[5. Ordinance ratifying a contract with with CityFlag, Inc. in the amount of $62,980.00 to provide task enhancements for the City of San Antonio 311 mobile application, funded from the FY 2018 ITSD Operating Fund. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Troy Elliott, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 5.

>> ITEM NO. 5 IS AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING A CONTRACT WITH CITY FLAG INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $62,980 TO PROVIDE TASK ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S 311 MOBILE APPLICATION FUNDED FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 ITSD OPERATING FUND.

>> VIAGRAN: IF WE COULD SEE THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CRAIG HOPKINS.

I'M HERE TO REPRESENT A LARGE ENTERPRISE TEAM ON THE 311 MOBILE APP.

THAT CONSISTS OF THE 311 CENTER, ITSD TEAM, THE CITY FLAG TEAM WHO IS WITH US TODAY AS WELL AS ALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS IN THE CITY.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS 311 MOBILE APP IS ACTUALLY TO CREATE GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WITH FOLKS THAT CAN MAKE REQUESTS FOR WORK OUT OF THE CITY, BUT ALSO TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WHERE THE CITS CAN INTERACT WITH THEMSELVES.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK ON THE APPLICATION.

THE 311 MOBILE APP WAS ACTUALLY A COMPETITIVE BID LAST SUMMER.

WE HAD ABOUT SEVEN PROPOSALS OF WHICH WE SHORT LISTED TO THREE.

THE INTENT IS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT APPLICATION THAT'S OUT THERE TODAY.

IT IS OF LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY AND TIED TO OUR CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

WE HAVE HAD THREE FINAL PROPOSALS AND THE COST RANGE BETWEEN $63,000 AND $163,000 TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.

THE INITIAL CONTRACT WITH CITY

[00:40:01]

FLAG, WHO WAS SELECTED, WAS FOR $22,800.

THERE WAS AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF $6,000 PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS AS WE WENT FORWARD.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT CITY FLAG IS A LOCAL START-UP OUT OF THE GEEKDOM DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND WE HAVE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WORKING TOGETHER BETWEEN ITSD AND THE COMPANY BUILDING OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES TOGETHER.

THE FUNCTIONALITY IN THE 311 APP IS REALLY INTENDED TO UPGRADE WHAT WE HAD TODAY AND CREATE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

TODAY THERE'S 23 SERVICE REQUESTS THAT CAN BE PERFORMED OUT OF THE APP.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED THAT TO 53 NEW REQUESTS THAT CAN COME IN AS WELL, DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLIC.

IT'S A DYNAMIC SIMPLE USER INTERFACE, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.

I'LL SHOW YOU A SCREEN SHOT IN A SECOND.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT DUE DATE AND CLOSED DATES ON EVERY REQUEST.

WITH THINGS WE DO INTERNALLY IN THE CITY BUT WE NEVER EXPOSED THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

AN INTERESTING THING WE BUILT INTO THIS AS WELL IS THE ABILITY TO DEDUPLICATE.

TODAY IF A CITIZEN ACTUALLY SUBMITS A REQUEST, ANYBODY CAN KEEP SUBMITTING THAT REQUEST WHENEVER THEY SEE IT.

THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT'S ALREADY BEEN REQUESTED AND WE DON'T NEED TO CREATE MULTIPLE REQUESTS IN OUR SYSTEM.

A BIG PART OF THIS EXPERIMENT IS TO CREATE THE SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AS WELL WITH THIS APPLICATION.

THE PURPOSE IS TO CREATE PARTICIPATION AND GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT THEY LIKE, TO GET POINTS AND GAMIFY THE OPPORTUNITY AND BE PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

AND THE LAST PART I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ALL THE DATA IN OUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OUT THROUGH THE APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC.

ANY OPEN REQUEST OR REQUESTS CLOSED IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS WILL BE SHOWN ON A MAP.

YOU CAN GET ON THE WEBSITE TODAY BUT NOW IT ALLOWS YOU TO PUT IT ON THE MOBILE APP AND MAKE IT MORE EASY TO USE AS WELL.

SO A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS I JUST WANT TO PUT OUT HERE THAT I MENTIONED IS THIS CONCEPT OF SERVICE REQUESTS.

WE NOW HAVE SIX MAJOR HEADINGS.

AND THEY ARE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO TEN SUBCATEGORIES FOR EVERY HEADING, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT.

IT'S AS EASY AS THREE CLICKS, ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC CAN SAY I FOUND SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

THAT'S THE EASIEST PART OF THE APPLICATION.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT IS NEW FOR US.

I THINK WE WILL FIND THAT A CERTAIN GROUP OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO FIND THIS EXCITING.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHT IS THAT A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN MAKING REQUESTS.

THE SCREEN ON THE LEFT IS CALLED OUR URBAN FEED.

IT BECOMES THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SUBMITTED.

THE SCREEN ON THE RIGHT IS OUR GAMIFICATION WHERE YOU CAN WIN POINTS AND BADGES FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AS YOU GO FORWARD AS WELL.

THE LAST PIECE I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THIS CONCEPT OF GLOBAL MAPPING.

SO ALL DATA WILL BE EXPOSED THROUGH THE APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC OF OPEN REQUESTS IN THE CRM SYSTEM AS WELL AS ANYTHING CLOSED IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

YOU'LL SEE THE GREEN FLAGS ON THE RIGHT ARE THE OPEN REQUESTS.

THE BLUE FLAGS ARE CLOSED.

YOU CAN SELECT ANY FLAG AND SEE WHAT THAT REQUEST IS AND GET DETAILS ABOUT IT.

NOT WHO SUBMITTED THE REQUEST BUT WHAT IT IS AND WHERE IT IS.

YOU'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO FILTER THROUGH OTHER REQUESTS AND LOOK FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF REQUESTS AS WELL.

SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS A QUICK BACKGROUND IS WHEN WE SELECTED THE CONTRACT WITH CITY FLAG IT WAS A $22,000 CONTRACT THAT WE EXPECTED TO HAVE DONE BY END OF LAST YEAR.

WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO DESIGN REVIEW SHORTLY AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, WE REALIZED THERE WERE SEVERAL THINGS THAT STILL NEEDED TO BE BUILT TO MAKE THIS USABLE.

NOT ANY FAULT OF CITY FLAG, MORE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS WITH OUR CURRENT SYSTEM AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO USE IT WITH OUR OPERATIONAL PROCESSES THROUGH THE CITY.

WE ASKED THEM TO DO A SECOND ITERATION, THAT WAS THE REQUEST FOR THE ADDITIONAL $65,000 WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS UNDER THE $50,000 CITY ORDINANCE.

THAT WAS AUTHORIZED OUT OF THE I.T. BUDGET.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY ASKING FOR THE SECOND AMOUNT.

IT IS NOW AVAILABLE IN THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE FOR ANDROID AND ITUNES FOR IOS.

OUR INTENT IS TO PUT IT OUT FOR 30 DAYS FROM THE END OF THIS MONTH TO THE END OF JUNE SO IT CAN BE USED IN THE STORE AND TESTED, MAKE FINAL MODIFICATIONS

[00:45:01]

TO IT, AND THEN START A PUBLIC LAUNCH OF THIS AT THE END OF JUNE, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A YEAR'S WORTH OF MARKETING AND SUPPORT FROM THE CITY FLAG TEAM AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, I RECOMMEND -- THE STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TALKING ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE AND THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT ON HERE.

IS THAT ALSO GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS CONTRACT WITH CITY FLAG?

>> YES, THE $6,000 A YEAR IS THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WE WILL USE TO SUPPORT WITH THEM.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPGRADE AND REVISE THE APPLICATION AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THEM.

>> VIAGRAN: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY RIGHT NOW -- THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH ME.

ON THE APP WHEN RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING AND IT SAYS CLOSED, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S FIXED?

>> NO.

NOT NECESSARILY.

>> VIAGRAN: PLEASE CLARIFY THAT.

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

THERE'S A SEPARATE EFFORT GOING ON TODAY WORKING THROUGH OUR ENTIRE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS LAGGING, AS WELL AS THE OPERATIONAL PROCESSES BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS.

WHERE TODAY WE MAY, AS THE CITY, CALL SOMETHING CLOSED EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC.

WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT REGEARING PROCESS TODAY AS PART OF OUR CRM SYSTEM WORK SO WE CAN THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE CREATE A NEW CATEGORY, CALLED COMPLETE, OR MODIFY WHAT CLOSED MEANS.

BUT THAT IS NOT IN THE CURRENT APP TODAY.

>> VIAGRAN: YOU HAVE TO DO THAT ON A SEPARATE LEVEL?

>> WE HAVE TO DO THAT SEPARATELY FROM THE APP.

>> VIAGRAN: MY LAST QUESTION IS ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA-LIKE ENGAGEMENT AND GAMIFICATION, I'M GLAD THAT THIS DATA IS GOING TO BE HERE AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP ENGAGE OUR CITIZENS.

I THINK THIS COULD BE A GREAT TOOL TO DO THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST AS ONE OF THE WAYS AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS GAMIFICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA, ONE WAY THAT WE CAN ENGAGE OUR CITIZENS -- BECAUSE IF WE HAVE CITIZENS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, GETTING ALL OF THESE BADGES BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUESTING SO MANY STREETS OR ANIMALS, ET CETERA.

WE HAVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

SO IF WE HAVE OPENINGS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH ITEMS IN THIS AREA, IS THERE AN ABILITY FOR US TO PUT ON THERE THERE'S AN OPENING FOR A BOARD AND COMMISSION.

ARE YOU INTERESTED.

AND GET THEM TO CONNECT AND APPLY FOR THAT BOARD AND COMMISSION.

I THINK THAT'S A WAY WE CAN ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

>> THE ABSOLUTELY.

WE'LL BRING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> VIAGRAN: OH.

AND I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> THE SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPEN UP GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT.

AND CERTAINLY THE OLD WAY OF DOING THAT WAS GIVING FOLKS CONFIRMATION NUMBERS ABOUT 311 REQUESTS.

IT WAS MAKING SURE THAT THEY COULD GO BACK AND MAYBE CALL SOMEBODY AND SEE THAT THAT CONFIRMATION NUMBER WAS CLOSED.

THAT PROCESS LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WASN'T AS ACCESSIBLE, IT WASN'T AS CONVENIENT, IT WASN'T AS WORKABLE.

SO IN MANY WAYS IT WASN'T ACHIEVING THE ABILITY OF THE COUNCIL OR THE POLICYMAKERS TO SAY WE HAVE OPENED UP GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU.

THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT MIGHT DO THAT FOR THOSE WHO ARE INCLINED TO USE AN APP.

I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN WHAT PRODUCTS HAS BEEN BUILT TODAY.

I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF CITY FLAG TO BE INNOVATIVE.

AND A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE TO DATE.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIDDLE WITH THE FEATURES WITH PAULA AND THE REST OF THE CREW.

I'M NOT GOING TO AVOID BEING A LAST-MINUTE CHEF IN THE KITCHEN ADDING INGREDIENTS, BUT I JUST WANT TO OFFER SOME SUGGESTIONS.

ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT I THOUGHT WAS -- I HAVE USED THE 311 APP FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

I KNOW A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS HAVE USED IT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS DURING THAT EXERCISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THE ABILITY TO ACCESS PHOTOS THAT EXIST IN YOUR LIBRARY ON YOUR PHONE.

BUT CURRENTLY I THINK IT'S ONLY AN IN-APP PHOTO FEATURE.

SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING BY A CASE IN MAYBE THERE'S FRONT YARD PARKING, YOU HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE FROM WITHIN YOUR APP NOT WITH THE PHOTO ALBUM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WORK THAT OUT BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT IN TERMS OF GOING THROUGH AND SITTING DOWN AND A PLACE TO DO IT, ONCE YOU'RE SITUATED AND NOT DRIVING.

THE OTHER -- MAYBE THIS IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE FEATURE.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.

CAN YOU DO THIS AS AN ANONYMOUS?

>> YES.

WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS.

[00:50:01]

ONE IS TO MAKE IT PRIVATE, WHICH MEANS IT WON'T SHOW ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FEED IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE PART OF THAT.

THE SECOND IS TO MAKE IT ANONYMOUS.

SO IT WON'T EVEN SHOW UP IN ANYBODY'S FEED AND IT WILL COME THROUGH WITHOUT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, YES.

>> SALDANA: YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT IT BEING PUBLIC.

>> IT'S STILL YOURS.

YOU'LL SEE IT BUT IT WON'T BE PUBLIC, AND WE DON'T PASS THE INFORMATION INTO THE CITY AS WELL.

>> SALDANA: FOR THE LAST PIECE HERE IS A SUGGESTION I GOT FROM A CONSTITUENT WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE MY WIFE.

BUT SHE LOVES THE 311 FEATURE.

SHE USES IT ALL THE TIME TO CALL IN ANYTHING FROM ANIMALS TO FRONT YARD PARKING.

ONE FEATURE SHE SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE WAS REPORTING WHEN SHE SEES DOG SALES HAPPENING WITHIN THE CITY.

THAT'S CURRENTLY AN OTHER UNDER ANIMALS.

COULD WE CREATE A FEATURE FOR A PIECE LIKE THAT? I KNOW NOT JUST MY WIFE, BUT OTHER FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SEEING IN-CITY SALE.

ONCE WE ACTUALLY ROLL IT OUT, COULD YOU GO BACK INTO THE SYSTEM AND START ADDING THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> WE COULD, SIR.

SO THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SET AS KIND OF A DESIGN PRINCIPLE HERE.

WE WENT FROM 23 TO 53 REQUESTS BASED ON THE HIGHEST VOLUME OF REQUESTS THAT COMES IN TODAY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE TOP 53 WERE COVERED.

NOW THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE NEXT 100 REQUESTS THAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION WHETHER AN OTHER CATEGORY IS THE RIGHT WAY TO HANDLE THAT.

IT CREATES A BUNCH OF OPERATIONAL ISSUES WE HAVE TO TALK THROUGH.

AND THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY NEW CATEGORIES WOULD WE ADD.

I WILL ABSOLUTELY TAKE YOUR INPUT INTO THAT, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC-FACING APPLICATION FOR US TO GO EXPERIMENT WITH THE PUBLIC, WHICH YOU ARE A MEMBER OF IN THIS CASE.

SO WE GO THROUGH A SERIES OF DESIGN REVIEWS WITH THE PUBLIC ONCE THIS GOES OUT AND ASK THEM HOW WOULD YOU USE THE APP? WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THESE CATEGORIES WHICH THIS WOULD BE PART OF, AND THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT MOST IMPORTANT STORIES WOULD BE TO BUILD ON THIS AS WE GO.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WITHIN THE CONTRACT AND WITHIN THE FEATURES OF THE ROLLOUT WE HAVE THE NIMBLENESS TO GO BACK AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FEATURES.

AGAIN, THIS IS A STEP TOWARDS OPEN GOVERNMENT AND TRANSPARENCY AND FOLKS ARE SHARING THIS PUBLICLY WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IS A MAP OF THE CITY WITH FLAGS AND CERTAIN CONCERNS.

WE'LL GET TO BUILD OUR OWN HEAT MAPS.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE FINAL PRODUCT.

THANK YOU, CRAIG.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WAS GOING TO COMMENT SIMILAR.

WE HAD A MEETING.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE LIST OF ITEMS AND HOW IT CAN GROW AND HOW IT CAN INFORM US.

OVER THE WEEKEND WE HAD SOME COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT DEBRIS ON BIKE LANES AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CONSTANT STRATEGY OR A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BIKE LANES ARE BEING CLEANED OFF.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE NEW 311 APP THAT IS GOING TO DEPLOY A LOT OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND.

SO I GUESS JUST TO REPEAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO UPDATE THE LIST TO CRAFT IT SO THAT IT IS TAILORED TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES.

WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT THAT NBA FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WE MAY FIND THAT THE WAY WE LABEL THINGS TODAY IS NOT THE WAY THE PUBLIC ACTUALLY THINKS OF THINGS.

SO THOSE WILL BE UPDATES AS WELL.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE MOBILE APP, THE WEBSITE, AND THE 311 CALL CENTER ARE ALL ENTRY POINTS OF INFORMATION INTO OUR CRM SYSTEM, THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WORK OFF OF.

JUST CHANGING SOMETHING ON THE FRONT, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONNECT IT TO THE BUSINESS PROCESSES AND THE OPERATIONAL PROCESSES IN THE BACK.

THAT IS THE BIGGER WORK FOR US TO DO TOGETHER AS WE GET THAT INFORMATION.

>> TREVINO: EXCELLENT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I ADDRESS THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER THE WEEKEND.

SHOUT OUT TO CHRISTIAN TORRES FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

AND I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO MY FELLOW MCALLENITE, BETO WHO HELPED PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK.

GREAT WORK ALL AROUND.

WE'RE REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS COMING TO FRUITION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANKS.

IS BETO HERE? COME ON UP, PAL.

COME ON UP.

SO I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING THE MAYOR IN HIS BRILLIANCE CREATED THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.

AND MANY OF US ON THIS DAIS, WE SERVE ON IT.

CRAIG, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.

I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS THAT THIS ISN'T JUST AN APP.

[00:55:01]

IF YOU REALLY TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT, BETO, THIS IS A CONFLUENCE OF INNOVATION, OF CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT, OF TECHNOLOGY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> YES, SIR.

>> PELAEZ: ADDITIONALLY THIS TO ME -- REALLY, YOU'RE FROM MCALLEN? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? ARE YOU FROM MCALLEN?

>> YEAH.

I'M ACTUALLY FROM MISSION BUT PEOPLE SAY I'M FROM MCALLEN.

IT'S IN BETWEEN MISSION AND MCALLEN.

I SAY MCALLEN BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE MISSION IS.

>> PELAEZ: I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S ALSO ADDED IN THERE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTICE THAT THIS IS THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT LATELY AND THAT IS WHEN WE TALK INNOVATION AND TECH, THE BIG PLAYERS, THE ONES THAT MICROSOFT AND GOOGLE AND SPECTRUM AND ALL THAT.

THOSE ARE THE ONES PEOPLE MOST FREQUENTLY TALK ABOUT.

BUT RARELY DO WE TALK ABOUT THE REALLY SMALL SCRAPPY PLAYERS LIKE YOU WHO ARE DOING REALLY BIG THINGS.

AND SO I CELEBRATE THAT AND I THINK THAT WE WOULDN'T BE DOING OUR JOBS IF WE DIDN'T STOP FOR A SECOND AND SHOW FOLKS THAT OUR SBE PROGRAM REALLY WORKS.

AND THAT IT REALLY DOES PRODUCE THE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRODUCE.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

I'M EXPECTING REALLY BIG THINGS FROM YOU AND I'M GOING TO BE ON YOU LIKE WHITE ON RICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING WORKS.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST STEPS IN INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, IN THIS SPACE.

AND THIS APP IS WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO LET IT FAIL.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE PORTAL BY WHICH MAYBE OUR MOST IMPORTANT CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT HAPPENS.

AND SO BETO, EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM YOU.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, MAYOR, AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.

IN ORDER TO FOSTER A CULTURE OF INNOVATION WE NEED TO INVEST IN LONG-TERM INNOVATION.

WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TODAY IS IMPORTANT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CRAIG AND PAULA, ARE YOU HERE? OH, THERE YOU ARE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

I RECEIVED THE BRIEFING FROM YOU JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND SO GLAD TO SEE SUCH A GREAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO CITY DEPARTMENTS.

EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.

YOU'RE A VICTIM OF YOUR OWN SUCCESS, PAULA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT.

THERE'S SO MANY CALLS AND -- I'M GETTING TO A QUESTION.

THERE'S SO MANY CALLS AND YOU MANAGE TO HANDLE IT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING AT MY EVENT ON SATURDAY OVER THE WEEKEND.

I WANT TO ECHO A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BROUGHT UP.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM IN OUR BRIEFING.

AND JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WATCHING HERE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE -- OR THE REASON PEOPLE COME TO SOME OF OUR COUNCIL OFFICES IS BECAUSE EITHER 311 JUST DOESN'T COVER THAT PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT THAT THEY NEED TO WORK WITH OR THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEIR CASE GOT RESOLVED.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO KNOW THAT IN VERSION 2.0 THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO REDUCE THE VOLUME OF CALLS WE GET TO OUR OFFICE, SO I CAN'T WAIT -- NOT THAT I DON'T LIKE TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS, BUT I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GET THERE.

COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT IN AUDIO] TO ENSURE THAT IN VERSION 2.0 FOLKS WILL KNOW IF THEIR CASE GOT CLOSED AND WHY IT GOT CLOSED.

>> DEFINITELY.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

SO AS YOU MENTIONED, AND AS CRAIG MENTIONED ALSO, WE ARE GOING THROUGH AN UPGRADE AND REALLY A BUSINESS PROCESS UPGRADE AS WELL, WHICH WILL STANDARDIZE NOT ONLY FOR ONE DEPARTMENT BUT ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS THE ACTUAL COMPLETING A REQUEST.

AS YOU MENTIONED, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ACTUAL OUTCOME OF THE REQUEST WHERE THE CITIZEN WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO CALL 311 AND GET THAT INFORMATION BUT WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT ONLINE IN TERMS OF, YES, NOT ONLY DID WE TEMPORARILY ADDRESS IT BY MAYBE ADDRESSING THE MANHOLE COVER TEMPORARILY.

BUT WHEN THE ACTUAL COVER GETS INSTALLED, THAT IS FULL COMPLETION.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TOWARD IN THIS STANDARDIZED PROCESS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AND FULLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH A NEW PORTAL THAT IS BEING BUILT.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT COMING ONLINE AT THE

[01:00:02]

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

>> SANDOVAL: THANKS.

I THINK THAT WILL BE GREAT FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALL THE THINGS WE WANT IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ALSO MENTIONED ANOTHER GREAT POINT ABOUT LINKING 311 AND MANAGEMENT.

I HAVE A CCR CALLED ADVANCING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IN THERE IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THE CITY, EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON, THAT WE HAVE A WAY TO REACH BACK OUT TO THEM ABOUT THINGS THAT WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE CALLING IN AND REPORTING LOTS OF CASES OF ANIMAL NEGLECT, THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN OPENING ON THE ACS BOARD THAT WE LET THEM KNOW ABOUT IT.

BUT ALSO WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING CHANGES TO CHAPTER 5 OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT WE LET THEM KNOW THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT.

SO I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE ON HOW WE CAN LINK THAT TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: GREAT PROGRAM AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMING OUT AND HELPING US AND HELPING PEOPLE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO GET THEIR INPUTS IN AND REVIEWING THAT KIND OF THING.

WHEN DID THIS ACTUALLY FIRST COME TO COUNCIL, THIS APP?

>> THIS HAS NOT COME TO COUNCIL.

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY UNDER THE $50,000 AMOUNT AND IT WAS DONE -- THE SELECTION WAS DONE LAST SUMMER.

SO THE $22,000 WAS THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT.

IT DID NOT COME TO COUNCIL.

>> THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE DETERMINED AFTER THE HOLIDAYS WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE THE SECOND ITERATION WAS THE $62,000 ADDITIONAL FUND.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING BACK, BECAUSE IT'S ABOVE THE $50,000.

>> PERRY: SO WHAT WAS THE INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR THIS PROGRAM?

>> THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS $22,000 FOR BUILD AND $6,000 A YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE FOR THREE YEARS WAS THE INITIAL I ESTIMAT.

