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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 12, 2018.
>> COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE WILL BE HERE IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
AND I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR, WHO IS A GUEST OF COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
AND THIS MORNING I HAVE THE HONOR OF GETTING TO INTRODUCE FATHER RYAN CARNECER ZAMORA, WHO IS JOINING US HERE THIS MORNING.
HE IS A MEMBER OF THE CICM MISSIONARIES AND HE BECAME AN ORDAINED MINISTER IN 2011 IN THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA WHERE HE CONTINUED TO SERVE FOR SIX YEARS.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFOREHAND AND HE SAID THIS IS THE SECOND TIME HE'S BEEN AT A CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S INVOCATION.
THE FIRST TIME WAS IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.
SO HE'S CURRENTLY THE PARISH PRIEST OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON OLD PEARSALL ROAD.
HE IS ALSO SERVING THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO AS DEAN OF SOUTHWEST URBAN DEANRY, AND FACULTY OF THE PASTORAL EDUCATION, AND IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT FATHER RYAN SERVES IN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY COMMUNITY IN 78242, AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ZIP CODE TO THE SOUTHWEST SIDE THAT INCLUDES INDIAN CREEK, SKY HARBOR, HILLSIDE ACRES, AND HAS BEEN DOING SO IN AN INCREDIBLE WAY.
FATHER RYAN, IF YOU WILL JOIN US.
>> LET US PUT OURSELVES IN THE HOLY PRESENCE OF OUR LORD.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.
WE GIVE YOU THANKS AUDIO] BLESS US AS WE GATHER HERE TO REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE.
SOURCE OF LIFE, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT OF PRAYER THAT DESPITE OF OUR BUSINESS WE CAN PAUSE, LOOK BACK, AND SEE THE STRENGTH OF THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GARDEN -- GATHERED HERE IN THIS CHAMBER WHERE WE DESIRE TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE, THE ORIGINAL CALL OF OUR OFFICE.
AS WE REMEMBER OUR GREAT LEADERSHIP AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT ENTRUSTED BY OUR PEOPLE TO SERVE THEM WELL, MAY OUR HEARTS' DESIRES [INDISCERNIBLE] WE PRAY THAT WE REMAIN GROUNDED AND IT HELPS US NOW AND THEN TO STEP BACK AND TAKE A LONG VIEW.
THE GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS
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NOT ONLY BEYOND OUR TIME AND SERVICE, IT IS EVEN BEYOND OUR POLITICAL THAT IS GOD'S WORK FOR US.NOTHING WE DO IS COMPLETE, WHICH IS A WAY OF SAYING THAT THE GREATNESS OF THE CITY ALWAYS LIES BEYOND US, BUT ALL OF US AND HOW WE TAKE CARE OF THE LEAST VULNERABLE.
NO STATEMENT SAYS ALL THAT COULD BE SAID.
NO PRAYER FULLY EXPRESSED THE FAITH OF ALL SAN ANTONIO.
NO POLITICAL PARTY OR IDEOLOGY BRINGS PERFECT GOVERNANCE NOR PERFECT SOCIETY.
NO PROGRAM TO PERFECTLY BRING HAPPINESS TO ALL.
NO SET OF GOALS OR OBJECTIVES SATISFY EVERYONE.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.
WE PLANT THE SEEDS THAT ONE DAY WILL BENEFIT THE COMMON GOOD.
WE WATER SEEDS ALREADY PLANTED KNOWING THAT THEY HOLD FUTURE PROMISE.
WE LAY FOUNDATIONS THAT WILL NEED FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
THIS ENABLES US TO DO SOMETHING AND TO DO IT VERY WELL.
IT MAY BE INCOMPLETE BUT IT IS A BEGINNING.
A STEP ALONG THE WAY AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LORD'S GRACE TO ENTER AND TO DO THE REST.
WE MAY NEVER SEE THE END RESULTS, FOR WE ARE SERVANTS, NOT SOLUTIONS.
DOING THE BEST FOR OUR PEOPLE, NOT GIVING FALSE HOPES.
WE ARE HELPERS OF A GREAT FUTURE AND CALLED TO LEAD IN OUR OWN TIME.
AND SO DIVINE PLANNER, CONTINUE TO SEND US YOUR LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT AND BE PRESENT AMONG US IN THE MOUTHS OF ALL WHO SPEAK, IN THE EARS OF ALL AS THEY LISTEN AND LISTEN WELL.
WITH THE HEARTS OF ALL AS IT BEATS FOR THE COMMON GOOD AND FOR THE LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOR FIRST.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, FATHER ZAMORA.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM MARCH 7 AND MARCH 8.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 7 AND MARCH 8.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
COUNCILMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? ANY OTHERS? ALL RIGHT.
ITEMS NO. 15 AND 16 HAVE BEEN PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINS ON CONSENT.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'LL HAVE THOSE CITIZENS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS NOW, STARTING WITH JACK FINGER.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WISH TO BRING UP TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
WHAT IS IT? WELL, IT IS -- LET'S GET IT
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ORGANIZED HERE.WHAT DOES THE OLD AGENDA SAY HERE? GET THE OLD GLASSES.
APPROVAL OF -- ITEMS REGARDING THE SAN PEDRO CREEK PROJECT.
YEAH, BIG PROJECT THAT THE CITY IS RENOVATING ALONG SAN PEDRO CREEK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
BIG RENOVATIONS GOING ON DOWN THERE.
AND I NOTICED THAT, WELL, WHAT DOES IT SAY? HERE IT IS.
YEAH, THE FACT IS THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN TO THE COUNTY FOR ITS USE IN, OH, RENOVATIONS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF OUR 300TH ANNIVERSARY.
BUT MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY THAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE.
THERE IS FOLKS WHO WILL PUT UP A STATUE.
IT'S A STATUE OF A PAGAN GODDESS.
THAT'S RIGHT, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
THE ORIGINAL ARTIST WHO CREATED IT, HE ADMITTED IT WAS SUCH -- AS SUCH THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BIG PROBLEMS HERE, MR. MAYOR, MR. TREVINO.
IT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT, MR. TREVINO.
RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BIG PROBLEMS HERE.
THAT IS THAT OF A PAGAN GODDESS AND WE AS CITIZENS -- YEAH, RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
WE AS CITIZENS DON'T LIKE PAGAN GODDESSES BEING HONORED IN OUR PUBLIC TAX PAID PARKS THERE.
IN FACT, THERE ARE SOME CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITIONS AGAINST USING TAX DOLLARS FOR, WELL, FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES THERE.
AND YOU'RE NO STRANGER TO THAT.
SO ANYWAY, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF WHEN THAT TIME COMES, SCOTCH THAT STATUE, ESPECIALLY IF THE COUNTY PROPOSES IT.
FINALLY, ONE OTHER ITEM, ITEM NO. 17.
IT'S ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YEAH, BLOW THAT UP, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS THERE.
ALONG CULEBRA CREEK, MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING FOR NORTHWEST CORNER OF 1560 AND CULEBRA ROAD.
DOES MR. BROCKHOUSE REALIZE WHAT HE IS DOING FOR THAT HIGH RITZY AREA THERE?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OF OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR GOVERNANCE TODAY.
I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO.
8, WHICH IS ABOUT THE DENMAN PARK AND SOME INIMPROVEMENTS TO THE DENMAN PARK.
I VISITED THAT PARK AND I'M AWARE THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL KOREAN MONUMENT THERE.
OF COURSE LAST NIGHT I WAS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CENOTAPH, WHICH IS ANOTHER MONUMENT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OUR CITY COUNCIL IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THE JUXTAPOSITION OF DISASSEMBLING A MONUMENT.
THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, IN OUR DEBATES THIS WEEK ABOUT THIS MONUMENT, WHEREAS NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO BE BEGINNING FIESTA, WHICH DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
SO IN SOME WAYS WE'RE DISHONORING THE DEFENDERS OF THE ALAMO BY DISASSEMBLING THAT MONUMENT WHICH REPORTEDLY WAS ON THE VERY SITE WHERE SOME OF THE ASH AND REMAINS WERE.
AND NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE HONORING THOSE VERY SAME PEOPLE WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIESTA WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO THAT IS MY COMMENT THIS WEEK, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SMITH.
WE HAVE A GROUP WHO IS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 16 AND 19.
JESSICA, YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR 16 AND 19.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK NOW OR WAIT UNTIL 16 IS CALLED?
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OKAY.THAT'S EVERYONE WHO IS SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ITEM NO. 13 IS A VERY IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO APPLIED FOR THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR APPLICATIONS AND FOR THEIR SERVICE.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. COMEAUX, MS. RODRIGUEZ WHO ARE HERE, AND COMING BACK TO SERVE ON THE VIA TRANSPORTATION METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION BOARD.
AND ALSO WELCOME MR. JOHNSON, MR. DILLARD, AND MS. MERCK, WHO WILL BE -- YES, PLEASE STAND -- WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING THE CITY FOR THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A PART OF IT.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED YOU ARE GOING TO BE HERE AND WITH THE CONNECT SA, MR. MAYOR, AND OTHER ITEMS MOVING FORWARD, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO MY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUE AND A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO D2 RESIDENT, AS WELL AS A GOOD FRIEND, MR. BRIAN DILLARD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK YOU ARE GOING TO DO ON THE VIA BOARD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, CONSENT COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> PERRY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND A SHOUT OUT TO EZRA JOHNSON, A DISTRICT 10 RESIDENT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE FUTURE HERE ON THAT IMPORTANT BOARD AND YOUR APPOINTMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR VOLUNTEERING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE ON THIS BOARD, TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR FUTURE.
THERE'S NOT A MORE IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE THAN THE TWO WE ARE FACING NOW WITH HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE INVOLVED.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEMS 15 AND 16.
>> ITEM NO. 15 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH H-E-B GROCERY COMPANY LP TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN FIBEROPTIC CABLES NEAR THE FOLLOWING INTERSECTIONS, EAST CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD AT SOUTH MAIN AVENUE.
