[2. A Briefing on a proposed recommend revision to Chapter 5 of the City Code related to Animal Care Services. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Heber Lefgren, Director, Animal Care Services] - 30 MINUTES]

AFTERNOON, WE HAVE THREE UPDATES TO DISCUSS WITH THE COUNCIL, AND THIS FIRST ONE IS A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE PET OWNERS TO PROVIDE PETS WITH ACCESS TO SHADE.

THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A SMALL MATTER, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A BIG MATTER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND AN IMPORTANT ONE.

AND SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE TALKED WITH ME ABOUT THE NEED TO PREPARE AND PRESENT AN ORDINANCE THAT DOES REQUIRE SHADE FOR ALL OF OUR ANIMALS.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, BRIEFLY, AND WE'LL HAVE THE STAFF COME UP IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT LET ME SAY THAT TODAY'S ANIMAL CARE LAWS MANDATE A STANDARD OF CARE TO ENSURE THAT ALL PETS HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH AIR, FOOD, FRESH WATER, EXERCISE, SHELTER AND, OF COURSE, VETERINARY CARE.

AND ONE OF OUR DOCTORS IS HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE CODE DOES REQUIRE A PET TO BE PROVIDED WITH ACCESS TO SHADE WHEN BEING TETHERED.

AND SO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL OWNED OR KEPT ANIMALS HAVE ACCESS TO SHADE, WHETHER NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL AT ALL TIMES.

AND IN -- UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE SEVERAL ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE SUN AND WE'RE GOING TO SHARE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

SO BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, HEBER IS OUT OF TOWN, SO SHANNON SIMS IS HERE THIS AFTERNOON IS GOING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME DETAILS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL OF OUR ACS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, OUR BOARD CHAIR, RITA IS HERE, VICE CHAIR SUSAN BELDON AND BOARD SECRETARY, KAREN SPEAR.

OH, SALLY IS HERE AS WELL.

HI, SALLY.

SALLY HAS BEEN ACTIVE WITH OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS, LONGER.

>> SCULLEY: SO WE'RE GLAD TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND SERVICE.

YOU'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT.

WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, AND HOPEFULLY TODAY WE'LL MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO OUR ANIMAL SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT, SHANNON, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION, AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND ALSO AS I SAID, OUR VETERINARY STAFF IS HERE AS WELL TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

LET ME ALSO MENTION THAT AS SOON AS WE BECAME AWARE OF SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS SITUATIONS THIS SUMMER, WE DID IMMEDIATELY BEGIN WITH PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH THROUGH THE MEDIA TO REMIND OUR RESIDENTS OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE SHADE FOR THEIR ANIMALS AND WE'RE GLAD TO BE TALKING WITH YOU ABOUT THIS AT OUR FIRST MEETING BACK.

SHANNON?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MRS. SCULLEY.

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AGAIN,

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WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE CHAPTER 5 ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATION.

THE PRESENTATION OVERVIEW, WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY AND OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, OUR CHAPTER 5 CITY CODE AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE PUBLIC.

AS MANY OF YOU MAY WELL KNOW, BACK IN 2004, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WAS ACTUALLY EUTHANIZING MORE ANIMALS PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE NATION.

WE TOOK IN ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF ANIMALS WE DO TODAY, BUT ABOUT 90% OF THOSE ANIMALS WERE EUTHANIZED.

OBVIOUSLY AS A CITY, A PROGRESSIVE CITY, WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THAT TYPE OF A SITUATION.

SO IN 2006, WE SAT DOWN AND STARTED KIND OF GOING OVER STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPING THAT, WITH AN INTENT OF ACHIEVING A 70% LIVE RELEASE RATE BY THE YEAR OF 2012.

IN 2011, WE CAME BACK AND WE KIND OF REVISED IT, WE LOOKED AT IT.

WE WERE ONLY AT ABOUT 30% AND WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO DO SOME MORE TO MAKE IT MORE PROACTIVE AND MORE -- THE 70% MORE ACHIEVABLE.

WHAT WE DID WAS WE MAINTAINED OUR 70% LIVE RELEASE GOAL; HOWEVER, WE CHANGED AND FOCUSED MORE ON A BALANCED APPROACH WHERE WE WERE REALLY LOOKING AT COMMUNITY SAFETY AND POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR PETS.

THE WAY WE DID THIS WAS THROUGH SOME STRATEGIC PLANNING.

SO OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT WE ACTUALLY SET FORTH BACK IN 2011 INCLUDED ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT, CONTROLLING THE STRAY POPULATION, INCREASING OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE AND THEN AS WE GOT TO 2015, WE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO BE OUT THERE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AS WELL, MAKING THEM PART OF THE SOLUTION.

SO IN 2015, WE ADDED THAT FOURTH STRATEGIC PRIORITY OF ENGAGING THE PUBLIC.

THIS GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT INTO WHERE -- YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'VE COME FROM SINCE 2011.

SINCE THEN, WE ACHIEVED AN INCREASE IN OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE OF ABOUT 187%.

WE'RE NOW AT ABOUT A 92% LIVE RELEASE RATE.

WE'VE MAINTAINED THE NUMBER OF IMPOUNDS.

OUR SPAY/NEUTERS HAVE INCREASED 393%.

WE'RE DOING ALMOST 4,000 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES A YEAR CITY FUNDED.

WE HAVE THROUGH THE ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS AND OUTREACH THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR OFFICERS BY ABOUT 123%.

WHILE BACK IN 2011, WE DID NOT TRACK DEAD ANIMAL PICKUP, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THAT.

LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 19,000 DEAD ANIMAL PICKUPS WHICH IS DOWN FROM ABOUT 24,000 JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ANIMAL BITES WE'RE SEEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES, THAT'S DOWN BY ABOUT 18%.

SO SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT AS WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

CHAPTER FIVE, IN GENERAL, IS THE FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS US TO BASICALLY ESTABLISH WHAT WE CONSIDER HUMANE, HUMANE OWNERSHIP, AS WELL AS PROTECTION FOR THE CITY, RESIDENTS AND THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE.

IT PROVIDES BASIC CARE, OR OUR STANDARD OF CARE FOR ALL PETS, WHAT EVERY OWNER MUST DO, PROVIDES ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY SO THAT THE OFFICERS CAN GO OUT THERE AND MAKE SURE THE ORDINANCES ARE UPHELD AND IT ESTABLISHES TYPES AND QUANTITIES OF WHAT PETS ARE ALLOWABLE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN THE UPGRADE OF THE -- PRETTY MUCH AN OVERHAUL OF CHAPTER 5.

IN OCTOBER 2017, WE STRENGTHENED MANY OF OUR LAWS AS LISTED IN THE BRIEF.

OUR SPAY/NEUTER REQUIREMENTS, WE STRENGTHENED THE TETHERING TO EXCLUDE CHAINING, SO CHAIN IS NO LONGER LEGAL IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

WE GAVE OUR OFFICERS SOME ADDITIONAL IMPOUND AUTHORITY, IF THEY SEE ROADSIDE SALE OF PUPPIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE CHANGED THE DOMESTICATED FOUL LIMITS SO FOLKS CAN HAVE MORE CHICKENS HOWEVER IT RESTRICTED THE NUMBER OF ROOSTERS THAT FOLKS MAY HAVE.

ENHANCED THE TEXAS STATE DANGEROUS DOG REQUIREMENTS SO THAT BEFORE AN ANIMAL CAN BE RELEASED AFTER IT'S BEEN DEEMED BACK TO THE OWNER, IT HAS TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED BEFORE IT LEAVES THE FACILITY.

WE'RE NOT LEAVING THAT UP TO THE OPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANIMAL-RELATED NOISE COMPLAINTS WHICH IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE, WE BUILT SOME NEW PROCESSES TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE EFFECTIVE THROUGH THE COURTS.

THESE CHANGES, WE WENT OUT AND HELD ABOUT 13 DIFFERENT SESSIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITIES GETTING INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS, THE STAKEHOLDERS.

OBVIOUSLY OUR ACS BOARD MEMBERS, AND, OF COURSE, OUR CITY COUNCIL, SO THAT WE COULD GET THINGS THAT WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE CITY.

