Sep 29, 2026 InterGovernmental Relations Committee

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>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE TIME IS NOW 2:08 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2026, AND THIS MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ ROLL.

QUORUM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WONDERFUL.

[Approval of Minutes  ]

[Briefing and Possible Action on  ]

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> CARRIES. I WILL, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I WILL MOVE TO ITEM 3, A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING BROOKE ARMY -- LONG AGENDA ITEM. IT'S A MUCH AUTHORITY

PRESENTATION. AGENDA ITEM. >> SCOTT JACKSON, OUR SIX-WEEK OLD MILITARY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, HE'S NOT SIX WEEKS OLD BUT IN THE ROLE OF SIX WEEKS, IS GOING TO PRESENT A PROPOSED RESOLUTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS HAD DRAFTED INITIALLY. IT'S SIMILAR TO A RESOLUTION THE COUNCIL PASSED IN 2017 AND IT HAS REEMERGED BASED ON INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A NEW TRAUMA CENTER TO BE STOOD UP IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE MILITARY. SO THAT'S -- SCOTT, I'LL

TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> JACKSON: MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

AGAIN, I'M SCOTT JACKSON. THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS DIVISION. I'LL BE GIVING YOU A BRIEF ON SUPPORT FOR BROOK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IN TERMS OF THE TRAUMA CENTER. AS YOU SAW -- NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. IF SOMEBODY IS CONTROLLING THOSE? OH, ME? I'M CONTROLLING THOSE. FIRST THING I LEARNED TODAY.

FIRST FACTS UP FRONT. I'LL START WITH THE TOP LEFT CORNER.

DOD'S ONLY LEVEL 1 TRAUMA FACILITY. IT'S A COMMON PHRASE SAID OFTEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BAMC BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN HERE AT BROOK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER WITH RESPECT TO THE SOLDIER CARE, TRAINING, READINESS, AND OPERATIONS. I'LL DIG INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. BAMC IS UNIQUE INSIDE DOD AND IT CREATES A UNIQUE ASPECT TO HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO MEDICAL MARKET. I LIKE TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON THE LEFT-HAND-SIDE. IT GOES WAY BEYOND TAKING CARE OF SICK AND INJURED PEOPLE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, TRAINING.

ONE COULD ARGUE BASED ON THE 2005 CONCLUSIONS THAT IT STARTS HERE.

THROUGH OUR TRAINING CENTER, CLINICALS AT BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.

YOUR LIFE AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL STARTS HERE AT BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.

IT CANNOT BE REPLACED. IT IS UNIQUE. SUSTAINED DEPLOYABLE FORCES.

WHEN THEY GO SOMEWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, BE IT FOR TRAINING, COMBAT, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEY HAVE TO BE READY AND CERTIFIED. THAT READINESS AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS GOES THROUGH BAMC AND BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER AND THE HEADQUARTERS. THAT IS THE VALUE OF BAMC RIGHT THERE.

LASTLY, SHOULD SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN IN THE WORLD AND SERVICE MEMBERS GET HURT, BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IS THE DESIGNATED FACILITY FOR RECEIVING THOSE CASUALTIES IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN A SERVICE MEMBER IS WOUNDED FORWARD AND NEEDS CARE, THEY'RE COMING BACK HERE.

I WOULD ARGUE WHAT WE WANT THE MOST IS HAVING DOCTORS, NURSES, STAFF, TECHNICIANS TO BE THE MOST HIGHLY TRAINED THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE WHEN THAT SERVICE MEMBER COMES THROUGH THE DOOR. THAT IS NOT THE TIME TO TRAIN THEM, THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED AND READY BEFORE THAT SERVICE MEMBER COMES THROUGH THE DOOR.

IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE SLIDES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND, BECAUSE IT'S RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION, TO TALK ABOUT THE LEVELS OF TRAUMA.

YOU'LL HEAR PHRASES LIKE TRAUMA LEVEL 1, 2, 3, AND 4. THERE ARE FOUR LEVELS.

1 DOWN TO 4. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 15 FACILITIES IN SAN ANTONIO THAT HAVE A TRAUMA DESIGNATION. THERE ARE ONLY TWO THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST, WHICH IS A TRAUMA LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION.

WE HAVE SEVEN THAT ARE CURRENTLY LEVEL 3. AND THE REMAINDER ARE LEVEL

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NOW, WITH THE NUMBERS LAID ON THE TABLE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? LEVEL 1 FACILITY BEING THE MOST ADVANCED. THEY CAN TREAT ANY CASUALTY OR ANY KIND OF INJURY. THEY ALSO HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND TEACHING CAPACITY AND, BY MANDATE, THEY HAVE A MINIMUM VOLUME REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

ADDS A LEVEL 1 FACILITY, THEY MUST SEE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PATIENTS TO MAINTAIN THAT CERTIFICATION LEVEL. LEVEL 2 IS VERY CLOSE TO A LEVEL 1 WITH RESPECT TO CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY. LEVEL 3 DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TREAT ALL THE SPECTRUM OF WOUNDS AND INJURIES AND THEREFORE PATIENTS GET REFERRED OR TRANSFERRED FROM A LEVEL 3 UP TO A LEVEL 2 OR A LEVEL 1, IDEALLY. 4 IS AN IMMEDIATE TREAT, STABILIZE, AND EVACUATE OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LEVEL 1S AND 2S. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS -- OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BAMC, CHRISTUS, AND BAPTIST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THERE'S ANOTHER ENTITY AND THAT IS STRAC. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH STRAC, SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. THEY ARE THE POLICY ORGANIZATION THAT WILL SET TRAUMA POLICY ACROSS 22 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS. IN ADDITION TO THAT POLICY ASPECT, THEY HAVE A PRACTICAL ASPECT CALLED MEDCOME INSIDE STRAC THAT MANAGES THE PATIENT LOAD ACROSS THOSE 22 COUNTIES. SO WHEN A CITIZEN OR SERVICE MEMBER OR WHOEVER IS INJURED, MEDCOM IS THE ONE THAT WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF WHERE THAT PATIENT GOES ONCE THEY ARE INITIALLY STABILIZED AND IF THEY NEED TO GO TO A LEVEL 1 FACILITY, THEY WILL MAKE THE CALL TO MOVE THEM FROM A LOWER FACILITY -- AT THIS TIME TO EITHER UNIVERSITY HEALTH OR BAMC.

WE ARE CALLING ON THEM TO BE KIND OF THE LEAD SLED DOG, IF YOU WILL, IN BRINGING THIS TO A USABLE SOLUTION. HOW WE GOT HERE. SO FRANKLY THIS IS A QUICK-BLOOMING ISSUE. IT STARTED IN MID-AUGUST ON THE 28TH OF AUGUST.

I PERSONALLY RECEIVED INDICATIONS THAT THIS WAS IN THE WORKS THROUGH VARIOUS MEETINGS. THEY SAID, LOOK, THERE IS AN INTENTION BY METHODIST TO ELEVATE THEIR CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES FROM A LEVEL 3 TO A LEVEL 2.

I GO BACK TO THE DEFINITIONS. UPON DESIGNATION OF A LEVEL 2 BY THE AMERICAN SURGEON ASSOCIATION , THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY PUT THEM ON PAR IN A LOT OF WAYS WITH UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND BAMC. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, METHODIST REACHED OUT TO STRAC AND INFORMED THEM OF THEIR INTENTIONS TO DO THE SAME. ON THE 31ST, COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, COMMISSIONER MOODY, MYSELF WERE DOING ENGAGEMENTS IN D.C. AND WE SPOKE WITH ELEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR AT THE SENIOR LEVEL AND ONCE WE TALKED ABOUT LOCAL SAN ANTONIO ISSUES, THEY IMMEDIATELY TALKED TO US ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

HAVING BEEN INFORMED BY THE RESPECTIVE SURGEONS GENERAL OF THE VARIOUS MILITARY DEPARTMENTS WHO ALL EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THIS POTENTIAL INFRINGEMENT ON BAMC'S VOLUME. ON THE 18TH OF SEPTEMBER, MR. COYLE HOSTED A MEETING HERE IN CITY HALL WITH METHODIST TO KIND OF JUST LAY CARDS ON THE TABLE AND LAY OUT THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM. AT THAT MEETING, METHODIST MADE CLEAR -- I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR METHODIST, I'M RELAYING MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I TOOK AS NOTES, FOR THE RECORD. METHODIST'S POSITION WAS SIMPLY PUT UP FRONT IT WAS ABOUT PATIENT CHOICE. THEY, AS ONE OF THE FACILITIES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, FREQUENTLY RECEIVE PATIENTS AND THEY FELT THAT IF PATIENTS MAKE AN ELECTED DECISION TO COME TO METHODIST FOR TREATMENT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY WITHIN THE METHODIST SYSTEM IF THEY REQUIRED HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE. RIGHT NOW IN THE CURRENT PARADIGM, BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL 1 VERSUS LEVEL 3 DESIGNATION, THEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED SOMEPLACE ELSE.

THEY ALSO COMMUNICATED -- WELL, THEY STATED THAT THE CURRENT MODEL FORCES THE TRANSPORT -- THE NEEDLESS TRANSPORT OF HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS OUTSIDE THE METHODIST SYSTEM AND OFTEN, THEY STATED, OUTSIDE THE LOCAL REGION IF BAMC OR UNIVERSITY HEALTH WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE -- THEY DO THIS AS A STANDARD MODEL IN THEIR 52 OTHER MARKETS AROUND THE UNITED STATES. EMPHASIZING REPEATEDLY THAT THEIR PARENT CORPORATION, HCA, IS NATIONALLY KNOWN. THEY OPERATE IN 52 OTHER MARKETS WHERE THEY ALL OPERATE LEVEL 1 TRAUMA FACILITIES INSIDE THOSE MARKETS.

THEY ARE WELL EXPERIENCED WITH DOING LEVEL 1 TRAUMA. THEY STATED THEY ALREADY POSSESS THE CAPABILITY, MEDICALLY, TO DO THIS. THEY'RE NOT ASKING TO GROW.

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THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

BUT THEY ALSO STATED THEY DID NOT WANT TO COMPETE WITH BAMC AND THEY MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO REMAIN AT THE LEVEL 2 LEVEL AND NOT PROCEED UP TO THE LEVEL 1.

IT'S MORE OF A DESIGNATION DIFFERENCE THAN IT IS REALLY A PHYSICAL DIFFERENCE.

THEY ROLL US UP INTO WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE. AS YOU SEE IN THE SUCCESSIVE BLOCKS ACROSS THE SCREEN, IT'S KIND OF A FLOWCHART. IF WE INCREASE THE ADDITIONAL LEVEL 2 TRAUMA CAPABILITY INSIDE THE SYSTEM WITHOUT AN ASSOCIATED INCREASE IN DEMAND -- AND I'LL INFORM Y'ALL THAT RIGHT NOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OFFICIAL STUDY OF TRAUMA DEMAND BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW FOR A FACT IS THE NUMBER OF TRAUMA CASES ARE DECREASING OVER THE YEARS SO WE'RE NOT SEEING AN INCREASE IN DEMAND. SO WE ARE, IN THIS MODEL, WE ARE INCREASING THE CAPACITY WHILE WE HAVE A DECREASE IN DEMAND, WHICH WILL HAVE A DISRUPTIVE EFFECT ON THE CURRENT REGIONAL TRAUMA SYSTEM. WHICH WILL IMPACT THE BAMC PATIENT VOLUME AND CASE MIX. WHICH WILL IMPACT MILITARY MEDICAL READINESS, GOING BACK TO MY FIRST POINT ABOUT BAMC'S MISSION AS IT RELATES TO THE JOINT FORCE.

SHOWN GRAPHICALLY AND SIMPLISTICALLY, THAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS.

RED BEING BAMC, BLUE BEING UNIVERSITY HEALTH. WE ARE MEETING 100% OF THE DEMAND SIGNAL. IF WE INCREASE THE CAPACITY WITH METHODIST CREATING A LEVEL 2 CAPACITY, WE ARE INTRODUCING A THIRD ACTOR WHICH WOULD CONSUME SOME OF THE PATIENT VOLUME. IN THIS PARTICULAR DRAWING, WE MADE THE -- THE RESOLUTION PASSED AND BAMC MAINTAINS ITS VOLUME. THEREFORE IT'S LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH WOULD ABSORB SOME OF THAT LOSS AS IT GOES TO METHODIST TRAUMA. SO THE CHALLENGE AND WHAT WE TRIED TO PROPOSE IN THE RESOLUTION. WITHOUT POLICY CONTROLS, THE ADDITION OF ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WITHOUT AN ASSOCIATED INCREASE IN DEMAND WILL IMPACT UNIVERSITY HEALTH OR BAMC. SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE RESOLUTION ITSELF.

THE RESOLUTION ASKS FIVE THINGS -- OR STATES FIVE THINGS.

ONE, UPFRONT AND CATEGORICALLY IT REAFFIRMS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE 2017 RESOLUTION TO BAMC AS BEING ONE OF TWO LEVEL 1 FACILITIES INSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND IT'S OUR COMMITMENT TO THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF BAMC. TWO, IT REQUESTS AN OBJECTIVE REVIEW.

RECOGNIZING IT IS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS. WE NEED TO DO A STUDY, AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS THE DEMAND SIGNAL AND MAKE DATA-INFORMED DECISIONS.

THREE, USING STRAC AS A VALUABLE STAKEHOLDER, WE'RE GOING TO ASK STRAC TO COORDINATE AND IMPLEMENT A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN METHODIST, UNIVERSITY HEALTH, AND BAMC THAT PROTECTS BAMC'S ROLE AND PATIENT VOLUME MIX AS WELL AS ESTABLISH GROUND RULES WITH RESPECT TO OTHER SUPPORTING DEPARTMENTS WHICH GO HAND IN GLOVE WITH TRAUMA. FOUR, IT ESTABLISHES KEY PRINCIPLES. AGAIN, GOING BACK TO PARAGRAPH ONE OF BAMC AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH ARE THE REGION'S LEVEL 1 HEALTH FACILITIES AND ESTABLISHES THAT AS A FIRST PRINCIPLE. AND LASTLY, IT PROTECTS ACCESS AND READINESS FOR FUTURE EXPANSIONS OR CHANGES IN THE REGIONAL TRAUMA CENTER ASSERTING BAMC'S UNIQUE MISSION MUST BE CONSIDERED UPFRONT BEFORE ANY CHANGES ARE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE REGION'S TRAUMA SYSTEM. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT CONCLUDES THE BRIEFING, PENDING ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I GUESS TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WE HEARD TODAY, FOR THOSE WATCHING, METHODIST HEALTH CARE IS SEEKING LEVEL 2 TRAUMA DESIGNATION WHICH COULD CREATE COMPETITION WITH BAMC THAT MAY REDUCE THE VOLUME NECESSARY FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL REQUIRES A CERTAIN VOLUME OF WORK OF PATIENTS SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, KEEP THEIR PRACTICE AND TRAINING IN CHECK. THIS DESIGNATION WOULD CONFLICT WITH THEIR ABILITY TO DO THAT. SO THIS RESOLUTION REQUESTS STRAC AND HEALTHCARE STAKEHOLDERS TO BE MINDFUL OF THE IMPACTS OF ANY DECISIONS ON BAMC'S ABILITY TO PRODUCE OUTCOMES AND PRIORITIZE BAMC IN FUTURE

PLANS. >> CHAIRMAN, WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM 2017 IS THE CONVERSATION WITH STRAC AND THE CONVENING OF ALL THE HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNERS.