EAST CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD AT DWYER AVENUE.
EL PASO STREET AND SOUTH FLORES STREET AND NORTH MAIN AVENUE AT WEST CYPRESS STREET FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR ITS DOWNTOWN CAMPUS LOCATION.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE PULLED AWAY FOR RECUSAL.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FISCAL YEAR 2018 BUDGET AND ACTION PLAN TO REPROGRAM COMMUNITY AUDIO] NOT TO EXCEED $908,000.
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,820,000 AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $465,000 TO ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES CONSISTENT WITH A FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AUTHORIZING THE MODIFICATION, CLOSE OUT, AND CANCELLATION OF AFFECTED PROJECTS AND THE CREATION OF NEW PROJECTS AND PROJECT BUDGETS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP.
WE CAN TAKE THEM AFTER YOU HAVE YOUR PRESENTATION.
VERONICA SOTO WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES.
THE PRESENTATION CAN BE PULLED UP.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO OUR HUD FISCAL YEAR 2018 ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, THE HOME PROGRAM AND THE NSP NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS ALLOCATING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THAT'S THE REPROGRAMMING FOR THESE THREE PROGRAMS TOTALING
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$908,000 FOR THE CDBG PROGRAM, $1.8 MILLION FOR THE HOME PROGRAM AND $465,000 FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM.ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND HAVE FOLLOWED OUR PUBLIC PROCESS REQUIRED BY HUD.
SO WE HAD A PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER STARTING ON MARCH 12.
WE DID TAKE THIS FORWARD TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION AND IT HAS A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION FROM THAT ON MARCH 21.
LAST NIGHT WE HAD A PUBLIC HEARING WHERE YOU HEARD A COUPLE OF FOLKS SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS REPROGRAMMING, SO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDED YESTERDAY WITH THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
AND TODAY THE ITEM IS IN FRONT OF YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED WITH THIS REPROGRAMMING INCLUDE A SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH $542,000 DEVOTED TO THAT ADDRESSING BOTH OUR HOUSING AND SPECIAL NEED PRIORITIES WITHIN THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
LEAD-BASED PAINT PROGRAM WITH $150,000 ADDRESSING PRIORITY ONE.
THIS IS TO SUPPORT AS MATCH FUNDING OR LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION GRANT.
WE HAVE A RESPITE CARE REMEDIATION PROJECT SERVING KIDS IN FOSTER CARE FOR $600,000.
AGAIN, HOUSING AND SPECIAL NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE FUNDING FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, $55,000 FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SWEEPS.
AND THREE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS OUR SPECIAL NEEDS YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $50,000.
THE LATE-NIGHT HOOPS PROGRAM WITH $41,000.
AND EXTENDED HOURS FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS AT $10,000.
THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED OUT OF THAT.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT FOR THE RENT -- THE SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE HAVE HEARD SINCE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROGRAM DESIGN.
THE ACTION TODAY IS TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDING, AND WE HAVE MET WITH SOME FOLKS REPRESENTING TENANTS AND HAVE AGREED THAT BEFORE WE FINALIZE THE PROGRAM WE WOULD HAVE A COMMUNITY INPUT SESSION WITH TENANTS.
WE HAVE SCHEDULED THAT ALREADY.
IT IS GOING TO BE HOSTED NEXT TUESDAY HERE AT MUNICIPAL PLAZA IN THE B ROOM AT 6:00 P.M.
SO THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN VOICED ABOUT THE PROGRAM DESIGN ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED AND CONSIDERED BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM DESIGN.
AND THAT HAPPENED AFTER MEETING JUST YESTERDAY.
FOR THE HOME PROGRAM, WE HAVE 1.8 FUNDING TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE EAST MEADOWS PHASE TWO PROGRAM.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT WITH SAHA WHERE THEY ARE READY TO MOVE ON WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS A TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST OF OVER $25 MILLION.
THEY HAD RECEIVED A PREVIOUS AWARD AND THERE'S A GAP IN FINANCING AS THE TAX CREDITS RECEIVED HAVE BEEN ASSESSED AT A LOWER VALUATION THAN EXPECTED BECAUSE OF CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL TAX LAW.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE HOME BUYER INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS FAMILIES IN BECOMING FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $320,000.
FINALLY, WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING THAT THROUGH THE NSP PROGRAM ADDITIONAL FUNDING BE ALLOCATED FOR HOMES AND THE AMOUNT IS $465,000.
NOW THIS MONEY CAN BE USED TO ASSIST FAMILIES AT 80% TO 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN BOTH OUR CDBG AND HOME PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION, $10,000 TO HELP US WITH MONITORING AND ADMINISTRATION.
THE NSB PROGRAM HAS THESE TARGET AREAS.
THIS IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED BACK IN 2009 AS A RESULT OF THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS.
THESE ARE THE AREAS WHERE THAT FUNDING CAN BE UTILIZED.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
THIS DOES HAVE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL AS WELL AS THE APPROVAL RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO WE'LL TAKE THEM NOW.
I DO WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, THAT MARY ANN HAS SUBMITTED AN ITEM AGAINST THIS ITEM.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT GOT INTO THE RECORD .
JESSICA, MANUEL, AND BRENDA REYNA.
THEY WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY MIKE
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TAYLOR.MY NAME IS MANUEL [INDISCERNIBLE].
I'M ONE OF THE MISSION TRAILS MOBILE HOME PARK WHEN WE WERE DISPLACED.
AND IT WASN'T A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD SITUATION.
AND NOW I'M HERE TO SUPPORT HAVE -- LIKE WE WERE PROMISED OVER THERE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND IT NEVER HAPPENED.
WE HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND MORE INPUT AND MORE COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION SO THEY WON'T GO THROUGH A LOT OF MOVING AROUND BEING DISPLACED.
IT'S BETTER FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS THERE AND ELDERLY AND THEY JUST CAN'T COME OVER HERE AND THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE COMING OVER HERE AND TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ALL AND FIND OUT WHAT'S BETTER FOR THEM.
SO I HOPE THAT IF YOU COULD GO OVER THERE OR SEND SOMEBODY SO THEY CAN LISTEN TO WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE AND WHAT THEIR SOLUTIONS CAN BE.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA GUERRERO, I WORK WITH THE MISSION TRAILS AND WE WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE YEARS SINCE MISSION TRAILS HAPPENED, PEOPLE THAT LIVED AT MISSION TRAILS HAVE NEVER BEEN CONSULTED IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE RELOCATION PACKAGE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER IN A RUSH AT THAT TIME.
IN THOSE FOUR YEARS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONSULTED.
TENANTS HAVE NOT BEEN CONSULTED IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO COME TOGETHER AND REALLY CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR THE SITUATION THAT THEY ARE FACING.
WE KNOW THAT THE TWO SITUATIONS ARE NOT IDENTICAL, BUT ANYONE RECOGNIZES THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, THAT THERE ARE MANY PARALLELS AND THAT THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED AT MISSION TRAILS.
AND ONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY IS DID THE RELOCATION PACKAGE WORK? WHERE DID IT WORK? HOW DID IT WORK? WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THEN AND ALSO ON GOING? BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT WAS FOUR YEARS SINCE THAT HAPPENED AND PEOPLE ARE STILL ENJOYING THE IMPACTS OF THAT DISPLACEMENT.
AND THAT IS A FACT AND IT IS A MEASURED FACT, TO A DEGREE.
SOME OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CASE STUDY THAT WE HAVE.
WE ALSO HAVE ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT LIVED AT MISSION TRAILS THAT WE CAN HELP CONNECT YOU WITH SO THAT YOU CAN GET FURTHER INSIGHT ON HOW TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT YOU WANT IT TO MEET.
FOR TOWN CENTER TENANTS AND ANY OTHER PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THIS SITUATION.
WE KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING SERVICES, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH THEIR REGULAR EFFORT TO LOOK FOR INPUT, THE 30-DAY PERIOD, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I HAVE HEARD ALL OF YOU ADMIT AS WELL THAT IT IS A CHALLENGE BUT AN ONGOING NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MORE EFFECTIVIVELY GAUGE MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR PROCESSES.
THIS IS ONE THAT I THINK THERE WERE TWO PLACES REALLY EASY TO GO TO TO GET SOME REALLY IMPORTANT INSIGHT INTO HOW TO CREATE THIS PROGRAM.
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW THEY WERE IN THE MIDST OF A BROAD AND ONGOING CONVERSATION AROUND HOUSING AND CREATING SOLUTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN THAT IS CENTERED AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOWARDS CREATING THOSE SOLUTIONS.
I THINK IT REALLY BEGS FOR THE CITY TO WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER AT CREATING THAT MEANINGFUL EXCHANGE.
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YESTERDAY WITH VERONICA AND HER STAFF AND HUMAN SERVICES STAFF IS THAT THEY DID COMMIT TO AT LEAST ONE WORK SESSION.WE WERE NOT CONSULTED TO SCHEDULE IT, SO I DIDN'T EVEN CATCH THE DAY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT.
BUT, AGAIN, ONE OF THE CONCLUSIONS WE ALSO CAME TO YESTERDAY WAS THAT WE OFTEN HAVE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF WHAT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT IS.
WE WANT THE COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO BE -- WANTS TO BE RESPECTED AND ENGAGED IN A WAY THAT COMMUNITY CAN ACTUALLY COME TO THE TABLE.
IT MAY NOT BE A TABLE IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM.
BUT IT HAS TO BE A TABLE WHERE THERE IS EQUAL FOOTING AND EQUAL RESPECT FOR THE INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE BRING TO THAT CONVERSATION.
IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO FIGURE THAT OUT TOGETHER AND THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS READY AND WILLING TO DO IT AND THAT HAVE A LOT ON THE LINE.
WE ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE SAN PEDRO CREEK PROJECT.
