PUBLIC HEARING

[5. Public Hearings on the City’s 2026 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for the FY 2027 Proposed Budget and the FY 2027 Proposed Budget. [Justina Tate, Assistant City Manager; Alfredo Martinez, Director, Office of Management & Budget]]

ITEM FIVE IS THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:53 A.M. AND THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. MADAM CLERK, READ THE

CAPTION. >> ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S 2024 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET AND

FY2027 PROPOSED BUDGET. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE

PUBLIC HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. >> I DO HAVE A SHORT

PRESENTATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE

DO THAT. THANK YOU. >> RHYTHMIC INITIATION.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND TODAY I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION ON TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING. SO TODAY'S HEARING IS TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ON THE PROPOSED 27 CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE AS WELL AS ON THE FY27 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.

THIS IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAD THE FIRST LAST WEDNESDAY ON SEPTEMBER 2ND. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE'VE HELD 11 MEETINGS ACROSS THE CITY SINCE IT WAS PROPOSED ON AUGUST THE 13TH. AS A REMINDER, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS 4.4 BILLION DOLLARS MADE UP OF 1.76 BILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND WHICH FUNDS OUR BASIC CITY SERVICES SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE 1.2 BILLION IN RESTRICTED FUNDS SUCH AS THE AIRPORT, SOLID WASTE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND THEN FINALLY WE HAVE 1.4 BILLION INCLUDED IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET. THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE PROJ [INDISCERNIBLE] THIS BUDGET DOES FUND 13,746 POSITIONS WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 7 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. AS I MENTIONED TODAY'S HEARING IS ALSO ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. OVERALL WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROPERTY VALUES, WE HAVE OBSERVED A 4.3 BILLION DOLLAR VALUE LOSS FOR 2.71%.

AS A REMINDER, THE PROPERTY TAX CAPACITY OR UNUSED INCREMENT FOR 25 AND 26 WHEN THE CITY CHOSE NOT TO INCREASE TO THE STATE ALLOWED GROWTH. THE TAX RATE UNDER THE PRO HE'S POOED BUDGET WITH INCREASE BY A LITTLE OVER 2 CENTS FROM 54159 TO 56288 WHICH WOULD REFLECT $2.95 A MONTH ACROSS THE CITY. WANTED IT POINT OUT THAT 47% OF THE ROUGHLY 257 HOMESTEADS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEIR TAXES

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ARE FROZEN AND THEY WOULDN'T BE IMPACTED BY THIS INCREASE.

THE CITY DOES FOREGO OVER 156 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES FROM HOMESTEADS, EXEMPTIONS, AND TAX FREEZES.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE'RE CONTINUING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

THIS IS WHERE WE STAND NOW. THE BUDGET WAS PROPOSED ON AUGUST 13TH. WE HELD COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS ACROSS THE DISTRICTS AS WELL AS ONE TOWN HALL. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS. THOSE WILL WRAP UP NEXT WEEK AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, THE TAX AND BUDGET HEARINGS WHICH WERE ON SEPTEMBER 2ND AND 10TH, THAT WILL LEAD UP TO OUR BUDGET ADOPTION SCHEDULED FOR NEXT THURSDAY FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST. NOW, THE ACTIONS THAT YOU CONSIDERATE NEXT WEEK'S MEETING ON THE 17TH WILL BE THE BUDGET ADOPTION, RAT FANTASTICITION A, ADOPTING PROPERTY TAX RATE.

JUST WANT TO MENTION ON HERE THAT THE TAX RATE DOES REQUIRE 60% VOTE FOR YES OR 7 VOTES FROM THE COUNCIL PER STATE LAW.

THE OTHER ACTIONS WILL BE ADOPTING THE TAX RATE WHICH WOULD MAINTAIN AT 21.15 CENTS. AND THEN THE FINAL TWO WOULD BE ADOPTING THE NEW AND ADJUSTED REVENUE ORDINANCE AND THE CLOSING ORDINANCE FOR FY26. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, FREDDY.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THE VOTES REQUIRED.

JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, IF 7 VOTES ARE NOT REACHED, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE -- IF YOU DO NOT HAVE 7 VOTES FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT.

>> WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND REVISE THE >> WITHOUT SEVEN VOTES, THE

PROPERTY TAX WOULD STAY AT THE CURRENT RATE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THOSE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. GREGORY OCAVSON. ANA ACEVEDO.

ANA ACEVEDO? FOLLOWED BY CAT DELGADO AND LINDA MORO.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AND COUNCIL.

AS CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE CITY'S SCHOLARSHIP AND OUTREACH FUNDING TO THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS FACING AN ESPECIALLY-LARGE DEFICIT. YOU HAVE ALL ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THE URGENT NEED TO FUND THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE NEARLY 3,000 STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE THIS SEMESTER. AND TODAY I WANT TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT THE ENTIRE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ENTAILS, INCLUDING THE ADVISING THAT HAPPENS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT CONNECTS THEM TO THE SCHOLARSHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE. CITY FUNDING FOR SAP IS AN INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURES. IT IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS. THIS FUNDING IS MORE THAN JUST A LINE IN A BUDGET.

IT MEANS STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO COLLEGE ADVISING IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS.

IT MEANS SCHOLARS HAVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AS THEY PURSUE THEIR DEGREES.

AND IT MEANS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS HAVE SOMEONE HELPING THEM PLAN FOR WHAT COMES NEXT. THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT REAL STUDENTS, REAL GOALS, AND REAL OPPORTUNITIES. SOMETIMES A STUDENT DOESN'T NEED SOMEONE TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS, THEY JUST NEED SOMEONE TO HELP THEM SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

THAT'S THE ROLE SAP ADVISERS PLAY EVERY DAY IN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

THEY LISTEN, ANSWER QUESTIONS, PROVIDE GUIDANCE, AND HELP STUDENTS SEE A PATH FORWARD THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE SEEN FOR THEMSELVES. ONE CONVERSATION, ONE TRUSTED ADVISER, ONE STUDENT WHO DECIDES TO GIVE COLLEGE A SHOT.

THAT'S THE IMPACT OF COLLEGE ADVISING. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM AN SAP SCHOLARSHIP ALUM THAT REPRESENTS WHAT WE HEAR REPEATEDLY.

I WASN'T SURE COLLEGE WAS THE PATH FOR ME BUT THEIR GUIDANCE AND KNOWLEDGE GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO GIVE IT A SHOT. AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR SAN ANTONIO STUDENTS.

I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND THE SAEP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR FY '27 AND FY '28 SO STUDENTS CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR COLLEGE DREAMS .

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OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE IS AT STAKE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: CAT -- FOR 20. OKAY.

LINDA MORA. LINDA MORA? PAUL RODRIGUEZ.

PAUL RODRIGUEZ. FOLLOWED BY ERIKA ALVARADO AND CHEYENNE RENDON.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE AISLE. >> MY NAME IS PAUL RODRIGUEZ AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF UP PARTNERSHIP I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN CURRENT FUNDING LEVELS FOR DHS DELEGATE AGENCIES. TO CAREFULLY RECONSIDER THE PROJECTED $5.1 MILLION REDUCTION PROPOSED FOR FY28. AND TO ALSO MAINTAIN THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR THOSE RECIPIENTS AT THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP. AS IT RELATES TO DELEGATE AGENCIES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT DELEGATE AGENCIES ARE NOT SIMPLY GREAT RECIPIENTS, THEY ARE ORGANIZATIONS OUT PRIORITIES THAT THE CITY ITSELF HAS IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS. THE AGENCIES UNDERGO A COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS, ARE VETTED BY THE CITY, AND ARE ENTRUSTED TO DELIVER SERVICES THAT HELP ADVANCE THE CITY'S GOALS. IT REFLECTS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP.

THE CITY HAS INTENTIONALLY CHOSEN TO DELEGATE CERTAIN COMMUNITY-SERVING FUNCTIONS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY BRING EXPERTISE, COMMUNITY TRUST, AND PROVEN CAPACITY TO DELIVER RESULTS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY STABILITY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SENIOR SERVICES, AND OVERALL COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. THEY ARE NOT OPERATING SEPARATELY FROM CITY PRIORITIES, THEY ARE HELPING THE CITY ACHIEVE THEM.

BECAUSE OF THAT, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT REDUCING FUNDING SHOULD BE GUIDED BY OUTCOMES AND EVIDENCE. IF THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, WE SUPPORT A TRANSPARENT EVALUATION PROCESS AND A CLEAR REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS IMPACT. SIGNIFICANT FUNDING REDUCTIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON DEMONSTRATED EVIDENCE THAT SERVICES ARE NO LONGER NEEDED, NOT EFFECTIVE, OR CAN BE DELIVERED MORE EFFICIENTLY THROUGH ANOTHER APPROACH.

THIS REDUCTION WOULD AFFECT DOZENS OF PROGRAMS AND THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO DEPEND ON THE SERVICES EVERY DAY. FINALLY, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST CLARITY ABOUT HOW THE SEPTEMBER 17TH BUDGET VOTE RELATES TO THE FY28 FUNDING OUTLOOK AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WILL EXIST FOR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT BEFORE ANY FUTURE REDUCTIONS ARE FINALIZED. IN OTHER WORDS, MANY OF OUR PARTNERS ARE ASKING THE QUESTION: IF THE VOTE IS NOT ONLY FOR THE FY27 BUDGET, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IF THE ADOPTION OF THE $5.1 MILLION REDUCTION IS A FRAMEWORK FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION, OUR PARTNERS WOULD LIKE CLARITY ON THAT MATTER AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS

MATTER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIKA ALVARADO. FOLLOWED BY CHEYENNE RENDON AND THEN CHRISTIAN RAMOS,

PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS ERIKA ALVARADO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 VOTED TO APPROVE STRONGER COMPLIANCE CODES THAT WE WORKED SO HARD ON AND THAT WAS A HUGE WIN FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN DISTRICT 4 AND DISTRICT 5 WHERE THE MAJORITY OF MRES AND UARPS ARE LOCATED.

I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF INCREASING THE LICENSING FEES FOR THESE BUSINESSES TO HELP COVER THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING THE NEW STRONGER REGULATIONS NEEDED TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS SAFE.

THE COST OF LICENSING FEES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSED FEE INCREASE IS PART OF A BROADER EFFORT TOWARDS COST RECOVERY AND EVEN WITH THE INCREASE, SOME PROGRAMS WOULD STILL NOT RECOVER 100% OF THEIR ENFORCEMENT COST. STRONGER CODES ONLY WORK WHEN THE CITY HAS THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE THEM. ON SEPTEMBER 17, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR VOTE AFFECTS REAL HUMANS AND SETS AN IMPORTANT STANDARD FOR PROTECTING THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. PLEASE VOTE TO INCREASE THE

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LICENSING FEES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHEYENNE

RENDON. FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIAN RAMOS. >> SOME HANDOUTS.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CHEYEPNNE. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE LAST YEAR. WHAT WE KNOW IS CLEAR . RESIDENTS WANT STRONGER ENFORCEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PROTECTION. WE HAVE ALSO -- YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN PROVIDED WITH A PREPARE STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE. THEIR SUPPORT REFLECTS THE SAME CONCLUSION WE REACHED THROUGH THAT PROCESS. STRONGER REGULATIONS REQUIRE THE RESOURCES TO ENFORCE THEM. YOU ALSO UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR STRONGER REGULATIONS BUT THE REGULATIONS ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE CITY'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE THEM. DSD TOLD YOU THAT INCREASING THESE LICENSING FROM $1,000 TO $5,000 DOES NOT RECOVER THE COSTS OF REGULATING THESE BUSINESSES. YOU MAY HEAR COMPARISONS FROM OTHER TEXAS CITIES BUT THOSE COMPARISONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY APPLES TO APPLES.

SAN ANTONIO HAS ITS OWN POLICIES, REGULATIONS, INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS, AND ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES. OTHER CITIES MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME STANDARDS OR REQUIRE THE SAME LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT.

WE CANNOT COMPARE ONLY THE PRICE OF A LICENSE WHILE IGNORE WHAT THE LICENSE IS PAYING TO ENFORCE. SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN A LEADER IN DEVELOPING POLICIES FOR THESE INDUSTRIES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES DO LOOK TO US FOR THAT LEADERSHIP. WE SHOULD NOT WEAKEN OUR STANDARDS SIMPLY BECAUSE ANOTHER CITY CHARGES LESS WITHOUT PROVIDING THE SAME LEVEL OF REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT. SO THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU IS SIMPLE: WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THAT ENFORCEMENT? SHOULD IT BE THE INDUSTRIES REQUIRING THE INSPECTIONS OR OVERSIGHT OR SHOULD IT CONTINUE FALLING ON TAXPAYERS WHO ARE ALREADY CARRYING THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OF THEIR CONCENTRATION? YOU MAY HEAR OPPOSITION, PREDICTIONS, AND CLAIMS ABOUT WHAT THIS INCREASE COULD DO AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO WEIGH THOSE CLAIMS WITH WHAT WE KNOW.

ENFORCEMENT COSTS MONEY AND OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE ENFORCEMENT THAT ACTUALLY WORKS. YOU UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR STRONGER REGULATIONS AND PROTECTIONS. PLEASE, NOW FUND THE ENFORCEMENT BEHIND THEM AND VOTE YES TO INCREASE THESE LICENSING FEES. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: CHRISTIAN RAMOS. FOLLOWED BY MARVIN AND THEN

JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL.

I'M CHRISTIAN. I'M A CO-PRESIDENT OF STUDENTS AND DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HERE AT UTSA. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR A 12-MONTH INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT AT THE VIA CENTRO BUS STOP IN DISTRICT 5.

THROUGHOUT MY COLLEGE CAREER, WE HAVE HAD EVENTS, MAINLY THROUGH FEED THE NEED WHERE WE GO DOWNTOWN AND GIVE OUT CARE PACKAGES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM.

DURING MY FIRST YEAR IN SERVICE, I WAS ABLE TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY WERE AND PROVIDE CARE IN THAT MANNER. HOWEVER, WHEN WE RETURNED THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FENCES PLACED AROUND KIND OF THE OVERPASSES AND THE EMPTY LOTS WHERE PEOPLE USED TO STAY. BUT INSTEAD OF RELOCATING PEOPLE THAT SIMPLY DISPLACED THEM INTO THE STREETS AND THIS CAUSED, FROM MY EYES, A MASSIVE SANITATION CONCERN. THOUGH THERE WERE GARBAGE RECEPTACLES ON THE STREETS, THEY WERE OVERFILLED AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY TENDED TO.

AND THERE WAS ACCUMULATION OF HUMAN WASTE IN THE STREETS.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE SAW WASN'T THE CAUSE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S NEGLIGENCE BUT RATHER THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF INACCESSIBLE, INEFFICIENT, OR NON-EXISTENT INFRASTRUCTURE. WE KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS PREVIOUSLY SUPPORTED INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE PORTLAND LOO AT THE RIVER WALK TO PROVIDE MORE SANITATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO THOSE THAT NEED IT. SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO START EMPLOYING SOME OF THESE IN THE CENTRO BUS STOP STATION.

THIS COULD BE LIKE THE INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY PUBLIC BATHROOMS OR THE INSTALLATION OF A LOO, MAYBE A SHOWER UNIT OR OTHER HYGIENE STATIONS, AS WELL AS THE INSTALLATION OF A LIDDED DUMPSTER TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF OF THE TRASH.

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WE CAN IMPROVE THE SANITATION OF THE CENTRO BUS STOP AREA.

RELYING SOLELY ON DISPLACEMENT WON'T SOLVE THE UNDERLYING SANITATION ISSUE AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT OUR GOAL IS MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT HERE.

I THINK WE SHOULD BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE IT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

MARVIN JASANEDA FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MARVIN. I OWN A SALVAGE AND A RECYCLING YARD IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED INCREASE ON UARP AND MRES. THE ONE THEY ARE REQUESTING, IT IS A $5,000 FEE ON AN APPLICATION THAT USED TO BE $275 OR $250.

IT WENT TO $1,000. THAT WAS LAST YEAR. AND AUTO PARTS USED TO BE $500, WENT TO $1,000. WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING IS $5,000.

THAT'S OVER 400% INCREASE. THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN THE SALVAGE AND RECYCLING THAT ARE ON THE RED LINE. THEY'RE HURTING. SO IF WE INCREASE THIS FEE ON THEM, WHAT IT MAKES -- WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING, THEY WANT TO CUT DOWN ON DIFFERENT SOURCES TRYING TO PAY FOR THAT FEE. ONE OF THEM, VERY POSSIBLE THAT IT WILL FAIL TO MAINTAIN THEIR YARDS. SO NOW WE'RE FAILING TO MAINTENANCE THEIR YARD BECAUSE OF THE FEE IS TOO HIGH.

I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, NOT TO RAISE UP THAT COST THAT HIGH BY SUGGESTING INSTEAD OF BEING INSPECTED EVERY MONTHLY OR A MONTHLY BASIS, LET'S GO ON A QUARTERLY. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ALREADY IN COMPLIANCE. IF YOU ARE IN GOOD STANDING, WE SHOULD GET INSPECTED QUARTERLY. THAT WILL CUT THE COST DOWN. WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING OUT OF THE CITY. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. WE DON'T WANT TO GO OPEN IN DIFFERENT CITIES.

WE NEED TO STAY IN SAN ANTONIO. A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN UP HERE FOR 80-PLUS YEARS. WE SHOULD STAY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE A LOT OF JOBS. WE OFFER A LOT OF JOBS TO SO MANY DIFFERENT FAMILIES UP HERE. WE KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN.

WE RECYCLE ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT STUFF. IF WE DO NOT EXIST IN A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF HYBRID BATTERIES AND CELL PHONES THROWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

IT'S TOO MANY THINGS NOBODY CAN SALVAGE. WE'RE HERE TO KEEP THE CITY CLEAN. OUR INDUSTRY DOES PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THE CITY.

THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: JACK FINGER AND MARY CABRAL, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CENTER.

>> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. THIS ITEM DEALS WITH TAX RATES. SO FAR I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SPEAK ABOUT TAX RATES ON THIS ITEM BUT THAT'S OKAY. LET'S LOOK AT SOME FACTS HERE. THE ECONOMY HERE IN TOWN HAS NOT BEEN THE BEST.

IN FACT, IT'S BEEN VERY POOR FOR MANY PEOPLE AND THAT'S BEEN REFLECTED BY THE FACT THAT HOME VALUES, REAL ESTATE VALUES HAVE GONE DOWN.

GONE DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH MONEY FOR THE CITY COFFERS AS YOU NORMALLY GET. SO YOU GUYS -- MOST OF YOU GUYS LOOK AT THAT AND YOU SAY, GOLLY, OUR MONEY COMING IN IS DOWN. WE'VE GOT TO PICK IT UP AGAIN. WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE OUR TAX RATES.

INCREASE THE TAX RATES? MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SCROLL DOWN TO THE MARKS DOWN THERE. THE BLACK AREA THERE. YEAH.

WHAT IS IT? CURRENTLY, IT SAYS THAT THE PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE CURRENT YEAR IS AROUND, OH, 0.54 CENTS OR SO FOR THE MEDIAN VALUE OF 1,086 BUCKS.

THE NEXT LINE SAYS PROPERTY TAX -- THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 56 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.

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YEAH. YOU CAN RETURN THE CAMERA NOW.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT AMOUNTS TO A 3% INCREASE. YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY THIS IS A LOT LIKE YOU'RE KICKING A GUY WHEN HE'S DOWN. AND YOU'RE SAYING, JACK, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS. THIS IS ONLY 27 BUCKS EXTRA A YEAR. OKAY. THEN YOU GUYS PAY THE EXTRA 27 BUCKS A YEAR FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THAT.

IF IT'S THAT SMALL. THAT SMALL. HUH? YEAH. YEAH. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY WHY ARE YOU -- QUITE FRANKLY, YOU HAVE NOT REALLY LOOKED AT THE BUDGET THAT WELL.

YOU HAVE NOT DECREASED SPENDING AS YOU COULD. YES, I THINK YOU SHOULD BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING -- I MENTIONED THIS ONCE BEFORE AND IT BEARS REPEATING. CITY COUNCIL TAX HIKES. THE BEATINGS SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES. YEAH. YEAH.

THAT'S AN OLD MILITARY SAYING THERE. THE BEATINGS SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES. YOU GUYS AREN'T PAYING ENOUGH TAXES AND SO WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE YOUR TAX RATE. THE QUESTION IS IF THINGS GET BETTER AND YOU START PICKING UP, WILL YOU DECREASE THE TAX RATE LATER ON? HA, HA, HA, HA. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. THE TIME IS NOW 10:18 A.M.

THE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE 2026 AD VALOREM TAX RATE AND FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026.

[6. Ordinance Confirming the Appointment of Police Chief. [Erik Walsh, City Manager]]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 6. >> CLERK: ITEM 6 IS AN ORDINANCE CONFIRMING THE

APPOINTMENT OF POLICE CHIEF. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, PLEASE.

>> WALSH: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ITEM NO. 6 IS A -- FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, THE CONFIRMATION OF JESSE SALAME AS THE NEXT SAN ANTONIO POLICE CHIEF. FOLLOWING A LENGTHY NATIONWIDE SEARCH AND A COMPREHENSIVE INTERVIEW PROCESS THAT WE UNDERTOOK, JESSE EMERGED AS THE TOP CANDIDATE TO LEAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO THE FUTURE. I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN HIS LEADERSHIP, EXPERIENCE, AND COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HIS VISION HAS BEEN BUILT UPON TRUST, RESPECT, AND TRANSPARENCY. AND THAT MAKES HIM AN IDEAL CHOICE TO LEAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO THE FUTURE. HIS APPOINTMENT FOLLOWS A NATIONWIDE SEARCH THAT INVOLVED INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, THROUGH SEVERAL STAGES OF THE PROCESS.

WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE SURVEY THAT WE PRODUCED THAT WE CONDUCTED EARLIER IN THE SPRING TO GET FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYEES. WE HAD OPEN ROUNDTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU ALL APPOINTED TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND ATTRIBUTES THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF. WE HAD OVER 30 APPLICANTS IN THE PROCESS.

INTERVIEWS WERE INCLUDED, TWO PANELS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS SELECTED BY TWO FROM EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT AND THE MAYOR. WE ALSO HAD ONE PANEL OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, A NUMBER OF CITY EXECUTIVES, AND A PANEL OF 12 RANDOMLY-SELECTED SAPD EMPLOYEES, BOTH UNIFORM AND CIVILIAN.

WHAT EMERGED FROM THAT PROCESS WAS FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION WITH JESSE AND ANOTHER TOP CANDIDATE, BETWEEN DEPARTMENT CITY MANAGER MARIA VILLAGOMEZ AND MYSELF AND THE CANDIDATES TO REALLY DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO THE VISION AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TRANSITION. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT UNDERGONE A TRANSITION LIKE THIS IN 20 YEARS SO MOST OF THE OFFICERS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ONLY KNOWN ONE POLICE CHIEF.

SO IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO TRANSITION THE ORGANIZATION AND THOUGHTS ON DISCIPLINE, TECHNOLOGY, THE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AND CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE PREMIER POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY. JESSE IS A NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO WHO JOINED SAPD IN JUNE OF 1999. OVER THE PAST 27 YEARS, HE HAS STEADILY MOVED THROUGH THE RANKS. HE SPENT 15 YEARS IN THE FIELD IN INVESTIGATIVE

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UNITS. DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMUNITY, AND ITS EMPLOYEES.

JESSE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF IN DECEMBER OF 2022 AND ASSISTANT CHIEF OVER OPERATIONS IN 2024. I SHARED THIS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE TWO WEEKS AGO.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT'S MOST APPEALING TO ME -- AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ANY EXECUTIVE OF THE CITY -- BUT THE POLICE CHIEF IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS WE HAVE IN THIS ORGANIZATION. I APPRECIATE JESSE'S APPROACH -- COMMON-SENSE APPROACH AND INTUITIVE ABILITY TO ANTICIPATE, WHETHER THOSE ARE OPERATIONAL ISSUES OR THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL WILL HAVE FOR HIM ON HIS BUDGET PRESENTATION THIS AFTERNOON.

I THINK THOSE ARE KEY THINGS, KEY ATTRIBUTES. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M EXCITED FOR JESSE.

I HAVE SHARED WITH HIM THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT HIM AND ENSURE THAT HE HAS THE RESOURCES AND THE TOOLS AND THE SUPPORT TO CONTINUE LEADING OUR LARGEST DEPARTMENT IN OUR ORGANIZATION. AND HE'LL HAVE A CHANCE, AFTER YOU ALL SPEAK ON WHAT HIS PRIORITIES ARE AS HE TAKES ON THIS CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY. AND I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIM IN THIS NEW ROLE.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ANY EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATED AND SPENT TIME WITH US AND PROVIDED US VALUABLE FEEDBACK.

I THINK IT WAS A PRETTY INCLUSIVE PROCESS. CERTAINLY, ONE THAT WE HAVE NEVER GONE THIS FAR IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER INPUT.

BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE POLICE CHIEF IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK MARIA VILLAGOMEZ WHO HELPED SHEPHERD THIS PROCESS SINCE FEBRUARY. WE ARE READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, BASED ON YOUR CONFIRMATION VOTE TODAY.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO EVOLVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIES AND POLICE STRATEGIES INTO THE FUTURE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THOSE -- WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS IN THIS CITY, ACTUALLY, BUT IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE'S NO FINISH LINE. WE HAVE GOT TO CONSISTENTLY AND CONSTANTLY EVOLVE TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE DEMAND ON SERVICE, TO TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS, TO DATA. AND I THINK JESSE IS PREPARED TO DO THAT AS WE GO FORWARD AND I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT HIM IN THIS ROLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. MARIO LEAL. MARIO LEAL? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 6 SO WE MAY BEGIN

COUNCIL DISCUSSION? >>

>> SECOND TO APPROVE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

CHIEF SALAME -- OR ACTING CHIEF AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CITY. I KNOW THERE'S GOT TO BE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIDE IN THE DEPARTMENT TO SEE SOMEBODY THAT HAS COME THROUGH THE RANKS THIS FAR AND IS NOW ON THE PRECIPICE OF BEING CONFIRMED.

I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT WE HAD TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE, AS OF COURSE APPOINTED BY THE CITY MANAGER. BUT THEN MUST BE CONFIRMED BY THIS BODY. I DO WANT TO, IN LIGHT OF KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY AND GIVEN SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES BEFORE OUR COMMUNITY, FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, I DO WANT TO TOUCH UPON SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY. AND SO FOLKS CAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOU ON THESE ITEMS. THE TOP THREE ISSUES YOU WOULD FRONT LOAD IN TERMS OF YOUR PRIORITY TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WOULD YOU OUTLINE WHAT THOSE WOULD BE? >> THE FIRST ISSUE, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR ME IS PUBLIC SAFETY. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENT CRIME. AND CONTINUING TO WORK ON STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, DATA-DRIVEN APPROACHES, AND HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO KEEPING VIOLENT CRIME DOWN AND SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN THRIVE. I ALSO WANT TO DO A LOT OF

[01:20:03]

WORK WITH OUR FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE HEALTHY, THE MORALE IS GOOD.

I WANT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ALL THROUGH THE RANKS.

PARTICULARLY AT THE SERGEANT RANK BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE CULTURE IS SHAPED.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CULTURE AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

AND LASTLY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY TRUST AND THE LEGITIMACY THE COMMUNITY PLACES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO I TAKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS -- ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN EVERYTHING WE DO, EVERY OTHER VISION OR IDEA WE HAVE IS GOING TO SPRING FROM

THOSE THREE PRIORITIES. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, DURING THE -- EARLIER IN THE BUDGET SEASON, DR. CLAUDE JACOB, CHAIR OF THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ANTICIPATED AS PART OF HIS BUDGET ASK, SEEING A 20, 25% INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT YEAR. I WELCOME YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON KIND OF WHAT YOU

THINK THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT. >> I TALKED TO DR. JACOB YESTERDAY AND WE WANT TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION. THE STATS THAT WE HAD BEEN LOOKING AT AND THE WORK WE HAVE DONE THROUGH THE CCDV, WHICH I WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF IN 2019, HAS INDICATED THAT REPORTS MAY BE UP BUT THE ACTUAL INCIDENTS ARE GOING DOWN. I THINK THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR A LOT OF SERVICES, FOR OUR SURVIVORS. AND MY COMMITMENT IS GOING TO BE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH METRO HEALTH, SPECIFICALLY THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION DIVISIONS.

THEY ARE PARTNERS IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO OUR SURVIVORS.

I ANTICIPATE THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS, WHETHER IT GOES UP OR DOWN, THAT WE'RE GOING TO

BE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO APPROACH THAT TOGETHER. >> MAYOR JONES: I APPRECIATE THAT. OF COURSE THE IMMIGRATION ACTIVITY -- IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TOP OF MIND. CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THOSE ARE GOING AND JUST IN GENERAL THOUGHTS -- IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A GOTCHA QUESTION BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED TO HEAR HOW THEIR NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE IS THINKING THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

ACTIVITIES NOW AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE DEPARTMENT. >> I'LL JUST SAY IT SIMPLY.

SAPD DOES NOT ENFORCE -- WE ARE NOT IMMIGRATION AGENTS. WE DO NOT ENFORCE IMMIGRATION. THE LAW, AS IT'S WRITTEN IS VERY SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASKS FOR IT. WE COMPLY WITH THOSE MANDATES.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE FEEL OR HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE LAW, PERSONALLY.

THE LAW IS THE LAW AND MY OATH IS TO FOLLOW THE LAW. BUT OUR COMMITMENT HAS BEEN TO TRANSPARENCY AND WE PROVIDE AN UPDATED REPORT MONTHLY.

IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THREE MONTHS RUNNING, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY REQUESTS FROM ICE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT OR ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR EFFORTS.

WHEN THEY DO ASK US FOR HELP, IT IS STRICTLY THAT. IT IS TYPICALLY FOR SECURITY --R SECURITY OR PERIMETER SUPPORT. WE ARE NOT GOING IN THERE AND PUTTING HANDCUFFS ON PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ONE OF THE POINTS I APPRECIATED IN OUR CONVERSATION -- [APPLAUSE] ONE OF THE POINTS I ALSO APPRECIATED IN OUR CONVERSATION WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON APPROACHING OR ADDRESSING ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES. I WOULD WELCOME IF YOU WOULD

SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. >> SURE.

ANYTHING THAT I DO, WHETHER IT'S ACCOUNTABILITY -- AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FORM OF DISCIPLINE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCED APPROACH TO ALL OF THAT. YOU CANNOT GET TOO FAR IN ONE DIRECTION. YOU'VE GOT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO EVERYBODY.

SO AS A POLICE CHIEF, I'VE GOT DIFFERENT DEMANDS THAT ARE PLACED ON ME, WHETHER THAT'S WITH THE CITY LEADERSHIP, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ON MY OWN OFFICERS, AND COMMUNITY. THE KEY TO APPROACHING THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M BALANCED. AND SO I CAN LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR OFFICERS AND STILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE NOT IN CONFLICT.

