[00:00:53]
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 8, 2018.
>> COUNCILMAN PERRY WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION.
WE BEGIN WITH OUR INVOCATION, WHO IS A GUEST OF COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
OUR GUEST IS FROM COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
HE WILL WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.
I WANT TO WELCOME ANDRES CATSIA.
HE BECAME PASTOR AT UNIVERSITY OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN JANUARY 2018.
HIS PASSION FOR PEACE MAKING, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND JUSTICE RESONATES WITH UPC'S MISSION OF FAITH.
HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH AFRICA WHERE HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY WITH A MASTERS IN ARTS AND A BACHELORS OF DIVINITY.
HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1998 TO COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP AT ST. PAUL IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
HE WAS PROY HIS FORMATIVE YEARS AS PART OF THE OPPRESSIVE WHITE MINORITY IN SOUTH AFRICA AND IS A MEMBER OF A DUTCH REFORM CHURCH.
LIVING IN THE MIDST OF WHITE SUPREMACY AND SEEING THE EFFECTS OF SUCH HATRED MOVED HIM TO WORK TOWARDS INCLUSION AND ADVOCACY.
SEEKING TO REFORM SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT DEHUMANIZE AND OPPRESS THE HUMAN FAMILY IN THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
HE AND HIS WIFE, BETH, ARE THE PARENTS OF FIVE CHILDREN AND BECAME GRANDPARENTS IN 2017.
WITH RELATIVES SPREAD OUT BETWEEN TWO CONTINENTS AND THREE AMERICAN STATES THEY VALUE ANY PRECIOUS TIME THEY CAN SPEND WITH THEIR FAMILY.
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME HIM TO SAN ANTONIO AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO FOLLOW HIS PASSION AS HE CONTINUES HIS WORK TOWARDS CREATING COMMUNITIES OF INCLUSION AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE TO OPEN TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING WITH PRAYER.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS INVITATION.
BEING A NEW CITIZEN TO SAN ANTONIO I'M IN AWE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, CULTURES, AND NATIONALITY WHO CALL THE CITY HOME.
I'M INSPIRED BY THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT EXIST BETWEEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO CULTIVATE COMPASSION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
FOR SOME OF US, PRAYER IS IMPORTANT.
FOR OTHERS, IT'S BEING WITH DEEP THOUGHTS AND MINDFULNESS.
SO HOWEVER YOU APPROACH THIS TIME, LET US PAUSE AND GIVE THANKS FOR OUR CITY AND OUR PEOPLE AS WE ASK FOR GUIDANCE IN DOING THE WORK SET BEFORE US TODAY ON THIS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN.
GOD, WE ARE GRATEFUL AS A DIVERSE PEOPLE ALL BELONGING TO ONE FAMILY, THE HUMAN FAMILY.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL PRESENT AND THE ONES WE REPRESENT.
AS WE DELIBERATE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY WE ARE REMINDED THAT A BIRD NEEDS A LEFT WING AND A RIGHT WING TO TAKE FLIGHT.
INDEED WE NEED EVERY VOICE HEARD TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
GOOD AND GRACIOUS GOD WHO LOVES AND DELIGHTS IN ALL PEOPLE,
[00:05:01]
REMIND US THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE LIVE EVERYONE, GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, QUESTIONING, SO-CALLED STRAIGHT.ATHEIST, HUMANIST, AGNOSTIC IS OUR NEIGHBOR AND SIBLING.
OUR DIFFERENCES ARE NOT SOMETHING WE TOLERATE BUT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE A BLESSING.
THE MORE DIFFERENCES WE BRING THE MORE COMPLETELY WE LIVE IN THE FULLNESS OF HUMANITY.
COMPASSIONATE GOD, AS A CITY HELP US TO PROTECT THE LEAST OF OUR SIBLINGS, OUR CHILDREN, ELDERLY, POOR, THE HUNGRY, HOMELESS, THE ONES ILL IN BODY, MIND, OR SPIRIT.
THE STRANGER, IMMIGRANTS, AND UNDOCUMENTED.
THE ONES WHO LIVE ON THE MARGINS.
GOD OF ALL MERCY, AS COCREATORS FOR A MORE JUST AND COMPASSIONATE WORLD HELP US REACH OUR GOAL IN ERADICATING AIDS BY 2030.
HELP US OVERCOME SEGREGATION, WHETHER ECONOMIC OR RACIAL.
IN ALL DECISIONS AND ACTIONS FOREIGN LANGUAGE] LET US REMEMBER DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO US.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR.
WE HAVE NOW AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION IS APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF FEBRUARY 7 THROUGH 8 AND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 7 AND 8.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FOR WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE AGENDA.
ITEM NO. 18 HAS BEEN PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OTHERS? I HAVE 11, 12, 15, AND 18 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
11, 12, 13, 15, AND 18 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 11, 12, 13, 15, AND 18.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WEIGH IN.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUR FIRST CITIZEN, JACK FINGER.
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING FIRST.
I MUST SAY I ENJOYED -- MAYBE YOU ENJOYED THAT WONDERFUL INVOCATION WE HAD JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
YOU COULDN'T GET A BETTER FEEL GOOD INVOCATION, TRYING TO GET EVERY SINGLE MINORITY THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THOUGHT OF THERE.
GAYS, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, UNDOCUMENTED, DOCUMENTED.
A FEW OF THE THINGS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
TODAY YOU ARE GOING TO APPOINT SOME PEOPLE TO THE SAN ANTONIO
[00:10:02]
WATER SYSTEMS BOARD.I HAVE HEARD THAT NAME HARDBERGER SOMEWHERE BEFORE.
AND MR. MCGEE AND MR. -- OH, WHAT'S HIS NAME? MR. PARRA.
ONE OF THEM IS BEING REAPPOINTED FROM THE SAME BOARD THAT GAVE US ALL THESE RECOMMENDED RATE HIKES THAT OF COURSE YOU THE CITY COUNCIL RUBBER STAMPED.
ALSO, THE -- SO THE QUESTION IS WILL THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK DO THE SAME ROUTINE? WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO JUST PAY FOR WHAT WE'VE GOT ALREADY THERE THAT YOU THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE PLACED UPON US THERE.
MAJOR EVENTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.
BASICALLY WE PROVIDE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SERVICES FOR ALL THE CROWDS THAT GATHER AT THESE EVENTS HERE.
AND SUPPOSEDLY WE GET REIMBURSED BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE -- YES, MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN.
WE WILL GET REIMBURSED BUT WHAT IS IT, THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE.
REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL SUBMIT THE PORTION AND CIRCLE THERE WAIT TO GET REIMBURSED.
HUH? IN ORDER TO ET CETERA ET CETERA, REDUCE THE LOAN INTEREST OWED ON THE LOAN.
RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
HUH? WHOSE LOAN INTEREST? OURS? THEIRS? IF IT'S THEIRS THEY WANT US TO WAIT ON THIS STUFF? ANOTHER ITEM 18.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG GIVEAWAY.
$420,000 TO A COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US ALL KINDS OF JOBS THERE.
THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET, FOLKS.
THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US ALL THESE OTHER JOBS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST RECOGNIZE ITEM 14.
KEEP IT ON CONSENT BUT RECOGNIZE ITEM 14, WHICH IS OUR PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
I BELIEVE SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE HERE.
MICHAEL GARCIA AND CASEY WHITTINGTON.
I DO THIS JUST SO WE KNOW WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING US IN THIS CRITICAL POSITION AND REPRESENTING, AS WE LOOK AT S.A.
TOMORROW AND PLAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND STILL RECOGNIZE, CONNIE AND JESSICA.
TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A FAR WAY OFF ON EQUITABLE GENDER REPRESENTATION IN OUR BOARDROOMS AND ELECTED OFFICES AND EVEN IN SOME OF OUR CITY BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO REACHES OUT AND APPLIES FOR THESE BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
AND I WANT TO PARTICULARLY THANK THE WOMEN WHO ARE STEPPING OUT, WHO ARE STEPPING UP, WHO ARE GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE BUT ALSO BEING VERY BRAVE IN THESE POSITIONS.
AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK ALL OF OUR ALLIES WHO SEE THE TALENT AND THE QUALIFIED AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I AM ALSO VERY PLEASED WITH OUR SLATE OF CANDIDATES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THRILLED THAT WE HAVE TWO WONDERFUL WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL BE JOINING US.
WE WERE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF YOU BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY ESPECIALLY WITH CONNIE AND JESSICA.
I THINK YOU WILL BRING SOME GREAT PERSPECTIVE AND SKILLS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'LL BE DOING ON THAT.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE BOTH DISTRICT 3 RESIDENTS.
IN ADDITION, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE AND NOT PULL FROM CONSENT, ITEM NO. 21.
IT'S THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE DEVELOPED SUCH A SYSTEM.
[00:15:01]
IS THAT RIGHT, SHERYL? SHE'S NOT HERE.WELL, NONETHELESS, I AM VERY GLAD WE'RE DOING IT.
I THINK IT REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT WE DO WANT TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
AND I HOPE WE LEARN A LOT FROM THIS AND ARE POSSIBLY ABLE TO APPLY IT TO COMPANIES WE DO BUSINESS WITH IN TERMS OF WORKER SAFETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STAFF, FOR MOVING FORWARD ON THAT ITEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS RECENTLY AND I THINK IT'S COMMENDABLE THAT WE HAVE INCREASED THE GENDER EQUITY ON A LOT OF THOSE BOARDS.
WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING WOMEN IN POSITIONS TO MAKE DECISIONS TO HELP OUR CITY IN SEVERAL OF THOSE.
I COMMEND THE MAYOR WHO I KNOW HAS MADE IT A MAJOR GOAL OF BRINGING MORE WOMEN INTO THE STRUCTURE FOR CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT AVAILABLE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T RECOGNIZE THE LEADERSHIP HE IS PROVIDING IN THAT AREA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY I WANT TO WELCOME OUR NEW PLANNING COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE JOINING US IN THIS SERVICE.
AND ACTUALLY IT REMINDED ME OF A QUESTION THAT I HAVE, MAYBE OF ANDY OR SOMEBODY ON STAFF.
TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS WHO ARE COMING ON BOARD, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU'RE JOINING AND SUPPORTING US IS YOU ACTUALLY GET SOMEWHAT OF A PIPE PIPE -- STIPEND.
AS A FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE , I KNOW THAT WE'RE FILLING SOME COMMISSIONS AND SOME OF THOSE COMMISSIONS ARE THE YOUTH COMMISSION.
IN SOME CASES WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO PUT SOME OF THE YOUTH COMMISSIONER MEMBERS ON BECAUSE IN MANY TIMES THEY TAKE ON JOBS.
THEY ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IN SOME CASES.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET A DIVERSITY OF STUDENTS, BUT IN SOME CASES IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO GET SOME STUDENTS FROM POCKETS OF OUR CITY.
I WAS WONDERING IF A RIGHTEOUS BOARD MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHO DIDN'T NEED THEIR $20 WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE THAT TO SUPPORT A DIFFERENT COMMISSION, WHETHER ON THE PLANNING OR THE ZONING COMMISSION, IF THEY COULD DO THAT TO SUPPORT OR SPONSOR A STUDENT WHO IS ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION.
I KNOW OUR CHARTER IS SPECIFIC ABOUT THE COMMISSIONS THAT YOU DO GET STIPENDS OR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR.
>> WHATEVER THEY DO WITH THAT 20-DOLLAR STIPEND, THEY ARE FREE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
>> SALDANA: WE HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SET IT UP.
>> AGAIN, WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS THEY CAN MAKE AFTER THE STIPEND IS PAID, THAT'S UP TO THEM.
BUT THE STIPEND IS PAID TO THE COMMISSION MEMBER.
>> SALDANA: IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR SOME STUDENTS AND I THINK SOMETIMES THAT'S A BARRIER FOR ENTRY FOR SOME SERVING ON THE YOUTH COMMISSIONS.
IT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT CAME UP AND I THOUGHT MAYBE SINCE WE HAVE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS HERE.
DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DECISION TODAY, BUT MAYBE CONSIDER THE SAME THING FOR THE ZONING COMMISSION.
SORRY FOR THAT QUICK SIDE BAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
AND I ALSO, TOO, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE NEW APPOINTEES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR-LONG EFFORT AND A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO IT.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE APPLICANTS.
WE SAW A LOT MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT WE'RE WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE BETTER BALANCE IN ALL OUR BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND ALL THE APPLICANTS AND, OF COURSE, ALL THE NEW PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, WHO HAS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ESPECIALLY FITTING ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY THAT I GET TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A WONDERFUL PROGRAM IN DISTRICT 5.
YOU CAN SEE I'M VERY EXCITED AND I'M SWELLING WITH PRIDE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN DISTRICT 5 FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
THESE RESIDENTS, WOMEN, COULD YOU STAND? I'LL LET YOU SIT BACK DOWN IN JUST A MINUTE.
BUT PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
THESE DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS ARE PART OF THE FIRST COHORT THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THEIR
[00:20:01]
COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE LEVEL OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE 07 ZIP CODE.YOU ALL CAN SIT FOR NOW AND I'LL CALL YOU UP IN A MINUTE.
THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND STUDIED FOR TWO INTENSE MONTHS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF INSTRUCTORS.
I WISH ALL MY COLLEAGUES COULD HAVE BEEN THERE AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY AT THE WEST SIDE TRAINING CENTER.
ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS CAME TO RECOGNIZE THESE NINE WOMEN AND ONE MAN AS THEY RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS AND THEIR GRADUATIONS.
BUT IT WAS MORE THAN JUST A GRADUATION, IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW DISTRICT 5 RELIES ON ITSELF TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. WE KNOW FROM STUDIES THAT THE 07 ZIP CODE HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE CITY.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT DISTRICT 5.
