[0:22] >> #01: test test.
[0:23] >> Mayor Nirenberg: test test.
[0:23] >> Mayor Nirenberg: test test.
[20:07] >> Mayor Nirenberg: test test
[33:05] for affordable the housing this
[33:08] includes additional funds for
[33:10] owner, minor home repair,
[33:11] permanent supportive housing and
[33:18] multifamily affordable housing.
[33:20] 311 had several questions at
[33:22] last week's b session and the
[33:24] trial budget calls to increase
[33:27] staffing to the 31 call center
[33:28] by 10 full time and two
[33:29] part-time positions, to decrease
[33:30] the amount of time it takes to
[33:32] respond to calls.
[33:35] Currently the 311 center has a
[33:36] 20 full time staff and part-time
[33:38] staff with some ten funding in
[33:40] the center, call volume
[33:43] increased over 20 percent since
[33:46] 2018, the center back in 2018
[33:47] and 2019 exceeded its service
[33:49] level goals with 96 percent of
[33:51] all calls were answers.
[33:53] This year, 311 projects with
[33:55] that increased call volume we
[33:56] are seeing, that will lead to
[33:58] tan overall response of
[33:59] approximately 81 percent of
[34:02] calls to be answered further
[34:04] calls answered within 45 seconds
[34:06] which is the service level goal
[34:08] is expected to decrease to
[34:11] 45 percent down from 84 percent
[34:12] in 2019.
[34:13] With the additional staffing
[34:15] proposed in the trial budget,
[34:17] the expectation would be to
[34:19] answer a 90 percent of all calls
[34:22] and get to 69 percent of calls
[34:30] within 45 seconds.
[34:31] The call center is open seven
[34:34] days a week from 7:00 A.M. To
[34:35] 7:00 P.M., there is limited
[34:37] operations for animal care and
[34:39] traffic concerns from 7:00 P.M.
[34:43] To 11:00 P.M. Nightly,
[34:43] unsurprisingly most of the calls
[34:46] come in during the peak hours
[34:47] generally between 9:00 A.M. And
[34:49] 4:00 P.M. And also tend to come
[34:50] in on monday morning and tail
[34:53] off throughout the week with
[34:54] relatively low volumes on late
[34:59] nights and weekends.
[35:00] The police department property
[35:01] room is a budget issue that also
[35:03] has been discussed.
[35:06] The city council approved $25
[35:07] property storage fee back with
[35:09] the 2010 budget to partially
[35:12] recover costs associated with
[35:14] storage fees.
[35:16] In 2018, the bexar county
[35:18] changed its property intake
[35:19] property so that only certain
[35:23] items can be stored there,
[35:24] essentially limited to credit
[35:27] card and id phone keys and some
[35:28] cash, several items such as
[35:31] jewelry, wallets, are now stored
[35:32] at the city's property right,
[35:35] which has increased impounded
[35:36] property at the city storage
[35:37] facility.
[35:39] The fee currently brings in
[35:42] about $200,000 that partially
[35:43] offsets $1.1 million
[35:45] approximately in annual costs to
[35:51] operate the facility.
[35:52] Alamo promise is another topic
[35:54] of discussion for the b session.
[35:55] Animal promise provides
[35:57] graduates of bexar county high
[35:59] schools gap financing between
[36:01] the cost of tuition and
[36:05] financial aid at the five alamo
[36:05] colleges.
[36:07] In the current year, fiscal year
[36:10] '21 the adopted budget includes
[36:11] $1.1 million in matching dollars
[36:14] to serve nearly 5,000 students.
[36:16] The year three request for
[36:18] fiscal year '22 is about
[36:19] $2.5 million.
[36:21] Again this would provide last
[36:23] dollar scholarships to about
[36:27] 7,200 students and additional
[36:30] schools to the program.
[36:31] Let's talk a little bit about
[36:32] financial policy and preparation
[36:35] for the upcoming fiscal year '22
[36:37] proposed budget.
[36:37] Financial policy guides the
[36:39] preparation of the budget and
[36:40] the purpose of financial
[36:42] policies is to establish
[36:43] guidance and financial
[36:45] management for the city.
[36:46] The, they are critical domain
[36:47] tank a strong financial position
[36:49] and to adapt to economic
[36:50] challenges like we have seen
[36:54] over the last year plus, several
[36:55] months going back to the
[36:55] beginning of the pandemic.
[36:57] These are also the financial
[36:59] policies that we present to bond
[37:00] rating agencies as part of the
[37:03] city's overall credit.
[37:05] The city's goal is to maintain
[37:06] structural balance in the
[37:07] general fund.
[37:08] That opinions our current
[37:09] revenues should cover our
[37:11] current expenses.
[37:12] The city also has a policy to
[37:15] keep public safety spending
[37:17] below 66 percent of the general
[37:19] fund revenues and we maintain a
[37:21] balance of 15 percent overall in
[37:23] our general fund each year.
[37:25] Finally the city maintains
[37:26] additional contingencies of
[37:29] $1 million in the general fund
[37:30] and $3 million in the capital
[37:31] budget during the year to
[37:33] account for periodic
[37:35] fluctuations within a given
[37:38] fiscal year.
[37:39] Additionally one of our policies
[37:41] is to address any internal
[37:42] service fund deficits within
[37:44] three to five years.
[37:47] Internal service funds in the
[37:49] city provide services for the
[37:50] entire service and are
[37:52] reimbursed from city operational
[37:52] funds.
[37:56] For example, the city is -- the
[37:59] city is self insured for
[38:00] employee benefits such as
[38:01] workers' compensation and
[38:03] health, live and dental, should
[38:04] any of these internal service
[38:06] funds go into deficit, the
[38:07] city's policy is to restore
[38:09] those funds to balance within
[38:11] three to five years by charging
[38:13] back other funds of the city to
[38:14] keep them in balance.
[38:17] The city also should have just
[38:18] fees and charges for service to
[38:20] keep up with those services that
[38:22] are partially or pulley
[38:24] supported by -- charges other
[38:25] than taxes.
[38:28] At this time we are not looking
[38:31] at fee increases in the fund.
[38:32] The city reviews the impact of
[38:35] the state imposed 3.5 percent
[38:36] property tax cap that was
[38:37] enacted a few years ago.
[38:39] We are not expected to reach
[38:42] that cap in fiscal year '22, and
[38:45] the city also has a policy to
[38:48] review property tax relief.. A
[38:51] focus on homeowners and our cfo
[38:52] -- that will expand on property
[38:57] taxes in just a minute.
[38:58] Following today's meeting, staff
[38:59] will take the feedback from
[39:01] here, from other sessions and
[39:05] surveys to finalize the fiscal
[39:05] year 2022 proposed budget.
[39:06] The city manager will propose
[39:09] the budget formally on AUGUST 12
[39:10] after the budget is proposed
[39:13] there will be more community
[39:14] engagement, several budget work
[39:16] sessions with the council prior
[39:20] to the scheduled adoption on
[39:20] SEPTEMBER 16th.
[39:22] With that, I will turn it over
[39:25] to ben gorzell and dive a little
[39:27] deep severe the tax review
[39:28] property and jeff coyle will
[39:31] talk about the community survey.
[39:39] thank you.
[39:43] >> good morning, mayor and
[39:45] councilmembers, ben gorzell,
[39:46] chief financial officer for the
[39:47] city.
[39:48] As scott said I will give you a
[39:49] little bit of information about
[39:50] the relief we currently offer on
[39:55] property taxes, so we do offer a
[39:57] homestead exemption, and under
[39:59] state law we are pretty limited
[40:01] in terms of what we can do.
[40:02] The one tool we have when you
[40:04] adopt the homestead exemption is
[40:07] it has to be as a percentage of
[40:09] the value of the home so we
[40:11] don't have the ability, for
[40:12] example, a couple of years ago
[40:14] the council asked us to look at
[40:16] things like how about adopting a
[40:17] flat dollar amount?
[40:19] We don't have the ability to do
[40:20] that.
[40:21] We have conversations about
[40:23] tiering homestead exemption
[40:24] where you would do it based don
[40:26] years of ownership of the home.
[40:27] We don't have the ability to do
[40:28] that.
[40:32] All we can do is adopt as a
[40:33] percentage of home value.
[40:35] The council in 2019 moved
[40:37] forward with a homestead
[40:38] exemption, the state law says it
[40:40] is a percentage but it can't be
[40:42] less than $5,000.
[40:45] So the council adopted a
[40:48] .01 percent homestead exemption.
[40:50] That triggered the minimum value
[40:52] under state law, so currently
[40:54] every homestead in san antonio
[40:56] gets a $5,000 exemption, because
[40:58] we triggered that minimum
[40:58] amount.
[40:59] If you were to move that up
[41:01] going forward, that would change
[41:04] based on the value of the home.
[41:09] In terms of our elderly
[41:11] population, we do offer an over
[41:14] age 65, $65,000 property tax
[41:18] exemption, and we also offer a
[41:20] $12,500 disabled persons
[41:20] exemption.
[41:24] I want to note an important stat
[41:24] here.
[41:27] So when we look at our -- those
[41:28] that have applied with the
[41:29] appraisal district that actually
[41:31] have the homestead in place,
[41:35] 45 percent of's are frozen, so
[41:37] we have the.. Senior tax freeze
[41:39] in place and I will show you a
[41:41] slide as far as how that looks
[41:42] and what that looks like.
[41:43] 45 percent of our homesteads in
[41:45] the city are frozen, meaning
[41:47] that their city tax bill does
[41:48] not increase year to year
[41:49] regardless of with what value of
[41:51] the home does.
[41:53] When you look at all of that in
[41:54] terms of the exemptions and the
[41:56] relief that we offer, the total
[42:02] we will forego in fy '21 is
[42:04] approximately $65.8 million,
[42:05] with 6.1 million of that is
[42:06] attribute to believe the local
[42:07] homestead exemption.
[42:08] One of the things we are going
[42:11] to work on and actually
[42:12] councilmember bravo brought this
[42:14] up during b session last week,
[42:15] what you are looking at here and
[42:17] the numbers I just gave you are
[42:18] those homeowners that have filed
[42:19] for a homestead exemption with
[42:21] the appraisal district.
[42:22] You know, one of the things we
[42:23] want to work on and work with
[42:24] the appraisal district on, we
[42:26] know there are many more
[42:29] single-family or single-family
[42:31] homes within the city, some of
[42:34] those are going to be rental
[42:34] properties.
[42:36] But we want to reach out to
[42:38] those homeowners and make sure
[42:40] that if they are eligible for an
[42:43] over age 65 or a homestead
[42:45] exemption that we help them file
[42:46] that and we are going to work on
[42:49] a process to do that.
[42:51] State law did change in 2019
[42:52] requiring appraisal districts to
[42:53] notify those properties.
[42:55] They are sending letters out and
[42:56] doing those things.
[42:57] We are actually going to do a
[42:59] little more analysis and come
[43:01] back to you and do a district by
[43:01] district analysis.
[43:02] We would like to create some
[43:03] maps and then work with you
[43:05] individually in terms of how we
[43:06] reach out to those homeowners
[43:09] again to make sure that this is
[43:10] their residence.
[43:11] We want to make sure they are
[43:12] taking advantage of the tools we
[43:16] have in place today.
[43:18] I mentioned the senior exemption
[43:20] and the tax freeze and the last
[43:21] time I talked about this, I
[43:23] think there was a little bit of
[43:25] confusion how this actually
[43:25] works.
[43:26] So I thought the staff did a
[43:30] good job of putting together a
[43:31] graphic here I will walk through
[43:32] that hopefully helps.
[43:34] So in in example, we have got a
[43:37] person here age 64, they have a
[43:38] homestead and in that year their
[43:41] home value was $200,000.
[43:43] They have got homestead
[43:45] exemption so they have a $5,000
[43:46] reduction in taxable value so
[43:49] their taxable value is actually
[43:51] $195,000 in this scenario.
[43:52] And then if you apply our city
[43:55] tax rate so to that their city
[43:57] tax bill would be $1,089.
[43:59] We go to the next year, they
[44:01] have now turned age 65.
[44:04] The value of that home increased
[44:06] to $206,000, the $5,000
[44:07] homestead exemption for the city
[44:09] is still there, so you take that
[44:11] off of that assessed value and
[44:14] then now we take an additional
[44:16] $65,000 off of that value.
[44:20] So the taxable value drops down
[44:21] to $136,000 in this example.
[44:24] You apply the city tax rate,
[44:25] their city tax bill is now
[44:28] dropped to $759, result of that
[44:30] senior exemption.
[44:31] And then because we have the
[44:34] senior tax freeze in place,
[44:35] while you can see that top line
[44:36] in this example, the home
[44:38] continues to increase in value,
[44:41] that city property tax bill
[44:42] doesn't change.
[44:44] It stays at that $759.
[44:46] So as long as they don't make
[44:48] any substantial improvements to
[44:51] the home, add a pool, add an
[44:53] additional room, something like
[44:55] that, this will stay in place,
[44:57] and in the event they add an
[44:58] improvement, this only gets
[45:00] adjusted for the improvement and
[45:01] then it is frozen again.
[45:03] So as I mentioned on the
[45:04] previous slide, 45 percent of
[45:06] the homesteads in san antonio
[45:09] look just like this for the city
[45:10] tax bill.
[45:13] In terms of what our local
[45:14] jurisdictions look like here in
[45:16] bexar county that actually
[45:18] assess a property tax rate, we
[45:21] have listed them here on this
[45:21] slide.
[45:23] You can see the tax rate there
[45:26] on the far left.
[45:27] There are local homestead
[45:29] exemptions in place for us, the
[45:30] river authority and the
[45:32] independent school district.
[45:33] There are some mandatory
[45:35] exemptions in place for to the
[45:36] school districts here and for
[45:38] bexar county road and flood and
[45:40] then there is the over age 65
[45:41] exemptions and then I will just
[45:42] jump to the far right.
[45:44] You see most of the
[45:45] jurisdictions here in the county
[45:46] have the property tax freeze.
[45:50] So the school district tax will
[45:52] work just like the one I just
[45:55] showed you on the previous
[45:55] slide.
[45:58] So again, once they hit age 65,
[45:59] the taxes would be frozen.
[46:01] So we just want to share that
[46:03] with you in terms of some stats
[46:04] on our property taxes.
[46:05] At this point I am going to turn
[46:07] it over to assistant city
[46:08] manager jeff coyle who is going
[46:10] to give you an update on our
[46:17] community survey.
[46:19] Good morning.
[46:20] Mayor and council.
[46:22] The government and public
[46:23] affairs department, let me get
[46:33] to the right slide here, MAY I
[46:35] have a little assistant, team in
[46:37] getting to our slides.
[46:38] While they are working on that
[46:40] the government of public affairs
[46:43] department conducted an assay
[46:45] peek up survey.. To gather
[46:47] public input on what our
[46:49] community wants to see in the
[46:49] budget.
[46:51] To date, we have received over
[46:54] 9,000 responses, 9,025.
[46:55] For the purposes of the that we
[46:57] are going share today the survey
[47:00] period was from JUNE 1st to
[47:01] JUNE 21st, but I will talk about
[47:03] that data in just a second.
[47:05] The survey was conducted in
[47:06] spanish and english.
[47:10] We promoted it on social media.
[47:12] We purchased digital
[47:12] advertisements.
[47:14] We e-mail every single
[47:16] respondent of past surveys.
[47:17] We have been doing this now for
[47:19] five or six years and invite
[47:21] them to take the survey again.
[47:23] We pitch sorry troys media.
[47:24] We purchased some media,
[47:26] television and radio.
[47:29] We sent mailers to districts
[47:31] 2 through 5, which have
[47:33] historically provided the lowest
[47:34] response, so we make a little
[47:36] extra effort in those districts.
[47:37] We have yard signs throughout
[47:39] our city parks and we have been
[47:40] working with our stakeholder
[47:41] groups and our city departments
[47:45] to get the word out.
[47:46] Now, there is -- anybody can
[47:47] take this survey.
[47:49] It is a digital survey.
[47:50] This year and last we have had
[47:53] to do digital only as a result
[47:54] of covid.
[47:56] In prior years we also had paper
[47:58] surveys at libraries and we will
[47:59] do that here later this summer,
[48:02] but it is a survey that we don't
[48:03] control demographics.
[48:06] We don't do a representative
[48:08] sample, which would prevent many
[48:09] people from taking the survey.
[48:11] Only those who are lucky enough
[48:13] to get sampled with the survey.
[48:15] Instead we open this to
[48:15] everyone.
[48:16] And so in prior years what we
[48:18] have done is monitor the
[48:20] demographics throughout the
[48:22] survey period and then double
[48:23] down our efforts in those areas
[48:25] that are lagging, so if a
[48:28] certain council district, we are
[48:29] not getting as many numbers or a
[48:31] certain demographic group we do
[48:32] a lot of street efforts and send
[48:34] street teams out to community
[48:34] events.
[48:36] Go to senior centers.
[48:37] We do robo calls.
[48:40] Do we all sorts of things to try
[48:41] to get those numbers up.
[48:42] We will do that later this
[48:44] summer so the numbers you are
[48:46] about to see are not as
[48:48] representative of the community
[48:50] as whole as we would like and we
[48:51] will continue working on that
[48:53] and for the purposes of today we
[48:57] are going to disago fate the
[48:59] data.. Get a city wide answer
[49:04] but rather a district response.
[49:05] So here is the council
[49:05] breakdown.
[49:07] If we had a perfectly even
[49:08] distribution we would have
[49:10] ten percent for every council
[49:12] district, so you see districts
[49:15] 1, 7, 8, 10, are close to that
[49:16] din percent mark.
[49:18] But then we have a big jump in
[49:20] district mine this year, almost
[49:23] twice number, and 18 percent,
[49:25] almost one in five didn't know
[49:27] their council district so that
[49:28] affects the distribution as
[49:28] well.
[49:31] Clearly, we have worked to do in
[49:32] districts 2 through 5,
[49:33] 2 through 6 to try to bring
[49:36] those numbers up.
[49:38] In terms of age, we have a
[49:39] really nice distribution across
[49:41] all of the various age groups
[49:43] with the largest number of
[49:45] respondents coming from the 35
[49:48] to 44 age group.
[49:49] Gender we had twice as many
[49:52] women as men take survey this
[49:53] year.
[49:55] And then race and ethnicity this
[49:56] is another area and I think tied
[49:58] to the higher response in
[50:00] districts 8, 9 and 10.
[50:02] We have a higher percentage of
[50:06] white respondents than the other
[50:07] demographic groups, in this
[50:09] community hispanics make up
[50:10] 64 percent of the population,
[50:12] black or african-american is
[50:14] about seven percent, so those
[50:16] responses are lower than what
[50:17] our community make-up is, and
[50:18] that's where we still need to do
[50:19] some work.
[50:23] Again, to note there is almost
[50:24] 14 percent prefer not answer
[50:27] that affects the distribution a
[50:28] little bit.
[50:30] and finally we ask income, and
[50:31] you see the largest percentage
[50:35] fall right between that 50 and
[50:37] $75,000 per year income.
[50:39] And so two things.
[50:41] The city manager has asked, has
[50:42] directed us to keep the survey
[50:42] open.
[50:43] We are going to do that through
[50:45] the month of JULY and we are
[50:46] going to work with those
[50:48] districts that had lower
[50:50] response rates, will do door
[50:53] hangers and like to do block
[50:53] walking with the new
[50:55] councilmembers and some targeted
[50:57] advertising and efforts with
[50:58] stakeholder group to balance out
[51:00] the demographics.
[51:01] For today's purposes we are
[51:03] going show you the numbers
[51:04] disaggregated, which I think
[51:06] will hopefully still inform the
[51:06] discussion here.
[51:07] So we asked three major
[51:08] questions.
[51:10] The first was of the programs
[51:12] that were cut from the last two
[51:14] budgets, from fy-20 and 21,
[51:17] which of those would you like to
[51:19] most see restored in this year's
[51:19] budget?
[51:22] And we asked them to rank those
[51:22] categories.
[51:24] So there were five major program
[51:26] areas in terms of public facing
[51:28] programs that were cut from
[51:31] previous budgets and it is a
[51:33] pretty clear response from the
[51:34] community, streets, in unone is
[51:35] where they want to see the
[51:38] number restored, the economic
[51:39] development incentives for job
[51:42] creation is number 2, planning
[51:44] dollars for the sa tomorrow
[51:46] plan, clear number 3 and you see
[51:48] some differences between arts
[51:50] funding and our contribution to
[51:51] visit san antonio to generate
[51:52] tourism.
[51:53] so that was pretty clear across
[51:55] the board.
[51:57] Second question was, if we have
[52:00] to cut from this budget and
[52:01] next, which areas would you not
[52:03] like to see cut?
[52:06] What is most sacred to you in
[52:08] terms of what is currently in
[52:10] our budget going forward?
[52:13] And we -- so as to not make
[52:14] people pick one category,
[52:15] because we know a lot of these
[52:17] programs are important, we allow
[52:20] people to select five of them,
[52:21] and ten score them accordingly.
[52:24] And so this is a busy chart and
[52:26] I am going to linger on it a
[52:27] second so you look at this.
[52:28] But this is where we start to
[52:31] see some differences by drink.
[52:34] So district 6 through 10 clearly
[52:36] said do not cut fire.
[52:37] Do not cut fire.
[52:39] And you go to the next row,
[52:41] several of the same districts,
[52:43] 8, 9, and 10 also said do not
[52:43] cut police.
[52:46] And you bring in also districts
[52:48] 3 and 4, who had fire and police
[52:51] as their top two, or in the top
[52:51] two.
[52:53] Third was a pretty clear, almost
[52:56] across the board streets and
[52:58] sidewalks in almost every
[52:59] district's top three.
[53:00] But then you start to really see
[53:01] some differences here.
[53:03] Will be at district 5.
[53:05] Number one, do to the cut senior
[53:06] services.
[53:07] That's most important to the
[53:09] respondents from district 5.
[53:10] Followed by public health and
[53:11] streets and sidewalks.
[53:13] And I will note district 3 also
[53:15] had senior services, then
[53:16] police, then streets.
[53:18] We will get to district 2.
[53:20] Housing affordability.
[53:21] Clearly number one
[53:22] one and district
[53:25] 2, and if you look across that
[53:26] row, it scored much lower in
[53:28] many of the other districts,
[53:30] perhaps reflective of housing
[53:32] challenges and issues in
[53:33] district 2.
[53:35] Or it certainly is reflective of
[53:36] it being a priority and
[53:37] something they don't want to see
[53:39] cut and finally in district 1,
[53:41] public health was number one,
[53:43] followed by senior services and
[53:45] streets and sidewalks.
[53:47] By the way, I should note, your
[53:49] binders have a district specific
[53:50] report, so while I am going
[53:51] through this kind of quickly you
[53:53] refer to that at any point today
[53:54] and you will have the data in
[53:56] front of you.
[53:58] The final question was, if the
[54:00] budget, if we are allowed, if we
[54:02] are able to make strategic
[54:03] investments in this budget,
[54:09] which city services would you
[54:09] like to see increased?
[54:09] So it is a different question
[54:10] from don't cut.
[54:10] It is where do we need to put
[54:10] more money?
[54:12] And again we let people choose
[54:14] five different choices and then
[54:17] score them accord dwi.
[54:19] And so, clearly, across the
[54:22] board, streets and sachs is a
[54:24] winner that question, almost
[54:25] every district had it as number
[54:27] one with the exceptions of 1 and
[54:29] 5 and they still had it in top
[54:30] 3.
[54:32] Public health, a clear number
[54:34] 2 across the board with district
[54:37] 1, again, saying that was most
[54:38] important.
[54:39] And I think district -- excuse
[54:42] me, and I think senior services
[54:44] comes in as a clear solid number
[54:46] three with district
[54:49] 5 prioritizing that above all
[54:49] else.
[54:50] Maybe you see a little bit of
[54:53] variation with parks and rec and
[54:54] housing affordability jumping in
[54:57] the top three in districts 1,
[54:58] 2 and 7.
[54:58] Okay.
[55:00] Now, excuse me.
[55:00] Oops.
[55:03] This is going forward on me now.
[55:04] We also broke this up by race
[55:05] and ethnicity.
[55:07] We just did it for all of them.
[55:09] We can disaggregate all of the
[55:11] data but for the purposes of
[55:14] today we disaggregated for this
[55:14] question specifically about
[55:16] where we should put more money.
[55:18] And there is a lot of variation
[55:19] here.
[55:21] So this is where should we make
[55:22] strategic investments by race
[55:24] and ethnicity.
[55:26] Let's start with the largest
[55:27] demographics group in the
[55:30] community, hispanic or latino,
[55:32] public health, number one,
[55:34] senior services, number 2 and
[55:36] streets and sidewalks number 3.
[55:38] And I will note native hawaiian,
[55:40] about a civic islander also had
[55:41] public health number one.
[55:43] If we move over to white
[55:44] respondents, streets and
[55:47] sidewalks, number one, parks,
[55:50] number two, and public health,
[55:50] number three.
[55:54] And then if we look over at
[55:55] black, african-american
[55:56] respondents, again.. The
[55:59] housing affordability jumps to
[56:01] number one for that demographic
[56:03] group request senior health and
[56:04] senior services following.
[56:05] And then finally the last slide,
[56:11] I will break it up by age, and I
[56:11] think the easiest way to look at
[56:12] this slide in any view is to
[56:13] smith it right down the middle,
[56:16] so 45 and above, 44 and below.
[56:19] 45 and above, streets and
[56:20] sidewalks, one or two in all of
[56:24] those age groups, with senior
[56:26] services as 1 or 2 in all of
[56:28] those age category, maybe not
[56:29] surprising since this is the
[56:30] older age categories.
[56:34] You see in the 55 and up,
[56:36] police, more funding the or
[56:39] police becomes a top three
[56:39] priority.
[56:42] Looking below 44 and below,
[56:44] public health is one or two in
[56:47] all of those age groups.
[56:49] Pa parks and rec, important for
[56:51] those between 25 and 44.
[56:54] And then housing affordability
[56:57] between 18 and 34, second and
[56:58] third, youth services gets a
[57:01] third place for the 18 to 24
[57:01] category.
[57:04] So the young people are saying,
[57:06] services, we have the older
[57:07] people saying senior services
[57:08] which probably shouldn't
[57:09] surprise anyone.
[57:12] So with that, we have -- my
[57:13] assistant director laura has a
[57:16] list of tactics we are going to
[57:18] deploy to get the survey open
[57:20] with erik's direction through at
[57:22] least the first three weeks of
[57:23] JULY we will be reaching out to
[57:24] your offices and have updated
[57:26] numbers as this budget process
[57:27] moves forward.
[57:28] So with that, I think I will
[57:29] turn it back to you, right,
[57:29] erik?
[57:30] >> yes.
[57:30] Thanks.
[57:31] >> thank you, council.
[57:32] >> thank you, jeff.
[57:35] One thing I wanted to point out
[57:37] and it was on the -- one of the
[57:38] slides 0 that was talked about
[57:41] the 20 the if dollar property
[57:42] room fee.
[57:44] The reason why that is in there
[57:48] is because of the ccr that was
[57:52] drafted by COUNCILMAN Havrda and
[57:53] discussed as public safety
[57:55] committee.. I think part of the
[57:56] discussion at the committee was
[58:00] we would bring that back to the
[58:03] council during budget to get
[58:06] feedback that you saw that cost
[58:09] changes about $200,000 in lost
[58:11] revenue but something certainly
[58:13] -- the consensus, I think
[58:14] COUNCILWOMAN At some point you
[58:16] MAY want to share with the rest
[58:17] of the colleagues what the
[58:19] conversation was at public
[58:20] safety.
[58:20] >> great,.
[58:21] >> Mayor Nirenberg: great.
[58:22] Thank you very much, you all for
[58:26] the presentations.
[58:28] And just for.. From you are we
[58:29] have a number of different
[58:30] sections of our discussion
[58:31] today.
[58:32] Obviously we will be getting
[58:34] into a little bit more depth on
[58:36] the priorities that were listed
[58:37] in one of the earlier slides.
[58:39] You see them on your agenda.
[58:41] So for the purposes of this
[58:42] section, it is really just again
[58:44] a recap of our level set trial
[58:46] budget, along with our financial
[58:47] policies and then of course the
[58:50] community survey input process.
[58:51] If you would like to chime in
[58:53] and ask questions open any one
[58:55] of those sections, let me know.
[58:57] Otherwise we will move on.
[58:58] Just signal me.
[58:59] And we are going to try to keep
[59:00] the conversation flowing so on
[59:01] these earlier sections we will
[59:03] give about five minutes to kind
[59:05] of give everybody a chance do,
[59:07] who wants one, otherwise, we
[59:08] move on.
[59:09] And this when have a locker
[59:10] discussion about priorities,
[59:12] perhaps that.. Aren't listed in
[59:15] the earlier sections later today
[59:19] at the 2:30 break.
[59:20] So I don't have a whole lot of
[59:22] questions to start us.
[59:23] Again, I am looking around the
[59:25] room if anyone wants to chime in
[59:27] just signal me.
[59:27] Okay.
[59:29] I do have one comment, though.
[59:31] And that is as we look at the
[59:35] community input, I think it is
[59:37] very difficult perhaps,
[59:40] dangerous for us to take
[59:41] nonscientific data and jam it
[59:44] into a scientific box and so
[59:46] with respect to the responses
[59:50] that we are receiving, I would
[59:54] caution us, again, and also pay
[59:55] attention to the representatives
[59:57] who were elected in that
[59:59] district, a lot of times in lieu
[1:00:01] of the scientific data we do
[1:00:04] something like focus groups to
[1:00:06] kind of dig into some of these
[1:00:08] answers, but, again, that is
[1:00:09] exactly what you have been
[1:00:10] doing, knocking on doors,
[1:00:12] talking to neighbors,
[1:00:13] understanding can our priorities
[1:00:15] and getting that kind of input
[1:00:16] so I really need to hear your
[1:00:19] feedback on those priorities, if
[1:00:21] there is something in there that
[1:00:23] you strongly free or disagree
[1:00:25] with, but we will get into the
[1:00:27] discussion now and start with
[1:00:28] councilmember pelaez.
[1:00:32] >> Pelaez: thank you. Can you
[1:00:33] hear me?
[1:00:34] Oh, yes.
[1:00:36] So jeff, excellent presentation.
[1:00:39] I am not surprised.
[1:00:40] I don't think anybody in this
[1:00:41] room is surprised.
[1:00:44] What always disappoints is the
[1:00:45] small number of respondent to
[1:00:48] these things and you know, 0
[1:00:49] COUNCILWOMAN Sandoval value has
[1:00:50] been working hard over to the
[1:00:52] past four years to help us
[1:00:53] figure out a way to increase
[1:00:53] this.
[1:00:56] And I think.. We need to
[1:01:00] continue to work really hard and
[1:01:02] pull every lever to make sure we
[1:01:04] get responses from young san
[1:01:07] antonio wraps you know, the
[1:01:09] other thing is, mayor, at this
[1:01:12] totally agree with COUNCILMAN
[1:01:14] Courage and you, this is
[1:01:15] supposed to a moral document but
[1:01:17] I will remind everybody I think
[1:01:19] last week, the week before last
[1:01:21] another woman in my district got
[1:01:23] murdered in front of her
[1:01:24] children and so, you know, just
[1:01:29] setting the tone here, for me,
[1:01:32] if we don't throw all of our
[1:01:34] weight behind domestic violence
[1:01:36] once and all this is an immoral
[1:01:38] document in any opinion, so I
[1:01:42] really want it to be a document
[1:01:44] that you know, puts lives ahead
[1:01:46] of other things.
[1:01:49] And so to that end, I saw the
[1:01:51] alamo promise funding proposal
[1:01:52] up there.
[1:01:57] I love it, but this week we saw
[1:02:01] governor veto hb, I think 1109,
[1:02:02] which would have man dayed all
[1:02:05] schools in texas to provide
[1:02:07] robust training on domestic
[1:02:09] violence, family violence,
[1:02:12] dating violence and child abuse.
[1:02:14] He doesn't think that is very
[1:02:17] important.
[1:02:17] So I think that we can condition
[1:02:19] -- I would like to explore as
[1:02:21] conditioning funding for alamo
[1:02:23] promise, on the promise that
[1:02:24] schools provide that training
[1:02:26] that the governor would rather
[1:02:27] us not provide.
[1:02:29] Which I think would result in
[1:02:31] lives that wouldn't cost us any
[1:02:33] money and a it could be part of
[1:02:36] you know, the plan that we bake
[1:02:38] -- this domestic violence
[1:02:40] initiative that we could bake
[1:02:42] into the alamo promise, and it
[1:02:44] is a start, along with possibly
[1:02:45] punned -- you know, possibly
[1:02:46] requiring that kind of training
[1:02:47] for any other money that we
[1:02:49] provide to school district or
[1:02:50] think other kind of supervisor
[1:02:51] other we give them.
[1:02:52] Those are my comment for now.
[1:02:55] Thank you.
[1:02:58] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[1:03:00] Councilmember pelaez.
[1:03:00] Councilmember viagran.
[1:03:02] >> Viagran: ben, can you come
[1:03:06] up on slide 22 about the local
[1:03:11] -- [Indiscernible] -- ..
[1:03:12] >> yes, ma'am.
[1:03:13] >> Viagran: when we look at
[1:03:15] that, because I think it would
[1:03:17] be some relief to possibly
[1:03:21] increase that, but I see saisd.
[1:03:23] Is there any way we can get it
[1:03:26] with the school districts in
[1:03:28] district 3?
[1:03:30] Because I know harlandale is one
[1:03:32] of -- their tax rate is higher
[1:03:33] than that.
[1:03:33] So --
[1:03:34] >> yes, ma'am.
[1:03:35] We can -- I think we asked that
[1:03:36] information before.
[1:03:38] We can pull that pretty easily
[1:03:38] and get that to you.
[1:03:40] >> Viagran: and south side and
[1:03:41] east central also.
[1:03:43] The other thing is, I know when
[1:03:46] we do these -- when we do these
[1:03:48] exemptions, it does impact other
[1:03:50] agency as, including the school
[1:03:51] district.
[1:03:52] So what I don't want to see from
[1:03:55] my district is we do a possible
[1:03:57] increase and then the school
[1:03:59] district has to raise taxes in
[1:04:00] their next bond.
[1:04:02] So if we could get that
[1:04:03] information.
[1:04:04] >> sure.
[1:04:05] And if I can claire guy one
[1:04:05] point there.
[1:04:06] So I think what we will do is
[1:04:07] bull the information for all of
[1:04:08] those school districts and we
[1:04:10] will send that to you so you
[1:04:10] have that.
[1:04:12] So when we adopt an exemption,
[1:04:15] it stays, it only affects us and
[1:04:16] our taxes.
[1:04:18] The same would be true of the
[1:04:18] school district.
[1:04:18] >> Viagran: okay.
[1:04:19] All right.
[1:04:21] If you could send that, thank
[1:04:21] you.
[1:04:22] >> yes, ma'am.
[1:04:23] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:04:25] councilmember viagran.
[1:04:27] Councilmember sandoval.
[1:04:28] >> Sandoval: thank you, mayor.
[1:04:33] I will start with the sa speak
[1:04:35] up survey.. Thanks for the
[1:04:37] shout out, councilmember pelaez,
[1:04:40] just to add on to that, my
[1:04:42] efforts over the past year, when
[1:04:44] it comes to public participation
[1:04:46] .. Isn't just about increasing
[1:04:48] the number of people who
[1:04:50] interact with the city but
[1:04:52] improving the quality of how
[1:04:54] they interact with the city and
[1:04:56] ensuring that we have the tools
[1:04:58] to listen to them and the many
[1:05:00] ways they talk to us.
[1:05:01] They don't only talk to us when
[1:05:03] they fill out this survey.
[1:05:06] In fact, I think survey is very
[1:05:06] limiting, right?
[1:05:08] It is in terms of the type of
[1:05:11] nuanced feed pack we can get
[1:05:12] back.
[1:05:16] So what I had brought up during
[1:05:18] our trial budget discussion
[1:05:21] [Indiscernible] To explore that
[1:05:22] option is listening to what
[1:05:25] comes in through 311, listening
[1:05:28] to what comes in through our a 0
[1:05:28] council offices.
[1:05:31] Every person around this table
[1:05:35] has a set of you know, 2,000,
[1:05:36] 4,000, depending how long you
[1:05:38] have been here cases that they
[1:05:39] have worked on with members of
[1:05:42] their community, cases that are
[1:05:44] very important to those people,
[1:05:47] and they ask us you know,
[1:05:49] policy, operational, for
[1:05:50] operational direction, and we
[1:05:53] come here and we give that to
[1:05:55] you and that drives the budget
[1:05:57] asks that we make, but I think
[1:06:02] it would also be behoove us to
[1:06:04] sit down with city staff to
[1:06:06] review those type of constituent
[1:06:08] kay kiss and inquiries we get at
[1:06:11] each of the counsel offices.
[1:06:12] Secondly, thank you, invest, so
[1:06:16] much for breaking this down by
[1:06:18] tabs and the cross tabs you have
[1:06:19] done.
[1:06:21] I think that is giving us more
[1:06:22] information than we would have
[1:06:23] otherwise, but I do agree with
[1:06:26] the mayor we want to be cautious
[1:06:29] about how we interpret this.
[1:06:31] Foyer one think it might be
[1:06:34] confusing to fill out a survey
[1:06:37] that says you know, cut --
[1:06:39] streets, economic development
[1:06:39] planning, and I think we know
[1:06:43] what that means and members of
[1:06:44] the public MAY have different
[1:06:45] concepts.
[1:06:45] I am not saying they are wrong
[1:06:47] at all.
[1:06:48] I think economic development is
[1:06:49] a very broad term.
[1:06:52] It it is refers to ready to
[1:06:54] work, to you know, our jobs
[1:06:56] training program.
[1:06:57] So I think we just want to be
[1:06:59] careful about how we use that,
[1:07:01] because my first thought was, we
[1:07:03] MAY have cut the budget but we
[1:07:05] sure put a lot of money into
[1:07:06] economic development if we talk
[1:07:08] about workforce training so it
[1:07:11] almost seems like, like a
[1:07:12] dissonance here, to put it on
[1:07:15] this list.
[1:07:18] And then lastly, ben, thank you
[1:07:22] so much for that very careful
[1:07:27] analysis of the property tax --
[1:07:30] and how they are affected by our
[1:07:33] different programs and proposing
[1:07:36] to reach out to residents to
[1:07:37] sign them power play their
[1:07:40] homestead exemption.
[1:07:42] Are you saying we are going put
[1:07:43] that in the budget or there is
[1:07:44] going to be a program for 0
[1:07:44] that?
[1:07:47] I think it is a great idea.
[1:07:48] >> yes, ma'am.
[1:07:49] I think that is our plan is we
[1:07:52] are going develop a program with
[1:07:54] the budget working with our
[1:07:57] housing departments to really do
[1:07:57] that outreach.
[1:07:58] I know that the letters are
[1:07:59] being sent.
[1:08:00] I don't know that that is maybe
[1:08:03] the most effective way to reach
[1:08:04] some of the residents so we
[1:08:07] really want to do more analysis
[1:08:08] within each of your districts
[1:08:10] and pull a plan together and
[1:08:11] would like to visit with you all
[1:08:13] more about that plan and get
[1:08:14] your terms in how to reach out
[1:08:15] to some of the residents so that
[1:08:17] will be part of the plan going
[1:08:18] forward, yes, ma'am.
[1:08:19] >> Sandoval: thank you.
[1:08:24] >> COUNCILWOMAN, if the public
[1:08:26] is getting a bexar county
[1:08:27] appraisal district envelope that
[1:08:29] MAY not be the best way to
[1:08:30] communicate.
[1:08:31] I think what ben is talking
[1:08:31] about.
[1:08:32] The I would remind the council
[1:08:34] that pre-pandemic this was an
[1:08:36] issue that the council talk
[1:08:37] about that I think in 2019 we
[1:08:39] started to make inroads on.
[1:08:42] We got away from that last year,
[1:08:44] and I think some of the
[1:08:45] conversation that was brought up
[1:08:50] last week at b session, remind
[1:08:52] reminded, get back into the
[1:08:53] survey, how are we getting that
[1:08:54] information to the public?
[1:08:56] there needs to be a better way
[1:08:58] to do that than maybe an
[1:09:00] appraisal district envelope.
[1:09:01] >> Sandoval: agreed.
[1:09:03] Because that is how you sign up
[1:09:05] to protest your property taxes
[1:09:06] and not everybody does that as
[1:09:07] well.
[1:09:08] Good point, different
[1:09:08] messengers.
[1:09:11] And lastly, maybe this is
[1:09:12] something we can discuss later,
[1:09:14] but you talked about the
[1:09:17] different relief we already
[1:09:19] provide through the different
[1:09:20] exemptions, and at some point in
[1:09:22] this whole budget development
[1:09:23] process you guys come back with
[1:09:27] numbers about how much money is
[1:09:29] being saved to the taxpayers
[1:09:31] through this -- could you also
[1:09:34] bring back to us sort of the
[1:09:38] money being set aside -- is that
[1:09:38] my rippinger for five minutes?
[1:09:41] Thank you, tina.
[1:09:45] For each of our different turs
[1:09:47] zones, the money not sitting in
[1:09:49] the general revenue fun but the
[1:09:50] different pots?
[1:09:50] >> yes.
[1:09:52] We can provide a report on that
[1:09:54] as well.
[1:09:55] >> Sandoval: thank you a.
[1:09:57] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:09:59] councilmember sandoval o
[1:10:00] councilmember courage.
[1:10:02] >> Courage:, thank you on the
[1:10:04] speak out sa survey, I think
[1:10:05] something was missing and I
[1:10:07] think that is asking the people
[1:10:09] who responded, what are your
[1:10:10] needs?
[1:10:13] I mean, we gave them choices but
[1:10:14] we didn't really ask them, what
[1:10:16] do you need or what does your
[1:10:17] neighborhood need?
[1:10:18] And I think that has a great
[1:10:22] value to us as we look forward,
[1:10:24] because we are already siloing a
[1:10:27] lot of money and -- in a lot of
[1:10:28] areas and we are assuming that
[1:10:29] these are the major areas, but
[1:10:31] there could be some others that
[1:10:33] we don't identify because we are
[1:10:34] not asking the community, what
[1:10:35] do you need.
[1:10:36] >> Mayor Nirenberg:.
[1:10:37] >> we are saying what do you
[1:10:39] like out of our choices?
[1:10:40] So I would just like to
[1:10:41] recommend that somehow going
[1:10:43] forward and in the future.
[1:10:48] I noticed on the trial budget
[1:10:50] information, we have listed a
[1:10:57] pool of compensation of
[1:11:01] three percent.. And does that
[1:11:02] include, you know, total pay
[1:11:02] raises?
[1:11:05] Does that include index for
[1:11:05] inflation?
[1:11:11] Does that include the pay we
[1:11:13] give for performance bonuses?
[1:11:15] Is all of that thrown into that
[1:11:19] three percent or is that just
[1:11:21] basic salary, not including
[1:11:23] performance bonuses or not
[1:11:25] including cost of living?
[1:11:27] Because it is not a very big
[1:11:28] amount considering we didn't
[1:11:29] give anything last year.
[1:11:30] So I would like to know the
[1:11:32] thinking behind that
[1:11:33] approximately at three percent.
[1:11:34] >> okay.
[1:11:35] Thank you, COUNCILMAN.
[1:11:39] So the trial budget only set
[1:11:41] aside the value of three percent
[1:11:44] of every civilian, and as we go
[1:11:47] through the JULY, we will the
[1:11:48] include within the proposed
[1:11:51] budget how that looks, and so
[1:11:54] how that looks, has looked in
[1:11:55] past years is that for
[1:11:57] professionals and managers, the
[1:11:59] it is equivalent of a
[1:12:01] three percent pool set aside for
[1:12:04] performance a and then those in
[1:12:07] our other 4,500 employees,
[1:12:10] three percent across the board
[1:12:11] wage increase.
[1:12:12] so that we are talking about the
[1:12:15] same pot of money.
[1:12:17] If anything, what I am thinking
[1:12:18] is it needs to be across the
[1:12:22] board and not a cola, and we
[1:12:23] will work through those details.
[1:12:26] But the value of that money is
[1:12:29] .. Three percent of every
[1:12:32] civilian's salary.
[1:12:33] >> Courage: yes that appears
[1:12:35] to be too small.
[1:12:36] You saying nothing last year,
[1:12:37] this year three percent.
[1:12:38] So over the last two years
[1:12:40] people have gotten a one and a
[1:12:43] half percent increase in their
[1:12:45] pay, and it
[1:12:47] -- it isn't including
[1:12:50] performance for high performing,
[1:12:52] which I don't often think is
[1:12:53] something that we have to put
[1:12:55] out there, but I think there is
[1:12:57] some kind of a value to that in
[1:12:59] some situations.
[1:13:01] And then, you know, you are
[1:13:01] saying cost of living is
[1:13:04] included in there, and so,
[1:13:06] really, you are not getting any
[1:13:07] kind of a pay increase when you
[1:13:08] talk about the cost of living
[1:13:09] that people have been paying for
[1:13:11] two years.
[1:13:13] So I am going to want to
[1:13:14] to have a
[1:13:16] lot more conversation about that
[1:13:18] amount as far as compensation
[1:13:20] goes for our employees.
[1:13:22] The last thing I wanted to talk
[1:13:25] about was going back to taxes
[1:13:28] and tax relief.
[1:13:32] Ben, you provided a very good
[1:13:35] synopsis of what it would take
[1:13:37] if it was recommended from this
[1:13:39] council that we would increase
[1:13:40] that homestead exemption,
[1:13:42] whether we increased it to
[1:13:44] one percent, two percent,
[1:13:46] three percent, four percent or
[1:13:47] five percent.
[1:13:48] Have you distributed that to all
[1:13:49] of the councilmembers?
[1:13:51] >>, no I have not.
[1:13:53] >> Courage: do you have it you
[1:13:54] could put up on the screen do
[1:13:54] show?
[1:13:55] >> yes, sir, I do.
[1:13:57] >> Courage: I think it would
[1:13:59] be good for everybody to see
[1:14:01] that, so that we have an
[1:14:04] indication of what the options
[1:14:07] are if we are going to provide
[1:14:10] any tax relief for working
[1:14:10] families in the city.
[1:14:16] And that is really
[1:14:18] and that's what we're really
[1:14:18] talking about.
[1:14:20] Yes, 45% of our tax base is
[1:14:22] frozen because of people with
[1:14:23] disabilities, or people who are
[1:14:25] over 65.
[1:14:27] The other 55 of those people are
[1:14:29] working families.
[1:14:34] And they are seeing the values
[1:14:45] of [Lapse in audio].
[1:14:46] --- estimate for this year's
[1:14:49] budget, and help replace lost
[1:14:49] revenue.
[1:14:52] And the likelihood that there
[1:14:54] will be other avenues that we
[1:14:56] could pursue with some of that
[1:14:57] federal money.
[1:14:59] I'd like to see us, as a
[1:15:01] council, look at those kinds of
[1:15:03] numbers and understand that
[1:15:08] there's a possibility that for
[1:15:11] 7, $8 million of our budget, we
[1:15:13] could increase the tax relief
[1:15:14] that we need.
[1:15:15] So I'd ask you to present that
[1:15:19] as part of this presentation.
[1:15:19] >> sure.
[1:15:23] Happy to do that.
[1:15:29] We've got slides that I can go
[1:15:31] through as well.
[1:15:33] I'll start with this one.
[1:15:35] The slide that we talked about.
[1:15:38] So let me explain this a little
[1:15:38] bit.
[1:15:40] This is kind of giving you a
[1:15:42] snapshot of what our current
[1:15:43] exemption looks like, and then
[1:15:45] if you were to increase it.
[1:15:48] So on the far left, we've given
[1:15:50] you some examples of a homestead
[1:15:54] value ranging from 100,000 to
[1:15:54] 600,000.
[1:15:56] It's showing you the total
[1:15:57] taxes, not just the city's
[1:15:59] portion of that, but the total
[1:16:02] tax bill on those homes.
[1:16:04] It shows you the city's tax bill
[1:16:05] next to that.
[1:16:07] And then as I mentioned before,
[1:16:09] when the council adopted the
[1:16:11] homestead exemption, we had to
[1:16:12] adopt a personal.
[1:16:15] But we did.01%.
[1:16:16] It was intentional to trigger
[1:16:19] the minimum $5,000 that's
[1:16:22] allowed under state law.
[1:16:24] So you can see currently,
[1:16:25] regardless of whether we're
[1:16:28] talking about $100,000 home or
[1:16:31] $600,000 home, [Lapse in audio]
[1:16:32] Taxable value exemption, that
[1:16:35] results in $28 a year in
[1:16:37] property tax savings.
[1:16:38] Now, I'm going to switch to the
[1:16:41] right side, and talk a little
[1:16:43] bit about the incremental
[1:16:46] impact, if we were to move
[1:16:46] towards increasing that
[1:16:47] exemption.
[1:16:49] So I'm going to try to do this
[1:16:49] quickly.
[1:16:52] If you look at the 1% column,
[1:16:56] you see zeros all the way down,
[1:16:59] with the exception of a [Lapse
[1:16:59] in audio] Home.
[1:17:03] Why is that, because 1% of those
[1:17:06] values, less than $500,000, is
[1:17:08] less than a $500 exemption.
[1:17:10] So they're not going to get
[1:17:12] additional property tax savings.
[1:17:14] The only homes that would get it
[1:17:16] have a taxable value greater
[1:17:21] than 500,000.
[1:17:22] [Lapse in audio] $95,000 to the
[1:17:22] city.
[1:17:23] I'm going to flip all the way to
[1:17:27] the far right.
[1:17:28] Again, under state law, you can
[1:17:30] go up to 20% is the total that's
[1:17:32] allowed.
[1:17:35] We're just giving a range here
[1:17:37] of 1 to 5.
[1:17:39] [Lapse in audio] You can see the
[1:17:42] cost to the city on the bottom.
[1:17:44] [Lapse in audio] You see the
[1:17:45] $100,000 value I have listed
[1:17:46] there.
[1:17:48] There's no incremental savings
[1:17:54] to the homeowner, because
[1:18:00] (Indiscernible) Is still $5,000.
[1:18:01] So there would be no additional
[1:18:03] property tax savings there.
[1:18:05] You see $200,000, they would go
[1:18:07] from the current $28 that they
[1:18:10] get a year, they would get an
[1:18:12] additional (Indiscernible) In
[1:18:13] property tax savings.
[1:18:16] And to the $600,000 home, you
[1:18:22] get $139 in savings.
[1:18:26] And again, based on the 5% of a
[1:18:31] $600,000 home, is [Lapse in
[1:18:33] audio] Incremental impact.
[1:18:35] I'll point out with the 139,
[1:18:38] just keep that in context, that
[1:18:41] homeowner at 600,000 is probably
[1:18:42] paying somewhere around
[1:18:43] (Indiscernible) In property
[1:18:45] taxes.
[1:18:48] To generate that savings, that
[1:18:49] incremental savings I've got
[1:18:54] listed there, the impact is $7.3
[1:18:54] million to the city.
[1:18:58] That would be $.5 million in the
[1:18:58] general fund.
[1:19:01] Let me stop for a second.
[1:19:03] For the new councilmembers, when
[1:19:04] we adopted our tax rate, when we
[1:19:06] come to you in the budget
[1:19:12] process, we actually ask you
[1:19:18] [Lapse in audio] One's called
[1:19:18] mamt
[1:19:21] maintenance tax for the basic
[1:19:21] services.
[1:19:22] The second one supports our bond
[1:19:25] capacity.
[1:19:27] So in this example, the general
[1:19:29] fund impact would be about $.5
[1:19:31] million in lost revenue.
[1:19:34] The increment lost to the debt
[1:19:36] service fund is $2.8 million in
[1:19:38] revenue, but on that side we use
[1:19:40] the revenue to generate bond
[1:19:41] capacity.
[1:19:43] If you take the (Indiscernible)
[1:19:45] And I look at the interest of
[1:19:46] the environment we're in now, I
[1:19:48] expect it to be for the next
[1:19:49] several years, that probably
[1:19:52] leverages in the neighborhood of
[1:19:53] 45 to $50 million in debt
[1:19:57] capacity, or project capacity.
[1:19:59] I have other slides that have
[1:20:00] other stats that I can go
[1:20:02] through, or we can stop there at
[1:20:02] this point.
[1:20:05] But this kind of summarizes the
[1:20:07] impact in terms if we were to
[1:20:09] increase the exemption.
[1:20:10] >> Courage: thank you, ben.
[1:20:12] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:20:13] councilmember courage.
[1:20:15] Just so I'm clear on that bottom
[1:20:18] line, that homestead value,
[1:20:23] total tax bill is roughly
[1:20:27] $16,517 with 5% exemption on the
[1:20:27] homestead.
[1:20:30] The homeowner would [Lapse in
[1:20:33] audio] In relief.
[1:20:34] >> yes.
[1:20:37] Actually, off the city tax bill,
[1:20:40] the taxable bill is 16,500.
[1:20:40] >> Mayor Nirenberg: that's less
[1:20:41] than 1% off their total tax
[1:20:42] bill.
[1:20:43] >> yes.
[1:20:46] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[1:20:51] Councilmember rocha garcia.
[1:20:52] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you,
[1:20:52] mayor.
[1:20:54] And thank you, ben.
[1:20:57] Since you have it up, we met
[1:20:58] yesterday and I asked you if you
[1:21:01] had the average of value of
[1:21:02] homestead (Indiscernible) In my
[1:21:02] district.
[1:21:03] I was trying to figure out how
[1:21:05] many of my residents would be
[1:21:09] able to benefit if we went to a
[1:21:09] 5%.
[1:21:12] >> I do.
[1:21:23] [Lapse in audio]
[1:21:25] [Lost audio].
[1:21:28] >> real quick, comparison to
[1:21:30] other texas cities, because that
[1:21:34] has come up often, I shared this
[1:21:36] slide with COUNCILMAN Courage.
[1:21:38] You'll note that houston, austin
[1:21:43] and dallas have higher [Lapse in
[1:21:45] audio]
[1:21:46] Audio].
[1:21:48] If you look to the far right,
[1:21:50] one big difference between those
[1:21:52] cities, I mentioned the senior
[1:21:53] tax increase.
[1:21:53] They do not.
[1:21:57] So that means that all the
[1:21:58] homesteads in those cities
[1:21:59] increased every year.
[1:22:01] 45% of ours, that slide I showed
[1:22:05] you before, once you hit 65, the
[1:22:07] tax bill stops growing.
[1:22:10] It's locked in
[1:22:16] things, also, the tax rate.
[1:22:21] The average homestead -- you can
[1:22:24] see austin at $400,000.
[1:22:24] That's the average homestead in
[1:22:28] austin.
[1:22:29] I just wanted to give you a
[1:22:31] little bit of context as you
[1:22:33] look at and compare us to other
[1:22:34] cities, that it's kind of
[1:22:35] important to look at all of
[1:22:37] those elements.
[1:22:40] I think the senior tax freeze is
[1:22:41] certainly a great option that we
[1:22:42] offer here, when you turn age
[1:22:46] 65.
[1:22:48] You asked about market value,
[1:22:54] and we were able to pull taxable
[1:22:58] value.
[1:22:59] [Lapse in audio] In each of your
[1:23:00] districts.
[1:23:03] I hope that can lead to also
[1:23:06] options for us to pursue in the
[1:23:07] next legislative session.
[1:23:09] Because we really need
[1:23:10] additional options and tools
[1:23:12] that allow us to be more
[1:23:13] strategic, how we address
[1:23:15] property tax relief.
[1:23:16] It is very different when you
[1:23:17] look across the city.
[1:23:19] You see that here.
[1:23:23] You see a pretty big range in
[1:23:27] value here from the market value
[1:23:29] [Lapse in audio] $88,000 in
[1:23:31] district 5, out to a high of
[1:23:37] almost 322,000 in district 9.
[1:23:38] The difference between the
[1:23:41] marketable and taxable value is
[1:23:42] exemptions.
[1:23:45] Over 65, those freezes come into
[1:23:47] play.
[1:23:48] Average taxable [Lapse in audio]
[1:23:55] Up to about 267,000 in d-9.
[1:23:57] This is just, really quickly,
[1:24:00] just looking at different
[1:24:03] homestead values, less than
[1:24:04] 100,000.
[1:24:08] 100,000 to 200,000, and it goes
[1:24:09] on down.
[1:24:13] Of the homesteads in the bexar
[1:24:15] appraisal district, it was about
[1:24:18] 85% of our homesteads have a
[1:24:23] value of less than $300,000.
[1:24:24] If you look across the city.
[1:24:25] I just went over this slide.
[1:24:27] And I had one other one, just to
[1:24:29] try to help a little bit with
[1:24:32] the previous -- with this slide,
[1:24:34] sort of why is there not an
[1:24:37] impact at the $100,000 level.
[1:24:38] It's this.
[1:24:40] Bars on the left there, again,
[1:24:42] 100,000 to 600,000.
[1:24:44] We currently have in place
[1:24:46] the.01 exemption.
[1:24:50] Because it's less than $5,000,
[1:24:52] it triggers minimum under state
[1:24:52] law.
[1:24:54] It doesn't matter what the value
[1:24:55] of the home is.
[1:24:56] It's $5,000.
[1:24:59] When we move to 5% exemption,
[1:25:01] it's 5% of the home value.
[1:25:03] 5% of 100,000 is still 5,000,
[1:25:06] that's why they're not getting
[1:25:07] any additional property tax
[1:25:07] relief.
[1:25:08] The higher the value of the
[1:25:11] home, the bigger the exemption.
[1:25:13] The $600,000 home in this case
[1:25:16] would be $30,000 taxable
[1:25:17] exemption.
[1:25:18] It's based on that percentage.
[1:25:20] Again, this is one of the
[1:25:22] reasons we were trying to give
[1:25:24] the ability to offer a fixed
[1:25:25] dollar amount exemption.
[1:25:28] We've not been able to get that
[1:25:30] passed at the legislature yet.
[1:25:32] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you, ben.
[1:25:35] I think [Lapse in audio] I think
[1:25:36] that's the only way we're going
[1:25:40] to make it meaningful.
[1:25:42] Somebody pointed out earlier
[1:25:44] that they don't read the
[1:25:47] envelopes from the bexar county
[1:25:48] appraisal district.
[1:25:48] And we do.
[1:25:49] It works for some people.
[1:25:51] For some it doesn't.
[1:25:55] I want to tell you, and I shared
[1:25:55] this with ben, but I had a
[1:25:59] meeting with troy elliott and
[1:26:01] the folks, I think on monday,
[1:26:03] and they came in with boxes and
[1:26:05] binders for me and the tax code.
[1:26:06] It was really interesting,
[1:26:09] because they said no
[1:26:10] councilmember in 18 years had
[1:26:11] asked for a meeting with them.
[1:26:13] So I think before we make any
[1:26:14] decisions, we should probably
[1:26:16] make sure that they come in and
[1:26:18] they talk to us.
[1:26:21] And maybe I would offer that you
[1:26:23] meet [Lapse in audio] I went
[1:26:24] through their proposed budget
[1:26:28] for 2022, and I had lots of
[1:26:30] questions, and (Indiscernible)
[1:26:31] Can attest that he answered
[1:26:35] every one of my questions.
[1:26:37] I was very impressed [Lapse in
[1:26:40] audio] With the folks.
[1:26:42] I'd be afraid of, if we don't
[1:26:48] have all of the information for
[1:26:48] this.
[1:26:49] Also be cautious about what it
[1:26:50] does in regards to social
[1:26:50] services.
[1:26:53] Because we saw out there, for
[1:26:55] instance [Lapse in audio]
[1:26:59] Benefit at all from be ing
[1:27:01] ing [Lapse
[1:27:02] in audio].
[1:27:04] I know we don't have enough time
[1:27:06] to discuss this today probably.
[1:27:06] But this is huge.
[1:27:08] I think we need to consider all
[1:27:10] of the options.
[1:27:13] I'll get off my soapbox on that,
[1:27:15] ben, because I think I've done
[1:27:15] that.
[1:27:16] The other questions I had.
[1:27:20] One was specifically for an --
[1:27:21] COUNCILMAN Courage brought this
[1:27:23] up, so thank you for that.
[1:27:25] Partially restore the civilian
[1:27:25] freeze.
[1:27:29] Can you remind me who is
[1:27:30] included in the partially
[1:27:45] restored employees?
[1:27:45] >> thank you.
[1:27:48] The hiring freeze for fiscal
[1:27:50] year 2021 included all civilian
[1:27:52] employees in the general fund.
[1:27:54] So that includes our police and
[1:27:59] fire, also our 911 call centers,
[1:28:02] municipal court employees, 311
[1:28:04] call takers as well.
[1:28:06] So everybody else in the office,
[1:28:09] finance, parks, are part of that
[1:28:15] hiring freeze.
[1:28:18] We always have attrition, so we
[1:28:19] feel comfortable it partially
[1:28:22] allows us to provide the
[1:28:24] services to our community and
[1:28:26] also be financially responsible
[1:28:26] for 2022.
[1:28:27] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you for
[1:28:35] that.
[1:28:42] [Lapse in audio].
[1:28:45] >> potentially, yes.
[1:28:47] >> Rocha Garcia: okay, got it.
[1:28:50] On the d-4 stats, oh, actually,
[1:28:51] ben, you presented that, so
[1:28:54] we're good.
[1:28:57] On the council district
[1:28:58] feedback, district 4 has the
[1:29:01] least participation, 3.6%.
[1:29:03] [Lapse in audio] On figuring out
[1:29:06] how to increase that, I would be
[1:29:06] happy to block off whatever you
[1:29:07] want me to do.
[1:29:09] And also to the mayor's point,
[1:29:11] and I asked two years ago when I
[1:29:12] got here, and I was new to this,
[1:29:15] and I teach marketing research.
[1:29:19] So I asked about just making
[1:29:22] sure [Lapse in audio] And what
[1:29:24] kind of statistical analysis
[1:29:25] goes into this.
[1:29:28] Like, how do we make sure we are
[1:29:31] representative -- that we have a
[1:29:32] representative sample of the
[1:29:33] entire population.
[1:29:36] While I appreciate the effort,
[1:29:38] [Lapse in audio] By block
[1:29:40] walking, we don't have access to
[1:29:41] all these communities.
[1:29:44] Maybe people work during the
[1:29:45] day.
[1:29:47] So I would be very cautious as
[1:29:47] to that.
