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>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED,.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 22, IT IS TIME FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
[2. Briefing on the Alamo Master Plan and Implementation Strategy. [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager Department of Human Services]]
AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.THE FIRST ITEM WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS AFTERNOON IS WITH REGARD TO THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN, AND JUST BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, LET ME SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION FOR OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR NEWEST COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MAY BE WATCHING.
BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2015 THE CITY EXECUTED A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AMONG THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE, THE ALAMO, THE ENDOWMENT BOARD AND THE CITY REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A JOINT MASTER PLAN FOR THE ALAMO RESTORATION AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURROUNDING AREA.
SO THE AGREEMENT OUTLINES THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH OF THE THREE PARTIES AS WELL AS THE MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT STRUCTURE FOR THE MASTER PLAN'S DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION.
THE AGREEMENT CREATED A SIX-MEMBER MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE THREE ENTITIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERTO TREVINO AND I REPRESENT THE CITY.
GENE POWELL AND RAMONA BASS REPRESENT THE ALAMO ENDOWMENT, AND HECTOR H VIAY AND BRIAN PRESTON REPRESENT THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
IN MARCH OF 2016 THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SELECTED PRESERVATION DESIGN PARTNERSHIP, OR AS WE LIKE TO REFER TO THEM, PDP FOR SIMPLIFICATION PURPOSES, TO LEAD THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN PLANNING PROCESS, AND MANY OF YOU HEARD PRESENTATIONS FROM PDP.
AND IN MAY OF 2017 THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN AND PROVIDED CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL FOR SEVERAL ASPECTS OF WHAT WAS BEING RECOMMENDED, INCLUDING THE REPAIR AND RELOCATION OF THE SENDA TAF, THE CLOSURE OF ALAMO STREET TO VEHICULAR TRAVIS COUNTY BETWEEN HOUSTON STREET AND MARKET, AND CROCKETT STREET FROM BONHAM TO LA SOYA, AND THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PLAZA AND PORTIONS OF THE STREET NECESSARY TO RECLAIM THE ORIGINAL PLAZA AREA OF THE ALAMO MISSION.
SO AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE MASTER PLAN IN MAY OF 2017, THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IMMEDIATELY STARTED THE PROCESS TO SELECT AN INTERPRETIVE DESIGN TEAM THAT WOULD DEVELOP THE PLAN FOR THE ALAMO AND DESIGN THE PLAZA AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT DETAILS WITH REGARD TO THE DESIGN OF THE RESTORATION AND THE PLAZA AREA, AND WE TOOK ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS AND THEY ARE BEING CONSIDERED AS WE WORK WITH THE INTERPRETIVE DESIGN TEAM.
BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2017 THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED THE SELECTION OF PGAV DESTINATIONS TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE PLAN AS WELL AS THE DESIGN OF ALAMO PLAZA.
FOR SIMPLIFICATION PURPOSES IN DISCUSSION TODAY, THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE OWNS THE ALAMO AND THE BUILDINGS ON THE ACTUAL ALAMO PROPERTY, THE CHURCH, THE LONG BARRACKS, THE VISITORS CENTER, AND WHERE THEY HAVE THE GIFT SHOP.
THERE'S ANOTHER MEETING ROOM ALSO IN THE AREA BEHIND THE ALAMO CHURCH ITSELF, AND THE CITY OWNS THE PLAZA IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO, AND OF COURSE THE STREET.
SO THAT'S THE DELINEATION BETWEEN THE OWNERSHIP.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DOUG REED WITH REED HILDEBRAND WHO'S HERE TODAY, AND JOHN CAPTAIN WITH PGAV.
WOULD YOU TWO STAND UP JUST SO THE COUNCIL KNOWS YOU'RE HERE THIS AFTERNOON? AND I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE
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DOUG MCDONALD, WHO'S HERE.HE'S THE CURRENT COWBOY AND MANAGER OF THE CEO AND MANAGER OF THE ALAMO AND OF COURSE HE IS HIRED BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE MASTER PLAN FIVE KEY CONCEPTS TO DEVELOP AN INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND DESIGN FOR THE ALAMO, THE MUSEUM AND DESIGN THE ALAMO PLAZA AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S B SESSION IS TO REFAMILIARIZE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 2017, AND FOR THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE A NEW DESIGN TEAM TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN.
THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN PROPOSES TO RE-IMAGINE THE ALAMO EXPERIENCE BY RECAPTURING THE HISTORIC FOOTPRINT OF THE MISSION BY RECLAIMING THE PLAZA COURTYARD TO CREATE A SENSE OF REVERENCE AND RESPECT, TO BUILD A WORLD-CLASS VISITORS CENTER AND MUSEUM, TO CREATE A SENSE OF ARRIVAL SO THAT WHEN YOU APPROACH THE ALAMO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, AND WE ARE CREATING THAT SENSE OF RESPECT, AND REINFORCING THE CONNECTIONS TO THE REST OF DOWNTOWN.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE, TO DO, TO MAKE IT PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBLE, OF COURSE, TO ALL OF DOWNTOWN.
SO THIS PROJECT IS PARTIALLY FUNDED, ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT TO PUT FUNDING TOGETHER.
THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE APPROVED 31.5 MILLION IN 2015, AND 75 MILLION IN THE 2017 SESSION FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE ALAMO AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.
THE CITY HAS COMMITTED 38 MILLION TO THE PROJECT TO DATE.
THE 2012 BOND PROGRAM INCLUDED 1 MILLION FOR THE ALAMO PLAZA, AND THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGETS FOR 2016 AND 2017 CAPITAL BUDGETS INCLUDED 16 MILLION FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAZA AREA.
THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $21 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE ALAMO AREA IMPROVEMENTS AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS IDENTIFIED IN THE JOINT MASTER PLAN THE ENDOWMENT IS COMMITTED TO RAISING PRIVATE FUNDS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN.
I WON'T SAY A NUMBER TODAY, BUT IT IS SUBSTANTIAL IN TERMS OF WHAT THE ALAMO ENDOWMENT AND IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THE PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO DATE.
SO WE'RE COUNTING ON THEM TO DO SUBSTANTIAL FUNDRAISING THROUGHOUT TEXAS AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THE DESIGN TEAM WILL RETURN TO COUNCIL, WILL SET UP ANOTHER B SESSION IN A FUTURE MEETING WITH DESIGN CONTRACT -- OR CONCEPTS FOR REVIEW AND ULTIMATELY CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER BY FORMAL ACTION THE STREET CLOSURE AND CONVEYANCE OR LICENSE OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY NECESSARY TO RECLAIM THE ORIGINAL PLAZA AREA.
I WANT TO STRESS THAT IT IS THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN THESE FIVE KEY CONCEPTS THAT ARE DRIVING THE DESIGN PROCESS.
COUNCILMAN TREVINO IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE WORKING ON THIS AS WELL.
I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT SECURITY, PARADES OR ANY ONE PARTICULAR STORY IS NOT DRIVING THE DESIGN PHASE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE NEARLY 300 YEARS OF THE ALAMO'S HISTORY TO INTERPRET THAT STORY FOR ALL OF OUR VISITORS.
SO A PART OF THE PRESENTATION TODAY ALSO INCLUDES LORI HOUSTON, AND SHE'S GOING TO RESUMMARIZE AND GO INTO THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL LAST MAY, AND BEFORE SHE COMES TO THE PODIUM I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
WE'VE SPENT, I WOULD SAY, HUNDREDS OF HOURS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND FOLLOWING THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE KEY CONCEPTS AND IDEAS AS WE WORK ON THE DESIGN FOR THE RESTORATION AND RE-IMAGINATION OF THE ALAMO.
SO WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, SHERYL, AND I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS COMMITTEE AND AS WELL AS THE ALAMO CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE TRI-CHAIRS.
SHERYL MENTIONED THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IDENTIFIED THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES DEVELOPED BY THE ALAMO CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MASTER PLAN.
THE COMMITTEE INCLUDES TEN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY EACH OF OUR TEN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND SIX MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
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ALONGSIDE MAURICE MCDERMOTT AND SUE ANN P PEMBERTON.COMMITTEE WAS FORMED IN 2014 AND MET A TOTAL OF 18 TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH EXPERTS, HISTORIANS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DEVELOP THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE ALAMO AREA.
B, TELL THE STORY OF THE 1836 BATTLE OF THE ALAMO.
C, THE ALAMO AREA IS A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE, HONOR AND RESPECT, AND D, THE ALAMO AREA EXPERIENCE HAS EVOLVED OVER MORE THAN 300 YEARS AND CONTINUES TO BE A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE.
THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ADDRESS THE COMPLEX, COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO.
THE SIDE REPRESENTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE IN OUR HISTORY AND THE URBANIZATION OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE PLAN WILL HELP US TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL AND ENGAGING EXPERIENCE THAT PRESENTS THE DEEP AND INCLUSIVE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO AND THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS SURROUNDED IT.
THE SITE DESIGN AND INTERPRETATION WILL NEED TO BE INTEGRATED WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY SO VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE MANY LAYERS OF HISTORY OF THE ALAMO.
THE ALAMO CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THE INTERPRETIVE PLAN TEAM AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE PLAN.
THE COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT MET WITH DR. ANDRES TEJERINA HAD NOT A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION ON THE INCLUSIVE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO AND HOW THIS NEXT PHASE WILL USE THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
AS SHERYL MENTIONED -- BOTH SHERYL AND I BOTH SERVE ON THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE WORK OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS SERVED AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MASTER PLAN AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND SITE DESIGN.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS VENTURE AND KNOW THAT IT IS A PROCESS THAT HAS TAKEN MANY, MANY YEARS.
THERE'S BEEN MANY EFFORTS IN THE PAST, BEGINNING IN 1994, AND WE HAVE MEMBERS ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT REPRESENT THAT GROUP AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT I THINK WE WANT TO HAND OFF TO LORI TO TALK IN BRIEF SUMMARY ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE CURRENT MASTER PLAN UPDATES.
>> THANK YOU, SHERYL, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS BOTH SHERYL AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO MENTIONED I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 2017, PROVIDE A PRESENTATION ON OUR NEXT STEPS, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND BOTH DOUG MCDONALD, MYSELF OR SHERYL OR COUNCILMAN TREVINO WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO IN MAY OF 2017 MYSELF, ALONG WITH A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE WORK GROUP, PRESENTED THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
NOW, THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN INCLUDED FIVE KEY CONCEPTS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPT THAT IT ENDORSED WAS THE RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH AND THE LONG BARRACK.
THE MAY 2017 ACTION ALSO PROVIDED CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL OF A STREET CLOSURE OF ALAMO STREET FROM HOUSTON STREET TO COMMERCE AND LIMITING ITS USE TO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ONLY.
IT PROVIDED CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL OF CLOSING CROCKETT FROM LA SOYA TO BONHAM AS WELL AS CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL OF REPAIRING AND RELOCATING THE CENETAF, AND CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL OF THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PORTIONS OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AND PLAZA NECESSARY TO RECAPTURE THE HISTORIC PLAZA, AND FINALLY AN EXTENSION OF THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WHERE ALL PARTIES AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER THROUGH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF THE ALAMO PROJECT.
NOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT THAT IS BEING USED AS WE RE-IMAGINE THE ALAMO IS THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WAS CREATED BY THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND THAT DOCUMENT STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING LOCALS AND TOURISTS, ENGAGES ALL AGES, CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND REPRESENTING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE ALAMO.
IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT TELLING THE STORY OF THE BATTLE AND HOW IT IMPACTED US LOCALLY, STATEWIDE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
IT STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERPRETING ALL THE CULTURES THAT LIVED IN THIS SITE, FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION IN 1724 TO PRESENT DAY, AND TELLING THE IN-DEPTH STORY OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED AT THE SITE, DIED AT THE SITE AND FOUGHT AT THE SITE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS VISION STRESSES IS
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TELLING THE ENTIRE STORY AND NOT FOCUSING ON ONE BUT IN TELLING THE ENTIRE 300 HISTORY OF THIS SITE.IT HAS SEVERAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WE LOOK TO AS WE'RE WORKING ON THE MASTER PLAN AND THE DESIGN.
ONCE AGAIN FOCUSING ON THE ENTIRE HISTORY, BUT ALSO WORKING IN UNIFIED LEADERSHIP.
SHERYL REFERENCED THAT THE OWNERSHIP OF THE ALAMO AREA IS FRACTURED.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OWNS THE PLAZA, THE STATE OF TEXAS OWNS THE ALAMO AND THE LONG BARRACK, AND THEN THEY OWN THE BUILDINGS ACROSS FROM THE PLAZA.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE UNIFIED LEADERSHIP AS WE MAKE -- WE INTERPRET THIS SITE INTO A WORLD-CLASS EXPERIENCE.
ANY PRESERVATION INTERPRETATION OF THE SITE NEEDS TO BE BASED ON HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE, BUT THERE IS ROOM FOR MYTH AND SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT BALANCE.
WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE A WORLD-CLASS VISITOR EXPERIENCE SO ANY DESIGN ELEMENT, WE WILL LOOK TO THAT TO MAKE SURE IT ADDS VALUE TO THAT EXPERIENCE.
WE MUST EMBRACE THE CONTINUUM OF HISTORY AND FINALLY CONNECT THE SITE TO OTHER ASSETS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE ALAMO IS A MISSION, AND IT BELONGS WITH FOUR OTHER MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH ARE COLLECTIVELY THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
SO MAKE SURE WE CONNECT IT TO THE WORLD HERITAGE DESIGNATION, BUT ALSO CONNECT IT TO THE CATHEDRAL THAT WAS BUILT IN 1731, TO HEMISPHERE WHICH WAS THE FARMLANDS FOR THE MISSION, TO LA VILLITA WHICH WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD BOTH PRE AND POST THE BATTLE AS WELL AS MARKET SQUARE AND SEVERAL OTHER AMENITIES WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN, BUT ALL OF THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES WILL GUIDE US AS WE DESIGN AND INTERPRET THE SITE.
AND FINALLY IT HAS SEVERAL INTERPRETIVE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
WE MUST LOOK AT THE EVOLUTION OF SETTLEMENTS AND CULTURES, TELL THE STORY OF THE BATTLE, REMEMBER THAT THE AREA IS A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE, HONOR AND RESPECT, AND THAT IT HAS EVOLVED OVER 300 YEARS.
SO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THE VISION AND THESE THEMES IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL THAT PGAV AND CULTURAL INNOVATIONS AND REED HILDEBRAND WILL BE USING AS THEY DESIGN THE SITE.
NOW, THE MASTER PLAN INCLUDED FIVE KEY CONCEPTS, AND I'M GOING TO GO OVER THEM EACH INDIVIDUALLY, BUT FIRST RESTORE THE CHURCH AND LONG BARRACK.
SECOND, DELINEATE THE FOOTPRINT, THIRD, RECAPTURE THE HISTORIC PLAZA, FOURTH, CREATE A WORLD-CLASS MUSEUM WITH THE THREE BUILDINGS THAT THE GLO PURCHASED; AND FIFTH, CREATE THAT CONNECTIVITY AND SENSE OF PLACE TO THE SITE.
THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT, AND AS COUNCILMAN TREVINO LIKES TO SAY, WE MUST STABILIZE THE PATIENT.
THE BUILDING NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
BECAUSE OF THE SEDIMENT AND THE LAYERS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST 300 YEARS, YOU HAVE MOISTURE THAT'S BEING TRAPPED IN THOSE WALLS.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF DECAY HAPPENING TO THE STONE, AND YOU HAVE VIBRATIONS FROM THE TRAFFIC ALONG ALAMO STREET, AND THAT IS CAUSING THE CHURCH AND LONG BARRACK TO HAVE SOME MAJOR PRESERVATION ISSUES.
SO THE NUMBER ONE ITEM IN THIS MASTER PLAN IS TO RESTORE THE CHURCH AND LONG BARRACK, AND HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE EXTERIOR SHOWING THE DECAY ON THE ROCK AND STONE OF THE CHURCH AND SHOWING SOME OF THE WATER IMPACT, AND THEN HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE INTERIOR, SO IF YOU WERE TO GO IN THE ALAMO TODAY YOU'LL SEE BLACK PIECES OF PAPER ON THE FLOOR, AND YOU'LL SEE THE STONE IS CRUMBLING.
THAT IS OCCURRING DAILY, AND ANYTIME THAT THERE ARE VIBRATIONS ON THE STREET IT CONTINUES TO CRUMBLE.
AND SO THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING THAT CAME THROUGH THE STATE THIS PAST SESSION WILL GO TO THIS PRESERVATION EFFORT OF THE CHURCH AND LONG BARRACK.
SO YOU WILL A LITTLE BIT TO THE NORTH GOING INTO THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.
YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO THE WEST GOING TEN FEET INTO THOSE BUILDINGS.
TO THE EAST YOU HAVE IT GOING DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ALAMO AND THE LONG BARRACK, AND TO THE SOUTH IT'S -- IT'S REAL NEAR THE GAZEBO AREA, SO THAT IS THE ACTUAL HISTORIC FOOTPRINT.
BUT IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO THE ALAMO TODAY AND YOU GO INTO THE BACK OF THE ALAMO, YOU GO INTO AN AREA WE REFER TO AS THE 1936 GARDEN.
THAT GARDEN IS SURROUNDED BY ROCK WALLS, AND IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION TO THE VISITOR THAT THAT WAS ORIGINAL TO THE SITE, AND THAT WAS ADDED IN 1936.
BUT THAT IS WHERE THEY DO ALL THEIR PROGRAMMING, WHETHER IT BE THE COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, THE LIVING HISTORY REENACTMENTS OR THE GUN CLEANING.
SO THEY DO A LOT OF PROGRAMMING IN THE BACK FOCUSED ON 1836, AND TO THE
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VISITOR THEY THINK IT'S ORIGINAL TO THE SITE.SO ONE OF THE PLANS WE HAVE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO REESTABLISH THIS CLARITY IS TO REMOVE THAT ROCK WALL AND REPLACE IT WITH A MORE WELCOMING GATE OR FENCE, SO THERE'S HIGH CONTRAST BETWEEN THE ACTUAL CHURCH AND THAT WALL, SO YOU DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ACTUALLY ORIGINAL TO THE SITE.
AND WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF DELINEATION OF THE ACTUAL FOOTPRINT, SO WHEN YOU STEP ON TO HOUSTON STREET OR YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THOSE BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY ON THE HISTORIC MISSION PLAZA OR THE BATTLEFIELD, BUT THERE REALLY IS NO VISUAL CUE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE ON THE SACRED PLACE.
THE THIRD ITEM IN THE MASTER PLAN IS TO RECAPTURE THE HISTORIC MISSION PLAZA.
WE FEEL THAT THIS PLAZA NEEDS TO BE RECAPTURED SO WE CAN MAKE AN EXTENSION OF THE MUSEUM IN THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN.
WE WANT THIS PLAZA TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE DO THE PROGRAMMING, SO THE PROGRAMMING THAT YOU SEE IN THE 1936 GARDEN SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE PLAZA, WHICH WILL BE TREATED AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MUSEUM.
AND ALSO THE PROGRAMMING SHOULD BE DIVERSE, SO RIGHT NOW THAT PROGRAMMING IS FOCUSED ON THE 1836 BATTLE, BUT WE CAN DIVERSIFY IT THROUGH OTHER PROGRAMMING, PERHAPS BRINGING BACK THE CHILI QUEENS OR DOING OTHER EDUCATION THAT SPEAKS TO THE ENTIRE 300 YEARS ON THIS SITE.
NOW, WE ALSO FEEL THAT WITH THE MISSION PLAZA THERE WAS AN ACEQUIA, SO WE WANT TO DO A BETTER INTERPRETATION OF THAT ACEQUIA.
SO IF YOU ARE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE ATTRACTIONS, THERE IS A BLUE-GREYSTONE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER PAYMENT.
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE ACEQUIA, BUT OUR THOUGHT IS TO BRING BACK WATER INTO THE SITE SO WE CAN RECAPTURE THAT PLAZA EXPERIENCE.
NOW, TO RECAPTURE THE PLAZA EXPERIENCE WE ARE PROPOSING TO REPAIR AND RELOCATE THE CENOTAPH.
FIRST I WANT TO MENTION THE REPAIR.
WE HAVE TO REPAIR THE CENOTAPH.
IT'S A STEEL IRON BASE INSIDE.
THERE IS SOME DECAY FROM WITHIN.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE SCULPTURE THERE ARE ORNAMENTAL FEATURES THAT ARE MISSING, AND SO WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IT APART AND DO A COMPLETE RESTORATION AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
NOW, WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING TO RELOCATE IT, BUT RELOCATING IT TO A SITE WITHIN CONTEXT AND WITHIN THE AREA.
SO THE CENOTAPH, IT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE A PLACE FOR REMEMBRANCE AND TO HONOR, BUT WE ARE PROPOSING THAT IT BE RELOCATED WITHIN THAT AREA.
ANOTHER STRATEGY TO RECAPTURE THE PLAZA IS THE CLOSURE OF THE STREET, AND SO THE AREA OF ALAMO BETWEEN HOUSTON STREET AND MARKET STREET WE ARE PROPOSING TO CLOSE THAT AREA, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE HISTORIC PLAZA, WHERE THE -- OR THE BATTLEFIELD.
SO WE WANT TO RECAPTURE THAT, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CREATE THAT EXTENSION OF THE MUSEUM THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER, SO WE COULD DO MORE PROGRAMMING IN THE SITE, AND THEN ALSO AS A PRESERVATION STRATEGY TO THE CHURCH AND LONG BARRACK.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE STREET TRAFFIC, THE BUSES, THE CARS ARE CAUSING VIBRATIONS THAT ARE CAUSING SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE STREET, WITH THE LONG BARRACK AND THE CHURCH.
AND WE DO HAVE GINA DAWSON WITH PAPE-DAWSON HERE AND PAPE-DAWSON DID OUR STREET CLOSURE ANALYSIS AND WE KNOW IF WE WERE TO CLOSE THIS SECTION OF THE STREET, YES, THRLTD BE A DELAY -- THERE WOULD BE A DELAY BUT IT WOULD BE LESS THAN A MINUTE AND WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL THE TRAFFIC THAT WOULD BE GOING THROUGH THIS SITE.
WE DID THIS ANALYSIS WITH THE SUMS THAT THE 2017 -- ASSUMPTION THAT THE 2017 BOND PROJECTS WERE COMPLETE, AND SO LOOKING IN THE FUTURE, IF WE CLOSE THE STREET AND PATTERNING IT BASED ON WHERE PEOPLE WOULD DRIVE, THEY MIGHT TAKE NAVARRO, THEY MIGHT TAKE BONHAM, WE KNOW THE DELAYS WILL BE LESS THAN A MINUTE BUT IT CAN STILL ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC AND THERE IS CAPACITY.
THE FOURTH CONCEPT IS TO REPURPOSE THE THREE BUILDINGS THAT THE GLO PURCHASED, WHICH INCLUDE THE WOOL WORLT, CROCKETT AND PALACE BUILDING.
THOSE BUILDINGS SERVE AS 135-SQUARE-FOOT MUSEUM.
IT WILL EXTEND BEYOND THE WALLS OF THAT MUSEUM ON TO THE PLAZA.
WE HAVE LIVING HISTORY OPPORTUNITIES, SO IF YOU GO OUT TO THE PLAZA ON A SATURDAY, SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE THE LIVING HISTORY ASSOCIATION ON THE PLAZA, MOST OF THE TIME YOU'LL SEE THEM IN THE BACK IN THE 1936 GARDEN, BUT WE WANT THIS SPACE TO BE ACTIVATED AT ALL TIMES.
AND THE LAST CONCEPT OF THE MASTER PLAN -- THAT THE MASTER PLAN ENDORSED WAS TO CREATE A SENSE OF ARRIVAL AND ENHANCE THE CONNECTIVITY
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TO OTHER SITES.AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE TRAVELING ON HOUSTON STREET AND THEY'RE HEADING EAST, THAT THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
MAYBE THE RETAIL MIX CHANGES, MAYBE IT'S MORE OF A PASSIVE FEEL, BUT THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO THE ALAMO.
RIGHT NOW IF YOU'RE HEADING DOWN COMMERCE, IF YOU'RE HEADING EAST, I GET STOPPED BY TOURISTS ALL THE TIME ASKING ME WHERE THE ALAMO IS, AND THEY'RE KIND OF SKEPTICAL WHEN I SAY TAKE A LEFT AT THAT ORANGE-RED TORCH, BECAUSE THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY SIGN OR WAYFINDING TO TELL THAT YOU THE ALAMO IS IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO WE NEED TO REALLY ENHANCE THAT SENSE OF ARRIVAL SO WHEN YOU GET TO THAT SPOT ON ALAMO AND YOU'RE HEADING NORTH, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE COMING UP ON A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.
