TERMS OF REVENUE STREAMS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT AND ALLOWED TO DO, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ADVOCATE TO SOME CHANGES FOR POLICY THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ADOPT NEW STREAMS OF REVENUE AND FOR HELP WITH OUR DEAFDEFICIT. I'LL NOTE IT'S AN ENTIRE DIFFERENT CONTEXT BUT WE'VE SEEN THE MAYOR IN NEW YORK CITY CLOSE A $12 BILLION DEFICIT WITH HELP FROM HIS GOVERNOR. AND THE CONTEXTS IN NEW YORK AND TEXAS ARE EXTREMELY DIFFERENT, POLAR OPPOSITES, THAT'S A CLEAR EXAMPLE WITH MUNICIPAL LEADERS WORKING WITH THE STATE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES. IT'S GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT HERE, BUT WHATEVER WE CAN DO, WE SHOULD, BECAUSE THE RISK IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SERVICES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT OUR RESIDENTS RELY ON, WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE POVERTY, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE HOMELESSNESS, DISPARATE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND INCREASE DESPERATION AND STRUGGLE, AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO INCREASED CRIME, IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO INCREASED CONFLICT AND STRUGGLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ALREADY SEE THAT IF THE CBA IS APPROVED, THAT'S ANOTHER $100 MILLION JUST TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING SERVICES THAT WE HAVE. AND SO ALL OF THIS COMBINED IS A SIGNIFICANT RISK THAT WE CAN'T IGNORE, AND WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN OUR APPROACH WITH THE STATE. I'LL ALSO ADD, I'D LIKE US TO WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND CAPITAL DELIVERY TO IDENTIFY SOME STATE-OWNED WORDS LIKE SOUTH W. W. WHITE IN DISTRICT 20 SO WE CAN REQUEST FUNDING FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'D NORMALLY UTILIZE BOND FUNDS FOR.
WE KNOW OUR BOND IS GOING TO BE LIMITED. AS MUCH FUNDING THAT WE CAN SECURE FROM THE STATE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR ROADS -- AUDIO] -- WE'RE GOING TO NEED OUR DELEGATION TO BE AWARE OF THESE REQUESTS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME IN DISTRICT TWO WE GOT STATE FUNDING FOR A ROAD. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN MY COLLEAGUE'S DISTRICTS, BUT I CAN IMAGINE IT'S FAIRLY SIMILAR.
LASTLY, I THINK BEFORE WE GO INTO THE PROGRAM, I'D LIKE US TO -- I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A REQUEST OF THE MAYOR AND SOME COLLEAGUES, IS AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR OUR LOBBYING TEAMS. I DON'T THINK -- I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'SWISE IT'S WISE AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE BASED OFF OF THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO HELPFUL SUCCESSFULLY PASS, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF CRITERIA THAT WE CAN BUILD PONTO BASE SUCCESS ON I KNOW WE HAVE OUR RFP, SOLICITATION THAT WALKS THROUGH SOME CRITERIA THERE, BUT I THINK IF WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START. OVERALL, I'LL CLOSE OUT BY SAYING THIS IS A STRONG START AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MY COLLEAGUE'S INITIAL FEEDBACK.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS DRAFT, IS THERE ANYTHING MISSING, ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS YOU VA ON STRATEGY, ESPECIALLY THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION. ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC TOPICS YOU'D LIKE US TO COVER IN THE NEXT FEW IGR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. WE'LL HAVE A SEVEN-MINUTE ROUND AND THEN A FIVE-MINUTE SECOND ROUND AND WE'LL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THE CHAIR'S REMARKS ABOUT THIS IS A REALLY STRONG START. SALLY, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE GREAT WORK Y'ALL CONTINUE TO DO ON OUR BEHALF, SO THANKS FOR THAT. I'M HAPPY THAT THIS COMMITTEE'S FORMED.
I'M HAPPY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE STRONG. I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, I DO ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS ON YOU ALL USING US.
YOU KNOW, USE US TO GO PUSH OUR CITY'S AGENDA AT THE STATE, AT THE FEDERAL
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LEVEL. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE'RE SO CLOSE TO OUR RESIDENTS, WE FEEL THEIR PAIN ON SO MANY OF THESE ISSUES, SO -- AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE A VALUE ADD TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND GO PUSH ON THOSE ISSUES WITH YOU ALL. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE FOUR PRIORITIES.YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A REALLY WELL-ROUNDED OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO SAN ANTONIANS RIGHT NOW, LIKE THE DATA CENTERS AND AFFORDABILITY AND ANIMAL WELFARE, AND I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU ALL EARLIER, SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN JUST A COUPLE DISTRICT-SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON. YOU KNOW, ON THE TOPIC OF STRENGTHENING OUR TITLE AS MILITARY CITY USA, CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ARMY NORTH AND SOUTH AND THOSE COMMAND CLOSURES, WHAT ARE WE DOING AFTER THAT?