[1:29:50] I would like to continue that
[1:29:57] conversation and maybe like sa
[1:29:58] 2020 engaged so many folks.
[1:30:00] Maybe we can figure out how to
[1:30:02] learn what they did in their
[1:30:03] process.
[1:30:04] And increasing that number of
[1:30:08] the ethnic participation [Lapse
[1:30:12] in audio] And if we do
[1:30:13] door-to-door strategy, people
[1:30:16] are going to be working again.
[1:30:18] So those are my comments.
[1:30:18] Thank you.
[1:30:20] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:30:26] councilmember rocha garcia.
[1:30:31] Councilmember cabello havrda.
[1:30:32] >> Cabello Havrda: thank you.
[1:30:35] With the retrievable fee, we
[1:30:37] talked about the benefit really
[1:30:40] to the community outweighed the
[1:30:42] cost, the $200,000 cost to the
[1:30:44] city, reminding us that these
[1:30:47] are people who are arrested, not
[1:30:47] convicted.
[1:30:49] And I want to quickly -- I did
[1:30:53] the ccr in JANUARY of this year
[1:30:53] [Lapse in audio] Rocha garcia
[1:30:57] for signing that on.
[1:30:58] And I'm glad we're talking about
[1:31:02] it now.
[1:31:13] The property [Lapse in audio] A
[1:31:25] reminder that they have been
[1:31:25] arrested, they have not been
[1:31:25] convicted.
[1:31:26] Coming up to the $25 could be a
[1:31:26] barrier for them to get to work.
[1:31:26] Of course, that's going to have
[1:31:26] an economic impact on our city
[1:31:27] if they can't get to work.
[1:31:30] So I think that the $200,000
[1:31:35] cost to the city is heavily
[1:31:36] outweighed by [Lapse in audio]
[1:31:36] Our communities.
[1:31:38] To the homestead exemption,
[1:31:40] because I really -- I supported
[1:31:43] it a couple of years ago when we
[1:31:44] initiated it, and I still
[1:31:45] believe it was the right thing
[1:31:46] to do.
[1:31:48] I think it was necessary to
[1:31:49] [Lapse in audio].
[1:31:51] Seeing ben's numbers are
[1:31:51] sobering.
[1:31:53] The first three clumsy think
[1:31:55] were 100, 200, 300.
[1:31:57] I would say that's where my
[1:31:59] district falls in that, and it's
[1:32:01] not much of an increase.
[1:32:03] The mayor opened our meeting
[1:32:07] today noting that [Lapse in
[1:32:11] audio] And seeing those, the
[1:32:12] surveys, results in my district,
[1:32:15] they want to see an increase in
[1:32:17] senior services and public
[1:32:18] health.
[1:32:21] So I'm having a problem seeing
[1:32:25] an increase in the exemption,
[1:32:27] what my district has said they
[1:32:30] want to see.
[1:32:32] I do have a question about the
[1:32:34] wage increase.
[1:32:38] i think it was slide 7 or 8.
[1:32:41] Regarding our compensation
[1:32:42] increase.
[1:32:48] Is that a wage increase?
[1:32:51] >> yes, that's the value of what
[1:32:53] we've set aside within the
[1:32:54] budget, yes.
[1:32:55] >> Cabello Havrda: it's not a
[1:32:56] one-time increase?
[1:32:58] >> no, ma'am.
[1:33:01] We built that through our
[1:33:02] five-year financial forecast.
[1:33:03] >> Cabello Havrda: thank you.
[1:33:06] And lastly, the survey, I would
[1:33:12] ask if we can ask people if they
[1:33:15] have an impairment that renders
[1:33:16] them [Lapse in audio].
[1:33:19] I like the demographic you have.
[1:33:20] If we could add a question,
[1:33:22] whether they want to report that
[1:33:23] they are a disabled person.
[1:33:25] >> that's a great suggestion,
[1:33:25] COUNCILWOMAN.
[1:33:28] We'll do that, and we'll take
[1:33:30] note, COUNCILMAN Courage, of
[1:33:32] what you need.
[1:33:34] The survey does have an
[1:33:36] open-ended option for those
[1:33:38] questions, but we got almost
[1:33:39] 4,000 comments that we'll
[1:33:40] provide to you as we move
[1:33:41] forward in the process.
[1:33:42] But thank you for that.
[1:33:44] >> Cabello Havrda: thank you.
[1:33:46] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:33:48] councilmember cabello havrda.
[1:33:51] Councilmember rodriguez.
[1:33:54] >> I want to start by saying
[1:33:56] that based on these results, I'm
[1:34:02] a little disheartened by the
[1:34:04] results given, district 2 only
[1:34:06] had 6% of the results.
[1:34:08] So now I feel the onus is going
[1:34:11] to be on me.
[1:34:14] You know, to really examine what
[1:34:15] region of the city is, how much
[1:34:17] my district is being reached.
[1:34:19] I would also like to know, is it
[1:34:21] possible to get information on
[1:34:25] which demographics were reached
[1:34:27] through each side of the
[1:34:30] outreach method?
[1:34:31] So, like an age breakdown by
[1:34:37] mailers, by the social media?
[1:34:39] >> I'm not sure if we can
[1:34:40] calculate that, because those
[1:34:42] were sort of outward pushes.
[1:34:46] I'm not sure we know the demo
[1:34:47] demographics
[1:34:47] demo
[1:34:49] demographics of the receiver and
[1:34:50] whatnot.
[1:34:51] We definitely want to work with
[1:34:51] you.
[1:34:53] I think part of the reason for
[1:34:55] the lower numbers, frankly, was
[1:34:58] transitioning council offices.
[1:35:00] Now that we're here, we want to
[1:35:01] get committed to do that.
[1:35:04] That's why erik directed us to
[1:35:06] keep the survey open longer and
[1:35:08] we'll follow it in short order.
[1:35:08] >> absolutely.
[1:35:10] I'm looking at the different
[1:35:13] methods of outreach.
[1:35:16] I might have missed it, but were
[1:35:17] text messages an outreach?
[1:35:18] >> no.
[1:35:20] It was not.
[1:35:22] And we were talking earlier that
[1:35:25] one of the tactics will bring up
[1:35:28] those other districts, is target
[1:35:30] a district with lower responses
[1:35:31] with more texts specifically so
[1:35:32] we could get the numbers higher
[1:35:33] there.
[1:35:36] We don't want to do that
[1:35:37] citywide and create the same
[1:35:39] difference in the demographics,
[1:35:41] we really need to refocus our
[1:35:42] efforts on the area to get more
[1:35:44] of a representative response.
[1:35:46] >> I really appreciate that.
[1:35:48] And then I want to echo
[1:35:50] COUNCILWOMAN Sandoval's
[1:35:51] sentiments about language.
[1:35:53] I want to talk about language.
[1:35:59] I don't mean english or spanish,
[1:36:03] but as it relates to the [Lapse
[1:36:03] in audio].
[1:36:05] i think we can't get accurate
[1:36:07] results if people have these
[1:36:09] limited -- this -- if there's
[1:36:12] room for interpretation.
[1:36:14] I will echo the sentments of
[1:36:16] cabello havrda in regards to the
[1:36:19] $25 feet for property retrieval.
[1:36:20] I don't think that $200,000 that
[1:36:24] we're getting in revenue is
[1:36:26] worth the impact it has on those
[1:36:27] individuals.
[1:36:29] I'd also like to echo the
[1:36:33] sentiments of conferred and
[1:36:35] COUNCILMAN Garcia, I want to be
[1:36:38] supportive of it, but looking at
[1:36:39] the impacts it will have in our
[1:36:42] social serviceses and our
[1:36:43] ability to provide for the
[1:36:46] working class people that it
[1:36:47] provides for.
[1:36:49] I don't think in good
[1:36:50] conscience, knowing that
[1:36:52] receiving this, I can be
[1:36:52] supportive.
[1:36:55] But I look forward to that
[1:36:55] conversation.
[1:36:57] Thank you.
[1:36:58] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[1:37:02] >> thank you, COUNCILMAN
[1:37:02] Rodriguez.
[1:37:03] COUNCILMAN Perry.
[1:37:07] >> Perry: thank you, ma'am.
[1:37:10] This was a lightning rod last
[1:37:13] time, when we approved it.
[1:37:14] Actually, it took three years to
[1:37:16] work towards a homestead
[1:37:18] exemption, to start one, at the
[1:37:19] lowest level.
[1:37:21] And here we are two years later
[1:37:25] after we started the first time,
[1:37:29] and, you know, it's a big
[1:37:31] discussion again.
[1:37:34] Let me start with saying, why
[1:37:35] wasn't property tax relief on
[1:37:36] the survey?
[1:37:40] As one of the options to pick?
[1:37:42] I mean, we knew we were going to
[1:37:43] be discussing it again this
[1:37:45] year.
[1:37:48] >> we asked about programs.
[1:37:50] it is an open-ended -- we do
[1:37:53] have open-ended comments on it.
[1:37:54] At one point in the process, I
[1:37:56] checked on this this week, when
[1:37:59] we had 2,500 open-ended
[1:38:00] responses, we had about 200
[1:38:02] comments related to property
[1:38:04] taxes one way or another.
[1:38:06] They do have that option in the
[1:38:07] open-ended part.
[1:38:12] It isn't a program per se.
[1:38:14] >> Perry: I would argue that
[1:38:16] part, because it really is a
[1:38:17] program, because it's a cost to
[1:38:19] the city, of the general fund.
[1:38:21] So I would say that it is a
[1:38:24] program that we need to identify
[1:38:27] separately on the survey.
[1:38:29] But again, there's always a hess
[1:38:32] tapsy, looking at that number of
[1:38:34] $7 million.
[1:38:37] But let me remind everybody that
[1:38:39] we've got a number since I've
[1:38:43] been on con sil
[1:38:44] uncil, we have a pilot
[1:38:48] program.
[1:38:51] Ben, do you have the slide that
[1:38:56] shows 20% impacts?
[1:38:58] There's always a hesitancy.
[1:39:00] But these other pilot programs,
[1:39:03] it seems like they flow through
[1:39:04] without any additional comments.
[1:39:08] I mean, we've approved
[1:39:10] increases -- I mean, we started
[1:39:12] this homeless hotel, over $3
[1:39:14] million a year, that I'm sure is
[1:39:16] going to turn into a permanent
[1:39:19] fixture here in san antonio.
[1:39:20] And that's 30 million bucks a
[1:39:25] year.
[1:39:28] The alamo promise, you can see
[1:39:30] that's doubled in one year.
[1:39:33] Project quest has gone up.
[1:39:35] All of these other programs,
[1:39:38] under one roof program, that has
[1:39:40] grown astronomically.
[1:39:43] But when it comes to homestead
[1:39:45] exemptions, where we can apply
[1:39:48] something that affects a broad
[1:39:51] range of homeowners that are
[1:39:52] struggling with that property
[1:39:55] tax increase every year, we're
[1:39:56] hesitant.
[1:39:57] We're hesitant about that.
[1:40:00] I'm not sure why.
[1:40:02] That all these other programs
[1:40:05] are great, but offering
[1:40:07] something that covers a much
[1:40:09] more broad base to san antonians
[1:40:12] that are homeowners, we have
[1:40:12] hesitancy.
[1:40:17] I'm disappointed about that.
[1:40:19] We'll discuss this a little bit
[1:40:19] more.
[1:40:22] But did you have that slide,
[1:40:22] ben?
[1:40:23] >> COUNCILMAN, I do not have the
[1:40:26] slide that shows what the 20%
[1:40:27] exemption would look like.
[1:40:28] >> Perry: yeah, I think we need
[1:40:30] to get those figures to see
[1:40:32] that, compared to the 5%.
[1:40:34] Because people are saying, it's
[1:40:35] not impacting my district.
[1:40:37] Well, heck, let's go to 20% like
[1:40:39] other cities and show what that
[1:40:39] impact is.
[1:40:43] Both in cost and the impact to
[1:40:43] homeowners.
[1:40:45] That's what I'd like to get up
[1:40:46] to, to match other cities here
[1:40:46] in texas.
[1:40:50] 20%.
[1:40:55] This is only the next -- to me,
[1:40:57] logical step going to 5%,
[1:40:58] instead of going all the way to
[1:40:59] 20%.
[1:41:01] Is it going to take three years
[1:41:03] of hammering away that we need
[1:41:06] to offer more in homestead
[1:41:06] exemptions?
[1:41:09] I'm not just talking about the
[1:41:10] city, I think we need to as a
[1:41:14] city to also work with bexar
[1:41:15] county, the hospital district,
[1:41:17] the school districts, the san
[1:41:18] antonio river authority, all
[1:41:21] those are taxing entities that
[1:41:23] don't offer homestead
[1:41:23] exemptions.
[1:41:25] some of them do here and there,
[1:41:29] but the vast majority of [Lapse
[1:41:32] in audio] As leaders of this
[1:41:33] city work with the other
[1:41:36] entities to get them to say,
[1:41:40] hey, yeah, let's give a break to
[1:41:40] homeowners.
[1:41:42] The school districts are the
[1:41:45] majority of the tax bills out
[1:41:45] there.
[1:41:46] I understand school funding,
[1:41:49] what comes down from the state,
[1:41:53] what's raising property taxes,
[1:41:55] but I think they need to
[1:41:56] recognize that just as much as
[1:41:58] we do to help the working class
[1:41:59] homeowners here in san antonio.
[1:41:59] So that's all I have today on
[1:42:02] that right now.
[1:42:07] Just wanted to say, we had a
[1:42:08] scientific study that said
[1:42:11] people want more police.
[1:42:12] Want more police visibility out
[1:42:13] there.
[1:42:15] I think that's a given, that we
[1:42:18] need to look at increasing our
[1:42:19] police force.
[1:42:22] And just one more, streets and
[1:42:24] sidewalks, almost always number
[1:42:25] one at the top of the list.
[1:42:28] That's all, sir, thank you.
[1:42:30] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:42:34] councilmember perry.
[1:42:35] Councilmember bravo.
[1:42:37] >> I'm happy to support you to
[1:42:39] going out to the other entities
[1:42:41] in the county and do their share
[1:42:42] of tax relief.
[1:42:43] When we look at tax relief here
[1:42:45] in the city, I want to make
[1:42:48] sure, you know, this is a city
[1:42:50] of [Lapse in audio].
[1:42:52] I want to make sure we are
[1:42:54] prioritizing taking care of our
[1:42:56] most vulnerable, making sure
[1:42:57] we're not taxing people out of
[1:42:58] their homes.
[1:43:01] That's why I propose that we
[1:43:02] proactively going into the zip
[1:43:03] codes and make sure everybody
[1:43:05] who qualifies for homestead
[1:43:06] exemption has one.
[1:43:08] Help everybody who's about to
[1:43:10] turn 65 protest their appraisals
[1:43:12] so they can bring their
[1:43:14] appraisal down so that when
[1:43:15] their property taxes are frozen,
[1:43:17] it's going to be at a lower
[1:43:17] rate.
[1:43:18] And something that will be
[1:43:21] meaningful as they age out on a
[1:43:22] limited fixed income.
[1:43:27] Ben, can I get you to pop up and
[1:43:28] go to slide 21, please?
[1:43:31] One thing I'm looking at is, you
[1:43:34] know, in our city of haves and
[1:43:39] have-nots, we -- one determinant
[1:43:41] of your life expectancy is the
[1:43:42] zip code you live in, right?
[1:43:44] So how does that play out when
[1:43:52] we look at property taxes, and
[1:43:54] getting the tax [Lapse in audio]
[1:43:56] When you're a senior citizen.
[1:43:59] We're looking at the $759
[1:44:01] example where it stays flat at
[1:44:04] the age of 65, right?
[1:44:05] What is the impact of that?
[1:44:11] I mean, part of that is [Lapse
[1:44:13] in audio] Impact on your life
[1:44:16] is, how long do you live, right?
[1:44:20] If you go to district 2, the
[1:44:24] life expectancy, 67.6 years.
[1:44:28] So you get that tax break for
[1:44:29] 2.6 years on average in your
[1:44:32] life.
[1:44:36] You go to district 7, zip code
[1:44:40] 78254, the life expectancy is
[1:44:41] 89.2 years.
[1:44:43] So you get to benefit from that
[1:44:47] flat line there, that $759, I
[1:44:49] guess that you're paying every
[1:44:53] year on property taxes --
[1:44:53] >> (Indiscernible).
[1:44:55] >> 24.2 years.
[1:44:56] And so we need to be looking at
[1:44:59] the whole picture here.
[1:45:03] And so I think it's really
[1:45:04] important for people who don't
[1:45:09] have a homestead exemption, who
[1:45:12] because of lack of information,
[1:45:13] possibly because they are
[1:45:14] working two jobs and they don't
[1:45:17] have time to go and, you know,
[1:45:19] learn about this stuff, and file
[1:45:21] for a homestead exemption, or
[1:45:23] they don't have the time to go
[1:45:25] and challenge their property tax
[1:45:27] appraisal, you know, these
[1:45:28] people are -- they're
[1:45:30] shouldering a disproportionate
[1:45:32] amount of the community's tax
[1:45:34] burden, and we need to go be
[1:45:36] proactive about, you know, first
[1:45:40] of all, to how we do that, maybe
[1:45:43] we carve off some money in the
[1:45:52] budget to provide some funds
[1:45:55] [Lapse in audio] Nonprofits.
[1:45:56] Maybe there are trusted
[1:45:57] messengers there, and they have
[1:46:00] a whole network there.
[1:46:03] We had some conversations about
[1:46:04] how we can be creative in
[1:46:06] fine-tuning who we're going
[1:46:06] after.
[1:46:08] I'm hope to how we do it, but I
[1:46:09] think that's something we need
[1:46:11] to do.
[1:46:15] And so when you're talking about
[1:46:18] prompt tax relief, I think we
[1:46:21] need to start with those who are
[1:46:23] most vulnerable, who are most at
[1:46:27] risk for being taxed out of
[1:46:28] their homes.
[1:46:30] I knocked on people's doors in
[1:46:32] campaigning for this seat, and I
[1:46:35] saw a "for sale" sign out in
[1:46:39] front of their house.
[1:46:42] I'm asking, who is this I'm
[1:46:43] talking to?
[1:46:46] This woman said her home was for
[1:46:49] sale, she had -- this home had
[1:46:51] been in her family for three
[1:46:51] generations.
[1:46:53] It was her grandmother's home,
[1:46:55] and her mother inherited it.
[1:46:57] And then she inherited it.
[1:47:00] And she's a senior citizen now,
[1:47:01] and she couldn't afford the
[1:47:03] property taxes.
[1:47:05] They were $4,000 a month.
[1:47:06] so she was selling the home that
[1:47:08] she grew up in, that was in her
[1:47:10] family for three generations.
[1:47:12] And that's what I want to
[1:47:12] prioritize.
[1:47:14] I want to make sure we're not
[1:47:16] taxing those people out of their
[1:47:16] homes.
[1:47:17] Thank you.
[1:47:19] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:47:20] councilmember bravo.
[1:47:21] Councilmember castillo.
[1:47:23] >> I wanted to comment on the
[1:47:28] speak up results.
[1:47:28] [Lapse in audio] The
[1:47:30] neighborhood and housing
[1:47:32] services department employed a
[1:47:33] great model I believe we should
[1:47:35] try to mirror the sa speak up.
[1:47:37] It was a series of questions
[1:47:40] that went out to the most
[1:47:41] vulnerable zip codes to folks.
[1:47:44] There were a lot of folks who
[1:47:47] didn't answer the doors, so we
[1:47:51] had a low contact rate.
[1:47:52] However, we learned in that
[1:47:53] process that many folks didn't
[1:47:54] have a phone number.
[1:47:56] If they provided us with a phone
[1:47:58] number, it was what they thought
[1:48:02] to be their nephew's or
[1:48:02] daughter's number.
[1:48:04] And many folks didn't have
[1:48:05] e-mail addresses.
[1:48:06] We were going door to door
[1:48:09] reaching the most vulnerable.
[1:48:11] And the people in the survey we
[1:48:12] questioned, there was the
[1:48:15] comment section we implemented,
[1:48:17] and we asked, you know, do you
[1:48:19] need assistance getting
[1:48:21] connected to a food bank, or
[1:48:23] help with getting connected to
[1:48:25] additional resources.
[1:48:27] There were a series of questions
[1:48:29] that were filtered.
[1:48:31] So for example, what we learned
[1:48:32] when asked, hey, are you
[1:48:36] experiencing issues with your
[1:48:37] (Indiscernible) Because of
[1:48:38] covid.
[1:48:40] Many folks said I was already
[1:48:42] having issues paying my
[1:48:43] utilities prior to covid.
[1:48:45] You learn a lot through these
[1:48:48] efforts, and I think it's
[1:48:49] something we should model for
[1:48:50] speak up.
[1:48:51] I think that would be beneficial
[1:48:52] to shaping the budget.
[1:48:56] In addition to that, regarding
[1:48:58] the pd property room fees, $25
[1:48:59] is a lot.
[1:49:01] That's a lot of money for people
[1:49:05] in my district.
[1:49:08] If we're targeting people to get
[1:49:11] their I.D.S, even a replacement
[1:49:14] I.D., you perpetuate the cycle
[1:49:16] of folks who can't get to work
[1:49:18] and have their basic needs met
[1:49:19] because of the $25.
[1:49:20] When we talk about property
[1:49:22] taxes, I think it's important we
[1:49:26] have an analysis of the rpfd
[1:49:28] deals, and what we're losing
[1:49:29] through those deals compared to
[1:49:31] the homestead exemption would be
[1:49:32] very beneficial.
[1:49:32] Thank you.
[1:49:33] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:49:35] councilmember castillo.
[1:49:38] And as you might look at the
[1:49:41] clock, we're about an hour over
[1:49:42] time.
[1:49:44] So we'll call a break for the
[1:49:45] rest of the day, and that
[1:49:47] includes lunch as we go along.
[1:49:49] I don't want to cut it short,
[1:49:51] but let's focus on moving on.
[1:49:53] Quick follow-up from
[1:49:56] councilmember pelaez, and then
[1:49:56] rocha garcia.
[1:49:57] >> Pelaez: thank you, mayor.
[1:50:00] Quick follow-up.
[1:50:06] I agree with you, councilmember
[1:50:07] rocha garcia.
[1:50:08] Whatever we do needs to be
[1:50:12] meaningful.
[1:50:15] I'm not sure that $28 a year,
[1:50:16] [Lapse in audio] A month.
[1:50:19] the last time we did this, you
[1:50:22] know, we were lambasted for
[1:50:26] months for bringing home a $4.30
[1:50:27] savings per month.
[1:50:27] It was an insult to a lot of
[1:50:31] people.
[1:50:31] Because it wasn't meaningful or
[1:50:34] impactful.
[1:50:36] The same anger that we saw flare
[1:50:40] up after cps offered an $8
[1:50:40] rebate.
[1:50:42] And so, you know, if we were to
[1:50:46] do a survey in district 5, let's
[1:50:51] say, or district 4, whatever,
[1:50:53] would you rather not spend $4.30
[1:50:54] a month, or would you rather
[1:50:57] have sidewalks.
[1:50:59] I bet you the answers would come
[1:51:01] back, no, I'd rather have a
[1:51:01] sidewalk.
[1:51:03] Would you be willing to, you
[1:51:08] know, enjoy $4.30 savings in
[1:51:11] exchange for lower 911 response
[1:51:11] times.
[1:51:12] I think we all know what the
[1:51:14] answer to that would be.
[1:51:16] And so an additional problem we
[1:51:19] need to keep in mind, and that
[1:51:22] is, you know, maybe razi can
[1:51:25] tell us, I'm just assuming the
[1:51:28] answer is that cement rebar and
[1:51:29] labor costs more now, right?
[1:51:31] And so the dollars that we get
[1:51:37] from our tax base go -- aren't
[1:51:38] going further, they're actually
[1:51:40] going -- it's harder and harder
[1:51:44] to build a square foot of
[1:51:44] sidewalk.
[1:51:48] So I will tell you that
[1:51:49] councilmember bravo is right.
[1:51:50] We have thousands and thousands
[1:51:54] of people who don't file for
[1:51:55] their homestead exemption and
[1:51:57] have taxes they aren't paying.
[1:51:59] And to teach them that that is
[1:52:01] available to them, they should
[1:52:02] avail themselves of.
[1:52:06] So mayor, I'll point out, we had
[1:52:08] more people show up [Lapse in
[1:52:11] audio] When we offer homestead
[1:52:13] exemption education, or how to
[1:52:15] protest your taxes classes.
[1:52:17] We have more people show up for
[1:52:21] free microchipping for your dogs
[1:52:24] than some of the social safety
[1:52:25] net campaigns.
[1:52:27] I'm going to continue to try
[1:52:29] harder to get people signed up
[1:52:32] for homestead before I offer a
[1:52:36] cosmetic fix, like doubling a
[1:52:38] meaningless home staes
[1:52:39] exemption.
[1:52:43] Thanks.
[1:52:43] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:52:43] COUNCILMAN Pelaez.
[1:52:43] To add on to the example that
[1:52:44] you gave, the vast majority of
[1:52:48] folks based on the slides would
[1:52:52] not even see a $4 relief at all.
[1:52:56] Based on homestead values.
[1:52:58] Councilmember rocha garcia.
[1:52:58] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you,
[1:53:01] mayor.
[1:53:03] To clarify, when I was asking
[1:53:04] about the employee compensation,
[1:53:09] we have a 3% for the pool for
[1:53:11] compensation that's budgeted.
[1:53:15] And I asked specifically about
[1:53:17] anything [Lapse in audio] So I
[1:53:18] just wanted to make clear I was
[1:53:21] not advocating for performance
[1:53:25] bonuses of any sort, but just
[1:53:26] adequate compensation that
[1:53:27] they've been known to be
[1:53:28] eligible for.
[1:53:29] That was it.
[1:53:29] Thank you.
[1:53:31] >> thanks for that
[1:53:33] clarification, because the city
[1:53:35] doesn't do bonuses.
[1:53:36] Right?
[1:53:38] We do performance pay.
[1:53:40] We do not do bonuses.
[1:53:42] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:53:44] councilmember rocha garcia.
[1:53:45] Councilmember sandoval.
[1:53:47] >> Sandoval: thank you, mayor.
[1:53:50] I just wanted to say that I put
[1:53:51] my position for staff when
[1:53:53] taking consensus, I am in
[1:53:55] support of removing the property
[1:53:55] room fee.
[1:53:58] And I want to thank COUNCILMAN
[1:53:58] Cabello havrda for moving
[1:54:01] forward on that.
[1:54:07] And in terms of the homestead
[1:54:07] exemption, I'm going to thank
[1:54:10] ben for -- the secret slides
[1:54:11] that you had [Lapse in audio]
[1:54:15] But I think they were very, very
[1:54:16] helpful
[1:54:18] helpful, and having seen those,
[1:54:21] I would not be supportive of
[1:54:24] moving in that direction.
[1:54:26] Just so that everybody knows not
[1:54:31] everyone in district 7 has
[1:54:31] (Indiscernible).
[1:54:33] I was going to say this earlier,
[1:54:39] when jeff showed us the
[1:54:41] by-district averages, each of
[1:54:43] our districts have 150,000
[1:54:44] people, and my district spans
[1:54:47] outside of 1604, and inside loop
[1:54:48] 10.
[1:54:49] We lose a lot of nuance when we
[1:54:50] do that.
[1:54:52] So just another thing to keep in
[1:54:55] mind when we look at the survey
[1:54:56] results.
[1:54:58] Lastly, I know some people in
[1:55:02] the survey ranked things like
[1:55:04] parks and libraries lower in
[1:55:06] terms of not wanting to cut
[1:55:06] them.
[1:55:09] I would not be supportive of any
[1:55:13] cuts to things like our road
[1:55:16] department, our parks
[1:55:18] department, even if it wasn't
[1:55:19] explicitly in there.
[1:55:21] People were forced to rank.
[1:55:23] I wouldn't be supportive of
[1:55:23] those.
[1:55:25] I'm looking at homer, I feel
[1:55:28] like they're looking right at
[1:55:28] me, or acs.
[1:55:29] Thank you.
[1:55:29] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:55:32] councilmember sandoval.
[1:55:32] Councilmember courage.
[1:55:34] >> Courage: thank you, mayor.
[1:55:35] i think it's important to
[1:55:37] realize, I don't think anybody
[1:55:40] here wants to cut any kind of a
[1:55:43] program, or not do a program.
[1:55:47] Now, I could be wrong, there MAY
[1:55:49] be something that we hear don't
[1:55:51] have the value, that maybe
[1:55:52] [Lapse in audio] When we look at
[1:55:54] it deeply, we say, it wasn't the
[1:55:54] value we thought.
[1:55:56] And I think that's kind of what
[1:56:00] people are thinking about, this
[1:56:00] homestead exemption.
[1:56:01] It doesn't have the value that
[1:56:04] maybe we initially thought.
[1:56:07] One thing I want to say is I've
[1:56:08] been on this council for four
[1:56:12] years and I don't think I've
[1:56:12] ever had a budget at the end of
[1:56:16] the year come up short.
[1:56:17] As a matter of fact, they've
[1:56:18] usually come up with 7 million
[1:56:22] left over, or 15 million left
[1:56:22] over.
[1:56:24] This year, 42 million in excess
[1:56:28] of what we budgeted.
[1:56:31] So to have a fear that by spend
[1:56:33] spending 7 1/4 million this
[1:56:34] year, we're not going to do
[1:56:39] something, I think is pretty
[1:56:39] inrealistic.
[1:56:42] And the point of this homestead
[1:56:44] exemption is not to give
[1:56:47] $600,000 home $139 extra this
[1:56:48] year.
[1:56:51] But it's part of the $300,000
[1:56:53] home that's going to get $50
[1:56:54] extra this year.
[1:56:56] But when we raise it another 5%
[1:56:59] in a couple more years, then
[1:57:01] that person [Lapse in audio]
[1:57:03] $150 extra.
[1:57:06] Or another 5%, you know, a few
[1:57:07] years after that, now maybe
[1:57:09] they're getting $400 savings.
[1:57:11] And maybe if we do it again and
[1:57:13] get to that 20% eventually, you
[1:57:16] know, they might be saving 500
[1:57:21] or 1,000, if you own a 4 or
[1:57:22] 500,000 home, that's real money
[1:57:23] to those people at that time.
[1:57:27] So this is a process.
[1:57:29] It's going gradually as well as
[1:57:31] we can afford it.
[1:57:34] If we didn't have a $42 million
[1:57:36] surplus, and I'm sorry, no one
[1:57:37] likes to use that word, but
[1:57:39] that's what I'll use, I wouldn't
[1:57:40] bring it up this year.
[1:57:41] I didn't bring it up last year,
[1:57:44] because we were in fear of
[1:57:44] having a real deficit.
[1:57:49] But we didn't.
[1:57:51] So lets think not of just a
[1:57:53] small amount today, and what we
[1:57:55] might not have, but let's think
[1:57:57] about all the property owners,
[1:57:59] including the ones you're saying
[1:58:01] that aren't even getting any
[1:58:02] homestead exemption.
[1:58:04] Do you think that at least $28
[1:58:06] this year, if we get them that
[1:58:08] exemption, do you think in four
[1:58:09] or five years they might
[1:58:11] appreciate 400 or 500 as we
[1:58:12] increase that, as we can afford
[1:58:16] to increase that over time?
[1:58:18] That's what this process is
[1:58:18] about.
[1:58:19] It's not about denying any kind
[1:58:21] of services.
[1:58:23] The income is growing and it
[1:58:24] will continue to grow.
[1:58:25] The property values are going to
[1:58:27] continue to grow.
[1:58:28] And people know their property
[1:58:30] values are going up.
[1:58:32] And they want tax relief.
[1:58:33] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:58:34] councilmember courage.
[1:58:36] Very briefly, again,
[1:58:37] councilmember bravo, and then
[1:58:40] councilmember viagran.
[1:58:43] >> I just want to make sure that
[1:58:47] we don't lose sight of the
[1:58:49] second set of slides that ben
[1:58:50] gorzell gave us.
[1:58:52] We can't just look at one side
[1:58:53] and say look what the other side
[1:58:57] is doing and we're not doing
[1:58:58] that.
[1:59:00] We're protecting senior
[1:59:02] citizens.
[1:59:03] They don't freeze taxes for
[1:59:04] senior citizens.
[1:59:07] So that changes the bottom line
[1:59:07] at the end of the day.
[1:59:08] We have to look at the whole
[1:59:10] picture.
[1:59:17] [Lapse in audio] I don't think
[1:59:21] you can do both, right?
[1:59:24] That's a tough conversation.
[1:59:25] If you want to have that
[1:59:26] conversation, let's look at the
[1:59:27] whole picture.
[1:59:28] Thank you.
[1:59:29] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[1:59:29] councilmember bravo.
[1:59:31] Councilmember viagran.
[1:59:33] >> Viagran: I want to chime in,
[1:59:34] I appreciate COUNCILMAN Perry's
[1:59:36] efforts to be a leader with the
[1:59:38] other taxing entities.
[1:59:40] I think that that's the primary
[1:59:44] point here is that we need to
[1:59:46] leave the other taxing entities
[1:59:47] in the homestead process.
[1:59:49] Because right now homestead is
[1:59:50] the only thing we have.
[1:59:54] We don't have a legacy homeowner
[1:59:55] exemption, that we would have to
[1:59:55] work for the state.
[1:59:56] So I don't think we can lose
[1:59:57] sight of that.
[2:00:00] I think we need to look at that
[2:00:02] 42 million, and the programs,
[2:00:05] that maybe we expand the
[2:00:07] services, because -- just
[2:00:09] because somebody owns a $300,000
[2:00:12] house doesn't mean that they
[2:00:14] don't [Lapse in audio]
[2:00:15] Refurbishing or winterizing or
[2:00:16] things like that.
[2:00:17] When we get to the discussions,
[2:00:20] I hope we keep that in mind.
[2:00:22] Thank you, mayor.
[2:00:23] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[2:00:24] councilmember perry.
[2:00:28] >> Perry: I totally agree with
[2:00:29] councilmember courage.
[2:00:30] i disagree with my colleague
[2:00:36] next to me that people -- I've
[2:00:37] got zero complaints about us
[2:00:39] starting that homestead
[2:00:40] exemption in district 10.
[2:00:42] In fact, I got just the
[2:00:44] opposite, where people were
[2:00:46] excited, and ecstatic that the
[2:00:47] city final ly
[2:00:50] ly passed a homestead
[2:00:51] exemption, with the
[2:00:52] understanding that we will
[2:00:54] continue to work on that, and
[2:00:56] raise it over time.
[2:00:58] Now is the right time.
[2:00:59] $42 million carryover.
[2:01:01] I don't know, ben, just a head
[2:01:03] nod, was that $6 million that we
[2:01:05] had set aside this year, was
[2:01:07] that the actual cost or was that
[2:01:09] the budgeted cost?
[2:01:15] >> COUNCILMAN, that would be
[2:01:20] very close to the actual cost.
[2:01:22] >> Perry: all right.
[2:01:24] So, yeah.
[2:01:27] I just -- $42 million carryover,
[2:01:29] and we can't afford 7 million
[2:01:30] for our homeowners that are
[2:01:33] struggling out there.
[2:01:35] That's all I've got, sir.
[2:01:36] Thanks.
[2:01:36] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:01:37] COUNCILMAN Perry.
[2:01:37] All right.
[2:01:40] That has been a helpful -- it
[2:01:42] took a little bit longer than we
[2:01:45] anticipated for the 30-minute
[2:01:45] allotment.
[2:01:47] But we're going to keep moving
[2:01:47] here.
[2:01:50] Let me turn it back to erik for
[2:01:52] any closing comments on the
[2:01:53] recap.
[2:01:54] >> thanks, mayor.
[2:01:55] So thank you for the
[2:01:55] conversation.
[2:01:56] It was helpful.
[2:02:00] I think we have an idea of where
[2:02:01] the group is at.
[2:02:04] I do want to just [Lapse in
[2:02:05] audio] The $42 million.
[2:02:10] Part of that was part of the
[2:02:16] [Lapse in audio] Took this time
[2:02:16] last year to contract our
[2:02:16] organization.
[2:02:21] And part of that $42 million
[2:02:22] [Lapse in audio] That the
[2:02:25] forecast two months ago, we saw
[2:02:28] us continuing to lag
[2:02:29] financially.
[2:02:30] And it's just been in the last
[2:02:33] two months where we've seen the
[2:02:35] serious uptick, and you remember
[2:02:37] the slides last week that it
[2:02:40] represented in sales tax and in
[2:02:41] cps.
[2:02:44] Cps is our most unpredictable
[2:02:45] revenue source.
[2:02:48] To this point it has been one of
[2:02:49] our most stable.
[2:02:51] That explains the turbulence
[2:02:52] that we've been dealing with.
[2:02:55] There is a fair amount of
[2:02:55] uncertainty.
[2:02:58] We do have $42 million, but I
[2:03:00] would say that just like we
[2:03:05] reminded the council last week,
[2:03:06] determining how long that
[2:03:10] upswing is going to go, and how
[2:03:14] high, is difficult.
[2:03:17] And I think we should proceed
[2:03:18] cautiously.
[2:03:20] And somewhat conservatively
[2:03:23] because of those facts.
[2:03:24] We are not back a hundred
[2:03:26] percent, and it will take some
[2:03:29] time for us to get back to 2019
[2:03:31] levels from an organizational
[2:03:32] stand point.
[2:03:34] I think we just need to be
[2:03:35] mindful of that.
[2:03:37] I think I have what I need for
[2:03:39] that first part, mayor.
[2:03:42] So our next section is our
[2:03:43] strategic growth health plan.
[2:03:45] And DR. Bridger will be
[2:03:48] presenting it.
[2:03:50] >> good morning, everybody.
[2:03:52] It's a long time to be sitting.
[2:03:55] You will not hurt my feelings if
[2:03:59] you need to stand up, pace, do
[2:03:59] calisthenics.
[2:04:01] I'm also going to try to go
[2:04:03] really fast to try to make up
[2:04:03] some time.
[2:04:05] So with that, we'll go ahead and
[2:04:06] get started.
[2:04:07] So what I'm going to present
[2:04:11] today is what we're calling the
[2:04:12] strategic growth plan.
[2:04:14] We started working on this
[2:04:20] growth plan back in JANUARY of
[2:04:20] 2020
[2:04:22] 2021, full of optimism, the
[2:04:23] pandemic was ending.
[2:04:25] Under the new administration
[2:04:27] there were federal resources for
[2:04:27] public health.
[2:04:29] Also through the lens of what
[2:04:30] have we learned as a result of
[2:04:33] the pandemic, and so we put
[2:04:37] together this growth plan.
[2:04:40] It does nest within our existing
[2:04:42] four-year strategic plan at the
[2:04:42] health department.
[2:04:45] It uses braided funding, and it
[2:04:48] continues our focus on early
[2:04:49] intervention, addressing the
[2:04:52] root causes of our community's
[2:04:54] most difficult and entrenched
[2:04:56] public health challenges.
[2:04:58] So has a reminder, the health
[2:04:59] department's vision is helping
[2:05:02] people thriving in a healthy
[2:05:02] community.
[2:05:04] Under our current strategic
[2:05:07] plan, our priorities are [Lapse
[2:05:10] in audio] Prevention, nutrition,
[2:05:11] access to care.
[2:05:13] The guiding principles that we
[2:05:15] used in the creation of both the
[2:05:18] existing strategic plan and this
[2:05:21] growth plan are social justice.
[2:05:23] We have four categories of
[2:05:28] expansion in this growth plan.
[2:05:31] Mental health, health justice,
[2:05:32] technology and infrastructure.
[2:05:35] I want to say health justice is
[2:05:38] a [Lapse in audio] At the health
[2:05:40] department, it represents both a
[2:05:41] focus on health equity and
[2:05:44] social justice.
[2:05:48] I'm going to go through the four
[2:05:49] categories rather quickly.
[2:05:50] You do have these slides.
[2:05:50] You have all of this
[2:05:53] information.
[2:05:56] We do have one-pagers on each of
[2:05:57] these, so if there is a
[2:05:59] particular initiative you're
[2:06:01] interested in, give me a high
[2:06:02] sign and I'll e-mail that to
[2:06:03] you.
[2:06:04] In the category of mental
[2:06:07] health, some of the activities
[2:06:08] that we would recommend
[2:06:09] undertaking is, first, hiring a
[2:06:11] chief mental health officer for
[2:06:13] the city of san antonio.
[2:06:16] We have a number of departments
[2:06:18] that are in the area of mental
[2:06:19] health, but we don't have one
[2:06:21] person who understands
[2:06:22] everything that's happening at
[2:06:23] the city.
[2:06:25] This would allow us to do that.
[2:06:26] We will also continue to build
[2:06:28] on the work that we've been
[2:06:31] doing over the last three years,
[2:06:34] specific to adverse childhood
[2:06:35] experiences and trauma-informed
[2:06:36] approaches.
[2:06:38] And we've created a certifying
[2:06:41] process for the community to go
[2:06:43] through, but what this does is
[2:06:46] strengthen that in the city.
[2:06:50] And at the end of every
[2:06:53] department certified in trauma
[2:06:54] informed care.
[2:06:57] Another one that we will work on
[2:07:01] is restorative justice
[2:07:02] initiatives with at least five
[2:07:02] schools.
[2:07:05] You know, people always ask me,
[2:07:09] if we could only do one thing to
[2:07:10] improve public health, and it
[2:07:11] surprises them when I say,
[2:07:13] invest in education.
[2:07:15] Education is the single best
[2:07:16] predictor of a person's health
[2:07:17] throughout their life.
[2:07:19] So when we have kids who are
[2:07:20] struggling, and our solution to
[2:07:24] that is to kick them out of
[2:07:27] school, we are not investing in
[2:07:30] their life-long health.
[2:07:31] So restorative justice does make
[2:07:33] a lot of sense when we think
[2:07:34] about public health.
[2:07:36] Some of the younger programs,
[2:07:39] expanding our pilot that works
[2:07:41] exceptionally well to provide
[2:07:43] cognitive behavioral therapy for
[2:07:45] kids who have been victims or
[2:07:47] witnessed violence.
[2:07:48] Really great evidence in that
[2:07:49] area.
[2:07:51] Expanding our case management
[2:07:54] services for domestic violence
[2:07:55] survivors.
[2:07:57] Recognizing a complex system.
[2:07:59] They need to know how to
[2:08:02] navigate, and they need help in
[2:08:02] order to do that.
[2:08:04] And expanding our team
[2:08:06] ambassador program focusing
[2:08:08] exclusively on teen pregnancy
[2:08:09] prevention also to include
[2:08:10] mental health.
[2:08:13] Under our health justice
[2:08:16] category, we're expanding some
[2:08:18] programs that we've had at the
[2:08:18] health department for many
[2:08:20] years, but we're doing it
[2:08:20] through using the community
[2:08:23] health worker model.
[2:08:25] So improving access to
[2:08:27] restaurants that serve healthy
[2:08:29] food, and understanding of how
[2:08:30] do you have access to healthy
[2:08:33] food.
[2:08:35] We're also going to be working
[2:08:38] with the [Lapse in audio] Local
[2:08:41] food system collaborative who
[2:08:43] can really address food
[2:08:43] insecurity.
[2:08:44] That's something that we've been
[2:08:46] doing a little bit, but this
[2:08:47] allows us to really invest
[2:08:51] solidly in that work.
[2:08:52] and then I'm going to skip over
[2:08:55] some of these to go faster.
[2:08:58] But in the -- a lot of you have
[2:09:00] heard of our stand up sa program
[2:09:03] which is a violence prevention
[2:09:04] initiative.
[2:09:07] And we have expanded that in
[2:09:09] this last year to go into
[2:09:11] hospitals and trauma centers.
[2:09:13] So if somebody shows up as a
[2:09:16] result of a gunshot, for
[2:09:18] example, they can begin their
[2:09:20] work of interrupting the
[2:09:21] retaliatory nature of violence
[2:09:23] right there in the hospital, and
[2:09:25] not have to wait for it to get
[2:09:31] into the community.
[2:09:33] [Lapse in audio] Health worker
[2:09:34] hub.
[2:09:36] One of the things that we have
[2:09:36] -
[2:09:38] learned in the pandemic is that
[2:09:40] a number of different
[2:09:42] organizations have effectively
[2:09:45] used community health workers to
[2:09:47] do some of that door-to-door
[2:09:49] work that you were talking about
[2:09:50] earlier, and to really meet
[2:09:52] people where they are in order
[2:09:54] to help them figure out whatever
[2:09:56] it is that they need.
[2:09:58] In recognition of that, we would
[2:09:59] establish a community health
[2:10:01] worker hub.
[2:10:03] So health workers will be able
[2:10:04] to gather together, learn about
[2:10:05] all of the different resources
[2:10:08] that exist in the community, as
[2:10:11] well as learn from each other
[2:10:13] about best practices.
[2:10:15] Then, again, I'm going to try to
[2:10:18] skip some of these.
[2:10:23] [Lapse in audio] Policies for
[2:10:25] two major healthcare sis 2e78s.
[2:10:26] A healthcare system is a
[2:10:29] hospital, yes, but it could also
[2:10:33] be our fqac system that have
[2:10:34] multiple locations where they
[2:10:35] deliver services.
[2:10:39] And finally, medical legal
[2:10:40] partnerships.
[2:10:43] They're really neat partnerships
[2:10:45] between doctors' offices and
[2:10:46] attorneys' offices.
[2:10:48] And often what happens is a
[2:10:50] mother will bring her child to
[2:10:53] the doctor -- for example, for
[2:10:55] another recurrence of asthma.
[2:10:57] The doctor will say, I don't
[2:10:59] know what's going on, he's on
[2:11:02] all the right meds, he's doing
[2:11:03] everything he should.
[2:11:04] The mother says, I know exactly
[2:11:05] what's going on.
[2:11:07] We live in a house with a leaky
[2:11:09] roof and there's mold everywhere
[2:11:11] and we can't get the landlord to
[2:11:14] fix it.
[2:11:16] This medical/legal partnership
[2:11:18] could meet with the landlord to
[2:11:20] make the required improvements
[2:11:22] thus resulting in improved
[2:11:23] health outcomes.
[2:11:26] The last category, technology
[2:11:27] and infrastructure.
[2:11:28] Again, recognizing that we had a
[2:11:32] lot of technology challenges
[2:11:32] during the pandemic.
[2:11:35] We do have a technology
[2:11:39] infrastructure fund to improve
[2:11:42] [Lapse in audio] Reporting and
[2:11:42] investigations.
[2:11:45] So all those lessons we learned
[2:11:46] from covid.
[2:11:50] I call this the anti-
[2:11:51] anti-(Indiscernible) Machine
[2:11:51] fund.
[2:11:53] It helps us do a better job with
[2:11:54] technology.
[2:11:57] For all infectious diseases.
[2:12:00] It also establishes a policy and
[2:12:01] partnerships, giving a nod to
[2:12:02] the fact that the health
[2:12:04] department is currently serving
[2:12:06] as a backbone organization for a
[2:12:08] number of community-wide
[2:12:08] initiatives.
[2:12:12] So we've got our end stigma hiv
[2:12:15] alliance which brings together
[2:12:16] every service together in the
[2:12:19] city to address hiv.
[2:12:20] That's staffed by metro health.
[2:12:24] We've got the trauma-informed
[2:12:26] care consortium, and we've even
[2:12:28] got the mayor's fitness council.
[2:12:30] We need to be able to have all
[2:12:32] of those different initiatives
[2:12:33] in one place and learn from each
[2:12:36] other, and we can be more
[2:12:38] proactive in doing more of that.
[2:12:39] The health department's never
[2:12:41] going to be the sole source
[2:12:42] provider for any of these public
[2:12:44] health initiatives we're dealing
[2:12:44] with.
[2:12:46] This allows us to bring the
[2:12:49] community together and work
[2:12:51] together.
[2:12:52] Funding-wise, I did mention this
[2:12:53] was a braided funding approach.
[2:12:56] And this is a five-year plan.
[2:12:58] What this slide shows you is
[2:13:01] that in year one and year two,
[2:13:03] this plan is entirely funded
[2:13:04] through grants.
[2:13:06] And funds that are left over
[2:13:09] from health implementation plan.
[2:13:10] We received significant grant
[2:13:11] dollars from the federal
[2:13:12] government to cover the cost of
[2:13:13] the covid response.
[2:13:15] That allows us to take the
[2:13:17] dollars that the city allocated
[2:13:18] to the health department and
[2:13:21] invest that into these broader
[2:13:24] public health initiatives.
[2:13:25] So first two years, first year
[2:13:27] about 15 million, second year at
[2:13:29] about 16 million is completely
[2:13:31] covered by grants and health
[2:13:32] implementation plan funding.
[2:13:34] After that, we start to
[2:13:36] integrate some of the city
[2:13:37] general fund dollars in with
[2:13:39] grants and health implementation
[2:13:40] plan.
[2:13:42] And then right now, show year
[2:13:45] four and five as exclusively
[2:13:49] funded by the fund dollars.
[2:13:50] The presenter previously
[2:13:52] mentioned that we are already
[2:13:54] starting to set aside funding in
[2:13:56] order to be able to have the
[2:13:59] money necessary starting in year
[2:13:59] three.
[2:14:01] That is the end of my
[2:14:02] presentation.
[2:14:05] And I'm happy to answer any
[2:14:05] questions.
[2:14:06] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you
[2:14:10] very much, DR. Bridger.
[2:14:12] I'm just very pleased with the
[2:14:13] progress of this strategic plan.
[2:14:15] And in particular, the
[2:14:16] sustainability of the funding
[2:14:17] that will occur over the period
[2:14:19] of time.
[2:14:22] What happened to the grants, how
[2:14:25] does it shift and how does it
[2:14:28] impact the overall mental health
[2:14:29] [Lapse in audio].
[2:14:31] I'm guessing we'll go into it a
[2:14:32] little more.
[2:14:33] >> the nice thing we put
[2:14:35] together the budget for the
[2:14:36] strategic growth plan is we
[2:14:37] don't get into that situation
[2:14:39] where we have two years of
[2:14:40] grants and then we fall off a
[2:14:41] funding cliff.
[2:14:42] We have a plan for how we will
[2:14:46] be able to integrate those
[2:14:47] effective programs and services
[2:14:48] into the base budget for the
[2:14:50] health department.
[2:14:54] >> Mayor Nirenberg: and I'm also
[2:14:56] grateful for the very
[2:14:57] deliberative approach in
[2:14:59] demonstrating the framework of
[2:15:02] equity in all the operations in
[2:15:04] the strategic plan.
[2:15:07] Particularly with the health
[2:15:08] justice aspects of it.
[2:15:10] How are we getting reports back
[2:15:12] to the council on the progress?
[2:15:13] >> let me jump in here.
[2:15:15] Because part of this is that
[2:15:18] we'll be working through the
[2:15:20] impre mentation plan through the
[2:15:21] summer.
[2:15:23] as colleen mentioned, she and
[2:15:24] the health department started
[2:15:25] working on reviving and updating
[2:15:27] our strategic plan that was
[2:15:28] already in existence with what
[2:15:30] we've learned over the last 16
[2:15:32] or 17 months.
[2:15:34] They're very far along.
[2:15:38] What we need to spend time on
[2:15:38] this summer, in the month of
[2:15:41] JULY, is the actual
[2:15:42] implementation plan for next
[2:15:42] summer.
[2:15:43] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay, good.
[2:15:46] >> one question I have gotten, I
[2:15:47] think from chuck is, which of
[2:15:49] these are you starting in the
[2:15:50] first year.
[2:15:52] This growth plan is a five-year
[2:15:54] plan, and we are starting every
[2:15:56] single initiative in year one.
[2:15:57] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[2:16:00] >> the outcomes that we have are
[2:16:02] five-year outcomes, with the
[2:16:04] expectation that every one of
[2:16:06] these initiatives starts in year
[2:16:06] one.
[2:16:07] >> Mayor Nirenberg: all right.
[2:16:09] With respect to the metro --
[2:16:12] excuse me, the mental health
[2:16:14] officer, if that's a
[2:16:15] recommendation of you and your
[2:16:16] department, I would fully
[2:16:17] support it.
[2:16:20] We obviously have the need.
[2:16:21] Are we coordinating with the
[2:16:22] county?
[2:16:24] I know they've been discussing
[2:16:25] significant investments,
[2:16:27] particularly in mental health.
[2:16:28] What kind of alignment and
[2:16:29] coordination are we doing with
[2:16:30] them?
[2:16:34] >> the city has
[2:16:36] is on the mental
[2:16:38] health task force.
[2:16:41] We are working very closely with
[2:16:42] them.
[2:16:48] The thought is that as you all
[2:16:50] have the arpa phase 2
[2:16:51] conversation in the fall, that
[2:16:52] will be in the report that goes
[2:16:54] to the commissioner's report
[2:16:55] around mental health.
[2:16:57] We'll probably get that report
[2:16:59] in the AUGUST, SEPTEMBER time
[2:17:00] frame.
[2:17:02] You'll probably be able to see a
[2:17:03] bigger infrastructure need, and
[2:17:05] take it from there.
[2:17:07] >> Mayor Nirenberg: and so much
[2:17:09] of this work is
[2:17:10] interdisciplinary.
[2:17:12] And so it would be helpful, as
[2:17:14] you report back to the council,
[2:17:18] where we see those lines, how
[2:17:20] we're quaul
[2:17:21] lifying to the
[2:17:23] investments, what they're
[2:17:23] falling into.
[2:17:26] It the affect public safety, it
[2:17:28] will influence our
[2:17:28] infrastructure budgets and
[2:17:29] everything else.
[2:17:30] It would be helpful to
[2:17:32] understand how we're investing
[2:17:34] each of those dollars and where
[2:17:35] it's actually flowing into the
[2:17:35] departments.
[2:17:36] >> and outside the departments
[2:17:38] as well, mayor.
[2:17:40] There are, you know, dozens and
[2:17:41] dozens of community partners
[2:17:43] with whom we'll be working to
[2:17:45] implement this plan.
[2:17:48] >> Mayor Nirenberg: lastly, I'm
[2:17:50] excited and greatly appreciate
[2:17:51] the recognition of the community
[2:17:52] health workers.
[2:17:53] I was sitting here thinking
[2:17:55] about the conversation that
[2:17:56] councilmember bravo was talking
[2:17:58] about the homestead exemption
[2:18:00] signups, and how we could
[2:18:02] potentially impact our community
[2:18:03] positively by doing the same
[2:18:06] sort of outreach to sign them up
[2:18:07] for various community health
[2:18:09] access plans that are available,
[2:18:13] whether it's communicare or
[2:18:15] whatever, to make sure they're
[2:18:16] availing themselves of the
[2:18:18] health access that they might
[2:18:20] have, and not be aware of.
[2:18:24] The other thing is, finally,
[2:18:26] maybe long shot, but hopefully
[2:18:29] something will be done, but if
[2:18:31] there is local intervention on
[2:18:35] the expansion of medicaid, are
[2:18:37] we prepared to enroll folks that
[2:18:38] might be eligible?
[2:18:39] >> yes.
[2:18:40] We've actually always taken a
[2:18:45] very active roll in the aca
[2:18:46] enrollment, so we can use that
[2:18:48] infrastructure in order to tweak
[2:18:50] to make it for -- hopefully
[2:18:50] we'll get that.
[2:18:53] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[2:18:54] >> just a couple of comments.
[2:18:58] I wanted to also add, we have
[2:19:00] been, as you saw by the slides,
[2:19:02] we've been extremely aggressive
[2:19:05] in the idea that the things that
[2:19:08] we have all experienced and the
[2:19:09] conversations that the council
[2:19:13] has had regarding the issue,
[2:19:16] such as racism as a public
[2:19:18] health issue last year, to
[2:19:19] ensure those elements were
[2:19:23] included in the updated
[2:19:25] strategic framework.
[2:19:27] [Lapse in audio] It is braided
[2:19:30] and it will require us to
[2:19:33] continue to invest, initially
[2:19:35] using grant funds, but invest
[2:19:37] with our own local dollars to be
[2:19:39] able to support these systems.
[2:19:41] The other thing I wanted to
[2:19:42] mention, mayor, and
[2:19:43] councilmembers remember this,
[2:19:45] last year at the end of the
[2:19:46] budget process, was a
[2:19:49] conversation with the council
[2:19:54] about how these health upstream
[2:19:55] issues connect and coordinate
[2:19:59] with care being provided by the
[2:19:59] hospital system.
[2:20:03] And in particular, uhs, the
[2:20:04] public hospital district.
[2:20:06] we had those conversations with
[2:20:07] both commissioners court and
[2:20:11] george hen dez, COUNCILWOMAN
[2:20:12] Sandoval and I and colleen.
[2:20:14] We have continued to do that,
[2:20:17] share with them the upstream
[2:20:17] strategic approach.
[2:20:19] I think it's going to be really
[2:20:23] critical that the city and uhs
[2:20:25] to make sure it's braided in the
[2:20:27] middle so we're providing better
[2:20:28] outcomes for the city.
[2:20:29] >> Mayor Nirenberg: it's number
[2:20:32] one on your agenda list in terms
[2:20:33] of the departments that we
[2:20:36] tackle, and hopefully that is a
[2:20:37] reflection of the priorities we
[2:20:40] have at the council.
[2:20:42] I certainly feel that way.
[2:20:43] So, councilmember sandoval?
[2:20:46] >> Sandoval: thank you, mayor.
[2:20:49] Thank you, DR. Bridger, for the
[2:20:49] presentation.
[2:20:52] I was recently talking to
[2:20:54] someone who works in the youth
[2:20:55] development, and they said,
[2:20:58] we're going to have this
[2:20:59] restorative justice program, it
[2:21:00] will be in five schools in the
[2:21:02] area, I hope they're all in
[2:21:02] district 7.
[2:21:04] And I said, we've got this great
[2:21:07] strategic plan coming out.
[2:21:08] It's like all the wonderful
[2:21:10] ideas we ever had, but we
[2:21:13] thought we wouldn't have the
[2:21:16] funding for.
[2:21:18] I'm thrilled to see these
[2:21:19] initiatives here.
[2:21:20] Thank you to you and your team
[2:21:24] for putting this together.
[2:21:29] A couple of things.
[2:21:33] I love that so many of these are
[2:21:35] addressing the root causes, some
[2:21:39] of the causes of the inequities
[2:21:41] in the steps along the way.
[2:21:45] I'm happy to see the community
[2:21:46] health worker hub.
[2:21:49] I think it can be married to our
[2:21:49] ready-to-work for community
[2:21:50] health workers.
[2:21:54] And I know where they can get a
[2:21:55] job, at uhs, as well, if they
[2:21:56] invest in this with us.
[2:21:59] I also want to call attention to
[2:22:07] something that you put in here
[2:22:07] on slide 6 about anti-racism.
[2:22:11] We have seen disparate health
[2:22:12] outcomes, especially in the
[2:22:13] african-american community.
[2:22:14] Due to many, many things.
[2:22:17] But some of that is when they
[2:22:18] are seeking care, right?
[2:22:20] Can you speak to that a little
[2:22:20] bit?
[2:22:23] >> one of the challenges that
[2:22:25] we've seen for decades in public
[2:22:29] health is this fact that people
[2:22:32] of color are less likely to
[2:22:33] access preventive health
[2:22:34] services.
[2:22:37] We kept thinking that we just
[2:22:39] need to [Lapse in audio] About
[2:22:43] importance, and we actually
[2:22:44] talked to people and they were
[2:22:45] like, I don't trust my doctor.
[2:22:47] He doesn't know my lived
[2:22:49] experience, he doesn't look like
[2:22:51] me, he doesn't understand the
[2:22:52] culture.
[2:22:53] And so that's when we started, I
[2:22:55] think, doing a little bit better
[2:22:59] job of saying, look, we need to
[2:23:02] recognize that [Lapse in audio]
[2:23:04] They will come.
[2:23:07] We need to make it relevant to
[2:23:10] individuals and make it a
[2:23:12] welcoming and comfortable
[2:23:13] experience.
[2:23:14] There's a ton of research out
[2:23:15] there that shows that
[2:23:17] african-americans, for example,
[2:23:19] are much less likely to get the
[2:23:20] appropriate treatment when
[2:23:22] compared to white people.
[2:23:28] And that's implicit across the
[2:23:28] system.
[2:23:29] >> Sandoval: thank you very much
[2:23:31] for identifying that.
[2:23:36] A couple of things [Lapse in
[2:23:38] audio].
[2:23:41] Number one, taking a health lens
[2:23:42] approach when we do -- I think
[2:23:43] that's really what you're
[2:23:44] getting at.
[2:23:46] So I'm going to pose a couple of
[2:23:47] things.
[2:23:49] In health justice, we talk about
[2:23:52] healthy food being available.
[2:23:53] I'd like to explore the
[2:23:55] possibility of using our
[2:23:57] economic development incentives
[2:23:59] in the retail area.
[2:24:02] Until now it has been [Lapse in
[2:24:03] audio] To that.
[2:24:04] There are many districts,
[2:24:06] certainly in mine, and many
[2:24:07] people in my district that have
[2:24:08] to leave the district, not just
[2:24:10] for food, but for other types of
[2:24:12] shopping as well.
[2:24:16] And I think [Lapse in audio]
[2:24:17] That's a quality of life issue
[2:24:18] and health issue.
[2:24:20] In terms of health access as
[2:24:22] well, I know COUNCILWOMAN
[2:24:24] Gonzales brought this up, how do
[2:24:25] we incentivize healthcare
[2:24:27] providers to open up in other
[2:24:27] areas.
[2:24:29] You have success in district 4.
[2:24:30] I think we need to continue
[2:24:33] going on that path by looking at
[2:24:33] our economic development
[2:24:35] guidelines in that way.
[2:24:37] The medical/legal partnership,
[2:24:40] that would be a great addition
[2:24:42] to our housing program.
[2:24:44] So whether or not someone has a
[2:24:47] doctor's notice, they MAY still
[2:24:51] have mold in their home, and
[2:24:52] aligning them with resources I
[2:24:55] think would be very helpful.
[2:24:57] Two more points I want to make.
[2:24:59] I brought this up at our last
[2:24:59] conversation.
[2:25:02] I would like for us to also
[2:25:04] explore environmental exposures
[2:25:07] somewhere in this strategic
[2:25:11] plan, as well as climate health
[2:25:11] impact.
[2:25:13] So for instance, heat, hotter
[2:25:15] days, and how does that impact
[2:25:17] our workers and how do we make
[2:25:18] sure they are protected.
[2:25:20] In terms of environmental
[2:25:21] exposures, I had someone reach
[2:25:23] out to me about a gas station
[2:25:25] going up nearby.