BUT THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY LET'S CREATE THAT CONNECTIVITY.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE TELLING THE SPHWIR STORY.
THE STORY DOESN'T ALL OCCUR ON THIS SITE.
THE SORRY IS BEYOND THIS SITE.
WE HAVE THE FUNERAL PYRES THAT ARE ON THE RIVER OVER NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, HEMISFAIR, THE FARM FEELS FOR THE MISSION.
YOU HAVE LA VI VILLITA, YOU HAVE MAIN PLAZA, YOU HAVE MARKET SQUARE.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE CONNECTING THIS SITE TO EVERYTHING IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WORKING COMMUNITY.
IT WAS CALLED BEXAR AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE, BUT PEOPLE LIVED IN THIS AREA, AND THEY WEREN'T ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE BATTLE.
AND THEN CREATING THAT SENSE OF ARRIVAL AND ENHANCING PARK SPACE, AND SO WE WANT THIS AREA TO CONTINUE TO BE A SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GATHER, SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO CLOSE CROCKETT STREET FROM LA SOYA TO ALAMO, AND CREATING MORE PLAZA SPACE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GATHER AND BE OUTSIDE THE WALLS FOR THE ACTUAL DELINEATION OF THAT FOOTPRINT OF THE ALAMO, AND BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE TIME AND MORE SPACE TO GATHER.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S ABOUT THREE ACRES OF PUBLIC SPACE.
THE STREET CLOSURES WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND THAT TO ABOUT NINE ACRES, SO WE'LL HAVE MORE SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, IF WE IMPLEMENT THESE FIVE KEY CONCEPTS AND PGAV AND REED HILDEBRAND AND CULTURAL RENOVATIONS DO A GREAT JOB ON THE DESIGN WE WILL HAVE THE WORLD-CLASS SPACE THAT WE'VE WANTED.
I'VE MENTIONED THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GATHER, GOES FROM THREE ACRES TO NINE ACRES.
THE ALAMO WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN A SPACE FOR COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS, FOR CEREMONIES, FOR PARADES AND CELEBRATIONS.
IT WILL BE WELCOMING AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND ADA COMPLIANT AND IT WILL CONNECT TO OTHER AREAS IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
WE ADOPTED THIS PLAN IN MAY OF 2017 AND THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IMMEDIATELY WENT FORWARD WITH SOLICITING AN INTERPRETIVE PLANNING TEAM TO HELP US WITH THIS INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND DESIGN FOR THE ALAMO PLAZA AREA.
SO IN AUGUST OF 2017 THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE ISSUED AN RFQ FOR FIRMS TO RESPOND TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE PLAN FOR THE SITE.
WE HAD SEVEN FIRMS WHO RESPONDED TO THE RFQ.
ALL SEVEN FIRMS WERE FROM NEW YORK, VIRGINIA, MISSOURI OR THE UNITED KINGDOM.
AND THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE INTERVIEWED FOUR, AND IN -- IN 2017 WE SELECTED PGAV DESTINATIONS OUT OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REED HILDEBRAND OUT OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS AND CULTURAL INNOVATIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
WE FEEL THIS IS THE DREAM TEAM TO TAKE US TO THAT NEXT PHASE TO HELP US INTERPRET THE ENTIRE 300 YEARS OF HISTORY AND CREATE A DESIGN THAT HONORS ALL OF THOSE STORIES.
NOW, OUR NEXT STEP IS REALLY WE ARE IN LISTENING MODE, AND SO AS SHERYL MENTIONED, DOUG AND JOHN ARE HERE TO REALLY LISTEN TO OUR COMMENTS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH OUR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE IDEAS THEY HAVE.
NOW, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE TEAM WILL BE WORKING ON CONCEPTS, AND THEY'LL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AND WE'LL PRESENT THOSE IN A B SESSION TO CITY COUNCIL.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND MORE PUBLIC INPUT, AND THEN ONCE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE AND THE MANAGEMENT HAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR A DESIGN CONCEPT, THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE STREET CLOSURES AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL CONVEYANCE OR LICENSING OF THAT PORTION OF ALAMO AND THE PLAZA THAT ARE NECESSARY TO RECAPTURE THE PLAZA.
AND SO I WANT TO STRESS THAT WE REALLY ARE IN THE BEGINNING STAGE.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THE FOUNDATION OF THIS IS THE VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS
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PRESENTED AND DEVELOPED, AND WE ARE IN LISTENING MODE, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL BE COMING BACK IN THE FUTURE WITH DESIGN CONCEPTS FOR MORE COMMENT.COUNCILMAN, DO YOU WANT TO WRAP THIS UP OR GO STRAIGHT --
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THIS.
I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK AHEAD, AND AS LORI MENTIONED, I WANT TO THANK THE NEW INTERPRETIVE TEAM FOR SPENDING TIME IN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST STATEMENTS THEY MADE WAS HOW MUCH THEY WANTED TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND GET TO -- GET TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND REALLY DIVE DEEP INTO -- INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS A PROCESS WHICH REQUIRES US TO BE AS DEFINITIVE AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE'LL GO AS SLOW AS WE MUST.
WE HAVE A GOAL BUT NOT A DEADLINE, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO STATE.
WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD COLLABORATIVELY.
I WANT TO THANK THE GLO, THE ALAMO ENDOWMENTS AND THE DESIGN TEAM WORKING VERY HARD AS WELL AS DOUG MCDONALD OF THE ALAMO FOR ALL THE HARD.
WE'VE PUT IN SOME -- HARD WORK.
WE'VE BEEN AS METHODICAL AS WE CAN, WE'VE BEEN INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE ISSUES SO THAT WE CAN BRING FORTH A THOUGHTFUL AND MEANINGFUL PROJECT THAT IS GOOD FOR US ALL.
AND WE'RE HERE FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
PART THAT'S INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THIS FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES IS A SITE THAT BELONGS TO NOT ONLY THE STATE OF TEXAS BUT HAS BELONGED TO SAN ANTONIO CITIZENS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
WE'VE EXPERIENCED IT AS PART OF OUR CIVIC LIFE AND WE'VE APPRECIATED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT, BECAUSE IT IS THE CRADLE OF TEXAS LIBERTY AND IT HAS SO MUCH HISTORY AND CONFLUENCE OF CULTURES THAT HAVE COME AND GONE THROUGH THE ALAMO.
WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS MAKING SURE, AND THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP THAT I THINK IS UNPRECEDENTED BETWEEN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE RESPECT BOTH OF THOSE HISTORIES, THAT IT STILL REMAINS AN OPEN AND PUBLIC SPACE WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT THAT ALSO WE ACHIEVE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH REGARD TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AND THAT IS REVERENCE OF THE SITE, SUSTAINABILITY, STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND SO FORTH.
THAT, OF COURSE -- THERE'S NOT -- THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS THERE WILL BE A NATURAL TENSION FROM START TO FINISH ON THAT.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE DESIGN DOESN'T GET IMPLEMENTED UNTIL WE ALL AGREE AROUND THIS DAIS THAT IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CONVEYANCE OF THE LAND AND THE STREET OCCURS.
I'M NOT SURE WHO TO ASK, MAYBE SHERYL, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THAT? AND AS IT RELATES TO ACTUALLY GETTING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE DESIGN ITSELF, WHEN DOES THAT BECOME AVAILABLE?
>> I'LL LET PERHAPS ONE OF THE DESIGNERS -- WE'RE MEETING REGULARLY NOW ON CONCEPTS AND GIVING THEM DIRECTIONS.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET AGAIN TODAY.
COUNCILMAN TREVINO WAS MEETING WITH THEM, I THINK IT WAS TODAY OR YESTERDAY.
AND SO THE PUBLIC INPUT IS REGULAR.
AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEAS.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO COME BACK AND PRESENT TO YOU IN MAY BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THE DESIGN IN JUNE, SO ONCE THE DESIGNERS HAVE CONCEPTS DEVELOPED, THEN THOSE WILL BE OBVIOUSLY PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
WE HAVE PARTICIPATED -- WE'VE HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST A DOZEN PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH HUNDREDS, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THOSE MEETINGS SO FAR, AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS MEETING REGULARLY, AND THOSE ARE THE DESIGNEES FROM ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.
BUT AS FAR AS A DESIGN TO PRESENT THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THAT PORTION THAT THE CITY OWNS, WE'RE
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HOPEFUL, UNLESS YOU ALL CORRECT ME NOW, WE WERE SHOOTING FOR SOMETHING IN MAY.THAT MAY FALL INTO JUNE, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL OF THAT, AND THEN COUNCIL, IF WE CAN, IN JUNE BEFORE YOUR SUMMER RECESS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND WHAT IS THE -- THERE IS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR APPOINT TO HELP PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE DESIGN PROCESS.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN THE ADVISORY MEMBERS CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD, ALLAY THEIR CONCERNS, AND ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY BEING HEARD BUT THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED BY THE DESIGN COMMITTEE?
>> I'LL DEFER TO COUNCILMAN TREVINO TO ANSWER THAT SINCE HE IS ONE OF THE TRI-CHAIRS OF THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, SHERYL, AND I'LL JUST PICK UP ON THAT.
WE HAVE THE TRI-CHAIRS, WHICH INCLUDES MYSELF, MAURICE MCDERMOTT AND SUE ANN PEMBERTON.
WE HOSTED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
WE HAD DR. TEJERINA COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT A LOT OF THE HISTORY AROUND THE MISSION OF SAN ANTONIO VALERO, KNOWN AS THE ALAMO, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE -- WE ARE SLATED FOR MORE MEETINGS AS NEEDED TO UPDATE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE FEEL THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER, AND AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE -- FROM THE DESIGN TEAM, THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL DISSEMINATE SOME OF THE -- SOME OF THE INFORMATION OVER THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE HOPEFUL INTENTION IS THAT THE APPOINTEES WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND FEELINGS REGARDING WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED.
WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS WELL, AND I THINK THAT LAST NIGHT'S MEETING WENT VERY WELL.
I THINK EVERYBODY WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE COMMITMENT TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AND A LOT OF -- A LOT OF QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND ANSWERED LAST NIGHT, AND WE'LL BE HAVING MANY MORE MEETINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY, GREAT, BECAUSE THAT IS AN AREA OF SENSITIVITY, OBVIOUSLY, IF ANYBODY HAS BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS SAGA, IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THEIR VOICES HEARD LOCALLY, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT THE GLO WILL BE DOING SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, BUT THIS IS IN OUR BACKYARD AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AS WELL IN THE PROCESS.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME HIGH POINTS IN THE TENSION.
THE CENOTAPH BEING ONE OF THEM.
GLASS WALLS THAT WERE A PART OF THE DESIGN THAT HAD -- THE DRAWINGS THAT WERE -- THE RENDERINGS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE DRAWN MORE FIRE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
TELL US WHERE ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, AND HAVE WE GOTTEN RID OF THE GLASS WALLS?
>> TREVINO: I CAN ANSWER THAT.
I THINK THAT IT'S -- THERE'S SOME DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT -- BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN A DESIGN PHASE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TACKLING THIS IN TERMS OF HOW WE APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN CONCEPT AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE AS MUCH OF A -- OF AN OPEN SPACE FOR THE DESIGN TEAM TO RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS.
SO THEY'VE LISTENED TO THE CONCERNS REGARDING THE CENOTAPH.
AS LORI MENTIONED, THE CENOTAPH NEEDS SERIOUS REPAIR.
IT IS DETERIORATING, AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SERIOUS TO REPAIR THAT, AND TO REPAIR THAT REQUIRES CAREFUL DISMANTLING SO THAT WE CAN REBUILD THE SUPERSTRUCTURE AS PART OF THE PROCESS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MASTER PLAN, WE TALKED ABOUT A BETTER LOCATION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE MASTER PLAN, OR THE MISSION FOOTPRINT TO BE BETTER IDENTIFIED SO THAT THE CENOTAPH HAS DIFFERENT RELATIONS FOR LOCATION -- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE LOCATION AND THE DESIGN TEAM IS WORKING ON PRESENTING THAT TO ALL OF US IN TERMS OF WHERE IS A LOCATION THAT IS STILL WITHIN THE SITE, THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF THE EXPERIENCE AT THE ALAMO.
BUT AS THE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDED, WE WANT TO RECAPTURE THE SPACE THAT IS THE MISSION, AND AS WE LIKE TO SAY NOW, THE ALAMO IS NOT A BUILDING, IT'S A PLACE.
AND SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RECAPTURE THAT PLACE.
AND THE STREET CLOSURE ALSO SPEAKS TO THAT BECAUSE PART OF THE STREET IS ACTUALLY THE MISSION SITE ITSELF, AND PART OF SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER AND PART OF THE ORIGINAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND VISION
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PRODUCED, WHICH IS IT IS ALSO A LARGE BURIAL SITE.SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS CAREFUL AND REVERENT OF THE SITE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD METHODICALLY WITH A DESIGN THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND HARD WORK THAT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CENOTAPH ITSELF HAS BECOME EXTRAORDINARILY CONTROVERSIAL, I THINK, WITHOUT RESPECT TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, WHICH AGREE THAT DOING NOTHING WITH THE CENOTAPH IS NOT AN OPTION.
IT WILL CRUMBLE BEFORE US AND THAT WOULD BE THE WORST OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE RESTORE IT AND RESTORE IT TO A PLACE OF SANCTITY AND REVERENCE AND HONOR, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE INTENTION OF THE DESIGN COMMITTEE.
I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION WE PROVIDE THE BETTER ON THAT FRONT.
YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE THAT WE LEAVE IT THERE OR THAT WE MOVE IT SOMEWHERE, BUT EVERYONE WILL AGREE THAT IT HAS TO BE RESTORED AND IT HAS TO BE RESTORED TO HONOR.
THE LAST THING, AND THIS IS MORE GENE'S DEPARTMENT, ABOUT THE STREETS, THAT IS ONE THAT CAUSES THE MOST LOCAL ANGST.
GENE, YOU'VE DONE A STREET SURVEY TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS OF THE CLOSURE.
IS THERE A PLACE WHERE CITIZENS' BUSINESSES COULD REVIEW THAT AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE THEMSELVES?
WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT PLAN, AND I THINK AS WE ROLL OUT THE NEXT PHASE OF THE MASTER PLAN WITH EVERY PRESENTATION THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION ON THAT STREET CLOSURE, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT NOT ONLY CAPACITY BUT CONNECTIVITY.
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THERE.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE CONNECTIVITY MAINLY NORTH-SOUTH IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND SO I THINK AS THE MASTER PLAN EVOLVES, EACH OF THE PRESENTATIONS WILL ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.
>> WHAT I'D ADD TO THAT IS THAT WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE CITY'S WEB SITE OR THE WEB SITE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.
AND MIGHT I ALSO SUGGEST, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS PART OF THE FIRMS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR DESIGN, ANYONE -- SO ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT THAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN IS HEMISFAIR.
IF ANYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE VIRTUAL REALITY TOUR OF HEMISFAIR SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT'S COMPLETE, THE ARGUMENTS ABOUT PUBLIC SPACE AND IT BEING TAKEN AWAY AS OPPOSED TO GIVEN BACK TO THE PUBLIC FADE AWAY.
WHEN WE HAVE AN INTERPRETIVE DESIGN THAT IS TRUE TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THAT MEETS THE DEMANDS OF THE PUBLIC, BOTH HERE AND ELSEWHERE IN TEXAS, THAT WE CAN EXPERIENCE BY ACTUALLY LOOKING AT IT TO SEE WHERE WE CAN HONOR THE CENOTAPH AND SEE WHERE WE CAN ASSEMBLE AS A PUBLIC OR SEE WHERE WE CAN WALK THROUGH AS PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVE OUR CARS AROUND, THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD WAY OF PUTTING SOME OF THE CONTROVERSY THAT'S NOT POLITICAL TO REST.
>> TREVINO: WELL, I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT, MAYOR, JUST TO POINT OUT, IT'S A GREAT -- GREAT TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE DEPLOYING EVERY TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO MAKE THAT SO, AND SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE AS ROBUST OF REPRESENTATION 3D MODELING, ANIMATION MOVING FORWARD TO REPRESENT ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW DEFINITIVELY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS SPACE.
AND AGAIN, KUDOS TO THE TEAMS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING UNDER A LOT OF SCRUTINY AND CRITICISM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS NOW AND THE POINT OF ALL THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ALAMO IS PERPETUAL, THAT THE STORIES ARE, THAT THE SITE IS AND THAT IT REMAINS A PART OF CIVIC LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR TEXAS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO COME, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOW THIS MOVES ALONG.
LORI, YEAH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ATTENDING THIS.
DURING THIS PROCESS, AND MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE GLO'S PLAN AND OUR PLAN FOR GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S A PART OF OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT IT'S NOT A SAN ANTONIO SHRINE.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT WORD OUT TO THE REST OF TEXAS AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET THEIR INPUT INTO THE PROCESS DURING THIS DESIGN PROCESS?
>> I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE COUNCILMAN TREVINO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
HE'S BEEN WORKING ON CREATING A PRESENTATION THAT GOES OUT TO OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS TO HELP WITH THAT
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INPUT.>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, LORI, AND I CAN ANSWER THAT.
ACTUALLY DOUG AND THE DESIGN TEAM IS WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT WE CALL A ROAD SHOW.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO ALL CORNERS OF TEXAS TO -- TO PRESENT THE PROJECT, TO TALK TO PEOPLE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS -- THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS SO THERE IS A REAL INTENTION TO GET OUT AND PRESENT THIS TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITIES OUT IN TEXAS.
ONE OF THEM WILL BE THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, MCALLEN, TEXAS, WILL SEE IT SOON AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO MAKE.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE GET OUT THERE AND COMMUNICATE THE PROCESS AND THE PROGRESS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO ON A PROJECT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL TEXANS.
>> PERRY: OKAY, THANK YOU, SIR.
>> AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD, AS WE GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS, WHEN WE HAVE DESIGN CONCEPTS TO PRESENT, JUST LIKE WE DID THE FIRST ROUND WITH THE MASTER PLAN, WE PUT THOSE ON-LINE, WE DID VIDEOS OF ALL OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SOLICITED COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE FACILITY TO BE AT THE PUBLIC MEETING.
YOU COULD PARTICIPATE BY WATCHING ON-LINE AS WELL.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF COMMENTS WE GET OUTSIDE OF THESE SPECIAL COMMITTEES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND TO BE A PART OF THAT DESIGN PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, IT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT, AND I GUESS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, THAT THIS HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR 30 YEARS, THAT THIS WASN'T DELAYED A LITTLE BIT TO LET THE NEW INCOMING COUNCIL BE A PART OF THAT PLANNING DOCUMENT, NUMBER ONE.
AND SO THAT WE'RE MORE PREPARED FOR THIS NEXT PHASE, WHICH IS A DESIGN PHASE, AND AS I SEE IT, RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THAT BOOK AT THIS POINT IS JUST A PLANNING DOCUMENT.
NOTHING IS APPROVED UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS.
SO THE STREET CLOSURES, RELOCATING THE CENOTAPH, ALL OF THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW -- IT WAS APPROVED AS A CONCEPT.
SO NOTHING IS SET IN STONE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT ALL IS GOING TO BE FLESHED OUT DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS, AND GETTING THAT FEEDBACK FROM ALL THE COMMUNITIES TO EITHER AGREE OR DISAGREE OR GET THE COMMENTS IN TO THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THEM TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION FOR FOLKS TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND MAKE COMMENTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO -- YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, I'M HEARING IN THIS MEETING IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE THINGS LIKE IT'S A DONE DEAL.
WELL, I DON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
IT'S JUST CONCEPTS AT THIS POINT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND OFFER ALTERNATIVES, THAT KIND OF THING, TO GO TO THE FINAL DESIGN DURING THIS PROCESS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SHERYL WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE PROCESS.
30 YEARS, NOT -- WE HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR 30 YEARS.
I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR WAS REFERRING TO IS THAT OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE AND RE-IMAGINE THE ALAMO THAT NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND.
THIS CURRENT ARRANGEMENT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE -- WE'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR, AND HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLO.
AND I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE LAND COMMISSIONER AS WELL, GEORGE PEABUSH, THE LAND COMMISSIONER IS WORKING CLOSELY, IN FACT, THE POLICY COMMITTEE OF THIS EFFORT, OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, REPORTS TO THE MAYOR AND THE LAND COMMISSIONER.
THAT IS HOW THE AGREEMENT WAS STRUCTURED.
SO I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR PLAN OR THE CITY HAS FOR 30 YEARS BUT RATHER THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT OVER -- SINCE OCTOBER OF 2015, THAT'S WHAT OUR CURRENT EFFORT, AND THIS IS THE FARTHEST WE'VE EVER GOTTEN.
AND, IN FACT, THE GLO HAS ALREADY ACQUIRED -- JEFF GORDON IS HERE, THE GLO'S ATTORNEY, HAS ALREADY ACQUIRED THOSE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ALAMO, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THOSE BUSINESSES ON A RELOCATION PLAN, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO I -- I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND THE CURRENT EFFORT.
AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR THE ALAMO.
UNDER PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT THE RESTORATION JUST DIDN'T GET OFF THE GROUND AND THERE WASN'T STATE APPROPRIATION, NOR LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN
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THAT.SECONDLY, WITH REGARD TO A LOT OF IDEAS IN THE MASTER PLAN, I WILL SAY THAT THE DESIGNERS ARE DESIGNING BASED ON THE CONCEPTS THAT WERE APPROVED IN THE MASTER PLAN.
THAT'S -- WE HAVEN'T CONVEYED THE STREET OR THE PUBLIC SPACE, BUT THOSE CONCEPTS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN T THE MASTER PLAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO WORK WITH.
SO THE FIRST STEP WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTER PLAN, SO THE DESIGNERS ARE WORKING WITH THOSE CONCEPTS AS THEY DEVELOP DESIGNS.
THE ONLY OTHER ACTION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE THE STREET, AND I'LL DESCRIBE IT THIS WAY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE UNANIMITY OF AGREEMENT WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE DESIGN IS.
WE'VE HEARD EVERYTHING FROM DON'T DO A SINGLE THING TO CHANGE, DON'T EVEN RESTORE, JUST LEAVE IT EXACTLY THE WAY IT IS, TO ALL KINDS OF IDEAS, JUST -- AND SO HERE LOCALLY I THINK WE HAVE PERHAPS SOME DIFFERENT INTERESTS THAN THEY WILL HAVE IN FORT WORTH OR IN THE VALLEY.
THEIR INTERESTS ARE MORE ABOUT INTERPRETATION OF THE HISTORY, THE BATTLE ITSELF, AS WELL AS THE 300 YEARS OF HISTORY OF THE SITE, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF FEEDBACK WE'RE GETTING SO FAR.
SO BECAUSE PRIVATE DOLLARS WILL BE RAISED THROUGHOUT TEXAS, WE HAVE -- THIS IS A PRETTY COMPLICATED PROJECT.
WE HAVE -- USUALLY WE HAVE LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE POLICY DECISIONS THAT COUNCIL DEBATE AND DELIBERATE OVER.
IN THIS CASE WE HAVE THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS GIVING US INPUT INTO THIS PROCESS.
SO THE ROAD SHOW WILL BE ABOUT THOSE KEY CONCEPTS, AND THEN HERE LOCALLY WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW DO WE MANAGE THE AREA SURROUNDING THE ALAMO THAT IS TODAY PUBLICLY OWNED BY THE CITY.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT NOW.
I THINK MOST OF US BELIEVE THAT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND ALL THE VIBRATIONS, WE HAVE THESE SOPHISTICATED STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ABOUT WHAT THAT'S DOING TO THE ALAMO AS A HISTORIC STRUCTURE TODAY.
I THINK WE'VE CONCLUDED AS A TEAM, OUR TEAM, THAT, YES, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THERE, BUSES AND TRUCKS AND WE -- SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE ALAMO WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.
WE PLACED ON THE FLOOR SURROUNDING THE WALLS BLACK CONSTRUCTION PAPER, AS BASIC AS THAT SOUNDS, TO TAKE A LOOK AT, AND IT'S NEARLY COVERED, DOUG, RIGHT? JUST FROM WHAT HAS DETERIORATED FROM THE WALLS OVER THE PAST YEAR.
SO WE KNOW IT IS LITERALLY CRUMBLING AND THAT WE HAVE TO DO MORE, AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, THIS EFFORT REALLY BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2015, OUR CURRENT PLANNING, AND SECONDLY, WE ARE USING THE CONCEPTS FROM THE MASTER PLAN TO DEVELOP THE INTERPRETIVE DESIGN, AS WELL AS CONTINUING INPUT FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE STATEWIDE INPUT.
