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          >> CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET SESSION IS CALLED TO WILL ORDER. 
          MADAM CLERK CALL ROLL. (ROLL CALL). >> WE HAVE A QUORUM. 
          >> MAYOR: WE WILL REVIEW THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, PARKS & RECREATION AND ECONOMIC 
          DEVELOPMENT AND SOLD WASTE AND WRAP UP WITH THE LABOR. >> WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE LIBRARY BOARD HERE THAT WILL BE PROVIDING REMARKS. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HOMER 
          TO KICK US OFF. >> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CAN YOU BELIEVE, HOMER THE THIRD, PARKS DIRECTOR. I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR WALSH AND FREDDY AND THE TEAM, IT HAS BEEN A COLLABORATION TO GET US TO THIS POINT. I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE 2027 PARKS BUDGET. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT I HAVE TEAM MEMBERS HERE WITH ME TODAY. BOTH OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, LINDA SERTA AND NICKI RAMOS. MEMBERS OF THE TEAM ARE WITH US. 
          SEVERAL ARE LISTENING. I WILL PROCEED WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT, I WILL OUTLINE THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITH REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS, PROGRAM CHANGES. 
          OUR INITIATIVES AND KEY PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE A SUMMARY AND PRIORITIES AS WE LOOK TODAY TO DRIVING FORWARD OUR WORK PLAN OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. 
          FOR THE WORK WE DO, WE'RE PRIMARILY ORGANIZED ACROSS THREE PILLARS, IF YOU WILL. 
          THINK OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, FOCUSED ON KEEPING OUR PARKS SAFE, CLEAN, READY FOR PUBLIC USE. THAT IS WHAT THE TEAM DOES. IT IS COMPRISED OF SKILLED TRADE, PARK SANITATION. URBAN TREE CANOPY THAT IS CRITICAL HERE THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS. CONFID ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE A RECREATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM. THAT HOUSES ALL OF THE RECREATION CENTERS, WE HAVE 30 FOLLOWS, FITNESS, AQUATICS, JUST WRAPPED UP POOL SEASON. 
          IT WAS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR FOR PARKS DEPARTMENT. LASTLY, SUPPORT SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, FISCAL TEAM, CONTRACT SERVES, AND ACCREDITATION AND DATA GOVERNANCE. YOU CAN SEE A SAMPLING OF THE VASTNESS OF THE PARK SYSTEM. 
          TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, WE HAVE MORE THAN 17,200 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE. 
          THAT COMPRISES 278 PARKS AND 100 MILES OF GREENWAY TRAILS. THAT IS NOT ALL INCLUSIVE BUT AN IDEA OF WHAT WE DO DAILY. WE ARE AN ACCREDITED PARK AGENCY. 
          WE WERE PROUD TO ACHIEVE THAT NAR ACHIEVE THAT IN OT2022. 
          WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. WHAT LEADS OUR WORK DAILY IS MAKING SURE THE STAFF HAVE RESOURCES, TRAINING AND SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS. 
          IF WE'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR TEAM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS $124 MILLION ACROSS ALL FUNDS. 
          THAT IS IN LARGE PART SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND AT 71.1 MILLION. 
          THAT IS A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR, WHICH I WILL HIGHLIGHT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION TIED TO THE GROWING PARKS SYSTEM. AND THE RESTRICTED FUND IS PRIMARILY THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND THEY WILL HIGHLIGHT LATER. 
          IT INCLUDES THE FREE CANOPY. CITY CEMETERIES, CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
          WE HAVE A CAPITAL PROJECT TEAM. WHILE CAPITAL DELIVERY FOCUSES ON DELIVERING THE BOND. WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE DRIVE FORWARD AS WELL. 
          THAT IS COMING IN AT JUST UNDER 20 MILLION. IT DOES INCLUDE THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM. AND OF COURSE, A FEW GRANTS THERE TOTALLING OVER 120 MILLION. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR ANYONE TRYING TO DO A CROSSWALK FROM OUR FUNDS LIFTED ON THE LIST TO THE PIE CHART ON THE RIGHT, THAT IS THE PROGRAM INVENTORY. 
          WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A PROGRAM ITSELF, IT IS SUPPORTED SOMETIMES BY MORE THAN ONE 
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FUND. THAT IS IF YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCES, THAT IS THE REASON FOR THAT. THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE SEVERAL REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE ANTICIPATE TO COME IN RIGHT AT JUST UNDER $445,000. 
          THIS SEVERAL OF THESE WERE SELECTED BECAUSE THEY HADN'T BEEN UPDATED IN A WHILE. 
          WE CAN SEE EVIDENCE THERE. MOST UPDATED IN 2013. A FEW LATER THAN THAT. 
          SOME POPULAR AMENITIES ARE GYMS, SPORTS FIELDS, AND OUR MASS PAVILIONS. 
          I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR MASS PAVILIONS FOR A SECOND. IT IS CURRENTLY A TIERED RATE SYSTEM. WE BROUGHT THAT FORWARD INTO THIS RECOMMENDATION. 
          RATES ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND LARGER EVENTS FOR OVER ONE THOUSAND ARE OFTEN TICKETED, GATED ADMISSION. THE IMPACT IS NOT DRIVING MUCH OF THE INCREASED REVENUE. 
          THAT IS BECAUSE OVER 90% OF THE RESERVATIONS IN THE FACILI FACILITIES ARE IN THE LOWER TIER FACILITIES. AND THE SPORTS FIELDS IS THE LARGEST DRIVER OF NEARLY 60% OF THE TOTAL. AND THE SPORTS FIELDS ARE POPULAR FOR RESERVATION. WE HAVE NEARLY 60 FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE COMMUNITY, DO NOT REQUIRE RESERVATION AND OFTEN ARE NOT. SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING IS CONSIDERATE OF COST RECOVERY AND BENCHMARKING WITH OTHER CITIES. AUSTIN, DALLAS, FOR EXAMPLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, FOR SPORTS FIELDS, THEIR HOURLY RATE IS ANYWHERE FROM 25 TO NORTH OF $60S AN HOUR. 
          ADDITIONALLY THE PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL FEE IS PROPOSED INCREASE OF A QUARTER. 
          TO GENERATE $2 MILLION IN REVENUE. AS A REMINDER THIS FEE WAS FIRST INTRODUCED ON THE CPS BILLS IN 2014. WITH THIS PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WOULD BE QUARTER INCREASE BRINGING IT TO $2.25 WITH REVENUE OF $2 MILLION. 
          THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO HAS JUST OVER BETWEEN REDUCTIONS AND TRANSFERS AND SOME EFFICIENCIES, TOTALLING $3.2 MILLION. I WILL WALK EVERYONE THROUGH THAT. YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS SPEAKING THROUGH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAD JUST FINISHED THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WORK PROCESS. 
          THAT WORK HAS CONTINUED. WHEN WE LOOK AT LINE ITEMS THAT ARE HISTORICALLY USED OR NOT, THERE WAS CAPACITY AOF $217,000 THAT IS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY GO AWAY. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT THE CLASSES THAT WE OFFER, AND THIS ELIMINATES A VACANT RECREATION SPECIALIST WITH ASSOCIATED TEMP SALARIES RELATIVE TO THAT PROGRAMMING. TOGETHER THAT IS $325,000. ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE TRANSFERS OF POSITIONS BETWEEN FUNDS. PROBABLY THE CLEANEST WAY TO LOOK AT THAT IS SEVERAL POSITIONS ARE SUPPORTED CURRENTLY IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT QUALIFY FOR OTHER FUNDS, AND SO YOU SEE AN EXAMPLE OF -- IN THIS INSTANCE, WE WOULD HAVE 12 POSITIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND MOVING INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND. 
          WE CAN SEE MOVEMENT OF THREE POSITIONS INTO THE TREE CANOPY PRESERVATION MITIGATION FUND. 
          AND ALSO TWO POSITIONS INTO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES. AS AN INDICATED WE WORK CLOSELY WITH CAPITAL DELIVERY. WE DO DRIVE FORWARD, HOWEVER, SOME OF THE BOND PROGRAM. 
          AND LASTLY, I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE NEXT SLIDE, A PROPOSED REDUCTIONS TOTALLING JUST OVER $400,000. BEGINNING WITH $200,000 DECREASE TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN. THIS IS TIED TO A LEASE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE BATAANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY WHICH COUNCIL APPROVED IN 2010. 
          IN 2019, THE SOCIETY MOVED TO FULLY OPERATING THE BOTANICAL GARDEN WHICH IS A CITY-OWNED ASSET UNDER A LEASE. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE FUNDING BY $200,000. 
          ADDITIONALY THERE ARE POS POSITIONS THAT WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET GO AWAY. IT IS TOTALLING $200,000. IT IS AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, 
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SPECIALIST AND SUPERVISOR. THOSE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN VACANT. 
          WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE YEAR ABSORBING THE TASKS WITH THE TEAM. 
          IN THE END OF THE DAY MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE WORK THAT WE DO. I MENTIONED GROWTH IN THE FUND, $8.1 MILLION. THAT IS SKILLED POSITIONS, TRADES AND SANITATION TO ACCOMMODATE NINE MILES OF GREENWAY TRAIL. WE SEE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE CREEK AND THE HELOTES DIRECTOR. -- CONNECTOR. I KNOW SOME THINGS WILL DRIVE PEOPLE TO OUR PARKS. LAST WEEK MIKE SHAON PNNON PRESENTED THE WOODLAND DEPARTMENT. AND WE HAVE A SPLASH PAD AND THE CASSIANO PROJECT WILL WRAP UP, A NEW POOL AND A SPLASH PAD TO BOOT. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT THINGS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO BRING THE COMMUNITY OUT, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED AND APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE OPERATING THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE. THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED FY27 BUDGET INCLUDES $27 MILLION TO PROGRAM THE TREE CANOPY MITIGATION FUND. 
          QUIT RESET. THIS IS DRIVEN BY UDC CHAPTER 25. 
          THE WAY IT WORKS, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ISSUE THE PERMITS. THEY DRIVE WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PAY INTO THE FUND OR MITIGATE AS PART OF THE PROJECT ONSITE. 
          (AUDIO SKIPPING) WE PROGRAM THOSE DOLLARS. YOU SEE THAT HERE IN FISCAL YEAR 27. WE WILL GET MORE THAN 13,700 TREES PLANTED AND ADOPTED. 
          A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM FOR US. CONTINUES TO BE, TREE ADOPTIONS AND GIVEAWAYS. 
          RIGHT AT 9,000. LAST YEAR I TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'RE WORKING THROUGH OUR QUEUE TO GET RESIDENTIAL TREES INTO THE PROGRAM. UNDER THAT PROGRAM, CITIZENS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, IT IS VOLUNTARY, BUT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT A NATIVE SHADE TREE, RECEIVE UTILITY LOCATES, HAVE THE TREE INSTALLED ON THEIR PROPERTY ALL AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. WHETHER IT IS NOW OR LATER, THAT IS SOMETHING THEY'RE ABLE TO DO. SO WE PLANTED ALL OF THOSE. WE'RE TARGETING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT PROGRAM. RIGHT AT 2,000 TREES. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT QUICKLY A YEAR AGO, I WAS ASKED ABOUT THE SURVIVAL RATE. HOW DO WE KNOW THE TREES WE'RE PLANTING ARE SURVIVING. WHAT WE ARE DOING IN YEAR ONE IS CRITICAL FOR THE TREE SURV SURVIVING. WE WENT BACK LOOKED AT EVERYTHING PLANTED IN 2025. DID A SAMPLE, RATHER. WE HAVE A BASELINE. 
          WE KNOW 81% OF OUR TREES PLANTED IN THIS PROGRAM IN 2025 ARE SURVIVING. 
          WHICH IS RIGHT AT INDUSTRY STANDARD OR MAYBE SLIGHTLY ABOVE. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND ASSESS THESE GOING FORWARD WITH NEW TREES PLANTED UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL TREE PROGRAM. I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION RELATIVE TO TREE ADOPTION. 
          WE COLLECT INFORMATION. WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH A LINK, A VANCOU SURVEY TEXT OUT TO EVERYONE THAT RECEIVED A TREE SINCE 2024. 
          IT WAS SELF-REPORTING. 89% REPORTED THE TREE IS STILL SURVIVING. 
          EXCITED TO SEE THAT. WE WILL CONTINUE THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT. 
          I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE STILL AS PART OF THE BASELINE, THE PROGRAM, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT IS CCR FROM DISTRICT 7. THERE HAS BEEN UPTAKE FOR THAT. THAT CONTINUES. LASTLY, AS YOU SEE, WE ARE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE 22 BOND. WE'RE LEVERAGING THIS FUND WITH OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
          LITTLE OVER 600 TREES WILL GET IN THE GROUND. THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROGRAM IS ONE I'M OFTENED ASKED ABOUT. I WANT TO THANK THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PROGRAM THE DOLLARS. IT IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM IN PLACE SINCE 2000. WE CAN SEE THE EVOLUTION OF FUNDING. 
          325 MILLION FROM 2000 TO 2023 WITH SALES TAX FUNDED. THAT FUNDING MOVED TO THE MUNICIPAL FACILITIES CORPORATION, WHICH BY DESIGN IS INTENDED TO BE A 10-YEAR PROGRAM, PEG THAT RIGHT AT $100 MILLION. IN THE WORK PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, THERE ARE 8 PROPERTIES, 5500 ACRES, WHICH WILL THEN PUSH US NORTH OF 
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190,000 PROTECTED ACRES IN THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE CLOSING IN ON THE MILESTONE OF 200,000 ACRES PROTECTED. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, WE DO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THIS FUNDING AS WELL. AND WHILE THERE ARE MANY PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF PROPERTIES IN THE HOPPER, IS THROUGH THE READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTEGRATION PROGRAM. SO TO DATE, MORE THAN $3.3 MILLION HAVE BEEN COMMITTED AND LEVERAGES SPECIFICALLY FOR AQUIFER PROTECTION THROUGH THE PROGRAM. GREENWAY TRAIL DEVELOPMENT IS A QUESTION I GET ASKED ABOUT. JUST HOW DO WE DO IT AND WHERE ARE Y'ALL AT. 
          THIS ON THE RIGHT IS A GREENBELT TO BE BUILT OUT ENCOMPASSING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE HISTORY DATES BACK TO 2000. 
          MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY IN THE MAKING. $190 MILLION IN INVESTMENT. 
          BOND PICKED UP $103.5 MILLION. CURRENTLY, 106 MILES COMPLETED. 
          ANOTHER 17 THAT ARE FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE A TRIPARTY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT THE COUNTY IS FUNDING MORE THAN $83 MILLION TO BUILD 21 MILES OF TRAIL. 
          THAT IS CITY, COUNTY, RIVER AUTHORITY. THE RIVER AUTHORITY IS DELIVERING THE PROJECTS. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF, CLOSE TO FIVE MILES IN PRODUCTION ALONG ZARZAMORA AND SCLABOR CREEK. AND 17 MILES TO COMPLETE THE RING. SO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION. 
          HERE WE ALSO HAVE THE LINEAR CREEK ADVISORY BOARD THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO OUR WORK PLAN. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND GAME AS WELL. 
          CAPITAL PROJECTS, SOME YOU MAY HAVE HEARD LAST WEEK BUT NOT ALL OF IT. 
          WE ARE ENTERING YEAR FOUR OF FIVE IN THE PROGRAM SHADE PROGRAM. 
          TO DATE, 35 LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. ENTERING YEAR FOUR, SIX LOCATIONS, 12 WILL RECEIVE SHADE. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS DONE PRIOR TO THE HOT SEASON IN MAY. DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THAT IS $1.725 MILLION OF PLANNED PROJECTS. I'M NOT GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THEM ALL. I WANT TO CALL OUT IF YOU LOOK IN THE FAR RIGHT THERE, YOU SEE A RECENTLY COMPLETED BOND PROJECT IN THE MIDDLE. THAT IS BENEVEDES PARK. 
          YOU DON'T SEE THE BASKETBALL COURTS NEXT TO IT. THEY NEED ATTENTION. 
          WE WILL REHAB THE COURTS WITH THIS WORK PLAN. WOODLAWN LAKE PARK POOL WILL BE RESURFACED. WE'LL BE GLAD TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE HIGH-USE AMENITIES THAT BRING PEOPLE TO OUR PARKS. LAST WEEK MIKE SHANNON HIGHLIGHTED THE HVAC REPLACEMENT. I WANT THE TO PROVIDE OTHER INVESTMENT HAPPENING IN COLLABORATION WITH CAPITAL DELIVERY, FOCUSING ON REPLACEMENT AT THREE LOCATIONS MORE THAN $570,000. TO SUMMARIZE, WHILE WE HAVE A LOT AHEAD OF US IN TERMS OF THE WORK PLAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY WORKING ON AND NOW FRONT AND CENTER IS BECOMING REACCREDITED. THAT HAPPENS EVERY FIVE YEARS. THE ACCREDITING BODY WILL BE ON-SITE THIS SPRING. WE WORK WITH THEM, FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE, THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD. NEXT FALL THEY MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MAKE SURE WE SEE THROUGH IS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS SECURING GRANTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL WE HAVE SECURED 6.2 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING. 
          WOOD LAKE PARK IS LEADING AT THREE MILLION. CASSIONO PARK IS IN PROJECT, 1.5 MILLION. TO SUPPORT THE AQUATIC AMENITIES THERE. 
          PEARSALL PARK, THAT IS IN DESIGN. IT IS A BMX-STYLE TYPE OF BIKE TRACK. THAT IS 1.5 MILLION. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PENDING GRANT APPLICATION WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. 
          AND A LITTLE BIT OF A LONG BURN, BUT THROUGH THE FUNDING ORLP PROGRAM, THEY SAID SUBMIT APPLICATIONS, GOING IN OCTOBER 1. WE'LL FIND OUT THIS SPRING THE 
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STATUS OF THE NORWELL PARK. THAT IS A 30 ACRE TO BECOME 75 ACRE REGIONAL PARK. 
          WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR THE OUTCOMES OF THAT IN THE UPCOMING BOND ELECTION. 
          LASTLY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR MOST RECENTLY STORM RESPONSE. YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OPTIONS THERE, WHERE WE COLLABORATE DAILY. I WANT TO THANK ACS, THE EEOC, METRO HEALTH. 
          PARKS HOUSES, FOUR OF THE SIX RESILIENCY CENTERS. BEYOND FIRST RESPONSE THAT GOES ON DAILY. HERE AND NOW I WILL ASK BRENDA TO PROVIDE HER BUDGET PRESENTATION. WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH THEM ON THE STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT. 
          THAT WILL CONTINUE THIS FALL, STARTING THIS SUMMER. I WILL TURN THE MIC OVER TO 
          BRENDA. >> THANK YOU, HOMER. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRENDA HICKS SORENSON I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I WILL REVIEWS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY27. 
          WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK UPDATE. 
          THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVES THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES. WE FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS, LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES THAT PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN GROWING SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY. OUR AWARD WINNING GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM BRINGS INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO SAN ANTONIO. 
          MEETING BUSINESSES WHERE THEY ARE AT IS CORE TO THE BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH VISITS AS WELL AS OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT ENDEAVORS ANCHORED BY THE SE-VEDA PROGRAM HAVE EXPANDED OFFICE HOURS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND CITY CONTRACTS. WE EXPANDED PLACE-MAKING EFFORTS BEYOND THE REVITALIZE SA PROGRAM FOR TARGET DRIVEN COMMUNITY PLACEMENT EFFORTS. I WILL PROVIDE DETAILS OF OTHER INVESTMENTS. I WANT TO THANK OTHERS FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN THE EFFORTS. 
          I WANT TO THANK THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM MEMBERS WHO TIME AND AGAIN DEMONSTRATE REMARKABLE RESILIENCY. NO MATTER HOW QUICKLY CIRCUMSTANCES SHIFT THEY RESPOND WITH STEADY FOCUS AND DETERMINATION. THE TEAM EMBODIES THE BEST OF PUBLIC SERVICE. PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY AND GENUINE COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC FUTURE. THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT TOTALS $16.9 MILLION. A 9.6% REDUCTION FROM THE 2026 ADOPTED GENERAL FUND AMOUNT. $7.5 MILLION ALLOCATED IN RESTRICTED FUNDS WHICH IS THE INCENTIVE FUND, STAR BRIGHT FUND AND CAPITAL SERVES FUND THAT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT TWO POSITIONS ON THE SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT TEAM. THE 38 POSITIONS SHOW A REDUCTION OF TWO STAFF POSITIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT. I WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ABOUT MOMENTARILY. THE PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS EFFICIENCY OF $172,000 PER THE SMALL BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM TO REFLECT CURRENT CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES, LIMITED ACTIVATION RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CAPITAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT. WE ARE SHIFTING LATIN AMERICA BUSINESS RECRUITMENT FROM PRIVATE CONTRACTOR AND INSTEAD WILL LEVERAGE THE U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICES, INTERNATIONAL NETWORK TO HOST TARGETED INVESTMENT PROMOTION EVENTS WHILE CONTINUING REGIONAL LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE AWARD WINNING AMERICA'S TASK FORCE. 
          AS PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED TWO POSITIONS ARE PROPOSED TO BE LIMITED. 
          FOR BACKGROUND FISCAL YEAR 2025 PARTNERED WITH BARRY DUNN FOR EXPERTISE AND LOCAL PROCESSING IMPROVEMENT TO WORK WITH THE TEAM TO IDENTIFY INEFFICIENCE IN THE COMPLIANCE PROCESS AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE 2024 SEBEDA NAKNOW NAN. THE -- ORDINANCE. 