SO WE LOST THEM, AND SO WHAT'S NEXT? >> BASURTO: ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILWOMAN. GREAT QUESTION. SO UNFORTUNATELY AS YOU KNOW, ARMY NORTH AND SOUTH FINALIZED THEIR DEPARTURE -- AUDIO] -- AS PER THE LATEST UPDATE I RECEIVED FROM OUR MVAD TEAM.
LEADING UP TO THAT, AS I SHARED WITH YOU, WE HAD A VERY ROBUST STRATEGY AND COORDINATION WITH SENATORS CRUZ AND CORNYN.
THERE WERE MULTIPLE MEETINGS THAT ALSO OUR HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER SUCH AS COUNCILMAN HENRY CUELLAR HAD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR AND OTHER INFLUENCE THERE TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE FINAL DECISION.
UNFORTUNATELY WE KNEW THAT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR SAN ANTONIO.
THERE WERE MANY CONNECTIONS AND ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND LEADERSHIP AT THE PENTAGON THAT WE KNEW THAT THE INEVITABLE WAS COMING, HOWEVER, IT GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT COORDINATION WITH OUR SENATORS AND OUR HOUSE MEMBERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND I KNOW SENATOR CRUZ HAS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TRACKING AND MONITORING AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN ANYTHING THAT'S FORTHCOMING AS -- BY WAY OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY SUCH A SENIOR POWERFUL MEMBER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU POSTED AND KEEPING THE IGR COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP APPRIZED OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES SO YOU CAN LEAN IN AND HELP US. THEY HEAR FROM ME ALL THE TIME, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP, ALSO VERY WELL KNOWN, NOT JUST WITH THE MEMBERS, BUT INDIVIDUALS IN D.C. AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY INVOLVED AS WELL IN TRYING TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO AT HIS LEVEL TO
SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO. >> COYLE: I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO ADD BUT I DON'T
WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. >> GAVITO: SURE.
>> COYLE: OUR STRATEGY REALLY IS TO BACKFILL WHERE OUR STRENGTHS ARE, OUR STRENGTHS ARE MILITARY MEDICINE, CYBERSECURITY, TRAINING OF PILOTS, OF ENLISTEES AND SO FORTH. OUR PARTNERSHIP, AND YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED THIS IN PAST BUDGETS WITH THE COUNTY, TO BRING DHA TO FORT SAM, WE'LL DO THAT ESSENTIALLY. WE'RE TARGETING ROUGHLY 560 NEW PERSONNEL THAT WOULD BE CONSOLIDATED AT FT. SAM HOUSTON, SO THAT WILL ROUGHLY MAKE UP FOR WHAT WAS LOST FROM ARMY NORTH AND ARMY SOUTH WHICH WAS A REAL SMALL FOOTPRINT IN THE OVERALL JBSA.
>> GAVITO: SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, SALLY AND JEFF, BECAUSE I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS HOW DO WE PICK UP THE PIECES AND HOW DO WE KIND OF BACKFILL THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, SALLY, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE STILL NEED TO KEEP PUSHING ON HOW WE CAN ADDRESS OUR ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES. I MEAN, THAT'S CRITICAL.
YOU KNOW, WE PUSHED ON THE LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG POLICY.
I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL SOME WORK THAT MAYBE WE CAN PARTNER WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ ON THERE AND STATE REP LIZ CAMPOS.
ALSO DEFINITELY WANT FOR US TO ADVOCATE TO RENEW THE TEXAS SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS. WE HAD A GOOD MEETING ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY. THIS WILL HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE ON STRAY AND ROAMING ANIMAL POPULATION. AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF LEGISLATION THAT CAN HELP US ADDRESS BACKYARD BREEDERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY DARN -- SORRY. SO MANY BREEDERS IN US AND ALSO IN OUR -- LIKE IN LEON VALLEY AND OTHER -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROBLEM. I'D ALSO LIKE FOR US TO WORK WITH AARP TO STRENGTHEN FRAUD AND PREVENTION ON THE MISUSE OF THOSE CRYPTO KIOSKS.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I JOINED FORCES WITH, I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND I THINK COUNCILMAN MARC WHYTE ON, SO WE NEED TO BUILD ON THE LOCAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED AND PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE AT RISK FOR SCAMS. I'D ALSO WELCOME ANY ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST MAIL THEFT AND THE CLUSTER MAILBOX. THESE ARE PROBLEMS FOR US.