>> PERRY: OKAY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS UNDER YOUR -- AND I'M TALKING ABOUT PROCESS HERE.

AND MAYBE I NEED TO TALK WITH SHERYL ABOUT THAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A $50,000 -- I THINK $100,000 LIMIT FOR, YOU KNOW, AT EACH DISCRETION AT EACH LEVEL FOR DOING THINGS WITHOUT COMING TO THE COUNCIL WITHIN YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY, RIGHT?

>> BELOW $50,000.

YES, SIR.

ANYTHING OVER $50,000 HAS TO COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

>> PERRY: JUST THIS SOUNDS LIKE THIS PROCESS STARTED AND IT WAS WITHIN YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY BUT, YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S GONE OVER YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY SO IT'S GOT TO COME TO COUNCIL.

TO ME, IF YOU'RE STARTING A NEW PROJECT OR STARTING CONSTRUCTION ON A PROJECT THEN YOU'RE USING YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY TO GET STARTED.

REALLY, THAT SHOULD BE COUNTED INTO THE OVERALL COST AND BROUGHT TO COUNCIL RIGHT UP FRONT.

SO IT'S A PROCESS THING TO ME.

>> AND I THINK AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROPOSALS LAST YEAR YOU SEE THE RANGE OF THE PROPOSALS OUT OF THE SEVEN WE GOT RANGE FROM UP TO $163,000.

AND SO BEING A NEWER COMPANY, CITY FLAG, THEY HAD A VERY COMPETITIVE PRICE THAT WAS OFFERED.

I THINK AS WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS IF THE SELECTION PANEL WOULD HAVE SELECTED SOMEBODY THAT WAS GOING TO BE $100,000 IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A COUNCIL ITEM THAT WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE PATH FOR APPROVAL -- BECAUSE IT'S OVER $50,000.

BECAUSE THEY HAD A VERY LOW COMPETITIVE PRICE, IT WAS INITIATED UNDER THAT.

BUT AS CRAIG MENTIONED DURING THE PRESENTATION, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE ITERATION AND LOOKED AT THE APP IN DECEMBER, WE SAW THAT IT STILL NEEDED A LOT OF WORK.

PART OF THIS HAS BEEN GROWING FROM OUR SIDE, THE OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE BREADTH OF TRANSPARENCY THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE AT THEIR FINGER TIPS ON MOBILE APPS, BUT ALSO CITY FLAGS.

THEY HAVE -- THIS IS THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY WITH HALF A MILLION 311 CALLS AND THEY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SCALED UP.

THAT ADDITIONAL WORK HAS ALLOWED THEM TO DO THAT AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THAT SYSTEM IS ALREADY AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW.

>> PERRY: OKAY.

WELL, LET'S SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THIS PROCESS AGAIN BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU START SOMETHING WITHIN YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY AND THEN YOU START SAYING, OH, WOW.

THIS IS GOING TO GO OVER OUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY SO YOU NEED TO TAKE IT TO COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW, TO ME IT NEEDS TO BE FULL DISCLOSURE UP FRONT.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS WITHIN YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY, IF IT'S A NEW SYSTEM AND A NEW CONTRACT, THAT KIND OF THING, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE COMING TO THE

[01:05:01]

COUNCIL FOR THAT NOTIFICATION AT LEAST.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THAT CONTRACT IS GOING TO GROW AND, YOU KNOW, GO ABOVE YOUR APPROVAL AUTHORITY.

SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT IT PROCESS-WISE.

NOTHING AGAINST THE PROGRAM, CRAIG.

I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

EXCITED ABOUT IT.

BUT, AGAIN, THE PROCESS ON HOW WE, YOU KNOW, GET THINGS APPROVED AND GET THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND NEED EXTRA MONEY AND ALL THAT.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> OKAY.

>> PERRY: BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S ALL, SIR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

I APPRECIATE IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT.

I ASKED EVERYTHING AT THE BRIEFING.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE DATA.

SO THE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING ALL THEIR INFORMATION AND THEY ARE USING THE APP.

THAT'S A LOT OF CONSTITUENT DATA.

WHAT'S THE ACCESS FOR THAT? LIKE IS THAT AN OPEN RECORD AVAILABLE? WHAT IS CITY FLAG'S RESTRICTIONS? LIKE WHAT CAN THEY DO WITH THAT DATA? I MEAN, THAT'S VALUABLE WEALTH OF INFORMATION THAT IF I'M SITTING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT -- I'M JUST CONCERNED.

>> ON THE APP, REMEMBER, IS THE LOCATION AND THE SERVICE REQUEST TYPE.

THERE'S NO CUSTOMER INFORMATION.

OBVIOUSLY SERVICE REQUEST TYPE AND ADDRESS COME INTO OUR 311 SYSTEM.

IF ANYONE WANTED ACCESS TO SAY HOW MANY REQUEST TYPES DO WE HAVE FOR THIS ON THIS STREET, I MEAN, THAT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH OPEN RECORDS REQUEST THAT WE GET ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> BROCKHOUSE: OKAY.

I GUESS WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS IF YOU'RE ENTERING YOUR PROFILE AND PUTTING ALL THAT DATA IN THERE.

IS THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? AND ON THE CITY FLAG SIDE DO THEY HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THAT DATA?

>> WHEN YOU REGISTER YOU PUT YOUR NAME AND YOU PUT YOUR E-MAIL.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

AND IF YOU SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST AND YOU DECIDE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IT ANONYMOUS, THEN THAT INFORMATION WILL COME INTO OUR SYSTEM.

BUT THAT'S LIKE WE DO RIGHT NOW.

IF PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR INFORMATION WITH THEIR SERVICE REQUEST.

>> DIRECTLY THE DATA IS OURS AND IT IS IN OUR CRM SYSTEM.

AS PAULA SAYS, IT IS OPEN TO RECORDS REQUESTS.

>> BROCKHOUSE: RIGHT.

WE WOULD REDACT THE E-MAIL ADDRESS.

>> AND YOU AS A USER, IF YOU CHOOSE TO SET UP A PROFILE, YOU WILL GIVE A NAME AND E-MAIL.

BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SET UP AN E-MAIL.

YOU CAN DO THIS AS A GUEST OR ANONYMOUS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CITY ATTORNEY HAS A POINT.

>> USUALLY PERSONAL INFORMATION LIKE THAT WE CAN REDACT AND PROTECT.

>> BROCKHOUSE: I GOT CLEARED FROM THE QUEUE.

ON THE CITY FLAG SIDE, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THAT DATA THEN? I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REMARKET IT, SELL IT, DO ANYTHING?

>> THE CORRECT.

>> BROCKHOUSE: IT'S CONTRACTUALLY LIMITED TO THEIR USE OF THE DATA.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

IT'S THEIR APP.

>> YEAH.

SO THE ANSWER IS THAT WE ARE THE DATA OWNER AND WE ARE THE CONTRACT HOLDER OF THE DATA.

THEY ONLY ARE DISPLAYING BACK TO THE PUBLIC THE FLAGS WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE WHAT AND THE WHERE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE ACCESS OR CAN VIEW THAT, THAT BECOMES A VALUABLE DATABASE OF INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S CONTRACTUALLY LIMITED.

PEOPLE MAKE MONEY ON THE APPS.

IT'S A BUSINESS PROCESS.

THEY PRODUCE INCOME BY UTILIZING THE DATA AND OTHER THINGS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE APP.

I APPRECIATE IT.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

WHEN YOU SHOWED ME THAT DEMO, IT WAS SUPER COOL.

I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU.

GREAT WORK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

ANDY, YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE?

>> YES, COUNCILMAN, GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION.

UNDER THE CONTRACT THE INFORMATION IS OURS AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL OR DISTRIBUTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE CONNECT SA SPEAK UP AND FIND A WAY TO CORRELATE WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US AND SOME OF THE NEEDS, SOME OF THE POLLING YOU HAVE DONE, HOW CAN IT WORK IN TERMS OF HOW WE FURTHER EXPAND SA SPEAK UP.

JUST A THOUGHT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.

PLEASE VOTE.

[11. Ordinance approving a construction contract to Accu Air Mechanical LLC for an amount not to exceed 922,880.00 for HVAC System upgrades at the Frank Garrett Community Center, funded by the Deferred Maintenance Program. [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Jorge A. Perez, Director, Building and Equipment Services]]

[01:10:05]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 11.

>> ITEM NO. 11 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO ACCU-AIRE L LC FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $922,880 FOR HVAC SYSTEM UPGRADES AT THE FRANK GARRETT COMMUNITY CENTER FUNDED BY THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: GOOD MORNING.

COULD YOU GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION?

>> JORGE PEREZ, DIRECTOR OF BUILDING SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING PROJECT FOR US BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO EXCEL ON THE SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY ON OLD BUILDINGS.

TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND, THE PROJECT IS AT THE FRANK GARRETT COMMUNITY CENTER IN DISTRICT 1.

THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1974.

IT PROVIDES SERVICES FOR METRO HEALTH CLINIC, HEAD START CLASSROOMS, VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE, PARKS AND REC SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS. WE REQUESTED ANGERING ASSESSMENT OF THE SYSTEM.

SO A CONDITION ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT ASSESSMENT INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF AIR HANDLING UNITS, THE HEATING AND COOLING PIPING FOR THE SYSTEM, INSTALLING NEW ELECTRONIC CONTROLS, REPLACING THE CONTROL SYSTEM.

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED THROUGH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FY18 DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

SO THE PROJECT SCOPE, WE'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING ALL THE ANTIQUATED PNEUMATIC SYSTEM WITH A STATE OF THE ART SYSTEM.

WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THE HANDLING UNITS AND THE CHILL WATER PIPING.

IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE US THE ABILITY THROUGH THE LOCAL SOURCES FOR PROCUREMENT FOR ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PROCUREMENT PROJECT.

A TOTAL OF THREE BIDS WERE RECEIVED.

ONE OF THE BIDDERS WAS DEEMED NONRESPONSIVE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT THE REQUIRE BID BOND, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF EVERY PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE CITY.

THE REMAINING TWO BIDDERS, ACCU-AIRE LLC AND THE OTHER PROVIDED THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.

$922,889.

AND $1,521,000 WAS THE SECOND BID.

WE WENT THROUGH THE GOAL SETTING FOR A SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION, 25% GOAL WAS ESTABLISHED FOR MINORITY WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

THE PRIME CONTRACTOR PARTICIPATION IS 85%.

THIS CONTRACTOR HAS CREDENTIALS OF A SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, MINORITY BUSINESS, WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.

HISPANIC BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, AND HISPANIC AMERICAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.

OUR PROPOSAL, ONCE THIS ITEM IS APPROVED BY YOU, THE COUNCIL, IS TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE MONTH OF JUNE WITH A CONSTRUCTION PHASE TO BEGIN IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

THE IMMUNIZATION CLINIC AND HEAD START WILL REMAIN OPERATIONAL DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, BUT THE REMAINING OF THE FACILITY WILL BE VACATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF US, AS PROVIDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.

THE OTHER ACTIVITIES WILL BE RELOCATED TO BOTH AUDIO].

SO THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID WITH ACCU-AIRE TO UPGRADE THE SYSTEM OF FRANK GARRETT COMMUNITY CENTER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $922,880.

>> SANDOVAL: I THINK YOU BURIED THE LEAD.

THE MOST EXCITING PART ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS THE HVAC IMPROVEMENTS WE WILL BE SEEING.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO BE SAVING IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITH THIS UPGRADE?

>> PRESENTLY WE HAVE A TOTAL ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION OF APPROXIMATELY $75,000 A YEAR.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING A SAVINGS OF 30% OF THAT AMOUNT.

[01:15:01]

WE HAVE A TOTAL CONSUMPTION PER YEAR OF 740 KILOWATTS PER HOUR.

ON THE GAS WE HAVE COMPRESSED GAS WITH ABOUT 6300 CCF OF CONSUMPTION EVERY YEAR.

WE ANTICIPATE REDUCING BY 30% THAT CONSUMPTION ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED.

>> SANDOVAL: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

IS THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S A NEW UPGRADE OR DID YOU DO SOMETHING SPECIAL TO GO BEYOND?

>> SINCE THE BUILDING IS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY, THE AGE OF THE EQUIPMENT IS SUCH THAT THE BUILDING IS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING A CONSTANT VOLUME OF AIR THROUGH THE ENTIRE FACILITY AND CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURES.

AND THAT'S MAINLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PNEUMATIC CONTROLS THAT ARE COMPLETELY OBSOLETE AT THIS POINT.

SO WE REQUESTED OUR ENGINEERING CONSULTANT TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE AND MAKE IT MORE SUSTAINABLE.

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT IS BY REPLACING THE PNEUMATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF REMOTELY CONTROLLING THIS FACILITY, WHICH PROVIDES US A HECK OF AN OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE BUILDING REMOTELY, MAINTAIN AND MONITOR THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING, AND IF THERE'S ANY DRASTIC CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE THEN REMOTELY OUR PERSONNEL CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO PROVIDE THAT BUILDING TO GO INTO WHAT WE CALL SETBACK.

LATE IN THE EVENINGS WHEN THE BUILDING IS VACANT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SET UP THE TEMPERATURE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, SAVE MORE ENERGY THAT WAY.

AND THEN RESET EVERYTHING TO RESTART EARLY IN THE MORNING.

SO BY THE TIME

>> SANDOVAL: THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

SO THIS IS JUST ONE PROJECT THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

AND IT CAN SERVE AS THE MODEL FOR ALL THE UPGRADES THAT YOU MAY END UP DOING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS ONE OF MANY PROJECTS

>> SANDOVAL: OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

A 30% SAVINGS IN ENERGY EXPENSES IS NOT A SMALL DEAL, SO THANK YOU, JORGE, FOR DOING THAT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND COUNCILMAN SHAW FOR THEIR -- SORRY, COUNCILMAN TREVINO FOR HIS EFFORTS TO REINVEST IN THE WEST END PARK AND IN THE FRANK GARRETT CENTER.

MUCH NEEDED.

AS YOU SAW, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PLACE WHERE LOTS OF WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR PULLING THIS ITEM.

REALLY JUST SHOWS THE INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE PUTTING INTO WEST END PARK.

FRANK GARRETT CENTER IS A MAJOR COMPONENT TO THAT.

JORGE, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MELODY WOOLSEY FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT FRANK GARRETT CENTER AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE COMING.

THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE HOPE TO INVEST IN THE WEST END PARK.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK STARTING WITH MY PREDECESSOR DIEGO BERNAL AND THE EFFORTS WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE ARE VERY MUCH INVESTING INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, INTO THAT PARK.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT PARK.

WE'VE INVESTED IN SOME PUBLIC ART AS WELL.

MADE THE GOOGLE FIBER HUT WORK VERY WELL FOR US AND WANT TO ALSO MAKE USE OF THESE GREAT FACILITIES THAT ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED IN THAT PART OF OUR CITY.

SO WE WANT TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE LISTENING AND THAT WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS BEYOND JUST SIMPLY HVAC UPGRADES.

WE WANT TO SEE MANY MORE UPGRADES, NOT JUST TO THE FACILITIES BUT PROGRAMS AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN AT WEST END PARK.

WE JUST RECENTLY DEDICATED THE PAVILION THERE AT WEST END PARK.

THAT WAS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION AND HOPE TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW THAT THE CITY IS VERY MUCH INVESTED IN THAT AREA THAT IS IN GREAT NEED.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT AND I'M WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTING, IF NOT SECONDING THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN SHAW.

>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS TO BE PULLED BUT SINCE IT IS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BUSINESS OWNER WHO IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

SHE IS A D2 BUSINESS OWNER AND SHE HAS PROVED THAT SBEDA DOES WORK.

[01:20:02]

THAT'S MONICA HARRIS.

I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE 6 AND IT SHOWS YOU ALL HER QUALIFICATIONS.

IF WE WORK TOGETHER WE CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IN AUDIO].

SO I'M SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.

MY COLLEAGUES ARE TOO.

I'M PROUD OF MONICA AND ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR NOT ONLY DISTRICT 2 BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS ITEM.

SO I COULD ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BECAUSE NOW I'M LOOKING AT IT REGARDING SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THERE.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S A VERY HIGHLY-USED CENTER.

WILL THIS IMPACT THE SENIORS AT ALL THAT ARE THERE? OR IS THIS THE OTHER BUILDING?

>> NO, THIS IS THE OTHER BUILDING.

THE WEST END PARK BUILDING THAT THE SENIOR SERVICES ARE IN WON'T BE IMPACTED.

>> GONZALES: THOSE PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SUMMER FOR THE SENIORS?

>> RIGHT.

AS WELL AS THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM.

WE SCHEDULED THE WORK TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AFTER THE SUMMER PROGRAM CLOSES.

>> GONZALES: OKAY, GOOD.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT HERE AS WELL, SINCE WE DO GET A LOT OF YOUTH OUT OF THAT CENTER AND GREAT FACILITIES THERE.

I HAVE NOW JUST SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FACILITIES, JORGE.

WHILE I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S A WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS THAT HAD THE LOW BID HERE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS HVAC SYSTEM IN ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS.

AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF UPGRADES, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 5.

NOT JUST CITY FACILITIES BUT FOR SOME OF OUR OLD SCHOOLS THAT ARE GETTING REHABBED OR SOME RE-PURPOSED FACILITIES.

WHY SO MUCH?

>> THERE'S A MAJOR DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU DO ALL THE REPLACEMENT OF SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT.

IN THE HVAC SYSTEM, YOU ARE REPLACING ONLY THE CHILLER.

THAT ALONE CAN GO TO $153,000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THAT PARTICULAR UNIT.

IN THIS CASE THE SCOPE OF WORK REQUIRES THAT WE REPLACE ALL THE PIPING ASSISTING CHILLED WATER AND HOT WATER PIPING THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY.

>> GONZALES: HOW LARGE IS THE FACILITY?

>> 31,000 SQUARE FEET.

>> GONZALES: SO 31,000 SQUARE FEET.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDING BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE TOURED ALL 31,000 SQUARE FEET, SO IT MUST BE MULTIPLE FLOORS.

>> IT HAS THE SECTION OF THE BUILDING THAT HAS A GYM.

SO WE ARE UPGRADING ALSO THE HVAC SYSTEM WITHIN THE GYM.

WE ARE PULLING AWAY THE OLD EQUIPMENT THEY HAVE.

THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE SIGNIFICANT VALUE OR COST FOR THIS PROJECT.

BECAUSE IT'S A TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF THE HVAC.

WE'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING VARIABLE AIR VOLUME BOXES.

AND THE VOLUME OF AIR THROUGH THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

WE'RE REPLACING THE ENTIRE PIPING SYSTEM.

WE'RE REMOVING AND DOING DEMOLITION ON ALL THE PNEUMATIC CONTROLS, THE CONTROLS THROUGH THE BUILDING.

THAT WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN ELECTRONIC DIRECT CONTROL DEVICES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

WE'RE NOT ONLY REPLACING ONE SINGLE COMPONENT, IN THIS CASE IT'S A TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE UPGRADE OF THE SYSTEM.

>> GONZALES: DOES THAT INCLUDE ELECTRICAL AS WELL OF THE ENTIRE FACILITY, BEYOND THE HVAC, THE LIGHTING CONTROLS.

I DON'T KNOW OTHER THINGS.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE OF ALL THE ELECTRICAL RELATED TO HVAC SYSTEMS. THE LIGHTING IN THE FACILITY WAS UPGRADED YEARS AGO WHEN WE CHANGED THE TYPE OF LIGHTS THAT WE USE IN THE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS.

BUT MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM WILL BE REPLACED AS WELL.

>> GONZALES: SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE ARE NEEDING TO UPDATE A LOT OF OUR FACILITIES.

IT SAYS HERE IT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

WHERE DOES THAT FUNDING COME FROM?

>> WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT IS AUTHORIZED EVERY YEAR BY THE COUNCIL.

WE AVERAGE ABOUT $5 MILLION EVERY YEAR.

>> GONZALES: SO THIS IS AS WE ARE DISCUSSING YESTERDAY OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES AND THE NEED OF THINGS IN OUR DISTRICT.

IT SEEMS THERE ARE MANY NEEDS THAT ARE NOT TYPICALLY BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL.

I'VE MENTIONED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF OUR FACILITIES' NEEDS,

[01:25:01]

THAT WE ARE OFTEN NOT BRIEFED ON THAT AT ANY POINT UNTIL WE HAVE A MAJOR UPGRADE LIKE WE'RE SEEING HERE THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS.

WHERE DOES THAT -- I GUESS, WHERE DOES THAT SIT IN OUR BUDGET?

>> THE WAY THE FACILITIES' BUDGETS ARE ALLOCATED RIGHT NOW, BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES RECEIVE A PORTION OF THAT BUDGET AMOUNT TO PROVIDE FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.

THAT'S FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BUILDINGS.

WE HAVE FUNDING TO DO MINOR RENOVATIONS, MINOR IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES THAT WE USE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, OUT OF OUR BUDGET.

THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS LIBRARIES, DHS FACILITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES SUCH AS FIRE STATIONS, POLICE STATIONS.

SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JORGE, THE CITY MANAGER WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN ON THAT POINT.

>> SCULLEY: YEAH, ACTUALLY JORGE IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB COMPLAINING IT, COUNCILWOMAN.

EACH YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET WE TALK ABOUT OUR BUILDING NEEDS.

AS YOU KNOW WE OWN AND OPERATE, MAINTAIN MORE THAN 500 FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO EACH YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET WE PRESENT THE NEEDS AND MAKE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN AUGUST/EARLY SEPTEMBER OF EACH YEAR.

AND, AGAIN, IT'S A MATTER OF BALANCING ALL OF THE PRIORITIES.

SO THAT IS DONE ANNUALLY AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ARE NOT NECESSARILY ALL GENERAL FUND REQUESTS.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH SERVICE CENTERS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH RESTRICTED FUNDS.

BUT IN TOTAL WE TRY TO ADDRESS THAT WHICH CAN BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN OUR RATE SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THE GENERAL FUND.

>> GONZALES: SO HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT IS DONE BY CFOS AND WHAT IS DONE BY THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PLAN? IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE FUNDED CITY IMPROVEMENTS FROM OUR FACILITIES THROUGH CFOS AND NOT THROUGH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.

>> SCULLEY: GENERALLY SPEAKING, COUNCILWOMAN AND COUNCIL, IT DEPENDS ON THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE REPAIR.

IF IT'S A SHORT-TERM ITEM THAT COMES OUT OF OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OR WE SHORT-TERM FINANCE THAT TYPE OF DEBT.

AND IF IT'S A MAJOR PROJECT, THEN WE FUND IT THROUGH CFOS, PERHAPS IN A LONGER TERM.

IT DEPENDS ON THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE IMPROVEMENT, GENERALLY SPEAKING.

>> GONZALES: AND SO WHAT WOULD BE THE CUTOFF? IS A MILLION DOLLARS? I IMAGINE THIS IS A LIFE EXPECTANCY THAT WOULD GO FOR ANOTHER -- WELL, THIS IS ALMOST 40 YEARS.

>> 15 TO 20 YEARS LIFE EXPECTANCY.

>> GONZALES: SO, I MEAN, WOULDN'T

>> BEN, IN THIS CASE.AN, ARE YOU RECOMMENDING DEBT FINANCING THIS PROJECT OR ARE WE FUNDING IT OUT OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET?

>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMAN.

