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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 31, 2018.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
WE'LL BEGIN TODAY WITH AN INVOCATION, A GUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
TODAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING SELECTED OUR INVOCATOR AS TOM HEGER.
TOM IS A GRADUATE OF ST. OLAF COLLEGE PRINCETON SEMINARY AND HE'S A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO FAITH COMMUNITY.
AFTER SERVING AT BEACON HILL, BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION FOR NINE YEARS, TOM RETIRED FOUR YEARS AGO.
WHILE HIS JOB DESCRIPTION CHANGED, HIS VOCATION HAS NOT.
OFTEN AN ALLY, FREQUENTLY AN ADVOCATE, AND OCCASIONALLY EVEN A MISCHIEVOUS ACCOMPLICE, TOM CHERISHES PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
TOM HAS SERVED ON COMMUNITY BOND COMMITTEES FOR BOTH THE 2012 AND 2017 BOND ISSUES.
AND IS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE CURRENT BOND ISSUES NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE COMMUNITY SAVE MIGUEL HOME COMMITMENT IS CLOSE TO TOM'S HEART.
HE'S BEEN AN ACTION TEAM LEADER WITH THE CITY'S FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE.
CURRENTLY HE SERVES ON SEVERAL REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN NETWORKS AND IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH A PASSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE, STRUGGLING PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.
TOM AND HIS WIFE LOUISE LIVE IN A 108-YEAR-OLD HOME JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN.
NOW REFINED, HIS BUSINESS CARD SIMPLY PROCLAIMS GRANDFATHER OF 11.
AND I WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY, TOM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, MAYOR, OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER SCULLEY AND CITY STAFF.
BUT ESPECIALLY THANK YOU, CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
FAMILIAR FACES AND FIRST TIMERS FOR YOUR CURIOSITY, YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR COMPASSION.
YOU REPRESENT ALL OF OUR SIMILARITIES AND ALL OF OUR DIFFERENCES.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRAYERFULLY INVITE US TO PAUSE AT THE BEGINNING OF A HARD WORK DAY AND FOR JUST A MOMENT GO A LITTLE DEEPER.
PRAYERS, MINE ARE ALWAYS CONVERSATIONAL.
CONVERSATIONS, MINE ARE ALWAYS PRAYERFUL.
OH, AND I WOULD INVITE YOU TO PRAY WITH YOUR HEADS HELD HIGH AND YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN.
IT'S ALLOWED TO PRAY THAT WAY.
STILL CREATING GOD, YOU CREATED US, ALL OF US IN YOUR IMAGE.
THIS DIVERSITY IS WHAT THE VERY IMAGE OF GOD LOOKS LIKE.
YOU CALL US, ALL OF US, TO WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR COMMON GOOD.
SO, LOOK AROUND, POWERFUL POTENTIAL PARTNERS FOR THE WORK WE SHARE.
SO, GRACIOUS GOD, IN THIS TRICENTENNIAL YEAR BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY'S DEEP GRATITUDE AND THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR'S DEEP APPRECIATION, WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O GOD WHO IS BIGGER THAN
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OUR IMAGINING FOR THE VALUES THAT GO DEEPER.DEEPER THAN LEFT OR RIGHT, RED OR BLUE, BUMPER STICKERS OR LAPEL PINS, FOR THE SPIRITUAL ROOTS THAT BIND US TOGETHER.
MUSLIM, CATHOLIC, JEW, PROTESTANT, ALL OF US, FAITH LABELED OR NOT.
ALL OF THE RAINBOW COLORS OF OUR DIVERSITY.
ALL THE DEAR FOLK WHO LIVE AND LOVE IN THIS AMAZING CITY, WE THANK YOU, STILL CALLING, STILL CREATING GOD, FOR VALUES THAT UNDER GIRD WHEN PARTISAN POLICIES DIVIDE.
POLICIES THAT BIND US TOGETHER WHEN FEAR DRIVES US APART.
VALUES THAT WILL NOT BE SOLD, COMPROMISED, OR SILENCED.
AND SO, TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
LISTEN FOR THE STILL, SMALL VOICE OF YOUR GOD.
LISTEN FOR YOUR OWN MOST AUTHENTIC VOICE AND DEEPEST VALUES.
RECLAIM YOUR DEEP SPIRITUAL ROOTS THAT DEFINE WHO YOU ARE, THAT SHAPE HOW WE RELATE, HOW WE PARTNER WITH EACH OTHER.
HOW WE BUILD COMMUNITY AND IMAGINE OUR CHALLENGING FUTURE.
WHAT'S ON YOUR SHORT LIST? COMPASSION? HONESTY, HUMILITY, AND HOSPITALITY? INTEGRITY AND IMAGINATION, FAMILY AND FAITH, JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS AND EQUITY? THAT'S MY SHORT LIST.
LET'S WEAVE OUR LISTS AND OUR VALUES AND OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
LET YOUR DEEPEST VALUES GRASP YOU ONCE AGAIN.
SHAPE YOU AS YOU SHAPE OUR CITY'S FUTURE.
PROVIDE A DURABLE FOUNDATION, THE BASIS FOR CREATIVE NEW PARTNERSHIPS.
AND SO WE GATHER AND WE WORK TOGETHER IN THE NAME OF THE ENERGIZING, GIFTED SPIRIT WHO CREATES AND CALLS, WHO LOVES AND LEADS, WHO COMFORTS AND CHALLENGES.
OH, IF YOU'RE GETTING PRETTY GOOD, AND YOU ARE, AT THIS CRITICAL COMPLICATED WORK OF UNDERSTANDING CITY POLICIES AND THEY ARE SOMETIMES HARD TO IMAGINE HIDDEN IMPLICATIONS.
SINCE YOU'RE GOOD AT THIS, PAUSE THIS WEEK OR NEXT AND THANK A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR TOM.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL BEGIN OUR SESSION WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 3, 2018.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 3, 2018.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN SHAW, WHO HAS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
AS MANY OF US KNOW, APRIL WAS THE I KNOW MY STATUS SA CAMPAIGN.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A FEW PEOPLE AS WELL AS LET FOLKS KNOW WHO WON AND WHO DIDN'T WIN.
