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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 9, 2018.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
AND WE WILL -- BEFORE I ACTUALLY CALL ON COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR, I DID WANT TO MENTION THE SONG THAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM FREDERICO CHAVEZ BLANCO, SONG "CELEBRATION" FEATURED AS A CITY COUNCIL LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT.
IT WAS RECORDED AS THE ORIGINAL SONG AND SCORE FOR THE TRICENTENNIAL AND HE IS AN AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER.
HIS WORK HAS BEEN HEARD ON MANY NETWORKS AND IN NEW YORK CITY DOWNTOWN AND WEST HOLLYWOOD.
[1. Invocation]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE MUSIC THIS MORNING.NOW I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR.
MAYOR, COLLEAGUES, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR TODAY.
ERICA SALICETI GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN DISTRICT 3 WHERE HER FAMILY STILL LIVES TODAY.
SHE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE FIRST ONE IN HER FAMILY TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY AND GRADUATED IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD.
SHE BEGAN HER BUSINESS CAREER AS AN INTERN AT USAA AND AFTER NINE YEARS OF WORKING AT USAA SHE AND HER HUSBAND LEFT THEIR CAREERS TO START A PARACHURCH ORGANIZATION.
IN 2015 SHE WAS NOMINATED INTO A STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE AND EXECUTIVE TRAINING WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
AND SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON NATIONAL DIVERSITY AND RACIAL RECONCILIATION PROJECTS FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS HELPING NONDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS PREPARE THEIR STAFF AND MOVEMENTS FOR THE MULTICULTURAL AND BIRACIAL FAMILIES.
SHE HAS BEEN A DAUNTLESS ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN MINISTRY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
MARRIED TO A PUERTO RICAN ERICA AND HER HUSBAND AND THEIR THREE KIDDOS ARE MISSIONARIES TO PUERTO RICO AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
ERICA SALICETI, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO PUERTO RICO TO LEARN HIS CULTURE AND HERITAGE SO MY KIDS COULD KNOW WHO HE WAS GROWING UP.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE JUST GOT BACK FROM PUERTO RICO.
WE TOOK A GROUP OF 27 WITH US.
THIS IS OUR FOURTH VISIT TO THE ISLAND POST HURRICANE MARIA.
IT'S BEEN HEALING TO SEE THE PROGRESS IN THE ISLAND, FROM NO POWER AND NO WATER TO TODAY THERE'S ONLY A FEW DOZEN WHO DON'T HAVE POWER.
IT WAS AN ENCOURAGING AND HEALING TRIP FOR US.
WE TOOK A DIVERSE GROUP FROM LITTLE BLOND-HAIRED TODDLERS TO AN AFRICAN AMERICAN RETIRED YOUNG WOMAN.
IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAD SUCH GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT GOD WANTED TO USE.
FROM VIDEOGRAPHY TO THE NATIVE -- SPEAKING THE NATIVE TONGUE AND BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE HERE AND JUST HEAR THEIR STORY POST HURRICANE MARIA.
I LOOK AROUND HERE AND I SEE NOTHING BUT GIFTS AND TALENTS.
AND THESE ARE UNIQUE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF YOU.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT GOD WANTS TO USE ALL OF YOU.
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HE WANTS TO USE THAT LITTLE GIRL THAT GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ALL THE WAY TO YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR CULTURE, YOUR RACE, YOUR BACKGROUND, TO USE THEM FOR HIS GLORY TODAY.AND YOU CAN BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS HERE IN THIS CITY.
SO GOD WANTS TO USE ALL OF YOU.
THAT IS MY ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU TODAY.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITIES TO ADVOCATE AND CARE FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES AND DISTRICTS, AND I HEAR TODAY IS A BIG MEETING ABOUT A BUDGET.
WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRING THAT BEFORE THE LORD AND HELP HIM TO ASK US HOW WE CAN USE IT FOR HIS GLORY AND PURPOSES.
AND BEFORE I PRAY I WOULD LIKE TO READ EPHESIANS 2:10 FOLLOWED BY THE LORD'S PRAYER.
FOR WE ARE GOD'S HANDY WORK CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US .
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE.
GOD, PLEASE GIVE THESE INDIVIDUALS HERE TODAY WHAT THEY NEED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE BUDGET, LORD.
HELP US ALL TO FORGIVE AND LOVE AS YOU HAVE LOVED AND FORGIVEN US.
GOD, I PRAY FOR YOU TO PROTECT US FROM TEMPTATION AND THE EVIL ONE.
KEEP HIM AWAY FROM THE CITY AND THE GOOD YOU ARE DOING HERE TODAY.
LORD, ALLOW EACH OF US TO KNOW WE ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS.
YOU, GOD, WANT TO USE ALL OF US, OUR GOOD AND OUR BAD, OUR PAST AND PRESENT FOR YOUR GLORY.
USE US TO HELP US SEE YOUR HAND, HOLY SPIRIT, IN THE MIDST OF OUR MEETING TODAY.
GIVE US ENCOURAGEMENT AND COURAGE AND STRENGTH YOUR SON PROMISED US THROUGH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance ]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ROLL OUR TRANSLATION VIDEO.
[3. Approval of Minutes for the City Council Regular Meetings of June 20 -21, 2018.]
AT THIS TIME I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 20 AND JUNE 21.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 20 AND 21ST.
[Additional Item]
MOTION CARRIES.NOW I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN SHAW, TO RECOGNIZE HIS FELLOWS AND SUMMER INTERNS.
USUALLY I TRY TO STAY AS QUIET AS POSSIBLE ON THE DAIS BUT TODAY I THINK IT'S A JOYOUS OCCASION BUT AT THE SAME TIME A SAD OCCASION.
WE HAD FOUR INDIVIDUALS IN OUR OFFICE THAT REALLY SHOWED THE COMMITMENT AND DESIRE OF DISTRICT 2.
COMING FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EDUCATIONAL LEVELS THEY CAME TO OUR OFFICE AND PUT IN THE WORK AND THE MAN HOURS TO SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT.
I OFTENTIMES JOKE WITH MY STAFF THAT IF THEY DON'T GET IT TOGETHER THEY WILL BE REPLACED BY ONE OF THESE AMBASSADORS.
IT WAS A GREAT TEAM EFFORT AND I REALLY COMMEND YOU GUYS.
I'M REALLY BIG ON LONGEVITY, SUCCESSION PLANS, AND A PHRASE I OFTEN USE, I PLAY CHESS, NOT CHECKERS.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT 2 AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PURSUE YOUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND DREAMS BUT PROMISE ME YOU'LL NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM, NEVER FORGET ABOUT HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT.
WE ALL USE OTHERS TO GET WHERE WE'RE GOING.
PLEASE BE THAT STEPPING-STONE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE AND PAY IT FORWARD.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE MY AMBASSADORS AND FELLOWS, STARTING OFF WITH CHRIS.
AND THEY ARE MARYBELLE IS MY OTHER AMBASSADOR.
WE HAVE TWO LEE FELLOWS WHO ARE
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NOT HERE TODAY .PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WONDERFUL TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS THAT WE HAD IN OUR OFFICE.
WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND? MALREE FROM TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, MATTHEW TORGENSON.
I THINK SHE'S ALREADY BACK AT SCHOOL.
SHE'S A TEACHER AND SHE'S TEACHING IN OUR SAISD SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO SHE ALREADY WENT BACK TO WORK.
I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
I HAVE TO ADMIT AS I WAS ATTENDING AN EVENT I WAS EAVESDROPPING ON A CONVERSATION OF BEHIND ME AND I HEARD SOMEBODY SAYING, THIS IS THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE NEVER WORKED SO HARD AND LEARNED SO MUCH IN ONE YEAR.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO AUDIO] AND EVERYTHING I LEARNED IN MY FUTURE CAREER.
AND I LOOKED BACK AND IT WAS MY INTERN MALLORY TALKING ABOUT HER GREAT EXPERIENCE AT CITY HALL.
I HOPE YOU LEARNED A LOT AND TAKE THOSE EXPERIENCES OUT IN THE WORLD WITH YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE WELCOME BACK HERE AT ANY TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
[Consent Agenda]
OKAY.AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL ITEMS ARE ON CONSENT SAVE FOR ITEM 4.
HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH IS ALL ITEMS 5 THROUGH 14, SAVE -- EXCUSE ME.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET BRIEFING AFTER WE TAKE UP THE MOTION.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 5 THROUGH 14.
[4. Presentation of the City of San Antonio 2019 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2018 and consideration of the following related Ordinances: [Sheryl Sculley, City Manager] 4A. Ordinance setting the City's proposed maintenance and operations tax rate at 34.677 cents per $100 of taxable valuation and the City's proposed debt service tax rate at 21.150 cents per $100 of taxable valuation as recommended in the FY 2019 Proposed Budget. There is no increase in the city’s property tax rate. 4B. Ordinance setting the date, time, and place for two Budget Public Hearings and two Ad Valorem Tax Rate Public Hearings.]
MOTION CARRIES.>> ITEM NO. 4 IS PRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO 2019 PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2018 AND CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING RELATED ORDINANCES.
4A IS THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE CITY'S PROPOSED MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING TAX RATE AT 34.677 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION AND THE TAX RATE AT 21.150 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION AS RECOMMENDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET.
THERE IS NO INCREASE IN THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE.
4B IS THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE FOR TWO BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TWO AD VALOREM TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
>> WE ARE PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2019 CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET.
THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES AND INPUT OF NEARLY 8,000 RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WERE GATHERED THROUGH THE S.A. SPEAK UP CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION THAT WE RECEIVED AT THE MAY 30TH GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
THE BUDGET ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FIRST.
$110 MILLION IS ALLOCATED TO STREETS, CONTINUING WITH THE EQUITY STRATEGY THAT BEGAN LAST YEAR INVESTMENTS IN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS ARE RECOMMENDED FOLLOWING AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.
2019 IS YEAR TWO OF THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM WE INTRODUCED LAST YEAR TO ACHIEVE AN AVERAGE CONDITION OF 70 ON A SCALE OF 100 FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO STREETS.
INVESTMENT OF $35 MILLION CONTINUES FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 5, AND 10 TO INCREASE THE AVERAGE STREET CONDITION IN THOSE DISTRICTS TO 70.
IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS AN AVERAGE OF 70 ALREADY EXISTS.
USING AN EQUITY APPROACH THE ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION IS ALLOCATED TO STREETS IN THE OLDEST AREAS OF ALL DISTRICTS
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WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE WITHIN LOOP 410, PLUS THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICTS 8 AND 9 SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE STREETS WITHIN THE 410 LOOP.THE $19 MILLION IN SIDEWALKS FUNDED WITH $9 MILLION IN ATD FUNDS, THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT FUNDING, AND $10 MILLION FROM THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM.
THESE ARE PRIORITIZED ON THE BASIS OF CRITERIA SUCH AS PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, TRANSIT, AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.
SECONDLY, THE BUDGET INCLUDES $17 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHEN COMBINED WITH THE CURRENT FUNDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A TOTAL OF $25.1 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, AND THE HOUSING TRUST.
THIRDLY, CHIEF MCMANUS HAS ENHANCED THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND PROPOSES FOUR ACADEMY CLASSES IN FISCAL YEAR 2019.
THIS WILL FILL THE UNFILLED POSITIONS.
WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING EIGHT NEW PARKS POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY ARE ADDED FOR A LINEAR CREEKWAYS AND NEW PARKS FUNDED THROUGH VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROGRAMS SO THAT AS WE BRING ADDITIONAL PARKS ONLINE WE ARE ADDING THE NECESSARY SECURITY.
IN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WE'RE RECOMMENDING NATIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES TO RESIDENT REQUESTS AND TO ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL SALE OF PUPPIES ONLINE, ROADSIDE, AND AT OUTDOOR MARKETS.
PARKS FUNDING IS ADDED TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RECENTLY-COMPLETED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE MORE THAN 100 ACRES OF NEW PARK FACILITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND LIBRARY FUNDS ARE ADDED FOR BOOKS AND DIGITAL MATERIALS AND FOR COMPUTER REPLACEMENTS.
THE FISCAL 2019 BUDGET IS FINANCIALLY SOUND AND IT FOLLOWD FISCAL POLICIES.
THESE HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY EACH OF OUR COUNCILS OVER THE YEARS SO THAT WE CAN STAY STRONG FINANCIALLY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR EQUITY STRATEGY JUST FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
EQUITY IS DEFINED AS PRO PROTOING FAIRNESS WITH POLICIES, PROCEDURES, PROGRAMS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES BY ACCOUNTING FOR DIFFERENT HISTORIES, CHALLENGES, AND NEEDS OF OUR POPULATION.
EQUITY DIFFERS FROM EQUALITY, WHICH TREATS EVERYONE THE SAME.
THE CITY'S EQUITY STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON THREE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES.