[2:25:26] We can't regulate that, that is
[2:25:29] fully in the hands of tcq.
[2:25:30] But we can provide guidance
[2:25:32] about what are the best types of
[2:25:36] land uses around residences, and
[2:25:38] around day care centers or
[2:25:38] schools.
[2:25:40] There are some best practices
[2:25:40] out there.
[2:25:42] And I'd love the opportunity to
[2:25:43] explore that with our health
[2:25:45] department.
[2:25:47] And lastly, colleagues, I want
[2:25:50] to point out that we are aiming
[2:25:53] for, based on this budget, we
[2:25:57] are aiming for a $17 million
[2:25:59] investment by the time we get to
[2:26:00] year five.
[2:26:03] I'd like to see it aim for a $20
[2:26:04] million investment.
[2:26:05] This is not even half of the
[2:26:08] budget of the health department.
[2:26:09] Right?
[2:26:14] [Lapse in audio] I will continue
[2:26:16] to say that in order to drive
[2:26:18] the best outcomes locally, we
[2:26:20] need to invest our local dollars
[2:26:21] in health.
[2:26:23] Thank you, mayor.
[2:26:24] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:26:26] councilmember sandoval.
[2:26:28] Councilmember bravo.
[2:26:35] >> thank you, DR. Bridger.
[2:26:37] When it comes to saving people
[2:26:39] on tax dollars, it's not just
[2:26:41] about looking at where your
[2:26:42] property taxes are and the
[2:26:43] breaks are.
[2:26:44] It's also looking how you're
[2:26:46] investing in ways that can save
[2:26:49] tax dollars in the future.
[2:26:51] and can you tell us,
[2:26:54] DR. Bridger, how much -- or how
[2:26:54] the city of san antonio
[2:26:56] investment in metro health
[2:26:57] compares to other major cities
[2:26:59] across the united states?
[2:27:02] >> so, the last time I looked at
[2:27:04] this is when I was still the
[2:27:06] health director, and that was
[2:27:07] two-plus years ago.
[2:27:10] But when I compared our per
[2:27:12] capita investment of general
[2:27:15] fund dollars to other big
[2:27:16] cities, we were in the bottom
[2:27:18] five.
[2:27:20] >> bottom five in the nation?
[2:27:21] >> yes.
[2:27:24] >> and then if we invest more in
[2:27:26] metro health, we can improve
[2:27:28] public health outcomes, and then
[2:27:31] that could reduce the number of
[2:27:33] ambulance rides, to emergency
[2:27:34] room, and emergency room visits,
[2:27:35] is that right?
[2:27:42] >> that's one of the goals that
[2:27:45] we strive for, yes, we intervene
[2:27:47] early and prevent more costly
[2:27:47] outcomes.
[2:27:51] >> that could reduce the costly
[2:27:55] outcomes that our residents are
[2:27:57] paying for the hospital district
[2:27:57] tax?
[2:27:58] Is that right?
[2:28:02] >> yes.
[2:28:04] >> how much does the county
[2:28:04] contribute to the metro health
[2:28:07] department?
[2:28:11] >> so, the county through
[2:28:14] university health contributes to
[2:28:17] metro health $190 million a
[2:28:17] year.
[2:28:19] >> what are we contributing a
[2:28:19] year?
[2:28:21] The city?
[2:28:26] >> it's about $14 million right
[2:28:26] now.
[2:28:30] >> okay.
[2:28:33] So I'm looking at -- I heard
[2:28:35] COUNCILWOMAN Sandoval say we
[2:28:39] should invest on the 20 million,
[2:28:40] i think [Lapse in audio] I think
[2:28:43] that's going to improve quality
[2:28:45] of life for residents, but also
[2:28:46] I think it's a good investment
[2:28:48] of our tax dollars and it's
[2:28:50] going to save in the long run.
[2:28:52] And I think it's a really good
[2:28:52] investment.
[2:28:55] I love this idea of restorative
[2:28:56] justice.
[2:28:59] I saw that you were proposing
[2:29:04] possibly working with five
[2:29:04] schools.
[2:29:05] [Lapse in audio].
[2:29:06] And it shouldn't just be
[2:29:06] schools.
[2:29:13] We could look at all kinds of
[2:29:14] partners [Lapse in audio]
[2:29:16] Organizations, we can look at
[2:29:18] groups like the martinez women's
[2:29:19] center.
[2:29:21] My understanding from talking to
[2:29:23] an expert on this subject is
[2:29:26] that key to this program of
[2:29:28] restorative justice to being
[2:29:30] successful is who you partner
[2:29:30] with.
[2:29:33] I think we can go beyond
[2:29:33] schools.
[2:29:36] And so I'm very supportive of
[2:29:38] it, and I think we should do a
[2:29:40] lot more or restorative justice.
[2:29:41] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:29:43] councilmember bravo.
[2:29:44] Councilmember courage.
[2:29:45] >> Courage: thank you, mayor.
[2:29:47] Thank you, DR. Bridger.
[2:29:49] I think this is a very in-depth
[2:29:52] and extensive plan moving
[2:29:53] forward.
[2:29:54] And I think there's a lot of
[2:29:58] great initiatives in here.
[2:30:01] I probably wouldn't think any of
[2:30:03] them weren't very worthy.
[2:30:06] But I think from what I see,
[2:30:08] there were about 21 of them,
[2:30:10] with a few subs that go along
[2:30:11] with them.
[2:30:14] And they're all funded in the
[2:30:17] first two years from grants.
[2:30:20] and the health implementation
[2:30:22] plan which is, what is that
[2:30:22] source?
[2:30:25] >> that was city dollars
[2:30:28] allocated to the pandemic
[2:30:28] response.
[2:30:31] We've since received grant
[2:30:33] dollars so we've been able to
[2:30:34] invest them in the plan.
[2:30:35] >> Courage: I see.
[2:30:37] And those will be carried
[2:30:38] through, those kinds of dollars
[2:30:39] for five years, is that right?
[2:30:43] >> so, the first three years has
[2:30:46] that mix of funding, years four
[2:30:49] and five are exclusively general
[2:30:49] fund at this point.
[2:30:55] >> Courage: okay.
[2:30:57] How many -- this looks like a
[2:30:58] lot to undertake and we're going
[2:31:01] to do it all, you know, starting
[2:31:04] this next fiscal year.
[2:31:06] How many staff are you going to
[2:31:07] need, additional staff to
[2:31:10] implement all these?
[2:31:11] >> it's about 75 additional
[2:31:11] staff.
[2:31:12] >> Courage: okay.
[2:31:13] >> and the total staff we have
[2:31:15] at the health department right
[2:31:16] now is about 400.
[2:31:18] If you take all the covid out of
[2:31:20] it, we have about 400 employees
[2:31:22] at the health department.
[2:31:23] >> Courage: okay.
[2:31:24] So 75 additional would be
[2:31:25] focused on this.
[2:31:26] And those are all included in
[2:31:27] the money up here, right?
[2:31:31] >> yes, sir.
[2:31:32] >> Courage: so [Lapse in audio].
[2:31:33] >> no, sir.
[2:31:34] >> Courage: you have a lot of
[2:31:36] other, or the health department
[2:31:41] has a lot of other broad
[2:31:41] responsibilities.
[2:31:43] What is -- you know, what are
[2:31:44] the other broad responsibilities
[2:31:46] of the health department, that
[2:31:51] they prioritize every day?
[2:31:54] >> if you think about the three
[2:31:55] divisions that the health
[2:31:58] department has, one is community
[2:31:59] health, and community health is
[2:32:02] where the bulk of this work will
[2:32:02] fall.
[2:32:05] But we also have environmental
[2:32:08] health and operations.
[2:32:09] And so that's where the
[2:32:11] restaurant inspections happen,
[2:32:12] for example.
[2:32:13] The air quality monitoring
[2:32:15] happens, for example.
[2:32:16] Those are all very important
[2:32:17] activities for us.
[2:32:24] And then we have our
[2:32:26] communicable disease division.
[2:32:29] They were already busy following
[2:32:32] up on every single reportable
[2:32:33] communicable disease in the
[2:32:34] county.
[2:32:35] We are a district, so we serve
[2:32:35] the entire county, not just the
[2:32:38] city.
[2:32:41] And so there are a lot of
[2:32:44] activities, all of our clinics
[2:32:49] fall under communicable disease,
[2:32:51] std clinic, hiv clinic.
[2:32:54] So that's a big ask of what we
[2:32:55] do.
[2:32:56] >> Courage: how much does the
[2:32:57] budget, normally, not including
[2:32:58] these projects?
[2:32:59] >> about $44 million.
[2:33:00] >> Courage: okay.
[2:33:03] I guess what I'd like to see,
[2:33:04] and I think that's something we
[2:33:07] need to look at through the city
[2:33:10] manager's office, is the
[2:33:13] expenditures of the fund I've
[2:33:16] heard we have five years to
[2:33:18] expend that money.
[2:33:20] I'd certainly like to see us at
[2:33:24] using some arpa money rather
[2:33:25] than general fund money, at
[2:33:28] least in part of these.
[2:33:31] Is taking $17 million out of our
[2:33:34] general fund a big hit, any
[2:33:36] year, but if we could designate
[2:33:39] some arpa money for years three,
[2:33:43] four and five, maybe 16,000, we
[2:33:45] take 4 or 5 this year, 4 or 5
[2:33:49] the next year, make it a more
[2:33:52] gradual hit to the general fund
[2:33:54] I think should be something we
[2:33:54] explore.
[2:33:56] I think how we fund that, we
[2:33:57] want to make sure that we don't
[2:33:59] just take it out of the general
[2:34:00] fund, if we can work some of it
[2:34:07] out of the arpa money.
[2:34:13] >> we've talked about that
[2:34:13] internally.
[2:34:17] And that's probably one of the
[2:34:19] things we shared with you as we
[2:34:21] talk about phase 2 arpa.
[2:34:24] We do as best as possible smooth
[2:34:26] out peaks.
[2:34:29] And colleen mentioned it in her
[2:34:30] presentation, you remember, in
[2:34:33] past years when we've gotten a
[2:34:38] big [Lapse in audio] Who helped
[2:34:39] fund police officers, we set
[2:34:41] aside a little bit of money
[2:34:42] every year so we can smooth that
[2:34:43] peak.
[2:34:44] And what you're describing is
[2:34:46] using arpa to do that.
[2:34:49] That's a great idea.
[2:34:51] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:34:54] councilmember courage.
[2:34:55] Councilmember castillo.
[2:34:59] >> the presentation, I'm excited
[2:35:03] to see metro health is going to
[2:35:03] be partnering with scic, and
[2:35:06] more schools.
[2:35:11] [Lapse in audio] I wanted to
[2:35:12] highlight this graphic you have
[2:35:14] on this page.
[2:35:16] There's the affordable housing,
[2:35:22] access to safe and healthy local
[2:35:25] food [Lapse in audio].
[2:35:28] If we fail to invest in these
[2:35:34] very roots, you know, we're
[2:35:34] [Lapse in audio] Branches that
[2:35:37] continue to grow [Lapse in
[2:35:38] audio] Folks of crime.
[2:35:40] And we need to focus on the
[2:35:42] groups that are focused in this
[2:35:44] photo, quality education.
[2:35:48] but just wanted to highlight
[2:35:51] that.
[2:35:52] Partnering with the ISDs, and
[2:35:53] the number of schools we're
[2:35:54] partnering with.
[2:35:56] In district 5 we have four
[2:35:57] school districts.
[2:36:00] That would be -- if we had one
[2:36:03] officer, one program in each
[2:36:04] school district, [Lapse in
[2:36:09] audio].
[2:36:09] Thank you.
[2:36:13] Oh, I had a question.
[2:36:16] What is metro health's
[2:36:18] relationship with the mental
[2:36:20] health unit?
[2:36:21] (Indiscernible).
[2:36:24] >> in last year's budget, we
[2:36:28] moved the civilian staff who
[2:36:30] responded to domestic violence
[2:36:31] from the police department to
[2:36:32] the health department.
[2:36:33] Before that, you know, we had a
[2:36:35] very good working relationship.
[2:36:37] Now we have an integrated
[2:36:39] working relationship.
[2:36:42] And so I can't think of a
[2:36:43] department that we work more
[2:36:46] closely with than the police
[2:36:47] department.
[2:36:49] They're critical partners in
[2:36:51] domestic violence, mental
[2:36:53] health, so yes, very strong
[2:36:53] relationship there.
[2:36:55] >> thank you.
[2:36:55] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:36:58] councilmember castillo.
[2:36:59] Councilmember rocha garcia.
[2:37:00] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you,
[2:37:00] mayor.
[2:37:03] I'm excited about the chief
[2:37:04] health officer position.
[2:37:08] Thank you also for the
[2:37:09] restorative justice programs
[2:37:10] that you're seeking.
[2:37:12] And I'm really happy about that.
[2:37:14] I've talked about that before.
[2:37:17] And I do believe they work.
[2:37:21] The office of health equity
[2:37:23] expansion, I'm going to be
[2:37:25] honest, I might have missed that
[2:37:26] memo, I didn't even know we had
[2:37:28] an office at health equity.
[2:37:31] So my apologies to you and your
[2:37:31] team.
[2:37:32] How many people are there and
[2:37:34] what is the goal?
[2:37:35] >> there are [Lapse in audio]
[2:37:37] Employees now, and one of those
[2:37:39] is partially covid funded.
[2:37:41] And it's to grow up to five.
[2:37:43] And again, the approach that
[2:37:46] we've taken with the office of
[2:37:46] health equity is kind of the
[2:37:48] same approach we took with
[2:37:51] quality improvement.
[2:37:53] It isn't about the office, it's
[2:37:55] about infusing the work into
[2:37:56] everything that we do.
[2:37:58] So we do a lot of train the
[2:38:02] trainer, we do a lot of kind of
[2:38:05] cultural changes to make sure
[2:38:07] everything we do reflects that
[2:38:10] continuous focus on health
[2:38:11] equity.
[2:38:12] >> Rocha Garcia: are you
[2:38:16] planning to have like someone
[2:38:18] focused on the east side or west
[2:38:19] side?
[2:38:19] Is there best practices?
[2:38:21] >> I don't know that we've
[2:38:23] gotten that far in the
[2:38:24] development.
[2:38:25] But that's a really good
[2:38:26] suggestion.
[2:38:27] I'll take that back to the team.
[2:38:28] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you.
[2:38:30] And finally, spinning off of
[2:38:33] that, mayor, I would probably
[2:38:34] advocate that we create within
[2:38:37] our departments an office of
[2:38:40] equity, or have like an equity
[2:38:42] representative in every city
[2:38:42] department.
[2:38:44] I think that's the only way
[2:38:47] we're truly going to get experts
[2:38:49] within fields to consider
[2:38:49] equity.
[2:38:51] And I know that's probably a big
[2:38:52] budget ask.
[2:38:54] but if we're looking at train
[2:38:57] the trainer type of stuff, and
[2:38:58] get into every part of the
[2:38:59] department.
[2:38:59] That's it.
[2:39:00] Thank you.
[2:39:02] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:39:03] councilmember rocha garcia.
[2:39:04] And [Lapse in audio] Training
[2:39:11] going on in the departments.
[2:39:11] >>
[2:39:12] [Overlapping speakers].
[2:39:12] >> Mayor Nirenberg: in the
[2:39:12] afternoon.
[2:39:15] I don't want to take too much of
[2:39:16] our time here.
[2:39:21] >> I think the -- not that I
[2:39:22] think.
[2:39:26] The health equity division in
[2:39:27] the health department, first
[2:39:30] equity effort that the city ever
[2:39:31] took, it happened before --
[2:39:33] about two years before we
[2:39:34] created the office of equity.
[2:39:37] So it is the initial place where
[2:39:39] the organization started.
[2:39:40] We can give you an update
[2:39:43] broadly at the end of the day.
[2:39:47] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:39:47] rocha garcia.
[2:39:48] >> thank you, mayor.
[2:39:53] The behavioral therapy for
[2:39:56] survival to violence, I applaud
[2:39:56] that and would like to see
[2:39:58] expansion of access to sa
[2:39:59] students.
[2:40:03] But I think this is something
[2:40:05] that MISS Castillo was talking
[2:40:06] about as well.
[2:40:08] Is there plans to expand to
[2:40:11] other school districts?
[2:40:12] >> yes.
[2:40:13] It will probably be through our
[2:40:15] partners rather than through the
[2:40:15] health department.
[2:40:19] There are a number of
[2:40:20] school-based mental health
[2:40:21] partnerships that are formed,
[2:40:24] and if we can show that this is
[2:40:27] an effective way to help
[2:40:28] students process trauma, then
[2:40:31] that can be expanded across all
[2:40:32] of the providers who are in all
[2:40:35] of the ISDs.
[2:40:35] >> okay.
[2:40:39] Like what partners?
[2:40:40] An example?
[2:40:43] >> communities in schools is a
[2:40:43] big partner.
[2:40:45] Family services currently serves
[2:40:50] as a backbone of a wellness
[2:40:50] collaborative that goes into a
[2:40:53] number of ISDs throughout the
[2:40:53] city.
[2:40:56] And they're growing their part
[2:40:59] of this mental wellness
[2:40:59] collaborative.
[2:41:02] There are five or six other
[2:41:04] providers that form part of that
[2:41:04] collaborative.
[2:41:04] >> okay.
[2:41:06] And they could potentially
[2:41:07] expand to the other school
[2:41:07] districts?
[2:41:07] >> yes.
[2:41:12] >> okay.
[2:41:15] The mention of viva health, is
[2:41:18] that -- does that include the
[2:41:20] viva sa healthy corner stores?
[2:41:21] >> in one of these bullets, yes.
[2:41:24] >> okay.
[2:41:25] What do you mean?
[2:41:27] >> I'm not sure if it's in that
[2:41:27] bullet or another bullet.
[2:41:29] >> okay.
[2:41:31] I got it.
[2:41:31] Okay.
[2:41:34] I have an area of my district,
[2:41:35] edgewood, it's a food desert.
[2:41:39] I would love to see a corner
[2:41:41] store in that area of my
[2:41:41] district.
[2:41:42] >> okay.
[2:41:43] >> that's all.
[2:41:46] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:41:52] councilmember cabello havrda.
[2:41:54] >> I want to start with slide
[2:41:56] number 4 in terms of the mental
[2:41:56] health.
[2:41:58] I think all of this is good.
[2:42:00] but I would like to see, does it
[2:42:03] have to be a chief mental health
[2:42:03] officer?
[2:42:07] Could it be a liaison?
[2:42:09] Just because kind of like the
[2:42:11] mayor mentioned, I would like to
[2:42:12] see what the county is doing on
[2:42:14] that front and how they can help
[2:42:17] with that coordination.
[2:42:20] The other thing similar to
[2:42:24] COUNCILWOMAN Castillo, is the
[2:42:27] saisd pairing with them on that
[2:42:28] therapy, that's great.
[2:42:30] But if I could get a list of
[2:42:32] those delegate agencies that can
[2:42:35] help, so that when we make
[2:42:37] decisions about [Lapse in audio]
[2:42:39] Delegate agency nonprofit we
[2:42:40] know who's already providing
[2:42:44] services.
[2:42:47] To the city, and MAY need our
[2:42:49] assistance also.
[2:42:53] And then the domestic violence
[2:42:55] prevention wrap-around services,
[2:42:59] that is very important to me.
[2:42:59] I think it's very important that
[2:43:03] we address not just [Lapse in
[2:43:07] audio]
[2:43:10] Audio], and that we start
[2:43:11] talking about the
[2:43:12] microaggressions
[2:43:13] microaggressions, especially in
[2:43:15] younger people, and maybe we
[2:43:18] approach it kind of like faulty
[2:43:18] relationships.
[2:43:21] So I really want to see, if we
[2:43:23] don't do a chief mental health
[2:43:25] officer, maybe we can expand to
[2:43:27] have someone specifically
[2:43:30] focusing on the violence
[2:43:31] prevention part of this.
[2:43:31] >> yeah.
[2:43:33] I do want to point out that last
[2:43:36] year we created an entire unit
[2:43:38] at the health department focused
[2:43:39] on violence prevention.
[2:43:42] So that's where all our domestic
[2:43:43] violence work sits, but it's
[2:43:46] also where our adverse childhood
[2:43:48] experience, our teen dating
[2:43:50] violence rests as well.
[2:43:53] So we'll give you a tour of all
[2:43:54] the work they're doing.
[2:43:56] >> yeah, I'm so excited about
[2:43:56] that.
[2:43:58] And of course, your health
[2:44:00] justice, I love everything
[2:44:00] there.
[2:44:02] Because viva healthy corner
[2:44:03] stores was started in district
[2:44:05] 3, and is great in addressing
[2:44:07] the obesity issues.
[2:44:10] And all those living with
[2:44:10] diabetes.
[2:44:13] But my question for the
[2:44:15] organization of the education
[2:44:18] campaign, and the peer-led
[2:44:19] program, how is that going to be
[2:44:19] done?
[2:44:22] Digitally?
[2:44:23] Through the library?
[2:44:26] How is it going to be marked?
[2:44:27] >> so, I'm going to start with
[2:44:29] the diabetes prevention program.
[2:44:30] That's through a partnership
[2:44:31] with the [Lapse in audio]
[2:44:33] Existing program that we have
[2:44:36] always wanted to expand, because
[2:44:43] we know that they have a 58%
[2:44:45] reduction in developing
[2:44:45] diabetes.
[2:44:47] We would expand our partnership
[2:44:48] with the y.
[2:44:50] That's a face-to-face.
[2:44:54] We get a lot of referrals from
[2:44:55] the Ys as well, but also from
[2:44:57] the local physicians.
[2:45:01] The targeted nutrition campaign,
[2:45:05] we are going to go to the
[2:45:08] community and say [Lapse in
[2:45:10] audio] Information specific to
[2:45:10] nutrition.
[2:45:11] Because we've kind of always
[2:45:14] taken this approach of, oh,
[2:45:17] here's this healthy plate,
[2:45:18] here's what you should do.
[2:45:25] What we want to do is say, you
[2:45:26] know you eat healthy, what is
[2:45:26] stopping you from doing that,
[2:45:28] how can we help in that area.
[2:45:31] so [Lapse in audio] That's the
[2:45:32] concept behind it.
[2:45:34] >> if you could just keep me
[2:45:35] posted on that.
[2:45:38] And then also in terms of
[2:45:39] justice, specifically for
[2:45:42] district 3, and I know it's
[2:45:46] citywide, is clean air.
[2:45:48] I don't see there's any programs
[2:45:53] dealing with the kind of clean
[2:45:53] air
[2:45:55] air, adults and children living
[2:45:55] with asthma.
[2:45:57] Do we have that kind of on deck
[2:45:58] somewhere?
[2:45:59] >> so that is an existing
[2:46:00] service that the health
[2:46:01] department provides.
[2:46:02] We have the san antonio kids
[2:46:04] breathe program, which was
[2:46:06] started, I believe, two or three
[2:46:07] years ago.
[2:46:09] That works with families,
[2:46:12] children with asthma, to help
[2:46:14] decrease the number of times
[2:46:17] they have to seek care for their
[2:46:17] asthma.
[2:46:21] We also have the air quality
[2:46:22] monitoring program also with the
[2:46:25] health department, where we have
[2:46:27] quality monitors throughout the
[2:46:28] city.
[2:46:32] And we have staff who go out
[2:46:34] every day, and the results of
[2:46:36] those air quality monitors, that
[2:46:38] helps us make decisions.
[2:46:42] >> just because after covid-19
[2:46:42] [Lapse in audio] Possible issues
[2:46:44] that people could have, I think
[2:46:46] we MAY need to set aside funds
[2:46:48] to kind of address -- or
[2:46:49] increase the funds with the
[2:46:51] health department to address
[2:46:52] that.
[2:46:54] And the last point is, when you
[2:46:58] look at agencies, the southern
[2:46:59] sector has two hospitals.
[2:47:03] Very few university hospitals.
[2:47:04] But central med might be
[2:47:05] somebody who could help that
[2:47:08] priority training for
[2:47:08] anti-racist.
[2:47:09] Thank you.
[2:47:11] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:47:14] councilmember viagran.
[2:47:15] Councilmember rodriguez.
[2:47:17] >> I want to start off by saying
[2:47:20] that in the survey, there was a
[2:47:22] question about strategic
[2:47:23] investments, across all
[2:47:28] districts the average was second
[2:47:28] to streets and sidewalks.
[2:47:29] People want to see investments
[2:47:32] in public health.
[2:47:35] [Lapse in audio] I would like to
[2:47:38] see increased spending on the
[2:47:40] health justice slide.
[2:47:43] I'm excited about a lot of these
[2:47:45] things.
[2:47:46] [Lapse in audio] Several of our
[2:47:48] districts, including district 2.
[2:47:51] We have the food deserts.
[2:47:55] We have a huge [Lapse in audio]
[2:47:58] Quality produce and other
[2:48:00] healthy food options.
[2:48:03] I would like to -- I'm going to
[2:48:04] keep my comments short, but I
[2:48:06] would like to sometime in this
[2:48:08] upcoming week discuss this
[2:48:10] program as it relates to
[2:48:11] district 2.
[2:48:12] I'd also like to go to the
[2:48:18] mental health slide.
[2:48:20] Where is establishing the
[2:48:23] restorative justice within the
[2:48:26] minimum of five school campuses,
[2:48:28] when will those be decided?
[2:48:31] >> we have relationships with
[2:48:33] different ISDs and different
[2:48:34] schools because of the work
[2:48:37] we've been doing through the
[2:48:39] trauma informed care consortium.
[2:48:43] There's lot of synergy between
[2:48:44] [Lapse in audio] And restorative
[2:48:45] justice, especially in the
[2:48:46] school setting.
[2:48:47] So the schools, there are a
[2:48:48] number of schools that have
[2:48:50] really stepped it up and
[2:48:52] provided leadership around this
[2:48:52] trauma-informed care work that
[2:48:55] we're doing.
[2:48:56] We would want to partner with
[2:48:58] them to take it to the next
[2:48:58] level.
[2:49:00] But these would be deepening
[2:49:02] existing partnerships to start,
[2:49:05] and then once we see how that
[2:49:07] works, then we would go out to
[2:49:08] other schools.
[2:49:08] >> absolutely.
[2:49:17] Thank you.
[2:49:19] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:49:20] COUNCILMAN.
[2:49:21] Councilmember perry.
[2:49:21] >> Perry: thank you.
[2:49:22] I appreciate it.
[2:49:26] Slide 8.
[2:49:27] We talked about people wanting
[2:49:32] to increase the budgets.
[2:49:32] Great.
[2:49:34] But along with those increases,
[2:49:37] you know, this is new money, the
[2:49:41] 12 million, 17 million.
[2:49:42] Where is that money going to
[2:49:42] come from?
[2:49:44] I know it's a general fund, but
[2:49:47] what are we going to cut?
[2:49:48] We don't just grow money on
[2:49:50] trees to fund these programs.
[2:49:52] What are we cutting in order to
[2:49:53] fund these programs in the
[2:49:56] future, from the general fund?
[2:50:02] >> well, COUNCILMAN, year one is
[2:50:03] fiscal year '22.
[2:50:05] What it's showing is based on
[2:50:06] the current allocations that
[2:50:09] we've received from the federal
[2:50:12] government, grants through arpa,
[2:50:14] we see being able to use, just
[2:50:19] like we did with the recovery
[2:50:21] funds, rely on those funding
[2:50:23] first, and we're doing that
[2:50:26] through the first two years.
[2:50:28] Most of year three and four and
[2:50:29] five we'll need to find
[2:50:32] additional funding for.
[2:50:36] Whether that is arpa phase 2
[2:50:38] money, that has to be spent by
[2:50:40] 2026, which is within that
[2:50:41] five-year time frame, whether it
[2:50:45] is a portion of general fund,
[2:50:46] whether, as we sit here a year
[2:50:49] from now, the federal government
[2:50:51] pushes out another [Lapse in
[2:50:52] audio] In health grants.
[2:50:53] I think the federal government
[2:50:55] is going to treat health
[2:50:55] departments like they did fire
[2:50:56] departments after 9/11 for some
[2:50:59] time.
[2:51:01] So we're going to have to
[2:51:03] continue to manage and monitor
[2:51:06] and adjust this so that we
[2:51:09] smooth those peaks out.
[2:51:11] But the concept and elements
[2:51:15] that DR. Bridger's presented is
[2:51:18] an aggressive undertaking
[2:51:20] towards the health outcomes in
[2:51:21] our community.
[2:51:23] >> Perry: that is pretty
[2:51:23] aggressive.
[2:51:26] I've got concerns with the
[2:51:28] general fund, showing it right
[2:51:29] there, with the majority, or all
[2:51:31] of the funding here with the
[2:51:33] four years coming out of the
[2:51:35] general fund.
[2:51:39] You know, you've got to cut
[2:51:40] something to be able to pay for
[2:51:45] that.
[2:51:46] Any thoughts?
[2:51:47] >> I was going to say, that's
[2:51:49] another option.
[2:51:54] I mean, for the new
[2:51:55] councilmembers, we make cuts in
[2:51:58] our budget as well, to
[2:52:00] prioritize -- to fund higher
[2:52:02] priority items.
[2:52:03] That's an option as well as we
[2:52:06] go through that journey in
[2:52:08] reallocating existing budgets,
[2:52:08] absolutely.
[2:52:10] >> Perry: I'm concerned about
[2:52:12] that, about those red bars there
[2:52:18] in the general fund.
[2:52:19] We didn't seem to get consensus
[2:52:22] with the homestead on
[2:52:24] projecting, and showing that
[2:52:27] savings in the future.
[2:52:30] so I'm just trying to have some
[2:52:32] equity here between the
[2:52:34] different programs that we're
[2:52:36] looking at here today.
[2:52:38] Anyway, that's my comments.
[2:52:38] Thanks.
[2:52:39] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:52:40] councilmember perry.
[2:52:42] Councilmember pelaez.
[2:52:44] >> Pelaez: thank you.
[2:52:46] I'm interested in learning a
[2:52:48] little bit more of the
[2:52:49] cornerstone, about the corner
[2:52:52] store initiative.
[2:52:53] Maybe sometime before JULY 20th,
[2:52:57] you and I can talk about that.
[2:52:59] And the reason is because I've
[2:53:02] been visiting with the
[2:53:03] association of convenience store
[2:53:05] retailers, and the south texas
[2:53:07] emergency association, between
[2:53:08] them we've got about 800 green
[2:53:12] stores in san antonio.
[2:53:15] And I see an opportunity here
[2:53:17] for them to [Lapse in audio]
[2:53:21] Participation in exchange for
[2:53:23] possible downward adjustment of
[2:53:27] the $600 hazmat fee that in
[2:53:28] every other city in the state of
[2:53:30] texas is a hundred bucks.
[2:53:34] And I have yet to hear a reason
[2:53:37] why ours needs to be $500 more
[2:53:37] expensive.
[2:53:39] The mayor and I were also
[2:53:40] talking about possibly
[2:53:42] positioning that adjustment, if
[2:53:46] they were to install ev
[2:53:46] chargers.
[2:53:48] And anyway, something to
[2:53:49] explore.
[2:53:51] >> yeah.
[2:53:52] I thought that's where you were
[2:53:53] going.
[2:53:54] Because I know we've talked
[2:53:55] about that.
[2:53:57] And there's probably really good
[2:53:59] direct tie to the healthy corner
[2:54:03] store for sure.
[2:54:04] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[2:54:06] councilmember pelaez.
[2:54:07] briefly, second round, because
[2:54:09] we are into your lunch break.
[2:54:13] And we're going to discuss
[2:54:13] policing services in the lunch
[2:54:18] period here.
[2:54:20] Quickly, councilmember sandoval
[2:54:22] and then bravo.
[2:54:23] >> Sandoval: I want to say I
[2:54:25] think we're so far ahead of
[2:54:26] where we were when I came
[2:54:29] onboard, after bridger, and it's
[2:54:31] great to be here three, four
[2:54:32] years later with you.
[2:54:34] And I also want to thank the
[2:54:37] mayor for creating the health
[2:54:38] committee, and obviously a lot
[2:54:40] of this discussion is due to the
[2:54:41] pandemic, but I also think that
[2:54:43] the stars are aligned and we
[2:54:45] have the right people and the
[2:54:47] right direction at the right
[2:54:48] time.
[2:54:51] And I hope we don't stop at 20.
[2:54:52] And I appreciate the additional
[2:54:53] support from the councilmembers
[2:54:55] to continue to grow this budget
[2:54:57] for a better community.
[2:54:57] Thank you.
[2:55:01] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[2:55:04] Councilmember sandoval.
[2:55:05] Councilmember bravo.
[2:55:07] >> I was hoping to provide a
[2:55:11] segway to the police services.
[2:55:12] [Lapse in audio] When we're
[2:55:14] talking about restorative
[2:55:15] justice programs, that this is
[2:55:18] working towards community-based
[2:55:21] violence prevention.
[2:55:22] And we've heard our police chief
[2:55:26] say that they can't do that job
[2:55:28] alone, and [Lapse in audio] Our
[2:55:30] way out of these problems.
[2:55:30] Right?
[2:55:31] We would be building our
[2:55:34] community capacity to perform
[2:55:35] restorative justice through this
[2:55:36] program, that would make our
[2:55:38] city safe, but it will help
[2:55:40] break the cycles in
[2:55:41] third-generation incarceration
[2:55:42] and move away from a system of
[2:55:45] mass incarceration.
[2:55:47] And by doing that, we also are
[2:55:49] going to free up law enforcement
[2:55:50] resources.
[2:55:52] Work on other projects here in
[2:55:52] our community.
[2:55:54] So I want to make sure
[2:55:56] everybody's mindful of that.
[2:55:59] And I skipped over adverse
[2:55:59] childhood experiences.
[2:56:01] I wanted to go back to that,
[2:56:03] because it's so important, that
[2:56:04] I think everybody in this room
[2:56:05] is aware of that.
[2:56:07] Can you tell us a little bit
[2:56:10] more about the childhood adverse
[2:56:12] experiences.
[2:56:12] >> my favorite thing that I've
[2:56:13] worked on.
[2:56:16] So adverse childhood
[2:56:17] experiences, trauma that you
[2:56:21] experience while you're a child.
[2:56:22] It changes the structure of your
[2:56:24] brain and how it interacts with
[2:56:26] your body, in a way that puts
[2:56:30] people at higher risk for
[2:56:33] chronic diseases and, you know,
[2:56:33] mental and behave
[2:56:34] ioral health
[2:56:35] issues as well.
[2:56:41] And so I would be happy [Lapse
[2:56:43] in audio] Another presentation
[2:56:45] if people would be interested, I
[2:56:46] would be happy to come to your
[2:56:49] office and go through it.
[2:56:50] It's my absolute favorite thing
[2:56:52] to talk about.
[2:56:53] >> we would be interested.
[2:56:53] >> Mayor Nirenberg: erik, just
[2:56:57] to put an earmark on this one,
[2:56:59] we're going to have a
[2:57:00] departmental briefing during the
[2:57:01] budget session, right?
[2:57:02] Get into things like that?
[2:57:04] >> absolutely.
[2:57:05] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[2:57:07] Just to put a bow on this
[2:57:08] discussion, and move right into
[2:57:09] policing services.
[2:57:13] just for process-wise, council,
[2:57:16] I will literally -- well, we
[2:57:18] won't take a break at all.
[2:57:21] I'll ask you if you can bring
[2:57:22] your food back, we'll do a
[2:57:27] little bit of a transition
[2:57:28] between ser
[2:57:28] [Lapse in audio].
[2:57:30] We've been talking about
[2:57:31] funding.
[2:57:32] I also don't want to see us at
[2:57:33] the bottom in terms of
[2:57:34] investment in public health.
[2:57:37] I think it's very difficult to
[2:57:39] get an apple-to-apple comparison
[2:57:42] just because of the segmentation
[2:57:44] of the different departments,
[2:57:46] county and city investments.
[2:57:48] I'm all for making sure that
[2:57:51] we're prioritizing public
[2:57:52] spending, which in my mind if
[2:57:53] we're going to talk about, are
[2:57:56] we doing a good job, it is, are
[2:57:59] we improving the health outcomes
[2:58:00] of our community.
[2:58:01] That's as basic as you can get.
[2:58:03] Making sure that our community
[2:58:05] is healthy and well, and that's
[2:58:09] how we ultimately judge our
[2:58:10] performance.
[2:58:13] But as we -- in terms of growing
[2:58:15] the budget, what I'll be looking
[2:58:18] for, number one, is it
[2:58:18] sustainable.
[2:58:21] Are we vulnerable to the impacts
[2:58:22] of grant funding at the federal
[2:58:26] or state level, and two, do we
[2:58:27] have a direction for those
[2:58:28] dollars.
[2:58:29] We can increase the budget, but
[2:58:33] if we don't know what we're
[2:58:35] increasing the budget for, we're
[2:58:36] missing the point.
[2:58:39] We want to see us do better, and
[2:58:41] I think it's among the highest
[2:58:43] priorities we have in terms of
[2:58:44] judging our performance overall
[2:58:45] in terms of an organization.
[2:58:47] I want to make sure we're going
[2:58:49] to it eyes wide open.
[2:58:52] erik, let me toss it back to you
[2:58:52] respond and then you can
[2:58:52] transition us.
[2:58:56] >> yeah.
[2:58:58] I wasn't going to respond to
[2:59:00] that, mayor, you summed it up
[2:59:00] perfectly.
[2:59:09] I wanted to point out, I want to
[2:59:14] thank DR.
[2:59:17] >> she'll be here through
[2:59:18] JULY 20th, it's not the
[2:59:22] end, and we have been
[2:59:23] keeping claude jacob
[2:59:24] updated of this plan.
[2:59:27] He will start on
[2:59:28] JULY 6th, and
[2:59:29] DR. Bridger's last day
[2:59:31] will be JULY 20th, and
[2:59:32] there will be probably a
[2:59:34] small party, but -- but
[2:59:35] thank you, colleen, I
[2:59:36] just wanted to remind the
[2:59:51] council.
[2:59:51] [Applause]
[2:59:52] >> Mayor Nirenberg: can
[2:59:54] I make one rk, if folks
[2:59:56] are going to get up and
[2:59:58] grab a plate, no more
[3:00:00] than two councilmembers
[3:00:02] leave at any one time.
[3:00:03] Just wait until somebody
[3:00:04] comes back to go forward.
[3:00:06] Go ahead, maria.
[3:00:07] >> sure.
[3:00:08] Before I get into the
[3:00:09] details of this
[3:00:10] presentation, just wanted
[3:00:11] to make a couple of
[3:00:12] points.
[3:00:13] The reason why we
[3:00:15] scheduled this meeting
[3:00:15] after the public health
[3:00:17] meeting is because
[3:00:18] there's a lot of
[3:00:20] connections between the
[3:00:22] work that are you seeing
[3:00:23] and the strategic growth
[3:00:26] plan and the framework of
[3:00:26] recommendations we're
[3:00:27] going to present to the
[3:00:28] council today, so you
[3:00:29] will see a lot of
[3:00:30] connections there.
[3:00:31] The other point want to
[3:00:32] makes a I present to you
[3:00:34] an update on the project,
[3:00:36] and the framework for the
[3:00:38] recommendations, in terms
[3:00:38] of additional investment
[3:00:40] to be able to do some of
[3:00:43] the recommendations here
[3:00:45] today, you saw during the
[3:00:46] trial budget presentation
[3:00:48] that there are some set
[3:00:50] asides for public health
[3:00:52] in terms of mental health
[3:00:53] and domestic violence and
[3:00:55] the growth of the
[3:00:57] strategic plan as well a
[3:00:58] homelessness.
[3:01:00] I wanted to keep that
[3:01:01] tie, so when you hear the
[3:01:02] framework, you keep that
[3:01:03] in mind.
[3:01:04] So you have seen in the
[3:01:06] past, we started this
[3:01:07] work when the city
[3:01:09] manager provided a
[3:01:10] framework for the review
[3:01:11] of police services in
[3:01:13] AUGUST of 2020.
[3:01:15] We have provided this
[3:01:16] presentation to our
[3:01:18] public safety committee
[3:01:20] last week on the 23rd,
[3:01:21] and the last update that
[3:01:23] we made to the full
[3:01:25] council for this project
[3:01:26] was on MAY 5th.
[3:01:27] So this is our second
[3:01:28] update to the full
[3:01:29] council.
[3:01:30] So the work that we're
[3:01:32] doing is divided in four
[3:01:34] pillars, the first one is
[3:01:35] addressing foundational
[3:01:37] issues, and this includes
[3:01:38] areas of accountability,
[3:01:40] our discipline process
[3:01:41] within the police
[3:01:43] department, hiring and
[3:01:44] training, transparency
[3:01:46] and data and community
[3:01:47] engagement.
[3:01:48] And I waft want to
[3:01:49] highlight on the
[3:01:50] discipline process, this
[3:01:52] is part of our collective
[3:01:53] bargaining agreement, and
[3:01:54] the city is currently
[3:01:55] negotiating with the
[3:01:57] police officer's
[3:01:58] association to make
[3:01:59] changes to our
[3:02:01] disciplinary process.
[3:02:03] Those negotiations are on
[3:02:04] going, and actually our
[3:02:06] next meeting with the
[3:02:07] association is on
[3:02:08] JULY 8th, so we'll
[3:02:09] continue to make -- to
[3:02:10] have conversations with
[3:02:10] them.
[3:02:12] We've made some progress
[3:02:14] in some of the areas of
[3:02:15] discipline that were
[3:02:16] priorities to the city.
[3:02:19] For example, the 180 day
[3:02:21] rule which is when the
[3:02:21] police chief has the
[3:02:23] ability to discipline an
[3:02:24] employee under the
[3:02:26] current contract, it's
[3:02:28] 180 days from the date of
[3:02:29] the incident.
[3:02:31] In negotiations with the
[3:02:32] association, we have
[3:02:35] consensus to transition
[3:02:36] to 180 days from the day
[3:02:39] that the chief knew or
[3:02:40] should have known for
[3:02:41] major incidents, just to
[3:02:43] give you an example.
[3:02:44] The area of arbitration,
[3:02:45] which is one of the
[3:02:47] highest priority of the
[3:02:48] city, as we presented it
[3:02:49] to the council, we
[3:02:52] continue to have
[3:02:54] discussions on the 30 of
[3:02:55] the arbitrator.
[3:02:57] Our goal is that the
[3:02:59] final decision is
[3:03:00] achieved, and we'll
[3:03:01] continue to have those
[3:03:02] corporations with the
[3:03:02] association.
[3:03:04] The next pillar on our
[3:03:08] project is expectations,
[3:03:10] and -- excuse me, while
[3:03:11] we're trying to identify
[3:03:13] it is what is the role of
[3:03:14] the police department.
[3:03:15] What are those
[3:03:17] expectations that our
[3:03:17] community is wanting to
[3:03:20] have with our police
[3:03:21] officers?
[3:03:22] The input process is very
[3:03:23] important in this
[3:03:24] project.
[3:03:26] Input from our community
[3:03:27] stakeholder groups, our
[3:03:28] city council, and our
[3:03:29] public safety committee
[3:03:30] who is overseeing this
[3:03:31] project.
[3:03:33] And finally, on the
[3:03:35] response alternatives,
[3:03:37] the city manager laid out
[3:03:39] three priorities -- thank
[3:03:41] you -- including domestic
[3:03:43] violence, homelessness
[3:03:46] and mental health.
[3:03:48] So an update on our
[3:03:49] community input process,
[3:03:50] we started in FEBRUARY,
[3:03:52] and the community input
[3:03:54] process ended this month
[3:03:54] of JUNE.
[3:03:56] We did a scientific
[3:03:57] survey from FEBRUARY
[3:03:57] through MARCH.
[3:03:59] We took the results of
[3:04:03] that scientific survey to
[3:04:05] get qualitative data from
[3:04:06] our community in terms of
[3:04:07] what it means to each of
[3:04:08] our neighborhoods.
[3:04:10] We did a total of 27
[3:04:10] meetings with our
[3:04:12] neighborhoods.
[3:04:14] We also had community
[3:04:15] conversations, meetings
[3:04:17] with stakeholder groups,
[3:04:18] and also we engage our
[3:04:19] police officers to also
[3:04:20] get their input for this
[3:04:22] process.
[3:04:23] So 27 community meetings
[3:04:25] in total, a total of 12
[3:04:26] stakeholder meetings,
[3:04:28] with a total of 62
[3:04:30] different groups that
[3:04:33] were engaged in these
[3:04:34] conversations, and then
[3:04:35] we conducted a survey in
[3:04:38] the police department
[3:04:40] with 826 responses, in a
[3:04:43] meeting with roughly
[3:04:43] about 60 police officers.
[3:04:46] Now, what we heard from
[3:04:47] the community
[3:04:49] organizations, as we went
[3:04:50] back to the results that
[3:04:52] we got on the scientific
[3:04:53] survey, one of the
[3:04:55] questions we wanted to
[3:04:57] know is how can the
[3:04:58] police department build
[3:04:59] better community
[3:05:01] relationships with the
[3:05:01] public?
[3:05:03] What we heard from those
[3:05:04] 27 meetings is one of the
[3:05:07] priorities is our safe
[3:05:08] program, and I think that
[3:05:11] those of you on the
[3:05:11] meetings with your
[3:05:13] council districts.
[3:05:14] [Lapse in audio]
[3:05:15] Community based policing
[3:05:17] program was another area
[3:05:19] where the community
[3:05:20] indicates that we can
[3:05:22] build better
[3:05:22] relationships in
[3:05:23] involvement with you.
[3:05:24] Another area that we
[3:05:26] wanted to get further
[3:05:27] clarification from the
[3:05:29] survey is one of the
[3:05:30] questions we asked is do
[3:05:32] you feel safe at night in
[3:05:33] your neighborhood?
[3:05:36] And we found that
[3:05:38] overall, over 50% of the
[3:05:40] respondents felt safe,
[3:05:41] but there were areas in
[3:05:43] our cities, specifically
[3:05:44] district 3 and district
[3:05:46] 4, that indicated we
[3:05:46] don't feel safe.
[3:05:49] So to that effect, the
[3:05:50] police chief has started
[3:05:51] meetings with those
[3:05:52] neighborhood associations
[3:05:53] to try to identify what
[3:05:55] we can do better, but
[3:05:58] when we ask the question,
[3:05:59] what we heard is street
[3:06:01] lighting is one of the
[3:06:02] priorities, and not only
[3:06:04] of those districts, but
[3:06:04] of all the community
[3:06:06] conversations that we
[3:06:07] had, getting to know
[3:06:09] their neighbors better,
[3:06:10] having neighborhood watch
[3:06:11] programs and personal
[3:06:13] security systems.
[3:06:14] Another area that we
[3:06:17] wanted to get more
[3:06:18] qualitative data from our
[3:06:21] community is how should
[3:06:22] the disability increase?
[3:06:23] We asked that question in
[3:06:25] the survey, and when we
[3:06:28] asked the question at the
[3:06:29] community conversations,
[3:06:31] what we got is more
[3:06:33] community involvement
[3:06:35] from our police officers
[3:06:36] with neighborhood
[3:06:36] associations,
[3:06:39] neighborhood events,
[3:06:40] getting to know the
[3:06:44] community, more practical
[3:06:44] patrols, walking around
[3:06:45] the neighborhoods getting
[3:06:47] to know the neighborhood
[3:06:48] and the community.
[3:06:50] In the area of what is
[3:06:53] the most impactful type
[3:06:55] of call that we can have
[3:06:57] an alternative response
[3:06:59] to having sapd being the
[3:07:01] primary response to a 911
[3:07:03] call that we received,
[3:07:04] mental health and
[3:07:05] substance abuse calls
[3:07:06] that involve a weapon was
[3:07:09] the number one call.
[3:07:11] Animal related calls was
[3:07:12] the second one.
[3:07:13] Followed to no change to
[3:07:15] the current way that we
[3:07:16] deliver services to our
[3:07:18] community.
[3:07:19] I'm going to transition
[3:07:20] now to some of the
[3:07:22] comments that we heard
[3:07:24] from stakeholder groups.
[3:07:25] And you will see that
[3:07:27] some of this that you're
[3:07:29] going to hear from the
[3:07:30] groups and also from our
[3:07:32] community health and
[3:07:34] equity, the work that
[3:07:36] metro health is doing in
[3:07:36] their strategic growth
[3:07:38] plan.
[3:07:39] So in terms of
[3:07:40] alternative responses,
[3:07:41] mental health response,
[3:07:43] trauma with a
[3:07:44] trauma-informed care
[3:07:47] framework was one of the
[3:07:48] priorities, having
[3:07:50] spanish speaking crisis
[3:07:51] response team members,
[3:07:53] assisting officers at
[3:07:55] calls, specifically
[3:07:56] domestic violence, in
[3:07:58] terms of data and
[3:07:59] transparency, as we are
[3:08:00] trying to update our
[3:08:02] website, and we want to
[3:08:03] know what is important to
[3:08:04] the community, more
[3:08:06] information on our racial
[3:08:07] profiling report, deep
[3:08:08] data nalts
[3:08:11] analysis on traffic
[3:08:13] stop and stop outcomes,
[3:08:14] and in terms of
[3:08:15] engagement with a
[3:08:16] community, what we heard
[3:08:17] also is that our
[3:08:18] community members want to
[3:08:21] get to know officers at a
[3:08:22] more personal level.
[3:08:23] They indicated that they
[3:08:26] would like our officers
[3:08:28] to engage under the
[3:08:30] offduty time, not wearing
[3:08:31] a uniform, to develop
[3:08:32] those relationships with
[3:08:34] our community.
[3:08:35] Now, moving to what we
[3:08:37] heard from our police
[3:08:38] officers, as we wanted
[3:08:39] also to make sure that
[3:08:41] you hear their input, one
[3:08:43] of the questions that we
[3:08:45] asked them is what is the
[3:08:47] level of agreement with
[3:08:48] what you heard from the
[3:08:50] community, the top five
[3:08:52] calls where sapd perhaps
[3:08:56] doesn't take a primary
[3:08:57] role, and of the six
[3:08:59] calls, five of them, the
[3:09:00] police officers agree,
[3:09:02] more than 50% said, yes,
[3:09:03] we agree with the
[3:09:05] community saying
[3:09:06] animal-related calls
[3:09:06] shouldn't be a call for
[3:09:09] the police officers to
[3:09:10] address enforcement of
[3:09:12] public health orders,
[3:09:13] parking violations, and
[3:09:15] mental health and
[3:09:17] substance abuse not
[3:09:18] involving a weapon.
[3:09:19] We also asked them what
[3:09:21] are the top three goals
[3:09:22] that you think sapd
[3:09:25] should not have primary
[3:09:25] responsibility?
[3:09:28] And you see on the
[3:09:30] screen, loud music, child
[3:09:32] custody visitation
[3:09:33] violations and fireworks.
[3:09:36] Now, we also did a survey
[3:09:38] through our sa speak up
[3:09:39] platform to get some
[3:09:40] ideas on what the
[3:09:43] community wants to see on
[3:09:44] our website and how they
[3:09:46] want to get information
[3:09:48] from sapd.
[3:09:49] Not also from our
[3:09:50] website, but also social
[3:09:51] media outlets.
[3:09:53] So what we heard that the
[3:09:54] top three preferred
[3:09:56] methods to get
[3:09:57] information is the
[3:09:58] website, text messages,
[3:10:00] and the combination of
[3:10:01] social media platforms.
[3:10:02] They -- the information
[3:10:04] that they would like to
[3:10:06] receive or to have
[3:10:07] included in our website
[3:10:10] is an interactive crime
[3:10:12] data map, realtime police
[3:10:14] emergency text alerts,
[3:10:16] and daily updates on
[3:10:18] major public safety
[3:10:19] incidents.
[3:10:20] Additionally, the day
[3:10:21] that they would like to
[3:10:23] see included is a police
[3:10:24] officer discipline
[3:10:26] records, internal affairs
[3:10:28] annual reports, and that
[3:10:31] clearance rates for sapd,
[3:10:33] which is the ratio of
[3:10:34] arrests to known
[3:10:36] offenses.
[3:10:37] Now, our community health
[3:10:39] and equity committee was
[3:10:41] also charged with looking
[3:10:43] at three areas by the
[3:10:45] mayor, back in JUNE of
[3:10:48] 2020, and that included
[3:10:49] mental health, gender and
[3:10:50] racial equity.
[3:10:53] So this is some of the
[3:10:54] highlights of the
[3:10:55] recommendations that we
[3:10:57] received the public
[3:10:58] safety committee received
[3:10:59] from community health and
[3:11:00] equity, so I'm just going
[3:11:01] to highlight a few of
[3:11:02] those.
[3:11:03] So in terms of mental
[3:11:05] health, the
[3:11:06] recommendations are
[3:11:09] aligned with our current
[3:11:10] review of our response
[3:11:13] model for mental health
[3:11:15] calls, that is being done
[3:11:17] by the meadows
[3:11:18] foundation, and that
[3:11:20] includes residents to
[3:11:22] resources, exploring
[3:11:23] integrating outreach
[3:11:25] specialists like
[3:11:26] promotorras, for example,
[3:11:28] or other professionals to
[3:11:29] those calls that police
[3:11:30] officers respond to,
[3:11:31] evaluating our current
[3:11:32] mental health response,
[3:11:33] and increasing our crisis
[3:11:36] response team, 24 hours a
[3:11:38] day, seven days a week.
[3:11:40] In terms of racial
[3:11:41] equity, examining the
[3:11:43] benefits of engaging
[3:11:45] residents versus
[3:11:45] patrolling, which is
[3:11:46] community policing
[3:11:47] programs that we're
[3:11:48] tackling within our
[3:11:51] police services review,
[3:11:53] and another example in
[3:11:55] the area of gender, a
[3:11:56] better understanding how
[3:12:00] crimes against women in
[3:12:01] lgbtq plus community are
[3:12:03] handled and follow on and
[3:12:10] resolved by sapd.
[3:12:11] Now, in terms of the
[3:12:13] framework for
[3:12:13] recommendations, and
[3:12:14] again, this is where we
[3:12:16] want to get your input
[3:12:17] before we develop final
[3:12:18] recommendations as part
[3:12:20] of the proposed budget,
[3:12:23] so in the areas of mental
[3:12:23] health, domestic
[3:12:25] violence, and
[3:12:29] homelessness, our
[3:12:30] framework is anchor and a
[3:12:32] team approach, not only
[3:12:33] having the police officer
[3:12:34] respond, but having the
[3:12:35] combination of
[3:12:37] professionals and
[3:12:38] advocates, E.M.S., our
[3:12:40] fire department, and the
[3:12:41] police department, to
[3:12:42] have on scene advocates
[3:12:44] that are trained to deal
[3:12:46] with difficulties and
[3:12:47] complexities of the goals
[3:12:49] related again to family
[3:12:50] violence, mental health
[3:12:52] and homelessness.
[3:12:53] Crisis deescalation, and
[3:12:57] then to have a warm
[3:12:59] handup to services that
[3:13:00] maintain that sustained
[3:13:00] report.
[3:13:02] So not only addressing
[3:13:03] that 911 call, but
[3:13:05] following up with the
[3:13:06] victim, the children of
[3:13:07] that household that
[3:13:09] perhaps has a family
[3:13:10] violence case, and also
[3:13:12] with a perpetrator.
[3:13:15] The work that the meadows
[3:13:16] foundation is doing, they
[3:13:17] did a lot of data
[3:13:20] analysis, and tried to
[3:13:22] identify where the calls
[3:13:23] related to mental health
[3:13:24] are coming within our
[3:13:26] city, and what they
[3:13:26] realized is that there
[3:13:28] are a couple of zip
[3:13:29] codes.
[3:13:30] one is close to the
[3:13:31] medical center area and
[3:13:34] another one in our
[3:13:35] downtown area will
[3:13:36] generate most of the
[3:13:37] calls.
[3:13:38] We're continuing to find
[3:13:39] out why we're getting
[3:13:40] those calls, but one of
[3:13:42] the ideas that we have at
[3:13:44] this point is to pilot
[3:13:45] this alternative response
[3:13:46] within one police sub
[3:13:47] station.
[3:13:49] As I mentioned on mental
[3:13:50] health, the
[3:13:53] recommendations from the
[3:13:54] meadows mental health
[3:13:55] policy institute are
[3:13:57] being finalized.
[3:13:58] We -- those were
[3:13:59] presented to community
[3:14:01] health and equity a few
[3:14:02] weeks ago, and the final
[3:14:03] recommendations will come
[3:14:04] to the public safety
[3:14:06] committee in early AUGUST
[3:14:09] and then to the final
[3:14:11] council on AUGUST 12th.
[3:14:12] Preliminary
[3:14:13] recommendations focused
[3:14:14] on a team-based response
[3:14:16] with clinical expertise,
[3:14:17] either on scene or
[3:14:18] available by phone as we
[3:14:20] have some technology now
[3:14:22] that has been introduced
[3:14:23] by our fire department to
[3:14:26] be able to do that via
[3:14:28] phone.
[3:14:29] Domestic violence, the
[3:14:30] framework that we are
[3:14:32] currently reviewing is
[3:14:35] also and on-scene
[3:14:36] team-basis crisis triage
[3:14:38] with links to long-term
[3:14:39] intervention and
[3:14:41] services.
[3:14:42] And COUNCILWOMAN Viagran,
[3:14:44] to your point, not only
[3:14:44] addressing the call at
[3:14:46] the time, but how can we
[3:14:47] help that family and that
[3:14:49] victim long-term?
[3:14:51] In the area of
[3:14:52] homelessness, our
[3:14:54] framework focuses on our
[3:14:56] strategic plan, enhancing
[3:14:57] our provision and
[3:14:58] diversion programs,
[3:14:59] increasing our outreach
[3:15:02] and capacity, and also
[3:15:04] rotating our mobile
[3:15:05] homeless hub.
[3:15:07] Now, in addition to those
[3:15:09] three areas that the city
[3:15:11] manager had laid out and
[3:15:14] his initial framework, we
[3:15:15] are also our framework
[3:15:16] includes improvements to
[3:15:18] our website in terms of
[3:15:20] transparency and data,
[3:15:21] enhancing the website
[3:15:23] more interactive data
[3:15:25] tools, as well as
[3:15:26] segregating data within
[3:15:28] our existing reports.
[3:15:30] In the case of
[3:15:31] alternative response, in
[3:15:32] addition to those goals
[3:15:33] that I mentioned, and
[3:15:35] I'll give you an example
[3:15:35] when I met with our
[3:15:36] police officers and asked
[3:15:38] them what they thought,
[3:15:40] which kind of calls
[3:15:40] perhaps our police
[3:15:42] officers shouldn't be
[3:15:43] addressing, in an example
[3:15:46] they gave me, is for
[3:15:47] instance, if I find a
[3:15:48] bicycle in my front yard,
[3:15:50] I call 911, and we send a
[3:15:52] police officer to make a
[3:15:53] report, pick up that
[3:15:54] bike, and bring it
[3:15:57] downtown to our property
[3:15:57] room.
[3:15:58] So probably not the best
[3:15:59] use of our police
[3:16:00] officers.
[3:16:01] So based on that feedback
[3:16:03] that they provided to us,
[3:16:04] we're going to be
[3:16:04] evaluating those calls
[3:16:06] and see perhaps a
[3:16:08] civilian can handle it.
[3:16:10] And of course, as long as
[3:16:11] there's no evidence
[3:16:13] related to a crime;
[3:16:14] otherwise we have to send
[3:16:15] a police officer, but
[3:16:16] we'll be exploring that
[3:16:17] in the month of JULY.
[3:16:19] And finally, enhancing
[3:16:22] our relationships with
[3:16:24] the community, because of
[3:16:25] covid, we put on hold a
[3:16:27] lot of our programs that
[3:16:28] the police department has
[3:16:30] with our community.
[3:16:31] Those started again in
[3:16:32] the month of JUNE, but
[3:16:33] we're going to be
[3:16:35] exploring ways to enhance
[3:16:36] our safe program, and
[3:16:38] also educate the
[3:16:40] community about our
[3:16:41] existing programs, say
[3:16:42] for example, I think some
[3:16:43] of our community members,
[3:16:47] some of your constituents
[3:16:50] want to call the safe
[3:16:50] police officer when
[3:16:52] there's a code issue, an
[3:16:53] animal-related issue, so
[3:16:55] we, the city, need to do
[3:16:56] a better job in letting
[3:16:57] our community know for
[3:17:01] that type of call, call
[3:17:02] 3-1-1, or these are other
[3:17:03] resources we have
[3:17:03] available outside the
[3:17:04] police department.
[3:17:05] So next steps in this
[3:17:07] process, we are going to
[3:17:08] be preparing
[3:17:09] recommendations in the
[3:17:10] month of JULY.
[3:17:12] We go back to our public
[3:17:13] safety committee on
[3:17:16] AUGUST 2nd to provide the
[3:17:17] draft final
[3:17:17] recommendations and get
[3:17:19] their feedback and then
[3:17:20] the city manager will
[3:17:21] include the final
[3:17:22] recommendations within
[3:17:24] the -- within his
[3:17:25] proposed budget and
[3:17:26] present it to the council
[3:17:27] on AUGUST 12th.
[3:17:28] We will have an
[3:17:29] opportunity for the
[3:17:32] council to look at the
[3:17:33] recommendations in
[3:17:33] detail, an opportunity
[3:17:35] for a community to
[3:17:37] participate and give us
[3:17:38] input before budget
[3:17:39] adoption on
[3:17:41] SEPTEMBER 16th.
[3:17:42] So mayor, that concludes
[3:17:44] my presentation, and
[3:17:46] we'll be happy to take
[3:17:48] any questions.
[3:17:50] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:17:51] great, thank you very
[3:17:53] much, maria, and this is
[3:17:55] a great overview of the
[3:17:56] process that y'all have
[3:17:57] been going through for
[3:18:00] the last several months,
[3:18:01] and I assume we will be
[3:18:03] able to get into a little
[3:18:05] bit more depth on the
[3:18:06] alternative responses and
[3:18:07] what's going to be part
[3:18:08] of the pilot, what is
[3:18:12] going to be adopted
[3:18:13] departmentwide.
[3:18:14] Are all the alternative
[3:18:15] responses right now going
[3:18:17] to be piloted through a
[3:18:19] single sub station or
[3:18:21] some that are going to
[3:18:22] automatically be more
[3:18:23] widely adopted.