>> SHAW: FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ENTAIL SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION, BEAT AIDS COALITION, THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, SAN ANTONIO FIGHTING BACK, AND THE ALAMO AREA RESOURCE CENTER.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR PARTICIPATING AND BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
SO NOW IT'S TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS.
FIRST, WHEN THIS CAMPAIGN WAS BROUGHT UP WE HAD A GOAL OF TESTING 4,000 PEOPLE, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE MOBILE UNIT TESTS IN ONE YEAR.
AND I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE TESTED MORE THAN 4,178 PEOPLE HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
>> SHAW: WE HOSTED 82 DIFFERENT EVENTS CITYWIDE.
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AND, WHAT ELSE? OKAY.WELL, NOW IT'S TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS.
COMING IN THIRD PLACE IS YOURS TRULY, D2.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH 479 TESTS.
COMING IN SECOND PLACE IS MY LOVELY COLLEAGUE DISTRICT 3, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THOSE RESULTS.
IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE BEAT AIDS, WHO TESTED 457 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY.
[APPLAUSE] AND AT THE ALAMO AREA RESOURCE CENTER, WHO TESTED 149 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY.
[APPLAUSE] SO THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S I KNOW MY STATUS CAMPAIGN IS COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES OF D5.
>> SHAW: TESTING 506 INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WITH THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, WHO PERFORMED THE MOST TESTS WAS THE SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION, TESTING 766 PEOPLE.
>> SHAW: SO AT THIS TIME I BELIEVE DR. BRIDGER IS HERE TO HAND OUT THE CERTIFICATES AS WELL AS THE PLAQUES FOR THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL MY COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED.
WE MET OUR GOAL AND WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY.
>> IF I MAY JUST AGAIN EXTEND OUR THANKS TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB SHE AND HER STAFF DID AT GETTING SO MANY FOLKS IN HER DISTRICT TESTED.
>> SO THE NEXT AWARD GOES TO THE SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION, WHO COUNCILMAN SHAW MENTIONED, HAD DONE, OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, WAS THE PARTNER THAT COMPLETED THE MOST HIV TESTS.
AND WITHOUT WHOM WE COULD NOT HAVE HAD SUCH TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
>> SHAW: AND WE DO HAVE AN HONORABLE MENTION.
I WAS GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE VERY END.
SO ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WENT BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS ANNUAL EVENT.
HE OR SHE WAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY NONSTOP MAKING SURE PEOPLE GOT TESTED IN HER COMMUNITY, OR HIS COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER FOR HER PARTICIPATION.
AND I STILL DEMAND THAT RECOUNT.
SO THAT CERTIFICATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT GOES TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> SO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS INCREDIBLE WITH HER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.
A LOT OF FOLKS REALLY NOTICED THAT.
AGAIN, IT WAS A TIGHT RACE BETWEEN THE NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE FINISHER.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT RECOUNT, COUNCILMAN.
AND THEN LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR COUNCILMAN SHAW TO JOIN US BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, SIR, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS.
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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, DR. BRIDGER.
DR. BRIDGER, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION SOMETHING.
THIS IS A LOT OF FUN AND IT'S A FANTASTIC WAY TO GAMIFY AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE, BUT THERE IS SOME SERIOUSNESS TO THIS AND THAT IS EVERY SINGLE DAY THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DIE FROM UNDETECTED DISEASES.
AND THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE LIVING WITH TUBERCULOSIS.
THEY DON'T KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TESTS.
THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE LIVING WITH SYPHILIS, AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT.
AND CHILDREN WHO ARE BORN WITH SYPHILIS, THEY DON'T KNOW.
AND MISSING THESE TESTS OR NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THESE TESTS CAN BE DEADLY.
SO THE WORK THAT YOU AND METRO HEALTH ARE DOING IN SPREADING AWARENESS OF THE ACTUAL DISEASE AND ALSO GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEMSELVES TESTED FOR DISEASES THAT KILL.
AND MANY OF THESE PEOPLE CONTRACT THESE DISEASES THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH DIABETES.
AND SO OF SOME WARPED VALUE SYSTEM THINK THAT JUST TESTING FOLKS IS AN AFFRONT TO GOD KNOWS WHAT.
BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND I CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND I WELCOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH YOU ON MAKING SURE THAT SAN ANTONIANS HAVE MORE INFORMATION AND SAN ANTONIANS HAVE MORE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
DR. BRIDGER, DON'T GO ANYWHERE.
I DO HAVE TO GIVE THANKS TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN SHAW.
NO, HE DID A GREAT JOB REALLY CHALLENGING US.
AND I THINK YOU SEE SOME OF DEFINITELY THE COMPETITIVE NATURE IN ALL OF US UP HERE.
BUT DR. BRIDGER, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR AMAZING TEAM WHO WAS ALWAYS OUT THERE READY TO GO.
I HAVE TO THANK ALL OF THE DISTRICT 3 RESIDENTS WHO CAME BECAUSE THEY WANTED A FIESTA MEDAL, BUT THEN THEY ALSO GOT TESTED.
AND I HAVE TO THANK MY INCREDIBLE DISTRICT 3 COUNCIL STAFF WHO DID A GREAT JOB HELPING AND BEING A PART IN COORDINATING ALL THE EFFORTS.
THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
LIKE WAS MENTIONED, ALL OF SAN ANTONIO IS SAFER BECAUSE OF THIS AND BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL AND BEYOND.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. BRIDGER, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN DOING THIS AND TO COUNCILMAN SHAW AND ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING SO MUCH PROGRESS WITH THE LEADERSHIP YOU PROVIDED.
JUST LAST WEEK THE CITY WAS RECOGNIZED FOR REALLY ADVANCING WHERE WE ARE ON HEALTH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
WELL, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF DISTRICT 5 LEADING THE WAY.
>> GONZALES: SO THANKS TO ALL MY CONSTITUENTS WHO WENT OUT AND GOT TESTED.
BUT I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN INTO THE TRUCKS THAT WAS THERE TESTING PEOPLE AT THE WESTCLOVIA EVENT WE HAD.