I LOOK AT THESE CONCEPTS AS NOT BEING IN STONE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THIS DESIGN PROCESS THEY WILL BE VETTED OUT, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE DONE OR NOT.
FOR EXAMPLE, RELOCATING -- RELOCATING THE CENOTAPH.
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE DONE BASED ON THE DESIGN PROCESS THAT WE'RE -- THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT THAT CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL AND CONCEPT YOU HAVE TO START AND BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ABSOLUTELY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU MIGHT FIND SOMETHING ELSE DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS AND GETTING INPUT NOT ONLY FROM SAN ANTONIO BUT FROM THE STATE AS WELL.
I THINK, LORI, ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID ORIGINALLY ON OUR LITTLE TOUR OF THE AREA IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DO IT RIGHT OR REALLY SCREW IT UP.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS OVER THE YEARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH A NUMBER OF VISITORS COMING IN HERE TO SAN ANTONIO TO SEE THE SHRINE.
THAT WAS ANOTHER QUESTION OF MINE.
HAVE WE -- DO WE HAVE A DATABASE OR ANYTHING OUT THERE ON VISITOR COMMENTS -- OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE THAT SUMMARIZED AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
WHAT KIND OF COMMENTS ARE WE GETTING FROM VISITORS COMING TO SAN ANTONIO ON THAT?
[00:55:02]
YOU KNOW, WE GOT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES PLUS OR MINUS ON THIS.WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT FOR TEXAS AND SAN ANTONIO.
YOU MENTIONED THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, SHERYL, ON THE RELOCATING THEM.
WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT? I MEAN, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED A PLACE FOR THEM OR HOW CLOSE ARE WE WITH THAT?
>> SCULLEY: YES, SUBJECT TO FUNDING, AND LORI'S BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY SITE FOR THE RELOCATION.
LORI, WHY DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE RIPLEY'S, ACTUALLY A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OR INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS THE BUILDING OWNER TO SEE WHERE WE CAN LOCATE THEM.
IT IS SUBJECT TO FUNDING, AS SHERYL MENTIONED.
WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME RESOLUTION ON HOW TO PROCEED IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS.
BUT WE HAVE FOUND A SITE WE FEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE ATTRACTIONS.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE LAST LEGISLATION SESSION WAS A BILL THAT COULD CAPTURE WHAT COULD BE.
IT DID NOT GET THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THIS LAST SESSION AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON SOME ALTERNATIVES, BUT IT WAS TO CAPTURE THE STATE PORTION OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX WITHIN AN AREA AROUND THE ALAMO, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TOWARD PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS TO HELP CREATE THAT ENTERTAINMENT AREA WHERE THE BUSINESSES COULD RELOCATE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF OPTIONS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY ARE EXISTING BUSINESSES AND THEY EMPLOY ABOUT 100 PEOPLE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.
BUT THE GOAL IS TO RELOCATE THOSE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THAT'S THE AREA THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE MASTER PLAN AND WHAT THE DESIGNERS ARE LOOKING AT FOR THE MUSEUM THAT WOULD HOUSE ALL OF THE ITEMS TO REFLECT THE HISTORY AND INTERPRET THE ALAMO.
WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS OR THE MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT, WAS IT LAST NIGHT?
>> PERRY: HOW WILL THAT INFORMATION GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND LARGER?
>> TREVINO: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR THIS PROJECT AND MAKE SURE WE DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION, PRIMARILY AS YOUR APPOINTEE, CERTAINLY BACK TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE AS MUCH COMMUNICATION AS POSSIBLE.
WE THINK THAT THE TRI-CHAIRS LEADING THE EFFORT WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS GOING TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AUDIO] AND THE GLO AS WELL.
JUST LIKE THEY'RE GOING AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY HERE UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW IT'S COMING TO FRUITION.
>> PERRY: IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO GET THAT KIND OF INFORMATION, EVEN WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES HERE, MUCH LESS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT.
HOW DO WE GET THAT WORD OUT OR HOW DOES THE GLA GET THAT WORD OUT TO THE REST OF THE STATE, EVEN TO THIS COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHICH WE SHOULD BE ACCEPTING COMMENTS TO THAT AS WELL OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, IN MY THOUGHT PROCESS.
>> SCULLEY: I WOULD JUST ASK WE'RE NOT ONLY GETTING COMMENTS FROM TEXANS, WE'RE GETTING COMMENTS FROM INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO THE SITE.
>> PERRY: OH, I HAVE HAD A FEW MYSELF.
WELL, IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL TYPE OF FACILITY HERE.
WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED AND INTERESTED IN THIS FACILITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S IT OTHER THAN I SURE WISH THE LAST COUNCIL COULD HAVE DELAYED THAT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE SIX NEW PEOPLE HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT PLANNING DOCUMENT RIGHT UP FRONT AND NOT BE TRYING TO CATCH
[01:00:01]
UP AT THIS POINT.I MEAN, IT WAS ONLY APPROVED IN MAY.
TO ME IT COULD HAVE BEEN SLIPPED A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO LET THE NEW FOLKS ON BOARD TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS A REFERENCE TO CONVEYING PART OF THE PLAZA TO THE STATE.
IS THAT RIGHT? COULD I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT? ARE WHAT WE SAYING IS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THAT TO THE STATE AND THEY BECOME THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND SAN ANTONIO LOSES ANY AUTHORITY OVER THAT?
SO THE CITY OWNS THE PLAZA IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO IN THE STREET.
THEY OWN THE CHAPEL, LONG BARRACKS, THE BUILDINGS ON THE ALAMO PROPERTY.
>> COURAGE: SO ALAMO STREET, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND INCLUDING THE BUILDINGS THEY HAVE BOUGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE ALAMO?
>> COURAGE: IT WOULD RUN FROM HOUSTON ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ABOUT MARKET?
THE ACTUAL CONVEYANCE WOULD BE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL FOOTPRINT.
SO IT WOULD STILL BE PUBLIC SOUTH OF WHERE THE ORIGINAL WALL WAS LOCATED.
SO THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
AND ACTUALLY THAT SPACE WILL BE PUBLIC, BUT IT WILL BE MANAGED SO THAT THEY CAN DO REENACTMENTS AND INTERPRET WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE ALAMO IN A PLAZA AREA CREATED IN FRONT OF IT.
WE'RE HAVING EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DESIGN AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> COURAGE: SO WOULD IT BE CONSIDERED LIKE A STATE PARK?
JEFF GORDON, IF YOU CONSIDER IT A STATE PARK? I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A PARK BUT IT WOULD BE OWNED BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> COURAGE: THEY WOULD HAVE MANAGEMENT CONTROL OVER ALL OF THAT?
>> COURAGE: THEY COULD LIMIT IT TO TIME OR FEES, WHATEVER THEY WANT.
>> SCULLEY: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FROM THE PUBLIC REALM FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE REPRESENTING THE CITY.
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT WHAT WE PRESENT TO YOU WILL BE -- IT WILL CONTAIN SOME CONCEPTUAL IDEAS ON WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE AS TO HOW THAT AREA IS MANAGED, NOT IN THE DETAIL OF EVERY SINGLE DAY BUT, YOU KNOW, HOURS OF OPERATION AND ACCESS AND KIND OF THE FAVORITE WORD THESE DAYS IS POROSITY, HOW MUCH ACCESS AND FREE FLOW THROUGH THE AREA AND WHAT TIMES OF THE DAY.
THOSE ARE ALL CONCEPTS AND IDEAS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
>> COURAGE: THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT GOES AROUND ABOUT THE CITY MAINTAINING ITS OWN INDEPENDENCE AND THE STATE, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WANTING TO EXTEND ITS CONTROL OVER CITY IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
THIS IS ONE WAY I WOULD NOT LIKE THE STATE EXTENDING ITS CONTROL, EVEN OVER PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO.
THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL FEELING ABOUT THAT.
I ALSO NOTICED ON ONE OF THE MAPS IT WAS ON PAGE SEVEN, I THINK, BUT THAT'S -- I THINK IT'S PROBABLY ACTUALLY PAGE 13 OR 14 THAT SHOWS THE AREAS OF STREET CLOSURES, STREET CONVEYANCE.
THERE'S ANOTHER DESIGNATION CALLED ALAMO AREAS.
AND THEN I NOTICE ON THAT -- COULD WE BRING IT UP ON THE SCREEN UP HERE?
>> COURAGE: THAT'S THE RIGHT ONE.
I NOTICE THERE'S AN AREA BETWEEN COMMERCE AND MARKET STREET THAT'S BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN ALAMO AREA.
NOT VERY CLOSE TO THE ALAMO, RELATIVELY SPEAKING.
WHY IS THAT BEING DESIGNATED AS AN ALAMO AREA?
>> THAT IS -- YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING.
WE LOOK AT THAT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY FROM HEMISFAIR AND LA VILLITA TO ALAMO.
WITH THE CLOSURE OF THAT SECTION OF ALAMO WE WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER MAKING A PLAZA OR SOME TYPE OF GATHERING SPACE AND USE THAT AS AN INTERPRETATION OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THE WAYFINDING TO THE ALAMO OR OTHER AREAS.
>> SCULLEY: IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE GLO.
THAT WOULD REMAIN PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT YELLOW SPACE.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO
[01:05:02]
GET PEOPLE TO THE ALAMO, AND WE'RE LOOKING, ACTUALLY, AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING AS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR THE RELOCATION AND CREATION OF A BETTER VISITORS CENTER FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THE ALAMO.THERE ARE MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE THAT VISIT THE ALAMO ANNUALLY AND LESS THAN 5% ARE FROM SAN ANTONIO.
COUNCILMAN PERRY WAS ASKING ABOUT DATA.
AND WE WANT INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS 95% OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE ALAMO ARE NOT FROM SAN ANTONIO.
>> COURAGE: MY PERCEPTION IS HAVING LIVED HERE FOR 40 YEARS THAT ALL MY LIFE HERE THE ALAMO HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE TOURIST ATTRACTION IN SAN ANTONIO UNTIL THE RIVER HAS REALLY GAINED A LOT MORE RECENTLY.
BUT AS FAR AS TEXAS GOES, THE ALAMO HAS BEEN A MAJOR ATTRACTION 40 YEARS.
I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN ITSELF AS A MAJOR ATTRACTION FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS WITHOUT ALL OF WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE THE EXTRAS THAT THE STATE OR WE AS A CITY ARE SAYING THAT WE NEED TO DO.
CERTAINLY THE ALAMO NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED PROPERLY.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE SO IT DOESN'T DETERIORATE, SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO REMAIN A SHOWCASE THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND OBSERVE AND FEEL GOOD THAT IT'S NOT FALLING DOWN AROUND THEM, ABSOLUTELY.
AND I SAY THE SAME FOR THE CENOTAPH.
IT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED WELL.
BUT SO FAR HOW MUCH HAVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPENT OR INVESTED IN THIS PROCESS OF MAKING THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN AND AROUND THE ALAMO?
>> SCULLEY: WE HAVE NOT SPENT OUR CITY DOLLARS YET.
IT'S BEEN FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO OUR MONEY IS THERE AND AVAILABLE ONCE WE HAVE THE DESIGN -- I HESITATED ONLY BECAUSE OF THE TIME AND EFFORT WE HAVE SPENT AS THIS WAS A POLICY DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL TO BEGIN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT IN 2015.
>> COURAGE: WHAT DO WE HAVE COMMITTED THEN? WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUR SHARE?
>> SCULLEY: $38 MILLION IS WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE VOTERS IN THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM.
21 OF THE $38 MILLION WAS APPROVED IN THE MOST RECENT BOND PROGRAM IN MAY OF 2017.
>> COURAGE: DO WE THINK THAT WILL BE THE EXTENT OF OUR INVESTMENT?
>> SCULLEY: I'LL SAY I HOPE SO.
WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE TO BUDGET BUT WE KNOW THAT THE ENDOWMENT WILL HAVE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRIVATE FUND RAISING.
AND THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED ARE IN THE UP TO $31 MILLION WAS USED TO PURCHASE THE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE STREET AND THE OTHER ACQUISITIONS THAT THE STATE HAS UNDERTAKEN.
>> COURAGE: WILL THE CITY BE RECEIVING ANY INCOME ONCE EVERYTHING IS COMPLETED?
AT A FUTURE MEETING WE'LL NEED TO PRESENT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE WE WILL BENEFIT IN TERMS OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.
I MENTIONED THE 1.5 MILLION THAT COME TO VISIT.
WE'RE HOPING TO DOUBLE THAT OVER TIME BY CREATING A DESTINATION THAT PEOPLE STAY AT THE ALAMO AND MORE PEOPLE EVEN COME TO VISIT.
THE AVERAGE STAY NOW, DOUG CORRECT ME, EIGHT MINUTES PER PERSON?
BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY IT'S LESS THAN 30 MINUTES IN THE CHURCH ITSELF.
AND SO WE WANT TO CREATE A DESTINATION THAT TRULY TALKS ABOUT THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE SITE AND BECOMES AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY TEXANS BUT THOSE THAT VISIT FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
BECAUSE OF OUR WORLD HERITAGE DESIGNATION, I MEAN, THE ALAMO IS ONE OF THE FIVE MISSIONS AND, OF COURSE, THE BEST KNOWN AMONG THE FIVE.
SO WE KNOW OVER TIME, AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS IN TERMS OF MORE PEOPLE -- ATTRACTING MORE PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY COMBINATION WITH THE REIMAGINATION OF THE ALAMO WILL ALLOW US TO ATTRACT MANY MORE PEOPLE HERE.
SO OUR OWN SALES TAX REVENUES IN
[01:10:01]
TERMS OF RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL, BUT THEN ALSO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IN TERMS OF THOSE WHO COME AND STAY IN SAN ANTONIO TO VISIT THE WORLD HERITAGE SITES AND AT THE ALAMO AS PART OF THAT.>> COURAGE: WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING IS WE ANTICIPATE PEOPLE SPENT AN EXTRA DAY OR TWO IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF THE RESTORATION OF THE ALAMO?
>> SCULLEY: BUT, YES, STAYING LONGER AND SPENDING MORE.
>> COURAGE: IT WON'T RAISE ANY MORE MONEY FOR IT.
THE STATE WILL GET MONEY BECAUSE THEY WILL BE CHARGING FOR THE MUSEUM BUT WE DON'T GET THAT MONEY.
>> SCULLEY: WELL, WE HAVE LOCAL SALES TAX REVENUE OF THAT WE COLLECT AND WE ALSO HAVE LOCAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
>> COURAGE: YEAH, WHEN PEOPLE STAY AN EXTRA DAY FOR IT.
>> SCULLEY: YEAH, AND THAT'S THE GOAL.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO EXPAND THE GIFT SHOP AT THE ALAMO.
IT'S ALL PART OF THE FINANCIAL PLAN AND THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF IT SO THAT THE INCOME GENERATED THERE AT THE SITE HELPS SUPPORT THE ONGOING AND ANNUAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY.
>> COURAGE: DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING IN SALES TAX FROM THOSE BUSINESSES RELOCATING OR CLOSING? I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN THE DAY AFTER THEY CLOSE OR IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE THEM A WHILE TO CATCH UP OR WILL THEY LOSE MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION, NOT WHERE THEY ARE NOW? DO WE HAVE ANY FORECASTS ON ANY KIND OF POTENTIAL LOSS OF INCOME TO THE CITY?
IN FACT, THE CITY'S GOAL IS TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE SO THAT THE VISIT IS BETTER AND THAT MORE PEOPLE GO TO THAT ENTERTAINMENT AREA.
WELL, LIKE I SAID, I JUST FELT LIKE FOR 40 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING 1.5 MILLION A YEAR.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO END UPBRINGING AN EXTRA MILLION AND A HALF BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE THIS, BUT I HOPE SO.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AS A 300-YEAR PROJECT.
I'M WONDERING WHAT LEADERS FROM OUR HISPANIC OR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THAT 300-YEAR INVESTMENT HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PLANNING COMMITTEE.
>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH RAMON VASQUEZ, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS NATIVE AMERICAN GROUP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ON THE PROJECT SINCE 2014, SINCE WE CREATED THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND ACTUALLY WHEN WE WERE DOING THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS HE HAD A CHAIR AT THE SITES WHERE HE CAN COME IN AND INSPECT, MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS, MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING THE STATE CODE.
BUT HE'S BEEN A PART OF IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND HE'S BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO CREATING THIS VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
ONE OF OUR MORE VOCAL MEMBERS AND HE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET.
BUT WE HAVE HELD PUBLIC MEETINGS AND BEEN LISTENING TO EVERY PERSPECTIVE AND ALL THOSE COMMENTS, BUT RAMON VASQUEZ HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COME TO CITY COUNCIL FROM THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT THINGS.
I HOPE A LOT OF VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.
AND FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY DO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HISTORICALLY HAD FAMILIES AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO WHO STILL LIVE AROUND SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS? HAVE WE IDENTIFIED ANYBODY?
THEY HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, YOU ARE A DESCENDENT OF THE LOSOYA FAMILY, I BELIEVE.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RICH HISTORY HERE LOCALLY AND WE LOVE TO HEAR THOSE STORIES.
>> COURAGE: I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREAS THAT MAY HAVE HAD FUNERAL PYRES.
WHERE ARE THOSE LOCATED AND HAVE WE FOUND ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF THAT THAT TIE THEM TO THE ALAMO BATTLE?
>> SO WE KNOW -- WE BELIEVE WE KNOW OF THREE FUNERAL PYRES.
ONE NEAR THE RIVER, WHICH IS NEAR THE GOMPER STATUE ON THAT SECTION NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THEN THERE'S A LOCATION BEHIND THE ALAMO THAT WE BELIEVE IS A FUNERAL PYRE.
WHEN WE DID THE RECENT ARCHEOLOGICAL DIGS WE DID THREE DIGS.
IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WE ACTUALLY HAD FACEBOOK LIVE ONCE A DAY.
THE ARCHAEOLOGIST WOULD COME OUT AND SPEAK, DO A PRESENTATION OF WHAT THEY WERE FINDING WHILE THEY WERE DOING IT.
IT WAS SEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE WOULD TUNE INTO THESE.
WE FOUND A LOT OF ARTIFACTS FROM VARIOUS LEVELS OF HISTORY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO MORE DIGS AS WE FINISH UP OUR DESIGN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
COUNCILMAN TREVINO WANTED TO BRIEFLY ACKNOWLEDGE SOME GUESTS.
[01:15:01]
ALAMO CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS BACK HERE AS WELL.
AGAIN, JUST WANT TO POINT OUT WE HAVE A VERY ENGAGED GROUP AND JUST WANT TO ADD TO THE COMMENTS THAT LORI MADE ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE GROUP.
IT'S A VERY DIVERSE AND ENGAGED GROUP.
WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE COMMUNICATING BACK TO THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THEY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
LORI, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, FOR YOUR WORK ON ALL OF THIS.
OBVIOUSLY HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF KNOWLEDGE IS IN YOUR HEAD.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE PLAN.
I THINK OVER TIME WE'LL DIG INTO IT.
TO COUNCILMAN PERRY'S POINT WE'RE COMING IN TO THIS AFTER THE FACT AND THE BEST THING A NEW MEMBER CAN DO WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE IT'S SO LARGE AND CONTROVERSIAL IS TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND SOME KEY POINTS.
I'LL FALL ON JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
THAT REALLY CENTERS AROUND PUBLIC INPUT.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF, AND I LIKE TO SAY THIS ABOUT MULTIPLE TOPICS, IS MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE LAWS AND LEGISLATION AND ORDINANCES, THE THINGS WE PUT ON TO PAPER HOW THAT AFFECTS THE RESIDENT AND TO WHAT POINT ARE WE REPRESENTING WHAT THEY WANT.
THIS AUDIENCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO SATISFY EVERY ONE OF THEM BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AND IDEA-DRIVEN FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PERRY, PROBABLY TO NOBODY'S SURPRISE, BUT I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PERRY THAT THIS IS A TEXAS SHRINE.
THIS MEANS SOMETHING TO EVERYBODY.
WHILE IT IS IN OUR BACKYARD I THINK WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT TO IDEAS COMING ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS DOES BELONG TO EVERYBODY IN THE STATE AND HOW DO WE LISTEN TO ALL OF THEM.
THE WORD ROAD SHOW WAS MENTIONED BUT I HOPE A ROAD SHOW IS NOT A PREDETERMINED MASTER PLAN FOR PEOPLE TO TELL US.
THE IDEA IS TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
PROCEDURALLY JUST TO BE CAREFUL ON THAT WE'RE HUMBLE WHEN WE TAKE THIS OUT TO THE REST OF THE STATE.
WE'RE NOT, HEY, LOOK, HERE'S OUR PLAN.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE THAT WANT TO BE A PART OF IT AND HAVE INPUT INTO IT.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.
I'M SURE THAT'S A PART OF THE TEAM.
THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE DONE THIS IN MORE THAN ONE TASK.
I THINK THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
I AGREE 100% WITH COUNCILMAN PERRY THAT THIS ISN'T AN APPROVED CONCEPT.
AND WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IS GOING TO GROW OVER TIME BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE SIX NEW MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THESE THINGS AND IT WILL CHANGE FROM THE MASTER PLAN THAT WAS VOTED ON IN MAY.
IT SHOULD CHANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW REPRESENTATION AND PEOPLE COMING INTO THIS.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE BUT WE ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS.
I HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME ON SEVERAL OF THESE ITEMS THAT I THINK THAT PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, SUCH AS THE CENOTAPH.
THERE ARE THOSE OF US, ME INCLUDED, THAT BELIEVE IT SHOULD NOT BE MOVED.
I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH AT WHAT POINT HOW DO WE QUANTIFY REAL COMMUNITY INPUT ON THIS? THE TEAMS ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS ON THE ROAD AND THE TEAMS THAT ARE TAKING THE INPUT, AT WHAT POINT DOES THE COMMUNITY INPUT OVERRIDE OUR GOVERNMENT REACH? BY THAT I MEAN OUR MASTER PLAN.
WE HAVE ALL THESE GREAT IDEAS AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE AND WE GO OUT ON THE STREET AND REALIZE PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE COMMUNITY INPUT OVERRIDES OUR MASTER THINKING? WE'RE SO SMART ON THIS, THIS IS OUR VISION, BUT THE COMMUNITY WANTS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
HOW DO WE QUANTIFY THAT? I WANT TO FLESH THAT OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS WE DIG INTO THIS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A POINT AND THIS IS REALLY A SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL THING, RIGHT, WHICH IS HOW DO YOU SAY, OKAY, THE COMMUNITY IS SPEAKING LARGE ENOUGH THAT MY THOUGHT DOESN'T REFLECT THEIRS, EVEN THOUGH I THINK MY THOUGHT IS GREAT AND MY IDEA IS THERE BUT THEY'RE TELLING ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REALLY LEARN TO QUANTIFY WHEN THE PUBLIC IS SAYING AND HOW WE MAKE THAT CHANGE.
IF WE THINK THE CENOTAPH WHICH SEEMS PREDETERMINED TO ME, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.
YOU CAN READ IN THE PAPER THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS BY PEOPLE ON THIS BODY SAY IT'S MOVING -- OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE SAID IT'S MOVING.
RESIDENTS ARE LIKE, HOLD ON A SECOND HERE.
[01:20:01]
HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN TO SLOW THAT DOWN AND MEASURE DEEPER THAN JUST A ROAD SHOW THAT MAY GET 50 ATTENDEES.WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION SO WE ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT BUT DO THEY THINK THIS IS RIGHT.
TO COUNCILMAN PERRY'S POINTS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND BE METHODICAL AND DATA DRIVEN SO THOSE VOICES DON'T GET LOST IN A SPREADSHEET.
THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BE QUANTIFIED.
AND I THINK ONCE WE DO THAT WE'LL BE MUCH BETTER OFF UNDERSTANDING -- AND I'LL POINT THE FINGER AT MYSELF.
I'M ELECTED BY 11% OF THE DISTRICT.
I DO NOT REPRESENT THE WHOLE OF MY DISTRICT.
I HAVE TO GO OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT AND GET TO MORE THAN THAT 11%.
AND I MAY BE WRONG ON SOMETHING BUT I MAY THINK I'M RIGHT BECAUSE THE SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I INTERACT WITH SAY SO.
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THROUGHOUT THIS, AS I'M LEARNING AND COMING UP TO SPEED ON IT.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE POINTS BECAUSE IT'S NEW TO ME.
BUT WHAT I AM AN EXPERT IN IS WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING BECAUSE I'M GOING TO DOOR AND TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
WE TRY TO ASK THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND DIFFERING VIEWS AND OPINIONS.
I'M OF THE OPINION THIS IS NOT SET IN STONE.
IT IS GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE HAVE CHANGED AS A BODY.
