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Good morning.

Today our city council meeting opened with the song Window by the Mesa, which is the musical project of San Antonio multi-instrumentalist Mitchell Moser.

The Mesa Style blends airy melodies with immersive soundscapes pushing past boundaries to explore new sounds.

As part of the Department of Arts and Culture's local music spotlight program, we continue to feature local musicians at the beginning of each city council meetings and on TVSA.

You can learn more about this program at SA.gov forward slash arts and by following at uh get creative essay on social media.

The time is now nine oh seven AM on January fifteenth, two thousand twenty-six, and the meeting of the San Antonio City Council is now called to order.

Madam Clerk, please call roll.

Councilmember Corr.

President.

Councilmember Mickey Rodriguez.

Present.

Councilmember Via Gran.

Here.

Councilmember Mungia.

Present.

Councilmember Castillo.

Here.

Councilmember Galvan.

Here.

Councilmember Alderete Gabito.

Here.

Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez.

Present.

Councilmember Spears.

Councilmember White.

Mayor Jones.

Mayor, we have quorum.

Great, thank you, Madam Clerk.

I'd like to introduce today.

It's my high honor to introduce my own priest, Father Martin, today's invocature, the very Reverend Martin Perrino of Senior Santonino de Cebu Catholic Church.

He's also the Dean of the Archdiocese of San Antonio's Southeast Urban Deanery and oversees 14 parishes.

Father, please.

That guided by your providence, we may be secure in peace.

May they be mindful of their calling as servant leaders and inspire them to work together for our community and to attend especially to those most in need, the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable.

Grant to our mayor, city council members, city manager and staff, law enforcers, parfetors, and to all in authority, strength, wisdom, and compassion to do your will.

We ask this in the name of our loving God.

Amen.

Thank you, Father.

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all of the several points of privilege.

Okay.

We've got several points of privilege.

Oh, sorry.

Item three is approval of the minutes for the city council meetings of December 10th, 11th, 17th, and 18th, 2025.

Are there any corrections or edits to the minutes?

Okay.

Hearing none, is there a motion for the approval of the minutes?

Motion to there's a motion and a second.

Please vote.

Okay.

The motion carries.

We'll move on to the points of privilege.

Um, the first one is uh Malia Sessar.

Malia is a junior attending Trinity University, majoring in mathematics.

She's a captain of the Trinity's Soccer Program, and over the summer, she played for the Corinthians of the San Antonio FC, and she's a proud member of our Filipino community here in San Antonio.

Uh she has also played for the Philippine women's national team since she was 17, earning her first international appearance during the World Cup qualification tournament four years ago.

She has 37 games with the Philippine women's national team and was part of the first ever Philippine women national Philippine women's national world cup team in 2023.

This past December, as you might be able to see around her neck, they won their first gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

This marks a historic win for the team as they aim to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World's Women's World Cup later in Australia.

Malia, we are extremely proud of you.

Um thank you.

Growing up as part of any minority isn't easy, but I've learned to love my culture and my heritage.

I've learned to love my culture and my heritage, not in spite of, but because it's unique.

Since the first day I landed here, Mayor Jones and the entire community welcomed me with open arms.

Um I've met so many amazing individuals since then.

Being granted the opportunity to represent the country I love on the biggest stage has been an honor and it's been life-changing.

And every time I step onto the field, I carry with me the Filipino spirit and Filipino heart of my family, my community here, and every young girl who dreams.

So thank you, Mayor Jones, for taking the time to recognize a girl who you've inspired.

Thank you.

The next person I'd like to recognize is Catalea Perez.

Catalea is a 13-year-old at McCullough Middle School, Southwest ISD, uh, whose academic excellence, character, and determination distinguish her as an exceptional young scholar.

Catalea, during this past academic year, Catalea was the only student in Texas selected for the Stanford University Middle School Scholars Program.

It was on an online, yeah.

It's an online high school and college preparatory experience designed to challenge and inspire high achieving students.

So she balanced in-person schoolwork and online courses required by the program.

Some of the courses included democracy and dissent, philosophy, writing development, and collaborative discussions.

She's joined here by her family, also very proud of Catalea, who's um an altar server at my church.

Uh Catalea's uh thank you.

Congratulations for representing yourself, our community, and our state so well.

We are very proud of you, and we look forward to even greater things from you.

If you'd like to say a few words, you're welcome to.