IN THIS CASE BECAUSE IT HAS A LONGER LIFE.

WE'RE ABLE TO USE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE.

>> THIS ITEM IS DONE THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND NOT THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUND.

>> YES, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE PREFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

THERE'S AN ALLOCATION IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET ASSIGNED TO THESE PROJECTS AND BASED ON LIFE EXPECTANCY WE CAN DETERMINE HOW SHORT OR LONG WE CAN ISSUE THE DEBT FOR AND WE HAVE SOME DISCRETION ON THAT.

GONZALES I WOULD LIKE TO -- WHERE WOULD BE GET A BRIEFING ON THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE OR EXTENT OF THE NEED? I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET AND WHERE WE WANT TO PUT OUR PRIORITIES.

YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING ASK THAT THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY ARE WAY BEYOND WHAT WE COULD EVER SUPPORT THROUGH A TAX, PERHAPS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OR ANY OTHER TAXING ENTITY.

WE HAVE TO RECONSIDER OUR CITY FORUM, AND ALSO RECONSIDER HOW WE DESIGN BUILDINGS FOR THE LONG TERM.

EVEN, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO DISPOSE OF MANY OF OUR CITY FACILITIES BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING THEM.

SO, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT -- WHERE COULD BE GET -- WHERE MIGHT BE GET A BRIEFING ON THE EXTENT OF THE NEED AND HOW THOSE NEEDS CAN GET FUNDED?

>> VERY EXCELLENT QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN, AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

WE'RE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU ON A ONE-ON-ONE AND GO OVER OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BUT ALSO THIS IS VERY GOOD TIMING BECAUSE WE'RE BEGINNING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR '19 BUDGET AND WE'LL BE MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IN AUGUST TO YOU.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU'D LIKE A ONE-ON-ONE BRIEFING, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

[01:30:01]

>> GONZALES: OF COURSE I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE HAVE BEEN THIS PROJECT AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AT FRANK GARRET CENTER.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND I WERE THERE LAST WEEK TOURING THIS BUILDING.

NOT THIS PARTICULAR SPACE BUT THE AREA AS A WHOLE.

WE KNOW WE NEED MORE DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMMING IN THAT SPACE AND THE YOUTH REALLY NEEDING SOME PLACE TO GO THAT PROVIDES SOME OF THE SERVICES HERE.

SO AS WE'RE LOOKING TO UPGRADE FACILITIES AND PERHAPS OFFER MORE VARIETY OF SERVICES AND MORE INTERESTING FOR TEENS, I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THIS UPGRADE TO HAVE YOUTH COUNCIL PERHAPS A SMART FACILITY.

WE KNOW WE HAVE THE GOOGLE FIBER HUT THERE, TOO.

IF I CAN ASK HOW IS THAT INCORPORATED INTO THE BUILDING?

>> WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING PARKS, DSH AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT A SITE, WE NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE BUILDING, WE LOOK AT ACCESS TO THE BUILDING, PARKING, AVAILABILITY, THE CONDITION OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING PARKING, GROUNDS.

IT'S A COMBINE EFFORT OF EACH DEPARTMENT.

WE DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, WHETHER IT BELONGS AS A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THEIR GROUNDS AND THROUGH THEIR OWN FUNDING THEY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND USE DEFERRED FUNDING AS A WAY TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.

SO WE LOOK AT TOTALITY FROM THE GROUND UP THROUGH THE ROOF.

WE LOOK AT ROOF CONDITION, ACCESS TO THE BUILDING, ADA COMPLIANCE TO THE BUILDINGS.

SO THAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT THAT IS DONE.

BASED ON THOSE ASSESSMENTS, THEN WE PRIORITIZE THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE INTO THE MOST PRE PREDIPRECRITICAL NEEDS.

IN THIS CASE, THIS IS A CRITICAL NEED.

MANY CALLS RECEIVED FOR SERVICES FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, INTERRUPTIONAL SERVICES IN SOME CASES, THE SYSTEM FAILS OR HIHID HEATING SYSTEM FAILS.

IT'S PROVIDING A SOLUTION TO HELP MAINTAIN THE BUILDING EFFICIENTLY OPERATED AND SUSTAIN ACT WE LIKE TO MAINTAIN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FACILITIES.

WHEN LOOKING AT A FACILITY WE NOT ONLY LOOK AT STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING, WE INCLUDE GROUNDS, ACCESS, TRAFFIC, ISSUES, GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITIES SO WE TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AND DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW TO ADDRESS IT TO RESOLVE IT.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILWOMAN PERRY?

>> PERRY: I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOU SAID THIS WILL BE LEARNED INTO AN MCS SYSTEM?

>> CORRECT.

WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A SYSTEM.

BACK IN THE DAY WHEN EVERYTHING WAS ON THE TOP DESK.

AND WE CONNECTED ALL OF THE BUILDINGS, NOW EVERYTHING IS DONE THROUGH THE INTERNET.

SO, WE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUILDING USING A SMARTPHONE, USING A LAPTOP WE CAN ACCESS THE BUILDING.

WE GET ALARMS. WE USE BAROMETERS AND TEMPERATURE.

IF THAT ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED REMOTELY, THEN WITH THIS TECHNICIAN TO THE LOCATION, TO MAKE SURE THAT IN FACT THE PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED.

>> PERRY: SO WE DON'T HAVE A CENTRALIZED CONTROL SYSTEM?

>> NO, WE DON'T.

OUR SYSTEM, LIKE THIS BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A CAPABILITY OF MONITORING THIS BUILDING REMOTELY BUT WE DON'T HAVE A FRONT END LIKE WE USED TO HAVE IN THE OLD DAYS, THE SIZE OF THIS BUILDING.

>> PERRY: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT INCREASING THE MAN POWER REQUIREMENT BECAUSE OF THAT TYPE OF MONITORING SYSTEM.

>> NO, WE'RE NOT, SIR.

>> PERRY: OKAY.

THE OTHER AS FAR AS TALKING ABOUT SETTING THE THERMOSTATS TO HAVE THEM READY TO GO.

SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS TO SET UP THEIR OWN SCHEDULE IN.

>> EVERY BUILDING JUST LIKE THIS BUILDING HAS PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS SO THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY WITHIN REASON TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT THE OCCUPANT OF THE BUILDING WOULD LIKE.

WHETHER THEY WANT TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OR LOWER THE TEMPERATURE.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE REMOTE THERMOSTATS TO REMOTELY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF THE NEED ARISES.

>> PERRY: OKAY.

SO, REALLY WE'RE JUST MONITORING.

WE'RE NOT REALLY CONTROLLING BUT WE CAN IF NEED BE.

>> WE CONTROL, WHEN WE SET UP

[01:35:01]

THE SET BACKS, TEMPERATURE SETBACKS OF THE BUILDING WE DETERMINE WHAT TIME THE BUILDING WILL BE SHUT DOWN TO REMOTELY CONTROL AND WE CAN ADJUST THOSE SETBACKS AS WELL.

IT'S COMBINATION OF REMOTE AND LOCAL ACCESS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND ASECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 11.

[17. Ordinance amending Article I and Article VIII to Chapter 33 of the City Code (Vehicles for Hire) by defining "Owner/Operator" and providing for single taxicab owner/operator permits. [Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager; William McManus, Police Chief]]

PLEASE VOTE.

ITEM NUMBER 17.

>> ITEM NUMBER 17 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 1 AND ART VIII TO CHAPTER 33 OF THE CITY CODE, VEHICLE FORCE HIRE.

BY DEFINING OWNER/OPERATOR AND PROVIDING FOR A SINGLE TAXI CAB OWNER/OPERATOR PERMITS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: YES.

THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE A PRESENTATION, PLE PLEASE.

>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

THIS ITEM, PROBABLY MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ITEM.

IT'S GONE THROUGH SEVERAL COMMITTEES OVER THE LAST YEAR.

WE HAD, BACK IN LATE 2016, A PETITION DELIVERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO CREATE INDEPENDENT TAXI CAB DRIVER PERMITS.

UNDER THE CURRENT CODE RIGHT NOW, THE CODE SETS A MINIMUM OF THREE PERMITS AND YOU CANNOT, UNDER THE CURRENT CODE, IF YOU ARE A TAXI DRIVER, OPERATE ON YOUR OWN, AND WORK TORE YOURSELF AND GET A SINGLE DRIVER PERMIT.

SO, THAT WAS THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE.

THIS ISSUE WENT BEFORE THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SEVERAL TIMES.

IT HAS GONE TO THE CURRENT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE LAST FALL, AND WAS REFERRED TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

AND AS WE WENT THROUGH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS TO REMOVE THE FORMULA IN THE CODE THAT SETS THE NUMBER OF TAXI PERMITS, AND CREATE -- ALLOW THE CREATION OF THE INDEPENDENT DRIVER PERMITS, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUGGESTED THAT A NEUTRAL PARTY, A MEDIATOR, BE HIRED BY THE CITY TO ATTEMPT A -- TO MEDIATE A SOLUTION BETWEEN TAXI DRIVERS, THE TAXI CO-OPS AND TAXI DRIVERS THEMSELVES.

MISS DANIELLE HARGROVE, WHO IS HERE WITH US THIS MORNING ON THE FRONT ROW, WAS RETAINED BY THE CITY.

HIS HARGROVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THREE DIFFERENT CAMPS, CO-OPS, COMPANIES AND DRIVERS AND HAD A MEDIATION SESSION ON FEBRUARY OF THIS PAST YEAR.

THERE WERE EIGHT TOTAL PARTICIPANTS THAT REPRESENTED THE CAB COMPANIES, THE CO-OPS AND THE DRIVERS.

THE MEDIATOR, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE CONCLUSIONS HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE MEDIATOR, DANIELLE, PRESENTED HER FINDINGS OR ON COLLUSIONS TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IN MARCH.

THE -- DANIELLE AND I MET WITH THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD IN APRIL, AND THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD ACTUALLY APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE CHIEF, AND TO THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW THE CREATION.

SO, I WANT TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PHASES TO SHOW YOU THE STATUS OF EACH ONE OF THOSE STEPS.

SO, CHAPTER 3 -- CHAPTER 33, THE CURRENT PERMIT CAP IS SET, ONE PERMIT FOR EVERY 1700 POPULATION.

IT DOES NOT ALLOW THE OWNER/OPERATOR PERMITS.

THE CURRENT NUMBER OF PERMITS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CODE IS 848.

THERE ARE 728 PERMITS IN USE RIGHT NOW.

AND THERE ARE 128 TAXI CAB PERMITS UNASSIGNED OR NOT IN USE.

THERE ARE 114 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY VEHICLE PERMITS.

THERE ARE 37 THAT ARE IN USE, AND THERE ARE 37 UNASSIGNED THAT MIGHT BE USED RIGHT NOW.

THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A DRIVER, YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK AND FINGERPRINT, HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, LEGAL RESIDENCY, MANAGEMENT PLAN AND A BOND REQUIREMENT.

[01:40:01]

THOSE ARE ALL REQUIREMENTS UNDER CHAPTER 33.

AS WE WENT THROUGH -- AS DANIELLE WENT THROUGH MEDIATION, SHE, THE GROUP, HAD COMPLETE CONSENSUS TO KEEP THE EXISTING CAP IN PLACE IN THE CODE.

THE GROUP REACHED CONSENSUS TO ALLOW THE CREATION OF THE OWNER/OPERATOR PERMITS.

THERE WAS NOT CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS.

IT INGE RANGED FROM 25 TO 75 BUT NO CONSENSUS THAT DAY WHEN THEY MEDIATED.

THE GROUP DID REACH CONSENSUS ON THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR INDEPENDENT DRIVER PERMITS.

THIS THEY WERE -- THE INDIVIDUAL HAD TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, BE THE SOLE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, SUBMIT TO THE SAME BACKGROUND CHECK AND SOME YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND THE GROUP THAT MEDIATED THAT THAT UP TO THE STAFF TO RECOMMEND.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE GROUP CONCLUDED ALSO WAS THAT THEY DID NOT WANT ANY MORE CHANGES TO CHAPTER 33 FOR CHAPTER 33 AND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF CHANGES BECAUSE OF THE ARRIVAL OF TNCS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE REQUESTS FROM THE GROUP AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF AIRPORT ISSUES THAT WERE GENERICALLY REFERRED TO THAT DAY.

SINCE MEDIATION, I'VE CHAIRED SEVERAL MEETINGS BETWEEN TAXI COMPANIES, TAXI DRIVERS AND THE AIRPORT, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE AT THE AIRPORT.

FRANKLY, THERE WAS A LOT OF LOW-HANGING FRUIT.

THERE IS STILL SOME WORK TO BE DONE AND THE AIRPORT STAFF IS HERE TODAY.

I THINK THAT EFFORT WILL CONTINUE PAST TODAY'S ITEM.

IT CERTAINLY WILL NEED TO.

THE TAB -- WHAT THE TAB ENDED UP APPROVING IN APRIL WAS AGREEING WITH THE MEDIA PORTION OF KEEPING THE EXISTING CAP, CREATING THE OWNER/OPERATOR PERMITS.

IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER OR NOT -- WHAT THE DEMAND WILL BE FOR THE INDEPENDENT DRIVER PERMITS.

IF A DRIVER -- IF HE OR SHE HAS THEIR OWN BOOK OF BUSINESS, AND BELIEVES THAT THEY CAN MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN, THEN THAT'S GREAT.

BUT WE DON'T -- THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOR THE TAB, NOR ANYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE SCOPE OF HOW MANY THERE ARE.

THE TAB'S REASONING BETWEEN COMING UP WITH THAT THREE-YEAR PHRASE-IN, WAS THAT WE HAVE 128 PERMITS ON THE FIRST LINE THAT ARE UNASSIGNED, SO WE ARE OPERATING BELOW OUR AUTHORIZED PERMITS RIGHT NOW CITYWIDE AND THE REALISTIC APPROACH HERE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE 75 OR 32 INDIVIDUALS WAITING TO BECOME TAXI DRIVERS.

THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT DRIVERS WILL BE COMING FROM COMPANIES OR OTHER CO-OPS TO WORK FOR THEMSELVES, AND APPLY FOR THE POSITIONS.

THE TAB'S REASONING WAS THAT THAT WOULD PUT THE COMPANIES AND THE CO-OPS IN A POSITION THAT THIS THEY WOULD HAVE UNASSIGNED PERMITS.

SO THE TAB RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY RELEASE 32 IN YEAR ONE, THIS YEAR, 25 NEXT YEAR AND 18 THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 75.

THE STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE AT LEAST ONE YEAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THE TAB APPROVED THAT RECOMMENDATION, AND ARE THE TAB THEN APPROVED THE REMAINING QUALIFICATION US THAT WERE AGREED UPON DURING THE MEDIATION PROCESS.

SO, THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU TODAY, THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING CREATION OF INDEPENDENT OPERATOR TAXI PERMITS, THAT WE ISSUE 75 TO NEW INDEPENDENT DRIVERS THAT ARE QUALIFIED, THAT THE 32, IN YEAR ONE, WE GET THOSE.

25 WOULD COME FROM YELLOW CAB.

YELLOW CAB HAS AGREED TO RELEASE THOSE PERMITS BACK TO THE CITY.

SEVEN OF THE 32 ARE UNUSED RIGHT NOW BY THE CITY, AS THE

[01:45:02]

POPULATION FORMULA WAS UPDATED IN JANUARY.

THERE WERE SEVEN NEW PERMITS THAT WERE CREATED THAT WE'VE BEEN HOLDING ON TO.

THOSE 32 WOULD BE RELEASED BEFORE OCTOBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR AND 25 IN '18.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE T.A.B. BOARD AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IT AS WELL, IS THAT IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL DEMAND BEYOND THAT FIRST YEAR, FOR MORE THAN 25 PERMITS, THAT THE CHIEF HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PRE RELEASE THOSE REMAINING 43 PERMITS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD YEARS.

SO THAT WE CAN GET, IF THERE IS QUALIFIED DEMAND, THAT WE CAN GET TO THE 75 WITH A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS.

SO, WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT -- I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, ARDUOUS PROCESS.

NESTOR ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED, AND CERTAINLY, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE MEETINGS GOT HEATED BUT I THINK THE TAXI INDUSTRY, MOST OF YOU KNOW, HAS GONE THROUGH A LOST CHANGE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEAR, AND I THINK THEY CAME TO A CONCLUSION THAT IS BEST FOR THEIR INDUSTRY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ TOLD THEM AT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING IN DECEMBER WAS AT THE END OF THE DAY THE COUNCIL WILL MAKE THE DECISION.

JUST LIKE YOU DO ON EVERY -- ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU EVERY THURSDAY, BUT HE -- HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ATTEMPT THIS MEDIATION AND GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, WORKED.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED, AND EVERYBODY BEING THE DRIVERS OR THE COMPANIES OR THE CO-OPS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD ACTUALLY VOTED TO APPROVE THIS.

THIS ITEM HAD BEEN BEFORE THEM TWICE BEFORE AND THEY HADN'T VOTED TO APPROVE ANYTHING, AND I DO WANT TO THANK DANIELLE.

I THINK SHE DID A GREAT JOB DEALING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ERIC.

WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

WE'LL TAKE THEM NOW AND WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN FACT.

SO I'M GOING TO CALL THE NAMES IN ORDER.

I WILL CALL THE FIRST PERSON TO SPEAK BUT I'LL CALL THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME UP.

WE BEGIN WITH JOHN CASTRO, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT GONZALES.

JOHN CASTRO? MR. CASTRO?

>> YES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

ROBERT, YOU'RE NEXT.

AND WE DO HAVE FOLKS LISTENING TO EARPIECES FOR TRANSLATION, SO, IF EVERYONE CAN BE MINDFUL, KEEP YOUR PACE, RELATIVELY SLOW FOR TRANSLATION.

GO AHEAD.

>> IT'S NICE TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY AND APPRECIATE THE TIME.

I THINK THIS -- SORRY, I WAS NOT PREPARED TORE THIS.

BUT I THINK IT DOES GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE WITH THE OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE HELPING OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY, AND CONVENTIONS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CAP FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SO THEY CAN EMPLOYEE AS MANY DRIVERS AS THEY WANT.

SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT COMPETES, OR IF THERE'S ANY EQUAL COMPETITION WITH TAXI DRIVERS.

SO, THAT KIND OF IS -- I DON'T KNOW.

IT LOOKS LIKE A LOST BATTLE, BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET.

SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD CONSIDERATION.

DRIVERS FOR TAXI FOR HIRE.

I THINK THAT'S ALL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CASTRO.

ROBERT GONZALES, FOLLOWED BY LUIS GARCIA.

[01:50:02]

>> HI, MY NAME IS ROBERT GONZALES, I'M WITH NATIONAL TAXI CAB SERVICE.

FOR THE ONES THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS 38 YEARS.

I OPERATE EIGHT VEHICLES.

MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AND, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I APPRECIATE THAT, EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR OUR CITY.

I WANT TO SHARE SOME NUMBERS HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A -- IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT PROCESS, CONSIDERING THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ASKED, HEY, WE WANT MORE PERMIT, AND CONSIDERING THE DROP IN BUSINESS.

I GOT THESE NUMBERS YESTERDAY.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO TYPE THEM FROM UNDER THE OPEN RECORDS ACT.

YOU NOTICE HERE IN JANUARY, THESE ARE TRIPS OUT OF THE AIRPORT.

JANUARY WAS 21,8 13 FOR THE TAXI DRIVER, 40,000 TRIPS FOR THE TNCS.

IN FEBRUARY 21, 37, IN MARCH 25 FOR THE CAB DRIVER, 69 FOR THE TNCS AND IN APRIL, 23,FOR THE CAB DRIVERS OUT MUCH THE AIRPORT, AND 69,000 FOR THE TNCS.

THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT, BECAUSE BUSINESS HAS DROPPED DRASTICALLY.

THE MAJORITY OF THE DRIVERS SAY WE DON'T NEED MORE PERMITS.

I UNDERSTAND THEY WANT MORE PERMITS, AND I WORK -- I WAS PART OF THE MEDIATION.

I THINK THIS IS A GOOD COMPROMISE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE, AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WANT TO SHARE, THE PERSPECTIVE.

I WENT TO THE BOARD AND A DRIVER SAID I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 9:0 AND IT WHATS 1:0 AND HE SAID I GOT ONE TRIP OUT OF HERE.

DOWNTOWN, SAME THING.

BUSINESS IS TERRIBLE.

I WANT TO SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE.

LET'S GIVE THESE GENTLEMEN THESE PERMITS OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD AND LET'S HOPE IT WORKS, BUT IF BUSINESS CONTINUES TO DECLINE, AND IT'S DECLINING NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE.

IT'S DECLINING BECAUSE OF THE PREDATORY PRICES OF UBER AND LYFT.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT IS.

THEY ARE GIVING AWAY THEIR SERVICES FOR PRICES THEY USED TO CHARGE 30 YEARS AGO.

THEIR DRIVERS AREN'T MAKING MONEY.

THE COMPANY IS MAKES MONEY BUT IT'S DESTROYED GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.

THE ONLY ONE THAT'S BENEFITTING IS THE CONSUMER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORKER.

ANYWAY THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SHARE FOR YOU.

IT'S TOO BAD.

WE SHOULDN'T BE A CHEAP LABOR TOWN BUT IN THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, WE HAVE BECOME THAT AND THE ONES THAT ARE SUFFERING ARE THESE DEDICATED DRIVER, 1,000 TAXI CAB DRIVERS HAVE THAT HAVE DEDICATED AND SERVICED THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES.

THEY HAVE INVESTMENTS.

THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND THEY ARE SUFFERING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES.

LUIS GARCIA, FOLLOWED BY OCTAVIO GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS LUIS GARCIA.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SINGLE OWNER TAXI PERMITS.

TAXI DRIVERS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

THEY'VE BEEN STRUGGLING SINCE UBER AND LYFT CAME INTO BUSINESS.

SO, IN ORDER FOR US TO COMPETE, WE NEED FAIR COMPETITION.

YOU KNOW IT.

WE DON'T NEED -- WE DON'T NEED CHAPTER 33.

IF IT HAS TO BE THERE.

JUST PUT THE BASICS.

WE DON'T NEED SO MANY RESTRICTIONS.

WE DON'T WANT IT TOO MANY BURDENS ON THE CHAPTER 33.

WE JUST PUT THE BASIC.

IF IT HAS TO BE THERE, JUST THE BASIC.

OKAY.

I'M ALSO HERE TO OPPOSE THE RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY ALL -- BY THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD.

OKAY? THIS ACCOMMODATION IS GIVEN TO YOU BY THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD WERE NEVER DISCLOSED NOR AGREED UPON.

OKAY? THIS SAME RECOMMENDATIONS OF ISSUING 25 PERMITS A YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS ARE ONLY DELAYING TAXES BY THE TAXI COMPANY AND ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTED IN ANY WAY BY THE EXHAUSTED AND VERY TIRED TAXI DRIVERS THAT ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE A LIVING.

ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT TAXI DRIVERS THAT

[01:55:02]

PARTICIPATED THIS THOSE MEDIATION SESSIONS ON THIS ISSUE WERE NOT EVEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO, PLEASE FORGET THESE RECOMMENDATIONS GIVEN TO YOU BY THE SELF-SERVING AND BIAS ADVISORY BOARD AND OPEN THOSE PERMITS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY TO ALL OF THE DRIVERS.