WE HAVE CHANGED AND SHIFTED WHERE WE WERE AT FROM THE LAST COUNCIL IN MAY OF '17 TO THIS ONE UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP.
I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND MAKE SURE WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND NOT SO PREDETERMINED.
I'M THANKFUL THE WORK PRESENTATION, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN A TON OF WORK ON YOUR BEHALF.
SOME OF US ARE GOING TO LEAN ON THAT KNOWLEDGE GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T MAKE BAD DECISIONS.
BEING TRUE TO THE VOTERS THAT PUT US HERE, NOT THE DESIGNERS OR THAT KIND OF THING.
WE DO IT BASED ON WHAT THOSE PEOPLE WANT AND THAT INCLUDES THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME WITH THE ENERGY WITH WHICH YOU APPROACH STEWARDSHIP OF, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR RESOURCES.
AND THIS WEEK AND LAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THINKING ABOUT STEWARDSHIP AND HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY AND THE POLITICS OF MEMORY AND HERITAGE AND THE CULTURE WARS THAT, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY GRIP THE UNITED STATES IN 2018.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE ALAMO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON THE CITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MY LEGAL OBLIGATION AS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S EXPECTED OF ME BY MY CONSTITUENTS.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE WORD CONSTITUENTS, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT ARE ALIVE AND KICKING TODAY BUT THE FUTURE ONES.
AND THERE'S A GUY NAMED EDMOND BURKE WHO SAID THAT SOCIETY REALLY IS SORT OF A PARTNERSHIP AND A NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE DIED, THOSE WHO ARE LIVING, AND THOSE WHO ARE YET TO COME, RIGHT? THE NICE THING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IS THEY'RE NOT SHY ABOUT SHARING THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT THE ALAMO SHOULD BE AND WHAT THE ALAMO IS.
THE ONES WHO AREN'T HERE YET ARE THE ONES THAT I THINK A LOT ABOUT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT I HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS AND ALL OF US HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE READY AND EAGER TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS WITH US WITH REGARDS TO WHAT THE ALAMO SHOULD BE AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
AND INCLUDING THE TOPIC OF THE CENOTAPH AND THE TELLING OF ALL THE STORIES.
THE PROBLEM WITH OPINIONS IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE NOT COUPLED WITH RESPONSIBILITY.
AND SO THAT IS TO SAY THAT A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS SURE DO LET US KNOW WHAT THEY THINK, AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S 11 OF US AT THIS TABLE WHO HAVE THE LEGAL DUTY TO DO CERTAIN THINGS AND NOT DO CERTAIN THINGS.
LONG THESE LINES I'LL TELL YOU THAN THE CENOTAPH WHEN IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO US IN 1936, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIFTED THAT TO US AND THEY GIFTED IT TO US WITH CONDITIONS ATTACHED.
THOSE CONDITIONS ARE ENSHRINED IN DEED RESTRICTIONS AND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS SAY THAT ON THE CONDITION THAT YOU TAKE THIS FROM US, YOU BEING THE CITY, THE
[01:25:01]
CITY WILL ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN, REPAIR, AND PRESERVE.IT DIDN'T SAY AND YOU WILL NEVER EVER MOVE IT NOT EVEN AN INCH, RIGHT? AND THE REASON IT DOESN'T SAY THAT IS FOR THE SAME REASON THAT IT NEVER SAYS THAT WITH ANY MONUMENT TRANSFER AND ANY DEED RESTRICTION ACCOMPANYING MONUMENT TRANSFERS BECAUSE PRESERVATIONS AND CONSERVATIONS BACK THEN KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW TODAY AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ADHERENCE TO THIS CONCEPT OF STEWARDSHIP IS NOT A SUICIDE PACT THAT WILL FOREVER PROHIBIT YOU FROM ACCOMMODATING, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH AND THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS TO BE ACCOMMODATED.
AND SO I HAVE BEEN THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT MEANS, LORI, FOR US TO DO CONSERVATION AND FOR US TO DO PRESERVATION AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION EXCLUDES OUR ABILITY TO ENHANCE OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.
THAT IS TO SAY THOSE TWO GOALS, THOSE TWO MISSIONS OF ENHANCING OUR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND PRESERVING HISTORY, THEY CAN INTERSECT, AND THE PLANET IS FULL OF EXAMPLES WHERE THOSE GOALS INTERSECT AND THEY ARE DONE SO RESPECTFULLY.
AND THIS, BY THE WAY, DOESN'T JUST APPLY TO THE ALAMO OR CENOTAPH BUT THIS APPLIES TO THIS OTHER DEBATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING SOMETIME SOON REGARDING THE HAYS STREET BRIDGE AND EVERY OTHER INTERESTING MONUMENT.
ONE DAY IN THE FUTURE THIS BIG SKYSCRAPER MAY BE A MONUMENT AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE NEAR BY MONUMENTS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A GROWING CITY WHO HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS IN 2018 THAN IT DID IN 1937, THAN IT DID IN 1831, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND SO I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS SO LONG, LORI, AS YOU GUYS CAN CONTINUE TO SHOW US THAT YOU ARE GETTING INPUT FROM EVERYBODY AND NOT JUST THOSE THAT ARE PRO DESIGN CHANGES AND PRO NEW SHINY THINGS BUT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE JUST AS CONCERNED AS -- WELL, THESE MEN AND WOMEN BEHIND ME WITH THE SPANISH BULLFIGHTING THING ON THEIR SHIRTS.
THAT ARE JUST AS CONCERNED WITH THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORY AND THE INTENT BEHIND IT.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S IDEAS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE ARE SHOOTING FOR PERFECT THEN WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THIS DONE, EVER.
YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE STATE WILL EVENTUALLY GET SICK AND TIRED OF WAITING ON US TO FINISH THIS ETERNAL ANALYSIS.
I MEAN, 100 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS AND HERE WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE EVEN NEED TO DO IT.
I MEAN, THE THING IS CRUMBLING, AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY ENDED A LONG TIME AGO.
LORI, SO AS LONG AS YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PROVE TO US EVERY SINGLE TIME WE ASK YOU THAT THE CONVERSATION IS ROBUST AND WE'RE TAKING INPUT AND WE'RE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY, THEN YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
SO I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, LORI.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND SHERYL AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND ALSO I NEED TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL.
I KNOW SHE'S BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS AND TELLING THE STORY FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM TEXAS.
ONE THING I DID WANT TO POINT OUT WAS SOMETHING THAT AUDIO] ALL OF OUR 90,000 VISITORS THAT WE HAD TO THE CITY AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE TWEETS THAT WAS DONE WAS, THAT WAS SHOWCASED ON THE EXPRESS NEWS.
THE ALAMO IN SAN ANTONIO IS 92% SMALLER THAN YOU'VE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE.
SO THAT IS WHAT SOMEBODY PUT OUT ON TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
THIS IS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN THE EIGHT MINUTES OR HOWEVER MUCH TIME PEOPLE SPEND AT THE ALAMO.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE TOOK ON THIS INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A DEEPER MORE IMPACTFUL STORY TO TELL HERE, ESPECIALLY US THAT LIVE IN THE AREA, THAT AGREE UP IN THE AREA.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN BE TELLING AS WELL AS WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE ARTIFACTS THAT WE WANT TO PUT ON DISPLAY AND WE CAN'T -- OR WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY UNLESS WE CONTINUE
[01:30:01]
TO MOVE FORWARD OR TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A PLAN TO CONTINUE TO TELL THAT STORY.I'M SORRY I WAS LATE COMING IN BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY HELLO TO THE NEW GROUP THAT'S BEEN REALLY TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS WHOLE CONCEPT PLAN.
YES, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS THE MISSION DE VALERO AND KNOWING THIS IS PART OF THE ENTIRE STORYTELLING.
ALSO RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING 300 YEARS AS A PRESIDIO BUT ALL OF THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE BEFOREHAND.
THE LAYERS AND LAYERS OF HISTORY THAT SIT UNDERNEATH US.
I KNOW THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN TREVINO WOULD SAY, LAYERS OF HISTORY THAT EXIST HERE.
BUT ALSO THAT I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR THAT THERE IS A TRUE TENSION THAT EXISTS HERE BECAUSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BATTLE OF 1836.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THIS WAS NORTHERN MEXICO.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THIS WAS NEW SPAIN.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE FLAGS THAT SAT UNDER HERE.
AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE COLONIZERS OF THIS COUNTRY, OF THIS AREA AND THIS REGION.
BUT THAT ALL HAS TO BE A BALANCE IN HERE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS WHOLE THING SPECIAL.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY UPSET WITH THE MISSIONS, THAT THEY EVEN EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHAT THAT SYMBOLIZES, THE COLONIZATION.
I AM A PROUD DAUGHTER OF THE -- ONE OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO OF THE LOSOYA LINE TOO.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TO KNOW WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WE LOOK AT ALL OF THESE OTHER COUNTRIES AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THESE MISSIONS FROM SPANISH COLONIAL MISSIONS.
AND HAVING LIVED IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THIS BECAUSE HAVING LIVED IN SPAIN, IN GRENADA YOU HAVE THE ALAMBRA THAT WAS THERE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE NEW UNIVERSITY THAT'S THERE THAT WAS BUILT IN 1492.
BUT AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW WE NEED TO HAVE THIS BALANCE OF THE GROWTH TOGETHER HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
AND WE ARE HAVING THESE TENSIONS AND THESE GROWING PAINS.
BUT I THINK THERE IS THIS BALANCE THAT CAN HAPPEN HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS -- AND SO I WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, JEAN AND MIKE FRISBIE -- I DON'T KNOW IF MIKE FRISBIE IS HERE.
BUT AS WE CONTINUE, A LOT OF WORK IS GOING ON HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON MAIN AND SOLEDAD.
IF THIS IS ALL BEING TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WITH THE STREET CLOSURES TO MAKE SURE THE FLOW FROM THE EASTERN PART NEAR THE ALAMO AND HOW IT CONNECTS ALL THE WAY TO THE WESTERN PART.
I JUST WANTED TO BE REASSURED THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING ALL OF THAT.
I'M SURE YOU ARE, BUT TO HEAR IT FROM YOU ALL.
AND, YES, IT'S VERY MUCH IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AS I'M STILL LISTENING TO MY COMMUNITY.
MY DISTRICT 3 RESIDENTS WHO HAVE MANY, MANY OPINIONS OF OUR MISSIONS AND WHO ALSO PREFER TO CALL IT MISSION DE VALERO THAN THE ALAMO SOMETIMES.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE -- AND A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS STILL AREN'T BOUGHT INTO CLOSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE CELEBRATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
THE PARADES, THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE THERE.
AND THEY BRING ME PICTURES TO SHOW AND HIGHLIGHT THAT.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE CHURCH PORTION TOO.
AND THEN FINALLY JUST ONE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE -- YES [INDISCERNIBLE] HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT WITH OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE STORIES -- AND I KNOW YOU ARE FOCUSED ON THIS, BUT I KNOW PRESSURES AND CHALLENGES COME UP.
BUT I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT PEOPLE ARE -- IF THINGS ARE BEING SAID THAT THE FUNDING DOLLARS FOR THIS WON'T COME UNLESS WE ONLY TELL OR JUST HIGHLIGHT THE BATTLE OF 1836, I CAN'T AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH HISTORY TO TELL, I THINK FUNDING DOLLARS CAN COME WITH ALL OF THE STORIES BEING TOLD IN THAT AREA.
SO THAT IS WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
AND I WANTED TO, YES, AGREE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE IN ALL OF THESE IDEAS.
BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHICH IS
[01:35:02]
GOING TO BE THE IDEA THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER RESIDENTS FROM OUTSIDE OR FROM OTHER PARTS OF TEXAS ARE GOING TO SEE AND SAY.THEY'RE LIKE, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, YEAH.
WHY DON'T WE DO THAT? SO MAYBE WE CAN WORK WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO TOO AND KIND OF SURVEYING ALL THE VISITORS THAT WE HAD THIS LAST TIME OF WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS THAT THEY WOULD EVEN LIKE TO PREFER OR EVEN GATHER THAT AND JUST ADD IT TO THE POT OF FEEDBACK HERE.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN TREVINO FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS, ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD FIT, GIVEN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
AND TO EVERYONE WHO IS SERVING ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
LORI, SHERYL, YOU AND A YOUR TEM HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE BRIEFINGS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN.
AND TO THE GLO FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
SO I GUESS IT WAS MARCH 6 WE WERE RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO AND WE HAD SOME STATE DIGNITARIES COME AND SPEAK TO US AND TALK ABOUT JOHN WAYNE AND COWBOYS AND INDIANS MOVIES AND HOW THE ALAMO REALLY BELONGED TO EVERYONE ALL OVER THE WORLD, NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT MOVIES LIKE THAT, WITHOUT JOHN WAYNE WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE AS MANY VISITORS TO THE ALAMO.
I HOPE I'M GETTING THE ACTORS CORRECT WHEN I'M SAYING THIS.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE AS MANY VISITORS TO THE ALAMO OR TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WITHOUT THE FOUNDING OF THIS MISSION WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY SAN ANTONIO.
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT WITHOUT OUR PREEXISTING NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE MISSION AT ALL.
SO I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE RAMON VASQUEZ SO INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT HE'S BEEN THERE.
AND I AM REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT AMONG THE INTERPRETIVE THEMES THAT YOU HAVE SHARED WITH US, THE FIRST ONE IS THE EVOLUTION OF SETTLEMENTS AND CULTURES AROUND THE ALAMO AREA.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION OR MY CONCERN IS ONE THAT WAS ALSO SHARED BY COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO REIMAGINE THE ALAMO, AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO DO THAT.
INTERNALLY WHEN YOU WALK IN THROUGH THE ALAMO IN THE FUTURE, HOW MUCH OF THE SPACE WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE BATTLE VERSUS, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT THIS MISSION HAD BEFORE THEN? AND HOW WILL THAT BE DETERMINED?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND SO THAT IS WHAT PGAV AND CULTURAL INNOVATIONS DO.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THERE IS ROOM FOR MYTH AND THERE IS ROOM FOR FOLKLORE.
WE NEED TO TELL ALL THOSE STORIES BUT THEY WILL BE WORKING OUT THOSE PERCENTAGES IN THOSE EXHIBITS AND WILL BE COMING BACK.
NOW, THAT WILL NOT BE DONE AT THE TIME OF THE SITE PLAN.
IT WILL HAVE A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION BUT THE MUSEUM WILL BE DESIGNED LATER ON AS WELL.
>> TREVINO: COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE FIRST SENTENCE IN THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AFTER THE VISION IS THE 1836 BATTLE OF THE ALAMO.
THE WIDELY RECOGNIZED EVENT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO AREA.
THAT IS EXACTLY HOW WE'RE TREATING THIS.
WE'RE SEEING THIS AS A PORTAL.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT CREATED THIS AND THE NEW ADVISORY MEMBERS RECOGNIZE THIS ALSO AS AN OPPORTUNITY, IF NOT AN ADVANTAGE, TO REALLY TELL A VERY COMPREHENSIVE, ROBUST, IF NOT MORE INTERESTING STORY THAN THE JOHN WAYNE STORY.
I LOVE JOHN WAYNE BUT THIS IS FAR MORE INTERESTING, FAR MORE LAYERED, AND IS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO BEING VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE INTENTIONS HERE.
SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO TELLING A COMPREHENSIVE STORY.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
LORI, I REALIZE SOME OF THIS IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT.
OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A CONCEPTUAL PLAN.
AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME.
BUT PUBLIC INPUT IS SOMETIMES BASED ON OPINIONS OFTEN AND OPINIONS ARE BASED ON THE
[01:40:01]
EDUCATION PEOPLE HAVE HAD AVAILABLE TO THEM.SO IF SOME FOLKS ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FULL STORY, YOU STORY, YOU KNOW, THAT OPINION IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THIS PROCESS WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THE FULL STORY OF THE ALAMO WAS, EXACTLY AS YOU SAID.
SPEAKING TO THE COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE'S POINT.
HE'S NOT HERE BUT I'M SURE HE'LL WATCH THIS LATER ON TV, IS THAT IF ALL THE OPINIONS SAY ONLY FOCUS ON THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE GIVE UP OUR PLIGHT TO TELL THE STORY OF THIS AREA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> GONZALES: YOU GAVE A GREAT PRESENTATION, LORI.
MY ONLY QUESTION -- I KNOW WE WILL BE KIND OF GOING THROUGH THIS, BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT IS RATHER URGENT AND DOESN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE A LOT OF DIALOGUE IS A RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH.
IS THERE A WAY TO START THAT BEFORE WE GET CONSENSUS ON EVERYTHING ELSE? THE REST WILL REQUIRE DIALOGUE.
YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS I FEEL THAT WE COULD MOVE ALONG WITH.
WHAT IS THE HOLD UP ON THAT? WE KNOW IT IS DETERIORATING EVERY DAY.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK DOUG, WHO IS THE C.E.O. OF THE ALAMO, SPEAK TO THAT.
>> SO WE'RE STARTING THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING WHAT'S NECESSARY TO DO THE RESTORATION.
THE FIRST PART OF THE RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH IS A TWO-YEAR-LONG PROCESS OF ACTUALLY DOING DETAIL ANALYSIS.
WE ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT PROBES DOWN INTO THE FOOTERS AROUND THE CHURCH.
AND THESE PROBES THEN NEED TO SIT THROUGH THROUGH BASICALLY TWO SEASONS.
WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN ALL OF THE STONE.
WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DETECT WITH MONITORING DEVICES THE CHANGES IN THE STONES AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S MAKING THE DETERIORATION.
WE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE THINGS.
AFTER THAT'S DONE THEN THAT TWO-YEAR ANALYTICAL EVALUATION PROCESS WILL LEAD US TO CONSERVATION.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT, FOCUSED ON GETTING THAT PROCESS STARTED SO WE CAN THEN HAVE A SPECIFIC PROCESS IN PLACE.
IT'S PROBABLY A FOUR-YEAR PROCESS FROM THE TIME WE START THAT MONITORING PROCESS UNTIL WE'RE DONE.
>> GONZALES: SO, COULD YOU START NOW?
>> WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING STARTED ON THAT.
IT'S A PRIORITY TO GET THAT DONE.
WE'RE NOT ON THE POINT OF PUTTING OUT SPECIFIC RETAINING CONTRACTORS AT THIS POINT, BUT IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY TO GET MOVING ON THAT.
>> GONZALES: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD BE, JUST GIVEN THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING EVERY DAY IT'S BEEN CRUMBLING AND I HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR FIVE YEARS NOW.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
JUST PERHAPS THE URGENCY TO MOVE THAT ALONG.
AND THAT WAS REALLY MY ONLY QUESTION.
>> SO THE FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MASTER PLAN WAS COMPLETED LAST SUMMER WITH THE FINAL COMPLETION OF ALL THE SUBMITALS.
>> GONZALES: AND DO YOU NEED APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL TO MOVE ON THAT?
THAT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED BY THE STATE.
>> GONZALES: THAT'S FUNDED BY THE STATE, THAT COMPONENT OF THE CHURCH.
IS THAT ALSO THE DELAY? I FEEL LIKE WE ALREADY APPROVED BOND DOLLARS.
WE HAVE ALREADY APPROVED C OF O DOLLARS.
I THINK SOMEBODY ASKED THIS QUESTION ALREADY.
>> SCULLEY: OUR DOLLARS ARE GOING INTO THE CITY-OWNED PUBLIC SPACE.
THE CHURCH, THE CHAPEL AND THE LONG BARRACKS AND THE BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY ARE OWNED BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE.
AND THEY DO HAVE MONEYS TO BEGIT THE PROCESS.
I THINK WHAT DOUG IS SAYING THEY DO PLAN TO BEGIN SHORTLY.
>> GONZALES: I HOPE YOU WOULDN'T WAIT FOR US TO MAKE ALL THE OTHER DECISIONS TO STARLET
>> GONZALES: THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE .
THE ONLY OTHER COMMENTS OVER SPRING BREAK MY HUSBAND'S GRANDCHILDREN WERE VISITING AND THEY WANTED TO GO TO THE ALAMO.
AND WE DIDN'T GO BECAUSE THE WAIT WAS LIKE THREE HOURS TO GET IN.
AND EVERYTHING WAS SO CROWDED AND BUSY HERE THAT WE ENDED UP GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHERE WE WENT.
I GUESS MY POINT IS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE A LOT OF VISITORS AND WE WOULD JUST HOPE THAT THAT WOULD ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW.
I THINK JOHN COURAGE MENTIONED THAT ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE A MILLION PLUS MORE PEOPLE? BUT I THINK AS WE -- AS THE
[01:45:03]
WHOLE CITY EVOLVES AND WE HAVE THESE GREAT PUBLIC SPACES THAT WE'LL INCLUDE WHAT WE'RE DOING AT LA VILLITA, THAT WILL INCLUDE CONNECTIVITY FROM THE ALAMO TO THE REST OF THE MISSIONS ALONG DEDICATED TRAILS.THOSE SPACES ARE POPULATED IN BETWEEN SO WE KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS TO DEVELOP ALONG THE CORRIDORS.
AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR PUBLIC SPACES IN A WAY THAT'S VERY DESIRABLE FOR PEOPLE, KIND OF AS WE SAW OVER THE THE WEEKEND WITH THE FINAL FOUR.
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD HAVE A MILLION PLUS MORE VISITORS TO THE SITE.
I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD MOVE IT ALONG AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO EVERYTHING CAN BE MAINTAINED AND ALSO SO WE CAN GET THE BENEFIT OF THOSE VISITORS' DOLLARS AND THEIR -- NOT JUST VISITORS BUT EVEN FOR OUR OWN RESIDENTS THAT THEY DECIDE TO COME BACK AND VIEW THEM AGAIN FROM A NEW LIGHT.
I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING ALONG ON THIS PROCESS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
SHERYL, YOU REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING THAT I FORGOT TO ASK AND THAT IS TO DO WITH THE CHURCH STRUCTURE ITSELF.
AND I KNOW IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF EVALUATION AND WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT WHAT'S THAT ROOF MADE OUT OF? WHAT'S THE ROOF MADE OUT OF?
>> PERRY: WE KNOW THAT THE ARMY BUILT THAT ROOF ON IT, A BARREL VAULTED ROOF, CONCRETE.
YOU KNOW, WE REALLY DON'T NEED PROBES TO TELL US THAT ROOF IS REALLY TOO HEAVY FOR THAT STRUCTURE.
WHY AREN'T WE STARTING THAT DESIGN PROCESS NOW TO REMOVE THAT CONCRETE AND PUT A LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURE UP THERE? WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT NOW? WHY ARE WE WAITING?
>> I THINK ONE OF YOU SAID EARLIER THE CHALLENGE AROUND THIS IS PERPETUITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR PERPETUITY.
THE CHURCH HAS LOTS OF CHALLENGES WITH IT.
AS A MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF PERPETUITY AND ONE OF THE UNIQUE ASPECTS ABOUT THE CHURCH AND LONG BARRACK IS HAVE THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS INSIDE A PROTECTED STRUCTURE.
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE OUTDOORS AND EXPOSED.
WHAT WE KNOW IS, AND WE HAVE HAD STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS LOOK AT THIS THAT ARE TRAINED IN DOING HISTORIC STRUCTURES.
THEY HAVE LOOKED AT ALL THAT AND WE DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROOF SYSTEM THAT'S THERE THAT'S NECESSARILY CAUSING ANY INCREASED INCREMENTAL DAMAGE.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IS FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IMPACT IS.
WE KNOW IF WE TAKE THE ROOF OFF THAT'S GOING TO CREATE A RISK AS WELL.
THAT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL ROOF THAT THE ARMY PUT ON IN 1850.
THAT'S A ROOF THAT WAS PUT ON MUCH LATER.
AND WE HAVE PUT A NEW COVERING ON TOP OF IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD WATER COMING IN THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE WANT TO MEASURE AND FIGURE OUT.
SO WHEN WE ACTUALLY MAKE THE CORRECTIVE REMEDIES WE DO IT IN THE RIGHT WAY.
WE'LL BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IT.
MOST RISK TO HISTORIC STRUCTURES HAPPEN BECAUSE PEOPLE RUSH TO AN INTERVENTION INSTEAD OF BEING METHODICAL AND CAREFUL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE METHODICAL AND CAREFUL AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
>> PERRY: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT BUT I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT ROOF IS NOT TOO HEAVY FOR THAT STRUCTURE.
>> NOT SAYING IT'S NOT TOO HEAVY FOR THE STRUCTURE.
SAYING THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS HAVE NOT INDICATED TO US THAT ITS PRESENCE SHORT TERM, WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IS CREATING ANY SIGNIFICANT INCREMENTAL RISK TO THE BUILDING.