[3:18:25] >> so right now
[3:18:27] specifically for mental
[3:18:28] health, domestic
[3:18:29] violence, and
[3:18:31] homelessness, our
[3:18:32] preliminary thoughts is
[3:18:33] to focus in one sub
[3:18:35] station, to see if our
[3:18:37] new way of handling this
[3:18:39] goals is going to work,
[3:18:40] be able to measure it,
[3:18:42] before we expand it
[3:18:42] citywide.
[3:18:43] Those are alternatives
[3:18:44] that I mentioned.
[3:18:47] We MAY be able do those
[3:18:47] citywide, like for
[3:18:50] example, picking up found
[3:18:52] property on private
[3:18:53] property.
[3:18:54] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:18:54] okay.
[3:18:55] Do we have any of the
[3:18:57] crime statistics so far
[3:18:58] through the duration of
[3:19:00] the year?
[3:19:01] >> we do.
[3:19:08] I don't have a slide to
[3:19:09] put on the screen, but we
[3:19:10] do.
[3:19:11] So just overall, our
[3:19:13] crime is down for the
[3:19:13] first -- through the
[3:19:17] month of APRIL, calendar
[3:19:18] year 2021 compared to
[3:19:18] 2020.
[3:19:21] So overall, crime is
[3:19:22] down, and I'll be happy
[3:19:25] to get those statistics,
[3:19:26] maybe after a break.
[3:19:27] We do have them with us.
[3:19:28] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:19:28] okay.
[3:19:31] You know, talking with my
[3:19:32] peers in the bigger
[3:19:34] cities, there's a very
[3:19:36] serious surge of violent
[3:19:39] crime, gun violence
[3:19:40] anticipated as a
[3:19:43] result -- or as we've
[3:19:44] started to emerge from
[3:19:45] the pandemic.
[3:19:46] i'm curious as to where
[3:19:49] we are relative to
[3:19:51] those -- to those cities.
[3:19:53] Not quite clear on what
[3:19:54] the trends are with
[3:19:56] property crimes, but I
[3:19:57] would also be interested
[3:19:58] in seeing how we're doing
[3:19:59] there.
[3:20:00] I will say I've spent
[3:20:02] some time with stand up
[3:20:04] sa, and the work that's
[3:20:06] being done with violence
[3:20:07] prevention cure, the cure
[3:20:08] violence model, and
[3:20:09] what's going on with
[3:20:10] violence disruption in
[3:20:11] the neighborhoods.
[3:20:12] I've been very impressed,
[3:20:14] so I hope that part of
[3:20:16] our plan, whether that's
[3:20:17] within the violence
[3:20:18] prevention division or
[3:20:19] within policing
[3:20:20] resources, that we're
[3:20:21] continuing to augment
[3:20:23] that and expand it to the
[3:20:24] extent that we can.
[3:20:25] The one update I would
[3:20:27] like to have, and I heard
[3:20:28] this quite a bit, there
[3:20:29] are certain hotspots that
[3:20:31] we continue to see in our
[3:20:31] city.
[3:20:33] One of them is over by
[3:20:35] the strip, in district 1,
[3:20:38] and so is there an update
[3:20:39] on -- I don't remember
[3:20:40] what the program was
[3:20:42] called, but it was about
[3:20:43] foe
[3:20:46] focusing on specific
[3:20:46] nighttime active areas to
[3:20:49] make sure that we have
[3:20:50] the proper visibility and
[3:20:51] patrols happening, and
[3:20:52] are we seeing any results
[3:20:54] from that?
[3:20:56] >> I think we're seeing
[3:20:58] more results from
[3:20:58] satisfaction of the
[3:20:59] community.
[3:21:01] We talked specifically
[3:21:04] about the north st.
[3:21:05] Mary's strip.
[3:21:06] We actually -- most of
[3:21:08] what we're seeing up
[3:21:10] there are order
[3:21:11] maintenance type issues
[3:21:12] after the bars close,
[3:21:14] after the food trucks are
[3:21:16] done vending.
[3:21:18] People are wandering back
[3:21:20] into the neighborhood --
[3:21:24] neighborhoods and causing
[3:21:25] disturbances everything
[3:21:26] from urinating in public
[3:21:28] to sex acts, you know, in
[3:21:31] between parked cars.
[3:21:32] Loud noise.
[3:21:34] That's what the neighbors
[3:21:36] are upset about.
[3:21:37] Some -- occasionally
[3:21:39] they're hearing gunshots,
[3:21:40] nobody being shot, but
[3:21:44] people just firing guns.
[3:21:46] We've got street crimes
[3:21:48] working in those areas,
[3:21:49] thursday, friday,
[3:21:51] saturday nights.
[3:22:00] We received some fairly
[3:22:01] positive feedback from
[3:22:02] the community back there
[3:22:03] about that coverage
[3:22:05] during those notes, we'll
[3:22:05] continue that until we
[3:22:07] come up with some other
[3:22:08] alternatives.
[3:22:08] Putting street crimes up
[3:22:10] there is not to answer to
[3:22:11] those issues.
[3:22:13] We've got, you know, two
[3:22:14] worlds colonel
[3:22:18] colliding with the
[3:22:19] bars and the clubs and
[3:22:20] the residential
[3:22:21] neighborhood.
[3:22:26] That's an issue, and I
[3:22:29] don't know if we've come
[3:22:31] to any decision on what
[3:22:32] the best solution is for
[3:22:32] that.
[3:22:34] We're working with the
[3:22:35] councilmember in that
[3:22:36] regard, right now I think
[3:22:38] we've got a handle on it,
[3:22:39] at least temporarily.
[3:22:40] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:22:41] thank you, chief.
[3:22:42] One question while you're
[3:22:43] up here.
[3:22:45] Where are we with the
[3:22:46] recommendations that
[3:22:47] department professionals
[3:22:48] have with respect to
[3:22:51] vacancies going into
[3:22:51] fy22.
[3:22:53] >> with respect to
[3:22:54] vacancies?
[3:22:54] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:22:55] right.
[3:22:56] Are we where we need to
[3:22:59] be with uniform
[3:22:59] positions?
[3:23:00] >> we continue to fill
[3:23:01] our academy classes.
[3:23:03] We have one starting in
[3:23:05] JULY, but we have not had
[3:23:07] a vacancy issue for quite
[3:23:08] a few years now.
[3:23:10] No problem filling --
[3:23:12] filling those academy
[3:23:12] classes.
[3:23:12] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:23:16] okay.
[3:23:16] Great.
[3:23:18] >> I'll just -- really,
[3:23:19] it's been for the last
[3:23:21] year, because it took us
[3:23:23] awhile to get out of the
[3:23:25] hole we were in in terms
[3:23:31] of vacancies, so back in
[3:23:33] 2016, 2017, classes were
[3:23:36] delayed, and I'll remind
[3:23:37] the councilmembers that
[3:23:38] were here, we had to make
[3:23:39] a deliberate attempt to
[3:23:40] try to get out, we got
[3:23:42] over the -- we were
[3:23:45] actually overhired last
[3:23:46] summer. I think as it
[3:23:47] stands right now, we're
[3:23:50] at either 18 or 19
[3:23:50] vacancies.
[3:23:51] >> 18 vacancies.
[3:23:52] >> and we have two
[3:23:54] classes in the academy, a
[3:23:55] third one starting in the
[3:23:57] summer, so frankly, both
[3:23:58] departments -- both
[3:24:00] police and fire, our mode
[3:24:02] of operation is to stay
[3:24:03] ahead of the curve
[3:24:04] because I think we all
[3:24:07] learned in 2016-2017, we
[3:24:08] start falling behind in
[3:24:09] those areas, it take as
[3:24:11] long time to get out of
[3:24:11] the hole.
[3:24:12] >> Mayor Nirenberg: and
[3:24:13] we will have a department
[3:24:14] briefing and we don't
[3:24:16] have the actual budget
[3:24:18] numbers, but with respect
[3:24:19] to growth, the budget, is
[3:24:22] it in line with our
[3:24:23] overall budget growth?
[3:24:24] >> mayor, that is part of
[3:24:26] the detailed work we'll
[3:24:27] do in JULY, but it likely
[3:24:28] will be.
[3:24:31] We have not finalized
[3:24:33] obviously an agreement
[3:24:35] with the police officer's
[3:24:35] association.
[3:24:36] Our financial position
[3:24:38] right now, included with
[3:24:41] the trial budget and the
[3:24:42] forecast, we included
[3:24:43] what we offered the
[3:24:44] police officer's
[3:24:45] association, which was
[3:24:48] zero in 2022, and then
[3:24:49] there will be other
[3:24:51] operational adjustments,
[3:24:52] but I suspect it will be
[3:24:54] very much in line if not
[3:24:56] below the overall budget.
[3:24:58] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:24:58] thank, erik.
[3:24:59] thank you, chief.
[3:25:01] >> mayor, I can comment
[3:25:03] on the crime numbers if
[3:25:04] you --
[3:25:04] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:25:05] sure, if you have them.
[3:25:06] We're looking at the
[3:25:08] stats that are officially
[3:25:09] recognized by the F.B.I.,
[3:25:10] that we report to the
[3:25:11] F.B.I.
[3:25:12] These are official, but
[3:25:13] they're not official
[3:25:14] until they're verified by
[3:25:16] the F.B.I., not verified,
[3:25:18] but blessed by the F.B.I.
[3:25:21] So for the first four
[3:25:22] months, for the first
[3:25:22] three months, for the
[3:25:23] first quarter of this
[3:25:24] year, we have a drop in
[3:25:26] violent crime, and that
[3:25:27] is homicide, robbery,
[3:25:29] rape and assault,
[3:25:30] aggravated assault.
[3:25:35] Those numbers are down
[3:25:36] 14.8%.
[3:25:41] 6% drop in homicide, 34%
[3:25:43] drop in rape.
[3:25:45] 39% drop in robbery.
[3:25:47] And assault is about 3%
[3:25:48] for 14.8.
[3:25:49] And in property, we're
[3:25:51] looking at burglary,
[3:25:52] larceny, and vehicle
[3:25:52] theft.
[3:25:54] We have decreases in
[3:25:55] all -- two of those --
[3:25:59] two out of three.
[3:26:03] Burglary were down 28%,
[3:26:04] larceny, 13.8, and
[3:26:06] vehicle theft is the only
[3:26:07] category that is up by
[3:26:08] 3%.
[3:26:10] So there's a drop of
[3:26:12] 13.8% there.
[3:26:14] So we're down both
[3:26:16] categories around 14%,
[3:26:18] and that actually has
[3:26:19] extended through MAY of
[3:26:20] this year as well.
[3:26:21] >> Mayor Nirenberg: so
[3:26:23] that is year over year,
[3:26:26] first quarter or through
[3:26:26] MAY?
[3:26:28] >> threw MAY.
[3:26:30] That's first quarter, but
[3:26:31] those numbers have been
[3:26:32] pretty consistent through
[3:26:32] MAY.
[3:26:33] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:26:33] okay.
[3:26:36] Year over year stats?
[3:26:36] That's good.
[3:26:37] Very good.
[3:26:38] Let's get into
[3:26:39] discussion.
[3:26:40] Go to councilmember bravo
[3:26:43] and I've got 10 and 3.
[3:26:43] >> Bravo: thank you
[3:26:44] very much.
[3:26:46] I'm going to go off topic
[3:26:47] just briefly, because I
[3:26:48] want to acknowledge a
[3:26:49] bunch of representatives
[3:26:50] of the cycling community
[3:26:52] that just arrived here
[3:26:53] today to advocate for,
[3:26:56] you know, a safer city
[3:26:57] for cyclists, and for
[3:27:00] more protected bike lanes
[3:27:02] and more connectivity
[3:27:06] here, so I appreciate you
[3:27:10] all coming out just to.
[3:27:12] >> we don't have public
[3:27:12] comment.
[3:27:13] >> we have children,
[3:27:14] we're going to make a
[3:27:15] quick statement --
[3:27:16] >> Bravo: I was not --
[3:27:17] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:27:18] we're going to stay --
[3:27:19] >> sorry, guys, I'll get
[3:27:20] away from the podium.
[3:27:21] Thank you so much, ron,
[3:27:25] thank you so much,
[3:27:26] everybody, for doing what
[3:27:26] you do.
[3:27:26] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:27:27] appreciate y'all being
[3:27:27] here.
[3:27:29] >> sorry for taking y'all
[3:27:31] off topic, just I thought
[3:27:33] mario was saying come on
[3:27:33] over.
[3:27:34] >> Bravo: no, just
[3:27:36] acknowledging you all:
[3:27:37] sorry about that.
[3:27:39] >> sorry for the
[3:27:40] confusion.
[3:27:40] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:27:41] we're glad you're here,
[3:27:43] we're glad for your
[3:27:44] advocacy as well,
[3:27:44] councilmember bravo on
[3:27:47] the topic?
[3:27:47] >> thank you.
[3:27:53] >> Bravo: so back to
[3:27:58] police services, so I had
[3:27:59] initially been hoping to
[3:28:03] be able to look at how
[3:28:04] can -- what can we do
[3:28:05] when it comes to
[3:28:06] accountability for the
[3:28:07] community?
[3:28:08] I was really interesting
[3:28:09] in what can we do in
[3:28:10] order to support the
[3:28:13] community when there is
[3:28:15] an excessive use of force
[3:28:17] incident, and I've been
[3:28:19] since informed that
[3:28:20] there's a model in
[3:28:21] denver, colorado, where
[3:28:22] there are independently
[3:28:23] funded staff that works
[3:28:27] on oversight and
[3:28:28] supporting the community
[3:28:29] in those situations, and
[3:28:31] I've been advised by
[3:28:33] cities -- the city's
[3:28:34] legal department that the
[3:28:35] collective bargaining
[3:28:35] agreement is going to
[3:28:37] help dictate on whether
[3:28:38] or not how we can do
[3:28:39] that, but I am interested
[3:28:41] in making sure that we
[3:28:42] are continuing to explore
[3:28:44] that option, and seeing
[3:28:46] what we can do to support
[3:28:47] the community in those
[3:28:53] circumstances.
[3:28:55] When it comes to district
[3:28:56] 1, I
[3:28:58] I did have the
[3:29:00] pleasure of getting the
[3:29:00] briefing by the police
[3:29:02] chief and his staff, and
[3:29:03] we have begun discussions
[3:29:05] about crime in the
[3:29:06] dellview area, about
[3:29:07] crime in the north st.
[3:29:10] Mary's strip.
[3:29:11] There's -- I want to say
[3:29:13] that when I knocked doors
[3:29:15] in district 1, I probably
[3:29:15] heard more about the
[3:29:17] crime around the north
[3:29:19] st. Mary's strip than I
[3:29:20] did about anything else.
[3:29:21] In tobin hill I heard
[3:29:22] that more than anything
[3:29:23] else, but I MAY have
[3:29:24] heard more about crime
[3:29:25] around the north st.
[3:29:27] Mary's strip than I heard
[3:29:27] about anything else in
[3:29:28] the district.
[3:29:29] It was definitely a top
[3:29:32] issue.
[3:29:33] And so I want to make
[3:29:35] sure that we're focused
[3:29:36] on what we can do to
[3:29:37] support that community.
[3:29:38] In addition, throughout
[3:29:40] the district, I heard
[3:29:41] about complaints about
[3:29:45] frequent gunshots, and it
[3:29:46] ranged across the
[3:29:48] district from hearing
[3:29:50] gunshots several times a
[3:29:51] month to hearing gunshots
[3:29:55] on a daily basis, and
[3:29:58] some members of district
[3:30:00] 1 told me that they've
[3:30:01] just got ton the
[3:30:03] gotten to the point
[3:30:04] where it's become the new
[3:30:06] normal for them, and I'm
[3:30:07] not okay with that.
[3:30:11] And so I want to be able
[3:30:12] to continue to explore
[3:30:13] with you, chief, what can
[3:30:15] we do there, because I
[3:30:16] don't want it to be the
[3:30:17] new normal that you hear
[3:30:17] gunshots in your
[3:30:18] neighborhood.
[3:30:22] Thank you.
[3:30:24] >> chief: councilmember,
[3:30:25] seems to be the norm in
[3:30:26] other parts of the city
[3:30:27] as well, and we're not
[3:30:28] okay with it either.
[3:30:29] You know, we tried to
[3:30:30] address that, say,
[3:30:34] several years ago with
[3:30:35] a -- a platform called
[3:30:38] shot spotter, and that
[3:30:40] turned out not to work so
[3:30:41] well.
[3:30:43] We gave it a real good
[3:30:45] look at quite some cost,
[3:30:47] but it wasn't doing what
[3:30:49] we wanted it to do or
[3:30:50] what we needed it to do,
[3:30:53] so that went by the
[3:30:54] wayside, but I'm going to
[3:30:58] have to go back and check
[3:31:00] what you're referencing
[3:31:01] about north st. Mary's,
[3:31:02] because that is not
[3:31:05] something that is on our
[3:31:06] radar as a high crime
[3:31:08] area.
[3:31:10] The issues that I do know
[3:31:12] are prevalent in -- on
[3:31:13] the north st. Mary's
[3:31:15] srip, the issues I just
[3:31:16] talked about related to
[3:31:19] the bars, and at bar
[3:31:20] closing time.
[3:31:21] That is the only issue
[3:31:22] that I know of that's
[3:31:24] happening up there, but
[3:31:28] if -- in fact, as you
[3:31:30] say, it's a high crime
[3:31:30] area, I'm going to have
[3:31:31] to look at that, and if
[3:31:33] in fact it shows to be
[3:31:35] true, then we'll come up
[3:31:36] with something to address
[3:31:37] it.
[3:31:38] Pgh >> brietengross
[3:31:38] bitter: the
[3:31:41] >> Bravo: thecomplaints I've heard
[3:31:43] were related to late at
[3:31:44] night after people
[3:31:45] getting out of the bars,
[3:31:47] I think there's a lot of
[3:31:48] overlap there.
[3:31:50] >> chief: we're working
[3:31:51] that with street crimes,
[3:31:53] as we mentioned -- as I
[3:31:54] mentioned when you and I
[3:31:55] spoke about it, street
[3:31:56] crimes is not the
[3:31:58] solution to what ails the
[3:31:59] north st. Mary's strip.
[3:32:00] There's got to be
[3:32:01] something else that we
[3:32:03] can do to address that,
[3:32:06] and as you know, that's
[3:32:07] been a problem for as
[3:32:10] long as those bars have
[3:32:12] existed up there.
[3:32:12] Pgh >> brietengross
[3:32:18] bitter: thank you.
[3:32:21] >> Bravo: thank you.
[3:32:23] >> thank you, COUNCILMAN,
[3:32:25] bravo.
[3:32:37] >> thank you, chief,
[3:32:37] thanks for the statistics
[3:32:37] also, the crime
[3:32:37] statistics comparing us
[3:32:37] to other cities, but I
[3:32:38] want to talk a little bit
[3:32:38] about our number of
[3:32:38] policemen out on the
[3:32:38] street right now, and I
[3:32:38] have this document I
[3:32:41] guess it was prepared by
[3:32:44] your office, JUNE 22nd of
[3:32:47] this year, and it shows
[3:32:49] per capita policemen for
[3:32:50] our city compared to
[3:32:53] other cities, and
[3:32:54] according to this, we're
[3:32:55] at third place, houston
[3:32:56] is first, dallas is
[3:32:58] second, we're in third,
[3:32:59] followed by fort worth,
[3:33:01] el paso and austin, as
[3:33:04] far as number of police
[3:33:05] per population in
[3:33:06] those --
[3:33:08] >> chief:
[3:33:11] per thousand?
[3:33:11] >> Perry: yeah, that is
[3:33:12] great.
[3:33:14] What is our actually
[3:33:15] authorized strength, it
[3:33:19] says here 2488.
[3:33:20] >> chief: that's right.
[3:33:21] >> Perry: that's what
[3:33:23] we're authorized to have?
[3:33:25] >> chief: yes, sir.
[3:33:27] >> Perry: we talked
[3:33:28] about cadets out in the
[3:33:29] community eonce they
[3:33:30] graduate from the
[3:33:30] community, I'm looking at
[3:33:32] this chart down below,
[3:33:37] sapd vacancies as of JUNE 11th, got 2376
[3:33:39] sworn positions filled.
[3:33:41] And then you have cadets
[3:33:44] in academy class, 94, but
[3:33:45] they're in class, they're
[3:33:46] not even out on the
[3:33:49] street.
[3:33:52] I'm saying it should be
[3:33:54] 94 cadets and the
[3:33:56] vacancies added together,
[3:33:57] because they're not on
[3:33:58] the street.
[3:33:59] They're still in school.
[3:34:00] We don't even know how
[3:34:02] many are actually going
[3:34:02] to graduate.
[3:34:03] >> chief: right.
[3:34:04] >> Perry: so I'm
[3:34:07] looking at the 2488 and
[3:34:09] I'm reading this, that we
[3:34:11] actually have 112
[3:34:13] officers short, that's
[3:34:16] the 94 that are in
[3:34:17] academy, in the classes,
[3:34:19] and the 18 vacancies.
[3:34:21] >> chief: uh-huh.
[3:34:24] >> Perry: but I'm
[3:34:27] getting that, you know,
[3:34:29] we're -- are we counting
[3:34:30] the and my classes as
[3:34:31] part of our sworn
[3:34:33] positions filled?
[3:34:35] Because I'm seeing that
[3:34:36] we're 112 short right
[3:34:38] now.
[3:34:43] >> chief: you know,
[3:34:45] we've gone around and
[3:34:47] around on this each time
[3:34:48] we talk about it.
[3:34:49] >> Perry: we went round
[3:34:51] and round about the
[3:34:52] cadets that are actually
[3:34:54] graduated that were
[3:34:55] counting toward our
[3:34:56] authorizations, but
[3:34:57] they're not totally out
[3:34:57] of the training program
[3:34:59] because they're sitting
[3:34:59] with another police
[3:35:01] officer for another six
[3:35:01] months after they
[3:35:02] graduate.
[3:35:03] And we've argued that
[3:35:06] back and forth, but we've
[3:35:09] never shown cadets as
[3:35:10] filling positions that
[3:35:12] are in class or not even
[3:35:14] in class yet, have we?
[3:35:16] I don't recall that ever
[3:35:17] being portrayed this way
[3:35:21] is what I'm saying, and
[3:35:24] I'm saying today, we got
[3:35:27] 2376, and we're 112
[3:35:28] short, because our
[3:35:31] authorized is 2488.
[3:35:33] So y'all made comments
[3:35:35] while ago that we're
[3:35:37] okay, out in the field
[3:35:39] today, and I'm not seeing
[3:35:43] it that way, we're 112
[3:35:43] short today.
[3:35:44] >> chief: COUNCILMAN,
[3:35:45] we're going to disagree
[3:35:46] with you.
[3:35:46] >> Perry: okay.
[3:35:48] >> chief: a department
[3:35:50] this size, with almost
[3:35:52] 2500 positions, there is
[3:35:54] always going to be people
[3:35:56] retiring, or leaving and
[3:35:57] it's a production line,
[3:35:59] and the production line
[3:36:00] is long in both the
[3:36:01] police and fire
[3:36:02] departments.
[3:36:03] You've got the applicant
[3:36:04] process.
[3:36:06] You've got a training
[3:36:09] academy for six months.
[3:36:11] You're in -- after you
[3:36:13] graduate, you're with a
[3:36:14] field train officer for
[3:36:15] another six months, it
[3:36:16] takes awhile before that
[3:36:17] individual is out there
[3:36:18] by themselves, the
[3:36:20] officer by themselves.
[3:36:22] We have to constantly
[3:36:23] churn that.
[3:36:25] As city manager, when I
[3:36:27] see 100 or I think it's
[3:36:29] 94 cadets in the academy,
[3:36:30] that's good.
[3:36:31] That's -- they are
[3:36:31] filling a position,
[3:36:32] because that means we
[3:36:33] have a vacancy somewhere
[3:36:34] else.
[3:36:36] We didn't say on the
[3:36:37] street when we were
[3:36:38] talking a second ago.
[3:36:40] We were talking about
[3:36:41] authorized positions.
[3:36:43] We have 18 or 19 actual
[3:36:44] vacancies right now.
[3:36:45] The vast majority of
[3:36:47] those are filled officer
[3:36:49] positions and we have 94
[3:36:50] in the academy.
[3:36:52] When we start the academy
[3:36:54] class in this summer,
[3:36:54] we're actually going to
[3:36:56] be over our authorized
[3:36:57] strength, because have
[3:36:59] you to count it all
[3:37:01] together.
[3:37:07] rozcy counts the trainee
[3:37:08] in public works as a
[3:37:08] position, we have to
[3:37:10] count that, we budget it
[3:37:12] for it, we have to stay
[3:37:12] ahead.
[3:37:13] Where we were at three or
[3:37:16] four years ago, we had
[3:37:17] actually street vacancies
[3:37:19] to almost 200 positions.
[3:37:20] >> Perry: I think it's
[3:37:21] close to 300.
[3:37:23] >> I don't think we got
[3:37:25] that high, but it was
[3:37:27] certainly over 200.
[3:37:28] We're not in that
[3:37:29] position right now.
[3:37:31] Those 94, half of them
[3:37:31] will likely graduate at
[3:37:32] the beginning of the
[3:37:33] fall.
[3:37:35] The neck
[3:37:38] the next half will
[3:37:39] graduate by the end of
[3:37:40] this calendar year, we
[3:37:41] keep that machine
[3:37:42] rolling.
[3:37:43] More importantly, our
[3:37:44] trial budget, our
[3:37:45] financial forecast,
[3:37:46] likely our proposed
[3:37:47] budget is going to make
[3:37:50] sure funding to keep
[3:37:51] police and fire, that
[3:37:52] long pipeline funded.
[3:37:53] >> Perry: okay.
[3:37:55] I hear my bell going off.
[3:37:57] We'll have to agree to
[3:37:58] disagree on that, because
[3:38:00] I -- counting cadets that
[3:38:02] are in class as being out
[3:38:03] on, you know, patrols and
[3:38:05] all that, that -- I don't
[3:38:07] agree with that.
[3:38:09] >> COUNCILMAN, that's not
[3:38:11] what we're doing.
[3:38:12] Maria, can you pull up
[3:38:13] what the COUNCILMAN Is
[3:38:14] showing?
[3:38:17] >> I don't have it on the
[3:38:17] powerpoint.
[3:38:19] We can try to do that but
[3:38:20] I don't have it --
[3:38:21] >> let's do that, we'll
[3:38:22] bring it up at the end of
[3:38:23] the day during the
[3:38:23] catch-up.
[3:38:24] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:38:25] thank you, councilmember
[3:38:25] perry.
[3:38:27] Councilmember viagran?
[3:38:28] >> Viagran: thank you.
[3:38:29] Thank you for that
[3:38:30] presentation.
[3:38:32] I'm very excited about
[3:38:34] these pilot programs.
[3:38:35] I'm looking forward to
[3:38:37] getting a sub
[3:38:39] substation in
[3:38:41] district 3 so we can help
[3:38:42] pilot some of these
[3:38:42] programs, so I look
[3:38:43] forward to that.
[3:38:47] On slide 3, the community
[3:38:49] input, with sapd and me,
[3:38:50] chief, I appreciate that
[3:38:52] you're going to go out to
[3:38:54] the district, my district
[3:38:55] in particular, because
[3:38:58] they don't feel safe.
[3:38:59] Is there any way that
[3:39:00] they can -- you could
[3:39:02] have like a standing
[3:39:04] civilian input committee
[3:39:05] or kind of something
[3:39:07] where they can kind of
[3:39:10] give suggestions to maybe
[3:39:11] helping as we go through
[3:39:13] this process, because I'd
[3:39:15] like to see answers that
[3:39:19] are district-specific.
[3:39:19] To
[3:39:20] building that
[3:39:22] relationship and building
[3:39:22] community.
[3:39:24] >> chief: I don't see
[3:39:24] why not.
[3:39:25] The more input we get,
[3:39:27] the better it is, it's a
[3:39:28] matter of how we
[3:39:28] structure it.
[3:39:29] >> and then that's the
[3:39:31] one thing with the arpa
[3:39:33] dollars and what we have,
[3:39:34] maybe we can look at
[3:39:35] budgeting that if we have
[3:39:37] another committee for
[3:39:38] these -- these districts
[3:39:39] that feel unsafe or want
[3:39:40] to build those
[3:39:41] relationships.
[3:39:42] And then on slide number
[3:39:44] 5, another point to that
[3:39:47] is when we look at the
[3:39:48] community-based policing
[3:39:49] programs, while I would
[3:39:51] love for us to go wide
[3:39:53] with, you know, pride
[3:39:54] center, rape crisis
[3:39:55] center, I would also like
[3:39:57] to see us go
[3:39:57] district-specific with
[3:39:58] nonprofits that work in
[3:40:00] the community to kind of
[3:40:02] build that trust and get
[3:40:03] youth involved.
[3:40:05] So if we can just do that
[3:40:07] consideration.
[3:40:09] And then the question
[3:40:13] regarding the mental
[3:40:16] health, is -- is 911
[3:40:17] asking when we get these
[3:40:19] calls who is making the
[3:40:23] call, if it's family,
[3:40:24] neighbor, person driving
[3:40:27] down the street, when
[3:40:29] they make these calls to
[3:40:30] make sure they know for
[3:40:31] sure that that person
[3:40:37] doesn't have a weapon?
[3:40:39] >> chief: yes, the
[3:40:40] complainant is typically
[3:40:41] identified, you know,
[3:40:43] when the call goes out,
[3:40:44] as to, you know, where
[3:40:46] the call is coming from,
[3:40:47] and who is making it.
[3:40:48] They always have a call
[3:40:50] back -- not always, but
[3:40:50] most times they have a
[3:40:52] call back number that we
[3:40:54] can refer back to if
[3:40:55] there are questions or
[3:40:56] concerns while the
[3:40:57] officer is responding or
[3:40:59] once they get there.
[3:41:00] >> because my concern is
[3:41:05] we transition to having
[3:41:05] nonuniformed people go
[3:41:07] off to these calls is
[3:41:09] their safety, and I want
[3:41:10] to make sure that their
[3:41:12] safety is our top
[3:41:13] priority as we do that.
[3:41:14] >> chief: and that is
[3:41:15] our concern, too,
[3:41:16] councilmember.
[3:41:19] We are -- we are open and
[3:41:21] looking forward to
[3:41:22] exploring alternative
[3:41:23] responses to mental
[3:41:23] health calls and other
[3:41:26] types of calls, but
[3:41:27] our -- our primary
[3:41:28] concern, and I've
[3:41:29] mentioned this before, is
[3:41:31] for safety of the -- the
[3:41:32] safety of those folks who
[3:41:35] MAY be responding with us
[3:41:38] or ahead of us.
[3:41:39] >> that will be really
[3:41:40] critical if we're talking
[3:41:43] about a team approach.
[3:41:44] It's critical now when
[3:41:46] police officers to make
[3:41:47] sure they're properly
[3:41:47] informed.
[3:41:49] It will be even more
[3:41:50] critical if we're looking
[3:41:52] at alternative response
[3:41:52] mechanism, because we
[3:41:54] don't want to put
[3:41:56] anybody, any additional
[3:41:56] harm's way.
[3:41:57] >> Viagran: I just want
[3:41:58] us to take that into
[3:41:59] consideration when we
[3:42:00] talk about budgetwise, is
[3:42:01] this means the phone
[3:42:04] calls to 911 might be a
[3:42:05] little longer than
[3:42:07] before, and we need to
[3:42:07] take that into
[3:42:08] consideration when we
[3:42:10] look at servicing that.
[3:42:12] The animal-related calls,
[3:42:14] I think we could
[3:42:15] definitely help with that
[3:42:17] if we gave more money to
[3:42:19] acs and got some big
[3:42:21] fixes done within the
[3:42:22] different communities.
[3:42:24] So that was my point --
[3:42:26] my little comment there.
[3:42:29] And then on the top three
[3:42:29] calls, officers should
[3:42:36] not have primary
[3:42:36] response responsibility
[3:42:37] that came from them,
[3:42:38] because I worked for the
[3:42:40] police department, I knew
[3:42:41] child custody visitation
[3:42:42] was going to be on that
[3:42:43] list; however, I'm not
[3:42:45] sure that that is
[3:42:46] necessarily the case.
[3:42:48] I think we do need to
[3:42:51] look at criminal history.
[3:42:53] We do need to look at
[3:42:55] that whole relationship
[3:42:57] before we pass that on to
[3:42:58] anyone else.
[3:43:00] >> chief: councilmember,
[3:43:02] just a comment that these
[3:43:03] custody calls, child
[3:43:05] care -- you know,
[3:43:08] exchange calls, I relate
[3:43:11] them somewhat to being as
[3:43:13] potentially volatile as
[3:43:14] family violence calls
[3:43:15] because of the
[3:43:16] relationship sometimes
[3:43:17] between the mother and
[3:43:19] the father, so they can
[3:43:23] be very dangerous as well
[3:43:23] well.
[3:43:23] >> Viagran: some of
[3:43:25] them I understand, but I
[3:43:26] think if we do the
[3:43:27] technology.
[3:43:29] and then also the other
[3:43:30] aspect on 11, and this is
[3:43:32] why I ask is we need to
[3:43:33] address that digital
[3:43:35] divide before we go to
[3:43:37] social media and survey
[3:43:38] results online, so just
[3:43:40] keep that in mind.
[3:43:40] Thank you.
[3:43:41] Thank you for your time.
[3:43:43] Thank you, mayor.
[3:43:44] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:43:46] thank you, councilmember
[3:43:48] viagran.
[3:43:50] Councilmember
[3:43:51] rocha-garcia.
[3:43:52] >> Rocha-Garcia: thank
[3:43:53] you, mayor, thank you,
[3:43:56] chief, I appreciate you
[3:43:57] being willing to be there
[3:43:58] for the residents of
[3:44:00] district 4, I know I'm
[3:44:02] supposed to go on a bike
[3:44:03] patrol ride.
[3:44:04] So thank you.
[3:44:05] Street lighting is
[3:44:06] important in my
[3:44:07] neighborhood, and our
[3:44:08] area is the second
[3:44:09] largest area in san
[3:44:09] antonio, so I literally
[3:44:11] have to divide the
[3:44:13] district up into three
[3:44:13] sections.
[3:44:14] The northern, the
[3:44:15] central, and the southern
[3:44:16] part.
[3:44:19] And so the last go round,
[3:44:21] I was able to advocate --
[3:44:23] to get some money
[3:44:24] budgeted for street
[3:44:26] lighting, and so we had
[3:44:27] 87 street lights
[3:44:29] installed.
[3:44:30] There's 115 identified,
[3:44:31] some neighbors decided
[3:44:32] they didn't want them,
[3:44:33] and so it was really
[3:44:34] impactful.
[3:44:36] And so I remember driving
[3:44:37] around like my first
[3:44:40] month on the job with
[3:44:41] erik walsh, and we
[3:44:41] identified three
[3:44:43] different types of street
[3:44:44] lamps, right?
[3:44:46] Some from like the
[3:44:47] '70s, or something.
[3:44:49] It was really, really
[3:44:50] retrolights.
[3:44:51] So I do believe in that.
[3:44:53] And I'm wondering if
[3:44:55] there's a way that we can
[3:44:56] have your team, the
[3:44:57] officers, even like
[3:44:59] identify, as did I my
[3:45:00] ride-along a couple of
[3:45:02] years ago, they knew,
[3:45:04] like, oh, yeah, it's real
[3:45:05] dark in here, so usually
[3:45:07] we will see kids running
[3:45:08] around here at night, et
[3:45:08] cetera.
[3:45:09] So I don't know if
[3:45:10] there's an opportunity to
[3:45:11] engage them together.
[3:45:12] Our safe officers are out
[3:45:14] during the day, but I'm
[3:45:16] talking about t shift,
[3:45:16] right?
[3:45:19] And so those guys, those
[3:45:19] officers are the ones
[3:45:20] that are kind of out
[3:45:21] there, wondering if we
[3:45:23] can get some additional
[3:45:25] engagement and support to
[3:45:26] team up for that lighting
[3:45:27] study?
[3:45:29] >> we'll be happy to do
[3:45:32] that, COUNCILWOMAN.
[3:45:32] >> Rocha-Garcia: okay.
[3:45:37] Thank you.
[3:45:37] So I agree with the
[3:45:37] feedback on the loud
[3:45:37] music and the fireworks,
[3:45:38] for instance.
[3:45:39] I didn't see anything in
[3:45:40] here, maybe I just missed
[3:45:42] it when I stepped out,
[3:45:43] handle with care.
[3:45:45] and so I just want to
[3:45:46] continue to be an
[3:45:47] advocate for the handle
[3:45:47] with care program.
[3:45:49] A lot of the kids in my
[3:45:51] district, and their
[3:45:53] service specifically,
[3:45:55] through their social
[3:45:56] workers, and I just -- I
[3:45:58] want to make sure that we
[3:45:58] don't underfund that
[3:45:59] program.
[3:46:00] I think it continues to
[3:46:01] need some additional love
[3:46:04] and support there.
[3:46:05] >> chief: councilmember,
[3:46:07] that is not a program
[3:46:08] that has required
[3:46:09] additional programming,
[3:46:10] but be happy to take it
[3:46:13] if you want to give it to
[3:46:14] us --
[3:46:15] >> Rocha-Garcia: erik
[3:46:17] said don't give chief any
[3:46:18] money. They will always
[3:46:18] take it.
[3:46:20] The chiefs always take
[3:46:21] the money.
[3:46:23] So, no, we're good.
[3:46:25] The next thing is street
[3:46:25] racing.
[3:46:28] Do we have a plan, I
[3:46:28] don't think it would
[3:46:29] require any budgeting,
[3:46:30] but I didn't see anything
[3:46:31] erik walsh is the one
[3:46:32] that peels out usually
[3:46:34] out of city hall, but I'm
[3:46:35] talking about --
[3:46:39] >> on southwest
[3:46:39] military --
[3:46:40] >> COUNCILWOMAN, we had a
[3:46:41] discussion at public
[3:46:42] safety committee, and
[3:46:43] that is something that is
[3:46:44] going to come back during
[3:46:45] the fall.
[3:46:46] We
[3:46:48] we had a preliminary
[3:46:48] discussion.
[3:46:49] we got some feedback from
[3:46:50] the members of the
[3:46:51] committee, and again,
[3:46:52] that will be a discussion
[3:46:55] for the fall.
[3:46:55] >> Rocha-Garcia: sorry,
[3:46:57] go ahead, chief.
[3:46:58] >> chief: there's a
[3:46:59] program, councilmember,
[3:47:02] that we are about to kick
[3:47:02] off.
[3:47:06] I got a -- I'll call it a
[3:47:07] proposal.
[3:47:08] Proposal on it the other
[3:47:08] day.
[3:47:10] So what we've done, I
[3:47:11] think y'all know, MAY
[3:47:12] know who captain
[3:47:14] benavidez is.
[3:47:16] So when the street racing
[3:47:18] issue started to peak, we
[3:47:19] were looking around at
[3:47:20] other cities and what
[3:47:21] they were doing, and I
[3:47:22] can't remember what city
[3:47:24] it was, but they
[3:47:28] partnered with a local
[3:47:29] racetrack and that
[3:47:30] racetrack allowed the
[3:47:32] street racers, we'll call
[3:47:33] them, to go on that
[3:47:34] racetrack and do their
[3:47:35] thing.
[3:47:37] So we've got a racetrack
[3:47:38] lined up getting ready to
[3:47:40] partner with us to do
[3:47:43] that, so I just got the
[3:47:44] proposal yesterday.
[3:47:45] I haven't read it yet,
[3:47:47] but I will do that soon,
[3:47:49] so that MAY be another
[3:47:50] alternative to get folks
[3:47:51] off the street.
[3:47:52] >> Rocha-Garcia: that's
[3:47:52] super cool.
[3:47:54] I have another -- I don't
[3:47:55] know what racetrack
[3:47:56] you're talking about, but
[3:47:58] I have one that's
[3:47:59] probably helpful as well.
[3:48:02] i had a lot of I'll call
[3:48:03] them kids in my area,
[3:48:06] because they were 17,
[3:48:07] 18-year-olds doing ring
[3:48:09] or fire, it was
[3:48:09] ridiculous, I want to
[3:48:11] make sure we have a focus
[3:48:12] on that.
[3:48:13] >> chief: it's something
[3:48:14] that we'll partner, the
[3:48:16] police department will
[3:48:17] partner in to make that
[3:48:19] community engagement.
[3:48:20] >> Rocha-Garcia: okay.
[3:48:20] Then gunshots.
[3:48:22] Do we have any innovative
[3:48:24] approaches to identify --
[3:48:25] there's got to be
[3:48:26] something created by now
[3:48:27] to figure out where the
[3:48:28] gunshot is coming from?
[3:48:30] >> chief: well, shot
[3:48:31] spotter is what we
[3:48:32] thought -- well, we
[3:48:34] tested it to see how --
[3:48:36] you know, if you want to
[3:48:37] record how many gunshots
[3:48:38] are being fired at night
[3:48:40] in a particular area,
[3:48:41] shot spotter is a great
[3:48:43] tool, but it does not --
[3:48:46] it does not help us -- it
[3:48:48] didn't help us identify
[3:48:50] who was doing it,
[3:48:51] because -- and we went to
[3:48:52] great lengths.
[3:48:53] We put a car in the area
[3:48:55] simply to respond to shot
[3:48:57] spotter calls, and we
[3:48:59] paid overtime to do that,
[3:49:01] and we had them respond
[3:49:03] code 2, which is with
[3:49:05] lights and sirens, so
[3:49:07] that did not help us get
[3:49:08] to the scene, to that
[3:49:09] particular scene and
[3:49:10] identify that individual,
[3:49:11] and potentially make an
[3:49:12] arrest.
[3:49:15] So -- but as far as other
[3:49:16] technologies going, I
[3:49:17] don't know of any.
[3:49:19] I don't know of any
[3:49:20] around other cities, what
[3:49:21] they're doing, a lot of
[3:49:22] cities have the same
[3:49:24] problems that we do,
[3:49:26] especially cities, you
[3:49:29] know, in the west and
[3:49:30] northwest, we're not
[3:49:32] seeing any innovative
[3:49:34] approaches to having --
[3:49:39] to the gunshot issue.
[3:49:41] >> chief, remind me,
[3:49:42] different cities had
[3:49:43] different levels of
[3:49:43] success depending on how
[3:49:44] they were laid out and
[3:49:46] the density, that was a
[3:49:48] major factor that kind of
[3:49:50] showed there was a --
[3:49:56] kind of a difference in
[3:49:57] performance, a
[3:49:58] washington, D.C., versus
[3:50:00] maybe a kansas city or
[3:50:01] san antonio.
[3:50:02] Depends on what the area
[3:50:03] looks like and how dense
[3:50:05] it is, the buildings, and
[3:50:07] that was a major factor,
[3:50:08] I think that we found as
[3:50:11] well.
[3:50:14] >> yeah, not to harp on
[3:50:15] shot spotter, but that
[3:50:16] type of technology would
[3:50:18] be wonderful on a college
[3:50:21] campus or some type of
[3:50:23] campus where gunshots are
[3:50:25] simply never supposed to
[3:50:29] happen, and -- and small
[3:50:30] enough to respond to it
[3:50:32] quickly enough to
[3:50:34] probably identify or find
[3:50:35] out who is shooting the
[3:50:38] gun.
[3:50:38] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:50:39] thank you, councilmember.
[3:50:48] >> Rocha-Garcia:.
[3:50:51] Councilmember mckee
[3:50:52] rodriguez.
[3:50:53] >> Rodriguez: is my mic
[3:50:53] on?
[3:50:54] I wanted to address a
[3:50:58] comment earlier the sign
[3:51:00] scientific study shows we
[3:51:01] need more police
[3:51:02] officers, and that is
[3:51:04] absolutely false, the
[3:51:05] study did not show that.
[3:51:07] I think what it reveals
[3:51:08] to me is we need
[3:51:10] investment in addressing
[3:51:11] the root causes of crime.
[3:51:13] We need to invest in
[3:51:15] crime deterrence, and I
[3:51:17] think my background as a
[3:51:18] teacher, and a lot of
[3:51:19] people think the goal of
[3:51:22] a teacher is academic
[3:51:23] outcomes, and that is one
[3:51:25] of the goals, but
[3:51:26] priority number one is
[3:51:28] safety, I view my role as
[3:51:31] a councilmember is the
[3:51:33] same.
[3:51:34] Safety is a huge priority
[3:51:35] to me.
[3:51:36] When we're talking about
[3:51:38] investment, I think that
[3:51:40] means we need to invest
[3:51:41] in preventing domestic
[3:51:43] violence in community
[3:51:45] interest efforts, access
[3:51:46] to housing and jobs,
[3:51:48] security systems, as was
[3:51:49] said earlier, and
[3:51:51] restorative justice in
[3:51:52] schools, as well as
[3:51:56] investments in unp lick public
[3:51:57] health.
[3:51:59] And I think the study
[3:52:00] showed that increased
[3:52:02] officers don't lead to a
[3:52:04] decrease in crime, nor an
[3:52:05] increase in safety, and
[3:52:06] there's two different
[3:52:07] proposals I have that I
[3:52:08] would like to ask for
[3:52:09] support on.
[3:52:10] One of the problems that
[3:52:12] has been identified these
[3:52:15] past weeks is that cps
[3:52:16] nor the city know how
[3:52:18] many street lights we
[3:52:19] have, where they are, and
[3:52:21] we pay for those, and so
[3:52:21] what I would like to
[3:52:23] propose is one is street
[3:52:24] lighting index, something
[3:52:26] like a heat map or an
[3:52:28] index where streets are
[3:52:29] assigned a grade based on
[3:52:30] how well let they are,
[3:52:32] and this would ideally
[3:52:34] analyze where crime is
[3:52:36] happening, school zones,
[3:52:37] endogen street
[3:52:40] and general street
[3:52:41] darkness to determine a
[3:52:42] street lighting strategy
[3:52:44] so we're not aimlessly
[3:52:46] throwing street lights in
[3:52:47] places, but so there is a
[3:52:48] strategy there.
[3:52:49] I would like to ask for
[3:52:50] additional funding for
[3:52:51] street lights in my
[3:52:52] district and across the
[3:52:53] city, I'm sure.
[3:52:54] And a second ask would be
[3:52:56] an office or an entity
[3:52:58] separate from sapd that
[3:53:00] would include data
[3:53:02] scientists and
[3:53:03] criminallologists that
[3:53:05] can make strategic
[3:53:06] recommendations to deter
[3:53:07] crime and address its
[3:53:09] root causes and I think
[3:53:10] one of responsibilities
[3:53:12] of that office could be
[3:53:13] operating that street
[3:53:15] lighting index.
[3:53:16] Thank you.
[3:53:16] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:53:18] thank you, councilmember
[3:53:19] mckee rodriguez.
[3:53:20] Any response to that?
[3:53:22] >> chief: councilmember,
[3:53:23] I think that we are very
[3:53:25] much on the same page
[3:53:29] with the majority of what
[3:53:29] you talked act, so I
[3:53:30] support that.
[3:53:33] You know, the social and
[3:53:37] economic issues are what
[3:53:38] police deal with, you
[3:53:40] know, when it turns in
[3:53:41] the result of it being,
[3:53:45] you know, crime, and, you
[3:53:47] know, we get on this
[3:53:48] merry-go-round where we
[3:53:49] continue to arrest
[3:53:50] people, but we're not
[3:53:51] addressing the root
[3:53:53] causes of it as you
[3:53:54] mentioned, I'm on the
[3:53:57] same page as you are.
[3:53:58] >> Rodriguez: thank
[3:54:00] you, chief Mcmanus.
[3:54:01] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:54:03] councilmen pala
[3:54:03] ez.
[3:54:04] >> Pal*ez: I don't know
[3:54:05] what study you're talking
[3:54:06] about, but I would like
[3:54:08] to see one, have my
[3:54:09] questions answered as far
[3:54:10] as what is the measure --
[3:54:12] what is the measurable
[3:54:13] value of adding one
[3:54:14] police officer, let's
[3:54:15] say, and how that relates
[3:54:19] to the crime rate, pick
[3:54:20] your crime, right?
[3:54:21] Violent crimes.
[3:54:22] I don't know the answer
[3:54:22] to that.
[3:54:24] You know, if you add one
[3:54:26] officer, or you add ten
[3:54:28] officers or 20 officers,
[3:54:29] you know, what is the
[3:54:30] impact on rapes or
[3:54:31] homicides or property
[3:54:32] crime.
[3:54:33] Does anybody have that?
[3:54:36] I mean --
[3:54:38] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:54:39] councilmember mckee
[3:54:40] rodriguez's statement
[3:54:43] increase in police does
[3:54:45] not necessary my make it
[3:54:48] more safe; however, I'll
[3:54:48] answer your direct
[3:54:49] question in a second, but
[3:54:53] it does make people feel
[3:54:53] safe.
[3:54:55] The more they see police
[3:54:58] officers, the safer they
[3:54:58] feel.
[3:55:00] If you add police
[3:55:01] officers to patrol,
[3:55:03] you're going to be able
[3:55:04] to decrease response
[3:55:04] times.
[3:55:07] If you add investigators
[3:55:12] to homicide unit or svu,
[3:55:13] you will be able to clear
[3:55:14] more cases in less amount
[3:55:17] of time, so it -- it kind
[3:55:20] of works out like that.
[3:55:21] If you want to invest in
[3:55:25] specific areas, you're
[3:55:26] going to see a benefit
[3:55:30] from it in one respect or
[3:55:31] another depending upon
[3:55:32] what area the police
[3:55:34] department is in,
[3:55:35] response times or
[3:55:37] investigative clearances,
[3:55:39] safe, engage in community
[3:55:40] more often.
[3:55:41] So I don't know if I'm
[3:55:43] answering your question
[3:55:45] or not.
[3:55:47] >> Pal*ez: you are,
[3:55:48] maybe we're using the
[3:55:49] word study wrong, maybe
[3:55:52] we're talking about a
[3:55:52] survey.
[3:55:52] I don't know.
[3:55:53] I understand survey
[3:55:54] answers.
[3:55:55] I guess what I'm looking
[3:55:56] for is has anybody looked
[3:55:57] at whether or not there's
[3:55:59] a measurable difference,
[3:56:00] right, and what that
[3:56:01] difference is in crime
[3:56:02] rates versus number of
[3:56:04] police officers on or off
[3:56:05] the street?
[3:56:05] I don't know.
[3:56:07] I get it, right?
[3:56:09] It makes people feel
[3:56:10] safer if you see more in
[3:56:11] certain neighborhoods, in
[3:56:12] other neighborhoods it
[3:56:14] doesn't make them feel
[3:56:16] safer, I get that, it's
[3:56:17] an academic question, I
[3:56:18] think it's important one,
[3:56:19] we're talking about
[3:56:20] funding, and we're
[3:56:21] talking about increasing
[3:56:23] academy classes, you
[3:56:25] know, I'm in regard to
[3:56:26] COUNCILMAN Perry's points
[3:56:29] that he was making
[3:56:30] earlier, are we allowed
[3:56:32] to do lateral hires,
[3:56:34] andy?
[3:56:35] >> no.
[3:56:38] >> Pal*ez: the only way
[3:56:40] to get new police
[3:56:41] officers is through the
[3:56:41] academy.
[3:56:43] >> is through the and my,
[3:56:44] that's the only way.
[3:56:45] >> Pal*ez: the other
[3:56:46] thing too I'm looking at
[3:56:48] top three calls officers
[3:56:49] should not have primary
[3:56:50] responsibility for, and I
[3:56:52] understand this is the
[3:56:54] officer's feedback, and
[3:56:56] loud music and child
[3:56:57] custody visitation and
[3:56:58] fireworks, I agree,
[3:56:59] fireworks is, you know,
[3:57:01] probably not where we
[3:57:02] ought to be throwing our
[3:57:04] resource, but child
[3:57:06] custody visitation
[3:57:07] violations, those turn
[3:57:08] deadly, quickly.
[3:57:09] In fact, some of the
[3:57:10] murders that we've talked
[3:57:13] about were child
[3:57:14] visitation scenarios,
[3:57:14] right?
[3:57:17] And I've had some success
[3:57:18] recently in my district
[3:57:19] with police officers
[3:57:20] responding to loud music,
[3:57:21] and particularly a
[3:57:24] certain bar on utsa and
[3:57:26] babcock, that without
[3:57:27] those police officer
[3:57:29] visits, we were getting
[3:57:30] no compliance whatsoever,
[3:57:31] they were driving the
[3:57:33] neighborhood crazy.
[3:57:34] On the other hand, and
[3:57:35] we're going to have to
[3:57:37] visit about this later,
[3:57:38] gentlemen, but I saw a
[3:57:39] video of one of our
[3:57:41] police officers at night
[3:57:43] from the vice squad
[3:57:44] recently, going to a bar
[3:57:47] in district 2, on a noise
[3:57:48] violation, and talking to
[3:57:49] the general manager, and
[3:57:51] then insisting that the
[3:57:52] owner show up, even
[3:57:54] though he was offsite.
[3:57:55] The owner showed up, and
[3:57:56] they arrested the owner,
[3:57:59] because he showed up
[3:58:00] inebriated, he didn't
[3:58:01] drive inebriated, he got
[3:58:02] someone to drive him
[3:58:04] there.
[3:58:04] Look, I'm not driving
[3:58:05] tonight, this is the
[3:58:07] general manager's issue,
[3:58:08] that's why I hire him,
[3:58:09] the charge was operating
[3:58:11] a bar under the
[3:58:12] influence, they summoned
[3:58:13] him to archdiocese
[3:58:15] arrest him, we've
[3:58:16] got a problem, right?
[3:58:18] When peep see videos like
[3:58:19] that, it really angers
[3:58:21] them, it does damage to
[3:58:22] this effort that we're
[3:58:23] trying to -- that we're
[3:58:25] making to increase trust,
[3:58:25] right?
[3:58:27] And so we have -- I get
[3:58:29] it, and your job is not
[3:58:30] easy, managing people out
[3:58:35] there, you know, who --
[3:58:36] you know, deal with
[3:58:37] conflict in different
[3:58:38] ways, right?
[3:58:41] And so my only approach,
[3:58:42] and I just need --
[3:58:43] because my constituents
[3:58:44] MAY be watching right
[3:58:47] now, my only approach the
[3:58:48] entire time is to make
[3:58:50] sure that when andy's
[3:58:51] family or when john's
[3:58:53] family or when mario's
[3:58:55] family, when anna's
[3:58:57] family calls 911, or
[3:58:58] anybody's family out
[3:59:00] there in the audience
[3:59:02] calls 911, that answers
[3:59:03] sooner than later, right?
[3:59:04] And I think that's what
[3:59:06] the general public all
[3:59:07] over san antonio expects
[3:59:09] of us, and so to the
[3:59:10] extent that we're
[3:59:12] funding, you know, mental
[3:59:13] health workers and police
[3:59:14] officers, all that,
[3:59:15] that's a great
[3:59:15] conversation, I really
[3:59:16] want to have that one,
[3:59:18] but never at the expense
[3:59:20] of 911 response times, so
[3:59:20] anyway, I think you're
[3:59:21] doing a great job, and
[3:59:23] you take a lot of heat,
[3:59:24] sometimes you deserve it,
[3:59:25] sometimes you don't.
[3:59:26] But I appreciate you
[3:59:27] being here.
[3:59:27] Thanks, chief.
[3:59:28] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[3:59:30] thank you, councilmember
[3:59:30] pala
[3:59:31] ez.
[3:59:34] Councilmember sandoval?
[3:59:35] >> Sandoval: thank you.
[3:59:36] i do have a question
[3:59:37] about fireworks
[3:59:37] enforcement.
[3:59:38] Is that something that
[3:59:40] can be enforced by
[3:59:40] somebody else who is not
[3:59:41] the police?
[3:59:42] I thought there was
[3:59:43] some -- can you tell me
[3:59:44] how that would work?
[3:59:47] >> chief: yes, so we're
[3:59:48] not the only ones that
[3:59:50] could write a citation
[3:59:52] for that.
[3:59:53] Code compliance would
[3:59:54] write a citation for
[3:59:54] that.
[3:59:55] I don't want to speak for
[3:59:56] my brother back there,
[3:59:58] charles, but his
[3:59:58] department could probably
[4:00:00] get involved in it as
[4:00:00] well.
[4:00:05] Sorry, charles.
[4:00:06] >> and then let me ask
[4:00:07] you, can you remind me
[4:00:08] how you measure or how
[4:00:10] you define response time?
[4:00:13] >> chief: yes, so if --
[4:00:15] I'm a all the taker, as
[4:00:17] soon as I pick that phone
[4:00:19] up, response time begins,
[4:00:20] and it ends when the
[4:00:21] officer actually arrives
[4:00:22] on the scene, and the
[4:00:23] officer will either say,
[4:00:26] you know, 10-6, which
[4:00:27] means I'm on the scene,
[4:00:29] or the geo fencing will
[4:00:33] pick it up and have an
[4:00:34] automatic response sent
[4:00:37] to the cad system.
[4:00:38] So from
[4:00:46] so from the time -- >> chief: there's a call
[4:00:50] taker and dispatcher.
[4:00:52] It ends when the officer
[4:00:54] arrives on the scene.
[4:00:54] >> Sandoval: okay.
[4:00:55] Thank you.
[4:00:58] And then so if I'm the
[4:01:03] person who makes the
[4:01:04] call, I just want to make
[4:01:05] sure we're talking about
[4:01:06] the same thing, because
[4:01:07] that is how the public is
[4:01:09] going to see the numbers
[4:01:12] is how am I measuring it?
[4:01:15] I -- I think part of the
[4:01:17] conversation we're having
[4:01:19] is because pd is the only
[4:01:20] department who responds
[4:01:21] 24 -- well, and the fire
[4:01:24] department of course,
[4:01:26] respond 24-7, right?
[4:01:28] So I'm glad to see us
[4:01:29] having this conversation,
[4:01:30] and for us to actually
[4:01:31] move in the direction of
[4:01:33] diverting some of those
[4:01:34] calls, it means we're
[4:01:35] going to have to invest
[4:01:37] in either code or in acs,
[4:01:42] or whatever it is, as a
[4:01:43] 24-7 operation.
[4:01:44] So I think we just need
[4:01:45] to be prepared to make
[4:01:48] that investment as a
[4:01:50] council, and then lastly,
[4:01:51] I heard COUNCILWOMAN
[4:01:53] Viagran mention some sort
[4:01:55] of community input, and
[4:01:57] ongoing community input
[4:02:00] process.
[4:02:02] Almost like some sort of
[4:02:03] advisory board or
[4:02:04] committee, so that you
[4:02:04] have representation by
[4:02:05] district.
[4:02:06] I know, chief, that you
[4:02:08] do convene out of your
[4:02:09] own initiative a group of
[4:02:10] community members.
[4:02:13] I've referred some to
[4:02:13] you.
[4:02:14] And I think it's great
[4:02:16] that you have take than
[4:02:17] initiative, but I can
[4:02:18] also see the benefit of
[4:02:22] having something that is
[4:02:23] council-appointed that is
[4:02:24] more transparent and that
[4:02:26] can bring other issues to
[4:02:28] the table, so I would be
[4:02:29] supportive of further
[4:02:30] exploring that idea, and
[4:02:33] I'm seeing COUNCILWOMAN
[4:02:34] Cabello havrda look at me
[4:02:35] and I would love to know
[4:02:37] what she thinks about
[4:02:37] that, thank you, mayor.
[4:02:38] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:02:40] thank you, councilmember
[4:02:41] sandoval.
[4:02:43] Councilmember courage?
[4:02:44] >> courage: thank you,
[4:02:45] mayor.
[4:02:46] Thanks, chief, for being
[4:02:47] here, I know you do a
[4:02:49] great job, and all of the
[4:02:50] sapd officers do, but
[4:02:51] I've got a few questions
[4:02:55] I wanted to check on.
[4:02:57] First of all, crime is
[4:03:00] down around the city, and
[4:03:03] I know from my
[4:03:04] observations and looking
[4:03:06] at some of the reports
[4:03:07] around that my particular
[4:03:08] district has a pretty
[4:03:09] much lower crime rate
[4:03:11] than many other parts of
[4:03:13] the city, district 9,
[4:03:13] north central parts of
[4:03:14] town.
[4:03:16] And once in a while, I
[4:03:19] get on lexus nexus and I
[4:03:20] take a look at that, and
[4:03:21] that shows, geez, all
[4:03:22] kinds of crimes that
[4:03:23] occur all over the city
[4:03:25] and you can zoom in on
[4:03:26] your part of town and
[4:03:27] kind of see what's there,
[4:03:29] and you can say I only
[4:03:30] want to see this kind of
[4:03:31] crime or that kind of
[4:03:32] crime or all
[4:03:33] all of them.
[4:03:34] It's pretty amazing when
[4:03:36] you see all of those
[4:03:37] little marks down there,
[4:03:38] those icons that show the
[4:03:39] different kinds of
[4:03:40] crimes.
[4:03:47] Is there fairly
[4:03:47] reflective of what you
[4:03:49] get in the way of calls.
[4:03:51] >> chief: councilmember,
[4:03:53] I'm not a user of lexus
[4:03:54] nexus or any of those
[4:03:57] online crime reporting
[4:03:59] apps, so I can't answer
[4:03:59] your question.
[4:04:01] I know what I read every
[4:04:04] day and see every day,
[4:04:06] coming from our analytics
[4:04:08] unit, but I can't compare
[4:04:12] with what's online.
[4:04:14] >> Courage: well, I
[4:04:16] guess that comes to me
[4:04:17] requesting, can you send
[4:04:19] me and all councilmembers
[4:04:19] reports on what the
[4:04:20] crimes are in our
[4:04:22] districts at least every
[4:04:22] quarter?
[4:04:23] Because I know it changes
[4:04:25] from week to week, month
[4:04:26] to month, so that when
[4:04:28] people ask me, you know,
[4:04:30] what's going on in my
[4:04:32] district, I can fairly
[4:04:33] accurate in how I portray
[4:04:35] it.
[4:04:36] >> COUNCILMAN, I was
[4:04:38] going to mention that our
[4:04:41] public safety chair, the
[4:04:42] public safety committee,
[4:04:43] have requested that we do
[4:04:44] that public safety
[4:04:46] committee, that we review
[4:04:47] crime statistics on a
[4:04:49] quarterly basis, so we
[4:04:51] will be able to address
[4:04:52] your request to the whole
[4:04:54] council as well.