LET THE COMPETITION BE FAIR.

THIS FORMULA OF 1 PERCENT -- 1 PERCENT, OR ONE PERMIT FOR EVERY 1,700 PEOPLE RESIDING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY ABSOLUTE.

SINCE THE LAST TIME THIS PERMIT WAS USED WAS BACK IN 2007.

THIS WAS THE YEAR THIS FORMULA WAS USED AND THE LAST TAXI PERMIT WASSISH YOU UED.

THERE'S NO WAY POSSIBLE THAT ANYONE CAN TELL ME THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, HAS NOT SUPPORTED ANY POPULATION GROWTH SINCE THE YEAR 2007.

YOU AND -- AND NONE OF YOU ARE GOING TO CONVINCE ANYONE WITH THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT.

OKAY IN WHOEVER YOU BRING THIS -- YOU BRING THIS INFORMATION, THE PERSON WILL LAUGH AT YOU.

OKAY?

>>> THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA.

>> I GOT THREE MINUTES FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHO IS IT? WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

PAVEL? OKAY, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES LUIS.

>> SO I RECOMMEND THIS CHAPTER 33 BE GOOD FOR HIRES, BE FULLY REMOVED.

I MEAN, WE NEED THAT.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ISSUE OF THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE 75 PERMITS, AND BE DISTRIBUTED IMMEDIATELY AS AGREED ON THE LAST MEDIATION SESSION HELD.

I MEAN, NO WAITING -- I DON'T WANT TO BE -- I DON'T WANT YOU TO PUT THIS ON HOLD.

THIS PERMIT IS TO BE GIVEN TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DRIVER.

SO, PLEASE NOT MAKE US COME BACK TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD EVERY WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH.

PLEASE.

I MEAN, WE'RE TIRED OF DOING THIS.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME FOR THIS OCCASION, AND TAXI DRIVERS ARE ALREADY EXHAUSTED.

AND THEY WANT TO MOVE ON.

OKAY, AND AND IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MY INCOME JUST WAS BASICALLY CUT IN HALF.

NOT JUST MINE, BUT EVERY TAXI DRIVER IN THE STATE OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR THOSE GUYS.

THEY NEED YOUR HELP.

OKWUEGBUNAM.

THEY HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT.

PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA.

OCTAVIO, FOLLOWED BY MR. LEONE.

>> GOOD MORNING CITY MEMBERS AND MAYOR RON NIRENBERG.

WE ARE A TAXI FAMILY.

HOPEFULLY WE CLOSE TO OUR WIN WITH THAT TAXI PERMIT.

WITH THE LADY DOWN HERE.

WE HIRED FOR MAYBE THREE, FOUR MONTH.

WE VOTE FOR THIS AGREEMENT OF 75.

AND WE WANT TO SHARE IN THREE YEARS.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WHY? WE CONTINUE INCENTIVE.

LOSS IN THE CAB INDUSTRY, LOSS IN FAMILY.

THE TAXI DRIVER ON THIS ISSUE.

WE ALREADY LOSING THE BUSINESS.

THE MONEY AND THE CAR WE BUY.

[02:00:04]

LOSS IN CREDIT, LOSS IN HOUSE.

WE DON'T WANT TO AFFECT ANYMORE YELLOW CAB, OR THE CO-OP.

THE ISSUE, THEY WANT TO START FOR 32 FAMILIES, WANT TO COME HERE AND SAY, HELLO, WE APPROVE 75 PERMITS.

AND WANT TO START FOUR MONTHS AT A TIME.

WE DON'T SAY, OKAY, WE GOT APPROVE 33 MONTH, AND WE WANT TO BRING FOR TODAY UP.

THEY WANT THREE MORE MONTH FOR THE BUSINESS, THAT HE KNOW WHEN THEY ARE WAITING FOR THAT.

WE DOWN.

UBER, AND LYFT, TAKING THE BUSINESS.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

WE LOSING.

WE LOSING MORE BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND -- I HAVE THREE MINUTES? OKAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MR. LEONE, THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD OCTAVIO.

AND AFTER TODAY, WHAT I SAY, WE LOSING.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU SEE MY SITUATION, IT'S NOT ONLY MY SITUATION, I SEE THIS SITUATION FOR EVERY DRIVER.

THEY REALLY HAVE A FAMILY.

THEY ARE SPENDING HOURS AT THE AIRPORT TO MAKE A TRIP, TO LIVE IN A HOUSE.

THESE PEOPLE, I TALK WITH THEM DAY BY DAY.

THEY COME CLOSE TO ME, THEY SAY, GUY, WE CAN'T WAIT NO MORE.

WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY.

I THINK THAT YOU GOT TO BE CONSIDER HERE THE JOB, THE MATERIALS TO DO IT.

TO SEE EVERY TAXI DRIVER, EVERY TAXI COMPANY, 75 PERMITS, AFTER TODAY, WE -- BECAUSE TODAY WE SEE THIS FROM 2007, I BEEN VERY CLOSE TO MY COMPUTER IN THE LAST THREE DAYS AND I FIND OUT SAN ANTONIO IS A CITY THAT IS MORE GROWN UP IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE GREW UP IN 128,000 PEOPLE FROM 2008 TO 2017.

WHEN WE SEE THE FORMULA FOR THE CHAPTER 33, AND REGULATION, BECAUSE OF 250 TAXI PERMITS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE UBER OR LYFT OR WHATEVER, WE WANT TO SEE THE LAW.

IT'S MORE THAN 250 PERMITS AND WE ARE AGREEING FOR 75.

AND WE WANT TO SHARE IN THREE YEARS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SAY, NO, I WANT TO GO -- NO, NO, NO, NO.

I WANT TO GO TO THE LAW.

AFTER TODAY, 75 PERMITS AND WE GOT TO WORK WITH 75 PERMITS AROUND JUNE AND JULY.

WE GOT TO START.

THESE PEOPLE, IN THE OFFICE BUILDING, RECEIVE FOR WHOLE DAY, FOR LONG DAY, DO NOT DO ANYTHING.

IN THE INDUSTRY.

MAYBE THEY TAKE THE PHONE CALL.

MAYBE THEY CALL SOMEBODY, BUT THEY SEE ALL DAY.

EIGHT HOUR DAY.

40 HOUR WEEK.

AND YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE INDUSTRY.

AND NOW THEY WANT TO SAY NO, WE GOT TO SHARE 75 PERMITS IN THREE YEARS.

COME ON.

WHAT DO YOU WANT? YOU WANT THE CAB DRIVER LEAVING THE CITY? THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT? YOU THINK THE CAB DRIVER IS SO SMART? DO YOU NOT THINK THE CAB DRIVER HAVE FAMILY IN THE CITY? I AM SORRY, I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

AHMAD YUSUF.

MA MED YUSUF? MARTINIANO LAMBERT?

[02:05:02]

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? LUIS RODRIGUEZ? OKAY.

I'LL CALL YOUR NAME IN JUST A MOMENT, MR. RODRIGUEZ.

IS MARTINIANO LAMBERT HERE? OKAY.

MOVING ON.

GEORGE ALVA.

GOOD MORNING MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I STAND BEFORE YOU AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER TODAY ARE THE RESULT OF MANY MONTHS OF DISCUSSION RANKLING AND NEGOTIATION, I HOPE THIS ISSUE WILL FINALLY BE PUT TO REST AS I'M SURE THE REST OF YOU ARE HOPING, TOO.

IN THE MOST RESENT T.A.B. THE MEMBERS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE PHASED IN.

32 PERMITS TO BE RELEASED TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS BY OCTOBER 1, 2018, 25 PERMITS TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 1, 2019, 18 ON OCTOBER 2020 AND GRANTING THE CHIEF OF POLICE AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR TO RELEASE PERMIT AS HEAD OF TIME NOT TO RECEIVE THE TOTAL TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS HOWEVER WE ARE CONSIDERED THE NEW SINGLE UNIT OPERATORS WILL GRAVITATE TO THE AIRPORT IGNORING THE CITY AND WAITING FOR THE ONE TRIP TO DOWNTOWN OR HILL COUNTRY.

AND BERATE THE PASSENGER FOR GETTING A TRIP TO STAR MALL.

TO ENSURE THESE OPERATORS ARE PROVIDING CITYWIDE SERVICE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND REVIEWED QUARTERLY AS A CONDITION TO OPERATE UNDER SINGLE UNIT PERMITS.

SO ON BEHALF OF T.A.B., I THANK EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ALVA.

LUIS RODRIGUEZ.

JOHN, I MISSED YOU BUT YOU'LL BE NEXT.

>> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.

MY NAME IS LUIS RODRIGUEZ.

I DRIVE FOR ONE OF THE PRIMARY HOLDERS COMPANY -- PERMIT HOLDERS COMPANY.

EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT WE LOST OUR BUSINESS.

I CANNOT DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH THEM.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE A CITY AT A CAB STAND AT THE AIRPORT.

THEY AREN'T DOING MUCH TO LOOK FOR THE BUSINESS.

I HAVE SEVERAL PERSONAL PEOPLE THAT CALL ME BASICALLY EVERY OTHER DAY.

NOW, THIS IS $100.

THIS IS ONE PERSON I TOOK TO THE AIRPORT TODAY.

THEY APPRECIATED WHAT I'M DOING FOR THEM.

AND I TOLD THEM ABOUT ALL OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CAB BUSINESS, AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE BEST I COULD, AND THOUSAND THE OTHER THING THAT I LIKE TO SAY IS, I SAW THAT REPORT THAT WE HAVE ABOUT HOW MANY PERMITS, LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THEY GOT THE FORMULA, BUT 11 YEAR, BASICALLY IN 11 YEARS, YOU GIVEN UP 7 PERMITS FROM THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A QUESTION MARK IN THAT.

BECAUSE MOST OF THE PERMITS THAT YOU'RE ISSUING HERE, THEY ARE RECYCLED PERMITS.

I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE TAKING AWAY FROM ANOTHER COMPANY AND BASICALLY GIVING UP TO SOME OF -- GIVING UP TO THE DRIVERS, BUT THINK ABOUT IT.

SEVEN PERMITS IN 11 YEARS IS NOT EVEN ONE PERMIT PER YEAR.

NOW, WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND, THIS CITY DOESN'T GET ANY SMALLER.

THINK ABOUT IT.

DOESN'T GET ANY SMALLER.

IT'S GETTING BIGGER.

AND IN ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TOP 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO.

NOW, HOW MANY PERMITS ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE TO DRIVERS THAT REALLY HEED THEM LIKE US? BASICALLY, I AM REALLY THANKFUL BECAUSE MY FAMILY, I HAVE A SON THAT'S JOINING THE MILITARY RIGHT NOW.

HE'S GOING TO BE IN THE AIR FORCE, AND I HAVE TO BE THANKFUL TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TO THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION THAT GIVE ME A CHANCE TO REALLY WORK MYSELF TO GIVE MY KIDS, TO GET THEM THE BEST EDUCATION THAT WE COULD, AND SHOW IT.

MY SON IS GOING TO JOIN, RIGHT NOW IN JULY, IN THE AIR FORCE.

AND I REALLY, THANKS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND IF YOU COULD PROVIDE US MORE PERMITS, WOULD WOULD BE VERY HAPPY, INSTEAD OF GIVING UP ALL OF THAT MONEY TO

[02:10:02]

SOME OF THE OTHER COMPANY THAT, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE USING IT FOR.

THANK YOU.

>>> THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ.

JOHN BOULEVESES.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, SEMS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M PRESIDENT OF TEXAS TAXI.

WE'VE BEEN A PROUD GROUND TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER SERVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR 30 YEARS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL AS T.A.B.'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD OVER THE PAST 15 MONTHS TO PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER.

HOPEFULLY TODAY, WITH YOUR FULL SUPPORT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

ALL OF US IN THE TAXI INDUSTRY HAVE EXPERIENCED A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OUR BUSINESS OVER THE PAST 36 MONTHS.

AS A LONG-STANDING OPERATOR IN THE COMMUNITY I FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REMAIN MINDFUL OF THE ALREADY OVERSATURATED MARKET CONDITIONS AND DEVELOP THE POLICIES ACCORDINGLY.

THIS WILL -- THIS IS WHY WE SUPPORT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO A PHASED IN APPROACH OF THE PERMITS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

A STRATEGIC APPROACH WILL ALLOW THE CITY AND TAXI CAB COMPANIES TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS AND HOPEFULLY STABILIZE THE TAXI INDUSTRY AS WE ALLOW -- WE CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO GROW AND SUCCEED.

I'M STILL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE SMALL OPERATORS UNDER THIS PROGRAM BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CITYWIDE TAXI CAB AS WELL AS PROVIDE ADA SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

IN DOING SO, YELLOW CAB HAS MADE AVAILABLE A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR THESE DRIVERS THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE DISPATCH TRIPS FROM YELLOW CAB ON A DAILY BASIS FOR A NOMINAL TRIP PER FEE.

WE FEEL THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM WILL COLLECTIVELY HELP THE INDUSTRY AND WE ENCOURAGE THESE DRIVERS TO SIGN UP.

YOU HEARD MANY DRIVERS SAY THAT THEY'VE SPENT A LONG TIME AT THE AIRPORT.

IT'S BEEN OVERCROWDED AND WEIGHTED THERE.

I THINK IF THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE PRESENT TO THEM, IT CAN HELP THEM GROW THEIR BUSINESS AS WELL AS US TO PROVIDE CONTINUED CITYWIDE SERVICE.

THERE ARE DAYS OUT THERE THAT WE HAVE TROUBE GETTING SOME TRIPS COVERED BECAUSE OF ACCESS.

WE HAVE 36 -- 35 WHEELCHAIR VEHICLES SERVING THE CITY AND PROVIDING 24 BY 7 COVERAGE.

MAYOR, I APPRECIATE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS.

AND, STAFF, WE SUPPORT YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, MANNY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR YEARS.

I REMEMBER FIRST SEEING THIS WHEN I WAS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OR JUST ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TALKING AND AT THIS POINT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, ERIC.

AND I -- THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME TO MY FIELD OFFICE TO HAVE MET TOGETHER AND WHO HAVE DEFINITELY EXPLAINED AND SHARED THEIR COMMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES.

JUST A COUPLE FIRST QUESTIONS I HAVE AND I WANT TO THANK OUR MEDIATOR AS WELL WHO IS PART OF ALL OF THIS.

FIRST ONE IS, THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT -- HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT, I THINK THOSE -- THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES, FOR BRINGING THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU DID, AND WE KNOW, WE JUST GOT THE WORD THAT SAN ANTONIO AND OUR POPULATION HAS GROWN, THE FASTEST GROWING AGO GET CITY IN THE NATION AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT PUTTING MORE INVESTMENT IN VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO MARKET SAN ANTONIO FOR OUR VISITORS.

I NEED CLARIFICATION ON WHAT DOES THIS 128 PERMITS UNASSIGNED MEAN?

>> THEY ARE NOT BEING USED.

>> VIAGRAN: WHO DO THEY BELONG TO.

THE CITY?

>> THEY BELONG TO THE CITY RIGHT NOW.

AS OF -- ON JANUARY 31ST OF THIS PAST YEAR, EVERY JANUARY 31ST.

COMPANIES HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR THOSE PERMITS.

OR RENEW THOSE PERMITS.

I SHOULDN'T SAY REAPPLY.

RENEW THOSE PERMITS AND THEY HAVE 90 DAYS TO BRING THE VEHICLES BACK IN TO BE INSPECTED AND HAVE THE PERMIT AFFIXED TO THEIR WINDSHIELD.

>> VIAGRAN: WHO CAN GO AFTER THOSE 128 PERMITS UNASSIGNED CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW?

>> ANYBODY, RIGHT?

>> COUNCILWOMAN, THOSE PERMITS ARE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THREE COMPANIES.

YELLOW, HAVING 126 OF THOSE.

THOSE ARE -- THEY PAY THE PERMIT FEES YEARLY FOR THOSE FEES.

THEY JUST HAVE NOT BROUGHT ON A VEHICLE YET.

THE CITY HAS NOT GONE BACK TO

[02:15:02]

REVOKE THOSE PERMITS OR TAKE THOSE BACK.

AS LONG AS THEY PAY THE PERMIT FEES AND BRING ON A VEHICLE, THEY CAN HOLD THE PERMIT SLOTS IF YOU WOULD.

>> VIAGRAN: WERE ANY OF THOSE USED DURING ONE OF THE MOST BUSIEST TIMES WITH THE FINAL FOUR IN MARCH?

>> MONTH, MA'AM.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ONE, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS NOW, I KNOW THE MAYOR IS NOT HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S LISTENING.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE ABOUT RESTRUCTURING THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD, HOW IT SHOULD BE TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY ADVISORY BOARD.

BECAUSE I THINK THINGS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.

I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT.

QUESTION IN THE TAB AND RECOMMENDATION THERE, WHY OCTOBER? WHY ARE WE GOING TO RELEASE THE FIRST 32 IN OCTOBER?

>> IT'S BY OCTOBER.

SO, THE TIME LINE WOULD BE --

>> VIAGRAN: BY OCTOBER?

>> YES, MA'AM.

THE TIME LINE WOULD BE, IF THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED TODAY, WE WOULD ADVERTISE DURING THE MONTH OF JULY.

TAKE APPLICATIONS THE MONTH OF JULY THROUGH MID AUGUST, GO THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS, IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED AND THE PROCESS THAT WAS SUGGESTED BY SOME OF THE TAXI DRIVERS WAS A QUALIFIED LOTTERY, SO, IF YOU QUALIFY, YOU HAVE ONE YEAR, YOU HAVE YOUR INSURANCE, YOU HAVE YOUR VEHICLE AND THEN YOU'D QUALIFY INTO A LOTTERY.

WE'D PICK THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION WOULD SELECT 32 SUBMITTALS.

WE WOULD ISSUE THE PERMITS BUT THEY WOULD BE IN OPERATION BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION, ERIC, YOU MENTIONED THAT EVERYBODY HAD AIRPORT ISSUES.

AND I THINK EVEN IN THE COMMENTS HERE, I HEARD PEOPLE ACTUALLY POINTING FINGERS AT EVERYONE ELSE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT EVERYONE IS SITTING AT THE AIRPORT, OR AT CAB STANDS.

YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT AIRPORT ISSUES AND LOW HANGING FRUIT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> YEAH.

>> VIAGRAN: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT.

>> LET'S ME HAVE THE AIRPORT STAFF BACH ABOUT THE MEETINGS AND ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP BY THE DRIVERS.

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL I'M TOM BARTLET DEPUTY AVIATION DIRECTOR.

WITH ERIC, WE PARTICIPATED IN TWO OR THREE MEETINGS TO ADDRESS ITEMS THAT THE TAXI CAP OPERATORS AND DRIVERS HAD BROUGHT UP REGARDING SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL ITEMS AT THE AIRPORT, AND WE'VE BEEN ANSWERING A LOT OF THEIR QUESTIONS, AND THEN ALSO, I ATTENDED THE LAST T.A.B. MEETING AS WELL.

SO, WE'VE OPENED UP SOME DIALOGUE WITH THE DRIVERS, AND MATTER OF FACT, TALKING TO ROBERT GONZALES, WE'RE GOING TO MEET AGAIN WITH HIM NEXT WEEK, TO -- SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE ADJUSTED IS WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE, OUT ON THE CURB ZONE TO BE ABLE TO DIRECT THE CUSTOMERS TO THE CAB STAND, AND WE'VE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF SOME ITEMS OR ISSUES AT STREET LEVEL, STREET SIDE AT THE CURB.

SO, LET ME SEE.

WE'VE -- YEAH, THERE'S A CANOPY.

WE PUT A CANOPY UP AT THE CAB STAND FOR RAIN AND SUN.

WE HAD SOME ISSUE WAS THAT STAND, AND -- OR THAT CANOPY AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON SOME RESOLUTIONS FOR THAT.

AGAIN, SOME CONCERNS THE DRIVERS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION WE ARE ADDRESSING.

>> VIAGRAN: SOME ITEMS IS FINDING AND SIGNAGE SO PEOPLE KNOW DIRECTLY WHERE THE CAB STAND IS?

>> YES, YES.

>> VIAGRAN: AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES AS WELL?

>> YES, YES.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT MR. BARTLET.

SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS, BECAUSE WE DO THOUGH THIS IS A -- I KNOW VERY WELL THAT THIS IS A CHANGING NATURE IN TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY IN OUR CITY, AND THE WAY THAT WE USE, AND I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE THING ABOUT OUR TAXI DRIVERS ARE PROFESSIONAL TAXI DRIVERS, THEY ARE DEFINITELY AMBASSADORS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND ADD SOMETHING THAT OTHER DRIVERS DO NOT.

MY OTHER QUESTION IS, WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PERM PERMITTING.

A LOT OF THE COMES WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PERMIT CAP FORMULA FOR 2007.

ONE PERMIT FOR 17 POPULATION AND PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP THE EXISTING CAP, OR SOME WANT TO KEEP THE EXISTING CAP BUT WE'RE GROWING AS A CITY.

BUT THEN THEY ALSO DON'T WANT TO CHANGE CHAPTER 33 FOR THE NEXT

[02:20:01]

FIVE YEARS.

SO, ISN'T THAT GOING TO BE HAM STRINGING OURSELVES?

>> WELL, WE SHARED --

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TO ME, IT FEELS LIKE IT WOULD BE.

>> AND WE SHARED WITH THE DRIVERS, OR PARTICIPANTS AT MEDIATION THAT NEITHER THE CITY STAFF NOR THE COUNCIL CAN PUT A MORATORIUM ON ANY PORTION OF THE CODE

>> VIAGRAN: SURE.

>> THINGS CHANGE ON THEIR SIDE.

THEY MAY COME UP WITH SOMETHING AND PROPOSE IT TO THE CITY 12 MONTHS FROM NOW.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE PERMITS THAT ARE NOT IN USE RIGHT NOW, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE INDUSTRY, AS MANY OF THE SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT, HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF TNCS IN TOWN AND MORE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO AN OLD PORTION OF THE CODE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO WORK FOR HIMSELF OR HERSELF.

AND SO THERE MAY BE A SHIFTING OF OUR EXISTING DRIVERS, RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.

BUT IT COULD LIMIT US IN THE FUTURE.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND YOU HEARD FROM SOME OF THE DRIVERS THAT CAME UP HERE, THEY WANT THE ABILITY TO WORK THEIR OWN BOOK OF BUSINESS AND THEY CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> VIAGRAN: RIGHT.

>> WHETHER THAT'S 250 PEOPLE OR 25 PEOPLE, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR CAR, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE UNDER THE STATE, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

WE HEARD ABOUT -- SO, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR IF THESE PERMITS THAT WE WILL BE RELEASING ARE GOING TO BE MONITORED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CITY WIDE.

THAT IT'S NOT JUST IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR IN THE AIRPORT AREA? WILL WE BE ABLE TO MONITOR THAT AND TO MEASURE THAT OR HOW CAN WE?

>> I THINK PART OF THAT GOES TO THE ONGOING WORK THAT THE AIRPORT IS GOING TO DO WITH THE TAXI INDUSTRY.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES OUT AT THE AIRPORT, AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS THAT OTHER CITIES ARE LOOKING AT, THAT WE INITIALLY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE DRIVERS, AND THE CO-OPS AND COMPANIES, AND THEY INCLUDE THINGS LIKE WHAT'S CALLED THE NOT EVEN DAY, OR ABC DAY, SO THAT IF YOU'RE AN ODD DAY TAXI DRIVER, THEN THAT'S THE DAY YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT.