I KNOW IT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE, BUT WE ARE JUST OFTEN LEFT -- IT FEELS
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LIKE HELPLESS, YOU KNOW. AND SO I KNOW WE DID AN INITIATIVE TO ADD MORE LIGHTING AROUND THE MAILBOXES, BUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO THERE TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK HAPPENS IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS, AND WE ALL STILL FEEL IT. AND I'D LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME MORE, YOU KNOW, STRENGTH IN THAT FIGHT.I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR US TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN LOWER THE PRIMA FASCIA SPEED LIMITS. I KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING SOME PILOTS IN DISTRICT 7, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF -- ALL OF US HAVE SPEEDING AS A PROBLEM IN OUR DISTRICTS, SO WE JUST NEED TO SLOW PEOPLE DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. FINALLY, JUST A FEW OTHER THINGS, WITH THE HIGH CHILD ABUSE RATE IN BEXAR COUNTY, I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR LAWS THAT WILL KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE. I KNOW A FEW SESSIONS BACK A LAW WAS PASSED THAT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME AND THAT RESULTED IN A RISE IN CHILD ABUSE DEATHS.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE -- IN THAT SAME VEIN, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE OPTIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE KNOW THAT THE COST OF CHILDCARE HAS GONE UP AND THE FUNDING HAS REMAINED STAGNANT, SO HOWEVER WE CAN BEST LOBBY FOR ADDITIONAL CCS, THE CHILDCARE SERVICES FUNDING FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AREA SO THAT MORE FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE CHILDCARE THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. ALSO -- I JUST HAD ONE MORE, SORRY. THANK YOU. WITH THE CLOSING OF LAUREL RIDGE, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND HOWEVER WE CAN BEST JOIN FORCES WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHERS TO GET THAT HERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE NOT BEING PROO PROACTIVE WITH THIS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE HOMELESS AND HIGHER RATES OF CRIME, AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG LEVER WE CAN PUSH ON SO WE CAN PROTECT THE FOLKS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA? >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT ROBUST PROGRAM. SOMETHING TO ADD, BETTER FINANCING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THAT IS SUCH AN ISSUE IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE SEEING A RISE IN SCHOOL CLOSURES AND VACANT BUILDING, WE'RE SCRAMBLING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THAT OR HOW TO CONVERT THAT INTO COMMUNITY ASSET, SO I THINK IF WE HAD BETTER FINANCING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND I THINK AS WE ENGAGE THE ISDS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, EVEN IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY NO, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO TALK ABOUT CONSOLIDATION OF THE DISTRICTS AND IF THE ANSWER FOR ALL OF THEM IS NO, WE LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS, THEN THAT'S FINE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHY THE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN UP THE WAY THEY ARE AND THAT IS A WHOLE HISTORY ON THAT, AND IF WE'RE FINE WITH THAT, OKAY, BUT IT'S ROOTED IN A LOT OF ISSUES THE WAY THINGS ARE CARVED UP. SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. TO COUNCILMAN GAVITO'S POINT, NOT ONLY FOR THE MENTAL HOSPITAL, WE NEED -- ACTUALLY NEED A NEW HOSPITAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE STILL. UHS, OF COURSE, IS BUILDING THE PALO ALTO HOSPITAL BY A&M AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE'RE STILL MITING THAT PART OF THE SOUTH SIDE BETWEEN 90 AND MILITARY DRIVE GOING EAST AND WEST ON THAT PART OF THE SOUTH SIDE. THERE'S STILL A LARGE GAP.
I MEAN, WE STILL NEED ANOTHER HOSPITAL THERE. I THINK -- SINCE PALO ALTO'S EXPANDED, BUT I MEAN THE DEFICIT -- THERE'S STILL A NET DEFICIT BEDS FROM THE LOSS OF SOUTHWEST GENERAL HOSPITAL TO WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING NOW. SO WE CERTAINLY NEED ANOTHER -- AT LEAST ANOTHER WHOLE STANDUP HOSPITAL. WHEN IT COMES TO THE MILITARY AND SOME OF THAT STUFF, THAT'S GREAT THINGS YOU'RE WORKING ON. I WOULD ALSO SAY SUPPORT FOR THE AREA AROUND LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT VISIT LACKLAND ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR GRADUATIONS, AND THE STATE OF MILITARY DRIVE AND THE STATE OF MILITARY AND HIGHWAY 90 IS ATROA SHUS, AND, OF COURSE, THAT IS -- THOSE ARE STATE ROADS, AND SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT SAYS THERE'S A WHOLE SIGN THAT SAYS THE GATEWAY TO THE AIR FORCE AND THE ROAD AROUND IT, I MEAN, IT'S JUST REALLY BAD IN THAT AREA.