>> MAYOR JONES: THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY POCKETS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT FEEL LESS SAFE THAN OTHERS, JUST IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. FEDERAL CHANGES, ET CETERA.

YOU SPENT TIME, AS THE LGBTQ LIAISON OFFICER. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN HOW THAT EXPERIENCE -- ONE, YOUR LESSONS LEARNED AND HOW THAT

WILL SHAPE YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> CHIEF: SURE. WHENEVER COMMUNITY YOU'RE IN, EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT IDEAS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES. EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WITH THE POLICE.

MY TIME, AS THE LIAISON, MY TIME IN THIS DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN ME THE ONE THING THAT I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A POLICE LEADER. AND THAT IS PERSPECTIVE AND HAVING THE PERSPECTIVE OF

[01:25:04]

OTHER PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM THEIR EYES AND NOT NECESSARILY WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER WE AGREE ON EVERYTHING BUT TRYING TO FIND THOSE AREAS WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER. THAT SHARED PERSPECTIVE HAS GUIDED ME WELL AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE ME THROUGHOUT MY YEARS HERE AS THE POLICE CHIEF.

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING THAT.

AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY HEARS DIRECTLY FROM YOU ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE TOP OF MIND FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT AND JUST GIVEN YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR CONFIRMATION HERE.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.

TODAY IS AN EXCITING DAY. I MEAN, IT IS GREAT THAT WE'RE SEEING SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO COME AND, AS ERIK MENTIONED, TAKE ONE OF THE TOP SPOTS IN THE CITY. I WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU THAT YOU WENT TO EDISON BUT -- NO. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, IT IS ALWAYS NICE TO SEE SOMEONE WHO KIND OF WENT THROUGH THE RANKS. AS YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, HAVING THAT SHARED PERSPECTIVE AND HAVING THAT PERSPECTIVE THROUGH ALL OF YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS SO INVALUABLE AS YOU WILL TAKE THE CHIEF'S SPOT.

I THINK ALSO, TOO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTED -- I KNOW I MENTIONED TO YOU -- WHEN YOU DID LAY OUT YOUR TOP PRIORITIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, OF PROTECTING PEOPLE AND PROTECTING YOUR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY TRUST. I THINK THAT THOSE -- THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HEAR PERSONALLY BECAUSE I KNOW, ONE, PUBLIC SAFETY OBVIOUSLY IS PARAMOUNT TO ALL OF US UP HERE. TWO, KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE YOUR PEOPLE'S BACK IS ALSO IMPORTANT SO THEY CAN FEEL ENTRUSTED TO DO THE JOB THEY NEED TO DO TO KEEP US SAFE. LASTLY, COMMUNITY TRUST. I THINK WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT DYNAMIC HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE OUR RESIDENTS LOVE OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND VICE VERSA. WE WANT TO CONTINUE BUILDING ON THAT RELATIONSHIP.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO JUST THAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE NEXT CHAPTER HAS TREMENDOUS EXPECTATIONS BUT NO DOUBT YOU WILL FILL THEM AND EXCEED THEM. I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATED WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HOW PUBLIC SAFETY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GO HAND IN HAND. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTRACT COMPANIES OR CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR CITY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY AND SAFE CITY. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT.

I KNOW THAT OUR OFFICERS DESERVE A CHIEF WHO WILL STAND BY THEM WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. WE'LL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY FALL SHORT.

WE'LL ALSO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TRAINING AND THE RESOURCES AND THE LEADERSHIP TO DO THEIR JOB EFFECTIVELY AND I KNOW YOU'RE THE PERSON FOR THAT JOB.

CONGRATULATIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS. THANKS.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO SALAME FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY AND ALL THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD UP TO THIS MOMENT.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER'S TEAM, MARIA, ERIK, AND EVERYBODY WHO CONDUCTED A THOROUGH SEARCH FOR A NEW POLICE CHIEF AND THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 6.

HAVING FOLKS WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO SHAPE, YOU KNOW, WHAT EXPERIENCE WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BOTH FOR THE FOLKS WHO FEEL MAYBE THERE'S AN UNDERRESPONSE IN SOME WAY OR A HIGHER NEED AND FOLKS WHO ARE FURTHER OUT WHO ALSO WONDER, OKAY, HOW IS A NEW CHIEF GOING TO HELP SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES ON THE FAR EDGES OF OUR CITY. ALL OF THOSE CAME INTO VIEW AS WE WERE LOOKING TO SEE WHO THE NEXT CHIEF WOULD BE AND I'M SO PROUD TO SEE IT IS YOU.

I WANT TO THANK CHIEF MCMANUS FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR ALSO HIS INSIGHT BRINGING YOU UP INTO THE RANKS AS WELL AND THE WORK YOU DID ALONGSIDE HIM. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AS WELL FOR THE CELEBRATION WE HAD FOR CHIEF MCMANUS AND HIS STEPPING AWAY FROM THE SERVICE WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION THE WHOLE DAY, IN PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU UP BEFORE YOU GET APPOINTED BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE YOU YOUR FLOWERS A BIT MORE. YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO WORKED THEIR WAY UP IN THE RANKS, SOMEONE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE AND DEFINE THIS COMMUNITY AS YOU MOVE INTO THE FUTURE. THIS IS NOT AN EASY ROLE BUT I AM TRUSTING YOU CAN DO IT AND SO DO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6.

[01:30:01]

YOU'RE RESPONSIVE AND PROACTIVE. A TRUE LEADER TO THE FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT. YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT.

YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SYLVIA, CELESTE, AND THE WHOLE GALVAN CREW.

VERY EXCITED FOR YOU. YOUR WORK IS CUT OUT FOR YOU BUT I'M READY TO SUPPORT YOU

TODAY. THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY MOMENTOUS DAY. IT'S A BIG DAY OF COURSE FOR YOU BUT REALLY ALSO FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. BECAUSE IN YOU, I BELIEVE WE ARE GETTING A LEADER WHO IS HONEST, TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND SOMEBODY WHO REALLY EXEMPLIFIES WHAT IT IS TO BE A LEADER. AND YOU'VE SHOWN THAT THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

TO BE THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE SIXTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA, WHAT AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT. I KNOW ALL OF US ARE VERY, VERY PROUD THAT YOU HAVE RISEN TO THIS POSITION TO BE HERE TODAY. AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU. AND THE ONLY THING THAT I'M GOING TO ASK OF YOU, OTHER THAN TO BE COMMUNICATIVE, RESPONSIVE, AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALREADY ARE, IS THAT WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS, PERSONNEL, RESOURCES, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, LET US KNOW BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS THIS GOVERNMENT'S NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT YOU

IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. CONGRATULATIONS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF US AND WE VOTE FOR YOU FOR THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE. I THINK THE PROCESS WAS ALREADY COMMUNITY ORIENTED.

WE GOT TO APPOINT TWO MEMBERS SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY GOT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I HEARD FROM MY APPOINTEES IT WAS A TOUGH PROCESS.

YOU DIDN'T JUST WALK RIGHT INTO THIS ROLE WITHOUT COMPETITION.

THERE WERE SOME REALLY EXCELLENT CANDIDATES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT INTERVIEWED AS WELL. MY TWO APPOINTEES, I WANT TO THANK THEM.

ONE OF THEM WAS MONICA AND HER COMMENTS TO ME WAS IT WAS A PRIVILEGE INTERVIEWING HIM AND THE RIGHT CANDIDATE WAS CHOSEN. SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH NEIGHBORS.

AND THEN THE OTHER PERSON WAS JUSTIN HOLLY, THE CEO OF THRIVE AND FROM HIM HE SAID I THINK OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HIM ON LGBTQ+ ISSUES, SINCE YOU WERE THE LIAISON. THAT WAS MY FIRST MEETING WITH YOU AND I THOUGHT YOU HANDLED THE SITUATIONS THEY WERE FACING WITH CARE, COMPASSION, AND EMPATHY. TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW -- WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD BE BETTER FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

SO I CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU. ALSO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED ON CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION AND HOW WE CAN REALLY WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE FOLKS. AND OF COURSE I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY BIKE PATROL OFFICERS. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MORE OF THOSE DOWNTOWN. AND OF COURSE OUR SAFFE OFFICERS.

THOSE ARE CORE PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT. BUT EVEN JUST THIS WEEK I WAS SPENDING SOME TIME WITH THE TRAFFIC TEAM. EVEN THE TRAFFIC, THE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, EVERY SINGLE PART OF OUR PD IS SO IMPORTANT.

I KNOW I SHOUT OUT A FEW FOLKS ALL THE TIME BUT I REALLY LEARNED HOW MUCH WORK THE TRAFFIC TEAM EVEN JUST PUTS IN WITH HOW LITTLE RESOURCES THEY HAVE.

AND ALL OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, I REALLY APPRECIATE -- AND I HAVE LEARNED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE SAPD AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT COMMUNITY TRUST, LIKE WAS ALREADY SHARED.

BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE WE CAN BE AN EXEMPLAR FOR WHAT A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT REALLY LOOKS LIKE, WHICH SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO SEE IN THE NEWS.

I FORESEE US CONTINUING TO BE IN THE NEWS AS THAT EXEMPLAR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

GOOD LUCK. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. I KNOW THE FOLKS HERE ARE GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING TOGETHER TO MAKE A HOLISTICALLY-STRONGER COMMUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO.

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

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, PLEASE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF SALAME FOR YOUR WORK IN LEADERSHIP.

AND IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT AS WE IDENTIFY CHIEF, THAT IT WAS SOMEONE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND ERIK AND MARIA FOR THEIR SEARCH

[01:35:01]

AS WELL AS STEPHANIE AND MATTHEW, WHO REPRESENTED DISTRICT 5.

STEPHANIE OVERSEES THE BRADY GARDENS COMMUNITY WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY IS A CONCERN IN TERMS OF JUST A WEALTH OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRIME. AND THEN OF COURSE MATTHEW IS ALSO A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER AND IS THE SON OF A FALLEN POLICE OFFICER WITH A VERY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO OFFER. GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WORK IN LEADERSHIP REPRESENTING DISTRICT 5 IN THIS PROCESS. BUT AGAIN, AS MENTIONED, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DURING MY TENURE ON COUNCIL, YOUR EXPERTISE THAT YOU LEND TO OUR OFFICE TO NAVIGATE CONSTITUENT SERVICES CASES.

BUT AT COMMITTEE, IN B SESSION, DURING BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, ALWAYS BEING PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION THAT COUNCIL CAME PREPARED WITH.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND DR. KAUR AS THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

SHE PACKS A ROBUST PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA WHERE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PD TO FLEX Y'ALL'S WORK IN DIFFERENT EXPERTISE IN THE DIFFERENT ROLES AND INTERSECTIONS WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY AS A WHOLE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THERE ARE MANY ACCOLADES THAT I KNOW FOLKS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED BUT I THINK WHAT MEANS SOMETHING TO THE KIDS THAT I REPRESENT IS THAT YOU ARE A PRODUCT OF SAISD AND EDISON HIGH SCHOOL. THAT MEANS A LOT TO THE STUDENTS THAT I USED TO WORK FOR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO CAREER DAYS. NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ME BUT THE LEADERSHIP WE SEE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, NOW REPRESENTING, AS MENTIONED, THE SIXTH LARGEST CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT SOMEONE FROM EDISON HIGH SCHOOL, SAISD, SAN ANTONE TO THE BONE, REPRESENTING AND SERVING. THANK YOU, CHIEF SALAME. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY BUT I THANK ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

YOUR EXPERTISE THAT I SEE OUT IN THE FIELD. I HAVE HAD UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RIDE ALONG, SEEING A UNIQUE CASE WITH SERGIO HERNANDEZ.

IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE A COINCIDENCE THAT THE DAY OF MY RIDE ALONG THERE WAS AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING AND ENDED UP WHERE I WANTED HIM TO TAKE ME.

THERE I GOT TO SEE THE RIGOR, EXPERTISE, AND TRAINING OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS HOW TO RESPOND IN CRISIS. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, CHIEF, THE WORK OF ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AND OF COURSE OFFICER JOHNNY AS WELL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN KEEPING THAT CONVERSATION GOING, HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE AND COMMUNICATE FOR DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR APPOINTMENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU. I'M THRILLED.

I THINK WE ALL ARE. THIS IS AN EASY CHOICE AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND ALL THE OFFICERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, EVERYONE IS REALLY EXCITED.

AND THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW MUCH EFFORT AND WORK YOU'VE PUT IN OVER THE YEARS. IT'S A LOT OF SACRIFICE, AND I KNOW THAT.

BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE HOME GROWN, YOU UNDERSTAND OUR CULTURE, THERE'S INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. YOU HAVE SUPPORT FROM OUR POLICE FORCE AND UNDERSTAND OUR OFFICERS IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS.

YOUR FORWARD THINKING AND YOU'RE VERY ACCESSIBLE AND COMPASSIONATE.

IN DEALING WITH ME, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ENCOURAGING AND WE HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY OUT IN DISTRICT 9 AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT THERE. I KNOW THAT YOU DO THE SAME FOR ALL OF OUR CITY. I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH EVERYONE. THERE IS A REAL WILLINGNESS TO BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL FIRST RESPONDERS. I APPRECIATE THAT AND IT'S REFRESHING. IT'S A HISTORIC MOMENT AND SO I GOT YOU A PLAQUE.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU. >> SPEARS: IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO, MAY YOU LEAD OUR OFFICERS WITH COURAGE, WISDOM, AND STRENGTH.

ALWAYS GUIDED BY A SERVANT'S HEART AND A STEADFAST DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

MATTHEW 5:9. [APPLAUSE]

.>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THAT PLAQUE WAS FROM ALL OF US, CHIEF. JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW. CONGRATULATIONS, FIRST OF ALL. AS HAS BEEN SAID, THANK YOU TO MR. BLANCO FROM D4, WHO

[01:40:02]

WAS A PART OF THE PROCESS. WHAT I HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS WAS THEY WANTED SOMEBODY FROM SAN ANTONIO. THEY SAID PLEASE GET SOMEBODY FROM HERE.

LUCKILY, WE HAD SOME GREAT TALENT HERE AND THAT WAS YOU.

AGAIN, I JUST THINK IT'S FANTASTIC. I'LL HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THAT YOU ARE FROM EDISON. I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS WHO GO THROUGH THERE TODAY TO KNOW THAT THE POLICE CHIEF OF SAN ANTONIO WALKED THOSE HALLS.

I THINK IN OUR CONVERSATION YOU RECOGNIZED THAT THERE ARE FOLKS YOU KNOW THAT WENT DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH IN LIFE AND YOU RECOGNIZED THE HUMANITY BEHIND THEM.

SO IT'S NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT THERE'S COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND THERE'S WANTING, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG FOLKS, TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND GIVING THEM THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. AND NOT SIMPLY GOING THE OLD WAY OF YOU'RE BREAKING THE LAW, HERE ARE THE HANDCUFFS. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

IT'S A BIG DAY, NOT ONLY JUST FOR YOU BUT I SEE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE TODAY. AND I KNOW HOW PROUD THEY ARE OF YOU AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEM TO SEE THIS DAY. ALL OF THEM RECOGNIZE IT'S A BIG JOB THAT YOU HAVE, IT'S A TOLL ON YOUR LIFE AND YOU'RE ON LOAN TO US FROM YOUR FAMILY. I KNOW THEY WILL BE BY YOUR SIDE FOR ALL THOSE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE WORK. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OTHER THING WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE HAD OUR ONE-ON-ONE WHICH IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A TWITTER, AND THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW. THANK YOU FOR NOT DOING THAT.

BUT THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, PLEASE.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID SO MUCH THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP BUT THIS IS ABOUT YOU TODAY, CHIEF SALAME.

CONGRATULATIONS. I WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY BECAUSE YOU ARE SHARING YOUR BROTHER, YOUR HUSBAND, YOUR DAD WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND AFTER BEING HERE WITH CHIEF MCMANUS, IN TERMS OF THE RELATIONSHIP, THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB. IT'S GOING TO BE LONELY AND IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH BUT YOU HAVE STEPPED UP AND SAID YES. AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. SIMILAR TO WHAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IS THAT THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE SAN ANTONIO WAY OR THE SAN ANTONIO SOLUTION, YOU HAVE COME UP AND SEEN SAN ANTONIO GROW. SO WITH THAT, THERE IS JUST GOING TO BE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING, I BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE, IN TIMES THAT ARE -- AND I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE -- REALLY DARK AND UNCERTAIN.

THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME. I WAS ABLE TO SHARE MY CONCERNS. AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS JUST -- THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE AND AS I LOOK AT YOUR TEAM OF LEADERSHIP HERE, YOU HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB. Y'ALL CONTINUE TO WORK AND MOVE UP.

WHEN PEOPLE THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY, THEY THINK SAPD. SO NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AS THE CHIEF, WITH YOUR TEAM, TO SHOW THEM WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAN ANTONIO AND TO BE COMPASSIONATE BUT TO BE FAIR AND KEEP OUR PUBLIC SAFE. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. I AM SO GLAD ABOUT ALL YOUR MEDIA EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE. I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL, AS THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE. AND Y'ALL KNOW THIS. I PRAY FOR THE OFFICERS DAILY AND PRAY FOR YOUR SAFETY. BECAUSE THIS IS A JOB WHERE YOU GO FROM ONE CALL TO ANOTHER AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING INTO.

THANK YOU FOR SAYING YES. THANK YOU FOR LEADING. AGAIN, FAMILY, THANK YOU.

THERE'S GOING TO BE HIGH TIMES AND PARADES AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH AND YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD YOUR BREATH.

BUT TOGETHER WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS AND TOGETHER WE MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU,

COUNCILWOMAN. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ,

PLEASE. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS. I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY AS CHIEF AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE DEVOTED YOUR CAREER TO SERVING THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VARIOUS ROLES YOU HAVE HAD WITH SAPD. I'M GLAD YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE, AS AM I. I KNOW YOUR CITY IS PROUD OF YOU TODAY AND EDISON IS PROUD OF YOU TODAY SO I HOPE YOU'RE WEARING A "GO, BEARS" SHIRT UNDERNEATH THAT.

IT TAKES EVERYBODY. PUBLIC SERVICE IS THE SERVICE OF OURSELVES AND THE SERVICE THE FAMILY GIVES AS WE ARE PROVIDING THIS SERVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOUR FAMILY THAT'S HERE TODAY. YOU LOOK LIKE MY FAMILY, SO

[01:45:01]

THAT'S AWESOME. BUT I REALLY AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL SERVE THIS CITY WELL AND YOU DON'T GET TO PICK THE NATURAL DISASTER, THE EMERGENCY EVENT THAT COMES BEFORE YOU BUT I KNOW THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF LEADING AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY STAYS SAFE. AND TO THE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE BEHIND YOU THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THEY ARE PROBABLY FRIENDS NOW AT THIS POINT, WITH HOW LONG YOU HAVE WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S WHAT IT ALL BECOMES.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN WE TALKED YESTERDAY, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS POINT, WITH EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO AS OFFICERS AND THOSE OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE WORK YOU DO WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

AND THEY HAVE OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AS WELL AND SO I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN DISTRICT 8 ARE NORTH SIDE AND NORTH EAST ISD WHO HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS BUDGET CUTS. IF YOU COULD HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS

DOING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS. >> CHIEF: YEAH, I MEAN, THE SCHOOLS, THEY FACE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AFTER UVALDE. THAT WAS A STAIN ON ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE RESPONSE. AS A RESULT OF KIND OF INCREASED SAFETY, THE SCHOOLS WERE MANDATED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES BY HAVING AN OFFICER AT EVERY SCHOOL. LIKE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE MANDATED BY LAW SOMETIMES AT THE STATE LEVEL IT DIDN'T COME WITH FUNDING. AND SO THEY HAD TO PULL A LOT OF THEIR OVERNIGHT RESOURCES AND GET OFFICERS WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE SAFE. WE HAVE HAD TO STEP IN -- AND GLADLY WE'LL DO IT TO FILL THAT VOID AND INCREASE OUR PATROLS AROUND THE AREA THAT TYPICALLY WERE HANDLED BY THE SCHOOLS AT NIGHT. RELATIONSHIPS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR THE POLICE CHIEF OF NORTH SIDE OR SAISD TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT DIRECT AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED SOME HELP. AND FOR US, LIKE ALWAYS, TO REACH OUT AND SAY WE GOT

YOU. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR APPOINTMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS. I'VE SAID IT A FEW TIMES BEFORE THAT, AS A TEACHER, PEOPLE THINK YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS ACADEMIC RESULTS OR TEST SCORES.

AND YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS A TEACHER IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE STUDENTS IN YOUR CLASS ARE SAFE. AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT I APPROACH MY ROLE AS A COUNCILMEMBER IS HOW DO I ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT WITHIN MY DISTRICT IS SAFE AND ALL THEIR NEEDS ARE MET. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY.

WE'VE HAD MANY GREAT CONVERSATIONS BEFORE AND I APPRECIATE YOUR APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS HOLISTIC AND IT'S DATA DRIVEN AND IT'S BASED OFF OF BEST PRACTICES AND RESEARCH. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, COLLABORATING.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE REST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, AS YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU. MYSELF INCLUDED. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE IN THIS WAY, WHICH IS NOT THE EASIEST.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: I WANTED TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZE MY DISTRICT 8 REPRESENTATIVES, HOWARD AND ART WHO SERVED ON THE ROUNDTABLE.

>> MAYOR JONES: ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?

>> WALSH: POINTING IT OUT BUT I WANT TO THANK THE COMMAND STAFF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO IS SEATED HERE TODAY. THEIR STEADY LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN IMPORTANT THROUGH THIS TRANSITION. AND I KNOW THEY'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHIEF SALAME, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE EMPLOYEES. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. REMEMBER, THERE'S NO FINISH LINE SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP ROLLING HERE. NUMBER TWO, I DO APPRECIATE THAT CHIEF ROSCO AND THE FIRE COMMAND STAFF ARE HERE AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S INDICATIVE OF THE COLLABORATIVE WORK THAT BOTH POLICE AND FIRE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. CHIEF FRAUSTO AND THE COMMAND STAFF, FIRE, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE SUPPORTING CHIEF SALAME'S ITEM TODAY.

LASTLY, I WANTED TO GIVE JESSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE HIS FAMILY, WHO IS HERE. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE JOB AND HE'LL NEED TO RELY UPON THEM. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF YOU INTRODUCE

THEM. >> CHIEF: EVERYBODY SITTING -- YOU GUYS STAND UP. MY PARENTS, MY BOYS, MY BETTER HALF, MY SISTERS, FUTURE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, A FIREFIGHTER. WE'LL ACCEPT HIM NOW. THANK YOU.

[01:50:03]

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT'S MOVED -- WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS? RELAX. PLEASE, CHIEF. THANK YOU.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. I'M TRULY HUMBLED.

I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE MET WITH EACH OF YOU AND GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR TAKE ON WHAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES WELL, WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE. AND WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF ME ARE AS THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE. AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG SELECTION PROCESS AND THAT ENDS TODAY. BUT IT REALLY IS THE BEGINNING OF THE REAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THE WORK THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO DO. AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, EACH OF YOU.

I GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY AND I GREW UP IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE. I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST YOU PLACED IN ME.

I'M READY TO GET TO WORK. LET'S GO. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 6. PLEASE VOTE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING]

>> MAYOR JONES: THE CITY CLERK WILL NOW SWEAR YOU IN. >> CLERK: IN THE NAME AND

BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. >> CHIEF: I, JESSE SALAME, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP

>> MAYOR JONES: CHIEF WE'LL JOIN YOU FOR A PICTURE. WE'LL JOIN YOU FOR A PICTURE.

[7. Ordinance authorizing the execution of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the San Antonio Police Officers' Association for a three-year period commencing October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029. [Erik Walsh, City Manager]]

[01:57:44]

>> MAYOR JONES: MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READY ITEM 7.

>> ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER

30, 2029. >> THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR YOUR APPROVAL. BEFORE I BEGIN THE PRESENTATION, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS.

ON THE ASSOCIATION TEAM WE HAVE HERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, JOHNNY PEREZ, THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR FOR SAPOA WAS SERGEANT CHRIS LUTTIN HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL, AND SAPOA PRESIDENT JASON SANCHEZ.

ON THE CITY'S TEAM WE HAD DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING DEPARTMENT CHIEF JOHNNY GOMEZ, MAT MARIE, POLICE A DISTANCE DIRECTOR RICK RILEY, FREDDY MARTINEZ, INTERIM HUMAN RESOURCES JOE JINX. ALSO, THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH FOR HIS STRATEGY AND DIRECTION DURING THIS PROCESS. SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING CITY COUNCIL TODAY IS TO APPROVAL THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2029.

THE PARAMETERS OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 143 AND TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 174 THAT GIVES AUTHORIZATION TO THE CITY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS TO NEGOTIATE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU TODAY. THROUGH THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 143 THAT IMPROVE THE OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. THE CURRENT CONTRACT

[02:00:03]

THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. AS WE DID THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITY INCLUDED A THREE-YEAR TERM FOR THIS CONTRACT GIVEN OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE TOTAL COMPENSATION POSITION WITH OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES TO REALIGN PATROL SHIFTS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO DISCIPLINE, SPECIFICALLY EXPUNCTIONS. SO WE STARTED NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ASSOCIATION IN JANUARY 30 AS REQUIRED BY THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. WE HELD A TOTAL OF 10 SESSIONS BETWEEN JANUARY AND JULY, AND WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE WERE NEGOTIATING, INCLUDING HOURS OF WORK, TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, HEALTHCARE, AND DISCIPLINE. FINALLY, IN JULY, WE REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON ALL THE ISSUES.

SAPOA MEMBERSHIP HAS RATIFIED THIS AGREEMENT AND REPORTED A 61% APPROVAL RATE. OTHER NEGOTIATION SESSIONS THAT I MENTIONED WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE MEETINGS WERE LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED AND THE RECORDINGS AS WELL AS ALL THE MATERIALS WERE POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. SO THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TODAY ACHIEVES THE PRIORITIES. WE REACHED A THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT THAT RECOGNIZES THE CITY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION. WE MAINTAINED COMPETITIVE TOTAL COMPENSATION THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO MAINTAIN A STRONG POSITION AND LOW ATTRITION RATES IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE CONTINUE EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION TOWARD THE COST OF HEALTHCARE.

WE'RE ABLE TO REALIGN PATROL SHIFTS TO ADDRESS DEMAND, AND WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR DISCIPLINARY PROCESS. NOW, IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION AND HEALTHCARE, THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT HAS A 16.5% WAGE INCREASE OVER THREE YEARS, 4% FISCAL YEAR '27, 5% IN '28 AND 7.5% IN YEAR '29. NOW, WHEN WE STARTED NEGOTIATIONS AND WE DO THIS AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE, WE DO A SURVEY AND REFER TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES. WHEN WE DID THAT SURVEY, WE -- THE WAY WE RANK OR THE WAY THAT SAN ANTONIO RANKED COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES, WE WERE IN THE TOP THREE TIERS WHEN WE INCLUDE TOTAL COMPENSATION. WITH THE CONTRACT TODAY, WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT POSITION WITHIN THE TOP THREE COMPARED TO THOSE CITIES THAT HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS THROUGH 2029.

NOT ALL THE CITIES HAVE THE SAME TERMS AS OUR CONTRACT.

IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE, WE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH SAPOA, AND HE HAVE WITH A JOINT EFFORT IN THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO MITIGATE THE INCREASING COSTS OF HEALTHCARE THAT THE CITY HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. WE ARE INCREASING EMPLOYEES' CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE COST OF HEALTHCARE WITH OUT OF POCKETS AND DEDUCTIBLES, AND WE'RE ALSO INCORPORATING EMPLOYEE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THEIR DEPENDENTS AND THE CITY PLAN, WHICH IS A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN. WE MADE CHANGES TO PHARMACY THAT REDUCES COST TO THE CITY, AND ALSO SAPOA PROPOSED AND WE ACCEPTED TO EXCLUDE FROM COVERAGE NON-EMERGENT SERVICES PROVIDED AT FREESTANDING EMERGENCY ROOMS. RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF THE ASSOCIATION, WE AGREED TO SHARE ANY SAVINGS THAT WE MAY SEE IN THE MEDICAL PLAN THAT PERFORMS BETTER THAN THE BUDGET BEGINNING NEXT CALENDAR YEAR 2027, AND WE ALSO AGREED TO MAKE ANY IRS REQUIRED CHANGES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AUTOMATICALLY IN THE CONTRACT IN FUTURE YEARS. IN TERMS OF HOURS OF WORK, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE DISCUSSED WAS REALIGNING OUR PATROL SHIFTS TO ADDRESS CALL DEMAND, INCREASE OFFICER AVAILABILITY FOR PROACTIVE WORK, AND INCREASING SCHEDULE OPTIONS FOR OFFICERS. SO ON THE TABLE BELOW THAT Y YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE A, B, C, AND D.

WE LOOKED AT THE DATA-BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE GET, THE AREAS OF THE CITY, AND THE HOURS OF THE DAY.

SO THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT INCLUDES TWO SHIFTS OR TWO DIFFERENT HOUR SCHEDULES FOR EACH OF THE SHIFTS AND ELIMINATES THE T SHIFT.

WE WILL HAVE AN EIGHT AND TEN-HOUR SHIFT FOR EACH OF THOSE HOURS OF

[02:05:01]

THE DAY, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO OVERLAP OUR OFFERS IN THOSE DAYS OF THE WEEK AND HOURS OF THE DAY WHEN WE EXPERIENCE MOST CALLS, BUT ALSO THE MOST VIOLENT TYPE OF CALLS THAT TEND TO HAPPEN DURING THE B AND C SHIFT. IN TERMS OF DISCIPLINE, WE ARE CONTINUING TO ENHANCE OUR PROCESS FOR DISCIPLINE, SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED IN THE LAST COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

SO THE CHANGES IN THIS TENT CONSERVATIVE AGREEMENT INCLUDE RESOLUTION ON ANY NOTIFYING CRIMINAL MATTER BE NOTIFIED TO THE CHIEF AS WELL AS WHEN AN OFFICER FILES A PETITION FOR AN EXPUNCTION WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THAT -- OF THAT PETITION.

WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A PROCESS THAT PROVIDES A PATH TO REHIRE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SEPARATED IN GOOD STANDING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN 24 HOURS OF SEPARATION. AND THEN OTHER ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT INCLUDES MAKING SOME CLARIFICATION AND TIME LINES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LABOR RELATIONS COMMITTEE. THEY WILL HAVE INPUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF POLICE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE DEATH AND FAMILY LEAVE TO INCLUDE MISCARRIAGES AND ALLOWING OUR EMPLOYEES MORE FLEXIBILITY UNDER OUR 457 PLAN WHEN AN EMPLOYEE RETIRES LATER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. AND FINALLY, COVERING EDUCATION-RELATED EXPENSES FOR OFFICERS THAT ARE PURSUING DUTY-RELATED MEDICAL CERTIFICATIONS AS WE KNOW THAT OUR OFFICERS NEED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. SO THE COST OF THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS $102.3 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE. THE COST OF FISCAL YEAR '27 IS 15.4 MILLION. THE CUMULATIVE COST IN '28 THAT INCLUDES FISCAL YEAR '27 COST IS 28.9 AND IN FISCAL YEAR '29, THE CUMULATIVE COST IS 57.9 IN THIS INCREASE TO THE CONTRACT.