THE STAFF WAS SO FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING AND OPENING THAT
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HOPEFULLY IT ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO GET TESTED.BECAUSE THE FEAR SURROUNDING IT I THINK WOULD BE A DETERRENT.
BUT THE TWO YOUNG MEN THAT WERE THERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET TESTED WERE SO MUCH FUN.
SO WELCOMING AND MADE EVERYBODY FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT LED THE CHARGE TO THOSE OF US IN DISTRICT 5 GETTING TESTED, BUT ALSO THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
THERE WAS A GREAT TEAM OUT THERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME IN AND THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
IT WAS TWO YOUNG MEN WHO WERE PROBABLY IN THEIR 20S THAT WERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT.
THANK YOU, DR. BRIDGER, ALSO FOR TAKING THE LEAD.
AND COUNCILMAN SHAW FOR TAKING THE LEAD.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, I HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS CAMPAIGN UNTIL THE COUNCILMAN BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE MAKING SOME STRIDES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
AND COUNCILMAN SHAW, GOOD JOB.
WE SALUTE ALL OUR COLLEAGUES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE CHALLENGE.
DR. BRIDGER, GREAT WORK IN HELPING US TO RELEASE OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE STIGMA OF TESTING AS WE GET TOWARDS ZERO NEW HIV INFECTIONS SOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
I WOULD RECOGNIZE NOW COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
AND PASTOR TOM, YOU ASKED US -- I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL HERE.
YOU ASKED US TO THANK A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER TODAY.
AND, GUESS WHAT? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
TODAY I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING THE EIGHTH GRADE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS AT WOODLAWN ACADEMY.
THIS PAST YEAR THESE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK ON AN IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE -- YOU ALSO HAVE A LIST OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE GETTING RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAVE SENT LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO REFUGEES.
THEY HAVE PURCHASED ITEMS AND WRITTEN LETTERS FOR PATIENTS AT CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
THEY HAVE RUN AN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE INCLUSION AND RESPECT FOR THEIR LGBTQ PLUS PEERS, AND RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING AND PREVENTION IN OUR AREA, AND STARTED A PROGRAM TO HELP FIFTH GRADERS MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT THEIR ELECTIVES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE WORK YOU WERE DOING BECAUSE ONE OF YOUR STUDENT TEACHERS TOLD ME ABOUT A DRIVE YOU WERE HAVING AT THE MARTINEZ STREET WOMEN'S CENTER.
THAT'S WHERE I MET MADISON -- WHERE'S MADISON? SO YOU CONTACTED WOMEN'S SHELTERS AND ASKED THEM -- SORRY, WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS WOMEN NEEDED WHEN THEY WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND WHEN THEY WERE IN NEED.
AND YOU HELD A FUNDRAISER AND SOLICITED DONATION FROM BUSINESSES AND YOU GOT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN SUPPLIES AND DISTRIBUTED THEM AT THE SHELTER.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF SELFLESS AND PASSIONATE WORK THAT THIS GROUP OF YOUNG SAN ANTONIANS HAS MADE.
AND YOU'VE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD ALREADY.
YOU'VE GIVEN OUR CITY VERY MUCH TO BE PROUD OF AND I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE IN YOUR COMPANY.
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU ALL HAVE BRIGHT FUTURES AND I'M REALLY ECSTATIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO IF IT MEANS PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO BE AT THE HELM.
SO I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SPONSORS.
MS. JOCELYN, THEIR PRINCIPAL, MS. KAREN ROSE, AND ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AT WOODLAWN ACADEMY AND SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AS WE CAN SEE HERE, TEACHERS BUILD CHARACTER AND THEY DO THAT EVERY DAY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LECTURES AND GRADING PAPERS.
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO ASK MS. SHAPIRO TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL FOR INVITING US AND ALL OF CITY COUNCIL FOR HAVING US.
SO OUR STUDENTS JUST COMPLETED THEIR COMMUNITY PROJECTS, WHICH IS 15 HOURS OF RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION ON TOP OF TAKING THAT RESEARCH AND PUTTING IT INTO ACTION, ON TOP OF THEIR NORMAL EIGHTH GRADE COURSEWORK.
SO THIS PROJECT GIVES OUR STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A NEED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND TAKE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE AND ALLEVIATE THE STRESS THAT THAT NEED CAUSES, OR MAYBE EVEN SOLVE THAT NEED BY DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WITH THEIR PEERS.
AND FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE BECOMING AND HOPEFULLY GOING TO LEAD US ONE DAY.
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WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TODAY IN JOINING ME IN THANKING YOU FOR MAKING OUR CITY A MORE COMPASSIONATE PLACE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND I'M SO EXCITED TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU LIVE IN MY CITY AND THAT ARE REALLY PUTTING YOUR SHOULDER TO THE STONE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING BIG STONES ACROSS THE LINE.
SO WHAT I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU OF IS THAT THE REAL TEST OF LEADERSHIP IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU KEEP DOING THIS AFTER THIS PROGRAM AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU KEEP DOING THIS, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT WEARING A COOL T-SHIRT.
SO MANY GROUPS OUT THERE GET A LOT OF FOLKS TOGETHER TO DO REALLY GREAT THINGS, AND THEY DO IT FOR THE T-SHIRT.
AFTER THEY TAKE THE T-SHIRT OFF THEY STOP DOING REALLY GREAT THINGS.
I THINK YOUR PRINCIPAL AND MS. SHAPIRO WILL AGREE THAT THEY WILL HAVE FAILED IF YOU'RE ONLY DOING THIS TO WEAR THE SHIRT.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF IS PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF OPINIONS AND PEOPLE LOVE TO SHARE WHAT THEY THINK.
AND FOR SOME REASON WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN JUST TELLING YOU WHAT WE THINK AND, YOU KNOW, SHARING OPINIONS IS CONFUSED FOR LEADERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND MIGHT SEEM LIKE IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING, BUT WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHEN YOU COUPLE WHAT YOU THINK WITH WHAT YOU DO.
AND WHEN YOU LIVE THOSE VALUES EVERY SINGLE DAY BY VOLUNTEERING AND HELPING OTHERS.
THAT'S WHAT IS REALLY ADMIRABLE.
