* 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.
          [00:00:03]
          ALL RIGHT. 
          GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 
          I THINK WE HAVE OUR QUORUM. 
          THE TIME IS NOW 9:07 AM ON THIS 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2020. 
          YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA. 
          UM, WE'LL START WITH THE ROLE, MADAM CLERK, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER . 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. 
          PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER CODA HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. 
          HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY HERE. 
          AND MAYOR NUREMBERG. 
          HERE. 
          MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, UH, TO START OUR AGENDA TODAY. 
          UM, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR PLEDGE 
          [2. 20-4659 Pledge of Allegiance]
OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          LET ME KNOW WHAT IT'S, YEAH. 
          OKAY. 
          OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          OKAY, UM, WE'LL BEGIN FIRST WITH OUR, 
          [1. 20-4658 Invocation]
I FLIP THOSE, UNFORTUNATELY. 
          UM, WE'LL START WITH OUR INVOCATION. 
          LET ME TURN IT OVER TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER LIA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN HDA FOR HELPING US MAKE THIS POSSIBLE TODAY. 
          UM, WE, UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE WAS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE CATASTROPHE IN, UH, IN BEIRUT AND LEBANON. 
          AND, UM, WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT THERE IS A VERY LARGE, UH, LEBANESE POPULATION IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, UH, AND I, UM, SHARE THAT VERY LARGE POPULATION. 
          UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ST. 
          GEORGE MARONITE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH FOR THE LE, UH, LEBANESE COMMUNITY IN, UH, IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          FATHER, UH, CHARLES KAHAN, UH, IS OUR FRIEND. 
          AND, UM, I INVITED HIM VERY, VERY QUICKLY, AND HE TURNED AROUND VERY QUICKLY AND, UH, MOVED HIS SCHEDULE AROUND TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY SO THAT WE COULD ALL PRAY FOR, UM, THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, AND, UH, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LEBANON, BUT ALSO FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHO FELT THAT VERY MUCH SO. 
          FATHER KHAN IS, UH, BORN IN, UH, ABERDEEN IN NORTH, UH, LEBANON, AND HE JOINED THE ORDER OF THE MARONITE LEBANESE MISSIONARIES IN 1992. 
          AND AFTER RECEIVING A DEGREE OF THEOLOGY FROM HOLY SPIRIT UNIVERSITY IN LEBANON, FATHER KAAN WAS ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD IN JULY 4TH, 1999. 
          UH, FATHER KAAN IS THE ASSOCIATE, WAS THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT ST. 
          GEORGE CHURCH, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER IN DISTRICT SEVEN. 
          AND, UH, BUT TODAY HE IS THE, UH, THE HEAD PASTOR AT ST. 
          GEORGE CHURCH, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HIM. 
          FATHER  ON THE FLOOR IS YOURS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HONORABLE MAYOR BERG, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO, ALLOWING ME TO BEGIN, UH, BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO LEBANESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO YOU AND THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FOR YOUR COMFORT AND SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING EXPLOSION. 
          I'M SORRY, THAT HIT OUR ANCESTRAL HOMELAND AND OUR BELOVED CITY OF BEIRUT. 
          THE LOSS OF LIFE, THE THOUSANDS OF INJURIES, AND THE VAST DESTRUCTION OF THIS ANCIENT CITY IS REALLY TOO MUCH TO BEAR TO SUCH A SMALL COUNTRY. 
          I THANK YOU TODAY FOR YOUR INVITATION TO DELIVER THE INVOCATION AT YOUR MEETING AS A SIGN OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE LEBANESE PEOPLE AND THEIR TIME OF NEED. 
          FRIENDS, LET US SETTLE OUR HEARTS AND BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF PRAYER. 
          HEAVENLY FATHER, HOLY ONE, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. 
          WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE ITSELF, THE MEASURE OF HEALTH, THE NESS, AND FOR FRIENDSHIP. 
          WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO FULFILL YOUR CALLING TO US, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. 
          HELP US TO ACT WITH CHARACTER AND CONVICTION. 
          HELP US TO LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL. 
          HELP US TO SPEAK WITH A CHARITY AND RESTRAINT. 
          GIVE US A SPIRIT OF SERVICE. 
          [00:05:02]
REMIND US THAT WE ARE STEWARDS OF YOUR AUTHORITY. 
          GUIDE US TO BE THE LEADERS YOUR PEOPLE NEED. 
          LORD, WE PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, FOR THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF CITY CO OFFICIALS, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR THE ASSEMBLED COUNCIL IN THESE TIMES OF CRISIS AND PANDEMIC, GRANT US GRANT THEM, LORD, WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING ISSUES OF OUR TIMES, A SENSE OF THE WELFARE AND THE TRUE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. 
          ACHING THIRST FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS GOOD AND FITTING THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR PEOPLE, PERSONAL PEACE AND THEIR LIVES AND JOY IN THEIR TASK. 
          GOD OUR FATHER, RENEW US WITH THE STRENGTHS OF YOUR PRESENCE AND THE JOY OF HELPING TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WORTHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON. 
          WE ASK THIS AS YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, CONFIDENCE AND CONFIDENT IN YOUR GOODNESS AND LOVE. 
          AMEN. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FATHER CHARLES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALL RIGHT, UM, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA. 
          OUR FIRST 
          [3. 20-4660 Approval of Minutes from the City Council Meetings of May 7, 2020, May 12, 2020, May 14, 2020 and May 20, 2020]
ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 7TH, MAY 12TH, MAY 14TH, AND MAY 20TH. 
          IF THERE ARE NO, UH, CHANGES REQUESTED, GO AHEAD AND MO UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FURTHER THE APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES. 
          SO MOVE, MAYOR, I'LL SECOND. 
          OKAY. 
          I DIDN'T CATCH THE, WHO MADE THE MOTION? MS. CLAYTON. 
          OKAY. 
          SORRY, CLAYTON. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UM, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. 
          ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, WE WILL TAKE A VOICE VOTE. 
          UM, AND IF YOU CAN ALSO RAISE YOUR HAND SO THERE'S NO, UM, DIFFICULTY WITH THAT. 
          UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM NUMBER FOUR 
          [4. 20-4661 Councilmember Roberto C. Treviño will be sworn-in as Mayor Pro-Tem, serving the term August 18, 2020 through October 27, 2020.]
ON OUR AGENDA IS THE SWEARING IN OF OUR NEW MAYOR, PRO TEM MAD CLERK, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO, CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, SIR? REPEAT AFTER ME. 
          OKAY. 
          I STATE YOUR NAME. 
          I, ROBERTO TREVINO. 
          DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I'LL SAFELY EXECUTE, FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF, OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR PRO TEM FROM AUGUST 18TH, 2020, FROM AUGUST 18TH, 2020 THROUGH OCTOBER 27TH, 2020 TO OCTOBER 27TH, 2020 OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE STATE AND OF THE CITY. 
          SO HELP ME GOD. 
          SO HELP ME GOD. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR PRO TEMP. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, NOW WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY 
          [Consent Agenda]
FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING. 
          UH, THAT'S ITEM NUMBER FIVE. 
          UH, I HAVE, UH, NO ADDITIONAL ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. 
          SO I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. 
          MAYOR SIGNAL, UM, AND I'LL ALCOHOL ON YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          I LIKE TO PULL ITEM NUMBER 15. 
          GOOD. 
          ITEM NUMBER 15. 
          YES, SIR. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          ANY OTHERS? COUNCILMEMBER TREVINO, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM 29. 
          ITEM NUMBER 29. 
          ANY OTHERS? AND, AND FOR, UM, FOR OUR REVIEWING AUDIENCE, UH, NOTE THAT ITEM 26, IF IT DOES APPEAR ON AGENDA, HAD BEEN PULLED, UH, THIS WEEK BY STAFF COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. 
          I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM 24, ITEM 24. 
          [00:10:01]
ANY OTHERS? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          MOTION TO APPROVE. 
          SECOND. 
          SECOND. 
          OKAY. 
          THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR, UM, ITEMS 5, 15, 24, AND 29. 
          UH, WE DO HAVE, UM, A COUPLE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT. 
          I'LL CALL THEM NOW. 
          AND, UM, I'LL CALL THE FIRST NAME IN ORDER, IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED WHEN I CALL THE SECOND NAME. 
          UH, JUST TO, UH, BE READY. 
          WE WILL CONNECT, UH, YOU ON THE PHONE. 
          I BELIEVE WE HAVE FOR ITEM 25, MICHAEL KOWSKI, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER FALCON. 
          ITEM 30. 
          YES, I'M HERE. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? GO AHEAD, MR. KOWSKI. 
          YEAH, I, UH, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, ON THE, UH, REAPPOINTMENT OF, UM, CHICHI JEN WU AND, UH, OUR OPPOSITION, OR MY OPPOSITION TO IT. 
          I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WITH 70 QUALIFIED, UH, MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE REGION, I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHY WAS SHE PICKED AND HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE INTERVIEWED FOR THAT POSITION? AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT, UH, ABORTIONIST WU WAS THE FORMER MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF, UH, PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTH TEXAS. 
          AND, UH, SHE JUST GAVE UP THAT POSITION IN 2017. 
          AND I THINK MOST SANTON DON'T KNOW, DON'T KNOW THAT SHE, UH, SHE WAS, UH, ABORTING BA SHE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE INBOARDING BABIES FOR MANY YEARS, AND STOPPED DOING THAT IN 2017 WHEN SHE WAS APPOINTED INITIALLY. 
          THANK YOU FOR HELPING. 
          AND IT SEEMS THAT, IT SEEMS THAT SHE WAS SELECTED FOR IDEOLOGICAL REASONS OR AGENDA REASONS. 
          AND SO, UM, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST HERE. 
          UH, SHE HAS OVERSIGHT ON THE METRO HEALTH CONSULTING WITH THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THIS POSITION. 
          AND AS MANY, UH, OF, YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF CITIZENS KNOW THEY ARE, UM, PUSHING FOR, UH, SEX EDUCATION IN THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 
          AND THAT, THAT SEX EDUCATION IS, IS MORE ABOUT PROMISCUITY AND, UH, HAVING, UH, SAFE SEX. 
          AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE IS WE'RE GONNA SEE THE YOUTH EXPERIMENTING AND THEN ULTIMATELY GETTING PREGNANT, AND THEN, UH, PLANNED PARENTHOOD GETTING MORE BUSINESS OUT OF THIS. 
          SO WHAT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST IS THERE'S A REAL SERIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST. 
          THE HAD, UH, PLANNED PARENTHOOD WITH BLOOD MONEY. 
          AND SO MY OPPOSITION IS, IS, IS NOT UNFOUNDED, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOMES PROMISCUOUS. 
          SO WHEN DID IT BECOME OKAY TO HAVE AN ABORTIONIST THAT HAS, UH, EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN ENDING LIFE, ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOMES THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY AND EXPERT IN SAVING LIFE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH POSITION AND AUTHORITY IN THE CITY? THIS IS VERY, VERY CONCERNING. 
          UH, I COULD SEE IF WE INTERVIEWED 50 OR 60 OTHER INDIVIDUALS, AND THERE WAS SOME PARTICULAR REASON WHY MS. CHICHI G W WAS SELECTED, BUT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, NONE OF THAT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE. 
          SO I GUESS THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS, UH, WE NEED TO REACH OUT BEFORE A REAPPOINTMENT OF THIS POSITION AND SEE WHAT OTHER, UH, QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE. 
          AND AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S LIKE 64 OR 70, I, I, I DON'T RECALL RIGHT OFF, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT POOL OF QUALIFIED DOCTORS IN TOWN, AND I MEAN, THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER ABORTIONIST IN THAT POOL. 
          I DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT I GUESS THE QUESTION, THANK YOU, MR. KKI. 
          GO DOWN TO JENNIFER FALCON FOR ITEM 30. 
          MS, HOW ARE YOU THERE? ALRIGHT. 
          UM, 
          [00:15:02]
FOR ITEM 30, WE'LL GO TO MICHAEL KOWSKI. 
          YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, ON THIS ISSUE IS THE, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE, UH, REMOVAL, THE OFFICIAL REMOVAL OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 
          AND I GUESS THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE HERE, OR I HAVE HERE IS THAT, UH, ERASING HISTORY IS NOT THE SOLUTION. 
          ERASING HISTORY IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO ANY OF OUR PROBLEMS, AND ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY THAT, UH, BROUGHT A BUNCH OF IMMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE, FLEEING PERSECUTION, AND, UH, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS ABLE TO OPEN UP, UH, FREEDOMS AND, AND, AND, UH, FREEDOM OF WORSHIP IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND JUST TO TEAR DOWN THE STATUE, UH, VANDALIZE THE STATUE, THEN TEAR IT DOWN AND HIDE IT, OR GIVE IT BACK TO THE SOCIETY, THE ITALIAN SOCIETY. 
          UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT ALL, DO THAT ALL THE TIME. 
          SO I, I'M, IT'S, IT'S REMINISCENT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE WITH, UH, UH, WITH GENERAL LEE IN THE, IN THE COVERUP NIGHT, TAKEN DOWN THE STATUE. 
          THIS WAS, UH, VANDALIZED VERY SIMILARLY, UH, NO, NO, UH, NO FAULT OF OURS, NECESSARILY A CITY, BUT IT WAS VANDALIZED AND, BUT IT WASN'T PROTECTED. 
          AND I GUESS, UH, WE JUST CAN'T ERASE THIS AS A MATTER OF FACT. 
          UH, JULIAN AND, AND YOURSELF, UH, MAYOR, YOU GUYS WERE BIG ON THIS UNCO, UM, UH, DESIGNATION WITH THE MISSIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. 
          ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO TALKED ABOUT THAT THE SEED OF FAITH WAS SOWN IN SAN ANTONIO IN 1691 WITH A PUBLIC MASS DOWN ON THE RIVER. 
          AND WE STILL HAVE A STATUE OUT THERE, UM, WHERE THE MASS TOOK PLACE, UH, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. 
          AND SO, HIDING OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH IS, IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. 
          WE NEED TO, UH, REMEMBER WHAT BROUGHT SAN ANTONIO TO THE LEVEL AND TO THE, TO THE CITY, THE GREAT CITY THAT WE ALL ENJOY AND LOVE. 
          UH, WHAT BROUGHT US TO, TO THIS POINT. 
          AND SO I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE TO ASK IS NOW IT'S CHRISTOPHER, IT WAS FIRST, UH, ROBERT E. LEE. 
          NOW IT'S CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 
          AND WHAT IS IT NEXT, UH, HARBERGER PARK. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ASK THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS. 
          UH, I, I'M, I'M NO FAN OF, OF MAYOR HARBERGER, BUT I, I WOULDN'T MOVE TO REMOVE HIS NAME, BUT THERE ARE OTHER NAMES OUT THERE THAT, UH, MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE TO SOMEBODY, BUT WE CAN'T, WE CANNOT RULE BY FEELINGS ON WHAT ONE PERSON THAT'S OFFENDED BY A PARTICULAR NAME OR A PARTICULAR SITUATION. 
          SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE A SOLID PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THESE STATUES ALL AROUND SAN ANTONIO. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. KKI. 
          UH, I THINK WE DO HAVE, UH, JENNIFER FALCON ON THE LINE. 
          UH, MS. FALCON, ARE YOU THERE? GO AHEAD, JENNIFER. 
          OKAY. 
          YES. 
          UM, AS AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN, I DO HAVE TO ADMIT THOUGH THAT THIS, UH, IS A BIT FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS NEVER WOULD'VE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR, UH, BLACK RELATIVES AND THE PROTESTS OVER THE SUMMER. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PERFORMATIVE ACT OF SOLIDARITY BECAUSE WE NOW SEE A INCREASE IN THE BUDGET TO THE POLICE AND THE STATUE BEING TAKEN DOWN. 
          AND THIS STATUE DOES REPRESENT RACISM AND, UM, A REVISIONIST HISTORY, BUT WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO BEYOND THIS STATUE. 
          SO I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE CITY STEP FORWARD AND REALLOCATE THAT $8 MILLION FROM THE POLICE TO ADDRESSING RACISM, UH, AND MOVING THAT MONEY TO, UH, HEALTH AND, UH, HOUSING. 
          AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE CITY ABOLISH COLUMBUS DAY AND IMPLEMENT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY AS WELL. 
          UH, SO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY. 
          THANK YOU, MS. DAWKIN. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UM, THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, COUNCIL COMMENT NOW AS WELL, AND, UM, SOME FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEMS. UM, SO I NEED YOU TO SIGNAL ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK. 
          I DO KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY HAD A COUPLE ITEMS. SO LET ME, UH, CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY FIRST, AND IF YOU CAN SIGNAL ME, UH, TO GET IN THE QUEUE OR, UH, TEXT JOHN IC, HE'LL PUT YOU IN THE QUEUE. 
          ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FERRY. 
          [00:20:01]
THANK YOU, SIR. 
          I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. UH, NUMBER ONE IS, UH, NUMBER 17. 
          UH, THAT, THAT IS TO, UM, UM, ABANDON A PIECE OF ROAD, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A DEAD END ROAD ANYWAY, TO HELP, UM, FACILITATE MEALS ON WHEELS. 
          MOVING HERE TO DISTRICT 10, UH, THIS IS A BIG, BIG, UH, THING HERE FOR OUR DISTRICT BECAUSE MEALS ON WHEELS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS CITY, NOT ONLY FOR THIS CITY, BUT SURROUNDING COUNTIES ALSO. 
          AND, UH, I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE THEM COME HERE TO, UH, DISTRICT 10. 
          THEY SERVED OVER, UH, WOW, THEY SERVED OVER A MILLION MEALS IN 2019, AND THAT, THAT'S INCREDIBLE. 
          THAT'S TO PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THE HELP AND THE HANDOUT FOR, UH, NUTRITION. 
          AND THEY ALSO DISTRIBUTE DOG FOOD, ANIMAL FOOD, THAT KIND OF THING AS WELL. 
          SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THEY'RE MOVING HERE TO DISTRICT 10 AND VERY HAPPY TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. 
          AND THEN, UH, THE OTHER ONE IS NUMBER 27. 
          IT'S, UM, HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE HAD A VERY, VERY NICE DAYCARE CENTER RIGHT ON THOUSAND OAKS, IT, THAT SERVED A REALLY LARGE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE NEEDING DAYCARE SERVICES. 
          UM, IT BURNED DOWN, UNFORTUNATELY. 
          AND, UM, UH, THE OWNER WANTS TO REDEVELOP THAT PROPERTY AGAIN. 
          AND HE CAME TO OUR TOURS, UM, UH, TO ASK FOR SOME HELP. 
          AND WE ARE ACTUALLY HELPING THEM TO THE TUNE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, UH, FOR THAT FACILITY. 
          AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT HE'S GOING TO RECONSTRUCT THAT, UH, FACILITY TO PROVIDE THOSE CHILDCARE SERVICES IN, IN, IN ALONG THAT MAJOR CORRIDOR THERE AT THOUSAND OAK. 
          SO AGAIN, VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT, UH, WITH THE TT FUNDING AND, UH, GET THIS DAYCARE BUILT AND, AND OPERATIONAL FOR THE FOLKS AROUND THAT AREA. 
          THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO, SIR. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 30. 
          I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE, UM, PERMANENTLY GOING TO BE REMOVING THE COLUMBUS STATUE BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY. 
          AND IT'S NOT, SO, IT'S NOT ABOUT ERASING HISTORY, IT'S ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT HISTORY AND WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT AND WHAT HE WAS ABOUT AND BROUGHT. 
          SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO REMOVE IT. 
          AND I KNOW ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS YESTERDAY, UM, HAD THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CONSIDERING RENAMING THE STREET. 
          SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER 31, AND THAT IS THE WILSHIRE TERRACE TRAIL CONNECTION PROJECT THAT HAS TAKING PLACE IN DISTRICT TWO. 
          EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SALES TAX, WE KNOW THAT THINGS ARE STILL HAPPENING FOR OUR TRAILWAYS. 
          AND SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO SHOW THAT WE ARE CONTINUING THE MISSION OF THE BUSINESS, OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AS WELL AS PUTTING IN THE NECESSARY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MOVE OUR CITY OUT OF A PROPERTY STRICKEN, UM, DESIGNATION. 
          AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION TODAY AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER TINO. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UM, WANNA HIGH HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 30. 
          START OFF BY SIMPLY THANKING, UM, THE, THE INDIGENOUS, THE INDIGENOUS GROUPS AND THE ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR COMING TOGETHER ON THIS, ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. 
          I WANNA START AND THANK, UH, PAUL RO, SAM G***O, BOBBY CORBO, SAM GRECO, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO THANK FRANK MANCO, WHO, UH, INTRODUCED ME MANY, MANY YEARS AGO TO THE ITALIAN SOCIETY. 
          UM, IT'S WITH GRATITUDE THAT, THAT I, UH, EXPRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE, UH, THIS GROUP AND THEIR THOUGHTFULNESS. 
          I ALSO WANNA THANK THE, UH, CITY STAFF, UM, CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH, LAURIE HOUSTON, DEBBIE ROCK SITTER, SHANNON MILLER, UH, PARKS AND REC RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND OF COURSE, THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD. 
          UH, THIS COMES AFTER MANY LONG AND THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY AND THE ITALIAN SOCIETY. 
          AND THIS WAS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT FOR ONE GROUP, THE MONUMENT WAS A SYMBOL OF PAIN, AND FOR THE OTHER, A SYMBOL OF HERITAGE AND PLACE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. 
          I'M GRATEFUL TO THE INDIGENOUS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES FOR CONSTANTLY KEEPING THIS DECISION IN THE PUBLIC EYE. 
          YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND WANT FOR MEANINGFUL REPRESENTATION ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED TO THE ITALIAN SOCIETY. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT ON THIS. 
          YOUR EMPATHY AND CONSIDERATION FOR THE WEIGHT, UH, THE MONUMENT, UH, CAN CARRY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF 
          [00:25:01]
THE HEALING THAT IS, THAT IS HAD IN THIS PROCESS. 
          IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN A PANDEMIC AND MUCH NEEDED PERIOD OF SELF-REFLECTION AS A COUNTRY FOR US TO GRASP THE NEED TO EMPOWER AND CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF HERITAGE THAT MAKE UP THIS AMAZING CITY. 
          THIS AREA WILL SOON BE A BEAUTIFUL COMMEMORATION FOR THE ITALIAN CULTURAL FOR ALL TO ENJOY. 
          UH, AND I ALSO JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YES, THE, THE STREET, UH, WE'VE ALREADY, UH, HAVE, HAVE, UH, HAVE ALREADY BEGAN THAT PROCESS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THAT THE, THE STREET NAME, UH, WILL, WILL BEGIN ANOTHER PROCESS AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. 
          UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 28, WHICH IS A, A SUPPORT, UH, FUNDING FOR THE TOURS FOR SAY C. 
          SO MANY OF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH SAY C AN ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN, UH, IN THE DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. 
          AND, UM, THEY'VE JUST, UH, PURCHASED A BUILDING, UM, OFF OF BRASSO STREET, UH, BUT IN AN OLD SAHA BUILDING. 
          AND SO IT'S THE FIRST PHASE OF THEIR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT, BUT IT'S REALLY FABULOUS AND, UH, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EVERYBODY LIVE AND IN PERSON AND WELCOME, SAY SEE TO THE DISTRICT. 
          SO THANK YOU ALSO TO COUNCIL MEMBER DINO WHO SITS ON THE TOURIST BOARD AND ALL THE TOURIST BOARD MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED THAT PROJECT. 
          UM, AND, UH, ALSO WANTED TO, UH, COMMENT ON THE REMOVAL OF THE STATUE AND, UH, TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER DINO FOR HELPING MOVE THAT ALONG. 
          UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT STEP IN ACKNOWLEDGING OUR HISTORY AND, UH, LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR, UH, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          SO THANK YOU TO ALL WHO, UM, MOVE THAT ALONG, ESPECIALLY, UM, THE MAYOR AND ALSO, UH, ERIC FOR MOVING SO QUICKLY. 
          UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. 
          UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR, UM, A BIG VOTE TODAY ON STACY. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          I KNOW THAT'S BEEN, UH, A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR SOME TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO FOR, UH, THE DILIGENT WORK ON THE COLUMBUS STATUE. 
          WE DO HEAR THE CALLS THAT, UM, THESE ARE JUST THE BEGINNINGS OF EFFORTS TO RESTORE EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE CERTAINLY HEAR THAT. 
          UM, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK DR. 
          WU, UH, FOR THE GREAT WORK SHE'S DONE ON BEHALF OF THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. 
          UH, AND CERTAINLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC, UH, YOUR, YOUR WORK HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. 
          IT'S BEEN RESPECT, RESPECTED, IT'S BEEN ESTEEMED, UH, BY MEMBERS, UH, MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO, UH, OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, DR. 
          WU. 
          I'M GLAD TO, UH, SEE YOU CONTINUE IN YOUR AUTHORITY. 
          UH, WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION, SIR, UH, UH, DISTRICT SEVEN SANDOVAL IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. 
          OKAY. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I DON'T THINK SHE WAS, I THOUGHT YOU WERE RAISING THE ROOF, NOT ASKING TO SPEAK. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          UM, YES, I, UH, RESORTED TO RAISING THE ROOF, WONDERING IF THAT WOULD GET MORE ATTENTION. 