SO AS WE TALK ABOUT STANDARD OF CARE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE REALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, CURRENTLY ANIMALS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH AIR, FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, VETERINARY CARE IF THEY NEED IT AND EXERCISE.

AS WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH THIS, WE DECIDED THAT THERE WAS MORE THAT WE COULD DO.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHENEVER IT'S

[00:10:01]

REALLY HOT LIKE THIS OR REALLY COLD LIKE IT WAS THIS PAST JANUARY, WE ACTUALLY ESSCE LATE THE NEGLECT CALLS SO WE CAN GET OUT THERE IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

THAT'S A POLICY THAT ACS HAS HAD LONGSTANDING.

SO THE AUTHORITY PROVIDED TO ENFORCE BASIC STANDARD CARE THROUGH ISSUANCE OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CITATIONS, CHAPTER 5 ALLOWS THE OFFICERS TO ISSUE THESE CITATIONS, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS ARE ABOUT $300 AND THEY SEEK COMPLIANCE.

THE INDIVIDUAL SHOWS PROF THAT THEY'VE COME INTO COMPLIANCE, THEY GET A BREAK IN COURT AND THE JUDGE CAN LOWER THE FINE FROM $300 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 25.

ON OUR CRIMINAL SIDE, FOR MORE EGREGIOUS OFFENSES OR MULTIPLE OFFENDERS, IT IS A CLASS C MISSS DEMEANOR WITH FINES UP TO $5,000 AND FAILURE TO GO TO COURT WOULD RESULT IN A WARRANT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY EXECUTE.

ONE OF THOSE IS WE CAN -- IF WE SEE AN ANIMAL IN DISTRESS, WE CAN REQUIRE LEAVING A NOTICE OF VIOLATION REQUIRING THE INDIVIDUAL TO SEEK IMMEDIATE VETERINARY CARE AND SHOW THAT PROOF TO MY OFFICERS IN THE TIMELINE THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE OFFICER.

ALSO IF AN ANIMAL'S FOUND TO BE IN EXIGENT CONDITION, THEREFORE WE BELIEVE IT TO EXPIRE WITHIN 24 HOURS IF IT DOESN'T RECEIVE IMMEDIATE CARE, WE CAN SEIZE THOSE ANIMALS WITHOUT A WARRANT.

SO IN ADDITION TO THOSE PREVIOUS STANDARDS OF CARE, THE ANIMAL MUST HAVE THE SHELTER BUT ALSO MUST HAVE A SEPARATE SHADE STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEM RELIEF FROM THE HEAT.

THIS ISRA PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING, DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR REACTIVE RESPONSES LIKE THOSE EXIGENT SEIZURES, WE THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO ALLEVIATE ANY ANIMALS BEING IN DISTRESS DURING THE HEAT.

IT ALSO INCLUDES SIMILARLY THE AUTHORITY FOR US TO WRITE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CITATIONS BASED ON THE LACK OF PROVISION OF THAT SHADE.

SO IN CLOSING, THE SHADE IS TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE SHELTER.

THE REASON THAT WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD IS BECAUSE ANYBODY THAT'S EVER BEEN CAMPING KNOWS THAT IF IT'S 100°, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS INSIDE THE TENT WHEN IT'S 100°.

BEING ABLE TO GET OUT IN THAT AIRFLOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT YOUR SHADE, YOU'VE GOT YOUR AIRFLOW, IT PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT RELIEF FOR THE ANIMALS.

ACS DOES, AGAIN, AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ESCALATE PRIORITIES ON ANIMALS WHENEVER WE HAD THOSE HEAT ADVISORIES AS POSTED BY METRO HEALTH, AND THEY CAN HELP PREVENT SOME SITUATIONS LIKE YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES ABOVE.

MOLLY WAS A DOG THAT CAME INTO US A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO SHADE, CHOSE NOT TO GO INSIDE OF HER DOGHOUSE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S 120, 125° INSIDE THAT DOGHOUSE, AND OBVIOUSLY SUSTAINED SOME SIGNIFICANT THERMAL BURNS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE SEE THE BEFORE PICTURE, VERY, VERY GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN THESE SITUATIONS, AND -- PHENOMENAL VETERINARY CARE AND IS COMPLETELY SALVAGEABLE AND HAS A VERY GOOD OUTCOME/OUTLOOK.

SO THE NEXT STEPS, OBVIOUSLY TODAY WE'RE HERE GOING THROUGH THIS, TOMORROW THE A SESSION, THIS WILL BE AN AGENDA ITEM, AND UPON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDINANCE BY CITY COUNCIL, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

WITH AN EDUCATIONAL ASPECT MOVING OUT, TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND THEN AN ENFORCEMENT ASPECT OF IT AS WELL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MILES AN HOUR.

WE -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.

START WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, SHANNON.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

MAYOR, I'VE GOT TO COMEPPED YOU FOR HELPING ME PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA SO QUICKLY.

THIS IS SORT OF BULLET FAST LASER SPEED.

I CALLED YOU, SHOWED YOU THE PICTURES OF THIS DOG, TOLD YOU WHAT IT IS THAT THE CHALLENGES THAT ACS HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AND YOU CLEARED THE DECKS FOR US AND WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND SO I CAN TELL YOU THE STORY OF MOLLY, IF Y'ALL ARE CURIOUS.

I GOT TO GO MEET MOLLY AT THE ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE.

SHE WAS WITH ACS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND UNDERWENT JUST A HORRIFYING VERY, VERY PAINFUL CARE THAT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, REMOVE A LOT OF THAT BAKEED, INFECTED DEAD SKIN AND TODAY, MOLLY IS A VERY PLAYFUL DOG.

SHE'S GOT ONLY ONE TINY SCAR RUNNING DOWN HER BACK.

I GOT TO PET HER AND PLAY WITH

[00:15:01]

HER.

SHE'S LEARNING HOW TO ADAPT TO LEASHES AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT YESTERDAY SHE FOUND A NEW HOME, A FAMILY HAS ADOPTED HER, AND MOLLY IS JUST ONE STORY.

AN EXTREME ONE TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT UNIQUE.

THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THERE'S DOGS OUT THERE WHO ARE SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF NEGLECTFUL OWNERS.

AND SO THIS HOPEFULLY GIVES YOU GUYS ONE MORE TOOL TO BE ABLE TO GO ONTO A PROPERTY AND REMOVE A DOG, IF NECESSARY.

AND IT GIVES YOU ONE MORE TOOL TO HAVE THE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THE PROBABLE CAUSE NECESSARY TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER AND TO START INVESTIGATIONS.

I ALSO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT SOME OF THE ANIMAL ADVOCACY COMMUNITY FEELS, AND I'VE TALKED TO HEBER, TOO, IS THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE OF YOU, SHANNON, AND WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN ARMY OF ACS OFFERS -- OFFICERS DOING THIS KIND OF WORK.

I'LL TELL YOU FOLKS, THE REASON MOLLY WAS FOUND, AND -- IS BECAUSE SOMEBODY REPORTED IT, RIGHT? AND THE 3-1-1 APP IS KEY IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S A TOOL THAT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE POTHOLES, RIGHT, THAT YOU CAN REPORT ON 3-1-1, BUT THIS IS ALSO A TOOL AVAILABLE TO US.

AND SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

AND THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA?

>> SALDAÑA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO CHIME IN QUICKLY, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO COMMEND COUNCILMAN PELAEZ ON HOW QUICKLY WE DID MOVE WITH THIS.

I THINK IT REPRESENTS THE BEST PART OF WHAT -- YOU KNOW, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO, WHEN YOU SEE A PROBLEM, YOU ACT QUICKLY.

AND OUTSIDE OF JUST PROVIDING A NEW LAYER OR NEW RULE THAT OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD ABIDE BY, IT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE ABOUT THE HEART OF THIS CITY, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE COME SUCH A LONG WAY.

YOU'VE REPRESENTED THE NUMBERS UP THERE REALLY NICELY, BUT WE'RE REALLY CHARGING FORWARD TOWARDS THIS VISION OF BEING THE LARGEST CITY WITH THE LARGEST HEART WITH RESPECT TO OUR ANIMAL POPULATION.