ONE IS THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
WE DON'T LEAVE EACH OTHER TO BE ISOLATED.
WE'RE RESOURCEFUL, PROBLEM SOLVERS, AND WE'RE INNOVATORS.
AND THESE WOMEN ARE ALL PROOF OF THAT.
IN SOME PARTS OF TOWN IN SOME INDUSTRIES WE PUT A HIGH VALUE ON PROBLEM SOLVING AND INNOVATION.
THESE ARE ALL CATCH PHRASES FOR SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN DISTRICT 5 FOR GENERATIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT THESE WONDERFUL DISTRICT 5 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE DONE.
IT'S BEEN PROVEN THAT THE INNOVATIVE CONCEPT HAS A HIGH RATE OF SUCCESS.
SO WE'RE USING THIS IDEA TO TRY TO SOLVE THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S RESOURCEFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ASSETS TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS WITHIN OURSELVES.
IT'S INNOVATIVE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE LIVING TO THEIR BEST POTENTIAL AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S PROBLEM SOLVING.
SO I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THESE WOMEN AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND THE ONE YOUNG MAN.
I'M EXCITED TO SHOW YOU A SIDE OF DISTRICT 5 THAT YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED.
AN INNOVATIVE, SELF-RELIANT, CONNECTED, PROBLEM-SOLVING COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING.
THESE ENDED THEIR TRAINING AND WILL BE GOING TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO MY COLLEAGUES, THE MAYOR, AND TO THE CITY AT LARGE.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I REQUESTED BUDGET MONEY FOR IN THE 2018 BUDGET.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR HELPING SEE THIS THROUGH.
THIS IS A COLLABORATION OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ALL KNOW WELL.
THE NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE FAMILY SERVICES ORGANIZATION, AND OUR PROGRAM.
VICTORIA IS ALSO HERE WHO IS THEIR LEADER.
AND SO I'M VERY PROUD TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO RESULTS.
UTSA IS ANOTHER PARTNER THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH THE PROGRAM TO TRACK PROGRESS .
I CHOSE SPECIFICALLY THE 07 ZIP CODE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF CHILD ABUSE CASES, OVER 30% ARE COMING OUT OF 07 AND 28.
AND I LIVE IN THE 07 ZIP CODE AND I WANTED TO SEE SOME RESULTS AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD PRODUCE THEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THOSE WITH YOU ALL IN THE COMING YEARS.
SO THANK YOU, LADIES, FOR BEING HERE.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND THIS CITY IS PROUD OF YOU.
AND WE OFTEN TURN TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR RETURN TO THE UNIONS OR WE TURN TO REALLY THE TECH COMMUNITY TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. BUT YOU ALL ARE THE PROBLEM SOLVERS.
YOU ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO CHANGE THIS CITY FOR THE BEST.
WHEN WE RELY ON INNOVATION, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF INNOVATION, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, WHO IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT INNOVATION.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE, AND YOU ALL ARE LIVING PROOF THAT WE CAN DO BETTER IN THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY AS IT COMES TO CHILD ABUSE.
SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU AND HAVE A CERTIFICATE SO THEY CAN HAVE A PICTURE OF YOURSELF AND WITH THEIR CERTIFICATE THAT THEY CAN HAVE FOREVER AND EVER.
I'M GOING TO CALL Y'ALL UP ONE AT A TIME.
[00:25:15]
BEATRICE LOPEZ.[APPLAUSE] AND CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
NONE OF THESE WOMEN HAVE EVER BEEN TO CITY HALL.
SO ANOTHER WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY HALL CHAMBERS.
>> WE NOW MOVE TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN FOR STEPPING UP AND FOR STEPPING OUT AND FOR BEING BRAVE HERE.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, FOR ALL OF YOUR YEARS OF WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING ON THIS AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS.
TO SEE THE FRUIT OF ALL THE LABOR -- AND THIS IS JUST ONE STEP AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE RESULTS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ALSO ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST REPRESENTATION -- SOME OF THE BEST -- THIS IS A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF SOME OF THE BEST OF NOT ONLY DISTRICT 5 BUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THAT IS WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.
YOU ALL ARE CHANGE AGENTS HERE.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE BREAKING CYCLES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE THIS INAUGURAL CLASS.
THANK YOU, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE FAMILIES THAT ARE SUFFERING NOW, BUT THOSE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK THAT SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
YOU ALL ARE LEADERS AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU.
AND I KNOW THE HARD WORK IS AHEAD BUT YOU ALL OBVIOUSLY ARE VERY STRONG AND COURAGEOUS AND YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS GET DONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
AS YOU SAID, THIS IS VERY INNOVATIVE.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST INNOVATIVE, IT'S INCREDIBLY GENEROUS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE GENEROSITY OF YOUR TIME TO DEDICATE THIS TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A BIG CONGRATULATIONS FOR ACHIEVING THIS MILESTONE IN THIS PROJECT.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE WORKS WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
[00:30:03]
AND I THINK THIS PROGRAM AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR INNOVATION ARE REALLY A MODEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR US AS YOUR PEERS.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LEADING THE WAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THROUGH YOUR TRAINING.
AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS AND THE HIGHEST HOPES FOR THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, YOU HAVE HEARD THE CALL LONG AGO ABOUT THE ISSUES OF CHILD ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I THANK YOU FOR NOT JUST SUPPORTING THE EXISTING CITY EFFORTS THAT TARGET THIS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO BEING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE AND ALSO RESPONDING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS' NEEDS IN THIS AREA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COLLEAGUE FOR CHAMPIONING THIS CAUSE.
I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES COURTESY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME GUESTS HERE FOR ITEM NO. 18.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT ITEM FIRST AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE REST.
>> ITEM NO. 18 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND GRANT AGREEMENT WITH IP SECURE INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $420,000 BASED ON A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF APPROXIMATELY $1.3 MILLION.
THE CREATION OF AT LEAST 80 NEW HIGH-WAGE FULL TIME JOBS AND THE RETENTION OF 115 FULL-TIME JOBS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
>> BEFORE I PRESENT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS THAT WE HAVE HERE WITH US.
JESSE RODRIGUEZ IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF IP SECURE.
HE HAS JOINED US THIS MORNING AS HAS HIS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, RICHARD VALDEZ.
SO THERE'S OTHERS JOINING US THAT ARE RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
WILL GARRETT, THE DIRECTOR OF CYBERSECURITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND RICHARD FROM THE GREATER CHAMBER IS HERE AS WELL TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
JOINING US IS DAVID MCGEE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, ONE OF OUR KEY PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT.
AND THEN ROLAND MAWR FROM THE PORT IS HERE AS WELL.
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HERE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
LET ME BRIEFLY PRESENT TO YOU THIS PROJECT.
THIS HOME-GROWN COMPANY AND ITS FOUNDER ARE A GREAT LOCAL STORY.
SO LET ME DIGRESS FOR JUST ONE SECOND VERY BRIEFLY TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER.
THIS COMPANY WAS FOUNDED BY JESSE RODRIGUEZ.
HE WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE WEST SIDE, WENT TO MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
HE IS A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR WHO FOUNDED IP SECURE AFTER HE WAS LAID OFF WHEN KELLY CLOSED.
HE TOOK HIS RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND CREATED THIS HIGH-GROWTH CYBER COMPANY.
NOW 18 YEARS LATER THE COMPANY IS CONSIDERING A MAJOR EXPANSION.
THE COMPANY ALREADY PERFORMS A BROAD RANGE OF I.T. SERVICES, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON CYBER FOR THE FEDERAL INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EXPANDING TO INCLUDE RND AND A NEW COMMERCIAL DIVISION.
THIS EXPANSION IS PROPOSED TO HAPPEN AT PORT SAN ANTONIO AND INCLUDES CLASSIFIED SPACE AND SOMETHING WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, AN INNOVATION CENTER THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ACADEMIA, PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND/OR PARTNERS TO COLLABORATE ON INNOVATIVE IDEAS.
WITH THIS EXPANSION IT INCLUDES THE CREATION OF 80 HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
60 OF WHICH WILL MAKE OVER $100,000, AND THE BALANCE, THE OTHER 20, MAKING OVER $50,000.
SO CERTAINLY A GREAT FOCUS ON THE CREATION OF HIGH-WAGE JOBS.
BECAUSE THE CYBER INDUSTRY IS SO COMPETITIVE, IP SECURE WAS CONSIDERING OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THIS EXPANSION, IN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA.
THAT'S WHEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM JUMPED INTO ACTION WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.
IN ORDER TO SECURE THIS PROJECT WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND GRANT OF $420,000.
THIS PERFORMANCE-BASED GRANT WILL BE BASED ON THE CREATION OF JOBS PAYING OVER $50,000.
AND THAT WILL BE 3,000 PER JOB PAYING OVER THAT AMOUNT AND
[00:35:01]
6,000 PER JOB PAYING OVER $100,000.ADDITIONALLY THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS THAT IP SECURE RETAINS ITS HEADQUARTERS HERE AND RETAINS ITS CURRENT JOB FORCE OF 115 EMPLOYEES FOR THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.
THIS HITS ALL OUR POLICY SWEET SPOTS.
TARGETED INDUSTRY, TARGETED AREA, HIGH-WAGE JOBS, RETENTION, BUT IT ALSO HELPS BUILD OUT THE CYBER ECOSYSTEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD ON, SO CRITICAL FROM THAT STANDPOINT ALSO.
WE ARE PARTICULARLY GLAD THAT IT IS LOCATING IN PORT SAN ANTONIO THAT, IN ITS OWN RIGHT, IS PURSUING CYBER AND BUILDING OUT THE CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE THERE AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, THE RETENTION AND CREATION OF HIGH-WAGE JOBS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR US.
BUT WHAT'S GREAT AND SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS THEIR CURRENT WORKFORCE IS PRIMARILY MADE UP OF RETIRED MILITARY AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES.
LOCAL WORKFORCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR THIS COMPANY.
AND AS PART OF OUR AGREEMENT, IP SECURE WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH GROUPS LIKE SA WORKS TO ENGAGE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES FOR INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND, ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE ON ONE OF OUR PREMIER PROGRAMS, CYBER PATRIOT WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, IS A WELL-KNOWN NATIONAL YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT SAN ANTONIO REPRESENTS VERY WELL IN NATIONALLY.
AS PART OF OUR AGREEMENT -- LET ME BACKTRACK.
WE HAVE STEVE PRODUCE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.
SO OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD IN WHICH THEY WILL BE CREATING THESE JOBS, DR. NIVEN PREDICTS THERE WILL BE A $188 MILLION IMPACT WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACTS.
FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FY18 INCENTIVE FUND BUDGET.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, RENE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS.
RICH, GARRETT, AND I THINK I SAW ALEX LOPEZ HERE AS WELL.
WHAT'S REALLY GREAT IS I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT WORK OCCURRING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS HOPEFULLY THE BEGINNING OF A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO COME AND ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER IS REALLY OUTSTANDING FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE KIND OF THINGS REQUIRE A HEAVY AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION.
RENE, TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BENEFIT OF HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN RELATION TO OUR ECONOMIC TRADE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRADE MISSION WE HAD TO ISRAEL AND LEARNING FROM THAT.
OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED ALEX LOPEZ FROM YOUR TEAM THAT GOT TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
PLEASE TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
>> IN GENERAL, THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY A TEAM EFFORT BRINGING TOGETHER CYBERSECURITY SAN ANTONIO.
WILL GARRETT IN HIS EXPERTISE.
IN ADDITION, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION -- AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT THEM DIRECTLY, OBVIOUSLY UTSA AND OUR OTHER UNIVERSITIES WHO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PIPELINE.
ALL CRITICAL PLAYERS INTO RETAINING THIS COMPANY HERE, MAKING SURE WE HAD THE RIGHT NECESSARY INGREDIENTS, BUT ALSO I THINK IT SEND A GREAT MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE NATION THAT FROM A TARGETED INDUSTRY STANDPOINT AND FROM A GROWTH AND EXPANSION STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU BROUGHT UP ISRAEL.
ABSOLUTELY CYBERSECURITY IS ONE OF OUR STRATEGIES AS WE PURSUE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.
AND IP SECURE, RICHARD VALDEZ, ACTUALLY JOINED US WHEN WE WENT TO OUR ISRAEL TRADE MISSION.
THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN AUDIO] A VISIT TO ISRAEL AND WILL GARRETT IS PURSUING ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS FROM THAT VISIT THAT WE'RE NOT READY TO UNVEIL.
IT'S WHEN WE BRING INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT TOGETHER ON THESE TRADE MISSIONS.
WE CAN DO OUR PART BUT IT'S REALLY THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY WHEN WE GO TO THESE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS THAT DO THE BEST JOB IN SELLING WHY SAN ANTONIO IS CRITICAL.
ONE LAST PIECE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALEX LOPEZ.
THIS WAS THE FIRST PROJECT THAT SHE STARTED AND ENDED SINCE RETURNING TO OUR OFFICE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
[00:40:01]
THAT.>> TREVINO: WE'RE HAPPY SHE'S BACK AND CERTAINLY THIS SENDS A GREAT MESSAGE, HOPEFULLY INTERNATIONALLY TO WHO WE ARE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN AND MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
ONE, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS THE PORT AND THAT THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO OUT THERE, JUAN ANTONIO AND MR. MAWR, IS NOT APPLAUDED OFTEN ENOUGH.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE A VICTORY LAP AND SPIKE THE BALL THIS WEEK.