[4:04:55] >> Courage: so they'll
[4:04:56] receive it, they'll look
[4:04:57] at it, but then you can
[4:04:59] send it to each
[4:04:59] individual council
[4:05:00] district so we'll know
[4:05:01] what our district --
[4:05:03] >> yes, councilmember.
[4:05:03] >> Courage: okay.
[4:05:04] That's great.
[4:05:05] I think that is
[4:05:06] important.
[4:05:06] Maria, I had another
[4:05:07] question for you. When
[4:05:10] we're talking with sap oa
[4:05:11] in our negotiations right
[4:05:13] now, what is the status
[4:05:17] of prior history of
[4:05:18] discipline being
[4:05:19] addressed in our
[4:05:21] negotiations?
[4:05:23] >> so we don't have
[4:05:24] consensus yet. What the
[4:05:25] association did is they
[4:05:27] gave us a proposal for
[4:05:29] the arbitrators 30
[4:05:31] regarding discipline,
[4:05:33] they incorporated into
[4:05:34] that language the fact
[4:05:35] that we could look at all
[4:05:37] discipline for that
[4:05:39] employee, but we, the
[4:05:42] city, are not -- have not
[4:05:47] accepted that proposal,
[4:05:49] because doesn't meet our
[4:05:49] goal which is to give
[4:05:52] authority to the chief.
[4:05:58] So for the fact being
[4:05:59] combined with the
[4:06:00] arbitrator's authority,
[4:06:02] we've had conversations
[4:06:03] including all discipline,
[4:06:04] all prior discipline of
[4:06:05] police officer
[4:06:05] .
[4:06:06] >> Courage: right.
[4:06:07] I think that is an
[4:06:08] important part of our
[4:06:09] negotiations.
[4:06:10] Okay.
[4:06:11] One of the requests by
[4:06:16] the community was more
[4:06:17] engagement with the
[4:06:18] police, they even said
[4:06:19] more engagement out of
[4:06:20] uniform to be involved.
[4:06:22] So let me ask, chief, how
[4:06:26] strong is sapd youth
[4:06:27] involvement, for example,
[4:06:30] do we still have a very
[4:06:31] active police
[4:06:35] thickically? That's
[4:06:37] correctly, do we have
[4:06:39] police help out ymca,
[4:06:41] boys clubs, girls clubs,
[4:06:43] do they go to any of the
[4:06:44] neighborhood community
[4:06:46] centers and get involved?
[4:06:46] And is there a process or
[4:06:47] a procedure or a
[4:06:49] recommendation that
[4:06:51] goes out to our officers
[4:06:53] to get them involved or
[4:06:55] to kind of monitor that?
[4:06:57] >> chief: so the answer
[4:07:00] to your question, and I'm
[4:07:03] going to -- this is on
[4:07:03] duty stuff.
[4:07:04] The answer to your
[4:07:06] question is, yes, we have
[4:07:08] a very active pal
[4:07:09] program, as a matter of
[4:07:17] fact, just recently in
[4:07:20] district 5, there was a
[4:07:21] box -- sorry.
[4:07:22] [Chuckling]
[4:07:23] There was a boxing -- I
[4:07:24] don't know what you want
[4:07:28] to call it, exhibition or
[4:07:30] a boxing calf that was
[4:07:30] put
[4:07:35] camp that wasput on by one of our park
[4:07:37] police officers who has a
[4:07:38] boxing gym in district 5,
[4:07:40] and he is always doing
[4:07:42] things with kids in
[4:07:47] regards to his boxing
[4:07:47] program.
[4:07:49] We have a -- a program
[4:07:50] that we've been doing for
[4:07:52] a few years now called
[4:07:53] success through respect,
[4:07:57] and we go to the schools,
[4:07:58] with go to other venues
[4:07:59] and put that on.
[4:08:01] I was at one about two,
[4:08:03] three saturdays ago, at
[4:08:04] one of the schools over
[4:08:07] on the east side, doing a
[4:08:09] success to respect
[4:08:10] program.
[4:08:11] Officer doug green, I
[4:08:13] don't know if that name
[4:08:14] sounds familiar to any of
[4:08:15] you, but officer doug
[4:08:19] green is -- came up with
[4:08:20] that program.
[4:08:21] We have programs that we
[4:08:25] put on for students at
[4:08:26] our academy, we bring
[4:08:27] them in, we run them
[4:08:28] through the same training
[4:08:31] that some of our
[4:08:31] councilmembers have been
[4:08:34] through, last few months.
[4:08:35] So, yeah, the answer to
[4:08:37] your question is yes, we
[4:08:38] do have a strong outreach
[4:08:39] program with youth coming
[4:08:40] from our -- our officers
[4:08:43] on the department.
[4:08:44] >> COUNCILMAN, are you
[4:08:46] seeing maybe there's a --
[4:08:47] maybe a gap there, or an
[4:08:48] opportunity that maybe we
[4:08:50] could take advantage of?
[4:08:52] >> well, I think from
[4:08:54] what I'm hearing you're
[4:08:55] talking about on duty in
[4:08:57] uniform, and I think what
[4:08:58] the community is asking
[4:09:00] for is more offduty out
[4:09:01] of uniform as a member of
[4:09:03] the community showing up
[4:09:05] and being involved, and,
[4:09:06] you know, I think the
[4:09:07] city does that.
[4:09:10] We ask our city staff to
[4:09:10] volunteer for different
[4:09:12] things all the time.
[4:09:14] And they do, and it's on
[4:09:14] their own time.
[4:09:16] Maybe we compensate them
[4:09:18] for doing something like
[4:09:19] that.
[4:09:22] And I -- and I think
[4:09:22] that's.
[4:09:22] [Lapse in audio]
[4:09:24] Real community engagement
[4:09:25] so that people don't see
[4:09:27] a uniform, they see a
[4:09:28] real human being out
[4:09:29] there doing things so --
[4:09:32] I would like to see if we
[4:09:33] can enhance that kind of
[4:09:35] a program and track it so
[4:09:38] that we can see out of 24
[4:09:40] police officers, do we
[4:09:43] have ten doing things?
[4:09:44] 50 doing things?
[4:09:45] Or 500 doing things?
[4:09:46] >> you know, COUNCILMAN,
[4:09:48] I do know that our police
[4:09:49] officers volunteer on
[4:09:50] their own time in
[4:09:52] different activities
[4:09:53] across the community,
[4:09:54] food bank, helping during
[4:09:55] christmas to provide toys
[4:09:57] to kids.
[4:09:59] We don't measure that to
[4:10:00] your point, that's
[4:10:01] something that we can do,
[4:10:03] but they do volunteer,
[4:10:05] and I think what we need
[4:10:07] to do better is let the
[4:10:09] community know, because
[4:10:12] they're not on their
[4:10:12] uniforms, probably the
[4:10:14] community doesn't make
[4:10:15] the connection they're
[4:10:17] from the police
[4:10:19] department, but they do,
[4:10:21] definitely we can track
[4:10:22] those volunteer
[4:10:23] activities they
[4:10:24] participate on.
[4:10:24] >> Courage: I don't
[4:10:26] want to interfere with
[4:10:27] the lives of our police
[4:10:28] officers, but I think we
[4:10:29] hold them to a higher
[4:10:31] standard and higher
[4:10:32] expectation, I think
[4:10:33] that's what the community
[4:10:34] is asking for.
[4:10:35] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:10:36] thank you, councilmember
[4:10:36] courage.
[4:10:39] >> Courage: my time is
[4:10:39] up?
[4:10:41] Okay, I'll come back.
[4:10:41] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:10:42] councilmember --
[4:10:46] >> it's cardonnas boxing
[4:10:47] gym in district 5.
[4:10:48] Thank you for your team
[4:10:50] for providing district 5
[4:10:51] with the district 5
[4:10:52] uniform crime report,
[4:10:54] what that data shows us
[4:10:56] is that the majority of
[4:10:58] crimes in district 5 are
[4:10:59] property crimes, that
[4:11:00] aligns with the stories
[4:11:02] you was hearing on the
[4:11:04] door, there are dark
[4:11:05] alleyways and folks were
[4:11:07] jumping the gate to steal
[4:11:09] whatever was in the back
[4:11:10] yard, the main street was
[4:11:11] very dark, and people
[4:11:12] were stealing their patio
[4:11:13] furniture, so I support
[4:11:18] the initiative for index
[4:11:19] study where we need to
[4:11:20] increase lighting.
[4:11:24] I think the heat map
[4:11:25] would be good to.
[4:11:26] [Lapse in audio]
[4:11:27] In addition to that,
[4:11:30] yesterday I attended a
[4:11:30] neighborhood association
[4:11:32] meeting, I spoke with our
[4:11:33] safe officer luis, and
[4:11:35] the majority of questions
[4:11:37] directed at officer luis
[4:11:39] was questions regarding
[4:11:41] homelessness and loose
[4:11:42] dog, I think there's room
[4:11:43] there that we need to
[4:11:46] invest in outreach, as
[4:11:47] well as supporting animal
[4:11:48] care service to ensure
[4:11:50] that the burden is not
[4:11:52] all falling on sapd, and
[4:11:54] those are my comments.
[4:11:54] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:11:56] thank you, councilmember
[4:11:57] castillo, councilmember,
[4:11:59] cabello havrda?
[4:12:01] >> cabello havrda.
[4:12:03] Thank you, mayor.
[4:12:05] The safe officer program,
[4:12:05] you have a slide that
[4:12:09] says how can sapd build
[4:12:10] better community
[4:12:10] relationships?
[4:12:11] I found that to be the
[4:12:13] number one way to improve
[4:12:14] relationships with the
[4:12:15] community, and district
[4:12:16] 6, and I'm sure
[4:12:17] throughout the city, our
[4:12:18] safe officers go and
[4:12:20] check on our elderly, you
[4:12:22] know, they have a really
[4:12:23] good relationships with
[4:12:23] the neighborhoods.
[4:12:25] Sort of their on-call
[4:12:26] officer, and a lot of
[4:12:27] times they're the face of
[4:12:29] the police department to
[4:12:30] the community, so I
[4:12:31] support that.
[4:12:35] You mentioned the pal
[4:12:38] program, chief, the
[4:12:40] police athletically,
[4:12:41] they're teaching sports
[4:12:43] to at risk youth, and I
[4:12:44] think that is another
[4:12:46] really strong way to
[4:12:47] increase community
[4:12:48] involvement, in the at
[4:12:49] risk areas, where youth
[4:12:49] are at risk.
[4:12:51] Can you talk a little bit
[4:12:52] more about the pal
[4:12:52] program?
[4:12:54] >> chief: sure.
[4:12:58] So there are -- it's not
[4:13:00] a very large unit, only a
[4:13:01] few officers that are
[4:13:02] assigned to it, but they
[4:13:05] run the midnight
[4:13:07] basketball leagues --
[4:13:08] well, everything went
[4:13:09] dormant when we had
[4:13:11] covid, but -- and I'm not
[4:13:11] sure what the schedule is
[4:13:13] for this summer, but
[4:13:14] they've run the midnight
[4:13:16] basketball programs, they
[4:13:19] do basketball
[4:13:20] initiatives, most of the
[4:13:22] time on the weekends the
[4:13:24] ones that I've been to,
[4:13:25] but pretty much anything
[4:13:26] that I've -- I think
[4:13:29] there's a baseball -- a
[4:13:31] baseball team or league
[4:13:32] that pal is involved in
[4:13:34] right now, don't quote me
[4:13:36] on that, I think I was
[4:13:37] talking about that the
[4:13:38] other day, but they're
[4:13:40] constantly involved in
[4:13:42] activities involving --
[4:13:43] involving youth, and one
[4:13:45] of the things that just
[4:13:47] came to mind as we were
[4:13:49] talking about young folks
[4:13:52] is I spoke at marshall
[4:13:53] high school about a month
[4:13:55] or so ago, at their --
[4:13:56] they have a law
[4:13:57] enforcement program, and
[4:13:59] they have a medical
[4:14:00] curriculum as well, if
[4:14:03] you wanted to take that
[4:14:05] track, and there were
[4:14:06] about, I want to say
[4:14:07] probably a couple of
[4:14:09] hundred kids there, and
[4:14:13] their parents, and I
[4:14:15] offered them -- gave them
[4:14:17] all my phone number and
[4:14:19] said if any of your kids
[4:14:21] want to do an internship
[4:14:22] program in the police
[4:14:23] department, call me.
[4:14:26] And I got a few calls, so
[4:14:32] we are starting a two --
[4:14:33] it's not -- we're not
[4:14:35] calling it an internship
[4:14:36] program, but we're
[4:14:38] calling it a summer camp,
[4:14:39] and they're 13 and 14
[4:14:41] years old, they come in
[4:14:43] for a period, in the
[4:14:44] beginning of the summer,
[4:14:45] and then come in during a
[4:14:46] period the end of the
[4:14:47] summer, we started that
[4:14:48] this summer as well.
[4:14:50] >> I'm on the board of
[4:14:52] that program, so I'm glad
[4:14:54] to hear you're there at
[4:14:56] marshall, I'm glad to
[4:14:58] hear you're involved.
[4:14:59] I would be remiss if I
[4:15:00] didn't bring up -- I
[4:15:02] bring up safe and pal and
[4:15:04] good ways to involve the
[4:15:05] community, but we still
[4:15:06] have to worry about the
[4:15:07] street level, the stops,
[4:15:09] right, the everyday
[4:15:10] interactions with the
[4:15:11] police that aren't safe
[4:15:12] officers, that aren't
[4:15:13] with the pal program, so
[4:15:15] continue to work with
[4:15:16] you, chief, on the
[4:15:18] training, increased
[4:15:19] diversity training and
[4:15:20] sensitivity of our
[4:15:22] officers and helping them
[4:15:23] to do their jobs well,
[4:15:24] and better.
[4:15:27] I mean, they always do it
[4:15:28] well, but do it better,
[4:15:30] and making sure that the
[4:15:30] community involvement,
[4:15:31] when we say involvement,
[4:15:33] I really mean that it's a
[4:15:33] partnership.
[4:15:34] There's a way that the
[4:15:35] community is partnering
[4:15:37] with the city to make --
[4:15:37] I'm sorry, the police
[4:15:38] department to make the
[4:15:39] city better.
[4:15:40] Thank you.
[4:15:41] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:15:42] great, thank you, cabello
[4:15:43] havrda.
[4:15:43] Okay.
[4:15:45] On this second round,
[4:15:46] please note anything that
[4:15:47] has already been
[4:15:48] discussed doesn't need to
[4:15:50] be rediscussed since
[4:15:51] we're trying to move
[4:15:52] efficiently.
[4:15:53] Councilmember perry?
[4:15:54] >> Perry: thank you,
[4:15:54] sir.
[4:15:56] One of the things that
[4:15:58] we've touched on real
[4:16:01] lightly was the --
[4:16:02] that -- the study, the
[4:16:04] scientific study that was
[4:16:05] performed here about
[4:16:06] police services and what
[4:16:08] have you, and the
[4:16:09] community as a whole, the
[4:16:11] percentage of people that
[4:16:12] were happy, the
[4:16:13] percentage of people that
[4:16:15] wanted more visibility of
[4:16:17] police, and I'm -- I'm
[4:16:19] agreeing with that
[4:16:20] report, and the constant
[4:16:22] thing that I get from my
[4:16:25] district is we need more
[4:16:26] policemen on the streets,
[4:16:27] so I would like to see
[4:16:30] some additional
[4:16:31] authorizations in the
[4:16:32] police department to make
[4:16:33] that happen, whether
[4:16:35] that's through the safe
[4:16:37] programs or patrolmen on
[4:16:38] the street, so I would
[4:16:39] like to put that out
[4:16:41] there, erik, let's get
[4:16:42] some more authorizations
[4:16:44] to renegligent what
[4:16:46] reflect what that
[4:16:48] study was and what people
[4:16:49] responded toward on that
[4:16:49] study.
[4:16:50] Thank you, sir.
[4:16:51] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:16:53] thank you, councilmember
[4:16:54] perry, councilmember
[4:16:54] viagran?
[4:16:55] >> Viagran: thank you.
[4:16:57] I just want to agree with
[4:16:58] COUNCILMAN Mckee
[4:16:59] rodriguez on the
[4:17:00] lighting, and the heat
[4:17:01] map, and if we could talk
[4:17:02] a little more about that
[4:17:04] on street maintenance and
[4:17:05] infrastructure, that
[4:17:06] would be great.
[4:17:07] The one thing I'm going
[4:17:09] to task my staff to do,
[4:17:11] but if you have the
[4:17:12] information, about how
[4:17:13] many uniforms do we
[4:17:14] actually have in the
[4:17:16] different areas and
[4:17:17] districts, because I know
[4:17:19] for me, I have rural
[4:17:21] areas, so there are the
[4:17:21] bexar county sheriff
[4:17:23] deputies, there's
[4:17:24] constables, school
[4:17:25] districts, and I have a
[4:17:26] university, so I think
[4:17:27] when we talk about
[4:17:29] policing and sapd and who
[4:17:31] they're seeing kind of
[4:17:32] understanding who is out
[4:17:34] there, in the different
[4:17:35] areas, umm, that's why I
[4:17:36] think maybe counties
[4:17:37] should take over the
[4:17:38] fireworks, because they
[4:17:40] do sell them, so maybe we
[4:17:41] could get county
[4:17:43] officials to do that?
[4:17:44] [Laughter]
[4:17:45] And I think when we talk
[4:17:48] about marketing, how our
[4:17:50] sapd members are doing
[4:17:51] volunteer work.
[4:17:54] I would task sapoa to do
[4:17:57] that, because they keep a
[4:17:58] great record of the
[4:17:58] outreach that they do,
[4:18:00] and I know they've done
[4:18:00] different catholic
[4:18:02] schools in my area.
[4:18:03] I want to talk about
[4:18:04] that.
[4:18:06] And then when we talk
[4:18:07] about the community
[4:18:08] health and equity
[4:18:11] recommendations, I think
[4:18:13] if we took our own ndo
[4:18:15] and implemented it fully
[4:18:16] within the police
[4:18:17] department, we could
[4:18:20] address a lot of those
[4:18:21] issues, so I would like
[4:18:22] to see us look at that.
[4:18:24] And the other thing is,
[4:18:25] our spanish speakers,
[4:18:27] because I know officers
[4:18:29] get a stipend because
[4:18:30] they're spanish speakers,
[4:18:31] maybe we can also get
[4:18:33] them trained more
[4:18:34] specifically with the
[4:18:37] violence -- I call it
[4:18:40] safe vic, and the mental
[4:18:41] health, if we could get
[4:18:42] them trained in that
[4:18:43] also, I think that would
[4:18:44] be helpful.
[4:18:46] >> chief: councilmember,
[4:18:47] every officer is required
[4:18:49] to do the 40 hour memphis
[4:18:52] block of training, so
[4:18:53] used to be back in 2007,
[4:18:55] I guess it was, it was
[4:18:56] voluntary.
[4:18:57] I think I made it
[4:19:01] mandatory in 2008.
[4:19:02] And to get out of the
[4:19:03] academy, and also to
[4:19:04] get -- well, before it
[4:19:07] was an academy training,
[4:19:08] you had to take that
[4:19:09] block of training in
[4:19:10] order to be issued a
[4:19:11] taser, and then it became
[4:19:12] a block of training that
[4:19:14] you had to take before
[4:19:16] you graduated from the
[4:19:16] academy.
[4:19:19] And everybody is involved
[4:19:23] in the cit -- cit.
[4:19:24] >> Viagran: I want to
[4:19:26] make sure -- maybe -- I
[4:19:29] don't know if we can
[4:19:29] incentivize it for them
[4:19:31] to take an upgrade or
[4:19:32] more relevant training
[4:19:35] for what they might see
[4:19:37] as they -- as they face
[4:19:38] other things with people
[4:19:39] having other sort of
[4:19:40] addictions, and I think
[4:19:42] we'll see another round
[4:19:43] of how people are dealing
[4:19:45] with the covid and coming
[4:19:46] out of covid where we
[4:19:48] might have to look for
[4:19:48] specialized training for
[4:19:49] that also.
[4:19:51] So that's all my
[4:19:52] comments, thank you.
[4:19:52] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:19:54] thank you, councilmember
[4:19:55] viagran, councilmember
[4:19:56] bravo?
[4:19:56] >> Bravo: thank you.
[4:19:57] I know the mayor is
[4:19:58] trying to move this
[4:19:59] meeting along, so I'll
[4:20:01] make some comments and
[4:20:03] I'm happy to take the
[4:20:06] responses offline later.
[4:20:07] But around five years ago
[4:20:09] a neighbor of mine told
[4:20:10] me he was going to be out
[4:20:11] of town, can you keep an
[4:20:13] eye on my house, I said
[4:20:14] sure, I was walking my
[4:20:16] dog at 10:00 at night,
[4:20:17] his front door was open
[4:20:19] and lights were on at
[4:20:20] 10:00 at night over the
[4:20:20] weekend.
[4:20:23] I called 911, and it took
[4:20:24] forever to get a
[4:20:26] response.
[4:20:28] And so I want to make
[4:20:28] sure that when somebody
[4:20:30] does need a police
[4:20:31] officer, that they can
[4:20:32] get them quickly.
[4:20:34] So I want to reduce 911
[4:20:36] response times.
[4:20:37] And I guess one of my
[4:20:38] questions that I can
[4:20:40] takeoff
[4:20:42] takeoffline, my understanding
[4:20:43] there's a subset of
[4:20:45] people who call
[4:20:46] frequently, and maybe
[4:20:48] slow down services or tie
[4:20:51] up services, and I'm
[4:20:51] wondering if there could
[4:20:53] be investments in mental
[4:20:54] health services or
[4:20:55] something to that effect,
[4:20:56] addressing -- helping
[4:20:57] support some of these
[4:20:59] people in ways such that
[4:21:01] they're not tying up 911
[4:21:01] resources?
[4:21:03] So I would be very
[4:21:03] interested in if there
[4:21:04] are opportunities to make
[4:21:06] improvements there that
[4:21:07] we're investmenting
[4:21:10] investing in those
[4:21:10] opportunities.
[4:21:11] And in addition to that,
[4:21:12] I just wanted to note
[4:21:15] some general support for
[4:21:16] COUNCILMAN Mckee
[4:21:17] rodriguez's approach that
[4:21:19] I'm going to paraphrase
[4:21:21] as being just a more
[4:21:22] comprehensive and
[4:21:23] holistic approach to
[4:21:24] public safety.
[4:21:25] Thank you.
[4:21:25] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:21:27] thank you, councilmember
[4:21:28] bravo.
[4:21:28] Councilmember.
[4:21:30] >> Rocha-Garcia:?
[4:21:31] >>
[4:21:33] >> Rocha-Garcia:.
[4:21:35] Thank you, this is my
[4:21:38] second go round, I'll
[4:21:40] start out by saying I do
[4:21:43] agree with mckee
[4:21:45] rodriguez's point, so
[4:21:46] thank you for that, and
[4:21:48] then the lighting study,
[4:21:50] but, chief, I think what
[4:21:51] we hear here is a
[4:21:52] discussion about the need
[4:21:53] for additional community
[4:21:54] programs, and that was
[4:21:56] going to be my -- my
[4:21:58] question was going to be
[4:22:00] specifically with the
[4:22:01] cops program, national
[4:22:03] night out, so continue to
[4:22:04] fund that especially as
[4:22:05] we come out of the
[4:22:05] pandemic, that's
[4:22:06] important to my
[4:22:07] residents.
[4:22:08] I know that.
[4:22:11] I do want to go on record
[4:22:14] by saying that our safe
[4:22:15] officers are awesome.
[4:22:17] I mean, they were in
[4:22:18] senior high school
[4:22:18] parades this year.
[4:22:20] I mean, they're out there
[4:22:22] trying to do stuff.
[4:22:27] We know that sapoa has
[4:22:28] the blue gives back,
[4:22:30] they're out there, it
[4:22:32] might not be identified,
[4:22:34] but it MAY be a branding
[4:22:35] problem, maybe they need
[4:22:38] to continue wearing sapd
[4:22:39] shirts when they're off,
[4:22:40] but I do think that some
[4:22:42] of them also want that to
[4:22:44] stay anonymous when
[4:22:45] they're in their lives as
[4:22:46] well, they don't want to
[4:22:47] kind of identify then
[4:22:48] selves, so I think
[4:22:49] there's a steady balance.
[4:22:50] I know they do a lot.
[4:22:53] I know that in their off
[4:22:54] time, they continue
[4:22:55] focusing on these things.
[4:22:56] There's a program over at
[4:22:58] southwest isd, and that's
[4:23:01] the -- the main reason
[4:23:03] that I want to chime back
[4:23:07] in, the promise program,
[4:23:10] southwest isd paired up
[4:23:10] their police officers
[4:23:11] with kids.
[4:23:12] [Lapse in audio]
[4:23:14] And so they gave them
[4:23:15] this program, it's a
[4:23:18] six-week program, awesome
[4:23:19] training, but I think
[4:23:20] that the main part of it
[4:23:22] that I learned from that
[4:23:23] program is that they made
[4:23:24] a connection, and so they
[4:23:25] were very specific in who
[4:23:26] they teamed up to be
[4:23:29] their mentor.
[4:23:30] So someone that was just
[4:23:32] like that child, or had a
[4:23:33] similar experience, and I
[4:23:34] think that makes a world
[4:23:35] of a difference, so I
[4:23:36] don't know if there's
[4:23:37] anything in your area
[4:23:38] that y'all are exploring,
[4:23:39] but specifically, in
[4:23:41] regard to mentorship, we
[4:23:45] know that gen z is a
[4:23:46] general thaition that
[4:23:48] wants and accepting
[4:23:48] mentoring, so anything
[4:23:49] that you can tell me
[4:23:50] about that?
[4:23:52] Any mentoring
[4:23:52] opportunities, programs
[4:23:54] that you might see?
[4:23:58] >> chief: we don't have
[4:24:00] any specific mentoring
[4:24:01] programs right now, at
[4:24:06] least that I'm aware of,
[4:24:08] and I think -- let me
[4:24:10] walk that back.
[4:24:12] I have to check on it,
[4:24:13] I'll get back to you, I
[4:24:15] think there actually is a
[4:24:17] mentoring program for
[4:24:19] young women, students.
[4:24:21] I think that actually
[4:24:22] exists, but I have to --
[4:24:23] I can't remember if I was
[4:24:24] just having a
[4:24:25] conversation about it, or
[4:24:26] if I -- if it actually
[4:24:28] does exist, so I'll let
[4:24:30] you know about that.
[4:24:33] >> okay, thank you,
[4:24:35] chief, at the substakes,
[4:24:36] they do a great job with
[4:24:38] our youth initiatives as
[4:24:39] well, I would love to
[4:24:40] learn more about
[4:24:41] mentoring specifically.
[4:24:42] Thank you, councilmember.
[4:24:43] >> Rocha-Garcia:,
[4:24:44] councilmember pala
[4:24:45] ez?
[4:24:47] >> Pal*ez: thank you.
[4:24:48] Erik so far you've heard
[4:24:49] I think three
[4:24:55] councilmembers, viagran,
[4:24:55] COUNCILWOMAN.
[4:24:56] >> Rocha-Garcia: talk
[4:24:57] about lighting as part of
[4:25:00] the solution for crime,
[4:25:01] ryan dillard is playing
[4:25:03] very close attention I
[4:25:04] think it MAY be time for
[4:25:05] us to dust off the
[4:25:07] lighting plan that was
[4:25:09] COUNCILMAN Trevino helped
[4:25:10] to two-point as part
[4:25:12] develop as part of
[4:25:13] this conversation.
[4:25:15] I think you're going to
[4:25:17] be amazed, impressed with
[4:25:18] what the department came
[4:25:19] up with, in response to
[4:25:21] what you think is needed,
[4:25:24] because what you think is
[4:25:25] needed, smart lighting
[4:25:26] program, if somebody dust
[4:25:28] that off or maybe present
[4:25:29] it at a future meeting or
[4:25:31] brief our councilmembers
[4:25:32] so that you guys can get
[4:25:32] behind this.
[4:25:35] I think it's one of the
[4:25:36] most important crime
[4:25:38] prevention and quality of
[4:25:39] life programs that we'll
[4:25:41] have created.
[4:25:43] >> that's a great point,
[4:25:44] COUNCILMAN, because there
[4:25:47] was an effort and it
[4:25:48] wasn't a citywide effort,
[4:25:50] but it was a -- it was an
[4:25:52] effort that was targeted
[4:25:53] a couple of neighborhoods
[4:25:56] that was informative,
[4:25:57] plus what you're
[4:25:59] referring to with the
[4:26:00] smart street lights and
[4:26:02] the work that we did with
[4:26:06] smart cities led through
[4:26:07] brian dillard's office,
[4:26:09] so I think we need to
[4:26:10] probably better inform
[4:26:11] ourselves, because it's
[4:26:12] been a couple of years,
[4:26:15] and then figure out how
[4:26:16] that fits into -- a
[4:26:17] number of councilmembers
[4:26:19] have brought up street
[4:26:19] lighting.
[4:26:20] I'll share with the
[4:26:21] council, one of the
[4:26:23] things that I heard in
[4:26:24] the 27 community meetings
[4:26:27] was not just we want a
[4:26:30] new pole, it's that we
[4:26:32] want the street lights
[4:26:33] that are out replaced,
[4:26:33] and so.
[4:26:35] [Lapse in audio]
[4:26:38] Issue, when that happens,
[4:26:39] an individual call 3-1-1,
[4:26:41] this is actually very
[4:26:43] similar to our
[4:26:44] conversation yesterday
[4:26:45] with cps and saws, you
[4:26:46] can call 3-1-1, you
[4:26:47] report your street light,
[4:26:50] that service level --
[4:26:52] that service request goes
[4:26:53] to cps to replace, and
[4:26:54] what I heard in a number
[4:26:57] of those meetings was,
[4:26:59] you know, it's two, three
[4:27:00] months later, so we're
[4:27:02] going to be working with
[4:27:03] cps to figure out what is
[4:27:04] the service level
[4:27:06] agreement when somebody
[4:27:07] calls a light that's out,
[4:27:09] they're calling the city,
[4:27:10] they don't really care
[4:27:11] whose bucket truck goes
[4:27:14] out there, but there's an
[4:27:15] expectation, we're going
[4:27:16] to be working on that
[4:27:18] angle as well.
[4:27:20] >> Pal*ez: COUNCILWOMAN
[4:27:24] Rocha, you mentioned
[4:27:24] criminologists, they've
[4:27:26] been knocking our door
[4:27:29] down, we got to meet with
[4:27:30] the criminologists, I
[4:27:31] think we're working with
[4:27:32] them, so those
[4:27:34] relationships exist.
[4:27:39] >> yes, utsa, the
[4:27:40] criminologist, DR. Smith,
[4:27:41] they did the analysis of
[4:27:43] the 911 calls as part of
[4:27:45] this study.
[4:27:46] >> and the research
[4:27:48] department at utsa, we're
[4:27:48] going to be bringing
[4:27:50] forward to council in
[4:27:53] AUGUST, a proposed master
[4:27:57] ila with utsa, the broad
[4:27:58] utsa again spearheaded
[4:27:59] through the work of
[4:28:01] innovation and brian
[4:28:02] dillard, so that the
[4:28:02] police department can
[4:28:08] rely on experts rozzy,
[4:28:09] its will be open to any
[4:28:10] city department to
[4:28:11] connect to whatever
[4:28:14] expert we need at utsa.
[4:28:18] >> chief: councilmember
[4:28:21] rocha garcia, we are in
[4:28:22] discussions with region
[4:28:23] 20 right now for a
[4:28:24] citywide mentorship
[4:28:25] program, so that's
[4:28:27] happening.
[4:28:27] >> Mayor Nirenberg:
[4:28:29] thank you, councilmember
[4:28:29] pala
[4:28:30] ez.
[4:28:31] Councilmember courage?
[4:28:32] >> Courage: thank you,
[4:28:36] mayor.
[4:28:38] Chief, what is the --
[4:28:39] what are the number of
[4:28:41] officers that get
[4:28:42] dispatched -- if there's
[4:28:44] a call for potential
[4:28:46] domestic violence or
[4:28:48] somebody in mental health
[4:28:49] crisis or somebody
[4:28:50] complains there's a
[4:28:53] burglar around their
[4:28:53] property?
[4:28:54] How many officers are
[4:28:54] usually dispatched to
[4:28:56] those kinds of calls.
[4:28:57] >> chief: it depends on
[4:28:58] the nature of the call.
[4:28:59] Domestic violence,
[4:29:00] there's always two to
[4:29:01] start with.
[4:29:05] Burglary, there's
[4:29:07] burglary, there's typically a
[4:29:09] call for a burglar, there's
[4:29:10] typically two.
[4:29:14] It depends on the call, how
[4:29:16] dangerous it might be, MAY start
[4:29:18] out with two and MAY wind up
[4:29:19] with ten.
[4:29:21] It's just the nature of what
[4:29:21] happens.
[4:29:22] >> Courage: we've talked a lot
[4:29:24] about trying to get
[4:29:26] professionals to address some of
[4:29:31] these kinds of issues,
[4:29:32] especially homeless and mental
[4:29:33] health and domestic violence.
[4:29:36] In your professional opinion, if
[4:29:38] it was a professional going,
[4:29:39] would you feel comfortable with
[4:29:42] a single police officer?
[4:29:44] >> again, depends on the nature
[4:29:44] of the call.
[4:29:48] Probably not.
[4:29:49] Again, depending on the nature
[4:29:51] of the call.
[4:29:53] >> Courage: what I'm trying to
[4:29:55] get to, are we really going to
[4:29:55] help put more police officers
[4:29:58] out doing patrol by adding a
[4:30:02] professional to go with the
[4:30:04] police officer there.
[4:30:07] And it's my personal belief that
[4:30:08] any police officer going to a
[4:30:11] mental health call, or domestic
[4:30:13] violence, or, you know,
[4:30:15] something along those lines, or
[4:30:18] homeless, you know, I'd rather
[4:30:22] the police be there in the
[4:30:22] foreground.
[4:30:24] I think that's one step.
[4:30:25] But the other step is, are we
[4:30:27] actually releasing more police
[4:30:29] officers to do more serious
[4:30:30] patrol duty.
[4:30:31] From what you're indicating,
[4:30:33] that wouldn't be the case.
[4:30:35] >> I think -- I don't want to
[4:30:37] undersell and I don't think any
[4:30:39] of us should want to undersell
[4:30:42] the potential danger of a
[4:30:43] domestic violence call.
[4:30:44] Or any call.
[4:30:47] Depending who answers the door
[4:30:49] when you knock on it, who can
[4:30:49] handle it.
[4:30:51] If you want to send a civilian
[4:30:54] to a dangerous call, or could be
[4:30:55] dangerous, have that person
[4:30:57] knock on the door, there's a
[4:30:58] strong potential for that person
[4:30:59] to get hurt.
[4:31:00] >> I'm going to refer the rest
[4:31:02] of this conversation to the
[4:31:03] public safety committee since
[4:31:04] that's where the recommendations
[4:31:07] are going to be baked into and
[4:31:09] brought back to council.
[4:31:15] Let's go to councilmember
[4:31:15] castillo
[4:31:16] castillo.
[4:31:22] >> Castillo: my question is to
[4:31:24] [Lapse in audio] Is there a
[4:31:26] timeline to fill these
[4:31:26] positions?
[4:31:29] >> as part of this project,
[4:31:31] there are recommendations for
[4:31:34] AUGUST, to increase the
[4:31:35] professionals to assist us with
[4:31:37] the mental health calls.
[4:31:40] So we'll provide you that number
[4:31:42] AUGUST 12, once we sign those
[4:31:43] recommendations.
[4:31:44] And of course, with an
[4:31:46] implementation plan as well.
[4:31:47] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[4:31:49] councilmember castillo.
[4:31:51] Just to wrap this discussion up,
[4:31:52] if we can recall where we were
[4:31:56] last year, with regard to budget
[4:31:58] discussions, it's a different
[4:32:03] tenor, but there are consistent
[4:32:04] sis here.
[4:32:06] And we have to find balance
[4:32:08] between our public safety, not
[4:32:10] just on the emergency response,
[4:32:13] but what we're doing to prevent
[4:32:14] events from happening.
[4:32:15] That's what I'm hearing.
[4:32:18] I'm grateful for the sober
[4:32:19] approach that this council has
[4:32:21] taken to better fund those
[4:32:23] community services, and
[4:32:24] infrastructure such as lighting.
[4:32:26] So that we're not having to fund
[4:32:31] the back end response to
[4:32:32] projects of underfunding
[4:32:32] communities.
[4:32:34] That's the approach I'm grateful
[4:32:35] we're taking and we should
[4:32:39] continue to do that.
[4:32:41] Similarly, I would ask as an
[4:32:42] alternative response, we think
[4:32:44] about what are the metrics that
[4:32:45] we're trying to see.
[4:32:49] What are we trying to achieve
[4:32:55] with alternative response.
[4:32:57] Is it police/community
[4:33:01] interaction in response to
[4:33:02] violence?
[4:33:03] What [Lapse in audio] And
[4:33:04] develop some measures that we
[4:33:07] can come back to, and determine
[4:33:08] whether or not we're achieving
[4:33:11] what we're trying to -- what is
[4:33:11] our desired result.
[4:33:13] I don't know if that's something
[4:33:15] you've already started to think
[4:33:15] about, maria, or chief.
[4:33:17] If you can comment on that.
[4:33:20] But I think we need to identify
[4:33:22] what those goals are, be
[4:33:23] deliberative about it and be
[4:33:24] committed to measuring against
[4:33:26] that.
[4:33:29] >> yes, mayor, we have, again,
[4:33:30] those discussions, especially
[4:33:32] with the work that our metro
[4:33:33] health department is doing, how
[4:33:35] are we going to measure the
[4:33:35] success.
[4:33:38] There's a lot of interaction
[4:33:41] between the work we're doing
[4:33:46] here with the police review and
[4:33:47] metro health strategic plan.
[4:33:49] We don't have it today, but we
[4:33:51] have started those discussions,
[4:33:54] how [Lapse in audio] Impact.
[4:33:55] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[4:33:55] Last thing I'll say is we have
[4:33:59] set the financial policy [Lapse
[4:34:05] in audio] Spending of the
[4:34:06] overall budget.
[4:34:08] We've hit it, we've fallen below
[4:34:13] that on several budgets [Lapse
[4:34:14] in audio] 6
[4:34:16] 3, 64% this year?
[4:34:20] >> 64.2, 64.3, yeah.
[4:34:22] >> Mayor Nirenberg: what's
[4:34:23] important going forward is the
[4:34:24] public safety budget grow in
[4:34:26] proportion to the rest of the
[4:34:26] budget.
[4:34:29] I would ask us, again, to take a
[4:34:32] look at these things shift,
[4:34:35] whether that's 66% needs to be
[4:34:37] examined also is an accurate
[4:34:40] measure of the overall size of
[4:34:41] the budgets relative to what
[4:34:41] each of the departments is
[4:34:43] doing.
[4:34:46] That's a different discussion
[4:34:46] for another day.
[4:34:49] I'll go back to erik next so he
[4:34:51] can transition us to the streets
[4:34:52] and sidewalks.
[4:34:55] >> you just did, mayor.
[4:34:56] Actually, I think tomika is
[4:35:01] starting.
[4:35:05] Tomika will go first, and then
[4:35:18] razi.
[4:35:20] Tomikaing
[4:35:24] tomika, welcome to your first
[4:35:25] budget session.
[4:35:26] >> good afternoon, everyone,
[4:35:29] MR. Mayor, councilmembers, thank
[4:35:30] you for the opportunity to share
[4:35:32] a little bit about our
[4:35:34] transportation and mobility
[4:35:35] plan.
[4:35:38] I'm the director of the
[4:35:40] department of transportation.
[4:35:42] >> so, first of all, I think
[4:35:44] it's important to start with
[4:35:45] what our vision and mission is.
[4:35:49] The focus of the transportation
[4:35:52] department is to focus on being
[4:35:54] dedicated to creating a safe,
[4:35:56] sustainable and equitable
[4:35:57] multi-modal transportation
[4:35:58] system for the city.
[4:35:59] And we're going to do that
[4:36:02] through strategic planning,
[4:36:05] community conversations,
[4:36:07] analysis, safety education, and
[4:36:09] project implementation.
[4:36:11] As you can see from this slide,
[4:36:14] our focus areas are sa bikes,
[4:36:18] vision, and sa tomorrow.
[4:36:21] The objective of sa bikes and
[4:36:24] vision zero, develop a safe and
[4:36:25] connected network of
[4:36:28] infrastructure for sa [Lapse in
[4:36:31] audio] And eliminate traffic
[4:36:33] fatalities and severe injuries
[4:36:34] with vision zero.
[4:36:37] Some of our key strategies,
[4:36:40] number one program, to update
[4:36:45] the bike [Lapse in audio] Plan.
[4:36:48] We want to educate everyone
[4:36:50] about what is the bicycle
[4:36:51] infrastructure, identify what
[4:36:53] the needs are of san antonians
[4:36:55] related to bicycle
[4:36:56] infrastructure, and I think as
[4:36:59] we talk about bike
[4:37:01] infrastructure, where is that
[4:37:04] latent demand for bicycle use,
[4:37:06] or people who use cycling.
[4:37:08] We want a safe culture,
[4:37:11] inclusive culture, also engage
[4:37:12] and educate our community about
[4:37:14] bicycling in cities.
[4:37:16] Now, when we talk about vision
[4:37:18] zero, these two programs are
[4:37:19] interrelated in that we are
[4:37:22] using the data we get from
[4:37:24] injuries and fatalities
[4:37:26] associated with the vision zero
[4:37:29] program to outline and inform
[4:37:30] how we approach, and the areas
[4:37:31] we improve bicycle
[4:37:32] infrastructure.
[4:37:34] I think it's really critical
[4:37:36] that we recognize these are
[4:37:39] related programs, and how we
[4:37:41] [Lapse in audio] By looking at
[4:37:42] the statistics and the data.
[4:37:45] So really, with this
[4:37:48] multi-meadal plan, we talked
[4:37:50] about the multi-modal plan, but
[4:37:52] most important right now is
[4:37:54] safety, and moving forward we
[4:37:56] need a big master plan update
[4:37:59] where we spend the next day
[4:38:00] doing surveying.
[4:38:03] I think the body has spoken
[4:38:04] about data and analysis.
[4:38:06] This is ideal for us to get the
[4:38:06] data.
[4:38:09] One of the reasons why we cannot
[4:38:11] provide a lot of detail about
[4:38:12] our program today is because we
[4:38:15] don't have data.
[4:38:19] So if you think 2011 was the
[4:38:22] last plan was updated, we had
[4:38:25] over a decade where we didn't
[4:38:28] have [Lapse in audio] To inform
[4:38:30] how we develop future bicycle
[4:38:31] infrastructure.
[4:38:32] The last program I want to talk
[4:38:33] about is sa tomorrow.
[4:38:34] This city has developed vision
[4:38:36] for where we want to go with
[4:38:38] sustainability, with housing,
[4:38:39] our comprehensive plan, and also
[4:38:42] with multi-modalism.
[4:38:44] How we're approaching our part
[4:38:46] as the transportation department
[4:38:48] is we're going to let the land
[4:38:51] use guide our transportation
[4:38:51] investments, and our
[4:38:53] transportation planning process.
[4:38:55] So we're coordinating with the
[4:38:56] planning department, and the
[4:38:58] next step for us is to develop
[4:39:01] transportation plans, or
[4:39:02] multi-modal transportation plans
[4:39:03] that are informed by the land
[4:39:05] use priorities.
[4:39:06] We'll work with our partners at
[4:39:08] via, and work with our partners
[4:39:11] at ampo and acot, and with all
[4:39:12] of your districts to understand
[4:39:15] based on those land use plans
[4:39:16] that many have been adopted, how
[4:39:18] does your community, how do your
[4:39:20] constituents want to circulate.
[4:39:23] What are their priority modes
[4:39:24] for their areas, where schools
[4:39:26] are located, based on where
[4:39:28] businesses are located, and the
[4:39:30] rest of the components.
[4:39:31] Right now, how we've been
[4:39:34] developing plans is through our
[4:39:37] bike I&p programs.
[4:39:39] For example, we're using bike
[4:39:41] imp funds for the trails
[4:39:41] projects.
[4:39:44] We're also looking at brooks and
[4:39:47] utsa right now with the imp
[4:39:49] program for those areas which
[4:39:50] are supporting the land use
[4:39:51] plans that have already been
[4:39:54] outlined through sa tomorrow.
[4:39:57] So one of the initiatives of
[4:39:59] leadership is to target specific
[4:40:01] areas for pedestrian and safety
[4:40:02] improvements.
[4:40:04] We've identified, based on the
[4:40:06] data that we have related to
[4:40:09] crashes, where we need to invest
[4:40:11] in the crossings.
[4:40:15] These are areas that are
[4:40:18] typically high traffic, adp,
[4:40:28] [Lapse in audio].
[4:40:31] We've seen an increase in a
[4:40:31] consistent series of fatalities
[4:40:34] and injuries.
[4:40:38] We look to this body [Lapse in
[4:40:40] audio] In doing these projects
[4:40:41] because part of the process is
[4:40:44] going to be the baby steps.
[4:40:45] So when we talk about the bike
[4:40:47] manager plan, I know many people
[4:40:48] think, hey, are we going to have
[4:40:50] to get the bike infrastructure
[4:40:51] that we need?
[4:40:52] No.
[4:40:55] We propose to use the imp this
[4:40:58] year to develop what they've
[4:41:01] utilized in denver called low
[4:41:02] stress streets.
[4:41:04] So instead of continue
[4:41:06] ing [Lapse
[4:41:09] in audio] We know are 35 miles
[4:41:10] an hour where we experience
[4:41:13] fatalities, we want to take our
[4:41:14] imp moneys and develop a
[4:41:16] low-stress system.
[4:41:19] I've been calling it a bunny
[4:41:20] rabbit system, you know,
[4:41:22] compared to the bunny slopes.
[4:41:23] This is going to be something
[4:41:24] that responds to the needs of
[4:41:27] the bicycle community.
[4:41:28] [Lapse in audio] In the process
[4:41:31] of updating our master plan, we
[4:41:36] can have a multi-colored, I
[4:41:38] mean, shared use paths and bike
[4:41:41] lanes, but we can also have a
[4:41:42] dedicated route system for
[4:41:44] people to travel on their
[4:41:45] bicycles and not feel
[4:41:47] intimidated by the road.
[4:41:48] And that's something we can
[4:41:51] collect data on and see how
[4:41:52] people experience that.
[4:41:54] With that, I would like to open
[4:41:56] it up to any questions that you
[4:41:58] MAY all have to not just bicycle
[4:42:00] programs, but also to any of the
[4:42:01] other programs I'll share with
[4:42:04] you this afternoon.
[4:42:06] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you
[4:42:08] very much, tomika.
[4:42:13] Are we -- so will we have razi
[4:42:15] come up and do this all
[4:42:16] together?
[4:42:17] Okay.
[4:42:18] We'll take razi and take
[4:42:19] questions from both of you at
[4:42:21] the same time, if that's all
[4:42:21] right.
[4:42:22] >> all right.
[4:42:24] >> Mayor Nirenberg: great.
[4:42:31] >> good afternoon mayor and
[4:42:33] council.
[4:42:38] I am razi hosseini.
[4:42:42] We have over 4,190 miles [Lapse
[4:42:42] in audio] Network throughout the
[4:42:45] city.
[4:42:48] 42% is in excellent condition or
[4:42:49] grade a.
[4:42:53] 22% is good condition, grade b.
[4:42:55] 12% is fair condition or grade
[4:42:55] c.
[4:42:59] And another 12% is [Lapse in
[4:43:01] audio] Or grade d.
[4:43:04] And we have [Lapse in audio] Is
[4:43:05] 11%.
[4:43:08] Overall, our network, 77% is
[4:43:12] good to fair condition.
[4:43:15] At 23% in poor or fair
[4:43:17] condition, which we'll be
[4:43:19] talking with you on the next
[4:43:21] slide.
[4:43:26] As I mentioned, we have 4
[4:43:27] ,000
[4:43:34] [Lapse in audio] Network.
[4:43:39] Estimated cost is 904 million.
[4:43:41] Historically, bond program has
[4:43:42] focused on enhancing and
[4:43:44] reconstruction project.
[4:43:47] As you can see on the table at
[4:43:51] the right, the maximum number of
[4:43:54] [Lapse in audio] In district 2.
[4:44:03] And [Lapse in audio] 1%.
[4:44:08] The proposed statement in bond
[4:44:12] funding, we are proposing
[4:44:15] operating funds to 38.8 million,
[4:44:18] certificates of obligation, 71.2
[4:44:21] million, [Lapse in audio] Bond
[4:44:21] program, and 110 million
[4:44:25] funding.
[4:44:30] by '23 we are also proposing 10
[4:44:32] million, 38.8 million in
[4:44:35] operating funds, 51.2 million
[4:44:40] from certificates of only
[4:44:40] continuation,
[4:44:41] obligation, and 20 million to
[4:44:47] come from the bond.
[4:44:51] This slide shows the city [Lapse
[4:44:56] in audio] Funding, since 2018.
[4:45:01] The goal is maintain and improve
[4:45:03] (Indiscernible) Or above.
[4:45:05] Overall, we are moving in the
[4:45:09] right direction of pci's
[4:45:09] improving.
[4:45:11] Pci improvement, and also bond
[4:45:13] funding.
[4:45:16] As you can see on this graph,
[4:45:21] our pci curve was very flat in
[4:45:24] 2019 and 2020.
[4:45:27] This was because of the
[4:45:28] deferral, we had 50 million
[4:45:30] deferred last year, therefore
[4:45:38] pci stays very flat.
[4:45:39] [Lapse in audio] Budget
[4:45:41] allocation, what we are
[4:45:43] proposing, very similar to what
[4:45:44] we did last year.
[4:45:48] 110 million, 50% based on the
[4:45:52] size of the district, and
[4:45:54] another 50% to be done based on
[4:45:58] the condition of the
[4:45:58] (Indiscernible).
[4:46:06] Because of this, we are
[4:46:07] proposing to get more funding to
[4:46:11] be able to maintain.
[4:46:12] On the table on the right is
[4:46:15] based on the condition, council
[4:46:18] district 1 and 2 and 10, it has
[4:46:20] a higher condition, therefore we
[4:46:25] are proposing to get more
[4:46:30] funding to address those issues.
[4:46:32] As I mentioned how we are
[4:46:33] proposed to do this relegation,
[4:46:37] as you can see 55 million based
[4:46:40] on the size districts 2 and 10
[4:46:46] will get maximum funding, over 6
[4:46:46] million.
[4:46:48] And when you look at the
[4:46:50] condition of the network in the
[4:46:53] middle of the table, district 1,
[4:46:55] 2 and 10 will be getting maximum
[4:46:56] funding.
[4:46:58] Overall, the number on the right
[4:47:00] side of this table, council
[4:47:03] district 2 and 10, and of
[4:47:04] course, one will be getting
[4:47:08] maximum of the funding for 2022.
[4:47:12] Let's talk about the sidewalk.
[4:47:18] We have [Lapse in audio] And of
[4:47:22] course we have [Lapse in audio]
[4:47:22] Gaps.
[4:47:24] District 3 has the maximum gap,
[4:47:25] and district 6 has a minimum
[4:47:27] gap.
[4:47:30] If we had to address these
[4:47:34] sidewalks today, it will cost us
[4:47:38] $565 million to address.
[4:47:40] Councilmember pelaez, you're
[4:47:42] right, the price has gone up.
[4:47:45] In 2019, we were building
[4:47:48] sidewalks $65 per linear foot.
[4:47:51] Four foot wide, one foot long,
[4:47:54] and 65 feet.
[4:47:56] Now $65 and more.
[4:47:57] Why?
[4:48:00] Because of the lumber [Lapse in
[4:48:04] audio] Concrete has gone up, the
[4:48:07] price has increase ed
[4:48:08] d
[4:48:12] (Indiscernible) 20%.
[4:48:16] This is since 2018 to 2022, how
[4:48:19] much we have spent and how much
[4:48:21] we're going to spend.
[4:48:24] From 2018 to 2021, we have
[4:48:27] average spent 18 million on the
[4:48:29] sidewalk, the majority [Lapse in
[4:48:32] audio] And of course, att
[4:48:33] funding.
[4:48:37] Next year we'll only have 11.5.
[4:48:38] 11.1 million.
[4:48:39] Because since completing the
[4:48:42] 2017 bond program, the APRIL
[4:48:45] sidewalk funding is going down.
[4:48:48] That's good news, we are
[4:48:50] finishing from $84 million we
[4:48:51] had [Lapse in audio] We are
[4:48:56] finishing most of those.
[4:49:00] This is how it shows our time
[4:49:03] proposed 2022 program.
[4:49:05] program development start JUNE,
[4:49:09] and last year [Lapse in audio]
[4:49:10] And many departments.
[4:49:13] OCTOBER to DECEMBER, consultant
[4:49:16] selection to assist us.
[4:49:19] Project scoping JANUARY and JUNE
[4:49:21] of this year.
[4:49:21] Committee appointment JUNE to
[4:49:25] JULY of this year.
[4:49:25] AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, we're going
[4:49:28] to have recommended project
[4:49:30] lists for the council.
[4:49:32] OCTOBER to DECEMBER we will have
[4:49:34] a community meeting.
[4:49:36] JANUARY to FEBRUARY of next
[4:49:37] year, council will be calling
[4:49:42] for the election, and first
[4:49:43] saturday in MAY of 2022 will be
[4:49:46] the election.
[4:49:47] Tomika and I are available to
[4:49:48] answer any questions you MAY
[4:49:54] have.
[4:49:54] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you
[4:49:57] for the presentations.
[4:50:02] And I know my colleagues [Lapse
[4:50:03] in audio] The last slide you
[4:50:05] showed, and I ask that you not
[4:50:06] fret in terms of that JUNE and
[4:50:07] JULY date.
[4:50:10] We are a little bit behind that
[4:50:12] calendar, for a lot of reasons.
[4:50:15] Not the least of which is that
[4:50:16] we're taking a couple steps back
[4:50:18] before we go full steps forward
[4:50:20] in talking about strategic
[4:50:20] outcomes.
[4:50:22] We talked about things like
[4:50:24] public health, connectivity,
[4:50:24] resilience.
[4:50:27] But also the fact we're trying
[4:50:28] to coordinate with the county as
[4:50:31] well as integrate our priorities
[4:50:33] with all the other potential
[4:50:34] infrastructure programs that
[4:50:35] might be available to us,
[4:50:37] whether it's the arp, discussion
[4:50:38] that we're going to have in
[4:50:41] phase 2, or what looks to be
[4:50:46] some consensus building on an
[4:50:46] infrastructure bill.
[4:50:48] so all of those are going to be
[4:50:49] in the context of this slide
[4:50:49] here.
[4:50:52] So as you think about the people
[4:50:53] in the community that you would
[4:50:55] like to appoint to the bonds,
[4:50:59] the bond process, just note that
[4:51:01] you didn't MISS A deadline or
[4:51:03] anything like that.
[4:51:05] If I have -- I just wanted to go
[4:51:09] to two slides, and just say,
[4:51:10] tomika, I agree with everything
[4:51:11] you said, so I don't really have
[4:51:12] any questions for you.
[4:51:14] I'm very much looking forward to
[4:51:15] the work that you're doing on
[4:51:17] land use integration with our
[4:51:19] mobility plans, with sa
[4:51:21] tomorrow.
[4:51:25] And also, your call of the bunny
[4:51:26] routes on the master plan.
[4:51:29] I wholeheartedly agree, and I
[4:51:31] think we need a bicycle master
[4:51:39] plan, but this council, I'm sure
[4:51:40] I am interested, in an sec
[4:51:40] rating development of the routes
[4:51:40] that we can, where we know there
[4:51:40] are priorities.
[4:51:41] So looking forward to working
[4:51:43] with you on that.
[4:51:44] Can we go to slide 2 of your
[4:51:49] presentation, razi?
[4:51:52] So our equity framework really
[4:51:54] began in the tci budget.
[4:51:56] Now it's split out.
[4:51:58] But maybe it's the -- it's slide
[4:52:13] 2.
[4:52:16] If you don't have it today,
[4:52:18] maybe when you have your
[4:52:21] department look at this, I'd
[4:52:22] like to see what this looks like
[4:52:24] compared to when we started.
[4:52:26] The idea is, we're trying to get
[4:52:28] more of those roads citywide
[4:52:30] into the excellent category and
[4:52:34] see fewer of them in the fair to
[4:52:34] failed.
[4:52:36] And also see the proportions
[4:52:39] equalize district by district.
[4:52:41] Very simple way of looking at
[4:52:43] equity is obviously very
[4:52:44] superficial way of looking at
[4:52:46] equity but it's one step we took
[4:52:49] to get to where we are now.
[4:52:49] What I want to talk about is
[4:52:55] slide 4.
[4:52:58] As I've discussed, I think erik
[4:53:00] has talked with a number of
[4:53:01] councilmembers also, the
[4:53:03] challenge that we're having, so
[4:53:06] when I came on to this council,
[4:53:09] my first budget in 2014, we were
[4:53:15] spending annually $35 million a
[4:53:16] year on street maintenance.
[4:53:19] Which is a pittance compared to
[4:53:21] what we're doing now.
[4:53:23] In 2017 we ticked up
[4:53:26] significantly, three-fold about,
[4:53:29] increased it to 110.
[4:53:33] We deferred a little bit, as a
[4:53:34] result of the pandemic.
[4:53:35] But what's really been happening
[4:53:37] in the time we've been
[4:53:40] allocating all these resources,
[4:53:41] we're appropriating dollars but
[4:53:43] not spending them in the annual
[4:53:43] budget.
[4:53:45] Because a lot of those roads
[4:53:47] that we're budgeting for end up
[4:53:49] to be pretty large
[4:53:50] reconstruction projects.
[4:53:53] And so we're appropriating
[4:53:54] dollars in the current fiscal
[4:53:57] year, not seeing them spent
[4:54:00] until year two, even sometimes
[4:54:01] year three.
[4:54:03] Especially if we're thinking
[4:54:05] about improving infrastructure
[4:54:07] in our community, and also
[4:54:10] putting those to their best use.
[4:54:13] We're not doing that, if we're
[4:54:14] budgeting annually for programs
[4:54:17] that take two or three years to
[4:54:17] spend.
[4:54:22] Which is why you now have the fy
[4:54:23] 2023 budget indicating $20
[4:54:24] million coming from the bond
[4:54:25] program.
[4:54:28] Those are dollars that we were
[4:54:30] budgeting, but are more
[4:54:32] traditionally bond projects.
[4:54:34] So erik, correct me if I'm
[4:54:36] wrong, but in so doing, you're
[4:54:39] basically freeing capacity for
[4:54:40] additional street
[4:54:41] infrastructure, if we put them
[4:54:42] in the right places where they
[4:54:44] can be utilized.
[4:54:45] >> absolutely, mayor.
[4:54:49] This is something that we
[4:54:51] started looking at in the summer
[4:54:54] of 2019, the alignment where you
[4:54:55] guys were approving an annual
[4:54:57] budget, to your point, for a
[4:54:59] number of projects, between 20
[4:55:00] and $30 million, which are bond
[4:55:02] projects, it's taken us two
[4:55:03] years to spend the money.
[4:55:05] So the concept here would be
[4:55:09] that the $20 million in the bond
[4:55:12] program would presumably be $20
[4:55:13] million a year for the five
[4:55:13] years.
[4:55:16] So $100 million in the bond
[4:55:19] program for dnf streets.
[4:55:21] Kind of like we did -- kind of
[4:55:26] like the council did in 2017 for
[4:55:27] pedestrian mobility.
[4:55:28] Just for dnf streets.
[4:55:30] And so what would happen is if
[4:55:32] we did that, it would have to go
[4:55:37] hand in hand with the bond
[4:55:39] conversations that the council
[4:55:44] had, but if you did that, you
[4:55:49] see the difference between 22
[4:55:49] and 23, 71 to 51, that leaves
[4:55:51] $20 million of capacity that we
[4:55:54] could either do mobility type
[4:55:57] projects, additional street
[4:55:59] maintenance projects, or things
[4:56:00] of that nature.
[4:56:03] So it gives us capacity.
[4:56:04] >> Mayor Nirenberg: what I would
[4:56:07] like to propose for discussion,
[4:56:10] I think, we're not appropriating
[4:56:11] dollars that we're not going to
[4:56:13] spend in the current fiscal year
[4:56:14] budget, we should be putting
[4:56:16] them into the bond program, if
[4:56:17] they're reconstruction.
[4:56:21] i would like to see us get it to
[4:56:23] 71, or whatever it is, for
[4:56:24] certificates of obligation for
[4:56:27] our transportation budget.
[4:56:29] But earmark that to [Lapse in
[4:56:30] audio] For vision zero.
[4:56:34] So that we can on an annual
[4:56:36] basis begin to do -- put our
[4:56:38] money where our mouth is,
[4:56:39] basically.
[4:56:41] We can do sidewalk and other
[4:56:41] pedestrian mobility projects as
[4:56:45] well as bicycle infrastructure.
[4:56:49] Which would be, I think, a huge
[4:56:51] boost going into the bicycle
[4:56:53] master plan, but also finally
[4:56:55] put our resources into the
[4:56:56] community building that we're
[4:56:58] talking about, so that we don't
[4:57:00] see more pedestrian fatalities,
[4:57:03] and bicycle fatalities going
[4:57:03] forward.
[4:57:05] So I'd like to hear from my
[4:57:06] colleagues on that.
[4:57:07] I would suggest we keep the
[4:57:10] level of annual funding coming
[4:57:11] out of certificates of
[4:57:13] obligations at the same level,
[4:57:16] and earmark that difference for
[4:57:27] vision zero on an annual basis.
[4:57:27] All right.
[4:57:33] >> I will start with the pci
[4:57:35] score.
[4:57:36] Do we have anything that rates
[4:57:37] the sidewalks?
[4:57:38] >> we do.
[4:57:40] >> okay.
[4:57:42] Because right now, district 3
[4:57:44] has bad streets.
[4:57:46] Our failing streets.
[4:57:49] We have the largest sidewalk
[4:57:50] gap.
[4:57:52] We also have lots of drainage
[4:57:52] issues.
[4:57:54] When we look at bond projects, I
[4:57:58] want to make sure we are digging
[4:58:00] once, the best of the value, and
[4:58:01] we get this done there.
[4:58:05] We also have infrastructure
[4:58:05] issues.
[4:58:09] >> part of the 2017 bond, we had
[4:58:11] two council districts that had
[4:58:13] the maximum dollars.