FIRST, MAKING THE GREATEST IMPACT TOWARDS SAN ANTONIO'S VISION OF PROSPERITY.
WE DO THAT BY FOCUSING IN AREAS OF THE GREATEST NEED.
SECOND, FOSTERING A MISSION-DRIVEN CULTURE ALIGNED WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CORE VALUES OF TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
WE DO THAT BY HAVING A WORKFORCE THAT IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
AND, THIRD, INCREASING COMMUNITY TRUST BY BEING RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE AND FOCUSING ON OUTCOMES, NOT JUST OUTPUTS.
EQUITY IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS SOCIAL BENEFITS BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT.
IN 2018 THE KELLOGG FOUNDATION RELEASED ITS BUSINESS CASE FOR RACIAL EQUITY.
THIS EXPLAINS THE BUSINESS REASONS FOR PROMOTING RACIAL EQUITY BY REDUCING THE SKILL AND WAGE GAPS OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THE RESULT IS INCREASES IN ECONOMIC OUTPUT AND CONSUMER SPENDING.
THE NATIONAL EQUITY ATLAS, WHICH ANALYZING THE IMPACT LISTED A POTENTIAL INCREASE OF 35% TO OUR LOCAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY CLOSING THE INCOME GAP EXPERIENCED FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN SAN ANTONIO.
DESIGNING PROGRAMS AND DELIVERING SERVICES IN WAYS THAT PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE GROWTH AMONG OUR RESIDENTS PROMOTES A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2018 THE OFFICE OF EQUITY WORKED WITH EIGHT DEPARTMENTS BY INTRODUCING THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS A TOOL OF SIX GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT RESULT IN AN OUTCOME-DRIVEN PLAN.
WHILE EQUITY BEGINS AS A PROCESS, A BUDGET ALLOCATION, A DELIVERY OF A CITY SERVICE, EQUITY IS ACHIEVED WHEN OUTCOMES SHIFT COMMUNITY RESULTS.
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SESSIONS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS YOU WILL SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS WORK IN THE AREAS OF STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING, AND LAND USE PLANNING.ADDITIONALLY, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR WHY STATEMENTS, AND THOSE WILL BE PRESENTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WILL ALSO PRESENT HOW THEY INCORPORATE EQUITY AS PART OF THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2019 WE WILL INTRODUCE EQUITY IN ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS IN THREE PHASES.
FIRST, TRAINING OF CITY DEPARTMENTS ON THE EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT, THE OUTCOME WILL BE AN ORGANIZATIONAL-WIDE COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF EQUITY TO NORMALIZE THE LANGUAGE.
TWO POSITIONS ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS WELL AS TRAINING FUNDS.
SECOND, DEVELOPING DEPARTMENT EQUITY ACTION PLANS.
THE OUTCOME IS A TOOL TO GUIDE DEPARTMENTS ON SERVICE DELIVERY, OPERATIONALIZING EQUITY AND DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
THIS PLAN WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCE METRICS, WHICH DEPARTMENTS WILL MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARD THEIR LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.
AND, FINALLY, EVALUATING AND REPORTING.
QUARTERLY REPORTS WILL BE PROVIDED TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE PROGRESS OF THE EQUITY STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION.
IN 2017, YOU'LL RECALL WE IMPLEMENTED OPEN GOV.
OPEN GOV IS A CLOUD-BASED FINANCIAL TOOL THAT PROVIDES RESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO QUICKLY AND EASILY SEE THE CITY'S BUDGET AT THE LINE ITEM LEVEL AND PROVIDES FIVE YEARS OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION.
DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET THAT I AM PRESENTING TODAY IS AVAILABLE ON OPEN GOV IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AND THE OPEN GOV CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WEBSITE.
YOU CAN FIND THE LINK TO THE OPEN GOV WEBSITE AT WWW.SANANTONIO.GOV/TRANSPARENCYS A.
ADDITIONALLY, A COPY OF THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION AND THE BUDGET ITSELF IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
THE OVERALL 2019 CITY PROPOSED BUDGET IS $2.8 BILLION, 5.4% HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THE BUDGET IS COMPRISED OF THE GENERAL FUND, $1.26 BILLION.
RESTRICTED FUNDS AT $889 MILLION.
AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET, $690 MILLION.
THE OVERALL INCREASE IN THE CITY BUDGET OF 5.4% OR $146 MILLION IS PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN CAPITAL SPENDING OF $51 MILLION FOR THE 2017 VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROGRAM.
AN INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND OF $64 MILLION FOR MORE STREET REPAIR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT STAFFING.
SINCE 2006, 646 UNIFORM POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED AND 91 POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES TO NEIGHBORHOOD PATROL.
AND THOSE 91 POSITIONS HAVE BEEN BACKFILLED WITH CIVILIAN POSITIONS.
A TOTAL OF 1667 CIVILIAN POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED OVER THAT SAME TIME-FRAME, WITHOUT LAYOFFS, SINCE 2006.
WHILE PRIORITY POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE DECADE, A NET OF 757 CIVILIAN POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, EFFICIENCIES, PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, ALL WHILE ADDING TEN NEW SENIOR CENTERS, SEVEN LIBRARIES, AND OVER 4,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND TO MAINTAIN.
A TOTAL OF 12,362 POSITIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET.
55 IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR HOUSING, STREET MAINTENANCE, PARKS, POLICE, ANIMAL CARE, PARK MAINTENANCE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND 37 IN OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM AND FOR OPERATIONS IN AIRPORT, CONVENTION CENTER, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES.
NET OF PRE-K 4 SA, THE VOTER-APPROVED PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND APPROVED IN 2012 WITH OUR FIRST CLASS OF STUDENTS IN 2013, THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED POSITION COUNT WOULD BE 11,900, OR MORE THAN 100 LESS POSITIONS THAN WE HAD IN 2006.
AND I CREDIT OUR INNOVATION OFFICE, OUR BUDGET STAFF, AND OUR DEPARTMENTAL LEADERS FOR BEING INNOVATIVE TO PROVIDE
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THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE RESIDENTS, MORE LIBRARIES, MORE PARKS, MORE COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SENIOR CENTERS WITH LESS PERSONNEL.THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS 5.3%, OR $64 MILLION, AS I SAID, MORE THAN THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 ADOPTED BUDGET.
THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE STREETS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PUBLIC SAFETY INCREASES.
SO LET'S LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND.
IT'S THE LARGEST OPERATING BUDGET OF THE CITY AND THE ONE THAT MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS FOCUS ON.
THERE ARE FOUR REVENUE CATEGORIES.
FIRST, OUR CPS PAYMENT, WHICH IS PROJECTED TO GENERATE IN 2019, $363 MILLION AND COMPRISES ALMOST 29% OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
THE CITY RECEIVES 14% OF CPS GROSS REVENUE AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO THE OWNERS OF THE SYSTEM, THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, AND AS A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
BECAUSE AS A PRIVATE COMPANY, IF THEY WERE, THEY WOULD BE PAYING TAXES TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
PROPERTY TAX IS THE SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE AT $362 MILLION OF THE GENERAL FUND, FOLLOWED BY SALES TAX GENERATING APPROXIMATELY $295 MILLION.
AND THE FINAL COMPONENT OF REVENUES IS THE OTHER RESOURCES CATEGORY.
THIS INCLUDES REVENUES SUCH AS EMS TRANSPORT FEES, FINES, AND TELECOMMUNICATION FEES.
THIS COMBINED REVENUES FUND BASIC CITY SERVICES SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE, STREETS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANIMAL CARE, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING, AND THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY.
$1.26 BILLION IN GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS DISTRIBUTED HERE AS FOLLOWS.
PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE UP 5.8% COMPARED TO 2018, REFLECTING HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES ON EXISTING PROPERTY AS WELL AS NEW DEVELOPMENT.
SALES TAX IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 3.5% AS COMPARED TO THE 2018 ADOPTED BUDGET.
CPS REVENUES ARE ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE BY 3% AND OTHER REVENUES, INCLUDING THOSE I MENTIONED, ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 3.2%.
IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TAX BILL, AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE CITY RECEIVES LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF THE PROPERTY TAX PROCEEDS HOMEOWNERS PAY ANNUALLY.
THIS RANGES BETWEEN 19% AND 21% DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH A RESIDENT RESIDES.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVE HALF OF THE PROPERTY TAX PROCEEDS WHILE THE REST IS DIVIDED AMONG BEXAR COUNTY, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
THE CITY CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
IN 2019, THE CITY WILL FOREGO $52 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM THE SENIOR AND DISABLED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND FROZEN CITY TAX PAYMENTS.
THE CITY AWARDS ALMOST 100,000 SENIORS AND DISABLED RESIDENTS WITH THESE EXEMPTIONS.
APPROXIMATELY 33,000 SENIORS AND DISABLED HOMEOWNERS PAY ZERO CITY PROPERTY TAXES.
THE CITY'S TOTAL PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUE INCREASED BY 6.6% THIS YEAR.
AND, AS I SAID, IT'S A COMBINATION OF VALUE INCREASES AMONG EXISTING PROPERTY, AS WELL AS NEW GROWTH.
EXISTING AND RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL VALUES COMPRISE 4.4% OF THAT GROWTH, AND NEW CONSTRUCTION ADDED 2.2%.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED TOTAL TAX RATE OF 55.827 CENTS REPRESENTS THE 26TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR WITHOUT A CITY TAX RATE INCREASE.
THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS BEEN REDUCED SEVEN TIMES DURING THAT SAME TIME-FRAME AND FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST DECADE.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS 5.3%, OR $64 MILLION MORE THAN THE 2018 ADOPTED BUDGET.
THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE INCREASE ARE STREETS, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYEE
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COMPENSATION.LET'S TALK ABOUT STREETS FIRST.
IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES AMONG OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR SPEAK UP CAMPAIGN.
THE CITY MAINTAINS MORE THAN 4,000 CENTER MILES OF STREETS.
AND IN 2018 THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A TWO-YEAR RECOMMENDED STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE THE OVERALL CONDITION RATING OF 70 FOR SAN ANTONIO STREETS BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2019.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2018, THE STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WAS INCREASED FROM $64 MILLION TO $99 MILLION.
THE ADDITIONAL $35 MILLION WAS ALLOCATEDIL TO THOSE DISTRICTS WITH AN AVERAGE PCI SCORE OF LESS THAN 70.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET CONTINUES THE POLICY APPROVED IN 2018 AND ADDS $11 MILLION USING AN EQUITY APPROACH.
THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOCUSES ON POOR CONDITION STREETS IN ALL CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITHIN LOOP 410 AND THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICTS 8 AND 9.
SINCE THEY HAVE NO BOUNDARIES INSIDE THE LOOP 410 LOOP.
AS SEEN IN THE CHART, THE STREET MAINTENANCE BUDGET HAS ALMOST TRIPLED SINCE 2007.
THE CITY'S SIDEWALK NETWORK HAS MORE THAN 5,000 MILES OF EXISTING SIDEWALKS AND ALMOST 1900 SIDEWALK GAPS.
THE BUDGET MAINTAINS AN ALLOCATION OF $19 MILLION FOR SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS IN 2019.
FUNDED $9 MILLION FROM THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT FUNDS, AND $10 MILLION FROM THE VOTER-APPROVED 2017 BOND PROGRAM.
WITH CITY COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOCATES $10 MILLION TO VIA BY ADDING $5.7 MILLION TO THE $4.3 MILLION APPROVED LAST YEAR, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO $10 MILLION.
FUNDING WILL BE USED BY VIA FOR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG NINE ROUTES AND NINE CORRIDORS.
ACCORDING TO VIA, WITH THE FUNDING ALLOCATED IN 2018, VIA MADE WEEKDAY FREQUENCY TRAVEL TIME AND CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS TO FIVE OF THE NINE CORRIDORS.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS RESULTED IN AN ADDITIONAL 82,000 BUS SERVICE HOURS WHEN ANALYZED AND IMPACTED.
238,000 RESIDENTS AND 190,000 JOBS WITHIN A QUARTER-MILE ACCESS OF ROUTES AND CORRIDORS.
FOR 2019 VIA WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE LAST FOUR CORRIDORS.
SOUTH FLORES, PLEASANTON, CULEBRA, AND BANDERA.
IN 2018, THE COUNCIL APPROVED AN INCREASE TO THE PAVEMENT MARKINGS PROGRAM FOR A BUDGET TOTAL OF $5.8 MILLION.
THE CITY HAS 1100 CENTER-LINE MILES FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT.
AND THIS WILL RESULT IN A CYCLE OF THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WHICH WAS THE DIRECTION FROM MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL LAST YEAR.
WITH THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN 2018, THE TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DEPARTMENT INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MILES RESTRIPED FROM 50 MILES TO 230 MILES.
AND WE ALL KNOW WE NEED TO SEE THE LANES ON THE STREETS SO THAT WE CAN DRIVE SAFELY AS PART OF THE OUR VISION ZERO PROGRAM.
THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, A FIVE-MEMBER COMMUNITY GROUP CHAIRED BY LORDES CASTRO RAMIREZ.
WITH INPUT FROM MANY DIVERSE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDE GENE DAWSON, JR.
MARIA, BILL BAILEY, AND NOAH GARCIA .
THE TASK FORCE WAS ASSISTED BY SEVERAL CONSULTANT FIRMS AND CITY STAFF LED BY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER PETER ZANONI, AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DIRECTOR VERONICA SOTO.
IN THEIR ANALYSIS, DATA GATHERING, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND IN DRAFTING OF THEIR FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
TWO FIRMS WITH A LOCAL PRESENCE, LISC, LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION, AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ASSET BUILDERS PROVIDED OVERSIGHT AND FACILITATION SERVICES BY THE WORK PERFORMED BY THE FIVE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP.
JIMENEZ ASSOCIATES FOCUSED ON THE TASK FORCE'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.
FINALLY, A FOURTH FIRM, ECONOMIC PLANNING SYSTEMS FROM DENVER WAS THE LEAD CONSULTANT THAT HELPED PULL TOGETHER THE WORK OF THE CONSULTANT FIRMS AND THE TASK FORCE ITSELF.
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TEAM HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THIS EFFORT WORKING WITH THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THEIR NATIONAL HOUSING EXPERTISE AND THE PROFESSIONALISM THEY BROUGHT TO THE PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE APPOINTEES ON THE TASK FORCE.WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT NEXT WEEK REFLECTING MUCH OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE B SESSION IN JUNE THIS SUMMER.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $17.1 MILLION IN INCREASED GENERAL FUND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST.
WITH EXISTING FUNDING, A TOTAL OF $25 MILLION IN FUNDING IS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET TO ADDRESS TOP PRIORITIES OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.
THIS GRAPHIC SHOWS THE TOTAL HOUSING FUNDING OF $25 MILLION, AS PROPOSED IN THE 2019 BUDGET FROM EXISTING FUNDING AND NEW FUNDING ALLOCATIONS.
THE $25 MILLION ALIGNS WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE THAT SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IN ADDITION TO PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING DESCRIBED ON THE CHART, THE BUDGET INCLUDES 13 POSITIONS FOR HOUSING AND WE ARE CONSOLIDATING HOUSING FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE CITY ORGANIZATION TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD WITH ALL HOUSING FUNCTIONS REPORTING TO DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, PETER ZANONI.
THE BUDGET RECOMMENDS TRANSFERRING 11 POSITIONS FROM THE FAIR HOUSING FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
EIGHT POSITIONS IN THAT REGARD AND THREE EAST POINT STAFF, ALL TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
THE REMAINING FUNCTIONS ARE PLANNED TO BE TRANSFERRED IN FISCAL YEAR 2020.
TO ENSURE WE CAN EFFECTIVELY AND TIMELY PUT THE $25 MILLION INTO PRODUCTION IN THE 12 MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THIS SUMMER CITY STAFF DEVELOPED A TEN-YEAR BUSINESS PLAN WITH A FOCUS ON YEARS ONE THROUGH THREE.
STAFF WILL REVIEW IN GREATER DETAIL THE BUSINESS PLAN AND THE HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED IN THIS BUDGET AT THE HOUSING BUDGET WORK SESSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2019 THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL FOCUS ON FILLING VACANCIES.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY OF MINE AND THE POLICE CHIEF.
A TOTAL OF FOUR CADET CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR AND TWO CIVILIAN POSITIONS ARE ADDED IN THE BUDGET FOR APPLICANT PROCESSING.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE 109 VACANCIES AS OF AUGUST 6.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMMUNICATION BY PURCHASING A NEW SOFTWARE THAT WILL ENABLE TEXT NOTIFICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC ON THE STATUS OF THEIR CASES AND INCREASE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR OFFICERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE.
AND, LASTLY, 170,000 IS ALLOCATED TO PURCHASE TWO MOBILE SURVEILLANCE UNITS.
THIS EQUIPMENT WILL ALLOW OFFICERS TO PERFORM SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS, CONDUCT CROWD CONTROL AT MAJOR EVENTS, AND MAINTAIN A VISIBLE PRESENCE TO REDUCE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET ADDS NEARLY $600,000 FOR EIGHT PARK POLICE OFFICERS.
THIS WILL PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE ADDITIONAL 108 ACRES OF NEW PARKLAND TO OUR SYSTEM.
$1.2 MILLION IS ADDED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED FUNDING FOR, ONE, A NEW TRAINING DIVISION CHIEF IS ADDED TO OVERSEE THE POST ACADEMY TRAINING WITHIN THE FIRE SUPPRESSION DIVISION.
AND, FOUR EMS MEDIC OFFICERS TO REDUCE SPAN OF CONTROL IN OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISIONS.
THE LAST FULL-TIME MEDIC OFFICERS UNIT WAS ADDED BACK IN 1998, AND SO THE CHIEF RECOMMENDED THAT WE IMPROVE THAT SPAN OF CONTROL.
SINCE WE HAVE ADDED 12 FULL-TIME EMS UNITS AND EIGHT PEAK PERIOD EMS UNITS, THE NEW UNIT WILL IMPROVE THE SPAN OF CONTROL FROM 22 TO ONE DOWN TO 17 TO ONE, AN OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT.
$588,000 IS RECOMMENDED TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL EMERGENCY TRAINING FOR COMMAND OFFICERS.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE STATE REPORT FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC FIRE A YEAR AGO.
THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES FUNDING TO PURCHASE THE WASHINGTON PLACE FACILITY, A FACILITY CURRENTLY LEASED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
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SINCE 2010 AND HOME OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S WELLNESS PROGRAM, FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND, AS WELL AS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET.SINCE 2006, OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS TRIPLED IN SIZE.
THE LIVE RELEASE RATE HAS INCREASED FROM 10% TO 92%.
AND WE HAVE INCREASED SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES IN THIS COMMUNITY TO 44,000 THIS YEAR.
THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS 37 ANIMAL CARE OFFICERS AND FIVE ARE DEDICATED TO DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4, AND 5.
WITH THIS BUDGET I AM RECOMMENDING NATIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO IMPROVE RESPONSIVENESS TO CALLS FROM ALL DISTRICTS.
AND TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL SALES OF PUPPY SALES ONLINE, ROADSIDE, AND AT OUTDOOR MARKETS.
ALSO INCLUDED IS A PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PARTNERSHIP WITH CANINE FOR WARRIORS.
A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT TRAINS RESCUE DOGS INTO SERVICE ANIMALS FOR VETERANS SUFFERING FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
ACS WOULD LEASE PROPERTY TO CANINE FOR WARRIORS WHO WOULD THEN RESCUE 200 LARGE AND HARDER TO PLACE DOGS EACH YEAR.
THE PROGRAM WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
THE BUDGET RECOMMENDS 1 MILLION AND FIVE POSITIONS.
100 NEW PARK ACRES OF PARKS, 1.Y TRAILS, AND SEVERAL ENHANCEMENTS FROM RECENTLY-COMPLETED BOND PROJECTS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS ENHANCING ITS VOLUNTEER TRAIL STEWARD PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS POLICE.
THIS PROGRAM THAT BEGINS THIS MONTH TARGETS INTERIOR TRAIL SYSTEMS AT MCALLISTER, O.P.
SCHNABEL PARK, HARDBERGER PARKS.
THESE PARKS WERE SELECTED BECAUSE OF THEIR EXTENSIVE TRAIL SYSTEMS WITHIN THE PARK.
UTILIZING THE CURRENT PARK WATCH PROGRAM OFFERED BY PARK POLICE, A PORTION OF THE STANDARD TRAIL WATCH ORIENTATION WILL BE DEDICATED TO PARK POLICE IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE VOLUNTEERS DETAILED INSTRUCTION ON PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW WHEN REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AS WELL AS VIOLATIONS IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
$1.8 MILLION IS RECOMMENDED FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY LIBRARIES.
$760,000 FOR MAINTENANCE OF SEVERAL OF OUR OLDER LIBRARIES.
SOME ADDITIONAL COMPUTER REPLACEMENT AND UPGRADES OF OUR OLDER BRANCH LIBRARIES.
IN DECEMBER, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE UPDATING THE MOBILE LIVING PARK ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS OF TRAILER PARKS.
THIS BUDGET ADDS TWO CODE OFFICER POSITIONS TO COMPLETE INSPECTIONS OF OVER 100 REGISTERED LIVING PARKS AND APPROXIMATELY 50 UNREGISTERED LIVING MOBILE PARKS.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED A STUDY OF DISENGAGED YOUTH IN 25 OF THE LARGEST METROPOLITAN AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SAN ANTONIO RANKED 20TH OUT OF 25 WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF YOUTH AGES 16 TO 24 NOT WORKING AND NOT IN SCHOOL.
THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS USED THIS DATA AND ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 35,000 YOUTH IN SAN ANTONIO NOT WORKING AND NOT IN SCHOOL.
SEVEN OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH, LIBRARIES, PARKS, MUNICIPAL COURT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKED TOGETHER TO STUDY THIS ISSUE AND RECOMMEND A REENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.
WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE WORKING GROUP DEVELOPED A PLAN TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH REENGAGEMENT CENTER LED BY OUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT.
THE CITY IMPLEMENTED AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT TO DRIVE TARGETED INVESTMENT PRIORITIES AND ASSOCIATED SERVICE AREAS FOR THE 2018 BIANNUAL DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING PROCESS.
AND SEVERAL OF THOSE AGENCIES WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REENGAGEMENT CENTER TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE YOUTH THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OVER THE UPCOMING YEAR.
AS HUMAN SERVICES WORKED ON THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES AND THE PROCESS AND IN DEVELOPING THESE OUTCOMES, HUMAN SERVICES WORKED
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WITH 84 COMMUNITY NONPROFITS TO ASSESS THE EQUITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS HELP REDUCE DISPARITIES AND PROMOTE SERVICE-LEVEL EQUITY, IMPROVE PARTICIPATION, AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY OUTCOME ACHIEVEMENT.IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS STRATEGY RESULTED IN EIGHT NEW AGENCIES BEING FUNDED.
AGENCIES RESPONDED TO THE NEWLY-IDENTIFIED OUTCOMES AND GOALS WITH PROPOSALS THAT WILL IMPACT VULNERABLE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED FUNDING AWARDS FOR RESPITE CARE OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK, SUPPORT THE GOAL OF IMPROVING KINDERGARTEN READINESS FOR HEAD START CHILDREN BY FOCUSING ON DISABLED CHILDREN AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
IN TOTAL, THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 HUMAN AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS PROPOSES FUNDING FOR 56 AGENCIES AND 83 PROGRAMS. WITH POLICY DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION ON MAY 30TH, THE DELEGATE AGENCY BUDGET ALLOCATES $318,000 IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES UTILIZED AN EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR CONSOLIDATING FUNDING ALLOCATIONS.
THIS PROCESS IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PARTNER VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES.
TO ENSURE INVESTMENTS ARE FOCUSED IN THE AREAS OF GREATEST NEED, HUMAN SERVICES, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT COLLABORATED TO MAP AND ANALYZE DATA REGARDING PARTNER VIOLENCE, RISK FACTORS, AND REPORTED INCIDENTS IN COMPARISON TO WHAT EXISTED ON THESE SERVICES, HOW THEY RELATE ACROSS THE CITY.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $1.4 MILLION IN FUNDING.
AN INCREASE OF $380,000 TO EIGHT AGENCIES THAT WILL PROVIDE CHILD ABUSE IN PARTNER VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING IN THOSE TARGETED AREAS THAT NEED THE MOST HELP.
EVERY TEN YEARS THE U.S. CENSUS UNDERTAKES THE TASK OF COUNTING ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE CENSUS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S USED TO DETERMINE THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO CITIES AND DICTATES THE APPORTIONMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN DEVELOPING PARTNERS TO EDUCATE AND MOTIVATE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS.
WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INFORMED, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THE CENSUS.
THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AND COMMUNITY LEADERS CAN REACH THE SHARED GOAL OF COUNTING EVERYONE IN 2020 WHO LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO.
SINCE THIS PAST WINTER THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CENSUS BUREAU TO BEGIN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING CENSUS.
TWO STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD THIS SUMMER TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK TO DRIVE A COMPLETE COUNT STRATEGY.
THE STRATEGY FOR THE 2020 CENSUS WILL BE DEVELOPED OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AND WE WILL UPDATE THE CITY COUNCIL ON THESE STRATEGIES AND NEXT STEPS EARLY THIS FALL.
TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPLETE COUNT, THE 2019 BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING TO TWO TEMPORARY POSITIONS WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT TO OBTAIN AN ACCURATE COUNT IN THE 2020 CENSUS WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND MAJOR EMPLOYERS.