METHODIST MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WERE OPEN TO STRAC, AS THEY PUT IT,

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IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THAT SOLUTION IS ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE MILITARY. AND IF IT FALLS SHORT OF THAT, THEN THE CITY REAFFIRMS ITS CONCERN AND ITS BIAS TOWARDS ENSURING WE PROTECT THE MILITARY MISSIONS HERE, THE MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE AT BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER. WE'RE ASKING OUR PARTNERS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND RESTATING OUR COMMITMENT AND EMPHASIS ON PRESERVING THE MILITARY MISSIONS IN THIS

COMMUNITY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: IF I WERE WATCHING THIS FROM HOME AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR A RESOLUTION SUCH AS THIS, I WOULD WALK AWAY BELIEVING THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A GAP IN COMMUNICATION OR IN COORDINATION BETWEEN BAMC, STRAC, METHODIST. SO THERE IS NO GAP.

THERE WAS ALREADY AN UNDERSTANDING THAT -- >> YES.

I THINK WHAT'S CLEAR IS THE METHODIST HEALTH SYSTEM DOESN'T NEED THE CITY'S PERMISSION OR STRAC'S PERMISSION. THEY CAN MOVE TO THE LEVEL OF TRAUMA CARE THAT THEY BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE. WHEN SCOTT AND THE COUNCILWOMAN AND OTHERS BEGAN HEARING ABOUT IT FROM OUR MILITARY PARTNERS, WE FELT IT BEST TO CONVENE THE PARTY, GET ALL THE FACTS ON THE TABLE, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE COMING AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

SO WE HAVE DONE THAT. ALL THE HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEM CEOS, INCLUDING BAMC, SAT AROUND THE SAME TABLE AND TALKED THROUGH THE ISSUE.

IT'S FAIR TO SAY THERE'S DEFINITELY CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THIS MOVE BY METHODIST MIGHT MEAN TO BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER BUT THERE WAS ALSO A STATED DESIRE BY METHODIST TO FIND A WAY TO ENSURE THAT BAMC ISN'T NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

THAT IS OUR HOPE AND DESIRED END STATE AT THIS POINT. BUT I DO BELIEVE THE PARTIES ARE TALKING AND ALL AWARE. AND PART OF THE RAISING IT HERE IN THIS FORUM IS FOR THERE TO BE AWARENESS AROUND THE ISSUE. OCTOBER 1 IS THE DATE THAT METHODIST HAS SAID IT WILL BEGIN ITS PURSUIT OF LEVEL 1.

I THINK IT'S A YEAR-LONG PROCESS SO WE WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOU

IMMEDIATELY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I APPRECIATE THAT.

SHOULD THE COMMITTEE SEND THIS TO FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND COUNCIL ULTIMATELY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, THE TAKEAWAY IS NOT THAT COMMUNICATION IS NOT HAPPENING, IT IS THAT IT IS OUR OFFICIAL POSITION THAT A POLICY SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE BY STRAC AND WITH REGARD TO MEDCOM AND BASICALLY CEMENTING AND ENSURING IT IS TOP OF MIND THAT BAMC BE -- THERE NEEDS BE RESPECTED.

>> YES. THAT BAMC'S PATIENT LOAD IS PRESERVED.

>> JACKSON: HCA CURRENTLY DOES THIS IN 52 OTHER MARKETS.

AS WE POINTED OUT, SAN ANTONIO IS UNIQUE BECAUSE OF BAMC.

IT IS NOT LIKE OTHER MARKETS WHERE REALLY -- I WOULD SAY FREE COMPETITION REIGNS OR WHATEVER. BUT WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN THAT MILITARY READINESS AND THEY ARE ONE OF TWO IN THE CITY. TO SAY, WELL, WE DO THIS EVERYWHERE ELSE, IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF THE

PRESENCE OF THAT ONE UNIQUE FACILITY INSIDE THE MARKET. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO SET THAT AUDIO]. I'M NOT -- I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS SO MUCH OF A PROBLEM. I GET WE ARE MILITARY CITY, USA AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT OUR MILITARY MISSIONS. AND I KNOW THAT BAMC WOULD HAVE CONCERNS OVER A POTENTIAL DROP IN THEIR -- IN HOW MANY PATIENTS THAT THEY CAN SEE. BUT I'M ALSO TRYING TO BALANCE THAT WITH A CONCERN OF BLOCKING A NEW HOSPITAL DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEIR PATIENTS AS WELL.

FOR ME, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU MENTIONED. METHODIST IS DOING THIS TO SERVE THEIR PATIENTS, RIGHT? SO I'M TRYING TO -- I MEAN, TO ME I'M LIKENING IT TO A BUSINESS. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE TELLING A BUSINESS, NOPE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. HEY, WALMART. YOU CAN'T COME IN BECAUSE WE

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>> JACKSON: FIRST AND FOREMOST THE PRIORITY IS ABOUT PATIENT CARE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SERVICE MEMBERS OR RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.

CURRENTLY THE SYSTEM IS IN A GREAT STASIS AND WORKS. THE GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION BETWEEN METHODIST AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH OVER ON THIS SIDE AND BAMC OVER HERE, WHILE NOT IDEAL, IS WORKING. BECAUSE OF OUR HIGHWAYS, EMS CAN GET TO LEVEL 1 QUICKLY. I WOULD OFFER -- I'M NOT A TRAUMA EXPERT.

I WOULD OFFER IT'S NOT BROKE. RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING BETTER THAN ADEQUATE CARE. THAT'S FACT NUMBER ONE. BUT I ALSO THINK THIS IS NOT --O METHODIST NOW ARE NOT RECEIVING SUBSTANDARD CARE BY GOING TO BAMC OR UNIVERSITY HEALTH. BY CHANGING THE STATUS QUO, WE ARE PUTTING THINGS AT

RISK THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE OTHERWISE. >> GAVITO: BUT I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT METHODIST HAS TO SEND THEIR PATIENTS TO -- I THINK YOU MENTIONED

HOUSTON OR AUSTIN. >> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE STATING.

I WON'T GET INTO THIS HERE BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FULL SET OF DATA.

BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO BELIEVE IT'S NOT AS ACCURATE AS COMMUNICATED.

>> GAVITO: MAYBE THAT'S WHERE THE RUB IS. BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU GO TO THE SLIDE, THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THE ONE WITH THE CHART.

I GET FRUSTRATED WITH A CHART LIKE THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT SEEING NUMBERS AND I'M JUST SEEING SO MUCH HYPOTHETICAL. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THE TRAUMA PATIENT LOAD, THE MISSION REQUIREMENTS.

AND ALSO TO ME IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND METHODIST TRAUMA'S PATIENTS -- AND NOT HE SAID/SHE SAID BUT HOW MANY PATIENTS THEY ARE PUSHING

OUT TO HOUSTON AND AUSTIN. >> JACKSON: YES, MA'AM. IN GENERAL, THAT BAR WHERE IT SAYS 100%, IS UPWARDS OF 13,000 TRAUMA PATIENTS. BETWEEN THE TWO FACILITIES CURRENTLY. SO THE DENOMINATOR IS 13,000 YEAR OVER YEAR.

IT WAS STATED METHODIST EVACUATED 1167 PATIENTS TO A FACILITY.

1167 OUT OF 13,000. EACH ONE OF THOSE LEVEL 1 FACILITIES HAVE A MINIMUM VOLUME REQUIREMENT, WHICH THEY ARE MEETING. BUT AS A THIRD PARTY GOES IN THERE, THAT AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL 1. LEVEL 2 DOESN'T HAVE THAT SAME REQUIREMENT.

>> GAVITO: I HEAR YOU ABOUT PROTECTING THAT LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION.

ARE THERE WAYS WE CAN PROTECT THAT LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION WITHOUT SAYING, NOPE. NO ONE ELSE CAN HELP HERE. IF METHODIST IS TRULY HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO PUSH THEIR PATIENTS TO OTHER CITIES.

THAT'S WHY I FEEL THAT UNDERSTANDING THE DATA MORE WOULD BE HELPFUL.

BUT ALSO I THINK ONE COULD ARGUE WE'RE A GROWING CITY. I WOULD BE CURIOUS ABOUT -- IS 13,000 PATIENTS THIS YEAR BUT HOW HAS THAT GROWN OVER THE YEARS?

I MEAN, ARE WE SEEING YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH? >> JACKSON: IT'S

DECREASED. >> GAVITO: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE THE PAST COUPLE YEAR'S' TREND TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL DATA LOOKS LIKE.

I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I AM CURIOUS -- JEFF, MAYBE THIS QUESTION IS MORE FOR YOU. ON THE SEPTEMBER 21ST MEETING, WHAT WAS STRAC'S

INPUT IN ALL OF THIS? >> THAT IT'S COMPLICATED. THAT THE REGIONAL TRAUMA SYSTEM IS COMPLICATED BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION.

LET ME GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST COMMENT. THE RESOLUTION DOESN'T SAY TO METHODIST HEALTH SYSTEM OR ANY OTHER HEALTH SYSTEM YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

NOR CAN WE TELL THEM THAT. AND THEY'RE A GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNER TO US AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. WHAT WE'RE CALLING FOR IS A MUTUALLY-AGREEABLE SOLUTION THAT PROTECTS THE MILITARY. THAT GRAPHIC IS NOT MEANT TO BE LITERAL -- IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD? IT IS MEANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR DESIRED STATE ULTIMATELY IS THAT THE PATIENT LOAD THAT METHODIST SORT OF TAKES ON, FRANKLY EATS INTO THE UNIVERSITY PATIENT LOAD AND NOT BAMC. THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF WHERE METHODIST HAS CHOSEN TO PUT THIS TRAUMA CENTER.

IT WILL BE AT ITS MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL, WHICH IS WHERE UNIVERSITY IS.

THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR EMS UNITS. WHEN THEY PICK SOMEONE UP WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND, THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE CLOSEST TRAUMA CENTER AVAILABLE TO SAVE THAT PERSON'S LIFE. BAMC IS ON ONE SIDE OF TOWN, THE MED CENTER ON THE OTHER AND METHODIST WOULD STAND ITS TRAUMA CENTER UP THERE

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BUT IT ALL DOES, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 2005 BRAC, WHICH MADE SAN ANTONIO THE HOME OF ALL MILITARY MEDICINE. BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER WAS BUILT OUT OF THAT. IT IS DEPENDENT ON BAMC HAVING A VOLUME OF CIVILIAN PATIENTS THAT ALLOWS THEIR DOCTORS AND MEDICS TO GET THE TRAINING THEY NEED.

WE ARE HOPEFUL THERE IS REGIONAL RESOLUTION HERE. THAT'S THE DESIRE OF THE RESOLUTION. BUT WE FELT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE OFFICE OF MILITARY AFFAIRS, IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO RAISE THE CONCERNS WE ARE HEARING FOR

MILITARY PARTNERS. >> GAVITO: I HEAR YOU AND I DO THINK THAT REGIONAL COLLABORATION WOULD BE GOOD. I COULD ALSO ARGUE, WITH YOUR GUNSHOT WOUND EXAMPLE, YOU JUST WANT THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT TO GET HELP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SO I THINK FUNNELING EVERYTHING THROUGH ONE SOURCE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVELY IMPACT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TOO. I DON'T KNOW.

I DEFINITELY SEE THE DELICATE DANCE, YOU KNOW, OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT STATUS. BUT I ALSO, AGAIN, AM ASKING QUESTIONS JUST TO SEEK TO UNDERSTAND IS SHUTTING OFF OR FIGURING OUT HOW WE EVEN PUSH ON METHODIST -- WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WITH THE DATA AND IF THEY'RE TELLING US, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT THEY'RE SENDING FOLKS TO AUSTIN AND HOUSTON AND WE'RE NOT HAVING CAPACITY TO CARE FOR THOSE PATIENTS HERE, WELL THEN MAYBE THAT IS A PROBLEM AND MAYBE WE DO NEED TO LOOK HOW METHODIST CAN FURTHER SUPPLEMENT THE CARE.

I THINK FOR ME, THE GOAL IS SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND OTHERS GET THE QUICKEST CARE THAT THEY CAN. NOT HAVE TO GO TO AUSTIN. NOT HAVE TO GO TO HOUSTON OR ANYWHERE ELSE BUT THEY CAN GET CARE HERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> JACKSON: WHAT STRAC WOULD TELL YOU THAT IS EASILY ADDRESSED THROUGH THEIR OWN PRACTICES RIGHT NOW. EVERY MONTH THEY DO A REVIEW OF EVERY TRANSPORT THAT HAPPENS. AND SO IF SCOTT GETS TRAUMA TO THE EYE AND HE'S AT METHODIST, WHERE HE GOES AND WHY HE GOES IS ASSESSED EVERY MONTH. AND SO IF THERE'S A CAPABILITY OR CAPACITY SHORTFALL THAT FORCED ME TO GO TO AUSTIN, HOUSTON, OR WHATEVER, IT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THERE. TO DATE WHAT THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE, WHICH IS WHY THEY DO NOT SEE A CAPABILITY OR A CAPACITY

GAP OR SHORTFALL INSIDE THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET. >> GAVITO: I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, CHAIR.

AS WE DISCUSS THIS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES, THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME FIRMING INFORMATION -- FIRMER DATA POINTS AND SEE HOW STRAC IS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND SAYING, YEP, EVERYTHING'S FINE. IS IT?

THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, SCOTT AND JEFF. Y'ALL HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD AND I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH TIME YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS ISSUE.

IT WAS VERY JARRING WHEN WE WERE IN D.C. MEETING WITH THE HONORABLE BASS.

THEY ARE CONCERNED AND THAT MADE ME VERY, VERY CONCERNED.

IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY GOOD MEDICAL FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO US. I JUST FEEL BAMC HAS TO BE OUR TOP PRIORITY IN PRESERVING THEIR MILITARY READINESS .

THAT IS NATIONAL SECURITY. THAT IS UTMOST IMPORTANCE AS MILITARY CITY, USA.

THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB. THEY SAVED MY NEPHEWS LIFE ONCE.

I HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT BAMC AND HOW THEY OPERATE AND WHAT THEY DO . AND UNIVERSITY IS TAKING ON ANOTHER BIG PART OF THE LOAD AS WELL. AGAIN, TRAINING THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BOTH OF THEM ARE TRAINING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND DOING A FANTASTIC JOB OF DOING THAT. ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THIS COULD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BUSINESS DECISION ON BEHALF OF METHODIST AND THAT'S A FAIR ASSESSMENT. THEY WANT TO DO WELL IN THEIR MARKETPLACE -- AND I

[00:30:01]

THE COMPLEXITY THAT THESE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE SEEING FROM OUR COMMUNITY, OUR REGION. IT'S A BIG REGION. AS WE'RE SEEING ANY DECLINE IN PATIENTS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT FOR BAMC.

