San Antonio City Budget Session on Parks & Recreation and Solid Waste – September 9, 2025

On September 9, 2025, the San Antonio City Council held a budget session to review the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budgets for the Parks and Recreation Department and the Solid Waste Management Department. The meeting featured presentations by department heads, followed by questions and feedback from council members. No formal votes were taken; the session was a briefing for discussion.

Discussion Items

Parks and Recreation Department (Director Homer García)

• Presented the FY2026 operating budget of $111 million, with $74 million from the general fund and $18 million from restricted funds. Key restricted funds include the CPS energy use fee for aquifer protection, historic cemeteries, and tree canopy programs.
• Identified $1.2 million in reductions through efficiency measures: mowing service adjustments (service levels unchanged), elimination of zero-participation recreation classes, and elimination of two vacant positions (saving nearly $400,000). These reductions were guided by data–driven analysis from the Office of Innovation.
• Announced a new community center model: 19 centers will shift hours to 10 am–8 pm (previously 2 pm–9 pm) and emphasize flexible “drop‑in” use rather than hourly programming. A secondary reporting location for maintenance crews will open at Whitley Heights in District 2 to improve response times.
• Highlighted tree planting: 8,000 trees have been planted in the last five years via the Residential Tree program and community tree giveaways. $2.4 million in bond funds will support tree planting on trails and streets, with more than half in high‑heat vulnerability areas.
• Aquifer protection: 166,000 properties protected, 2,400 acres under conservation easements. A 10‑year, $100 million plan continues. Seven properties are currently in active conservation.
• Trails: 102 miles completed; 49 new miles added. A 10‑year, $83 million regional trails investment (city, county, River Authority) began, with the first project (Sarsamora Creek) opening this fall.
• Council members raised questions about: measuring the impact of tree canopy on heat and asthma (Mayor Jones), low program attendance rates and unmet needs (Council Galván, Council Munguía), survival rates of planted trees (Council Galván), shade structures and playground comfort (Council Aldere de Gavito, Council Viagran), Wi‑Fi connectivity at parks (Council Galván), and strategic plans for youth with special needs (Council Castillo). Staff committed to follow‑up data and reports.

Solid Waste Management Department (Director Josephine Valencia)

• Budget is an enterprise fund (no tax dollars), 64% directed to collection services. Customer satisfaction rate: 97%. Presented no fee changes for FY2026.
• Smart collection system: New tablets and cameras on trucks allow route optimization and service verification. Cameras capture the area around the truck to resolve customer disputes (e.g., missed pickup or property damage). Council members raised privacy concerns about recording without resident consent; staff explained cameras are used only for operational and safety purposes.
• CDL training program: Since inception, 140 participants obtained commercial driver’s licenses; more than 100 were hired by the department. This internship model is seen as a pipeline for city jobs.
• Illegal dumping and homeless encampment cleanups: Budget includes $7.8 million for homeless encampment cleanup and $2.2 million for illegal dumping cleanup. In FY2025, illegal dumping cleanups exceeded 12,000. New strategies include drone surveillance and hidden cameras. Council members urged alternative long‑term solutions for encampments (Council Castillo) and requested district‑level data on hot spots (Council Galván, Council Viagran).
• Transfer station: $2.5 million set aside for repairs; closure during renovations is planned, with future contract operation or repurposing under consideration.
• Council questions: Council Aldere de Gavito asked about success of smaller compost bins and measuring public education campaigns; Council White noted a 6‑million‑dollar increase in recycling contract costs; Council Munguía asked about service completion rates (80% target) and staffing vacancies (61 open positions). Staff noted 64% of collection routes are completed by 5 pm and that the smart system should improve efficiency.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; the session was informational.
• Parks and Recreation will provide follow‑up on: tree survival tracking, community center usage data, a comprehensive plan for shade structures, and cost estimates for water fountain upgrades in San Pedro Park.
• Solid Waste will provide: cost data for illegal dumping cleanups, district‑level heat maps of homeless encampments, estimates for expanding public trash cans in high‑traffic areas, and a report on the effectiveness of anti‑dumping campaigns.
• Council members expressed strong support for the CDL training program and requested its replication in other departments.
• Mayor Jones emphasized the need to measure the effectiveness of tree planting on public health and asked for continued data‑driven resource allocation.