YOU DON'T GO ON EVEN DAYS.

THAT FORCES A LITTLE BIT MORE CIRCULATION, AND BUSINESS, BUT THAT CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL AND I THINK THE AIRPORT STAFF, ALONG WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MYSELF AND CARLOS, WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT ISSUE WITH THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.

THAT MAY ALLEVIATE THAT.

BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT THERE, THEN THEY'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT ARE CALLING THEM.

THEIR OWN BOOK OF BUSINESS, DOWNTOWN, BUT THE AIRPORT PLAYS A BIG FACTOR IN THAT, I THINK.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

PERMITS MAKES SENSE ESPECIALLY FOR SOLE OWNERS AND OPERATORS.

I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT OPEN TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO SEE IF IT IS WORKING OR THERE'S HIGH DEMAND THAT PEOPLE MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS, THAT WE CAN BRING THAT UP EARLIER, AND I DO THINK THAT ONE FROM THE THINGS THAT WE, AS A CITY, IS EVEN TALKING ABOUT IS THE WAY WE MOVE PEOPLE FROM THE AIRPORT INTO DOWNTOWN OR OTHER PARTS.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONNECT OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN.

SO THAT COULD EVEN IMPACT THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>> I THINK YOU HEARD FROM V.I.A., AND THEY MENTIONED IN THEIR "B" SESSION PRESENTATION, THEY ARE INTENDING ON SUBMITTING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THIS SUMMER TO EXPAND THEIR RIDERSHIP, AND ALTERNATIVES FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY TRANSPORTATION.

THOSE ARE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT FRANKLY ALL OF THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIES HAVE, AND V.I.A. IS INTENDING ON SPENDING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO ENHANCE THAT RIDERSHIP.

SO WHETHER YOU'RE AN INDEPENDENT DRIVER FOR SAN ANTONIO, OR JOHN'S, THERE'S ADDITIONAL CONTRACT OUT THERE WITH V.I.A.

>> VIAGRAN: THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES COMING INTO PLAY THAT WE ARE SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ON, AS OUR TRANSPORTATION AND MODES OF MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION CHANGE.

THAT'S ALL OF US LOOKING AT IT.

SO, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ALL OF THE HOARD WORK.

I'M GOING TO WAIT TO HEAR COLLEAGUES FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES.

THANK YOU.

>>> THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ERIC, THANKS FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK YOU'VE PUT INTO IT.

MOST OF MY COMMENTS ARE GOING TO

[02:25:01]

BE DIRECTED NOT TO YOU, ERIC BUT TO SOME OF THE FOLKS OUT THERE.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO HAVE A SEAT AND REST FOR A SECOND.

I RAN FOR ELECTION LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE UP HERE, AND WHAT WE DO WHEN WE RUN FOR ELECTION, IS WE COMMUNICATE OUR AGENDA, PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS TO THE PUBLIC, AND THEN WE -- WE DESIGN THOSE THAT LIST OF AGENDA ITEMS BASED ON WHAT THEY TELL US, AND I CAN TELL YOU, I WAS WALKING FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD, AND KNOCKING ON HUNDREDS OF DOORS AND TALKING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, WHAT I HEARD OVER AN OVER AGAIN, WAS SIDEWALKS, TAXES, SAFETY, TRAFFIC, AND NOT ONCE DID I EVER HEAR THE ISSUE OF TAXIS.

NOT A SINGLE TIME.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I GOT ELECTED.

I'M BLESSED WITH THAT AND I COME UP TO CITY HALL AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO BE FRANK.

I DIDN'T BRING TAXIS AS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES WITH ME UP HERE TO CITY HALL.

AND DESPITE THAT, I WAS APPROACHED LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US UP HERE, BY ALL OF THE PARTIES WHO ARE EMBROILED IN THIS DISPUTE, AND I WAS GIVEN A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.

BUT DESPITE THE VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENT AND ALL OF THE GOOD INFORMATION, I STILL HAD A REALLY HARD TIME WANTING -- BEING CONVINCED THAT I NEEDED TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

AND WANTING TO GET INVOLVED, AGAIN BECAUSE IT WASN'T WITHIN THAT LIST OF PRIORITIES THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME TO CITY HALL AND I FIGURED THOSE PRIORITIES WERE CHAMPIONED BY COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, AND YOU'VE BEEN ON -- YOU'VE BEEN THE POINTY END OF THIS STICK FOR SO LONG AND YOU'VE BEEN PUSHING PARTIES TO TALK TOGETHER AND FIND SOLUTIONS AND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF TO DO THAT AND COUNCILMAN SALDANA REALLY EXHIBITED A LOT OF LEADERSHIP AT THE TRAN TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND CHAIRING THAT, SO I FIGURE I'LL LET THEM HANDLE THAT, IT SEEMS TO ME THOSE ARE THEIR PRIORITIES.

THAT'S HOW WE DO BUSINESS UP HERE.

RIGHT? AND ONE OF THE REASONS I -- YOU KNOW, I STILL FOUND MYSELF NOT WANTING TO GET INVOLVED WITH THIS, IS BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THIS, AND YOU REALIZE EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ON THE PLANET IS STRUGGLING WITH THIS VERY ISSUE.

THEY'VE GOT A TAXI INDUSTRY THAT IS RUNNING ON FUMES, AND THE REALITY IS THAT TNCS ARE HERE TO STAY, AND THEY ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

AND THEY ARE A DISRUPTIVE AND INNOVATION AND MARKET CHANGES ARE CRUEL.

AND THEY RESULT IN INDUSTRIES HAVING LIFE CYCLES AND WORKERS IN THAT INDUSTRY EITHER -- REQUIRING WORKERS TO EITHER ADAPT OR FAIL.

YOU KNOW, I'LL LIST THEM OFF FOR YOU.

STAGECOACH DRIVERS, PHONE OPERATORS, TYPEWRITER MANUFACTURERS, TELEGRAM OPERATORS.

THE PEOPLE WHO MANUFACTURE THE BETA MAX AND VHS.

I HAVE A FEELING ALL OF THEM WERE STRUGGLING THE SAME WAY THAT OUR TAXI INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS WERE STRUGGLING AND LOOKING FOR LIFELINES.

AND THEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHETHER THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO RESCUE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE BEING PUSHED OUT BY CUSTOMER PREFERENCES AND MARKET REALITIES.

WHEN THIS CAME BEFORE THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ALL OF YOU REMEMBER I HAD VERY STRONG WORDS FOR THE TAXI DRIVERS AND THE CO-OPS AND TAXI COMPANIES AND EVEN FOR STAFF.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZED WAS THAT IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME, IF EVER, THAT ALL OF YOU EVER GOT IN THE ROOM TOGETHER TO HASH THIS OUT AND NEGOTIATE AMONGST YOURSELF A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE SOLUTION.

AND I FOUND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE AND DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE WHAT I SAW WAS MULTIPLE GROUPS COMING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL AND ASKING US TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR YOU.

AND US BEING VERY KINDHEARTED, WELL-INTENDED PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN ALL SORTS OF THINGS, BUT NONE OF US ARE EXPERTS IN THE TAXI INDUSTRY.

YOU ARE ASKING US TO FIND THE SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVEN'T ENGAGED IN ANY EARNEST CONVERSATIONS.

AND SO BECAUSE NONE OF US WILL EVER BE IN YOUR SHOES AND WE'RE NOT EXPERTS I STARTED TO ASK MYSELF, YOU KNOW, IS IT SMART TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR THEM? IS IT SMART TO, YOU KNOW, BRING

[02:30:04]

MY AMATEUR CLUMSY POLICYMAKING TO YOUR SOLUTION AND WOULD THAT CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD? AND SO I DECIDED, YOU KNOW, WHAT? MAYBE WE OUGHT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND USING TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED BY TIME AND THAT ALL OVER THE PLANET ARE BEING USED TODAY TO SOLVE MUCH BIGGER DISPUTES THAN THE ONE EVERYBODY IS FACING.

SO I STARTED TALKING ABOUT MEDIATION.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ME UP HERE ON THIS DAIS TALK ABOUT THAT TOOL FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND IT WORKS.

I MEAN, FOR GOODNESS SAKE THE NORTH KOREANS AND SOUTH KOREANS ARE FINALLY TALKING WITH THE HELP OF THAT MATTERS.

THIRD PARTIES.

IF THEY CAN GET IN A ROOM AND TALK, CERTAINLY YOU CAN.

ERIK, YOU ARE VERY HELPFUL AND ANDY, YOUR DEPARTMENT VERY HELPFUL IN AGREEING TO GIVE THAT A CHANCE.

WE BROUGHT DANIELLE IN.

DANIELLE, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU IF YOU CAN COME UP.

WHAT I NEED AFTER A MEDIATION IS REASSURANCES FROM THE MEDIATOR -- AND JUDGES DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

THEY ASK THE MEDIATOR HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT WENT? DID THE PARTIES NEGOTIATE IN GOOD-FAITH? DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS GOT ENOUGH TIME? DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD ACCESS? WERE YOU GIVEN THE INFORMATION YOU NEEDED? DO YOU FEEL THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SOME DISAGREEMENTS THAT PEOPLE WALKED OUT OF THERE DOING THE BEST THEY COULD AND WITH SOME KIND OF OUTLINE THAT WE CAN THEN USE TO INFORM OUR DECISION? AND THEN LASTLY, ARE THEY ALL HAPPY OR ARE THEY UNHAPPY AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? TAKE IT AWAY.

>> WELL, YOU ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS THERE.

WELL, HOW DID I FEEL ABOUT THE PROCESS? THAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW IN MEDIATIONS, PEOPLE HAVE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S A COMPROMISE OTHERWISE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SHARED WITH THOSE WHO I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROCESS, IN PARTICULAR WITH THESE PARTIES, IS THAT I WAS, ONE, VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD.

THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL, FOR THE MOST PART.

AND ON THE DAY WE ACTUALLY HAD THE MEDIATION WE BROUGHT ALL THE PARTIES TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM.

AND AS YOU KNOW, IF ANY OF YOU WHO HAVE EVER PARTICIPATED IN MEDIATIONS, OFTENTIMES YOU START IN ONE ROOM AND BREAK OFF INTO LITTLE CAUCUS SESSIONS.

WE ULTIMATELY NEVER DID THAT.

I THINK THAT SPOKE VOLUMES ABOUT THE INTENT OF EVERYONE INVOLVED TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER AND TRY TO REACH SOME CONSENSUS ITEMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEMSELVES AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.

SO I FELT LIKE THE PROCESS WORKED VERY WELL.

I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAD PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

WAS EVERYBODY HAPPY? I'M SURE EVERYONE IS NOT.

WE HAVE HAD FOLKS HERE WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE VARIOUS SESSIONS AND WITH THE MEDIATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE MEDIATION PROCESS.

EVERYONE SORT OF GIVES UP SOMETHING FOR THEM TO KIND OF COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOOD.

>> PELAEZ: SO I DON'T KNOW IF MEDIATION IS AN ART OR A SCIENCE BUT I THINK THE ONE THING THAT ALL MEDIATORS AGREE ON IS IF ALL PARTIES WALK OUT OF THERE A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY -- FINISH THAT SENTENCE FOR ME.

>> IF EVERYBODY WALKS OUT UNHAPPY, THAT MEANS THAT THEY PROBABLY DID SOME GOOD.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE GAVE WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GIVE AND PURSUED THE THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED TO SERIOUSLY GET TO.

>> PELAEZ: NOW, I WILL TELL YOU THAT FOR ME THE ONES I WAS WORRIED ABOUT MOST WAS CORRALLING UP ALL THE DRIVERS AND BRINGING THEIR DIVERGENT OPINIONS TOGETHER TO SEE IF YOU CAN SORT OF TEASE OUT FROM THAT A SINGLE POSITION.

TALK TO ME ABOUT GETTING TO THAT POINT.

>> WELL, I CAN'T SAY THERE WAS A SINGLE POSITION THE DRIVERS HAD.

THE KEY FOR ME WAS ENSURING ALL POSITIONS WERE ON THE TABLE.

THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD ALL THE POSITIONS AND COULD WE FIND LOW-LYING FRUIT.

COULD WE FIND AREAS OF COMMONALITY, COULD WE FIND AREAS WHERE IT MADE SENSE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEDIATION, YOU KNOW, THEY SAW WHAT WAS AT STAKE AND THEY SAT DOWN AND THEY DID THE WORK.

[02:35:01]

SO I ATTRIBUTE IT TO THE PARTIES.

>> PELAEZ: LASTLY, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND.

WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US HOW NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE DONE AND WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T A GOOD MEDIATION? THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> OKAY.

WELL, SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE IN TOWN.

AND I AM A RECOVERING LITIGATOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

AND FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER I HAVE BEEN MEDIATING SINCE 1995.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENTARY GOT IS WHEN MY OPPOSING COUNSEL WOULD ASK ME TO RESOLVE A MATTER OR TO MEDIATE A MATTER FOR THEM ON ONE OF THEIR MATTERS.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

QUITE HONESTLY IT'S WHAT GIVES ME JOY.

IT'S BEEN PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF NOW THAT I HAVE OPENED MY ADR PRACTICE.

AND THIS IS ALL I DO.

I MEDIATE AND I ARBITRATE AND I LIKE HELPING PARTIES REACH THEIR OWN RESOLUTIONS.

SO WHO AM I? I'M JUST SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN HELPING PARTIES COME TOGETHER.

I LIKE THE NOTION OF BEING A PEACEMAKER.

I LIKE THE NOTION OF BRINGING PARTIES TOGETHER.

>> PELAEZ: GREAT.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WENT THROUGH THAT EXERCISE TO SHOW YOU THAT THE PARTIES TALKED.

THE PARTIES WALKED OUT OF THERE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF DISAGREEMENT BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEY PUT IN A LOT OF EFFORT TO REACH WHAT IS THE OUTLINE OF THE AGREEMENTS, THE PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF US.

THAT THAT WHOLE PROCESS WAS FACILITATED BY AN EXPERT WHO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND WHO HAS BEEN RESOLVING DISPUTES MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS FOR PARTIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING MR. BROCKHOUSE BRINGS UP OFTEN.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO AND WHAT IS -- WHAT SHOULDN'T WE DO.

I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST DRAFTING POLICY.

I DO THINK THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS ALSO MANAGING EXPECTATIONS AND RESOLVING DISPUTES AND HELPING PEOPLE DO THAT.

AND SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO APPROVE WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE UP HERE.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, DANIELLE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 17.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HEADED BY COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN FOR PULLING THIS ITEM.

AND I TOO ALSO WANT TO THANK MANNY FOR HIS HARD WORK ON THIS IN BRINGING THIS TO THIS IDEA OF A MEDIATION.

I THINK IT'S SHOWING ME THAT -- OR I SHOULD SAY I'M SATISFIED WITH THE WORK DONE HERE TODAY THAT CAN MOVE US FORWARD.

I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS.

I THINK I MOST IMPORTANTLY WANT TO THANK DANIELLE HARGROVE FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

ERIK WALSH, IT'S THE CONSTANT ODYSSEY OF TRANSPORTATION AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T THE END.

I'LL REITERATE THAT WE CAN'T PUT A MORATORIUM ON THESE KIND OF ISSUES BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, AND I THINK THESE ARE SOME GOOD STEPS FORWARD.

I WANT TO THANK THE TAB AND OF COURSE ALL THE TAXI DRIVERS THAT ARE HERE.

SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO THANK YELLOW CAB FOR RELEASING 25 OF THEIR PERMITS TO HELP MOVE THIS PROCESS ALONG.

AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS CLEARLY STATED THAT ALL POSITIONS WERE REPRESENTED.

I'M SATISFIED WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE PROCESS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO MORE FOLKS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUALLY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE AIRPORT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CREATE A BETTER SYSTEM.

BUT, AGAIN, I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD THAT THOSE THINGS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THESE PROCESSES.

BUT, AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM.

THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ERIK, I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

SOMETHING I HEARD EARLIER.

I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT UNASSIGNED LICENSES OR MAYBE I CAN JUST CLARIFY IT THIS WAY.

I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT THERE WERE 128 LICENSES THAT WERE UNASSIGNED.

BUT THEN I UNDERSTOOD THAT 126 OF THEM WERE ALLOCATED FOR YELLOW CAB.

IS THAT WHAT I HEARD EARLIER?

>> IT WAS 126?

>> COURAGE: YES.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> COURAGE: BUT ALSO I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT EVERY YEAR EACH CAB COMPANY NEEDS TO GO AHEAD AND RENEW THAT LICENSE AND WITHIN 90

[02:40:02]

DAYS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET AN AUTOMOBILE ON THE ROAD OR READY TO GO.

BUT YELLOW CAB HASN'T DONE THAT FOR THOSE 128 PERMITS.

AND 90 DAYS WAS UP 60 DAYS AGO.

HOW COME THEY'RE STILL HOLDING THOSE LICENSES OR WE HAVE THEM RESERVED FOR THEM?

>> THE CITY HAS THE ABILITY TO PULL THOSE PERMITS BACK, EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN PAID AND PAY PAY BACK THE TAXI COMPANIES.

WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THAT YET UNTIL WE REACH CONCLUSION HERE.

BUT THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY GOING TO BE UNASSIGNED.

WE WILL HAVE TO REBATE MONEY BACK TO THE TAXI COMPANIES.

>> COURAGE: SO THEORETICALLY THERE'S ACTUALLY 128 VEHICLES, LICENSES THAT COULD BE ASSIGNED TO DRIVERS NEXT MONTH.

>> SURE.

SURE.

>> COURAGE: WELL, I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

AND ALSO IN LOOKING AT THE MEDIATION, AND I REALLY RESPECT THE WORK THAT'S DONE FOR THAT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY TOUGH.

THERE'S ONE THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEDIATION, ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION YOU MADE, AND THAT WAS THERE WASN'T ANY CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS TO BE ISSUED.

AND THEN THE TAB DECIDED THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE 75.

AND NOW THAT WAS BASED ON 25 BEING RELEASED FROM ONE COMPANY AND I GUESS SEVEN THAT SUPPOSEDLY AREN'T BEING COMMITTED TO ANYBODY.

AND THEN 25 THE NEXT YEAR AND 18 THE NEXT YEAR.

WHERE ARE THOSE OTHERS SUPPOSED TO COME FROM?

>> WE ARE CREATING THOSE THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE.

>> COURAGE: COULDN'T WE JUST TAKE OUT OF THE 128 THAT WE COULD CLAIM TOMORROW?

>> WELL, THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT THE TAB HAD.

BECAUSE WE SHARED WITH THE TAB ALSO THE NUMBER OF UNASSIGNED UNUSED PERMITS.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK BACK AND FORTH.

THE TAB'S RECOMMENDATION WAS ADD THOSE ADDITIONAL 43 FOR YEARS TWO AND THREE.

LET ME ADDRESS ONE OTHER POINT.

THE KNOWN CONSENSUS, AND DANIELLE CAN GIVE HER PERSPECTIVE.

NO CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS.

IT WAS ALL THE PARTIES, EIGHT DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING THEMSELVES OR COONS OR COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN THE MEDIATION.

ONE OF THE EIGHT WANTED 25 PERMITS.

THE OTHER SEVEN EVENTUALLY GOT TO 75.

SO THERE WAS A RANGE OF BETWEEN 25 AND 75.

BUT FOR CONSENSUS PURPOSES THERE WAS NOT 100% CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER.

THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IN DECEMBER TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HAPPENED TO ALSO BE 75.

AND SO BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MEDIATION, MAJORITY BEING SEVEN OF THE EIGHT, SETTLED ON 75.

THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE TAB BOARD WAS TO KEEP IT AT 75.

THE TAB DID SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

THEY SPACED IT OUT OVER THOSE THREE YEARS.

AND IF THERE'S QUALIFIED DEMAND IT WILL HAPPEN OVER 12 MONTHS.

>> COURAGE: NOW, FROM MY READING AND WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID THEN, WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT 32 RIGHT AWAY WHEN WE DO.

AND IF YOU HAVE 40 DRIVERS COME UP AND WANT THOSE 32, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD A LOTTERY.

>> YES, SIR.

>> COURAGE: AND THOSE OTHER EIGHT DRIVERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR OR DOES THE CHIEF HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY LET'S ADD EIGHT MORE AND ALLOW ALL 40?

>> THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THAT -- IS CONSISTENT WITH THE TAB, WHICH WOULD MEAN 12 MONTHS WOULD HAVE TO GO BY BEFORE THE CHIEF COULD DO THAT.

WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING, YOU COULD MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO DO THAT AND GIVE THE CHIEF THE ABILITY TO PRE-ISSUE THOSE DEMAND -- QUALIFIED DEMAND APPLICANTS EARLIER.

>> COURAGE: I THOUGHT SO.

>> YEAH.

>> COURAGE: YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THE TIME.

WHEN YOU BYPASS ALL OF THE SUMMER TRAVELING TIME AND LIMIT IT TO OCTOBER AS THE ENTRANCE PERIOD, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ANY POTENTIAL NEW DRIVER IS MISSING A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ABILITY TO MAKE MONEY.

IS THERE ANY REAL IMPEDIMENT TO BEGIN RELEASING THE PERMITS BY JULY 1ST THAT WE CAN'T HANDLE?

>> WE'LL LIKELY WANT TO GIVE DRIVERS OR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR APPLICATION, THEIR INSURANCE, AND ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLES CLEARED UP BEFORE YOU OPEN IT UP.

SO AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

DO WE DO IT NEXT WEEK OR DO WE GIVE INDIVIDUALS A CHANCE TO GET PREPARED, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF TODAY'S MEETING? WE CAN CERTAINLY SLIDE IT UP A

[02:45:01]

LITTLE BIT.

I THINK THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THAT SELECTION BY MID AUGUST.

AND THEN INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THOSE 90 DAYS TO COME IN AND GET THEIR PERMIT AFFIXED.

THEY CAN COME THE FIRST DAY IF THEY WANT AND GET THEM SOONER.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GIVE THE INDUSTRY AND POTENTIAL APPLICANTS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY.

>> COURAGE: WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS SO PEOPLE COULD GET THEIR LICENSE IF THEY QUALIFY, IF THEY MEET THE GUIDELINES, BY SOMETIME IN JULY, IF NOT SOONER.

I DON'T THINK -- I'LL MAKE A WAGER THAT 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED WOULD BE READY TO GO IN A WEEK OR TWO.

BECAUSE THE PAPERWORK ISN'T THAT MUCH THAT THEY NEED TO PREPARE, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T KNOW, COUNCILMAN.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN MOVE IT UP AND WE'LL GET IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT OPEN.

>> COURAGE: SO LET ME JUST MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN MOVED FORWARD.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO SAY THAT THE CITY WILL GO AHEAD AND RELEASE ALL 75 LICENSE PERMITS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE YEAR AND TWO-YEAR RESTRICTIONS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE EXPEDITED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN MADE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN, ARE YOU PROPOSING THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?

>> COURAGE: WELL, I HOPE IT'S FRIENDLY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF IT'S NOT FRIENDLY WE'LL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT IF YOU GET A SECOND.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT AFTER I HEAR THE REMAINDER OF THE COMMENTS.

IS THAT OKAY?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SURE.

I'LL NEED YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, TO GO AHEAD AND BE READY TO COMMENT AGAIN IF IT DOESN'T GET ACCEPTED THEN YOU'LL HAVE AN OPTION.