SO PLEASE BE THOSE PEOPLE THAT THINK, THAT SHARE GOOD VALUES BUT THAT ALSO LIVE THEM OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND YOU'RE PROVING THAT BY JUST STANDING HERE AND BY BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERING.
SO I'M GOING TO BE TAKING THIS LIST AND I'M GOING TO BE SHARING IT WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, HEY, WE CAN DO THIS KIND OF STUFF TOO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND TO THE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS OF WOODLAWN ACADEMY.
I'M SO IMPRESSED THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE AS IB STUDENTS.
AS SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE FOR A SCHOOL TO BE DECLARED IV AND HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES TO BE PART OF PROGRAM I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE HONORED THAT YOU ARE GRACING US WITH YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN AS PART OF THE COLUMN FOR IB.
GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY IS THE LOWEST BAR YOU'VE GOT TO ACHIEVE TO GET TO THE END OF THE COURSE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT UP HERE.
BUT JUST KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL PERSON OR AN ADULT EVEN TO WORK ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
WOMEN WHO ARE HOMELESS, SEX TRAFFICKING, YOU SPENT TIME WITH CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA HOSPITAL, ENGAGED WITH LGBT YOUTH AND GIVING A VOICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO OFTEN DON'T HAVE A VOICE, TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE SAFE FOR THEM.
SO JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO TONY AND LIESANDER.
DID I SEE HIM ON THE PHOTOS AS WELL? THEY ARE DOING GREAT WORK WITH CHRISTUS SANTA ROSA.
JUST AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU NOT ONLY WENT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BUT DID INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY MADE AN IMPACT ON A FEW FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY YOU ARE TRANSFORMING THEIR LIVES.
IF IT'S JUST A FEW PEOPLE AT A TIME IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
SO KEEP ON THE GREAT WORK, AS COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL SAID.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU TOO AS WELL.
I WAS A TEACHER IN THE SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 20 YEARS.
LET ME ASK, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE GOING TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR? I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW YOU ARE GOING ON TO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS.
KEEP UP THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
THE IB PROGRAM IS A GREAT STEPPING-STONE.
I HOPE YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUING THAT PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
YOU NEED TO KEEP IT UP AND SHARE IT WITH OTHER STUDENTS.
SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL DISTRICT REALLY PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY OF THE STUDENTS.
I THINK YOU'RE SHOWING WHAT SOME OF THAT OPPORTUNITY IS.
YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE'RE ALL PROUD OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
AND FOR THE TEACHERS AND STAFF, LET'S HAVE ANOTHER EIGHTH GRADE CLASS COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND SHOW US EVEN GREATER THINGS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> TREVINO: I TOO JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS AND MY
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HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL YOUR HARD WORK.I WAS JUST TOLD THAT MY COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR HAS A COUSIN UP HERE.
I THINK I CAN SPOT THE PERSON THAT'S THE COUSIN RIGHT THERE.
KNOW THAT YOUR COUSIN IS DOING GOOD WORK OVER HERE IN OUR OFFICE AND HE'S VERY PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THEM, BRINGING YOU UP SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALL ARE LEADERS NOW, PRESENTLY TODAY, AND OUR FUTURE LEADERS OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND THE INSPIRATION YOU SERVE AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO LOOKS AT YOU.
AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU ARE BUYING THINGS FROM AND THEY SEE YOU DO THAT, YOU GIVE INSPIRATION AND HOPE TO EVERYONE YOU RUN INTO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, FOR BRINGING THE STUDENTS AND THE CLASS IN TODAY.
THIS IS A REALLY REMARKABLE LIST OF PROJECTS.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU BROUGHT THESE IN.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PROBABLY THEY ARE ONLINE SOMEWHERE, WE CAN ALL SHARE IT.
THE LAST THING COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL SAID IS THIS DEMONSTRATES WHAT WE MEAN BY COMPASSION.
AND THAT IS A REALLY PROFOUND STATEMENT AND SOMETHING I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY FROM.
WE TALK ABOUT OURSELVES AS A COMPASSIONATE CITY ALL THE TIME.
IN FACT, WE SIGNED THE COMPASSIONATE CITY CHARTER THE FIRST DAY THIS COUNCIL TOOK ITS SEATS.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A NAME THAT WE TOSS AROUND ABOUT OURSELVES.
IT'S DEMONSTRATED THROUGH ACTION, AS COUNCILMAN PELAEZ SAID.
AND ALL OF THESE THINGS REMIND ME OF A QUOTE I HEARD JUST RECENTLY, WHICH IS THAT THE TRUE TEST OF A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, A CIVIL SOCIETY IS HOW IT TREATS THOSE LEAST AMONG US, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS.
EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE YOU REACHED OUT TO ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WELL SERVED IN MAINSTREAM SOCIETY, CERTAINLY BY A COMMUNITY AS LARGE AS OURS.
WE WORK HARD TO DO THAT BUT IT REQUIRES CITIZENS LIKE YOU TO REACH OUT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
HELP US BY GIVING US MORE OF THESE SO WE CAN BEST DEMONSTRATE THIS TO THE WORLD, THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE ALL DOING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR MAIN AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO FAR I HAVE ITEMS 11 AND 26 PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
>> MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ALL OF PAGE 2.
I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF PULLING TOO MANY ITEMS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE I AM NOT PULLING ANY TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOTED IN THE RECORD.
>> VIAGRAN: I'LL PICK UP COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S SLACK.
I HAVE 5, 11, 17, 24, 25, AND 26 PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
ANY OTHERS? AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE A CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. JACK FINGER.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, BUT BEFORE I START WITH THAT I REALLY DO NEED TO COMMENT ON ONE OF THE CEREMONIES YOU HAD THIS MORNING.
IT WAS ABOUT THE CEREMONY COMMEMORATING THE WINNERS.
I SEE MR. PELAEZ IS LEAVING AND SO IS MR. BROCKHOUSE.
YEAH, THE WINNERS OF A CONTEST HOSTED BY OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT? IT WAS FOR AIDS TESTING.