          UM, I SEE IT DID. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I ALSO WANTED TO CONGRATULATE COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ AND JOHNNY NOOSA AND THE FOLKS AT SAFETY. 
          YOU WILL NOW BE WESTSIDERS, I THINK, OFFICIALLY WITH THIS, UH, WITH THIS NEW MOVE. 
          SO, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          UM, AND, UH, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK DR. 
          WU FOR ALL OF HER WORK. 
          IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND, UH, AND, UH, A LOT OF PRESSURE HAS BEEN ON HER, BUT SHE HAS, UH, SHE HAS COME THROUGH. 
          SO, UM, THANK YOU DR. 
          WU FOR, FOR YOUR WORK. 
          AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO, UH, WORKED ON THE, UH, THE RESOLUTION AT THE OUTSIDE TALIA AND THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE. 
          AND I HAVE TO SAY, ONE, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WANNA THANK AND CONGRATULATED ANTONIO FOR HIS PERSISTENCE IN COMING TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, ENDLESSLY, UH, ALWAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS. 
          AND, UH, AND HE HAS A NEW, A NEW MISSION NOW. 
          AND THAT'S WHERE THE STREET NAME CHANGE. 
          AND, UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, THAT WE'LL BE PURSUING THAT AS WELL. 
          UM, I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT, UH, TAKING DOWN THE STATUE TO AMOUNT, TO ERASING HISTORY, AND I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT, UH, THE PEOPLE WE PUT ON STATUES ARE THE ONES THAT WE REVERE AND THAT SHOULD REFLECT OUR VALUES. 
          SO THAT'S WHY I, I SUPPORTED THIS IN GOVERNANCE AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS MOVE. 
          UM, BUT IN TERMS OF ERASING HISTORY, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HISTORY THAT'S BEEN ERASED AND THAT WE HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED. 
          AND THAT'S WHY WE DO HAVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY, UH, IN OCTOBER, UH, NOW, AND, UH, NOW WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS A, UH, A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT HAD ALSO BEEN FORGOTTEN. 
          AND, UH, IN THE FUTURE, UH, I THINK IT'S ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA, COUNCILWOMAN ANDREW SULLIVAN'S, UH, RESOLUTION DECLARING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WILL ALSO, 
          [00:30:01]
UH, RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE TRAGIC HISTORIES THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR CITY, INCLUDING RACISM AND, UH, UH, RACISM AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICANS AND, UH, MEXICAN AMERICANS TO THANKS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VRAN FOR THAT CONTRIBUTION. 
          SO, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. 
          UM, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER, UH, FOLKS IN THE QUEUE. 
          UH, SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT THAT IT'S ALL ITEMS FOR 5 15, 24, AND 29. 
          UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          RAISE HAND. 
          AYE, AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          ALRIGHT, UH, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM 
          [Additional Item]
NUMBER FIVE. 
          OH, I'M SORRY. 
          BEFORE WE DO THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE A A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 
          LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROSA GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS INFORMATION FORWARD. 
          THIS YEAR MARKS THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL, AND AUGUST IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL WOMEN'S S IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT WOMEN WERE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE ONLY 100 YEARS AGO IN 1920, AND THAT WOMEN OF COLOR HAD TO WAIT EVEN LONGER. 
          ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I WAS CONTACTED BY A WOMAN WHO BELIEVED THIS MILESTONE IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY DESERVED RECOGNITION AND COMMEMORATION, AND WAS SADDENED THAT THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL CITY OF CELEBRATION, BUT UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, THERE'S LITTLE ROOM FOR CELEBRATION. 
          THAT WOMAN IS MY L S A SISTER. 
          U S A A IS ASHLEY HARRIS, WHO ASSEMBLED A SMALL GROUP OF 16 WOMEN THAT SAME AFTERNOON AND A CALL WITH ME TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TOGETHER. 
          THAT SAME AFTERNOON, WE HAD THE BEGINNING OF A PLAN, AND THE NEXT DAY WE MET AGAIN. 
          BUT THE GROUP GREW, TWO WOMEN OF 45 WOMEN, INCLUDING MY SOUTH SIDE SISTER COUNCILMAN REBECCA VRAN, AND WE ALL COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER HARD OVER THE NEXT MONTH TO DO SOMETHING WORTH THE OF ASHLEY'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S APPROVAL. 
          HER GREAT-GRANDMOTHER HAD MARCHED IN THE BOSTON, IN BOSTON WITH THE ORIGINAL GROUP OF SUFFRAGISTS. 
          FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WEREN'T AWARE, SAN ANTONIO WAS HOME TO ONE OF THE LEADING FIGURES IN THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT IN TEXAS. 
          MARY ELLEN AND HER BRECKENRIDGE. 
          NOT ONLY DID SHE CO-FOUND THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO, SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN IN SAN ANTONIO TO REGISTER TO VOTE. 
          HER ROLE IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY IS UNIQUE, AS SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN IN THE STATE TO SIT ON A GOVERNING BOARD OF ANY UNIVERSITY. 
          WOMEN LIKE MS. BRACKENRIDGE AND SO MANY OTHER WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER HER LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE PATH TOWARDS RATIFYING THE 19TH AMENDMENT. 
          TEXAS BECAME THE FIRST SOUTHERN STATE TO RATIFY THE PASSAGE OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT. 
          ON AUGUST 18TH, 1920, TENNESSEE WAS THE LAST ONE OF THE NECESSARY 36 RATIFYING STATES TO SECURE ADOPTION. 
          TO COMMEMORATE THIS IMPORTANT EVENT, I'VE ASKED MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND OTHER DIGNITARIES TO WEAR WHITE FROM AUGUST 18TH THROUGH THE 26TH AND INVITED THEM TO TIE A WHITE RIBBON OR BOW ON A TREE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME AND DOCUMENT THE EVENT THROUGH PICTURES AND VIDEOS. 
          I WANT TO TAKE, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY FEMALE COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO ARE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING AND KICK OFF A SERIES OF VIRTUAL AND SYMBOLIC EVENTS. 
          WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, TREES AT BRACKENRIDGE PARK WILL BE DECORATED WITH WHITE RIBBONS. 
          COUNCILWOMAN JADA ANDREW SULLIVAN WILL BE TYING THE FIRST WHITE RIBBON ON A TREE NEAR THE GSKI PAVILION ON SUNDAY. 
          SINCE THE PARK IS IN HER DISTRICT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCILWOMAN AND HER STAFF MEMBER LATIKA SIMS FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION. 
          AND WHEN WE COULDN'T SECURE A MILITARY FLYOVER WITH ONE MONTH'S NOTICE, COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VRAN SAID, WATCH THIS, AND WORKED WITH THE ALAMO CITY CHAPTER OF WOMEN IN AVIATION TO ORGANIZE THE FLYOVER OVER VARIOUS SITES IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT TO OUR SAN ANTONIO WOMEN'S HISTORY. 
          COUNCILWOMAN SHIRLEY GONZALEZ, WHO LENT HER CHIEF OF STAFF MENDEZ MEYERS, TO THE EFFORT WILL BE TYING WHITE RIBBONS AT ELMAN DORF PARK. 
          COUNCILWOMAN MELISSA CAVEDA WITH THE 19TH RAN 19 RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS GROUP PARTNERED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK TO RAISE FUNDS IN HONOR OF THE CENTENNIAL. 
          AND FOR EVERY $10 YOU DONATE, THE FOOD BANK WILL BE ABLE TO BUY A SYMBOLIC 100 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. 
          COUNCILWOMAN ANNA SANDOVAL WILL BE TYING RIBBONS AT WOODLAWN PARK AND IS ALSO WORKING WITH THE GROUP LEADING AN ESSAY COMPETITION ON THE WOMEN'S RIGHT TO VOTE MOVEMENT, WHICH SHE WILL HELP JUDGE, AND TO WHICH THE MAYOR WILL BE DONATING SURFACE NOTEBOOKS TO THE WINNERS. 
          THE MAYOR'S OFFICE LENT US THEIR SUPPORT THROUGH ROCIO GUNTHER, WHO WORKED WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, LORI HOUSTON, 
          [00:35:01]
ON REACHING OUT TO ICONIC BUILDINGS IN SAN ANTONIO TO HELP US LIGHT UP THEIR BUILDINGS. 
          ON AUGUST 18TH, IN HONOR OF THE CENTENNIAL, INCLUDING THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS, THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THE AT T CENTER TO NAME A FEW, THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN ALSO DONATED SOME RIBBONS THAT WILL BE TIED AT BRECKENRIDGE PARK. 
          AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK ASSOCIATION ALLOWED US TO TIE WHITE RIBBONS ALONG THE WALK. 
          AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO WILL HELP TIE ONE OF THE BOWS SINCE THE RIVER WALK IS IN D ONE. 
          I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO MY OTHER MALE COLLEAGUES WHO OFFERED THEIR SUPPORT AND WHO AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF LOCAL VIRTUAL EVENTS AND TO PROMOTE INITIATIVES. 
          WE'VE WORKED SO HARD ON A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR BEING THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER TO PROMOTE THE EVENTS THROUGH HIS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS. 
          AN AMAZING GROUP OF WOMEN LEADERS, INCLUDING FIRST LADY ERICA PROSPER, NUREMBERG, AND OTHER SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS HELPED COMPILE THIS SET OF VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CALLS TO ACTION, INCLUDING ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, COMPLETING THE CENSUS AS REQUESTED BY OUR HUGE SUPPORTERS, CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH, VIRTUAL FUNDRAISERS, SUFFRAGETTE VIGNETTES, AND VIDEO MESSAGES FROM PROMINENT WOMEN LEADERS THAT WILL BECOME A PART OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS CIVIL INSTITUTE, CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT. 
          TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO GET INVOLVED, I ASK THAT YOU VISIT 100 YEARS OF VOTING ESSAY.COM, A MICROSITE HOSTED BY OUR FRIENDS AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK STAFF MEMBERS, ROSA VIS AND CHIEF OF STAFF ZALES FROM D FOUR FOR HELPING ME CONVINCE VIA TO RUN SOME SPECIAL MESSAGES ON THEIR BUS THE ENTIRE 10 DAYS. 
          IN CONCLUDING, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY IS AUGUST THE 26TH. 
          AND I HOPE YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THE VIRTUAL CELEBRATION HOSTED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AT 7:00 PM FEATURING VICTORIA DE FRANCESCO PHD, FIRST LADY ERICA PROSPER BERG, AND SAN ANTONIO POET LAUREATE, ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON, WHERE THE MAYOR WILL BE PRESENTING THE CITY'S PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THE CENTENNIAL, WE WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE HAD A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO KICK OFF WITH THE GIRLS' EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT THAT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 13TH. 
          BUT I THINK WE CAN COMMEMORATE THIS ONCE IN A LIFETIME OCCASION, WHILE PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAYING SAFE. 
          WE OWE IT TO PAST AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF OUR COUNTRY'S SUFFRAGES AND ALSO TO COMMIT TOWARDS WORKING TOWARD A GREATER AND MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY. 
          THE JOURNEY TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY HAS NOT BEEN EASY AND THERE IS PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD, BUT WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. 
          MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO SHARE THIS LITTLE BIT OF JOY IN THESE TRYING TIMES WE'RE LIVING THROUGH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROTTA GARCIA, AND I THINK YOU'RE GETTING A, UH, VIRTUAL ROUND OF APPLAUSE HERE FROM OUR COLLEAGUES. 
          GREAT JOB, UH, TO ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS, UH, OUR COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, ERICA, UM, GREAT JOB. 
          AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT WEEK NEXT WEEK. 
          ALRIGHT, UM, AND I THINK THAT IS OUR ONLY POINT, UH, PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. 
          SO WE'LL GO 
          [5. 20-4320 Ordinance ratifying a contract with Scholastic, Inc. in the amount of $149,467.50 for 3,250 school readiness kits consisting of various books for the Department of Human Services, Head Start Division. Funding is available from the FY 2020 - 2021 Head Start Grant Program Budget. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Troy Elliott, Deputy Chief Financial Officer]]
RIGHT INTO ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND CLERK ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SALES AND USE TAX SELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020, TO AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE OF ONE EIGHTH OF 1% OF SALES AND YOUTH TAX, NOT TO EXCEED BEYOND DECEMBER 31ST, 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING, JOB TRAINING, AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 3 7 9 A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND COMMENCING UPON A FULL COLLECTION OF THE SALES AND USE TAX PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS FOR THE EDWARDS PROTECTION VENUE PROJECT AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE EXPANSION VENUE PROJECT AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH BEAR COUNTY FOR CONDUCT OF THIS ELECTION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO PAY A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE ESTIMATED $900,000 IN ELECTION COSTS AS DETERMINED BY THE BEAR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. 
          THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. 
          UH, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO, UH, CARLOS. 
          IS THIS YOURS? UH, MAYOR. 
          UH, ALEX IS GONNA DO THE PRESENTATION. 
          OKAY, ALEX, IT'S GOING STRAIGHT TO YOU. 
          YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. 
          UM, WE, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT FROM ME OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ONCE MORE. 
          UM, IF YOU COULD PUT THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH THE BACKGROUND ONCE AGAIN AND, AND 
          [00:40:01]
REALLY JUST LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE. 
          UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020, UM, SAN ANTONIO WAS EXPERIENCING VERY LOW, A VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, ALONG WITH SUBSTANTIAL JOB AND POPULATION GROWTH. 
          BUT YET WE WERE STILL SEEING A PIC, UH, A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE OF PROSPERITY. 
          UM, WE CONTINUED TO SEE HEADLINES, UH, WHERE WE WERE MAKING, WE WERE BEING NAMED ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE. 
          UM, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          AND ONE OF THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT POVERTY RATE IS THE RELATIVELY LOW EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AMONG OUR RESIDENTS. 
          UM, THIS BAR CHART, UH, SHOWS ONCE AGAIN THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND IT RANGES FROM LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL TO GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREES. 
          AND THE LINE GRAPH SHOWS AVERAGE ANNUAL EARNINGS BASED ON THOSE DIFFERENT EDUCATION LEVELS. 
          THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN BOTH CHARTS OCCUR AT THE BACHELOR'S LEVEL, WHERE YOU SEE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WITH THAT LEVEL OF EDUCATION, BUT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EARNINGS. 
          THIS REALITY SET THE FOUNDATION FOR HOW COVID IMPACTED OUR ECONOMY AND SPECIFICALLY OUR WORKFORCE. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          IF WE FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, WHERE OVER 154,000 SAN ANTONIO WORKERS HAVE FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE MID-MARCH WITH CLAIMS IN THE INDUSTRIES OF ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICE, RETAIL AND HEALTHCARE, AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ACCOUNTING. 
          FOR OVER A THIRD OF THAT FIGURE, YOU MAY RECALL, UH, FROM DR. 
          NIVAN AND JOHN HAWKINS' PRESENTATION IN JUNE, THERE WERE SOME INDUSTRIES IN WHICH JOBS IN SAN ANTONIO WILL LIKELY NOT RETURN. 
          UM, AND AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST IS, UH, OUR ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICES WHERE PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT, UM, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE JOBS THAT WE LOST THIS YEAR, WE, UM, APPROXIMATE 20% OF THOSE JOBS WILL NOT COME BACK. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO, THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY PLAN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL IN JUNE WAS OUR IMMEDIATE APPROACH TO BUILD BACK OUR ECONOMY, AND IT INCLUDED SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          THE RECOVERY PLAN STRATEGY FOCUSES ON PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED JOB TRAINING AND CERTIFICATES FOR IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS FOR UP TO 10,000 RESIDENTS AMONG THIS TARGET POPULATION ARE OUR HARDEST TO SERVE RESIDENTS. 
          UM, THOSE THAT EVEN PRE C I D EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL BARRIERS TO UPSKILLING AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND JUSTICE INVOLVED RESIDENTS. 
          UH, THE STRATEGY WAS DESIGNED FOR PARTICIPANTS TO RECEIVE INTAKE ASSESSMENT, REFERRAL AND WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, ALONG WITH A STIPEND WHILE TRAINING. 
          IT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED COLLABORATIVELY WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS. 
          AND IT'S GONNA, UM, CONCLUDE ON SEPTEMBER OF 2021. 
          BUT GIVEN THE VAST NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT QUICKLY BECAME APPARENT THAT ADDITIONAL INTERVENTION WAS ALSO NECESSARY. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          I, LAST MONTH, MAYOR NUREMBERG APPOINTED A, UH, WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION LEADERSHIP TEAM, UH, TO IDENTIFY NEXT STEPS IN THE RECOVERY, IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY, AND SPECIFICALLY REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT AND PROMOTING ECONOMIC MOBILITY. 
          THIS TEAM INCLUDES LEADERS FROM EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS, UM, BUSINESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PHILANTHROPY, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS VIA AND ROCHE GARCIA SERVING AS OUR LIAISONS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          THEIR FEEDBACK AND PERSPECTIVE WAS, UM, USED TO INFORM OUR NEXT STEPS OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY, WHICH BUILDS UPON THE RECOVERY PLAN WORK. 
          THIS PROPOSED INITIATIVE WILL SUPPORT BOTH WORKFORCE TRAINING AND TWO AND FOUR YEAR DEGREES. 
          UH, PARTICIPANTS WILL STILL RECEIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP NAVIGATE BARRIERS AND PROMOTE TRAINING AND DEGREE COMPLETION. 
          THEY'LL ALSO RECEIVE REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING CHILDCARE AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, ALONG WITH EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE UNEXPECTED EXPENSES THAT CAN COMPROMISE A PARTICIPANT'S ABILITY TO FOCUS ON TRAINING COMPLETION. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO, THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE INCLUDES A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH, UH, TO PROMOTE UPSKILLING THROUGH BOTH WORKFORCE TRAINING OR, OR WORKFORCE CERTIFICATES AND HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE COMPLETION. 
          UM, JUST TO REITERATE, THE CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES ARE NOT THE END RESULT, UM, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE MEANS BY WHICH RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS CAREERS WITH LIVING WAGES AND BENEFITS. 
          AND LASTLY, I EXPLAINED A BIT MORE ABOUT VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS WITH CURRENT JOB OPENINGS. 
          AND GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR SKILLED WORKERS, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM RECOMMENDED AN INITIAL FOCUS ON WORKFORCE TRAINING WITH A SHIFT TO DEGREE COMPLETION IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          [00:45:02]
APPRENTICESHIPS HAVE ALSO BEEN HIGHLIGHTED AS A TRAINING OPTION, UM, SINCE OUR VERY FIRST BRIEFING. 
          UM, AND AS I SHARED ON TUESDAY, THERE'S DIFFERENT, THERE'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF RIGOR ASSOCIATED WITH APPRENTICESHIPS. 
          UM, SOME MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REGISTRATION PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES SPECIFIC TRAINING STANDARDS, BUT AT ITS CORE, AN APPRENTICESHIP BASICALLY COMBINES PAID ON THE JOB TRAINING WITH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. 
          AND WHILE THIS TERM MAY NOT BE COMMONLY USED BY EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS THAT STILL FIT THIS MODEL. 
          UH, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WAS A VALUABLE ELEMENT HIGHLIGHTED BY THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND AN OPTION FOR INCLUSION IN THIS INITIATIVE. 
          AND THIS PROPOSED INITIATIVE WOULD BE TO WORK WITH EMPLOYERS THAT PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF TRAINING TO RECEIVE FUNDS THAT MAYBE WERE ALLOCATED FOR THE PARTICIPANT'S TUITION EXPENSES. 
          UM, BUT AN IMPORTANT ITEM TO CONSIDER WHEN DOING THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE SKILLS LEARNED, UM, THROUGH THAT APPRENTICESHIP OR THAT TRAINING PROGRAM, UM, CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO VARIOUS EMPLOYERS AND THAT THEY'RE NOT UNIQUE TO A SPECIFIC COMPANY BECAUSE THIS WOULD REALLY LIMIT A PARTICIPANT'S EMPLOYMENT GROWTH OPTIONS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL STILL RECEIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO HELP NAVIGATE BARRIERS THAT MAY PREVENT TRAINING COMPLETION, BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT JOB PLACEMENT. 
          AND WHEN WE USE THE TERM WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, WE'RE REFERENCING A HOST OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE ACADEMIC AND SKILL ASSESSMENT, ACADEMIC REMEDIATION, CAREER MAPPING AND COACHING, THE COLLEGE AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING ITSELF, SOFT SKILLS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT. 
          AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THAT WRAPAROUND SERVICE IS CASE MANAGEMENT, WHICH ENSURES THAT PARTICIPANTS ARE ASSESSED FOR NEEDS AND COACHED ON SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS. 
          CASE MANAGEMENT ALSO ENSURES PARTICIPANTS WILL BE TRACKED THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM FROM INTAKE TO DEGREE OR TRAINING COMPLETION TO JOB PLACEMENT. 
          THE SERVICES WILL BE FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THE INDIVIDUAL AND UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH PARTICIPANT, AND WILL ALSO, UM, INCLUDE CONNECTING PARTICIPANTS TO EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES, INCLUDING HOUSING AND CHILDCARE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. 
          THIS INITIATIVE WILL BUILD ON THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF WORK. 
          UM, FOR EXAMPLE, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, THEY ALREADY MAKE SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. 
          UM, THESE INCLUDE ACADEMIC AND CAREER ADVISING, TUTORING, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES. 
          AND WHILE HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, UM, THE INTENTION IS TO SUPPLEMENT THESE EFFORTS, CREATING A LOWER PARTICIPANT TO CASE MANAGER RATIO THAT PROMOTES MORE SUBSTANTIAL ENGAGEMENT AND TRAINING AND DEGREE AND DEGREE COMPLETION. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          WHILE CASE MANAGERS WILL ASSIST PARTICIPANTS IN ACCESSING AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES, UH, PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR UNANTICIPATED AND IMMEDIATE EXPENSES SUCH AS CAR REPAIRS OR MEDICAL BILLS. 
          UM, THIS TYPE OF EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH CASE MANAGERS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, UM, AS NEEDED BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. 
          FLEXIBLE, UH, TRAINING AND COLLEGE COURSE SCHEDULES WILL ACTUALLY ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO STILL WORK WHILE IN TRAINING, WHICH IS WHY SIMILAR TO THE PROJECT QUEST MODEL, THIS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS NOT INTENDED TO COVER ALL LIVING EXPENSES. 
          INSTEAD, ITS PURPOSE IS TO ADDRESS THE UNEXPECTED EXPENSES THAT CAN COMPROMISE A PARTICIPANT'S ABILITY TO FOCUS ON TRAINING COMPLETION. 
          THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET ESTABLISHED FOR THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT IS TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY, BUT THIS AMOUNT CAN BE ADJUSTED AS PROGRAM DETAILS ARE FURTHER DEVELOPED. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          A COMMON AND CONSISTENT THEME WE'VE HEARD AS WE'VE SOCIALIZED THIS PROPOSED INITIATIVE IS THE NEED FOR INDUSTRY COMMITMENT TO ACOMP THIS PUBLIC INVESTMENT. 
          FROM THE INITIAL MEETING OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE SAW COMMITMENT FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS TO COLLABORATE WITH TRAINING PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY AND DESIGN TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS EMPLOYER NEEDS. 
          THIS COLLABORATION ALSO EXTENDS TO PROMOTING JOB OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST AFTER SOMEONE COMPLETES TRAINING, BUT ALSO AS THEIR CONSIDERING CAREER OPTIONS. 
          BUT LASTLY, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM LEADER FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, UM, WAS THEIR COMMITMENT TO HIRE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE PROGRAM. 
          AND YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVES FROM, UM, SOME OF THE, THE MEMBERS OF THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHICH INCLUDED H E B AND RACKSPACE, U S A A AND TOYOTA. 
          UM, THEY ALL, UH, HAVE MADE A DIRECT COMMITMENT, UM, TO SUPPORT THE HIRING OF PARTICIPANTS FROM OUR PROGRAM. 
          AND THESE FOUR COMPANIES ALONE REPRESENT THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN DIVERSE AND IN DEMAND FIELDS WITH LIVING WAGES AND BENEFITS AND WITH CAREER PATHS THAT PROMOTE CONTINUED INCOME GROWTH. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          [00:50:03]
THE PRELIMINARY PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND METRICS FOR THIS INITIATIVE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE, AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY ARE ASPIRATIONAL IN NATURE. 
          UM, THE GOAL FOR CERTIFICATE AND DEGREE COMPLETIONS ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT DEGREE COMPLETION MAY TAKE MORE TIME. 
          UM, AND IT'S ALSO DEPENDENT ON THE AMOUNT OF CREDITS THAT A PARTICIPANT MAY ALREADY HAVE WHEN THEY ENTER THE PROGRAM. 
          UM, AN 80 TO 90% JOB PLACEMENT RATE IS VERY HIGH. 
          UM, BUT THE COMMITMENT FROM EMPLOYERS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IS CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING THAT LEVEL. 
          UH, JOB RETENTION WILL ALSO BE MEASURED AT THE ONE YEAR MARK AFTER A PARTICIPANT COMPLETES THE PROGRAM. 
          UM, BUT IT, UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GONNA MEASURE JUST WHETHER THE, THE PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN IN THE SAME POSITION, IT'S JUST MEASURING OVERALL EMPLOYMENT. 
          UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS OUR OUTCOMES, WE WE'RE SETTING A HIGH GOAL FOR WAGE INCREASES, UM, WHICH OVER TIME WILL DE DECREASE OUR POVERTY RATE AND HELP US EMERGE FROM THIS CRISIS MUCH STRONGER THAN BEFORE. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          IF APPROVED BY VOTERS, ITS PROJECTED WILL BEGIN COLLECTING SALES TAXES FOR THIS INITIATIVE IN THE SPRING OR SUMMER OF 2021. 
          UH, THE ESTIMATED REVENUE AB UH, THE ESTIMATED AVERAGE ANNUAL REVENUE PROJECTION IS APPROXIMATELY 38 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. 
          AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT AN ANNUAL BUDGET COULD LOOK LIKE. 
          UM, THIS BUDGET WILL BE FURTHER REFINED FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION SHOULD VOTERS APPROVE THE INITIATIVE. 
          BUT FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, WE'VE INCLUDED COST PROJECTIONS FOR TUITION WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AND EMERGENCY AID, ALONG WITH ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS BASED ON INDUSTRY FEEDBACK. 
          THE SAMPLE BUDGET PLACES AN INITIAL EMPHASIS ON WORKFORCE TRAINING. 
          WITH THE 60 40 SPLIT FOR TUITION COSTS, WE'VE PROJECTED $2,000 FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING AND $3,000 FOR LAST DOLLAR TUITION. 
          FOR PARTICIPANTS COMPLETING DEGREES, ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT ESTIMATED AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS. 
          AND WHAT I WANNA CLARIFY THAT AS FAR AS THIS FUNDING, IT'S NOT DIRECT AID TO THE PARTICIPANTS. 
          THE FUNDING ACTUALLY SUPPORTS THE PERSONNEL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A ONE TO 100 CASE MANAGER TO PARTICIPANT RATIO. 
          UM, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, WE ALSO BUDGETED $500 FOR EMERGENCY AID PARTICIPANTS BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM PROJECT QUEST. 
          AS TO THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE THEY TYPICALLY PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS, WE ASSUME THAT HALF OF THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WOULD NEED TO ACCESS THIS AID AS, UM, IT'S GONNA BE ISSUED OR AWARDED ON, ON A NEED BASE, UM, AND DETERMINED BY THE CASE MANAGERS AS THEY'RE WORKING WITH PARTICIPANTS. 
          AND THEN WE ALSO INCLUDED $2 MILLION, UM, IN THE SAMPLE BUDGET FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. 
          AND ALTHOUGH WE FULLY INTEND TO USE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS TO IMPLEMENT THIS INITIATIVE, THE INCREASED VOLUME OF PARTICIPANTS BEING SERVED AND INCREASED CONTRACT DELIVERABLES TO BE MONITORED WILL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT. 
          UH, AND THEN FINALLY, WE'RE ALSO INCLUDING CONSIDERATION FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THE INITIATIVE WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          ON TUESDAY, I ALSO BRIEFLY EXPLAINED HOW THE PROPOSED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE IS A RESULT OF THE FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND DEGREE COMPLETION. 
          CHAPTER 3 79 A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE PROVIDES FOR THE USE OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS TO CONDUCT THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE. 
          IN 2012, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE CREATION OF THE SAN ANTONIO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHICH IS CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT SAME YEAR. 
          VOTERS APPROVED A 1 8 1 8 CENT SALES TAX TO SUPPORT PRE-K FOUR SA AND CITY COUNCIL HAS CALLED AN ELECTION FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE TAX FOR AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT YEARS, STARTING IN 2021. 
          WHILE CHAPTER 3 79 A ALLOWS FOR MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS TO CONDUCT A VARIETY OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS, MUNICIPALITIES ARE LIMITED TO CREATING ONLY ONE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THE PROPOSED SALES TAX REVENUE WILL STILL FLOW THROUGH THE EXISTING MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. 
          UM, FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROPOSED WORKFORCE INITIATIVE, PRE-K FOUR SA WOULD ACTUALLY CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          CITY COUNCIL WOULD THEN DIRECTLY SET POLICY AND APPROVE BUDGETS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM, AND THE CITY MANAGER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          THIS TIMELINE SHOWS A FEW MILESTONES SHOULD VOTERS APPROVE THE INITIATIVE. 
          WE'LL START OFF WITH ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WITH OUR TARGET POPULATION, WHICH WILL BE OUR END USERS FOR THIS PROGRAM. 
          THIS FALL WILL ALSO COORDINATE WITH TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS AND TRAINING 
          [00:55:01]
PROVIDERS. 
          UM, WE'RE PLANNING FOR PERIODIC BRIEFINGS TO THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE BEGINNING IN OCTOBER. 
          AND SHOULD VOTERS APPROVE THE INITIATIVE, UH, COUNCIL STATUS BRIEFINGS WOULD BEGIN IN EARLY 2021. 
          WE WOULD SEEK COUNCIL APPROVAL OF PROGRAM POLICIES IN APRIL AND THEN RETURN, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND BUDGET IN JUNE. 
          UM, THIS TIMELINE WOULD FACILITATE PROGRAM LAUNCH IN THE FALL OF 2021. 
          BUT FOR, UH, NEXT SLIDE. 
          FOR NOW, WE'RE, UM, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA SHIFT, UH, SHIFT OVER TO OUR, UH, MADAM CITY CLERK, WHICH I BELIEVE IS GONNA, UH, MAKE A COUPLE OF PRE UH, PRESENT A COUPLE OF ITEMS AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALEX. 
          JUST WANTED TO GO OVER THE, UM, CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY. 
          WE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TO CONDUCT A JOINT ELECTION WITH OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. 
          THE CITY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR PROPORTIONATE COSTS OF THE, UH, ELECTION AND VOTING PRECINCTS AND HOURS ARE GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          HERE'S DATES INDICATING, UM, WHEN WE'RE GOING TO CALL THE ELECTION, WHICH IS TODAY AUGUST 13TH. 
          UM, OCTOBER 5TH IS THE DEADLINE FOR RESIDENTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE. 
          THE 13TH OF OCTOBER IS THE FIRST DAY FOR EARLY VOTING. 
          OCTOBER 30TH IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY VOTING. 
          UM, NOVEMBER 3RD IS THE DEADLINE FOR BEXAR COUNTY TO RECEIVE MAIL-IN BALLOTS. 
          AND THEN ALSO NOVEMBER 3RD IS ELECTION DAY. 
          AND THEN BETWEEN NOVEMBER 6TH AND NOVEMBER 17TH, WE WOULD NEED TO CANVAS THE ELECTION RESULTS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. 
          STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT. 
          ALEX, I THINK IT'S UP TO YOU. 
          NOW. 
          YOU'RE MUTED. 
          ALEX. 
          ALEX, YOU'RE MUTED. 
          SORRY ABOUT THAT. 
          YES, THANK YOU. 
          MADAM CLERK STAFF DOES RECOMMEND ORDERING OF THE ELECTION, UM, TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, UM, IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, UH, TO AUTHORIZE THE EIGHTH OF ASCENT SALES, SALES AND NEWS TAX TO PROVIDE FOR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVES, UH, THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 3 79 A OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. 
          UM, VERY BRIEFLY, I WANT TO REITERATE MY APPRECIATION FOR THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS FAST PACE INITIATIVE, AND SPECIFICALLY TO OUR COUNCIL LIAISONS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, VRAN AND ROCIA FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND SUPPORT. 
          UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UM, ANNA ACEVEDO, ERIN NICHOLS AND JOSHUA CASTILLO AND LORI ZAMORA FROM, UM, FROM OUR STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING ON THIS, ALONG WITH THE E D D TEAM, UM, WHO'S MAKING SURE THAT THE MOMENTUM AND THE PACE FOR OUR RECOVERY WORK STAYS STRONG. 
          SO, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR, UH, AND COUNCIL, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS BEFORE, UH, WE HAND IT BACK TO YOU. 
          UM, I WANTED TO GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON, UH, A NUMBER OF, UH, UM, OF ISSUES HAVE BEEN RAISED AND THE PRIOR WORK SESSIONS REGARDING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROGRAM, UM, AND THE LINEAR CREEK PROGRAM. 
          SO LET ME, LET ME UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON, ON SOME, UM, SOME ACTIVITY ON THOSE FRONTS. 
          UM, THIS WEEK, UH, BEN GELLE BRIEFED THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD AT THEIR MEETING, A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON, UH, THE, UH, PROPOSED OPTION THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED. 
          WE DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER IN THE YEAR, UH, PRE COVID, WHICH WOULD, UH, TAKE AN INCREMENT OF, OF, OF OUR ANNUAL SAWS REVENUE AND CREATE A, UH, PLAN THAT WE WOULD ISSUE DEBT THROUGH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION TO CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM. 
          THE MAYOR, COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND MYSELF ARE MEETING WITH, UH, DR. 
          ROMERO NEXT WEEK. 
          AND, UH, THE, UH, THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD, UH, REVIEW A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THIS MONTH. 
          AND, UH, WE WOULD BRING FORWARD THE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER, EARLY SEPTEMBER, AN ORDINANCE CREATING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION WITH, UH, A, A COMPLIMENTARY FINANCIAL PLAN, UH, TO CONTINUE THE PROTECTION OF THE AQUIFER, UH, UNDER THE, UH, SAME PROVISIONS AND PROCESSES THAT WE UTILIZE. 
          UH, NOW, UH, OUR TARGET IS A 10 YEAR, A 10 YEAR PLAN FOR 10 MILLION DO, OR FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH, UH, THE OPTIONS WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, IN FEBRUARY WITH COUNCIL ON THE LINEAR CREEK. 
          UH, SO ON THAT FRONT, I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE ENTIRE 
          [01:00:01]
COUNCIL UPDATED AS WE, UH, CONTINUE WITH THAT DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. 
          IN TERMS OF LINEAR CREEKS, UH, JUST A A QUICK REMINDER THAT THE COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, DID APPROVE AN ITEM, UH, BACK IN, UH, FEBRUARY. 
          UH, IT WAS A BROADER, UH, PROGRAM THAT, UH, WAS FOCUSED ON BOTH WATERSHED AND LINEAR CREEK DEVELOPMENT. 
          UM, THAT THAT IS A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM. 
          UM, THE MAYOR AND I ARE CLOSELY WORKING WITH, UH, THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COUNTY MANAGER, UH, TO, UM, UH, FINALIZE THAT, UH, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR OWN PROCESSES, BUT, BUT I THINK, UM, IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THAT, UH, THAT, THAT THE PLAN THEY APPROVED EARLIER IN THE YEAR ASSUME THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT THE LINEAR CREEK PROGRAM, UM, ON OUR INCREMENTS THAT ARE, ARE NOT BUILT OUT, THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT UNDER OUR, OUR PROCESSES AND OUR CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES, SO THAT WE'VE GOT CONSISTENCY, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU'RE AT ON THE, UH, CREEK WAY. 
          UH, SO WE'LL, WE'LL, I'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COUNCIL UPDATED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND, AND WE'LL, UH, WE'LL, UH, CONTINUE TO, UH, WORK WITH THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR OWN FINANCIAL PLAN. 
          THEY'VE NOT ADOPTED, THEY'VE NOT PROPOSED THEIR BUDGET YET AS WELL. 
          AND, AND THIS WAS A FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT. 
          SO THOSE ARE TWO THINGS. 
          I, I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL, AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE THEY'RE AT BEFORE YOU, UH, START CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM. 
          THANKS, MAYOR. 
          GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, ERIC. 
          AND WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, BUT I FIRST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO ARE HERE, OF COURSE, OUR COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VERAN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. 
          UH, WE HAVE DR. 
          CYNTHIA MATSON, UH, FROM TEXAS A AND M SAN ANTONIO, ALONG WITH CHANCELLOR MIKE FLORES FROM THE ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF DR. 
          AMY FROM U T S A IS HERE YET, AND I ALSO DO SEE THE COMPOST FROM H E B WHO, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, CRAIG BOYAN, I'VE BEEN A VITAL MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AS THIS PLAN HAS COME TOGETHER. 
          UM, EVERYONE'S AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST LET'S GET TO OUR CITIZEN COMMENT. 
          AND WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CONNECTED. 
          UM, AND SO I'LL CALL THEM IN ORDER, UH, AND I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME ON THE LIST LIST IF YOU CAN GET READY. 
          AND IF YOU'RE NOT CONNECTING WITH US, I'LL MOVE ALONG UNLESS YOU'RE ABLE TO GET CONNECTED. 
          SO ANALISA PEACE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JIM SMILE. 
          UH, YES, THIS IS ANALISA PEACE. 
          I'M, UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GREATER REDFORD CIRCLE FOR ALLIANCE. 
          WE HAVE 15 SAN ANTONIO MEMBER GROUPS. 
          UM, HE HAS A VERY STRICT PROCESS FOR TAKING POSITIONS ON ISSUES BECAUSE WE REQUIRE A HUNDRED PERCENT CONSENSUS FROM OUR MEMBER GROUPS. 
          IN JANUARY OF 2019, WHEN SOMEBODY WHO SELLS TRANSPORTATION BONDS DECIDED THAT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE THE SHIP, THE SALES TAX, UH, FROM AQUIFER PROTECTION, UH, TO TRANSPORTATION, UM, OUR MEMBER GROUPS WERE ASKED TO REVIEW THE CONNECT SA PLAN PRIOR TO MEETING SO WE COULD MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. 
          WE CONSULTED A TRANSPORTATION EXPERT TO LOOK AT THE PLAN, AND WE CONSULTED THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM, SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION TEAM TO DETERMINE A NEED FOR CONTINUING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
          DURING THE SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS, FOLKS VERY THOUGHTFULLY WEIGHED THE MERITS OF THE, UH, EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM IN THE GREENWAY TRAILS AGAINST CONNECT SA AND DECIDED THAT IN THEIR OPINION, THE SALES TAX SHOULD NOT BE SHIFTED. 
          AS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, NO ONE EVEN ASKED OUR OPINION. 
          WE REGRET THAT YOU DID NOT MAKE THE SAME EFFORT TO CONSIDER THE MERITS FOR THE PROGRAMS AS CAREFULLY AS DID THE GIA GROUPS. 
          THERE WAS A SHORT STAFF PRESENTATION ON THE A A P P AND THE GREENWAY TRAILS AT A COMMITTEE MEETING. 
          UH, BUT YOU'VE NEVER HAD A PRESENTATION BY EXPERTS THAT DISCUSSES THE FINDING THEIR FINDINGS OF THE NEED FOR CONTINUING THESE PROGRAMS. UM, SO, UH, THIS WOULD'VE PROVIDED A SCIENTIFIC OPINION TO COUNTER VARIOUS STATEMENTS THAT ARE BEING BANDIED ABOUT, UH, SAYING THAT THE E A P P IS NO LONGER NEEDED. 
          UM, SO FRANKLY, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL, UH, START TAKING AQUIFER PROTECTION MORE SERIOUSLY MOVING FORWARD. 
          WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS MANY COMPETING NEEDS, YET WE FEEL THAT, UH, THE PROPOSALS TO MEET THESE VARIOUS NEEDS HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER IN KIND OF A SLAP DASH MANNER WITHOUT FULLY EXAMINING HOW WE MIGHT BEST WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR CITY BOTH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE. 
          UM, TODAY WITH THIS BOAT, UH, YOU ARE DISCUSSING, UH, PERMANENTLY RETIRING TWO HIGHLY POPULAR PROGRAMS. 
          [01:05:01]
THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM IS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS SUCCESSFUL MODEL OF WATERSHED PROTECTION. 
          IT WAS AWARDED THIS YEAR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S SUSTAINABILITY AWARD. 
          UH, AND THE GREENWAY TRAILS ARE WIDELY USED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION WHILE PROTECTING SAN ANTONIO'S RIGHT AREA AREAS. 
          UM, UH, AS OF TODAY, WE SEE, UH, IDEAS ABOUT CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS, BUT NOTHING SECURE. 
          SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH Y'ALL ON, UH, KEEPING THESE PROGRAMS VITAL AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED, AND WE HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE, UM, I THINK, OH, THANK YOU, MS. UH, WE HAVE JIM SMILE ON THE LINE. 
          MR. SMILE, ARE YOU ABLE TO CONNECT? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE TO CAROL PATTERSON, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          MY NAME IS CAROL PATTERSON. 
          I HAVE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS OF THE EDWARDS UNDERGROUND WATER DISTRICT. 
          BEFORE THAT, I SPEAK ON MY OWN BEHALF. 
          I'M IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE SALES TAX FOR AQUIFER PROTECTION IN PART, WHICH WOULD BE REPLACED BY ORDINANCE 20 DASH 4 6 6 3. 
          THE QUESTIONS ARE, HOW MUCH PROTECTION OF THE AQUIFER IS NEEDED? WHAT IS THE COST OF PROTECTING OR NOT PROTECTING OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF WATER FROM THE EDWARDS? AND WHAT CAN BE DONE THIS MORNING? PROTECTING WATER QUALITY HAS A GOOD RULE OF THUMB. 
          PROTECT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL WATERSHED, INCLUDING THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE WHERE MOST OF THE RAINFALL OCCURS. 
          WE ESPECIALLY NEED TO PROTECT AREAS MOST VULNERABLE TO POLLUTION SUCH AS STREAMS AND ADJACENT AQUIFERS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE EDWARDS ALREADY A SERIOUS SPILL OF GASOLINE THAT AFFECTED POLLUTED MANY PRIVATE WELLS HAS OCCURRED JUST ABOVE THE EDWARDS RECHARGE ZONE. 
          F D A A STAFF PUBLISHED A WHITE PAPER IN 2018. 
          THEY CAN BRIEF YOU IN DETAIL. 
          AT MINIMUM, WHAT IS NEEDED IS MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE 6% OF WATERSHEDS PROTECTED TODAY. 
          PROTECTING QUANTITY OF WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMITS FROM THE AQUIFER REQUIRES THE REGION TO PROTECT MINIMUM SPRING FLOWS AT COMAL AND SAN MARCO SPRINGS TO THE SATISFACTION OF US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. 
          IF MORE IMPERVIOUS COVER COMBINES WITH CLIMATE CHANGE TO REDUCE DROUGHT RECHARGE, GREATER CRITICAL PERIOD REDUCTIONS COULD BE REQUIRED. 
          AND AT THE TIME, THE INCIDENTAL TANK PERMIT HELD BY THE CITY AND HAWS IS SUBJECT TO RENEWAL IN 2028. 
          THE POTENTIAL COST OF BUILDING TREATMENT PLANTS OR REPLACING WATER SUPPLY WOULD COST BILLIONS WITH A BE OF DOLLARS. 
          THAT'S WHATS THE MILLIONS SPENT SO FAR IN PERSPECTIVE. 
          THE FAR MORE DETAILED PRESENTATION BY WATER SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS IS NEEDED THAN I CAN GIVE YOU IN THREE MINUTES. 
          THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY STANDS READY TO ASSIST. 
          IF YOU WISH TO CALL ON THEM. 
          YOU NEED A FULL PRESENTATION AT OF A SESSION OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE WATER SUPPLY AND NOT PUT IT AT RISK. 
          AND WHAT WOULD BE THE COST OF NOT DOING SO? THE CITY'S OWN CONSULTANT, L M I HAS EXPLAINED THAT SOURCE PERMITS ARE NOT PROTECTED IN DROUGHT THROUGH 27 AND ONLY 68% PROTECTED IN TIMES OF AVERAGE RAINFALL IN 2070. 
          WE NEED TO INCREASE THE PRESENT LEVEL OF FUNDING, NOT REDUCE IT TO HALF. 
          AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED TO THE 10 MILLION A YEAR. 
          WE NEED TO KEEP THE 20. 
          WE NEED TO SEEK REGIONAL COLLABORATION TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. 
          YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE. 
          THANK YOU, MS. PATTERSON. 
          NO RUSH. 
          UH, WE HAVE NOW VIRGINIA MATA FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ. 
          GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          MY NAME IS VIRGINIA MATA. 
          I AM A COPS METRO LEADER AND A PARISHIONER AT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHICH IS IN THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          MY TWIN SISTER AND I ARE THE YOUNGEST OF 11 
          [01:10:01]
CHILDREN, AND WE WERE RAISED BY MY MOTHER. 
          PEOPLE SPEAK AS BEING THE FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THEIR FAMILY. 
          BUT MY TWIN SISTER AND I WERE THE FIRST GRADUATE TO THE FIRST TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR FAMILY AND THE FIRST TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. 
          I AM THE FIRST MILITARY OFFICER IN MY FAMILY AND THE FIRST TO EARN AN ADVANCED DEGREE. 
          I RETIRED FROM THE NAVY AS A LIEUTENANT COMMANDER IN 2017. 
          I DON'T MEAN TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU INVEST IN PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY, THEY WILL RISE. 
          I HAD THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND I CREDIT THEM FOR HELPING ME TO SEE THAT I COULD DO MORE WITH MY LIFE. 
          AND I DID. 
          BUT SADLY, MUCH, MUCH, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE WEBSITE OR SOUTH. 
          LIKE TODAY, IF YOU DRIVE DOWN OLD HIGHWAY 90 OR CASTROVILLE ROAD, YOU TWO WILL NOTICE THAT NOT MUCH HAS HAS CHANGED WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO 1980 OR EVEN LATER TODAY. 
          STON NEED THIS INVESTMENT MORE THAN EVER. 
          IT IS NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT ALSO THE RIGHT INVESTMENT. 
          THE SEATS THAT YOU PLAN TODAY WILL HAVE A LASTING EFFECT AND WILL HELP SAN ANTONIO RISE FROM THE SHADOWS TO THE LIGHT. 
          IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS INITIATIVE, COPS METRO WILL STAND BY YOU AND WE WILL WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE TO GET THE VOTE OUT FOR THIS INITIATIVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          THANK YOU, MS. MATA. 
          WE HAVE ANTONIO DIAZ FOLLOWED BY COSTA COLEMAN. 
          YES. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU. 
          GO AHEAD, ANTONIO. 
          UH, MS. OGA IS MS. OGA SIGNED UP BECAUSE SHE'S GIVING ME HER TIME? UH, SHE IS, UH, DEANNA, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? YES, SIR. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, GO AHEAD, ANTONIO. 
          YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. 
          UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC MEETINGS. 
          THERE MUST BE SOME VIOLATION OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME TO GET ON VERY HARD TIME. 
          WE'RE TRYING SINCE EIGHT IN THE MORNING, AND I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE REMOVAL OF THE COLUMBUS STATUTE. 
          WAS NOT ABLE TO, BECAUSE I HEARD YOU CALL THE NAMES. 
          YOU DIDN'T CALL MY NAME OR MS. UGA. 
          SO WE'RE ONLY SIGNED UP FOR THIS. 
          AND WHILE CONTINUING EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATE TAKING THE SALES TAX OUT OF PROTECTING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER SHOULDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE I'LL SAY IT IN SPANISH, AWA ES VIDA, AND WE, WE START JUST FORGETTING ABOUT TAKING CARE OF, UH, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER. 
          THEN WE'RE SAYING WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR WATER. 
          SO, UH, TRYING TO EDUCATE 10,000 OR SO AND PUT THEM THROUGH TRAINING, IT SEEMS TO ME A BUREAU CRITICAL DECISION THAT WILL HELP A FEW THAT MAY NEED IT. 
          AS WE'VE HEARD, MY MY FRIEND DIANA OGA CONSTANTLY GO UP THERE AND ASK FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM Y'ALL FOR SOME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. 
          MAYBE THIS WILL HELP HER, BUT HOW MANY OF THE ONE POINT SOME ODD MILLION WILL BE GETTING LESSER QUALITY WATER BECAUSE OF IT, INSTEAD OF JUST THE 10,000 THAT YOU'RE TARGETING. 
          SO WHILE I WOULD SAY IT'S A GOOD IDEA, I WOULD SAY YOU ALSO REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO PROTECTING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, UH, TAKING FUNDING FROM IT. 
          AND THE WAY THAT FASHION THAT YOU'VE DONE IS JUST NOT EQUITABLE. 
          IT IS NOT RIGHT. 
          NOW, I WANT TO STILL SPEAK ON WHAT I HAD SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND THIS, I GUESS YOU COULD CHALK IT UP TO EDUCATION. 
          YOU HAD ONE GENTLEMAN SPEAK ON THE, THE, THE STATUE AS SOME SAYING THAT, UH, COLUMBUS BROUGHT FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BROUGHT, UH, IMMIGRANTS FLEEING TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE FREEDOM OF RELIGION WHEN THAT IS FALSE. 
          COLUMBUS TOOK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE,  PEOPLE TO SPAIN AND SOLD THEM ON THE SLAVE BLOCK THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT IN HISTORY THAT IS TRUE HISTORY. 
          NOT FALSE, NOT SOMETHING WISHFUL OR MADE UP, BUT TRUE. 
          SO, TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO, UH, GIVE HONORS TO, TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING OF 
          [01:15:01]
THE PAST AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING, UH, THE RELIABLE REVOLUTIONARIES TELLING YOU THAT THE, UH, ITEMS 1 74 AND 1 43 THAT CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE STOP WA AND THE POLICE ABUSE, UH, WERE ENACTED BEFORE, UH, WHEN MINORITIES WERE DISENFRANCHISED VOTERS. 
          AND YET YOU NEED TO LOOK AT HISTORY WHEN THESE STATUES WERE ERECTED, EVEN IF IT WAS IN 1957, SAN ANTONIO WAS STILL VERY MUCH A WHITE CONTROLLED CITY. 