'27 INCLUDES THE PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS 15.4 MILLION DOLLARS.

THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COSTS BEYOND WHAT WE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. SO FINALLY, WE RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT. WE'RE AVAILABLE TO

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> JUST A COUPLE ISSUES.

I WANT TO -- I WANT TO THANK THE SAPOA TEAM WHO IS -- WHO IS, ONE, EXPERIENCED. YOU KNOW, IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR ANYTHING, WHEN PARTIES CONSTRUCTIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO REACH AGREEMENT, THEN -- THEN THAT'S HOW THESE THINGS GET TO FINAL.

AND I APPRECIATE THE ASSOCIATION'S WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S MAIN CONCERNS AND THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE SET OUT AT THE BEGINNING AND HOPEFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO ALSO SATISFY THE ISSUES AND THE PRIMARY ISSUES THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAD AT NEGOTIATIONS.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT -- AND I'VE BEEN PART OF THESE FOR MANY YEARS -- THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK DONE BETWEEN JANUARY AND JULY, AND I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S TEAM LED BY MARIA AND LIZ BECAUSE IT IS A CONSTANT. IT IS -- IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE DOING ON A NORMAL BASIS OR THEY'RE DOING ON A NORMAL BASIS AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO REACH CONCLUSION KNOWING WE SATISFIED OUR DESIRES OR OUR GOALS AND THE OTHER PARTY, THE ASSOCIATION HAS SATISFIED THEIR GOALS.

WITH THAT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL TODAY, AND I THINK IT WILL PROVIDE US THE FLEXIBILITY WE NEED GIVEN THE SHORTER TIME FRAME. GENERALLY IF YOU LOOK AT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS ACROSS THE STATE, THEY -- THREE YEARS IS ON THE SHORTER END.

GENERALLY THEY'RE FOUR OR FIVE YEAR AGREEMENTS, AND WE THINK IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ADJUST AS WE SEE THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE CHANGE OVER THE NEXT COMING YEARS.

THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE CITY TEAM AND ALL THE WORK AND THANK YOU,

JOHNNY, FOR YOUR TEAM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7 SO WE MAY BEGIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION? OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. ERIK, AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE INSTANCE THAT THE VARIABLE RATE IS NOT APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

[02:10:01]

WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK WITH A DIFFERENT SOLUTION.

SO THIS PROPOSAL THOUGH IS BUILT INTO BASED ON YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH ASSUMES THE RATE INCREASE. CORRECT.

>> IT IS BUILT INTO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND REGARDLESS OF -- AND WHAT'S BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS NOT A VARIABLE RATE ON THE M AND O, ON THE BUDGET. THAT'S A CONVERSATION WITH THE BOND.

BUT IT IS BUILT INTO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO AROUND THE TAX RATE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO INCREASE TAXES OR NEED TO MAKE ABOUT 75 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REDUCTIONS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHICH IS THAT SCENARIO I PRESENTED

AFTER THE PROPOSED BUDGET. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR CLARIFICATION. THE M AND O PIECE JUST DISCUSSED, PLEASE CLARIFY IF THERE ISN'T 7 ON THAT ON THE 17TH, HOW DOES THIS IMPACT

THIS AS PART OF THE BUDGET. >> IF THERE'S A WHAT,

MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: IF THERE IS NOT 7 VOTES.

IF THERE'S NOT 60%, AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT IS

DISCUSSED HERE TO CLARIFY. >> IT DOESN'T IMPACT IT BECAUSE WE ARE ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE ALREADY VOTED TO APPROVE IT. TO ANSWER THE BUDGET QUESTION, IF THERE AREN'T 7 VOTES FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, THEN WE WILL BE MAKING 75 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CUTS OVER TWO YEARS AND WHETHER THAT'S DONE AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL OR YOU DIRECT ME TO DO THAT AND PRESENT THAT BACK, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM, MARIA, LIZ FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT ASSISTED YOU ALL. JOHNNY, YOUR TEAM, I THINK EVERYBODY ENTERED THE NEGOTIATIONS IN GOOD FAITH, WORKED HARD, AND WE CAME TO A RESOLUTION HERE WHICH I THINK IS GOOD FOR ALL PARTIES BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY RECOGNIZES THAT WE DO HAVE THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID AND PAID WELL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO. SO THANK YOU TO BOTH OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAMS. THANK YOU TO OUR SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA,

PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR GETTING TOGETHER AND NEGOTIATING. I THINK BOTH PARTIES WENT INTO IT WITH GOOD FAITH IN EACH OTHER IN TRYING TO WORK ON A SOLUTION. I THINK IT ACCOMPLISHES CERTAINLY OUR FIDUCIARY CONCERNS AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL AS GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WERE SEEKING.

I'M GLAD THAT THE OFFICERS APPROVED THAT AND SO I DO LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING IT TODAY AND MOVING ON AND GETTING THIS DONE.

SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ, PLEASE.

>> MEZA GONZALEZ: I WANTED TO THANK MARIA AND HER TEAM AND THANK YOU TO SAPOA AND YOUR TEAM FOR GOING INTO THESE NEGOTIATIONS AS IT WAS STATED IN GOOD FAITH FOR THE BENEFITS OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE WORK HARD TO SUPPORT AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORT IN DOING THAT.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDRETE GAVITO, PLEASE. >> I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS SIGNED UP. FULLY SUPPORTIVE. YES, WE HAVE THE BEST POLICE FORCE IN THE COUNTRY, AND I'M EXCITED TO GET THIS GOINGS.

GOING. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN,

PLEASE. >> GALVAN: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID ON THIS AS WELL AS JOHNNY AND THE FOLKS AT THE UNION FOR BRINGING A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO US TODAY. NEGOTIATIONS ARE NEVER EASY, BUT THEY'RE NECESSARY, OF COURSE. OUR OFFICERS DO A LOT OF DIFFICULT AND IMPORTANT WORK HERE IN OUR CITY TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE AND THAT WORK WARRANTS FAIR COMPENSATION.

THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. THAT'S WHAT A UNION IS MEANT TO DO.

I HOPE THIS INSPIRES WORKERS TO JOIN A UNION AND FIGHT FOR YOUR WORKPLACE. I SUPPORTED THIS ITEM TODAY.

I WANT TO BE AWARE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. IT REQUIRES A SOUND BUDGET, ONE THAT'S EFFICIENT AND WELL STRUCTURED.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS ON OTHER CONTRACTS AS WELL AND OTHER CONVERSATIONS AROUND COMPENSATION FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO BE AS COGNIZANT ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE FAIR COMPENSATED STAFF, WHETHER IT'S OUR POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, OR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, OUR CIVILIANS AND ALL OF THE ABOVE. THAT COSTS OF MAINTAINING HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S DONE IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY, HE EFFICIENT WAY, AND ONE THAT IS SOUND AND NOT PITS EACH OTHER AGAINST EACH OTHER.

[02:15:04]

ONE THAT IS TRANSPARENT OF WHAT THE COST WILL BE TO THEM AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE.

>> KAUR: I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MARIA, LIZ, AND THE NEGOTIATING TEAM.

I DID NOT THINK IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE SAPOA TEAM AND MY COLLEAGUE ON THE PENSION FURNISHED BOARD WHO CAN'T BE HERE TODAY. HE WAS APPOINTED THE NEW TREASURER.

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE COLLABORATION WORKING WITH SAPOA, AND WHAT I REALLY AM SUPER PROCEED IS -- I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTOED DETAILS, BUT I'VE HEARD ABOUT SOME SITUATION THAT'S THEY HAVE HANDLED WITH THE PROTECTING OFFICERS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE WERE PROTECTED. IT MADE MY HEART WARM TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS LIKE WE JUST OBVIOUSLY VOTED IN, CHIEF SALAME, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE PATROL AND ALL OF THE FOLKS UNDER CHIEF.

IT'S ALSO THE SAPOA LEADERSHIP WORKING TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY THAT MAKES OUR FORCE ONE OF THE STRONGEST AND TO HEAR STORIES OF THE OFFICERS THAT THEY WERE PROTECTING AND MAKE SURE THEY HAD VOICE MADE ME REALLY HAPPY AND PROUD. I WANT TO THANK JOHNNY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS THAT ACTIVELY ENGAGE.

I'LL JUST SAY I HEARD SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND THEY WERE CHALLENGING. THE OFFICERS WERE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND THEIR HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP AND THE SAPOA TEAM STOOD UP THERE AND EXPLAINED, THAT IS THE STATE OF THE FACT FOR ALL FOLKS. IT'S CITY EMPLOYEES. IT'S ALL -- REALLY A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY WERE REALLY GOOD PARTNERS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS COLLABORATION AND I'M GLAD -- I HOPE THAT THE OFFICERS SEE AT LARGE WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE EVEN IF THAT'S NOT MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS BUDGET BUT HOWEVER WE CAN SUPPORT YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING MORE BIKE PATROL

DOWNTOWN. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, PLEASE.

>> SPEARS: THANKS, MAYOR. YES.

MARIA AND LIZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND LATE NIGHTS.

I KNOW THIS WAS A LOT TO DO, AND I REALLY AM GRATEFUL TO SAPOA AND JOHNNY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE AND I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT OF LATE NIGHTS AS WELL AND THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE -- COME WITH THIS AGREEMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS APPROVED BY 61% OF THE OFFICERS WHO VOTED.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE. THIS IS A DIRECTLY AFFECTS THEM IN SUCH A GREAT WAY, AND I'M HAPPY THAT THEY ARE SO SUPPORTIVE. IT'S ALSO AN AGREEMENT THAT GIVES US SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT HELPS US REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND HAVE GOOD COMPENSATION. IT'S CRITICAL IN RECRUITING AND GOOD OFFICERS IN A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET.

THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES 16 AND A HALF% WAGE INCREASE OVER THREE YEARS. I THINK THIS SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT INVEST.

IN OUR OFFICERS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S ALSO SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO INCENTIVE PAY INCLUDING INCREASED SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL AND WEEKEND DIFFERENTIAL PAY.

THESE ARE PRACTICAL CHANGES THAT RECOGNIZE THE DEMANDS WE PLACE ON OUR OFFICERS. AS I SERVE ON THE PENSION FUND AND THE HEALTHCARE FUND BOARDS FOR POLICE AND FIRE, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THESE BENEFITS REALLY MATTER TO OUR OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, IT'S IMPORTANT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM NOT JUST WHILE THEY ARE ON THE JOB BUT IN THE LONG-TERM. THIS AGREEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR SAPD BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE NEED CONTINUE FOCUSING ON RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, STAFFING, AND MAKING SURE OUR OFFICERS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND ASSETS THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO SAFE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

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

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR GOING IN THERE AND ENSURING THAT YOU ALL DID WELL NEGOTIATING A DEAL THAT, OF COURSE, IS REFLECTED OF THE VALUE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, BUT ENSURING THAT YOU'RE MINDFUL OF OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EX TENDINOPATHY MY GRATITUDE TO THE SAPOA PRESIDENT AND JOHNNY FOR YOUR WORK IN LEADERSHIP. I THINK SAPOA HAS A REALLY IMPORTANT LEADER WITH LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT ARE INVALUABLE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY NOT AGREE WITH YOU AND HAVEN'T AGREED WITH YOU BUT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TURNING EVERY STONE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON BEHALF OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU. YOU'VE EX SEND ITED CONVERSATIONS TO OUR OFFICE AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE DISTRICT 5

[02:20:01]

RESIDENTS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A WHOLE.

AGAIN, IT TAKES LEADERSHIP TO MEET WITH FOLKS THAT YOU DON'T TYPICALLY AGREE WITH. SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT POINT.

I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE WITHIN THE PROPOSED LAYOUT WITH THE DISCIPLINE PARTICULARLY AROUND THE EXPUNCTION NOTICE.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M CONFIDENT THIS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WILL ASSIST AND BENEFIT OUR OFFICERS AND I WANT TO THANK SPECIFICALLY ALL THE PATROL OFFICERS OUT OF CENTRAL, SOUTH, AND EAST PATROL BECAUSE THEY ALL COVER A PORTION OF MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 3, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO WENT AND VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD AGREEMENT. I DO, IF YOU CAN PULL UP SLIDE 8, THE COMPETITIVE WAGES AND HEALTHCARE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE LOOK AT HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT HAS A HIGH STRESS JOB, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THEM AS AN EXAMPLE ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BECOME AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR HEALTH, HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR WELLNESS, WHAT THEY ARE WORKING ON. JOHNNY, I'M LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE YOU DO A GREAT CARE WITH BLUE CARES, BUT WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS YOU PARTNER WITH CHEST AND OTHER HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES.

I WANT TO SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD. THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE RESIDENTS IN SAN ANTONIO. IT HAS BECOME THE NUMBER ONE ANSWER IN OUR SERVE SURVEYS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE OUTLAWED BIGGER CONVERSATION, WHAT DOES PUBLIC SAFETY LOOK LIKE? SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF A NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT SIT WITHIN THE CITY. SO HOW DO WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION? HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ARE THE BEST? I THINK IT IS WITH THESE COMPETITIVE WAGES.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEE HOW YOU IMPLEMENT THEM. AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK WITH PD, AS A CIVILIAN, I THINK -- I THINK GETTING RID OF THE T SHIFT AND OFFERING THOSE EIGHT TO TEN-HOUR SHIFTS IN AB AND C IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO I AM CONFIDENT IN SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. MARIA, FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT BECAUSE YOU TOUCHED ON IT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A GREAT INTEREST IN WANTING TO JUST ELABORATE FURTHER ON THE DISCIPLINE CHANGE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, AND WHY THAT'S SO SIGNIFICANT FOR YOUR

PURPOSES AND THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST. >> YES.

I'M GOING TO ASK LIZ TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS ON THOSE CHANGES.

>> THANK YOU, MARIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS YOU KNOW, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS IN BRIEF BUT ALL, WE HAD HIGHLIGHTED EXPUNCTION AS AN AREA WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE IN MAKING SURE WE HAD THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN DISCIPLINE THAT CHIEF IMPOSES.

SAPOA WAS A GOOD IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF SPENDING TIME WITH US IN SUBCOMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

AS A RESULT, WHAT YOU SEE IN THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TODAY IS A PROPOSAL BY WHICH WE ARE PUT ON NOTICE PROMPTLY IF AN OFFER DOES SEEK THAT AS WELL AS OFFICERS COMMITMENT TO KEEP US APPRIZED OF ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE CONCURRENT CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCES WITH IT.

SO ONCE YOU LOOK AT ARTICLE 28 AND YOU SEE THE UNDERLINES, YOU SEE

THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR CONTRACT. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.

THANK YOU, LIZ. I THINK FOLKS -- I THINK IF YOU BRING UP SLIDE 8. JUST FOR CLARITY FOR THE PUBLIC LISTENING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXCLUDES FROM SERVICE, THIS IS THE PRESTIGE ISSUE.

THAT WAS THE $40 MILLION OR THE ISSUE AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING THAT PROVISION CURRENTLY. IE, WHY THE PROVISION IS IMPORTANT FROM A COST

SAVINGS PERSPECTIVE. >> THIS WILL ALLOW US TO, IF IT AN EMPLOYEE SEEKS NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES AT A FREESTANDING ER, THOSE

[02:25:03]

WON'T BE COVERED BY THE HEALTHCARE PLAN. HOWEVER, IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE COVERED AT ANY FACILITY,

INCLUDING PRESTIGE. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU.

AND THE FINAL QUESTION, MARIA, WE'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT OUR MAIN COMPETITOR BEING AUSTIN. CAN YOU TALK SPECIFICALLY HOW IT ALLOWS US TO BE COMPETITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO, AGAIN, OUR COMPETITION FOR TALENT WITH AUSTIN?

>> SURE. SO I ADDED A BACKUP SLIDE TO THIS PRESENTATION. IF WE CAN BRING IT UP, NUMBER 14.

JUST TO ILLUSTRATE WHERE WE RANK TODAY. SO AS I MENTIONED, WHEN WE BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS, FIRE, POLICE, WE DO A SURVEY WITH OTHER TEXAS CITIES TO COMPARE ALL THE COMPONENTS OF COMPENSATION, BASE PAY, TAKE-HOME PAY, RETIREMENT AND HEALTHCARE BENEFITS.

WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN ARE TWO RANKS OF POLICE OFFICERS AT ENTRY LEVEL, AND ALSO A 20-YEAR POLICE OFFICER. WITHIN THE ENTRY LEVEL POLICE OFFICER, THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS, ONE, THE TOTAL COMPENSATION AS IT IS, AND THEN WE DO AN ADJUSTMENT TO ADJUST FOR SAN ANTONIO LABOR MARKET. SO WE -- WE SEE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS ON THIS SLIDE AS WELL. SO FOR AN ENTRY POLICE OFFICER IN FISCAL YEAR '25, WHEN WE START NEGOTIATIONS, WE WERE RANKING 2 OF 8 IN TOTAL COMPENSATION. WHEN ADJUSTED FOR LABOR MARKET, WE WENT TO NUMBER 1 OF 8. ON A 20-YEAR POLICE OFFICER, WE WERE 3 OF 8, REGARDLESS IF IT WAS ADJUSTED OR UNADJUSTED. ALL OF OUR RAMPINGS IN DIFFERENT STEPS, WE WERE BETWEEN THE TOP THREE IN MOST CASES.

SO AS I MENTIONED, NOT ALL DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE SAME TERMS IN TERMS OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. SO FOR THE CITIES THAT HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2029, THAT INCLUDES AUSTIN AND HOUSTON, COMPARING TO THOSE CITIES, WE RANK NUMBER 2 FOR AN ENTRY LEVEL BEFORE ADJUSTMENTS AND NUMBER 1. SO WE MAINTAIN THAT COMPETITIVE POSITION WE HAVE TODAY. AND THEN FOR A 20-YEAR POLICE OFFICER, WE RANK NUMBER THREE. SO THAT WAS OUR GOAL TO MAINTAIN THAT COMPETITIVENESS SO WE DON'T -- WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH RECRUITMENT. WE'RE ABLE TO FILL OUR VACANCIES. SO THAT WAS

IMPORTANT TO US. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MARIA.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE SPEAK TO THAT, THAT WE CAN SHOW THE NUMBERS THAT ILLUSTRATE THE POINT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. OKAY.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 7. PLEASE VOTE. WE NEED A VOICE VOTE,

PLEASE. >> AYE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. HOLD ON. DO THAT AGAIN, PLEASE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR SYSTEM. WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE,

PLEASE. >> ME? >> MAYOR JONES: SORRY.

WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE, PLEASE.

>> MAYOR JONES: THE MOTION PASSES. REMINDER, ITEM 8 WAS WITHDRAWN BY STAFF. MADAM CLERK, READ THE CAPTION FOR ITEM 9.

>> WORKFORCE SOLUTION ALAMO OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 2027.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: CAN WE TAKE ITEM 21 AND 22 FIRST?

>> MAYOR JONES: I THINK THAT'S FAIR. YEAH.

HEARING NO OBJECTION. >> OBJECTION. I WANT TO HEAR 20, 21,

AND 22. ORDER OF THE DAY THEN. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL ACTUALLY DO -- WE'LL TAKE A SOMETIME THIS

[9. Workforce Solutions Alamo Operating Budget for FY2027 [Alejandra Lopez, Assistant City Manager; Michael Ramsey, Executive Director, Workforce Development Office]]

[02:30:15]

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> ITEM NUMBER 9 IS BRIEFING WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. APPRECIATE IT. OVER TO YOU FOR THE

PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, THANK YOU,

MICHAEL WILL GET US STARTED. >> THANK YOU, JOHN.

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO PRESENT THE WSA FY 2027 BUDGET. WSA IS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE WORKFORCE SYSTEM AREA, REPRESENTS BEXAR COUNTY.

THERE ARE 27 BOARD MEMBERS THAT OVERSEE THE PROGRAMS REFLECTING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, LABOR, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT. THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE WSA SERVICE AREA ARE PARTY TO A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.

THOSE AGREEMENTS FORM THE COMMITTEE OF 6 WHICH PERFORMS DUTIES OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL WHICH IS WITH WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. THE COMMITTEE OF 6, AGAIN, TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN SERVES AS THE CHAIR THIS YEAR. TWO REPRESENTS FROM BEXAR COUNTY, TWO REPRESENTS FROM THE AREA JUDGES REPRESENTING THE 12 SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THE COMMITTEE OF 6 ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, WOULD FORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEMBERS REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE BOARD'S LOCAL PLAN AND WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. THAT BEING SAID, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CEO

ADRIAN LOPEZ TO PRESENT THE BUDGET. >> THANK YOU, MIKE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST REAL QUICK, BY WAY OF SORT OF JUST BACKGROUND OF COLLEGE I H I HAVE -- LECTIV COLLECT I HAVE BY OF WHAT WE DO -- COLLECTIVELY WHAT WE DO AND HOW DO WE DESCRIBE THAT. SO WE ARE TEXAS TALENT EXPERTS. WE ARE SERVICE OPTIMIZER AND WE ARE PARTNERSHIP MANAGERS. TEXAS TALENT EXPERTS, WE'RE CONNECTING TALENT TO EMPLOYERS IN INDUSTRIES WE SUPPORT IN THE 13 COUNT HE'S, SERVICE PROVIDERS, SERVICE OPTIMIZERS, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE A MENU OF SERVICES TO EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS TO CLIENTS TO COME TO US EACH YEAR WE GET ABOUT 100,000 CLIENTS COMING TO OUR 16 CAREER CENTERS.

OF COURSE WE'RE PARTNERSHIP MANAGERS WORKING WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS, CHURCHES, CHILD CARE CENTERS, ANY NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS.

OF COURSE WE'RE A MAJOR PRIME CONTRACTOR THROUGH THE CITY'S READY TO WORK PROGRAM. SO CUMULATIVELY, YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTS HERE OF SOME OF THE WORK. IF WE WERE TO TALK ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE WORK, TAKE A LONG LONGER THAN THESE SLIDES HERE, BUT THIS GIVES YOU AT LEAST SOME IDEA IN TERMS OF WE'RE SERVING 13,000 CHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS TO CHILD CARE PROGRAM. IT'S ABOUT 130 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.

WE'VE HELD OUT FOLKS AS THEY POTENTIALLY LAYOFF NOTICES OR LOSE THEIR JOB. SO WE'VE HAD ABOUT 64,000.

I THINK THAT'S THROUGH MAY, FOLKS COMING THROUGH OUR 16 CENTERS ACROSS THE REGION. WE ALSO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, QUALITY CARE OR QUALITY SERVICES. THAT'S ACTUALLY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR CONTRACTOR AS IT RELATES TO THAT.

YOU JUST APPROVED THIS CONTRACT EARLIER TODAY. ABOUT $7 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT HAPPENS THERE. IN TERMS IT OF SORT OF THE BUDGET, SO OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS $195,370,770.

IT'S A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR. SO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OR ACTUALLY THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET IS $199 MILLION. IT WAS AMENDED. ACTUALLY, IT WAS $199 MILLION.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT A 2.2% REDUCTION. LARGELY THOSE ARE REDUCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE READY TO WORK FUNDING AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ON PAR AS IT RELATES. THE WAY THE BUDGET WORKS, IT'S PROVIDED BASED ON ESTIMATES. SO WE RUN ABOUT -- ADMINISTER 30 DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AS THOSE CONTRACTS GET EXECUTED NOW THROUGH DECEMBER, THE BUDGET WILL BE ADJUSTED TO BE ABLE TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL BUDGETS. SOME OF THE CATEGORIES, OF COURSE, THAT WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE IS WE PAY FOR BOARD ADMINISTRATION FOR COSTS. WE RUN OUR FACILITIES, THE 16 CAREER CENTERS AS WELL AS OUR MOBILE UNIT. AND, OF COURSE, SERVICE DELIVERY, WE'LL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL IN RECORDS TO THAT HERE'S BREAK DOWN OF THE 195 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET. OUR CORPORATE COSTS ARE

[02:35:05]

9.2 MILLION. 6.7 MILLION IN TWO FACILITIES.

WE CARRY -- DO CARRY HEAVY RESERVE. THAT'S IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OUR FUNDING SOURCES DON'T ALL START AND END AT THE SAME TIME FRAME. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF OUR BUDGETS ACTUALLY OVERLAP. AND SO WHEN ONE FISCAL YEAR IS ENDING AND ANOTHER IS COMMENCING, WE UTILIZE THE RESERVES TO CONTINUE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES LARGELY THAT'S FOR OUR CHILD CARE SERVICES INITIATIVE IS ABOUT 616,000 AND SERVICE DELIVERY.

165 MILLION. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 9.2 MILLION TO CORPORATE EXPENDITURES OR BUDGET, THE REST IS REALLY INVESTMENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE INVESTMENTS INTO THE FACILITIES. SO WE HAVE FIVE CAREER CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. ONE SATELLITE OFFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. WE INVEST INTO, OF COURSE, CHILD CARE INITIATIVES. SO ALL OF THOSE DIRECT INVESTMENTS ARE GOING INTO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES INTO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SERVICES. SO IN TERMS IT OF THE FOUR MAJOR CATEGORIES OR CONTRACTS, WE HAVE ADULTS SERVICES OF 14 MILLION PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR. YOUTH IS 4.6 MILLION. CHILD CARE SERVICES, WHICH IS SUBSIDIES WE'RE PROVIDING TO HAVE THE 13,000 KIDS IN CHILD CARE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT'S ABOUT 132 MILLION.

CHILD CARE QUALITY ABOUT 9.2 MILLION. OF COURSE, THE 7 MILLION THAT WAS JUST APPROVED IS PART OF THAT 9.2 MILLION. NEXT YEAR OR THIS CURRENT CONTRACT WITH READY TO WORK IS ABOUT 5 MILLION.

SO TOTAL OF ABOUT 165 MILLION DOLLARS DIRECT SERVICE DELIVERY.

IN TERMS OF SOME MORE DETAIL ON THE RESERVES, ABOUT 12.3 MILLION IN CHILD CARE. ALSO CHILDCARE QUALITY RESERVE, WE HAVE ABOUT $619,000. AND ABOUT $201,000. COLLECTIVELY, ALL OF THESE DOLLARS ARE BEING UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSES OF, ONE, BRIDGING THE GAP FROM ONE FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT. BUT ALSO TO ADDRESS ANY SORT OF CONCERNS OR ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE THAT MAYBE WE DID NOT FORECAST. OUR BUDGET PROCESS IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE. WE'VE GONE TO OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, EWDC. I UNDERSTAND TODAY IS JUST THE BRIEFING AND THE FULL COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER NEXT WEEK BUT UPON COMPLETION OR APPROVAL OF THAT WE ALSO STILL HAVE THE AREA JUDGES TO FINALIZE OUR BUDGET PROCESS. SO I KNOW TODAY IS JUST A BRIEFING BUT NEXT WEEK WE WOULD OF COURSE BE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET OF $195,380,770.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM?

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, ADRIAN, FOR THE PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A COMMITTEE OF SIX AND OTHERS HAVE SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE OF SIX ALSO. I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND I HAD DISCUSSED IT. AND THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THE CHILDCARE ASPECT. I KNOW WE HAVE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT WHERE ARE THESE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR CAREERS, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO FIND THE CHILDCARE. WHO IS PROVIDING.

I WANTED TO HAVE ADRIAN COME UP AND DO THIS BECAUSE WE DID TALK ABOUT IT EXTENSIVELY IN COMMITTEE OF 6. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER KAUR HAD SOME QUESTIONS SO I WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO YOU SO YOU GUYS COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS TO ASK TODAY OR TO HAVE ADRIAN AND MIKE'S TEAM FOLLOW UP. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S A CHILD AT HOME OR A LOVED ONE AT HOME THAT NEEDS TO BE WATCHED, THERE ARE SERVICES SO THEY CAN GET THE TRAINING AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS. AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HAS DONE THIS FOR A WHILE.

THE CITY HAS HELPED SOME YEARS. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A NEW CONTRACT THIS YEAR THAT WE APPROVED SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL'S AWARE AND IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, TO KIND OF DIG DEEP ON THAT ASPECT.

THEN THERE'S, OF COURSE, THE OTHER PLACEMENT IN THE CENTERS.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOBILE BUS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING IT OUT TO YOUR DISTRICT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY GOOD IN TERMS OF TAKING IT TO THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT. I THINK THEY WERE AT ONE OF THE FIESTA EVENTS AT PORT SA THAT I GOT TO VISIT WITH THEM. YOU CAN GO IN AND FILL OUT

[02:40:03]

AN APPLICATION, GET SOME ADVICE RIGHT THERE AND IT COMES TO YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING, ADRIAN. IT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE OF SIX. APPRECIATE MIKE RAMSEY AND ALL THE TEAM'S LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR US AS WELL.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT AND ONE MAKING SURE WE ARE ADVISING FAMILIES ON THE RATING OF THE CHILDCARE FACILITIES THEY ARE USING. WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE HIGHER-RATED CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNSELORS AND FOLKS TALKING TO PARENTS ARE ADVISING THEM OF SUCH.

I KNOW IT COSTS A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT IT'S BETTER FOR STUDENTS AND KIDS WHICH MEANS WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER OUTCOMES. THERE'S STILL AN ASTERISK THAT SAYS IF WE'RE RELOCATING OFFICES. HAVE Y'ALL MADE A DECISION

ON THAT? >> SO WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EXISTING LANDLORD. WE DO ANTICIPATE WE PROBABLY COULD WRAP THAT UP BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. BUT THE ATTORNEYS ARE SORT OF ADDRESSING THOSE --

WHATEVER LAST-MINUTE ISSUES WITH THE LEASE. >> KAUR: GOT IT.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT NEXT WEEK?

>> CORRECT. >> KAUR: I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE COME TO A GOOD SOLUTION THERE THAT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING FOR SERVICES.

BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU ALL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE ON COMMITTEE OF SIX AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS

ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, PLEASE.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MIKE AND ADRIAN FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK ADRIAN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.

AND THEN OF COURSE BRIEFING MY TEAM IN TERMS OF YOUR WORK AND INITIATIVES WITH HIRING AND TRAINING JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF MIKE RAMSEY, JOEL, AND OF COURSE YOU AND THE COUNTY FOR THE SECOND-CHANCE JOB INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY OFTEN CO-HOSTS WITH THE CITY. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT POLICY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

AS WE HAD IN OUR CONVERSATION, AS WE KNOW THAT INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A RECORD ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING HIRED, SO THE BARRIERS ARE THAT MUCH MORE HIGHER FOR FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD AND ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED.