FUNDS ARE ALSO ALLOCATED FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN.
IN JULY OF 2018, BEXAR COUNTY, OF COURSE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY IN THE B SESSION, WAS DESIGNATED IN NONATTAINMENT OF FEDERAL GROUND-LEVEL OZONE STANDARDS BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
AN AIR QUALITY PLAN IN AN EFFORT TO ASSURE ATTAINMENT WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS IS RECOMMENDED WITHIN THIS BUDGET.
THE BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING TO DEVELOP THIS AIR QUALITY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
THE BUDGET ALSO ADD FUNDS TO EVALUATE THE CITY'S CURRENT FLEET OF VEHICLES, PROVIDE A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS OF ELECTRONIC CONVERSION AND IDENTIFY WAYS AND CHARGING STATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS STUDY WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CITY-WIDE ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT PLAN TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS AN ASSESSMENT OF
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LOCAL BARRIERS TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERSHIP.LAST YEAR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OFFICE OF INNOVATION LAUNCHED A SMART CITY PROGRAM CALLED SMART SA.
THE VISION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO BUILD CONNECTIVE, INCLUSIVE, AND RESILIENT CITY SUPPORTING A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS LEVERAGING EXISTING INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY RELATIONSHIPS WITH CPS ENERGY, THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, VIA, AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
THE KEY PRIORITY FOR THE SMART CITY PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2019 IS TO ESTABLISH INNOVATION ZONES IN THREE AREAS OF THE CITY.
WE PRESENTED THOSE TO THE COUNCIL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
BROOKS, THE MEDICAL CENTER, AND DOWNTOWN.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES TWO POSITIONS TO SUPPORT THE SMART CITY PROGRAM AND THE CREATION OF THE INNOVATION ZONES AND THOSE PILOT PROGRAMS. I WANT TO MENTION CIVTECH SA.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN FISCAL YEAR 2018.
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND GEEKDOM, A LOCAL CO-WORKING SPACE AND LEADER IN THE START-UP AND TECH ECOSYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT STUDENTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE TECH COMMUNITY WITH THE CITY TO SOLVE COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AND GROW CIVICALLY-MINDED TECH TALENT.
IN ITS FIRST YEAR, CIVTECH ENGAGED OVER 250 PARTICIPANTS.
TEN CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND 15 EXTERNAL PARTNERS.
13 CIVIC CHALLENGES WERE ADDRESSED THROUGH ALL PILLARS OF THE PROGRAM.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET INCLUDES 200,000 TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THE CIVTECH PROGRAM.
FISCAL YEAR 2019 GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM INCLUDE DOUBLING PARTICIPATION, SOURCING CHALLENGING FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND SEEKING GRANT FUNDING.
NOW A FEW COMMENTS ON OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
THESE ARE THE BUDGETS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE REVENUES GENERATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THAT DEPARTMENT.
THE AIRPORT FUND, AS PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 TOTALS $98 MILLION AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
THIS ACCOUNTS FOR ALL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND STINSON AIRPORT.
AND BY FEDERAL LAW AIRPORT REVENUES MUST BE SPENT ONLY AT THE AIRPORT.
THE BUDGET ADDS ALMOST A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR EIGHT NEW POSITIONS TO ENHANCE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR AIRPORT OPERATIONS AS ADDITIONAL AIR TRAFFIC HAS EXPANDED PASSENGER VOLUMES MOVING THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND OF $34 MILLION IS ALSO AN ENTERPRISE FUND THAT WAS CREATED BY CITY COUNCIL ACTION TO ACCOUNT FOR FEES PAID FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PERMITTING.
BUILDING ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH A 2% INCREASE IN NEW COMMERCIAL AND A 3% INCREASE IN NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED IN 2019.
NEW RESIDENTIAL PERMIT ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED 12% SINCE 2016, AND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDS THREE POSITIONS TO AUGMENT STAFFING FOR RESIDENTIAL PLAN REVIEW.
THESE POSITIONS WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE MEETING ITS SERVICE GOALS OF REVIEWING ALL RESIDENTIAL PLANS WITHIN THREE DAYS OF A SUBMITTAL AND PERFORMING 95% OF INSPECTIONS AT A QUALITY LEVEL AS REQUESTED BY DEVELOPERS.
THIS DEPARTMENT EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS, DEPENDING UPON MARKET CONDITIONS.
THE SOLID WASTE FUND IS ALSO AN ENTERPRISE FUND TOTALING $127 MILLION, AND IT IS FUNDED BY THE FEES PAID BY SAN ANTONIO SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTS.
THE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE FEES ARE USED TO SUPPORT GARBAGE, RECYCLING, BRUSH, AND ORGANICS COLLECTION.
THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT ALSO OWNS A TRANSFER STATION OPERATED BY TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEM, TWO BRUSH DROPOFF CENTERS, AND FOUR BULKY TRASH CENTERS.
IN JUNE OF 2010, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A GOAL TO ACHIEVE A 60% RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING RATE BY THE YEAR 2025.
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WE ARE PROJECTING TO RECYCLE 38% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL WASTE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT BACK IN 2006 OUR RECYCLING RATE WAS ONLY 6%.
OUR STRATEGIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNCIL-ADOPTED GOAL INCLUDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAY AS YOU THROW PROGRAM, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL OF 2017.
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AS YOU KNOW, PAY AS YOU THROW IS KEY TO ACHIEVE THIS 60% RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING RATE.THE PAY AS YOU THROW PROGRAM PROVIDES RESIDENTS A CHOICE BETWEEN THREE BROWN CART SIZES, A BLUE RECYCLING CART, AND A GREEN ORGANICS CART.
THE GOAL IS INCENTIVIZE RESIDENTS TO SELECT A SMALLER BROWN CART AND DIVERT MORE RECYCLABLES TO THE BLUE AND GREEN CANS.
THE SOLID WASTE FEE IS BEING RESTRUCTURED TO CREATE A $10 DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE SMALL BROWN CART AND THE LARGE BROWN CART.
THE SMALL CART WILL BE $10 PER MONTH CHEAPER, RESULTING IN SAVINGS TO OUR RESIDENTS OF $120 A YEAR.
TO ACHIEVE THE DIFFERENTIAL AN INCREASE IS PROPOSED TO THE LARGE CART AND DECREASES TO THE SMALL AND MEDIUM CARTS.
THE STORM WATER OPERATING FUND IS A RESTRICTIVE FUND OF $54 MILLION.
THE FEE THAT SUPPORTS THIS FUND IS GOVERNED BY THE U.S.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE IN 1993 ESTABLISHING THIS FEE TO COMPLY WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REQUIREMENTS TO DEVELOP STORM WATER DRAINAGE PLAN SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. THE REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEE CAN ONLY BE USED TO SUPPORT STORM WATER FUND ACTIVITIES.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2016, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A FIVE-YEAR RATE PLAN THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2020.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET RECOMMENDS AN INCREASE IN THE STORM WATER FEE CONSISTENT WITH THAT FIVE-YEAR PLAN OF 2%.
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS GENERATED BY THE STORM WATER FEE INCREASES OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN DEVOTED TO INCREASED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, THAT IS CLEANING THE CREEKS OF TRASH AND DEBRIS, ENHANCE STREET SWEEPING, ADDITIONAL HIGH-WATER DETECTION MAINTENANCE, CONDITION ASSESSMENTS OF THE STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS STORM WATER PROJECTS.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019, THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $6.3 MILLION IN EIGHT DRAINAGE PROJECTS IN FIVE COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AND OUR TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS' DIRECTOR, MIKE FRISBIE, WILL BE DISCUSSING THOSE PROJECTS IN DETAIL WHEN HE PRESENTS HIS BUDGET.
THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET ARE IN ADDITION TO THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
THE 2019 BUDGET INCLUDES INCREASES TO COMPENSATION FOR MORE THAN 8,000 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
CONSISTENT WITH CITY POLICY DIRECTION, THE 2019 BUDGET PROPOSES A LIVING ENTRY WAGE OF $15 PER HOUR.
TODAY THE LIVING WAGE RATE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES IS $14.25.
A 1% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IS INCLUDED FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
AND I MET WITH OUR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND THEY SUPPORT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE CURRENT STEP PAY PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 2008 TO ADDRESS MARKET COMPETITIVE AUDIO] FOR STEP EMPLOYEES, AND WAS DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
OVER 4,000 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES ARE PART OF THE STEP PAY PLAN.
AND IN ADDITION TO THEIR 1% COLA THEY WILL RECEIVE A STEP INCREASE VARYING FROM 2% TO 4%.
I'M RECOMMENDING FOR EMPLOYEES THAT THE MAXIMUM OF THEIR STEP PLAN.
AND WE HAVE 1200 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CAPPED OUT AT THE TOP OF THE PLAN.
THEY RECEIVE A LUMP SUM PAYMENT, NOT ROLLED INTO BASE, BUT A LUMP SUM PAYMENT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR SERVICE OF $800 FOR EACH OF THE EMPLOYEES.
APPROXIMATELY 2500 PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL POSITIONS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR PERFORMANCE PAY BASED ON PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE AGREE UPON AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR REFLECTING COUNCIL AND CITY PRIORITIES, AND THOSE RANGE FROM ZERO TO 4%.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET IS AN INCREASE IN THE ENTRY WAGE, AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW WE COMPARE TO SOME OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS.
AUSTIN IS NOW PROPOSING IN THEIR BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK, $15 FOR THE ENTRY WAGE.
SO SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN ARE NOW THE ONLY TWO CITIES OF THE LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
WITH REGARD TO UNIFORM EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION, THE BUDGET INCLUDES A 3% PAY INCREASE FOR POLICE UNIFORM POSITIONS IN 2019
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AS PER THEIR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2016.LONGEVITY AND OTHER BENEFITS, OF COURSE, ARE ON TOP OF THAT.
FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS THE EVERGREEN CLAUSE OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014.
LASTLY, THE TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY IS $690 MILLION.
OF THAT AMOUNT, ALMOST HALF WILL BE DEDICATED TO STREETS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR OF $334 MILLION.
THE REMAINING IS ALLOCATED TO FACILITIES, PARKS, AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS, TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS.
70% OF THE APPROVED BOND DOLLARS WILL BE DEDICATED STRICTLY TO STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND DRAINAGE.
LAST WEEK WE SOLD $323 MILLION IN BONDS, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS, AND TAX NOTES AT AN INTEREST RATE OF 3.3%.
EARNING THE AAA BOND RATING ALLOWS THE CITY TO PAY THE LOWEST POSSIBLE INTEREST RATES IN THE FINANCIAL MARKET.
THAT MEANS WE PUT MORE MONEY INTO PRODUCTION.
AND TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STATUS AND THE PLAN FOR OUR 2017 BOND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.
YOU CAN SEE IN YELLOW THOSE PROJECTS, 183 PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM ARE IN DESIGN AND WE ARE BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION WITH THE PROGRAM.
THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL PEAK IN APRIL OF 2020.
AND AS COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC, WE WILL COMPLETE THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM WITHIN THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
NEXT STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
WE'VE SCHEDULED EIGHT CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 14TH.
WE HAVE SEVEN S.A. SPEAK UP COMMUNITY DAYS THAT HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED.
AUGUST 16, 20, 21, 25, 28, 30, AND SEPTEMBER 1.
TWO OF THESE THIS YEAR WILL BE HOSTED ENTIRELY IN ESPANOL ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1.
AND COUNCILMAN SALDANA WILL RECALL THAT LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID OUR FIRST BUDGET MEETING ETIRELY IN SPANISH, IT WAS THE LARGEST ATTENDED WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD.
WE HAVE TWO BUDGET AND CITY PROPERTY TAX PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 29 AND SEPTEMBER 5 AT 6:00 P.M. HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THOSE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LAW.
ALL OF THE OTHER MEETINGS ARE TO GAIN CITIZEN INPUT ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL ON SEPTEMBER 13.
AND BY CHARTER IT MUST BE APPROVED IN MID SEPTEMBER.
OUR FISCAL YEAR BEGINS OCTOBER 1.
I DO WANT TO, BEFORE I CLOSE, THANK THE BUDGET STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK OVER THE SUMMER AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE OFFICE, AS I TRADITIONALLY DO, ASK THEM TO STAND.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING A LOT OF LONG HOURS PREPARING THE FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS THAT BACK UP THE POLICY PLAN THAT I PRESENTED HERE THIS MORNING.
SO AS I CALL YOUR NAME, TEAM BUDGET, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
VIVIAN RUIZ, AMANDA ORTEGA, ASHLEY JACKSON, CRAIG DUDAC, DORIAN SANCHEZ, JAEER RINCON, JONATHAN BATES, JOSH CRONLEY, KEVIN ORTON, MICHAEL MALDONADO, NATHAN BASSET, SIMON NICHOLSON, AUDREY RIVERA, EDWARD TAPIA, MONICA RAMOS AND JUSTINA TATE.