          IT HELPED US IDENTIFY TWO POSITIONS WHILE CONTINUING THE ROBUST APPROACH TO THE CONTRACTS AND PROACTIVE FLYER ENGAGEMENT OUTREACH EFFORTS. THIS YEAR, WE UNDERTOOK A REFRESH OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK WITH TIP STRATEGIES. 
          SINCE WE LAST DISCUSSED TIP WILL CONTINUE TO ASSESS HOW SAN ANTONIO CAN LEVEL UP. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT THUS FAR. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE 
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AND THANK THE MANY STAKE STAKEHOLDERS THAT OFFERED EXPERTISE AND SHARED INSIGHT THROUGHOUT THE ITERATIVE PROCESS. AS A RESULT THE UPDATED FRAMEWORK INCLUDES A SET OF ENHANCED AND NEW GOALS CENTERED ON STRENGTHENING SAN ANTONIO'S POSITION AS A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE LOCATION FOR INVESTMENT AND. 
          >> ANNOUNCER:. STIMULATING PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AND PLACE BASED AREAS AND REGIONAL CENTERS IN INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IMPROVING ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR SAN ANTONIANS WITH DEVELOPING THE WORKFORCE WITH SKILLS TO ACCESS GOOD JOBS. ADDITIONALLY THE UPDATED FRAMEWORK INCLUDES A SECTION TO REFINE THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS, ALIGN PARTNERS AND NEW FUNDING OPTIONS TO UPDATE THE NEW FRAMEWORK. (AUDIO SKIPPING) I WILL SHOW SPECIFICS IN THE NEXT SLIDES BUT LOOK FORWARD TO THE FRAMEWORK FOR FURTHER BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION DURING THE OCTOBER 14B SESSION. EARLIER I REFERENCED THE U.S. 
          COMMERCIAL SERVICE. IT WAS THROUGH ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS FOLLOWED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SISTER CITY RELATED TRAVEL TO GERMANY IN 2024. 
          (AUDIO SKIPPING) FOLLOWING ONGOING DISCUSSIONS, THE MANUFACTURER OF HIGH-TECH TANKS USED IN ROCKETS AND OTHER SPACECRAFT ANNOUNCED THE TRANCHE OF A 250 MILLION INVESTMENT AND PROSPECTIVE JOBS AT PORT SAN ANTONIO. THE INITIAL INVESTMENT AND JOBS ARE ON THE PERFORMANCE METRIC. THE NEW JOBS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIGURES ARE HIGHER THAN IN THE BUDGET MATERIALS IN PART BECAUSE OF THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING PROJECT AT BROOKS. 
          THE FACILITY WILL EMPLOY UP TO 3,000 POSITIONS BY 2030. SPEAKING OF INVESTMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE POPULAR 0% INTEREST RATE LOAN PROGRAM AS THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $500,000 AS ONGOING SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ELIGIBLE BUSINESS OWNERS WITH INTEREST-FREE LOANED. THERE HAS BEEN $14 MILLION REPRESENTING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $195 MILLION. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ALISONS, FOR EXAMPLE, SECURED FUNDING THAT ALLOWED THE COMPANY TO INVEST IN CRITICAL EQUIPMENT AND BUILD OUT A MINI MANUFACTURING LINE FOR ELECTRONICS. 
          AS WE STRENGTHENING OUR SUPPORT FOR JOB CREATION AND INVESTMENT, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE SITES AND INFRASTRUCTURE READY TO CAPTURE THE OPPORTUNITIES. AS PART OF THE FRAMEWORK UPDATE WE ALONG WITH GREATER SAT, SAWS, CPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WORKED WITH GLOBAL LOCATION STRATEGIES, A SITE SELECTION FIRM TO COMPLETE A SITE READINESS ASSESSMENT FOR 10 SITES. 
          GLS REVIEWED EACH CITY USING TWO INDUSTRY PROFILES. LABOR AND CAPITAL INTENSIVE TO IDENTIFY ACTIONABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE EACH SITE CLOSER TO FISCAL READINESS. IN 2027 WE'LL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY AN INITIAL TWO OR THREE SITES FOR AN APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE GAPS. 
          EDD, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS AS HOMER MENTIONED, WILL BE BRINGING FORTH A COMMUNITY DRIVEN MASTER PLAN FOR THE WOLF STADIUM SITE LATER THIS FALL. FOLLOWING CONSIDERATION OF THE MASTER PLAN, EDD WILL SHIFT FOCUS TO IDENTIFYING DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT THE VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ALSO BE REPORTING TO THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AS FOLLOW-UP TO THE AUGUST 6 EAST SIDE QUARTER IMPLEMENT DEVELOPMENT CCR OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAINSTREAM AMERICA, THE REVITALIZED SA QUARTER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM COMBINES LEADERSHIP TRAINING, APPLIED PROJECT WORK AND GRANT SUPPORT TO CATALYZE NEIGHBOR CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION. WHILE COHORTS MEMBERS ARE UNDERTAKING CHANGE PROJECTS, I'M PLEASED TO NOTE MANY OF THE EARLIER COHORT MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY, WORKING DILIGENTLY TO DRIVE CHANGE AND INVESTMENT IN THE CORRIDORS THAT ARE HOME TO MORE THAN 4700 SMALL BUSINESSES. 
          NONE OF THE WORK HAPPENS WITHOUT APPROPRIATE CAPACITY AND RESOURCES. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PARTNERS LIKE GREATER SATX AS THEY BUILD DOWN THE TREMENDOUS MOMENTUM IN SAN ANTONIO. KEY INDUSTRY SERBS LIKE BIOSCIENCES AND BIOMED SA. 
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WE WILL USE THE AVAILABLE 5.6 MILLION IN THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT COMPANY GROWTH, JOB CREATION, INNOVATION AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN SUPPLY SA AND LAUNCH SA. EDD HAS ENGAGED WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE UPDATES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY, BROADER COMMUNITY IMPACTS AND INVESTMENTS BY EXISTING COMPANIES AND THOSE NEW TO THE MARKET WHILE ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS. EDD IS COMPLETING STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK SESSIONS THIS WEEK AND PREVIOUSLY HELD DISCUSSIONS ON JOB CREATION, PLACE MAKING AND INNOVATION. WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE PROPOSED POLICY REVISIONS TO THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 22. 
          THROUGHOUT SPRING AND SUMMER WE HEARD IT IS TIME FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO BE BOLD AND TAKE PROACTIVE, AGGRESSIVE POSTURE AIMED AT LEVELING UP THE CITY, OUR ECONOMY AND RESIDENTS. THIS MEANS INCREASING COMPETITIVENESS WITH NATIONAL AND GLOBAL PEERS, CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT AT ALL LEVELS. 
          EXPANDING WEALTH, ASSETS AND TAX BASE OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FORTHCOMING DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FRAMEWORK UPDATE AND THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUING TO SUPPORT JOB CREATION. PRIVATE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH IN FISCAL YEAR 2027. 
          THANK YOU. I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO JOSEPHINE VALENCIA. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE VALENCIA. 
          I'M YOUR DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE. I'M HERE TO TALK SOME TRASH TODAY. I WILL GIVE YOU SOME INITIATIVES, TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED RATES FOR NEXT YEAR AND THE FLEET SERVICES FUND. 
          BEFORE I GET INTO THE PRESENTATION I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS IMAGE. 
          THIS IS A NEW BILLBOARD THAT JUST WENT UP LAST WEEK. IT IS AT SEVEN LOCATIONS RIGHT NOW. IT WILL BE AT FOUR MORE NEXT MONTH. 
          THE CREATION OF THIS BILLBOARD WAS A RESULT OF THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA THAT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE LITTER ON THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO THE LANDFILL. I DIRECTED MY STAFF TO DO AN ASSESSMENT. 
          AS WE WERE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY AND SPECIFICALLY NEAR THE LANDFILLS WE NOTICED A LOT OF LOADS, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL WERE DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT A TARP. 
          A LOT OF THE MATERIALS WERE LEAVING THE VEHICLES AND CAUSING LILTER ON THE ROADS. 
          THIS IS THE NEW CAMPAIGN WE HOPE TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE EFFECTS. 
          SO OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT. LOTS OF GOOD THINGS COMING IN THREE. 
          THREE WISE MEN, THREE MEALS A DAY. THREE CARTS. 
          BROWN, BLUE, GREEN. THIS IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OPERATION. 
          THIS IS THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE PREDOMINANTLY TO SINGLE-FAMILY FAMILIES WITHIN THE CITY. 
          A SERVICE YOU ALL KNOW. ANOTHER SERVICE IS THE GRAPPLER OPERATIONS. 
          THE CREWS THAT PICK UP CURBSIDE BRUSH AND BULKY, THE NORMALLY SCHEDULED AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE LIKE RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE CREW THAT WORKS ON ILLEGAL DUMPING AND ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS. MOST OF YOU KNEW ANDREW GUTIERREZ WHO RETIRED. DAVID BEDDIO IS HERE AND CAME DURING A DIFFERENT TIME. 
          THE NEW ANDREW. HE CAME DURING A DIFFICULT TIME. 
          HE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB DIRECTING THE STORM CLEANUP. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THE PAST 11 DAYS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE BEEN CLEANING STORM DEBRIS PICKUP. AND WORKED ALL THROUGH LABOR DAY. THEY WORKED STRAIGHT THROUGH THIS. 
          WE HAVE PICKED UP 11 MILLION POUNDS OF BRUSH, IT IS STILL GROWING. 
          IT IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF MATERIAL OUT THERE. STILL A LOT OUT THERE. 
          WE COMPLETED OUR FIRST SWEEP OF THE PRIORITY AREA, THE AREA MOST IMPACTED BY THE STORM. 
          COMPLETED THE FIRST SWEEP THIS PAST FRIDAY. CONDUCTING A SECOND SWEEP IN THE SAME AREA AND EXPECT TO COMPLETE THAT SWEEP BY TOMORROW. 
          NEXT WEEK WE WILL START FOCUSING ON AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE PRIORITY ZONE. 
          THERE ARE MANY AREAS WITHIN THE CITY THAT HAVE BRUSH. TO ACCOMPLISH THE COLLECTION WE HAD TO DELAY THE BULK COLLECT I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE ARE ON A PLAN TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH THAT COLLECTION. THE BULKY COLLECTION SCHEDULED FOR COLLECTION LAST WEEK WILL BE COMPLETED BY TOMORROW. AND THE BULK CAN SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK WILL BE COMPLETED BY 
          [00:35:08]
FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK. AND WE'LL BE BACK ON TRACK ON SCHEDULE. 
          TODAY WE'RE DELIVERING FLIERS FOR THE NEXT COLLECTION ZONE. WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE IMPACTED FOR BULKY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SERVICED AS NORMAL. 
          TRANSITIONING TO THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET ABOUT CONSISTS OF TWO SEPARATE FUNDS. 
          THE SOLID WASTE, OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, THAT IS A RESTRICTED FUND, FUNDED BY USER FEES AND A FEW OTHER REVENUE SOURCES. WE CHARGE MONTHLY CART CUSTOMERS A FEE THAT APPEARS ON THE CPS BILL. THE OTHER FUND IS AN INTERNAL SERVICES FUND, THE FLEET MAINTENANCE FUND THEY WILL TALK ABOUT IN ANOTHER SLIDE. 
          WE HAVE THREE INITIATIVES FOR NEXT YEAR. (AUDIO SKIPPING) FIRST IS CUSTOMER GROWTH INITIATIVE. WE EXPECT OURING. BASE TO GROW BY 3,500 CUSTOMERS, NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BRINGING US TO A CURBSIDE CART CUSTOMER BASE OF 385,400 CUSTOMERS. THE INITIATIVE IS 661,000 TO ADD TWO DRIVERS AND PURCHASE ONE ADDITIONAL GARBAGE TRUCK. THE SECOND INITIATIVE IS ON THE TRANSFER STATION. 
          SOME MAY REMEMBER AT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE NICK PRESENTED ON THE PLANS FOR THE TRANSFER STATION. THE TRANSFER STATION IS WHERE GARBAGE IS A COVERED CONCRETE AREA WHERE GARBAGE TRUCKS UNLOAD ON TO THE FLOOR. AND THE GARB AGE IS PICKED UP, TRANSFERRED TO A LARGER VEHICLE. TYPICALLY A 18-WHEELER TRACTOR-TRAILER. THIS ALLOWS US TO TRANSPORT THE WASTE MORE EFFICIENTLY A FURTHER DISTANCE. THE FACILITY WAS OPERATED BY A CONTRACTOR OVER 30 YEARS. 
          THE CONTRACT ENDED LAST FALL. THIS PAST SUMMER WE REOPENED THE FACILITY ONLY FOR CITY CREWS RIGHT NOW. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A ONE-TIME $3.1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN FACILITY UPGRADES A VARIETY OF UTILITIES, PAVEMENT, AND SCALES. WHAT THIS INVESTMENT WOULD DO IS ALLOW US TO OPEN THE FACILITY, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH THE RENOVATIONS WHEN I SAY THE PUBLIC, I'M TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE WASTE HAULERS, NOT MOM AND POP PICKUP TRUCKS. THIS FACILITY IS CLOSE TO THE BULKY DROP-OFF ON BITTERMANS ROAD. SINCE THERE IS NO DISPOSAL AREA, NO DISPOSAL IN THIS AREA OF THE CITY IT COULD BE A REVENUE GETTER FOR THE CITY. 
          THE LAST INITIATIVE IS THE PROPOSED RATES. PROPOSING 75 CENT RATE INCREASE ON EACH CART, SMALL, MEDITERRANEAN, LARGE. PROPOSING 25 CENT FEE INCREASE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE FEES, THE CART FEE IS ONLY ADDRESSED ON THE CART COLLECTS, PRIMARILY ZA SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES NOT APARTMENTS OR BUSINESSES. THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE IS ASSESSED TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY. BUSINESSES, APARTMENTS. EVERYTHING. 
          IT IS USED TO FUND CITYWIDE SERVICES SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMPING. 
          THE LAST SERVICE IS WASTE HAULER FEE. WE ARE NOT PROPOSING AN INCREASE IN THE FEE. THIS IS A FEE THAT IS ADDRESSED AND APPLIES ONLY TO PRIVATE (AUDIO SKIPPING) ANY COMPANY THAT IS TRANSPORTING GARBAGE IN THE CITY GETS ASSESSED THIS ANNUAL FEE. THE ORDINANCE THAT AUTHORIZES THE FEE HAS AN EXEMPTION FOR RECYCLING TRUCKS. WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE WHO THE FEE APPLIES TO. EXPAND THE FEE TO BOTH GARBAGE AND RECYCLING. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT DOES NOT STAY IN THE SOLID WASTE FUND. WE COLLECT THE MONEY AND TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND SPECIFICALLY TO PUBLIC WORKS WHO USES THE MONEY FOR STRAIGHT MAINTENANCE. 
          FINALLY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR FLEET SERVICES FUND. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS AN INTERNAL SERVICES FUND. IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT OUR FLEET DIVISION MAINTAINS A VARIETY OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT, TRUCKS OFFROAD VEHICLES AND NOT JUST OUR OWN. 
          WE MAINTAIN THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIRE TRUCKS. 
          PARKS AND REC EQUIPMENT IS MAINTAIN UNDERSTAND BY THE FLEET SHOP. 
          THE FLEET SHOP IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND FASTER THAN SHOULDN'TING OUR VEHICLES OUT 
          [00:40:02]
TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THERE IS WORK WE SEND OUT TO PRIVATE COMPANIES. 
          I'M REALLY LOOKING TO REDUCE THAT. ONE THING WE'RE WORKING ON IS AN INITIATIVE WITH HR TO DEVELOP A MECHANIC APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO ALLOW US TO FURTHER TRAIN OUR STAFF AND EXPAND THE TYPE OF REPAIRS WE DO. 
          I THINK THIS WILL BE A VERY GOOD COMPANION TO OUR EXISTING AND SUCCESSFUL DRIVER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. I THINK AS A DEPARTMENT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A HIGH CUSTOMER CONVERSATION RATE. PART OF THAT IS RELATED TO THE TRAINING AND SKILL OF OUR TW EMPLOYEES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO INVEST IN ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY FROM THE DIRECTOR TO THE COLLECTOR. WE ALL WANT TO BENEFIT THE CITY AND KEEP THE COMMUNITY CLEAN. WITH THAT I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AND TURN IT OVER 
          TO SHRITA TO DISCUSS THE LIBRARY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR JONES, MEM MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER. 
          I'M IT ISTHE DIRECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THE FISCAL YEAR 27 WILL PROPOSAL. I'M JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, KATHIE AND MCNEIL AND JESSICA AND THE DFA AND THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS SOME ARE WITH US TODAY. I WILL BEGIN WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LIBRARY AND SCALE OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO. 
          FROM THERE, I WILL WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET WITH NEW INVESTMENTS AND EFFICIENCIES. I WILL SPEND ADDITIONAL TIME ON THE PROPOSED BRANCH MODEL BECAUSE THAT REPRESENTS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL CHANGE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY. I WANT TO PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH THE CONTEXT AND METHODOLOGY BEHIND THAT PROPOSAL. THE VICE CHAIR AND DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVE JOHANNE HARRIS IS HERE TO SHARE THE BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE. BEFORE GETTING INTO THE BUDGET, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE SCALE AND BRED ADTH OF THE LIBRARY'S WORK. THROUGH 30 LOCATIONS WE EXPECT TO WELCOME APPROXIMATELY THREE MILLION VISITS THIS YEAR. OUR COLLECTION INCLUDES CLOSE TO 2 AND A HALF MILLION PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL ITEMS WITH CIRCULATION EXPECTED TO EXCEED 10 MILLION. 
          OUR 39 COMPUTER LABS ALONG WITH WI-FI ACCESS ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS PROVIDE MORE THAN TWO MILLION OF TECHNOLOGY USED ANNUALLY. THE INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS ANSWERED APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION QUESTIONS. WE PROVIDE 14,000 PUBLIC PROGRAMS WITH MORE THAN $220,000 ATTENDEES. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MARKING EFFORTS GENERATE MORE THAN 18 MILLION ENGAGEMENTS. THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS. 
          WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT SITS BEHIND THEM. A RESIDENT COMPLETING A JOB APPLICATION. A FAMILY LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE. 
          OR A CHILD DISCOVERING THE LIBRARY FOR THE FIRST TIME. OUR LIBRARIES ARE ALSO PLACES FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, VOTERS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND COOLING AND WARMING CENTERS. 
          WHEN WE DISCUSS THE LIBRARY BUDGET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS. 
          ACCESS TO INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY, LEARNING, OPPORTUNITY, AND COMMUNITY. 
          AND THAT ACCESS IS MADE POSSIBLE EVERY DAY BY OUR DEDICATED LIBRARY STAFF. 
          WITH THAT CONTEXT I WILL TURN TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THE TOTAL PROPOSED FY27 BUDGET IS 60.8 MILLION. OF THAT 58.1 IS IN THE GENERAL FUND TO REPRESENT A 4% OR $2.2 MILLION. THE INCREASE IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY EMPLOYEES COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, MANDATES, AND INVESTMENTS AND REPLACEMENT OF FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT IN ADDITION THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 1.3 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDING AND APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION OF GRANT SUPPORT MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROSITY AND HARD WORK OF THE PARTNERS FROM THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION AND FRIENDS OF THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY. THIS BUDGET EMPHASIZES CONTINUOUS INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER. 
          THERE ARE AREAS WHERE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE SERVICE AND THERE ARE ALSO AREAS WHERE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY BUDGET. IN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT 
          [00:45:04]
INVESTMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARVER BRANCH LIBRARY. THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS $400,000 FOR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COUST ACOST AND FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AS WE EXPECT THE BRANCH TO RETURN TO SERVICE. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN THE SAN ANTONIO EAST SIDE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $2.1 MILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR FURNITURE, FIXTURE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER NEEDS ACROSS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. MAINTAINING SPACES, RELIABLE FURNITURE, TECHNOLOGY AND FUNCTIONING EQUIPMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO PROVIDING QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE. THE INVESTMENTS CONTINUE TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE. 
          THE PROPOSED BUDGET ADDRESSES SEVERAL OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FACILITY NEEDS, INCLUDING MAJOR PROJECTS AT CENTRAL LIBRARY, MILLION THOUSAND OAKS, OAK WELL, AND POTRANCO BRANCHES. THESE ARE THE HIGHEST PROGRAMS, THIS HAS A NUMBER OF FACILITIES, MAJOR BUILDING SYSTEMS, ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY AND CONDITION OF PUBLIC SPACES. THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU REPRESENT THE FACILITY NEEDS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS NOW TO MAINTAIN SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE AND WELCOMING LIBRARY BUILDING AND SPACES. THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE IMPORTANT. LIKE LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET REQUIRED US TO LOOK CLOSELY AT EVERY ASPECT OF LIBRARY OPERATION. STARTING DECEMBER 2025, THE LIBRARY PARTICIPATED IN THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS. 
          THAT RESULTED IN APPROXIMATELY $1.4 MILLION IN PROPOSED EFFICIENCIES. 
          ED FIRST IS A $480,000 REDUCTION IN THE SOFTWARE BUDGET. 
          THROUGH A DETAILED REVIEW OF THE NONPERSONNEL EXPENDITURES, WE DETERMINED THAT THE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO QUALIFY FOR ACADEMIC PRICING FOR SOFTWARE ON PUBLIC COMPUTERS. 
          THAT ALLOWS US TO REDUCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT REDUCING SERVICE. 
          SECOND EFFICIENT $950,000 COMES FROM A NEW BRANCH STAFFING MODEL. 
          THE PROPOSED MODEL RIGHT SIZES STAFFING AT OUR BRANCHES. IT REDUCES 27 OF THE BRANCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS AND REDUCES 12 OF THE ATTEND POSITIONS. 