I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER MOODY AND I ON THE JOINT MILITARY TASK FORCE DID PUT OUT A LETTER OF SUPPORT AS WELL AND WE ARE GOING TO D.C. ON THURSDAY TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS HERE BECAUSE IT IS THAT IMPORTANT TO SAN ANTONIO AND THIS WHOLE REGION.

PROTECT BAMC AT ALL COSTS IS MY APPROACH AND SUPPORT METHODIST IN EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO DO AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY FORWARD FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK WE CAN. I FEEL REALLY HOPEFUL. YOU'VE WORKED VERY HARD, SCOTT. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. JEFF, YOU TOO.

I REALLY CAN'T COMMEND YOU BOTH ENOUGH. I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY MISSIONS MEANS FOR SAN ANTONIO AS MILITARY CITY, USA. AND THIS IS EXACTLY IT. AND SO I'M READY TO PUSH

FORWARD ON THE RESOLUTION. THAT'S ALL. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER

MEZA GONZALEZ. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

SO THERE ARE TWO LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS IN SAN ANTONIO, CORRECT? OUTSIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY, WHERE IS THE NEXT LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER?

DOES ANYBODY HERE KNOW? >> I DON'T THINK IT'S CLOSE. >> AUSTIN.

>> MUNGIA: AUSTIN? TWO IN AUSTIN. SO THERE ARE NONE SOUTH OF

US TO THE BORDER? >> IN THE VALLEY. >> MUNGIA: I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THAT BACKGROUND INFORMATION, WHERE THE MAPPING OF ALL THIS IS. A LOT OF FOLKS COME TO SAN ANTONIO FOR HELP SO I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY WE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, OUR MILITARY FOLKS HERE AND WANT THEM TO SUCCEED IN THE MISSION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS TO A GREATER EXTENT AND SEEING SOME MORE NUMBERS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE I'M SAYING NO TO INCREASED MEDICAL HELP IN SAN ANTONIO. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS DIFFERENT BUT WE STILL NEED A HOSPITAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ON THE EAST SIDE. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE GAPS. I KNOW THIS IS DIFFERENT AND ELEVATED BUT IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD POSITION FOR ME TO BE IN TO SAY I DON'T WANT MORE MEDICAL HELP IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO I UNDERSTAND IF THE TWO TRAUMA CENTERS ARE ACCOMMODATING THE NUMBER OF FOLKS NEEDING THAT SERVICE. BUT I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN WHAT THE 10, 20-YEAR PLAN IS. THIS COUNTY IS GOING TO GROW, THE AREAS AROUND US IS GOING TO GROW. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US LOCALLY.

THAT'S KIND OF MY MAIN CONCERN. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BACKING BAMC IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING AGAINST UNIVERSITY BUT I THINK IF IT WAS AS CLEAR CUT, STRAC WOULD HAVE SAID IT'S PRETTY CLEAR CUT AND WE DON'T NEED THAT. BUT IF THEY'RE SAYING IT'S COMPLICATED, THEN IT GIVES

ME A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE. >> JACKSON: THEIR COMPLICATION COMES INTO THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN TRAUMA AND THE OTHER SUPPORTING DISCIPLINES.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE WORKED OUT. THAT'S ONE FACTOR OF WHY WE WANT STRAC AS THE EXPERTS TO FIGURE THAT OUT TOO. THERE'S ALSO EMS POLICY AND GUIDELINES THAT NEEDS TO BE SORTED OUT TOO. IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT, LINEAR PHYSICS PROBLEM. IT'S CALCULUS. WE'LL LET THEM DISCUSS AMONGST THEMSELVES. THERE IS A SPIRIT OF COOPERATIVENESS.

THEY WANT TO GET TO YES, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO INCLUDE METHODIST.

WE'RE AT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REACH A GOOD SETTLEMENT. WE'LL GET THERE WITHOUT

DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO. >> COUNCILMAN, IF I COULD ADD ONE THING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'RE NOT SENDING TRAUMA PATIENTS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. WE'RE NOT SOMEBODY WITH A SEVERE BROKEN WITH A LEG, STABBING, WHATEVER. WE'RE NOT HAVING TO SEND THEM TO AUSTIN OR OTHER CITIES. WE ARE HANDLING THEM WITHIN THE TRAUMA SYSTEM.

MEANING, IF SOMEBODY IS AT METHODIST WITH A SERIOUS INJURY LIKE THAT, THEY ARE MOVED TO UNIVERSITY OR BAMC. THERE ARE ASSOCIATED SPECIALTIES THAT COME WITH A LEVEL 2 OR 1 TRAUMA CENTER. EYES, HANDS, THINGS THEY DON'T KEEP ON STAFF IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF TRAUMA CENTER. AND THOSE ARE THE PATIENTS, THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY WITHIN THE METHODIST SYSTEM ARE BEING MOVED TO METHODIST HOSPITALS OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THOSE SPECIALTIES THAT ARE PART OF THE TRAUMA OPERATION ARE NOT PRESENT. DID I SUMMARIZE THAT RIGHT,

[00:35:02]

SCOTT? >> JACKSON: IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO THREE SPECIALTIES.

JEFF NAMED TWO OF THEM. OPHTHALMOLOGY AND HAND FOR TWO OF THE BIGGEST ONES THAT HAD TO BE EVACUATED OUT. THAT IS STILL BEING REVIEWED BY STRAC OF DID THEY -- WHY

DID THEY NOT? THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT NOW. >> MUNGIA: I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, AMONGST US, REVISIT THE TIME PERIOD OF COVID. I FEEL LIKE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF ANYTHING AT THAT TIME. AND THEN I GUESS MAYBE I'M NOT CORRECT BUT WHEN THE UVALDE TRAGEDY HAPPENED, DID FOLKS GET SENT HERE TO OUR

TRAUMA CENTERS? >> OH, I'M CERTAIN. WHAT I'M HEARING A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION TELLS ME WE NEED SOME OF OUR PARTNERS HERE IN THE ROOM.

>> MUNGIA: AS PEOPLE ARE EXPANDING AROUND US AND THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN AROUND SAN ANTONIO ARE GOING TO AFFECT US, I WANT TO BE SURE OF THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PUTTING OURSELVES IN A BIND WHERE ANOTHER DECADE COMES UP AND ANOTHER COVID COMES UP AND WE LOST AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS SERVED. THIS IS NOT MY WHEELHOUSE. I'M GLAD THERE ARE HEALTHCARE FOLKS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS BUT I FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT I WOULD MAYBE STRAY FROM SAYING PROTECTING THE STATUS QUO, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR US TO REPEAT TO OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY.

BECAUSE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN THE CITY. WE SHOULD PROBABLY REPHRASE THAT A LITTLE BIT. THOSE ARE SOME OF MY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'LL START WITH I UNDERSTAND THE SHORT TIME-FRAME FROM THE 21ST, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE BACK IN AUGUST IS WHEN THIS WAS FIRST FLAGGED. AND SO I JUST WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED MORE COMMUNICATION INTERNALLY, WHETHER IT BE FROM THE MILITARY COMMISSION OR IGR OR MILITARY AFFAIRS . I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME MOST OF US ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS ON THE DAIS.

AND SO HAVING THOSE ONE-ON-ONES WITH US TO SHARE THE URGENCY WOULD BE VALUABLE SO WE'RE NOT -- RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE CALLS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO BE BETTER PREPARED OR BEST PREPARED FOR THIS MEETING. AND SO JUST IN THE FUTURE IF WE CAN GET THIS INFORMATION SOONER, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND I REALLY DO AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID WHEN IT COMES TO DATA. WE DON'T WANT TO BREAK WHAT'S WORKING NOW BUT DATA ON HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT BOTH MISSIONS THAT METHODIST HAS AND BAMC HAS.

CLEARLY, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR WHAT BAMC IS DOING AS FAR AS TRAINING AND FOR THE FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND ALL THOSE COMPONENTS BUT I THINK MORE DATA WOULD BE HELPFUL AND JUST THE BIGGER PICTURE, WE ARE A GROWING CITY.

I WAS JUST WITH THE MEDICAL ALLIANCE, I REPRESENT THE MEDICAL CENTER IN DISTRICT 8 AND EVERY BIG CITY IS PROUD OF THEIR MEDICAL CENTER. I DON'T KNOW ONE CITY THAT ISN'T. IF THEY AREN'T, THEY FIX IT QUICKLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON EVERY SINGLE DAY. I THINK JUST GETTING THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL BEFORE WE GET TO THIS DECISION.

AND IF WE CAN GET THOSE ONE-ON-ONES WITH THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, BECAUSE THIS WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL. THAT WAY ALL OF US ARE PREPARED FOR THE DISCUSSION ON THIS. THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD JUST ADD, COUNCILWOMAN, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU ONE BIT AT ALL. IT'S MOVED QUICKLY FOR US TOO.

THE MEETING WITH ALL OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CEOS WAS A WEEK AGO.

SO I'M HEARING VERY CLEARLY THAT YOU ALL WANT MORE INFORMATION, WHICH WE CAN ABSOLUTELY BRING OUR PARTNERS TO THE TABLE AND HELP PROVIDE THAT.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO RESPOND TO A FAST-MOVING ITEM TOO. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE DISCUSSION.

SO FAR -- I'M LOOKING AT THE TIMELINE. IT SAYS OCTOBER 1ST METHODIST WILL BE IN PURSUIT. EVEN IF WE WERE TO SEND AN ITEM DIRECTLY TO A SESSION, IT WOULD BE AFTER THE OCTOBER 1ST DATE.

SO I GUESS I'M WONDERING WHAT CAN THE SENSE OF URGENCY AND COMING BACK WITH

MORE INFORMATION. >> WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.

HAVE OUR PARTNERS COME AND LAY OUT THE DATA FOR YOU AND THE ISSUES.

NO, NONE OF THIS WAS GOING TO EVER GET IN FRONT OF THE OCTOBER 1 DATE.

BUT AS METHODIST MADE CLEAR TO US, AS OF THAT DATE THEY WOULD BE WHAT'S CALLED IN PURSUIT OF A LEVEL 2 TRAUMA CENTER. SO THERE'S A YEAR-LONG PROCESS, I BELIEVE, THAT THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THE CAPABILITIES TO ACHIEVE THE CERTIFICATION THAT SCOTT IS REFERENCING. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, AS SOON AS THE NEXT IGR MEETING WE CAN SEEK TO BRING OUR PARTNERS BACK TO THE AND TALK ABOUT IT FURTHER, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO DO.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WROTE DOWN SOME NOTES AND WHATNOT FROM WHAT I HEARD.

AND IT SOUNDED LIKE FOLK WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ABOUT CAPACITY, VOLUME, TRANSPORT

[00:40:03]

I UNDERSTAND I WANT TO SUPPORT BAMC AS AN INSTITUTION BUT IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING TO ME TO HEAR THIS CONVERSATION GO IN THIS WAY WHERE IT'S ANOTHER INSTITUTION MAKING A DECISION COULD TAKE DOWN THE ENTIRE OPERATION IS REALLY DISCONCERTING TO ME. I WANT THAT SORT OF -- I WANT TO HEAR THAT'S NOT THE CASE. IF SO, THAT'S A PROBLEM ON THEIR END.

>> JACKSON: PART OF THE DESIGNATION OF A LEVEL 1 FACILITY IS THE ACADEMIC RESEARCH ASPECT OF IT. THERE'S A LOT OF CAPABILITY BEHIND THE TREATMENT ASPECT THAT RESIDES IN BAMC. NOWHERE ELSE INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

NOT PORTSMOUTH, NORFOLK, ANYWHERE ELSE. IF YOU START CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT ABILITY FOR THE DOD TO TRAIN ITS OWN, THEY WILL MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY WILL REINFORCE PORTSMOUTH OR NORFOLK IN ORDER TO GET ACCESS TO THE RESEARCH AND THE ACADEMIC AND THE TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO BUILD MILITARY MEDICAL READINESS. THAT'S 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

WHEN BAMC FAILS TO MEET MINIMUM MISSION REQUIREMENTS, AS I SAID AT THE STAKEHOLDER MEETING, THEY WILL MOVE THE MISSION SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT'S WHAT WILL HAPPEN. AND YOU'LL GO BACK TO HAVING AN ARMY HOSPITAL, NOT A

JOINT CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR MEDICAL TRAINING. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WELL, I GUESS I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A MOTION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE DIRECTION OF THE BODY IS TO COME BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION. WE CAN DO THAT AT -- WE CAN HAVE THIS READY FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND THE GOAL WILL BE TO SEND SOMETHING TO A SESSION, IDEALLY, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MUCH LONGER PROCESS OF SENDING TO B SESSION AND THEN A SESSION. THEN I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE BRIEFINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. COME BACK WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION AND WE'LL BE READY TO PROVIDE DIRECTION THEN.

DOES THAT SATISFY THE BODY? THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.

IF YOU COULD READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 2 IS A

BRIEFING ON THE 90TH STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. >> BASURTO: SALLY BASURTO, DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. I AM GOING AT MY SECOND ROUND WITH YOU TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE 90TH LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND YOUR FEEDBACK WAS VERY HELPFUL. SO THE VERSION THAT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU TODAY INCORPORATES THE FEEDBACK AND THE COMMENTS THAT WE INCLUDED FROM THE LAST IGR COMMITTEE MEETING AS WELL AS YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS TO US THAT ARE CAPTURED IN THIS PARTICULAR VERSION. I WILL GO THROUGH THE SLIDES AND REALLY FOCUS AND POINT OUT ON THE AREAS AND THE SECTIONS THAT HAVE THOSE SPECIFIC UPDATES. THE LEGISLATIVE AND FUNDING SLIDE, THESE PRIORITIES REMAIN THE SAME. SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY IN SUPPORT OF OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS ON THE SOUTH SIDE FOOTPRINT OF SAN ANTONIO IN ORDER TO CREATE THE BUSINESS CORRIDOR TO MOVE PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH FOOTPRINT. THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT THAT HAS RECEIVED AND ENJOYED A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE TRANSPORTATION STAKEHOLDERS HERE, VICK BOYER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAMCO, WHO WILL LATER SHARE HIS STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.

FOR THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AS WELL AS FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'LL BE WORKING TO IDENTIFY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO FURTHER FUND AND FIND CREATIVE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE TWO AREAS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY. SAWS AND CPS ENERGY, THIS IS A STAPLE IN OUR STATE PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR MUNICIPALLY-OWNED UTILITY MODEL. ON TO LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY. THERE ARE NO CHANGES HERE. THIS ESSENTIALLY IS AN AREA WHERE WE SPEND THE MAJORITY OF OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS DURING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO PROTECT YOUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE LOCAL DECISIONS THAT ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO AND OUR RESIDENTS.

UNDER MILITARY CITY, USA, WE ARE PROPOSING TO SPECIFICALLY MENTION LANGUAGE TO PREVENT ENCROACHMENT. EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE ARE BILLS FILED AND SOME OF THEM PASSED WHERE WE REALLY HAVE TO LEAN IN AND WORK WITH OUR MILITARY PARTNERS, OUR TEAM TO PREVENT ANY ENCROACHMENT AND

[00:45:06]

WE'RE LOOKING AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES THAT SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT RESILIENT WATER ENERGY AND UTILITY ASSETS AS WE LOOK AT FUTURE GROWTH FOR SAN ANTONIO.

