* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] ALRIGHT. OH, THERE'S SHIRLEY. OKAY, WE'RE ALL HERE. HI. I'M HERE. WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, SHIRLEY. OKAY. THE TIME IS 2:10 PM ON THIS, UH, TWO JUNE 30TH, 2020. WE'LL CALL THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER. I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK THE CLERK TO GIVE US A ROLL. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. AND MAYOR NURNBERG. HERE. MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. GREAT. THANK YOU. UM, ALRIGHT. [1. 20-3975 Approval of the minutes from the City Council Governance Committee Meeting on February 19, 2020.] THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 19TH, 2020. UM, IF EVERYONE'S GOTTEN A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE, I'LL ENTERTAIN, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES. I MOVE SECOND. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THERE WAS A MOTION, UM, I THINK THERE WAS A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA, MR. GARCIA, UH, A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. CORRECT. UH, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. MOVE [2. 20-3505 Consideration of Applicants to the San Antonio Water System Board of Trustees (3 slots) and confirmation of Mayoral recommendation for Chair. [Tina J. Flores, Acting City Clerk]] NOW TO ITEM NUMBER TWO. ITEM NEW. ITEM TWO IS A CONSIDERATION OF APPLICANT'S FOR THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEE THREE SLOTS AND CONFIRMATION OF MAYORAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CHAIR. GREAT. THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. AND AS, UH, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, UH, THIS WEEK, UH, I'VE NOMINATED, UH, JOLYN BURLEY FOR THE, UH, APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR. UM, INE IS AN APPLICANT IN THE NORTH SECTOR, SO, UH, SHE WILL, UH, BE OUR NORTH SECTOR NOMINATION, UH, WITH YOUR CONFIRMATION. BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS NOW WHO ARE IN OUR PACKET FOR SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST QUADRANT, UH, EACH OF WHICH, UH, WILL BE APPOINTED FOR A FULL TERM. AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO IS GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND DISCUSS HOW WE CAN NARROW THESE APPLICANTS DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE, THREE, HOWEVER MANY YOU THINK, UH, WOULD BE SUITABLE TO BRING BACK FOR AN INTERVIEW. WE HAVE, UH, TENTATIVELY PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR AUGUST 3RD AS A SPECIAL GOVERNANCE MEETING, GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, IN WHICH TIME WE WOULD HEAR THE INTERVIEWS OF THE FINALISTS, UH, SELECT FROM THOSE, UH, SOUTHEAST AND A SOUTH SECTOR APPLICANT OR NOMINATION TO FORWARD TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. AND ON AUGUST 6TH, WHICH IS THE FIRST A SESSION BACK FROM THE JULY BUDGET, UH, BREAK, WE WOULD THEN CONFIRM AS CITY COUNCIL, THE SOUTHEAST, UH, THE SOUTH, AS WELL AS THE NORTH SECTOR, UH, SAW AS BOARD TRUSTEES, UH, ALONG WITH THE CONFIRMATION OF THE NEW CHAIR, UH, INE BURLEY. UH, BEFORE WE GO INTO ANY, INTO THE EXEC MEETING, WHICH IS THAT SECOND LINK, I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS. EVERYBODY GOOD? OKAY. UM, THIS IS GONNA BE THE FIRST TIME I DO [Executive Session] THIS. SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS I'M GOING TO MUTE AND CLOSE THE VIDEO. I'M GONNA GO INTO THE EXEC SESSION. I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL ARE GONNA DO IT, BUT I WILL MEET YOU IN THE EXEC SESSION. EVERYONE WHO IS ON THE LINE, UH, FOR THE MAIN SESSION. WE'LL JUST HOLD TIGHT AS WE, UH, CONVENE AN EXEC SESSION. SO, UM, AT THIS TIME, IT IS 2:14 PM AND THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL MEET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES 4:00 PM ON THIS TUESDAY, JUNE 30TH, 2020. THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEET IS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. UM, ALRIGHT, I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MUTED. OH, IT WAS REALLY GOOD. WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS, , I WISH TO THANK ALL THE APPLICANTS [00:05:01] WHO APPLIED FOR THES BOARD POSITIONS. WE CLEARLY HAD A VERY TALENTED AND CAPABLE SLATE OF CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM. AT THIS POINT, I MOVE THAT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS COME BACK FOR AN INTERVIEW, MR. REYES, MS. OZUNA, MR. BEL MAREZ, MR. POTS, MR. ELLI, AND MR. SMILE, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S NOMINATION FOR CHAIR TO REPRESENT THE NORTH SECTOR. MS. BURLEY, I'LL SECOND IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. UM, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND NOW FOR, UH, A FULL OF FINALISTS TO BE BROUGHT BACK FOR AN INTERVIEW, UH, FOR THE SOUTHEAST AND THE SOUTH SECTOR. SAW HIS TRUSTEES, UH, SEATS. UH, THAT INTERVIEW WOULD, WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 3RD, FOLLOWED BY A COUNCIL CONFIRMATION ON AUGUST 6TH. UH, ANY DISCUSSIONS? OKAY, HEARING NONE, UH, WE'LL MOVE TO, WE'LL MOVE THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE, AYE. OKAY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS, UM, A STELLAR POOL. AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WE ALREADY HAD DIFFICULTY NARROWING IT DOWN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE DIFFICULTY, UH, FINALIZING THESE SEATS. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE FOR APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION OR THOSE POSITIONS. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO [3. 20-3566 Deliberation and action regarding the appointment of a new member for the City Council District 10 Board seat to the Pre-K 4 SA Board of Directors whose term will end on May 31, 2022. [Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager; Sarah Baray, Ph.D., CEO, Pre-K 4 SA]] ITEM NUMBER THREE. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS DELIBERATION AND ACTION. REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW MEMBER FOR THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 BOARD SEAT TO THE PRE-K FOR ESSAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHOSE TERM WILL END MAY 31ST, 2022. ALRIGHT, THANKS. THIS, THIS ITEM IS, UM, DR. BERE. SO, UH, SARAH CLOSURES, MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN YOU THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT, UM, RECOMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY FOR HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE PRE-K FOR ESSAY BOARD. AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD IS COMPRISED OF 11 MEMBERS, 10 OF WHOM ARE APPOINTED BY EACH ONE BY EACH COUNCIL MEMBER. AND THEN THE CHAIR IS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY HAS NOMINATED JAN KIRBY. SHE IS AN EXPERIENCED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR, HAS A MASTER'S IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF TEACHING PRE-K AND K. SHE AND I HAD A DELIGHTFUL CONVERSATION, UM, ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE IN HER PERSPECTIVES. UM, SHE'S TAUGHT, UM, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SHE'S A CERTIFIED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR. SO SHE COMES WITH LOTS OF GREAT EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE, AND I THINK THAT SHE WILL, UM, BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR, UH, UH, THE PRE-K FOR ST BOARD. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. VIRAY. AND WE DO HAVE MS. KIRBY ON THE LINE. UH, AND SO I'LL, I'LL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. AND AGAIN, UH, MS. KIRBY IS HERE WITH US. IF, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER, UH, ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND, I CAN SEE ALL OF YOU. UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MS. KIRBY. I, I HOPE YOU HEAR ME. UH, YOU KNOW, I WAS A TEACHER ALSO, I FOR 27 YEARS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. UH, AND TODD, A LOT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS. UH, AND SO I I VALUE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. UH, I, I'M WONDERING THOUGH IF YOU'VE TALKED TO THE COUNCILMAN AT LENGTH, 'CAUSE I KNOW HE HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRE-K FOR SA. COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ABOUT HOW HE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SERVE? UM, I THINK SOME OF HIS CONCERNS ARE VALID IN THAT HE'S LOOKING AT IT FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT MORE AND ABOUT MONIES THAT GO TO THE PRE-K FOR SA AS OPPOSED TO FINANCING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM. UM, MY, MY BACKGROUND IS IN EDUCATION AND NOT IN FINANCE, AND I AM VERY ANXIOUS TO GET IN THERE, AND I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW THIS PROGRAM WORKS. UM, I AM A BIG, BIG PROPONENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. I TAUGHT, THE FIRST [00:10:01] YEAR I TAUGHT WAS THE FIRST YEAR ALL THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD KINDERGARTEN. AND WE HAVE LEARNED SINCE THAT TIME THAT CHILDREN AT A YOUNG AGE ARE JUST PRIME FOR TEACHING. AND WE BACKED UP A LITTLE BIT WITH THE FOUR YEAR OLD BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF DOING THINGS IN PRE-K THAT I, I DID AS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER. AND THESE CHILDREN ARE SO READY TO LEARN. AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE EARLIER WE CAN WORK WITH THESE CHILDREN, THE BETTER RESULTS WE SEE DOWN THE LINE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I CERTAINLY ADMIRE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND, UH, I WISH YOU WELL, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING YOUR NOMINATION. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KURZ. UH, ANYONE ELSE? I'LL REITERATE, UH, THOSE THANKS AND TO YOU, UH, MS. KIRBY FOR STEPPING UP. UH, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A, A VERY CRITICAL TIME FOR PRE-K FOR SA. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT PHASE AND THE VOTER RE-APPROVAL OF IT. UH, ALL A GREAT TRACK RECORD AL ALREADY, BUT SO MUCH MORE TO DO AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING PART OF THAT EFFORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR NOMINATION. OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. THIS, THIS IS A ITEM THAT DOES REQUIRE THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TO FORWARD IT TO THE FULL COUNCIL. SO, UH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION. AND SECOND, UH, TO FORWARD THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. KIRBY TO THE DISTRICT 10 BOARD SEAT TO PRE-K FOUR SA BOARD TO THE FULL COUNSEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYE. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. AYE. LET'S, LET'S MOVE NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. KIRBY. [4. 20-3979 A briefing and possible action on a Council Consideration Request (CCR) from Councilmember Trevino on Returning the Christopher Columbus Statue located at Columbus Park to the Christopher Columbus Italian Society and renaming the Columbus Park to Piazza Italia Park. [Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Assistant City Manager; Homer Garcia III, Director, Parks and Recreation]] LET'S MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST C C R FROM COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO ON RETURNING TO CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUTE LOCATED AT COLUMBUS PARK TO THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ITALIAN SOCIETY AND RENAMING THE COLUMBUS PARK TO PIAZZA ITALIAN PARK. ITALIA PARK. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. OKAY. WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO HERE WHO FILED, UH, THE C C R COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE MEMBERS. UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING UP THE C C R REGARDING THE RETURN OF THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE TO THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ITALIAN SOCIETY, AND THE RENAMING OF COLUMBUS PARK TO PI ITALIAN DISTRICT ONE UNDERSTANDS HOW PIVOTAL A DECISION LIKE THIS IS IN SAN ANTONIO IS RICHLY ROOTED IN A DIVERSITY OF CULTURES AND THEIR HISTORY. OUR CITY'S HOME TO THE EARLIEST INDIGENOUS SETTLEMENTS, AS WELL AS ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO FIRST ARRIVED HERE AS EARLY AS THE 1870S. WE ARE BEING ASKED TO ACKNOWLEDGE SYMBOLS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT EMBODY A HISTORY OF OPPRESSION, SLAVERY, AND GENOCIDES THAT HAVE A PAINFUL, UH, REPRESENTATION FOR GROUPS IN OUR CITY. AS CATHARTIC AS TEARING DOWN OR DEFACING THESE FIGURES ARE, IT DOES LITTLE TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP AND DISCOURSE BETWEEN PROMINENT CULTURES. THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND IS TO LISTEN. AND IN LISTENING TO BOTH OUR INDIGENOUS AND ITALIAN CITIZENS, I'VE HEARD THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION OF THE LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR ITALIAN COMMUNITY THAT SHOULD BE HONORED WITH SYMBOLS THAT REFLECT THE HERITAGE AND INFLUENCE THEY'VE HAD. HOWEVER, THOSE SYMBOLS OF PRIDE FOR SOME SHOULD NOT BE PAINFUL REMINDERS FOR OTHERS. FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS LIKE ANTONIO DIAZ AND THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ITALIAN SOCIETY BOARD, I FEEL THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS AND EMPATHIZES WITH ONE ANOTHER, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE C C R. GIVEN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND DIRECT ACTIONS TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BOTH SIDES ALSO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND SUPPORT OF, AND SUPPORT MOVING IMMEDIATELY TO RETURN THE COLUMBUS MONUMENT TO THE ITALIAN SOCIETY. I UNDERSTAND THAT TIMING WILL TAKE TO MAKE THESE CHANGES TO THE PARK AND STREET NAMES, BUT WE SHOULD WORK SWIFTLY TO RETURN THE STATUE AS IT WAS REQUESTED BY THE ITALIAN SOCIETY. AGAIN, I APPLAUD THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS MADE BY BOTH OUR LOCAL INDIGENOUS AND ITALIAN GROUPS. THEIR INVOLVEMENT IS REFLECTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS POLICY REQUEST. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THANKS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO. OKAY. WE HAVE, UM, UH, SEVERAL CITY STAFF THAT, THAT WILL BE [00:15:01] INVOLVED, UH, IN THIS EFFORT, UH, HERE ON THE LINE WITH US. UH, SO ALL ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. UH, BEFORE I OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION, UH, ERIC, DID YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING TO IT, UM, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNCIL? NO. UH, MAYOR, UH, YOU MIGHT, UH, MAYBE, UH, HOMER'S ON THE LINE. HE CAN KIND OF GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE, OF THE ISSUES. UM, AND THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL BEFORE YOU GO TO QUESTIONING, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UH, HOMER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING OR DO YOU WANT US TO TURN IT TO DISCUSSION FIRST? NO, I'VE GOT A, A COUPLE OF ITEMS AND REALLY, UM, OUTLINING WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ITEMS OUTLINED C C R, AND I CAN BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THOSE OPTIONS FOR, UH, CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION. OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S TWO PATHS UNDER, UNDER CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW. SO IF YOU CAN LAY THOSE OUT AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO DISCUSSION. OKAY. SO THE PROCESS FOR THESE ACTIONS IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN U D C AND CITY CODE. SO IF WE FOCUS ON REMOVING THE STATUTE THAT IS OUTLINED IN U D C AND IT STATES THAT A STATUE OR MONUMENT CAN BE REMOVED IF APPROVED BY H D R C, AND AS IT RELATES TO PART NAMING, THAT'S COVERED UNDER CHAPTER SIX OF THE CITY CODE. AND, UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF STEPS INVOLVED IN THAT. FIRST, THERE NEEDS TO BE A, UH, REQUEST SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK. AND SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, A COMMITTEE IS FORMED THAT EFFECTIVELY WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE SUGGESTED NAME CHANGE. THE COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF THE PARKS DIRECTOR AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT ONE SUBSEQUENT TO THAT PUBLIC HEARING. THEN THE COMMITTEE MAKES A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION OF 30 TO 90 DAYS AFTER THAT HEARING IS HELD. AND THEN BOTH THE RENAMING OF THE PARK AND CONVEYANCE OF THE STATUTE WILL REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. SO AT THIS POINT, IT IS REALLY JUST ON THE PATH FORWARD, AND AS IT, I GUESS, RELATES TO THE RENAMING, THAT PROCESS CAN BE INITIATED AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK TO MOVE FORWARD. UH, BUT THOSE ARE BASICALLY THE TWO COURSES OF ACTION, UH, THAT WOULD HELP US NAVIGATE, I GUESS, THROUGH THE ITEMS OUTLINED IN, UH, THE C C R. AND, UH, MAYOR, THIS IS ANDY, JUST TO THE, THE HOMER HAD LAID IT OUT ABSOLUTELY CORRECTLY. UM, AND, BUT I THINK THE FOCUS IN TERMS OF WHAT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION ON IS THAT IN TERMS OF REMOVING THE, UH, THAT WE CAN EITHER, AS HOMER SAID, SEND THAT TO H D R C, OR THE COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER THAT AS A FULL COUNSEL. UM, BECAUSE AS HOMER OUTLINED, I MEAN, THE RENAMING PROCESS CAN START AND THEN THE CONVEYANCE, AND WHEN, IN OTHER WORDS, CONVEYING THE ACTUAL PROPERTY TO THE OTHER ENTITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE FULL COUNSEL ACTION. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR DIRECTION IN TERMS OF, UH, REMOVAL OF THE STATUE. AND, AND MAYOR, ONE OTHER THING THAT, THAT I'LL JUST ADD BEFORE YOU TURN IT OVER, THAT AS TO ANDY'S POINT, WE ALSO NEED TO, UM, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, THE PAINT THAT WAS THROWN ON THE STATUE, WE NEED TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY, UH, IN ORDER TO EVALUATE, UH, AND REPAIR THAT STATUE, UH, BEFORE WE HAND IT OVER. SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE GONNA MOVE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. OKAY. THANKS ERIC. ALRIGHT. UM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION NOW. UM, AGAIN, JUST SIGNAL TO ME WAVE YOUR HAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK. UH, DON'T ALL START AT ONE TIME. OKAY. WELL, IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, UM, WE'RE, WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY, UH, WE, WE'VE HEARD, UM, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR, YOU KNOW, A BETTER PART OF 15, 20 YEARS IN OUR CITY. UH, I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO BRINGING THIS FORWARD WITH, UH, WITH, UH, WHAT SEEMS TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE STATUE. SO THIS SEEMS TO BE PRETTY CUT AND DRY. UH, AND I'M IN FAVOR OF, OF HANDING IT BACK OVER TO THEM AND DOING THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF WHETHER WE GO THROUGH H D R C OR THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AT SIX HALF DOZEN. THE OTHER, I'M HAPPY TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL OR, OR, UH, H D R C, EITHER ONE. THE OUTCOME TO ME IS THE SAME. SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I KNOW OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ISN'T UNTIL AUGUST. UH, AND I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE, UH, NEXT H D R C MEETING COULD BE, BUT IF THE COUNCIL MEETING'S [00:20:01] NOT TILL AUGUST AND H D R C IS PLANNING ON MEETING IN JULY, IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, USING THAT MORE REGULAR PROCESS, UH, IS ABOUT AS, AS GOOD A WAY TO GO AS ANY OTHER. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KURTZ. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. THANK YOU. UH, FIRST OF ALL, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE WORK OF THE LOCAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ITALIAN SOCIETY AND THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE LED BY COUNCILMAN TREVINO ON THEIR HARD WORK. PUTTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER, UM, I THINK, UH, THIS IS A GREAT RESOLUTION THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF HISTORY, UH, BUT IS ALSO RESPECTFUL OF THE CURRENT CLIMATE AND HOW WHAT WE THINK IS WORTHY OF PUTTING ON A PEDESTAL IN ONE CENTURY, UH, MAY CHANGE OVER TIME AS MORE KNOWLEDGE COMES FORWARD AND AS OUR VALUES, UH, EVOLVE AS HUMAN BEINGS. SO I WANNA GIVE HIM A THANKS. UM, I WANT TO EXPRESS, UM, MY SUPPORT FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD, BUT ALSO MY CONCERN, UH, ABOUT, UH, THE POSSIBLE THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S BEING EXPERIENCED AT THE STATUE RIGHT NOW. UM, RECENTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, CITY MANAGEMENT ISSUED A, A STATEMENT ABOUT AN ERRONEOUS AND A MISLEADING, UH, POST OR, OR POSTER. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS BOTH OR JUST ONE, UH, REQUESTING PEOPLE TO COME AND BRING THEIR ARMS AND HELP GUARD THE STATUTE TO HELP SS A P D. UH, AND CERTAINLY S A P D DID NOT REQUEST THIS ASSISTANCE. UH, BUT NONETHELESS, PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP, UH, TO, ON THE ONE HAND, TO, UH, TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR KEEPING THE STATUE. BUT I BELIEVE THEIR, UH, HAVING WEAPONS ON THEM CAN BE INTIMIDATING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO PROTEST AND, AND WANT TO REMOVE THE STATUTE. AND I'M, I'M CONCERNED WHILE EVERYONE IS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING, I AM CERTAINLY CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING DANGEROUS COULD BREAK OUT WHEN WE HAVE, UH, WEAPONS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY FEEL. SO ACTUALLY, BEFORE DECIDING OR, OR MAKING A MOTION ABOUT EXACTLY HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, I, WE'D REALLY LIKE, UH, CITY STAFF TO ADDRESS HOW, UH, THEY ARE CONTROLLING, UH, THE SITUATION. UM, COUNCILMAN I'LL, I'LL TALK, UM, BROADLY AND THEN, UH, ASK LORI TO, TO MAYBE JUMP IN ON THE COORDINATION BECAUSE, 'CAUSE I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, UH, THAT, THAT STATUTE NEEDS TO BE, UM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PATH THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TODAY, UH, WE WILL BE MOVING QUICKLY BECAUSE WE NEED TO, UM, WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO CHECK FOR REPAIR AND REMOVAL OF THE PAINT, UH, THAT'S ON THAT STATUE. UM, AND, AND DOING SO IN KEEPING WITH THE ITALIAN SOCIETY REQUEST TO, TO RECEIVE THAT BACK IN A, IN A, IN A, IN A CEREMONY THAT THEY, I THINK THEY ENVISIONED, AND I THINK COUNCILMAN TREVINO MENTIONED, UH, IS MEANT TO UNITE THE COMMUNITY. UM, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED I, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND WAS THAT YOU HAD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT, UH, WERE ARMED. UM, AND, UM, IT DID TAKE, UH, THE, THE, THE CHIEF HIMSELF TO BE THERE, UM, IN ORDER TO, TO, UH, GET THOSE FOLKS TO, UM, UM, BE A PART. AND, AND OBVIOUSLY WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT. UM, BUT, BUT IN THOSE TYPES OF CIRCUMSTANCES, UM, AND WE'VE SEEN 'EM BEFORE. THEY, UH, THEY BECOME VERY, UM, THEY CAN, THEY CAN BECOME, UH, VERY HEATED VERY QUICKLY. AND, AND I THINK WE'LL NEED TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS OF THAT AS WE WORK WITH, UM, THE, UM, PROPONENTS IN THE ITALIAN SOCIETY TO, TO TRANSFER THAT PROPERTY IN A, IN SOME SORT OF PEACEFUL CEREMONY. UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SORRY TO GO LONG A LITTLE BIT ON THIS, BUT I, I ALSO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS FOR H D R C IF THIS, UH, IF THIS WERE TO GO THERE AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE, I, UM, YOU KNOW, IF COUNCIL IS LIKELY TO SUPPORT THIS, AND, UH, I AM, AND I, I BELIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AS WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE JUST MOVE FORWARD INSTEAD OF, UH, STOPPING AT H D R C. BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT OR IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST TIME WE REMOVED, UH, A STATUE? UM, WE WENT STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL ON, ON THAT ONE, RIGHT? THAT THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE WENT DIRECTION FROM, UH, THIS COMMITTEE AS TO WHAT PATH TO [00:25:01] GO FORWARD. BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, WE