          THIS IS A TOTAL OF 39 POSITIONS. 17 OF THESE ARE CURRENTLY VACANT. THE OTHER EMPLOYEES WILL BE OFFERED POSITIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY WITH NO REDUCTION TO PAY OR TENURE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT. THESE ARE REAL POSITIONS AND OUR COLLEAGUES. 
          A STAFFING CHANGE OF THIS SIZE DESERVES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. 
          AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE STAFFING STRUCTURE REFLECTLESS THE -- REFLECTS THE WORK OF OUR LOCATIONS TODAY. 
          THE CBA GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE BOTH. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS IN THE INNOVATION DEPARTMENT. WE EXAMINED COMMUNITY USE, HOW SERVICES WERE DELIVERED, BRANCH WORKLOAD, INDIVIDUAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, BRANCH 
          OBSERVATIONS AND GATHERED FEEDBACK FROM BRANCH EMPLOYEES >> GOSWAMI: ONE OF THE CLEAREST TRENDS TO EMERGE WAS THE SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN HOW THE COMMUNITY'S USING OUR LIBRARIES AND HOW CUSTOMERS USE OUR SERVICES. 
          THAT CHANGE HAS DIRECT IMPLICATION FOR SOME OF THE WORK PERFORMED IN OUR BRANCHES. OUR APPROACH TO THE STAFFING STRUCTURE WAS TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT DO OUR BRANCHES NEED TODAY TO PROVIDE FULL LIBRARY SERVICES EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY? THAT QUESTION IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE MODEL I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. 
          THIS SLIDE OUTLINES THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BRANCH STAFFING MODEL. 
          THE STARTING POINT FOR THE STAFFING MODEL WAS SERVICE, NOT REDUCTION. 
          OUR FIRST REQUIREMENT WAS EVERY BRANCH MUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR SEVEN-DAY 56 HOUR A WEEK PUBLIC SERVICE SCHEDULE. FROM THERE, WE ASKED WHAT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MUST BE COVERED TO PROVIDE FULL BRANCH SERVICE? THAT WORKLOAD EXISTS AT EACH LOCATION, AND WHETHER THE WORK EMPLOYEES ARE PERFORMING ALIGNS APPROPRIATELY WITH THEIR CLASSIFICATION. THE ANALYSIS ALSO ACCOUNTED FOR THE REALITIES OF OPERATING A BRANCH, VACANCIES, TRAINING, SICK LEAVE, AND THE STAFFING COVERAGE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. WE DID NOT SIMPLY APPLY A PERCENTAGE ACROSS THE 
          [00:50:03]
SYSTEM, WE RECOGNIZED THAT OUR BRANCHES ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE, THEY SERVE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITY AND IN SOME CASES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED SERVICES.  THE BRANCH STAFFING MODEL OBJECTIVE IS CONSISTENT, AND PUBLIC SERVICES WERE NOT COMPROMISED. 
          THIS SLIDE GETS TO ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS BEHIND THE PROPOSED STAFFING CHANGE, AND THAT IS THE WAY RESIDENTS USE OUR COLLECTION. 
          SINCE 2019, CHECK-INS OF PHYSICAL MATERIALS HAVE DECREASED BY 40% WHILE STAFF ASSISTED CHECKOUT HAVE DECREASED BY 62%. THOSE ARE KEY CHANGES IN TRANSACTIONAL WORKLOAD. OUR RESIDENTS HAVE NOT STOPPED USING THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION. IN FACT, OVERALL CIRCULATION OF PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL MATERIAL HAS GROWN BY 24%. WHAT HAS CHANGED IS HOW THEY USE IT. PHYSICAL CIRCULATION HAS DECLINED BY 18% WHILE DIGITAL CIRCULATION HAS GROWN BY 161%. SO THIS IS NOT A STORY OF DECLINING LIBRARY USE, IT IS A STORY OF CHANGING LIBRARY USE AND THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS. THE WORK ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING PHYSICAL MATERIALS THROUGH OUR BRANCHES, CHECKING ITEMS IN, STAFF-ASSISTED CHECKOUT, SORTING, SHELVING AND OTHER TRANSACTIONAL ACTIVITY HAS DECLINED EVEN AS OVERALL USE OF OUR COLLECTION HAS GROWN. 
          THE PROPOSED BUDGET RESPONSE SPECIFICALLY TO THAT CHANGE BY REDUCING LIBRARY AIDE AND CERTAIN ATTENDANT POSITIONS, THE TWO CLASSIFICATIONS MOST DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS WORK. IN TOTAL, THE PROPOSAL REDUCES 39 POSITION OUT OF 369 BRANCH POSITIONS. THE PROPOSAL MAINTAIN OUR LIBRARY HOURS, SEVEN-DAY SERVICE PROGRAMMING, IT DOES NOT REDUCE LIBRARIAN, LIBRARIAN ASSISTANT OR TRAINING OFFICER POSITIONS. 
          THE PREVIOUS SLIDE EXPLAINS WHY A STAFFING ADJUSTMENT IS APPROPRIATE. THIS SHOWS HOW WE TRANSLATED THAT ANALYSIS INTO AN OPERATING MODEL. THE MODEL ESTABLISHES A STANDARD STAFFING COMPLEMENT BASED ON THE ROLES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE BRANCH SERVICES. LIBRARY AIDES PRIMARILY HANDLE SHELVING, SORTING AND ORGANIZATION OF PHYSICAL MATERIAL. THAT STANDARD MODEL PROVIDES TWO POSITION AT EACH BRANCH. OUR CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS PROVIDE FRONT LINE TRANSACTIONAL SERVICE SUCH AS ASSISTING CUSTOMERS CHECKING MATERIALS IN AND OUT, ISSUING LIBRARY CARDS -- OF ASSISTANT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DEVELOP AND PRESENT PROGRAMMING. 
          THE MODEL PROVIDES TWO POSITIONS AT EACH BRANCH. 
          LIBRARIAN PROVIDE REFERENCE, READERS ADVISORY AND ACCESSING LIBRARY SERVICES, AGE-BASED READING AND SERVES AS PERSON IN CHARGE. THE STANDARD MODEL PROVIDES FOUR LIBRARIANS AT EACH LOCATION. AND AT SEVEN BRANCHES, TRAINING OFFICERS SUPPORT OUR LEARN AT SAPL LOCATIONS PROVIDING SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS TO JOB SEEKERS AND ADULT LEARNERS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE MAINTAINING THE POSITIONS THAT PROVIDE REFERENCE, PROGRAMMING, INFORMATION ASSISTANCE, ADULT LEARNING, SUPERVISION AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES. AND BECAUSE BRANCHES DIFFER, THIS STANDARD IS A STARTING POINT RATHER THAN A RIGID FORMULA. INDIVIDUAL BRANCH STAFFING RANGES FROM EIGHT TO 17 POSITIONS BASED ON WORKLOAD AND SERVICES AND THREE-FOURTHS OF OUR BRANCHES WILL HAVE 11 OR MORE POSITIONS. ALONGSIDE EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES. 
          TWO CHANGES ARE PROPOSED TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION ANNUALLY. 
          THE FIRST IS AN INCREASE IN THE LOST ITEM PROCESSING FEE FROM $5 TO $10. WHILE THE LIBRARY SYSTEM DOES NOT CHARGE LATE FEE ANYMORE, IT DOES CHARGE -- RETURN A CHECKED-OUT ITEM. THE FEE CHARGED FOR THE LOST ITEM IS THE LIST PRICE OF THE ITEM PLUS A PROCESSING FEE. 
          THIS PROCESSING FEE HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2008. 
          THIS CHANGE IS ESTIMATED TO GENERATE $10,000 ANNUALLY. 
          THE MORE SIGNIFICANT PROPOSAL IS THE NEW $20 ANNUAL LIBRARY CARD FEE FOR BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 97,000 NONSAN ANTONIO 
          [00:55:02]
BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY CARDS. 
          THE PROPOSED $20 FEE IS BASED ON A COST RECOVERY METHODOLOGY THAT CONSIDERS THE PER CAPITA COST OF PROVIDING LIBRARY SERVICES AND THE CONTRIBUTION CURRENTLY MADE BY BEXAR COUNTY. IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE FEE WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE RESIDENTS WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY BUT OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR A LIBRARY CARD WHICH WOULD BE VALID FOR 12 MONTHS. THE ESTIMATED REVENUE FROM THIS PROPOSAL IS $1 MILLION ANNUALLY. THAT CONCLUDES MY OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 LIBRARY BUDGET, AND NOW I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE JOE AN HARRIS, VICE CHAIR OF SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. JJO ANN. . 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUKRIT. THAT'S VERY NICE OF YOU. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. 
          I'M JO ANN HARRIS, AND I SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. OUR CHAIRPERSON JESPRI CARR SENDS HER REGRETS THAT SHE CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW SHE'S LIVE STREAMING SOMEPLACE. THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS A POLICY MAKING BODY MADE OF 11 COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY EACH OF YOU. WE TRULY SHARE A COMMON PASSION FOR A VITAL ROLE THAT WE KNOW THAT ALL THE LIBRARIES SERVE. 
          THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY ENRICHES THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS EVERY DAY IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND ACROSS THE CITY. 
          WHILE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE DIFFICULT, VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN PERSONAL BUDGETS, THE LIBRARY REMAINS A CONSTANT BEACON OF LIGHT OF INFORMATION, OF OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY SERVE ALSO AS A PLACE FOR RESPITE FOR ALL. AND WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL, I'M TALKING ABOUT INFANTS WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS, NOT JUST MOTHERS, FATHERS, GRANDMOTHERS AND EVERYTHING. CHILDREN, TE TEENS, TWEENS, ADULT, AND, OF COURSE, OLDER ADULTS. THE IMPORTANCE OF LIBRARY INCREASE DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES BECAUSE THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY DELIVERS FREE SERVICE TO ALL RESIDENTS IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          WHILE FAMILIES MAY HAVE TO CUT BACK ON CERTAIN THINGS, THEY NEVER HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON A TRIP TO THE LIBRARY. SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE USING THESE LIBRARIES FOR EVERYTHING, FROM CHECKING OUT BOOKS TO ATTENDING FREE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS -- HELP TO HELPING WITH ADULT EDUCATORS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE THAT ARE ABLE TO HELP WITH RESUMES, THAT'S ABLE TO HELP WITH EVEN THINGS LIKE APPLICATIONS. AND I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN SOME OF THE ADULT EDUCATORS HELPING TO READ A FORM TO THEM AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THAT FORM IS. SAN ANTONIO RECEIVES EXEXCEPTIONAL VALUE FROM THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY. 
          IT IS DUE TO THAT INVESTMENT OVER TIME THAT THIS CITY HAS CONTINUED TO BUILD AN EXCEPTIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO INVOLVE TO SERVE AND THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE RESIDENTS. ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I WANT TO TRULY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER ALSO BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT KIND OF A DIFFICULT TASK THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU. 
          [01:00:07]
BUT I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE LIBRARIES BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS A VITAL COMMUNITY HUB DURING THESE ECONOMICAL TIMES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. 
          >> GOSWAMI: THANK YOU, JO ANN FOR YOUR REMARKS TODAY AND FOR REPRESENTING OUR LIBRARY BOARD. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR PROPOSED BUDGET BUT ALSO THE GREAT WORK OUR LIBRARY DOES ACROSS THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR INVESTMENT OF THE PEOPLE WE HAVE PRIVILEGE 
          TO SERVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THANKS, AGAIN, TO THE STAFF FOR THE TIME AND THE PRESENTATIONS. A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES. FOR EDD, BRENDA. 
          ON THE LIFTFUND FUNDING, DO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF ABSENT OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THAT WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE BEEN, LIKE I.E. IF NOT FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THAT 500,000, WHAT EXACTLY -- WHAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, RIGHT? BECAUSE I KNOW OUR CONTRIBUTION GETS LUMPED INTO OTHERS, BUT WELCOME UNDERSTANDING. AND THEN IF YOU CAN -- THE EXAMPLES ARE HELPFUL, BUT IF WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER EXAMPLES THAT CAN POINT TO THAT SPEAK TO WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT, APPRECIATE THAT. 
          >> HICKS-SORENSON: SURE. ABSOLUTELY. THAT $500,000 BUYS DOWN -- WE HAVE A GOAL OF ABOUT $1 MILLION A YEAR OF LOAN. 
          THIS YEAR OUR ACTUAL ESTIMATE WILL BE 23 LOANS LEVERAGING THAT $1 MILLION -- FOR MARKETING ADMINISTRATION. THESE FUNDS ARE UTILIZED FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSACTIONAL DITIONZ L FUNDING. SO -- TRADITIONAL FUNDING. 
          SO THESE ARE RESOURCES THAT GO TO BUSINESSES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THOSE LOANS. AND SO AGAIN IT'S [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR EXAMPLE THAT WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDING FOR THE -- THEIR MINI MANUFACTURING FACILITY. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER -- YEARS OF SERVICE, THERE'S BEEN OVER 430 SMALL BUSINESSES SERVED, REPRESENTING OVER ALMOST NEARLY $14 MILLION IN THOSE LOANS, TRADITIONAL LOANS ACCESSED FROM THOSE BUSINESSES. APPRECIATE THAT. 
          THANK YOU. HAVE WE EVER TRIED TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE MAYBE LOCAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO SEE IF THEY MAY TRY TO KIND OF SIMILARLY DO THAT PROGRAM, OR EVEN MAYBE SOME OF THE CHAMBERS AND FIGURE OUT IF THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN TAKING THAT ON THEMSELVES? IT REALLY SEEMS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE REALLY IN THEIR BAILIWICK? 
          >> HICKS-SORENSON: SO THE LENDERS HAVE, OF COURSE, DIFFERENT LENDING REQUIREMENTS. THEY HAVE WHAT'S CALLED COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT, CRA REQUIREMENTS. THEY ACTUALLY UTILIZE AND INVEST IN LIFTFUND, FOR EXAMPLE, SO WELLS FARGO, WHEN WE WERE UTILIZING THIS PROGRAM IN SOME ARPA DOLLARS INVESTED MATCH DOLLARS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO COUNT THOSE IN THOSE LOANS THAT THEY DO PROVIDE IN SOME CASES AS THEIR CRA INVESTMENTS. 
          SO THE LENDERS ARE ALL ALREADY ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM, AND IT'S REALLY THE LIFTFUND THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THE CDFI, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, AGAIN, PROVIDE THOSE 
          LOANS TO THOSE UNDERSERVED BUSINESSES. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. FOR THE LIBRARY, PLEASE. IS THE -- HOW IS IT DETERMINED THAT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY WOULD NOT BE OPEN ON SUNDAYS? 
          >> GOSWAMI: THIS -- >> MAYOR JONES: I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY, ONE 
          TIME, BY THE WAY. >> GOSWAMI: SO THIS IS BASICALLY TO PROVIDE, LIKE, ACCESS CITYWIDE, AND TO OPEN CENTRAL LIBRARY ON SUNDAYS REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES. AND, OF COURSE, IF POSSIBLE, WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT LIBRARY OPEN, BUT RIGHT NOW WE 
          DON'T HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. 
          I'D WELCOME UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO OPEN THAT ON SUNDAYS. 
          IS THAT ALSO THE ONLY LIBRARY THAT CHARGES PARKING? 
          >> GOSWAMI: I BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. 
          I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WOULD COST TO MAKE THAT LARGELY FREE. 
          [01:05:05]
          >> GOSWAMI: OKAY. >> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU TEHELP US UNDERSTAND, WE ALL PRIZE THE LIBRARY AND EVERYONE UP HERE WILL SPEAK TO THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THEY PROVIDE BEYOND HELPING SOMEBODY FIND A BOOK. 
          SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND, IT IS NATURAL ATTRITION THAT LED TO 17 VACANCIES, IT SEEMS LIKE A HIGH PERCENTAGE GIVEN YOUR OVERALL STAFFING. 
          >> GOSWAMI: RIGHT. SO ON AVERAGE EVERY YEAR, AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WE HAVE ABOUT SIX% OF VACANCY RATE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DISSING. 
          . >> MAYOR JONES: SO THAT'S ON PAR. 
          >> GOSWAMI: THAT'S ON PAR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANKS. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. FOR CLARIFICATION, THE ADDITIONAL LIBRARY CARD FEE, WILL THAT IN ANY WAY IMPACT THE MONEY WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE FROM 
          THE COUNTY, THE 3.5 MILLION? >> GOSWAMI: TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, TO THE BEST OF OUR UNDERSTANDING RIGHT NOW, THE ANSWER IS 
          NO. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. >> WALSH: I WAS JUST 
          GOING TO REDIRECT. NO, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. 
          BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TOUGH TIME, LIKE WE ARE. 
          OKAY. ON THE BOTANICAL GARDEN -- THANKS, HOMER. 
          I'D LIKE TO -- HELP US UNDERSTAND, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY -- THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY STARTED IN 2010, AND WHEN -- SURPRISED IF AT THE TIME THEY SIGNED THAT THEY THOUGHT IN 2026 THEY'D STILL BE GIVING THE BOTANICAL GARDEN A MILLION DOLLARS. 
          I'D WELCOME UNDERSTANDING HOW IT BECOMES FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT. 
          >> THE CURRENT FUNDING TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN THAT IS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET ADOPTION IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE LEASE. SO WHEN THAT LEASE WAS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SOCIETY, WHICH COUNCIL APPROVED, I THINK IT WAS IN THE FALL OF 2010, THAT EFFECTIVELY WAS PART OF THEIR PLAN. 
          NOW, IN THE LEASE, IT DOES SPELL OUT OVER LIKE A 15-YEAR PERIOD, I BELIEVE, THE PHASEOUT OF THAT, IF YOU WILL, WHERE IT GOES INTO MORE OF A CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IN SUMMARY, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NEGOTIATED AT THE TIME, THAT WAS INTENTIONAL, RELATIVE TO WHERE THEY'RE AT TO DAY. WE'LL HIGHLIGHT THE BUDGET WHEN WE -- THEY TOOK OVER FULL OPERATIONS IN 2019, OUR -- BECAUSE IT WAS RUN BY THE CITY UP UNTIL THAT POINT EFFECTIVELY. 
          SO OUR OPERATING BUDGET WAS $1.2 MILLION. AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, AT THE TIME THEY TOOK OVER, THEIR BUDGET WAS A LITTLE OVER 5 MILLION, SO TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE THAN SIX. 
          AND SO THEY'VE GROWN THAT SINCE THEN. BUT THEY'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON BRINGING INVESTMENT TO THE FACILITY. 
          WE'VE -- AND WITH THAT INVESTMENT, NEW BUILDINGS BEING CONSTRUCTED, PROGRAMMING, ET CETERA, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE OPERATIONAL NEED GROWS AS WELL. BUT IT IS TIED BACK TO THAT LEASE AGREEMENT THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THAT WAS NEGOTIATED WHERE THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE THIS 
          SUPPORT OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: UH-HUH. 
          YOU SAID 15 YEARS FROM 2010. >> I NEED TO 
          DOUBLE-CHECK. >> MAYOR JONES: BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LAST 
          YEAR. >> WELL, WHEN THEY TOOK OVER, RIGHT, THEY DID NOT BEGIN RECEIVING THE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION UNTIL THE TIME THEY TOOK OVER FULL O & M, OR OPERATIONS. THAT HAPPENED IN 2019. 
          SO IT GOES OUT FROM THERE. BUT IT IS DEFINED IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE TIME THEY TOOK OVER 
          OPERATIONS, WHICH WAS JUST IN 2019. >> MAYOR JONES: WHEN WE 
          ALSO ARE LOOKING AT -- GO AHEAD. >> MCCARY: I'M SORRY, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR. 
          IT ENDS IN 2039, DECEMBER 31ST OF 2039. >> THANKS. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WHEN THEY COME FORWARD WITH PROJECTS THAT MAKE -- THAT MAY -- WHETHER IT BE FOR THE TIRZ OR FOR THE BOND OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND THAT, THEREBY, THEN, POTENTIALLY INCREASES THE O & M ASSOCIATEDDED WITH NOW HAVING TO MAINTAIN THOSE THINGS, DO WE -- HOW DO WE INFORM THAT, SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THOSE COSTS MAY AFFECT WHAT WE DO OR DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR O & M? 
          >> ANY -- EXCUSE ME. ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEY MAKE, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE LOCKED IN ECTTIVELY. WE'RE NOT INCREASING OUR O & M, SO WHEN THEY'RE BRINGING THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS ONLINE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY BUILD 
          [01:10:02]
INTO THEIR OPERATING PLAN AS THEY CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE COSTS RISE. 
          BUT AS DEFINED IN THE LEASE, THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION IS FIXED, SO REGARDLESS OF THEIR O & M IS GOING UP FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, THEY'RE 
          CARRYING THE COST OF THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. 
          SO IT'S FIXED, EVEN AS ADDITIONAL REVENUE? >> YES. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ, PLEASE. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR -- SEEING IN, I THINK IT WAS SCENARIO A, I WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY, THERE WAS A REDUCTION TO THE LIBRARY ADULT SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING. 
          IT WAS ABOUT 4.3 MILLION A YEAR. CAN YOU SHARE SOME CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF WHAT FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY? COUNCILMEMBER, THE BIGGEST IMPACT WOULD BE TO GET TO THAT LEVEL, THERE WILL BE REDUCTION OF HOURS, AND ALSO THE REDUCTION -- AND MAYBE EVEN, LIKE, CLOSING ON 
          CERTAIN DAYS. >> TATE: COUNCILWOMAN, ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT IS THE ADULT LEARN SAPL. SO WE HAVE TRAINING OFFICERS THAT PROVIDE THAT ADULT LEARNING AT CERTAIN BRANCHES IN OUR LIBRARY. 