WE KNOW THAT PART OF THAT CONTRACT IS STILL GOING THROUGH CITY COUNCIL AND THE TENANTS FROM SOAP WORKS AND TOWN CENTER WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THE IMPACT THAT PROJECT IS HAVING.
PEOPLE, AGAIN, JUST LIKE AT MISSION TRAILS ARE FEARFUL, ARE IN TRAUMA.
THEY ARE SCARED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND THE INTERACTION THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR WITH CITY OFFICIALS HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH TO REASSURE THEM.
WE JUST NEED TO PUSH HARDER AND, AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE READY TO DO THAT.
WE MAY NOT ALL BE ABLE TO BE HERE AT 9:00.
WE MAY NOT ALL BE ABLE TO MEET WITH YOU AT 4:30, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO TRY TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, AND IT'S NECESSARY.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER ASSIGNING A STAFF PERSON FROM THE CITY TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY, TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS AN IMPROVED PROGRAM AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS, NOT ONLY FOR SOAP WORKS AND TOWN CENTER, BUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
WE NEED AN ASSURANCE OF THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE NEED SOME TYPE OF MECHANISM THAT WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THAT SPACE AND THAT ONGOING ROOM TO CONTINUE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
THIS ISN'T -- YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THIS ISN'T THE ONLY AREA WHERE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS AN ISSUE.
AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, NOT JUST INPUT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENGAGEMENT.
ABOUT COMMUNITY WORKING WITH OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO COME UP WITH THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE -- THAT WILL HAVE A BETTER GUARANTEE OF ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO MEET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GUERRERO.
MIKE TAYLOR FOLLOWED BY NATALIE GRIFFITH.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MICHAEL TAYLOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CROSS TIMBER HOMES.
AND I'M HERE TODAY TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT OR TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR $455,000 IN SP FUNDING FOR CROSS TIMBER HOMES.
AND I WON'T GO OVER ALL THE PROGRAM DETAILS I COVERED LAST NIGHT BUT I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION A FEW THINGS.
FIRST, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CREATED THIS NEW NONPROFIT TO ADDRESS SOME VERY SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY, AND THAT'S THE LOOMING CRISIS OF THERE NOT BEING ENOUGH HOME OWNERSHIP OPTIONS FOR MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS PROGRAM.
WE'RE ALSO REINVESTING IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE AT RISK OF FALLING FURTHER BEHIND BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE BENEFITING FROM REALLY THE ECONOMIC BOOM THAT THE REST OF THE CITY IS SEEING.
SO THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE WITH THIS PROBLEM.
AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY AS WELL, WE DO HAVE TWO HOUSES THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO START SO WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU NOT DELAY ACTION ON THIS NSP FUNDING.
DELAYING WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL.
WE WOULD BE FORCED TO DELAY THE START OF THESE HOUSES OR INCREASE THE SALES PRICE, AND EITHER OF THESE OPTIONS WOULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THE FAMILIES WHO ARE IN OUR PIPELINE.
AGAIN, I WOULD REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT AND JUST EMPHASIZE THAT THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO HELP US MEET A NEED THAT'S CREATED BY RISING LAND COSTS AND THE COST OF REPAIRING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S IN OUR CENTRAL CITY.
SO THESE FUNDS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR.
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NATALIE GRIFFITH.I'M ALSO NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT I SAID LAST NIGHT OR AT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME AGAIN TODAY.
I DID WANT TO ALSO VOICE SUPPORT FOR CROSS TIMBER HOMES AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS -- THIS NEW PROGRAM IS THE RESULT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.
HABITAT SERVES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND WE WERE TURNING AWAY FAMILIES THAT HAD NOWHERE TO GO, AND THAT WAS SO MOVING TO US.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY GOT OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE HAVE 13,000 VOLUNTEERS AND THOUSANDS OF DONORS AND SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? AND WE WERE VERY PLEASED THAT PEOPLE IN ALL AREAS OF EXPERTISE.
WE HAD ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, CPAS, THEY ALL CAME TOGETHER AND DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM.
WE KNOW IT WORKS AND NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY'S HELP.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO ASK IS THAT YOU NOT DELAY THE VOTE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THIS PROGRAM.
HABITAT IS COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH CROSS TIMBER HOMES AND TOP TEN CHARITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NATIONALLY.
WHAT I PLEDGE TO YOU IS WE WILL TAKE OUR EARNED REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE AND APPLY IT TO IMPLEMENTING THIS GRANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GRIFFITH.
AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT I STATED LAST NIGHT BUT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT.
I'M LORRAINE ROBLES WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY, IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 16 AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR PROJECT.
WE ARE FINALLY IN OUR LAST PHASE OF REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD WHEATLEY COURTS.
THE CITY HAS BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF $1.5 MILLION IN REPROGRAMMED HOME DOLLARS THAT WOULD HELP US CLOSE THE FINANCIAL GAP THAT WAS CREATED DUE TO THE CHANGE IN TAX CREDIT PRICING.
THIS PROJECT IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST SOME DEADLINES.
WE HAD APPLIED FOR 9% TAX CREDITS IN 2016 AND DID NOT RECEIVE THEM, SO WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE 2017 ROUND.
WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE DID RECEIVE THEM.
BUT NOW THAT HAS SET OUR PROJECT BACK.
WE HAVE TO EXPEND HUD DOLLARS BY SEPTEMBER 2019 AND HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PLACE OUR TAX CREDITS IN SERVICE BY DECEMBER 2019.
WE ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST CRITICAL DEADLINES.
ANY DELAY IN APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE PROJECT.
SO I JUST ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN APPROVING THIS AGENDA ITEM TODAY.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MS. ROBLES.
I'M TIM ALCOT, DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY.
LORRAINE SAID MANY OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY.
BUT OF THE MANY ITEMS ON AGENDA ITEM 16, AND WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF IT, BUT $1.5 MILLION OF HOME FUNDS DOES GO TO THE LAST PHASE OF EAST MEADOWS.
WE'RE CLOSING IN 60 DAYS AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO US SO WE CAN CLOSE.
IT'S 414 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW EVERYONE IS SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
THERE'S NO ONE AGAINST THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND SO IF YOU WOULD APPROVE IT TODAY IT WOULD CAUSE A LOT LESS STRESS FOR ME AND MY TEAM BECAUSE WE NEED TO CLOSE THIS DEAL.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MR. ALCOT.
MY NAME IS LARRY MEJIA, PRESIDENT FOR RESPITE CARE SAN ANTONIO.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE AGENDA ITEM 16.
RESPITE CARE IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT IS BEING SUPPORTED, RECOMMENDED THIS MORNING.
THE RESPITE CARE REMEDIATION PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
RESPITE CARE IS A 30-YEAR-OLD 501(C)(3) HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR WHO HAVE MEDICALLY COMPLEX CONDITIONS.
WE OPERATE FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS, DAY CARE PROGRAMS, AND A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING FAMILIES THAT CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
[00:40:01]
THE AMENDMENT IS $60,000 TO HELP ADDRESS LEAD-BASED PRESENCE ISSUES WITHIN ONE OF OUR SHELTERS.OUR SHELTERS ARE RUN OUT OF TRADITIONAL HOMES.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE DAVIDSON RESPITE HOME, WHICH IS THE WORK WE ARE HOPING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED HERE, IS A 4500 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN MONTE VISTA.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
GIVEN THAT, YOU CAN IMAGINE AT SOME POINT THE PRESENCE OF LEAD-BASED PAINT WAS PUT IN THERE.
WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BEGIN THE SCHEDULED WORK ON THIS.
WE HAVE KNOWN IT IS POTENTIALLY A CENTURY-LONG ISSUE.
IT ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE CARE.
AS I SAID, MANY OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR SHELTERS ARE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES BY -- FOR EITHER ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND WE TEND TO BE ONE OF THE FEW FACILITIES THAT ARE DEDICATED TO TAKING CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, OR COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE GOING THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITHDRAWAL THAT HAVE THE NEED FOR G-TUBE FEEDING, DOWN SYNDROME, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, ANY NUMBER OF PHYSICAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES.
YOUR SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT FOR 16, AGAIN, WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER AND PROVIDE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE CARE FOR.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MR. MEJIA.
IF WE COULD HAVE MS. VERONICA SOTO BACK UP AT THE MIC.
>> TREVINO: SO, NUMBER ONE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF, YOUR TEAM FOR REALLY BEING OUT ON TOP OF THIS AND RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACING WITH SOAP WORKS, PARTICULARLY.
BUT WHAT WE ARE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THIS PROGRAMMING.
ITEM 16 IS INCLUDING OVER $400,000 OF FEDERAL HOME FUNDS TO BE RELOCATED -- FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THAT IS GOING TO BE STRUCTURED.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT THE QUALITY AND HOW MUCH WE DO WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THIS PARTICULAR CASE IS RATHER INTENSIVE.
AFTER SOME TENANTS DID APPEAR IN FRONT OF SEVERAL BODIES, LIKE THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE, WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO START TALKING TO FOLKS AFFECTED AND FIGURE OUT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO ADDRESS THIS.
THEY CAME TO ONE OF THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE MEETINGS, IF YOU RECALL .
BESIDES HEARING THEIR CONCERNS AT THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND SOME STAFF IS HERE, WE WENT AND WE HAD SEVEN STAFF ONE MORNING AT EVERY DOOR IN THE SOAP WORKS ONE, TWO, AND TOWN CENTER LEAVE A NOTICE TO DO ONE-ON-ONE HOUSING COUNSELING SESSIONS IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
AND WE LEFT THE NOTICES, OVER 380 NOTICES ON EVERY DOOR SAYING THIS IS AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT LEASES, LEASE RENEWALS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, IF YOU HAVE FAIR HOUSING ISSUES.
SO WE ASKED EACH INDIVIDUAL UNIT, EVERY FAMILY HOUSE THERE TO REACH OUT TO US TO ADDRESS THEIR QUESTIONS SO WE COULD OFFER THAT FACE TO FACE COUNSELING.
