* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:33] GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER THE SEVENTH, 2017. COUNCIL MEMBER VINNO, COUNCIL MEMBER SHAW COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER SALANA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK HOUSE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LIA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY HERE. AND MAYOR NURENBERG. HERE. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A FORUM. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL, A SESSION AGENDA. UH, TIME NOW IS 9:17 AM WE'LL BEGIN FIRST WITH OUR INVOCATION. UH, IT IS A, A, UH, INVOCATION FROM A GUEST OF COUNCILMAN SHER GONZALEZ. GOOD MORNING. AFTER GRADUATING FROM TRI TRINITY UNIVERSITY AS A PHI BETA KAPPA WITH MAGNA C*M LAUDE DISTINCTION, REVEREND ROB MUELLER WAS ORDAINED A MINISTER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, U SS A IN 1987 WITH A MASTER OF DIVINITY AND A MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE FROM THE UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN VIRGINIA. HIS FIRST EIGHT YEARS IN MINISTRY WERE SPENT WORKING ECUMENICALLY WITH THE CHRISTIAN-BASED COMMUNITY MODEL OF CHURCH REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH WAS CREATED IN LATIN AMERICA AMONG THE POOREST PARISHES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND LATER EXTENDED TO PROGRESSIVE PROTESTANT CHURCHES. HE WAS THE FIRST UNITED STATES DELEGATE TO THE IN, IN INTERN LATIN-AMERICAN BASE COMMUNITY IN ENTRO IN 1992, AND ORGANIZED A BINATIONAL CROSS-BORDER IN ENTRO OF VARIOUS BASE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR CHURCH COMMUNITIES IN 1993. SINCE 1994, HE HAS BEEN THE PASTOR OF A DIVINE REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, A HUNDRED YEAR OLD URBAN HISPANIC CONGREGATION IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAS PARTNERED WITH THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE COMMUNITY CENTER SINCE 1929. REVEREND MUELLER'S PASSION FOR HIS NEIGHBORHOOD MISSION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS A NECESSARY MINISTRY FOR THE LOCAL CONGREGATION, AND HAS SPENT HIS ENTIRE TENURE AT HIS MINISTRY IN THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO DOING THIS KIND OF WORK. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICES, WHICH WAS RECENTLY PROFILED IN THE EXPRESS NEWS, UH, HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE VERY YOUNG, UH, FOR, UM, OVER ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS. UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE CHURCH COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING A REDEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHURCH THAT'S, UH, WAS BUILT IN 1929. THEY'RE, UM, DOING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN OF $2 MILLION. SO WE WOULD, UM, HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CHURCH WHEN THE TIME COMES. UH, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC CHURCH RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, UH, OF THE WEST SIDE, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE FROM THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY AND, UH, THE DIVINE REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANKS, COUNCILWOMAN. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE INVITED TO BE WITH YOU. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS LET US STAND AND OFFER A WORD OF PRAYER TOGETHER, GIVE HER OF ALL LIFE. BEFORE WE EVEN BEGIN TO PRAY, WE PAUSE TO PLACE OURSELVES WITHIN THE MYSTERY OF THIS MIRACLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO LIVE AND TO SIMPLY BREATHE. TO BREATHE IN A DEEP MOMENT OF GRATITUDE. FOR WITHOUT YOUR GENEROUS GIFT OF LIFE, WE COULD NOT BE HERE TO DO THE WORK BEFORE US. SO LET US ENGAGE THIS WORK WITH HUMILITY TODAY WITHOUT YOUR MERCY, WHICH PARDONS OUR FAILURES, OUR MISSTEPS, OUR POOR JUDGMENTS, OUR BAD DECISIONS IN WHICH GIVES US EVERY NEW DAY THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AGAIN. THERE WOULD BE NO HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE. AND WITHOUT THE LOVE THAT FLOWS TO US FROM YOUR HEART, THROUGH OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS, WE WOULD LIVE SELFISH AND LONELY LIVES. LET US KEEP THEM BEFORE US IN OUR DECISIONS THIS DAY. SO JOIN THEN OUR SMALL [00:05:01] AND INSIGNIFICANT LABORS TO YOUR GREAT LABOR OF LOVE, WHICH IS MAKING ALL THINGS NEW, WHICH IS WEAVING THE GIFTS AND DREAMS OF EVERY HUMAN BEING INTO A TAPESTRY OF TRANSFORMATION THAT BEARS US CLOSER EVER SO DELIBERATELY TO THE DAY WHEN EACH PERSON'S DIGNITY MAY BE HONORED. EACH FAMILY'S HOPES, GIVEN THE CHANCE TO FLOURISH EACH CHILD'S IMAGINATION, GRANTED A CANVAS ON WHICH TO PAINT ITS DREAMS. REMIND US AS WE HAMMER OUT THE COMMON GOOD FROM OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL LONGINGS, THAT WE ARE ONE, THAT WE ARE ALL BORN BY THE SAME RIVER OF LIFE, WHICH HAS ITS ORIGIN AND ITS END IN YOU. SO THEN FILL OUR ACTIONS THIS DAY WITH THE AWE THAT SUCH AWARENESS SHOULD ELICIT SO THAT EVERYTHING WE DO MAY BE HOLY, SO THAT WE MAY HONOR YOU AND HONOR THIS GIFT OF LIFE WITH ALL WE DO THIS DAY. S AND AMEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ON NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU PASTOR COLLINS. WE DO HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. RIGHT. THE FIRST [3. Approval of Minutes for the City Council Regular Meetings of October 11 - 12, 2017] ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF OCTOBER 11TH THROUGH THE 12TH. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 11TH AND 12TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILWOMAN GRO, WHO WILL RECOGNIZE OUTGOING BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE TERMS HAVE EXPIRED AND THEY ARE PRESENT IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY. COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF WE COULD HAVE THE OUTGOING, UM, BROOKS BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE STAND AND COME FORWARD SO WE CAN GIVE THE, UM, THE GREAT , THE GREAT ACCOLADES THAT YOU DESERVE. I WANT TO, UH, FIRST THANK YOU THREE VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND HOW YOU ALL HAVE ABSOLUTELY CHANGED THE GAME AND CHANGED THE NARRATIVE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. AS WELL, I WANT TO THANK, UM, THE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO APPOINTED YOU TO THESE BOARDS, AND YOU ALL SERVED VERY FAITHFULLY IN THOSE POSITIONS. I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE SEEING THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN IT AND STAYING WITH IT AND MOVING FORWARD. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I KNOW THAT YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS OBVIOUSLY NOT OVER AND CONTINUES, AND I MAY EVEN ASK YOU TO STAY INVOLVED IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM AROUND THE BROOKS AREA. SO, UH, PLEASE BE PREPARED FOR THAT. UM, SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN VIRON, AND THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS. WE DO HAVE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'D LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK AS WELL, STARTING WITH COUNCILMAN PALIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE CHAIRMAN OF BROOKS CITY BASE. NOW WE JUST CALL IT BROOKS. UM, AND DURING THOSE YEARS, THESE THREE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, SAT TO MY RIGHT AND TO MY LEFT AND HELPED US CRAFT A STRATEGY, DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN, HELPED US EXECUTE ON THAT MASTER PLAN. AND WHAT YOU SEE AT BROOKS TODAY, THE 3,800 NEW JOBS, UM, IS BECAUSE OF THEM. AND SO, ONE BY ONE, I'LL TELL YOU, JOHN JENNINGS, UM, STANDUP PARTNER, SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE A TIE TODAY. UM, JOHN JENNINGS, UH, IS A LAWYER WITH NOR, UH, WITH NORTON ROSE, UH, INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM, UM, A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN SOME OF THE MOST STRATOSPHERIC COMPLEX REAL ESTATE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEALS THAT [00:10:01] THIS CITY HAS EVER SEEN. UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THAT DON'T KNOW, JOHN JENNINGS HAS HIS FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THE TOYOTA PROJECT. AND JOHN, YOU WERE ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US CRAFT PACKAGES, UM, AND REAL ESTATE DEALS FOR THE TENANTS AND THE NEW, UM, YOU KNOW, OCCUPANTS OVER AT BROOKS. WITHOUT YOU, WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IT DONE. SO YOUR, YOUR WIFE TO YOUR RIGHT HAS EVERY REASON TO BE SMILING, THAT BIG, BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND TO BE PROUD OF YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UM, MARGARET, UH, ANALIA IS OVER THERE, AND MARGARET, UM, YOU WERE, UH, VERY, VERY USEFUL AND, AND, UH, ESSENTIAL TO US UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CITY WOULD THINK, UM, WITH OUR DECISIONS BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE THAT, UH, AND, UH, AS CITY STAFF AND BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STEPS THAT WE TOOK OUT THERE WAS EXCELLENT. YOU HELD US TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD, AND YOU'RE THE ONE THAT REMINDED US THAT SAN ANTONIO DESERVES EXCELLENCE, AND YOU'RE THE ONE THAT WOULD CAUTION US TO, UM, BE PATIENT. AND I THINK THAT PATIENT'S PAID OFF. THANK YOU, MAR, UH, MARGARET, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF EVERYTHING YOU DID. AND THEN, UM, THAT GUY IN AK, UM, MAYOR THA NO, I'M KIDDING IN, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. AK, UM, IS, UM, UH, THE GUY WHO TAUGHT US HOW TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCALE OUT THERE. AND YOU GO, YOU BROUGHT SPAIN TO SAN ANTONIO'S BROOKS, YOU BROUGHT, UM, US TO, UH, THE KOREAN DEAL WITH MISSION SOLAR, AND YOU ARE THE ONE THAT TAUGHT US THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND A DIFFERENT TEMPO AND A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND BECAUSE OF YOU, UM, BROOKS IS A HUGE SUCCESS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US UP HERE, UH, ON THIS COUNCIL TAKES CREDIT FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, AND THE WORK OF OUR CITY, UH, OF, OF OUR APPOINTEES. BUT INGO, YOU AND MARGARET AND JOHN AND CHARLIE GONZALEZ, WHO'S NOT HERE WITH US TODAY, UM, REALLY, WE, WE APPLAUD EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU'VE MADE. UH, I PROMISED ALL OF YOU WHEN I ASKED YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER BEING ON THIS BOARD THAT ALL YOU WOULD GET WAS A SANDWICH EVERY MONTH, AND THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SHOW UP TO A MEETING OR TWO. AND THAT WAS A HUGE LIE. UM, YOU GUYS SHOWED UP TO A LOT MORE MEETINGS AND, UM, , JOHN AND MARGARET, I WAS PROUD TO SERVE WITH YOU AND, UM, YOU GUYS SURE MADE THIS CHAIRMAN LOOK REALLY, REALLY GOOD. AND, UH, BROOKS IS THE JEWEL THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF YOU. SO THANK YOU. AND MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, ALLOWING THESE FOLKS TO BE, UM, HERE TODAY AND, AND TO TAKING THE TIME TO CELEBRATE THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PALAI. COUNCILMAN TREVINO, THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PALAI FOR, FOR POINTING OUT THE HARD WORK THAT'S OCCURRING OVER AT BROOKS. UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR WORK AT, AT BROOKS AS WELL. UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE D ONE, UH, APPOINTEE JOHN, UM, JENNINGS FOR HIS HARD WORK AND, AND HIS DEDICATION AND ALL HE CONTRIBUTED TO, TO THAT POST, UH, AS WELL AS MARGARET AND EGO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, UH, WHAT WE, WE BELIEVE IS GONNA BE A LEGACY OF YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN TREVINO. COUNCILMAN SHAW. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MARGARET, I KNOW, UH, YOUR TERM IS UP ON BROOKS, BUT I'M JUST PUTTING YOU ON NOTICE NOW THAT YOUR SERVICE IS NOT DONE. WE NEED YOU BACK IN THE DISTRICT AND WE WILL HAVE YOU ON BOARDS AND STILL SERVING. SO VOTE TO ALL THREE OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON BROOKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW. AND I'LL JUST CLOSE BY SAYING WE APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF OUR BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBERS OVER THE YEARS. IT WAS GR WITH GREAT FORESIGHT. I THINK THAT THE CITY CREATED THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, AND PUT SOME VERY GOOD PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON THAT BOARD. AND TODAY IT'S BEARING FRUIT THAT I THINK OUR WHOLE CITY ENJOYS. UH, IT IS TRULY PART OF THE, THE BACKBONE OF WHY THE SOUTH SIDE IS RISING, UH, AND WILL CONTINUE TO, TO BEAR FRUIT IN SO MANY WAYS FOR YEARS TO COME. IT'S ONE OF OUR, UH, CRITICAL ECONOMIC CENTERS NOW FOR THE SA TOMORROW PLAN, AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW WHAT GREAT MOMENTUM IS IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. ALRIGHT, SO WE ARE GONNA MOVE NOW TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA. UH, WE HAVE ONE ITEM SCHEDULED FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING. THAT'S ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH THIS IS THE SAWS RATE ADJUSTMENT. UH, [Consent Agenda] I'LL ASK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES NOW IF THEY'D LIKE TO PULL ANY OTHER ITEMS, UH, FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 17. OKAY, COUNCILMAN SALANI. ITEM 16, MAYOR, ITEM 16. ANY OTHERS? OKAY, WE HAVE ITEMS [00:15:01] 16 AND 17 PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS INDIVIDUAL IS SCHEDULED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING. WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP, UH, FOR ITEMS STILL ON CONSENT. SO AT THIS TIME, I'LL TAKE A MOTION, UH, ON THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SAFE FOR ITEM 16 AND 17, UH, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO CITIZEN COMMENT. SO IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE'LL NOW TAKE ITEMS, UH, WE'LL NOW TAKE CITIZENS WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK ON THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT, AND WE'LL START WITH INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. YEAH. OKAY. UH, CORRECTION. THERE'S NO, UH, THERE ARE NO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON, UH, ITEMS STILL ON CONSENT. SO, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE MOTION. UH, AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SAFE FOR ITEM 16 AND 17, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES ITEM [4. An Ordinance approving 1) adjustments to the 2018 and 2019 residential, general, irrigation, wholesale and recycled class rates; 2) adjustments to various fees and charges related to services provided by SAWS and 3) amending the City Code. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Robert R, Puente, President and CEO, San Antonio Water System] ] NUMBER FOUR, ITEM NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE 2018 AND 2019 RESIDENTIAL GENERAL IRRIGATION HOST SCALE AND RECYCLED CLASS RATES. ADJUSTMENTS TO VARIOUS FEES AND CHARGES RELATED TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY SAS AND AMENDING THE CITY CODE. BEN, GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS ITEM IS CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD APPROVE RATE INCREASES FOR SAWS. IT INCLUDES AN OVERALL INCREASE RATE INCREASE OF 5.8% IN CALENDAR YEAR 2018, AND A 4.7% IN CALENDAR YEAR TWO TH 2019. IT WOULD ALSO APPROVE AN INCREASE IN RECYCLE WATER RATES, AS WELL AS MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO MISCELLANEOUS FEES AND CHARGES THAT, THAT THAT SAWS HAS IN PLACE CURRENTLY. AS I MENTIONED AT THE LAST B SESSION WHERE WE WENT OVER THE SAWS RATE REQUEST, CITY STAFF IS REQUIRED TO REVIEW THE RATE REQUEST AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TO THE MARION COUNCIL. WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT A GROUP WITHIN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES GROUP THAT ACTUALLY WORKS WITH BOTH OF OUR UTILITIES WHEN THEY HAVE RATE REQUESTS OR OR RATE CASES COMING FORWARD AND THEY DO THE WORK AND THE ANALYSIS AROUND THAT. I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME. UM, TROY ELLIOTT IS OUR DEPUTY C F O. RUSSELL HUFF, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF REPUBLIC UTILITIES. AND JEFF PULLIN IS OUR, UH, PUBLIC UTILITIES ADMINISTRATOR ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER STAFF IN THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DIVISION. THEY DO SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME GOING THROUGH THESE GREAT REQUESTS WHEN THEY COME FORWARD. AND I JUST WANNA THANK, THANK THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK. WE DO A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THAT LOOKS AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS, AND I'LL JUST TOUCH ON THOSE QUICKLY FOR YOU THIS MORNING. UH, WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET. WE DO DO SOME HIGH LEVEL BENCHMARKING AGAINST OTHER WATER WASTEWATER UTILITIES, JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE, THE, UH, SAWS O AND M COMPARES TO THE OTHER WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITIES. WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE PROPOSED SALARY CHANGES. WE DO NOT LOOK AT 'EM ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, BUT WE LOOK AT THEM IN AGGREGATE JUST TO SEE IF THEY ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SEE IN THE MARKET IN TERMS OF, OF CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR. WE LOOK AT BENEFIT LEVELS, HEALTHCARE PENSION LEVELS. UM, WE DO NOT SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT, UM, INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS PROCESSES OR GET INTO STUDYING EFFICIENCIES. WE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME TO SOLVE TO GO LOOK AT PARTICULAR AREAS. AND WE HAVE RECOMMENDED IN THE PAST, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE WAS TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF INNOVATION OR AN INNOVATION POSITION TO FOCUS INTERNALLY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION TO WORK ON THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. UM, LOOKING AT THE LIFECYCLE REPLACEMENT OF SAS EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, THE PACE AND EXPENDITURE BOND PROCEEDS. SO AS THEY ISSUE DEBT, HOW FAST DO THEY PUT THOSE FUNDS INTO PRODUCTION TOWARDS THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AND THE PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED. UM, LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, THE E P A CONSENT DECREE AS THEY MOVE FROM MORE OF AN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FOCUSED UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE OVER TO A, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AS THEY CONTINUE, AS THEY START TO MOVE INTO MORE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. TO SUPPORT THE E P A CONSENT DECREE, WE LOOK AT THEIR ENTIRE RATE MODEL, WHICH IS REALLY A CASH FLOW MODEL. WE TALKED AT THE B SESSION ABOUT HOW THE BOND INDENTURE PRESCRIBES HOW FUNDS ARE TO BE ALLOCATED WITHIN SAWS. AND THERE IS A, WHAT WE WOULD CALL A WATERFALL OR A FLOW OF FUNDS, UM, THAT DRIVES THE, THE, UM, RATE MODEL AS WELL. SO WE LOOK AT THAT REVIEW THAT THE KEY FINANCIAL METRICS INCLUDED IN THERE, THINGS LIKE DAYS, CASH ON [00:20:01] HAND, DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE, HOW MUCH DEBT SAWS IS ISSUING VERSUS HOW MUCH CASH THEY'RE USING TO FUND THEIR C I P. THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS FROM A CREDIT PERSPECTIVE, CERTAINLY THINGS THAT THE RATING AGENCIES FOCUS ON. WE DO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RATE MODEL TIES TO THEIR LATEST AUDIT, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN IN THIS CASE CALENDAR YEAR 2016. SO WE'RE TAKING THOSE AUDITED NUMBERS, UM, LOOKING AT THEIR PROJECTIONS FOR 2017 AND ROLLING THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT CASH FLOW MODEL. AND THEN WE LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER ASSUMPTIONS IN THERE, INCLUDING DEMAND USAGE, INTEREST RATE ASSUMPTIONS, GROWTH ASSUMPTION ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THEIR OVERALL FINANCIAL POSITION. UH, WE LOOKED, I MENTIONED THE E P A CONSENT DECREE, UM, SAWS THIS SUBMIT A QUARTERLY REPORT TO US AS REQUIRED THAT SHOWS PROGRESS UNDER THE E P A CONSENT DECREE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MILESTONES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, SO THEY'RE SUBMITTING, UH, QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS TO US. UM, ON THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SIDE, WE DIDN'T FOCUS AS MUCH ON THAT THIS TIME AROUND. IN THE PAST, WE HAVE SPENT MUCH MORE TIME LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE ANSWER RATES, ABANDONED CALL RATES, HOW MUCH BILL ESTIMATION THEY'RE DOING VERSUS ACTUAL METER READS. UH, BUT WE DIDN'T FOCUS ON THAT QUITE AS MUCH. UH, THIS TIME AROUND CHANGES IN AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, FUNDING ENROLLMENT LEVELS, HOW DO THOSE COMPARE TO THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE RATE INCREASE SIDE? AND THEN ON THE OVERALL RATINGS, UM, AS WAS TALKED ABOUT IN B SESSIONS, SAWS DOES HAVE EXCELLENT CREDIT RATINGS, THEIR DOUBLE A PLUS OR AA ONE FROM ALL THREE RATING AGENCIES, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS THEY ARE ONE NOTCH BELOW AAA WITH ALL THREE RATING AGENCIES. SO WE LOOK AT THE CREDIT REPORTS THAT COME BACK FROM THE RATING AGENCIES. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO SAWS. THEY WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT THE RATING AGENCIES EXPECTATIONS ARE AS IT RELATES TO SAWS, AND THEY WILL GIVE YOU KIND OF AN IDEA OF THE OUTLOOK AND WHAT SOME OF THE KEY FACTORS ARE THAT THE RATING AGENCIES ARE FOCUSED ON. IN ADDITION TO THAT KIND OF STEPPING AWAY SPECIFICALLY FROM SAWS, WE WILL REVIEW OTHER RATING AGENCY PUBLICATIONS THAT DEAL WITH, UM, UH, PEER MEDIAN REPORTS THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE FINANCIAL METRICS, HOW DO THEY COMPARE WITH OTHER SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE WATER WASTEWATER UTILITIES? HOW DO THEY COMPARE WITH OTHER, UM, WATER WASTEWATER UTILITIES THAT HAVE A SIMILAR CREDIT RATING SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF GAUGE THAT AND MEASURE THAT. SO TAKING ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT, LOOKING AT THAT COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, UM, WE THEN BASE OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THAT. UM, WE BELIEVE BASED ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THAT SAS, UM, HAS MADE A BUSINESS CASE, AND THAT IS A REASONABLE REQUEST IN TERMS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE. UH, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ROBERT PUENTE, WHO'S PRESIDENT AND C E O OF SAAS, WHO WILL MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR YOU THIS MORNING. AND THEN OF COURSE, CITY STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE ALSO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT PRESENTATION. ROBERT, GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MANAGER, SCULLEY, I STAND BEFORE YOU, UH, ASKING YOU TO MAKE A DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT DECISION. AND THIS DECISION THAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO MAKE IS DIFFICULT IN OUR OWN, WITH OUR OWN STAFF. IT'S DIFFICULT WITH ME. UM, I ALWAYS CHALLENGE OUR STAFF. I ALWAYS, UH, AM CHALLENGED BY THEM TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR BUDGET. UH, SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE, UH, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU IS A BUDGET THAT NEEDS TO PASS OUR OWN MUSTER, PASS OUR BOARDS MUSTER AND, AND PASS YOU AND PASS OUR CITIZENS. UM, I, I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THAT, UM, EVEN $1 MATTERS AND, AND THIS, THESE BILL RATES ARE GOING TO AFFECT OUR, OUR CITIZENS MORE THAN A DOLLAR. WE FEEL IT, WE UNDERSTAND IT. WE DO NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. I DO NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. AND SO THE DIFFICULT DECISION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE TODAY WAS DIFFICULT ON US THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. AND SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT MADE IN A VACUUM. IT'S NOT, UH, THESE DECISIONS, THESE, UH, THINGS THAT WE BRING BEFORE YOU ARE NOT DONE JUST WITH A REQUEST THAT YOU MAKE, UM, A DECISION BASED ON YOUR CAPACITY. AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. I STARTED IN SAWS IN 2008, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENS AND HAPPENED TO YOU AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IS YOU GET A LOT OF BRIEFINGS. MY, ONE OF MY FIRST BRIEFINGS WAS WITH STEVE KLAUS, HE'S OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, AND HE SAID, ROBERT, WE NEED TO STOP KICKING THE SEWER CAN DOWN THE ROAD, ROBERT. WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM. AND FRANKLY, HE TOLD ME, BECAUSE E P A WAS ALREADY KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR THAT HAD ALREADY STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH US ABOUT THE OVERFLOWS THAT WE HAD IN OUR SYSTEM. AND SO WE STARTED WORKING ON THEM. AND, AND YOU'LL SEE, UH, ON THIS GRAPH THAT THERE WERE LONG STRETCHES OF NO INVESTMENT IN OUR SEWER SYSTEM FOR A [00:25:01] 13 YEAR PERIOD. WE ONLY HAD ONE RATE INCREASE. THIS DID NOT EVEN KEEP UP WITH THE RATE OF, OF INFLATION. AND THIS IS WHY E P A E P A CAME KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR BECAUSE THIS WAS RESULTING IN SEWER OVERFLOWS OF OVER 500, 500 INDIVIDUAL SEWER OVERFLOWS PER YEAR. AND WE HAD TO GET A HANDLE ON IT. AND SO THIS LED TO THIS HEADLINE IN EXPRESS NEWS IN 2010. IS OUR SEWER BILL GOING TO BE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS? WELL, IN FACT, IT WAS, WHILE IT TOOK, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE E P A, UH, TO, TO LET, TO MAKE US REALIZE THAT THOSE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS WERE GONNA BE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS. IN 2013 SASS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WITH E P A IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO GET A HANDLE ON THE SEWER OVERFLOWS THE CD AS A FEDERALLY ENFORCEABLE COURT ORDER REQUIRING SAS TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS. IT IS A 10 YEAR CONSENT DECREE, AND WE ARE NOW ENTERING THE FIFTH YEAR. AND, AND DURING THESE, THESE, UH, NOW ENTERING THIS FIFTH YEAR, EVERY SINGLE MILESTONE, EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT WE HAVE MET AND OR EXCEEDED. SO WE ARE DOING VERY WELL WITHIN THAT CONSENT DECREE. SO WHAT HAVE WE DONE, UH, WITH THAT? WELL, EVEN BEFORE THE CONSENT DECREE WAS PUT IN PLACE STARTING IN 2011, WE STARTED THOSE INVESTMENTS INTO OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT, UH, INTO WASTEWATER INVESTMENT PIPELINES AND TREATMENT FACILITIES. THIS SLIDE SHOWS WHERE SOME OF THAT MONEY WENT. AND I, I DOUBT ANYONE HERE OTHER THAN OUR OWN STAFF REALLY KNOWS ANY DETAILS ABOUT THESE PROJECTS, BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS DO NOT MAKE THE NEWS. YOU TAKE ANY ONE OF THESE. FOR EXAMPLE, UH, IN 2012 WESTERN WATERSHED, FOUR 10 TO SOUTHWEST MILITARY, A $33 MILLION PROJECT. THERE WAS NO RIBBON CUTTING. THERE WAS NO SCHOOL TOURS, THERE WAS NO NEWSWORTHY EVENTS REGARDING DIGGING INTO A GROUND AND PUTTING A BIG SEWER LINE INTO THE, INTO THE GROUND. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE ALSO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR ROLE, UH, IN HOW WE DEVELOP AS A, AS A, AS A CITY. WE INVESTED OVER $61 MILLION DURING THIS TIME PERIOD IN A SOUTHWEST SEWER PIPELINE. THIS PIPELINE THAT ROUGHLY, UH, GOES FROM, UH, THE NORTHWEST AREA TO THE SOUTHEAST AREA IS A PIPELINE THAT COULD SERVE A COMMUNITY THE SIZE OF CORPUS CHRISTI. AND IT CURRENTLY ALLOWS FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AROUND THE TOYOTA AREA, THE TEXAS A AND M AREA, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS. IT ELIMINATED OVER 10 LIFT STATIONS AND ALSO PREVENTS SMALLER, UH, TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE AREA. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THESE INVESTMENTS ARE PAYING OFF ON THE RIGHT. YOU'LL SEE OUR SEWER OVERFLOWS GOING DOWN YEAR BY YEAR. THERE'S SOME VARIABILITY THERE BECAUSE OF RAINFALL, BUT OVERALL, THEY'RE GOING DOWN. 2017, WE BELIEVE WILL BE A RECORD LOW FOR US IN THIS ENDEAVOR. BUT THESE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, SEWER CLEANING, TELEVISING FLOW METER, SMART METERS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. JUST IN 2008, TWO IN 2018 ALONE, OUR BUDGET FOR SEWER CLEANING IS OVER TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S JUST TO CLEAN, CLEAN THE SEWERS. WHILE WE'VE MADE MAJOR, UH, HAVE HAD A MAJOR FOCUS ON WASTEWATER, WE'VE ALSO BEEN MAKING, UH, INVESTMENTS IN OUR WATER SUPPLY. YOU'LL SEE THESE TWO PROJECTS. THE REGIONAL CADE PROJECT ONLINE IN 2013, AT THE TIME WAS THE LARGEST DIVERSIFICATION FROM THE EDWARDS. AND FOUR YEARS LATER, OUR BRACKISH PLANT COMES ONLINE. AND NOW THAT IS THE LARGEST DIVERSIFICATION OFF OF THE EDWARDS. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS, 85 MILLION AND 155 MILLION. NOW THAT WE HAVE THESE NEW WATER SUPPLIES, WE HAVE TO MOVE THAT WATER. SO THIS WATER, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM FROM THE SOURCE IN, IN SOUTHEAST BEAR COUNTY, WE ARE BUILDING A, A WESTERN INTEGRATION PIPELINE FROM THAT AREA TO THE FAR WEST AND THE FAR NORTHWEST, UH, THE HIGH GROWTH AREAS, BRINGING WATER ALL THE WAY TO THE PIOL PUMP STATION, DISTRIBUTING IT THERE. AND ANOTHER, UH, MORE WATER BEING DISTRIBUTED AT THE ANDERSON PUMP STATION. THAT'S $140 MILLION PROJECT CENTRAL. THE CENTRAL WATER INTEGRATION PIPELINE BRINGS WATER IN FROM VISTA RIDGE AT ABOUT $141 MILLION. EVEN WITH THESE NEW SUPPLIES, CONSERVATION HAS NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL TAKE A BACK SEAT TO WATER SUPPLY. OUR GOALS ARE, ARE AS BOLD AS THEY'VE EVER BEEN. AS YOU'VE SEEN IN OUR WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, EVERY YEAR, NEW AND CUTTING EDGE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BY OUR BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DRIVE DOWN THAT PER CAPITA Q PER CAPITA USE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION SUPPLY, WE ARE ALSO IN, IN, ARE INVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AGAIN, THIS IS A LONG LIST OF SUPPLY PROJECTS SINCE 2011 TO THE PRESENT. SO [00:30:01] THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE RATE INCREASES THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND HOW WE ARE INVESTING IT BACK INTO OUR FACILITIES. TAKE ANY ONE OF THESE PROJECTS, 2013 OC PUMP STATION, $26 MILLION. AGAIN, NO RIBBON CUTTING, NO SCHOOL TOURS, NO, UH, BROCHURES BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THESE PROJECTS, BUT THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF WHAT WE DO AT SAUCE. DURING THIS TIME. WE ALSO ABSORBED A UTILITY THE SIZE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, SIZE OF WACO. WE RESOLVED WATER SUPPLY PROBLEMS. THIS WAS ALSO DURING A VERY DRY PERIOD, THE DROUGHT OF 2011 TO 2014 WHERE BARE MET WOULD HAVE RUN OUT OF WATER. WE IMPROVED THEIR OPERATIONS SAVINGS, UM, CREATING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS. WE HAD REINVESTED $83 MILLION BACK INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAD VOTED OVER $92 MILLION OF PLANNED CAPITAL COST AND SAVED OVER $17 MILLION IN BOND REFINANCING. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF BEFORE AND AFTER, UH, ON THE ONE OF THE BARE MET SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE SOMERSET PUMP STATION ON WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO WITH SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE, WE HAD. WE'VE DONE ALL THIS BY MAINTAINING EFFICIENCY. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE ALMOST EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES IN 2011 BEFORE WE TOOK OVER BARE MET, AS WE DO NOW. THE BUMP IN 2011 WAS THE ABSORPTION OF BARE MET, WHERE WE, UH, TOOK IN ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. NO, NO LAYOFFS, NO FIRINGS. THESE WERE ALL, UH, ABSORBED BY TAKING THEM IN THROUGH A REGULAR ATTRITION, EITHER FILLING OUR OWN VACANCIES OR RETIREMENTS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ABSORB ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES AND KEEP THE EFFICIENCIES UP. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE EFFICIENCY IS THE EMPLOYEE RATIO TO A CUSTOMER. ONE EMPLOYEE CAN HANDLE 547 CUSTOMERS AT SAWS AND LOOK AT THE OTHER CITIES AS TO WHAT THEY CAN DO. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON. UH, WITH EXCEPTION OF EL PASO, ALL OF THESE OTHER CITIES, THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS THE WATER UTILITY, IS A PART OF THE CITY. SO THEY HAVE, THEY DON'T HAVE AN INDEPENDENT IT DEPARTMENT OR INDEPENDENT LEGAL DEPARTMENT OR INDEPENDENT HR DEPARTMENT. SO THIS IS NOT, NOT ENTIRELY APPLES TO APPLE APPLES. SO WE ARE PROBABLY WAY BETTER, UH, AS FAR AS CUSTOMER RATIO, EMPLOYEE SHIELD, AND WE ARE NOT JUST GOOD AT INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE NOT JUST GOOD AT PUTTING PIPES IN THE GROUND AND DELIVERING WATER. THIS IS AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OUR PENSION PLANS. IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, THE LIABILITY IN 20 11, 70 $3 MILLION, ROUGHLY THE SAME LIABILITY IN 2017, BUT TO, THE KEY TO THIS IS THE FUNDED RATIO. IT'S GONE UP ALMOST 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS WHERE WE ARE FUNDING 82.7% OF THAT LIABILITY. AND WE'VE EVEN DONE THAT WITH A LOWER ASSUME INVESTMENT RETURN. THIS IS DONE BE, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS A MORE REALISTIC TYPE OF RETURN, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT. AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, IF YOU, UH, AS YOU HAVE SEEN OTHER CITIES AND OTHER UTILITIES, OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES HAVE, A BIG HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSION. OUR UN ACCRUED LIABILITY IN 2011 WAS $242 MILLION. NOW WE HAVE IT DOWN TO ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. AND WE, WE WERE AT ZERO FUNDED IN 2011. NOW WE'RE AT 38%. THAT'S BECAUSE WE WERE LITERALLY PUTTING NOTHING INTO OUR, UH, UH, RETIREMENT PLANS, OUR MEDICAL PLANS, UH, IN 2011. AND NOW WE HAVE A REALISTIC RATE OF RETURN. WE'VE DONE ALL THAT AND STILL IMPROVING OUR CREDIT RATING. WE NOW HAVE THE STRONGEST CREDIT RATINGS, UM, THAT WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR HISTORY. AND SOME OF THE, UH, STRONGEST IN OUR INDUSTRY. THESE STRONG, THESE STRONG RATINGS ALLOW US TO GO BACK INTO THE MARKET AND REFINANCE A LOT OF OUR DEBT. YOU WILL SEE THAT SINCE 2011, WE HAVE REALIZED OVER $300 MILLION IN SAVINGS, 212 IN PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS. TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT, VIRTUALLY EVERY CITY IS GOING THROUGH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IF YOU LOOK AT 2005, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WAS ABOUT, UH, $45 AND 67 CENTS. WE WERE 9% LESS THAN THAT. FAST FORWARD TO 2016, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS NOW OVER 91, UH, DOLLARS, AND WE ARE 29% LESS. SO EVERY CITY, THIS IS BY A STUDY DONE BY BLACK AND BEACH OF THE 50 LARGEST CITIES. SO EVERY CITY IS GOING THROUGH THIS, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP COSTS DOWN AND STILL, UH, MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I, I THEREFORE ASK YOU TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS. THE SLIDES THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY, UH, SHOWN HAS SHOWN [00:35:01] TO YOU WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED TO US BY OUR CUSTOMERS. WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR MONEY. WE'RE GOOD FIDUCIARY STUDENTS. UH, UH, WE'RE GOOD FIDUCIARY STEWARDS OF THAT MONEY, AND WE SPEND IT WISELY. SO NOW WE'RE ASKING YOU TO, TO CONTINUE, ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT. SO THIS SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THAT IN 20, IN 2000, UH, 18, WE'RE ASKING FOR A 5.8% RATE INCREASE. 2019, A FOUR 7% RATE INCREASE FOR 2018. THE MAIN PURPOSE IS THE CAPITAL PROGRAM 2019, ALSO CAPITAL CODE PROGRAM. BUT WE ARE ALSO STARTING THE AUTOMATED METER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE VISTA RIDGE OPERATING RESERVE. THESE PIE GRAPHS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THAT MONEY IS, IS IS GOING WATER SUPPLY, WATER DELIVERY, AND WASTEWATER FOR 2018 AND 2019. SO GIVEN THAT OVER 80% OF THE REVENUE GENERATED TO SUPPORT OUR CAPITAL CROP PROGRAMS, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT MONEY. YOU'LL SEE HERE THE WESTERN INTEGRATION PIPELINE PHASE TWO ALLOWS FOR THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE FAR NORTHWEST AND FAR WEST SIZE OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS A 95, UH, MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UH, TO THE, UM, TO THE PUMP STATIONS. OTHER KEY, OTHER KEY COMPONENTS THAT ALLOW FOR US TO SERVE THAT AREA IN CASES OF DROUGHT, BUT ALSO FOR THE GROWTH THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING. 2018 AND 29 WATER DELIVERY INVESTMENTS ON THE WATER DELIVERY SIDE. UH, $132 INVESTMENT IN OUR WORST BARK PUMP STATION AND BASIN PUMP STATIONS, WATER MAIN REPLACEMENTS. AUTOMATED, UH, METER READING WILL START, UH, IN 20, UH, 18 20 19 WITH A $19 MILLION INVESTMENT ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE. STILL CONTINUING WITH THE INVESTMENT. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, UH, THE S AGAIN, NACODOCHES IS ROUGHLY A TWO MILE STRETCH, BUT THAT'S A $38 MILLION PROJECT. OVERALL, $320 MILLION WORTH OF WASTE, UH, WASTEWATER PROJECTS AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS, UH, TO OUR TREATMENT PLANTS. THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ARE REAL, BUT IT'S ALSO REAL WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A SEGMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THESE RATE INCREASES REALLY, REALLY AFFECT THEM. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE THIS, UH, AS LEAST PAINFUL AS POSSIBLE. IN WORKING WITH COUNCILMAN SALDANA, HE HAS ASKED US TO LOOK AT PROJECT IOWA TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FROM 200,000 TO 400,000 TO ALLOW THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT TO CONTINUE ON, UH, AND NOT HAVE IT STOP AND GO STOP AND GO STARTS, UH, AMONG IT. AND THIS IS A PROJECT WHERE, UH, THEIR INDIVIDUALS ARE, ARE SUBJECT TO BEING TURNED OFF FOR EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR LIFE THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORDINARY. A, A DIVORCE, A JOB LOSS, MEDICAL BILLS THAT ARE, UH, THAT ARE PILING UP. LAST YEAR, WE INCREASED, UH, OUR, UM, AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. YOU'LL SEE A COMPARISON FROM 20 15, 16 AND 17. UH, EACH UH, YEAR, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE UP THE NUMBERS ON, ON FAMILIES THAT WE'RE HELPING OVER 26,000 IN 2017. WE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE THESE EFFORTS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THERE'S OTHER, UH, PROGRAMS IN OUR CITY, UH, EITHER THROUGH ST. PAUL, UH, ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, ACOG, NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY ALL HAVE IDENTIFIED FAMILIES, IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEED. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LISTS MATCH, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS INCREASED OUTREACH, UH, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, GOING BLOCK, WALKING, DOING MAIL OUTS. WE'RE ALL, UH, IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE THE, OUR FULL AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. WORKING WITH COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, SHE HAS ASKED US TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL COST OF THIS PROGRAM, AND WE'VE INCREASED OUR FUNDING AND WE'VE PUT IN AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION INTO THIS PROGRAM, AND WE'RE NOW AT UP TO $5.7 MILLION. THIS IS THE IMPACT THAT THAT'S RESULTING IN TO WHERE THE POOREST OF THE POOR, THE ONES THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT, WILL SEE A POTENTIAL 37% SAVINGS ON THEIR AVERAGE BILL. AND IT'S DEPENDING ON THE POVERTY LEVEL THAT THEY'RE IN, BUT EVEN, UH, A LITTLE BIT OVER THE POVERTY LINE, YOU'LL STILL GET A 13% REDUCTION OF YOUR BILL. COUNCILMAN VINNO HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, AND HE ASKED US, HE HAS ASKED US TO LOOK AT WAIVING ALL LATE FEES ON CUSTOMERS IN OUR DISABILITY PROGRAM. AND WE'RE DOING THAT. HE HAS ASKED US TO LOOK AT, UH, MAILING LISTS, PUTTING INFORMATION IN THE BILLS THAT GO OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS. ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE LISTED HERE ARE EITHER A DIRECT RESULT OF BEING NOTIFIED [00:40:01] OF WHERE CONSTITUENTS NOTIFY THE COUNCIL MEMBER, AND THEY TELL US, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL? AND IT GROWS FROM THERE. IT GROWS THROUGH COOPERATION OF NOT ONLY HELPING THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL, BUT KNOWING THAT THERE'S OTHERS LIKE THAT INDIVIDUAL TO HELP, TO HELP COUNCILWOMAN. SHIRLEY GONZALEZ HAS ALSO ASKED US TO LOOK AT A MORE, UH, INNOVATIVE WAY, INNOVATIVE WAY TO LOOK AT THIS. AND WE'VE, WE'RE STARTING A PROGRAM CALLED AFFORDABILITY CARES TEAM ACT. AND THIS IS, UH, GETTING OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE A SEAMLESS, UH, TEAM TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. AND ALL THESE SERVICES CAN COME TOGETHER UNDER THIS, UH, UMBRELLA. AND SHIRLEY GONZALEZ IS GONNA HELP US WITH THAT. AND SHE, I THINK, WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL WITH A C P SS ENERGY, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. UH, PROGRAM OUTREACH. WE'RE GONNA DO TARGETED MAIL OUTS, UH, CITY COUNCIL AFFORDABILITY FAIRS. WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON SENIOR EVENTS, NOT TRADITIONAL OUTREACH WHERE WE JUST, UM, GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO, TO LOOK AT THESE, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. UH, LOOKING AT 19 INDIVIDUAL ZIP CODES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE CENSUS AS BEING SOME WHERE THERE, UH, POCKETS OF POVERTY, ALL THESE DIFFERENT EFFORTS WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO GET TO THE COMMUNITY, TRY TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE THESE PROGRAMS AND THEY SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. AND FINALLY, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I PRESENT YOU THIS SLIDE TO SHOW THAT WITH ALL OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE 40 AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, WE'RE STILL SOME OF THE LOWEST RATES, UH, IN THE STATE. DALLAS HAS, UH, INCHED, UH, BEHIND US, BUT DALLAS IS FACING, UH, THROUGH THEIR OWN INFORMATION, THEIR OWN ARE FACING WATER SUPPLY ISSUES AS EARLY AS 2027, WHERE THEY HAVE, UH, TALKED ABOUT BUILDING A HUGE PIPELINE, SOMEWHAT LIKE OUR VISTA RIDGE PIPELINE TO BRING WATER INTO THEIR COMMUNITY. NONE OF THESE CITIES ALSO HAVE A CONSENT DECREE AS WE DO. AND SO WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BEING, AGAIN, GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY THAT IS PUT INTO OUR COFFERS BY OUR RATE PAYERS. UH, MR. MAYOR, I THINK WE, I ALSO HAVE, UH, OUR, UH, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS, UH, COUNCIL DAVID. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. UH, COUNCIL, UM, I'M AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO ON THE SOS BOARD AS THE BUDGET HAWK. AND THE, UH, THE REASON THAT THEY REFER TO ME IS THAT IS I'VE SPENT 37 YEARS MY ENTIRE, UH, PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A COMMERCIAL BANKER, WHICH MEANS I'VE SPENT 37 YEARS POURING THROUGH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, READING FOOTNOTES, NEGOTIATING CONTRACTS, UM, WORKING THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE, UNDERSTANDING BUSINESS MODELS, ARRANGING CAPITAL, COLLECTING DEBT. AND AS YOU KNOW, BANKERS ALWAYS START FROM A NEGATIVE POSITION AND WE JUST SORT OF WORK UP FROM THERE. AND, UH, I'M THE GUY WHO SPENDS, UM, HOURS OUTSIDE THE BOARD MEETING MAKING SURE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT I'M BEING ASKED TO MAKE ARE BASED ON THE FACTS AND THAT WE'RE EXPLORING ALL THE ALTERNATIVES WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION. AND I BROUGHT ALL OF THOSE SKILLS TO THE, UH, SASS BOARD AND ALSO TO THE SASS AUDIT COMMITTEE. SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS MORNING. UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, WITH, WITH THAT BACKGROUND IN MIND, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS. IN MY 37 YEARS AS A FINANCIAL EXPERT, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FINANCIAL MODEL AS COMPLICATED AND AS DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS AS THE SAUCE BUSINESS MODEL. AND I'LL BOIL IT DOWN FOR YOU THE WAY I LOOK AT IT. FIRST, WE DO EVERYTHING UNDER OUR POWER TO CONVINCE OUR CUSTOMERS TO NOT BUY OUR PRODUCT. WE ARE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION. SECOND, WHEN OUR CUSTOMERS WANNA BUY OUR PRODUCT, WE WON'T SELL IT TO 'EM BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA RESTRICT WHAT WE, WHAT WE SELL. AND WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF IT TO SELL, THEY DON'T NEED TO BUY IT BECAUSE LIKE TODAY, GOD'S GIVING IT AWAY FOR FREE. SO THAT LEAVES US WITH A VERY NARROW GAP, A VERY SMALL RANGE WHERE WE NEED TO CREATE REVENUE TO COVER OUR COSTS, WHICH WE ARE OBLIGATED TO DO. AND AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE THAT EVERY TIME OUR CITIZENS TURN ON AND OPEN THE FAUCET, THAT THE WATER COMES OUT. AND OUR JOB'S ONLY HALF DONE AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE EVERY DROP THAT COMES OUT OF THE FAUCET GOES IN THE DRAIN. AND THEN WE HAVE TO HANDLE IT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MANNER. AND BECAUSE OF OUR, UH, COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, WE'RE NOW USING THAT WATER AND RE RETURNING IT BACK FOR REUSE. ALL OF THAT IS DONE IF THAT'S NOT COMPLICATED ENOUGH, ALL OF THAT IS DONE IN AN EVER CHANGING AND EVER TIGHTENING ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE TRYING TO PREDICT THE WEATHER OVER THE ENTIRE LIFECYCLE OF THE, OF THE USEFUL LIFE OF OUR ASSETS. THAT IS THE MOST COMPLICATED BUSINESS MODEL I HAVE EVER SEEN. AND AS YOU'VE JUST [00:45:01] SEEN FROM ROBERT'S PRESENTATION, DESPITE THOSE CHALLENGES, THE STATISTICS ARE CLEAR THAT SAWS HAS CONTINUED TO BECOME MORE AND MORE EFFICIENT EVERY YEAR WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE DESPITE THIS DIFFICULT MODEL. AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE LEADER IN CHARGE, IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A STAFF OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED, RESPECTED, SOME OF THE BEST EXPERTS IN FINANCE, LEGAL, OPERATIONAL, ACCOUNTING, ENGINEERING, AND SO ON. AND IF I COULD JUST MAKE ONE POINT WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING AS THE BUDGET HAWK ON THE SAS BOARD MEETING ON THE SASS BOARD, IS THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT ONE DECISION. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO A DISCIPLINE AND AN APPROACH THAT GIVES US GOOD RESULTS. THE LAST ONE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE FOR YOU, AND I THINK BEN TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, IS THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE RATING AGENCY'S VIEW OF SAWS. UM, I'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF SPEAKING WITH THEM PERSONALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN TOWN. UH, BY THE WAY, THERE ARE THREE RATING AGENCIES. UM, THEY DON'T COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER. UH, THEY ACTUALLY KIND OF COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER. AND I FIND THEIR FEEDBACK TO BE VERY INSIGHTFUL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEIR PROCESS INCLUDES COMPARING SAWS TO EVERY WATER UTILITY COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY THAT ISSUES BONDS. THAT'S WHO THEY COMPARE US TO. AND EACH OF THEIR ANALYSTS ARE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO THE WATER UTILITY SPACE. UH, UNLIKE ME WHO'S A GENERALIST, THESE FOLKS, THEY'RE, THAT'S ALL THEY DO. AND SO THEY DIG INTO OUR FINANCIALS, THEY LOOK AT OUR OPERATING RATIOS, THEY TALK ABOUT, UH, THEY TALK TO OUR MANAGEMENT. THEY UNDERSTAND RISK MANAGEMENT. THEY'RE VERY AWARE OF OUR, OF OUR CONSENT DECREE. THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF VISTA RIDGE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE MAY BE TWO OR THREE WATER UTILITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE AAA RATING, BUT SAWS IS AT THE TOP OF THE CLASS WITH A DOUBLE A PLUS RATING. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I THINK WHAT I WOULD LEAVE YOU WITH IS, IS THAT, UH, SAWS IS, UH, VERY DISCIPLINED IN THEIR APPROACH AND, UH, AND THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR THIS MORNING HAS BEEN WELL VETTED AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS MORNING. GREAT. THANK YOU ROBERT. THANK YOU DAVID, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND BEN AS WELL. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK NOW, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THEM IN ORDER OF SIGN UP. I'LL START WITH RICHARD PEREZ. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS RICHARD PEREZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I SAT ON THAT SIDE OF THE DICE JUST LIKE YOU ALL ARE TODAY. THEREFORE, I APPRECIATE HOW TOUGH IT IS WHEN ONE OF OUR MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES COMES ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE. YOU HAVE TO BALANCE YOUR CONSTITUENTS POCKETBOOKS WITH THE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS REVIEWED THE SAWS PROPOSED RATE INCREASE OF 5.8% IN 2018 AND 4.7% IN 2019, AND WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL. AND WHEN I SAY WE'VE RE-REVIEWED THEM, I REVIEW THEM JUST LIKE YOU ALL DID WHEN I WAS SITTING THERE. AND NOW AS C E O WHEN TEAR THESE THINGS APART, WE LOOK AT THEM, WE SEE WHAT THE INVESTMENT'S ALL ABOUT, WHY, AND WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD. THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS WILL FUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL ENSURE RELIABLE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A COMMUNITY TO THAT INVESTS IN ITSELF. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DO NOT MAKE THESE TOUGH DECISIONS. WE DEFER MAINTENANCE FOR FAR TOO LONG AND THEN WATCH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COME IN AND HIT US WITH A MORE THAN $1 BILLION CONSENT DECREE TO FIX OUR MESS. THE RATE CASE BEFORE YOU TODAY STRIKES THE RIGHT BALANCE BY FUNDING THOSE NECESSARY CONSENT DECREE PROJECTS, PLUS KEY INVESTMENTS IN OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE DO NOT FALL INTO THE SAME TRAP WITH OUR WATER PIPES. SINCE ITS EXISTENCE, THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS ADVOCATED FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE INADEQUATE, AFFORDABLE, AND QUALITY SUPPLY OF WATER FOR SAN ANTONIONS AND OUR SURROUNDING REGION. NOBODY LIKES RATE INCREASES. HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE SAUCE HAS MADE THE CASE WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVING AND GROWING, AND WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. PEREZ. RAMIRO CSOS. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR CITY MANAGER. GOOD MORNING. WANTED TO, UH, UH, DEFER MY TIME TO OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DR. ESTEVAN LOPEZ, WHO'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. [00:50:04] OKAY. UM, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, DR. LOPEZ. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, UH, CHERYL SALI, MANAGER SCULLY. UH, MY NAME IS ESTEBAN LOPEZ. I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, REPRESENTING OUR OVER 1300 INDIVIDUAL MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENTS, UH, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF, UH, SAN ANTONIANS AND EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE REGION. THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS LOOKED VERY CLOSELY AT THE SA PROPOSAL, UH, RATE INCREASE OF 5.8% IN 2018, AND 4.9% IN 2019, AND WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL. THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS WILL FUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THAT WILL ENSURE RELIABLE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS SEND THE, THE MESSAGE TO SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY THAT WE BELIEVE IN INVESTING IN OURSELVES. WE'VE SEEN, AND WE'VE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T INVEST. AND THE $1 BILLION, UH, CONSENT DECREE IS, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WE CAN PAY LESS NOW BY INVESTING EARLY OR WE'LL END UP PAYING MORE LATER ON TO DEFER FAR TO DEFER MAINTENANCE. FOR FAR TOO LONG, WE WATCH OTHERS LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COME IN AND REQUIRE US TO MAKE THE CORRECTIONS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN, THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU STRIKES THE CORRECT BALANCE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, ABLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSENT DECREE WITH WHICH WE'RE HALFWAY DONE ALREADY, BUT ALSO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS TO HAVE THE, THE WATER SYSTEM AND SEWER SYSTEM THAT WE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY. AS WE KNOW, THIS COMMUNITY'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. UM, IF WE LIKE IT OR NOT ORGANICALLY, THE COMMUNITY'S GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT GROWTH. NOBODY LIKES A RATE INCREASE. UH, AS A HOMEOWNER AND, UH, A MEMBER OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RATE INCREASES TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO WE BELIEVE THAT SAS HAS MADE THE CORRECT CASE OF WHY IT'S NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THRIVING FOR THE FUTURE. UH, WE STRONGLY URGE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU DR. LOPEZ. GRACIE SANCHEZ. UM, I ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER FOLKS AND I'M REPRESENTING THE ESPERANZA, NOT MYSELF, SO, OKAY. WHO ARE THEY? OKAY, WHO ARE, WHO ARE THE FOLKS SEAT THE TIME? BETO DEL SOUTHWEST WORKERS UNION. AND ACTUALLY IF THERE'S EXTRA TIME ON MY TIME, UM, ALICE CANERO GARCIA, INDEPENDENT VISUAL ARTIST. OKAY. I KNOW YOU CAME LATE, ALICE, AND, AND THERE ARE A FEW FOLKS WHO CAME LATE. I KNOW IT'S RAINING, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GRANT YOU YOUR TIME. BUT BETO, YOU'RE NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK RIGHT. SO, BUT ESPERANZA IS A, AN ORGANIZATION HAS MANY MEMBERS, SO SURE. UM, YOU, BUT EVERYONE WHO SIGNS UP INDIVIDUALLY HAS, HAS THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, SO YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. OKAY. ELA. OKAY. ALRIGHT. MY NAME IS GRACIA LOS SANCHEZ AND I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO. I LIKE MY PARENTS, ISABEL 94 AND ENRIQUE 89, AND MY AUNT PADO, WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US LIKE MY AITA, WHO WAS A CHILI QUEEN IN THE 1890S THROUGH THE 1920S, MAITA PANTA, A WOMAN WHO MADE HER MONEY WASHING OTHER PEOPLE'S CLOTHES, IN ADDITION TO BEING A COMMUNITY HEALER AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT TO THE POOR AND WORKING POOR OF THE SEGREGATED WEST SIDE. AND THE MANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WORKED LONG, HARD HOURS UNDER A RACIST, SEXIST, SEGREGATED SOCIETY HAVE WORKED FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR PEOPLE. THIS PAST SUMMER, THIS COUNCIL SPENT TIME AND ENERGY TO DISCUSS EQUITY IN DEVELOPING THE 20 17 18 BUDGET. SO MANY OF US WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF EQUITY BEING USED IN THE HALLS OF CITY HALL. YOU SPEND TIME [00:55:01] WITH CHRISTINE RENAN, WHO SHARED THE HISTORICAL DISCRIMINATION THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE 20TH CENTURY TO EXPLAIN THE ECONOMIC DISPARITY OF THE CITY. YOU HAVE NOW CREATED A NEW HOUSING TASK FORCE THAT IS LOOKING CLOSELY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE FACING WHEN THEY CAN'T FIND HOUSING THAT THEY CAN AFFORD. AND WHEN, LIKE DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EXPRESS NEWS, OUR RENTAL RATES ARE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE, WILL CONTINUE TO BE ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED UNLESS YOU ARE ELECTED LEADERS CHALLENGE THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, THE TOURIST INDUSTRY INDUSTRIES THAT TAKE AND TAKE AND TAKE OF THEIR WORKERS AND STEAL FROM OUR CULTURE. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE HOTELS OF SAN ANTONIO, CLEANING TOILETS, CHANGING THE BEDSHEETS, CLEANING THE ROOMS, OR WORKING DOWN ON THE RIVERWALK AT FIESTA, TEXAS, SEAWORLD AND SO ON. WE DON'T PAY THE WOMEN, MEN, YOUTH, AND ELDERS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE OR LESS IN THESE JOBS. AND LET US NOT FORGET THAT MINIMUM WAGE HAS NOT INCREASED SINCE 2009. AND AS WE KNOW, MOST FOLKS MAKING MINIMUM AND WAGE ARE NOT GIVING, ARE NOT GETTING FULL-TIME JOBS, AND THEREFORE DON'T GET HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OR ANY BENEFITS FOR THAT MATTER. OUR FOLKS HAVE TO WORK TWO AND THREE JOBS TO MAKE END ENDS MEET, AND STILL THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. I LOST MY ENOUGH, BUT THANK GOODNESS WATCHING TODAY'S PRESENTATION THAT SAS WORKERS AND THEIR C E O WILL SOMEHOW IMPROVE THEIR LIFESTYLES BASED ON THIS INCREASE SOMEHOW. I CAN'T SEEM TO JUSTIFY A C E O'S SALARY OF $567,000 WHEN A PERSON WORKING MINIMUM WAGE AT 40 HOURS WILL ONLY GET $15,000 GROSS. HOWEVER, THE SAW INCREASE RATES FOR THE FUTURE DON'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT OUR FOLKS WILL NOT HAVE INCREASES OF 4% OR 5% IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. UH, WE HAVE TOO MANY STORIES OF HOW THE RECENT INCREASES IN RATES HAVE AFFECTED OUR WORKING POOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE KNOW OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR WATER SERVICE TURNED OFF. WE KNOW THAT LARGE HOUSEHOLDS ARE GETTING CHARGED MORE BECAUSE THEY USE MORE WATER. BECAUSE POOR AND WORKING POOR PEOPLE HAVE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD. WATER BILLS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW FOR THESE HOUSEHOLDS, AND THESE POLICIES WILL CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE BURDEN OF OUR PEOPLE AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE CITY'S INEQUITIES. MOST OF US WILL AGREE THAT FIXING UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SU OF OUR SEWAGE SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT AND THAT SAWS AND CITY HAVE TO PAY FOR FIXING UP THE PROBLEM THROUGH A CONSENT DECREE. WHAT WE FAIL TO TELL OUR RESIDES THAT SAWS FAILED TO UPKEEP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR SEWAGE SYSTEM, AND HAD TO BE SUED TO GET OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FIXED SO THAT WE, SO THAT WE HAVE TO RELY ON OUR CONSENT DECREE. WHY DON'T WE FIX WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE WASTING MORE MONEY ON THE VISTA RIDGE PIPELINE THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT TODAY? WHY DON'T WE PAY ATTENTION TO OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND NOT THE WEALTHIER FOLKS AND CORPORATIONS WHO WILL BE RACING TO OUR CITIES BECAUSE OF THE CHEAPER WATER THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET FROM OUR CITY. SAUCE HAS NOT BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THE TRUE COST OF THE VISTA RIDGE PIPELINE, NOR HAVE THEY COMPARED COSTS OF CANCELING OR DEFERRING THE PROJECT. UH, I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO SAY, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CHALLENGE US TO HAVE AN AUDIT OF SAW AND NOT TO HAVE INCREASES FOR TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN INCREASE JUST THE NEXT YEAR. EXACTLY. AND ON THAT NOTE, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT. UH, BUNDLING THE TWO RATE HIKES TOGETHER IS, UM, VERY SLIPPERY. WE WOULD LIKE EACH RATE, HIKE RATE, EACH RATE INCREASE TO BE DISCUSSED ON ITS OWN MERITS. PLEASE FOR THIS VOTE, SEPARATE THE TWO RATE INCREASES. I APPLAUD, OH, MR. BROCK HOUSE HAS THIS IDEA, WHICH MANY OF US SHARE, AND I HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU WILL SUPPORT THAT KIND OF THING. UM, COUNCILWOMAN COURAGE AS WELL. SO PLEASE NOTE, OUR CITY IS CHANGING FROM WITHIN. I I AM AN INDEPENDENT VISUAL ARTIST, BUT I STAND WITH OUR REVOLUTION. I'VE JUST RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED AS A CO-CHAIR TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP. SO PLEASE NOTE THINGS ARE CHANGING HERE. Y'ALL CAN'T JUST RUBBER STAMP STUFF NO MATTER WHAT IS SAID BY THE POWERS THAT BE THE CITY MANAGER. PLEASE, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO HA TO MAKE A, A PROTEST VOTE, YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO SIT UP THERE. I LOVE YOU. I RESPECT YOUR WORK, BUT PLEASE STEP UP AND REPRESENT US. Y'ALL ARE NOT HERE AT THE BEHEST, BEHEST OF THE DEVELOPERS. THANK YOU HENRIETTA LAGRANGE. WE HAVE SIX MINUTES, RIGHT? THAT, THAT WAS THE SIX MINUTES? THAT WAS THE SIX MINUTES. I BET THAT I MA'AM APOLOGIZE. YES, MA'AM. HENRIETTA LAG GRANGE. Y'ALL NEED TO FIX YOUR CLOCK. SO IT SAYS SIX MINUTES AND THE ACOUSTICS. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS HENRIETTA LAGRANGE AND THIS IS TO ALL THE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS [01:00:01] THAT SERVING COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO SURROUNDING AREAS ALL WHOM PURCHASE WATER FROM THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEMS OR SAWS. AFTER VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND MUCH THOUGHT AND A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING, I AM SUPPORTING THE SAUCE RATE INCREASE. I MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND. I QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THE SAUCE BENEFITS BECAUSE I TOO AM LOW INCOME. I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH AND I HOPE THAT OTHERS HAVE DONE. THERE ARE 40 COMMUNITIES OR WATER SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THERE ARE 30 THAT HAVE HIGHER RATES THAN SAWS. WHEN WE THINK OF STAYING HEALTHY, SAFE, SAFE, DRINKING WATER, AND ALL THE BENEFITS WE GET FROM CLEAN WATER, SAN ANTONIO HAS A LARGE POPULATION OF CHILDREN AND ELDERLY CITIZENS WHO DEPEND ON CLEAN, SAFE WATER. I ALSO HAVE DONE MY OWN RESEARCH OF HOW MANY WATER RELATED DISEASES THAT ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT AND CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS TO OUR SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEMS CUSTOMERS. LET'S NOT FORGET FLINT, MICHIGAN, WHAT HAPPENED? WRONG DECISIONS MADE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF RATE INCREASES AND RESULTS. MANY OF THE CITIZENS HAVE HAD ILLNESSES BECAUSE OF THE UNSAFE DRINKING WATER. THAT IS A PLACE WE DO NOT WANNA HAVE TO GO. WHEN WE HEAR THAT TAS IS BUYING WATERS, LET'S SUPPORT IT. WHAT WE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SCARCITY OF WATER. WE SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT SAUCE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING OUT FOR OUR FUTURE. MY MANY THANKS TO C E O PRESIDENT ROBERT PUENTE FOR STAYING STRONG AND FOR THE FOLLOWING SA STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORK VERY HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND NEVER GET A THANK YOU. STEPHEN KLAUS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, JEFF HABE, VICE PRESIDENT GINO RAMOS, VICE PRESIDENT CECILIA RODRIGUEZ. PICASSO. CECILIA IS AN AMAZING PERSON WHO YOU CAN COUNT ON TO GET THE WORK DONE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL WITHIN REACH OF THIS LETTER. AND, UH, MAY I SAY, SHIRLEY, WE LOVE YOUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. YOUR HEART IS IN THE COMMUNITY. RAY SALDANA, YOUR HEART IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE JOHN COURAGE HERE. THANK YOU, JOHN. COURAGE AND ALSO MR. BRACK HOUSE. I JUST WANNA SAY, IF YOU WANNA TALK TEXAS, CALL ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. LA GRANGE. I LOVE MY SAUCE. WATER STANLEY MITCHELL. UH, JOE IS DISTRIBUTING, UH, COPIES OF MY PRESENTATION. UH, BEV ADAMS AND, UH, JIM KELLER ARE LENDING THEIR TIME TO ME. UM, GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BEV. AND, AND JIM, THEY'RE SEATING BOTH THEIR TIME TO YOU. THEY HAVE, YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. YOU HAVE NINE. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I'M STAN MITCHELL, THE NUMBERS GUY FOR THE SAMBA COALITION, SAN ANTONIO, MAKING BUREAUCRACIES ACCOUNTABLE. THE PRESENTATION SCRIPT YOU'RE RECEIVING IS THE SAME AS THAT DELIVERED TO YOUR OFFICE ON MONDAY, SO YOU CAN HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE. THE 10 COALITIONS ON PAGE FOUR, REQUEST YOUR VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED SAW RIGHT INCREASES, WHICH WOULD FUND SAWS A M I SMART METER PROJECT. WE LEAVE OUR SCRIPT AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I RECEIVED TUESDAY AN EMAILED RESPONSE FROM SAAS TO OUR NOVEMBER 20TH OPEN RECORDS REQUEST. UH, I'LL HAVE A COPY OF MY PRESENTATION TO SHARE WITH YOU AT THE CONCLUSION. UH, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT MR. DOUG EVANSON SAS C F O HAS NOT BRIEFED SAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON THE BUSINESS CASE FOR A M I. THE BRIEFING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2018. PARAPHRASING QUOTE, SAS MANAGEMENT HAS NOT DEVELOPED THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THEIR SMART METER PROJECT, BUT THEY WILL RAISE OUR RATES TO PAY FOR IT. I WARRANT [01:05:01] THAT MR. GELLE DID NOT TAKE THIS MATTER INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN HE EVALUATED SAWS RATE INCREASE. CLEARLY, SAWS MANAGEMENT LACKS A FINANCIAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE A M I PART OF THEIR PROPOSAL. DO THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED ECONOMICS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR PRO PROPOSAL? FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MUCH OF THEIR RATE INCREASES WILL BE USED TO PAY FOR THE DIS ECONOMIES OF VISTA RIDGE SAS RESPONSE PROMPTS THIS ADDENDUM TO OUR PRESENTATION SCRIPTS, BOTH THE COPY DELIVERED TO YOUR OFFICE ON MONDAY AND THE DUPLICATE WE'VE DISTRIBUTED NOW, HERE ARE ADDITIONS TO THE QUOTE EIGHT PARAMETERS OF YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOUND ON PAGE ONE OF YOUR PRESENTATION. FIRST, THE CITY'S ORGANIZATION CHART, NO CHANGES HERE. RESTATING THIS COUNCIL IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS EMPLOYEES DECEPTIONS, INCLUDING C E O PUENTE'S FRAUDULENT STONEWALLING OF SMART METER PROJECT ECONOMICS TO TEXAS PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY ACTS MAKES YOU A UTILITY REGULATOR, BUT SAW CITY STAFF DISRESPECTS YOU, OUR ELECTED MAYOR COUNCIL BY WITHHOLDING THE CRITICAL FINANCIAL DETAILS OF THEIR A M I SMART METER PROJECT, EXPECTING AN UNINFORMED COUNCIL RUBBER STAMP. RECALL THAT C P SS CITY STAFF SIMILARLY DUPED THE COUNCIL, INCLUDING THEN COUNCILMAN RON ERENBERG. WHEN PAT D GIOVANNI, REMEMBER HIM TOLD THE COUNCIL AT THEIR JUNE 11TH, 2014 MEETING THAT THE C P S SMART GRID PROJECT HAD A 12 YEAR PAYBACK, THEREBY RECEIVING AN UNINFORMED COUNCIL RUBBER STAMP. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT COUNCIL'S NEGLIGENCE IS AT ATTACHMENT D OF YOUR SCRIPT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO TURN TO THAT NOTE, THE OMISSION AND ERROR ENTRIES IN THE ELLE COLUMN AND THE OBSCENELY DIVERGENT ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT ECONOMICS ON THE SECOND PAGE, HERE'S THE SPREADSHEET THAT SUPPORTS C P A GO'S POSITIVE $145 MILLION 20 YEAR CASH FLOW AND 12 YEAR PAYBACK PROJECTION OVER 20 YEARS. AND INCORRECT AND INAPPROPRIATE MEASURE OF THE PROJECT'S COST. OUR COALITION SPREADSHEET HERE DEVELOPS THE NEGATIVE $2.36 BILLION RATE PAYER BURDEN OVER THE SAME 20 YEARS. WHAT WOULD A 30 YEAR SPREADSHEET COMPARABLE TO THIS ONE DISPLAYING THE COMPONENTS OF THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT LOOK LIKE? YOU'LL NEVER FIND OUT FROM THE PUENTE GO ZEL SCULLY ADMINISTRATION FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ON PRESENTATION PAGE TWO. AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DUTY IS TO WISELY SPEND TAXPAYER GENERATED REVENUE. BUT IF YOU ARE NOT A FINANCIAL EXPERT AND YOU CANNOT TRUST CITY STAFF'S ANALYSIS THE SCENARIO E ATTACHED TO YOUR PRESENTATION SCRIPT ABENGOA, ANOTHER CYLINDRA BECOMES EVEN MORE OMINOUS FOR YOUR SENSE OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE REMAINS REINFORCED BY SAS REFUSAL TO QUANTIFY THE, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THEIR A M I SMART METER SYSTEM. ON THE LITTLE GUY, WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF LITTLE GUYS IN BEARER COUNTY WHERE THE MEDIUM FAMILY INCOME IN 2015 WAS 5.4% BELOW THE TEXAS AVERAGE CHAMPAGNE TASTE. BEER POCKETBOOK FIVE, TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT C F O. BEN GO'S DEMONSTRATED CONTEMPT FOR YOU. AS FINANCIAL DECISION MAKERS HAS PERMEATED THE UTILITIES, HE REGULATES THE P EVANS AND GOEL MESSAGE ON THIS COUNCIL TO THIS COUNCIL IS YOU APPROVE. NOW WE PREPARE THE SUPPORTING INFORMATION LATER AFTER MEMORIES FADE BASED ON MY PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE. COMMITTING FRAUD BY OMISSION, THEREBY INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING AN APPROPRIATOR OF FUNDS IS A FIRING OFFENSE. YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO BUY A PIG IN A POKE SIX CHARTER AMENDMENT PROCESS ON PAGE THREE OF YOUR PRESENTATION. NOW, DO YOU UNDER, DO YOU APPRECIATE THAT THE UNELECTED CITY STAFF MONOPOLY WILL NOT ALLOW OUR CHARTER AMENDMENT [01:10:01] PROPOSAL TO REACH THIS COUNCIL FOR A VOTE? CITY STAFF WILL NOT FOREGO ITS CHOKE. HOLD ON. FINANCIAL INFORMATION THE KEY TO THEIR TYRANNICAL RULE. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHO RUNS THIS TOWN? SEVEN. YOUR KITCHEN TABLE. I PUT A HARSH NOTE HERE. YOU'LL READ. YOU BETRAYED YOUR LACK OF FINANCIAL SOPHISTICATION BY O UH, BETTING THE OMISSION OF $465 MILLION IN INTEREST ISSUANCE COSTS ACCOMPANYING THE $850 MILLION BOND YOU RECENTLY APPROVED. THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW. WILL YOU TODAY ALLOW A CORRUPT SAW CITY STAFF CAVAL TO FORCE YOU TO MAKE MAJOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS WITHOUT DOCUMENTED FINANCIAL JUSTIFICATIONS? EIGHT ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABILITY CONSEQUENCES? NO CHANGES ARE REQUIRED HERE, BUT OUR SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS BECOME INCREASINGLY CREDIBLE AS WE LEARN THAT SAWS HAS NOT DEVELOPED A BUSINESS CASE FOR THEIR SMART METER PROJECT FOR EMPHASIS. LET'S RE REREAD ON PAGE FOUR QUOTE. SO WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THIS FISCAL THUGGERY? THE ORGANIZATION CHART SHOWS THAT YOU, OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE YOU ARE MS. SCULLY'S BOSS ACCOUNTABLE FOR HER BEHAVIOR AND THAT OF HER EMPLOYEES. IN CLOSING, I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS. MAYOR BERG AND COUNCIL ONE. WILL YOU SERVE THE CITIZENS WHO ELECT YOU OR THE BUREAUCRACIES WHO MANIPULATE YOU? TWO? DO YOU KNOW ENOUGH TO CLAIM THE VISTA RIDGE SUPPORT AS YOUR OWN? IF YOU VOTE FOR THE RATE INCREASE REQUIRED TO FINANCE THE VR, YOU VOTE FOR VR ITSELF AND ALL ITS INEXPLICABLE FINANCIAL MYSTERIES REGULATOR GOES GZE, A C P A CANNOT EXPLAIN THE PROJECT FINANCIAL SPIT. HE'LL LET YOU ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROJECT YOU SUPPORT YOU OWN IT. THREE. WILL YOU CONSIDER SENDING SAWS HOME TODAY REQUIRING THEM TO RETURN WHEN THEY HAVE A DETAILED FINANCIAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROJECTS AND THE RATE INCREASES? WE'LL FUND YOU WOULD BE PLEASED TO HELP YOU EVALUATE SAS WORK AND WHY MUST SAS RATE INCREASE REQUESTS BE GRANTED TODAY? A TYPICAL TACTIC OF A HIGH PRESSURE SALESMAN, JOE, WILL HELP DISTRIBUTE THE SCRIPT OF MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MR. MITCHELL. DEB ADAMS. DEB ADAMS. OKAY. MOVING ON TO BOB MARTIN. BOB MARTIN. YES, MR. MAYOR, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU PLAN ON ALLOWING ME TODAY? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, BOB AND I HAVE SOMEBODY WITH ME THAT IS SIGNED IN. OKAY. THREE MINUTES. NIKKI C***S. OKAY, NIKKI. ALRIGHT. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, BOB. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS BOB MARTIN. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEOWNER TAXPAYER ASSOCIATION OF BEXAR COUNTY. WE PRIMARILY FIGHT FOR THOSE ON THE TAX END OF TAX AND SPEND. AND I'M NOT PAID TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M A VOLUNTEER. WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THE SAWS RATE HIKES. WATER RATES HAVE ALREADY INCREASED A STAGGERING 48% SINCE JUST 2012. THE NEW RATE HIKES ARE 5.8% NEXT YEAR, AND THEN ANOTHER 4.7% THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ACCORDING TO A RECENT NEWS REPORT, THE SAWS WILL LIKELY ASK FOR ANOTHER 12.4% INCREASE IN 2020. THESE COMPOUNDED RATE INCREASES FALL ESPECIALLY HARD ON FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ON SENIORS ON FIXED INCOME. SENIORS, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL GET A 2% COLA ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS NEXT YEAR AFTER A LONG DRY SPELL FOR THEM 2%. NOTABLY, THE SAW, C E O RECEIVED A BONUS OF 99,000 MAKING HIS TOTAL 567,000. AND OF COURSE, WE HEARD FROM A BOARD MEMBER FROM SAWS ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT AND HOW TIGHT THINGS ARE OVER THERE MIRACULOUSLY. UH, AND HE SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR FINDING $99,000 FOR A BONUS. NOW, SAS APOLOGISTS [01:15:01] CALL THIS BONUS BAD OPTICS. WE BELIEVE CITIZENS STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL WOULD CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE. NOW, THIS AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY TO HELP LOW INCOME RATE PAYERS DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK VERY WELL EITHER. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY A RECENT STORY REGARDING A FAMILY THAT LIVED IN THE ALLON APACHE APARTMENTS HAVING THEIR WATER CUT OFF AND THEN DOWN THE LINE THEY HAD A FIRE THAT DESTROYED EVERYTHING THEY OWNED. IT COULD BE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, MAYBE HAVE TOO MUCH PRIDE TO SIGN UP FROM, UH, FOR THESE, UH, WELFARE TYPE PROGRAMS. I JUST DON'T KNOW. WE RECOMMEND THE 2018 RATE HIKE BE REDUCED AND THE 20 19%, UH, OUR RATE HIKE ELIMINATED ENTIRELY. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THE $3.4 BILLION VISTA RIDGE PROJECT. SPECIFICALLY, THE COST OF MEETING E P A REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. OBVIOUSLY, ALTHOUGH THE COST IS A RESULT OF SAWS OWN FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE SEWER SYSTEM, OF COURSE, NOBODY WANTS SEWAGE RUNNING DOWN THEIR STREET OR ACROSS THEIR FRONT YARD. SO THE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A PROBLEM. AS FOR THE 2019 RATE HIKE, WHY SHOULDN'T THE SOLVES BE REQUIRED TO JUSTIFY THAT RATE INCREASE THE NEXT YEAR? BUDGET CYCLES ARE NORMALLY OVER ONE YEAR. THIS IS CERTAINLY, UH, EXTRA ORDINARY. VISTA RIDGE IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THE MOST EXPENSIVE BOONDOGGLE IN SAN ANTONIO HISTORY. YOU MIGHT WANT TO VISIT A NOVEMBER 28TH ARTICLE IN THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN ABOUT THE POSSIBLE, THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPETING WATER PIPELINE BEING CONSTRUCTED UP 35. AS A RESULT, IF THAT THING COMES ONLINE, ONE OF THE PROBLEM SAWS WILL RUN INTO THAT IT'S GONNA COST A LOT OF MONEY, IS WHO THEY GONNA SELL THE EXCESS WATER TO. WHO'S GONNA BUY IT? THERE'S ANOTHER PIPELINE UP THERE THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING FROM. NOW FINALLY, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR OUR MONEY, AND I THINK MANY OF US WANT OUR MONEY BACK. I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE BROUGHT UP DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE THE POSSIBILITY OF A TAX RATE CUT OF WHICH HE WAS EXCORIATED BY YOUR FRIENDS ON THE EXPRESSIVE NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD. SAD BUT TRUE. EVEN DISCUSSING LOWERING BILLS THAT TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE HOOK FOR IS APPARENTLY OF A VER A VERBOTEN SUBJECT. LEMME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. THE CITY COUNTY AGREEMENT TO BUY TOYOTA FIELD FOR $18 MILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDS WAS TO ATTRACT A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER TEAM. NOW IT APPEARS M L S IS GONNA GO, OKAY, IN AUSTIN, YOU KNOW, IN DECEMBER OF 2015, COUNTY JUDGE NELSON WOLFE WAS QUOTED, THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY AGREEMENT. SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. I BELIEVE HE PROBABLY HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE ALAMO DOME BUILD IT, AND THEY WERE COME AND NO N F L TEAM HAS RELOCATED SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S WAS BUILT IN, UH, 1993 CREDIT HUMAN, 8 MILLION IN TAX ABATEMENTS TO MOVE FROM THE NORTHWEST SIDE TO PEARL. AND NOW I UNDERSTAND U S A A IS GONNA GET A TAX ABATEMENT, UH, TO MOVE, UH, DOWNTOWN, MOVING A HISTORICAL STATUE FROM TRAVIS PARK TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, $258,000 IN STILL COUNTING. AND THEN OF COURSE WE'VE GOT GOOGLE FIBER AND THERE ARE HUTS THAT, UH, THE CITY AUTHORIZED THEM TO, UH, PUT IN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. THANK YOU MR. MARTIN. THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE MOVED. WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR THAT DAGNEY FLOORING. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DAGNEY FLORE. UH, MY FAMILY AND I LIVE IN THAT NORTHERN OUTPOST UP THERE CALLED CHAU PARK. UH, WE'VE LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO PROPER, WE CAN'T VOTE IN SAN ANTONIO CITY ELECTIONS. AND WE'VE NOT EVEN A FIG LEAF OF REPRESENTATION ON EITHER THE SAWS OR THE C P S UH, BOARDS. THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT [01:20:01] NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW. UH, SITTING HERE, I WAS LISTENING TO THE WONDERFUL SAWS PRESENTATIONS AND WATCHING THE NUMBERS AND THE BIG PROJECTS AND, AND EVERYTHING THAT'S PLANNED BY SAWS. AND I BASICALLY THREW AWAY MY SCRIPT HERE. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE OUT HERE REALLY THINK ABOUT SAWS. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN INSTANT THAT HAPPENED TO US BACK IN JANUARY. WE GOT OUR SAWS BILL. IT WAS FOR $1,650, WHICH WAS PRETTY AMAZING BECAUSE IT'S JUST MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF WERE THERE. WE WERE GONE FOR A WEEK OUTTA THAT BILLING CYCLE AND, UH, OUR, OUR SPRINKLER SYSTEM HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THE LITTLE TRICK WAS WE ALSO KEEP A PRETTY CAREFUL SPREADSHEET AND WE READ OUR METERS AND WE KNEW THAT THAT BILL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT $60. WELL, WE CONTACTED SAS AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT WE WERE RIGHT AND WE TALKED TO THEM MULTIPLE TIMES. WE DO AUTOMATIC BILLING, RIGHT? SO WE TOLD THEM, FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T TAKE $1,650 OUT OF OUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. WE GET OUR NEXT BANK STATEMENT. THEY'VE TAKEN OUT $1,650. THEN THEY WANTED TO JUST CREDIT OUR ACCOUNT FOR THE NEXT 10,000 YEARS. AND I SAID, NO, I WANT THE MONEY PUT BACK. AFTER MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS, THEY FINALLY DID AGREE TO PUT IT BACK. I WAS TOLD I COULD GO DOWN TO SAS HEADQUARTERS AND PICK UP A CHECK, AND I SAID, NO THANK YOU. YOU WIRE IT BACK INTO MY ACCOUNT JUST LIKE YOU TOOK IT OUT. AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T DO THAT. AND I SAID, YES, YOU CAN. IF YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT, YOU CAN PUT IT BACK, WHICH THEY FINALLY DID. AND I SAID, OH, BY THE WAY, DON'T CHARGE US THE WIRE TRANSFER FEE. WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE GOT OUR NEXT BANK STATEMENT. AND WE HAD THE WIRE TRANSFER THE FEE THERE TOO. SO I SAID, CALLED 'EM UP AGAIN. SAID, PUT MONEY BACK IN TO PAY FOR THE WIRE TRANSFER FEE. SO WHEN I SEE ALL THESE NUMBERS AND ALL THESE BIG PROJECTS AND ALL THESE FANCY PLANS, GET IT DOWN TO THE LITTLE GUY. THIS IS OUR IMPRESSION OF WHAT SAS IS DOING. IF THEY CAN'T EVEN DEAL WITH ONE ACCOUNT, ONE PER ONE PARTY THAT'S OVERBILLED BY $1,600, THEN YOU'RE TRUSTING THEM TO PUT ALL THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER AND THROW ALL THESE NUMBERS AT YOU. AND I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE GREAT FINANCIAL BACKGROUNDS AND YOU CAN DEAL WITH WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARE VALID NUMBERS OR NOT. AND SPEAKING OF NUMBERS, UH, STAN MITCHELL MENTIONED C P S AND SAMBA, AND THEY'RE NUMBERS THAT ARE SHOWING THERE'S REAL POSSIBILITY OF A HUGE FINANCIAL DISCREPANCY. BUT, UH, WITH C P S AND WHAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BILLED CHARGED OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS FOR THE SMART GRID PROGRAM, WE WANT ANSWERS ON THAT. LET'S SEE. THESE FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES DEALT WITH THIS CITY NEEDS SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND FRANKLY, I DON'T SEE IT. THANK YOU, MS. FLORIAN. CATHERINE ELLA. CATHERINE LL GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UM, I WANNA THANK, UM, OUR DISTRICT, UH, UH, COUNCIL PERSON, ANNA SANDOVAL. OKAY, I WANNA THANK OUR DISTRICT PERSON, ANNA SANDOVAL. SHE ATTENDED OUR MEETING, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING THIS PAST WEEK. I'M HERE TODAY AS AN ELDERLY RETIRED FOLK. WE DO NOT APPRECIATE THE WATER HIKES. WE CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGHER RATES. IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO SAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MS. ILLA PACEY WHITTINGTON. ONE MOMENT. I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME TO JACK FINGER. MA'AM, YOU CAN CDE ALL OF YOUR TIME OR NONE OF IT. SO IS JACK SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, HE'S JACK. YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES. OKAY. I'LL CALL YOU WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE UP. CASEY WHITTINGTON. MAYOR, I'LL BE SEATING MY TIME TO RAY CHAVEZ. OKAY. RAY CHAVEZ. YOU HAVE, UH, SIX MINUTES MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGERS, SCULLY, AND EVERYONE HERE. UH, MY NAME IS RAY CHAVEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, THE VOICE AND ADVOCATE OF MANUFACTURING IN SOUTH TEXAS FOR OVER 100 YEARS. AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. SAM WOULD LIKE TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR SAWS RATE INCREASES, UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE OUR BUSINESS OWNERS MAY PAY A LITTLE MORE, SECURING THE WATER FUTURE FOR SAN ANTONIO IS A NECESSITY. WE BELIEVE SAWS HAS BEEN A FINE STEWARD OF OUR WATER MASTER PLANNERS TO ENSURE WE HAVE IT HARD WORKERS TO FIX OUR AGENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARE CONFIDENT THEY WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE. [01:25:01] THEIR INCLUSION INTO THE EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL NETWORK, THE LEADING UTILITIES OF WORLD, OF THE WORLD, THE GOLD STANDARD OF UTILITY INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD'S WATER SECTOR AT THE AMERICAN WATER SUMMIT IN AUSTIN THIS YEAR IS TESTAMENT OF THEIR STEWARDSHIP. AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW, IT IS IMPORTANT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR WATER RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. SAM ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT HOW WE APPROACH THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS OF WATER MANAGEMENT, WE'LL GO A LONG WAY IN SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUTURE. MANY MANUFACTURERS WHO VIEW SAN ANTONIO AS AN OPTION FOR RELOCATION OR EXPANSION OFTEN ASK ABOUT OUR WATER RATES AND AVAILABILITY. WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CURRENT SYSTEMS AND ADDITION OF THE VISTA RIDGE PIPELINE, WE CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, WATER AVAILABILITY WILL NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE CANNOT FORGET ABOUT OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS AS WELL AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW SAN ANTONIANS CARE ABOUT WATER WITH A PASSION RARELY FOUND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. OVER 140,000 PEOPLE SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN WATER CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR, RESULTING IN DROPPED PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION. SO MUCH OVER TIME. BUSINESSES AND STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO WONDERFUL PARTICIPANTS IN WATER CONSERVATION. SAN ANTONIO HAS THE MOST ROBUST COMMERCIAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. EVERY YEAR. BUSINESSES STEP UP TO PARTICIPATE IN EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, BRINGING IN ABOUT 30% OF THE WATER WE SAVE EACH YEAR. AND ALSO, LET'S NOT FORGET, SAWS HAS GREAT AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS. THERE ARE SIX THAT HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF UTILITY COSTS FOR CUSTOMERS WHO QUALIFY AND ENSURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO LIFE SUSTAINING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES. AGAIN, SAM WOULD LIKE TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE INCREASES AND THANK SAWS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. CHAVEZ. DEVIN MADDOX. UM, GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM DEVIN MEDICS AND I REPRESENT, UM, THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DEPAUL'S, ITS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT IT DOES AND HOW IT SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY. UM, SO AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, AND THROUGH MANY OF THE CITIZENS THAT IT WILL IMPACT THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN THOSE SALT SERVICE AREAS. UM, HOWEVER, SAUCE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR AGENCY, UM, MEETING WITH US TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WELL PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. UH, MOST RECENTLY IN OCTOBER WE MET AND WE DISCUSSED, UM, ALL OF THEIR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS AND THEIR DISCIP PROGRAMS THAT IMPACTS THOSE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY OF WHOM WE SEE, UM, AT LEAST EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK THROUGHOUT SOUTH TEXAS. UM, SOME ST. VINCENT DEPAUL DOES HAVE A PRESENCE THROUGHOUT ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS, AND WE DO REACH THOSE CUSTOMERS, THOSE VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED THAT SUPPORT. UM, SO WE'RE THERE AS AN AGENCY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN EDUCATE THEM ON THOSE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, THOSE SENIOR DISCOUNT PROGRAMS, THE PROJECT AWA PROGRAM, AND ALSO BE THAT STABLE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE MARGINALIZED. UM, WE HOPE THAT THE PROJECT AWA INCREASE DOES GO UP SO THAT THOSE FAMILIES CAN GET THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY DO DESERVE. UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR SENIORS ARE OUR VULNERABLE, OUR SMALL CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE, AND OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE WILL BE IMPACTED, UM, WITH AND END. THOSE CRE THOSE INCREASES DO GO UP JUST BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE AND PRESENT FOR THEM AT THEIR WILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MADDOX. SUSAN STRAUSS. HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M A MEMBER. I'M A A RESIDENT OF ALAMO HEIGHTS, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT THE SMART WATER METERS IN 2016 WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO FUND THEM. THEY, THE CITY COUNCIL LISTENED TO US AND AGREED NOT TO FUND THE SMART WATER METERS, THE A M I WATER METERS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THIS PROJECT. UM, LET ME READ YOU SOMETHING ABOUT PITTSBURGH AND HOUSTON. IN 2015, THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED, A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, UH, IN PITTSBURGH, UH, CHARGING MANY RESIDENTS CHARGED THAT THE SMART WATER METERS INSTALLED CAUSED THEIR BILLS TO SKYROCKET UNEXPECTEDLY, SOME AS MUCH BY 600%. AND [01:30:01] CUSTOMERS WHO COULDN'T PAY THESE INFLATED BILLS WERE ISSUED SHUTOFF NOTICES, DESPITE COMPLAINTS TO THE P W SS A AND THE P W S A WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE OVERBILLING, BUT DID NOT HESITATE FOR A MOMENT TO ISSUE SHUTOFF NOTICES AND THEN ARBITRARILY TURN OFF WATER SERVICE. UH, I GOT PERMISSION FROM DEBBIE BROGAN IN ALAMO HEIGHTS TO READ THIS LETTER THAT SHE WROTE ABOUT HER SISTER IN HOUSTON. MY SISTER WHO LIVES IN HOUSTON HAD AN A M R SMART METER FORCED ON HER RESIDENCE A FEW YEARS AGO. A M I A M R, BOTH TYPES OF SMART METERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY, UM, GUILTY OF OVERCHARGING CUSTOMERS. UH, JUST GOOGLE IT, YOU'LL FIND OUT SHE'S 80 YEARS OLD AND LIVES ALONE IN A 2200 SQUARE FOOT HOME ON A TYPICALLY AVERAGE SIZED LOT. HER MONTHLY WATER BILL WENT FROM AROUND $75 A MONTH TO $300 PER MONTH OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS SINCE A SMART WATER METER WAS INSTALLED, SHE HAD NO LEAKS AND SHE HAD A PLUMBER CHECK ON THIS. SHE HAS REGULAR YARD SERVICE WHO HAS NEVER NOTICED ANY LEAKS. SHE HAS NO SWIMMING POOL OR SPA. SHE DOES NOT HAVE OUTDOOR DRIP IRRIGATION AND OCCASIONALLY USES HER SPRINKLER. SHE DOES NOT WASH THAT MANY DISHES. SHE DOES HAVE SOMEONE WHO CLEANS ONCE A WEEK AND DOES LIMITED LAUNDRY. HOUSTON IS LOCATED IN AN AREA WHICH RECEIVES QUITE A BIT OF RAIN SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THOSE EMERALD GREEN LAWNS COMPARED TO SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS THE RESULT OF SWAR SMART WATER METERS IN HOUSTON. HELLO. AFTER THE SMART WATER METERS WERE INSTALLED, MY SISTER REPORTS THAT THE WATER BILLS IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO INCREASE. NOW AFTER TWO TO THREE YEARS WITH THE SMART WATER METERS, THE AVERAGE WATER BILL IN HER HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOOD IS $300 PLUS JUST AN AVERAGE HOME ON AN AVERAGE SIZE LOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. RAUS. PHYLLIS GILE. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PHYLLIS GALLEY AND I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE RATE INCREASE PROPOSED BY THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. THE UPGRADES OUTLINED BELOW ARE MANDATED BY THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CONSENT DECREE. IF SALES SAWS FAILS TO IMPROVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM, SAN ANTONIO WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 3 0 1 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ITS NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMITS. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE WILL RESULT IN PENALTIES PAID BY SAWS, WHICH CAN ACCRUE UP TO $6,000 PER DAY IF SAWS AND VIOLATION OF THESE MANDATED IMPROVEMENTS. PROPOSED WATER RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR 2018 IS 5.8%, WHICH WILL RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $36.3 MILLION IN REVENUE. THE 2018 RATE INCREASED BREAKDOWN IS NOT, IS 55% WATER DELIVERY. IT INCLUDES REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROJECTS AND MAJOR UPGRADES TO BARE MET. 21% FOR WATER SUPPLY INCLUDES PIPELINE ON THE WEST SIDE TO DISTRIBUTE WATER. 24% WATER SERVICE, A PORTION OF A BILLION WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE AGING SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR 2019 IS 4.7%, WHICH WILL RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $27.4 MILLION IN REVENUE. THE PROPOSED 2018 ADJUSTMENT WOULD CHANGE THE AVERAGE SIZE MONTHLY BILL FROM $62 AND 24 CENTS TO $65 AND 69 CENTS. AN ESTIMATED DIFFERENCE OF $3 AND 45 CENTS AFTER PROPOSED INCREASES, SAWS WILL STILL HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILLS OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT 10. THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WOULD HELP FUND IN 2018 SEWER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT FROM SINE ROAD TO NDOS ROAD TO INCREASE SEWAGE CAPACITY. THAT TOTAL 39.8 MILLION IN 2019 SEWER MAINE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING FIVE MILES OF REPLACEMENT BETWEEN JONES MALTSBERGER, TWO NDOS THAT CAN CARRY UP TO 65 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF WASTEWATER, A CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 16 INCH WATER MAIN ALONG JUDSON ROAD TO SERVE PROJECTED GROWTH AND THE DESIGN OF A NEW NORTHEAST OPERATION CENTER, WHICH WILL IMPROVE SAWS RESPONSE TIME. THE TOTAL FOR THESE PROJECTS IS $53.1 MILLION. LASTLY, WE BELIEVE THE SAWS RATE INCREASE IS CRITICAL IN SUPPORTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY. WE NEED TO SUPPORT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AS OPPOSED TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT FUTURE POPULATION GROWTH. THE BOARD OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER [01:35:01] OF COMMERCE AND I THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASES. THANK YOU. MS. GALLEY. BEVERLY ADAMS. BEVERLY ADAMS. OH, YOU SEATED YOUR TIME. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. NAZARITE RUBEN FLORES PEREZ. UH, HELLO. I, I, UM, GIVING, UM, ONE MINUTE TO MR. JACK FINGER. GOOD ENOUGH. YOU, YOU CAN GIVE HIM YOUR THREE MINUTES. NO ONE ATE, OR YOU CAN GIVE ONE ONE MINUTE. YOU GIVE THREE MINUTES OR YOU CAN LET HIM HAVE HIS OWN THREE MINUTES. YOU CAN'T GIVE HIM THE ONE MINUTE. YOU CAN EITHER SEAT ALL OF YOUR TIME OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SPEAK. WELL, I GUESS I DON'T YOU FORCE ME TO, UH, GO AHEAD. UH, CAN I, CAN I GET SOME HELP? PLEASE. NOW, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, MY NAME IS NA AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW TOO, THAT I'M ANOTHER, THE LAW AND KINDNESS ALL LAW OF HEAVEN AND ALLAH. YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS IS THE REASON I'M HERE NOW, THE TIME AT THE END IS APPROACHING US AND, AND, UH, LIKE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PRIESTS THAT, THAT THEY WANNA IMPROVE THEIR, UH, CHURCHES AND SO ON. AND, AND I KNOW THOSE AREAS. UM, I'M, I'M IN FULL AGREEMENT IF THEY TEACH THE RIGHT WORD. YEAH, JESUS IS OUR OLDER BROTHER. HE'S UNDER JEHOVAH JWE. JWE IS A GOD. THE ONLY GOD IF THEY TEACH IT LIKE THAT, FINE. I'M IN FULL AGREEMENT NOW. I WAS GONNA BE REFERRING TO THIS WATER, UM, ISSUE. NOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOOD WATER THAT WE CAN USE. WE'VE BEEN, WE WERE USING IT AND I HAD GOOD TEETH. EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT. NOW I DON'T HAVE 'EM THAT WELL. UM, OF COURSE I'M NOT THAT YOUNG, BUT, UH, NATURAL FLUORIDE, I'M NOT AGAINST, UH, UH, THE, UH, THE FLUORIDE YOU ALL USING. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER, UH, CONSOLE THAT DID THE DECISIONS AND SO ON THAT THEY BROUGHT THE, FROM FLORIDA, THEY BUY, UH, FLUORIDE JUST COUNT TO FEED. OKAY? THAT'S THE REASON WE DON'T DRINK IT. I KNOW YOU DON'T DRINK. YOU DRINK BOTTLED WATER LIKE ME, YOU KNOW, CLEAN, CLEAN WATER. NOW, ON THIS, LET LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT, UH, THEY CHARGE ME, UH, FOR, FOR FOR WATER C CAN YOU PUT IT WHERE THEY CHOSE, UH, THE BREAK, THE BRACKET, UH, HEIGHT OF THE, THE, THE ONE ON THE, ON THE ON THE BOTTOM. THE BOTTOM. THE BOTTOM, YES. YOU SEE THE, THOSE LONG TOP, THAT SHOT LIKE THAT WAS A WATER LEAK, A BACK TRACK, AND SO ON, A WATER LEAK. AND THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THE LEAK WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE SAUCE. AND YET THEY CHARGED ME ALL THESE OTHER ONES. THEY, THEY WERE, THEY CHARGED ME TOO. AND, UH, I TAKE MY SHOWERS AND GO SWIMMING AND WATER POOLS AND, AND SO ON. THEY'RE AT THE, UH, UH, GOLD GYM. UH, I DON'T SPEND THEM. IN FACT, I DON'T DRINK WATER FROM MY HOUSE. WELL, I DO DRINK FROM MY HOUSE, OF COURSE, BUT IT IS BOTTLED WATER. UH, FLUORIDE WATER? NO GOOD. UH, I MEAN NATURAL FINE. UH, FROM SCRUBS FROM FLO, FLORIDA THAT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING ON THIS, I'M VERY AGAINST. I'M AGAINST, I'M AGAINST, UH, THE RACE. THANK YOU MR. FLORES. THE HEIGHT JACK FINGER. BEFORE I BEGIN, MR. MAYOR, HOW, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, JACK. UH, I THINK MS. ILLA OFFERED SOME TIME TO ME. REMEMBER? SHE DIDN'T SEE HER TIME TO YOU, JACK. SHE DID, SIR. SHE USED HER TIME. SHE SAID SOME THE PART, REMAINING PART OF HER TIME, RIGHT? SHE, SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE, SHE CAN CHOOSE TO SPEAK OR NOT SPEAK. THAT'S THE SAME RULE WE APPLY TO EVERYONE. SO SHE DIDN'T CED YOUR TIME, HER TIME TO YOU BECAUSE SHE SPOKE ON HER OWN BEHALF. SO YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES YET. WELL, MR. MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF INTERRUPTION MAYOR, I'M SIGNED UP TO SIGN. UH, MY THREE MINUTES, I'M GONNA GIVE TO MR. FINGER. OKAY, GEORGE. THANK YOU. UM, MR. ALEJO IS NOW SEATED. HIS THREE MINUTES TO YOU. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, JACK. THANK YOU GEORGE. MAYOR EHRENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR [01:40:04] FAST AND LOOSE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER, THE, UH, THE WATER RATE HIKE. WHAT'S DRIVING IT UP? WELL, SASS TELLS US IT'S THE, UM, IT'S THE SEWER NEEDS, THE WASTEWATER NEEDS, AND OF COURSE THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT. WE GOTTA COMPLY WITH ALL THAT STUFF. OKAY? I CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE SEWERS NEED UPGRADING AND SO FORTH. IN FACT, I WAS, UH, READING, BUT WHEN SAS TELLS US THAT PAY THIS AMOUNT, THIS HIGHER INCREASE AND THAT INCREASE, OF COURSE MR. RAY PAIR WILL GO ON FOREVER. WELL, I EXPECT THAT TO BE THE END OF IT. I EXPECT THAT. LEMME REPEAT THAT. I EXPECT THAT TO BE THE END OF IT. SAWS HAS PLANNED FOR A SEWER UPGRADE AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT WITH THE RATE INCREASE. THEY HAVE SOLD US, SOLD YOU ON GIVING TO US THE RATE PAYER. I EXPECT THAT TO BE FINISHED. SO I WAS READING AN ARTICLE AND THESE, ALL THESE ARE EXPRESSED NEWS FOR INFORMATION. DAVE, JUST PUT THAT IN THERE LIKE THAT. JUST, JUST, UH, BLOW UP THE, UH, CIRCLED AREA THERE. LET'S SEE, WHAT DOES IT SAY? UH, THE RATE INCREASE UNDERLINED AREA WOULD COVER REPAIR AND CLEANING OF THE UTILITIES. AGING WASTEWATER PIPES. OKAY, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. 2017, RIGHT? DAVE, PULL BACK THE CURTAIN IF YOU WOULD THAT THAT TOP FOLDER. AND TO JUST PUT, WHAT, WHAT DOES THE TOP SAY THERE? THE CIRCLED AREA SAYS BLOW THAT UP. 2011. 2011. THAT WAS BACK IN 2011. A 6% RATE INCREASE BACK THEN. OKAY, WELL, LET'S SEE. OKAY, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. MAYBE THIS, THIS ARTICLE IS FROM 2017. WHAT, WHAT IS THE, WHAT DOES THE, UH, THE UNDERLYING AREA SAY, SAY THERE THAT MR. , UH, NO, BLOW IT UP A BIT. SAS LEADERS ARGUED THAT THE INCREASES WAS ESSENTIAL TO REDUCE SEWER LINE SPILLS AND TO GET THE CITY'S SEWER SYSTEM IN COM. COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AIMS, MAN. OKAY, THAT'S THIS YEAR. OKAY, I CAN UNDERSTAND THEY MADE A MISTAKE. UH, UH, I CAN PAY ME. I'LL, I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT I'LL PAY THE EXTRA. SO MY GUY, UH, I DON'T HAVE HAVE TO PAY ANYMORE. OKAY? UH, MR. ARTIFICIAL MAN, FOLD BACK AGAIN. WHAT, WHAT IS THE DATE ON THAT ONE? 20 FEBRUARY OF 2013 . FOUR YEARS AGO. HMM. ARE YOU SEEING A PATTERN? HERE? TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE, MR. AUDIOVISUAL. MAN. LET'S SEE. WHAT IS THIS? THIS ONE HAS TO BE 2017. IT HAS TO BE 2017. WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? UH, THE RATE INCREASE WOULD COVER REPAIR AND CLEANING OF THE UTILITIES. AGING WASTEWATER PIPES. I'M GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF THIS, BUT I HOPE THIS IS THE END OF IT. 2017, WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS THE DATE ON THAT ONE? MR. AUDIO? VISUAL MAN. THESE, NO, 2011. WAIT A SECOND. 20 11, 20 13. UH, TRY TRY THIS ONE. MR. AUDIO, VISUAL MAN. REMEMBER THESE ARE ALL SEPARATE INCIDENTS HERE. 20, 20 13, NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER. THE OTHER ONE WAS FEBRUARY. THIS ONE'S 2013. WHAT, WHAT DOES IT SAY ON THE, UNDER THE CIRCLED AREA THERE? THIS UTILITY SAID NEEDS THE INCREASES TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. . OKAY. UM HMM. TRY, TRY THIS. AND IS THIS 2017? LET'S SEE. LET, LET'S SEE WHAT IT SAYS. WHAT IS THE CIRCLED AREA SAYS THE ADDED REVENUE WILL ALSO FUND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT'S THE DATE ON THIS ONE, MR. AUDIO? VISUAL MAN. 2015 . THANK YOU. WE RETURN THE CAMERAS. SO, YES. OH, AND UH, THIS MR THIS IS BASICALLY AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. YES. IN FACT, UM, I'LL HAVE, UH, YOU GUYS PASS THIS OUT. WOULD YOU SEE BY THEMSELVES? YES. I'VE LASTED SINCE 2012. WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? CIRCLE? 58 POINT 28% ACCUMULATED INCREASE. ARE YOU SEEING A PATTERN HERE? SAWS HAS BEEN NICKEL AND DIMING US EVER SINCE 2011, ACTUALLY WAY BEFORE THEN. BUT DO YOU SEE A UTILITY THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL? AND MR. MAYOR STEPPED AWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW, BUT, UH, BY GOD, HE, MR. MAYOR, WHEREVER YOU ARE, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, YOU ARE THE ONLY REPRESENTED ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE WE HAVE ON THAT BOARD. AND YOU HAVEN'T LIFTED A FINGER ABOUT ANY OF THIS STUFF. IN FACT, YOU'VE UH, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY, ANY, UH, COMPLAINTS ABOUT MR. PUENTES, THE CEO'S SALARY. [01:45:01] HE MAKES HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. A BONUS PUTS THAT PAST THAT POINT. AND A GUY WHO'S MAKING HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND GIVING US ALL THESE INCREASES. NO, I'M SORRY. THE GUY SHOULD BE FIRED. THE GUY SHOULD BE FIRED. YOU THINK? YES. LET ME JUST, UH, LET ME JUST, JUST FOR YOUR, THE PUBLIC'S INCREASE. YES. 58% IS THE BOTTOM LINE. THE CIRCLED AREA OF 58% SINCE 20,011. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING ALMOST, ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE SINCE THAT POINT. WHO NEEDS THIS STUFF? IS ANYBODY GONNA GET MAD ENOUGH? ARE YOU THE CITY COUNCIL? GONNA GET MAD ENOUGH AT THIS TRAVESTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. FINGER. BARBARA MILLER. BARBARA MILLER. I'M BARBARA MILLER. I'M . I'M SORRY. I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU. MS. MILLER? I AM BARBARA MUELLER AND I'M RELENTLESS IN MY TIME TO PATRICK VAN DOLAN. OKAY. UHHUH . ALRIGHT. YEAH, PATRICK, YOU WERE A LITTLE LATE SIGNING UP, BUT IT'S RAINING AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU UP, UH, JUST AS SOON AS YOUR NAME'S CALLED. THANK YOU, MS. MILLER. THANK YOU. TERRY BURNS. UH, GOOD MORNING MAYOR COUNCIL STAFF. UH, MY NAME'S TERRY BURNS, THE CHAIR OF THE ALAMOS SHE CLUB. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THOSE OF YOU VOTING YES. FOR THE SAS RATE HIKES, I SAY YOU TAKE THE EASY PATH, THE VOTE TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR, THE VOTE FOR THE STATUS QUO, THE VOTE OF APPROVAL FOR, FOR SAS FUNCTIONING AS A BRANCH OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION AND A WHOLLY CONTROLLED SUBSIDIARY OF ALL THE CHAMBERS WE'VE HEARD SPEAK THIS MORNING. YOU ARE OKAY WITH ORWELLIAN CHARADE. THAT IS WATERFALL SA UNQUOTE. PEOPLE HERE KNOW THAT IS CHAMBER SPEAK, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT VISTA RIDGE IS PURELY A CHAMBER PROJECT. YOU ARE OKAY WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE PUBLIC MONEY FUNDS PRIVATE PROFIT AND PRIVATE RULES HIDE ALL PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. SASS WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE SAN ANTONIO SPRAWL, WHICH THREATENS OUR AQUIFER AND BRINGS MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND ECONOMIC SEGREGATION TO OUR CITY. DEVELOPERS WILL CONTINUE TO CONTROL SAN ANTONIO. THIS VOTE IS NOT A VOTE SIMPLY ON 5.3% INCREASE OR 5.8% INCREASE. THIS IS A VOTE ABOUT BASIC FAIRNESS AND TRUST. WE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO DO NOT TRUST SAWS. DO NOT TRUST ITS LEADERSHIP. DO NOT TRUST THEIR DATA. EVER SINCE THE CHAMBERS HIJACKED SAWS TO FORCE THROUGH VISTA RIDGE AGAINST SAWS OWN BETTER JUDGMENT, WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC VOTE, SAWS CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE TRUSTED. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL VOTE KNOW THIS MORNING, I SAY THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE HARD VOTE AND WE KNOW AND APPRECIATE YOUR DOING SO IF YOUR VOTES COULD PREVAIL, I'M CONFIDENT EVEN THE MAYOR WOULD COME TO BE GRATEFUL IN RETROSPECT, BECAUSE A MAJORITY NO VOTE WOULD FORCE A NEW DIRECTION AT SAS. IT WOULD LEAD TO NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, NEW AND MORE EQUITABLE RATE STRUCTURE, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF VISTA RIDGE FACTS, WE CONTINUE TO DEMAND AND DON'T GET THE END OF THIS WATERFALL ESSAY CHARADE, THE END OF THIS CORRUPTING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP VENTURE. HOW IRONIC THAT THE MAJORITY THIS MORNING APPEARS LIKELY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS HOLY, UNSUSTAINABLE, AND UNJUST PATH THAT SAWS IS ON. WHILE THIS AFTERNOON, THE CITY PROCLAIMS THE START OF ITS CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN. THE FIRST STEP IN THAT PLAN SHOULD BE A NO VOTE. LET'S PUT THE PUBLIC BACK IN OUR PUBLIC UTILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BURNS. JANNI FLORES, [01:50:01] JANNI FLORES BUENO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR NUREMBERG. UH, MY NAME IS JEANNETTE FLORES AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT. AS AN ENVIRONMENTALIST WITH INDIGENOUS ROOTS, I PLACE MUCH VALUE IN OUR WATER. ELWISE VIDA PUEBLO WATER IS LIFE AND IT IS UNJUST TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS AN INACCESSIBLE RESOURCE TO OUR LOW INCOME FOLKS. I'M A STUDENT AT U T S A AND LIVE ON A VERY FIXED BUDGET. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THIS WATER RATE INCREASE. 21% IS TOO MUCH. EVEN THIS INITIAL 5.8% IS OUTRAGEOUS WHEN I HAVE NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS IS GONNA GO TOWARDS CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE SAN ANTONIO. WHILE THERE'S PROMISES, I HAVE MANY REASONS, UH, TO BE DISTRUSTFUL. UH, EARLIER THIS MORNING I HEARD THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD ALWAYS, UH, WASN'T REALLY A PRIORITY WHEN THIS PLAN WAS CREATED. I FIND THAT STRANGE, UH, CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD BE A PRIORITY AND IT MAKES ME, UH, WORRY ABOUT THE WHAT SAUCE IS REALLY DOING. IF THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY IS NOT HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, KNOW THAT IT'S BECAUSE THIS IS AN AWFUL TIME AS WE SPEAK. I'M PROBABLY GETTING A PARKING TICKET. UH, THESE MEN IN SUITS ARE NATURALLY SUPPORTIVE OF A RATE HIKE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT. I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, FROM SAUCE AND THAT ALSO LEAVES ME WORRIED I HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AS WELL. I ASK THAT YOU DO A FINANCIAL AUDIT OF SAUCE AND THAT YOU HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. SO I'VE DISCUSSED WITH MY COUNCILMAN, UH, PUENTES A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS RACE, WHICH I KNOW MAYOR NUREMBERG, YOU ACTUALLY OPPOSED CONFUSES ME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE GETS A 5% RACE AND WE GET A 5% WATER RATE INCREASE. MAYOR NUREMBERG, YOU SPOKE BEFORE MY CLASS LAST FALL, UM, DR. SHARON NAVARRO'S CLASS, AND YOU SAID THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WANTED TO REDUCE AS MAYOR WAS PUBLIC. UH, DISTRUST HERE IS ONE OF YOUR MANY CHANCES TO DO SO. I ASKED FOR THE TRANSPARENCY YOU ALL PROMISED US DURING YOUR CAMPAIGNS, ESPECIALLY YOU MAYOR NUREMBERG. FINALLY, AS COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE HAS SUGGESTED, I ASK THAT THE 2018 AND 29 VOTES BE DONE SEPARATELY. THIS ALLOWS US TO HOLD SAUCE ACCOUNTABLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MS. FLORES. RICHARD GONZALEZ. IS RICHARD GONZALEZ HERE. UH, GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL. UH, I THINK A FEW GUYS I'VE MET BEFORE AND I'M UP HERE TODAY TO ATTEST TO THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM THAT SALT PROVIDES. AS I'VE HEARD SOMEBODY SPEAK ABOUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE THERE, THEY HAVE GONE TO NOW, UH, A BETTER SYSTEM WHERE THEY POINT YOU TO THE DIRECTION OF, UH, AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. AND I RECEIVED THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM 'CAUSE I'M DISABLED. AND IT'S A SIMPLE SYSTEM TO GET ON. IT'S A SHORT QUESTIONNAIRE OF YOUR INCOME. AND, UH, IT'S VERY BRIEF AS IT'S AVAILABLE TO, IF YOU NEED IT, IT'S AVAILABLE TO MANY PEOPLE, WHETHER YOU'RE ELDERLY, WHETHER YOU'RE HANDICAP, WHETHER YOU'RE DISABLED, OR WHETHER YOU'RE A YOUNG COUPLE STARTING OFF, WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION IS, IT IS OUT THERE FOR YOU TO BE HAD. AND, UH, PART OF THE, UM, INCREASE THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS ALSO GONNA INCREASE THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM SO THEY CAN PROVIDE MORE MONEY FOR THE SYSTEM, FOR THE PE UH, CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO, UH, AND ONE MORE THING. I MET MR. PUENTE SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE I GOT ON MY WATER BILL AND THE GUY I AM, ROBERT KNOWS ME. I WENT TO HIS OFFICE TO CONFRONT HIM. WHY IS MY WATER BILL, WHY DID MY WATER GET TURNED OFF? WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET IT TURNED BACK ON? AND, UH, THAT WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO OR SO. WHEN DID ROBERT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M THAT KIND OF A GUY. MR. SHAW KNOWS ME AND, UH, I HAVE VISITED VIA GRAHAM'S OFFICE AND I GET OUT AND AROUND, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO ON SPECIAL, YOU KNOW, SUBJECTS LIKE THIS OR WHATEVER I CAN DO TO, UH, UH, HELP THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. ROBERT KNOWS ME. I'VE DONE TWO WEEKS WITH HIM DURING, UH, HURRICANE HARVEY. AND, UH, I'M, YOU KNOW, A GOOD CITIZEN SAN ANTONIO, AND I DON'T MIND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SAS FOR THIS. SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. GONZALEZ. TARA HERRING. [01:55:01] GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND STAFF. UH, MY NAME IS TVA HERRING AND I'M THE COORDINATOR FOR WHEATLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE'RE LOCATED AT YOUNG MEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT WHEATLEY. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS THAT, UH, WE PARTNER WITH SASS TO DO. THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL IS BASICALLY, UM, HERE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, BUT NOT JUST STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY THAT SURROUND THEM. AND SO WE DO THAT THROUGH SERVICE LINKAGE. WE ALSO DO THAT THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR OUR FAMILIES. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO COME TO US IN CRISIS, A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT COME TO US IN CRISIS. AND WE HAVE ABOUT 19 PARTNERS THAT COME, COME TO THE SCHOOL TO HELP WITH THAT. AND SAWS IS ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH PROJECT AQUA, THROUGH, UH, PLUMBERS TO PEOPLE, THEIR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, THEIR DISCOUNT PROGRAMS, THEY ARE HELPING TO GIVE, HELP US GIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO OUR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. UH, THERE'S NEVER A TIME THAT I DON'T CALL ON THEM THAT THEY COME AND THEY SEE ABOUT OUR FAMILIES. AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL IN WHAT WE DO. UM, I JUST WANTED TO COME AND SAY THAT BECAUSE IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, IN TERMS OF, UH, CARING ABOUT, UH, WHO WE HAVE AND WHO COMES IN OUR DOOR AND THEY COME FROM ALL OVER, UH, SAWS HAS BEEN REALLY ON POINT WITH THAT. THEY, THEY SHOW UP WHEN I CALL, UM, SCHOOL DRIVES. UM, THEY HELP WITH BACKPACKS. THEY DON'T ONLY SEND BACKPACKS, THEY DON'T ONLY SEND SUPPLIES, BUT THEY SEND PEOPLE TO HELP US. AND SO, UM, THEY ARE A VALUABLE PARTNER TO US AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE REMISS OF ME TO NOT COME AND SAY THAT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. DR. HERRING. PATRICK VON DOLAN. MR. VON DOLAN, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. A COUPLE MORE. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S PATRICK VON DOLAN AND I COME TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO FAMILY ASSOCIATION AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR WATER RATES, WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF LIVING HERE. AND TODAY WE'RE DISCUSSING A PRUDENTIAL JUDGMENT ISSUE. THE LAST TIME APPEARED BEFORE YOU. IT WAS NOT. SO, IT WAS AN INTRINSIC MATTER. THIS IS A MATTER THAT WE CAN, WE ALL WANT. I'M CONFIDENT WE ALL WANT CLEAN WATER. I'M CONFIDENT WE ALL WANT CONTROL OF OUR SEWAGE LINES AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LIVING IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. SO WE SIMPLY DIFFER ON METHODOLOGY. WE ALL WANT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AND DOMESTIC PROSPERITY AND PROPER SEWAGE CONTROL AND CLEAN WATER. AS A FINANCIAL PLANNING PROFESSIONAL. WE'RE FOCUSED ON RESULTS AND WE'RE ALSO FOCUSED ON EFFICIENCY. WE NEED AN ALL WE NEED ALL TO WANT, UH, WE NEED AN ALL WANT CONTINUED RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS GROWTH. IT'S ESSENTIAL TO OUR DOMESTIC PROSPERITY. TOUGH TIMES FOR RATE BEARERS NECESSITATES GREATER EFFICIENCY. AND RIGHT. THEIR, UH, RATE PAYERS LIVE IN BEAR COUNTY. THEY'RE FACING RIGHT HIKES EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING THEIR REAL ESTATE TAXES. SO I HAVE UP HERE FOR YOU, SEVEN AND A HALF IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, DOES IT WORK FOR, FOR ONLY PEOPLE OR CAN IT WORK FOR BUREAUCRACIES AS WELL? AND I WON'T READ 'EM TO YOU, BUT THE FIRST ONE'S BEING PROACTIVE. YOU CAN GO UP A LITTLE BIT ON THAT. SO YOU CAN SEE ALL SIX AND, UM, BE PROACTIVE. BEGIN WITH THE END OF MIND. PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST. THINK, WIN-WIN, SEEK FIRST, UNDERSTAND SYNERGIZE. I WANNA GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE SUCCESSES. AND I WANNA, UH, COMPLIMENT COUNCILMAN PERRY AND CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS GOOD WORK. I'M SORRY HE'S NOT HERE, UH, TO HEAR THIS. BUT, UH, ON HIS WORK WITH THE US UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO GET THE SEWAGE LINE REPLACED, THE MAIN LARGE SEWAGE LINE REPLACED THAT RUNS PARALLELLY ON CREEK, SAVING THE RIGHT THE RATE PAYERS AND SAWS AND TAXPAYERS. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WIN-WIN AND I APPLAUD HIM FOR THAT. THIS IS THE KIND OF REP REPRESENTATION WE NEED ON CITY COUNCIL. AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF IT. WELL, IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE BUREAUCRACIES? OR IS IT BUREAUCRACY RUN AMUCK? LAST MONTH, SAULS SENIOR VP STATED THAT SAULS FINALLY HAS A WAY TO MEASURE THE RISK IN OUR WATER SYSTEM. REALLY, THAT'S GREAT, BUT IS THIS, IS THIS NEW? IS SAULS TRYING TO TELL US THAT THEY DON'T COLLABORATE WITH OTHER CITIES, WITH OTHER WATER SYSTEMS, WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS? TO FINALLY LEARN HOW TO MEASURE RISK? IS THIS PROACTIVITY? SO WHO IS MANAGEMENT LISTENING TO OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, HIGHLY PAID CONSULTANTS, INTERNAL ENGINEERS? WHO, WHO ARE THEY LISTENING TO? DOES THIS COOPERATE WITH A PROFESSIONAL SEVEN HABITS, HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE? SO I ASK YOU, IS THE RATE INCREASE GOOD FOR SAWS? [02:00:01] I THINK THEY WOULD SAY IT IS. THEY'VE BEEN UP HERE SAYING IT IS. HOW ABOUT THE SAWS CONSULTANTS, THE EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS THAT ARE HIGHLY PAID? I WOULD SAY THAT THEY ARE, ARE YOU CONSIDERING PUTTING A FREEZE ON THOSE RATE CONSULTANTS THAT THEY CAN PAY? IF YOU, IF YOU AGREE TO THE RATE INCREASE, YOU SHOULD. IS THIS GOOD FOR RATE PAYERS? I THINK YOU HAVE MAJORITY OF RATE PAYERS HERE SAYING, NO, IT'S NOT GOOD. YOU'VE HEARD OF WHAT'S CALLED A CONSENT DECREE. THE CONSENT DECREE IS SPOKEN OF FLOWERY BY ANOTHER SENIOR VP AND A GOOD THING FOR US TO DO. WELL, THIS IS LIKE ME SPEAKING OF ME PUTTING MYSELF IN A DRUG REHAB PROGRAM AND SAYING IT'S REALLY GOOD. IT'S REALLY HELPED ME. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DID I LET MYSELF GET TO THAT POINT? WHY DID I LET MYSELF GET TO THAT POINT? WAS THAT PROACTIVE? WAS THAT WIN-WIN? WAS THE CONSENT DECREE AVOIDABLE? I CONTEND IT IS. AND I THINK IF YOU ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT IT WAS TOO. YET YOU'RE BEING TOLD BECAUSE OF A MANDATE YOU HAVE TO OP, YOU HAVE TO OPERATE A CERTAIN WAY. LET'S GIVE 'EM ANOTHER MANDATE. HOW ABOUT YOU MANDATE A NO RATE INCREASE AND FORCING THEM TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE AND EFFICIENT? AND THEY'LL RESPOND JUST AS THEY HAVE RESPONDED FAVORABLY WITH A CONSENT DECREE. IS THIS NOT A GLARING THIS, THIS, THE CONSENT DECREE EXPOSES OUR PAYING FOR OUR PAST SINS. A SENIOR VP OF SAUL SAID THAT IN NOVEMBER, 2017. THIS VALIDATES THAT WE'VE MISMANAGED OUR ASSETS. HOW CAN WE TRUST THEM GOING FORWARD TO CONTINUE MANAGING OUR ASSETS PROPERLY? HAVE YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION? IS THIS NOT A GLARING EXAMPLE OF ADMITTING OF OUR PAST SINS AND THE MISMANAGEMENT AND THE CONSENT DECREE IS A PRIME INDICATOR OF THAT MISMANAGEMENT? THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT MISMANAGEMENT BY DESIGN SO IT FORCES AN INCREASE IN RATES? HAVE YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION? HOW DOES THIS, WHAT DOES IT, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT RATE PAYERS? WHAT DO YOU DO? IS IT TIME TO HOLD SAWS ACCOUNTABLE FOR FORCING FIX FIX RATES? FIXES LIKE THE CONSENT DECREE WHEN THEY COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT. IF YOU THINK THE CONSENT DECREE IS HELPFUL TO CAUSE SAWS TO ACT IN, IF ACCORDANCE WITH THE CLEAN WATER ACT, WOULDN'T IT THEN BE LOGICAL TO MANDATE ANOTHER THROUGH A RATE FREEZE? WOULDN'T IT BE LOGICAL TO MANDATE THE RATE FREEZE SO IT CAUSES THEM TO ACT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND FOR A WIN-WIN WIN WHERE THE RATE PAYERS ARE LOSING RIGHT NOW? IF THE RATE INCREASE IS GOOD FOR CITIZENS, WHY THE NEED FOR INCREASED AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS? WHY DO WE INCREASE RATES? WHY DO INCREASE RATES NECESSITATE SOCIALIZED PROGRAMS FOR AFFORDABILITY? IF IT'S GOOD FOR CICI CITIZENS WHO IS PAYING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING. WHY IS IT THE SA WHY IS IT SAUL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE SOCIALIZED PROGRAMS? IS THIS A FORM OF COMPENSATION TO MAKE UP FOR NEW SINS, NOT JUST THE PAST SINS, BUT THE NEW SINS AND, AND UNNECESSARY RATE INCREASES? CAN SAWS DO MORE WITH LESS? I TELL YOU, THEY CAN. SO THE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION IS THE PROBLEM. HAVE 'EM FIX IT. VOTE NO ON THE RATE INCREASE MANDATE THAT THEY BE RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU MR. V DOLAN. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT. THAT'S EVERYONE WHO'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. UM, I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS HERE AND, AND LEMME START BY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGING THE GREAT PUBLIC INPUT THAT'S BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S ONGOING. AND I'LL START BY SAYING THAT THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A PUBLIC AGENCY IN THIS CITY THAT IS MORE DESERVING OF THE INTENSE PUBLIC SCRUTINY THAT IT'S RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS THAN SAWS. UH, SAWS HAS A COMPLICATED BUSINESS MODEL AND A STRONG WATER SYSTEM WITH LONG-TERM WATER SECURITY IS NOT ONLY ELUSIVE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND, AND NOW AS A MAYOR, I'VE BEEN PART OF THAT SCRUTINY AND IT, IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. BUT LET ME GO INTO THE REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. FIRST, UH, THIS IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET. THIS IS A BACK TO BASICS BUDGET. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SAWS IS NOT A PRIVATE ENTITY. THIS IS A PUBLICLY OWNED UTILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAKING CARE OF ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING SURE IT'S STRONG FOR US, BUT ALSO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS IS REAL. AND IT'S NOT ONE WE CAN AVOID. WE TALKED ABOUT EQUITY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, SAWS HAS MADE MEASURES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RATE TIERS SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING PEOPLE TOWARDS CONSERVATION, KNOWING THAT WITH LIMITED WATER, THAT'S THE SCARCE RESOURCE OF WATER, THAT WE'RE PRESERVING EVERY DROP THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. THIS IS NOT TAKING, WHEN WE ADJUST RATES, IT'S NOT TAKING FROM THE PUBLIC AND PUTTING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. THIS IS ENSURING THAT WE INVEST AS A PUBLIC TOGETHER IN THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE OWN. SO LET [02:05:01] ME GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR WATER SYSTEM FIRST. IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST FISCALLY MANAGED WATER UTILITIES IN THE COUNTRY. WITH NOT ONLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST CREDIT RATINGS RECEIVED BY A PUBLIC UTILITY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, IT'S INCREASED ITS FUNDING RATIO OF ITS PENSION. IT'S REDUCED ITS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DESPITE TAKING OVER A DISTRESSED WATER UTILITY ABOUT THE SIZE OF CORPUS CHRISTI. IT'S BEGUN THE PROCESS OF IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER A COURT ORDER. AND THE REASON WHY WE GOT TO THAT POINT IS BECAUSE OF INTENSE POLITICAL PRESSURE JUST LIKE THIS, IN WHICH SAWS, FORWENT A ONGOING RATE ADJUSTMENT TO IMPROVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS MOMENT AGAIN, INCREASED CONSERVATION. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST RECYCLED WATER SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE INVESTING IN DESAL. WE HAVE A STRONG AND GROWING A S R AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY SYSTEM. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A WATER UTILITY THAT IS OWNED BY THIS CITY. AND IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN IT, WE PUSH THAT DEBT OFF TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M WILLING TO DO. WE HAVE SCRUBBED THIS BUDGET AND IN FACT, 50% OF THE, OF THIS INCREASE IS GOING TOWARDS THE WATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE MANDATED BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME IN AND TOLD US THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE NEGLECT. IN THE PAST, I'VE ASKED THE SAWS STAFF TO DO DUE DILIGENCE ON THE OTHER HALF OF THE WATER SYSTEM, THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY FEEDS THE CLEAN WATER INTO YOUR SYSTEM. AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING ENOUGH. AND I DON'T WANT US TO FACE THE SAME FATE THAT WE DID ON OUR WATER SYSTEM. SO WE'RE IMPROVING THE CONDITION PROACTIVELY OF OUR WATER DELIVERY SYSTEMS. ALL THIS TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS A WATER RATE INCREASE THAT IS JUDICIOUS. IT'S WELL THOUGHT OUT AND IT'S DESERVING OF ALL OF OUR SUPPORT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE OBLIGATED AND HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT FUTURE GENERATIONS. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS THAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT. AND NOBODY LIKES THE RATE ADJUSTMENT. BUT THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO EACH OTHER TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE'VE GOT. AND AT THE END, THIS IS A INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET THAT IS HITTING ON THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR, OF OUR CITY. AND I HAVE TO SAY ALSO, I, MY SON IS NINE YEARS OLD AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY MANY TIMES WHEN I MAKE DECISIONS, I TRY TO DO. SO LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF HIS GENERATION AND WHAT WE LEAVE, THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE LEAVE FOR HIM, UH, AND HIS PEERS AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE. YES, THERE ARE TWO YEAR, TWO YEAR HORIZONS. THERE'S FIVE YEAR HORIZONS, AND THEN THERE'S THE HORIZONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSETS THAT WE OWN, THAT WE HAVE TO LEAVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION. I PACKED HIS LUNCH THIS MORNING AND I, AND HE'S GETTING AWARE ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WHAT WE DO WHEN WE'RE GONE, AND MANY OF US HAVE FAMILIES, HE, HE'S AWARE ENOUGH OF WHAT HAPPENS IN GOVERNMENT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR THIS COMMUNITY LONG TERM. AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY DON'T SEE THEIR PARENTS THAT OFTEN. THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T SEE ME THAT OFTEN. AND I LEFT THEM A NOTE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED THAT WHEN I'M NOT THERE, LET HIM KNOW WHY YOU'RE NOT THERE AND HE'LL VALUE THAT TIME REGARDLESS. AND SO WHAT I LEFT THEM A NOTE AND I SAID, LOOK, JONAH, UM, HAVE A NICE LUNCH. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SANDWICH I PACKED, BUT ALSO I'M HERE TODAY. 'CAUSE I HAVE TO TAKE A TOUGH VOTE. I HAVE TO TAKE A TOUGH VOTE TO ENSURE THAT WE, THE ADULTS THAT OWN, OWN THESE PIPES AND, AND ARE TAKING CARE OF IT, ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE WATER SYSTEM THAT HE WILL INHERIT SOMEDAY WILL BE IN AS GOOD OR BETTER CONDITION THAN THE ONE THAT WE HAVE TODAY. THAT'S THE REALITY FOLKS. THAT'S WHY WE NEED RATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE JUDICIOUS. THAT'S WHY WE NEED PUBLIC SCRUTINY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DOING, UH, WE'RE NOT BEING FAST AND LOOSE WITH OUR MONEY, ALL OF US, BUT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THOSE PIPES AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAINTAIN OUR ROADS, OUR PARK SYSTEM, OUR ENERGY UTILITIES. AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK. I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE WORK THAT'S GONE IN, UH, BY THE SAW STAFF, BY OUR STAFF OF THE CITY AND BY THE, THE, THE, THE MANY MEN AND WOMEN, UH, ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH, WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITY HERE. SO I PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS, UH, I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES DO AS WELL. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, THE CONTINUED WORK AHEAD. AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WITH THIS SYSTEM COUNCIL, INTRAVENOUS TREVINO. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON, ON THIS. UM, AND I, UH, APPRECIATE THE, THE SENTIMENT. UM, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THIS IS, UH, [02:10:01] AN ISSUE THAT IS DEALING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THAT MUST BE TAKEN CARE OF. AND SO ROBERT, IF I CAN CALL YOU UP HERE, UH, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, UM, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, UM, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE. I, I, I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. I MEAN, THIS IS IT. AND IN FACT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO THE CITY CLERK FOR THE RECORD IN, IN JUST A MINUTE IN CASE ANYBODY'S EVER BOTHERED TO EVEN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. UM, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE AND WHAT IT MEANS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE MUST DO IN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS CONSENT DECREE. SO TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS CONSENT DECREE. UH, A CONSENT DECREE, UH, DECREE IS, UH, AN AGREEMENT THAT WE REACHED WITH THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES AND T C E Q TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE END RESULT WOULD BE LOWERING THE OVERFLOWS OF OUR SEWER SYSTEM AND, UH, CREATE AND A VIOLATION OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT. SO THE CONSENT DECREE DOES NOT MANDATE THAT WE SPEND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT MANDATES THAT WE DO CERTAIN THINGS, AND WE ARE ESSENTIALLY, WHEN WE NEGOTIATED THIS CONSENT DECREE, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO SINCE WE STARTED INVESTING IN OUR, UH, IN OUR SEWER SYSTEM, TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT, IN 20 11, 1 OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS COME TO THIS, THESE, UH, A DIFFERENT COUNCIL AT THE TIME ASK FOR A RATE INCREASE TO START PUTTING MONEY INTO OUR SEWER SYSTEM. SO GOING INTO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW WE ARE SERIOUS. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE ARE ALREADY INVESTING IN OUR SEWER SYSTEM. YOU HAVE TO SHOW A PLAN. WE HAVE TO SHOW A PLAN. AND SO WE, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS SHOW THE PLAN THAT WAS ALREADY BUILDING UP, THAT WE WERE NOT JUST GOING IN THERE SAYING, WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO? WE WERE SHOWING THEM WHAT WE WERE WILLING TO DO. SO IT QUICKLY BECAME WHAT OTHER, WHAT OTHER CONSENT DECREES WERE, WHICH, WHICH WERE NOT, WHICH WAS, THEY WERE MANDATING THAT THEY DO CERTAIN THINGS. ESSENTIALLY. THIS ONE ALLOWED US TO PICK THE PROJECTS OURSELVES TO DO CERTAIN THINGS OURSELVES, FOR US TO DECIDE HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY. HOW DID YOU PICK THOSE PROJECTS? EXCUSE ME? HOW DID YOU PICK THOSE PROJECTS? UH, THROUGH ASSESSMENT OF OUR SEWER SYSTEM, THROUGH THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHEN WE CLEAN THE LINE, HOW OFTEN WE NEED TO CLEAN IT, TELEVIS TELEVISING OUR LINES, MAKING SURE THAT WE KNEW WHAT WE HAD, HOW OLD OUR PIPELINES WERE, WHICH ONES NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, WHICH ONES WE COULD PUT OFF FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH ONES WE COULD PUT OFF FOR MANY MORE YEARS BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING. YOU WOULD CALL IT AN AS NEEDED ASSESSMENT OF THE SYSTEM. YES. UH, UH, AS SIMPLE AS ASSESSING WHAT YOU HAVE, AND THAT'S A VERY SIMPLE, UH, WORD, BUT, UH, IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. WE HAVE TO GO INTO EACH OF OUR 6,000 SEWER LINES, TELEVISING THEM, DOCUMENTING WHAT THEY'RE MADE OUT OF, HOW OLD THEY ARE, WHAT THEIR CONDITION IS, UH, READING THOSE, UH, TELEVISING, UM, UH, VIDEOTAPES, ANALYZING THEM, PUTTING THEM, PUTTING ALL THAT DATA DOWN FOR FUTURE USE, A VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING PROPOSITION. YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S TOP OF MIND IS, IS THE EFFECTS OF THE, UH, HURRICANES ALONG THE COAST. UH, WHAT, WHAT ROLE DID COST ESCALATION ALSO PLAY IN SOME OF THESE ESTIMATIONS? WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES THAT DO THIS, THIS TYPE OF WORK. WE, WE ARE, UH, ONE OF THE BIGGER ONES IN, IN TEXAS. SO ANYTIME THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE MARKET, ANYTIME THERE'S CHANGE IN THE COST OF MATERIALS, IT AFFECTS US. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S BEEN ARGUMENTS ABOUT MAKING THIS A ONE YEAR, UH, A BUDGET PROPOSAL AS OPPOSED TO TWO YEARS. THE TWO YEAR PLANNING HORIZON ACTUALLY HELPS US WITH OUR PLANNING, HELPS US WITH OUR PRICING. RIGHT? I MEAN, WITH, WITH THE UNCERTAIN ESCALATION OF PRICES. IF, IF, IF WE, IF WE GO TO A ONE YEAR, THAT COULD REALLY COST US A LOT MORE MONEY. IS THAT CORRECT? EXACTLY. WE CAN TIE IN SOME OF THE, UH, CONTRACTS. WE CAN, UH, PLAN, WE CAN, UH, GET BETTER PRICING. THANK YOU, ROBERT. I, I JUST WANT TO END WITH, UM, HAVING OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT AS, AS I WAS READING, UM, THE CONSENT DECREE ON PAGE 72. UH, THERE'S SOMETHING PRETTY SERIOUS IN THERE THAT JUST SHOWS HOW, HOW THIS CITY'S VERY MUCH IN ON THE HOOK. WE, WE SAW THIS PORTION, UH, PARAGRAPH 1 0 3. ANDY, IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD CHIME IN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT A ABSOLUTELY COUNCILMAN YES. YOU'RE REFERRING TO SECTION 1 0 3 IN WHICH THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE E P A, UM, ALTHOUGH THE CONSENT DECREE IS SIGNED WITH SAWS, THEY DO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK RELIEF, UH, FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN CASE, UH, SAUCE DOES NOT COMPLY, UH, WITH THE, UH, REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE. UH, I'LL ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THAT UNDER SECTION A HUNDRED, WHICH IS RIGHT BEFORE THAT. UH, IT DOES STATE ALSO THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY IS NOT EXCUSED BY ANY LACK OF FUNDS OR SOURCE [02:15:01] FINANCIAL CAPABILITY. SO THE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE, AS YOU, UH, POINTED OUT, ARE, ARE, ARE PRETTY, UM, IMPORTANT. AND, UH, THERE'S SOME SEVERE RAMIFICATIONS IF SAW DOES NOT COMPLY. THANK YOU, ANDY. I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S CRITICAL. SO I'LL JUST, I'M JUST GONNA HAND THIS TO THE CITY CLERK, UH, FOR THE RECORD. UM, ROBERT, SO I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AT THE HEART OF THIS. AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS, YOU KNOW, NOBODY WANTS TO, TO INCREASE THE RATES. UH, CERTAINLY WE'D, WE'D LOVE A SOLUTION THAT COULD WORK WITHOUT, UH, AN IMPACT TO RATE PAYERS. UM, BUT, UH, YOU, IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU POINTED OUT THE, THE, THE MANAGEMENT OF EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE, UH, THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO TO HELPING TO CREATE A A A A, A SOFT, UH, RATE INCREASE AS POSSIBLE. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, UH, 'CAUSE THAT'S AT THE HEART OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE THINK CAN PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I, I'LL JUST SAY THIS, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL ALMOST DAY ONE, UH, THAT'S AT THE HEART OF A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE'VE SEEN REGARDING OUR, OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S POCKETS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT, THAT ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN, UH, THE MOST VULNERABLE. UH, AND OF COURSE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A COUNCIL HERE, I THINK THAT IS LOOKING TO HELP, UH, IMPROVE SOME OF THESE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS. UH, AND I WANT YOUR ASSURANCE, UH, AS YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR PRESENTATION, THAT, UH, YOU WILL BE, UH, REMOVING ALL THE LATE FEES FOR DISABLED ON THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. UH, YES, THIS IS AN IDEA THAT YOU BROUGHT TO US. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, SIX 30 IN THE MORNING, I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE THAT YOU HAD COMMUNICATED TO OUR, OUR STAFF, UH, THAT YOU ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT, FOR EX EXAMPLE, THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A FIRST RESPONDER, UH, WAIVING THOSE KINDS OF FEES. AND, UH, WE'D BE GLAD TO DO THAT. UH, IT'S HARD TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES IS, RIGHT? BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T DO IT YOU B B TO THE PUNCH. SO YES, I DEFINITELY WANT TO EXPAND IT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, MENTIONING THAT. UH, I ALSO WANT US TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR VETERANS COMMUNITIES AS WELL. UH, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AT, AT THE HEART OF THIS TOO. I, I, I, YOU, YOU HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK A LOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION. SO, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THIS, WITH THIS, I, I WANT YOU TO ALSO EXPAND BY ALSO AGGRESSIVELY, UH, SOLICITING THE, THE RESIDENTIAL, UH, RATE PAYERS TO, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, METHODS TO, TO, TO DO THAT. ONE I'D LIKE TO SEE IS, IS SOMETHING WITHIN THEIR BILL, UH, THAT COMMUNICATES THAT EVERY SINGLE MONTH, SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S A, A GROUP THAT'S WORKING TO, TO, TO WORK WITH THEM. AND, AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE, UM, COMMENTS, THOSE IDEAS. ONE GREAT THING ABOUT THE COLLABORATION THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THERE'S MAYBE ONE OR TWO PARTICULAR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU HAVE THAT HAVE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THEY BRING IT TO YOU. YOU GIVE US, UH, THE, UH, THAT PROBLEM TO SOLVE ON, ON, ON, UH, BECAUSE IT'S RELATING TO A SAS BILL, AND THEN THAT EXPANDS TO A WHOLE PROGRAM. SO, YES, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, SOMETIMES IT IS, UH, WE HAVE A PROGRAM, BUT WE, UH, WE DON'T SELL IT CORRECTLY, BUT PUTTING IT INTO THE BILLS, UH, EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER OBVIOUSLY GETS A BILL. SO PUTTING IT INTO THEIR BILLS AND LET, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THESE, UH, PROGRAM PROGRAMS EXIST IS A GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU, ROBERT. AND, AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU REPORT BACK TO US AT A, AT A, MAYBE IN SIX MONTHS ON HOW THIS IS GOING IN ABUSE SESSIONS, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, GET A, GET AN UPDATE AND, UH, MONITOR THIS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SEE, SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EXPANDING THIS. UH, I ALSO WANT TO, ALONGSIDE WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST FILED A A C C R REGARDING DATA SHARING. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT, THAT, THAT COMES TO MIND, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SAS, C P S, UH, THE BARE APPRAISAL DISTRICT OR THE COUNTY, IS HOW MUCH INFORMATION WE ALL HAVE, UH, THAT THAT CAN BENEFIT ALL OF US. UH, SOME OF US HAVE INFORMATION THAT OTHERS DON'T. UH, WE TALKED ABOUT IDENTIFYING SOME OF THESE, UH, RAY PAYERS. UH, I'D, I'D LIKE TO ALSO BEGIN THAT DISCUSSION, UH, AS YOU KNOW, THAT THAT REALLY CAN HELP, UH, MAYBE EXPAND THIS AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM TO HELP IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE WE KNOW ARE OUT THERE. AND IT, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE MOST, UH, FRUSTRATING, UH, PARTS OF, OF LEARNING THAT, OR IN ON THIS JOB IS, IS LEARNING THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE HELPED THAT ISN'T HELPED. AND, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST EMPLOY YOU TO, TO, UH, WORK WITH US ON, ON CONNECTING SOME OF THAT DATA SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT PEOPLE. YES. [02:20:01] UM, IF YOU CAN GO TO SLIDE 30 OF MY PRESENTATION, I, I DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT IT IN VERY MUCH DETAIL, BUT THE SAS CUSTOMER PORTAL IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN HELP. C P S HAS A LIST. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS A LIST, UH, ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, SOME OF THE PRIVATE, UH, UH, OR NON-PROFITS THAT HELP THESE, UH, INDIVIDUALS. AND WE NEED TO BE SHARING THOSE LISTS. WE NEED TO BE TALKING TOGETHER, AND YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE REACH OUT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, WE, WE HOLD A, A LUNCH AT OUR FACILITY FOR EVERY NONPROFIT THAT HAS THESE KINDS OF, UH, NEED, UH, ADDRESSES, THESE KINDS OF NEEDS. THEY COME INTO OUR BUILDING AND WE HAVE A WORKSHOP FOR THEM, AND WE START SHARING INFORMATION. SO, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU, ROBERT. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, UH, ALL THE TIMES YOU'VE COME TO OUR EVENTS, TO, UH, UH, TO PARTICIPATE, UH, YOURSELF IN, IN SOME OF THESE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE SHOWCASED AT OUR EVENTS AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK YOU, WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND THE BOARD AS WELL, BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS A, A NECESSARY STEP WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AND CERTAINLY, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING ON EXPANDING THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM AS WELL. WITH THAT. MAYOR, A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM FOUR. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM FOUR. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE COMMENT STARTING WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, ROBERT, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BEN. THANK YOU. AT, AT THE BEGINNING OF, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU NOTED THAT, UH, YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT AND FINANCIAL AREA THAT REVIEW, UH, THIS PROPOSAL. UH, HAVE THEY REVIEWED PRIOR RATE INCREASE REQUESTS AS WELL? YES, THEY HAVE MOSTLY A LOT OF THE SAME TEAM MEMBERS. YES. HOW, HOW FAR BACK DOES IT GO? WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN REVIEWING THESE, THAT THAT TEAM HAS BEEN REVIEWING THEM? YEAH. OR YOUR DEPARTMENT. I REALIZE SOME OF THE TEAM MEMBERS MAY CHANGE OVER THE YEARS, BUT FOR ABOUT HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE? UM, FOR ME, PROBABLY GOING BACK TO THE EARLY 2000, 2001 TIMEFRAME, SOMEWHERE IN THERE. OKAY. AND THEN THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF REPUBLIC UTILITIES IS NEW. HE JOINED US. HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN ARRESTED? ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, YEAR AND HALF, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WELL, I NOTICED ONE, HE'S OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER THAT GROUP. I WANTED ONE OF THE DATES THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT THE, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE TESTIFYING TALKED ABOUT WAS LIKE 2011. SO, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, UH, OF RATE HIKE REQUESTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HAS YOUR STAFF, UH, REVIEWED, OR, OR OUT OF THE ONES THAT REVIEWED, HAVE THEY EVER RECOMMENDED DISAPPROVING A RATE HIKE OR REDUCING A SUGGESTED RATE HIKE? WE HAVE NOT MADE A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL TO REDUCE A RATE INCREASE. SO PART OF THE PROCESS THAT WE ESTABLISHED, UH, YEARS AGO WAS THAT OUR TEAM GETS ENGAGED WITH SAWS OR C P S VERY EARLY ON. AND SO THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE RATE CASE AS IT'S BEING DEVELOPED. SO WE OFFER OUR INPUT AS WE'RE GOING ALONG, AND THAT RATE CASE IS BEING DEVELOPED. SO HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU GET FROM EITHER BOARD OR THE STAFF THAT WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT. SO THE, THE GOAL IS TO ENGAGE EARLY ON SO THAT WE'RE REVIEWING AND GIVING OUR INPUT. I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT CHANGE. FOR EXAMPLE, ROBERT TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE RECOMMENDED. THEY LOOK AT, UM, G SS B, THERE WAS A ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS HAD CHANGED HOW THAT HAD TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR, HOW THAT WAS GONNA AFFECT THE RATES. AND THEY WANTED TO BEGIN PRE-FUNDING THAT. WE LOOKED AT THAT AND WE ACTUALLY DENIED, UM, HAVING THAT BUILT INTO THE RATE FOR, I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO YEARS, IF I RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. WHILE THEY WENT IN AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO BENEFIT LEVELS, WE FELT LIKE THE BENEFIT LEVELS WERE TOO, UM, RICH TO, TO, UM, THEY WERE OUTTA LINE WITH THE MARKET. SO WE ASKED THEM TO GO LOOK AT THOSE. THEY MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THOSE AREAS. UH, ANOTHER AREA WAS IN THE AREA OF PENSIONS. THEY'VE MADE A NUMBER OF CHANGES THERE. IF THEY MOVED TO A, UH, SOME OF THEIR NEW EMPLOYEES INTO DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS AS, AS OPPOSED TO DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS, REDUCING THEIR COSTS AND CONTRIBUTION SHARING THERE. AND THEN WE ALSO ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THEIR ACTIVE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE AT THAT SAME TIMEFRAME. AGAIN, WE FELT LIKE IT WAS OUTTA LINE WITH PEERS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE MARKET. SO THEY SPENT, UH, SEVERAL YEARS PHASING THOSE IN. AND AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL REVIEW, WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE CHANGES. SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE, UH, OFFERED THEM. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE, UM, PERFORMANCE PAY POOL. [02:25:01] AGAIN, WE DON'T LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL SALARIES, BUT WE DO LOOK AT KIND OF THE MARKET OVERALL. AND WHAT WAS THERE, I THINK IT WAS AROUND 2009, 2010, I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AROUND THE AREA OF 4.5%. WE DIDN'T REALLY SEE THAT AS WE LOOKED AROUND ON THE MARKET, THAT WAS LOWER TO EITHER, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, MAYBE THREE, 3.5%. SO, BUT ALL OF THAT WORK IS HAPPENING WHILE THAT RATE CASE IS BEING DEVELOPED. AND AGAIN, THEY MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD. WE'RE GOING THROUGH A REVIEW PROCESS AT THE SAME TIME. THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL A FEW WEEKS AGO, UM, SO THAT THEIR BOARD COULD BE PRIVY TO IF WE HAD CHANGES OR CONCERNS AS WELL. WELL, I GUESS, UM, IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU'VE EXPLAINED THIS, IT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS, YOU'VE SAID YOUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT RATE PRODUCTION OR, OR PRODUCTION, THAT YOU'VE WORKED WITH THEM TO KIND OF COME UP WITH A RATE THAT YOU FELT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO PRESENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THEY ARE DEVELOPING THEIR RATE CASE AND THEY'RE MAKING THEIR BUSINESS CASE. BUT AS THEY'RE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, WE'RE OFFERING, UH, THINGS THAT WE SEE AS THEY'RE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. SO IF THEY'RE PRESENTING AN O AND M BUDGET TO US, AND WE SEE THINGS THAT ARE OUTTA LINE, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK IMMEDIATELY AND SAY, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OR THAT WE WON'T SUPPORT. IN SOME CASES, WE FLAT TOLD THEM, LIKE IN THE CASE OF THE OPE FUNDING, BARRING NO CHANGES IN THE, IN THE LEVEL OF BENEFIT, WE WERE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THAT RATE INCREASE AT THAT LEVEL. AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT WERE, UH, THE SUGGESTIONS YOU WERE MAKING WERE VERY CLOSE TO PERSONNEL TYPE MATTERS. UH, IS THAT PRETTY ACCURATE? THOSE WERE ALL PERSONNEL RELATED. WE DO LOOK AT OTHER AREAS OF THE ORGANIZATION, LIKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UH, PROGRAM. SO YOU'VE MADE SUGGESTIONS IN THAT AREA FOR CAPITAL OR NOT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE C I P WE LOOK AT THEIR PRIORITIZATION PROCESS AND HOW THEY PRIORITIZE PROJECTS. THE OTHER THING I MENTIONED IS THAT, AND WE'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENT IN THIS AREA, I THINK IF YOU WENT BACK TO, UM, UM, EARLY TWO THOUSANDS MM-HMM. , THEY WERE A BIT MORE CHALLENGED WITH HOW FAST THEY WERE SPENDING BOND PROCEEDS. SO AGAIN, ONCE YOU ISSUE DEBT, THAT'S GONNA HIT THE RATE MODEL THAT'S GONNA HIT, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE, THE, THE CASH FLOW IN TERMS OF HAVING TO MAKE DEBT PAYMENTS. SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE YOUR BOND PROCEEDS ARE BEING PUT INTO PRODUCTION FAIRLY QUICKLY SO THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING THE, THE C I P. AND, UH, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THAT AREA OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. BUT THAT WAS AN AREA THAT WE GAVE THEM SOME FEEDBACK ON AS WELL. OKAY. WELL, I, I GUESS I'LL JUST END THIS BY SAYING IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE WE'RE PRETTY GOOD PARTNERS IN HELPING TO PUT THOSE RATE STRUCTURES TOGETHER THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US IN THE PAST. AND AS SUCH, I THINK WE, WE, UH, HAVE SOME OF THE LIABILITY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT. ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMAN SALDANA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO, TO START THE DISCUSSION, BUT THERE'S A FEW BIG POINTS, TWO OF THEM PARTICULARLY. UM, LET ME START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE, THE HISTORY AND THEN, UH, WE'LL TRANSITION TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, UH, ROBERT. SO YOU CAN PROBABLY GET YOUR STAFF TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT. BUT THE, THE ONE PIECE OF HISTORY I WANT TO ASK YOU, I SOMETIMES ASK SOME QUESTIONS HERE. I KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THEM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS ONE. SO MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE TO GET SOME FOLKS. HOW LONG HAS THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, HAD THE AUTHORITY TO BE REALLY, WE HAVE ONE JOB WHEN IT COMES TO SAWS AS THE UTILITY, WHICH IS TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE RATES. HOW LONG HAS THAT EXISTED? UH, SINCE WE WERE IN EXISTENCE, SINCE WE WERE THE CITY WATER BOARD BEFORE SAWS WAS CREATED IN 1992. AND IT WAS CREATED AS A PUBLIC UTILITY THEN? YES. YES. SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF I HAD TO MAKE A GUESS AS TO WHY IT WAS THAT A CITY COUNCIL ELECTED BY THE, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS CHARGED WITH ONE RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH APPROVING THE RATES OR DISAPPROVING THE RATES. IT'S SO THAT FOLKS COULD FEEL LIKE THEY COULD HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE, UH, WITH REGARD TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN IT COMES TO WATER RATES THAT ARE GOING UP OR DOWN. UH, AND WHETHER FOLKS ARE FEELING LIKE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR DUE WITH RESPECT TO WATER QUALITY, WATER DELIVERY. UH, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR UTILITY IS DOING THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, THAT NOBODY EVER SEES THAT IF PIPES NEED TO BE UPGRADED, THAT IF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IS AGING, THAT IT'S PROPERLY INVESTED IN. AND I BRING UP THE POINT OF THIS BODY BEING ONE JOB, ONE JOB ONLY, BECAUSE IT HASN'T ALWAYS, IN MY ESTIMATION OF HISTORY, DONE THAT JOB PROPERLY FOR THE SAME REASON THAT, THAT WE'RE IN THIS ROLE, THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC PRESSURE AND POLITICAL PRESSURE CAN CUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT THE ONE STATISTIC THAT YOU SHOWED ME WAS, UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF HOW WE GOT HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO TO LAY BLAME ON FOLKS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US AND SAT IN THESE SEATS, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY DID THEIR JOB. UH, WHEN YOU [02:30:01] SHOWED ME A 13 YEAR PERIOD IN WHICH INFRASTRUCTURE WAS NOT BEING INVESTED IN ON THE SOLID WASTE SIDE, YOU COULD PROBABLY FLIP THE, THE SLIDE UP. YOU PUT UP THE, THE, UM, SLIDE ONE, PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE. YEAH. SO WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, WHILE THAT WAS TRUE, YEARS 1990 TO 2010, IF YOU WERE TO PUT A SLIDE GOING FURTHER FROM 2010 TO 2017, YOU WOULD SEE A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE HAD TO BE HERE TO SEE MOST OF THAT STORY, UH, GOING BACK FROM, AND BY THE WAY, I THINK THE CITIZENS SAN ANTONIO, THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE THAT IN BACKUP BACK UP? WELL, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY TELL ME. YES, I UNDERSTAND, ROBERT. AND THAT'S LEADERSHIP. BUT GO AHEAD. WELL, WELL, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE TOUGH THING HERE IS THAT I, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTROL AND WE CAN'T CONTROL. WHAT I CAN CONTROL IS THE BUTTON I PUSHED TODAY AND THE BUTTON THAT I HAVE HAD TO PUSH SINCE 2011. BUT WHAT I CAN'T CONTROL IS THE THING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT HERE. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE TOUGH PART ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I REMEMBER GOING BACK TO THE PRESENTATIONS IN 2011, BEFORE WE EVEN HAD ANYTHING CALLED A CONSENT DECREE. NOBODY KNEW WHAT A CONSENT DECREE WAS. UH, YOU AND YOUR STAFF, OF WHICH MANY OF THEM ARE STILL HERE TODAY, WERE THERE IN 2011, WERE SHOWING US EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES. AND THE, THE ONE THAT STILL IS, IS, IS SINGED IN MY MIND, IS, UH, THE ATLANTA CONSENT DECREE. BACK THEN IT WAS, UH, THE HISTORY WAS, UH, SOMETHING IN THE SAME WAY YOU COULD SORT OF DISPLACE SAN ANTONIO AND ADD ATLANTA. BUT THEY WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THE YEARS? WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD HAVE THAT? STEVE KLAUS, JEFF, UM, I HAD THERE, THERE ARE OTHER HORROR CONSENT DECREE STORIES. I HAD MY STAFF PULL IT UP, ACTUALLY. OKAY. SO I'M LOOKING AT YOUR SLIDE HERE FROM 2011. IT'S A 1999 CONSENT DECREE BETWEEN THE E P A AND THE CITY OF ATLANTA. WE PAID 1.1 BILLION FOR PAST MISTAKES AND POLITICAL PRESSURE, MAYBE THAT SAID NO RATE INCREASE, NOT RATE INCREASE FOR A DECADE OR TWO DECADES. UH, WE WERE PAYING 1.1 BILLION. THEY HAD TO PAY 4.1 BILLION FROM 2003 TO 2012. UH, THE REASON I PULLED THIS, THIS SLIDE UP, 'CAUSE I REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT AT THE TIME AND THINKING ABOUT IS THAT WHAT'S, IS THAT WHAT THE NEXT DECADE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? BECAUSE THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER BILL IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE ATLANTA HISTORY, TRIPLED FROM $49 IN 2003 TO $151 IN 2012. AND SO MY MIND WAS, ARE WE GONNA HAVE TO LIVE WITH A FUTURE IN WHICH RATES HAVE TRIPLED? WHERE ARE WE WITH REGARD TO, UH, WHERE WE WERE IN 2011 OR 2013 COMING IN AS WE'RE PROJECTING? UH, I'M SORRY, YOUR QUESTION WAS WHAT ARE OUR PROJECTIONS? SO IF I WAS, IF MY FEAR IN 2011 WAS THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO TRIPLE OUR RATES BECAUSE OF A CONSENT DECREE, JUST LIKE ATLANTA, ARE THOSE FEARS FOUNDED? UH, NO, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A, A, UH, A TRIPLING AS A RESULT OF THE CONSENT DECREE, AS A RESULT OF THE CONSENT 'CAUSE. 'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS START THIS INVESTMENT PRIOR TO THE CONSENT DECREE. WE ACTUALLY STARTED IN 2011. UH, THE FIRST RATE, THE FIRST TRUE RATE INCREASES ON THE SUICIDE STARTED IN 2011, UH, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE CONSENT DECREE. AND THAT REALLY ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH A LOT OF AUTHORITY, UH, WITH THEIR ATTORNEYS, WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ATTORNEYS TO SHOW WHAT, THAT WE WERE SERIOUS, THAT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE THINGS WERE GOING TO HAPPEN. SO THAT ALLOWED US TO DO A LOT OF THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ON WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR OUR SYSTEM, NOT JUST TO DO WHAT THEY THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THESE, UM, UH, GLOBAL KIND OF NATIONAL KIND OF STANDARDS THAT THEY HAD. YEAH. I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION IN 2011 WAS THIS, IT WAS, WE DON'T HAVE A CONSENT DECREE. WE THINK IT MIGHT HAPPEN. AND SO BECAUSE WE THINK THERE'S A CONSENT DECREE COMING DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO START INVESTING IN SEWER WHERE WE HAVEN'T. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE HERE IN 2011 ASKING YOU FOR 2012 RATE INCREASE. UH, AND WE DID THAT NEVERTHELESS. UM, YOU ALL HAD TO SIGN A CONSENT DECREE TWO YEARS LATER IN 2013. SO THE, THE IDEA WAS YOU WERE TRYING TO BUILD IT UP SO YOU WOULDN'T GET A, LIKE ATLANTA, A $4.1 BILLION MANDATE FOR WHAT YOU NEGOTIATED BY PUTTING SOME MONEY INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM. IS THAT RIGHT? RIGHT. IT, IT, UH, WE WERE ACTUALLY OBVIOUSLY GOING TO SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY ANYWAY, UH, IN THE REGULAR UPKEEP OF OUR SYSTEM. SO IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL, PROBABLY ABOUT $400 MILLION OVER THIS 10 YEAR PERIOD TO GET IT UP TO $1.1 BILLION CONSENT DECREE. AND AGAIN, THE CONSENT DECREE DOES NOT SAY SPECIFICALLY SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. WHAT IT WILL SAY IS, UH, FIX THESE PROBLEMS. UH, UH, THESE PROJECTS HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO REDUCE THE OVERFLOWS. AND THOSE, THOSE PROJECTS WE ANTICIPATE WILL COST ABOUT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS. YEAH. SO [02:35:01] I GUESS I BRING THAT UP. I'LL JUST TO SAY THE SAME POINT, WHICH IS THAT, THAT, UM, WHEN WE COME, YOU KNOW, TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHEN WE EVEN CAMPAIGN FOR THE OFFICE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT RUNNING, THE MOST EXCITING COMPONENTS ARE NOT ABOUT THE ONE JOB THAT WE HAVE WITH REGARD TO YOUR UTILITY, WHICH IS TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE RATES. IT'S JUST A, A NECESSARY, UH, CONVERSATION WHEN WE HAVE IT. THE QUESTION WILL BE, UM, HAVE YOU VETTED THE ASK? HAVE YOU ENSURED THAT FOLKS LIKE DOUG AND AND, AND STEVE ARE TELLING YOU THE TRUTH? CAN YOU TRUST THE INFORMATION THAT'S COMING TO YOU ALL? AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HERE, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT WHAT WAS SORT OF THE UNBIASED TRUTH IN MY OPINION, WAS WHAT CAME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UH, IT WASN'T WHETHER I TRUSTED YOUR, THE C E O OR YOUR C F O OR YOUR C O O, UH, IT'S THIS THIRD PARTY GROUP CALLED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WHO CAME DOWN AND SAID THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT YOUR HISTORY, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN INVESTING. UM, AND I THINK THAT'S, I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THERE'S TWO PATHS TO WALK DOWN RIGHT NOW. UH, AND I, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, UH, FOR HAVING US BE PROACTIVE IN AN EFFORT HERE THAT I THINK IS, IS ONE THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE SUGGESTED OR EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT, WHICH IS THAT WHAT HAS HA WHAT HAD HAPPENED OVER TWO DECADES TO OUR SEWER SYSTEM COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN ON THE WATER SUPPLY SIDE. IF WE DON'T GET PROACTIVE AND GET AHEAD OF IT, IT, IT COULD HAVE. BUT WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING ON THE WATER SIDE ALSO. UH, AND YOU, YOU SAW SOME OF THE SLIDES THAT I PUT TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE 2011, SINCE THESE RATE INCREASES, STARTED 2011 TO THE PRESENT, WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON THE WATER SIDE. AND SO YES, THAT, UH, UH, THAT COULD HAPPEN. BUT NOWHERE NEAR WHAT DID HAPPEN WITH OUR SEWER SYSTEM, UM, THE, UH, THE SUGGESTED, UH, INVESTMENT RATE BY THE NATIONAL STANDARDS, WERE NOT THERE ON THE WATER SIDE. BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE THERE AS HIGH ON THE WATER SIDE BECAUSE OF OUR UNIQUE SITUATION. THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BASE THE SPENDING OF THE, OF, OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVEN TO BY OUR RATE PAYERS, BASE IT ON WHAT REALLY IS CORRECT AND RIGHT FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND SO THE, THE NATIONAL STANDARD OF REPLACEMENT ON THE WATER SIDE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE RIGHT UP TO IT AS, AS, AS OTHERS MIGHT SUGGEST. BUT WE ARE DOING A, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS, UH, UH, PARTICULAR RATE INCREASE IN 2018, WE ARE DOING OUR SHARE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WATER SYSTEM, THE WATER SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS DOES NOT IN ANY WAY GET NEGLECTED. LIKE THE SEWAGE SYSTEM DID GET NEGLECTED BACK IN THE 1990S AND EARLY TWO THOUSANDS. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, I'M GONNA QUOTE YOU HERE. WE'RE NOT DOING IT UP TO THE STANDARD THAT THEY SUGGEST BECAUSE PART OF ME SAYS, GREAT, LET'S NOT DO IT UP TO THEIR STANDARD, BECAUSE IT WOULD COST OUR RATE PAYERS MORE. BUT THE OTHER PART OF ME JUST THINKS ABOUT WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED, WHICH IS THAT FOR A LONG TIME WE WEREN'T DOING THE WORK OF UP TO THE STANDARD. THERE'S AN INDUSTRY STANDARD THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO KEEP, UH, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF YOUR PIPES AT A CERTAIN POINT, BUT YOU WE'RE NOT EVEN UP TO THAT PERCENTAGE. UH, CORRECT. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A, A WATERLINE 18 90, 18 90 WATERLINE SERVING A MAJOR PART OF SAN ANTONIO THAT'S STILL PROVIDING WATER, STILL DOING THE PURPOSE THAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. AND WE LOOKED AT IT, WE'VE TESTED IT, UH, WE'VE SENT, UH, SAMPLES OF IT TO THE SOUTHWEST, UH, RESEARCH, UH, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THE INTEGRITY OF THAT PIPELINE IS STILL THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA REPLACE IT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO REPLACE IT. UH, OTHER PIPELINES, OBVIOUSLY, WE, WE, WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, SO THE REPLACEMENT RATE, WE FEEL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE UP TO THE NATIONAL STANDARDS. ANOTHER UNIQUENESS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO IS THE TYPE OF WATER THAT WE HAVE. THIS TYPE OF WATER ACTUALLY PUTS A SOMEWHAT OF A COATING ONTO THE PIPELINE WHERE IT HELPS PROTECT IT, UH, UH, IN THE FUTURE. UH, UNLIKE WHAT WE OFTEN DO IN OUR OWN HOMES, WE GET THE, UH, WE PUT WATER SOFTENERS IN THERE TO GET A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WATER ACTUALLY AT THE TAP. THIS IS THE OPPOSITE THAT ACTUALLY PROTECTS OUR PIPES. ALRIGHT, WELL, I I I'M AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN'T REALLY DENY, UH, THAT THE CLAIMS AND, AND THE, THE PROPOSITION AND THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED TO US ABOUT WHAT IS DUE UNDER OUR FEET WITH REGARD TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTLY BECAUSE OF MOST OF THE RATE INCREASES GOING TO THINGS THAT THE E P A HAS SAID IT NEEDS TO GO TO. WE KNEW THAT IN 2011, IT, THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT'S JUST, IT'S THE SAME HOMEWORK THAT WE STILL ARE TRYING TO COMPLETE, UH, FOR, FOR DECADES OF, OF NEGLECT. LET ME, LET ME LOOK AT THE, THE 2011 SLIDES THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER IN YOUR PRESENTATION BACK OCTOBER OF 2011. UH, THIS IS NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE GOT ACCESS TO, BUT I'LL JUST LOOK AT, I'M JUST GONNA SAY ONE NUMBER, WHICH IS 1.5 MILLION. 1.5 MILLION WAS THE NUMBER YOU USED TO HAVE, UH, AFFORDED TO YOUR AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM. A HUNDRED THOUSAND WAS WHAT YOU USED TO HAVE PINNED DOWN FOR YOUR PROJECT AWA PROGRAM. SO LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THOSE TWO NUMBERS BECAUSE HERE'S, HERE'S, HERE'S MY DEAL. FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR [02:40:01] WATER TODAY THAT WE HEAR COMING AND CALLING INTO OUR OFFICE ARE NOT HAVING, UH, ARE NOT TELLING US THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO PAY THE WATER BILL. UH, BECAUSE OF JUST THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, THEY, THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO, TO PAY THE WATER BILL OF 2011 RATES, UH, BEFORE ANY RATE INCREASE. AND I SHARED WITH YOU, ROBERT, A FEW ABOUT A WEEK AGO, UH, AN OUTLINE OF SOMETHING THAT MY STAFF PUT TOGETHER FOR ME BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO COME INTO OUR OFFICE AND THAT CALL INTO US TO TELL US THAT, HEY, THEY'RE REALLY HAVING TROUBLE, UH, AFFORDING THEIR RENT OR AFFORDING, UH, THEIR WATER UTILITY OR THEIR C P S BILL COME TO US LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. AND, AND I SHARED WITH YOU THOSE, A FEW OF THOSE TESTIMONIES, A FEW OF THE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, WHAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. IT'S A SINGLE MOTHER WORKING, IT'S A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND A PREGNANT TEENAGER WHO'S REQUESTED SAS ASSISTANCE. UH, SHE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM D H SS, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND SAWS TWICE. BUT WE HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T COME BACK AND ASK FOR MONEY MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR. AND THE QUESTION IS, CAN SOMEBODY BE POOR MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. WE, WE, WE DID HAVE THAT POLICY, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR, IS FOR THAT ONE EVENT IN YOUR LIFE, UH, THAT YOU NEED TO GET OVER, UH, OVERCOME. AND BECAUSE OF SHIRLEY GONZALEZ'S, UH, SIT, SOME OF HER SITUATIONS OF SOME OF HER CONSTITUENTS, WE CHANGED IT TO, UH, TWICE, UH, UH, WITHIN THE YEAR, UH, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT THERE WAS NOT AS MUCH MONEY IN. AND YOU MENTIONED A HUNDRED THOUSAND UH, DOLLARS, UH, SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN UP TO, TO 2,200, UH, 200,000. UH, AND NOW BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT YOU'VE, UH, TALKED TO US ABOUT, WE'VE INCREASED IT TO 400,000. SO, UH, WHAT I GET OUT OF THAT IS THAT WE ARE BEING VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS THAT YOU AND YOUR AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TELL US ABOUT THAT, UH, THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR THAT PROGRAM, UH, IS MEETING THE NEEDS, BUT THE NEEDS ARE GROWING. SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? YEAH. SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT I'M HOPING TO, TO HEAR FROM YOU, AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT I'VE HEARD THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IS THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE REFLECT ON THE WORK THAT WE DO AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT FACE US AND TALK TO US ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE, UM, IT'S NOT JUST THE POLICY OF I CAN ONLY COME TO, TO SAS TWICE A MONTH. WHAT, WHAT WAS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM WAS JUST THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE, IN THE BUCKET. UH, AND, AND A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK I GOT FROM MY COMMUNITY, UH, STAFF WHO IS FIELDING THOSE CALLS IS THAT SASS FUNDING RUNS OUT BY THE MIDDLE OF EACH MONTH. YOU GOT THAT IN THE LETTER THAT I SENT TO YOU? YEAH. UM, BECAUSE I CER UH, THE WAY THAT THEY'VE DESCRIBED IT IS THERE'S A CERTAIN ALLOCATION PER MONTH. IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S 2 MILLION AND 2 MILLION UNTIL IT RUNS OUT. I THINK YOU ALL TRY TO SPREAD IT OUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR. YEAH. UH, AND I DON'T WANT THE TWO PROGRAMS TO GET CONFUSED. THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THIS IS EVERY SINGLE MONTH. UH, IF YOU MEET THESE PRIORITY LEVELS, YOU GET THIS DISCOUNT EVERY SINGLE MONTH. THE OTHER ONES LIKE PROJECT AWA, ARE DESIGNED FOR THOSE UNIQUE SITUATIONS. AND THE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DID LIMIT THEM TO, UM, A FEW TIMES A YEAR. AND ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW IT'S TWO. NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE IT, UH, MORE AVAILABLE TO MORE PEOPLE. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE MONEY, BECAUSE WE DID RUN OUT, UH, AT, AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE MONTH THAT WE HAD TO WAIT TILL THE FOLLOWING MONTH. SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE, THE EMAIL I SENT? 'CAUSE I SENT YOU ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT STORIES OF, OF CONSTITUENTS. ONE OF, AND OF A FEW DIFFERENT CASES THAT CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR US. RIGHT. ONE OF THEM WAS THE FREQUENCY. AND SO WE'VE WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE IT. ONE OF 'EM WAS THE AMOUNT FROM 200 TO 4,000. JUST STAY ON THE FREQUENCY. FREQUENCY ON THE PROJECT AWA CORRECT PIECE MEANING SOMEBODY CAN COME BACK MORE THAN JUST TWICE, CORRECT. IN A YEAR. YES. OKAY. AND, AND, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW IT MORE OFTEN, BUT ALSO BECAUSE NOW THE MONEY, THE, THE MONEY PART OF IT WILL ALLOW US ALSO TO DO IT MORE OFTEN FROM 200,000 TO 400,000. OKAY. AND THEN THE, UH, AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE ADDING MONEY TO THAT AS WELL. YES. UH, WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE, THAT HAS GONE UP THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH ANAND VAL, UH, FROM INITIAL $1 MILLION THAT WE HAD IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET NOW TO AN ADDITIONAL 1 MILLION, A TOTAL OF $2 MILLION IN THE 2018 BUDGET. SO TO GO BACK IN 2011, UH, YOU'RE GONNA MOVE THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM FROM 1.5 MILLION TO, IT'S, UH, FIVE, UM, 5 7, 5 0.7 MILLION. WHAT I SEE ON THE SCREEN THERE IT IS. YEAH. 5.7 MILLION. AND THE PROJECT I WAS MOVING FROM A HUNDRED THOUSAND, WHICH WAS IN 2011 TO WHAT, TODAY? TO 200, NOT TO 400. 400,000. CORRECT. AND BACK IN 2011, IT WAS A ONE TIME CREDIT. IT HAS MOVED TO TWO YEARS OR TWO TIME CREDITS. NOW YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO LIMIT ON THE CORRECT. OKAY. WELL, YEAH. THAT, THAT'S, THAT WAS THE IMPORTANT [02:45:01] PIECE ABOUT WHAT WE HEAR ABOUT IN, IN, IN OUR OFFICE. WHAT, WHAT THE CALLS THAT COME IN. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T CALL SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH SAWS. THEY TELL US THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR CAR HAS BROKE DOWN, THERE'S MEDICAL EMERGENCY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND ANY WAY TO SAVE MONEY. AND WHAT WE, WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS LIKE THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. UH, WE LOOK TO C P SS, UH, WE CALL CHURCHES OR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL AND SAY, CAN YOU HELP THIS FAMILY? UH, THE HEARTBREAKING PIECE FOR US IS WHEN WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE CAN'T USE SAWS ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING, THEY'VE RUN OUT OF THEIR RESOURCES. OR WE CAN'T USE SAWS ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY TAPPED INTO THE PROJECT AWA. UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE SATISFIED TODAY. UH, WHICH YOU'VE, YOU'VE, YOU'VE DOUBLED UP. I'LL GIVE YOU THAT. AND I THINK TRIPLED UP SINCE YOU STARTED, UH, WITH THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM. SO I THINK HERE'S THE ONE PIECE, UM, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. DOES THE 5.7 MILLION STAY 5.7 MILLION EVERY YEAR? WELL, IT, THIS IS WHAT WE BUDGET TO, FOR, FOR, YES. FOR EVERY YEAR. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, AS, AS TIMES PROGRESS, IT'LL, IT'LL MOVE UP ALSO. SO 2019 WILL BE 5.7 MILLION AVAILABLE IS HIS BUDGET. MAYBE DOUG SHOULD CHIME IN AND PUT ON THE RECORD HERE. YEAH. IN 2019, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED. BUT, UM, WE COULD LOOK AT POTENTIALLY EVERY TIME WE HAVE A RATE ADJUSTMENT, WE DO LOOK AND INCREASE THOSE LEVELS AS WELL. SO IN 2019 WITH THE ADDITIONAL, UH, RIGHT NOW IT WOULD BE AT THE 5.7 MILLION. BUT AGAIN, IF WE HAD TO GIVE ANOTHER 4.7% TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT RATE INCREASE, WE COULD LOOK AT DOING THAT. SO THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS A IS A YES OR NO, OR IS, IS, SO RIGHT NOW POINT IN THE BUDGET, 4 20 19, IT IS AT THE 5.7 MILLION. IT'S CARRYING FORWARD INTO THE 2019 5.7 MILLION. OKAY. THE LAST PROGRAM HERE IS ONE, I THINK YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, ROBERT, THE LATERALS TO PEOPLE OR THE PLUMBERS TO PEOPLE YES. IS HOW DO YOU FUND THAT PROGRAM? HOW DO WE FUND IT? YEAH. 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, I'VE RECEIVED CALLS AND I'VE COME TO VISIT WITH RESIDENTS WHO, WHO TELL ME THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE DUE THEIR BILL AND THEY'VE GOT A, A LEAK THAT HAS GIVEN THEM A $600, A THOUSAND DOLLARS SAW BILL, UH, BECAUSE OF A LEAK THAT'S HAPPENED. AND IN THOSE CASES, THE BUTTON WE PRESS IS THE PLUMBERS TO PEOPLE OR THE LATERALS TO PEOPLE. UH, WE CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE PLUMBING COMPANY AND, AND IT'S COMPETITIVE. SO WE GET SOME GOOD PRICES, AND IF THERE'S A SITUATION LIKE THAT, WE DISPATCH THEM AND ASK THEM TO FIX THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. AND HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU, UH, WE'VE HAD PRETTY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. THE ONLY THING I WANNA SUGGEST TO YOU, AND BY THE WAY, YOU'VE GOT A REALLY GREAT TEAM OF LIAISONS. UH, IN MANY CASES WE'RE THE ONES MAKING THE CALL FOR THE CONSTITUENT AND THE, WHAT WE DO IS WE'LL CALL CECILIA OR MARY JANE OR GINO AND THEY'LL PATCH US THROUGH THE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT FOR ALL OF THE CONSTITUENTS WHO NEED HELP. SO, UH, CAN WE GET A COMMITMENT THAT YOUR OFFICE WILL SIT DOWN WITH OUR OFFICE? 'CAUSE D H S IS THE FOLKS WHO QUALIFY THE PEOPLE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY. UM, BUT IN SOME CASES IT REALLY IS. JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE HORN ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING FOR THAT CONSTITUENT, IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD. SURE. AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE A ONE-STOP CENTER 'CAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL YOU. THEY CAN COVER C P SS, THEY CAN COVER SAWS AND THEY CAN COVER OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU'LL HELP THEM WITH OTHER ISSUES, OTHER OTHER PROBLEMS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. UH, BUT WE WILL OBVIOUSLY WORK WITH YOUR STAFF, UH, UH, GIVE OUT, UH, INFORMATION, CONTACT INFORMATION, TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO MAKE THAT, UH, LINE A LITTLE BIT QUICKER, A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT, THAT HELP OUT TO THEM. OKAY. ALRIGHT, ROBERT. WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE GONNA GO ON. UM, SO, UH, MAYBE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO COME BACK IN IF I LEARN SOMETHING NEW FROM MY, UH, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HERE. BUT I, I WILL JUST SAY THAT I, I CANNOT, WITH A, A GOOD CONSCIENCE KICK THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD LIKE IT HAD BEEN DONE FROM FOLKS WHO SIT UNFORTUNATELY IN THESE SEATS BEFORE ME. UM, AT THE SAME TIME, I, I HATE FOLKS. I HATE THE IDEA OR THE CONCEPT THAT FOLKS BELIEVE THAT WE'RE JUST MAYBE RUBBER STAMPING YOUR WORK UP HERE. AND IT, THESE ARE SOME OF THE, THE HARDEST DECISIONS THAT, THAT WE MAKE. SOME OF THE EASY ONES ARE FILLING THE POTHOLES AND, AND PATCHING THE STREETS UP. BUT, UH, THESE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY RESPONSE FROM THAT, ROBERT. BUT THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT, UH, QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER. AND I'M GLAD THAT A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WILLING TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS. REMEMBER, WE HAVE ONE JOB, WHICH IS TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE RATES. AND IF WE ARE TO APPROVE THEM, WE SHOULD BE ASKING AS TOUGH QUESTIONS AS WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE, UH, THEIR LEADERSHIP, UH, AS WELL AS, AS THE PREVIOUS COUNCILS, AS WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE OR HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR SAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. UH, COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ. THANK YOU, ROBERT. AND, UM, I'M JUST, I'M GONNA START WITH ASKING YOU SOME QUESTIONS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY RATE, RATE RELATED, UM, BUT THEY ALL TIE BACK IN. SO ONE OF [02:50:01] THE REASONS WHY IT'S DIFFICULT TO SUPPORT A RATE INCREASE IS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PART AND THE AFFORDABILITY PART, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL WORK IN SOMETIMES IN OUR STREETS AND WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES. SO THERE'S BEEN ONE PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE THAT HAS BEEN MUCH DELAYED. UH, AND THE CONSTITUENTS, FIRST OF ALL, THEY DON'T AUTOMATICALLY KNOW THAT THAT'S A SAS PROJECT AND NOT A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROJECT. SO WE GET BLAMED FOR THOSE ISSUES AS WELL. BUT WHEN THEY DO FIND OUT THAT IT'S A SAS PROJECT, UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT GOES BACK TO WHY THEY DON'T SUPPORT THESE RATE INCREASES AND WHY, UM, THEY START TO COME AFTER SAWS AS AN ENTITY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY AND SOMETIMES A PROLONGED, UH, TIME THAT IT TAKES TO DO A PROJECT. SO COULD YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO TO IMPROVE THAT PART OF THE SERVICE? COUNCILMAN GONZALES, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE, WHEN WE NEED TO GET INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, TO GET TO OUR PIPES, THEY'RE IN THE STREETS. SO WE'RE GONNA CAUSE SOME DISRUPTION. SO PRIOR TO THE, PRIOR TO EVEN THAT HAPPENING, WE DO A LOT OF OUTREACH INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE OBVIOUSLY CONTACT THE COUNCIL MEMBER, WE CONTACT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, WE ASK TO APPEAR BEFORE THEM. WE GIVE THEM AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE PROJECT AHEAD. UH, AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, WHEN THE PROJECT IS STARTING, WE GO DOOR TO DOOR, UH, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT STREETS ARE GOING TO BE CLOSED, INVARIABLY, UM, THAT'S GONNA COST SOME INCONVENIENCE. AND THESE PROJECTS, UM, UH, IF YOU'RE, IF WE'RE, IF YOU'RE SPENDING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON THESE PROJECTS AND THE NUMEROUS PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE CONTRACTORS. AND THE ONE PARTICULAR ONE IN YOUR DISTRICT ON SOUTH LAREDO, UH, HAS BEEN A BIG HEADACHE, UH, FOR US, FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, FOR YOURSELF. UM, AND IT, IT JUST HAS TO DO WITH THE CONTRACTOR WITH THAT, THAT SPECIFIC CONTRACTOR WAS DISMISSED, UH, WAS NOT, UH, WAS ASKED TO ESSENTIALLY ABANDON THE PROJECT. WE HIRED SOMEONE ELSE TO FINISH THE PROJECT. UM, GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING NOW. WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME PROGRESS ON IT. SO YOU'LL SEE SOME, UH, SOME, SOME, UM, AN END TO IT. UH, SO IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF COORDINATION WITH, WITH THE COMMUNITY, COORDINATION WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING, GIVE THEM A HEADS UP AS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEN BE VERY, VERY RESPONSIVE WHEN SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY IS HAPPENING. SUCH AS, AS YOURS PARTICULAR, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND IS THERE A WAY, IS THERE A WEBSITE THAT, UH, THE PEOPLE CAN GO TO TO KNOW THAT WHAT THE TIMELINE IS, AND IF THERE'S BEEN A DISRUPTION IN, IN THE CONTRACTOR OR WHATEVER, WHAT, AT WHAT POINT DO YOU GO BACK AND SAY, YES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS ISSUE. UM, WE NEED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A DIFFERENT TIMELINE. YES. UM, THEY CAN GO ON, ON, ON THE, UH, ON THE INTERNET OR ON THEIR PHONE. WE HAVE A, A PHONE APP THAT IF YOU TYPE IN SEWER.ORG, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, SEWER.ORG. UH, AND YOU JUST, UH, ANY ADDRESS, ANY POINT OF REFERENCE, TOWER OF THE AMERICAS DOWNTOWN, IT'LL TELL YOU THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING, UM, UH, DONE IN THAT AREA. AND THEN YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT. IT'LL SAY THE NAME OF THE PROJECT, THE JOB NUMBER. SO YOU CAN BE VERY SPECIFIC IF YOU HAVE VERY SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT IT. THE COST OF THE PROJECT, UH, WHEN IT'S, UH, UH, STARTED, WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED. A LOT OF CONTACT INFORMATION, UH, FOR THE INDIVIDUALS OF COURSE, UH, IF THERE'S INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT INTERNET SAVVY, DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF, UH, INFORMATION THAT CAN ALWAYS CALL US AND WE'LL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE WHATEVER INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED. OKAY. I THINK THIS IS ALSO WHY, UH, ASIDE FROM JUST THE RATE INCREASES AND THE FEES THAT PEOPLE SEE ON THEIR BILL, THEN THEY SEE PROJECTS THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE DONE TIMELY. AND THAT COMES BACK TO US AS WELL. AND SO THAT'S A SEWER PROJECT? YES. UM, AND SO DO PEOPLE KNOW AUTOMATICALLY THAT IT'S A SEWER PROJECT OR THAT IT'S, UM, UH, WE, WE JUST FINISHED THAT APP, THE SEWER.ORG. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER BUSINESS SIDE OF THE WATER SIDE. THAT ONE SHOULD BE, UH, COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND SO YES, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW IT'S A WATER PROJECT OR A SEWER PROJECT. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I, YOU KNOW, I RELUCTANTLY SUPPORT AN INCREASE IS BECAUSE OF THE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. JUST BEING PART OF THE ORIGINAL PART OF THE CITY. MY ENTIRE DISTRICT IS WITHIN THE ORIGINAL 36 SQUARE MILES OF THE CITY. AND SO WE OFTEN HAVE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. YOU MENTIONED, UH, IN, I THINK WHEN COUNCILMAN DINO ASKED YOU SOME, UH, A QUESTION, YOU SAID THAT YOU HAD, UH, ROUGHLY 6,000 SEWER LINES, UM, 6,000 MILES OF SEWER LINES, I'M SORRY, MILES OF SEWER LINES, UH, THAT YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN, UH, AND THAT YOU HAVE CAMERAS AND THAT'S ALSO BEEN IDENTIFIED AS, UH, PART OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, YEAH. I HAD DONE A, UM, A REQUEST TO IDENTIFY THE STATUS OF ALL OF OUR STREETS IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE HAD A P C I SCORE, [02:55:01] AND THAT DETERMINED HOW PROJECTS GOT FUNDED, WAS BASED ON P C I SCORE. THAT WAS THE WHOLE EQUITY DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING ON THE COUNCIL, WAS BASED ON P C I PAYMENT CONDITION INDEX, THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, EVERY STREET IN THE CITY HAS A SCORE. UH, AND IT'S BASED ON P C I. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE? LIKE WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF, UH, OF SEWER LINE? UH, YES MA'AM. PART OF WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE CONSENT DECREE, OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE KEYS TO THE CONSENT DECREE WAS NOT JUST GO DO A LOT OF WORK, WE WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE, UH, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE SHOULD ONLY DO THE WORK THAT'S REALLY NECESSARY. SO THE TRADE OFF WAS ASSESS YOUR SYSTEM, FIND OUT WHAT YOU DO HAVE. SO EVERY SEWER LINE HAS BEEN TELEVISED AND HAS BEEN CLEANED AND HAS BEEN ASSESSED AS TO WHAT THE, WHAT THE CONDITION IS OF THAT SEWER LINE. SO YES, WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION. THE PUBLIC HAVE THAT INFORMATION. UH, NO, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S CONFI CONFIDENTIAL IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S VERY SENSITIVE INFORMATION, UH, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE CAN SHARE IT WITH, WITH YOU SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT. UH, AND, AND SO WE HAVE THOSE KINDS OF NEEDS TO KEEP THAT SECURITY, THOSE KIND OF SECURITY ISSUES WITHIN OURSELVES. OKAY. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT THE, THE STATUS IS, AND THEN WHEN, HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE THEY'VE HAD A A, AN ADJUST OR A, UM, WHEN THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT THE LIFECYCLE IS FOR THAT SYSTEM. WE DO HAVE PUBLIC INFORMATION THAT WILL TELL THEM, UH, WHAT SEWER PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, THEREFORE, WHAT, WHAT IS RELATIVELY NEW, WHAT SEWER PROJECTS ARE ON THE HORIZON, THEREFORE, AN IDEA THAT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA BE REPLACED THAT AREN'T MEETING THE STANDARDS THAT WE WANT. BUT, UM, EACH SPECIFIC SEWER LINE IS WHAT WE WANNA BE MORE PROTECTIVE OF THAT, THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. OKAY. BUT LET ME, LET ME SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND OBVIOUSLY SHARE THIS INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE ISSUES ARE WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT. AND STEVE LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. PART OF OUR WORK WITH THE CONSENT DECREE, THE FIRST HALF OF THE CONSENT DECREE, AND WE'RE AT THE FIVE YEAR MARK NOW IS DRILLED TO DO A SYSTEM-WIDE ASSESSMENT. IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REPORT THAT'S DUE TO THE E P A, IT'S ONE OF OUR MAJOR MILESTONES. THAT'S A, WHAT WE CALL A CONDITIONING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT. SO WE'LL HAVE IN THAT REPORT SOMETHING SUMMARIZED THAT WILL TELL THE E P A ESSENTIALLY EVERY PIPE IN THE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS US TO DO SOME WORK. WHAT WE INTEND TO DO WITH THAT, THAT WILL BE A PUBLIC DOCUMENT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE. NOW, EVERY PIPE THAT HAS A PROBLEM DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO BE REPAIRED. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS TOO. SOMETIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, AN OLDER CLAY LINE MAY HAVE SOME BREAKS AND CRACKS IN IT THAT WOULD GET A POOR SCORE. BUT THE WAY THE CONSENT DECREE IS WRITTEN THAT CLAY, THAT CLAY PIPE MIGHT LAST ANOTHER 20 OR 50 YEARS. SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE FIX THE PIPE, BUT THAT'S A PIPE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO A HIGH LEVEL OF MONITORING ON EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD. SO WE'LL BALANCE THAT OUT, BUT WE WILL HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC ON WHAT THE CONDITION OF EACH ONE OF THOSE PIPES WILL BE. OKAY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE. UM, AND THEN ALSO IT WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS WHICH AREAS NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF FIRST. WE WOULD HOPE THAT AREAS THAT WERE OLDEST AND IN NEED WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. AND THAT'S HOW WE DID OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, UH, FOR THE EQUITY LENS IS THAT AREAS THAT WERE IN MOST NEED GOT THE ATTENTION, UH, VERSUS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY THAT DIDN'T NEED IT IMMEDIATELY. SO WE'D HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE THAT SOME TYPE OF, UH, ARRA A BUDGETING, UM, ASSESSMENT DONE BASED ON THE NEED AND THE AGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD IS, IS IS THERE A WAY TO SEPARATE THE COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE WATER USAGE ON, ON THE BILLS? YES. WELL, WE DO, WE DO CHARGE A FLAT RATE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND A, AND A RATE FOR THE WATER. BUT WHY A FLAT RATE IF IT COSTS MORE IN SOME AREAS THAN OTHERS, UH, DOUG, BUT, UM, SO THAT'S, UH, THE, WELL, GO AHEAD, DOUG. WELL, AS ROBERT MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A FIXED PORTION OF OUR BILL, BOTH OUR WATER AND OUR SEWER BILL. AND THEN WE HAVE A VOLUMETRIC CHARGE. THAT FIXED CHARGE IS, UM, CONSTANT THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM, BASED UPON OUR METER SIZE. SO IF YOU HAVE A FIVE EIGHTS INCH METER, WHICH MOST RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS DO, MORE THAN 90% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE A FIVE EIGHTHS INCH METER. IT IS A SET FEE. UM, I WILL SAY, UM, THAT IS ONE [03:00:01] OF THE, WHEN WE GO THROUGH OUR RATE STRUCTURE, YOU TRY TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH, UM, YOU CHARGE IN YOUR FIXED FEE VERSUS YOUR VOLUMETRIC CHARGE. THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE. OBVIOUSLY, MOST OF OUR COSTS ARE FIXED AS AN ORGANIZATION JUST BECAUSE, UH, YOU USE A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, IT STILL COSTS A FAIR AMOUNT TO SERVICE EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER. SO, UM, WE TRY TO KEEP THAT AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE TRY TO BALANCE THAT AS WELL BY HAVING SOME REVENUE STABILITY. IF YOU HAVE ALL YOUR REVENUES BE TOTALLY ON A VOLUMETRIC BASIS, YOU CAN REALLY GET HURT VERY BADLY WHEN YOU HAVE A YEAR WHERE IT RAINS A LOT. AND WE'VE HAD A COUPLE YEARS RECENTLY WHERE IT RAINS A LOT AND AS, UH, COUNT OUR TRUSTEE MCGEE MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, WHEN PEOPLE, WHEN IT'S FALLING FREE FROM THE SKY, WE HAVE, IT DOES IMPACT OUR USAGE A GREAT DEAL. SO, UM, AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, I GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD RECENTLY THAT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, OUR AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS USING 40% BASICALLY LESS WATER AND SEWER THAN THEY WERE USING 20 YEARS AGO. SO, UM, SO THAT DOES CREATE SOME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE ALL YOUR, ALL YOUR REVENUE IS GENERATED THROUGH VOLUMETRIC FEES. SO THEN LET ME ASK YOU THIS, I HOPE THIS NEXT QUESTION THEN, SO I MEAN, I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR URBAN CORE IN THE AREAS MM-HMM. WITHIN FOUR 10. WE KNOW THAT WE EXPECT TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR SO. IF WE FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION ON GROWTH IN THE AREAS WITHIN FOUR 10, UH, AND WE DID NOT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AREAS OUTSIDE 1604 IN TERMS OF WATER, WOULD THAT HELP REDUCE THESE KI KINDS OF INCREASES IN RATES THAT WE'RE SEEING? UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE ARE BASICALLY OBLIGATED TO SERVE ANY CUSTOMERS WITHIN OUR CCNS. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S POLICY. IS THAT THE POLICY OF THE COUNCIL? I MEAN, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THIS USED IN OTHER AREAS, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU RESTRICT GROWTH IN THE OUTLYING AREAS IS BY POLICY DECISION SAYING THAT WE'RE NO LONGER GONNA SUPPORT THAT. THAT'S STATE LAW. STATE LAW DICTATES THAT IF, UM, IF YOU'RE IN OUR SERVICE AREA, YOU HAVE TO SERVICE THAT, UH, INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY. SO NOT A DECISION THAT WE MAKE HERE ON THIS COUNCIL. CORRECT. OKAY. UM, SO, OKAY. LET ME, UH, LET ME SEE. BY THE WAY, COUNCILMAN, IF I COULDN'T INTERRUPT YOU OKAY. UH, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE EQUITY FUNDING THAT Y'ALL HAVE, UH, THAT Y'ALL DID DIFFERENTLY. THIS CONSENT DECREE ALSO SAYS THAT OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, THAT WE DO THE ONES IN THE LOW INCOME AREAS FIRST. SO THERE IS THAT PART OF THE, OF THE DECREE THAT ADDRESSES YOUR CONCERN. UM, THAT'S INTERESTING. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT. SO MAYBE, UM, YOU COULD FORWARD THAT INFORMATION ALONG. UM, I, I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE DECE, THE DECREE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THAT PORTION OF IT. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UM, REALLY IMPORTANT AND PROBABLY INFORMATION THAT EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. UM, SO LET ME JUST NOW GET TO SOME OF THE AFFORDABILITY QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S WHAT, UH, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT VERY MUCH, IS REALLY HOW IT IMPACTS THEIR DAILY LIVES. AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, I KNOW IN MY COUNCIL OFFICE, WE SPEND THE MAJORITY OF OUR TIME ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH SAWS, C P S AND RENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND THAT'S WHY I HAD ASKED YOU TO FIND A WAY TO COMPILE THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. SO PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING BACK, UM, EVERY SINGLE MONTH OR EVERY SINGLE TIME, UH, TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR. UH, WE KNOW THAT, UM, AS WAS MENTIONED, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, PEOPLE GENERALLY DON'T HAVE JUST ONE INCIDENT. THEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE ALL YEAR LONG FOR MANY YEARS AT A TIME. AND SO THIS IS WHY WE NEED FOR YOU ALL TO, UM, CREATE A PROGRAM, UM, THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR PEOPLE AND NOT HAVE THEM GO REGISTER EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY NEED HELP, UH, HENCE THE AFFORDABLE CARES TEAM. SO, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DETAILS, BUT COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT MIGHT HELP AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S STRUGGLING? IF YOU COULD GO TO SLIDE 31, PLEASE. AND I'M GONNA, UH, WHEN YOU BROUGHT THIS, UH, THESE, THE SAME EXACT THINGS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU, UH, YOU MENTIONED TO ME IN A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD. AND SO I CHALLENGED, UH, GINO, WHO'S A, UH, IN CHARGE OF THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING. AND I, I'M GONNA LET HIM TALK ABOUT IT. YES, MA'AM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT QUITE A BIT. AND SO WHAT ROBERT WANTED US TO DO WAS ASSIST IN CREATING A PROCESS THAT'S GONNA BE VERY SEAMLESS. AND I KNOW WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THAT SOMEBODY COMES TO YOU AND NEEDS HELP WITH THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM. A MONTH LATER, THEY COME BACK AND NEED HELP ON PROJECT HOUR, [03:05:01] AND THEN COINCIDENTALLY, THEY TURN 60. SO THERE'S ANOTHER BENEFIT THAT THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR. SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS TAKE SOME OF THE BEST FOLKS IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE LISTED FROM OUR COMMUNITY, UH, OUTREACH DEPARTMENTS, FROM OUR CONSERVATION DEPARTMENTS, FROM OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND PUT A TEAM TOGETHER THAT CAN SIT DOWN AND GO OVER THESE ALL AT ONCE. IT SHOULDN'T BE UP TO THE CUSTOMER TO COME TO US FOR EVERY ISSUE THAT THEY TEND TO ENCOUNTER. SO IT SHOULD BE INCUMBENT ON US AS THE ORGANIZATION TO SIT AROUND AND, AND BRING OUR DIFFERENT RESOURCES TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS THIS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SERVE THE CUSTOMER. AND I KNOW WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS, IS TO CREATE MORE OF A SEAMLESS PROCESS. AND I KNOW THAT FROM THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT HAVE ARISEN WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP, OR EVEN WITH OUR FRIENDS AT ST. VINCENT DEPAUL OR OUR COLLEAGUES AT, UM, C P SS. SO WHAT THIS TEAM'S GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IS BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, DISCUSS THE ISSUES, AND DISCUSS THE CUSTOMERS AND THEIR NEEDS, AND BE ABLE TO TRY TO PROVIDE A ONE-STOP SERVICE CENTER FOR 'EM. AND SO, BY DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE'LL, NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY 'EM THROUGH OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DO IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS WHAT WE KNOW THE FOOD BANK IS DOING, OR WHAT C P S IS DOING, OR ACOS IS DOING, OR ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, SO THAT IT JUST ALLEVIATES THAT STRESS ON THE CUSTOMER. BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GONNA BE GOING THROUGH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THERE'S GONNA BE STRESSES THAT ARE GREATER THAN THERE JUST PAYING THEIR WATER BILL. THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE ISSUES WITH ELECTRICITY. THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA WONDER WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL'S GONNA COME FROM. AND IF WE CAN PUT ALL THESE GROUPS TOGETHER AND REACH OUT TO THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE, THEN THIS IS ONE LESS ISSUE THESE CUSTOMERS HAVE TO, TO SERVE AT THAT TIME. AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE AFTER IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, UM, AREN'T HAVING TO COME BACK EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOR THE SAME THING THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED. AND, UM, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH YOUR AFFORD THE DISCOUNTS, UM, THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, UH, A PERSON THAT IS IN THE MOST DIRE SITUATION, A PERSON WHO'S AT 50% OF POVERTY LEVEL WILL HAVE AS MUCH OF A $24 REDUCTION EVERY MONTH IN THEIR BILL IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE. AND, AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING, THE EIGHT, THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM IS GONNA BE A MONTHLY RECURRENCE, WHEREAS PROJECT IOWA WILL BE AT THAT SITUATION. SO IT, IT'S GONNA BEHOOVE US TO, IF SOMEBODY QUALIFIES FOR PROJECT IOWA, THAT THEY ALSO BE ON THE A D P. AND IF THERE ARE, THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT C P S HAS, AS WELL AS WHAT THE CITY'S, UH, D H S HAS. SO IT WOULD JUST MAKE SENSE. AND I THINK PART OF WHAT COUNCILMAN DINO HAS TALKED ABOUT IS BEING ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION SO THAT THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH C P S. 'CAUSE I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE THERE'S GONNA BE SOME FOLKS THAT WE HAVE, THEY DON'T, AND VICE VERSA. SO RATHER THAN HAVING THAT ONE PERSON HAVE TO GO TO EVERY AGENCY TO APPLY, IF WE CAN SHARE THE INFORMATION LIKE THE COUNCILMAN'S PROPOSING, THEN WE COULD TAKE CARE OF IT ALL AT ONCE RATHER THAN HAVING THEM TO GO FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER TO ANOTHER. WELL, THANK YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE IT AS, AS EASY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DESPERATE SITUATIONS TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED. AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT WE TRY AND DO IN OUR COUNCIL OFFICE, WHICH IS WHY WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, UH, AND, UH, AND, AND RESOURCES LIKE THE FOOD BANK. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, SO I, YOU KNOW, I, THERE, I I THINK JUST ON A, ON A FINAL NOTE, UH, AND, AND MAYBE A QUESTION, UM, FOR ROBERT, UM, ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT, DESPITE A LOT OF PUBLIC, UM, PRESSURE NOT TO, UH, IS BECAUSE WE DO EXPECT TREMENDOUS GROWTH. AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY REPORT I READ, WHETHER IT CAME FROM YOU ALL, WHETHER IT CAME FROM, UM, A REPORT THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN AT THE TIME, COUNCILMAN NUREMBERG, UH, REQUESTED, AND FROM OTHER SOURCES, THAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE, UH, WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, UH, WE ARE GOING TO NEED THIS WATER IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT MEANS PERHAPS THE FUTURE MUCH LONGER THAN I MAY BE ALIVE, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF NOW, WHAT WE THINK WILL BE A NEED, UM, IN, IN, AND THE RESEARCH SHOWS 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, BUT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW BEYOND THAT EVEN PAST 20 YEARS, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED PROJECTS LIKE THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S CONTROVERSIAL TO DATE. CAN YOU, UM, MOSTLY WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS. ARE THERE PROJECTIONS BEYOND THAT THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WHY WE NEED TO ALWAYS LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES? UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAID, UM, THAT SINCE SAN PEDRO SPRINGS, SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN GROWING, IT'S BEEN GROWING, IT'S BEEN GROWING, IT GREW DURING THE DEPRESSION. IT GREW DURING THE ECONOMIC CYCLES OF BOOM AND BUST. SO SAN ANTONIO WILL ALWAYS GROW. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A, BEEN A MIGRATION OF PEOPLE, UH, TOWARDS THE WEST, TOWARDS THE SOUTH. AND SO WE ANTICIPATE THOSE GROWTH PATTERNS TO CONTINUE. UH, THAT'S WHY LUCKILY, [03:10:01] UH, SOME OF YOU THAT WERE ON THIS COUNCIL IN 20 14, 20 13, UH, GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT PROJECT IN FRONT OF YOU AND, UM, SUPPORT THAT PROJECT. SO YES, THE GROWTH PATTERNS, EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN, EVERYTHING THAT I'VE READ SHOWS THAT WE ARE GROWING AT A VERY TREMENDOUS CL CLIP, AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT WITH A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A JUST IN TIME TYPE OF PROJECT, ONE THAT'S JUST THERE BECAUSE THAT WILL NOT, UH, HELP OUR ECONOMY, THAT WILL NOT HELP THE JOBS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED AND NOT HELP THE, TO GROW THE JOBS THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, TO BIG TO BETTER JOBS THAT WE DO HAVE. SO YES, THE THE GROWTH IS THERE, THE GROWTH IS HAPPENING, AND WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR IT. SO, UM, I THINK, LET ME JUST REVIEW MY NOTES HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T FORGET ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, UM, ABOUT THIS, UH, THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS AND, AND ALSO SOME OF THE, JUST THE REGULAR WORK THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON, UH, IN THE, THE DISTRICT, WHICH WE KNOW, UM, CONTINUES, UH, TO BE AN ISSUE. AND SO WE, WE HOPE THAT THOSE WILL ALL GET RESOLVED AND PEOPLE WILL FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT, UM, WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE A A SIG. WELL, IT'S, IT, I KNOW SINCE WE, I'VE BEEN HERE ON THE COUNCIL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE HAD RATE INCREASES EVERY YEAR. NOBODY WANTS TO SUPPORT RATE INCREASES, BUT WE DO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MUST BE MAINTAINED, ESPECIALLY, UH, ALONG, UH, THE SEWAGE LINES AND ALSO IN OLD NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE, UH, CONTINUE TO NEED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. AND I GUESS JUST WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, FINAL COMMENT, UM, SO THAT THE, THE ISSUE HAS NOT JUST BEEN THAT THEY'RE TAKING TOO LONG TO DO PROJECTS, BUT ALSO THAT THEY'RE JUST IN GENERAL MAKING A BIG MESS. AND SO I, I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT IS SOMEHOW FIGURED INTO YOUR, UM, INTO YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LEAVE DEBRIS BEHIND AND THAT YOU'RE NOT CLEANING UP AFTER YOURSELVES. WHEN YOU ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT IN BETWEEN, UH, CONTRACTORS OR AS YOU MOVE ALONG THE STREET, UM, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT PART GETS DONE AS WELL? UH, ONE WAY IS BECAUSE YOU'RE MENTIONING IT BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING IT, UH, 'CAUSE WE KNOW, BUT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT IN, IN THE FRONT, IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AND MY STAFF, THAT I BROUGHT ALL MY LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH ME, HERE'S THAT. THEY KNOW THAT THAT'S A CHALLENGE, AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT'S YOU ASKING ME TO DO IT, AND I'M ASKING THEM TO DO IT. AND THE, AND FOR EXAMPLE, ANDREA BEAMER AND JEFF HABE, THEY'RE THE, THEY'RE THE TWO THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THIS MESS THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE STREETS. UH, AND THEY, AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH, IN MY OPINION, THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO LEAVE THAT STREET BETTER THAN WHEN THEY STARTED DIGGING INTO IT. A GREAT CONCERN THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FEEL THEY DON'T GET TREATED WITH AS MUCH RESPECT AS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. AND SO IT'S BEEN MY MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE, THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, UH, THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THAT WAY, THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE, UH, THAT THE CITY SAW C P S, THEY MAKE A BIG MESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY WOULDN'T DO AT OTHER PLACES. SO I JUST WANNA ENSURE THAT AS WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS, THAT THOSE PARTS GET ADDRESSED AS WELL. THEY WILL BE. AND, UH, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO WELL, THANK YOU, UM, FOR THAT. AND, AND, UM, I, IF I, AGAIN, HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL, UH, MAKE SURE THAT I, I CHIME IN IF I NEED TO, BUT I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BEFORE US FOUR WEEKS AGO. AND, UM, I, I, I HAD TO MISS, UM, THAT, THAT MEETING, BUT I WAS WITH THE DOCTORS AT LIKE THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY MORNING, AND I TOLD THE DOCTORS, IF I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A BABY TODAY, I NEED TO BE AT THE MEETING TOMORROW. WE'RE HAVING SOME VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I GO ON THE RECORD AND HOLD YOU GUYS TO THE FIRE, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO ABOUT THIS WORK THAT'S GETTING DONE IN MY COMMUNITY AS YOU'RE ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE. SO, I'M GLAD I GET TO BE HERE TO VOTE, UH, ON THIS. AND WHILE NOBODY WANTS TO SUPPORT RATE INCREASES, I KNOW THAT AT LEAST I HAVE YOU ON THE RECORD FOR THESE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS FOR YOUR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TEAM, UH, AND ALSO TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE DELIVERY IN OUR STREETS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I APPRECIATE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A HARD DECISION. IT'D BE SO EASY FOR YOU TO VOTE NO. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ. COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I GUESS I GOTTA SCRUB MY 45 MINUTE LECTURE. I'M KIDDING. . UH, NO, YOU KNOW, I, I, UH, I'LL START BY SAYING I, THERE'S BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF, OF GOOD EFFORT. UH, YOU DROVE TO THE DISTRICT SIX FIELD OFFICE WITH THE WHOLE TEAM IN, SAT WITH ME, HYMAN WAS THERE, AND EVERYBODY, UH, SO I COMMEND YOU FOR, UH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE I'M AT. I'VE, I'VE MADE THIS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SIT HERE AND REHASH OR LITIGATE SOMETHING, UM, IN A PUBLIC FASHION ANY FURTHER. [03:15:01] I MEAN, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THE RATE INCREASE. UH, AND, AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS GO INTO IT. AND I'LL, I'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO SPEAK TO SOME OF MY POINTS, BUT I DO WANNA START WITH, I THINK THE TEAM DID AS BEST AS POSSIBLE TO EARN MY VOTE. I I I, I WOULD NEVER SAY OTHERWISE. UH, YOU MADE MULTIPLE TRIPS OUT TO THE OFFICE. UH, YOU, YOU ANSWERED ALMOST ALL THE QUESTIONS WE HAD. I STILL, LITTLE THINGS OUTSTANDING. THE MAYOR SAID SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAT I WILL HAVE A QUESTION ON. UH, BUT, UH, FOR THE MOST PART, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE GOOD WORK AND THE EFFORT. UH, WE JUST SEE DIFFERENTLY ON IT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WILL BE A, WHATEVER THE NUMBER FALLS, YOU'RE GONNA, THE RATE INCREASE IS GONNA PASS, AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL MOVE ON AND DO THE GOOD WORK. AND WE'LL COME BACK AGAIN AND, UH, AND RE-LITIGATE THIS AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO INSTEAD OF GOING INTO WHAT I'VE ALREADY PUBLICLY STATED FOR THE LAST EIGHT WEEKS, I THINK I'LL JUST TAKE MY TIME AND TALK ABOUT PEOPLE, UH, AND WHAT THAT RATE INCREASE MEANS TO THE RESIDENTS I REPRESENT, RIGHT? FROM, UM, AND I, I MET WITH A FORMER COUNCILWOMAN. AND WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, I MET WITH, UH, ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO TO ASK FOR ADVICE ABOUT JUST DECISIONS AND HOW I DO THINGS. AND, UH, HE SAID, ALWAYS RUN YOUR DIS DECISIONS. AND, AND COUNCILMAN, FORMER COUNCILMAN BE VAL, SAID THE SAME THING, TO RUN YOUR DECISIONS THROUGH A, UH, A HUMAN, HUMAN DIGNITY LENS. AND AS YOU, AS THE DECISIONS COME UP, ALWAYS TRY TO THINK, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT? SO, I I, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT. AND, AND SOMETIMES IT'S TOUGH AND, AND WE, UM, DON'T ALWAYS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS OR PUT THE WORDS THE RIGHT WAY. UM, SO I, I, AND I SEE THIS, I THINK ABOUT THE HUMAN DIGNITY ASPECT OF IT. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT GOES ON THE RECORD. I, UH, IN THE PAST, UH, WHILE I'M FORTUNATE TO SIT HERE NOW, I REMEMBER VIVIDLY ONE TIME, UM, JUST 'CAUSE I COULD GET BUSY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A CAMPAIGN OR SOMETHING'S GOING ON, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS. UH, AND I FORGOT TO PAY MY C P S ENERGY BILL . AND I THOUGHT MY WIFE DID IT. AND THEN IT JUST KEPT GOING ON AND ON AND ON. AND THEN MY WIFE CALLED ME, UM, ONE TIME AND SAID THAT THE POWER WAS OFF AT THE HOUSE. AND THIS GUT WRENCHING THING, IT WAS IN THE WINTERTIME, THIS LIKE GUT WRENCHING FEELING OF EMBARRASSMENT KIND OF OVERTOOK ME, LIKE, OH MY GOD, IF I, DID I NOT PAY THE BILLS? SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND I, YOU KNOW, LO AND BEHOLD, I DIDN'T, RIGHT? SO I PAID IT. I MEAN, IT WAS IMMEDIATE, LIKE TURNED BACK ON C P S ENERGY WHEREVER YOU'RE AT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CAME BACK ON IN LIKE A MINUTE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT WAS SUPER FAST, NO PROBLEM AT ALL. BUT FOR THAT 20 MINUTES BEFORE I GOT ON THERE AND LOGGED ON BEFORE THAT TIME, I WAS PETRIFIED OF MY FAMILY WITHOUT UTILITIES. AND, AND I COULD AFFORD IT AND PAY IT. I JUST WAS LAX AND LET IT SLIP. AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. IT WAS MISCOMMUNICATION AT HOMES. 'CAUSE IT OFTEN HAPPENS. SO, UH, I, I THOUGHT THAT A LOT DURING THESE THINGS, BECAUSE HERE'S THE RUB, RIGHT? AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE FALLACY IS IN A LOT OF THESE ARGUMENTS, IS WE PRAISE ALL THIS WORK ON AFFORDABILITY. WE PRAISE, UH, THESE NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE ESPECIALLY BEING CREATED TO EARN COUNCIL MEMBER VOTES, RIGHT? THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING CREATED SO THAT MORE MONEY IS GOING TO AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS TELLING YOU PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PRAISING THE FACT THAT WE'RE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO AFFORDABILITY. IT'S THE SYMPTOM AND A SIGN THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER NOT AFFORDING IT. SO WE SHOULD NOT SIT HERE AND SAY, GREAT NEWS. YOU HAVE A ON THE ARD REPORT, YOU GUYS HAD A SPONSORED POST OUT THERE, WHICH MEANS YOU PAID FOR IT TO BE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC. AND IT SAID, WE HIT AN ALL TIME MILESTONE OF 25,000 PEOPLE RECEIVING THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT. I WOULD NOT BE PRAISING THAT UP AND DOWN THE STREETS. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THAT MEANS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD YOUR UTILITIES. AND WITH THESE RATE INCREASES, BY THE WAY, THOSE GONNA BE THE SAME PEOPLE PLUS, PLUS AN ENTIRE NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT AFFORD. SO AFFORDABILITY ISSUES ARE ON THE RISE AND DRASTICALLY ON THE RISE. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ'S POINT OUR RESIDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, WE HAVE SEEN A 60, 66% INCREASE IN PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM JUST YEAR OVER YEAR, 2016 TO 2017, OF THOSE RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, 66% INCREASE. COUNCILMAN SAL'S DISTRICT, UH, LET'S SEE HERE. HIS WAS AT A SEVEN 16% INCREASE. COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ WAS AT A 16%. MY DISTRICT WAS AT ALMOST AN 11% INCREASE. OVERALL, WE'RE SEEING ALMOST A 23% INCREASE FROM 2016 TO 2017 OF PEOPLE ASKING FOR AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNTS. AND THEN WE TURN AROUND AND WE'RE GONNA RAISE THE RATES EVEN FURTHER. DON'T FOOL OURSELVES THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GONNA NOW COME OFF THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM. THEY'RE GONNA BE THE SAME PEOPLE NOW AS THEY ARE 10 YEARS FROM NOW. 'CAUSE THOSE RATES ARE CLIMBING INTO AFFORDABILITY, LE UNAFFORDABILITY LEVELS THAT ARE RIDICULOUS. AND THEY'RE GONNA COME INTO 12.4% OR MAYBE LESS, MAYBE MORE IN 2020. AND WE'RE [03:20:01] GONNA PUT PEOPLE OUT, PERIOD. THE MAYOR, UH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT SAYS AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT HIS SON AND MAKING HIM LUNCH. AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO THIS DIFFERENCE IN THIS BILL AND INCREASE, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THOSE SANDWICHES IN THOSE LUNCHBOXES. THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING SQUEEZED FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES ON THEIR BILLS. AND THAT'S THE OTHER PROBLEM, RIGHT? WE LOOK AT THESE AS IN A VACUUM, WELL, IT'S ONLY SAWS AND IT'S ONLY THIS PERCENT. THAT'S IT. WELL, WE'RE ONLY, IT'S ONLY EIGHT BUCKS A MONTH. IT'S ONLY SEVEN BUCKS A MONTH. OVER HERE WE'VE GOT C P SS ENERGY RATES RISING, WE'VE GOT SAWS, WE'VE GOT TAXES, WE'VE GOT PROPERTY TAX RATES, WE'VE GOT SCHOOL TAXES, WE'VE GOT MA MASSIVE BONDS COMING. ALL THESE THINGS ARE RISING. AND IF YOU LOOK AT 'EM INDIVIDUALLY, IT DOESN'T LOOK SO BAD. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT 'EM AS A WHOLE, THERE'S A PROBLEM. AND I THINK THAT'S FRANKLY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE'RE GONNA FACE AS A, AS A COUNCIL, IS THE DIRECTION OF THIS CITY AND COMMUNITY. BECAUSE, UM, THE ACTIONS, I THINK I SAID THIS YESTERDAY AND DURING A TOBACCO DEBATE, THE ACTIONS AND THE POLICIES WE PASS TODAY ARE SOMEONE ELSE'S BILL TOMORROW. AND I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE, ONE OF THE TRUSTEES AND PRESIDENT OF A BANK AND THE, THE C E O OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAN COME UP HERE AND SAY HOW GREAT THIS IS. WELL, YEAH, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING ANYTHING. THAT YOUNG LADY HAD THE RIGHT POINT. EXACTLY. NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. IT'S EASY TO COME UP HERE AND SAY, NUMBERS ARE GREAT AND EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. GO FOR IT. AND DON'T WALK INTO A HOUSE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER. I MEAN, OR, OR, OR IT'S FREEZING. 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE UTILITY. SO I DON'T TAKE MY STOCK IN THOSE COMMENTS. I TEND TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS WHO TELL ME, I CAN'T PUT THAT SANDWICH IN THAT LUNCHBOX 'CAUSE I'M GETTING SQUEEZED. I CAN'T MAKE MY MEDIC MY MEDICARE DEDUCTIBLE PAYMENT 'CAUSE I'M TIRED OF THESE RATE INCREASES. IF YOU GO RIGHT ACROSS THIS LIST OF ITEMS HERE, UM, YOU START TO SEE THAT WE ARE NOT BEING HUMBLE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. UH, THE MAYOR SAID, AND THAT'S A QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, HE STATED, WHICH I HAD NOT HEARD, AND I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THE ANSWER, THAT 50% OF THIS IS GOING TOWARDS THE SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN THE MAYOR'S MOUTH, BUT I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT HE STATED. IS THAT ACCURATE? IS 50% OF THIS 5.8 GOING TOWARDS THE MANDATED CONSENT TO CREE ITEMS? UH, ROUGHLY 50%, YES. OKAY. SO THAT WOULD, YOU WOULD CATEGORIZE AS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT BETWEEN THE 2018 AND 2019, BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS, THE TOTAL BILL OR THE TOTAL REVENUE TO BE GENERATED IS ROUGHLY $63 MILLION. RIGHT? OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE. 28, MORE THAN 28 MILLION OF THAT IS GOING TO THE WASTEWATER BUSINESS. IT'S ABOUT 47, 40 8% IS GOING TO WASTE. AND THAT, AND THAT WASTE IS, AND THAT'S ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY GOING TO, UH, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TREATMENT WORK, BUT PRIMARILY REPLACING WASTEWATER, MAINES, UM, AND DEALING WITH THE E P A CONSENT DECREE. SO YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE TO DO. YES. AND THE OTHER PORTION IS, THE OTHER PORTION IS THE WATER, WATER DELIVERY AND WATER SUPPLY. OKAY. SO ORIGINALLY THIS WAS SOLD AS AN INFRASTRUCTURE, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WELL, WATER DELIVERY IS CRITICAL. AND THE MAYOR, WELL, NO, I'M JUST SAYING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WITH REGARDS TO THE E P A CONSENT DECREE, LET ME BE CLEAR THAT'S HOW THIS WAS ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED. BUT, UM, SO 50% OF IT IS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. THE OTHER HALF IS WATER DELIVERY. IS ANY OF THIS VISTA RIDGE MONEY? UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE BELIEVE ALL OF IT IS CRITICAL, UH, CRITICAL IN THE SENSE IF WE DON'T DO SOME OF THESE THINGS, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. IT'LL GET MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX THIS INFRASTRUCTURE DOWN THE ROAD. UH, SPECIFIC TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT VISTA RIDGE IN 2018, UH, THERE'S VER THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO MONEY FOR VISTA RIDGE IN 2019. UH, THERE'S SOME MONEY FOR VISTA RIDGE TO CREATE AN OPERATING, UH, RESERVE FUND FOR THE PAYMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE IN 2020. ALRIGHT, SO 48, 50%, IT WAS OVER TWO YEARS. IS THAT RIGHT, DOUG? FOR TWO YEARS. SO WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR 2018? THE DOLLAR VALUE FOR THAT 2018? I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DOLLARS, BUT, UM, WE CAN GET THOSE. I I DIDN'T HAVE 'EM AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT IT'S A, THERE'S MORE, THE, THE RATE INCREASES SKEWED MORE TOWARDS THE WATER SIDE OF THE BUSINESS IN 2018 AND MORE TOWARDS THE WASTEWATER, UH, SIDE OF THE BUSINESS IN 2019. SO IT'S, UH, THE PERCENTAGE WOULD BE SLIGHTLY LESS IN 2018. DO YOU HAVE THE FIGURES YOU WANT? CAN YOU GO, CAN YOU GO TO SLIDE 21? SO YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE WASTEWATER OUT OF THE TOTAL OF 36.3 MILLION WASTEWATER IS 8.6 MILLION OF THAT. AGAIN, IF YOU ADD THE TWO TOGETHER, THAT'S WHERE I WAS COMING UP [03:25:01] WITH THE MORE THAN $28 MILLION OF THE 63 MILLION. IF YOU ADD THE TWO TOGETHER, YOU GET 63.5 MILLION. AND IF YOU ADD THE TWO WASTEWATER AMOUNTS TOGETHER, YOU GET 28 POINT SOMETHING, 28.4, I BELIEVE. AND IT'S A, IT'S AN INTERESTING PIECE. AND I ONLY CAME UP, I WASN'T PLANNING ON ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, IT'S JUST WHAT THE MARRIAGE SAID. IT KIND OF STRUCK ME THAT, UM, HALF OF THIS IS ONE THING AND, AND THE OTHER HALF IS A, YOU KNOW, THE PORTION. BUT YOU SAY ALL OF IT IS CRITICAL. UH, SO IF IT'S, IF IN YOUR OPINION IT'S ALL CRITICAL HAS EVER COME A POINT WHERE YOU COULD ASK FOR A RATE REDUCTION. LIKE IF I SAID, HEY, LET'S DO 2.9%, YOU CONSIDER IT ALL RATE CRITICAL. I MEAN, I I, IS THERE ANY TIME, I MEAN, I THINK WE DID ASK IF ANYBODY'S EVER ASKED FOR A RATE REDUCTION THAT'S BEEN PASSED BY THIS BODY OVER THE LAST DECADE AND NOBODY EVER SAYS REDUCE THE RATE. NO, BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING THESE TWO YEAR RATE INCREASES THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE ALWAYS COME IN UNDER THE AMOUNT OF 42 US BY COUNCIL. OKAY. SO WE, WE, WE DO IN EFFECT COME IN AT A LOWER AMOUNT THAN WHAT WE COULD HAVE. AND THAT'S BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE WE'VE HAD TWO YEAR RATE INCREASES. OKAY. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT THEN TO DETERMINE, I MEAN THERE'S, I MEAN, HOW WOULD YOU THEN DETERMINE, AND FROM A CRITICALITY STANDPOINT, RIGHT? YOU SAID IT'S ALL CRITICAL. WHAT AND I, AND YOU KNOW, AND THE MAYOR ASKED FOR A RATE INCREASE ON THE RATE INCREASE. SO HE WENT FROM 5.3 AND ASKED TO GO TO 5.8. SO, SO I, I'M ASSUMING THERE WAS ADDITIONAL CRITICAL STUFF THAT THE MAYOR IDENTIFIED THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. UH, SOME OF THE, UH, NEEDS OF 2019 WERE PUSHED INTO 2018 TO 18 20 18, WHICH ACTUALLY MEANT THAT THE 2019 RATE INCREASED PROPOSED RATE INCREASE WENT LOWER. BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CRITICALITY, IF YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE ENGINEERS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND ME, THEY ARE SQUIRMING IN THEIR SEATS. 'CAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S PROJECTS THAT ARE IN 20 20, 20, 20, 21, 20 22 THAT IN THEIR OPINION ARE CRITICAL. BUT WE JUST CAN'T FUND THEM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LIMIT ON WHAT WE, WE CAN ASK OF OUR RATE PAYERS. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, THE, THE, SOME OF THE THINGS, UH, THAT, AND I APPRECIATE Y YOUR ANSWER. I, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, NO TIME TODAY TO BE DIGGING INTO WHAT'S CRITICAL, WHAT'S NOT AND HOW THAT SHAPES OUT OVER A COUPLE YEARS, 2, 4, 6 YEARS, WHATEVER. BUT, UM, HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I GENERALLY BELIEVE, AND I'LL, I'LL WRAP THIS UP, UM, THAT WE MUST CONSIDER EVERY PENNY WE ARE TAKING FROM RESIDENTS. I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FROM THIS COUNCIL, UH, TO THE PUBLIC. I'VE WARNED THE PUBLIC THEY HAVE TO ENGAGE ON EVERY ITEM FROM HERE ON OUT. UM, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS, IT SEEMS LIKE A PASSING COST ON TO HOMEOWNERS EVERY CHANCE WE GET. IT COULD BE IMPERVIOUS COVER, IT COULD BE TREE CANOPY TO DEVELOPERS, IT COULD BE WATER RATES. I MEAN, THE, ALL THESE THINGS ARE RISING, RIGHT? AND THESE COSTS ARE GETTING PASSED ON TO RESIDENTS EVERY DAY. AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THOUGHT ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE LOOK AT 'EM IN SILOS AND IT'S NOT YOURS TO BEAR. THAT'S JUST A GENERAL THING. I WANT TO GET ON THE RECORD TO THE PUBLIC THAT, UM, YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE ALMOST EVERY ISSUE. IF YOU DON'T, IT'S YOUR MONEY. I MEAN, IT'S YOUR DOLLAR. IT'S BEING TAKEN. UH, AND, AND, AND I DO SAY TAKEN, I KNOW THE MAYOR TAKES EXCEPTION WITH THAT WORD HE SAID AT THE BEGINNING, BUT THIS IS NOBODY'S, THIS MONEY IS BEING TAKEN. I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE PUT INTO THE GOVERNMENT. I GET IT. UM, AND, AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S TAKEN IF THERE'S MORE HUMILITY AND USE OF IT. UM, AND THAT, SO THERE'S THINGS THAT THE CITY GOVERNANCE CAN DO, UM, TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND, AND HELP AND HELP THOSE THINGS. BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, SAWS, C P S, ENERGY, SALES TAX, REAL ESTATE TAX, AND WE'RE PRICING PEOPLE OUT. AND I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THAT TIME WHEN I REALIZED I DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING AND WHAT MY, WHAT THE POSITION OF MY FAMILY WAS GONNA BE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ENERGY. AND IT'S A FRIGHTENING THING. AND IT, IT, IT KEEPS, UH, IT KEEPS ME WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS AS, AS BEST WE COULD, THAT I ASKED ENOUGH QUESTIONS SO YOU KNEW MY CONCERNS AND WHERE WE WERE. UM, AND I GOTTA BE FRANK WITH YOU, WE SHOULD NOT BE OFFERING LARGE SALARIES OR EXECUTIVE BONUSES IN YEARS. YOU'RE ASKING FOR RATE INCREASES. UM, I, I JUST ADAMANTLY DISAGREE WITH, WITH THAT PERIOD. AND THAT GOES FOR ANY ORGANIZATION. IT'S NOT A ROBERT PUENTE ISSUE. LIKE I SAID, YOU CAME TO MY DOOR MULTIPLE TIMES. YOU CALLED ME, ASKED YOU TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. IT'S JUST IN GENERAL, UM, BAD BUSINESS. UM, YOU KNOW, C P S AND EVERYTHING, 296,000, YOU SIR, A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS BODY AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY GOVERNANCE RECEIVE BONUSES. WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL. AND THEN WE SOMETIMES SAY, WELL, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, OUT IN THE, OUT IN THE STREET, THESE CEOS ARE GETTING THIS, THIS AND THAT. I, I, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT. BUT THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO THE TAXPAYER, RIGHT? AND ALL OF US UP HERE ARE SO IT IS, RIGHT? AND JUST TO QUESTION IT AND TO BE CONCERNED HOW A RESIDENT FEELS ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. AND WHEN THEY SEE THAT, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. SO I'D ASK THAT IN THE FUTURE. [03:30:01] AND THE MAYOR, TO HIS CREDIT, DID VOTE AGAINST YOUR BONUS AND A COMPENSATION PACKAGE. AND HE HAS CALLED FOR THAT. AND I, I, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, THAT'S NECESSARY. UM, BUT WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT FOR PEOPLE. UM, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE JUST WORKED OUT AND GONE AFTER FIXING THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE ONLY THAT, THAT 2.8, 2.9% THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WORTHY OF SUPPORT. BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO FIX THE CRUMBLING OLD PIPES IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT REQUIRED HELP, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE DISTRICTS, UH, THAT NEED IT MOST, UM, THAT COULD HAVE FOUND SOME SUPPORT. BUT AGAIN, NO BODY OR THIS, I'VE NEVER SEEN IT WHERE THEY WANT TO REDUCE IT. THEY JUST WANT TO, THEY JUST TAKE IT FOR GRANTED AND SAY, WELL, I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. SO, UH, IT MUST BE GOOD. YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU GET WORN INTO THIS PATTERN OF RUBBER STAMPING THESE VOTES. UH, AND FINALLY, WE SHOULD NOT BE RAISING RATES FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, PERIOD. UM, THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND. NOWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO AT ANY EMPLOYER DO THEY GIVE YOU A TWO YEAR RAISE. OH, YOU COME BACK EVERY YEAR ON YOUR PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL, YOU LOOK AND YOU EARN, AND THEY LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THEN THEY TARGET YOU THE UPCOMING YEAR, AND THEY SET EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS, AND YOU GO DELIVER THE FACT THAT WE'RE MOVING TO MULTI-YEAR RATE INCREASES. AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF YOUR HORIZON STUFF, BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON IT IN AN ELECTION SEASON. OH, YOU KNOW, OH, WELL, I MEAN, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BEHOLD TO THAT NO MATTER WHAT. UM, SO THERE IS POLITICS UP AND DOWN THIS ENTIRE THING. THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE EVER GONNA GET AROUND IT. WE'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S POLITICAL UNFORTUNATELY IN EVERY DECISION WE MAKE. AND I CONCEDE THAT. UM, SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW, UH, TO ELIMINATE THE 2019 RATE INCREASE. UM, WE VOTE TODAY ONLY ON THE 20 18 8 RATE INCREASE. AND WE ASK THAT SAWS RETURN BACK TO SHOW US THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESS IN 2018. UM, AND WE DETERMINED THAT THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY NEEDED COME 2019, BECAUSE I HAVE GREATER CONCERNS ABOUT THE 12.4 AND THE REMAINING 39% THAT IT'S GONNA, THAT ARE COMPOUNDING RATES THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE FACING FROM NOW TO 2022. SO, UM, I, I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. AND THAT MEANS ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. THIS WAS A GREAT EXERCISE AND I COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR, I MEAN, JOHN HAD JOHN COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAD A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS. I KNOW COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL DID. COUNCILMAN PERRY DID. I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN, EVERYBODY WAS ASKING QUESTIONS AND DIGGING. UM, AND THE FACT THAT WE, THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THAT EXERCISE IS GOOD. THE ARGUMENT, THE DEBATE THAT IS GOOD FOR GOVERNANCE, BETTER POLICY COMES OUT OF THAT. AND FOR US TO STAND IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND SAY, THAT IS GOOD. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD SHY AWAY FROM. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK, AND I MOTION TO ELIMINATE THE 2019 RATE INCREASE AND STANDALONE ON A VOTE TODAY, 2018 ONLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SECOND. OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT, UH, TO ELIMINATE THE 2019 RATE ADJUSTMENT. UH, WE'LL TAKE THAT MOTION UP AS PRIMARY AT THE TIME OF THE MAIN MOTION. UH, SO WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO COUNCILMAN PIAS. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND I, ROBERT, UH, MR. PUENTE, I HAVE, UH, I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS FOR YOU AND THERE IN BETWE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. AND THEY'RE IN BETWEEN SOME LONGER COMMENTS. SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I, IF I KEEP YOU STANDING UP THERE MUCH LONGER. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AS I'M TAKING NOTES AND I'M LISTENING, UM, MY, MY FRIEND AND MY COLLEAGUE MR. BROCK HOUSE, SAID SOMETHING AND I, I NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT EVERYBODY HERE UNDERSTANDS, UM, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CARING FOR THE RESIDENTS. AND I KNOW THAT HE'S NOT SAYING THAT THOSE OF US THAT ARE IN, IN SUPPORT OF THIS RATE INCREASE DON'T CARE FOR OUR, OUR RESIDENTS. I KNOW, I KNOW THAT MR. BROCK HOUSE KNOWS BECAUSE HE SEES THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS DAIS STRUGGLES EVERY SINGLE DAY WITH BALANCING OUR FUTURE NEEDS AGAINST THE PRESSURES AND THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS TODAY. AND I, I, I'M SAYING THIS NOT, NOT TO CHALLENGE YOU MR. BROCK HOUSE, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UP HERE KNOWS THAT NONE OF THIS IS EASY. OKAY? SO I, I WILL ALSO, AND I'LL, I'LL THROW THIS OUT RIGHT NOW. THE PROBLEM WITH MR. BROCK HOUSE'S MOTION TO BREAK THIS UP ON A YEAR BY YEAR IS THAT IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WELL THEN WILL YOU VOTE YES FOR THIS ONE? UH, IF, I MEAN, WHY BREAK IT UP IF YOU'RE GONNA VOTE NO. RIGHT? AND SO, I, I, I'LL, I MEAN SURE. CAN YOU YIELD THE FLOOR TO ME? SURE. I'LL, I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR FOR NOW. OKAY. COUNCILMAN BRONK HOUSE, I'M VOTING NO, NO MATTER WHAT. COUNCILMAN PLIE AND ONE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THAT'S FAIR. UM, OKAY. COUNCILMAN IMPLIES, THANK YOU. SO LET, LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON HOW I APPROACH THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I I THINK THAT EVERYBODY HERE AGREES THAT LEADERSHIP REQUIRES THAT YOU, THAT PEOPLE KNOW, THAT YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, [03:35:01] YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE, AND YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN TO GET US THERE. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS HERE THAT NOBODY ON THIS DAIS LIKES PAYING MORE FOR WATER . AND IN FACT, I HAVE A FEELING THAT ALMOST ALL OF YOU WOULD AGREE THAT NONE OF US, LIKE EVEN HAVING TO PAY FOR WATER TO BEGIN WITH, IF, IF, YOU KNOW, UH, IF I COULD MAJOR, UH, WAVE A WAND, I'D MAKE WATER FREE. RIGHT? AND ROBERT, IF I COULD, I'D MAKE YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE AT SAWS VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR NO PAY. UH, BUT I DON'T LIVE IN THAT UNIVERSE. I LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD. AND SO UNDERSTANDING THAT WATER COSTS MONEY AND THAT THE DELIVERY OF WATER COSTS MONEY AND TAKING SEWER WATER FROM HOMES TO SOMEWHERE SAFE COSTS MONEY. I, I, I WANT ROBERT, FOR YOU TO AGREE WITH ME THAT, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU GOTTA TELL ME, OKAY. THAT WHEN I SERVED ON THAT RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEFORE I SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL, WE SPENT 18 MONTHS DIGGING INTO YOUR BUDGETS, INTO YOUR AUDIT REPORTS, INTO YOUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, YOUR, YOUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS, YOUR REPORTS ON SEWER CAPACITY, WHAT YOU GUYS DO WITH REGARDS TO HANDLING FLOOD WATER AND EVERYTHING. AND ANYTHING YOU GUYS THAT WE ASKED FOR. IS THAT RIGHT? UH, OBVIOUSLY I AGREE WITH YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN ELIAS, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF CITIZENS AND CITIZENS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT ON THAT BOARD, UH, IS FOR THAT PURPOSE THAT YOU EXACTLY, THAT YOU MENTIONED TO GO OVER ALL THESE THINGS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF SCRUTINY, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, EFFORT, UH, MADE BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, UH, FROM MYSELF, MY STAFF, BEN ELL, UH, CITIZEN COMMITTEES LIKE THIS ONE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT LOOK INTO OUR RATES AND LOOK AT WHAT WE CHARGE AND WHY WE CHARGE WHAT WE DO CHARGE. THANK YOU, ROBERT. AND WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER THESE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND YOU GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS FOR THOSE 18 MONTHS, WE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS, PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT WERE POSTED, ANNOUNCED, UH, ON THE INTERNET IN PAPER, IN THE NEWSPAPER, AND THE MEDIA COVERED THOSE AND WE DIDN'T EXCLUDE ANYBODY FROM SHOWING UP, RIGHT? NO. WE TOOK GREAT EFFORT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE WORD WAS OUT, THAT THE PUBLIC WAS INVITED, AND WE DID HAVE EVERY NOW AND THEN CITIZENS COME IN AND EXPRESS THEIR, UM, ISSUES, THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR COMMENTS, OKAY? SO WHAT I HEAR FROM CITIZENS IS, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RUSHING THIS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? RUSHING IT? WE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO KNOW ABOUT IT. WE NEVER, WE WERE NEVER THERE. YOU NEVER TOLD US YOU DID THIS IN, YOU KNOW, THE UNDER THE COVER OF NIGHT IN SOME SECRET LOCATION. AND, UM, I, I, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'LL TELL YOU, I WAS THERE AND YOU KNOW, I, I WAS THERE A LOT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM WHO WERE THERE, AND WE DID IT AT A VERY EASY LOCATION TO GO TO, WHICH IS YOUR HEADQUARTERS. THERE WAS LOTS OF PARKING, AND I THINK THERE'S A VIA STOP RIGHT IN FRONT, UH, TO WHERE EVERYBODY AND ANYBODY CAN ACCESS IT. AND SO, UM, ROBERT, YOU KNOW, WITH REGARDS TO AUDITS, I ALSO HEAR FROM A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS, UM, SASS NEEDS TO BE AUDITED. SAS HAS NEVER BEEN AUDITED. WHY ARE YOU GUYS DECIDING THIS WITHOUT AN AUDIT? UM, HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY WALK INTO THIS WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A THIRD PARTY WHO'S OBJECTIVE LOOKING AT SAWS AND COMBING THROUGH THEIR BOOKS? AND, UM, OUR FRIENDS FROM ESPERANZA, UH, SANCHEZ SHOWED UP HERE AND OUR FRIENDS FROM SAMBA AND YANETTE FLORES, OUR U T S A STUDENT, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. AND, UM, BUT THE THREE OF YOU, RIGHT? AND LAST NIGHT, I THINK I HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AT CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, AND GILBERT MARTINEZ WITH POLITIC QUEERS WHO LIVES IN LEON VALLEY ALSO CAME OVER HERE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T YOU AUDITING THIS? AND SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHO IS PAGET? STRATMAN? R S M ONE OF OUR AUDITOR OUTSIDE AUDITORS. OKAY. OUTSIDE MEANS INDEPENDENT. INDEPENDENT. UH, ALTHOUGH THAT'S CHANGED SINCE, SINCE THERE'S A NEW AUDIT, UH, COMPANY THAT'S ON BOARD NOW. BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DID YOUR 2016 AUDIT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND I AM LOOKING AT YOUR AUDIT REPORT RIGHT NOW. IT'S IN FRONT OF ME, AND I'M GONNA QUOTE FOR YOU AND YOU TELL ME IF I'M GETTING THIS WRONG. YOUR, YOUR INDEPENDENT AUDITOR WROTE IN THEIR AUDIT REPORT, WE'VE AUDITED THIS SAS FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING. UM, IN DECEMBER 31ST, 2016, WE CONDUCTED OUR AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUDITING STANDARDS GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE US AND THE STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO FINANCIAL [03:40:01] AUDITS CONTAINED IN THE GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS ISSUED BY THE COMPTROLLER OF THE US. AND THOSE STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT WE PLAN AND PERFORM THE AUDIT TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCES ABOUT WHETHER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS. AND THAT AUDIT MR. PUENTE CAME BACK CLEAN, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND THAT AUDIT THAT YOU DID IN 2015 CAME BACK CLEAN? CORRECT. AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID ABOUT ALL THE PREVIOUS INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY AUDITS THAT I KEEP HEARING DON'T EVEN EXIST, RIGHT? CORRECT. ALRIGHT. NOW, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE KEEPING THESE A SECRET EITHER, RIGHT? I CAN SEE THESE AUDITS IF I GO TO SAWS.ORG AND JUST CLICK ON A VERY EASY TAB AT THE TOP CALLED FINANCIAL REPORTS. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT. AND THAT'S THE PAGE I'M LOOKING AT. AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REPORTS PAGE, AND I'M SEEING ALL YOUR AUDITS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. YOUR FINANCIAL REPORTS, YOUR COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORTS, YOUR BUDGETS, AND THEY'RE ONLINE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE TO PAY TO GET ACCESS TO THAT, OR IS THAT JUST FOR EVERYBODY AND ANYBODY? IT'S, UH, PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. SO IT'S, THERE'S NO COST TO IT. ALRIGHT. NOW, EARLIER YOU HAD YOUR BOARD MEMBER DAVID MCGEE APPEAR, UH, TALKING ABOUT HIM BEING A, A BUDGET HAWK. RIGHT? AND SO I, I NEED TO POINT OUT THAT YOUR BOARD IS AN UNPAID BOARD, IS THAT RIGHT? UH, IT'S A VOLUNTEER BOARD, CORRECT? IT'S A VOLUNTEER BOARD AND THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR REPORTS, RIGHT? YES. ALRIGHT. SO AS A BANK PRESIDENT, MR. MCGEE IS THE PRESIDENT OF AMEE BANK. AND AS YOU'D AGREE WITH ME THAT A BANK PRESIDENT'S NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT RESOURCES, THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF HIS CLIENTS AND HIS BANK ARE BEING USED IN A CONSCIENTIOUS MANNER AND NOT BEING WASTED, RIGHT? HE BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE, HE'S TO THE BOARD. YES, HE DOES. OKAY. THEN YOU GOT A, WHO'S A REAL NICE GUY NAMED BERTO GURA. RIGHT? BERTO GURA IS A WORLD RENOWNED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THE SUBJECT OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND MAKING ORGANIZATIONS MORE AND MORE EFFICIENT THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD. RIGHT. THE KASAI PRINCIPLES OF THE JAPANESE CULTURE AND MANUFACTURING HE'S BROUGHT WITH US WITH HIM TO SAUCE. AND THE REASON YOU MENTIONED THE JAPANESE CULTURE IS BECAUSE ROBERT PUENTE, I'M, YEAH, I'M SORRY, NOT ROBERT PUENTE, UH, BERTO. GUERRA HAS BEEN SELECTED BY TOYOTA OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO HELP LEAD THESE EFFICIENCY, UH, EFFORTS ON, NOT IN, NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO, BUT IN OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY, RIGHT? YES. ALRIGHT. THEN I LOOK, YOU'VE GOT A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, UH, ON YOUR BOARD NAMED PAT MERRITT. YES. RIGHT. AND IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT A VERY POWERFUL C E O OR A BANKER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER IS GIVING OF HER TIME TO BRING THE RATE PAYER PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARD, IS THAT RIGHT? SHE'S A RETIRED S A I S D UH, TEACHER. OKAY, GREAT. I SEE ALSO THAT YOU'VE GOT ERNESTO ANO WHO'S AN INVESTMENT AND OPERATIONS ANALYST WITH U SS A A AND YOU KNOW, SAME ABOUT HIM. WHAT EXPERTISE DOES HE BRING TO YOUR TABLE? ALSO FINANCIAL. HE, UH, HAS TAKEN A BIG INTEREST IN OUR WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. GREAT. AND THEN I SEE YOU GOT PAT HASSO AND LOU ROWE. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THEM'S AN ENGINEER, THEY'RE ON THE BOARD OF THE ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN HEALTH MINISTRIES, THE MARCH OF DIMES JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT. AND, UM, WHAT EXPERTISE DID THEY BRING INTO YOUR TABLE? UH, LEWIS ROWE IS A RETIRED IN, WELL, HE'S AN ENGINEER. HE'S SOMEWHAT RETIRED, SO HE BRINGS UP, BRINGS ALL THAT EXPERTISE WITH HIM. PAT HAEL, UH, IS A FORMER COMMUNICATIONS WORKER WITH SOUTHWESTERN BELL, A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. SO SHE IS THERE TO PUT OUR FEET TO THE FIRE REGARDING OUR HIRING PRACTICES REGARDING THIS RED INCREASE AND HOW IT AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE BEING WELL ADVISED AT YOUR BOARD? OH, DEFINITELY. OKAY. SO WHAT I DID IN APPROACHING THIS PROBLEM IS, AND THE PROBLEM OF WHETHER TO RAISE THE RATES OR NOT RAISE THE RATES IS I APPROACH THIS FROM THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU ARE WRONG AND THAT YOUR STAFF IS WRONG. AND SO MY STAFF AND I SAID, LET'S PROVE THEM WRONG. THEY DON'T NEED THESE RATES. AND SO I PULLED ALL YOUR AUDITS, YOUR COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORTS, YOUR BUDGET, AND I LOOKED THROUGH THEM. I LOOKED AT YOUR THIRD PARTY AUDIT REPORTS, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR OWN AUDITORS IN HOUSE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE TELLING US THAT YOU'RE RUNNING A COMPANY THAT'S LEAN, MEAN, AND CLEAN. RIGHT. AND THEN I PULL YOUR CREDIT RATING FROM THESE THIRD PARTY CREDIT RATING AGENCIES WHO SELL, TELL ME THAT YOU'RE A DOUBLE A PLUS AGENCY, WHICH TO ME, AND YOU TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, TO ME THAT MEANS THAT TO A THIRD PARTY WATCHDOG, YOU GUYS ARE A GOOD BET BECAUSE YOU'RE LEAN, CLEAN AND MEAN, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND THAT YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD BET THAT THEY HAVE AAA, I'M SORRY, AA PLUS IS A SIGNAL TO THE PUBLIC [03:45:01] THAT YOUR BONDS ARE GOING TO BE REPAID BECAUSE YOU ARE RUN AS A BEST OF CLASS COMPANY BECAUSE WE'RE STABLE AND RUN IN A VERY EFFICIENT MANNER. ALRIGHT? AFTER I DID THAT, I WENT AND TALKED TO YOUR EMPLOYEES, I TALKED TO YOU AND, AND I TALKED TO SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS. I TALKED TO GAVINO RAMOS, I TALKED TO SAS BOARD MEMBERS. I I TALKED TO HOMEOWNERS, I TALKED TO BUSINESS OWNERS, I TALKED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. AND I LOOKED AT THIS FROM EVERY SINGLE RATE. AND, AND I, AND I GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, PERSPECTIVES FROM THEM, INCLUDING THE PLEASE DON'T RAISE MY RATES, I CAN'T AFFORD IT PERSPECTIVE. AND I BELIEVE THAT, RIGHT? BUT THEN I WENT OUT INTO THE FIELD AND YOU AND I SPENT A DAY TOGETHER AND I ALSO PUT MY HANDS ON THIS PROJECT. AND BERTO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THING CALLED GO AND SEE. ALRIGHT? AND I WENT AND SAW AND I PUT MY HANDS ON THE PROJECT. IN FACT, I WENT 22 FEET UNDERGROUND AND TOOK A TUNNEL THAT YOU GUYS WERE DIGGING 220 FEET INTO SOLID LIMESTONE. AND I LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT AND IT'S A $3.5 MILLION, I'M SORRY, 3.5 MILES OF STEEL PIPE LINED WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME MORE RESISTANT MATERIALS THAT IT'S GONNA HOPEFULLY LAST US ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS. IT'S COSTING $14.4 MILLION JUST TO MOVE SEWER WATER BY GRAVITY DOWNHILL AWAY FROM MY NEIGHBORHOODS. RIGHT? AND HERE'S WHAT, HERE'S WHAT I SAW. I SAW THAT YOU'RE USING SIMPLE MATERIALS LIKE STEEL PIPE, RIGHT? AND YOU'RE USING LABOR. SO TELL ME ABOUT THE COST OF STEEL PIPE. WELL, IT, UH, ASK ME WHAT DAY, AND I'LL TELL YOU THE PRICE. IT, IT FLUCTUATES AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF THAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS TWO YEAR RATE INCREASES. 'CAUSE WE WANNA LOCK IN SOME PRICES. UH, WE GET BETTER PRICING IN THAT MANNER. UH, STEEL IS EXPENSIVE. OKAY. AND BECAUSE I ALSO WENT AND STARTED LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES, I FOUND OUT THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS ESTIMATES THAT ALL US CITIES, ALL OF THEM ARE GONNA HAVE TO REQUIRE ABOUT $3.6 TRILLION IN BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. AND THEY ALL SAY THAT IT'S, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF CONSENT DECREES AND THE INCREASING COST OF WATER AND THE INCREASING COST OF MATERIALS LIKE STEEL AND THE INCREASING COST OF LABOR. AND SO THE KICKER TO THAT NUMBER THOUGH, IS THAT IT'S ONLY COVERING UPDATES AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. IT'S NOT COVERING GROWTH. AND SO FOR THIS RATE INCREASE, TO WHAT EXTENT WILL THIS RATE INCREASE IF APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL, GO TO ADDRESSING NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH? WELL, A LOT OF THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IS ACTUALLY PAID FOR BY DEVELOPERS. YOU KNOW, YOU HAD SOME COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE DOING THIS FOR DEVELOPERS. DEVELOPERS PAY A BIG PORTION OF WHAT IS, WHAT IS GROWTH. UH, WHEN WE DO SEE THAT THERE'S GROWTH HAPPENING, THAT DEVELOPERS ARE, THAT THERE'S GONNA BE GROWTH, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ANOTHER PART, WE KNOW IT'S VERY COST, COST EFFECTIVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROJECT. AND, AND SO THERE, THERE'S A, UH, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT GROWTH, UH, AND THE CITY'S POLICY AND SOLVE THIS POLICY IS TO MAKE GROWTH PAY FOR ITSELF. SO GROWTH, UH, FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH IS BEING PAID. SOME OF THE GROWTH IS BEING PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPERS. ALRIGHT. AND THEN YOU WERE SUED, RIGHT? UH, WE WERE SUED FOR, YOU WERE SUED, NOT THE CITY, BUT YOU WERE SUED. UH, AND RESULTING FROM THAT LAWSUIT IS THIS CONSENT DECREE, RIGHT? UH, YES. BUT, UM, BEING SUED IS A STRONG WAY OF SAYING WE AG PRIOR TO BEING SUED, WE AGREED TO A SETTLEMENT. AND THEN THAT SETTLEMENT THROUGH A LAWSUIT WAS INTRODUCED IN FRONT OF THE FEDERAL JUDGE. BUT WE AGREE THERE WAS A LAWSUIT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND YOU WERE FACING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. AND YOU HAD TO GO TALK TO A FEDERAL JUDGE, AND I'M GONNA, 'CAUSE I I ALSO PULLED IN, IN INVESTIGATING THE CONSENT DECREE. AND HERE'S WHAT I FOUND OUT, AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I GET THIS WRONG, ROBERT. WE WERE SUED AND WE ENTERED INTO THIS CONSENT DECREE BECAUSE WE HAD WATER, SEWAGE, AND POLLUTANTS OVERFLOWING. AND, UH, GOING INTO WHAT THEY CLAIM WAS FEDERAL AND STATE WATERS, RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND THE NUMBERS ARE 220,000 GALLONS IN FEBRUARY OF 2012, A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS IN MARCH OF THE SAME YEAR, A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN JUNE, A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS IN AUGUST, 120,000 GALLONS IN SEPTEMBER, AND 63,000 GALLONS IN DECEMBER. ALL OF THESE, JUST 2012, NOBODY IN THIS ROOM SHOULD BE SURPRISED THAT EVENTUALLY WE GOT SUED AFTER MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. RIGHT. AND THAT THEY PROBABLY HAD A GOOD REASON TO SUE US. AND WE PROBABLY HAD A REALLY GOOD REASON TO ENTER INTO A CONSENT DECREE TO SETTLE IT, BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE ACCEPTABLE. AND I, AND THAT'S COSTING US MONEY TODAY. RIGHT. AND THIS, THE RATE THAT THE RATE PAYER PAYS IS GOING TO FIXING ALL THOSE THINGS. AND ON TOP OF [03:50:01] THAT, PROVIDING NEW WATER FOR NEW RESIDENTS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, PROVIDING MAINTENANCE TO CLAY PIPES. IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. SO I I I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IF I'M GONNA VOTE YES, THAT I NEED YOU TO CONTINUE TO INNOVATE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO SAVE WATER. RIGHT. AND I NEED YOU TO CONTINUE TO INNOVATE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPLACE CLAY PIPES AND CEMENT PIPES WITH PIPES THAT I DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE 20 YEARS FROM NOW, 30, 40, 50 YEARS FROM NOW. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY? YES, WE ARE. AND IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF INNOVATION REGARDING WATER CONSERVATION. YEAH, WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT. UH, BUT WE, WE DO FIELD A LOT OF, UH, VENDORS, A LOT OF, UM, UH, ENTITIES THAT WANT TO SELL A PARTICULAR, UH, MATERIAL OF PIPE. WE ENTERTAIN ALL THAT. WE LOOK AT WHAT IS THE BEST PRICE FOR THE LONGEST TERM. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO ALONG THE LINES OF AFFORDABILITY, I, YOU KNOW, UM, WE, WE HEARD TODAY ABOUT JONAH NUREMBERG. UH, AND SO I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT JUST ABOUT MAX AND SOPHIA ELAS, MY TWO KIDS, RIGHT? MY, MY SON. IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET HIM TO TAKE A SHOWER WHEN HE DOES. AND SO I DON'T WORRY, AND HE DOESN'T LIKE THE LONG ONES, BUT MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S LEARNING CHINESE IN SCHOOL, SINGS SONGS IN THE SHOWER AND VERY LOUD SO EVERYBODY IN THE HOUSE CAN HEAR IN CHINESE. AND SHE SINGS MULTIPLE SONGS IN CHINESE. AND I SAT DOWN WITH HER AND I WAS LIKE, LOOK, BABY WATER COSTS MONEY, RIGHT? AND I'M PAYING FOR IT. SO DO ME A FAVOR, SING ONE LESS SONG IN CHINESE. RIGHT? UH, OR LET'S SING THOSE SONGS WHEN YOU'RE DRYING OFF, RIGHT? NOT WHILE YOU'RE IN THE SHOWER. AND SHE'S DOING THAT. AND WE ACTUALLY SAW, BECAUSE OF MY DAUGHTER'S SHOWERS, WE SAW OUR BILL GO DOWN. WHAT, TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO CONSERVE WATER AND BRING THEIR OWN BILLS DOWN? UH, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. UH, WE PROBABLY HAVE THE, THE NATION'S LEADING CONSERVATION EXPERT EMPLOYED BY US, KAREN GUZ. UH, SHE'S ASKED TO GO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TALKING ABOUT WHAT PROGRAMS WE HAVE. AND SO IF, IF, IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN BRING HER UP TO GIVE YOU, UH, I WOULD TO SPECIFICALLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, KAREN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT TEACH PEOPLE LIKE MY DAUGHTER, THAT SAVING WATER BENEFITS THEM? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A CONSERVATION TEAM THAT AIMS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAVING WATER AT ALL OF THE ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT STARTS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN COLLEGE. SO THAT KIDS LIKE YOUR DAUGHTER, ARE LIKELY TO GET A MESSAGE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY AT SCHOOL OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CONTINUING OUR WATER AWARENESS IN SAN ANTONIO. DO YOU, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT RUNS ANATHEMA TO THE PUBLIC, I'M SORRY, TO THE PROFIT MODEL, THAT YOU GUYS ARE A COMPANY THAT GO OUT AND TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO BUY LESS OF YOUR PRODUCT? I DO KNOW THAT, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT I WORK WITH, UM, SMART PEOPLE AT SAS WHO RECOGNIZE THE LONG GAME THAT WE WORK IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT IN THE SHORT TERM, YES, THE THINGS THAT MY DEPARTMENT DOES DO INTERFERE WITH REVENUE IN THE VERY SHORT TERM. HOWEVER, THE SAVINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS BECAUSE FAMILIES LIKE YOURS HAVE PAID ATTENTION AND SAVED WATER. WE HAVE LESS WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE TO DO TODAY BECAUSE WE'VE REDUCED OUR PER CAPITA AND WE'VE AVOIDED TREMENDOUS SEWER COSTS WHERE IF WE HAD NOT REDUCED OUR PER CAPITA, WE WOULD'VE HAD TO EXPAND OUR SEWAGE TREATMENT, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. UM, CAN I TALK TO BERTO GUERRA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PLEASE. AND, AND THIS IS THE LAST WITNESS I'LL INTERROGATE, UH, . MR. GUERRA, UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THIS BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, JUST A STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTION. IF ROBERT PUENTE WERE TO GET RUN OVER BY A VIA BUS TOMORROW AND NO LONGER BE WITH US, GOD FORBID, WHAT DOES THE BOARD FORCED TO DO AT THAT POINT AS FAR AS LEADERSHIP AT S GOOD AFTERNOON. AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY, COUNCILMAN AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. UH, WE WOULD BE AT A LOSS IF, GOD FORBID, A VIA BUS WOULD RUN OVER ROBERT PUENTE . WE WOULD ALL OF COURSE GO TO HIS FUNERAL YES, SIR. AND, AND PAY OUR RESPECTS. BUT, UH, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, UH, HE BRINGS SUCH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND WATER TO OUR COMMUNITY [03:55:01] THAT'S UNPARALLELED BY ANYONE. AND FINDING HIS REPLACEMENT IN OUR BOARD'S OPINION, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AT LENGTH, WOULD BE DIFFICULT. AND I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY, WHY, UM, EVERY YEAR I NOTE SOME OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND THIS YEAR I WANTED TO POINT OUT HOW ROBERT DID SOME AMAZING THINGS AS WE MUDDLED THROUGH WHAT WE WERE GOING TO PAY HIM. HE STEERED THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS IN MAJOR TRANSITION AND TURNED WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN YET ANOTHER PROJECT FAILURE INTO A MAJOR SUCCESS STORY, SAVING OUR CUSTOMERS OVER $500 MILLION. IF YOU'LL RECALL, THE ORIGINAL PRO UH, PROJECT WAS 3.4 BILLION. IT CAME IN AT $2.9 BILLION. HE ALSO WORKED WITH A T C E Q TO AVOID A $12 MILLION REGULATORY REQUIREMENT. HE NEGOTIATED WITH THE E A A TO OBTAIN $18.6 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, AND TO REDUCE UP TO 4,500 ACRE FEET PER YEAR IN WATER LEAKS, AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS. YOU HEARD ABOUT THEM EARLIER. WHAT, UH, HE DID BY GIVING DIRECTION TO OUR STAFF WHO, WHO IS AN INCREDIBLE STAFF. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE SEAMLESS TRANSITION THAT THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WHEN WE CONSOLIDATED BARE MAT, A UTILITY THE SIZE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, AND IT WAS SEAMLESS AND TO OUR GREAT JOY. UH, TODAY WE HAVE SIX TO EIGHT LESS EMPLOYEES THAN WE DID BY OURSELVES WITH THE INCLUSION OF BARE MET AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT CAME ALONG WITH THEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE HAVE THE STRONGEST CREDIT RATING, BUT WHEN YOU WALK THE HALLS OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND YOU GO WITH ROBERT, HE IS SO RESPECTED AT THE STATE LEVEL. THEY STILL CALL HIM MR. CHAIRMAN BECAUSE HE CHAIRED A COMMITTEE THERE THAT DEALT WITH WATER. HE IS HUMBLE, YET EFFECTIVE. HE IS A VERY STRONG LEADER. WE WOULD BE AT A LOSS IF HE WERE TO GO. AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UH, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND HOW YOU AND I BOTH LEARNED AT TOYOTA HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO NEVER LEVEL OUT, BUT TO ALWAYS BE REACHING TOWARDS THE STAR. YOU KNOW THAT, THAT'S THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY. WE HAVE A THOUSAND PLUS EMPLOYEES THAT MANUFACTURE THE INTERIOR OF THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AND TACOMA IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THE INTERIOR OF THE TOYOTA TACOMA IN BAJA, CALIFORNIA, MEXICO. AND WE PRODUCE EVERYTHING HERE IN TOWN. BUT THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY, AND I'LL SHOW YOU, IS AVAN. AVANZA MEANS TO MOVE FORWARD, TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE STAR. THE STAR REPRESENTS PERFECTION, BUT WE DON'T TOUCH THE STAR BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO CONTINUOUSLY TRY TO REACH THAT PERFECT STATE, TO SAVE OUR CUSTOMERS MONEY, ET CETERA, AND TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, AS A BUSINESSMAN, WHEN I CAME TO SAS IN 2011, I WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW BUSINESS WORKS. I WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO BE PRODUCTIVE, EFFECTIVE, UH, TO SAVE MONEY. AND I ASKED ROBERT TO BRING HIS ENTIRE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM TO OUR PLANT TO STUDY WHAT WE DO AND TO HOLD ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS AT OUR PLANT. AND HE AGREED TO DO IT, BROUGHT ALL [04:00:01] OF THEM THERE, AND THEY LEARNED HOW WE CAN A PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR CITIZENS. REMEMBER WHEN THIS PLANT STARTED, WE, WE, WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY, BUT OUR PEOPLE LEARNED HOW TO PRODUCE A TRUCK, THE INTERIOR OF A TRUCK, AND HANDED OVER TO TOYOTA EVERY 60 SECONDS, THEREFORE, CREATING OVER A THOUSAND TRUCKS A DAY HERE IN OUR OWN CITY. AND WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, THEY'VE RECEIVED SIX QUALITY AWARDS FOR THE HIGHEST QUALITY SEATS IN THE NATION. OUR STAFF AT SAUCE CAME AND LEARNED HOW TO DO THAT, AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE THREE TIMES. THAT'S, THAT'S EXCELLENT. AND SO, IN MY HYPOTHETICAL, AND THANK YOU FOR TELLING US THAT, IN MY HYPOTHETICAL, I DROP A VIA BUS ON ROBERT PUENTE, I KILL HIM. AND THE NEXT DAY YOU GOTTA GO FIND A NEW C E O. WHO KNOWS THE THINGS THAT YOU JUST LISTED OFF FOR ME. WHAT IS THE FAIR AMOUNT TO PAY THAT C E O AND HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT YOU PAY THE NEXT C E O? SO WE HIRED AN OUTSIDE FIRM ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO TO HELP US COMPARE HIM TO OTHER CEOS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND WE CAME UP WITH A FAIR PAYMENT AMOUNT AND A FAIR, UH, JUSTIFIABLE BONUS THAT WE COULD PAY HIM. AND IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS. SO NOW WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NEW COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT HIS PAY FOR THE FUTURE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. WHAT HE IS GETTING PAID IS VERY, VERY MUCH COMPETITIVE. UM, I KNOW WHAT ROBERT COULD BE MAKING IF HE HAD STAYED WITH THE LEGISLATURE AS A LOBBYIST, HE WOULD BE MAKING THREE OR FOUR TIMES MORE THAN HE'S MAKING NOW. SO WE'RE, WE FEEL JUSTIFIED IN HIS PAYMENT AMOUNT. UH, THANK YOU MR. GURA, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I APPRECIATE IT. MAYOR. LEADERSHIP IS HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT POPULAR. LEADERSHIP ISN'T MAKING THE EASY ONES. AND TODAY I'M GONNA CAST AN UNPOPULAR VOTE BECAUSE TAKING THE POLI THE POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT VOTE IS GONNA MAKE IT HARDER DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE TWO MOST CON IMPORTANT CONSTITUENTS IN MY LIFE, WHICH ARE MAX AND SOPHIA. UM, AND I CAN'T CONTINUE TO KICK THE ROAD A CAN DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS OF POOR PLANNING AND 50 YEARS OF, OF NOT INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL, UH, I'LL BE JOINING, UM, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL IN VOTING YES. ON THIS RATE INCREASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PAL. COUNCILMAN PERRY. HOWDY. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED HERE. UH, A LOT OF THIS, A LOT OF MY COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I I WANT TO, UH, KIND OF GO OVER SOME OF THIS BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS GOING LONG HERE, BUT, UM, OVERALL, UH, OVER THE LAST SIX, SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE HAD WHAT, WHAT KIND OF INCREASE OVER WE'VE, WE'VE HAD, UH, INCREASES SINCE 2011. OKAY, SO ABOUT 40, OVER 40% INCREASES SINCE THEN? UH, ROUGHLY, YES. OKAY. AND EACH YEAR, HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING ADDITIONAL FROM THOSE INCREASES SPECIFICALLY THOUGH? DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS APPROXIMATELY? I THINK I HAVE SOME FIGURES HERE IF, YEAH, I DIDN'T BRING THE, THE, I KNOW WE PROVIDED YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION. UH, I DIDN'T BRING THAT WITH ME, BUT, OKAY. I'LL, I'LL, UM, THROUGH, UM, LAST DECEMBER WAS ABOUT, UH, ABOUT $170 MILLION EXTRA THAT WE'RE GETTING EACH YEAR FROM THOSE RATE INCREASES. SO, UH, AND I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY HERE ON THIS STAGE THAT EVERY YEAR WE'RE GETTING $170 MILLION EXTRA ON THE RATE INCREASES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN IN, UH, INCLUDING 2017, WHICH WE ALSO HAD A RE RATE INCREASE. AND I THINK THE EXPECTATION IS TO GET, UH, PROBABLY ANOTHER, UH, 20 TO $30 MILLION EXTRA FOR 2017. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $200 MILLION EVERY YEAR FROM NOW ON, UH, FOR EXTRA MONEY. NOW, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A RATE INCREASE AT ALL, WHAT WOULD THAT, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN? I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE [04:05:01] GETTING THAT EVERY YEAR. NOW, IF WE 200 MILLION, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RATE INCREASE, THAT'S BEFORE Y'ALL, RIGHT? UM, IF YOU COULD GO TO PAGE, UM, EXCUSE ME, I'LL GET THERE. HOLD ON. 21, UH, 21 ? NO. OKAY. 2022. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WATER FOR THE GROWING AREAS OF THE FAR WEST SIDE AND THE FAR NORTHWEST SIDE, UH, LET ALONE SERVICE THESE AREAS IN A DROUGHT. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE ON THE WATER SIDE. OKAY. UH, BUT YOU'RE SAYING WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT IN 2018, TWO 2000, THIS, THAT THIS RATE INCREASE IS FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS. OKAY. WELL, UH, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT, IT'S NEVER GONNA GET DONE BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING THAT EXTRA $200 MILLION A YEAR. RIGHT? UH, IT, IT WOULD GET DONE MAYBE IN 5, 6, 10 YEARS. WE COULD PROBABLY DO IT. AND THEN THE, THE COST WOULD BE NOT 95 MILLION, BUT PROBABLY 150 MILLION. RIGHT. BUT WITH THIS RIGHT NOW, THE 200 EXTRA, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE A POINT THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING ADDITIONAL MONEY NOW. WE'RE GETTING OVER $200 MILLION A YEAR EXTRA RIGHT NOW, UM, WITH THE 2017 INCREASE. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT POINT THAT, UH, UM, THAT'S NOT COUNTING WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE LAYING OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE YEARS FOR RATE INCREASES AS WELL. UM, AND COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, YOU SAID THAT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL CHEAPER THAN MOST OF THE OTHER CITIES, CORRECT? WELL, I LOOK AT THAT AS, AS A GOOD THING. UH, SAN ANTONIO, I LOOK AT SAN ANTONIO AS BEING AFFORDABLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GROWING. PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE BECAUSE IT IS AFFORDABLE. AND, UM, UH, THE OTHER CITIES THAT YOU ARE COMPARING US TO, THEY HAVE A MUCH HIGHER MEDIAN INCOME THAN WE DO AS WELL. SO I DON'T WANNA LOSE SIGHT OF THAT FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, IT IS MORE AFFORDABLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE GETTING MORE PEOPLE HERE. UH, ONE OF THE REASONS, SO, UH, I I, I HATE TO SEE THESE INCREASES COMING IN TO GET PARODY WITH THE OTHER CITIES BECAUSE THOSE OTHER CITIES, THE PEOPLE IN THOSE CITIES CAN AFFORD IT MORE THAN WE CAN. UH, UNDERSTANDABLY, YES. UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY, BUT I DON'T THINK THE COST OF LIVING IS DOUBLE IN AUSTIN, BUT IT IS IN SAN ANTONIO. OH, I'M THEY SAYING DOUBLE. AND THEY RIGHTFULLY HAVE A DOUBLE WATER BILL THAN WE, AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN AFFORD A LOT MORE. WE CAN THAN WE CAN HERE TOO, BUT I UNDERSTAND INCOME. I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT. UM, SO HAVING SAID THAT, WE ARE GETTING ABOUT $200 MILLION EXTRA EVERY YEAR RIGHT NOW. UH, LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE BROUGHT IT UP. IT, IT JUST SEEMS INCONSISTENT WITH ME ALSO ABOUT, UM, WE RAISE THE RATES AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO GO ON THESE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. IT JUST DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING MORE PEOPLE AND REPEAT PEOPLE ON THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE'RE RAISING RATES. COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN PERRY, I, I CHALLENGE THAT ASSUMPTION AND I CHALLENGE, UH, COUNCILMAN BROCK HILL'S ASSUMPTION ON THAT. THE REASON, THE BIG REASON THE AFFORDABILITY NUMBERS ARE INCREASING IS BECAUSE THE DIFFERENT OUTREACH THAT WE'RE DOING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED OF US BY A COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ, BY RAY SALANO, BY ROBERTO TREVINO, BY COUNCILMAN SHAW ABOUT HOW TO GET INTO THE COMMUNITY, THAT THERE'S POCKETS IN THERE THAT WE'RE NOT TOUCHING. THEY ARE, THEY WERE ALREADY IN THAT SITUATION BEFORE THESE RATE INCREASES, WHERE THE OUTREACH THAT WE'RE DOING IS GETTING THESE PEOPLE ONTO OUR PROGRAMS. IT'S, IT'S NOT THE RATE INCREASE THAT'S CAUSING THE AFFORDABILITY NUMBERS TO GO UP TO GO UP. NO, I DI I DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL THESE RATE INCREASES, FOLKS MIGHT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR WATER BILLS. SO, LEMME LET ME MOVE ON BECAUSE IT IS GETTING RATHER LATE HERE. UM, TAKE YOUR TIME. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, YOU HAD THE SLIDE THAT SHOWED THE CONSERVATION, UM, LINES, THERE IT IS. OR IS THAT THE CONSERVATION? NO, THAT'S [04:10:01] WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE CONSERVATION, HOW THE LINE HAS GONE DOWN OVER TIME. OH, UH, OF, UH, THE SSOS NO, NO, NO. THE CONSERVATION WATER. UM, OF WATER. YEAH. UH, NO, NO, NO. THIS 57. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR WATER. SO, YEP, THAT'S IT. OKAY. OKAY. THE NEXT TIME YOU SHOW THIS SLIDE, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT OTHER LINE ON THERE SHOWING HOW MUCH WATER RATES HAVE GONE UP OVER TIME. BECAUSE HERE WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN CONSERVING WATER, AND I APPLAUD EVERYBODY FOR DOING THAT. BUT WHAT'S THE REWARD FOR THAT? WE'RE INCREASING THE RATES AND, YOU KNOW, TO ME, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS ON PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSERVING WATER INSTEAD OF RAISING THEIR RATES. WE NEED TO, LET'S TAKE, LET'S THINK OUTTA THE BOX. LET'S LOOK AT SOME KIND OF A REWARD FOR THOSE CONSERVATION EFFORTS. AND, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. COUNCILMAN PERRY. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID IN 2000, I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER EIGHT OR NINE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID IN 20, IT WAS EITHER 15 OR 16. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. PEOPLE THAT CONSERVED MORE WATER GOT BREAKS ON THEIR BILL IN BOTH OF THOSE YEARS UNDER THE RATE STRUCTURING THAT RE RESTRUCTURING THAT WE DID. WELL, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND WE'LL DO IT AGAIN, SIR, ON THIS ONE. YES. SO, YEAH, ON THE NEXT, UH, NEXT TIME WE SHOW THIS SLIDE, IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE WHAT THE WATER RATE INCREASES ARE AGAINST OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS HERE IN TOWN. I UNDERSTAND. UM, ALRIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN GREAT. UM, I ASK FOR DETAILS ON WHAT THESE PROJECTS ARE, AND I'VE DONE THIS MY WHOLE CAREER, IS HAVING TO JUSTIFY PROJECTS AS WELL AS REVIEW PROJECTS AND APPROVE PROJECTS FOR INCLUSION INTO O AND M PROGRAMS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, THAT KIND OF THING. AND I'VE, I'VE COUNTED UP OR TOTALED UP IN MY OWN MIND, IF I WAS REVIEWING THIS OVER 150 MILLION, $50 MILLION IN F Y 18 THAT IS EITHER NOT VERY WELL SUBSTANTIATED, IT'S GOT, UH, UH, VERY POOR JUSTIFICATION AND THE SCOPES ARE NOT LAID OUT. IT, IT JUST GIVES, UH, REPLACE VALVES. IT DOESN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY, DOESN'T TELL YOU THE, THE COST PER VALVE. IT, IT DOESN'T, THERE'S NO DETAIL IN HERE. SO WHO DOES THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES GET THIS BOOK TO REVIEW THIS? YES. YES, THEY DO. DO Y'ALL, DID Y'ALL GET ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ABOUT ANY OF THESE? YES, WE DO. BUT THE, BUT THE, THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THAT, UH, OF THAT BOOK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT TO GIVE OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO BID ON FOR WORK AND BE SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS GONNA COST THE ENGINEERING FIRMS AND THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES. THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT DOCUMENT. SURE, SURE. WELL, UM, I'M JUST SAYING IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAKE A INFORMED DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT, IT, IT DOES NOT GIVE A LOT OF DETAIL. IN FACT, THREE OF THE PROJECTS IN THE 19 PROGRAM UNDER THE JUSTIFICATION, YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS, UNKNOWN, THERE'S AN UNKNOWN JUSTIFICATION FOR THOSE PROJECTS. SO I'M, I'M JUST SAYING, LET, LET HIM EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THAT IS. I'M JUST SAYING, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WHAT'S, WHAT'S SHOWN IN THIS BOOK AND WHAT I'VE REVIEWED AND, YOU KNOW, IN MY OWN MIND ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS RATE INCREASE. I COULDN'T, I COULD NOT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THERE'S $150 MILLION IN THE 18 PROGRAM AND ANOTHER $60 MILLION IN THE 19 PROGRAM. TO ME, THEY'RE NOT VERY WELL IDENTIFIED OR JUSTIFIED IN THIS, IN THIS BOOK. SO, UM, I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS, BUT THAT'S WHAT I CAME UP WITH. THAT'S WHAT I COUNTED. AND THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME FROM, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT IF YOU'D LIKE, WELL, THIS WOULD, I'VE GOT LIKE 20 DIFFERENT PROJECTS HERE, AND I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY IS WILLING TO SIT IN HERE FOR ANOTHER, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE EXPLANATION. WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE WORK THROUGH WHERE WE DON'T LIST EVERY SINGLE, THE ONE OF THEM, 25,000, 50,000, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A PER PAGE BASIS. AS WE GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM EVERY YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO FIND, UM, PICK A NUMBER. LET'S SAY WE FIND 50 BROKEN VALVES IN THE STREET THAT ARE, ARE OLDER [04:15:01] VALVES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY'VE OUTLIVED THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY. IT'S GONNA HAPPEN EVERY YEAR. WE'RE GONNA FIND THOSE. WE'RE GONNA FIX THOSE. WE'RE GONNA REPLACE THOSE, THOSE ARE CAPITALIZABLE. SO WE PUT THOSE INTO A GROUP THAT WE CALLED UNSPECIFIED, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HIT THOSE WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE WORKING ON A SEWER PIPE, FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS YOU SEE ON THE SEWER LINES ARE TALKING ABOUT DISTANCES OF SEWER PIPE THAT WE WILL BE REPLACING. WELL, WE'RE GONNA FIND A WHOLE BUNCH OF, OF APPLICATIONS WHERE YOU'VE JUST GOT A SEGMENT OF SEWER PIPE, NOT A HALF A MILE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT A SINGLE SEGMENT, THAT SEGMENT IS CAPITALIZABLE. SO WE AGGREGATE THOSE AND WE PUT THOSE INTO WHAT WE CALL AN UNSPECIFIED CONTRACT. IT'D BE CRAZY TO GO OUT THERE AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE LINE. AND WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THOSE THAT COME UP DURING THE YEAR. SO WE JUST GO IN AND REPLACE THE PARTS THAT ONLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC BOOK PAGES THAT DETAIL TO THAT LEVEL. EVERY SINGLE THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IN A LOT OF APPLICATIONS, WE HAVE THAT MONEY FOR WHEN WE FIND IT, WE CAN FIX IT. AND I UNDERSTAND CONTINGENCIES, WHICH WAS ANOTHER QUESTION I ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, IF YOU PUT CONTINGENCIES IN THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS HERE, BECAUSE I SAW LUMP SUM CONTINGENCY PRICES IN HERE ALSO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, NO, WE DON'T. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, THE, UM, AND, AND I, I DON'T TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT HOW YOU IDENTIFY THESE PRO PROJECTS AND JUSTIFY 'EM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN THE JUSTIFICATION SAYS UNKNOWN ON 'EM. SO THAT I, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT AT ALL, AND I COULDN'T SUPPORT THAT. UM, OKAY, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT, UM, AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO ALL THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, BUT AGAIN, WHAT I'M SHOWING ON HERE IS A, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER TO ME THAT HAS NOT BEEN JUSTIFIED. UM, LET'S TALK, LET'S BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR RATE INCREASE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE, THAT'S ANOTHER $30 MILLION A YEAR THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE 170 THAT WE'RE ALREADY GETTING, KIND OF TOOK A LOOK AT THE OVERALL SYSTEM. AND THIS, THIS, THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF IT, BUT, UM, WE'VE GOT OTHER FEES AND, UH, RATES OUT HERE THAT HAS BEEN COM ADDED TO OVER THE LAST, ABOUT THE SAME TIMEFRAME THAT SAS STARTED RAISING AND JUST ADDING THEM UP, THE SOLID WASTE FEES, STORM WATER FEES, PARKS, ENVIRONMENTAL FEES, UH, ACROSS ALL THAT TIME WE'RE TALKING, OH, ABOUT $215 MILLION A YEAR EXTRA. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE C P S FEE INCREASES THAT THEY'VE HAD TWO OF 'EM IN THE LAST, UH, SIX, SEVEN YEARS AS WELL. SO THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING THEIR, THEIR RATE INCREASES. SO, UH, THAT ALONG WITH YOUR RATE INCREASE HERE IS PUTTING A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON THE FOLKS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THAT, ALONG WITH THE JUSTIFICATIONS THAT YOU PROVIDED ME AND THE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS, I, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. UM, AND I CAN SAY THAT, UM, UM, WE, WE NEED SOME MORE SCRUBBING ON THESE AND REALLY GET DOWN TO, TO THE BONE ON WHAT THE REAL REQUIREMENT IS AND NOT JUST ADDING ANOTHER HALF A PERCENT OR, OR ANOTHER PERCENT TO THE PROJECTS JUST TO BRING SOME MORE PROJECTS AHEAD. AGAIN, WE'RE ALREADY GETTING $170 MILLION A YEAR AS OF LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR, ANOTHER 30 $200 MILLION A YEAR EXTRA. AND WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT $350 MILLION TOWARDS THAT BILLION DOLLAR BILL ON THE CONSENT DECREE IF, IF I REMEMBER THE NUMBERS CORRECTLY. SO, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO MEET, TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. AND, AND THAT WAS WITH OUR EXISTING RATE INCREASES AS OF NOW. SO AGAIN, I'M JUST HAVING A HARD TIME SUPPORTING THIS RATE INCREASE AT THIS TIME WITHOUT THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION. UM, HAVING SAID ALL THAT, UH, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE I GOT ALL MY NOTES. AND I, I HAVE GOTTEN TONS OF EMAILS REQUESTS FROM, AND I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL SUPPORTING THIS. I'M A PRO BUSINESS AND PRO PRO DEVELOPMENT [04:20:01] GUY, AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR, THEIR CONCERNS. BUT AGAIN, I POINT BACK TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN AND WE GET NOW EVERY YEAR ON, ON THE EXPANSION OF, OF OUR SYSTEMS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO, UH, WITH THAT, I THINK, WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M GONNA, HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND HOW MUCH THE CITY IS GONNA BE GETTING OUT OF THIS RATE INCREASE? UH, 2.7% OF, UM, GROSS REVENUES. UM, CAN YOU DO THE MATH REAL QUICK? UM, I THINK IT'S, HERE YOU GO, BEN. I THOUGHT IT WAS ON TWO. OKAY, SO IN 2018, SO OUR FISCAL YEAR RUNS FROM OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER. SO IT RUNS FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER. SO THE RATE INCREASE WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR NINE MONTHS. FOR OUR FY 2013, UH, THE NET WOULD BE ABOUT $540,000 ROUGHLY AS AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE TO US, A FULL YEAR WILL BE ABOUT 700, 10,000. I THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, BUT, UH, UM, THIS WASN'T IN OUR 18 BUDGET. NO, SIR. WE NEVER BILLED IN, UM, RATE INCREASES INTO THE BUDGET SO THAT, UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL HAVE TO DELIBERATE FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE. OKAY. WE DON'T BUILD THAT INTO OUR BUDGET. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND SIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ALSO. I NEED, UH, CITY ATTORNEY. WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR ALREADY. UH, CAN WE ENTERTAIN ANOTHER, IT, UH, MAYOR, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE COUNCILMAN'S MOTION IS IN ANY WAY, UH, CONTRADICTORY TO THE MOTION WE CURRENTLY HAVE. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE, UH, OTHER TWO MOTIONS WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, NEGATING EITHER ONE OF 'EM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE OKAY. OKAY. I, I'D LIKE TO MOTION THAT THE CITY FOREGO THAT, UM, PORTION TO SHOW AT LEAST THE CITY'S COMPASSION, UH, TO THE RESIDENTS HERE AND FORGO THAT DIFFERENT FEE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FROM SA SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN OUR BUDGET TO BEGIN WITH. I KNOW IT'S NOT A, A HUGE PORTION, BUT IF THIS, UH, BUDGET DOES GET PASSED, I WOULD LIKE TO FOREGO THAT, THAT PORTION. OKAY. SO I, I'LL NEED YOU TO WORD YOUR MOTION INTO AN AMENDMENT OF THE MAIN MOTION. OKAY. UM, WOULD BE, OKAY. SAY THAT AGAIN. SO WE HAVE A, A MAIN MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE 2018 AND 2019 RATE ADJUSTMENTS. WE HAVE A PRIMARY MOTION THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP FIRST THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE 2019 RATE ADJUSTMENT. YOU WANT TO, UM, MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE 2018 RATE ADJUSTMENT AND AN AMOUNT UNSPECIFIED YET. UH, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION WITH THE DOLLAR FIGURE THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED. OKAY. UM, WELL, I'M, UH, MAKING A MOTION TO AMEND THE, THE PRIMARY TO REDUCE THE 18, UM, BUDGET BY THAT AMOUNT THAT THE CITY WAS GONNA BE GETTING FROM THAT BUDGET. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? REDUCE THE REVENUE FROM RIGHT RATE REVENUE. I, UH, IT, IF, IF I MAY, I, WHAT I SUGGEST COUNCILMAN THAT I THINK THE, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS AN AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE REVENUE THAT THE CITY WOULD, WOULD RECEIVE FROM THE RATE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE. EXACTLY. THANK YOU, ANDY. OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION SECOND, AND THERE IS A SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION TO REDUCE THE 2018 RATE ADJUSTMENT BY THE AMOUNT OF THE CITY'S, UH, PORTION OF THE RATE INCREASE. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO COUNCILMAN VIA GRAHAM. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. FIRST, ROBERT, ARE WE ON TIME? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ARE WE FULLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CONSENT DECREE HAS IDENTIFIED? YES. UH, ON TIME, ON BUDGET, UH, EVERY SINGLE REPORT, EVERY SINGLE MILESTONE, EVERY SINGLE, UH, DEMAND OR ASK IN THE CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN MET. AND SO ALL OF THOSE PIPES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, WHEN WILL ALL OF THESE PIPES, SPECIFICALLY ALSO THE SEWER PIPES BE FIXED? UM, WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE [04:25:01] THAT TO BE FIXED AND COMPLETED THAT WE MET ALL OF IT. IT'S A 10 YEAR CONSENT DECREE, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE 'EM ALL IDENTIFIED BY 2019 MM-HMM. , WHICH IS A REPORT THAT IS DUE AND THE CONSTRUCTION ON THEM HAS TO BE COM. I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE COMPLETED, UH, BY 20 20 23 COMPLETED BY 2023. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A TWO YEAR, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND IT BY TWO YEARS. IF WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS REGARD REGARDING REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE SEWER LINES TO BE DONE BY 2023, CORRECT. WITH THAT CAVEAT YOU MENTIONED RIGHT THERE. CORRECT. UM, SO TO BE CLEAR, I THINK IT WAS A QUESTION ASKED, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS CLEAR ENOUGH FOR ME. UM, THE $5.7 MILLION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN TO DISCOUNT, UH, AFFORDABILITY TO THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, YES. THAT'S FOR 5.7 MILLION IS FOR 2018 AND 5.7 MILLION IN 2019. UH, 5.7 2018, ANOTHER 5.7 2019. OKAY. AND I'M SORRY. SO YES, I DID, UH, ANSWER, COUNCILMAN SALDANA AND I WENT BACK AND FOUND OUT WE HAVE ADDED THAT ADDITIONAL MILLION. SO WE NORMALLY DO GROW THAT AMOUNT BY THE AMOUNT OF THE RATE INCREASE. SO THAT 5.7 MILLION DOES GROW BY THE 4.7% RATE INCREASE, BRINGING THAT 5.7 MILLION IN 2019 TO ALMOST $6 MILLION. OKAY. IN 2019. SO WE WILL HAVE $6 MILLION AVAILABLE IN 2019. SO AS THE RATE ADJUSTMENT GOES, THEN THE AFFORDABILITY GOES UP. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. UM, TO BE CLEAR, UH, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC CONCERNS AREN'T REALLY WITH THE PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, PROJECTS, WE KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO BE FIXED BECAUSE WE LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY IN OUR STREETS. AND RESIDENTS APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR THE MAINTENANCE, ESPECIALLY THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG NEGLECTED IN THE PAST. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW AT ONE OF THE, THE DISTRICT SEVEN COMMUNITY MEETINGS, THE RESIDENTS WERE WILLING TO BE EDUCATED AND SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL WORK FOR THE MAINTENANCE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THE HUGE CONCERNS FOR MY RESIDENTS, FOR DISTRICT THREE RESIDENTS AND OTHERS, ARE THAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO FOOT A SIGNIFICANT BILL BECAUSE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE NEGLECTED IN THE PAST AND TO BENEFIT OTHER PARTS OF TOWN THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GROW, THAT ARE CONTINUING TO BE BUILT OUT. SO, UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ENTIRE TIME. AND AS YOU EVEN, UH, OPENED YOUR STATEMENTS WITH THAT, THIS IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. SO THE SSOS THAT RESULTED IN THE CONSENT DECREE, UM, THEY WERE HAPPENING IN LOWER, UH, INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED. AND SO NOW WE'RE ASKING OUR CONSTITUENCIES TO PUT ON MORE OF, UM, SOME, SOME DOLLARS IN THIS AMOUNT. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO MENTIONED SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THESE DOLLARS AND THE WORDS EQUITY, AFFORDABILITY, CONSENT, DECREE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, HAVE THESE WORDS AND PHRASES HAVE BEEN SWIRLING IN MY MIND AND WRINGING IN MY EARS AND IN MY DREAMS. AND SO I WANNA GO THROUGH THESE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, THERE ARE MANY BURDENS, AS I MENTIONED, THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN HAD HAD TO LIVE WITH. AND THAT IS, HAS TO DO WITH MY RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES TO SEWAGE PITS, WHEN IT COMES TO ODOR. AND HOW WILL YOU, AND HOW ARE YOU AT SAWS GOING TO ENSURE THAT THESE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE BUILT, UM, TO ALLEVIATE OR TO DIMINISH THE STORM WATER SEWAGE RUNOFF IN THIS, IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE BUILT AND THAT THEY'RE BUILT TO A QUALITY OF SATISFACTION. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE BUILDING THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THAT THEY ARE BUILT TO A STANDARD WHERE THEY COULD STAND UP TO ANY PART OF TOWN, AND THAT THE ODOR IS THEN IS TAKEN AWAY AND NOT HAVING TO BE DEALT WITH BY MY RESIDENTS THAT GO TO FIVE DIAMONDS OR THAT GO IN AND AROUND THE AREAS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL, UM, BUILD THAT INTO THIS BUDGET. AND ARE YOU ALL DOING THAT? YES, WE ARE. AND HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING THAT? BY PUTTING THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT YOU MENTIONED INTO THE BUDGET. OKAY. AND SO MOVING FORWARD, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UM, THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE DONE, AS YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, THE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU'VE INCREASED AT SAWS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES. YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS DONE PAID FAMILY LEAVE. [04:30:01] AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF YOU ALL AT SAS HAVEN'T DONE IT AND THE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE FOR YOUR SAS EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WORK HARD AND I KNOW THEY NEED THAT KIND OF EQUITY. AND WHAT ARE YOU ALL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE PUT THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS FORWARD, IF WE PUT THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS FORWARD, WHEN WILL THEY STOP? WHEN WILL THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS STOP? IT WAS BROUGHT UP TO A POINT TO SAY, UM, ARE THESE GOING TO BE RATE ADJUSTMENTS IN PERPETUITY? ARE WE GOING TO BE CONSTANTLY DOING THIS? WHEN WILL, WE DON'T WANNA GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE LIKE ATLANTA AND HAVING A TRIPLE RATE ADJUSTMENT TO OUR BILLS? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO, FOR EXAMPLE, IS AGAIN, WITH THE HELP OF CITY COUNCIL IS CREATE A WATER SECURITY, UH, IN THE DECADES IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE VISTA RICH PROJECT. THE VISTA RICH PROJECT, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE PRIOR COUNCIL. AND THIS COUNCIL, UH, THAT PROJECT ESSENTIALLY WILL BE, BE PAID FOR, FOR OUR, SO OUR WATER SUPPLY SITUATION IS GONNA BE VERY STABLE FOR DECADES TO COME. UH, WE DON'T ANTICIPATE, UH, BIG NEEDS AS FAR AS WATER SUPPLY INTO THE FUTURE. UH, WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR SEWER SYSTEM, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE INVESTING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY INTO IT, A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE NEGLECT OF, UH, IN THE 1990S AND THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS. UH, UM, HOWEVER, THE COUNTLESS OF MILES OF SEWER SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE EACH YEAR, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE BECOMES, UH, OLDER AND FITS INTO THAT BUCKET OF, UH, BEING OVER 50 YEARS OLD OR ANOTHER BUCKET OF BEING OVER 40 YEARS OLD AND ON. SO WE, WE DO NEED, SEE A NEED FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM. SO THE, THE ANSWER OF WHEN WILL THESE STOP, I CANNOT TELL YOU THEY WILL STOP IN A CERTAIN YEAR, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE, THE HIGHER AMOUNTS OF THESE RATE INCREASES WILL, IF WE DO HAVE TO HAVE RATE INCREASES, WILL BE A LOT LOWER, WILL BE A LOT SMALLER. OKAY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING I DEFINITELY WANNA START CONTINUING TO LOOK AT AND PAIN AND, AND HAVING BAD PIPES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED FOR MANY YEARS. EVEN WHAT YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEGLECTED THAT IN THE PAST. AND THAT CHART THAT YOU DID SHOW WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME INACTION FROM THE PAST, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT, WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE A RATE INCREASE. WE DIDN'T HAVE A RATE INCREASE THEN, OR IT WAS SMALL, BUT WE ALSO ARE NOW LIVING WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT CORRECT. UM, AND THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THAT, BUT FIXING YOUR PIPES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS LIKE MINE, BUT MY COMMUNITY WITH AN MEDIUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $36,280 BELIEVE THEY'RE PAYING TOO MUCH. AND I SAY, YES, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO FIX THESE PIPES. SO WHAT I'D ASK IS THAT WE GO, UM, THAT WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU SAWS, AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS WITH OUR, UM, RIGHT STRUCTURE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND ALSO WORKING WITH COUNCILWOMAN SAND DE V'S. UH, COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY, IS THAT WE'D GO CENSUS TRACK BY CENSUS TRACK TO LOOK AT THE BURDEN WE'RE PLACING ON PEOPLE USING A M I OR SOME OTHER VARIABLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME TALKING AVERAGE RATE PAYERS AND WEIGHTED AVERAGES AND NOT ENOUGH ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAR AWAY FROM EVEN THOSE AVERAGES WHO NEED HELP THE MOST. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BE SURE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO LOOK AT THOSE TO REALLY GET INTO THE, TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF IT AND WORK WITH THE RATE STRUCTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OTHERS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. UM, ON THAT NOTE, YES, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL HAS GIVEN US, UH, GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH HER AND DISCUSS THOSE CONCERNS. AND WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS TO HER AND NOW TO YOU THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT AND WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR OFFICES TO DO THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW ON AFFORDABILITY, UM, I DO SAY THAT THERE IS, THERE IS A, IT IS VALID TO SAY THAT WE, WE KNOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, BUT YES, OUR, OUR RATES ARE GOING UP, SO WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASE OF PEOPLE NEEDING THEM AND WE'RE PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TIME RAISING OUR RATES. BUT ON THAT NOTE TOO, I AND ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS STAYED HERE ALL DAY LONG AND ALL MORNING LONG AND BEEN HERE, AND WELCOME TO THE NEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOINED US FOR THE TWO O'CLOCK SESSION. UM, BUT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT THE FEES, AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT FEES OF HAVING TO PAY FOR FEES WHEN THEY WANT TO PAY BY CARD, UM, AND FEES WHEN THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR BILL. AND I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP TO MY [04:35:01] ATTENTION IN THE SOUTH SIDE, IS THAT WHEN YOU GO ONTO YOUR WEBSITE, WE IN, IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, UH, TO PAY IN PERSON BECAUSE MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY ONLINE. SO WE NO LONGER HAVE A SOUTH SIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. THERE'S THE EAST SIDE, THE WEST SIDE, AND THE SAS MAIN OFFICE. NOW I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE THESE PAY AGENCY LOCATIONS LIKE H E B, BUT ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, A MAJORITY OF YOUR PAY LOCATIONS ARE ALSO CHECK CASHING SERVICE AND PAYDAY LOAN PLACES YOU USE A, YOU USE, UM, OTHER LOCATIONS AND, UM, MONEY BOX PAYDAY LOANS AREAS, AND CHECK CASHING SERVICES. IT'S ALL ON YOUR WEBSITE. SO WHAT I WOULD IMPLORE FOR YOU, OUR SAS BOARD, IS TO TAKE A LOOK OF WHERE YOU'RE ASKING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO, TO GO PAY THEIR SASS BILL BECAUSE HAVING THEM GO WALK INTO PAYDAY LOAN LOCATIONS OR CHECKS CASHING SERVICES IS NOT DOING BEING A GOOD SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS WHO NEED THE MOST HELP. SO THAT'S ANOTHER, UM, THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY. UM, ON THAT NOTE, AND FOR, UH, AFFORDABILITY AS WELL, I DON'T THINK PIECEMEALING AFFORDABILITY WOULD BE, UM, IS WHERE WE NEED TO GO. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS. I KNOW THAT MY, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE LED THE CHARGE GREATLY ON, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABILITY, AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THAT BECAUSE THIS ACT TEAM TOO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND TO HELP BRING THAT UNDERSTANDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND FINALLY, UM, ROBERT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING THE ENTIRE CITY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUTURE OF OUR WATER AND A SIGNIFICANT SACRIFICE. AND I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER, UM, DONATE, UH, USING YOUR BONUS TO GIVE TO THOSE THAT ARE THOSE SIZE RATE PAYERS THAT ARE WHO, WHO NEED IT THE MOST AND BRINGING IT TOWARDS OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN GRO. UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE FOR THE 2:00 PM CERTAIN ZONING MEETING, WE WERE, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT WE'RE STILL CURRENTLY IN OUR A SESSION AGENDA. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE COUNCIL FINISH THIS, VOTE THIS ITEM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BREAK FOR 15 MINUTES AND WE'LL COME BACK FOR THE ZONING ITEMS. SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS STILL LEFT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. WE'LL BEGIN WITH ANNA CO. COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, UH, THANK YOU TO THOSE RESIDENTS, UH, MS. VALA FROM, FROM MY DISTRICT WHO CAME TO SPEND HER MORNING AND APPARENTLY AFTERNOON HERE WITH US, AND TO ALL OF THOSE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT LAST NIGHT FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, UH, THIS TIME AND THE PREVIOUS TIMES. THANK YOU, ROBERT AND YOUR STAFF. YOU HAVE MET WITH ME A NUMBER OF TIMES. UH, YOU'VE RESPONDED TO A NUMBER OF THE QUESTIONS THAT, THAT I'VE ASKED AND, AND EVEN GONE OUT AND HELD THE TOWN HALL AS AS I REQUESTED. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANNA THANK THE, THE MAYOR AND OUR CITY MANAGER FOR GIVING US THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO DELIBERATE AND DISCUSS AND UNDERSTAND THIS RATE INCREASE. IT IS, UH, IT IS COMPLICATED. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT VOTES I'VE HAD SO FAR BEING A NEW MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. SO I, I DO WANNA THANK THEM FOR, FOR THEIR PATIENCE ON THAT. UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, WE HAVE SEWAGE OVERFLOWS IN OUR STREETS, AND THAT IS NOT A WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE. SO I, I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THAT, AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE STRATEGY TO, TO DO THAT. I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT MY COMMUNITY HAS SAFE DRINKING WATER. UM, YOU'VE SEEN ME ADVOCATE DRINKING FROM TAP AND NOT BUYING BOTTLED WATER. SOME OF SOME PEOPLE MAY SPEND MORE MONEY ON BOTTLED WATER THAN ON THEIR, PERHAPS THEIR WHOLE, THEIR WHOLE WATER BILL. AND I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE OPTION TO DRINK CLEAN WATER FROM THEIR TAP. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF A STRATEGY THAT GETS US THERE. UM, BUT I'M ALSO EXTREMELY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE, UM, A LOT OF LIMITED OR FIXED INCOMES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND EVEN PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE FIXED INCOMES, UM, EVERY, EVERY TIME WE RAISE THE RATES, IT IS, IT IS ASKING PEOPLE TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS IN, IN SOME WAY OR OTHER. AND THEREFORE, ALL OF THESE DECISIONS DESERVE A LOT OF OUR SCRUTINY AND, UH, DUE DILIGENCE ON OUR PART. UM, I'M THANKFUL TO THE MAYOR FOR SERVING ON THE SORROWS BOARD. [04:40:01] UM, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY SITUATION WE HAVE, RIGHT, WHERE YOU'RE A MUNICIPAL UTILITY, BUT YOU'RE KIND OF A FEW STEPS REMOVED FROM THE RATE PAYERS AND, AND FROM THE VOTERS. AND, AND THAT WAS BY DESIGN. UM, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR MAYOR HAS PUT YOU THROUGH THE PACES THAT HE'S NEEDED TO IN SCRUTINIZING THIS RATE INCREASE BEFORE HE BROUGHT IT HERE. UM, JUST A, A FEW COMMENTS FOR YOU AND I IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, SINCE THE, WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING THE RATE INCREASE. I DID GO VISIT WITH NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, UM, IN THE AREA. AND I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OFFICES, UH, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND, AND, UH, THE SENATOR'S OFFICE. THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. AND WHEN I WENT OUT AND SPOKE WITH FOLKS, UM, THERE WAS SOME ELEMENT OF SKEPTICISM TO THE NEED FOR THE RATE INCREASE. AND I, I TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHY I, MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THE RATE INCREASE WAS, WAS NEEDED, BUT I THINK I ONLY MADE IT WORSE. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE I SAID, WELL, WE HAVE SEWAGE FLOWING IN THE STREETS AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, NEGLECTED TO MAINTAIN IT FOR SO MANY YEARS. SO THAT CREATED, UH, NOT THAT CREATED, BUT THAT, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SOME LACK OF FAITH, RIGHT? IS THE PUBLIC IS SAYING, HOW CAN WE BE SURE THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN? SO TO THAT EXTENT, I REALLY SUPPORT THE SUGGESTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ MADE ABOUT MAKING THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE SO THEY CAN REGAIN THEIR TRUST IN YOU, THAT AS THEY'RE GIVING YOU MORE, MORE OF THEIR RATE MONEY, IT'S GOING AND IT'S PRODUCING A, A BENEFIT, RIGHT? THAT THE, THAT THAT SEWAGE PIPE IS IN A BETTER CONDITION. UM, THEY DIDN'T KNOW. SO MY RESIDENTS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW, UH, ABOUT THE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR PIPES AND WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO COST. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, ROBERT, WHAT THEY DID KNOW ABOUT WAS YOUR BONUS AND THAT IT WAS TWICE THE AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, THE MEDIAN SALARY HERE, HERE IN THE AREA. AND THEY DID KNOW THAT THEIR RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASING SINCE 2011. AND I THINK SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION IS, LIKE THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID, COUNCILWOMAN VI IS, WHEN IS THIS GONNA STOP? RIGHT? SO IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE FAITH IN YOU IS WE NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE PLANNED THIS OUT IN THE FUTURE, AND THAT YOU CAN GIVE US A SENSE OF WHEN THOSE RATES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN TO SOMETHING MORE LIKE, UH, INFLATION RATES. SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT AGAIN? DID YOU SAY 2022? IS THAT WHAT I WELL, THE, THE EASY ANSWER WOULD BE FOR ME TO TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE GONNA STOP AND JUST GIVE YOU A YEAR AND THEN RELY ON WHATEVER HAPPENS THAT YEAR TO COME IN AND TRY TO EXPLAIN AWAY, UH, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS KICKING THE ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD. SO I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT OUR WATER SUPPLY SITUATION IS A MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE SITUATION THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN BEFORE. UH, WE HAVE, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PRESENTATION, ACQUIRED THE SHIRT SINE PROJECT THAT AT THE TIME WAS THE LARGEST DIVERSIFICATION FROM THE EDWARDS. AND THEN QUICKLY AFTER THAT, TWO OR THREE YEARS AFTER THAT WAS OUR DESALINATION PLAN CAME ONLINE THIS YEAR. NOW IT'S THE LARGEST DIVERSIFICATION FROM THE EDWARDS. THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT WILL BE ONLINE IN 2020. SO THAT, I THINK THAT HALF OF OUR BUSINESS, THE WATER SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS, I I CAN SEE VERY MINIMAL, VERY MINIMAL RATE INCREASES IN THE FUTURE. AND SPORADIC, UH, THE WASTEWATER, UH, SITUATION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. UH, AS I MENTIONED, UH, WE ARE A VERY LARGE UTILITY, OVER 12,000 MILES OF WATER AND WASTEWATER PIPES. AND EACH YEAR, A CERTAIN PART OF THAT BECOMES OLDER AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE THAT. SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I DO SEE THE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE THESE LARGE RATE INCREASES. AND I DO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THESE FREQUENT RATE INCREASES. UH, BUT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN IT WOULD BE VERY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO TELL YOU STANDING RIGHT HERE IN 2017 THAT I CAN SAY NO RATE INCREASES AND GIVE YOU A YEAR. BUT WHAT I CAN PROMISE YOU IS THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY, BETTER VISIBILITY, BETTER OUTREACH FOR THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, BETTER COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR RAY PAYERS, UH, TAKING ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT I GET FROM EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WHEN I MEET WITH Y'ALL AS TO THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM THAT'S COME TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND I KNOW THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL WITH THAT PROBLEM IS PROBABLY MULTIPLIED BY 15 OR 20, MAYBE 200, UH, BUT THAT PERSON HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR ASSISTANCE, BUT THERE'S A THOUSAND MORE THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND SO I'M AWARE OF THAT. AND SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I'M LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS THAT'S GOING ON, AND [04:45:01] THESE RATE, AND TO TELL YOU THESE RATE INCREASES ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOURSELVES. AND THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME. THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT FOR MY BOARD AND VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR STAFF. WE TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HONEST WITH, WITH YOUR ANSWER. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I JUST, I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT NOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE GETTING AN INVENTORY OF, OF THE PIPES AND YOU KNOW, WHAT CONDITION THEY'RE IN AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HAVE A PLAN, THE FINANCIAL FUTURE FOR, FOR THE RATE INCREASES, UM, ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. UH, YOU AND I HAD THIS DISCUSSION. I, YOU KNOW, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS. SO YOU SAID, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, AMP UP THE, THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. UH, BUT I, I WANTED SOME SPECIFICS. I SAID, WELL, YOU CAN PUT MORE MONEY IN THERE, BUT HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET IT? AND HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE'VE ALLOTTED ENOUGH TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT? SO WHAT I WAS LOOKING TO YOUR TEAM TO DO IS SAY, WHO'S, IF I LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH I IMAGINE YOU DO WHEN YOU PLAN FOR WATER, HOW CAN I IDENTIFY WHAT THE NEED IS BASED ON, ON INCOME LEVELS GOING CENSUS TRACK BY CENSUS TRACK, JUST LIKE THE, THE COUNCILWOMAN STATED. SO HOW CAN YOU TELL US THAT, THAT YOU HAVE A PLAN TO REACH THE, THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS? THE, THE PLAN IS TO GET, UH, AS SPECIFIC AS WE CAN AND DO WITH WATER AND WASTEWATER AS TO WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE. IT'S NOT OUR CORE BUSINESS. SO WE PROBABLY HAVE TO FORM A LITTLE BIT OUT, UH, OUT THAT, UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S DEMOGRAPHIC, DEMOGRAPHIC AT, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, U T S A. WE'VE LOOKED INTO THOSE, UM, UH, HIRING ONE TO HELP US WITH THOSE NUMBERS. UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A, A GEAR UP STARTING RIGHT NOW TO GET READY FOR THE 2020 CENSUS. AND SO THERE'S THAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO LATCH ONTO THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT'S COMING OUR WAY SO THAT WE DO AN SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THE UNIVERSE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND HELP THOSE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE RENTERS AND SO THEY DON'T NECESSARILY PAY A WATER BILL, AND THERE'S MAYBE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN, CAN LOOK AT. BUT THAT BASIC SAWS RATE PAYER THAT DOES SEE THE, UM, THIS RATE INCREASE WHERE IT REALLY DOES AFFECT THEM, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT ALL OF THAT UNIVERSE AND HOW WE CAN REACH AND GET THOSE, UH, PEOPLE INTO OUR PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, ROBERT. AND THANK YOU. YOU'RE MAKING A LOT OF COMMITMENTS HERE TODAY, , AND I KNOW THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE REFLECTED IN THE RECORD. AND, AND FRANKLY, THERE ARE COMMITMENTS THAT, UH, THAT I WANT TO KEEP, THAT IT'S MY DUTY, MY FIDUCIARY DUTY TO KEEP, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A WATER UTILITY, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A SUBSECTION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S OWNED BY THE PUBLIC. AND I HAVE A DUTY TO NOT ONLY KEEP THE RATES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, BUT THAT SAME DUTY, THAT UTILITY DUTY OF PROVIDING RELIABLE CLEAN WATER. OKAY. UM, SO ONLY ONE MORE, UH, ONE MORE BIT OF CRITICISM, THAT I'M GOING TO, TO GIVE YOU. AND THAT'S, UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE IN A TOUGH SITUATION. YOU'RE, YOU'RE KIND OF TWICE REMOVED FROM THE, FROM THE RESIDENCE DUE TO YOUR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE. AND I, I REALLY FEEL, UM, HAVING ONLY ONE TOWN HALL ON THIS ISSUE AND ONE FACEBOOK LIVE, UH, EVENT FOR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERY SINGLE RATE PAYER IN OUR COMMUNITY IS, IT REALLY LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED IN TERMS OF, OF THE OUTREACH FOR THAT. I, UH, I KNOW YOU LISTED SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT YOU WENT TO, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND WHEN WE COME BACK, UH, PROBABLY IN TWO YEARS TO REVIEW, UH, ANOTHER RATE INCREASE THAT THAT IS A MUCH MORE FULLY DEVELOPED ENGAGEMENT PLAN AND OUTREACH PLAN, UM, THAT IT HAS A WAY TO TARGET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE MOST AFFECTED BY IT. AND, AND THAT YOU ALSO GET INPUT ON, ON HOW YOU DO THAT OUTREACH. UM, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THAT, AND THAT WE OWE IT TO, TO OUR RATE PAYERS TO MAKE THEM A PART OF THIS PROCESS. UH, I CAN, I CAN HEAR MY STAFF BEHIND ME SAYING THAT WE HAD MORE THAN ONE FACEBOOK LIVE, MORE THAN ONE TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE MORE. I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT. UH, IT'S, IT'S LIKE ANYTHING THERE ELSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER, AND WE WANT TO DO BETTER. AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WHEN, UH, I AM BEFORE YOU, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ABOUT A RATE INCREASE, THAT, UM, YOU WILL BE, UM, HAPPY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS FAR AS THAT OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YES, AS YOU'RE GEARING UP TO DO IT WHEN IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO, TO GIVE SOME INPUT ON THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. PUENTE. AND TO YOUR STAFF, TO MARY BAILEY, WHO, UH, CAME OUT TO, TO DISTRICT SEVEN, WELL, TECHNICALLY LEON VALLEY, UH, TO DISTRICT SEVEN. SHE WAS SO PATIENT WITH [04:50:01] ALL OF THE QUESTIONS. UH, SHE DIDN'T LEAVE TILL THE LAST QUESTION HAD BEEN ANSWERED. WE WENT WELL BEYOND THE SCHEDULED TIME. SHE WAS NEVER FLUSTERED. SHE WAS VERY MATTER OF FACT. UH, AND SHE WAS VERY COURTEOUS WITH ALL OF HER ANSWERS. SO I, I REALLY WANNA GIVE MARY BAILEY A A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE, UH, I, I THINK SHE'S DONE A LOT FOR, FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION. UM, YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UH, SHE WAS NOT A VICE PRESIDENT AND, UM, SHE DIDN'T EVEN APPLY. I JUST PROMOTED HER INTO A VICE PRESIDENT POSITION. SHE'S THAT GOOD. SHE IS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. COUNCILMAN SHAW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, HUH? ONE, ONE OF THE ISSUES I THINK THAT WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IS PUBLIC TRUST, PUBLIC PUBLIC PERCEPTION. AND I'VE HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING REGARDING THAT. AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO, THE PILL WE'RE TRYING TO SWALLOW IS THE BONUS THAT YOU RECEIVED THE SAME TIME REQUESTING AN INCREASE, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU PUT IT OR HOW YOU SPEND IT, IT'S BAD OPTICS TO THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING. HOW AM I GOING TO PAY SOMEBODY X WHEN YOU'RE CHARGING ME MORE? AND IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY, IT'S OWNED BY THE PUBLIC. SO KINDA EXPLAIN TO US, IF WE, IF WE SAY, IS IT FROM THE SAME BUDGET, YOUR, YOUR SALARY THAT YOU EARN WITH C P S, I'M SORRY, WITH SAS, IS THAT CONTINGENT UPON THE PAY INCREASE? NO, OF COURSE NOT. UM, UH, THE, THE ONLY, UH, COMMON, UH, THREAD IS THAT IT'S PAID FOR MY SALARY, MY COMPENSATION, IT'S PAID FOR FROM THE RATE BY THE RATE PAYER. THAT'S THE COMMON THREAD. UH, BUT WE HAVE AN $800 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET, $800 MILLION TO GIVE YOU A, PER AN IDEA OF WHAT, UH, IMPACT THAT IS. BUT I KNOW THAT THE IMPACT IS NOT THAT PERCENTAGE OR THAT MONETARY, IT'S THE PERCEPTION. IT'S THE, UM, THE FLASH POINT. IT'S THE ATTACK POINT. IT'S WHAT A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE AGAINST THIS RATE INCREASE WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT. IT'S A DIVER DIVERSION. IT'S WHATEVER IT WANTS TO BE. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S SYMBOLIC. IT'S, AND SO I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT I DON'T SET MY SALARY. THE BOARD DOES. AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S TWO BOARD MEMBERS HERE THAT, UH, THREE ACTUALLY WITH OUR MAYOR THAT CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. AND THE MAYOR HAS EXPRESSED A DESIRE THAT THERE BE A NEW COMPENSATION LOOK AT IT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING. AND I, I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT. AND I WOULD ALSO ASK IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR BOARD THAT IF, WHILE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CONSENT DE DECREE THAT WE DON'T OFFER ANY MORE BONUSES, NO MORE IS, UH, SALARY INCREASES BECAUSE WE NEED, WE NEED TO JUSTIFY THE MONEY GOING AND HANDLING THE CONSENT DECREE. SO I, I SAID WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND SEE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME REALLY BIG ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR OLDER COMMUNITIES. LIKE MANY OF OUR OLDER COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE PIPES THAT CAUSE SO MANY PROBLEMS. AND THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORT OF THIS, THIS INCREASE BECAUSE IT, I, I'M LOOKING AT THIS THROUGH THAT EQUITY LENS. WE'RE HAVING SOME OF OUR OLDER DISTRICTS, OUR OLDER COMMUNITIES, OR OUR HOUSING STOCK IS SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY'RE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON WATER BECAUSE OF WATER LEAKS. THEY'RE CALLING OUT SALTS EVERY WEEK, EVERY TWO WEEKS, BECAUSE WATER'S CONSISTENTLY BEING LEAKED ALL OVER THE STREETS. AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE STOP THAT. AND I BELIEVE FROM MY DISCUSSION WITH YOU IS THAT THIS INCREASE WILL HELP HELP RECTIFY THAT ISSUE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. I'M ALSO GONNA ASK FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE UPDATES TO THE COUNCIL. UM, I, THIS CAME ALL OF A SUDDEN WE KNEW IT WAS COMING, BUT THEN IT, IT, IT APPEARED AND THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M GLAD THE MAYOR DELAYED IT SO WE CAN ASK MORE QUESTIONS AND GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE TRANSPARENCY, NOT ONLY WITH US, BUT ALSO WITH THE CONSTITUENTS WE SERVE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB COMING OUT TO DISTRICT TWO. WE HAD ONE, UH, BIG TOWN HALL MEETING, WHICH WE, WE, UH, THE CONSTITUENTS ASKED YOU QUESTIONS, YOUR STAFF QUESTIONS, AND IT WAS A GREAT DIALOGUE. WE ALSO HAD SAS AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND ONCE CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTOOD WHY WE HAVE TO DO THIS, THEY WERE, THEY'RE BETTER, THEY'RE UNDERSTOOD. AND THEIR MORE UNDERSTANDING OF MOVING FORWARD, THEY WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD. AND GOING TO COUNCILMAN, SO DANIEL'S POINT AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. AND THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS IS, YOU PURCHASE A CAR, YOU DON'T GIVE IT AN OIL CHANGE, YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR TIRES, YOU DON'T PUT GAS, YOU JUST KEEP DRIVING IT TILL THE WHEELS FALL OFF. WELL, IT'S GONNA BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO FIX THAT CAR UNLESS YOU MAINTAIN CONSTANT UPDATES TO THAT CAR. I DO NOT WANNA SEE OUR CHILDREN OR OUR GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS POSITION AGAIN. AND I THINK IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOW, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE, A LOT MORE THAN WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR TODAY. SO HAVE YOU PUT TOGETHER A PLAN? IF WE SAY NO TODAY, HOW MUCH IT WILL COST US IN THE NEXT FIVE OR NEXT 10 YEARS? ONCE, UM, THAT THAT CONSENT DECREE RUNS? UH, NOT, NOT THE 10 YEAR, UH, UH, [04:55:01] TIMEFRAME THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT YES, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DON'T DO CERTAIN THINGS TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE MORE, UH, SSOS UH, SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS. WE WILL HAVE MORE LINE BREAKS. WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO 'EM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. UH, MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS WILL BE DELAYED, WILL BE PUSHED BACK, AND THEN THEY WILL BECOME MORE COSTLY. SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY, COUNCILMAN, AND WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL HOPEFULLY IS GOING TO DO TODAY IS BITE THE BULLET AND, AND ADMIT TO, UH, TO THE, UH, COMMUNITY OUT THERE THAT THERE, YOUR PREDECESSORS DID NOT BITE THAT BULLET THAT YOU'RE HAVING TO DO IT FOR THEM. AND COUNCILMAN SALDANA TALKED ABOUT THAT HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PAST, BUT EACH ONE OF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FUTURE, AND YOU'RE DOING IT BY VOTING FOR THIS RATE INCREASE. YOU'RE ALLOWING US TO PAY FOR CERTAIN THINGS TODAY THAT ARE GONNA BE CHEAPER THAN IT IS IN THE FUTURE, AND ALLOW US TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CONFRONTING US TODAY. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN SPEAKING ON, ON, ON, ON THOSE REGARDS, REGARDING THE TWO YEAR TO ONE YEAR. SO EXPLAIN TO US THE WHY WE HAVE TO DO THE TWO YEAR AND LOCKING IN THE CONTRACTS NOW FOR THE TWO YEAR CONSTRUCTION OR TWO YEAR PROJECTS. UH, UH, UH, THE TWO YEAR OPPORTUNITY, WHICH BY THE WAY, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LA SINCE 2011 ROUGHLY, IS ALLOWING US TO PLAN BETTER IN THAT REGARD. WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE PROJECTS AND KNOW THAT THE DESIGN PORTION OF IT AND THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT, UH, TIME PERIOD IN BETWEEN. OFTENTIMES BEFORE WE WOULD, UH, PUT OUT A DESIGN PACKAGE AND THE, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION PART, AND THE DESIGN WOULD JUST STAY THERE GETTING STALE, GETTING OLD, AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO RESPEND MONEY ON THAT DESIGN. SO THE TWO YEAR, UH, RATE INCREASE ALLOWS US TO, TO PLAN BETTER, TO CONTRACT BETTER, UH, TO GET BETTER PRICING AND TO REALLY MANAGE THE UTILITY IN THE WAY I THINK WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, SINCE AT LEAST 2011. AND REAL QUICKLY, I'VE HEARD SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES REGARDING, UM, THE PROJECTS AND REVIEWING THE PROJECTS AND NOT BEING VERY SPECIFIC OR DETAILED IN THE COST ESTIMATE FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS. DOES ANYONE REVIEW THOSE PROJECTS ONE BY ONE AS THEY'RE ISSUED? UH, YES. OUR ENTIRE STAFF, UH, LOOK AT IT. BEN GOZA, AS HE MENTIONED, LOOKS AT THE PRIORITY. OBVIOUSLY COUNCILMAN PERRY HAS LOOKED AT IT, AND, BUT THERE'S EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE, UH, THE, THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT HE HAD, AND WE'LL, WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH HIM. SO YES, THERE'S A LOT OF OVERSIGHT. OUR BOARD LOOKS AT IT AND ULTIMATELY, YOU, US COUNCIL MEMBERS LOOK AT IT. WELL, I, I'M NOT GONNA KEEP ANYBODY MUCH LONGER, BUT I JUST ASK BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, TO ME, IT'S A PUBLIC TRUST ISSUE. WE'RE PUTTING OUR TRUST INTO SAUL'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS THE WAY THEY, THEY DESERVE, NOT NEED TO BE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. SO I ASK THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO LET US LOAD LONG TERM. WHAT IS SAUL'S LONG TERM PLAN REGARDING AFFORDABILITY? AFFORDABILITY, AS WELL AS PROJECTS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU COME BEFORE B SESSION OFTEN SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE AND WE CAN REPORT 'EM BACK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. UH, THANK YOU AND, UH, MAYOR BERG HAS ASKED THAT WE BE IN FRONT OF YOU MORE OFTEN, AND I THINK HE'S ALREADY SCHEDULED A FEBRUARY, UH, MEETING. AND WE WILL BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU REPORTS THAT YOU MENTIONED AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTION. NO FURTHER, NO QUESTION. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SHAW. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I RECOGNIZE, AND I THINK ALL OF US RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. I THINK YOU HAVE 100% AGREEMENT THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE APPROVING AS FAR AS A RATE HIKE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT EXPENSE. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IS PRIORITY. YOU'VE ALSO PRESENTED A VERY ROSY PICTURE OF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF SAWS, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN WATER DELIVERY AND IN SEWER, UH, SEWER WORK AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I ALSO WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE 26,000 FAMILIES THAT NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT, UH, WHO'VE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. BUT IT'S THE OTHER 92% OF THE POPULATION IN THE CITY OF, UH, SAN ANTONIO. AND IN, IN YOUR, AS YOUR CUSTOMER BASE THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO THE BUSINESS. THE COST OF WATER IS SIMPLY THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. BUT TO THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER, WATER IS LIFE. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THAT ASPECT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS RATE HIKE. YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. UH, I FIND MYSELF IN A VERY AWKWARD POSITION. I HAVE BOTH CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS ASKING ME TO VOTE AGAINST THE INCREASE, UH, WHILE THE CHAMBERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS SAYING EVERYTHING IS HUNKY DOY WITH THE INCREASE. SO IT'S REALLY CAUSED ME TO, TO THINK AND CONSIDER VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THIS. [05:00:01] YOU KNOW, SINCE 2011, UH, OUR RATES HAVE INCREASED. UH, OH. I THINK WE HEARD FROM, UM, JACK FINGER AND HE PRESENTED SOME FIGURES THAT SHOWED ABOUT 58%. I DID A LITTLE WORK ON THAT AND DOUBLE CHECK THE JACK. I THINK IT'S CLOSER TO 55% INCREASE IN THE WATER CHARGES, NOT PERCENTAGE WISE, BUT I MEAN LITERALLY IT, IT BROUGHT ABOUT A 55% INCREASE IN THE ACTUAL WATER BILLS FOR THE AVERAGE SAN ANTONIO FAMILY. I'M VERY CONCERNED OVER YOUR PROPOSED RATE HIKES FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR. UM, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID WE MAY OVERBURDEN OUR RATE PAYERS WITH AN OVERALL INCREASE OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 80 AND A HUNDRED PERCENT. BEFORE WE STOP THIS, I DON'T BUY THE ARGUMENT THAT, UM, WE HAVE NOW OR MAY HAVE IN THE FUTURE THE LOWEST COST WATER COMPARED TO CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY OR IN TEXAS. UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CRITICAL ISSUE. I THINK THE, THE FACT IS THE COSTS THAT PEOPLE PAY ARE RELATIVE TO WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD. AND I BELIEVE WE CAN AND SHOULD HAVE LESS EXPENSIVE WATER THAN THESE RATE HIKES ARE DRIVING US TO. AND FURTHERMORE, I'VE HEARD NO EXPLANATION TO JUSTIFY THE WATER SUPPLY RATE INCREASE. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF JUSTIFICATION ABOUT THE WATER, UM, DELIVERY SYSTEM BEING NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED AND EVERYTHING. AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, OF COURSE, THE SEWER SYSTEM, BUT WE HAVEN'T TALKED MUCH ABOUT THE WATER INCREASE, UH, SUPPLY INCREASE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT VERY MUCH. UM, YOU KNOW, MY FELLOW COUNCIL PERSONS, UH, EARLIER, UH, DISCUSSED SOMETHING ABOUT AUDITS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND I THINK THOSE HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING WITH RATES. THE PROBLEM IS PROJECTIONS. YOUR PROJECTIONS, PROJECTIONS FOR WATER NEEDS AND WATER AVAILABILITY AND WATER USAGE. AND THIS ISN'T POLITICAL TO ME, THIS ISN'T A POLITICAL DISCUSSION. THIS IS A LEGITIMATE CITIZEN'S CONCERN. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD DOWN THE ROAD. WE'RE FACING DRAMATIC PROJECTED RATE INCREASES TO PAY FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE WATER. WATER ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN PROJECTIONS. WE DON'T NEED THIS YEAR AND THAT WE WON'T NEED NEXT YEAR, NOR WILL WE NEED IT WHEN WE START PAYING FOR IT IN 2020 OR 2021. UH, NOR BY YOUR OWN PROJECTIONS WILL WE NEED THAT WATER FOR PROBABLY 10 TO 20 YEARS. BUT WE NEED TO PAY FOR IT WITH RATE INCREASES TODAY AND LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE RESOURCES, UH, SOURCES OF WATER THAN JUST THE EDWARDS AQUIFER. WE HAVE SEVEN OR EIGHT OTHER ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF WATER THAT YOU HAVE CONTRACTS WITH. SOME OF WHICH I, I, I HEAR, WELL, WE DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOOD ANYMORE. WE'RE GONNA LET 'EM GO. SOME WE WILL KEEP, BUT ALL OF WHICH TODAY SUPPLY MORE WATER THAN WE NEED AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH ON THE PART OF, OF SAS THAT THEIR GOAL HAS BEEN TO ACCUMULATE A LOT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT DATE, WEIGH DOWN THE LINE. HOW MUCH IS THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE TRANSFER GONNA BE AT THE END OF 2017? CAN YOU TELL ME THAT, UH, THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE PRO, THAT WE, THAT YOU PROJECT TO BE TO THE CITY? YEAH. NO, NO. WHAT IS THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE GOING TO BE FOR SAWS AT THE END OF 2017? HOW MUCH IS THAT GONNA BE? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW MUCH MORE INCOME WILL YOU HAVE AT THE, UH, END OF 2017 THAN YOUR PROJECTED EXPENDITURES? SO, I'M SORRY, I'M JUST PULLING IT UP REAL QUICKLY HERE. IN TOTAL, WE ARE LOOKING TO TRANSFER TO THE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND IN OUR BUDGET ABOUT A LITTLE MORE THAN $150 MILLION. OKAY. AND IS, WHICH GOES TO FUND FUTURE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS, RIGHT? WELL, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. UH, SO HOW MUCH DO WE SPEND ON THOSE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OUTTA THAT FUND? 'CAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE GROWING EACH YEAR. WELL, RIGHT NOW. UH, SO NEXT YEAR, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. I WOULD HAVE TO GO AND LOOK AT HOW [05:05:01] MUCH WE HAVE PROGRAMMED FOR 2018 TO SPEND OUT OF OUR R AND R FUND, BUT IT'S, WE'VE GOT AN A 300 MILLION PLUS CAPITAL BUDGET, OF WHICH 40 SOME PERCENT, CLOSE TO 50% GETS FUNDED WITH R AND R DOLLARS RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT DOLLARS. YOU ARE CORRECT. DON'T YOU HAVE ANOTHER FUND BESIDES RENEWAL ON REPLACEMENT SIMPLY A, A A FUND BALANCE THAT ISN'T, UH, ASSIGNED TO ANY PARTICULAR SOURCE? WELL, OUR RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING, BUT WHAT WE USE IT FOR IS FOR FUTURE CAPITAL, FOR CASH FUNDING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. AND HOW MUCH HAS IT GROWN IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS? THE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND HAS GROWN. UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE PURPOSELY GROWN IT A LITTLE BIT. SO, AND WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH BEN AND CITY STAFF ABOUT HOW THAT IS. WE'RE USING THAT TO HOPEFULLY LOWER. WE'VE HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE VISTA RIDGE, UH, RATE INCREASE THAT'S GONNA COME ONLINE IN 2020. AND WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCUMULATE SOME AMOUNTS TO TRY TO LESSEN THAT AMOUNT FOR THAT 2020 RATE ADJUSTMENT. YEAH, THAT, AND THAT'S PART OF MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'VE BEEN CHARGE PEOPLE NOW SO WE CAN PAY FOR WATER THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA BE ABLE TO USE WHEN WE GET IT. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WATER IS PLANNED TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN NORTH CENTRAL SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE FORECAST TO BUY 50,000 ACRE FEET, BUT THERE WON'T BE 50,000 ACRE FEET AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE STATE'S ALREADY MAINTAINED RIGHT NOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, HALF OF THAT AVAILABLE IN THAT DISTRICT. AND I KNOW THEY REEVALUATED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. SO MAYBE BY THEN THERE MIGHT BE 30,000 ACRE FEET AVAILABLE. BUT WE'RE NOT PROJECTING TO PAY FOR 50,000 ACRE FEET, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING UP EXCESS CAPITAL IN RESERVE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT. AND WE ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH WATER NOW FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS OR 20 YEARS WITHOUT EVEN HAVE TO HAVE TO BUY THAT WATER. AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S GONNA COME DOWN THE PIPE BECAUSE IT STARTS AT THE OTHER END AND BURLESON COUNTY AND KNOWS WATER DISTRICTS, AND THE STATE HAS TO ASCERTAIN THAT THAT WATER IS AVAILABLE TO SELL TO US. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TALKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT AN INCREASE IN OUR WATER RATE THAT'S GOING TO, UH, BRING IN, UH, EIGHT OR $9 MILLION FOR WATER SUPPLY. BUT IT REALLY ISN'T GONNA GO TO ANYTHING WE NEED TODAY. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST ACCUMULATING MORE MONEY THAN I THINK WE NEED TO. THAT'S WHY, UM, I I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO SEPARATE THIS PARTICULAR CHARGE AND, AND, UH, DEAL WITH EACH OF THESE RATES INDIVIDUALLY. UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, THE CASH ON HAND IS OUTRAGEOUS. WE'VE GOT OVER 400 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND OVER A YEAR'S OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE FUND AVAILABLE JUST SITTING THERE. AND IT'S GONNA GROW AS COUNCILMAN UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY WAS SAYING BY MAYBE ANOTHER A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING MILLION NEXT YEAR AND ANOTHER A HUNDRED MILLION NEXT YEAR BEFORE WE EVEN GET TO 2021. AND I UNDERSTAND THE INITIAL PROJECTION FOR 2021 OR 2021, WE PAY FOR THAT WATER IS ONLY GONNA BE $80 MILLION FOR THAT FIRST YEAR. ALL OF THESE RATE INCREASES UPON ONE ANOTHER. MORE AND MORE AND MORE ARE SIMPLY UNFAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TODAY, SO THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE 20 YEARS FROM NOW OR 30 YEARS FROM NOW. AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, YOU, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WELL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT SOME, UH, ASSUMPTIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING THAT ARE INCORRECT. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT? BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO DO THAT, I WON'T. NO, I, I PREFER NOT. OKAY. BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP WITH OTHER VERBIAGE. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT VERBIAGE, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. IT'S THE ACTUAL TRUTH ON ONE WHY WE, MY BOARD CHOOSE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT AND WHY IT PASSES MUSTER BY EVEN YOUR OWN CITY STAFF, BEN GOEL AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL. AND THAT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, CASH ON HAND. THE REASON WE HAVE SO MUCH CASH ON HAND IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT CREDIT RATING. THAT'S WHAT GIVES US A GREAT CREDIT RATING. AND THAT GREAT CREDIT RATING IS WHAT RESULTS IN THE ABILITY TO REFINANCE BONDS. THAT GIVES US OVER $300 MILLION IN SAVINGS, 212 PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS. SO THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH CASH ON HAND. IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO, TO INCREASINGLY PAY MORE AND MORE, UH, UH, UH, CASH DOWN PAYMENT ON THESE PROJECTS AS OPPOSED TO FINANCING IT AT ALL. SO THESE ARE GREAT, THESE ARE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, THAT, UH, ALLOW US TO BE THE UTILITY THAT WE ARE. AND DOING THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD ACTUALLY COST US MORE [05:10:01] MONEY. I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT PAYERS MORE MONEY. I DON'T ACCEPT YOUR PREMISE THAT IF YOU HAD $25 MILLION LESS GOING INTO THAT ACCOUNT NEXT YEAR, YOUR RATE'S GONNA DROP OR EVEN 50 MILLION OR EVEN TWO YEARS FROM NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS GREAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT A DOUBLE A PLUS RATING, BUT IT, IT DOESN'T HOLD WATER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. SO THEREFORE, UH, MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, END THIS DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON THE MOTION TO DIVIDE THE RATE VOTE. YOU'RE THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK, COUNCILMAN, SO WE'RE READY TO GO EITHER WAY. OKAY. ARE YOU YIELDING THE FLOOR, COUNCILMAN? I'M FINISHED. THANK YOU. OKAY. COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE. I, UH, JOHN COURAGE DOESN'T NEED DEFENDING BY ME ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, BUT THE MAN IS NOT COMPLAINING. HE'S STANDING UP FOR HIS CITIZENS. I YOU'VE DONE AMAZING WORK AND YOUR TEAM IS SOLID, AND I'VE SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING. BUT WHEN A MEMBER OF THIS BODY ADVOCATES FOR THE 150 TO 155,000 PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD HOPE THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED COMPLAINING. WE ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW. WE SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY. COUNCILMAN OUR ATTORNEY, UH, FOR PARLIAMENTARY REASONS. DO, DO YOU NEED TO SPEAK ON PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, ANDY? I, I, I, YES, I I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, COUNCILMAN. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE, UH, THE THE MOTION THAT COUNCILMAN, UM, UH, THAT THE COUNCILMAN JUST OFFERED IS REALLY NOT A MOTION SINCE HE'S SIMPLY SAYING HE WAS ASKING TO VOTE ON COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE'S. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLARIFY THAT. SORRY, COUNCILMAN, I DIDN'T MEAN TO COUNCILOR YOU RUINED MY FLOW. UM, , I, I JUST FEEL COMPELLED THAT GOING FORWARD AS WHO WE ARE AS A CITY AND HOW WE DEBATE THINGS, YOU THINK OURSELVES A MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS AND WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH EACH OTHER. UH, BUT THOSE AREN'T COMPLAINTS THAT'S STANDING UP. AND, UH, THE COUNCILMAN SHOULD BE COMMENDED WHATEVER POSITION HE ENDS UP, OR EVERY VOTE HE ENDS UP TAKING, UH, THAT HE HAD THE, WELL, FRANKLY, THE COURAGE TO SAY WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT AND TRUE. AND, UH, I WOULD ASK THAT WE SHOW A LITTLE MORE RESPECT AT THE DIOCESE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE. OKAY. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE. UH, WE'RE GONNA GET ON TO THE MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR NOW. AND, UH, ANDY, YOU WOULD, UH, ADVISE US TO TAKE UP THE, UH, FIRST MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE TO ELIMINATE THE 2019 RATE ADJUSTMENT. THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR, I WOULD RECOMMEND FIRST THE COUNCIL CONSIDER COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE'S MOTION, AND THEN COUNCILMAN PERRY'S MOTION, AND THEN THE MAIN MOTION. OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE 2019 RATE ADJUSTMENT, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION FAILS. OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP THE AMENDMENT, UH, FROM COUNCILMAN PERRY TO THE MAIN MOTION, UM, WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE 2018 RATE INCREASE. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION FAILS. NOW WE'LL TAKE UP THE MAIN MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN TREVINO ON ITEM FOUR, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE, MAYOR. MAYOR, I HAD A, DID YOU DENY MY OPPORTUNITY FOR A MOTION YOU DIDN'T SIGNAL THAT YOU WANTED IN COUNSEL? I TOLD YOU AS SOON AS I COULD NOT HAVE TWO MOTIONS, WE'RE GONNA GET ON WITH THE MOTION TO THE NEXT ITEM. AND WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE WAITING TO GET ONTO THE REST OF THE AGENDA. THAT'S SO DISAPPOINTING. YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION, SIR, WE'RE GONNA GET ON WITH THE REST OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND COME BACK VERY QUICKLY FOR ITEM 16 AND 17. UH, AND THEN WE'LL GET ON WITH THE REST OF THE ZONING AGENDA, WHICH HAS 50 ITEMS. SO WE WILL RECONVENE THE COUNCIL AT 2:40 PM NECESSARY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ITEM 16 AND 17 TO CLEAR THOSE SO WE CAN GET ON WITH OUR ZONING AGENDA NOW. UM, SO WE RECONVENED FROM A BRIEF RECESS. THE TIME NOW IS 2 52. UH, WE'LL GO [16. An Ordinance authorizing the approval of a Bexar County Tax Abatement Agreement in an amount not to exceed $672,129.00 for the Heritage Plaza project located at 307 Dwyer and 410 South Main in Council District 1 and within the Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone boundary as is required by State Law, to enable Bexar County to offer a tax abatement. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Verónica R. Soto, Director, Neighborhood & Housing Services]] ON WITH ITEM NUMBER 16. YES SIR. ITEM NUMBER 16 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF A BEAR [05:15:01] COUNTY TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $672,129 FOR THE HERITAGE PLAZA PROJECT, LOCATED AT 3 0 7 WIRE AND FOUR 10 SOUTH MAINE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE AND WITHIN THE HOUSTON STREET TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE BOUNDARY AS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO ENABLE BEXAR COUNTY TO OFFER A TAX ABATEMENT. COUNCILMAN SALANA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UH, I, I WON'T BE MAKING A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S RELEVANT TO, UH, A POLICY DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN THE FUTURE. SO, UH, MY QUESTION WILL BE FOR LORI. LORI, IF YOU WANNA STEP UP. SORRY, VERONICA, I'M JUST GONNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HISTORY. I THINK IT WAS JUST, JUST BEFORE YOU GOT HERE. NOW, THIS IS, UH, HERITAGE PLAZA AND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY IS ACCEPTING THAT BEXAR COUNTY, NOT THE CITY, IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT. YES, THAT'S ACCURATE BECAUSE, UM, GRANTING A TAX ABATEMENT FOR A PROJECT WITH THAT'S WITHIN A TAX AND INCOME REINVESTMENT ZONE STATE LAW REQUIRES THEM TO GET THE MUNICIPALITY'S APPROVAL TO GRANT THAT TAX ABATEMENT. OKAY. AND SO THE HISTORY ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, UH, DATING BEFORE WE WERE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING THE VISION, WHICH IS, UH, A DEVELOPER HAS NOW PURCHASED THE PROPERTY, I BELIEVE YES. AND WILL BE DEVELOPING, UH, UNITS. YEAH. THEY PURCHASED THE DWYER PROPERTY THAT THE CITY FORMALLY OWNED, AS WELL AS THE HERITAGE PLAZA BUILDING THAT THEY PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE DEVELOPER. SO, SO THE CITY ONCE OWNED THIS BUILDING. IT'S GONNA BE RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE DOWNTOWN. AND SO JUST TO REM JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CREATING MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND THIS IS THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE, IS THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO INCENTIVIZE, WE'VE, WE'VE NOW GOT 6,000 UNITS COMING ONLINE IN THE DOWNTOWN, 6,000 PLUS A BIT MORE. 6,300. YES. SO WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MOMENTUM, BUT A LOT OF THOSE RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT ARE BEING BUILT DOWNTOWN ARE, ARE ALL MARKET RATE, NOT A SINGLE WITH THAT FALLS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF AFFORDABLE. AND JUST WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT THIS USED TO BE CITY OWNED PROPERTY BECAUSE BEFORE IT WAS, UH, THE CITY WAS A HOMELESS SHELTER. YES. AND SO LET'S JUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO DO JUST AS OF RIGHT, UH, WITHOUT REQUIRING SOME AFFORDABILITY OF, OF THE EXCHANGE IN PUBLIC DOLLARS, THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA TURN INTO THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN TERMS OF ITS DOWNTOWN, THE AFFORDABILITY AND FOLKS BEING PUSHED FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN. SO WE'RE, I, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR BECAUSE HE'S BROUGHT A DISCUSSION TO GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH WE ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT, UH, THE, AS OF RIGHT HOUSING POLICIES AND THE INCENTIVES THAT GO TO BUILDING RESIDENTIAL UNITS. BUT, UH, THIS WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, I PULLED THIS ITEM TO SHOW THAT HERE'S ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL PROJECT THAT'S GONNA HAVE SEVERAL UNITS TO ADD TO THE 6,300 THAT WILL BE ALL MARKET RATE. AND THE IDEA OF, OF DOWNTOWN HOUSING WASN'T JUST TO MAKE DOWNTOWN HOUSING THAT WAS MARKET RATE, BUT TO MAKE IT, UH, AFFORDABLE SO THAT SAN ANTONIO'S OF ALL STRIPES WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE SUCCESS THAT DOWNTOWN IS HAVING. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LONGER DISCUSSION, NOTHING TO BE DECIDED HERE, BUT JUST TO GIVE FOLKS A PRIMER. THIS ISANO ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT IS GOING IN A HUNDRED PERCENT MARKET RATE WITH CITY HELP AND COUNTY HELP AFTER WE TAKE A VOTE, UM, THAT ISN'T YET MEETING THE, THE NEEDS OF A LARGER PICTURE, WHICH IS THE AFFORDABILITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S, UH, HOUSING AND RENTAL UNITS. I MEAN, WE SAW, UH, THE NEWSPAPER TODAY, THIS MORNING TALK ABOUT THAT. AND WITH EVERY VOTE EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES WE DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY HELPING IT. UM, SO WE'RE NOT SAYING AND POINTING OURSELVES OUR TARGET ON THIS PROJECT, BUT WE'RE SAYING IN THE FUTURE, SOME OF OUR POLICIES COULD, POLICIES COULD CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS WORSE UNTIL WE START REQUIRING THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET CITY OR COUNTY DOLLARS, THAT THERE'S AFFORDABLE SET-ASIDES, UH, IN THOSE PROJECTS. SO, UM, THIS ONE'S A VERY, THIS ONE'S VERY FAR ALONG AND I I'VE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST. I, I WONDERED WHY WE COULDN'T DO, UH, AFFORDABLE UNITS THEN, IF YOU'LL JUST REMIND ME, UH, LORI, I THINK YOU WERE HEADING ON THIS PROJECT, BUT WE TRIED TO GET AFFORDABILITY IN, IN THIS PROJECT. WHAT HAPPENED? YES. AND SO THE PROJECT INCLUDES TWO PROPERTIES. ONE WAS THE FORMER HOMELESS SHELTER AT THE DWYER BUILDING, AND THE OTHER WAS THE HERITAGE PLAZA BUILDING. AND BECAUSE OF THE LAND PRICES ASSOCIATED WITH A HERITAGE PLAZA BUILDING AND THE RENTS THAT WE CAN ATTAIN AT THE TIME, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SUBSIDIZE AN AFFORDABLE COMPONENT OF THIS PROJECT. AND SO THEREFORE THEY WENT FORWARD WITH A MARKET RATE DEAL. UM, WE, WE LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD PUT IT IN THE PUBLIC FACILITIES CORPORATION AS WELL, BUT THERE WERE ALSO HIGH DEMO COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMOLISHING THE BUILDING, UM, AS WELL AS THE LAND PRICES. SO THIS PROJECT, IT WOULD NOT WORK. HOWEVER, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT WEEK AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING HOW WE'LL PROCEED WITH EVALUATING THE POLICY AND HOW WE'LL LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND POTENTIAL CARVE OUT IN THE FUTURE. YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S THE POINT. UH, THIS WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT WE DISCUSSED THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND TRIED TO SQUEEZE IN AFFORDABILITY. WE COULDN'T BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T PENCIL OUT. UM, [05:20:01] IF I WERE TO HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND PROJECT INTO THE FUTURE, WHAT I WOULD SEE, I THINK IS, IS IT WOULD BE HARDER EVEN STILL IN THE FUTURE WITH THE SUCCESS THAT WE'RE HAVING IN THE DOWNTOWN FOR A DEVELOPER TO COME IN AND BUILD SOME SORT OF AFFORDABILITY OR AFFORDABLE PROJECT THAT WOULD PENCIL OUT. SO WE NEED TO BE CREATING A MARKET, UM, AND NOT, NOT CREATING A MARKET THAT IS JUST UN UNACCESSIBLE TO NOT ONLY DEVELOPERS, BUT, BUT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO MOVE INTO THE DOWNTOWN. AND SO THAT'S THE REASON I PULLED THIS ITEM, UH, JUST TO MAKE THAT POINT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE POLICY DISCUSSIONS IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL INCLUDE WHETHER WE CAN START MIXING IN AFFORDABILITY WITH THE DOLLARS, THE PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT WE'RE MIXING IN TO SUPPORT AND MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN. SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 16. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SALDANA. WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED TO SPEAK. SO LET ME TAKE THAT PERSON AND THEN WE'LL GET ON WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN VERAN JACK FINGER. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. I'M SIGNED UP ON 16 AND 17. UH, MAY I ADDRESS THOSE INDIVIDUALLY OR DO I NEED TO ADDRESS 'EM BOTH AT THIS TIME? YOU CAN ADDRESS 'EM BOTH AT THIS TIME. JACK. ALRIGHT, VERY GOOD. UH, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YES. UH, WELL ON TOP OF THE, UH, THE RATE INCREASE Y'ALL JUST PASS OUR TAX DOLLARS OR DISPOSABLE INCOME DOLLARS ARE GONNA BE GOING OTHER PLACES WHERE WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE TO AS WELL. THIS IS A, UH, A TAX ABATEMENT. TAX ABATEMENT, YEAH. NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS IN A TAX ABATEMENT TO A PRIVATE COMPANY HERE THAT WANTS TO PUT UP A HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET A TAX ABATEMENT. WE, THE CITIZENS ARE STILL WAITING FOR OURS. YOU KNOW, UH, I MEAN ANY, ANY KIND OF TAX RELIEF WE WOULD TAKE, WHETHER IT BE IN THE FORM OF TAXES OR RATE RELIEF OR ANYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT THAT BACKUP DOCUMENTS. THERE'S NO MENTION AS TO JUST HOW MANY JOBS THIS THING PROJECT IS GONNA CREATE. WE USUALLY HAVE THAT REGARDING WHEN IT COMES TO TAX ABATEMENTS, THIS IS WHY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS TAX THIS, WE'RE GONNA BRING SO MANY JOBS TO SAN ANTONIO, AT LEAST SOME JUSTIFICATION, MAYBE A FALSE ONE, BUT AT LEAST A APPEARANCE OF A JUSTIFICATION FOR IT. NOT, UH, NOT HERE. AND, BUT THE ONLY THING IS THAT IT'S GONNA BE DOWNTOWN AND AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WELL, IF IT, IF THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS SO DESIRABLE, SO DESIRABLE, WHY DO WE NEED TO SUPPLEMENT IT? WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE, GIVE OUR TEXTILES AND HELP THEM OUT WITH IT? MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY. IT DOESN'T, DOESN'T PAN OUT FOR ME EITHER. I AM NUMBER 17. UM, YOU'RE GOING TO OFFER POLICY FOR ISSUANCE OF RESOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF NO OBJECTION TO APPLICANT SEEKING COMPETITIVE, NON-COMPETITIVE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, LOW INCOME TAX, HOUSING TAX CREDITS. OKAY. YEAH. ANOTHER, ANOTHER TAX GIVEAWAY HERE. UH, YEAH, MY QUESTION IS JUST WHERE ARE THESE LOW INCOME HOUSING, UH, PROJECTS TO BE GONNA BE PLACED? WHERE IN SAN ANTONIO THEY'RE FIXING IT? ARE THEY GONNA BE PLACED IN MIDDLE CLASS AREAS? UPPER CLASS AREAS? JUST WHERE, AND I THOUGHT WE WERE TRYING TO ATTRACT UPSCALE, UPSCALE, UH, HOUSING WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS HERE. SO THERE'S A LADY. NOPE. SO I NEED TO SWITCH. NOT QUITE. LET'S SEE. YEAH. YEAH. SO I'M GONNA, IT, IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND. BUT ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO DID VOTE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THAT LAST RATE INCREASE VOTE. I APPARENTLY WE, SOME OF Y'ALL REALLY DON'T REALLY DON'T CARE WHERE OUR RATE PAYING DOLLARS ARE GOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. COUNCILWOMAN GRO. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN, UH, SALANA FOR PULLING THIS ITEM. 'CAUSE I DO REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THIS BROUGHT UP, UM, ABOUT OVER A YEAR AGO, I THINK, AND WANTING TO HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, HAVE MIXED INCOME IN AND AROUND THE AREA. SO COULD YOU REMIND ME WHO IS THE DEVELOPER ON THIS RIGHT NOW AND WHERE, HOW WAS IT INITIATED? UM, I'M SORRY. LET ME CONFIRM. [05:25:03] THE FORMER DEVELOPERS WERE LANDBRIDGE AND THEY SOLD THE PROPERTY TO THE DEVELOPERS WHO DID ARGYLE AND I'LL GET THEIR NAME. UM, ARGYLE IS THE GROUP THAT DID THE PROJECT ON CAESAR CHAVEZ AND ST. MARY'S. OKAY. I THINK WHAT WE'RE MAKING SURE IS THAT WE ALL KNOW HERE THAT THIS IS ON OUR RADAR AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS MIXED INCOME IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR URBAN CORE. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, UM, IF I CAN GET AN UPDATE OF WHAT THE STATUS IS ON THE ROBERT E. LEE APARTMENTS HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THAT, UM, UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT AREA AS WELL BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW WE, WE PUT SOMETHING TOWARDS THERE FOR IMPROVEMENTS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THOSE WHO LIVE THERE CAN REMAIN THERE IN THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEXES. WE'LL WORK ON SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GRO. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. SOTO, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE? I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND, UH, IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF DEVELOPER BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR THING OR, AND I KNOW YOU'VE TOLD ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THIS, SO I THINK THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS A LITTLE BETTER. YES. UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, OTTO, WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES. THE REASON THIS ITEM IS BEFORE YOU IS BECAUSE THIS IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT, THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT FOR THE CITY, BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE WITHIN A, UH, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, UH, THEY HAVE TO COME TO THIS BODY, UH, FOR THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A TAX ABATEMENT, UH, FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT. AND SO IT IS NOT THE CITY WHO IS ENTERING INTO ANY, UH, SUBSIDY WITH THE DEVELOPER WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. RATHER, UH, IT WILL BE THE COUNTY WHO IS ALLOWED TO GIVE THEM A TAX ABATEMENT. AND THERE IS, UM, A DEVELOPER THAT THE COUNTY THEMSELVES WILL, UH, GIVE THE TAX ABATEMENT TO. BUT BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE HOUSTON STREET TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, THEY HAVE TO GET BOTH THAT BODY AND THIS BODY TO APPROVE THAT ABATEMENT AS A PARTICIPATING JURISDICTION WITHIN THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR? WELL, I WAS ACTUALLY REFERRING TO NUMBER 17. OH, UH, ARE WE ON NUMBER 17 ALREADY? WE'RE STILL, WE HAVEN'T FINISHED 16 YET. OH, OKAY. OKAY. SORRY. JACK THREW ME OFF. I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. . THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. ALRIGHT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 16. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM [17. An Ordinance adopting a policy for the issuance of Resolutions of Support or No Objection for applicants seeking competitive (9%) and non-competitive (4%) Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Verónica R. Soto, Director, Neighborhood & Housing Services]] NUMBER 17. ITEM NUMBER 17 IS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A POLICY FOR THE ISSUANCE OF RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT. NO OR NO OBJECTION FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING COMPETITIVE 9% AND NON-COMPETITIVE COMPETITIVE 4% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. GOOD AFTERNOON, VERONICA SOTO WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER 17. WE DO HAVE, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A POLICY BY WHICH THE ISSUANCE OF RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, OR NO OBJECTION FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING TAX CREDITS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WILL BE AWARDED. THIS ITEM AGAIN, IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH YOU WILL AWARD EVENTUAL APPLICANTS WHO COME FORWARD A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION IF THEY MEET THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY. JUST FOR BACKGROUND, LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS ARE ONE OF THE WAYS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE NATION. THIS IS PART OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, AND THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF TAX CREDITS. UH, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE TIMELINE IS ABOUT TO START FOR WHAT ARE THE 9% TAX CREDITS? THOSE ARE THE 9% TAX CREDITS THAT PROVIDE UP TO 70% OF THE EQUITY FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. THE NON-COMPETITIVE, OR 4% TAX CREDITS ARE ONES THAT ARE ACCEPTED BY THE STATE AGENCY, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ON A ROLLING BASIS. BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE SO MUCH EQUITY, THESE ARE RATHER COMPETITIVE. AND THE NINE PERCENTS DO HAVE A VERY SET TIMELINE AT THE STATE WITH ONLY ONE APPLICATION PERIOD BEING OPEN AND ONE AWARD PER YEAR. AND SO WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THAT TIMELINE IS ABOUT TO START AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH THE STATE'S EVALUATION CRITERIA. THERE IS A WAY BY WHICH CITIES CAN INFLUENCE [05:30:01] HOW MANY TOTAL POINTS A CERTAIN APPLICATION RECEIVES WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY. THE MAIN THING IS THAT A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT CAN EARN AN APPLICANT UP TO 17 POINTS OF THE TOTAL 187 POINTS AT THE STATE IF THEY RECEIVE SUCH A RESOLUTION. IF THEY RECEIVE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, THEY RECEIVE 14 POINTS. AND SO A MUNICIPALITY AWARDING AN APPLICANT A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION, MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IF THEY ARE ABLE TO SECURE THESE TAX CREDITS FROM THE STATE AGENCY. AND THE REASON WE ARE HERE IS THAT THE STATE CRITERIA CALLED THE QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN, OR Q A P WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR ON NOVEMBER 30TH, PUBLISHED THIS WEEK IN THE TEXAS REGISTER, ANNOUNCING THAT APPLICATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S 9% ROUND ARE GOING TO BE ACCEPTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. THE CITY, IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEADLINE THAT THE STATE HAS FOR COMPLETE APPLICATIONS ON MARCH 1ST, HAS TO ALSO START OUR PROCESS FOR HOW LOCALLY YOU'RE GOING TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS TO GRANT THEM SUCH A RESOLUTION. SO TODAY WE'RE CONSIDERING THIS POLICY SO THAT WE CAN RELEASE NEXT WEEK OUR OWN LOCAL REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPERS WHO ARE SEEKING TAX CREDITS. WE WILL HAVE THOSE APPLICATIONS DUE BACK TO US ON JANUARY 5TH, KNOWING THAT THE STATE HAS THE PRE-APPLICATION DUE TO THEM JANUARY 9TH. WE DO WANT TO BRING THIS FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION BEFORE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 17TH TO CITY COUNCIL BY FEBRUARY 8TH, SO THAT THE DEVELOPERS WHO DO EARN A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION, HAVE THOSE SIGNED APPLICATIONS BY THE DEADLINE OF MARCH 1ST. SO THAT IS THE TIMELINE. WE HAVE HAD A POLICY ABOUT THIS PROCESS IN THE PAST, BUT AS THE Q A P OR THE STATE EVALUATION CRITERIA CHANGES, WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CHANGES AS WELL. PLUS, WE ALWAYS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT AND ARE SEEKING TO MAKE THE PROCESS BETTER THIS YEAR THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR IS TO MAKE THE POINTS A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND BY HAVING IT BE A HUNDRED POINT SCALE INSTEAD OF 165, UH, POINT SCALE WITH 70 OF THOSE POINTS, UM, EARNED TO GET A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. UH, WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR PROOF OF COORDINATION WITH A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A DEVELOPMENT BEING PROPOSED OR SEEKING TAX CREDITS WITHIN, UM, CERTAIN COUNCIL DISTRICT. WE'RE ASKING FOR A DEVELOPER INITIATED PUBLIC MEETING AS PART OF THE SCORING CRITERIA AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO SOME CHANGES WITHIN THE STATE'S CRITERIA. UH, WE DO WANT PUBLIC COMMENT AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS PROCESS. SO WE DID PUBLISH A DRAFT BACK IN NOVEMBER AND SOUGHT PUBLIC INPUT FROM ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SOUGHT TAX CREDITS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IN THE PAST FROM NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS. WE PRESENTED TO THE HOUSING COMMISSION, UH, WE VISITED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND RECEIVED, UH, A GOOD AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK ON FAIR HOUSING ISSUES, ON HOW TO MAKE PUBLIC MEETINGS MEANINGFUL THAT ARE REQUIRED, ET CETERA. SO FROM THE DRAFT WE INITIALLY PUBLISHED, THERE ARE CHANGES, UH, AS WELL THAT THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, IDENTIFIES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY PROPOSED THAT WE REQUIRE A PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE WE CONSIDERED AN APPLICATION. WE WERE, UM, UM, MADE AWARE OF FAIR HOUSING CONCERNS FROM FAIR HOUSING ADVOCATES, AND NOW WE STILL ARE ASKING FOR A PUBLIC MEETING. BUT NOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OPTIONAL, BUT WORTH QUITE A FEW POINTS. 10% OF THE POINTS ARE IF THE PUBLIC MEETING IS HELD, AND THERE ARE CRITERIA BY WHICH THE PUBLIC MEETING HAS TO BE HELD AS WELL, SO THAT WE ENSURE THAT THERE'S NOTICE TO ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS THAT THERE'S NOTICE TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. UH, AND SO THE POINTS IN FRONT OF YOU SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE DRAFT WHERE WE SOUGHT COMMENTS, UM, AND WHAT THE POINT SCALE WAS AND WHAT THE PROPOSED REVISIONS ARE. NOW, THERE WAS ALSO CONCERN THAT WE BETTER ALIGN, UM, THE POLICIES OF THE CITY LIKE DS A TOMORROW TO REFLECT THE CITY'S, UM, REINVESTMENT AREAS AND ESSAY TOMORROW, AS WELL AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AREAS THAT WERE NOT IN PLACE LAST YEAR AND ARE IN PLACE THIS YEAR SO THAT WE GIVE THAT, UH, MORE POINTS THAN IN THE ORIGINAL DRAFT. SO AGAIN, A HUNDRED POINTS SCALE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THAT PUBLIC MEETING BY THE DEVELOPER WORTH 10% OF THE TOTAL POINTS FOR THEM, UM, TO BE STRONGLY INCENTIVIZED TO HOLD THAT MEETING. THIS JUST GRAPHICALLY SHOWS YOU HOW, UH, THE WEIGHT IS, UM, DIVIDED [05:35:01] AMONG THOSE CRITERIA. 70% FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. 50 POINTS GET A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. AND SOME OF THE DETAILS FOR THE PUBLIC MEETING. AGAIN, IT HAS TO BE A MEETING THAT IS HELD ON A WEEKNIGHT. IT HAS TO BE WITHIN THREE MILES OF THE DEVELOPMENT SITE WHERE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED. THERE HAS TO BE A MINIMUM SEVEN DAY ADVANCE NOTICE TO THE STAFF IN OUR OFFICE, TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE, TO THE REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KEEP A, UM, THE REGISTRATION FOR. UM, THERE IS A REQUEST AND THAT'S WITHIN A HALF MILE OF THOSE. UH, THERE IS A REQUEST TO MAKE SURE THAT PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD, UM, ARE PART OF THAT NOTIFICATION PROCESS AND TO NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE I WENT OVER, THE MEETING NEEDS TO OCCUR, UH, AROUND JANUARY 16TH SO THAT WE KNOW BY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE, UM, IF THAT MEETING HAS BEEN HELD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS READY TO MOVE FORWARD. AND THAT REALLY IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN ISSUE THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK OTTO THAT I APPRECIATE THAT PRESENTATION. UH, COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, THANK YOU VERONICA, UH, RICHARD, CHRIS AND, AND PETER FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THIS. UH, I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. UH, JUST QUICKLY TO CLARIFY THE CHANGES THAT YOU POSTED, UH, ON THE LAST SLIDE, IS THAT PART OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR I GUESS WHAT MOTION WILL NEED TO BE MADE ON ON THE DAAS? IT IS PART OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WE JUST NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 LINEAR FEED AND THAT THE PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS IS INCLUDED FOR THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UH, PORTION. SO THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE DRAFT. AND AS FAR AS THE, THE HOURS THAT THE BUS SERVICE IS RUNNING, I BELIEVE THAT WAS A CHANGE AS WELL. YES, WE, WE DID CHANGE THAT. THAT IS ONE OF THE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES WE MADE AS WELL. OKAY. AND IT IS INCLUDED. OKAY. UH, SO JUST BEFORE I, I MAKE THE MOTION, I AM GONNA, UH, JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS. SO WE MET WITH, SO VERONICA AND TEAM, UH, GREAT CHANGES. WE THINK IT DOES A LOT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT SOME OF MY CONCERNS CAME UP FROM, AND I JUST TRULY BELIEVE THAT TO HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT IN SAN ANTONIO OR OR IN ANY COMMUNITY, YOU NEED TO BRING ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE AND YOU NEED TO HEAR THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND VALUE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO OTHER PEOPLE. UH, WHEN WE DO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED HERE, WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND THAT WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING, UH, RELATIONSHIP AMONG ANY DEVELOPER THAT'S COMING IN AND THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. UM, SO LIKE YOU STATED, HAVING THESE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BRING THESE, UH, THESE PROJECTS TO SAN ANTONIO. HOWEVER, THE STATE IN THEIR QUALIFIED, WHAT IS IT? THE Q A P QUALIFIED Q A P? YES. THE Q A P HAS VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO AWARD POINTS FOR. THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PRIORITIZING WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US LOCALLY WHEN WE'D SEND THOSE, WHEN WE WRITE THOSE LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND SEND THEM TO THE STATE. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THIS HAS KIND OF A LOCAL BLESSING, THAT WE'RE NOT JUST DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE DOES, BUT THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO US HERE AS, AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. SO IN 2017, THERE WERE FIVE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT ISSUED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR, UH, TAX CREDIT APPLICATIONS. TWO OF THOSE WERE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. MIND YOU, THE RESIDENTS WERE NOT, THE RESIDENTS AROUND THOSE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS WERE NOT AWARE THAT THE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT HAD BEEN SIGNED OR THAT THESE PROJECTS WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION. UM, AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ALSO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IS MEANT BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M NOT SAYING EVERYONE DID, BUT THERE WERE SOME WHO ACTUALLY HAD VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANT, AND THERE WERE REALLY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT TURN INTO. UH, SO WE LOST A LOT OF PUBLIC TRUST, UH, IN THAT PART OF, OF MY DISTRICT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SO THIS IS A WAY, UH, FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM THE RESIDENTS WHAT IS MEANT BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T. AND IT ALSO GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO I, I DEFINITELY FEEL RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE A VOICE IN SHAPING THEIR COMMUNITY, [05:40:01] AND THIS ALLOWS US THAT OPPORTUNITY. UM, SO LAST YEAR AFTER THOSE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT WERE APPROVED, I WORKED WITH A SENATOR MENENDEZ OFFICE. WE TOOK A SHUTTLE OF ABOUT 20 FOLKS FROM THE DISTRICT TO SPEAK TO T D H C A AND GIVE THEIR COMMENTS, UM, ON THE PROJECT. AND I THINK THEY REALLY APPRECIATED THAT, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED IT SO MUCH MORE IF IT WERE BEFORE THE LETTER HAD BEEN SUBMITTED. SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT HARD, YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP A LOT MORE WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT AFTER THE FACT. UM, SO I, I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME CONCERN ABOUT, WELL, IS THIS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ADD MORE, MORE PROCESS FOR, FOR DEVELOPERS? WELL, I WANNA MAKE SURE THE DEVELOPERS WE BRING IN ARE GOOD NEIGHBORS. SO THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY THIS IS HERE. ALSO, IF WE CODIFY THIS INTO THE POLICY, THEN THE DEVELOPERS KNOW TO PLAN FOR IT, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE APPLICATION IS ISSUED. THEY CAN DO IT FAR BEFORE, OR THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CONTACT THE COUNCIL OFFICE AND THE COUNCILMAN SAYS, GO DO THIS. THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THIS ON THEIR CALENDAR AND CAN BEGIN, UH, PLANNING IT IN ADVANCE. UM, SO WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO MOVE, UH, AND PLEASE, UH, MAKE SURE I GET THE LANGUAGE CORRECTLY. I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT WE ADD TO THE POLICY ON LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, OR NO OBJECTION UNDER THE SECTION PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PART C, WE ADD PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 LINEAR FEET OF THE PROJECT, SITE PLAN, TEAM MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED WITH THE CITY. SECOND. THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WITH SOME MORE COMMENTS. UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HI, MS. SOTO. I, WE'VE HAD SOME, UH, DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS AND YES, SIR. AND YOU KNOW WHAT MY CONCERNS ARE, UH, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. IF, IF A DEVELOPER COMES IN HERE AND, AND HE THINKS HE HAS ENOUGH POINTS WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO DO THAT, DOES HE? THAT'S CORRECT. SO IT'S HIS DECISION BASED ON WHAT HE THINKS HE'S GONNA BE GETTING IN ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES THAT HE, HE MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE TO DO ANY COMMUNITY, UH, NOTIFICATION. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT. THAT'S WHERE I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT, BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME. I GOT A NOTE FROM A DEVELOPER AND THEY'RE GONNA BE TAKING A LOOK AT IT SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE, UH, POINTS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'LL DETERMINE IF THEY, UM, MAKE THAT COMMUNITY INPUT. SO I AGREE COUNCILWOMAN SOUND OF ALL THAT, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE'RE STATING THIS, THAT IT, IT'S REALLY GIVING THEM THE OPTION TO REACH OUT AND DO THIS, UH, COORDINATION WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES BASED ON WHAT THEY FEEL THE THEIR POINTS ARE GONNA BE ON THIS PROJECT. SO IS THERE ANY WAY TO, UM, MAKE IT MANDATORY BUT HAVE A A, A SCALE ON THAT AS WELL, ON HOW MUCH THEY DO GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING THEM? THAT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD QUESTION. UM, WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK WHEN WE HAD THE REQUIREMENT TO MAKE THIS MANDATORY, UH, FROM BOTH SIDES OF THAT ARGUMENT. AND WE FOUND, UH, THE OPTION OF PUTTING IT AS WORTH MANY POINTS AS, UH, THE BEST PATH FORWARD FROM THE STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE ADVOCATES OF FAIR HOUSING WERE CONCERNED THAT HIGHLIGHTING THIS, UM, IN NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD BE ONE WAY TO START ARMING FOLKS WHO HAVE NIMBY TYPE CONCERNS. WHEREAS FROM THE DEVELOPER PERSPECTIVE, WE DID HEAR THAT IT WAS TOO ONEROUS TO TRY AND HAVE THIS KIND OF OUTREACH. AND SO WE FOUND THE MIDDLE PATH OF MAKING IT AN OPTIONAL MEETING SO THAT IF A DEVELOPER FELT IT WAS TOO ONEROUS AND THEY FELT THAT THEY COULD STILL ACQUIRE UP TO 70 POINTS, KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD NEVER GET MORE THAN 90 POINTS IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MEETING, THAT IT WAS STILL THERE. BUT THE POINT SYSTEM, 10% OF THEM IS STILL SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT IT REALLY DOES ENCOURAGE THEM TO HOLD THAT PUBLIC MEETING. AND WE ALSO AVOID THE FAIR HOUSING CONCERNS THAT FOLKS LIKE THE FAIR HOUSING, UH, ADVOCATES LOCALLY, UH, DID RAISE WHEN THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT AS WELL. SO THERE WAS BALANCING [05:45:01] THE APPROACH HEARING, UM, ABOUT THAT ISSUE. AND SO IT, IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION, BUT WE FELT THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION WOULD NOT HIGHLIGHT IT AS A FAIR HOUSING ISSUE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO WOULD BE ONE WHERE A DEVELOPER, IF THEY FELT IT WAS TOO ONEROUS TO TRY AND DO THIS KIND OF MEETING, COULD OPT OUT. AND SO WE KIND OF TRIED TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND THERE. EXCUSE COUNCILMAN. UH, SO, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. UH, YES, WE DID LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE REQUIREMENT RECOMMENDATION, AND IF WE DO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT, WE WOULD, UH, RUN INTO POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, UH, FROM THE FAIR HOUSING ACT STANDPOINT. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR OFFICE IS NOT TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT. OKAY. UM, WELL, UM, LOOKING AT THE POINTS, IF THEY SCORED PERFECT POINTS ON EVERYTHING, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A 10, 10 POINTS, IF THEY DIDN'T DO THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WHERE WOULD, IN YOUR ESTIMATION, WHERE WOULD THAT PUT THEM ON THE SCALE OF GETTING SUPPORT AND GETTING APPROVAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN? IF YOU, IF IF THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO ANY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND THEY SCORED PERFECT ON EVERYTHING ELSE, THEN THEY WOULD PROBABLY GARNER THE, UM, 89 POINTS, UH, ON EVERYTHING ELSE. UM, BUT IT'S STILL, THERE'S QUITE A FEW CRITERIA HERE. WE DO ASK FOR DISTANCE FROM SEVERAL AMENITIES, UM, IF THEY ARE LOCATED WITHIN A REINVESTMENT AREA AS WELL. UM, BE THAT, UM, THE SA TOMORROW CORRIDORS, UM, REGIONAL CENTERS, I MEAN, OR A NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT AREA, AND THOSE DID NOT EXIST LAST YEAR. THEY DO EXIST NOW. OKAY. WELL, AGAIN, IF THEY SCORED PERFECT ON ALL THOSE ITEMS, BUT THEY DIDN'T, THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO ANY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AROUND IN THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. AND AGAIN, I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL THAT WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD NEIGHBORS ON THESE, AND I, I WANT TO KNOW THAT IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO, THAT THIS IS GOING TO, THIS IS REALLY GONNA HURT THEIR APPLICATION PROCESS. OKAY. WELL, ONE OF THE PATHS FORWARD COULD BE THAT WE CHANGED THE POINTS FOR THAT PUBLIC MEETING TO MAKE IT EVEN WORTH A LOT MORE. SO WE CAN CERTAINLY, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT BECAUSE I, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. I, AND THAT'S WHERE I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IF THEY, AGAIN, IF THEY SCORE PERFECT POINTS, THEY, THEY HIT EVERYTHING RIGHT ON POINT AND THEY DECIDE NOT TO DO THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WOULD THEY STILL GET THAT SUPPORT TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT? AND, AND THEY MAY, AND AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA PLAY IT. AND THAT'S WHERE I HAVE THE PROBLEM. THAT'S WHERE I HAVE THE PROBLEM. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD DO, SIR, UM, WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE POINTS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FROM 10 POINTS TO 20 POINTS AND TAKE THOSE POINTS AWAY FROM THE PROJECT AMENITIES AND RESIDENT SERVICES. UM, THE PROJECT AMENITIES, IF I GO BACK TO SLIDE NUMBER EIGHT, UM, THAT HAS THE TABLE, IF YOU LOOK ON THE FAR RIGHT, UH, PROJECT AMENITIES AND RESIDENT SERVICES IS CURRENTLY AT 20 POINTS, WE COULD, UH, SWITCH THAT OUT TO BE 10 POINTS AND THE PUBLIC MEETING COULD BE THE 20 POINTS, THE RECOMMENDED FEASIBILITY READINESS. OKAY. AND THANK YOU, PETER. WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT THE PROJECT FEASIBILITY, UH, AND READINESS, WHICH IS ALSO WORTH 20. THAT'S BETTER. EXCUSE ME. I'M JUST GONNA GET SOME CLARIFICATION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO WANTS TO CHIME IN. THANK, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. UM, AND AGAIN, COUNCILMAN PERRY, GOING BACK TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION, UM, IT CAN'T BE OUTRIGHT PROHIBITION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T SET UP THE SCORING SO THAT IT BECOMES PRACTICALLY A PROHIBITION. SO TO THE, TO, UH, THE QUESTION TO YOUR, I'M SORRY. THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE IF THEY SCORE, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF EVERYTHING ELSE, WILL THEY GET IT? THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES. OTHERWISE YOU WOULD HAVE, FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, A PROHIBITION. DOES THAT MAKE, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I UNDERSTAND, BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE A BALANCE THERE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SOME KIND OF SOMETHING, MAN. UH, THIS IS KIND OF DIFFICULT, BUT I MEAN, WE, WE CAN SET IT UP SO THAT IT WOULD BE A, AS YOU SAID, IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THEIR CHANCES, UH, IF THEY ELECT NOT TO. BUT AGAIN, WE CAN'T SET UP THE SCORING SYSTEM SO THAT FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET IT WITHOUT DOING THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. WELL, I MEAN, YOU COULD, YOU COULD PUT THAT, THAT CRITERIA AGAINST THE PROJECT AMENITIES IF THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY OF THAT. YEAH. RIGHT. THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET THE PROJECT AND IF THEY SCORED PERFECT ON EVERYTHING ELSE. SO [05:50:01] WHAT I'M SAYING IS THERE'S GOT, WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT BALANCE A LITTLE BIT MORE. RIGHT. NO, ABSOLUTELY. AS LONG AS THERE'S A BALANCE, COUNCILMAN. YEAH, THAT AGAIN, ALL I'M SAYING IS WE CAN'T SET UP THE SCORING SO THAT, WELL, I, I'M SAYING I DON'T THINK 10 PER, I DON'T THINK THE 10 POINTS OR 10% I IS, IS GONNA ENCOURAGE THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE WAY. OKAY. MY EXPECTATION IS, AND I THINK YOUR EXPECTATION AS WELL TO GET, UH, GET THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THESE, ONE OF THE THINGS, IF I MAY, THAT WE CAN MAKE MANDATORIES IS THE COORDINATION WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICES, SO THAT IF A PROJECT IS LOCATED WITHIN A DISTRICT AND THE VALUE OF THAT COUNCIL MEMBER IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THAT CAN BE COMMUNICATED IN THAT COORDINATION AS WELL. NO, THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT. BUT I, I'D LIKE TO SEE A, A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPHASIS ON THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PORTION, THE NUMBER OF POINTS. UM, GREAT. IF YOU COULD, UH, WORK ON THAT, THAT WOULD WELL, WE WOULD, UM, GOING BACK, LOOKING AT THE POINT SYSTEM AGAIN ON, UH, IF WE CAN BRING THE SLIDES BACK SHOWING, UH, THE, UH, SCALE, IT WOULD BE ACTUALLY FROM THE PROJECT FEASIBILITY AND READINESS THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT TAKING, REDUCING THAT TO 10 POINTS, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO 20, AND ENSURING THAT THE COORDINATION WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICE IS A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. OKAY. OKAY. UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS LOOKING AT YOUR TIMELINE, IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THAT TIMELINE YES, SIR. AND WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION ALSO, MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THAT THAT TIMELINE IS REALLY CONDENSED AND IT'S CONDENSED ON THE DEVELOPER TO DO A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME THAT, UH, THE COOP IS, UM, APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND THEN IT GETS OUT, DONE THROUGH US, AND THIS IS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, REMEMBER THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO GET OUT THERE AND DO HIS DUE DILIGENCE, LIKE COORDINATE WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND THAT, THAT KIND OF THING. I, I'M, I JUST, I JUST THINK WE'RE SQUEEZING THIS TOO TIGHT TO GIVE THIS PROGRAM THE, THE, UH, THE TIME THAT IS NEEDED TO PROPOSE IT, TO PROMOTE IT AND, UH, GET APPROVALS ON THESE THINGS. SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO, UH, SEE ABOUT GETTING ADDITIONAL TIME, EITHER ON THE FRONT END OR, OR EITHER BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS OR AFTER THE HOLIDAYS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? WELL, I'VE BEEN TALKING, UH, TO JEFF COYLE BECAUSE THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE AND I THINK HE CAN ADDRESS THAT QUESTION. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, YOUR HONOR. UH, COUNCILMAN, THE REASON IT'S LEGISLATIVE, OF COURSE, IS BECAUSE IT'S THE, UH, THOSE, THE STATE DEADLINE, THE MARCH DEADLINE IS IN STATUTE, UH, IT'S NOT JUST AN AGENCY RULE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO ADJUST. IT'S, IT'S, UH, SET BY THE LEGISLATURE. UH, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AND, AND MAKE THE CASE THAT, UH, THAT THEY OUGHT TO CHANGE IT. UM, THE, UH, THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF AFFORDABLE, OF LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS HAS BEEN TINKERED WITH MANY, MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. SO IT'S NOT UNREALISTIC TO THINK, UH, THAT WE MIGHT GO AND DO THAT. UM, IN FACT, I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT USED TO BE AN APRIL DEADLINE SOME YEARS BACK, AND WAS MOVED UP TO MARCH. I SPOKE WITH THE STATE AGENCY THIS MORNING. THEY REALLY LIKED THE MARCH DEADLINE AND THINK IT GIVES THEM MORE CERTAINTY, , UH, SO, SO THEY'RE STUCK TO IT. BUT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION. UM, MY, MY THOUGHT IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WANTED US TO PURSUE LEGISLATIVELY WOULD BE THAT WE, WE WORK WITH VERA'S DEPARTMENT AND GO BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND, AND ESSENTIALLY POLL THEM AND GET THEIR INTEREST IN, IN PUSHING FOR THIS. I THINK WE WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS PUSHING FOR THIS. UH, YOU SAID IT EARLIER, WHAT HAPPENS? UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS STATEWIDE IMPLICATIONS. IT WOULD AFFECT EVERY CITY. AND SO, UH, WE MAY FIND A LOT OF ALLIES, WE MAY FIND A LOT OF OPPONENTS, FRANKLY. UM, IT WOULD BE A BIG LIFT THAT WE WOULD WANT TO BUILD AS MUCH, UH, CONSENSUS AROUND AS POSSIBLE BEFORE WE TOOK IT ON. YEAH. AND, UH, I'M LOOKING AT THIS, IT'S NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT? IT'S THE, THE OTHER, UH, UH, CITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROGRAM. SO YEAH, I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT PUT ON THE, UH, OUR COMMITTEE AND, AND ADDED TO OUR AGENDA TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE THIS CHANGE ON THE TIMELINE, TO GIVE THEM MORE TIME TO DEVELOP THESE PACKAGES AND PUT THE, THE, UH, THE, UH, EMPHASIS IN, IN THESE AND COME UP WITH, UH, THE TIME THAT THEY NEED TO DO WHAT, WHAT'S REQUIRED TO GET THESE PACKAGES TOGETHER. RIGHT NOW, I JUST, IT'S [05:55:01] JUST TO ME IT'S TOO TIGHT. TOO TIGHT. OKAY. SO THANK YOU, JEFF. APPRECIATE IT. BEFORE I FORGET ON YOUR PREVIOUS, UH, ITEM, UH, IF YOU DO CHANGE THE POINTS FOR THE VALUE, YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE THAT A MOTION SO THAT IT'S PART OF THE POLICY. AND SO THAT WAS TO MAKE THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WORTH 20 POINTS AND TO HAVE THE PROJECT FEASIBILITY AND READINESS BE WORTH 10 POINTS. SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PART OF YOUR MOTION. SO WE ADOPTED IN THE POLICY. OKAY. UM, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO, UH, MAKE THAT CHANGE, MOVING THAT TO 20 POINTS AND, UH, REDUCING THE PROJECT FEASIBILITY AND READINESS TO 10. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PERRY. THERE IS A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. AND THERE IS A SECOND FOR, UM, AMENDING THE THANK YOU, UM, POLICY AS STATED BY, UH, MS. SOTO. THANK YOU. OKAY, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. UM, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE WAY YOU'RE DESCRIBING IT, AND ANDY, YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IF, IF I'M OFF BASE, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT UNDER THIS FINANCING, THEY USUALLY GO AND SPEAK WITH THE COUNCIL PERSON, UH, THAT REPRESENTS THAT AREA. IS THAT A, A COMMON PROCEDURE? YES, ACTUALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SEND A LETTER TO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, WITHIN THE AREA. SO EVERYTHING FROM EVERYONE FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER TO THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, STATE SENATOR WOULD GET A LETTER. UM, BUT THAT'S THE EXTENT OF NOTIFICATION THAT THE STATE REQUIRES THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS RECEIVE A LETTER SAYING THAT THIS IS SEEKING TAX CREDITS. IT, IT WOULDN'T BE INAPPROPRIATE THEN TO RESPOND TO THAT LETTER BY SAYING, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IF, IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS. RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY. UM, YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS HERE. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT, ONE IS AREA INCOME, AND IT'S WORTH, UH, 10%. HOW IS THAT MEASURED? IS DOES IT LOOK AT THE POVERTY LEVEL AND HOW MUCH BELOW OR ABOVE THAT LEVEL YOU GET POINTS FOR? YES, SIR. SO THAT IS A AWARDED BASED ON LOOKING AT CENSUS TRACTS THAT HAVE LOWER THAN AVERAGE POVERTY RATES. UM, AND FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN A FOUR MILE RADIUS OF THE CITY'S URBAN CORE. UM, SO, SO THE, THE POORER, THE MORE POINTS YOU MIGHT GET OR NO. CONVERSELY, UM, THE, IF THE CENSUS TRACT HAS LESS POVERTY, THE MORE POINTS YOU MIGHT GET. UM, THAT'S HOW THAT IS AWARDED. OKAY. SOUNDS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO ME. IT'S LOWER THAN AVERAGE POVERTY RATES IN THOSE AREAS. OKAY. OF COURSE, YES. POVERTY RATE WOULD BE 20%. 20%, YES. THE POVERTY RATE IN THOSE AREAS. THANK YOU. CHRIS WOULD BE, UH, FOR THE CENSUS TRACT LESS THAN 20%. SO THE LESS POVERTY IN THAT CENSUS TRACT, THE MORE POINTS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GARNER. OKAY. SO AREAS WITH LESS POVERTY. OKAY. OKAY. UH, I DON'T SEE ANY WEIGHT GIVEN TO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROJECTED, UH, RENTS THAT THEY WANT TO CHARGE. IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT, UH, 80% UNDER MARKET VALUE, OR 60% OR 50%, IS THERE NO WEIGHT GIVEN TO THAT IN PROMOTING OR, OR APPROVING THIS KIND OF A PROGRAM? AT THE STATE LEVEL? THE Q A P PAYS A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THAT, AND THEY DO AWARD A LOT MORE POINTS FROM THE STATE CRITERIA TO THAT. UM, JUST A REMINDER, ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TO SERVE FAMILIES THAT ARE MAKING 60% OR BELOW OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. SO THERE'S ALREADY DEEPER AFFORDABILITY THAN EVEN THROUGH SOME OF OUR, UH, PROGRAMS HERE AT THE CITY. UH, HOME FOR EXAMPLE, IS 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. SO THESE ARE LOOKING AT FAMILIES THAT ARE MAKING EVEN LESS, UH, THE CAP IS 60%, AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY DO HAVE A LOT MORE POINTS, UH, FOR THE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY LEVELS. SO AS LONG AS YOU'RE OFFERING 60% OR LESS, YOU CAN QUALIFY LOCALLY. AND THEN THE STATE EVALUATES YOU IN COMPARISON TO OTHER OFFERS. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COURAGE. COUNCILMAN S OR I'M SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ. ACTUALLY, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME THE COURTESY, WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN WHO WAS NOT RECOGNIZED EARLIER WHO WAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, IF I COULD TAKE THAT PERSON FIRST, AND WE'LL GET RIGHT TO YOU. SO, UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE OVERSIGHT, COLONEL SERGIO DICKERSON, IF YOU'RE STILL HERE, I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME UP AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. [06:00:01] COLONEL, THANK YOU, SIR. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR NUREMBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER SCULLY. UH, MY NAME IS SERGE DICKERSON. I AM A, UH, COLONEL IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, RETIRED. I AM CURRENTLY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM, NATIONAL VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM. UH, THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW POLICY OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, OR NO OBJECTION FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING COMPETITIVE 9% AND NON-COMPETITIVE 4%, UH, LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS, UH, FROM THE TAX DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE AMERICAN GI FORUM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, UH, HEADQUARTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT SERVES VETERANS WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, UH, WITH EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, HOUSING SUPPORT, AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES. FOR THE PAST 45 YEARS, N V O P HAS ACCOMPLISHED ITS MISSION, UH, BY ADVOCATING FOR THE IMPROVED CARE AND SERVICES FOR THE VETERANS IN THE VIETNAM WAR. AND OF COURSE, FAST FORWARD, UH, FOUR DECADES FORWARD, NOW WE'RE AT THE LEAD ADVOCATE FOR THE POST NINE 11 VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITIONING INTO CIVILIAN SERVICE. WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING TO STIMULATE THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, FOR THE VETERAN FAMILIES IN MILITARY CITY U SS A BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THE T D H C A 9% COMPETITIVE HOUSING, UH, TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. AS WE PREPARE THE APPLICATION SUBMISSION FOR THE 2018, WE FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO BRING A COUPLE POINTS, UH, TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE RESOLUTION. SOME OF THESE YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. SO STARTING WITH THE R F A CURRENTLY, THE CITY IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATION ON DECEMBER 11TH WITH A RESPONSE DATE OF JANUARY 5TH, 2018. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER EXTENDING THAT SUBMISSION A FULL 30 DAYS, UH, TO ALLOW TIME TO ALIGN ALL THE CRITICAL PIECES. UH, FOR THIS SUBMISSION ON THE ZONING ISSUE. WE WOULD ALSO REQUEST A CLARIFICATION ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED POLICY THAT STATES THAT POINTS ARE AWARDED TO APPLICANTS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS ZONED APPROPRIATELY PAST TENSE FOR THE PRO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT TYPE AND DENSITY. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE APPLICANT OR AFFILIATE ONLY NEEDS TO HAVE SUBMITTED A FORMAL APPLICATION FOR A REQUIRED ZONING CHANGE. WE WILL SUBMIT TO THE ZONING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENTS ON JANUARY 11TH, 2018. THE NEW POLICY WILL REQUIRE THAT THE LAND ALREADY ZONED WHILE THE T D H C A STIPULATES THAT ONLY A FORMAL APPLICATION FOR ZONING NEED BE SUBMITTED. WE BELIEVE THAT EXCEEDING THE T D H C A'S ZONING STANDARD MAY PLACE SAN ANTONIO APPLICANTS AT A DISADVANTAGE WITH SUBMISSIONS TO THE T D H C A. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL HERE WITH THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES MEMBERS WITH SAFE, AFFORDABLE, PERMANENT HOUSING, AND TO ENSURE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF VETERANS DO NOT STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOURS, COLONEL DICKERSON. UM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CLERK, UH, CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD THE MOTIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR. AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. YES, SIR. WITHDRAW. THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS BY COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK HOUSE TO ADOPT THE POLICY AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. THE AMENDMENT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY TO ACCEPT, UH, THE POLICY REGARDING, BUT CHANGE THE POINT ALLOCATION TO THE EVALUATION CRITERIA, UH, IF THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. AND THAT WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK HOUSE. OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR THE MOVER AND THE SECOND OF THE PRIMARY MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IN ORDER TO HAVE ONE MOTION. IS THAT ACCEPTABLE TO YES. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, THAT'S YES. UH, I'D LIKE TO RESTATE MY MOTION. I THINK THERE'S JUST ONE THING THAT'S MISSING IN THERE. OKAY. SO I AM, UM, MOVING TO APPROVE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE POLICY ON LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT, OR NO OBJECTION UNDER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. PART C, ADDING LANGUAGE TO NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 LINEAR FEET OF THE PROJECT, SITE PLAN, TEAM MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED WITH THE CITY. THANK YOU. SO THAT'S THE MOTION. AND MAYOR, IF THAT'S, UM, THE, THAT'S THE PRIMARY MOTION OR THE MAIN MOTION, AND THAT WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK HOUSE. [06:05:01] OKAY. IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE, WE CAN STILL HAVE THAT INCORPORATED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY'S AMENDMENT TO THE CRITERIA EVALUATION POINTS. OKAY. SO I'LL ASK COUNCILMAN PERRY TO, TO, UH, TO CLARIFY HIS MOTION THEN HIS AMENDMENT. YES. I'M JUST, UH, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THAT POINT SYSTEM FROM, UH, UH, 10 TO 20% ON THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND REDUCE THE PROJECT FEASIBILITY AND READINESS DOWN TO 10. SO I KNOW I DID SECOND THIS A SECOND AGO, BUT, UM, I DID TALK TO, TO STAFF AND I WAS REMINDED THAT THERE IS ALSO SOME, UM, THAT JUST BECAUSE A DEVELOPER GETS THE POINTS, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE LETTER FROM THE COUNCIL THAT ULTIMATELY THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO APPROVE IT. AND THERE IS A A POINT FOR DISCUSSION THERE IN SOME DISCRETION IF YOU, UM, IF YOU CHOSE, UH, FOR INSTANCE, COUNCILMAN PERRY NOT TO, UM, SUPPORT A CERTAIN PROJECT IN YOUR DISTRICT BASED ON, YOU KNOW, YOUR CRITERIA SUCH AS NOT HOSTING A PUBLIC MEETING. UM, SO I WOULD, UM, I GUESS I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE LEAVE THE POLICY AS AMENDED BY MY MOTION, SEE HOW YEAR ONE GOES, AND THEN RECONSIDER AFTER THAT. OKAY. WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO THAT? OKAY. SO, UH, COUNCILMAN THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS NOT ACCEPTED. UH, IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THE COUNCILMAN'S SUGGESTION, WE CAN WITHDRAW YOUR AMENDMENT. UH, IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN YOU CAN MAKE IT INTO A MOTION TO AMEND AND THEN WE CAN VOTE ON YOUR AMENDMENT. OKAY. UM, YEAH, I, UH, SO YOU'RE SAYING TO TRY THIS OUT FOR A YEAR? OKAY. I'LL, I'LL, I'LL ACCEPT THAT. OKAY, GREAT. UM, AND THAT'S TO CLARIFY. THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CLERK FOR THE CLARIFICATION. SO TO CLARIFY, FOR THE, THE AUDIENCE, WE HAVE A SINGLE MOTION, UH, FOR APPROVAL ON THE FLOOR MADE BY COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL, AN AMENDED, UH, IN HER MOTION. UH, AND THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS OR MOTIONS CURRENTLY ON THE FLOOR. COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ? UH, SO VERONICA, THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON, WE WERE BRIEFED ON THIS, UM, A FEW DAYS AGO, MAYBE A WEEK OR SO AGO, THIS ITEM, UH, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE TAX CREDITS ARE EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. AND SO THE, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE JUST REALLY A FEW THAT KIND OF GO AFTER THESE PROJECTS, UM, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS. I'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT, MAYBE FOUR, UH, DEVELOPERS GO AFTER THESE KIND OF TAX CREDITS BECAUSE THEY ARE, UM, SO COMPETITIVE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT, THERE'S ONLY A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT SPECIALTY TO DO THESE KIND OF PROJECTS. UM, AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE, UM, JUST APPROVING. I MEAN, HAVEN'T WE, THE ORDINANCE THAT CAME BEFORE US, THAT HAS BEEN FAIRLY STANDARD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. IT WAS IN, UM, 2015 THAT IT CAME FORWARD AND, UM, GIVEN SOME CHANGES TO THE Q A P THAT WAS ADOPTED. UM, JUST THIS YEAR, A FEW, UM, ON NOVEMBER 30TH SIGNED, UM, THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THAT WERE NECESSITATED PLUS BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE FELT IT WAS TIME TO REVISE IT, UH, TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL. SO IT WAS A COMBINATION OF THINGS, BUT IT WAS 2015 WHEN IT WAS LAST PRESENTED AS A POLICY. COULD YOU PLEASE BRING UP YOUR SCORING MATRIX? SURE. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HERE IN THIS PROVI, UM, THIS REVIS PRO PROPOSED REVISIONS, UM, THERE'S A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT OF 10 THAT'S PART OF THE CHANGE. SO I'M JUST LOOKING HERE AT THE CHANGES. THE, THE MAIN ONE IS, UM, SO THE OPPORTUNITY AREA CRITERIA IS NO LONGER, UH, PART OF THAT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A STATE REQUIREMENT. IT IS A STATE REQUIREMENT. AND THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THESE TWO IS FROM THE PUBLISHED DRAFT THAT WE HAD BACK IN NOVEMBER, UM, TO WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, NOT FROM WHAT WAS HERE BACK IN 2015. UM, IN 2015, REMEMBER WE HAD, UM, 165 POINT SCALE. SO ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN ADJUSTED FOR THAT. AND THEY'RE THE SAME. IT'S JUST CHANGED. YES. AND, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY AREA CRITERIA IS NOW CALLED THE AREA INCOME CRITERIA TO BE CLEAR AS WELL. UM, SO THAT'S ALSO WHY YOU SEE THAT, UM, ALIGNING AS THE FOURTH ITEM THERE. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS, I WAS PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE [06:10:01] MOTION, UH, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED TO ME A FEW DAYS AGO, BUT I KNOW THAT NOW WE'RE HEARING SOME CHANGES ON THE DAIS, WHICH I'M RELUCTANT SUPPORT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T QUITE FLUSHED ALL THAT OUT YET. UH, ESPECIALLY REGARDING, UM, SENDING OUT PUBLIC NOTICES. SO THAT'S OPTIONAL. IT IS, BUT IT, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCORING, IT IS, UH, REPRESENTING 10% OF THE TOTAL, UH, POINTS WHEN YOU, UH, LOOK AT THE A HUNDRED POINT SCALE, UH, IN THE INITIAL DRAFT, UH, WE WERE MAKING THAT A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT BEFORE YOU WERE MAKING IT A MANDATORY REQUIREMENT, THEN WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE FAIR HOUSING. FAIR HOUSING, CORRECT. BECAUSE I'M ALSO UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SENDING OUT NOTICES ALSO VIOLATES FAIR HOUSING. COULD WE GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT? UH, ANDY, 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK AND, AND I'M GETTING THE FEEDBACK THAT SENDING OUT NOTICES VIOLATES THE FAIR HOUSING ACT. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN, COULD YOU REPEAT YOUR QUESTION? DOES SENDING OUT FAIR SENDING OUT NOTICES, UH, BY MAIL TO HOMEOWNERS VIOLATE THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IT TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT? IT, IT, IT WOULD, UM, BUT THERE'S ALREADY A STATE REQUIREMENT TO SEND 'EM TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT TO SEND IT TO THE RESIDENTS WOULD, WOULD IN EFFECT AND CREATE THE REQUIREMENT TO DO THE, THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. OKAY. OKAY. THAT, THAT, THAT'S CORRECT. IT, IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC. COUNCILWOMAN, I'M SORRY. IT, IT WOULD, I WOULD, WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT THAT BE A REQUIREMENT. OKAY. THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A REQUIREMENT. SO VETO, CAN YOU BRING UP BACK UP THE, UM, WHAT ANOTHER SCREEN, UH, UM, SLIDE THAT YOU HAD ABOUT, UM, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE POINTS? UM, THERE, THIS IS THE, SO, SO HERE, HERE IT SAYS MINIMUM SEVEN DAY. SO DEVELOPER INITIATED PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD WEEKNIGHTS SEVEN DAY MINIMUM NOTICE. AND SO THIS IS ALL OPTIONAL, 10 POINTS ON CITY APPLICATION. YES. SO THIS IS ALL OPTIONAL. UM, THE WAY THEY EARN THE 10 POINTS IS IF THEY FOLLOW THE CRITERIA IN FRONT OF YOU. OKAY. UM, AND SO, AND IT SAYS PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET. SO THAT WAS THE PART THAT I THINK JUST CAME UP. AND THAT WAS THE PART THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE, UM, I WAS GIVEN SOME FEEDBACK THAT PERHAPS IT VIOLATES A FAIR HOUSING ACT, BUT ALSO, UM, GIVEN THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THESE GRANTS, UH, OR OF THESE APPLICATIONS, THEY'RE NOT GRANTS, BUT OF, OF THESE APPLICATIONS, UH, THAT IT COULD BE, UM, UH, MORE BURDENSOME GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S SO MUCH INVOLVED IN, UH, APPROVING, UM, THE APPLICATIONS ANYWAY. AND JUST FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, FOR SONY CASES, UM, ANY CASE ALSO DOES HAVE TO NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 200 FEET. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ROUTINELY DONE BY THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FOR ZONING CASES. UM, BUT TYPICALLY NOT WITH THESE TAX CREDITS. CORRECT? WE SEEING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME. CORRECT. UM, SO, AND, UH, LEMME SEE. MEETING MUST OCCUR BY JANUARY 16TH. SO, UM, I'M, I'M JUST THINKING OF THE TIMELINE HERE BECAUSE I DO FEEL LIKE MAYBE THIS NEEDS TO GO BACK TO COMMITTEE. WE'RE JUST HEARING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, EITHER IT GO, UM, TO, UH, THE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING. I, I JUST, I'M VERY RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT ANY CHANGES ON THE DAIS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL, UM, TO THESE PROJECTS. I KNOW THESE PROJECTS ARE IN THE NOVEMBER, YOU KNOW, 30 TO $60 MILLION RANGE. AND THAT, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. UM, THE TIMELINE IS SUCH SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE, UH, IN JANUARY TO PRESENT THE, UM, PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS IN EARLY FEBRUARY. AND WE DID NOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE IN NOVEMBER. WE HAD PLANNED TO PRESENT THIS AT THAT COMMITTEE, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO, TO DO THAT. UM, OKAY. SO DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO SEND IT BACK TO COMMITTEE? IS THAT THE PROCEDURE? I HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION. UM, YOU COULD CHOOSE TO DO THAT. COUNCILMAN . OKAY. WELL THEN I THINK THAT, UM, COMMITTEE WOULDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY TIME, YEAH. COUNCILWOMAN IF IT WENT BACK TO COMMITTEE AND, AND, UH, MAYBE IN SOME DATE IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY, UH, IF WE PUT THAT TIMELINE UP, IT WOULD GIVE DEVELOPERS EVEN LESS TIME TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS AND, UM, GET THEIR MATERIALS TOGETHER. UH, THE TIMELINE FOR US IS CONSTRAINED BY THE STATE TIMELINE. THERE'S A DROP DEADLINE BY WHEN APPLICATIONS ARE DUE, AND WE'RE WORKING WITHIN THAT NARROW WINDOW. SO IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS TODAY, IT JUST GIVES THE DEVELOPER LESS TIME TO GET THEIR APPLICATION TOGETHER FOR US TO REVIEW. AND FOR YOU ALL TO, [06:15:01] FOR US TO SCORE IT TO YOU TO RECOMMEND WHETHER OR NOT YOU APPROVE IT, A LETTER OF SUPPORT AND NO SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION. OKAY. I THINK I JUST NEED TO MAKE A MO UM, LET, LET US PUT THE, CAN YOU GUYS PUT THE POWERPOINT BACK UP? WE'LL PUT THE TIMELINE BACK UP FOR YOU. YEAH. SO IF, IF YOU SEE THIS TIMELINE, WE ARE FOLDING IN THE PRESENTATION BACK TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE IN JANUARY. UM, AND SO THAT WOULD BE JANUARY 17TH, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, UH, FEBRUARY 8TH. SO IT'S A VERY QUICK TIMELINE. STAFF ONLY HAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO REVIEW. UM, WE KNOW DEVELOPERS HAVE A SHORT TIMEFRAME TO TURN THEM AROUND AS WELL. COUNCILWOMAN, CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION, RIGHT? YES. UM, IF, IF, UH, THE COUNCILMAN SO AGREES, WE COULD SPLIT HER MOTION INTO TWO SO THAT WE TAKE UP AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION AND THEN TAKE UP THE MAIN MOTION. THAT WAY IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO VOTE AGAINST THE MAIN MOTION. UH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M ENTIRELY OPPOSED TO THE MAIN MOTION. I'M JUST NOW HEARING ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND I FEEL LIKE WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN ENOUGH FEEDBACK FROM, YOU KNOW, ALL, UH, IMPACTED PARTIES. UH, SO LET ME JUST TURN IT BACK OVER, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUES AND SEE IF I CAN'T GET ANY MORE CLARITY BEFORE I MAKE ANY MOTIONS. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ. COUNCILMAN ELAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M LOOKING AT PAGE THREE OF THE PROPOSED POLICY. THERE'S A, THE FOURTH BULLET DOWN IS THE EVIDENCE OF CITY REQUIRED PUBLIC MEETING DEMONSTRATING THAT THE APPLICANT TOOK APPROPRIATE ACTIONS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEETING HAS TO BE SCHEDULED, UH, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH A SCHEDULED START TIME, NO EARLIER THAN 5:30 PM AND NO LATER THAN 7:30 PM I, I'M WORRIED THAT BY SETTING IT MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, THAT WE'RE EXCLUDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS, UH, INTO THOSE EVENINGS. SO WHY JUST MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, OR WHY NOT, YOU KNOW, THE OCCASIONAL SATURDAY, THE OLD VERSION. UH, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, I'M BEEN UPDATED. YEAH. I MEAN, IF YOU ASKED, IF YOU ASKED MY WIFE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SHOW UP AT A MEETING FROM MONDAY TO THURSDAY BETWEEN FIVE 30 AND SEVEN 30, SHE'D HAVE A TOUGH TIME DOING IT, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF KIDS THAT WE GOTTA TAKE TO SOCCER AND SWIMMING AND CHINESE CLASS AND ALL THAT. SO, SORRY. UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS THE START TIME OF THE MEETING. UM, YOU'RE CORRECT TO SAY WHY ONLY ON THOSE WEEK NIGHTS, UM, BUT THE MEETING COULD START LATER THAN FIVE 30 ON A WEEKNIGHT, BUT YOU'RE CORRECT TO MENTION A CONCERN ABOUT JUST HAVING THE MEETING ON A WEEKNIGHT. YEAH. AND, AND I KNOW I'M CORRECT. I, I MEAN, WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IS ARE YOU, ARE YOU OPENING, ARE YOU OPEN TO WHY, WHY WOULDN'T WE DO IT ON A WEEKEND? IS IT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO STAFF AVAILABILITY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. UH, WE COULD MAKE THAT AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT TO HAVE A WEEKEND MEETING AS WELL. OKAY. SO WHY ISN'T IT THERE? IN OTHER WORDS, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DATES OF THE MEETINGS AND THE TIMES OF THE MEETINGS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATING BETWEEN YOU AND THE DEVELOPER AND THE NONPROFIT, RIGHT. AS OPPOSED TO JUST LOCKING IT IN FOR THERE FOR THOSE DATES. RIGHT? RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. WE COULD MAKE IT A, A WEEKEND MEETING AS WELL. YES. SO, ANDY SEGOVIA, DO WE NEED TO, DO I NEED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO SUGGEST THAT WE OPEN THAT UP, OR IS THAT JUST UP TO Y'ALL? UH, COUNCILMAN THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES, WE NEED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THAT MINIMUM ON MONDAY. SO MAYBE THAT'S, THAT WAS YOUR MR. ZONI, YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR ME? JUST CLARIFY. UH, GO AHEAD. YES, , IN LOOKING AT THIS, IT'S A MINIMUM. AT A MINIMUM. UM, SO IT DOES SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE AT AN ACCESSIBLE LOCATION, BUT IT HAS AT A MINIMUM, THESE ARE THE STANDARDS. UM, SO IT'S NOT LOCKING IT IN THAT IT HAS TO BE THERE, SO IT COULD BE ON A WEEKNIGHT. UM, THE BEGINNING OF THAT SENTENCE HAS AT A MINIMUM. OKAY. THE, THANK YOU. THE, THE OTHER ISSUE I'VE GOT IS IF I, IF I GO BACK TO THE SCORING MATRIX THAT YOU HAD UP THERE FOR US, UM, UM, I, I NOTICED THE CHANGES THAT YOU MADE, AND SO PLEASE WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU, WHAT EARNED SOMEBODY A 10 FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT? SO TO EARN THE 10, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE [06:20:01] CRITERIA THAT'S IN THE NEXT SLIDE. AND IT'S THIS CRITERIA, AGAIN, WITH THE, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED. SO YOU DON'T GET A 10, I'M SORRY. I, EVEN IF I DO ALL THOSE THINGS, I WOULD GET A 10 IF EVERY NEIGHBOR THAT SHOWS UP SCREAMS AND YELLS AND SAYS, ABSOLUTELY NOT, I DON'T WANT THIS ANYWHERE NEAR ME. YES. THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, , YOU WOULD STILL GET THE 10 IF YOU MET THIS CRITERIA. I, I KNOW. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? YES. UM, I MEAN, THIS IS YOUR POLICY THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO US. AND SO IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO YOU, WHY SHOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT YOU'D GET A 10? EVEN IF EVERY NEIGHBOR HATES THE PROJECT? WHAT IT HAPPENS, WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THAT YOU HEAR THE SENTIMENT OF THE COMMUNITIES, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT THAT, UH, POINT. UM, IT COULD BE PART OF THE CONSIDERATION WHEN THESE ITEMS COME FORWARD ON FEBRUARY 8TH, THAT EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TO THE PUBLIC MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO THIS. UH, AND SO THAT COULD BE PART OF WHAT YOU WEIGH, UH, AT THAT MEETING TO CONSIDER, EVEN THOUGH THEY MET THE POINTS, BECAUSE EVERYONE AT THAT PUBLIC MEETING WAS SUPPOSED PERHAPS THE, THE MOTION SHOULD BE NOT TO AWARD THAT PARTICULAR ONE. SO IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL POINT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HAD OTHERWISE. THAT, AND, AND, AND, BUT I, I FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT I'M BEING SNARKY ABOUT THIS. RIGHT. AND, AND IT'S BECAUSE IT WORRIES ME. RIGHT? AND IT'S PERSONAL. BECAUSE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS, MR. PERRY, MY, MY FRIEND JOHN COURAGE AND I, THE MEETINGS ARE GONNA BE MOST HEATED, I BELIEVE, IN OUR DISTRICTS. RIGHT? AND I'M ALL FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING. I'M ALL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT, RIGHT? MY PROBLEM IS, IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE READY FOR THE FOLKS THAT USUALLY COME OUT IN THESE THREE DISTRICTS WHO, YOU KNOW, HAVE NEVER SEEN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH, RIGHT? AND EVEN IF IT'S JUST LOW INCOME SENIORS, RIGHT? UM, IT'S STILL TO THEM GONNA BE THE, YOU KNOW, WHERE ALL THE CRIMES ARE GONNA HAPPEN, EVEN IF THEY'RE WRONG, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE LOCK IN THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. AND YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. WHICH MEANS THAT WE, WE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO COME BACK AND HELP MASSAGE THAT AND PUSH THAT ALONG IF MORE MEETINGS ARE NEEDED. CORRECT. OKAY. THANKS. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. AND, UH, BEFORE I PASS IT TO COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE, WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS, UH, PETER, UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THE DAAS. WHAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO FOLKS IS THAT, UH, AS THE MAYOR STEPPED OUT, HE SAID, WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UH, AGENDIZE THIS FOR TWO MEETINGS, ONE, THE GOVERNANCE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEN TAKE THIS BACK TO A THURSDAY, A SESSION JUST LIKE IT IS TODAY. RIGHT? AND IN THAT MEANTIME, FOLKS CAN GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT SPECIFIC DETAILS. SO, UH, THAT IS AN OPTION, UH, THAT, THAT COUNCILWOMAN, UH, UH, CAN DISCUSS. BUT YEAH, THAT, UH, WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH, UH, JUST A MOMENT AGO, AND THAT'S AN OPTION. IT ADD ABOUT A WEEK TO THE TIMELINE. SO WE WOULD LOOK TO, UH, GAIN THAT TIME IN THE TAIL END OF THE PROCESS. UH, SO IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S MANAGEABLE. WE CAN DO IT. YEAH. AND SANDOVAL, UH, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE'RE APPROVING. UM, SO IF YOU'RE, UM, I GUESS, COULD I MAKE, UH, TWO MOTIONS, ONE TO SEE, NO, NO, I'M HERE . UM, YEAH, I'D HAVE TO WITHDRAW MY ORIGINAL MOTION AND THEN MOVE TO TAKE THIS TO GOVERNANCE FOR, UH, FOR THE DECEMBER 12TH MEETING. SO I'D, UH, MOVE TO TAKE THIS TO GOVERNANCE FOR THE DECEMBER 12TH MEETING. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO WITHDRAW THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND TAKE THIS BACK TO A GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, FOLLOWED BY AN AGENDA THURSDAY. MEETING ON THE SAME TOPIC. COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE. ALL I WAS GONNA SAY WAS, UH, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT FOR ANOTHER BATHROOM BREAK BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING, IT WAS GETTING A LITTLE HAIRY THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. UM, BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT, UH, LOOK, ANYTHING TO ME AND, UM, THAT STRENGTHENS A DEVELOPER'S NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS IMPORTANT. UM, AND I WILL GO TO ANY LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE DISTRICT NOW. SO IF THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD AS YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, UH, THE, THE MORE WE CAN DO THAT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF LEGALITY, OBVIOUSLY, UH, SO THAT THERE'S A FAIR AND LEVEL PLAYING FIELD THAT YOU WOULD FIND MASSIVE SUPPORT FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THAT A DEVELOPER ALWAYS IS, HAS TO TALK TO A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BUILDING BLOCK OF A GOOD COMMUNITY IS, IS A PARTNERSHIP. AND THEY NEED TO SHOW UP AND TALK. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BROCK HOUSE. THERE'S NO OTHER MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. SO [06:25:01] WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THE MOTION IS TO SEND THE ITEM TO GOVERNANCE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. AND, UH, WE WILL BE, HOPE WE'LL BE SEEING THIS ON THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK'S DAY SESSION. GREAT. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, [Zoning Consent Agenda] NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ZONING, BECAUSE I FEEL AS IF I'M STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE FOR THE TWO O'CLOCK ZONING ITEM. OKAY? SO LET ME READ A FEW THINGS FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE FOR ZONING. ITEM Z 21 AND Z 37 HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE APPLICANT AND WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED. THERE ARE CONSENT ZONING ITEMS. UH, BUT LET ME POINT OUT THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT WILL BE TAKEN UP. P ONE AND Z THREE WILL BE TAKEN TOGETHER. P TWO AND Z FOUR WILL BE TAKEN TOGETHER. P THREE AND Z FIVE TAKEN TOGETHER ALL THOSE IN DISTRICT ONE Z NINE, Z 14, Z 12, I'M SORRY, Z 22, Z 23, Z 30 P 12, AND Z 34 TAKEN TOGETHER Z 36. OKAY. SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. DOES ANYBODY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? Y YES. UH, UH, PULL ITEM C 38. COUNCILMAN PERRY IS PULLING Z 38. YES. COUNCILMAN FELIC IS PULLING Z 30, WHICH IS ALREADY ON FOR INDIVIDUAL. AND I, I THINK Z 37 HAS BEEN, BEEN WITHDRAWN. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THE REST WILL REMAIN ON CONSENT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO MOVE? SO MOVED. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ONE SECOND. OKAY. JACK M FINGER AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR PRO, TIM, OTHER MEMBERS OF, UH, SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER NUMBER OF ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. SOME YOU HAVE, UH, PULLED FOR DELIBERATION AND SOME ARE JUST GONNA SAIL THROUGH FASTER THAN SANTA SLEIGH. YEP. SO WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? WELL, NUMBER, THE VERY FIRST ONES, NUMBER 19. THAT'S IN, UH, MR. SHAW'S DISTRICT. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE, UH, THE ONE THAT ALLOWING ALCOHOL ON THE, ON THE CAMPUS OF INCARNATE WORD. OKAY. UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC, A CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS UNIVERSITY. THEY, THEY WANT TO SELL ALCOHOL TO THE STUDENTS THERE. MR. SHAW? I THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA. WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY NO TO THAT ONE? I, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE IF ALL OF Y'ALL WOULD PULL ITEM NUMBER 19 AND SAY NO TO THE IDEA OF SELLING ALCOHOL TO COLLEGE STUDENTS ON THEIR CAMPUS. YES, ON A RELIGIOUS CA CATHOLIC CAMPUS THERE. P ONE Z THREE. MR. TINO, MR. TINO, THANK YOU FOR PULLING IT. I THINK THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT DELAYING THIS. WE THANK WE THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF, OF BEACON HILL. THANK YOU. 'CAUSE WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WE THINK IS, MIGHT BE ENCROACHMENT OVER THERE. THANK YOU. I'M JUST SKIPPING THROUGH THESE HERE. UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, MR. SHAW A Z 15. I DON'T THINK YOU PULLED THAT ONE. I THINK IT'S ABOUT A OFFERING, ADDING A JUNKY YARD. AUTOMOTIVE JUNKYARD. THAT'S Z 15, SIR. I THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA. JUST, UH, ON THE SURFACE THERE, WHY DON'T WE, UH, SAY NO TO THAT ONE AS WELL. THE, UH, ELSEWHERE WE HAVE, UH, I'M THE ITEMS NUMBER, OKAY. Z Z 21 HAS BEEN PULLED. OKAY, BUT, UH, MS. GONZALEZ, ALSO IN YOUR DISTRICT Z 22, THE IDEA OF, OF, UM, SUPPORTING A TATTOO PARLOR. A TATTOO PARLOR IS THAT Z 22, DON'T, CAN'T WE, UM, DON'T WE HAVE ENOUGH TATTOO PARLORS AROUND MS. GONZALEZ? CAN'T WE JUST SAY NO TO THAT ONE TOO? PULL, PULL ITEM 22 FOR A DISCUSSION AND SAY NO TO IT. OKAY? UM, OTHERWISE IT'LL SAIL THROUGH TOO. UM, ELSEWHERE, WE HAVE, UM, WELL, THERE'S A BIG ONE. ITEM NUMBER Z 30, AND MR. CURS IN YOURS DISTRICT IS A CAR WASH. [06:30:01] A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT THAT. UH, THE, I THINK, UH, THE, THE, THE ZONING COMMISSION, OH, OH, WELL, MAYBE IT'S MR. AZZ. MY, MY MR. MISTAKE. MR. CUR. MR. IZE. I SEE THEY'RE POINTING AT EACH OTHER. THEY'RE, YEAH, MR. AZZ AND Z THE CARWASH IN, IN, IN, UH, Z 30. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT. AND I CAN SEE WHY I, I HOPE YOU SAY NO TO THAT ONE AS WELL. AND, UH, AND, BUT INDEED, MR. K IN DISTRICT NINE, THERE'S A DUPLEX THERE. ZONING STAFF, SEVERAL RED FLAGS THERE. PLEASE SAY NO TO THAT ONE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. NEXT WE HAVE SYLVIA ALANISE. I'M SORRY, MS. ALANISE, WE HAVE YOUR ITEM COMING UP ON ITS OWN, SO WE'LL CALL YOU UP WHEN THAT ITEM COMES UP. NEXT WE HAVE DIANA TORRES. DIANA TORRES, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TIME TO COME BEFORE YOU WITH OUR CONCERNS AND OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS MATTER. UH, K Z 2 0 1 72 2 0 REZONING. UM, THIS IS MY HUSBAND. MY NAME IS TINA TORRES. THIS IS MY HUSBAND, JOE TORRES, AND OUR NEIGHBOR YOLANDA MEDINA. WE LIVE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE LOTS IN QUESTION. UM, WE HAVE GIVEN THIS MATTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION. WE WERE HERE THE LAST TIME THIS MATTER CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, AND WE WERE VOTING, VOICING OUR, OUR, OUR OPINION. NO, WE DIDN'T WANT THESE STRUCTURES TO GO UP, BUT WE HAVE GIVEN IT FURTHER CONSIDERATION. AND, UH, WE HAVE SHARED OUR THOUGHTS WITH MR. RIVERA AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THEM WITH HIM, AND HE HAS AGREED TO, UH, WE HAVE AGREED, NO, HE HAS AGREED TO GO ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR REQUESTS. SO WE HAVE CHOSEN TO AGREE TO THE REZONING IN THIS CASE, WHICH IS WITH THE FOLLOWING STIPULATIONS. WE ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD, UH, BUILD TO, UH, MAKE TWO DIFFERENT STRUCTURES RATHER THAN ONE THE WAY HE HAD THE DIAGRAM, IT WAS ONE, ONE STRUCTURE WITH FOUR UNITS. I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE APPEALING IF IT WAS TWO STRUCTURES. IT, I THINK IT PROVIDES FOR MORE PRIVACY FOR SOME OF THE RESIDENTS INSTEAD OF HAVING ALL THE WALLS CONNECTED AND HAVING TO HEAR NOISES FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS SO CLOSE BY. UM, HE HAS ALSO AGREED, SO THIS WOULD BE, UH, TWO STRUCTURES, TWO SEPARATE STRUCTURES, EACH STRUCTURE CONSISTING OF TWO UNITS. AND HE HAS ALSO AGREED THAT THE LEASING CONTRACTS WILL INCLUDE A NO PETS RESTRICTION CLAUSE. WE HAVE TOO MANY, UH, TENANTS THAT MOVE AWAY AND LEAVE THEIR PETS BEHIND, AND WE'RE LEFT THERE WITH, UH, STARVING ANIMALS. AND HE HAS ALSO AGREED THAT, UH, HE WILL RUN A CREDIT CHECK AND A BACKGROUND CHECK ON ALL APPLICANTS. HE HAS ALSO SAID THAT HE WOULD BE THE PROPERTY MANAGER AND AS PROPERTY MANAGER, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF HE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE LANDSCAPING IS KEPT PRESENTABLE. UH, WE HAVE A MOSQUITO PROBLEM OUT THERE WITH NEIGHBORS WITH WEEDS SO TALL THAT IT PROVIDES GOOD BREEDING FOR MOSQUITOES AND ALSO, UH, AND THAT WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT ALL CONSTRUCTION WILL BE CARRIED OUT ACCORDINGLY, UM, TO CO COTA ENFORCEMENTS. YOU KNOW, AND IN ADDITION, I DON'T THINK WE SAID THIS TO MR. RIVERA, BUT, UM, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF HE WOULD ROB A DEEDED RESTRICTION TO ASSURE THAT ALL CONSTRUCTION IS CARRIED OUT ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US. THANK YOU, MRS. TORRES. TOM MASTERSON, MAYOR PRO TIM, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL TOM MASTERSON. I LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I'M THE PASTOR OF HOPE CHURCH, AND WE WERE APPROACHED BY LAUREL RIDGE HOSPITAL FOR THE EXPANSION OF THEIR FACILITY TO BUILD AN 80 BED TREATMENT CENTER STATE-OF-THE-ART [06:35:01] TO TREAT OUR VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY FOR P T S D, MORAL INJURY AND OTHER SERVICE RELATED, UH, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. AND SO I WOULD JUST SAY WE RECOMMEND AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE AND SUPPORT THE REZONING OF OUR PROPERTY FOR THE SALE TO LAUREL RIDGE FOR THE TREATMENT OF OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU MR. MASTERSON. THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS WHO'VE BEEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A FIRST, A, A MOTION AND A SECOND ON CONSENT AGENDA. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, NOW WE'LL [P-1. PLAN AMENDMENT CASE # 17077 (Council District 1): An Ordinance amending the Midtown Neighborhoods Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Master Plan of the City, by changing the future land use from “Medium Density Residential” to “Mixed Use” on Lot 28, Block 3, NCB 3032 and 0.0032 acres out of Lot 31, Block 3, NCB 3032, located at 115 Cincinnati Avenue. Staff and Planning Commission recommend Approval. (Associated Zoning Case Z2017265) (Continued from November 2, 2017) Z-3. ZONING CASE # Z2017265 (Council District 1): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "R-6 NCD-5 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Beacon Hill Neighborhood Conservation Airport Hazard Overlay District to "C-2 NCD-5 AHOD" Commercial Beacon Hill Neighborhood Conservation Airport Hazard Overlay District on Lot 28, Block 3, NCB 3032 and 0.0032 acres out of Lot 31, Block 3, NCB 3032, located at 115 Cincinnati Avenue. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval, pending Plan Amendment. (Associated Plan Amendment 17077) (Continued from November 2, 2017)] GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, STARTING WITH P ONE AND Z 3 17 0 7 7 Z 20 17 2 6 5 AMENDING THE MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN FROM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO MIXED USE FROM R SIX TO C TWO, LOCATED AT 1 1 5 CINCINNATI AVENUE. STAFF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL. 28 NOTICES MAILED ONE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED. BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN AMENDMENT, BUT NOT THE ZONING. COUNCILMAN NU THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, THIS MOMENT I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO CONTINUE TO JANUARY 18TH. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE. VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [P-2. PLAN AMENDMENT CASE # 17086 (Council District 1): An Ordinance amending the North Sector Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Master Plan of the City, by changing the future land use from “Suburban Tier” to “Regional Center” on Lot 5 and the north 1 foot of Lot 4, Block 1, NCB 13996, located at 8406 and 8404 Speedway Drive. Staff recommends Denial. Planning Commission recommends Approval. (Associated Zoning Case Z2017285) Z-4. ZONING CASE # Z2017285 (Council District 1): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "I-1" General Industrial District to "C-3NA" General Commercial Nonalcoholic Sales District on Lot 5 and the north 1 foot of Lot 4, Block 1, NCB 13996, located at 8404 and 8406 Speedway Drive. Staff recommends Denial. Zoning Commission recommends Approval, pending Plan Amendment. (Associated Plan Amendment 17086)] WE'LL MOVE ON TO P TWO AND Z 4 17 0 8 6 Z 20 17 2 85 AMENDING THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN FROM SUBURBAN TIER TO REGIONAL CENTER FROM I ONE TO C THREE NA, LOCATED AT 84 0 4 AND 84 0 6 SPEEDWAY DRIVE. STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL. SEVEN. NOTICES MAILED EIGHT IN FAVOR? ONE. OPPOSED? COUNCILMAN RAVI. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, AT THIS MOMENT I WOULD MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY. PLEASE VOTE. A MOTION CARRIES. LET'S MOVE ON [P-3. PLAN AMENDMENT CASE # 18002 (Council District 1): An Ordinance amending the San Antonio International Airport Vicinity Land Use Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Master Plan of the City, by changing the future land use from “Community Commercial” to “Regional Commercial” on 2.942 acres out of NCB 11715, located at 9631 San Pedro Avenue. Staff and Planning Commission recommend Approval. (Associated Zoning Case Z2017298 S) Z-5. ZONING CASE # Z2017298 S (Council District 1): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from “C-2 AHOD” Commercial Airport Hazard Overlay District and “C-3 AHOD” General Commercial Airport Hazard Overlay District to "C-3 S AHOD" General Commercial Airport Hazard Overlay District with Specific Use Authorization for Auto Paint and Body Shop – Repair with Outside Storage of Vehicles and Parts Permitted but Totally Screened from View of Adjacent Property Owners and Public Roadways on 2.942 acres out of NCB 11715, located at 9631 San Pedro Avenue. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval with Conditions, pending Plan Amendment. (Associated Plan Amendment 18002)] TO P THREE AND Z 5 18 0 2 Z 20 17, 2 98 AMENDING THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT VICINITY LAND USE PLAN FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL TO REGIONAL COMMERCIAL FROM C TWO TO C THREE SS WITH A SPECIFIC USE AUTHORIZATION FOR AUTO PAINT AND BODY SHOP LOCATED AT 1996. 31 SAN PEDRO AVENUE. STAFF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. NO OUTDOOR SPEAKERS OUTSIDE STORAGE, SCREENING OF PARTS AND VEHICLES IS REQUIRED. 10 NOTICES MAILED ONE IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED GREATER HARMONY HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. NOT IN SUPPORT, NOR OPPOSED. COUNCILMAN TRI. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS AS READ, I BELIEVE IT. UH, THERE WAS, UH, ON THE NO OUTDOOR SPEAKERS OR VOICE AMPLIFICATION SYSTEMS SHALL BE PERMITTED ON THE PROPERTY EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRED BY LAW OR NECESSARY FOR EMERGENCY AND OR SAFETY PURPOSES. SO I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT ON THERE. OKAY. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [Z-9. ZONING CASE # Z2017227 CD (Council District 2): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "C-3 NA AHOD" General Commercial Nonalcoholic Sales Airport Hazard Overlay District to “C-2 NA CD AHOD" Commercial Nonalcoholic Sales Airport Hazard Overlay District with Conditional Use for Machinery, Tools, and Construction Equipment Sales and Service on Lots 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Block 2, NCB 12872, located at 9292 NE Loop 410. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval with Conditions. (Continued from October 19, 2017)] MOVE ON TO Z NINE Z 2017 TO TWO SEVEN FROM C THREE NA TO C TWO NA WITH A CONDITIONAL USE FOR MACHINERY TOOLS AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SALES. LOCATED AT 92 92 NORTHEAST LOOP FOUR 10. STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. TYPE B LANDSCAPING BUFFER ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL USES ALONG STREET FRONTAGE. SIX FOOT SOLID SCREEN FENCING, ABUTTING RESIDENTIAL DOWNWARD LIGHTING. 17. NOTICES MAILED ZERO IN FAVOR. THREE OPPOSED. EASTGATE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED. AND WE RECEIVED A PETITION FROM 15 SIGNATURES IN OPPOSITION. OKAY, WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SYLVIA ALANIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. UM, MY NAME IS SYLVIA ALANIS, EIGHT 30 STUDS DRIVE, UM, EASTGATE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR 10 YEARS. UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR ACCESS ROAD AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ONLY HAVE TWO LONG STREETS. IT'S A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, UH, TWO LONG STREETS. AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT THREE IN BETWEEN. SO WE'RE A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS LOCATED ON NORTHEAST LOOP FOUR 10. [06:40:01] OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ON NORTHEAST LOOP FOUR 10 AND I 10. SO WE'RE IN THE CORNER AND THIS IS OUR ACCESS ROAD AND WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF IT, KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN. AND THIS, UH, THIS BUSINESS, UH, THAT WANTS TO CHANGE THE ZONING. WE, IT'S A C THREE AND THEY WANNA GO DOWN TO C TWO IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT THAT, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A PICTURE IF I, IF I MAY. THIS IS A NEW BUSINESS THAT JUST CAME IN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. NO COMPLAINTS. VERY DECENT, VERY CLEAN. THIS IS OUR NE UH, WHAT WE WANT. THIS IS A DOMINO EFFECT THAT WE WANT IN OUR, IN OUR ACCESS ROAD. AND THEN NOW THESE ARE THE PICTURES THAT THEY WANNA CHANGE THE ZONING DOWN ZONE. AND, UH, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, TO OUR, I HAVE TO HEAR IT. I WANTED OUR COUNCILMAN TO COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THE LETTERS THAT WERE SENT OUT, I BELIEVE THEY WERE 19. SO I WANTED TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY COMES TO OUR MEETINGS. SO I WANTED THE CITY TO SEND ME THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO SEND ME THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY DID, UH, SEND OUT TO THAT THEY, THEY CAN WITHIN THE 200 FEET. WELL, AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CHECKING OFF THE NAMES, THEY'RE EMPTY LOTS THAT THEY SENT IT, THESE EMPTY LOTS. WE HAVE TO BE CALLING 3 1 1 FOR THE COM. THESE ARE ABANDONED LOTS THAT THE MAJORITY THAT YOU GUYS SEND LETTERS TO ARE RESIDENTS THAT BOUGHT THE LOTS, BUT THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THE ONES THAT DO, I WANTED OUR CITY COUNCILMAN OR THE, OR HIS AIDE TO COME. LET'S GO KNOCK ON THE DOORS AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE LIKE I DID SO THEY CAN HEAR WHAT, UM, WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME. THAT THIS KIND OF BUSINESS, IT ONLY IS A BREATHING ZONE FOR RATS TORONTO. AS THIS LADY WAS TELLING ME TO WRITE. THAT'S WHY I WANTED, UM, SOMEBODY TO GO AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE WITH ME. AND I HAD TALKED TO THE, THE RESIDENTS, UH, I WENT ONE BY ONE SIGNING OFF, AND THE REST OF 'EM WERE EMPTY LOTS. SO HOW CAN THEY RESPOND IF THEY DON'T RESPOND TO CLEAN THE, THEIR PROPERTIES? NOW THIS, THIS IS MY FOURTH CITY COUNCIL PERSON, SO EVERY TIME I NEED TO CH I HAVE TO BE CHANGING AIDS OF HOW WE WANT OUR, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU MS. EL. AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE WANT IT. THANK YOU, MS. AES. COUNCILMAN SHAW. THANK YOU. MAYOR PROTI IS THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER HERE AT THIS TIME. IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND PRO PROTI, I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME MORE TO SPEAK. CAN YOU PLEASE COME ON UP? THANKS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU, SORRY, WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME IS JOHN LUGO AND I'M, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE CORRECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, IF, IF ANY. UM, I WENT TO, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THIS PAST WEEK AND I TALKED TO, UM, NINE DIFFERENT, UH, OWNERS, PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE. UH, THEY GAVE ME A SIGNATURE AND I, UH, TALKED TO, UH, TWO DIFFERENT, MORE, BUT WE COULDN'T GET TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. BUT ANYWAY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU, UH, SHARE THIS WITH YOU. AND LIKE I SAID, I ONLY TALKED TO NINE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I DIDN'T TALK TO ANYBODY ELSE. I THINK I COULD'VE GOTTEN MAYBE, UH, 10 MORE. UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS, UH, THE LAST TIME THAT, UH, WE CAME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING HERE, UH, THERE WAS A, SOME POTHOLES ASSOCIATED WITH MY PROPERTY. UM, BUT THOSE POTHOLES, POTHOLES ARE, UH, IN A DIFFERENT DRIVEWAY. LET ME SHARE THIS WITH YOU ON THOSE, UH, THAT IS MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH DOESN'T REFLECT, UH, THE, UH, POTHOLES THAT WERE, UM, SHOWN ON THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING THAT WEEKEND. UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANNA MENTION TO YOU IS PRIMARILY THE, UH, THE, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HANDLE IS, UM, IT'S PRETTY SAFE. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, AIR COMPRESSORS IS, UH, OLD, OLD TECHNOLOGY, BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY'RE VERY SAFE, UH, KNOWING, YEAH, THAT ONE, YES. MM-HMM. . [06:45:01] AND ALSO THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. YES. THE, UH, AIR COMPRESSORS, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE VERY SAFE. THE, FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL. UM, UH, IF YOU, IF YOU, UM, THEY'RE NORMALLY, THE ELECTRIC COMPRESSORS ARE NORMALLY, UH, UH, 2 24 40. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE VOLTAGE TO RUN 'EM. UH, WE DO HAVE SOME, UH, SMALL DIESEL AIR COMPRESSORS, BUT WE DON'T TEST RUNNING THERE AT ALL. UH, PRIMARILY IN OUR, IN OUR WORK, WE, WE BUY THE EQUIPMENT, WE BUY IT, UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE, UH, SEND 'EM DIRECTLY TO A CONTRACTOR OR ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, BUT EXPORTER A BROKER ON THE BORDER TO EXPORT, OR WE SEND 'EM DIRECTLY TO AN AUCTION, 60% OF THE EQUIPMENT. AND OF COURSE, SOME OF IT WILL COME, WILL COME IN. NOW IN OUR BUSINESS, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY BIG TRUCKS AT ALL. NONE. NO TRUCK TRAFFIC. WE DON'T HAVE NO CHEMICALS, NO SOLVENTS. UH, WE DON'T DO ANY REPAIRS WHATSOEVER. SO WE DON'T HAVE NO CONTAMINATION AND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. UH, THE COMPRESSORS ARE, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE VERY SAFE. UH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST USER, UH, OF THE AIR COMPRESSORS, UH, IS IN OUR BACKYARD. UH, H E B FRITO-LAY. THEY'RE BIG USERS OF AIR COMPRESSORS. I I'VE BEEN IN INDOOR SHOP AND THEY HAVE, UH, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMPRESSORS. UH, AS FAR AS, UM, CLEANING UP THE YARD, WHATEVER HAS TO BE DONE, WHATEVER THE CITY REQUIRES, I'M ALL UP FOR IT. I'M, I'M VERY GOOD. I, UM, BEEN IN BUSINESS, UH, NOT TOO LONG, BUT I, UH, BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I'M 72 YEARS OLD. I STILL LIKE TO WORK AND I'M, I'M UP TO WHAT THE CITY WANTS ME TO DO. SO, UH, UH, JUST I'LL, I'LL KEEP IN, UH, IN TOUCH WITH WHOEVER I HAVE TO, SO I GET THE, THE WORK DONE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING ME. THANK YOU, MR. LIGO. AFF. YOU'RE GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR. DO YOU MIND REREADING THOSE CONDITIONS, PLEASE? SURE. TYPE B LANDSCAPING BUFFER ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL USES ALONG STREET FRONTAGE, SIX FOOT SOLID SCREEN FENCING, A BUDDING RESIDENTIAL, AND DOWNWARD LIGHTING. GREAT, THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THIS IS A DOWN ZONING. C THREE IS A MORE DENSE USE. SO WE'RE, UH, GOING DOWN TO A C TWO IS MORE BENEFICIAL TO THAT COMMUNITY. SO I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE CITY STAFF WILL KEEP MR. LEGAL, MR. LEGAL ACCOUNTABLE TO ANY AND ALL PRESCRIBED REMEDIES GOING FORWARD, AND THAT MY STAFF WILL FOLLOW UP ON ANY FUTURE ISSUES THAT THE CONDITIONS IDENTIFIED BY ZONING STAFF ARE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE. THEREFORE, I MOVE TO APPROVE CASE WITH CONDITIONS AS READ BY STAFF. ONE SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE ON TO [Z-14. ZONING CASE # Z2017281 CD (Council District 2): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "I-1" General Industrial, "C-2" Commercial District and "RM-4" Residential Mixed District to “C-2 CD” Commercial District with a Conditional Use for Auto Paint and Body- Repair with Outside Storage of Vehicles and Parts Permitted but Totally Screened from View of Adjacent Property Owners and Public Roadways on Lot 29, NCB 10734 and 0.828 acres out of Lot 12, Block 2, NCB 10733, located 1231 and 1241 South WW White Road. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval, with Conditions.] Z 14 Z 20 17, 2 81 FROM I ONE C TWO AND RMM FORD, A C TWO CD WITH A CONDITIONAL USE FOR AUTO PAINT AND BODY REPAIR. LOCATED AT 1231 AND 1241 SOUTH WW WHITE STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. DOWNWARD LIGHTING DIRECTED AWAY FROM SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL USES NO OUTDOOR SPEAKERS DURING THE HOURS OF 7:00 PM AND 7:00 AM NO TEMPORARY SIGNAGE. OUTDOOR STORAGE MUST BE SCREENED FROM VIEW OF ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND PUBLIC ROADWAYS BY EIGHT FOOT SOLID SCREEN FENCE ON THE SIDE AND REAR OF THE PROPERTY. AND SIX FOOT SOLID SCREEN FENCE ALONG THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. 16 NOTICES MAILED ZERO IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED. WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. WE'LL START WITH WILLIAM MORITZ AFTER WILLIAM MORITZ IS MARI MARIA. REZA MOVI. GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS WILLIAM J RAVITZ. I LIVE AT, UH, ONE 10 GLEN OAK, WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST RUNS INTO, UH, JAIMES TIRE SHOP. I'M HERE OPPOSING IT BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A MONTH AGO. WE WERE AT, UH, UH, THE ZONING COMMISSION AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD HIM TO CLEAN UP. THAT WAS 30 DAYS AGO. NOTHING'S HAPPENED. THIS HERE IS THE PICTURE OF JAIME'S JAIME'S TIRE SHOP, AND THEN THE, THAT'S AT 1241. THAT'S A SIDE VIEW GOING INTO 1231. THIS, THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT HE WANTS [06:50:01] TO TURN INTO A JUNKYARD. THIS IS A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED A JUNKYARD THERE. SO THOSE ARE THE PICTURES. AND THEN AT THE, THAT'S THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY. AND THIS, THESE ARE THE PICTURES THAT ARE BEHIND THAT LITTLE BUILDING THERE. AND IT SHOWS THAT THERE'S EVEN MORE CARS STORED BACK THERE. IF WE COULD GET A OVERHEAD PROJECTION, UH, OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH ZONING, THEY'LL SHOW YOU AN OVERHAUL OVERALL PICTURE. THAT'S SOME OF THE DAMAGES TO THE, TO THE APPROACHMENT THERE FROM THE 18 WHEELERS THAT ARE COMING IN AND OUT OF THERE. BUT THIS IS THE BACK PROPERTY THERE. NOW THIS IS SOME, UH, THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE, TAKING A PICTURE OF ALL THE CARS BACK THERE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT MANY CARS THERE AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FIXING THEM. WHEN, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED A JUNKYARD THERE, A STORAGE FACILITY TO STORE NOTHING BUT PURE JUNK AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND THEN AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, UH, LIKE I SAID, ZONING COMMISSIONERS GAVE HIM, UH, APPROVAL, BUT THEY TOLD HIM HE NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO DO HOUSEKEEPING, HOW TO CLEAN UP, AND HE HASN'T DONE IT YET. AND WE JUST DON'T NEED ANOTHER EYESORE ON THE EAST SIDE. AND IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PUT A FENCE AROUND SOMETHING AND TRY TO HIDE THE JUNK. IT DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A, OF A BUSINESS ON RIGSBY RIGHT ACROSS, RIGHT ACROSS FROM COMANCHE PARK. I MEAN, SO MANY PEOPLE GO TO COMANCHE PARK AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SEE. THERE'S YOUR FENCE. AND THEN I'M GONNA SHOW YOU, THE NEXT PICTURE'S GONNA SHOW YOU ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE FENCE, AND THEN HERE'S AN OPENING INTO THERE. AND THERE'S NOTHING BUT JUNK IN THERE. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO COMANCHE PARK FOR PICNICS ON SUNDAYS? AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AT JAIME'S TIRE SHOP. WE'RE JUST COMPOUNDING THE, THE PROBLEM BY JUST, UM, PUTTING A FENCE AROUND IT. I KNOW THEY TOLD HIM TO DO HOUSE CLEANING, AND SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR Y'ALL TO DO IS TO VOTE NO ON THIS ZONING CHANGE AND, AND POSTPONE IT FOR 30 DAYS. AND LET'S GIVE JAIME 30 DAYS TO CLEAN THE PLACE UP AND COME BACK AND VOTE ON IT AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MR. MORITZ? YES, SIR. WE HAVE MARIA RE MORITZ. OKAY. MR. MORITZ, YOU HAVE HER THREE MINUTES IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE 'EM. UNLESS YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR COMMENTS. WOULD YOU LIKE HER THREE MINUTES AS WELL? WHAT'S THAT? WOULD YOU LIKE HER THREE MINUTES AS WELL IN ADDITION TO YOUR THREE? UH, YES, I WOULD. IT'S BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE SAT HERE AND, AND SHOWED YOU WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE, WITH THE DIFFERENT, UH, FENCING OF, OF PROPERTY LIKE THAT. SURE, IT'S GONNA LOOK GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT EVENTUALLY IT SHOWS YOU THAT THE MAN JUST DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. I WAS IN THE ARTERY REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 38 YEARS. MY BUSINESS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THAT. THERE'S NO REASON WHY HE SHOULD HAVE ALL THOSE CARS. IT'S OVERFLOWING TO OTHER BUSINESSES ON MR. HALL JUST OPENED UP THE BUSINESS RIGHT NEXT TO JAIME'S THERE BEFORE IT WAS A VACANT BUSINESS, AND THERE WAS, JAIME WAS USING THAT LOT TCOM, WHICH DOES WORK FOR THE CITY OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY WATERBOARD SYSTEM. JAIME'S GOT CARS PARKED AT 1265. THERE'S, UH, I THINK I COUNTED FIVE BUSINESSES ON THE CITY BLOCK FROM HEIN ROAD TO ORCHARD. AND OUT OF THOSE FIVE BUSINESSES, JAIME'S USING WAS USING FOUR OF 'EM. BUT MR. HALL MOVED IN NOW, AND IT'S DOWN TO THREE. AND IT'S JUST A CLUTTER THERE. I MEAN, IT'S, THE CARS COMING UP AND DOWN. WW WHITE, THEY HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION THERE. AND IT, UH, IF HE COULD CLEAN UP AND GET HIS EMPLOYEES TO PARK IN THE BACK WHERE HE HAS ALL THESE CARS STORED, THAT WOULD ELIMINATE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. AGAIN, I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO POST, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY TO POSTPONE IT OR EITHER VOTE NO, BUT I, I STILL THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED FOR ZONING PURPOSES, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TEACH 'EM HOW TO CLEAN UP. AND IF YOU, BY VOTING NO, TODAY, WE WILL HELP ZONING, WE WILL HELP CODE COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS 3 1 1. YOU ALL WOULD BE SENDING A MESSAGE OUT TO JAIME TIRE SHOP TO CLEAN UP, AND THAT WAY THEIR JOB WOULD BE EASIER. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN 30 DAYS AND VOTE ON IT AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. MORITZ. COUNCILMAN SHAW. THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE CITY STAFF TO THE PODIUM? MELISSA? SO ON THIS CASE, THERE'S [06:55:01] TH IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE REVIEWED ZONING, BUT THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT ZONING DESIGNATIONS ON THIS ONE PARCEL OR IT'S, AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO A C TWO WITH A CONDITIONAL USE. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO WITH THIS, WOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED A DOWN ZONING AS WELL? WITH ALL OF THEM COMBINED? I THINK THE C TWO WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS AREA. OKAY. AND THAT WOULD THAT ALLOW CODE COMPLIANCE TO COME IN AND HAVE MORE IMPLICATIONS ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY? SO CODE COMPLIANCE, I THINK THIS, THIS, UH, CASE CAME TO US BECAUSE OF CODE COMPLIANCE. BUT AS FAR AS IF THERE'S JUNK VEHICLES THERE, WE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALSO LOOK INTO. BECAUSE I, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, ON AN ON A I ONE, YOU CAN HAVE JUNK VEHICLES. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY. SO WITH THAT C TWO, YOU CANNOT HAVE, WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE, YOU CANNOT HAVE JUNK VEHICLES. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THIS IS PROBABLY, THIS IS FIXING THE PROBLEM THAT'S AT HAND. IT WOULD GIVE US BETTER TOOLS TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE. GOTCHA. OKAY. WELL, ONCE AGAIN, I, I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN, IN Y'ALL'S DECISION MAKING AS WELL AS YOUR STAFF. AS WELL AS OUR STAFF. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP MR. HERNANDEZ ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. UM, IT IS A DOWN ZONING. I THINK ONCE, IF WE DO AGREE THAT AND APPROVE THIS, THIS CASE, WE CAN HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE IN CLEANING UP THAT PROPERTY, UH, BETTER THAN WE CAN NOW. SO AT THIS TIME, I MOVE FOR A APPROVAL WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. SECOND. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. WITH CONDITIONS. SECOND, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, [Z-22. ZONING CASE # Z2017258 CD (Council District 5): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "NC AHOD" Neighborhood Commercial Airport Hazard Overlay District to "C-2 NA CD AHOD" Commercial Nonalcoholic Sales Airport Hazard Overlay District with a Conditional Use for a Tattoo Parlor on Lot 13 and Lot 14, Block 104, NCB 6668, located at 619 SW 24th Street. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval with Conditions.] LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM Z 22 Z 20 17, 2 58 FROM C NC H O D TO C TWO A, C D WITH A CONDITIONAL USE OF A TATTOO PARLOR LOCATED AT SIX 19 SOUTHWEST 24TH STREET. STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. HOURS OF OPERATION ARE FROM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, 9:00 AM TO 9:00 PM AND FRIDAY, SATURDAY, UH, 9:00 AM TO 10:30 PM 20. NOTICES MAILED? ZERO IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED. PROSPECT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN FAVOR. COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ. MOTION TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON Z 22, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. MOVING ON [Z-23. ZONING CASE # Z2017269 (Council District 5): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "I-1 AHOD" General Industrial Airport Hazard Overlay District to "C-2 AHOD" Commercial Airport Hazard Overlay District on Lot 396G, NCB 7853, located at 6623 South Zarzamora Street. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval. (Continued from November 2, 2017)] TO Z 23 Z 20 17, 2 6 9 FROM I ONE TO C TWO LOCATED AT 66 23 SOUTH ZAMO STREET. STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL. 34 NOTICES MAILED ONE IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ. UH, MOTION TO CONTINUE TILL NOVEMBER 2ND. UH, WE HAVE, UH, ACTUALLY WE, THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE JANUARY 18TH. OKAY. SORRY, MY NOTES HEARSAY. NOVEMBER 2ND, I'M SORRY, BUT IT WOULD BE, UM, UH, TILL THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS YES, MA'AM. UH, JANUARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, [Z-30. ZONING CASE # Z2017195 S (Council District 8): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "C-2" Commercial District to "C-2 S" Commercial District with Specific Use Authorization for a Carwash on 1.54 acres out of Lot 13 and Lot 14, Block 2, NCB 14702, located at 9545 Huebner Road. Staff recommends Approval, with Conditions. Zoning Commission recommends Denial, due to lack of a motion. (Continued from October 19, 2017)] MOVE ON TO ITEM Z 30. Z 30. UH, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO WITHDRAW THIS CASE. JERRY ARADONDO. AND YES, THAT IS MY REQUEST. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION OR WE HAVE A, THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW. WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO WHAT I WILL DO IS, IS ASK THE CITIZENS IF THEY WOULD STILL LIKE TO SPEAK, STARTING WITH ROSS LAFFY. THANK YOU. AND VIEW THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I'LL BE BRIEF AND I WON'T USE THE EXTRA TIME OF THE OTHER PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO DONATE IT TO ME. UM, MY NAME IS ROSS LAWHEAD. I LIVE AT 59 75 LOCKHILL ROAD IN THE OAKLAND ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND I REPRESENT THEM AS LAND USE COUNCIL. UM, OAKLAND ESTATES IS A QUIET, LARGE LOT COUNTRY LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE APPLIED IN 1931. SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THAT. OUR RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS EXPIRED MANY YEARS AGO, SO WE'RE DEPENDENT ON ZONING. WE'RE BOUNDED BY EBLER ROAD. SO OVER A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS, WE'VE NEGOTIATED A SERIES OF NEW RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND AGREED TO UP ZONINGS CONSISTENT WITH THE WIDENING OF HENER ROAD. UM, IN THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN CAREFUL ABOUT [07:00:01] WHAT HAPPENS ALONG HENER ROAD AND HAVE HAD CERTAIN COVENANTS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE DEVELOPMENT ON ENCINO PARK ROAD, WHICH BACKS UP AND WE HAVE HAD EIGHT FINE NEW HOUSES BUILT IN BEHIND US, WHICH SUSTAINS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. GIVEN THAT, UH, WE ARE WITH, WE FACE A WITHDRAWAL HERE. I SIMPLY WANT TO ACQUAINT YOU A LITTLE BIT WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, SOME OF YOU KNOW IT, UH, COUNCILMAN ELIAS, COUNCILMAN GRO, UH, THE MAYOR WHO'S ACTUALLY NOT HERE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SANCHEZ ALL KNOW HOW HARD WE'VE WORKED TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, SUSTAINED AGAINST INCONSISTENT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE DON'T WANT. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS WORKING BECAUSE WE'RE NEAR THE MEDICAL CENTER AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMAND AS A RESULT FOR THESE LARGE LOTS. AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE SEVERAL VERY FINE HOUSES BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONSISTENT WITH THE ONE ACRE ZONING. I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME, BUT SINCE WE HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON COUNCIL, I WANT TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. LA LAD. SUE SNYDER. THATS WHY I SPEAK. OKAY. AFTER SUE WAS IRVIN C KSUS. HOW PASS VICKI CADE AO I'LL PASS. OKAY. THERESA MYERS A OKAY. SETH THOMAS. A SCOTT THOMAS PASS. JERRY AO. OKAY. COUNCILMAN? UH, ACTUALLY THIS IS WITHDRAWAL. SO, UH, WE'LL LEAVE THIS UP TO STAFF. THAT'S CORRECT. WE ARE NOT GONNA TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM TODAY. OKAY. SO NO ACTION IS NECESSARY ON THIS ITEM. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON [P-12. PLAN AMENDMENT CASE # 16086 (Council District 9): An Ordinance amending the North Sector Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Master Plan of the City, by changing the future land use from "Suburban Tier" and "Specialized Center" to "Mixed Use Center" on 50.523 acres out of NCB 17701 and NCB 16334 and 439.364 acres out of NCB 17701, generally located north of Loop 1604, East of NW Military Highway, and South of Camp Bullis. Staff and Planning Commission recommend Approval. (Associated Zoning Case Z2016277 ERZD) (Continued from June 1, 2017) Z-34. ZONING CASE # Z2016277 ERZD (Council District 9): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "QD CD SMSAO-1 MLOD-1 AHOD ERZD" Quarry Camp Bullis Military Sound Attenuation Overlay Camp Bullis Military Lighting Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay Edwards Recharge Zone District with Conditional Use and Specific Use Authorization for Blasting, "C-2 MSAO-1 MLOD-1 AHOD ERZD" Commercial Camp Bullis Military Sound Attenuation Overlay Camp Bullis Military Lighting Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay Edwards Recharge Zone District, "PUD R-6 MSAO-1 MLOD-1 AHOD ERZD" Planned Unit Development Residential Single-Family Camp Bullis Military Sound Attenuation Overlay Camp Bullis Military Lighting Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay Edwards Recharge Zone District to "MXD MSAO-1 MLOD-1 AHOD ERZD" Mixed Use Camp Bullis Military Sound Attenuation Overlay Camp Bullis Military Lighting Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay Edwards Recharge Zone District on 50.523 acres out of NCB 17701 and NCB 16334 and 439.364 acres out of NCB 17701, generally located north of Loop 1604, East of NW Military Highway, and South of Camp Bullis. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval, pending Plan Amendment. (Associated Plan Amendment 16086) (Continued from June 1, 2017)] TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS P 12 AND Z 34 16 0 8 6 Z 2016. 6 2 7 7 AMENDING THE NORTH SECTOR PLAN FROM SPECIALIZED CENTER AND SUBURBAN TIER TO MIXED USE CENTER FROM VARIOUS ZONING DISTRICTS TO MIXED U M M X D, EXCUSE ME, LOCATED AT 49 39 NORTH LOOP 1604 WEST STAFF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL. 15 NOTICES MAILED ONE IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FOR CONTINUANCE ON THIS ITEM UNTIL FEBRUARY 15TH. WE HAVE A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR A CONTINUANCE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. LET'S [Z-36. ZONING CASE # Z2017273 CD (Council District 9): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from “R-5 AHOD” Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District to “R-5 CD AHOD” Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District with Conditional Use for a Duplex on Lot 7, Block 8, NCB 13358, located 1022 Cerro Alto Drive. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Denial.] GO ON TO ITEM Z 36 Z 2017. 2 73 FROM R FIVE TO R FIVE CD WITH CONDITIONAL USE FOR A DUPLEX LOCATED AT 10 22 SEATTLE ALTO DRIVE. STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND DENIAL. 32 NOTICES MAILED ZERO IN FAVOR. ZERO. SEVEN OPPOSED? EXCUSE ME. GREATER HARMONY HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN OPPOSITION. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO, UH, MOVE THIS TO CONTINUE TO JANUARY 18TH. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE. PLEASE VOTE. ONE MORE. ONE MORE. MOTION CARRIES Z 38 [Z-38. ZONING CASE # Z2017293 (Council District 10): An Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "R-6 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District to "R-5 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District on 22.485 acres of land out of NCB 16587, located in the 15300 block of Topperwein Road. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval.] Z 2017. 2 9 3 FROM R SIX TO R FIVE, LOCATED AT 15 300 BLOCK OF TUPPER WINE ROAD ZONING COMMISSION. RECOMMEND APPROVAL. NINE. NOTICES MAILED ONE IN FAVOR. ZERO OPPOSED. COUNCILMAN K PERRY . ME. YES. THANK YOU. UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE DR. DIBB COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILMAN? UH, MY NAME IS SIAA, CONSULTANT ENGINEER 67 35 IH 10 WEST. UH, WE REPRESENT THE OWNER IN THIS CASE. UH, THIS IS A PART OF A, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, OF APPROXIMATELY, UH, UH, 500 PLUS, UH, CLOSE TO 500, UH, LOTS SUBDIVISION. UH, WE HAVE, UH, DO WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE A MAP FOR THAT? WHAT OVERALL MAP? UH, NO, WE DON'T HAVE IT THERE. I I HAVE A FULL SIZE MAP. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA SHOW IN THERE OR NOT. NO. [07:05:17] WELL, THE, THIS AREA, THE AREA WHICH IS WE, UH, REQUESTING THE R FIVE TO BE, IS A PART OF THAT LARGE DEVELOPMENT. WE BOUNDED BY THE SOUTH, SOUTHEAST BY A, UH, R SIX DEVELOPMENT AS, UH, EXISTING DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO BOUNDED BY TUPPER WINE AND NECHES. UH, BACK, UH, OR EARLY, LATE LAST YEAR, WE ZONED A PART OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THIS AND TO THE EAST OF IT. UH, WE ZONED IT, UH, A MULTIFAMILY. AND THE REASON IS, WAS, WAS ANOTHER CASE CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS NEXT DOOR TO US AS, UH, I, ONE, I MEAN, UH, INDUSTRIAL ZONING AND TO MAKE A BUFFER BETWEEN THE TWO. SO WE, UH, WE PUT SOME MULTI-FAMILY IN THERE TO HAVE A BUFFER BETWEEN THAT AND THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. NOW WE ALSO OWN THE NORTH, WHICH IS ALONG, UH, NACODOCHES IS ALL COMMERCIAL, AND WE HAVE A, A, UH, COLLECTOR TO TIE BETWEEN TUPPER WINE AND NACODOCHES, WHICH IS THE STREET, UH, WHICH IS ALONG THE SIDE WHERE THE CHECK MARK IS. THAT, UH, IT'S A STREET COMING FROM TUPPER WINE AND GOING ALL THE WAY TO NACODOCHES. RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY WE UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH, UH, UH, THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL, WHICH DOES INCLUDE THE, UH, COLLECTOR STREET COMING FROM TAPPER WINE ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING OF THIS, UH, UH, PART OF WHICH WE ARE REQUESTING TO BE R FIVE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY, UH, ONE THIRD PLUS OF THAT STREET, WHICH IS GOING BETWEEN TUPPERWARE AND NACODOCHES. UH, WE, UM, UH, WE MET WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY. WE APPRECIATE, UH, UH, MR. MR. PERRY, YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, CONCERN AND INVOLVEMENT AND BRINGING ALL WHAT YOU HAVE TO OUR ATTENTION TO OUR CLIENT. I'M SORRY, OUR CLIENT IS OUT OF TOWN. HE COULDN'T BE HERE. HOWEVER, UH, WITH THE CONCERN THAT YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP, UH, AND I DISCUSSED WITH OUR, UH, CLIENT, UH, HE, UH, HAS TOLD ME LIKE WHAT I HAS CONVEYED TO YOUR STAFF, UH, THAT THIS STREET CONNECTING BETWEEN TUPPER WINE AND NACODOCHES WILL BE, UH, PROGRESSING AS THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS. AND IT WILL BE, UH, FINISHED TIE INTO NACODOCHES EITHER BEFORE OR BY THE END OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS, UH, SITE. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. UM, IN AS CLOSE TO THE BEGINNING AS POSSIBLE, THE CLOSE BEGINNING AS POSSIBLE, AS YOU KNOW. RIGHT. USUALLY IN, UH, AS THE FINANCE, WHICH IS CREATES SOME, YOU KNOW. RIGHT. OKAY. JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, Y'ALL ARE GONNA BE TYING THAT ROAD IN SOMETIME DURING THIS PARTICULAR PHASE. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. UH, MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH, UH, THOSE STATEMENTS ATTACHED TO IT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL ON ITEMS E 38. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR ZONING AND OUR BUSINESS FOR TODAY. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 4 46. NEW RECORD. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.