          >> GONZALEZ: OKAY, BUT THE 4.3 MILLION IS BASED OFF OF WHAT HE JUST 
          SAID. >> TATE: IT'S PROGRAMMING FOR ADULT LEARNING 
          SERVICES. >> GONZALEZ: AND WHAT TYPE OF ADULT LEARNING 
          SERVICES? >> TATE: SO THE ADULT -- I THINK IT'S CALLED THE LEARN AT SAPL, WHICH IS A LEARNING PROGRAM AT CERTAIN LIBRARY 
          BRANCHES. >> GONZALEZ: CAN YOU PROVIDE MAYBE IN A MEMO 
          JUST WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >> TATE: SURE. 
          >> GONZALEZ: THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHAT DISTRICTS ARE IMPACTED BY THAT. 
          >> TATE: SURE, WE CAN SHOWY -- YES. >> GONZALEZ: AND THOSE ARE EVERY DAY OR JUST AS THEY COME OR HOW DOES THAT WORK ON THE 
          PROGRAMMING SIDE? >> TATE: I BELIEVE THE PROGRAMMING -- SO THEY HAVE THE ADULT LEARNING PROGRAM AT EACH OF OUR CARVER -- AT EACH OF OUR BRANCHES WITH THAT SPECIFIC LEARN AT SAPL AT CERTAIN BRANCHES. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CATHY DONNA LYNN, ASSISTANT LIBRARY DIRECTOR. WE HAVE THE SAPL AT CENTRAL BRANCHES. 
          IT PROVIDES ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, HELPING TO DEVELOP RESUMES, DIGITAL LITERACY. AND IT OPERATES AT ABOUT 40 HOURS A WEEK. 
          >> GONZALEZ: DUNE HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY RESIDENTS ARE HELPED 
          THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS? >> YES. >> GONZALEZ: IF YOU 
          DON'T, IT'S OKAY. I WAS JUST -- >> WE HAVE A VARIETY OF METRICS FOR THE PROGRAM. SO IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF SESSIONS THAT ARE EITHER GROUP SESSIONS OR INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS, IT'S 638 A YEAR. 
          PROGRAM ATTENDANCE IS OVER 4,000 A YEAR, AND THEN THERE'S THE LENGTH OF THE SESSIONS, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE SESSIONS ARE VERY INTENSIVE BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS, SO THAT'S ABOUT 20,000 HOURS A YEAR. 
          >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. >> WALSH: CATHY, CAN YOU GIVE THE COUNCILMEMBERS 
          THE SEVEN LOCATIONS? >> YES. I DON'T HAVE THEM 
          MEMORIZED I'M GOING TO LOOK AT MY SHEET. >> GONZALEZ: THAT'S OKAY. 
          >> >> GONZALEZ: AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TIME 
          FURTHER -- >> THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ALSO NOTICED ON SOME LIBRARY PROGRAMMING THERE'S A LIBRARY PORTAL AT THE BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM, IS THAT FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND? 
          >> GOSWAMI: YES, IT IS. >> GONZALEZ: AND BECAUSE IT CARRIES SUCH A -- OBVIOUSLY A TOURISM AND CULTURAL -- THERE'S A TOURISM DIMENSION THERE BEING IN THE MUSEUM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO BE FUNDED ANOTHER 
          WAY THROUGH THE HOT TAX OR... >> GOSWAMI: THAT PART I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, BUT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO EXPANDING OUR SERVICES THROUGH THAT LOCATION, THROUGH THE BRISCOE MUSEUM. 
          >> AND JUST TO ADD, SO THE LIBRARY PORTAL IS PART OF THE BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM, SO THAT IS A NON -- NOT FOR PROFIT THAT IS SEPARATELY FUNDED FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING. 
          THE BUILDING IS A CITY BUILDING, AND IT WAS THE FORMER CENTRAL LIBRARY. 
          [01:15:04]
          >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. YEAH. >> SO THERE'S LIMITED RESOURCES THAT ARE USED FOR THAT PORTAL. IT'S A SMALL SPACE. 
          >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. THANK YOU. ON -- TO PARKS AND RECREATIONS, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. WE'VE GOT 27 PARKS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, AND YOU CAN'T THINK OF DISTRICT EIGHT WITHOUT THINKING OF PARKS, AND SO I JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO. I REMEMBER ALSO IN THAT SCENARIO A THERE WAS A PARKS MARKETING PROGRAM. CAN YOU EXPAND ON WHAT THAT DOES, IF THAT'S FOR PROMOTION OR IS THAT FOR REGISTRATION, ENROLLMENT, LIKE WHAT DOES THAT 
          COVER? >> ABSOLUTELY. IT IS PRIMARILY LIKE OUR 
          COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. >> SO WE GO OUT INTO SCHOOLS, SOMETIMES THEY'LL ASK US TO COME SPEAK ABOUT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY OR CAREER DAY OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. 
          IT DOES NOT -- THE MARKETING PIECE SPECIFICALLY IS NOT TIED TO REGISTRATION. SO IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE -- AUDIO] -- FOR BUT THE MARKET PIECE OF WHAT WE DO, THINK OF LIKE WHEN WE DO A RIBBON CUTTING OR A GROUND BREAKING OR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES, ALSO THAT WOULD BE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM, WE'LL STAND UP EVENTS OR, LIKE, POPUP ENERGIZE STATIONS JUST TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON 
          THAT, NOT SO MUCH ON PROGRAM REGISTRATION. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. 
          AND SO IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE C & E DEPARTMENT WOULD DO FOR THE CITY, OR -- I GUESS YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY 
          ENGAGEMENT PIECE, WHICH IS LIKE -- >> CORRECT. 
          WE HAVE A SMALL TEAM THAT DOES IT, BUT IT'S VERY FOCUSED ON PARK 
          PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. 
          >> NOW, THERE IS COLLABORATION WITH THAT TEAM AND C & E AS 
          NEEDED. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AND JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, DOES THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY TRACK ANY COSTS RELATED TO THE ABANDONED SHOPPING 
          CART COLLECTION? >> VALENCIA: WE DO TRACK THE NUMBER OF SHOPPING CARTS THAT ARE COLLECTED. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GIVE A COST TO IT BECAUSE WE DON'T GO OUT AND PICK UP, LET'S SAY, ONE SHOPPING CART. SO WE DO TRACK COSTS FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING, WHICH INCLUDES SHOPPING CARTS, SO I CAN'T -- IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PARCEL OUT, THIS IS HOW MUCH IT COST ME TO PICK UP THIS SHOPPING CART VERSUS THE 
          PILE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL. >> GONZALEZ: AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SET UP WITH THOSE -- LIKE I -- MY DISTRICT IS DE ZAVALA AND I10, IT'S LIKE THIS PERFECT CORRIDOR OF WALMART, H-E-B AND HOME DEPOT, THE SHOPPING CARTS END UP EVERYWHERE. I DIDN'T MOW IF THERE WAS ANY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THOSE COMPANIES ON, YOU KNOW PICKING UP THEIR SHOPPING CARTS AND HOW LONG WE KEEP THEM. 
          I KNOW IT COSTS THEM MONEY, IT COSTS US MONEY. 
          >> VALENCIA: WE HAVE NOT. BUT I WOULD SAY, WE ALSO TRACK THE SHOPPING CARTS, THE BRANDS OF THE SHOPPING CARTS THAT WE COLLECT. AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE BIG COMPANIES, THE H-E-BS AND WALMARTS AND TARGET, THOSE THREE SPECIFICALLY, THE NUMBER OF CARTS THAT WE HAVE RECOVERED HAS GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, SO I'VE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF THEM HAVE INSTALLED LOCKING MECHANISMS, THAT IF THEY LEAVE THE PARKING LOT, THE WHEELS LOCK. SO THE NUMBER OF CARTS THAT WE ARE COLLECTING IS GOING DOWN. WE ARE -- THE CARTS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING ARE MOSTLY FROM SMALLER, INDEPENDENT COMPANIES 
          RIGHT NOW. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT INFO TO ME, I'D LOVE THAT, JUST BECAUSE THAT COMES UP A LOT AT MY HOA MEETINGS.  AND I HAD A BUDGET TOWN HALL THIS MORNING AND A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT ASKED ME THIS QUESTION AND I SAID I WOULD ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, SO THIS IS FOR BOB IN PARK FOREST. HOW DO THE CITY'S MONTHLY SOLID WASTE FEES COMPARE TO THOSE OF OTHER SIMILAR TEXAS CITIES AND WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT GO INTO DETERMINING THE FEE AMOUNTS. 
          >> VALENCIA: IF SOMEONE CAN BRING UP THE PRESENTATION AGAIN, WE HAVE A BACKUP SLIDE. I WILL SAY GENERALLY THAT OUR FEES ARE VERY -- THERE IT IS. ARE FAVORABLE TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES, SO THERE YOU SEE SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE THE ONE ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT. 
          >> GONZALEZ: UH-HUH. >> VALENCIA: THEN YOU SEE AUSTIN, DALLAS, FORT WORTH AND CORPUS CHRISTI AND ARLINGTON, SO I WOULD SAY OUR RATES ARE VERY COST EFFECTIVE COMPARED TO OTHERS. 
          AND ALSO WILL ADD, IT'S NOT A FAIR COMPARISON IN SOME WAYS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE CITIES SUCH AS DALLAS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND CORPUS, THEY OWN THEIR OWN LANDFILL SO THEY HAVE A SOURCE OF GENERATING REVENUE THAT SOMETIMES 
          SUBSIDIZE THEIR RATES. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> WALSH: AND GENERALLY, COUNCILWOMAN, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOUT 
          WHAT GOES INTO THE RATE. >> GONZALEZ: YEAH. >> WALSH: IT IS THE EMPLOYEES, THE SERVICE, THE EQUIPMENT, THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE 
          [01:20:02]
DISPOSAL OF THAT, AND IT ALSO NETS OUT THE REVENUE WE RECEIVE FROM RECYCLING 
          MATERIAL. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. AND ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR -- THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. FOR LIBRARIES, I FORGOT TO ASK, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THIS, BUT ON THE SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, THOSE WERE BASED ON -- DID THAT START WITH WHAT'S VACANT AND THEN GO TO SENIORITY, OR HOW WAS THAT DETERMINED? ON THE -- WHERE, LIKE, WE CHECKED WITH THE WORKLOAD FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS. 
          >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. >> GOSWAMI: CATHY WAS COMING. 
          >> GONZALEZ: FOUR PEOPLE GOT UP. WHAT HAPPENED. 
          >> KAY KINNISON, OFFICE OF INNOVATIONS. >> GONZALEZ: I WAS LIKE, 
          YOU'RE NOT WITH LIBRARIES. >> NO, I'M NOT. 
          ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE VACANCIES OR HOW WE GOT TO THE POSITIONS. 
          >> GONZALEZ: I WAS CURIOUS IF IT STARTED FROM THERE, LET'S REMOVE THE VACANCIES FIRST AND THEN FROM THERE GO TO SENIORITY OR -- 
          >> NO, THE ANALYSIS STARTED WITH LOOKING AT THE CURRENT STATE, SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT SUKRIT WALKED THROUGH IN TERMS OF THE DIGITAL COLLECTION GOING UP AND THE PHYSICAL COLLECTION GOING DOWN. 
          THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT TREND GOING ON. WE COMPARED WHAT WAS HAPPENING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, IT WAS LEVELING OFF, BUT IT HAD COME WAY DOWN, THE PHYSICAL CIRCULATION SINCE 2019, PREPANDEMIC. 
          SO WE FELT THAT THAT WAS STABLE, THAT WAS A STABILIZED ASSUMPTION, THAT THAT NEED, THAT PHYSICAL NEED TO RESELVE AND CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT WAS NO LONGER THERE. AND THEN FROM THERE, WE ESTABLISHED A MINIMUM STAFFING NEED PER LIBRARY, THAT WAS STEP 2. 
          STEP 3, WE EXPLORED THE NUANCES BRANCH BY BRANCH, WE DID SITE VISITS, SURVEY, 71% OF THE STAFF RESPONDED. WE LOOKED AT WORKLOAD METRICS BY BRANCH, AND THAT ACTUALLY SHIFTED. SOME BRANCHES HAVE SLIGHTLY MORE WORKLOAD, SO THEY WOULD GET SLIGHTLY MORE STAFF. 
          IT WAS A VERY COMPLEX MODEL. I'M TRYING TO SIMPLIFY IT FOR YOU. WE EVEN LOOKED AT BUILDING LAYOUTS. 
          THERE IS A BUILDING GREATER NORTHWEST LIBRARY THAT IS AN L SHAPE AND SO IT HAS TWO SERVICE DESKS BY DESIGN, AND YOU HAVE TO STAFF THE SERVICE DESKS, SO THAT INCREASED THE MINIMUM STAFFING THAT THEY WOULD NEED FROM THE CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS. WE REVIEWED JOB DESCRIPTIONS, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE METRICS WERE GOING DOWN, BUT WE HAD TO GET VERY CLEAR ON WHICH JOBS THAT IMPACTED, AND THAT WAS THE CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS AND THE AIDES. AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S A RIGHT-SIZING BASED ON THE TRENDS THAT WE SAW AND THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL LIBRARIES. 
          >> GONZALEZ: DO THE NUANCES INCLUDE WHAT OTHER SERVICES THE LIBRARY PROVIDES FOR WARMING CENTERS, COOLING CENTERS? 
          >> YES, MA'AM. >> GONZALEZ: HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO, I GUESS, 
          WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED. >> YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO BRING UP THAT OBJECTIVE 
          SLIDE THAT SUKRIT WENT THROUGH. >> I USED YOUR TIME, 
          SORRY. >> MAYOR JONES: GGO AHEAD, PLEASE ANSWER THE 
          QUESTION. >> THE OBJECTIVE SLIDE, THAT WAS A STARTING POINT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO REDUCE HOURS, PROGRAMS, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE NO CHANGES TO LIBRARIANS OR THE LIBRARIAN ASSISTANTS, THOSE ARE -- I BELIEVE IT'S 84% OF PROGRAMMING IS DELIVERED BY LIBRARIANS, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY CHANGES TO THOSE SERVICES. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE LEARNED CENTERS AND THE TRAINING OFFICER. THOSE ALSO ARE NOT IMPACTED. 
          SO THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: IF YOU WOULD, IN CASE IT ANSWERS ANY OF MY COLLEAGUE'S QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OTHER TIMES WHERE SOME OF THESE LIBRARIES, IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT ON YOUR OBJECTIVE CHART BUT THEY DO FULFILL AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF AFTER SCHOOL CARE, HOW WAS THAT NUANCE 
          TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT YOUR ANALYSIS? >> THE LIBRARY NS IN THE 
          AFTER-SCHOOL CARE. >> MAYOR JONES: I GUESS JUST UNDERSTANDING THE NUANCED WORKLOAD OF THE BRANCHES BASED ON THAT COMMUNITY AND HOW THE 
          COMMUNITY USES THE LIBRARY. >> YES. 
          >> YES. WE LOOKED AGAINST -- ACROSS ALL THE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES OF THE LIBRARY -- SHOWS BY JOB TITLE HOW THE COVERAGE WORKS FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT DUTIES. SO THAT WAS CONSIDERED. AND THAT'S WHY WE ESTABLISHED FOUR LIBRARIAN POSITIONS AND THOSE OTHER BASIC 
          STANDARDS ACROSS THE SYSTEM. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. 
          [01:25:01]
          >> GO FORWARD ONE MORE. >> WALSH: THE STAFFING SCHEDULE. 
          IT'S THE NEXT SLIDE. >> THERE YOU GO. SO THIS LOOKED AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR EACH BRANCH, AND BY THE JOB TITLES AND THE JOB DUTIES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ROLE. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LIBRARY ASSISTANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT DELIVER PROGRAMS, THERE'S A MINIMUM STAFFING COMPLEMENT THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED TO COVER ALL 
          THOSE DUTIES. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO, PLEASE. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. I'M GOING TO START WITH THE LIBRARY. SUKRIT, I HONESTLY HAVE NOTHING TO SAY BUT THANK YOU. I MEAN, I THINK JO ANN, WITH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE LIBRARY LEADING THE WAY ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. 
          YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE CITY IS IN A POTION OF MAKING REALLY TOUGH CHOICES RIGHT NOW, BUT I FEEL THAT YOU ALL DID IT IN A STRATEGIC AND SMART WAY, LOOKING AT THE -- LOOKING AT THE BRANCH STAFFING MODEL OBJECTIVES, Y'ALL ARE MAKING SURE THERE'S NO IMPACT TO -- NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR RESIDENTS. I MEAN, WE -- RIGHT-SIZING IS NEVER A COMFORTABLE THING, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. 
          IT'S CALLED RIGHT-SIZING FOR A REASON. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THOSE TOUGH CHOICES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUKRIT, AS YOU NOTED, OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. 
          YOU KNOW, I MEAN -- AGAIN, THIS IS NOT -- THESE ARE NOT EASY DECISIONS TO MAKE, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE LIBRARY'S EFFORTS IN LEADING THE WAY FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND SHOWING US HOW IT'S DONE. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, TOO. WHEN YOU MENTIONED -- I THINK IT'S GOING FROM 39 VACANT -- OF THE 39 POSITIONS, 17 ARE VACANT, THE OTHER 22, THEY'RE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, RIGHT? THEY'RE MOVING TO OTHER POSITIONS IN THE LIBRARIES, THEIR PAY IS NOT GOING TO BE IMPACTED. WE ARE HANDLING THESE PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET LOWER PAY, AND I THINK THAT THAT, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST LEADING THE WAY, AGAIN, THROUGH -- WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES, AND SO I CAN'T THANK Y'ALL ENOUGH FOR -- EVEN THOUGH IT'S DIFFICULT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S TOUGH, FOR SHOWING US HOW IT'S DONE. AND, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY EMPLOYEES -- THE 22 THAT ARE IMPACTED ARE STILL GOING TO BE HANDLED APPROPRIATELY AND WITH CARE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU TO THE INNOVATION TEAM FOR HELPING OUT WITH THIS. 
          I MEAN, I THINK OUTLINING THE BRANCH STAFFING MODEL OBJECTIVES, MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS NO NEGATIVE RESIDENT IMPACT, THOSE ARE OUR NORTH STAR, AND YOU ALL MADE IT HAPPEN. AGAIN, DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT RIGHT-SIZING IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. 
          AND SO THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, AND I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I SAW THE FEES ON LOST BOOKS, I MIGHT NEED TO PAY UP SOME FEES. 
          THEN MOVING ON TO PARKS, HOMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ONGOING COLLABORATION ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 7. 
          I KNOW THAT WE ARE IMPROVEMENTS AT WOODLAWN LAKE, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT MY TEAM AND YOUR TEAM AND OTHERS, EVEN BEFORE THE BUDGET DEFICIT, LOOKED AT OTHER WAYS TO GET MONEY, RIGHT, SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAP INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, RIGHT? WE GOT THAT FEDERAL GRANT, WE TEAMED UP WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GOT THAT FEDERAL GRANT, SO WE'RE SO EXCITED FOR IT TO COME TO LIFE. 
          I KNOW THAT I PUSH ON Y'ALL, BECAUSE WE GET PUSHED ON FROM OUR RESIDENTS. SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE WOODLAWN LAKE, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO OTHERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S HELP AND COLLABORATION THERE. THANKITHANK Y'ALL FOR WORKING WITH US ON THE EGRET AND WATER FOUL MIGRATORY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. 
          THESE BIRDS HAVE BEEN PUSHED FROM THE ZOOS TO THE PARKS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, BUT THAT THEY STOP MESSING UP OUR OTHER PARKS. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS THERE. 
          AND ALSO, TOO, I WANTED TO MENTION ABOUT Y'ALL'S TEAM AND MY TEAM'S COLLABORATION WITH THE BEXAR AUDUBON ON REMOVING THE TEXAS CITY DESIGNATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL SO 
          [01:30:02]
WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A SAFE CITY FOR OUR MIGRATORY BIRDS. 
          EVERYONE KNOWS I'M A BIRD NERD, SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S HELP THERE. REALLY QUICK, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, SLIDE 7, THE OAK WILT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, THAT HAS BEEN HUGELY POPULAR WITH RESIDENTS. I THINK NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 7, BUT IN OTHER DISTRICTS, TOO, SO I'M GRAD WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, TO REPLACE LOST TREE CANOPY. WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND REALLY THE BIGGEST AND BEST WAY TO BATTLE THAT IS WITH MORE TREES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S HELP IN MAKING THAT IDEA COME TO LIFE. THAT WAS A RESIDENT IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST PUT POLICY BEHIND, AND SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN. 
          ALSO, TOO, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE TREE SURVIVAL RATE OF 81%. 
          THANK YOU FOR BASELINING THAT. I THINK I ASKED ABOUT IT 
          LAST YEAR. >> UH-HUH. >> GAVITO: BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE ELECTROJECTED TO GET SO MANY NEW TREES AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW TREES WE PLANTED ARE NOT FOR NAUGHT, THAT'S A DOUBLE NEGATIVE. BUT THEY WILL SURVIVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT GOOD BASELINE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT. 
          . LET'S SEE. GREENWAY TRAIL, WE ALL LOVE THEM. WE NEED THEM TO BE SAFE. CAN YOU REMIND ME AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS COMES UP A LOT AT MY COFFEES WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN, THAT IS A PARKS POLICE OR WHO'S MONITORING THE GREENWAY TRAILS? 