THAT FACE TO FACE COUNSELING WAS TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY WAS FACING SO WE COULD CRAFT A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.
BUT WE WANTED TO TALK TO TENANTS AND THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION, SO WE LEFT ALL THOSE LEAFLETS IN COOPERATION WITH THE OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRM.
THEY HAD TO GIVE US PERMISSION TO APPOINTMENTS READY ON SITE, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE BUILDING SO PEOPLE COULD LITERALLY WALK NEXT DOOR TO PARK FACILITY AND MEET ONE-ON-ONE AND GO OVER THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION.
AND THAT WAS A GREAT HOUSING STAFF FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
SO WE DID DO THAT EVERY DOOR OUTREACH.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AS MUCH TIME AS THEY NEEDED TO MEET FACE TO FACE.
[00:45:01]
SO WE HAD PEOPLE ON SITE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THAT COUNSELING AND OPPORTUNITY.WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE PARTICIPATED IN A TENANT RESOURCE FAIR THAT COUNCILMAN TREVINO ORGANIZED.
SO WE AND SEVERAL OTHER DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT TO, AGAIN, TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE, WHAT ARE THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, NOT JUST CITY BUT I KNOW THERE WERE OTHER GROUPS AS WELL THERE, AND IT WAS DURING SPRING BREAK.
I MISSED IT BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TOWN FOR THAT.
WE HAVE EVEN TALKED TO, NOT JUST THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THERE, BUT I PERSONALLY HAVE TALKED TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, THEY ARE BASED OUT OF HOUSTON, AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENT THERE.
BECAUSE WE WANTED TO APPROACH THEM ABOUT A POSSIBILITY, PERHAPS UTILIZING OUR TOURIST FUNDS IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING PUBLIC BENEFIT.
SO I PERSONALLY HAVE DONE THAT AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE TALKED TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, WORKING WITH THE TENANTS.
WE HAVE DONE THE DOOR TO DOOR OUTREACH FOR EVERY TENANT AT THAT SITE.
WE OFFERED FACE TO FACE COUNSELING, AS MUCH TIME WAS NEEDED.
WE DID HAVE THAT MEETING AT THE PARK YESTERDAY TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS.
SPENT NEARLY TWO HOURS TALKING ABOUT PROGRAM DESIGN.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND EVEN YESTERDAY MS. GUERRERO AND I AGREED THAT WE DISAGREED THAT OUR ATTEMPT AT MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE DID DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO THERE WAS EXTENSIVE OUTREACH.
I KNOW THE COUNCILMAN HAD MEETINGS WITH THE TENANTS AS WELL, SO WE SUPPLEMENTED THOSE EFFORTS.
SO THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE AND HAVE INPUT AND HEAR FROM TENANTS AND RESIDENTS.
THIS IS MORE ENGAGEMENT THAN IN MOST CASES AND MOST PROGRAMS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEIR CRITICISM THAT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO.
AND SO THAT'S WHY NEXT TUESDAY AT 6:00 P.M. WE ARE HOSTING THAT COMMUNITY WORK SESSION SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR INPUT.
BUT WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THOSE FOLKS AFFECTED IN SHAPING THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.
TRY TO BE AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE IN SEEKING FUNDING SOURCES.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PARAMETERS THAT HUD PROVIDES BY WHICH WE CAN PROVIDE THIS ASSISTANCE, SO WE WANT THEIR INPUT SO WE CAN SHAPE THIS FINAL PROGRAM DESIGN KNOWING THAT THERE ARE LANES WE HAVE TO STAY IN THAT HUD DICTATES AS WELL.
SO THAT'S PART OF THAT INPUT THAT WE HAVE HOSTED.
AND I HOPE I ADDRESSED THE QUESTION YOU ASKED.
>> TREVINO: YEAH, ACTUALLY YOU FAR AND BEYOND.
BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO GET TO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.
LET'S KIND OF RECAP A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CAPTURE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT JUSTIN FROM MY STAFF WAS AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING, WHICH I COULDN'T ATTEND BECAUSE WE HAD B SESSION.
AND SO EVERY MEETING THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED, EITHER I PARTICIPATED OR I SENT STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY WAS THERE TO PARTAKE.
AND I WANT TO THANK JUSTIN FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK.
HE'S REALLY WORKED VERY, VERY HARD AND PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT AND HEART INTO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HUMAN CONDITION HERE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
HE'S KNOCKED ON MANY, MANY DOORS.
WORKED LATE INTO THE NIGHT TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE.
HE'S HELPED TO TRANSLATE A LOT OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE CREATED INTO SPANISH TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOBODY CAUGHT WITHOUT TRANSLATION OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE WERE PROVIDING.
HE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF EVERYTHING THAT JUSTIN HAS DONE.
THANK YOU, JUSTIN, FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT, VERO, YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AS WELL AND I HAVE TASKED YOU WITH SOME CHALLENGES.
SOME DIDN'T WORK OUT BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SOME CAVEATS TO THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, TRYING TO USE OUR TIRZ TO SEE IF WE CAN'T ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
THE WAY THAT WORKS IS THE OWNERSHIP HAS TO AGREE.
SO WE DID SEND A LETTER TO THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE COMPLEX ASKING THEM IF THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PERHAPS UTILIZING THOSE GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND HAVE A PUBLIC BENEFIT IN RETURN.
THE OWNER, MR. BARBIN CALLED ME BACK.
IT TOOK A WHILE TO HEAR BACK FROM HIM BECAUSE HE'S A NEW FATHER.
TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT I WAS CALLING HIM EVERY DAY, TWO
[00:50:03]
OR THREE TIMES TO HEAR BACK FROM HIM AND HE SAID THIS IS NOT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT THEY DO NOT NEED ANY GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY DO AND HAVE A RATE OF RETURN.
THEY GO IN AND SEE PROPERTIES THAT ARE PERHAPS NOT IN THE BEST CONDITION.
GO AND INVEST IN UPGRADES AND THEN GRADUALLY INCREASE RENTS.
AND SO THAT'S HOW THEY GET THEIR RETURN.
BUT IN THEIR BUSINESS MODEL AND HOW THEY WORK, THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THEY WERE INTERESTED IN AND THEY ARE NOT STAFFED UP TO GO AFTER GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
AND SO I DID HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, FOLLOWING UP ON THE LETTER WE SENT TO THEM TO SEE IF THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY TO HAVE SOME KIND OF RELIEF ON SOME OF THE RENTS THERE.
EVEN AS WE LOOKED AT THE HUD PROGRAM AS WELL.
WE ARE TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS.
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE RESULT AS OF TODAY, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT STILL LOOKING FOR OTHER ITEMS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WE DID TRY TO SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLY WORK.
WE KNOW IT IS A POTENTIAL TOOL THAT IF WE GET A WILLING OWNER, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEPLOY IN THE FUTURE.
LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT THE MANY MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD.
WE ALSO HAD THAT ONE MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT AT MY FIELD OFFICE.
TELL ME, IN YOUR OPINION, HOW THAT WENT WITH MANAGEMENT AND HOW THAT WENT TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.
SO WITH THE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRM WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AND WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION WAS BEING SHARED WITH THE TENANTS AND REALLY UNDERSTAND FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE HOW THEY WERE SCHEDULING THE WORK AND REHABBING UNITS.
SO ONE OF OUR STAB MEMBERS, MS. ERICA RAGSDALE WAS CALLING EVERY DAY AND GETTING INFORMATION ON WHAT ARE THE ISSUES, DOWN TO THE POINT OF MAKING SURE WE CALLED ABOUT A PEST CONTROL ISSUE TO ONE OF THE UNITS THERE.
AND THE PROPERTY OWNER SAID -- OR THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SCHEDULED THAT.
THIS PARTICULAR TENANT HAD THIS CONCERN, CAN YOU ADDRESS IT? AND IT WAS TIMING ISSUES.
WE GOT PERMISSION TO GO ON SITE, TO LEAVE THE FLIERS.
WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MANY UNITS THEY HAVE.
WE WANTED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION SO WE COULD SHAPE A PROGRAM.
WHAT UNITS WERE AFFECTED, WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RENTS, WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION WAS BEING SHARED.
SO FOR THREE WEEKS EVERY OTHER DAY, IF NOT EVERY DAY, WE WERE TALKING TO THEM TO FILL IN THE BLANKS ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD.
HOW MANY UNITS, HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHAT ARE THE RENTS, HOW ARE YOU SCHEDULING RENOVATIONS? WHAT'S THE PLAN? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AND WHEN.
WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY ARE BEING VERY COOPERATIVE IN GETTING US INFORMATION THAT WE'RE REQUESTING?
WE WERE ASKING FOR A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO IT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE WHILE.
BUT WE WANTED TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO US AND UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT THE CURRENT TENANTS THERE.
SO, YES, THEY ALLOWED US TO GET A LOT OF INFORMATION AND GO INSIDE AND DO THOSE DOOR TO DOOR INFORMATION LETTERS AS WELL.
>> TREVINO: AND YOU MENTIONED THE RESOURCE FAIR.
WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THE RESOURCE FAIR? BECAUSE WE DID HAVE QUITE A FEW FOLKS SHOW UP TO THAT.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THANK MY FRIENDS AT THE ITALIAN SOCIETY.
THEY LENT US THE HALL FOR FREE.
YOU CAN'T GET ANY CLOSER TO THE SITUATION.
SO I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER AND THEY CARE A LOT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, ALONG WITH THEIR GREAT SPAGHETTI DINNERS.
BUT THIS WAS ONE WHERE THEY WANTED TO BE A GREAT NEIGHBOR AND I WANTED TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY.
THEY OFFERED THE HALL TO US AND WE HAD QUITE A FEW FOLKS SET UP AT THAT RESOURCE FAIR.
>> SO WE HAD A LOT OF SERVICES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE TENANTS PARTICIPATE.
NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE THE CITY RESOURCES THERE, HUMAN SERVICES, OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WE HAD OTHER GROUPS THAT HELP WITH OTHER ISSUES.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING FROM FOOD PANTRY-TYPE ISSUES TO FINANCIAL LITERACY TO HELP WITH UTILITIES.
SO ALL THE ENTITIES THAT PARTICIPATE AND CAN ASSIST TENANTS WITH THOSE SITUATIONS.
OR IF PEOPLE ARE IN A BIND IN A PARTICULAR MONTH OF A YEAR, HOW THEY CAN GET ASSISTANCE.
SO, AGAIN, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS IF THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT
[00:55:01]
THE LEASES, FAIR HOUSING CONCERNS, IF THERE WERE OPTIONS FOR FOLKS.AND SO, AGAIN, WE HAD THE FAIR HOUSING COUNSELORS.
WE HAD A LIST OF ALL OTHER AFFORDABLE UNITS IN THE CITY AND COMPARABLE RENTS.
THAT'S A LIST I KNOW HUMAN SERVICES UPDATED SO WE WOULD HAVE UP TO DATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OTHER UNITS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IF THERE WAS THE CHOICE THAT SOMEONE WAS LOOKING AT.
AND ONCE AGAIN WE LEARNED WHAT KIND OF ISSUES TENANTS WERE FACING AND HAD RESOURCES SO THEY COULD MEET WITH AGENCIES THAT COUD ASSIST THEM FOR NOT JUST THE RENTAL KIND OF ISSUES, BUT OTHER ISSUES.
>> TREVINO: ARE WE STILL LOOKING FOR -- NOW THAT WE'VE MET SOME OF THESE TENANTS AND UNDERSTAND SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS AND NEEDS, ARE WE STILL LOOKING FOR MEANS TO HELP SOME OF THESE FOLKS?
EVEN YESTERDAY THERE WAS AN ISSUE THAT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT DHS OFFERED TO HELP ONE PARTICULAR TENANT WITH.
AND I KNOW HE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP.
I EVEN HAVE HER PHONE NUMBER TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP WITH HER ISSUE.
HE OFFERED DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS HER CONCERNS AND HER CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO AFTER HER RENEWAL IS TERMINATED.
THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU VISIT WITH US SO WE CAN OFFER TAILORED ASSISTANCE.
WE CONTINUED TO DO THAT INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE PARTICULAR NEEDS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL SITUATION.
>> TREVINO: AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF TENANTS THAT TALKED ABOUT JUST NEEDING MORE TIME.
ARE WE WORKING OUT AND TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO SEE HOW WE CAN DO TO -- WHAT WE CAN DO TO BUY THEM MORE TIME? I THINK AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE, REALLY, IS THE RAPID CHANGE IN THE SITUATION.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP WITH BUYING SOME OF THESE TENANTS SOME TIME?
>> WELL, THIS PROGRAM IS CERTAINLY ONE WAY TO HELP.
IT'S NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES THERE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE THINKING IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND ANOTHER CONVERSATION, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE FOR BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
WE KNEW WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY WE COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER.
THAT'S WHY THIS IS PART OF THE PACKAGE IN FRONT OF YOU.
BUT THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO, THESE ARE NOT EASY QUESTIONS, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, TO ADDRESS.
AND THESE ARE DIFFICULT SOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO PROPOSE.
WE ARE CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO BRING FORWARD.
THEY ARE NOT READY FOR A FULL CONSIDERATION.
STILL NEED TO DISCUSS ABOUT POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE FUTURE.
IF WE ARE GOING TO OFFER THIS KIND OF ASSISTANCE GOING FORWARD, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN TRY AND SHAPE FUTURE PROGRAMS AND ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEM AND MAKE THEM BETTER.
SO THAT'S A PART OF OUR DNA CONTINUAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.
>> TREVINO: CAN WE GET A COMMITMENT TODAY, AS MS. GUERRERO POINTED OUT, MAYBE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MAKE TUESDAY'S MEETING.
CAN WE SEE ABOUT MULTIPLE MEETINGS SO WE GET AS MUCH INPUT AS POSSIBLE.
IS THAT POSSIBLE FOR US TO ARRANGE?
>> I HAVE SHARED ALL THE OUTREACH WE HAVE DONE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT COMMITMENT TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT.
WE KNOW AS MUCH AS WE DO AND AS WELL AS WE THINK WE'RE DOING THAT WE WILL SOMETIMES MISS SOMEONE.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE CRITICIZED FOR NOT DOING QUITE ENOUGH, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT COMMITMENT TO HEAR AND LISTEN AND INCORPORATE WHAT WE CAN INTO OUR PROGRAMS. YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE KNOW WE'RE NEVER GOING TO DO ENOUGH, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS CRITICIZE US, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT ENGAGEMENT AND MAKE IT AS MEANINGFUL AS POSSIBLE.
>> TREVINO: CERTAINLY, THERE IS NO FINISH LINE AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING AND CERTAINLY JUSTIN WILL BE RIGHT THERE TO BE HELPING ALONG, AS THE REST OF MY OFFICE AND MYSELF.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION I MADE A GOOD FRIEND OUT OF ALL THIS AND SHE HAD A GOOD IDEA.
I WANT TO MENTION MS. LYDIA GARZA.
SHE DID RECENTLY MOVE BUT SHE TALKED A LOT ABOUT -- IN FACT, SHE WAS THE VERY FIRST PERSON WHO BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO ME.
CAME TO MY OFFICE A WHILE BACK.
AND THE LAST TIME I SAW HER SHE ASKED THAT WE PUT TOGETHER SOME KIND OF A RENTERS GROUP, A RENTERS TASK FORCE.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU, VERO, IF YOU COULD PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT REALLY TALKS A LOT ABOUT
[01:00:01]
RENTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR RIGHTS AND SOME KIND OF A SMALL RENTERS TASK FORCE AND MAKE SURE LYDIA GARZA'S NAME IS INCLUDED AS THE PERSON WHO GENERATED THAT IDEA.I THINK IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON TUESDAY, GETTING SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AND THE FEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE PERCEIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT ONCE AGAIN I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE ONE OF THE REASONS WE CREATED THIS ENTIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SO THAT YOU COULD TACKLE THESE VERY, VERY SERIOUS ISSUES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, YOUR ENTIRE STAFF AND DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.
IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO HERE AT CITY HALL.
I WANT TO THANK PETER ZANONI, MELDEE AND HOUSING TO THE FOOD BANK.
THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY AND LEARN FROM EVERY SITUATION AND KNOW THAT WE GOT TO KEEP WORKING.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
YOU ALSO HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE'LL BE A PART OF ANY EFFORT TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND CERTAINLY WITH DIGNITY INTACT.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST ALSO WANT TO LASTLY THANK MY STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 16.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERO, SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE TEAM.
PETER, MELDEE, EVERYBODY WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD ON THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3 BECAUSE PART OF THESE DOLLARS ARE HELPING WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY ASKING FOR AND WORKING FOR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US IN OUR OFFICE AND FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND CROSS TIMBERS FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE THE CITY HAS -- WE HAVE LESSONS LEARNED AND WE ARE BEING MORE INTENTIONAL AND DELIBERATE IN OUR OUTREACH.
AND, YES, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND WE ARE -- AND LIKE THE PRINCIPLES ARE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO BE CONTINUALLY IMPROVING OUR OUTREACH.
THANK YOU FOR GOING OVER ALL OF THE OUTREACH YOU HAVE DONE AS WELL.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WANT TO MENTION TOO IS, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE A FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM TOO THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND AS THESE THINGS CONTINUE, OUR RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US AND ASK FOR HELP, AND WE HAVE TO BE THERE.
THESE DOLLARS ARE JUST ONE PORTION OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH THE CITY.
THIS PAST WEEK -- I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU VERO AND MELODY BECAUSE YOUR TEAMS CAME OUT TO A MEETING WE HAD.
IT WAS ABOUT INFORMATION REGARDING AGGRESSIVE HOME BUYERS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF DISTRICT 3.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING INUNDATED WITH MAIL PIECES, WITH PHONE CALLS, WITH KNOCKS ON THEIR DOORS COMING AND TRYING TO BUY THEIR HOMES.
WE ALSO HAD ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY LAW STUDENTS OUT THERE OR PROFESSORS OR LAWYERS OUT THERE TO HELP THE RESIDENTS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE THAT WE KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AND BEING INTENTIONAL FOR THE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE AS PROPERTY OWNERS AND AS HOMEOWNERS TOO.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TAKING INTO VERY BIG CONSIDERATION, AND WE WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND WE WILL BE WORKING DELIBERATELY.
AND THAT REMINDS ME, ERIK WALSH, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT MEETING I HAD THE OTHER DAY TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
BUT WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN TREVINO FOR HIS WORK AND ALL OF YOUR OFFICES.
NOW IS THE TIME TO TALK TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> PELAEZ: SO ON THE PRESENTATION WE'RE SEEING THIS CROSS TIMBER HOMES, $455,000 FUNDING.
THESE ARE TO BE OWNED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE LIVING THERE, RIGHT?
>> PELAEZ: SO TO WHAT EXTENT DO WE, WHEN WE HELP FOLKS IN THAT SITUATION, HELP PROVIDE TRAINING ON NOT JUST HOME UPKEEP AND, YOU KNOW, TAXES AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT PROVIDE
[01:05:02]
TRAINING.PROVIDE TRAINING WITH REGARDS TO HOW TO INSURE YOUR HOME, WHAT IS A SCAM PRODUCT.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT SELL SCAM INSURANCE POLICIES.
AND BY SCAM I MEAN INSURANCE POLICIES THAT ARE PROMISED TO THEM AS LOWEST COST POLICY POSSIBLE.
AND THEN THEY DISCOVER IT'S A CASH VALUE POLICY AS OPPOSED TO A REPLACEMENT COST VALUE.
>> DURING NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK WHEN WE HAD AN EVENT WITH HABITAT WE DID A WALL RAISING WITH THEM.
