San Antonio Public Works Committee Hearing – September 11, 2025

The Public Works Committee of the City of San Antonio met on September 11, 2025, to address dangerous structures. The committee approved minutes from August 14, 2025, received an update on four emergency demolitions due to fires, and heard five property cases. Decisions included demolition orders for four properties and a repair order for one property, all passed unanimously. One public comment letter was read in support of demolition. The meeting also included administrative updates on personnel changes and a rescheduled full board meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the August 14, 2025, meeting after a motion by Joseph Samen and a second by Jos Rams.
• Staff reported four emergency demolitions conducted under Chapter 6, Section 7.5:
  • 17 Westfield (demolished Aug 8, 2025, due to fire on Aug 1)
  • 1622 North Hamilton Street, District 1 (demolished Aug 15, 2025, due to fire on Apr 15, 2025; staff noted they were notified on Aug 8)
  • 719 Ogden Street (demolished Aug 25, 2025, due to fire on Aug 15)
  • 1202 Simpson Street (demolished Aug 25, 2025, due to fire on Aug 19) No committee action was required.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A written public comment from Dance Dental at 21 West Merrow Lane Drive, dated September 10, 2025, was read into the record. The comment supported the demolition of 215 West Meadow Lane Drive, citing patterns of illegal dumping, noise, and suspicious activity that had been a nuisance to the neighborhood.

Discussion Items

829 Hutchins Place (District 2)

• Code Officer Chris Regarsa presented the case, recommending demolition of the main structure and an accessory unit. The property was first cited on March 13, 2025, and received a 90-day repair order with evacuation. The owner, Tankers Lee, Tammy Ray, Michelle Lee, and Justin Bradley Fisher, was not present. Police Officer Richard Sabel testified that the property had been a site of drug use, homeless activity, and weapons possession; he had made arrests. The committee found the structure dangerous under code sections 1,2,5,7,8,11,12,15,17,18 and not repairable.
• Motion: Demolish within 30 days and clear debris. Passed unanimously.

215 West Meadow Lane Drive (District 10)

• Code Officer Stephanie Sánchez presented the case, recommending demolition. The owner, Mayra Ramos, appeared and requested time to demolish the property herself, as she had applied for a demolition permit and was seeking a loan. She stated she could complete the work in three months. The committee noted that a permit application had been submitted on August 11, 2025, but was incomplete. The owner provided no work plan or proof of funds. A public comment letter in support of demolition was read.
• Motion: Originally for demolition within 30 days; amended to 90 days from the date of the order to allow the owner to obtain financing and complete demolition. Passed unanimously.

407 Thorne Boulevard (District 1)

• Code Officer Christy Garza (presenting on behalf of Crystal Town) recommended demolition of an accessory structure that had been converted to a dwelling without permits. The property had been inspected on February 11, 2025, and again on August 13, 2025. The owner, Ricardo and Miguel Morales, were present. Police Officer Eugenio Flores testified that the property had been a crime nuisance with drug activity, stolen vehicles, and homeless encampments. He noted that activity had decreased recently. The owners did not present a repair plan. Miguel Morales moved the motion for demolition.
• Motion: Demolish the accessory structure within 30 days and secure the property. Passed unanimously.

1338 Brighton (District 5)

• Code Officer Brigitte Bledsoe presented the case, recommending demolition of the main structure and repair of the accessory structure. The owner, Romeo Vázquez, appeared and provided an engineer's letter, a work plan, and proof of funds totaling approximately $93,000 (bank account in U.S. and Mexico). He requested five months to complete repairs to both structures. The committee noted that the owner had obtained some permits but had done work without permits on the accessory, resulting in a stop-work order. The owner expressed intent to comply.
• Motion: Declare the property a public nuisance but repairable; order both the main and accessory structures to be repaired within 90 days of the order. Passed unanimously.

132 Enrique Street (District 5)

• Code Officer Jaime Haso recommended demolition. The owner, Esperanza B. Guajardo, was not present; the committee noted contact with the owner's daughter-in-law. The property had been inspected on July 9, 2024, and August 13, 2025. No work plan or financial proof was submitted. The structure was found to be deteriorated, with evidence of vagrancy.
• Motion: Demolish within 30 days and clear debris. Passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: All five property motions passed unanimously. Four demolitions (829 Hutchins Place, 215 West Meadow Lane Drive, 407 Thorne Boulevard, 132 Enrique Street) and one repair order (1338 Brighton).
• Timeframes: Demolitions generally ordered within 30 days; 215 West Meadow Lane allowed 90 days due to owner's request. Repair for 1338 Brighton ordered within 90 days.
• Administrative updates:
  • A correction was made to the record for 1622 North Hamilton Street: the first inspection occurred on August 8, 2025, not on the fire date of April 15.
  • Personnel change: Director of Public Works Michael Shannon has moved to another department; Tomás is now director, and Melissa Ramírez is co-director overseeing code and inspections.
  • The full board meeting scheduled for November 13, 2025, has been moved to October 16, 2025, to accommodate an administrative code plan discussion.
  • Clarification that the committee will have two Panel B meetings in November (November 6 and November 13).