NUMBER TWO, RENE AND TO OUR FRIENDS FROM THIS COMPANY WHO IS LOOKING -- WHO HAS DECIDED THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE THRILLED WITH THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BUNCH OF FOLKS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS THAT WE PARTNER UP WITH COMPANIES LIKE YOU AND WHY WE WORK SO HARD TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES LIKE YOURSELVES.
A LOT OF FOLKS WILL SAY, LOOK, I WOULD RATHER YOU JUST FOCUS ON STREETS AND FOCUS ON DRAINAGE AND FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, GIMME BETTER SIDEWALKS AND BETTER POLICE OFFICERS AND MORE FIREFIGHTERS.
WHERE I THINK THE CONNECTION IS NOT MADE, THOUGH, IS WE CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ANY OF THOSE THINGS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THE RETURNS ON OUR INVESTMENT WITH GUYS LIKE YOU.
AND SO I'M LOOKING UP AT THE PRESENTATION.
$188 MILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NOT A SMALL THING.
AND THAT $188 MILLION SPINS OFF TAX REVENUE THAT WE'RE THEN ABLE TO REINVEST INTO SAN ANTONIO AND HELP PEOPLE.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT PEOPLE GET BETTER SCHOOLS AND BETTER HOSPITAL DISTRICTS AND BETTER AIRPORTS AND BETTER EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU GUYS CHOSE US AND BECAUSE WE CHOSE YOU.
AND SO I HOPE THAT THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO THRIVE FOR A LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG TIME AND DEALS LIKE THIS, RENE, THIS IS OUR SWEET SPOT.
RENE, I AUTHORIZE YOU TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF.
BUT I EXPECT YOU BACK AT WORK ON MONDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> COURAGE: COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, I WOULD REMIND YOU WE CAN ONLY SET POLICY.
WE CAN'T GIVE PEOPLE DAYS OFF.
BUT I WANT TO COMMEND THE EFFORTS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE WORKING WITH PORT S.A. AND ITS BUSINESS TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN HERE AND GROW.
WE HEARD A COMMENT EARLIER TODAY THIS MORNING ABOUT INVESTING $420,000 IN THIS PROJECT.
BUT THEN YOU SHOW US THAT THE RETURN TO SAN ANTONIO IS GOING TO BE BETTER THAN FIVE TO ONE DIRECTLY TO THE CITY COFFERS FOR THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT.
SHOULD MY FELLOW COUNCILMAN PERRY BE HERE TODAY I'M SURE HE WOULD BE DELIGHTED ON THAT ROI, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS WANTS TO KNOW.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY AND THAT'S WHAT THE EDI FUND WAS SET UP TO DO.
WE'RE REALLY FOLLOWING THE POLICY THAT'S LED TO POSITIVE GROWTH FOR THE CITY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETIME SOON THOUGH IS WHAT IS THE TOTAL INVESTMENT IN CYBER TECHNOLOGY, CYBERSECURITY IN SAN ANTONIO WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL THE COMPANIES THAT ARE HERE, ALL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FACILITIES THAT ARE IN THAT AREA AS WELL AS THE NEWLY-DEVELOPED ONES THAT ARE REALLY A PART OF OUR ECONOMY AND A PART OF THAT NATIONAL EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY'S CYBERSECURITY.
I HOPE WE CAN GET A REPORT ON THAT SOMETIME SOON.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO AND YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU TO PORT SAN ANTONIO AND ALL OF THE EFFORTS THAT THEY DO, OF COURSE, TO OUR OFFICE WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
ALEX, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR CREATIVE WORK THAT YOU DO HERE.
AND I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW WE IN SAN ANTONIO WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND IN PARTNERSHIP.
I AM CURIOUS ABOUT HOW MANY OF THESE -- WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN, THE GENDER BREAKDOWN OF YOUR EMPLOYEES AT YOUR COMPANY AND IF
[00:45:02]
YOU ALL HAVE THAT.>> I WOULD SAY THE GENDER IS ABOUT 30% FEMALE AND 70% MALE.
BUT WE DO EMPLOY ABOUT 72% TO 73% OF RETIRED MILITARY EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKFORCE IN THE MILITARY AS WELL.
SO WE TAKE PRIDE IN EMPLOYING THE MILITARY SQUAD INTO OUR COMPANY AS WELL.
>> VIAGRAN: AND THAT'S EXTREMELY WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR MILITARY CITY, USA BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR MILITARY COME BACK, THEY RETIRE HERE AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE.
AND IF THIS IS A WAY TO UTILIZE THE TOOLS AND SKILLS THAT THEY HAVE GAINED IN THE MILITARY, WHY NOT DO THAT? I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GREAT AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE NEW EMPLOYEES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE GETTING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN ALSO HAVE THE -- MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO IS REPRESENTED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR INVESTMENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR ASKING THE SAME QUESTION I HAD IN TERMS OF GENDER EQUITY.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE HOW MANY WOMEN ARE GETTING EMPLOYED IN FIELDS LIKE TECHNOLOGY.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A WOMEN IN THE CYBER AND A WOMEN IN TECH AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THOSE AS YOU GO LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT AS RESOURCES.
BECAUSE AS WE WANT TO CELEBRATE HIGH-PAYING JOBS IN THE CITY WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE JOBS AS WELL.
>> PART OF THE AGREEMENT IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH CYBER PATRIOT THOSE IDEAS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
RENE, ALEX, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT WORK.
THIS HIGHLIGHTS ANOTHER PROJECT WHERE WE SPEND DRASTICALLY LESS IN THE PUBLIC DOLLARS AND RECEIVE THIS MAXIMUM RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.
WE DID ONE IN DISTRICT 6 FOR $250,000.
NOT THAT THESE GUYS ARE SITTING OVER THERE SAYING, HECK, WE SHOULD ASK FOR MORE.
BUT 420 GRAND IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS WHEN WE ARE GIVING AWAY MILLIONS TO SOME COMPANIES IN THIS CITY GET A CERTAIN TYPE OF TREATMENT, LARGE INCENTIVES.
TO SEE LOCAL-BASED, HOMEGROWN, PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYING VETERANS, A FABRIC OF WHO WE ARE, THAT WE CAN MAKE IMPACTFUL INCENTIVES THAT AREN'T JAW-DROPPING NUMBERS.
COUNCILMAN PELAEZ MENTIONED IT, THE $188 MILLION IMPACT AND $2.5 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
ALEX, YOU SPOT THESE THINGS AND YOU SEE THEM AND YOU PUT TOGETHER THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE.
I JUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO GIVE AWAY THE FARM IN CERTAIN INSTANCES.
BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, WE MADE SOMETHING VERY IMPACTFUL IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT THEY LOOK AT SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY MADE A QUICK MOVE.
IT WAS A SLAM DUNK AND WE ALL JUMPED ON BOARD WITH IT.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY EASY FOR US TO DO.
AND TO IP SECURE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR SUCCESS.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENTS AROUND YOU AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE PORT, THE GREATER MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE RESIDENTS OF MY COMMUNITY, THE DISTRICT I'M BLESSED TO REPRESENT.
SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUCCESS AND CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH US.
ROLAND, GOOD JOB AS WELL STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND WORKING WITH THE CITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
THANK YOU, RENE AND ALEX AND JESSE FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO, PARTICULARLY ON THE SAN ANTONIO WEST SIDE.
WILL, FOR YOUR GREAT WORK ON ESTABLISHING AN ECOSYSTEM AND REALLY TELLING THE TALE OF THE ECOSYSTEM OF CYBERSECURITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH AN EVOLUTION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF WHERE WE WERE WAS THE ADAGE THAT WE WOULD SHOOT ANYTHING THAT FLIES.
THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE APPROACH.
WE KNOW WHAT OUR STRENGTHS ARE.
WE KNOW WHAT OUR POTENTIAL IS IN SPECIAL INDUSTRIES.
SAN ANTONIO WILL BE, IS, AND IS ALREADY A LEADER IN
[00:50:01]
CYBERSECURITY.WHEN WE CAN HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES EXPAND THAT HELP RECRUIT OTHERS FROM OVERSEAS AND LOCALLY TO EXPAND, IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT IN AUDIO] AND THAT WE'VE GOT GREAT OPPORTUNITY COMING TO US IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO.
WE DO HAVE A PROFESSOR WHO NEEDS TO GET TO A CLASS, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE ITEM NO. 15, WHICH ARE THE SAWS APPOINTMENTS.
>> ITEM NO. 15 IS THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING AMY HARDBERGER, EDUARDO PARRA, AND REAPPOINTING DAVID P. MCGEE TO THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR TERMS TO EXPIRE MAY 31, 2021.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO HIGHLIGHT CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. HARDBERGER.
FIRST OFF, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE DO AT THIS COUNCIL IT SHOULD INCLUDE ALL OF US.
AND OUR PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT -- AND TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL'S POINT LAST NIGHT.
WE WERE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AFTER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, WHICH IS HOW DO WE INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DO WE INVOLVE ALL OF US IN OUR DECISION MAKING.
WE ARE A BODY OF DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND POLITICAL AND PERSONAL.
AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME PERIOD SOMETIMES.
BUT TO NOT BE INCLUSIVE OF EVERY MEMBER ON THIS BODY I THINK IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND AT THE VERY LEAST WE HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT WAY AND CODIFY AND REALLY PUT INTO LAW, REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE GIVE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.
THERE'S REALLY THREE THINGS THAT AFFECT A HOMEOWNER, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, THAT FLUCTUATES.
ONE IS THEIR TAXES, THEY ARE OUT SPENDING MONEY.
WE CAPPED OUR TAX RATE BUT YOU ARE OUT SPENDING MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM.
YOUR CPS ENERGY BILL AND SAWS BILL.
THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS WE ARE PULLING CASH AND MONEY FROM RESIDENTS.
AND ON THE SAWS BILL PORTION OF IT, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A USAGE THING.
YOU'RE RUNNING YOUR SHOWER WHILE YOU'RE NOT IN THERE FIVE MINUTES BEFORE YOU JUMP IN.
IT'S A MYRIAD OF THINGS TO DO.
THERE'S ALL THESE THINGS GOING ON IN A RESIDENT'S LIFE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE UTILITIES.
SO TO NOT BE A PART OF THE THAT PROCESS OR TO BE ASKED FOR INPUT, IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE 155,000 RESIDENTS I REPRESENT.
I'M NOT JUST BEING LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS.
YOU'RE LEAVING THE RESIDENTS I REPRESENT OUT OF THE PROCESS.
WE CAN DISAGREE ON THE POLICY AND PROCESS.
MAYOR, FRANKLY YOU'RE WELL WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS TO APPOINT WHOEVER YOU WANT TO APPOINT.
I DON'T DISPUTE THAT AND THAT WAS YOUR PUBLIC STATEMENT.
BUT THE FACT IS AN INCLUSIVE BODY IS GOING TO SAY THIS IS WHAT I THINK.
GREG, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR INPUT? I WOULD HAVE SAID TO YOU CAN WE AT LEAST DO A PUBLIC PROCESS FOR THIS? CAN PEOPLE APPLY? THAT'S WHERE THE DIFFICULT IS GOING BACK AND FORTH, MAYOR.
WE'RE OPENING PUBLIC PROCESS FOR SOME BUT NOT FOR OTHERS.
YOU DID IT FOR VIA BUT YOU DIDN'T I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE ITEMS. I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE APPOINTING PEOPLE TO THE AIRPORT TASK FORCE.
WE'RE DOING IT FOR THE LGBT LIAISON POSITION.
YOU HAVE AN OPEN PROCESS FOR THAT.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NAME, BUT YOU ALLOWED FOR AN OPEN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THAT, BUT FOR THIS YOU DIDN'T.
YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE PAPER SAYING THESE PEOPLE YOU APPOINTED REFLECT YOUR SAWS PRIORITIES.
IN YOUR LETTER TO THE COUNCIL THAT'S WHAT YOU DID RIGHT.
THAT THEY REFLECT YOUR POSITIONS.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT IN THE FUTURE WE FIND A WAY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ALL BE A PART OF IT.
AND THEN WE ALIGN THAT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS ON ALL THESE THINGS THAT THEY ARE ADVERTISED, THERE'S PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS.
AND IF IT ENDS UP BEING MS. HARDBERGER, IT ENDS UP BEING MS. HARDBERGER.
IT'S NOT THAT SHE'S NOT QUALIFIED.
IT'S JUST THE PROCESS ISN'T QUALIFIED.
IF WE CAN'T BE A PART OF IT, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO FIX THAT IMMEDIATELY.
SO I WILL ASK ONE OF THE KEY POINTS IN MY COMMENTS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE CAN WE PLEASE CREATE A PROCESS, MAYOR, SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE AN INPUT?
[00:55:02]
THE PUBLIC CAN APPLY.IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO SAY WHEN WE ARE ASKED IT'S ALWAYS OUT THERE.
WE ARE VERY VOCAL ABOUT SOME THINGS BUT NOT SO MUCH ABOUT OTHERS.
AND THAT GIVES PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF IN THE MINORITY ON ISSUES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE.
IT'S OKAY TO BE IN THE MINORITY.
I JUST MIND NOT BEING INCLUDED.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO CHANGE YOUR PROCESS, SIR, AND ALLOW US TO BE A PART OF EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR MS. HARDBERGER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I NEGLECTED TO OFFER OUR CANDIDATES THREE MINUTES TO MAKE COMMENTS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM DO THAT, WE CAN TAKE ALL THREE OF THEM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THAT'S UP TO YOU, SIR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHY DON'T WE HAVE EACH OF THE CANDIDATES GIVE A THREE-MINUTE STATEMENT AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE THE FLOOR BACK.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I YIELD THE FLOOR.
>> I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MOST OF YOU SO I PROBABLY WON'T TAKE MOST OF MY THREE MINUTES.