SO HOWEVER WE CAN SUPPORT THAT, THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO AS A CITY COUNCIL TO HELP WITH THAT ALSO, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
BUT WE NEED SOMETHING BETTER FOR THE FAMILIES VISITING SAN ANTONIO.
AND 100% ON SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY, OBVIOUSLY WE NEED A LOT OF FUNDING FOR THAT ROAD, IT'S A MULTIYEAR PROCESS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE STATE FUNDING'S THERE, AND ALSO WHATEVER WE CAN DO LOCALLY.
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TO HAPPEN ROADWAY FOR OUR SIDE OF TOWN. AND THE BEST TIME TO DO IT IS NOW WHEN THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AND SO WE'RE FACING A CRISIS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME AND PUT THIS ROAD IN. SO ALSO MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING OUR PART LOCALLY ON THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE YET, BUT AS DEVELOPMENT COMES ON THE PROJECTED LINE OF WHERE THE ROADWAY'S GOING TO BE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BUILD THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY WOULD ULTIMATELY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CITY AND EMINENT DOMAIN POSSIBLY.AND TO COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S POINT, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ON STATE ROADS, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. NOT JUST OUR HIGHWAYS AND ACCESS ROADS, BUT, YOU KNOW, NEW LAREDO HIGHWAY IN MY DISTRICT IS REALLY BAD.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF FLOODING PROBLEMS. IT'S OFF OF LEON CREEK, TOO. THAT'S A STATE ROAD. AND ALL OF MILITARY DRIVE IS BASICALLY A HIGHWAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THAT IS A TXDOT ROADWAY ALSO.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO MILITARY CITY, THAT PROGRAM AND THEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM, LEON CREEK, WHICH RUNS THROUGH LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY HAS ANY JURISDICTION OVER THE CREEK, BUT THAT IS WHERE THERE'S FLOODING HAPPENING, AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE CALLED AND SAID WE'VE HAD TO CLOSE UP SHOP AT BOEING BECAUSE IT'S PROHIBITED US FROM WORKING, BUT ALSO UNFORTUNATELY RESULTED IN SOMEONE PASSING AWAY IN AN ACCIDENT ON BASE BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING. I'M NOT SURE ZERO IF IT WAS A CIVILIAN OR NOT, BUT SOMEONE DID DIE BECAUSE OF A FLOODING ON BUS.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY TOUCH BUT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN TO WORK ON THAT. AND ALSO 100% DEFINITELY WORK ON HOMELESSNESS. I DON'T THINK THE STATE DOES MUCH CURRENTLY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE PREVAILING ISSUES OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW, AND SO OBVIOUSLY FEDERAL FUNDS ARE QUESTIONABLE FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH OUR OWN BUDGET, BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT ALSO. SO THOSE ARE MY TOP NOTES. THANK YOU, SALLY, APPRECIATE IT.
>> BASURTO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. COUNCILMEMBER M MEZA
GONZALEZ? >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK OUR IGR DEPARTMENT IS DOING IN THE OFFSEASON TO GET READY FOR PRESEASON AND THEN THE FINALS.
IT'S A LONG ROAD. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AND I THINK THIS IS A ROBUST AGENDA. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE AREAS THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON, MILITARY CITY USA, I RECENTLY WENT ON A TOUR WITH COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS AT CAM L CAMP BULLIS, WHICH WE SHARE THAT, SO MAKING SURE WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROTECT CAMP BULLIS AND JBSA ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, AND SPECIFICALLY AROUND MILITARY MEDICINE AND CYBERSECURITY WHERE WE HAVE THE -- A HUGE FOOTPRINT, BUT ALSO THOSE GOOD-PAYING JOBS THAT COME FROM THOSE SERVICES.
SO MAKING SURE ALSO I WAS WONDERING ON -- I GUESS THE PROTECTION AND STRENGTH IN OUR AUTHORITY TO APPLY CONTROLS IN THE ETJ FOR THOSE MILITARY BASES. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT DURING SESSION
OR -- >> BASURTO: YES. >> GONZALEZ: HOW DO
WE -- >> BASURTO: EVERY -- AND JEFF HAS A LOT OF HISTORY ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP EVERY SESSION, COUNCILWOMAN. THERE'S ALWAYS A LOOK
FROM MEMBERS TO LOOK AT ENCROACHMENT ISSUES. >> GONZALEZ: YEAH.