          WE USED TO HAVE K K K MARCHES HERE IN 1920S AND THIRTIES. 
          SO TO THINK THAT, UH, HISTORY, TRUE HISTORY IS, IS ACTUALLY A TALK OR, OR IN ANY WAY ENACTED IN IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND IN OUR CITY IS FALSE, IS STILL MAINTAINING WHITE SUPREMACY. 
          SO CONTINUING WITH THAT STATUE, AND IF THAT STREET IS NOT RENAMED, BECAUSE THAT USED TO BE, UH, CONCHO STREET, WHEN THAT USED TO BE A MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT WAS DISPLACED AGAIN THROUGH GROWTH AND CHANGE BY THE HIGHWAYS, BUT THEN BY THE ITALIAN SOCIETY, SO TO SAY. 
          AND THERE IS NO ITALIAN, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE AREA OR COMMUNITY IN THE AREA AT ALL EXCEPT FOR THE CHURCH AND THE HALL. 
          SO WE'RE NOT DISPLACING ANYONE AS WE WERE DISPLACED. 
          SO AGAIN, UH, CHANGES INEVITABLE. 
          PROGRESS IS INEVITABLE, BUT IT SHOULD BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MANY, NOT THE FEW. 
          SO WE, THE MANY HAVE BEEN ENCUMBERED BY, UM, RACIAL PREJUDICE DISCRIMINATION FOR, I GUESS SINCE COLUMBUS. 
          I REACHED THE SHORES OF, UH, THE ISLANDS OF CUBA, OR, OR, OR SANTO DOMINGO, OR , WHEREVER YOU WANT TO SAY THAT. 
          HE LANDED AND, AND, AND STARTED TAKING OUR PEOPLE AS SLAVES TO SPAIN STARTED KILLING AND CHOPPING OFF HANDS OF CHILDREN FOR NOT BRINGING ENOUGH GOLD TO HIM. 
          THIS IS TRUE HISTORY, NOT FALSIFIED HISTORY. 
          WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THAT STREET NAMED COLUMBUS AROUND PLAZA ITALIAN, WHERE IT USED TO BE CONCHO MORALES STREET. 
          AND THERE WAS A VIBRANT MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. 
          THAT AREA WAS ONCE CALLED LITTLE . 
          AND THE MARKET SQUARE WAS ACTUALLY AN OPEN MARKET. 
          'CAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME ABOUT THAT. 
          WE HAVE STORIES. 
          I ACTUALLY WENT TO JOHN B. HOOD SCHOOL WHERE BEFORE IT CLOSED, I USED TO LIVE ON HALL STREET. 
          IT'S NO LONGER THERE. 
          SO YEAH, I KNOW MY HISTORY AND I KNOW THE AREA I HOPE FOR, FOR, FOR PROGRESS, AND I HOPE FOR CHANGE, AND I PROBABLY WILL SUPPORT THIS ITEM IF IT GETS TO, TO, TO THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          I WOULD WISH. 
          THANK YOU, MR. DIAZ. 
          UM, WE'RE HAVING, UH, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CONNECT, UH, WITH SIMA COLVIN OR JACK FINGER. 
          UH, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH JIM SMILE. 
          SO, UH, JIM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, MY NAME IS JIM SMILE. 
          I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE. 
          HOWEVER, I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE OR ITS BOARD. 
          I'M SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL. 
          WHEN I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, I WAS ASKED TO INDICATE IF I WAS FOR AGAINST OR NEUTRAL ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. 
          UH, I I COULDN'T ANSWER. 
          SO SIMPLY, I'M, I AM FOR, BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL NEED TO PUT IN PLACE OF POST COVID ECONOMIC RECOVERY TO ADDRESS OUR TWO HIGH POVERTY LEVELS AND PAST AND ONGOING UNADDRESSED EQUITY ISSUES. 
          HOWEVER, I'M AGAINST, AS WE'RE DOING AWAY WITH AN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL FOR WATER QUALITY PROTECTION. 
          AND THIS, WITHOUT HAVING YET PUT FORWARD, ROBUST AND CREDIT CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE AS TO NEUTRAL AND CLEARLY NOT THAT, UH, TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST OF COUNSEL TO PLEASE, UH, EDUCATE YOURSELVES ON WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE AND PROTECT THE, UH, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, WHICH IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT AND AFFORDABLE WATER SUPPLY. 
          I THINK THE FIRST STEP IN EDUCATING YOURSELVES ON WHAT IS AT STAKE AND WHAT IS NEEDED, UH, IS TO KNOW THAT, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STUDY THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU FROM 2018, UH, WHICH THE CITY, UH, CONTRACTED TO POSE A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED TO PROTECT CAME BACK WITH, UH, A CONCLUSION THAT AROUND 58,000 MORE ACRES OF PROTECTION 
          [01:20:01]
WOULD BE ADEQUATE TO PROTECT OUR MEATED WATER SUPPLY UNTIL 2070. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CONCLUSION IS TREMENDOUSLY FLAWED. 
          THAT BETRAYS A FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE AQUIFER FUNCTIONS AND OF OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. 
          IN ESSENCE, THAT STUDY IMPLIES THAT SINCE WE ONLY ARE GOING TO DRINK HALF OF THE WATER IN THE GLASS, WE NEED NOT BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT CONTAMINATION THE OTHER HALF, UH, GIVEN TIME CONSTRAINTS. 
          I DON'T FEEL THAT I CAN GO INTO ANY DETAIL ON WHY OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE AQUIFER FUNCTION INDICATES THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO, NOR IS THERE TIME TO GO INTO WHAT MY CONSTITUTES IN MY OPINION, A A CREDIBLE RESPONSE. 
          BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IT WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUNDING THAN THE $10 MILLION PER YEAR, UH, CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED, WHICH I WOULD POINT OUT IN TERMS OF PURCHASING POWER, IS WORTH ONLY ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WHAT THE, UH, O ORIGINAL, UM, AMOUNT, UH, THAT'S PASSED BY THE VOTERS BACK 2005. 
          SO WE HAVE NOT ONLY, WE NOT KEPT UP WITH PURCHASING POWER, BUT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY LESSED . 
          UM, ALSO, I WOULD SAY IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN JUST MONEY, UH, THE INSUFFICIENT UNLESS OTHER CITY POLICIES AND AND DEVELOPMENT CODES ALIGN WITH THE NEED FOR, UH, CONSERVATION OBJECTION OF SENSITIVE AND CRITICAL AREAS. 
          SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND IN CLOSING, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT HE'S BEEN PROVIDING ON THIS, THIS ISSUE OF LIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MR. SMILE. 
          OKAY, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR DISCUSSION, I DO WANNA TURN OVER TO, UH, MEMBER OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO ARE HERE BRIEFLY. 
          SO, UH, START WITH THE E THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR, FOR HAVING US AND FOR ENTERTAINING THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. 
          ON BEHALF OF CRAIG BOYAN, PRESIDENT OF H E B AND OUR ALMOST 22,000 EMPLOYEES IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE. 
          UM, AS OF TODAY, WE ARE ON DAY 168 OF OUR H E B EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, BEING ACTIVE IN RESPONSE TO COVID. 
          THANKS FOR USING WEBEX. 
          VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW. 
          IT'S NOT, AND IT IS, UH, IT IS NOT OVER YET. 
          WE CONTINUE TO, UH, AND, AND AS WE PREPARE TO GO INTO THE FALL, UM, WE KNOW THAT, UH, TRAINING OUR WORKFORCE AND TAKING CARE OF SAN ANTONIANS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 
          UM, WE ARE ALSO VERY CONFIDENT AS WE ARE EQUALLY AS PASSIONATE ABOUT PROTECTING OUR AQUIFER AND HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY ABOUT THE PLANS AND OUR CONFIDENT THAT FUNDING FOR THE AQUIFER, UH, WILL, WILL CONTINUE. 
          AND, UM, WE SUPPORT, UH, THIS BALLOT INITIATIVE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, MS. CAMPO. 
          UM, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, DR. 
          MIKE FLORES FROM ALIMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT HERE, UM, CHANCELLOR FLORES. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, WHILE WE GET, UH, SOME TECHNICAL WORK OUT WITH MIKE, LET ME MOVE NOW TO DR. 
          CYNTHIA TPE MATSON FROM TEXAS A M SAN ANTONIO. 
          GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND MY FELLOW, UH, COLLEAGUES ON, ON CITY COUNCIL. 
          IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. 
          I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, TALENT IS UNIVERSAL. 
          OPPORTUNITY IS NOT, AND THIS PROGRAM WHICH WE ARE SUPPORTING FROM TEXAS A AND M UNIVERSITY'S PERSPECTIVE IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, COLLABORATION WITHIN A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, FOR FOREMOST, MY COLLEAGUES AT ALAMO COLLEGES AND MY COLLEAGUES AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN SAN ANTONIO, AS WELL AS TEXAS A AND M HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          UH, WE, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER PROVIDING AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION FOR DISPLACED WORKERS AND PEOPLE IN NEED WHERE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE A COLLEGE DEGREE WHEN THEY HAVE SOME CREDITS. 
          UH, I RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL AND THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. 
          WE BELIEVE WE PROVIDE A LOT OF THAT SUPPORT WITHIN OUR CURRENT UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES AND ARE PREPARED TO DO MORE TO HELP DURING THIS VERY CRITICAL TIME. 
          UH, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE DATA AND THE STATISTICS ON COVID 19 AND ITS IMPACT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE UNDERSTAND, UH, THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF DISTRICT THREE AND DISTRICT FOUR. 
          MY UNIVERSITY RESIDES IN DISTRICT THREE, AND A PORTION IS IN DISTRICT FOUR. 
          I AM A PERSONAL RESIDENT IN DISTRICT THREE AS WELL, AND I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF MY COUNCILWOMAN, UH, REBECCA  AND ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA IN LEADING THE EFFORT. 
          IT HAS BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE WITHIN INDUSTRY, WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION AND WITHIN THE CITY. 
          AND I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM, WHICH I AM SUPPORTIVE OF, HAS 
          [01:25:01]
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A NATIONAL MODEL THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK TO FOR SUCCESS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN WE SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN, UH, JOB PLACEMENT, EMPLOYMENT RATES, AND A DECREASE IN POVERTY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. 
          AND TO MY COLLEAGUES. 
          THANK YOU, DR. 
          MATSON. 
          UM, I SEE DR. 
          TAYLOR, AMY FROM U T S A, DR. 
          AMY MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I ECHO MANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, PRESIDENT TENTE MATSON HAS, HAS EXPRESSED. 
          I WOULD, I WOULD NOTE THIS, AND I'VE, I'VE SHARED THIS THOUGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS THAT, UH, EDUCATION IS A WONDERFUL EQUALIZER. 
          A TWO YEAR OR FOUR YEAR DEGREE IS REALLY, REALLY ESSENTIAL FOR IMPACTING THE TRAJECTORIES OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN TERMS OF, EXCUSE ME, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. 
          I'M VERY PLEASED TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE, EXCUSE ME. 
          AND, UH, I DO THINK THAT THE INITIAL FOCUS ON WORKFORCE TRAINING, RETRAINING AND CERTIFICATES IS THE RIGHT BLEND GOING FORWARD. 
          WE, WE, WE AT U T S A ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE TO MAKE THIS AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT CAN BE. 
          IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M, I'M GLAD TO BE A PARTICIPANT AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE WORKED WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM IN DEVELOPING THOSE. 
          THANKS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I ECHO MANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, THANK YOU, DR. 
          AMY. 
          I THINK WE HAVE, UM, DR. 
          FLORES ON THE LINE. 
          UH, SO LET, LET ME PUT DR. 
          FLORES ON YOU UP THE FLOOR. 
          GOOD, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I JUST WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR CONVENING THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALSO, UM, IT'S, UH, WORKING WITH COUNCILWOMAN  AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ROCHA GARCIA. 
          I THINK WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT ARE THE TWO OR THREE FACTORS THAT WE FACE. 
          ONE WITH COVID 19, WHICH HAS COMPOUNDED, UM, BOTH, UH, ANTONIO'S STATUS, UM, AS THE LARGEST URBAN CENTER. 
          AND OUR CHALLENGE WITH CONFRONTING INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY. 
          I THINK THE OTHER IS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ONE OF OUR LONG-TERM CHALLENGES THAT WILL ADDRESS POVERTY, WHICH IS TALENT. 
          HOW CAN WE CREATE LOCAL TALENT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ENSURES THAT WE WILL UPSCALE AND UPGRADE FAMILIES THAT ARE CHALLENGED IN EACH AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN ANTONIO? AND HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY BE ENFRANCHISED AND TAKE PART IN A POST COVID ECONOMY? AND SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS PLAN WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM COMPOSED OF BUSINESS LEADERS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND PRACTITIONERS, IT WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE US FORWARD. 
          AND I WANNA THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY AND DOING SO AND BEING ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN SERVE UP TO 10,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE POST HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL. 
          WE SEE THE VALUE EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH OUR CURRENT 65,000 STUDENTS THAT ARE ACHIEVE EARNINGS ANNUALLY OF CLOSE TO $10,000 WITH A POST HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR LIFETIME. 
          AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THAT WILL HELP THEM CROSS THE FINISH LINE AND BEING FRANCHISED WITHIN A BETTER JOB ECONOMY IN THE FUTURE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU, MIKE. 
          THANK YOU, DR. 
          FLORES. 
          UM, AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND START BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN, UM, BY THANKING, UH, ALEX LOPEZ FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, FANTASTIC WORK. 
          UH, THE, UH, ALEX, UH, OVER THE LAST WEEK IN, IN PARTICULAR, PUTTING TOGETHER THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I THINK, UH, PEOPLE WILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN SEEING AS WE MOVE THIS TO THE BALLOT. 
          CVID 19 HAS WREAKED HAVOC ACROSS SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 
          LOVED ONES LOST FAMILIES, DEVASTATED BUSINESSES, CLOSED JOBS GONE. 
          THE REALITY OF THIS SITUATION HAS MADE ALL THE MORE GRIM, KNOWING SO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES WERE AT THE WELL IN ADVANCE OF THESE MOMENTS. 
          60,000 FAMILIES STRUGGLED WITH FOOD SECURITY BEFORE ANYBODY HAD EVER HEARD OF CORONAVIRUS. 
          THAT NUMBER DOUBLED IN THE DAYS AFTER THE BIG PANDEMIC BEGAN. 
          IT'S BEEN OUR CITY'S SHAMEFUL, POORLY HELD SECRET THAT FOR GENERATIONS CONCENTRATED POVERTY EXPANDED EVEN AS OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CITY BEGAN TO RISE. 
          I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES WHEN IN 2017 
          [01:30:02]
WE TOGETHER DECIDED TO NO LONGER LOOK THE OTHER WAY. 
          WE BEGAN TO ESTABLISH OUR PRIORITIES BASED ON BUILDING A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. 
          HOUSING, SECURITY, EQUITY, BUDGETING, PUBLIC HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, REFORM, RESILIENCY, ALAMO PROMISE. 
          NONE OF THESE EFFORTS IS EASY ON THEIR OWN. 
          COLLECTIVELY, THEY MIGHT SEEM IMPOSSIBLE, NO DOUBT, A THIRD THORNY PATH. 
          PERHAPS THAT IS WHY IT HAS BEEN LEFT UNADDRESSED IN OUR 302 YEAR OLD CITY. 
          NOW, IN THE FACE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE WORLD IS BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SO MANY SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES HAVE KNOWN FOR FAR TOO LONG, A LARGE AND GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVE ON THE EDGE OF CRISIS. 
          ONE HEALTH EVENT, ONE ACCIDENT, ONE LOST JOB AWAY FROM ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE. 
          COVID 19 HAS BECOME THAT EVENT OF THE MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO HAVE BEEN UN UNEMPLOYED SINCE THIS BEGAN. 
          MANY OF THEM ALREADY UNDEREMPLOYED TO BEGIN WITH. 
          ALL BUT A FEW LACK OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION CREDENTIAL OR TRAINING CERTIFICATE. 
          THAT IS A REQUIREMENT IN MOST JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE. 
          68,000 OF OUR AREA UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMANTS WERE EARNING LESS THAN $22,000 A YEAR. 
          NEARLY ONE IN FIVE. 
          SAN ANTONIO ADULTS DON'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR A G E D. 
          AND WE ALL, WE KNOW ALL OF THIS BECAUSE WE'VE MADE A POINT TO EXPLICITLY IDENTIFY OUR COMMUNITY'S STRUGGLES. 
          WE'VE COMMISSIONED REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN OUR CITY, IN OUR REGION'S POVERTY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, STRATEGIC PLAN TO TARGET GAPS OF SKILLS, TRAINING AND EDUCATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR ECONOMY, WHICH WE KNOW EXTEND TO OUR FAMILIES. 
          WE'VE HAD THE PLANS, THE REPORTS, AND THE IDEAS. 
          WE CAN RE-LITIGATE THE PAST UNTIL WE'RE BLUE IN THE FACE. 
          BUT OVER 150,000 SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE WAKE OF THIS PANDEMIC. 
          A QUARTER OF THOSE JOBS WON'T BE AVAILABLE EVER AGAIN. 
          WE NEED ACTION. 
          NOW. 
          WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THOSE REPORTS, ALL OF THOSE PLANS, AND SET THE STAGE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND OUR CITY INDUSTRY. 
          AND HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS, ORGANIZERS AND LABOR REPRESENTATIVES WORKED FEVERISHLY IN VIRTUAL MEETINGS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, BLENDING THEIR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND TALENTS TO AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR CITY. 
          NOW, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION 'EM EACH BY NAME. 
          CHRISTINA. 
          CHRISTINA ALTE FROM THE NORTH CHAMBER. 
          CRAIG BOY FROM H E V. 
          HARRIET DOMINIQUE FROM U S A A. 
          DR. 
          TAYLOR, AMY, U T S A, MARY FINGER FROM THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, DR. 
          MIKE FLORES, ALAMO COLLEGE'S DISTRICT, MARGIE FRENCH, THE SAN ANTONIO HARRIET FOUNDATION, LEO GOMEZ, BROOKS, KEVIN JONES, RACKSPACE, TUESDAY NIGHT, SAGE. 
          RICHARD PEREZ, SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER, JIM OCK, PORT SAN ANTONIO, SONIA RODRIGUEZ, COPS METRO. 
          KATE ROGERS, CHARLES, BUT FOUNDATION, TYLER SCHRADER, BOEING, DR. 
          CYNTHIA ETTE, AND MATTSON, TEXAS A AND M. 
          SAN ANTONIO, KEVIN VO TOYOTA. 
          AND OF COURSE, OUR COLLEAGUES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GRO AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. 
          ON SHORT NOTICE WITH THE INITIAL CHARGE OF ONLY GETTING FOLKS BACK TO WORK, YOU'VE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR CHANGING THE LIVES OF 40,000 SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES AND MAKING A FAR MORE EXPONENTIAL IMPACT ON OUR COLLECTIVE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. 
          PERHAPS UNSURPRISINGLY, THOUGH, NONETHELESS IMPRESSIVE, YOU MANAGED TO DO IT IN WEEKS, NOT MONTHS OR YEARS AT THE HEIGHT OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. 
          I WANT TO THANK OUR COLLEAGUES FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND STEWARDSHIP DURING COUNCIL'S RESETS TO HELP GET THIS FRAMEWORK ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. 
          AND THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR HONEST REPRESENTATION AND THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS. 
          YOUR WORK WILL HELP SHAPE THIS INITIATIVE TO FULLY SERVE EVERY CORNER OF THIS CITY. 
          THANK YOU TO ALEX, CARLOS, AND YOUR TEAMS FOR HELPING TO MATERIALIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S SHARED VISION. 
          AND I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY OWN STAFF, VALISE, OUR CHIEF, MICHELLE, OUR DIRECTOR OF POLICY, VICTORIA AND JUAN, OUR POLICY ADVISORS, BRUCE AND ZACH, OUR COMMUNICATIONS ROCIO, JACKIE, ALICE, CINDY, OUR ENTIRE TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. 
          AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          AS I WRAP UP, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE GRAPPLING WITH ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. 
          WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? SAN ANTONIO HAS ARRIVED 
          [01:35:01]
AT A SIMPLE, EQUITABLE CONCLUSION, BUILD A PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE, AND TOGETHER WE WILL THRIVE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. 
          I THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. 
          I FIRST WANT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BE A PART OF THIS, UM, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE LEADERSHIP TASK FORCE, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS YOU NAMED. 
          'CAUSE THEY WERE CRITICAL IN PERSPECTIVE AND CONVERSATION AND FRAMEWORK SPECIFICALLY TO OUR HIGHER ED PARTICIPANTS WHO HAD, UH, BEEN WORKING AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR MONTHS AND YEARS. 
          AND KNOWING THAT, UM, WE, WE HAD ISSUES THAT WAS NEEDED TO WORK THROUGH. 
          I WANNA THINK COPS METRO WHO HA WHO WAS ALSO PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, OUR DISTRICT THREE CONSTITUENTS. 
          AND, UH, AS WAS MENTIONED, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE ESTIMATED OVER 160,000 DISPLACED WORKERS. 
          WE HAVE NOT THIS LEADERSHIP GROUP, THE AMERI PUT TOGETHER, AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, SOUTHSIDE SISTER, DR. 
          ANO GARCIA, WE'VE NOT ONLY BEEN MEETING ONCE A WEEK, BUT EVERY DAY PRACTICALLY AND IN THE EVENINGS. 
          AND TO ALEX LOPEZ, HER TEAM MAYOR, YOUR TEAM VALISE, MICHELLE VICTORIA. 
          UM, THEY'VE PROBABLY BEEN WORKING OVERNIGHT AS WELL. 
          AND THERE, I REALLY WISH YOUR TEAM WAS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION TO SEE THEIR FACES BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T EVEN, UM, BEEN OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED OUT TO ALL OF ALL OF US. 
          BUT THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD, AND I THANK YOU FOR, UM, PUTTING THEM TO BE A PART OF THIS. 
          AND, UM, THE CHORUS THAT I'VE HEARD IN THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, IN THE ECONOMIC TRANSITION TEAM, IN THE BUSINESS RECOVERY AND RESPONSE. 
          AND AS ALEX JUST REMINDED US, THAT IN SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE THESE EDUCATION DISPARITIES. 
          WE HAVE THIS SKILLED WORKFORCE STAFF THAT WE'VE NEEDED PRIOR TO COVID, AND WE KNOW THIS ECONOMIC SEGREGATION AND THE NEED FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. 
          WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE STRIDES TO CHANGE THESE ISSUES. 
          NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ACT AND TO INVEST EVEN WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THESE DISPARITIES. 
          I KNOW MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR WOULD AGREE, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN OUR BELOVED CITY, THE OUTREACH THAT WE HAVE SEEN, THE HELPING HANDS THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE INDUSTRY LEADERS PUSHING AND PUTTING THEMSELVES FIRST, LIKE TO H E B, UM, AND U S A A, NOT JUST THE BEST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT THE BEST NATIONWIDE, LIKE TO YOU ALL MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, PUTTING FORTH THE SAFETY SUPPLY KITS, MOVING AND VOTING FORWARD WITH OUR GRANTS, AND WORKING WITH I G R TO GET THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS DOWN TO SAN ANTONIO. 
          BUT ALSO ADVOCATING FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED FROM THE FEDERAL ASPECT. 
          THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS TO SEE CHANGE THE VOICES FROM LONG AGO THAT ARE WANTING TO SEE CHANGE. 
          AND THAT MS. MATA WHO CALLED IN TALKING ABOUT COPS, METRO, AND THE FIGHT THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS. 
          THIS HERE, THIS IS THE PROGRAM, IS THIS PROGRAM IS ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY AND INVESTMENT IN CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY, NOT TO RESTORE AND TO RECOVER TO WHERE WE WERE, BUT TO CHANGE OUR TRAJECTORY. 
          WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW, MAYOR, HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE TO ENSURE BROAD BASED AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH. 
          BUT THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INTO CERTIFICATION CAN OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW REALM. 
          THIS CAN BE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR PEOPLE, IN OUR FUTURE, IN OURSELVES, A STRONGER TOMORROW TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF THE PAST. 
          SO LET'S TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS. 
          AND WITH THAT MAYOR, COLLEAGUES, I'M MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER VARON AND I, I, I, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, R GARCIA. 
          I, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE TO RE-ARTICULATE YOUR, YOUR SECOND. 
          I, I SAW YOU, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR THE AUDIO COME THROUGH. 
          SECOND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, UH, LET ME MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER GARCIA. 
          THANK 
          [01:40:01]
YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, I ECHO, UH, THE THANKS TO EVERYBODY, BUT I WANNA START OFF BY SHARING A NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT TO ME DURING THIS TIME. 
          THAT NUMBER IS THE NUMBER SIX. 
          SIX OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF C OVID 19 SIX COUSINS WHOSE EARLY ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, COMBINED WITH THE LACK OF ACCESS TO HIS HEALTHY HABITS AT A YOUNG AGE, CONTRIBUTED TO UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT THEY DEVELOPED AS ADULTS, THUS COMPLICATING THEIR ABILITY TO SURVIVE THIS UNFORGIVING VIRUS, THE MATRIARCH OF THAT FAMILY. 