I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND MODEL TO ENSURE WE'RE TRAINING YOUTH. AND OF COURSE ADULTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET THOSE CERTIFICATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF APPRENTICESHIP AND

FAIR-CHANCE HIRING. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. ONE OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE IN PARTNERSHIPS IS ACTUALLY WITH BEXAR COUNTY COURT SYSTEM AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR WHAT'S CALLED A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT. THOSE ARE USUALLY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN ARREARS FOR CHILD SUPPORT. WHEN THEY'RE FACING A JUDGE, THE JUDGE OFFERS THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO. OR TO ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY BE INCARCERATED. HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE GO TO US.

WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE SAME OFFICES AND IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OVER -- PROBABLY OVER A DECADE OF ADMINISTERING THAT, THERE'S BEEN OVER $100 MILLION WORTH OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED.

SUPER SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU INTEGRATE SYSTEMATIC CHANGE LIKE THAT, TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

BUT ALSO TO HAVE BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT NEED THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT. THAT'S A REALLY GREAT HIGHLIGHTED -- GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR OFFICE AND GLAD TO EXPLORE IDEAS LIKE THAT.

>> CASTILLO: APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

I THINK TOO OFTEN -- I'M THINKING ABOUT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE TRAINING ARE OFTEN DISCUSSED AS SEPARATE BUT WITHOUT THE WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR THE TALENT POOL TO TAP INTO.

I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH VALUE WHEN WE DISCUSS THEM TOGETHER VERSUS SEPARATE.

AGAIN, I ALWAYS SEE THE TWO SEPARATE PILLARS. I UNDERSTAND WHY BUT AGAIN JUST AN EMPHASIS AND THANKS TO YOU AND MIKE AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. WOULD ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE

INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. >> ITEM, SIR? WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS? GO AHEAD.

[02:45:13]

YOUR NAME, SIR. >> ADAM STUDGEL. WITHOUT THE HELP OF WORK IN TEXAS, TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, WHICH ARE ONE IN THE SAME, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM U.T. SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THEY WERE INFLUENTIAL IN HELPING ME GET THROUGH SCHOOL, GET MY EMPLOYMENT THAT'S ACCEPTABLE WITH MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE. LIKE MY CURRENT JOBS, MY PAST JOBS, AND WITH TWC AND THE TEXAS WORKFORCE, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES I'VE HAD TODAY. FOR ONE, I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD AS MUCH PROGRESS ACADEMICALLY OR IN THE JOB MARKET.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM RECEIVING ADDITIONAL FUNDING. TO HELP OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL NEED IT, SUCH AS YOUTH OR MOTHERS OR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. BECAUSE WITH MY EXPERIENCE, IT'S HELPED A LOT.

AND THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SIR.

[APPLAUSE] WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 20. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ

[20. Public hearing and Ordinance authorizing the following actions related to the Midtown TIRZ: extension of the termination date to 2060; negotiation and execution of Funding Agreements with the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc., Brackenridge Park Conservancy and San Antonio Zoological Society, each to support the issuance of debt in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 plus financing costs; negotiation and execution of a purchase and sale agreement with the Board of Regents of the UT System through the University of Texas San Antonio for the acquisition of real property located at 801 E. Cesar E Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205, through the issuance of Obligations, secured in whole or in part by Tax Increment Revenues, in an amount up to $60 million plus closing and financing costs; and approving the Midtown TIRZ Finance and Project Plan. Funding is available through the Midtown TIRZ. [Justina Tate, Assistant City Manager; Veronica Garcia, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services]]

THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM 20 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS RELATED TO MIDTOWN TIRZ: EXTENSION OF THE TERMINATION DATE TO 2060, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH THE SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY, INC., BRACKENRIDGE PARK CONSERVANCY AND THE SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY TO SUPPORT DEBT.

NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE AND SALES AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE U.T. SYSTEM THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 801 EAST CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, 78205 THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF OBLIGATIONS, SECURED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY TAX INCREMENT REVENUES IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $60 MILLION PLUS CLOSING AND FINANCING COSTS AND APPROVING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ FINANCE AND PROJECT PLAN. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ .

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE ITEM 21 AND 22 OR GO TO 20 OR CAN WE REQUEST ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES COME BACK SO THEY CAN HEAR ALL THE COMMENTS FOR ITEM NO. 20? I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> MAYOR JONES: REPEAT THE FIRST PART AGAIN. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: EITHER WE MOVE TO 21 AND 22 -- BECAUSE THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

OR WE DO ITEM 20 AND BRING BACK COUNCIL MEMBERS WHYTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS VIAGRAN.

>> MAYOR JONES: I EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF OUR COLLEAGUES WERE HERE. WE'RE NOT HERE TO BABYSIT FOLKS. WE'RE ON ITEM 20. I WOULD HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD CONSIDER ENOUGH THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO WANT TO LISTEN TO THEM. WE CAN HOPE. WE CAN HOPE.

PLEASE PROCEED WITH THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. VERONICA GARCIA.

I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN AUDIO] WE HAVE AN ITEM ON THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND THERE ARE FOUR ACTION ITEMS THAT THIS ONE ORDINANCE WILL COVER. SO THIS ITEM --

>> MAYOR JONES: MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN THE RESTROOM SO WE'LL WAIT FOR THEM SO THEY CAN HEAR YOUR PRESENTATION AS WELL.

[02:51:59]

VERONICA, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

SO THE -- TODAY'S ITEM INCLUDES A PUBLIC HEARING AND AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING FOUR INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS RELATED TO THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. THE FIRST IS RECOMMENDING EXTENDING THE TERMINATION DATE OF THE TIRZ TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2060.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE FUNDING AGREEMENTS THROUGH THREE ENTITIES. EACH ENTITY RECEIVING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10 MILLION TO INCLUDE DEBT AND FINANCING COSTS FOR SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY, THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK CONSERVANCY, AND THE SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. THE NEXT IS WAS THE FORMER SITE OF THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES AND ISSUING OBLIGATIONS IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $60 MILLION PLUS CLOSING AND FINANCING COSTS.

FINALLY, APPROVING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ UPDATED FINANCE AND UPDATED PROJECT PLAN.

THE MIDTOWN TIRZ INCLUDES BOTH COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1 AND 2 AND ENCOMPASSES 542 ACRES.

IT EXTENDS ALL THE WAY UP NORTH BROADWAY AND INCLUDES THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING TODAY. THE FIRST ITEM IS TO PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ WHICH WAS DESIGNATED BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2008. THE TIRZ ITSELF WAS REPURPOSED IN 2022 TO FOCUS ON CITY-OWNED CULTURAL FACILITIES AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCLUDE THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, THE WITTE MUSEUM, AND THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK. THE PROPOSED EXTENSION TO 2060 WILL SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS THE DEBT NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING REQUEST. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY IN FINANCING FUTURE PROJECTS WITH THE TIRZ AND ALIGNING THE TERMINATION DATE OF THIS TIRZ WITH TWO OTHER CITY-INITIATED TIRZ INCLUDING HOUSTON STREET TIRZ AND WEST SIDE TIRZ, WHICH WERE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 2024 .

THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD WAS BRIEFED REGARDING THE EXTENSION AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 4,D MEETING. THE SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY IS PROPOSING TO DESIGN AND BUILD A HORTICULTURAL CAMPUS FOR A HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIENCE, ADDITIONAL FLEXIBLE CLASSROOM SPACE, A LIVING ROOM, AND AN INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THE FUNDING REQUEST IS UP TO $10 MILLION PLUS FINANCING AND CLOSING COSTS. THE TIRZ FUNDING IS CONTINGENT ON THE BOTANICAL GARDEN SECURING AT LEAST A ONE-TO-ONE FUNDING MATCH. AND WITH THIS, THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO SUPPORT MORE VISITORS AND HOST 150% MORE STUDENTS EACH YEAR.

[02:55:06]

THE TIRZ BOARD DID APPROVE THE FUNDING ON THEIR SEPTEMBER 4 BOARD MEETING.

THE NEXT REQUEST IS FOR BRACKENRIDGE PARK. AGAIN, REQUESTING UP TO $10 MILLION PLUS FINANCING COSTS. BRACKENRIDGE PARK CONSERVANCY IS PRESERVING TO RESTORE AND MODERNIZE THE SUNKEN GARDENS FOR PUBLIC USE AS WELL AS HOSTING CONCERTS. THE WHOLE FACILITATING ACCOMMODATING UP TO 4500 PEOPLE. THEY ARE WORKING ON THE GARDEN WHICH WILL CELEBRATE MEXICAN CULTURE AND WILL BE A FREE AND OPEN PUBLIC GARDEN. THE FUNDING REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES OPERATING AND PROGRAMMING EXPENSES THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL TOURS, CONSERVATION EDUCATION, SCHOOL TRIPS, AND INDIGENOUS CELEBRATIONS, AGAIN WITH A FOCUS ON FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING. THE FUNDS ARE CONTINGENT UPON A ONE-TO-ONE MATCH FROM THE CONSERVANCY AND THE CONSERVANCY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRAMMING AND MAINTAINING THE SUNKEN GARDEN RESTORED THEATER.

THE TIRZ DID APPROVING FUNDING ON THEIR SEPTEMBER 4 BOARD MEETING.

THE NEXT REQUEST IS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO FOR UP TO $10 MILLION PLUS FINANCING COSTS. THE ZOO WILL FEATURE NATIVE SPECIES FROM TEXAS, A NEW EDUCATION BUILDING, A NEW ANIMAL HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL ALSO INCLUDE PUBLIC VIEWING, AND THE EXPANSION OF THE ZOO TO THE WEST SIDE OF 281 TO SUPPORT INCREASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND CONTINUED MODERNIZATION OF THE ZOO AND SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL WELL-BEING. THE FUNDING MATCH AGAIN IS CONTINGENT UPON THE ZOO MATCHING CITY FUNDS AT LEAST ONE-TO-ONE AND THE BOARD DID APPROVE THE PARTICULAR FUNDING REQUEST AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 4 MEETING. THE NEXT ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION IS NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE U.T. SYSTEM THROUGH UTSA TO ACQUIRE FEE SIMPLE TITLE TO THE FORMER SITE OF THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES, THE ITC PROPERTY, LOCATED AT 801 EAST DURANGO STREET. THE PROJECT INCLUDES FUNDING FROM THE TAX INCREMENT REVENUES UP TO $60 MILLION PLUS FINANCING AND CLOSING COSTS FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ.

THE PURCHASE OF THE BUILDING WILL FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED CITY-OWNED NBA ARENA FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS. WE ARE STILL NEGOTIATING WITH THE U.T. SYSTEM, UTSA ON THE FINAL COST. AND OPTIONS FOR PURCHASING THE BUILDING. BUT THE CLOSING IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR LATER THIS YEAR.

AND THE FINAL ITEM REQUESTED IS UPDATING THE PROJECT PLAN AND FINANCING PLAN FOR THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. THIS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND THE BOARD RECENTLY ADOPTED BOTH UPDATED PLANS AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 4 MEETING.

THE UPDATED PROJECT PLAN ALIGNS THE PROJECT PLAN WITH THE ADOPTED CITY POLICIES INCLUDING SA TOMORROW, OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE IT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CURRENT TIF PROGRAM POLICY.

IT INCLUDES THE UPDATED LIST OF PROJECTS TO INCLUDE ALL THE ONES WE DISCUSSED TODAY.

TOTAL APPRAISED VALUES AS WELL AS REVENUES AND REIMBURSEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THE PROJECTS. BOTH UPDATED PLANS REFLECT THE EXTENSION OF THE TIRZ TO SEPTEMBER 30 OF 2060. AND STAFF RECOMMENDS THIS ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ALL FOUR ITEMS TO INCLUDE EXTENDING THE TERMINATION DATE OF THE TIRZ TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2060. AUTHORIZING THE FINAL NEGOTIATIONS AND EXECUTION OF THE FUNDING AGREEMENTS FOR THE BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY, BRACKENRIDGE PARK, AND SAN ANTONIO ZOO, ALL NOT TO EXCEED $10 MILLION PLUS FINANCING COSTS .

ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.T. SYSTEM FOR THE FORMER SITE OF THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $60 MILLION AS WELL AS COSTS.

WE'RE HERE. OUR CITY TEAM IS HERE, AS WELL AS ALL THE CULTURAL PARTNERS ARE HERE TO HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, VERONICA. IN CASE IT'S HELPFUL TO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, AS WELL AS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, CAN YOU, FOR CONTEXT, BRING UP THE SLIDES THAT SPEAK TO THE FINANCE PLAN? THE SLIDES THAT WERE

PRESENTED AT THE BOARD MEETING. >> I BELIEVE THOSE ARE IN

[03:00:03]

THE BACKUP SLIDES. LET ME GET THE EXACT NUMBER. I THINK THAT'S SLIDE NO. 13 IS THE BACKUP SLIDE FOR THE FINANCE PLAN. THANK YOU.

YES. THAT ONE.

>> MAYOR JONES: I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- BECAUSE WE'RE CONNECTING THE CONVERSATION WE HAD -- AGAIN, FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE WE MOVE ON.

ERIK, LAST WE SPOKE ON THIS ITEM, IF THIS WAS NOT EXTENDED, IT WOULD BE TIGHT.

HOWEVER, THERE'S SUFFICIENT RESOURCES IN THE MIDTOWN TIRZ TO COVER THE PURCHASE

OF THE ITC, CORRECT? >> WALSH: NO, MAYOR. ACTUALLY, LET ME HAVE BEN COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE ANSWER ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE OR WHAT THE DATE WOULD NEED TO END OR WHEN THE TIRZ COULD END AND SUFFICIENTLY FUND THE PROJECTS, THAT DATE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE

DETERMINE THE FINANCING. >> MAYOR JONES: I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED IN THE LAST MEETING WAS IF THIS WAS NOT EXTENDED, WOULD THERE BE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES IN THE TIRZ TO COVER JUST THE ITC PURCHASE? ABSENT THE PROJECTS, ABSENT THE THREE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED.

AND YOU SAID IT WOULD BE TIGHT, THERE'S MONEY IN THERE.

IT WOULD BE TIGHT. IT WOULD BE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AS A

BUFFER AND THEREFORE YOU WOULDN'T ISSUE DEBT. >> WALSH: SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER. YOU REMEMBER WHAT I SAID BETTER THAN I DID.

>> MAYOR JONES: I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

>> WALSH: LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXPANDED ANSWER AND I'LL LET BEN ANSWER THAT

QUESTION. >> GORZELL: MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MAYOR, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION RIGHT, IF WE DON'T --

>> MAYOR JONES: SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR. THE QUESTION IS: IF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ IS NOT EXTENDED, ARE THERE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES IN THE TIRZ BETWEEN NOW AND 2041 JUST TO PAY FOR THE ITC? THE OTHER PROJECTS, THE ZOO, THE OTHER THINGS, IS THERE MONEY JUST IN THE TIRZ JUST TO COVER

>> GORZELL: YES. IF YOU DON'T DO THE $30 MILLION FOR THE CULTURAL PARTNERS, WE BELIEVE THE $60 MILLION WE COULD FUND OUT OF THE EXISTING TERM.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO EXTEND THIS AND WE CAN STILL COVER THE ARENA.

CAN WE ALSO GO TO THE OTHER SLIDE, THOUGH -- FOR THOSE THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE OTHER PROJECTS. VERONICA, I THOUGHT THE SLIDE ON HOW THE FINANCE PLAN IS IMPACTED BY THOSE PROJECTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT $10 MILLION. WHEN YOU FACTOR IN ALL THE COSTS. CAN YOU PLEASE BRING UP THAT SLIDE?

>> THE ONLY FINANCE PLAN WE HAVE IS THAT ONE WITH THE SUMMARY OF ALL THE ITEMS.

BUT IF THERE'S -- YEAH, JUST THAT ONE. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S THE SLIDE THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD BRIEFING THAT TALKS ABOUT IF YOU INCLUDED THOSE PROJECTS -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE ZOO, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, AND THE BRACKENRIDGE, THE COST IS ACTUALLY NOT $10 MILLION --

>> WITH ALL THE FINANCING. >> MAYOR JONES: IT'S $16 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES. >> MAYOR JONES: I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SLIDE HERE? .

>> WE HAVE A HARD COPY OF THE SLIDE. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.

IF YOU WOULD TALK US THROUGH THAT? >> ELLIOTT: THIS IS THE SLIDE PRESENTED TO THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD. WHAT IT PRESENTS IS THE TOTAL AVAILABLE PROJECTS PRIOR TO CONSIDERING THE CULTURAL PARTNERS AND THE ITC. ONCE WE HAVE THE ESTIMATES FOR DEBT FOR THE ZOO, THE GARDENS, THE PARK, AND THE ITC, $10 MILLION FOR THE ZOO --E SAME ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL THREE OF THEM. IT'S ABOUT SO THE $10 MILLION WOULD COST ABOUT $16.8 MILLION WITH RESERVES BUILT IN.

[03:05:01]

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, TROY. I APPRECIATE THAT.

FOR CLARITY, VERONICA, SHOULD WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANY EXPENSE OUT OF THE TIRZ FOR THESE THREE AREAS, HOW DOES THAT BUILD UPON THE MONEY THAT EACH OF THOSE ENTITIES RECEIVED IN THE 2022 BOND? OR PREVIOUS TIRZ

INVESTMENTS? >> SURE. SO FIVE YEARS AGO THEY EACH RECEIVED $10 MILLION AS WELL AS THE BOND ALLOCATIONS. WHAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH EACH OF THE ENTITIES FIVE YEARS AGO WAS THAT THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED ON AN ONGOING

FIVE-YEAR BASIS. >> MAYOR JONES: ONGOING FIVE-YEAR BASIS.

>> FIVE YEARS AGO NOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND POTENTIALLY ONE MORE ALLOCATION IN THE FUTURE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR PROPOSED PLANS ARE.

AGAIN, WHEN THE TIRZ WAS RESTRUCTURED IN 2022 TO LOOK AT FOCUSING ON THOSE CULTURAL FACILITIES, THEY EACH ADJUSTED THEIR MASTER PLANS, PROPOSED PLANS, AND CAME UP WITH WHAT THEIR FUTURE PLANS WERE AND THE PROPOSED FUNDING REQUESTS THROUGH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND EACH ENTITY RECEIVED THE $10 MILLION.

AND THEY EACH RAISED THEIR OWN FUNDING MATCH. SO THIS IS THE DISCUSSION, WHICH WAS TO COME BACK AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO REQUEST ANOTHER $10 MILLION.

THEY HAVE OUTLINED WHAT THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE USED FOR, THEIR TOTAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS THAT THEY EACH HAVE -- BECAUSE THESE ARE MUCH LARGER PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED. AND SO THAT IS THE FUNDING REQUEST AT THIS TIME.

>> MAYOR JONES: FOR CLARITY, IT'S EITHER $10 MILLION FROM THE TIRZ OR

$10 MILLION FROM THE BOND? >> SO EACH ENTITY HAD NOTED THAT THEY MAY COME AND REQUEST BOND FUNDS. BUT NOW THAT THE BOND FOR 2027 IS MUCH SMALLER, WE HAVE MADE IT, AS PART OF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ DISCUSSIONS, THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT THEY NOT HAVE ANY 2027 BOND REQUESTS AND THAT THEY LIMIT THEIR EFFORTS TO THIS $10 MILLION FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS

DISCUSSED AT THE BOARD MEETING. >> MAYOR JONES: BECAUSE THE BOND CAPACITY IS LOWER, WE'RE LOOKING -- THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THEY RECEIVE $10 MILLION VIA THE TIRZ, IF THE TIRZ EXTENSION IS APPROVED.

>> YES. >> MAYOR JONES: IF THE TIRZ EXTENSION IS NOT APPROVED, IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION STILL THAT THEY RECEIVE $10 MILLION?

AND IF SO, WOULD THAT BE VIA THE BOND? >> SO IF IT'S NOT APPROVED, YES, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND THEY PROBABLY WOULD COME BACK AND

SEEK FUNDING. >> WALSH: THE QUESTION IS WOULD WE RECOMMEND THAT?

>> YES. >> WALSH: THERE'S A WHOLE LITANY OF PRIORITIES, MAINLY INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT I DON'T WANT ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT WE

WOULD NECESSARILY RECOMMEND THAT IN THE BOND PROCESS. >> MAYOR JONES: APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I THINK WHEN FOLKS HEARD YOU GET $10 MILLION IF YOU'VE GOT PROJECTS. AND THEN YOU GET ANOTHER $10 MILLION IF YOU'VE GOT OTHER PROJECTS. THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE FIRST MEMBER TO SPEAK, MARY CABRAL, PLEASE. MA'AM, YOU HAVE THREE

MINUTES. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MARY CABRAL.

I'M A RETIRED TEACHER AND WAS BORN HERE AND RAISED HERE.

BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. SEEN A LOT OF CITY COUNCILS COME AND GO.

THIS IS YOUR CITY. THIS IS YOUR MONEY. THIS IS OUR CITY.

THIS IS OUR MONEY. SO I SEE A LOT OF SHOW HERE. I EVEN SEE A RECORDING OF ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. I SEE A LOT OF THANKING PEOPLE HERE. I DON'T FEEL THAT COMFORTABLE THAT THE PEOPLE ARE BEING HEARD. THEY ASKED US TO SPEAK OUT AND THAT THERE'S CLARITY,

[03:10:04]

TRANSPARENCY HERE. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T SEE IT.

I'M DISAPPOINTED BUT I STILL COME HERE BECAUSE IT IS MY RIGHT.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, LIKE IN THE NEWSPAPER, MR. WALSH, THAT IT IS OUR CITY AND IT IS OUR MONEY. THEREFORE, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY PLEASE VOTE NO ON ITEM 20. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS. THAT IS VERY APPRECIATED. I FEEL LIKE I SPEAK FOR THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH SIDE, EAST SIDE, AND EAST SIDE THAT ARE WORKING AND THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD OUT THERE.

PROBABLY HARDER THAN THE REST OF US HERE. OF COURSE, I'M RETIRED.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE BEING HEARD OR NOT. I HEAR TRANSPARENCY, CLARITY SPOKEN ALL THE TIME BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS ISN'T ALREADY A SETTLED THING AND WHAT'S THE SENSE IN ME SPEAKING ANYMORE. BUT I STILL RESERVE THAT RIGHT TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO VOTE NO ON ITEM 20. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO CALL SEVERAL NAMES AND IF YOU WOULD PLEASE MAKE YOUR NAME TO THE AISLE.

WE HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. CAT DELGADO FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE DRENNEN AND THEN GRACIELA SANCHEZ. YOU EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES.

>> SO CAT HAS DONATED HER MINUTES TO ME. >> MAYOR JONES: IS CAT HERE? THERE YOU ARE. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES,

PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE DRENNEN. I'M A RESIDENT. AND MY HOUSE IS IN DISTRICT 1 BUT I'M A CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SINCE THE CITY WAS CHARTERED IN 1718, WE SPENT AS MUCH TIME CARVING IT UP AS WE HAVE BUILDING IT UP.

JUST IN THE LAST 100 YEARS WE WATCHED AS A WHOLE SERIES OF ISLAND CITIES WERE FORMED. ALAMO HEIGHTS, OLMOS PARK, HOLLYWOOD PARK, TAX HAVENS WITHIN PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS COULD BE SHELTERED FROM THE GREATER GOOD AND USED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF A FEW . IMAGINE IF THE PROPERTY WITHIN THOSE SMALL CITIES PAID INTO OUR GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF INTO THEIR OWN. THEN WE WATCHED AS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE BUILT. SOME FOR WHITES, SOME ONLY FOR MEXICANS, SOME ONLY FOR BLACKS. AND THEN WE USED COLOR-CODED MAPS TO GUIDE CAPITAL INVESTMENT INTO SOME NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE WE DENIED IT IN OTHERS.

AND THEN IN THE 1950S WE WATCHED AS WE CREATED 18 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

MANY ACTING AS EXCLUSIVE TAX HAVENS WITHIN WHICH A SELECT FEW PROTECTED WHAT THEY HAD AND DID NOT ALLOW IT TO FLOW OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES. THEIR CHILDREN BENEFITED AND BECAME QUITE SUCCESSFUL WHILE OTHERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE IN LOW-WAGE JOBS IN OR CLOSE TO POVERTY. THE CREATION OF LITTLE FIEFDOMS HAS RESULTED IN THE ECONOMIC SEGREGATION WE CORRELATED AND PRODUCE MASSIVE INEQUALITY WHICH MATERIALIZES 20-YEAR DIFFERENCES IN LIFE EXPECTANCIES. IT'S EMBARRASSING.

MOVEMENT IS WHAT DISTINGUISHES GREAT CITIES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ORGANIZING VALUES OF GREAT CITIES IS THAT THEY'RE OPENNESS AND FREE CIRCULATION OF CAPITAL PEOPLE AND IDEAS. IN FACT, CITIES DEVELOP BECAUSE WE CLUSTER. WHEN WE CLUSTER AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND SPECIALISMS AND TOOLS AND MOSTLY RESOURCES, WE ACHIEVE THE GREAT ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND INFORMATION NETWORKS THAT MAKE UP TRULY GREAT CITIES. AND HUMANITY PROSPERS IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE. SEGMENTATION HAS BEEN THE CURSE OF OUR CITY.

IT BLOCKS THE FLOW OF LIFE BLOOD THROUGH THE ARTERIES OF THE CITY.

THE GREEN AND SILVER LINE ARE VIA'S ATTEMPT TO CREATE FLOWS AND OVERCOME BARRICADES. WE CAN IMAGINE THE IMPACT THEY WILL HAVE WHEN PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL FREELY FROM ONE PART OF THE CITY TO THE OTHER.

[03:15:05]

THOSE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT WERE FORGOTTEN OR EVEN INTENTIONALLY DIVESTED IN THE AREA OF RED LINING AND THEN ABANDONED DURING URBAN RENEWAL.

AND THE MIDTOWN TIRZ HAS ACCOMPLISHED THAT. BUT ITS PERPETUATION REPRODUCES THESE WRONGS AND CREATES NEW LITTLE ISLANDS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY A FEW WEEKS AGO TO ATTEND SEVERAL EVENTS BUT TWO OF WHICH WERE MEMORABLE.

THE BUDGET MEETING IN DISTRICT 6 AND THE MIDTOWN TIRZ MEETING.

IN D6 THE BUDGET MEETING WAS HELD IN A SENIOR CENTER SLATED FOR CLOSURE AND PEOPLE SAID RAISE OUR TAXES. BUT JUST DON'T CLOSE OUR SENIOR CENTER.

THE FOLLOWING DAY AT THE TIRZ MEETING, PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE BY THE ZOO, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, BRACKENRIDGE PARK BUT ALSO ONE FOR THE SPURS ARENA, ALL OF WHICH I'M A PATRON. BUT WHY DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE FUNDS AND THE D6 SENIOR CENTER GETS CLOSED? WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. WE NEED A SHARED GRAND VISION, NOT A SERIES OF SMALL VISIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ONE ANOTHER. BEHIND WHICH WE HIDE OUR OWN PILES OF RESOURCES AND SPEND THEM HOW WE LIKE. YOU'RE VOTING TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THIS TIRZ, THIS LITTLE ISLAND AND OF OTHERS UNTIL 2060. THAT'S 34 YEARS FROM NOW.

THAT MEANS YOUR CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF A CITY THAT FUNCTIONS AS A WHOLE. AS ONE CITY. A CITY IN WHICH CHILDREN GROW UP WITH EQUAL AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY. A CITY WHERE RESOURCES ARE SHARED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION. A TRULY DEMOCRATIC CITY.

SUNSET THIS TIRZ. IT HAS DONE ITS JOB. IT PERFORMED ADMIRABLY.

NOW RETURN IT TO THE PEOPLE AND LET US ALL BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE, NOT JUST A FEW. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: GRACIELA SANCHEZ FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE TRUMBLE AND THEN

VICTORIA DE LEON. >> HI. I'M GETTING SOME TIME FROM

BERTO LEIJA AS WELL AS ALEJANDRO LEIJA. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.

YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES, MA'AM. >> FORBES MAGAZINE REPORTED YESTERDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, THAT MICHAEL DELL IS NOW THE SECOND RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD BEHIND ONLY ELON MUSK. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT.

THE SECOND RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD IS A PART OWNER OF THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS.

AND YET HERE WE ARE PLEADING WITH YOU NOT TO GIVE OUR PRECIOUS PUBLIC DOLLARS TO THE SPURS. THIS IS OBSCENE. MICHAEL DELL GAVE $6 BILLION TO THIS COUNTRY'S PRESIDENT THIS PAST YEAR. YET HE AND THE SPURS GROUP WANT TO TAKE AWAY $60 MILLION FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ.

THE $6 BILLION THAT DELL GAVE THE PRESIDENT IS 100 TIMES THE $60 MILLION THAT THE SPURS ARE TRYING TO GET FROM THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.

MICHAEL DELL COULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE ARENA PROJECT ITSELF.

THE LAND ACQUISITION, STREET IMPROVEMENTS, DRAINAGE, GREEN SPACE, PARKING, RENOVATIONS TO THE CONCERT VENUE, AND MORE. FOR SOMEONE WITH DELL'S WEALTH, THESE COSTS ARE COMPARATIVELY SMALL. AND IF HE WANTED HELP, MR. DELL COULD ASK THE OTHER MILLIONAIRE OWNERS TO CONTRIBUTE FOR THE SALE OF THEIR TEAM -- FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR TEAM. SORRY.

LET'S BE CLEAR. THE SPURS ARE NOT JUST A BUSINESS, THE SPURS BELONG, IN SPIRIT, TO THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. THE TEAM'S GREATEST STRENGTH IS ITS COMMUNITY OF EXTRAORDINARY FANS. AND THOSE FANS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS JUST ANOTHER SOURCE OF MONEY TO PROTECT WEALTHY OWNERS FROM PAYING THE FULL COST OF THEIR OWN INVESTMENT. THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO STOP AND CONSIDER HOW WE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS SEE YOU. YOU SAY YOU DO NOT WANT TO

[03:20:03]

RAISE TAXES. YOU SAY WE MUST CUT FUNDING TO DELEGATE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM WRITING A CHECK FOR $60 MILLION.

A CHECK THAT, WITH INTEREST, COULD GROW TO $116 MILLION. $116 MILLION.

WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND? THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU TOLD YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN YOU ASKED FOR THEIR VOTES. DID YOU TELL THEM THAT YOU WOULD KEEP PLANS FOR THIS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT SECRET? DID YOU TELL THEM THAT ONCE THOSE PLANS BECOME PUBLIC, YOU WOULD SUPPORT GIVING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PUBLIC DOLLARS, INCLUDING THE $60 MILLION YOU ARE CONSIDERING TODAY, TO BENEFIT BILLIONAIRE AND MULTI-MILLIONAIRE OWNERS OF THE SPURS? DID YOU TELL THEM THAT WHILE TRYING TO AVOID INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES YOU MIGHT INSTEAD CUT FUNDING FOR HEALTHCARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STREET DRAINAGE, STREETS, DRAINAGE, AND OTHER BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE. DID YOU TELL THEM THAT PROGRAMS SERVING WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WORKING FAMILIES AND PEOPLE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE WITH SUBSIDIES FOR SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD? IS THAT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ELECTED YOU TO DO? TO GIVE MILLIONS TO THE WEALTHY WHILE ASKING THE REST OF SAN ANTONIO TO ACCEPT LESS? EVERY PIECE OF THIS PROPOSAL SHOULD GIVE YOU PAUSE.