>> BASURTO: WITH THE MILITARY BASES THAT WOULD IMPACT THE MILITARY MISSIONS, SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH MVAT AND OTHER PARTNERS, OF COURSE, JBSA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- I THINK PART OF IT IS TELLING THE SAN ANTONIO STORY AND THE JBSA STORY, TO MAKE SURE TO EXPLAIN THE ASSETS AND THE TOOLS THAT EXIST. THAT'S ALSO SOME SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE SO THAT ENCROACHMENT ISSUES DON'T HAPPEN. JEFF, DO YOU WANT TO ADD
SOMETHING ELSE? >> COYLE: SURE. I THINK THERE'S TWO PLACES IN THE DRAFT PROGRAM THAT IT'S ADDRESSED ALREADY.
ONE, UNDER MILITARY CITY USA, WE SAY OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT UNDERMINE THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE READINESS AT OUR BASES.
AND THEN IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE SAY PROTECT MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY RELATED TO LAND USE, ET CETERA. BUT YOU NAILED IT COUNCILWOMAN, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS ALWAYS PUSHING FOR LESS
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AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT TO DEFEND THAT THAT IS A UNIQUE IN THIS STATE AREA, AND THAT CUTTING DOWN TREES OR CREATING LIGHT POLLUTION AROUND CAMP BULLIS THREATENS THE ENTIRE MISSION.AND SO OUR MILITARY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IS THERE WITH US IN LOCKSTEP, FOR GIVE THE MILITARY PUN, F EVERY SESSION THAT WE'VE PUT IN
IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME WITH THE CITY AND REALLY ALL TAXING ENTITIES WITH REGARDS TO OUR BUDGETS -- MAKING SURE THAT WE LEVERAGE OUR STATE PARTNERSHIPS TO SUSTAIN THE RESOURCES THAT OUR RESIDENTS RELY ON, I THINK, IS CRUCIAL.
SO TO ECHO WHAT THE CHAIR SAID ABOUT JUST -- NOT JUST WORKING WITH OUR LEGAL GAITION -- CITIES, WE ALIGN A LOT WITH THEM, AND SO MAKING SURE WE'RE CHECKING INASMUCH AS POSSIBLE, INTRODUCING OURSELVES AND COMPARING NOTES, REALLY, ON THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ALL FACING. AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO DATA CENTERS, THIS COMES UP A LOT IN MY DISTRICT AND MAKING SURE THAT -- AND YOU STATED THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT ESSENTIALLY IS SEEKING TO PAUSE APPROVAL OF ALL NEW PROJECTS. AND SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT -- WE ARE NOT LIMITED ON WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN REGARDS TO DATA CENTERS. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF AI DATA CENTERS, WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE WHAT THAT REGULATION -- WHAT THOSE REGULATIONS LOOK LIKE FOR US.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON.
I THINK ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT A DISCIPLINED IMPLEMENTATION OF SV6 SO OUR LARGE LOAD INFRASTRUCTURE COST ARE SHARED BY DATA CENTERS, MAKE SURE WE RESERVE OUR AUTHORITIES WHEREVER THESE FACILITIES AND DATA PLANTS SIT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HAND IN THAT AND WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS. AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COST ALLOCATION PUT THOSE COSTS ON THE DATA CENTERS AND NOT OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, RIGHT? THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I KNOW TO ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT WE REPRESENT. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR ALL THIS WORK. I KNOW IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR CITIES LIKE US, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEREVER WE SIT AND WHOEVER WE REPRESENT. AND SO I JUST REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT WORK AND, YOU KNOW, READY TO TAKE THE TRIP TO AUSTIN WHENEVER NECESSARY.
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
SALLY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO IT. I WOULD ALSO ASK IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN GET THESE PRESENTATIONS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL SO OUR STAFF AND TEAMS CAN PREPARE AND NOT STAY UP SUPER LATE AND OURSELVES AS WELL. BUT APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT PUT INTO THIS. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND MY COLLEAGUES AND JEFF AND EVERYONE ON THE TASKS THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US. IT'S A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT THAN WE'RE USED TO, AND SO I THINK MORE THAN EVER PURSUING EVERY GRANT AVAILABLE WILL BE KEY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT WE LEAN INTO EXECUTIVE ORDERS, BECAUSE IT DOES HELP INDICATE WHERE FUNDING WILL MOVE. A GOOD EXAMPLE WILL BE ON THE HOMELESSNESS FRONT, THEY HAVE INDICATED HOW THEY WANT TO SEE US MOVING IN THAT AREA, AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN GRAB THOSE DOLLARS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR OURSELVES, WE SHOULD. I WANT TO SEE US GET A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE AND A GOOD POSITIVE WAY ON GRANTS AND FUNDING AND A LOT OF THAT IS JUST ASKING. SO I THINK WE ARE RIGHT TO PRIORITIZE POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND, OF COURSE, ENERGY, MY VERY FAVORITE SUBJECT. AND IN DOING SO, I THINK THAT'S WHAT MOVES US FORWARD AS A CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SO HAPPY YOU HAVE THE MILITARY CITY USA IN HERE.
