[ PROCEDURAL  ] [00:01:18] OCTOBER 15TH, 2026, THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. . MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANKS, MADAM CLERK. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, GOOD MORNING, WHENEVER I CHOOSE AN INVOCATOR, I ALWAYS AM THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE SHOW FOLKS WHO AREN'T REPRESENTED BY THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THAT THEY ARE ALSO REPRESENTED ON THIS DAIS AND THEY BELONG AND ARE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THERE IS NO BETTER PERSON I THINK I COULD BRING TODAY DEDICATE HER WHOLE LIFE THAN REV REV. REV REV WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY COMMUNITY FAITH BASED LIAISON WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF WHAT SHE DOES IS WE'VE TOGETHER COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL FAITH TRADITIONS AND RELIGIONS. ONE OF THE RESOURCES WE USE TODAY IS SACRED, AND SHE WAS THE KEY LEADER IN PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, AS WELL AS COMPASSIONATE USA A FREE ONLINE BASED CURRICULUM THAT FOLKS CAN GET ACCESS TO. HAVING A MORE COMPASSIONATE CITY, A MORE COMPASSIONATE COUNTRY THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. SHE CONTINUES TO WORK TOWARD CONSULTING FOR SERVICES AROUND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR RESEARCH IN TERMS OF CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY IN TIMES OF DISCONNECT, AND ALSO TRYING TO CONTINUE TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR SACRED.ORG . PLEASE WELCOME, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING REV REV. REVERE. >> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. IN 2017 THE CITY COUNCIL BY RESOLUTION SAID THAT SAN ANTONIO WAS A COMPASSIONATE CITY. AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE ABOUT 100 OTHER CITIES GLOBALLY. THERE ARE NOW OVER 500 CITIES PARTNERING TOGETHER IN TERMS OF COMPASSION. GIVEN OUR CONTEXT OF OUR CURRENT TIMES, AND OUR COMMUNITY CONCERNS, I THOUGHT IT MOST APPROPRIATE TO HELP US REFOCUS AGAIN ON THAT INTERNATIONAL CHARTER, SO I'M READING THAT THIS MORNING. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPASSION LIES AT THE HEART OF ALL WORLD RELIGIONS, ALL ETHICAL, AND SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS, CALLING US ALWAYS TO TREAT ALL OTHERS AS WE WISH TO BE TREATED OURSELVES. AND LIKEWISE, TO NOT TREAT OTHERS IN WAYS THAT WE DO NOT WISH TO BE TREATED OURSELVES. COMPASSION IMPELLS US TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF OUR FELLOW CREATURES, TO DETHRONE OURSELVES FROM THE CENTER OF OUR WORLD AND PUT ANOTHER THERE. AND TO HONOR THE INVIABLE SANCTITY OF EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING TREATING EVERYBODY WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WITH ABSOLUTE JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND RESPECT. IT IS ALSO NECESSARY IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE TO REFRAIN CONSISTENTLY AND EMPATHICALLY FROM INFLICTING [00:05:06] PAIN TO ACT OR SPEAK VIOLENTLY OUT OF SPITE, SHOVENISM OR SELF-INTEREST, IMPOVERISH, EXPLOIT, 0 EDENY BASIS HUMAN RIGHTS TO ANYBODY, AND TO INCITE HATRED BY DENIGRATING ANYBODY, EVEN OUR ENEMIES IS A DENIAL OF COMMON HUMANITY. WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOME HAVE LIVE FAILED TO LIVE INCOMPASSIONATELY. WE THEREFORE CALL UPON ALL MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO RESTORE COMPASSION TO THE CENTER OF MORALITY AND RELIGION, TO RETURN TO THE THE ANCIENT PRINCIPAL THAT ANY INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE THAT BREEDS VIOLENCE, HATRED OR DISDAIN IS ILLEGITIMATE, TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH ARE GIVEN ACCURATE RESPECTFUL INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER TRADITIONS, RELIGIONS AND CULTURES, TO ENCOURAGE A POSITIVE APPRECIATION OF CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY, AND TO CULTIVATE AN INFORMED EMPATHY WITH THE SUFFERING OF ALL HUMANS, EVEN THOSE REGARDED AS ENEMIES. WE URGENTLY NEED TO MAKE COMPASSION A CLEAR, LUMINESCE FORCE IN OUR POLARIZED WORLD, TRANSCEND SELFISHNESS, COMPASSION CAN BREAK DOWN POLITICAL, DOGMATIC, IDEOLOGICAL, AND RELIGIOUS BOUNDARIES. BORN OF OUR DEEP ENTER DEPENDENCE, COMPASSION IS ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND TO A FULFILLED HUMANITY. IT IS THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT, AND INDISPENSABLE TO THE CREATION OF A JUST ECONOMY, AND A PEACEFUL GLOBAL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. . >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> ITEM 3 IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, AND OCTOBER 1, 2026. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR EDITS TO THE MINUTES? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. . OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES. TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AND I [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH -- 251ST BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AN HONOR GENERATIONS OF SAILORS THAT HAVE DEFENDED OUR NATION SINCE 1775. TEXAS HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE NAVY'S MOST DISTINGUISHED LEADERS INCLUDING CHESTER HIM NITS AND SAN ANTONIO'S OWN ADMIRAL AND DAVID ROBINSON SON, THE NAVY REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY, SAILORS SERVE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO AND MISSIONS SUPPORTING MILITARY MEDICINE, RESEARCH, INTELLIGENCE, TRAINING, RECRUITING AND READINESS, WE ARE ALSO PROUD OF THE MANY NAVY VETERANS WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE -- WHO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE OUR VERY OWN CITY ATTORNEY. SAN ANTONIO HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN NAVY HISTORY AS THE NAMESAKE OF THE USS SAN ANTONIO COMMISSIONED IN 2006, AND REPRESENTING THE ENDURING CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR CITY, OUR NAVY, AND OUR NATION. TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME REAR ADMIRAL WALTER BRADFORD, COMMANDER, NAVAL FORCES, CHIEF OF THE NAVY DENTAL CORPS, AS A PROUD SISTER OF AN OPERATION SPECIALIST, SOMEBODY WHO JUST WRAPPED UP THEIR ASSIGNMENT AS A DRILL INSTRUCTOR, GREAT LAKES AND NIECE OF A STEWARD THAT CAME HERE FROM THE PHILIPPINES, VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR NAVY FAMILY HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND EXCITED TO CELEBRATE YOUR 251ST BIRTHDAY, ADMIRAL, PLEASE. >> SO MADAM MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING, IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR ALL OF US TO BE HERE TODAY CELEBRATING THE NAVY'S 251ST BIRTHDAY, 251 YEARS OF POWER, PRESENCE, AND PROTECTION. FOR ALL OF US IN THE NAVY, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE PART [00:10:02] OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, WE ARE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ESPECIALLY MILITARY CITY USA. THERE IS TRULY NO OTHER CITY THAT CELEBRATES AND SUPPORTS ITS MILITARY MEMBERS LIKE SAN ANTONIO. THE US NAVY HAS A RICH TRADITION IN TEXAS DATING BACK AS FAR AS THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO IN 1836, THE US NAVY HAS BEEN PRESENT HERE EVER SINCE, AND TODAY THE NAVAL FORCES TO INCLUDE OUR MARINE CORPS BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MAKE UP 15% OF THE ACTIVE DUTY FORCES ASSIGNED TO THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA. THIS WEEK LIKE EVERY WEEK FOR THE PAST 251 YEARS, THE US NAVY IS ON THE WAY, AROUND THE WORLD, IN THE SEA, UNDER THE SEA, IN THE SPACE AND IN THE AREA. THE US NAVY IS AS CRITICAL TO OUR NATION AS WE WERE ON OCTOBER 13TH, 1775. AND WE ARE ALL PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THE GREATEST SAILORS IN THE WORLD IN THE GREATEST NAVY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. I WOULD ASK THAT ALL OF US HERE TODAY KEEP OUR DEPLOYED SAILORS, MARINES, SOLDIERS, AND AIRMEN IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US CELEBRATE THE NAVY'S 251ST BIRTHDAY WITH YOU, WE ARE THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES NAVY, OUR SAILORS AND MARINES, EVERYONE HERE TODAY, IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY OF THE WORLD, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HAPPY, AND GO NAVY! MADAM MAYOR, PLEASE JOIN US IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CENTER OF THE CHAMBER, AS WE BEGIN THE UNITED STATES NAVY BIRTHDAY CAKE CUTTING CEREMONY, AT THIS TIME WE INVITE ALL CURRENT AND FORMER SAILORS TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JOIN US BEHIND MAYOR JONES AND ADMIRAL BRADFORD FOR THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION. THE CEREMONIAL CUTTING OF THE CAKE IS A TIME HONORED TRADITION OBSERVED ACROSS THE SERVICES, SWORDS USED TO MAKE THE FIRST CUT SYMBOLIZING OUR SAILORS, WARRIORS, DEDICATED TO DEFENDING OUR NATION. HERE IN MILITARY CITY USA, WE ARE PROUD OF OUR DEEP CONNECTION TO OUR NAVAL COMMUNITY, ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS, RESERVISTS, AND THE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORT THEM. YOUR SERVICE STRENGTHENS OUR CITY, OUR STATE, AND OUR NATION. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES NAVY, HONORED TO SERVE, READY TO LEAD, ANCHORS AWAY. [00:15:18] IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ON THE NAVY'S BIRTHDAY. COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BIRTHDAY, I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, TOO, I SEE ALL THE CITY PARTICIPANTS, THEY CAME UP, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING YOUR SERVICE, ANDY IN PARTICULAR,. UP THERE, FOR CONTINUING YOUR SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING TODAY, IT'S ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE THAT IT DIDN'T START -- DIDN'T STOP WITH THE NAVY, IT JUST -- IT MADE YOU A BETTER CITY EMPLOYEE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, HE APPRECIATES AND LOVES THE TIME HE HAD IN THE NAVY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: WELL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU ON SATURDAY, I KNOW IT'S A STACKED DAY, UTSA IS PLAYING NAVY AS WELL. I GUESS NAVY AND UTSA TIE? THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPEARANCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WE FULLY SUPPORT YOU, AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR SACRIFICE, SO THANK YOU, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THE UNITED STATES OWES YOU A DEEP DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE NAVY DO FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE'RE HONORED THAT YOU'RE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS A CITY GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT YOU, ALL HAVE YOU TO DO IS ASK. THANKS SO MUCH. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. TODAY I HAVE THE HON NORPLANT OF RECOGNIZING A YOUNG MAN FROM DISTRICT 10, NAMED ELIAN SOLIS. ON APRIL 21ST OF THIS YEAR, TWO HOMES ON PRESTON HOLLOW DRIVE IN DISTRICT 10 EXPLODED. IT'S A NIGHT THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET. ELIAN AND HIS FAMILY LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOUSES THAT BURST INTO FLAMES THAT NIGHT, AND AFTER THE SECOND EXPLOSION, THAT'S WHEN THE EVACUATION ORDER CAME. ELIAN JUMPED INTO ACTION THAT NIGHT, AND DID NOT HESITATE TO HELP AND GET HIS NEIGHBORS TO SAFETY. HE RAN DOOR TO DOOR, GUIDING ELDERLY NEIGHBORS OUT OF THEIR HOMES. HE HELPED EVACUATE RESIDENTS OF A NEARBY GROUP HOME WHO NEEDED EXTRA ASSISTANCE, HE LOADED PETS IN THE CARS AND WHEN FAMILIES COULDN'T CARRY THEM TO SAFETY, ELIAN DID. HIS LEADERSHIP EXTENDS BEYOND THAT NIGHT. LAST YEAR THE SAN ANTONIO RUG BY FOOTBALL CLUB SPONSORED HIM TO ATTEND THE US COLLEGIATE RUG BY DEVELOPMENT CAMP WHERE HIS PERFORMANCE WAS UNMATCHED. WHEN HE RETURNED HOME, HE WROTE A THANK YOU LETTER TO THE CLUB, AND THAT LETTER INSPIRED THE CLUB TO START AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH IS GOING TO PROVIDE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. ELIAN IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD WITHOUT BEING ASKED TO DO SO. ELIAN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO YOUR COMMUNITY, AND FOR LOOKING OUT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN SAN ANTONIO. AND SO ON BEHALF OF DISTRICT 10, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE, AND WE WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TODAY THAT SAYS IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF YOUR EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE DURING THE INCIDENT ON APRIL 21, 2026 IN PRESTON HOLLOW, YOUR REMARKABLE ACT OF BRAVERY MADE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU HAD HELPED AND SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLING OF OTHERS, WE PROUDLY PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION AS A SYMBOL OF OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE, RESPECT, AND ADMIRATION. SO ELIAN, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY -- IT IS A LITTLE INTIMIDATING TO BE UP HERE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO HELP OUT MY COMMUNITY WHEN I CAN. I LOVE BEING A PART OF IT. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. [00:20:34] RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES OCTOBER AS YOU ARE BAN OCTOBER, A TIME TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE FUTURE OF OUR CITIES AND ENCOURAGE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BUILDING A MORE SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY. HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AS ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THINK BEYOND TODAY AND CONSIDER HOW THE DECISIONS WE MAKE NOW WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, MY TEAM AND I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY DEPARTMENT, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS A&M, UNIVERSITIES, ENERGY INSTITUTE, AND KEY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD AND EXPLORE HOW SAN ANTONIO CAN GROW IN A THOUGHTFUL, HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE WAY. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, Y'ALL HAVE MET HIM BEFORE, DR. DIRE, AND I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL KNOW THIS PERSON, MY COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, MORINO SOTO IS ANYONE FROM RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY HERE? I KNOW THERE WERE AT A CONFERENCE. IF YOU GUYS CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM, I WANT TO SHOW THE EXAMPLE. SO THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS ARE ENTITIES RIGHT HERE. THE ACADEMIC EDUCATION, OUR OWN DEPARTMENT HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND OUR DISTRICT 3 OFFICE HAVE BEEN MOVING WHAT UNESCO HAS TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF URBAN OCTOBER FORWARD. THIS SUMMER, WE HAD A CITYWIDE DATA CENTER SURVEY WITH MORE THAN 1200 RESPONSES. WE GAVE THAT -- WE HAD THE HELP OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY, RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY TO PASS THAT OUT, DR. DIRE IS INTERPRETING THAT, AND WORKING ON THE DASHBOARD AND ADDIE IS MAKING SURE WE COORDINATE ALL THAT TOGETHER. SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO GROW, AND WITH THAT GROWTH COMES A RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN THOUGHTFULFULLY, INVEST, AND COMPARE COMMITMENTS FOR THE CHALLENGES AHEAD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HERE NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 3, BUT CITYWIDE, THAT STRONG COMMUNITIES BEGIN WITH ESSENTIALS. SAFE STREETS, RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED. THIS IS AS WE RECOGNIZE URBAN OCTOBER, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY ENGAGED, SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I WANT TO THANK THE THREE OF YOU AND WHAT YOU REPRESENT AND HOW YOU CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR IS RECOGNIZED. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP CHEF SNYDER AND HIS SON, TRISTAN, CHEF SNYDER JUST WON THE PRO CHEF DIVISION IN CORPUS CHRISTI, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, AS THE ONLY TEAM FROM SAN ANTONIO BEATING 8 OTHER TEAMS, CHEF IS THE EXECUTIVE CHEF AT MORTON'S AT THE STEAKHOUSE DOWNTOWN AND HIS SOUS-CHEF IS HIS SON TRISTAN, HE'S PROUD OF DEVELOPING COOKS, TAKING CARE OF OUR GUESTS AND REPRESENTING OUR CITY, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE ADVOCATES FOR OUR RIVERWALK, HE'S A TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND TEXAS CHEF'S ASSOCIATION, CONGRATULATION, CHEF, WE'RE HONORED TO HAVING YOU WITH US TODAY AFTER WORKING A LATE SHIFT LAST NIGHT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, COUNCILMAN KAUR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RECOGNITION TO SPEAK WITH EVERYBODY THIS MORNING. AS COUNCILWOMAN SAID, I'M THE EXECUTIVE CHEF AT MORTON'S STEAKHOUSE HERE IN DOWNTOWN. LAST MONTH, MY SON, TRISTAN AND I, WE GOT TO COMPETE IN THE TEXAS FOOD CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH IS A QUALIFYING EVENT FOR THE WORLD FOOD CHAMPIONSHIP THAT HAPPENS EVERY OCTOBER. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFER OUR RUN FOR THAT CHAMPIONSHIP, FOR THAT WIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR THAT GIVES US A WHOLE YEAR TO PRACTICE AND DEVELOP WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, THE DISH THAT WE WON WITH IT IS A TEXAS ANTELOPE, KNEEL GUY AND WE PLAYED IT WITH A DEMI, A STREET CORN PUREE, AND A CHIMICHURRI INSPIRED BY THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY FLAVORS THAT EVERYBODY LOVES AND WE LOVE TO WORK WITH. IT'S AN HONOR TO DO [00:25:03] ALONGSIDE MY SON, IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US IN THE KITCHEN, AND WE BROUGHT EVERYTHING WE HAD TO THAT ONE PLATE OF FOOD. REPRESENTING SAN ANTONIO MADE THAT EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL. WE ARE A CULINARY CITY WITH A FOOD CULTURE ROOTED IN OUR HISTORY, OUR FAMILIES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR KITCHENS EVERY DAY. WE ALSO HAVE OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION. UTSA'S HOSPITALITY AND EVENTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA CAMPUS, AND THE PROGRAM AT ST. PHILIP'S COLLEGE, AN INSTITUTION HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 125 YEARS, TOGETHER WITH OUR DESIGNATION OF A GREATER CITY, THAT GIVES US A GREAT DEAL TO BE PROUD OF AND RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT OUR CITY WELL. WE DEFER TO 2027, AND WE ARE PROUD TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT PIECE OF SAN ANTONIO WITH US TO THAT WORLD STAGE. THROUGH MY WORK DOWNTOWN, MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE TEXAS CHEF'S ASSOCIATION, THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, I'VE MET MANY PEOPLE COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING OUR HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY AND I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THAT WORK. SO THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS, OUR SPONSORS, AND TO ALL OF YOU IN THE CITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO REPRESENTING EVERYBODY IN WHEREVER THEY HOLD THAT COMPETITION NEXT YEAR. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHEF, CONGRATULATIONS, GOOD LUCK AT WORLDS. [CITY MANAGER'S REPORT  ] >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU, THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, THANK YOU, I WANTED TO -- YOU PROBABLY SAW YESTERDAY ON THE NEWS THE TERMINAL C HAD ITS TOPPING OUT CEREMONY, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS FOR ATTENDING, IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, BECAUSE IN THAT TICKETING HALL, WE HAD ALMOST 1,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN THERE, THEY WERE SERVED LUNCH, GREAT CEREMONY. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE THE LAST STEEL BEAM ON THE STRUCTURE. THAT BUILDING WILL BE ENCLOSED BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, AND THEY WILL START WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, SO BIG MILESTONE FOR THE AIRPORT TEAM, AND JESUS, AND THANK YOU FOR -- SECONDLY, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT LAST WEEK, ALL OF YOU KNOW WE CELEBRATED SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER, OUR ANNUAL EVENT, YOU KNOW, THE VENT IS DESIGNED TO BRING NEIGHBORS TOGETHER, ACROSS THE CITY TO BUILD STRONGER CONNECTIONS AMONGST THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO PRIMARILY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER ASPECTS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE INFORMATION. I KNOW -- I KNOW MOST OF YOU WERE PROBABLY ON THE ROAD TRYING TO HIT AS MANY OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AS POSSIBLE, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HIT AS MANY PLACES AS YOU WANT, AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT. AND WANT TO THANK YOU, AND ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT TOOK IT -- TOOK -- THAT PARTICIPATED IN LAST WEEK'S EVENT. AND THEN LASTLY, OUR VIDEO SHOWCASE OF THE DAY IS ONE OF OUR BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY IN OUR FLEET OPERATION, AND YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE ANDRES TOURS WHO SERVES AS A FLEET MAINTENANCE AND EQUIPMENT ADVISOR IN OUR POLICE FLEET SERVICE CENTER. HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY SINCE 2023, HAS BEEN PROMOTED ONCE. THAT -- THIS OFFICE, OR THIS UNIT PROVIDES THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR ALL OF OUR POLICE CRUISERS, ALL THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WITH THE NUMBER OF POLICE VEHICLES WE HAVE, AND THE MILES THEY GET PUT ON, STAYING ON TOP OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THOSE VEHICLES ARE OPERATING SAFELY. THAT FLEET OPERATIONS GROUP EXEMPLIFIES OUR TEAM WORK CORE IDEA, AND I WANT TO THANK ANDRES, LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO, AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE SNEAK PEEK ABOUT WHAT HE DOES. >> MY PRIMARY GOALS ARE TO MAINTAIN OPEN COMMUNICATION LINES BETWEEN OUR VENDORS AND OUR OFFICERS AS WELL AS THE FLEET AGENTS. WE MADE SURE WE'RE GETTING REPAIRS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER SO WE CAN CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ENABLE OUR OFFICERS TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS SAFELY AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES, MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR JOB AT HAND, WHEN IT COMES TO PD SHOP VEHICLES, WE HAVE A VERY WIDE RANGE OF VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WITHIN THE LEASE. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE MY EXPERIENCE AS A TECHNICIAN TO HELP AID AND DIRECT MY TECHNICIANS TO WORK AROUND PROBLEMS THAT MAYBE THEY HADN'T EXPERIENCED BEFORE. [00:30:04] IT'S REALLY GRATIFYING TO HELP TECHNICIANS FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM, TAKE CARE OF IT, REMEDY HOWEVER WE CAN AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. . THE TWO CORE VALUES THAT I FOLLOW MOST ARE TEAM WORK AND INTEGRITY. SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, A BIG EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PUT ON EITHER HELPING MY FELLOW TECHNICIANS OR BEING COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO GET FELLOW TECHNICIANS TO HELP ME. IT BECAME THE SAME THING IN A MORE CLERICAL SENSE. THE OTHER CORE VALUE WOULD BE INTEGRITY, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE IS DOING, WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN FOCUS AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE INFORMATION AND THE ABILITY TO TURN AROUND AND DO THINGS AS WE SEE BEST FIT. AND ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THEM AS BEST AS WE CAN SO WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE TO OUR OFFICERS OR CITY WORKERS, DEPENDING ON WHO WE'RE SERVICING. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO ANNUALLY IS MAKE SURE THAT OUR HOURLY LABOR COSTS AT THE FLEET CENTER IS LOWER THAN WHAT WE COULD ACCESS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND HATS OFF TO THAT TEAM, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LABOR EXPENSES ARE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE THEY CAN BE TO MAKE US COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF THE OPERATIONS THAT WE DO ON A -- THAT THEY SUPPORT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THAT TEAM. THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF THEM. THOSE POSITIONS ARE HARD TO FILL, ONCE WE GET THEM, WE WANT TO KEEP THEM, BECAUSE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO. THANKS, MAYOR. >> [CONSENT AGENDA  ] >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANKS, ERIK. ITEMS 8-16 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP, THEY WILL NOT BE PART OF A PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED ITEM NUMBER 8, BY JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. OKAY, ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. JACK FINGER. >> MADAM MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ONE ITEM I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 16, IT'S ABOUT, OH, ESTABLISHING WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING, A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE AREA OF OUR CITY, AND BASICALLY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH HOUSING FOR SUPPOSEDLY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD LIKE THE REST OF US TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE BILLS. YEAH, WHERE IS THIS GOING TO BE? IT'S GOING TO BE OVER IN, OH, I THINK THE FIRST PARTS OF THAT YELLOW AREA, MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN, WHAT DOES IT SAY, 7623 SOUTHWEST LOOP 410. MR. GALVAN, THIS IS IN YOUR AREA, YOUR DISTRICT THERE. YEAH. AND IT SAYS -- WHAT DOES IT SAY? ALL UNITS IN THE PROJECT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WHOSE INCOMES ARE 60% OR LESS THAN THE MEDIAN -- AREA MEDIAN INCOME. IN ADDITION, THE RENTS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO 30% OF TENANT'S INCOME. 30% OF THE TENANT'S INCOME. THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR -- FOR 40 YEARS, MR. GALVAN. 40 YEARS. YOU CAN RETURN THE CAMERA IF YOU WANT. MR. GALVAN, 40 YEARS, YOU'RE ALLOWING THIS -- IT'S OBVIOUSLY, IT'S WELFARE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO UNLIKE THE REST OF US CANNOT -- OR WILL NOT WANT -- MAINTAIN A MORTGAGE FOR THEIR HOMES, AND SO THEY'RE DEPENDING ON THE REST OF US TAXPAYERS TO HELP THEM OUT WITH THIS. YOU KNOW, SOME OF US TAXPAYERS DON'T WANT TO HELP OUT PERSONS WHO ARE LEGITIMATE -- SUPPOSEDLY ON THESE WELFARE PROGRAMS, SIR. 60%. 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THAT'S ALL? AND IF THEIR INCOME IS LESS THAN 30% OF -- IF THEIR PAYMENT FOR THESE THINGS IS LESS THAN 30%, THEY GET A CHANCE TO DO IT FOR 40 YEARS? 40 YEARS, SIR. THIS IS WHY WE WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME A VERY POOR CITY [00:35:01] THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. NO ONE IS MAKING ANY INCENTIVE TO RISE ABOVE THIS STUFF. FOR REAL. PLEASE SAY NO TO SOME OF THIS STUFF ANYWAY. SOMEONE SAY NO TO IT, HUH? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ABSENT ITEM 8. PLEASE VOTE. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGENDA? COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN? GODADDY. >> VIAGRAN: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 16. I AM EXCITED FOR DISTRICT 6 THAT THEY ARE GETTING AFFORDABILITY THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I DO THINK WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT EVEN DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED, AND MOVING PEOPLE UP, SO I THINK THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW BECAUSE WE'RE THOUGHTFUL WITH CHOICES LIKE THIS, SO CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN GALVAN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OPPORTUNITY HOMES IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. ANY OTHER HIGHLIGHTS? OKAY. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEM 8. PLEASE VOTE. [5. Resolution to direct the City Manager and the City Attorney to take action, support, or coordinate in community efforts to prevent an ICE detention facility from being located in the urban core of the City of San Antonio.] OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION FOR ITEM 5. >> CITY CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 5 IS A RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE ACTION, SUPPORT, OR COORDINATE IN COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO PREVENT AN ICE DETENTION FACILITY FROM BEING LOCATED IN THE URBAN CORE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: OKAY. IS THERE A STAFF PRESENTATION? ANDY, ERIK, STAFF PRESENTATION WITH THIS? >> NO, MA'AM. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THERE'S NOT. OKAY. I WILL CALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS ALEXANDRA CARASCO. . WILLIAM SHEPHERD? WILLIAM SHEPHERD? OKAY. ANTONIO DIAZ? ANTONIO DIAZ FOLLOWED BY DIANA FLORES URIEGA AND THEN JACK FINGER. >> MAYOR, WHILE ANTONIO IS COMING UP, LET ME BACK UP, THERE IS NO PRESENTATION, BUT THIS WAS THE ITEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK AT B SESSION, AND WAS ASKED -- I'M SORRY, NOT B SESSION, AT A SESSION, AND WAS ASKED OF THE STAFF TO PLACE FOR YOU ALL'S CONSIDERATION TODAY. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: SIR, IS SHE GIVING YOU HER TIME, RATHER? IS THAT -- SIX MONTHS. >> YES, YOU GAVE ME YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. >> ARE YOU SURE? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MOVING ON THIS AS WE SEE NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT THROUGHOUT THE NATION, THE ATROCITIES THAT ARE GOING ON, AND THE BRUTALITY, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY OF STOPPING A PRISON CAMP AND TO ME IT'S A PRIVATE INTEREST EVEN IF IT'S FEDERAL, THEY'RE USING THE FEDERAL CARD TO BE ABLE TO BE UNSTOPPABLE, BUT THEN TURN IT OVER TO A NONPROFIT -- I MEAN TO A PRIVATE PRISON LIKE GEOOR CORE SECOND THAT HAVE ATROCIOUS RECORDS OF BRUTALITY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THOSE PRISONS, RAPES AND BRUTALITIES OF PEOPLE SLEEPING ON CEMENT AND OF GETTING PUTRID FOOD AND THE WATER IS NO GOOD, AND ALL THIS. THAT SHOULD NOT -- THAT'S JUST BRUTAL. THAT IS NOT EVEN -- AND WE SEE HERE IN OUR OWN JAILS, AT LEAST WE HAVE STANDARDS, BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING DOUBLE DIGIT SUICIDES OR DEATHS YEARLY, SO THESE PRISON CAMPS, THESE PRIVATE PRISON CAMPS WHERE YOU ALL WOULD NOT BE WELCOME TO GO IN AND INSPECT OR SEE HOW [00:40:06] THE CONDITIONS ARE. CONGRESS PEOPLE ARE BARELY ABLE TO DO THIS. IT WOULD -- HAS NO STANDARDS TO APPLY TO THEM AT ALL. THEY'RE PRIVATE. SO I'M GLAD, TO SAY THE LEAST, THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARD AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO (INDISCERNIBLE) AT LEAST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, SOMETHING. ANYTHING. AND WE SEE ALSO THAT THEY'RE MOVING TO BROOKS, SUPPOSEDLY, ICE HAS SOME SPACE OUT THERE, AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW BEING CAUGHT UNAWARE AGAIN AS TO LEASING OF THESE BUILDINGS OUT THERE AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE USED FOR, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE HOUSING ICE AGENTS OR WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT. I THINK AS CITY COUNCIL, IF YOU'RE MOVING ON TRYING TO PREVENT THAT WAREHOUSE FROM BEING CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE PRISON FOR ICE, SHOULD ALSO BE LOOKING INTO WHAT IS ICE LEASING THOSE BUILDINGS AT BROOKS FOR? NOT JUST SAYING, WELL, WE DID THIS. WE WANT ICE COMPLETELY OUT OF SAN ANTONIO. WE DON'T WANT THEM TERRORIZING OUR COMMUNITIES AT WILL THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR. THERE'S NONSTOP, AND WHOEVER PRAISES THEIR ACTIONS HAS NO HUMANITY WITHIN THEMSELVES, THEIR CORE, THEIR BONES AT ALL. TO SAY, WELL, THEY'RE ILLEGAL, THEY'RE CRIMINALS, THAT IS JUST SO NONHUMAN TO BE THINKING A NATIONAL INTEREST IS ABOVE A HUMAN CONCERN. YOU WOULDN'T TREAT A DOG IN THE WAY THAT THESE ICE E AGENTS ARE TREATING OUR PEOPLE OUT THERE, SIMPLY SAYING, MR. BIDEN, DURING HIS TENURE, WHAT HE WAS DOING WITH DECIDE AND RELEASE, PEOPLE HAD COURT DATES THAT ICE IS VIOLATING NOW DAYS, WHEN PEOPLE WERE GOING TO COURT TO TRY TO STABILIZE THEIR STATUS, ICE WAS THERE TO ARREST THEM. SO SAYING THAT THEY'RE ALL ILLEGAL AGAIN IS MANUFACTURED LIES. LIES UPON LIES. AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THIS. AND I'M -- FOR ONCE, I'M VERY, AT LEAST FOR THE MAJORITY THAT ARE APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION, I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE DOING SO, AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO SAY OUR COUNCIL IS TRYING SUCCESSFULLY OR UNSUCCESSFULLY TO HAVE AT LEAST TRIED, I'M PROUD OF Y'ALL FOR DOING. WHETHER WE SUCCEED OR NOT IN COURT, AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, AT LEAST TO SAY YOU TOOK A STAND. EVERYBODY LIKES TO TALK ABOUT THE ALAMO, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR SLAVERY THERE. THEY TOOK A STAND, RIGHT? THEY LOST, AND FOREVER NOW THEY'RE HEROS. YOU ALL WILL BE HEROS REGARDLESS OF HOW THE OUTCOME OF THIS LITIGATION COMES OUT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: THANK YOU. JACK FINGER, PLEASE. >> MADAM MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON THIS MORNING. MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN, THOSE HIGHLIGHTED AREAS, RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE ACTION, SUPPORT, OR COORDINATE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO PREVENT AN ICE DETENTION FACILITY FROM BEING LOCATED IN THE URBAN CORE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. RETURN THE CAMERA. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT. THE -- THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT IS A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, MR. WHYTE, MR. SPEARS, MS. SPEARS. SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, IT'S ALLOWED TO MAKETS OWN LAWS. IT'S ALLOWED TO ENFORCE ITS OWN LAWS, AND IT'S ALLOWED TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST INVADERS. ARMED OR OTHERWISE. [00:45:02] YES, AND WHEN THEY -- AND WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES, WELL, WE HAVE LAWS THAT TELL THEM WHAT HOOPS THEY MUST JUMP THROUGH IF THEY WANT TO BECOME CITIZENS. AND IF THEY DON'T WANT TO JUMP THROUGH THOSE HOOPS, WE ARE A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, WE GET A CHANCE TO NOT ONLY ARREST THEM, BUT DEPORT THEM. YEAH, DEPORT THEM. SO -- AND WHAT -- ARE YOU FOLKS TRYING TO DO HERE? WELL, LAST WEEK YOU TRIED TO GO THROUGH WHAT I CALL A SHAM INITIATIVE TRYING TO GET THE UTILITIES TO STOP THEM. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, SO YOU'RE GOING TO A MORE, WELL, LEGAL EFFORT -- HERE IS WHAT A PROFESSIONAL WITH THE NATION'S EL PASOS FORMENT SAYS, YELLOW AREA, MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN. WHAT DOES IT SAY? YEAH, LET'S BE HONEST, QUOTE, LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THIS, THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN THE SPOKESPERSON SAID. THE LEFT DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS OF LITTER THAT ILLEGAL ALIENS DUMPED DURING BIDEN'S BORDER CRISIS. THEY'RE FEIGNING CONCERN NOW BECAUSE THEY WANT THOSE SAME ILLEGAL ALIENS TO STAY FOREVER, AND VOTE HERE AS WELL. YEAH, RETURN THE CAMERA. YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO -- CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO PAY OUR BILLS, OUR -- HAVE YOU TO RAISE OUR TAXES AS A RESULT, OUR TAXES GOING TO THIS. I THINK IT'S TIME WE STOPPED PLAYING THE GAMES HERE, AND JUST LOOSENED UP A LITTLE BIT. I THINK IT'S TIME TO HAVE A PARTY, AND I'LL DO A PUBLIC SERVICE AND BRING THE ICE. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTIONS SO WE MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR ORTIZ JONES: IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. WE'LL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION. PLEASE SIGN IN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS. COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WE -- WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME -- LET ME START AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 64.6 OF SENTS POPULATION IDENTIFYING AS HISPANIC OR LATINO, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, QUICK FAX, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT THEY CALL ICE HAS DONE HAS PUT OUR POPULATION AT RISK. ANY STEPS WE TAKE AT THIS POINT TO PREVENT AN ICE FACILITY WITH OVER 1500 BEDS IS A POSITION TO MOVE FOR SAFETY. WE BEGAN THAT PROCESS, AND THANK YOU, AGAIN, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, AND MAYOR ORTIZ JONES FOR MOVING FORWARD ON THAT SO THE CITY CAN DO THEIR PART, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEK, THE NEXT MONTHS, UNFORTUNATELY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, IS THAT OTHERS WILL BE COMING FORWARD WITH STORIES, WITH LAWSUITS, WITH COMPLAINTS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RESOLVED TO GIVE OUR CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY THE ABILITY TO COORDINATE WITH THESE STAKEHOLDERS. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT OUT IN THE NEWS THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONER TOMMIE CALVERT IS WORKING ON DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THEY CAN TAKE FROM THE COUNTY, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF ORDINANCES AND WHAT WE CAN DO, SO THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE OUR STATE LEGISLATORS GOING -- HEADING TO AUSTIN. THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND DO THEIR BEST TO COMBAT THIS, AND I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED TO HELP AND WE CANNOT GO THROUGH HAVING A LONG DISCUSSION. SO GIVING DIRECTION TODAY, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION, AND I WANT TO THANK THE THREE SIGNATURE MEMO SIGNED BY DISTRICTS, ONE, FIVE, SEVEN AND EIGHT, REQUESTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PLACE THIS ITEM, MOVE FORWARD IS THE NEXT STEPS, AND I THINK UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS NOW A, YOU KNOW, WATER'S EDGE, WHICH IS RUN BY AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY, BUT, YOU KNOW, TRANSWESTERN AND PRESTON HOLLOW, THE PR BROOKS DEVELOPMENT BOARD NEEDS TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS HELPING OR ADVISING OR GIVING THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO GO TO THEIR NEXT STEPS, BECAUSE WE'VE ALL READ THE NEWS [00:50:02] ARTICLES. IT ISN'T JUST OFFICE SPACES THEY'RE ASKING FOR. THERE'S A REAL THREAT THAT THEY WILL BE DOING PROCEEDINGS THERE, AND SO WE HEARD ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS, THE RACIAL PROFILING, ICE ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, MEDICAL NEGLECT, PROLONGED ISOLATION IN THE CENTERS, BUT THERE'S A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT OTHER GROUPS AND STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH, AND WE NEED TO BE HERE AS A CITY TO SUPPORT THEM, BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF OUR OVER 950,000 RESIDENTS THAT ARE HISPANIC OR LATINO POPULATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, AND FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAY BE CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT BROOKS, TO BE CLEAR THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST ABOUT THE EAST SIDE FACILITY, CORRECT? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION SO THAT IT NOTES THE BROOKS FACILITY. >> VIAGRAN: ANDY, CAN YOU READ THE RESOLUTION? >> YEAH. >> YES, COUNCILWOMAN, I CAN READ THE RESOLUTION. I'LL START WITH THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, WHEREAS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS PURCHASED PROPERTY FOR DETENTION AT SOUTHEAST LOOP 410 WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND WHEREAS THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LARGE DETENTION FACILITY MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DEMANDS ON SAN ANTONIO'S UTILITY, TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND OTHER LOCAL SYSTEMS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED THAT CPS ENERGY AND SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEMS, SAWS, INDEPENDENTLY EVALUATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL, OPERATIONAL, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING UTILITY SERVICE TO THE PROPOSED DETENTION CENTER, AND WHEREAS THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THE PROPOSED ATTENTION CENTER COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND IDENTIFYING AND PURSUING LAWFUL AND APPROPRIATE ACTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED FACILITY AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS MAY HAVE INTEREST, RESOURCES, EXPERTISE, OR LAWFUL INITIATIVES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED LOCATION AND OPERATION OF A DETENTION FACILITY WITHIN THE URBAN CORE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND WHEREAS COORDINATION AMONG THE CITY AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WILL ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING, EVALUATING, PURSUING LAWFUL ACTIONS AND INITIATIVES CONCERNING THE PROPOSED DETENTION FACILITY. THOSE ARE THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY EXPLORE AND TAKE LAWFUL AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WITHIN THE CITY'S AUTHORITY TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPOSED ICE DETENTION FACILITY COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, CODES, PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. SUCH EFFORTS MAY INCLUDE IDENTIFYING APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS, MONITORING COMPLIANCE, EVALUATING LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND LIMITING AND TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION AND RESPONSE TO ANY THE CITY COUNCIL REQUIRES THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY SUPPORT THE WORK OF CPS ENERGY AND SAWS IN DETERMINING THE ENVIRONMENTAL, OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, FINANCIAL, AND OTHER IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DELIVERY OF UTILITY SERVICES TO THE PROPOSED DETENTION CENTER. SECTION 3. THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS THAT THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY WORK AND COORDINATE WITH THE RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ON ANY LAWFUL INITIATIVE, PROGRAM, OR LITIGATION INTENDED TO DELAY THE ICE DETENTION FACILITY IN THE URBAN CORE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SECTION 4, THE CITY MANAGER IS REQUESTED TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY PARTICIPATION OR SUPPORT AND TAKE ACTION OR RETURN TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY FURTHER COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED. SECTION 5 IS NOTHING IN THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO AUTHORIZE ANY ACTION BEYOND THE LAWFUL AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OR TO LIMIT THE INDEPENDENT LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND THAT'S THE RESOLUTION. >> VIAGRAN: NO, MAYOR. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR AN AMENDMENT AT THIS TIME. I FEEL WITHIN THE RESOLUTION THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY UNTIL BROOKS DECIDES HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT WE CAN WORK THAT WITHIN THIS RESOLUTION. >> SEGOVIA: IF I MAY, MAYOR, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THAT INTERPRETATION. IT'S BROAD ENOUGH THAT WE CAN BE HELPING WHATEVER INQUIRIES FROM THE BROOKS AUTHORITY. >> MAYOR JONES: NO EFFORTS TO PREVENT OR DELAY THAT IN LINE WITH THE RESOLUTION. UNDERSTOOD. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. [00:55:04] >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO RESPOND TO THE THREAT OF A DETENTION FACILITY. MY OFFICE HAS RECEIVED COUNTLESS PLEAS TO DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE BEING KIDNAPPED OFF THE STREETS AND THREATENED BY A SYSTEM THAT HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS. ICE HAS GONE ROGUE AND WE MUST TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT ALL SAN ANTONIANS FROM THIS THREAT. ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, TEXAS BY FAR EXCEEDS OTHER STATES FOR IMMIGRATION ARRESTS AND THE SAN ANTONIO ICE FIELD OFFICE RANKS THIRD FOR THE MOST IMMIGRATION ARRESTS IN THE COUNTRY. THESE ARE ALL OUR RESIDENTS. MANY OF THEM ARE WORKING FAMILIES, SOME OF THEM CHILDREN. SOME RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN FROM COURT HEARINGS AS THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW. THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS COMMITTED NO CRIME. NO CRIME BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL TO MIGRATE AND SEEK ASYLUM. THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT CREATED A STRONG LEGAL PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP SO MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS ARE ONLY UNDOCUMENTED BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T CREATED A REAL ACCESSIBLE PROCESS. SO I'M GRATEFUL AND PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIANS WHO STAND FOR FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE FOR MY GRANT ALL SAN ANTONIANS. WHERE WE CAN COORDINATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO STOP THIS, I SAY WE SHOULD. THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE PUBLIC PRESSURE SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING TODAY'S ITEM . THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS VIAGRAN AND MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS OVER THE YEARS. AGAIN, TO BUILD THE CONFIDENCE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS TO FINALLY TAKE ACTION IN THIS METHOD. I WANTED TO BE SURE TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT THAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR, AND IT WAS ASKED AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE. IN TERMS OF COST. WE KNOW THAT ICE HAS A $10 BILLION BUDGET, WHICH EXCEEDS THE BUDGET OF MANY MILITARY BRANCHES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND THAT $10 BILLION BUDGET IS MORE THAN THE MILITARY BUDGET OF CANADA AND SPAIN. I ASK THE JACK FINGERS OF THE WORLD HAS THOSE $10 BILLION IN ICE RESULTED IN LOWER GROCERIES? HAVE THOSE $10 BILLION RESULTED IN LOWER GAS? IN LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES? SO AGAIN, WHILE WE'RE SEEING SAN ANTONIO LEAD AS FOURTH IN DEPORTATIONS IN THE NATION, WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE COSTS RISE. I JUST ENCOURAGE THAT YOU ADVOCATE IN TERMS OF FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON WHERE DOLLARS SHOULD BE REDIRECTED TO ENSURE WE DO SEE THOSE LOWER COSTS WITH GROCERIES, GAS, AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE SMALL AND MINIMAL AMOUNT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE SUIT THAT WAS FILED DOESN'T COMPARE TO THAT $10 BILLION THAT ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THE AVERAGE RESIDENT IN THE U.S. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, PLEASE. >> GAVITO: EVERYTHING COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO JUST SAID, THAT WAS A VERY FAIR CALLOUT. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, CASTILLO, AND MEZA GONZALEZ FOR PUSHING THAT FORWARD. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR ALL OF HIS EFFORTS AND ALL OF US WHO STOOD IN SOLIDARITY ON TUESDAY MORNING TO PUSH FOR THE LAWSUIT. THIS RESOLUTION TODAY AFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO TAKING ANY AND ALL APPROPRIATE STEPS TO PROTECT OUR UTILITIES, OUR RESOURCES, AND ULTIMATELY OUR COMMUNITY. I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF A COUNCIL THAT IS WILLING TO STAND UP AGAINST THE ABUSE OF POWER AND THE CRUELTY WE'RE SEEING TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBORS. I SUPPORT ANY AND ALL EFFORTS TO STOP ICE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PREVENT AN INHUMANE DETENTION CENTER FROM LEAVING A STRAIN ON OUR CITY. AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS NOTING, IT'S INCUMBENT ON ALL OF US TO TALK TO OUR BROOKS APPOINTEES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STOPPING IT AT ANY AND ALL MEASURES. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO PUT THESE RESOLUTIONS TOGETHER AND I MOST IMPORTANTLY WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF A CITY THAT WILL WORK TOGETHER TO PUT RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS FORWARD AND I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR MORE AND WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING FOR ME. TO ME, TODAY, I'M HONORED THAT OUR CITY STAFF IS [01:00:02] WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN PROTECTING ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. I'M GOING TO REITERATE A COMMENT THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED AND SHARED A COUPLE OF TIMES AGO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ICE. AND IT WAS ABOUT HOW ICE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED AND GET INTO THE DEPARTMENT. NONE OF THEM WOULD MAKE IT IN SAPD. AND SO OFTENTIMES PEOPLE CONFUSE THE TWO AND AS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY I'M PROUD OF THE OFFICER TRAINING AT SAPD. I'M PROUD OF HOW OUR OFFICERS RUN AND I'M PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO. AND THEY WOULD NEVER -- ICE WOULD NEVER MAKE IT HERE. ICE CAN GET OUT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM IS NEEDED IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT'S THE PATH FORWARD THAT I HOPE OUR FOLKS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL CHOOSE. AS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY AND WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE WASTE OF TIME AND CITY TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THE COMMENTS THAT JUST HAVE BEEN MADE TODAY, THE THOUGHT THAT ICE HAS GONE ROGUE UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION IS LAUGHABLE. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU OTHER INSTANCES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. TIMES WHERE I DON'T THINK THIS COUNCIL EVER SAID A WORD. TO SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY IN A FRUITLESS EFFORT TO TRY TO DELAY WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A RIGHT TO DO IS A MISGUIDED ATTEMPT THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE PLAYING POLITICS HERE AND THAT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF ICE ARE FATHERS, SONS, MOTHERS, DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS, AND SISTERS OF MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY THAT SIGNED UP TO DO A JOB THAT'S OFTEN A DANGEROUS JOB. AND THEY DO IT TO ENFORCE THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND OTHERS. AND TO TALK ABOUT THEM IN SUCH A BELITTLING WAY, AS SOME OF THE COMMENTS UP HERE, I THINK THEY LEND THEMSELVES TO I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG. MY HOPE IS THAT AFTER TODAY, AFTER TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS OF THIS, AFTER THE MONEY IS SPENT ON FILING REALLY MEANINGLESS AND WHAT WILL BE AN INEFFECTIVE LAWSUIT, IS THAT WE CAN TURN THE PAGE NOW AND GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF WHAT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING, WHICH IS MAKING LIFE SAFER FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS MAKING LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. MAKING THIS THE SAFEST, CLEANEST, MOST PROSPEROUS CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THAT'S WHERE OUR ATTENTION SHOULD BE. NOT ON POLITICAL GAMES LIKE WE'RE SEEING HERE TODAY AND LIKE WE SAW LAST WEEK. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ, PLEASE. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. JUST QUICKLY WANT TO THANK MAYOR AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO STAND TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE AND THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD. THOSE CONVERSATIONS MATTERED AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE REFLECTED IN THIS RESOLUTION. TO TALK ABOUT PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF DEMOCRACY. WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE NEW VOICES AT THE TABLE AND THESE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TIMES THAN 10, 15 YEARS AGO. I STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS ISSUE AND SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST DO WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND HAVE REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICES, WHETHER YOU'RE PART OF AN ORGANIZED GROUP OR COMING AS AN INDIVIDUAL. I THINK THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY WITHOUT THE PRESSURE FROM OUR RESIDENTS WHO CAME HERE TODAY AND SPOKE FOR OTHERS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. AND NOT ONLY IS THIS UNJUST AND NOT THE BEST THING FOR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IF YOU DON'T BUY THAT ARGUMENT, WE SHOULD BUY THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS REALLY BAD FOR BUSINESS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A [01:05:01] BRIEFING COMING UP SOON ABOUT INCENTIVES AND, YOU KNOW, AS HAS BEEN SHOWN, IMMIGRATION POLICIES ARE NOT POPULAR FOR BUSINESS GROWTH. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AND IT WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR BROOKS TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAS SAID. THIS IS JUST SO DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS BEING USED FOR POLITICAL THEATER. BECAUSE WE ARE NOT -- THIS IS NOT OUR LANE. WE ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FULL RIGHT TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS. THE PROCESSING CENTER IS MEANT TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY AND MOVE THEM THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS MORE QUICKLY. AND THIS IS THE UNINTENDED OR INTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF HAVING COMPLETELY OPEN BORDERS ALLOWING ANYONE AND EVERYONE THROUGH, COMMITTING ATROCITIES AGAINST OUR CITIZENS. THAT'S INCLUDING TRAFFICKING, THE INTENSELY-DANGEROUS CARTEL ACTIVITIES. THE COYOTES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. WE SAW SOME DEATHS HERE LOCALLY FROM COYOTE ACTIVITY. AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO LET THOSE WHO WISH TO DO HARM TO OUR CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE WILL ENFORCE OUR LAWS. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAD THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AND WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. AND WE STILL HAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS OUT THERE WAITING FOR US TO COLLECT ON THAT. YOU KNOW, IT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD AND I THINK IT'S THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. I THINK WE SAW THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS WHEN WE HAD THAT MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER IMPACTING THE MIDDLE OF TOWN RIGHT NEXT TO THE MALL AND AMONG NEIGHBORHOODS. AND NOBODY SAID ANYTHING. NOBODY DID ANYTHING AGAINST THAT. YET HERE WE ARE IN AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN DONE ANYTHING YET AND THE REMEDY IS JUST GOING TO BE TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY. AND WHAT WILL WE HAVE DONE? WE WILL HAVE USED TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT. I THINK DOING THIS PERPETUATES AN UNREALISTIC AND UNREALIZED FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I DON'T LIKE THAT AT ALL. I CAN'T BE MORE AGAINST ALL OF THESE ACTIONS AND I WISH MY COLLEAGUES COULD SEE THIS FROM A DIFFERENT LENS BECAUSE I THINK THIS HURTS US ON THE NATIONAL STAGE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE FIRST ROUND? OKAY. ON THE SECOND ROUND, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST IN RESPONSE, BECAUSE I WAS SOMEONE REMIND ME WHEN WAS BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENT? WHEN WAS HE SWORN IN? 2009? I WAS 13 YEARS OLD. I DID NOT SERVE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL AND I WAS A TEENAGER FOR MUCH OF HIS TENURE. UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION -- I'LL SAY THIS. JUST LAST WEEK I STATED THE MIGRANT COMMUNITY FACED ATTACK AFTER ATTACK UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THOSE PRIOR. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE STREETS. WE HAVE BEEN ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS POPPED UP THIS YEAR. AND SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. SECOND, WITH REGARD TO WHAT WE WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IF THIS LAWSUIT JUST RESULTS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONDUCTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, WE WILL HAVE USED LOCAL TAX DOLLARS TO GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW THE LAW. AND TO THIS POINT, THEY HAVE NOT. I'LL ALSO MAKE THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE RESULT OF HAVING OPEN BORDERS. I THOUGHT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CLOSED THE BORDER. I THOUGHT HE BUILT A WALL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED DURING HIS FIRST TERM AND MUCH OF THIS TERM. I AM PERSONALLY CONFUSED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND ROUND? COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, PLEASE. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. I WANT TO CLARIFY. THIS IS NOT POLITICAL THEATER. IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS DAIS FOR THE LAST, SINCE WE GOT ON, WE DID POLITICAL THEATER OUR FIRST TWO YEARS, RIGHT, JALEN? SO THIS IS NOT THIS. THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT THE PATTERNS. A PATTERN OF ABUSE THAT WE'VE SEEN BY THIS ENTITY, [01:10:04] IN PARTICULAR. THIS IS ABOUT TAKING CHILDREN, A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON THESE FACILITIES. I DO NOT WANT TO CALL THEM DETENTION FACILITIES BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY'RE OPERATING AS. THESE CHILDREN, THESE PEOPLE HAVE HOMES, THEY HAVE PLACES TO GO. THEY COULD BE MONITORED OTHER WAYS IF THEY WERE A SERIOUS THREAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW A 4-YEAR-OLD IS A THREAT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MARIACHI IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY. SO I THINK THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE FACT THAT I DID NOT NEED PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, AND 2 SCARED TO DRIVE INTO CHINA GROVE. TO DRIVE INTO BALCONES HEIGHTS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT GET DETAINED BY ICE . I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN STEPS. WE'VE TAKEN ONE. WE NEED TO AFFIRM IT TODAY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND ROUND? COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: IT'S IRONIC, COUNCILMAN, THAT YOU TALK ABOUT FOLLOWING THE LAW WHEN FOLLOWING THE LAW IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. YOU CAN'T JUST CROSS THE BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND COME HERE JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO. IF YOU ARE FLEEING PERSECUTION AND YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ASYLUM, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE PROCESS PROPERLY. IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A RIGHT TO ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY. THIS IS EXACTLY ABOUT FOLLOWING THE LAW. AND THAT'S WHAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DO, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW, IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED? DO WE NEED TO PROCESS THESE ASYLUM CASES QUICKER? OF COURSE. COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR THE PAST TWO TO THREE DECADES AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, RATHER THAN THE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN HERE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS SITTING DOWN WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO FIX A BROKEN IMMIGRATION PROCESS. BUT THIS IS JUST WASTING TAXPAYER RESOURCES. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND ROUND? COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE SIGN IN. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK WE WERE TRYING TO TALK TO ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS WHO WAS TRYING TO DO WORK ON CINCINNATI AVENUE AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING PEOPLE TO DO WORK. LITERALLY OUR ECONOMY IS BUILT UPON THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY FOR WORK. AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS, THEY CAN JUST GET OUT. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT LITERALLY ARE FLEEING PERSECUTION IN THEIR COUNTRY THAT ARE STUCK IN THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. WHEN YOU BUY JUDGES, WHEN FOLKS ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW AND ARE STILL BEING DETAINED AND REMOVED, HOW IS THAT A JUST SYSTEM? OUR DEMOCRACY WAS FOUNDED UPON LITERAL IMMIGRANTS, STEALING LAND. AND YET WE ARE NOW TOSSING PEOPLE THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT WE WANT THEM TO LOOK LIKE. DON'T BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT THEM TO BELIEVE OUT. IT'S NOT FOLKS THAT ARE CROSSING OVER, IT'S PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S OUR WORKERS. IT'S OUR FRIENDS. IT'S OUR FAMILIES THAT ARE BEING ILLEGALLY DETAINED. A HUMAN CANNOT BE ILLEGAL. A HUMAN IS NOT AN ALIEN. IT'S NOT OKAY. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND ROUND? OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE EFFORTS EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT ALLOWED US TO TAKE THE STRONGEST STEP POSSIBLE THAT OUR CITY IS ABLE TO TAKE, WHICH IS TO FILE THE LAWSUIT, WHICH WE DID EARLIER THIS WEEK. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, AS WE ARE COMMUNICATING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, TO THE ENTIRE [01:15:07] CITY, FRANKLY THE COUNTRY, ABOUT THE KIND OF COMMUNITY WE ARE. THAT WE ARE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE ALSO OPPOSE. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF WE ARE NOT CLEAR ABOUT OUR SIMILAR OPPOSITION TO THE FACILITIES, THE LEASES AT BROOKS, THAT FOLKS MAY MISINTERPRET KIND OF WHAT WE ARE OPPOSING. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF, FRANKLY SOME HERE, THAT WE OPPOSE THE ICE FACILITY BUT ARE NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE 15-YEAR LEASES, WHICH MAKE UP THE CONTRACTS AT BROOKS. I FEEL AS IF THOSE CONTINUE TO GO INTO EFFECT, THOSE ARE A DOJ LEASE, THOSE 15-YEAR LEASES WILL ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A STRONG LEGAL FOOTPRINT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD FRANKLY MAKE THEM FIGHT HARDER TO NOT ONLY KEEP THE ICE FACILITY ON THE EAST SIDE BUT ALSO ENABLE THE LEGAL AND THE TYPE OF LOGISTICAL NETWORK THAT THEY SEE AS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR OPERATIONS, NOT ONLY IN TEXAS BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT THAT PRESENCE IN LIGHT OF THE DEPRESSING ECONOMIC IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE BUT ALSO A DEEPER PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DO NOT WELCOME AND WOULD POTENTIALLY INVITE SIMILAR AGGRESSIVE IMMIGRATION ACTIVITIES. WITH THAT, I OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD READ TO ADD SECTION 6, THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO TAKE SIMILAR STEPS TO PREVENT OR DELAY THE EXECUTION OF THE RECENTLY SIGNED $51 MILLION DOJ AND DHS LEASES WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH A 15-YEAR PRESENCE AT BROOKS. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMENTS? COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, SO Y'ALL GOT TO -- LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT. SO THE DETENTION FACILITY, THE ISSUE IS OVER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, RIGHT? THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THE ENERGY, THE WATER. WHAT'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF LEASING OFFICE SPACE DOWN AT BROOKS? IS THERE A NEGATIVE IMPACT THERE THAT I'M MISSING? LEASING OFFICE SPACE IS NOW SOMEHOW HARMFUL TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE? I DON'T FOLLOW. ARE WE NOW GOING TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH ENTITIES CAN LEASE OFFICE SPACE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BASED ON WHETHER SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE THEM OR DON'T? IT'S RIDICULOUS. WHEN HAVE YOU -- IT'S ALREADY GONE TOO FAR BUT NOW WE ARE GOING TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO CAN LEASE OFFICE SPACE IN THE CITY. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. DO WE NEED TO GET LEO HERE AND TALK WITH LEADERSHIP AT BROOKS? I MEAN, IS HE HERE? I DON'T KNOW. DID LEO KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY TO STOP HIM FROM LEASING SPACE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? >> MAYOR JONES: TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE AMENDMENT IS NOT ABOUT LEO. THE AMENDMENT IS ABOUT DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO SIMILARLY TAKE THEIR STEPS TO PREVENT OR DELAY THE EXECUTION OF THOSE LEASES. IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT LEO, PER SE. >> WHYTE: I THINK IT INVOLVES LEO. >> MAYOR JONES: IT DOES BUT NOT RESOLUTION IS NOT ABOUT LEO. >> WHYTE: IT'S ABOUT BROOKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S CORRECT. WE TOOK THE STRONGEST STEP POSSIBLE FORWARD WITH THE LITIGATION. I APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF A RESOLUTION. IF WE ARE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO COMMUNICATE THAT FOR THOSE OF US HERE WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STRONG LEGAL FOOTPRINT THAT WOULD ENABLE A STRONGER PRESENCE IN THE TYPE OF FACILITATION NETWORK THAT WOULD SET UP A LARGER PRESENCE HERE. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, I WILL SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE FACILITY AND THE BROOKS PROPERTIES IS ABOUT 15-MINUTE DRIVE. IT'S LESS THAN 10 MILES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT NOT JUST THAT, THE EASE OF THAT -- [01:20:01] AGAIN, A 15-YEAR LEASE ON TOP OF THAT LEGAL FOOTPRINT AND WHAT IT ENABLES FOR ALL THE OTHER PROCESSING FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN, WE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME TRYING TO ENSURE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE EAST SIDE, OF THE SOUTH SIDE. MANY FOLKS WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS DAIS TO DO SO. TO INTRODUCE SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTUALLY MAKE THAT DIFFICULT TO DO, IF NOT HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON NEW ENTRANCE INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER. AGAIN, A 15-YEAR LEASE IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU. MAYOR, I THOUGHT THIS WAS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. I MEAN, I'M LOOKING HERE AT THE THIRD RECITAL. WE'RE TALKING IN HERE ABOUT CPS ENERGY AND SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM AND EVALUATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER IMPACTS WITH THIS PROCESSING FACILITY. ARE THOSE THINGS AN ISSUE WITH LEASING OFFICE SPACE? >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, ONE OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE IMPACT ANALYSIS WOULD BE THE SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT. THE CHILLING EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. >> WHYTE: THE CHILLING EFFECT OF HAVING PEOPLE WORKING IN OFFICE SPACE DOWN AT BROOKS. I MEAN, THIS IS A JOKE, MAYOR. THIS IS AGAIN -- AND YOU KEEP SAYING IT -- WHAT ARE WE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC? THIS IS SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO TO COMMUNICATE TO A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. I MEAN, THIS IS ALL FLUFF AND COVER AND A PRETEXT FOR WANTING TO SEND A CERTAIN MESSAGE TO PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, WE DID THIS BEFORE. I'M REMINDED OF CHICK-FIL-A IN THE AIRPORT -- >> VIAGRAN: POINT OF ORDER. >> WHYTE: WE SINGLED OUT -- >> VIAGRAN: YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO -- >> MAYOR JONES: ORDER. >> CASTILLO: CALL THE QUESTION. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. SO THIS IS A VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT REGARDING -- EXCUSE ME -- TO END DISCUSSION. >> SEGOVIA: CORRECT, MAYOR. IT'S A VOTE INITIALLY TO END THE DISCUSSION. >> MAYOR JONES: END THE DISCUSSION. THIS IS A VOTE TO END DEBATE. THIS REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. >> VIAGRAN: I DO NOT ACCEPT IT AS A FRIENDLY. >> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE MAIN -- TO THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND ROUND OF COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED? COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. [01:25:01] I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FINAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BROOKS FACILITY AND THIS AS A FINAL AMENDMENT. I THINK I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THE LEASE WOULD NOT EXIST IF NOT FOR THE INTENTION TO OPERATE THE EAST SIDE FACILITY. AND SO I THINK THERE IS A LEGAL ARGUMENT TO BE MADE AND CONNECTION THAT I THINK WE CAN MAKE AS A RESULT OF THIS RESOLUTION. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE FINAL ITEM. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE SECOND ROUND? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. UNLESS THERE IS OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE ITEM 8. I SEE CHIEF SALAME IS HERE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE HE GETS BACK TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE ITEM 8. [8. Ordinance amending a contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc., to (A) upgrade the San Antonio Police Department Taser 7 Program to the Taser 10 Certification Program and Warranty Bundle; and (B) revise the contract term to a tenyear structure, with a four-year initial term beginning October 15, 2026, with up to six additional one-year renewal options. The firstyear cost of the Taser 10 upgrade is $1,300,077.68, for an estimated total contract cost of $22,575,980, plus an optional additional cost of $9,396,296 for up to 100 Taser 10 bundles per year over the term of the contract, for an estimated total cost of $31,972,276. Funding is from the General Fund FY 2027 Adopted Budget. Funding for future years is contingent upon City Council approval of the annual budget. [Ben Gorzell Jr., Chief of Financial and Administrative Services; Troy Elliott, Chief Financial Officer, Finance]] THANK YOU. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 8 IS ORDINANCE AMENDING A CONTRACT WITH AXON ENTERPRISE, INC., TO (A) UPGRADE THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT TASER 7 PROGRAM TO THE TASER 10 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND WARRANTY BUNDLE; AND (B) REVISE THE CONTRACT TERM TO A TEN-YEAR STRUCTURE, WITH A FOUR-YEAR INITIAL TERM BEGINNING OCTOBER 15, 2026, WITH UP TO SIX ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS. THE FIRST-YEAR COST OF THE TASER 10 UPGRADE IS $1,300,077.68, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL CONTRACT COST OF $22,575,980, PLUS AN OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL COST OF $9,396,296 FOR UP TO 100 TASER 10 BUNDLES PER YEAR OVER THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF $31,972,276. FUNDING IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FY 2027 ADOPTED BUDGET. FUNDING FOR FUTURE YEARS IS CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, WOULD YOU LIKE A PRESENTATION? NO? >> CHIEF: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: WITH NO PRESENTATION, WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO DISCUSSION THEN. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I PULLED THIS ITEM FOR A FEW REASONS. WHAT ORIGINALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS THE VENDOR, AXON, WHO IS RECEIVING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ICE WITH WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT. IN LIGHT OF THE ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN HERE, ICE'S INCREASED PRESENCE IN SAN ANTONIO, ANY POTENTIAL COLLABORATION WITH SAPD AND OUR POSITION AS A CITY ON THESE MATTERS, THIS IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING. ON A FISCAL NOTE, WHAT BEGAN AS AN $824,000 ANNUAL COST HAS NOW BALLOONED TO OVER $2 MILLION ANNUALLY JUST FIVE YEARS LATER. THE ORIGINAL TERM FOR THE CONTRACT WAS FIVE YEARS AND NOW WE ARE CONSIDERING UP TO 10 YEARS. IN ADDITION, THIS ITEM DID NOT GO OUT FOR BID SO WE DID NOT DO ANY COMPARISON SHOPPING. WE INSTEAD USE A PUBLIC SAFETY EXEMPTION WHICH ALLOWS US TO SKIP ANY FISCAL OVERSIGHT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE PUBLICLY HEARING ABOUT THIS ITEM. I BELIEVE THAT JUST BECAUSE WE CAN EXEMPT OURSELVES FROM A PUBLIC PROCESS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE SHOULD. WE ALSO JUST GOT DONE SCRUBBING OUR BUDGET AND TRYING TO GET THE BEST DEAL FOR OUR TAXPAYERS AND IN AUDIO] TO ENSURE WE ARE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLAR. I DO SUPPORT PROPRIOCEPTIVE HARM AT EVERY LEVEL AND I'M PROUD WE HAVE INVESTED IN POLICING WHERE POSSIBLE AND I BELIEVE WHEN OFFICERS DO RESPOND TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THEY SHOULD HAVE OPTIONS THAT REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I DO WANT TO SEE THE EVIDENCE THAT UP GRADING FROM TASER 7 TO 10 WILL IMPROVE SAFETY AND THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST VALUE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. I HAVEN'T SEEN STRONG ENOUGH INFORMATION TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TODAY. I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME OR BRING THIS BACK TO A DISCUSSION AT A B SESSION BEFORE MAKING A COMMITMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE . >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. CHIEF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER ANY OF THAT. I KNOW WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE USE OF THE EXEMPTION, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WAS OFFERED AS TO WHY THIS ALSO MADE SENSE IS THE INTRAOPERABILITY WITH THE SOFTWARE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF UTILIZING SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT [01:30:02] INTEROPERABLE WITH THE CURRENT SOFTWARE. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. THAT IS A BIG PART OF THAT. THE SUITE OF WHAT WE USE WITH AXON IS OUR BODY CAM, OUR IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM, EVIDENCE.COM WHERE WE COMMUNICATE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ALL OF OUR CASE FILES AND EVIDENCE, THEY HAVE A PROSECUTION MODULE THEY USE OVER THERE. STAYING WITH THIS IS AUTOMATIC. THERE'S NO INTERFACING WITH A DIFFERENT SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT TALK TO THE CURRENT SYSTEM. AND SO CHANGING THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY WOULD HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT THAT I COULD NOT IDENTIFY FOR YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ALIGNED -- THAT WE COULD STILL GET EVIDENCE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THAT WE COULD SHARE EVIDENCE AND DOWNLOAD THINGS WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM. IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP THIS PARTICULAR TECHNOLOGY WITH WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE BECAUSE IT'S PART OF A SUITE THAT WE CURRENTLY USE. >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, I'LL ADD WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH AXON FOR THE TASER 7 AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, THEN THE EXPENSE WE WOULD INCUR WOULD BE $1.7 MILLION. THROUGH THIS UPGRADE TO TASER 10, WHICH HAS A LIST OF BENEFICIAL ASPECTS AND UPGRADES, WE ARE PROJECTING $1.3 MILLION. THERE'S A SAVINGS ON THE FRONT END FROM BEING ABLE TO UPGRADE. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A DISCOUNT ON THE ANNUAL PRICE THAT'S BUILT INTO THIS CONTRACT. SO I THINK WE'VE DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE AND THAT $1.3 MILLION WAS BAKED INTO OUR BUDGET. 65 OUT OF OUR $73 MILLION INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND WAS PUBLIC SAFETY. I'LL REITERATE WHAT THE CHIEF SAID. OUR SUITE OF TECHNOLOGY IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO CHANGE THAT IS -- THE PRICE OF THAT WOULD BE ASTRONOMICAL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. FRANKLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE INTEGRATION PROCESS, WHICH IS A MESSY PROCESS. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO INCORPORATE ALL THOSE TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS INTO ONE SUITE. IT IS EXPENSIVE BUT THE OFFSET IN TERMS OF THE UPGRADES TO THE TASER 10 -- THE TASER 7 CAN BE DEPLOYED BETWEEN 12 AND 25 FEET AWAY. THE TASER 10, 45 FEET AWAY. SO THAT GIVES OFFICERS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS AND KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE FROM A LARGER DISTANCE. THE CURRENT TASER 7 UTILIZES A TWO-CARTRIDGE SYSTEM THAT PUTS OUT 50,000 VOLTS. THE 10 IS 10 INDIVIDUAL WITH 1,000 VOLTS. SO THE IMPACT TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S BEING TASED IS LESSENED IN TERMS OF HARM BUT ENOUGH TO DEESCALATE THE SITUATION. THOSE THINGS RIGHT THERE HAVE A LOT OF VALUE TO US. AND WE THINK -- AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING WE UPGRADE THAT SYSTEM AT THE DISCOUNTED PRICE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I GUESS JUST IN RESPONSE TO TWO POINTS. ONE IS IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT INFORMATION TODAY, MINUTES BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO CAST A VOTE. WE WOULD HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS INFORMATION HAD WE NOT PULLED THE ITEM. WE DIDN'T GET ANY BRIEFINGS AT PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED AND I THINK GENERALLY WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE LACK OF A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON SOMETHING THIS MAJOR. WE'RE ALSO TALKING, IN RESPONSE TO THE FIRST PART OF THAT ABOUT INTEGRATION BETWEEN ALL THESE SYSTEMS. WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME IS THAT WE HAVE TIED OUR HANDS TO A SUITE OF SOFTWARE, EQUIPMENT THAT WE CANNOT BE COMPETITIVE FOR ANY FURTHER. WE'RE BASICALLY ENSURING THAT IN PERPETUITY WE ARE BEHOLDEN TO THIS ONE VENDOR. AND I THINK THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. THEY MAY BE THE BEST. THIS MAY BE THE BEST EQUIPMENT. I THINK THAT'S EXCELLENT, IF TRUE. IF NOT, THEN THAT'S PROBLEMATIC. BEYOND THAT, AND GOING TO THE POINT -- AS I MENTIONED, I SUPPORT HARM REDUCTION AND WE WANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE LEAST LETHAL MEANS POSSIBLE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A PART OF THIS IS WHAT IS THE TRAINING BEING USED TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS? WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT OF TASER 7 AND WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE REGARDING TASER 10 AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THEY'RE GOING TO ENSURE THE STATED GOALS AND OUTCOMES. WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT DISCUSSION. TO THE POINT OF COUNCILMAN WHYTE, OF ZERO-BASED BUDGETING, THIS IS A MAJOR CONTRACT. IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, $2 MILLION [01:35:03] IN ANY DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD BE SCRUTINIZING IT AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IT. WE WOULD BE GOING OVER -- WE WOULD BE DOING A LOT MORE THAN I THINK WE HAVE DONE TO THIS. AND I THINK IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND IT'S PRUDENT WE DO SO IN THE FUTURE. >> WALSH: I'LL JUST ADD THAT MICROSOFT HAS CORNERED THE MARKET IN TERMS OF SOFTWARE AND WE SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH MICROSOFT. I DON'T WANT COUNCIL TO THINK WE HAVEN'T DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE AND THE REVIEW AND THE CONTRACT REVIEW TO ENSURE WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE AND PROVIDING THE BEST TOOLS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE AREAS OF SPEND HERE AND OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. MICROSOFT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO CONVERT THE ENTIRE CITY TO APPLE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS ARE BUILT INTO AND INCORPORATED. EVERYBODY IS TRAINED ON MICROSOFT. AND TO UPEND AN ORGANIZATION JUST BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED THAT WE'RE TIED TO MICROSOFT, IN THIS EXAMPLE, IS I THINK THE COST OUTWEIGHS THE BENEFIT THERE. I'LL LIKEN THAT AS AN EXAMPLE. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I AGREE WITH THE COUNCILMAN. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND JUST LIKE WE NEED TO SCRUTINIZE ABSOLUTELY EVERY DEPARTMENT, THAT INCLUDES OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS. AND WHEN WE'RE SPENDING ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS A BIG ONE AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOTTEN THIS INFORMATION SOONER. THAT SAID, CHIEF, WE NEED THIS EQUIPMENT. IT'S GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO DO YOUR JOB BETTER AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON TODAY. IS THAT RIGHT? >> CHIEF: YES. THEY MY RECOMMENDATION. WE NEED IT. IT MAKES IT SAFER, NOT JUST FOR THE OFFICER BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, LIKE THE COUNCILMEMBER SAID. THIS IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE. >> WHYTE: WITH THAT SAID, I SUPPORT THIS ITEM. >> MAYOR JONES: IN CASE IT HELPS ANYONE ELSE'S COMMENTS, THIS TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTEROPERABILITY THAT IT OFFERS WITH THIS SOFTWARE, IS THERE EVEN A CLOSE SECOND? >> CHIEF: NO. EVERY MAJOR CITY IN TEXAS UTILIZES AXON . MOST MAJOR CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY UTILIZE AXON SO THEY HAVE ESSENTIALLY CORNERED THE MARKET ON THIS TECHNOLOGY. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: THANKS, MAYOR. CHIEF, WHAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL USEFULLIFE ON THE 7 AND ON THE ? >> CHIEF: THE 7 IS OUT OF CYCLE SO THE REPLACEMENT IS GOING TO COST US $1.7 MILLION. THEY WERE GOING TO INCREASE THE COST ANNUALLY AT 6% FOR THE CONTRACT. AND SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE. THEY'RE GIVING US $900,000 A YEAR ON THE BACK END AND SO THOSE ARE OUT OF LIFE AND THE REASON THEY'RE OUT OF LIFE IS BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS USING THEM. EVERY OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT IN TEXAS HAS TRANSITIONED TO THE 10. >> SPEARS: AND HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE 10 WILL LAST US? >> CHIEF: WHAT THE WARRANTY IS ON THAT. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT. BUT IT'S THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, WAS ONLY IMPLEMENTED IN 2023. IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE SO FAR. TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMEMBER, WE'LL BE TRACKING THE DATA. WE'LL BE PROVIDING TRAINING TO OUR OFFICERS. >> RICK RILEY, I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ANTICIPATE ABOUT FIVE YEARS BUT THERE IS A REFRESH ON THIS. SO THERE'S A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND A REFRESH THAT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE IF AXON MAKES CHANGES TO THE TASER 10 AND IMPROVES IT, WE'LL GET THAT LESS LETHAL WEAPON. >> SPEARS: I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE. I WANT YOU TO FEEL SAFE AND EQUIPPED AT ALL TIMES. THIS WAS AN EASY YES FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO, PLEASE. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS ON BOTH FRONTS. ONE ON THE CONTRACT. I DO THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT BACK INTERNALLY TO SEE HOW WE DON'T KIND OF GET SURPRISED WITH THESE THINGS AT A SESSION. SO WHETHER CONTRACTS OF THIS SCALE NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHS BEFOREHAND OR WHATEVER, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE. I ALSO DO THINK THAT HIS COMMENTS ABOUT USAGE OF THE TASER'S USAGE IS A FAIR ONE, [01:40:04] ESPECIALLY FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO TIE IT TO ROI BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE USAGE AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THIS IS AN INVESTMENT WE NEED TO MAKE. WE NEED TO DO THAT ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS. OUR POLICE AND FIRE INCLUDED. IT'S JUST THE STATE WE'RE IN. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE LINE OF QUESTIONS. BUT TODAY, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I AM SUPPORTIVE. WE'RE HEARING IT FROM OUR CHIEF THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED THIS. I ALSO APPRECIATE, ERIK, YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT DOING A LAST-MINUTE SWITCH FROM MICROSOFT TO APPLE. THAT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE TO ME. I THINK, IF ANYTHING, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THIS STUFF AHEAD OF TIME BUT RIGHT NOW WE DO GOT TO GET MOVING. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. ANY LAST COMMENTS, CHIEF? >> NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. ALL GREAT QUESTIONS. WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH STATISTICS ON WHAT WE USE IN A LESS THAN LETHAL PERSPECTIVE. THE TASER FAR OUTWEIGHS THE USAGE OF THE BATON AND THE PEPPER SPRAY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE MINDFUL OF AND THIS TECHNOLOGY ALSO HAS SOME GREATER TRACKING AND ACCOUNTABILITY THINGS FOR US TO LOOK AT, FROM A DIGITAL LENS. >> WALSH: MAYOR, ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU GUYS END UP DOING TODAY, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A LARGE CONTRACT, MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT. AND IN THE FUTURE IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GO BEFORE COMMITTEES OR PUBLIC SAFETY, IN THIS CASE, THEN WE'LL BE MINDFUL OF TODAY'S COMMENTS. BUT I DO SEE IT AS, WHILE IT'S A LARGE EXPENSE, IT'S ALSO A ROUTINE EXPENSE AND PART OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE WE ARE GETTING THE BEST PRODUCT, REGARDLESS OF THE DEPARTMENT. BUT WE'LL TAKE THOSE COMMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS MADE SO FAR INTO CONSIDERATION AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INCLUSIVE IN THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE GOING FORWARD. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. THANKS, CHIEF. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 8. >> GAVITO: SO MOVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND . WE'VE LARGELY HAD DISCUSSION BUT IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE ITEM? OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM 8. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL TAKE A TEN-MINUTE . >> ALL RIGHT, THE TIME IS NOW 11:03, AND COUNCIL IS BACK FROM THEIR BREAK. ITEM 6 AND 7 WILL BE BRIEFED AND DISCUSSED TOGETHER, CITY [ITEMS FOR BRIEFING ONLY] CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION FOR ITEM 6 AND 7. ITEM NUMBER 6 IS BRIEFING ON THE UPDATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK TO INCLUDE THE NELSON W. WOLFF MUNICIPAL STADIUM DRAFT CONCEPT DESIGN, AND ITEM NUMBER 7 IS A BRIEFING ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S 2027-2028 INCENTIVE GUIDELINES. >> THANK YOU, CAN WE HAVE THE STAFF PRESENTATION. >> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL, I'M BRENDA HICKS SORRENSON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAD AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK IN OCTOBER OF 2022. THE INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE BRIEF OWNING TODAY IS THE UPDATE OF THAT FRAMEWORK. REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AGAIN IT WAS NOT TO COMPLETELY REDO EVERYTHING BUT REALLY EVALUATE HOW WE HAD DONE, WHERE CONTINUED OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD, REAL QUICKLY, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES FROM THE 2022 REPORT, AND THE KEY METRICS, ONE TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE FUNDS PAID TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES VIA THE SBEDA PROGRAM, THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE TRANSITION IN 2024, THE DIFFERENCE FROM [01:45:05] FISCAL YEAR 23-26 TO FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND 2022 WAS 135 MILLION, HERE YOU WILL SEE OVER $1 BILLION PAID TO SMALL BUSINESSES VIA THAT PROGRAM, AND THESE ARE FROM FISCAL YEAR 23 TO 26, AND THAT IS AGAIN 14% INCREASE FROM THE 2019 TO 2022 PERIOD. THE TOTAL CORPORATE INVESTMENT INCLUSIVE OF FOREIGN AND DIRECT INVESTMENT WAS $7.5 MILLION FOR THAT 4 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME. THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE $3.2 MILLION -- EXCUSE ME, $3.2 BILLION FROM THAT 2019 TO 2022 PERIOD OF TIME. . ALSO, ON THE JOBS CREATED, SO WHILE THERE WERE OVER 15,000 JOBS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THAT IS ADMITTEDLY A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THE PRIOR FOUR YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, APPROXIMATELY 1600 JOBS, HOWEVER, THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE SHIFT IN A LOT OF THE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES, AND WHICH WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT LATER, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE ACTIVITY THAT TARGET INDUSTRIES, THE BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH, AS WE FOCUS ON SOME OF THOSE HIGHER PAYING QUALITY JOBS. I DO WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT AS WE UPDATED THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, WE DID PARTNER WITH TIP STRATEGIES. JOINING ME TODAY IS CEO AND FOUNDER OF TIP STRATEGIES, ALEXIS, CONSULTANT WITH TIP STRATEGIES, AND VICE PRESIDENT WITH TIP STRATEGIES. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JOHN TO COVER THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. >> GOOD MORNING. MAYOR PRO TEM, AND COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRENT AT THAT. I'M JOHN CARAS WITH TIP STRATEGIES, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE AT THIS POINT WITH THE 90 TO 95% COMPLETE STAGE OF THE FRAMEWORK UPDATE. AS BRENDA MENTIONED, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS AND PROGRESS ON JOB CREATION, ATTRACTION, SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DATA, SO WHEN YOU ASK WHAT HAS INFORMED THE FRAMEWORK UPDATE, A LOT OF DATA, A LOT OF QUALITATIVE INPUT, AS WELL AS EXPERIENCE, AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE KEY FINDINGS HERE ON THIS SLIDE, BUT I WANTED TO REITERATE, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH MOMENTUM ON THINGS LIKE INNOVATION, WE HEARD THAT A LOT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOMENTUM ON THE SITE DEVELOPMENT AND REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO, AND ACROSS THE REGION, AND ONE OF THE OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS, THE AIRPORT I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO JESUS, WHEN WE DID THE FOUR YEARS AGO FRAMEWORK INITIALLY, THERE WERE SOMEWHERE AROUND 30 TO 35 NONSTOP FLIGHTS, NOW YOU'RE UP ALMOST TO 50, THERE'S SO MUCH PROGRESS, OF COURSE WE DO UNDERSTAND THERE'S CHALLENGING DYNAMICS IN TERMS OF EXTERNAL FACTORS, AND LOCAL BUDGET DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAD TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. NOW, WE DID APPRECIATE THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM EACH OF YOU AS WELL AS GETTING TO MEET WITH THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND SOMETHING NEW THAT WE DID THIS TIME, WE REALLY BROUGHT IN A LOT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, SO WE HAD A 50 MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I THINK A COUPLE OF FOLKS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WAS PART OF THAT, WE MET WITH THEM THREE TIMES AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES, RAISED THEIR HANDS AND SIGNED UP TO BE AN ONGOING COMMITTEE. WE'RE CALLING IT THE LEVEL UP TASK FORCE TO HELP CARRY OUT SOME OF THE STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS IN THE UPDATE, WE ALSO DID A SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY AND GOT OVER 180 RESPONSES FROM SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY THAT REPRESENT PROBABLY ABOUT 5 TO 10,000 TOTAL JOB, SO PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL CROSS SECTION, AND WE ALSO MET WITH SITE SELECTORS, A SMALL GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE WORKED ON PROJECTS THAT EITHER LANDED IN SAN ANTONIO OR CONSIDERED SAN ANTONIO TO GET THEIR RAW UNFILTERED FEEDBACK. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ASTERISKS ON THIS LIST, WE HEARD SOME OF THE SAME THINGS FROM THOSE EXTERNAL SITE SELECTORS THAT WE HEARD FROM INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. CERTAINLY A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AROUND EMERGING SECTOR, SITE DEVELOPMENT, BETTER -- BETTER TELLING THE STORY OF THE CITY AS A BUSINESS DESTINATION, SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, TONS OF DATA AS WELL THAT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME LOOKING AT. IT'S LINKED ON I THINK PAGE 4 OF THE FRAMEWORK. THERE'S A LINK TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE INTERACTIVE DATA ANALYSIS. I WANT TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE TARGET INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES. WE'VE RETAINED THE SAME FIVE BROAD CATEGORIES FROM THE FRAMEWORK FOUR YEARS AGO, BUT WE'VE REALLY HONED IN ON A LOT OF THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AND SPECIALTY [01:50:01] AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGY, AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING, AEROSPACE, DEFENSE MANUFACTURING, ALL UNDER THAT FIRST CATEGORY, SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ON OUR RADARS AS MUCH FOUR YEARS AGO WAS AI, BOTH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE, TO BUILD OUT THAT CYBERSECURITY, AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORY. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE FIVE TARGET INDUSTRIES, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. SO THE OVERALL GOALS, THE THREE MAJOR GOALS WE'VE RETAINED THEM. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS LOOKED AT NEW AND ENHANCED STRATEGIES WITHIN EACH OF THOSE AREAS. SO I'LL DO A VERY QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF THE DETAIL ON GOAL TWO, ON THE NEXT ONE. BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, GOAL ONE, A MUCH GREATER EMPHASIS ON INNOVATION, WE'VE HEARD THAT A LOT, WE'VE SEEN THAT IN THE DATA. WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PARTNERS FROM GREATER SATX TO GEEKDOM, REALLY BUILDING OUT THAT RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, THE MEDICAL CENTER, SO THAT INNOVATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW UNDER GOAL ONE, AS A MAJOR FOCUS, AND THEN CONTINUING TO ATTRACT GLOBAL INVESTMENT IS SOMETHING THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS, WE SEE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THERE. I'M GOING TO JUMP TO GOAL 3, WHICH IS REALLY ALL ABOUT ECONOMIC MOBILITY. SO THAT'S -- YOU CAN ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND HELP YOUR COMPANIES GROW, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR EXISTING RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES? THAT'S WHERE THE FUTURE OF READY TO WORK, WHICH CONGRATULATIONS ON THE THREE IEDC GOLD AWARDS THAT I THINK MIKE WILL BE WITH US IN NEW ORLEANS AT OUR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH THE GLOBAL TEAMS RECEIVING AWARD IN A COUPLE OF WEEK, BUT REALLY THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY WORKFORCE TRAINING AND A MORE HOLISTIC LOOK AT THE ENTIRE TALENT ECOSYSTEM. AND THEN THE CAPACITY AND RESOURCES, WE KNOW THAT THE TOOLS, THE PARTNERSHIPS, I MENTIONED THE IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE, THE LEVEL-UP COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO GOING AFTER ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO THE QUICK KIND OF GLIMPSE INTO SOME OF THE DETAIL ON GOAL 2, REALLY WHAT'S NEW HERE IS WE'VE TRIED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT THAT ALREADY HAPPENING, BUT NEED TO CONTINUE AND ACCELERATE. SO IN 2022, THE FRAMEWORK REALLY JUST LUMPED ALL PLACE AND REAL ESTATE INTO ONE GOAL. WE'VE TAKEN 2.1, WHICH IS REALLY FOCUSING ON EXISTING AREAS, THE MAJOR ONES, SUCH AS DOWNTOWN, AND THE PORT, AND BROOKS, BUT ALSO COMMUNITY AREAS, WE'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TEAM'S WORK ON NELSON WOLFF REDEVELOPMENT HERE IN A MINUTE AS ONE EXAMPLE. AND THEN 2.2 IS A NEW EMPHASIS ON THOSE NEW BUSINESS SITES, AND WE PARTNERED WITH A FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN SITE SELECTION TO HELP LOOK ALONG WITH GREATER SATX, CPS, SAWS, AND OTHER PARTNERS ON WHERE THE NEW INDUSTRIAL SITES THAT COULD BE POSITIONED SO THAT YOU'RE READY TO ATTRACT THOSE ADDITIONAL ADVANCED MANUFACTURERS AND OTHER COMPANIES. AND THEN OF COURSE CONTINUING TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE YOUR CULTURAL AND LEGACY BUSINESS CORRIDORS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF GOAL 2. SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO BRENDA. >> THANK YOU, JOHN. AND AS MENTIONED, THE NELSON W. WOLFF MUNICIPAL STADIUM IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORK THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ADDED TO OUR PLATE, IF YOU WILL, AND OUR OPPORTUNITIES, AS PART OF THAT, ON GOING 2022 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. PRIOR TO THAT, REDEVELOPMENT PLACE MAKING WASN'T REALLY ON OUR RADAR, SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE FACADE GRANT, AND OUTDOOR SPACES USING ARPA FUNDING, WE'VE CONTINUED TO USE REVITALIZE SA, AND NEW STADIUM NOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE AND BUILD UPON THOSE EFFORTS. AS PART OF THE WOLFF STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT REVIEW, WE DID PARTNER WITH WEST EAST AND JOINING US TODAY IS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL IMPACT STUDIO AS WELL THEN SUBCONTRACTOR, HYATT BROWN, WHO IS THEIR PUBLIC AND INSTITUTIONAL REAL ESTATE MANAGER, AND THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THOSE. SO REALLY QUICKLY, WOULD LIKE TO JUST HIGHLIGHT WITH WOLFF STADIUM, THE SITE IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES STARTING IN APRIL OF 2029. ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE SITE COULD BE AT THIS POINT IN TIME WAS TARGETING THE NEXT BOND ELECTIONS, SO IN THE LIST YOU'VE RECEIVED, THERE IS FUNDING FOR THE [01:55:04] WOLFF STADIUM SITE, BASED UPON THE CONCEPT THAT WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING TODAY. AND AS PART OF THAT, WE REALLY WANTED THIS TO BE A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROCESS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT THE MARKET ANALYSIS INDICATED. SO HERE YOU'LL SEE WE'VE HAD THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DATE. THERE IS ALSO AN ONLINE SURVEY CONDUCTED. AND THEN WEST EAST ALSO HELD STAKEHOLDER SESSIONS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THERE IS A PRIVATELY OWNED FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE WOLFF STADIUM SITE, AND WHEN I'M REFERRING TO WOLFF STADIUM SITE, I'M REALLY LOOKING AT ALL OF THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, THE HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED THERE, THERE'S ALSO LEVI STRAUSS PARK, GOMEZ PARK, WE ASKED THE WEST EAST TEAM TO LOOK AT THAT ENTIRE AREATOR THE BEST HIGHEST USE, AS PART OF THAT, THERE WAS ALSO THIS MARKET ANALYSIS COMPLETED, AND THAT WAS DONE BY HYATT BROWN, AND THAT MARKET RESEARCH WAS TO REALLY IDENTIFY THE USES THE SITE COULD SUPPORT, IN THAT EARLY PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. IT COVERED THREE AREAS SUCH AS D DEMOGRAPHICS, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND MARKET FEASIBILITY. THE MARKET FEASIBILITY WORK ANALYZED NINE POTENTIAL REUSES WHICH YOU WILL SEE HERE ON THAT CHART ON THE RIGHT, AND THAT LOOKED AT NEARBY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, RENTAL RATE GROWTH, AND OCCUPANCY AT COMPARABLE PROPERTIES. AND THEN BASED ON THAT ANALYSIS, THE SITE BEST SUPPORTS A MIX OF USES INCLUDING SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING, PRICED UNDER $250,000, MEDICAL OFFICE, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL RETAIL AND COMMUNITY RECREATION ELEMENTS. ALL OF THAT WAS PRESENTED AS PART OF THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ITERATIVE PROCESS. THESE MARKETS USES SUGGESTING EARLY PHASE DELIVERY THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS RENDERING HERE. YOU WILL SEE IN THE LOWER -- THE LOWER RIGHT SITE WHICH WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO AS SITE 1, THAT IS RETAIL, SURROUNDING WHAT IS A COMMUNITY COMMON SHOWING HERE, THAT IS THE EXISTING WOLFF STADIUM INFIELD. SO THERE'S A TRACK AROUND IT, REALLY A LOT OF ACTIVITY, REUSING PORTIONS OF THE STADIUM AS ITS DECOMMISSION. THE PARKLAND THROWS -- FLOWS THROUGHOUT THE SITE, AND REALLY FOCUSES ON CONNECTIVITY AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY REQUESTED. WORKING OUR WAY KIND OF COUNTDOWNTER CLOCKWISE, YOU WILL SEE HOUSING ON WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE SECOND SITE. IF GOMEZ PARK AREA, MIRACLE FIELD IS THERE, AND THEN THE AREA BETWEEN WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO AS AREA 3, SO THE AREA BETWEEN GOMEZ PARK AND HEADQUARTERS IS A INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER. AND THEN YOU HAVE DARNER HEADQUARTERS, AND UP IN THAT AREA, THAT'S CALLED AREA 4, NEAR THAT LEVI STRAUSS TRAIL AREA IS AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING, MIXED OFFICE, WHICH INCLUDES LIKE THAT MEDICAL CLINIC FOR EXAMPLE, SOME POTENTIAL RETAIL, AND AREA 5 IS THE BUFFER BETWEEN THAT PRIVATELY OWNED COMMERCIAL FACILITY THAT YOU WILL SEE THERE, AND THEN THE RETAIL AND THE PLAZA, AND THAT IS FLEX USE SPACE, COMMERCIAL SPACE, REALLY HOPING THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES COMING OUT OF PORT, AND THE JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE PHASING. AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS, SO AS OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT ITSELF, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGHER DENSITY, A LITTLE BIT OF SHIFTING ON THE TYPES OF HOUSING FOR EXAMPLE, RETAIL MAY BE ABLE TO BE BUILT OUT A LITTLE BIT LARGER, BUT REALLY THE FIRST PHASE IS WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO AS PHASE 0, AND THAT'S THAT SITE PREPARATION. SO CONTINUING TO INVEST IN GOMEZ PARK, AND THEN WHEN THE SITE BECOMES AVAILABLE, REALLY BEING ABLE TO -- AGAIN, ASSUMING BOND FINANCING, OR LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS THERE ARE, IN 2029 DECOMMISSIONING THE STADIUM, BUILDING OUT THAT AREA ONE PARK AMENITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT IN PHASE II, STARTING IN 2032, REALLY START TO LOOK AT THE RETAIL AND BUILDING OUT THE REST OF THE SITE. IT IS A LONGER TERM OPPORTUNITY. YOU WILL SEE HERE THAT IT IS FULL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTED IN 2046. SO THAT CONCLUDES THE -- THAT CONCLUDES THE INFORMATION ON THAT SLIDE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE'RE NOW GOING TO FLIP, IF WE COULD, TO THE INCENTIVES PRESENTATION, AND I'LL JUMP [02:00:02] INTO THAT. THE INCENTIVES FOR UNDER STATE LAW CHAPTER 312380, WE DO LOOK AT EVERY TWO YEARS UNDER THAT CHAPTER 312 TAX ABATEMENT, SO OUR CURRENT POLICY EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND WE ALWAYS UNDERTAKE A ROBUST STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. WHICH I WILL HIGHLIGHT. OKAY. IT'S PULLING UP. SO WITH THAT, WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY IS REALLY THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING, SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF FEATURES WITHIN THAT CURRENT FRAMEWORK OR CURRENT GUIDELINES THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN, AS WE GO THROUGHOUT. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ANY INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION, 10% OF THAT IS INVESTED IN SMALL WOMEN MINORITY BUSINESSES. THERE'S A NUMBER OF SAFETY ITEMS THAT WE ASK THE COMPANIES TO CONTINUE. ALL OF THAT STAYS THE SAME. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON ARE THOSE HIGHLIGHTS. IN 2027-28 POLICY, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE PRIORITIES AGAIN BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM THE FRAMEWORK AND WHATNOT, ADVANCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ENHANCE OUR COMPETITIVENESS, AND SUPPORT INVESTMENT, AS WELL AS ALIGN WITH THOSE BROADER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, SPECIFICALLY, THESE WERE THE UNDERLYING PRIORITIES AND GOALS THAT WE HEARD, AND BUILD THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, SO YOU WILL SEE HERE, WE HAD A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AROUND SPECIFIC TOPICS, LIKE INNOVATION, JOB CREATION, PLACE MAKING. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN WE HAD OVER 70 ORGANIZATIONS WERE INVITED, AND 30 OF WHICH PARTICIPATED, AND THEY PARTICIPATED IN ROUND TABLES, INTERVIEWS, THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS ENGAGED IN THE INCENTIVE CONVERSATION SURVEYS. WE MET WITH FOR EXAMPLE, EXISTING COMPANIES WHO HAVE INCENTIVES WITH US TOO, HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND HOW IT'S WORKING, THAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE. KEY REVISIONS, I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM. KEY REVISIONS I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE WAGE DATA SOURCE. WE CURRENTLY USE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, ACS INFORMATION. WE LOOK AT THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE. THAT TENDS TO LAG A LITTLE BIT, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE SWITCH TO QCW. THAT IS BASED, IT'S MORE TIMELY, AS IT'S BASED ON THE EMPLOYER TAX FILINGS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, SO YOU GET TO SEE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE REALTIME, IT'S A LITTLE MORE RELEVANT TO THE MARKET CONDITIONS, AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THE STATE OF TEXAS UTILIZES IN THEIR TEXAS ENTERPRISE FUND AND SO FORTH. SO IT ALIGNS, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE SIMPLE FOR OUR COMPANIES INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAGE. WE HAVE A JOINT APPLICATION WITH BEXAR COUNTY SO WE ARE OF COURSE FREQUENTLY PARTNERING WITH THEM. THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SWITCHING TO QCW, IT WOULD REALLY ALIGN ALL THREE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE REGULARLY LOOK AT. QCW INCLUDES ALL TAXABLE INCOME. SO IF THERE'S SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS, IF THERE'S ANY OVERTIME FOR EXAMPLE, BONUSES PAID, THAT IS INCLUDED, SO AGAIN, IT'S A MORE REALISTIC LOOK AT WHAT THE WAGES ARE PAID. WE CURRENTLY WAGE INDEX ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THAT WAS NEW IN THE CURRENT POLICY, AND WE BASE THAT ON THE ACTUALS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE COMPANY IS THERE'S THAT LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY, SO THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED WAS THAT IT WOULD JUST BE EASIER TO DO A SET AMOUNT, SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING 3% ANNUAL INCREASE, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT THE ACTUAL AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN. THE ACTUAL SHIFTS IN ACS HAVE BEEN ABOUT 2.3, 2.4% ON AN AVERAGE BASIS, SO AGAIN WITH A 3% FIXED, IT ADDRESSES WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO ACHIEVE, IF YOU WILL, WITH WAGE INDEXING, AT THE SAME TIME GIVES THE CUSTOMER AND THE CLIENT CERTAINTY MOVING FORWARD. THE WAGE THRESHOLD, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF PERCENTAGES, SO I APOLOGIZE. OUR CURRENT POLICY ALLOWS FOR -- WE ASK THAT 100% OF ALL JOBS ARE AT THE CITY MINIMUM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY $18 AN HOUR, AND THE 90 PIER90% OF THE JOBS MUST MEAN 80% OF THE MINIMUM WAGE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING WE MAINTAIN THAT 10% AT THE COSA MINIMUM, 80% OF THE JOBS MUST MEET 80% OF THE QCW WAGE. THAT SHIFT FROM 90% TO 80% ALLOWS FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ECONOMIC MOBILITY. A NUMBER OF OUR TARGET [02:05:03] INDUSTRIES, LIKE CYBERSECURITY, BIOMEDICAL, HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS THAT UNFORTUNATELY AREN'T QUITE AT THAT 25.15, BUT HAS A LOT OF UPWARD MOBILITY IN A PRETTY SHORT ORDER OF TIME. SO AGAIN, IT ALLOWS FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY. THIS 80% OF QCW IS ALSO CONTINUES TO BE A STRETCH FOR SAN ANTONIO, ABOUT 50% OF THE METRO JOBS WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS IS AT THAT LEVEL. SO AGAIN, IT DOES CONTINUE TO BE A STRETCH FOR US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THE OTHER ITEM I JUST REALLY WANT TO QUICKLY TOUCH UPON IS WE ARE RECOMMENDING A SHIFT IN THE MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY JOB THRESHOLD FROM 50 TO 25, AGAIN, AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE TARGET INDUSTRIES LIKE BIO, LIKE THE IN CYBERAND SO FORTH, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT RAMP UP, AND WE TALKED ABOUT INNOVATION AND BEING ABLE TO SCALE UP, QUITE A FEW PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN AND WOULD STRENGTHEN OUR ECOSYSTEM IS IN THAT JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER 50, AND THEN THIS ALSO SUPPORTS EXISTING COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO GROW. NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT ON THE ABATEMENT REBATE PERCENTAGE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING FROM TWO -- OR THREE ENHANCEMENTS TO TWO ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE SHIFT FROM A BASE PERCENTAGE OF THAT 20 TO 70% RAGE FROM 25 TO 75, I WANT THE HIGHLIGHT, THOUGH, THE MAXIMUM CAP OF 95%, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT LAST ITEM, THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND, THE NEXT SLIDE COVERS IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL. BUT RIGHT NOW IN OUR CURRENT POLICY, 10% OF THE INCENTIVE VALUE IS DEDICATED TO A COMPANY WRAP AROUND SERVICE, WHETHER THAT'S CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION, OR TRAINING. SO WE MONITOR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WHAT THAT ABATEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THEN THE EQUIVALENT OF 10% NEEDS TO BE REINVESTED BY THE COMPANY BACK INTO THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, AND THAT IS AN AGREED UPON STRATEGY. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING WITH THIS -- WITH THESE REVISIONS IS THAT 5% OF THAT -- OF THE ACTUAL TAX REVENUE COLLECTED, SO AGAIN THE ABATEMENT OR THE INCENTIVE WOULD BE 95%, WE WOULD COLLECT FOR EXAMPLE, THAT 5%, THAT WOULD THEN BE SHIFTED INTO AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND FOR USE ON BASICALLY WHATEVER IS DECIDED BY THAT COUNCIL AT THAT POINT IN TIME TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY, IS ANYTHING THAT HELPS THOSE INDIVIDUALS ACCESS, RETAIN AND ADVANCE QUALITY EMPLOYMENT TO INCREASE EARNING POTENTIAL. TO BE REALISTIC, THERE LIKELY WOULD NOT BE FUNDING IN HERE IN THIS FUND FOR ANOTHER FIVE OR SO YEARS. IF WE -- SO JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, IF AN AGREEMENT IS APPROVED IN EARLY 2027, WE COMMIT WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, WE WOULD DEVELOP WHAT THAT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THEN WHEN THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD BECOME AN ANNUAL BUDGET DECISION BY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME BASED UPON THOSE PRIORITIES. THIS IS OUR RESPONSE. THERE WAS A CCR SUBMITTED FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS, AND WE WERE ASKED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT A CVA MIGHT LOOK LIKE ON INCENTIVIZED PROJECTS, SO THIS WAS THAT BALANCE, IF YOU WILL, RATHER THAN NEGOTIATE, WHICH WE FEEL WOULD IMPACT OUR COMPETITIVENESS WHEN TIMING AND CERTAINTY IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, THAT INSTEAD WE WOULD CARVE OUT THAT 5% FOR WHATEVER THAT IS DETERMINED AT THAT TIME. WE'RE MAKING A COUPLE OF MINOR CHANGES ON THE TIME LINE, IF YOU WILL, TO SIMPLIFY THAT ON THE TIER, AND THEN JUST REAL QUICKLY, ON THE STRATEGIC INDUSTRY PER JOB GRANT, WE'RE ALSO SIMPLIFYING THE TIERS. WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THE DISBURSEMENT TIMING IS SHIFTED. RIGHT NOW WE REQUIRE THAT WHEN THE JOB IS CREATED, THEY HAVE TO BE READING FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE THE RECIPIENT WOULD RECEIVE THE FUNDING. WE'RE RECOMMENDING, AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE SMALLER PROJECTS, CASH IS KING, IF YOU WILL, THE TIMING OF THE FUNDING IS IMPORTANT. SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT DISBURSEMENT IS ONCE THE HIRING TARGET IS MET, AND THEN THERE'S THAT THREE YEAR MAINTENANCE PERIOD REQUIRED. OF COURSE LIKE ALL OF OUR AGREEMENTS WE HAVE RECAPTURE, IF FOR SOME REASON THOSE POSITIONS ARE NOT RETAINED, WE WOULD RECAPTURE. JUMPING BACK UP TO THE R AND D, AS JOHN MENTIONED, INNOVATION WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS CERTAINLY [02:10:03] EMPHASIZED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS FOR THIS FRAMEWORK UPDATE. SO WE ARE PROPOSING IT BOTH AN R AND D TAX ABATEMENT REBATE OR GRANT AVAILABLES KIND OF MIRRORS WHAT YOU WILL OUR INDUSTRY PER JOB GRANT. LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE ARE PRO POTIONING A TRANSIENT CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE. HERE YOU WILL SEE ANYTHING THAT IS UP TO, OR AT LEAST 5 BILLION IN REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY, WE WOULD PROPOSE THERE'S A TAX ABATEMENT REBATE UP TO 50%, I DO WANT TO THIS IS FOR AREAS NOT LOCATED IN A TIRZ, OUR SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THESE INCENTIVES ARE AD VALOREM TAXES. THAT INCREMENT, IF YOU WILL, IS ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IN A TIRZ. SO HENCE THE EXCLUSION, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE TIRZ. BECAUSE DISPLACEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ARE A CONCERN OF COURSE, AS WE LOOK AT THE TODS. WE ARE ENCOURAGING AND HAVE AN ENHANCEMENT OF UP TO 20% FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, IF A DEVELOPER IS UTILIZING THIS INCENTIVE, THEY WOULD COMMIT TO SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH REDUCED RENT, CAPPED RENT INCREASES, SUPPORTING LEGACY BUSINESSES, IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. WE WOULD HAVE THAT AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND INCORPORATE THAT INTO THAT CONTRACT, AND MONITOR THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, JUST LIKE WE DO OTHER COMPLIANCE ITEMS. SO THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT ON-GOING SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES. SO WITH THAT, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE FRAMEWORK AGAIN TODAY IS JUST FOR BRIEFING PURPOSES, WE WILL LOOK TO BRING BACK THE FRAMEWORK FOR COUNCIL ACCEPTANCE AND CONSIDERATION ON NOVEMBER 5TH, AND LIKEWISE THE INCENTIVE POLICIES FOR ADOPTION ON NOVEMBER 5 AS WELL, THE INCENTIVE POLICIES BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, AND GO TWO YEARS, 2027 AND 28. THANK YOU. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF US AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU, BRENDA. THIS ITEM IS FOR BRIEFING ONLY, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION. IS THERE A QUEUE? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BEGIN WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ALL RIGHT. I THINK HE'S GOT IT. NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO -- I'M GOING TO GO DOWN THE ROW. COUNCILMAN KAUR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS -- OKAY. OKAY. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS, TWO OF THEM. I DID WANT TO GIVE COUNCILMAN GALVAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FIRST ON THE NELSON WOLFF PLAN, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T HAVE TOO, TOO MANY THOUGHTS OTHER THAN IT'S PHENOMENAL THE WORK AND THOUGHT Y'ALL ARE PUTTING INTO THIS EFFORT, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT IT YIELDS SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND AMAZING FOR FOLK ON THE FAR WEST SIDE. I THINK ABOUT PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONE, PROJECT MARVEL, THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ON THE EAST SIDE, AND SO IN THE DISTANT, NOT TOO DISTANT NEAR FUTURE, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY. WITH REGARD TO ITEM 7, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE GUIDELINES, I THINK WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SEE, WHAT I WANT TO GET TO, AND MAYBE ERIK CAN WALK THROUGH WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN IN THE SENSE THAT I -- IN A WAY THAT I THINK WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO FEEL CONFIDENT IN OUR ECONOMIC INCENTIVE POLICY. WHAT WE HEAR A LOT OF ESPECIALLY AS -- ESPECIALLY AS WE NAVIGATED A BUDGET DEFICIT, WHERE RESIDENTS WERE ASKED FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, AND A DECREASED SERVICES, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRITICISMS THAT WE GET IS THE TAX ABATEMENTS THAT WE GIVE TO MAJOR CORPORATIONS. AND I THINK -- TO MAJOR INDUSTRY, PRIVATE ENTITIES. AND WHAT I WOULD WONDER IS WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE -- NUMBER ONE, WHAT IS OUR GOAL WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS? I THINK WE HAVE CLEAR LIKE, HEY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD WANT TO SEE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO EARN AN INCENTIVE, BUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF INCENTIVES TO ACHIEVE AND A GOAL. DO WE KNOW WITH THE NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED, WHAT IS THE SPEND? WHAT DO WE GET ULTIMATELY IN SALES TAXES FROM THAT. WHAT CAN BE ASSOCIATED THERE? WHAT IS THE -- LARGELY, WHAT IS IT THAT IS GOING TO -- [02:15:04] WHAT IS IT THAT IS GOING TO COME INTO THE GENERAL FUND AS A RESULT OF OH AS A RESULT OF THESE INCENTIVES AND DOES IT OFFSET, YOU KNOW, 10, 20, $30 MILLION IN TAX ABATEMENTS? SO WHAT IS THE BALANCE AND HOW DO WE GET THERE? ULTIMATELY WHAT IS OUR GOAL? IS THE GOAL DECREASED POVERTY LEVELS? WHAT IS -- I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A MASTER PLAN IS A GOAL AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC INCENTIVES THAT WE NEED TO DO TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL? WHAT IS THE BALANCE? AND THEN ULTIMATELY, WE SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE IN ALLOCATING INCENTIVES. WE SHOULDN'T WAIT FOR EVERY DEVELOPER, OR ORGANIZATION, TO COME IN AND SAY, OH, I HAVE THIS IDEA, AND BECAUSE IT MEETS SEVERAL OF OUR REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, IT MAKES SENSE. I THINK WE NEED TO BE MUCH MORE STRATEGIC IN THAT SENSE. AND I DON'T KNOW QUITE YET THAT WE'RE THERE. BUT THAT'S THE FEEDBACK THAT I HAVE. THANK Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL'S WORK. I KNOW I'M ASKING SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASKED BY A COUNCIL, AND SO I THINK -- BUT I DO THINK THAT IS GOING TO -- IF WE THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT WAY, I THINK WE'LL SEE REALLY STRONG OUTCOMES FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. >> THAT FEEDBACK IS HELPFUL. I WOULD SAY, COUNCILMAN, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES AROUND THE ABATEMENT AND HOW QUALIFY, AND WE'VE GOT OUR TARGET INDUSTRIES, AND WE SHOULD BE -- WE SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THOSE AGENCIES, OR, I'M SORRY, INDUSTRIES. THE -- PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTED CHANGES, RECOMMENDED CHANGES WE'RE MAKING IS ON THE WAGE THRESHOLD, AND -- AND THAT'S -- THAT -- BRENDA WENT THROUGH THAT, BUT SHIFTING TO, FROM THE ACS MEDIAN WAGE, TO THE QCEW MEDIAN WAGE, THAT WAGE AT THE QCEW GETS UPDATED QUARTERLY, AND IS BASED ON REAL EARNINGS, AND THE ACS IS UPDATED ANNUALLY, AND IT'S A LITTLE TOO BROAD IN NATURE. AND SO WHILE YOU SEE THE STATIC COMPARISONS OF 2502 TO 2515, GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE QCEW IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE HIGHER, SO KIND OF WITHIN ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCENTIVIZING THOSE HIGHER WAGED OPPORTUNITIES, AND -- AND SO THE OTHER THING THAT -- AND YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, WE LOOK AT WHAT IS THE SALES TAX, AND EVEN THE -- AND EVEN FRANKLY THE CPS IMPACT OF INVESTMENTS, BECAUSE WHILE A POTENTIAL ABATEMENT CAN BE A LONGER TERM BUY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GROWTH IN THE CITY, THOSE EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS, THE SALES TAX, AND CPS REVENUE HAVE A MORE IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY AND OUR BUDGET. SO WE'LL TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE KIND OF BUILD IN, AND FOCUS IN ON GENERALLY WHAT IS OUR OVERALL GOAL, BECAUSE -- BRENDA JUST WENT THROUGH A WHOLE BUNCH OF DETAIL, AND SOMETIMES THAT GETS A LITTLE BIT LOST. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ I DO HEAR YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HEAR MY FEEDBACK. I'M LOOKING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE LOOK AT THE JUST TIER ONE FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S DO TWO TIER, BECAUSE IT'S EITHER/OR, $25 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, WE WOULD GIVE YEARS OF TAX ABATEMENT, OR THEY HIRE 200 EMPLOYEES, NEW JOBS. WHAT I WOULD WONDER IS DOES THAT 200 -- WHAT SAYS THAT THOSE ARE THE EQUIVALENTS? >> NOT COMPLETELY SURE, BUT COULD YOU PLEASE LEAVE THAT UP, I'M SORRY. THE WAY WE USE THIS TIER IS IN ORDER FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TIER THEY HAVE TO HIT ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, SO 25 MILLION OR 200 JOBS. ALL OF THOSE JOBS HAVE TO BE AT THAT WAGE CRITERIA THAT 100% AT $18 AN HOUR, AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, 80% OF QCEW. IF THEY HIT THAT 25 OR THAT 200, THEN THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO THAT 35% ABATEMENT AS THEIR BASE, FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS. [02:20:06] >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE'S A TRADE THERE, AND WHAT I THINK WE GET IN RESULT, SO IF SOMEONE IS ULTIMATELY GETTING A TAX ABATEMENT, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO RECEIVE, THE BALANCE THAT JOBS ARE CREATED, THOSE JOBS ALLOW FOR WAGES THAT ARE GOING TO EITHER INCREASE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAY BUILD HOMES, THEY MIGHT PURCHASE MORE THINGS, SO SALES TAX IS CONTRIBUTING. DO WE KNOW IF 35% OR 60 -- IF WE RECEIVE 65% OF THE PROPERTY'S PROPERTY TAX VALUE, DOES THE SPENDING OF 200 -- OF THOSE NEW JOBS, DOES THAT BALANCE OUT? >> UH-HUH. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND WE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW, I GUESS, WHAT IS THE SPENDING, AVERAGE SPEND OR AVERAGE SALES TAX CONTRIBUTION OF INDIVIDUALS AT DIFFERENT WAGES. I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE INFORMATION THAT IS MISSING. >> SO IT'S ACTUALLY WE USE N PLAN A SOFTWARE TOOL WE USE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENTS, SO WE RUN THAT ANALYSIS, BECAUSE IT DOES DEPEND UPON THE AGENCY. THESE ARE THE MINIMUM, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE 200 JOBS ARE AT $30 AN HOUR, THERE'S A DIFFERENT IMPACT THAN 200 JOBS AT THE $25 AN HOUR, AND SO WE DO RUN THAT FOR EVERY PROJECT. WE ALSO HAVE A LEVERAGE RATIO OF 10 TO 1, SO FOR EVERY $1 BEING INVESTED BY THE CITY, WE EXPECT TO HAVE AT LEAST A $10 PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT, SO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, AND THEN WE DO PRESENT THAT AND PROPOSE TO CONTINUE TO PRESENT THAT WHEN EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERED. AND THEN ALSO THAT'S THE MINIMUM INVESTMENT LEVEL, SO AGAIN, EVERY PROJECT IS ANALYZED ON A SPECIFIC BASIS DEPENDING UPON WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT THEY'RE MAKING. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. AND WE'RE ASSUMING THAT IF NOT FOR OUR INCENTIVE, ANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WOULD NOT HAPPEN? >> YES. IN FACT THE INCENTIVE POLICY SPECIFICALLY STATES IF THEY'VE ALREADY APPROACHED DSD, IF THEY ALREADY HAVE ANY KIND OF PERMIT APPLICATION IN, OR ANY OF THAT PROCESS, THAT THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES, AND THEN WE ALSO GO THROUGH A WHOLE -- WE CALL IT THE BUT FOR CONVERSATION, SO WE WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE OTHER COMPETITOR SITES ARE, AND SO WE DO CAPTURE THAT, BECAUSE WE DO WANT THESE TO BE COMPETITIVE. ON AVERAGE, THE TAX ABATEMENTS ARE ABOUT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, RUNAROUND 5 TO $6 MILLION A YEAR, THAT ARE ABATED FOR EXISTING PORTFOLIO. AND SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO AGAIN JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE RUNNING THAT ANALYSIS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS MY CONCERN REMAINS ABOUT THE VALUE IN EACH OF THESE INCENTIVES, AND WHAT DO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT DO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY EXPECT IN A DEAL LIKE THIS, OR ANY -- ANY ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PACKAGE ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO TAX ABATEMENTS IN LIGHT OF THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING TAX RATE INCREASES AND FEES AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I -- IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE CHECK THERE IS THAT THERE'S A SYSTEM -- THERE'S A SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO INPUT VALUES AND IT ULTIMATELY DETERMINES WHAT A BALANCE LOOKS LIKE? >> YES. AND AGAIN, WE PRESENT THAT FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I GUESS THE CHALLENGE THERE IS THAT, ONE, ANY INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM IS MAN MADE, IT CAN BE FLAWED. IT ALSO IS BASED ON VALUES THAT HAVE WE DISCUSSED WHAT THE VALUE IS FOR EACH OF THOSE INPUTS AND WHAT THE OUTPUT SHOULD -- SHOULD YIELD, OR WHAT THAT FORMULA LOOKS LIKE? WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY PROVIDED INPUT. HUMANS ARE FLAWED BY NATURE. IF THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE A SYSTEM ARE THE SAME PEOPLE DRIVING ON ROADS THE WAY THAT THEY DO, THAT'S -- IT'S NOT PERFECT. AND SO THAT'S I GUESS MY QUESTION REMAINED WHAT IS THE CHECK AND WHAT IS THE BALANCE AND HOW DO WE DETERMINE THE VALUE FOR EACH OF THOSE THINGS, AND SO I THINK SOME QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TO A BIGGER PLAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M -- THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GALVAN? PLEASE CLOCK IN IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU, PRESENT DID A, FOR THE PRESENTATION, FOR ALL THE WORK DONE BY YOUR TEAM, ALL THE FOLKS OF COURSE WHO HAVE BEEN HAND IN HAND ON THE STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS, WEST EAST, ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, OTHERS, JUST DEALING WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE THERE. OF COURSE THANKS AS WELL TO [02:25:01] ALEX FOR ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD, WITH ALL OF MY ANXIETY AND EXCITEMENT AS WELL RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS. WE'VE GONE THROUGH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ONE NEXT WEEK TO CONTINUE SHOWING OUR RESIDENTS WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THEM. I THINK AT THE HEART OF ALL OF THIS RIGHT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S REDEVELOPMENT OR DEVELOPMENT, IN A SPACE OF OUR CITY THAT IS AGING, THAT HAS HAD INVESTMENTS, CHANGE IN INVESTMENTS OVER TIME, BUT FRANKLY DESERVES SOME REINVIGORATION TO SUPPORT, ADDRESSING NEEDS THAT ARE THERE NOW, WHETHER IT'S DESIRE PARK SPACE, OPEN SPACE, COMMUNITIES TO GATHER, OR IT'S COMMERCIAL SPACE THAT INCLUDES RETAIL, MEDICAL OFFICES, AND MEDICAL SPACE, AS WELL AS GROCERY STORES AND OTHER KINDS OF DAILY NEEDS. ALL OF THOSE THINGS INCORPORATED INTO THIS CONCEPT PLAN, IT IS ALSO CONCEPTUAL, AT THE HEART OF IN THIS ENTIRE TIME, GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS, ONLINE, VISIT OUR OFFICE, ALL OF OUR ENGAGEMENTS, SEEING THE FOLKS WHO INITIALLY SAY I WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO HERE TO MY COMMUNITY AND TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. A VERY STAND OFF KIND OF APPROACH TO WHAT THE COMPETITION IS GOING TO BE, AND AFTER THE CONVERSATION ON THE FIRST TIME, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DARNER HEADQUARTERS, THEIR MIND SHIFTED TO TALKING ABOUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE CITY WHAT WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE FOLKS BROUGHT IN FRIENDS, FAMILY, MORE NEIGHBORS TO COME TO THE NEXT MEETING TO KEEP DISCUSSING WITH THE RESIDENTS, EACH OTHER, DISCUSS WITH STAFF, MY OFFICE AS WELL, WHAT THIS CAN ALL LOOK LIKE. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE ON SLIDE 9 FOR THE ITEM 6 PRESENTATION, BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT CONCEPT, THE OTHER PRESENTATION, FOR THE WOLFF STADIUM, TO SEE THE KIND OF FULL SCALE CONCEPT HERE INCORPORATING THE COMMUNITY SPACE, INCORPORATING THE PARK SPACE, CONNECTING TO THE TRAILWAYS NEARBY, ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, ALL OF IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF INVESTMENTS AS BRENDA SHOWCASED, THE LONG-TERM PLAN HERE, EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BE BY THE TIME I'M IN MY 40S, I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE WHAT IS AN INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT DOWNTOWN, AT BROOKS, ON THE EAST SIDE AS WELL, AND THEN OF COURSE HERE WE'LL STAY ON THE WEST SIDE, RESIDENTS MADE VERY CLEAR, THIS IS A SLIDE THAT THE DARNER BUILDING THAT OUR PARKS AND RECREATION FOLKS OFFER OUT OF WAS ONCE THE LEVI STRAUSS BUILDING, WORKED AT, CREATED SOMETHING TANGIBLE IN TERMS OF THEERIUM AND ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE ENTIRE CITY, BEING ABLE TO INVIGORATE THAT LIFE AND SUPPORT BACK HERE, WITH DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE FLEX SPACE AREA TOO, EXCITED TO HAVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF OUR CITY, RESIDENTS ON THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY HAVE COME, TOO, TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY CENTER, SPACE FOR SENIORS, AND YOUTH ALIKE, AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A ALMOST ENTIRELY PUBLICLY-OWNED AREA THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE IS VERY EXCITING. I KNOW I'M RAMBLING ON ABOUT MY EXCITEMENT FOR THE PROJECT. I WANTED TO SAY I THINK IT'S SOMETHING OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES, ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS WATCHING AT HOME, LISTENING TO SEE WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE, TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST TO MYSELF, BUT OF COURSE FUTURE DISTRICT 6 COUNCILMEMBERS AS WELL AS FOLKS IN THE AREA WHO REPRESENT THIS SIDE OF TOWN. I MEAN, ALL THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER TO CREATE SOME REAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO TO CREATE SOME REAL PUBLIC SPACE HERE, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE DETAILS, BRENDA AND I TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS OF SELLING AND LEASING AND DOING WHAT OTHER KIND OF METRICS WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THIS ALL HAPPEN, AND SO I THINK THAT WILL BE OF COURSE WE NEED IT TO BE TO GO THROUGH WHAT'S POSSIBLE HERE, WHAT CHANGES WE GET, HOW THE CONCEPT PLAN MAY CHANGE AND SHIFT IN TERMS OF HOUSING, COMMERCIAL SPACE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, OFFICE SPACE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO DURING THAT TIME IS OF COURSE BE ABLE TO COME BACK HERE, I KNOW WE WILL, WHETHER TO COUNCIL, OR WEDC, GOING BACK TO THE RESIDENTS, HERE IS WHAT THE RFI IS GOING TO SHOW US, BASED ON THIS CONCEPT, WHAT KIND OF COMMERCIAL SPACE WE CAN SEE HERE, JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, AND HOUSING OPTIONS TOO, RESHAPE THE RESIDENTS NOT ONLY SAYING THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE FOREVER, MAKING SURE THEY'RE AWARE IT CAN CHANGE AND SHIFT BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE TIME. SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. I THINK WITH DEVELOPMENT, WE CAN DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH REPRESENTATION, IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE WITH THE MASTER PLAN, WE CAN HAVE A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD AT SOME TIME. THOSE ARE SOME OF MY INITIAL THOWPGHTS WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS, AGAIN, JUST VERY EXCITED AND PROUD OF THE WORK DONE THUS FAR, GRATEFUL [02:30:04] FOR THE SUPPORT AND ALIGNMENT Y'ALL HAVE SHARED WITH MY OFFICE AND I, AND FOR ALL THE DOOR KNOCKING WE DID TOGETHER. TOO. SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE UPDATE, SHIFTING OVER TO THAT PRESENTATION, ALSO THE FRAMEWORK LOOKS GREAT, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. SHIFTING OVER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER UPDATES, I SHARE THE POINTS THAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED MAKING SURE WE'RE GETTING A REAL COST EFFECTIVE VALUE HERE FOR WHAT WE SAW ON SLIDE 7 THERE. MAKE SURE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS REALLY GENERATING WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR CITY, MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING OURSELVES OUT OF THESE BUDGET DEFICITS THAT WE'RE FACING HERE. OF COURSE IT'S THE INTENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT SOLE INTENT, BUT CRITICAL TO LOOK AT MORE AND MORE AS YOU SEE OUR STATE LAW CHANGES TO IMPACT OUR BUDGETS FRANKLY. I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND, AND I KNOW BRENDA AND, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK AS WELL, I GUESS I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THE PROCESS WILL BE PLAYED OUT WITH SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS TOO AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT YEAR. COULD YOU GO THROUGH AGAIN ONCE THIS GOES INTO FRUITION, HOW WE SEE IT IMPLEMENTED? IS IT THROUGH CITY STAFF. CITY DEPARTMENTS BEING UTILIZED THIS MONEY, SELECTED FOR THAT, OUR COUNCIL DISCRETION TO GO THROUGH THAT? >> SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THAT BEING A COUNCIL DECISION AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO AGAIN, BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES ARE AT THE TIME, IF IT'S FOR EXAMPLE, TRAINING THAT'S DETERMINED, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TRAINING PROGRAM, OR WE HAVE A PARTNER THAT HAS A TRAINING PROGRAM, THAT'S A DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AT THAT TIME DURING THAT BUDGET PROCESS. SO THERE IS PRECEDENCE FOR THIS, BOTH IN THE HOUSING FUND THAT IS AVAILABLE, AND THEN EVEN WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND, WE HAVE HAD PROJECTS IN THE PAST WHERE THEY'VE HAD TO DEDICATE FUNDING TO -- ONE EXAMPLE FOR EXAMPLE, TRAINING, AND THAT IS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND, AND SO THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, AND THEN AGAIN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WHEN THERE'S FUNDS AVAILABLE, COUNCIL WOULD DETERMINE HOW THAT LOOKS IF IT'S AN INTERNAL DEPARTMENT OR THAT EXTERNAL. >> OKAY. STILL BE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE COMPETING FOR THE INCENTIVES TO REVIVE JOB TRAINING ON SITE, DOING ANY KIND -- I KNOW THE LOCAL HIRING COMPONENT AS WELL, WHAT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IN THIS IS THAT COUNTY ALSO PAY INTO THIS FUND IN SOME WAY AND NOT DIRECT SUPPORT ON SITE TO GET MORE FOLKS ENGAGED IN THAT WORK THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING, WHAT DOES THAT BALANCE LOOK LIKE OR WHAT DO THOSE CONVERSATIONS LOOK LIKE? >> ANY COMPANY THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, GREATER SATX IS WORKING WITH, WE REALLY, AS WE TARGET AND PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES, WE REALLY DO LOOK AT THOSE GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS IF YOU WILL, AND AGAIN, COMPANIES NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE, AND TO BE COMPETITIVE, THEY NEED TO REINVEST IN THEIR WORKFORCE. THEY NEED TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I THINK, YOU KNOW, JCB IS A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE. YES, THEY'RE RECEIVING INCENTIVES. YES, THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE 1500 JOBS, BUT BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN ROLLED OFF A SINGLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, THEY WERE INVESTING IN HAVEN FOR HOPE. THEY WERE INVESTING IN OUR ISDS, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENS THAT WE REALLY ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH, AND THEN CONVERSELY, AS WE'RE TALKING TO THEM, AS THEY'RE STARTING TO BRING IN THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REINVESTING AND CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THOSE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. QUITE HONESTLY, WHETHER WE ARE REQUIRE THAT 10% INVESTMENT OR NOT, AND THAT'S AGAIN IN PART WHILE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE SHIFTING FROM THAT 10% DIRECTLY TO THE EMPLOYEES TO THOSE 5% TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY INPUTS. >> GALVAN: THAT'S HELPFUL, I GUESS WHAT I WORRY ABOUT, I DON'T THINK, BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE DON'T SEE THE SAME COMPANY WHO IS COMING HERE ALSO GETTING THE SAME MONEY DIRECTLY FUND, I FEEL IT'S GOING THE SAME PLACE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S YOUR SPENT OF COURSE, MAKE BROAD SCALE, COMPETITIVE, INVESTMENT IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM BROADLY, INFRASTRUCTURE AS NEEDED OF COURSE RELATED TO THAT AS WELL, SO I WANT TO SEE SOME OF THOSE MORE FINER GUIDELINES, WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT OF COURSE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS I'M SURE, LIKELY THE EWDC AS WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME MORE STRICTER GUIDELINES THERE. THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP IS COUNCILWOMAN MARINA ALDRETE-GAVITO FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN SPEARS. [02:35:03] >> ALDERETE-GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, AND ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS, YOU'VE TAKEN INTO THIS POINT. WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ARE HELPING RECRUIT BUSINESSES HERE, AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES HERE, AND NOT DOING THE OPPOSITE. ON SLIDE NUMBER 2, ON THE FIRST PRESENTATION, I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT WE DO NEED -- WELL, I WON'T SAY THAT. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT STORY -- OUR PITCHING COMPANIES, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH GREATER SATX, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY EVERY SINGLE PITCH IS CUSTOMIZED TO WHO WE'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT, BUT I -- AND WE CAN TAKE THIS OFFLINE, I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE FOUNDATION FRAMEWORK LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE ARE PITCHING SAN ANTONIO. I THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF OPINIONS AND INPUT HERE THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTH GATHERING THAT FEEDBACK ON TO, BECAUSE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY CLOSE TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND WE KNOW -- WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER A THING OR TWO, INPUT ON WHAT THAT STORY LOOKS LIKE, SIR. SORRY. LET'S SEE, ON SLIDE 6, I KNOW THAT MY TEAM AND I HAVE TALKED TO Y'ALL A LOT ABOUT ACTIVATING THE DECO CORRIDOR, BETWEEN DISTRICT 7 AND DISTRICT 1, SO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE DECO DISTRICT UP HERE SO WHATEVER Y'ALL CAN DO TO SUPPORT THAT, PLEASE LET US KNOW, MY DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB WORKING ON A SMART GROWTH GRANT PROJECT FOR THE AREA, SO WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP Y'ALL LOOPED IN ON OUR PROGRESS ON THAT, BUT WE'RE ACTIVATING ON IT, A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA ARE ACTIVATING, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT IT'S A -- IT'S A HUB FOR NEW BUSINESSES AND ACTIVITY, SO WE JUST -- WE'RE TRYING ALL LET'S SEE. ON SLIDE 9, I WOULD ECHO MUCH OF WHAT COUNCILMAN GALVAN HAS SAID. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE BENEFIT AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT IT'S DONE RIGHT. ON THE OTHER PRESENTATION, SLIDES 4 AND 5, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE CHANGES. AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF REDUCING SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS. I THINK WE NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH WHAT AND HOW WE'RE RECRUITING COMPANIES. SOMETIMES I THINK OVER RESTRICTING OUR GUIDELINES AND PARAMETERS CAN DO THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. THAT'S REALLY ABOUT IT. BUT THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS AND WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BE SUPPORTIVE HOWEVER BEST WE CAN. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS FOLLOWED BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> SPEARS: THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, BRENDA. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE WAY THE WEST EAST PROJECT IS GOING TO TURN OUT. THIS IS BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S GOING TO HELP US AS WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE INDUSTRIES AND COMPANIES TO COME HERE TO SAN ANTONIO. SO I'M EXCITED WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN GALVAN. I'M GOING TO JUMP TO THE INCENTIVES. I THINK ON THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND -- I KNOW YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PRIME IT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, PROBABLY. SO ARE WE FOCUSING KIND OF ON SMALL BUSINESSES? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SMALL BUSINESSES AND PIPELINE INDUSTRY AS A FOCUS THERE, I GUESS IS A BETTER WAY TO SAY IT. I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING TO THE QCEW MODEL BECAUSE IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR COMPANIES TO JUST PUT IN THEIR INCENTIVE APPLICATIONS WITH THE STATE AND THEN HERE LOCALLY AND IT CORRELATES -- IT WILL EXPEDITE THE PROCESS. I ALSO THINK THIS AFFORDS US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY AND FLUIDITY. IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL LOOKED AT SOME OF OUR PEER CITIES. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WHAT PEER CITIES WE'RE LOOKING AT? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: SURE. WE LOOKED AT BOTH THE TEXAS CITIES AS WELL AS NATIONAL CITIES. IF YOU COULD PLEASE BRING UP SLIDES 13, 14 -- 13 FIRST ON THE INCENTIVE. SO HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE -- WE HAVE A MUCH LARGER SPREADSHEET BUT YOU CAN SEE WE OF COURSE ALWAYS BENCHMARK SAN ANTONIO. HERE WE INCLUDE AUSTIN, [02:40:03] DALLAS, EL PASO, FORT WORTH, AND HOUSTON ON THOSE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS AS THEY COME UP. AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY THOSE HIGH-LEVEL ITEMS BASED ON THE CHANGES WE WERE PROPOSING. WE HAVE A MUCH LARGER DOCUMENT THAT BENCHMARKS AGAINST ALL CRITERIA. AND THEN IF YOU COULD PLEASE, THE NEXT SLIDE. HERE ARE THE COMPETITOR CITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. CHARLOTTE, DENVER, PHILADELPHIA, PORTLAND, AND SAN DIEGO . IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING WHEN YOU'RE BENCHMARKING COMMUNITIES BECAUSE INCENTIVES SHOULD REALLY BE ADDRESSING THOSE GAPS IN EACH COMMUNITY. BUT WE DO TRY TO, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, WE ALSO REACH OUT AND INTERVIEW THOSE PARTNERS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS OR HOW DID YOU APPROACH IT THIS WAY. >> SPEARS: I THINK THAT'S REALLY SMART AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND I WERE JUST OUT IN CHARLOTTE, ACTUALLY, AND SAW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW SOME OF THEIR APPROACH AND IDEAS THERE. SO IT'S REALLY SMART TO BE LOOKING AT THE PEER CITIES, WHAT THEY'RE DOING WELL AND WHAT THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL. I THINK THERE'S SOME WISDOM THERE. AND I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF CREATING FLEXIBILITY FOR US, WHICH I KNOW I ALREADY SAID THAT. THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT TO ME. ON THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR INCENTIVE, I SEE THE AIRPORT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK WITH THE AIRPORT OR DOES IT? OR IS THAT TOTALLY SEPARATE? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: SO THE MAP SHOWS THE SILVER LINE AND THE GREEN LINE. OF COURSE, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE A PROJECT ACTUALLY ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY. BUT REALLY JUST WITHIN THAT WE HAVE A HALF-MILE BUFFER OF ANY KEY TRANSIT CENTER. SO ANYTHING OFF THE AIRPORT WE COULD CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT AS LONG AS IT MEETS THOSE GUIDELINES. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME INCENTIVE WITHIN A TIRZ DISTRICT. >> SPEARS: OKAY. GOOD TO KNOW. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN MUNGIA. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, BRENDA, FOR PRESENTATION AND FOR THE DETAILED BRIEFING AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAD, PARTICULARLY WITH THE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES NEW JOBS CREATED TO 25. SO NEARLY HALF A REDUCTION WITH THESE PROPOSED CHANGES, AS WELL AS CHANGES TO THE WAGE THRESHOLD WITH A 10% DECREASE. I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND. THAT'S A 5% REDUCTION. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A BIT ABOUT WHY WE'RE GOING FROM THE 10 TO 5% AND IF THERE'S ANY INDUSTRY SPECIFICALLY THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS CHANGE BECAUSE WE SAW A TREND? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: SURE. SO RIGHT NOW THE 10% IS AN INVESTMENT BACK TO THE COMPANY -- OR THAT THEY'RE MAKING DIRECTLY IN THEIR EMPLOYEES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT COMPARISON WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING SAN ANTONIO AS A SITE, THEIR OFFER WOULD BE -- WE'RE JUST USING 100% AS AN EXAMPLE. THEY GET TO COUNT THAT AS AN INCENTIVE AND THEY'RE INVESTING BACK IN THEIR EMPLOYEE. WHEN WE'RE PROPOSING GOING TO THAT ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND, WE'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING THAT TOTAL AMOUNT OF THEIR INCENTIVE BY THAT 5%. SO, ONE, THAT IMPACTS OUR COMPETITIVENESS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. BALANCE WAS THE KEY WORD THAT WE USED THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. WE BALANCED THAT COMPETITIVENESS BECAUSE NOW THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING FOR THOSE BROADER COMMUNITY NEEDS AND NOT BACK TO THE SPECIFIC COMPANY. THAT WAS WHERE WE FELT COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING FROM 10 TO 5%. FULL DISCLOSURE. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, THIS WAS A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WITH A VARIETY OF TARGET INDUSTRIES AS WE MET WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP ON THE JOB CREATION GROUP. IT WAS CERTAINLY A ROBUST CONVERSATION. BUT FEEL THAT 10 TO 5% IS A GOOD BALANCE. >> CASTILLO: I APPRECIATE THAT CONTEXT. I SHARED WITH YOU IN OUR BRIEFING, I UNDERSTAND THAT EMPHASIS BUT UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE INCENTIVES, THEY LIKELY INCLUDE ABATEMENTS, WHICH IS LESS MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND. I UNDERSTAND THAT 10% WOULDN'T STAY WITHIN THAT BUSINESS SPECIFICALLY BUT IT WOULD STILL IMPACT THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA, WHICH IS SUPPORTING THAT PROPOSED INCENTIVE. AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S PROJECT BY PROJECT AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'VE LAID OUT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE MY CONCERN WITH THAT CHANGE. AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE UNTIL MAYBE FIVE YEARS OUT WHERE WE START TO SEE FUNDS WITHIN THAT SPECIFIC DESIGNATED [02:45:04] BUCKET. AND I'M SURE COUNCILS AT THE TIME WON'T DISCUSS WHERE THAT CAN BE DELEGATED IN TERMS OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SEE IS A PRIORITIZATION AND/OR EXPLORE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY FELONS. WHAT SOME TYPE OF WORKFORCE INCENTIVES AND/OR INCENTIVE FOR THE BUSINESS. BUT SOMETHING FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND AND OF COURSE, AGAIN, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT'S GOING TO BE A TIMEOUT BEFORE WE SEE FUNDS WITHIN THAT BUCKET. I APPRECIATE THE EMPHASIS ON THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR INCENTIVE, ACKNOWLEDGING THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS BASED OFF THE POTENTIAL INCENTIVE FOR 20% SMALL BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT AND THEN OF COURSE JUST SPECIFIC PLACE-BASED CBAS. IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I SEE HERE. HOWEVER, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST THAT COUNCILMAN MUNGIA AND I SUBMITTED, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS STRONG ENOUGH IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS CAN BE. WHICH SEGUES INTO THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK CONVERSATION AS WELL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PLACE-BASED EMPHASIS WITHIN THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK BUT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE INCENTIVES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STRONGER DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES. BECAUSE WE KNOW THESE INCENTIVES ARE GOING TO LIKELY INCREASE VALUES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHED SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH INCENTIVES LIKE THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM. SO WE SAW A LOT OF GREAT SUCCESS AND UNDERSTAND THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH ARPA BUT I THINK THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN DESIGNATED TIRZ TO SUPPORT FACADE GRANT PROGRAMS WITHIN THE TOD AREAS. UNDERSTANDING THEY CAN'T OVERLAP BECAUSE THEY'RE ABSORBING THAT GENERAL FUND -- THAT ADDITIONAL INCREMENT. BUT THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT WITH FACADE GRANT PROGRAMMING. D5 RESIDENTS REMIND ME IT'S NOT ONLY HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT, IT'S ALSO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. AS WE SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THEY WANT TO STAY AND ENJOY THE NEW IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE COMING TO THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STRONGER ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL WITHIN THE PROPOSED INCENTIVE GUIDELINES AND WITHIN THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M CURIOUS FOR Y'ALL'S TEAM. WHAT DO YOU ALL SEE AS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OR ONE OF THE KEY PILLARS TO PRIORITIZE WITH THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK THAT YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS ON MOVEMENT ON AS A PRIORITY? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES. PLACEMAKING IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE. WITH THE TOD AND A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON SOME OF THOSE LESSONS LEARNED WITH SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE THAT WE DID HAVE ARPA FUNDING. JOHN MENTIONED THE TASK FORCE. WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING A KICKOFF MEETING AND ONE OF THE KEY ITEMS WE WANT TO SET THERE ARE, ONE, WHO IS LEADING THE INITIATIVES. THIS IS NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OR EVEN A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FRAMEWORK. IT REALLY IS A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS THAT NEED TO BE ENGAGED. THE EXCITING THING WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS MANY OF THEM WERE LIKE, PLEASE PUT US IN, COACH. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE THIS. WE ARE HAVING THAT MEETING IN NOVEMBER AND WE'LL IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE KEY METRICS, SOME OF THOSE KEY PRIORITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT AS A DEPARTMENT, GOING BACK TO THAT AGAIN, IT'S SOME OF THAT PLACEMAKING ACTIVITY, CONTINUING TO BUILD OFF OF WOLFF STADIUM. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ ISSUED A CCR THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK TO EWDC, WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS ARE AND SO FORTH. >> CASTILLO: I REALLY APPRECIATE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AT ALL LEVELS. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING -- AGAIN, THESE ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND WHAT THEY'RE SHARING WITH US IS AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCE, THEY'RE OFF PAROLE, THEY'RE GETTING THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, THEIR DEGREES, THEIR MASTER'S DEGREES AND THEY'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING EMPLOYMENT. HOW CAN WE HIRE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT AGAIN HAVE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, ARE READY TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE, BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FACING THOSE BARRIERS? I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JUST CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S WITH THE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES OR THE [02:50:01] STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK HOW WE CAN CREATE THAT PATHWAY FOR INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE JUSTICE INVOLVED. AGAIN, DISTRICT 5 HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF THE FORMERLY-INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UPWARD MOBILITY, MOVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FORWARD, IT STARTS IN DISTRICT 5 AND IT STARTS WITH ENSURING THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT FACE BARRIERS HAVE THOSE REDUCED SO THAT WAY THEY CAN EARN A LIVING, PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR NOW. I JUST APPRECIATE AGAIN THE PRE-BRIEFINGS. WALKING ME THROUGH THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD AND OF COURSE FOR THE TEAM FOR MEETING WITH OUR DISTRICT 5 TEAM TO JUST BRAINSTORM ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN ON WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE, WHAT WE'RE HEARING, AND WORKING WITH DISTRICT 5 STAKEHOLDERS TO HELP SHAPE THE PLAN. JUST APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S WORK AND COLLABORATION. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MUNGIA FOLLOWED BY COUNCILWOMAN KAUR. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, BRENDA CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES LAID OUT IN THAT CCR THAT YOU WERE INCORPORATING IN A WAY INTO THIS PLAN? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: AS A RESULT OF THAT CCR, WE CONDUCTED RESEARCH. WE WROTE A WHITE PAPER ON HOW CBAS WERE UTILIZED AND A LOT OF CBA -- BUT WE HAD ALSO COMMITTED TO LOOK AT HOW WE COULD INCORPORATE THE CBA CONCEPT INTO WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE MORE TRADITIONALLY TAX ABATEMENT, THOSE JOB CREATION OPPORTUNITIES. SO THAT IS WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND. AND THEN AGAIN, AS A BALANCE FOR THE TOD, WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASING TAX BASE IN THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WHILE ALSO FOR OUR FOCUS, WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE, ENCOURAGING -- DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SUPPORT THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY LOCATED THERE OR CONTINUING TO GROW AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES ENHANCEMENTS, WE WANTED TO CONTINUE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH THAT 20% ENHANCEMENT. SO THAT WAS PART OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS. WE DID HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, THE SMALL BUSINESS GROUPS, INCLUDING THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION AS WELL AS THEN, ON THE FLIP SIDE, DEVELOPERS THAT WILL BE LOOKING AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. >> MUNGIA: I CERTAINLY THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD START TO THAT PROCESS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS TALKING TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS, WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY IN THE TAX ABATEMENTS WHERE WE HAD A HUGE DEAL THAT WE DID FOR TOYOTA. THAT'S CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT THAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL SUPPORTED. BUT I WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY -- I THINK COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ AND I HAD A CONVERSATION. WE HAVE OPPOSITE SIDES OF TOWN BUT HOW DOES A TAX ABATEMENT BENEFIT THE LARGER COMMUNITY, LIKE IN DISTRICT 8, AN EXAMPLE. THE GENERAL FUND AFFECTS ALL OF US SO HOW DOES SOMETHING IN MY SIDE OF TOWN AFFECT THAT. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CAN HELP FUND AND PUT INVESTMENT IN AREAS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE PLACEMAKING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO GREAT EXAMPLE ON OUR SIDE OF TOWN. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT. BUT THE QUINTANA NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT AREA OF SOUTHCROSS IS A HUGE -- HAS A HUGE INVESTMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY TO INVEST IN THAT AREA. WE'RE NOT PROBABLY EVER GOING TO SEE A TAX ABATEMENT DEAL ON SOUTHCROSS. IT'S A VERY SMALL STREET BUT HOW DO WE INCENTIVIZE THINGS. I THINK WHAT THAT MAYBE COULD COME OUT TO -- I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS, NOT ONLY TO GET SOME COMMUNITY FEEDBACK OR COMMUNITY WEIGH-IN ON THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND AS WE CHANGE ITS SCOPE AND KIND OF GET THESE DIFFERENT FUNDS INTO IT. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ATTRACT SOME SORT OF DEVELOPMENT IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN THAT ARE BEING ASKED ABOUT AND REQUESTED. AN EXAMPLE, D4, ESPECIALLY WHERE I LIVE ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF D4 BY 410, RAY ELLISON, MEDINA BASE ROAD. A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THERE BUT NOT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. THESE FOLKS ARE EMPLOYED OTHER PLACES. THEY DRIVE OUT TO PLACES BUT WHEN THEY COME BACK HOME THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY OR SPEND TIME IN IN THEIR AREA. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANT LOTS [02:55:06] AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMERCIAL LOTS. SOME OF THE STORES IN OUR AREA ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST-GROSSING STORES IN SAN ANTONIO. IF YOU LOOK AT H-E-B AT ZARZAMORA AND MILITARY, IT'S THE HIGHEST-GROSSING H-E-B IN SAN ANTONIO. 35 AND ZARZAMORA IS THE HIGHEST GROSSING ACADEMY IN SAN ANTONIO. PEOPLE ARE SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN THESE PLACES AND WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW FOLKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT THIS IS A PLACE WORTHY OF ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. I THINK MAYBE THAT MOBILITY FUND CAN HELP DO THAT PROCESS A LITTLE BIT MORE. THERE'S OTHER POCKETS ALL ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. I KNOW COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ HAS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT ON THE EAST SIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT HAVING A MOVIE THEATER. WHAT IS THAT? WHY IS THAT? I'M SURE YOU WOULD SEE PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE TRAVELING TO OTHER PLACES. I THINK SOME OF THESE LARGE PARTNERS WE'RE HAVING IS GREAT BUT HOW DO WE TAKE THAT ENERGY AND KIND OF SPEND IT OTHER AREAS OF OUR TOWN THAT NEED THAT INVESTMENT. BECAUSE THE MARKET IS NOT MOVING IN THESE AREAS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE THAT OUR FAMILIES -- I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. IS THERE ANY PART OF A CBA -- I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE NELSON WOLFF PROJECT? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION . WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE NEXT STEP, IF YOU WILL. THIS INITIAL PROCESS WAS TO GET TO THAT CONCEPT DESIGN. AND THEN THE NEXT CONVERSATION STARTS -- SO KIND OF THE "WHAT." THE NEXT CONVERSATION IS THE "HOW." WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, DO WE SELL OFF SOME OF THE PROPERTY? IS IT A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WHAT THAT STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SHIFTING OUR ATTENTION TO IN EARLY CALENDAR YEAR '27. >> MUNGIA: THAT'S GREAT. I COMMEND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL AND OF COURSE COUNCILMAN GALVAN HAS BEEN DOING. WHAT HE SAYS IS SO TRUE. WE'RE STARTING THESE PUBLIC PROCESSES IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND PEOPLE BECOME A LITTLE CYNICAL AND ONCE THEY SEE THIS IS A NICE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GIVE THEIR INPUT AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS SO VITAL. I JUST HOPE Y'ALL CONTINUE WITH THE COMMUNITY THERE AND I'M SURE THEY'RE ENJOYING THAT PROCESS OF ENVISIONING WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN THEIR BACKYARD. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THEM CAN STILL CHARGE FOR PARKING FOR SOME OF THOSE LARGE EVENTS I KNOW THEY LIKE TO DO OVER THERE. WELL, THAT'S GREAT. YOU THINK WITH THESE PROPOSED GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY ON THE WAGES, WE'RE STILL VERY COMPETITIVE. I THINK WHAT IS ON THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S MIND FOR MANY YEARS NOW IS ATTRACTING A LARGE, GOOD-PAYING JOB COMPANY WITH HEADQUARTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'VE GOT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THAT. ONCE WE BREAK THE GLASS CEILING ON ATTRACTING THAT, IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER OF A SITUATION FOR US. WITH THESE PROPOSED GUIDELINES VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, DO YOU FEEL THAT WE ARE STILL IN A GOOD POSITION TO DO THAT, TO ATTRACT A GOOD HEADQUARTERS HERE? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: I BELIEVE -- SO ONE OF THE SHIFTS THAT WERE MADE IN THE LAST, THE WAGES INCREASED QUITE A BIT. I DO THINK THERE'S ALWAYS -- I HATE TO SAY THE WORD "BALANCE" AGAIN, BUT MOVING TO THE QCW AND MOVING TO THAT 80% I THINK GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT FLEXIBILITY, THAT WIGGLE ROOM FOR THAT COMPETITIVENESS AND SHIFTING THE JOBS DOWNWARD FROM THE 50 TO 25 WILL HELP US. THAT WAS THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS. AS FAR AS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, YOU KNOW, THE PER JOB -- BECAUSE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, IF THEY'RE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING, THAT'S GREAT. IF THEY'RE MOVING INTO SOME OF OUR EXISTING OFFICE SPACE, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT HIGH OF AN INVESTMENT. THAT WAS WHY WE ESTABLISHED THAT PER-JOB GRANT. SO CONTINUING THAT, STREAMLINING THAT. GREATER:SATX IS REALLY HONING IN ON REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS SO IT MIGHT NOT BE THE LARGE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS BUT THOSE HEADQUARTERS THAT BRING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND SIGNIFICANT JOBS. CONTINUING TO ALIGN ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS. >> MUNGIA: I THINK THAT'S GREAT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING OUR REGIONAL LOOK. I ALWAYS SAY FROM HERE TO MEXICO WE'RE STILL THE LARGEST CITY ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO MEXICO AND THERE'S A HUGE PART OF SOUTH TEXAS THAT WE ARE KIND OF A LARGE [03:00:02] REGIONAL POOL IN THAT AREA AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT CAN CONTINUE. I DO APPRECIATE OUR CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ABOUT LOOKING INTO POSSIBLY OTHER FORMS OF INCENTIVES. I'M SURE MORE TO COME ON THAT. >> HICKS-SORENSEN: YES, SIR. THIS IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX. SINCE 2022 WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADD SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL TOOLS AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON HOW WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE OTHER NEEDS. >> MUNGIA: YEAH, AND POSSIBLY ON THE SALES. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: PLEASE CHIME IN IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A SECOND ROUND, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. RIGHT NOW NEXT IS COUNCILWOMAN KAUR FOLLOWED BY COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. ERIK, I HAVE A REQUEST FOR ALL FUTURE PRESENTATIONS. I SAW THAT SLIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS LIKE FOR A QUICK SECOND AND I COULDN'T REALLY READ BECAUSE THE SCREEN IS A LITTLE BIT TINY. YEAH. SO I LOVE THIS. I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS BUT IT WASN'T IN ANY OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT I RECEIVED. I CHECKED ON WHAT WAS ATTACHED HERE. IT'S NOT THERE EITHER. IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN I OPEN THE PDF ON MY COMPUTER, I CAN SEE THE TABLE OF CONTENTS AND I CAN SEE THE SLIDES THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE. BUT WHEN I CLICK ON THEM, THEY'RE HIDDEN. JUST MY REQUEST FOR ALL FUTURE PRESENTATIONS. PLEASE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THE EFFORT IN CREATING BACKUP SLIDES, IN CASE WE ASK A QUESTION, LET US SEE THEM SO WE CAN SEE THE WHOLE PRESENTATION. THAT IS MY REQUEST. I HOPEFULLY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AGREE WITH THAT TOO BECAUSE I DO LIKE SEEING ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. I'LL START OFF WITH THE NELSON WOLFF STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. I THINK Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB OF WORKING ON THIS WITH COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. I HAVE ALSO WITHIN A PART OF THE BLOCK WALKING EFFORT AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB. IF YOU COULD BRING UP SLIDE 8. THE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO OFFER IS THE LAST TWO DAYS WE HAVE HAD A GREAT MISSING MIDDLE -- OH, THIS IS THE WRONG PRESENTATION. WE HAVE HAD A GOOD MISSING MIDDLE WORKSHOP THAT THE HOUSING TRUST WAS LEADING. ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME OUT OF IT IS CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF SINGLE-FAMILY TO ALLOW FOR A DUPLEX. AND HOW THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SUPPORT MORE DENSITY HERE. THIS IS A LOT OF LAND AND I DO THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING TO BE USED HERE, WHETHER IT'S DUPLEXES OR QUADPLEXES, YOU COULD SERVE A LOT MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND IT COULD BE AFFORDABLE. AND WITH ALL OF THAT GREEN SPACE IT'S TRULY A REVITALIZATION OF THIS AREA. I KNOW HAVING MORE FOLKS BE ABLE TO USE IT WILL HELP WITH THE RETAIL COMPONENT. I WOULD REALLY CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE STAFF AND COUNCILMEMBER TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DUPLEXES AND QUADPLEXES, EVEN COTTAGE COURT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES COULD LOOK LIKE IN THIS AREA. YOU CAN DO DENSITY WITHOUT HAVING TO CREATE SKYSCRAPERS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE LOOKING AT THAT HERE. FOR THE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD IS IT'S BEEN SHARED THAT THE 2022 FRAMEWORK WAS ACCEPTED. ARE WE GOING TO BE ACCEPTING THIS IN NOVEMBER OR ARE WE ADOPTING IT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE DIFFERENCE THERE OR THE LANGUAGE USAGE OF THAT. >> WALSH: I THINK THEY'LL MEAN THE SAME. YOU'LL BE ADOPTING IT THROUGH AN ORDINANCE. >> KAUR: THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING. >> HICKS-SORENSEN: HERE'S MY NON-LEGAL UNDERSTANDING OF IT, BASED ON THE 2022. SO THE ADOPTION OF A POLICY IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD TO IT, LIKE THE INCENTIVE POLICY. MY UNDERSTANDING WITH THE FRAMEWORK IS IT'S NOT A PLAN. IT'S THOSE GUARDRAILS, HIGH-LEVEL STRATEGIES. BUT WE MAY OR MAY NOT -- ONE, NOT ALL OF IT APPLIES TO COSA EVEN. ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN MOVING THE NEEDLE, IF YOU WILL. AND THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THAT FRAMEWORK. SO THAT WAS LAST TIME IN 2022 WHY THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FRAMEWORK. >> KAUR: SO FOR THE NOVEMBER MEETING IT'S JUST ADOPTING THE INCENTIVES. >> WALSH: THE INCENTIVE BOARD. >> HICKS-SORENSEN: BUT WE ARE BRINGING THE FRAMEWORK. [03:05:01] >> COUNCILWOMAN, I THINK THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IS TO ADOPT THE GUIDELINES. I THINK WITH THOSE GUIDELINES THESE BRING FORWARD A LARGER STRATEGIC PLAN. THAT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT EITHER YOU CAN ACCEPT OR ADOPT, REALLY. IT'S SEMANTICS. EVEN ON THE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES, AS A POLICY, THEY'RE POLICY. SO THERE'S EXPECTED TO BE SOME LEEWAY IN BOTH. >> KAUR: MAYBE WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT. >> VIAGRAN: ANDY, CAN YOU CLARIFY AND SEND A WRITTEN MEMO TO THE COUNCIL? IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, REGARDING ADOPTION AND ACCEPTANCE. >> SEGOVIA: WE CAN DO THAT, COUNCILWOMAN. AND AGAIN, THE SHORT ANSWER IS IT IS A POLICY. IT IS GUIDANCE SO THAT IT APPLIES GENERALLY. BUT LIKE IN MANY THINGS THAT THIS IS AIMED AT, IT WILL BE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. YES, WE'LL SEND SOMETHING AROUND. >> WALSH: I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE THIS BUT THE IDEA HERE IS THAT YOU ACCEPT IT BUT, AS BRENDA'S ANSWER, IT'S KIND OF A BROAD FRAMEWORK. IT'S NOT LIKE IT HEMS US IN IN TERMS OF A FRAMEWORK. WE DO WANT TO COMMUNICATE TO AN OUTSIDE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >> VIAGRAN: RATHER THAN DISCUSS IT , I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN A MEMO FORMAT. >> WALSH: WE WILL WRITE THAT TO THE COUNCIL AND CLARIFY THAT. THAT IS THE INTENT. >> KAUR: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CLARIFIED THE DIFFERENCE. MY APOLOGIES. SO GOING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION TIERS, ONE OF THE THINGS -- IF YOU COULD BRING UP SLIDE 7 ON THE INCENTIVE GUIDELINES. ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IS WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TIERS AND IF THERE'S A WAY TO REDUCE IT TO THE BASE TIER TO BE 5 MILLION SO WE CAN ALSO HAVE SOME SMALLER MID-SIZE PROJECTS THAT ARE LOOKING AT AREAS TO BE CONSIDERED AS WELL. $5 MILLION IS THE BASE FOR TOD AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER USING THAT AS THE SMALLER TIER. I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE COMBINING 5 TO 10, 25 TO 50. I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO HAVE SIX TIERS BUT IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE LIKE IS NECESSARY, BUT IF WE COULD COME LINE THEM TO MAKE IT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND FOR FOLKS. THIS IS GOING OFF KIND OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION METRICS. IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE OR TO GAUGE HOW WELL WE'RE DOING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A BASELINE. SO WHAT IS OUR BASELINE STATISTIC RIGHT NOW AND HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO GROW BY. AND THEN WHAT OUR TARGET IS AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS, IF THAT'S THE FRAMEWORK -- THAT'S THE FRAMEWORK, RIGHT, FOR FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MEASURE IF WE COULD SEE WHAT THE BASE IMPLEMENTATION METRIC IS AND WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR. AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE IS LIKE TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT GENERATED FROM BUSINESS RECRUITMENT EXPANSE PROJECTS. LIKE WHERE ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW? WHERE DO WE WANT TO SEE FOR WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PIECE IS FOR EMF, FOR THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND. I UNDERSTAND WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING ABOUT THE CBA. MY CONCERN IS THIS IS 5%. WE WERE SAYING 10% TO THEIR WORKER BENEFITS BEFORE AND 5%. SO WE'RE REDUCING THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER 5% TO THE EMF AND 5% TO WORKERS' BENEFITS FOR THINGS LIKE CHILDCARE. WE OFTEN HEAR CHILDCARE IS A BIG CHALLENGE SO IF COMPANIES COULD CONTINUE PRIORITIZING OFFERING WORKERS BENEFITS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, IF IT COULD BE ADDED. AND THEN MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS, OF COURSE, TOD. IF WE COULD BRING UP THE SLIDE ON ON TOD, WHICH IS 9. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TTHIS . I THINK WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS. BUT IF IT'S POSSIBLE -- AND I SHARED THIS WITH Y'ALL YESTERDAY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, IF IT COULD COME BACK IN NOVEMBER, WE WANT THIS INCENTIVE TO HAPPEN TOMORROW. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE COMBINED WITH AN NHSD HOUSING INCENTIVE. SOMETIMES NHSD AND EDD HAVE TO BE LAYERED STRATEGICALLY. YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO COMPETING 380S ON ONE PROPERTY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT [03:10:02] THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE CAN LAYER NOT ONLY MIXED-USE BUT ALSO -- BECAUSE MIXED-USE CAN INCLUDE HOUSING. A LOT OF WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE ON ON TOD IS A COMBINATION OF RETAIL, COMMERCIAL, AND HOUSING. IF THEY'RE DOING HOUSING, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THEM MORE INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MAYBE THIS IS THE BASE INCENTIVE FOR ANYONE DOING MIXED-USE. BUT IF YOU DO MIXED-USE PLUS 25% OF YOUR UNITS ARE 60% UNITS, YOU CAN GET XYZ. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE, IF IT'S POSSIBLE. I KNOW THAT'S A BIG ASK TO COME BACK IN THREE WEEKS. BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SHOW FOLKS TODAY THE POSSIBILITY FOR TOD, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. JUST QUICKLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT -- WE'LL START WITH SLIDE 3 ON THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS WHERE WE COME IN AND ACTUALLY CREATE POLICY WITH THE FRAMEWORK. JUST LIKE THE HOUSING FRAMEWORK THAT HAS GUIDED US OVER THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS NOW. THAT'S HOW I SEE THIS FRAMEWORK. REALLY THINK 6 AND 7 ARE IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE HOW WE ARE SHARING OUR STORY. THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL ALWAYS SAY. MAKING SURE WE ARE BOLD IN THE STORY WE ARE TELLING. BECAUSE EVERY OTHER CITY IS SO WE SHOULD TOO. BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO SHARE AND I THINK IN SHARING THAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING WHAT WE DON'T HAVE. WE CAN SEE THOSE HOLES BETTER AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE -- IF WE HAVE THEM AND HOW WE MAKE SURE TO FILL THOSE HOLES. AND I ALSO -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SLIDE 5, I THINK GOAL 3 REALLY IS PART OF GOAL 1 AND PART OF GOAL 2. GOAL 3, FOR ME, IS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S THE PEOPLE. THOSE ARE OUR RESIDENTS AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES GOAL 1 AND 2 EVEN POSSIBLE. THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME, MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. BECAUSE NONE OF THIS FRAMEWORK EXISTS WITHOUT THAT, IN MY OPINION. THAT'S PRETTY SIMPLE FOR ME BUT I THINK IMPORTANT. ON THE NELSON WOLFF STADIUM, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THERE AND APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN'S ATTENTIVENESS TO THIS. THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT FOR HIS COMMUNITY, SO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING THERE. ON THE INCENTIVE UPDATE, ONE THING I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE INCORPORATE IN SLIDE 5. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THAT MOBILITY FUND -- I'M SORRY. THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND. BUT TO ACTUALLY SAY IT IN THAT PROPOSED GUIDELINE, BASICALLY MOVING 5% OF THE PROJECT TAX REVENUE ALLOCATED TO CITY ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND DEDICATED TO WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE TRAINING, CHILDCARE, AND TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S ON SLIDE 5 OF THE INCENTIVE FUND PRESENTATION. RIGHT THERE. YEAH. SO 5% OF THIS TAX REVENUE ALLOCATED TO THE CITY ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND, DEDICATED TO WRAPAROUND SERVICES. MORE SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT THAT ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND WOULD BE FOR. AS WE WERE SITTING HERE, I SAW AN E-MAIL OR FACEBOOK POST ON THE NORTH CHAMBER IS HAVING AN EVENT WITH -- I THINK IT'S FOCUSED ON CHILDCARE. IT CAME UP IN MY FEED SOMEWHERE TODAY AND THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING AND SO MAKING SURE OUR MOBILITY FUND ALIGNS WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GOING THROUGH. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS LEFT OUT OR IS THAT UP FOR DEBATE? THAT WAS JUST NOT -- THERE WASN'T ANY ROOM? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: ACTUALLY, ON SLIDE 6, THE [03:15:03] WAY WE WERE PROPOSING THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUND WAS A LITTLE BIT BROADER. INSTEAD OF JUST SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE WORKFORCE TRAINING AND TRANSPORTATION. THAT IT WAS THOSE INVESTMENTS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS ACCESS, RETAIN, AND ADVANCE QUALITY EMPLOYMENT. >> GONZALEZ: WHAT'S DIFFERENT? >> HICKS-SORENSEN: EXACTLY. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT BROADER BUT IF COUNCIL PRIORITY AT THE TIME IS CHILDCARE, IT CERTAINLY COULD BE THAT. IF COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY PRIORITY IS TRANSPORTATION. SO WE WANTED TO HAVE IT A LITTLE BIT BROADLY DEFINED SO COUNCIL COULD DETERMINE AT THE TIME WHAT THAT COMMUNITY BENEFIT SHOULD BE. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW, SINCE THIS WAS A BRIEFING. THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE NELSON WOLFF STADIUM, COUNCILMAN GALVAN HAS THAT CLEARLY IN HAND AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING HIM TO MAKE THAT GO AS WELL AS POSSIBLE. REALLY, I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON THE TIP GROUP AND THAT REPORT. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH IT BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING -- FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS WHERE OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CREATING MORE REVENUE FOR THIS CITY NEEDS TO BE OUR FOCUS. THANK YOU TO THE TIP GROUP FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK. I ENJOYED OUR MEETING AND ONE THING I'LL NEVER FORGET ABOUT THAT MEETING IS WE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY OF FORT WORTH AND HOW THEY HAVE DONE AMAZING THINGS WITH THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST FIVE TO TEN YEARS. AND I ASKED YOU IN THAT MEETING, WELL, HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE DO THAT HERE? AND YOU SAID, WELL, COUNCILMAN, YOU'VE GOT TO FOCUS YOUR RESOURCES THERE. WE HAVE TO BE PUTTING MORE EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST WITH OUR TIME BUT WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. WITH THAT AS A BACKGROUND, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE TIP REPORT, WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS, AGAIN, THE CHALLENGES OR THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE HAVING AS A CITY. I WANT TO LIST A FEW OF THOSE. NUMBER ONE, ONE OF THE ISSUES THE REPORT IDENTIFIES FOR US FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT IS THAT WE HAVE SHIFTING PRIORITIES. WE'RE NOT STAYING FOCUSED ON THOSE CORE PRIORITIES THAT WE NEED TO CREATE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. NUMBER TWO, EXTERNAL PERCEPTION AND BRAND. RIGHT? THEY CITE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT'S HOLD US BACK. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ARE FOLKS WATCHING THIS COUNCIL, THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IN TERMS OF ARE WE A PRO DEVELOPMENT CITY COUNCIL OR ARE WE NOT. BUT THERE'S A PERCEPTION OUT THERE THAT IS HURTING US FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT. NUMBER THREE, THEY CITE SITE READINESS AS ONE OF OUR ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY, I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO PLUG MY SHOVEL-READY SA CCR. WE NEED TO BE PREPARING MORE SITES SO THAT COMPANIES CAN COME HERE, GET INTO BUSINESS QUICKER. BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE US A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER CITIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO SET UP THEIR OPERATIONS SOMEWHERE. TO DO BETTER. THEY HAVE A SECTION IN THERE TALKING ABOUT, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER. AND NUMBER ONE, THEY TALK ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIVENESS. THEY SAY WE'RE FALLING DOWN ON ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIVENESS. THAT'S HURTING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY THAT IS. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVES, THEY SAY WE NEED TO HAVE MORE AGILE INCENTIVES. CONCIERGE LEVEL OF SERVICE. AGAIN, THEY CITE SITE READINESS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE NEW FRAMEWORK WE'RE LOOKING AT FROM AN INCENTIVE PERSPECTIVE. I ALSO THINK THIS NOTION OF GIVING THESE INCENTIVES TO THESE COMPANIES IS HURTING OUR BOTTOM LINE. I MEAN, MAYBE IN THE NEAR-TERM BUT THIS COUNCIL, IF I COULD HAVE ONE WISH FOR THIS COUNCIL IT'S THAT WE THINK MORE LONG TERM. BECAUSE THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS OF THESE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ARE MORE MONEY IN [03:20:06] PEOPLE'S POCKETS. MORE JOBS CREATED FOR OUR CITIZENS. AND THEN MORE MONEY SPENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO LONG TERM THE REVENUE WILL BE A NET POSITIVE FROM BRINGING THESE BUSINESSES HERE. ON SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT, THEY SAY WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY SMALL BUSINESSES, IS DELAYS IN PERMITTING AND AWARDING CONTRACTS IS HURTING THESE SMALL BUSINESSES FROM A PRICING AND A RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SOMEHOW TIES TO ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIVENESS BUT WE'RE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM SMALL BUSINESSES IT'S TAKING TOO LONG TO GET THESE PERMITS DONE, TO GET THESE CONTRACTS AWARDED. SO THERE ARE THINGS HERE THAT WE NEED TO FIX. THE REPORT SAYS THAT I GUESS SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE RECOMMENDED AN EXTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SORT OF WATCH OVER HOW WE PROCEED WITH IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW PLAN. SO THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS DO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES THAT THE REPORT IDENTIFIES? AND WHAT ARE THE THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS EXTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT COULD BE PUT INTO PLACE TO HELP US? WE REACHED OUT TO THE 50-PLUS MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. IT WAS A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. THE MEMBERS ARE LISTED IN THE DOCUMENT PROVIDED. AND GIVEN THAT A LOT OF THEM, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, SAID THEY WANTED TO BE CHAMPIONS AND ENGAGED. WE DID REACH OUT TO THEM TO ASK IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO TO SERVE ON A TASK FORCE. THAT'S OUR INITIAL STEP IN IDENTIFYING THAT TASK FORCE. AND THEN WITH ACTUALLY THE KICKOFF MEETING WE'RE TARGETING IN NOVEMBER. ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS AFTER THE 2022 PLAN, WE HOSTED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE WITH INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS. THAT FELL OFF ABOUT A YEAR AGO, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. AND WE ARE GOING TO REINSTATE THAT TO TALK ABOUT THESE INTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES, IF YOU WILL, FOR ALIGNMENT. WHETHER THAT'S PROGRAMMING OR SOME OF THESE KEY INITIATIVES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED. >> WHYTE: BECAUSE THIS LACK OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIVENESS AND THESE DELAYS IN PERMITTING AND ISSUING THESE AWARDS, THOSE, TO ME, SEEM LIKE THINGS WE CAN REMEDY IF WE FOCUS THERE. AND IT SEEMS LIKE FROM THE REPORT THOSE WOULD HELP US GO SOME WAY TO, AGAIN, DOING BETTER, FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT. I THANK THE TIP GROUP FOR THEIR WORK. I HOPE THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER REPORT THAT SITS ON THE SHELF AND THEN ON WE GO WITH SOMETHING ELSE. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS. WE NEED TO HEED THE ADVICE OF THE TIP GROUP AND HOW WE CAN GET BETTER AND PUSH THINGS FORWARD. AGAIN, GENERATING MORE REVENUE AND JOBS FOR THIS CITY NEEDS TO BE OUR TOP PRIORITY. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. WE ARE -- ARE WE GOING TO DO A SECOND ROUND? ANYONE INTERESTED IN DOING A SECOND ROUND? OKAY. I WILL THEN CLOSE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'VE HEARD IT VERY OFTEN. I WANT TO REMIND MY COUNCIL IT IS NOT -- CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I WANT TO STRESS THAT THE FRAMEWORK -- WE WANT TO HAVE A FRAMEWORK THAT OTHERS CAN FOLLOW AND USE AN EXAMPLE BUT WE KNOW THEY WILL ADJUST IT, AS NEEDED. CASE IN POINT, IAM CAME IN, WE HAD THE STREETS, WE HAD THE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DID NOT HAVE TO OFFER THEM AN ABATEMENT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEET THAT. YET HERE THEY ARE AND WE WILL GET MORE PEOPLE HERE. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE --A MEMO FOLLOW-UP FORM. WHAT WERE THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS OF ACTUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS IT TO SOCIALIZE? IS IT MEETINGS? IS IT TO TRAVEL ABROAD TO HELP BRING BUSINESS? AND WE CAN GET GREATER:SATX TO DO THAT. SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK THERE. I THINK SOME OF WHAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE BROUGHT UP IS NOT GERMANE PARTICULARLY TO WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON ON NOVEMBER 5 BUT IT'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR US RIGHT HERE. LET'S THINK ON THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS [03:25:02] FOR CLARIFICATION, ERIK? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE THAT WE NEED TO CLARIFY BEFORE WE END THIS MEETING? >> WALSH: NO, MA'AM. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, THE TIME IS NOW 12:46 P.M. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.