WE NEED PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH ADEQUATE HOURS AND ADEQUATE STAFF.

WE NEED HELP TO PRESERVE OUR UNIQUE MULTILINGUAL AND MULTIRACIAL HERITAGE.

WE NEED ACCESSIBLE ARTS PROGRAMMING, GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, AND WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES THAT WILL ALLOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN AND CARRY ON THESE TRADITIONAL PRACTICES. WE NEED MUSIC AND DANCE FOR ALL AGES.

WE NEED PARKS WITH TREES, NOT BLUE PLASTIC TARPS. WE NEED SWIMMING POOLS THAT ARE OPEN MORE THAN TEN WEEKS OF THE YEAR IN THIS AMAZINGLY-HOT CITY.

WE NEED THE SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMMUNITY LIFE-ENHANCING ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE OUR CITY VIBRANT. AND YET YEAR AFTER YEAR, IN A CITY THAT REMAINS DEEPLY ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED, OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKED TO ENDURE AUSTERITY BUDGETS. WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK CAREFULLY AT WHERE THIS PROPOSAL COMES FROM. IT COMES FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD WITH ITS OWN INSTITUTIONAL INTERESTS. THREE MEMBERS ARE CITY STAFF WHO WORK WITHIN THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE. OF THE FIVE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES, TWO VOTED FOR THIS PROPOSAL WHILE REPRESENTING THE ZOO AND THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT EACH ARE SLATED TO RECEIVE $10 MILLION AS PART OF THE BROADER ARRANGEMENT. THEY SHOULD HAVE EXCUSED THEMSELVES FROM THAT VOTE, AS SHOULD THE CITY STAFF. THE REMAINING THREE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES VOTED AGAINST GIVING $60 MILLION TO PURCHASE LAND FOR THE SPURS, STATING THAT THEIR COMMUNITIES DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL. LET ME REPEAT.

IT WAS THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT VOTED NO ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN JALEN. THIS SHOULD MATTER. THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD MATTER. PUBLIC TRUST SHOULD MATTER. TRANSPARENCY SHOULD MATTER.

AND OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD MATTER. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, THIS CITY HAS BUILT ARENAS AND BEEN PROMISED ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE HEARD THESE PROMISES BEFORE AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THOSE PROMISES HAVE FAILED TO MATERIALIZE.

SO BEFORE WE GIVE AWAY ANOTHER $60 MILLION OF PUBLIC MONEY, MIDTOWN TIRZ MONEY, PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION: WHY ARE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO BEING ASKED TO SUBSIDIZE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST OWNERSHIP GROUPS IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS WHILE SO MANY ESSENTIAL NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY REMAIN UNMET? IF MICHAEL DELL AND OTHER OWNERS WANT TO INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO, WONDERFUL.

LET THEM CONTRIBUTE. BUT LET US STOP PRETENDING THAT A PUBLIC SUBSIDY FOR BILLIONAIRES IS THE SAME THING AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY DESERVE A REAL INVESTMENT. IF MICHAEL DELL WANTS TO

[03:25:05]

GIVE SAN ANTONIO A GIFT, THEN LET IT BE A REAL GIFT. LET THE BILLIONAIRES PAY FOR THEIR OWN ARENA. AND THE LAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

AND LET OUR PUBLIC DOLLARS SERVE THE PUBLIC. PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSAL AND VOTE NO TO EXTEND THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: CATHERINE TRUMBLE FOLLOWED BY VICTORIA

DE LEON AND MABEL GOLDSMITH. >> GOOD MORNING -- GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I'M CATHERINE TRUMBLE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN. I AM JOINED THIS AFTERNOON BY MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD, OUR STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE WE ALL BELIEVE IN OUR MISSION OF ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH PLANTS AND NATURE. AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. OUR COMMITMENT IS ABOUT MORE THAN STEWARDING 38 ACRES OF CITY LAND AND BUILDINGS. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A GARDEN THAT'S UNIQUE TO SAN ANTONIO AND STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

SAN ANTONIO DESERVES THAT. BECAUSE SABG IS A PUBLIC TREASURE.

THAT RETURNS FAR MORE VALUE THAN ANY SINGLE INVESTMENT COULD MEASURE ALONE.

AND LAST MONTH WE CONDUCTED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND FOUND THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO INVESTS IN THE GARDEN, WE RETURN $31 IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT. $8 IN ADDITIONAL WORKERS' EARNINGS AND 70 CENTS IN ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE FOR THE CITY. AND SINCE 2024, THE $3.6 MILLION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED FROM THE CITY HAS HELPED GENERATE MORE THAN $113 MILLION IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT FOR SAN ANTONIO. RESIDENTS COME FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY AND MAKE THE GARDEN A PART OF THEIR DAILY LIVES.

AND OUR GROWTH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. WHEN WE PRIVATIZED FROM THE CITY OUR VISITATION WAS 170,000. THIS YEAR IT WAS 430,000.

AND NOW WE HAVE 35,000 KIDS COMING TO THE GARDEN THIS YEAR ON SCHOOL TOURS WITH 61% COMING FROM TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. ACCESS IS AT THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS WITH 50,000 PEOPLE COMING TO THE GARDEN THIS YEAR FROM ACCESS PROGRAMS. AND THE PROPOSED $10 MILLION FROM THE TIRZ WILL BE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR BY PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO CREATE A NEW HORTICULTURE CAMPUS.

THIS CAMPUS WILL HELP US GROW TO 650,000 VISITORS AND 80,000 KIDS ON SCHOOL TOURS.

SABG BELONGS TO SAN ANTONIO AND THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC IMPACT. AND ONE THAT GENERATES TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUTPUT, WAGES, AND TAX REVENUE FOR SAN ANTONIO YEAR OVER YEAR.

SO THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. VICTORIA DE LEON FOLLOWED BY MABEL GOLDSMITH AND CINDY MUNCH.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS VICTORIA DE LEON, A PROUD MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE AT SAN ANTONIO ZOO.

OUR ZOO WAS IN THE NEWS A LOT RECENTLY SO YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT THE WAYS WE'RE EXPANDING ACCESS THROUGH REDUCED ADMISSION OR THE CONSERVATION MILESTONES WE HAVE REACHED AROUND THE WORLD. MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT US RANKING AMONGST THE BEST ZOOS AND NONE OF THOSE ACCOLADES BELONG TO US ALONE. WE SHARE THEM WITH THIS CITY AND WE HOPE EVERY SAN ANTONIAN FEELS THAT PRIDE TOO. AS AN EMPLOYEE, I AM TEMPTED TO TALK ALL DAY ABOUT THE WAYS WE SHOW UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

[03:30:03]

TODAY I ALSO FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO YOU AS A MOM AND SHARE THE WAYS OUR ZOO HAS IMPACTED MY OWN FAMILY. THAT IMPACT IS EASY TO MISS.

BEFORE I EVER WORKED HERE, I KNEW IT AS A SPECIAL PLACE TO TAKE MY SON WHERE NO TWO VISITS WERE EVER THE SAME. AFTER EVERY TRIP I WATCHED HIS CURIOUS YOUNG MIND GROW, ASK QUESTIONS, AND INVENT HIS OWN BEDTIME STORIES ABOUT THE ANIMALS HE CONNECTED WITH THAT DAY. IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THIS IS MORE THAN A PLACE TO GO AND SEE ANIMALS, IT'S A PLACE WHERE I COULD BE IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER FAMILIES AND WALK AWAY LEARNING SOMETHING NEW, WANTING TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER. SAN ANTONIO ZOO IS AN EDUCATION PARTNER, A CONSERVATION LEADER AROUND THE WORLD, AND ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THIS CITY.

GROWING UP IN A SINGLE-PARENT, MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD, TRIPS TO PLACES LIKE THE ZOO WERE CHALLENGING. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF A ZOO WHERE THEY ENSURE EVERY FAMILY CAN VISIT. WITH NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS IN DONATED TICKETS EVERY YEAR, WELCOMING TITLE 1 SCHOOLS WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD IN SAN ANTONIO DESERVES AND CAN ACCESS THE KIND OF EXPERIENCES THAT HELP SHAPE HOW THEY SEE THE WORLD. CONTINUING TO INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO ZOO IS CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR OWN CITY. WE GENERATED $283 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN 2025 ALONE AND $1.3 BILLION SINCE 2014.

THAT'S NO SMALL WIN AND ONE WE COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALONE.

AND FOR EVERY CAPITAL DOLLAR THE CITY HAS INVESTED IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'VE RETURNED $43 IN ECONOMIC IMPACT. YEARS OF COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY MATCHED WITH THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS AND EVERY GUEST THAT WALKS THROUGH THOSE GATES, IT FUELS US TO GIVE BACK EVEN MORE.

THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO, ONE I BELIEVE MAKES THE CITY BETTER AND IS WORTH CONTINUED INVESTMENT AS WE CONTINUE GROWING TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. MABEL GOLDSMITH. [APPLAUSE]

CINDY MUNCH AND BERNARDO DE LA GARZA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MABEL GOLDSMITH AND I AM A VOLUNTEER AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS. I DIDN'T START OFF THERE. MY CONNECTION BEGAN AS A PARTICIPANT. AS A PARTICIPANT ALONGSIDE MY HUSBAND, ERIK AT THE DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY GARDENING SERIES, WHICH IS WHERE THE PROGRAM REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE AND MY HUSBAND'S, KNOWING THAT WE LIVE A DIFFERENT LIFE THAN WE DID BEFORE. THE EXPERIENCE TOUCHED MY HEART SO MUCH THAT I BECAME A VOLUNTEER MYSELF. THE GARDEN HAS BECOME MY SANCTUARY.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE I GO FOR PEACE. I GO FOR A PURPOSE AND I HAVE NEW FRIENDS WITH THE STAFF AND WITH FELLOW VOLUNTEERS THAT I NEVER EXPECTED WOULD HAPPEN IN MY LIFE AS A RETIREE PLAYING IN THE DIRT.

I DON'T JUST RECEIVE FROM THE GARDEN, I GIVE BACK EVERY TIME I SHOW UP.

WHETHER I'M MENTORING A NEW VOLUNTEER OR PREPARING A MEAL FOR THE CULINARY CLASSES OR SIMPLY SHARING A SMILE WITH A GUEST AS THEY WALK IN.

I KNOW MY TIME HERE REALLY MATTERS. I WATCH FAMILIES, THEIR FACES LIGHT UP AS THEY WALK IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE GARDENS AND THEY TAKE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE GARDEN AND FACULTIES. I WATCHED MY FELLOW DEMENTIA VOLUNTEERS AND THE PARTICIPANTS ENJOY THE CLASSES WHERE THEY SEE THEIR PLANTS GROW, WHERE THEY LAUGH FOR THAT ONE MOMENT. THEY LIVE IN A MOMENT WHERE THERE'S PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP AND ACCEPTANCE. THAT'S WHAT WE GET FROM THE GARDENS. I'VE BUILT, WITH THE COMMUNITY, AN AREA THAT WE PLACE PEOPLE AND REALIZE THAT THESE PEOPLE, WE VALUE THEM FOR WHO THEY WERE BUT ALSO WHO THEY ARE NOW IN THIS TIME OF THEIR LIVES. WHAT REALLY EXCITES ME ABOUT THIS IS IT REACHES FAR BEYOND A SINGLE PROGRAM THAT THE GARDEN POSSESSES.

THE GARDEN IS ALSO HELPING SAVE THE CITY BY LEARNING, HEALING, BY CONNECTING.

AND I WANT TO KEEP MY PART OF MY VOLUNTEERISM WITH THEM TO GROW ALONG WITH THEM.

SEE, I WAS BORN IN SAN ANTONIO AND RAISED HERE AND THIS IS MY CITY.

AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT. I HAVE SO MUCH PRIDE AND I SHARE THAT PRIDE WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR BOTANICAL GARDEN.

[03:35:02]

BUT ITS NAME IS THE SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN, WHICH MEANS IT GOES FAR BEYOND THE FOUR WALLS AND 40 ACN TODAY. THIS IS THE REASON WHY IT HAS THAT NAME. IT BELONGS TO THE CITY. YOU CANNOT PUT A VALUE ON WHAT WE GIVE TO OUR GARDEN AND WHAT WE GET FROM THE GARDEN AS WELL.

BUT I PROMISE YOU IT MATTERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE VALUE IT.

IT'S MORE VALUABLE TO US THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE HAVE FUNDED IN THE CITY.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PATIENCE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. CINDY MUNCH, FOLLOWED BY BERNARDO DELLA GARZA AND

THEN STEPHANIE REYES. >> MARY GAVE ME HER TIME AND SO DID BILLY GONZÁLEZ.

>> MAYOR JONES: WHAT WAS THE OTHER PERSON'S NAME, MA'AM?

>> BILLY GONZÁLEZ. >> MAYOR JONES: SHE HAS THE CONFIRMATION ON HER

PHONE, MA'AM? >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT? >> MAYOR JONES: CAN SHE JUST RAISE HER HAND? THANK YOU. YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES,

MA'AM. >> MY NAME IS CINDY MUNCH. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 9 AND I'M SPEAKING AGAINST THE PLANNED EXTENSION TO 2060 OF THE TAX INCREMENT ZONE MIDTOWN TIRZ.

I OPPOSE THE EXTENSION OF ALL FIVE TIRZ UNDER DISCUSSION TODAY BECAUSE UNLIKE THE STATEMENTS' NO IMPACT, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND WHEN TAXES ON SELECT PROPERTY VALUATIONS DO NOT GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THAT IMPACT OF NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE GENERAL FUND COMPOUNDS THE DAMAGE IT DOES TO THE CITY BUDGETS EVERY YEAR.

WITHOUT GRADUATING TIRZ FOR FULL CONTRIBUTION FROM THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET -- WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AND BALANCING THAT BUDGET MAY BE DISTORTED. MAYBE A LITTLE MAINTENANCE DEFERRED TO MEET THE BUDGET ONE YEAR. MAYBE A SPECIFICATION CUT TO MEET BUDGET ANOTHER.

A DECISION MADE ONE YEAR THAT COULD ADD COSTS AND HAVE THE NEXT YEAR PROBLEMS THAT COMPOUND UNNECESSARILY. A BUDGET DEFICIT HAS BEEN BLAMED ON THE DECLINE AND PROPERTY TAXES AND YET FIVE TIRZ ORDINANCES ARE BEING CONSIDERED TODAY AND ASKING TO KEEP SOME OF THE NEWEST, MOST VALUABLE PROPERTIES FROM PAYING INTO THE GENERAL FUND. LEVEES ON IMPROVEMENTS INITIATED WITH TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE DEFICIT IN THE O&M AND THE DEBT SERVICE FACTORS. WITH A TIRZ TAX PROCEEDS IN A DIFFERENT SPECIAL ENVELOPE, THE GO BOND LIMIT IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, AND THAT'S OUR CHART NUMBER ONE.

NOTICE THE MIDDLE ITEM ON THAT CHART IS OKLAHOMA CITY. THAT'S THE CITY THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION DURING THE PROPOSITION B. WE WERE GETTING A MUCH BETTER DEAL. OKLAHOMA CITY HAD THAT BOND ISSUE WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF APPROVING THEIR ARENA. THIS BOTTOM 450 IS WHAT WE WILL HAVE 18 MONTHS FROM APPROVING OUR ARENA. A LOWER BOND AMOUNT CAN ENCOURAGE PARTIES SEEKING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO LOOK FOR A SOURCE OUTSIDE THE BOND TO MAKE DEALS FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND TO GET CUTS IN LINE FROM THE TIGHTER GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROCESS. I AM SPEAKING AGAINST THIS PROCESS.

A WELL-INFORMED TAXPAYER SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT NOT ONLY ARE SUCCESSFUL TIRZ PROPERTIES NOT GRADUATING TO PAY INTO THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE BENEFITS THE GENERAL FUND COVERS.

THIS YEAR THE COST OF TREATING SAN ANTONIO TIRZ FREE CITY GOVERNMENT WILL MOST CERTAINLY INCREASE THE COST OF GOVERNMENT TO ALL THOSE WHO PAY INTO IT.

I OPPOSE EXTENDING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ FUND FOR THE FOUR PROJECTS PROPOSED BECAUSE THEY DEMONSTRATE A CLEAR WORKAROUND OF OUR SYSTEM IN FUNDING THE NEEDS OF THE CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE SECOND CHART WHILE I'M TALKING. THE CURRENT PROPOSED USE OF TIRZ IS A WORKAROUND OF THE GO BOND TOO WEAK TO FUND PROJECTS APPROPRIATELY APPROPRIATED WITH TOURIST TAX DOLLARS. THEY ARE REFLECTED IN THIS CHART.

PROJECTS FOR THE ZOO, BOTANICAL GARDENS AND BRECKENRIDGE PARK COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED FOR BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY VENUES IN THE 2025 BALLOT HAD IT NOT

[03:40:03]

BEEN LIMITED BY THE AUTHORITIES TO ONLY DO ARENAS.

THE SHARE OF VISITOR TAXES GOING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT YEAR-ROUND LOCAL TOURIST VENUES. TOURISTS WERE -- TIRZ WERE DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT AREAS AND BRING THEM INTO THE GENERAL ECONOMY AND TAXPAYERS INTO THE GENERAL ECONOMY TO BE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

THRIVING -- MY GOODNESS. THRIVING -- THRIVING TIRZ AREAS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE.

THE MIDTOWN TIRZ SHOWS A CLEAR PATH OF WHAT BUDGETING PLAN THAT MOVES MONEY FROM ONE NFL TO ANOTHER DOES TO -- ENVELOPE DOES TO A COMMUNITY.

THE PATH STARTED WHEN WE DID THE BOND FOR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INSTEAD OF ANY OF THE OTHER TOURIST VENUE USES. IN 2008 THE PRIOR BALLOT COVERED LOTS OF TOURIST VENUES AND RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS COULD ENJOY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. TOURISTS THEMSELVES MOVE TAX DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND'S O&M, POLICE, FIRE, YOUR SALARIES, LIBRARIES, ET CETERA.

AND DEBT SERVICE, GENERAL OBLIGATION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND TAX NOTES -- ENVELOPES ARE KEPT FROM SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A VOTER APPROVAL.

INITIALLY ZONES ARE SOLD BASED ON THE INTENT OF GENERATING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SPECIFIC AREAS THAT NEED REVITALIZATION, BUT BECAUSE THE SPECIAL ENVELOPES AREN'T GOING AWAY WHEN ONE IS STRONGER, THEY SHOULD BE COMPETING -- CONTRIBUTING TO THE GENERAL FUND. THESE FUNDS, THE MIDTOWN TIRZ FOR ONE, CAN JOIN THE BIG KIDS AND PAY INTO THE GENERAL FUND. AND DATES FOR TIRZ MATTER AND MANAGEMENT SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT EXTENDING A SPECIAL ENVELOPE OF MONEY FOR SPENDING ON PERMISSION OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR BUSINESS OF THE CITY AND ISN'T A GOOD LOOK. CAN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT CHART? I WANT TO SHOW THE COMPARISON ABOUT THE DEBT TO 2060 AND WHAT LONG-TERM DEBT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. WE WERE TOLD WE HAD A SPECIAL DEAL, WE WERE GETTING A BETTER DEAL WITH $500 MILLION FROM THE SPURS, BUT WHAT HAS THAT DONE FOR US? WE ARE GOING -- YOU LOOK AT THE DEAL THAT'S -- HOLD ON.

MONEY, DEBT UNTIL 2060. THE DIFFERENCE IS OUTLINED ON THAT CHART AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT DEBT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO RELY ON TIRZ, WE WOULD HAVE BOND MONEY AND IT'S A GOING AROUND CIRCLE THING. WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT OUR DEAL IS WITH THE SPURS AGAIN. SHOULD A COUNCIL PERSON HAVE TO PROTECT A SPECIAL -- IF A COUNCIL PERSON WANTS TO HAVE A SPECIAL PROJECT LOOKED AT, HE MAY MAKE A DEAL ON THE TIRZ EXTENSION AND A TRADE MIGHT BE MADE.

ANYWAY, IT WOULD LOOK LIKE THAT IF THEY GOT A SPECIAL DEAL.

ANOTHER THING ON THAT IS WE ARE SO FAR IN DEBT THAT WE ARE GOING OUT 60 YEARS FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS TO LAND AND WHATNOT. WHAT WILL WE USE TO FUND THE 13-YEAR IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT MIGHT BE SEVEN TIMES THE COST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE LAST ARENA WHICH IS THE CURRENT ARENA IS SEVEN TIMES AT THIS STAGE. MOST OF THE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET IS THE BUDGET DEFICIT. THE CITY IS DISCUSSING INCREASING O&M TAX RATE, CUTTING SERVICES AND JOBS AND INCREASING FEES.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY TALK ABOUT GRADUATING TIRZ? IS THERE ANY FUTURE FORECAST OF TIRZ IMPROVEMENT TAX REVENUES EVER COMING INTO THE GENERAL FUND OR BUDGET? HIGH VALUATION TIRZ AND THE MIDTOWN CAN MAKE A VERY POSITIVE CHANGE ON SAN ANTONIO'S DEBT. THERE HAS BEEN -- COULD YOU LOOK AT THE LAST CHART AGAIN? THERE HAS BEEN 27 BOND OF LESS THAN HALF THE AMOUNT OF '22 BOND IN NOMINAL DOLLARS. THERE WILL BE A SECOND PITCH FOR THE BOND.

THE BOND BUDGET CRUNCH SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT THE ARENA INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE

[03:45:05]

THE ARENA INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALAMODOME INFRASTRUCTURE IS ELIGIBLE FOR PFZ.

I WANTED TO TELL YOU THE PFZ MONEY DOESN'T COMPUTE. YOU NEED ANOTHER $44 MILLION FOR THE ARENA UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING ONLINE.

I LOST TIME SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY TO HAVE A NEW NBA ARENA. WE CAN GET A BETTER DEAL. SAN ANTONIO GOT A BETTER DEAL WITH THE 500 MILLION. IT OUGHT TO PAY FOR OUR DEBT.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. BERNARDO DELLA GARZA. >> BERNARDO HAD TO LEAVE,

MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: SO STEPHANIE, THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE, PROUD PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR CHAIRMAN BERNARDO DELA GARZA.

WE SUPPORT THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BECAUSE IT GIVES SAN ANTONIO AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT CAN STRENGTHEN OUR URBAN CORE AND LEVERAGE FUTURE GROWTH. WE HAVE SEEN WHAT STRATEGIC INVESTMENT CAN ACCOMPLISH IN MIDTOWN. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PEARL IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND CATALYTIC PRODUCTS CAN ATTRACT SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND CREATE A DESTINATION THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT TOOL. THE PROPOSED EXTENSION WOULD ALLOW THE MIDTOWN TIRZ TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACQUISITION OF THE FORMER UTSA INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES FOR A NEW SPURS ARENA AND THE BROADER DEVELOPMENT ENVISIONED AROUND IT. CITY STAFF IDENTIFIED THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AS THE INTENDED FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE ACQUISITION BACK IN FEBRUARY 20. IN AUGUST 2025 WHEN AUGUST ADOPTED THE ARENA TERM SHEET IT ALSO CONFIRMED THE CITY'S EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO PURCHASE THE ITC PROPERTY AND THAT THE CITY EXPECTED TO EXERCISE IT.

SO THIS IS A FOLLOW-THROUGH, NOT A NEW ASK. WE BELIEVE SECURING THIS LAND IS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO'S FUTURE.

THE ARENA IS NOT SIMPLY A SPORTS VENUE. DONE CORRECTLY IT CAN SERVE AS CATALYST FOR DEVELOPMENT, RETAIL, HOSPITALITY, HOUSING AND OTHER PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. AN IMPORTANTLY, THE TIRZ PROVIDES A MECHANISM TO USE FUTURE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE TO HELP FUND THAT INVESTMENT.

THIS IS THE KIND OF STRATEGIC INVESTMENT A TIRZ IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT, LEVERAGING FEW GROWTH TO CATALYZE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE JUST GOT A PREVIEW OF WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT COULD ACTUALLY DELIVER. DURING THE SPURS MOST RECENT PLAYOFF RUN ALONE, THE TEAM GENERATED AN ESTIMATED $164 MILLION IN NET LOCAL SPENDING.

INCLUDING 3.4 MILLION IN CITY TAX REVENUE AND 1.4 MILLION DIRECTLY TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND. NOW, IMAGINE THAT SAME ENERGY SUSTAINED YEAR-ROUND WITH A PERMANENT HOME FOR THE SPURS DOWNTOWN. FURTHERMORE, THE BENEFITS ALSO EXTEND BEYOND THE ARENA. INVESTMENTS IN THE ZOO, BOTANICAL GARDEN, BRECKENRIDGE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING CORE CAN STRENGTHEN SOME OF SAN ANTONIO'S MOST CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AN TOURIST SITES. FOR THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY A STRONGER URBAN CORE MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT, MORE AUDIO] ACTIVITIES, A STRONGER TAX BASE AND JOBS. VOTERS ALREADY SAID YES TO THE VISION WHEN THEY APPROVED THE PUBLIC FUNDING FRAMEWORK LAST DECEMBER.

WE SUPPORT EXTENDING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND WE BELIEVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE ARENA SITE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT STRATEGY.

AT THIS TIME WE URGE CONTINUED ACCOUNTABILITY AND STRATEGY TO ASSURE THESE

ACHIEVE DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES AND MAXIMUM INVESTMENT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

VERONICA, JUST FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION IF IT COMES UP AND INFORMS ANYONE ELSE'S PUBLIC COMMENT, CAN WE BRING UP THE FINANCE SLIDE AGAIN THAT REFLECTS THE IMPACT OF

THE PROJECTS? >> YES, MAYOR, WE CAN BRING THAT UP.

>> MAYOR JONES: SO FOR CLARITY, RIGHT, WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ITC, THAT $60 MILLION, AND THEN THE 10 MILLION FOR THE ZOO, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE BRECKENRIDGE, WHEN I LOOK AT THAT LINE, THE 2030 -- 2034 TO 2041, WHEN YOU ADD -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT LINE ACROSS, RIGHT, AND YOU DO THE MATH, IF YOU GET TO THAT

[03:50:05]

LINE FOR THE ZOO, BY THAT TIME, BY THE END OF THIS TIRZ, THAT WILL BE $9.4 MILLION. IT'S ALSO THE SAME FOR THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE SAME FOR BRECKENRIDGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ITC, THAT SUM AT THE END OF THE TIRZ AT 2041 IS ALSO $69 MILLION. SO THE REASON THAT THE NUMBERS -- IT DOESN'T SEEM THEN IF I UNDERSTAND -- THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S LEFT OVER FOR OUR PROJECTS EVEN BY THAT TIME THERE'S $70 MILLION.

SO I KNOW I EARLIER ASKED IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR JUST THE ITC, BUT BASED ON THIS IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THE TIRZ NOW TO PAY FOR THE ITC AS WELL AS THE THREE PROJECTS WITHOUT NEEDING O EXTEND THIS WITH A

SUFFICIENT BUFFER OF $11 MILLION. >> I'M GOING TO LET THE FINANCE TEAM COME UP, BUT I THINK, MAYOR, WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE FINANCING THOSE

EXPENSES OVER THE LONG-TERM. >> MAYOR JONES: AND UNDERSTOOD, BUT IF PART OF THE COST OF FINANCING THEM IS HIGHER BASED ON THE LENGTH OF TIME WE ARE FINANCING THEM, IE, IF WE MADE THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS BY 2041, HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT, TROY. IF WE COULD, IE -- IF BY 2041 WE'VE ALREADY CONTRIBUTED 9.462 MILLION FOR EACH OF THE THREE PROJECTS PER, THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE TO GO, BUT HELP US UNDERSTAND. AND HONESTLY, IF AN OPTION THEN MAY BE, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF 10 MILLION, MAYBE YOU GET 8.5 AND YOU WRAP IS ALL UP BECAUSE THERE'S NO REASON TO ADD 7 MILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF FINANCE

COSTS JUST TO EXTEND IT TO 2060. >> YES, MA'AM.

AND I CAN KIND OF TRY TO WALK THROUGH IT. SO WHEN WE WERE ANALYZING THIS WE DID GO BACK AND ACTUALLY ANALYZE THE FULL 90 MILLION --

>> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC, PLEASE. >> I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT ON THE MIC. WE DID GO BACK AND ANALYZE IF WE TOOK THE THREE CULTURAL PARTNER PROJECTS AND THE ITC, TOTAL $90 MILLION, WOULD THAT FIT WITHIN THE EXISTING TERM THROUGH 2041. IT DID FIT ON A SIMPLE FINANCING. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BALANCES, AND YOU'RE CORRECT IN YOUR ASSUMPTION, YOU DON'T EXTEND TO 25 YEARS, YOU WILL PAY LESS IN FINANCING COSTS. IT DID NARROWLY FIT WITHIN THE THROUGH 2041.

WE WOULD NEED TO GO BACK AND WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORK TO DO ON THE ITC SIDE. WE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE FINANCING PLAN FOR THIS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO FINANCE THE DEBT. WE USED A SIMPLE FINANCING MECHANISM. DEPENDING ON HOW WE ULTIMATELY STRUCTURE THE ITC, IS IT A REVENUE BOND, IS IT GOING THROUGH SOME OTHER TYPE OF FINANCING MECHANISM? WE MAY NEED MORE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE WE MAY NEED TO BUILD IN RESERVES, DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE. SO IT GAVE ME PAUSE WHEN TRYING TO FIT IT WITHIN THE INITIAL TERM OF 2041, ALTHOUGH IT FIT AND IT'S VERY THIN. BASED ON HOW WE STRUCTURE THE DEBT THERE MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH ROOM AND CAPACITY WITHIN THERE. SO ULTIMATELY WE WENT

THROUGH DEBT THROUGH 2052 FOR THE ITC AND PARTNERS. >> MAYOR JONES: 2052.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE -- FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, THE PUBLIC WATCHING, WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE FAR RIGHT THEN, THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN, AND YOU SEE 2034 TO 2041 AND YOU SUBTRACT THOSE PROJECTS AND YOU'RE STILL LEFT WITH $70 MILLION, HOW SHOULD SHE UNDERSTAND THAT NUMBER?

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A SMALL BUFFER? >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE OTHER THAN THAT WE WOULD NEED SOME CAPACITY WITHIN THAT $70 MILLION. WOULD IT NEED THE FULL CAPACITY?

PROBABLY NOT. >> MAYOR JONES: SO WE DON'T NEED THE FULL CAPACITY OF THE 70 MILLION TO COVER THE PROJECTS AS IDENTIFIED ON THIS SHEET.