I AM A NOMINEE FOR THE SAWS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
MY CURRENT POSITIN IS A LAW PROFESSOR AND ASSOCIATE DEAN AT ST. MARY'S LAW SCHOOL.
I DO TEACH WATER LAW, LAND USE LAW, PROPERTY LAW.
AND MOST OF MY STUDIES IN HISTORY HAS BEEN IN WATER SPECIFICALLY.
I STARTED OUT ON THE SCIENTIFIC SIDE.
I HAVE AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND MASTER'S DEGREE IN GEOLOGY WITH A FOCUS ON GROUNDWATER.
I WORKED AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL.
SINCE GETTING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL HAVE FOCUSED ON WATER ISSUES IN TEXAS AND IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.
MY FOCUS IS WATER CONSERVATION, WATER PRICING, WATER VALUATION, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO I'M HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE OR ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, AMY.
DAVID AND EDUARDO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND MAKE AN OPENING STATEMENT AND WE CAN ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
I'M DAVID MCGEE, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF AMEGY BANK.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE SAWS BOARD NOW FOR TWO YEARS.
I KNOW MOST OF YOU ALL AND WE HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER.
I WOULD JUST SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I CARRY TO THE SAWS BOARD IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
AND THE OPERATIVE WORD FOR ME IS TRUSTEE.
THAT IN THAT CAPACITY WE SERVE AS FIDUCIARIES.
AND WE'RE FIDUCIARIES ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
SAN ANTONIO OWNS THE ASSETS OF SAWS AND WE ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE IT'S OPERATED IN A WAY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE AND MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO I'M NOT THERE, NONE OF US ARE THERE TO PURSUE OUR OWN PERSONAL AGENDAS AS A TRUSTEE AND FIDUCIARY WE HAVE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT.
INDEPENDENT TO OUR OWN OPINIONS.
INDEPENDENT TO ANY PARTICULAR GROUP.
BUT ABSOLUTELY MINDFUL OF WHAT SAN ANTONIO WANTS.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AGAIN.
I'M A LOCAL CIVIL ENGINEER AND BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS ABOUT A BLOCK AND A HALF FROM HERE.
MY BACKGROUND IS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND I HAVE A MASTERS IN FOCUSING HYDRAULICS AND COASTAL ENGINEERING.
I HAVE DONE MULTIPLE WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS OVER MY LIFE.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH IN THAT AREA.
I'M HERE TO SERVE AND THIS IS MY COMMUNITY.
THIS HAS BEEN MY COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST ALMOST TEN YEARS.
AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW FROM ME BEING INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE THINGS ALREADY.
I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ALL.
I'LL JUST HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS. THANK YOU BOTH, GENTLEMEN.
I'LL TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE CLASS THAT MAY BE WAITING ON YOU.
>> BROCKHOUSE: HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT APPLYING FOR THE POSITION? WERE YOU CONTACTED BY THE CITY TO APPLY FOR IT OR DID YOU DO THAT ON YOUR OWN?
>> I THINK THERE HAD BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR PREVIOUSLY.
I AM CURRENTLY ON THE CITY IMPACT OR THE SAN ANTONIO IMPACT FEES, WHICH IS HOUSED AT SAWS.
PREVIOUSLY I HAD BEEN ON THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION ALSO AT SAWS.
ALL OF THOSE, A COUNCIL PERSON HAD APPROACHED ME.
I THINK THROUGH THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED.
BUT I THINK PRIMARILY IT WAS THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR.
>> BROCKHOUSE: SO THE MAYOR ASKED YOU TO APPLY FOR THIS?
>> HE DID ORIGINALLY BUT I ALSO DID REACH OUT TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND OTHER OFFICES.
[01:00:01]
INTERESTING.WHICH COUNCIL OFFICES DID YOU SPEAK TO? YOU SAID YOU REACHED OUT TO FOLKS.
>> I PRIMARILY REACHED OUT TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AUDIO]
>> BROCKHOUSE: AND YOU ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT.
WHAT PRECLUDED YOU FROM SPEAKING TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS?
>> I BELIEVE I REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND SENT AN E-MAIL SAYING I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU.
>> BROCKHOUSE: AFTER MY CHIEF OF STAFF ASKED YOU TO.
BUT HE APPROACHED YOU AND ASKED --
>> HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO ME AND I SAID I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU.
>> BROCKHOUSE: BUT YOU REACHED OUT TO ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
WHY DIDN'T YOU REACH OUT TO THE OTHERS?
>> I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER THAT.
IT CERTAINLY WASN'T PURPOSEFUL.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I THINK IT MATTERS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE QUADRANTS IS DIVERSE REPRESENTATION.
WE WANT THEM FROM EACH SIDE OF TOWN.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS FOR IT.
SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT YOUR INTENTIONS ARE TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT MATTERS TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6 IF YOU DON'T EVEN MEET WITH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT MATTERS MOST TO US? IT'S MORE THAN FIDUCIARY.
YOU ARE STANDING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA YOU ARE ABOUT TO REPRESENT.
AND I THINK I HAVE MADE CLEAR IN ALL THE INTERACTIONS I HAVE HAD PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY WITH PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO ME WITH ME THAT I FEEL LIKE TRANSPARENCY AND AVAILABILITY ARE PARAMOUNT FOR ANYBODY THAT'S IN THIS ROLE, WHICH MEANS ALL OF THE DISTRICTS.
I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE BUT THE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS.
I OFTEN EVEN NOW GET E-MAILS FROM INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WATER.
I HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ON WATER ISSUES.
VERY INVOLVED AND HAVE ALWAYS MADE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY THAT HAD QUESTIONS WHO AGREED WITH ME OR DISAGREED WITH ME SO THEY WOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND MY POSITION.
THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM THE CHAMBER TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I'M JUST GOING TO ASK BECAUSE I'M CURIOUS AND I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OR BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE COSTS THAT ARE PASSED ON TO OUR RESIDENTS.
YOU HAVE IN THE PAST PUBLICLY STATED AND APPROVED DOUBLING SAWS IMPACT FEES TO DEVELOPERS.
ACCORDING TO MR. MCGEE, IF YOU ARE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND REMOVE YOUR PERSONAL BIAS FROM IT, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW FOR A FAIR HEARING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO IMPACT FEES IF YOU HAVE PUBLICLY STATED BEFORE THAT YOU BELIEVE DEVELOPERS SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN.
>> I WOULDN'T CATEGORIZE IT AS A PERSONAL BIAS.
IT IS BASED ON THE INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED AND MY EXPERTISE.
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE IMPACT FEES COMMITTEE.
I THINKHI ENK EACH OF THEM WILLT TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THINGS FROM EACH OTHER AND HAVE SHARED INFORMATION.
I AM ALSO EXTREMELY ATTUNED TO AFFORDABLIBILITY.
MANY OF MY WRITINGS HAVE BEEN ON AFFORDABILITY AND ONE OF MY ISSUES IS CREATING THE NECESSARY BALANCE BETWEEN WHO SHARES THE COST AND WHAT PORTION OF IT GOES TO NEW GROWTH VERSUS EXISTING RATEPAYERS.
WE AS A CITY, AND CERTAINLY AS SAWS, HAVE TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE FINAL BILL FOR ALL RATEPAYERS NOT JUST NEW DEVELOPMENT HOUSING COSTS.
THERE IS A BALANCE THERE AND THERE IS CERTAINLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONVERSATION.
BUT WE HAVE TO THINK A LOT ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF MANY OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXISTING RATEPAYERS WHEN THE INCREASE OF COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NEW GROWTH GETS ASSESSED HIGHLY TO EXISTING RATEPAYERS.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO CATEGORIZE IT AS BIAS OR THAT MY DECISION BASED ON MY ONE INTERACTION AT IMPACT FEES WHERE I ABSOLUTELY WAS THE ONE PERSON THAT DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE REST OF THE GROUP.
I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT MORE BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A BIAS THAT NECESSARILY MEANS I'M GOING TO VOTE EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
YOU ARE COMMITTING TODAY THAT YOU WILL BE OPEN TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN A FAIR RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP AND TO HEAR THEM OUT WHEN IT COMES TO IMPACT FEES AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD SAY I WAS ALWAYS OPEN TO THAT AND THE PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE MET WITH ME I HOPE WOULD AGREE THAT HAS BEEN THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH ME.
>> BROCKHOUSE: WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6?
>> MY INTENTIONS ARE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR MEETINGS WITH YOU OR THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL OR THE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS WHO WANT TO MEET WITH ME.
IF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS THEY WANT TO EXPRESS WITH ME OR TO ME, I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I APPRECIATE THAT AND I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT.
I DOUBT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY I
[01:05:01]
REPRESENT.IF YOU COMMIT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO THE END OF THE DAY WE SERVE THE RATEPAYERS, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE RESIDENTS, WHICH ARE THE CONSTITUENTS THAT PUT ME IN OFFICE.
I WOULDN'T BE DOING MY JOB IF I DIDN'T SIT THERE AND SAY WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. IN AFFORDABILITY I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
THERE'S A MAJOR AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.
BUT WE HAVE TO STRIKE A BALANCE.
AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD ASK IS THAT YOU STRIKE THAT BALANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
THE MORE COSTS WE TACK ON AND THE MORE THINGS WE DO, WE INHIBIT GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY.
I'LL SIT ON ONE SIDE BUT THE OTHER PERSON SITS ON THE OTHER.
SPRAWL THIS AND SOMEONE IS TRYING TO MAKE A PROFIT HERE.
BOTTOM LINE IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING IN THE CITY AND WE NEED THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
TO INCLUDE OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING WE JUST HEARD ABOUT A FEW MINUTES AGO.
THEN AFTER THAT I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE SPEND TIME TOGETHER SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHERE THESE BELIEFS ARE AND THAT YOU DO MAKE OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVE RESIDENTS THAT WOULD APPRECIATE IT BEING A CHANCE TO EARN A JOB THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO APPLY FOR.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO MOTION RIGHT NOW, I WILL ASK, BECAUSE THE TWO GENTLEMEN THATTH ARE APPLYING, THAT'S NOT MY AREA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK THE MALE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS AS WELL? THEY WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AND WILL ALSO BE REPRESENTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
MY QUESTIONS ARE MAINLY REGARDS TO DISTRICT 6 BEING FULLY ENCOMPASSED IN THE QUADRANT.
MY CONCERNS ARE WITH THAT APPOINTEE, SIR, AND THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS.
MR. MCGEE HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD.
MR. PARRA IS REPRESENTING DISTRICT 8 AND THOSE UP NORTH.
MY PORTION IS THE QUADRANT IS MY GREATEST CONCERN.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO SPLIT THE VOTE TODAY ON MR. MCGEE AND MR. PARRA TO SEPARATELY VOTE ON THEM AND ALLOW FOR A STAND ALONE VOTE FOR MS. HARDBERGER.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THAT CORRECTLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A SEPARATE VOTE ON THESE CANDIDATES.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TODAY TO MAKE THREE SEPARATE VOTES ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO SEPARATE ITEM NO. 15 TO EACH OF THE QUADRANTS.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT FIRST? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MOTION.
SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR SEPARATING ITEM NO. 15 OKAY.
I SUPPORT THIS MOTION FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASONS THAN MR. BROCKHOUSE HAS ARTICULATED.
I SUPPORT THE MOTION BECAUSE I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU BRINGS DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE TABLE.
AND I WOULD ALWAYS, NO MATTER WHO WE APPOINT FOR WHATEVER MAJOR BOARD, WANT TO VOTE ON INDIVIDUAL BASES, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THAT INSTEAD OF JUST LUMPING THREE APPOINTEES TOGETHER.
YOU WILL GET MY UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORT ON MY VOTES, BUT I DO THINK FROM A PROCESS POINT OF VIEW YOU'RE ALL IMPORTANT ENOUGH AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY RECORD, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS.
AND, YOUAND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVN SOMETIMES VOTE YES ON ONE AND VOTE NO ON TWO.
SO, MAYOR, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE MOTION, WHICH IS TO SEPARATE THE VOTES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHY DON'T WE DO THAT AT THE END, THEN.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, ALL THREE OF YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING A PART OF THIS.
I DO WANT TO FIRST SAY ON POINTS WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE, YOU KNOW, I WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS IN THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
AND SO MY QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL BECAUSE OF ISSUES OF THE PROCESS, WHICH I'LL GET TO IN A SECOND.
BUT MY ISSUES FOR THE CUSTOMER
[01:10:01]
SERVICE AND THE OUTREACH WAS YOU ALL ANSWERED, AS YOU DID ALREADY, MS. HARDBERGER, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE READY AND WILLING AND ABLE TO MEET WITH THE CONSTITUENTS IN THOSE AREAS THAT YOU REPRESENT, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH YOUR OTHER TRUSTEES ON THE SAWS BOARD.SOME THINGS -- AND YOU ALL -- WELL, EXCEPT FOR DAVID, THE OTHER CANDIDATES DID ANSWER MY QUESTIONS ON VISTA RIDGE AND THE PERSPECTIVES ON VISTA RIDGE, WHICH I WAS VERY AT PEACE ABOUT AS WELL.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT, THOUGH -- AND I MENTIONED AT THE MEETING TOO WAS ABOUT THE ENGINEERING COSTS.
BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT YOU, MR. PARRA AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT INSIGHT AND KNOWING YOU ALL CAN DIRECT AND MAKE THOSE POLICY DECISIONS, BUT LOOKING AT SAWS JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT ALWAYS IN THE PAST DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S THE SAME WAY WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE.
AND PIPELINES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, LET'S LOOK AT NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS.
AND I THINK HAVING YOU ALL ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL BRING THOSE NEW VISIONS TO THE STAFF OF SAWS.