AND THOSE WHETHER THEY'RE STRAY ANIMALS THAT FIND A HOME EVENTUALLY BECAUSE THEY EITHER ARE IN THE BACK OF YOUR TRUCK AND THEY END UP NOT ONLY AT ACS, BUT AT ADL OR SAN ANTONIO PETS ALIVE, BUT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ REPRESENTED AN IMPORTANT ISSUE WHICH IS ONE OF NEGLECT THAT SOMETIMES SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I THINK -- NEGLECT IS AN INTERESTING TERM TO USE, BECAUSE THAT KIND OF ABUSE AND THAT KIND OF TREATMENT OF ANIMALS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN A GOOD PEOPLE NEGLECT REPORTING WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THEM.

SOMETIMES YOU MAY BE HANDCUFFED BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROPER RULES ON THE BOOKS TO ENFORCE PROVIDING SHADES AND FOOD AND WATER.

I HOPE WE'VE PLUGGED ALL OF THE HOLES IN THOSE GAPS.

SHANNON, LET ME ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE ANY MORE GAPS IN THE AREAS OF GIVING YOU -- YOUR FOLKS, YOUR ACO OFFICERS THE AUTHORITY TO ADDRESS NEGLECT OR ABUSE WHEN NEIGHBORS MIGHT SEE IT?

>> FROM AN NEGLECT AND ABUSE STANDPOINT, I'M SURE THERE'S ALWAYS A HOLE.

AS WE KIND OF MOVE ALONG, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE DISCOVER WHERE THE HOLES ARE IN THE SYSTEM.

I DON'T DOUBT THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME HOLES IN THE SYSTEM, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS AWARE OF, THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO TRACK, AND, OF COURSE, MUCH LIKE WE'RE DOING IN THIS SITUATION, TRY TO --

>> SALDAÑA: AND WE WANT TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WILL HOPEFULLY ACT AGAIN TOMORROW WHEN WE VOTE TO ADD THIS TO THE LAYER OF RULES THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ABIDE BY, BUT IT REALLY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, RAISING THEIR HAND, POINTING OUT THE ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S 3-1-1, OUR COUNCIL OFFICES, THERE'S THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT CHANNELS THAT SOMEBODY COULD USE TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE, YOU KNOW, ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF AN ANIMAL.

SO LET ME THANK SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE WHO REPRESENT REALLY LOUD VOICES IN THAT COMMUNITY WHICH ARE FROM THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD AND RITA WHO IS MY APPOINTEE AND THE CHAIR AND FOLKS REPRESENTATIVE OF OTHER COUNCIL DISTRICTS LEAD THE CHARGE, EARLY ADOPTIONS AND CRAFTING OF THE RULES SO THANK YOU SHANNON TO YOU AND THE WORK OF ACS STAFF, WHO'S HERE, WHO I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE OFTEN BECAUSE I THINK THE -- AUDIO] -- COMMUNITY RESIDENT IN SAN ANTONIO WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TO CREATE A MORE LIVABLE CITY, AND I THINK ANIMAL WELFARE IS ONE WHERE IT'S EASY TO SEE IT, AND IN SOME CASES IT'S EASY TO SEE IT WHEN WE DON'T GET IT RIGHT.

SO I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND HIS OFFICE AND STAFF BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

AND I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS BECAUSE WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

MY FIRST ONE ON THE RECOMMENDED CODE CHANGE, THE PROACTIVE ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE

[00:20:01]

REACTIVE RESPONSES FOR ANIMAL IN DISTRESS.

SO TELL ME -- WALK ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT THIS WILL BE.

SOMEBODY CALLS 3-1-1, THEY SEE A DOG THAT'S BEEN THERE AND WHAT HAPPENS?

>> ESSENTIALLY, MA'AM, WE GET ABOUT -- DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WE GET ABOUT 3500 CALLS ANNUALLY FOR HEAT-RELATED TYPE OF ISSUES.

IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO CHANGE OR PUT A DEEPER BURDEN ON OUR ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, IT'S JUST GOING TO GIVE US ONE MORE MEASURING STICK AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO THE GOOD THINGS IS, THESE CALLS WILL COME IN, OUR DISPATCHERS, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'VE GOT THE HEAT CONDITIONS WILL ESCALATE THOSE PRIORITIES, PUSH THOSE OUT TO OUR OFFICERS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE GET THERE, WE HAVE RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MET ALL OF THOSE STANDARDS OF CARE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SHADE.

NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THAT AS PART OF THE STANDARD OF CARE, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THAT ANIMAL RECEIVES THAT AS WELL.

>> VIAGRAN: AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SEVERE, NOW YOU WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SEIZE IT THEN AND THERE IF YOU NEED TO?

>> WE'VE ACTUALLY ALWAYS HAD THAT AUTHORITY IF THE ANIMAL IS IN AN EXIGENT STATEMENT.

>> VIAGRAN: SO IT'S JUST SHADE, ADDING THAT TO THE LIST.

>> YES, MA'AM, IT QUIFS US ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR BELT.

>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WANT TO BRING UP OUR DOCTOR, OUR VETERINARIAN, BECAUSE I HAVE -- JUST REALLY A QUESTION THAT I HAVE, CURIOUS.

SO WE KNOW WHEN WE WALK OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HEAT INDEX, IT'S HOT FOR US.

100-SOMETHING DEGREES, SO I'M CURIOUS, HOW MUCH HOTTER IS IT FOR LIKE A DOG? HOW MUCH HOTTER IS IT?

>> SURE.

SO WITH ANIMALS, THEY ARE WEARING A FUR COAT, SO WHEN WE GO OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT, WE DRESS APPROPRIATELY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE STEPPING OUTDOORS WITH A FUR COAT.

WITH ANIMALS, THEY DO HAVE A FUR COAT, WHICH THEY CANNOT REMOVE.

IN ADDITION TO THE FUR COAT, THEY HAVE A NORMAL BACTERIA FLORA THAT'S ON THEM, AND SO IF THEY GET EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND THEY RECEIVE A SUNBURN, THAT BACTERIA CAN OVERGROW AND IT CAN GET INFECTED.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

SO IT'S THOSE COMBINATIONS OF THOSE TWO THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THIS?

>> YES.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT FOR OUR ANIMALS AND OUR PETS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT WAS GOOD FOR MY OWN EDIFICATION AS WELL.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON SLIDE NUMBER SIX.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO DETAIL WITH THIS DURING THE BUDGET SESSION, BUT --

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> VIAGRAN: -- I DO WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THIS LIST, HOW MANY ANIMALS DID WE EUTHANIZE LAST YEAR, IF YOU HAVE THAT? AND HOW MANY HAVE WE EUTHANIZED SO FAR THIS YEAR?

>> SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THAT'S OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FOR EUTHANASIA LAST YEAR, EUTHANASIA LAST YEAR OUR ACTUAL WAS 2,582.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

AND TO DATE, DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER?

>> 1,844.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, AND THE REASON I WANT TO JUST -- I WANT TO ALWAYS KEEP THIS TO THE FRONT OF OUR MIND TO SEE THAT WE HAVE 19,000 DEAD ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN PICKED UP.

AND WE STILL HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOUNDED OR PICKED UP AND IMPOUNDED BY THE CITY.

AND THEN WE HAVE NOW 2500 -- OR 1800 THAT HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED, THESE ANIMALS THAT HAVE HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED.

I THINK THE ONUS IS UPON US AS A COMMUNITY, AS A CITY, AND AS PET OWNERS, THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING -- WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT NORMAL.

THIS SHOULD NOT BE A NORMAL HERE.

SO I ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT IS VERY STAGGERING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE KIND OF NUMBERS WITH PEOPLE FROM OTHER -- IN OTHER CITIES AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO I WANT TO THANK OUR ADVOCATES AND OUR ACS ADVISORY BOARD, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH YOU-ALL, AND -- BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE -- IN AUDIO] -- SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES?

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU MAYOR, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK KAREN SPEARS WHO'S MY NOMINEE FOR THE BOARD.