[4:58:15] District 3 had 9 million and
[4:58:18] district 1 had 9 million also.
[4:58:21] We have built over $8 million of
[4:58:23] sidewalks in district 3.
[4:58:27] We have done significant
[4:58:28] sidewalk construction in the
[4:58:30] last few years.
[4:58:31] 48 million.
[4:58:33] And every year we get 5 million
[4:58:34] through budget process.
[4:58:36] >> I understand that.
[4:58:38] But the district has been
[4:58:39] waiting almost 40 years for
[4:58:39] this.
[4:58:42] So that's also one thing that I
[4:58:43] want us to think about.
[4:58:46] And I know that the homeowners
[4:58:50] are responsible for the sidewalk
[4:58:52] ordinance.
[4:58:54] How is that sidewalk rebate
[4:58:56] program working?
[4:59:01] >> we have every year have the
[4:59:02] property owner take advantage.
[4:59:05] But since last year, we create
[4:59:07] also sidewalk repair program,
[4:59:08] and we have half million -- and
[4:59:11] we are proposing to do the same
[4:59:12] thing in 2022 also.
[4:59:14] As we work with the council's
[4:59:17] office, and we know those
[4:59:19] locations, we go over there and
[4:59:21] replace the damaged concrete
[4:59:21] sidewalk.
[4:59:23] >> okay.
[4:59:25] And those are kind of -- and
[4:59:27] then when we look at the bond,
[4:59:30] as the mayor has instructed, we
[4:59:32] just look at streamlining this
[4:59:32] process.
[4:59:34] And I'd like -- I have a couple
[4:59:36] of questions on the
[4:59:41] transportation mobility.
[4:59:43] So, can we have an -- I'll do a
[4:59:45] town hall on how you guys
[4:59:46] present.
[4:59:50] If we could have a dollar amount
[4:59:51] for crosswalks, and very similar
[4:59:55] to the one we did [Lapse in
[4:59:55] audio].
[4:59:57] Because I know that for business
[4:59:59] owners and community leaders,
[5:00:02] that [Lapse in audio] Willing to
[5:00:04] kind of come into
[5:00:05] publish/private to raise those
[5:00:06] funds.
[5:00:07] If we could get that.
[5:00:08] And the other thing is, the
[5:00:11] requirements for the speed bumps
[5:00:14] in areas with parks and schools
[5:00:17] and things like that done.
[5:00:19] And the other thing I want to
[5:00:21] address is our current bike
[5:00:23] lanes in district 3.
[5:00:27] We still have the issues of
[5:00:29] residents parking in [Lapse in
[5:00:30] audio] Lanes.
[5:00:32] I understand after-hours, but is
[5:00:35] there any way we can address
[5:00:37] that with either maybe not sapd
[5:00:39] doing the work, but maybe having
[5:00:41] a parking enforcement going out
[5:00:43] into getting these people that
[5:00:49] stay well past that time on the
[5:00:49] bike lanes?
[5:00:51] Because we have them, but they
[5:00:52] can't be used because there's
[5:00:53] cars there.
[5:00:55] So if we could get that done.
[5:00:55] Thank you.
[5:00:56] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:00:59] councilmember viagran.
[5:01:01] Councilmember cabello havrda.
[5:01:03] >> Cabello Havrda: thank you,
[5:01:07] mayor.
[5:01:10] This is my number one focus,
[5:01:11] maintenance of streets and
[5:01:11] sidewalks.
[5:01:13] Our citizens are demanding that
[5:01:14] focus, so I'm happy to provide
[5:01:15] it.
[5:01:16] Not just for our vehicles, but
[5:01:19] our pedestrian improvements and
[5:01:23] for cyclists, both recreational
[5:01:27] and utilities to get to work.
[5:01:29] I agree with earmarking the 20
[5:01:31] million for the vision zero
[5:01:36] projects to make sure we're
[5:01:38] [Lapse in audio] And bike
[5:01:39] improvements.
[5:01:42] And the update -- actually, I do
[5:01:43] have a question about the city's
[5:01:46] bike plan.
[5:01:46] You mentioned, tomika, you
[5:01:50] mentioned putting out a city
[5:01:51] survey.
[5:01:52] Are you planning on meeting with
[5:01:58] any of the groups, the advocacy
[5:01:58] groups?
[5:01:58] >> yes, ma'am.
[5:02:00] Our goal is to meet with
[5:02:01] everyone.
[5:02:02] It will be a combination of --
[5:02:05] when I first came here, one of
[5:02:06] the things I would love to do
[5:02:08] with each of you is do a walking
[5:02:12] tour to just experience with
[5:02:13] your constituents of what they
[5:02:15] experience when you walk down a
[5:02:17] street with sidewalks, bike
[5:02:17] lanes throughout.
[5:02:20] Part of our job is to educate
[5:02:21] you guys about the things we
[5:02:23] have to consider and the things
[5:02:24] we look at.
[5:02:26] And that would be the right way
[5:02:32] for us to [Lapse in audio]
[5:02:34] Significant component is the
[5:02:35] survey.
[5:02:36] Because we just don't know.
[5:02:38] We had a number of cycling
[5:02:40] advocates here in the room, but
[5:02:42] those are the people who can
[5:02:43] afford to come off work and come
[5:02:45] in here and advocate.
[5:02:47] But what do we know about those
[5:02:49] people who use bikes to get to
[5:02:51] work, because that's their only
[5:02:51] option.
[5:02:53] So doing an annual citywide
[5:02:55] survey will enable us to
[5:02:55] establish a baseline.
[5:02:57] Because we really don't have a
[5:02:58] baseline, because we have not
[5:03:00] specifically focused on
[5:03:02] surveying people related to
[5:03:02] bicycles.
[5:03:06] So the first part is to develop
[5:03:09] a survey, and you were a part of
[5:03:13] it on monday, carlo spoke about
[5:03:15] the surveying and surveying,
[5:03:17] asking the right questions about
[5:03:18] cycling, because that is going
[5:03:20] to inform us when we get the
[5:03:20] data.
[5:03:22] So the data related to the
[5:03:25] actual infrastructure that we
[5:03:26] have, and normalizing both the
[5:03:29] data from our constituents and
[5:03:31] also from those people who
[5:03:32] currently use the system, and
[5:03:34] learning why people don't use
[5:03:36] the system, and taking a look at
[5:03:38] our actual infrastructure.
[5:03:40] So in addition to that, doing
[5:03:40] focus groups.
[5:03:43] As we focus on IMPs for this
[5:03:45] school year, we're going to be
[5:03:46] asking people to share their
[5:03:46] experiences.
[5:03:49] We're going to be doing pop-ups,
[5:03:49] you know.
[5:03:51] Wherever we have the
[5:03:52] opportunity, fiesta, we'll have
[5:03:53] a table to say, hey, what do you
[5:03:56] think about this, do you even
[5:03:58] ride a bike right now.
[5:03:59] That's going to be critical for
[5:03:59] us.
[5:04:01] We just don't have the data.
[5:04:03] And you are a part of this
[5:04:04] discussion on monday, but one of
[5:04:06] the questions is, why can't we
[5:04:08] just say we're going to have 50
[5:04:10] miles of bike lanes next year.
[5:04:12] Because we don't know how many
[5:04:13] miles of bike lanes we have
[5:04:13] right now.
[5:04:16] We don't know the width of all
[5:04:18] of our roadways because our
[5:04:19] roadways are unique in that it
[5:04:21] might be 32 feet in the part
[5:04:23] downtown and by the time you get
[5:04:27] into the suburban parts of the
[5:04:28] city, they're 1
[5:04:29] 20 feet.
[5:04:33] So we have to do the analysis,
[5:04:34] what type of infrastructure is
[5:04:37] there, and then what is the
[5:04:39] implementation and plan to get
[5:04:40] the infrastructure there.
[5:04:43] >> I agree that we need to know
[5:04:45] what we've got before we can
[5:04:45] expand.
[5:04:47] But I do like the idea of a
[5:04:47] goal.
[5:04:49] Once we have what we know, you
[5:04:51] know, this number, or this
[5:04:56] mileage of bike lanes, that we
[5:04:57] continue to expand, have metrics
[5:05:01] in order to use the funding,
[5:05:01] targeted it.
[5:05:02] >> right.
[5:05:03] We have enough information now
[5:05:04] about the vision zero.
[5:05:06] Where we're seeing the
[5:05:06] fatalities.
[5:05:08] So those are our priorities
[5:05:08] right now.
[5:05:15] And I think, you know, chicago
[5:05:17] [Lapse in audio] Developed
[5:05:18] mellow lanes, [Lapse in audio]
[5:05:19] Lanes.
[5:05:21] The focus this year is just to
[5:05:23] develop that safe network and
[5:05:24] that's what we're doing right
[5:05:24] now.
[5:05:26] That's the goal, is just a safe,
[5:05:28] slow network, low-stress network
[5:05:31] with the imp that we have.
[5:05:32] The plan is going to give us the
[5:05:35] data in order to develop the
[5:05:36] part of the plan, that's why
[5:05:38] it's the cost that we
[5:05:40] anticipate, is because that is
[5:05:43] going to include an
[5:05:43] implementation component to
[5:05:45] start implementing.
[5:05:48] If we're successful in the 20
[5:05:51] million, for vision zero, we can
[5:05:54] say, our plan, 20 million, this
[5:05:56] is the first project out of the
[5:05:57] bike update.
[5:05:58] That's the goal.
[5:06:01] We do have strategic performance
[5:06:05] metrics as a part of the budget
[5:06:05] process.
[5:06:08] And we are saying we would do.5
[5:06:11] miles of new bike infrastructure
[5:06:14] this fiscal year.
[5:06:17] And we will have up to nine
[5:06:21] miles of refurbished bike lanes,
[5:06:22] based on the data we have today.
[5:06:25] We're not going to -- we can't
[5:06:27] say we're going to do 50 miles,
[5:06:31] but we do have performance
[5:06:32] metrics and that will continue.
[5:06:33] >> Cabello Havrda: thank you.
[5:06:36] And also the user of the bike
[5:06:39] utility, not so much recreation,
[5:06:40] I would encourage what we talked
[5:06:42] about earlier, having paper
[5:06:43] surveys in the libraries.
[5:06:45] I don't even know if you can go
[5:06:46] out to the players where they
[5:06:48] have a high percentage of people
[5:06:49] that ride their bikes or ride
[5:06:54] their bikes to the bus to get to
[5:06:54] work.
[5:06:55] So I think that's important.
[5:06:57] Also, are the hike and bike
[5:07:01] trails [Lapse in audio].
[5:07:02] >> yes.
[5:07:05] So, that is something homer and
[5:07:12] I are super-duper excited about.
[5:07:14] (Indiscernible).
[5:07:18] The reality is, we have been
[5:07:20] oozing out a lot of money in
[5:07:21] terms of our [Lapse in audio] To
[5:07:23] get more funding for the howard
[5:07:25] p. Greenway system.
[5:07:28] We only categorize it as a park
[5:07:29] and recreation asset.
[5:07:32] It is a transportation asset.
[5:07:34] And so a huge element of the
[5:07:36] bike master plan update is
[5:07:38] putting that in there as our
[5:07:39] bike network.
[5:07:42] The next step for us, what homer
[5:07:43] and I will be working on this
[5:07:46] summer, is getting the howard p.
[5:07:50] Trail system in the tip, in the
[5:07:50] transportation improvement
[5:07:51] program.
[5:07:53] When there are discretionary
[5:07:55] opportunities with the PRESIDENT
[5:07:58] And congress agreeing on this
[5:07:59] infrastructure plan is really
[5:08:00] huge, because now we have the
[5:08:03] opportunity to compete for funds
[5:08:05] to complete components of that.
[5:08:06] And we're currently working on a
[5:08:08] grant application to start that
[5:08:09] procession, if you will.
[5:08:12] So that's going to be critical.
[5:08:13] Those miles add to our
[5:08:14] congestion mitigation, and air
[5:08:16] quality improvements for the
[5:08:17] region.
[5:08:19] So it's all connected, and
[5:08:20] that's something we're really
[5:08:20] excited about.
[5:08:21] >> Cabello Havrda: that is
[5:08:23] exactly what I was thinking.
[5:08:24] It is connected.
[5:08:26] Talking about hiking and bike
[5:08:27] trails is talking about
[5:08:30] transportation.
[5:08:30] >> correct.
[5:08:31] >> Cabello Havrda: so that's all
[5:08:31] I had.
[5:08:32] Thank you.
[5:08:33] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:08:34] councilmember cabello havrda.
[5:08:35] Before we go to manny, do you
[5:08:37] want to talk about the raci
[5:08:38] grant?
[5:08:40] >> you just mentioned it.
[5:08:42] Let's take two steps back,
[5:08:44] because I think that's really
[5:08:47] important work that you and
[5:08:48] others are doing with the
[5:08:51] county, public works, homer, the
[5:08:56] river authority on the raci
[5:08:56] grant.
[5:08:57] That's a big opportunity.
[5:08:58] Can you give the council two
[5:08:59] minutes on that?
[5:09:00] Because that's important.
[5:09:02] >> because we have an
[5:09:03] opportunity -- the raise grant
[5:09:09] is a federal discretionary
[5:09:12] department of transportation,
[5:09:15] eligible up to $100 million.
[5:09:16] We've come together, the san
[5:09:19] antonio river authority, parks,
[5:09:21] transportation, a lot of our
[5:09:23] city departments are working
[5:09:26] together with the county to
[5:09:28] complete that section of the
[5:09:31] trail, the creek section, from
[5:09:39] via, the ingram transit center,
[5:09:44] and the restoration project.
[5:09:45] This approximately nine-mile
[5:09:46] stretch we'll be applying for
[5:09:48] funds on that segment.
[5:09:50] It is an area of poverty, it
[5:09:54] speaks to all of the criteria of
[5:09:55] the raise grant application, and
[5:09:58] it begins to address a lot of
[5:10:00] safety concerns on ingram that
[5:10:01] we have with regard to
[5:10:03] developing a multi-use section
[5:10:05] of the trail there, and this is
[5:10:07] going to speak to what the
[5:10:09] COUNCILWOMAN Talked about, the
[5:10:11] connectivity of this system
[5:10:12] being a transportation network,
[5:10:14] and not just parks and
[5:10:15] recreation.
[5:10:16] So we're leveraging all the
[5:10:18] investments of the county, that
[5:10:20] sara had made, and hopefully
[5:10:22] we'll be successful with this
[5:10:23] application.
[5:10:24] And it's due JULY 12th.
[5:10:26] But the east coast greenway, if
[5:10:27] you have the opportunity, take a
[5:10:28] look at that.
[5:10:33] Take a look at the
[5:10:34] washington-to-washington, D.C.
[5:10:35] Rails to trails.
[5:10:37] These systems that are hundreds
[5:10:40] of miles, this greenway is 800
[5:10:40] miles.
[5:10:42] They've been successful with
[5:10:43] three types of grants over the
[5:10:45] past administrations.
[5:10:47] So we want to put our hat in the
[5:10:48] ring to compete for these funds
[5:10:52] and get this network completed.
[5:10:53] >> Mayor Nirenberg: all right.
[5:10:55] Councilmember pelaez.
[5:10:56] >> Pelaez: thank you.
[5:10:58] In JUNE, each of you will be
[5:11:03] receiving a copy of a book, and
[5:11:05] tomika, you got your copy, and
[5:11:06] mayor, we delivered yours
[5:11:09] yesterday, called metro green,
[5:11:11] which proves out the idea that
[5:11:13] investment in green space, and
[5:11:15] having those green spaces be a
[5:11:17] part of the connectivity plan in
[5:11:20] a city, has a direct
[5:11:22] relationship to more and higher
[5:11:23] quality economic development.
[5:11:25] And so this is not just a
[5:11:26] mobility issue that we're
[5:11:31] talking about, this is jobs and,
[5:11:34] you know, tax base and all the
[5:11:35] things that come with that kind
[5:11:37] of investment.
[5:11:42] So I do think it's important,
[5:11:46] that that $71.2 million, and the
[5:11:49] $51.2 million, is only possible
[5:11:54] because of (Indiscernible)'s
[5:11:55] fist fight he had up in austin
[5:11:57] on our behalf, and jeff coyle
[5:11:58] and our team stood up there to
[5:12:01] make sure that the governor and
[5:12:03] his friends didn't take away our
[5:12:05] ability to, you know, to issue
[5:12:07] these certificates of
[5:12:07] obligation.
[5:12:11] So the important -- that's the
[5:12:13] highlight, how important it is
[5:12:15] to work up in austin, folks.
[5:12:18] It's equally important, tomika,
[5:12:20] I think you'll agree, that we
[5:12:22] press the gas pedal on all of
[5:12:25] our government relations work in
[5:12:27] D.C., so that we can bring home
[5:12:30] things like these raised grants,
[5:12:33] and continue to make these
[5:12:34] investments.
[5:12:36] Mayor, I support the idea to
[5:12:38] free up these funds so we can
[5:12:40] invest it in vision zero.
[5:12:42] We talk a lot about safe streets
[5:12:43] and conditions of streets.
[5:12:46] But really, those are -- we're
[5:12:48] taking care of people's cars,
[5:12:50] and in this instance, when we
[5:12:52] talk about sidewalks, and
[5:12:54] crosswalks, and bike lanes,
[5:12:55] making sure that people get home
[5:12:56] to their loved ones.
[5:13:00] We need to prioritize, you know,
[5:13:03] people not having a blownout
[5:13:06] tire or having a bumpy ride
[5:13:06] home.
[5:13:11] You know, with some energy,
[5:13:13] because it's urgent, but also
[5:13:15] making sure that DR.
[5:13:17] DR. (Indiscernible) And his
[5:13:20] family is able to at least look
[5:13:21] at tomorrow and say, okay, they
[5:13:24] took it seriously, right?
[5:13:26] And that those tragedies mean
[5:13:29] something as opposed to just
[5:13:31] continuing to just be one more
[5:13:32] newspaper article that
[5:13:35] frustrates us, until the next
[5:13:36] death.
[5:13:37] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:13:39] councilmember pelaez.
[5:13:40] Councilmember perry.
[5:13:44] >> Perry: thank you, sir.
[5:13:48] Tomika, I'm glad to hear about
[5:13:49] gathering data.
[5:13:52] That's very important.
[5:13:54] And you know what my datapoint
[5:13:56] is, we spend the money to put
[5:13:57] these in, where people actually
[5:13:58] use them.
[5:14:00] And where they're being used,
[5:14:02] and where they're not being
[5:14:03] used.
[5:14:04] To make sure that they're
[5:14:06] putting them in the right place.
[5:14:08] I'm very interested in seeing
[5:14:08] that.
[5:14:10] >> I know you love data.
[5:14:11] I know you love data.
[5:14:14] So one of the tools in our tool
[5:14:16] kit is called street light data.
[5:14:19] So when we put this rfp out for
[5:14:20] the bike master plan update,
[5:14:23] we're going to be looking for
[5:14:24] those proposals that speak to
[5:14:27] the technology that are out here
[5:14:27] today.
[5:14:29] So site data, street light is a
[5:14:34] company that uses a lot of
[5:14:38] information related to phone and
[5:14:41] air sage data is data we see on
[5:14:42] your phone.
[5:14:44] It's taking an intensive effort
[5:14:45] in terms of identifying the
[5:14:47] locations where people are using
[5:14:48] facilities, but most importantly
[5:14:50] we don't typically collect the
[5:14:51] data like we do with our
[5:14:54] transportation network, which is
[5:14:54] autooriented.
[5:14:56] So we're going to be looking for
[5:14:59] those proposals that use street
[5:15:00] lights, sage data, doing
[5:15:02] intercept surveys, because you
[5:15:03] have to capture people where
[5:15:04] they are.
[5:15:07] But really, based for me in the
[5:15:09] part of the city such as your
[5:15:11] district is that we don't know
[5:15:13] people's proclivity to ride in
[5:15:15] the suburban areas.
[5:15:17] We don't know if they would ride
[5:15:18] if there was infrastructure
[5:15:19] there.
[5:15:22] So doing the citywide survey is
[5:15:26] going to help us -- really, it
[5:15:29] helps our performance in
[5:15:33] educating people of bike
[5:15:33] lifestyle, and bike
[5:15:33] infrastructure, and services and
[5:15:34] facilities.
[5:15:36] But it's also going to educate
[5:15:39] us on what people want, if they
[5:15:40] had these types of facilities in
[5:15:41] their communities and what they
[5:15:42] look like.
[5:15:44] The surveys is just a critical
[5:15:46] tool to whatever we do in
[5:15:48] collecting it, and it's going to
[5:15:50] be interesting in identifying
[5:15:52] people who are willing to share
[5:15:54] their data, and their usage and
[5:15:57] what they're using their product
[5:15:57] for.
[5:15:58] >> Perry: thanks.
[5:16:00] >> you're welcome.
[5:16:01] >> Perry: on the slide that's up
[5:16:06] there right now, razi, why
[5:16:08] wouldn't we keep the same
[5:16:11] funding, the 71 and the -- make
[5:16:12] it 71 across the board.
[5:16:14] Is that what you were talking
[5:16:15] about a while ago, mayor?
[5:16:17] all right, great.
[5:16:22] And then the 22 -- '22 bond
[5:16:23] program, 40 million or whatever
[5:16:25] that is, so that would be in
[5:16:26] addition to that, so that would
[5:16:29] actually make that 130 million?
[5:16:29] Okay.
[5:16:30] Great.
[5:16:30] I just want to make sure we're
[5:16:33] straight on that.
[5:16:37] And the next slide, slide number
[5:16:45] 5, I totally understand this, a
[5:16:46] great graphic to see the
[5:16:47] improvements we're making over
[5:16:47] time.
[5:16:49] But I keep asking this question,
[5:16:49] erik.
[5:16:52] We took out that $50 million,
[5:16:55] out of 2020, and where do we get
[5:16:56] the money back?
[5:16:58] Are we going to get that back
[5:16:59] through arpa funds?
[5:17:02] And is that going to be in the
[5:17:03] '22 or '23 program?
[5:17:06] Is that going to be $50 million
[5:17:09] in addition to that 110?
[5:17:11] >> so, we're not -- based on the
[5:17:12] guidelines that we see now,
[5:17:14] we're not going to be able to
[5:17:18] recover a deferred expense.
[5:17:20] But when the council gets to
[5:17:24] arpa phase 2, as long as we can
[5:17:27] adjust original revenue loss, if
[5:17:29] the council will take $47
[5:17:32] million out of the arpa, as long
[5:17:34] as we can justify with revenue
[5:17:37] loss, that's a possibility that
[5:17:40] the council has going forward.
[5:17:42] We're not going to be able to go
[5:17:45] backwards to say, hey, this 47,
[5:17:47] we deferred, that's not an
[5:17:50] eligible expense.
[5:17:52] You'll be able to, you, the
[5:17:54] council, will be able to make
[5:17:55] street maintenance an
[5:17:57] opportunity out of the arpa, as
[5:17:58] long as it stands right now with
[5:17:59] the revenue loss.
[5:18:01] >> Perry: I'd like to see the
[5:18:04] words, the actual document on
[5:18:05] what it says on that.
[5:18:07] >> I would be more than happy to
[5:18:08] share that.
[5:18:09] >> Perry: I would love to see
[5:18:10] that.
[5:18:11] >> it would ultimately be up to
[5:18:13] the council how that money is
[5:18:15] spent in accordance with the
[5:18:16] rules.
[5:18:17] And again, as long as we can
[5:18:20] justify with revenue loss, basic
[5:18:22] general government services are
[5:18:22] equitable.
[5:18:24] We'll get that document.
[5:18:24] >> Perry: okay.
[5:18:25] Great.
[5:18:26] I think that should still be on
[5:18:27] the table.
[5:18:33] And, you know, our survey,
[5:18:37] again, our sa speak up showed
[5:18:38] streets almost all the time,
[5:18:39] right up at the top.
[5:18:42] I think we need to see about,
[5:18:45] you know, having another
[5:18:49] substantial increase in our imp.
[5:18:52] And whether that goes to our dnf
[5:18:56] streets or whatever, to beef up
[5:18:57] that program.
[5:18:59] What was the total requirement
[5:19:03] for f streets and d streets?
[5:19:05] >> 900.
[5:19:07] >> Perry: 900 million.
[5:19:08] We'll never get there.
[5:19:09] We need to do something else.
[5:19:11] This is the opportunity, that
[5:19:14] we're getting feedback on people
[5:19:15] that want better streets.
[5:19:16] They're paying for better
[5:19:17] streets, but they're not getting
[5:19:18] the better streets.
[5:19:20] I think we need to put more
[5:19:21] resources towards the streets
[5:19:23] and react to at least in
[5:19:25] district 10, that's what people
[5:19:29] are clam bering for, better
[5:19:29] streets.
[5:19:32] I think we need to react with a
[5:19:33] bigger budget for our street
[5:19:33] program.
[5:19:36] And our imp.
[5:19:37] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:19:38] councilmember perry.
[5:19:41] It would be helpful to get that
[5:19:42] number over time, razi.
[5:19:44] I believe at some point we
[5:19:46] calculated that the deferred
[5:19:48] maintenance on streets that
[5:19:51] needed to be reconstructed along
[5:19:54] with sidewalks was 4
[5:19:54] some-odd-billion.
[5:19:55] >> it's in the billion range.
[5:19:56] >> Mayor Nirenberg: it would be
[5:19:57] nice to see if that number is
[5:19:59] moving at all, as we make these
[5:20:00] bigger investments in
[5:20:03] transportation infrastructure.
[5:20:07] We'll go now to councilmember
[5:20:07] bravo.
[5:20:10] >> Bravo: thank you very much.
[5:20:11] I don't have -- we're not
[5:20:13] scheduled for a briefing on
[5:20:15] public works department until
[5:20:17] tuesday, where I can learn more
[5:20:18] about the streets in district 1,
[5:20:20] and the progress of our product.
[5:20:22] So I feel I'm at a disadvantage
[5:20:23] right now.
[5:20:24] We're scheduled for tuesday.
[5:20:26] So erik, I want to reserve the
[5:20:27] right on wednesday to completely
[5:20:31] change this budget.
[5:20:31] [Laughing].
[5:20:34] >> I guess I'll have to hear
[5:20:35] from other councilmembers today.
[5:20:36] But no, I think part of this is
[5:20:38] to make sure that the new
[5:20:41] councilmember gets some -- gets
[5:20:43] the opportunity.
[5:20:45] Razi and rod and the budget
[5:20:49] team, we'll be meeting later on,
[5:20:50] after tuesday.
[5:20:52] >> Mayor Nirenberg: but to be
[5:20:53] clear for just a minute, we'll
[5:20:56] have budget sessions before the
[5:20:57] proposed budget is presented.
[5:20:58] >> right.
[5:20:59] Before the adopted budget is
[5:21:00] approved.
[5:21:02] >> Mayor Nirenberg: right.
[5:21:04] Okay.
[5:21:05] >> Bravo: okay.
[5:21:07] Thank you.
[5:21:09] You know, when I talked to
[5:21:10] constituents in district 1, I
[5:21:12] had some residents describe
[5:21:13] driving down their street, like
[5:21:15] riding a roller coaster.
[5:21:20] You know, I had one resident
[5:21:22] tell me they had to change their
[5:21:24] route after surgery, because it
[5:21:25] hurt too much to drive down
[5:21:26] their street and they had to
[5:21:27] take a different route.
[5:21:29] So this is definitely a big
[5:21:29] issue.
[5:21:31] I look forward to our meeting on
[5:21:35] tuesday.
[5:21:36] When it comes to -- we did talk
[5:21:37] about sidewalks.
[5:21:41] When I went out and talked to
[5:21:42] people who [Lapse in audio] I
[5:21:46] heard about how people want a
[5:21:49] more vibrant downtown, a
[5:21:53] downtown with more unique
[5:21:54] entertainment and culture and
[5:21:55] night life, and they want to
[5:21:56] support that.
[5:21:58] And I was told that there are
[5:21:59] studies that show that if you
[5:22:02] have that kind of a downtown, a
[5:22:05] livable downtown that is unique,
[5:22:08] then that actually increases
[5:22:10] high-end tourism.
[5:22:12] I was told that one key aspect
[5:22:14] of that is having a walkable
[5:22:14] downtown.
[5:22:16] So I want to make sure we're
[5:22:18] setting aside resources to make
[5:22:21] downtown a walkable downtown,
[5:22:24] because that's something I heard
[5:22:25] a lot of.
[5:22:27] >> a number of the projects in
[5:22:29] downtown, commerce district is
[5:22:30] one of them.
[5:22:32] I'm sure you've seen other
[5:22:33] construction.
[5:22:35] The existing roadways was
[5:22:37] four-lane, and we are reducing
[5:22:39] to three-lane, because there was
[5:22:41] really no need to have
[5:22:41] four-lane.
[5:22:43] We are making sidewalks on both
[5:22:47] sides wider and more friendly
[5:22:49] with landscaping and other
[5:22:51] [Lapse in audio] To enjoy.
[5:22:52] >> Bravo: yeah, I would like to
[5:22:54] see that as a priority as well.
[5:22:57] >> regarding the roller coaster
[5:22:58] roadway, unfortunately, the
[5:23:03] majority of the soil [Lapse in
[5:23:06] audio] Most of these roads were
[5:23:08] designed and built many years
[5:23:08] ago.
[5:23:10] We didn't have restrictive
[5:23:10] standard.
[5:23:12] You're right, some of them is
[5:23:16] not in really good shape, [Lapse
[5:23:17] in audio].
[5:23:19] >> Bravo: one thing I'll be
[5:23:22] interested in learning on my
[5:23:24] briefings, what kind of
[5:23:24] warranties are we getting on
[5:23:26] this work, and make sure that
[5:23:31] any work that is not -- you
[5:23:32] know, that's not sthag
[5:23:33] aying in good
[5:23:34] condition throughout their
[5:23:36] time --
[5:23:39] >> we'll on every project do an
[5:23:39] inspection.
[5:23:41] And secondly, we have on every
[5:23:44] project, we have one-year
[5:23:46] warranty, on every month of the
[5:23:49] project, my staff walks the
[5:23:53] project, identifies the
[5:23:54] deficiency and contacts the
[5:23:55] company to fix it.
[5:23:58] >> Bravo: and I want to talk a
[5:24:00] little bit about the bike master
[5:24:02] plan.
[5:24:05] You know, about the need to
[5:24:07] update the bike master plan for,
[5:24:08] I think, five years now.
[5:24:12] I know you're new here.
[5:24:13] So this isn't on you.
[5:24:15] But I know a lot of people have
[5:24:16] been waiting a long time to make
[5:24:19] san antonio a city that's safe
[5:24:20] for bicyclists.
[5:24:21] It's important for so many
[5:24:22] reasons.
[5:24:23] The more that we can create
[5:24:26] opportunities for people to
[5:24:28] safely commute in our city, to
[5:24:30] get out of their car, and on a
[5:24:32] bike, helps reduce the
[5:24:34] congestion, it helps improve air
[5:24:34] quality.
[5:24:35] We have a real problem in our
[5:24:37] community with diabetes,
[5:24:38] obesity.
[5:24:39] And this helps people have a
[5:24:41] more healthy lifestyle.
[5:24:43] So we have so many reasons to do
[5:24:45] this.
[5:24:46] But people need to be able to
[5:24:47] feel safe.
[5:24:49] So I want to know a little bit
[5:24:51] more like, a firm timeline for
[5:24:55] when that bicycle master plan
[5:24:56] will be completed, and then
[5:24:59] also, are there any commitments
[5:25:00] that we can make right now, or
[5:25:03] to be able to put money --
[5:25:04] setting money aside in the
[5:25:07] budget for things that we know
[5:25:09] that could -- you know, do we
[5:25:12] really -- you know, there are so
[5:25:14] many people who are leaders in
[5:25:16] the community who know what we
[5:25:18] need, do we need to wait for the
[5:25:20] study to be completed before we
[5:25:21] start more of these projects.
[5:25:25] And, you know, what can we get
[5:25:27] started on now if we put enough
[5:25:28] money in the budget.
[5:25:29] >> thank you, councilmember.
[5:25:30] That's a great question.
[5:25:32] What we're going to do now with
[5:25:37] our imp for fy '22 is work on
[5:25:40] the slow streets, less stress
[5:25:40] streets.
[5:25:42] To give you an idea what we're
[5:25:45] currently budgeted to do, we're
[5:25:48] working on two bike area plans
[5:25:53] for brooks and for utsa.
[5:25:55] So these are part of our imp
[5:25:56] work.
[5:25:57] Those smaller studies in those
[5:25:59] specific areas that are part of
[5:26:01] sa tomorrow.
[5:26:02] Additionally, what we're going
[5:26:04] to be doing, we're also doing
[5:26:05] our rails-to-trails project.
[5:26:07] These are some of the projects
[5:26:08] that we're currently using these
[5:26:08] funds for.
[5:26:11] What we are proposing for '22 is
[5:26:14] we're going to take our bike imp
[5:26:16] and develop the less stress
[5:26:16] streets.
[5:26:19] So we're going to develop that
[5:26:20] network, identify that network,
[5:26:23] our team will be doing an
[5:26:25] all-day staff workshop on what
[5:26:26] does that network look like.
[5:26:29] And hopefully, at the beginning
[5:26:32] of fy '22, we'll start that
[5:26:34] work.
[5:26:36] Additionally, because we don't
[5:26:39] have data, we have to have the
[5:26:41] data to inform our
[5:26:42] decision-making, to inform which
[5:26:44] projects to put into the bond.
[5:26:45] And yes, you've been hearing
[5:26:48] this for five years, I've been
[5:26:50] here for five months, and what
[5:26:51] most people don't realize is it
[5:26:53] takes time to collect that data
[5:26:54] and be thoughtful.
[5:26:56] When we talk about the health
[5:26:59] and benefits of cycling, we
[5:27:00] haven't done an impact
[5:27:01] assessment.
[5:27:02] We were a public works agency
[5:27:03] doing transportation planning
[5:27:05] work.
[5:27:08] Now we are a transportation
[5:27:09] department.
[5:27:10] And so I think it's important
[5:27:12] for us to recognize where we
[5:27:14] came from, and where we are.
[5:27:19] And I've spoken to all of the
[5:27:19] bicyclists who came here today.
[5:27:22] That was one of my first
[5:27:24] conversations, MARCH 26th, and I
[5:27:25] said, this is what I can tell
[5:27:27] you, this is what we're going to
[5:27:28] do going forward.
[5:27:30] I think the focus needs to be on
[5:27:32] where we're going, developing
[5:27:34] that plan and let it guide our
[5:27:35] implementation strategies and
[5:27:36] our projects.
[5:27:37] So that's our goal here.
[5:27:41] And with the imp, that low
[5:27:43] stress system, we can develop
[5:27:45] that in a year and implement
[5:27:45] that.
[5:27:47] And I think that speaks to what
[5:27:50] a lot of cyclists want, a safe
[5:27:50] network.
[5:27:51] We're continuing with those
[5:27:52] projects that we do currently
[5:27:54] have in the bond related to
[5:27:57] vision zero, and also related to
[5:27:58] bike infrastructure.
[5:28:00] And we're going to be talking to
[5:28:01] people about it.
[5:28:03] That is one of the things that I
[5:28:05] said when I started in this
[5:28:07] position is, we're going to
[5:28:08] start having conversations about
[5:28:09] how people want to move.
[5:28:11] That's also going to form our
[5:28:13] bike master plan update.
[5:28:15] >> COUNCILWOMAN, let me add one
[5:28:16] thing quickly.
[5:28:18] As we go through the 2022 bond
[5:28:19] discussion, one of the things
[5:28:22] we're considering is putting a
[5:28:25] pilot money, depending how much
[5:28:27] we need, but we're gig urg out
[5:28:29] what makes sense to put year
[5:28:31] three, four, five in the '22
[5:28:32] program.
[5:28:34] That is definitely under
[5:28:35] consideration.
[5:28:36] So get the bike master plan done
[5:28:38] in a couple of years, we'll have
[5:28:40] some bond money to put towards
[5:28:42] that, so we're looking at that
[5:28:43] for the council to consider.
[5:28:45] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:28:45] councilmember bravo.
[5:28:48] Councilmember sandoval.
[5:28:59] >> Sandoval: thank you, mayor.
[5:29:00] Thank you for the presentation.
[5:29:05] Could I ask you, the vision zero
[5:29:07] crash assessment, is that
[5:29:09] something that will occur for
[5:29:10] every pedestrian wreck, or how
[5:29:12] do you see that being
[5:29:12] implemented?
[5:29:13] >> when you say the crash
[5:29:14] assessment, are you referring to
[5:29:17] the assessments we do when we
[5:29:20] get a request to look at it?
[5:29:22] >> what's on slide 3.
[5:29:25] >> so, that's what we've been
[5:29:28] doing actually, since I've been
[5:29:29] here.
[5:29:30] When councilmembers call and
[5:29:33] say, hey, we have a corridor we
[5:29:34] want to look at, or road where
[5:29:35] we've had a crash, can you go
[5:29:38] look at that.
[5:29:40] I've done several for your
[5:29:42] district, and so what I'm
[5:29:46] thinking is that based on the
[5:29:49] trend so far, approximately
[5:29:49] three.
[5:29:51] Now, that doesn't mean that we
[5:29:53] get requests from all the
[5:29:53] districts.
[5:29:55] But having as our baseline as
[5:29:57] three.
[5:29:59] Well, perhaps there isn't a need
[5:30:02] for it in all of our districts,
[5:30:05] but we want at a minimum do
[5:30:07] three based on the data we have
[5:30:09] related to crashes or incidents.
[5:30:10] >> Sandoval: I would support
[5:30:12] increasing that.
[5:30:16] We can cite three in a week or a
[5:30:16] month.
[5:30:19] I would certainly support
[5:30:20] increasing that.
[5:30:24] >> so we would have to increase
[5:30:26] our staff commensurately to do
[5:30:27] that.
[5:30:28] That's a challenge with the new
[5:30:31] department, five planners and
[5:30:32] three engineers.
[5:30:35] So in addition [Lapse in audio]
[5:30:37] Thoroughfare plan, coordination,
[5:30:38] meeting and doing those things,
[5:30:40] we need physical bodies to
[5:30:42] perform those assessments.
[5:30:43] And so we'll do the crash
[5:30:46] assessments as they come in.
[5:30:47] But at a minimum, we want to do
[5:30:48] three.
[5:30:50] And I think that's really our
[5:30:51] challenge right now is there are
[5:30:55] a lot of needs.
[5:30:56] >> Sandoval: (Indiscernible).
[5:30:58] >> oh, yeah, go ahead.
[5:30:59] >> Sandoval: if you want to
[5:31:01] investigate more crash
[5:31:02] assessments, she needs more
[5:31:02] staff.
[5:31:03] >> Sandoval: thank you.
[5:31:08] >> Sandoval: all right.
[5:31:10] Secondly, a while back we had
[5:31:12] considered a policy, every time
[5:31:15] we have a development [Lapse in
[5:31:17] audio] Sidewalks and that's how
[5:31:18] we little by little complete
[5:31:19] sidewalk gaps.
[5:31:21] There are some locations where
[5:31:23] sidewalks aren't always
[5:31:23] feasible.
[5:31:25] And there was a proposal made at
[5:31:27] that time, is that something we
[5:31:32] can revisit?
[5:31:34] >> (Indiscernible).
[5:31:37] They have to build sidewalks.
[5:31:39] >> (Indiscernible) Made a
[5:31:40] presentation and there was a
[5:31:42] mitigation fee that was
[5:31:43] proposed.
[5:31:46] >> rod or mike shannon, do you
[5:31:46] guys remember that?
[5:31:48] The mitigation?
[5:31:50] It was kind of like a fee in
[5:31:51] lieu of.
[5:31:55] >> that was for a bike lane.
[5:31:58] >> good afternoon, everyone.
[5:32:00] Mike shannon.
[5:32:02] A couple of years ago there was
[5:32:04] some discussion about if there
[5:32:06] was a situation where there was
[5:32:07] a unique hardship and they
[5:32:11] wanted to get variance
[5:32:13] sidewalks, there was a proposal,
[5:32:16] at least the beginnings of a
[5:32:19] proposal to create a
[5:32:20] (Indiscernible) Instead of
[5:32:21] building the sidewalk, they
[5:32:22] would pay into a fund and the
[5:32:26] city would put the sidewalks in.
[5:32:27] [Lapse in audio] To council on
[5:32:28] the code.
[5:32:29] That's something that certainly
[5:32:32] we could revisit if you'd like.
[5:32:34] But I believe at the time we had
[5:32:35] some discussions about that,
[5:32:36] maybe leading that.
[5:32:39] >> would that be a udc type
[5:32:39] thing?
[5:32:41] >> you would have to put that in
[5:32:43] the udc, and then coordinate
[5:32:45] with razi and his team, yeah.
[5:32:46] >> Sandoval: all right.
[5:32:48] We can discuss it later.
[5:32:50] I just want to pose that to the
[5:32:51] team, just so that they know
[5:32:52] that that's a possibility that
[5:32:57] came to us a while back.
[5:33:01] Secondly, I do want to remind
[5:33:03] COUNCILMAN Perry that the survey
[5:33:04] said streets and sidewalks.
[5:33:07] I want to go to razi's slide
[5:33:09] number 5, and then I'll jump to
[5:33:11] slide 9 after that.
[5:33:15] I want to remind us that when we
[5:33:17] look at this slide, and at the
[5:33:19] pci, and the investment that was
[5:33:24] made year by year [Lapse in
[5:33:24] audio]
[5:33:25] Audio] --
[5:33:29] >> can you point to slide number
[5:33:29] 5, please.
[5:33:29] >> Sandoval: thank you.
[5:33:31] It does not include the $144
[5:33:34] million in voter approved bonds
[5:33:35] for streets and sidewalks.
[5:33:38] So this is just part of the
[5:33:38] whole picture.
[5:33:41] It also doesn't include any
[5:33:42] funding from federal funding
[5:33:45] received through the mpo, or any
[5:33:47] money that's invested in the
[5:33:50] region by the state from MAY
[5:33:53] through its tax registration
[5:33:53] fund.
[5:33:57] When we look at slide 9 for the
[5:34:01] sidewalk program, here I see --
[5:34:02] I'll chime back in, mayor,
[5:34:03] unless you --
[5:34:04] >> Mayor Nirenberg: finish your
[5:34:05] thought here and we can get a
[5:34:07] response and come back if
[5:34:07] necessary.
[5:34:08] >> Sandoval: thank you.
[5:34:10] What we do see here is the
[5:34:12] investment from the bond.
[5:34:14] We also see the adp funding.
[5:34:16] What we don't see are
[5:34:18] certificates of obligation, or
[5:34:20] any general fund being invested
[5:34:22] in our local sidewalk network.
[5:34:25] I will tell you what we see
[5:34:27] here, most often, at the doors,
[5:34:30] or at our council offices is, I
[5:34:33] want to feel safe walking on my
[5:34:36] street, and I have a sidewalk, I
[5:34:37] think this is borderline
[5:34:39] criminal that we don't have more
[5:34:42] investment in this.
[5:34:45] So I want to address that
[5:34:46] additional revenue source.
[5:34:48] I think we need to revisit what
[5:34:49] this investment looks like.
[5:34:50] Thank you, mayor.
[5:34:51] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:34:54] councilmember sandoval.
[5:34:55] Councilmember courage.
[5:35:00] >> Courage: thank you, mayor.
[5:35:01] We've talked about some
[5:35:02] important things, particularly
[5:35:04] vision zero.
[5:35:06] Mayor, I'm in support of setting
[5:35:10] aside $20 million of what we
[5:35:12] normally would have spent on
[5:35:15] streets in vision zero.
[5:35:23] I think councilmember sandoval,
[5:35:25] street and other infrastructure
[5:35:26] improvements that our districts
[5:35:29] need in addition to what we're
[5:35:31] already programmed for streets
[5:35:32] and sidewalks.
[5:35:34] And this issue I hope will fill
[5:35:35] a lot of gaps.
[5:35:37] But I'm even more excited about
[5:35:39] what might be coming down the
[5:35:40] line from the federal government
[5:35:43] in the way of infrastructure
[5:35:46] that MAY free some of our
[5:35:47] general fund money for doing
[5:35:49] more street work as that money
[5:35:50] comes in.
[5:35:52] So as much as I want to support
[5:35:54] what the mayor is saying right
[5:35:58] now, and I will, I think we need
[5:35:59] to reexamine that in 2003.
[5:36:01] We're looking at a three-year
[5:36:03] budget, but a lot can change in
[5:36:05] that next year that would cause
[5:36:07] us, or provide us opportunities
[5:36:09] to make significant differences
[5:36:12] again as we move forward.
[5:36:13] When we talk about the
[5:36:16] opportunity to reassess the bike
[5:36:17] needs, I hope that we're going
[5:36:20] to find the best practices to
[5:36:22] establish these bike lanes,
[5:36:24] because I know you've got to
[5:36:26] look at physical protection.
[5:36:28] You've got to look at cars
[5:36:28] parking.
[5:36:30] You've got to look at business
[5:36:32] cut-ins and driveways, and all
[5:36:34] of those things.
[5:36:37] Plus, the greenway trails are
[5:36:39] not as safe as they used to be,
[5:36:44] because of so many conflicts
[5:36:45] between pedestrians and bicycles
[5:36:46] on those trails.
[5:36:48] So we're talking about making
[5:36:51] the trails part of a mobility
[5:36:52] system, how do we protect the
[5:36:54] average family out there walking
[5:36:55] on the weekend, too.
[5:36:59] So all of that needs to be very
[5:37:02] carefully integrated, into both
[5:37:05] vision zero and from the federal
[5:37:07] money that we want to go to the
[5:37:09] program on mobility.
[5:37:12] So I just wanted to recognize my
[5:37:13] experience in those areas, and I
[5:37:15] hope we really delve into it,
[5:37:17] and come up with some good
[5:37:17] plans.
[5:37:18] Thank you, mayor.
[5:37:20] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:37:21] councilmember courage.
[5:37:27] Councilmember castillo.
[5:37:31] >> Castillo: thank you, mayor.
[5:37:34] [Lapse in audio] Every door we
[5:37:36] went to was streets and
[5:37:36] sidewalks.
[5:37:37] Some have lived there for
[5:37:40] generations.
[5:37:41] I agree with councilmember
[5:37:42] courage that we do need to do
[5:37:46] better in investing in the very
[5:37:48] infrastructure of streets and
[5:37:49] sidewalks.
[5:37:51] And make sure we make a dent.
[5:37:53] I have a question regarding
[5:37:56] coordination with S.A.W.S.
[5:38:00] I've heard stories from several
[5:38:01] constituents [Lapse in audio]
[5:38:03] And it's torn back up and
[5:38:04] patched back up.
[5:38:07] What does that coordination look
[5:38:07] like?
[5:38:12] >> on all our bond projects, and
[5:38:18] imp projects, we coordinate very
[5:38:23] closely with S.A.W.S. And cps.
[5:38:24] Sometimes people get straight,
[5:38:26] because we just want to make
[5:38:30] sure S.A.W.S. Or at&t or cps
[5:38:31] they don't come and cut the
[5:38:33] roadway we just fixed a few
[5:38:36] months ago.
[5:38:37] Unfortunately sometimes there's
[5:38:39] an emergency cut in fixing the
[5:38:40] roadway.
[5:38:41] But a big percentage of the
[5:38:44] time, they don't need to
[5:38:47] rebuild, it's brand-new [Lapse
[5:38:49] in audio].
[5:38:50] >> but councilmember, you raise
[5:38:52] a very good point, that frankly
[5:38:55] requires us to communicate with
[5:38:57] both utilities constantly,
[5:38:58] because things change.
[5:39:01] And there have been -- I haven't
[5:39:03] heard -- knock on wood -- I
[5:39:04] haven't heard any issues as of
[5:39:07] late, but in the past, there
[5:39:09] were problems with the
[5:39:10] contractors that the utilities
[5:39:13] used to patch the street up.
[5:39:17] And so annually, for public
[5:39:19] works instituting plans, there's
[5:39:21] a lot of coordination.
[5:39:22] but we need to continue to do
[5:39:28] better between us.
[5:39:28] >> Castillo: thank you.
[5:39:30] I also support the vision zero,
[5:39:32] we must ensure all funds are
[5:39:34] committed to physical
[5:39:34] infrastructure.
[5:39:40] And in regards to transportation
[5:39:42] and the bike lanes, we had a
[5:39:43] conversation of protected bike
[5:39:47] lanes.
[5:39:51] >> on bond projects, a number of
[5:39:54] them have [Lapse in audio] Good
[5:39:57] example, we are build ing
[5:39:58] ing a
[5:40:04] shared path off the roadway
[5:40:06] [Lapse in audio].
[5:40:06] Unfortunately we don't have
[5:40:11] enough right-of-way to [Lapse in
[5:40:14] audio].
[5:40:16] It's really challenging to build
[5:40:19] a protected bike lane, and there
[5:40:21] is a driveway, there are other
[5:40:23] issues, there is a bus stop.
[5:40:27] It's very challenging [Lapse in
[5:40:29] audio] Physical protection.
[5:40:32] >> but also it's part of the
[5:40:36] bike management plan that tomika
[5:40:39] was talking about earlier.
[5:40:41] We MAY have room for protective
[5:40:43] bike lane, but in some areas it
[5:40:45] MAY run in parallel, in some
[5:40:47] areas it MAY be, what would you
[5:40:50] call it, the mellow street, that
[5:40:52] network that plan we have right
[5:40:53] now, which we're trying to do
[5:40:55] through tomika's department.
[5:40:57] >> on the broadway product
[5:40:59] that's under construction, the
[5:41:02] other part of broadway we
[5:41:03] couldn't provide bike lane.
[5:41:07] We look for the side street
[5:41:07] avenue.
[5:41:11] Farther north we have over 100
[5:41:16] (Indiscernible) Right-of-way.
[5:41:19] >> Castillo: is there a code on
[5:41:21] how close a frontage road can be
[5:41:33] next to the sidewalk?
[5:41:35] >> yes, there is.
[5:41:39] Our udc has a whole section on
[5:41:40] tree-planting standards.
[5:41:41] I would have to get with our
[5:41:43] city to get the exact
[5:41:44] measurements.
[5:41:46] We do measure that the tree has
[5:41:48] room to grow appropriately.
[5:41:49] Certainly if there's new
[5:41:50] sidewalks, we want them to go
[5:41:51] around it and stuff like that.
[5:41:52] I can get that for you,
[5:41:55] certainly, after the meeting.
[5:41:56] >> Castillo: thank you.
[5:41:57] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:41:59] councilmember castillo.
[5:42:00] Real quick question.
[5:42:02] Go ahead, greg.
[5:42:03] >> thanks.
[5:42:04] I just wanted to go over one of
[5:42:06] the things that I wasn't able to
[5:42:09] bring in.
[5:42:12] You didn't address the nap
[5:42:13] program, razi.
[5:42:14] Right now we limited it to
[5:42:17] $200,000 a year.
[5:42:21] And we're finding that very
[5:42:22] inadequate for my district.
[5:42:24] We get two, maybe three projects
[5:42:25] a year out of that.
[5:42:27] And I would like to see an
[5:42:29] increase in that budget as well.
[5:42:32] Maybe up to 4 huchb, doubling
[5:42:33] it, 400,000 in each one of the
[5:42:36] districts.
[5:42:39] That is a constant need for, you
[5:42:42] know, lighted stop signs,
[5:42:44] crosswalks, speed bumps, and all
[5:42:47] those requirements that come in
[5:42:47] across the year.
[5:42:50] So I would really like to
[5:42:51] advocate for a larger budget
[5:42:55] with that as well.
[5:42:59] And yes, I didn't say sidewalks
[5:43:00] a while ago.
[5:43:01] I totally understand.
[5:43:02] It's with sidewalks.
[5:43:04] I was on the 17 street and
[5:43:05] sidewalk committee.
[5:43:07] So I totally understand that.
[5:43:07] I get it.
[5:43:09] We have a lot of requirements in
[5:43:12] district 10 for sidewalks as
[5:43:12] well.
[5:43:14] So, yeah, that's all I had, sir,
[5:43:14] thank you.
[5:43:15] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[5:43:16] councilmember perry.
[5:43:18] Just a quick question for
[5:43:19] tomika, actually.
[5:43:21] And erik can allude to this.
[5:43:22] I just want to be clear.
[5:43:24] As part of the bicycle master
[5:43:26] plan development, are we going
[5:43:28] to define the designs for
[5:43:30] bicycle path?
[5:43:31] >> yeah.
[5:43:33] That goal is that this product
[5:43:34] will have typologies.
[5:43:38] Based on the data we collect,
[5:43:41] COUNCILWOMAN Castillo's comment
[5:43:44] on bike lanes, if you have slow
[5:43:45] streets, streets where the speed
[5:43:47] is below 30 miles an hour, 35
[5:43:48] miles an hour, you won't have
[5:43:51] the need for as much capital
[5:43:52] infrastructure for protected
[5:43:54] bike lanes because you have the
[5:43:56] network of low stress streets.
[5:43:58] And we can identify based on the
[5:44:01] speed of our existing roadways,
[5:44:03] based on the width of those
[5:44:06] roadways, what the minimum bike
[5:44:07] amenities are.
[5:44:11] Is it a buffered pike lane
[5:44:11] ed
[5:44:13] ed bike lane,
[5:44:15] should it have a transit island,
[5:44:16] which is where people who are
[5:44:19] waiting at the bus don't have to
[5:44:24] be in the way of the bicycles,
[5:44:24] and bicyclists can pass that
[5:44:25] transit island where people are
[5:44:27] getting on the bus and cyclists
[5:44:29] don't have to stop.
[5:44:31] So the typology will be a
[5:44:31] network.
[5:44:32] And that's something that will
[5:44:34] be related to the udc.
[5:44:35] So you'll work with mike's team
[5:44:39] on those development proposals,
[5:44:41] and the typology is typology a,
[5:44:44] a speed of 35 miles an hour,
[5:44:46] 140-foot right-of-way, that at a
[5:44:48] minimum requires transit islands
[5:44:49] at transit stops.
[5:44:51] You have to have protective bike
[5:44:51] lanes.
[5:44:55] That is the goal of the update.
[5:44:57] So it informs our development
[5:44:59] process, it informs how we
[5:45:01] integrate transit on those
[5:45:01] corridors.
[5:45:03] In tandem with that, the next
[5:45:06] step will be working with via
[5:45:08] and their priority corridors for
[5:45:09] transit and we develop and
[5:45:10] incorporate the minimum
[5:45:12] standards for the transit
[5:45:13] ridership on those corridors.
[5:45:14] I hope that helps.
[5:45:16] >> Mayor Nirenberg: it does,
[5:45:16] yeah.
[5:45:19] It's because we get ridiculed,
[5:45:20] justifiably, for some of the
[5:45:22] things that the state has called
[5:45:23] a bike lane.
[5:45:25] I'm thinking specifically about
[5:45:27] the (Indiscernible) Parkway,
[5:45:29] with a stripe that goes right
[5:45:30] down the road next to the cars
[5:45:33] that are going 65 miles an hour.
[5:45:34] And they call that a bike lane.
[5:45:36] We want to make sure we're being
[5:45:38] deliberate, and when we build a
[5:45:40] bicycle lane, that it's safe for
[5:45:41] everybody.
[5:45:42] >> yes, sir.
[5:45:43] >> Mayor Nirenberg: so very much
[5:45:44] looking forward to that.
[5:45:45] And the last point I want to
[5:45:48] make and then I'll toss it to
[5:45:48] you, councilmember.
[5:45:53] So I'm clear, I think we are
[5:45:55] clear, erik and I were just
[5:45:58] talking about this, but for
[5:45:59] folks hearing this are clear,
[5:46:00] when we're talking about the $20
[5:46:02] million that would be earmarked
[5:46:06] for vision zero, this is not
[5:46:09] supplanting street projects.
[5:46:11] This would be allocating in
[5:46:13] addition to what is normally
[5:46:18] spent in a fiscal year for
[5:46:19] street maintenance.
[5:46:21] And what we're missing are those
[5:46:23] dollars that aren't spent
[5:46:26] because they're earmarked for
[5:46:28] reconstruction projects, going
[5:46:30] into a design phase before it's
[5:46:30] constructed.
[5:46:31] >> yes.
[5:46:32] And it also goes hand in hand
[5:46:33] with the subsequent conversation
[5:46:35] that the council will have about
[5:46:36] the bond program.
[5:46:37] Because that's a critical
[5:46:39] element to it.
[5:46:42] And so those two together make
[5:46:44] that a potential opportunity for
[5:46:45] us.
[5:46:46] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[5:46:47] Thank you, guys.
[5:46:49] Councilmember castillo.
[5:46:50] >> Castillo: thank you.
[5:46:52] I wanted to quickly note my
[5:46:53] support for councilmember
[5:46:54] perry's suggestion for
[5:46:55] increasing that funding.
[5:46:56] >> Mayor Nirenberg: all right.
[5:47:00] Okay.
[5:47:03] Thank you, raz o',
[5:47:07] irazi, tomika.
[5:47:08] Erik?
[5:47:14] >> next up, lori houston and
[5:47:16] beta will walk us through the
[5:47:19] affordable housing components.
[5:47:20] We began talking about it last
[5:47:39] week, but they'll go into more
[5:47:40] detail.
[5:47:43] >> good afternoon.
[5:47:44] If anyone needs to stretch,
[5:47:47] please feel free to do so.
[5:47:48] It's been a long day.
[5:47:51] And we're going to talk about
[5:47:52] one of our favorite topics, at
[5:47:53] least for me, which is
[5:47:56] affordable housing.
[5:48:00] As we look at fiscal year 2022,
[5:48:01] affordable housing, it is
[5:48:03] important to step back and
[5:48:03] figure out what we're talking
[5:48:06] about.
[5:48:09] So we had quite a bit of
[5:48:10] conversations about what the
[5:48:12] definition of affordable housing
[5:48:15] is within our housing
[5:48:17] commission, within our
[5:48:18] organizations.
[5:48:22] But I want to step back and talk
[5:48:25] about the [Lapse in audio]
[5:48:26] Nationally we talk about when
[5:48:28] we're talking about affordable
[5:48:29] housing.
[5:48:30] Know that for san antonio the
[5:48:31] definition of housing
[5:48:33] affordability has to be
[5:48:34] fine-tuned for us.
[5:48:35] But when we talk about
[5:48:37] affordable housing, we're
[5:48:40] talking about housing that is --
[5:48:42] housing that is affordable when
[5:48:44] a family does not spend more
[5:48:47] than 30% on housing costs.
[5:48:51] And everyone, be it a person
[5:48:54] making minimum wage, or a fair
[5:48:56] income, has to be able to afford
[5:48:58] housing, and they should not be
[5:48:59] spending more than 30% of their
[5:49:00] income on housing.
[5:49:02] We as practitioners talk about
[5:49:04] affordable housing as serving
[5:49:06] families that make 80% of the
[5:49:08] median income.
[5:49:11] The area median income or ami
[5:49:13] changes every year.
[5:49:18] We use a [Lapse in audio] So for
[5:49:19] context, this just came out at
[5:49:21] the beginning of the month.
[5:49:23] 80% of ami for a family of four
[5:49:27] in our metro area is 59,300.
[5:49:31] So every year it will differ.
[5:49:32] And of course, it varies by
[5:49:32] family.
[5:49:35] When we talk about housing and
[5:49:36] affordable housing, we talk
[5:49:38] about a broad spectrum of
[5:49:38] housing.
[5:49:40] It can be mixed income housing
[5:49:41] where you have a market rate
[5:49:44] unit next to an affordable unit
[5:49:45] in the same community that is
[5:49:46] being rented.
[5:49:51] It can be housing that the
[5:49:53] workforce utilize.
[5:49:55] So people who work at a service
[5:49:58] job, at a professional job, we
[5:50:01] have to have housing for those
[5:50:01] folks.
[5:50:03] Be it being able to stay in
[5:50:04] their homes that they've owned a
[5:50:07] long time, or being able to
[5:50:10] rent, or be it subsidized
[5:50:13] affordable housing rental
[5:50:14] community, veterans need housing
[5:50:14] as well.
[5:50:16] We include public housing here,
[5:50:17] because we're talking about the
[5:50:19] whole system.
[5:50:22] And for those at risk or who
[5:50:23] experienced homelessness, they
[5:50:25] might need permanent housing as
[5:50:25] well.
[5:50:27] So I just wanted to talk about
[5:50:30] the definition of affordable
[5:50:31] housing.
[5:50:32] And what we have been doing over
[5:50:34] the last five years is really
[5:50:36] rooted in the housing policy
[5:50:37] framework.
[5:50:39] So our department administers
[5:50:43] programs and policies that
[5:50:47] design very strategic [Lapse in
[5:50:50] audio] To prevent eviction,
[5:50:51] prevent homelessness and the
[5:50:52] preservation of affordable
[5:50:52] housing.
[5:50:55] And so we do a lot of things
[5:50:58] from policy to actually serving
[5:50:59] families with these programs,
[5:51:03] and a lot of the things, we hope
[5:51:06] to continue through next year's
[5:51:08] budget, to build on the elements
[5:51:11] that are in this document,
[5:51:12] coordinated housing system,
[5:51:14] continue to have housing
[5:51:16] production and rehab and
[5:51:19] continued investment in those
[5:51:21] areas, eviction prevention,
[5:51:22] housing navigation services
[5:51:25] provided in the community, and
[5:51:29] of course, [Lapse in audio] That
[5:51:30] improves housing.
[5:51:32] All of these are in this
[5:51:32] document.
[5:51:35] And this document had those core
[5:51:37] issues identified for a
[5:51:38] community.
[5:51:42] We know they have been
[5:51:42] exacerbated by the pandemic.
[5:51:44] The cost outpacing income
[5:51:44] growth.
[5:51:46] Affordable gaps when it comes to
[5:51:48] housing for both home ownership
[5:51:52] and rental, a supply-and-demand
[5:51:53] mismatch.
[5:51:56] More people being house
[5:51:57] burdened, decreasing home
[5:52:02] ownership throughout the city.
[5:52:02] And of course
[5:52:04] so all of that is in the policy
[5:52:06] task force.
[5:52:09] It identified -- this document
[5:52:10] identified five priorities,
[5:52:11] including making sure that we
[5:52:14] have a coordinated housing
[5:52:16] system, large ecosystem, but we
[5:52:20] need to continue to be better at
[5:52:20] coordinating all the systems
[5:52:22] that serve the community from
[5:52:24] the homeless to the housing
[5:52:26] navigation services to how do we
[5:52:28] increase home ownership.