AGAIN, UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCY, NO CHANGES HERE BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING SUPPORT FOR SEPARATION. SUPPORT LEGISLATION FOR ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT IN SAN ANTONIO IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS SUPPORT FUNDING FOR LOCAL PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS.

UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WE HEARD FROM MANY OF YOU THAT THIS IS AN AREA OF IMPORTANCE TO YOU. WE INCLUDED THIS NEW LANGUAGE THAT YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTED HERE AND THE STATEMENT IS FOLLOWS. SUPPORT INCREASED INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION AND POLICIES THAT IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

WE WELCOMED TODAY JULIA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY EDUCATION COALITION, AND SHE WILL BE SHARING WITH YOU TODAY HER PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS WELL. IN THIS SLIDE, AGAIN UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THIS SUPPORT STATEMENT WITH THE CREATION OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS ALLIANCE. THIS IS THE NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT WILL BRING TOGETHER A MEGA REGION OF 13 COUNTIES IN THIS FOOTPRINT THAT INCLUDES OVER 120 MUNICIPALITIES AND OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE. THIS COORDINATION INCLUDES LONG-TERM PLANNING, ADVOCACY AROUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, LOOKING AT THE CHALLENGES OF THE REGION, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, WATER, HOUSING, AND HEALTHCARE, AS WELL AS WORKFORCE AND LAND USE.

ALL THOSE AREAS SOUND FAMILIAR BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND THEY ALIGN WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE LED AND DIRECTED US TO PULL TOGETHER FOR THE CITY'S ADVOCACY. SO THE SUPPORT STATEMENT IS LEGISLATION THAT ENABLES COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT REGIONAL GROWTH ACROSS THE 13-COUNTY CENTRAL TEXAS AREA. OUR APPROACH IN PAST YEARS HAS BEEN THAT WE COORDINATE WITH OUR PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS BEYOND THE SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS AS WELL AS WITH OUR PARTNERS BEYOND THE BEXAR COUNTY LINES. THIS ADDITIONAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEGA REGION WILL GIVE US THAT ADDITIONAL LAYER OF COORDINATION THAT WILL ELEVATE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AROUND THIS PARTICULAR REGION. UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. THIS IS LANGUAGE WE JUST MADE A MINOR TWEAK ON.

WE MERGED VIOLENT AND NON-VIOLENT LANGUAGE TO INCORPORATE SPECIFIC NON-VIOLENT PROTECTIONS THAT SAPD WORKS ON ON A DAILY BASIS.

THIS POTENTIALLY INCLUDES OFFENSES THAT ARE RELATED TO THEFT, BURGLARY, BURGLARY OF VEHICLES, AND SPECIFICALLY LEANING IN ON CRYPTOCURRENCY CONSUMER PROTECTIONS OR BIT COIN SCAMS, SPECIFICALLY OF THE ELDERLY. SO THIS WAS A VERY SMALL TWEAK IN THE PROGRAM. FOR THIS SLIDE UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL STRATEGIES TO CONTROL CERTAIN COSTS RELATED TO THE CITY'S HEALTH PLAN.

SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO CLAIM DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESSES.

CURRENTLY THE CITY RESOLVES ITS CLAIM DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR HEALTHCARE PLAN UNDER FEDERAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESSES.

THE HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, WE'RE PURSUING STRATEGIES COLLECTIVELY IN WORKING WITH OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS TO TRY TO KEEP THE COSTS DOWN, PROTECT THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR HEALTH PLAN, AND

[00:50:02]

WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE IGR COMMITTEE. THE NEXT STEP WILL BE BRINGING TO THE FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THIS PROGRAM AFTER YOUR AUTHORIZATION TODAY ON OCTOBER 7TH. AND THEN WE WILL ADVANCE TO OCTOBER 29TH WHERE WE WILL BRING THE PROGRAM FOR A SESSION APPROVAL. MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

AT YOUR DIRECTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER,

IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

WE'LL TAKE A PAUSE RIGHT HERE AND DO SOME COUNCIL FEEDBACK AND DISCUSSION, SPECIFICALLY ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE WORK. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TWEAKING AND REVISING HERE AND THERE. I WILL ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 7TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS THE PRIORITY OF FUNDING AT CROSSING AT RAILROADS. THAT'S WHERE MANY PARTS OF OUR CITY ARE ADDITION DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED. IT CAUSES GENERAL SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONCERNS AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE US CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AND I CAN'T SEE A SINGLE FUNDING MECHANISM THAT WE AT THE CITY CAN UTILIZE TO ADDRESS THEM AT THE LEVEL WE NEED. SO WE REQUIRE SUPPORT FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AS WELL SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC IN HIGHER EDUCATION POLICIES. YOU MENTIONED VIOLENT AND NON-VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY. I DO WANT TO NARROW MY COMMENTS A LITTLE BIT ON SLIDE 3, ONE OF THE FUNDING PRIORITIES IS THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. LOVINGLY KNOWN AS PROJECT MARVEL.

WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS I THINK A GOOD THING AND I AM ASKING MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR FEEDBACK ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD PURSUE IN LIGHT OF REQUESTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING. I SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD AND A LARGE BIT OF THE CONVERSATION IN EVERY MEETING FINDS IT WAY BACK TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE NEED FOR AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER. OF COURSE, THERE'S EXCITEMENT AROUND THE SPURS ARENA, THE ALAMODOME, AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DOWNTOWN.

AND WE HAVE THE PFZ ZONE, WHICH IS 30 YEARS OF CAPTURED INCREMENT.

WHAT MADE THIS DEAL, THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT APPEALING FROM A FINANCE POINT OF VIEW WAS THAT IT REPRESENTS DOLLARS OTHERWISE NOT INVESTED LOCALLY, BASED ON THE GROWTH OF TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY. AND SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED --I THINK WE'RE FINDING IS THOSE DOLLARS QUICKLY BECOME ABSORBED.

THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO GO UP. I DON'T KNOW -- I KNOW FOR A FACT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND IN ENTIRETY THE SPURS ARENA, ALAMODOME, AND DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, IF THIS BODY WOULD PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK, IS POTENTIALLY EXTENDING THAT TIME FROM 30 TO 60 YEARS, IF ALLOWED. AND THEN PRIORITIZING DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAY ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE NEED OUT OF OUR BOND PROGRAM.

BUT MAY ALSO ALLOW US TO EXPEDITE THE COMPLETION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ALAMODOME. LARGELY AS IT RELATES TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THE TWEAKS, THAT'S PROBABLY THE LAST THING I WOULD BE ASKING FOR AND INTERESTED IN.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MY COLLEAGUES' THOUGHTS ON THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE, BUT OF COURSE THAT IDEA AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO:

[00:55:03]

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: YES. RIGHT NOW WHENEVER YOUR LOOK AT THE CHART OF WHAT'S BEING FUNDED OUT AND WHICH FUNDING MECHANISM, THE SPURS ARENA, THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE ALAMODOME ARE ALL LISTED UNDER PFZ. WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS. AND SO MY GOAL WOULD BE THAT MY EXTENDING THE CAPACITY WE

SHOULD BE CLOSER TO FILLING THAT FUNDING GAP. >> GAVITO: OKAY.

I HAVE THOUGHTS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: YOU DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR THAT

FROM ME, DID YOU? >> GAVITO: I'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: SO I THINK THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. HOWEVER WE CAN GIVE OURSELVES MORE ABILITY, FREEDOM, TIME TO FUND THOSE THINGS I THINK IS IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY IF THAT'S SALES TAX DOLLARS. THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF THAT YOU ADDED AND I APPRECIATE THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT EVERYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME MINUS THE EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION THAT WILL BE PRESENTING HERE IN A MOMENT. SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF HEALTH, IF THERE'S ANY WAY, ANY INCENTIVE, ANY PLAN, ANYTHING AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT HELPS US ACHIEVE A ONE TO TWO HOSPITAL LOCATIONS. BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE LARGE GAP ON THE SOUTH SIDE WITH HEALTHCARE. WE STILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, A GAP ON THE EAST SIDE, OF COURSE, WITH HOSPITALS. SO WHEN I HAD A TOWN HALL ABOUT PROJECT MARVEL AND PEOPLE WERE UPSET WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, I TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW, THE STATE GAVE US FUNDS TO TALK ABOUT A BRAND-NEW HOSPITAL. THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THAT'S THE MONEY WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US. I DO THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, IF THERE'S ANYTHING RELATED TO HEALTHCARE THAT WE CAN HELP OURSELVES WITH, WHETHER IT'S ONE OF THE EXISTING ENTITIES THAT CAN EXPAND OR SOMETHING. WITHOUT SOME SORT OF STATE OR FEDERAL HELP, OUR ABILITY TO OPEN UP A NEW HOSPITAL IS SEVERELY LIMITED. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE A LARGE GAP SOUTH OF 90 ALL THE WAY TO 410.

THERE'S NOT ONE THERE NOW EXCEPT MAYBE IN THE BROOKS AREA.

ANYTHING WE CAN WORK ON FOR THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

>> BASURTO: UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, WE DID ADD SPECIFIC SUPPORT STATEMENT FOR LEGISLATION AND FUNDING FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO A DIVERSION CENTER, LANGUAGE IN SUPPORT OF THAT. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE DIVERSION CENTER AD HOC COMMITTEE. WE HAVE ALLISON GREER WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES. BEYOND THAT, IF YOU'RE THINKING OF A GREATER EXPANSION, THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE IS IN SUPPORT OF A DIVERSION CENTER.

>> MUNGIA: I'M THINKING BEYOND THAT. >> I'M LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT MESSAGE POINT ABOVE IT. SUPPORT LEGISLATION AND FUNDING AND IMPROVES ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND STRENGTHENS PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES. I THINK IF AN OPPORTUNITY EMERGES ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT WOULD GIVE US THE DIRECTION TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR IT. BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, I WOULD WANT US TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH. I'M NOT AWARE OF THE STATE'S INTERFACE IN SORT OF HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PROGRAM OR WHAT OPPORTUNITY THAT MIGHT BE. BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL KEEP ON OUR RADAR AT YOUR

REQUEST. >> MUNGIA: YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE PUTTING IT BACK ON THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING AND OBVIOUSLY THE CITY IS GOING TO SAY WE DON'T DO HOSPITALS. BUT I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SORT OF HELP FROM THE STATE ABOUT DEVELOPING THAT.

AND IF WE CAN ADD THE WORD "HOSPITAL" IN THERE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, JUST FOR MY OTHER COLLEAGUES YOU'RE GOING TO BRIEF TO NOTE THAT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE'RE GOING TO LOBBY FOR MORE MONEY FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AND ALL THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHCARE CAPACITY HERE, BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE GAP.

THAT'S WHY IT EXISTS. THAT'S WHY THE FORMER COUNCILMAN IS WORKING ON THAT. THAT'S WHY SO MUCH WORK IS BEING DONE TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS WE HAVE. EVEN WITH THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH HOSPITAL BEING BUILT OUT IN MY DISTRICT ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE, WE ARE STILL AT A NET DEFICIT OF BEDS THAN WHEN TEXAS VISTA WAS OPEN. WE'RE STILL NOT FULLY RECOVERED FROM THAT CLOSURE AND WE JUST NEED MORE. JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. IT'S A HAIL MARY BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL CATCH IT.

>> BASURTO: I THINK YOU EXPLAINED IT REALLY WELL. I MADE A NOTE, EXPANSION OF HEALTHCARE CAPACITY. IF THE COMMITTEE AGREES OR UNLESS THERE'S ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE COULD EXPLORE WHAT THE STATE FUNCTION IS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[01:00:03]

HEALTHCARE CAPACITY TO THE SUPPORT STATEMENT. >> MUNGIA: I WOULD CERTAINLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO HELP ME ON THAT. THAT NOT ONLY HELPS MY AREA BUT ALSO THE DISTRICT 2. ADDING THAT CAPACITY HELPS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT

EVERYBODY HAS. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT. IT'S ONE THING TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO SAY WE'RE ACTIVELY PURSUING OR REQUESTING FUNDING. AND SO I THINK THAT'S MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBER IS REQUESTING AND I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AS

WELL. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU.

JUST QUICKLY. FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE AGENDA AS IT'S LAID OUT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY TOP PRIORITY IS REALLY PROTECTING CPS ENERGY, WHICH IS OUR THIRD SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THIS CITY. AND NONE OF THE DISCUSSION WE HAD LAST WEEK OR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, EVEN OUR PRIORITIES HERE, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY OR PUBLIC HEALTH. I THINK A THIRD OF OUR BUDGET COMING FROM CPS, WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THAT FOR US AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO YOU HAVE IT LISTED HERE AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT SLIDE 4, THAT'S REALLY EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SLIDE FOR ME. PERSONALLY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, PRESERVING THAT LOCAL DECISION MAKING -- AND I COULD WALK AROUND WITH SLIDE 4 ALL DAY EVERY DAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THAT COMPLETELY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AS A BIG CITY. AND WE NEED THAT FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR THINGS OUTSIDE OF THOSE CORE SERVICES BECAUSE THE NEEDS ARE SO GREAT AND SO MANY THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT OUR FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL THAT THEY ALWAYS COME TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER AND ASK FOR THINGS OUTSIDE OF THOSE

LOCAL CORE FUNCTIONS THAT MOST CITIES ARE KNOWN >> GONZALEZ: SO MAKING SURE THAT -- AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO -- THINK -- AND NOT TO EXPAND IT TO THE SIZE OF TEXAS, BUT REALISTICALLY, EXPAND IT WITH THE NEEDS THAT OUR RESIDENTS ASK US FOR.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S REQUEST ON HOSPITAL IN YOUR AREA, I THINK IT IS TRUE, RIGHT? IF WE HAVE A MEDICAL CENTER IN DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I THINK WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH UH IN YOUR DISTRICT IS SO BENEFICIAL TO THAT COMMUNITY, BUT MORE IS ALWAYS -- IS A GOOD THING FOR -- FOR THAT. SO... WHAT ELSE? OH, I DID WANT TO ADD, ON THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY RELATED TO ZONING LAND USE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY, IT'S CHAPTER 4 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, WE HAVE THAT 300-FOOT BUFFER ZONE FOR BUSINESSES SELLING ALCOHOL, THAT INCLUDES CHURCHES, SCHOOLS OR HOSPITALS. AND I WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANY WAY TO ADD TO THAT DEFINITION UNDER SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE DAY CARES AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES? THAT'S A SPECIFIC ASK RELATED TO THAT 300 --

YEAH. >> BASURTO: SO, COUNCILWOMAN, ANY UPDATES TO STATE LAWS WOULD OBVIOUSLY REQUIRE A VERY SPECIFIC EFFORT TO UPDATE THE STATE LAW. SO IF THE COMMITTEE AGREES, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD ADD LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO PURSUE

THOSE CHANGES. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. AND WE CAN GIVE FOLK AS ONE-PAGER OR SOMETHING TO JUST EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT CHAPTER ENTAILS AND WHAT THAT 300-FOOT BUFFER IS FOR, BUT I THINK MOST OF US -- IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY, ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT EIGHT, DAY CARE IS LOCATED TO A RESTAURANT RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER. THAT RESTAURANT IS REALLY OPERATING MORE LIKE A BAR, AND SO WHEN YOU DROP OFF KIDS IN THE MORNING, YOU'RE SEEING EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH A BAR. AND SO IF WE CAN JUST EXPAND THAT DEFINITION FOR SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE DAY CARES AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK THAT'S IT ON MY

END. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO?