ALSO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR ALL SHE DOES TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE AND HER CARE AND CONCERN FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I WILL ALSO JUST WANT TO GIVE A COMPLIMENT TO THE TEAM, YOUR ACS

[00:25:01]

TEAM ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

OVER THE YEARS YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT SPENDING TIME THERE, AND YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE PARK TO DO A RUN, THE PARK WAS CLEAN, IT WAS FULL OF PEOPLE, EVERYBODY WAS OUT ENJOYING THEIR PARKS.

PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS ON LEASHES, LOTS OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITY HAPPENING.

AND I DID NOT SEE A SINGLE LOOSE DOG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO THAT'S UNUSUAL FOR US, SO I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT AND CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND I'VE GOTTEN COMPLIMENTS ON YOUR WORK, SHANNON.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SANDOVAL: DIRECTLY TO MY MAILBOX, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT, AND TO THE ADVISORY BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION.

AND ALSO TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND THE MAYOR FOR COMING FORWARD SO QUICKLY WITH A SOLUTION.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GOT THE RESULTS OF BUDGET INPUT, AS I SPEAK UP, THE NUMBER THREE THING THAT WE HEARD WAS MORE RESOURCES FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, SO THERE'S STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND THEN ACS.

AND IT'S IN A -- WE'RE SORT OF IN A CONUNDRUM, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY TO GO AROUND.

SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR SOMETHING THAT I ASKED FOR IN THE BUDGET, AND IT NOT EVEN THAT MUCH MONEY.

I TOLD MARIA I'D PUT IN MY CPFF FUNDS FOR IT IF WE COULD DO IT, AND THAT'S TO CREATE BASICALLY AN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM FOR ACS.

SO YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS, BUT THIS WOULD BE SORT OF GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE LEGITIMACY TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TEACH AND BE A RESOURCE, BECAUSE LIKE COUNCILMAN PELAEZ SAID, WE DON'T HAVE AN ARMY OF ACS OFFICERS RIGHT NOW, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE WELL INFORMED AND, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO HELP US OUT.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THAT WORK.

IF NOT, I'LL DO IT OUT OF CPFF, THAT'S FINE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARIA, FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT.

SO THANKS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO?

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND YOURSELF FOR ADDRESSING AN ISSUE IN SUCH A QUICK MANNER.

IT AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR ALL OF US.

AT THE HEART OF THAT, I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING THAT WE DRAW ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES, AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK SHANNON FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

HEBER AND SPECIFICALLY OUR DISTRICT 1 DEDICATED ACS OFFICER PEREZ WHO HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.

VISITS OUR FIELD OFFICE REGULARLY, IS AT MANY OF OUR EVENTS, HAS BECOME PART OF OUR DISTRICT 1 FAMILY.

>> GOOD.

>> TREVINO: AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TRULY APPRECIATED HIM.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ACS BOARD AND SPECIFICALLY OUR D1 REPRESENTATIVE, SIDNEY COX.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THE HEART OF THIS IS TO CONTINUE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE RESPONSIVE.

AND AS COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA SAYS, LET US KNOW WHAT MORE WE CAN DO.

WE KNOW THERE'S CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT THAT WE CAN TACKLE, AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY, SO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE 19,000 ANIMALS, DEAD ANIMALS THAT WERE PICKED UP.

>> YES, SIR.

>> COURAGE: ARE THOSE DOMESTIC DOGS AND CATS OR IS THAT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS?

>> TYPICALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DOMESTICATED TYPE OF ANIMALS.

THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION, EVEN FROM LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'RE CURRENTLY SITTING AT ABOUT 15,000 DEAD ANIMAL PICK UPS, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO BE UNDER THAT 19,000.

I THINK LAST YEAR WE WERE MORE AT 21,000 DEAD ANIMALS, SO WE ARE SEEING THAT NEEDLE MOVE, WHICH IS A GREAT INDICATOR FOR US AS FAR AS THE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE STREETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE INFLUENCED THAT WE CAN USE AS AN INDICATOR.

>> COURAGE: UH-HUH.

AND I JUST WANT TO BLOW THE HORN FOR DISTRICT 9.

WE JUST SHOWED A MOVIE LAST MONTH, SECRET LIVES OF PETS.

WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT.

WE HAD ANIMAL CARE PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT.

SUSAN BELDON, OUR REPRESENTATIVE WAS THERE TALKING WITH PEOPLE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THEIR PETS.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

NEXT TIME WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER ANIMAL-BASED MOVIE, SO IF YOU'VE GOT FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME OUT AND JOIN US, BE GLAD TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION.

THANKS A LOT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

SHANNON, THANK YOU TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE ACS TEAM AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR WORKING ON THIS SWIFTLY.

JUST A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT NOTIFICATION.

ARE THERE GOING TO BE -- IS

[00:30:01]

THERE GOING TO BE ANY OUTREACH BASED ON THIS NEW CHANGE TO FOLKS, MAKE THEM AWARE, AND ALSO AS WE DO OTHER -- AUDIO] -- IN THE AREA, FOR INSTANCE, ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE IN THEIR PLANTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS, DON'T LEAVE THEM IN AN UNSHADED AREA, AND BY THE WAY NOW, THERE'S A LAW NOW FOR IT.

>> YES, SIR.

WE ALREADY HAVE SOME HEAT-RELATED PSAS THAT ARE RUNNING ON THE SAN ANTONIO CHANNEL, SO WE ARE RUNNING THOSE.

I'M WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH LISA NORWOOD AS WE START TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME THINGS ON OUR FACEBOOK SITE, FACEBOOK LIVE, THE DISH, AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PULLING SOME OF THE CURRENT RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE ALREADY CONTRACTED, WE'VE GOT SOME MEDIA OUTLETS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUSH OUT THROUGH SOME OF OUR PAID CONTRACTS AS WELL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.

AND PLEASE CONSIDER US A RESOURCE AS WELL.

I'M SURE THE COUNCIL OFFICES WOULD LOVE TO REITERATE THAT MESSAGE.

>> SURE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SHERYL?

>> SCULLEY: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JUST TO ADD, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE PREVIEW ON THE BUDGET.

YOU WILL SEE A RECOMMENDED INCREASE IN THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BUDGET AGAIN.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY BOARD AND OUR STAFF ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT JUST TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT, THOSE THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS ISSUE, AND YOU MAY RECALL BACK IN 2006, WE WERE EUTHANIZING MORE THAN 20,000 ANIMALS A YEAR.

SO WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

IT'S BEEN WITH CITY INVESTMENT, COUNCIL APPROVING BUDGETS TO INCREASE OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, THE SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM.

IN FACT, WE WERE TALKING THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT HOW WE INCREASE AND DO EVEN MORE OF THE FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO IT IS HAVING AN IMPACT.

AND COUNCILWOMAN, I, TOO, WHENEVER I'M OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WILL CALL AND TEXT THEM AND SAY, I DROVE THROUGH THIS DISTRICT AND I DIDN'T SEE A SINGLE STRAY ANIMAL.

KNOCK ON WOOD, AS I DRIVE THROUGH, BECAUSE IT'S -- IT IS -- WE'VE REALLY MOVED IN A HUGE WAY IN THE COMMUNITY TO TREAT ANIMALS WELL.

BACK IN 2006, WE HAD WHAT WAS A GAS CHAMBER, WE WERE NOT EVEN EUTHANIZING WITH SHOTS.

THEN WE HAVE -- OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE WAS LESS THAN 10%.

NOW WE'RE AT 92.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> SCULLEY: 92%.

SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN A COMBINED, COMMUNITY EFFORT.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, PARTNERING UP WITH THOSE AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP, THE SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM AND ALSO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STAFF AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TO APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO KUDOS TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, BECAUSE WE'VE REALLY COME A LONG WAY ON THIS ISSUE.

AND THE COMMUNITY IS BETTER FOR IT. IT'S SAFER FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO WALK AND ENJOY NOT ONLY THEIR PARKS, BUT JUST TO WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND NOT BE CHASED BY DOGS THAT ARE STRAY.