>> PROBABLY NOT. IF YOU FIT IT WITHIN THE EXISTING TERM, BUT WE WILL

STILL NEED SOME FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THAT AMOUNT. >> MAYOR JONES: FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE AMOUNT, BUT THE AMOUNT ITSELF IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL

THE PROJECTS ON THIS SHEET? >> BASED ON THE FINANCE PLAN AND BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS

IN HERE IT'S SUFFICIENT IN THAT 70 MILLION. >> MAYOR JONES: I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THAT INFORMS THEIR COMMENT AS WELL, WHICH IS YOU COULD ACTUALLY PAY FOR EVERYTHING WITH THE CURRENT TERM OF THIS TIRZ.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE IT WILL FIT

WITHIN THE EXISTING TERM. >> MAYOR JONES: I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD WHEN THEY VOTED ON THIS AND THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT THEY ARE REVIEWING AS PART OF THIS.

THANK YOU. YES, TROY. >> MAYOR, LET ME ADD IN THAT WHILE IT WOULD NARROWLY FIT WITHIN THAT TERM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD RECOMMEND BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE YEARS CASH FLOW THERE AT ALL BASED ON OUR ASSUMPTIONS. SO I THINK WHILE IT LOOKS

[03:55:05]

LIKE THERE'S 70 MILLION THERE AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE TIRZ BASED ON OUR ASSUMPTION IS GROWING AT ITS OWN RATE, 3.25, WE'RE LAYERING IN THE OBLIGATION, ALL OF THEM WILL DO THE SAME THING. THEY WILL GROW AND GET WIDER AS WE GROW OUT AS WELL AS YOU LAYER IN ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE FUTURE.

THE CHALLENGE IS WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT NOW YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIT WITHIN THE EXISTING CASH FLOW. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM ON THE FRONT END OF THIS ONE.

TROY WAS TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER DEBT INSTRUMENT. WE WOULD NEED TO FINISH THAT WORK TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STRUCTURE SOMETHING THAT FITS AND THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE CAN GET PAID FROM THIS TIRZ AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES WITH MEETING DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS IN THE FUTURE. SO THAT'S THE PART I WANTED TO JUST CAVEAT IS THAT THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO ON THIS ONE.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. KATHLEEN VAIL. >> I HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS CEDING TIME TO ME, [INDISCERNIBLE] PEÑA AND [INDISCERNIBLE].

>> MAYOR JONES: YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES, MA'AM. >> THAT SHOULD BE A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES. IT SHOWS -- OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, FRIENDS AND SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. I AM HERE TO ASK FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD WHEN IS ENOUGH TRULY ENOUGH? MY NAME IS KATHLEEN VAIL, I'M A DISTRICT 1 HOMEOWNER. I HAVE BEEN LEARNING, STRUGGLING, SHARING AND SPEAKING OUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW SINCE BEING ACTIVATED AFTER READING DR. CHRISTINE DRENNAN SEPTEMBER 2024 OP ED DOWNTOWN MECCA CUTS OUT COMMUNITY. I SUPPORT THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS AND I GREATLY ENJOY OUR TEAM. I ATTEND A LOT OF GAMES WITH THE BEST NBA FANS IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT SUPPORTING THE SPURS SHOULD NOT MEAN GIVING THEM AN OPEN ENDED CLAIM ON SAN ANTONIO FUTURE TAX DOLLARS.

I URGE A NO VOTE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20. THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE LAND FOR A NEW EXPENSIVE DOWNTOWN ARENA DESIGNED FOR LUXURY EXPERIENCE.

IT IS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CITY WE ARE BUILDING RIGHT NOW AS THE THIRD POOREST, SIXTH LARGEST AMERICAN, MINORITY MAJORITY CITY. LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO 1968. IT WAS BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES IN SAN ANTONIO. WE WERE A TALE OF TWO CITIES AS SAN ANTONIO OPENED HEMISFAIR AND PRESENTED ITSELF TO THE WORLD AS A MODERN, PROSPEROUS INTERNATIONAL CITY. I REMEMBER IT WELL AS A LITTLE GIRL.

INSIDE THE GATES OF THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS, INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITS, A MONORAIL AND A CELEBRATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S FUTURE. BUT OUTSIDE THE GATES WAS ANOTHER SAN ANTONIO ENTIRELY. DEEPLY STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY, HUNGER, INADEQUATE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC AND EDUCATION INEQUALITY.

TWO SAN ANTONIOS EXISTING IN ONE CITY. FAST FORWARD NEARLY 60 YEARS AND I ASK ARE WE APPROACHING THAT AGAIN? INVESTING HEAVILY IN DOWNTOWN WHILE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY CONTINUE PLEADING FOR THE BASICS: PUBLIC SAFETY, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, LIBRARIES, DRAINAGE, PARKS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND EMBARRASSINGLY SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS. TODAY THE PUBLIC COST FOR THE STADIUM AND SPORTS DISTRICT DOWNTOWN IS AT LEAST $489 MILLION IN CITY MONEY WITH A TOTAL PUBLIC EXPOSURE APPROACHING 1.1 BILLION WHEN YOU ADD 311 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY, APPROXIMATELY 115 MILLION FOR A 60 MILLION PROPERTY PURCHASE PLUS FINANCING AND DEBT FOR 13 ACRES DOWNTOWN ACTUALLY OUTSIDE OF THE TIRZ BOUNDARY UNDERTHE PUBLIC ASSEMBLY LEGAL EXCEPTION

[04:00:03]

THAT WILL ALLOW YOU IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY A TICKET TO ASSEMBLE IN PUBLIC AT THAT STADIUM. AND ADDITIONALLY 220 MILLION PROPOSED, NOT YET CONFIRMED, SPORTS DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE. AND MORE CITY COSTS WILL BE COMING. FUTURE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, ALAMODOME IMPROVEMENTS, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT.

I ASK COUNCIL TO PROVIDE US TODAY WITH A CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC COST PICTURE AND ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT. PUBLIC TRUST AND CITY GOVERNANCE IS CRUCIAL. TRANSPARENCY RIGHT NOW IS A CONTINUAL DUTY, NOT AN INCONVENIENT COURTESY. TODAY YOU MAY VOTE NO OR YOU MAY VOTE YES.

FOR ALL OF THESE CLUSTERS OF DIFFERENT TOPICS IN THIS ONE AGENDA ITEM THAT I'LL POINT OUT THE MIDTOWN TIRZ VOTED SEPARATELY ON EACH ONE, NOT CLUSTERED THEM ALTOGETHER.

BUT YOU WILL MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE MIDTOWN TIRZ WILL BE EXTENDED TO 2060 TO SIDE LINE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR DECADES AND TO MAKE THE FINANCING WORK POSSIBLE FOR A 60-MILLION-DOLLAR DOWNTOWN LAND PURCHASE PROJECTED TO COST TAXPAYERS POSSIBLY $115 MILLION. OR MAYBE THERE WILL BE A COMPROMISE. SOME ISSUES DEMAND MORAL CLARITY WITHOUT ANY COMPROMISE, AND THIS MAY BE ONE OF THEM. YOUR VOTE WILL TELL THE CITY WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHERE YOUR EQUITY LENS IS FOCUSED TODAY.

I ASK YOU TO BE CAUTIOUS. EVERYONE KNOWS THE MIDTOWN IS NOW SUCCESSFULLY REDEVELOPED. ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IS DONE AND WE SHOULD GIVE IT ALL THE FLOWERS IT DESERVES. BUT THE PROPERTY TAX SITTING THERE NOW BELONGS TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY RATHER THAN THE HANDPICKED PROJECTS OF OUR CITY'S WELL RESOURCED DONOR CLASS THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN LITTLE PUBLIC INPUT.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD WE WANT ALMOST TWO YEARS WITHOUT A PUBLIC MEETING, YET HAS NOW MET DOWNTOWN IN WILL MIDDLE OF THE WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITHOUT WHAT I CONSIDER MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

UNLIKE THE OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS AND STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE THAT OCCURS WITH THE DIVERSION CENTER PILOT PROJECT WITH THE WESTSIDE TIRZ, WHERE WAS THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT FOR THE EXPANDED PLANS FOR THE ZOO, THE PLANS TO EXPAND ACROSS 281, THE PLANS FOR A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART VETERINARY HOSPITAL TO ACCOMMODATE THE GORILLAS. THE PLANS FOR THE BOTANICAL GARDENS CONSERVANCY.

WHERE WERE THE MIDTOWN TIRZ ENGAGEMENT WITH SMALL BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ON A SAN ANTONIO -- ON A SATURDAY MORNING? I DID NOT SEE THEM. WE SHOULD BE MORE CONSIDERATE AND I SUGGEST HAVE MEANING OF THE STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH ANYTHING INVOLVED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING ALL THE TIRZ BOARDS.

THE INDIRECT COSTS HAVE ERODED PUBLIC TRUST IS AS SIGNIFICANT AS THE DIRECT COST OF INFLATION RIGHT NOW. INCREASED SKEPTICISM IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PRIORITY TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, DECLINING CIVIC INTEREST, PERSISTENT LOW VOTER TURNOUT, AND A WEAKENED SUPPORT FOR NECESSARY SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS. BEFORE EXTENDING THIS TIRZ OR ANY OF THE OTHER VOTES YOU WILL TAKE ON THIS ONE AGENDA ITEM, I ASK YOU FOR A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF EVERY PUBLIC DOLLAR COMMITTED TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND SPORTS DISTRICT, LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE, DEBT, OPERATING COSTS, AND FOREGONE TAX REVENUE THAT SHOWS UNMISTAKABLE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE NET NEW ANNUAL REVENUE AND ECONOMIC PERMANENT RETURN THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE. I URGE YOU TO EXERCISE PHYSICAL CONSTRAINT AND TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT.

PLEASE TELL THE SPURS, WITH RESPECT, WE'VE GIVEN YOU ENOUGH.

PROTECT THE SHRINKING GENERAL FUND, PRIORITIZE A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE LENS FOR

[04:05:04]

OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS' CRITICAL EQUITY-BASED NEEDS.

IN TODAY'S MODERN, EVOLVING AND STRUGGLING SAN ANTONIO, I BELIEVE ENOUGH IS TRULY ENOUGH. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> MAYOR JONES: RICHARD AGUILAR. BRETT FINISHEDLY, FOLLOWED

BY SANDRA MARTINEZ AND MARTIN GUTIERREZ, PLEASE. >> EMPLOY AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BRETT AND I'M THE PROUD LEADER OF THE METRO SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 20, EXTENSION OF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. FIRST, I APPRECIATE AND RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORT AND EFFORTS THAT CITY STAFF AND YOU ALL UP HERE ON THE DAIS HAVE PUT INTO A REALLY COMPLICATED AND UNIQUE SITUATION, BUT AGAIN, CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT. EXTENDING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE INVESTMENTS AND COMMITMENTS ALREADY UNDERWAY AND POSITIONS THE ZONE TO CONTINUE DELIVERING VALUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

MIDTOWN HAS DEMONSTRATED THE VALUE OF THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL.

THE INVESTMENTS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE TIRZ GENERATE BENEFITS THAT EXTEND WELL BEYOND ITS PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES. IT CONTRIBUTES TO ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, JOBS AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE ITC PROPERTY IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.

WHEN COUNCIL APPROVED THE TERM SHEET UNDERLYING THIS INVESTMENT IT DID SO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT LONG-TERM FRAMEWORK WOULD BE NEEDED TO SUPPORT IT.

THAT INVESTMENT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS AREA AND DEMONSTRATES HOW LONG-TERM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT BROADER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITEM 20 IS NOT A NEW COMMITMENT, IT IS A NATURAL STEP IN CARRYING FORWARD A PLAN COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ENDORSED.

THE EXTENSION THROUGH 2060 ALSO PROVIDES THE NECESSARY TIME FRAME TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TIRZ.

ALIGNING THE LIFE OF THE ZONE PROVIDES GREATER CLARITY AND CERTAINTY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

THAT CERTAINTY IS IMPORTANT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. BUSINESSES, INSTITUTIONS AND DEVELOPERS MAKE IMPORTANT INVESTMENT DECISIONS OVER LONG-TERM HORIZONS.

STABLE, PREDICTABLE FRAMEWORK GIVES THEM CONFIDENCE TO CONTINUE INVESTING RIGHT NEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO. WE RECOGNIZE THESE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND THOSE REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH IT. AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN MERITS. TODAY'S ACTION PROVIDES THE APPROPRIATE FRAMEWORK FOR EXISTING COMMITMENTS WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THOSE BROADER POLICY CONVERSATIONS TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. FOR THOSE REASONS THE METRO SA CHAMBER SUPPORTS ITEM 20 AND THE MIDTOWN TIRZ THROUGH 2060. WE APPRECIATE YOU AGAIN AND THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS ISSUE AND RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE YOUR

SUPPORT TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: SANDRA MARTINEZ. FOLLOWED BY MARTIN GUTIERREZ.

>> SUZANNE IS GOING TO GIVE ME HER TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS ON THE

LIST. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. CAN YOU SHOW HER YOUR CONFIRMATION? IT'S HAPPENED TO A COUPLE OF FOLKS.

SO THAT IS SANDRA MARTINEZ. SO SIX MINUTES, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> HI, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S TAKEN QUITE AWHILE TO GET HERE SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PATIENCE.

I THINK FOR ME AS A FOURTH GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO CONTINUE HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND FEELING THAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE IN A SHADY WAY. IT'S ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT FEELS DISRESPECTFUL. WE KEEP PLEADING FOR MORE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN SOLD TO US AS A BENEFIT TO ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. AGAIN, I'M A FOURTH GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN.

I REMEMBER PROMISES FROM THE ALAMODOME AND THE FROST BANK CENTER TO REVITALIZE CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. NOW WE'RE TRYING TO USE THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AS A SLUSH FUND TO SUPPORT A PRIVATE ENTITY. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT

[04:10:03]

SOCIALISM, AND I JUST THINK IT'S KIND OF IRONIC WHAT IS HAPPENING MOVING THIS MONEY AROUND TO SUPPORT AN ENTITY THAT CAN FULLY FUND ITS OWN BILLIONAIRE PLAYGROUND.

I KEEP ASKING WHY IF IT'S SUCH A GOOD DEAL FOR ALL OF US, THEN WHY HAS SO MUCH BEEN DONE IN THE DARK? SO I AM HERE AGAIN TODAY ASKING THAT SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE TIRZ, AND I'VE ALSO LEANED A LOT ON THE WORDS OF SOME OF MY COMMUNITY LEADER FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, INCLUDING KATHY VAIL AND LEWIS ESCORINO. THEY KNOW THERE'S BEEN NO MEANING OF THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THIS. IN FACT, THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD WENT ALMOST TWO YEARS WITHOUT A MEETING AND THEN IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS THEY JUST HAPPENED TO CONVENE TWO MEETINGS IN A CONFERENCE ROOM BEHIND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 10:00 A.M. ON A WEEKDAY? THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE IDEAL OPEN GOVERNANCE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND DECISION FOR A PUBLIC MEETING. I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR MAYOR ASKING REALLY HARD QUESTIONS BUT ALSO BASIC QUESTIONS, RIGHT? THE MIDTOWN TIRZ WORKED, IT WORKED, IT DID ITS JOB, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. SO WHY ARE WE EXTENDING IT UNTIL 2060? I AGREE WITH IT. IT REVITALIZED AREAS THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED IT, BUT $60 MILLION FOR THE FORMER INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES LAND IS NOT A NECESSARY INVESTMENT. YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TYING UP ANOTHER GENERATION OF PROPERTY TAX GROWTH TO HELP PURCHASE LAND FOR THIS SPURS ARENA AND FINANCE EVEN MORE PROJECTS? YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR IS ALSO RIGHT ON ANOTHER POINT. THE SPURS' OWNERSHIP SHOULD PUT MORE OF ITS MONEY INTO THE LAND AND INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR ITS NEW ARENA. GRAZIELLA POINTED OUT THE VAST WEALTH OF MICHAEL DELL AND HOW HE IS SO QUICKLY DOG IT OUT TO -- DOLING IT OUT TO CERTAIN ENTITIES, BUT NOT WHEN IT COMES TO HIS OWNERSHIP IN THE SPURS.

EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE DEVOTE TO ARENA-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE IS A DOLLAR THAT COULD BE GOING TO STREETS, SIDEWALKS, DRAINAGE, PARKS, AND LONG-NEGLECTED NEIGHBORHOODS. I SUPPORT THE SPURS.

AGAIN, I'M A FOURTH GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN. I WANT THEM DOWNTOWN.

I WANT THEM THRIVING. IT'S GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT AT WHAT COST? AND AGAIN, WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME. SUPPORTING THE SPURS DOES NOT MEAN REQUIRING SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS TO ACCEPT WHATEVER FINANCING PACKAGE CITY HALL PUTS IN FRONT OF US. AGAIN, I FEEL DISRESPECTED.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT THINK WE'RE STUPID, AND WE'RE NOT.

WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WE SEE THE BILLIONAIRES ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED EVERYDAY.

MAKE THE PRIVATE BENEFICIARIES PUT MORE SKIN IN THE GAME.

PROTECT OUR LIMITED PUBLIC DOLLARS THIS IS THE BEST DEAL SAN ANTONIO CAN GET BEFORE COMMITTING US THROUGH 2060.

FINALLY, LET ALSO REMEMBER STUDIES AND DATA OVER THE PAST 15, 20 YEARS HAVE DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT APPROXIMATE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISES, NEW STADIUM BUILDS, DO NOT PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT LASTING LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS AFTER DESTRUCTION IS COMPLETE. YES, THERE WILL BE A SURGE OF CONSTRUCTION-RELATED JOBS, BLUE COLLAR, ENGINEERS, ET CETERA, BUT THOSE JOBS ARE TIME SPECIFIC AND GO AWAY AFTER THE STADIUM IS BUILT.

[APPLAUSE]. ONCE THE STADIUM IS OPENED, THE MAJORITY OF SUSTAINED JOBS ARE BLUE COLLAR, MINIMUM WAGE OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE HOSPITALITY AND FOOD INDUSTRY TYPE JOBS THAT IS ALMOST ALWAYS LESS THAN FULL-TIME AND EMPLOYED WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU VOTE FOR.

WE'RE ALL PAYING ATTENTION. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR JONES: MARTIN GUTIERREZ. AND TO CONFIRM, THERE'S ANOTHER MARTIN GUTIERREZ, JUNIOR. YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON.

FOLLOWEDLY ANUS IS A ANISSA. >> I SERVE AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE STATE BOARD OF REALTORS. WE REPRESENT OVER 14,000 REALTORS, NEARLY 4600 WHO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LIMITS AND WHO SELL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EVERYDAY. AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 20. FROM A REAL ESTATE PERSPECTIVE, WE SEE THIS AS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT THAT CAN HELP UNLOCK THE LONG-TERM POTENTIAL FOR OUR

[04:15:03]

URBAN CORE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS PROPERTY. UTSA HAS BEEN PLANNING FOR A NEW PERMANENT HOME FOR THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAS CULTURE SINCE 2021, INCLUDING A MODERN FACILITY WITH GREATER ACCESSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW PARTNERSHIPS.

THIS DECISION TO SELL THE HEMISFAIR PROPERTY WAS PART OF THAT LONG-TERM PLAN.

THE CITY'S PROPOSED ACQUISITION PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THIS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED PROPERTY TO PRODUCTIVE USE AS PART OF A LARGER SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT WHICH HELPS GENERATE NEW PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN. THAT MEANS NEW HOUSING, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES AND ULTIMATELY A STRONGER TAX BASE FOR SAN ANTONIO.

A TIRZ IS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE GROWTH IN PROPERTY VALUES AND REINVEST THAT GROWTH TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. ITEM 20 PUTS THAT TOOL TO WORK ON A SIGNIFICANT DOWNTOWN PROPERTY. SABRE BELIEVES RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT TODAY CAN CREATE GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND A STRONGER TAX BASE TOMORROW. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM 20, THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: ANISSA, PLEASE. FOLLOWED BY DON

[INDISCERNIBLE] AND SEMA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL AND THE MAYORS, I BELIEVE I SAW SOME OF YOU DURING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ MEETING LAST WEEK.

MY NAME IS ANISSA AND I AM A STUDENT FROM DISTRICT 10. THIS SUMMER THROUGH THE AMBASSADOR STRIP PROGRAM [INDISCERNIBLE] TO ACT AS THEIR FIRST NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTERN, A ROLE THE CONSERVANCY HAS NEVER HAD A POSITION FOR.

MOST NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARKS HAVE A NATURAL RESOURCES DEPOSIT.

THESE DEPARTMENTS ACT AS STEWARDS OF THEIR PARKS' ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, CONDUCT SURVEYS, MONITOR THE GRAMS AND HAVE VOLUNTEER EVENTS TO BALANCE PRESERVATION.

DURING MY INTERNSHIP I PIONEERED THIS ROLE BY INITIATING RECURRENT VOLUNTEER EVENTS REMOVING BAMBOO FROM THE PARKS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ZOO AND OTHER PARTNERS, MORE OF THIS KIND OF WORK IS POSSIBLE WITH THE RIGHT INVESTMENT AND IT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT TIRZ ALLOCATION MAKES FOLLOW FOR BRECKENRIDGE PARK ALLOCATIONS. BEYOND RESOURCES COMING FROM A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, BRECKENRIDGE PARK IS ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S OLDEST PUBLIC PARKS BY GENERATIONS PAST AND STILL TO COME. ITS FUTURE CURRENTLY DEPENDS ON THE SUSTAINED SUPPORT OF DONORS, ITS PARTNERS AND THE CITY ALL WHILE REMAINING OPEN TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR ZIP CODE. TIRZ FUNDING ENSURES BRECKENRIDGE PARK CAN HAVE FREE COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROGRAMMING FROM THE EASTER CELEBRATION TO DISCO AL FRESCO THIS SUMMER. THIS CONNECT SAN ANTONIANS TO NATURE AND TO KNOW OR LOW COST FUND. I ASK CITY COUNCIL TO PASS THE FULL 10-MILLION-DOLLAR TIRZ ALLOCATION FOR BRECKENRIDGE PARK CONSERVANCY SO THIS PARK'S OUTREACH MAY GROW ALONGSIDE OUR CITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. DAWN, FOLLOWED BY SEMA AND

THEN SISSY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL AND MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS DAWN AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER.

I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR LOCAL RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 20. SAN ANTONIO'S RESTAURANTS DON'T OPERATE IN A VACUUM. OUR SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR TOURISM, ECONOMY, OUR DOWNTOWN, OUR CONVENTION BUSINESS AND OUR ABILITY TO CREATE DESTINATIONS THAT BRING PEOPLE INTO THE URBAN CORE TO INCLUDE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE SEE THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, OUR COMMUNITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR PEOPLE. WHEN WE BRING MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN FOR CONVENTIONS, MAJOR EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT OR SIMPLY TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN OUR CITY, THEY DON'T JUST VISIT ONE DESTINATION, THEY EAT AT OUR RESTAURANTS, THEY ENJOY THE LOCAL BAR SCENE AND STAY IN OUR HOTELS. THEY VISIT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THEY SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF SAN ANTONIANS WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. THAT MATTERS, PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN RESTAURANTS CONTINUE TO FACE RISING COSTS AND PRESSURES ON ALREADY THIN MARGINS.

THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IS BUILT ON TRAFFIC. WE NEED PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN, STAYING LONGER, AND SPENDING MONEY AT LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES.

THIS IS ALSO EXACTLY WHAT A TIRZ IS INTENDED TO DO, USE THE GROWTH GENERATED WITHIN

[04:20:02]

AN AREA TO MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT CAN HELP GENERATE ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND TAXABLE VALUE. FOR OUR MEMBERS, THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY, IT IS ABOUT CONTINUING TO INVEST IN A DOWNTOWN THAT IS ACTIVE, COMPETITIVE AND CAPABLE OF ATTRACTING VISITORS, OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND INVESTMENT FOR DECADES TO COME. ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO SUPPORT ITEM NUMBER 20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND TO YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY

OF SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. SEMA.

AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS SISSY GUERRERO. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SEMA AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ ADVISORY BOARD AND CO-CHAIR OF THE REMOVE BARRIER SUBCOMMITTEE TO THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND ALSO A RIVER ROAD RESIDENTS. I LIVE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE TIRZ. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS MY OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 1 AND 3 IN THIS RESOLUTION WHICH EXTENDS THE TIRZ TO 2060 AS WELL AS THE FUNDS FOR ACQUISITION OF THE ITC SITE FOR THE NBA ARENA. TIRZ FUNDS ARE MEANT TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN BLIGHTED AND UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS AS A MEAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PEARL, RIVER NORTH AND THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR, THE MIDTOWN TIRZ HAS BEEN A SUCCESS STORY. I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS SERVED ITS PURPOSE. NOW THE ZONE FACES THE OPPOSITE CHALLENGE OF GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT. PERTAINING TO ITEM 4, WHICH IS ABOUT THE PROJECT PLAN, FINANCE PLAN, THE BOARD HAS A PROJECT PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN 2022. IT STATED PURPOSE WAS TO FOCUS FUNDING ON THE FOUR CITY-OWNED CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE ZONE.

I BELIEVE THAT THE THREE PROPOSALS THAT COME TODAY AROUND THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS MEET THAT PLAN AND SHOULD BE FUNDED ACCORDING TO THAT PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY YOU ALL IN 2022. HOWEVER, I'VE ALSO SEEN THE BOARD VOTE AGAINST ITS MISSION SEVERAL TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2024 THE TIRZ PROVIDED $8 MILLION TO FUND THE TWO NEW BRIDGES AT THE PEARL.

THAT INVESTMENT WAS TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT I ASSUME MANY WOULD AGREE THAT THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT DOESN'T MEET THE STANDARD OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BRING UP A BLIGHTED AREA.

THE PEARL CAN FUND ITS OWN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS CONNECTING ONE PART OF ITS CAMPUS TO A NEW PART OF ITS CAMPUS. THE TIRZ -- THIS IS AN EXAMPLE THAT THE TIRZ LACKS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UNLIKE OTHER FUNDING PROCESSES OF THE CITY. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND HAS A RIGOROUS EVALUATION STANDARD, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND HAS 30-PERSON BOND COMMITTEES, BUT THE TIRZ ALLOCATES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHICH ARE NEGOTIATED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND ONLY COME TO THE TIRZ ONCE THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF FULLY FLESHED OUT AS IDEAS. AN EXTENSION OF THE TIRZ TO THE 2060 GENERATES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEYOND THE COMMITMENTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FUND TODAY. AS YOU CONSIDER THIS ITEM I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADDING AN AMENDMENT TO CREATE STRICT GUIDELINES WITHIN THE TIRZ PROJECT PLAN FOR ANY FUTURE FUNDS. SPECIFICALLY I PROPOSE THAT YOU ASK THE BOARD TO CREATE BINDING GUIDELINES THAT REQUIRE FUTURE DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON LEGACY HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO REMAIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AMID RISING COSTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOWER INCOME RESIDENTS. PROPOSED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT GUIDELINES SHOULD BE SPECIFIC AND TAILORED TO THE ZONE, NOT JUST GENERIC REFERENCES TO THE SHIP OR DISPLACEMENT ASSESSMENT. AND CITY STAFF SHOULD USE -- BE REQUIRED TO USE THESE GUIDELINES TO ADVANCE PROJECTS BEFORE THE BOARD.

I BELIEVE IF YOU ALL DID THIS, IT WOULD BE A MORE EQUITABLE TOOL.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: SISSY YADO.

OKAY. THAT WAS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. IS THERE A MOTION TO -- A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. SO WE MAY BEGIN COUNCIL

DISCUSSION. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, IS SHE VIRTUAL? SHE'S NOT HERE.

OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, GO AHEAD.

>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE. IT'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF COMMUNITY ATTENTION TO THIS.

SO I THINK CERTAINLY ENDING THIS TIRZ BEFORE 2060 COULD BE A VERY PRUDENT DECISION

[04:25:01]

CONSIDERING OUR CONSTRAINTS AND THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE IN THE MIDTOWN TIRZ. SO AT THIS POINT I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 20 TO REQUIRE CITY STAFF TO PRESENT A MIDTOWN TIRZ FINANCE PLAN AND UPDATED EXTENSION ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FINANCING OF CURRENT PROJECTS WITH APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL BUFFERS SO THAT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS ARE COMPLETED AND THE MIDTOWN

TIRZ CAN END BEFORE 2060. >> MAYOR JONES: I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE THAT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE ITEM SO THAT STAFF COMES BACK WITH A FINANCE PLAN THAT ESSENTIALLY FLESHES IT OUT AND ALLOWS THE PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED, CORRECT, ALL THE PROJECTS FUNDED, IS THAT CORRECT, COUNCILMAN?

>> MUNGIA: I'LL EXPAND ON THE MOTION, BUT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS ON COMPLETE THE

MIDTOWN TIRZ CAN BE COMPLETED BEFORE 2060. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION, MAYOR? TWO POINTS OF CLARIFICATION. WOULD YOU READ THE FIRST

PART OF THAT AGAIN, PLEASE, COUNCILMAN. >> MUNGIA: LET ME RESTATE THE MOTION. MOVE ITEM 20 TO REQUIRE STAFF TO APPROVE A MIDTOWN TIRZ AND EXTENSION ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FINANCING OF CURRENT PROJECTS WITH APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL BUFFERS SO THAT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS ARE COMPLETED IN

THE MIDTOWN TIRZ CAN END BEFORE 2060. >> SO TWO QUESTIONS.

TWO POINTS OF CLARIFICATION. ONE, IS THAT ASSISTANT ON APPROVAL OF THE ITEM -- CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL OF THE ITEM TODAY? AND TWO, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IN THERE, LAST WEEK WE DID AS PART OF THE BUDGET WORK SESSION ON TIRZ THAT WE WERE ONGOING WITH JONES STREET DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE NOT COMPLETED WITH THAT. WE'RE STILL DOING DUE DILIGENCE.

IS THAT INCLUDED IN THAT AMOUNT? BECAUSE ULTIMATELY -- MAYBE THIS IS HELPFUL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. WE STILL HAVE TO -- IF YOU APPROVE TODAY'S ITEM WE STILL HAVE TO BRING THE FINANCING BACK TO YOU.

SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS WHEN WE BRING THE FINANCING BACK TO YOU FOR

CONSIDERATION, SQUEEZE DOWN THE TIME ESSENTIALLY. >> MUNGIA: YES, SO IT'S EARLY. YES TO YOUR TWO POINTS BECAUSE AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL BALANCE THAT IT WOULD BE -- REMAIN UP THROUGH 2060 THAT IS NOT COMMITTED, SO WE WANT TO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PULLED BACK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH THE APPROVAL TODAY.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S CLARIFYING ENOUGH. >> UNDERSTOOD.