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. SALLY, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

YOU ALWAYS DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB, SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING ALL OF THAT GREAT WORK. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK POINTS.

YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL INCORPORATED A LOT OF OUR FEEDBACK INTO

[01:05:03]

YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS ARE USED TO COUNCIL HAVING THAT ZONING AUTHORITY, AND WE DIDN'T. AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT BEHIND THE BILL, BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO ADD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT DISTRICTS ARE NUANCED, AND SO WE JUST NEED TO PUSH BACK ON THAT BECAUSE WE -- I THINK THAT WE'RE -- WE'LL COME -- THE COUNCIL -- MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS THE BEST, RIGHT? AND WE KNOW WHAT'S GREAT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO WHAT -- ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY --

IT SAY Y'ALL WERE COMING TO COUNCIL, OCTOBER 8TH? >> BASURTO: SEVENTH.

>> GAVITO: OCTOBER 7TH. IF WE COULD GET AN UPDATE ON LAUREL RIDGE AND HOW THE CITY'S RESPONDING, LAUREL RIDGE CLOSING, BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN MUNGIA WAS TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE, AND THAT LAUREL RIDGE CLOSING IS DEVASTATING TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I KNOW THAT WE HAD BEEN -- THERE WAS -- THERE'S JUST BEEN A COUPLE DATA POINTS FLOATING AROUND ON THE CITY'S RESPONSE. I THINK IT WAS GOING TO TAKE IN SOME STATE PARTNERSHIPS, AT LEAST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE WERE ALL BRIEFED ON HOW WE'RE RESPONDING TO THAT. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT COUNCILMAN MUNGIA'S PUSH ON HEALTHCARE, THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE ALL PARTS OF TOWN ARE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO STRESS, I HEARD MY COLLEAGUES MENTION THIS. AND, JEFF, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE DO HAVE A BUDGET DEFICIT AND WE DO NEED TO FOCUS OUR FUNDSFUNDS ON CORE CITY SERVICES, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS -- MAYBE ONE OF THE NEW SKILL SETS THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I SHOULD HONE IN ON IS THE ABILITY TO GET STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT IN OTHER WAYS, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I OFTEN USE THE EXAMPLES WE DID WITH WOODLAWN LAKE AND WE GOT $3.25 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND THEN $2 MILLION FROM STATE REP MARTINEZ-FISHER AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET CLOSE TO $8 MILLION FOR A PARK THAT, YOU KNOW, HARDLY ANY OF IT IS CITY DOLLARS. SO I'M CURIOUS IF MAYBE ITS IN YOUR OFFICE OR SOMEWHERE, WE CAN WORK WITH A PERSON WHO KNOWSS HOW ALL OF US CAN BE PURSUING THESE DIFFERENT GRANTS FOR OUR DISTRICTS. THAT ONE, WE WERE JUST LUCKY TO PARTNER WITH PARKS AND REC AND OTHERS ON. BUT I DO THINK IT'S JUST -- IT'S GOING TO BE A SKILL SET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HONE IN ON, MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT SO MUCH IN THE PAST, BUT I FELL THAT WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT LOOKING THE WAY IT IS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVE TO BE BUILDING UP MORE AND MORE OF.

>> BASURTO: COUNCILWOMAN, IF I MAY, YOU'RE TOTALLY SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE AND MORE SO OF MY COLLEAGUE --

WITHIN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. >> GAVITO: PERFECT.

>> BASURTO: AND SHE IS CONSTANTLY AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING GRANTS, WORKS CLOSELY WITH ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND IS ACTUALLY PLANNING TO DO OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT THROUGH A TRAINING SESSION, PER SE, TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT SHE DOES SCOUR MOSTLY FEDERAL, BUT AS WELL AS STATE OPPORTUNITIES.

THERE'S MORE FEDERAL FUNDING, OBVIOUSLY, AVAILABLE FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON YOUR CALENDAR, IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND THE CONVERSATION, OR BRING A GRANTS UPDATE THAT WOULD ALLOW, IF THE CHAIRMAN AGREES AND THE COMMITTEE, TO BRING A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PURSUIT OF GRANTS WHERE WE ARE, THE STATUS, AS WE'RE FOLDING INTO THE FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL SESSION, I'LL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDING PURSUITS, SO IT ALLOWS PERFECTLY. THANK YOU FOR THE

QUESTION. >> GAVITO: YEAH, PERFECT. I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR IT.

I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FLEX THAT MUSCLE A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE THERE ARE ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROJECTS THAT ALL OF US WANT DO IN EACH OF OUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS, AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL, HAVING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS, WHATEVER

[01:10:01]

ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS AGENDIZE AN ITEM WHERE I'D LIKE FOR A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF GRANTS THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR, RECEIVED, MAYBE PREVIOUSLY WERE AWARDED AND THEN EVENTUALLY JUST KIND OF FELL OFF OVER A PERIOD OF THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS OR SO. AND THEN THE CURRENT ECOSYSTEM OF GRANTS THAT EXIST. A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE THE FORMATION OF THE OFFICE OF INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SAFETY, I WAS PIECE MALING AN OFFICE TOGETHER IN ONE OF THE POSITIONS I HAD ADVOCATED FOR AND CREATED AS A PART OF THE BUDGET I THINK IN 2023, OR '4, WAS SOMEONE WHO WOULD WORK WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS ON GRANTS SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO CRIME PREVENTION. SO THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE PREVENTING CRIME, THESE ARE THE KIND OF GRANTS THAT EXIST FOR THAT, AND SHOULD IDEALLY BE WORKING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO GET THOSE AND WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE. THAT WILL BE AN ITEM THAT WE CONSIDER AND I WANTED TO WRAP THAT COMMENT IN THAT WAY SO THAT WHEN WE DISCUSS IT AGAIN, WE KNOW THE VEIN THROUGH WHICH IT'S BEING BROUGHT UP.

COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

THANKS, SALLY, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF PROCESS QUESTIONS. SO BEFORE WE APPROVE THIS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE -- OR CAN YOU SEND US, LIKE, THE SPECIFIC BILLS THAT YOU'RE ALREADY TRACKING OR ARE AWARE ARE COMING AND ANY FUNDING REQUESTS. AND THIS KIND OF TIES TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON SLIDE 12, IF YOU CAN BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHO WE'RE COORDINATING WITH.

>> BASURTO: SO, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

RELATED TO PROCESS, WE'RE PREPARING THIS STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM WITH THE IGR APPROVAL AND EVENTUALLY THE FULL COUNCIL TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE READY FOR BILL FILING THAT STARTS IN EARLY NOVEMBER. SO CURRENTLY THE BILLS HAVE NOT BEEN FILED YET. THEY WILL BEGIN NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH.

THAT IS WHEN THE GA TEAM, DEPARTMENTS, ET CETERA, ARE REVIEWING THOSE BILLS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT, WE'RE DOING BILL ANALYSIS.

I WILL BE PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES TO IGR AT THAT TIME.

>> SPEARS: OKAY. OKAY. I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE FIRST SLIDE WHERE YOU'VE GOT KIND OF THE BROAD BUCKETS WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE STATE TO FUND FOR US?

>> BASURTO: SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM.

WE HAVE PURSUED AND WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE VERY SPECIFIC GRANTS.

THE CITY DOES WITH THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND OUR STORMWATER TEAM, COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE SHELF THAT COULD CONSTANTLY SHIFT, RIGHT? I BELIEVE WE CAN EVEN -- IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE LIST, WE CAN HAVE THEM PER COUNCIL

DISTRICT. >> SPEARS: OKAY. >> BASURTO: STATE FUNDING IS HARD TO COME BY, BUT WE ARE PURSUING BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL BUCKETS

FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS. >> SPEARS: OKAY.

GOOD. THAT'S GOOD. ON SLIDE 11, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THE IDR PROCESS, BEING REVAMPED.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND SAVE US A TON OF MONEY IF WE CAN GET THAT THROUGH. I DO LIKE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOSPITAL THAT COUNCILMAN MUNGIA WANTS TO HAVE IN HIS DISTRICT. AND ANY WAY WE CAN EITHER FREE UP -- AUDIO] -- BECAUSE I AGREE, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT FALLS. THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY. SO HOWEVER WE CAN BE CREATIVE IN FINDING THE PATH FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL THERE.

OF COURSE, VERY HAPPY TO SEE PUBLIC SAFETY ON YOUR LIST.

I DO AGREE, ALWAYS LOOK FOR FEDERAL BUCKETS AND STATE BUCKETS TO HELP US ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS. I THINK THAT'S THE DEFINITE WAY FORWARD AND FULLY READY TO WORK ON THAT. COMPLETELY AGREE WITH --

[01:15:02]

THEY REALLY TOOK SOME WIND OUT OF OUR SAILS LAST SESSION IN THAT WAY AND IT HAS IMPACTED SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS, IT'S HAD UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, SO TO THE EFFECT WE CAN TWEAK SOME OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE AND I KNOW WE'VE -- WE'RE PURSUING A FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. IS THERE ANYTHING IN

ADDITION THERE THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT? >> BASURTO: SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRACKING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE RECENTLY HAD A DISCUSSION WITH U.S. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TEAM THAT SPECIFICALLY WAS PART OF THE HOMELESSNESS DIVISION. AND SO MARK CARMONA WAS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, COUNCILWOMAN, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY PITCHING THE SUCCESSES AND THE -- SAN ANTONIO, SO I'M HAVE PROUD OF OUR STORY AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO SHARE THAT. I WANT TO CONTINUE TRYING TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE TO HELP US AMPLIFY THE WORK AND THE SUCCESSES IN THAT SPACE, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT.

>> SPEARS: I WOULD SAY THE TREND THAT I HAVE NOTICED AT THE STATE AND AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS THEIR PROCLIVITY TOWARD PILOT PROGRAMS, AND MY SHAMELESS INTEREST IN BEING A PILOT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WILL LEAD TO GREATER FUNDING LATER FOR THOSE -- IN THOSE AREAS, I BELIEVE, IF WE CAN PROVE THAT THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL. SO IN ANY OF THESE AREAS WHERE WE CAN FIND THAT, I WOULD SAY -- WELL, ASSUMING MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN AGREEMENT, WE SHOULD BE PURSUING TO BE THE PILOT PROGRAM, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT'S GOING TO OPEN DOORS FOR US LATER.

SO I KNOW I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT HERE LATELY, SO...

>> BASURTO: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. >> SPEARS: AND THEN -- IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE HEARING OR SEEING THAT IS THREATENING OUR -- OUR LOCAL, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO GOVERN LOCALLY, AND ESPECIALLY WITH LAND USE AND ZONING AND -- ARE YOU SEEING ANYTHING OR EAR ON THE

GROUND, HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANYTHING? >> BASURTO: WE ALWAYS DO, COUNCILWOMAN. WE WILL PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED.

WE BELIEVE THE PROGRAM WILL GIVE US SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY AND COME BACK WITH ADDITIONAL DIRECTION FROM THE IGR COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY, BUT I WOULD EXPECT THAT BILLS, PROPOSED BILLS, WILL BE FILED TO LIMIT LOCAL CONTROL, REDUCE REVENUE TO CITIES, BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE GETTING READY AND WILL DO OUR BEST TO DEFEND AGAINST THOSE

LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CITY. >> SPEARS: OKAY.

>> COYLE: YEAH, COUNCILWOMAN, IF I MAY. OBVIOUSLY IT'S CAMPAIGN SEASON, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS BEING SAID IN VARIOUS POLITICAL RACES, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THESE OUT-OF-CONTROL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR SPENDING. AND -- AUDIO] -- SPENDING SIDE, WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO COMMUNICATE EVERYTHING WE DO HERE LOCALLY TO MANAGE OUR BUDGETS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M TESTIFYING TOMORROW AT A HEARING ON NONPROFITS AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS THEIR MONEY WITH A LOT OF NONPROFITS, SO I'M GOING TO TALK O ALL ABOUT THE DELEGATE AGENCY PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH AND ALL OF THE METRICS THAT WE HAVE TO MEASURE RESULTS. I SAY ALL THAT BECAUSE THE WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT GRANTS AND EVERYTHING, WE 100% AGREE WITH YOU, WE CHASE EVERY GRANT WE CAN WITH THE DEPARTMENTS. THE REALITY IS, THERE'S A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAN THE STATE.

THE STATE IS MORE INTERESTED IN REDUCING OUR CAPACITY IN REVENUES, AND THAT'S JUST THE REALITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE GOING INTO THE

SESSION. >> SPEARS: WELL THEN, I GUESS ALSO I WILL ADD, THOUGH, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE CHAIR'S ASK ABOUT THE RAILROAD LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT REVAMP -- IS IT REVAMPING OR -- WHAT ALL ARE WE LOOKING AT.

REMOVING THE AT-GRADE CROSSINGS. >> COYLE: THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOME MAJOR GRANTS WE'VE WON. I THINK VICK WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THOSE WHEN HE COMES UP. SORRY TO INTERRUPT,

COUNCIL. >> SPEARS: NO, NO. I'M JUST VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. I KNOW THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU BRING ON THE SEVENTH.

I DO WANT TO BE REALLY ACTIVE IN THE BILL TRACKING AND TO THE

[01:20:01]

OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING. >> BASURTO: MY PLEASURE, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA?

>> MUNGIA: SO IF I CAN SUM UP WHAT JEFF SAID IS THAT MAYBE THE COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULDN'T BE SAYING WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM AT THE CITY. IS THAT -- IS THAT -- THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT YOU

SAID? >> COYLE: WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR DELEGATION UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY EVERYTHING THAT WE WENT THROUGH THIS SUMMER WITH THE PROCESS -- FOLKS, FRANKLY, OF THE MAJOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT THE COUNCIL PASSED IN '22 AND '23 WHEN WE EXPANDED ALL OF OUR EXEMPTIONS.

IT'S SAVING A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN FOLKS ARE PAYING THIS YEAR.

>> MUNGIA: THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. AND CITIES SUPPORTING NONPROFITS. THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, TOO, RIGHT? GLAD TO SUM THAT UP FOR YOU, JEFF. JUST REAL QUICK, I WANTED TO ADD SUPPORT FOR COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ'S REQUEST ON ADDING THE DAY CARE AND CHILDCARE. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE EDUCATION EXEMPTION FOR THE ALCOHOL

VARIANCE, SO THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO? >> GAVITO:

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: BUT ONLY THE LAST PART. >> GAVITO: SUPPORTING ADDING CHILDCARE FACILITIES AS A PART OF THE --

COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ? >> GONZALEZ: SORRY, I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS BEFORE. ON THE POC, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING WHAT EXPANDING -- OR EXTENDING THE 30 YEARS TO 60 WOULD LOOK LIKE, WE WERE DOWNTOWN THIS WEEKEND, TOOK THE FAMILY TO JAZZ ALIVE IN LA VILLITA AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

DOWNTOWN WAS PACKED. AND THERE'S TWO EVENTS AT LA VILLITA, JAZZ ALIVE WAS JUST FANTASTIC. SO I WAS IMAGINING WHAT THE DISTRICT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND EVERYBODY GOING IN AND OUT OF THERE AND EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY, I COULD TELL THEY WERE FROM HERE, AND NOT FROM HERE, BUT IT WAS JUST A REALLY -- JUST BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE, SO IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BEING IN HERE

ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR

SURE. YES, JEFF? >> COYLE: I DON'T WANT TO THROW COLD WATER ON IDEAS, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE DOWNTOWN DICTUM IS ABOUT, IS THAT WE WANT TO SEEK STATE SUPPORT WHEREVER WE CAN TO HELP COVER SOME OF THE COSTS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO DOWNTOWN.