SO A LOT OF PROGRESS, AND MORE WORK TO DO, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE THAT AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK.

[1. Briefing on the Ambassador Summer Internship Program. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Melody Woosley, Director, Department of Human Services] - 30 MINUTES]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SHERYL.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU, SHANNON.

>> SCULLEY: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE SECOND ITEM ON TODAY IS OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND MELODY WOOSLEY OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES IS HERE.

WE'VE JUST COMPLETED THE 14TH YEAR OF THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

IT IS MANAGED BY OUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

AND, OF COURSE, IT'S PART OF OUR EFFORT TO BEE ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE.

WE WANT OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE IN SAN ANTONIO, SO THAT WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THEY RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR, AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU DID EMPLOY AMBASSADORS THIS SUMMER.

AND THAT'S BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US.

AND WE HOPE FOR THE AMBASSADORS AS WELL.

WE DO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH EMPLOYERS, AND AS I SAID, IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR.

SO THIS AFTERNOON, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU JUST A SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM, THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.

THERE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM RECOGNITION NEXT WEEK, COMMUNITY-WIDE, I THINK, ON NEXT THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9TH, AND THAT'S A COMMUNITY-WIDE RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS THANKING THEIR AMBASSADORS.

SO MELODY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MARK MARTINEZ, AND HE ASSISTED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL OFFICES AS AN AMBASSADOR THIS SUMMER.

SO WE WISH HIM WELL AS HE RETURNS TO SAM HOUSTON STATE.

MELODY, TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> WOOSLEY: OKAY.

THANK YOU, SHERYL.

WELCOME BACK, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[00:35:02]

BEFORE I GET STARTED WE HAVE SEVERAL AMBASSADORS WHO ARE IN THE ROOM.

IF YOU ARE AN AMBASSADOR THIS YEAR, WOULD YOU STAND UP? [APPLAUSE]

>> WOOSLEY: AND YOUR COUNCIL AND MAYOR OFFICE AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AMBASSADOR EMPLOYERS.

AND SO, AGAIN, YOUR OFFICES, PARKS AND RECREATION, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR PROVIDING SUCH VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE STUDENTS.

SO REAL QUICK, AS QUICK BACKGROUND, THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2005, AS SHERYL SAID, AND PROVIDES PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.

IT IS AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT OUR COLLEGE IMRAWTS TO LIVE AND WORK IN SAN ANTONIO AFTER THEY FINISH -- GRADUATES TO LIVE AND WORK IN SAN ANTONIO AFTER THEY FINISH COLLEGE AND WE DO THIS BY EXPOSING THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREER FIELD OR MAYBE A NEW CAREER PATH.

PARTICIPANTS SPEND EIGHT WEEKS WORKING IN PRIVATE, GOVERNMENT OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ARE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF COLLEGE AND HAVE ACHIEVED AT LEAST A GPA OF 2.5.

WE DO -- OR HAVE IN THE PAST GIVEN PRIORITY TO STUDENTS WHO WERE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GOERS OR RECIPIENTS OF THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP, BUT THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO ACCEPT ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, 172, THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH 26 OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.

THIS YEAR WE CONDUCTED AN ALUMNI SURVEY TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM AMBASSADORS WHO ARE NOW COLLEGE GRADUATES.

61% ARE CURRENTLY LIVING AND WORKING IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THE MAJORITY INDICATED THAT THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM DID INFLUENCE THEIR DECISION TO STAY OR RETURN TO SAN ANTONIO.

AND WE PLACED FOUR STUDENTS AT THE TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE COMMENT FROM DR. CARLOS REGARDING THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM AND THE STUDENTS THAT SHE HAS WORKED WITH.

OUR END-OF-YEAR SURVEYS EVALUATE BOTH STUDENTS AND EMPLOYER SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDES VALUABLE INPUT THAT WE USE EVERY YEAR TO MAKE PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS AND TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE.

ALTHOUGH LAST YEAR'S SURVEYS REFLECT GOOD OVERALL SATISFACTION, WE WANT IT TO BE HIGHER, IT SHOULD BE HIGHER, AND WE SET A GOAL OF 98% OVERALL SATISFACTION FOR 2018 FROM BOTH THE STUDENTS AND THE EMPLOYERS.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE REBECCA FLORES, WHO IS OUR HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM -- EDUCATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR AND ANGEL LERMA WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY WHO IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AMBASSADOR.

THE OTHER DAY I HAD REALLY COME UP WITH SOME NEW IDEAS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED IN THE PROGRAM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA WAS HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH THE AMBASSADORS AND THE EMPLOYERS? AND SO WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HR DEPARTMENT TO UPGRADE OUR ENROLLMENT PROCESS AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPROVED OUR ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS.

WE PARTNERED WITH OTHER LOCAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SA WORKS, HUMAN RESOURCES, HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND FAMILY SERVICES ASSOCIATION HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO ALIGN RECRUITMENTS, START DATES AND COMMUNICATION.

WE ALSO BEGAN AN ALUMNI NETWORK FOR THE FIRST TIME TO PROVIDE ONGOING NETWORKING THROUGH MIXERS AND REGULAR COMMUNICATION.

ULTIMATELY, WE WANT THEM TO BECOME AMBASSADOR SPONSORS AND EMPLOYERS.

ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUE TO REFINE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND STRATEGIES TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION FROM BOTH STUDENTS AND INTSHES -- EMPLOYERS FROM UNDERSERVED AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN DISTRICT 4 LAST YEAR, WE HAD FOUR AMBASSADOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATE.

THIS YEAR WE HAD 20 -- WE HAVE 20 PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.

AND I REALLY LIKE THIS ADDITION AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INTERNS FROM EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND FROM ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY, AND AS PART OF THEIR ORIENTATION, WE PROVIDED THEM A GUIDED TOUR OF SAN ANTONIO.

WE LOADED THEM ONTO THE BIG BUSES AND DROVE THEM AROUND TO INTRODUCE THE INTERNS TO PARTS OF THE CITY THAT THEY MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, WE SHOWED THEM EVERYTHING FROM A RANGE OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FROM THE PEARL AND RIVER NORTH TO COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS IN PREK FOUR SA, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND THE FOOD BANK, AND THEN TO

[00:40:01]

AREAS THAT ARE IN TRANSITION, LIKE THE EAST SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE, THE MISSION TRAILS AREA.

EVERY YEAR WE INCLUDE COMMUNITY-SERVICE PROJECTS WHERE AMBASSADORS GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS SUMMER, THEY SORTED AND PACKED FOOD AT THE FOOD BANK, THEY HELPED PARKS AND RECREATION SPRUCE UP THE CASIANA PLAYGROUND -- AUDIO] -- TWO OF OUR SENIOR CENTERS, THE BOB ROSS AND THE LOPEZ.

AND WE ALWAYS RECEIVE VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENTS ABOUT THESE SERVICE DAYS THAT THEY DO.

AND JUST REAL QUICKLY, MONDAY, THIS PAST MONDAY WAS NATIONAL INTERN DAY, AND MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES TOOK THE TIME TO GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THANK THEIR INTERNS AND THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

AND SO THIS YEAR WE DO HAVE OUR LARGEST COHORT OF AMBASSADORS TO DATE, 172 STUDENTS FROM 53 DIFFERENT COLLEGES.

HALF ARE ATTENDING SAN ANTONIO COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES, AND HALF ARE ATTENDING SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, INCLUDING 33% WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MATCH STUDENTS WITH EMPLOYERS WHO ARE IN -- WILL HELP THEM MEET THEIR CAREER GOALS.

ALMOST HALF ARE PLACED IN PUBLIC SERVICE POSITIONS, WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, THE SECOND PLACEMENT.

TRENDS SHOW THAT THE STUDENT INTEREST IS GROWING IN AREAS SUCH AS SCIENCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND SO OUR RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EMPLOYERS IN THESE HIGH-DEMAND AREAS.

AND TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE VALUABLE EXPERIENCE OUR AMBASSADORS ARE GAINING, I WANT TO SHOW YOU A SHORT VIDEO MADE BY ONE OF OUR INTERNS LAST YEAR, WHO WAS INTERNING AT UNIVISION.