          >> PUBLIC SAFETY IS -- AND THOSE PARKS POLICE POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANT ARE CONVERTING OVER TO PD, BASICALLY. WE HAVE PRESENCE ON OUR TRAILS FOR BROAD AWARENESS DAILY WITH OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM, AS WELL AS OUR TRAIL STEWARDS, THEY SERVE AND OBSERVE AND REPORT FUNCTION, THEY DON'T SERVE PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THEY SEE SOMETHING, THE IDENTIFY THAT IS WE IDENTIFY MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND TRENDS OF ACTIVITY AND WE MEET MONTHLY WITH THE CAPTAIN AND SHARE INFORMATION. 
          BUT PUBLIC SAFETY IS >> GAVITO: THE POLICE. OKAY. 
          YEAH. I THINK THAT WE ALL LOVE OUR TRAILS, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, I MEAN, GREENSPACES ARE SO IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL HEALTH BUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE BIKES OR WALK OR WHATEVER. REALLY QUICK ON THE PLAYGROUND SHADE STRUCTURE SLIDE, HOW MANY MORE PLAYGROUNDS NEED TO 
          BE SHADED? >> IT IS A FIVE -- 
          WE'LL CONFIRM. >> GAVITO: OKAY. >> BUT WE DID IT WITH THE INTENTIONALITY OF AROUND A DOZEN A YEAR, I THINK A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE DID 13 JUST BASED ON THE PARK. THEY HAD TWO PLAYGROUNDS 
          BUT WE CAN GET THAT FINITE LIST FOR YOU. >> GAVITO: OKAY. 
          >> THAT MEANS YEAR 5 WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR '28 AND THAT WOULD BE THE 
          CONCLUSION OF THE PROGRAM. >> GAVITO: CAN WE MAKE SURE, HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A POLICY PROPOSAL OR ANYTHING, THAT WE NEVER BUILD A PLAYGROUND AGAIN WITHOUT A SHADE 
          STRUCTURE. >> 100%. THAT IS PART OF OUR DESIGN PALATE AND WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH MIKE'S TEAM TO DELIVER 
          THAT. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT LITTLE HANDS TO BE BURNING ON THE PLAYGROUND, SO, YEAH, HOWEVER WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT HAVING TO 
          HAVE THIS BACKLOG OF SHADE STRUCTURES. >> YES. 
          >> GAVITO: THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANKS SO MUCH, HOMER. 
          ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THANK YOU, BRENDA, FOR THE PRESENTATION. 
          SO I SEE THAT STRATEGIC ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT IS A BIG CHUNK OF THE BUDGET. 
          HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT OR HOW DO Y'ALL COLLABORATE WITH GREATER SA TX ON DOING -- ON GOING AFTER THESE LEADS? I UNDERSTAND THE LEAD GEN PART OF IT, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW LEFT HAND IS TALKING TO THE RIGHT 
          HAND. >> HICKS-SORENSON: SURE, ABSOLUTELY. 
          WE HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT STRATEGIC ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT BUDGET WHICH IS ONE OF OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS, BUT SPECIFICALLY WITH GREATER SA XT WE HAVE REGULAR WEEKLY, BIWEEKLY CHECK-INS, WE HAVE -- WHEN WE LOOK AT BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH, THEY FOCUS ON COMPANIES OVER 200 EMPLOYEES. 
          WEES A A DEPARTMENT, FOCUS ON THOSE BUSINESSES LESS THAN 200 EMPLOYEES. 
          AND THEN, AGAIN, THEY'RE THE LEAD GENERATION, SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING THE PROACTIVE MARKETING, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR INVESTMENT COVERS. THE HOSTING, THE SITE SELECTORS, ALL THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT GO IN THAT LEAD GENERATION TARGETING. 
          AND THEN ONCE THAT COMPANY IS IDENTIFIED, WE PARTNER WITH THEM AS PART OF THAT ASPECT, AND THEN, OF COURSE, ANY CONNECTION WITH THE CITY, WE'RE THE ONE THAT FACILITATES THAT. SO THEY'RE THE ONES KIND OF MAKING THE COMICIAL CONTACT, GROUPING THE -- INITIAL CONTACT, GROOMING 
          THE DETAILS. >> HICKS-SORENSON: YEAH, NOW, THROUGH OUR 
          [01:35:04]
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ACTIVITIES HAVE A NUMBER -- WHEN WE TRAVEL FOR OUR SISTER CITIES, THERE'S ALSO ALWAYS THAT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT, SOMETIMES WE DO THOSE IN JOINT VISIT WITH GREATER SA TX AND OTHER TIMES IT MIGHT BE WHERE WE'RE THE LEAD, BUT THAT'S THE EXCEPTION TO THAT LEAD GENERATION. I ONLY HAVE 37 SECONDS LEFT. 
          JOJOSEPHINE, YOUR TEAM CONTINUES TO BE AMAZING. WE GET NOTHING BUT COMPLIMENTS, AND WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM, Y'ALL FIND A SOLUTION SO QUICKLY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING A PHENOMENAL 
          TEAM. >> VALENCIA: THANK YOU. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. 
          THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANKS. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, 
          PLEASE. >> CASTILLO: I'LL BEGIN WITH PARKS. 
          I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TEAM, HOMER, FOR ASSURING THAT DISTRICT 
          FIVE PARKS. >> CONTENT (MICHAEL): TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          GRATEFUL TO SEE  THAT BENAVIDEZ PARK IS PROPOSED TO HAVE A SHADE STRUCTURE OVER THE BASKETBALL COURTS. DURING THE -- FOLLOWING THE STORM, MY TEAM AND I WERE OUT IN THE AREA AND IN SPITE OF -- AUDIO] -- NEAR CASIANO, THE KIDS WERE OUT ON THE ALL WHEEL PARK, ALL WHEELS. SOME OF THEM BAREFOOT, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WITH HOW HOT IT WAS, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING THAT PARK TO USE, SO IT'S REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE THERE. 
          PLEASED TO SEE THAT HOPEFULLY SOON WE'LL BE HEARING BACK IF TEAM RECEIVES SUPPORT FOR HIGHLIGHT MARY ANN WHO'S TEAM -- BECAUSE SHE'S OUR LIBRARY TRUSTEE, BUT HAS BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR CASIANO, THANK YOU FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARKS TEAM AND THE CASIANO IMPROVEMENTS. I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS PARTICULARLY AROUND THE COMMUNITY SERVICE LEVEL ADJUSTMENT. WILL THESE ADJUSTMENT IMPACT THE SAN JUAN COMMUNITY'S [INDISCERNIBLE] OR SONY MELENDEZ? 
          >> NO, I MEAN, BOTTOM LINE, NO. SHORT ANSWER. 
          WE'VE  ABSORBED THE DUTIES OF THAT POSITION AND WE ARE WITHIN ACCEPTABLE RANGE FOR MEETING OUR SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS. 
          >> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANKS FOR THAT. IN TERMS OF THE URBAN TREE CANOPY, I KNOW THERE WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM WHERE PARKS WAS CONNECTING FOLKS WITH TREE ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY SENIORS. 
          MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S NOT FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RECONSIDER AGAIN, GIVEN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM, UNDERSTANDING HOW OVERGROWN TREES WERE A PRIMARY REASON IN WHICH IT TOOK CPS SOME TIME TO GET ONTO SPECIFIC POWER LINES. 
          I THINK THERE'S VALUE IN US INVESTING IN THAT TREE PROGRAM. 
          >> YES. AND -- 
          >> MCCARY: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, DAVID MCCARY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL LOOK AT IT FROM THE TREE MITIGATION FUND FOR THIS YEAR TO SEE IF WE CAN STILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 
          THE FUNDS WERE SPENT FOR A REASON, SO WE'LL FOLLOW-UP ON THAT FOR 
          YOU. >> CASTILLO: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. MCCARY. 
          THANK YOU, HOMER. LASTLY, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF THE ADJUSTED FEES, I UNDERSTAND WHY THESE ARE NECESSARY; HOWEVER, JUSTIN ON MY TEAM OFTEN RENTS -- HIM AND SOME FRIENDS AT WOODLAWN PARK, SO, AGAIN, JUST -- I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED. 
          JUSTIN'S ARGUING WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GDP IN SAN ANTONIO IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES THAT WE'RE NOT FAIRING AS WELL AS OTHERS, SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS DO RENT OUT ROSEDALE AND WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS. BUT, AGAIN, UNDERSTANDING WITH THE STORM, AGAIN, ROSEDALE, LIKE THE ROOF'S FLOWN OFF, THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED TO BE MADE THERE. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS 
          FOR PARKS. THANK YOU, HOMER. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> CASTILLO: I DID WANT TO MOVE OVER TO LIBRARIES WITH SUKRIT. 
          JUST WANTED TO THANK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR JUST THE PRESENTATIONS. 
          CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF THE CIRCULATION AND THE DIGITAL KIOSK, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, ESSENTIALLY IF SOMEONE USES THE DIGITAL KIOSK TO SELF CHECKOUT, THAT IS NOT BEING COUNTED AS CIRCULATION. 
          >> GOSWAMI: THAT IS BEING AS CIRCULATION, BUT IT'S NOT BEING COUNTED AS 
          PHYSICALLY HANDLING OF THAT CIRCULATION. >> CASTILLO: AND I GUESS 
          [01:40:01]
MY QUESTION OF THAT, I WAS TALKING TO MY TEAM ABOUT THAT, I WAS LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I DO, TOO. OFTENTIMES I GO PUT A BOOK ON HOLD, SO SOMEONE IS GOING TO GRAB THE BOOK FROM THE SHELF, PUT IT ON THE HOLD SHELF, AND THEN I PICK IT UP AND I TAKE IT TO THE KIOSK, SO IS THAT BEING COUNTED AS -- THAT IT'S BEING TOUCHED AS CIRCULATION, BECAUSE SOMEONE DID PUT IT ON THE 
          HOLD SHELF AND THEN I TOOK IT TO THE KIOSK. >> GOSWAMI: SO THAT DOES REQUIRE A BIGGER ANSWER, LARGER ANSWER. IN ONE WAY, WE ARE NOT COUNTING THAT TOWARDS LIKE HANDLING OF OUR CHECKED OUT ITEM, BUT DURING THE PROCESS, THE WAY I EXPLAINED IN MY PRESENTATION, THAT PART WAS CONSIDERED WHEN IT CAME TO WORKLOAD FOR OUR LIBRARY AIDES AND CIRC 
          ATTENDANTS. >> CASTILLO: AND WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, I HAVE GREAT CONCERN WITH THESE KIOSKS BEING IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES IF WE ARE INNOVATING OUR CITY EMPLOYEES HAVING A JOB. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S AN OPTION, BUT IF THESE ARE GOING TO THEN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CIRCULATION, I WANT TO CAUTION US HAVING THESE PLACED IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS. I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE LAYOUT OF THE NEW STAFFING MAKEUP THAT YOU ALL INTEND TO PROPOSE, BUT, AGAIN, I JUST HAVE CONCERNS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE REPLACING EMPLOYEES WITH TECHNOLOGY. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED, WHICH COUNCIL DISTRICTS DO THEY LIVE IN? BECAUSE, AGAIN, THESE ARE LIKE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE UNEMPLOYED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONNECT TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, SO ON AND SO FORTH, SO THERE'S GREATER IMPACT BEYOND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MAKING BUDGET EFFICIENCIES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION FROM CITY STAFF, IF POSSIBLE, SO THAT WAY OUR TEAM KNOWS HOW TO BEST SUPPORT OUR CONSTITUENTS IF SOME OF THOSE LIBRARY STAFFS ARE DISTRICT FIVE 
          RESIDENTS. >> GOSWAMI: THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT.  AND, OF COURSE, AGAIN, WANTED TO THANK MARY ANN FOR REPRESENTING DISTRICT FIVE AS THE D5 TRUSTEE, ALWAYS INVOLVED, ENGAGED, ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND MAKING SURE D5 RECEIVES THE CARE IN TERMS OF OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC PARKS. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DID WANT TO BRIEFLY MOVE ON TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU, BRENDA, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON THE PLACEMAKING WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- ACTION COMMUNITY, RIGHT? IT WAS GREAT HEARING FROM MANY D5 PARTICIPANTS PITCH THEIR PROPOSAL TO ME, AND THERE WAS JUST SO MANY GREAT IDEAS, SO JUST GREAT TO SEE HOW YOU ARE FACILITATING THAT WORK AND SEEING THE IMPACT, AND I THINK ABOUT THE QUINTANA COMMUNITY AND HOW THAT'S REALLY EMPOWERED COMMUNITY TO TAP INTO SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN POTENTIALLY EXPLORE A TIRZ IN THE AREA AND HOW TO JUST, AGAIN, RIGHT, TAKE COMMUNITY CONTROL, BUT, AGAIN, WITH TOOLS PROVIDED BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EDIF FUND, I UNDERSTAND AND I VALUE THE IMPACT OF THOSE LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS, RIGHT, THE TOYOTAS AND JUST THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER, BUT I ALSO WANT US TO HONE IN ON SOME OF THOSE MORE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISIONS, LIKES, FOR EXAMPLE, ON QUINTANA, I'M THINKING OF JAIME'S PLACE AND HIS VISION FOR COMMERCE AND TURNING THAT INTO A MUSIC CORRIDOR, AND THEN OF COURSE THE SOUTH COLORADO CORRIDOR IN DISTRICT FIVE WHICH CONNECTS ALL THE BRIDGES OF DISTRICT FIVE, THERE'S A COMMUNITY VISION OF HOW TO WEAVE IN THE NONPROFIT CORRIDOR, THE BUSINESS CORRIDOR, COMMUNITY CORRIDOR, SO JUST UNDERSTANDING HOW WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS TO SUPPORT MORE COMMUNITY VISION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE TO THAT, AND I KNOW WE'LL BE TALKING AS A COUNCIL ON THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, SO LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY THERE. 
          >> HICKS-SORENSON: YES, MA'AM. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRIEFING YOU AT THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ON 
          INCENTIVES SEPTEMBER 22ND. >> CASTILLO: YES. 
          I KNOW MY TEAM HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL. 
          AND, AGAIN, LASTLY, SOLID WASTE, WHEN I WAS HAVING CONVERSATION WITH MY TEAM AND YOU ALL KNOW -- ARE WELL AWARE THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR CONSTITUENTS REALLY VALUE YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE WORK OF SOLID WASTE, PARTICULARLY, AGAIN, AFTER THE STORM, OUR CONSTITUENTS -- MY CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND JUST HOW HARD Y'ALL WORK AND HOW RESPONSIVE YOU ARE, AND JUST THE NEED TO HAVE PATIENCE AT THIS TIME AS FOLKS GO OUT IN THE FIELD AND PICK UP THE DEBRIS. 
          SO JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK AND MY TEAM REALLY VALUES THE ECO COLLAR PROGRAM AND THE APPRENTICESHIP  PROGRAMS THAT YOU'VE CREATED SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS TO EXPAND THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, THERE'S SO MUCH VALUE IN THAT TEAM SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND BLING MORE FOLKS ALONG AND UP THROUGH THE CITY. 
          [01:45:02]
          >> VALENCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S EASY WHEN I HAVE A 
          GREAT TEAM BEHIND ME. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK 
          YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL PICK UP RIGHT THERE, JOSEPHINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM'S WORK ESPECIALLY OVER THIS PAST COUPLE WEEKS. OUR DISTRICT WAS HIT VERY HARD AND Y'ALL HAVE BEEN OUT THERE CONSTANTLY PICKING THINGS UP AND NOT MISSING A BEAT WITH YOUR REGULAR TRASH, RECYCLE, ORGANICS PICKUP. AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE TARP IT ADS BECAUSE WE ARE PLAGUED IN DISTRICT FOUR WITH LITTER AND DUMPING AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME Y'ALL TOOK TO DRIVE OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADD TO IT. 
          IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR FEEL FOR GETTING OUT THERE AND DOING IT. THERE'S A HIGH SATISFACTION FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. ANY TIME WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO SOLID WASTE, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN THERE TO HELP US AND IT'S MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY SEE A MATTRESS OR SOMETHING THAT GETS TOSSED AND THROWN AND FOR Y'ALL TO GO AND PICK IT UP WITHIN HOURS SOMETIMES, IT'S JUST AMAZING FOR PEOPLE. SO T THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE CREWS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING 24/7 ON THAT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THAT GUY, THAT ROBLES GUY A LOT OF HARD WORK AND DON'T GO 
          EASY ON HIM. >> VALENCIA: OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. WE'LL START WITH PARKS. 
          DISTRICT, AND SOMETIMES THAT'S BEEN ON SATURDAY MORNINGS. 
          I KNOW WE HAVE ONE COMING UP THIS SATURDAY AT 9:00 A.M., SO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SARA, TOO, FOR PARTICIPATING AND NIKKI, TOO. 
          AND THOSE MEAN A LOT TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY GET TO WALK THE WHOLE PARK WITH US AND TALK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE ISSUE THAT COMES UP. AND IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR ME TO GET OUT THERE, TOO, TO SEE WHAT INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE GOING FORWARD AT THE PARKS, AND I THINK THERE'S -- WE'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL -- THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR INVESTMENTS ON, SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL JUST GOING EVERY TIME WE ASK AND SCHEDULING THOSE. AND CAN WE GO TO THE GREENWAY TRAILS SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I LOVE OUR GREENWAY TRAILS AND I'M SO SAD THAT D4 HAS THE LARGEST GAP OF ANY OTHER PART OF THE TRAILS SYSTEM. 
          AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL BE PART OF THE BOND, BECAUSE I KNOW WE DID A DESIGN PROJECT, RIGHT, IN '17 FOR THAT LARGE SEGMENT RIGHT THERE, 
          RIGHT? >> ACTUALLY, COUNCILMAN, THAT WAS -- IN THE '22 BOND, THERE WAS DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE TO DESIGN THAT SEVEN-MILISH CONNECTOR, SO THAT IS EFFECTIVELY NEEDS FUNDING FOR 
          CONSTRUCTION. >> MUNGIA: YEAH. >> TEEING IT UP FOR A SHOVEL-READY PROJECT. DESIGN IS NEARLY COMPLETE AND THAT IS A MAJOR 
          CONNECTOR TO THE RING AS YOU POINTED OUT. >> MUNGIA: ABSOLUTELY. 
          THAT'S A HUGE PRIORITY FOR US ON D4 TO GET THAT ON THE NEXT BOND, SO THAT'S A TOP PARKS PRIORITY FOR US ALSO. AND THEN IF YOU CAN JUST BRIEFLY WALK THROUGH -- AT THE END OF THE PEARSALL PARK, YOU SAW THAT TRAIL. IF YOU CAN PUT THAT BACK UP THERE. 
          AT THE END OF PEARSALL PARK THERE, YOU SEE THAT TRAIL, THAT IS -- IS THAT THE COUNTY -- I CAN'T SEE THE COLOR REAL WELL. WHAT IS THAT STATUS? 
          >> SOUTH OF PEARSALL, THAT IS ONE OF THE PIECES THAT IS PART OF THAT 17 MILES THAT WOULD NEED TO BE FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION. 
          >> MUNGIA: SOUTH OF PEARSALL? IT'S NOT YELLOW. 
          WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ME. >> I WILL FOLLOW UP. 
          I'M LOOKING HERE, BUT EFFECTIVELY -- WE'LL FOLLOW UP, COUNCILMAN. 
          >> MUNGIA: OKAY. >> MAYBE A BETTER VISUAL, TOO. 
          >> MUNGIA: YEAH, AND THAT'S A GOOD LINK FROM QUINTANA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HIGHWAY 16. AND I KNOW MR. RANDALL ON OUR LINEAR CREEKS BOARD IS REAL -- A BIG ADVOCATE FOR THAT SEGMENT RIGHT THERE AND HAS A LOT -- HE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT ALSO. SO I'D LIKE TO KIND OF GAUGE THAT AND SEE HOW WE CAN ALSO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. WE'LL PULL UP A MEMO AND GET A ZOOMED IN OF THE 
          SEGMENT. >> MUNGIA: SURE. THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE THAT. AND ALSO WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE UDC AND THE TREE MITIGATION FUND, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKING AND PERHAPS A CHANGE WE CAN DISCUSS AT PCDC IS REEVALUATING THE WATER USAGE RULE, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY STRICT RULE ON ESTABLISHING TREES AND HOW OFTEN -- HOW LONG YOU CAN WATER THE TREE FOR ONCE IT'S FIRST 
          ESTABLISHED AT A PARK. >> CORRECT. SO ON MAINTENANCE ACCEPTABLE UNDER CURRENT CHAPTER 35 FOR THE THREE-YEAR ESTABLISHMENT 
          OF TREES PLANTED WITH THE FUND. >> MUNGIA: UH-HUH. 
          >> AND SO THERE WOULD BE OPPORTUNITY. I KNOW AMINE AND HIS TEAM WILL BE GOING THROUGH THAT UDC UPDATE  SO WE CAN EVALUATE APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDED EDITS TO THAT SPECIFIC PIECE OF THE CODE. 
          >> MUNGIA: I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BECAUSE ARNOLD PARK, 
          [01:50:01]
WHICH WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THIS SATURDAY, IN THE YEARS PAST WE HAD A GOOD TREE LINE OUT THERE PLANTED, AND THEN A LOT OF THEM DIED AND I THINK PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO IRRIGATION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THAT'S THE RULE, IS HOW LONG YOU CAN HAVE A TREE ON IRRIGATED WATER FOR. 
          I THINK THERE'S MAYBE SOME THINGS TO WORK OUT TO INCREASE THE RETENTION RATE OF TREES JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ESTABLISHED FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF -- WORKFORCE FOR THE -- SO, AGAIN, GLAD TO SEE MOST OF THE READY TO -- THE SITES FOR JOBS OR THE 10 SITE ASSESSMENTS, EIGHT OF THE 10 ARE IN DISTRICT FOUR, I CAN TELL BY THE MAP, SO I'M VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT. 
          SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE ASSESSMENTS, THOSE 10 SLIDES, ARE YOU LOOKING AT VERY SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, TRYING TO GET THERE? LIKE ARE YOU -- DO YOU HAVE JOBS IN MIND ALREADY, WHAT ARE YOU 
          KIND OF THINKING WITH THOSE  10 SITES? >> WITH THIS PARTICULAR ASSESSMENT, IT WAS REALLY MORE BROADLY DEFINED RATHER THAN SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES, BUT IT WAS THE CAPITAL-INTENSIVE TYPE INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS THE LABOR-INTENSIVE. SO ALL 10 SITES WERE RUN THROUGH THAT M MODELING AND THEN IDENTIFIED WHERE THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENTS FOR EACH SITE BASED ON THOSE DIFFERENCES -- AND THOSE NEEDS WERE DIFFERENT. 
          >> MUNGIA: EXCELLENT. YOU KNOW, I'VE -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST ABOUT THE LARGE ATTRACTION WE ALREADY HAVE TO ADVANCE MANUFACTURING, SO TRYING TO SEE WHAT OTHER MAYBE SHIFTS WE CAN MAKE IN THE SPACE PARTICULARLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE. SO THAT WE JUST HAVE A BROADER, GENERAL WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, NOT PRIMARILY JUST THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          AND ALSO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S POINT, ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK ON QUINTANA, I JUST WORRY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A MEDIA, AND WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION OF HOW IT EXISTS NOW, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND SO I JUST WONDER HOW WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE ARE HELPING BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A DEDICATED MEDIA JUST SERVICING THAT AREA, WHICH I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER BDOS ON THEIR CAPACITIES  ON THE WEST SIDE AND EAST SIDE, BUT FOR THE SOUTH SIDE, FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOT HAD AN OPERATING BDO. SO IN MY MIND, WE'RE MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF THOSE THINGS, NOT THE BIG CORPORATIONS, A LOT OF THE BIGGER FOLKS YOU'RE GETTING HERE WITH SATX ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDES AND THAT'S FANTASTIC, BUT TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALLER BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND EXPAND BUT MAYBE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT RESOURCE AVAILABLE. YOU TOPT HAVE TO HAVE A RESPONSE NOW, BUT IN THE UPCOMING YEAR HOW WE WORK ON THAT. AND THEN MAYBE YOU CAN ALSO GET ME DATA ON THE OUTCOMES OF LIFTFUND, SO I KNOW THE 0% INTEREST LOAN IS FANTASTIC, THAT'S WONDERFUL. WE NEED MORE OF THAT, BUT I'M ALSO CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE THOSE HAVE LANDED. SO OBVIOUSLY ALL PARTS OF TOWN NEED THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LEAVING OUT POCKETS OF COMMUNITIES THAT CANNOT ACCESS THAT. BECAUSE I KNOW THE FUNDS ARE VERY LIMITED AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, APPLICATION BASES AND FOLKS GET DENIED ALL THE TIME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING FOLKS UP FOR SUCCESS TO GET THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS WHEN THEY CAN. 
          >> HICKS-SORENSON: YEAH. SO WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT FULL LIST AND THE MAP OF WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE LOCATED. 
          AND THEN AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR '27, WE'VE ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT AN ASSESSMENT ON THAT AND ARE ENHANCING THE CONTRACT WITH LIFTFUND FOR SPECIFIC TARGETING OF MARKETING SO THAT WE ARE, AGAIN, CONTINUING TO 
          FOCUS ON THOSE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. >> MUNGIA: ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND I IMAGINE THAT IF SOMEONE GETS THAT, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO 
          BACK AND GET IT AGAIN, RIGHT? >> HICKS-SORENSON: SO THERE'S A TWO-YEAR LIMITEDTATION HISTORICALLY ON BEING ABLE TO GET IT. AND THEN, AGAIN, FOCUS WITH A LOT OF THE WORK THAT IS DONE IS TRYING TO GET THOSE BUSINESSES WHERE THEY CAN GO TO A 
          TRADITIONAL LENDER. >> MUNGIA: SURE. I'S HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE LIKE IF YOU CAN NOTE ON THE LIST WHO'S GOTTEN IT MORE THAN ONCE. 
          THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> HICKS-SORENSON: SURE. WE CAN FIND THAT. 
          >> MUNGIA: LIBRARY YEAH, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO ANDREA WHO REPRESENTS US ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THANK YOU TO CORTEZ LIBRARY AND JOHNSON -- ACTUALLY, THEY HAVE A GREAT TEAM OVER THERE. BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THE MAYOR BROUGHT UP EARLIER, AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM SOME OF THE STAFF, RIGHT, AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE E-MAILING US ABOUT THE LIBRARIES, BECAUSE I THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CUTTING, THIS HAS GOTTEN THE MOST ATTENTION AND RESPONSES FROM RESPECTS IS MAYBE SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR ROLE, RIGHT? AND I THINK THERE'S PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, WELL, THEY NEED TO COME BACK AND KIND OF DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ON THEIR ROLE, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP 
          [01:55:04]
ACCOMMODATE, IF THEY'RE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. GREAT EXAMPLE, TOBIN LIBRARY, WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND IN MIDDLE SCHOOL OVER THERE, A LOT OF KIDS FROM GARNER WENT NEXT DOOR TO TOBIN, RIGHT,  AND THEY WERE AN UNOFFICIAL SITTER, RIGHT? AND SO INSTEAD OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE STAFF ARE GOING BACK DOWN TO WHAT'S JUST THE BARE MINIMUM WORK CATEGORY IS, HOW ARE WE KEEPING THEM ENHANCED, RIGHT? AND SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, HOW DO WE HELP THEM STAY ABOVE AND BEYOND, BECAUSE THEY ARE HELPING THE COMMUNITY WITH MORE THAN JUST SHELF FING AND DOING THOSE THINGS. SO HOWEVER WE CAN HELP KEEP THOSE, I'D BE LOOKING INTO THAT. THANK YOU. 
          FINGZ. >> MAY. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, PLEASE. 
          >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT BUDGET. 
          HOW WE USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND HOW WE MAINTAIN SERVICES OUR RESPECTS RELY UPON IS WHAT WE FACE TODAY. I BELIEVE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CITY COUNCIL IS TO APPROACH THE PROCESS WITH DISCIPLINE, TRANSPARENCY AND WILLINGNESS TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AND I APPRECIATE SOME OF YOUR ANSWERS HERE, BECAUSE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED BY MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IT FALLS BACK ON US AS COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES TO DO SOME OF THE WORK, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING GRACIOUS AND NOT SAYING THAT OUT LOUD, BUT I WILL. 
          WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE REDUCING, WHAT THOSE REDUCTIONS MEAN FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND WHETHER WE ARE SOLVING A PROBLEM TODAY ONLY TO CREATE A LARGER PROBLEM TOMORROW. FOR ME, THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING FOR OR AGAINST CUTS, IT'S ABOUT MAKING RESPONSIBLE CHOICES. 
          SO ERIK, THESE PRESENTATIONS THAT THESE DIRECTORS GAVE TODAY, THIS IS BASED ON THE BUDGET YOU PRESENTED TO US. 
          >> WALSH: YES, MA'AM. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO GO -- WE CAN TALK AND SAY WE'D LIKE THIS AND WE'D LIKE THAT, BUT UNLESS WE'RE WILLING TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT VARIABLE RATE, IT'S JUST TALK. SO I, AGAIN, WILL BE SUPPORTING A VARIABLE RATE TAX RATE INCREASE AS YOU PRESENTED. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO GO HIGHER, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THE COUNCIL HAS AN APPETITE FOR THAT, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SEE THINGS RESTORED. 
          BUT WITH THAT, I'LL BEGIN WITH THE LIBRARIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT. I'LL HAVE YOU COME UP IN A LITTLE WHILE. I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT. 
          WE ARE INVESTING MORE IN MORE THAN JUST BOOKS AND MATERIALS. 
          WE ARE INVESTING IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN, TECHNOLOGY AND RESILIENCY HUBS FOR MY AREA. WE ARE INVESTING IN PEOPLE'S FUTURES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY GO TO FILL OUT THEIR READY TO WORK APPLICATIONS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE BEST BROADBAND IN DISTRICT THREE. SO I FEEL THAT YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCING ARE ADMIRABLE. 
          I DO -- WOULD LIKE THE 22 POSITIONS FOLLOWED THAT WILL NO LONGER BE AT THE LIBRARY AS THEY MOVE TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD REMAIN IN THE CITY, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WITH SOME OF THE INCREASES YOU'VE PUT FORWARD IN CHARGING $20 FOR NONRESPECTS AND OTHER COSTS LIKE THAT, THAT WE'LL SEE MORE INCREASE -- AUDIO] -- NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HAVE THAT PERSONAL TOUCH AS PEOPLE USE THE TECHNOLOGY AND CHECK OUT. SO HOW DO WE COUNT IT, BECAUSE THERE IS A HUMAN ELEMENT SOMEWHERE, BECAUSE I'VE SIT AND TRIED TO SCAN A BOOK THREE TIMES AT THOSE SCANNERS, AND THEN IT'S -- IT'S A LIBRARIAN OR A LIBRARIAN ASSISTANT THAT TELLS ME "FLIP IT AROUND,," SO EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT TOUCH IT, IT IS THAT PERSONAL WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE LIBRARY AND YOU CHECK OUT THAT I WANT TO SEE THESE POSITIONS RESTORED. WHEN WE ARE IN A SITUATION THAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU HAVE LIBRARY DONE, YOU HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS BUDGET. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          I -- OUR LIBRARY IS CRITICAL. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PARTICIPATION AS THE BUDGET GETS MORE DIFFICULT, AS PEOPLE LOOK FOR MORE PLACES TO SPEND COOL AFTERNOONS THAT ISN'T A MOVIE THEATER, AS WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND DO MORE PROGRAMMING AND YOU CAN BET THAT DISTRICT THREE IS GOING TO TRY AND DO MORE PROGRAMMING AT THEIR LIBRARIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET MORE PEOPLE IN THERE AND WE CAN COME TO THE NEXT BUDGET AND GET THOSE POSITIONS RESTORED. 
          SO FROM THE TWO PEOPLE, WHEREVER THEY ARE, THAT ARE MOVING WITHIN THE CITY OR WITHIN THE LIBRARY, I HOPE THEY STICK WITH THIS IN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO INVEST BACK SO THAT WE 
          [02:00:01]
CAN -- WE CAN INCREASE THOSE SERVICES. SO THANK YOU, LIBRARY, FOR THAT. I WANT TO TAKE JUST A BRIEF MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT SOLID WASTE BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE VERY LONG. 
          BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND EVERYTHING. 
          THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU, AND DAVID, YOU MAY NEED TO ANSWER, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN MAYBE GET CENTRO TO TAKE OVER OUR DOWNTOWN TRASH OPERATIONS, IF IT'S MORE COST EFFICIENT SO WE CAN STICK TO THE STREETS OF 
          THE NEIGHBORHOODS? >> VALENCIA: THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A CONVERSATION WE'D HAVE TO HAVE WITH DOWNTOWN OPERATIONS AS WELL. 
          >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. >> VALENCIA: WE SUPPORT CENTRO AS WELL, AND THEY SUPPORT US. THERE IS SOME COLLABORATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A CONTRACT. IF THEY SEE THE BASKETS FULL, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'LL PULL IT AND LEAVE IT TO THE SIDE, BUT THAT 
          IS WHAT -- A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. 
          YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. YOU KNOW, WE'VE -- I'VE TALKED ABOUT MY IDEAS OF, LIKE, NEIGHBOR DUMP DAYS, WE CAN TAKE EVERYTHING TO THE DUMP ON A CERTAIN NEIGHBORS, Y'ALL HELP ME WITH THE DIAL A TRAILER, THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. AND I THINK THE INVESTMENT IN THE TRANSFER STATION IS GOING TO BE KEY IN MAKE K SURE WE CONTINUE WITH THE SERVICES. SO THANK WITH THE TIME I HAVE LEFT, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS TO PARKS AND REC. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS IN TERMS OF LONG-TERM FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY, WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO DO ITS JOB AND IT'S NOT JUST RECRUITING COMPANIES, IT REALLY IS COORDINATING WITH ALL OF OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. 
          IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING WHO IS STILL HERE, WHO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UP AND MAKE STRONG, WHICH IS OUR TOYOTAS, OUR HOLTS, USAAS. I KEEP ON THINKING OF ONLY -- OUR BROOKS, OUR SOLAR. I KEEP ON THINKING OF SOUTHERN SECTORS. SWBC, LET ME GET TO ANOTHER SIDE OF TOWN. 
          WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE BUSINESS RETENTION MATTERS AND Y'ALL ARE WORKING ON THAT. OUR SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM, AS WE WORK ON THAT, I THINK THAT'S KEY TOO. BUT WE NEED TO BEGIN, WHICH Y'ALL HAVE STARTED WITH GREATER:SATX, WITH SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AND WITH THE CHAMBERS AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR TRANSITION TO LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE GLOBALLY AND WHERE WE ARE COMPETING GLOBALLY. I SEE SHERRY HERE AND A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN THAT SOFT, HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING? REMEMBER ME SORT OF SITUATION . AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPANIES HERE THAT HAVE NOW PARTNERED AND PARENT UNDER A GLOBAL COMPANY THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY. BECAUSE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE KEY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE NEED TO CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE PRIVATE INVESTMENT CAN OCCUR. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ATTRACTIVE, NOT JUST THROUGH INCENTIVES. I THINK THAT IS WHY READY TO WORK HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN GETTING SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES HERE. BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM OF SKILLED LABORERS AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT AND MAINTAIN THAT AND KEEP PROJECT QUEST AS A GENERAL FUND LINE ITEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. 
          BECAUSE THIS IS HOW WE GET OUT OF THE DEFICIT. BY BRINGING MORE JOBS, MORE CAREERS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WITH THAT SAID, AS WE GROW AND AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, HOMER, I NEED FOR YOU TO GIVE US -- BOTANICAL GARDENS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF CITY PROPERTIES THAT HAVE LEASES. 
          I KNOW MISSION CONCEPCION PARK, A LOT OF OUR PARKS ARE LEASED UP, FIVE DIAMONDS. 
          WE NEED THAT LIST AND ROSTER TO SEE WHERE ARE THOSE CONTRACTS, WHAT IS OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND DO WE NEED TO, IN THE FUTURE, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE CHARGING AND ASKING THEM TO DO TO MAINTAIN THAT FIELD AND TO ACTIVATE THAT SPACE. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT THAT -- I AM THANKFUL FOR EVERYBODY WHO ACTIVATES A PARK SPACE WITHIN DISTRICT 3. IF NOT, THAT WOULD BE LEFT FOR YOU GUYS TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF AND MAINTAIN AND PROGRAM THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE VALUE THAT WE HAVE IN SOME OF THESE PARK SPACES AND SEE. AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE --N WITH THE BOTANICAL GARDENS. 
          BUT AGAIN, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION THAT SITS ON SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES -- Y'ALL KNOW ME. I LOVE OLD THINGS BUT I 
          [02:05:05]
DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SAVE THEM ALL -- IS WHAT MAKES IT SO PROBLEMATIC FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN. WE NEED TO STOP JUST LOOKING AT ONE AND WE NEED TO LOOK BIGGER PICTURE AT CITYWIDE WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'RE LEASING OUT TO SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SPORTS GROUPS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT. I LOVE WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AT THE PARKS. 
          I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PICKWELL, WHAT WE HAVE COMING AT MISSION MARQUEE AND NEAR MISSION LIBRARY, IT'S A WHOLE NEW KIND OF -- IT'S GOING TO BE ITS OWN LITTLE AMUSEMENT PARK BUT BY THE FREE FOR THE CITY. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THE TEAM HAS BEEN AMAZING AT EVERY OPENING THAT WE HAVE HAD, WHETHER IT'S IF SKATE PARK OR THE DOG PARK. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S EFFORTS BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK BIGGER PICTURE AT WHERE OUR DOLLARS ARE GOING. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN, PLEASE. 
          >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF WHO PRESENTED TODAY AND FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO PREPARE THIS BUDGET AND GO THROUGH THE FINE DETAILS. I WANT TO THANKS PARKS, HOMER FOR ALL THAT YOU DO YEAR-ROUND AND ALL THE SUPPORT. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SOLID WASTE, THE SAME TO YOU. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE HOT SHOT CREW WHO ALLOWED US TO DO A RIDE ALONG AND A VIDEO WITH THEM THIS SUMMER. IT WAS REALLY HOT. 
          JUST ANOTHER REMINDER OF WHY SOLID WASTE, WITHOUT Y'ALL, OUR CITY WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR EDD AND LIBRARY. 
          FOR BRENDA, I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME FLOWERS FOR THE HARD WORK YOU ARE DOING, YOU AND YOUR TEAM. MY ONLY QUESTION WAS -- IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE YOUR WHEELHOUSE. BUT THINKING ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS FEES THAT WE'RE REVIEWING RIGHT NOW TO INCREASE, I THINK THEY ARE METRO HEALTH AND DSD, PRIMARILY. HAVE YOU HEARD FROM ANYBODY IN THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY -- OR HAVE YOU DONE AN ANALYSIS ON WHAT THAT IMPACT WOULD LOOK ON 
          THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM IN TERMS OF FEES INCREASING? >> TIMELINE. TYPICALLY WHAT WE WOULD PREFER TO DO IS GO TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO DO THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF 
          COMMERCE AND SO FORTH TO GET THAT FEEDBACK. >> GALVAN: WHAT'S TYPICALLY BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM SMALL BUSINESSES? FROM SBAC OR ANYBODY ELSE, SBEDA, ET CETERA, ABOUT WHAT FEES HAVE DONE TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY? WE KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT BUT WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE LARGER ECOSYSTEM HERE IN OUR 
          COMMUNITY? >> AT THIS POINT IN TIME IT'S BEEN VERY ANECDOTAL AS OUR BUSINESS OUTREACH SPECIALISTS ARE OUT. WE WOULD HAVE TO DO MORE FOLLOW UP TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC RESPONSE. 
          >> GALVAN: I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, BRENDA. 
          I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS. FOR THE LIBRARY, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. 
          THE BOARD AS WELL. I KNOW I SENT YOU AN E-MAIL ABOUT LIBBY SERVICES AND IT'S MY FAVORITE THING TO SAY. WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THE COSTS ARE FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION AND THE RENEWAL. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE. >> I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT IN AN E-MAIL TODAY. WE HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. 
          $4.6 MILLION. >> GALVAN: FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR? 
          >> THIS NUMBER IS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND THIS DOES INCLUDE OUR PAID SUBSCRIPTION TO NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, OVERDRIVE, AND LIBBY. 
          >> GALVAN: GOT IT. I'LL LOOK AT THE E-MAIL YOU SENT OVER BUT I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING THE YEAR OVER YEAR AS WELL AND FOR ANY KIND OF RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTIONS -- WE DIGITALLY SUBSCRIBED TO A WHILE AGO AND HOW MUCH IS THAT COSTING US VERSUS THE 
          PHYSICAL PURCHASE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M ASKING? >> ARE YOU ASKING ABOUT THE COST BETWEEN PHYSICAL MATERIAL WE HAVE AND THE DIGITAL MATERIAL WE HAVE AND 
          HOW MUCH WE SPENT? >> GALVAN: PRECISELY. WE PURCHASE ONE BOOK THAT'S ONE POPULAR, ONE PHYSICAL, ONE VIRTUAL. HOW MANY TIMES WE GET TO RENEW THIS. POTENTIALLY REPAIRING THIS BOOK THAT'S PHYSICAL. 
          THE COST OVER THE LIFETIME OF THOSE BOOKS. >> THAT WOULD VARY OVERALL BUT WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IS ALMOST 50/50 ON DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL MATERIAL. 
          [02:10:02]
          ALMOST. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. IS IT 51/49? 
          >> MORE LIKE 45/55. >> GALVAN: FAIR ENOUGH. THAT'S HELPFUL. 
          AND THEN I KNOW WE'RE HAVING AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ON THE CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS, IN PARTICULAR. I THINK IT WAS SLIDE 10 WAS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE STAFFING. IS THE REDUCTION LOOKING AT ELIMINATING ALL CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS OR RELATIVE TO THE CHANGES OVER TIME AND THE USE? 
          >> JUST RELATIVE TO THE CHANGES OVER TIME. OVERALL, THERE ARE 12 
          CIRCULATION ATTENDANT POSITIONS ARE ON THE LIST. >> GALVAN: I APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SUPER SIT WELL WITH ME. 
          I UNDERSTAND LOOKING AT MAKE SURE THAT'S MORE EFFICIENT. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME GOOD ANALYSIS SO I APPRECIATE THE ANALYSIS Y'ALL HAVE DONE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY, HOW IT COMPARES NOT ONLY TO CIRCULATION BUT ALSO THE SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE LIBRARIES. I STILL FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY ABOUT IT, JUST GIVEN -- LIKE THE DIFFERENT CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OFFERED. 
          I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT FOLKS SHIFT AROUND AS THAT WORK BECOMES AVAILABLE, AS OUR RESIDENTS THEN REQUEST FOR THOSE SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE IN SOME FORM. 