THE PFZ IS AN EXISTING PROGRAM. WE WERE ADDED TO IT AFTER OTHER CITIES HAD ALREADY BEEN A PART OF IT, SO IT'S BASED ON A 30-YEAR INVESTMENT BY THE STATE. I THINK PERSONALLY -- THIS IS JEFF COYLE SPEAKING -- WE WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME DOUBLING THAT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE STATE IS GIVING UP THAT REVENUE. AND WE MIGHT INTRODUCE SOME RISK OF -- YOU KNOW, SOME CHANGES TO THAT PROGRAM.

SO WE WILL EXPLORE IT AND -- THERE IS AN INTERIM CHARGE ABOUT THE PFZS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER. BY THE WAY, COUNCILMAN, THERE'S ALSO AN INTERIM CHARGE TALKING ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND IF YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR DISTRICT, WE CAN DO THAT. BUT WE'RE TRACKING THAT INTERIM CHARGE ON THE PFZ TO SEE WHAT DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING AND ABSOLUTELY IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, WE'LL JUMP ON IT.

I JUST WANT TO SET EXPECTATIONS -- WE'RE VERY, VERY LUCKY TO BE IN THAT PROGRAM AND DOUBLING IT TO 60 YEARS MIGHT BE A TALL ASK.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE. JUST LAUNCH AN IDEA OUT THERE. I WAS GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION FOR TOMORROW'S B SESSION ON THE BOND AND LOOKING AT BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NEED, ADD IN THE LIST OF PROJECTS AND THINGS I'VE IDENTIFIED AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE AND THEN SEEING A STAND-ALONE SLIDE FOR PROJECT MARVEL RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE DIDN'T SIT RIGHT WITH ME, AND, YOU KNOW, A PART OF ULTIMATELY GETTING -- WE'RE LIMITED IN OUR CAPACITY, WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR CAPACITY -- WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET MONEY TIED TO THIS DISTRICT FROM OTHER PLACES, ESPECIALLY FROM THE STATE.

AND SO IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT GOING TO 2060 AND IT'S GOING TO A DIFFERENT PERIOD OR IT'S FINDING SOME OTHER AMOUNT -- SOME OTHER BUCKET OF MONEY OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE -- THAT COULD BE SUPPORTIVE, THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE SPIRIT OF MY REQUEST.

COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS? >> SPEARS: I NEGLECTED TO MENTION -- THANK YOU FOR

[01:25:01]

VERY IMPORTANT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PREVENT ENCROACHMENT. WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT JUST CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS HERE LOCALLY. AND, YOU KNOW, PURSUING EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US ECONOMICALLY AND JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT SLIDE. AND THANK YOU.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE FOLLOWING 50 SLIDES? I WILL SAY -- OKAY, SO I KNOW THAT I'VE ONLY BEEN CHAIR OF IGR FOR A LITTLE BIT NOW, BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO HAVE ON THE LIMIT OF THE NUMBER OF SLIDES WE CAN HAVE IN A PRESENTATION, SO THIS WILL BE NO MORE.

OH, YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION? I'M KIDDING. IF THERE'S INTEREST IN TAKING ACTION, WE CAN DO THAT NOW BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE LAST OF THE SLIDES. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. (AYE).

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THE PROBLEM IS NOW WE'RE NOT INCENTIVIZED TO FINISH THE PRESENTATION. BUT IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE THE NEXT SPEAKERS FOR

US. >> BASURTO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE COMMUNITY,

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAMCO. >> THANK YOU, SALLY.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> CHAIR AND MEMBERS, I'M GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THIS VERY QUICKLY. I THINK I'M ONLY 10 OF THE SLIDES, SO -- AND I'LL TRY TO TAKE THOSE VERY QUICKLY.

AM I CONTROLLING THEM HERE? WELL --

>> WHILE HE'S FINDING THE SLIDE NUMBER WHERE IT -- WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE

BEGINNING. >> OH, OKAY. SO YOU'LL FIND WHERE IT

IS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: 15, I BELIEVE.

Q. THERE WE GO. >> I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH SAMCO, YOU SEE ALL THE PARTNERS UP THERE. THERE'S TWO THINGS I'M REALLY PROD OF. FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN ACTUALLY SHOW ABOUT $14 BILLION OF FUNDING WE HELPED SECURE OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. ALMOST EVERY CASE FROM FUNDING SOURCES WE HELPED CREATE. I'LL EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT IN A MINUTE, AND I'M ALSO PROUD THAT THAT COALITION, I DON'T THINK -- AND JEFF, YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS ANYBODY WITH THIS, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD A DIVISIVE VOTE. IT'S ALL BEEN BY CONSENSUS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE CITY, COUNTY, FIVE CHAMBERS, DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT IN TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S BEEN A GREAT CONSENSUS THAT WE'VE HAD.

SO VERY PROUD OF THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR 25 YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION, OR 25 YEARS OLD NOW AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF 23 YEARS OF BEING THE CEO. SO NEXT SLIDE. MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE MONITOR A LOT OF THINGS FOR TRANSIT, FOR ARTERIALS, FOR MANY OTHER AVIATION FUNDING. THIS IS TXDOT FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT. AND YOU CAN -- ONE OF OUR -- -- TRIED TO TAKE IT FROM WHAT USED TO BE WELL UNDER 200 MILLION A YEAR TO WHAT NOW AVERAGES WELL OVER 800 OR SO MILLION A YEAR, ABOUT A FOUR TIME INCREASE. IF I HAD MORE TIME, I'D GO THROUGH THESE.

YOU HAD ONE YEAR WHERE TOLLING WAS EVERYTHING AND LEVERAGING MONEY, AND THEN WE HAD WHAT WE CALL THE GOLDENERRA WHEN PROPS 1 AND 7, I'LL EXPLAIN THAT, THOSE WERE TWO PROPOSITIONS WHERE WE ACTUALLY PUT THE STATEWIDE GROUP TOGETHER TO OBTAIN THOSE. NOW IT'S 40% OF TXDOT'S BUDGET, AND THOSE WERE THE GOLDEN YEARS. AND THEY KIND OF CULMINATED IN 2021, THAT RATHER TALL LINE THERE, WELL OVER 2 BILLION A YEAR WAS THE START OF LOOP 1604 NORTH AND I-35 NEX AND MANY OF THE OTHER, MOSTLY REST OF THE FUNDING WERE CONTINUATIONS OF THOSE AS THE COST INCREASED ON THAT, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE TAIL OF THOSE THREE ERAS. I DON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT TODAY.

I KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. WHAT'S OUR CURRENT FUNDING STATUS? GLASS IS HALF FULL, HALF EMPTY.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE $6 BILLION IN PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S A RECORD AMOUNT FOR THE REGION. THAT IS SECOND HIGHEST IN THE STATE, ONLY TO HOUSTON. AND THE HOUSTON DISTRICT HAS THREE TIMES OUR POPULATION ON A PER CAPITA BASIS.

WE ARE ABSOLUTELY AT THE HEIGHT RIGHT NOW. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ESTIMATES OF WHAT WE REALLY NEED IN THE FUTURE, THE MPO GOING DOWN THREE JUST ESTIMATED 50 TO 55 BILLION THAT WE'RE STILL SHORT BY 2025 -- 2050, ACTUALLY. THAT SHOULD SAY THROUGH 2050.

[01:30:04]

YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE RECENT SUCCESSES. I THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF MANY OF THOSE THINGS. LET ME STOP REAL QUICK AND TALK ABOUT THE RAIL GRADE SEPARATIONS, AT LEAST TWO OF YOU HAVE BROUGHT THAT UP.

THERE'S A REALLY GOOD STORY ON THAT. WE GOT FIVE OF THE 12 GRANTS FOR OUR REGION, THESE ARE ALL UNION PACIFIC LINES, PLACES LIKE WALZEM ROAD AND CIBOLO AND RITTIMAN ROAD, ET CETERA, THERE'S ALSO SOME MONEY FOR ZARZAMORA AND FRIO, THESE HAVE BEEN PROJECTS ENVISIONED FOR A LONG TIME. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WE DID A SERIES OF EXCHANGE MEETINGS WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS IN HOUSTON, HOUSTON TAG, ONE OF THE ONES OUT THERE PRESENTED AN IDEA FOR A BILL FOR A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THESE RAIL GRADE SEPARATIONS, KEEP IN MIND, THEY HAVE THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND HAVE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC BACKUPS THERE, NEED THESE RAIL SEPARATION GRANTS. SO WE WORK WITH THEM TO TALK TO SENATOR NICK LS, CHAIR NICK LS, WHICH PASSED LAST SESSION. I BELIEVE IF WE HADN'T WORKED WITH HOUSTON AND FORMED A MORE STATEWIDE COALITION, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. AND 250 MILLION CAME IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL TO FUND THAT BILL, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE E THE FIVE RAIL GRANTS. AND WE WILL WORK THIS SESSION TO CONTINUE THOSE.

. TXDOT'S FUNDING SITUATION, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TXDOT WAS KIND OF SOUNDING THE ALARM BECAUSE OF 60% INCREASE OF THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION INDEX, GREAT UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING, NO ONE BELIEVES THEY'RE GOING TO FUND THE NEXT TRANSPORTATION BILL AT THE LEVELS THAT WERE DONE IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. PROPOSITION 1, VOLATILITY, THAT'S THE OIL AND GAS MONEY THAT COMES THROUGH THAT PROPOSITION.

THAT'S AROUND 20% OF TXDOT'S BUDGET. OIL WAS TENDING TOWARD $50 A BARREL, TE TXDOT WAS CONCERNED HOW MUCH IT WOULD LOSE IN ITS BUDGET, HOWEVER THE WAR IS ON AND PRICES ARE UP AROUND 100 NOW.

SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE LONG-TERM TREND OF PROP 1.

THAT DOWN, SO THAT ALLOWED THEM TO HAVE ABOUT TWO OR 3 BILLION MORE EACH YEAR, THE LAST FEW YEAR, AND, BELIEVE ME, WE BENEFITED WITH MANY OF THE PROJECTS HERE BECAUSE OF THAT. THEY DO NOT HAVE A CASH BALANCE NOW OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE, AND SO 10 TO 9 BILLION IS MORE THE NEW NORM, NOT 12 TO 13. SO, AGAIN, MORE STUFF THERE ABOUT THE SHRINKING TXDOT BUDGET SITUATION. THIS IS TXDOT'S CURRENT BIENNIAL BUDGET, AND I SHOW THIS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AS WE TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS, WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT. FEDERAL FUNDS IS STILL ABOUT 30%, THAT MAY BE SHRINKING. THE GAS TAX HASN'T BEEN RAISED SINCE -- I WAS WITH THE DALLAS CHAMBERS FOUR YEARS AGO AND WORKED ON THAT -- AUDIO] -- STILL 25% OR SO. PROPS 1 AND 7, AGAIN, THE OIL AND GAS TAX SEVERANCE MONEY WHICH IS NOW 20% AND PROP 7, WHICH IS NOW 17%, THAT IS SALES TAX MONEY, GUARANTEED 2.5 BILLION PER YEAR, PLUS A PERCENTAGE, 35% OF THE VEHICLE SALES TAX. SO THAT USED TO BE TOLLING, THAT'S A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT TOLLING AND THE HISTORY OF THAT, WE WON'T GET INTO THAT TODAY, BUT WE -- WE WERE -- THE COALITION BUILT THAT PROP 1 AND 7. WE FORMED TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES OF TEXAS, WE WORKED -- OTHER -- HE NEEDED HELP IN THE HOUSE, IT HAPPENED THAT WE HAD THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK WITH JOE STRAUS TO GET THIS DONE.

HE TOLD US IF WE COULD GET THE VOTES AND WE FORMED THIS STATEWIDE GROUP, AND NOW WE -- IF WE HAD NOT SECURED THOSE TWO, WE WOULD NOT SEE THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. NOT JUST HERE, BUT THE REST OF THE STATE. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND MORE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BY UNDERSTANDING THAT. THIS IS A QUICK GRAPHIC OF PROP 7. IT'S KIND OF COMPLICATED.

PROPER 7 IS WHERE I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION THIS SESSION ABOUT INCREASING. SO PROP 7 PUTS, AGAIN, 2.5 BILLION IN NORMAL SALES TAX OF THE HIGHWAY FUND, BUT ALSO 35% OF THE VEHICLE SALES TAX.

AND THE CONVERSATION THIS SESSION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT GRADUALLY INCREASING THAT TO 40, 45, 50, 55, OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WHICH ACTUALLY GETS TXDOT OVER TIME TO MORE THE SIZE OF A 10-YEAR PLAN THAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED. LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT. I THINK WE ALL KNOW

[01:35:04]

WE GEERTING TO KNOW HIM. HE REPLACES SENATOR NICHOLS WHO FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES WAS THE LEADER. LOSING HIM AS CHAIR IS A HUGE LOSS BUT SE SENATOR PARKER SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND OUR ISSUES.

HE HAS WARNED US, HOWEVER, HE FEELS THEY'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BEFORE THEY TAKE THIS UP.

SO THAT TELLS YOU WHERE WE ARE IN THE LEVEL OF PRIORITIES, I THINK.

SENATE FINANCE, WE NO LONGER HAVE SENATOR NICKELS STANDING UP FOR US. THE CHAIR, JOAN HUFFMAN HAS BEEN SAYING TXDOT HAS PLENTY OF MONEY, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS I THINK THERE'S LITTLE SENSE OF URGENCY AMONG THOSE LEGISLATORS -- DISAPPOINTMENT FROM DIFFERENT REJOFNS ABOUT HOW THEY'VE -- REGIONS ABOUT HOW THEY'VE BEEN TREATED AND HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'VE GOTTEN, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ATTEMPTS THIS SESSION TO REDISTRIBUTE FUNDING IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME OF THOSE BILLS -- RELIEF, EDUCATION, SCHOOL VOUCHERS, WATER, ET CETERA.

THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHETHER THIS BUDGET WILL BALANCE.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE SUPPORTING? WE'VE BEEN PITCHING FOR A COUPLE OF SESSIONS NOW FORMING A 2050 COMMISSION LA -- FUNDING NEEDS OF THE STATE. THAT GROUP RECOMMENDED A 5 BILLION GAP THAT NEEDED TO BE SOLVED AND GAVE SOME CREDIBILITY TO WHAT LATER BECAME THE PROP 1 AND 7 EFFORTS. WE FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW COMMISSION APPOINTED. I'VE MENTIONED PROP 7.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO SEE IF WE CAN GRADUALLY INCREASE THAT.