Uh thank you for all y'all's support, and I really feel proud for representing our state and our city and all of y'all.

So thank you all for supporting me through this journey.

Thank you.

I'll now recognize uh councilmember Mungia and Councilwoman Marina Dratte Gavito for a personal point of privilege.

Thank you, Mayor.

Today we have some distinguished guests joining us today to witness local government action.

We have five graduate students from the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy working to earn a master of public policy affairs.

So here are the students here today.

As part of the Texas Policy Course, they are visiting San Antonio and Austin to examine the intersection of public policy, governance, business innovation, technology, and community engagement across Texas.

The purpose of this academic initiative is to foster cross-regional understanding between California and Texas.

Encourage evidence-based policy dialogue on shared challenges and opportunities, build bridges between institutions on key topics such as public affairs, technology, social equity, and sustainable growth.

So these are certainly some Californians we wouldn't mind moving to Texas, so you're more than welcome to.

And they're also uh uh joined by Matt Baiza, who's here today, um, who is leading them.

And of course, Matt uh is a former D4 intern and council aide uh and certainly helped me be in this seat.

So thank you, Matt, for bringing um your your friends here today at City Council.

So hopefully you'll learn some good things today.

It's gonna be a lively meeting.

Uh and I'll turn it over to uh Councilman Adela Gavito.

Thank you.

Uh good morning, and thank y'all so much for being here.

I do also uh want to thank Councilman Mungia and partnering with me to recognize this group of students, and of course, thank you to Matt Baiza for hosting your peers here in San Antonio.

Hopefully, you can show them what a hidden gem our city is and the special special nature of public service here in Texas.

And I know that we Texans may get a bad rap in California.

Uh this is truly a unique place where we're filled with diverse and passionate and innovative people who truly care about making a difference.

San Antonio and Austin are both growing cities that play a key role in technology, social justice policy, and sustainability.

And having y'all here this week to learn about our region and build a bridge between California California and Texas is such an honor.

I hope that y'all learned valuable information that y'all can take with you all and use in your futures uh future careers in public service.

And also, too, I did want to give a shout out to to Matt.

Before he went to California, Matt was a district seven resident and previously a district seven staffer.

He also served as a district seven appointee on the streets, bridges, and sidewalks advisory board.

Uh, we miss his advocate advocacy and can't wait to see him come back home with even uh for with even a few more letters behind his name.

So thanks so much.

Best of luck to each of you, and thanks so much for being here.

Thank you.

There you go.

I'll now recognize Councilwoman uh Mesa Gonzalez for a personal point of privilege.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I'm happy to welcome today the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center to City Hall.

If if y'all can come forward, we have Francine Binya, Yvonne Wheeler, Roger Ruiz, Albert Garmona, and Jay Pajenski.

Across the United States, January is recognized as National Blood Donor Month.

We have lit City Hall red to honor the generous donors who give the gift of life every day.

In 2018, our San Antonio Fire Department partnered with the South Texas Regional Advisory Council, Strack, which includes the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, University Health, UT Health, and Brook Army Medical Center to implement a whole blood program that has quickly become the gold standard across this country.

A blood transfusion is needed every two seconds, and more than a quarter of all donated blood supports patients battling cancer.

We encourage everyone to donate blood, especially O-type donors as supplies remain low across the country and here in our area.

Blood cannot be manufactured.

It can only come from the kindness of volunteer donors, and we thank each and every one of you who roll up your sleeves and give that gift of life.

Thank you, Councilwoman, and we appreciate the invite to be here today.

As Councilwoman Mezigonzalez said, this is National Blood Donor Month.

We appreciate your the council and mayor's recognition of that and your help, especially Councilwoman Gonzalez in lighting up downtown red to honor the blood donors who selflessly give of themselves each and every day to support healthcare in our community.

As you said, every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood.

We supply blood to over 110 hospitals across 49 counties of Texas.

So 20% of Texas relies on the work that we do, and we appre we couldn't do that without uh citizen volunteers uh such as yourselves.

We we have a lot of strong support on council, uh so we very much appreciate the ongoing support.

Uh so thank you very much for having us here, and please uh encourage your constituents to roll up their sleeves, um, make a sacrifice, give a little something personal, and uh when you give, they live.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yep.

Councilman's recognized.

