[00:01:14] >> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:01 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2026, AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY [ PROCEDURAL  ] COUNCIL IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. YOU, MADAM CLERK. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE INVOCATOR. >> THANK YOU. THIS MORNING, I'M DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCED TODAY'S INVOCATOR HUMBIE CERVERA. HE HAS SERVED AS SENIOR PASTOR AT AKOUO SINCE 2020, PROVIDING SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND CARING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE WOOD LAWN LAKE AREA, A LIFELONG SAN ANTONIO AND DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT, HE GRADUATED FROM JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL AND EARNED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE. THEY LIVE WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN. PRIOR TO HIS PIVOT INTO MINISTRY, HE COULD BE SEEN ON NEWS FORCE SAN ANTONIO AS A SPORTS REPORTER AND ANCHOR. CURRENTLY, HE HAS A PASSION FOR SERVING SENIORS, STUDENTS, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN IN HIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND FOR YOUR ONGOING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME PASTOR HUMBIE CERVERA. >> THANK YOU. SO GOOD MORNING, FIRST OFF. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU AS I PREPARED FOR THIS PARTICULAR INVOCATION THIS MORNING, A PIECE OF SCRIPTURE KEPT COMING BACK TO ME IN THE ACCOUNT OF JESUS MINISTRY RECORDED BY HIS FRIEND AND DISCIPLE JOHN. WHILE THIS IS CHRISTIAN, I THINK THIS PRINCIPLE CAN GO FOR ALL OF US. HERE'S WHAT JESUS SAID. HE SAYS I'M GIVING YOU A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE EACH OTHER JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU SHOULD LOVE EACH OTHER. YOUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER SHOULD PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES. TODAY I WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. LET US KNOW -- LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT WE ARE SAN ANTONIANS, BY THE WAY WE LOVE EACH OTHER. THEWAY WE LOVE EACH OTHER HERE IN THIS ROOM AND THE WAY WE SPREAD LOVE FROM HERE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. LET IT START FROM HERE AND RADIATE OUT FROM HERE. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS WE PRAY TODAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND PRAY. I PRAY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE RIGHT NOW, THE CITY EMPLOYEES, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR. I PRAY AS THEY GO THROUGH REPORTS, PURCHASES, AMENDMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS, I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW LOVE. I PRACTICE I THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE SERVING, THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. I ALSO PRAY FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW THE SAME LOVE AND RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER THAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR HERE IN THIS ROOM HERE THIS MORNING. I PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HAVE DEVOTED TO SERVING AND LOVING OUR CITY. GOD, WE PRAY FOR LOVE TO WIN THE DAY AND EVERY DAY MOVING FORWARD. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AND WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR HOLY MIGHTY AND WONDERFUL NAME OF JESUS, AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: AMEN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [00:05:20] ] >> MAYOR JONES: ITEM THREE IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 13TH AND 18TH, 2026. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR EDITS TO THE MINUTES? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. PLEASE VOTE. GREAT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS. PLEASE COME UP. THANK YOU. WELCOME. HONORED TO PROVIDE THIS TO YOU. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CONGRATULATIONS TO BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS ON YOUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. IN CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF DEDUCTIBLE INDICATED SERVICE, BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAS REMAINED A STEADFAST CHAMPION FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS. SINCE 976, THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR MISSION. FOR FIVE DECADES, BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS WORKED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COOLS, BUSINESSES, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A CARING ADULT IN THEIR CORNER. WHAT BEGAN WITH TWO DETERMINED WOMEN, HARRIET AND BARBARA HAS GROWN INTO THOUSANDS OF MENTOR SHIPS, MILESTONES AND MOMENTS THAT HAVE TRUENESS FORMED LIVES. FROM 1978 TO TODAY'S INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, THE AGENCY CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES WILL YOU RELATIONSHIPS AND UNWAVERING BELIEF IN YOUTH. AS WE CELEBRATE WITH HERITAGE EVENTS, VOLUNTEER REUNIONS, AND GOLDEN CELEBRATION, WE HONOR THE BIGGS, LITTLES, FAMILIES, STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS AND LEADERS. PAST AND PRESENT, WHO'S COMMITMENT MADE THIS POSSIBLE. WE JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THIS REMARKABLE MILESTONE AND EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES. HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY. AS IT'S BUDGET SEASON, WE ARE LOOKING TO FIND ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. WELCOME YOU TO PROVIDE REMARKS AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ALLOW MY COMMENTS TO ALSO PROVIDE COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE BEING HERE. THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR US. I'M DENISE, PRESIDENT AND CEO. THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY STAFF. ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND THE ENTIRE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS FAMILY, WE ARE SO HONORED FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF OUR 50 YEARS. WHEN WE WERE ALL YOUNG, WE -- IN ORDER TO GROW UP SUCCESSFULLY, WE NEEDED CARING, KNOWLEDGEABLE DIFFICULTIES TO GUIDE US, BELIEVE IN US, AND HELP US BECOME THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TODAY. AND SOME YOUTH IN SAN ANTONIO DON'T HAVE THESE PEOPLE OCCURRING NATURALLY IN THEIR LIVES TO HELP AND GUIDE THEM. AND SO FOR 50 YEARS, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCESS TO THESE RELATIONSHIPS ISN'T JUST LEFT TO HOPE AND LUCK AND CHANCE. AND SO WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE BECOME VERY RIGOROUS ABOUT MEASURING NOT JUST WHAT WE DO FOR KIDS AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WE DO. WE SEE THE DIFFERENCE IT'S MAKING IN THEIR LIVES. THE DATA IS POWERFUL BECAUSE TODAY, 85% OF OUR YOUTH ARE ENROLLING IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND 96% OF OUR ALUMNI HAVE A LIVING WAGE. WE KNOW THAT MENT FORKING IS THE ANSWER. AND WE WANT TO DO MORE. WE WANT TO ELIMINATE THAT WAITING LIST THAT WE'VE HAD FOR SO LONG. IT HAS ALMOST 300 KIDS IN LINE FOR A BIG BROTHER OR BIG SISTER TODAY. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING AND WORKPLACE-BASED MENTORING. WE WORK WITH PARENTS HOW TO RAISE HIGHLY CAPABLE KIDS. WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BIG SISTERS AND BIG BROTHERS HAVE STEPPED UP TO BE BIGGS, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE. BEING A MENTOR IS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING AND FLEXIBLE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS CITY. SO TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR MENTORS AND THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION SINCE 1976, BECAUSE A SAN ANTONIO, WHENEVER THEY ARE SURROUNDED AND THRIVE IS [00:10:02] A KIND OF CITY WE WANT TO BUILD EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE IN THIS VERY SPECIAL MOMENT, AND WE ARE GOING TO CHERISH THIS RECOGNITION. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. MY COLLEAGUES TO LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, PLEASE. CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD JOB ON EVERYTHING. I GOT TO TOUR YOUR OFFICE MAYBE LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE WORKED THERE FOR SO MANY YEARS, TOO, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE MISSION AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU MAKE ON ALL THE KIDS' LIVES IS SO SIGNIFICANT MANY I JUST MADE A DONATION TO SOMEONE'S BOWLING THING RECENTLY. YEAH. YES. I WAS HIT UP FOR THAT. AMAZING WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDRETE GAVITO. >> YOU PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW IT'S TIRELESS AND HARD WORK. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN HELPING US. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, 50 YEARS IS A HUGE MILESTONE. WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I BELIEVE, LEADS TO THE SINGLE FACTOR THAT CHANGES THE TRAJECTORY OF THE KID'S LIFE. EVERY ONE OF US HAVE HAD PEOPLE POUR INTO US AND THAT'S OFTEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED. BEING ABLE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN IS -- IS THE ONE FACTOR THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. SO EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK. SO CONGRATULATIONS, AND I HOPE THAT -- THAT YOU MEET YOUR 100-YEAR MARK AND EXCEED ALL YOUR GOALS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> APPRECIATE THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCI COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THOUGH YOU SIT ON THE OTHER SIDE. CITY, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING IN MY DISTRICT AND WITH THE FAMILIES AND WHAT I APPRECIATE IS THE HELP YOU GIVE TO SO MANY SINGLE MOMS THAT ARE OUT THERE. AND PROVIDING THESE SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE OTHER ADULTS INVESTING IN THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. 