NEXT, I DID WANT TO ALSO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT ONE OF MY CONCERNI MENTIONED IT TO SOME OF YOU ALREADY -- IS JUST THIS PAST MONDAY I WAS AT A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT S.A. TOMORROW.
ONE OF THE THINGS MY RESIDENTS BROUGHT UP WAS WE DON'T HAVE A SAWS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON OUR SIDE OF TOWN.
AND JUST FOR THE NEW MEMBERS, WE DON'T HAVE A NEW SAWS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT MY RESIDENTS HAVE? MY RESIDENTS, IF THEY WANT TO GO PAY THEIR SAWS BILL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, THEY HAVE TO EITHER GO TO AN H-E-B TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL COST ON THAT.
OR THEY HAVE TO GO TO A PAY DAY LENDING PLACE.
THAT IS THE LOCATIONS THAT SAWS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GO PAY.
SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT AND LOOK AT OTHER AREAS FOR PARTNERING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE OUTREACH.
AND, FINALLY, FOR THE ISSUE OF PROCESS I DO HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ISSUE OF PROCESS TO FIND A WAY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THESE LARGE MUNICIPALLY-OWNED ENTITIES AND HOW WE ARE DOING THIS PROCESS AND THE OUTREACH TO BRING IN RESIDENTS TO BE A PART OF THIS.
AND BECAUSE THEY ARE MUNICIPALLY-OWNED UTILITIES, IS THERE A WAY WE CAN LOOK AT -- WELL, THIS IS THE PROCESS, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GONE.
IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK AT IF THERE ARE BYLAWS OR OTHER THINGS TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE PROCESSES ARE? I WILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CPS ENERGY APPOINTMENT PROCESS AS WELL THAT'S COMING UP.
WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, DAVID, YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOU ALL.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO SERVE ON THE CPS BOARD BUT IT'S VERY MUCH WORTH ALL THE HARD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I DO THINK THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR REACHING OUT TO ME TO TALK ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS.
I ALSO THINK THAT BECAUSE OF THAT, SEPARATING IS UNNECESSARY.
I'LL TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
IT'S NO SECRET ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO GO WITH REGARDS TO OUR UTILITIES.
I BELIEVE OUR APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN VERY FORTHRIGHT ABOUT THEIR INTENTIONS AS WELL.
AMY, YOU AND I DID HAVE A MEETING AND WE MEET REGULARLY, ACTUALLY.
SO CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
DAVID MCGEE, WE KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL.
YOU GUYS ARE VERY ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN CALLED OUT HERE IS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE PULSE OF OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT YOU CAN SERVE WELL AS A TRUSTEE.
I'LL SIMPLY POINT OUT YOU'RE ALREADY THERE.
YOU ARE REALLY OUT THERE ENGAGED.
I THINK THESE POSITIONS ARE GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO REACH OUT EVEN FURTHER INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE STRUCTURED IT THAT WAY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM YOU AS MEMBERS.
AND I THINK THAT THE SELECTION IS A GREAT SELECTION.
I THINK THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION BEHIND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS A CITY TO HAVE
[01:15:02]
BETTER REPRESENTATION.AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN JUST POINTED OUT, WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MAYBE SOME LACK OF REPRESENTATION, MAYBE A LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR CITY.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS GROUP GETS THAT AND IS GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THINGS -- PUSH THINGS THROUGH SO THAT WE HAVE A REAL, REAL EQUITABLE STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD WITH SAWS.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST SIMPLY SAY, AGAIN, THAT THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH SIMPLY SEPARATING THE VOTE HERE TODAY I THINK IS REALLY JUST MORE FOR THE MOTION ITSELF AND NOT NECESSARILY ADDRESSING THE ACTUAL PROCESS.
I DO COMMEND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.
AND WITH THAT, I GUESS I WOULD SIMPLY SAY JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT I DO BELIEVE IN THIS PROCESS AND I WANT TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OF APPOINTING ALL THREE APPLICANTS TO THE SAWS BOARD.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 15 AS A WHOLE.
WITHOUT RESERVATION OR ANY ROOM FOR DOUBT, AMY HARDBERGER, I THINK YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WE HAVE EVER HAD APPLY FOR AND IT WILL BE AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO VOTE YES FOR YOU.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE VERY ARTFUL CROSS-EXAMINATION.
I DO THINK QUESTIONS ASKED OF YOU IS OUR JOB, RIGHT? AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE TO ANSWER ALL OF THEM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO HANG OUT WITH YOU AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES.
I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST OF BOTH OF YOU.
I WANT YOU TO DISAGREE OFTEN, NOT JUST WITH EACH OTHER BUT WITH STAFF AND WITH YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND WITH US.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE A RUBBER STAMP.
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE, YOU KNOW, AN TOTEM FOR MR. MCGEE OR THE MAYOR OR ME OR ANYBODY ELSE .
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THAT'S A DELIBERATIVE BODY, THE SAME WAY WE ARE A DELIBERATIVE BODY AND WE DISAGREE OFTEN, AND THAT'S OUR JOB.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO REMIND YOU IS THAT THIS MAYOR HAS THE ABSOLUTE DISCRETION TO NOMINATE WHOEVER HE WANTS.
AND GOD FORBID HE GETS RUN OVER BY A BUS SOMETIME SOON, BUT THE NEXT PERSON WHO OCCUPIES THAT SEAT WILL ALSO HAVE THAT ABSOLUTE PREROGATIVE TO DO IT HOWEVER HE OR SHE WANTS.
AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO CHANGE, THEN WE CHANGE THE CHARTER.
AND WE HAVE A -- I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT THIS WAS DONE.
ANOTHER MAYOR MAY CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PROCESS, IN WHICH CASE I WILL SUPPORT THAT PROCESS.
I HAVE ONLY ONE REQUEST OF YOU ON VERY, VERY SHORT TERM AND THAT IS PLEASE REMEMBER THIS COUNCIL HAS TALKED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION AND THE HELP OF TECHNOLOGY TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE NEXT 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS THE WAY WE ALWAYS HAVE BECAUSE THE NEW NORMAL IS EXTREME WETHER PATTERNS, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES TO OUR RESILIENCE.
WE ARE NOT THE SAN ANTONIO THAT WE ONCE WERE, AND THE FORMER WAY OF DOING THINGS HAS GOTTEN US TO WHERE WE ARE, WHICH IS A GREAT PLACE.
BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO PLAY OFF THE SAME PLAYBOOK WITHOUT INNOVATION, WE ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE.
BOTH OF YOU I ADMIRE VERY MUCH BECAUSE YOU'RE INNOVATORS.
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING A JOB THAT PAYS NOTHING.
YOU MAY GET A SANDWICH EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU DO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY, ONLY PROFESSIONALLY.
WE HAVE MET MANY TIMES OVER THE YEAR PROFESSIONALLY.
I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY, YOUR
[01:20:02]
DEDICATION TO THE CITY AND TO THE CONSTITUENTS.AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
AND SO I DO FEEL PARTICULARLY OFFENDED WHEN ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES CHOOSES TO ISOLATE AND TARGET THE ONE WOMAN WHO IS CLEARLY THE MOST QUALIFIED AS YOU COME BEFORE US.
I KNOW WHAT I HAVE ASKED FOR IN MANY OF OUR COMMITTEES IS FOR DIVERSITY.
I CIRCULATED A CCR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST 50% OF WOMEN ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN CIRCULATED ONE ALSO ASKING FOR MORE DIVERSITY ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THE SLATE PUT BEFORE US TODAY.
THE PROCESS IS THAT I HAVE GREAT FAITH IN MY COLLEAGUES TO SIT ON THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TO MAKE A STRONG RECOMMENDATION.
AND THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BUT IT DOES GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE.
I KNOW EACH ONE OF YOU WERE VETTED THOROUGHLY AND PROPERLY.
AND IF THERE HAD BEEN A TIME IF THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT ANYBODY'S PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT A LATER DATE AND NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN DONE HERE ON THE DAIS JUST FOR THE POINT OF SHOW.
I FEEL PARTICULARLY OFFENDED BY THAT AND CANNOT SIT HERE QUIETLY AND OBSERVE IT AND NOT SPEAK UP WHEN I SEE IT HAPPENING.
SO I AM IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THE SLATE OF CANDIDATES THAT WE SEE HERE BEFORE US.
AND I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT PERHAPS NOT EVERYBODY AGREES IS THE BEST WAY.
THAT'S HOW WE COME TO CONSENSUS.
THAT'S HOW WE MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS WHEN WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS.
AND WE, ON THE COUNCIL, HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW WE STILL COME TO A CONSENSUS IS BY COMPROMISING AND COMING TO WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR OUR CITY.
I'M PROUD OF ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE COME HERE TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS SLATE OF CANDIDATES BEFORE US.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY, HOWEVER WE DECIDE TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION, ALL THREE CANDIDATES.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE ALL QUALIFIED.
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, THANK GOODNESS, TO TALK WITH DAVID MCGEE AND REALLY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HIS PRIOR TERM.
AND WE HAD A REAL FRANK DISCUSSION, I THINK, ABOUT WHERE HE COMES FROM AND HOW HE PLANS ON SERVING.
I HADN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE OTHERS.
BUT I THINK WE ALL NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE THREE MAJOR BOARDS THAT REGULATE A LOT OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR CITY.
WATER, TRANSPORTATION, AND ENERGY.
AND THESE ARE ALL NONELECTED BOARDS.
AND SO, YES, BY CHARTER IT IS THE MAYOR'S AUTHORITY TO GO AHEAD AND, YOU KNOW, PUT ON OR RECOMMEND ANYONE HE BELIEVES IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO DO THE JOB.
BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE PRESIDENT.
YOU KNOW, HE CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS BUT IT TAKES THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE TO GET IT APPROVED.
JUST LIKE THE MAYOR CAN MAKE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS, IT TAKES THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT THOSE SUGGESTIONS.
AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD MORE COLLABORATION AND INPUT.
BECAUSE THIS IS, I THINK, SUCH AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
EVERY TIME THESE BOARDS COME UP THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
AND SO I JUST HOPE WITHIN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY COME ABOUT IN THE FUTURE, THE TIME-FRAME THAT IT BE EXPANDED.
THAT WE BE INVITED TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN MEETING THE CANDIDATES AND KNOWING THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE WE MAKE THOSE FINAL DECISIONS.
IT'S NOT SAYING I DON'T AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE MADE HERE TODAY.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND OVER THE LONG RUN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SIT ON THESE BOARDS AND THE DECISION PROCESS ALL OF THEM ARE GOING TO MAKE RATHER THAN THE ONE WHO MORE OR LESS REPRESENTS MY AREA OF THE CITY.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE RECOMMENDING PEOPLE TO THE MAYOR TOO THAT WE SEE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE THINK COULD SERVE IN THESE CAPACITIES.
I HOPE EACH OF YOU WILL BE INDEPENDENT THINKERS ON THE BOARD.
THAT YOU WILL DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
THAT YOU WILL DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH LIKE WE DO HERE IN THE COUNCIL.
WE DON'T JUST TAKE FOR GRANTED WHAT THE CITY MANAGER STAFF TELL US.
WE DO A LOT OF OUR OWN RESEARCH AND WE TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT YOURSELVES AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE
[01:25:02]
SOME OF THOSE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, NOT EVERYTHING IS SEXISM OR RACISM.
IF SHE'S GOING TO STAND UP HERE, MA'AM --
>> GONZALES: ONE HAS TO CALL IT WHEN THEY SEE IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE QUIETLY AND ALLOW YOU TO DO IT AND NOT RESPOND.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS OUT OF LINE, MAYOR, BUT I CANNOT SIT QUIETLY.
I HAD TO SIT QUIETLY AND LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS, WHICH ARE WAY OUT OF LINE.
TO MAINTAIN ORDER I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO GO AHEAD AND TAP IN.
COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> BROCKHOUSE: NOT EVERYTHING IS RACISM OR SEXISM.
IF I NEED TO SHOW YOU THE MAP, MA'AM, MY DISTRICT IS ENTIRELY WITHIN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT.
SO THEREFORE I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A COMMENTARY AND ASK THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE REPRESENTING MY AREA.
THAT IS FAIR AND WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE ROLE BY MY ELECTED OFFICE.
IT'S NOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT MS. HARDBERGER IS A WOMAN.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE THAT IS MY JOB.
I ASKED TO SPLIT THE VOTE SO THAT WAY I WON'T VOTE AGAINST THE OTHER TWO.
THOSE OTHER TWO REPRESENT OTHER AREAS.
SO MY INTENTION IS TO VOTE AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL.
THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID WE ALL CAN HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY WHAT WE THINK.
STAND BY YOUR WORDS AND ALLOW US TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THIS PARTICULAR APPOINTEE.
IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH SEXISM OR THE FACT THAT SHE'S A WOMAN.
I'M STANDING ON THE MERITS OF WHAT HER COMMENTARY AND THINGS HAVE SAID IN THE PAST, WHERE SHE IS AT.
SHE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED PERSON.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE SHE BEST REPRESENTS THE QUADRANT THAT SHE IS GOING TO STAND FOR.
I'M GOING TO GO ON THE RECORD AND SAY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS DIGRESSING INTO SOME SORT OF PERSONAL ATTACK, RIGHT? IT'S NOT GRAND STANDING OR SHOW BOATING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION HER.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO BE APPOINTED UNTIL I SAW IT IN A PRESS RELEASE.
WE HAD TO REACH OUT TO GET HER TO CONTACT US.
IT'S OCCURRING TODAY ON THE DAIS NOT BECAUSE OF THAT BUT BECAUSE OF THIS HOW IT HAD TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PROCESS.