>> COURAGE: I'M WILLING TO WORK THAT WAY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST MY QUICK POINTS.

I THINK MOST OF US HAVE ALREADY HIT THE KEY ITEMS AND THERE'S STILL A FEW FOLKS TO SPEAK.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE START AT THE PIECE WITH THE AIRPORT.

LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN SAID, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT FOR INSTANCE IF WE RELEASE THESE PERMITS THESE CAB DRIVERS ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND PARK THEMSELVES AT THE AIRPORT AND JUST WAIT IT OUT, RIGHT? THAT SITS AT THAT CAB STAND THAT GOT ONE RIDE OVER A FOUR-HOUR TIME SPAN YOU PROBABLY NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR OTHER WAYS TO HUSTLE AND PICK UP A RIDE THAN JUST PARKING AT THE CAB STAND.

I'M NOT SYMPATHETIC TO SOMEBODY WHO WAITS FOR THE WORK TO COME TO THEM.

THESE FOLKS OBTAINING THESE PERMITS, IT'S HARD TO REGULATE WHERE THEY GO AND DON'T GO.

BUT AS LONG AS THE GUIDELINES ARE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE, INSURANCE, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE FANTASTIC THAT CAME THROUGH MEDIATION.

AS YOU KNOW I WASN'T ON BOARD WITH THE MEDIATION FROM THE BEGINNING.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A TAIL WAGGING THE DOG SCENARIO.

A SMALL PORTION OF DRIVERS DICTATING THIS PROCESS.

WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN IT'S BEEN A SMALL PORTION OF DRIVERS VERSUS AN ENTIRE UNIVERSE OF TAXICAB FOLKS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS SHOULD BE -- IT IS A CHANGED INDUSTRY, TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ'S POINT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND AND UNLEASH THE TORRENT OF PERMITS.

ACROSS THE NATION WHEN WE HAVE RELEASED MASS PERMITS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIFFICULTY FOR THE MUNICIPALITY IN CHARGE OF THAT.

WHETHER THE MARKET IS A DYING MARKET, IT'S A GROWING MARKET, UBER, LYFT, TNC.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR COMPANIES, THEIR CARS, WE HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY RELEASE THESE PERMITS ONCE WE VERIFY THESE FOLKS RECEIVING THEM OVER A GRADUATED AND SLOW PROCESS EARN THEM.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN BEATEN DOWN THE TREES FOR OVER TWO YEARS COMING IN HERE EVERY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD SAYING GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN THE PERMIT.

WELL, NOW THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THE MEDIATION IS A SHARED SACRIFICE PIECE.

AND RELEASING THE PERMITS -- AND I HAVE TO DISAGREE COMPLETELY WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

UNLEASHING IT -- THE PROCESS IS SET.

BOTH SIDES ARE AT THE POINT WHERE THE MEDIATION OFFERED THEIR SHARED SACRIFICE.

WE RELEASE THEM SLOWLY.

THE CHIEF MAKES THE CALL OVER

[02:50:01]

THAT THREE-YEAR PERIOD WHEN IT FITS AND MAKES SENSE.

WE HAVE TO, AT SOME POINT, MEASURE IT AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND WE CAN LITIGATE ALL DAY LONG THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF THE TNC VERSUS THE TAXICAB AND WHERE THAT INDUSTRY IS GOING.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M SORRY, BUT WE ARE -- THE TAXIS ARE OPERATING ON A COMPLETELY UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT MORE UNLEVEL.

IT'S A VERY UNFAIR ENVIRONMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE TNC.

THE TNCS HAVE NO CAPS AND A LESSER BAR TO REACH TO HOP IN YOUR CAR AND OFFER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

TO ME THAT'S A SHAME.

THE WORK WE'RE PUTTING AND THE LEVEL OF REGULATION WE'RE PUTTING ON THE TAXI TO ME, SHOULD BE FIXED.

THE HYPOCRISY OF IT IS TO SAY THIS IS AN APP, A GROWING COMMUNITY.

THIS IS THE FUTURE.

WELL, LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND HOME AWAY.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO SHORT-TERMM RENTALS? WE'RE GOING TO POTENTIALLY OVERREGULATE THAT ENVIRONMENT.

SO WHY AREN'T WE HOLDING THE TNCS? WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THEM FIRST, WHY THEY ARE RECEIVING THOSE TYPES OF RIDES.

IS IT A COST-BASED ISSUE? SURE.

I HAVE RIDDEN UBER AND LYFT BEFORE AND I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THOSE ARE WOEFULLY BELOW STANDARDS THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER A REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE.

THOSE TAXIS ARE PROFESSIONALS.

THEY REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN SOMEBODY GETS IN THAT TAXI WE WANT THE BEST POSSIBLE OPTION IN THERE.

AND THAT GOES FOR THE TNCS AS WELL.

I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE TNCS CONTINUE TO SLIDE BY AND DO WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT.

THEY SKIRT THE RULES EVERY CHANCE THEY GET, THEIR PAY IS QUESTIONABLE AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT COME THROUGH WITH THEM.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GET FAIR AND START CRACKING DOWN AND HOLDING THE TAXICABS' FEET TO THE FIRE, WE NEATD TO DO THE SAME THINGS WITH TNCS.

21-40 -- IT'S A 2-1 SCENARIO.

PART OF THAT IS ON THE INDUSTRY, THOUGH.

AND A FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT YOU GOT TO HUSTLE TO GET THE WORK.

AIRPORT MATTERS TREMENDOUSLY.

IT CANNOT BE CHAOS.

IT'S GOT TO BE CLEANED UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN I HEARD ABOUT.

MEASURABLE SLOW RELEASE OF PERMITS IS NECESSARY.

THIS IS A MASSIVE CHANGE.

THESE AREN'T JUST PEOPLE IN A YELLOW CAB.

THESE ARE FAMILIES.

THESE DRIVERS, THEIR CAR, THEIR COMPANY, YOU ARE AFFECTING THEIR LIVES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR INCOME AND WE HAVE TO AT LEAST DO THAT IN A MANNER WHERE WE MEASURE THIS IS ACCURATE AND FAIR FOR BOTH SIDES.

AND IF THE 32 WORK AND THEY COME AND KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK, SO BE IT.

THEN WE'LL RELEASE THE NEXT 27.

IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE DON'T RELEASE THEM.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYZING BEFORE WE MAKE A JUMP OR MOVE A QUICK DECISION LIKE THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY TO MANAGE WHAT THESE NEW PERMITTED ARE GOING TO DO, THEIR QUALITY OF WORK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MANAGE THAT AFTER THE FACT OTHER THAN ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.

WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF WORK THEY ARE OFFERING.

AND THEN I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH I THINK THAT THIS TRANSPORTATION PIECE, YOU KNOW, AND THE COUNCILWOMAN SAID IT PERFECTLY.

THESE FOLKS ARE OUR CITIZENS, OUR RESIDENTS AND I WANT TO BEST POSSIBLE OPTION WHEN SOMEONE HOPS IN THAT CAB.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

THAT'S FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, THE CLEANLINESS OF THE VEHICLE, THEIR CAR.

AND THE FAMILIES AND PEOPLE BEHIND THEM.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT.

THAT'S WHY ON THE LINE DISAGREE ENTIRELY WITH THE RELEASING THESE PERMITS ALL AT ONCE BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO MEASURE AND MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY PLUS THE FAMILIES IN THE CARS AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING HARD.

THOSE ARE PRETTY BASIC REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S GREAT WORK AGAIN BY THE MEDIATOR.

LIKE I SAID, I THINK THERE WAS A SHARED COMPROMISE AND I HOPE WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED AND DO IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

ERIK, I DO APPRECIATE THE GOOD WORK AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION HOW WE CAN REIGN IN THESE TNCS TO MAKE SURE THEY PLAY BY SOME OF THE RULES THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO A TAXICAB.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO WHETHER YOU'RE A YELLOW CAB OR A BIG TAXI COMPANY OR A SMALL INDEPENDENT CO-OP, THE TNCS HAVE MADE YOUR BUSINESS MORE DIFFICULT.

AND I GET IT.

EVERYONE WHO I HAVE SPOKEN WITH IS EXPERIENCING SOME CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF THAT AND REDUCED BUSINESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO

[02:55:01]

WITH THEM RIGHT NOW UNLESS WE GO BACK TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

I SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AS JUST TRYING TO HELP EVERYONE WHO'S STILL IN THE BUSINESS.

WHETHER YOU ARE YELLOW CAB OR WHETHER YOU'RE -- SORRY, A BIG COMPANY OR A SMALL COMPANY.

SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAVE THAT IN MIND AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, ERIK, AND THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING THAT YOU GAVE ME AND ALL THE WORK THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE ON THIS.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF YOU COULD TELL ME DURING THE MEDIATION THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS.

AND THEN IT WAS AFTER THAT WHEN YOU WENT TO THE TAB TO TALK ABOUT THE SCHEDULE FOR RELEASE OF THE NUMBER OF PERMITS? OR WAS IT BEFORE THEN?

>> NO.

YOU WILL RECALL THAT AFTER THE MEDIATION WHEN DANIELLE REPORTED BACK TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THAT ON THE WHOLE DAY AND THAT THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT THE STAFF WAS RECOMMENDING 75 AT THAT TIME.

AND FOR THE SAME REASONS I MENTIONED TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE, SEVEN OF THE EIGHT PARTICIPANTS WERE AT 75.

AT THE TAB, THE TAB IS THE ONE THAT -- THEY HAD THEIR DISCUSSIONS THAT EVENING IN APRIL.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT TOOK THE 75 -- I MADE THE SAME RECOMMENDATION TO THEM.

AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT CREATED THAT THREE-STEP PHASE.

>> SANDOVAL: OKAY.

SO I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE CONFUSING FOR SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND A LITTLE BIT FOR ME.

I'M AWARE THAT THE TAB EXISTS.

IT'S REALLY TO ADVISE ON THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION ORDINANCE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION.

IF WE SAID LET'S SIT DOWN WITH THESE STAKEHOLDERS AND DO A MEDIATION AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE TAB IN THAT? IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TAB CAN KIND OF OVERRIDE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> WELL, THE TAB IS ADVISORY TO THE CHIEF, TO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ONLY.

BUT AS POINTED OUT IN THE PRESENTATION, THE ISSUE OF INDEPENDENT PERMITS HAD BEEN TO THE TAB TWICE GOING BACK TO 2016.

AND IN ALL CASES THE TAB TURNED DOWN THE NOTION OF RECOMMENDING THAT TO THE CHIEF.

AS WE WENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY EARLY ON, WHEN COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE WOULD MAKE STOPS TO THE TAB BEFORE THOSE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

THE TAB NEVER REALLY WANTED TO DEBATE IT OR DISCUSS IT OR ALLOW IT OR RECOMMEND.

SO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT THAT NIGHT, MUCH ALONG THE SAME VEIN AS EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS THROUGH THE MEDIATION WAS THE TAB WAS, NUMBER ONE, ENGAGED.

THE TAB, NUMBER TWO, WAS RESPECTFUL OF THE MEDIATOR, DANIELLE'S REPORT TO THEM THAT EVENING.

TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT THE THREE PARTIES, THE THREE BIG PARTIES, COONS, -- COOPS AND DRIVERS CAME TOGETHER IN MEDIATION.

75% OF THE ISSUES WERE AGREED UPON.

THE ONLY THING THAT WASN'T AGREED UPON WAS THE ACTUAL NUMBER.

>> SANDOVAL: REMIND ME AGAIN WHO MAKES UP THE TAB.

WHO IS ON THAT? OR WHAT TYPE OF REPRESENTATION IS ON THERE? GROUND TRANSPORTATION REPRESENTATIVES, TAXI, LIMO , VIA HAS AN EX OFFICIO PERSON ON THERE.

IT IS -- IT'S A GROUND TRANSPORTATION-HEAVY BOARD.

AND I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT REFORMULATING THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AND THE MEMBERSHIP ON IT SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE REFLECTIVE OF BROADERRER TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

RIGHT NOW IT'S NARROWLY FOCUSED ON THE GROUND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REGULATES.

>> SANDOVAL: WAS THERE ANY OVERLAP BETWEEN THE FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE MEDIATION AND THE MEMBERS OF THE TAB?

>> IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION? ROBERT GONZALES.

>> SANDOVAL: GREAT.

SO DID YOU GO BACK TO THE MEDIATION GROUP AND SHARE WITH THEM THE -- SORRY -- THE TIMING OF THE RELEASE OF THE PERMITS?

>> WE MET WITH THE DRIVER LAST TUESDAY.

>> SANDOVAL: OKAY.

HOW WAS THAT RECEIVED?

>> ABOUT 50/50.

I MEAN, SOME DRIVERS WANT THE 75 YESTERDAY.

AND SOME WERE -- SAW THIS AS PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE.

BUT IT WAS ABOUT 50/50.

>> SANDOVAL: JUST TO GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S SUGGESTION, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE IMPACTS OF RELEASING THESE PERMITS ALL

[03:00:01]

AT ONCE AS OPPOSED TO OVER TIME?

>> WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS BEGINNING IN YEAR TWO, IF THERE IS QUALIFIED DEMAND THAT THE CHIEF CAN PRE-ISSUE.

AND SO I THINK COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S AMENDMENT IS TO RELEASE ALL 75.

BUT AN ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE IF -- USING COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S EXAMPLE.

IF 40 SHOW UP AND WE ONLY HAVE 32.

YOU COULD GIVE THE CHIEF THE AUTHORITY TO PRE-ISSUE THE 40.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO 75 ALL AT ONCE.

YOU COULD SAY AS LONG AS THERE'S QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AND THEY HAVE THEIR INSURANCE, THEY HAVE THEIR VEHICLE, THEY GOT THEIR BACKGROUND CHECK AND THEY GOT THEIR ONE YEAR, THEN PRE-RELEASE IT.

THAT IS AN OPTION THAT YOU HAVE.

IF 75 SHOWED UP AND THEY WERE QUALIFIED THEN WE WOULD ISSUE ALL 75.

THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER.

>> SANDOVAL: COULD YOU REPHRASE THAT AGAIN?

>> SO AS I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S MOTION, IT WAS POTENTIALLY TO RELEASE ALL 75 NOW.

THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO TAKE THE TAB'S RECOMMENDATION AND THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE SO THAT NOT ONLY GIVE THE CHIEF THE AUTHORITY TO PRE-ISSUE PERMITS IN YEARS TWO AND THREE TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS, BUT GIVE THE CHIEF THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE IN ALL 33 WOULD GET THEM.

IF WE HAVE 53 SHOW UP AND THEY QUALIFY, THEN THE CHIEF WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

BUT IF WE ONLY HAVE 24 WE WOULD ONLY ISSUE 25 AND THEN WE WOULD FOLLOW WITH 18 THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

SO IT GIVES THE CHIEF A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO REACT TO THE POTENTIAL DEMAND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO YIELD THE FLOOR BRIEFLY TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE, I THINK HE WANTS TO CLARIFY HIS SUGGESTION.

>> SANDOVAL: YES.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

YEAH, MY SUGGESTION WAS RELEASING ALL 75 BUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS THE LAST PART OF THE SUGGESTION IS THAT THE CHIEF HAS THE AUTHORITY TO RELEASE PERMITS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IF DEMAND REQUIRES AFTER OCTOBER 1ST, 2019.

I WOULD SIMPLY MAKE IT OCTOBER 1ST, 2018, WHICH GIVES HIM MORE IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY IF THERE'S A GREATER DEMAND, INSTEAD OF WAITING A WHOLE YEAR LONGER BEFORE RELEASING ANY.

SO THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE AMENDMENT I WANTED TO MAKE TO THE MOTION THAT WAS PRESENTED BY MY COLLEAGUE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: NO, THOSE WERE MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY INFORMING THIS DISCUSSION AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING WHAT THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN LIKE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A BACK AND FORTH ON QUESTIONS, A BACK AND FORTH ON WHO'S WHO IN THIS GAME THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING.

IT HASN'T BEEN A GAME BUT IT'S REALLY BEEN A CHAPTERS-LONG STORY.

AND THE IDEA THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS MY FRIEND.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS MOVIE SO LONG THAT I HAVE SEEN FOLKS THAT WERE AFTER EACH OTHER, BECOME FRIENDS ON TNC AND THEN BECOME ENEMIES.

I WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR THE LITTLE GUY ALL DAY.

GIVE SOME OF THE INDEPENDENTS THE ABILITY TO COMPETE AND LET'S JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT LEFT UP TO ME.

WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, ON THE SUGGESTION OF COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, WAS TO PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF A WELL-TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED ARBITRATOR TO DECIDE BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN ONE INDUSTRY.

YOU HAVE BIG LARGE PLAYERS LIKE YELLOW CAB AND LARGE CAB COMPANIES AND YOU HAVE SMALLER OPERATORS.

WHAT WE WERE TASKED WITH, WHICH WAS A DIFFICULT ONE, WHICH LED US -- THE IDEA WAS, ALL RIGHT, CITY COUNCIL, COME UP WITH RULES THAT MAKES EVERYONE HAPPY IN THIS CASE.

AND PART OF OUR DISCUSSION WHEN WE HAD THIS WAS WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS.

WE AT THE CITY COULD JUST SAY LET'S REMOVE ALL CAPS AND LET ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO WALK TO THE DOOR WHO QUALIFIES GET A TAXICAB.

THAT SCARES UP A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A CAB COMPANY THAT CONTROLS THE TAXI PERMITS.

THEN YOU DILUTE AND DIFFUSE THE MARKET.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE.

WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT A COMPROMISED NUMBER LOOKS LIKE.

SO THE STAFF, MEDIATOR, THEY SAT DOWN, THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER WITH THE CONCLUSION TO SAY 75 SEEMS TO BE AN AGREEABLE AMOUNT.

THE WAY TO DO THAT, WHAT I HAVE GATHERED, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ON THOSE MEDIATIONS, IS

[03:05:01]

AUDIO] IN A WAY THAT IS PHASED IN, THAT IS A PILOT SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH DEMAND IS OUT THERE AND HOW MUCH DEMAND OF THAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES.

BECAUSE I THINK THE QUESTION, IF YOU GO BACK BEFORE EVEN MY TIME, WAS THAT THE CITY'S NOT FALLING ALL OVER THEMSELVES TO TRY TO REGULATE THIS MARKET.

I THINK OVER SEVERAL DECADES THE INDUSTRY REGULATED ITSELF TO TRY TO PUSH OUT SOME OF SMALLER GUYS.

IT USED TO BE ANYBODY COULD GET A TAXICAB PERMIT AND THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THAT.

THE ARTICLES I READ WAS THAT IN THE MID '90S THERE WERE FOLKS VISITING OUR CITY WHO WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF OUR TAXICABS.

THEY WERE OF OLDER STOCK INVENTORY OF VEHICLES.

THEY WEREN'T WELL KEPT.

SO THE CITY HAD TO COME IN AND COME UP WITH SOME RULES.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS THAT THE PENDULUM HAD SWUNG TOO FAR.

WE CREATED RULES THAT WERE SQUEEZING SOME FOLKS OUT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'RE THE REGULATOR AND WE'RE STUCK IN THIS POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP SOME RULES THAT ARE FAIR FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE THE LITTLE GUYS VERSUS THE BIG GUYS.

LIKE I SAID, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET IT ALL GO TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FREE MARKET TO LET LITTLE GUYS COMPETE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP BECAUSE THEY GET SQUEEZED OUT, IN SOME CASES.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS A COMPROMISE THAT I'M OKAY WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS ON THE TIME AT WHICH I THINK IT GETS RELEASED.

IN TERMS OF IS IT OCTOBER -- AND I THINK I'M OPEN TO THE IDEA OF ALLOWING THE CHIEF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME SPACE AS TO WHO COMES FORWARD.

THEY CAN GAUGE IF THE DEMAND IS SO HIGH THAT IT GETS RELEASED EARLIER OR SOONER.

I THINK I'M OPEN TO THAT.

BUT I DO KNOW WE HAVE A CURRENT COMPROMISE THAT RELEASES OVER THREE YEARS.

THE REASON I LIKE THAT IDEA ON FIRST BLUSH IS THAT IT ALLOWS THE MARKET OUT THERE TO TELL US HOW MUCH SPACE WE HAVE HERE.

SO THE MARKET WILL TELL US IF IT IS 75 PERMITTED WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, BACKGROUND CHECKS AND FINGERPRINTS, ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE.

I THINK THOSE I CAN AGREE TO.

SO WE WANT TO FIND OUT HOW MANY OF THOSE FOLKS COME FORWARD, WHICH IS WHY THE CURRENT COMPROMISE LOOKS GOOD TO ME BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND NOT HAVE IT DONE ALL AT ONCE.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS KIND OF HOW THIS CONVERSATION HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THE ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT, I THINK I'M GOING TO RECYCLE A LINE FROM COUNCILMAN KRIER.

WHEN YOU HAVE A DEAL, SAY THANK YOU, WALK OUT OF THE DOOR AND CLOSE IT BEHIND YOU.

I THINK WE HAVE PRETTY CLOSE TO A DEAL HERE.

I KNOW ERIK HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS LONGER THAN HE HAS EVER WANTED TO AND PROBABLY HAD DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

HERE WE ARE.

I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO A DEAL.

I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THOSE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: ERIK, I HOPE I SHOW UP IN YOUR DREAMS MORE THAN I DO IN YOUR NIGHTMARES.

I HEARD COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT, WHICH IS BASICALLY TO TAKE THE LAST SLIDE OF YOUR PRESENTATION AND ON THAT LAST LINE CHANGE OCTOBER 1ST, 2019 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2018.

AND SO I'M HAPPY TO MODIFY MY MOTION AND I MOVE ACCORDINGLY.

>> SECOND.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 17 AS AMENDED.

I'LL JUST SAY VERY BRIEFLY WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES.

THIS IS A SIGN OF A GOOD COMPROMISE.

IF I HAD MY WAY WE WOULD HAVE DEREGULATED THIS WHOLE SYSTEM A WHILE AGO.

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE MEDIATOR AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE.

SO WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 17.

OH.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, MAYOR.

THIS IS WITH HIS OCTOBER 1ST, 2018 DATE?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CORRECT.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 17 AS AMENDED.

COUNCILWOMAN.

>> GONZALES: I'M SORRY.

SO THE DATE IS WHAT HAS BEEN AMENDED, RIGHT? I WAS PREPARED TO GO WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND NOW I JUST FEEL A LITTLE CONFLICTED AND I HATE TO VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO GO WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH.

SO LET ME JUST CLARIFY THE MOTION.

IT IS FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO.

17 WITH THE AMENDMENT BEING THAT THE CHIEF HAS DISCRETION BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2018.

SO IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL PERMITS ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2018.

IT JUST MEANS THAT THE CHIEF OF

[03:10:02]

POLICE HAS DISCRETION TO RELEASE MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ONE-YEAR ALLOTMENT.

AM I CORRECT WITH THAT? COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: YES.

THE ONLY CHANGE BEING ON THE VERY END OF THE SLIDE, CHANGING IT FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2019 TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2018.

>> I WAS GOING TO PULL UP THE SLIDE.

THE MOTION IS ONLY AFFECTING THE LAST BULLET THERE AT THE BOTTOM.

THAT 2019 AT THE BOTTOM WOULD BE 2018.