NATALIE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION THEY DO FOR THEIR CLIENTS FOR BOTH HABITAT AND CROSS TIMBER HOMES.
THEY CAN ADDRESS IT BUT I ASKED THEM WHAT DO YOU DO WITH INSURANCE, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF A CONVERSATION YOU AND I HAD HAD.
THEY DO A LOT MORE THAN OUR PROGRAMS WHERE WE ARE INCORPORATING THAT KIND OF TRAINING.
BUT I'LL LET HIM ADDRESS THAT.
WE DID HAVE A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION, NATALIE AND I ABOUT TRAINING HOME BUYERS ABOUT MAINTAINING AND KEEPING THEIR HOME, INCLUDING HOW TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIMS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANT TO ADDRESS MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS.
SO FOR CROSS TIMBER HOMES, IT IS RUN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN HABITAT BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT INCOME LEVEL POPULATION.
BUT WE DO STILL REQUIRE THAT THEY DO AN EIGHT-HOUR HOME BUYER EDUCATION CLASS.
WE ACTUALLY REFER THEM TO THE CITY'S CLASS.
AND THAT CLASS COVERS EVERYTHING FROM FINANCIAL READINESS TO LOANS AND CLOSING, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
WE ALSO INCLUDE A HOME REPAIR CLASS THAT WE DO IN-HOUSE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITH HABITAT AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY VALUABLE FOR A NEW HOME BUYER, HOMEOWNER TO FIND OUT THE COMMON THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSE AND MAKE REPAIRS ON THEM.
IT'S A HAND-ON CLASS THAT EVERY BUYER GOES THROUGH.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH BROADWAY BANK AND JEFFERSON BANK AND WE HAVE VETTED THEIR LOAN PRODUCTS.
THEY BOTH OFFER LOAN PRODUCTS THAT ARE VERY AFFORDABLE, VERY AFFORDABLE OR REASONABLE INTEREST RATES.
NO ORIGINATION FEES, NO PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE.
OF COURSE BUYERS CAN USE ANY LENDER THAT THEY WANT BUT WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO CHECK OUT THOSE TWO LENDERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY DO HAVE AFFORDABLE LOAN PRODUCTS.
IF SOMEONE COMES TO US PRE-QUALIFIED AND THE PRODUCT LOOKS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT PREDATORY, WE DO HAVE THAT AVENUE OF ENCOURAGING THEM TO GO TO A LENDER THAT OFFERS MORE.
>> PELAEZ: SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LENDERS.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, AND THAT'S A LOT OF BULL, AND I THANK YOU, GUYS FOR DOING THAT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY ROBUST WAY TO TRAIN THESE FOLKS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT GETTING RIPPED OFF BY PREDATORY LENDERS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT PREDATORY INSURANCE AGENTS THAT ARE PEDDLING REALLY GOD AWFUL GARBAGE POLICIES.
I CAN ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT AND TRY TO FIGHT AGAINST.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO REQUIRE IS WE REQUIRE THAT THE COMPANY BE AN A PLUS RATED COMPANY.
WE ALSO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL COVERAGE AND MAKE SURE IT'S A TRUE HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE POLICY TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING WE DO, BOTH FOR HABITAT AND WE'LL DO FOR CROSS TIMBER, IS WE OFFER LIFETIME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
IF SOMEBODY HAS AN INSURANCE CLAIM, WE WALK THE PROPERTY WITH THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HE IS LISTING IS CORRECT AND HELP THE HOMEOWNER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REPAIRS THAT ARE DONE ARE ACTUALLY THE REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED TO BE DONE AND DONE TO QUALITY STANDARDS.
>> PELAEZ: I'M GOING TO GET A LITTLE TECHNICAL ON YOU.
FORGIVE ME FOR THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW, IT HAPPENS IN MY DISTRICT.
IT HAPPENS MORE IN COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S DISTRICT AND COUNCILMAN SHAW'S DISTRICT.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE THAT WILL BUY THESE CASH VALUE POLICIES FROM A-RATED INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, WHATEVER, BLUE CHIP, BLUE RIBBON.
THESE ACTUAL CASH VALUE POLICIES ARE USUALLY SOLD TO THE ELDERLY AND THE POOR.
THEY ARE RIPOFFS AND THEY ARE SOLD BY GEICO AND OUR FRIENDS AT NATIONWIDE AND ALL THESE REPUTABLE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU HAVE VERY SERIOUS DAMAGE, YOU HAVE A FIRE AND GET AN INSURANCE CLAIM, ALL
[01:10:01]
YOU GET IS, YOU KNOW, 60%, 50% OF THE REPLACEMENT COST.BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS, HEY, SO SORRY.
YOU'VE GOT AN ACTUAL CASH VALUE POLICY.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OUT OF POCKET -- AND IT'S A REALLY RUDE AWAKENING FOR A LOT OF THESE FOLKS WHO THOUGHT THAT THEY BOUGHT A LEGITIMATE INSURANCE POLICY.
>> PELAEZ: I PROMISE YOU I'M GOING TO FINISH.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, VERONICA, WE TRAIN PEOPLE ON, HEY, DON'T LET YOUR TEEN GET PREGNANT.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE PROVIDE, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.
WE TELL THEM DON'T GO EAT FUNNEL CAKE.
DON'T GO TO THE SPAGHETTI DINNER EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
CARBS ARE BAD FOR YOU AND YOU CAN GET DIABETES.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE CITY DOES ANYTHING TO WARN PEOPLE THAT JUST BECAUSE THE LITTLE GREEN LIZARD ON TV IS CUTE THAT YOU'RE BUYING A GOOD POLICY, RIGHT? AND SO I'M WONDERING IF IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US -- NO, I'M NOT WONDERING, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO HELP CONSUMERS MAKE SURE THEY ARE BUYING POLICIES THAT ARE COVERING THEM.
REPLACEMENT COST VALUE POLICY IS A POLICY THAT WILL COVER YOU WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DEPRECIATION OF YOUR HOME.
I'M WORRYING THAT A LOT OF OUR ELDERLY AND POOR ARE GETTING RIPPED OFF.
YOU KNOW WHERE THEY DON'T GET RIPPED OFF? IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE DOMINION.
THEY DON'T GET RIPPED OFF IN FANCY PANTS NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SHAVANO AND INVERNESS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO PUSH BACK.
I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU GUYS TO INCLUDE --
SO BOTH THE LENDERS THAT WE WORK WITH THEY REQUIRE IT TO BE COVERED FOR REPLACEMENT VALUE.
NOW, THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS ONCE THEY ARE IN THE FINANCING THEN IT BECOMES BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR BANK.
BUT OUR EXPERIENCE IS ONCE THEY GET HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE THEY TEND TO RENEW IT UNTIL THERE'S A REASON NOT TO.
IT'S LESS ABOUT YOU GUYS AND MORE ABOUT US, ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS UNDER OUR PROGRAMS THAT DON'T PARTICIPATE IN YOURS.
VERONICA, WE PUT THIS DEPARTMENT TOGETHER SO YOU CAN TALK TO EVERYBODY ABOUT HOUSING AND THEIR RIGHTS.
AND SO THE WAY COLLEEN BRIDGER IS DOING, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION, GET VACCINATED AND GET ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO TO HAVE A HEALTHY FAMILY, BE NUTRITIOUS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, WE NEED TO ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT PEOPLE'S MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IS REALLY NOT COVERED.
NO, NOT GOD FORBID, WE ARE GOING TO GET MORE NATURAL CATASTROPHES THROUGH SAN ANTONIO AND I'M NOT SURE WE'RE DOING ENOUGH TO COMMUNICATE THOSE REALLY SIMPLE CONCEPTS TO FOLKS.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE TAKING NOTES BECAUSE I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING YOU ON THIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
AS PEOPLE FROM CROSS TIMBER AND HABITAT WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY TEACH PEOPLE IT REMINDS ME OF A STORY.
DON'T TELL MY WIFE I TOLD YOU THIS, BUT THE FIRST TIME SHE MOVED FROM AN APARTMENT INTO A HOUSE, SHE AND HER HUSBAND AT THAT TIME WALKED IN AND THEY TURNED ON THE LIGHTS AND NOTHING WORKED AND THEY TRIED TO TURN ON THE WATER.
NOTHING WORKED AND THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE THEY HAD LIVED IN AN APARTMENT AND ALL THOSE THINGS HAD BEEN PAID FOR.
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE YOU NEEDED TO CONTACT THE UTILITY COMPANY TO GET THOSE THINGS TURNED ON.
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW YOU ARE INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEN THEY MOVE INTO A HOME.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER REALLY HAD TO HAVE THAT OBLIGATION AND UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I COMMEND YOU ON THAT.
BUT I DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CLARIFY ONE THING, AND I BELIEVE IT'S WHAT I HEARD.
BUT IS YOUR DEPARTMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES WORKING ON DEVELOPING A LONG-TERM DISPLACEMENT AND RELOCATION POLICY THAT THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO ENACT AND WE HOPE WILL HELP WITH FUTURE SITUATIONS LIKE WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW? AND IF SO DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE WHEN YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE READY TO COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR MORE THOUGHT ABOUT IT?
YES, WE ARE WORKING ON A RELOCATION POLICY.
WE HAVE SHARED DRAFTS OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR HOUSING COMMISSION.
WE HAD A REALLY GOOD SESSION IN JANUARY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
IT ADDRESSED ISSUES WHERE PROPERTIES GETTING INCENTIVES AND WHAT THE PUBLIC BENEFIT NEEDS TO BE.
IN TERMS OF TIMING, I THINK WE'RE WAITING UNTIL JUNE, JULY, AUGUST TO BE READY TO COME TO COUNCIL, JUST SO WE HAVE ENOUGH VETTING AND TALK TO ALL THE PROPERTY APARTMENTS.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING NOT ONLY WITH HUMAN SERVICES ABOUT THAT ISSUE BUT MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED.