AND I MUST RECOGNIZE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MARIA VILLAGOMEZ AND OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BEN GORZELL WHO HAPPENS TO BE OUT OF TOWN TODAY.
HE WAS TOO EXHAUSTED TO BE HERE.
HE'S ON VACATION WITH HIS DAUGHTERS.
[APPLAUSE] I DO WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THEY SHEPHERD THE DEPARTMENTS AND HELP MAKE SURE THAT THEIR FINANCIAL PLANS ARE FOLLOWING THE GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS WELL AS REFLECTING PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.
WE'VE ALL WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER THIS SUMMER, SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER DEVELOPING THIS FINANCIAL PLAN.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEGINNING
[01:05:03]
THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL NEXT TUESDAY AS WE DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND TO OUR BUDGET TEAM, MARIA, JUSTINA, MONICA, ALEX.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ON THIS.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET PROCESS ACTUALLY BEGAN PROBABLY IN MARCH.
THIS IS ABOUT A SIX-MONTH TREK TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET, WHICH IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LEAST EXCITING THINGS THAT WE COULD DO IN HERE.
BUT I'M REFLECTING BACK ON SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE SAID LAST YEAR, A REMINDER TO US ALL THAT A BUDGET IS IN FACT A MORAL DOCUMENT.
AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD AND THANKFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO IT MAY SEEM LIKE WE HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MUD A LITTLE BIT AND THAT ALL WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IS INCREMENTAL CHANGE.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE PRIORITIES OF THIS CITY COUNCIL THAT ARE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET AND THINKING ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT HAS OCCURRED AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY TURNING THE SHIP IN SOME VERY MEANINGFUL WAYS THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CITIZENS WHO CAME OUT TEN YEARS AGO ALMOST DURING OUR S.A.
2020 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE FUTURE OF THE CITY.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, HOUSING IS A PRIORITY.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS CITY'S HISTORY, WE'RE INTO THE NINE DIGITS ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, WHICH IS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.
AND WE'VE INCREASED FUNDING ON THINGS LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD THAT WHILE IT'S NOT EXCITING AND WHILE THERE'S PERHAPS SOME CRITICISM ABOUT ONLY INCREMENTAL DIFFERENCE BEING MADE, THAT WE ARE MAKING SOME EXTRAORDINARY LEAPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I THINK THAT'S WORTHY OF APPLAUSE FOR THE FOLKS IN HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I ALSO AM REMINDED THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL DID WAS PASS A RESOLUTION TO SIGN THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS ALSO IMPORTANTLY NOTED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE FOCUS ON EQUITY, INSURING THAT WE LIVE UP TO THE PROMISE THAT IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHAT SIDE OF TOWN YOU LIVE ON OR WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.
YOU SHOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY BY YOUR CITY AND ACHIEVE HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN TRULY BECOME A CITY FOR ALL.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF OR SO, NEXT MONTH ABOUT THE BUDGET DEPARTMENTS.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF SOME OF THIS.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY AGAIN THANKS TO OUR STAFF WHO WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS BUDGET AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAME OUT DURING THE PRE-PROPOSED CONVERSATIONS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU EXAMINE THE PROPOSED BUDGET NOW AS WELL.
IT'S A PRODUCT OF MANY WEEKS OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS IN FACT A BACK-TO-BACKS BUDGET WITH NO TAX RATE INCREASE.
AND IT'S ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO THE CITY'S FISCAL STEWARDSHIP UNDER SHERYL SCULLEY AND HER TEAM OF LEADERS.
THIS BUDGET CONTINUES THE MUCH-NEEDED FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING A 10% INCREASE IN STREET MAINTENANCE AND THE 2019 BUDGET MOVES THE CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS ADDRESSING THE VERY VITAL NEEDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I DO NOTE THAT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF OUR MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE HERE, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, MARIA, I SEE YOU THERE AS WELL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR REPORT, WHICH IS TRULY GROUND BREAKING FOR THE CITY IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT BEFORE US OVER MANY MONTHS AND HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT REPORT.
ALSO IT CREATES A NEW PRIORITY FOR HOUSING IN THIS BUDGET AND BEGINS THE PROCESS OF COORDINATING A HOUSING SYSTEM TO ALIGN SERVICES AND REGULATIONS AS WELL AS INCREASING EFFICIENCIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO IT SERVES THE MARKET AND SERVES THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO, FOR CITIZENS WHO ARE LISTENING WHO ARE NOT BORED BY BUDGET ISSUES, I DO INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS.
WE START ANEW ON THE 16TH, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
WE BEGIN A SERIES OF BUDGET HEARINGS IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
IT WILL LAST THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
IF YOU WANT TO DIG A LIG -- LITTLE FURTHER, THIS CITY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE GOLD STANDARDS IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE BUDGET-MAKING PROCESS AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AT THE SANANTONIO.GOV/BUDGET WEBSITE.
WE ALSO HAVE A TRANSPARENCY SA WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN LOOK BACK AT PREVIOUS BUDGETS AND SEE
[01:10:01]
WHERE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO ALIGN WITH AND RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS OF OUR CITIZENS.LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, SHERYL, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING IN HERE THAT SHOULD NOT BE LOST.
AND I THINK AGAIN REFLECTS OUR FOCUS ON COMPASSION, ON EQUITY AND, AGAIN, REFLECTED IN THE CITY'S VOICES THROUGH SA 2020.
THAT IS THIS IS A BUDGET AND THIS IS A POLICYMAKING BODY THAT IS FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES AND NOT OUTPUTS.
WE'RE NOT JUST COUNTING FEEDBACK.
WE'RE NOT JUST COUNTING, YOU KNOW, METRICS.
WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO AGAIN, GREAT JOB TO THE TEAM.
LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING IN WITH OUR CITIZENS AND I'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENT, STARTING WITH COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN, I'M SORRY.
WE DO HAVE TWO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL CALL THEM NOW AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH BUDDY VELLEJO.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, SCIU, WHICH REPRESENTS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HAS MENTIONED -- HAS WORKED OVER THE SUMMER DILIGENTLY AND WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM CITY MANAGEMENT.
THE COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF MANAGEMENT, HR, AND SEVEN ELECTED SEATS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY HELD BY SCIU MEMBERS REPRESENTING EMPLOYEES.
WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUING THIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MANAGEMENT, WITH THE CITY, AND WITH THE MANAGER.
AND WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY.
PROPOSALS FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION.
IN THIS -- JUST TO BE SHORT, WE SUPPORT AND WE URGE THE ADOPTION OF A CIVILIAN COMPENSATION PROPOSAL TODAY.
AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CITY EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY IN WHICH THEY SERVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VELLEJO.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
I ALWAYS ENJOY THESE ANNUAL CIRCUSES THAT TAKE PLACE WITH RING MASTER SHERYL SCULLEY AT THE HELM.
YES, AND I WAS EVEN THINKING OF REALLY ENJOYING IT, BRINGING A CUP OF COFFEE WITH ME HERE IN THE CHAMBERS BUT I WAS STOPPED BY A SECURITY GUARD SAYING, JACK, YOU CAN'T BRING ONE IN.
BUT, HEY, CITY EMPLOYEES ARE ALLOWED TO BRING CUPS OF COFFEE IN HERE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS HERE.
YEAH, I NOTICED THAT ESPECIALLY WITH THE EQUITY PROGRAM YOU GUYS HAVE HERE.
YES, ESPECIALLY THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT ON THERE.
POLITIC HEARINGS ARE IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS BUT SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE EXCLUDED.
DISTRICT 10, 8, 4, DISTRICT 7, 2.
THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE BUDGET HEARINGS ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
BUT MR. BROCKHOUSE DOESN'T HAVE ONE.
OH, HE'S NOT EVEN IN HIS CHAIR RIGHT NOW.
MR. COURAGE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE IN YOUR DISTRICT THERE.
LIKE I SAY, THE MAYOR IS TRYING TO BE EQUAL HERE, I GUESS, AND SOME PEOPLE NEED MORE OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS THAN OTHERS THERE.
THANK YOU, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
ALSO, AREN'T YOU GLAD -- AREN'T WE ALL GLAD THAT PROPERTY TAX RATES HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED BY YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL? I'M SO GLAD THAT OUR TAX BILLS HAVE NOT INCREASED.
MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT ON THERE IF YOU WOULD THERE.
I THINK THIS YEAR IT'S ABOUT 5% OR 6%.
CITY UNVEILS PLAN FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
YEAH, LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED WRITING.
IN THE THIRD COLUMN YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING THERE.
WHAT IS THE CITY'S PLAN HERE? THE PLAN WILL CALL ON THE STATE TO ASSUME MORE OF THE BURDEN OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.
[01:15:02]
YEAH.THEN GO TO THE LAST COLUMN IF YOU WOULD, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
WHAT'S STEP TWO AND THREE? IT ALSO WILL ASK STATE LAWMAKERS TO ENSURE PROPERTY TAXES GO UP TO THE STATE AND END UP GETTING FUNNELED BACK IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS INSTEAD OF BEING DIVERTED.
A PLAN TO REQUEST AT THE LOCAL LEVEL [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHY DON'T Y'ALL JUST DO THE OBVIOUS THING AND LOWER OUR TAX RATES A LITTLE BIT? THEY HAVE GONE UP A GOOD 50% IN JUST A FEW YEARS HERE, YOU KNOW.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, YOU'LL DO THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY CONGRATULATE SHERYL AND THE BUDGET TEAM AGAIN FOR THE NINE YEARS OF AAA BOND RATING.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S HOW WE END UP BEING ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE SHERYL FOR THE EQUITY BUDGET AGAIN AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE CHANGES IN OUR CITY AND HELP WITH THAT -- THE INEQUITIES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
SO I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PRESENTATION.
IT SEEMS LIKE SHERYL STEPPED OUT.
I'M SURE, MARIA, YOU CAN PROBABLY ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THEM WAS REGARDING THE TAX RATE, SALES TAX RATE.
AND I WAS HEARING ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING, OR MAYBE IT WAS YESTERDAY, ABOUT THE INCREASE IN SALES TAX.
IS THAT A TREND OR IS THAT BASED ON INFORMATION THAT'S ALREADY PRESENTED OR HAVE WE BEEN SEEING THAT TREND OVER THE YEARS AND THEREFORE THAT'S WHY YOU USE THAT?
>> THE SALES TAX PROJECTION OF 3.5% OVER THE 2018 ADOPTED BUDGET IS BASED ON OUR PROJECTIONS LOOKING AT CURRENT DATA AND HISTORICAL TRENDS.
>> GONZALES: AND WHEN DO WE EXPECT THAT NUMBER WILL BE CONFIRMED? OR IS THAT WHAT YOU USE TO DO THE BUDGET, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT ACTUALLY FALLS?
>> IN TERMS OF SALES TAX, THE TAX THAT RERECEIVE AS A RESULT OF OUR RESIDENTS PURCHASING GOODS AND OTHER ITEMS. SO AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES WE WILL BE BRIEFING THE CITY COUNCIL ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND UPDATING ON THE ACTUAL SALES TAX RECEIPTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE.
THE PROPERTY TAX WORKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX PROJECTION THAT WE BASE ON THE BEXAR APPRAISAL CERTIFIED PROPERTY TAX ROLL THAT WE RECEIVE.
SO THE PROJECTION YOU SEE OF 5.8%, THAT IS VERY LIKELY THAT WE WILL GET THAT EXACT AMOUNT BECAUSE THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL HAS BEEN CERTIFIED.
ANOTHER COMMENT THAT I HAVE, OR A QUESTION REGARDING SIDEWALKS.
SO THERE WAS A PRESENTATION REGARDING SIDEWALKS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
BUT YOU HAVE IT IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
AND I THINK AS WE GO ON THE ROAD AND DO THE ROAD SHOW IN THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SHOW HOW MUCH TOTAL FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS.
BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE REALLY ASK ABOUT ARE THE SIDEWALKS.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SHOWING HERE WE HAVE SOME FOR THE ATD MONEY.
BUT DON'T WE ALSO HAVE REGULAR GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT GOES TO SIDEWALKS AS WELL? OR IS THAT THE ATD?
>> GONZALES: NO GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT GOES INTO SIDEWALKS.
IT SEEMS LIKE OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A LITTLE POCKET THAT WAS GENERAL FUND MONEY THAT WENT TO SIDEWALKS.
>> SCULLEY: COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE, OVER THE YEARS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN WE USED GENERAL FUNDS.
IT'S BEEN ATD FUNDS, PRIMARILY.
UNLESS THERE WAS A SPECIFIC PROJECT.
WE'RE JUST SHOWING HERE THE SOURCES OF FUNDS.
SO IT'S MANAGED AS ONE PROGRAM WITH THE PRIORITY AREAS, BUT THOSE ARE JUST THE FUNDING SOURCES.