AND THEN AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS WE'LL MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT THE RIGHT SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE.
YEAH, I DISAGREE BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS COME BACK WITH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR COUNCIL COMMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> SCULLEY: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[1. Briefing and possible action on Consolidated Funding Process andInvestment Priorities for FY 2019 and FY 2020. [María Villagómez,Assistant City Manager; Melody Woosley, Director, Department ofHuman Services]]
WE APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL INPUT.THE SECOND ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS PART TWO OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCY PROCESS THAT WE PRESENTED AS PHASE ONE LAST WEEK.
THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS TAKES PLACE EVERY TWO YEARS.
THAT IS EVERY TWO YEARS WE TAKE A LOOK AT A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR ALL OF THE AGENCIES AND MAKE
[01:50:03]
SELECTIONS AND THE COUNCIL MAKES DECISIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR THESE AGENCIES, AND THAT IS THE APPROPRIATION INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR EACH OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS.SO TODAY THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 BUDGET INCLUDES $21 MILLION FOR 58 DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE 92 PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
LAST WEDNESDAY YOU'LL RECALL MELODY WOULD BEGAN THE CONVERSATION ON HOW TO APPLY THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TO THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS SO WE HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT TO THOSE IN THE GREATEST NEED IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO ADVANCE THE CITY'S GOAL AND MISSION TO ADVANCE PROSPERITY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL START WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND 2020 DELEGATES AGENCY FUNDING PROCESS.
WE'RE SEEKING YOUR INPUT ON POLICY DIRECTION ON HOW TO PRIORITIZE THE FUNDING AREAS SO THAT WE MAKE APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN WE PRESENT THE BUDGET IN AUGUST.
SO TODAY WE'RE NOT DECIDING ON THOSE AGENCIES BUT RATHER TRYING TO GET COUNCIL INPUT ON HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNICATION POLICY DECISIONS, AS WELL AS THE DESIGNATED FUNDING BY CATEGORIES.
THEN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WILL BE ISSUED THIS MONTH AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DELEGATE AGENCY CONTRACTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN MY PROPOSED BUDGET TO YOU IN EARLY AUGUST.
SO MELODY IS GOING TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION TODAY AND THEN RENE DOMINGUEZ, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IS HERE TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT OF THE DELEGATE AGENCY PROCESS.
MELODY, IF YOU WOULD BEGIN WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO AS SHERYL SAID WE'LL START WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING CYCLE.
I WILL PROVIDE EXAMPLES TO DEMONSTRATE APPLICATION OF THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT FROM DEFINING THE WHY AND THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS TO RECOMMENDING SPECIFIC OUTCOMES AND STRATEGIES TO HELP US ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM IMPACT THAT WE CAN.
IN CLOSING, I WILL HAVE -- I WILL REVIEW THE FOUR POLICY ITEMS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON AND THEN THE TIMELINE MOVING FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, MELODY.
>> LAST WEEK I REVEALED THE ANSWER WHY DOES DHS EXIST? AND THAT IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
WE ANSWERED THIS QUESTION THROUGH APPLICATION OF THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT.
WE DEVELOPED FOUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES WHICH NOW SERVE AS A ROAD MAP TO KEEP US FOCUSED.
BY FIRST DETERMINING WHY DHS EXISTS WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING EXISTS AND IT EXISTS TO MAXIMIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.
IT HELPS US REACH FURTHER INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.
BY FOLLOWING THIS THINK THROUGH TO DEVELOPMENT OF OUTCOMES AND STRATEGIES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY AND OUR PARTNERS WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND BETTER IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.
DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY, SUPPORT THESE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE SAFE, HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND READY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE.
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARE FINANCIALLY SECURE AND IN STABLE HOUSING.
HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING, AND SENIORS ARE HEALTHY, ENGAGED, AND INDEPENDENT.
THE NEXT FOUR SLIDES DEMONSTRATE THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT IN ACTION.
IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE PROPOSED INCLUDING LONG-TERM GOALS SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT'S LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVE EQUITY BY FOCUSING ON OUTCOMES AND DATA.
FIRST TO SUPPORT OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF ENSURING CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE SAFE, HEALTHY, RESILIENT, AND READY TO SUCCEED WE IDENTIFIED ACHIEVABLE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING LONG-TERM GOALS.
THE FIRST OUTCOME PROPOSED IS TO REENGAGE 50% OF YOUTH WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL AND ENSURE THAT THEY EITHER GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR OBTAIN THEIR GED WITHIN SIX TO TEN YEARS.
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YOUTH SERVICES TODAY.HUMAN SERVICES, MUNICIPAL COURTS, PARKS AND RECREATION, HEALTH, AND LIBRARY.
LAST FALL HUMAN SERVICES CONVENED A WORKING GROUP OF THESE DEPARTMENTS AND SAPD TO IMPROVE COORDINATION OF CITY WIDE YOUTH INITIATIVES.
LED BY OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR, REBECCA FLORES, THIS WORKING GROUP IDENTIFIED DISENGAGED YOUTH AS THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY ACROSS THE BOARD.
GENERALLY THESE YOUTH START AS CHRONICALLY ABSENT, THEN THEY STOP ATTENDING SCHOOL ALTOGETHER.
TODAY THERE ARE 22 YOUTH WHO ARE DEFINED AS BEING OUT OF SCHOOL BUT THEY ARE OF SCHOOL AGE.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT WE SERVE.
TEEN PARENTS, HOMELESS OR NEAR HOMELESS.
THEY ARE SUBJECT TO BEING RECRUITED BY GANGS, AND THEY MAY SUFFER FROM ADDICTION OR MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE BELIEVE THEY REPRESENT A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT PREVENTION STRATEGIES AND WHEN THOSE FAIL TO USE REENGAGEMENT AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES TO BRING THOSE STUDENTS BACK TO THE SCHOOLS.
ADDITIONALLY, HUMAN SERVICES OPERATES THE HEAD START PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO AND EDGEWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
LAST YEAR WE ASSESSED 74% OF OUR HEAD START CHILDREN AS KINDERGARTEN READY.
WE WANT THAT TO BE HIGHER AND WE'RE SHOOTING FOR 85% IN BOTH SAN ANTONIO AND EDGEWOOD ISD ARE ON BOARD AND SUPPORT THAT GOAL.
OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES CAN MAXIMIZE OUR IMPACT IN THIS AREA BY ADDRESSING DEVELOPMENTAL AND FAMILY CHALLENGES EARLY ON BEFORE THE STUDENTS, BEFORE THE CHILDREN ENTER HEAD START AS 3-YEAR-OLDS THROUGH PARENT AWARENESS AND ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION STRATEGIES, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.
TO MAXIMIZE OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF FAMILIES BEING FINANCIALLY SECURE AND IN STABLE HOUSING WE ARE PROPOSING TO SUPPORT OUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT RETURN FOR SERVICES YEAR AFTER YEAR FROM 32% TO 20%.
DELEGATE AGENCY STRATEGIES TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING, VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING RELOCATION.
OFTEN THOSE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE, CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES, HOMELESS PREVENTION, ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
AND SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES TO REDUCE RECURRENCES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE WITH STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY AWARENESS, IDENTIFICATION OF EARLY RISK FACTORS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCES.
BY SUPPORTING HUMAN SERVICES PRIOR INVESTMENTS FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND VETERAN HOMELESS.
WE WILL CONTINUE COLLABORATING WITH OUR LOCAL HOMELESS CONTINUUM OF CARE AND HAVEN FOR HOPE.
TO REDUCE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS BY 60% IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS AND MAINTAIN THE EFFECTIVE END OF VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY ENSURING HOMELESS VETERANS ARE HOUSED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF IDENTIFICATION.
ALLOCATIONS TO SENIOR SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON ONE KEY POPULATION, THE SENIORS WHO ATTEND THE HUMAN SERVICES SENIOR CENTERS.
IT IS WITH THESE SENIORS THAT CONSOLIDATED FUNDING WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT BY PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF WELLNESS, FITNESS, DANCE, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND COMPUTER EDUCATION CLASSES.
THE STRATEGY MAXIMIZES THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN SENIOR SERVICES AND OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOME THAT SENIORS ARE AS HEALTHY, ENGAGED, AND INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE.
THESE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES WILL SERVE FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
WE HELD FIVE MEETINGS WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND AGENCIES TO GATHER INPUT ON THESE GOALS AND STRATEGIES.
THROUGH THIS PROCESS OUR PARTNERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CRAFT AN APPLICATION THAT DESCRIBES HOW THEIR UNIQUE PROGRAMS CAN HELP US REACH OUR DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES.
AS YOU WILL RECALL LAST WEEK KIRAN DISCUSSED THAT OUTCOMES DEFINE CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE BECAUSE OF A SINGLE ORGANIZATION'S WORK.
AND THEY HELP MOVE THE NEEDLE ON COMMUNITY-LEVEL RESULTS.
TO THIS END, HUMAN SERVICES IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY BY FOCUSING ON OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES IN EVERYTHING WE DO AND CONSOLIDATED FUNDING WILL HELP US MAXIMIZE THIS IMPACT.
WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, WE ALONE CANNOT
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ACHIEVE SAN ANTONIO'S VISION OF PROSPERITY.SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED APPROACH WORKING TOGETHER TO CORRECT OUTCOME DISPARITIES.
OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE ALIGNING OUR OUTCOMES AND GOALS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY FUNDERS, INCLUDING UNITED WAY AND THE AREA FOUNDATION.
TO AMPLIFY OUR GOALS AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO NOW I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO RENE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S WORKFORCE STRATEGIES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
SINCE I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME INDIVIDUALS LAST WEEK, LET ME DO SO.
WE DO HAVE SOME WORKFORCE SUPER STARS.
I SAW DR. ACOSTA FROM ALAMO COLLEGES IS HERE WITH US IN AUDIO] DAVID IS HERE FROM PROJECT QUEST.
I APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS JOINING US TODAY.
LET ME PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO BE A CITY.
IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE, NOT ONLY LOCALLY, BUT ALSO NATIONALLY.
ALTHOUGH MY DEPARTMENT OVERSEES WORKFORCE DELEGATE AGENCIES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HAS BECOME A KEY STRATEGY OF OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY START TO EXPERIENCE THIS FIRSTHAND, AS YOU ALL KNOW WE ADDED BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO, VERY DELIBERATELY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION.
WE BEGAN VISITING WITH LOCAL COMPANIES.
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE COMPANY WE VISITED WITH EXPRESSED THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SKILLS ATTAINMENT, PREPAREDNESS OF EMPLOYEES WAS THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
WE BEGAN SEEING THIS FIRSTHAND WHEN WE STARTED IMPLEMENTING OUR BRE PROGRAM.
SIMULTANEOUSLY S.A. 2020 CAME ONLINE AND THE TALENT PIPELINE WAS FORMED.
THEY DEVELOPED A REPORT THAT REALLY CAPTURED METRICS, IDEAS, TACTICS AROUND THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT AND IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL OF THOSE STRATEGIES.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SA WORKS.
THE CITY, THE COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, H-E-B STOOD UP THIS COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRY-LED ORGANIZATION THAT'S TUCKED UNDER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WORKFORCE HAS COME TO THE FOREFRONT AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STRATEGIES FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT BUT ALSO AS A WAY TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO LET ME BREAK DOWN THE TWO PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS WE HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.
IN OTHER WORDS, ENSURING THAT WE CAN FILL THOSE OPEN JOBS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE TARGETED INDUSTRIES.
IN FY18 WE INVESTED $2.5 MILLION IN DESIGNATED FUNDING TO PROJECT QUEST WHICH REALLY PROVIDES TRAINING, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND ULTIMATELY JOB PLACEMENT IN THOSE MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS.
THESE MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY PAY ABOVE THE AVERAGE WAGE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS ARE THOSE JOBS THAT REQUIRE MORE THAN A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE BUT LESS THAN -- MORE THAN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BUT LESS THAN A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.
NATIONALLY, BY 2020, 65% OF ALL JOBS WILL REQUIRE SOME POST SECONDARY DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE.
AND HERE LOCALLY, HERE'S A GREAT TAKEAWAY, 34 OF THE 36 OCCUPATIONS WITHIN OUR TARGETED INDUSTRIES REQUIRE SOME SORT OF CERTIFICATE.
SO AS I SAID, PROJECT QUEST HAS BEEN THE CITY'S PRIMARY PARTNER IN PROVIDING THE UNDERSERVED, UNDEREMPLOYED, AND OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THESE MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS.
THEY PROVIDE TUITION ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND ULTIMATELY JOB PLACEMENT.
THE REASON MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS ARE SO IMPORTANT IS, AS I SAID, THEY NOT ONLY MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE, THEY FILL THOSE MIDDLE SKILLS JOBS, BUT THEY PROVIDE EARNINGS ABOVE THE BEXAR COUNTY AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE.
ON AVERAGE THEY PAY $21.70, AN HOUR.
THE SECOND FOCUS, ENSURING OUR RESIDENTS HAVE A PATHWAY TO A GOOD JOB THROUGH SKILLS ATTAINMENT.
IN FY18 WE INVESTED $1.2 MILLION IN SIX WORKFORCE AGENCIES.
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LOOKING AT THE ADULT POPULATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO 25 YEARS AND OLDER, NEARLY 70% OF THOSE DON'T HAVE AN EDUCATION BEYOND A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.AROUND 20% DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AT ALL.
WE KNOW, AND YOU KNOW THAT WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMES ADDITIONAL EARNINGS.
SO OUR WORKFORCE AGENCIES IN THIS CATEGORY PROVIDE VARIOUS PROGRAMS, PROVIDE VARIOUS SERVICES, PROVIDE VARIOUS SHORT-TERM TRAINING AND ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS.
FOR EXAMPLE, LISTED HERE ON THE SLIDE, BASIC LITERACY, BASIC MATH SKILLS, GED, JOB READINESS, AND IN SOME CASES WORK EXPERIENCE.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE REAL GAME CHANGING APPROACH THAT WE INSTITUTED TWO YEARS AGO THROUGH MY DEPARTMENT WAS CREATING A SYSTEM THAT PROVIDED A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
IN OTHER WORDS, HAND-OFFS BETWEEN THESE AGENCIES TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
AS A PARTICIPANT RECEIVES ONE SERVICE THEY ARE THEN REFERRED TO ANOTHER SERVICE.
WE DID THIS WITH THE TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM.
PRIOR TO THAT, OUR WORK FORCE SYSTEM AND DELEGATE AGENCIES WERE SOMEWHAT FRACTURED.
THESE REFERRALS DID NOT HAPPEN.
CONNECTING THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SERVICE MOVES OUR RESIDENTS ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING A JOB.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT 85 PARTICIPANTS GET A JOB OR HANDED OFF TO ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
OUR GOAL THROUGH OUR AGENCIES IS TO REALLY MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES.
THEY ENTER THE JOB MARKET OR THE TRAINING MARKET AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THEIR LIFE JOURNEY, AND SO TO GET THEM RECONNECTED TO A CERTAIN CAREER PATHWAY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
THE MAIN POINT IS WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT THAT WANTS HELP HAS ACCESS TO THIS CAREER PATHWAY NETWORK.
WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO MELODY AND THEN, OF COURSE, AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> TO FINISH UP WITH POLICY DIRECTION.
SO THIS FIRST SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE ESTIMATED FISCAL YEAR '19 AND FISCAL YEAR '20 CONSOLIDATED FUNDING OF 21.4-MONTH-OLD.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE $300,000 ALLOCATED TO PROJECT QUEST, WHICH WAS ONE-TIME FUNDING.
COUNCIL, IF YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF DESIGNATING FUNDING TO HAVEN FOR HOPE, THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE, AND PROJECT QUEST , $10.6 MILLION WILL REMAIN FOR THE COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS, INCLUDING $2.1 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS FOR HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS.
THE TABLE SHOWS HOW RECOMMENDED FUNDING DESIGNATIONS IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF COMPETITIVE FUNDING THAT IS AWARDED THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS.
IT ALSO SHOWS OUR FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH MAINTAIN FUNDING AT THE CURRENT FY18 LEVEL BASED ON CURRENTLY FUNDED PROGRAMS BEING IF CITY COUNCIL CHOOSES TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING POOL DURING GOAL SETTING IN MAY, THEN WE WOULD ADJUST THE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS ACCORDINGLY BY THE PERCENTAGES.
TO SUMMARIZE, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR INPUT IN FOUR POLICY AREAS.
FIRST, CONTINUATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2018 FUNDING LEVELS BASED ON OUR DESIGNATED -- OUR DEPARTMENT'S IDENTIFIED LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.
SECOND DESIGNATION OF FUNDING TO -- OF 5.9 MILLION TO HAVEN FOR HOPE AND CENTER FOR OUTCOME SERVICES.
2.8 FOR AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE AND 2.2 MILLION TO PROJECT QUEST.
REGARDING THE NONCOMMUNICATION PERIOD, TWO CYCLES AGO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015, CITY COUNCIL IMPLEMENTED A NONCOMMUNICATION PERIOD FROM APRIL WHEN THE RFP WAS RELEASED, THROUGH MID-SEPTEMBER WHEN THE ORDINANCE FOR BUDGET ADOPTION WAS POSTED TO THE AGENDA.
NONPROFITS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF OR CITY STAFF, AND ABOUT THEIR FUNDING PROPOSALS FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS, AND SO IN FISCAL YEAR 2017 CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A NONCOMMUNICATION PERIOD THAT BEGAN IN JULY, AND THEN ENDED IN MID-SEPTEMBER.
AND WE ARE AGAIN RECOMMENDING THAT THE NONCOMMUNICATION PERIOD BEGIN IN JULY, AND WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING TWO
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DELEGATE AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AGENCIES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL REGARDING THEIR PROPOSED AWARDS BEFORE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.AND AS A QUICK REMINDER WE PLAN TO RELEASE THE RFP FOR FY '19 AND FISCAL YEAR '20 ON APRIL 13 WITH A DUE DATE OF MAY 14.
WE WILL HOBB TWO PRESUBMITTAL CONFERENCES WITH AGENCY AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON TRAINING FOR GRANT WRITING, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE MEASURE DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR APPLICATION, EVALUATION PANELS WILL SCORE THE PROPOSALS IN MAY AND JUNE AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET ON AUGUST THE 9TH.
AND WE WILL HOLD TWO -- THE TWO AGENCY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER THE 13TH.
AND SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR FORMAL PRESENTATION.
RENEE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INPUT AND DIRECTION AND ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT, THANK YOU, MELODY, AND THANK YOU, RENEE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
LET ME START -- SO THE RFP IS SCHEDULED TO GO OUT THIS MONTH?
>> SCULLEY: AFTER POLICY DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL TODAY THEN WE'LL ISSUE THE RFP AT THE END OF APRIL.
I'LL HAVE TO SAY AGAIN, I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS AS IT ALIGNS OUR PRIORITIES AS COUNCIL SO THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE LEADING.
WITH REGARD TO THE GOALS SET FORWARD AND HOW WE LINK THE GOALS WITH THE IMPACTS, SUCH AS FOR INSTANCE TARGETED CAREER, CASE MANAGEMENT WRAB AROUND SERVICE -- WRAP AROUND SERVICES, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO SEE ON THE RFP RESPONSES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THAT LIST OF PRIORITIES? IS THAT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DELIVERING ON THOSE?
SO IN GOING THROUGH THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND LOOKING AT OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES AND IDENTIFYING WAYS THAT CONSOLIDATED FUNDING COULD MAXIMIZE THOSE INCOMES, WHAT WERE THE AREAS OF HELP THAT WE NEED, YOU KNOW, WITH HEADSTART, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE -- WE HAVE A REAL NEED FOR SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED, PARENT EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT SERVICES, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES, TO HELP CHILDREN BECOME EVEN MORE READY TO START PRE-K AS A 3-YEAR-OLD.
AND SO WE IDENTIFIED THAT AS AN AREA OF NEED.
WE DEVELOPED GOALS BASED ON PROGRAM DATA THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND COMMUNITY DATA, AND THEN WE HELD THE MEETING WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK ON THE GOAL, AND THEY WENT THROUGH AND EXERCISED TO HELP US IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO GET THERE.
AND DO WE TRACK -- GO AHEAD, RENE, DID YOU WANT TO --
>> WELL, I GUESS SPECIFICALLY -- YOU ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, AS AN EXAMPLE, BUT WHILE YOU'RE THERE, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW WE ARE TRACKING THOSE LONG-TERM GOALS.
LIKE WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW TOWARDS OUR 90% ATTAINMENT RATE?
>> PROJECT QUEST CURRENTLY -- AND SO THE TOP ONE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE IT'S DESIGNATED FUNDING, IS DONE EXCLUSIVELY BY PROJECT QUEST AND THEIR PLACEMENT RATE IS AT 80% SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT.
WE TRACK IT THROUGH THEIR PERFORMANCE REPORTS.
THEN THE SECOND ONE TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, YES, IT WAS DEVELOPED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.
ONE IS INTERACTION WITH OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES.
ALSO WE'VE BEEN VETTING OUR TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM AND THIS CONCEPT OF HANDOFFS WITH A GROUP OF PARTNERS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED, SA WORKS, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO, SO WE VALIDATED OUR APPROACH PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING THIS CONTINUUM OF SERVICES.
THE GOAL OF 85% PARTICIPANT HANDOFFS WE CREATED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THIS WAS NOT BEING DONE BEFORE.
SO TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD, ONE, START TO QUANTIFY OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND SECONDLY, TO UNIFY THIS FRACTURED WORKFORCE SYSTEM, WE IMPLEMENTED THIS HANDOFF OF SERVICES AND ESTABLISHED THIS GOAL, MAYOR.
AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THESE AS KEY PRIORITIES, KEY OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY DOING THE HARD WORK OF GETTING THERE, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE FUNDING PROCESS AND WITH THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SPECIFICALLY TO HELP THEM LEAN IN AND BUILD CAPACITY WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO GET TO THESE OUTCOMES?
[02:15:02]
AND SO I MENTIONED THE TRAININGS THAT WE'LL DO TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR PROPOSAL.
WHAT OUR PLAN IS TO DO IS ONCE WE BEGIN THIS PROCESS, AND ACTUALLY EVEN BEFORE, WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO COLLABORATE -- PARTICIPATE IN COLLABORATIONS AROUND HOMELESSNESS AND OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE IN A VERY SUCCESSFUL WAY, AND WE WANT TO EXTEND THAT TO THE WORK WE DO WITH DELEGATE AGENCIES.
OUR FOCUS ON CONTRACT MANAGEMENT RIGHT NOW IS REALLY -- HAS REALLY BEEN AROUND COMPLIANCE.
AND SO WE WANT TO CREATE LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR EACH SPECIFIC TOPIC AREA SO THAT OUR AGENCIES COME TOGETHER, THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LEARNING WHAT EACH OTHER DOES, SHARING BEST PRACTICES, SHARING WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T, AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATION, ULTIMATELY CREATING A CONTINUUM OF CARE OF SERVICES SO THAT THEY'RE WALKING THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS TOGETHER.
>> MAYOR, IF I MAY, I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT AS MELODY SAID, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY PLAYER IN THIS SPACE, SO WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE AREA FOUNDATION AND SA 2020, UNITED WAY.
SO WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE EXPERTS IN ALL OF THESE AREAS, SO WE'RE GOING TO LEVERAGE OUR EXPERTISE IN THESE LEARNING COMMUNITIES.
THE AREA FOUNDATION HAS SPOKEN ABOUT DEDICATING RESOURCES TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THESE AGENCIES.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BE PART OF THAT PROCESS, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED CONVERSATIONS ON BUT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE WORKING ON THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN THE NEXT UPCOMING MONTHS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO HELP OUR AGENCIES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE DEBATES ABOUT FUNDING, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THAT, IT COMES FROM THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB TRACKING THE DATA OURSELVES AND THE GOALS THAT WERE SET.
I MEAN, FOR ME, THE GENESIS OF A LOT OF THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PRIORITY COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY VISIONING DURING SA2020 AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SEE IMPROVED.
AND SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO INTERNALLY TO, YOU KNOW, TRACK WHERE -- FIRST OF ALL, FIND OUT WHERE THE BASELINE IS, THEN SET PROPER GOALS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DOING THE WORK AND DETERMINING HOW FEASIBLE OUR GOALS ARE, THE BETTER STORY WE CAN TELL ABOUT THE FUNDING PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE -- THAT WE'RE PURS PURSUING.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER -- MY COLLEAGUES, BUT ON YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY DIRECTION, FULLY AGREE WITH THE INVESTMENT PRIORITIES AS WELL AS THE DESIGNATIONS FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES AS WELL AS PROJECT QUEST AND THE AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE.