CAN EITHER GO DIRECTLY TO COUNSEL AS WE DID WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE STATUTE FROM TRAVIS PARK, OR WE CAN FOLLOW WHAT'S LAID OUT IN THE CODE IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS WHICH IS TAKEN TO H D R C. ALL RIGHT. UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT. WE TAKE THE ITEM TO COUNCIL. IS THAT THE RIGHT MOTION? YES, THAT'S THE RIGHT, UH, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY, YES, THAT'S THE RIGHT MOTION IN TERMS OF MOVING THE ITEM FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OR, UH, ASKING THAT IT'D BE MOVED TO, UH, H D R C. I HAVE A QUESTION. I'M SORRY. CAN I ASK OKAY, HOLD ON ONE SECOND. UM, THERE IS A, THERE IS A MOTION, UM, MADE TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO FULL COUNSEL. UM, I'LL NEED A SECOND FOR IT. SECOND, UH, OTHERWISE, IS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ WITH A SECOND? YES. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, DID YOU SECOND THAT MOTION? WAS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? YES, MAYOR, I'VE GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. OH, OKAY. OKAY. I DIDN'T HEAR IT. ALRIGHT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. YES, THANK YOU. UM, ERIC, CAN YOU HELP ME, OR MAYBE IT'S A HOMEWORK QUESTION. SO ARE WE GONNA, UH, FIX THE STATUE BECAUSE OF THE PAINTING BEFORE WE GIVE IT BACK, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? CAN I, CAN I SPEAK TO THAT, ERIC FOR YOU? YES. OKAY. SO, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, ROCHA GARCIA, THIS IS LAURIE HOUSTON. UM, WE HAD AN ART CONSERVATOR GO OUT TO THE STATUE WHEN IT WAS VANDALIZED LAST WEEK. AND WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED IS THAT WE REMOVE THE STATUTE SO WE CAN INITIATE THE REPAIRS. AND SO, AS ERIC MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS, WHICH CAN BE DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY TO TEMPORARILY REMOVE THE STATUTE. SO COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAD MENTIONED MAYBE GOING TO H D R C BECAUSE IT'LL GET THE STATUTE DOWN EARLIER, MOST LIKELY THE STATUTE WILL BE REMOVED IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. SO WE CAN INITIATE THOSE REPAIRS AND THEN WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL BASED ON DIRECTION WE RECEIVED TODAY, EITHER THE H D R C FOR ITS REMOVAL, OR TO CITY COUNCIL. IT'S KIND OF A ONE STEP OR TWO STEP PROCESS. THE TWO STEP PROCESS IS GO TO H D R C AND THEN GO TO COUNCIL FOR THE CONVEYANCE, THE RENAMING, OR THE ONE STEP PROCESS, GO TO COUNCIL FOR EVERYTHING, THE CONVEYANCE, THE RENAMING, AND THE ACTUAL REMOVAL. BUT OKAY. BUT IN EITHER DIRECTION, IN EITHER EITHER PATH, WE NEED TO REMOVE IT TO REPAIR IT, AND SO IT WILL BE REMOVED. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, UH, OKAY. WELL THEN I, I THINK I HAVE MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED. THANK YOU. OKAY. UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, WHO MADE THE SECOND. UH, SO I'LL, I'LL NEED, UH, I'LL NEED A SECOND FOR THE MOTION, UH, THAT WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL SECOND TO MOVE THIS TO FULL. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE GOT A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? OKAY. UM, SO THIS ITEM WILL MOVE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, UM, FOR FULL CONSIDERATION, UM, MAYOR, I THINK YOU, YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON THE, YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON THE MOTION, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S, I'M JUST RECAPPING. OKAY. OKAY. FORECAST. SO WE HAVE THE MOTION A SECOND. I MISSED THAT. DID SOMEBODY SEND ME SOMETHING? I'M SORRY. I SAID THAT YOU WERE FORECASTING THE FUTURE. ALRIGHT. YEAH. UM, OKAY. SO, UH, AND AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO, THANK YOU TO THE COLUMBUS, UH, THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, AS WELL AS TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ASSOCIATION AND, AND ANTONIO DIAZ. AND, AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING OUT ON THIS ISSUE, UH, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE'RE GLAD TO SEE A RESOLUTION FINALLY COME TO COUNCIL. SO THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND FOR MOVING THIS ITEM TO FULL COUNSEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER [5. 20-3994 A briefing and possible action on a Resolution declaring racism a public health crisis and to establish stronger efforts to promote racial equity in San Antonio.] FIVE. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION DECLARING RACISM, A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND TO ESTABLISH STRONGER EFFORTS TO PROMOTE RACIAL EQUITY IN SAN ANTONIO. ALRIGHT, THIS IS, UM, A C C R, UH, FROM, OR, OR, THIS WAS A PROPOSAL, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBER JADA ANDREWS SULLIVAN, WHO'S WITH US TODAY. SO, GO AHEAD, UH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. [00:30:01] THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF AND, AND OUR CITY, UH, ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS RESOLUTION. UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND JUST RECITE SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS RECORDED ON AUGUST 5TH, 2019 BY OUR MAYOR WHO STATED THAT SAN ANTONIO NEEDS TO DRIVE OUT RACISM AND BIGOTRY. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES. THIS RESOLUTION SETS US UP TO LIVE IN A WORLD OF LOVE AND EQUALITY, MAKING SURE THAT WE WALK IN JUSTICE, PEACE, AND TRUTH. WE LIVE UNDER THIS CODE, AND IT IS EXPRESSED THROUGH US, THROUGH PHILIPPIANS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR FOR LET US NOT DO ANYTHING OUT OF SELFISHNESS, OUR AMBITION OR VAIN CONCEIT, RATHER, LET US WORK AND HUMILITY, VALUING OTHERS ABOVE OURSELVES, PUTTING AWAY OUR OWN INTERESTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BEING THERE TO PUT THE INTEREST OF OTHERS. FIRST, WE KNOW THAT RACISM IS A TRUE PROBLEM. AND TO DECLARE IT AS A CITY IS THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING THE RIGHT STEP. MANY HAVE ASKED, WHAT IS THIS SYSTEM AND WHY IS IT BROKEN? THE SYSTEM IS NOT BROKEN. THE SYSTEM IS WORKING EXACTLY HOW IT WAS DESIGNED TO WORK. AND THAT IS BUILT ON THE FABRIC AND THE ENGRAVING OF RACISM WITHIN THE FABRIC AND FIBER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WHEN A CONSTITUTION SETS OUT TO DEHUMANIZE ONE HUMAN BEING, THAT IS THE STRICT AND UTMOST PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING HERE WITHIN AMERICA. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF POVERTY, UNHUMANE, AND INHUMANE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE BRUTALITY, HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION NOTICES THAT 15 STATES HAVE ALREADY MADE THIS DECLARATION, INCLUDING OUR VERY OWN DALLAS COUNTY HERE IN TEXAS ON JUNE 6TH, 2020. WE ARE A CITY THAT LEADS IN HOW WE TRULY SPEAK TO THE COMPASSION OF EACH AND EVERY RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND SYSTEMIC RACISM, AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE IT, TRULY IMPACTS EVERY ASPECT OF EVERY COLORED COMMUNITY. WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW, AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN MANY STEPS THAT WE AS A CITY WILL SAY THAT WE WILL NO LONGER LIVE IN THE BOUNDS AND THE BOUNDARIES AND THE CHAINS OF RACISM. I ASK THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JOINS US AS A WHOLE TO SAY, WE WILL NO LONGER STAND FOR RACISM AND AN UNJUST DIVIDE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, WITHIN OUR FAMILIES, AND MOST DEFINITELY WITHIN THE LAWS THAT WE PRODUCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME AND SAY THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND SAYING, WE AS A CITY KNOW THAT WE VALUE EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, MAYOR. THANK YOU COMMITTEE. YOU GUYS HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. OKAY. THIS IS A COUNCIL RESOLUTION, UM, PROPOSED FOR US TO CONSIDER. AND I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN THIS SOME DISCUSSION, UH, ABOUT IT ALREADY. SO I, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, I HAVE A, A FEW COMMENTS AND, UH, AND THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND, AND MAKE A MOTION. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN ANDREW SULLIVAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. UM, I THINK, UM, WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THAT SOMETHING LIKE C OVID 19 HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT, UH, THE DISPARITIES IN, UH, HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG DIFFERENT, UH, RACES. AND, UM, EVEN, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, UH, WHEN THEY COME OUT AND, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHANCES OF DYING IN SAN ANTONIO OR IN BEXAR COUNTY, IF YOU HAVE C OVID 19, UM, ARE ARE HIGHER AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS, UH, TWO TO THREE TIMES, UH, TWO TO THREE TIMES HIGHER. UM, AND A LOT OF THIS, UH, WE HEAR ON THE NIGHTLY REPORT, MAYOR, THAT YOU TELL US WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY THAT THEY HAD UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. AND, UM, THE TRUTH IS, UH, UNDERLYING CONDITIONS DON'T COME BY THEMSELVES. [00:35:01] THEY COME WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, UH, AROUND US THAT PEOPLE GROW UP IN. AND HEALTH IS LARGELY DETERMINED BY WHETHER YOU HAVE EDUCATION, HEALTHY FOOD, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL THAT STUFF. UM, BUT ALL THAT STUFF IS DETERMINED MANY, MANY TIMES BY YOUR RACE. AND I THINK, UM, THE COUNCILWOMAN OF COURSE, KNOWS THIS AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S BRINGING THIS FORWARD. SO, UM, GLAD TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. UH, I MOVE THAT WE TAKE THIS ITEM UP IN COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY COMMITTEE, UM, FOR ADDITIONAL INPUT ON THE LANGUAGE, UH, FOR EVENTUAL APPROVAL AT COUNCIL IN AUGUST. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOTION, I'M SORRY. SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN. I WAS TALKING TO MYSELF. I APO MY STAFF. I APOLOGIZE. . OKAY. LISTEN TO MOVE TO CHECK. OKAY. WAS THAT A MOTION? I'M SORRY. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL TO MOVE IT TO CHECK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THERE WAS A MOTION, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL TO MOVE, UH, THIS ITEM FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY COMMITTEE. I'LL NEED A SECOND FOR DISCUSSION. SECOND. OKAY, THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. FURTHER DISCUSSION, RAISE HAND. OTHERWISE WE VOTE . OKAY. I HEAR I, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. JOHN, YOU'RE MUTED. THANK YOU, . AND I THINK THAT, UH, JOHN, UM, JOHN, YOU WERE, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, BUT YOU ARE MUTED. IF YOU COULD START YOUR, YOU WERE, UH, COMMENTS AGAIN. OKAY. UH, I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UH, I'VE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF GROUPS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE OVER THE YEARS. UH, THE PEW TRUST FA FOUNDATION, UH, NOTED THAT EVEN WHEN FACTORS LIKE CLASS AND POVERTY ARE ACCOUNTED FOR FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, IT STILL SHOWS WORTH HEALTH, WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES THAN WHITE AMERICANS. AND THE ARTICLE ALSO NOTES THAT PUBLIC HEALTH STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE RACISM THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS EXPERIENCE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES CREATE STRESS THAT AFFECTS THEIR INTERNAL ORGANS AND OVERALL PHYSICAL HEALTH. AND THIS RESULTS IN HIGHER PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASES, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ASTHMA, DIABETES, AND SHORTER LIFESPANS. UH, THESE CHRONIC HEALTH OUTCOMES ARE THEREFORE WORRISOME, PARTICULARLY IN THE THREAT OF C OVID 19, WHICH WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. IN FACT, THE SAME ARTICLE NOTES THAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS IS FOUR YEARS SHORTER THAN WHITES. ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, UH, EVEN ADDRESSING THE TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS BY POLICE. IN 1998, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION RELEASED A POLICY STATEMENT ON THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF POLICE VIOLENCE, ON PEOPLE OF COLOR. SINCE THEN, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALSO DECLARED RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS. AND FOR THOSE REASONS AS WELL AS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RIDGE. UH, MAYOR, I THINK FOR THE RECORD, I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, SO I'LL ASK DR. BRIDGER TO DO THAT. OKAY. UH, IS DR. BRIDGER ON THE LINE? YES, I AM. OKAY. DR. WOODIER, UH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I BASICALLY AM GOING TO REITERATE WHAT WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE MOTION, WHICH IS THAT THIS, UM, THIS ITEM GO TO COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, REVIEW AND REVISION, UM, BEFORE POTENTIAL CONSIDERATION BY THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL. UM, THIS SHOULD BE DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT. GREAT. AND I THINK WE HAVE, UH, ACTION, UH, PROPOSED TO THAT EXTENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. BRIDGER. UH, ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ITEM? WELL, I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN FOR, UM, [00:40:01] BRINGING THIS FORWARD, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COLLEAGUES. I THINK THIS IS A, A GOOD LEVEL SET IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO SHAPE SOME OF THESE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES FOR US. UH, SO, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, THIS START. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. UH, BUT THIS IS THE RIGHT FRAME IN WHICH TO, TO, TO DO IT. SO, UH, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY COMMITTEE. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THAT VOTE. NOW, THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND TO FORWARD ITEM FIVE TO THE CHECK COMMITTEE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. UH, THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY. UH, AS A REMINDER, WE WILL BE CALLING THE AUGUST 3RD SPECIAL DATE FOR OUR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. THAT WILL BE, UH, I BELIEVE JUST FOR THE SAWS INTERVIEWS. I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF ANYTHING CHANGES. BUT, UM, AS OF TODAY, WE ARE ADJOURNED. IT'S 3:10 PM THANKS EVERYBODY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.