>> GONZALES: SO REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM IT SHOWS HERE -- I KNOW WE HAVE ALSO USED CDBG MONEY FOR SIDEWALKS.
[01:20:01]
$10 MILLION FOR SIDEWALKS IN THE BOND.I THINK I HAD $6.5 MILLION JUST IN MY DISTRICT.
>> SCULLEY: COUNCILWOMAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST THE FISCAL YEAR 2019.
SO, YES, THERE IS MORE MONEY IN THE BOND PROGRAM.
ANOTHER QUESTION OR COMMENT THAT I HAD WAS ABOUT THE INCREASE FOR CHILD ABUSE AND THE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH PREVENTION.
WE KNOW THAT THE SPANISH] MODEL IS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S A PEER-TO-PEER PROGRAM WHERE WE TRAIN COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO EDUCATE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.
SO I KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE PRESENTATIONS BY THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES, BUT I HOPE THAT WE CONSIDER USING THAT.
BECAUSE IT IS -- NOT ONLY DOES IT GET TO THE GOAL, TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM OF PREVENTION, BUT IT'S ALSO A WORKFORCE EFFORT.
AND SO IN THE PROGRAM THAT I'M USING IN MY DISTRICT THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE 07 ZIP CODE.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE DATA THAT WE CAN PRESENT ON A LARGER -- TO A LARGER GROUP.
I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO USE THAT BECAUSE IT'S MULTIFACETED AS WE TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CRITICAL ISSUES LIKE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH AND CHILD ABUSE.
AND IT WORKS FOR RECYCLING TOO, AS WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
I WANTED TO ALSO JUST CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WAGE INCREASES.
I THINK THE HOUSING PILOT -- OR THE HOUSING INITIATIVE IS GOING TO BE REALLY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR OUR CITY.
ALSO REALLY INNOVATIVE AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT TRANSFORMS OUR CITY IN THE YEARS TO COME.
I THINK IT WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THAT, PROBABLY WITHIN TWO OR THREE YEARS AS WE'RE BUILDING UP THAT HOUSING INITIATIVE.
WE HOPE TO SEE THAT CHANGE OUR CITY COMPLETELY IN A VERY SHORT TIME.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND THE TEAM OVER THERE WITH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.
AND MY LAST COMMENT IS THAT ALSO AS WE GO ON THE ROAD TO TALK TO OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE BUDGET IS THAT WE CONSIDER DOING SOME ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN.
I KNOW CHILD CARE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE NECESSARY, BUT IF WE COULD HAVE SOME ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE PARKS.
I KNOW IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
EVEN AS I WAS GOING THROUGH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES I COULD ATTEND, I HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I WOULD HAVE CHILD CARE OR WHETHER OR NOT I COULD TAKE THEM WITH ME IF THERE WERE GOING TO BE OTHER ACTIVITIES.
SO PLEASE KEEP THOSE IN MIND AS YOU'RE PLANNING OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, SHERYL.
AND, OF COURSE, A KUDOS TO JUSTINA, THE BUDGET TEAM, AND MARIA VILLAGOMEZ.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
I ALSO HAVE TO THANK -- WE TALKED ABOUT EQUITY BUT I ALSO HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS AND REMIND EVERYONE AND THANK EVERYONE FOR COUNCILWOMAN SHIRLEY GONZALES.
BECAUSE IT WAS HER WORK THAT SHE DID FOR TWO YEARS STRAIGHT THAT BROUGHT IT FORWARD WITH THE WHOLE EQUITY DISTRIBUTION OF STREETS, BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS NOT HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 5.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION START FIRST.
WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU.
I THINK THIS IS A NICE START FOR ALL OF US BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR WONDERFUL WORK SESSIONS.
SO IN THE WORK SESSIONS, ARE ALL OF THESE THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS PROGRAM GOING TO BE PART OF OUR WORK SESSIONS? OR IN THE PAST WE DID A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS AND THEN WE BROKE IT DOWN INTO LARGER GROUPS.
I KNOW WE'RE GETTING THEM ON OUR CALENDAR RIGHT NOW.
BUT ARE ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS -- OR WHAT IS THAT LAYOUT GOING TO LOOK LIKE, SHERYL, MARIA?
SO WE HAD PUBLISHED A LIST OF THOSE WORK SESSIONS AND THE DEPARTMENTS TO CONSIDER.
IF THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM, WE'RE HAPPY TO ADD THOSE TO THE LIST.
IT OF COURSE MEANS ADDING ADDITIONAL DAYS AND WORK SESSIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE TRIED TO DO ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND I KNOW I RECEIVED FEEDBACK ABOUT TOO MANY WORK SESSIONS.
NONETHELESS, WE SERVE AT YOUR PLEASURE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE WORK SESSIONS, WE CAN DO THAT AS LONG AS THERE'S CONSENSUS AMONG THE CITY COUNCIL ON ADDING THOSE DAYS.
AND I AM -- THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF OUR JOB AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[01:25:01]
QUANTIFIED.AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 3, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN, BECAUSE I ALWAYS DO.
WE ARE THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND AS IN YEARS PAST I'M VERY PROUD OF THE CONSTITUENTS.
BECAUSE RATHER THAN BEING TOLD WHAT THEY NEED BY OTHERS, THE CONSTITUENTS ARE COMING OUT AND THEY ARE USING THEIR VOICE TO SAY WHAT WE NEED IN OUR AREA.
AND SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE NEED IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND OBVIOUSLY OUR STREETS INFRASTRUCTURE AND DRAINAGE.
SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT -- AND MY JOB IS TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THESE ITEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT INCREASES ALL OF THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND MY CONSTITUENTS ARE BEING HEARD.
ON THAT NOTE, I DO HAVE TO CONGRATULATE SCIU WHO WAS HERE, THE CITY, AND COPS METRO BECAUSE WE ARE FINALLY HITTING OUR $15 FOR OUR LIVING WAGE THAT WE SET ON A JOURNEY FOR YEARS AGO.
SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT HERE AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
LOOKING AT -- AND, SHERYL, I JUST NEED TO HAVE THIS REITERATED.
IN THIS BUDGET THERE IS NO TAX INCREASE IN THE CITY BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
>> SCULLEY: WE ARE NOT PROPOSING A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> VIAGRAN: AND WE DID NOT DO THAT LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS NO PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE FOR THE CITY RATE LAST YEAR AND HAS NOT BEEN FOR 26 YEARS.
IN FACT, WE'VE LOWERED THE RATE SEVEN TIMES.
FOUR TIMES JUST IN THE LAST DECADE.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE REITERATED THAT HERE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PLEASE COME AND SHOW UP TO OUR S.A. SPEAK UP CAMPAIGNS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE IN DISTRICT 3 AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY JUST SOUTH OF 410, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN GO OUT THERE.
AND JUST TO PUT IT RIGHT NOW, FOR THE CENSUS AND THE DOLLARS GOING TO THE CENSUS, I THINK THE PROMDORA MODELS WOULD BE A GREAT MODEL FOR US TO USE IN THE CENSUS PROGRAM GETTING OUT THERE.
SO I DO ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE AND ASK YOU ALL, AND I'LL ASK MARIA.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO NEED TO INCLUDE ARE OUR SENIOR CENTERS.
WE HAVE THE CITY SENIOR CENTERS.
THEY HAVE INPUT OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND SEE IN OUR BUDGET.
SO WE HAVE TO BE INCLUSIVE IN RECOGNIZING OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND GIVING BUDGET PRESENTATIONS THERE AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
FIRST, I WANT TO CONTRADICT YOU, MAYOR.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOMENTS DURING THE YEAR THAT I LOOK MOST FORWARD TO, AND NOT JUST BECAUSE I'M A CITY COUNCIL PERSON.
BUT EVEN WHEN I WASN'T A CITY COUNCIL PERSON I WOULD EAGERLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT.
BECAUSE IN THIS ONE MOMENT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS VALUES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT A BUDGET LIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DO, AS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
I RECENTLY READ THAT BUDGETS ARE A MORAL DOCUMENT BECAUSE FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE.
RIGHT? AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY'S BUDGET IT REALLY IS JUST A STATEMENT OF PRIORITIES.
PRIORITIES THAT ARE INFORMED BY, IN MY CASE, BY WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE RELAYED TO ME PERSONALLY BY WAY OF 311, BY WAY OF E-MAILS, LETTERS, PHONE CALLS.
AND, TWO, INFORMED ALSO BY WHAT I KNOW TO BE OUR NEEDS IN ORDER TO MEET OUR STRATEGIC PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT, FOR JOB CREATION, FOR CREATING A MORE RESILIENT CITY, FOR MAKING SURE THE NEXT TIME HURRICANE HARVEY VISITS A CITY AND IT DECIDES TO VISIT US THAT WE'RE READY.
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED FOR NEW AND IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE NEW STRESSES ON THE LOADS -- THE NEW STRESSES AND LOADS ON SEWER SYSTEMS AND ELECTRICAL GRID AND WATER GRID THAT IS GOING TO COME WITH ANOTHER 1 POINT SOMETHING MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
SO I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE COME TO ME AND WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY EXPRESSED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ADDRESSED.
WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY THEY SAY I WANT TO FEEL SAFER IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND I WANT TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT IN POLICE.
I WANT TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT IN
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FIRE.THEY COME TO ME AND FREQUENTLY SAY I WANT MORE SIDEWALKS.
AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY PARKS ARE SAFE, THAT MY LIBRARIES ARE ON PAR WITH WHAT I EXPECT MY LIBRARIES TO BE.
THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
AND SO I'VE GONE THROUGH THESE DOCUMENTS.
SHERYL, YOUR PRESENTATION WAS EXCELLENT.
AND I SEE THAT THOSE URGENT REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MET WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY BY YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND I SEE THOSE REQUESTS FOR RELIEF REPRESENTED IN THIS BUDGET.
THE SECOND THING, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S TAX RATE.
AND SO LET ME TELL YOU THAT THIS IS ALSO A DOCUMENT INFORMED BY ECONOMIC REALITIES.
AND SO LET ME GIVE YOU SOME ECONOMIC REALITIES.
SAN ANTONIO -- SHERYL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
>> PELAEZ: OUR TAX RATE IS 55.827.
IT DID YOU WANT TAKE BUT A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH AND YOU'LL FIND THERE'S OTHER CITIES OUT THERE WHO ARE BIG CITIES IN TEXAS.
FORT WORTH, THEIR TAX RATE IS 80.
EL PASO, THEIR TAX RATE IS 80.
THE ONLY OUTLIER AMONG THOSE BIG, BIG CITIES IS AUSTIN.
AND AUSTIN HAS, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT I PULLED UP, HAS A LOWER TAX RATE THAN OURS.
HOWEVER, I THINK THIS HOWEVER, THIS WEEK, AUSTIN MADE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT, AND SHERYL, AGAIN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THEIR RATE.
>> SCULLEY: THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, AND ACTUALLY, AUSTIN HAS INCREASED THE RATE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
I WILL SAY TOO THAT ALTHOUGH AUSTIN, BY POPULATION AND GEOGRAPHY, IS SMALLER THAN SAN ANTONIO, THEY HAVE MORE ASSESSED VALUATION.
THAT IS THEIR TOTAL AV IS GREATER THAN THE ENTIRETY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, ONE OF THE LARGEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY, IS LOCATED THERE, ALL OF THE STATE TAX EXEMPT FACILITIES AND FEDERAL AND CITY FACILITIES, THEY STILL HAVE A LARGER ASSESSED VALUATION TOTAL THAN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO I FREQUENTLY DO HERE -- AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE -- YOU KNOW, MY GOSH, SAN ANTONIO IS THE HIGHEST TAXED CITY IN TEXAS.
PEOPLE COME TO ME AND SAY THAT.
AND SO, JUST FOR ANYBODY OUT THERE LISTENING, ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU THAT WE ARE TAXING YOU MORE THAN ANY OF THE OTHER BIG CITIES IN TEXAS, THEY ARE MISINFORMED, OR THEY ARE DELIBERATELY TRYING TO MISINFORM YOU.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL TELL YOU, YES, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS THAT HAVE MUCH, MUCH LOWER TAX RATES, AND I HEAR THAT CRYSTAL CITY AND LA VERNIA ARE NICE THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND I WELCOME YOU TO GO LIVE THERE.
BUT IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU ENJOY EXCELLENT POLICE SERVICE, EXCELLENT FIREFIGHTERS.
YOU ENJOY A METRO HEALTH DISTRICT THAT REALLY DOES RESPOND TO YOUR NEEDS.
YOU HAVE ONE OF THE BEST ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS IN THE NATION.
YOU'VE GOT AN AIRPORT DEPARTMENT THAT IS KICKING EVERYBODY'S BEHIND IN THIS SECTOR.