Uh uh, one more thing, guys, before you sit down, because um as you know, I was a regular donor to the blood bank, got my one gallon uh pin for it proudly, but because of my diagnosis and the treatment that I'm on, I can no longer give because again, cancer patients are the ones that are in need of the use of blood, and in the treatment the regular cancer patients that used to give cannot give anymore.

So I want to thank you for all the work you do.

I want to thank those that are watching or considering and thinking how can I give back to the community amidst the chaos amidst my new year's resolutions, please go into one of the centers and I'm gonna I'm gonna pitch the Southeast Center because it's it's nice and it's it's got a lot of goodies.

So come and please donate and let us know and and reach out to us via social media and and the email and let your council know and uh let the link know that you heard and you are giving.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for all your efforts.

Councilwoman Corps.

Don't worry, Councilman Vigan, I got your back.

I'm still a heroes in arms, and we'll be donating.

You can donate at the donor pavilion on I 10 too.

We have five around San Antonio, so hopefully you can find find us nearby.

Thank you.

Today we are also recognizing the Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Day.

I will read the proclamation and recognize uh council member uh McKee Rodriguez to speak.

Okay.

Whereas the City of San Antonio, in partnership with the San Antonio Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Commission will host the 39th annual Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

March in celebration on January 19th, 2026.

And whereas in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law to honor the life, legacy, and enduring impact of Darn Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

observed annually on the third Monday of January, the date nearest his birthday, which is today, January 15th, 2000 2026.

Dr.

King would have been 97 years old today, and he had not been had he not been assassinated on April 4th, 1968, at the age of 39.

And whereas in 1964, Dr.

King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, and it is fitting that these grievance observances are linked as we honor the timeless values he exemplified courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, and service.

And whereas on Monday, January 19th at 10 a.m., tens of thousands of San Antonians and visitors will join the nation's largest Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

March, beginning at the Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Academy and followed by an all-day celebration at Martin Luther King Park, uh designated a lone star legacy park in 2024.

And whereas the San Antonio MLK Commission remains steadfast in promoting human equality, nonviolence, and racial harmony in honor of Dr.

King's legacy.

Now, therefore, I, Gina Ortiz Jones, mayor of the City of San Antonio, in recognition thereof, do hereby proclaim January 19th, 2026 to be Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Day.

Congratulations.

And we're thankful that the commission uh leadership and team could join us today and recognize uh the councilman to speak before um offering you time to speak.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you all so much for being here.

Uh it is a privilege to recognize and honor the life, work, and memory of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Uh, and specifically we get to honor it through the year-round work of this commission.

I want to thank every commissioner who made this is not the this is not the full body, it's a packed room when uh when we're all there, but uh I want to thank every commissioner who makes not just the march possible, but all of the events leading up to the march, the awards luncheon in May, and the scholarship program, which is of course evergreen.

Uh these folks are planning, coordinating, and running logistics for each of these events, their fundraising, and have been working every single day on these events, and I cannot thank them enough.

Uh the MLK Commission has and will hear me tell this a little bit, right?

But I was asked what MLK Day what MLK Day means to me, uh, and I've gotten to reflect on on you know my experience as a black man and how he as a black man lived through the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, and he was not a beloved figure.

He was not uh recognized uh as he is today.

Uh in that time he was the most hated man in America.

And every day he woke up with courage and tenacity and the realization that today I could be assaulted, today I could be jailed, today I could be beaten in the street, today I could be assassinated.

And he woke up with that courage and fought every day against uh a lot of the the norms of our society to build what we are today.

And in the decisions that we make, how do we honor that memory?

As families are separated indefinitely, people are ostracized, schools and hospitals are bombed, and those in need are denied aid.

Uh and as people's only lifeline and resource to access food or medical care stripped from them, how do we as a people, how do we as a community, how do we as a city respond to that?

Dr.

King would hopefully look around at our community today, and he'd see many of the fruits of his labor.

And I I hope he would feel very proud.

But I also can't help but believe that he'd also look around and see that some of that fruit is spoiled, and that there is so much more work to be done.

Every meeting, a MLK commissioner uh shares an MLK quote, and I want to share one this week.

Uh it's one of his most popular ones.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

And it is hard not to find injustice anytime you walk out of a door in San Antonio in America, uh, throughout the world.

And so I again want to extend my gratitude to the commission because you keep us focused year-round on his memory, not just on this specific day.

Uh and I again can't thank you enough.