[5:52:31] And so building the housing
[5:52:35] policy form, in the process, and
[5:52:41] the pandemic, [Lapse in audio]
[5:52:43] Plan for the housing policy
[5:52:43] framework.
[5:52:44] It's a great document.
[5:52:46] It has a lot of great policies.
[5:52:49] But what we are doing with the
[5:52:50] strategic housing implementation
[5:52:53] plan is defining affordability
[5:52:55] for san antonio, we're
[5:52:57] recalibrating the goals in the
[5:53:00] ten-year plan, now that we have
[5:53:03] three years of data to show how
[5:53:06] we're meeting the needs in the
[5:53:17] community [Lapse in audio],
[5:53:17] .
[5:53:19] What is being delivered, who is
[5:53:20] doing what.
[5:53:22] and also, how we're going to get
[5:53:22] there.
[5:53:24] So the strategic housing
[5:53:25] implementation plan, which is
[5:53:29] under way now, involves a lot of
[5:53:30] the folks who helped us with the
[5:53:32] house policy framework, and it
[5:53:34] gives us the implementation
[5:53:36] plan, so we can have clear how
[5:53:38] to get there, and clear
[5:53:39] accountability for the policies
[5:53:41] being fleshed out.
[5:53:43] Importantly, this year, we
[5:53:46] completed our for everyone home
[5:53:48] displacement agenda as well,
[5:53:52] which detailed the who, what and
[5:53:54] how for anti-displacement
[5:53:54] efforts.
[5:53:55] There are strategies being
[5:53:58] fleshed out over the next month
[5:53:59] that will [Lapse in audio].
[5:54:03] But the other recommendations in
[5:54:05] that displacement work will be
[5:54:06] folded into the strategic
[5:54:07] housing implementation plan.
[5:54:11] We have a lot of fun when we say
[5:54:13] shipmates and steering the ship,
[5:54:15] so we have a good sense of humor
[5:54:16] when we talk about housing.
[5:54:19] But some of the ship strategies
[5:54:23] as we service through various
[5:54:24] muddy waters is all of these
[5:54:26] policies.
[5:54:31] We have forms that help us, we
[5:54:34] have real estate professionals,
[5:54:36] nonprofit providers, and
[5:54:39] advocates who are grass roots
[5:54:41] activists on the housing site.
[5:54:42] They are tackling what we do
[5:54:47] when it comes to real estate
[5:54:48] development [Lapse in audio].
[5:54:50] We have, of course, a lot of
[5:54:52] housing policy that some of it
[5:54:53] is put on hold, some of it is
[5:54:55] going forward, some of it has to
[5:54:59] do with the udc, for example.
[5:55:01] We have the affordable housing
[5:55:02] community being a big part of
[5:55:03] the conversation, shaping what
[5:55:05] we do in that implementation
[5:55:06] plan.
[5:55:09] And we have a lot of residents
[5:55:12] involved that are helping us to
[5:55:16] address when it comes to
[5:55:20] eviction, diversion, so all of
[5:55:23] that is a part of what we're
[5:55:23] doing.
[5:55:27] So we knew in 2018 that we had
[5:55:30] housing challenges, and the
[5:55:32] pandemic has only exacerbated
[5:55:32] it.
[5:55:36] Just last week, [Lapse in audio]
[5:55:38] Housing assistance program, this
[5:55:40] is the largest housing
[5:55:41] assistance program in the
[5:55:42] country.
[5:55:44] We have $89 million program, but
[5:55:46] the federal moneys are not going
[5:55:48] to last forever, so we need to
[5:55:53] get back to the items that this
[5:55:53] document
[5:55:54] document's strategic approach
[5:55:54] calls for.
[5:55:56] We need to get back to
[5:55:57] production preservation, the
[5:55:59] programs that we know our
[5:56:00] community needed before the
[5:56:02] pandemic, and that continues to
[5:56:05] be a need in our community as
[5:56:06] well.
[5:56:08] And so we will continue to have
[5:56:10] the response to the pandemic
[5:56:11] through emergency housing
[5:56:12] assistance, but we need to get
[5:56:14] back to the other things that
[5:56:17] are going to move us forward to
[5:56:19] a post-pandemic housing
[5:56:22] landscape.
[5:56:25] This is a comparison that has
[5:56:26] some of the programs that are
[5:56:28] helping us achieve housing
[5:56:31] affordability in our community.
[5:56:33] This is this year's adopted
[5:56:34] budget compared to the trial
[5:56:34] budget.
[5:56:36] So you see that we do everything
[5:56:42] from subsidized to affordable
[5:56:44] housing through our gap
[5:56:45] financing, that we help families
[5:56:47] figure out how to clear the
[5:56:49] title to their properties, so
[5:56:51] that they can reap the value of
[5:56:55] that equity, or qualify for
[5:56:56] programs that require your
[5:56:56] title.
[5:56:59] We have support for partners
[5:57:02] like the san antonio local
[5:57:04] initiative support corporation.
[5:57:06] And we have direct services to
[5:57:09] help homeowners take care of
[5:57:11] minor repairs, take care of a
[5:57:12] roof, that helps that family
[5:57:15] stay in their home and in their
[5:57:16] neighborhood.
[5:57:18] So we'll continue to have those
[5:57:20] programs going forward.
[5:57:21] Some of these programs are
[5:57:23] delivered in-house, some of it
[5:57:26] is outsourced and we use a lot
[5:57:26] of contractors to help us do
[5:57:27] some of this work.
[5:57:29] We do want to get back to doing
[5:57:31] more of the down payment
[5:57:32] assistance as well.
[5:57:35] That is a program that has money
[5:57:38] shifted to rehab.
[5:57:39] With the affordability gap, we
[5:57:42] have to get back to help these
[5:57:43] families achieve that home
[5:57:46] ownership dream as well.
[5:57:49] Of course, we have learned and
[5:57:51] expanded a lot of programs,
[5:57:54] because [Lapse in audio]
[5:57:56] Expanding programs that help
[5:57:57] families facing housing
[5:57:57] insecurity.
[5:58:03] So we're going to continue to.
[5:58:06] We already had a risk mitigation
[5:58:07] program before the pandemic, the
[5:58:09] foundation for emergency housing
[5:58:10] assistance program.
[5:58:12] We want to continue to have
[5:58:14] that, though we might not have
[5:58:16] the same scale as we had over
[5:58:19] the last 15 months and we might
[5:58:21] not make it as generous as the
[5:58:22] program is currently.
[5:58:25] And again we have to continue to
[5:58:27] build our coordinated housing
[5:58:28] system and have that support
[5:58:30] with our partners in place.
[5:58:33] So this is just showing the
[5:58:35] current adopted budget and the
[5:58:38] trial budget numbers.
[5:58:40] One of the things we had before
[5:58:42] or had to grow because of the
[5:58:44] pandemic include a right to
[5:58:46] counsel program which we want to
[5:58:47] continue to have and expand.
[5:58:49] We did create a court support
[5:58:52] for evictions that we would like
[5:58:54] to continue going forward.
[5:58:56] We have a lot more know your
[5:58:57] rights trainings that we think
[5:58:59] are important as part of the
[5:59:01] house navigation services that
[5:59:04] we want to continue in the
[5:59:04] future.
[5:59:05] As counsel you adopted the
[5:59:07] notice of tenants rights so
[5:59:08] that's part of the housing
[5:59:10] navigation services he want to
[5:59:12] continue to have and this is
[5:59:15] informing both landlords and
[5:59:17] tenants a about the rights that
[5:59:18] tenants have.
[5:59:21] Recently, you passed a housing
[5:59:22] voucher incentive policy so we
[5:59:24] will get to the data and testing
[5:59:25] starting next fiscal year.
[5:59:27] We had a program three years ago
[5:59:31] that helped families who have,
[5:59:33] are considered high-risk renters
[5:59:34] get housing, have more
[5:59:36] opportunity to be able to rent.
[5:59:38] It is called place in
[5:59:40] partnership with the south alamo
[5:59:42] regional alliance for the
[5:59:42] homeless, we want to continue
[5:59:44] that program as well.
[5:59:46] We know relocation assistance is
[5:59:47] going to be important,
[5:59:50] especially as the cdc eviction
[5:59:51] moratorium comes to an end and
[5:59:53] we want to continue the great
[5:59:54] partnership with the department
[5:59:57] of huge services when it comes
[5:59:59] to the navigators, both for
[6:00:02] housing navigation services,
[6:00:04] fair housing counseling and
[6:00:04] benefit navigators.
[6:00:06] Our departments are working
[6:00:09] closer than ever to make sure
[6:00:11] that our clients get the full
[6:00:14] spectrum of services.
[6:00:15] And so we have five justice of
[6:00:17] the peace courts that do
[6:00:18] evictions.
[6:00:20] We have a presence every time
[6:00:22] there is a court that is meeting
[6:00:24] on evictions, that is a program
[6:00:25] we want to continue.
[6:00:27] We know there is a disparate
[6:00:28] impact as well with regards to
[6:00:31] who is getting eviction notices
[6:00:32] so we want to continue to
[6:00:34] provide that in the future.
[6:00:37] We will connect residents to the
[6:00:38] emergency housing assistance
[6:00:41] program as we have done and also
[6:00:42] make sure that people take
[6:00:43] advantage of the program that
[6:00:44] the state is running.
[6:00:46] The state is running the
[6:00:47] eviction diversion program so we
[6:00:49] want to make sure people tap
[6:00:51] into those resources and all of
[6:00:52] these are new, so we have to
[6:00:53] make sure people know about it.
[6:00:55] It is hard enough letting people
[6:00:58] know about something that exists
[6:00:59] like the homestead exemptions
[6:01:00] you talked about.
[6:01:01] It is more of a challenge when
[6:01:04] it is a whole new program that
[6:01:06] didn't exist two years ago.
[6:01:07] But we are up for that damage.
[6:01:09] We want to make sure we continue
[6:01:11] those counseling services to the
[6:01:13] individuals and families that
[6:01:15] need housing assistance and
[6:01:17] those that are facing relocation
[6:01:20] issues as well.
[6:01:20] Fair housing is something that
[6:01:22] has been embedded in the work
[6:01:24] that we do so we want that
[6:01:26] information to continue.
[6:01:30] We focus so much on e has been
[6:01:31] emergency housing assistant
[6:01:33] program we couldn't do a lot of
[6:01:34] the in person training but we
[6:01:36] want to get back to that and 15
[6:01:39] that partnership to connect
[6:01:40] residents with housing services
[6:01:42] to all of the other services
[6:01:44] that they might be eligible for
[6:01:47] that dhs has through their
[6:01:49] benefit navigators as well.
[6:01:51] So with regards to next year,
[6:01:53] top priorities from what we know
[6:01:55] of the housing policy framework,
[6:01:58] the data, the numbers that we
[6:02:00] have for the last three years
[6:02:02] and what we have heard, even as
[6:02:05] we provided emergency housing
[6:02:06] assistance is that we need to
[6:02:09] back to having more of that
[6:02:11] owner occupied rehab for our
[6:02:12] homeowners, that we need to
[6:02:14] continue to help families with
[6:02:16] minor repairs, because these
[6:02:21] programs not only keep a house
[6:02:22] going earnings expand the
[6:02:24] longevity of the house but they
[6:02:26] keep a family in a neighborhood.
[6:02:29] They don't disrupt that family
[6:02:31] and it is also something that is
[6:02:33] for climate issues effective and
[6:02:35] it is also sometimes cheaper
[6:02:38] than building a new unit.
[6:02:40] .. We know we have to administer
[6:02:41] these programs and have the
[6:02:44] staff to provide the counseling,
[6:02:46] the resources, processing
[6:02:48] placings, so $5 million for
[6:02:50] affordable housing, and these
[6:02:50] are the priorities.
[6:02:52] The satisfy to help our
[6:02:54] community members and the
[6:02:56] programs that we wish to expand,
[6:03:00] owner occupied rehab, minor
[6:03:01] repair, and rental assistance
[6:03:05] because we know, again, the
[6:03:06] effects of the pandemic are
[6:03:08] going to demand we do that well.
[6:03:12] That is the end of the
[6:03:14] presentation -- and I can answer
[6:03:16] any questions you might have.
[6:03:16] >> Mayor
[6:03:17] have.
[6:03:18] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[6:03:20] As we get into the discussion,
[6:03:24] just top line, what I would like
[6:03:25] to see as we get into our budget
[6:03:26] briefings is, and especially as
[6:03:30] we go into the 2022 bond cycle
[6:03:32] is an update on how we are doing
[6:03:34] on all of the ten year
[6:03:36] implementation plan metrics, and
[6:03:38] also if we can get a report over
[6:03:42] the last few years, how many
[6:03:43] affordable units of all types
[6:03:46] have been built or identified in
[6:03:48] the city, that would be helpful,
[6:03:50] so we can talk about what is
[6:03:52] working and potentially what
[6:03:55] needs to be adjusted.
[6:03:57] What I am interested in is how
[6:03:59] we are going transition from
[6:04:02] what has been crisis management
[6:04:05] emergency housing protocol
[6:04:06] specifically to work with the
[6:04:08] housing navigators and counsel
[6:04:10] lors have been doing at the
[6:04:11] library which they are doing
[6:04:12] phenomenal work, how we are
[6:04:14] going to transition that and the
[6:04:16] lessons learned into more of our
[6:04:19] long-term strategy.
[6:04:20] >> great question.
[6:04:23] So part of what we are proposing
[6:04:24] under the administration of
[6:04:26] funds and programs is increasing
[6:04:28] the staffing for the housing and
[6:04:28] a half
[6:04:31] navigation services, so that the
[6:04:33] transition is an easy one.
[6:04:34] We have been providing the
[6:04:35] services.
[6:04:37] We had been providing the
[6:04:39] emergency housing assistance.
[6:04:40] Obviously we cannot do it at the
[6:04:43] scale with all of the federal
[6:04:45] money we had with $189 million
[6:04:46] program, but we do want to
[6:04:49] continue to assist with some
[6:04:50] emergency housing assistance,
[6:04:51] but it really is the counseling
[6:04:54] and the housing navigation
[6:04:55] services that we are growing so
[6:04:57] we are adding staff to that, so
[6:04:59] that the counseling, the
[6:05:01] benefits, all of that is part of
[6:05:02] what we continue to provide.
[6:05:05] And then we will still have, you
[6:05:07] know, before it was risk
[6:05:07] mitigation program and still
[6:05:08] have funding for that.
[6:05:11] We will have to revisit the
[6:05:13] allowances for that program,
[6:05:14] because there will be less money
[6:05:16] as the federal money is used up
[6:05:17] into next year.
[6:05:18] But that is
[6:05:19] that is how we are going
[6:05:21] transition and we see next year
[6:05:24] as a transition point to get
[6:05:26] back to the other programs that
[6:05:27] our community needs so quick
[6:05:30] produce and preserve affordable
[6:05:30] housing.
[6:05:31] >> Mayor Nirenberg: I have a
[6:05:32] question about the federal
[6:05:33] programs in just a second, but
[6:05:34] on the point of the navigators,
[6:05:37] if anybody here is not -- has
[6:05:38] not gone to visit and toured
[6:05:39] that facility at the library to
[6:05:41] see the work those folks are
[6:05:43] doing it is really incredible.
[6:05:47] , you know, one on one coaching
[6:05:48] and in take and being able to
[6:05:50] filter people into the
[6:05:51] assistance programs we have,
[6:05:52] whether they are in housing or
[6:05:54] something else, they have done
[6:05:55] really great work.
[6:05:57] And to that point a little bit
[6:05:59] of an aside, erik, we talked
[6:06:00] about the fact a lot of those
[6:06:02] folks are on contract.
[6:06:05] They are, as a result of very
[6:06:07] short-term training now have
[6:06:09] marketable professional skills.
[6:06:10] We had discussed what kind of
[6:06:12] certification or something we
[6:06:13] could provide for those folks
[6:06:15] who MAY not continue past the
[6:06:17] pandemic crisis management, they
[6:06:18] would have a marketable
[6:06:19] professional skill that they
[6:06:21] could take to another career.
[6:06:21] Have
[6:06:24] have you all gotten any farther
[6:06:27] on that?
[6:06:29] >> we are going start working
[6:06:32] with hr on that, but we have
[6:06:33] talked about what we could do
[6:06:34] for those.
[6:06:36] We have had some people actually
[6:06:38] leave the temporary jobs because
[6:06:40] they found permanent positions,
[6:06:41] so we are talking about what
[6:06:43] kind of certificate and hr is
[6:06:44] going to be helping with us
[6:06:44] that.
[6:06:45] >> Mayor Nirenberg: okay.
[6:06:47] Because I assume part of their
[6:06:49] intake, just for landing that
[6:06:52] contract position was security,
[6:06:53] training, pci training, that
[6:06:54] sort of thing, which they can
[6:06:57] take to another career.
[6:06:59] Back on the federal programs,
[6:06:59] did you want to add.
[6:07:02] >> I did want to add because we
[6:07:04] have several cocouncilmembers
[6:07:04] who haven't had the opportunity
[6:07:06] to go to the library and see our
[6:07:07] staff this action.
[6:07:10] And so if somebody goes to a
[6:07:11] benefits navigator, we will do
[6:07:13] an assessment of them, and we
[6:07:14] will look to see what programs
[6:07:16] they MAY qualify, and often
[6:07:18] times someone who goes into the
[6:07:21] center will leave with snap
[6:07:22] benefits, other local or state
[6:07:24] benefits that they didn't know
[6:07:25] they qualified for, so when we
[6:07:28] talk about transitioning it is
[6:07:29] about reallocating where they
[6:07:32] put their funding resources.
[6:07:34] And if they didn't know that
[6:07:35] they qualified for snap, if they
[6:07:39] didn't know they qualified for
[6:07:40] subsidized day-care, we are able
[6:07:42] to help offset that cost so they
[6:07:45] can put that funding towards
[6:07:45] housing.
[6:07:48] i think during the pandemic we
[6:07:51] really undervalued that tool,
[6:07:53] having that handholding and that
[6:07:56] counseling, and during the
[6:07:57] event, we had so many people
[6:08:00] call us because they needed
[6:08:01] water and as a result of that,
[6:08:02] the snow event, we were able to
[6:08:04] help them so it is going to be a
[6:08:06] great opportunity.. For us to
[6:08:06] transition and I think it is
[6:08:08] going to be smooth, especially
[6:08:08] with the state program, they
[6:08:11] will be continuing for the next
[6:08:13] couple of months 0 as well.
[6:08:14] >> Mayor Nirenberg: it is a
[6:08:16] similar model to the
[6:08:17] houseworkers and learning the
[6:08:17] same skills.
[6:08:19] Back on the federal programs, I
[6:08:22] am hearing that, and obviously I
[6:08:24] think there is tremendous
[6:08:26] support and consensus on
[6:08:27] rehabilitation programs and our
[6:08:30] need to start augmenting those.
[6:08:32] I am hearing there is an
[6:08:34] obstacle for a lot of applicants
[6:08:35] in terms of title clearance and
[6:08:37] clouded titles.
[6:08:39] Could you speak to that?
[6:08:40] And if there are enough
[6:08:42] resources for us in title
[6:08:42] clearance?
[6:08:43] >> sure.
[6:08:46] We do have a title clearance
[6:08:46] program.
[6:08:50] I believe it is in our budget as
[6:08:50] well.
[6:08:51] You see some of the amount
[6:08:54] allocated for that, and so what
[6:08:56] we do is we have outsourced some
[6:09:00] of this work with both utsa and
[6:09:01] a nonprofit organization to
[6:09:03] actually help families address
[6:09:04] that issue.
[6:09:07] Many times it is a legal issue,
[6:09:08] because eventually you have to
[6:09:10] file a legal document, but we
[6:09:14] guide them through the rose and
[6:09:15] even st. Mary's has a clinic
[6:09:16] that helps us address that.
[6:09:19] So when we do find a client that
[6:09:21] cops for minor repair that they
[6:09:23] don't have clear title, we help
[6:09:25] direct them to the title
[6:09:27] clearance program so that they
[6:09:28] can come back and take advantage
[6:09:29] of that, so the title clearance
[6:09:32] is increasing and will continue
[6:09:33] to help clients address those
[6:09:34] issues.
[6:09:34] >> Mayor Nirenberg: great.
[6:09:35] Okay.
[6:09:36] I just would like us to monitor
[6:09:38] that, because I am hearing there
[6:09:40] is an issue there in terms of
[6:09:42] title clearance for a lot of
[6:09:43] those applicants.
[6:09:45] Last question is, and there is
[6:09:48] beyond the the debate of any of
[6:09:51] the pfc or other programs that
[6:09:54] we use to create affordable
[6:09:55] housing units here in our city.
[6:09:58] We know that there is a
[6:10:00] tremendous number of multifamily
[6:10:02] developments that have
[6:10:03] affordability built in.
[6:10:05] There are subsidized programs
[6:10:06] that MAY be coming towards the
[6:10:09] end of their affordability
[6:10:10] program life.
[6:10:12] My understanding is that there
[6:10:14] -- before -- the home initiative
[6:10:15] has identified some
[6:10:17] recommendations to help us deal
[6:10:18] with that to preserve that
[6:10:20] affordable housing stock.
[6:10:21] Can you talk about that, the
[6:10:23] housing preservation network and
[6:10:25] you we are going to implement
[6:10:25] that?
[6:10:26] >> yes.
[6:10:28] So under the anti-displacement
[6:10:30] agenda, which is the for
[6:10:35] everyone home, the housing
[6:10:35] preservation network would work
[6:10:37] and focus on those -- it is
[6:10:38] essentially affordability
[6:10:40] covenants, typically when
[6:10:41] someone receives or a developer
[6:10:44] receives a subsidy they have 15,
[6:10:50] 20, 30 years where they are
[6:10:50] required to keep the units that
[6:10:50] we subsidize affordable, and so
[6:10:53] after a certain period of time,
[6:10:54] the affordability period goes
[6:10:55] away.
[6:10:58] And so we have identified how
[6:10:59] many units over the next five
[6:11:01] years are going to have that
[6:11:03] affordability covenant expiring.
[6:11:05] So our approach is, to use some
[6:11:08] of the gap funding you see here
[6:11:10] to have those units come back,
[6:11:12] get some rehab, have the
[6:11:14] affordability covenant extended.
[6:11:16] And so the housing preservation
[6:11:18] network would actively track the
[6:11:21] data, track the units and make
[6:11:22] sure that we were targeting the
[6:11:25] funding that we had, be it from
[6:11:27] our budget, perhaps after we
[6:11:30] have a housing bump program,
[6:11:31] targeting some of that funding
[6:11:33] as well, so that we can have
[6:11:35] those units that are currently
[6:11:38] affordable remain affordable
[6:11:39] beyond the expiration of the
[6:11:40] affordability covenant, and
[6:11:42] that's part of what the housing
[6:11:44] preservation met work would do.
[6:11:45] They wouldn't just focus on
[6:11:46] that.
[6:11:47] They would also look at
[6:11:49] preservation of homeowner ship
[6:11:50] units as well.
[6:11:52] But a big focus would be those
[6:11:53] rental units where the covenant
[6:11:55] is going to expire over the next
[6:11:56] five years.
[6:11:57] >> Mayor Nirenberg: that seems
[6:11:59] like it could be the highest
[6:12:00] impact in extremely low hanging
[6:12:03] fruit for us to preserve
[6:12:05] housing.
[6:12:06] So councilmember rocha garcia
[6:12:08] rothank you, mayor.
[6:12:10] Thank you, I appreciate your
[6:12:13] update.. Since we are on that
[6:12:15] subject, and brought that home,
[6:12:16] there are detailed
[6:12:16] implementation plans.
[6:12:18] On ape frill third we got an
[6:12:21] update from nhsd about a draft
[6:12:23] report, 70 plus page report.
[6:12:24] Has that been final life.
[6:12:26] >> it was drafted at the time we
[6:12:27] received the update in APRIL..
[6:12:28] I haven't seen it.
[6:12:29] Do you have that?
[6:12:30] >> yes.
[6:12:38] The growing together report has
[6:12:38] been finalized.
[6:12:39] >> Rocha Garcia: okay.
[6:12:42] >> [Indiscernible] -- my draft
[6:12:43] --
[6:12:44] >> Rocha Garcia: oh, that's
[6:12:45] awesome.
[6:12:45] Good.
[6:12:49] >> so -- [Indiscernible] Give
[6:12:49] this to you.
[6:12:50] But the document itself is
[6:12:51] final.
[6:12:55] We just need to get the draft
[6:12:56] local out of it but it has been
[6:12:59] finished and then the two
[6:13:00] implementation strategies are
[6:13:02] the ones to be developed that
[6:13:04] will be final
[6:13:05] finalized toward the end
[6:13:05] of SEPTEMBER.
[6:13:08] >> thank you, I was talking to a
[6:13:09] reporter last night about
[6:13:10] affordable housing and I
[6:13:12] mentioned the 70 plus page
[6:13:13] report and I thought I missed it
[6:13:15] and I thought I would ask about
[6:13:17] it since it came up today.
[6:13:18] Do we have any update?
[6:13:19] 0 I don't remember what the last
[6:13:22] -- I think I asked erik walsh
[6:13:23] this but the chief housing
[6:13:25] officer, what are we doing with
[6:13:26] that position?
[6:13:28] >> that position is currently
[6:13:31] being advertised and closes next
[6:13:32] week?
[6:13:33] Yes.
[6:13:33] Next week.
[6:13:34] >> Rocha Garcia: okay.
[6:13:35] thank you, erik.
[6:13:38] And by the way, beto, it was
[6:13:39] late last night when I was
[6:13:40] talking to the reporter.
[6:13:42] I couldn't remember what the
[6:13:44] acronym for ship was so I am
[6:13:46] glad you have it altogether for
[6:13:46] us.
[6:13:47] I have a question specifically
[6:13:50] on owner occupied rehab
[6:13:50] strategy.
[6:13:54] We have a 2.5 increase, and I
[6:13:55] love that, thank you so much.
[6:13:57] That is something that is very
[6:13:57] useful.
[6:13:58] And under one roof program,
[6:14:02] there is no change, so I don't
[6:14:03] know if there is still an
[6:14:03] opportunity.
[6:14:06] There is only an 800,000 in
[6:14:07] general change in our trial
[6:14:09] budget, and I understand about
[6:14:10] parities and having to shift
[6:14:12] around but those are things that
[6:14:16] our neighborhood uses and -- I
[6:14:18] am happy in the minor repair is
[6:14:21] going up from 1.4, but I am also
[6:14:22] concerned you just mentioned
[6:14:26] that during the covid, the legal
[6:14:27] services, the right to counsel,
[6:14:28] I think you said that it was one
[6:14:30] of the highest use programs and
[6:14:33] it is being reduced by 300,000.
[6:14:35] Can you help me understand why?
[6:14:35] >> sure.
[6:14:37] When it comes to the reduction,
[6:14:38] the reduction actually is
[6:14:41] because of the equipment, the
[6:14:44] actual legal kiosk, so it is the
[6:14:45] equipment we are in the process
[6:14:47] of acquiring that will be in
[6:14:49] place before the end of this
[6:14:50] fiscal year.
[6:14:52] And so it was a one-time
[6:14:53] capital -- you know, we had to
[6:14:55] guy units and so that is why
[6:14:56] there is a reduction because we
[6:14:57] don't need to buy the units
[6:14:58] again.
[6:14:59] So that ask why you see the
[6:15:02] reduction, but the services
[6:15:04] themselves, the legal aid kind
[6:15:05] of attorneys that are going to
[6:15:08] be providing the service through
[6:15:09] the technology are what we are
[6:15:10] continuing to fund.
[6:15:11] >> Rocha Garcia: okay.
[6:15:11] Wonderful.
[6:15:12] Thank you.
[6:15:15] I was worried about that.
[6:15:16] And then how do we connect?
[6:15:16] Thank you.
[6:15:17] I know you personally came out
[6:15:21] to district 4 to help some folks
[6:15:22] sign up for different services.
[6:15:25] How do we connect other -- the
[6:15:27] city's other programs as you
[6:15:29] give away information on your
[6:15:30] programs.
[6:15:32] >> do you give ready to work
[6:15:32] information?
[6:15:34] Well, actually it is train for
[6:15:36] jobs sa or help me understand
[6:15:38] how you complete the full
[6:15:38] package.
[6:15:43] >> so the -- during the pandemic
[6:15:45] have been -- and alex.
[6:15:46] Every month I think we visit
[6:15:49] about how our teams are
[6:15:51] connecting clients, and we
[6:15:53] continue to do all of that.
[6:15:56] Every week we have the cross
[6:15:57] referral documents we share
[6:16:00] between our departments, and we
[6:16:02] send all of the client that
[6:16:04] apply for e has been that
[6:16:06] indicate these knees additional
[6:16:08] benefits.. And they send us a
[6:16:10] report back as to how many
[6:16:12] clients were served, was it one
[6:16:12] contact?
[6:16:13] Two contacts?
[6:16:14] So we are sharing all of that
[6:16:16] information, sharing our
[6:16:16] clients.
[6:16:18] All of the clients get the
[6:16:21] information where -- we are
[6:16:22] texting, for example, the sa
[6:16:24] speak up survey is going to go
[6:16:27] to all of the ehab clients, even
[6:16:30] all of the landlords so we send
[6:16:31] all of the information and push
[6:16:33] it out like that, so both the
[6:16:34] workforce programs got the
[6:16:35] pushout as well.
[6:16:38] And we continue to refer
[6:16:38] clients.
[6:16:40] Our benefit and a half bears at
[6:16:42] the hs are trained for all of
[6:16:44] these benefits as well as the
[6:16:45] federal programs so every week
[6:16:47] we update our scripts for the
[6:16:49] call centers and the benefit
[6:16:51] navigators and we just continue
[6:16:52] all of that coronation.
[6:16:53] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you.
[6:16:56] >> and I want to add, the I am
[6:16:58] surprised this wasn't mention.
[6:16:59] We work with our department
[6:17:01] partners weekly and we are
[6:17:03] working to see how with we can
[6:17:04] bring the benefit navigators on
[6:17:05] the road.
[6:17:07] So when working each of our
[6:17:09] councilmembers, you know, what
[6:17:10] neighborhoods would you like the
[6:17:10] we
[6:17:11] benefit and a half bears to go
[6:17:12] into?
[6:17:13] And maybe that's where we add,
[6:17:16] we identify where people aren't
[6:17:17] applying for that homestead
[6:17:18] exemption and also asking the
[6:17:20] housing and benefits navigators
[6:17:23] to ask those DECEMBER and help
[6:17:25] people apply for that.
[6:17:26] We are.. Working on that
[6:17:28] program to see how we can bring
[6:17:29] them out into the neighborhood.
[6:17:31] >> the other bees is how do we
[6:17:33] tie the community health workers
[6:17:33] into that?
[6:17:35] So there are a lot of efforts
[6:17:37] that are --
[6:17:37] >> Rocha Garcia: thank you.
[6:17:39] Thank you, mayor.
[6:17:40] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:17:43] councilmember rocha garcia.
[6:17:44] Councilmember pelaez.
[6:17:46] >> Pelaez: their, mayor.
[6:17:47] there are two things I want to
[6:17:47] cover.
[6:17:49] One you heard me talk over and
[6:17:50] over again -- by the way,
[6:17:52] excellent presentation -- about
[6:17:53] these owner 0 occupied
[6:17:54] rehabilitation strategies, the
[6:17:56] under one roof repair, but when
[6:17:58] it relates to us offering to pay
[6:18:00] for these things, right, the
[6:18:03] folks who need them the most and
[6:18:04] convince you had doing a great
[6:18:05] job and paying the you know, for
[6:18:07] these repairs that need to
[6:18:11] happen, are we verifying whether
[6:18:12] or not insurance ought to be
[6:18:14] paying for this versus us is and
[6:18:16] to what extent are we asking and
[6:18:16] doing?
[6:18:17] We are still doing that, right?
[6:18:18] >> yes.
[6:18:21] That's part of our -- sop
[6:18:23] standard operating procedures.
[6:18:24] >> Pelaez: okay.
[6:18:24] >> especially for the roof
[6:18:27] programs we do that.
[6:18:28] One of the requirements after is
[6:18:30] that they have updated insurance
[6:18:32] as well pelaez all right.
[6:18:32] Great.
[6:18:33] >> perfect.
[6:18:35] Thank you.
[6:18:36] And then, you know, on the
[6:18:39] northside, one of our
[6:18:40] difficulties and, joan, I
[6:18:41] imagine you had the same
[6:18:43] difficulty when we talk about
[6:18:44] affordable housing people flip
[6:18:45] out.
[6:18:47] They don't want those people
[6:18:48] anywhere near their houses.
[6:18:49] They use those words and
[6:18:50] sometimes they will even come
[6:18:52] out and tell you, I don't want
[6:18:53] the poors anywhere near me.
[6:18:57] You are ruining my neighborhood
[6:18:58] a you know, I hate developers.
[6:19:00] You know, despite the fact they
[6:19:02] all live in homes that were
[6:19:03] developed.
[6:19:05] but I have -- and there is no
[6:19:06] talk aing them out of it.
[6:19:09] In fact, some of these
[6:19:10] affordable projects, some of the
[6:19:11] objections were, no, no, if you
[6:19:12] put the affordable projects up
[6:19:16] here, then you take away value
[6:19:17] from our school districts and
[6:19:19] you sending kids to our school
[6:19:23] for free and it stretches you
[6:19:24] know, the budgets of these
[6:19:26] schools and then you lower the
[6:19:27] quality.
[6:19:28] Anyway, I think I have done a
[6:19:30] pretty good job, joan, I think
[6:19:33] you have done a pretty good job
[6:19:36] of resisting that foolishness,
[6:19:39] and the issue is that we also
[6:19:41] struggle with the tact that it
[6:19:43] is so expensive now to buy land
[6:19:45] or to build a new house, and
[6:19:47] what we are seeing ask urban
[6:19:48] sprawl, because it is cheaper to
[6:19:49] build further and further from
[6:19:52] the urban center than it is to
[6:19:55] build near your existing appeal,
[6:19:57] right, or your preferred school
[6:19:59] or your -- or where your job s
[6:20:00] and the mayor and I were talking
[6:20:02] and I think you still agree with
[6:20:04] me that we need figure out a way
[6:20:06] to increase housing stock of
[6:20:08] every, you know, -- of every
[6:20:09] category.
[6:20:13] I personally don't want to see
[6:20:15] more mcmansions on the north
[6:20:17] side when we could entice
[6:20:19] professionals with good product
[6:20:21] that is smaller that requires
[6:20:23] less impervious cover, that
[6:20:26] requires less energy to cool and
[6:20:27] maintain.
[6:20:30] You know, I am looking for more
[6:20:32] apartments [Indiscernible] Nurse
[6:20:33] -- right out of nursing school
[6:20:35] or the medical student right out
[6:20:37] of medical school you know, for
[6:20:40] them to move into something
[6:20:41] small and attractive as opposed
[6:20:45] to going out and finding their
[6:20:46] first $400,000, you know, 3,000
[6:20:48] square foot home, right?
[6:20:49] This conversation about
[6:20:51] affordable housing is incredibly
[6:20:52] important, right, but for every
[6:20:55] one of those big homes that are
[6:20:56] built that is you know, land
[6:20:58] that is taken up not, you
[6:21:02] know -- anyway, we get, give up
[6:21:03] density and density is really
[6:21:05] important, right? So I am
[6:21:06] 100 percent of what you are
[6:21:10] doing, and, you know, but I
[6:21:11] think that in john counsel and
[6:21:13] myself, you have got -- I think
[6:21:15] you have a commitment that will
[6:21:18] continue to resist this anyone
[6:21:20] byism which just makes your job
[6:21:22] harder quj and really makes it
[6:21:24] more difficult to be poor in san
[6:21:26] antonio, and being poor is hard
[6:21:27] enough, right?
[6:21:29] So mayor, you have my support on
[6:21:30] this one too.
[6:21:31] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:21:32] councilmember pelaez.
[6:21:36] Councilmember courage.
[6:21:38] >> Courage: we share a lot of
[6:21:40] those at that thoughts in
[6:21:43] common, COUNCILMAN.
[6:21:45] You know, affordable housing is
[6:21:47] such a huge issue you know, and
[6:21:49] having served on the san antonio
[6:21:52] housing trust and on the culture
[6:21:55] and neighborhood services
[6:21:56] committees have really gotten
[6:21:58] more and more insight on this.
[6:21:59] I want to address a couple of
[6:22:00] things that came out in this
[6:22:03] report right away.
[6:22:07] You listed [Indiscernible] Hud,
[6:22:11] 74,000 in our area, and then the
[6:22:13] 80 percent of that, which is
[6:22:14] commonly referred to as the
[6:22:17] beginning of affordability in
[6:22:18] the development of either
[6:22:20] individual homes or apartments
[6:22:24] is like 59,000 [Indiscernible]
[6:22:26] Annual income for a family of
[6:22:26] four.
[6:22:28] have we been able to determine
[6:22:30] glat annual income for a family
[6:22:31] of four is within the city of
[6:22:33] san antonio?
[6:22:36] >> great question.
[6:22:38] That is part of the conversation
[6:22:41] that our housing commission has
[6:22:43] been having and that our
[6:22:45] strategy housing implementation
[6:22:47] plan participants are having.
[6:22:48] So again I was very careful to
[6:22:50] mention this is a practitioner
[6:22:52] definition but we want to make
[6:22:54] sure that when we talk about
[6:22:55] housing affordability it is
[6:22:57] tailored to san antonio.
[6:22:57] >>
[6:22:58] antonio.
[6:22:59] >> Courage:.
[6:23:01] >> so part of our recalibration
[6:23:02] does exactly that.
[6:23:06] We figure out.. The hud ami is
[6:23:08] set for our metropolitan
[6:23:09] statistical area which is much
[6:23:11] larger than the city limits.
[6:23:13] And there is a difference
[6:23:15] between the average within the
[6:23:19] city limits versus that larger
[6:23:19] msa.
[6:23:22] And so our ship, our strategic
[6:23:25] housing implementation plan is
[6:23:27] carefully making sure of the --
[6:23:28] that the definition fits our
[6:23:31] city limits residents.
[6:23:32] >> Courage: good but can we
[6:23:35] use that to work with developers
[6:23:38] and builders who base their
[6:23:40] financial requirements using
[6:23:42] federal money or to a great
[6:23:44] extent even private money, they
[6:23:47] base it on the hud ami, which
[6:23:49] creates a real division between
[6:23:51] what is affordable in the minds
[6:23:52] of hud and those developers and
[6:23:54] what is affordable in the minds
[6:23:56] of the average citizen in san
[6:23:56] antonio.
[6:23:58] And to the city council.
[6:23:58] >> and
[6:24:00] and so the answer to that ask
[6:24:00] yes.
[6:24:02] Obviously, we still want to use
[6:24:04] the same measuring stick, which
[6:24:06] is the hud ami, so someone
[6:24:09] doesn't have to recreate a whole
[6:24:11] pro forma, but we have to say in
[6:24:12] the conversation -- and the
[6:24:13] conversation has been if we use
[6:24:16] the hud ami in san antonio
[6:24:18] affordable is really 60 percent
[6:24:18] ami.
[6:24:19] >> Courage: right.
[6:24:21] >> so even though the national
[6:24:23] definition is 80 percent ami
[6:24:24] what we should look in san
[6:24:26] antonio in tracking more
[6:24:29] carefully is homes, rental units
[6:24:31] that are affordable for san
[6:24:33] antonians which means 60 percent
[6:24:35] ami or below.
[6:24:36] >> Courage: right.
[6:24:38] I am glad to hear you say
[6:24:39] that.Ed one thing on the figures
[6:24:41] you had for the trial budget up
[6:24:44] there, am I right in assuming
[6:24:46] that the risk mitigation,
[6:24:49] decline of $10 million is going
[6:24:53] to be covered by ehab and the
[6:24:54] money we have there?
[6:24:56] Will that cover most of what
[6:24:57] that 10 million might have
[6:24:57] covered?
[6:24:58] >> yes.
[6:25:01] So we can go back to that slide.
[6:25:02] >> Courage: it was number
[6:25:02] seven, I think, yes.
[6:25:03] >> there it is.
[6:25:06] So last year, having -- the
[6:25:08] career before and last year we,
[6:25:10] just like we redeployed staff to
[6:25:13] help us with response, we had to
[6:25:16] redeploy funds, and so there is
[6:25:19] some owner occupied units that
[6:25:20] we didn't build because the
[6:25:22] money was used for ehab.
[6:25:24] There is some, I mentioned down
[6:25:24] payment assistance.
[6:25:27] So we didn't do as much first
[6:25:28] time home buyer assistance
[6:25:31] because that money was difficult
[6:25:32] varietied.
[6:25:33] Diverted so that's where that
[6:25:34] money came from.. But again we
[6:25:37] want to get back to the services
[6:25:38] and the needs that were
[6:25:40] identified before, that
[6:25:41] continued to be a need so that
[6:25:43] means butting the money back to
[6:25:46] owner occupied rehab, to minor
[6:25:47] repair, to down payment
[6:25:49] assistance, but we do have that
[6:25:51] federal money that city
[6:25:52] city council
[6:25:53] approved last week that will
[6:25:55] carry us through the next fiscal
[6:25:55] year.
[6:25:56] >> Courage: so even
[6:25:57] though 10,000 is showing as a
[6:25:59] negative, we have rebuilt that
[6:26:01] into other aspects of it, right?
[6:26:03] >> and I want to add with the
[6:26:05] ehab we have about $60 million
[6:26:06] left in our budget.
[6:26:08] That will get us through
[6:26:09] DECEMBER and then as we are
[6:26:11] ramping up our benefit
[6:26:12] navigators you know, we will be
[6:26:14] pushing on work force
[6:26:16] development and knows scenes to
[6:26:17] linked benefits so that will
[6:26:18] help with the transition.
[6:26:19] >> Courage: right.
[6:26:21] Now on a rehab and preservation
[6:26:26] up there, it shows about
[6:26:27] $50 million in this next year we
[6:26:30] are projecting to spend in that
[6:26:31] area.
[6:26:34] When we do owner rehab or we do
[6:26:38] minor repair, or we go a roof,
[6:26:42] do we ever ask the property
[6:26:43] recipients to pay back anything
[6:26:44] to the city?
[6:26:46] >> so for these programs, for
[6:26:48] the under one roof it is a grant
[6:26:50] so there is no repayment.
[6:26:53] For the owner occupied and minor
[6:26:57] reair, it is a forgivable loan
[6:26:59] that is amortized over time.
[6:27:00] So for example if we do
[6:27:03] someone's house we put a
[6:27:06] covenant or a deed restriction
[6:27:08] for 15 years, and we say, if you
[6:27:11] sell your house, you have to
[6:27:12] repay what we invested.
[6:27:16] But if they stay in the home
[6:27:17] that 15 years you know, whatever
[6:27:19] we put into the house gets for
[6:27:21] given over time.
[6:27:22] And so only if they sell do they
[6:27:25] have do pay back, so if the
[6:27:27] housing is no longer who the
[6:27:28] client was.
[6:27:29] Otherwise, it is for given over
[6:27:30] time.
[6:27:32] But again this program, these
[6:27:33] programs, all of these programs
[6:27:34] are about trying to keep can
[6:27:36] families in their house.
[6:27:37] Doesn't always happen.
[6:27:41] We have families who do sell the
[6:27:43] house, and so that is when we
[6:27:44] get the money but the money is
[6:27:45] utilized for same are
[6:27:47] programs as --
[6:27:49] when there is a repayment.
[6:27:50] >> Courage: I will ask for one
[6:27:52] thing, mayor, if you will let
[6:27:52] me.
[6:27:53] Have we been able to determine
[6:27:57] what the impact is on the
[6:27:59] neighboring communities when
[6:28:01] these properties are upgraded
[6:28:03] and their values go up and how
[6:28:07] does it affect the neighboring
[6:28:07] properties?
[6:28:07] Have question looked at that?
[6:28:09] >> we did a little bit of that
[6:28:11] with the finance department,
[6:28:12] right before the pandemic.
[6:28:14] We will have to -- it has been a
[6:28:15] while since we visited those
[6:28:17] numbers but we saw -- question
[6:28:19] looked at evaluation --
[6:28:20] valuations for example so I will
[6:28:22] have to go back and look at
[6:28:23] those numbers and see if we did
[6:28:25] it beyond the house to see if we
[6:28:28] did like the block, be new is a
[6:28:29] good investment.
[6:28:31] It is keeping families in their
[6:28:33] house, many of them have had
[6:28:34] that house for a long time.
[6:28:37] It is cheaper to rehab than to
[6:28:41] build a new unit, I mean, if we
[6:28:42] invest $90,000 in a house, when
[6:28:43] you build a new house you are
[6:28:45] spending two or three times
[6:28:45] that.
[6:28:47] And it is also keeping families
[6:28:49] with the same social services,
[6:28:51] the network, you know, the kid
[6:28:53] across the street who checks in
[6:28:56] on an elderly senior citizen,
[6:28:59] the tia around the coroner who
[6:29:00] can bay sit when they heed it so
[6:29:01] it is about that social fabric
[6:29:02] as well.
[6:29:03] It is the church that they have
[6:29:05] been going to for a long time or
[6:29:07] the grocery store that is a
[6:29:10] short drive or a bus line away
[6:29:12] from what they know as well.
[6:29:13] So there is -- those be he was
[6:29:15] and I am not sure I have to put
[6:29:18] a price on it, but there is a
[6:29:25] price as well -- [Indiscernible]
[6:29:26] Water infrastructure lines as
[6:29:27] swoll there is a savings as well
[6:29:29] when it comes to that.
[6:29:30] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:29:30] councilmember.
[6:29:30] >> Courage:.
[6:29:32] The councilmember perry.
[6:29:34] >> Perry: okay.
[6:29:35] Thank you for the information.
[6:29:39] Let's just stay on that slide.
[6:29:40] I see councilmember courage
[6:29:42] asked about the $10 million
[6:29:42] decrease.
[6:29:44] That's being covered by other
[6:29:47] funds so we are okay there.
[6:29:49] But we still have an overall
[6:29:51] increase of 800,000, close to a
[6:29:53] drilled across these other
[6:29:55] programs and who determined the
[6:29:57] amounts on each one, like the
[6:30:01] increase in the owner occupied
[6:30:03] rehab under one roof, the minor
[6:30:06] repair, the gap financing,?
[6:30:08] Who determined all of these
[6:30:09] increases here and what is that
[6:30:12] based on?
[6:30:18] >> so we had net 27 and a half
[6:30:20] million dollars, and you will
[6:30:22] have to check me, there were
[6:30:23] several million dollars that was
[6:30:26] one time in nature.
[6:30:27] The $28.3 million for the trial
[6:30:30] budget set aside an additional
[6:30:32] $5 million in resources
[6:30:36] potentially for affordable
[6:30:36] housing.
[6:30:38] What I heard last week was
[6:30:41] myself and the staff heard was
[6:30:44] that we has been -- rehab was a
[6:30:46] priority.. So if you will go
[6:30:49] back cash go forward one slide
[6:30:53] .. Our suggestion was -- one
[6:30:53] more.
[6:30:55] I am sorry.
[6:30:55] One more.
[6:30:57] Was that we put an additional
[6:30:59] $2 million in owner occupied.
[6:31:01] We put an additional 2 million
[6:31:02] in minor reair, which is a
[6:31:04] little less expensive than the
[6:31:07] owner rehab but still critical
[6:31:10] and that the balance is 400,000
[6:31:13] in relocation and $600,000
[6:31:14] towards that administration and
[6:31:17] navigation that lori talked
[6:31:17] about.
[6:31:18] The rest of that is included
[6:31:21] within our budget, within our
[6:31:22] base budget, and was at the
[6:31:31] recommendation of the department
[6:31:32] department.
[6:31:34] Let's go back to slide number 7.
[6:31:36] >> so we are looking at these
[6:31:37] and I deamounts that we are
[6:31:40] spending on rehabbing, the cost
[6:31:43] per square foot and all of that.
[6:31:44] I haven't gotten that
[6:31:44] information on that.
[6:31:46] I was kind of expecting a
[6:31:48] spreadsheet on how much we are
[6:31:50] spending versus what it would be
[6:31:53] to build new and then I asked
[6:31:54] the question and I think we got
[6:31:56] answer that one ask a grant and
[6:32:00] the other is a forgivable loan,
[6:32:02] so basically there is no skin in
[6:32:05] the game by any of the owners of
[6:32:08] these house that are being
[6:32:08] rehabbed.
[6:32:09] >> that is correct.
[6:32:11] That is structured as a grant,
[6:32:13] but they do have to live in the
[6:32:14] home for a certain amount of
[6:32:15] time and they can't sell that
[6:32:17] home for that time period.
[6:32:18] >> Perry: okay.
[6:32:19] And how many homes are we
[6:32:20] talking about?
[6:32:23] How many under one roof, how
[6:32:24] many owner occupied rehabs and
[6:32:26] how many minor repair -- how
[6:32:27] many houses are we talking about
[6:32:30] did we do in '21 and what is the
[6:32:31] projection for '22?
[6:32:37] >> so -- so or this fiscal year,
[6:32:41] our owner occupied number is 63
[6:32:41] units.
[6:32:45] We are projecting 83 with the
[6:32:48] additional funding.
[6:32:51] For minor repair -- let me look
[6:32:54] at my notes.
[6:32:59] For next year, it is 164, with
[6:33:00] the -- with the additional
[6:33:02] funding that we have.
[6:33:04] I do have a chart that I can
[6:33:07] share with all of the councilors
[6:33:08] showing funding this year, total
[6:33:11] units this year, funding
[6:33:12] proposed for next year and total
[6:33:13] units next year.
[6:33:16] We did -- there it is.
[6:33:17] That are include heard this is a
[6:33:19] backup slide but for every
[6:33:20] program we have that as well.
[6:33:23] And remember, our budget for
[6:33:25] affordable housing is not just
[6:33:26] general fund but we also utilize
[6:33:28] the federal grant programs, so
[6:33:32] we use hud, cbdg block grants
[6:33:35] and the home program and you
[6:33:39] will see the hud budgets at your
[6:33:41] AUGUST meeting.
[6:33:42] That's a little -- so the rest
[6:33:44] of the city budget, but we have
[6:33:46] to bring that forward in AUGUST
[6:33:47] because we need to submit it to
[6:33:49] hud in AUGUST a, and that's a
[6:33:50] lot of funding for
[6:33:52] for some of these
[6:33:54] affordable housing programs as
[6:33:55] well.
[6:33:56] >> Perry: so [Indiscernible]
[6:33:58] Six and 7 that is only general
[6:34:00] fund, right?
[6:34:02] >> page 7, slide 7?
[6:34:04] We are only talking general
[6:34:05] funds here?
[6:34:06] >> no.
[6:34:08] It has a combination of some
[6:34:08] federal money.
[6:34:09] >> Perry: okay.
[6:34:10] Yes.
[6:34:10] >> trial budget.
[6:34:11] >> Perry: I
[6:34:13] I would really like
[6:34:14] to see that we are talking
[6:34:15] about, general funds on this
[6:34:16] slide.
[6:34:19] I understand 0 federal funds,
[6:34:20] outside funding coming in, but
[6:34:22] what is impacting our general
[6:34:23] fund budget here?
[6:34:26] What is the bottom line, the
[6:34:27] total?
[6:34:31] >> let me see if I have that as
[6:34:34] well.
[6:34:37] >> COUNCILMAN, I am zachry cone,
[6:34:39] assistant general manager..
[6:34:41] 9.6 million, the remainder is
[6:34:43] coming from our -- home
[6:34:43] allocations.
[6:34:45] >> Perry: is that going up
[6:34:48] more than 9.6 for the '22 trial
[6:34:48] budget.
[6:34:50] We assume that allocation will
[6:34:51] be flat between --
[6:34:52] >> Perry: okay.
[6:34:53] That's what I wanted to hear, if
[6:34:55] there was any increases in the
[6:34:58] general fund.
[6:34:59] Okay.
[6:34:59] Mayor
[6:35:02] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:35:04] councilmember perry.
[6:35:04] councilmember bra.
[6:35:07] >> Bravo: thanks, and again I
[6:35:08] am flying a little blind because
[6:35:09] we haven't had our briefing yet,
[6:35:10] our initial briefing but I
[6:35:16] wanted to ask I was looking at
[6:35:19] the.. Down payment assistances,
[6:35:21] one I am glad we are increasing
[6:35:22] that amount.
[6:35:24] 2, I am curious, are we doing
[6:35:25] stuff beyond down payments? Are
[6:35:28] we doing things to help educate
[6:35:30] people about the benefits of
[6:35:33] purchasing a home and you know,
[6:35:35] I just think about how again
[6:35:37] that we are a city of haves and
[6:35:39] have notes and we want to be
[6:35:40] able to address poverty
[6:35:43] long-term and how homeowner ship
[6:35:44] contributes to generational
[6:35:46] wealth but I am just curious
[6:35:51] what else are we doing besides,
[6:35:53] within -- what are we doing to
[6:35:55] promote home sphwhieg what are
[6:35:57] we doing beyond down payment
[6:35:57] assistance?
[6:35:58] >> so one of the requirements
[6:36:01] and this is a first time home
[6:36:01] buyer program.
[6:36:02] >> Bravo: right.
[6:36:06] >> so one of the requirement it
[6:36:06] is that families applying for
[6:36:09] that, they do have
[6:36:10] [Indiscernible] Education
[6:36:11] classes, so there is a set
[6:36:12] amount of hours 0.
[6:36:13] It is hud required, that they
[6:36:15] have to take.
[6:36:18] And it is everything from how to
[6:36:21] budget, credit counseling to
[6:36:21] what
[6:36:23] what are the kind of things they
[6:36:24] need to be prepared or when they
[6:36:26] become a homeowner if they
[6:36:27] haven't been a homeowner.
[6:36:29] So making sure to budget for the
[6:36:31] maintenance you need for a home.
[6:36:33] >> Bravo: are we waiting for
[6:36:34] people to come to apply or going
[6:36:35] out and encouraging this?
[6:36:36] >> no.
[6:36:38] So part of what we do is we host
[6:36:40] all of these every month we have
[6:36:43] english and spanish the home
[6:36:44] buyer education classes and we
[6:36:46] have a lot of partners who help
[6:36:47] us with that.
[6:36:51] Besides banks, because in order
[6:36:51] to qualify you still need to
[6:36:52] qualify for [Indiscernible] So
[6:36:55] all of the the only institutions
[6:36:56] are part hers with us.
[6:36:58] They also host home buyer
[6:37:00] education classes.
[6:37:01] We partner with the realtors as
[6:37:03] well who bring us clients and
[6:37:05] who ensure client go through
[6:37:07] this home buyer education.
[6:37:09] One of the things we started
[6:37:11] doing is a post home buyer, post
[6:37:13] rehab education class as well.
[6:37:16] That not put on hold because of
[6:37:21] the pandemic, but a
[6:37:22] [Indiscernible] 0 if you a
[6:37:23] renter and here are the things
[6:37:25] you need do and some basics so
[6:37:27] folks can do that and maintain
[6:37:29] their new house or maintain tear
[6:37:30] rehabbed house so we are going
[6:37:32] to pick that back up, but we are
[6:37:35] actively promoting the program,
[6:37:36] advertising, working with some
[6:37:38] nonprofits that do there.
[6:37:40] There is at least two community
[6:37:40] housing development
[6:37:43] organizations who also promote
[6:37:44] the program.
[6:37:46] It also starts with financial
[6:37:48] counseling services that are the
[6:37:51] department of human services,
[6:37:52] where they start helping people
[6:37:54] just [Indiscernible] So that
[6:37:55] eventually they become a
[6:37:55] homeowner.
[6:37:57] Sometimes we end up referring
[6:37:59] client for the home buyer
[6:38:01] education class to the financial
[6:38:03] counseling program, because they
[6:38:04] realize, I need work on my
[6:38:06] credit first, that doesn't
[6:38:08] happen in a short time.
[6:38:08] It might take a year.
[6:38:15] And so we refer them dhs for
[6:38:16] credit so they can work on the
[6:38:17] credit issues that will help
[6:38:18] them qualify for that mortgage.
[6:38:19] So it is a combination and we
[6:38:21] are not only ones promoting
[6:38:21] this.
[6:38:22] >> Bravo: thanks.
[6:38:24] So while I am glad we are
[6:38:25] increasing that budget, you
[6:38:28] know, I am locking at increasing
[6:38:33] it from 450,000 to 4.3 million.
[6:38:35] The total budget for trial
[6:38:37] budget is -- so this home buyer
[6:38:39] assistance is representing less
[6:38:41] than five percent of that budget
[6:38:44] there that 28.3 million and just
[6:38:46] wondering, to what extent -- and
[6:38:48] this seems like a long-term fix,
[6:38:50] and then I am just wondering,
[6:38:52] are some of these other things
[6:38:53] short-term fixes?
[6:38:56] And I am also wondering, how how
[6:39:00] much in the last year did we
[6:39:05] provide in tax breaks to
[6:39:08] developers for building out
[6:39:08] affordable housing?
[6:39:11] And so like how does that -- you
[6:39:12] know, how much are we giving in
[6:39:13] tax breaks for affordable
[6:39:15] housing versus how much are we
[6:39:17] helping people to become
[6:39:18] homeowners and build
[6:39:21] generational wealth?
[6:39:22] >> I don't have that number in
[6:39:24] front of me, but when we sit
[6:39:26] down and talk about housing
[6:39:27] services and initiatives we will
[6:39:28] have that for you.
[6:39:29] >> Bravo: thanks.
[6:39:30] I appreciate that.
[6:39:32] And, yes, that is something
[6:39:33] something I am interested in
[6:39:34] general.
[6:39:36] It is like -- I just don't know
[6:39:38] enough about this to know how
[6:39:40] much of this is a short-term
[6:39:42] figures versus long-term and i
[6:39:43] am really interested in having
[6:39:43] that conversation.
[6:39:45] Thanks a lot.
[6:39:47] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:39:49] councilmember bravo.
[6:39:50] Councilmember viagran.
[6:39:51] >> Viagran: thank you, thank
[6:39:53] you for that presentation.
[6:39:56] That was a very interesting.
[6:39:58] The I am totally for the rehab
[6:39:59] and preservation.
[6:40:02] That shotgun home, I know that
[6:40:04] family, so it is -- I know it is
[6:40:05] a generational home.
[6:40:08] I know she took care of nieces
[6:40:11] and grandparents and so there is
[6:40:14] -- there is such a
[6:40:15] transformation in the program
[6:40:17] that it is doing.
[6:40:18] I think what might help is, if
[6:40:22] we are able to collect that data
[6:40:23] about if they are living with
[6:40:24] disability as, if they are
[6:40:26] living with children with
[6:40:28] disabilities, that over 60,
[6:40:29] because these are
[6:40:30] multigenerational homes that we
[6:40:32] are going in.
[6:40:34] We are changing their lives and
[6:40:37] helping them stay in their
[6:40:37] homes.
[6:40:38] And the one thing did want to
[6:40:40] stress is, sometimes we have to
[6:40:42] do the rehab and preservation
[6:40:45] because a seen record can't move
[6:40:47] out of a home and move into a
[6:40:48] senior living center because
[6:40:49] they are taking care of grand
[6:40:50] children and other members of
[6:40:51] their family, so that's why it
[6:40:54] is so important.
[6:40:57] So in terms of the fixes, I know
[6:41:00] whatever we are doing is making
[6:41:02] an impact, and the one question
[6:41:09] I have in terms of the title
[6:41:10] clearance.
[6:41:13] >> the legacy, is this primarily
[6:41:15] for those having probate issues?
[6:41:18] >> it is a combination.
[6:41:19] So some of it is probate issues.
[6:41:23] some of it is -- they inherited
[6:41:24] the house and it is still not in
[6:41:27] their name or sometimes the
[6:41:31] heirs are multiple heirs and so
[6:41:32] getting eight or ten people to
[6:41:36] sign off on one of our
[6:41:37] documents, for example for owner
[6:41:41] occupied rehab can be a
[6:41:41] challenge so it is addressing
[6:41:42] those kind of issues.
[6:41:45] Somewhere, you know, someone who
[6:41:48] has a construction deed on their
[6:41:50] house and it could be as small
[6:41:53] small as $250 but it is
[6:41:54] something in the court that
[6:41:55] needs to be cleared up.
[6:41:56] Some are a little bit more
[6:41:58] expensive but it could be simple
[6:42:00] things like that that allow them
[6:42:01] to participate in the program.
[6:42:02] So a combination.
[6:42:03] >> Viagran: okay.
[6:42:06] Then as we look in -- the
[6:42:08] priority for affordable housing,
[6:42:11] is that if we look at -- if we
[6:42:13] collect some data gone ages of
[6:42:18] the homes and the amount, it
[6:42:21] would cost to get them upgraded
[6:42:23] for those living with
[6:42:27] disabilities, because it is one
[6:42:27] of those things that, in
[6:42:27] district 3, in particular we
[6:42:29] have a lot of seniors who want
[6:42:31] to live out their days in their
[6:42:34] homes, but that MAY mean a whole
[6:42:35] bathroom reconstruction and how
[6:42:37] do they pay for that?
[6:42:39] There are the other as -- the
[6:42:41] other aspect I would like to see
[6:42:46] is, are we taking into account
[6:42:48] that affordable apartment
[6:42:51] housing in the areas and mobile
[6:42:53] home park in the areas and when
[6:42:55] that -- is there any way we can
[6:42:58] monitor when it gets to an
[6:42:59] occupation level that is a kind
[6:43:03] of lower than -- I guess
[6:43:04] 50 percent?
[6:43:05] Are we keeping track?
[6:43:06] Is anybody keeping track of
[6:43:06] that?
[6:43:09] >> is that just for mobile home
[6:43:10] park --
[6:43:12] >> mobile home or apartments,
[6:43:13] because I know district 2, I
[6:43:15] think it was during
[6:43:16] christmastime during the
[6:43:19] pandemic they had one apartment
[6:43:22] complex sell, but the residents
[6:43:23] knew it was coming because they
[6:43:26] weren't leasing out 0 any of the
[6:43:29] other units, and I know there
[6:43:31] are mobile home park areas in my
[6:43:33] district where they threat at
[6:43:36] that lot of lots go unoccupied.
[6:43:38] >> so we hear about that.
[6:43:40] We don't actively track it and
[6:43:42] we don't track occupancy, per
[6:43:44] se, unless it is something that
[6:43:47] we provides a subsidy to.