AND IF YOU JUST GO LINE BY LINE THROUGH WHAT WE DO HERE AT THE CITY, I'M PROUD TO PUT UP OUR PERFORMANCE AND OUR RESULTS UP AGAINST ANY OTHER CITY'S, AND AT THE SAME TIME, REMIND YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT THIS IS THE CITY THAT HASN'T RAISED YOUR TAX RATE IN MANY YEARS AND THIS IS ALSO THE CITY THAT HAS NOT -- YOU KNOW, IS NOT GOING TO BE DOING IT THIS YEAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES ARE.
SO, SHERYL, I THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALSO, I DO WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO HOW GRATEFUL I AM THAT YOU HEARD ALL OF US WHEN WE WERE AT OUR GOAL-SETTING COMMITTEES AND ALL OF US EXPRESSED A NEED TO SEE MORE INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT'S VERY PERSONAL FOR ME THAT WE DO THAT.
I KNOW IT'S FOR YOU TOO AND THERE'S SOME OF US UP ON THIS DIAS WHO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STORIES TO TELL.AIS WHO HAVE DO STORIES TO TELL.
IN OTHER WORDS, FIGHTING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THAT I THINK THIS BUDGET REALLY EMBRACES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS EQUITY BUDGETING.
IT'S A NEED-BASED BUDGET, AND I
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TOO WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES WHO'S BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT THIS FOR MANY YEARS.SPECIFICALLY, HOW IT AFFECTS THE INNER CITY.
THANK YOU, SHERYL, AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT, AS THE MAYOR DESCRIBED, SETS OUR PRIORITIES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DURING BUDGET SEASON.
THIS IS -- WHAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF IS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR TEAM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED EVERY SINGLE DAY YEAR ROUND.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THE BUDGET, IT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY AT CITY HALL.
THANK YOU FOR FINDING THE WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR ALL OF US.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I KNOW IT'S -- WE RECOGNIZE YOU AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR IN WHICH WE SAY, WELL, YOU'VE BEEN CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS ALL OF JULY, BUT WE KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING YEAR ROUND TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO HERE AT CITY HALL, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND THERE'S SO MUCH THAT THIS CITY DEPENDS ON FOR IT TO THRIVE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ALLOCATE TOWARDS THOSE BUDGETS THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU, PETER ZANONI FOR WORKING VERY HARD WITH US ON SO MANY OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE WORK STILL CONTINUES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
I WANT TO THANK COPS METRO FOR HELPING US TO ALIGN SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES AS WELL.
AND ALL THE CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT THAT REALLY HELPS TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT COMMUNICATION AND ENCOURAGE ALL THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT, GET ENGAGED, SEE HOW THIS BUDGET IS WORKING.
LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE, LOURDES, MARIA.
AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE HAPPY TO SEE THAT THEY'RE REALLY COMING TO FRUITION IN THIS BUDGET.
AND KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
WE'RE SETTING A DIRECTION, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU HELPING US FIND THAT WAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
FIRST OF ALL, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT JOB IN PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THROES DISCUSSIONS, AND I WOULD SAY -- I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY ON A DAILY BASIS REVOLVES AROUND THIS BUDGET.
SO I THINK THIS IS OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE SET THESE BUDGETS IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT THE CITY TO GO IN, AND I LOOK AT THIS AS, WOW, THIS IS REALLY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, I SEE THAT -- AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE HERE.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT HERE WE SEE ANOTHER GROWTH IN OUR BUDGET.
THE MONEY IS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR SALES TAX IS INCREASING, OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE INCREASING.
AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO IN OUR BUDGET WORKING SESSION AGREE TO TRY TO HELP OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN TOWN AND OFFER A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
WE ARE THE ONLY LARGE METROPOLITAN CITY HERE IN THE STATE THAT DOES NOT OFFER A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
NOW, I FULLY RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE DO GIVE EXEMPTIONS TO OUR SENIORS AND DISABLED FOLKS.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER HOMEOWNERS OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME, AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, WE HAVE RATE INCREASES.
NO, WE ARE NOT RAISING OUR TAX RATE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
BUT, IF YOU TALK TO FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE PAYING MORE.
THEIR PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING
[01:40:01]
UP.THEREFORE, WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE THAT TAX RATE TO KEEP OUR SERVICES GOING, BECAUSE THOSE RATES ARE -- THOSE VALUES ARE GOING UP, AND THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY MORE.
SO, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO CARVE OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THIS OVER $140 MILLION INCREASE TO CARVE OUT ABOUT $11 MILLION OUT OF THAT, 13 OF WHICH WAS CARRYOVER FROM 2018, TO OFFER AT LEAST A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO GET ON THE BOOKS AS A START, TO HELP OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE, WHICH ALSO HELPS OUT OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ISSUE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO, DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THAT, BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS IN SAN ANTONIO SAY ABOUT THIS BUDGET.
GETTING THAT FEEDBACK, FIGHTING FOR THAT FEEDBACK, AND I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOST THERE AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND, AND SEE WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO SAY.
AND LET'S GET THAT FEEDBACK, AND WORK THIS BUDGET TO GET IT TO WHERE WE'RE SATISFYING, I WOULD SAY, WHAT OUR REAL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHAT ARE WE REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO, WITH THAT, THANKS AGAIN, STAFF.
THANKS, SHERYL, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND LET'S SEE WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY.
THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO JUST START OFF BY THANKING THE STAFF, MARIA AND JUSTINA.
SHERYL, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO THE GOOD WORK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND THE TEAM HAS -- ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IS THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNCIL OFFICE HAS BEEN -- I CONTRIBUTED AT LEAST THE DISTRICT 6 SUCCESS TO THE STAFF MEMBERS LIKE MARIA, MIKE FRISBIE, ART RINEHART AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING THE WORKDAY TO DAY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST IN THE WORK IN YOUR OFFICES IN CITY HALL.
IT'S ALSO WHEN YOU'RE IN THE DISTRICT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH ME.
IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED FROM MY TEAM, TO BE THANKFUL TO THE STAFF WHO FRANKLY HELP US SURVIVE.
IN SPITE OF ALL THE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING CRAZY UP HERE, I KNOW I CAN COUNT ON SOMEBODY LIKE F FRISBEE OR PETER ZANONI.
YOU ARE THE ONE CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THIS CHAOS THAT MOVES AND SHIFTS AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.
THIS IS NOTHING BUT GLORIFIED TEMP WORK UP HERE.
AND MUCH LIKE COUNCILMAN PERRY SIDE, YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE OF THE COUNCIL AND YOU CREATED THE BUDGET AROUND THAT.
SO THAT WORK YOU'VE DONE, I'M THANKFUL FOR.
THE FACT THAT WE DISAGREE ON THE POLICY ISSUES OR SOME OF THE THINGS I'LL PINPOINT REAL QUICK IS IRRELEVANT.
IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS, THE WORK YOU DID IS FANTASTIC.
BUT I DO THINK MUCH OF THIS TALK ABOUT A BUDGET BEING A MORAL DOCUMENT, YOU CAN BE AS MUCH MORALLY WRONG AS YOU ARE MORALLY RIGHT.
AND YOUR VALUES ARE DIFFERENT FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT, STREET TO STREET, NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND AT THE BUDGET MEETINGS TO FIND WHAT OUR RESIDENTS TRULY WANT.
NOT WHAT WE THINK IS BEST FOR THEM, WHICH IS I THINK WHERE WE'VE BEEN MISSING THE BOAT AS A COUNCIL SINCE I TOOK OFFICE A YEAR AGO.
AND IN MY OPINION, I SEE THINGS IN THIS THAT DESERVE REALLY SOLID DEBATE, THINGS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, THIS MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST SINGLE OVERREACH OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY.
I MEAN, IT'S $1 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, AND I LIKE HOW COUNCILMAN PERRY AND I ARE PUSHING FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND WE'RE TOLD THERE'S NO MONEY, BUT THEN THIS MIRACULOUS CREATION OF $17.5 MILLION APPEARS, AND HERE WE GO ON 13 NEW POSITIONS, MORE SPENDING, PAINTING PEOPLE'S ROOFS, FIXING PEOPLE'S HOUSES, GUARANTEEING THEIR LOANS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL DISCUSSION AROUND THOSE THINGS.
YOU CAN NOD YOUR HEAD ALL YOU WANT, GOT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND THESE THINGS ABOUT, ARE THEY THE ROLE OF THE CORE SERVICES OF CITY GOVERNMENT, ARE THEY THE BASICS OF WHAT IS WARRANTED, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET BACK TO BASICS, AND WE STICK TO THOSE, AND WE DON'T SIT HERE AND GET OUTSIDE OF OUR LANE AND DO THE THINGS THAT AREN'T THE CORE SERVICES OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE EQUITY BUDGET SEEMS TO BE MORE THAN ANYTHING DIVIDING THE BUDGET BETWEEN THE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS, AND THEN BLAMING THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE AND PUTTING THAT ON SOMEONE ELSE.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE JUST AS MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLING IN DISTRICT SIX IN THE WEST SIDE THAT ARE HAVING THOSE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER AREAS GETTING EQUITY FUNDING, AND SOME OF THAT NEEDS TO END.
AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE MORAL DOCUMENT IMPORTANT, AND IF YOU WANT TO USE THOSE TERMS, YOU ALSO HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT YOU
[01:45:02]
COULD BE MORALLY WRONG.WE HAVE TO GO TAKE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.
SO I'LL BE ASKING MY RESIDENTS WHAT MATTERS MOST TO THEM AS WE HAVE THROUGH A PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROCESS IN OUR OWN DISTRICT ASKING US QUESTIONS, HAVING THE MEETINGS, TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT THE BUDGET SCARES ME ON THIS ONE.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU SAY, IT'S SO BIG AND SO WRONG IN PRIORITY THAT YOU LOOK TO PROBABLY -- ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BECAUSE IT IS OVERREACHING OUT OF OUR LANE.
BUT YOU TRY GET TO A YES AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THOSE CHANCES TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE AND WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE, AND IF THIS IS IT, THE BEAUTY OF IT ENDS UP AT A VOTE AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND IF IT'S 10-1 OR WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING, AT LEAST WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE WHAT WE THOUGHT, ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND THEN TURN AROUND AND END THE DISCUSSION WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS IN MID-SEPTEMBER OR WHENEVER IT ENDS.
SO I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FAIR VOICE IN THE BUDGET CONVERSATION AND TO BE ABLE TO BE TREATED EQUALLY AND WITH RESPECT.
IF YOU OFFER EQUITY TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU SHOULD OFFER EQUITY IN THE DAIS AND ALLOWTOUS HAVE A FAIR DEBATE AND TALK FRANKLY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION.
IT'S GOING TO BE ONE HECK OF A DEBATE ABOUT THE NEXT FIVE, TEN, 15 YEARS OF THIS CITY, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU FROM HERE ON OUT THROUGH THE REST-OF-THIS YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE STAFF AS WELL.
I CAN JUST IMAGINE, OR MAYBE I CAN'T, HOW MUCH WORK YOU HAD TO PUT INTO CREATING THIS DOCUMENT FOR US.
THESE GUIDELINES AND THIS FRAMEWORK.
I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, IT SAYS ON THE FIRST PAGE, PROPOSED.
AND I THINK THAT DEFINITELY WORK TO BE DONE ON THIS.
I KNOW I'VE WRITTEN A DOZEN QUESTIONS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THEM HERE AND NOW.
BUT I THINK OVER THE COURSE OF OUR WORKSHOPS, AS A COUNCIL, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, MY QUESTIONS AND MANY OTHERS WILL BE ASKED AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ANSWERED.
I WILL HAVE WORKSHOPS IN MY DISTRICT.
WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BUDGET.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I DID A SPECIAL PROGRAM THIS YEAR CALLED PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
I'M VERY COMMITTED TO THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING AND A SAY IN HOW THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT, AND THIS IS ALL PART OF THAT PROCESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM ALL OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THEIR VIEWS AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS AND WHERE THEY THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE GOING ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, AND I THINK THAT WE'LL COME TO A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME THAT WE MAY NOT AGREE ON, AND WE JUST HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE TO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER ON THOSE AND WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE THINGS WE DO AGREE ON.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THERE BUDGET AND WORKING ON IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK MAYBE A SET OF TWO OR THREE QUESTIONS, BUT JUST TO RECOGNIZE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHAT I'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF A REALLY WELL-EQUIPPED AND WELL-STAFFED, WELL MUSCLED UP BUDGET DEPARTMENT THAT I'VE SEEN TAKE OVER THE SECOND ROW OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.
USED TO BE A TIME THAT EVEN JUSTINA TATE WAS SITTING IN THE THIRD ROW, AND NOW SHE'S UP AT THE FRONT.
AND SO THANK YOU TO THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR BEING WITH US.
I KNOW YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS.
YOU'RE OFTENTIMES DOING THE WORK THAT WE GET TO IN SOME CASES TAKE WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT FOR.