SO IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES BUT IT IS ONE WAY
[01:15:01]
IN WHICH WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, AND THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENT.SO SOMETIME THIS YEAR, AROUND MID SUMMER IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
>> COURAGE: ONE THING I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IN THAT, AND MAYBE YOU ALREADY ARE, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TALKS ABOUT STR TYPE TWO AND THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT WHOLE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT MAY BE TURNED INTO THESE KINDS OF MODELS.
IN THAT CASE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE IN AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS MAY GET DISPLACED.
IT'S A LITTLE SEPARATE FROM WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TOWN CENTER, BUT I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AS TO HOW WE ADDRESS THAT KIND OF A SITUATION.
ANYWAY, JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
VERONICA, BEFORE YOU TAKE A SEAT I WANT TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.
OFTENTIMES ON THE COUNCIL THINGS SNEAK UP ON US AND WE FEEL LIKE THEY SNEAK UP ON US BECAUSE THEY COME AROUND EVERY 365 DAYS, AND WE FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST HAPPENED LAST WEEK OR A MONTH AGO.
AND THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THE HUD REPROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITY.
DOES THIS COME BY EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR US TO LOOK AT CDBG, HUD, HOME FUNDING? SHOULD WE SET A CLOCK TO THIS SO WE KNOW WE'RE DOING THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR?
SO ONCE A YEAR WE HAVE THE ENTITLEMENT GRANT ONCE WE HEAR OUR AWARD, AND THAT'S THE ORIGINAL ENTITLEMENT.
THAT'S AROUND THE AUGUST TIME-FRAME.
AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR CLOSES AND WE'RE ABLE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SAVINGS AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH PROGRAM INCOME CAME IN, BECAUSE THESE ARE ALWAYS PROJECTIONS AND WE'RE ALWAYS QUITE CONSERVATIVE ON THOSE.
AND THE USUAL TIME-FRAME IN THIS CITY IS TO LOOK AT IT JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH.
SO EVERY MARCH IS WHEN SOMETHING WOULD COME FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR A REPROGRAMMING.
IF WE FOUND AFTER WE CLOSED PROJECTS AND SUBMITTED OUR ANNUAL REPORT TO HUD THAT THERE WAS FUNDING OR WE FIGURED OUT HOW MUCH PROGRAMMING.
THE TIMING IS ONCE A YEAR IN AUGUST WE COME WITH THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND THEN ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER, MARCH TIME-FRAME IS WHEN WE WOULD DO OUR REPROGRAMMING.
SO THAT HAS BEEN THE SCHEDULE.
WE DO IT OFTEN BUT TWICE A YEAR, ESSENTIALLY.
AROUND THIS TIME-FRAME EVERY YEAR WHEN THERE IS FUNDING WE ARE ABLE TO REPROGRAM.
>> SALDANA: I HEARD TWO POTENTIAL DATES WHERE I SHOULD PUT A NOTICE ON MY PHONE.
AUGUST IS WHEN YOU COME FORWARD WITH THE ACTION PLAN AND AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO ASSESS SAVINGS AND WHAT ESTIMATES HIT THEIR PROJECTIONS OR FORECAST, YOU COME TO US AROUND MARCH?
THAT'S WHEN WE START LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AND WHERE WE COULD FILL IT IN.
AND TRADITIONALLY WITH OUR USUAL PROCESS WE HAVE RFAS, REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS.
WE DON'T FUND EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY SO WE LEAVE THOSE TO SEE NUMBER TWO, NUMBER THREE.
ARE THOSE ONES THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD AND RECEIVE THIS FUNDING.
SO WE USE THOSE TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REPROGRAM.
>> SALDANA: AND THANK YOU, VERONICA, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN NEW TO THIS JOB BUT YOU HAVE BEEN QUICK TO COME TO US TO TELL US ABOUT THE ACTION PLAN.
I SAY IT SNEAKS UP ON US BUT YOU WERE MEETING WITH US EARLY ON THIS YEAR TO TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM THAT WOULD BE COMING TO THE COUNCIL.
LET ME TIP MY HAT TO YOU FOR THAT.
LET ME ALSO SUGGEST TO THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY BE LISTENING OR INTERESTED IN THE ISSUES OF REPROGRAMMING OF HUD DOLLARS, HOUSING INCENTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO KEEP FOLKS IN HOMES.
DOLLARS TO ASSIST THOSE FOLKS WHO MAY BE DISPLACED.
DOLLARS TO KEEP THOSE FOLKS IN PLACE, THAT AUGUST IS AN IMPORTANT TIME OF THE YEAR THAT I WOULD BE CALLING VERONICA OR HER STAFF TO START TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT DOLLARS ARE SET ASIDE THROUGH THIS PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY START TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES.
>> AUGUST IS WHEN WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT COUNCIL ACTION, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING NEXT MONTH TO LOOK AT WHEN WE RECEIVE OUR ALLOCATION FROM HUD, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO START TO SEE HOW MUCH GOES TO EVERY PRIORITY AREA.
SO IT WILL BE MAY/JUNE THAT WE START FIGURING OUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE.
SO BY AUGUST IS WHEN WE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, A FINAL.
AGAIN, HUD HAS QUITE A FEW PUBLIC HEARINGS, 30-DAY PUBLIC
[01:20:01]
NOTICE.SO YOU KNOW IS WHEN PROPOSALS WOULD START TO COME UP.
SO THE FINAL ACTION IS IN AUGUST.
>> SALDANA: LET ME AMEND MY COMMENT.
THAT'S WHEN THE MENU HAS BEEN WRITTEN.
BUT IF I AM AN ADVOCATE OR COMMUNITY MEMBER INTERESTED IN THIS, JUNE IS THE TIME-FRAME I SHOULD BE GETTING WITH YOUR OFFICE TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER.
>> SALDANA: FOLKS WHO DO THIS FOR A LIVING, WHETHER THAT IS HABITAT OR THEY ARE IN THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY WHO DOES HOUSING AND ACCESS THE CDBG AND HUD, THEY KNOW THOSE DATES.
BUT FOR SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING WITH THE HOUSING TASK FORCE THE MAYOR HAS SET UP, THEY MAY BE ASSUMING THAT SOME OF THIS INFORMATION IS COMING OUT TOO SLOWLY OR WITH NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION AND LEAD TIME.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR JOB, THAT YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO THAT WE DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU IN A POSITION THAT MAKES YOU HOLD PARTICULAR TIMELINES BACK.
>> WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT ONCE WE HAVE OUR ALLOCATION THAT WORD GETS OUT SO THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF HOW MUCH FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE CDBG, HOME, AND OTHER ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS.
>> SALDANA: LET'S HAVE A QUICK CONVERSATION ABOUT THEORY HERE.
I HAVE A THEORY THAT IN MANY CASES WHEN WE ARE GOING -- I'M GOING TO USE SOAP WORKS, AS THE EXAMPLE, IF COUNCILMAN TREVINO WILL ALLOW ME BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CASE STUDY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FOLKS ARE IN THIS POSITION WHERE THEY ARE INTERSECTING WITH PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, LIKE THE SAN PEDRO CREEK.
INTERSECTING WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IN THAT -- IN THESE COMMUNITIES, IN THESE AREAS THAT FOR A LONG TIME HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED.
I THINK SOAP WORKS WOULD ABSOLUTELY QUALIFY AS A CATEGORY OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT DIDN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.
SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE TENANTS WERE NOT THE SAME TYPES OF TENANTS THAT MAY BE BENEFITING FROM THOSE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND THE TIME SPAN OF TEN YEARS THAT WILL OCCUR AND HOW THAT TIME WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF THAT TENANT.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN AN APARTMENT LIKE SOAP WORKS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOST FEARFUL THING THAT POLICYMAKERS HAVE IN FRONT OF US WHEN WE USE TERMS LIKE GENTRIFICATION, BECAUSE SOAP WORKS IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT HAPPENING.
AS SOON AS NICE THINGS START POPPING UP, FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THESE COMMUNITIES FOR A LONG TIME ARE FORCED TO MOVE OUT.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GROUND ZERO, I THINK, SOAP WORKS, AS ANE AS Y WILL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM.
I HAVE A THEORY THAT WHEN THE CITY COMES IN AND STARTS KNOCKING ON DOORS, HAVING COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH THE TENANTS AND TELLING THEM, LOOK, YOU HAVE RIGHTS WERE GOING TO UPGRADE IT, PROBABLY DON'T LIKE THAT HAPPENING.
MY THEORY IS DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT THEY PROBABLY WANT TO UPGRADE AND IMPROVE THE APARTMENT OR THE UNITS SO THEY CAN ATTRACT A DIFFERENT KIND OF TENANT.
IS THAT A THEORY THAT YOU MIGHT AGREE WITH OR PUSH BACK ON?
>> WE HAVE BEEN HAVING VERY DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT QUESTION THROUGH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF DATA TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR OFFICE , SPENDING A LOT OF TIME THINKING OF WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT SURE WE COULD HAVE A VERY LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONE OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE DATA TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING AND LOOKING BACK AT FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS TO SEE THOSE TRENDS.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
ONCE I HAVE THAT, WE CAN CONTINUE TALKING TO SEE IF THE THEORY BEARS OUT IN THE DATA AS WELL.
BUT I'M SURE SOME FOLKS MAY THINK THAT WAY.
THIS COULD BE A VERY LONG CONVERSATION.
>> SALDANA: YEAH, AND I THINK THIS IS AN INTERESTING AND REALLY THORNY ISSUE.
IF YOU CONSIDER A CONVERSATION WE HAD JUST YESTERDAY, 24 HOURS AGO, AND COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IN DISTRICT 8 MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY RIGHTS.
IF I OWN AN APARTMENT UNIT AND I'M UPGRADING AND PUTTING MONEY IN IT, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY, I WOULD PUSH BACK AND SAY THAT WASN'T THE CASE TEN YEARS AGO BEFORE THE INVESTMENTS THE CITY WAS MAKING WERE TRULY COMING IN.