50 YEARS, Y'ALL LOOK GREAT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. TO SEE THE ALUMNI AND HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS FOR A WHILE, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DOING IT AND CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU AGAIN. >> APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER, MEZA GONZALEZ IS RECOGNIZED FOR HER PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. >> THANK YOU. TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL. IF I CAN HAVE THE FOLKS FROM MEAD ELEMENTARY COME UP. THANK YOU. TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL AT MEAD ELEMENTARY. A REMARKABLE ACADEMIC TURN AROUND THAT SHOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT COME TOGETHER AND BELIEVE IN WHAT'S POSSIBLE. MEAD IS A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY SCHOOL. NEARLY 750 STUDENTS, MORE THAN 36 LANGUAGES, AND FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD CALL THIS PLACE HOME. THAT DIVERSE SIT ONE OF ITS GREATEST STRENGTHS. 60% OF STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH AND 94% COMING FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HOUSEHOLDS, THIS IS A SCHOOL THAT MEETS EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES WITH EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT. OVER THE PAST YEAR, PRINCIPAL DR. AMANDA GARDNER, HER LEADERSHIP TEAM, TEACHERS, AND NORTH SIDE ISD STAFF WORKED TOGETHER TO GIVE EDUCATORS SUPPORT, COACHING, AND STRATEGIES THEY NEEDED TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED. WE'RE SEEING THE RESULTS PARTICULARLY IN READING. SPECIFICALLY MEAD ELEMENTARY IMPROVED FROM AN F RATING TO A B RATING IN THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR UNDER THE TEXAS SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. THE SCHOOL HAD RECEIVED THREE CONSECUTIVE F RATINGS AND WAS AT RISK FOR STATE INTERVENTION. THEY INCREASED BY 15 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN READING AND MATH OVER 25 POINTS. THE SCHOOL JUMPED ABOVE 30 POINTS. IT GOT THAT B RATING. IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK. ESPECIALLY PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MS. AMY MENDEZ, HER COMMITMENT TO USING RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES THAT MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE. IT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE WORK HAPPENING THROUGHOUT MEAD ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO DR. GARDNER, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, DAVID ROMERO, MS. MENDEZ, AND THE ENTIRE MEAD TESTIMONY MEAD TEAM AND EVERYONE BEHIND YOU FOR BELIEVING IN YOUR STUDENTS AND DOING THE HARD WORK TO HELP THEM THRIVE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEAD MOUNTAINEERS. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO FOR A POINT OF [00:15:03] PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> WILL MR. FOSTER JOIN US AT THE PODIUM? CUTIES. SO TODAY I'M SO HAPPY TO CELEBRATE THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM THE ADVANCED LEARNING ACADEMY WHO COMPETED IN THE SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT SAN ANTONIO CIVICS FAIR AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY AND ADVANCED ON TO THE STATE CIVICS FAIR IN AUSTIN THIS SPRING WHERE THEY WON SECOND PLACE. SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT IS AN INNOVATIVE CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEACH THIRD GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND EQUIP THEM WITH THE CIVICS SKILLS KNOWLEDGE AND DISPOSITIONS NECESSARY TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. PARTICIPANTS COMPETE IN THEIR LOCAL REGIONS WITH THE TOP TEAMS ADVANCING TO THE STATEWIDE FAIR HELD AT UT AUSTIN EACH SPRING. SPONSORED BY THEIR TEACHERS D ON FOSTER, THE STUDENTS WERE TASKED WITH IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY, CONDUCTING RESEARCH, DEVELOPING VIABLE SOLUTIONS, AND PRESENTING THEM TO STAKEHOLDERS. OUR ALA STUDENTS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LITTER AT WOOD LAWN LAKE. THEIR SOLUTION INCLUDED INSTALLING TRASH CANS AND GATHERING -- AND SUPPLYING VOLUNTEERS FOR A PARK CLEAN-UP. THEIR NEXT STEPS ARE TO WORK WITH MR. FOSTER TO MAKE THAT PROJECT COME TO LIFE. THEY WILL ADJUST THEIR PLAN TO ACCOUNT FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY WON, PLACE THEIR ORDER FOR SUPPLIES, AND THEN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEIR SOLUTION. MY TEAM IS COORDINATING WITH ALA TO MAKE THIS CLEAN-UP HAPPEN AND FOR OUR STUDENTS IN COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT. WE'RE SO PROUD OF THEM AND GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PRIDE IN KEEPING THE LLAKE CLEAN. THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS AND MR. FOSTER FOR MAKING SAN ANTONIO PROUD. I'LL PASS IT ON TO MR. FOSTER TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> I WASN'T GOING TO TALK, BUT TRUE TO THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, MY PRINCIPAL SAID YOU SHOULD. SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT IS MY FAVORITE PROJECT OF THE YEAR. WE START IN OCTOBER, AND IT IS TRULY STUDENT-DRIVEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THEY DECIDE ON THEIR TOPIC. I REALLY JUST HELP FACILITATE THINGS. THEY DO THE RESEARCH. THEY DO THE WORK. THEY HAVE TO FIND THE SOLUTION. IT IS ALL THEM. I TELL THEM AT THE BEGINNING THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO FALL FLAT ON THEIR FACE BECAUSE OF THEMSELVES OR THEY'RE GOING TO RISE UP AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID. AND THAT'S DEFINITELY TRUE FOR THESE GUYS. SUPER PROCEED OF THE WORK THEY DID. YEAH. IT'S REALLY GREAT. WE WERE RIGHT UP THE ROAD. I WALKED HERE THIS, MONTH. TELL EVERYONE TO COME FROM AND CHECK THINGS OUT. I LIKE TO SAY THAT IT'S CONTROLLED CHAOS IN MY CLASSROOM DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE IT'S GROUPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. WE'VE GOT 100 KIDS, 100-PLUS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR, I GUESS, SINCE IT BEGAN. SO SUPER COOL PROJECT. IF I WAS PUT ON THE SPOT, I WAS GOING TO PUT THEM ON THE SPOT AS WELL. >> WHO GOES FIRST? >> SO PART OF THE REASON WE WANTED TO DO THIS PROJECT WAS BECAUSE, LIKE, ME AND LIKE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY GROUP LIVE BY THE LAKE. WE HAVE MEMORIES OF THE POOL. WHEN THERE WAS NEW SIDEWALKS, WE GOT NEW ONES. THAT WAS REALLY COOL. STUFF LIKE THAT JUST MADE US WANT TO HELP CLEAN UP THE LAKE MORE. >> AWESOME. >> LIKE WHEN PH AND HE MY DAD WERE FISHING, WE SAW A BUNCH OF TRASH BAGS AND WE STARTED PICKING THEM ALL UP AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM ALL AROUND THE LAKE. AND I THOUGHT, LIKE, IF WE DECIDED TO PICK UP ALL THE TRASH AND START MAKING IT LIKE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, THAT IT COULD BE GOOD. AND WE COULD HAVE A BETTER LAKE FOR EVERYONE TO FISH, TO HAVE FUN, AND, LIKE, JUST BE BETTER OVERALL. THANK YOU. >> AWESOME. >> THIS SUMMER WE SPENT TIME ATWOOD LAWN LAKE. IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO US BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. >> AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE LOOK FORT FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] ALL. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE UNFORTUNATE PASSING OF GLORIA STEINAN FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUALITY ACROSS THE WORLD REALLY. SO WE RECOGNIZE HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COUNTRY AND THE WAYS IN WHICH FRANKLY HER [00:20:03] ACTIONS OVER MANY DECADES ENABLED US TO SERVE UP HERE TODAY. [CITY MANAGER'S REPORT  ] NEXT ITEM IS CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> TWO ITEMS, THE FIRST IS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SEVERAL OF YOU DID THIS YESTERDAY AS WE DID THE BUDGET WORK SESSION. BUT LAST FRIDAY'S STORM REALLY PROUD OF HOW THE CITY REACTED. WE HAD CREWS BEGINNING THAT NIGHT, FRIDAY NIGHT, WORK TO CLEAR DEBRIS FROM NOT ONLY CITY PARKS, BUT ALSO THE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT WERE IMPACTED. WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT CPS DID WITH THEIR PARTNERS. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RESILIENCY CENTERS FOR OVERNIGHT SHELTER CAPACITY AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT PUBLIC WORKS DID IN TERMS OF RESTORING TRAFFIC SIGNALS, SOLID WASTE MOVED NEAR BEE 2,000 TONS OF BRUSH OVER THOSE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. AND 311 BECAME A CENTRAL CONNECTION POINT FOR STORM ASSISTANCE. WE MOVED TO 24-HOUR OPERATION. CODE ENFORCEMENT RESPONDED TO ALMOST -- A LITTLE OVER 3500 STORM DAMAGE CALLS AND A SUCCESSED 740 PROPERTIES AND, OF COURSE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGED ELECTRICAL HAZARDS, RESCUES, STRUCTURAL CONCERNS, TRAFFIC CRASHES AS WELL AS ENSURING TRAFFIC WAS MOVING ALONG IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THE LIGHTS WERE DOWN. AND THEN WE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE IN TERMS OF DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. ALL TOLD, BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, METRO HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, HOMELESS STRATEGY DEPARTMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES, PARKS AND REC, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, SOLID WASTE, AND DSD AND 311, WE HAD A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WERE WORKING, SOMETIMES 24 HOURS A DAY OVER THAT -- OVER LAST WEEKEND INTO THIS WEEK. AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE DID OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS. THERE'S STILL SOME CLEAN-UP NEEDED TO BE DONE. AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT. BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT RESPONDED TO TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND IN PARTICULAR DEPUTY CHIEF BRYAN O'NIEL OVER AT THE EOC WHICH COORDINATED ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY AND THEN SPECIFICALLY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER MARIA VILLAGOMEZ WHO WAS SUPER STEADY AND KEPT EVERYTHING MOVING ALONG OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO THIS WEEK. I APPRECIATE HER LEADERSHIP AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM MARIA BECAUSE SHE'S -- SHE'S CALM AND COLLECTED ON THE OUTSIDE AND -- BUT DON'T -- DON'T EVER -- DON'T EVER THINK THAT ALL THE WHEELS AREN'T TURNING AND THEY'RE TURNING ON A LIGHTNING SPEED. SO THANK YOU, MARIA, FOR KIND OF LEADING THAT ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION OVER THE WEEKEND. AND THEN LASTLY, THE VIDEO THIS WEEK KIND OF IS A SUMMARY OF THE COMMUNITY BUDGET TOWN HALLS. THIS YEAR WE HAD A TREMENDOUS TURNOUT AT ALL DISTRICTS. WE HAD ALMOST 1300 PEOPLE ATTEND THESE MEETINGS ACROSS THE CITY. SO I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO COURTING THOSE CERTAINLY WITH YOU ALL AND YOUR STAFFS, BUT THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE BUDGET OFFICE IN COORDINATION WITH YOUR OFFICES I THINK RESULTED IN A MUCH BETTER TURNOUT FOR THE PUBLIC. SO LET'S ROLL THAT VIDEO. >> FOR WEEKS WE WORKED ALONGSIDE CITY COUNCIL OFFICES AND CITY DEPARTMENTS FINDING THE RIGHT LOCATIONS, COORDINATING LOGISTICS, AND GETTING THE WORD OUT AND PREPARING TO WELCOME RESIDENCE TO OUR CITY'S BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS. THIS YEAR BETWEEN AUGUST 17TH AND 28TH, WE TOOK THE CONVERSATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY ACROSS TEN COUNSEL DISTRICTS. THIS YEAR ALMOST 1300 PEOPLE JOINED US AND 11% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR TO ASK QUESTIONS, SHARE FEEDBACK, AND TELL US WHAT MATTERS MOST TO [00:25:02] THEM. IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THESE MEETINGS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU TO OUR C AND E TEAM, COUNCIL OFFICES, CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED BRING THESE TOWN HALLS TO LIFE. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU TO RESIDENTS. YOU SHOWED UP. YOU SPOKE UP, AND WE LISTENED. >> OUR GOAL NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO GET ANOTHER 11% INCREASE AS WE GO TO THOSE BUDGET TOWN HALLS BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPER IMPORTANT AND I THINK -- I THINK OVERALL, IT WAS -- IT WAS BENEFICIAL AND WILL HELP -- WE'LL BE PROVIDING YOU ALL KIND OF THAT SUMMARY REPORT HERE SHORTLY OF WHAT WE HEARD FROM ALL THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. I ALSO WANT TO ECHO MY THANKS TO THE STAFF AND CERTAINLY TO MARIA. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS CALM STEADY LEADERSHIP, IT WAS A REAL PRIVILEGE TO SEE THAT UP CLOSE AND APPRECIATE THE WAY IN WHICH YOU NAVIGATED THAT SO WELL, MARIA, AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER -- IF IT'S FUNNY, MARIA IS THE SAME. IF IT'S HEIGHTENED ISSUE, MARIA IS THE SAME. SO THERE'S SOMETHING VERY COMFORTING ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU, MARIA, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. PARTICULAR. ANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WANT TO SAY IN THIS CASE. GO AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: JUST THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE TEAM THAT WAS OUT THERE. WE GOT TO SEE THAT FIRSTHAND AND ALSO I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THANK MARIA ENOUGH FOR ANSWERING ALL MY PHONE CALLS AND MY TEXTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, AND I KNOW IF ALL THE THINGS YOU GET YOU'RE GOING TO SAY YOU WERE DOING YOUR JOB, BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB SO WELL AND CONTINUING TO DO THAT. SO IT WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY FOR US THAT WERE AFFECTED BID THIS. A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, MYSELF DIDN'T HAVE POWER. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR KEEPING TABS ON THAT AND MAKING SURE OUR RESIDENTS FELT HEARD AND GET THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, PLEASE. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO MARIA AND AS WE ENTER LABOR DAY, I THINK THIS DEMONSTRATED CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES REALLY KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING, AND I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AS WELL TO SENSENATOR MENENDEZ. MY COLLEAGUES, OUR DISTRICT 5 COMMUNITY, GO AND CONDUCT SITE VISITS. THE MAYOR HAD STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT. DISTRICT 3, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOREDAY, 6, CHRISTIAN AND SARAH AND DISTRICT 7 TEAM THANK YOU FOR SHOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND COUNCILMEMBER MARC WHYTE WERE ALSO OFFERING ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU AND EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE FOR THEIR WORK AND THEIR CONTINUED WORK IN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN, PLEASE. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO ECHO ALL THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD PARTICULAR. IN PARTICULAR ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND DEPARTMENTS WHO STEPPED UP TO ANSWER THE CALL, WHETHER IT WAS IMPACTED YOUR FAMILY DIRECTLY OR NOT, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR NOT, IT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A WELL STRUCTURED WOOL CUREDIATED AND WELL SUPPORTED PUBLIC SECTOR HERE IN OUR CITY WHETHER IT'S FROM VIA OR CPS WORKERS AND ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, SAL I HAD WASTE, LIBRARY, PARKS, SAPD, OFFICE OF RESILIENCY, C AND E, PUBLIC WORKS AND ANY OTHERS THAT I'M MISSING STEPPING UP IN EVERY SINGLE WAY AND COMMUNICATING TO RESIDENTS, FINDING WAYS TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, IT WAS INSPIRING TO SEE. OF COURSE, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY. WE STEP UP AND JUMP INTO THIS WORK. AND OF COURSE, ECHO THE SUPPORT THAT ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES, I THINK, SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER, TRY SHARING RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE FOR RESIDENTS WHO WERE STILL AFFECTED IN DEEPER WAYS, MAYBE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S NEVER EASY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DID A BOTTOM-UP APPROACH AS WELL WITH THEIR OWN NETWORKS, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, BUSINESSES JUMPING OUT AS WELL, NONPROFITS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AS WELL. JUST WANT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THIS COMMUNITY. LEADING BY EXAMPLE ENSURES THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE STEADY LEADERSHIP HERE AS WELL MARIA EVEN THE 7:30 P.M. CALLS. THAT'S WHAT'S NECESSARY AND NEEDED IN THE TIME OF CRISIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WHITE, PLEASE. >> I'LL ECHO THE COMMUNITIES. YOU WERE AMAZING FROM THE BEGINNING. TO MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL, I THINK COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ, SHE ALREADY REACHED OUT AND SAID LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP AND WATCHING COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND EVERYBODY ELSE LEAD AND GET INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS WAS REALLY AMAZING. AND ALSO SOME FOLKS AT CPS. I MEAN, IT WAS A ROUGH TIME FOR THEM AS WELL. BUT MATT JONES AND PARTICULARLY FOR ME WAS CONSTANT STANT LEE [00:30:03] PROVIDING UPDATES AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE AND FOOD BANK FOR PITCHING IN. SO TEAM EFFORT WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN. WE ALL PULL TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS NICE TO SEE US COME THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AS BEST WE COULD. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALT READY GAVITO, PLEASE. >> I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS SHARED. I THINK YOUR STEADY CALM LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S A STORM UPDATE OR OTHER DRAMA AT CITY HALL, WE APPRECIATE THAT LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE. ALSO, TOO, THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS. I KNOW CPS DID A TON OF WORK. THERE'S STILL CLEAN-UP THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THERE'S STILL THE AFTERMATH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS HAPPY TO HELP FOR AND CHALLENGE THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT DISTRICTS 1, 4, AND 5 IN THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOOD BANK BECAUSE THERE ARE FOLKS WHO STILL NEED FOOD. IT WAS DONATED $5,000. I WANT TO PUT THAT CHALLENGE OUT THERE FOR THE REST. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. SURE. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: ONE LAST THING. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU SHOULD GIVE MARIA A PROMOTION. >> SURE. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. GO AHEAD. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. >> I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT -- WHEN WE RUN FOR OFFICE, WE DON'T PICK UTILIZED BUDGET THAT GETS PUT IN FRONT OF US AND WE DON'T PICK NATURAL DISASTER. SO JUST REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE COLLEAGUES HERE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING FROM DISTRICTS 1, 4, 5, I THINK 6 EVEN HAD A LOT OF DAMAGE, 7. I DIDN'T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH, BUT TEN. JUST REALLY -- YOUR DEDICATION WAS CLEAR AND I KNOW YOU WERE CARRYING THAT AS WE ARE STILL IN MEETINGS RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESIDENTS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK [CONSENT AGENDA  ] YOU. ITEMS 5 THROUGH 15 ARE ON CONSENT. THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP AND THERE WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. >> ITEM 15. >> MAYOR JONES: ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS? OKAY. OKAY. ITEM 15 HAS BEEN PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. ON THE BALANCE OF THE AGENDA, WE DON'T HAVE -- WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE FROM PUBLIC COMMENT TO SPEAK ON THAT. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA ABSENT ITEM 15. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ABSENT ITEM 15. PLEASE VOTE. ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR ITEM 12. WE'RE APPOINTING JOE BRAVO AHEAD OF A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION AND SERIES OF ACTIONS TOMORROW. JOE BRAVO IS AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE AND A STRONG VOICE FOR NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT 2. HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE AND HIS NEIGHBORS ARE IMPACTED BY INSTITUTIONS. HE'S NO STRANGER TO CITY POLITICS AND A FAMILIAR FACE FOR MANY OF YOU. AND NOT ONLY IS HE A PERSISTENT ADVOCATE BUT HE KNOWS OUR CITY VERY WELL. I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIM REPRESENT DISTRICT 2 ON THE MIDTOWN TERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> MAYOR JONES: ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE BALANCE ABSENT ITEM 15. PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. [15. 2026-09-03-0525 Ordinance designating Esperanza Community Land Trust as a Community Land Trust to operate within the City of San Antonio Pursuant to Section 373.002 of the Texas Local Government Code. [Justina Tate, Assistant City Manager; Veronica Garcia, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services Department]] OKAY. ITEM 15 WAS PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. PLEAS READ THE CAPTION. >> AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PURSUANT TO SECTION 373.002 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, WOULD YOU LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION? >> VIAGRAN: IF YOU'D LIKE TO PRESENT, THAT'S FINE. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. [00:35:01] VERONICA GARCIA. TODAY'S ITEM IS A RESOLUTION GRANTING THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST DESIGNATION TO ESPERANZA CLT. SO LET'S START WITH GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT EXACTLY IS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. CLTS ARE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH WERE CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OWNING AND STEW ARRESTING LAND IN PERPETUITY MEANING THAT THE AFFORDABILITY OFFERED TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE PROPERTIES, IT'S PERMANENT AFFORDABILITY. THE CLT MODEL IS WIDELY USED FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING TO HELP PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND PROMOTE WEALTH BUILDING FOR PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD HOMES ON THE REGULAR MARKET. THEY'RE AN ESTIMATED 300CLTS OPERATING IN THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING SOME HERE IN TEXAS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS, BUT TYPICALLY, THE CLT HAS A DEFINED SERVICE AREA THAT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS A FEW BLOCKS OR COVER AN ENTIRE CITY OR COUNTY. AND THEN WHAT ELSE IS KEY ABOUT THE CLT IS THAT IT HAS A BOARD WHICH IS COMPRISED OF HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS WHO LIVE IN THE CLT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, RESIDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA, AND FINALLY, SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS THE PUBLIC INTEREST, WHETHER THAT'S A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, A NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDER, OR EVEN A FUNDER. CLTS ARE A SHIP STRATEGY WHICH IDENTIFIES THAT WE SHOULD WORK TO HELP NONPROFITS EMPOWER THEM TO BECOME AND LAUNCH CLT ENTITIES. TO CLTS WORK BY -- IT'S EASIER TO LOOK AT COMPARING THE CLT HOMEOWNERSHIP MODEL TO A TRADITIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MODEL. TRADITIONALLY THEY PURCHASE BOTH THE LAND AND THE HOME. THEY'RE BOTH PURCHASED AND THEN THEY ARE SOLD TOGETHER. THE GOAL IS TO OWN YOUR HOME, MAXIMIZE THE SALES PRICE AT RESALE, AND THEN THE HOMEOWNER DOES PAY PROPERTY TAXES BASED ON THAT ESTIMATED SALES PRICE OR THAT APPRAISED VALUE. IN THE CLT MODEL, IT REALLY SEPARATES THE HOME FROM THE LAND. THE HOMEOWNER IS JUST PURCHASING THE HOME ITSELF, THE STRUCTURE, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY LEASING THE LAND FROM THE NONPROFIT. SOMETIMES IT'S FOR A MONTHLY FEE OF ABOUT $50 A MONTH, $100 A MONTH. IN ADDITION, THE NONPROFIT LIMITS HOW MUCH THE HOME CAN BE RESOLD FOR. TYPICAL, 1% PER YEAR WITH A MAXIMUM SALES PRICE. AGAIN, THAT HELPS ENSURE THAT AFFORDABILITY STAYS THERE IN THE LONG-TERM WHILE ALLOWING THE HOMEOWNER TO ALSO EARN SOME EQUITY. BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFERENT STRUCTURE OF THE VALUE OF THE HOME, THEY ARE TAXED DIFFERENTLY BY THE COUNTY ONCE THAT DESIGNATION IS ACKNOWLEDGED. SO IN ORDER TO GET THE CLT DESIGNATION, THERE IS A PROCESS. THE TEXAS -- STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES THAT THE CLT NONPROFIT MUST GO THROUGH THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY TO RECEIVE THAT DESIGNATION. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, OUR POLICY WAS ADOPTED ON OCTOBER 31ST, 2024. SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD TWO ENTITIES RECEIVE CLT DESIGNATION INCLUDING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN UNITY COUNSEL DEVELOPMENT FUND IN DISTRICT 5 AND THE SILK ROAD CLT WHICH COVERS MANY DISTRICTS INCLUDING 1, 8, AND 4. THOSE ARE ALL -- BOTH OF THOSE ARE DESIGNATED ON FEBRUARY OF 2026, EARL WHYER THIS YEAR. THE NONPROFIT GROUPS THAT ARE SEEKING THE DESIGNATION WILL APPLY TO THE CITY. OUR TEAM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, REVIEWS THAT FULL APPLICATION AND THEN ONCE THEY ARE MEETING ALL OF THE TERMS, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, THE AFFORDABILITY PROPOSED, ONCE THAT IS REVIEWED, THEN WE GO AHEAD AND MUST BRING THAT RECOMMENDED DESIGNATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. WHILE THEY HAVE TO GET INITIAL COUNCIL FOR THE DESIGNATION, THEY MUST REAPPLY ANNUALLY FOR -- TO CONTINUING THAT DESIGNATION. THE ANNUAL REVIEWS ARE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY BY STAFF. AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO MEET THE TERMS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO GRANT THAT DESIGNATION. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GET THE DESIGNATION BECAUSE ONCE THAT'S RECEIVED, THEN THEY CAN TAKE THAT TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THEN THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT KNOWS EXACTLY WHICH PROPERTIES HAVE THIS SPECIAL APPRAISAL METHODOLOGY. SO OUR POLICY FOCUSES ON ENSURING THAT THE CLTS MEET ALL OF THE STATE STATUTES THAT ARE REQUIRED. THIS INCLUDES THEY MUST BE A NONPROFIT ENTITY. THEY MUST MEET SPECIFIC AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLDS IN ALIGN WITHMENT WITH OUR HOUSING PLAN. SPECIFICALLY, IF THE CLT IS EVERYBODY ISING RENTERS, THEY MUST HELP PEOPLE BELOW 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. IF THEY ARE SERVING HOMEOWNERS, THEY MUST HELP HOW'S HOLDS BELOW 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN [00:40:03] INCOME ALTHOUGH THERE ARE ALLOWANCES FOR SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES TO GO UP TO 120% AMI. THEY MUST ALSO PROVIDE A FULL LIST OR EN INVENTORY OF THE PROPERTIES HELD WITHIN THE CLT. THAT IS SO THAT BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY KNOW WHICH PROPERTIES WILL BE TAXED DIFFERENTLY. AND THEN, AGAIN, IF THEY ARE SEEKING A SEPARATE TAX EXEMPTION FROM THE CITY, THEY MUST PROVIDE A FULL AUDIT, AND AGAIN, THAT IS PERRITY STATE STATUTE. LOCALLY, WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. WE LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT THE PROPERTIES THEY HAVE ARE IN GOOD STANDING WITH CODE AND IF THERE ARE CODE ISSUES, THEY MUST SUBMIT A PLAN OF WHEN THEY WILL BE REHABBED. THOSE MUST BE BROUGHT UP TO CODE BEFORE ANYONE IS PLACED INSIDE THE PROPERTY. THEY MUST COMPLY WITH ALL FAIR HOUSING LAWS INCLUDING OUR LOCAL ORDINANCES, MEANING THEY MUST ACCEPT HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR ANYONE AS A SOURCE OF INCOME. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, WE LOOK AT HOW THE CLT WILL MEET COMMUNITY NEED AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DISPLACE RESIDENTS PERMANENTLY. WE REVIEW THEIR BUSINESS PLAN, ENSURE THEY HAVE LONG-TERM ABILITY TO HOLD THESE PROPERTIES, AND, AGAIN, LOOKING AT WHAT IS THAT BOARD COMPOSITION. FINALLY, WE ASK THEM TO DEFINE THEIR SPECIFIC SERVICE AREA AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS. I MENTIONED THAT THERE IS AN OPTION FOR CLT TOSS REQUEST A CITY TAX EMTION. OUR POLICY ALLOWS FOR UP TO A 50% EXEMPTION FOR CITY PROPERTY TAXES ONLY. THIS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO PROPERTIES HELD BY THE CLT, NOT BY ANY THAT THEY WOULD SELL TO HOMEOWNERS. THAT WOULD REQUIRE A FULL AUDIT. I'LL NOTE THAT THE ESPERANZA CLT IS NOT REQUESTING ANY SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS AT THIS TIME. IF THEY DO CHOOSE TO PURSUE THAT EXEMPTION, WE'LL HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. SO IN SUMMARY, THE ESPERANZA CLT WAS STARTED IN 2022. SO THEY'RE JUST NOW SEEKING THEIR CITY DESIGNATION. THEY SERVE THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO IN DISTRICT 5. THEY FOCUS ON PRESERVING AND REHABBING HOMES AND THEIR GOAL IS TO -- OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS IS TO HELP REHAB NINE PROPERTIES WITH THE FOCUS ON HELPING HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. SO FOR FAMILY OF THREE, THAT'S EARNING LESS THAN $25,000 A YEAR. THE ESPERANZA CLT WAS AWARDED A HOUSING BOND AWARD THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS APPROVED BY COUNCIL BACK IN APRIL OF 2026. THAT FUNDING AMOUNT WAS $681,000, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT HOUSING BOND AWARD. THAT AWARD IS CONTINGENT UPON THEM RECEIVING THIS CITY ACKNOWLEDGED CLT DESIGNATION. THEY'VE ALSO RECEIVED OTHER AWARDS WHICH HAS HELPED THEM ACQUIRE PROPERTIES. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 1 1 PROPERTIES WITHIN THEIR INVENTORY OTHER. THEY HAVE ONE HOMEOWNER IN ONE AND THEN A RENTER IN ANOTHER. AND THEN BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING OTHER FUNDING AWARDS BEYOND THE CITY INCLUDING THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, BEXAR COUNTY, THE COALITION FOR DIG IDENTIFY THE HOUSING, THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND HUD FEDERAL FUNDS. THEY MEET THE CITY'S ADOPTED POLICY. SO WE RECOMMEND ISSUING A RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE ESPERANZA CLT AS A COMMUNITY TRUST. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? IT'S COMING. YEAH. SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ITEM. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. GRACIA SANCHEZ. >> ONE OF THE STAFF PEOPLE TO HELP. GOOD MORNING MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS A PICTURE FROM MAY OF 2014. BACK IN MAY OF 2014, COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF THE MISSION TRAILS MOBILE HOME PARK CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL THAT INCLUDED FORMER MAYOR CASTRO AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER RON NIRENBERG. THESE RESIDENTS BEGGED THE COUNCIL TO NOT REZONE THEIR LAND BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS ACTION WOULD [00:45:01] LEAD TO THERE BEING DISPLACED FROM THIS MOBILE PARK. AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE PROCLAIMED THAT WHEN SHE HAD LAST BEEN PUSHED OUT OF HER PREVIOUS MOBILE HOME PARK, SHE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK. SHE PLEADED THE COUNCIL AND PROCLAIMED, IF I AM FORCED TO MOVE AGAIN, I WILL DIE. THREE MONTHS AFTER THEY WAS FORCED TO MOVE, THIS WOMAN DIED. WHAT HAPPENED -- AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE? WE DON'T KNOW. AS LEADERS, WE FORGET ABOUT HOW OUR DECISION ON FUNDING, ZONING, AND SO-CALLED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AFFECT INDIVIDUALS, THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AND OUR MOTHER EARTH. THAT MOMENT IN 2014 MOVED ME AND THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTERS AND HOUSING ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO THINK OF ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO FIND A WAY THAT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES CAN STAY IN THEIR TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAVE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN LONG DELAYED. TOO OFTEN IN AUSTIN, SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES, EFFORT TO IMPROVE WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS PUSHED LONG TIME RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR CITIES. OUT OF THEIR CITIES. COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS OFFERED A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BY ENSURING THAT PUBLIC INVESTMENT WOULD CREATE PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ESPERANZA WAITED FOR OTHER HOUSING ENTITIES TO CREATE A CLT BUT NO ONE DID. WE WATCHED AS WEST SIDE, EAST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE, AND DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS WERE BEING PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES ON BEHALF OF PROGRESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE COULDN'T WAIT ANYMORE. SO THE ESPERANZA AGREED TO CREATE A SISTER ORGANIZATION, THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO STOP THE DISPLACEMENT OF WORKING CLASS PEOPLE FROM THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE. WITH THE MONIES FROM HUD, WITH THE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS, AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE HOUSING BONDS, WE HOPE TO REHABILITATE HOMES IN THIS HISTORIC WEST SIDE. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR WORKING WITH US TO SUSTAIN THIS ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. TOGETHER WE WILL KEEP THE HISTORICAL MAGIC OF THIS SACRED PLACE AND KEEP US HOUSED AND OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT INTACT FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS MORE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: RENE GONZALES RENE GONZALES. OKAY. FOLLOWED BY RAY MORALES AND LETICIA SANCHEZ. >> RAY MORALES WILL BE DONATING HIS TIME TO ME. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RENE GONZALES, AND I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RECOMMENDATION MADE BY NHSD TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND ASK ALL OF YOU TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION. I'LL ALSO BE SHARING PHOTOS OF THE PROPERTIES WE HAVE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST WAS THE CITY'S FIRST AND TO BUILD HISTORICAL HOUSING. IT FOCUSES ON THOSE RESIDENTS 30% OR BELOW WHICH ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS $100,600. HOWEVER, THE LEGACY OF THE ROOTS -- NEW IMMIGRATION PATTERNS, GENTRIFICATION AND RISING INFLATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHILE IN THE PAST, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST OWNERSHIP RATES IN THE CITY -- INFRASTRUCTURE HAS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT. THE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN AND RECENT CITIES REGARDING DEVELOPMENT HAVE MADE OLDER HOMES AND LOTS IN AN ATTRACTIVE AREA FOR OUT OF TOWN INVESTORS. THERE'S A SURGE IN THE VALUE OF PROPERTY IN THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE SINCE 2019. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE CLT DESIGNATION AND BOND FUNDS AWARD IS A START TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE AFFORDABLE NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO ONE OF THE LOWEST PERFORMANCE AREAS IN THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. HOUSING FOR LOW AND EXTREMELY LOW INCOME SAN ANTONIANS. WHILE THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GREAT ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS, IT'S GREATEST FOR THOSE IN THE LOW INCOME LEVELS WHERE THEY WILL BE DISPLACED, MADE HOMELESS, HAVE TO MOVE INTO SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, OR MOVE OUT TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. [00:50:04] NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE ESPERANZA CLT'S FOCUSED ON EXISTING HOUSING IS ON BASIC COST LOGIC. IT'S CHEAPER TO REHAB AND REPAIR THAN BUILDING A NEW ONE. THIS HOLDS EVEN AS BUILDING AND LABOR COSTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE COVID. THIS FOCUS ALSO SUPPORTS THE ESPERANZA CLT'S GOAL OF PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ITS CURRENT AND LEGACY RESIDENTS THERE BY PRESERVING THE CULTURAL LEGACY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHILE THE MODEL WAS ORIGINALLY FUNDED ON FREE SERVING LAND OWNERSHIP AND HOMEOWNERSHIP, A SURVEY FOUNDED TO SENATOR THROUGH INFORMATION RESOURCES AND MEMBERSHIP SERVICES DETERMINED THAT APPROXIMATELY 45% OF CLT PROPERTIES ARE RENTAL UNITS. AS WITH A GENERAL FOR PROFIT MARKET, HOMEOWNERSHIP IS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE INITIAL WORK OF THE ESPERANZA CLT WILL FOCUS ON REPAIRING, REHABBING, AND REBUILDING THE HOUSES THAT IT'S ALREADY PURCHASED FOR THE PURPOSES OF RENTING THEM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. MOST OF THE HOUSES PURCHASED LIKE MANY OF THE HISTORICAL WERE BUILT BEFORE 1945 AND BUILT ON CEDAR POSTS AND BEAMS THAT SUPPORT THE FLOORING FOUNDATION. MOST OF THE CEDAR POSTS HAVE REACHED THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE CAUSING THE LOSS OF FOUNDATION. UNEVEN OR BAD FOUNDATIONS MAKE LANDLORDS AND HOMEOWNERS INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN CITY RESIDENTIAL REPAIR AND REHAB PROGRAMS SUCH AS COOL ROOF PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. BAD OR UNEVEN FOUNDATIONS MAKE IT PROBLEMATIC TO ADD INSULATION IN ATTIC CRAWLSPACES TO IMPROVE THE HEAT RESILIENCY OF THE HOUSES. THIS IN AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS ONE OF THE HOTTEST IN THE CITY. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND BREAKER PANELS ARE OLD AND NOT UP TO CODE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY APPLIANCES FOR COOLING AND HEATING. THE OLDER SINGLE PANE WINDOWS ARE ALSO NOT ENERGY EFFICIENT. I HOPE THIS GIVES YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE -- OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING RESIDENTS AND RENTERS IN THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE ESPERANZA LAND TRUST IS COLLABORATING WITH THE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, COALITION FOR DIG ANY OTHERRED HOUSING, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO AND ARLINGTON THROUGH A NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION CIVIC PROJECT ON TESTING METHODS, MEASURING ENVIRONMENTS AND HEAT RESILIENCY ON HOMES WITH TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION. THE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION PRODUCED WILL BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE HOPES OF PROVIDING GUIDANCE, USEFUL FOR INCREASING HEAT RESILIENCY IN RESIDENTIAL REHABBING AND REPAIR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN MEETING WITH CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE WORKED ON HISTORIC WEST SIDE HOUSES TO ACQUIRE BIDS, TO SUPPORT LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND SMALL BUSINESSES FROM AROUND THE CITY AND INFORM THOSE CONTRACTORS OF THE UPCOMING WORK THE CITY BONDS WILL BE SUPPORTING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE WORKING WITH BOTH UNIVERSITIES AND COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE TO INFORM AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CLTS -- THE CLT'S MISSION, AND THAT IS EDUCATION OF THE COMMUNITY REGARDING HOUSING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WELL-INFORMED COMMUNITY IS ONE THAT CAN PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN CITY HOUSING PROGRAMS, ONE THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATE WITH CONTRACTORS AND CITY STAFF, AND ONE THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR ITS NEEDS. THANK YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> MAYOR JONES: LETICIA SANCHEZ. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LETICIA SANCHEZ, AND I'M THE COCHAIRPERSON OF THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION. I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY. I'M GRATEFUL ALSO TO THE CITY -- TO OUR CITY OFFICIALS AND TO THEIR STAFF FOR WORKING ON A CONCEPT THAT IS NOT TRADITIONAL OR KNOWN TO SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S A CONCEPT THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DUE TO THE LOW INCOMES OF RESIDENTS IN THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE, OUR RESIDENTS FEEL VERY VULNERABLE AS COST OF LIVING RISES WHILE INCOMES REMAIN STATIC. OUR RESIDENTS ARE CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HOME REPAIRS WHEN THEY ARE CONFRONTED BY CODE COMPLIANCE ON THINGS THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR. SO AS -- AS THIS HAS HAPPENED, WE'VE BEEN [00:55:01] ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS PROGRAM TO OUR RESIDENTS AND THEY ARE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT IT AND WANT TO JOIN ON TO THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE YOUR -- THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO OUR RESIDENTS, THEY ARE GENERATIONAL HOMEOWNERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY WANT THEIR PROPERTIES, THEIR HOMES TO REMAIN PART OF THEIR FAMILY. SO THIS IS -- THIS IS A AWAY FOR PEOPLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT LOSING THEIR HOMES TO CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES. BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE OF THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, THE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION HAS TO BE PART OF THE STRUCTURE. SO RESIDENTS WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF HOW THIS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS GOVERNED AND WILL CONTRIBUTE DECISIONS TO ANYTHING MOVING FORWARD. I WANT TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST COMPARED TO THE OTHER ONES. WE WILL BE SERVICING RESIDENTS WHOM ARE AT 30% AMI AND BELOW. SO OUR WORK IS RAISING FUNDS. RIGHT? LIKE THAT IS -- AND CONNECTING OUR RESIDENTS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST CAN PROVIDE TO THEM FINANCIALLY. SO I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THAT IN YOUR DECISION. I WANT TO EXTEND A SINCERE THANK YOU TO THE STAFF OF THE NHSD AND ESPECIALLY GARCIA AND SHARE A WAMSLEY FOR THEIR HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: JASMIN HERRERA FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> HELLO. I'M JASMIN HERRERA. I'M WITH THE ECLT, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE CLT HELPED ME. DUE TO THE COVID ERA AND THE LOSS OF MY EMPLOYMENT, WINTER STORM AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I STRUGGLED A LOT FINANCIALLY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON MY MORTGAGE. UTILITIES, HOME FIXTURES, AND FOOD AS WELL. LET ME TELL Y'ALL, I USED TO WORK FOR A VALET COMPANY AND THEY ONLY PAID ME ABOUT $12,000 A YEAR. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I HAD TO DO WITH THE HOME FIXTURES AND BE ABLE TO KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR MY FAMILY. THE HOME THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS MY GRANDPARENTS' HOME, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW -- HOW MUCH THAT TOOK AN IMPACT ON ME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WINTER STORM AND THE PLUMBING IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I MEAN, HAVING TO LOSE MY JOB DUE TO COVID AND THEN GOING THROUGH THE DV. I HAD TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES LIKE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY MY MORTGAGE OR PAY THE LIGHT, NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY IT WAS A LOT. BUT THOSE WERE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS FOR ME AT THAT TIME. SO, THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, THEY HELPED ME PAY OFF MY MORTGAGE. THEY HELPED ME KEEP MY FAMILY'S HOME AND HELPED ME HAVE SOMEWHERE TO STAY AND HAVE ME SAFE AND KEEP ME OUT OF DV. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO STAY. I WOULD BE OUT IN THE STREETS WITH MY CHILDREN. BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: FINAL SPEAKER IS JACK FINGER. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. WHAT YOU'RE DOING AT THIS TIME IS GIVING THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. BUT I LOOK AT THIS AS PRETTY MUCH A BIG GIVEAWAY. WHAT HAVE YOU GIVEN THE ESPERANZA ALREADY? WELL, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, LOOK AT NOT JUST THE FIRST PARAGRAPH BUT SCROLL DOWN TO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH, IF YOU WOULD. FOCUS ON IT THERE. HARD TO READ IT THERE. APRIL 16, 2026 -- $681,400 AND NOW THE ESPERANZA IS SEEKING DESIGNATION FROM CITY COUNCIL TO OPERATE AS A CLT. I SCROLLED DOWN FURTHER AND THE FISCAL IMPACT TO THE [01:00:01] CITY? I SAY I DON'T THINK SO. ANY ORGANIZATION THAT DEALS WITH THESE MAJOR FUNDING -- THESE DOLLARS THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH HERE. BUT YOU WANT IT TO BE A RESPONSIBLE, RESPECTABLE, ORGANIZATION THAT CAN BE TRUSTED ON THIS STUFF. WHAT DID THE ESPERANZA DESCRIBE ITSELF AS IN ONE OF THE RECENT ARTICLES IN THE TABLOID MAGAZINE? [INDISCERNIBLE] HAS PROMOTED LGBTQ RIGHTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION. LGBTQ FILM FESTIVALS AND LGBTQ ICONS. >> MAYOR JONES: MR. FINGER, I NEED YOU TO STAY ON TOPIC FOR THE CLT. >> I'M DESCRIBING THE ORGANIZATION YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE OUR TAX DOLLARS TOO, MADAME. >> MAYOR JONES: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CLT. >> I WANT AN ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS TO ABIDE WITHIN THE LAW. IT HAS BROKEN THE LAW SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAD EVENTS EARLIER THAT I, THE PUBLIC, WAS INVITED TO. I WENT TO IT, WAS PEACEFUL, THEY ARRESTED ME. WHY? BECAUSE MY OPINIONS WERE DIFFERENT FROM THEIRS . HUH? SORRY. THEY DID THAT SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER. THE SAME ROUTINE. I TOOK THEM TO COURT AND I WAS ACQUITTED. THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ALL KINDS OF GIVEAWAYS TO . NOT ONLY THIS, THEIR PHILOSOPHIES, THEIR ARTICLES, WHAT THEY STAND FOR. THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT IN AUDIO] IRRESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION? NO. I'M SORRY. THIS DOESN'T CUT IT. YOU SHOULD NOT BE DEALING WITH THIS. YOU SHOULD SAY NO TO THIS ITEM. I DON'T WANT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS GIVING -- THAT YOU ARE GIVING MY TAX DOLLARS AWAY EVENTUALLY ON THIS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS THE FINAL MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. LET ME TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, PLEASE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. I WANT TO THANK JASMINE FOR TELLING HER STORY AND THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. IN APRIL, AS MENTIONED, THE ESPERANZA WAS PROVIDED FUNDS THROUGH THE BOND IN APRIL. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN. EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. I BELIEVE AS HIGHLIGHTED, WE HAVE APPROVED COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT HAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS AND HAD IMPACTS TO OUR BUDGET. WHEREAS WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY IS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST THAT ISN'T REQUESTING ANY TAX EXEMPTIONS, AS OF YET. AGAIN, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE NEED WITH THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND THE TOOLS THAT ARE LAID OUT, COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX. WE SHOULD BE APPROVING MORE COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS AND I BELIEVE IF WE HAD AN ESPERANZA IN EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY, SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING STOCK WOULD BE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: I MOVE TO POSTPONE CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM AND SETTING IT ON AN AGENDA FOR A B SESSION IN OCTOBER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF, ONE, THE STATE'S REGULATIONS CLTS THAT'S COMING DOWN THIS NEW SESSION. TWO, CONSENSUS ON THE TIRZ MOVING FORWARD IS ESTABLISHED BY THIS BODY. THREE, THE FINANCE TEAM DOES RESEARCH THAT ANTICIPATES THIS CLT COMING AND ASKING FOR A 50% TAX INCREASE. AND OTHER QUESTIONS THAT MAY COME UP LEGALLY TOO. BECAUSE THIS IS A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND I THINK IT REQUIRES MORE QUESTIONS AND MORE CONSIDERATION. SO THAT'S MY MOTION. >> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU REPEAT THE DATE, PLEASE? >> VIAGRAN: OCTOBER -- THE FIRST B SESSION IN OCTOBER. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THAT SUFFICIENT OR DO YOU NEED A SPECIFIC DATE, MADAME CLERK? THAT'S SUFFICIENT, ANDY? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S SUFFICIENT, BECAUSE IT'S A B SESSION. >> WALSH: CAN I SUGGEST THE FIRST AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER? BECAUSE WE HAVE A SCHEDULE ALREADY. >> VIAGRAN: THE FIRST AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER. >> WALSH: THANK YOU. [01:05:01] >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO THE FIRST AVAILABLE B SESSION IN OCTOBER. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND. WE'LL MOVE TO DISCUSSION ON CONTINUING THE ITEM. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON CONTINUING THE ITEM? DISCUSSION ON CONTINUING THE ITEM? YES? NO? >> >> SPEARS: I CONCUR WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCING HERE AND IMPACTS STATUTORILY. I THINK WE NEED MORE TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON CONTINUING THE ITEM? COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED THE FUNDING IN APRIL SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO READ THE AGENDA ITEMS WE'RE TAKING ACTION ON. TODAY IS THE CERTIFICATION OF THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST DESIGNATION. AND THIS BODY HAS ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON THE BOND FUNDING IN APRIL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN GALVAN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CONTINUING THE ITEM, PLEASE SIGN IN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER AND THE FOLKS ON THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE AND ALL THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON THIS ITEM WITH NHSD AND ALL OF THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS A SOUND ORGANIZATION. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE HOUSING TRUST TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION AND THE STUDY OF HOW THIS COULD FUNCTION AND WORK. AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY OUR CITY STAFF HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS. THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A SOUND ORGANIZATION, A SOUND STRUCTURE HERE. AT SOME POINT [INDISCERNIBLE] TO SERVE AS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. THE SAME WAY CULTURINGUA WAS APPROVED WITH THEIR CLTS. WHILE WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, I DO TRUST THAT THE STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF EVALUATIONS TO MAKE SURE THIS IS WORKING WELL. I KNOW THE DISTRICT 5 OFFICE HAS DONE THE SAME KIND OF LEVEL OF DILIGENCE AND I APPRECIATE THE ONE I WAS ABLE TO BE IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. INCLUDING WITH THE TIRZ AS WELL. SO ALL THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE, OVER THE WEEKEND IN PARTICULAR, BUT HISTORICALLY AND EVERY SUMMER WE SEE THE NEED IN THE INNER WEST SIDE COMMUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING STOCK TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE, CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN OUR CITY. THAT RESIDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE IN OUR CITY AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW, SHIFT, AND CHANGE AND MAKE DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN START SEEING SOME OF THAT LABOR COME TO FRUITION. I WANT TO AGAIN JUST EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE DISTRICT 5 OFFICE AND NHSD AND THE HOUSING TRUST AND WESTSIDE TIRZ FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND WORK THEY HAVE DONE ON THIS ITEM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. AS WELL AS THE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD AT PCDC. BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL AND WHILE ON COUNCIL ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION AND THE FACT THAT IT'S IN THE SHIP. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, PLEASE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO THE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IN THE WAYS YOU HAVE LED ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE IT WAS THE HOT TOPIC THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND BEFORE THE NEED GOT AS GREAT AS IT IS TODAY. AS COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO MENTIONED, HAD ESPERANZA BEEN DOING THIS WORK -- IF THERE WAS AN ESPERANZA ON EVERY CORNER, WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE. AND IF WE LISTENED TO THE ESPERANZAS OF THE WORLD, WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER PLACE. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASON FOR A DELAY WOULD BE SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT TIRZ'S ROLES IN COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNCIL IS ALIGNED AND HAS CONSENSUS ON THE TIRZ. TO BETTER UNDERSTAND STATE LAW AND ANY REGULATIONS COMING DOWN UPON COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS THAT MAY IMPACT THIS SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION. AND THEN TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT FISCAL IMPACTS, SHOULD ESPERANZA SEEK A 50% TAX ABATEMENT. AND SO JUST -- IS THAT ACCURATE? SO, AS IT STANDS -- SO THE STATE LAW PASSED LAST SESSION. ACCURATE? IT WAS BEFORE WE DESIGNATED TWO PREVIOUS LAND TRUSTS EARLIER THIS YEAR. CONSISTENCY MATTERS A LOT TO ME AND SO I FEEL AS THOUGH IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ALL OF A SUDDEN PAUSE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ONE WHEN WE HAVE ALREADY MADE THAT DE DESIGNATION AND WE'RE [01:10:04] GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT STATE LAW AS IT RELATES TO ALL THREE ENTITIES SHOULD THEY BECOME COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. SECOND, WE ALL VIEW TIRZ DIFFERENTLY. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE A CONSENSUS. WE'LL REACH SOME FORM OF CONSENSUS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL REACH UNANIMITY. WITH THAT I DO THINK THERE IS CONSENSUS AROUND USING TIRZ DOLLARS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, OUR PILLAR. I THINK THAT ADDRESSES THAT. SHOULD THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST SEEK AN ABATEMENT, IT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND STAFF WOULD DO ALL OF THAT WORK TO LET US KNOW THE FISCAL IMPLICATIONS OF THAT DECISION, SHOULD IT COME BEFORE US. FOR THOSE REASONS AND THEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DESIGNATED COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS EARLIER THIS YEAR, ESPERANZA IS FUNCTIONING AND MEETING THE STANDARDS THAT WE'VE SET FOR THIS DESIGNATION AND THEY REQUIRE THIS DESIGNATION TO ACCESS BOND DOLLARS THAT WE AWARDED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND WANT TO SEE AN ACTION URGENTLY. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY WITH THIS DESIGNATION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? OH, COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL NOT SUPPORT A DELAY TODAY. IT'S A GREAT PROJECT. IT'S BEEN IN THE QUEUE FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS ALREADY. THE HOUSING TRUST IS A PARTNER. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH NHSD FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S ONE OF THE HOUSING ITEMS WE HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH OF IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN ON THE WESTSIDE AND PRESERVE THE LONGSTANDING HOMEOWNERSHIP THERE. I TRUST VERONICA AND SARAH AND I DON'T THINK Y'ALL WOULD BRING US SOMETHING IN JEOPARDY OF BEING ELIMINATED BY THE STATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE OVER THIS LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND BRIEFING US AND GOING TO PCDC AND BRIEFING US WHEN WE HAD THAT COUNCIL BEFORE. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH. SO I STILL THINK -- AND YES. I'M FULLY AWARE THAT THE ITEM CAME IN APRIL. HOWEVER, IN APRIL WE WERE NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION REGARDING TIRZ. TO ASK US TO APPROVE A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST -- AND THEY DON'T WANT A PROPERTY TAX, THAT'S GREAT. BUT THEN SAYING THAT MONEY'S NOT GOING BACK INTO YOUR AREA. THAT MONEY IS GOING BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION REGARDING TIRZ. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO POSTPONE IT. THE OTHER IS THE STATE WAS CLEAR LAST SESSION IN WHERE THEY TRIED TO, WHEN IT CAME TO LAND TRUST AND FUNDS, THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE MORE HOUSING ON ACREAGE. I THINK THAT IS ONE THING THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THAT. THE OTHER THING -- AND VERONICA AND SARAH KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEIR WORK. HOWEVER, 11 PROPERTIES AND ONE RENTER AND ONE HOMEOWNER AND THEN THE SPEECH THAT WAS GIVEN ABOUT TRYING ALL THESE NEW PROJECTS, THAT IS NOT MY IDEA OF A LAND TRUST. THAT IS A PROJECT BUT IT IS NOT WHAT -- WHEN I SIGNED ON TO LAND TRUST, IT WAS TO PUT PEOPLE INTO HOMES AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'VE DONE. SO WHETHER -- I WOULD LIKE IT POSTPONED AND GET MORE OF AN IDEA OF WHEN THESE HOMES ARE GOING TO COME ONLINE. IF THIS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IS GOING TO BE USED TO REFURBISH THE NINE OTHER HOMES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY OCCUPIED OR IS IT GOING TO BE TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE LAND? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE THAT IF YOU COULD ANSWER TODAY I STILL AM NOT SURE THAT THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO GO. BECAUSE IT IS MOVING VERY SLOW AND THAT IS THE ONE THING I HAVE BEEN HEARING FOR COMMUNITIES IS THAT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THE WESTSIDE HAS MOVED EXTREMELY SLOW. 11 PROPERTIES THEY OWN AND THEY HAVE ONE RENTER AND ONE HOMEOWNER, THAT'S IT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. ONLY TWO ARE OCCUPIED. THE HOUSING BONDS WILL HELP GO TO REHAB THE OTHER PROPERTIES. I THINK SOME OF THE PICTURES SHOWED THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES SO THAT IS A PLAN AND THEIR PLAN IS TO REHAB THREE PROPERTIES A YEAR SO THE OTHER NINE WILL BE REHABBED OVER THREE YEARS. >> VIAGRAN: THE WHOLE THING, IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, MY THOUGHT WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THEM GET MORE LAND. BANK MORE LAND. DO MORE LAND BANKING. SO THIS IS NOT THE CASE. SO THAT'S WHERE I THINK IF WE TAKE THIS TO A B SESSION AND WE STILL HAVE THE MONEY DESIGNATED BUT NOT DESIGNATED AS THE LAND TRUST, DO IT WITH OTHER PARAMETERS AND GUARDRAILS IN CONJUNCTION IF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS PRESERVE -- BECAUSE THIS ISN'T LAND BANKING THEN. THIS IS PRESERVING CURRENT [01:15:01] HOUSING STOCK THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE. >> I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES WERE PURCHASED WITH SOME OF