This is an unpaid, fully volunteer role, and I'm not sure that all of you knew how much work you were going to be putting in in the in terms of hours and time and resources.

So I I genuinely appreciate you so much, and I hope that you guys are able to attend all of the events leading up to the march, starting with the uh Baptist Ministers Union uh service tomorrow.

Uh, but I'll turn it over to the commission to uh share a little bit and then I'll recognize the artist right after y'all are done speaking.

Good morning.

On behalf of the Reverend Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Commission, I am deeply honored to accept this proclamation from the city of San Antonio, which proudly acknowledges and celebrates our ongoing partnership.

This proclamation signifies more than just words.

It reflects the city's unwavering support and commitment to promoting the values of equality, justice, and community that Dr.

King tirelessly championed.

The MLK Commission is grateful for the city's continued stewardship in helping in helping us steward the MLK calendar of events, ensuring that his legacy is honored and that his vision of more of a more just and equitable society persists.

Together through our collaborative efforts, we are fostering an environment where the ideals of King are not just remembered, but actively lived and celebrated throughout our city.

We look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership and inspiring our community today for generations to come.

Thank you again for your support and for standing with us this in this vital work.

And I just want to say, please, please, please, please, please give to the commission through MLK.

I'm sorry, through San Antonio.gov forward slash MLK.

We are still accepting sponsorships and c contributions.

Thank you.

Please stay there.

I'll also share we have amazing performers locally.

We have a lot of local talent.

I think we have at least 20 artists uh from around San Antonio who are going to be performing at the Commemorative program on uh on Monday.

We also have Melvin Crisple who won the competition show, I believe it was Sunday Sunday Best.

Uh then we have uh Gabby Douglas, three-time Olympic gold medalist, as well as Coco Jones, Grammy Award-winning singer.

This is gonna be an amazing uh experience for all of us from the time you start the lineup at the march and get to meet with all of our community members to the time that you're marching through the program.

And so I really look forward to seeing you all there.

And what you will see on the screen is beautiful hand crafted artwork.

Uh, and so I would like to acknowledge the winner of the art contest, Angelina Paez.

Uh, Angelina is a student in Judson ISD at Kirby Middle School, and her beautiful piece is featured on this year's commemorative t-shirts and other materials.

The collage features two clasping hands in front of the Tower of the Americas to reflect this year's theme.

Diversity unites us, love leads us, and action propels us.

We'd also like to recognize her teacher, Miss Abigail Lania, uh, who incorporated the contest into her curriculum and supported Angelina and her peers to create art that reflects the spirit and legacy of Dr.

King and our community observance of his work.

So uh thank you for being here, Angelina.

It's beautiful.

Can we please give her a round of applause?

When we were uh when we were doing the the judging for the art contest, I saw that one.

I said I see no more.

It's beautiful.

It's a beautiful please.

If you have any.

Um I just want to say thank you for y'all that's giving me this opportunity to show my art at y'all's march, and that's it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilman Galvan.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to say uh thank you to all the folks in the M LK Commission and those who make this entire event possible.

Of course, as stated before, as we all know, this being the largest march in the entire country, the march for uh MLK weekend is just an incredible uh reminder of the importance to this community, the fight, the the struggle, the work that Martin Luther King Jr.

and many of the folks in the movement along with him throughout the civil rights era pushed for and could continue uh to see um here today that we need to continue to address.

And so I'm really excited to be there uh next year.

I always try to follow my grandfather's footsteps, who marched in every MLK march while he was alive here uh in San Antonio.

Uh and so I'm doing my best to continue to follow in his footsteps.

I'm more than happy to be there, and I want to shout out also for anybody who is looking to go.

Please make sure to visit either the Park at the Almo Dome or St.

Philip's College and take via.

Uh it's something that I always do because I do not like to drive in, try to find parking.

It's a lot easier to tick via fare-free, straight to the march.

Um, and I want to also just uh note uh a quote that I always find inspiring to me from Arthur King during the year that he was assassinated uh at an absolute sanitation workers' strike in Memphis.

Now our struggles for genuine equality, which means economic equality.

For we know that is not an it isn't enough to integrate lunch counters.

What does it profit one to have access to the hotels of our city and the motels of our highway when we don't earn enough money to take our family on a vacation?

We are tired of working our hands off and laboring every day and not even making a wage adequate to get the basic necessities of life.

Now is a time for City Hall to take a position for that which is just and honest.