WE HAVE TO DO IT GRADUALLY SO IT DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND. MY GUESS IS THIS WILL TAKE A COUPLE SESSIONS.

THE ORIGINAL PROP 7 TOOK TWO REGULAR SESSIONS AND THREE SPECIAL SESSIONS BEFORE WE GOT IT. TEXAS MOBILITY FUND, THAT IS A REVOLVING FUND FROM A LOT OF FINES, FEES AND FORFEITURES, IT'S ABOUT 3 BILLION.

THE AUTHORITY EXPIRES. THE BEAUTY OF THE TEXAS MOBILITY FUND, IT CAN BE USED FOR TRANSIT, MODES BEYOND JUST ROADS. THE RAIL GRADE SEPARATION GRANTS, I ALREADY DISCUSSED. WE WILL BE SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND THE CONTINUATION OF THAT PROGRAM.

ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON AT PORT SAN ANTONIO AND ELSEWHERE TO REALLY COMMERCIALIZE AND MAKE THAT A REAL REALITY. AND SO THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE FUNDING FOR TXDOT'S DIVISION, WHICH IS WORKING ON THIS, AND WE'LL BE SUPPORTING THOSE THINGS. VIA, I'M SURE WILL HAVE A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. THEY HAVEN'T SHARED IT WITH US.

WE USUALLY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF VIA. THESE ARE JUST 10-DOLLAR REG FEE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COULD HELP SOME OTHER PROJECTS IS IF BEXAR COUNTY COULD BECOME ONE OF JUST TWO COUNTIES THAT HAS THE -- THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION FEE THAT THERE'S ONE OF SIX COUNTIES THAT HAS -- THERE'S ANOTHER LEVEL THAT TWO COUNTIES HAVE REACHED AND POTENTIALLY THEY COULD DO ANOTHER $10 REG FEE WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD BE MONEY TO BE BONDED TO HELP SOMETHING LIKE THE SOUTH TEXAS PARKWAY. THERE'S A CONVERSATION GOING ON AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS, AMONG THE RMA, WHICH IS STAFFED BY BEXAR COUNTY, WHETHER THEY WISH TO MOVE THIS IN 2027 OR 2029.

SO WE'LL SEE WHERE -- THEM. THE OTHER THREE ARE KIND OF PLACE HOLDERS FOR OTHER BILLS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD HAPPEN THAT I'M SURE WE WOULD GET BEHIND AND SUPPORT. I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DEFENSE THIS SESSION. I'M VERY WORRIED IN A TIGHT BUDGET THAT WE'LL SEE AN EFFORT TO DIVERT HIGHWAY FUNDS AGAIN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

THIS WAS DISCONTINUED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER STRAUS IN 2014, BUT FOR THE PREVIOUS 20 YEARS, TXDOT LOST ABOUT 20 BILLION BUCKS BECAUSE MONEY WAS DIVERTED. AND THAT HURT US HERE. THAT'S ONE REASON WE WERE WAY BEHIND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR HIGHWAY PROGRAM, SO WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT. WE WILL BE WITH YOU, WE WERE THE LAST FEW SESSIONS. WE WILL OPPOSE ANY BILL THAT LIMITS THE ABILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PURSUE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, LIMITING BONDS, TAX RATES, ET CETERA. I HELPED WHERE I COULD LAST YEAR ENCOURAGING SOME OF THE OTHER MOBILITY COALITIONS TO DO

[01:40:01]

SOME ATTEMPTS TO RESTRUCTURE THE FORMULA PROGRAMS. WE DO VERY WELL WITH THE CURRENT FORMULA, BUT OTHER REGIONS FEEL THEY'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH FOR BILLS THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO US, EVALUATE THOSE AND COME BACK. I THINK -- [INDISCERNIBLE] HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.

YOUR TEAM AND IGR AND YOUR TEAM WITH PUBLIC WORKS, ET CETERA, ARE VERY INVOLVED IN WHAT WE DO AND SEVERAL OF YOU ATTEND OUR MEETINGS REGULARLY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, SO I WILL STAND BY FOR ANY

QUESTIONS AND HOPEFULLY MADE THAT SHORT ENOUGH. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR US TO SEE THE OVERLAP IN OUR PRIORITIES AS A BODY AND AS A -- YEAH, AS A BODY AND HOW THEY OVERLAP WITH YOURS. AND I THINK WE'LL BE IN LOCKSTEP AS WE APPROACH THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ANY QUICK COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ?

>> GONZALEZ: JUST A QUICK COMMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND TO RELAY THAT, I THINK JUST THE OVERLAP WITH WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND SAMCOS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH SAMCO IS -- IS A BENEFIT

TO US AS A CITY, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> BASURTO: THANK YOU, VIC. COMMITTEE MEMBERS, JEWEL JULIA [INDISCERNIBLE] I ASKED JULIA TO FLY BY HER SLIDES AND FOCUS ON HER

PRIORITY. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOOD

TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME HERE AND BY TIME, I MEAN VERY LITTLE TIME AND THAT'S OKAY.

I CAN DO IT. I CAN SPEED THROUGH IT. I CAN GET TO THE MAIN POINTS, EVEN BEFORE MY SLIDES ARE UP. I'M -- I'M DOWN.

OH, ARE THEY NEXT? SWEET, LOOK AT THAT. HERE THEY ARE.

OKAY. YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT WE DO.

OUR JOB IS TO ELEVATE, ADVOCATE AND CONNECT ON BEHALF OF OUR ISDS.

FOUR OVERALL TOPIC AREAS FOR THIS PRESENTATION. A LOT YOU CAN TAKE HOME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE REALLY EAGER TO READ ABOUT SCHOOL FINANCE WHEN YOU GET BACK HOME, SO YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S INCLUDED FOR YOU SO YOU CAN LOOK OVER IT LATER. A QUICK REVIEW, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE DEALING WITH CONVERSATIONS AROUND PROPERTY TAX, THE LEVEL THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED ARE SET AT THE STATE, NOT SET AT THE LOCAL ISD. THAT IS FIRST FUNDED BY LOCAL PROPERTY TAX AND THEN BY STATE. SO EVEN AS OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP, WE'RE NOT SEEING A RESULT OR A BENEFIT OF THAT IN OUR BASIC ALLOTMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IT ONLY WENT UP BY $55. LAST -- SPEAKING OF LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE WENT THROUGH QUITE A BIT OF BILLS THAT HAD TO DO WITH EDUCATION.

ONE OF OUR LARGEST BILL BOOKS THAT WE PUT OUT ARE TASA AND TASB PUT OUT SUBSEQUENTTIVELY CHANGED THE WAY WE TREAT DISCIPLINE, PARENT COMMUNICATION, SEVERAL OF OUR FUNDING FORMULAS AND REALLY A LOT OF THAT CAME WITHOUT UNFORTUNATELY FUNDING. SO WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF MOVING AROUND OF HOW OUR FOLKS REALLY CARE FOR OR IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THESE NEW LAWS. WHAT'S GOING ON OVERALL WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT TO TATALITY OF FUNDING AND ALL IN, NOT ONLY BUT STATE, LOCAL BUT ALSO FEDERAL AND WE'RE TRACKING IT TO THE TEXAS CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

THIS IS, OF COURSE, VERY SMALL ON THE SCREEN, BUT REALLY JUST TWO AREAS THAT I WANT YOU ALL TO SEE. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FISCAL YEAR FOR 2016, WE HAD AN AVERAGE TEXAS -- AGAIN, ADJUSTED FOR THE TEXAS CPI, AROUND 7,000. THAT PROJECTED -- MY APOLOGIES, IT SHOULD BE PROJECTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 IS DOWN TO $6,700. NOW, IF YOU ALL ARE FOLLOWING ANY OF THE HEADLINES ACROSS THE AREA, WE DID GET AN $8.5 BILLION INCREASE, BUT WHEN YOU DIG INTO THAT NUMBER, A LOT OF THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING DIRECTLY TO OUR TEACHERS, FULLY NEEDED THAT.

OUR TEACHERS ARE ON AVERAGE $6,000 LESS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR TEACHER PAY. BUT NOT A LOT OF THAT ACTUALLY WENT DIRECTLY INTO THE CLASSROOM. ON TOP OF THAT, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAD DISCIPLINE, PARENT RIGHTS AND ALSO ACCOUNTABILITY CAME LATER IN THE SECOND

[01:45:02]

THIS IS A REPORT FROM TEA TO THE STATE EARLIER IN 2025 THAT ESPECIALLY HITS HOME WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL POPULATIONS, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION. WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES FOR US TO IMPLEMENT AND WHAT THE STATE ACTUALLY FUNDS. THAT GAP HAS SINCE WIDENED; HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A SLIGHT CHANGE IN POLICY. THAT CHANGE ONLY WAS INCREASED TO THE TUNE OF $250 MILLION. SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A $2 BILLION FUNDING GAP, THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT MORE REGIONAL SPEND, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR OUR ISDS. THIS IS HOW MUCH FUNDING THEY RECEIVE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. HERE IS HOW MUCH ON AVERAGE THEY ARE SPENDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. WHEN WE GO INTO OPERATIONS, NOT ONLY OPERATIONS WITHIN OUR CLASSROOM, BUT ALSO FACILITIES, YOU ALL HAVE -- I'M SURE SEEN, WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF BONDS AND WHAT'S CALLED VATR, VOTER APPROVED TAX -- FACILITIES. ONE OF THOSE REASONS IS THIS KIND OF STARK FACT IN 1999 WE HAD 91% OF TEXAS STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOLS WHERE -- IN AUDIO] -- THAT NUMBER IN 2022 IS DOWN TO 16%. ALLOTMENT IS STILL AT THE $35 LEVEL PER STUDENT. THAT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 1997.

NOW, LAST SESSION, WE DID HAVE AN UPDATE TO SCHOOL FUNDING THAT CREATED A NEW ALLOTMENT CALLED THE ALLOTMENT FOR BASIC COST.

IT'S AIM WAS TO ALLOW FOR THIS FUNDING TO PAY FOR INSURANCE, TRANSPORTATION, RETIREMENT FEES, UTILITIES, ET CETERA.

IT WAS STATED THAT IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO COVER ALL OF THE OPERATIONAL DIFFERENCE -- OR OPERATIONAL NEEDS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS; HOWEVER, IF WE LOOK AT THIS LEVEL, RIGHT, ALLOTMENT FOR BASIC COSTS, HERE'S HOW MUCH OUR DISTRICTS ARE RECEIVING.

HERE'S HOW MUCH OUR DISTRICTS ARE SPENDING WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATION ALEX PENCES. AND I'M SORRY, I WILL SEND YOU THE PDF SO THE FORMATTING'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER, LEAVING OUR DISTRICTS WITH PRETTY SIZABLE GAPS COMPARED TO WHAT THEY RECEIVE, AGAIN, FROM THE STATE LEVEL.

THAT -- IF WE LOOK AT ALSO FOR OUR SCHOOL SAFETY, A LOT OF THAT GOING INTO HARDENING EXPENSES, HERE'S HOW MUCH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE FROM THE STATE AND HERE IS HOW MUCH THEY ARE SPENDING ON AVERAGE PER YEAR. NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED QUESTIONS, INQUIRIES ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSING. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THAT REALLY IMPACT HOW OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE HANDLING, WHAT WE OFTEN HERE IS CALLED RIGHT-SIZING. I'VE INCLUDED A COUPLE OF LINKS FOR YOU ALL, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SAID, IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING LESS BABIES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF LESS BABIES BEING BORN. THAT IS PART OF IT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT ALBERT CALASARES FROM UT SAN ANTONIO, THEY PUT A LOT OF THESE SLIDES TOGETHER AND THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

AS A WAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR POPULATION.

I'M NOT GOING INTO THESE SLIDES BUT LARGELY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE TEXAS POPULATION PYRAMID IS WE'RE STILL A FAIRLY YOUNG STATE WITH ABOUT THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER 25.

FOR OUR AREA, BEXAR COUNTY REMAINS A PRETTY -- GROWING AND INCREASING COUNTY, AS WELL AS SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO BE A GROWING CITY. WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND THAT'S IMPACTING OUR DISTRICTS IS NOT NECESSARILY A DECREASE IN POPULATION, BUT A DISPLACEMENT OF THE POPULATION IN THE CITY CENTERS.

THERE'S A GREAT MAP FROM THE TEXAS DEMOGRAPHY CENTER REALLY SHOWING THE MOVEMENT OF ENROLLMENT FROM, AGAIN, OUR CITY CENTER TO OUTWARD AREAS.

LARGELY WHAT THEY WERE FINDING IS THAT HAS A LOT DO WITH THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND MEDIAN HOME VALUE, AS WELL AS THE COST BURDEN OF BOTH RENT AND OWNING A HOME. YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, THAT DOES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR URBAN CENTER SCHOOLS AND, OF COURSE, OUR OUTER EXTRAURBAN OR SUBURBAN SCHOOLS. NOW, I WON'T GO INTO THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE ARE WATCHING THESE RACES FAIRLY QUICKLY, AS THEY ARE BRINGING UP PUBLIC EDUCATION QUITE OFTEN.

WE CONTINUE TO GET A LOT OF PRESS RELEASES ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR NEXT SESSION. SO WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO TRY TO TRACK WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CONVERSATIONS. WHICH GET A LOT OF

[01:50:04]

THE OTHER THING THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO IS THESE -- AUDIO] -- NUMBER OF TURNOVERS, 25, A BUN FN OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAS PRETTY SUBSTANTIVE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO TO THE CAPITOL JUST TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE REALITY AND THE CURRENT STATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHERE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND FUNDING HEALTH.

OKAY. SO -- OH, AND DIGS TO STAN KITZMAN, HE WAS THE CHAIR OF THE ARTICLE 3 COMMITTEE. OUR PLAN FOR THE 90TH HAS REALLY BEEN NOT ONLY WHAT CAN OUR ISDS REALLY ELEVATE AND TALK ABOUT IS GOING ON IN OUR CLASSROOMS, WHAT IS IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS, BUT WE'VE ALSO SAID REALLY WITH THE TIME THAT WE HAVE LEFT, AND IN ADVANCE OF THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, 35 DAYS TO TELL LEK SHUN, BUT 42 DAYS FOR PREFILE, WHICH SALLY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE NEED A BROADER COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT. IT CANNOT JUST BE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND INCLUDING OUR CHARTER SCHOOL PARTNERS IN THAT, AS WELL AS OUR ISDS. AND WE NEED REALLY THE ABILITY FOR THAT TO GO BEYOND THE EDUCATION ECHO CHAMBER. THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO KNOW PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHAT'S GOING ON, MAINLY BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS, NOT A LOT IS KNOWN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN SCHOOL FINANCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM DOORS.

