[00:00:15] (♪) [ PROCEDURAL  ] MORNING, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION, THE TIME IS 9:15 A.M. ON THE 5TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. AND WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE ROLL. >> CLERK: MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR A SESSION. BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WERE STRUCK BY THE TRAGIC NEWS OF THE MURDER OF A FRIEND, A MUSICIAN AND ACTOR, JOHNSON JOS. AND SO ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY, I GOT TO KNOW JONATHAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO. HE'S A VERY PASSIONATE INDIVIDUAL. BUT HE WAS A FRIEND TO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND SO ON BEHALF OF THEM, ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY, I'D LIKE ASK US TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. GOING TO WELCOME OUR INVOCATOR AND USUALLY THE AGENDA NOTATES WHO INVITED HER. AND IT DOESN'T SAY THAT TODAY. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO INVITED HER. BUT SHE'S ALWAYS WELCOME IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THESE CHAMBERS BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTS ALL OF US. ANN HELMKE IS A FRIEND TO THIS CITY. SHE IS ALSO THE CITY'S FIRST EVER FAITH LIAISON. I CONSIDER HER A PERSONAL FRIEND BUT A GUIDE IN MANY WAYS. ANN'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE A CONNECTIVE POINT BETWEEN ALL OF THE FAITH COMMUNITIES OF SAN ANTONIO THAT REPRESENT SO MANY TRADITIONS. BUT ALSO TO BE A VOICE FOR THEM AS IT RELATES TO THE WORK OF THE CITY. AND SO ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS ORGANIZATION, ANN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. YOU HAVE GUIDED US THROUGH SOME VERY CHALLENGING TIMES. AND YOU ALL HAVE ALSO BEEN A SHEPHERD AND A PARTNER IN THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE ON COMPASSIONATE SAN ANTONIO. AND SO IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE -- THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME TO WELCOME AN INVOCATOR BUT SINCE NO ONE WELCOMED IT ON HERE, I WILL SAY THAT I WELCOMED YOU, BECAUSE I OFTEN DO THAT, AND I'LL GET TO DO THAT LATER TONIGHT. BUT WELCOME ANN HELMKE. >> DR. REVEREND ANN E. HELMKE: THANK YOU. I JUST SHOWED UP, RIGHT? SO, UM, FOR ALMOST EXACTLY EIGHT YEARS, RIGHT -- WE HAVE HAD THE HUMBLE HONOR OF PRACTICING AND BEING COMPASSIONATE SAN ANTONIOIANS AND IN THAT TIME WE HAVE CELEBRATED THE FACT THAT COMPASSION IS PART OF OUR DNA AS HUMANS AND THAT WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON AS HUMANS THAN WE HAVE DIFFERENCES. AND THAT WE ARE INEXTRICABLY AND SYSTEMICALLY INTERDEPENDENT -- WE NEED EACH OTHER. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT TODAY IN TERMS OF OUR INVOCATION [00:05:03] THAT AS HUMANS WE HEAL BETTER AND FASTER WHEN WE GATHER TOGETHER LIKE THIS, AND WE SHARE OUR PAINS AND OUR PLANS TOGETHER, AND WE GO FORWARD. SO I'M GOING TO INVITE US INTERNALLY AND SILENTLY THOUGH TO VOICE TOGETHER AS I LEAD US THROUGH SOME PRAYERS. AS A PEOPLES ON THIS PLANET, WE SHARE OUR CONCERNS AND OUR AWE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR WORLD. AS A COUNTRY, AMONG COUNTRIES, WITH NO REAL BOUNDARIES WE SHARE OUR VISION, OUR HOPES, FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR ALL OTHER COUNTRIES. AS A CITY, AND A STATE, SO NEAR ANOTHER COUNTRY AND SURROUNDED BY RURAL AREAS, WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEEDS OF ALL THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE ARE BOUND TO OTHERS. AS FAMILY MEMBERS WITH FRIENDS, ALL OF US CARRYING OUR OWN CONCERNS AND NEEDS, OUR OWN HISTORIES, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND WHO WILL COME AFTER US, WE SHARE OUR COMMITMENT. COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE. AND AS A SMALL PORTION OF SAN ANTONIOIANS GATHERED IN THIS SPACE TODAY, IN A TIME OF TRANSITION WE BRING TO EACH OTHER OUR PRAYERS AND HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND ALL OF THESE THINGS SHARED WE SAY YES TO. WE SAY AMEN TO. AND WE SAY MAKE IT SO. AMEN. [CONSENT AGENDA  ] [00:10:14] ALL RIGHT WE DO HAVE A FULL CONSENT AGENDA, ALONG WITH THREE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS, ITEMS 3, HAD AND 5 AND I WILL ASK NOW FOR ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM CONSENT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM 14. THOID 14? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 14? SO WE WILL TAKE THAT UPFRONT. ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, ALL ITEMS SAY FOR 3, 45 AND 14. >> SO MOVED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA. AND WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON CONSENT. TYLER FERGUSON. ON ITEM 17. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TYLER FERGUSON, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES. I WANTED TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE HUNDREDS OF HOMEOWNERS SERVED BY OUR TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS EACH YEAR, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR CRITICAL WORK OF RESTORING HOMES FOR SOME OF SAN ANTONIO'S MOST AMAZING RESIDENTS. FOR 21 YEARS, BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN RESTORING HOMES IN SAN ANTONIO FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE LIVING IN CONDITIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXIST. THESE HOMES ARE WHAT MOST OF US WOULD CONSIDER UNLIVABLE, AND YET FOR THESE AMAZING HOMEOWNERS, IT IS HOME. IT'S THE PLACE WHERE THEIR KIDS WERE BORN. WHERE THEY HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD COOKOUTS. WHERE THEY SAT WITH AN AGING PARENT AS THEY TOOK THEIR LAST BREATH. AND NOW THE HOME IS FALLING APART, ON THE VERGE OF BEING UNLIVABLE, BUT THANKS TO THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH BLUEPRINT OVER THE YEARS THEY NOW HAVE HOPE THAT THEIR HOME CAN CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE OF REFUGE. AS WE SPEAK RIGHT NOW, 150 VOLUNTEERS ARE WORKING ACROSS OUR CITY REPLACING ROOFS FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO UP TO THIS POINT HAVE FELT HOPELESS AND FORGOTTEN. THESE PROJECTS FUNDED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NESD ARE NOT ONLY GIVING HOMEOWNERS THE PEACE, KNOWING THAT THE NEXT TIME THAT IT RAINS IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT SHOWS THEM THAT THEIR CITY SEES THEM. OUR AMAZING CITY HAS BEEN BUILT, NOT BY LARGE COMPANIES OR POLITICIANS OR TOURISTS -- SAN ANTONIO EXISTS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE A HOMEOWNER THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW ON THE EASTSIDE WHO HAS LIVED HERE FOR 75 YEARS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURE, ECONOMY AND THE VIBRANCY OF THIS CITY MORE THAN ANY BIG BOX STORE, CONVENTION, OR SPORTING EVENT. BY CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THE WORK OF BLUEPRINT AS YOU HAVE TODAY, YOU'RE ENSURING THAT THESE AMAZING HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE INVESTED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES INTO OUR CITY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY WILL CONTINUE TO BE WELL SERVED BY THE CITY THAT THEY LOVE. SO ON BEHALF OF BLUEPRINT AND THE OTHER NON-PROFITS IN ITEM 17, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FERGUSON. ALL RIGHT, I'LL TURN NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. A MOMENT FOR THE CUE, IF YOU COULD SIGNAL ME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CUE FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, TYLER AS I'D LIKE TO HOILT ITEM 17. MANY HOMES ARE OWNER AND WORKING CLASS AND WORKING FAMILIES. SO THIS FUNDING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH QUALITY AND SAFE HOUSING. I'M VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED REPAIRS FOR SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TYLER, THE TEAM, VOTING HOPE TOGETHER, AND HOPE THAT THIS IS ADDED TO NEXT YEAR'S LIST TO ENSURE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES WITH MORE ACCESS TO QUALITY HOUSING. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO COMMEND, UM, JUDGE ON HER LEADERSHIP, AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE BRINGING RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES IS PIVOTAL AND THAT'S HOW WE CONNECT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BUILD A HEALTHY AND A QUALITY LIFE HERE. SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THE CONSENT ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 13, THE APPLICATION. [00:15:01] THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THIS SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR UP TO $3.5 MILLION FOR THE HIRING OF THE 28 NEW POLICE OFFICERS FOR OUR CITY. PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE SHORT POLICE HERE, HERE IN OUR CITY, AND SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TODAY. THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILOR MEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THIS IS WITHOUT 14, RIGHT? [Boards, Commissions and Committee Appointments  ] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP ITEM 14 FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES. >> CLERK: NUMBER ITEM 14 IS APPROVING THE FOLLOWING BOARD COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS FOR A TERM OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE MAY 31ST, 2027. A. APPOINTING THAD RUTHERFORD TO THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NO. 06 — MISSION DEL LAGOB. APPOINTING PAUL BASALDUA TO THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NO. 40 — LONE OAK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE HEARD THE MOTION. OR YOU HEARD THE ITEM. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 14. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, WE HAVE GUESTS HERE TODAY REPRESENTING FIVE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND THEY ARE NOW INVITED TO COME FORWARD AS I READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR PRIDE MONTH HERE IN OUR CITY. WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL CELEBRATE PRIDE MONTH TOGETHER WITH LOCAL LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES TO DECLARE PRIDE IN WHO THEY ARE AS WE'RE REMINDED OF THE RICH CULTURAL SOCIETY THAT MAKE OUR CITY GREAT. AND WHEREAS, THIS YEAR MARKS THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JUNE 28,1969 STONEWALL RIOTS, THE BIRTH OF A NATION'S PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION AS WE BE THEM TODAY. WE HONOR THIS PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT SPARKED THE UPRISING OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS MOVEMENT IN AMERICA. TIME AND AGAIN THIS COMMUNITY HAS CHAMPIONED RESPECT AND EQUALITY, AND WE CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT FIGHT TODAY, PURSUING LEGAL JUSTICE FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY, EQUAL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW, AND THE ELIMINATION OF UNFAIR PRACTICES THAT TARGET LGBTQIA PLUS INDIVIDUALS. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY WILL COMMENCE PRIDE MONTH FESTIVITIES WITH THE RISING OF THE FLAG PRIDE ON MONDAY, JUNE 2ND, AT 4:00 P.M., THIS ANNUAL TRADITION MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY'S MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF LGBTQIA PLUS IDENTITIES AND BROUGHT HISTORY, AND DURING PRIDE MONTH WE CELEBRATE OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITIES TO LIVE OUT LOUD. AND WHILE PROGRESS IS MADE, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE U.S. AND AROUND THE WORLD STILL FACE UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE. AND WE MUST REMAIN VIJ LAPT IN SEEKING PROGRESS AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EACH OF US AS HUMAN BEINGS WHO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE WHO WE ARE. AND WHEREAS, LOCAL PARTNERS SUCH AS PRIDE SAN ANTONIO, PRIDE TEXAS, AND THE PRIDE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO WILL HOST VARIOUS EVENTS TO PROMOTE HOPE AND AWARENESS OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR RON NIRENBERG DO PROCLAIM JUNE 2025, TO BE PRIDE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WELCOME YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. MY NAME IS CHRIS CHUNG AND I USE HE/HIM PRONOUNS. AND I'M JOINED BY MATTHEW SOLOMON WHO IS HE/HIM PRONOUNS AND OUR VICE-PRESIDENT. I'M A VETERAN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M A PARENT. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR SAN ANTONIO LEADERS TO HAVE EVENTS LIKE THIS? IT'S TO SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE CITY LEADERSHIP CARES ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND THEIR SAFETY. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE ATTACKED ON ALL FRONTS. TEXAS HB-229 HAS DEFINED GENDER AS A BINARY AND COMPLETELY IGNORES THE COMPLETE SPECTRUM [00:20:06] THAT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY WITHIN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. SB-12 BANS STUDENT GROUPS ON GENDER AND SEXUAL OITD WHICH, AGAIN, WHICH ATTACKS OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION -- OUR YOUTH. 41% OF THE LGBTQIA PLUS YOUTH CONSIDER SUICIDE WITH NONBINARY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVING MUCH HIGHER RATES. STUDIES SHOW THAT HAVING ONE SPACE WHERE INCLUSIVITY IS THE NORM SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE SUICIDE IDEATION PERCENTAGE. HAVING ONE SPACE WHERE NAME AND PRONOUNS ARE USED REDUCES SUICIDAL THOUGHTS BY 29%. 