Now is the time for justice to roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Now is the time.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Okay, we'll move on to the consent agenda.

Is there any objection to taking the consent agenda before the individual items so that we may clear the business of the day?

Okay.

Hearing no objection.

Items seven through 31 are on the consent agenda.

This means they will be considered as a group and there will not be a staff presentation unless pulled for individual consideration.

Are there any items council members would like to pull from the consent agenda to be heard individually?

Okay.

Yep.

I will call the individuals who have signed up in the order that they've done so.

Um and they will have three minutes each to speak.

The first individual is Jack Finger.

Followed by Father Aguilar Well, Madam Mayor, another members of our illustrious San Antonio City Council.

For the record, my name is Jack M.

Finger.

Hope you all had a pleasant uh holiday vacation.

I I know I did.

I I know it never lasts long enough for me.

Uh as far as I'm concerned, y'all can take the whole year on vacation.

Wouldn't bother me a bit.

But anyway, all good things must come to an end.

And uh I wish to bring your attention one or two items on this portion of the agenda.

Item number 31 is about uh well, let's go ahead and read uh what the backup documents tell us there.

That first big paragraph under item number 31 there, Mr.

Audiovisual Mid.

What does it say there?

It says uh ordinance approving funding agreement between the city of San Antonio and via Metropolitan Transit for up to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to fund semester bus passes for middle and high school students as part of the pilot program to combat what chronic absenteeism.

So there's uh ordinance approving funding agreement between the city of San Antonio and via Metropolitan Transit for up to a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to fund semester bus passes for middle and high school students as part of the pilot program to combat what chronic absenteeism chronic absenteeism funding of 150,000 is included in the fiscal year 2026 general fund adopted budget, etc.

etc.

Yes.

Um return the camera if you would.

You know, to the podium.

I see uh two or three things wrong with this.

You know, chronic absenteeism.

Why are students not attending schools?

What happened to the parents?

I mean, I supposedly they are the ones who make sure that the kids get dressed, get fed, and uh get transported off to school.

Are you saying they can't?

They don't have any cars or trucks or anything to k to take them to the schools.

No, uh I'm sorry, that to me that that really doesn't wash.

And uh also the uh well, what the other thing is what happened to the school bus systems?

You know the the yellow buses that uh travel all around town to take our kids here and there and so forth?

I thought they had their own funding for this stuff.

Why are we the city, the city that deals with city issues?

Why are we getting involved with the school buses?

But you know, I also noticed that well, scroll down a little bit further, Mr.

Oldbridge man, what's it say there?

Uh the underlying lines there.

Uh currently via offers a semester passport 2850 that allows students unlimited rides during the semester.

That's that's less than a dollar a day.

Less than a dollar a day.

They could they can't afford that, but but even further than that, Mr.

Audi Vidjamin, what's it say there?

Council District 7 has committed 150,000.

Ms.

Ms.

Govito, why?

I mean, if don't the schools have this money, I mean, we are trying to pay off some special favors here, are we?

Thank you.

Deborah Shane, followed by Dahlia Contreras Dalia.

Good morning, City Council.

Good morning, mayor.

My name is Dahlia Flores Contreras.

I am wearing three hats today, a San Antonio resident, longtime CEO of city education partners, and a longtime mentor of students that are in middle school and high school.

Missing one day of class sometimes starts a chain reaction.

You fall behind, you fail a test, you lose confidence, and then you're required to make up seat time before or after school.

When getting to school during the regular business day hours is hard enough.

That stress doesn't always stay with the student.

It ripples through the whole household.

As a resident, I know what it means to live without reliable transportation personally.

I know the feeling of being a child wanting to be in the room where opportunity is offered and not having a way to physically get there.

As a mentor, one of the first questions I ask a student when we start our relationship is are you on track to graduate high school on time?

And how do you know?

Attendance is always nine times out of ten a challenge.

And for high school students, seat time isn't just a number, it's a graduation requirement.

Reliable transportation can be the difference between staying on track or slowly slipping through the cracks.

As CP CEO, one of the um one of the numbers that concerns me and motivates me is 26%.

In San Antonio, 26% of students across our city are chronically absent.

If you're chronically absent, that means that you're missing more than 10% of school.

And there's a simple truth that we all know about school.

A student cannot learn if they're not in the classroom where learning is happening.

That is why I'm here to support item number 31.