AND I THINK THAT'S -- I'M MAKING THAT POINT TO SAY SAN PEDRO
[01:25:01]
CREEK IS AN IMPORTANT ROAD MAP FOR US.IT'S ESSENTIALLY GIVING US A BLUEPRINT.
PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO, PHASE THREE IS TELLING US WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH NEW PUBLIC INVESTMENTS.
SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLIONS WORTH THAT IF WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE WHITE FLAGS THAT ARE BEING PUT UP, I THINK IT'S ON US, AND THIS HOUSING TASK FORCE, I THINK, HAS AN IMPORTANT LEARNING LESSON TO TAKE FROM WHAT MAY BE DONE HERE WITH SOAP WORKS.
AND I COMMEND COUNCILMAN TREVINO BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO TRY TO KNOCK ON DOORS.
SOMETIMES FOLKS JUST DON'T TRUST THE CITY, AND I WORRY SOMETIMES THEY DON'T COME TO MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED THE CITY MAYBE IS NOT GOING TO BE HELPING THEM.
AND I HOPE WE CAN GET OVER THAT.
BUT THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, I THINK, IS REALLY CHARGED WITH HOW DO WE TRULY GET THAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SO THEY MIGHT TRUST WE'RE ON THEIR SIDE SO WE CAN KEEP THEM IN THESE NEW FACILITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE UPGRADED THAT HAVE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS COMING IN THAT THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM AND NOT HAVE TO BE MOVED AWAY FROM.
I THINK ALL OF THAT TO SAY I HOPE YOU AND THE HOUSING TASK FORCE LOOK VERY CLEARLY AT SAN PEDRO CREEK AND SEE WHERE IT'S GOING NEXT.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS THAT MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS STRATEGY THAT WE'RE USING WITH THESE HUD DOLLARS THAT DURING JUNE, WAY IN ADVANCE OF THE DISCUSSION POINTS THAT WE HAVE TO VOTE ON, WE CAN START PUTTING THESE PLANS TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT IF ANYTHING, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME UP AND ADVOCATED FOR SOAP WORKS AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE THERE.
THAT REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER PROJECT I WANT TO GET AN UPDATE ON FROM A YEAR AGO THAT THE CITY HAD SOME INVESTMENTS IN AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CLEARLY TAKE A SEAT.
I WAS GOING TO ASK LORI HOUSTON OR JOHN JACKS, IF THEY COULD, REMIND ME OF THE LEE APARTMENTS, THE ROBERT E. LEE APARTMENTS.
YEARS AGO THE CITY ACTUALLY LOANED THEM ABOUT $1.2 MILLION FOR THAT PROJECT THROUGH A LOAN.
>> SALDANA: THEY ARE UPGRADING THOSE APARTMENTS?
>> WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CURRENT OWNERS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO DO SOME WORK.
THERE IS SOME NEEDED WORK AT THOSE APARTMENTS SO WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM, TRYING TO GET THEM TO IMPROVE THAT PROPERTY.
>> SALDANA: THE QUESTION AND THE FEAR WE HAD THERE WAS THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE OLDER RESIDENTS, MANY OF THEM WHO, IN SOME CASES, LIVED DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY WORKED IN THE AREA.
THEY CLEANED HOTEL BEDS OR THEY WORKED SOME BLUE COLLAR OPPORTUNITY JOBS THAT MAY NOT AFFORD THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN AN UPGRADED ROBERT E.
TWO YEARS LATER, A YEAR LATER SINCE THE VOTE WE TOOK TO PROTECT THAT IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
>> THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR RENT IN THAT PROPERTY.
YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME SITUATION THAT YOU HAD AT SOAP WORKS WHERE THERE WAS NO PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THAT APARTMENT.
THIS ONE DOES HAVE OUR DOLLARS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT PROJECT, SO THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP RENTS AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
>> SALDANA: DO YOU THINK WE ARE KEEPING THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE THERE IN THE APARTMENT?
>> WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD WORKING WITH THEM TO KEEP THAT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING APARTMENT PROJECT,PR YES.
>> SALDANA: WE ALL WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- AND I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE NAMES AND FACES THAT WE SPOKE TO TWO YEARS AGO ARE STILL THE SAME NAMES AND FACES THAT ARE THERE TODAY.
>> WE'LL FOLLOW UP AND BRIEF YOU, YES.
>> SALDANA: I JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS AND ONE, VERONICA, I'M SORRY.
MAYBE PETER WOULD BE BETTER TO ANSWER THIS ONE.
PETER, HOW MUCH DO WE STILL OWE ON THIS HUD 108 LOAN? IT SEEMS EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO CUT OFF THE TOP $4 MILLION.
>> ABOUT $27 MILLION, COUNCILMAN.
>> SALDANA: HOW MUCH DID WE TAKE IT ORIGINALLY?
>> SALDANA: WHEN DO WE PROJECT TO BE DONE WITH THE HUD 108 LOAN?
IT'S A LITTLE OVER $4.3 MILLION ANNUAL PAYMENT.
>> SALDANA: IN 2028 WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEPLOY $4 MILLION IN AUDIO]
>> IF THE PROGRAM IS STILL AROUND.
AND THE LAST THING IS, VERONICA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP.
IN THE FUTURE I WOULD REALLY BE LOOKING TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE LIGHTING PROJECTS THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON IN OUR DISTRICT WITH SOME OF THE CDBG FUNDS.
AS YOU'RE PROGRAMMING FOR JUNE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET THAT IN THERE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIGHT UP SOME OF THE AREAS THAT SAPD HAS INFORMED US ARE COMMUNITIES THAT LACK LIGHTING TO HELP THEM DO THEIR JOB.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
THANK YOU, STAFF AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT ON THIS.
LET ME JUST BACK UP FOR A MINUTE
[01:30:02]
AND MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THERE IS NOT A POLICY OR PROGRAM BEING CREATED TODAY WITH THIS ACTION.AND I THINK THE COMMENT THAT COUNCILMAN SALDANA MADE JUST A MOMENT AGO ABOUT TRUST IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IF THERE WAS A BIG TAKEAWAY FROM S.A. TOMORROW OR EVEN THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, IT'S THAT WE HAVE GIVEN AN ALL-IN EFFORT ON ENGAGEMENT ON HOW WE CAN CREATE POLICY THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT BRINGS OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS PEERS FROM THE VERY OUTSET OF THE PLANNING EFFORT.
THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE HAS DONE THAT, S.A. TOMORROW DID THAT.
AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL HAS CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR US TO CREATE A MODEL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AS A CITY.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN LEAN INTO THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT EXAMPLES OF IT BEING DONE VERY WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE EXAMPLES OF US WHERE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT AS WELL AND THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT COME UP 12 HOURS BEFORE A VOTE OR, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY THERE'S DISAGREEMENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
AND ON THIS ISSUE IT'S VERY CLEAR, PARTICULARLY WITH DISPLACEMENT ISSUES, THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.
IT'S ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS WITH REGARD FOR THE NEED FOR ENGAGEMENT.
AND ENGAGEMENT MEANS THAT WE WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY NOT AS PROVIDERS AND CLIENTS, BUT AS PEERS.
THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM WHEN WE SCHEDULE MEETINGS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERNS AND THE PROBLEMS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON THE OPTIONS FOR SOLUTIONS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A REAL MODEL EFFORT ON ANY OF THE DISPLACEMENT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.
AND THIS IS NOT TO BLAME ANYONE.
THESE ARE JUST THE MOST CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGING MOMENTS FOR ENGAGEMENT.
I WOULD LIKE US TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT.
I KNOW THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, YOUR OFFICE, VERO, HAVE BEEN REALLY CLOSELY MONITORING THAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT A FOCUS OF OUR EFFORTS WITH REGARD TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL'S CHARGE.
SO LET ME JUST WRAP AGAIN BY SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT CREATING A PROGRAM.
THIS IS NOT CREATING A DISPLACEMENT POLICY.
THOSE WILL BE DRIVEN BY THE TASK FORCE AND BY YOUR OFFICE, VERO, AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REALLY EXAMINE HOW THAT WORKS AND GET THE CONSTANT LOOP, FEEDBACK LOOP THAT WE NEED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND IT.
WITH REGARD TO THE FUNDING ALLOCATION WE SHOULD NOT BE RESIGNED TO DISPLACEMENT AS AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION IN THE COMMUNITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN'T BE SO RECKLESS AS TO SUGGEST THAT DISPLACEMENT WILL NEVER OCCUR.
IT IS A CHARGE OF THE TASK FORCE TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN PREVENT DISPLACEMENT BUT WE WOULD BE FOOLISH TO SAY THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN, EVER.
SO THIS FUNDING ALLOCATION, IN MY MIND, IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE IT SETS ASIDE RESOURCES THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL NEED TO PROVIDE A TOOL OF LAST RESORT WHILE WE WORK ON PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN THE FUTURE.
AGAIN, I COMMEND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.
I ASK YOU TO HELP US GET THE FACTS OUT FOR PEOPLE, SO IT'S NOT JUST DRIVEN BY, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, PERHAPS, A VESTED INTEREST IN ONE OUTCOME OR ANOTHER.
BUT THAT WE ALSO WORK TOGETHER ON CREATING A MODEL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WE CAN HOLD UP TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY LACK IT AS WELL.
I WILL SAY ONE LAST THING AND THAT IS I TRUST THE HEART OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE STAFF MEMERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROCESS THAT THEY REALLY WANT TO HELP.
IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGE FOR A CITY LIKE OURS WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT.
BUT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING YEOMEN'S WORK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE SAN ANTONIO HAS THE BEST AND PERHAPS THE GOLD STANDARD OF ENGAGEMENT FOR THESE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.
WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 16.
THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA, MORNING AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, ERIK?
WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED UNTIL -- WE DO HAVE A SAWS MEETING TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.