THE ISSUE OF THE BLACK-OUT IN NONCOMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT FOR ME, AND THAT IS BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OUR FUNDING PROCESS PROPERLY, IT HAS TO BE AN OPEN DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SERVICE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID IS THE FREE -- YOU KNOW, THE FREE COMMUNICATION THAT HAPPENS AMONG THE COUNCIL OFFICES THAT LEADS TO FUNDING DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY HERE.
I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF LIFTING OR SHORTENING THE BLACK-OUT PERIOD, PERHAPS FOR COUNCIL, BUT DEFINITELY FOR THE STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO BE CHARGED WITH MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING CYCLE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE AREA FOUNDATION AND PARTICULARLY WITH SA2020, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY THAT THEY HEAR ABOUT THE RFP PROCESS, THEY HEAR ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITHIN THE RFP ITSELF, AND SO FORTH.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT -- NOT EASY WORK.
I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS AND TAKING IT SO SERIOUSLY, MELLY.
>> AND JUST TO CLARIFY, IF WE BEGIN THE NONCOMMUNICATION ON JULY THE 1ST, WE WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE RFP AND THE EVALUATION PROCESS, AND SO A LOT OF -- THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED, AND THAT COMMUNICATION TO HAPPEN.
WELL, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE ABUNDANTLY SURE, THOUGH, THAT BEFORE THEN WE SEND OUT THE RFP THAT WE'VE GOTTEN PROPER FEEDBACK AND LOOPED IN THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE RESPONDING TO MAKE SURE THIS THEY'RE -- THE GOALS THAT WERE SET AND THE TRACKING IS ALL GOING TO BE TOWARDS THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THEM AS WELL.
[02:20:01]
MUCH FOR THE BRIEFING.YOU AND I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS ON THESE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR ON WHAT -- WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND ONE OF THEM IS THE METRICS INVOLVED.
IN YOUR RFP PROCESS, WILL THAT -- WILL SPECIFIC METRICS AND GOALS AND MEASUREMENTS BE IDENTIFIED IN THE RFP?
>> SO WE'LL IDENTIFY THE LONG-TERM GOALS AND THE STRATEGIES, AND THEN THE AGENCIES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROPOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE IN LINE WITH OUR GOALS AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OVER THE NEXT TWO-YEAR CYCLE.
WE WILL NEGOTIATE -- YOU KNOW, WHAT WE USUALLY -- WE'LL REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE SCORECARDS AS PART OF THE RFP EVALUATION, SO THAT WILL BE PART OF THE SCORING, IS THE QUALITY OF THE METRICS AND THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND THEN FOR AGENCIES THAT ARE AWARDED, WE GO THROUGH A NEGOTIATION PROCESS DURING THE CONTRACT PERIOD, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY WHEN WE FINALIZE THE METRICS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AGENCIES.
IT'S A NEGOTIATION, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR PROGRAM IS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS MAY BE -- MAY HAVE UNIQUE FACTORS.
WE TRY TO KEEP THEM AS CONSISTENT AS POSSIBLE ACROSS LIKE AGENCIES, PROVIDING LIKE SERVICES, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF PROGRAMS. SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR SHORT-TERM PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES AND INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES THAT THEN FEED INTO THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE -- THE -- IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE.
IN DEVELOPING THOSE METRICS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS AND EVALUATION, DO Y'ALL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT PERFORMANCE IN THE PAST AS WELL?
SO OUR EVALUATION PANELS INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS.
IT INCLUDES -- IT WILL INCLUDE MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE STAFF FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN OUR FISCAL AND CONTRACT MONITORING STAFF SERVE AS RESOURCES, AND SO THEY'LL BE THERE TO ANSWER.
IF IT'S AN AGENCY THAT'S BEEN PREVIOUSLY FUNDED THEY'LL BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN IF IT'S AN AGENCY WE HAVE NOT FUNDED, THEN WE WILL LOOK TO THE RFP FOR INFORMATION ON THEIR PAST PERFORMANCE.
THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE THERE.
WE'LL ASK -- SUBMIT PAST PERFORMANCE REPORTS FROM OTHER AGENCIES, AND SO WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM.
>> PERRY: AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SAWS AND CPS NOW, ARE B SESSIONS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY REVIEW THESE METRICS ON A PERIODIC BASIS DURING -- DURING THE TIME FRAME, DURING THAT TWO-YEAR PERIOD, YOU KNOW, FOR EACH ONE OF THESE AGENCIES TO -- SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PERFORMANCE DURING THAT -- DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
>> IN THE PAST, AND WE CAN EXPAND ON THIS, WE'VE MET WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE WHERE DELEGATE AGENCIES, HEALTH AND EQUITY, I GUESS, WOULD BE OUR COMMITTEE TODAY, THAT WE REPORT OUT ON PERFORMANCE FOR THESE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
NONETHELESS, WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT AND POST THAT ON THE CITY'S WEB SITE BASED ON PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE TO DATE.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE -- YOU MENTIONED IT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
AND YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS ALL THEIR SWIM LANES OR THEIR STOVEPIPES TO WORK TOGETHER AS AGENCIES, AND MAYBE REDUCE COSTS, REDUCE OVERHEAD, THAT KIND OF THING, TO PROVIDE THAT LIKE SERVICE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE?
>> SO I MEAN, THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO REALLY STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP SO THAT AGENCIES BETTER COLLABORATE AND PROVIDE A DEEPER LEVEL OF SERVICES TO THE CLIENTS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER GREAT BENEFIT FROM THAT WILL BE AGENCIES GETTING TO KNOW WHAT -- WHAT EACH OTHER DOES AND BUILDING, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATIVES WHERE THEY MAYBE EVEN ARE BUNDLING SERVICES, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY SEE EFFICIENCIES AND, YOU KNOW, GREATER STREAMLINING OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND THOSE TYPES OF COSTS.
>> PERRY: I LIKE TO SAY IN TERMS OF FOCUS, FOCUSING ON WHAT THOSE DELIVERABLES ARE
[02:25:02]
ACROSS THOSE LIKE AGENCIES, AND HOW -- HOW -- I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THAT IN THE RFP.HOW ARE YOU GOING TO -- HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REQUIRE THAT IN THE RFP, THAT THEY DO THAT KIND OF THING? THAT -- TO ME THAT'S VERY KEY ON THIS, TO TRY TO GET THEM TO WORK TOGETHER AS, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOWARDS THAT GOAL THAT -- THAT THEY'RE ALL TRYING -- I KNOW EVERYBODY, AGAIN, HAS THEIR SEPARATE AGENCY, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS TO, YOU KNOW, FOCUS THOSE ENERGIES AND GET, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIES OF SCALE, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO HOW -- HOW CAN YOU PUT THAT IN AN RFP?
>> SO THAT WOULD BE ASKED AS, YOU KNOW, AN AREA TO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR RECORD OF PARTNERSHIP, COLLABORATIONS THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN AND THE IMPACT OF THAT, AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY SCORED.
SO WE HAVE AN EVALUATION TOOL THAT BREAKS DOWN, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE WANT IT TO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY OR PARTNERSHIP, AND SO THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF POINTS THAT WOULD BE ASSIGNED FOR THOSE AGENCIES THAT HAVE VERY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS AND CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT AND THEN LESS POINTS IF AN AGENCY DOESN'T.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY WE -- WE DO ENCOURAGE THEM.
>> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT LINES OF WORK, SO -- AND POOLS OF MONEY, SO FORTUNATELY FOR THE GROUPING I'M OVERSEEING, THE WORKFORCE AGENCIES, THOSE SIX PARTICULAR AGENCIES, THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT, THAT TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM, WHICH REQUIRES THESE HANDOFFS, IS GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT AS PART OF RFP, NOT NECESSARILY TO FORCE THIS INTERACTION TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE WE'VE BUILT THIS SYSTEM ALONGSIDE THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES.
THEY'VE REALIZED THE BENEFIT OF IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SELECT GROUP, VERY NICHE, VERY SMALL, WE'RE ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT AS A REQUIREMENT IN THE RFP.
YEAH, AND IF Y'ALL COULD SHOW ME THAT LANGUAGE, WHENEVER YOU GET A DRAFT TOGETHER, I'D REALLY LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN AS WE'VE TALKED BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN INCLUDE IT IN THE RFP PROCESS, BUT GRADUATES OF THESE PROGRAMS, HAVING SOMETHING AVAILABLE FOR THESE GRADUATES AS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP, AS A SENSE OF PRIDE, AS A SENSE OF SOMETHING TO GIVE BACK TO THAT AGENCY THAT HELPED THEM BE SUCCESSFUL AND CONTRIBUTING DOLLARS BACK TO THESE, OR TIME OR WHATEVER, BACK TO THESE AGENCIES TO HELP FUND SCHOLARSHIPS, REDUCE -- REDUCE COSTS TO THESE AGENCIES, TO HELP FUND THEM.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT LIKE EVERY YEAR I GIVE TO A&M TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, THAT KIND OF THING, BECAUSE I -- YOU KNOW, I CALL THAT MY YEARLY TAX TO A&M, BUT I FEEL AN OBLIGATION BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BASED ON, YOU KNOW, SPENDING MY TIME AND GRADUATING FROM THERE.
SO I'D REALLY LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO EXPLORE THAT MORE ON HOW THAT COULD BE WOVEN INTO EACH ONE OF THESE AGENCIES TO TRACK, KEEP CONTACT WITH, DEVELOP A PROGRAM LIKE THAT THAT THESE GRADUATES CAN GIVE BACK TO.
I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING Y'ALL CAN DO AS PART OF THE RFP PROCESS?
>> WELL, WE WILL DEFINITELY EXPLORE THAT.
IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS -- IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION, I THINK, FOR THE PLANNED LEARNING COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE STARTING.
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET FEEDBACK ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT -- I THINK THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT WILL LEND THEMSELVES TO THAT AND SOME THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS EASY -- SENIOR PROGRAMMING, SENIOR ARTS AND CRAFTS, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE SURPRISE US TOO, AND SO --
>> AND SO GETTING THAT FEEDBACK FROM THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE AGENCY I THINK IS IMPORTANT BEFORE WE ADD IT TO THE RFP.
I'LL REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME FORM OF THAT IN THESE RFPS ALSO, AND LET THEM MAKE A PROPOSAL ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
>> PERRY: FOR THEIR PARTICULAR AGENCY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE OR TWO CHARTS THAT SHOWED UP EARLY.
ON PAGE 8 IT TALKED ABOUT HEADSTART, AND THE TARGET
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WAS 85% OF THE CHILDREN ARE KINDERGARTEN-READY, BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU SAID THAT MOST -- THE MOST RECENT RECORDED HISTORY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REACHING MAYBE 74% OR SOMETHING.>> RIGHT, FOR SCHOOL YEAR '17, THE -- OUR HEADSTART CHILDREN IN SAN ANTONIO I.S.D. AND EDGEWOOD WERE ASSESSED AT 74%, WERE PROFICIENT IN ALL DOMAINS OF THE ASSESSMENT TOOL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CONSIDER KINDERGARTEN READY.
>> COURAGE: KINDERGARTEN READY.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 26% THAT AREN'T? DO THEY HAVE A CHANCE OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPEAT THE PROGRAM TO BECOME READY BEFORE THEY MOVE ON?
THEY GO ON TO KINDERGARTEN, AND THEN THEY'RE ASSESSED AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEN THE KINDERGARTEN WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR PROGRESS.
>> COURAGE: I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE I WORKED AT A SCHOOL WHERE THERE WERE CHILDREN WHO WEREN'T REALLY READY, AND THEIR PARENTS JUST SAID, MY CHILD IS NOT READY, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH IT ANOTHER TIME TO GET READY, AND I'M JUST WONDERING, ARE WE NOT -- REALLY NOT SERVING THOSE STUDENTS WELL IF WE'RE MOVING THEM FORWARD WHEN THEY'RE NOT READY? SHOULD THEY NOT BE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM AGAIN? I UNDERSTAND LIMITATIONS OF SIZE AND MONEY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I'D ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF MAKING SOMEONE READY TO MOVE ON, MAKE SURE THEY MASTER WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEY MOVE FORWARD INSTEAD OF JUST MOVING THEM FORWARD BECAUSE THEY'RE OF A CERTAIN AGE OR SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
SO I'D SURE LIKE TO SEE AGENCIES CONSIDER HOW THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT KIND OF A SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE 85 OR 90% OF THE KIDS READY TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN, THEN WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM SOME MORE BEFORE WE PUT THEM IN THAT SITUATION.
>> COURAGE: THE OTHER THING WAS ABOUT -- ON PAGE 10 IT TALKED ABOUT HOMELESS VETERANS, AND I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THEY'RE HOUSED WITHIN 90 DAYS.
NOW, THAT'S A LONG TIME TO WAIT IF YOU'RE HOMELESS TO GET HOUSED, 90 DAYS.
NOW, I'M SURE THAT'S THE OUTSET, BUT WE'D LIKE TO GET THEM HOUSED IN TEN DAYS OR 20 DAYS.
SO WHAT IS THE ACTUAL AVERAGE -- YOU KNOW, CAN WE SAY THE AVERAGE TIME SHOULD BE? AND THEN NOT GREATER THAN, SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MOVE THAT NUMBER FORWARD A LOT FASTER THAN 90 DAYS.
SOMEONE HAS BEEN HOMELESS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM, MAYBE AT HAVEN FOR HOPE FOR A WHILE, 90 DAYS, BEFORE YOU CAN FIND THEM A HOUSE.
DOESN'T SEEM TO ME TO BE AS HELPFUL OR SUCCESSFUL AS GETTING THEM IN SOONER.
>> AND THEY'RE INVITED TO A SHELTER DURING THAT 90-DAY PROCESS.
WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING ANYWHERE FROM IN THE 50S -- DAYS FOR GETTING VETERANS HOUSED.
WE RUN THESE NUMBERS QUARTERLY, BUT 90 DAYS IS THE STANDARD THAT'S SET BY HUD, AND SO WE'VE BEEN AHEAD OF THAT SINCE THE INITIATIVE STARTED.
BUT WE'VE GOTTEN CLOSE TO THE 90 DAYS ALSO, AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING AND FUNDING TO -- TO HELP THE VET -- ASSIST THE VETERANS WITH GETTING INTO THE HOUSING.
BUT WHEN WE DO IDENTIFY THEM, THEY ARE OFFERED LOW-BARRIER SHELTER AND A PLACE TO STAY, AND THEY BEGIN SERVICES.
SO IF THEY NEED SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, THEY BEGIN THOSE SERVICES -- THEY DON'T WAIT UNTIL 90 DAYS AND WE DON'T LEAVE THEM ON THE STREET FOR 90 DAYS.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE BY THE AGENCIES THAT ARE HOUSING HOMELESS VETERANS TO SEE WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TIME EACH OF THOSE AGENCIES ARE TAKING, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT HOUSE VETERANS, NOT JUST ONE OR TWO.
NOW, SOMETHING ELSE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT RECENTLY, ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE AGENCIES, SO WHEN CAN WE EXPECT OF THESE AGENCIES BEFORE WE'RE CALLED UPON TO MAKE A DECISION BASED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> WE WILL FINISH THAT WITHIN -- WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO TO THREE WEEKS, SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND LOOKED AT HOW FAR BACK CAN WE GET THE DATA, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO IT, WALK THROUGH A COUPLE OF AGENCIES TO LOOK AT WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND HOW LONG WE THINK IT WILL TAKE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO TO THREE WEEKS.
I NOTICED, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON LAST SECTION, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT -- WELL, IN HERE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT GOALS AND CERTAIN GOALS THAT WE WANTED AGENCIES TO REACH, AND I WAS WONDERING, HOW LONG HAVE A LOT OF THESE GOALS BEEN IN PLACE? FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT BEHIND YOU, 60% REDUCTION IN HOMELESS, AND BEFORE THAT IT, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT 85% READY TO GO TO KINDERGARTEN.
HAVE THOSE BEEN CONSISTENT GOALS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN REQUIRING OR
[02:35:02]
ARE THEY NEW?THEY WOULD START IN FISCAL YEAR 2019.
SO WE WOULD EXPECT BY THE END OF THIS CYCLE, '19 AND '20, TO HAVE REACHED SOME OF OUR SHORT-TERM GOALS, WHICH IS REALLY MORE ABOUT CHANGING PERCEPTIONS AND CHANGING AWARENESS, AND THEN MOVING -- YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD WE WOULD LOOK AT ACHIEVING AN INTERMEDIATE GOALS WITH THE LONG-TERM GOAL BEING SIX TO TEN YEARS.
A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT AS WE'RE PUTTING THIS -- THIS PROCESS TOGETHER IS I'VE FOUND AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THE MORE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS THAT WE APPROVE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT THERE'S ALMOST ALWAYS A CONTINGENCY IN THERE.
USUALLY IT'S ABOUT 10%, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE BUT THERE'S A 10% CONTINGENCY BECAUSE IT MAY COST MORE TO GET THINGS DONE.
AND I'M WONDERING ABOUT, WHY DON'T WE INVITE THESE AGENCIES TO OFFER -- TO BE ABLE TO SHOW US HOW MUCH MORE THEY COULD DO WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORT, SOMETHING I HAD MENTIONED LAST TIME.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE COULD OFFER AN AGENCY AN ADDITIONAL 5%, BUT THEY CAN GIVE US A 10 OR 15% BETTER RETURN, THEY CAN GUARANTEE THAT FOR THAT EXTRA 5%, THEN THAT'S A SMART CONTINGENCY TO PUT IN THERE.
TO GIVE THESE AGENCIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY.
BUT IF YOU GIVE US THIS MUCH MORE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING OR WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE CAN PROVIDE THIS MUCH MORE IN ACHIEVEMENT.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE MAY WANT TO TRY AND INCLUDE IN THIS PROCESS.
AND MAYBE EVEN GIVE EXTRA CREDIT, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO CONSOLIDATE OR, AS WE SAID, BUNDLE THEIR SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE SEE WITH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A PRIME AND THEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A SUB, AND MAYBE IF GROUPS ARE WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE SIMILAR GOALS, WE CAN INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES OR WE KNOW THAT BY WORKING THERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SAVE US SOME MONEY.
SO I'D SURE LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS EXPLORED AND PUT OUT THERE FOR THE COMPANIES.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD RECOMMEND GIVING AN EXTRA 5% OR A MILLION DOLLARS MORE INTO THIS $21 MILLION PROJECT IF WE CAN GET A 10 OR 15% BETTER GUARANTEE FOR THAT EXTRA 5%.
SO I THINK THAT'S WORTH CONSIDERING.
SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING THOSE UP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU, MELODY, AND THANK YOU FOR RENI AND MARIE -- RENE AND MARIA FOR VISITING ME YESTERDAY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INFORMATION, I THINK IT'S WELL ORGANIZED AND IT ALLOWS US TO GET TO THE BASICS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DECIDE HERE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT GOALS AND VALUES OF THE CITY AND WHERE WE BELIEVE CORE SERVICES ARE AND WHAT CORE SERVICES MEANS, AND I'LL START MY COMMENTS BY JUST SAYING THAT I'M NOT -- AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, I'M NOT LOOKING TO CUT THE FUNDING OF THESE -- OF THIS GRAND TOTAL OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES, RIGHT? I DON'T THINK THAT -- WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
I THINK THE MONEY IS WELL SPENT.
IN FACT, THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT DESERVE, TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S POINT, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
SO PART OF THIS ALSO COMES TO RIGHT SIZING WHERE WE'RE PUTTING THE MONEY, WHO GETS IT, AND HOW COMPETITIVE IT IS FOR THAT, SO I WANTED TO START BY SAYING I FELT LIKE THESE SHOULD STAY AND REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
THE ONLY GROUP I WOULD PROBABLY EXCEPT OUT OF THAT IS HAVEN FOR HOPE.
OTHER THAN THAT, EVERY AGENCY APPLYING FOR THESE DOLLARS SHOULD REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND IT SHOULDN'T BE, IN MY OPINION, JUST A RUBBER STAMP, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE SHOULD PUT DOWN AND ALLOW THEM TO -- YOU KNOW, TO COME AND TALK THOSE METRICS, THOSE SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY.
WE HAVE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN PROJECT QUEST, AND I THINK WE WOULD WANT THEM TO COME EVERY CYCLE AND EARN THAT MONEY EVERY CYCLE, BECAUSE I LOOK AT SOME OF THESE, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THEM FUNDED FOR 40 YEARS.
I MEAN, AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU BASICALLY JUST A CITY DEPARTMENT? REALLY, I MEAN, IT JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING, AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EVERY CYCLE -- AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYBODY NEEDS TO BE DECREASED.
I'M SAYING THEY NEED TO COME BACK AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THAT DOLLAR IS GOING TO THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE AND IT'S ALWAYS THERE.
SO I DO HAVE A BASIC ISSUE WITH JUST ALLOCATING CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS AND LETTING -- YOD LETTING THEM RIDE, RIGHT? SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHEN DOES SELF-SUFFICIENCY COME INTO PLAY IN ANY EVALUATION PROCESS WITH A
[02:40:01]
DELEGATE AGENCY?>> AND SO WE DO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, WHAT THE AGENCY'S PLANS ARE TO INCREASE THE PERCENT OF FUNDING THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN THE CITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CLOSELY LOOKED AT DURING THE EVALUATION PROCESS.
AND SO WE DON'T ASK FOR A PLAN WHERE THEY BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT WITHIN SO MANY YEARS, BUT WE DO ASK HOW THEY'RE ADDRESSING THAT.
>> BROCKHOUSE: RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU SAID LAST TIME WE HAD 14 AGENCIES THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, SOME OF THEM JUST WERE NOT PREPARED AND DIDN'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE RFP SUBMITTAL, AND THEN SOME DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT.
AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN APPLY, RIGHT? I MEAN, I THINK IF I'M AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, AND I'VE HEARD THIS FROM SOME IN MY DISTRICT WHERE THEY'RE LIKE, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO APPLY FOR IT, A LOT OF THOSE ARE DONE DEAL, AND BY ALL APPEARANCES THE LIST IS A DONE DEAL, WHEN YOU'VE ONLY GOT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY AND [INAUDIBLE] AREN'T GETTING ALLOCATED.
THAT'S WHERE THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY APPLYING FOR THE MONEY.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK -- IN THE LAST CYCLE I THINK WE DID IT, PROJECT QUEST CAME IN AND GOT AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 FOR 2.5 MILLION, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE 2.2 MILLION, CORRECT, IN THE RECOMMENDATION?
>> IF -- IF THAT'S WHAT YOU SUPPORT, IT WOULD BE 2 -- IF THAT'S WHAT CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS.
>> BROCKHOUSE: BUT IT IS 2.2 MILLION.
>> BROCKHOUSE: SO THE BASE BUDGET IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTED WITH, BECAUSE THAT CYCLE LAST TIME WHERE THE HEAVY LOBBYING OCCURRED FOR THE ADDITIONAL 300 GRAND THAT WAS ON TOP OF IT IN A ONE-TIME SHOT, RIGHT?
I MENTION THAT -- THE REASON I MENTION THAT IS TO -- AND TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S POINT AS WELL, IS SOME AGENCIES, A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A SCALABILITY IS GOING TO RESULT IN A MASSIVE IMPACT.
THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER ONLY GETS $73,000.
THE BATTERED WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER $200,000.
ST. VINCENT DEPAUL OVER HERE GETS $47,500.
50 GRAND AND DOUBLING THEIR BUDGET IS A MONUMENTAL INCREASE IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
I MEAN, THEIR REACH AND IMPACT IS MASSIVE.
ST. PJ'S 45, AND YET WE'RE DOLING OUT MILLIONS TO CERTAIN AGENCIES -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT METRICS ARE SPECIFIC AND MEASURABLE AND THAT WE SPREAD THE WEALTH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE EVER.
AND IF THAT MEANS TAKING A 21 MILLION DOLLAR POOL AND ADDING A MILLION BUCKS THAT'S OKAY.
THESE AREN'T CORE SERVICES OF THE CITY BUT THEY'RE CORE SERVICES.
SO THERE'S A SERVICE WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH FROM A HUMAN DIGNITY STANDPOINT.
SO IT'S HOW DO WE ALLOCATE AND RIGHT SIZE THOSE RESOURCES AND GIVE MORE AGENCIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT DONE AND IF IT'S AN INCREASE IN FUNDING I'M OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION.
BUT I THINK WE CAN GET THERE BY SAYING -- AND I THINK RENE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN HE SAID THIS IN OUR MEETING YESTERDAY, HOW DO WE SCALE UP IMPACT AND SCALE DOWN DOLLARS? RIGHT? HOW DO WE DO MORE WITH LESS? HOW DO YOU GET BETTER WHAT YOU'RE DOING? HOW DO YOU INNOVATE AND GET A LARGER REACH WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU'RE GETTING SO WE OPEN THE DOOR TO MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS.