AIDS TESTING AMONG THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
TESTING OF A DISEASE THAT IS USUALLY PROMULGATED BY, WELL,
[00:35:04]
SEXUAL PROMISCUITY.YOU SEE, MR. PELAEZ, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, SIR, JUST FOR THE INFORMATION, AIDS IS NOT CAUGHT BY -- IT'S NOT LIKE HEART DISEASE OR DIABETES.
YOU DON'T CATCH DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE WITH IMMORAL SEXUAL CONTACT.
USUALLY AIDS IS CAUGHT THAT WAY.
VERY RARELY DO MONOGAMOUS MAN/WOMAN MARRIAGE INDIVIDUALS CATCH THE AIDS DISEASE.
IT'S ONLY USUALLY CAUGHT BY THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN IMMORAL SEXUAL CONTACT.
IMMORAL SEXUAL LIFESTYLES, SIR.
AND CONSEQUENTLY YOU WERE HONORING DISTRICTS WHO HAD THE MOST PERSONS WHO CAME BY FOR TESTING FOR THAT.
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE THIS HEALTH DISTRICT ESTABLISH A CONTEST FOR ABSTINENCE PLEDGES? YOU KNOW, THE IDEA OF PREVENTING THAT STUFF ENTIRELY.
HUH? BUT THEN THAT'S OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR YOU.
ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, AN ITEM I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
YES, ONE THAT IS GOING TO SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH WASN'T PULLED FOR CONSIDERATION.
ITEM 21, AUTHORIZING THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ENTER IN AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WITH, OH, A COMPANY CALLED KIROMIC TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $200,000.
THEY ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH ABOUT 20 JOBS.
CAN AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE OUT THERE WHEN YOU CREATE A JOB, CAN YOU GET $10,000 FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL? HUH? YES.
ALSO A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THE ONE DEALING WITH THE TAXICAB ORDINANCE.
YEAH, I SAW THE STAKEHOLDERS -- OH, DARN.
SO MANY SCANDALS SO LITTLE TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SPEAK TOE ITEM NO. 21 JUST VERY BRIEFLY.
WE DO WELCOME A GREAT NEW ADDITION TO OUR SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PORTFOLIO.
KIROMIC, WELCOME TO SAN ANTONIO.
A GREAT NEW COMPANY WHO WILL BE HELPING US ADVANCE OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE BIOSCIENCE AREA.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SAN ANTONIO IS BECOMING A LEADER IN THIS INDUSTRY.
WE WELCOME THE INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 5, 11, 17, 24, 25, AND 26.
>> 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.
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
[00:40:02]
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.
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
[00:45:02]
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?
>> VIAGRAN: PLEASE CLARIFY THAT.
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.
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.
WE'LL BRING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.
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?
WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST YOU
[00:50:01]
HAVE TWO OPTIONS.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.
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?
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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
I WAS GOING TO COMMENT SIMILAR.
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?
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.
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.
WE'RE REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS COMING TO FRUITION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
IS BETO HERE? COME ON UP, PAL.
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.
[00:55:02]
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.>> PELAEZ: ADDITIONALLY THIS TO ME -- REALLY, YOU'RE FROM MCALLEN? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? ARE YOU FROM MCALLEN?
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.
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.
>> 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.
>> 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.
YOU'RE A VICTIM OF YOUR OWN SUCCESS, PAULA.
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.
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
[01:00:01]
PROJECT COMING ONLINE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> 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.
>> THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE DETERMINED AFTER THE HOLIDAYHES 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 ESTIMATE.
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?
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.
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.
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.
>> PERRY: BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
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.
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.
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?
>> BROCKHOUSE: IT'S CONTRACTUALLY LIMITED TO THEIR USE OF THE DATA.
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT.
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.
THEY PRODUCE INCOME BY UTILIZING THE DATA AND OTHER THINGS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE APP.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
>> 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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.
[01:10:01]
PLEASE VOTE.>> 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.
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 BIDDERS, ACCU-AIRE LLC AND THE OTHER PROVIDED THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.
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.
[01:15:02]
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.
>> 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.
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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
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 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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
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.
[01:20:03]
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.
I'M PROUD OF MONICA AND ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR NOT ONLY DISTRICT 2 BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> 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?
AS WELL AS THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM.
WE SCHEDULED THE WORK TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AFTER THE SUMMER PROGRAM CLOSES.
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.
>> 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?
>> 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.
>> 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.
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
[01:25:01]
EXTENT OF OUR FACILITIES' NEEDS, 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?
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.
[01:30:02]
>> 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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> PERRY: I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU SAID THIS WILL BE LEARNED INTO AN MCS SYSTEM?
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.
BUT SIMILAR TO THE SYSTEM WE USED TO USE IN THE OLD DAY, NOW EVERYTHING IS DONE THROUGH SMARTPHONES AND OUR LAPTOPS AND COMPUTERS.
>> PERRY: SO WE DON'T HAVE A CENTRALIZED CONTROL SYSTEM?
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.
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.
SO, REALLY WE'RE JUST MONITORING.
WE'RE NOT REALLY CONTROLLING BUT WE CAN IF NEED BE.
[01:35:02]
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.
>> 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?
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
[01:40:01]
BOND REQUIREMENT.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.
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.
THE TAB RECOMMENDED RELEASING 75 PERMITS OVER TIME, BASED ON DRIVER DEMAND.
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
[01:45:03]
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.
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.
AND WE DO HAVE FOLKS LISTENING TO EARPIECES FOR TRANSLATION, SO, IF EVERYONE CAN BE MINDFUL, KEEP YOUR PACE, RELATIVELY SLOW FOR TRANSLATION.
>> 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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CASTRO.
ROBERT GONZALES, FOLLOWED BY LUIS GARCIA.
[01:50:03]
>> 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 FAMILIES AND THEY ARE SUFFERING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES.
LUIS GARCIA, FOLLOWED BY OCTAVIO GOOD MORNING.
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.
WE DON'T NEED -- WE DON'T NEED CHAPTER 33.
WE DON'T NEED SO MANY RESTRICTIONS.
WE DON'T WANT IT TOO MANY BURDENS ON THE CHAPTER 33.
IF IT HAS TO BE THERE, JUST THE BASIC.
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
[01:55:03]
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.
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.
>> 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 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.
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.
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 HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA.