          MY DAD'S SISTER, MY WORKED REALLY HARD, PHYSICALLY HARD TO PROVIDE FOR HER FAMILY, HER HUSBAND, MY MINGO AND HER TRAVELED, TRAVELED UP NORTH IN THEIR VAN EVERY YEAR TO WISCONSIN WITH THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY OF 10 CHILDREN TO PICK CROPS, LEAVING BEHIND THEIR HUMBLE HOME IN D FIVE, IN ZIP CODE 7 8 2 0 7 ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO ON CARRO STREET, ABOUT TWO BLOCKS WHERE MY COUSINS ARE NOW BURIED, AND WHERE TWO MORE WILL BE BURIED THIS WEEKEND, WHEN THEY'D COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, THERE WAS ALWAYS A CELEBRATION WITH TAMALES AND PLENTY OF . 
          MY T ROSA AND MY COUSINS WOULD GATHER AROUND THE TABLE AFTER WASHING DISHES AND PLAYED GAMES OF RIA WITH US. 
          SHE WOULD OFTEN TELL STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHT OF BOAT, WHO PICKED CROPS. 
          I RECALL IN HER STORIES THE NAMES OF CESA CHAVEZ AND THE RES HUTA WHO ADVOCATED FOR FAMILIES LIKE HERS, WHO WORKED THE FIELDS IN EL NORTE. 
          ALTHOUGH THERE WAS 10 KIDS TO FEED, THEY NEVER WENT HUNGRY. 
          THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF MY AUNT AND MY UNCLE. 
          BUT THEY OFTEN ATE WHAT WAS READILY AVAILABLE AND CHEAP, MANY TIMES A MEAL CONSTITUTING OF SUGAR PACKED ALTERNATIVES AND EMPTY CALORIES, WHICH IS WHAT THEY COULD AFFORD. 
          AND WHEN THEY GOT SICK, THEY KEPT WORKING BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD NOT TO. 
          NOW, I MUST ADMIT THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE STILL MIGRATING UP NORTH TO FIND WORK. 
          BUT I KNOW THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THE ONE WE ARE BEING PRESENTED TODAY WOULD'VE HELPED MAIA PROVIDE HER CHILDREN ACCESS TO AN EDUCATION, EDUCATION WITHOUT DISRUPTION, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND ACCESS TO AN OVERALL BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. 
          PERHAPS AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS FOR SKILLS, TRAINING, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER ACADEMIC DEGREES WOULD'VE LED TO A FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE JOB THAT WOULD'VE KEPT MY COUSINS FROM DEVELOPING THE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAD, INCLUDING DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION. 
          AND PERHAPS AS A RESULT, THEY WOULD'VE HAD A BETTER CHANCE OF SURVIVING. 
          BUT HERE WE ARE, A FAMILY MOURNING THE LOSS OF SIX OF ITS MEMBERS, SIX LIVES LOST IN EXACTLY SIX WEEKS. 
          TODAY OUR VOTE TO PLACE THIS INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT ALLOWS US TO CAST A VOTE TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF MANY FAMILIES. 
          AND WITH THIS SMALL STEP, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN BHAN AND THE FOLKS ON THE COMMITTEE AND THE WORKING GROUPS FOR UNITING TOGETHER AND BEGIN WHAT I THINK WILL BE A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF SAN ANTONIO'S TRAJECTORY. 
          AND PERHAPS WHEN THE NEXT 100 YEAR VIRUS ATTACKS UNEXPECTEDLY, OUR ACTION TODAY WILL HAVE GIVEN MORE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS A BETTER CHANCE OF SURVIVING IT. 
          SIX VOTES IS ALL IT TAKES TODAY FOR THIS COUNCIL TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE WHO WE WILL NEVER KNOW, BUT WHO WE CAN KEEP FROM SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC OPPRESSION THAT HAS HELD US BACK FOR SO LONG. 
          AND I'M SORRY I'M SO EMOTIONAL, BUT I JUST GOT NEWS THAT ONE OF MY CHURCH FAMILY MEMBERS PASSED AWAY A WHILE AGO, AND I'VE NOW LOST THREE CHURCH FAMILY MEMBERS TO COVID AS WELL. 
          SO, SORRY, MAYOR, I'LL GET IT TOGETHER. 
          BUT, UM, LOOKING AT MY NOTES FROM ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I MET WITH EMILY DONALDSON FROM THE END, OUR REPORT NOW SAN ANTONIO REPORT ABOUT A STORY REGARDING SCHOOL BOARDS. 
          I READ IN MY NOTES A REMINDER TO TELL HER THAT THE KEY TO ADDRESSING ANYTHING IS TO UNITE AND WORK TOGETHER. 
          IN D FOUR, THE POPULATION 
          [01:45:01]
IS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. 
          AND THE REALITY IS THAT THIS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS A LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, RESIDENTS LIKE THE ONES I REPRESENT, WILL BENEFIT FROM AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS. 
          AND AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE CITY WILL BENEFIT. 
          BUT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES, OVERLOOKED ERRORS AT BEST THAT HAVE ALLOWED THIS UNFAIRNESS TO HAPPEN. 
          COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE PORT SAN ANTONIO HAVE ALREADY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, ESTABLISHING INTERNSHIPS FOR KIDS TO SEE ROBOTS OPERATE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, OR LEARN ABOUT DEFENDING THEIR COUNTRY FROM ATTACKS FROM BEHIND A COMPUTER BY TEACHING THEM ABOUT CYBERSECURITY. 
          THE SOUTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS ANOTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT HAS STEPPED UP INVESTING TIME, MONEY, AND EFFORT INTO THE ALAMO CITY, HON, WHICH WAS ALSO CANCELED THIS YEAR, WHERE STUDENTS CAN BUILD AND RACE THEIR VERY OWN ELECTRIC POWERED CAR. 
          HOLD. 
          CAT TOYOTA AND CAST STEM HAVE ALSO CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS TO LEARN AND HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS THAT LEAD TO JOBS IN, IN DEMAND FIELDS. 
          AND I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS TO RECRUIT FROM OUR OWN BACKYARD. 
          OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE STEPPED UP, AND THIS TODAY IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO STEP UP TO, THIS IS OUR INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A VOTE TODAY THAT ALLOWS EVERY VOTER IN SAN ANTONIO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THEIR VOTE IN NOVEMBER, TO HELP PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER MET, BUT WHO MAY ONE DAY BE OR GIVE BIRTH TO THE PERSON WHO DEVELOPS THE VACCINE FOR A VIRUS, A CURE FOR A VIRUS, OR WHO MAY BECOME THE FIRST PERSON FROM SAN ANTONIO TO ACHIEVE THE PREVIOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE, INTEGRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, WHICH GAVE THE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE. 
          OF COURSE, I WOULD. 
          RIGHT? I'D LIKE TO SHARE THE WORDS OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY FACULTY ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, DR. 
          CARINA HU. 
          AS YOU KNOW, OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO IN ZIP CODE 7 8 2 0 7. 
          THESE REMARKS THAT I WILL QUOTE WERE DELIVERED THIS TUESDAY. 
          AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A PART OF HER REMARKS IN WHICH SHE CHAIRED THAT SHE CHAIRED THAT THE SISTERS OF CHARITY, THE SISTERS OF, UH, DIVINE PROVIDENCE, HAD THE RADICAL IDEA TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION TO WOMEN AND GIRLS AT A TIME IN HISTORY. 
          WHEN THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS ONLY AVAILABLE TO A FEW SELECTED WOMEN, THEIR IDEA BECAME A STATEMENT, AND A STATEMENT BECAME ACTION. 
          THEIR ACTION, DR. 
          HE STATED, CONTINUED DESPITE GLOBAL WARS, THE FLU PANDEMIC, THE GREAT DEPRESSION. 
          AND WHILE MANY CALLED FOR PEACE AND FOUGHT FOR THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS, DR, HE REMINDED US THAT THESE WOMEN WERE A GROUP WHO CARED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THEM, AND TOOK A STAND. 
          THEIR LEGACY OVER THE PAST 125 YEARS IS CLEAR. 
          AND TO QUOTE DR. 
          HEAL EVEN FOR FURTHER AN IDEA BECAME A STATEMENT, AND A STATEMENT BECAME ACTION. 
          SHE THEN REMINDED US THAT WE ARE HERE AGAIN IN 2020. 
          AND I QUOTE, WHEN THE WORLD IS DEALING WITH A MAJOR PANDEMIC THAT HAS AFFECTED MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, DISPROPORTIONATELY A YEAR IN WHICH MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR THEIR BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FIGHTING TO ERADICATE SOCIETAL ILLNESSES. 
          AND IN A YEAR WHEN GLOBALLY, THE CONCEPT OF LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN QUESTIONED MORE THAN EVER TODAY, THIS IS OUR COUNCIL'S OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN A LEGACY, TO TAKE THE IDEA AND MAKE IT A STATEMENT, GIVING OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE IT INTO ACTION THIS NOVEMBER. 
          THUS, AN IDEA BECOMING A STATEMENT AND A STATEMENT, BECOMING AN AUCTION, AN ACTION. 
          SO THANK YOU, DR. 
          HEID, FOR YOUR INSPIRING WORDS, WHICH I FOUND APPROPRIATE TO INTEGRATE INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION. 
          AND IN CLOSING, MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH SIX WORDS, SAN ANTONIO PUER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ROSA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. 
          UH, THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN FOR THOSE. 
          OH, SORRY. 
          LOOKS LIKE I TURNED OFF MY CAMERA BY MISTAKE. 
          UM, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN FOR REALLY THOSE INSPIRING WORDS. 
          I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. 
          AND, UH, I KNOW IT'S NOT UNIQUE. 
          WE ALSO, UH, HAVE LOST MANY FAMILY MEMBERS, UM, IN THIS, UH, COVID CRISIS. 
          TWO OF MY EMPLOYEES, UM, AT MY STORE LOST THEIR MOTHER'S AND A COUSIN, UH, OF MINE, AND OTHERS STILL REMAIN IN THE HOSPITAL. 
          SO I, I KNOW, UM, WHILE IT, 
          [01:50:01]
IT IS A, A PERSONAL LOSS, UH, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. 
          UM, MANY OF US HAVE, HAVE SUFFERED LOSSES OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND I THINK WE'RE GRATEFUL, UM, AT LEAST I AM FOR, FOR MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY. 
          UH, AND SO AS WE GO ON, UM, UH, TO TALK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS INITIATIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTIONS ARE PRIMARILY, UH, LOGISTIC. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE, I I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF ITERATIONS OF WORKFORCE PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS, UH, HAD A NUMBER OF THESE, UH, WORKFORCE, UH, TRAINING PROGRAMS, UH, ESPECIALLY THROUGH PROJECT QUEST, AND THERE HAS BEEN OTHERS STRESS FOR SUCCESS. 
          AND ALEX, YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS OVERSEEING SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS OVER THE YEARS, UH, ABOUT $5 MILLION OR SO IN WORKFORCE TRAINING INITIATIVES. 
          AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT? 4.7 MILLION? I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE, UH, 3.7, BUT IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THAT. 
          OH, OKAY. 
          UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, AND, AND, AND MUCH OF THAT WENT, UM, TO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, UM, CONCERN LIES BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, MANY, AND, AND, AND PERHAPS, SO I HAVE SORT OF A TWOFOLD QUESTION HERE. 
          SO, UH, MAYBE MIKE, UM, DR. 
          FLORES CAN HELP ME ANSWER, UH, OR DR. 
          MATSON, UH, OR ONE OF THE UNIVERSITIES. 
          UM, SO OUR STUDENTS, UH, THAT WERE IN, YOU KNOW, IN, IN VERY, UM, UH, LOW INCOME SITUATIONS LIKE OUR KIDS AT LANIER AND, UH, BRACKENRIDGE AND BURBANK, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR PROGRAMS LIKE PELL GRANTS AND, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          UM, ISN'T THAT RIGHT? UH, UM, DR. 
          FLORES, LIKE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ALAMO PROMISE JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS, THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS. 
          BUT THE CONCERN AS TO WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ADVANCE HAS BEEN JUST THE LACK OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES, OR AT LEAST THAT'S MY, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING. 
          I DON'T KNOW. 
          CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE TARGET IS WHERE, UH, I WANNA JUST FOCUS SOME OF MY ATTENTION, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR KIDS ARE ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR, FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          I THINK, UH, MIKE IS HAVING SOME TROUBLE WITH THE WEBEX. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM ON THE PHONE, UH, BUT WE WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO GET HIM REACHING. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, UM, THEN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, ALEX, MAYBE YOU CAN JUST, UM, ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT, OF THE, UM, PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT THROUGH PROJECT QUEST AND, AND DRESS FOR SUCCESS AND CHRYSALIS AND SOME OF THOSE OTHERS, HOW, HOW MUCH OF THAT 3.7 MILLION WENT TO WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND HOW MUCH ACTUALLY WENT TO TUITION ASSISTANCE? UM, THE, THE, THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE, I KNOW SPECIFICALLY ON PROJECT QUEST, AND IT IS OUR MOST SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT FROM THAT 3.7. 
          UM, APPROXIMATELY HALF OF IT GO, GOES TOWARDS THE SERVICES, THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, AND THE OTHER HALF IS FOR THE TRAINING ITSELF. 
          SO THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT IS VERY INTENSIVE, BUT IT'S CRITICAL TO, TO SERVE THAT POPULATION, UM, AND TO ENSURE TO, TO HELP PROMOTE THEIR COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING. 
          SO IT'S, IT'S AN ALMOST EQUAL INVESTMENT. 
          UM, AND SO, UH, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I'M SORRY. 
          UM, SO YES, YOU ARE, UH, DR. 
          MATSON, UH, AND DR. 
          FLORES ARE, CAN BOTH ANSWER YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS WELL. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THAT I, I GUESS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, MY QUESTION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY, UM, I GUESS YOU, MY, MY CONCERN, UH, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, UH, A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT ALREADY, UH, THAT OUR KIDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. 
          IT'S THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT I THINK THAT OUR FAMILIES NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN, YOU KNOW, ADVANCING THEIR EDUCATION. 
          UM, SO MAYBE YOU COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THAT PART. 
          UM, I, I, JUST, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, THAT, DR. 
          FLOTIS, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE ALAMO PROMISE PIECE FOR A WHILE. 
          I WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT EFFORT. 
          UM, AND SO I DON'T, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT, UM, THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT ALREADY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE? SO, UH, YES. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? COUNCIL LEMONS? YES. 
          SO THE, IF WE LOOK, WHAT WE FIND FOR EACH OF OUR STUDENTS, AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ON NEED-BASED AID, WHETHER FEDERAL OR OTHER SUPPORT, UM, IS THAT THEY NOT ONLY NEED THE CONNECTION WITH THE FACULTY MEMBER, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY DO NEED THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES AND THE CONNECTION TO AN INDIVIDUAL. 
          SO WE ACTUALLY CONNECT, 
          [01:55:01]
UH, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO A CASE MANAGED ACADEMIC ADVISOR THAT HAS A RATIO OF ONE TO 300. 
          SO IT'S ONE ADVISOR TO 300 STUDENTS, AND HAVE BEEN ABLE OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS TO DOUBLE OUR GRADUATION RATES, UM, AND TRANSFER RATES. 
          I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT WITH THIS PLAN IS WE'RE LOOKING AT A RATIO OF ACTUALLY ONE TO 100. 
          AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, ALL THE PROVIDERS TO, UM, EVEN PROVIDE A GREATER CHANCE AND LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS AND A GREATER CHANCE OF PLACEMENT. 
          SO WHAT WE FIND IS THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT STUDENTS CONFRONT ARE NOT INSIDE THE CLASSROOM. 
          THEY'RE OFTENTIMES, AS, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, AND THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IS KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS, BEING ABLE TO NEGOTIATE NOT ONLY SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, EDUCATIONALLY, BUT ALSO TO NAVIGATE HOW TO CONNECT WITH FOOD, SHELTER, AND OTHER CHALLENGES THAT THE, UM, STUDENT OR TRAINEE MAY BE CONFRONTING. 
          SO THAT, THAT IS KEY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR POPULATION, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE APPLY AND EQUITY LENS AND WHO WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TARGET FOR THIS PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, THE KEY WILL BE CASE MANAGEMENT ALONG WITH OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES, BUT THEY WILL BE PART OF AN EVEN LARGER ECOSYSTEM, UM, THAT'S NECESSARY. 
          UM, OKAY. 
          UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
          'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY CONCERN, UH, FOR THE PROGRAM IS, OR, OR WHERE I WANTED TO SEE MORE EFFORT ON THAT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SO MUCH OF, SO MANY OF OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS, AT LEAST I CAN SAY IN DISTRICT FIVE, WE'RE ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR ALL OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAMS. NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S ALSO STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO APPLY. 
          UH, AND IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, COMES DOWN WITH WHAT WE KNOW IS, IS, UM, UH, AN ENVIRONMENT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY, UM, WELL, THAT JUST MAKES IT HARD. 
          UH, AND WHEN, UM, YOU DON'T KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE, WHEN, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU ONLY, WE ARE THE AVERAGE OF EVERYONE WE KNOW. 
          ALL OF US ARE. 
          AND IF EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IS IN YOUR SAME FINANCIAL SITUATION, IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE BEYOND THAT. 
          AND SO THAT'S THE, UM, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND NOT NECESSARILY, UM, ON A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. 
          AND I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT THE LANGUAGE WE'RE APPROVING SAYS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. 
          AND SO I, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, I MEAN, ARE, ARE WE APPROVING LANGUAGE TODAY? UH, I, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE LANGUAGE. 
          UM, SO FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEYS OR, UM, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN WE DO HAVE THE LANGUAGE, UH, UH, PROPOSED LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM. 
          IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, WE CAN GET YOU A COPY OF IT. 
          UH, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME TWEAKS THAT WE MAKE, UH, AS WE DISCUSSED WITH THE COMPTROLLER, UH, ON THE ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, BALLOT LANGUAGE. 
          UM, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE THE LANGUAGE. 
          IF, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, WE'LL GET IT TO YOU. 
          UH, WELL, I MEAN, I, I, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK YOU KNOW THIS, I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, QUITE A RUSHED PROCESS, AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL, UH, FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS HELPED TO MOVE THIS ALONG. 
          UM, ESPECIALLY, UH, EVA MESSA, WHO I KNOW HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, WORKING NONSTOP, UH, AND ALEX AND MANY OF YOU ALL, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON THIS. 
          BUT, UM, I, I FEEL LIKE THERE STILL COULD BE SOME MORE TWEAKS. 
          I I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE INITIATIVE, UH, AND, UM, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WELL, I GUESS THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN, YOU KNOW, HERE BEFORE I RUN OUT OF TIME, IS THAT HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY CAN THERE BE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION, UM, IF WE'RE APPROVING LANGUAGE TODAY, UH, BECAUSE, UM, I, I, I, UH, THAT, THAT'S WHERE, UM, JUST MY HESITATION LIES. 
          UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, IF I MAY, I, I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION INITIALLY. 
          UM, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, THERE'S A GOOD DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE THE ACTUAL BALLOT LANGUAGE TALKS ABOUT A, A PROPOSAL THAT FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          UH, SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION LANGUAGE, AND THAT'LL COME LATER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER THIS, OKAY. 
          THE, THE, THE GOVERNANCE WILL BE THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WE, THE STAFF, THE CITY MANAGER WILL, WILL PRESENT A PLAN FIRST THAT HAS EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS THAT ALEX TALKED ABOUT. 
          AND THEN SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, A BUDGET. 
          SO WHAT YOU SAW IN THE WAY OF A SAMPLE BUDGET OR A, UH, YEAH, SAMPLE BUDGET WAS JUST ASSUME SOME, 
          [02:00:01]
HAD SOME ASSUMPTIONS IN IT. 
          ALL OF THAT'S GONNA BE FURTHER DEVELOPED. 
          AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY DECIDE AMONG EACH OF THE DIFFERENT BUCKETS, HOW MUCH GOES WRAPAROUND SERVICES, HOW MUCH GOES TO, UH, TUITION FOR, FOR, UM, THE CERTIFICATIONS, WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF CERTIFICATIONS VERSUS TWO AND FOUR YEAR. 
          ALL OF THAT WILL BE DETERMINED ASSUMING VOTERS PASSES IN THE SPRING TIME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER EO H. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF SUCH AN SORT VOTE. 
          THIS INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATES A COLLABORATIVE WILL TO POSITIVELY IMPACT NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS, BUT THEIR OVERALL ECONOMIC STATUS THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. 
          THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. 
          THAT'S HOW I WANTED TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT SIX, AND IN FACT, THE CITY THAT I LOVE SO MUCH. 
          SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THROUGH SHORT TERM EMERGENCY SUPPORT, CONTINUE OF CARE, RESOURCES, AND LONG-TERM SKILLS, ADVANCED TRAINING AND DEGREE OPPORTUNITIES, LIVES CAN BE CHANGED. 
          IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE CREATE THE SILVER LINING DURING THIS NEVER BEFORE SEEING HEALTH CRISIS THAT CATALYZE THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS. 
          SO MANY ARE ENDURING, DOING ANYTHING LESS VIOLATES OUR CALL TO SERVE. 
          PROVERBS THREE TWENTY SEVEN STATES DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE TO WHOM IT IS DUE WHEN IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO ACT ONE OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS THIS MORNING, MS. MATA SAID IT WELL, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 
          THIS IS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT INTO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          I'M HONORED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ITEM AND GIVE THIS OPTION TO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. 
          HI, MAYOR. 
          UM, SORRY. 
          ARE WE GOING IN ORDER? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU ANNOUNCE THAT. 
          I APOLOGIZE. 
          LET ME BRING UP MY, MY NOTES. 
          UM, ONE SECOND. 
          UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR'S TEAM AND, UH, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND COUNCILWOMAN  AND CE GARCIA FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND THEIR VISION IN PUSHING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS FORWARD. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN CHE GARCIA EXPRESSED MY, UH, SINCERE CONDOLENCES, UH, TO YOU. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US ON THIS COUNCIL HAVEN'T BEEN AFFECTED IN TERMS OF LOSING OUR WAGES BECAUSE OF C OVID 19, UH, BUT LOSING A, A FAMILY MEMBER, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CANNOT, UH, GAIN BACK. 
          SO, UM, AND THAT'S HAPPENED TO, TO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          UM, EVEN BEFORE COVID, WHEN WE SAW THE REPORTS OF INCOME SEGREGATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE LAMENTED THE FACT THAT SO MANY IN OUR CITY STRUGGLE JUST TO GET THROUGH THE DAY. 
          UH, THEY WALK ON A, ON A TIGHTROPE AND A TIGHTROPE THAT BECOMES THINNER AS, UM, AS SOMETHING LIKE THE PANDEMIC HITS. 
          UH, BEFORE CORONAVIRUS, UH, HIT US, THERE WERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES SEEKING ASSISTANCE AT THE FOOD BANK. 
          UH, THAT NUMBER MULTIPLIED AFTER C OVID 19 HIT. 
          UM, AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE ALWAYS AT THE CUSP OF GETTING BY. 
          THAT'S WHO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THIS KIND OF PROGRAM. 
          AND IT IS WITH THOSE RESIDENTS IN MIND THAT I SUPPORT PUTTING THIS PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT FOR OUR VOTERS TO DECIDE, UH, AMONG THEM, UM, ARE YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR WITH LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION ACCORDING TO THE E D F JOBS REPORT. 
          THAT IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC MOST AFFECTED BY C OVID 19. 
          ALEX AND TEAM, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW WE WILL ASSIST THE, THAT DEMOGRAPHIC THAT HAS BEEN MOST AFFECTED? THE, UM, THE PROGRAM DOES INCLUDE, UH, SUPPORT FOR, UM, WE DO IDENTIFY A TARGETED POPULATION ALREADY. 
          UM, THERE, THERE ARE POCKETS OF, UM, BASED ON SOME OF THE 
          [02:05:01]
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM AND DATA THAT, THAT WE'VE SEEN, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL, UM, DEGREE OR DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENCY. 
          UM, THE CONCENTRATION IS ON HIGH SCHOOL, UM, COMPLETERS OR, OR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREES. 
          UM, BUT THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT, UM, BASED ON NEED, WE CAN, WE CAN ADDRESS, UM, THE TARGET. 
          WE'VE DEVELOPED THE TARGET JUST TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN CONCENTRATE EFFORTS. 
          UM, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY, UH, BE BE TAKING A LOOK AT THE NEED ITSELF, UM, IN THE RECOVERY PLAN THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. 
          WE HAVE, UM, SPECIFICALLY TARGETED, UM, THOSE THAT HAVE LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, OF, OF EDUCATION LEVELS. 
          UM, SO WE CAN SEE HOW THAT NEED AND HOW THAT PARTICIPATION LEVEL COMES THROUGH IN THE COMING MONTHS. 
          HOW IS THAT GOING? UM, WE ARE JUST ABOUT FINISHED NEGOTIATING ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS, UM, WITH THE VARIOUS PARTNERS THAT ARE GONNA BE DOING, UM, THIS WORK WITH US OVER THE COMING YEAR. 
          UM, WE'RE HOPING TO, UM, HAVE THAT FINAL CONTRACT, UM, APPROVED NEXT WEEK. 
          IT'S JUST ALMA COLLEGES, UM, AND THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVING IT, HOPEFULLY. 