DO YOU -- IS THERE INNOVATION OR SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN ANY OF THE RFP PROPOSAL ITEMS THAT THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT A PLAN ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS?
>> SO THEY WILL -- PART OF THE -- PROBABLY THE LARGEST PART OF THE PROPOSAL IS DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE OUTCOME THAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO ADDRESS, AND I WOULD -- I WOULD ANTICIPATE SEEING QUITE A LOT OF INNOVATION, BECAUSE THE OUTCOMES ARE NEW.
SO WE'RE ASKING THEM TO PROPOSE IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY, AND THAT WILL REQUIRE SOME INNOVATIVE THINKING AND CREATIVE THINKING ON THEIR PART.
>> BROCKHOUSE: AND THAT WOULD -- THAT'S EXCELLENT, BECAUSE LIKE IF YOU TAKE -- WE TALKED THROUGH PROJECT QUEST YESTERDAY, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE PAYMENTS OCCURRING TO THE COLLEGES, RIGHT? I MEAN, THESE ARE PAYMENTS ROUTED THROUGH PROJECT QUEST TO THERE.
WHAT ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, HOW CAN THEY INNOVATE THEIR BUSINESS MODEL TO CREATE A BETTER FLOW AND EFFICIENCY OF THINGS, TO SAVE DOLLARS THAT THEN MAY BE ALLOCATE TO DO A ST. VINCENT DEPAUL OR ANY BABY CAN.
$10,000 IN AN INNOVATION MAY TURN INTO MONEY WE CAN PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MAKE AN IMPACT.
AND YOU THE REASON THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER JUMPED OUT, WE HAD A DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN DISTRICT 6 AND A WOMAN GOT KILLED AND HER 1-YEAR-OLD -- 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, IT WAS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GET SMACKED IN THE FACE AS A COUNCIL PERSON TO SAY I'VE GOT A BLIND SPOT THERE.
THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES ARE HUGE, RIGHT? AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ALL THESE
[02:45:01]
MAKE SURE THAT THE DOLLARS GET TO THE SPACES THAT MATTER THE MOST [INAUDIBLE] IMPACT WHAT AN ORGANIZATION DOES WITH THE DOLLAR, SHOULD BE PART OF OUR EVALUATION.I MAY BE ABLE TO GET A BIGGER REACH ON $10,000 TO ST. VINNIE'S OVER THERE THAN $10,000 TO ONE OF THESE OTHER BIG DONORS.
YOU'VE GOT TOP FIVE OVER HERE THAT ARE GETTING AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY.
CAN THEY STAND TO LOSE 50 GRAND SO I CAN GET TO 50,000 MEALS? I THINK THAT'S A WORTHY DISCUSSION.
I THINK THE MAYOR SAID TO PUT ON THE TABLE THAT NEEDS TO BE VALUE PROTECTING THE DOLLAR, AND CAN THAT DOLLAR REACH MORE PEOPLE.
I HOPE THAT'S PART OF YOUR EVALUATION PROCESS WHEN THE TIME COMES.
>> AND THAT'S REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND THE DEVELOPING THE OUTCOMES FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CONSOLIDATED FUNDING, IS TO ENSURE THAT THE LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE ARE REACHING THOSE -- THOSE POPULATIONS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE IN THE HIGHEST RISK AND THE HIGHEST NEED.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO REITERATE, LET'S MAKE SURE THE SPECIFIC METRICS ARE THERE.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNCIL AGREES THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE AGENCIES SHOULD COME BACK AND COMPETE AND JUSTIFY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME OF THEM ARE GOING THROUGH CHANGES.
MAYBE WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT KIND OF LENGTHY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH THEM IN THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS.
MAYBE THEY NEED -- AND I SAID LAST WEEK, THEY GOT TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE, UNCOMFORTABILITY IN YOUR BUSINESS MODEL HELPS YOU INNOVATE AND GET BETTER AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND AS FOR THE BLACK-OUT PERIOD I WILL SAY I THINK THE BLACK-OUT PERIOD SHOULD BE AS MINIMAL AS POSSIBLE, AND THIS IS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, SHE'S MENTIONED THIS FIVE OR SIX TIMES, WHICH IS WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, AND KNOWING WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON IS DEALING WITH THE AGENCY AND TAKING THOSE HARD MEETINGS, AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR GOALS AND HAVING THOSE ONE-ON-ONES.
IS IT GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF OUR TIME? SURE.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE LONGER THE BLACKOUT PERIOD THE MORE STAFF DECISION IT BECOMES AND WE NEED TO FLIP THAT, FLIP THE DECISION BACK TO THE BODY, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GIVE US MORE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY.
WE DON'T NEED GREATER STAFF DECISION, WE NEED GREATER COUNCIL GUIDANCE AND A PULL-BACK OF THAT PRIORITY.
I THINK YOU'VE GIVEN A GREAT PRESENTATION, AND MARIA, MELODY AND RENE, THE WORK HAS BEEN EXCELLENT.
I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE QUICK RESPONSE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS -- OF COURSE, THANK YOU, MELODY AND RENE, FOR ALL THE WORK.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS -- WELL, SINCE IT WAS FRESH OFF MY MIND, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT FOR THE BLACKOUT PERIOD IS I'M GOOD WITH THE START OF JULY 1.
I ONLY WOULD ASK THAT RIGHT AFTER THE PUBLIC BUDGET HEARINGS, WHENEVER WE START HEARING -- BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW WE HAVE THE TIME WITH DELEGATE AGENCIES CAN COME AND MAKE THEIR PITCH, MAYBE RIGHT AFTER THEY MAKE THEIR PITCH OR RIGHT BEFORE THAT, THAT'S WHEN THEY CAN START THE INTERACTION WITH US, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS, THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I THINK MID-SEPTEMBER WOULD BE TOO LATE BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT THE BUDGET ADOPTION.
SO MAYBE LOOKING MORE IN AUGUST TO HAVE -- WELL, THE END OF AUGUST, I GUESS, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD -- WE COULD LOOK AT PREFERABLY.
AND THEN FINALLY, I GUESS -- I HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- BECAUSE I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEVELS.
DID YOU ALL REVIEW AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY -- AND I THINK JEFF WAS HERE, AND MAYBE HE DID ANSWER IT LAST TIME, JEFF COYLE, ABOUT ANY OF THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT ARE RECEIVING FEDERAL CUTS IN THEIR SPENDING.
>> OH, YES, AND THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AS MELODY AND THE REVIEW PANELS CONSIDER PROPOSALS AND SCORE -- THAT WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> SCULLEY: I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE ABOUT FEDERAL CUTS THIS TIME, BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN PUT ON NOTICE, AND SO THERE IS A COMMUNITY EXPECTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE, BUT THEN BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED BUDGET, THERE'S A FINITE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE, SO UNLESS THAT 21 MILLION AS AN ALLOCATION WITHIN THE BUDGET INCREASES, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PICK UP WHATEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CUTTING FOR ALL OF THESE AGENCIES.
>> VIAGRAN: I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK
[02:50:02]
AT AND SEE CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT -- WELL, FOR CLARIFICATION, NO. 2, HAVEN FOR HOPE AND CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, HOW MUCH HAS THE COUNTY PUT INTO THIS?
>> SO THE COUNTY PUTS IN MINIMAL FUNDING, AND WE CAN GET THAT EXACT AMOUNT.
I THINK LAST YEAR FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE IT WAS, OPERATION DOLLARS, 150,000.
>> VIAGRAN: AND THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES?
>> ACTUALLY KENNY WILSON IS HERE AND HE CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
HOW MUCH DID THE COUNTY GIVE YOU?
>> VIAGRAN: SO BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES.
>> WE'LL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREAMLINE, AND WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT -- I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, ABOUT STRATEGIZING AND WORKING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATION.
AND IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE OUR OTHER -- OUR TEAMS WORK TOGETHER IF THEY'RE IN A CATEGORY OF -- WHETHER IT IS THE WORKFORCE, WHETHER IT'S SENIORS OR HOMELESSNESS OR THE FINANCIAL SECURE AND STABLE HOUSING, TO PUT IN THE RFP TALKING ABOUT COLLABORATION AND WORKING TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT DEEPER IMPACT AND THAT EVERYONE TALKS TO EVERYONE, TO HAVE A DEEPER IMPACT WITH WHATEVER FUNDING THAT THEY GET.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE CAN LOOK AT THAT MANDATE OR HOW WE CAN DO THAT IN OUR RFP.
SO THE INTERACTION WITH OTHER GROUPS TOGETHER.
THAT'S A QUESTION WE'VE HAD IN THE RFP FOR SEVERAL CYCLES NOW, AND IT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE'LL BE BEEFING UP FOR THIS CYCLE, AND THEN ALSO WE DO ALLOCATE POINTS FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS.
>> VIAGRAN: SO HOW DO WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT AFTER THE FACT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING?
>> IT WOULD BE PART OF SCORECARD MEASURES.
IT WOULD BE -- POTENTIALLY IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT A SUBCONTRACTING TYPE RELATIONSHIP, IT WOULD BE PART OF FOLLOWING UP ON BUDGET EXPENDITURES AND ARE THEY -- ARE THEY CONTINUING THAT SUBCONTRACTING RELATIONSHIP THAT THEY MENTIONED.
IT WOULD ALSO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING WHICH WILL BE MORE TOPIC-SPECIFIC AND MORE ABOUT LEARNING AND SHARING BEST PRACTICES.
SO THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: SO IF WE HAVE, LET'S SAY -- I'M GOING TO JUST PULL THESE OUT FROM HERE NOW, BECAUSE -- I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT -- UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE HAVE, SAY, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, ANY BABY CAN AND ONE OTHER GROUP, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, AND THEY'RE UNDER THE SAME KIND OF UMBRELLA, THAT AFTER -- IF THEY GET AWARDED AFTERWARDS THEY WILL HAVE TO COME COMPLY AND GET -- AND WORK TOGETHER ON COLLABORATION.
THEIR SCOPE OF WORK THAT THEY SUBMIT AS PART OF THEIR RFP BECOMES PART OF THEIR CONTRACT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT --
>> VIAGRAN: SO YOU'RE SAYING WE DO THAT RIGHT NOW?
SO IF AN AGENCY SUBMITS AN RFP AND THEY PUT IN THEIR SCOPE OF WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDES BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS, BOYS AND GIRLS AND ANY BABY CAN, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THEIR CONTRACT AND WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD -- WE WOULD MONITOR AND LOOK AT FOR COMPLIANCE.
>> VIAGRAN: I THINK I NEED TO -- I'M GOING TO WANT TO WORK THAT OUT MORE WITH Y'ALL AND GET BETTER CLARIFICATION AND SPECIFICS ON THAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF I'M MAKING MYSELF CLEAR HERE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN DO THAT.
>> LET ME, IF I CAN, COUNCILWOMAN, THERE'S ADDITIONAL BENEFITS, OBVIOUSLY, TO COLLABORATING, AND SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED AND PROBABLY WHY GEORGE IS HERE, IS THE IDEA OF CO-ENROLLMENT.
IF YOU ENROLL FOR ONE PROGRAM, YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET CO-ENROLLED IN ANOTHER.
LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT NICHE PROGRAMMING, SO THIS IS POSSIBLE FOR OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, WSA IS WHERE ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY GOES FOR TRAINING, SO BY CO-ENROLLING IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR TRAINING DOLLARS THROUGH WSA AND THERE'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THAT AGENCY AND THE WSA, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE'RE LEVERAGING A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN LEFT OFF THE TABLE PREVIOUSLY.
>> VIAGRAN: RIGHT, AND RENE, I THINK I SEE THAT, I SEE THE LINKS CLEARER WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORKFORCE SIDE BUT I WANT TO GET THE CLEAR PICTURE FROM MELODY, YOUR SIDE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN OF HAVE.
[02:55:02]
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I'D LIKE TO START MY COMMENTS, IF I CAN, MELODY, ON THIS BLACKOUT PERIOD DISCUSSION.
I'VE ALWAYS BENEFITED FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND, EVEN IF IT'S JUST 30 MINUTES WITH A NEW GROUP OR SOMEONE THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IN UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE COMING TO THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS, AND I WANT TO -- I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF CONTINUING THE BLACKOUT PERIOD, BECAUSE AT THE VERY LEAST THERE WAS A TIME, AND YOU'LL CORRECT ME IF I'M SAYING THIS -- IF I'M OUT OF STEP HERE, BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO BLACKOUT PERIOD FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING, OR THE FUNDING PERIOD? IS THAT RIGHT?
>> YES, THERE WAS A TIME IT WASN'T ENFORCED.
>> THE BLACKOUT PERIOD WAS REQUESTED BY A PREVIOUS COUNCIL.
WE WERE ASKED TO DEVELOP OPTIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL ON HOW TO MANAGE THE CONTACTS, SO AT LEAST TEN YEARS AGO, MAYBE 12, MARIA AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT, IT WASN'T EVEN A CONSOLIDATED PROCESS.
IF AN AGENCY WANTED TO SUBMIT AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL TO THE CITY, THEY DID, SO WE DID THIS CONSOLIDATED PROCESS AND THEN DID IT EVERY TWO YEARS.
BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS FOR THE COUNCIL, OF COURSE -- AND WE BENEFIT TOO FROM HEARING FROM AN AGENCY, WHICH IS WHY WE GO THROUGH THIS INTERVIEWING PROCESS, BUT THE COUNCIL THEN WAS INUNDATED WITH UP TO 70 AGENCIES GOING FROM COUNCIL OFFICE TO COUNCIL OFFICE SCHEDULING MEETINGS, AND IT WAS JUST THIS CONSTANT ROTATION, AND THEN THE AGENCIES WOULD COMPLAIN TO STAFF WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS THEN DIDN'T MAKE THOSE MEETINGS AND THEY HAD THEIR STAFFS WITH -- MEET WITH THE AGENCIES, THEN THEY WOULD COMPLAIN TO US ABOUT THAT.
SO THE COUNCIL SAID, PLEASE COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS.
SO IT WAS A COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THE LIMITATION OF THE BLACKOUT PERIOD.
BUT ALL THE AGENCIES WHO PROPOSE ARE EVALUATED, SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.
THE CHALLENGE IS -- AND MAYBE THE COUNCIL WANTS THE POLICY -- I'M NOT SURE HOW WE DO THIS SO I'M KIND OF THINKING OUT LOUD HERE, BUT MAYBE FOR AN AGENCY THAT'S NEVER BEEN FUNDED, THERE MIGHT BE AN EXCEPTION SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THAT AGENCY.
NOT SURE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT.
WE WILL NEED STATE THAT IN THE ACTUAL RFP.
SO WE'LL NEED THAT DIRECTION TODAY.
>> YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD NEED THAT.
WHICH IS -- I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M HEARING THAT FROM EVERY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT WE HAVE NO BLACKOUT PERIOD OR WE SHORTEN IT TO SOME EXTENT, VERY -- I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
I'VE SEEN BOTH SIDES AND WE USED TO CALL IT DELEGATE AGENCY.
IT WASN'T CONSOLIDATED FUNDING, BUT WHAT I'M GLEANING FROM THE PROCESS IS WE WOULD HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS CALL OUR SECRETARIES AND SAY I WANT TO GET OUR CALENDAR, DO YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GRUELING.
SOMETIMES IT'S TWO OR THREE DAYS JUST TO MEET WITH DELEGATE AGENCIES, AND YOU GIVE THEM EACH 30 MINUTES AND IT'S BACK-TO-BACK TO BACK.
BUT THROUGH THAT YOU DO A LOT OF LEARNING, AND FOR SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH ONE TEACH ONE DOES OR WHAT DRESS FOR SUCCESS DOES OR WHAT ST. PJT DEPAUL DOES, IF IT'S JUST THOSE 20, 30 MINUTES IT GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE OF ADVOCATING BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO COME AND ULTIMATELY BE THE FINAL DECISION MAKER.
THE POINT THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IS YOU ALSO HAVE TO PUT THAT IN AN EQUATION.
YOUR ASSESSMENT, YOUR 30 MINUTES, PLUS WHAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TO ACTUALLY MEASURE IMPACT RATHER THAN JUST THE QUICK 30 MINUTES THAT YOU'VE HAD WITH ONE PARTICULAR AGENCY.
AND I THINK IN THAT WAY YOU SORT OF IN SOME WAYS DEMOCRATIZE THAT PROCESS FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE LESS LIKELY BE ABLE TO GET INTO AN OFFICE, OR IN SOME CASES IF YOU GO UP TO THE 4TH FLOOR OF CITY HALL FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER VISITED THEIR COUNCIL MEMBER, WILL KNOW YOU HAVE TO SIGN IN.
IF YOU HAVE TO DO AN INVENTORY WHOEVER HAS SIGNED IN TO SEE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT JUST ON DELEGATE AGENCIES BUT EVERY CONTRACT THAT COMES UP, THERE HAS BEEN THIS QUESTION OF DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER OR DO YOU HAVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY, HIRE A LOBBYIST TO GET YOU ACCESS TO A COUNCIL MEMBER? AND WHEN IT COMES TO DELEGATE AGENCIES AND WE'RE SORT OF LIKE A DONOR IN THAT SITUATION, YOU SHOULD HAVE EVERYBODY HAVE A FAIR SHAKE AT TRYING TO BE ABLE -- TRYING TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR ORGANIZATION OR THEIR NONPROFIT OR THEIR CAUSE SOME AIR TIME.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS WHAT WE LEARNED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN TRYING TO PERFECT THIS PROCESS IS NOT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ENOUGH TIME, WE CAN'T GET TO
[03:00:02]
EVERY ONE OF THE AGENCIES WHO COMES FORWARD, SO LET'S NOT ONLY RELY ON A COUNCILMAN'S FAVORITE -- OR COUNCIL PERSON'S FAVORITE NONPROFIT OR SOMETHING THAT REALLY TOUCHED HIM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM THEMSELVES OR THEY ATTENDED THAT PARTICULAR AT-RISK YOUTH PROGRAM.SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO -- THE EQUATION IS OUR EXPERIENCE, LET'S SHORTEN THE BLACKOUT PERIOD AND FURTHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY PROPOSED, AND THEN LET'S ALSO OF COURSE BE MINDFUL OF THE PROFESSIONAL ANALYSIS THAT OUR STAFF IS DOING TO MEASURE IMPACT, AND DOLLARS IS SOMETHING.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE ARE TRADING WITH HERE, WHICH IS THE TAXPAYERS' INVESTMENT TO THE CITY THAT THEN WE DECIDE HOW TO INVEST WITH NONPROFITS.
LET'S NOT LEAD WITH, LET'S JUST PROTECT EVERY DOLLAR.
LET'S LEAD WITH HOW MUCH IMPACT WILL THIS DOLLAR HAVE, AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD ADVISE THAT YOU ALLOW OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO COME AND VISIT WITH YOU, NONPROFITS, WHETHER IT'S THE FOOD BANK, THE LARGER ONES OR THE SMALLER ONES, LIKE ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, SO THEY MIGHT MAKE THEIR CASE.
I THINK THAT'S INCUMBENT ON US AS POLICIES BUT ALSO FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND DECISION MAKERS FOR WHAT WILL FINALLY BE PROPOSED.
SO I THINK THAT NO PARTICULAR COUNCIL HAS A MONOPOLY ON THE BEST IDEA OR THE MOST PERFECT ONE, SO AS WE'RE ADJUSTING IT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COLLEAGUES WHO MAY BE GAP] THE SYSTEM HERE THAT MAYBE THEY'LL GO THROUGH THAT AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? ONLY COMMENTS THAT I HAD FOR THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE STAFF IS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> GONZALES: I'D BETTER CHIME IN ON THAT AS WELL, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT A BLACKOUT PERIOD FOR -- I DON'T SUPPORT A BLACKOUT PERIOD FOR THE DELEGATIONS OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT AGENCY.
BUT SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DELEGATIONS I'LL STICK TO THAT.
AND SINCE I HAVE THE FLOOR I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK KENNY WILSON AT HAVEN FOR HOPE FOR ALL HE DOES.
I GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE HAVEN, AND IT'S USUALLY NOT POSITIVE AND KENNY AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO OUR CITY, AND FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T TRAVELED TO OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
OTHER CITIES ARE ALWAYS COMING TO SAN ANTONIO TO TOUR THE FACILITY, TO SEE HOW WE DO IT, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S A SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.
AND SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TWEAKING IT TO IMPROVE IT, BUT I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE SUPPORT FOR HAVEN AND JUST TO THANK KENNY FOR ALWAYS BEING A PHONE CALL AWAY AND I THINK HE -- MAYBE AFTER BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER COULD BE THE TOUGHEST JOB OUT THERE.
AND MY LAST ALSO JUST COMMENT IS TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO, SO TODAY I ALSO ENDED UP AT THE SCENE OF A FIRE WHERE A FAMILY LOST EVERYTHING, AND BECAUSE THIS IS NOW THE EIGHTH TIME, EIGHTH TIME, AT LEAST THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, THAT I'VE PERSONALLY GONE TO A FIRE WHERE EVERYTHING WAS DESTROYED, THAT -- AND NOBODY WAS KILLED, THANKFULLY Y'ALL HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST THE EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR.
SO I ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PROJECT QUEST AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND OF ALL OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO, I THINK THIS COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
SHERYL, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU GOT FEEDBACK ON THE POLICY DIRECTION OR DO YOU NEED MORE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK ON THE BLACKOUT PERIOD?
>> SCULLEY: I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW FROM COUNCIL ON THE BLACKOUT, BECAUSE I DID NOT HEAR A MAJORITY SAYING ELIMINATE THE BLACKOUT PERIOD.
I THINK FOR THE STAFF I'D RECOMMEND THAT WE BE IN THE BLACKOUT PERIOD.
OTHERWISE WE WILL BE ALSO LOBBIED BY ALL THE AGENCIES, AND OUR ROLE IS TO MAKE THE PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW THE AGENCIES, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THESE POLICY GUIDELINES THAT ARE OUTCOME DRIVEN, AND SO
[03:05:01]
TO STAY WITH THAT.IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO MEET WITH THE 60-PLUS AGENCIES THAT WE'LL BE RECOMMENDING, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE TO DO THAT, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE STAFF BE KEPT IN THE BLACKOUT PERIOD.
AND RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD ASK TOO THAT -- THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WAIT FOR OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION, BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED -- AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE BLACKOUT PERIODS EVEN DURING CONTRACT BIDS, BECAUSE IN THE PAST WHAT HAPPENS, A COUNCIL MEMBER MIGHT LOBBY FOR A PARTICULAR FIRM OR AGENCY, AND IT MAY NOT MATCH THE POLICY GUIDELINES.
BUT I DID NOT GET THEY'RE CLEAR DIRECTION ON THE BLACKOUT PERIOD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LET ME OFFER MY INPUT, THEN, BASED ON THAT.
THERE'S TWO THINGS GOING ON THAT I SEE.
ONE IS THAT WE GET PROPER FEEDBACK ON THE RFP ITSELF FROM THE NONPROFIT AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SETTING OUR OUTCOME AND EXPECTATIONS PROPERLY.
I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO GET ACCESS TO THOSE AGENCIES BEFORE THE RFP GOES OUT.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE BLACKOUT FOR STAFF, IF THAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION, MAKE YOUR JOBS EASIER.
I DID WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT COUNCILMAN SALDANA SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE GET FIXATED ON THE DOLLARS.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FIXED ON THE GOALS AND THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
WHEN WE DO THAT WE'RE NOT FREELY DOLING OUT MONEY, AS HAS BEEN SAID.
WE'RE INSTEAD TARGETING THE OUTCOMES THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE AND THAT THE NONPROFITS THEMSELVES HAVE SAID IS FEASIBLE.
IF THAT IS THE CASE, I'M COMFORTABLE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND AS A MAYOR TO SUGGEST THAT WE LIFT THE BLACKOUT FOR COUNCIL, KNOWING THAT IF WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY WILL BE AND SHOULD REMAIN OUTCOME DRIVEN BASED ON OUR POLICIES.
>> SCULLEY: I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT DRIVEN BY FINANCIAL BUT RATHER WE -- THE OUTCOMES.
AND THESE POLICY GUIDELINES, THAT'S WHY WE WENT THROUGH THE EQUITY LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
I WANT ANDY TO ADDRESS THIS, BECAUSE THERE WOULD -- IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.
THAT'S WHERE THIS BLACKOUT PERIOD IS INCLUDED, IN THE ETHICS ORDINANCE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, ANDY.
YES, JUST TO CLARIFY THE BLACKOUT IS A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE ETHICS CODE.