AND SO JONATHAN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING -- NOT JUST MAKING THE VIDEO, BUT EDITING IT AND DOING THE WORK ON IT.

AND IT WAS SHOWN LAST YEAR AT OUR END-OF-THE-YEAR CELEBRATION.

I THINK I MISSED ONE.

AND AS A REMINDER, SHERYL MENTIONED IT IN HER OPENING, WE ARE HAVING AN EVENT NEXT WEEK, AN END-OF-YEAR CELEBRATION AUGUST 9TH AT 6:00 P.M., WE'RE HOLDING IT AT FREEMAN COLISEUM, IT'S A COMBINED EVENT WITH FOUR PROGRAMS, HR'S PROGRAM, FAMILY SERVICES, SA SPIKE UP -- SPEAK UP, AND SA HUMAN SERVICES AND AMBASSADORS, 800 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES COMBINED AS WELL AS THEIR EMPLOYERS AND THEIR AMBASSADORS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

THE PICTURE ON THE SCREEN IS A PICTURE OF THE STUDENTS DOING AN IN-SERVICE DAY AT SPURS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AT THE AT&T CENTER SO THIS IS OUR 2018 COHORT.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT, THANK YOU, MELODY AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR AMBASSADORS FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE OVER THE SUMMER, IN THE MOVING AS WELL AS JUST THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION.

IT'S BEEN A HUGE THE CITY AND HOPEFULLY A YEUJ BENEFIT TO YOU-ALL AS YOU PURSUE YOUR CAREERS.

COUNCILMAN SHAW?

>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM AND IT GIVES GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS PUSHED, LIKE YOU'VE MENTIONED EARLIER, IS ONCE OUR TALENT LEAVES AND GOES TO COLLEGE, WE WANT THEM TO COME BACK.

WE HAD TWO OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS, CHRIS AND MARRY BELL FROM ST. MARY'S AND A&M KINGSVILLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN OUR OFFICE, AND THEY BROUGHT SUCH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO MUCH OF THE ISSUES WE FACE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

WE LEARN FROM THEM JUST AS MUCH AS THEY LEARN FROM US.

I ANTICIPATE THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

IT REALLY BENEFITED ME AND MY STAFF TO SEE THINGS AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO IT WAS AMAZING WORK THEY'VE DONE.

I WISH I COULD KEEP THEM HERE AND KEEP, YOU KNOW, KEEP THEM ON BOARD.

I KNOW SOME OF MY STAFF MEMBERS WERE A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING ABOUT REPLACING A FEW FOLKS WITH AMBASSADORS.

[LAUGHTER]

>> SHAW: IT WAS AMAZING.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

[00:45:06]

>> WOOSLEY: THAT'S GREAT FEEDBACK.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MELODY, AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR AMBASSADORS.

I THINK THERE'S MORE THAN A FEW AMBASSADOR ALUMS WHO ARE ACTUALLY NOW STILL WORKING IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IF I'M CORRECT ABOUT THAT.

>> WOOSLEY: THERE ARE A COUPLE,

[3. Briefing on San Antonio Parks and Recreation Summer Programming. [María D. Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Xavier D. Urrutia, Director, Parks & Recreation] - 30 MINUTES]

I THINK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ONWARD.

>> SCULLEY: MAYOR AND COUNCIL THE THIRD ITEM ON THE AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON -- AUDIO] -- FUNDING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO TO SERVICE OUR RESIDENTS WITH SWIMMING POOLS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS SO XAVIER URRUTIA IS GOING TO DESCRIBE WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS SUMMER.

SUMMER'S NOT QUITE OVER BUT SCHOOL STARTS MOMENTARILY FOR MOST OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A RECAP THIS AFTERNOON ON OUR SUCCESS THIS YEAR.

XAVIER?

>> URRUTIA: THANK YOU, SHERYL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AND LIKE THE MANAGER MENTIONED, WHILE SUMMER IS NOT OVER YET, SCHOOL'S AROUND THE CORNER BUT THERE'S STILL LOTS OF ACTIVITIES AND LOTS OF THINGS TO DO WITH PARKS AND RECREATION THIS SUMMER.

WE'RE GOING TO BE HIGHLIGHTING THREE MAIN AREAS TODAY REALLY AROUND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT WITH ALSO TALKING ABOUT FOCUS ON COMMUNITY FITNESS AND THEN ALSO EVERYONE'S FAVOR IS AQUATICS IN THE SUMMER, OF COURSE, WITH IT BEING SO HOT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE RUN ONE OF THE LARGEST SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE OVER ALMOST 5,000 KIDS WHO ARE IN OUR CHARGE AT 62 DIFFERENT SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE PROVIDE BOTH RECREATIONAL AND YOUTH ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.

SO COUNCIL, A FEW YEARS BACK, REALLY PUSHED US TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE MORE WELL-ROUNDED? THAT WE KNOW RECREATION IS A CRITICAL PIECE.

WE KNOW THAT FITNESS IS A CRITICAL PIECE IN THERE AND WELLNESS, BUT ALSO HOW DO WE HELP THE STUDENT CONTINUE THAT CONTINUOUS LEARNING EVEN THROUGH THE SUMMER? SO WE ADDED A MATH COMPONENT TO OUR EXISTING SCIENCE COMPONENT, WE HAVE AN ART ENRICHMENT COMPONENT, AND WHAT WE DO HERE IS WE REALLY HIRE TEACHERS AND SPECIALISTS IN THOSE AREAS THAT HELP PROVIDE THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF ACADEMIC CURRICULUM TO THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY.

AND IF YOU KIND OF THINK ABOUT WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU-ALL IN THE ART AREA YOUR DIFFERENT OFFICES FOR YOUR WAITING ROOMS OR YOUR AREAS WHERE PEOPLE MEET, WE HAVE LIKE BOOKS THAT SHOW ALL THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES FROM EACH DISTRICT THAT ARE IN THE YOUTH PROGRAM THAT HIGHLIGHT -- TO THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING WORKING FAMILIES SOMEWHERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE DURING THE SUMMER WITH ORGANIZED AND PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

IN EACH OF THOSE SITES, WE ALSO PROVIDE OUR SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM.

SO WHETHER IT'S US OR WHETHER THE SCHOOL IS HOSTING THE SITE, EVERY ONE OF OUR KIDS IN OUR PROGRAM GETS A SUMMER MEAL.

BEYOND THAT, WE ALSO, WITH PARKS, PROVIDE THAT MEAL AT A NUMBER OF OUR POOLS.

SO WE CURRENTLY ARE AT 19 OF OUR POOLS, AND SO EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED IN OUR YOUTH PROGRAM, WE HAVE A HUNGRY YOUTH, A HUNGRY CHILD, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, AT OUR POOLS, GET A MEAL DURING THE SUMMER.

SO, AGAIN, WE DO THAT IN PARTNERSHIP, WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER ENTITIES IN THE CITY THAT PROVIDE THAT PROGRAM, WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER, THE FOOD BANK, EVEN THE LIBRARY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE FOOD BANK, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A HUNGRY KID RUNNING AROUND DURING THE SUMMER.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE DURING THE SUMMER, IT'S ONLY DURING THE SUMMER, IS WE HAVE OUR PREPROFESSIONAL TROOPS.

WE HAVE TWO PREPROFESSIONAL DANCE TROUPES, REALLY THREE, IN TWO AREAS, MODERN DANCE AND FLAMINGO, AND WE HAVE SHOWS DURING THE SUMMER, IN THE MONTH OF JULY WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SHOWS AT THE ARTISAN RIVER THEATER THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND THEY REALLY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO GET EXPOSED TO THIS PREPROFESSIONAL TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT.

WE HAVE A BAND, WHICH IS OUR YOUTH BAND, IT'S CORE GRAPHED, THERE'S -- COREOGRAPHED, THERE'S LIGHTS, A LOT OF TIMES MAYBE IT'S TOURISTS THAT STOP AND WATCH.