          WHETHER IT'S A DIRECT SERVICE WE PROVIDE OR IF IT'S A REQUEST FROM THE RESIDENTS WHO USE THAT SITE ABOUT CAN WE CREATE A SMALL CLUB HERE? CAN WE CREATE THIS ACTIVITY HERE? I THINK ABOUT A TIME WHERE, IN THE TEEN CLUB SECTION, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THEY WERE DOING THAT HAD INCREDIBLE MATERIALS THERE. MAYBE YOU CAN TELL ME TODAY OR LATER ON, I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS SUPPORT THAT WORK WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE MAY BE 
          BUSY ON SOMETHING ELSE. >> FROM AN ASSESSMENT THROUGH THIS CBR PROCESS, IT WAS VERY MINIMAL SUPPORT, WHICH WAS BEING PROVIDED BY CIRCULATION ATTENDANTS. 
          >> GALVAN: IS IT THE LIBRARY DOING THAT OR SOMEONE ELSE? 
          >> CORRECT. LIBRARY ASSISTANTS AND OUR LIBRARIANS. 
          >> GALVAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. 
          APPRECIATE ALL THE PRESENTATIONS FROM ALL THE STAFF. 
          YEAH. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, PLEASE. 
          >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO VICE CHAIR HARRIS FOR YOUR MESSAGE TODAY. THAT WAS IMPACTFUL. 
          ALSO TO MY FRIEND AND VETERAN, BERT QUINTANILLA. HE'S MY APPOINTEE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD. I KNOW THIS IS A REALLY HOT TOPIC AMONGST MY CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. EVERYONE LOVES THE LIBRARY. EVERYONE GOES TO THE LIBRARY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT FIXTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND I KNOW THAT RIGHT SIZING HERE IS VERY DIFFICULT. ALTHOUGH, I AM HAPPY THAT, UNLIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE ARE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER POSITION FOR THESE POSITIONS. EMPLOYEES. THAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          ON PAGE 534 OF THE BUDGET BOOK, IT SAYS -- WHAT IS THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR? 
          >> FREDDIE MARTINEZ, BUDGET DIRECTOR. THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IN THE LIBRARY WOULD COVER COLLECTIONS TO OPERATE THE LIBRARIES, BUILDING MAINTENANCE, SECURITY, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE LIBRARY THAT THEY DO ON A 
          DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. >> SPEARS: SO THAT'S PUT THERE. 
          AND THEN DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE MARKETING ENGAGEMENTS? I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED ON A SLIDE. I HAVE AT AS 536 IN THE 
          BUDGET BOOK. WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE. >> CURRENTLY WE DON'T, BUT 
          WE WILL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> SPEARS: GREAT. 
          AND THEN -- SO ON SLIDE 11 ON THE COLLECTION OF THE FEE FOR THE LIBRARY -- LET ME GET BACK TO IT. YOU SAID THERE WERE 97,000 NON-SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS 
          THAT CURRENTLY USE THE LIBRARY? >> THAT IS CORRECT. 
          >> SPEARS: THE ESTIMATE THOUGH IS COMING IN AT A MILLION. 
          DOES THAT RECAPTURE YOUR ESTIMATE? >> WE ARE ESTIMATING HALF OF 
          [02:15:01]
          THE CARDHOLDERS WILL PAY FOR THAT. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR THE LIBRARY. ON THE PARKS. 
          WE HAVE -- I THINK IT'S THE MOST POPULAR PARK IN TOWN. IT'S THE STEUBING RANCH PARK WHERE MITCHELL'S LANDING IS. SHOUT OUT TO APRIL CHANG FOR THAT. 
          I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS PARK BUT MY CONCERN IS IT'S THE ONLY FULLY-ACCESSIBLE PARK IN TOWN AND IT'S GETTING UNDUE WEAR AND TOWN. I HEAR FROM PEOPLE AS FAR AS COMAL UP IN NEW BRAUNFELS COMING OVER TO THIS PARK. IS THERE ANY THOUGHT OR ARE WE LOOKING HOW WE CAN BRING MORE ACCESSIBLE EQUIPMENT? IT'S HARD TO DO A WHOLE PARK THAT SAME WAY. BUT WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT FOR ACCESSIBILITY? 
          >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE PARK SYSTEM OR SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 9? 
          >> SPEARS: BOTH. >> OUR DESIGN GUIDELINES REQUIRE UNIVERSAL -- OUR UNIVERSAL DESIGN GUIDELINES DO INCLUDE FULLY-ACCESSIBLE PARK AMENITIES. 
          THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE OUR PLAYGROUND. OBVIOUSLY, THERE AT MITCHELL'S LANDING THAT IS NOT STANDARD FOR EVERY PARK. BUT EVERY PLAYGROUND IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE. WHEN WE DO PARK IMPROVEMENTS --, WE HAVE SOME OLD PARKS AND IF WE ARE ADDING PICNIC PADS THEN WE'RE PUTTING IN PATHWAYS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THOSE PATHS. IT REALLY IS ON AN INCREMENTAL BASIS. 
          WHEN WE'RE IMPLEMENTING A BOND PROGRAM OR A NEW PARK COMING ONLINE, THEN THOSE GUIDELINES ARE REQUIREMENTS. SO IF WE ARE DOING IT, IT'S MORE OF AN INCREMENTAL 
          APPROACH. >> SPEARS: I WAS ON THE WEBSITE. 
          IS THERE A WAY TO DO A MAP THAT DETAILS WHERE EVERY PARK IS, ADD THAT TO THE 
          WEBSITE? >> YES. WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY. 
          WE HAVE 278 PARKS. WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A VISUAL SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO GO WHEN THEY WANT TO ACCESS THESE AMENITIES. 
          >> SPEARS: SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S CLOSE TO THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY. 
          >> SPEARS: OKAY. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT AREAS OF THE PARKS' BUDGET HAS 
          GROWN THE MOST OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS? >> PROBABLY THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE IS IN THE CURRENT-YEAR BUDGET THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND AND IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THERE WAS AN INCREASE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND AS WELL. THAT IS A RESTRICTED FUND. IT IS FOR PARK MAINTENANCE SANITATION ONLY. THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE ON CREWS AND GO OUT THERE, THAT WOULD BE THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE OF WHERE IT'S GROWN THE MOST. 
          DID YOU WANT TO AUGMENT THAT? >> TATE: I'LL ADD THAT PERSONNEL COSTS HAVE INCREASED BUT AS NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS COME ONLINE, WE'RE MAINTAINING AND OPERATING THOSE. TRAILS AS WELL AS THOSE NEW 
          PARKS AND NEW AMENITIES. >> SPEARS: OKAY. ON SLIDE 5, HOW DO YOU EVALUATE ZERO-PARTICIPATION CLASSES OR IS THERE A THRESHOLD? HOW ARE WE EVALUATING THIS AND WHAT ABOUT LOW PARTICIPATION? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. SO THE THRESHOLD IS FIVE. WHAT WE WERE DOING THAT IS NOW EVEN BEEN MODIFIED THIS SUMMER IS I MEET WITH THE PROGRAM TEAM MONTHLY. 
          AND WHEN WE CLOSE A MONTH, I'LL BE MEETING WITH THE TEAM NEXT WEEK TO LOOK AT WHERE ATTENDANCE WAS ABOVE OR BELOW THE THRESHOLD AND WHERE THERE'S LOW, WHICH IS ANYTHING BELOW FIVE. THAT'S COMING OFF THE BOOKS. WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE ALMOST AS REALTIME AS WE CAN BE, MAKING EDITS TO THEN UPCOMING PROGRAMMING IN THE NEXT MONTH. THAT HAPPENS MONTHLY AND THE THRESHOLD IS FIVE. 
          >> SPEARS: I THINK THAT'S IT FOR PARKS. THANK YOU. 
          BRENDA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          THIS IS KEY FOR ME. I WANTED TO ADD BOEING TO YOUR LIST, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, OF BUSINESSES FOR RETENTION. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS THE PATH FORWARD FOR OUR CITY IS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE RETAINING OUR BUSINESSES, 
          [02:20:02]
ATTRACTING -- THIS IS HOW WE GROW. AND THE KEY COMPONENT TO THAT WOULD BE THE WORKFORCE PIECE, SO THAT WE HAVE GOOD JOBS AND THAT WE'RE BUILDING A PIPELINE AROUND THOSE JOBS AND NEW INDUSTRY. I THINK THE INDUSTRIES THAT THE CITY'S FOCUSING ON THAT THE MAYOR OFTEN TALKS ABOUT AS WELL IS THE AI AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THESE ARE REAL AREAS FOR US TO BE FOCUSED ON, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO. YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH AI, I THINK LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO -- WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT UP AND COMING BUSINESSES WITH STRONG, SERIOUS CONNECTIONS LOCALLY THAT ARE READY AND WILLING TO HELP HERE AND GET MORE ENGAGED. I'M VERY ENCOURAGED ABOUT THEM ALREADY IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO REMEMBER TOO HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND HOW WE CAN ACCELERATE THEIR ENTRY INTO BEING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OR BECOMING PART OF OUR WORKFORCE IN A DIFFERENT WAY. I KNOW THIS IS SCARY TO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH CHANGE HAPPENING AROUND US BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE EMBRACE ALL THE CHANGE AND THE TRAJECTORY THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD. 
          I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          ON SLIDE 9, WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN -- LET ME GET TO SLIDE 9. 
          CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BREAKDOWN OF SUPPLY SA ARE? 
          >> SA WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL CERTIFICATION AGENCY. 
          THEY CERTIFY SMALL BUSINESSES, MINORITY BUSINESS STATUS AND WHATNOT WHAT WE CAN FOCUS ON SMALL WITH THE SBEDA PROGRAM, WE DO CONTINUE TO TRACK THE 
          SPENDING FOR ALL OF OUR MINORITY CERTIFICATIONS. >> SPEARS: IS THERE 
          ANYTHING THAT'S DUPLICATIVE IN SUPPLY SA AND LAUNCH SA? >> THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WORKED WELL TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE. SUPPLY SA FOCUSES ON PROCUREMENT TRAINING, DOING BUSINESSES WITH THE PUBLIC ENTITY THAT ARE A PARTNER, LAUNCH SA FOCUSES ON OTHER SMALL BUSINESS ACTIVITY. THERE HAS BEEN SOME COLLABORATION AROUND THE VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I MISSED SOME OF THE CONTENT. I THOUGHT THE MEETING WAS AT 2:00 P.M. TODAY. 
          I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH LIBRARIES. THTHTHANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY APPOINTEE FOR HER IMPORTANT WORK ON THIS ORGANIZATION. ON SLIDE 10 FOR THE NEW STAFFING MODEL, DID Y'ALL COMPARE THE STAFFING MODEL TO OTHER CITIES OR CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT ASSUMPTIONS 
          WERE BUILT INTO THE STAFFING MODEL? >> WE HAVE KATE FROM INNOVATION AND SHE'S GOING TO BE ANSWERING THAT QUESTION. 
          >> CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER. YES, MA'AM. WE DID -- AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH OTHER CITIES. THE MEDIAN STAFF FOR BRANCH FOR COMP CITIES WAS 8.6. SAN ANTONIO WAS AT 10. BUT WHEN WE DID LOOK AT HOURS, WE HAVE EXTENDED SUNDAY HOURS COMPARED TO THE OTHER BRANCHES. 
          BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK WE'RE PRETTY IN LINE WITH THE OTHER BRANCHES. 
          WE WERE JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE MEDIAN IN THE COMP CITIES THAT WE LOOKED AT. 
          >> KAUR: I'M ASSUMING YOU GUYS ALSO CONSIDERED FOOT TRAFFIC AND A NUMBER OF 
          VISITORS AND OTHER ASSUMPTIONS, RIGHT? >> YES. 
          I MEAN, THE MAIN THING WE WERE LOOKING AT AT THAT POINT WAS STAFFING. 
          SO WE DIDN'T GET A HANDLE ON ALL OF THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS. 
          IT WASN'T THAT APPLES TO APPLES OF A COMPARISON. TO BE HONEST, IT REALLY WASN'T THE DECIDING FACTOR IN THE RIGHT SIZING AT THE END OF THE DAY. 
          IT WAS EARLY ON IN THE ANALYSIS. JUST HOW WE COMPARED TO 
          OTHER CITIES. >> KAUR: WHAT WAS THE DECIDING FACTOR? 
          >> THE DECIDING FACTOR, TO KEEP THIS PRETTY SIMPLE, WAS THE PHYSICAL CHECK-INS BEING DOWN 40%. THE STAFF-ASSISTED CHECKOUTS BEING DOWN 62% AND THEN 
          [02:25:05]
LOOKING AT THE POSITIONS THAT PRIMARILY WERE IN CHARGE OF THE PHYSICAL 
          CHECK-INS AND CHECK OUTS. >> KAUR: THE ANNUAL VISITS TO THE LIBRARY NUMBERS THAT Y'ALL PROJECT IN YOUR METRICS, 2025 IT WAS 3 MILLION. 
          THEN FOR '26 IT WAS PROJECTED TO BE 2.6 MILLION. AND THE NEW TARGET IS 2.9 MILLION. WHICH MEANS WE'RE EXCEEDING OUR METRICS. 
          LAST YEAR WE DROPPED IT. THEN FOR '27, THE NUMBER OF VISITATIONS IS 2.8 MILLION. 
          WHILE LIBRARY STAFF ISN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS JUST DOING CHECKOUTS, THEY ARE ALSO SUPPORTING VISITATION. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A THING THAT A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ASKING ABOUT. WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CLEAR IN WHAT ASSUMPTIONS WE'RE MAKING AND WHY IN TERMS OF WHY WE'RE SAYING WE ARE JUSTIFIED IN DECREASING LIBRARY STAFF AT EACH OF THE LIBRARIES. CAN YOU SHARE WITH ME WHICH LIBRARIES -- DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF WHICH LIBRARIES ARE REDUCING? I GUESS WHAT I WOULD ASK IS ASIDE FROM THESE POSITIONS, WHAT ELSE DID WE LOOK AT? IS THERE A CHART THAT SHOWS US THIS IS HOW MUCH CIRCULATION IS DOWN, THIS IS HOW MUCH VISITATIONS ARE DOWN IN EACH OF THESE LIBRARIES? AND THEN SHARE THAT WITH US. I THINK OVERALL OR MOVING FORWARD WE SHOULD CONSIDER, FOR ANY COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEWS, THAT WE GET A BRIEFING IN B SESSION BEFORE BUDGET SO WE CAN ASK A LOT OF THESE DETAILED QUESTIONS SO WE CAN BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF CHANGES THAT COME AS A RESULT OF THEM. LAST QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS -- HOW DO YOU GUYS MEASURE THAT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATING OF 96%? 
          >> COUNCILWOMAN, REAL QUICK ON YOUR LAST QUESTION. WE DID PROVIDE THE CHANGE IN THE CIRCULATION AND THE HANDLING OF MATERIALS IN OUR FIRST FOLLOW-UP MEMO. 
          BUT I'LL RESEND THAT. >> KAUR: I MUST HAVE MISSED THAT. 
          WAS THAT BY LIBRARY? >> IT WAS PART OF THE FOLLOW-UP FROM THE FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT REDUCTIONS IN REVENUES. 
          >> WALSH: YES, MA'AM, IT WAS. >> KAUR: I'M SORRY. 
          I MISSED THAT. CAN YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION? 
          HOW DO YOU GUYS MEASURE THAT 96%? >> COUNCILMEMBER, THAT WAS A 2025 CITYWIDE SURVEY AND FROM THERE WE PICKED UP 96% SATISFACTION FOR THE LIBRARY. AND LIBRARY WAS ONE OF THE TOP DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY 
          WITH THE POSITIVE -- >> KAUR: WHICH IS WHY SO MANY OF US ARE ADVOCATING FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGES. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND. 
          DO YOU ALREADY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEASURE SATISFACTION AND 
          CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR VISITORS AT THE LIBRARY? >> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT 
          QUESTION AGAIN? I'M SORRY. >> KAUR: LIKE, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO MEASURE SATISFACTION MOVING FORWARD, GIVEN THE CHANGES? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL BE OBSERVING. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW IT'S AFFECTING OUR SERVICES. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE MEASURING THE 
          CHANGES TOO. >> KAUR: MAYBE YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT SPECIFIC QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA THAT YOU'LL BE COLLECTING AND HOW LIBRARY EMPLOYEES WILL ALSO 
          BE INVOLVED. >> COUNCILWOMAN, DAVID MCCARY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL DO IS GO IN WITH C&E, COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT, AND LOOK AT THEIR LAST SURVEY SATISFACTION THAT ACHIEVED THAT 96% AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING NOW, TO DO A FOLLOW-UP WITH 
          THAT AS WELL. >> KAUR: GOT IT. THANK YOU. 
          MAYBE JUST AN OUTLINED PLAN OF WHAT, WHEN, AND HOW WOULD BE HELPFUL. 
          >> YES, WE'LL DO THAT. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANKS. >> KAUR: I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO SOLID WASTE REAL QUICK. I KNOW A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY 
          [02:30:01]
SHOUTED OUT HOW AMAZING SOLID WASTE WAS LAST WEEK. I ALSO WANTED TO SHOUT OUT -- I THINK IT WAS MARIA'S IDEA. MARIA DID AN AMAZING JOB COORDINATING THIS LAST WEEKEND. BUT I THINK IT WAS HER IDEA TO SEND OUT SOLID WASTE AGAIN A COUPLE OF TIMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE A LOT OF FOOD WAS THROWN AWAY BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICITY. I GOT SO MANY THANK YOUS FOR THAT. I DIDN'T THINK HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE GRATEFUL THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO SMELL OLD FOOD IN THEIR TRASH CAN. THANK YOU, GUYS FOR MOBILIZING AND GETTING FOLKS OUT THERE. I HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER SHOUT OUTS. WE HAD A SITUATION ON WILDWOOD WHERE SOLID WASTE CAME OUT AND CLEANED UP A LOT THAT WAS VACANT AND WASN'T TECHNICALLY THEIR OFFICIAL REQUIREMENT BUT THEY ALWAYS ARE WILLING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CLEAN. AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES OFTEN CALL US ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING. IT'S A REALLY TRICKY SITUATION ON WHO WE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE BUT I KNOW SOLID WASTE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE. 
          ON SLIDE 12, WHEN YOU BROUGHT THAT UP EARLIER, HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED -- I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA. HAVE WE EVER CONSIDERED 
          OWNING OUR OWN LANDFILL? >> NO. THE TIME FOR THAT HAS REALLY PASSED. ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE 1980S WHEN THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON LANDFILLS CHANGED, SAN ANTONIO, LIKE MOST OTHER CITIES, GOT OUT OF THE LANDFILL BUSINESS AT THE TIME. THE REALISTIC PERMITTING PROCESS -- IF TODAY YOU GAVE ME THE DIRECTION TO OPEN UP A NEW LANDFILL, WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST 15 YEARS BEFORE THAT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT I THINK THE CLOSEST THING WE CAN DO IS THE SLIDE WE HAD BEFORE ABOUT A TRANSFER STATION. 
          TAKING THE WASTE IN AND TRANSFERRING IT TO A PERMITTED FACILITY OUTSIDE 
          OF THE CITY LIMITS. >> KAUR: GOT IT. SO IT MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT. I APPRECIATE YOUR THINKING THERE. 
          AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS FOR SLIDE 14, WHY IS RECYCLING REVENUE DOWN? 
          >> RECYCLING REVENUE IS INCREDIBLY UNPREDICTABLE. IT'S LIKE PLAYING THE STOCK MARKET. SOME YEARS IT'S GOOD, SOME YEARS IT'S DOWN. 
          THE TARIFFS HAVE ACTUALLY HAD A BIG NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RECYCLING REVENUES. 
          WHICH SURPRISED ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAVE MADE REVENUES BETTER. 
          WHAT THEY TELL ME IS THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET HAS MADE INVESTMENT IN RECYCLING MUCH MORE CHALLENGING. SO MANY -- SO EVEN THOUGH WE AND OTHER CITIES ARE COLLECTING MORE RECYCLING, MANY OF THE PROCESSORS THAT TAKE THE STUFF HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS OR CONSOLIDATED SO THERE IS LESS ON THE PURCHASING SIDE, THERE ARE LESS COMPANIES BUYING RECYCLING. 
          THAT HAS DRIVEN THE PRICE DOWN. >> KAUR: SPEAKING OF THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS. OUR FIELD OFFICE DOESN'T RECYCLE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOUR OTHER FIELD OFFICES HAVE THE SAME SITUATION. I HAVE ASKED FOR THE CONTRACT OF WHY THAT IS. 
          BUT I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD DO AN INTERNAL AUDIT OF ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS TO MAKE SURE AT LEAST WE ARE RECYCLING. WOULD WE GET MONEY BACK? THE THIRD-PARTY COMPANY IS GOING TO BE DOING THAT RECYCLING, SO WE WOULD GET 
          SOME OF THAT REVENUE? >> ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOK AT IS EVEN WHEN RECYCLING REVENUES ARE DOWN, IT'S STILL CHEAPER THAN LANDFILLING. 
          ALL THAT MATERIAL HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE SO EVEN IF WE WAVED A MAGIC WAND AND THE BLUE CART DISAPPEARED, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE BROWN CART, WHICH WE WOULD DISPOSE OF AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE. I THINK THERE'S A FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE CITY EVEN WHEN THE REVENUES ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THEY USED TO BE. 
          >> KAUR: THIS MIGHT NOT BE YOUR DEPARTMENT BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE SHOULD LOOK AT AN AUDIT FOR MAKING SURE WE RECYCLE IN ALL OF OUR 
          BUILDINGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, THIS IS ERIK. ALL CITY FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO RECYCLE. 
          I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY YOUR FIELD OFFICE ISN'T RECYCLING BUT I'LL TALK TO EMILY. 
          YOU SHOULD HAVE A BLUE CAN. WHETHER IT'S A LEASE FACILITY. 
          >> KAUR: I THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE LEASE. >> WALSH: IT SHOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. WE'LL GET YOU A BUNCH OF BLUE CANS. 