THAT BEING SAID, IT DOES PROVIDE UNDER THE LANGUAGE WHERE THE REQUIREMENT IS STATED, IT DOES PROVIDE THE FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE THE TIMING OF IT.
THE DEFAULT PERIOD IS IT STARTS WHEN THE RFP IS ISSUED, BUT THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST THAT.
SO FOR PURPOSES OF THE DELEGATED AGENCIES WE CAN ADJUST IT, BUT IT CAN'T BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE ETHICS CODE.
>> SCULLEY: I'LL OFFER ANOTHER OPTION.
IT COULD BE LIFTED -- IF IT STARTED JULY 1 IT COULD BE LIFTED WHEN I RECOMMEND THE BUDGET BECAUSE THEN IT'S PUBLIC WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, AND AGENCIES COULD -- WHAT HAS HAPPENED -- THE WAY IT'S SET UP TODAY, IT DOESN'T LIFT UNTIL THE COUNCIL -- THE WEEK BEFORE THE -- YES, THE WEEK BEFORE BUDGET ADOPTION, SO YOU COULD SHORTEN IT --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO BASICALLY WHEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET GOES OUT FOR DELIBERATIONS IN THIS ROOM AND THEN IN THE PUBLIC?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO FOR ABOUT A MONTH OF A BLACKOUT.
>> SCULLEY: I PRESENT THE BUDGET IN EARLY AUGUST BY CHARTER, REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
SO WHEN I MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION IT WILL INCLUDE THE DELEGATE AGENCIES RECOMMENDED BY MELODY THROUGH THE PROCESS.
YOU COULD DO THAT AS AN OPTION AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, I -- I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAY ABOUT THAT, BUT AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT IS WHAT IS DRIVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT BEING FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES, AND HOPEFULLY WILL PREVENT RECOMMENDATIONS BEING SIMPLY GENERATED BY PREFERENCE OR BY GAP].
[03:10:01]
>> SCULLEY: SO IT WOULD BE JULY 1 BASED ON THE ALTERNATIVE I JUST OFFERED YOU, TILL ABOUT THE 10TH OF AUGUST.
>> COURAGE: THE AGENCIES THAT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE I NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAYBE BEYOND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING.
SO THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> PERRY: YES, I AGREE WITH COURAGE I WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO SAY I AGREE WITH THE ORIGINAL STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THAT, BUT I DON'T MIND, AND YES, I'LL CALL YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE? SHERYL, DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? MELODY? WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: -- THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE CONSOLIDATE -- WE MOVE THE BLACKOUT TO THE PERIOD OF TIME JULY 1 TO WHEN THE BUDGET IS PROPOSED GAP]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: FIVE WEEKS, SIX WEEKS.
AND THAT STAFF WOULD REMAIN IN THERE, IN THE BLACKOUT BEYOND THAT.
[Executive Session]
WE ARE GOING TO EXTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION UNTIL TOMORROW.WE DO HAVE A CEREMONIAL ITEM, SO THE TIME IS NOW 5:32 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS POSTED FOR TODAY WILL BE CARRIED OVER UNTIL TOMORROW, THE APRIL 5, 2017 A SESSION.
[Ceremonial Recognitions]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL CEREMONIAL AGENDA.
IF I COULD ASK EVERYONE NOW TO TAKE THEIR SEATS.
WE'VE GOT THREE CEREMONIAL ITEMS AND WE'D LIKE TO GET UNDER WAY.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE FIESTA SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION.
FIESTA SAN ANTONIO WILL BE HELD APRIL 19 TO THE 19TH, 2018.
THE ANNUAL EVENT TAKES PLACE EVERY APRIL TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE HEROES OF THE ALAMO AND THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO.
THE SUCCESS OF FIESTA IS DEPENDENT ON THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE FIESTA SAN ANTONIO COMMISSION WHICH ORGANIZATION THE TEXAS-SIZED FESTIVAL OF OVER 100 EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 75,000 VOLUNTEERS TO ACCOMMODATE NEARLY 3.5 MILLION PARTY GOERS.
>> SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO CALL FORWARD OUR PRESIDENT BILL.
WHEREAS FIESTA SAN ANTONIO, ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER FESTIVALS TAKES PLACE APRIL 19-29 2018 TO HEAR THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO AND CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO'S RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURE, AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS SIZE EXTRAVAGANCE A COORDINATED BY THE SAN ANTONIO FIESTA COMMISSION CONSISTS OF NEARLY 100 EVENTS OF MORE THAN 100 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT NEARLY 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE TO THE ALAMO CITY DURING ITS RUN, AND WHEREAS FIESTA HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS TO A CELEBRATION THAT FEATURES FOOD, MUSIC, CARNIVAL, SPORTS, PAGEANTRY, MILITARY AND PATRIOTIC OBSERVANCES, EXHIBITS AND PARADES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO ENJOY, AND WHEREAS IT TAKES THE YEAR-ROUND WORK OF THE OFFICERS AND THE STAFF OF THE FIESTA COMMISSION DEDICATION OF MORE THAN 75,000 VOLUNTEERS AND GENEROSITY OF CORPORATE PARTNERS TO MAKE FIESTA SAN ANTONIO SUCCESSFUL, AND WHEREAS THIS FUN FILLED MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION GENERATES A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT, BENEFITS NUMEROUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES, AND BRINGS TOGETHER AN ABUNDANCE OF CITIZENRY TO THIS HISTORIC CITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 19 TO THE 29TH TO BE SAN ANTONIO'S OFFICIAL FIESTA SEASON.
>> I'VE GOT A [INAUDIBLE] FILLED WITH MEDALS THIS YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE REMARKS IF I CAN.
>> WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE HERE AND OUT HERE FOR A PHENOMENAL LAST WEEKEND FINAL FOUR.
I WANT TO -- THAT WAS FABULOUS.
[03:15:02]
FABULOUS.SO SISTER JEAN HAD A GREAT TIME BUT ALMOST MORE IMPORTANTLY I HAD SOME COUSINS DOWN FROM NEW JERSEY, VI VILLANOVA FANS AND THEY HAD BEEN TO THE FINAL FOUR IN HOUSTON TWO YEARS AGO AND THEY WON THERE TOO, AND SO THERE'S NO PREJUDICE ON WHICH CITY BECAUSE THEY WON BOTH CITIES, AND I ASKED THEM HONESTLY WHICH WAS BETTER, FROM THE VENUE TO THE CITY.
AND HANDS DOWN BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE ALAMODOME AND WHAT'S BEEN PUT INTO THAT AND THE ACCESS TO WALK -- WALKING ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN AND THE RIVER WALK, THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE HERE EVERY YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE, OR AT LEAST BACK A FEW TIMES IN THE NEXT TEN.
SO NOW I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS ARE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL, FIESTA 2018.
127TH FIESTA, WHICH BY THE WAY ACCORDING TO OUR UTSA STUDY HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO SAN ANTONIO OF $340 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH IS ALMOST THREE TIMES WHAT THE FINAL FOUR BRINGS IN.
I'VE GOT A FEW FACTS THAT ARE KIND OF FUN.
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD SOME OF THEM.
SOME OF THEM I THINK THE MAYOR JUST READ OFF THE PROCLAMATION, BUT IT'S 11 DAYS, 113 EVENTS, IT'S A TRUE PARTY WITH A PURPOSE.
WE HAVE 98 NONPROFIT PARTICIPATING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT AFTER YOU'VE BEEN TO NIOSA JUST TO YOU KNOW.
FIESTA WILL GENERATE $3.6 MILLION IN DIRECT TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A SAFER FIESTA, PARTNERING WITH UBER, AND WORKING WITH TXDOT AND S.A.P.D. FOR SAFE RIDES AND TO ENCOURAGE FIESTA PATRONS TO PLAN WHILE YOU CAN.
WILL ONCE AGAIN BE 100% GREEN.
IT'S AN ISSUE WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON.
WE'LL BE GREEN EVENT CERTIFIED AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEW LEADERSHIP INVIGORATING THE FIESTA EARTH DAY EVENT.
WE HAVE THREE NEW EVENTS THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ALWAYS TRY TO GROW A BIT.
NEW THIS YEAR THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO'S FESTIVAL OF ANIMALS, THE S SAN ANTONIO RIVER FOUNDATIONS MISSION FLOTILLA FESTIVAL AND THE SAN ANTONIO SPORTS TEAM TOUGH FIESTA CHALLENGE, AND I'M SURE THEY'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE ANY OF YOU JOIN IN THAT LAST ONE IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD OF TOUGH MUTTERS OR ANY OF THAT STUFF.
SOME OF YOU ALL COULD DO THAT WELL.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST THIS YEAR WE'RE UPDATING TO SYNDICATE AS WE DID THIS YEAR THE BROADCAST OF BATTLE OF FLOWERS PARADE.
WE'RE MAKING SOME OF SAN ANTONIO'S BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO 15 MILLION HOMES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, ALL THE WAY FROM HAWAII TO THE EAST COAST, TO CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO.
SO AS YOU MENTIONED, IT ALL STARTS ON APRIL THE 19TH AT FIESTA FIESTA, AT HEMISFAIR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FABULOUS EVENT.
I INVITE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO COME AND BE A PART OF IT, AND VIVA FIESTA!
>> WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY FIESTA SEASON, BUT I CAN.
SO WE'RE MOVING FROM ONE BIG PARTY TO ANOTHER BIG PARTY TO OUR COMMEMORATION, AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR WITH OUR 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR CITY.
ONE OF MY -- THE MOST FUN THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND BESIDES EVERYBODY COMING IN HERE IS TALKING ABOUT, WOW, SAN ANTONIO, YOU ALL -- YOU'RE CLOSING THE STREETS AND EVERYONE IS JUST WALKING, AND I TELL THEM, WELL, WE HAVE PLENTY OF PRACTICE OF MOVING WITH LARGE CROWDS AND STREET CLOSURES, AND I GET TO TELL THEM THE STORY OF FIESTA, AND I GET TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW IT IS A PARTY WITH A PURPOSE AND HOW IT IS UNIQUE AND ALWAYS INVITING THEM BACK TO JOIN US HERE AT FIESTA.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO YEAR AFTER YEAR, TO OUR FIESTA COMMISSION AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
AND THE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A SUCCESS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE AGAIN DO WE HOST HERE?
>> VIAGRAN: AND THIS IS AN ANNUAL BASIS, JUST FOR THIS.
>> IT'S AN ANNUAL -- 2.5 MILLION PARTICIPANTS.
>> VIAGRAN: 2.5 MILLION PARTICIPANTS IN SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE HERE, AND IT IS JUST AMAZING SO I THINK IT SPEAKS TO OUR UNIQUENESS AND OUR FAMILY ORIENTED ATMOSPHERE, AND AGAIN, I ALSO WANT IT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE -- TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK HARD THAT YOU DO.
>> PERRY: YES, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW BUT I HAVE A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THIS, ESPECIALLY THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO.
[03:20:02]
MY FOREFATHER, MY WHAT -- I'M A FIFTH GENERATION TEXAN, GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT-GRANDFATHER, DANIEL PERRY, HE WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE TEXAS ARMY AND FOUGHT FOR SAM HOUSTON AT SAN JACINTO, AND SO I HAVE A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THIS.AND NOT ONLY THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE AGGIES DO THEIR MUSTER ON THE 21ST OF APRIL -- THERE YOU GO, AWESOME.
SO I GOT SOME REALLY DEEP ROOTS IN THIS, AND EVERY YEAR I REALLY ENJOY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, AND I'M REALLY -- YOU CAN'T TELL THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I REALLY -- I REALLY AM EXCITED SITTING IN AND TO HELP CELEBRATE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, AND THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU THIS TRICENTENNIAL YEAR, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO CELEBRATE ALL OUR TRADITIONS, ALL OUR GREAT HISTORY AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FORTIFYING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALWAYS REMEMBER EXACTLY WHY WE DO SOMETHING LIKE FIESTA AND THE FACT IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO CELEBRATE WITH US, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS SASH.
LOOK FORWARD TO FILLING IT UP WITH MORE MEDALS SO WE CAN CLANK OUR WAY THROUGH FIESTA, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS TRICENTENNIAL YEAR, VIVA TRICENTENNIAL FIESTA!
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM EXCITED AS ANY COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE BUT NOT AS EXCITED AS COUNCILMAN PERRY.
[LAUGHTER] HE LITERALLY SWORE HIS OATH TO BECOME A COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE SECOND AFTER ASKED WHEN IS FIESTA AND WHEN AM I GOING -- [LAUGHTER] SO I AM EXCITED TO SEE EVERYBODY BE AT THAT SAME LEVEL OF ENERGY FOR THIS YEAR'S FIESTA.
BUT PRIMARILY I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AS HUMBLE VOLUNTEERS WHO DO THIS, EVEN AFTER THE CONFETTI AND THE PARADES ARE DONE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT YEAR'S FIESTA, AND THAT TAKES A TON OF WORK, AND THE DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN FIESTA YEAR AFTER YEAR, I'VE BEEN CONTINUALLY IMPRESSED BY SO THANK YOU MR. MITCHELL FOR LEADING THE CAUSE AND FOR THE REST OF YOUR LEADERSHIP WHO IS HERE PRESENT EVERY YEAR MAKING SURE THEY'RE READY TO ENGAGE AND SWITCH TO FIESTA MODE.
I'VE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I TRAVEL QUITE FREQUENTLY -- I'M NOT FROM SAN ANTONIO, FOLKS.
MY FAMILY IS FROM COLOMBIA AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE I'M FROM ANYMORE, BUT I DO LOVE TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD AND TELLING THE FIESTA STORY, AND I'M SURE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE WHERE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW FIESTA WILL THEN TRY TO COMPARE IT TO THINGS THEY DO KNOW, SO THEY'LL SAY, OH, IT'S LIKE MARDI GRAS, AND I'LL SAY, WELL, NO, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH FIESTA YOU DON'T SMELL TERRIBLE.
[LAUGHTER] AND -- YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT -- AND IT'S FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, WELL, THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE CARNIVAL IN BRAZIL.
WELL, NO, YOU WON'T GET MUGGED.
[LAUGHTER] AND IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO DO KNOW THE FIESTA STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE BEST SAN ANTONIO AMBASSADORS EVER.
I MEAN, YOU JUST -- IT BECOMES CONTAGIOUS, RIGHT? AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO I'VE ACTUALLY OVERHEARD, NON-SAN ANTONIANS TELL OVER NON-SAN ANTONIANS, NO, YOU NEED TO GO, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS, THIS IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE GOT SMART ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE LIKE YOU DOING IT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF ALL THE WORK YOU DO, AND ALL OF THE -- ALL OF YOU ARE VERY, VERY, VERY SMART PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOU, WALTER.
[LAUGHTER] SO -- YEAH, ANYWAY, CHEERS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT FIESTA, HOPEFULLY WITH GOOD WEATHER AND VIVA!
[03:25:40]
THE NEXT ITEM IS KING ANTONIO.
THE TEXAS CAVALIERS WILL PRESENT K KING ANTONIO XCVI RICHARD SPARR.
THIS ROYALTY WILL REIGN OVER THE RIVER PARADE ON MONDAY APRIL 23, 2018 AND DURING HIS YEAR-LONG REIGN KING ANTONIO WILL VISIT SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, THROUGH THE TEXAS CAVALIERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FUNDS ARE DISBURSED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S CHARITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION.
IT SAYS, WHEREAS SINCE 1927 THE TEXAS CAVALIERS HAVE HONORED THE MEMORY OF OUR ALAMO HEROES KEEPING ALIVE THE SPIRIT OF TEXAS HISTORY AND THE PART SAN ANTONIO PLAYED IN THAT HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS THE -- TO ACHIEVE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES THE TEXAS CAVALIERS CREATED KING ANTONIO TO DELIVER POSITIVE HEALTHY MESSAGES TO LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN REINFORCING THE VALUES OF EDUCATION AND SELF-RESPECT, AND WHEREAS RICHARD SPARR HAS BEEN CHOAN AS THIS YEAR'S KING ANTONIO XCVI.
HE WILL REPRESENT THE TEXAS CAVALIERS AND MERE RILY GREET ALL SUBJECTS AT CEREMONIES AND PARTIES AND SPECIAL APPEARANCE'S AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS 2018 ANNIKA CA WILL REIGN OVER THE RIVER PARADE ON MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2018 AND PROVIDE MERE RIMENT AND MIRTH ALONG THE BEAUTIFUL SAN ANTONIO RIVER TO THOUSANDS OF OUR CITIZENS AND VOLUNTEERS.
NOW, TH THEREFORE, I RON NIRENBERG MAYOR OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO PROCLAIM THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES RICHARD SPARR AS KING ANTONIO.
THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE HERE AND I WANT A BRIEF MESSAGE TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT JUST A BUNCH OF SILLY GUYS IN BLUE SUITS.
WE ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THIS YEAR TO THE CHILDREN THAT ARE DISADVANTAGED, IN NEED AND OTHERWISE NOT SPOKEN FOR, WE'RE GOING TO CAUSE TO BE DISTRIBUTED OVER $1.1 MILLION AND THAT'S REAL.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, FOR THE CULTURE, FOR THE DIVERSITY, FOR THE INCLUDES SIDIVITY THAT YOU DO FOR SUCH HIGH PAY AND LOW HOURS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT WAS A JOKE, SO UNDERSTAND.
BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT IS IMPORTANT.
WE WILL BE GOING TO EACH ONE OF YOUR SCHOOL IN YOUR DISTRICT TO DISTRIBUTE $3,000 TO AN ART CONTEST WINNER AND TO THEIR ART PROGRAM, AND TO LET YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, WE'VE HAD ART TEACHERS COME UP TO US AND SAY, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT OUR BUDGET IS? AND OF COURSE WE DIDN'T, AND THEY SAY IT'S 500, IT'S 600, IT'S $700 FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR AND WE GIVE THEM $3,000 TO THAT ART PROGRAM AND YOU CAN DO THE MATH, AND IT IS A DIFFERENCE MAKER.
SO WE LIKE TO THINK THAT YOU GUYS ALLOW US TO EXPAND ON THIS GREAT CITY, TO SPREAD THE MERRYMENT TO SPREAD THE DOLLARS AROUND THAN AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE CHILDREN AND FOR THE RESIDENT ART.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOU WHAT YOU DO AND MAKING THE CITY SO STRONG AND SO DIVERSE AND SO INCLUSIVE.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, SO MUCH SAN ANTONIO AND THE CAVALIERS FOR THE WORK YOU DO EVERY YEAR AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT DOES MAKE IN THE CHILDREN'S LIVES AND IN THE TEACHERS' LIVES AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT AND GOING TO ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL TIME FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR CHILDREN OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU THROW A GREAT RIVER PARADE, SO WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU, AND CELEBRATING THE UNIQUENESS OF SAN ANTONIO AND YOUR REIGN.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HENRY GONZALES III ASKED US IF WE WOULD PARTNER IN THAT ART COMPETITION AND I WANT TO PROUDLY SAY THAT WE'RE PARTNERS IN THAT.
WE'VE DONATED SOME MONEY TOWARDS THAT EFFORT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EFFORT FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WE BELIEVE IN IT SO MUCH WE'RE A PART OF IT.
[03:30:02]
>> PERRY: YES, THANK YOU, MA'AM.
YOU ALL DO GREAT WORK OUT THERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PARADE.
JUST TODAY AT LUNCHTIME, WHAT YOU SAID REALLY HITS THE MARK ABOUT OUR YOUTH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
JUST WENT TO A LUNCHEON TODAY, IT WAS AFTER SCHOOL ALL-STARS CEREMONY TODAY.
WE HAD SOME GREAT AWARDS GIVEN OUT TODAY, BUT EVERYBODY TO A T THAT WAS GIVEN THAT AWARD, EVEN THE CHILDREN THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE SAID OVER AND OVER, THIS IS ALL FOR THE CHILDREN.
AND WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THESE CHILDREN BEING OUR FUTURE, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THEM AND MEETING THEIR EXPECTATIONS, THEIR GOALS, THEIR ASPIRATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUTH OUT THERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT FIESTA, ESPECIALLY OUR NEW RIVER BARGES, SO THAT SHOULD BE AN EXCITING TREAT FOR EVERYONE THIS YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
, OUR THIRD CEREMONIAL ITEM IS NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO.
[APPLAUSE] THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY WILL HOST ITS FIESTA EVENT, A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO, NI OSA, APRIL 24-27, 2018.
THE FOUR NIGHT FESTIVAL IS HELD IN THE LA VILLITA NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND CELEBRATES SAN ANTONIO'S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE.
WHAT BEGAN AS A HANDFUL OF SOCIETY LADIES SERVING FOOD AND DRINK FROM RIVER BARGES HAS GROWN INTO THE TOP FUNDRAISER FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE NATION AND TRULY LIVES UP TO ITS MOTTO AS A CELEBRATION FOR PRESERVATION.
SO WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY WILL HOST A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO APRIL 24-27, 2018, IN THE LA VILLITA NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT AND WHEREAS THE ONE DAY INDIAN FESTIVAL AT MISSION SAN JOSE TO CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE OF THE CITY'S EARLY SETTLERS HAS GROWN INTO THE NATION'S LARGEST HISTORIC CELEBRATION TO SHOWCASE SAN ANTONIO'S UNIQUE AND DIVERSE CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND THE FOUR NIGHT EVENT IS PRODUCED BY 16 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS AND 15 ETHNIC THEMED AREAS WITH OVER 215 FOOD BOOTHS TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR MORE THAN 1,000 REVELLERS, AND AS A RESULT OF NIOSA THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY HAS PROVIDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RESTORATION AND REHABILITATION FUNDS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 24-27, 2018 TO BE A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO DAYS.
I'M MARGIE ARNOLD, I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY, SUSAN BEVIN.
THE BIG GUY IN THE BACK, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. VINCENT MICHAEL, THE NIOSA TREASURER, JACKIE FILLERS.
I ALSO HAVE FOUR ENERGETIC VICE CHAIRMEN, SHARON HERN, GLENDA DUFFIN, JANA FOREMAN AND DEE WRIGHT AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AUDREY HAKE.
THIS LITTLE PARTY WE THROW EVERY YEAR CALLED A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY BY CELEBRATING AND PRESERVING THE CUSTOMS AND CULTURES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO SAN ANTONIO AND TO OUR REGION.
AND IT'S WHY WE'VE BECOME ONE OF THE PREMIER MOST LOVED EVENTS DURING FIESTA.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE PRESERVATION, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY, WHICH PROVIDES THE RESOURCES FOR RESTORATION
[03:35:01]
AND REHABILITATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, INCLUDING THE CITY-OWNED LA VILLITA HISTORIC ARTS VILLAGE.OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS ALONE NIOSA HAS GENERATED OVER $5 MILLION TO THE CITY, TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION TO THE LA VILLITA FUND.
WE APPRECIATE WHAT THE CITY DOES ON BEHALF OF PRESERVATION.
TODAY WE BROUGHT YOU SOME SMALL TOKENS FROM NIOSA.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL COME AND ENJOY THE 70TH PRESENTATION OF A NIGHT IN OLD SAN ANTONIO.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR PRESERVATION.
WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU, AND IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, ESPECIALLY THIS TRICENTENNIAL YEAR AS WE CELEBRATE OUR HISTORY AND OUR HERITAGE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
KNOW THAT THIS IS -- THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT, BUT MORE THAN THAT JUST APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK, 365 DAYS A YEAR FOR PRESERVATION.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, YES, I HAVE TO SPEAK AT EVERY SINGLE ONE, BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW, DON'T TELL EVERYONE, BUT NI OWES A, I -- NIOSA, I CALL IT NIOSA, IS MY FAVORITE FIESTA EVENT.
SO I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK AND PASSING DOWN ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR SUSTAINING THESE 70 YEARS BUT BUILDING THAT LEGACY TO CONTINUE AS WELL.
AND DEFINITELY CARRYING THAT MESSAGE ABOUT, THIS HAS A PURPOSE, THIS PARTY DOES HAVE A PURPOSE AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU ALL, LADIES, VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU, VINCENT TOO FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AND THAT WE DO TOGETHER.
I APPRECIATE IT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GREAT TIME.
>> PERRY: YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S GOING TO SPEAK ON EVERY ONE OF THESE.
[LAUGHTER] NO, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
I GOT TO WORK FOR MANY YEARS IN A BEER BOOTH, WHICH WAS GREAT! AND THEN I MOVED OVER TO THE BEEF FAJITAS AND, YOU KNOW, WORKING THOSE BOOTHS.
AND JUST BECAUSE OF THIS JOB I HAD TO LEAVE THAT THIS LAST YEAR, AFTER MANY YEARS WORKING AT NIOSA.
SO I'M GOING TO MISS THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I'LL BE BUSY WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT FIESTA THIS YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.