>> PELAEZ: YOU CAN LIVE WITH THAT, ERIK? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORKABLE FOR YOU AND STAFF?

>> OH, YES, SIR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: I'M SORRY, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR BECAUSE AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO OPPOSE THE MOTION AND THE ITEM WHEN I WANT TO VOTE FOR THE ITEM AS IT EXISTS UP HERE WITH THE GRADUATED RELEASE.

WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THREE MONTHS HERE TO MEASURE AND DETERMINE THIS.

THAT'S NOT AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO MAKE A VALID DECISION.

FOR THAT REASON I WILL OPPOSE THE MOTION AND THE ENTIRE AMENDMENT IF WE HAVE TO MOVE IT TO OCTOBER 1, 2018.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO ANALYZE OR FOR THE CHIEF TO MAKE A LEGITIMATE DECISION.

50 PEOPLE MAY ROLL IN AND TAKE IT.

WE DON'T KNOW THE QUALITY.

THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW.

I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

THAT'S MY LAST INTERRUPTION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION NOW.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 17 AS AMENDED.

PLEASE VOTE.

[24. Ordinance approving a professional services agreement with Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $1,055,000.00 for consultant services related to Year 2 of the SA Tomorrow Area Planning Program. Services will include extensive community engagement for and the development of four Regional Center Plans and two Community Plans. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Bridgett White, Director, Planning]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 24.

>> ITEM NO. 24 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MOORE IACOFANO GOLTSMAN INCORPORATED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,055,000 FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES RELATED TO YEAR TWO OF THE S.A. TOMORROW PROGRAM.

SERVICES WILL INCLUDE EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND A DEVELOPMENT OF FOUR REGIONAL CENTER PLANS AND WITH TWO COMMUNITY PLANS.

AND BEFORE SHIRLEY LEAVES, IT IS HER BIRTHDAY COMING UP ON JUNE 2.

PLEASE WISH HER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I THINK SHE HAS A MEETING TO ATTEND.

AND WE DO HAVE CAKE FOR HER.

THANK YOU.

>> TREVINO: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHIRLEY.

BRIDGETT, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION?

>> YES, WE DO.

>> TREVINO: WE'LL HEAR THAT AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

>> WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.

CAN THAT BE PULLED UP, PLEASE? THERE WAS A PRESENTATION SENT BUT IT SEEMS IT'S NOT IN THE SYSTEM.

I CAN SUMMARIZE THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION IN THE YEAR TWO CONTRACT.

I CAN GET STARTED, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, IF THAT'S OKAY.

>> TREVINO: PLEASE DO.

>> JUST AS A MATTER OF BACKGROUND, THIS IS FOR YEAR TWO OF THE S.A. TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROGRAM.

WHEN IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2016 WE IDENTIFIED 13 REGIONAL CENTERS AND 17 COMMUNITY PLAN AREAS.

THAT WAS WITH THE GOAL OF IDENTIFYING OR HAVING 30 SUBAREAS THAT WE WOULD PLAN FOR IN A MORE SYSTEMATIC WAY SO THAT WITH COMPLETION OF THESE 30 PLANS WE WOULD HAVE ONE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.

SOMETHING THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS TODAY.

SO THE CONSULTANT CONTRACT FOR YEAR TWO IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,055,000.

IT'S FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIX PLANS.

THESE PLAN AREAS RANGE IN SIZE FROM 3.4 SQUARE MILES TO 24.5 SQUARE MILES.

SO THE AREAS FOR THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT INCLUDE COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, AND 10.

AND THE TWO COMMUNITY PLAN AREAS ARE FOR DISTRICTS 2 AND 3.

THE AREAS WE ARE LOOKING AT INCLUDE HIGHWAY 151/1604, THE PORT SAN ANTONIO AREA, TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO, NORTHEAST I-35 AND THE 410 AREA.

THE TWO COMMUNITY PLAN AREAS ARE THE NEAR EAST SIDE AREA AND THE SOUTHEAST AREA.

SO AS THE S.A. TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROGRAM WAS A HIGH PRIORITY PROJECT IT ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THROUGH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.

THERE WAS AN RFQ THAT WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR WITH RESPONSES DUE THIS PAST JANUARY.

ALTHOUGH WE RECEIVED FOUR SUBMISSIONS, ONE SUBMISSION WAS DEEMED NONRESPONSIVE AS IT DIDN'T MEET THE SBEDA SUBCONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS.

THE RESPONSES TO THE RFQ THAT WERE RECEIVED WERE EVALUATED ON VARIOUS CRITERIA BY AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE THAT WAS MADE UP OF CITY DEPARTMENT

[03:15:02]

REPRESENTATIVES, VIA, AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY CHOSE MIG MOORE IACOFANO GOLTSMAN FOR THE RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO FOLLOW AND BUILD UPON THE YEAR ONE PLANNING PROCESS AS WELL AS THE SIZE OF THEIR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM, THEIR STRONG SUBCONSULTANT TEAM, WHICH INCLUDES A NUMBER OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE MOSAIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AUXILIARY, AND JIMENEZ AND ASSOCIATES.

IN TERMS OF THE PROJECT EXPERIENCE THAT THE CONSULTANT TEAMS BRING TO THE TABLE, THEY ARE EXPERTS IN CITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING, LAND USE, TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION, URBAN DESIGN AS WELL AS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY, PUBLIC RELATIONS, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, GIS ANALYSIS, SCENARIO PLANNING AND VISUALIZATIONS, AS WELL AS PROJECT WEBSITES AND INTERACTIVE E-DOCUMENTS.

MANY OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE YEAR ONE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR YEAR TWO IS VERY SIMILAR.

IT'S DIVIDED IN A NUMBER OF PHASES INCLUDING PROJECT CHARTERING, FOCUSING OF DEVELOPING PLANNING TEAM MEMBERSHIP, LOOKING AT THE OVERALL PROCESS AND HOW WE'LL SCHEDULE AND COMPLETE ALL SIX PLANS.

WE ALSO INCLUDE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND VISUALIZATIONS, LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE 3-D MODELING TO HAVE A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF HOW DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIAL LAND USE CHANGES WILL OCCUR AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE SAN ANTONIO LICENSE LANDSCAPE.

OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR PLANNED FRAMEWORK.

WE HAVE LAND USE, INFRASTRUCTURE, CATALYTIC SITES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND OF COURSE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES.

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR ONGOING ENGAGEMENT AND COORDINATION, WE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED A YEAR ONE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY BUILDING ON THAT FOR THE YEAR-TWO PROCESS.

WE'LL UTILIZE A NUMBER OF TOOLS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECTS INCLUDING INITIAL OUTREACH, DEVELOPMENT OF PLANNING TEAMS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ONGOING OUTREACH WITH FOCUS GROUPS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AS WELL AS MEDIA, ONLINE RESOURCES, AND DISTRIBUTION LISTS.

AND OF COURSE THEN WE HAVE A PROJECT WEBSITE FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT SUBAREA PLANS THAT WE ARE DEVELOPING.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT PLANNING STAFF WILL SERVE AS THE PUBLIC INTERFACE FOR THE PLANNING PROCESS.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE'LL HAVE A CONSULTANT, THEY WILL SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS WITH STRATEGIES AND TOOLS AS WELL AS MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES.

WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING CONSISTENT CONTACT WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, WORK IN THE AREA, NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONAL GROUPS, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS COUNCIL OFFICE AS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, PARTNER AGENCIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.

IF COUNCIL WERE TO APPROVE THE YEAR TWO CONTRACT TODAY WE WILL ACTUALLY START OFF WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT WITH A CHARTER MEETING TO START DEVELOPING THE YEAR TWO PROCESS.

WE'LL ALSO MEET WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO MEET WITH COUNCIL OFFICES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE YEAR TWO PLANS TO IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

THIS ITEM WAS INITIALLY ON THE MARCH 29 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

BUT WE ASKED TO GO TO THE COMPREHENSIVE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE IN APRIL AND MAY.

SO I DO HAVE WITH ME THIS AFTERNOON A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MIG WHO CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THE CONSULTING CONTRACT.

AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.

WE HAD THE PRESENTATION BUT I GUESS IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, BRIDGETT.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON THIS ITEM SO I'LL CALL THEM UP NOW.

FIRST COSEEMA COLVIN.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

FIRST I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE TOM HEGER FOR BEING CHOSEN TO DO THE INVOCATION THIS MORNING.

FOR MANY YEARS TOM SHEPHERDED THE BEACON HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND HE AND HIS CONGREGATION WERE ALWAYS VERY GENEROUS WITH THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES.

MR. TOM AND HIS WIFE LOUISE AND THEIR CONGREGATION.

I WANTED TO THANK IN PARTICULAR COUNCIL MEMBERS GONZALES, TREVINO, SANDOVAL AND COURAGE FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF NEIGHBORS IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE S.A.

TOMORROW COMP PLAN.

NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS.

ATTENDING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS THAT WERE PART OF THE

[03:20:01]

DEVELOPMENT OF THE S.A. TOMORROW DRAFT AND PROVIDING INPUT AND FEEDBACK AFTER THE INITIAL DRAFT OF THE PLAN WAS RELEASED IN MAY OF 2016.

AND TODAY BY CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INCLUSION OF THOSE PLANS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUB AREA PLANS.

UNFORTUNATELY MANY HAVE FELT THEIR INPUT HAS BEEN IGNORED SO THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING TENSION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OVER THE LACK OF RESPECT THEY HAVE FELT THEY AND THEIR PLANS HAVE RECEIVED.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES' REQUEST TO REVIEW THE CONTRACT AT THE COMP PLAN COMMITTEE WAS THE TACTIC THAT FINALLY GOT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION.

LAST MONTH'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE MEETING WAS ONE OF THE MOST ENLIGHTENING I HAVE EVER ATTENDED.

I'M STILL NOT SURE WHY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DID NOT WANT TO TAKE COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES UP ON HER OFFER TO HAVE THE MILLION PLUS DOLLARS GO TO HER DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE STAFF AND RESOURCES AND BRING THE ENTIRE PROCESS IN-HOUSE.

BUT I DO HOPE THAT THE CONSULTANTS HAVE TAKEN SERIOUSLY THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE CPC MEETING AND THAT WE WILL HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME IN YEAR TWO.

I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST.

ONE THAT I BROUGHT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION AS WELL AS PETER ZANONI AND OTHER CITY STAFF.

AND THAT IS THAT ANY TIME THE CITY ENTERS INTO A CONTRACT WITH A CONSULTANT THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

THAT A QUANTIFIABLE METRIC BE ATTACHED TO THAT REQUIREMENT TO HOLD THE CONSULTANTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTUAL TURNOUT OF THE PUBLIC AT PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS.

TOO OFTEN I ATTEND THESE MEETINGS WHERE MORE STAFF IS PRESENT THAN PUBLIC.

BUT THE BOX STILL GETS CHECKED OFF THAT A PUBLIC MEETING WAS HELD AND ERGO THE REQUIREMENT MET.

WHETHER IT BE A PERCENTAGE OF THE CENSUS TRACKED OR SOME OF THEIR FIGURE, INCLUDING THIS ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT WILL INCREASE THE MOTIVATION OF THE CONSULTANTS TO BE DILIGENT AND CREATIVE IN HOW THEY REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COSEEMA.

CYNTHIA SPIELMAN.

>> SHE HAD TO LEAVE.

>> TREVINO: THOSE ARE THE TWO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I'LL START BY MAKING A FEW COMMENTS.

I PULLED THIS ITEM TO FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT HAS GONE ON INTO THE HISTORIC EFFORT TO CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS AND THE NEW EFFORT TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY FOR FOUR REGIONAL CENTER PLANS AND TWO COMMUNITY PLANS.

THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO USE THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE AS OUTLINED IN YEAR ONE PLAN AS FOLLOWS.

NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE A PART OF THE LARGER PLANNING TEAM FOR LARGE AREA DISCUSSIONS AND PLANNING.

EACH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, AREAS WITH EXISTING PLANS WILL SIT DOWN WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF TO REVIEW AND UPDATE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS WILL APPEAR IN THE UDC U AS SUBSETS F THE REGIONAL PLANS.

THE PROCESS WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS WITH PREVIOUS PLANNING TEAMS, THE CURRENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY.

FOR AREAS WITHOUT AN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, A DOCUMENT WILL BE CREATED USING THIS SAME PROCESS SINCE SOME PLANS ARE TOO OLD OR DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE TEMPLATES AND DOCUMENTS FOR EXISTING PLANS.

IN THESE INSTANCES A NEW DIGITAL DOCUMENT WILL BE CREATED KEEPING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PLAN AND UPDATING WHERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD LIKE UPDATES OR REVISIONS.

ONE LARGE LAND USE MAP FOR THE WHOLE AREA WILL BE CREATED WHICH WILL BE CREATED THROUGH A LONG PUBLIC PROCESS WHERE FLUIDITY ALONG BOUNDARIES CAN BE ENSURED AND DISCUSS WITH EACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DURING THEIR SUBPLAN DISCUSSION.

LARGER AREA PLANNING DOCUMENTS WILL ALSO INCLUDE BIGGER PICTURE DISCUSSIONS RATHER THAN JUST USING A SWAT ANALYSIS, LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSIT, WHICH CROSSED MANY NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES.

I HAVE ASKED FOR THE RESOURCE-BASED ANALYSIS AS WELL.

WITH THIS UNDERSTANDING, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I PUT THIS ON THE RECORD.

I WANT TO ASK BRIDGETT, ARE YOU IN ACCORD WITH THOSE STATEMENTS?

>> YES.

ACTUALLY THE COMMENTS THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, WE WILL -- WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

IN FACT, WE HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO A FEW OF THE FORMER PLANNING TEAMS THAT HAVE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS TO BEGIN THAT DISCUSSION.

WE WILL BE INCORPORATING THAT IN OUR PROCESS.

>> TREVINO: GREAT.

THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK.

AND FOR THE CONSULTANTS, WE WISH THEM WELL.

WITH THAT, WE HAVE COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BRIDGETT.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLAN YEAR ONE AND PLAN YEAR TWO

[03:25:01]

AS FAR AS THE SCOPE?

>> THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SCOPE BETWEEN THE YEARS ONE AND TWO.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 30 SUBAREA PLANS.

OF COURSE WE CAN'T DO 30 AT THE SAME TIME.

IN ORDER TO HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE PLANNING PROCESS WE IDENTIFIED SIX SUBAREA PLANS TO BE COMPLETED EVERY FIVE YEARS.

WITH 13 REGIONAL CENTERS WE ANTICIPATE DOING FIVE THAT WE'RE DOING NOW IN YEAR ONE.

FOUR IN YEAR TWO, FOUR IN YEAR THREE WITH COMMUNITY PLAN AREAS COMPLETED OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS.

IT'S JUST IDENTIFYING THE YEARS, SIR.

>> COURAGE: OKAY.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN COST BETWEEN THE PLAN FOR YEAR ONE AND THE PLAN FOR YEAR TWO?

>> THE COST FOR YEAR ONE WAS $1,000,045.

YEAR TWO WAS $1,000,055.

WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THE MODELING INTO YEAR TWO.

NOW IT'S ALL ONE SO IT'S JUST A DIFFERENCE OF $10,000 BUT THE SCOPE IS STILL THE SAME.

>> HAVE YOU DEVELOPED ANY METRICS TO EVALUATE THE WORK THAT'S DONE BY MIG?

>> AS PART OF THE METRICS, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS, JUST FOR A MATTER OF BACKGROUND, WE HAVE NINE PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS PER SUBAREA.

WE HAVE THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

SO IT'S A PROCESS.

WE GO THROUGH IDENTIFYING, SAY, EXISTING CONDITIONS, AS COUNCILMAN TREVINO TALKED ABOUT, KIND OF THE SWAT ANALYSIS, EXISTING CONDITIONS.

WE IDENTIFY THAT.

WE GET FEEDBACK ON FOCUS AREAS, CATALYTIC SITES FROM THE PLANNING TEAM.

THEN WE TAKE THAT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A WAY OF PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND VETTING THE INFORMATION THAT WE HEAR.

SO I WILL USE THE BROOKS PLAN AS THE BEST EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THAT'S FURTHEST ALONG.

SO WE HAD AT THE MEETING NUMBER THREE, WE HAD NINE DIFFERENT STATIONS IDENTIFYING THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN.

LAND USE, HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET FEEDBACK.

WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF WERE WE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE AREAS.

>> COURAGE: LET ME INTERJECT.

WHAT I MEAN IS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE ONCE WITH THE SAME COMPANY.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE SAME COMPANY AND ASK THEM TO DO IT AGAIN.

ARE THERE METRICS TO MEASURE THEIR SUCCESS OR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS? NOT THE OVERALL PROJECT.

>> SO IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING, THE DELIVERABLES THAT WE HAVE, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IS VERY POSITIVE.

SO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SHARED WITH CPC IN TERMS OF DELIVERABLES, LET ME JUST GO TO THAT PRESENTATION, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS THE DELIVERABLES THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FROM MIG HAS BEEN TAKEN VERY POSITIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL US, YES, WHAT WE'RE -- WHAT THE CONSULTANT AND STAFF IS HEARING AND WHAT IS BEING GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY DOES REPRESENT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAYING.

SO WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AN ATLAS IN TERMS OF AN ANALYSIS.

THE LAND USE, WORKING THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF IT.

THE VISIONING.

SO IDENTIFYING THE VISION AND THE GOALS, THE COMMUNITY SAID YES.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU AND THIS IS THE VISION, THE GOALS THAT WE WANT FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

SO WE HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHAT THE CONSULTANT HAS BEEN PRODUCING IS NOT IN LINE WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.

>> COURAGE: BUT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- I'M JUST WONDERING ARE THERE ANY METRICS TO LOOK AT IT OBJECTIVELY.

HAVE THEY ACHIEVED THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS BEING REFERRED TO.

>> AS PART OF THE -- I GUESS A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO, COUNCILMAN, WHEN THEY MORE OR LESS BILL US, SO TO SPEAK, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE WORK PLAN AND THE INVOICE IS COMPLETED.

SO BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GET PAID FOR THAT SERVICE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S COMPLETED AND COMPLETED TO OUR SATISFACTION.

>> COURAGE: OKAY.

I GUESS I'M STILL NOT HEARING WHAT I WAS HOPING IS THAT YOU HAVE A LIST THAT WHEN THEY BILL YOU YOU WANT TO SEE YES THEY ACHIEVED A, B, C, AND D.

>> YES, SIR.

>> COURAGE: AND IF THEY DON'T ACHIEVE A, B, C, AND D YOU GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY WE DIDN'T GET B OUT OF THIS REPORT.

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN ABOUT A METRIC.

>> SO THERE ARE DELIVERABLES FOR EACH OF THESE PHASES.

SO AS WE GO THROUGH THE PHASES FOR EACH OF THE SIX PLANS THEY ACTUALLY WILL BILL US BASED UPON THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

SO IF WE'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DELIVERABLE THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR ANY OF THE SIX PLANS, THEY EITHER HAVE TO DO IT

[03:30:02]

OVER OR WE WORK THROUGH WHAT IS MISSING BEFORE THEY ARE PAID.

SO THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE US WITH THE PRODUCT AND THE DELIVERABLE BEFORE WE THEN PROVIDE A PAYMENT FOR SERVICES.

>> COURAGE: OKAY.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE SAT IN ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING MEETINGS.

I THINK YOU HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF THOROUGHLY EXPLAINING THIS.

I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

BUT I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING BETTER METRICS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND THE PROCEDURES AND WHAT WE GET NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED BETTER THAN THE EXPLANATION YOU'RE GIVING ME TODAY.

EVEN SO, THOUGH, I'M CONVINCED THAT WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS COMPANY.

I JUST HOPE WE HAVE MORE WAYS OF MEASURING THE ACCOUNTABILITY BY THEM.

SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THE APPROVAL OF ITEM 25.

>> SECOND.

>> TREVINO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRIDGETT, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ALL THE TEAM'S WORK TOO.

I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY SAID, TO ENGAGE THE CURRENT COMMUNITY PLANS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HIGHLAND PARK AND THE EASTERN TRIANGLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, WHICH THEY HAVE WORKED ON YEARS FOR.

AND HAVING TO GIVE THAT UP TO JUST GO AWAY, IT REALLY DOES IMPACT NOT JUST -- AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING IT AND IT WILL BE A SUBSET, BUT REMEMBER -- AND I'M SURE YOU DO, BUT I'M GOING TO REITERATE THIS NOW.

THAT THIS HAS BEEN HEART AND SOUL AND BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS OF ALL THE OUR RESIDENTS AND ALL THE THEIR OWN PERSONAL TIME.

AND TO HAVE US COME IN AND SAY THAT EASTERN TRIANGLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IS NO LONGER REALLY GOING TO EXIST, THAT IS TAKING AWAY THE CHARACTER AND IDENTITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT.

AND THAT IS WHAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE.

THEY ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GLAD WE'RE CONTINUING TO KEEP THIS IN.

WE HAVE TO BECAUSE IT'S -- THEY ARE THE CHARACTER AND THE IDENTITY OF OUR CITY TOO.

SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ENGAGED CITIZENS WHO ARE READY TO GO AND ENGAGED AND ACTIVE AND OPINIONATED SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING INPUT FROM ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, BRIDGETT, FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION AND FOR WORKING WITH US AS WE, YOU KNOW, REALLY FLESH THIS OUT.

WE'RE IN A CHALLENGING PLACE.

THIS IS JUST SOME GROWING PAINS THAT I THINK WE'RE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE WHAT WE HAVE AND STILL PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

SO YOU HAVE A REALLY TOUGH JOB.

LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHO HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS WORKED HARD ON THEM FOR YEARS.

I HAVE HEARD STORIES ABOUT MEETINGS IN PEOPLE'S LIVING ROOMS AND JUST A REALLY, REALLY ENGAGED PROCESS.

AND THE RESIDENTS REALLY GAVE OF THEMSELVES IN PUTTING THOSE PLANS TOGETHER.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE WE CAN'T THROW AWAY THE VALUABLE WORK THAT WAS DONE.

LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN SAID, IT IS BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS THAT'S IN THOSE DOCUMENTS.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING AS YOU MOVE INTO YEAR TWO IS A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THOSE LONG-STANDING NEIGHBORS THAT WORKED ON THOSE PLANS, THE AUTHORS OF THOSE PLANS, AND OUR NEWER STAKEHOLDERS WHO MAYBE WEREN'T THERE BEFORE.

IT REALLY DOES NEED TO BE A MEANINGFUL AND RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE.

I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO FOR THEIR CAREFUL REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF THIS PROCESS.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO, THANK YOU FOR DEVELOPING THOSE THOUGHTFUL RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO CONTINUE ENGAGING THE PUBLIC AND DOING THIS PROCESS.

I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THEM.

MS. COLVIN, I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL MEETING THAT YOU RECENTLY HOSTED, BRIDGETT.

WITH THAT I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM.

THANK YOU.

>> TREVINO: GREAT.

SO WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

[25. Public hearing and consideration of an Ordinance approving of and providing for the publication of the City's modified youth curfew ordinance, Chapter 21, Article V of the City Code of San Antonio, Texas. Changes include de-criminalizing violations of ordinance by children; and implementing the Youth Reengagement Initiative. [Erik J. Walsh, Deputy City Manager; William P. McManus, Chief of Police]]

NOW WE'RE ON TO ITEM 25.