THE LEVERAGED FUNDS, SOME OF THE OTHER GRANTS THEY WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN. SO NOW THE CITY FUNDS WILL BE USED TO HELP ACTUALLY REHAB THOSE PROPERTIES. >> VIAGRAN: THAT'S WHY THERE'S TOO MANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE THESE ARE GRANTS WHERE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO CERTAIN STUDIES, PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION TO GET THAT BACK BEFORE THEY DO THAT? >> YES. I'LL ACTUALLY ASK RENEE, WHO IS THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TO SPEAK TO MAYBE THE CONDITIONS OF SOME OF THOSE OTHER GRANTS. >> VIAGRAN: RENEE DOESN'T NEED TO COME UP. BUT THIS IS INFORMATION THAT AGAIN, WE SHOULD HAVE THROUGH THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF -- BECAUSE YOU ALL JUST LOOKED AT THE CONTRACTS AND TOLD US AND WE WERE CONFIDENT YES. NOW I'M BEING TOLD IT'S NOT FOR NEW PURCHASE OF LAND, IT IS FOR LAND THAT EXISTS AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO JUST REHAB WHAT THEY HAVE CURRENTLY. >> THAT WAS WHAT THE BOND FUNDS WERE FOR WAS REHAB OF THE PROPERTIES THEY OWN. >> VIAGRAN: WHY DIDN'T THEY FALL UNDER THE REHAB ARM OF THIS? >> WE DID. WE UTILIZED HOUSING BOND FUNDS THAT WERE SET ASIDE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY REHAB. >> VIAGRAN: HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE WE GIVEN TO ESPERANZA, IN ADDITION TO THIS HALF A MILLION THAT WE'RE GIVING CURRENTLY? >> SURE. SO THE ONLY REHAB FUNDING AWARD IS THE $681,000 OF BOND MONEY. NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED YET BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET THIS DESIGNATION FIRST. >> VIAGRAN: THAT'S THE OTHER THING. GIVING THE DESIGNATION, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH UNTIL I GET MORE -- THIS FEELS MORE LIKE REHAB THAN A LAND TRUST. IT'S STARTING TO FEEL LIKE THIS IS HOW WE MOVED IT UNDER HERE SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE IT OVER THERE, IN TERMS OF FULL REHAB PROGRAMS. BECAUSE I THINK REHAB HAS MORE GUI GUIDELINES ON IT. ANDY, YOU MAY NEED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. IF THE STATE PUTS IN LAWS THAT RESTRICT THIS FURTHER AND THEY HAVE NOT SPENT THE MONEY AND HAVE NOT BEGUN CONSTRUCTION OR THINGS LIKE THAT, ARE WE OUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS? OR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS? >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILWOMAN, THAT WOULD VERY MUCH DEPEND ON THE NATURE AND CONTENT AND SCOPE OF THE BILL. BUT CONCEPTUALLY YES BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT BILL IS BEING PROPOSED AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACTS. >> VIAGRAN: THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE POSTPONEMENT BECAUSE I WAS IN AUSTIN WITH TML. WE KNOW THIS LEGISLATION IS COMING. WE KNOW CLT LEGISLATION IS COMING. WE KNOW THAT THEY WANT MORE. THAT FOR LAND TRUST AND LAND BANKING THEY WANT MORE STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY. AND THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR ZONING FOR THE WEST SIDE ALSO. THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE HERE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. AND IT'S THE LACK OF A TIMELINE TO SEE COMPLETION DONE ON THIS THAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN AND PAUSE FOR ME IN TERMS OF THEN WHERE WE ARE AT THERE. I KNOW WE'RE TIED BY WHAT THE STATE WANTS TO DO BUT POSTPONEMENT OR NOT, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EVENTUALLY SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I DO SUPPORT COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS. THIS CONCEPT, NOT SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL CLARIFY THAT. THEIR MODEL IS NOT NECESSARILY FOCUSED ON A LAND BANKING MODEL, IT IS TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AND ENSURE THAT THEY'RE HELD AS LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY BY THE NONPROFIT OWNING THEM. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: JUST BRIEFLY. I THINK A LOT OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MAKES SENSE. IS THERE ANY HARM THAT HAPPENS HERE WITH A DELAY OF 30 DAYS OR SO? >> I WOULD SAY THAT THE HOMES WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE REHABBED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT USE ANY OF THE FUNDING WE'VE AWARDED UNTIL THEY OBTAIN THIS LAND TRUST. THAT IS HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE AWARDED. >> WHYTE: IT WOULD BE DELAYED 30 DAYS. >> IF WE DON'T GO TO A B SESSION UNTIL OCTOBER, 60 DAYS. >> WHYTE: THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: IN CASE IT'S HELPFUL TO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, RENEE OR GRACIELA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AND ELABORATE ON ANY OF THE THINGS RAISED BEFORE WE VOTE ON CONTINUING THIS [01:20:04] ITEM, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. FIRST, I THINK WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS MISUNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. TWO, THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST HAS ACQUIRED AT LEAST TEN PROPERTIES ALREADY. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT HAVING ANYTHING. WE'VE DONE OUR WORK. WE'VE ACQUIRED TEN PROPERTIES. WITH RESPECT COUNCILMAN WHYTE, THERE WOULD BE DAMAGE. THERE IS A COST TO DELAYING THIS OPERATION EVEN MORE. THERE'S A COST TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WANT THIS WORK TO WORK WITH THE CITY. THERE'S A DELAY IN REHABBING AND FINDING PEOPLE A PLACE TO STAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES -- IF YOU DELAY APPROVAL, THE CONTRACT TIME, AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE CONTRACTORS. SO THAT IS -- THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT COME UP WITH THE DELAY ON THIS. I THINK CONSISTENCY IS IMPORTANT. THE MONEY HAS BEEN APPROVED. YOU'VE ALREADY GRANTED CLT DESIGNATION TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT HAS $1.5 MILLION ALLOCATED TO IT AND ZERO PROPERTIES. AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE ITEM TODAY AND THE DESIGNATION TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> JUST CONCERNED THAT THERE'S ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER AND NOW THEREFORE THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. AS I MENTIONED, 2014. THAT HAPPENED AT THE MISSION TRAILS. WE HAVE SEEN SOAP WORKS FOLKS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO LOSING HOUSING ALSO CRYING . WE'RE TRYING TO OFFER SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE PURCHASED THOSE TEN HOMES. WE HAVE PURCHASED SOME LAND ALSO FOR FUTURE HOUSING THAT WE CAN BUILD. SO WE'RE DOING -- AND WAY ABOVE THE OTHER TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO SUPPORT IN APRIL AND ALSO GIVEN THEM THIS DESIGNATION AS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE THAT YOU'RE SINGLING US OUT, EXCEPT THAT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE ME, PERSONALLY, OR THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. OTHERWISE, IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT YOU'RE SEPARATING US BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT FOR THE OTHER TWO ORGANIZATIONS. THAT WOULD BE CALLED -- WELL... SO PLEASE HONOR THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND WHAT IT'S DOING TO SUPPORT WORKING-CLASS -- EVEN MIDDLE CLASS FOR CULTURINGUA AND MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL. OURS IS THE ONLY ONE LOOKING AT PEOPLE MAKING $26,000 AND LESS. BECAUSE THAT IS THE 78207 ZIP CODE AVERAGE INCOME. AND EVEN THE HOUSING BOND MONIES AND NHSD FUNDS, HUD FUNDS DON'T REALLY TARGET THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE. SO YOU'RE GOING TO EITHER HAVE THOSE PEOPLE IN HOUSES THAT WE RENOVATE OR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM OUT ON THE STREET. YOU MAKE A DECISION. YOU REALLY NEED TO SUPPORT THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ANYONE ELSE? >> GAVITO: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO THE -- OH, CALL TO QUESTION. THERE'S A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION, WHICH REQUIRES EIGHT VOTES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. PLEASE VOTE. YES. A CALL TO QUESTION ENDS DISCUSSION . THE MOTION CARRIES. SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CONTINUE THE ITEM TO THE FIRST AVAILABLE B SESSION IN OCTOBER. PLEASE VOTE. [01:25:09] THE MOTION FAILS. SO WE GO TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE -- SO NOW WE'RE TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO DO THAT. LET ME THANK GRACIELA AND RENEE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND TO LAY FLAT SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS. WE DON'T OFTEN GET PROJECTS HERE THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SERVING THOSE AT THE 0 TO 30% AMI LEVEL. THIS ORGANIZATION HAS MADE IT PENCIL. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHO THIS COMMUNITY IS SERVING, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EVEN THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOCATION OF THAT AREA, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT REDLINING FROM THIS DAIS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONTINUED RESIDUAL IMPACTS AND THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST CERTAINLY DOES THAT. I WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF THIS, YOU KNOW, WE MAY VERY WELL HAVE SOME OF THOSE SERVICE WORKERS AND THOSE OTHERS SUPPORTING THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AROUND PROJECT MARVEL. THIS MAY BE A KEY PART OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT SERVES THEM FOR WHICH THERE IS NOT A REAL PLAN TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW. SO FOR ALL OF THAT, I AM VERY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE VOTE TO VOTE ON IT? GREAT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THE BUSINESS OF TODAY. IT IS 10:26. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.