OCTAVIO, FOLLOWED BY MR. LEONE.
>> GOOD MORNING CITY MEMBERS AND MAYOR RON NIRENBERG.
HOPEFULLY WE CLOSE TO OUR WIN WITH THAT TAXI PERMIT.
WE HIRED FOR MAYBE THREE, FOUR MONTH.
WE VOTE FOR THIS AGREEMENT OF 75.
AND WE WANT TO SHARE IN THREE YEARS.
LOSS IN THE CAB INDUSTRY, LOSS IN FAMILY.
THE TAXI DRIVER ON THIS ISSUE.
WE ALREADY LOSING THE BUSINESS.
[02:00:01]
THE MONEY AND THE CAR WE BUY.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 K HNOW WH THEY ARE WAITING FOR THAT.
UBER, AND LYFT, TAKING THE BUSINESS.
WE LOSING MORE BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND -- I HAVE THREE MINUTES? OKAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MR. LEONE, THANK YOU.
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 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.
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 ANYBODY TO SAY, NO, I WANT TO GO -- NO, NO, NO, NO.
AFTER TODAY, 75 PERMITS AND WE GOT TO WORK WITH 75 PERMITS AROUND JUNE AND JULY.
THESE PEOPLE, IN THE OFFICE BUILDING, RECEIVE FOR WHOLE DAY, FOR LONG DAY, DO NOT DO ANYTHING.
MAYBE THEY TAKE THE PHONE CALL.
MAYBE THEY CALL SOMEBODY, BUT THEY SEE ALL DAY.
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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
MA MED YUSUF? MARTINIANO LAMBERT?
[02:05:03]
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? LUIS RODRIGUEZ? OKAY.I'LL CALL YOUR NAME IN JUST A MOMENT, MR. RODRIGUEZ.
IS MARTINIANO LAMBERT HERE? OKAY.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ALVA.
JOHN, I MISSED YOU BUT YOU'LL BE NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR.
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.
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.
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
[02:10:03]
SOME OF THE OTHER COMPANY THAT, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE USING IT FOR.>> 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.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, MANNY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
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?
>> VIAGRAN: WHO DO THEY BELONG TO.
>> 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.
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?
>> COUNCILWOMAN, THOSE PERMITS ARE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THREE COMPANIES.
THOSE ARE -- THEY PAY THE PERMIT FEES YEARLY FOR THOSE FEES.
THEY JUST HAVE NOT BROUGHT ON A VEHICLE YET.
[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?
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.
QUESTION IN THE TAB AND RECOMMENDATION THERE, WHY OCTOBER? WHY ARE WE GOING TO RELEASE THE FIRST 32 IN OCTOBER?
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.
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.
>> 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.
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?
>> VIAGRAN: AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES AS WELL?
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
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
[02:20:01]
CHANGE CHAPTER 33 FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.SO, ISN'T THAT GOING TO BE HAM STRINGING OURSELVES?
>> 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
>> 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.
>> 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
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.
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
[02:30:05]
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.
I MEAN, FOR GOODNESS SAKE THE NORTH KOREANS AND SOUTH KOREANS ARE FINALLY TALKING WITH THE HELP OF THAT MATTERS.
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.
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.
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.
[02:35:02]
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.
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.
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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 17.
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 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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
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.
>> 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.
>> 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.
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.
>> 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: 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
[02:45:02]
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 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.
>> PELAEZ: MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT AFTER I HEAR THE REMAINDER OF THE COMMENTS.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
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.
[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.
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.
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.
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.
PART OF THAT IS ON THE INDUSTRY, THOUGH.
AND A FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENT LIKE THAT YOU GOT TO HUSTLE TO GET THE WORK.
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.
THESE AREN'T JUST PEOPLE IN A YELLOW CAB.
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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
>> 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.
EVERYONE WHO I HAVE SPOKEN WITH IS EXPERIENCING SOME CHALLENGE BECAUSE OF THAT AND REDUCED BUSINESS.
[02:55:01]
LIMITATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO 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?
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.
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.
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.
I MEAN, SOME DRIVERS WANT THE 75 YESTERDAY.
AND SOME WERE -- SAW THIS AS PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE.
>> SANDOVAL: JUST TO GO BACK TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S SUGGESTION, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE IMPACTS
[03:00:01]
OF RELEASING THESE PERMITS ALL 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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
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.
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
[03:05:01]
THOSE MEDIATIONS, IS 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.
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.
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.
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.
I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO A DEAL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> 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.
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.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, MAYOR.
THIS IS WITH HIS OCTOBER 1ST, 2018 DATE?
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 17 AS AMENDED.
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.
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.
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?
>> 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.
>> 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.
>> 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.
>> TREVINO: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHIRLEY.
BRIDGETT, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION?
>> TREVINO: WE'LL HEAR THAT AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
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.
>> 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COSEEMA.
>> 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 AS SUBSETS OF 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?
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.
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
[03:25:02]
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.
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.
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.
WE GO THROUGH IDENTIFYING, SAY, EXISTING CONDITIONS, AS COUNCILMAN TREVINO TALKED ABOUT, KIND OF THE SWAT ANALYSIS, EXISTING CONDITIONS.
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.
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.
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.
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.
>> 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.
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.
>> TREVINO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
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.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
>> 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.
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.
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.
SO WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[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 .
>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION?
SO REBECCA FLORES AND I ARE GOING TO TAG TEAM THIS.
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.
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.
>> 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.
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.
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.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
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.
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.
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.
A LOT OF IT IS THEY MAY NEED MENTORING.
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 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.
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?
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?
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET MY SUPPORT ON THIS.
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.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
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.
[03:55:02]
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.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW AND EVERYONE INVOLVED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
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.
>> 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.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND ALSO WE JUST WANT TO SAY WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I'M READY TO HELP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
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.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 25.
>> 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.
>> 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.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY COMMITTEE .
COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT IS THE REGIONAL MASTER PLAN FOR STORM WATER AND WHO IS REALLY THE STEWARD OF IT? IS THAT OUR PLAN AS A CITY OR JUST COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT?
THE STORM WATER MASTER PLAN, WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF THAT.
THAT IS THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION THAT WE USE TO FUND PROJECTS.