WHAT I'M TAKING FROM THAT IS THAT WE WILL THREAD THE NEEDLE BECAUSE AS BEN SAID AND TROY SAID, WHILE IT APPEARS THERE'S BALANCE, WE HAVEN'T DONE THE FINANCING, BUT WE'VE GOT TO BRING YOU ALL THE FINANCING FOR APPROVAL SO YOU'LL SEE THAT

AND WE'LL BE MORE DEFINITIVE IN THOSE DATES. >> MUNGIA: MORE TRANSPARENCY THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: IT'S NOT ONLY THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

SO THAT'S THE ZOO, THAT'S THE BRECKENRIDGE, THAT'S THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, AS WELL AS THE ARENA, THE ITC LAND, RATHER, AS WELL AS NOW THE JONES PROPERTY.

>> THAT WAS MY POINT OF CLARIFICATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER PROJECT THAT

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT'S NOT DONE. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> NO, GO AHEAD, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: NO, GO

AHEAD, PLEASE. >> WE'RE NOT COMPLETED WITH THAT SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHETHER OR NOT WE STOP WORKING ON THAT OR WE INCLUDE THAT IN THAT ANALYSIS THAT THE QUARTERBACK IS ASKING FOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: FOR CLARITY THAT JONES ITEM WAS JUST AN ITEM FOR KIND OF TBD AT THE JONES -- AT THE TIRZ BOARD MEETING. THAT'S NOT AN ITEM THAT WAS INCLUDED AS -- ARE WE NOW ADDING THAT TO THIS FINANCE PLAN FROM THIS DAIS WITHOUT

ANY ANALYSIS? >> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNCIL, BUT MY POINT OF CLARIFICATION WAS AS HE'S REFERRING TO PROJECTS ARE WE INCLUDING WHAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL LAST WEEK IN THE BUDGET WORK SESSION THAT WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON JONES STREET? AND IS THAT -- WE'VE GOT TO BRING THAT -- FRANKLY, THAT'S NOT TO GO TO THE BOARD AND THEN IT'S GOT TO COME TO COUNCIL. DO WE ASSUME THAT THAT -- THAT WE KEEP WORKING ON THAT AND INCLUDE THAT IN THE ANALYSIS THAT THE COUNCIL WAS ASKING FOR.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, IS THAT YOUR INTENTION TO LOOK

AT FINANCING FOR THE MMD, THE JONES MMD? >> MUNGIA: YES, THAT'S CURRENT PROJECTS AS PRESENTED TO US AND TO THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD.

>> MAYOR JONES: TO BE VERY CLEAR, I DON'T THINK WHEN WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

THERE WASN'T A LIST OF PROJECTS. VERONICA, PLEASE JUST CLARIFY FOR US WHAT WAS PRESENTED. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT MEETING IS THAT IT WAS -- THIS IS A TBD, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD COME BACK

[04:30:01]

TO YOU. THERE'S NOT A LIST OF PROJECTS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S CLARITY ON THAT POINT BECAUSE WHAT THEY COULD COME BACK WITH IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD EXTEND -- YOU MIGHT GET TO 2055.

I DON'T KNOW THE ESTIMATE OF THE PROJECTS FROM THE JONES PROJECT, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT ACTUALLY ENTAILS. WOULD YOU PLEASE CLARIFY

WHAT WAS PRESENTED? >> SURE. SO LAST WEEK DURING OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET WORK SESSION WE MENTIONED THAT WAS A PROJECT TO BE DETERMINED LIKE THE LONE STAR BREWERY PROJECT AND WHAT WAS SHARED WITH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD, AGAIN, THERE WAS NO AMOUNT PROPOSED, TIMELINE PROPOSED, JUST THAT IT WAS SOMETHING TO BE DETERMINED. BUT NO AMOUNTS WERE INCLUDED

AND DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THE ACTION ITEMS. >> MUNGIA: AND ERIK, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, ALL OF THE FINANCE PLANS YOU BRING BACK WILL HAVE TO BE

VOTED ON INDIVIDUALLY. >> YES, SIR. AS WE GO PROJECTS, YES, SIR.

>> MUNGIA: RIGHT. SO IF THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO TURN DOWN THAT PLAN THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO WORK ON, THAT COULD MAKE IT SHORTER, IT COULD MAKE THE TIME DIFFERENT. IF WE WANTED TO VOTE DOWN ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT COME BACK TO US WITH THE FINANCE PLANS, OBVIOUSLY THAT COULD MEAN THAT THE

MIDTOWN TIRZ COULD BE ENDED SHORTER. >> YES, SIR.

>> MAYOR JONES: FOR CLARITY, THAT'S ALSO A DIFFERENT WAY YOU COULD DO THIS. INSTEAD OF IT BEING A YES UNTIL IT'S A NO, IT COULD BE A NO UNTIL YOU JUSTIFY WHAT YOU HAVE INVESTED IN. YOU COULD DO IT THAT WAY AS WELL. AS HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR, THERE IS BUFFER EVEN JUST TO PAY FOR THE ARENA. IF YOU TOOK OUT THE THREE PROJECTS YOU HAVE ENOUGH IN THERE TO GO TO 2041 AND JUST PAY FOR THE ARENA. THE OTHER PROJECTS YOU COULD ALSO SCALE BACK. INSTEAD OF 10 MILLION FOR THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL AT THE ZOO, THAT COULD BE SEVEN MILLION, THAT COULD BE SIX MILLION.

YOU WRAP IN THOSE FINANCE COSTS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF BY 2041. SO I UNDERSTAND FOLKS REALLY WANT TO GIVE $10 MILLION TO THESE PROJECTS, I THINK THEY'RE A COMMUNITY GEM, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS AND THE INTELLECTUAL GYMNASTICS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO HERE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE EXACTLY THE NUMBERS THAT JUSTIFY FOR GOING ALL OF THESE PROPERTY TAXES. SO PLEASE RESTATE YOUR MOTION, COUNCILMAN.

DO YOU NEED ERIK TO RESTATE IT. >> MUNGIA: I GOT IT RIGHT HERE. I MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 20 TO REQUIRE CITY STAFF TO PRESENT A MIDTOWN TIRZ FINANCE PLAN AND UPDATED EXTENSION ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FINANCING OF CURRENT PROJECTS WITH WITH APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL BUFFERS SO THAT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS ARE COMPLETED IN THE MIDTOWN TIRZ CAN END

BEFORE 2060. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S ALREADY A SECOND, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. OKAY. SO WE'LL BEGIN DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT. PLEASE SIGN IN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

THIS IS JUST THE AMENDMENT, YEAH. THIS IS ON THE AMENDMENT,

COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN MUNGIA BECAUSE HE'S BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF TRYING TO FIND A -- REALLY A SOLUTION HERE TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. I WANT TO JOIN HIM, THOUGH, IN MAKING SURE THAT WE DO INCLUDE THE JONES PROJECT IN WHAT STAFF COMES BACK WITH IN TERMS OF THE FINANCING.

AGAIN, I THINK THESE TIRZ ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE IN PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH, REVENUE, JOBS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS TODAY.

>> MAYOR JONES: I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO -- WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE

AMENDMENT? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANKS.

I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCILMEMBER FOR HELPING TO GET MORE FOLKS TO A YES ON THIS TODAY. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

AT THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD MEETING ON FRIDAY THERE WAS TALK ABOUT THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR MIDTOWN TIRZ TO INCLUDE WHAT WE WOULD WANT FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUSTINA SENT OUT ON FRIDAY WAS OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN AND I HAD ASKED HER ABOUT FUNDING. RIGHT NOW THEIR PLAN TAKES AWAY A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS FROM NHSD HOME PROGRAM FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. SO I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AROUND TAKING THOSE DOLLARS FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND CASH THAT WE HAVE OPEN.

BUT THE PROCESS THAT WE LAID OUT ON FRIDAY BY THE BOARD MEMBERS WAS TO HAVE THE

[04:35:04]

GOALS AND PRIORITIES SETTING SESSION FOR THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD MEMBERS THAT THAT WOULD THEN GO TO THE BOARD TO APPROVE AND THEN THAT WOULD GUIDE THE FUTURE SPENDING OF DOLLARS. IF WE WERE TO VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT TODAY, CAN SOMEONE TELL ME IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO STILL USE ANY OF THOSE FUNDS THAT ARE IN THE MIDTOWN TIRZ FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT RIGHT

NOW? >> COUNCILWOMAN, BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMENDMENT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE FINANCE PLAN. AND IF Y'ALL APPROVE THE PROJECTS TODAY, WE WOULD BUILD A FINANCE PLAN THAT PAYS THOSE OFF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED IN TERMS OF THAT PROJECT AND FUNDING THAT HOME REPAIR ISN'T A CURRENT PROJECT IN THE TIRZ, SO WE WOULDN'T

PICK IT UP IN THIS ANALYSIS. >> WALSH: UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A FRIENDLY

AMENDMENT TO THE COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S. >> KAUR: IS THAT OKAY? LET ME LET MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK AND I'M GOING TO WRITE THE LANGUAGE.

BUT ESSENTIALLY THE OTHER THING THAT WE ALSO ASKED FOR LAST FRIDAY WAS FIGURING OUT AT WHAT POINT WE COULD DO MORE HOUSING -- LIKE IF WE WERE TO TAKE OUT HOUSING DEBT, AT WHAT POINT WE WOULD HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE OUT HOUSING DEBT FROM EITHER ANY OF THE TIRZ AND PARTICULARLY THE MIDTOWN TIRZ.

THOSE WERE INFORMATION ASKS I REQUESTED COME BACK TO THE TIRZ SO WE COULD DISCUSS.

WOULD I NEED TO ADD THAT TOO TO THE AMENDMENT SO WHEN IT COMES BACK?

>> WALSH: FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, I WOULD. SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE CAN TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THOSE ELE ELEMENTS AS PART OF THE FINANCING PLAN BUT INCORPORATE THE BOARD CONVERSATION THAT YOU SET UP OR WAS TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK. MY SUGGESTION IS FOR CLARITY PURPOSES WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE MARCHING ORDERS AND KNOW THAT THE FINANCE PLAN COMES BACK WITH THOSE THINGS INCLUDED AND OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER FOR A LATER

DATE. >> KAUR: I'M GOING TO WRITE THAT REAL QUICK.

>> WALSH: I THINK LIZ IS WRITING IT RIGHT NOW. >> KAUR: I'LL DIAL BACK.

>> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH

THE SYSTEM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA FOR WORKING TO TRY TO GET US TO A SOLID POINT HERE. I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S BECOME CONVOLUTED AND A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN NEEDED OR DESIRED. I WOULD SUPPORT REDUCING THE LENGTH SO ALL FOUR OF THE PROJECTS CAN BE DONE. AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD DO THAT. I FEEL LIKE ADDING IN JONES IS PREMATURE AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE AS A BODY WOULD DO THAT ANYWAY. AND SO AMENDING OUR FINANCE PLAN AROUND A PROJECT THAT WE ARE NOT APPROVING TODAY AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS ABOUT IS PROBLEMATIC TO ME. AND THEN NOW ADDING IN FLEXIBILITY -- IT'S ALMOST WE'RE WALKING OURSELVES SO FAR BACK THAT WE MIGHT AS WELL LEAVE EVERYTHING EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS AND JUST SAY THAT WE WANT TO -- WE'D LIKE TO PRIORITIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT THEN EVERYBODY WHO APPLIES ANYWAY IS LIKELY GOING TO GET THEIR DOLLARS. COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT I'M INCLINED TO VOTE NO ON THE ITEM TO BEGIN WITH. SO EVEN SUPPORTING AN AMENDMENT FEELS DISINGENUOUS. I'LL SUPPORT WHATEVER IT IS SO WE GET CLOSER TO A BETTER DEAL BUT I'M VOTING NO ON THE FINAL ITEM SO I DON'T

KNOW IF THAT HELPS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: LIZ, MAY I OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S AMENDMENT, WHICH IS AN OPTION THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW WE WOULD FUND ALL OF THE PROJECTS -- EXCUSE ME. ALL OF THE PROJECTS, ONE, THE ITC.

AND THEN WHAT LEVEL OF FUNDING WOULD BE NEEDED, INCLUSIVE OF THEIR DEBT AND FINANCING FOR THE OTHER PROJECTS. AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT LOOK

LIKE TO END BY 2041? >> MAYOR, THAT SOUNDS LIKE --

>> MAYOR JONES: AS PART OF THE RFI THAT HE'S ASKED FOR. >> KAUR: WE ARE ONLY

[04:40:05]

ALLOWED TWO AMENDMENTS ON ONE ITEM SO SINCE I ASKED FIRST, WOULD THE BODY ALLOW

ME TO MAKE MY AMENDMENT? >> MAYOR JONES: YES. THAT'S FINE.

>> KAUR: OKAY. SO I MOTION TO AMEND INTO THE FINANCE PLAN EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA LISTED OUT, INCLUDING HOUSING PROGRAMS AND POTENTIAL HOUSING BOND PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED WITH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD.

CASTILLO SECONDED. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, MAYOR, IF I MAY. COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, IS THAT ACCEPTED OR DO YOU ANTICIPATE A SEPARATE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT?

>> MUNGIA: THAT'S ACCEPTED. THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE ONE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION THAT IT CAPTURES COUNCILWOMAN --

>> GAVITO: CAN COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR REPEAT THAT?

>> KAUR: I AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, INCLUDING HOUSING PROGRAMS AND A POTENTIAL HOUSING BOND PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED WITH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD. SO ESSENTIALLY THE EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM, SMALL-SCALE RENTAL REHAB AND A POTENTIAL HOUSING BOND WERE THE THREE THAT I BROUGHT UP ON FRIDAY AND WE DISCUSSED WITH IAN PREVIOUSLY THAT I WOULD LIKE

TO SEE IT COME BACK WITH OPTIONS FOR THOSE. >> MAYOR JONES: POINT OF CLARIFICATION. HOW WOULD THAT WORK IF THE INTENT IS TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THOSE PROJECTS COULD END EARLIER. IF YOU'RE ADDING IN THOSE ADDITIONAL ITEMS, IT COULD EXTEND BEYOND THAT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT,

EXACTLY? >> KAUR: WHEN WE COME BACK FOR APPROVAL OF THE ACTUAL FINANCE PLAN FOR ITC, THEY COULD PRESENT OPTIONS. WHERE THEY SAID IF WE CLOSE IT WITHOUT ADDING ANY OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, ALL THOSE THREE THAT I MENTIONED. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, SMALL-SCALE RENTAL REHAB OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF WE DID NONE OF THOSE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FINISH ALL THE FUNDING BY 2050 OR WHATEVER IT IS AND WE WOULD HAVE A REMAINDER OF $60 MILLION WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND. ALL OF THOSE RESERVES STAYING THERE FOR DEBT COVERAGE COULD COME BACK TO GENERAL FUND.

ALTERNATIVELY THEY COULD PRESENT US WITH SAYING IF YOU WANTED TO ADD IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND USE HALF OF WHAT WE HAVE IN CASH RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD NEED TO EXTEND UNTIL THIS POINT BECAUSE WE WANT TO USE THOSE DOLLARS.

AND SO MAYBE -- BEN, YOU COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN IT BETTER THAN ME.

>> GORZELL: I THINK BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR, WE WOULD COME BACK WITH THE FINANCE PLAN THAT'S GOT OPTIONS IN THERE FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM TAKE THE CURRENT PROJECTS AS THEY ARE TODAY, SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN WE START TO LAYER IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND.

IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE IN THIS FIRST TRANCHE, BUT START TO LAYER THOSE IN TO MEET BOTH OBJECTIVES. SHORTEN THE DURATION OF THE TIRZ BUT MEET THE THINGS YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, COUNCILWOMAN. THE EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM, AT LEAST AS I UNDERSTAND IT WOULDN'T BE DEBT FINANCE.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THERE IS CASH IN THIS TIRZ. WE MAY NEED SOME OF THAT TO PUT THE FINANCING TOGETHER BUT WE MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LOOSE AS WE GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS. THAT COULD GO TOWARDS THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CASH FUNDED AND QUESTION GET IT OUT OF THE DEBT SIDE. I THINK THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS WE BRING TO Y'ALL THAT ALLOW YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE PRIORITIES ALONG WITH

HOW FAST DO YOU WANT US TO TRY TO END THIS TIRZ. >> MAYOR JONES: FOR CLARITY, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE BOND THERE, EXTENDING THIS TIRZ, DOES IT -- JUST A YES OR NO. DOES IT INCREASE OR DOES IT DECREASE OUR BOND CAPACITY FOR 2027? IF WE EXTENDED THE TIRZ TO 2060 OR EVEN JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, SAY 2050, DOES THAT REDUCE OUR CAPACITY FOR THE

2027 BOND? >> GORZELL: NO. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

GALVAN, PLEASE. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON. I'LL JUST SAY FIRST, BEFORE I GO INTO ANYTHING ELSE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WITH TIRZ THAT I HAVE. WE HAVE SEPARATE POTS OF MONEY FOR SEPARATE ISLANDS IN OUR CITY THAT GO TO A SEPARATE BOARD THAT COME BACK TO US AND THEN WE DEBATE THEM -- SOMETIMES. AND WE UNRAVEL THEM WHEN IT

[04:45:05]

COULD HAVE BEEN THAT SAME POT OF MONEY IN A GENERAL FUND COMING HERE DURING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS. THAT'S ALWAYS WHAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN.

[APPLAUSE] THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE HERE. WE'RE ON THIS TOPIC.

I WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY FRUSTRATION WITH TIRZ IN GENERAL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK LET ME ASK SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS REALLY QUICK.

I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT THIS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE FINANCING TOOLS WE NEED.

WHEN DO WE EXPECT -- I DON'T KNOW IF THIS QUESTION IS FOR ERIK.

WHEN DO WE EXPECT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND I THINK -- YES. CERTAINLY BEFORE THE END OF

THE YEAR. >> GALVAN: OKAY. WILL THE BOARD REVIEW THAT FIRST OR WILL IT COME STRAIGHT TO US, THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD?

>> WALSH: IT WILL COME STRAIGHT TO YOU. >> GALVAN: IS THIS GOING TO BE A SIMILAR VIEW AS THE ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, THE PAPER SHEET BROKEN DOWN BY EACH PROJECT WITHIN THE FINANCING PLAN OR HOW IS IT GOING TO BE PRESENTED? I KNOW THAT'S READING TOO MUCH INTO IT. ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SEE THE PROJECT, HOW MUCH TOTAL COST IS, HOW MUCH CAPACITY WE NEED, ALL OF THE

ABOVE. >> WALSH: IT WILL BE SIMILAR AND IT WILL BE LIKE

WHAT BEN JUST DESCRIBED. >> GALVAN: THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

>> WALSH: YES. SO YOU HAVE OPTIONS AND PLUG AND PLAY.

>> GALVAN: GOT IT. WELL, THAT'S HELPFUL. I DON'T THINK I'LL SPEAK ANY MORE BEYOND THIS ONE ON THE MAIN MOTION EITHER BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

I HAVE MORE RESIDENTS THAN I THOUGHT REACH OUT AND LET US KNOW THEIR THOUGHTS.

DISTRICT 6 DOESN'T HAVE ANY TIRZ AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF HOW THIS ALL WORKS, RIGHT? I THINK I CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNDERSTANDING WHERE TIRZ WOULD BE HELPFUL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUCH IN PLACES THAT DID NOT RECEIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A LONG TIME.

MAYBE THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT GOING ON THAT COULD BENEFIT THE ENTIRE AREA, THAT'S GREAT. WHEN DOES THIS REINVESTMENT, AT SOME POINT, JUST BECOME CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THIS AREA? I THINK ABOUT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 6, NO MATTER THEIR VALUE AND PROPERTY WEALTH, NO MATTER ANYTHING OF THE SORT, THEIR HISTORY HERE IN OUR CITY, HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE FULLY TO THE GENERAL FUND AND WAIT FOR THOSE TAX DOLLARS TO COME AROUND TO THE SERVICE.

ESPECIALLY IN LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THINKING ABOUT OUR BOND CAPACITY. THESE ARE INCREDIBLE PROJECTS.

I MEAN, SPOKE WITH EACH OF THE ENTITIES BEFORE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO AND HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO GO THERE ONE DAY TO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.

I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO SEE MORE THAN $600,000 BEING INVESTED IN CUELLAR PARK FROM THE BOND CAPACITY. IT'S FRUSTRATING TO SEE ONE PART OF TOWN CONTINUE TO GET THE SAME -- DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHILE DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO FEEL LIKE IT'S NEVER COMING. WAIT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1980S AND HAS GOTTEN LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE LAST TWO BOND CYCLES. I WAS 17. IT'S CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT THE WAY THIS IS WORKING. THIS IS WHAT SPEAKS TO THE CONCERN PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT TIRZ IS THIS IS WHERE IT BECOMES CLOUDY AND MUDDY. I THINK IT FRUSTRATES FOLKS MORE WHEN WE LOOK AT LARGER PROJECTS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ITC AND HOW MUCH INVESTMENT THAT IS INTO ONE SMALL AREA. WHEN OTHER PLACES DESERVE INVESTMENT TOO. DOES THAT MEAN WE NEED TIRZ EVERYWHERE? NO. IF WE TIRZ ALL THE DATA CENTERS IN DISTRICT 6, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOW IT WOULD IMPACT OUR BUDGET.

AT WHAT POINT DO WE START MAKING A DECISION AS A BODY SO WE'RE NOT LEFT BEHIND? IT'S A CONSCIOUS DECISION. IT'S NOT A SEPARATE ENTITY DOING XYZ.

IT COMES BACK TO US AND WE'RE STILL DOING IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ONE DAY THAT THIS COUNCIL -- THIS BODY AT SOME POINT WOULD SAY WE'LL BRING THIS MONEY IN, DEBATE IT FULLY INSTEAD OF SEPARATING IT OUT TO THESE TINY ISLANDS WE CAN FIND FOR SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST INSTITUTIONS OR AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

[04:50:02]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS,

PLEASE. >> SPEARS: THANKS, MAYOR. I NEED TO ADD SOME COMPLICATION HERE. COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN EVALUATE THE COST OF SERVICE ON ALL OF THE TIRZ, ERIK, AND HOW THAT IMPACTS WHAT WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT RIGHT NOW? >> WALSH: I DON'T THINK IT IMPACTS THE CURRENT CONVERSATION. IT COULD IMPACT FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS.

I THINK THE COST OF SERVICE -- I MENTIONED THIS TO THE MAYOR YESTERDAY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST SUMMER WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET WORK SESSION ON TIRZ.

I DO THINK THAT THERE MAY BE SOME VALUE TO DETERMINING WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE COST OF SERVICE FOR POLICE OR LIBRARIES OR FIRE OR EMS OR CODE COMPLIANCE THAT CITY-INITIATED TIRZ SHOULD CONTRIBUTE BACK. I ALSO THINK THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TIRZ. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE STILL IN JUNIOR STATUS -- AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THE APPLICATION -- I'M NOT SURE IF WE DO THE ANALYSIS, I'M NOT SURE THE APPLICATION OF A COST OF SERVICE STUDY PERCENTAGE TO THEM WOULD BE THE SAME AS SOME OF OUR LARGER ONES. BUT THAT'S A CONVERSATION YOU ALL COULD HAVE. I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF US, AS WE GO THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR '27, FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT BALANCE IS. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE RAISED THIS ISSUE -- SORT OF -- IN THE PAST. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A TIRZ ENDS IN 2031 OR 2060, THERE'S AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RETURN BACK TO HOME BASE.

HOME BASE BEING THE GENERAL FUND WHICH PROVIDES THE STREETS, THE POLICE, THE FIRE, THAT TYPE OF STUFF. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE CONSIDERED DOING AS A WORK EFFORT THIS YEAR IN '27. APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT.

>> SPEARS: I KNOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EVALUATION ACROSS ALL OF THE TIRZ, TO THE EXTENT IT'S APPLICABLE, AS TO WHAT THAT METRIC LOOKS LIKE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE AS A QUESTION. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THE AMENDMENT AND THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. THERE'S SHADOW BOXING AND AIMLESSLY SWINGING IN THE AIR. I APPRECIATE THE STRATEGY IN WHICH THE AMENDMENT AND THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT IS BEING PUT FORTH FOR US TO DETERMINE AND THE BOARD TO DISCUSS WHAT THAT STRATEGY LOOKS LIKE.

I VALUE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY INVEST IN MORE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OF COURSE WITH THE RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER WE EXPERIENCED THIS PAST WEEKEND. I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL HAVE IDENTIFIED FUNDING.

GRATEFUL FOR HOW QUICKLY Y'ALL PULLED THAT TOGETHER. THINKING ABOUT SHIFTING THOSE DOLLARS -- I KNOW IT'S URGENT AND WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT QUICKLY AND OUT AS WELL. I DO THINK THERE IS VALUE WITH THE TIRZ, CONSIDERING HOW IT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT FUND BUT ALSO IN REGARDS TO DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A WHOLE. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I'LL SPEAK TO THE AMENDMENTS AND THE MAIN MOTION.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFUSION AND IDEALS THAT WE WANT TO SEE. THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE NINE CITY-INITIATED TIRZ, TRULY MIDTOWN AND INNER CITY ARE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN WE SUNSET THESE TIRZ. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY HOW DO WE DO THIS AND HOW DO WE DO THIS STRATEGICALLY, MAKING SURE WHILE WE HAVE A TIRZ WE GET CRITICAL PROJECTS DONE. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHY ARE WE DOING THIS, THIS DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. IT SHOULD BE GENERAL FUND.

THAT IS BECAUSE YEARS AGO THIS CITY MOVED TOWARDS AN EQUITY LENS.

WHEN THEY MOVED TOWARDS THE EQUITY LENS, PARTS OF 6, PARTS OF 8, AND PARTS OF 9 STARTED MISSING OUT. THEN WE LOOKED AT OUR TIRZ TO KIND OF MEET THAT.

BECAUSE WE DID A DECADE OF DOWNTOWN. WE ALL REMEMBER THE DECADE OF DOWNTOWN. SO I THINK RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS TWO TIRZ, IN PARTICULAR, WITH $10 MILLION PLUS IN AND SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY -- WHICH I'M GOING TO BRAG ON THE NEXT ONE ABOUT HOW THEY'RE USING THEIR TIRZ -- IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING STRATEGIC ON HOW WE DO THIS. WHEN YOU COME UP AND YOU

[04:55:03]

TELL ME FOR MY DOLLAR YOU GIVE ME $30 BACK, THAT'S HUGE.

FOR MY DOLLAR, YOU GIVE ME 40-SOMETHING DOLLARS BACK, THAT'S HUGE.

WHEN THE CONSERVANCY COMES UP AND SAYS WE'RE FREE AND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU DID WITH MIA FLORES, THAT'S HUGE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT A WAY WHERE WE CAN START TAKING SOME OF THE MONEY BACK TO PAY FOR OUR POLICE, FOR OUR FIRE, AND FOR OUR DRAINAGE. THE OTHER IS IF WE LOOK AT THE CITY-INITIATED TIRZ -- THAT'S WHY I HOPE WE CAN GET A WHOLE MAP UP HERE TO SEE IT.

I'VE GOT THE WESTSIDE TIRZ AND WE'VE GOT LONE STAR COMING UP AND THEY ARE GOING TO NEED HELP. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS JUST NOT THERE.

IT IS JUST SO OLD. SO I THINK THERE'S A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE DO. IF YOU LOOK AT MY TIRZ, WHICH WE'LL LOOK ANOTHER MISSION SAN JOSE, I HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF ME.

WHAT I NEED IS BUSINESSES TO COME IN. I NEED COMMERCE TO COME IN SO PEOPLE HAVE JOBS THERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EACH CITY-INITIATED TIRZ. I THINK IT WORKS BUT I THINK WE ARE AT THE POINT, WHICH I THINK THIS CITY SHOULD CONGRATULATE THEMSELVES ON THAT WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHEN DO WE SUNSET. WHEN DO WE EASE OFF.

WHEN DO WE GIVE THIS BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT SIDELINING THE MONEY. WE ARE NOT FOREGOING MONEY. IT'S GOING BACK INTO SPECIFIC DISTRICTS. IS IT TIME THOSE SPECIFIC DISTRICTS GIVE BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND AS WE MOVE FORWARD? I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THE ONE THING, BEN AND TROY I'M GOING TO ASK -- I DON'T THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE A FRIENDLY. WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE TIRZ. WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND VIA AS THEY CONTINUE TO DO DEVELOPMENT AND HOW THAT IMPACTS THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN AND AROUND THE LINE THAT WE GET THAT DONE IN. I THINK THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR TIRZ TO HELP THERE WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. BUT AGAIN, SOME OF THE THINGS TIRZ WERE CREATED TO DO AND THAT THEY DO IN MY DISTRICT.

MAJOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM UPGRADES.

DRAINAGE AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS.

UTILITY RELOCATION OR EXPANSION. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. I KNOW IT'S EASY TO SAY THESE COMPANIES AREN'T DOING THAT. BUT SOME OF THESE COMPANIES ARE COMING IN AND THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT THROUGH THE -- THE DEVELOPERS ARE COMING IN AND THEY'RE DOING SOME OF THAT WORK. THE THING IS ARE THE TIRZ BOARDS ASKING THEM TO DO MORE? AND MAYBE THAT'S THE THING WE ALSO NEED TO DO.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT TIRZ. I THINK THEY WORK, SO I'LL TRY NOT TO BE AS LONG ON THE

OTHER TWO ITEMS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN

MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: I HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE BROUGHT UP AND MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS.

I DO WANT TO ASK JUSTINA AND VERONICA, AT THIS UPCOMING PCDC MEETING THAT WE LOOK AT THE COST OF SERVICE FOR TIRZ, THAT WE LOOK AT THE BOARD MAKEUP OF TIRZ AND POSSIBLY POLICY AMENDMENTS BASED ON THE CONVERSATION. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK STILL

TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? >> WALSH: MAYOR, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I WANT TO CORRECT MYSELF. THE FINANCING PLANS DO HAVE TO GO TO THE BOARDS. BUT WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN A B SESSION SETTING TO LAY IT ALL OUT BEFORE WE HAVE THAT BOARD CONVERSATION. FRANKLY, THAT GIVES YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY IN A NON-VOTING SITUATION TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK BEFORE IT'S AGENDIZED ON EITHER THE

BOARD OR THE COUNCIL AGENDA. >> MAYOR JONES: THE CLERK HAS ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION AND WHO SECONDED IT. PLEASE RESTATE THE MOTION.

>> MAYOR JONES: DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? >>

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. >> MADAME CLERK, I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED THAT WAS ADDED, REFLECTING D1'S LANGUAGE

[05:00:04]

PROPERLY RECORDED. SO WE HAVE ONE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. CORRECT. WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE'RE ABLE TO VOTE ON ALL OF IT AT THE SAME TIME. CORRECT, LIZ?

>> WE HAVE ONE AMENDMENT TO VOTE ON AND THEN WE HAVE THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED TO VOTE ON. TWO VOTES BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TWO AMENDMENT VOTES IN

ADDITION TO THE MOTION. >> MAYOR JONES: RIGHT NOW WE'RE TAKING UP THE

AMENDMENT, AS AMENDED BY COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> WHYTE: MAYOR, I DO HAVE ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU. JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, ERIK, NOTHING IN THIS AMENDMENT SLOWS OR REQUIRES ANY SORT OF REVOTE ON THE CURRENT

PROJECTS? >> WALSH: THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, COUNCILMAN?