IT GIVES THEM THE CONFIDENT TO SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO PERFORM IN A PREPROFESSIONAL TYPE ENVIRONMENT, A TROUPE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

A LOT OF THESE PARTICIPANTS ARE IN OUR NORMAL DANCE PROGRAMS, THEY REGISTER, BUT ALSO IT IS OPEN TO ANY DANCER THAT IS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS LONG AS THEY ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE THEIR TECHNIQUE AND HONE IN THEIR CRAFT, THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO AUDITION FOR OUR PREPROFESSIONAL TROUPES.

WHEN WE MOVE INTO COMMUNITY FITNESS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS AS A

[00:50:02]

STARTING POINT IS OUR FITNESS IN THE PARK, WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS, RIGHT? IT'S IN ALL YOUR DISTRICTS, WE OFFER FREE CLASSES YEAR-ROUND, VARIETY OF FITNESS LEVELS, DO DIFFERENT KIND OF CLASSES.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM YOGA, ZUMBA, BOOT CAMP, WALKING GROUPS, SO WE HAVE VERY ACTIVE, WE HAVE ALSO A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL LOW-IMPACT TYPE ACTIVITIES, AND THIS PROGRAM WAS RECOGNIZED BOTH BY THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION BACK IN 2013 AND THE -- IN AUDIO] -- WAS WE CREATED A COUPLE YEARS BACK THE FIT PASS PROGRAM, WHICH REALLY LOOKS AT DURING THE SUMMER REALLY, AGAIN, REACTIVATING FAMILIES TOGETHER TO WORK OUT TOGETHER AND GATHER POINTS, AND THAT MAKES THEM ELIGIBLE FOR PRIZES.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SCAVENGER HUNT, WE HAVE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, WE WORK WITH THE Y, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

FOR EXAMPLE, H-E-B, THEY PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL TOURS OF A GROCERY STORE.

WHAT THEY DO THERE IS THEY SHOW YOU HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTS, HOW TO READ LABELS.

WE DO THINGS WITH THE FOOD BANK.

IF YOU GO WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITY GARDEN, YOU GET POINTS TOWARDS PRIZES.

IF YOU VOLUNTEER FOR AN EVENT, SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT WORKING OUT AT A GYM OR DOING A BOOT CAMP CLASS, IT'S ABOUT BEING ACTIVE, BEING ENGAGED AND DOING SOMETHING DURING THE SUMMER AND ALL THAT FEEDS INTO OUR FIT PASS PROGRAM.

EVERY YEAR WE -- THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE DONE A QUICKOFF AT PEARSALL PARK.

WE HAVE A 5K THAT'S FREE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE OVER 2,000 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

IT'S HUGE.

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF SAN ANTONIO AS NOT A RUNNING COMMUNITY, IT'S A RUNNING COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR -- ONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIT PASS PROGRAM AND THEN WE DO AN LBJ END OF THE FIT PASS SEASON, WHICH I KNOW COUNCILMAN WAS THERE LAST YEAR, AND I WON'T TELL YOU HIS OUTFIT HE WAS WEARING AT THAT EVENT.

[LAUGHTER]

>> URRUTIA: AND, AGAIN, WE HAVE LIKE ANOTHER 2,000 PEOPLE THAT SIGN UP FOR THIS.

AGAIN, IT'S WAYS WE OFFER OPPORTUNITY AND ENGAGE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO GET OUTDOORS, PARTICIPATE IN NOT -- IN THE PARK SYSTEM BUT ALSO USE OTHER AVENUES.

THE LAST ONE IS AK QUAWTICS.

WE HAVE 23 POOLS.

WE'LL BE ADDING A 24TH NEXT YEAR AT ELMENDORF LAKE PARK.

I KNOW COUNCILMAN IS EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THAT WILL BE COMING ONLINE NEXT YEAR.

AGAIN, LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE OFFER A MORNING LAP SWIM THREE DAYS A WEEK AT FOUR OF OUR REGIONAL POOLS.

WE HAVE AN EXTENDING POOL SEASON WHICH MEANS WE OPEN UP EARLY IN MAY AND GO UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER AT FOUR OF OUR REGIONAL POOLS.

WE HAVE OUR POOLS -- FOR EXAMPLE, USUALLY OPEN ALL THE HOLIDAYS, MAKE SURE THEY'LL BE OPEN ON MEMORIAL DAY.

THEY'LL BE OPEN ON LABOR DAY ON THAT MONDAY, WHICH THEY'RE NORMALLY CLOSED, BUT, AGAIN, GIVING THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMENDED CREATE AND SPEND SOME COOL TIME.

A NEW FEATURE I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO COA VIDEO ON IS OUR SPLASH PADS.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A VIDEO AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> URRUTIA: SO SPLASH PADS ARE RELATIVELY NEW FOR US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BUT THEY'RE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE, ONE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE HOURS LIKE YOU DO WITH THE POOL, YOU DON'T NEED THE STAFF LEVEL LIKE A POOL, BUT IT IS A -- WE DO HAVE ATTENDANCE ON SITE TO KIND OF HELP PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO USE THE SPLASH PAD PROPERLY, THE DOS AND DON'TS.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO GET TOGETHER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

NOT THAT THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT, WE'RE GOING TO BE TUSHING ON THAT, TOO, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE -- TOUCHING ON THAT, TOO.

OUR NEWEST ONE WE OPENED UP AT LINCOLN, I KNOW THE COUNCILMAN WALKED OUT, HE PROBABLY WAS EMBARRASSED IF HE WANTS TO SHOW HIMSELF IN THAT PICTURE, BUT IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT, A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT OF THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT.

WE KNOW OUR SPLASH FAD ON ELMENDORF IS GOOD, PEARSALL, AGAIN,IAN THAT WAWN THAT GARDENS.

THESE ARE AMENITIES THAT WE LOOK FORWARD.

IN THE BOND PROGRAM WE'LL BE ADDING A COUPLE MORE AS WE MOVE FORWARD DEVELOPING THOSE PROGRAMS, THOSE PROJECTS.

THE OTHER PROGRAM I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SWIMMING THAT IS STILL IMPORTANT IS THE LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAM.

IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WE OFFER FREE GROUP SWIM LESSONS TO DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND TO

[00:55:02]

ADULTS.

SO YOUTH AND ADULTS.

YOU KNOW, THE CDC REPORTS THAT THE SECOND HIGHEST CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH FOR YOUTH IS DROWNING.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO REALLY ENSURE IS THAT OUR YOUTH KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

WE DON'T WANT PRICE TO BE A BARRIER TO THAT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY, WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE OUR POOLS THERE, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT.

WE HAVE THREE SESSIONS, THEY'RE TWO-WEEK SESSIONS.

THEY MEET THREE DAYS FOR 45 MINUTES.

AGAIN, VARIOUS LEVELS.

WE HAVE JUST ADULT CLASSES, WE HAVE YOUTH CLASSES, AGE GROUPS, SO, AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OFFERING DURING THE SUMMER IS, AGAIN, WATER SAFETY AND LEARNING HOW TO SWIM.

WE THINK IT'S A LIFE-LONG GOAL, YOU KNOW, OUR LIFE-LONG ACTIVITY THAT YOU CAN DO, YOU KNOW, UNTIL YOU'RE WELL INTO YOU'RE -- A SENIOR, PEOPLE LEARNING TO SWIM HELPS THEM REMAIN ACTIVE THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT WE PROVIDE DURING THE SUMMER THAT'S VERY POPULAR THAT YOU MAY HEAR FROM YOUR CONSPIT WENTS IS AQUA -- CONSTITUENTS IS AQUA ZUMBA.

AQUA SEUNL BA IS CRAZY.

THEY ARE FANATICS, THEY LOVE TO FOLLOW OUR INSTRUCTORS.

LIKE AT SAN PEDRO POOL, ON A WEDNESDAY EVENING, TONIGHT, TONIGHT, WE WILL EASILY HAVE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 100 PEOPLE JUST DOING AQUA ZUMBA.

HERE'S A INDIVIDUAL VIDEO THAT KIND OF SHOWS YOU HOW THEY'RE -- IT'S SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING, ALMOST.

>> URRUTIA: SO I WILL ADMIT, I ACTUALLY ATTEND.