BUT IT REALLY IS A BIG STRONG BACKBONE THAT YOU HELP OPERATE AND EQUIP.
SO THANK YOU TO THOSE FOLKS IN THE BUDGET OFFICE THAT ARE JOINING US TODAY IN THE CHAMBERS.
JUST A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SHERYL, ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE GOT ON.
COUNCILMAN GONZALES AND I WERE JUST SHARING AND DISCUSSING THE CONCEPT OF THE CENSUS COMING UP IN 2020, WHICH I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE TAKING SERIOUS WITH REGARD TO SETTING ASIDE BUDGET TO ACTUALLY GET AN ACCURATE COUNT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS REQUIRED OF CITIES, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS, TO OUR BENEFIT THAT WE DECIDE THAT WE DEPLOY SOME OF OUR OWN RESOURCES TO GET AN ACCURATE COUNT.
>> SCULLEY: IT'S NOT A FEDERAL MANDATE.
IT IS NOT PRESCRIBED AS TO HOW MUCH STAFF OR HOW MUCH MONEY IS PUT INTO THE PROGRAM, BUT IT IS TO THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF FEDERAL FUNDING IS APPORTIONED BASED UPON A COMPLETE COUNT.
AND THEN SECONDLY, WITH REGARD TO REPRESENTATION, BECAUSE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS ARE DETERMINED BASED UPON EACH OF
[01:50:03]
THE CENSUS COUNTS.AND SO WE CANNOT BE REPRESENTED TO AT THE STATE LEVEL NOR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IF WE AREN'T PROPERLY COUNTED.
BUT IT'S TO OUR ADVANTAGE FINANCIALLY AS A CITY AS WELL, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GREAT NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND FEDERAL FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED BASED UPON HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN THE CITIES.
SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE TWO POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET.
THEY'D BE TEMPORARY POSITIONS AFTER THE CENSUS IS COMPLETED.
THOSE POSITIONS WOULD GO AWAY.
BUT WE WILL WORK EXTENSIVELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WE DID THAT IN THE 2010 CENSUS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
SO A HUGE EFFORT IN THAT REGARD.
AND WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WITH THE CENSUS BUREAU.
I HOPE THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND RECOGNIZE MEGAN DODGE AND JEFF COYLE WHO HAVE BEEN PRESENTING TO THE IGR COMMITTEE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW WE'RE SO SUCCESSFUL FOR GRANTS AND FUNDING, WHETHER THOSE ARE CDBG FOR SIDEWALKS OR DOJ GRANTS FOR BODY CAMERAS.
WE'VE SEEN THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM HAVING THAT KIND OF REPRESENTATION AND ACCURATE COUNT FROM OUR POPULATION, SO THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
I WANT TO THANK LOURDES AND MARIA WHO ARE HERE AS PART OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.
WE SHOULDN'T BE APOLOGIZING FOR GOING AFTER OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHILE HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT MANY CITIES HAVE SEEN ON THE TAIL END OF PROBLEMS IN WHICH THEY HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH AFTER THE FACT, I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE PROACTIVE, NOT ONLY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING PEOPLE IN HOMES, BUT THAT FUTURE SAN ANTONIANS UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A CITY THAT IS AFFORDABLE, THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE MANAGER FOR PUTTING IN SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.
LOOK, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FANS OF COMMITTEES OR WORKING GROUPS OR STUDIES, WE'RE BEYOND THE WORKING GROUP AND THE STUDIES.
NOW WE'VE GOT SOME SOLID WELL THOUGHT OUT RECOMMENDATIONS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE HOUSING STOCK, THE INVENTORY THAT WE HAVE FOR AFFORDABILITY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND IF YOU WERE PROJECTING OUT INTO THE FUTURE AND LOOKING AT A CRYSTAL BALL OF CHALLENGES, WHETHER THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION OR ISSUES AROUND EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND THE AFFORDABILITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A COMPETITIVE MARKET, IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE TRIFECTA OF TOP THREE ISSUES THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO WE SHOULD BE COGNIZANT OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE'RE PLACING A MARKER DOWN IN 2018, THAT IN 2028 WE'LL BE ABLE TO REFLECT BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE INVESTMENTS' RETURN.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE COMMITMENT OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS, SOME OF WHICH ARE HERE, OTHERS OF WHICH ARE WATCHING HOW WE WORK THROUGH THIS.
LET ME ASK ABOUT SAPD, OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE PRE-MEETINGS THAT WE HAD IN MAY.
IT WAS ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.
MAYBE WHEN WE GO THROUGH SAPD PRESENTATION, WHICH I BELIEVE IS NEXT WEEK, WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE REFLECTIONS THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT -- WE TALKED ABOUT INCREASING SOME OF THEIR BUDGET OR PERSONNEL.
SO, I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT WEDNESDAY OR TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAD A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WEIGH IN ABOUT EXPANDING SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITHIN SAPD.
AND WITH THAT, I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- I THINK A FEW TIMES I THINK WE SAID THAT THE SALES TAX IS INCREASING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CONTROL, BUT IT'S CONTROLLED BY THE VOTERS.
SO I THINK MAYBE WHAT WAS MEANT WAS SALES TAX REVENUES ARE INCREASING.
BECAUSE I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL WITH THE CITY, AND I THINK OUR PROPERTY TAX IS ONE OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE BEEN PRETTY LASER FOCUSED ON REAL WAYS TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
I'M LOOKING AT JEFF COYLE, WHO I KNOW HE AND I AND THE REST OF THE IGR COMMITTEE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON SOME OF THE LEVERS THAT THEY CAN PULL, BUT NOT IGNORING THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT SOME LEVERS TO PULL AT THE CITY TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO OUR SAN ANTONIO HOMEOWNERS.
AND TO SAY THAT WE DO NOT PROVIDE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS UNTRUE IF YOU CONSIDER THAT WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR OLDER SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHOSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE FROZEN AFTER THE AGE OF 65.
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EXEMPTION.IT'S THAT KIND OF APPLICATION OF A TOOL THAT WE WANT TO BE SMART ABOUT.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT IF WE ARE LOWERING THE TAX RATE, DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE COMING INTO THE CITY, THAT MEANS IN MANY CASES, SOME MONEY WILL STAY WITH THE RESIDENT.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HELPING THE FOLKS WHO TRULY NEED IT, AND I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IN APPLICATION IS ACROSS THE BOARD VERSUS A FOCUSED APPROACH.
AND SO IF, YOU KNOW, WE LOSE $1,000 FROM A TAX BILL FOR A HOME IN THE DOMINION WHO MAY NOT NEED IT, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM A HOUSE ON THE SOUTH SIDE WHO MIGHT LOOK AT THAT AS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
SO THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY ON THAT, WHICH IS THAT IT'S NOT REAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF UNLESS YOU TRULY FEEL IT.
IT'S IMPACTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU GET A STRATEGIC APPROACH AND YOU'RE ABLE TO CARVE OUT WHO CAN SEE THAT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
SO, WITH THAT, MAYOR, I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAD.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT'S GOING TO DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, I DO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, MARIA, JUSTINA, AND SHERYL FOR ALL OF YOUR VERY, VERY HARD WORK OVER THE SUMMER.
I KNOW IT IS SAID THAT WE TAKE A VACATION, OR WE TAKE A BREAK, BUT I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY WHEN YOU WORK THE HARDEST, EVEN THOUGH YOU WORK HARD ALL YEAR.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
I AM GLAD TO SEE SOME OF THE MAJOR -- I GUESS WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER MY VALUES ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO A GREAT POPULATION APUND A GREAT CITY, D THAT IS COVERING SOME OF THE BASICS LIKE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
WE KNOW THAT WAS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR IN THE S.A. SPEAK UP SURVEYS OF WHICH WE GOT I BELIEVE CLOSE TO 7,000 FOLKS FILLING THEM OUT WITH DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS BEING NUMBER TWO AT THE TOP.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THOSE RESIDENTS WHO FILLED OUT THE SURVEYS, AND THE RESIDENTS WHO REACH OUT TO US EVERY DAY AT OUR FIELD OFFICES AND HERE AT THE CITY, EITHER THROUGH 311 OR AT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.
THEY ARE CONTINUALLY TELLING US WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE DO OUR BEST JOB TO TRANSLATE THAT INTO THESE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT WE GIVE YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR FORMULATING THOSE, MANY OF THOSE INTO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
I'M GOING TO DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF MY COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE SAID THIS IS A BASIC BUDGET.
I WOULD SAY IT DOES COVER THE BASICS, BUT I THINK WE DO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, AND THAT WE SHOULD, AS THE CITY THAT WE WANT TO BE REQUIRES THAT WE GO BEYOND THE BASICS.
SO, YES, WE MUST PROVIDE A STREETS, SIDEWALKS, DRAINAGE, HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTECTIONS.
BUT WHEN WE SEE CHALLENGES OUT THERE, WE MUST ALSO RISE TO THEM.
BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING IS EXACTLY PRESCRIBED TO US, IN THE END, THESE ARE OUR RESIDENTS AND THESE ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE WANT TO SEE THEM SUCCEED SO THAT OUR CITY SUCCEEDS.
SO I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE FUNDING IN THERE FOR THINGS LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SOME INNOVATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF SMART CITIES, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, ALL THE WORK FROM THE TASK -- FROM THE HOUSING TASK FORCE SEEING SOME MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THAT, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, IF PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE IN THEIR HOMES, WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE ALL THESE OTHER PROGRAMS? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I WAS FORCED TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON.
WE HAVE A GREAT VIEW UP HERE, BUT WE'RE LOOKING DOWN, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL YOUR FACES, AND JUST GLAZED LOOKS, HEADS ARE KIND OF JUST UP IN THE AIR.
SO I WON'T BE LONG, I PROMISE YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, WHO'S INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK THE REUSIDENTS OF DISTRICT TWO AND MY STAFF.
WE SENT OUT A SURVEY AND THIS BUDGET ALIGNS ALMOST PERFECTLY WITH THE RESPONSE WE GOT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE GOT A LITTLE MORE THAN 3,000 OF OUR CONSTITUENTS TO RETURN OUR SURVEY FROM OUR DISTRICT, AND IN REVIEWING THE BUDGET AND THE PRESENTATION, IT ALIGNS PERFECTLY.
OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY NIGHNIEED AND I BELIEVE OUR CITY DID A GREAT JOB OF LISTENING.
READY TO MOVE FORWARD, GET THIS THING IMPLEMENTED SO WE CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK
[02:00:02]
AHEAD.CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY IN ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAMILY-FRIENDLY MEETINGS FOR OUR BUDGET MEETINGS, WE'VE ORGANIZED WHAT WE'RE CALLING COMMUNITY DAYS AND THEY ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.
IN FACT, THE DOSEUM IS DOING ACTIVITIES AND WILL HAVE MASCOTS, MCGRUFF, SPURS COYOTE.
ALSO METRO HEALTH IS DOING A KIDS CORNER FOCUSED ON NUTRITION AND VENTS ARE AT PLACES LIKE MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AND REGIONAL CITY PARKS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FOCUS IT SO THAT FAMILIES CAN BRING THEIR CHILDREN, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EVENINGS ARE BUSY TIMES.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TWO OF OUR COMMUNITY DAYS FOCUSED ON COLLEGE STUDENTS.
WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD TO TRY TO ENGAGE YOUNGER ADULTS IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS, AND WE HAVE ONE FOR MILLENNIALS WHO ARE PROMOTING THIS AS WELL AT A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS SO THAT WE CAN TARGET AUDIENCES FROM THE COUNCIL DISTRICT.
SO WHILE WE STARTED THIS TEN YEARS AGO, 12 YEARS AGO, TO GO OUT TO EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT.
MOST EVENINGS, WE'D GET A LOT OF SENIORS AS OPPOSED TO A BROAD RANGE OF RESIDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE ACTIVITY AND VENT FOCUSED WHERE WE GO TO PARKS OR CENTERS, AND OF COURSE, ALL OF THE LOCATIONS ARE WHERE ONE OR TWO COUNCIL DISTRICT RESIDENTS CAN JOIN US TO GET THE INPUT.
AND, OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE TWO THAT WILL BE ENTIRELY IN SPANISH LANGUAGE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE INPUT.
AND THIS COMPLEMENTS WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR, AND I NEED TO THANK JEFF COYLE AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ATTEND ALL KINDS OF EVENTS.
LAUREN MAYS, MEGAN DODGE, THE ENTIRE TEAM HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED.
IN FACT, THEA TOOK ME TO -- AND LAURA, WITH A GROUP OF YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE COMMUNITY, ALL VERY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY AND WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
SO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE OUR FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY DAYS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SHERYL.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION NOW FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEMS 4A AND 4B.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 4A AND 4B.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 4A AND 4B.
IS THERE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
>> SCULLEY: I THINK I'VE SAID ENOUGH TODAY, MAYOR.
HEARING NONE, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.