YOU KNOW, I SIT ON THE MILITARY TRANSFORMATION TASK FORCE, AND JEFF'S IN THERE WITH ME, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US COLLABORATING ON THAT.
THERE'S A LOT -- WE DON'T NEED TO DUPLICATE EFFORT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD, IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.
NUCLEAR REACTOR, LACKLAND IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, THEY DEFINITELY NEED --
[00:55:04]
ANYTHING THEY NEED, WE JUST SAY YES. SO I REALLY WANT TO LEAN INTO WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A HUGE PART OF OUR ECONOMY AS WELL. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT JUST BEING GOOD CITIZENS AND SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS AND OUR ACTIVE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO IT'S A BIG PART OF OUR ECONOMY. I, TOO, ALONG WITH THE CHAIR, WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MEASURE SUCCESS IN SUCH A DELICATE ENVIRONMENT. TO YOUR POINT, IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU SAY, HEY, YOU DIDN'T GET EIGHT BILLS DONE, YOU FAILED. IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN LOOK AT THAT CRITERIA AND PROBABLY IT'S JUST CHECKING IN. AND TO THAT POINT, IS THERE A PLAN TO -- FOR US TO DO SOME BILL TRACKING THAT YOU'LL SEND TO THE COMMITTEE? BILL NUMBERS, REALTIME UPDATE, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMMITTEE HEARING, YOU NEED ONE OF US THERE, WE CAN CLEAR OUR SCHEDULE.
I KNOW THAT'S HARD, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I'M DEFINITELY WILLING, IF YOU CALL ME THE NIGHT BEFORE AND IT'S SOMETHING URGENT, I'LL GET DOWN THERE -- UP THERE. UP THERE TO AUSTIN OR WE CAN PLAN THE D.C. TRIPS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK EVERYONE ON THIS COMMITTEE UNDERSTANDS THAT.
AND SO WHILE OUR SCHEDULES ARE BANANAS, THIS IS THE TIME TO STRIKE SO DEFINITELY WILLING TO HELP IN THAT REGARD.
AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE, I THINK IT -- I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT SLIDE IT WAS. SLIDE 19 ABOUT THE FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, THIS IS SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM ACROSS OUR NATION AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE ABLE TO GIVE ALL OF OUR INPUT ON ALL OF THESE PRIORITIES BEFORE IT'S FINALIZED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU -- I KNOW YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO MEET WITH US ALL INDIVIDUALLY, SO TO THE EXTENT WE CAN GIVE OUR INPUT ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOME OF THESE THINGS BEFORE IT'S SUPER BAKED IN, THAT'S CRITICAL TO ME. AND THEN FURTHER, HOW WE CAN ENGAGE OUR RESIDENTS
AS WELL. >> BASURTO: OKAY. >> SPEARS: EDWARD AND I OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE PRIORITIES, BUT WE HAVE THE SAME NEEDS AND WE JUST MAYBE APPROACH THEM DIFFERENTLY, BUT WE AGREE. SO THAT'S HALF THE BATTLE. AND HOW I CAN HELP HIM GET HIS HOSPITAL, HOW HE HELPS ME GET MY SUBSTATION, THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TOGETHER AND THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL WILLING TO DO HERE ON THIS COMMITTEE AND WORK TOGETHER ON, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET OUR RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT AS WELL. ANOTHER THING I WANT TO BRING UP ON THE -- I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO COLLABORATE WITH SO MANY OTHER ENTITIES. I'M THE COCHAIR OF AACOG AND NEXT YEAR I'LL BE THE CHAIR, SO HAPPY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS THERE AND WORK TOWARDS THAT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS A LOT OF REGIONAL ACTIVITY. A LOT OF REGIONAL ACTIVITY.
AND TALKING TO THE SMALLER CITIES, THE OTHER RURAL COUNTIES AND THEIR NEEDS AND USING THEIR FUNDING ALONG WITH OURS IS -- IT'S CRITICAL RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT STEP FORWARD.
IT'S TRUE WITH THE MPO AS WELL. A COUPLE OF US ALL SIT ON MPO. THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO ON THAT FRONT AND DISCUSS THERE, ESPECIALLY Y'ALL WERE REFERENCING THE TAKE-BACK PROGRAM AND WHAT'S HAPPENING ON YOUR STREETS, I DID ASK ON MY STREETS.