25% OF TRANSGENDER NONBINARY YOUTH ATTEMPTED SUICIDE LAST YEAR. STATES WITH ANTI-TRANS LAWS AND BILLS ON THE DOCKET HAVE A 73% HIGHER RATE OF SUICIDE IDEATION BY THE SAME YOUTH. THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW SOLIDARITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS -- THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE. THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE THAT SAFE SPACE FOR OUR YOUTH THROUGH OUR WEEKLY PROGRAMMING, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMINGS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE PRESENT, TO BE SUPPORTIVE, BE COMPASSIONATE, RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALITY AND FIGHT FOR EQUITY FOR ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM LEX LAUREL, AND I USE THE PRO NOWBS THEY/SHE AND I'M WITH PRIDE CENTER SAN ANTONIO WHERE WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE FREE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR LGBTQIA PLUS PEOPLE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. WE SERVE MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR IN THOSE PROGRAMS AND AS CHRIS MENTIONED THOSE PROGRAMS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR CALLING TO MIND THE ANNIVERSARY OF AN IMPORTANT MOMENT, THE STONEWALL RIOTS. PRE-WORLD WAR II AMERICA WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WAS MUCH RHETORIC, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE BILLS THAT CHRIS JUST MENTIONED ARE ARCHAIC CALLBACKS TO THAT TIME. WE'RE SEEING ANOTHER MOMENT IN LGBTQIA PLUS MOMENT, WHEN WE HAVE MARCIA P. JOHNSON THAT TOLD US THAT THERE'S NO PRIDE FOR ANY OF US WITHOUT LIBERATION FOR ALL OF US. WE'RE IN THAT MOMENT AGAIN HERE TODAY AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT. SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS JUSTIN HOLLY AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE THRIVE EAST CENTER. WE ARE THE OFFICIAL LGBTQ YOUTH SHELTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE BECAUSE OF EXACTLY WHAT MY FRIEND CHRIS WAS TALKING ABOUT. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY, WE NEED TO STEP UP, AND WE NEED TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR THESE YOUTH. AND WE'RE HERE TO DO THAT. AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP WITH YOU ALL TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MY NAME IS SOFIA, AND I AM SHE/HER, WITH EQUALITY TEXAS, THE DIRECTOR. AND I I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH AND TO REMIND YOU THAT PRIDE SHOULD BE 24/7 AND 365, RIGHT? AND WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHO LIKE CHRIS SAID, WE'RE BEING ATTACKED IN EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, EXCEPT FOR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE NEED YOU TO BE LOUDER. EVERY DAY WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED YOU TO PROTECT US AND TO STEP UP AS PEOPLE -- PROTECTING OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING JUNE AS PRIDE MONTH. AND THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> QUICKLY MY NAME IS JAMES POINDEXTER, AND LIKE SOFIA SAID, PRIDE FOR US IS NOT -- WE RECOGNIZE AND WE'RE SO GLAD THAT OUR CITY IS SO SUPPORTIVE OF PRIDE MONTH AND THE RAISING OF THE FLAG AND THAT IS FANTASTIC FOR US. PRIDE IS 365 DAYS A YEAR AS SHE SAID. AND IT REPRESENTS OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE. SO I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO HELPED TO US PUSH THE PRIDE CULTURAL DISTRICT TO ITS FINAL DESTINATION. AND I SHOULD SAY BEGINNING DESTINATION BECAUSE WE HOPE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH, MUCH MORE COMING WITH THAT DISTRICT. BUT THAT REPRESENTS OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE. IT'S OUR PAST BECAUSE OF THE HERITAGE OF THOSE OF US THAT COME BEFORE AND FOUGHT FOR GETTING HERE. OUR PRESENT BECAUSE OF THE LIVELY AND THE VIBRANT LIFE GOING ON DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK. AND IT'S OUR FUTURE BECAUSE OF GROUPS LIKE FIESTA YOUTH, OUR YOUNG ADULTS AND TEENS AND ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN, THEY HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO VISIBLY NOW SEE FOREVER THAT PLACE IS GOING TO BE A PLACE FOR THEM TO GROW AND THRIVE AND TO SUCCEED. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING. [00:25:02] I'M AVERY DONOVAN. USE SHE/THEY PRONOUNS AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO GENDER ASSOCIATION. WE'RE A SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUP FOR TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY AND GENDER DIVERSE FOLKS HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. AS ALL COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY MENTIONED OUR RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK MORE THAN THEY SHOULD BE, AND PRIDE MONTH, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IS ABOUT OUR RIGHTS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN TIME TO RECOGNIZE PRIDE MONTH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL FOR OUR RIGHTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAY. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE COMMENTS AND I'LL TURN FIRST THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FIRST, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND SO AS THE RESIDENT GAY ON COUNCIL, I WILL -- [LAUGHTER] I WILL SHARE SOME -- YOU KNOW, SOME THOUGHTS, RIGHT. I THINK THAT SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT MOST RIGHT NOW, OR IS MORE RE RESONATE THAT IT COMES A TIME OF ANGER AND PAIN AND HAVE SOLVE, BECAUSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN TEXAS, WE'RE WITNESSING RELENTLESS ATTACKS ON THE RIGHTS ON LGBTIQ PLUS PEOPLE. AND RHETORIC TARGETS OUR YOUTH AND AN ATTEMPT TO ERASE OUR IDENTITIES AND STRIP AWAY THE HARD FOUGHT PROTECTIONS THAT GENERATIONS BEFORE US FOUGHT AND DIED FOR US AND, YET, WE ARE STILL HERE. PRIDE IS NOT PERFORMATIVE, IT'S A REFLECTION OF SURVIVAL, RESISTANCE AND, OF COURSE, LEGACY. I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME, THE ELDERS AND THE ORGANIZERS AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES. MANY WHOM ARE NO LONGER WITH US BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC FAILURES AND BECAUSE OF INSTITUTIONS AND BECAUSE OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC AND POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE DEADLY INTERSECTIONS OF HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA. WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THEM AND MOURN THEM AND CARRY THEIR STORIES AND SPIRITS WITH US EVERY DAY. AS I REFLECT ON MY YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR, I THINK ABOUT THE VERY FIRST STUDENT THAT I MET ON MY VERY FIRST -- DURING MY FIRST CLASS ON MY FIRST DAY OF TEACHING, FIRST YEAR, A YOUNG TRANS STUDENT WHO CAME OUT TO ME. AND WITHIN THE VERY FIRST TWO MINUTES OF THE BELL RINGING, AND DRAWN ON THE SAFETY PERHAPS BY A SAFETY OF A RAINBOW FLAG, AND THE SMALL ACT OF COURAGE BY THAT STUDENT SHAPED THE WAY THAT I LEAD TODAY. I CAN NEVER FORGET THE SIX STUDENTS DURING MY LAST YEAR OF TEACHING BEFORE I WAS ELECTED WHO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. ALL WERE MEMBERS OF THE LGQTIA PLUS COMMUNITY AND THEIR LIVES WERE ALMOST LOST BECAUSE THE WORLD TOLD THEM THEY WERE UNWORTHY OF LIFE AND LOVE, AND THEY LIVED IN HOMES THAT WERE COLD AND DISTANT AND THEY FELT ALONE AND THAT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON ME. AND IT FUELS MY FIGHT. NO STUDENT SHOULD FEEL ALONE AND NO CHILD SHOULD FEEL HOPELESS AND LOST, AND IT'S A FAILURE. AND WHEN OUR YOUTH ARE DYING BY VIOLENCE, BY HATE, BY DESPAIR, AND LAWMAKERS RESPOND WITH CRUELTY OR INDIFFERENCE, WE MUST NAME THAT FOR WHAT IT IS. IT'S A CRISIS AND IT'S AN EMERGENCY AND IT'S A COMMUNAL MORAL FAILURE. SO I SAY THIS TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND THOSE WATCHING WATCH V, WE MUST CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AS WE ARE, AS BOLDLY AS WE CAN, BECAUSE A AUTHENTICITY IS AN ACT OF DEFIANCE. WE NEED TO YOU SPEAK OUT AND SPEAK UP AND SHOW UP WHERE WE'RE TARGETED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE NOT IN THE ROOM. I'M PROUD TO BE THE FIRST OPENLY GAY BLACK MAN ELECTED IN ANY OFFICE IN TEXAS -- NOT THE LAST -- [APPLAUSE] THAT MAY NOT MATTER TO EVERYONE BUT TO SOMEONE OUT THERE, TO A YOUNG PERSON, A PARENT, IT MEANS HOPE. IT MEANS POSSIBILITY. AND IT MEANS SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS. SO LET US USE THIS PRIDE MONTH NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE BUT TO CREDIT COMMIT TO PROTECTING ONE ANOTHER AND FIGHTING FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED OF US AND BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE ALL OF US CAN LIVE AND LOVE AND THRIVE. I'M NOW IN MY THIRD AND FINAL TERM, NOT IN SPITE OF WHO I AM BUT BECAUSE I REMAIN TRUE TO WHO I AM. AND IT MATTERS, MATTERS NOW IN THE FACE OF CRUELTY AND INJUSTICE AND A WORLD TELLING US THAT WE CAN'T AND SHOULDN'T BE. ON THE VERY FIRST DAYS OF PRIDE THIS YEAR HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, JONATHAN JOS, A BELOVED ACTOR AND COMMUNITY MEMBER, WAS MURDERED AT HIS CHILDHOOD HOME. AND ACCORDING TO HIS HUSBAND TRISTAN THEY HAD BEEN TARGETED BY NEIGHBORS FOR YEARS WITH HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE AND THIS CULMINATED IN THE LOSS OF JONATHAN'S PRECIOUS LIFE ON SUNDAY NIGHT. SO THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR LEADING THE MEETING WITH A MOMENT BUT I ASK FOR ONE MORE MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR ALL OF THOSE LOST TO TRANS-PHOBIC HATE AND INCLUDING JONATHAN AND TO OFFER COMFORT TO HIS HUSBAND IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME. [00:30:23] JONATHAN AND ALL THAT WE'VE LOST. LET US REMEMBER THAT PRIDE WAS BORN AS A PROTEST. IT REMAINS A PROTEST. AND LET'S CARRY THAT TRUTH FORWARD. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS WHO CAME HERE TODAY FROM THE LOCAL LGTQIA PLUS ORGANIZATIONS AND NON-PROFITS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO. WE KNOW THAT WITH THE THREATS AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE ALSO COMES THREATS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT YOU DO TODAY AND PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH YOU. TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE THAT SAME SUPPORT FROM THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL FUTURE COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL ON MORE MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND AS WE WORKED ON HRDZ I'M PROUD OF THE BROADER AREA. SO THANK YOU TO JAMES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF Y'ALL IN YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THIS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE UP HERE TO DO IS TO CHAMPION THE EFFORTS THAT OUR COMMUNITY BRINGS TO US. SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT TWO YEARS LATER AFTER WE FIRST HAD THAT CONVERSATION THAT IT WAS PASSED YESTERDAY. WHAT I WANTED TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT WAS THE DISCUSSION THAT CAME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF THIS. SO THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF TEAM THAT LED AN AMAZING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THIS DESIGNATION. IT WAS MULTIPLE SESSIONS WHERE WE BROUGHT PROFESSORS FROM ALL OVER FROM THE CITY TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PARTS OF SAN ANTONIO WERE TRUE SAFE SPACES, THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THAT AND TO CREATE EVEN MORE OF THAT SAME SAFETY FOR WHAT WAS MENTIONED AS OUR FUTURE, RIGHT. IT'S OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO SHARE IS TO DESIGNATE THIS AS A SAFE SPACE FOR FUTURE KIDS BUT WHAT I WANTED TO ALSO TO SHARE IS HOW MUCH THIS ALLOWED US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THE RESIDENTS -- EVERY TIME WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT A MEETING, WE GOT TO TELL ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN AND AROUND, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS. THE TOVEN HILL COMMUNITY ALL CAME OUT AND SHARED THEIR SUPPORT AND THAT MADE ME, YOU KNOW, IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CITY OR A DIFFERENT PART OF THIS STATE, THAT OUTWARD NEIGHBORLY SUPPORT AND THOSE ALLIES MAY NOT EXIST -- BUT WE HAVE THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO I -- AND YOU SAID SOFIA, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LOCAL LEADERS TO BE THE VOICE OF OUR RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US. SO REGARDLESS WHAT HAPPENS ON SATURDAY, WE HAVE TO STAY TRUE TO THE IDENTITY THAT SAN ANTONIO IS, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ADVOCATES ON THIS DAIS THAT WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND I'M PROUD TO BE HERE SUPPORTING PRIDE KICKOFF WITH THIS DESIGNATION TODAY AND A HUGE SHOUT OUT ON MY TEAM TO CAMERON WHO SPEAR HEADED THIS WORK FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HE'S AN INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE AS WELL SO THANK YOU TO HIM FOR LEADING THIS WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCIL MORE CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. PRIDE GOES BEYOND PRIDE MONTH. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND I STAND IN THE FIRM BELIEF, RIGHT, THAT NONE OF US ARE FREE UNTIL WE'RE ALL FREE. AND AS FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED IN THEIR COMMENT, NO DOUBT WE HAVE SEEN SESSION AFTER SESSION, THE LGGTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY TO BE CONTINUALLY UNDER ATTACK -- SESSION AFTER SESSION. AND FEDERALLY WE HAVE SEEN THE FUNDING GOING TOWARDS PROVIDING HOUSING TO OUR LGQTIA YOUTH AND TO BE DEFUNDED. NOW MORE THAN EVER THIS COUNCIL AND FUTURE COUNCILS NEED TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE RESOURCES THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S SUPPORTING OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES OR SUPPORTING THRIVE YOUTH TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE HOUSING OUR YOUTH, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FACE THIS SATURDAY -- I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US, BUT LEADERSHIP MATTERS. THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT AND TO VOTE ON SATURDAY FOR ELECTION DAY, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY PIVOTAL ELECTION. AND AS FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED, NO DOUBT, YOU ALL HAVE ALLIES ON THIS DAIS, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE AT THE HELM OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO FIGHT AND TO PRIORITIZE OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. SO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, RIGHT, IN EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING SERVICES AND CONTINUING TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, YOUR STATE [00:35:03] DELEGATION, DOESN'T CONTINUE TO LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US, ALL HANDS ON DECK, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO ORGANIZE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND. AND AGAIN, RIGHT, MY SUPPORT IS UNCONDITIONAL. IT GOES BEYOND ELECTION SEASON. IT GOES BEYOND PRIDE MONTH. AND I'M HERE FOR YOU ALWAYS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> ALDERETE GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND I AGREE WITH YOU TOO, SOFIA, WHETHER YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY OR AN ALLY, THAT THIS WORK IS 365, EVERY SINGLE DAY. I LIKE THE FOCUS THAT PRIDE MONTH BRINGS BECAUSE WE GET TO CALL ATTENTION TO IT AND TO ALSO ASSESS WHERE WE ARE. AND AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAYS, IT SHOWS HOW MUCH MORE OF THE FIGHT THAT WE STILL HAVE TO GO. OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY BRINGS SO MUCH JOY AND LIGHT AND DIVERSITY TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT HAS BEEN AWESOME, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS FOR THE PRIDE CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT, THAT IS A HUGE WIN. SO HAPPY THAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND ALSO TOO A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE MEMBERS OF HRDC FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS INITIATIVE. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, NOW MORE THAN EVER WE'RE IN THIS FIGHT AND WE'RE IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DAILY ADVOCACY. AND KNOW THAT I STAND WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS I HEAR WHAT OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SAID, I THINK ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE AND THE ARCHAIC THINKING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADING THIS STATE. BUT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING -- STANDING STRONG. AND I THANK THE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THEY NEED TO STAND WITH YOU. WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT WE ALL SHARE -- THE DIFFERENCES SHOULDN'T EFFECT THE WAY THAT WE LIVE AND ENJOY OUR LIVES TOGETHER. SO I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO WELL WITH YOUR LIVES AND CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND SPREAD THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE REST OF THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND I'VE APPRECIATED YOU COMING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL WHILE I'VE BEEN ON HERE AND REMINDING US ALL THAT WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND WE HAVE MORE THAT WE SHARE TOGETHER THAN WHAT SEPARATES US. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M PROUD TO BE AN ALLY. THESE LAWS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE TRYING TO SILENCE AND STIFLE THE LGQTIA PLUS COMMUNITY AND REMOVING THE NAME FROM A NAVY SHIP IS AN ATTEMPT TO ERASE THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY. DR. HELMKE THIS MORNING SAID THAT INCLUSIVITY IS -- AND OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS IS PART OF WHO WE ARE, AND THAT INCLUSIONISIFF AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS STRENGTHENS US MORE AND AS A CITY AND A COMMUNITY. THE LGQTIA PLUS COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE SILENCED AND NOT STIFLED AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. I'M PROUD TO BE AN ALLY, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT GOING AWAY AS A COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE. AND THAT'S NOT A PUN, JAY JUSTIN. BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO OUT THERE, YOUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND, MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS TAKEN CARE OF. AND, AGAIN, I'M JUST PROUD TO CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH ALL OF YOU AND I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR Y'ALL COMING OUT HERE TODAY. AND FOR BEING BRAVE TO BE HERE, TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING AND ADVOCACY. IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME WHAT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TRIED TO ATTACK THIS COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU ARE JUST SIMPLY LIVING YOUR LIVES. SO I WANT US ALL TO THANK THE BRAVERY OF ON MY COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR ALL THAT HE DOES AND ADVOCATES FOR. SO YOU HAVE AN ALLY IN MYSELF AND I HOPE TO ALSO TO TOUR THE THRIVE CENTER AND TO LEARN MORE TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCIL MORE MUNGIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, IT'S NICE TO SEE FRIENDS UP THERE. JUSTIN, GREAT TO SEE YOU, VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WORK. SOFIA, SOMETIMES YOU AND I DISAGREE AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T, BUT THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY AGREED ON IS THAT THERE'S NO ROOM FOR EQUIVOCATION WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUST DECENCY THAT YOU ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, I -- I LOOK [00:40:01] FORWARD TO A DAY WHERE WE DON'T APPLAUD YOU FOR PRIDE. I LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY WHERE YOU'RE JUST A SAN ANTONIOIAN LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WHERE THERE'S NOTHING, UM, REMARKABLY AMAZING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING LGBTIQ AND IT BREAKS MY HEART, RIGHT, THAT WE ALL HAVE TO BE UP HERE AND TO SAY WE SEE YOU, RIGHT. WE RECOGNIZE YOU. YOU ARE ONE OF US. WE LOVE YOU, RIGHT? I LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY WHERE, UM, THE REST OF AMERICA DOESN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY DON'T TELL M? I'M STRAIGHT. I GO AROUND TALKING ABOUT MY WIFE AND KIDS, RIGHT, AND NOBODY EVER TELLS ME, CAN YOU JUST KEEP THAT TO YOURSELF BECAUSE IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE AND STOP TRYING TO RUB YOUR HETEROSEXUALITY IN MY FACE. NOBODY EVER SAYS THAT TO ME, RIGHT? [APPLAUSE] BUT THEY SAY IT TO YOU. AND THAT'S HORRIBLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY WHERE WHEN I SEE YOU, SOFIA, WHEN I SEE THE REST OF YOU -- I THINK MORE ALONG THE LINES OF, MAN, IT REALLY SUCKS THAT THEY'RE STUCK ON I-10 AS I AM, AND I SEE THAT FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU'RE SAN ANTONIOIANS. AND YOU ARE MOMS AND DADS AND TEACHERS AND YOU ARE LAWYERS AND YOU ARE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND YOU GUYS ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO AN ECONOMY. YOU GUYS ARE CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR AUTHENTICITY. AND WITHOUT LAYING IT ON TOO THICK, I LOVE YOU GUYS. THE WAY THAT I LOVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT I LOVE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO JUST MAKE THIS CITY, UM, YOU KNOW, A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYBODY, REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU LOVE. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY PRIDE. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AND THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO FOR THE YOUTH IS -- IS INSPIRING. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. THANKS, MAYOR. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. TRYING TO GET HER ATTENTION. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY, I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS SHORT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE KNOW THAT THE DAYS AHEAD OF US ARE DARK. I HEAR YOU, I SEE YOU, MY SUPPORT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT. AND KNOW THAT I AM THERE AND HERE AND READY TO WORK. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. AND WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE THE CHAMPIONS AND USE YOUR VOICE. AND WE WILL NOT LET -- WE WILL NOT LET OUR HISTORY BE ERASED, WHETHER WE'RE A WOMAN OR WHETHER WE'RE LGBTQIA, AND WHETHER WE'RE MEXICAN -- WHATEVER IT IS -- THE STORY -- WE WILL CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT THIS MONTH AND IN A WAY WHERE WE CELEBRATE, BUT WE DO NEED TO DO IT ALL YEAR LONG. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. YOU KNOW, AVERY, WHAT YOU SAID STRUCK ME -- WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW YOUR RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK AND, YOU KNOW, I SOMETIMES GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN I'M DARING ENOUGH. AND I LOOK AT THE COMMENTS AFTER WE POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT PRIDE. AND IT'S ALL ABOUT A COMMENT LIKE THAT, SAYING WELL, WHY DO YOU GET SPECIAL RIGHTS AND NOT ME. AND THE DAY THAT ALL OF THIS WILL CHANGE IS WHEN YOUR RIGHTS AREN'T VIEWED AS SEPARATE THAN OURS. OR THAN ANYONE ELSE'S. AND, IN FACT, WHEN YOUR RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK AT THE LEGISLATURE, IT MEANS THAT SO IS OURS. AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU ARE HEARTENED BY THE COMMENTS THAT CAME FROM UP HERE, BUT KNOW THAT THIS CITY IS LED BY ITS COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY HAS DEMANDED THAT WE ALL TREAT EACH OTHER EQUALLY. AND THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT A FIGHT FOR ANY ONE OF OUR RIGHTS IS A FIGHT FOR ALL OF US. SO I HOPE THAT HEARTENS YOUR PERSPECTIVE AT LEAST FOR THE DAY, AVERY, BUT WHAT YOU SAID WAS VERY POIGNANT AND IS WELL TAKEN. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I AM GOING TO TURN IT BACK NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ TO CLOSE US OUT AND TO ALSO WELCOME UP ANOTHER GUEST. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND I WANT TO TRANSITION QUICKLY. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECOGNIZED JONATHAN JOS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND I WANTED TO BRING UP AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS WHO ARE HERE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. [00:45:08] >> I DID NOT PREPARE TO SPEAK TODAY BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR JALEN, FOR THE TIME. WE'RE DEEPLY SADDENED, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE ACROSS THE NATION IN REALITY BY THIS DEATH. THIS IS A DEATH THAT, UM, THAT IN MY OPINION, AND MANY OPINIONS, COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AVOIDED, ESPECIALLY FROM, YOU KNOW, FOLKS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARE TAKING FOR OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, AND OUR RESIDENTS. JONATHAN JOS, AS MUCH OF A BELOVED PERSON AS HE WAS ACROSS THE NATION, AND THROUGH HIS FILM AND THROUGH HIS ENGAGEMENTS AND HIS OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING NATIVE VISIBILITY TO LIGHT FOR US AS INDIAN PEOPLE, UM, ALSO HAD HIS OWN STRUGGLES, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CITY. BUT THE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO LIFE AFTER HIS DEATH DID NOT DEFINE WHO HE IS AS AN INDIVIDUAL, OR WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. RIGHT? AND SO IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FOR HEALING AND NOT JUST IDENTIFY OURSELVES AS A COMPASSIONATE CITY BUT REALLY LOOK AT HEALING AND WHAT DOES DEEP HEALING LOOK LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT AS EVERYBODY ELSE HERE ON THE -- WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAS SPOKE MUCH ABOUT RESOURCES, THESE RESOURCES, UM, ARE CRITICAL. AND AS ALL OF THE ATTACKS THAT CONTINUE TO COME -- NOT JUST FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, THAT JOS WAS PART OF, ALONG WITH HIS HUSBAND, BUT FOR ALL OF US AS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ALL OF US AS MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WHO KIND OF HAD TO LIVE ON THE SMALL RESOURCES THAT WERE OFFERED. YOU KNOW, AND SO WE LOOK TO THIS COMMUNITY OF LEADERS AND FUTURE LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO SIT IN THESE SEATS TO REALLY TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT HOW ARE YOU INVESTING MORE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. WE RECENTLY LOOKED AT THE IMPACT REPORT THAT THE CITY'S EQUITY DEPARTMENT PUT TOGETHER AND REALLY DUG DEEP INTO SOME OF THEIR NUMBERS, RIGHT. AND IDENTIFYING THAT, UM, THAT THEIR ACCOUNTS ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR ROUGHLY -- WHAT IS IT ABOUT 1,80 NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHERE A LOT OF OUR RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER RESEARCHERS ACROSS THE NATION WHO HELP TO SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO AND TEXAS AROUND INDIAN COUNTRY IDENTIFY AROUND 65,000. WE WERE JUST HERE A FEW WEEKS BACK FOR OUR PROCLAMATION FOR THE NIWP CRISIS. AND IDENTIFYING THAT MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND PEOPLE ARE CRITICAL -- ARE CRITICAL PIECE TO THIS PUZZLE OF UNDERSTANDING HEALING AND RECLAMATION. AND WE'VE NAMED CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S 65,000 NATIVE IDENTIFIED PEOPLE ACROSS THIS CITY, YOU KNOW, BUT THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR 1,318 PEOPLE. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SO I REALLY IMPLORE YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE RESOURCES AND THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION LOOKED LIKE. NOT JUST FUNDING, BUT REALLY PRIORITIZING, YOU KNOW, WHAT ADVOCACY THAT YOU ALL AND OTHER FUTURE LEADERS PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO -- AND THE CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE REALLY APPRECIATE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS STATED CLEARLY BECAUSE THAT VASTLY CHANGES, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS. AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO JONATHAN JOS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY AND IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LACK OF RESOURCES IN THIS COMMUNITY. EVEN WITH OUR EFFORTS AS A 30-YEAR ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NEED TO NAME THAT JONATHAN JOS SHOULD BE ALIVE TODAY, RIGHT. AND SO WE APPRECIATE WHATEVER EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE CAN BRING AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE PRIDE CENTER FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE VIGIL FOR THIS WEEKEND. AND SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. AND WE HOPE TO SEE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO HONOR AND ACKNOWLEDGE JONATHAN JOS AS A NATIVE INDIVIDUAL AND AS AN LGBTIQ MEMBER AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AND I WOULD SAY THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE HERE AND IT ENCAPSULATES PRIDE MONTH AND RECOGNIZES THAT ALL OF OUR STRUGGLES ARE INTERCONNECTED AND OUR IDENTITIES ARE NOT ISOLATED FROM ONE ANOTHER. SO THANK YOU FOR TYING THAT ALL TOGETHER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. NO ONE SHOULD WALK AWAY IN SILENCE. LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY A ROUND OF [00:50:01] APPLAUSE. COME ON. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, WE ARE NOW GOING TO GET TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA TODAY. WE HAVE A FEW INDIVIDUAL ITEMS AND LET'S START WITH ITEM NUMBER 3. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 3 POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THREE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR RENTAL HOUSING PRODUCTION, REHABILITATION, PRESERVATION AND ACQUISITION (RENTAL HOUSING), HOMEOWNERSHIP PRODUCTION, AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (PSH) ESTIMATING A TOTAL VALUE OF $34 MILLION FROM THE 2022-2027 AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, HOME, HOME-ARP AND CDBG PROGRAMS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'M GOING TO TABLE THAT MOMENTARILY SO THAT WE CAN GET THE JUDGES UP HERE. SO -- GO TO WHICH ITEM? [ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING] >> 4. >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER 4 IS ORDINANCE REAPPOINTING CARLA OBLEDO AS MUNICIPAL COURT PRESIDING JUDGE FOR THE REMAINDER OF A TWO-YEAR TERM EXPIRING APRIL 30, 2027. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG:I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED A PRESENTATION AND LET'S TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A MOTION AND A SECOND APPROVAL OF ITEM 4, THE REAPPOINTMENT OF OUR PRESIDING JUDGE OBLEDO. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER -- SORRY -- COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, I'M GOING TO START OFF BY LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE ONLY HAD ONE APPLICANT FOR THIS POSITION AND IT WASN'T FOR A LACK OF ADVERTISING OR A LACK OF GETTING THE WORD OUT THERE. I THINK THAT IT'S A DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE FAITH THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES AND THOSE THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE IN YOU. AND VERY IMPRESSED BY THE PAST FEW YEARS THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND YOUR WORK. AND WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU AND I SEE YOUR PASSION FOR THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU AND WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. WE KNOW THAT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, JUST LIKE ALL MANMADE INSTITUTIONS IS FLAWED, AS WE ALL ARE. BUT I SEE YOU WORKING EVERY DAY TO FIGURE OUT NEW WAYS TO -- TO BETTER POSITION FOLK WHO COME TO YOU ON THEIR WORST DAY. AND I SEE YOU WORKING WITH ALL OF THE -- ALL OF YOUR STAFF, ALL OF THE TEAM, AND THEY ALL HAVE THE MOST FAITH IN YOU. SO I WANTED TO JUST REITERATE MY CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND I THINK IT WAS A VERY EASY DECISION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, BUT THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN BEFORE AND NOW WORKING WITH YOU THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL COURTS COMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE TRANSFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE MADE AT MUNICIPAL COURTS. I ALSO WANT TO REALLY STOP AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOG POLICY PROPOSAL. I KNOW THAT TOOK ALL OF US -- MUNICIPAL COURTS AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO THANK YOU FOR BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT AND I CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: YOU HAVE SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS EVERY SINGLE TIME. AND I LEAVE MY SERVICE ON CITY COUNCIL KNOWING THAT MUNICIPAL COURT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE HANDS OF ONE OF THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS THAT I HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF COMING ACROSS. I WILL TELL YOU -- AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A SURPRISE -- THE MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIO THINKS OF MUNICIPAL COURT AS SPEEDING TICKET COURT, RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF MUNICIPAL COURT. WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE IN CRISIS, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING BRITTLENESS, RIGHT, OFTENTIMES THAT IS -- THOSE ARE THE SHORES OF MUNICIPAL COURT WHERE THEY GO UP AND CRASH ON. AND YOU'RE THERE TO TRIAGE AND TO RESCUE THEM. AND TO PUT THEM BACK ON A PATH TOWARDS, UM, TOWARDS A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE THRIVING. YOU GUYS DO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. YOU GUYS DO -- YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS DEAL WITH TRUANCY ISSUES AND DIFFICULT DOG CASE ISSUES, RIGHT? BUT THE INTERSECTION OF ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT A CITY FACES, YOU CAN WALK INTO A MUNICIPAL COURT ANY DAY AND SEE THOSE DIFFICULTIES PLAYING OUT. AND YOU CAN SEE YOUR TEAM EMBRACING THOSE PEOPLE AND TREATING THEM WITH A DIGNITY AND A RESPECT THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE -- THAT THEY MERIT. AND YOU DO SO WITH A REALLY BIG HEART, AND WITH LOVE. AND I SEE THAT. SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY DON'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: THANK YOU, [00:55:02] MAYOR. I HAVE PUDGED YOU JUDGE OBLEDO LEAD THIS COURT WITH INTENTION AND INNOVATION AND HEART. YOU'VE REALLY TRANSFORMED THE COURT INTO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE -- ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE -- CAN LEARN, COURSE CORRECT AND THEN MOVE FORWARD. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP WE HAVE SEEN PROGRAMS LIKE DRIVE SAFELY S.A., AND SAN ANTONIO ROAD READY COME TO LIFE. THEY'RE NOT JUST ABOUT TRAFFIC TICKETS, THEY ARE ABOUT TEACHING YOUNG DRIVERS HOW TO BE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE BEHIND THE WHEEL. YOU'VE BUILT A CULTURE OF PREVENTION -- NOT JUST PUNISHMENT AND THAT'S REALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME. YOU WORK WITH OUR SCHOOLS THROUGH THE TRUANCY INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT JUSTICES IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL. AND THERE'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THERE'S TROUBLES WITH PARENTS AND IT CAN GO A LOT DEEPER AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. AND YOUR TEAM MEETS THOSE FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES AND NOT JUST CITATIONS. I APPLAUD YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY AND DURING THE PANDEMIC ESPECIALLY, AND BEYOND. YOU HAVE HELPED TO EXPAND VIRTUAL COURT HEARINGS AND IMPROVE OUR ONLINE RESOLUTION SYSTEMS. FOR WORKING FAMILIES THAT MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE. AND YOU ARE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE LITERALLY. YOU DON'T JUST RUN A COURTROOM, YOU BUILD BRIDGES. AND THAT MAKES JUSTICE FEEL REACHABLE TO SAN ANTONIANS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS EARNED THE MUNICIPAL COURT MULTIPLE STATE-WIDE AWARDS FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE TRUST OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND WHEN YOU WERE APPOINTED -- AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT I WAS CHAIR OF THE MUNI COURT -- THE COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME -- AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN YOU CAME ON YOU REALLY TRANSFORMED THE COURT. I THINK THAT MU MUNI COURT BEFOE THAT, THERE WAS A LACK OF TRUST AND A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND YOU TURNED THAT AROUND AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT YOUR APPOINTMENT, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR RECORD AND VISION FOR WHAT OUR COURTS CAN BE, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE FOR THIS COMMUNITY FAIR, ACCESSIBLE, AND COMPASSIONATE. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND I SEE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS ALREADY AND YOU STILL WANT TO BE HERE, SO THAT'S AWESOME. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND FOCUS ON YOUTH WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND PREVENTATIVE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND TOURING AND SEEING HOW WE CAN HELP FROM OUR OFFICE ON YOUTH ISSUES, ESPECIALLY TRUANCY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDGE, FOR YOUR GREAT WORK IN BUILDING A SOLID TEAM AND CONTINUING TO MOVE OUR COURT OPERATIONS FORWARD. YOU HAVE BEEN A STELLAR LEADER AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU REAPPOINTED. SO WITH THAT THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4. WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. I THINK THAT I CAN READ YOUR LIPS BUT CAN'T HEAR YOUR AUDIO. >> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL GO NOW TO ITEM 5. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO FIRST WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SWEARING-IN, JUDGE, SO IF YOU COULD APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> RAISE YOUR HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, STATE YOUR NAME -- >> KARLA OBLEDO. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THEY WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF MUNICIPAL COURT PRESIDING JUDGE, OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS, JUDGE. WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM 5. >> CLERK: ITEM 5 IS ORDINANCE APPOINTING LORI A. CROCKETT AND GABRIEL QUINTANILLA AS PART-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES FOR THE REMAINDER OF UNEXPIRED TWO-YEAR TERMS ENDING APRIL 30, 2026. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU ALL. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 5. ANY DISCUSSION? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'LL JUST SAY THAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO DIDN'T GET TO SIT IN FOR YOUR INTERVIEWS THAT WE WERE ALL THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED BY YOUR EXPERIENCE AND WE HAVE FULL FAITH IN YOU TO CARRY OUT THE [01:00:02] VISION OF THIS BODY AND OF JUDGE OBLEDO AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU IMPROVING THE LIVES OF MANY ON THEIR SOMETIMES WORST DAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCIL PMEMBERCOUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ -- I'M SORRY, I LOOKED IN YOUR DIRECTION. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. WE GOT THE -- WE GOT THE PICTURE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. IF OUR TWO NEW APPOINTEES COULD COME FORWARD. >> CLERK: RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE. I, STATE YOUR NAME, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR JUDGES. [ITEM FOR STAFF BRIEFING] WE WILL MOVE NOW BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 3. AND WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THE CAPTIONS, SO IF WE CAN HAVE OUR TEAM -- VERÓNICA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR. VERÓNICA GARCIA WITH THE HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. LOCATING AND STAYING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTINUES TO BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR CITY. OUR 10-YEAR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN INCLUDES GOALS TO BOTH PRESERVE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AS WELL AS PRODUCE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY'S BRIEFING IS A POST SOLICITATION OVERVIEW OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING AWARDS THAT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY. TODAY'S ITEM INCLUDES NEARLY $29 MILLION OF AWARDS FOR EIGHT PROJECTS THAT WERE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS TO CREATE OR TO REHAB RENTAL HOUSING AS WELL AS CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THE AWARDS INCLUDE FUNDING FROM THE 2022 AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND AS WELL AS OUR FEDERAL HOME AND BIG BECDBG FUNDING. SAN ANTONIO VOTERS APPROVED THE BOND IN MAY 2022, AND THE BOND ALLOWS OUR CITY TO USE $150 MILLION FOR HOUSING. THE FUNDS WILL HELP TO CREATE AND PRESERVE HOUSING ACROSS FIVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THE FIRST IS TO HELP HOMEOWNERS TO FIX THEIR HOMES. THE SECOND IS TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. THE THIRD CATEGORY IS TO CREATE NEW AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. OUR FOURTH CATEGORY IS TO HAVE HOUSING SPECIFICALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND CONNECT THEM WITH HOUSING AND ON-SITE RESOURCES. AND THE LAST IS TO BUILD NEW AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. AND WE ALSO TO DO A VARIETY OF THINGS WITH BOND FUNDING INCLUDING ACQUIRE LAND FOR MOBILE HOME PARK AND HELP TO TURN IT INTO COMMUNITY HOME OWNERSHIP AND LOOKING AT INCENTIVES TO CONTINUE TO DO THINGS FOR HOMEOWNERS. THE RFPS THAT WE UTILIZED IN THIS FUNDING ■ROUND ARE ALL CONTINUED TO BE GUIDED BY THE HOUSING BOND PARAMETERS THAT WERE CREATED BY A CITIZEN-LED BOND COMMITTEE AS WELL AS ADOPTED BY THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THESE AWARDS UTILIZED THESE PARAMETERS AND REALLY FOCUSED ON PROJECTS THAT PRIORIZE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY, MEANING UNITS THAT HAD FAMILIES AT 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR BELOW, OR INCOME-BASED OR PUBLIC HOUSING. THE SELECTION COMMITTEE LOOKED FOR SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THAT COULD BE BUILT RIGHT AWAY AND HAVE FAMILIES MOVE IN AND TO BENEFIT FROM THE HOUSING. WE ALSO WERE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS THAT INCORPORATED SUSTAINABILITY, WENT BEYOND OUR TYPICAL CODE REQUIREMENTS. THIS ROUND WE LOOKED FOR PROJECTS WITH FAMILY-SIZED UNITS, STRONG FOCUS ON LOCATION AND WHERE PROJECTS WERE BUILT, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR PROJECTS WERE CLOSE TO THE VIA GREEN OR SILVER LINES. AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS THAT PRIORITIZED MEANINGFUL AND [01:05:03] ON-SITE SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE THERE, AND EVERY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DID A DISPLACEMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT SO THAT WE COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND THE VULNERABILITY FACTORS SURROUNDING THE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR HOUSING AWARDS, WE OFTEN USE VERY SPECIFIC TERMINOLOGY AND TALK ABOUT HOW AFFORDABLE IS A PROJECT FOR A CERTAIN AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR AMI. AMI IS MEASURED BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND IN SAN ANTONIO WE REFER TO A HOUSEHOLD OF THREE PEOPLE. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AUDIO] WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A FAMILY OF THREE, MAKING LESS THAN $24,000 A YEAR, OR A PERSON EARNING ABOUT $11.50 AN HOUR. WE HAVE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE FUNDING AND UNITS FOR FAMILIES AT VARIOUS DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. ACROSS ALL OF OUR HOUSING BOND PRIOR PROJECTS WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT DO INCLUDE DEEP AFFORDABILITY AND 35% OF OUR HOUSING BOND PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY HAVE FUNDED HOMES THAT IS OVER 1,400 UNITS THAT HAVE DEEP AFFORDABILITY IN LINE WITH THESE ADOPTED BOND PRIORITIES. FOR THIS FUNDING ROUND WE HAD -- WE HAVE THREE FUNDING CATEGORIES. THE FIRST COMBINED RENTAL PRODUCTION AND RENTAL REHAB INTO ONE RFP, REALLY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS. AND WE'VE PRIORITIZED PROJECTS THAT DID HAVE THOSE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR THIS REALM WAS AN INCREASE IN PREVIOUS ROUNDS, AT LEAST 15% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT HAD TO HAVE UNITS FOR THOSE MOST IN NEED. WE ALSO HAD HOMEOWNERSHIP RFP AND ARFP SPECIFICALLY FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE CREATING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. ALL THREE RFPS WERE RELEASED ON APRIL 7TH AND WE HAD A TOTAL OF ABOUT $34 MILLION IN HOUSING BOND AND FEDERAL FUNDING TO AWARD. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ENTIRE FUNDING PACKAGE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING, WE WILL BE CREATING THE SUPPORT -- WE WILL BE SUPPORTING THE CREATION AND PRESERVATION OF 686 RENTAL HOMES AND 51 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. WE ARE ADDING 328 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS INCLUDING 410 FAMILY-SIZED RENTAL UNITS. WE WILL ALSO BE PRESERVING THE AFFORDABILITY COVENANT FOR ONE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD EXPIRE NEXT YEAR. WE WILL BE INVESTING IN THREE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALONG THE GREEN LINE, OR SILVER LINE. AND WE ARE FUNDING TWO DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE ON-SITE PRE-K FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. SO FOR OUR FIRST CATEGORY WAS RENTAL HOUSING AND WE HAD $25.7 MILLION. WE HAD A TOTAL FUNDING ASK OF OVER $115 MILLION AS A VERY COMPETITIVE FUNDING AWARD AND WHICH MEANS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SELECT PROJECTS THAT VERY CLOSELY ALIGN WITH MANY OF OUR ADOPTED PARAMETERS. WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO AWARD THE ENTIRE AMOUNT $25.7 MILLION FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE HAD $3.2 MILLION ALL FROM FEDERAL FUNDS AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING TWO PROJECTS FOR THE ENTIRE AMOUNT. AND THEN FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WE HAD A COMBINATION OF FEDERAL HALLMARK FUNDS AND HOUSING BOND FUNDS FROM PREVIOUS ROUNDS $5.1 MILLION IN TOTAL. WE RECEIVED ONE PROPOSAL, HOWEVER, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE DID NOT THINK THAT IT MET ALL OF THE PARAMETERS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PSH SPECIFICALLY. WE'LL DO A DEBRIEFING WITH THAT TEAM AND TALKING ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IN THE FUTURE. SO IN SUMMARY, WE DID RECEIVE A TOTAL OF 22 PROPOSALS AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN AWARD FOR EIGHT PROJECTS. THESE FUNDS WILL TOTAL 737 HOMES THAT REMAIN AFFORDABLE FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS. SO IN THE FIRST CATEGORY RENTAL HOUSING AND REHAB, AGAIN, THAT WAS IN ONE SINGLE SOLICITATION, WE PRIORITIZED PROJECTS THAT ARE SERVING FAMILIES THAT ARE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE ARDND AT LEAST 15% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT HAD TO HAVE UNITS AT 30% AMI OR BELOW AND PROJECTS THAT DID NOT MEET THAT THRESHOLD WERE CONSIDERED NON-RESPONSIVE. THE SCORING PANEL INCLUDED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS LEVERAGING THEIR CITY FUNDS WITH OTHER OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS. THE SCORING SELECTION COMMITTEE INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE CITY MANAGERS OFFICE, OUR DEPARTMENT, VIA, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE ACCESSIBILITY OFFICE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND MANY THANKS TO PETER WHO AGAIN HELPED AS A COMMUNITY OF HOUSING BOND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SERVED IN A VOTING CAPACITY. ALSO MANY THANKS TO NIKKI JOHNSON, OUR HOUSING COMMISSIONER MEMBER WHO ALSO WAS ADVISORY TO THE PANEL. WE UTILIZED SCORING CRITERIA [01:10:02] THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND LOOKED FOR PROJECTS WITH A STRONG DEVELOPMENT TEAM EXPERIENCE, NON-PROFIT PARTNERS ALSO RECEIVED UP TO 10 POINTS ON THE APPLICATION. WE WERE LOOKING FOR HOW READY IS A PROJECT. PROJECTS SHOVEL READY AND READY TO BREAK GROUND WITHIN SIX MONTHS AND WERE GREATLY PRIORITIZED IN THIS SELECTION ROUND. WE ALSO HAD A STRONG EMPHASIS ON PROJECT LOCATION. REALLY LOOKING FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE WITHIN THE INNER CITY THAT WERE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF THE GREEN LINE OR THE SILVER LINE AND THEY RECEIVED THE GREATEST NUMBER OF POINTS FROM THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. AND, AGAIN, A STRONG FOCUS ON HOW THE PROJECT IS BEING DESIGNED, SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES INCORPORATED AND, DEFINITELY, LOOKING AT THE MOST POINT GOES TO PROJECTS THAT HAD THE MOST DEEP AFFORDABILITY AND WENT BEYOND OUR RFP MINIMUMS. WE DID DO A IMPACT SELECTION FOR ALL NEW PROJECTS AND THE VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE PROGRAM POINTS ALSO APPLIED. WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 19 PROPOSALS FOR THIS CATEGORY. AND HERE'S THE SCORES FOR THE TOP SCORING PROJECTS WHICH ARE ALL RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD AND I'LL GO INTO DETAILS ON ALL SIX OF THESE. AND THESE ARE THE SCORES FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED FORWARD. AGAIN, THERE WERE MANY GREAT HOUSING PROJECTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED. WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO AWARD TO ALL OF THEM. AND SINCE WE HAD SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM, WE WERE REALLY ABLE TO SELECT THOSE THAT MOST CLOSELY FIT THE HOUSING BOND AND THE SCORING CRITERIA. THIS IS ADDITIONAL PROJECTS THAT APPLIED AND THEIR SCORES. AND WE WILL BE DOING DEBRIEFINGS WITH ANY DEVELOPMENT TEAMS UPON REQUEST AND TALKING ABOUT OTHER POSSIBLE FUNDING OPTIONS THEY COULD APPLY FOR IN THE FUTURE. SO THE SCORING COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING SIX PROPOSALS FOR AWARD, TOTAL OF $25.7 MILLION. OF THE 686 HOMES CREATED, THERE'S 27 DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSES AND 144 UNITS RESERVED FOR FAMILIES EARNING AT OR BELO% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. THESE PROJECTS COME TO COUNCIL AT DIFFERENT COUNCIL DATES, DEPENDING ON EACH PROJECT'S INDIVIDUAL TIMELINE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. THE FIRST PROJECT RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD IS ROBERT E. LEE, THIS IS A RENTAL REHAB PROJECT, EXISTING PROJECT IN DISTRICT ONE LED BY THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION. AND THEY ARE PROPOSING TO PURCHASE THE PROJECT. I THINK THAT WE FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT DEAL HAS BEEN ACCEPTED, SO IT SHOULD BE CLOSING IN JULY. THIS AWARD IS $4.7 MILLION IN HOUSING BOND FUNDS, A REPAYABLE LOAN AT ZERO PERCENT INTEREST AND A TOTAL OF 72 UNITS. THE HOUSING BOND AWARDS WILL DO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THIS COMMUNITY. IT WILL EXTEND THE AFFORDABILITY COVENANT WHICH DOES EXPIRE NEXT YEAR AND WE'LL ADD ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE ALSO -- THIS CURRENT PROJECT CURRENTLY SERVES FAMILIES WITH 60% AMI OR BELOW AND WE'RE BUYING DOWN 11 OF THOSE UNITS TO A MUCH DEEPER AFFORDABILITY LEVEL FOR 30% AMI. THIS PROJECT YOU COULD WALK TO IT FROM HERE. IT IS DEFINITELY WITHIN THE INNER CITY. IT'S ALONG WALKING DISTANCE TO BOTH THE GREEN LINE AND THE SILVER LINE. AND THE HOUSING TRUST WILL BE PARTNERING WITH PROSPERA HOUSING WHICH IS A VERY STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNER AND THEY'RE ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION PARTNERS AND THEY HAVE A STRONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ON-SITE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. SO THEY WILL ALSO BE HELPING THE RESIDENTS WITH ANY TEMPORARY RELOCATION THAT IS NEEDED DURING THE REHAB PERIOD. AND THE SECOND PROJECT RECOMMENDED IS SACRED HEART VILLAS. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS BOTH AN EXISTING COMMUNITY, SO WE WILL BE REHABBING ALL 48 HOMES THAT ARE THERE TODAY. AND WITH THE HOUSING BOND AWARD WE'LL BE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 41 NEW RENTAL HOMES ON THE PROJECT SITE AS WELL. THIS IS A PROJECT IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 5, LED BY THE CAESAR IS CHAVEZ FOUNDATION AND WE RECOMMEND A $6 MILLION LOAN AND IT'S 89 UNITS. AND YOU CAN SEE OVER HALF OF THEM ARE AT 30% AMI OR BELOW. THIS PROJECT HAS 4% TAX CREDITS AND PRIMARILY SERVES OLDER ADULTS. AND OFFERS SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS TO, UM, TO OTHER SERVICES THEY MAY NEED, COOKING CLASSES ON-SITE AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER SUCH SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE. AND THE PROJECT IS ALSO LOCATED WITHIN THE INNER CITY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE SILVER LINE. THIS IS ALSO A PARTNERSHIP WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO. THE NEXT PROJECT IS IS [01:15:04] 6802MARBACH LOFTS IN DISTRICT 6 LED BY THE NRP GROUP. WE ARE RECOMMENDING A $2.2 MILLION REPAYABLE LOAN. THIS WOULD BE ALL IN FEDERAL CBDG AND HOME FUNDS. THE AWARD IS CONTINGENT ON THE PROJECT RECEIVING THEIR 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT. THEY SHOULD FIND THIS OUT THIS SUMMER. THIS SHOULD GO LATER THIS MONTH FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION, ONCE WE GET THAT CONFIRMATION. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES 78 UNITS, INCLUDING UNITS AT BOTH 30 AND 50% AMI. THE PROJECT IS -- WHAT'S EXCITING IS IT INCLUDES AN ON-SITE PRE-K EARLY EDUCATION CENTER THAT'S OPEN TO RESIDENTS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, AND THE PROJECT WILL HAVE SEVERAL AMENITIES AND SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS, COVERED PLAYGROUND, CHILDREN'S ROOM, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, ON-SITE FITNESS CENTER, AND MANY OTHER SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE THERE. THIS IS ALSO A PARTNERSHIP WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO AND COMMUNITY HOUSING RESOURCE PARTNERS A NON-PROFIT. THE NEXT PROJECT IS IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 2, LED BY UNION DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS. THIS WOULD BE A NEW RENTAL COMMUNITY. WE ARE RECOMMENDING A $6 MILLION REPAYABLE LOAN ALL HOUSING BOND FUNDS. THE PROJECT IS A 4% HOUSING TAX CREDIT SO IT'S LARGE, 279 UNITS, 42 OF THEM AT 30% AMI OR BELOW, ANOTHER 31 AT 50%. THIS PROJECT IS ALSO LOCATED WITHIN THE INNER CITY, ALONG THE SILVER LINE AND IT HAS MANY POTENTIAL SERVICES, READY TO WORK JOB TRAINING, FOOD PANTRY AND SEVERAL AMENITIES FOR THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE THERE. THIS PROJECT IS RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER OF CHERRY AND COMMERCE STREET, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE IT IS IN DISTRICT 2. THE NEXT PROJECT IS TEZEL ROAD APARTMENTS IN DISTRICT 6 LED BY THE NRP GROUP. THIS PROJECT IS ALSO APPLYING FOR 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS SO THE RECOMMENDED 3.6 MILLION AWARD BETWEEN BOTH HOUSING BOND AND FEDERAL DOLLARS WOULD NOT GO TO COUNCIL UNTIL AUGUST, AFTER THE PROJECT IS DETERMINED ON WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL RECEIVE THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDITS. THE PROJECT IS 78 UNITS INCLUDING UNITS AT 30% AND 50% AMI. THIS ALSO WILL FEATURE AN ON-SITE PRE-K EARLY EDUCATION CENTER AND IT INCLUDES NUMEROUS SERVICES AND AMENITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE. THIS IS ALSO A PARTNERSHIP WITH NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY HOUSING RESOURCE PARTNERS. THE FINAL PROJECT RECOMMENDED IN OUR RENTAL HOUSING CATEGORY IS A NEW RENTAL COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT 4 LED BY THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST PFC. WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN AWARD OF $3.158 MILLION WHICH IS A PARTIAL AWARD DUE TO LIMITED FUNDS LEFT IN THIS ROUND. THIS PROJECT ALSO IS GOING AFTER THE 9% COMPETITIVE HOUSING TAX CREDITS, SO THIS WOULD NOT GO TO COUNCIL UNTIL AUGUST, AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL RECEIVE THOSE TAX CREDITS. THE PROPERTY WOULD BE 90 NEW UNITS INCLUDING 19 AT 30% AMI OR BELOW, AND THE HOUSING TRUST HAS COMMITTED TO MEETING LEVEL 4 UNIVERSAL DESIGN, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST UNIVERSAL DESIGN LEVEL. THAT MEANS IT WILL FOCUS ON CREATING A HOME THAT'S USABLE BY ALL AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS, INCLUDING LARGER, INCREASED TURNING RADIUSES, DOOR WIDTHS AND DIFFERENT SPECIAL FEATURES TO ENSURE THAT THE UNITS CREATED CAN SERVE ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. THIS PROJECT ALSO WILL PRIMARILY SERVE OLDER ADULTS IN DISTRICT 4. OUR SECOND SOLICITATION CATEGORY WAS HOME OWNERSHIP PRODUCTION. WE HAD A TOTAL OF $3.26 MILLION ALL IN FEDERAL HOME FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT. FOR THIS FUNDING ROUND. THIS CATEGORY FOCUSES ON NEW HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AT 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR BELOW. THE SCORING PANEL INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, OUR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE ACCESSIBILITY OFFICE, VIA, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO NICKY JOHNSON, OUR HOUSING COMMISSIONER WHO SERVED AS A VOTING MEMBER ON THIS PANEL. THE SCORING COMMITTEE UTILIZED THE SCORING CRITERIA PREVIOUSLY PROVED BY COUNCIL SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM'S PRIOR EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO SERVE, NON-PROFIT ENTITIES RECEIVED UP TO 10 POINTS, LOOKING AT THE PROJECT SHOVEL READINESS, WHAT ARE THE DOLLARS THEY WERE LEVERAGING AND OF COURSE, HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS WENT TO THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE PROJECT. WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS AND HERE'S THE SCORING MATRIX. BOTH OF THEM ARE RECOMMENDED FOR AN AWARD. INCLUDING BOTH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND OPPORTUNITY HOME [01:20:04] SAN ANTONIO. TOGETHER WE WILL BE CREATING 51 NEW HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR A TOTAL OF $3.26 MILLION IN HOME FUNDS. M THE FIRST PROJECT RECOMMENDED IS RANCHO CARLOTTA, THE SIXTH PHASE OF A VERY SUCCESSFUL HOUSING PROJECT IN DISTRICT 4 BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS ADDING 42 UNITS TO THE SUBDIVISION WHICH ALREADY HAS OVER 250 HOUSING UNITS ALREADY DONE OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THERE ARE THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM HOMES. HABITAT DOES A 0% INTEREST HOME FOR THE FAMILIES SO REALLY CREATES A VERY AFFORDABLE PRODUCT AND A VERY AFFORDABLE MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENT. WE ARE RECOMMENDING A $2.5 MILLION IN HOME FUNDS. THE ANTICIPATED SALES PRICE FOR THESE HABITAT HOMES IS ABOUT $170,000. SO VERY, VERY AFFORDABLE. TODAY'S AVERAGE SALES PRICE IS WELL OVER $300,000. SO THIS IS REALLY A TRULY UNIQUE PRODUCT AND CREATING HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REALIZE THAT DREAM. THE SECOND PROJECT RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD IS THE REST SIDE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE, THE SECOND PHASE OF A PROJECT IN DISTRICT 5. THIS WOULD ADD NINE MORE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO THE SUBDIVISION, BOTH TWO AND THREE-BEDROOM HOMES AND 20-YEAR AFFORDABILITY COVENANT. AGAIN, THE ANTICIPATED SALES PRICE FOR THESE HOMES IS ABOUT -- UP TO $185,000. AGAIN, VERY AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP IN DISTRICT 5. THE OVERALL IMPACT OF OUR BOND WITH THESE AWARDS UNDER CONSIDERATION, WE HAVE DONE 27 DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING PROJECTS, IN TOTAL OVER 4700 UNITS PRODUCED OR PRESERVED. OVER 1100 OF THOSE UNITS HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED WITH FAMILIES LIVING OR MOVING IN. 2500 OF THEM ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE REMAINING ARE IN THE FINAL CONTRACTING PHASE. TWO OF THEM IN FINAL CONTRACTING PHASE AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU HAVE EIGHT UNDER CONSIDERATION THAT'S COMING STARTING LATER THIS MONTH. OUR BOND FUNDS AWARDED, IF THESE PROJECTS ARE ACCEPTED, WOULD BE A TOTAL OF $86 MILLION IN HOUSING BOND FUNDS AND LEVERAGING OVER $800 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT. THE TIMELINE FOR THESE PARTICULAR AWARDS, WE WERE AT HOUSING COMMISSION YESTERDAY. AFTER TODAY'S POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING, WE WILL BE BRINGING THE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION STARTING AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK, AND THEN THOSE THAT ARE UNDER THE COMPETITIVE TAX PROCESS WILL BE RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS WILL GO JUNE 26TH OR LATER. SO WE HAVE COMPLETED FIVE DIFFERENT FUNDING ROUNDS FOR HOUSING BOND PROJECTS AND FEDERAL PROJECTS AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY $14 MILLION REMAINING. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT ANY REMAINING FUNDS THAT ARE HERE OR PROJECTS THAT ARE UNABLE TO PROCEED AND HAVE TO RETURN THEIR FUNDS TO THE CITY, ALL OF THAT GETS USED FOR SHIFT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES GOING FORWARD. VOTERS APPROVED THE 2022 HOUSING BOND AND WE HAVE COMMITTED OVER 90% OF THE FUNDING WITH THESE AWARDS IF THEY ARE APPROVED, STARTING THIS MONTH. WE KNOW WE ARE NOT DONE. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. WE HAVE $14 MILLION REMAINING. WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS OUR GOALS WITH THIS FUNDING AND WE RECOMMEND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THOSE GOALS. FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP HOMEOWNERS BUILD OR REHAB AND TO HELP CREATE LONG-LASTING HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL COME TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION STARTING LATER THIS MONTH. ALL OF THE OTHER FUNDING WILL BE UTILIZED WE RECOMMEND FOR STRATEGIC LAND ACQUISITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A VERY STRONG PARTNER, THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK THIS PAST DECEMBER AND MANY INQUIRED ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE OUR FUNDS TO ACQUIRE LAND ALONG THE GREEN LINE OR THE SILVER LINE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK, WHERE THEY WANT TO ENTERTAIN AND ENJOY THEMSELVES, AND WE CAN BEST DO THAT BY ENSURING WE FIND LAND AND ACQUIRE IT AND THEN WORK WITH THE HOUSING TRUST AND DEVELOPMENT TEAMS TO BUILD THE TYPE OF HOUSING THAT WE WANT TO SEE ALONG THE SILVER AND GREEN LINE. THE REMAINING BOND FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE AND EACH PROPERTY ACQUISITION RECOMMENDATION WILL COME TO CITY COUNCIL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE. I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH, TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING BOND. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, VERONICA. [01:25:03] SUMMARIZE THE FIVE FUNDING ROUNDS THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OR THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, THE LAST ONE HERE TO COUNCIL. WE SPOKE A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY DURING THE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE WORK POTENTIALLY THAT LAYS BEFORE US IN TERMS OF GOING BACK TO THE VOTERS, POTENTIALLY SOONER FOR HOUSING BOND ALLOCATIONS. I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT VERONICA SAID AT THE END, BUT CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GUIDELINE PRINCIPLES THAT WE HAVE WITH A FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC AMI THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL, AS VERONICA MENTIONED, CERTAINLY ANYTHING THAT WE DO GOING FORWARD SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH THE CITY-APPROVED STRATEGIES LIKE THE SHIP AND SA TOMORROW BUT ALSO THE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL APPROVED THAT, BUT THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, A NEW PIECE IN OUR TOOLBOX AND HOW DOES THAT WRAP INTO POTENTIALLY PRIORITIZATION OF A NEW HOUSING BOND THAT YOU ALL WOULD CONSIDER AND ULTIMATELY, IT WOULD BE BEFORE THE VOTERS. AND THEN YOU NOTICED, I HAVE NOTICED FROM MY STANDPOINT AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE FIVE SOLICITATIONS, REMEMBER UP UNTIL THREE YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T DO THIS TYPE OF WORK AS A CITY. SO I THINK THE TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF CONTINUING TO ADJUST, BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY HAS ALSO ADJUSTED, AND I THINK WE WORK BETTER NOW LEVERAGING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST AND YOU HAVE STARTED TO SEE MORE AND MORE AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THOSE SOLICITATIONS, THAT PARTNERSHIP IS KEY. THE UPCOMING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN SOME WORK DURING THE MOVE JUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE HOUSING COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PUT OURSELVES IN POSITION WHERE THE COUNCIL CAN GET UPDATED LATER ON IN THE SUMMER AND THEN MAKE A DECISION THEREAFTER ABOUT POTENTIALLY PUTTING IT BACK ON THE BALLOT SOONER THAN MAY 2027. THANK YOU, VERONICA AND THE TEAM, AND I'M CERTAINLY APPRECIATIVE. WE HAVE 14, A LITTLE OVER $14 MILLION LEFT OUT OF THAT $150 MILLION. A LOT OF OUR GOAL TO BEGIN WAS TO GET MONEY INTO PRODUCTION AND WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE WILL BEGIN WORKING ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK. THANK YOU, VERONICA, FOR THE PRESENTATION. EVERY TIME WE GET A PRESENTATION FROM YOUR TEAM, VERONICA, I'M ASTOUNDED OF HOW FAR WE'VE COME IN HOUSING AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PLAYERS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE SECTOR THAT ARE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS A REALITY. NONE OF IT HAPPENS, OF COURSE, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED A NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE POLLS. I KNOW WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF ELECTION SEASON, BUT THE QUESTION WILL ALWAYS BE FOR THESE GENERATIONAL EFFORTS, WILL IT CONTINUE. I HAVE GREAT FAITH, THOUGH, GIVEN THE DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS THAT YOU ALL HAVE HAD IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT IT WILL, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO DO. YOU WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED, BUT MAYBE SO, HOW MANY CALLS I GET FROM PEERS AND OTHERS THAT ARE TRYING TO WORK ON THESE ISSUES. THERE'S NOT A COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT ISN'T DEALING WITH ONE HOUSING CRISIS IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES, NO DOUBT, AND WE HAD OUR EXISTING CHALLENGES THAT WE WALKED INTO THIS SPACE WITH, BUT GIVEN ALL OF THOSE HEADWINDS AND FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO WORK ON, IT IS REMARKABLE JUST WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. I WILL JUST AGAIN STATE THAT YOU KNOW, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, HOUSING IS NOT TOP OF MIND IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING, BUT I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WITHOUT HOUSING, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT ELSE FOR A FAMILY, AND THAT'S THE REAL FOUNDATION OF SECURITY IN THE CITY SO ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE, AFFORDABLE ROOF OVER ONE'S HEAD IS AN ESSENTIAL GOAL. WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED OR NOT. I WOULD SUGGEST THE WAY YOU ALL HAVE STACKED OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND AND THE PRIORITIES WITHIN THE SHIP, IT'S APPROPRIATE. WE ARE INVOLVED IN NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF HOUSING IN THIS CITY IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. FOR THE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S SIMPLY NOT PRODUCED BY THE MARKET, NOT PRODUCED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITHOUT A LOT OF INTERVENTION, INCLUDING SUBSIDY, WE ARE MAKING THAT HAPPEN AND WE ARE I CMAKING THAT [01:30:06] HAPPEN AT THE PROPORTION THE PUBLIC HAS ASKED US TO DO. THE BULK OF OUR RESOURCES GO TOWARD THE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT SIMPLY DOES NOT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT IT. BUT WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN MARKET RATE AND BEYOND BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT WE HAVE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THAT CAN BE PRODUCED. SO TO FOLKS WHO ARE LISTENING WHO MAY ONLY HAVE ONE EYE ON THIS OR NONE AT ALL, PLEASE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS A HEALTHY HOUSING MARKET FOR EVERYBODY AT EVERY INCOME LEVEL AND THAT'S, I THINK, AN EARMARK OF THE SUCCESS OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING ON THE GROUND. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. SO PROUD OF THE EFFORTS. LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY AGAIN, MY GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK AND CONTINUED SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD. WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES. AGAIN, THIS IS FOR BRIEFING. IT WILL BE ON ACTION NEXT WEEK. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, VERONICA. I THINK IT'S EVIDENT IN THIS RFP PROCESS AND THE PAST PROJECTS THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH ENSURING THAT THE PARAMETERS THAT THE HOUSING BOND COMMITTEE MEMBERS ESTABLISHED ARE EXECUTED AND MATERIALIZED WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE TODAY AND IN PAST PROJECTS AND APPROVED ITEMS. I'M REALLY PROUD THAT NEARLY 20% OF 144 OF THE UNITS ARE AT 30% AMI WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE 15% GOAL THAT WAS SET. THEN OF COURSE, ENSURING THAT MANY OF THESE UNITS ARE FAMILY SIZED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS PROVIDING HOUSING OPTIONS WHERE FAMILIES CAN LIVE, AND YOU ALL HAVE PRIORITIZED AND INCLUDED THAT IN THIS PROCESS. WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING WITH THIS RFP AND IN PAST PROJECTS IS WHAT WE SEE IN DISTRICT 5 IN PARTICULAR IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP, SO JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME FOR ENSURING THAT THERE'S OPTIONS IN TERMS OF PURCHASING A HOME WITHIN DISTRICT 5 AND THEN OF COURSE, THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION FOR ENSURING WE CONTINUE TO INVEST AND BUILD UPON OUR CURRENT SENIOR HOUSING OPTIONS WITH WHAT'S IN THIS RFP TODAY. OF COURSE, AS ERIK MENTIONED, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES, PARTICULARLY DR. KAUR, WITH THE ROBERT E. LEE ITEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THE NEWS YESTERDAY AND OF COURSE, SEE IT IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY AND JUST CAN'T THANK THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT ENOUGH FOR Y'ALL'S LEADERSHIP AND JUST DOING THE BEST TO MEET CONSTITUENTS WHERE THEY ARE, OFTEN DOING THOSE SITE VISITS AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST WHAT WE ARE SEEING TODAY. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, EVALUATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SHIFTED THROUGH ALL THE RFPS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST PRODUCT. JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ACTION ON THIS WHEN WE DO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MARK TO COME ON UP, WHO IS KIND OF A HOUSING CZAR, SO TO SPEAK, TO ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S STILL INCUMBENT UPON US TO RECOGNIZE THE SIZE OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE FOR HOUSING. MARK, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF PUT TOGETHER WHAT YOU THINK THE NEED IS FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW MANY MORE UNITS SHOULD WE BE PROVIDING IN THIS COMMUNITY TO MEET THE AFFORDABILITY NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY? DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE? >> SO IN OUR STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WE CALL FOR 28,000 UNITS THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP, SO WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TOWARDS MEETING THAT, THOSE THAT ARE PRODUCED AND THOSE THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE. I THINK WHERE WE HAVE CLEARLY -- WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SO FAR TO DATE IS REALLY A NEED FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY. SO HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY THAT GOAL THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THOSE 28,000 UNITS FOR DEEPER AFFORDABILITY AS WELL AS HOW CAN WE BUILD OUT MORE CAPACITY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. I THINK THOSE ARE TWO PRIORITY AREAS. >> COURAGE: WHEN WAS THE 28,000 TARGET SET? WHAT YEAR WAS THAT? >> THAT WAS IN '21 WHEN THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE SHIP. >> COURAGE: SO THAT WAS THE GOAL FOUR YEARS AGO. I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS ON SLIDE 29 TODAY AND IT'S SOMEWHERE NEAR 10,000 UNITS ALL TOGETHER ON THAT SLIDE, IF I'M ADDING THEM UP CORRECTLY. AND MAYBE YOU OR VERONICA COULD TELL ME, ARE THOSE ALL RELATED TO THE 2022 BOND PROJECT, AND SO THEY ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SOME ARE COMPLETE, BUT WE ARE SAYING AT THE END OF THAT PROJECT, [01:35:01] WE WOULD HAVE MAYBE 10,000 UNITS, BUT WE'RE SAYING OUR NEED IS 28,000 AND WE STARTED THAT NEED FOUR YEARS AGO. ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS HAVE THIS COUNCIL GOING FORWARD RECOGNIZE THAT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, AND I THINK WE NEED MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO DO THAT. ONE THING I HAD MENTIONED WAS HAVING A SEPARATE HOUSING BOND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD ON. THE CITY MANAGER NOW IS TALKING ABOUT COMBINING A HOUSING BOND WITH AN INFRASTRUCTURE BOND TO KIND OF SUPPORT WHAT WE MAY WANT TO DO AROUND ADDING AN ARENA. IT CONCERNS ME, BECAUSE I THINK THEN IT MAKES HOUSING A SECONDARY ISSUE TO SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE STILL NEED A LOT OF HOUSING AND WE HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING TO THIS CITY. 24,000 PER YEAR AND THEY'RE NOT ALL COMING HERE BUYING HOMES OR PAYING MARKET RATE. A LOT OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING. SO I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THAT AND THE NEW COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD BUT I REALLY COMMEND WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR. BUT IT'S REALLY A FAR CRY FROM THE TOTAL NEEDS THAT THIS CITY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. >> WALSH: ONE THING TO COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE'S POINT, IT DAWNED ON ME THAT WHEN THE SHIP WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, IT CALLED FOR $300 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENT AND AT THE TIME, IT HAD RECENTLY BEEN APPROVED BY THE VOTERS TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN OUR CHARTER AND BE AN ELIGIBLE DEBT EXPENSE, AND AS THE COUNCIL WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO ALLOCATE THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM, THE REPORT, THE PLAN CALLED FOR 300, WE PUT $150 MILLION. TO COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE'S POINT, I THINK WE KNEW GOING INTO WITH THE PLAN AND GOAL OF 28,000 THAT THE 150 WAS JUST THE BEGINNING, AND THAT CAN SERVE AS A GOOD BASIS AND A STARTING POINT AS WE LOOK FORWARD, BUT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WEREN'T HERE ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE OR AT THAT TIME THAT THAT ORIGINAL PLAN CALLED FOR $300 MILLION OF POTENTIAL PUBLIC INVESTMENT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, ERIK. SORRY. I'M GETTING POPUPS HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ALL OF THESE PROJECTS LOOK REALLY EXCITING. I WILL FOCUS I GUESS ON THE BROADER SHIP GOALS. DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF EACH OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE AND HOW MANY UNITS ARE COMPLETED OR IN PRODUCTION, HOW MANY WE STILL NEED? >> GARCIA: WE HAVE ABOUT 10,000 OF THE 28,000 GOAL THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OR SOMEWHERE IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS. WE ARE ON TRACK, WITH THESE ONES, YES, WE ARE JUST OVER THREE YEARS INTO THE SHIP GOAL SO WE SHOULD BE ABOUT 33% OF THE WAY TOWARDS OUR GOAL, AND WE ARE. SO WE ARE RIGHT ON TRACK FOR MOST OF THOSE CATEGORIES. THE ONE CATEGORY WHERE WE STILL NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS, AS MARK MENTIONED, WAS THE CREATING NEW RENTAL HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AT 30% AMI OR BELOW. THAT IS ONE WE ARE ONLY AT ABOUT 14% OF THE WAY TO OUR GOAL INSTEAD OF A THIRD OF THE WAY TO OUR GOAL. THAT IS THE HARDEST HOUSING TO BUILD. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF INCENTIVES TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S WHY ON THIS FUNDING ROUND, WE INCREASED THAT MINIMUM FOR THAT PARTICULAR HOUSING PRODUCT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING I THINK THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL NEED TO HEAR AS WELL, WE DO NEED TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON MAKING 30% UNITS ACCESSIBLE AND EASIER TO BUILD AND INCENTIVIZING THOSE. THAT SHOULD BE WHERE OUR FOCUS IS, MUCH LESS ON 60%, 80%, 100%. I WOULD LIKE, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US AS A COUNCIL TO GET AN UPDATE ON SHIP GOALS AND WHERE WE ARE AT, MAYBE SEMI-ANNUALLY, ANNUALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. I THINK WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT. I THINK IT WOULD ALLOW US TO GROUND OURSELVES IN THESE GOALS AS FREQUENTLY AS NEEDED. I WOULD ALSO WONDER -- I GUESS AS PART OF THAT, I [01:40:04] WOULD ALSO LIKE AN UPDATE ON THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE. I KNOW THAT WITHIN THE PLAN THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN ADOPTED. SO MAYBE IF WE CAN GET A REFRESHER ON THOSE. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY BEING DONE AT PCDC. >> GARCIA: WE DO A SEMI-ANNUAL UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AT ON THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AS WELL AS THE UNIT COUNT GOAL, AND WE DO HAVE OUR ONLINE DASHBOARD WHICH HAS UPDATES ON BOTH OF THOSE. BUT YEAH, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT A LARGER BRIEFING. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MAYBE WE CAN REPLACE ONE OF OUR MONTHLY AIRPORT BRIEFINGS. THE LAST THING I GUESS IS, IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT NO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WERE RECOMMENDED, THE PROJECT MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY, BUT WE CAN SAY ALL DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT IN EVERY DISTRICT AND MY BIG PLAN FOR HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO IS GOING TO BE BUILDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES, WE DON'T, WHEN WE'RE TALKING, WHEN WE HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE TO US, WE'RE NOT ALLOCATING IT. SO I WONDER WHAT EFFORTS WE ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW AS A CITY TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS, IDENTIFY PROPERTIES, IDENTIFY DEVELOPERS WHO ARE INTERESTED. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW? HOW CAN WE BE MORE PROACTIVE IN PREPARING? >> GARCIA: ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE MET WITH SOME DEVELOPERS THAT DO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. WE HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER THAT DO IT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, SO WE HAVE GONE OUTSIDE THE CITY, TALKED TO SOME TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY. INCENTIVES OBVIOUSLY ARE A BIG THING AND WITH THIS FUNDING ROUND, WE ONLY HAD JUST OVER $4 MILLION FOR THE CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION. SO WE ARE DOWN TO JUST A LITTLE BIT REMAINING. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION WE DO, WHICH IS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSING TRUST BECAUSE EVEN MORE SO THAN JUST FUNDING, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED IS THE CHALLENGE OF ACQUIRING A SITE, GETTING THE ZONING, GETTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT. SO WE THINK THAT WE CAN BE A PROACTIVE PARTNER IN WORKING WITH THE HOUSING TRUST TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHAT YOU SUGGESTED WHICH IS PROPERTIES WE CAN ACQUIRE WITH THE TRUST, HELP IDENTIFY WHAT PROJECT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE THERE, AND THEN DO A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION FOR A DEVELOPER THAT HAS EXPERIENCE IN THIS EXACT TYPE OF PRODUCT AND MAYBE HE CAN HELP US MORE HERE IN TOWN. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. DO WE KNOW AS WELL WHAT INVESTMENTS THE COUNTY ARE MAKING AND ARE THOSE -- DO WE COUNT THOSE AS A PART OF OUR HOUSING GOALS? >> GARCIA: YES, THE COUNTY IS THE SHIP PARTNER SO WE DO INCLUDE THEIR PROJECTS THEY INCENTIVIZE IN OUR GOAL AND THE SHIP GOAL, WE ARE ALMOST AT 50% OF OUR 1,000 UNIT GOAL. WE ARE ABOUT 490 UNITS AND THAT INCLUDES PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS INCENTIVIZED LIKE THE HUDSON, IT INCLUDES THEIR GOALS, TOO. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: HAVE THEY HAD ANY LUCK WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING YET? >> GARCIA: THAT IS ONE THEY HAVE DONE WITH THEIR FUNDING AND THEY ARE ALSO A PARTNER IN YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. >> WALSH: I WAS JUST TALKING TO LORI, THE LAST UPDATE TO PCDC WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. WE ARE GOING TO UPDATE THAT INFORMATION WITH TODAY'S SOLICITATION AND SEND THAT TO THE COUNCIL IN MEMO BY MONDAY. THAT WAY YOU HAVE THE LATEST AND GREATEST. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCIL MEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, VERONICA. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, FOR ASKING FOR THOSE REPORTING NUMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM, TOO. IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE HISTORIC HOUSING BOND COME TO FRUITION SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK. WE KNOW THAT THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTRIBUTES TO HOMELESSNESS WHICH IS A TOP OF MIND CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 7. THIS WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. IS THE CDBG AND HOME FUNDING LOCKED IN OR IS THERE ANY RISK THE FUNDING COULD BE LOST PENDING FEDERAL BUDGET CHANGES? >> GARCIA: YES, THOSE ARE FUNDS AWARDED TO SAN ANTONIO AS AN ENTITLEMENT CITY LAST YEAR SO WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS. >> GAVITO: THOSE ARE LOCKED IN. >> GARCIA: YES. >> GAVITO: OKAY. ON SLIDE THREE, OUR TEAM, THE DISTRICT 7 TEAM HAD WORKED WITH THE NON-PROFIT REBUILDING TOGETHER TO FIX UP A RESIDENT'S HOME. JUST WANT TO MAKE A PUBLIC REQUEST THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO DO MORE OF THAT, PUT US TO WORK. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH DIFFERENT CITY SERVICES BUT WE ALL REALLY ENJOYED BUILDING A FENCE TOGETHER, TOO. PUT US TO WORK. >> GARCIA: GREAT. >> GAVITO: SLIDE FIVE, I MENTIONED IT BEFORE, I LOVE THESE VISUALS BECAUSE IT HUMANIZES THE NUMBERS AND DESTIGMATIZES AFFORDABLE HOUSING. JUST KUDOS ON THAT. ON SLIDE EIGHT, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE ARE TWO COMMUNITIES THAT WILL HAVE [01:45:05] ON-SITE PRE-K FOR SA OR ON-SITE PRE-K, SORRY. I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO REALLY HELP WITH THE HOLISTIC APPROACH AND INNOVATIVE APPROACH WE ARE TAKING ON THIS. I THINK THEY ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BECAUSE WE WERE SEEING THAT GAP, TOO. ALSO, CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH TOYOTA ON SLIDE 21? >> GARCIA: SURE. COMMUNITY HOUSING RESOURCE PARTNERS HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH TOYOTA WHERE THEY CAN COME AND PICK UP RESIDENTS OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND GET THEM TO MUCH-NEEDED APPOINTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S APPLICATION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OR ANY OTHER MEDICAL APPOINTMENT, GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS THAT THEY MAY NEED. TOYOTA CAN OFFER THOSE, BASICALLY IT'S LIKE A FREE RIDESHARE SERVICE TO THE APPOINTMENT. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. ARE WE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY EXPANDING THAT TO OTHER PLACES? >> GARCIA: I THINK COMMUNITY HOUSING RESOURCE HAS DONE THAT AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMMUNITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW IT CAN BE EXPANDED ELSEWHERE. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. WE KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION CAN BE A HUGE BARRIER FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. I LOVE TO SEE THAT APPROACH. I WOULD LIKE MORE OF IT. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE BEING SUPPORTIVE THAT THESE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS DO HELP MOVE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR ALL Y'ALL'S EFFORTS. I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM. WE STAND BY READY TO SUPPORT WHENEVER WE CAN. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA? >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO PETER, WHO WAS ON THE ORIGINAL HOUSING BOND,S WHO IS A D4 RESIDENT, CONTINUES TO WORK. WE WERE JUST TALKING THIS MORNING ABOUT IT AND SOMETHING HE MENTIONED WAS MAYBE DEVELOPING METRICS ON IMPACT OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS. JUST MAKING SURE IT'S NOT A CHECKED BOX THAT WE CHECK EVERY TIME ABOUT THE SERVICES THEY HAVE. REALLY MEASURE THE IMPACT AND THAT RESIDENTS ARE UTILIZING THAT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MS. NICKY JOHNSON, AN INCREDIBLE HOUSING COMMISSION MEMBER, WHO GOES TO A LOT OF MEETINGS AND IS VERY HELPFUL. AND HIGHLIGHTING THE HOUSING TRUST PROJECTS, THE JUDY AT VIDA IN DISTRICT 4, INCREDIBLE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND REALLY DESIGN OF THE WHOLE PROPERTY IS REALLY COOL, WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. THANK YOU TO THE HOUSING TR TRUST. ALSO A BIG SHOUT-OUT FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE APARTMENT. THAT'S INCREDIBLE. ALSO, THANK YOU TO THE TENANT UNIONS THAT FORMED THERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES WHEN THEY REALIZED IT WAS A POTENTIAL TO BE IN THE PRIVATE MARKET. THEY WORKED REALLY HARD ON THAT. I USED TO STAFF THE HOUSING TRUST TEN YEARS AGO AND THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE BACK THEN. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. ALSO, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE HABITAT PROPERTY IN D4. IT'S AN AMAZING COMMUNITY. THE PEOPLE THERE ARE REALLY WELCOMING. THEY MADE FOOD FOR US ON RIBBON-CUTTING DAYS ON THEIR OWN. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL MEMBER KAUR? >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON HOUSING. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE -- I DIDN'T REALIZE THE JOKE ABOUT HOUSING, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER AND MARK HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER TO WORK WITH, AND BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL THE PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A UNITED FRONT. I KNOW THE MAYOR IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST LEGACIES WILL BE THE SHIP AND THE WORK YOU ARE DONE. I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT ROBERT E. LEE AT ALL. NO, I'M VERY EXCITED. SORRY. I'M NOT REALLY GOOD AT JOKES. MANNY, YOU HAVE TO TRAIN ME UP BEFORE YOU LEAVE. COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ, EXCUSE ME. BACK ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO NOW OR EVEN LAST YEAR WHEN WE STARTED DISCUSSING THE HOUSING CHALLENGE WITH SOAP FACTORY, OUR STAFF LOOKED INTO WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN AND THERE'S ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED WITH THE SOAP FACTORY, IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED SO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE AN ENTITY LIKE THE HOUSING TRUST IN CONTROL OF THE LAND OR THE CITY THAT HAS ACCESS TO WHAT WE BUILD ON IT, YOU CAN'T REALLY CONTROL IT. WE LIVE IN TEXAS. IT'S PROPERTY RIGHTS. SO IN THIS SITUATION, WHEN ROBERT E. LEE CAME UP, I WANT TO SHOUT-OUT AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER MUNGIA MENTIONED MEGAN AT ROBERT E. LEE. SHE HAS BEEN THE FIERCEST ADVOCATE FOR THAT COMMUNITY. THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY CHALLENGES, PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSE FOR WHATEVER REASON AND THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THERE WAS A WATER LEAK THAT HAPPENED THERE AND MY STAFF, MAGGIE, RYAN, THEY ALL WORKED SO HARD TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER THEY NEEDED, WE COULD AT LEAST ADVOCATE FOR AND DO. BUT THAT SHOULD BE THE JOB OF THE PROPERTY MANAGER AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY HAVE BEEN ABSENT. [01:50:01] SO IT'S JUST BEEN SO ILLUMINATING FOR US TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LEAVE HOUSING COMPLETELY UP TO THE CONTROL OF THE MARKET, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IT FALLS APART AND ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT SPACE HAS BEEN ACCEPTING VOUCHERS FOR YEARS AND WHEN YOU ACCEPT VOUCHERS, UNFORTUNATELY, THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING NOT ALWAYS PUT MONEY BACK INTO REDEVELOPING IT AND ENSURING THAT THE SPACE IS ACCESSIBLE, THAT IT'S BEING UPGRADED LIKE A NORMAL MARKET RATE HOUSING WOULD BE. AND THAT'S WHYS WE SEE SOME OF OUR HOUSING FALLING APART. SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY, UNLESS WE HAVE CONTROL OF LAND AND PROPERTY, WE CANNOT ENSURE ITS AFFORDABILITY. THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT LIKE WE NEED TO BUY UP ALL THE LAND BUT IT'S WHY WE NEED TO DO THE LAND BANKING YOU MENTIONED. HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO THE TEAM FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO AND ALSO, THE HOUSING TRUST TEAM, PETE, SEEMA, TOM'S NOT HERE, BUT THE WORK Y'ALL DO IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADVOCATES AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON THE DAIS, EVEN GOING INTO OUR NEXT TERM. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO LET'S REVISIT THE SHIP, LET'S LOOK AT GOALS. I DON'T DISAGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I DON'T GET TO SIT ON PCDC SO I DON'T ALWAYS SEE THE UPDATES FOR HOUSING. WE DO AIRPORT UPDATES AT THESE SESSIONS ALL THE TIME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ONE OF THE ONES WE CONTINUE TO GET AT B SESSION. I AGREE WITH THAT. ALSO, LET'S REVISIT OUR SHIP GOALS AND RESTAMP THEM WITH OUR NEW COUNCIL TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO, WELL, THERE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PIVOT. IT'S THE FAMILY HOMES AT 30%. IS THAT MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN USE FOR MISSING MIDDLE? LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO ADD AND AND MAKE SURE IT STAYS A PRIORITY FOR US MOVING FORWARD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE DO A STADIUM DOWNTOWN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR ROBERT E. LEE. OR WHATEVER THE ACRONYM IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE APPARENTLY THOSE LETTERS HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S A HISTORIC BUILDING. ANYONE LISTENING HAS A GREAT RENAMING OF THAT BUILDING, WE ARE OPEN FOR IDEAS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ALRIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE? EXCELLENT. COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME? I'LL KEEP THIS BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO THANK VERONICA AND THE REST OF THE TEAM FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL, THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE ANTICIPATING BEING HERE ARE PROBABLY WATCHING THE SESSIONS RIGHT NOW, SO I'M PRETTY SURE THEY WILL BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THIS MORE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO MEET OUR GOALS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM THREE? KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THIS OFFICIAL. ALRIGHT. WE DO HAVE -- IS THAT ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS? [City Manager's Report  ] IT IS. OKAY. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. LAST WEEK, WE HAD A VIDEO OF ONE OF THE TEAMS THAT WAS RECOGNIZED IN THE ANNUAL EXCELLENCE AWARD AND SO THIS WEEK, THIS VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS A SECOND TEAM FROM OUR LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO. >> MY TEAM AND I WON THE CITY MANAGER'S EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR A LIBRARY CARD CAMPAIGN THAT WE DESIGNED AND RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC THIS PAST FALL. WE DESIGNED SEVEN NEW LIBRARY CARDS THAT REPRESENT DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAN ANTONIO CULTURE AND EXPERIENCES AND WE ROLLED THOSE OUT SYSTEM-WIDE SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE A NEW WAY TO ENGAGE WITH THE LIBRARY AND PICK SOMETHING THAT CAN REPRESENT THEIR LIBRARY EXPERIENCE, BUT IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY. >> WE WANTED TO CREATE THESE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I CAN SAY YEARS. WE DESIGNED CARDS. I DID IT BY HAND USING THE TABLET. WE WANTED TO AUDIO]. WHEN SOMEBODY RECOGNIZES YOUR EFFORTS, IT'S PRICELESS. IT WAS A VERY BIG SURPRISE TO KNOW THAT WE GOT THE AWARD AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON. [01:55:04] IT'S THE WHOLE TEAM. IT'S AMAZING. >> TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION WAS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT. THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY ORGANIZATION TO LEARN AND GROW AND ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS IS GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH YOU, WHETHER THAT'S IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, SO MY ADVICE TO NEW EMPLOYEES IS JUST TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND WORK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH AS MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. >> WALSH: SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ONE OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF THAT PROGRAM WHICH WAS NOT HIGHLIGHTED IN THE VIDEO IS THAT THE LIBRARY CARD IS ALSO A FORM OF ID, WHICH INVOLVED A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN TERMS OF THE NEW ACTUAL LIBRARY CARD SYSTEM AND HAD BEEN AN INITIATIVE THAT HAD BEGUN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THEN WAS FUNDED BY THE COUNCIL TWO FISCAL YEARS AGO. SO MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF JUST THE LIBRARY TEAM BUT THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS AROUND THE CITY THAT WERE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. T CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. THAT'S IT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK. [Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the C Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ] CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LIBRARY STAFF. ALRIGHT. WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM ON EXEC. THE TIME IS 11:12 A.M. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2025. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 551.087, PURCHASE EXCHANGE OR VALUE OF PROPERTY FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO APPOINTED OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE MUNICIPAL COURT PRESIDING JUDGE AND PART-TIME MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.074 AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVINGTY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS A * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.