WE HAVE -- WE ARE REQUESTING TO WORK WITH THREE CONSULTANTS.
AND THE REASON WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IS WE LOOK AT OUR DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS A WATERSHED BASE.
WE HAVE THREE MAJOR WATERSHEDS THAT DIVIDE OUR CITY, WHICH IS THE LEON CREEK WATERSHED, SALADO CREEK WATERSHED AND OLMOS OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE STEWARDS OF THAT ARE OUR WATERSHED CAPTAINS, THEY ARE ACTUALLY HERE TODAY.
AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WORK AND THEY WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THESE CONSULTANTS TO HELP US IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS WITHIN THAT WATERSHED.
>> SANDOVAL: SO SOME OF THESE WATERSHEDS OVERLAP WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
WHAT IS THEIR ROLE IN THIS? ARE WE THE ONES THAT PAY FOR EVERYTHING? OR DO OTHER CITIES PITCH IN?
>> WHAT HAPPENS IS AS WE IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS AND IDENTIFY THSE PLANNING SOLUTIONS WE SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE BEXAR REGIONAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES ALL THE SUBURBAN CITIES, THE COUNTY, TXDOT, AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH THEM SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.
IF THE PROJECT HAPPENS TO BE WITHIN ANOTHER SUBURBAN CITY, WE WILL SHARE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FOUND WITH THEM AND COLLABORATE AND WORK TO SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS HOLISTICALLY, LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE WATERSHED.
>> SANDOVAL: BUT THE INITIAL PLANNING, THE SCOPING, THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT THE CITY TAKES ON AND THEN REACHES OUT.
>> AND IF I MAY ADD, THE OTHER COMPONENT THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IN THIS IS THAT OUR DEFAULT MODE IS WE FIRST LOOK TO IDENTIFY GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS.
SOLUTIONS THAT WORK WELL WITH THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST.
WHEN CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS LIKE RIGHT OF WAY OR UTILITIES OR WHATEVER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARISE, THEN WE GO TO THE GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE, THE HARDENED INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT'S HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> SANDOVAL: YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT.
I SAW YOU HIGHLIGHTED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THOSE TYPES OF SOLUTIONS.
I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT AND I'M HOPING SOMETHING INNOVATIVE COMES OF THIS AND WE'LL HAVE SOME STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BETTER TO LOOK AT THAN SOME OF THE GRAY STUFF WE HAVE.
WE TALKED AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT UPDATING FLOODPLAIN MAPS.
AND THE ATLAS 14 OR THE ADJUSTED 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN MAP.
WE HAVE LETTERS OF MAP REVISIONS THAT ARE GOING OUT AND BEING REVIEWED.
SOME HOMES ARE BEING OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN BASED ON PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.
HOW CAN YOU UPDATE THE MASTER PLAN IF ALL THOSE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME?
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD THIS MASTER PLAN, THE WORK THAT THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE DOING, IS EXPECTED TO BE THIS SUMMER.
UNFORTUNATELY, ATLAS 14, A NEW DOCUMENT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE ISSUING OUT, THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER/NOVEMBER TIME-FRAME.
IT WILL NOT BE IN TIME TO INCORPORATE THOSE CHANGES INTO THIS MASTER PLAN.
BUT WE DO HAVE THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO RUN ANALYSIS ON THE 100-YEAR, ON THE 500-YEAR, ON THE DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE THAT.
IT IS ON OUR MIND AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL FINAL NUMBERS.
THAT IS PART OF THE RISK AND CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
>> SANDOVAL: WE CAN'T WAIT FOR EVERYTHING TO BE PERFECT, I GUESS.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR STICKING AROUND UNTIL AFTER 1:00 FOR THIS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF THE UPDATED MASTER PLAN.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET A PRESENTATION ON THAT AT OUR COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN THAT'S COMPLETE.
[04:05:02]
COST FIGURES ATTACHED TO THAT, RIGHT?>> SANDOVAL: I THINK THAT RESPONSE TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES' CONCERN IS THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OUT THERE UNTIL WE GO OUT AND COST THEM OUT.
SO WE DO WANT TO GET A GOOD IDEA OF THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
AND THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
>> COURAGE: ONE MORE QUESTION.
IT APPEARS THIS IS A PRETTY BIG CHUNK OF MONEY THAT THE CITY IS PAYING.
WHY ISN'T THE COUNTY AND SARA MORE OF A PARTNER IN THIS DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECT OF THIS? CERTAINLY THOSE CREEKS GO THROUGH THE COUNTY.
HOW COME WE DON'T HAVE THEM MORE OF A PARTICIPANT?
>> WE DO HAVE THEM AS A PART OF THIS.
WE'LL DO THE INITIAL ANALYSIS AND AS PART OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH BRWM PARTNERS, THE COUNTY WILL MANY TIMES IDENTIFY THESE PROJECTS AND AT CERTAIN TIMES THEY WILL ACTUALLY FUND THE PROJECT.
THE RIVER AUTHORITY, BECAUSE THEIR MONEY IS RESTRICTED, THEY CAN HELP US WITH SOME OF THE ANALYSIS, SOME OF THE DETAILED DESIGN.
SEE, THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS AT A PLANNING LEVEL.
WHEN IT GOES INTO DETAILED DESIGN THAT'S WHEN SOMETIMES WE REACH OUT TO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY AND THEY HELP US WITH THAT.
AND THE COUNTY WILL HELP US WITH SOME CONSTRUCTION MONEY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> SHAW: THAT WAS BY ACCIDENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 26.
THAT'S THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA.
IS THERE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
>> SCULLEY: MAYOR, I KNOW THE HOUR IS LATE.
JUST A COUPLE OF VERY POSITIVE THINGS TO LEAVE YOU WITH TODAY.
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, CHIEF MCMANUS WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A 2018 LEADERSHIP IN COUNTERTERRORISM PROGRAM.
IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM AND I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT TODAY BECAUSE IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE FBI.
THE SCOTTISH POLICE SERVICE, THE ROYAL CANADIAN POLICE, THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE AND INSTITUTE OF POLICE MANAGEMENT.