          UM, AND WE CAN START, UM, INTAKE, UH, THE INTAKE PROCESS, UH, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, SO YET WE DON'T KNOW. 
          AND HOW MANY OF THOSE WOMEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE CAN HELP, OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE HIGH SCHOOL DEGREES DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE CAN HELP? OUR GOAL WAS, UH, AT LEAST 500 OF THEM. 
          UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT WAS OUR, OUR ASPIRATIONAL GOAL. 
          UM, AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE, UH, VERY MUCH DETERMINED ON, ON THE PARTICIPANTS THAT, UM, ACCESS THE PROGRAM AS WELL. 
          SO, UM, I WANNA, UH, TALK PRECISELY ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF ACCESS. 
          UM, SO WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, WE READ THE ARTICLE, UM, THAT HIGHLIGHTED COUNCILWOMAN  GARCIA'S, UH, LOSSES AND THE THREE DISTRICT THREE AND FIVE, HOW THEY HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH, HIGH RATES OF CASES AS WELL AS, UH, MORTALITY FROM C OVID 19. 
          UM, AND THEN DISTRICTS EIGHT, NINE, AND 10 HAVE THE FEWEST. 
          AND WE SAW JUST THE REVERSE THE OTHER DAY WHEN YOU SENT US THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS, UH, PROGRAM, GRANT PROGRAM WHERE WE HAD THE MOST APPLICATIONS FROM DISTRICTS EIGHT, NINE, AND 10, AND THE FEWEST, UH, FROM DISTRICTS, UH, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE. 
          SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, ARE, AND, AND THIS PROGRAM, I BELIEVE, TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN PULLING US OUT OF POVERTY HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY DELIBERATE IN HOW THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED. 
          BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF EDUCATION BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THE POVERTY WE HAVE, THERE ARE, THERE'S AN INSTITUTION THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT TOO. 
          AND WE NEED TO OVERCOME THAT AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM. 
          AND THAT'S, UM, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M, I'M HOPING WILL HAPPEN. 
          UM, THERE IS NO, THERE, IT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE, OR IT'S NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT DISTRICT THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE ALSO HAVE A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF HISPANIC POPULATIONS, UH, COMPARED TO DISTRICTS EIGHT, NINE, AND 10, RIGHT? SO WE SEE THESE PATTERNS THAT OCCUR THAT, UM, REINFORCE INCOME AND ETHNICITY. 
          WE CAN'T SIMPLY LET THE PROGRAM, UM, YOU KNOW, SIT BACK TO INVITE APPLICANTS IN. 
          WE MUST BE EXTREMELY DELIBERATE IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE CHOOSE TO HELP SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE SO THAT WE NO LONGER SEE THESE TYPES OF TRAGIC CLUSTERS IN DISTRICT, UH, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE. 
          UM, AND THEN, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALEX. 
          YOU'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS JOB. 
          UM, I HEARD THAT MAYBE YOU PULLED AN ALL-NIGHTER, UH,  AND, UM, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT WORLD FROM, UH, A LONG TIME AGO, BUT, YOU KNOW, DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES, . 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. 
          UM, I, I DO WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE, UH, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROGRAM. 
          I, I, UH, I HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM CONSTITUENTS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THIS PROGRAM. 
          AND OF COURSE, WE HEARD SOME PEOPLE COMMENT ABOUT IT TODAY. 
          AND, UH, WHOEVER EDUCATED THE PUBLIC, THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC ABOUT, UH, THE AQUIFER PROTECTION A LONG TIME AGO, DID A FANTASTIC JOB BECAUSE THAT IS, UH, A MESSAGE THAT STILL RINGS TRUE WITH A LOT OF THE POPULATION. 
          UM, SO I, I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE REPORT THAT I HEARD ERIC GIVE. 
          UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COME TO A FULL COUNSEL FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. 
          AND, UH, I, I DO BELIEVE WE ALSO NEED SOME SORT OF, UM, 
          [02:10:01]
IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL EFFORT AROUND THAT AND PERHAPS SOME, UH, ADDITIONAL DIALOGUE WITH, UH, SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO, WHO WERE ON THE LINE. 
          UM, SO WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, PREPARING THE REPORT THAT YOU DID. 
          UH, ALEX, I, UM, I, I FELT A LITTLE FUNNY ABOUT VOTING ON A POWERPOINT . 
          OH, AND LAST QUESTION BEFORE, UH, I FORGET, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS QUESTION IS FOR THE CLERK OR FOR CITY MANAGEMENT, BUT, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL ELECTION AND OUR CONTRACT WITH THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, UM, I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT BEST PRACTICES AND, AND SAFE PRACTICES DURING, UH, THIS ELECTION CYCLE. 
          AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE'LL TRY TO KEEP THE VOTERS SAFE IF THEY'RE COMING OUT, YOU KNOW, TO VOTE FOR, FOR OUR PROPOSITION. 
          WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO? CAN WE REQUIRE MASKS? CAN WE GIVE OUT MASKS? UM, CAN WE, UH, ENSURE SPATIAL, UH, PHYSICAL DISTANCING? CAN SOMEONE ADDRESS THAT FOR ME, PLEASE? YEAH. 
          UM, LET ME ADDRESS PART OF THAT BECAUSE IT, IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT I HAD A, I HAD AN EMPLOYEE TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, WITH EMPLOYEES LAST THURSDAY AFTER I, AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE HAD ALMOST 1600 EMPLOYEES ON THE TOWN HALL WEBEX ASKING QUESTIONS. 
          AND IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES ASKED. 
          SO I GUESS FROM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, COUNCILWOMAN, THERE IS A, A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER IN TERMS OF VOTING. 
          MANY OF OUR SITES ARE UTILIZED AS POLLING SITES, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE, UM, UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE PROBABLY A PRETTY HEAVY TURNOUT, BUT, UH, I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE CLEAR, UM, GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE UTILIZING OUR FACILITIES. 
          UM, AND I HAVE NOT HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY YET. 
          I THINK THE COUNTY, AND SOME OF YOU, EVERYBODY PROBABLY SAW THAT IN THE MEDIA EARLIER THIS WEEK. 
          THE COUNTY'S KIND OF RETHINKING ELEMENTS OF, OF HOW THEY, UH, SELECT SITES AND MAYBE HAVING MEGA SITES. 
          UM, SO, UM, REST ASSURED THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE OCCURRING, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT, UH, WE INCLUDE THAT REAPING WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. 
          BUT, BUT I, I THINK I SHARE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS AS WELL. 
          YEAH. 
          DR. 
          BERGEN ISSUED A, A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY FOR THE PRIMARIES AND COUNT. 
          UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ALSO ISSUED, UH, A FULL SET, A A MUCH BROADER SET OF REQUESTS. 
          SO GIVEN THAT WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF LEVERAGE AND, AND REQUESTING WHAT, WHAT WE WANT. 
          AND I, I HOPE THAT YOU EXERCISE THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I WILL EXERCISE LEVERAGE. 
          I CAN GET COUNCILWOMAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER BLAS. 
          THANKS, MAYOR. 
          UH, BEFORE I CAME IN HERE TODAY, I, I MADE SOME NOTES ON TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT THIS IS NOT, BECAUSE, UH, PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. 
          AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR JOB BEING, UH, ONE OF OUR JOBS, ASIDE FROM GOOD POLICY AND ADVOCACY IS ALSO MANAGING EXPECTATIONS. 
          SO, UH, HERE'S THE WAY THAT, THAT I SEE IT. 
          WHAT THIS IS, IS, IS A CHOICE THAT WE'RE GIVING THE PUBLIC ON A BALLOT, AND THEY'RE GONNA LINE UP AND EXERCISE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO VOTE. 
          UM, THEY'RE GONNA VOTE THEIR CONSCIOUS IN A WAY THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO EVERY TIME THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS THEM TO STEP UP. 
          WHAT THIS IS NOT, UM, IS A CITY COUNCIL MANDATE. 
          UM, THIS IS A REALIGNMENT OF AN EXISTING TAX. 
          THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX OR A TAX INCREASE. 
          AND ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU IT'S A NEW TAX OR TAX INCREASE HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, OR I, I IS TRYING TO MISINFORM YOU. 
          WHAT THIS IS NOT IS, IS A HANDOUT. 
          UM, INSTEAD IT'S A HAND UP. 
          AND IT IT, ASIDE FROM BEING GOOD FOR, FOR BIG AND MEDIUM AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO NEED WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB OF TOMORROW, IT'S A HAND UP. 
          AND IT'S GONNA BENEFIT TODAY'S WORKERS AND TOMORROW'S GENERATION OF WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF, OF DIGNIFIED SUSTENANCE. 
          UM, AND INSTEAD OF STRIVING FOR A JUST A BARELY LIVABLE WAGE THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE FOR, UH, A DERIVABLE WAGE. 
          WHAT THIS IS NOT, IS IT'S NOT A CONTINUATION OF THE STATUS QUO. 
          UM, AND FOR ME, THE STATUS QUO IS WATCHING PEOPLE HAVING TO MAKE THE CHOICE BETWEEN FEEDING THEIR KIDS, UM, FROM THE FOOD BANK OR GOING HUNGRY, RIGHT? OR HAVING TO BEG YOUR LANDLORD TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE MONTH OF PATIENCE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE RENT, OR HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MEDICINE, UM, OR MONEY FOR GASOLINE. 
          WHAT THIS IS, 
          [02:15:01]
IS, UH, TO ME IT'S REAL AND, AND AUTHENTIC ACTION AIMED AT SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT, UM, HAS BEEN IN THE MAKING FOR DECADES. 
          AND, AND MAYOR, WHAT THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK ANY OF US ARE WILLING TO LEAVE UP TO FUTURE LEADERS TO HOPEFULLY GET IT DONE BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN PAST LEADERS GO THE EASY ROUTE BY, YOU KNOW, HOPING THAT IT JUST GOES AWAY ON ITS OWN. 
          SO, ERIC, I GOT A QUESTION. 
          UM, THERE'S GONNA BE CRITICS OUT THERE WHO ARE GONNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, AN ELIMINATION OF THE EDWARD EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
          IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT WITH, THERE'S A PRETTY SOLID PLAN. 
          I'M FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH THE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PROTECTIONS FOR THE EDWARDS AQUIFER REMAIN IN PLACE AND THEY CONTINUE TO PROTECT IT. 
          IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST BY WAY OF REASSURANCE, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN OR WITNESSED A COUNCIL DO ANYTHING? I MEAN, 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR, WHAT, 46 YEARS? UM, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE COUNCIL DO ANYTHING THAT WEAKENS THE PROTECTION TO THE AQUIFER? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IN PERILS, THE GAMES WE'VE MADE UNDER THE EDWARDS AQUA PROTECTION PROGRAM? WELL, NO, I, I MEAN, TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, NO, I HAVEN'T. 
          AND, UM, AND, AND NOT QUITE 46 YEARS, BUT , UM, AND, AND, AND SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A, THERE'S A SECOND PART TO IT. 
          AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY IT GOES BEYOND, IT GOES BACK TO PRE COVID. 
          I MEAN, THIS WAS A CONVERSATION THAT THE COUNCIL WAS HAVING THAT WE HAD IN B SESSIONS. 
          AND, AND IT WAS OBVIOUS. 
          AND, AND AS CITY MANAGER, I CLEARLY TOOK AWAY FROM THE INTENT AND THE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME WAS THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE, UH, A CONTINUATION OF THE E A P P PROGRAM UTILIZING THE SAME STANDARDS THAT HAD BEEN SET BY THE VOTER APPROVED PROPOSITIONS FOR THE LAST FOUR ELECTIONS. 
          UM, THE SAME STANDARDS BY WHICH THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD. 
          UM, AND, AND SO THAT IS STILL THE TRACK THAT WE'RE ON. 
          WE, WE, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF, A LITTLE BIT OF A, A SPEED BUMP. 
          IDEALLY, IF WITHOUT COVID, THAT ORDINANCE PROBABLY WOULD'VE COME TO YOU BY THE END OF APRIL, BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, UH, THE CAB WAS GONNA HAVE TWO SPECIAL MEETINGS TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM AND THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND WE WERE BRINGING IT BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL. 
          SO THAT'S STILL THE PLAN. 
          IT'S STILL SOLID. 
          IT IS, UM, CONSISTENT. 
          THE IDEA AND THE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL THEN, AND I'M ASSUMING NOW, IS THAT, UH, WE INCORPORATE THE EXISTING PLAN WITHIN A CITY ORDINANCE, UH, TO BE APPROVED AND CONTINUED FORWARD. 
          AND, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CALLERS TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFYING THE, THE, THE PRIORITY PROPERTIES. 
          THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S DONE EVERY FIVE YEARS UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN. 
          I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER PLAN THAT GETS ADJUSTED PERIODICALLY. 
          AND, AND I THINK THE IDEA IS TO PRESENT THE COUNCIL, UH, A, A CONTINUATION OF THAT PROGRAM, CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER AS WELL AS A FINANCING PLAN TO DO THAT OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. 
          YEAH. 
          AND, AND ERIC, UM, I, I KNOW IT'S NOT 46. 
          SO IN THE, IN THE 45 YEARS YOU'VE BEEN HERE, HAVE YOU, UH, THE, UH, EVER SEEN A, AN INITIATIVE WHERE PROJECT QUEST COPS, METRO LABOR, AND EVERY BUSINESS ADVOCACY GROUP IN TOWN GETS BEHIND? UM, NO. 
          YEAH, I THINK SO. 
          I THINK THAT'S REALLY TELLING, RIGHT? UM, I MEAN, THIS ONE SEEMS TO, YOU KNOW, RESONATE WITH, UH, WITH A LOT OF FOLKS, WHICH IS WHY I THINK THAT, UH, SAN ANTONIO'S GONNA STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING. 
          UM, MAYOR WITHOUT, UH, UH, I THINK I'M FINISHED AND NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR COUNCILMAN COURAGE TO UNMIC HIS, UNMUTE HIS MIKE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER P UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER LIAS, FOR REMINDING ME TO DO THAT. 
          . 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          UH, AND I, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY, UH, SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE CONTRIBUTED TO DEVELOPING, UH, THIS SET OF GOALS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, UH, FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION. 
          I THINK THOSE ARE CERTAINLY CRITICAL AT THIS TIME. 
          UH, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE, THE COMMENTS AND THE INSIGHTS THAT YOU'VE EXPRESSED, UH, MOSTLY DUE TO THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'VE HAD, RIGHT IN YOUR PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, 10 DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS. 
          WE'RE ALL PART OF ONE CITY, BUT ALMOST ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES. 
          AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR WHAT MANY OF THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AS WE COME TO COLLECTIVELY DECIDE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO, UH, PUT FORWARD FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY TO CONSIDER. 
          UH, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED, AS I KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE OVER THE FACT THAT ABOUT 150,000 
          [02:20:01]
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY HAVE BEEN PUT OUT OF WORK OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS. 
          UH, AND, AND IT'S A REAL TRAGIC DILEMMA FOR ALL OF US, PARTICULARLY, OF COURSE, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN OUT OF WORK, WHO'VE LOST INCOME, WHO ARE HAVING TO STRUGGLE JUST TO GO AHEAD AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, OR TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE HOME WHERE THEIR TABLES ARE, OR TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CARE FOR THEIR FAMILY. 
          AND I THINK THAT THE CITY IS ALWAYS OBLIGATED TO WORK TOWARD DEVELOPING, UH, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT CAN BEST SERVE THE NEEDS OF AS MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AS WE NEED TO. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN TODAY THOUGH, WHO'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THEIR JOBS, WHO HAVE RELATIVELY MAINTAINED THEIR ECONOMIC SECURITY AND THEIR STATUS. 
          UH, NONE OF US FEEL COMFORTABLE IF WE FEEL LOCKED IN OUR HOUSES FOR MONTHS. 
          BUT BASICALLY, MANY OF US ARE, ARE IN THE KIND OF CONDITION WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR OF COVID, BUT WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT, UH, LOSING OUR HOME OR LOSING OUR JOB OR LOSING THE FINANCIAL STABILITY THAT WE HAVE. 
          BUT THERE ARE 150,000 PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY DO HAVE THAT FEAR, A VERY REAL FEAR. 
          AND IF THE CITY CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE LIFT THEMSELVES UP INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY'LL HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO GET A JOB, TO IMPROVE THEIR EDUCATION, TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES ENJOY, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE CITY TO LOOK AT THAT. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROPOSAL IS TODAY. 
          IT'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          IT'S HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE LONG RUN. 
          IT'S A JOBS PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE JOBS THAT ARE THERE TODAY. 
          'CAUSE MANY OF THEM HAVE DISAPPEARED THAT MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE HAD, AND THE JOBS THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING IN THE FUTURE. 
          AND SO, UH, I THINK THAT THIS IS, UH, AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COUNCIL TO PRESENT TO THE VOTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. 
          UH, WE AS LEADERS CAN PROPOSE, BUT IT'S UP FOR, UH, THE VOTERS TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. 
          AND WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING THAT CHOICE IF THIS IS APPROVED TODAY. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S PRETTY COMPLICATED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO THIS. 
          I THINK THE, UH, IDEA OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND. 
          BUT ALSO BEHIND THE SCENES, WE KNOW THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, THE LINEAR CREEK CREEKWAY DEVELOPMENT, AND THE, UH, CONTINUING SUCCESS OF VM METROPOLITAN TRANSIT. 
          THESE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. 
          AND I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST MANAGE ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES, UH, THROUGH THIS ONE ACTIVITY. 
          I WILL SAY THIS, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, I, FOR ONE, WOULD NOT SUPPORT AN ELECTION WHERE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS COMPLETELY PROTECTED, AND THE LINEAR CREEK RACE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED. 
          NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY I WOULDN'T SUPPORT PUTTING IT UP ON THE BALLOT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THOSE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED IN EVERYONE'S MIND SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. 
          AND I'M GLAD TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE MAYOR AND, UH, OTHERS IN WORKING ON HOW WE CAN ENSURE THE LONG TERM CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE LINEAR CREEK CREEK WAYS, WHICH SO MANY OF US LOVE AND ENJOY, UH, IN MANY OTHER AREAS OF THE SEA, WHERE THAT WORK HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED YET. 
          AND I, I CAN'T HELP BUT SAYING WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AS THE LONG RUN MASS TRANSIT, UH, SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE GO FORWARD. 
          IF THE VOTERS DECIDE, YES, WE WANT TO DO THIS, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THIS TRAINING, THIS EDUCATION, WE STILL NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE NEED TO HELP THOSE 40 OR 50,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA UNDERTAKE THESE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND HELP THE OTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND, WHO HOPEFULLY WILL REGAIN SOME KIND OF JOBS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. 
          WE NEED TO HELP THEM GET TO WORK OR GET TO TRAINING, OR GET THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THEY NEED. 
          AND TRANSPORTATION'S A BIG PART OF THAT. 
          SO, LIKE I SAID, THERE REALLY ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE THE JOB OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO 
          [02:25:01]
EDUCATE EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THOSE PIECES SHOULD WORK AND CAN COME TOGETHER. 
          I DON'T TAKE IT AS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GO AHEAD AND ADVOCATE TO PEOPLE HOW TO VOTE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. 
          I'M NOT GONNA GET OUT IN POLITIC NECESSARILY FOR OR AGAINST, BUT WHAT I WILL DO IS TRY AND GET ALL, GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND THE EDUCATION THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE SO THEY CAN MAKE THE INFORMED DECISION. 
          AND I KNOW WHEN WE DO OUR JOB IN EXPLAINING THE WAY EVERYTHING'S GOING TO WORK, AND ASSURING THE GUARANTEES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR WATER AND CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THEIR RECREATION FACILITIES AND LOOK FORWARD TO A BETTER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, AND TO KNOW THAT THIS TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WILL REALLY HELP 40 TO 50,000 PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IF WE CAN GET THAT FACTUAL INFORMATION INTO THE MINDS OF THE VOTERS, I KNOW THEY'LL MAKE A GOOD DECISION. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT WE CAN ASK AT THIS TIME, BUT IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO MAKE THE PROPOSAL, BUT FOR THEM TO MAKE THE CHOICE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER BAKER. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, UM, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN IN MY PRAYERS. 
          I I, I DON'T KNOW HOW Y'ALL ARE HANDLING THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT, UH, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY'S OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. 
          VERY POWERFUL STATEMENT. 
          I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TEAM THAT IT WAS ASSEMBLED HERE, PARTICULARLY ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, TO, UH, MAKE INPUTS INTO THIS PROGRAM, UM, AND HELP PUT IT AT THIS STAGE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. 
          BUT I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE CARESS ACT, THAT WE, WELL, I VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY PUTTING IN $75 MILLION INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OUTTA CARESS ACT, OUTTA THE CARES ACT, OKAY? TODAY, AS WE WERE JUST BRIEFED, WE GOT OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF REQUESTS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM STAY OPEN. 
          WE'RE ONLY, WE ONLY HAVE 27 MILLION THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH. 
          SO ONLY A, A QUARTER OF WHAT THE REQUIREMENT IS RIGHT NOW, BUT YET WE'RE PUTTING IN 75 MILLION INTO THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND MOST OF THAT GOING TOWARDS TWO TO FOUR YEAR DEGREES. 
          PEOPLE NEED THE HELP NOW, AND I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA ADD ANOTHER $150 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, $225 MILLION TOTAL FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          I'M ALL FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS HURTING RIGHT NOW. 
          IF WE COULD HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN, IT WOULD, IT WOULD KEEP PEOPLE TO WORK. 
          NOT THESE LONG RANGE PLANS, MORE ON THE APPRENTICESHIPS, GETTING THEM OUT THERE IN THE JOBS, RETRAINING 'EM, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, OR BETTER YET, HELPING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH IS 90% OF OUR, UH, BACKBONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO BEGIN WITH, TO HELP THEM STAY OPEN UNTIL THINGS GET BETTER. 
          BUT NO, WE'RE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO BEAT THIS DRUM ABOUT, UH, LONG RANGE PLANS. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S, UH, I, I GOTTA TELL YOU, I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. 
          WE AREN'T GIVING THE, WE AREN'T GIVING THE VOTERS AN OP OPPORTUNITY OR OPTION RIGHT NOW ON DO THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER, OR DO WE WANT TO GO WITH THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT? WE'RE ONLY PUTTING ONE OPTION ON THE TABLE, THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THEY WON'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY, NO, WE WANNA CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR AQUIFER. 
          SO WE'RE NOT GIVING THAT CHOICE TO THE VOTERS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT. 
          I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT CHOICE BETWEEN AQUIFER PROTECTION AND THIS WORKFORCE PROTECTION, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND THEN I, I TOTALLY DISAGREED WITH COUNCILMAN LIAS. 
          HE SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX. 
          WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS ISN'T A NEW TAX. 
          THIS IS COMING OUT OF OUR, UM, SALES TAX RIGHT NOW. 
          THE SALES TAX THAT ANYBODY THAT BUYS ANY THINGS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING VISITORS, TRAVELERS, 
          [02:30:03]
EVEN PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE CITY, THEY'RE HELPING PAY FOR THAT AQUIFER PROTECTION. 
          BUT NOW WE'RE GONNA THROW IT OVER THE FENCE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, UH, TAKE THAT MONEY, THAT SAWS THAT WE INCREASED THIS LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR, THEIR PERCENTAGE THAT THEY GIVE BACK TO THE CITY, WHICH SAWS HAS ALREADY TOLD US, THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA DRIVE A RATE INCREASE IN THE FUTURE. 
          THEY'VE ALREADY TOLD US THAT. 
          SO NOW WE'RE GONNA LEVERAGE THAT MONEY AND TAKING ON NEW DEBT. 
          SO HERE'S ANOTHER BILL THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PAY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT COMES DIRECTLY OUT OF THAT SAUCE, MONEY, OR WHEREVER IT'S GONNA COME FROM. 
          AND IT'S NOT TOTALLY SETTLED YET, UH, ON HOW WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR THE AQUIFER PROTECTION. 
          AND THAT'S JUST ONE PART. 
          LIKE, UM, THE AGREEMENT OR THE LANGUAGE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE COUNTY IS GONNA BE TAKING OVER THE LINEAR TRAIL DEVELOPMENT HERE AROUND SAN ANTONIO, WHO PAYS THAT TAX. 
          YOU AND I PAY TAXES INTO THE COUNTY ALSO, SO THAT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A RA RAISE IN TAXES TO SUPPORT AQUIFER PROTECTION AND THE LINEAR TRAILS EXPANSION, WHETHER IT'S COMING FROM THE COUNTY OR THE CITY. 
          THAT MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, AND IT'S GONNA DIRECTLY IMPACT US. 
          AND THE GENERAL FUND IS GONNA IMPACT US AS A COUNTY TAXPAYER AS WELL. 
          YOU KNOW, I, UM, THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT, OUT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. 
          I HAD A TON OF QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM AT THIS POINT WITH ALL THESE QUESTIONS OUT THERE. 
          THAT'S, TO ME, THAT'S LIKE SIGNING A BLANK CHECK HERE. 
          TAKE THAT MONEY, I'LL TRUST YOU TO COME UP WITH THE, WITH THE RIGHT ANSWERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS SUSTAINABLE, AND WE GET THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. 
          REMEMBER, THIS IS $225 MILLION. 