[6:43:49] So if it got home funding, it is
[6:43:51] one of the things we ask when we
[6:43:54] do our annual visits, what the
[6:43:55] occupancy levels are.
[6:43:57] But if they didn't receive
[6:43:59] subsidies we don't track it.
[6:44:01] We don't have a contractual
[6:44:01] relationship.
[6:44:04] But we do hear through our fair
[6:44:06] housing counselors and housing
[6:44:07] navigation services, when there
[6:44:09] are things like that in the
[6:44:10] community or the advocates will
[6:44:12] call us and let us know.
[6:44:15] We deploy immediately our
[6:44:17] relocation team to go on
[6:44:17] on-site
[6:44:21] and to help with relocation
[6:44:22] assistance, with counseling.
[6:44:24] We did that in district 2 with a
[6:44:26] couple of properties that are in
[6:44:28] the process of being sold that
[6:44:29] are there to assist families.
[6:44:30] And so even though we don't
[6:44:33] track it, we hear about it, and
[6:44:35] then we have a fast redeployment
[6:44:38] of our team to provide services
[6:44:40] for families that MAY need it.
[6:44:41] When it comes to mobile home
[6:44:45] park communities, our
[6:44:47] anti-displacement
[6:44:48] [Indiscernible] One of the
[6:44:50] specific categories called out
[6:44:52] and so there is a lot more in
[6:44:53] that document as well.
[6:44:53] >> Viagran: okay.
[6:44:54] Thank you.
[6:44:55] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:44:58] councilmember viagran.
[6:44:59] Councilmember cabello havrda
[6:45:02] councilmember councilmember
[6:45:02] cass.
[6:45:04] >> thank you, the conversation
[6:45:04] about.
[6:45:05] >> Castillo: this makes me
[6:45:07] think a lot about the
[6:45:09] conversation we had yesterday
[6:45:10] with cps.
[6:45:11] We need acknowledge we are in
[6:45:17] the midst of various crises,
[6:45:19] economic, ecological all coupled
[6:45:21] with covid-19.
[6:45:22] San antonio has the duty to lead
[6:45:24] in the nation by decarbonizing
[6:45:26] and retrofitting our existing
[6:45:28] affordable housing stock.
[6:45:30] And, you know, again.. We
[6:45:32] conduct surveys and studies, we
[6:45:34] commission these studies like
[6:45:35] the for everyone home that offer
[6:45:36] great policy recommendations and
[6:45:37] need to be sure we follow
[6:45:39] through with those policy
[6:45:40] recommendations.
[6:45:42] One of them of which is the
[6:45:43] under one roof program, minor
[6:45:44] rehab program and several
[6:45:46] others, so not only are we
[6:45:48] addressing and maintaining that
[6:45:49] existing affordable housing
[6:45:52] stock because as beto mentioned
[6:45:54] once you demolish the affordable
[6:45:55] housing that is gone forever.
[6:45:57] So we need to ensure we are
[6:45:58] minimizing community
[6:46:00] displacement by preserving that
[6:46:01] existing affordable housing
[6:46:01] stock.
[6:46:02] And with that being said we need
[6:46:06] to be sure that we restore the
[6:46:09] under one are the program to
[6:46:10] ensure funding we are meeting
[6:46:13] those numbers we are meetings in
[6:46:14] 2019, 2018.
[6:46:16] The so my question is, does
[6:46:18] council have the ability to
[6:46:21] allocate more tirz or pfc
[6:46:24] dollars through owner occupied
[6:46:24] rehab?
[6:46:25] >> yes, ma'am.
[6:46:26] Yes, ma'am.
[6:46:28] That is definitely a source that
[6:46:30] we could look at during the
[6:46:37] summer, yes.
[6:46:40] >> Castillo: and my next
[6:46:44] question, it is, I want to --
[6:46:46] showed up to the sacred heart
[6:46:48] church and helped them complete
[6:46:49] the application for the
[6:46:50] emergency assistance program and
[6:46:52] she was there for hours.
[6:46:53] We had applicants coming in and
[6:46:55] just nonstop and she was there
[6:46:57] helping us make sure that folks
[6:46:58] -- I wanted to thank you for
[6:46:59] that.
[6:47:00] In addition to that, I think it
[6:47:03] is important that we continue to
[6:47:05] fund the right to counsel
[6:47:05] program.
[6:47:07] I believe someone asked why the
[6:47:09] funding was decreased, that is
[6:47:10] because of the kiosk purchase;
[6:47:14] is that correct?
[6:47:15] All right.
[6:47:19] Thank you.
[6:47:22] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:47:26] councilmember castillo.
[6:47:28] Councilmember rodriguez.
[6:47:30] >> MR. Rodriguez: I would like
[6:47:33] to echo to sentiments of
[6:47:33] councilmember cabello havrda
[6:47:34] city owe.
[6:47:35] I know perry would not like to
[6:47:37] see this but I would like to see
[6:47:39] an guidelines the owner occupied
[6:47:41] funding as well as the under one
[6:47:42] roof program, I would like to
[6:47:44] see that funded to pre-pandemic
[6:47:45] levels as well which I believe
[6:47:48] was at 2.5 million.
[6:47:50] I also would like to request..
[6:47:51] Thinking specifically about the
[6:47:56] hotel we just approved the lease
[6:47:58] for o I would like to request
[6:47:59] additional funding for on-site
[6:48:01] kennel services and I want to
[6:48:03] stress the importance of that,
[6:48:06] because these animals, they are
[6:48:07] -- these people's babies and
[6:48:09] tear family and sometimes their
[6:48:14] connection to humanity, and to
[6:48:16] dignity, and it is one of the
[6:48:18] largest barriers that exist to
[6:48:19] entry and I think any barrier at
[6:48:23] all is unacceptable.
[6:48:24] And there is a homeless
[6:48:28] encampment under the I-37, and
[6:48:30] you could point to the hotel
[6:48:32] from there and so any barrier to
[6:48:33] people there getting access to
[6:48:36] that hotel I think is
[6:48:36] unacceptable.
[6:48:38] But I would like to reiterate my
[6:48:41] request for additional funding
[6:48:42] there.
[6:48:47] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:48:47] councilmember.
[6:48:52] >> McKee-Rodriguez:.
[6:48:53] Councilmember sandoval.
[6:48:54] >> Sandoval:, thank you,
[6:48:55] mayor.
[6:48:55] Way tonight explore the
[6:48:58] possibility of tirz funding for
[6:49:00] these programs that help people
[6:49:01] stay in their house.
[6:49:03] I know foul all tirz are
[6:49:04] creating equal so I think we
[6:49:05] probably would want to be a
[6:49:07] little bit careful and look at
[6:49:09] where some of the housing costs
[6:49:12] .. Have sky rocked more because
[6:49:15] of this -- the developments.
[6:49:16] That will be a bit of an art.
[6:49:20] I also support expanding the
[6:49:23] funding for the owner occupied
[6:49:25] rehab, but I also would like to
[6:49:29] see us before -- before we begin
[6:49:31] ensuring that large developers
[6:49:33] that are affordable stay
[6:49:34] affordable, I think question
[6:49:35] also need to look at the ones
[6:49:37] occupied -- I am sorry, operated
[6:49:40] by mom and pops and our local
[6:49:40] residents.
[6:49:42] For them, having the additional
[6:49:44] property that they rent out
[6:49:46] helps them stay in their home
[6:49:48] and helps them offset their
[6:49:50] property tax payments.
[6:49:52] So whether it is a four-plex or
[6:49:56] a three plex or a ten plex, I do
[6:49:57] think it is important to look
[6:49:58] into that.
[6:49:59] Are there any mechanisms that we
[6:50:00] have available to do something
[6:50:07] like that?
[6:50:10] >> so the housing
[6:50:12] [Indiscernible] Part of the
[6:50:14] charge of that group would be to
[6:50:16] track what is naturally
[6:50:17] occurring affordable housing.
[6:50:19] And it wouldn't matter if it was
[6:50:21] large development or a smaller
[6:50:22] one, and it would be more
[6:50:25] proactive about those small mom
[6:50:27] and pop communities.
[6:50:29] And so right now, our
[6:50:30] partnership, we are working very
[6:50:32] closely on both the -- there is
[6:50:35] a property management
[6:50:36] association, the san antonio
[6:50:37] apartment so association to make
[6:50:40] sure we reach out to those
[6:50:42] local, smaller owners, and look
[6:50:44] at the smaller units as well.
[6:50:46] So they have access to the funds
[6:50:49] as well to make sure that they
[6:50:52] can rehab their units, those
[6:50:53] rents can remain affordable as
[6:50:55] well in the future.
[6:50:57] >> I apologize if I missed this.
[6:50:59] What is funding level for that
[6:50:59] program?
[6:51:01] >> that would be -- that is part
[6:51:03] of the gap financing.
[6:51:05] We are going make sure that we
[6:51:08] set aside funding for
[6:51:10] preservation so that when we do
[6:51:12] the rsqs, rfps for those, that
[6:51:15] we have a set-aside specific to
[6:51:18] preservation of units, and it
[6:51:20] doesn't all go to new
[6:51:21] development, per se, so it is
[6:51:23] going to be the gap funding.
[6:51:24] >> I think we should set a
[6:51:26] target as a council for that.
[6:51:29] Last -- a few months ago we went
[6:51:30] through an exercise of where we
[6:51:32] are awarding some gap financing
[6:51:33] and my understanding was that
[6:51:38] there were not any bids for
[6:51:41] rehab, and -- which I think
[6:51:43] really is -- ask maybe not a
[6:51:45] lack of interest but maybe
[6:51:47] barriers to entry to the program
[6:51:48] or maybe barriers in learning
[6:51:49] about the program, because there
[6:51:52] is who doubt that there is a
[6:51:54] need, so I would really, the I
[6:51:57] would like for us to set a
[6:51:58] target for that minimum amount.
[6:51:59] >> we will make sure as we
[6:52:02] develop the rfps we do set those
[6:52:02] targets.
[6:52:06] >> thank you very much.
[6:52:08] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:52:09] councilmember sandoval.
[6:52:09] Councilmember perry.
[6:52:10] >> Perry: thank you.
[6:52:11] I just have a couple of quick
[6:52:16] additional questions and my
[6:52:18] colleague -- yeah, I got a
[6:52:20] problem with increasing these.
[6:52:23] And I guess what I am getting at
[6:52:26] is, if anybody has gotten the
[6:52:29] universe or an estimate of the
[6:52:30] total number of houses which
[6:52:31] would be eligible for these
[6:52:31] programs?
[6:52:33] I mean are we talking about 100?
[6:52:35] 1,000?
[6:52:36] 10,000?
[6:52:38] 100,000 homes?
[6:52:41] What is -- I am looking at the
[6:52:43] universe of requirements.
[6:52:45] >> we don't have that, because
[6:52:47] there are so many other factors
[6:52:49] that play into this, whether or
[6:52:51] not they qualify, through their
[6:52:52] income, whether or not they
[6:52:52] qualify because they
[6:52:54] they are a
[6:52:55] veteran.
[6:52:56] And whether or not their home
[6:52:59] needs this type of assistance.
[6:53:00] So we don't have that
[6:53:00] information.
[6:53:03] We do have an applicant pool,
[6:53:05] and so we can get you how many
[6:53:08] applicants we receive annually,
[6:53:09] and that could be a starting
[6:53:09] point.
[6:53:10] >> Perry: yes.
[6:53:11] That would be a starting point
[6:53:12] but I think at some point in
[6:53:15] time, we have -- I mean, it
[6:53:17] looks like this is going to be
[6:53:18] another program that keeps
[6:53:21] growing and growing and growing
[6:53:25] year after year and I think we
[6:53:26] need though what the
[6:53:26] requirements are for this.
[6:53:30] I mean, are we spinning our
[6:53:32] wheels or are we going to up the
[6:53:34] amounts to really take care of
[6:53:38] what everybody wants, preserving
[6:53:42] the housing stock?
[6:53:45] But, you know, yeah, I don't
[6:53:46] think we have a good handle on
[6:53:48] what the requirement is in order
[6:53:50] to see, are we ever going to be
[6:53:53] able to afford this.
[6:53:57] And these people pay taxes as
[6:53:59] well, and that whole issue that
[6:54:00] comes in.
[6:54:02] And then you said you have an
[6:54:04] application process.
[6:54:05] Who actually picks the winners
[6:54:08] and losers of getting this money
[6:54:09] money?
[6:54:10] >> there are not winners and
[6:54:12] losers, it is first come, first
[6:54:13] serve, they submit the
[6:54:13] application.
[6:54:14] >> Perry: if there are a
[6:54:16] number of applications snrb is
[6:54:17] going to -- I look at it, win
[6:54:19] and somebody is going to lose by
[6:54:20] getting their house done.
[6:54:22] >> it is administered by housing
[6:54:23] and neighborhood services.
[6:54:23] >> Perry: okay.
[6:54:24] All right.
[6:54:26] That's what I want to make sure
[6:54:26] of.
[6:54:27] The okay.
[6:54:27] Great.
[6:54:28] That's all my comments, thanks.
[6:54:29] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:54:30] councilmember perry.
[6:54:33] Councilmember courage.
[6:54:34] >> Courage: this might
[6:54:36] reprinted -- I might remind my
[6:54:38] friend and colleague that
[6:54:39] everything grows.
[6:54:41] The city grows, houses and
[6:54:44] people come here every day,
[6:54:45] every year, so receiving going
[6:54:47] to continue to grow, nothing is
[6:54:50] going to shrink and go away.
[6:54:52] I do have a question about
[6:54:54] homeless, which I brought up at
[6:54:56] a previous meeting, because
[6:54:57] we -- you know, we want to keep
[6:54:58] people in a home.
[6:55:00] We don't want to have more
[6:55:01] homeless, and we are spending
[6:55:02] millions of dollars to help
[6:55:04] people stay in their homes.
[6:55:05] Or get a new home.
[6:55:07] But how much are we spending on
[6:55:07] homeless?
[6:55:09] I asked maria to kind of find
[6:55:11] out about this, because we have
[6:55:14] other agencies, we have our
[6:55:16] organization, you know, so I
[6:55:18] haven't gotten that answer yet.
[6:55:19] And I think that is part of what
[6:55:22] I think we would all like to
[6:55:24] know, and are there better ways
[6:55:25] of addressing homeless?
[6:55:28] For example, we are adding
[6:55:29] $2 million to the trial budget
[6:55:31] for additional funding for
[6:55:31] homeless.
[6:55:35] Well, maybe that $2 million comm
[6:55:36] into some of our affordable
[6:55:38] housing and be more effective
[6:55:40] when we look at what everyone
[6:55:41] else is doing with homeless.
[6:55:42] So do we have any response to
[6:55:43] that request I made other day or
[6:55:48] are we still researching?
[6:55:48] >>
[6:55:52] >> well, while that is coming
[6:55:55] up, COUNCILMAN, I will echo that
[6:55:57] was an issue that I think the
[6:55:59] council brought up on last
[6:56:01] wednesday and if the desire is
[6:56:02] maybe to spend more here or in
[6:56:04] another area, that certainly is
[6:56:05] an option.
[6:56:06] >>
[6:56:07] option.
[6:56:09] I would like to see us spend
[6:56:10] less on homeless and more in
[6:56:11] other areas if we have
[6:56:14] repetitive and redundant
[6:56:16] services done by a multiple
[6:56:18] number of organizations so, what
[6:56:19] do you know?
[6:56:22] >> so and to that answer that
[6:56:23] last question councilmember, as
[6:56:24] the great question.
[6:56:25] Do we have services that are
[6:56:28] being done by multiple agencies,
[6:56:30] but I wouldn't say they were
[6:56:32] redundant or repetitive.
[6:56:33] They are enough to cover the
[6:56:35] number of people, so we have
[6:56:37] multiple agencies that do rapid
[6:56:40] rehousing but we have multiple
[6:56:42] people that need rapid
[6:56:44] rehousing, and as far as your
[6:56:45] question about the total funding
[6:56:46] that is being spent in the
[6:56:48] community, we are still
[6:56:50] researching that, looking
[6:56:53] through federal, state, local
[6:56:55] sources, trying to also get an
[6:56:56] assessment on some of the
[6:56:57] private foundation dollars that
[6:56:59] are out there, and working with
[6:57:00] the budget department to make
[6:57:03] sure that our internal amounts
[6:57:04] are correct and updated.
[6:57:07] So we should have that for you
[6:57:10] probably in the next week to two
[6:57:10] weeks.
[6:57:11] >> Courage: good.
[6:57:12] I would say from what you just
[6:57:14] said there are multiple
[6:57:16] organizations doing rapid
[6:57:17] rehousing, then you know, they
[6:57:18] need to talk to themselves and
[6:57:21] we need to find one agency that
[6:57:23] can serve everybody and let
[6:57:24] those others do something else
[6:57:27] that is related to homeless or
[6:57:29] let's not be funding them.
[6:57:31] Let's put that money into some
[6:57:31] place else.
[6:57:32] So that's why I this
[6:57:33] I think it is
[6:57:34] important to hear more about
[6:57:35] that.
[6:57:36] And believe me, I am not trying
[6:57:38] to say we shouldn't be helping
[6:57:38] homeless people.
[6:57:41] But I think we need to know how
[6:57:41] much we are actually spending.
[6:57:44] >> and we will provide more
[6:57:46] information on that when we do
[6:57:47] our budget presentation.
[6:57:51] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you
[6:57:51] --
[6:57:53] >> I hope all of us are thinking
[6:57:54] about the issue that was voted
[6:57:56] on last NOVEMBER, proposition --
[6:57:59] excuse me, MAY, proposition a,
[6:58:01] which enables the city to go
[6:58:03] ahead and become more of a
[6:58:05] partner in housing development
[6:58:09] and I for one would like to see
[6:58:10] $50 million on our next bond
[6:58:15] issue dedicated to helping
[6:58:16] develop affordable housing and
[6:58:18] allowing the city to become a
[6:58:19] partner in that.
[6:58:21] Thank you.
[6:58:22] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[6:58:22] councilmember courage.
[6:58:23] And to close out the discussion
[6:58:25] I think it is a point
[6:58:27] well-taken, it is primarily the
[6:58:30] question that caused the mayor's
[6:58:32] housing policy task force, which
[6:58:34] is how do we ensure community
[6:58:35] where everyone can live
[6:58:36] affordability and with dignity
[6:58:37] and safety?
[6:58:39] And the point is, if we don't
[6:58:41] take care of upstream issues, we
[6:58:44] have to deal with downstream
[6:58:44] effects.
[6:58:46] It is same on the public safety
[6:58:47] side of the discussion as it is
[6:58:48] on the health side as it is on
[6:58:52] the housing side, and so we are
[6:58:57] reaping what we seau sew and..
[6:58:59] I don't think we can turn the
[6:59:00] spigot off all of a sudden but
[6:59:02] if go to the a point where
[6:59:05] dedidn't have to fund services
[6:59:08] related to homelessness then we
[6:59:09] can say we are dealing with the
[6:59:11] people not having a house.
[6:59:13] Or excuse me being homeless is
[6:59:14] not just having a house.
[6:59:15] There are so many other root
[6:59:16] causes that are associated that
[6:59:19] need to be addressed.
[6:59:23] And beto, just in reflecting you
[6:59:25] mentioned something, you said
[6:59:28] naturally occurring affordable
[6:59:28] housing.
[6:59:30] That sounds like an endangered
[6:59:32] or extinct animal.
[6:59:34] >> do we have naturally
[6:59:35] occurring affordable housing in
[6:59:36] this community?
[6:59:37] >> we do.
[6:59:40] So that term referred to housing
[6:59:45] that doesn't get subsidies.
[6:59:47] And so the there are a lot of
[6:59:49] houses rented out that are --
[6:59:49] >> Mayor Nirenberg: fair
[6:59:51] enough, but is it being
[6:59:51] produced?
[6:59:53] Are there new naturally
[6:59:55] occurring affordable housing
[6:59:58] being constructed today in san
[6:59:58] antonio?
[7:00:00] >> that's a really good
[7:00:01] question, and I would like to
[7:00:02] get back to you on that.
[7:00:03] >> Mayor Nirenberg: right.
[7:00:08] My guess would be probably not,
[7:00:10] but it is falling a severely
[7:00:12] short of the population's needs.
[7:00:14] And that is why we get into the
[7:00:17] business of housing bonds,
[7:00:19] housing trusts, any number of
[7:00:22] deals that are trying to improve
[7:00:25] the supply of outstanding.
[7:00:26] And really, what we have
[7:00:28] long-term to deal with, and if
[7:00:31] we don't deal with it we will
[7:00:32] have an even bigger crisis on
[7:00:34] our hands that we currently do
[7:00:36] is a lack of supply to meet the
[7:00:38] demands of housing of all times
[7:00:41] which is why I agree with what
[7:00:43] councilmember pelaez said.
[7:00:44] If we don't create housing of a
[7:00:46] certain ami it creates pressure
[7:00:49] on the ami below it, because of
[7:00:52] investment behavior.
[7:00:54] So, you know, I am reflecting on
[7:00:55] this and there is -- there is
[7:00:57] also always a desire to go back
[7:01:00] in time and you know, put
[7:01:01] requirements on where we were
[7:01:03] before, so we can have things
[7:01:06] today that we didn't -- that we
[7:01:08] don't, but I remember the
[7:01:10] housing conversation in earnest
[7:01:13] in this city began with mayor
[7:01:15] castro in the decade of downtown
[7:01:16] and the reason for that was, and
[7:01:18] there was no affordability
[7:01:19] criteria then.
[7:01:21] The reason was that there was no
[7:01:23] naturally occurring housing,
[7:01:25] period, of any kind, in the
[7:01:26] urban core, and that was
[7:01:28] creating an affordability crisis
[7:01:31] for the entire community in the
[7:01:32] urban core.
[7:01:33] So I just want to be really
[7:01:34] careful as we move forward in
[7:01:36] the discussion that we are not
[7:01:39] just -- we are not closing the
[7:01:41] door on our ability to be
[7:01:43] creative to produce housing that
[7:01:43] isn't naturally occurring.
[7:01:45] There are others that we have to
[7:01:47] deal with as well, and I would
[7:01:50] add to it, workforce development
[7:01:51] being one of them.
[7:01:53] The other side of this ledger is
[7:01:57] that we are at 60 percent ami
[7:01:58] because our median income is
[7:02:04] failing to compete with our pier peer
[7:02:05] cities so this is a
[7:02:06] comprehensive discussion and I
[7:02:07] want to make sure we are
[7:02:09] approaching it the right way and
[7:02:10] ultimately the metric we should
[7:02:12] be looking at, in my opinion, is
[7:02:15] supply of housing at every ami
[7:02:16] level to meet the demand that is
[7:02:19] in that bracket.
[7:02:21] So erik, you said our av folks
[7:02:23] who have been doing a heck of a
[7:02:26] job today, have not had a single
[7:02:26] break.
[7:02:27] We do have the council
[7:02:28] discussion to get to.
[7:02:30] We are clearly going to go a
[7:02:32] little bit over time today.
[7:02:37] So if we can, if my colleagues
[7:02:39] could take a ten-minute break
[7:02:41] and commit to being back here in
[7:02:44] ten minutes, we can be quick.
[7:02:45] Av pokes can take a break and we
[7:02:48] can have a decent level of
[7:02:50] discussion to close out.
[7:02:52] Good?
[7:02:54] Okay.
[7:17:02] [Recess] Sglauf
[7:18:27] .
[7:18:34] >> >>Bravo:.
[7:18:37] >> >>Bravo: check.
[7:18:48] >> >>Bravo:
[7:18:52] Bravo:
[7:18:53] >> Bravo:
[7:19:18] >> as we get started let me
[7:19:22] thank our convention center r
[7:19:25] and contract staff and the av
[7:19:28] folks back there making sure
[7:19:30] we're transmitting and can hear
[7:19:31] each other.
[7:19:35] Thank you for bears with us all
[7:19:40] day.
[7:19:44] We've had a very robust session
[7:19:48] already and I think what we
[7:19:53] would discuss in an open session
[7:19:55] has been drilled down
[7:19:56] significantly.
[7:19:58] Staff will go back and absorb
[7:20:01] what they've heard and come up
[7:20:02] with a new budget.
[7:20:05] And we'll drill down on that
[7:20:07] budget department by department
[7:20:09] before we get to budget
[7:20:11] ratification in SEPTEMBER.
[7:20:12] So wrap up today, I think we
[7:20:15] should take an hour or so --
[7:20:18] maybe a little less -- to talk
[7:20:21] about and go around the room
[7:20:23] about key strategic
[7:20:26] priorities -- two things most
[7:20:28] important for the staff, eric
[7:20:32] and his team, as they begin to
[7:20:33] talk about the budget.
[7:20:34] Of the things we have talked
[7:20:38] about today, what is most
[7:20:38] important to you.
[7:20:40] That will give them consensus I
[7:20:41] think they need to hear from us.
[7:20:43] I'll go ahead and start.
[7:20:46] We've heard a lot and this
[7:20:48] budget will continue to be
[7:20:51] informed by the equity framework
[7:20:53] this council has adopted over
[7:20:55] the past four or five years, but
[7:20:58] of the specific items we
[7:21:00] discussed, I'll let you know,
[7:21:00] eric.
[7:21:01] I think it's important,
[7:21:03] especially coming out of the
[7:21:06] pandemic, that we continue to
[7:21:07] focus on health outcomes and
[7:21:10] that our strategic plan is in
[7:21:13] position to be successful.
[7:21:15] And that to me requires a budget
[7:21:17] as displayed here that's
[7:21:19] sustainable and less vulnerable
[7:21:20] to disruptions.
[7:21:22] I'm very pleased with the
[7:21:25] five-year outlook, now shifting
[7:21:31] more to general fund funding.
[7:21:33] Also appreciate my colleagues'
[7:21:35] comments on vision zero,
[7:21:38] including bicycle infrastructure
[7:21:42] and pedestrian mobility.
[7:21:43] We know the transportation
[7:21:44] system will continue to be a top
[7:21:45] priority.
[7:21:48] Specific to that I think it's
[7:21:51] high time we begin to adequately
[7:21:55] fund at an adequate level -- I'm
[7:21:59] proposing 20 million a year --
[7:22:03] our vision zero -- the bicycle
[7:22:07] master plan and sidewalk and
[7:22:09] pedestrian infrastructure.
[7:22:13] Coming out of the pandemic,
[7:22:15] making sure we have a demand to
[7:22:18] meet housing at every level is
[7:22:19] critical.
[7:22:21] I think it will largely
[7:22:23] determine the trajectory of the
[7:22:25] city over the next ten years,
[7:22:27] whether or not we can keep up
[7:22:29] with the supply because we know
[7:22:31] we're doing well in identifying
[7:22:33] and investing in other
[7:22:36] fundamentals of the city as we
[7:22:38] begin to implement workforce
[7:22:40] plans which remain a priority as
[7:22:42] well.
[7:22:43] Affordable housing --
[7:22:44] specifically making sure we get
[7:22:47] on track and stay on track with
[7:22:49] housing policy framework
[7:22:50] implementation plan.
[7:22:52] Unless there are volunteers to
[7:22:55] go first, I can go around the
[7:22:55] room.
[7:22:59] But I see hands already, so I'll
[7:23:04] go by the hounds.
[7:23:04] We
[7:23:06] >> in terms of priorities I
[7:23:11] want us to definitely focus on
[7:23:15] getting that 5 million or 3 per
[7:23:17] cent to the city employ e yoo
[7:23:18] ees
[7:23:19] mployees.
[7:23:20] We cannot do a bonus but we did
[7:23:23] have essential employees and I
[7:23:25] think their work needs to be
[7:23:25] addressed.
[7:23:28] I don't know how we can do that
[7:23:30] in their pay performance review.
[7:23:32] I think we need to do that
[7:23:35] before we do any new hiring for
[7:23:37] any chief officers of any of the
[7:23:39] departments -- to make sure the
[7:23:45] current city employees that are
[7:23:46] there are taken care of.
[7:23:47] I'd like to see that worked on.
[7:23:48] The other thing I've noticed
[7:23:50] from the budget is there's a lot
[7:23:52] of technology moves with the
[7:23:54] health and with the public
[7:23:55] safety.
[7:23:57] And I would like to see some
[7:23:58] funds for my district and
[7:24:00] possibly other districts that
[7:24:03] have that tech gap for digital
[7:24:04] inclusion, and I don't know if
[7:24:07] that means extending check-outs
[7:24:12] of tablets and laptops from the
[7:24:14] library, but if we could work on
[7:24:16] that and I sent over a specific
[7:24:19] amount. And then I have
[7:24:21] infrastructure issues that I
[7:24:26] need to -- will need to be
[7:24:30] addressed especially with the
[7:24:33] park concerns.
[7:24:36] I know just because we saw so
[7:24:38] many people go outdoors as a
[7:24:40] result of the pandemic, and we
[7:24:42] want to continue to see them do
[7:24:43] that.
[7:24:46] One thing I think we did see is
[7:24:52] for the inner city -- that would
[7:24:53] be one threw
[7:24:54] ough four.
[7:24:58] We MAY need another acs officer.
[7:25:00] And that's a priority that I see
[7:25:01] for the budget.
[7:25:05] And I think when we ask and
[7:25:07] look, maybe we don't the 5
[7:25:10] million for visit san antonio
[7:25:14] and instead keep them at the 15
[7:25:16] million and see how the hotels
[7:25:18] and visit san antonio can work
[7:25:21] together to fill the convention
[7:25:22] center because I'm concerned
[7:25:25] it's not filling fast enough.
[7:25:27] So those are my priorities for
[7:25:28] the budget, and I look forward
[7:25:32] to hearing from my council
[7:25:32] colleagues.
[7:25:33] Thank you
[7:25:35] >> mayor -- can I respond a
[7:25:36] little bit?
[7:25:38] i think this is an additional
[7:25:40] framework that will be helpful
[7:25:42] for me.
[7:25:45] I MAY come back and ask as we go
[7:25:47] around the room what areas would
[7:25:49] you like to not see us restore
[7:25:51] funding in order to offset some
[7:25:54] of the changes that are made
[7:25:57] here because -- and that's the
[7:25:58] beauty of a trial budget,
[7:26:00] because it's balanced.
[7:26:02] And so keep that in mind.
[7:26:04] The other thing I was just going
[7:26:06] to mention is that via safe
[7:26:08] funding that you're referring
[7:26:11] to -- we're primarily funding
[7:26:16] with the revenue loss autoof a
[7:26:17] out of
[7:26:20] arpa dollars.
[7:26:21] It's not like we're allocating
[7:26:23] city funds to do that.
[7:26:27] We're utilizing arpa funds from
[7:26:33] 2020 lost revenue to restore
[7:26:37] back to 2019 levels and our ore
[7:26:39] operations for this building but
[7:26:42] not taking to, say, 2019 levels
[7:26:43] but getting them to capacity
[7:26:44] level.
[7:26:50] Just wanted to point that out
[7:26:54] >> thank you, mayor.
[7:27:04] My concern is sidewalk and pe
[7:27:04] des
[7:27:05] des
[7:27:10] -- pedestrian, bike
[7:27:11] infrastructure, transportation.
[7:27:15] The safe officer unit, the pow
[7:27:17] program -- continued diversity
[7:27:18] training, sensitivity training
[7:27:22] for our officers, eliminating
[7:27:24] the $25 property fee.
[7:27:28] I'd like to see funding for a
[7:27:28] healthy conner
[7:27:28] er
[7:27:31] corner store in district
[7:27:35] 6 and a number of equipment
[7:27:42] items for fire and -- that will
[7:27:44] reduce call times.
[7:27:45] The good sam app our fire
[7:27:49] department is using, dispatch is
[7:27:51] using to decrease dispatchers
[7:27:53] and using the app to answer
[7:27:54] mental calls.
[7:27:57] I think that would be helpful to
[7:27:58] hopefully decrease police calls
[7:28:00] but mostly to help our citizens
[7:28:04] with their mental health crises.
[7:28:07] I would like to see funding for
[7:28:11] the west side educational center
[7:28:16] and the mexican-american civil
[7:28:17] rights institute.
[7:28:19] Maybe talk to my colleague in
[7:28:21] district five about sharing
[7:28:22] those, but those two
[7:28:23] institutions I think are
[7:28:25] important to show case the
[7:28:26] history of our city and parts of
[7:28:27] our culture.
[7:28:30] And I want to support the
[7:28:32] funding for the kennel facility,
[7:28:39] to support our initiatives to
[7:29:01] help the houseless here sglin
[7:29:02] >> council perry
[7:29:06] >> I think we need to respond
[7:29:06] to the survey and get more
[7:29:07] police out there, safe officers
[7:29:09] or patrolman -- increase our
[7:29:10] police force.
[7:29:12] Property tax relief -- we've
[7:29:16] talked about that.
[7:29:17] You know, I'm disappointed that
[7:29:19] we can't take a portion of the
[7:29:23] carry-over and fund an increase
[7:29:25] in our homestead exemption.
[7:29:27] I'll keep pounding on that, and
[7:29:30] I wish we could take another
[7:29:32] look at that seriously before we
[7:29:36] take this on to the next level.
[7:29:37] And then infrastructure -- I
[7:29:43] talked about increasing our our
[7:29:44] nant budgets.
[7:29:47] Each council district -- gives
[7:29:49] us a little more flexibility.
[7:29:51] Was it last year or year before
[7:29:52] last we had two years ago that
[7:29:54] we had an additional million
[7:29:55] dollars per district that we
[7:29:58] were able to use for different
[7:29:59] projects, primarily
[7:30:02] infrastructure projects within
[7:30:03] each district.
[7:30:05] don't know if we could afford
[7:30:07] that but that was a big help for
[7:30:10] individual projects within each
[7:30:12] district as well.
[7:30:14] Streets and side -- side streets
[7:30:19] and sidewalks -- I think we --
[7:30:22] again, that's the top priority
[7:30:26] almost every year coming from
[7:30:28] our citizens saying they want
[7:30:28] better streets.
[7:30:31] And I think we should take that
[7:30:32] opportunity to put more into our
[7:30:34] streets program.
[7:30:38] On that slide -- I asked the
[7:30:41] question, are we talking about
[7:30:43] 110 million up top and
[7:30:45] additional 20 million for vision
[7:30:51] zero for total of 30 million --
[7:30:52] is that correct?
[7:30:53] -- 130 million
[7:30:55] >> that's correct.
[7:30:57] If council includes that -- if
[7:30:59] you don't do that, that's not
[7:30:59] correct
[7:31:01] >> okay.
[7:31:06] But -- I'm -- it's 110 ml
[7:31:07] illion
[7:31:08] dollars still.
[7:31:11] >> it would be -- we would -- I
[7:31:13] think what the mayor proposed
[7:31:16] was that would be dedicated to
[7:31:22] vision zero type projects, yes
[7:31:23] >> as long as we stay at the
[7:31:24] 110 million.
[7:31:26] I think we should add additional
[7:31:27] to that -- whatever the
[7:31:30] additional is to show we are
[7:31:32] responding to folks that are
[7:31:34] asking for additional street
[7:31:37] maintenance throughout the city.
[7:31:39] That's not just in district 10.
[7:31:41] That's across the entire city.
[7:31:44] Those are my top three
[7:31:44] priorities.
[7:31:47] Like I said, they haven't
[7:31:49] changed since 2017, but I have a
[7:31:52] list of other projects within
[7:31:54] district 10 that are needed --
[7:31:56] mixture of infrastructure
[7:31:59] projects.
[7:32:00] primarily drainage.
[7:32:04] Everybody have drainage issue
[7:32:05] projects.
[7:32:05] That wasn't called out
[7:32:07] separately in today's briefings
[7:32:08] but I think we need to take a
[7:32:13] closer look at that in the next
[7:32:16] iteration -- what are we putting
[7:32:17] towards drainage in our
[7:32:20] districts also?
[7:32:32] Did I say the namp?
[7:32:33] >> Mayor Nirenberg: yes
[7:32:37] >> I have to start out --
[7:32:39] streets and sidewalks is a huge
[7:32:41] priority, infrastructure is, as
[7:32:44] well as public health and
[7:32:45] affordable housing.
[7:32:47] Those have to be the areas in
[7:32:49] which I would like to see
[7:32:51] increased funding and programs.
[7:32:55] I also want to reiterate the
[7:32:56] street lighting index and I
[7:32:58] would like to have a further
[7:33:00] conversation about what that
[7:33:00] looks like.
[7:33:02] Seems like we got a pretty good
[7:33:04] general consensus on that as
[7:33:08] well as the office of crime
[7:33:14] prevention and recidivism.
[7:33:19] The austin community center is
[7:33:21] without ac now.
[7:33:23] I would like to see funding for
[7:33:27] ac units and I know we've had a
[7:33:30] conversation about as a future
[7:33:31] bond project -- I would like to
[7:33:33] continue that a discussion as
[7:33:33] well.
[7:33:35] I believe we can do both.
[7:33:37] Also, I think a huge
[7:33:39] responsibility at our council
[7:33:42] office is maintaining strong
[7:33:46] field offices and we have two in
[7:33:49] district two.
[7:33:52] It is -- to have the number of
[7:33:53] briefings, all that -- wanting
[7:33:55] to make sure the case load that
[7:33:57] we have is being handled
[7:33:58] effectively and quickly.
[7:34:00] So at some point I would like to
[7:34:01] entertain a conversation about
[7:34:07] moving up from 7-1/2 full-time
[7:34:12] equivalents to 8 if that's a
[7:34:13] possibility.
[7:34:16] I had this conversation with
[7:34:19] council member sandoval, 3-1-1
[7:34:21] is looking to add more members.
[7:34:24] I think it would be a good idea
[7:34:27] to think of housing some of
[7:34:29] those operators at field
[7:34:30] offices.
[7:34:32] I would like to, you know, state
[7:34:32] that.
[7:34:34] Thank you guys so much.
[7:34:38] Also, I'm support of perry and
[7:34:47] the
[7:34:53] the namp.
[7:34:55] >> Mayor Nirenberg: council
[7:34:56] member garcia
[7:35:01] >> sidewalks, streets, public
[7:35:03] health and senior services.
[7:35:05] We did not spend any time --
[7:35:07] this is a problem of mine --
[7:35:08] with resiliency.
[7:35:10] Where does that go?
[7:35:12] We talked about a chief
[7:35:13] resiliency officer and different
[7:35:15] things to make sure our city is
[7:35:17] resilient but we didn't talk
[7:35:19] about it at all today, so I was
[7:35:21] wondering where that goes or
[7:35:23] where we have that discussion
[7:35:26] because that would be one of my
[7:35:26] priorities.
[7:35:28] >> well, I think that's --
[7:35:29] thank you for bringing that up.
[7:35:31] I thought that would come up
[7:35:33] earlier in the day.
[7:35:34] We set aside money in the trial
[7:35:35] budget.
[7:35:38] We're going to review the report
[7:35:39] that was released yesterday.
[7:35:43] And I think I've shared with you
[7:35:47] at last wednesday's session or
[7:35:49] yesterday's session that we'll
[7:35:50] come back in the proposed budget
[7:35:53] with a plan and the use of those
[7:35:53] funds.
[7:35:56] You MAY also see -- we've talked
[7:35:57] internally about potentially
[7:36:00] sharing with council when we get
[7:36:04] to the bond program --
[7:36:04] bond-funded options to deal with
[7:36:07] some of the hazard mitigation
[7:36:09] projects, primarily drainage.
[7:36:12] Could be some facility issues.
[7:36:14] We're going to get that worked
[7:36:15] up this summer
[7:36:17] >> I would like to advocate
[7:36:19] for -- let's not wait for the
[7:36:19] bond.
[7:36:21] Let's try to repurpose --
[7:36:24] anything we can do, if it has to
[7:36:25] be a resiliency plan.
[7:36:29] I don't know what it is but --
[7:36:32] >> we're not going to wait.
[7:36:34] Several council members have
[7:36:36] talked about infrastructure
[7:36:42] changes or improvement,
[7:36:42] port-a-potties.
[7:36:43] Part of what we're going to do
[7:36:46] in the summer is try to
[7:36:48] prioritize based on what we're
[7:36:50] hearing and on our
[7:36:51] recommendation things that need
[7:36:52] to be addressed.
[7:36:55] And I frankly can't think of
[7:36:56] anything more important than
[7:36:57] following through with some of
[7:36:59] the things that general rice
[7:37:00] talked about yesterday.
[7:37:02] There's an analysis that needs
[7:37:05] to go in, but to me, as city
[7:37:07] manager, those are the top
[7:37:14] priorities from a capital
[7:37:14] standpoint.
[7:37:18] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[7:37:24] Council member c
[7:37:24] ostello
[7:37:27] >> we need to make sure we're
[7:37:29] prioritizing our streets and
[7:37:29] sidewalks.
[7:37:32] In addition to that, restoring
[7:37:35] the pre-covid funding for under
[7:37:39] one roof and continuing to fund
[7:37:41] owner-occupied rehab program and
[7:37:43] funding the right to counsel
[7:37:43] program.
[7:37:46] Park improvements -- we talked
[7:37:47] about it.
[7:37:51] In district five many parks have
[7:37:53] port-a-potties instead of
[7:37:55] permanent restrooms and the
[7:37:57] restrooms we do have need to be
[7:37:57] invested in.
[7:38:00] We need to focus on the lighting
[7:38:01] component and work on that study
[7:38:03] to ensure we're meeting the
[7:38:09] lighting needs of our residents.
[7:38:12] We didn't get to talk about it
[7:38:14] during discussion but I think
[7:38:17] it's important to invest in
[7:38:18] education for community -- many
[7:38:22] of the code violation community
[7:38:23] doesn't know it's a code
[7:38:26] violation so maybe we can invest
[7:38:32] to let folks know what's
[7:38:36] acceptable.
[7:38:38] I echo investing in the
[7:38:43] mexican-american civil rights
[7:38:43] institution and, you know,
[7:38:51] working towards supporting the
[7:38:54] the -- most important we need to
[7:38:56] restore the three per cent for
[7:38:59] city civilian employees.
[7:39:02] Many of these folks are shifted
[7:39:03] to the food bank.
[7:39:05] We need to make sure we get
[7:39:07] their compensation.
[7:39:09] Supporting the kennel
[7:39:09] facilities.
[7:39:13] We need to make sure unhoused
[7:39:15] folks have a kennel for their
[7:39:17] pets and support animal care
[7:39:19] service to meet the need of the
[7:39:23] folks throughout the city.
[7:39:23] Thank you.
[7:39:26] >> Mayor Nirenberg: council
[7:39:27] sandoval
[7:39:28] >> thank you.
[7:39:30] This the lightening round of
[7:39:32] what you want, right?
[7:39:34] Take note.
[7:39:35] I will begin with the request
[7:39:37] from the people who put me in
[7:39:39] office and whom I serve
[7:39:39] directly.
[7:39:48] In terms of district 7 instra
[7:39:48] structure, the numb
[7:39:49] k
[7:39:53] -- infrastructure is the
[7:39:54] biggest concern.
[7:39:56] Also streets and sidewalks -- we
[7:39:58] have one of the largest sidewalk
[7:40:01] gaps in the city after district
[7:40:03] three and street repair and
[7:40:04] rehabilitation.
[7:40:06] We have a number of f streets
[7:40:09] and I will continue to say we
[7:40:13] received $11 million in the $444
[7:40:16] million bond in 2017 and would
[7:40:19] appreciate the support from my
[7:40:20] council members.
[7:40:23] We also do need an improvement
[7:40:27] in animal care services in
[7:40:32] district seven -- not an
[7:40:32] improvement.
[7:40:33] You do great.
[7:40:36] But more of you.
[7:40:40] We have the highest number of
[7:40:41] impounds and highest number of
[7:40:44] dog bites in the past two years.
[7:40:48] Continuing on my district seven
[7:40:48] priority.
[7:40:50] I have some park requests, but
[7:40:53] also an investment in the deco
[7:40:53] district.
[7:40:55] This is a request the
[7:40:56] constituents made to me when I
[7:40:59] first got into office.
[7:41:00] And we haven't made much
[7:41:02] movement on it but as you know
[7:41:09] many years ago there was an
[7:41:12] investment to reviet
[7:41:13] talize the
[7:41:13] area.
[7:41:17] What I'm asking for is some
[7:41:19] money similar to the northeast
[7:41:21] corridor where there is
[7:41:23] incentives for local businesses
[7:41:25] in the area.
[7:41:28] Overall, I would say my second
[7:41:30] priority has to do with
[7:41:34] diversity, equity, and inclusion
[7:41:36] and this means funding the
[7:41:41] mexican-american civil rights
[7:41:51] institute, invest to serve the speaking community,
[7:41:53] and that we provide for child
[7:41:54] care at board and commission
[7:42:01] meetings in accordance with
[7:42:07] COUNCILMAN Gonzales' ccr.
[7:42:14] next priority -- housing
[7:42:15] preservation and investing in
[7:42:17] community safety -- in further
[7:42:21] violence prevention and gun
[7:42:22] safety.
[7:42:23] Thank you.
[7:42:25] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[7:42:28] Council member courage.
[7:42:29] >> thank you.
[7:42:31] I know we're focusing on the
[7:42:31] budget.
[7:42:36] The priorities in my brikt
[7:42:37] district
[7:42:39] are close to what everybody's
[7:42:40] are.
[7:42:43] Number one is public safety.
[7:42:46] It will be always be a priority
[7:42:50] in every district.
[7:42:51] Council member perry, I second
[7:42:53] your priority in tax relief.
[7:42:56] I think we understand the
[7:42:57] significance in that.
[7:42:59] I don't think we'll get very far
[7:43:03] this time around, but I'll with
[7:43:05] you on the fight.
[7:43:07] Other than that instra
[7:43:10] structure -- streets --
[7:43:11] infrastructure -- streets,
[7:43:12] sidewalks, drainage.
[7:43:14] Those are interests shared in
[7:43:14] every community.
[7:43:17] Some communities need more
[7:43:19] addressed in those areas, but it
[7:43:21] doesn't mean that my community
[7:43:23] doesn't have its needs and wants
[7:43:25] that we need to address as well.
[7:43:28] I want to go ahead and also, you
[7:43:32] know, speak up for the 2022 bond
[7:43:35] project coming up and I'm having
[7:43:37] people in my district identify
[7:43:39] what those needs are right now
[7:43:42] so that we can start building
[7:43:45] those into the next bond
[7:43:46] project.
[7:43:47] Those are district nine, but
[7:43:48] also I look at the city as a
[7:43:51] whole, and I think a couple of
[7:43:52] other very important issues are
[7:43:55] housing and the affordability of
[7:43:55] housing.
[7:43:56] and that's something that I
[7:43:58] think even people in every
[7:44:01] district are concerned about.
[7:44:03] I'm also concerned -- priority
[7:44:05] for me is paying city employees
[7:44:06] better than the three per cent
[7:44:08] we've talked about.
[7:44:10] How many ways that's going to
[7:44:13] get split up and what that means
[7:44:14] over last year and this year --
[7:44:16] I think it's something we need
[7:44:18] to give more consideration to.
[7:44:20] Finally, I'm going to endorse
[7:44:21] increasing the funding that I've
[7:44:23] heard from a couple of council
[7:44:26] members for things that don't
[7:44:28] get put in the budget that we
[7:44:29] know people in our community
[7:44:31] still want and need it goes a
[7:44:34] long way to help us meet those.
[7:44:37] That's it for me, mayor.
[7:44:40] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[7:44:43] council member courage.
[7:44:47] Council member pelaez
[7:44:48] >> thank you.
[7:44:55] I think every one of these have
[7:44:56] resilience baked into them.
[7:44:59] Resilience needs to be front and
[7:45:01] center in almost every meeting
[7:45:02] going forward.
[7:45:05] It is workforce training and
[7:45:06] economic development.
[7:45:07] And we're more resilient when we
[7:45:11] have safer streets and we've got
[7:45:12] more drainage.
[7:45:16] We're more resilient with more
[7:45:19] well trained police officers and
[7:45:20] firefighters.
[7:45:22] My community is asking for all
[7:45:22] those.
[7:45:24] Adding to that, another
[7:45:27] nuance -- I know you want three.
[7:45:28] Domestic violence is still one
[7:45:30] of the things that haunts the
[7:45:30] city.
[7:45:32] Everybody thinks they have a
[7:45:34] real hard job, but in san
[7:45:36] antonio I don't think it's more
[7:45:36] difficult.
[7:45:40] I can't think of anything more
[7:45:43] difficult than being a female in
[7:45:44] san antonio right now.
[7:45:49] One in three women will have a
[7:45:50] domestic violence story to tell,
[7:45:53] and I think that's unacceptable.
[7:45:56] Also, we -- our dogs out of
[7:46:00] acs -- we're having tremendous
[7:46:02] success with the canines for
[7:46:04] warriors program.
[7:46:07] We're going to come up at you,
[7:46:11] mayor and eric, with request for
[7:46:12] expansion.
[7:46:13] They've got the demand and we
[7:46:15] have the dogs to help out the
[7:46:16] veterans.
[7:46:18] Anyway, thanks.
[7:46:20] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[7:46:27] Council member?
[7:46:30] >> number one I saw public
[7:46:34] health in there, and for me that
[7:46:35] includes but isn't limited to
[7:46:37] major support for the work
[7:46:43] around adverse childhood
[7:46:43] experiences
[7:46:45] experiences, restorative
[7:46:48] justice -- restorative justice
[7:46:49] and mental health bleed into
[7:46:50] other topics.
[7:46:53] I see them there and domestic
[7:46:54] violence as well.
[7:46:57] Basic infrastructure and also to
[7:46:59] include downtown and making
[7:47:00] downtown a more walkable
[7:47:04] downtown, which makes it a more
[7:47:05] livable downtown and a downtown
[7:47:15] that can attract more high hf
[7:47:17] high-end -- and affordable
[7:47:20] housing, which includes making
[7:47:22] sure people aren't taxed out of
[7:47:23] their homes.
[7:47:25] Making sure they're proactive
[7:47:28] about -- making sure people in
[7:47:32] low-income zip codes are not
[7:47:33] paying more than their fair
[7:47:35] share of property taxes.
[7:47:38] Making sure everybody has a
[7:47:41] homestead exemption, making sure
[7:47:44] people who are -- to help them
[7:47:45] protest their appraisals.
[7:47:47] That's tax relief I'm putting on
[7:47:48] the table.
[7:47:51] And then sustainability.
[7:47:53] Long-term sustainability and
[7:47:54] resiliency for our community.
[7:47:56] And then I also want to throw
[7:48:00] out that I'm glad haven for hope
[7:48:03] made a visit out to the district
[7:48:06] one field office yesterday and
[7:48:09] was -- with an outreach worker
[7:48:11] and they were able to help one
[7:48:15] of the people experiencing
[7:48:17] homelessness get in a home and
[7:48:20] take their dog with that.
[7:48:22] I'm really glad about that.
[7:48:26] I know that's important in being
[7:48:26] effective.
[7:48:27] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[7:48:30] council member.
[7:48:31] Anyone else?
[7:48:33] >> I was remiss in not
[7:48:34] mentioning health.
[7:48:35] You know me.
[7:48:38] I chair that committee and
[7:48:40] that's what one of my degrees is
[7:48:41] in.
[7:48:42] You asked a question about what
[7:48:45] funding we do not want to see
[7:48:46] restored
[7:48:47] >> potential option, yeah
[7:48:49] >> this makes us all the bad
[7:48:51] guy right now, but I'll go ahead
[7:48:53] and pose something.
[7:48:57] We asked the voters in NOVEMBER
[7:48:59] successfully to invest in a jobs
[7:49:01] program of $40 million which I
[7:49:02] consider economic development.
[7:49:04] So I'm wondering if maybe that's
[7:49:06] the area that we don't restore
[7:49:08] because we're investing in it in
[7:49:09] a different way right now.
[7:49:11] I don't think that's going to be
[7:49:12] popular amongst some of our
[7:49:15] folks here, but I -- I'll go
[7:49:17] ahead and put that out there.
[7:49:17] Thanks.
[7:49:20] It's only $5 million, I think.
[7:49:21] Not only.
[7:49:22] It's 5 million being proposed
[7:49:26] >> for what?
[7:49:26] >> economic innocent
[7:49:28] centives
[7:49:28] >> got it
[7:49:31] >> although I like the idea of
[7:49:33] incentives that help local,
[7:49:33] existing small businesses.
[7:49:36] In terms of recruiting other
[7:49:37] companies to san antonio right
[7:49:39] now, if I had to choose between
[7:49:42] that and building more
[7:49:45] sidewalks, I would build more
[7:49:45] sidewalks.
[7:49:47] Thank you.
[7:49:49] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[7:49:51] Anyone else to add anything?
[7:49:53] I'm going to --
[7:49:54] >> I'll add.
[7:49:55] Sorry.
[7:49:59] I'll add that in looking at what
[7:50:02] district two said in the survey.
[7:50:05] I see library services as ninth.
[7:50:08] Youth services as tenth and code
[7:50:10] enforcement as 11th.
[7:50:13] As an educator I cannot support
[7:50:15] cutting funding for library or
[7:50:20] youth services.
[7:50:22] I want to make that noun
[7:50:22] known.
[7:50:23] >> Mayor Nirenberg: I've been a
[7:50:26] chatting off to the side with
[7:50:27] eric.
[7:50:30] This short round has listed a
[7:50:33] lot of things we want.
[7:50:35] Only one item that perhaps one
[7:50:36] member doesn't want.
[7:50:38] So as we're thinking about this,
[7:50:42] what I would like to suggest to
[7:50:43] you, eric, is that all the
[7:50:47] things listed are priorities.
[7:50:47] There are more needs than wants
[7:50:50] but the ones that rise to the
[7:50:52] service are things we should
[7:50:55] protect, things we shouldn't
[7:50:58] target for -- adjustments,
[7:50:59] downward adjustments.
[7:51:01] And these are some of the things
[7:51:06] I've heard around the table as
[7:51:07] consensus: housing with various
[7:51:09] aspects of it, including things
[7:51:12] like the kennel services, for
[7:51:17] instance, at the homeless
[7:51:19] shelter.
[7:51:20] Transportation infrastructure --
[7:51:22] drainage, streets, sidewalks.
[7:51:24] Also in particular vision zero
[7:51:24] investments.
[7:51:27] We've heard a number of times
[7:51:29] the health plan and more
[7:51:32] specifically in the health plan,
[7:51:34] adverse childhood experiences
[7:51:36] which are part of the strategic
[7:51:39] plan as well as domestic
[7:51:42] violence prevention.
[7:51:45] We're hearing policing and
[7:51:47] policing services.
[7:51:47] Public safety.
[7:51:51] Heard acs and perhaps some
[7:51:54] targeted district resources in
[7:51:55] acs.
[7:51:56] As the list goes down, there are
[7:51:58] fewer mentions but those are the
[7:52:00] ones rising to the top as
[7:52:01] highest priorities.
[7:52:04] We're also hearing things like
[7:52:07] the lighting plan, senior
[7:52:11] services, resiliency, et cetera.
[7:52:13] So I think we can reflect on
[7:52:14] that as being some of the
[7:52:18] highest priorities, but to your
[7:52:19] point, COUNCILMAN, we have to
[7:52:22] think of things that weren't
[7:52:23] mentioned that we know as a
[7:52:25] result of the survey are
[7:52:25] important.
[7:52:30] Our residents -- taken for
[7:52:31] granted up here.
[7:52:32] Anyone else?
[7:52:34] >> I'll give you an example
[7:52:39] of -- when I saw the numbers for
[7:52:43] mike shannon's operations --
[7:52:45] code enforcement or -- I didn't
[7:52:47] think, oh, people just don't
[7:52:47] want that.
[7:52:50] The way I look at it is mike and
[7:52:52] his team are doing such a good
[7:52:55] job it's taken for granted.
[7:52:59] People's houses aren't burning
[7:53:13] down, roofs aren't caving in,
[7:53:14] apartments aren't immroed
[7:53:15] ploding.
[7:53:17] I don't want us to think these
[7:53:19] aren't things people don't want
[7:53:19] us to invest
[7:53:22] >> I think we'll be mindful.
[7:53:25] Last year we had the worst
[7:53:27] financial crisis the city ever
[7:53:28] stumbled upon, and we didn't cut
[7:53:29] services.
[7:53:31] We're not looking at the ranking
[7:53:34] of services at number 10 or code
[7:53:38] at number 11 as fruit that needs
[7:53:40] to be picked for a cut.
[7:53:42] That's not how we're looking at
[7:53:43] it.
[7:53:45] I'm going to look at -- we'll
[7:53:47] look at either not restoring
[7:53:51] certain things or there are
[7:53:52] plenty of efficiencies as I go
[7:53:54] through the departments and meet
[7:53:56] with the departments this
[7:53:57] summer -- or in JULY, things
[7:53:59] that we can do better and more
[7:54:01] efficiently and we'll look at
[7:54:03] efficiencies to be able to fund
[7:54:04] and reallocate.
[7:54:06] That's part of the natural
[7:54:08] process we go through, but we're
[7:54:11] not looking at the bottom end to
[7:54:12] do that necessarily.
[7:54:14] I mean, just -- especially after
[7:54:15] the last year that everybody has
[7:54:16] been through and the
[7:54:18] community -- those types of
[7:54:20] things are really important and
[7:54:23] I think we have to do as much as
[7:54:25] we can to protect them.
[7:54:27] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you.
[7:54:28] Council member courage?
[7:54:31] >> yeah, mayor.
[7:54:35] I think you inadvertently left
[7:54:37] something some of us talked
[7:54:39] about and that's the pay
[7:54:40] increase.
[7:54:41] >> Mayor Nirenberg: that's
[7:54:41] right.
[7:54:42] I did mean to mention that.
[7:54:44] That was mentioned several
[7:54:45] times.
[7:54:47] Thank you.
[7:54:53] Council member castillo
[7:54:54] >> small business support -- we
[7:54:58] need to connect to resources and
[7:54:59] explore store front programs to
[7:55:02] ensure we can -- in the same way
[7:55:05] we rehab homes, we can help them
[7:55:09] rehab their businesses.
[7:55:09] >> Mayor Nirenberg: good point.
[7:55:11] Some of these are important
[7:55:16] priorities to talk about in the
[7:55:17] recovery funds discussion we're
[7:55:18] going to have as well.
[7:55:20] Anyone else before I give it
[7:55:22] over to eric to reflect and
[7:55:28] we'll close from there.
[7:55:30] Go ahead, eric.
[7:55:30] Reflect
[7:55:33] >> I want to thank the council
[7:55:35] for two weeks back to back of
[7:55:39] really good conversations.
[7:55:41] The veteran council members will
[7:55:43] remember this, but for the new
[7:55:45] members of the city council,
[7:55:47] this is only the second time --
[7:55:49] last year we did it, we tried
[7:55:51] it -- this is the second time
[7:55:53] where we didn't have a
[7:55:55] facilitator to facilitate the
[7:55:55] conversation.
[7:55:59] Last year was an anomaly but
[7:56:01] I'll tell you that I think it
[7:56:04] flows better not having a
[7:56:06] facilitator who, GOD love him,
[7:56:08] always end up making a hand full
[7:56:11] of council members mad at some
[7:56:13] point of the day, which is what
[7:56:15] a city manager doesn't want to
[7:56:17] happen on a day like this.
[7:56:19] I think we've had good
[7:56:19] conversation.
[7:56:21] One of the things I've said at
[7:56:25] the beginning, mayor, is there
[7:56:28] are certain strategic themes,
[7:56:30] whether the annual budget or
[7:56:32] bond program or federal grants
[7:56:33] or arpa.
[7:56:36] A lot of what we've talked
[7:56:37] about, we should replicate.
[7:56:39] They don't change.
[7:56:41] That's part of a step of being
[7:56:43] strategic and mindful of the
[7:56:46] points on the horizon we're
[7:56:47] trying to get to.
[7:56:49] I want to thank the budget staff
[7:56:51] and executives and departments
[7:56:54] here today, the av.
[7:56:56] I think it was a fruitful day.
[7:56:58] We will begin the next chapter
[7:57:00] of budget development which will
[7:57:02] be the details in the month of
[7:57:03] JULY.
[7:57:06] We will look at -- thank you for
[7:57:08] summarizing the -- kind of what
[7:57:10] you heard -- I think it was a
[7:57:12] good take away for us.
[7:57:14] We're going to do as much as we
[7:57:16] can to stay as focused on the
[7:57:18] things I heard really as the top
[7:57:20] priorities across the board,
[7:57:22] things that we presented on,
[7:57:25] things that came up, like street
[7:57:28] lighting, that are really
[7:57:30] important to the community.
[7:57:34] So that's about as good of a
[7:57:35] reflection on the spot that I
[7:57:37] can give, mayor.
[7:57:40] Thank you to everybody and
[7:57:42] everybody behind me -- now the
[7:57:43] work begins.
[7:57:44] >> Mayor Nirenberg: thank you,
[7:57:44] eric.
[7:57:46] To be clear, there's a lot of
[7:57:47] ears behind us too.
[7:57:49] So I would encourage my
[7:57:50] colleagues to continue to talk
[7:57:52] to you and your staff because
[7:57:54] that's how the budget is
[7:57:56] ultimately going to be baked.
[7:57:58] Thank you to my colleagues.
[7:58:01] For those of us who have been
[7:58:03] back before but also those here
[7:58:05] for the first time, this is a
[7:58:06] great discussion.
[7:58:07] There's been a lot written about
[7:58:09] the new council, the new dynamic
[7:58:12] on the council and I think -- my
[7:58:15] observation is that there's
[7:58:17] already clearly -- with the
[7:58:19] number of prospectus around the
[7:58:21] table -- a very good marketplace
[7:58:22] around the table that I think
[7:58:24] our city will benefit from in
[7:58:26] the years to come from.
[7:58:27] I'm looking forward to the next
[7:58:28] steps of the budget process.
[7:58:31] Thank you for the candid
[7:58:31] dialogue.
[7:58:33] Please stay engaged.
[7:58:35] For those in the public and
[7:58:37] media who are observing council
[7:58:39] over the course of JULY, just
[7:58:40] because we're not meeting
[7:58:42] doesn't mean we're on vacation.
[7:58:44] In fact, the work really begins
[7:58:46] in earnest in JULY and we invite
[7:58:48] you to be part of that process
[7:58:48] as well.
[7:58:50] To the staff, thank you very
[7:58:52] much for making this a
[7:58:53] comfortable day.
[7:58:55] Appreciate everybody working
[7:58:58] through, and believe it or not,
[7:59:00] it is now 5:00 o'clock, right on
[7:59:03] the button, and we are
[7:59:04] adjourned.
[7:59:17] Thanks, everybody. Ww
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