IF, TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S POINT, WE HAD THAT PROCESS WE COULD HAVE HAD A PUBLIC VETTING.
OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT, NOT JUST SOMEBODY THE MAYOR REACHED OUT TO AND ASK TO APPLY.
EVEN THOUGH HE IS ALLOWED TO DO IT, DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.
MS. HARDBERGER, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'RE A WOMAN.
THAT HAS TO BE UTTERLY CLEAR AND STATED.
IT'S THE FACT THAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 6.
THAT WE'RE NOT DIGRESSING INTO THAT.
ONCE YOUR VOTE PASSES ON A 10-1 I WILL SUPPORT YOU AND I WILL MEET WITH YOU AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.
IT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DIDN'T MEET WITH US.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MATTERS, HOW OUR RESIDENTS FEEL ABOUT IT.
WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS, HERE AND THERE.
THAT IS COMPLETELY WITHIN OUR PURVIEW AND WE WILL DO THAT.
I DON'T MIND LOSING A VOTE AND TURN AROUND AND WORKING WITH THE EXACT SAME PERSON I VOTED AGAINST.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'RE A WOMAN.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR BELIEFS ON DEVELOPMENT, ON THE WATER CONSERVATION ISSUES, AND YOUR BELIEFS OF HOW THEY ALIGN WITH THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6.
YOU CAN ONLY TAKE THAT AT MY FACE VALUE.
I HAVE TO PROVE THAT OVER TIME BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I'M VOTING FOR SOMEBODY I DON'T KNOW.
WE CAN LEARN AND FIX THAT OVER TIME.
BUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT, MA'AM, I'M NOT MAKING ANY DECISION ON YOU BASED ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN THOSE ITEMS AND THE PROCESS WITH WHICH WE HAVE BEEN FACED WITH.
AND THAT IS MY FINAL WORD ON THAT.
AS FOR SPLITTING THE VOTE, I DID IT BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS IN THE RIGHT AND BEST OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO NOT, YOU KNOW, VOTE AGAINST A PEER OR MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL THAT THEIR PERSON IS WARRANTED FOR THEIR QUADRANT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR ME TO VOTE AGAINST PEOPLE THAT AREN'T IN MY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, SO TO SPEAK.
AND, MA'AM, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO LET US SAY THE OPPORTUNITIES, SAY WHAT WE BELIEVE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANY OF IT IS PERSONAL OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT.
EVEN I HAVE TO CALL IT AT SOME POINT AS WELL.
AND I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT POLICY BEING RACIST, COMMENTS ABOUT POLICY BEING SEXIST.
WE ARE ALL HERE, IN MY OPINION, TO DO THE GOOD WORK OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WE ARE ALL HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
[01:30:02]
WE ALL SPENT TIME, ENERGY, MONEY TO GET HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT IT.THE FACT THAT WE DIFFER ON IT DOESN'T DON'T ALLOW OURSELVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IT'S GOING TO DIGRESS INTO THIS QUICKLY INTO THIS SEXIST THING WHICH HAS NO BASIS IN FACT WHATSOEVER.
WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, MY MOTION STILL STANDS.
I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR FOR RIGHT NOW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
>> GONZALES: ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE IS NOT RACIST OR ONE IS NOT SEXIST.
SO WHEN YOU SAY I'M NOT RACIST.
I'M NOT SEXIST, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEFEND ONESSELF, YOU SEE IT AS IT IS.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAS UNFOLDED IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR THE CITY.
BUT ONE HAS TO CALL IT WHEN THEY SEE IT.
WE CAN'T JUST SIT BY AND ALLOW COMMENTS TO HAPPEN AND NOT DEFEND IT WHEN WE SEE IT.
WE KNOW RACISM AND SEXISM WHEN WE SEE IT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING TODAY WHEN I'M ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR COMMENTS.
I ASK THAT WE CALL THE QUESTION, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE ONE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
FIRST I'M GOING TO GO TO MY PREPARED REMARKS AND THEN I WILL ADDRESS THE DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING HERE.
FIRST, PROFESSOR HARDBERGER, I APOLOGIZE.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO MISS YOUR CLASS TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, AMY HARDBERGER, MR. EDUARDO PARRA AND DAVID MCGEE FOR APPLYING TO TOGETHER ALL OF YOU REPRESENT A BALANCED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERTISE IN YOUR RESPECTIVE FIELDS: LAW, GEOLOGY, NATURAL RESOURCES, BANKING, FINANCE, ENGINEERING, WASTE WATER TREATMENT.
WE HAVE I BEEN HONORED TO HAVE THE THREE OF YOU REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS IN THE RATE PAYERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA ON THIS BOARD, NOT ONLY MY GUARD GRANT BUT ALL OF THE FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE BOARD WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON RATE INCREASES TO CITY COUNCIL OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT, S.A.W.S., AND TWO THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME ARE ISSUES OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AS WELL AS AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AS YOU MAKE THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR CITY AND RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7, I WANT TO ASK FOR YOU HELP IN COMMUNICATING THIS INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU'VE ALREADY BEGUN THAT PROCESS BY TAKING THAT PHOTOGRAPH WITH ME TODAY.
IT WILL BE FEATURED IN MY NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT THIS WEEK.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO OUR RESIDENTS AND WE WILL BE BROADLY SAYING THAT YOU ARE NOW OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
I DO WANT TO ASK P A FEW QUESTIONS.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR QUADRANT THAT YOU WILL BE REPRESENTING?
IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF YOUR DISTRICT, DISTRICT 8 AND PART OF DISTRICT 9.
WHAT IS THE SOUTHERN MOST BOUNDARY FOR --
>> I BELIEVE IT'S SLAB RA ROAD?
>> THAT'S THE SOUTHERN MOST BOUNDARY?
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE MAP IN DETAIL.
I LOOK AT THE MAP, AND LOOK AT DISTRICT MAPS TO MAKE SURE --
>> YES, I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE QUADRANT MAP AND THE SOUTHERN MOST BOUNDARY IS CALABRA ROAD.
IT WIGGLED BUT IT'S ACTUALLY FAR NORTH.
SO YOU WILL BE REPRESENTING PARTS OF DISTRICT 6 IF THIS MAP IS ACCURATE.
THAT'S FIND MY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT MAP.
YOU'LL BE REPRESENTING FROM BASICALLY NEW GILBEAU ROAD TO CALEBRA ROAD.
SO, I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBER BROCK HOUSE TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF HIS DISTRICT.
CAN I ASK YOU, JUST TO BE FAIR, HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT APPLYING FOR THIS PROCESS?
>> WELL, I WAS -- I SERVE ON MANY BOARDS, AND ON THOSE MANY BOARDS YOU GET CONTACT WITH THE MAYOR AND SOME OF HIS STAFF.
HE KNOWS MY BACKGROUND IN WATER
[01:35:02]
AND WASTE WATER AND HE SNOWS MY BACKGROUND IN ENGINEERING.I HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST TO DO MORE SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT INTEREST NEVER CAME ON THE IDEA OF S.A.W.S., HONEST NECESSARILY.
AND STAFF ASKED ME IF I WILL BE INTERESTED IN IT.
IN THE BEGINNING I WASN'T QUITE SURE.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S A NICE CHALLENGE AND I LOVE TO HELP THEM THAT WAY.
IF THIS IS IT, I'LL GO FOR IT.
AGAIN, JUST TO BE FAIR, DID YOU CONTACT ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE AREA THAT YOU WILL BE REPRESENTING?
THIS IS, JUST TO BE FAIR AND CONNEST.
I'M NOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND NOT QUITE SURE HOW THINGS WORK.
I FILL OUT THIS APPLICATION, AND I WAIT, AND I HAVE -- I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING AT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, BUT I TRY TO NOT DO ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT I KNEW I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, JUST BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR THIS TO BE OFFICIAL, IN ORDER TO START REACHING OUT.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEETING YOU AT GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND I WAS SATISFIED WITH THE RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GAVE AND I WAS CERTAINLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR RESUME AND WORK BEFORE HAND.
>> SANDOVAL: A FEW COMMENTS, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I BRING IT UP WHEN WE SINK HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERE I TURN UP THE MIC BECAUSE I LIKE THE SOUND OF MY VOICE WHEN I DO THAT.
BUT I WAS IN A MALE DOMINATED WORLD.
AND WHEN I -- I PLAYED IN AN ALL MALE -- ALMOST ALL MALE MARIACHI, EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF WOMEN.
EVEN THE MEN ADMITTED TO ME, TO PLAY IN A MARIACHI AS A WOMAN, YOU HAD TO BE AT LEAST TWICE AS GOOD AS A MAN.
AND MAYBE BECAUSE THEY WERE SEXIST, OR MAYBE BECAUSE THEY HAD BIASES, BUT WOMEN WERE HELD UP TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAT MEN WERE.
I APOLOGIZE MISS HARDBERGER, THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY ON THIS DAIS.
YOU ARE A NATIONAL EXPERT, EMINENTLY QUALIFIED.
WE SHOULD BE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU REPRESENTING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON THIS BOARD AND RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 7 ON THIS BOARD.
MY COLLEAGUE, MR. BROCKHOUSE, I'M NOT ONE THAT TENDS TO LIKE CONFLICT BUT I DO HAVE TO POINT OUT YOU HAVE TWO POTENTIAL APPOINTEES REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT HERE, AND YOUR CONCERN, REPEATED NECESSARILY, YOU CLAIMED, WAS WITH THE PROCESS, BUT I FEEL THAT IT'S NOT.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S WITH THE PROCESS, WHEN ONLY ONE OF THOSE APPOINTEES WAS CONTINUALLY PULLED OUT IN THE PAPER, IN YOUR PRESS RELEASES AND TODAY.
IF IT WAS WITH THE PROCESS, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE JUST LEFT IT AT THAT.
I BELIEVE IT IS INCUMBENT UPON COUNCIL MEMBERS TO KNOW WHEN TERMS EXPIRE FOR BOARDS LIKE CPS OR S.A.W.S.
NOTHING PRECLUDES ANY OF US FROM MAKING A POSTING TO OUR RESIDENTS, IN OUR NEWSLETTER, SAYING WE ARE CALLING FOR APPOINTEES.
I REGULARLY DO THAT FOR OTHER APPOINTMENTS AND NOTHING PRECLUDED US FROM HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH EACH OF THESE APPOINTEE, AND FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE GAFFE EARN ANS COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE COULD HAVE ALL INTERVIEWED THEM.
I CAN GO TO COUNCILWOMAN C P-1C COMMITTEE IF I SO CHOOSE AND ASK QUESTIONS THERE.
IN ADDITION, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT -- SORRY, LET ME LET ME REPHRASE THAT.
I BELIEVE HAVING MISS HARE BERGER ON THIS COMMITTEE HELPS US BALANCE BALANCES CONCERNS.
WE NEED TO BALANCE NATURAL RESOURCES WITH AFFORDABILITY, WITH GROWTH.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE THREATENED BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE APPOINTEE OR POTENTIAL APPOINTEE WHO HAS EXPERTISE IN NATURAL
[01:40:01]
RESOURCES.IN FACT THAT'S A BENEFIT TO ALL OF US.
SO, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO HEAR DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THIS BOARD, AND NOT JUST OPINIONS, BUT EXPERTISE.
AND IT IS THE MAYOR'S PREROGATIVE TO CHOOSE WHOM HE LIKES.
HE DID CONSULT WITH ME ABOUT MY OPINION.
I DID BRING OUT MISS HARDBERGER'S NAME ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS BUT MISS HARDBERGER WAS SELECTED, AND I AM PERFECT NECESSARILY FINE WITH THAT.
I DO BELIEVE IF WE VOTE ON THESE APPOINTEES SEPARATELY, WE WILL BE BREAKING WITH OUR PRACTICE OF APPOINTING ALL APPOINTEES, VOTING ON ALL APPOINTEES TOGETHER.
THAT'S PART OF OUR COUNCIL BUSINESS.
THE SLATE ALWAYS GOES TOGETHER.
ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE WHEN YOU ARE REPRESENTING ALL OF THE CITY AND BEYOND, INCLUDING THE RATE PAYERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
IF I MAY BE SO BOLD AND NO OFFENSE, CARRYING ON FROM WHERE COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL SAID AND NO OFFENSE TO YOU, DAVID OR EDWU EDUARDO, I WOULDN'T SAY AMY IS TWICE AS GOOD, SHE'S PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR TIMES I'VE SEEN THAN ANYBODY THAT SAT ON THE S.A.W.S. BOARD.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED FOR ALL THREE OF YOU REPRESENTING AN EXTREME WEALTH OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.
DIVERSE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND JUST CLEAR THROUGH SOME OF THE AIR HERE, THIS WAS THE PROCESS.
THERE HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING PROCESS FOR THE MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO AS A SITTING BOARD MEMBER OF S.A.W.S. TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN EACH OF THE SQUAD GRANTS TO HIS COLLEAGUES OR HER COLLEAGUES FOR VETTING AND APPROVAL.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
IN FACT, I CONSULTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IN THOSE AREAS, PRIOR TO, WITH OTHER NAMES, AND I ASKED YOU ALL TO CONSIDER THIS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WOULD BE EXTRAORDINARY MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I REMEMBER APPROACHING YOU EDUARDO, YOU, DAVID AND YOU, AMY.
ASKING YOU, PLEASE, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WOULD DO AN AMAZING JOB FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I KNOW YOU WILL.
AFTER THAT WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS IN WHICH YOU MADE YOURSELVES AVAILABLE TO ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO VISIT WITH YOU OVER A PERIOD OF, I BELIEVE, A MONTH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD A GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
I WAS PLEASED WITH THE CONVERSATIONS THERE.