          ARE WE GONNA GET THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON THAT? AND I DON'T KNOW, NOBODY ON THIS CALL KNOWS, IS THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THIS POINT WHERE I HAVE GOTTEN FEEDBACK, TREMENDOUS FEEDBACK FROM MY, MY NEIGHBORS SAYING, WE GOTTA CONTINUE WITH THIS AQUIFER PROTECTION, AND WE DON'T WANNA CREATE A NEW TAX OR SHIFT THAT OVER ONTO ONLY RATE PAYERS THROUGH SAWS, AND NOT KEEP IT AS A SALES TAX. 
          EVERYBODY GETS TO, GETS TO, UH, PAY FOR IT. 
          SO, I, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. 
          I WOULD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO DELAY THIS AND CALL A SPECIAL MEETING AND DETERMINE, LET'S PUT IT OUT ON THE TABLE, WHETHER IT'S THIS OR FOR AQUIFER PROTECTION. 
          WE HAVE NOT SAT AND HAD THAT DISCUSSION. 
          WE'VE TALKED AROUND THE EDGES. 
          YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE AQUIFER PROTECTION, THE COUNTY'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE LINEAR TRAILS, BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION. 
          SO I'D LIKE TO DELAY THIS. 
          I KNOW WE, WE GOT A DEADLINE OF AUGUST 17TH, BUT THERE'S NOTHING SAYING THAT THE MAYOR CAN'T CALL A SPECIAL MEETING TO PUT THIS ALL OUT THERE AND MAKE THAT DECISION AS A COUNCIL ON WHERE WE SHOULD PUT OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS. 
          AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GIVING THE VOTERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT OPTION. 
          SO I, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS AT THIS TIME. 
          AND, UH, I'M NOT GONNA, I'M NOT GONNA PUT MY NAME ON THIS BLANK CHECK SAYING, YEP, WE'RE GONNA SPEND ANOTHER $150 MILLION ON THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'VE ALREADY FUNDED THROUGH THE CARES ACT, THE $75 MILLION TO GET, GET IT STARTED. 
          WE, WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THAT PROGRAM YET. 
          WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT'S GONNA BE. 
          I, I'M SORRY. 
          I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. 
          AND, UM, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          YEAH, I'M DONE. 
          THANKS. 
          THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VINNO. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, FIRST I, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER RERAN, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, UM, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, UM, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT I, I COMPLETELY EMPATHIZE WITH, UH, WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. 
          AND, UH, I'M SORRY TO, TO HEAR THAT. 
          AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK AND GET THROUGH THIS. 
          UH, 
          [02:35:01]
THANK YOU TO ALEX LOPEZ AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS ON THE LEADERSHIP TASK FORCE FOR THIS. 
          UH, BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS, UH, THE DISTRICT ONE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LINEAR CREEK WASTE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD, SINCE 2011, IT HAS BEEN, UH, SIMA COLVIN, AND, UH, SHE, SHE WAS, UH, SOMEHOW NOT ABLE TO CONNECT, UH, I'VE AGREED TO, TO AT LEAST READ PART OF HER STATEMENT AND SUBMIT IT ON THE RECORD. 
          UH, SHE WRITES, I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THE RELOC REALLOCATION OF THE ONE 8 CENTS SALES TAX. 
          UM, OOPS. 
          MY MOTHER CALLING, UH, REALLOCATION OF THE ONE 8 CENTS SALES TAX, CURRENTLY FUNDING OPERA PROTECTION AND GREENWAY TRAIL. 
          I WILL SUBMIT THE, THE, THE REST OF THE, THE, THE STATEMENT TO, TO THE CLERK AND, UH, MAKE SURE THE, THE COPY GETS TO THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES. 
          UM, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF HOPE FOR THIS PLAN. 
          IF SUCCESSFUL, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WILL HAVE SUPPORT FOR NEW EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. 
          HOWEVER, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS IMMEDIATE SUPPORT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES, FEED THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDE ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES SO THEIR KIDS CAN SAFELY ATTEND SCHOOL. 
          IF THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE BEEN ASKED TO FIND, IF COUNCIL APPROVES THIS ITEM TODAY, CAN THE INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN BE ALTERED AS THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL MIGHT SEE FIT? SHOULD THE, SHOULD THIS ITEM PASS TODAY, BUT NOT WITH THE VOTERS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE ONE 8 CENTS SALES TAX? OR AT LEAST THAT ALLOCATION? WHAT WOULD THE ALLOCATION BE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, OR WHEN WOULD THE, UH, UH, ALLOCATION BE, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR ANOTHER, UH, INITIATIVE? HOW SOON, UH, THESE ARE THE PARTS THAT MERIT MERIT? MUCH FURTHER DISCUSSION, SUCH AS, HOW MIGHT C OVID 19 IMPACT TARGET INDUSTRIES LISTED IN THE PLAN? WE HAVE NOT CONSULTED WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT ENTITY, THE POPULATION. 
          THIS PLAN IS INTENDED TO HELP WHAT OF POTENTIAL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ARE NOT IN A POSITION, UH, TO PARTICIPATE. 
          AFTER SUFFERING THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF C OVID 19, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND EMERGENCY ASSISTING GRANTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TARGET POPULATION, WHICH LIKELY HAS GROWN DUE DUE TO COVID. 
          A ONE-TIME DIS DISBURSEMENT OF AN AVERAGE OF 1000 TO $1,500 IN WRAPAROUND SERVICE AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANT GRANTS FOR ONLY HALF THE PARTICIPANTS IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH. 
          FOR INSTANCE, EARLIER THIS YEAR, STAFF PRESENTED THE CITY, UH, THAT THE CITY WAS EXPENDING ABOUT $2,740 PER APPLICANT THROUGH THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, $23.8 MILLION TO ASSIST 8,600 AND, UH, 67 FAMILIES. 
          I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MANY DISTRICT ONE RESIDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE. 
          HOWEVER, NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE SHARED THE DIS DISSATISFACTION WITH TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE AQUA PROTECTION, AS WELL AS INVESTING MORE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ALREADY RECEIVED 75 MILLION THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY PLAN. 
          IN FACT, I WAS WORKING THROUGH THIS DECISION. 
          I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM FORMER COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MARIA BEDO SAVA. 
          TWO PARTS OF HER EMAIL REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME. 
          THE FIRST BEING THE LESSON SHE LEARNED AFTER LEVI STRAUSS CLOSED SHOP LOCALLY, AND THE SUBSEQUENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN THE EARLY NINE 1990S. 
          SHE SAID THE WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM WERE THE SOLE BREADWINNERS, HAD MORTGAGES, CAR PAYMENTS, CHILDREN IN COLLEGE, AND OTHER BILLS THEY COULD NOT MANAGE TO ATTEND CLASS WITH A STIPEND. 
          THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND WHEN I READ THIS WAS A MOMENT FROM MY OWN CHILDHOOD. 
          A AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER. 
          I REMEMBER THE TIME, I REMEMBER THE TIME I SAW THE ENVELOPE MY MOTHER RECEIVED FROM PAN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. 
          SHE OPENED IT TO FIND THAT SHE HAD BEEN ACCEPTED, ATTEND COLLEGE. 
          I REMEMBER HER LOOKING AT BOTH 
          [02:40:01]
MY BROTHER AND I, AND HER FACE WASN'T FILLED WITH JOY RELIEF. 
          IT WAS FILLED WITH SADNESS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. 
          SHE KNEW SHE HAD WHAT IT TOOK TO GO TO SCHOOL AND SUCCESSFULLY GET A HIGHER EDUCATION. 
          BUT IN THE LONG RUN, THIS COULD BE A GATEWAY TO BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF US. 
          BUT SHE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE COULDN'T RISK DESTABILIZING OUR LIVING SITUATION, SHOULD WE FALL BEHIND ON RENT. 
          SHE LOOKED AT HER CHILDREN AND MADE THE DECISION THAT DAY TO SACRIFICE HER OWN ASPIRATIONS AND OPPORTUNITY IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF HER FAMILY. 
          A CHOICE ANY PARENT WOULD MAKE WITHOUT THINKING TWICE, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE MEASURED BY THE OUTCOMES OF ITS PARTICIPANTS. 
          WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE LIKELY PARTICIPANTS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES WITH VIABLE CHANCES OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE PROGRAM, GIVEN THE OBSTACLES THAT SOME OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED APPLICANTS FACE OVER OVER OTHERS, I BELIEVE THAT MY MOTHER WOULD NOT MAKE THE CUT IN INTO THE PARTICULAR PROGRAM, THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND EVEN THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANT GRANT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH. 
          IT JUST SIMPLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH. 
          A PERSON WITH A, WITH FEWER BARRIERS TO ENTRY WHO DIDN'T NEED TO RELY ON THOSE SERVICES AS MUCH WOULD'VE BEEN SELECTED OVER HER. 
          IT'S A REALITY FOR MANY. 
          SECONDLY, COUNCILMAN MARIA SVO HAD A CONCISE EXPLANATION, WHICH I FOUND TO MIRROR MY FEELINGS ON THE ISSUE. 
          EXCHANGING A TAX TO PROTECT OUR WATER FOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS WHERE WE STILL HAVE MANY QUESTIONS IS NOT A GOOD STEP. 
          IT IS DIFFICULT TO PICK UP THE NEWSPAPER AND READ. 
          C CITY LEADERSHIP IS WORRIED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUNDS WHEN $62 MILLION OF OUR LOCAL DOLLARS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT COULD GO TOWARDS HOUSING ASSISTANCE IS JUST SITTING THERE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. 
          WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM IMPACT, THIS PLAN INTENDS TO HAVE THE IMMEDIATE FOOD AND SHELTER NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY NEED TO TAKE PRIORITY. 
          I WOULD FEEL A LOT BETTER ABOUT THIS TAX PLAN. 
          HAD WE USED MORE OF OUR LOCAL FUNDS FOR THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY PLAN. 
          THAT ALREADY WENT TOWARDS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          $62 MILLION FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR A TOTAL OF 75 MILLION ZERO ZERO LOCAL GENERAL FUND DOLLARS WERE ALLOCATED FOR HOUSING SECURITY. 
          THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY PLAN, THE INTENDED POPULATION DID NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR A PLAN THAT WAS BEING DEVELOPED AND MEANT TO BENEFIT THEM. 
          THIS GIVES ME PAUSE BECAUSE THERE COULD BE SOME HUGE BLIND SPOTS. 
          THEY HAVE PERSPECTIVE, AND OF COURSE, SOME INDUSTRY LEADERS JUST SIMPLY DO NOT. 
          AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT THERE ARE STILL ELEMENTS OF THIS PROPOSITION THAT NEED TO BE EXTENSIVELY NOTED AND DEFINE AN ORDER FOR IT TO BE ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED OR SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE. 
          GIVEN THE EXPLANATION I JUST GAVE, I CANNOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM TODAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER VINNO. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREAS SULLIVAN. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, THANK YOU, ALEX. 
          THANK YOU, CARLOS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN . 
          UM, I'VE SAT HERE AND I'VE LISTENED, AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, YOU ARE DEFINITELY IN MY PRAYERS AND IN MY HEART AS I SPEAK TO OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. 
          AT THIS MOMENT, WHEN I LISTEN TO YOUR STORY, IT REMINDS ME OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT TWO AREA. 
          WE ARE A DESERT FOR HEALTHCARE, FOOD 
          [02:45:01]
SECURITY, AND WE ARE A DESERT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RISE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER GIVEN TO US TO DO SO. 
          FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE WERE CONSIDERED THE OUTSIDE AND THE FORGOTTEN AREA. 
          SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING OF WHEN YOU SPEAK FOR DISTRICT FOUR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING FOR AN AREA THAT NEEDED A VOICE TO CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THEM THROUGH THIS TIME. 
          I KNOW THAT THE AREA THAT WE REPRESENT, WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL ISSUES, BUT WE'RE SPEAKING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ASKING FOR, FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE. 
          WHAT WE LISTEN TO AS WE SIT ON THIS DAIS THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, IS TAKING THE VOTE TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE CITIZENS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE FOR THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO. 
          WHEN WE SET OUT ON THIS MISSION, WHEN COVID FIRST HAPPENED, NONE OF US HAD AN IDEA OF HOW WE WERE GONNA TRULY HELP AND SPEAK TO THE HEARTS OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING. 
          BUT TOGETHER, WE CAME UP WITH PLANS AND WE CAME UP WITH MOTIONS, AND WE CAME UP WITH THINGS THAT WOULD TRULY BENEFIT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST ONE SINGULAR INDIVIDUAL. 
          WHEN WE HOSTED THE FIRST DISTRICT TWO JOB FAIR ON TUESDAY, WE WERE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE GONNA SEE, BUT WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING FOR A COMMUNITY THAT WAS ASKING FOR JOBS, ASKING FOR TRAINING, AND ASKING FOR PRO, UH, FOR FAMILIES TO BE PULLED OUT OF POVERTY. 
          WE ARE KNOWN TO DO MANY FIRST IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE DO NOT NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE THE FIRST THAT IS LACKING IN INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE HOSTED THE JOB FAIR, AND WE HAD 35 EMPLOYERS. 
          WE HAD OVER 118 DIFFERENT JOBS, 874 TOTAL OPENINGS WITH 351 JOB SEEKERS THAT WERE ABLE TO PUT IN 306 JOB APPLICATIONS. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY. 
          WHEN WE TAKE THIS VOTE, WE ARE NOT TAKING WATER AS A SECOND PRIORITY, BECAUSE THAT IS A FIRST PRIORITY IN LIFE AS WE KNOW IT. 
          WE ARE 80% OF WATER. 
          SO TAKING AWAY FROM WATER IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING TO DO. 
          TAKING AWAY FROM OUR LINEAR TRAILWAYS IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE DOING. 
          AND MATTER OF FACT, WE JUST VOTED TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT TWO HAD A COMPLETION OF A TRAILWAY. 
          SO WE ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING FROM OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TRULY INVESTING BACK INTO THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH ARE TRULY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER AND NOT TO BE PUT BACK INTO THE SAME PLACE THAT THEY WERE WHEN WE FIRST WENT INTO THIS PANDEMIC. 
          WE CAN DO THAT AS AN ELECTED BODY BY TRULY STEPPING UP AND SAYING, WE ARE GIVING THIS DECISION BACK TO THOSE WHO ARE ASKING FOR THEIR VOICES TO TRULY BE HEARD BY US. 
          I STAND IN SUPPORT OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. 
          I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE TASK FORCE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER, AND I THANK MS TUESDAY NIGHT FOR CONTINUING TO STEP UP. 
          WHEN I ASK FOR SOMEONE TO TRULY SPEAK TO THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO, WHEN IT COMES TO ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND TRULY, TRULY SPEAKING TO WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO PROGRESS AND BE SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A LEGACY TO PASS ON TO FURTHER GENERATIONS. 
          WE ARE IN A TIME OF CHANGE. 
          WE ARE IN A SEASON OF WHERE WE CAN TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 
          INVESTING INTO THE PEOPLE IS WHAT THIS ONE EIGHTH OF AS CENT WILL DO. 
          INVESTING INTO THE PEOPLE IS WHAT WE ARE ELECTED TO DO. 
          INVESTING INTO THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS WHAT WE MUST DO. 
          NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO FIND EVERY REASON TO GO AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IS FOR THE PEOPLE. 
          WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY THAT HAVE QUESTIONS, AND TRUE ENOUGH, I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT HOW WE CAN TRULY PUT THE BEST FOOT FORWARD. 
          WE ARE HERE TO MAKE A FOOTPRINT AND THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE MUST DO. 
          I STAND IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE VOICES THAT HAVE CRIED OUT FOR HELP FOR A JOB. 
          I UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY SAY GIVE US A JOB, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED LATER. 
          THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO DO IT NOW. 
          WE'VE SEEN IT, WE'VE DONE IT. 
          WE CONTINUE TO DO IT. 
          TO LOOK AT HOW MANY LIVES CAN BE CHANGED THROUGH THIS VOTE IS TRULY SPEAKING TO THE HEART OF EQUITY AND EQUALITY, TRULY BREAKING DOWN A SYSTEM OF INJUSTICE, AND TRULY BRINGING IN A SYSTEM OF INCLUSIVENESS AND 
          [02:50:01]
MAKING SURE THAT WE RISE TO THE OCCASION AND ELEVATE AND LEVERAGE EVERYONE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          I WONDER ABOUT OUR YOUTH AND HOW THEY WILL BE THE NEXT GENERATION TO LEAD THIS CITY. 
          WILL THEY BE EDUCATED ENOUGH? WILL THEY BE SEEN AS THE ONES THAT WE INVESTED IN? I CAN SIT HERE ON THIS COUNCIL AND SAY, OUT OF EVERYONE HERE, I DO NOT HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE. 
          BUT I WAS BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF SOMEONE INVESTING IN ME BY GIVING ME A CHANCE TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN BY MAKING ME UNDERSTAND THAT AS A SINGLE MOTHER EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE I HAD THE RIGHT EMPLOYMENT INTACT FOR MY FAMILY WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD TO DO. 
          SO I ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AS A PROUD VETERAN. 
          WHEN I CAME HOME WITH DISABILITIES THAT KEPT ME FROM TRADITIONAL WORK, ALAMO COLLEGES HAS BEEN A SAVING POINT, NOT ONLY FOR ME, BUT FOR MY CHILDREN, WHO WILL ONE DAY ALSO GRADUATE FROM ALAMO COLLEGES AND PURSUE FURTHER EDUCATION. 
          I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOME HARD AND CHALLENGING DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE ON THIS COUNCIL, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO DO. 
          THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING INTO THE RIGHT AREA OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE STEP FORWARD IN VICTORY WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE STEP FORWARD IN TRIUMPH. 
          WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE STEP FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY PROGRESSING WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. 
          I MAY NOT HAVE THE DEGREE, BUT I HAVE THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE I UNDERSTAND, AND I LEAD FROM DISPOSITION IN THE WAYS THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PROGRESS OUTSIDE OF BEING WITH COLLEAGUES THAT SIT UP ON THIS COUNCIL. 
          I THANK EACH AND EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU FOR NOT LOOKING AT WHAT I DON'T HAVE, BUT LOOKING AT WHAT WE DO HAVE. 
          AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO LIFT EVERY INDIVIDUAL HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          THIS WILL HELP US WITH OUR HOUSING CRISIS. 
          THIS WILL HELP US WITH OUR FOOD INSECURITY, AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY HELP US, UH, DISMANTLE THE LABEL OF POVERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          LET'S MAKE THAT THE DECISION THAT WE LEAD ON TODAY. 
          LET'S GIVE THIS VOTE BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO TRULY SPEAK FOR US AND WHO HAVE ELECTED US TO SPEAK FOR THEM. 
          THAT'S WHAT THIS VOTE WILL DO, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS BEING ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER SO THAT THE CITIZENS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CAN TRULY SAY, WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER. 
          WE RISE, WE THRIVE, WE GROW. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT THIS VOTE IS FOR. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          UM, I'M GONNA ASK, UM, OUR COLLEAGUES, THE LIAISONS ON THE WORK GROUP TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE US OUT. 
          UM, LET ME TURN IT OVER FIRST TO COUNCIL MEMBER R GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR, FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL INPUT. 
          AND, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES AS WELL TO OUR FAMILY. 
          UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, YOUR YOUR PRAYERS ARE ESPECIALLY, UM, NEEDED DURING THIS TIME. 
          UM, THERE'S NO DOUBT THERE ARE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM AND THE GREENWAY TRAILS HAVE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE PROGRAMS. PROTECTING OUR AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES FROM RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL FOR OUR CITY'S FUTURE. 
          AS EVIDENCED LAST WEEK BY OUR MOTION TO DELAY A VOTE FOR THE SAUCE BOARD, WE CAN SEE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. 
          STRIKING A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND IMMEDIATE NEEDS IS NOT AN EASY FEAT, AND THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK PROVIDED BY RESIDENTS. 
          I MUST SAY THAT I HAVE NOT HAD D FOUR RESIDENTS REACH OUT, UM, AND, AND SUPPORT ONE WAY OR, UH, OR, OR IN SUPPORT OF, UM, LINEAR PARKWAYS AND, AND, UH, AND, UH, CREEKWAY, I'M SORRY. 
          UM, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT I HAVE HAD, UH, FOLKS REACH OUT AND GIVE OPINIONS ON, ON A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER MATTERS. 
          UM, AND I WHOLLY SUPPORT, UM, THE, THE, THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORTH TODAY BECAUSE IT HAS SOME FLEXIBILITY. 
          NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED A PANDEMIC, AND WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. 
          WITHOUT A CLEAR END IN SIGHT, THE RIPPLING EFFECTS OF THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY CAN BE HELD, ESPECIALLY BY OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, WHICH AGAIN, I REPRESENT. 
          MY HOPE TODAY IS THAT WE DON'T ATTEMPT TO CREATE A FALSE DICHOTOMOUS NARRATIVE WHERE IT IS AN EITHER OR, AND NOT. 
          BOTH, BOTH THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE AND MAINTAINING OUR EDWARDS UPPER PROTECTION PROGRAM 
          [02:55:01]
AND THE GREENWAY TRAILS ARE CRITICAL FOR OUR CITY'S FUTURE. 
          AND JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR THE INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC SA PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, I UNDERSTAND THAT SECURING ALTERNATIVES FOR FUNDING OF THESE PROGRAMS WOULD BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROPOSED ONE 8 CENTS SALES TAX REALLOCATION TO WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES EARLIER THIS SUMMER. 
          IN FACT, THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ONE EIGHT SALES TAX PROPOSAL BEING ALLOCATED FOR THE WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE INSTEAD OF TO VIA DISCUSSIONS TOOK PLACE, AND A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED. 
          THANK YOU VIA FOR UNDERSTANDING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE. 
          MY RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INVESTING IN LINEAR CREEKS AND PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR TABLE. 
          IN A SIMILAR WAY, I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT OUR CITY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH COUNTY LEADERS AND SAUCE LEADERSHIP TO IDENTIFY AND DEDICATE FUNDING FOR THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM AND GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM. 
          THIS COMMITMENT SHOULD BEGIN TODAY AND REQUIRES FOLLOWING THROUGH BY HAVING MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS WITH PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT POTENTIAL PUB, UH, FUNDING SOURCES. 
          BUT IT WILL TAKE MEANINGFUL INPUT. 
          RESIDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM AND GREENWAY TRAILS SYSTEM SINCE 2000. 
          SO IT WILL BE UP TO ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THESE INVESTMENTS. 
          THOSE ARE MY CLOSING REMARKS. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER GRA. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM TO MY COLLEAGUES, YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND YOUR REMARKS. 
          UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AYAS FOR PUTTING IT IN VERY SIMPLE TERMS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UM, FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KADA AS WELL. 
          UM, VERY SHORT AND SWEET AND TO THE POINT. 
          APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. 
          UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          I JUST, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THAT, IF YOU WERE TALKING, I WAS SAYING AMEN TO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SHARING. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND TO YOUR POINT, VERY WELL SAID. 
          AND TO YOUR POINT OF, UM, THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO SAY NO TO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD NOT, UM, IN QUOTING THE GREAT, UH, MUSICAL HAMILTON, WE SHOULD NOT THROW AWAY OUR SHOT HERE AT THIS OPPORTUNITY. 
          UM, AND TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, I WANNA THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR ADVOCACY FOR CONTINUING TO GROW THE U T S A DOWNTOWN FOOTPRINT. 
          YOU HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT U T S A WAS NEVER FORGOTTEN, AND THAT WE HAD THAT GROWTH TO WHAT WAS ONCE A PINK ELEPHANT IS NOW A THRIVING AREA FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND, UM, TO HAVE EVEN THOUGHT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RICHARD GARCIA AND ALL OF US THAT WE HAVE TEXAS A AND M, SAN ANTONIO ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN, OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, THIS IS WHAT INVESTMENT TAKES. 
          THIS IS WHAT ADVOCACY TAKES, AND THIS WHAT IS WHAT FORWARD THINKING, UM, ALSO TAKES. 
          YES, THANK YOU, DR. 
          RATON AND YOUR, UM, AUDACIOUS LEADERSHIP. 
          UM, THIS IS WHAT FORWARD THINKING, UH, TAKES. 
          SO I THINK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK AND CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF THE PAST AND GIVING OUR VOTERS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YES OR NO. 
          THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO GIVE IT. 
          WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART. 
          SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THIS, AND I DO, I WILL TRUST THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK OUT WITH THE, UM, PAYMENTS FOR THE AQUIFER AND WITH OUR PAYMENTS FOR THE LINEAR CREEKS. 
          BUT AGAIN, UM, WE DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE NEED TO INVEST IN PEOPLE. 
          DO WE HAVE, DO WE KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS OR HOW THIS WILL ALL WORK OUT? NO, BUT OUR ANSWERS ARE IN THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO LOOKING FOR ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THEM. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS VOTE MAYOR, UM, TODAY AND ON NOVEMBER 3RD, JUST 82 DAYS AWAY. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UH, FOR THE DISCUSSION TODAY IN, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, UH, TO BRING US HERE. 
          UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THIS DOVETAILS 
          [03:00:01]
WITH OUR PRIORITIES IN THE CARESS ACT, AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNCIL AND, AND THE COMMITTEES AS WELL ON THAT THIS TIME. 
          UH, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION, UH, VOICE VOTE AND SHOW OF HANDS. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          OPPOSED? AYE. 