          >> KAUR: I APPRECIATE IT. I CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH TIME I HAVE LEFT. 
          CAN ANYONE SHARE THAT REAL QUICK? >> MAYOR JONES: 
          COUNCILWOMAN, YOU CAN COME IN IN THE SECOND ROUND. >> KAUR: GREAT. 
          THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. 
          >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I'LL BE VERY SHORT. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. I MEAN, I THINK WITH THE -- I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS TO WHAT DISPLEASES ME, WHICH IS THE IDEA OF LOSING POSITIONS. I THINK LIBRARY IS ONE OF THOSE THAT IS MOST IN FOCUS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE. MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET AND FIGURING OUT WHERE WE MIGHT BEST BE ABLE TO SAVE ALL OF THE POSITIONS SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ELIMINATED. 
          IDEALLY, WE WANT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. AT WORST, HOPEFULLY WE CAN PROTECT THOSE POSITIONS FOR TWO YEARS AND BUY US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CREATE 
          [02:35:02]
A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION. BUT THAT IS WHERE MY MIND IS AT RIGHT NOW. 
          THANK YOU, ALL. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, PLEASE, 
          ON THE SECOND ROUND. >> SPEARS: I WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY BUSINESSES ARE PARTICIPATING AND STILL OPERATING AFTER ONE, THREE, AND FIVE YEARS. 
          IF YOU HAVE THAT OR IF YOU NEED TO GET THAT. BACK TO THE LAUNCH SA. 
          >> WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. I DO WANT TO NOTE WE ADDED THOSE SIX-MONTH, 18-MONTH, 36-MONTH SURVEYS TO OUR CONTRACT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. STARTING NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE 36-MONTH CONTRACTS COME IN TO MONITOR THOSE TRENDS 
          MORE. >> SPEARS: GREAT. AND THEN ON SLIDE 5, DO YOU KNOW WHAT METRICS WE'RE GOING TO BE USING TO DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK? I GUESS THAT'S THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION. 
          >> AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, ONE OF THE KEY DELIVERABLES THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING IS AN IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX. WHO OWNS THE INITIATIVE, KIND OF THE TIMELINE. SOME OF THIS IS SHORTER TERM, MID-TERM, LONGER-TERM INITIATIVES. MORE ONGOING, ET CETERA. AND SO WE'LL BE REPORTING THAT. THEN FOR EACH OF THE INITIATIVES, LIKE WE DO RIGHT NOW FOR ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, WHEN WE BRING THAT FORWARD, WE DO IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS METRICS THAT WE'LL BE MONITORING AS FAR AS THAT GOES. 
          WE DO TRY TO OUTLINE THOSE OUTCOMES AND THEN OUTPUTS, OUTCOMES, AND THE TRENDS. 
          >> SPEARS: AND THEN IF WE CAN IDENTIFY WHICH RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITH EXISTING RESOURCES AND ANYTHING THAT MIGHT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. I GUESS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, AROUND THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. OKAY. THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU. ON SOLID WASTE, LET'S JUST BE HONEST. 
          Y'ALL ARE THE REAL HEROES AND THE THING MOST PEOPLE CARE ABOUT IN THIS CITY. 
          WITHOUT YOU, IT WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS IS ALSO A REALLY STRONG CAREER PATH AND SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER. 
          I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE WITH THE APPRENTICE PROGRAM ON THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLES. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR ASKED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REVENUE FROM RECYCLING. ON SLIDE 9, ABOUT THE MECHANIC APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, DO WE EXPECT TO SEE SAVINGS THERE? 
          >> YES. I DO THINK SO. WHEN WE SEND A VEHICLE OUT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP, WE'RE PAYING ABOUT $150 AN HOUR. 
          WHEN WE'RE DOING IT IN-HOUSE, WE ARE PAYING ABOUT 95. 
          >> SPEARS: THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. THAT'S GOOD. 
          THAT'S SMART. THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE. NOTHING BUT PRAISE. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER -- OH, SHE CAME OFF, RIGHT? ANYONE ELSE ON THE SECOND ROUND? 
          COUNCILMEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: YEAH, SORRY. I'LL BE BRIEF. 
          I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. PARKS -- HOMER, I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU REAL QUICK. ON SLIDE 7, I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THE URBAN FORESTRY TEAM. THEY HAVE BEEN HELPING US A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. 
          AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING. I KNOW THAT CAME FROM A CCR BY COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO TOO. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THAT WORK. 
          AND I MENTIONED THIS AT MIDTOWN LAST WEEK BUT THE SPURS GAVE 50K TO URBAN CANOPY. THEY ARE A NONPROFIT TO HELP CLEAN UP THIS WEEK AS WELL. 
          ON THE WOODLAWN GYM, I'M GLAD THEY'RE GETTING AN HVAC BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK THE FLOORS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. MY QUESTION, HOMER -- I ALSO PLAYED IN THE LATE-NIGHT HOOPS. I WAS LIKE, I WONDER HOW OFTEN DO WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHETHER -- LIKE THE UPTICK OF GYMS AND HOW OFTEN WE NEED TO REDO FLOORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHAT IS THE MAINTENANCE PLAN 
          FOR ALL OF OUR GYMS AND FACILITY CENTERS? >> IT'S GOING TO VARY BY THE FACILITY USE, AGE OF THE FACILITY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE MAINTENANCE PLAN, IF YOU WILL, FOR A GYM, IS PROBABLY CONTINGENT ON THE TYPE OF FLOOR. IT VARIES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO HAVE 
          [02:40:01]
IS GOING THROUGH AND BUILDING SOME COMMONALITY BETWEEN HOW WE DO A FACILITY ASSESSMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, AND TAKING AND LEANING ON BESD. SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST PARKS DOING KIND OF WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO DO. BUT SO THERE'S SOME CONTINUITY ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE. THE SHORT ANSWER IS IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON THE FACILITY USE, AGE OF THE SYSTEMS, EVERYTHING IS RECEIVED INVESTMENT AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME. SO IT'S REALLY A SPECTRUM THERE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING. 
          IT JUST VARIES. >> KAUR: IF YOU HAVE A PLAN THAT YOU CAN SHOW ME THAT SHOWS ME BY BUILDING THIS IS WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE GYMNASIUMS AND THE PARKS. WE'RE INCREASING FEES AND THAT'S A HARD THING FOR A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE USING IT. 
          WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE INCREASING FEES WE'RE ALSO IMPROVING 
          THE SERVICE WE'RE PROVIDING. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> KAUR: I THINK THE WOODLAWN GYM FLOOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU -- OH, I THINK THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. 
          THEN EDD, I SUPPORT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S POINT ABOUT EIF FUNDING. 
          HAVE YOU GUYS THOUGHT ABOUT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THAT IN TERMS OF 
          PLACEMAKING, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, ET CETERA? >> THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS, AS PART OF THE INCENTIVE UPDATES. AGAIN, THE INCENTIVE UPDATES ARE REGARDING THE CHAPTER 380 AND 312. SO IT IS BASED ON AD VALOREM SO IT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT LARGER IMPACT. BUT WE ARE TAKING A LOOK 
          >> KAUR: YEAH. I THINK CHAPTER 380 IS PRETTY VAGUE. 
          I KNOW IT'S BASED ON AD VALOREM BUT I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR Y'ALL TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE DILIGENCE THERE. FOR EXAMPLE, BLANCO ROAD HAS A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT I'M SURE WOULD APPRECIATE MORE PLACEMAKING OPPORTUNITIES. 
          I THINK IN EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS YOU PROBABLY HAVE SMALL CORRIDORS THAT COULD USE SOME SUPPORT AND WOULD APPRECIATE IT SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST FOCUSING ALL OF OUR ENERGY ON DOWNTOWN AND BIG BUSINESSES. AND THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD IS ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM. I UNDERSTAND WE'RE RIGHT SIZING IT AFTER HAVING DEALT WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE IMPACT WE WERE HOPING FOR ACTUALLY CAME TO FRUITION BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT IS THE 
          CURRENT PLAN FOR THE PROGRAM? >> YEAH. 
          SO THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION HAS MORE, HENCE THE RIGHT SIZING. 
          THE BUSINESS OUTREACH SPECIALISTS FIND IT'S THE ONE-ON-ONE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THE MOST IMPACTFUL, VERSUS SOME OF THOSE OTHER INVESTMENTS, SIGNAGE, ACTIVATION, AND SO FORTH. IN FISCAL YEAR '26, WE HAVE HAD ALMOST 11,000 ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH THOSE OUTREACH EFFORTS AND SO 
          FORTH. >> KAUR: BUT WHAT ARE THE 11,000 ENGAGEMENTS TURN INTO? WHAT IS THE RESULT OR OUTCOME OF THAT? 
          >> I'M SORRY. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME. I DIDN'T CATCH THE QUESTION. 
          >> KAUR: SORRY. WHAT DID THOSE 11,000 ENGAGEMENTS RESULT IN? 
          >> SO A LOT OF OUR ENGAGEMENTS RESULT IN REFERRALS TO, FOR EXAMPLE THE 0% INTEREST PROGRAM. WE DO TRACK ALL OF THAT. WE ALSO -- A LOT OF LAUNCH SA IS ONE OF OUR MOST UTILIZED REFERRAL SERVICES, IF YOU WILL. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND CITY SERVICES, PERMITTING, SO A LOT OF REFERRALS TO DSD AND HELPING THROUGH THOSE FACILITIES. IT'S A LOT OF CONNECTIVITY 
          WITH THOSE DIRECT ENGAGEMENTS. >> KAUR: CAN YOU SEND ME A REPORT THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE -- OR A SUMMARY OF WHAT THOSE DIRECT ENGAGEMENTS WERE AND WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THEM? JUST CURIOUS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE THINGS FORWARD. 
          THE LAST THING -- HAVE WE ALREADY REVAMPED BUY LOCAL? I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT NOT HAVING THE IMPACT WE WERE HOPING FOR. 
          >> WE JUST COMPLETED A SURVEY ON THE BUY LOCAL PLAN. 
          IT'S $25,000 IN GENERAL FUND SO IT'S PRETTY LIMITED RESOURCES. 
          WE DID JUST DO A SURVEY AND ARE LOOKING AT THE RESULTS OF THAT. 
          HOW WE CAN EXPAND THAT PROGRAM WITH THOSE RESOURCES WE HAVE. 
          >> KAUR: OKAY. GOT IT. I'LL JUST REITERATE LET'S JUST GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S EIF REQUEST, JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING CHAPTER 380 CORRECTLY. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU, ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: JOSEPHINE, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. 
          I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU. I THINK YOU'RE THE FUNNIEST PERSON THAT HAS BRIEFED ME UP HERE. YOU KNOW, DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, WE HEARD A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE METAL RECYCLERS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE FEE FROM $1,000 TO $5,000. 
          [02:45:01]
I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN YOUR BAILIWICK BUT HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MAY AFFECT THE ECOSYSTEM IF YOU'VE GOT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO KIND OF HANDLE THAT, WHICH THEN DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF FOLKS METAL RECYCLING IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU JUST SAID IT'S CHEAPER TO RECYCLE THAN TO HAVE IT IN THE LANDFILL. I WOULD WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE STRENGTH OF THAT ECOSYSTEM AND HOW THAT 
          MAY IMPACT YOUR WORK. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LARGE SCALE, LIKE 
          AUTOMATICALLY RECYCLING AND SCRAP METAL RECYCLING? >> MAYOR JONES: RIGHT. 
          I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THE SMALLER ONE. WHOEVER IS GETTING THE FEE THAT'S GOING FROM $1,000 TO $5,000. IT'S THE METAL RECYCLERS, DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? YEAH. THANKS. 
          >> SO METAL RECYCLING I THINK IS AT A CHALLENGING SPOT RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY FOR THAT TYPE OF MATERIAL. WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, IT'S BECOME A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS INDUSTRY. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE. 
          EVERYTHING HAS A BATTERY. WHETHER IT'S YOUR ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH OR THE TESLA CAR. 
          SO THERE ARE A LOT MORE FACTORS FROM THE RECYCLING ASPECT THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. AS YOU SAID, THIS IS MY BAILIWICK IS BOTTLES AND CANS. I THINK IT IS A FINANCIALLY-PROFITABLE INDUSTRY SO MY NON-EXPERT OPINION -- THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. 
          IT IS AN OPINION. THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR GREATER REGULATION ON THE SCRAP METAL -- IN THE SCRAP METAL INDUSTRY AND A FEE MAY BE 
          THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. THERE WAS A PRETTY VOCAL CONTINGENT OF FOLKS THAT SHOWED UP FOR THAT. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. I UNDERSTAND, AS JOHN PETEREK EXPLAINED THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF A COST ANALYSIS THAT BETTER EXPLAINS KIND OF THE EFFORT AS A RESULT THERE. AS WE HEARD FROM THE FOLKS THAT CAME, ERIK, IT'S A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON THOSE THAT MAY BE FOLLOWING THE RULES TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT. AND ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON OUR LANDFILLS, WHICH ARE A HIGHER COST. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IMPACT OF THE INCREASE IN THAT FEE AND A DECREASE IN THE METAL 
          RECYCLING CAPACITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A RESULT. >> WALSH: MAYOR, ONE THING THAT'S NOT INCLUDED WITHIN OUR COST OF SERVICES -- IN MANY CASES THESE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR QUITE A WHILE. BUT WE'RE NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COST IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. 
          WE'RE LITERALLY JUST TAKING THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE AND THE INSPECTIONS AND THE PERMITS. AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH A BIT OF AN EVOLUTION HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD INCIDENTS AT THESE LOCATIONS -- AND I DON'T WANT TO BROADLY SPEAK ABOUT THE INDUSTRY. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BAD ACTORS IN THE INDUSTRY THAT HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO PROTECT AND LIVE WITHIN THE CODE AND THE PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS. AND THEN WE'VE HAD EITHER EMPLOYEE INJURIES OR WE'VE HAD FIRES ON SITE THAT HAVE CREATED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. IT HAS BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT -- AND I KNOW YOU HEARD FROM SOME FOLKS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING LAST WEEK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT. 
          BUT PURELY, AS WE LOOK AT IT, AS PURELY AS THE COST IT TAKES US TO DO TO REGULATE, WE'RE APPLYING THAT TO THAT INDUSTRY AND CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT. BUT I THINK THAT ADDITIONAL CONTEXT GOES BEYOND OUR BUDGET AND POTENTIALLY IMPACTS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. JUST BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSE IN PUBLIC HEARING AND AFTER THE FACT IN TERMS OF CARDS AND LETTERS THAT I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALSO RECEIVED FROM THAT COMMUNITY. 
          IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE HAD BETTER TALKING POINTS TO BE ABLE TO LAY THAT FLAT. 
          THANK YOU, JOSEPHINE. 
          LITERACY CRISIS, NOT ONLY IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESTORING THE MOBILE LIBRARY PROGRAM. SO THAT'S JUST A TAKEAWAY. I DO SUPPORT RESTORING ALL 39 OF THOSE POSITIONS AND AN AMENDMENT THAT I'VE SHARED WITH THE STAFF AND WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IS UTILIZING THE REMAINING FIESTA SUBSIDY AS WELL AS THE LISC FUNDING. THAT GETS YOU TO THE 950. OKAY. 
          BRENDA, PLEASE. BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH -- AS WE THINK ABOUT EDD AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS, IN MY MIND, RELATED CONVERSATION WITH THE TIRZ. CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW YOUR OFFICE ENGAGES WITH THE 
          TIRZ? >> SO RIGHT NOW WITH THE TIRZ POLICY WE DO HAVE IT WHERE IF THERE'S A JOB CREATION RELATED INITIATIVE, KIND OF THE MORE 
          [02:50:05]
TRADITIONAL, I WOULD SAY JOB-CREATION INITIATIVE THAT'S LOOKING AT TIRZ, WE CAN USE TIRZ RESOURCES AS A POTENTIAL INCENTIVE . WE WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES SO IF THEY GET THAT CALL, WE'LL REFER THEM. 
          THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF -- LIKE VELOCITY TEXAS, THERE WAS SOME TIRZ MONEY SET ASIDE FOR ANY BUSINESSES AND JOB CREATION. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. 
          MORE ON THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CONTRACTS WITH SAGE THAT ARE FUNDED FOR THEIR STORE FRONT. 
          >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU. 
          I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING THOSE -- I'M SURE WE HAVE A HISTORY OF THE INCENTIVES FROM THE TIRZ THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE. I KNOW SOME TIRZ DON'T HAVE A TON OF MONEY IN THEM BUT TO THE EXTENT FOLKS ARE UTILIZING THAT AS AN INCENTIVE VERSUS COMING TO THE GENERAL FUND OR IN ANY OTHER WAY. 
          I WOULD WELCOME UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THANKS FOR LAYING THAT FLAT. THE OTHER THING. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE COLLABORATION WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESS ENTITIES, CAN YOU SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO HOW EDD WORKS WITH PORT SAN ANTONIO. 
          WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE AVERAGE WAGE THERE, OVER $100,000, MANY OF THOSE DON'T REQUIRE AN INCENTIVE, WHICH IS THE BEST KIND OF JOB, I THINK. 
          KIND OF WELCOME HOW WE TARGET AND TARGET OUR SUPPORT FOR AND COLLABORATION WITH AN ENTITY LIKE THAT, GIVEN THE STARTING WAGE OF THOSE JOBS. 
          >> SO WITH PORT SA, THEY HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM. 
          SO A LOT OF TIMES THE COMPANIES MAY NOT BE LOOKING FOR AN INCENTIVE. 
          THEIR INCENTIVE AT PORT SA MAY BE FOR LEASE REDUCTIONS OR OTHER KIND OF RESOURCES. 
          BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH PORT SA FOR BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH. 
          WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF CLIENTS OUT THERE THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH FOR EXPANSIONS WHERE WE MAY NOT BE PROVIDING THOSE INCENTIVES. 
          JIM AND OUR TEAM, IN GENERAL, HAVE A PRETTY STRONG COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WHERE AS BUSINESSES HAVE VARIOUS NEEDS WE WILL CERTAINLY INTERACT AND WORK WITH THEM. WE ALSO, OF COURSE, HAVE DIRECT CONTACTS WITH THE BUSINESSES WHERE THEY'LL JUST REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO US AND HAVE MEETINGS. 
          WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS WITH THE PORT STAFF. >> MAYOR JONES: UNFORTUNATELY, AS THIS ICE FACILITY ON THE EAST SIDE COMES ONLINE, WE HEARD FROM TWO BUSINESS ENTITIES WHEN THIS WAS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD BE -- HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA. 
          WHICH IS WHY THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT ZONING CHANGE. 
          IT WAS SAGE ON THE EAST SIDE AND IT WAS BROOKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 
          SO I WOULD WELCOME KIND OF HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MONITORING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THAT FACILITY AND HOW IT'S GOING TO -- HOW IT MAY DEPRESS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN AND AROUND THERE SO THAT WE CAN BE THOUGHTFUL OF HOW WE ARE BEST SUPPORTING THAT SIDE OF TOWN IN LIGHT OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN THEY ARE CARRYING AS A RESULT OF HOSTING THAT FACILITY. SOMETHING ON PAPER THAT KIND OF HELPS US WRAP OUR HEAD AROUND HOW WE, THROUGH AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- SORRY. ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO MONITOR THE IMPACT OF THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUES IN WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE HOLISTICALLY AND IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE CHANGES IN SOME OF THESE KEY INDUSTRIES WHERE WE REALLY WANT A FOOTHOLD. SOME OF THE RECENT EXPERIENCES WE HAVE HAD -- AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM AND THE COLLABORATION WITH YOU AND WITH GREATER IN SUPPORTING THE TAIWANESE ENTITIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING HERE, AS WELL AS THE QUANTUM COMPANY, ISDORE AND THEY ARE NOT FOCUSED ON THOSE JOBS. THEY ARE FOCUSED ON THE LARGE FOOTPRINT, KIND OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. WHEN, IN MANY OF THESE AREAS, WE WANT TO GET THAT FOOTPRINT STARTED, WHICH WE KNOW HELPS TO BRING AROUND OTHER ASSOCIATED ENTITIES AND CREATE THE ECOSYSTEM THAT DOESN'T YET EXIST HERE. OR AT LEAST MAYBE SERVE TO STRENGTHEN THAT. AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
          [02:55:03]
FRAMEWORK, THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO. I KNOW I SHARED THIS FEEDBACK PREVIOUSLY BUT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS REFRESH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A MUCH MORE DELIBERATE FOCUS ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE COMPANIES, WHEN YOU RAN IT THROUGH OUR ALGORITHM, IF YOU WILL. 
          WE GAVE THEM AN 80K INCENTIVE, WHICH IS PEANUTS TO WHAT ANOTHER COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE GIVEN, GIVEN THE FOCUS OF THAT AND DESIRE TO LAND SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 
          HOWEVER WE CAN INCORPORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY INTO THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK WOULD BE HELPFUL. IN THE INTEREST OF STRENGTHENING THAT ECOSYSTEM. ERIK, ANY FINAL COMMENTS? 
          DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? >> WALSH: YES, MA'AM. WE'VE GOT OUR NEXT BUDGET WORK SESSION IS TOMORROW AFTERNOON. I DO HOPE -- WE WILL HAVE TO YOU, ON FRIDAY, AN UPDATED AMENDMENT LIST IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK'S 
          CONVERSATIONS. >> MAYOR JONES: APPRECIATE IT. 
          WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT 5:00 P.M. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          OKAY. WE HAVE 15 SIGNED UP SO FAR. 18. 
          EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. REMINDER, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE QUORUM FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE TIME IS NOW
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.