>> WHYTE: YES. >> WALSH: CORRECT. >> WHYTE: IT WILL JUST BE THE JONES THAT WILL HAVE TO BE COMING BACK AT SOME POINT FOR AN OFFICIAL VOTE.

>> WALSH: THAT HAS TO COME BACK, REGARDLESS, YES. >> WHYTE: BUT NOTHING

SLOWS OR STOPS THE CURRENT PROJECTS. >> WALSH: NO, SIR.

>> WHYTE: GOT IT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: FOR PUBLIC CLARITY, PLEASE, CLERK, CAPTURE, SAY, THE THING WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON SO THERE'S CLARITY ON IT. OR IF YOU NEED LIZ TO DO THAT.

>> KAUR: YOU WANT ME TO READ IT, MAYOR? >> MAYOR JONES: LIZ OR THE

CLERK, PLEASE. >> SO WITH RESPECT TO THE AMENDMENT, IT'S A MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 20 TO REQUIRE CITY STAFF TO PRESENT A MIDTOWN TIRZ FINANCE PLAN AND UPDATED EXTENSION ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS FINANCING OF CURRENT PROJECTS WITH APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL BUFFERS SO THAT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS ARE COMPLETED IN THE MIDTOWN TIRZ CAN END BEFORE 2060 AND TO INCLUDE IN THE FINANCE PLAN HOUSING PROGRAMS, POTENTIAL HOUSING BOND PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED WITH

THE MIDTOWN TIRZ BOARD. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, LIZ.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE AMENDMENT AS READ.

PLEASE VOTE. OH, IT'S NOT COMING UP. I'M A NO.

NO. FOR THE PUBLIC'S EDIFICATION, WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE, PLEASE.

>> MAYOR JONES: THE MOTION PASSES. SO NOW WE VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON

THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED? GO AHEAD, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> KAUR: I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT CAME OUT TO SPEAK TODAY AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE SUPPORTING OUR CULTURAL CORRIDOR PARTNERS. IT'S INTERESTING WE JUST HAD A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT YESTERDAY AND WHAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEANS. SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID WE DON'T DO ENOUGH FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE I THINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS SUCH A BROAD TERM AND HOW YOU DEFINE THAT CAN BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.

FOR SOME THAT MIGHT MEAN GIVING MORE INCENTIVES TO TAIWAN FOR COMING INTO THE

[05:05:05]

CITY AND SOME THAT MIGHT BE SUPPORTING TOYOTA'S EXPANSION.

FOR SOME THAT MIGHT BE ENSURING WE ARE FUNDING WE HAVE THE NUMBER ONE PARK IN SAN ANTONIO? AND THAT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING TO REITERATE. I HEAR COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN'S POINTS AROUND MAKING SURE WE HAVE THAT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY BUT AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE THESE PRECIOUS JEWELS, FOLKS CAN TRY TO GET THERE IF WE PROVIDE THE RIGHT TRANSPORTATION, WHICH I KNOW FOLKS MENTIONED.

ALL THAT TO BE SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC IMPACT AND INVESTING IN OUR CULTURAL CORRIDOR PARTNERS, THAT PROVIDES SUCH GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR THE KIDS, WHICH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SEEING GOING TO ENJOY ALL OF THOSE SPACES IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS. THIS WAS, IN MY MIND, A WAY TO HELP FREE UP BOND DOLLARS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING TO BE TIGHT. WE COULDN'T HAVE PROJECTED HOW TIGHT THEY WOULD BE. BUT AT LEAST YOU ALL WILL GO.

AND NOT ONLY JUST USE THAT $10 MILLION BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE THAT IMPACT. GOOD LUCK WITH THE FUNDINGRAISING AND HAPPY TO

SUPPORT YOU ALL TODAY. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED? THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY. CERTAINLY, THOSE THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM IT AS WELL AS THOSE THAT SPOKE SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH THIS FINANCIAL CONSTRUCT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME.

EARLIER WE WERE CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS THE MOST ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED IN THE COMMUNITY, UNFORTUNATELY THAT FALLS ALONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC LINES.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED HERE AND THE GREAT EFFORT TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL OF US ON THIS DAIS CAN THINK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY THAT WOULD NOT BE AFFORDED THAT SAME LUXURY. HERITAGE OFF MARBACH COULD NOT DO WHAT JONES IS GOING TO DO, WHICH IS PAY FOR THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN BRING THE BILL BACK TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND SAY, PLEASE. CAN YOU REIMBURSE US FOR THIS. IN A CITY WHERE LIVING SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90 YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 20 YEARS LOWER THAN NORTH OF THAT. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO INTERROGATE THESE FINANCIAL STRUCTURES AND REALLY UNDERSTAND IS THE BEST THING REALLY THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL AT THE ZOO OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING ELSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GREAT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO THE ABILITY OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS TO FUND RAISE INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL AS DIP INTO THEIR OWN ASSETS.

AS WAS JUST DESCRIBED, THERE IS SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL CAPACITY IN THE TIRZ CURRENTLY TO COVER NOT ONLY THE ARENA. BUT EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO SCALE DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT SO THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK OR ZOO GOT A LITTLE BIT LESS, YOU COULD DO ALL THAT BY 2041 AND WE COULD HAVE THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE JUST DESCRIBED THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

[APPLAUSE] IN MY MIND, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT THAN AS BLUNTLY AS EXTENDING THIS TIRZ AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED IS THE MODERN-DAY REDLINING. [APPLAUSE] THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED. PLEASE VOTE.

THE SYSTEM'S STILL NOT WORKING. PLEASE DO A VOICE VOTE.

>> CLERK: MOTION PASSES. >> MAYOR JONES: THE MOTION PASSES 7-4.

>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE. WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEM NO.

[21. Public Hearing and Ordinance authorizing the following items relating to the Inner City TIRZ: extending the Inner City TIRZ to September 30, 2060; negotiation and execution of a Development Agreement to support the issuance of debt for an amount up to $46,000,000.00 plus financing costs for construction and design of the District 2 Senior Center and Aquatics Center; and approving updated Finance Plan and Project Plan. Funding is available through the Inner City TIRZ. [Justina Tate, Assistant City Manager; Veronica Garcia, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services]]

21. ITEM 21 WAS PULLED BY COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION.

[05:10:04]

>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 21 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RELATING TO THE INNER CITY TIRZ: EXTENDING THE INNER CITY TIRZ TO SEPTEMBER 30, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT FOR UP TO AN AMOUNT OF $46 MILLION PLUS FINANCING COSTING FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THE DISTRICT 2 SENIOR CENTER AND AQUATICS CENTER AND APPROVING UPDATED FINANCE PLAN AND PROJECT PLAN. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH

THE INNER CITY TIRZ. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, WOULD

YOU LIKE A PRESENTATION? >> VIAGRAN: I JUST NEED ONE SLIDE.

FOR TROY TO COME UP. I DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION UNLESS CITY STAFF WOULD LIKE A PRESENTATION. ACTUALLY, TROY, GIVE THE PRESENTATION.

LET'S GET THE PRESENTATION. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IAN BENAVIDES.

ITEM 21 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS AND ACTIONS RELATING TO THE INNER CITY TIRZ, EXTENDING THE INNER CITY TIRZ TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2060. TWO, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT THE AWISHNESS OF A DEBT FOR AN AMOUNT UP TO $46 MILLION.

HERE'S A MAP OF THE INNER CITY TIRZ. THIS ENCOMPASSES COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1, 2, AND 5 . FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE INNER CITY TIRZ, IT WAS FIRST DESIGNATED IN 2000. THE EXTENSION TO 2060 WILL SUPPORT THE PROPOSED PROJECTS, PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY AND FINANCING AND FUTURE PROJECTS AND ALIGN WITH OTHER TIRZ. THE BOARD WAS BRIEFED AUGUST 27. THE APPROVAL -- FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST UP TO $46 MILLION, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE MAY 2024 WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND ADJACENT TO COPERNICUS PARK.

THE SENIOR CENTER DESIGN IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN WINTER 2027 WITH CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN WINTER 2028 AND THE AQUATIC CENTER DESIGN IS EXPECTED TO START IN WINTER 2027 WITH CONSTRUCTION STARTING IN WINTER 2029.

THIS AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD ON AUGUST 7, 2026.

AND THE PROJECT PLAN AND FINANCE PLAN UPDATES. AGAIN, THESE ARE REQUIRED BY TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ACT CHAPTER 311. THIS REFLECTS THE EXTENSION OF THE TIRZ TO 2060. OUR UPDATED FINANCE PLAN WILL INCLUDE A LIST OF PROJECTS, THE TOTAL APPRAISED VALUES, AND ESTIMATED CAPTURE FOR THOSE VALUES. THE BOARD ADOPTED THIS PLAN ON AUGUST 7, 2026.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU.

IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? FOR THOSE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE SIGN IN.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. HAPPY TIRZ DAY, EVERYONE.

FOLLOWING UP ON THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD ABOUT MIDTOWN TIRZ, I WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT MIDTOWN TIRZ AND INNER CITY TIRZ ARE DIFFERENT.

TO COMPARE THE TWO ENTIRELY NEGLECTS THE CONTEXT OF BOTH ZONES.

THE INNER CITY TIRZ HOUSES 78202, 78203 AND 78208. THE REASON THE INNER CITY TIRZ HAS GENERATED INCREMENT IS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A CATALYTIC INVESTMENT OR WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOALS. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS THE MIDTOWN TIRZ WHERE THE CORRIDOR HAS BEEN REVITALIZED AND IS NO LONGER BLIGHTED. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN THOSE CATALYTIC INVESTMENTS TO THIS POINT THAT STRUCTURALLY CHANGE THE COMMUNITY OR GOTTEN US CLOSER TO EQUITY.

IT IS THE GENTRIFICATION THAT HAS GENERATED INCREMENT.

EVEN SO, THERE IS BLIGHT. THERE IS A NEED AND WE AS A TIRZ BOARD HAVE LED IN THE CREATION OF A SET OF VALUES AND PRIORITIES, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

TO THAT END, WE HAVE EVEN CONTRIBUTED TO CITYWIDE HOME REHAB, TAKING THAT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND IN PREVIOUS YEARS. NOW COUNCIL IS EXPECTING THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN HAD AT THE INNER CITY TIRZ BOARD TO TAKE PLACE AND OTHERS. NOW THAT WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE MAKING MAJOR INVESTMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO SAY TAKE THIS TOOL THAT CAN SUPPORT SOME OF THE MOST MARGINALIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN DISTRICT 2 AND TAKE THAT RESOURCE AWAY SO THAT OTHER DISTRICTS CAN BENEFIT FROM THE GENTRIFICATION OF THE EAST SIDE. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN A MASTER PLANNING EFFORT AT COPERNICUS PARK TO INCLUDE

[05:15:05]

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS, AN AQUATIC CENTER AND SENIOR CENTER. TODAY I'M EXCITED FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT 2. DISTRICT 2 RESIDENTS ADVOCATES FOR ACTIVITIES CONSTRUCTION OF THE AQUATIC CENTER. THAT RECEIVED UNANIMOUS APPLAUSE AND EXCITEMENT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THIS AMENITY TO THE EAST SIDE.

WE ARE FUNDING A BRAND-NEW SENIOR CENTER -- MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HEARD THIS STORY. BACK IN 2021 I BEGAN VISITING THE SENIOR CENTER ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND WE HAVE BROUGHT FLAMINGOS, ANIMALS FROM THE ZOO, WE HAVE DONE LINE DANCING, HOSTED DRAG SHOWS, MARDI GRAS PARTIES, ALL TYPES OF PARTIES. IT HAS BEEN CLEAR TO ME THAT WHAT MAKES THE DISTRICT 2 SENIOR CENTER SO BEAUTIFUL IS THE PEOPLE INSIDE. FROM THE STAFF TO THE SENIORS TO EVERY GUEST WHO MAKES THEIR WAY OVER THAT IS WHERE THE BEAUTY OF THE SENIOR CENTERS LIES. MY SENIORS DESERVE MORE THAN A STRIP CENTER, THEY DESERVE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND SO MY MISSION SINCE 2021 HAS BEEN TO BRING MY SENIORS NOT JUST THE BEST SENIOR CENTER IN THE CITY BUT THE BEST SENIOR CENTER IN THE COUNTRY. AND THAT'S A COMPETITION THAT I WANT US ALL TO BE IN TOGETHER. THIS FACILITY WILL SET A NEW STANDARD FOR SAN ANTONIO AND OPEN THE DOOR OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR SENIORS ACROSS THE CITY AND WILL BECOME THE SINGLE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN A COMMUNITY FACILITY IN DISTRICT 2'S HISTORY.

I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR CITY STAFF FOR HELPING CLEAR A PATH TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, MY TEAM WHO STAYED ON THIS ISSUE WITH ME, THE HOUSING TRUST, WHO WILL PLAY A ROLE IN THE AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING AT THE SITE, THE MEMBERS OF THE INNER CITY TIRZ BOARD PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE BOUGHT INTO THIS VISION.

AND OF COURSE MY COLLEAGUES, PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF AND WITH THAT SUPPORT HAVE MADE EVERY STEP OF THIS POSSIBLE FROM THE LOCATION AND FEASIBILITY STUDY BACK IN 2022, THE LAND PURCHASE IN 2024 TO THE DESIGN FUNDING IN 2025.

AND TO THIS VOTE WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE TO FINALIZE THIS INVESTMENT.

LASTLY AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. RIGHT NOW AT THE SENIOR CENTER WE'RE HOSTING A WATCH PARTY AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE MUCH OF THE MEETING THAN THEY ORIGINALLY INTENDED. LARGELY IT WAS BECAUSE THE SENIORS COULD BE A PART OF THIS VOTE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING, I'M SORRY IT HAS TAKEN LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED BUT IT IS COMING VERY SOON. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS HAD OVER FIVE YEARS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH PARTICIPATION FROM HUNDREDS OF SENIORS AND DISTRICT 2 RESIDENTS. THIS PROJECT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE INNER CITY TIRZ AND THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN. WHAT ALSO MAKES THIS AN AMAZING PROJECT IS THAT -- AGAIN I MENTIONED IT'S GOING TO BE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN A COMMUNITY FACILITY THAT HAS EVER TAKEN PLACE IN DISTRICT 2. I THINK IT'S WHAT MY COMMUNITY DESERVES. IT'S WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AND I'M EXCITED WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT TO THEM TODAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO Y'ALL WATCHING AT THE SENIOR CENTER AND SEEING THE COUNCIL VOTE YES ON THIS

ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I PROBABLY ALSO SERVE ON THE INNER CITY TIRZ BOARD AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH I WAS HOPING FOR THE MIDTOWN TIRZ TO GET OF SETTING GOALS AND PRIORITIES. BOTH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT ON THE INNER CITY TIRZ BUT NEITHER OF US WERE ON THAT MIDTOWN TIRZ UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE PLANNING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN SOME OF THE OTHER TIRZ HAS NOT HAPPENED IN MIDTOWN BUT I DID WANT TO SAY SINCE WE ARE HAVING THIS TIRZ DISCUSSION, I JUST WANTED TO SHOW THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE INNER CITY TIRZ AS WELL BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THERE THAT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT

EVERYONE GETS TO SEE. >> PLAN IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE BOARD CHANGE.

WE REFINED IT SLIGHTLY FOR THE DEBT AND ALSO FOR THE VALUATIONS TO ALIGN IT WITH THE REST OF THE CITY. THIS OPERATES SIMILAR FUNCTION.

SO ON THE LEFT YOU HAVE THE TOTAL AND ACTUAL PROJECTED TAX INCREMENT.

AGAINST THAT TAX INCREMENT WE ADDED IN THE INTEREST. WE ADD TO THAT.

ANY ADMINISTRATIVE FEES THAT ARE DEDUCTED. THEN ANY PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD. IN THAT TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT TO DEVELOPERS AND PROJECTS, THAT'S ALL THE COMMITMENT INCLUSIVE OF THE $46 MILLION AND THE DEBT FOR THE AQUATIC AND SENIOR CENTER. THAT $46 MILLION, THAT

[05:20:09]

RESULTS IN ABOUT $71 MILLION IN TOTAL COSTS, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPAL AND THE INTEREST. TO SUPPORT THAT $46 MILLION. AFTER YOU SUBTRACT THOSE OUT, YOU HAVE THE TOTAL AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PROJECTS.

YOU CAN SEE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IN 2026, THERE'S ABOUT $4.7 MILLION. $7 MILLION IN '27. THAT $1.7 MILLION, THAT DEBT COMES INTO PLAY IN THAT YEAR. ALSO WE'RE ESTABLISHING A RESERVE FOR THAT DEBT AS WELL. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT BIG DIP. THEN IT LEVELS OUT THROUGH THE REST OF THE TERM, THROUGH 2060. THAT'S THE FINANCE PLAN. BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> KAUR: THANKS. I APPRECIATE IT, TROY.

I WANTED TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S LEADERSHIP ON THE BOARD. BUT WANTED TO SHARE TWO THINGS.

ONE, ANY TIME WE DO A PROJECT, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE TOTAL PROJECT VALUE AND NET PRESENT VALUE. WE'RE NOT SAYING A $46 MILLION SENIOR CENTER AND AQUATIC CENTER IS $75 MILLION. SOMETIMES WE PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH DOLLARS WE WANT TO USE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THINGS COST.

AND SO ANY TIME WE TAKE OUT DEBT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR HOUSE PAYMENT, ANY TIME YOU TAKE OUT DEBT, YOUR HOUSE MAY COST 100K WHEN YOU BUY IT BUT YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PAYING MORE. THAT'S HOW BANKS MAKE MONEY AND THAT'S ONE THING I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT COST OF PROJECTS. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO NOTE IS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND THE ONLY REASON THAT WE'RE EXTENDING INNER CITY TIRZ AS WELL IS WE WERE TRYING TO MATCH IT TO ALL OF THE OTHER TIRZ. INITIALLY WE WERE TRYING TO MATCH THE SAME END DATE.

IF WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO BE AMENDING THE -- IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE EXTENDING THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND WE WANT TO SHORTEN ALL OF THE TIRZ, I THINK WE SHOULD DO THE ANALYSIS ON THIS ONE TOO AS FAR AS WHAT THOSE OPTIONS COULD LOOK LIKE FOR SHORTENING THE LENGTH OF TERMS FOR THIS TIRZ AS WELL. THOSE ARE MY TWO REQUESTS.

THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: TO CLARIFY, THAT'S A REQUEST, NOT A MOTION, CORRECT? OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN,

PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: JUST TO CLARIFY.

ERIK, CAN WE JUST DIRECT YOU TO DIRECT BEN AND TROY TO LOOK INTO THAT?

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT, DO WE? >> WALSH: YOU'RE BASING IT OFF THE PRIOR ITEM'S CONVERSATION? SAME ATTRIBUTES?

>> VIAGRAN: YES. >> WALSH: I'LL TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO GO THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.

>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. I THINK WHEN WE FIND 2060 IS GOING TO BE ADEQUATE.

I THINK FOR BOTH, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE INNER CITY TIRZ.

IF WE COULD BRING UP THE SLIDE WHERE IT SHOWS THIS. BECAUSE IF THE SENIORS ARE WATCHING, I WANT Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER JUST DID.

CAN WE BRING UP THE SLIDE OF WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO? WHAT NUMBER IS THAT? THE LAND THAT THE SENIOR CENTER IS GOING TO SIT ON. THIS IS WHAT TIRZ IS SUPPOSED TO BE. IN DISTRICT 3, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO HEAR NEXT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PROVIDENTIAL. WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE MISSION DRIVE IN TIRZ.

I HAVE A LIBRARY, A Y AND THE MISSION MARQUEE, WHICH HAS TAKEN PROBABLY OVER -- I'M GOING TO GET AN AQUATIC CENTER NEXT YEAR. WHICH HAS TAKEN OVER 12 YEARS. IT WILL TAKE A TOTAL OF 16 WHEN IT'S COMPLETE BECAUSE IT STARTED IN THE LAST GENERATION. WHAT YOUR COUNCILMAN IS DOING TODAY IS HE IS APPROVING A SENIOR CENTER TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN WINTER OF 2028. IN ONE FELL SWOOP. BECAUSE OF HIS THOUGHTFULNESS AND HIS INSISTENCE IN TERMS OF I DO NOT JUST WANT A CENTER, I WANT IT TO ALL COME TOGETHER. AND SO I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE VERY EXCITED -- AND HE'S TALKED ABOUT IT INCESSANTLY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO LOOK. THIS IS WHAT TIRZ WAS CREATED FOR. PEOPLE WANT TO MENTION REDLINING LIKE IT IS JUST A TERM. IT IS NOT A TERM, IT IS A LIVED EXPERIENCE FOR ME, IT IS A LIVED EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THESE ZIP CODES.

SO THAT'S WHY I DEFINITELY WANT TO LOOK IN WHAT WE ARE DO FOR THE TIRZ.

I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE'RE FOREGOING MONEY.

WE'RE LOSING MONEY. WE DON'T HAVE THIS. NO, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS RIGHTING WRONGS FROM A REALLY LONG TIME AGO. DO I GET SAD THINKING OF ALL THE DISTRICT 3 RESIDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO TO THE DISTRICT 2 NEW SENIOR CENTER? I DO. BUT IT IS COMMUNITY AND I THINK WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS DONE AND WHAT WE APPROVED TODAY IS SOMETHING

[05:25:04]

THAT IS WHAT TIRZ IS INTENDED FOR. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, INNER CITY TIRZ IS THOUGHTFUL, I THINK THEY CAN BEGIN CREATING THE FRAMEWORK SO THAT FOR COUNCILS TO COME THEY'RE GOING TO DO THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT SO THAT NEW PEOPLE CAN COME IN BUT THAT THE LEGACY HOMEOWNERS THAT THE FAMILIES ARE THERE, THAT THE SENIORS THAT ARE AGING IN PLACE CAN ALSO HAVE A PLACE TO DO THIS. I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK TIRZ AGAIN IS AN INCREDIBLE TOOL THAT WE HAVE. THIS ONE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 2000. MAYBE WE NEED THAT MONEY BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND. NO, WE DON'T. IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW LONG THIS CITY IGNORED THE EAST SIDE, THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THE WEST SIDE, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS TODAY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT BEN AND TROY HAVE TO DO IN TERMS OF MATH AND FINANCING-WISE, BUT I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY AND THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING SO PATIENT OVER AT THE SENIOR CENTER. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO, PLEASE.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. DEFINITELY WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I KNOW HE'S BEEN PUSHING HARD FOR THIS AND I'M EXCITED THAT YOUR SENIORS ARE FINALLY GETTING THIS. I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S COMMENTS. TIRZ ARE NOT A BAD THING. THEY DO HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THEY HELP BRING THINGS LIKE SENIOR CENTERS AND OTHER NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LONG BEEN IGNORED.

WE CAN TWIST AND TURN THOSE WORDS ALL WE WANT BUT THE TIRZ ARE WORKING EXACTLY AS INTENDED. I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN KAUR'S REQUEST OF LOOKING AT THE FINANCING AND SEEING IF IT COULD END EARLIER OR NOT. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO WITH ALL OF THE CITY-INITIATED TIRZ. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I'LL JUST ECHO THE COMMENTS. FIRST, CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL. HE'S WORKED HARD ON IT FOR HIS COMMUNITY AND I KNOW THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 2 ARE GOING TO BE ENJOYING THAT SENIOR CENTER FOR DECADES TO COME . CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. LET'S AGREE WITH THAT DIRECTIVE, ERIK, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT FOR MIDTOWN, LET'S LOOK AT IT FOR ANYONER CITY TOO AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE TIMELINE FOR THAT SHOULD BE. I AGREE WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN FROM DISTRICT 3 ON WHAT TIRZS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR.

I THINK THE SENIOR CENTER IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. IN MY DISTRICT, THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR, WE'RE APPROVING TODAY THE FUNDS FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNS TO HELP MAKE OUR ENTRYWAY TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 10.

YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME IDENTITY THERE AND REALLY SPRUCE UP NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT NORTHEAST CORRIDOR. I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TIRZ AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTING THAT TODAY. LET'S USE THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO IMPROVE OUR CITY, MAKE QUALITY OF LIFE BETTER FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.

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

PLEASE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO QUICKLY CHIME IN TO COMMEND COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.

OFTENTIMES WHEN I'M INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE IMPACT AND ROLE OF TIRZ, I POINT TO YOUR TIRZ AS AN EXAMPLE. UNDER YOUR TENURE YOU HAVE MADE SYSTEMIC CHANGES TO YOUR DISTRICT, ENSURING THAT THE ITEM IS AGENDIZED WITHIN THE TIRZ REFLECT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND VALUES AND YOU'RE USING YOUR ROLE AS INTENDED IN TERMS OF THE TIRZ ITSELF. RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF HISTORY AND ENSURING THAT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND ARE RECEIVING THE INVESTMENT THEY DESERVE.

AS A LIFELONG AND GENERATIONAL RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO, MUCH OF MY FAMILY ARE PROUD EAST SIDERS AND LIKE THE WEST SIDE, COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND LEADERSHIP MATTERS. WHEN WE HEAR THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE AT&T CENTER AND COMMUNITIES BEING LEFT BEHIND, THEY HAVE BEEN AND THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND BY FAILED LEADERSHIP THAT HAS FAILED TO FACILITATE THE REDEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HAVE THAT'S BEEN MINDFUL, THAT'S ENSURING THAT YOU'RE BRINGING ALONG THE EXISTING CONSTITUENCY ALONG AS WE REDEVELOP THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ALWAYS GRATEFUL. ALWAYS POINTING TO YOUR TIRZ AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT CAN BE USED TO RIGHT OUR WRONGS IN HISTORY.

[05:30:03]

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, PLEASE.

>> MUNGIA: I WANT TO GIVE MY KUDOS TO YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR YOUR WORK.

PROJECTS LIKE THIS DON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THEY TAKE DILIGENCE AND INTENTION OVER YEARS TO DO. YOU HAVE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT WITH THE HOUSING TRUST, WHICH IS AWESOME. AND IT'S A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY.

AND THE FOLKS THERE DESERVE NOTHING LESS. I REALLY APPRECIATE FOR DOING ALL THIS. AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THAT IS FINALLY OPEN I CAN GO TO THE RIBBON CUTTING AND SEE THAT. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE PHENOMENAL.

I HOPE IT WILL ALSO BE A BASE FOR -- WHEN WE DO NEW FACILITIES, TO THINK BIG AND TO THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES. AND I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY I WANT WHAT HE HAS OVER THERE NOW. THANK YOU FOR MOVING THE

NEEDLE FORWARD. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ ON THE

SECOND ROUND. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO BE -- JUST FOR ERIK, JUST FOR THE DIRECTION AND HAVING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE SUNSETTING AND WHATNOT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO MY COLLEAGUES A FEW THINGS THAT THE FINANCE PLAN WON'T PROJECT.

IT'S THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS AND ASKS THAT I HAVE HAD ABOUT MAJOR LAND ACQUISITIONS, PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS, DEVELOPMENTS THAT COULD BE CATALYTIC IN NATURE. SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF REQUESTS THAT I HAVE IN THE PIPELINE AND QUEUE THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY HERE. THE SAME WAY THAT WE'RE TREATING THE JONES PROPERTY IN MIDTOWN, THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO VIEW THOSE REQUESTS AND THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, I WANT TO ECHO OUR COLLEAGUES' APPRECIATION AND ADMIRATION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS TO FRUITION AND AIMING TO SET THE STANDARD FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. I GREW UP ON THE FAR WEST SIDE BUT OUR CHURCH WAS ON 410 AND RIGSBY SO WOULD EXIT 90 ON TO RIGSBY AND DRIVE THAT WHOLE STREET. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THAT SIDE OF TOWN, I AM APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SAY, NO.

MY COMMUNITY DESERVES JUST AS GOOD AS ANY PART OF TOWN. THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THIS ITEM. OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 21.

PLEASE VOTE. WE'LL DO A VOICE VOTE, PLEASE.

>> MAYOR JONES: MOTION PASSES, THANK YOU. OKAY.

[22. Public Hearing and Ordinance authorizing the following items relating to Mission Drive In TIRZ: extending Mission Drive In TIRZ to September 30, 2060; negotiation and execution of a Development Agreement for an amount up to $1,800,000 for the District 3 Aquatics Facility; negotiation and execution of a funding agreement for an amount of up to $751,668 for a Pavilion at the World Heritage Center; negotiation and execution of a funding agreement in the amount of up to $45,000 for a closed circuit television system in the San Antonio Missions Historical Park; and approving updated Finance Plan and Project Plan. Funding for these agreements is available through Mission Drive In TIRZ. [Justina Tate, Assistant City Manager; Veronica Garcia, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services]]

ITEM NUMBER 22 IS OUR FINAL ITEM. THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY COUNCILMAN GALVAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, WHICH MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE

CAPTION. >> ITEM 2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RELATING TO MISSION DRIVE IN TIRZ, EXTENDING MISSION DRIVE IN TIRZ TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2060. NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR AN AMOUNT UP TO $1.8 MILLION FOR THE DISTRICT 3 AQUATICS FACILITY, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR AN AMOUNT OF $751,668 FOR A PAVILION AT THE WORLD HERITAGE CENTER, NEGOTIATION AND EXECUTION OF A FUNDING AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000 FOR A CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM IN THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS HISTORICAL PARK AND APPROVING UPDATED FINANCE PLAN AND PROJECT PLAN. FUNDING FOR THESE AGREEMENTS IS AVAILABLE THROUGH MISSION DRIVE IN TIRZ. COUNCILMEMBER, WOULD YOU LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION? OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR ME ON THIS ITEM. OKAY, IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS

ITEM SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A

MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU'RE

RECOGNIZED. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: CONGRATULATIONS,

COUNCILWOMAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES:

COUNCILWOMAN, GO AHEAD. >> VIAGRAN: I DID NOT HAVE HIM PULL THIS TO TALK ABOUT THE WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL, BUT WE ARE APPROVING THINGS FOR THE WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL. AS I MENTIONED, THIS HAS TAKEN YEARS. OUR AQUATICS CENTER IS FINALLY HAPPENING. THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE. WE'VE GOT AN EVENT TONIGHT.

AND COME DO THE 5K TOMORROW. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU ALL GOT YOUR T-SHIRTS.

WE AGAIN ARE TRYING TO DO THE 2060. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO

[05:35:02]

LOOK AT MY FINANCE PLAN. IT WOULD BE VERY SAD IF YOU DID BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE THE 2017 BOND TO START ON ROOSEVELT AND WE HAVEN'T, BUT ONCE WE DO, MY HOPE IS THAT I'VE GOT AS MUCH MONEY AND AS MUCH INVESTMENT AS THE MIDTOWN AND INNER CITY TIRZ SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO IMPROVEMENTS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE. BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ONE PROJECT AT A TIME. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO -- I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL AT THE WORLD

HERITAGE FESTIVAL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.