THEY DO HAVE A NEW PROGRAM COMING OUT, BUT TO THE EXTENT WE CAN COMMUNICATE THAT AND SEE WHERE EACH OF OUR STREETS -- AUDIO] -- CONVERSATIONS WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE. AND SAMCO IS GOING TO BE KEY HERE AS WELL. BUT I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT PILOT PROGRAMS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S IMMEDIATE FUNDING AND WE GET TO BE FIRST AT BAT. SO ANY TIME WE CAN DO A PILOT, I THINK WE SHOULD SEIZE THE MOMENT. IT'S REALLY GREAT TO COLLABORATE ALSO WITH -- OH, I WANTED TO MENTION, TOO, THE ESAG, MAKE SURE WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH THEM, THE ECONOMIC SECURITY ADVISORY GROUP, THAT BRINGS IN THE PORT A LOT, WHICH IS KEY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MILITARY.
SO... AND THEN -- DID I MENTION MILITARY MEDICINE? YES, I SAID THAT. OKAY. I'LL MENTION IT AGAIN.
AND THEN YOU MENTIONED ON 19 AS WELL THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEMBERSHIPS, ASSOCIATIONS, COALITIONS AND ADVOCACY GROUP, AM I ON THE RIGHT ONE? MAYBE I'M NOT. IS THAT 19?
[01:00:03]
JUST IF WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COSTS THERE.THAT'S IT. NO, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE SPENDING THERE,
MEMBERSHIP. >> BASURTO: WE'LL GET YOU THAT.
>> COYLE: COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. OUR WHOLE TEAM HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE EXPRESSED YOUR INTEREST IN BEING ENGAGED, YOU ALL REPRESENT DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, MAYBE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, SO WE FULLY INTEND TO TAP INTO ALL OF YOUR INFLUENCE AND ASSIST US WITH THIS EFFORT. THE CHAIRMAN'S MADE VERY CLEAR, AS WE SAID, THAT HE WANTS TO BE TALKING DIRECTLY WITH MEMBERS AND INVOLVING OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, SO ALL OF THAT IS WONDERFUL. YOU ASKED ABOUT BILL TRACKING. MY FIRST RESPONSE WHEN YOU WERE SAYING CAN WE SEE SOME OF THAT IS BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, BECAUSE IT COMES IN JUST WAVES, THE VOLUME IS INCREDIBLE. WHAT SALLY AND NADIA, CHRISTINE, CRYSTAL, SARA AND ED WAR DA WHO ARE NOT HERE DO, IS GO THROUGH THESE THOUSANDS OF BILLS THAT GET FILED, IDENTIFY IN ANY OF THEM HAVE ANY SORT OF CITY RELEVANCE, ROUTE THEM TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY'RE APP APPLICABLE TO AND THEIR ATTORNEYS WHO THEN GIVE US FEEDBACK ON WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE CITY, WHICH ULTIMATELY WE APPLY AGAINST THE POSITION STATEMENTS THAT YOU ALL APPROVE, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE INTENTIONALLY KIND OF BROAD AND TRYING TO CAPTURE ALL THE IMPORTANT SORT OF STATEMENTS FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, AND THAT GUIDES US THEN TO GO REGISTER OPPOSITION TO A BILL OR TALK TO A MEMBER AND SAY, HEY, IF YOU TWEAKED THIS LANGUAGE AND INSERTED THIS, IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR CONCERNS. AND ULTIMATELY TELL OUR MEMBERS WHEN THE BILLS COME TO THE FLOOR, THE HOUSE AND SENATE, HOW WE'D LIKE THEM TO VOTE. SO IT'S A MESSY, COMPLICATED PROCESS.
WE'LL SHARE AS MUCH AS WE CAN -- AS MUCH AS YOU WANT.
WHAT WE ULTIMATELY DID LAST SESSION, I THINK IT WAS AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO, MAYBE COUNCILMAN WHYTE WAS TO POST ALL OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE TOOK FORMALLY ON BILLS AND WE PUT THEM ON OUR WEBSITE EVERY SINGLE WEEK, SO THAT YOU AND THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING UP THERE, AND THERE'S NO MYSTERY AS TO THE POSITIONS WE'RE TAKING.
LAST THING I'LL SAY ABOUT RESIDENTS, WE TOTALLY AGREE, PEOPLE DON'T GENERALLY REALIZE HOW MUCH THE STATE LEGISLATURE AFFECTS THEIR LIVES, SO I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I WILL COME TO ANY ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE LEG AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY IT MATTERS. SO THANK YOU FOR
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: JUST A FEW MORE COMMENTS. I THINK IT'S SLIDE 16 ON SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD ADD IN REGARDS TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS JUST TO KEEP TRACK ON ANY LEGISLATION MOVING THROUGH THERE. AND SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT 10, I HAVE A TALAVERA BRIDGE PROJECT, WE JUST GOT THE COST OF THAT EARLY MONDAY, WHICH WAS A NICE STICKER SHOCKER OF $22 MILLION. WHICH WOULD PROBABLY TAKE UP A QUARTER OF THE MONEY THAT COMES TO DISTRICT 10 SPECIFICALLY.