          OKAY. 
          ANY OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          A AYE. 
          MAY. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UH, MOTION, UH, CARRIES ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UH, NINE TWO. 
          AND WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR ITEMS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          UM, THAT LIST, IS IT 15 I 15, SIR? 15TH. 
          OKAY. 
          ITEM, ACTUALLY, UH, ERIC, YOU WANTED THE, THE FLOOR? UH, JUST REAL QUICK, MAYOR, I, I DIDN'T, UM, UM, I, I DID SAY IT EARLIER, BUT, AND I, AND I WANTED TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE VOTE AND THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, BUT I, I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALEX LOPEZ AND HER TEAM, AND CARLOS, UH, ALEX, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE PAINTINGS ARE BEHIND ALEX, BUT I, BUT THEY'VE GIVEN HER LIKE SPECIAL POWERS BECAUSE SHE'S HAD A VERY, HER AND HER TEAM HAVE HAD A VERY BUSY SUMMER, AND, UH, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT, BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE, A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING THAT SHE DID AND HER AND HER TEAM. 
          AND CARLOS. 
          THANKS, MAYOR. 
          IF, UH, MAYOR, IF I MAY, REAL QUICKLY, YEAH. 
          UH, ALSO, UH, WANNA RECOGNIZE RAY RODRIGUEZ, DO I KNOW, WORK CLOSELY WITH YOUR TEAM AND WITH A LOT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEHIND THE SCENES AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, TAX OPTIONS WE DID HAVE. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK HIM AS WELL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU ANDY. 
          UM, AND WELL STATED, AND, AND ALEX, GREAT WORK ONCE AGAIN. 
          UM, ITEM 15. 
          [15. 20-4025 Ordinance approving the closure, vacation and abandonment of a portion of Dignowity Avenue Public Right-of-Way located at New City Block 1199 and 1200 in Council District 2 , as requested by Weston Company, LLC for a fee of $40,150.00 to be deposited in the General Fund. [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Director, Public Works]]
ITEM 15 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION THROUGH NEGOTIATION AND A CONDEMNATION OF INTEREST AND LAND SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSES 0.029 OF AN ACRE, 1,250 SQUARE FEET OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT RIGHT OF WAY OF PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY. 
          LOCATED AT 2 2 5 7 AUSTIN HIGHWAY WITHIN N C B 1 2 1 6 2 LOT 16, AND COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO FOR FIRE STATION NUMBER 24 REPLACEMENT PROJECT, 2017 BRA PROJECT, DECLARING IT TO BE A PUBLIC PROJECT AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION. 
          THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PARCEL IS $8,100, AS DETERMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL COUNCIL MEMBER, ANDREWS SULLIVAN. 
          UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. 
          I JUST WANNA THANK OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 
          I WANNA THANK DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND DEFINITELY THANK THE TOVAR FAMILY FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US IN OUR COUNCIL OFFICE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THE FAMILY AS WE, UM, GO FORWARD WITH THE FIRE STATION. 
          NUMBER 24. 
          AT THIS TIME, I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZED THE USE OF THE POWER OF ENEMEN DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PRIVATELY OWNED REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE FIRE STATION NUMBER 24 BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION. 
          AND MAYOR, IF I MAY ADD, PLEASE, I MUST READ THE PROPERTY DESCRIPTION. 
          THE PRIVATE PRO, THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY FOR A PERMANENT DRAINAGE EASEMENT RIGHT OF WAY, INTEREST LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO, BAYAR COUNTY, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, AND IS OUT OF THE FOLLOWING, ONE PARCEL OF LAND CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 0.029 ACRES, 1,250 SQUARE FEET OF REAL PROPERTY AND NCD 1 2 1 6 2 LOT, 1 6 7 3 6 5 P DASH ONE, LOCATED AT 2 2 5 7 AUSTIN HIGHWAY. 
          THIS PROPERTY IS DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT DRAWING MAP IN EXHIBIT A ONE. 
          AND THE MEETS AND BOUNDS SURVEY DESCRIPTION IN EXHIBIT A, TWO OF THE ORDINANCE IS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION. 
          I'LL SECOND THAT MUCH. 
          OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION, UH, AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 15 AS READ. 
          UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE, MAYOR. 
          MAYOR, I WANT, I'M SORRY. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          YES, GO AHEAD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. 
          YEAH, AND I WANNA, UH, I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THIS MOTION. 
          THIS FIRE STATION ACTUALLY SITS RIGHT ON THE BORDER BETWEEN DISTRICT TWO AND DISTRICT 10. 
          WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT IS A HORRIBLE FACILITY, BOTH IN LIVING CONDITIONS AND IN STORING THE FIRE ENGINE, SOME OF 'EM THAT THEY CAN'T EVEN PUT INSIDE. 
          SO, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT. 
          AND AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          I'M CLAIMING PART OF THAT 
          [03:05:01]
STATION IS MINE TOO, SINCE IT'S RIGHT ON THE BORDER. 
          SO, YES, I HAPPILY SECOND THAT MOTION. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. 
          UM, BEFORE I CALL THE VOTE, UM, UH, A RAISED HAND WOULD TELL ME THAT YOU WANT THE FLOOR TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. 
          OKAY. 
          HEARING NONE. 
          UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          UH, WE'LL MOVE TO 
          [24. 20-4326 Ordinance approving an amendment to an Agreement with the University of the Incarnate Word to increase access to healthy fruits and vegetables through the Healthy Corner Stores Project by increasing the amount up to $81,000.00 for a term ending September 30, 2020. [Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Assistant City Manager, Interim Director, Health]]
ITEM 24, SIR. 
          ITEM 24. 
          ITEM 24 IS AN ORDINANCE, AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO THE HEALTHY CORNER STORES PROJECT BY INCREASING THE AMOUNT UP TO $81,000 FOR A TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          I PULLED THIS ITEM TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE, UM, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IMMEDIATE NEEDS DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND, UM, OUR ADDRESSING THE FOOD INSECURITY IN DISTRICT THREE SINCE PRIOR TO THIS, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVE SAW AN UPTICK IN A LOT OF WORK, AND AS A RESULT, WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THIS INCREASE. 
          AND I DID WANT TO HAVE, UM, DR. 
          BRIDGER JUST GIVE HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH RIGHT NOW. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. 
          UM, UH, GOING GO THROUGH THE, THE BACKGROUND PRETTY QUICKLY, JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, UM, WHY WE DID THIS. 
          UH, THIS WAS DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT THERE, UM, HAVE BEEN FOOD DESERT MAPS THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED NEIGHBORHOODS IN SAN ANTONIO IS LACKING EASY ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. 
          UM, AS A RESULT, WE WORKED ON A PROJECT WITH U I W, UM, TO INTEGRATE HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS INTO CORNER STORES SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ACCESS TO THESE HEALTHY FOODS. 
          UM, COUNCILMAN VIRA PROPOSED, UM, A BUDGET AMENDMENT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 19 BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS TO FUND A HEALTHY CORNER STORE PILOT IN HER DISTRICT. 
          UM, AND THAT PILOT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. 
          IN FACT, MOST OF YOU'LL REMEMBER THERE IS ONGOING FUNDING FOR THIS INITIATIVE IN OUR, UH, IN THE MANAGER'S CURRENT RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 21. 
          UM, ORIGINALLY WE PROPOSED TO, UM, PILOT THIS IN FIVE CORNER STORES. 
          WE ARE ACTUALLY PILOTING IT IN EIGHT. 
          SO THAT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. 
          UM, INITIALLY THE FUNDING AMOUNT WAS $45,000, UM, THAT WAS INCREASED TO $65,000. 
          AND NOW WITH THIS ACTION, UM, AS AN ADDITIONAL 16,000 OF, UM, METRO HEALTH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, UM, TO THE CONTRACTS, SO THAT IT IS NOW A TOTAL OF 81,000. 
          AS THE COUNCILMAN MENTIONED, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE THE COST OF HEALTHY FOODS IN THESE EIGHT STORES SO THAT THEY MAY CONTINUE TO OFFER, UM, THESE HEALTHY OPTIONS TO, UH, D THREE RESIDENTS AT A REDUCED PRICE. 
          THAT'S MY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW. 
          HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THANK, THANK YOU, DR. 
          BRIDGER. 
          I THINK, UM, TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, THESE CORNER STORES HAVE BEEN A LIFELINE TO OUR COMMUNITIES DURING THIS PANDEMIC. 
          IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN, UH, SOME OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS THIS NEXT, UM, FISCAL YEAR. 
          BUT I THINK THIS IS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. 
          I THINK THIS IS US ADDRESSING THE IMMEDIACY THAT PEOPLE HAVE, BUT IT'S ALSO ADDRESS, AND I WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS WITH THE U I W SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD WITH THIS TO GET THE INFORMATION AND TO GATHER THE DATA SO WE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THE HEALTH DISPARITY THAT ALSO EXISTS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF OUR, OUR CITY. 
          SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE. 
          SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 24. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          UM, I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN AND SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER , AND THANK YOU, UH, CITY MANAGER. 
          THANK YOU, DR. 
          BRIDGER. 
          I KNOW THAT DISTRICT TWO IS GOING TO BE BLESSED, UH, WITH SOME CORNER STORES. 
          AND SO THIS IS A, A POSITIVE DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA THAT DOES HAVE A LOT OF THE FOOD DESERTS. 
          AND WE'RE HOPING TO REALLY SEE THIS EXPAND THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS WE KNOW THAT MAKING HEALTHIER OPTIONS FOR OUR 
          [03:10:01]
RESIDENTS WILL ADD TO THE HEALTH AND THE VALUE TO GET THROUGH THIS WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC. 
          AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO DISTRICT TWO. 
          WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ? UH, OKAY. 
          UM, YEAH, THANK YOU. 
          UM, UH, MAYOR. 
          AND, AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO COMPLIMENT THE COUNCILWOMAN ON THIS INITIATIVE, BUT I, I DID HAVE, UM, SOME QUESTIONS, UH, DR. 
          BRIDGER. 
          SO DISTRICT FIVE DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A FEW DESERT, UH, PER THE GUIDELINES. 
          UH, AND WE REALLY DON'T. 
          I MEAN, WE HAVE, I HAVE FOUR HEBS, I HAVE NUMEROUS MIANA. 
          I HAVE THE PRODUCE TERMINAL IN MY DISTRICT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY HIGH NUMBER OF FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, WHICH MAKES IT VERY HARD TO COMPETE, UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW. 
          AND, UM, I, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE OPTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, IT'S JUST SO CHEAP, UH, TO GET FAST FOOD. 
          SO ARE THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPANDING, UM, THE MODEL WITHOUT, UH, THE, THE REALITY THAT WE, WE ARE NOT IN A FOOD DESERT? UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, THE TRUTH OF IT. 
          BUT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE MARKETING ON THE OTHERS ARE REALLY OVERWHELMING. 
          I, I'M SURE THERE IS, AT LEAST, I MEAN, WITHIN A BLOCK OF WHERE I LIVE, OR PROBABLY A MILE FROM WHERE I LIVE, THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, MAYBE MORE. 
          YEAH, YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT. 
          UM, WHAT WE ARE DOING TO, TO HELP PEOPLE WHO, UM, HAVE DEVELOPED A HABIT OF GOING TO FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS IS THROUGH OUR PORT VITA PROGRAM, UH, THAT PROVIDES HEALTHY OPTIONS IN VARIOUS RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS THAT PEOPLE CAN ORDER WHEN THEY GO. 
          SO, UM, WE WILL BE DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR WHAT CAN YOU GET THAT'S HEALTHY NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU GO. 
          UM, SO THAT MIGHT ADDRESS SOME OF, SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, BUT IT, IT IS, IT'S TEMPTING WHEN YOU GO INTO A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT TO ORDER WHAT SMELLS SO GOOD. 
          UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WONDER, UH, AS WE ARE, I'M JUST SORT OF THINKING OUT LOUD HERE, SO JUST BEAR WITH ME. 
          BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE HAD THE SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES, UH, AND THE FUNDING FOR THAT. 
          UM, AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SORT OF STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE. 
          I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PORT VIDA PROGRAM, UM, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THOSE OFFERED IN, UM, YOU KNOW, I, UH, TRUE CONFESSIONS HERE. 
          WE EAT A LOT OF FAST FOOD IN THIS HOUSE, WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THAT, BUT THREE KIDS LATER. 
          UM, WE EAT A LOT OF FAST FOOD. 
          AND SO IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF GOD LISTEN AND SOME OF HIS TEAM ARE STILL ON THE LINE, UM, TO ENCOURAGE THAT, UM, UM, PERHAPS, UM, TRY A LITTLE BIT OF MARKETING OR SOMETHING TO, UM, TO MOVE THAT, UH, MOVE THAT NEEDLE. 
          UM, OR MAYBE I NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING AND TRY C R AS I'M SORT OF THINKING OUT LOUD HERE. 
          WELL, I, I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND, AND BRAINSTORM WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF A LITTLE BIT ON THIS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF, HOW YOU DO POOR VITA THROUGH A DRIVE-THROUGH, BECAUSE THE MODEL WAS BASED ON GOING INTO THE STORE, GOING INTO THE RESTAURANT. 
          SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT AS WELL. 
          SO I, I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF ROOM FOR US TO CONTINUE TO FIGURE THIS OUT. 
          UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND, AND ALSO, I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT, UH, SOME OF OUR, UM, OTHER PUBLIC, UM, ENTITIES LIKE, UH, THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, UH, THAT HAS A DIABETES CLINIC IN MY DISTRICT. 
          YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF OUTREACH BECAUSE THEY HAVE A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN. 
          UH, AND ALSO, UM, THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HAS A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN. 
          AND SO ANYWAY, PERHAPS WE CAN EXPAND ON THE MODEL THAT'S, THAT EXISTS AND, UM, AND TRY TO BRING, UH, MORE OPTIONS BECAUSE, UM, OVER THE YEARS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, UH, I I, I, I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE MORE SUCCESS WITH THE, UH, PORT VITA MODEL IN RESTAURANTS, AND I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THAT EVOLVING. 
          UH, AND AS HEALTH CONTINUES TO BE A BIG CONCERN FOR US, PERHAPS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO. 
          SO, UH, WELL, I'LL, I'LL TRY AGAIN, UM, TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING, UM, PERHAPS USING THE SAME MODEL. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, DR. 
          BRIDGER. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ. 
          UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON ITEM 24? HEARING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE VOTE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          [03:15:02]
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          ITEM 29. 
          [29. 20-4329 Ordinance acknowledging and approving the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Columbus Park; approving the conveyance of the statue to the Christopher Columbus Italian Society; and renaming of Columbus Park to Piazza Italia Park located at 500 Columbus Street in Council District 1. [Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Assistant City Manager; Homer Garcia III, Director, Parks & Recreation]]
ITEM 29 IS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 200, UH, I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, TWENTY TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE DOLLARS, THE FISCAL YEAR 2021, ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET FOR THE FOUR FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD, WHICH INCLUDED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, C D B G, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, HOME ENERGY SOLUTIONS, GRANT, E S G, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AID HOPWA PROGRAM, ADOPTING THE SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2016 THROUGH 2020. 
          CONSOLIDATED PLAN AUTHORIZING A STAFF COMPLIMENT OF 48 POSITIONS AND AUTHORIZED CONTRACTS TO EXECUTE PROGRAM BUDGETS. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER . 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I, TODAY, IN FACT, I READ THAT, UM, I THINK LAURIE HOUSTON WAS QUOTED AS INDICATING THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY FEDERAL FUNDING. 
          AND I'VE CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATED FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE SPECIFICALLY THAT OUR LOCAL GENERAL FUND DOLLARS SHOULD BE USED FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET THOSE GUIDELINES AND MAKE THE PROGRAM FLEXIBLE AS NEEDED, UH, HERE FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN, IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          UH, HOWEVER, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT WE NEED MORE FEDERAL FUNDING. 
          UH, MEANS WHAT, WHAT LITTLE LOCAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS WE, WE, WE DO HAVE CAN GO FURTHER. 
          UH, THE C D B G, UH, DOES PROVIDE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE. 
          BUT, UH, LORI, DOES COUNCIL HAVE THE ABILITY TODAY OR DURING THE FISCAL YEAR TO MOVE FUNDING WITHIN C D B G PRIORITIES? FOR EXAMPLE, CAN WE MOVE MORE FUNDING OVER THE EMERGENCY HOUSING AS OVER TO THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE? THIS ASSISTANCE IS LESS THAN 10% OF THE TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 21 C D B G BUDGET RIGHT NOW. 
          YES, COUNSEL CAN DO AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED HU ACTION PLAN. 
          UM, STAFF ISN'T RECOMMENDING THAT TODAY, BUT IT CAN BE DONE LATER ON. 
          UM, WE DO HAVE $1 MILLION CURRENTLY PROPOSED IN C D B G FUNDING FOR THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT ANY REALLOCATION OF FUNDING WOULD IMPACT THE ACTION PLAN AND THE PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THAT. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, ALL THE LINE ITEMS ON THE CURRENT C D B G BUDGET ARE, ARE WORTHY OF THEIR CURRENT FUNDING AMOUNTS, BUT GIVEN THAT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IMPLIES THE NEED IS IMMEDIATE AND FUNDS CAN BE ALLOCATED IMMEDIATELY, EVEN JUST MOVING 1% OF THE FUNDING TO, UH, TO OVER TO EMERGENCY, UH, ASSISTANCE COULD PROVIDE EIGHT TO DOZENS OF FAMILIES. 
          SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. 
          AND IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, ARE UPDATED ON THAT, IF WE CAN INDEED MOVE THOSE PRIORITIES. 
          UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER LINE LINE ITEMS CITY STAFF COULD READILY IDENTIFY AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE? C D V G CAN PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY? UM, CURRENTLY, UM, THE $22.5 MILLION BUDGET INCLUDES $13.6 MILLION, UM, IN C D B G FUNDING, THAT'S PART OF OUR PROPOSED $25 MILLION FISCAL YEAR 21 BUDGET FOR THE AFFORDABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
          UM, IF WE WERE TO REDUCE ANYTHING, WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT, UM, THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOME OWNERSHIP, WHICH TOTALS A LITTLE BIT AROUND $5 MILLION, WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT WE GO FORWARD AND DO THE SOLICITATION FOR THOSE PROGRAMS IMMEDIATELY SEE IF THERE ARE ANY, UM, RENTAL UNITS OR HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE FINANCEABLE THIS YEAR, UM, AND THAT NEED THE FUNDING THIS YEAR. 
          AND IF SO, MOVE FORWARD. 
          IF NOT, WE WILL RETURN TO COUNCIL AND RECOMMEND THAT THAT FUNDING BE REALLOCATED OR REDIRECTED TO THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          OKAY, GREAT. 
          WELL, THERE'S NO NEED TO DELAY ANY, UH, COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE FUNDS TODAY, BUT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS TO THE CULTURAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION, UH, ON THE MERITS OF, UH, AS YOU EXPRESS OF MOVING THESE, UH, MORE FUNDS OVER TO THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE LINE ITEM. 
          UH, I REALIZE THE COMMITTEE WAS DUE FOR A BRIEFING, UH, ON THIS ITEM AS A WHOLE. 
          UH, BUT I DID NEED TO ATTEND TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY AT THE TIME. 
          AGAIN, I, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF CITY STAFF ON THIS. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          UH, UH, VETO THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, UH, FOR THE BRIEFING. 
          AND, UH, IT IS NOT LOST THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING FOR THE C D V G EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE HAS INCREASED TENFOLD FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT. 
          BUT GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR MORE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, BE IT LOCAL OR FEDERAL. 
          WE MUST FIND WAYS TO, UH, HELP THOSE AT RISK OF EVICTION 
          [03:20:01]
AND HOMELESSNESS. 
          AND AGAIN, I, I WILL KEEP MAKING THE PLUG THAT WE MUST, UH, PUT MORE, PUT LOCAL DOLLARS INTO THAT EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE. 
          UH, WE DIDN'T DO IT IN THIS, IN THIS CASE. 
          UM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AT THE, AT THIS POINT, UH, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM. 
          OBJECT. 
          MAYOR, IF I MAY PLEASE. 
          I NEED TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO THE AMOUNT. 
          IT'S $22,350,369. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, HANG ON A SECOND. 
          NO, I'M KIDDING. 
          MOTION TO APPROVE. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          UH, COUNCIL MEMBER , UH, SORRY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO. 
          UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 29? YOU'RE WELCOME. 
           ALL HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          UM, MA'AM, MAY I ASK, I'M SORRY, WHO WAS THE SECOND? WAS THAT SANDOVAL? NO, GRO. 
          THAT WAS, UH, ANDREW SULLIVAN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I'M SORRY I WAS SO FOCUSED ON THE AMOUNT. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S 
          [32. 20-4662 City Manager's Report]
REPORT? YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TRY THIS. 
          MAYOR, UH, IT, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO, UM, TO, I HELD IT LAST WEEK 'CAUSE OF THE PROVOKED BUDGET, BUT WE DO HAVE A REALLY QUICK, UH, EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO. 
          UM, AND, AND IN THE TOPIC THAT COUNCILMAN TRAVI WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, UH, ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IN, IN HELPING THE COMMUNITY WITH, UH, THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
          SO LET'S RUN THE VIDEO. 
          JOHN, CAN YOU SEE THAT? YES. 
          MY NAME IS BARBARA AND COMA BURFORD AND I'M THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT ADMINISTRATOR. 
          WE ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY DOWNTOWN, THOUGH WE ARE THERE TO, UH, HELP SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN VARIOUS ROLES, ENSURING RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF RENTAL OR MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE GET THAT HELP, TALK ABOUT TESTING YOUR SKILLS, YOUR, YOUR ORGANIZATION. 
          WE HAD TO BUILD SOME THINGS FAIRLY QUICKLY AND BE, YOU KNOW, REACTIVE IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY AND DELIVER. 
          AND SO IT'S REALLY, AND THERE WAS A BIG CONCERN ABOUT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. 
          OUR DIRECTOR WENT OUT AND WORKED WITH COPS METRO TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, COULD STILL APPLY. 
          SO SHE HERSELF EVEN DID INTAKE. 
          YOU DON'T WANNA SEE FAMILIES BECOME HOMELESS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT TIME. 
          WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE BEHIND THE RENT, THAT WE COULD PROCESS FAIRLY QUICKLY AND GET THAT RENT CHECK TO THE LANDLORD THROUGH HOUSING RECOVERY CENTER. 
          THEY'RE GETTING OTHER RESOURCE INFORMATION, WHETHER THEY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING A JOB THAT WE CAN DIRECT THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES THERE AND JUST ANY OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES THEY MAY NEED. 
          WE'RE MEANT LEARN SOME LESSONS THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND WE'LL BE LEFT BETTER FOR THIS. 
          AND THAT WILL MEAN BETTER SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE STRONGER FOR IT AS WELL. 
          MAYOR, UH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, VETO AND BARBARA AND EDWARD AND E D N AND THAT WHOLE DEPARTMENT, UH, BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE, UM, THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO. 
          AND, AND BARBARA WAS RIGHT. 
          THEY DID HAVE TO KIND OF RETHINK THAT WHOLE PROCESS AND BE VERY NIMBLE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THEIR HARD WORK, SO I WANTED TO INCLUDE THEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, ERIC. 
          UM, BEFORE WE, UM, CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL DAY TO CELEBRATE OUR COLLEAGUE MO BERDA IS TURNING, UM, SOMETHING. 
          AND SO LET'S, UH, 46 JUST WE DID LAST TIME AN OVER WEBEX. 
          HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 
          HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAS BOTH THE WORST AND THE BEST. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          [03:25:01]
. 
          I HOPE SOMEONE'S, UH, IN THESE, UM, THESE RENDITIONS OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL LIVE FOREVER ON THE CITY'S SERVER, AS THE CLERK IS, IS MAINTAINING ALL OF OUR ARCHIVES FOR US. 
          SO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          I HAD ONE QUESTION. 
          SURE, GO AHEAD. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          UM, CITY MANAGER WALSH. 
          HOW MANY YEARS HAS BARBARA BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? OH, COUNCILWOMAN. 
          UH, I THINK SHE CAME IN WHEN SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL OR SOMETHING. 
          YEAH, MAYBE 15 OR SO. 
          MAYBE 15, 12 YEARS. 
          1546. 
          WELL, WELL CONGRATULATIONS TO HER AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. 
          THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK. 
          MM-HMM. 
          . 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VIRON. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, THE TIME IS 
          [Executive Session]
12:33 PM ON THIS THURSDAY, MAY 21ST, 2020. 
          THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT COACH SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 AND DELIBERATE DISCUSS THE ITEMS POSTED ON THE MAY 20TH, 2020, UM, EXCUSE ME, THE, IT'S AUGUST 13TH, 2020, UH, AND WE WILL DELIBERATE DISCUSS THE ITEMS POSTED ON OUR CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE AGENDA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, UH, LITIGATION AGAINST THE CITY AND C OVID 19 PREPAREDNESS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.071. 
          SO, UH, I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE WEBEX FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE'LL MEET IN THERE SHORTLY. 
          UH, JOHN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DON'T THINK I'VE RECEIVED THAT WEBEX. 
          IF JOHN PETER COULD SEND IT TO ME AGAIN. 
          OKAY, WILL DO. 
          THANKS JOHN.
* 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.