I DO GO, AND IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.

BUT IT'S A GREAT WAY -- WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, WE HAVE SENIORS, EVERY MIX OF PEOPLE, YOUNG KIDS.

SOME OF THE LIFE GUARDS WHEN THEY'RE ON THEIR BREAKS JUMP IN AND DO THE CLASS.

ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, COMMUNITY AND US SHARING, YOU KIND OF THINK EVERYTHING LEAVES YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOU'RE ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL SAN PEDRO OUTDOOR POOL.

WE KNOW WE COULD NOT GET IT DONE WITHOUT ALL THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US.

I WANT TO THANK NIKKI RAMOS AND LYNN KITTEN WHO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPEN EVERY SUMMER.

WE HIRE OVER 650 SEASONAL EMPLOYEES DURING THE SUMMER TO RUN THESE PROGRAM.

WE ARE AN EMPLOYEE OF ABOUT 500 PLUS AND WE ALMOST DOUBLE IN SIZE JUST DURING THE SUMMER.

I WANT TO THANK HR ALSO HELPING US PROCESS ALL THOSE PEOPLE, GET ALL THE BACKGROUND CHECKS DONE AND FINANCE, MAKING SURE THEY GET PAID.

ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT, AGAIN, IT'S ALL US AS A CITY COMING TOGETHER TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN THESE DIFFERENT VENUES AND THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND SO SUMMER'S NOT OVER YET.

STILL LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY.

WE FIT PASS WILL BE ENDING BUT WE HAVE THE 5K.

WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 500 PEOPLE REGISTERED AND WE JUST OPENED IT ONLINE.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN ADVERTISED YET AND 500 ARE ALREADY REGISTERED.

SO, AGAIN, OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SIGN UP FOR THAT.

OPPORTUNITY TO STIM ENJOY OUR -- STILL ENJOY OUR POOLS, AQUA ZUMBA, WE HAVE WEDNESDAY MORNING CLASSES, TOO.

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO STAY ENGAGED.

I BROUGHT YOU SOME FANS, YOU CAN FAN YOURSELF OFF AND ENJOY OUR PARKS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, XAVIER FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.

I DO HAVE TO SAY AS YOU'RE SHOWING US THESE VIDEOS AND SHOWING US THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE SUMMER PROGRAMMING, I AM REMINDED THAT WE GOT RECOGNIZED IN A COUPLE OF VENUES FOR CITY HEALTH FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE MADE OVER THE YEARS IN TERMS OF IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH.

SOME OF THAT IS POLICY.

AND DR. BRIDGER AND HER TEAM ARE CERTAINLY AT THE FOREFRONT OF POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE COUNCIL ON THAT.

SOME OF THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN GREEN SPACE AND WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BICYCLE PATHS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN THE THIRD LEG IS, OF COURSE, PROGRAMMING.

AND YOU HAVE REALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK.

THERE'S SO MUCH DIVERSITY IN THE KINDS OF PROGRAMMING THAT WE'RE OFFERING IT'S GREAT STUFF TO SEE A PARK AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVATED BY OUR PEOPLE.

AND IT SEEMS TO ONLY GET MORE

[01:00:01]

POPULAR, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TO YOUR TEAM, TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD AND ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WHO, YOU KNOW, BRING LIFE INTO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YEAH, I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND YOU.

I THINK WHAT WE DO FOR THE YOUTH AND THE CITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT I THINK I SAW IN SOME OF THE SCHOOLS FOR A SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED STAR.

IS THAT A CORRECT NAME FOR THAT PROGRAM.

>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH STAR.

>> COURAGE: YOU HAVE PARTNERED WITH SOME OF THE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE THEIR ACTIVITIES, RIGHT?

>> YES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHENEVER WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY -- I COULD GO ON FOREVER TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE DO.

BUT LIKE THE LIBRARY, THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM.

WE'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTICIPANTS.

THOUSANDS OF KIDS WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THAT PROGRAM.

THIS YEAR HARVEY NAZIUM FUNDED THROUGH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB A PARTNERSHIP WITH SAISD SCHOOLS.

WE PARTNER WITH THAT AS WELL .

ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT LOOKS AT THAT CONTINUOUS LEARNING DURING THE SUMMER.

AGAIN, WE THINK IT'S A BALANCED APPROACH.

WE THINK RECREATION IS IMPORTANT, FITNESS, BUT SO IS THAT CONTINUOUS LEARNING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR SKILLS IN THE MATH AND SCIENCES GOING THROUGH THE SUMMER IS IMPORTANT.

WE'LL LOOK INTO THE STAR PIECE.

>> COURAGE: AND I MAY HAVE THE WRONG ACRONYM.

BUT ALSO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT FACILITIES AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR PARKS BUT ALSO THE SCHOOLS HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FACILITIES THAT I THINK ARE UNDERUTILIZED A LOT.

AND IF WE ARE PARTNERING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO USE SOME OF THE FACILITIES IN THEIR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MORE RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE SUMMER, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE US GROW THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE OF A COMMITMENT OF FINANCE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE, I HOPE WE CAN.

I MEAN, I SAW THAT WE HAVE 5,000 CHILDREN GOING TO 62 DIFFERENT FACILITIES RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S ABOUT 80 KIDS A FACILITY.

AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE 50,000 KIDS INVOLVED IN OUR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE SUMMERTIME AND BENEFIT FROM THAT.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

>> GONZALES: ALL THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAD THIS SUMMER, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND MELODY WOOSLEY FOR WORKING WITH US IN THE PALM HEIGHTS CENTER TO KEEP THE SENIORS WHERE THEY WANTED TO BE AND ALSO THE YOUTH PROGRAMMING THERE AS WELL.

TYPICALLY THE SENIORS HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THE FACILITY TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE SENIORS AT THE PALM HEIGHTS ARE QUITE SENIOR AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE.

AND SO THEY ASKED ME TO PLEASE WORK SOMETHING OUT SO THEY COULD STAY IN THEIR CENTER.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THEM.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING FLEXIBLE AND WORKING WITH THE CONSTITUENTS THERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF OUR SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE PASSED SO THERE'S ONLY A FEW THAT ARE GOING TO THE CENTER.

AND THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO CHANGE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING WORKED -- I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS IT'S WORKING OUT OR WHAT.

BUT I JUST AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT.

AND ESPECIALLY PROVIDING THE FOOD SERVICES.

SO WE KNOW THAT IN OUR DISTRICT AND CITYWIDE WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FOOD AND SECURITY.

AND SO OUR LIBRARIES, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, FILLING THAT GAP FOR SOME OF OUR KIDS I THINK IS A VERY GENEROUS THING TO DO AS A CITY.

AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY THAT PARTNERED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, XAVIER.

WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION?

>> YES, SIR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON THAT.

[Executive Session]

ALL RIGHT.

THE TIME NOW IS 3:20 P.M. ON THIS FIRST DAY OF AUGUST, 2018.

PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY CHAPTER 551 IN THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072 REAL PROPERTY.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SETTLEMENT OFFER IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY BY EDWARD KIMANI PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.

[01:05:01]

ATTORNEY.

AND UPDATE ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE CITIZEN PETITIONS FOR EARNED PAID SICK TIME AN ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM

[4. Public Hearing for the $21,134,235 FY 2019 Action Plan and Budget for the four federal grant programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), HEARTH Emergency Solutions Grant (HESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Veronica Soto, Director, Neighborhood & Housing Services]]

ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.

WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TONIGHT WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THE FEDERAL HOUSING GRANTS.

AND OUR CITY CLERK WILL READ THE CAPTION.

>> YES, SIR.

IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE $21,134,235 FISCAL YEAR 2019 ACTION PLAN AND BUDGET FOR THE FOUR FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD, WHICH INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, HOME, HEARTH EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FUND, WHICH IS HESG, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, HOPWA PROGRAMS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

AND I'LL BEGIN.

THERE ARE THREE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

EACH CITIZEN WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

AFTER THE HEARING CONCLUDES, WE'LL CONVENE OUR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD HEARING.

AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT AGENDA.

AND THOSE CITIZENS WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.