SO IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE, WE REACHED OUT TO THE COMPANY, AND M PO COULD BE AN OPTION, BUT WE JUST WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF SOME AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR THAT. AND I THINK, COUNCILMAN GAVITO MENTIONED THAT PRIORITY AS WELL. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SIT IN ON THE MEETINGS WITH REGARDS TO THE DIVERSION CENTER.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO HAS PUT TOGETHER. JUST KEEPING AN EYE ON ANY RESOURCES THAT BECOME AVAILABLE IN THAT SPACE WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND ALSO TO COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S POINT ON FUNDING, AS THOSE KIDS ARE OUR RESIDENTS TOO AND MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP TRACK ON WHERE THAT IS HEADED.
THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: REAL QUICK SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MPO AND AACOG AND SOME REGIONAL THINGS. I THINK GETTING WITH -- AND COUNCIL MEZA GONZÁLEZ YOU SAID THIS EARLIER, SOME OF THE SMALLER CITIES AROUND US AND GOING THROUGH MAYBE A WORKFORCE OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
BASICALLY WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO HELP ENHANCE THE AREAS AROUND US ALSO FOR OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO DEVELOP KIND OF THE METRO AREA AND HAVE A LARGER FOOTPRINT. I THINK ULTIMATELY, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, THAT THE NEXT TOYOTA AND THE NEXT JCB PROBABLY ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE IN THE CITY LIMITS TO DO
[01:05:05]
THAT AGAIN, BUT HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND US. AND IF YOU LOOK AT TOYOTA, A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS SOUTH OF US THAT UTILIZE THAT JOB OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS FANTASTIC, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE SOUTH TEXAS TRIANGLE.SO WE'RE THE LARGEST CITY FROM THE BORDER INTO TEXAS, SO HOW DO WE ALSO ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THERE AND MAKE IT -- MAKE IT REGIONAL? I THINK THAT'S A LONG-TERM THING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL FIT NECESSARILY IN THE NEXT SESSION. I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE AREA AROUND US. NOT NECESSARILY PAID TO LOBBY ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE, BUT HOW DOES IT HELP US AND HOW DOES IT HELP THE COMMUNITY AROUND US, WHICH ALSO GOES TO UTILITY SUPPORT.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING LONG-TERM TO THINK ABOUT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. ANY LAST COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS.
I'VE HEARD SUPPORT OVERALL FOR THE DRAFT AGENDA. I'M HEARING AN ENTHUSIASTIC DESIRE TO BE PRESENT AND HELPFUL IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'LL BE WORKING WITH JEFF AND SALLY TO SCHEDULE AND COORDINATE SOME OF THE EFFORTS. I'M LIKELY GOING TO HAVE A HEAVY HANDS AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR HELP FROM YOUR TIME AND I WILL LOOK FOR HELP FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE REQUESTS ARE FAST COMING. I'D ASK THAT YOU SEND THIS DRAFT PROGRAM TO EACH COUNCILMEMBER AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST FEEDBACK.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A 101 BRIEFING. I KNOW TIME IS REALLY SENSITIVE RIGHT NOW, BUT EVEN IF IT'S -- THEY JUST WANT TO REVIEW IT AND THEN SEND YOU BACK FEEDBACK, THEN IF THERE'S ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE OR ANY TRENDS THAT YOU ALL HEAR AFTER YOU'VE RECEIVED THAT FEEDBACK, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO PROVIDE A QUICK HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY AT THE NEXT MEETING.
AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT. I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL AS ENGAGED AS POSSIBLE SO WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT COUNCIL IS VOTING TO APPROVE THIS AND NO ONE HAS MAJOR CHANGES OR DOESN'T FEEL HURT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT SAID, THE TIME IS NOW 11 -- OH, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING, JEFF OR SALLY, DO
YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING? >> COYLE: NO. I JUST REPEAT WHAT I THINK I HEARD ON A SUGGESTION OF HOW WE HANDLE IT.
I DON'T NEED YOU TO SIT THROUGH A WHOLE PRESENTATION NEXT TIME.
WE CAN HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'VE CHANGED, ADDED, BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK AND/OR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS' FEEDBACK AND THEN SEEK YOUR APPROVAL AT THE NEXT MEETING TO MOVE
IT TO A B SESSION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: ABSOLUTELY.
THE TIME IS NOW 11:16 A.M. ON AUGUST 4, 2026, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.