AND A LOT OF OUR FOLKS HAVE WONDERFUL DEEP SERVANT HEARTS, MANY OF YOU ALL DO IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT LLOUD ERABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IF WE DON'T ALL COME TOGETHER AS A REGION. WITH THAT IN MIND, SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE SAN ANTONIO AREA HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE REALLY A CAMPAIGN FOR THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION CALLED BEXAR BUILDS. WE'VE DONE A TON OF INPUT AND GATHERING AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE CONVENED BY OUR SAN ANTONIO AREA SCHOOLS. WE RECENTLY, THIS LAST WEEK, HAD OUR FIRST EVENT SUMMIT. THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ AND COUNCILMAN MUNGIA FOR ATTENDING. MANY OF YOU ALL SENT STAFF AS WELL, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT THERE.

WE HAD ABOUT 300 PEOPLE ATTEND NOT ONLY JUST TO LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON IN CURRENT STATE, BUT ALSO WE HAD ACTION TABLES, ADVOCACY ORIENTATIONS AND NEXT STEPS. ONE OF THOSE -- BLESS YOU -- ONE OF THOSE BEING TO ATTEND A CAPITOL DAY IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE WOULD LOVE FOR ANY AND ALL OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE. THIS IS ALL ABOUT CURRENT STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHAT IS GOING ON WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL OPERATIONS, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SCHOOL SAFETY, MENTAL HEALTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WHICH I KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MANY OF YOU ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. SO TO GET RIGHT INTO WHAT THAT MEANS, THESE ARE THE POLICIES AS A PART OF BEXAR BUILD AND OF BCEC THAT WE'RE ADOPTING THIS YEAR. IF YOU ALL REMEMBER ANY OF THE PASTIMES THAT I'VE PRESENTED OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, THIS IS DRAMATICALLY SHORTER.

TYPICALLY WE ADOPT ABOUT 13 POINTS, OUR FIRST ONE WAS 26 POINTS.

PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG AND NERDY FOR FOLKS, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO REALLY BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, ASK QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS OF YOU ALL, THAT YOU ALL MIGHT BE ABLE TO REPEAT AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OUR ISDS, HERE'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HERE'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OUR NONPROFITS THAT THESE ARE REALLY THE FOUR LARGEST AREAS WHERE WE REALLY NEED THE MOST ATTENTION. AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M HAPPY

TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

CONCISELY, BUT THOROUGHLY, YOU HIT ON, I THINK, EVERY SINGLE SLIDE. WONDERFUL. GOOD JOB.

THINK YOU HIT ON HERE AND WAS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMITTEE AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE OVERLAP OF ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT ARE -- THAT WE'RE SEEING IMPACT DECISIONS REGARDING EDUCATION AT THE LOCAL LEVELS, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOL CLOSURES, LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING OF SCHOOLS AND ALL THE ATTENDANCE, ENROLLMENT, ALL OF THAT. AND SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE WHERE YOU ALL ARE. IS THIS TO -- AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS

IS -- THESE FOUR ITEMS ARE YOUR AGENDA? >> THAT'S OUR AGENDA.

THESE ARE THE FOUR THAT WE'RE STICKING WITH. NOW, -- OR THAT WE'RE

[01:55:03]

BUT, YES, THESE ARE THE FOUR OVERARCHING LEGISLATIVE POINTS THAT

WE REALLY WANT -- FOR OUR FOLKS TO FOCUS ON. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AND LIKE I MENTIONED WITH THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION WITH SAMCO, THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP AND I THINK PRIORITIES THAT YOU'VE

IDENTIFIED AND OUR OWN PRIORITIES. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND SO THOUGH WE AS A BODY WILL LIKELY NOT DEVELOP A ROBUST PUBLIC EDUCATION PLATFORM OR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY -- LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, I THINK IT IS WITHIN OUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT AND THIS INITIATIVE, AND SO THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD IS AT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM THE BODY? COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE

GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE ALWAYS AMAZING, SO I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU COULD DO THIS FOR US QUICKLY AND -- JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. ONE, I'M SO GLAD THAT PROBABLY YOU AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE ROOM ORGANIZED THE BEXAR DELEGATION SO THE LEFT HAND KNOWS WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING. I THINK WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY SO WE CAN BE COORDINATED IN OUR ASK -- I WAS GOING TO SAY ATTACK, BUT ASK IS BETTER.

COORDINATED IN OUR ASK, AND FIGHTING FOR THE SAME THINGS INSTEAD OF FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER, SO JUST NEEDED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M CURIOUS ON THESE FOUR POLICY PROPOSALS, DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH IT OF HOW MUCH MILLIONS IT WOULD COST? THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, NUMBER 3, SCHOOL SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH, I KNOW THAT THE -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE STATE HAS MANDATED POLICE OFFICERS BE AT EVERY CAMPUS, RIGHT? BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY FUNDING US FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE AT THAT CAMPUS. SO I'M CURIOUS HOW MUCH THAT TAKES FROM OUR GENERAL FUND TO MEET THAT STATE REQUIREMENT.

>> SURE. AND, YEAH -- KIND OF MORE EFFICIENTLY HAVE OUR POLICE FORCES TALK TO EACH OTHER.

I THINK THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT. FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, LARGELY WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SPENDING ON AN AVERAGE AROUND $100 PER STUDENT. AND THAT DOES INCLUDE SALARIES OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO FENCING, FILM, ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO VESTIBULES, PANIC BUTTONS.

THERE'S A WEALTH OF MINIMUM SAFETY AND SECURITY STANDARDS THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- FUNDING WAS DEDICATED TO SCHOOL SAFETY OR NOT. ON THE SAME TOKEN, ON AVERAGE, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE GETTING MORE LIKE $20 A STUDENT FROM THE STATE. PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE SINCE THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T COVER THAT NEED.

AND THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE AN ARMED GUARD AT EVERY CAMPUS WAS NOT

FUNDED. >> GAVITO: OKAY. >> IT DID INCREASE THE SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT, BUT IT DIDN'T FUND ALL THE WAY TO COVER THAT

PERSONNEL. >> GAVITO: AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, CHAIR, MAYBE WE CAN TALK TO THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT'S STILL COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, BECAUSE I DO THINK -- YOU KNOW, THIS ONE WAS ALWAYS A TRICKY THING, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO HANDLE

SCHOOL DISTRICT STUFF, RIGHT. >> RIGHT.

>> GAVITO: AND THEY WOULD TRY TO PUSH CITY COUNCIL TO GET INVOLVED AND IT BECAME A LITTLE -- IT BECAME JUST A LITTLE GRAY, BUT I DO THINK THAT NOW THERE'S A GOOD TIE IN, IF OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE AT THE SCHOOLS, THAT WE TALK TO SAPD -- WELL, THROUGH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, ON HOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE INTERACTING WITH ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSE TEAM OR ANYTHING THAT THE STATE MANDATES. I DON'T THINK I'M BEING CLEAR. WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS OBVIOUSLY THESE KIDDOS AND THEIR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY, YOU KNOW, AND SO I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN ASK AND TRULY UNDERSTAND AND MAYBE THIS IS IN EXEC SESSION OR WHATEVER, I HAVEN'T FULLY BAKED IT OUT YET, BUT

[02:00:01]

>> YEP. >> GAVITO: AND I DO THINK THERE'S MORE OF A TIE IN NOW BECAUSE OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE THERE, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S COORDINATED SO THAT WAY WEA CAN PROVIDE THE BEST RESPONSE POSSIBLE. SO, YEAH, MAYBE THEN -- I'LL TAKE THAT AS AN ACTION ITEM TO GO TALK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR ABOUT THAT.

REALLY QUICK, THE OTHER ONLY QUESTION I HAD, AND DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP A CAN OF WORMS OR DEBATE HERE, BUT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, I SEE THAT Y'ALL ARE ASKING FOR STATE POLICY SHOULD ENCOURAGE EFFECTIVE AND LOCALLY DRIVEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD ACCESS. SO HOW WOULD THIS INTERACT WITH PRE-K FOUR SA BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE THAT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, TOO.

>> IM YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT OVERLALAPS DIRECTLY WITH THE AMAZING WORK THAT PRE-K FOUR SA IS DOING.

THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AN INSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN REALLY ACTIVE AND PROACTIVE ABOUT ENSURING HIGH-QUALITY PREK, NOT ONLY FOR THE CHILDREN THAT THEY SERVE, BUT FOR PROVIDERS ACROSS THE REGION.

THEY ALSO PARTNER WITH OUR ISDS, AND WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE ABOUT THE GROWTH OF PRE-K FOUR SA AND THE WORK THAT DR. BRAY AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING IS THEY KNOW AND HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED, ESPECIALLY IN THE 0 TO 3 SPACE, AS STATE FUNDING HAS INCREASED IN THE 3 TO 4 SPACE. AND SO THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW -- HOW CAN WE INCENTIVIZE NOT ONLY AT A LOCAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT A STATE LEVEL TO EXPAND THAT FURTHER. I KNOW THAT FOR THE PRE-K FOUR SA BUDGET, THAT IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE FOUNDATION THAT WE WILL SET OUR CITY UP FOR GENERATIONS, THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO AFFECT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, BUT ALSO OUR FAMILIES AND THOSE LEARNERS AS THEY -- YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IN NOVEMBER. WHAT WE CAN DO AS A PART OF THIS IS HOW DO WE HAVE THAT CONTINUUM AS THEY -- INSTITUTIONS OR PRIVATE PROVIDERS IS MORE INTENSELY REGULATED AT THE STATE. SO CURRENTLY OUR ISDS HAVE TO GO THROUGH DIFFERENT INTERMEDIARIES, BY THE WAY INTERMEDIARIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN NAMED OR ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE YET. HOPEFULLY WE GET THAT INFORMATION SOON. THEY HAVE TO SEND 85% OF ANY FUNDING THAT THEY RECEIVE TO THE PRIVATE PREK PROVIDER, AND, AGAIN, THAT MIGHT WARRANT SOME OF THE TIMES, BUT SOMETIMES WE'RE DIVIDING IN THAT CARE.

AND SO I THINK WE WOULD WANT TO BUILD ON THE GREAT WORK THAT PRE-K FOUR SA IS DOING, BUT PART OF THAT IS PROHIBITIVE FOR OUR -- I SHOULD SAY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUR ISDS TO DO MORE --

AUDIO] -- >> GAVITO: BUT JUST SO THAT I'M CLEAR, BECAUSE IF WE'RE ASKING FOR THE STATE TO FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND LET'S JUST SAY THE PRE-K FOUR SA NOVEMBER CAMPAIGN PASSES, THEN ARE WE DOUBLY INVESTING, OR THEN DO WE SAY, HEY, WE NEED THAT PRE-K FOUR SA MONEY

TO GO TO TRANSPORTATION OR OTHER THINGS? >> NO, THIS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT -- SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR ASK, WE'RE NOT -- THE STATE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT FOR OUR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS.

SO FOLKS WHO ARE IN AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE WITHIN AN ISD.

BUT FOR OUR YOUNGER LEARNERS AND FOR THAT OVERLAP, WE DO NOT HAVE SUBSTANTIVE STATE FUNDING. THAT'S WHERE PRE-K FOUR SA REALLY COMES IN AND STANDS IN THE GAP AND PROVIDES SUBSTANTIVE AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. WHAT WE'RE ASKING HERE AT THE STATE IS IN ORDER FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ASSIST IN EXPANDING AND CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG LEARNERS, WE'VE GOT SOME REGULATIONS ON THE STATE THAT WE'RE HOPING WE CAN DEMONSTRATE BY THE EXCELLENCE OF PRE-K FOUR SA THAT ACTUALLY IF YOU OPEN UP THE ABILITY FOR AN ENTITY, LIKE PRE-K FOUR SA OR A PUBLIC SCHOOL TO PROVIDE MORE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE OR FACILITY OR HIGH-QUALITY CURRICULUM AND TEACHERS, WE ACTUALLY CAN CLOSE SOME OF THE DESERTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE AREA ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS FOR TWO DIFFERENT AREAS. I THINK PRE-K FOUR SA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB FOR UNDERSTANDING AS THE STATE HAS GROWN IN THE

PREK SPACE HOW THEY EXIST AND SUPPORT AROUND THAT. >> COYLE: MAY I JUST ADD ONE COMMENT. I WANT TO -- IT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE THAT THE

[02:05:02]

>> YES. YEAH. >> COYLE: AND SO NOW WHEN YOU HEARD WHEN DR. BERET WAS IN FRONT OF YOU A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THERE IS A LOT OF SHIFT AND FOCUS TOWARDS THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND YOUNGER, AND SO I THINK, AT LEAST FROM THE CITY'S POSITION STATEMENT AND OUR PROGRAM, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE STATE TO FOLLOW OUR LEAD AND EXPAND THEIR FUNDING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SO WE COVER MORE KIDS.

THE GAP OF UNENROLLED THREE-YEAR-OLDS IS STILL VERY SIGNIFICANT; WHEREAS FOUR-YEAR-OLDS, WE'VE LARGELY COVERED THAT POPULATION.

>> GAVITO: YEAH, AND I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IS ACTUALLY -- YOU KNOW, AND PART OF THE REASON I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAD COFFEE WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN THIS PAST SATURDAY AT TEXAS STAR AND IT WAS PACKED. AND THIS QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT, LIKE, OKAY, WHAT IS THE PRE-K FOUR SA, YOU KNOW, WHY IS IT GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT.

THEY WERE NOTING THAT PRE-K FOUR SA TAKES AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR STATE FUNDING.

SO MAYBE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF Y'ALL JUST CAME OUT TO ONE OF OUR COFFEES WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN SO THAT WHEN RESIDENTS DO GO TO THE BALLOT FOR THIS IN NOVEMBER, THEY'RE FULLY INFORMED ON HOW THESE

PIECES COULD WORK TOGETHER. >> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I SHOULD SAY THAT THERE'S -- THERE IS AN -- I ABSOLUTELY -- WHAT JEFF SAID, INITIALLY THERE WASN'T THAT FULL EXPANSION.

AND I SHOULD ADD, THE STATE IS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR ALSO A SET OF QUALIFIED KIDS. SO IF YOU FALL INTO PARTICULAR BUCKETS, YOU QUALIFY FOR THAT FREE PREK AT THE ISD OR AT A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL.

THERE ARE OVERLAPS OR THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT DON'T REACH THOSE PARTICULAR BUCKETS THAT STILL ARE IN GREAT NEED OF SERVICE.

THAT IS ALSO WHERE PRE-K FOUR SA CAN HELP, AND ALSO WHERE WE'RE HOPING THAT THE STATE CAN HELP AS WELL. LITTLE KNOWN FACT IS THAT IF AN ISD DOES WANT TO OFFER TUITION-BASED PREK, THE STATE ACTUALLY REGULATES THAT TO BE NO MORE THAN $7,000 PER YEAR.

AND IF YOU ALL HAVE A CHILD IN PRIVATE PREK, YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS WAY BELOW AVERAGE FOR WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE REGION.

SO IF WE CAN OPEN UP ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NOT JUST FOR THE FOLKS WHO QUALIFY IN THOSE BUCKETS THAT THE STATE HAS SET, BUT TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES ACROSS THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, WE'VE SEEN THAT IN OTHER AREAS HAVE INCREDIBLE IMPACT, NOT JUST ON OUTCOMES FOR KIDS, BUT ALSO ON WORKFORCE, ALSO ON PEOPLE WANTING TO MOVE IN AND GO INTO PARTICULAR AREAS OF CITIES BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE

AND PREK. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU FOR --

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

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE -- MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.