SOME MORE CHALLENGING, QUESTIONS, AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING AND YOU GOT UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FOR YOUR SLATE, BECAUSE THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH THIS KIND OF VETTING OF APPOINTEES TO CITY-WIDE BOARDS.
BEFORE US TODAY, THREE EXTRAORDINARY CONSTITUENTS, THREE EXTRAORDINARY CANDIDATES TO REPRESENT THE CITY VERY WELL.
MY STAFF DID AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY AND CONSTITUENTS THEY WOULD REPRESENT ARE NOT ONLY FAMILIAR WITH, BUT ARE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN YOU, IN HAVING A SERIES OF COMMUNITY RECEPTIONS, INVOLVING THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, INVOLVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, INVOLVING THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS YOU ULTIMATELY MAKE, AND WITHOUT ANY DISSENT, WITHOUT ANY VARIATION OF CONCERN, THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARY NECESSARILY PROUD OF THE DECISION THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY AND PUTTING YOU ON A BOARD THAT'S THIS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.
THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF BACK AND FORTH.
I'M GOING TO EXERCISE MY PREROGATIVE AS CHAIR, RECOGNIZING THE CALL FOR THE QUESTION SO WE'LL TAKE UP THE FIRST MOTION FIRST WHICH IS A MOTION TO SEPARATE THIS ITEM INTO QUADRANTS.
I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A DEMONSTRATION OF DOING THIS THE WRONG WAY.
YOU THREE ARE REPRESENTING ALL CONSTITUENT, DISTRICT 6, 5, DISTRICT 1 THROUGH 10 AND WE WILL ALL DEPEND ON YOU AND WE ALL BELIEVE IN YOU, SO I RECOMMEND WE VOTE DOWN THIS MOTION, SO WE'LL TAKE IT UP NOW, AND THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR SEPARATION OF THE ITEM.
A YES VOTE MEANS WE WILL SEPARATE ITEM 15 INTO THE THREE QUADRANTS.
A NO VOTE MEANS WE WILL KEEP THE ITEM IN TACT TO VOTE THE SLATE TOGETHER.
DID YOU GET THE SECOND? MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 15.
[01:45:02]
PLEASE VOTE.WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE.
>> ITEM NUMBER NO. 11 IS A RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO AND AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION FOR THE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT UP TO $138,870 BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2018 FOR THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT'S STAND UP SA PROGRAM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN COURAGE?
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T REAL NECESSARILY EXPECT TO ASK FOR THE WHOLE PRESENTATION TO BE MADE.
I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT 11, 12, AND 13.
WHICH IS WHY I ASKED THEM TO COME UP AND I KNOW STAND-UP SA HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO YEARS IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE MOST VIOLENT CRIMES.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHAT STATISTICS DO WE HAVE TO DATE ON ITS EFFECTIVENESS ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO DEVELOP, FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATIONAL AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, WITH THIS PROGRAM? YOU KNOW, HOW IS THE GRANT MARRIED TO THOSE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT WAS MORE OR LESS A QUESTION I HAD.
>> SO, LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME, WE HAD THE RESULTS FROM AN OUTSIDE EVALUATOR PRESENTED TO US ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE STAND UP SA PROGRAM OVER THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE.
AND WHAT THE EVALUATION RESULTS SHOWED WAS THAT THERE WAS A CORRELATION BETWEEN WHEN WE WERE FULLY STAFFED AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL.
WE SAW SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN VIOLENT YOUTH VIOLENCE IN THE AREAS WHERE WE WORKED.
THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS GRANT IS IT GIVES US MORE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THAT EVALUATION PROCESS.
SO, THE SHORT ANSWER IS, WE DID HIRE AN OUTSIDE EVALUATOR.
THEY DID FIND THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS EFFECTIVE.
AGAIN, WE'RE ONLY IN A FEW NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY, BUT WHERE WE ARE, IS --
>> COURAGE: INTEGRATE WITH OTHER PROGRAMS TO HELP MOVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FORWARD INTO MORE POSITIVE PROGRAMS FOR THEMSELF, MORE POSITIVE FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES?
WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO TYPES OF STAFF WHO WORK IN THIS PROGRAM.
ONE ARE WHAT WE CALL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS AND THEY WORK DIRECTLY WITH PEOPLE THAT WE THINK ARE AT HIGH RISK OF RETALIATING FOR VIOLENCE.
THE OTHER TYPE IS A CASE MANAGER.
AND THEY WORK WITH COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP CONNECTING TO THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM ON A PATH THAT IS AWAY FROM VIOLENCE.
SO, WHILE IT IS -- THERE IS A TARGETED FACET TO THE PROGRAM, THERE IS ALSO THIS CASE MANAGEMENT FACET THAT DOES DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I WOULD GO AHEAD AND MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 11.
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US PRIOR TO COMING TO COUNCIL TODAY WITH THE ONE-PAGER THAT EXPLAINED THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW THE GRANT CAN ASSIST IN THE ORGANIZATION.
YOU ALL DO GREAT WORK FROM A GRASS ROOT LEVEL AND I THINK SOME INDIVIDUALS MISINTERPRET THAT FOR DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT, YOUR STAFF IS OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, TALKING TO INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN END VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.
AND I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING THAT.
ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND MEETING WITH ME AND MY STAFF TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SHAW.
THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 11.
>> ITEM NUMBER 12 IS ORDINANCE FOR APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF AN EARLY HEAD START CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP APPLICATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND ACCEPTANCE UPON AWARD OF 2,729,844 FOR THE
[01:50:03]
PERIOD OF AUGUST 1, 2018 THROUGH JULY 31, 2019 A BUDGET INCLUDING AN IN-KIND MATCH OF 682,461 AND A PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT OF 16 POSITIONS.>> COURAGE: THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
AGAIN, I DON'T BELIEVE I REQUIRE A PRESENTATION OF THIS.
I'M IN VERY GREAT SUPPORT OF BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PROGRAM, AND WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, WE OVERSEE SOME HEAD START PROGRAMS, AND WE RUN PRE-K FOR SA, AND YET THE TWO DON'T SEEM TO ACHIEVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR RESULTS.
AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO INTEGRATE THE HEAD START AND PRE-K FOR SA RESOURCES TO A GREATER EXTENT SO THAT WE'RE RAISING THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS OUT OF HEAD START? BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS WE'RE GETTING THROUGH PRE-K FOR SA.
SO, I REALIZE THERE'S DIFFERENT DOLLARS, PROBABLY, THAT HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENT, BUT CAN'T WE DO MORE TO LEARN FROM ONE AREA TO IMPROVEMENT THE OTHER IN THOSE RESULTS?
SO, THE ORDINANCE TODAY IS FOR OUR EARLY HEAD START CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH SERVES CHILDREN SIX WEEKS TO THREE YEARS OLD AND PRE-K TO SA IS FOUR YEARS OLD.
I SAY PRE-K TO SA OFFERS IN ADDITION TO SERVING 2,000 CHILDREN IN PROVIDING ACTUAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THEY ALSO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT THAT IS HELPING THE ENTIRE CHILD CARE COMMUNITY AND EARLY EDUCATION COMMUNITY ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO EVEN OUR PROGRAMS ARE BENEFITTING FROM THAT, AND SO WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH PRE-K FROM SA ON BOTH THE EARLY HEAD START CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP CENTERS THAT WE'RE OPERATING AS WELL AS OUR HEAD START PROGRAM TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND THAT'S REAL NECESSARILY THE GOAL OF ALL THREE PROGRAMS, EARLY HEAD START.
HEAD START AND PRE-KSA IS TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY WITH AULT MALT GOAL OF BRIEING THE SUCCESS OF ALL CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION HOW YOU'RE INTEGRATING OR HELPING INTO THOSE PROGRAMS TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT.
>> COURAGE: MAYOR, I WOULD MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 12.
THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 12.
>> ITEM NUMBER 13 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS TO THE TRUANCY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $2 MILLION FOR FUNDING RESOURCES AND 16 POSITIONS FOR THE PERIOD OF AUGUST 1, 2018 TO JULY 31, 2019.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, MAYOR, AND I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR INDULGING ME AND BRINGING THESE ITEMS UP FOR, I GUESS SOME QUESTIONS THAT I HAD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH BEFORE OUR COUNCIL MEETING BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL, IN EDUCATION AND AS A FORMER TEACHER.
I DEALT WITH THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT'S TRUANCY AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE LACK OF COMMITMENT TO SCHOOL BY YOUNG PEOPLE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY SEVERAL STUDIES AS A RISK FACTOR FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DELINQUENCY, TEEN PREGNANCY, SCHOOL DROP-OUT.
TRUANCY IS NOT AN ISSUE TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE SCHOOLS.
IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE PARENTS, THE COURT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO A TOTAL COMMUNITY ISSUE.
THE TRUE ANTS OF TODAY HAVE A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF ENDING UP IN JUVENILE OR ADULT JUSTICE SYSTEM TOMORROW IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT EFFECTIVE NECESSARILY NOW.
WE HAVE ESTIMATES THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS ABOUT 35,000, OR 14 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OF YOUTH FROM 16 TO 24, WHO ARE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL, OR ARE NOT EMPLOYED.
>> AND SO I HAD TO READ THEM ALL OFF.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GO BACK THROUGH, BUT -- AND I APPRECIATE YOU REPRESENTING JUDGE BOLL HERE IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
PROGRAMS SHOW IMPROVEMENTS AND
[01:55:03]
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE INTEND TO INVOLVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT.THEY ARE FAMILY FOCUSED ANDEN CORPORATE SANCTIONS FOR CONTINUED TRUANCY AND REWARD FOR ATTENDANCE.
IN OTHER WORDS THE CARROT WORKS MUCH BETTER THAN THE STICK BUT WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMMING ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS FUNDING TO EFFECT TRUANCY.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING US HERE.
THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE, AND THE TRUANCY, THE WAY WE ENGAGE THE TRUANCY IS PREVENTION INTERVENTION OF THE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES.
THESE MONEYS AFFORD US OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE CASE MANAGERS CAMPUS-BASED BECAUSE WE REALIZE A LOT OF DISTRICTS HAD SOME CHALLENGE, FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND SO FORTH, BUT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, AT EVERY PARTICIPATING DISTRICT OUT OF 17 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE 12 THAT PARTICIPATE, WE HAVE CASE MANAGERS HOUSED AT CAMPUSES THAT THEY CHOSE, BECAUSE OF HOT SPOTS ON TRUANCIES AND SO FORTH.
WHAT WE DO AS CASE MANAGER, THEY WORK MORE LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS.
WE GO IN, DO AN INTAKE AND TRY TO FIND IMPEDIMENTS OF ABSENCES ARE.
WE HOPE WE REAP THE BENEFITS LATER ON.
YOU'RE RIGHT, WHEN YOU HELP AND MENTOR SOME CHILDREN AND SO FORTH, THAT IT HAS A MUCH GREATER EFFECT.
SAISD, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S WHERE THEY HAVE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CASE MANAGERS HOUSED CURRENTLY THERE.
WHAT THEY DO AGAIN, AS FAR AS THE PROGRAM IS CONCERNED, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE ADDRESSED BASICALLY ON THE IMPEDIMENTS, THAT THERE IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT WE DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE.
WE ARE LOSING SOME PROGRAMS OF COURSE BECAUSE OF FUNDING AND WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE THROUGH SOME OTHER RESOURCES.
BUT WE HAVE -- LET ME JUST GIVE AN XRAL.
MY CHILD DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAVE ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES.
>> IF THE IMPEDIMENT HAS TO DO WITH HEALTH ISSUES, WE HAVE PROGRAMS DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THAT WHERE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MEET WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF DRUGS.
UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SOME THAT EVEN INCLUDE, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IT'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
WHEN A CHILD IS -- THE PARENT IS DROPPING THE CHILD OFF AT SCHOOL, AND THEN THEY FIND OUT THEY HAVE AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF ABSENCES, 40, 50, 60, ABSENCES AND THE PARENT IS PICKING THE CHILD UP AT 4:00, THEN WE FIND OUT BECAUSE THEY FELL IN OUR RADAR, WE ADDRESS PARTICULAR IMPEDIMENTS ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM.
THERE'S NOT A PROGRAM WE DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE.
IF WE DON'T, WE'LL GO FIND IT THAT ADDRESSES THE IMPEDIMENT OF THAT CHILD IF ANYTHING.
MAYBE THE ABSENCES OR ATTENDANCE RATE WON'T GO UP AS MUCH, BECAUSE BEING A FORMER ADMINISTRAT ADMINISTRATOR, EDUCATOR MYSELF, WE REALIZE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH ABSENCES IT'S NOT ONLY JUST TO GET UNEXCUSED ABSENCES.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR WE HAVE FLU EPIDEMICS THAT TEND TO HAVE A FACTOR ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACTION SENSES.
AS FAR AS PROGRAM, THERE'S NOT A PROGRAM THAT WE DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGES, NO FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ONCE WE FIND OUT WHAT THE IMPEDIMENTS ARE, WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOLS.
>> I KNOW THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS HABITUALLY ABSENT AND I REALIZE THOSE ARE THE MORE PROBLEMATIC STUDENTS WE MAY DEAL WITH OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, MAYBE EVEN OVER YEARS.
IT'S IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, WE TALKED ABOUT REAL NECESSARILY HOW THERE'S A CARROT AND STICK.
DO WE, FOR EXAMPLE EMPLOY COMMUNITY SERVICE AS A CONSEQUENCE FOR HABITUALLY BEING T TRUANT AND THINGS OF NA NATURE?
>> YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICE REALIZING THAT THE STATUTE ALLOWS UP TO 200 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR A CHILD BUT WE TRY TO DO AS MUCH WORK FRONT END BEFORE WE IMPOSE A PUNITIVE REZRIKZ OR PROGRAM ON THAT PARTICULAR CHILD.
YES, WE DO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ARE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS FROM 12 TO 16, 17 YEARS OLD, THAT THE PARENT OR PARENTS WILL HAVE TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS TO DRIVE THEM UP TO THE LOCATION TO DEAL WITH THIS.
>> COURAGE: DO WE INCENTIVIZE THOSE STUDENTS MAKING PROGRESS?
>> I'M SORRY? VIJAY DO WE INCENTIVIZE THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE IMPROVING, MAKING PROJECT?
WE NEVER ASKED FOR MONEYS OUT OF
[02:00:01]
THE GENERAL FUND.I THINK THERE'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND THIS THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PICK UP.
THAT'S HOW THEY GET FUNDED BUT WE DON'T HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO --
>> COURAGE: SO IF STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL NECESSARILY START TO ATTEND REGULARLY AND GO BEYOND THAT PROBLEM OF MISSING SCHOOL, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE DO EXCEPT GIVING THEM A PAT ON THE BACK?
>> COURAGE: THAT MIGHT BE HELP.
HOW DO MENTOR HEALTH INTERVENTIONS WORK WITH THE WORK YOU DO WITH THESE STUDENTS?
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DR. --
>> -- BRIDGER, WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST COMING FROM THE LOCAL DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON NOW.
THAT'S A VERY CHALLENGING ISSUE, BEING A DAD AND GRAND DAD OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN MYSELF.
I KNOW THAT'S A MAJOR, MAJOR IMPEDIMENT THAT'S BEEN CAUSING ABSENCES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE SCHOOL.
>> COURAGE: THERE'S NOTHING DIRECTLY THAT WE'RE DOING LINKING OR USING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THIS PROGRAM?
>> COURAGE: I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF THAT.
$2 MILLION, I THINK IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.
I WISH WE HAD $20 MILLION TO TACKLE THAT PROBLEM BUT I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME SOME REASONABLE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
MAYOR, I WOULD APPROVE THE -- OR ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 13.
AND THAT IS A MOTION, COUNCILMAN?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 13.
MOTION CARRIES DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
>> JUST A COUPLE ITEMS BEFORE WE MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SECTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON CIVTECH AND GEEK DON.
IT COLLECTS PEOPLE WITH TECH AND ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES TO SOLVE CITY'S GROWTH OF LOCAL START UP SYSTEMS IT ENGAGES COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
THIS IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM WHILE OTHER CITY HAVE COMPONENTS OF IT, NONE HAVE TIED THEM TOGETHER TO CREATE A TALENT PIPELINE AND GROW CIVIC NECESSARILY MINDED START-UPS.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO CITY CHALLENGES WITH VARYING DEGREES OF COMPLEXITY.
VIA EVENTS THAT ARE TAILORED TO THEIR SPECIFIC GROUP.
THROUGH THESE EVENTS AND INCREASED ACTIVITY THROUGHMMUNIP TO COMBAT BRAIN DRAIN AND INSPIRE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
IN DECEMBER I PROVIDED AN UPDATE OF THE PROGRAM AND SINCE THEN WE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM SEVERAL START-UPS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN IN A 16 WEEK RESIDENCY WITH THE CITY.
THE RESIDENCY WILL BEGIN IN APRIL AND END IN JULY.
WE PRESENT START-UP SOLUTIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS FOR 2019 IN AUGUST.
FOR THE 6TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE PARTNERSHIPS.
STUDENTS ARE BEING MATCHED WITH SA WORKS AND YOUTH CODE JAM.
YOUTH CODE JAM RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY FROM S.T.E.M. TO TRAIN 12 TEACHERS IN ENTREPRENEUR AND TECHNOLOGY USING CIVTECH TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BASIS OF THEIR CURRICULUM FOR HIGH EDUCATION STUDENTS CIVTECH WILL HOST A FUND PAIRING STUDENT TEAMS AND STAFF FROM THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR MARATHON AROUND THE CITY'S TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES AWARDING THE WINNING TEAM AN INTERNSHIP IN THE CITY'S I.T.
DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE THEIR IDEA.
IN ADDITION, CIVTECH IS WORKING WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES TO MATCH STUDENT WAS CITY CHALLENGES FOR THE CAPSTONE PROJECTS AND COMPETITIONS.
FOR OUR ENTREPRENEURS GEEKDOM WILL HOST CIVTECH SA START-UP IN JUNE.
SIMILAR TO SHARK TANK THESE FUEL START-UP GROWTH AND GEEKDOM'S JUNE EVENT FOCUSES ON CIVIC TECHNOLOGY.
IN ADDITION CIVTECH IS WORKING WITH PARTNERS, CPS, S.A.W.S., VIA AND SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY TO HOST A CODE A ON THIS IN THE FALL.
WE'RE HEARING THEY ARE EXCITED
[02:05:01]
TO LEARN, AND PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.WE'RE HAPPY TO RECEIVE SUCH A PONCEIVE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY USING THIS PROGRAM FOR GROWING CIVIC NECESSARILY-MINDED START-UPS FOR YEARS TO COME.
SECONDLY LAST WEEK THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY PRESENTED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH TWO DISTINCT HON EARNS AT THE ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE.
THE PARK SETH IS STATE WIDE ASSOCIATION THAT CHAMPION ENGAGED COMMUNITIES OF HEALTHY LIFE STYLES AND PRESERVATION OF GREEN SPACE.
PARKS AND RECREATION SEEVSED ARTS AND HUMANITIES PROGRAM CALLED THE GALLERY, YOUTH PARTICIPANTS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS CREATED WORKS OF ART IN VARIOUS MEDIUMS INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHY, DRAWING AND PAINTING.
THIS PROVIDED UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WORK TO BE FEATURED IN A FORMAL GALLERY SETTING, A FIRST FOR MANY OF THESE PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCE.
ADDITIONALLY, SAN ANTONIO BEING HOME TO A VARIETY OF CULTURAL NECESSARILY SIGNIFICANT PARKS, THIS YEAR OUR VERY OWN WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK RECEIVED THE PRESTIGIOUS LONE STAR LEGACY PARK DES IGNITION FROM THE TEXAS PARK SOCIETY.
IT HOLDS SPECIAL PROMINENCE AND THE STATE OF TEXAS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS THAT CAN BE BESTOWED ON A, TEXAS PARK.
THESE HAVE ENDURED THE TEST OF TIME AND HAVE BECOME ICONIC TO THOSE WHO VISITED AND EXPERIENCED ALL THAT THOSE PARKS HAVE TO OFFER.
THE DESIGNATION IS ESPECIALLY FITTING AS WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK CELEBRATES IT'S 100TH BIRTHDAY IN 2018.
THE PARK DATES BACK TO THE 1880 THS WHEN DEVELOPERS WANTED TO BUILD A SUBDIVISION AND SAW THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARKLAND ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
IN 1918, THE LAND AND LAKE WERE DEEDED TO THE CITY AND LATER THE PARK WOULD RECEIVE ITS OFFICIAL NAME, WOOD LAWN LAKE PARK.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO THEIR COMMITMENT ENRICHING YOUTH IN CREATIVE WAYS AND CONSISTENT EFFORT IN MAINTAINING OVER 240 CITY PARKS, 181 MILES OF TRAILS AND OVER 15,000 AKERS OF GREEN SPACE.
PERHAPS THERE'S ANOTHER DESIGNATION IN OUR FUTURE, SINCE OVER THE PAST DECADE, WE BOUGHT ANOTHER 300 AKERS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BECOME A SUBDIVISION WITH ALL OF THE TREES TAKEN DOWN.
WITH REGARD TO VIA FUNDING I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE.
AS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, NOT ONLY IN SAN ANTONIO BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND OF COURSE THE COUNCIL ALLOCATED 4.3 MILLION TO VIA IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND FUNDING WAS OF COURSE TO IMPROVE SERVICE ON HIGH DEMAND ROUTES.
COUNCILMAN SALDANA, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE PERSONAL CHAMPION OF THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME UPDATES THIS MORNING REGARDING THE STATUS OF VIA'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SERVICE FREQUENCY AS PART OF OUR CITY FUNDING.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, VIA HAS HIRED AN ADDITIONAL 29 FULL-TIME BUS OPERATORS AND PURCHASED 12 ADDITIONAL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS BUSES.
THEY HAVE INCREASED BUS SERVICE HOURS BY OVER 41,000 HOURS, A 29 PERCENT INCREASE, SINCE OCTOBER 1 OF 2016.
AND THEY HAVE IMPROVED SERVICE FREQUENCY ON ALL NINE SPECIFIED ROUTES OPERATING EVERY 30 MINUTES INSTEAD OF EVERY 60 MINUTE ON WEEKDAYS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6:00 A.M. AND 6:00 P.M.
AND THEN OUR CITY WEBSITE, YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF NINE ROUTES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF THE CITY'S FUNDING.
THE PHASE TWO IMPROVEMENTS WITH THIS YEAR'S FUNDING ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IMPLEMENTED THIS MAY AND WILL INCLUDE IMPROVED SERVICE FREQUENCY, BUS STOP ADJUSTMENTS AND REVISED SCHEDULES WITH THREE ADDITIONAL CORRIDORS TO OPERATE EVERY 12 MINUTES ON WEEKDAYS ALONG THE SAN PEDRO CORRIDOR WHICH RUNS BETWEEN BLOSSOM PARK, PACK AND WISE NEARWERZ BACH PARK WAVE AND HIGHWAY 90 TO DOWNTOWN AND EAST HOUSTON CORRIDOR FROM W.W. WHITE ROAD TO DOWNTOWN AREA.
NEXT STEP IMPROVEMENTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN JANUARY OF 2019 WITH ADDITIONALITY FUNDING AND WILL INCLUDE IMPROVED SERVICE FREQUENCY, BUS STOP ADJUSTMENTS AND REVISED TRAVEL TIMES SO WE'RE EXCITED WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS VIA IS MAKING WITH THE ADDITIONAL CITY FUNDING AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THE CITY'S INVESTMENT AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF VIA, THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY ARE SEEING A LONGER, MORE RELIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
[02:10:02]
AND JUST TWO QUICK LAST THINGS.WE DID TALK EARLIER ABOUT TODAY, MARCH 8TH IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
OF COURSE A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF SOCIOECONOMIC CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN, AND NEXT WEEK, THE 62ND SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE UNITED NATION'S HEAD QUARTERS IN NEW YORK AND I'M PROUD TO INFORM YOU ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MARA VIA GOMEZ WILL PARTICIPATE ON A PANEL DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK ON THE PROGRESSIVE INTEGRATION --
>> -- THE PROGRESSIVE INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN INTO DIVERSE SOCIETIES AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN NEW YORK ON MARCH 13TH AND WILL REPRESENT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
WE ARE PROUD OF MARIA AND ANN AND KNOW THEY WILL REPRESENT THE CITY WELL.
SATURDAY, MANY OF US HAD A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPENING OF THE CONFLUENCE PARK ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND THE DEDICATION WAS THIS SATURDAY.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BOTH SPOKE AT THE EVENT.
SEVERAL OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO PAR TIS PAYMENTED.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE CITY A COUPLE YEARS AGO CONTRIBUTED 2.1 MILLION TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT VERY WONDERFUL PARK ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
AND LAST NIGHT WAS ANOTHER FUND-RAISER FOR CONFLUENCE PARK.
IT WAS A MUSICAL PRESENTATION BY PINK MARTINI AT THE MAJESTIC THEATER.
I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ON STAGE WITH PINK MARTINI.
YOU REPRESENTED US QUITE WELL AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT.
AND WHAT A CELEBRATION, AND GREAT FUND-RAISING.
SO THERE IS MUCH SUPPORT FOR CONFLUENCE PARK ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT IT'S NOW IN OPERATION ALONG THE MISSION REACH.
AND THAT'S ALL TO REPORT TODAY, MAYOR, THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT THANK YOU, SHERYL.
BEFORE WE BREAK BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN TREVINO WHO IS OUR DESIGNEE, REPRESENTS US ALL IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SPAIN AND CANARY ISLANDS.
HE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME SPECIAL GUEST WEISE HAVE IN THE CHAMBERS.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S A PRIVILEGE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT I'M CARRYING MY CANARY ISLANDS PIN TODAY.
DR. TOSCANO BROUGHT YOUR COUNTERPART, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND MAYBE SAY A FEW WORDS, WE WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS CHAMBERS, AND ESPECIALLY THE TRICENTENNIAL YEAR, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO STRENGTHEN THESE BONDS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR HISTORY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND CONNECTION BACK TO THE CANARY ISLANDS.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SHERYL IS GREAT.
SECOND, TODAY AND TOMORROW, WE ARE GETTING THE VISIT OF THE CITY MAYOR, AND THE MAYOR, AND TOMORROW MAYOR OF LAS BAMA WILL BE HERE.
I LOST THE CONNECTION, BUT ANYHOW, I SAID YOU HAVE TO SEE SOMETHING GOOD, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE FIRST QUESTION WAS? POLITICAL, ARE THEY REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS? NO, NO, NO.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO, AND PARTICULAR NECESSARILY, AS CHIEF, HEAD OF ASSISTANT CITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT REAL NECESSARILY --
>> TREVINO: AND I WANT TO SAY --
[02:15:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND WELCOME TO THE ENTIRE DELEGATION WHO WILL BE HERE TOMORROW.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO GO NOW INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'LL STEP DOWN SO WE CAN HAVE OFFICIAL GREETINGS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR STAY AND THIS IS YOUR HOME.
AND WE WILL RECONVENE INTO ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.