IT FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP, COUNTERTERRORISM COMPRISED OF FOUR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
HE JUST COMPLETED THE FIRST EVENT, WHICH WAS A WEEK LONG.
AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT HE WAS NOMINATED BY THE FBI TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, ALL COSTS ARE COVERED BY THE FBI, BY THE WAY.
BUT HE'S ONE OF ONLY 50 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SELECTED AND ONE OF ONLY THREE MUNICIPAL LAW OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIS SELECTION.
IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HIS STATURE AND RESPECT WITHIN POLICING.
THE CHIEF IS STILL HERE, SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS A NATIONAL LEADER OF POLICE SERVICES AND THANK HIM FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM.
>> SCULLEY: ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE LAURA MAYS.
SHE WAS BUSY ATTENDING TO OTHER CITY BUSINESS.
SHE WAS HERE EARLIER, BUT SHE HAS BEEN SELECTED LOCALLY AS THE PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR.
AND TWO OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE INCLUDED HER ROLE IN THE SPEAK UP SA PROGRAM.
SHE HAS WORKED REALLY HARD ON THAT WITH JEFF COYLE.
AND THEN ALSO LENDING HER EXPERTISE TO THE TRICENTENNIAL TEAM.
SHE'S WORKED WITH CARLOS CONTRERAS OVER THE PAST YEAR HELPING ON THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE LAURA ON HER WORK.
ALSO I THINK DR. BRIDGER IS STILL HERE.
AND OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE, SAN ANTONIO HAS EARNED A SILVER MEDAL IN THE CITY HEALTH INITIATIVE.
THIS IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE OUTCOMES FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELP MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIVE LONGER, BETTER LIVES, AND VIBRANT PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES.
AND THE POLICIES COVER SMOKE-FREE INDOOR AIR, COMPLETE STREETS, HIGH-QUALITY UNIVERSAL PRE-K EDUCATION, TOBACCO 21, FOOD SAFETY, RESTAURANT GRADING, HEALTHY FOOD PROCUREMENT, ALCOHOL SALES CONTROL, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO COMMUNITIES EARN MEDALS BASED ON THESE POLICY AREAS.
AND THE FIRST CITY HEALTH MEDAL REPORT WAS RELEASED IN 2017.
[04:10:04]
WE RECEIVED THREE CATEGORY ACHIEVEMENTS.LAST YEAR, HOWEVER, IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO EARN EITHER A BRONZE, SILVER, OR GOLD MEDAL.
THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED A SILVER MEDAL MAKING SAN ANTONIO'S MEDAL THE HIGHEST MEDAL AWARDED IN TEXAS.
>> SCULLEY: SO WE THANK AND CONGRATULATE DR. BRIDGER.
NEXT I WANTED TO MENTION THE CITY'S OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING WITH GEEKDOM.
THEY RECENTLY HOSTED THE IDEA-A-THON FOR A LOCAL UNIVERSITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUNG TALENT TO BE INVOLVED AND CIVICALLY ENGAGED.
AND THE STUDENTS CAME FROM A VARIETY OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.
FIVE TEAMS COMPETED WITH ENTREPRENEURS FROM GEEKDOM AND TECH EXPERTS FROM ITSD MENTORING THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
AT THE END, THE STUDENTS PITCHED THEIR INNOVATIVE IDEAS.
THE WINNING TEAM IS CALLED CIV TEACH.
IT PITCHED AN IDEA FOR A CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGY TRAINING PLATFORM FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
AND WE DO SOME TRAINING ONLINE, BUT THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL HELP US IMPROVE TRAINING AND ALSO REACH MORE OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THIS CLOUD-BASED TRAINING PROGRAM.
CIV TEACH STUDENTS WILL INTERN WITH OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IN THE FALL TO DEVELOP THEIR WINNING IDEA.
AND EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE A DEDICATED MENTOR FROM OUR ITSD DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE.
IT'S ANOTHER EFFORT TO ENGAGE OUR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE CITY ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN THAT TALENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE MANY TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I WANT TO THANK CRAIG HOPKINS AND HIS STAFF.
ALSO JOSE IN OUR INNOVATION OFFICE.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE PARTICIPATION OF THE STUDENTS AND WE HOPE IT WILL HAVE A LONG LASTING EFFECT.
YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE HELP FOR LASTLY OUR VITA PROGRAM.
YOU THOUGH WE HAVE HELP, INCOME TAX FILING SEASON HAS CONCLUDED.
AND JUST A QUICK UPDATE, YOU KNOW IT'S AN IRS SONSERED PROGRAM.
IT'S RUN LOCALLY WITH SPONSORSHIP OF 0 ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH THE PRIMARY ORGANIZER BUT IRS, CATHOLIC CH UNITED WAY, EACH YEAR WE PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT EARN LESS THAN 60,000 ANNUALLY AND BETWEEN JANUARY AND APRIL, WE HAD 20 SITES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
16 OF THOSE OPERATED BY OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
THIS YEAR VIDA SERVED 32,000 TAXPAYERS RETURNING NEARLY $48 MILLION IN TOTAL REFUNDS, AND APPROXIMATELY 21 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT ALSO SAVED TAX PAYERS HERE IN THE LOWER INCOME BRACKETS, OVER $7 MILLION IN TAX PREPARATION FEES AND THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE LIMITED DISPOSABLE INCOME.
WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF THOSE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES SPENDING SUCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING SO THEY HAVE LIMITED DISPOSABLE INCOME.
SO, WE'LL CONTINUE THE VIDA PROGRAM CONTINUES TO LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS AT THREE LOCATIONS THE FRANK GARRET COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, ST. PHILLIP'S COLLEGE AND GUADALUPE COMMUNITY CENTER AND INCLUDE PRIOR YEAR AND AMENDED TAX RETURNS.
WE WANT TO THANK THE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP US IN THAT PROGRAM THAT HAQ IT A REALITY AND COMPLIMENT MELODY WOOSLEY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES TEAM TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN FOR THE AFTERNOON WE DO HAVE A BIRTHDAY AMONG US.
OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES'S BIRTHDAY THIS WEEKEND.
>>> THERE'S CAKE IN THE HALLWAY!
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.