[03:35:02]

>> ITEM 25 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CITY'S MODIFIED YOUTH CURFEW ARSON CHAPTER 21 ARTICLE 5 OF THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

CHANGES INCLUDE DECRIMINALIZING VIOLATIONS OF ORDINANCE BY CHILDREN AND IMPLEMENTING THE YOUTH RE ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE .

>> TREVINO: COUNCILMAN SHAW.

>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO REBECCA FLORES AND I ARE GOING TO TAG TEAM THIS.

I'M GOING TO START IT OUT.

THE CURRENT CURFEW ORDINANCE UNDER THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THE READOPTION OF THE CURRENT CURFEW ORDINANCE EVERY THREE YEARS.

THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS WAS ON JUNE 4, 2015.

SO WE ARE ON TOP OF THAT TIME RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE GONE AROUND THE CITY AND SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF GROUPS ON THIS.

WE'VE GOTTEN SOLID SUPPORT FROM STAKEHOLDERS.

IN MARCH WAS MET WITH THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION.

WE TALKED WITH THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SIX OF THEM, TO BE EXACT.

IN MAY WE PRESENTED TO THE BEXAR COUNTY -- AT THE BEXAR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING AND THE SUPERINTENDENTS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE READOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF IT.

WE MET WITH PUBLIC SAFETY ON FEBRUARY 27 AND APRIL 24.

AND AGAIN WE FOCUSED ON DECRIMINALIZATION ADDING SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE READOPTED CURFEW AND COORDINATION WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ADVOCACY AGENCIES.

AND OUR PROPOSAL, AT LEAST FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, IS THAT WE READOPT THE CURFEW WHICH AFFECTS YOUTH BETWEEN 10 AND 17 YEARS OLD, 11:00 P.M. TO 6:00 A.M. AND DURING SCHOOL HOURS, 9:00 TO 2:30.

AND WE DECRIMINALIZE IT AND FOCUS ON ASSET BASED OPTIONS AND REFER THEM TO THE PROGRAM AT MUNICIPAL COURT.

REBECCA.

>> SO AS THE CHIEF SAID, PART OF THE YOUTH CURFEW WILL BE HANDLED THROUGH THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE THAT SEVEN CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE NOVEMBER.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SAFE OFFICERS THAT SAY WHEN THEY START ENGAGING AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT OUR TO HELP THEM BUILD A CAPACITY TO REALLY GET THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ON THE RIGHT PATH.

AND WE HAD OTHER ISSUES THAT WE FELT AS CITY DEPARTMENTS WE REALLY NEEDED SOMETHING POSITIVE WHERE WE COULD TURN TO AS WE WORK WITH OUR YOUTH.

IT IS PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS.

WE HAVE CHALLENGED OUR NONPROFITS TO REALLY START ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR MOST AT-RISK CHILDREN.

THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE NOT GETTING SERVED IN SCHOOLS.

MOST OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN IN SCHOOLS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THE MORE WE STARTED DELVING INTO THIS ISSUE WE REALIZE THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF 16 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE NOT WORKING NOR ARE THEY IN SCHOOL.

WE HAVE SEEN ESTIMATES ANYWHERE FROM 30,000 TO 40,000 STUDENTS.

SAN ANTONIO HAS THE HIGHEST RATES OF THIS DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARED TO OTHER METROPOLITAN AREAS IN TEXAS.

AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST ALSO IN THE TOP 25 METRO CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO IMPLEMENT A TWO-PHASE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR THIS REENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

STARTING IN JULY WE WILL HAVE AN AFTER HOURS CENTER THAT'S AT THE MUNICIPAL COURTS.

THIS WILL BE ACCESSIBLE ONLY TO SAPD.

AND THEN STARTING IN OCTOBER WE WILL ACTIVATE A NONPROFIT COLLABORATIVE TO WORK WITH OPPORTUNITY YOUTH.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROPOSALS WERE DUE THIS WEEK AND THE YOUTH SUCCESS, I'M PROUD TO SAY, WE RECEIVED 25 PROPOSALS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS BY FAR THE

[03:40:01]

LARGEST RESPONSES THAT WE GOT IN CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.

WE RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE READOPTION OF THE YOUTH CURFEW ORDINANCE THAT DECRIMINALIZES THE PENTIES FOR YOUTH AND REFERS CHILDREN IN VIOLATES OF THE CURFEW TO THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGEMENT DIVISION

>> SHAW: THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS WE PUSHED FOR STRONGLY.

AND DECRIMINALIZING STATUS OFFENSES.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.

PRACTICING IN THE JUVENILE LAW SYSTEM I SEE THIS ONGOING TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE FACE ARE KIDS DEALING WITH BIGGER ISSUES THAN JUST NOT BEING IN SCHOOL OR NOT BEING AT HOME AT A CERTAIN TIME.

OFTENTIMES THERE'S OTHER ISSUES AT HOME WHETHER IT'S DRUG ABUSE FROM THE PARENTS, BEING PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY ABUSED BY THE PARENTS, OR BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL.

AND I HAD TO FIGHT WITH MYSELF WEARING MY LEGAL HAT BECAUSE THIS DOES GIVE PROBABLE CAUSE FOR A STOP OF A MINOR.

ON THE FLIP SIDE I THINK THAT'S A SAFETY PRECAUTION, NOT JUST A CRIMINAL PRECAUTION.

IF WE HAVE KIDS WALKING THE STREETS AT 1:00 OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING WITHOUT AN ORDINANCE WE DON'T HAVE THE PROBABLE CAUSE TO STOP AND ENGAGE THE YOUTH.

I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DECRIMINALIZE THIS BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

I EVER TRIED SEVERAL CASES AS WELL AS FILED MOTIONS ON SEVERAL CASES REGARDING THIS VERY ISSUE.

AND WE WON MANY OF THEM BECAUSE OF LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OR LEGAL THIS YEAR'S.

THEORIES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS ARE PROTECTED DURING SCHOOL HOURS AS WELL AS AFTER HOURS .

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF'S WORK ON WHAT Y'ALL DID IN TERMS OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.

THERE'S BIGGER ISSUES TO WORRY ABOUT OTHER THAN A KID BEING OUT OF SCHOOL OR NOT BEING AT HOME AT A CERTAIN HOUR.

SO AT THIS TIME, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF'S PUSH ON THIS TO DECRIMINALIZE THE OFFENSE AND I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND.

>> TREVINO: OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M HUGELY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THIS IS -- I'M NOT A LAWYER BUT I DO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DEAL WITH STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO PASS OFF THIS PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THIS IS IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THE STATUS QUO IS THAT IT IS EASY NOT JUST TO PASS THIS PROBLEM OFF BUT JUST TO IGNORE IT COMPLETELY.

I'VE GOT EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOLS BUT THE OTHER EXPERIENCE THAT IS MOST COMPELLING FOR ME TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM IS HAVING DONE RIDE ALONGS WITH SAPD.

IN SOME OF THE THOSE CASES, I REMEMBER A CALL WHERE WE MADE CONTACT AT A HOME ON A RUNAWAY CHILD.

AND THE ONLY THING THAT WE COULD REALLY DO IN THAT CASE WAS THE SAPD OFFICER COULD TALK NOT MOTHER AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE NOT GOING TO LEAD US TO FINDING A SOLUTION AT THAT HOUSE.

BUT THE CHILD WAS GOING TO BE FOUND AND PICKED UP AT SOME POINT, WE KNOW, IF WE WERE LUCKY.

THE PROBLEM WAS THE LUCKY PIECE IS, OKAY, YOU THROW THEM INTO A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT MAY NOT GIVE THEM THAT MUCH LUCK.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND IS A PARALLEL PATH THAT EXISTS FOR SOME OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AS THE COUNCILMAN SAID AND TO STEAL A LINE FROM VICTOR VINTON.

SOME OF THE BEST WAYS TO FIND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH PROBLEMS IS THROUGH THE TRUANCY COURT.

VICTOR'S LINE IS THESE KIDS DON'T HAVE A TRUANCY PROBLEM, THEY HAVE PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO TRUANCY.

HOW OFTEN CAN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE FIND THE KIDS WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, THE MOST AT RISK AND WE HAVE A PLACE TO DIG INTO WHAT THOSE PROBLEMS ARE.

WHETHER THEY ARE ABUSES AT THE HOME, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ISSUES OF POVERTY, ISSUES OF BULLYING OR NEGLECT.

I CAN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH A YOUNG PERSON UNLESS WE FIND THEM AND UNLESS THEY ARE WAVING A FLAG THAT SAYS THEY NEED HELP.

AND SOME OF THE WAYS THEY WAVE FLAGS FOR HELP IS NOT BY ASKING FOR IT.

SOMETIMES THEY RUN INTO IT.

WHEN THEY DO RUN INTO AN SAPD OFFICER OR WHERE THEY MAY BE MAKING CONTACT WITH ONE OF OUR SAPD OFFICERS, I WANT THAT SAPD OFFICER TO HAVE AN OPTION THAT'S NOT, WELL, WE'VE GOT TO BOOK THEM OR WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT LEADS TO A JUDGE MAKING A DECISION ON THEM.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THERE TO BE A PARALLEL PATH AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CREATING HERE, REBECCA.

PART OF ME, CHIEF, WANTS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE HAD SO MUCH EXPERIENCE IN OTHER CITIES.

MAYBE I'M ASKING YOU TO DIG INTO WHAT YOU FEEL YOU SAW IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, DID THIS EXIST IN WASHINGTON, DID THIS EXIST IN

[03:45:01]

ANY OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT YOU POLICED? BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WE ASK OUR SAPD OFFICERS TO BE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TEACHERS, EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.

THIS REENGAGEMENT CENTER IS GOING TO BE A BIG SUPPORT TO THE MEN IN BLUE.

>> SO IF YOU WERE OUT AFTER CURFEW OR DURING CURFEW DURING SCHOOL DAYS AND WE PICKED YOU UP, YOU WOUND UP WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF KIDS WHO WOUND UP IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTED, LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

SO I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, CHIEF.

I KNOW THE STORYLINE THAT COUNCILMAN SHAW HAS DESCRIBED IS THE STORYLINE THAT I'M SURE SAPD OFFICERS SEE OFTEN, WHICH IS THEY SEE A YOUNG PERSON WHO MIGHT BE ROAMING AROUND.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND UNDER THE LAWS, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THAT YOUNG MAN.

WE KNOW OFTENTIMES THERE'S COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, COMMUNITIES OVERPOLICED AND SOMETIMES THINGS RUN HAYWIRE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING POSITIVE INTERACTIONS, POSITIVE COLLISIONS, IF YOU WILL CALL THEM.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT LEADS US TO FINDING A YOUNG MAN OR A YOUNG WOMAN THAT MIGHT NEED SOME EXTRA HELP.

REBECCA, IF YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE WORK WITH THE NONPROFITS, WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THIS ENGAGEMENT CENTER, WHAT YOU FORESEE AS A SUCCESSFUL MODEL WHEN A YOUNG MAN IS REFERRED AND IS WALKING INTO THE REENGAGEMENT CENTER.

>> WELL, SAN ANTONIO WOULD BE THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REENGAGEMENT CENTER.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

THEY HAVE A CONSORTIUM OF 25 COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DEALING EXACTLY WITH THE SAME ISSUES.

16 TO 24-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE NOT WORKING, NOT IN SCHOOL.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE TO DO? THEY ARE NOT REALLY BEING PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THERE'S NO RECOURSE FOR THEM.

SO WE ARE, AGAIN, WE ARE CHALLENGING OUR NONPROFITS TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY THIS CHILD HAS BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS.

WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, DO SOME OUTREACH, DO THE ASSESSMENT AND THEN DEVELOP A COHESIVE PLAN FOR THEM TO ADDRESS, AGAIN, THOSE ISSUES THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TRUANCY OR THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR CURFEW BREAKERS, BUT THEY ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES.

GET THEM HELP.

A LOT OF IT IS THEY MAY NEED MENTORING.

>> SALDANA: JOB TRAINING.

>> JOB TRAINING.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO GET THEM ON TO A PATHWAY OF CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION AND ALSO ON SOME TYPE OF LICENSE OR TRAINING CERTIFICATION.

THERE WERE SEVEN CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.

SO DHS'S FUNDING WILL BE AROUND THE WRAPAROUND SERVICE, THE OUTREACH, THE ASSESSMENT.

WE ARE LITERALLY GOING TO HAND THEM OFF TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN FUNDING TO GET SOME OF OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, INTO THE WORKFORCE AND PLACED IN THE WORKFORCE SUCCESSFULLY.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, REBECCA AND TO CHIEF.

I'M REALLY ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

I WISH WE HAD STARTED THIS FIVE YEARS AGO BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE SOME GROWING PAINS AND UNDERSTANDING THE FIRST YEAR, MAYBE TWO YEARS.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE SO RECEPTIVE TO SOME HELP OR MAY NOT BE RECEPTIVE TO MENTORING.

I KNOW THAT THE BIGGEST IMPACT WE CAN HAVE ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FUTURE IS BY PUTTING INTO THEIR LIVES A RELATIONSHIP WITH A CARING ADULT.

IT MATTERED IN MY LIFE.

IT MATTERED IN A LOT OF OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES WHO MAY NOT HAVE THAT AT HOME.

SOMETIMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BEING AT HOME IS NOT THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THEM.

AND THEY DO WIND UP AFTER HOURS ON THE STREETS AND THEY MIGHT BE WITH FRIENDS OR IN OTHER PLACES.

I WANT TO HAVE THOSE POSITIVE COLLISIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT LEADS TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

AND I THINK THIS ENGAGEMENT CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE POINTED AT IN A FEW YEARS AS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING THAT IS A GROUND SHIFT FOR OTHER TEXAS CITIES.

LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.

THANK YOU.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

JUST HEARING THIS MAKES ME REALIZE THIS IS PROBABLY THE SMARTEST AND MOST COMPASSIONATE WAY OF WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY A CREDIT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW, GETTING TO THE ROOT PROBLEMS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SHOULD REALLY BE THE KEY TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

[03:50:01]

I HAD A QUESTION, THOUGH, RELATED TO THE REENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE.

I KNOW WE'RE TARGETING MAYBE 14, 15, 16, 17-YEAR-OLDS.

BUT WHAT IF SOMEBODY IS 18 OR 19? CAN THEY SOMEHOW BE PLUGGED INTO THIS REENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE?

>> YES, SIR.

WE WILL BE GOING UP TO 24.

>> COURAGE: OKAY.

SO LET'S SAY A YOUNG PERSON IS ARRESTED FOR DRINKING OR SOMETHING.

COULD WE TIE THEM INTO THE REENGAGEMENT IF THEY WERE OUT AT 2:00 OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> YES, SIR.

SO WE WILL BE PROVIDING, THROUGH THE NONPROFITS WE WILL HAVE A REFERRAL PROCESS AND WE WILL HAVE TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS TO WORK WITH THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

A LOT OF IT IS WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND KNOWING THAT THEY DO HAVE OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> COURAGE: OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'LL CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET MY SUPPORT ON THIS.

BUT GRUDGINGLY.

THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME.

I COULDN'T GET INTO MED SCHOOL SO I HAD TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

AND I REMEMBER A LINE OUT OF MY CONSTITUTIONS CLASS THAT SAID CURFEWS, UNLIKE OTHER LAWS, ARE PRESUMED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IN OTHER WORDS, ALL COURTS WILL LOOK AT A CURFEW AND SAY THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS TO PROVE TO ME THAT IT'S NOT.

HOWEVER, IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO PROVE THAT IT'S NOT WHEN IT COMES TO MINORS.

BECAUSE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT -- OUR CONCERN FOR MINORS, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AT RISK IF THEY ARE OUT AT 1:00 OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING AND ALL THAT.

SO WHERE THESE CURFEWS SEEM TO RUN INTO CIVIL RIGHTS PROBLEMS IS WHEN POLICE OFFICERS, RIGHT OR WRONG, BUT POLICE OFFICERS WILL THEN USE THE PRETEXT OF A CURFEW INQUIRY OR A CURFEW STOP, THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP WHICH IS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY TAKE THEM AND ARREST THEM FOR A CURFEW VIOLATION.

YOU HAVE THIS INTERACTION WHERE NOW LET ME SEE WHAT'S IN YOUR POCKETS.

LET ME SEE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND LET ME SEE ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.

I WANT TO REMIND OUR COUNCIL THAT THIS IS A COUNCIL WHO FILED A LAWSUIT -- LET ME ARGUE IF YOU'RE IN THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY.

THIS IS A CITY COUNCIL WHO FILED A LAWSUIT TO TAKE THE TEETH OUT OF SB4.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME, THE PARADE OF HORRIBLES THAT CAN HAPPEN.

I'M CONVINCED THAT WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT POLICE FORCE THAT IS VERY PROFESSIONAL WHO HAD ADHERE TO THE SPIRIT OF THIS CURFEW ORDINANCE.

CHIEF, YOU AND I BOTH KNOW EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU HAVE A KNUCKLE HEAD THAT WOULD RATHER DO HIS OWN THING THAN FOLLOW WHAT WAS SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE KNUCKLE HEADS WALKING THE STREETS AT 1:00 OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING THAT PROBABLY NEED TO BE STOPPED AND ASKED THESE QUESTIONS.

THAT GRAY AREA, THE KNUCKLE HEAD IS WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST.

MY ONLY REQUEST IS YOU REALLY BE CAREFUL IN HOW WE USE THIS ORDINANCE.

SO THAT IF YOU HEAR THAT THE ORDINANCE IS JUST BECOMING A PRETEXT SO THAT WE CAN STOP PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN THEN ASK THEM A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ASKED BUT FOR THAT INITIAL, YOU KNOW, PRESUMPTIVELY, ON HIS FACE, INNOCENT-LOOKING POLICY OF OURS.

THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME.

BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL READ ABOUT THE STOP AND FRISK SITUATIONS IN NEW YORK AND HOW THAT WAS USED AS A TOOL TO DO WORSE THINGS TO PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO ITS INITIAL PURPOSE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET MY SUPPORT BECAUSE ON THE OTHER HAND I BELIEVE THAT UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE IT'S AN EFFECTIVE TOOL, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU'RE NOT THE GUY WHO IS PATROLLING THE STREETS, CHIEF.

I MEAN, YOU GOT A WHOLE ARMY OF OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WORRIES ME.

IF THE MOTION HASN'T BEEN SECONDED, YOU GOT A SECOND FROM ME.

THANKS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, REBECCA, AND THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WITH THE TRUANCY OFFICE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS REENGAGEMENT CENTER AND HOW TRANSFORMATIONAL THIS WILL BE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY DID GIVE THEIR INPUT, AS WELL AS MY BROTHER'S KEEPER SAN ANTONIO WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS VERY THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING.

THIS IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ALSO FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING

[03:55:01]

HOW THIS CAN REENERGIZE IN AUDIO].

WE DO HAVE THESE DECLINING ATTENDANCE RATES AND THEN WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY HOLISTICALLY TO START ATTACKING THOSE ISSUES.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW AND EVERYONE INVOLVED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: HI.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF US GO OUT TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS OR HOA MEETINGS AND WE USUALLY TALK ABOUT A STREET BEING REPAVED OR A SIDEWALK COMING IN.

EVERY SO OFTEN WE WILL SHARE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE REVIEWING, A POLICY.

AND I IMAGINE EVERYONE'S EYES WILL GLAZE OVER IF I DO IT, SO I DON'T DO IT TOO OFTEN.

WHEN I BRING UP THE FACT THAT WE'RE VOTING ON A YOUTH CURFEW ORDINANCE, WHEN I BROUGHT THAT UP AND I TALK ABOUT THE REENGAGEMENT CENTER AND WHY WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE APPROVING THIS TODAY, PEOPLE'S EYES REALLY LIGHT UP AND THEY GET VERY EXCITED.

WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, AT LEAST IN SOME OF MY NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT WORK IN THIS FIELD IN SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND THEY JUST GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I'M DESCRIBING.

SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND BRINGING IT FORWARD.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE RESIDENTS OF -- AT LEAST IN DISTRICT 7 AND PROBABLY IN OTHER DISTRICTS TOO, ARE WATCHING AND VERY HOPEFUL WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU KNOW, REBECCA, THE STATISTIC YOU SHARED THAT OF ALL THE CITIES IN TEXAS WE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DISENGAGED YOUTH IS REALLY SHOCKING.

AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AND I CONCUR WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT COULD BE A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS TO HAVE THIS ORDINANCE BUT, CHIEF, WE LOOK TO YOU TO SET THAT EXAMPLE AND PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP, WHICH YOU DO, AMONG YOUR FOLKS.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT AND FOR ENGAGEMENT ARE JUST SO GREAT WE CAN'T LET THAT GO BY.

THAT'S WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY WILL THE COMMUNITY BE LOOKING AT US BUT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO CITIES LIKE D.C., CHICAGO, ST. LOUIS.

AND THEY ARE OVERLY IMPRESSED THAT SAPD HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE DAY ONE IN THIS INITIATIVE.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD ABOUT, JUST THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE AND HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND SAPD IS RIGHT BESIDE US WITH THAT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I'LL BE BRIEF.

ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

I THINK IT'S VERY INNOVATIVE.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THANK YOU, REBECCA.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT.

AND ALSO WE JUST WANT TO SAY WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I'M READY TO HELP.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN SHAW.

>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST TO CLARIFY VERY BRIEFLY.

THIS ONLY PERTAINS TO TRUANCY CASES AS FAR AS THE DECRIMINALIZATION.

BECAUSE I HEARD AN EXAMPLE EARLIER, IF A MINOR IS DRINKING ALCOHOL, THEY CAN STILL BE TICKETED FOR THE DRINKING OF ALCOHOL AND RECEIVE SERVICES.

IT'S JUST THE TRUANCY THAT WE ARE DECRIMINALIZING.

>> WE ARE DECRIMINALIZING CURFEW.

WE ALREADY HAVE DECRIMINALIZED TRUANCY, THIS IS CURFEW.

>> SHAW: OTHER OFFENSES THAT MINORS MAY PARTICIPATE IN, EITHER A CLASS C OR HIGHER, THOSE WILL STILL BE ENFORCED.

>> YES, SIR.

>> SHAW: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 25.

PLEASE VOTE.

[26. Ordinance approving professional services contracts with Klotz Associates, Inc. dba RPS Klotz Associates for $165,300.00, Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc. for $165,995.00, and Slay Engineering Company, Inc. for $166,620.00 for Civil Engineering Services to provide support for the Storm Water Regional Master Plan project in a total amount not-to-exceed $497,915.00, a Storm Water Regional Fund project. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Mike Frisbie, Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 26.

>> ITEM 26 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS WITH KLOTZ ASSOCIATES, INCORPORATED D/B/A RPS KLOTZ ASSOCIATES FOR $165,300, BROWN AND GAY ENGINEERS INCORPORATED FOR $165,995, AND SLAY ENGINEERING FOR $166,620,000 FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE STORM WATER REGIONAL MASTER PLAN PROJECT IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED

[04:00:01]

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND IF MY COLLEAGUES WILL INDULGE ME ONE MORE ITEM FROM THIS AGENDA.

I THINK I'M JOHN COURAGE TODAY.

[LAUGHTER]

>> SANDOVAL: IT WILL NOT BE LONG.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE AND SOME QUESTIONS I WANTED YOU TO ANSWER FOR US.

SO THE ITEM IS AWARDING CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT THE STORM WATER REGIONAL MANAGEMENT PLANT.