The agreement to provide via with via to provide students with semester passes to school.

Attendance has many causes, but transportation is one of the barriers that our city in San Antonio can help to remove.

And what I appreciate most about this proposal is its posture.

I love the idea that you're going to act, that you're going to learn fast, and then we're going to make improvements.

A bus pass may sound small, but it can be the difference between a student showing up consistently or missing just enough days for that snowball to start.

I am asking you to vote yes on item number 31, not because it's a silver bullet, but because it is a practical step that our city can take to meet the needs of families where they're at today.

Thank you so much for listening.

Deborah Shane.

Diane Fernandez, followed by Dr.

Atica Shemshak.

I am Diane Fernandez.

I'm the executive director of enrollment for the San Antonio Independent School District.

Thank you for the opportunity today to share our perspective on item number 31 regarding an ordinance approving a funding agreement between the City of San Antonio and via Metropolitan Transit to fund semester bus passes for middle school and high school students as a pilot program to target chronic absenteeism.

Affordable transportation is not a convenience, it's a lifeline for some of our families.

In our enrollment office, we often hear from families who struggle to provide uh trans to afford transportation.

For these facing financial challenges, the cost of getting to school can become a real obstacle and pose a choice between paying for a bus pass or essentials like groceries and utilities.

Without reliable and economical options, students risk missing school, falling behind academically, and even becoming chronically absent.

Removing barriers ensures students have consistent access to education and the opportunities that come with it.

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10% of the school days or 18 days per year, is a challenge for many districts.

Currently, 28% of our students in the district are chronically absent.

By removing transportation costs, this initiative can help thousands of students attend school daily, participate in after school care programs, and access resources that would set them up for success.

Free semester passes would be a benefit to thousands of families, ensuring students have consistent access to education and the opportunities that come with it.

While school districts do offer their own bus transportation, we, like many other districts, schools in the district, offer enrollment open enrollment opportunities so that students may choose a campus that is the best fit for them, whether it's down the street or across the district.

And providing unlimited rides wherever via goes, including via link service and free Wi-Fi on every bus would allow students to complete assignments, stay connected while traveling to school and completing activities.

These benefits go far beyond convenience.

They represent equity and opportunity.

Reliable transportation means students attend school more consistently, they engage in learning, and schools see fewer cases of chronic absenteeism.

This would be a direct investment in student success.

Ultimately, this initiative sends a clear message to our students.

Where you live or what your family can afford should never determine your access to education.

Thank you for your continued partnership in serving San Antonio's children.

Dr.

Otica Shem Shak, followed by Ray Tiharina.

Good morning, Mayor Jones and City Council members.

My name is Dr.

Atica Shimshek, and I'm proud superintendent of Jubilee Academies.

A public charter school have been serving San Antonio students and families since 2000.

I'm here today to urge your yes vote to fund free via bus passes for students age 12 to 618 in partnership with Council Viewman, Marina Alderete, and Via.

Every day in our schools, like most of the schools across the city, we see the chronic absenteeism is not about motivation, it is about access.

And families are doing their best, but they are juggling work schedules, caring for siblings, sharing one vehicle, or trying to get to school from temporary housing.

When transportation falls through, school becomes optional, not by choice, but by circumstance.

They miss the extracurricular activities, they miss meals, they miss athletics or mental health support they will receive from the school.

When a student can't get to school, one day, then it becomes two, then it becomes a pattern.

And once attendance sleeps, achievement follows.

So at Jubilee, we are taking everything to make sure that we are supporting our families, providing resources.

And I'm proud that Jubilee is a B-rated school district, even though we are serving 86% of students coming from economically disadvantaged communities.

That is a proof that our students are still thriving with limited resources available to them, but transportation barriers are bigger than only one school system can handle.

And that's why I'm asking the leaders across San Antonio and the city to be true partners with schools and families.

This passes will increase access to school and communities, our community to opportunities and break those poverty cycles for the students needed most.

San Antonio has a history of stepping up for education.

Through initiatives like PK for SA and ready to work.

So this is another smart step that our city can take to remove a real barrier for our students, so can more students can show up ready to learn.

Council members, I understand this is going to require the district seven funds to move forward move forward.

I'm asking you please to approve this agenda item.

And the return is enormous.

More students are going to have access to education.

Stronger outcomes are going to mean more equitable access for our students and community.

Thank you for your leadership.

Thank you.

Ray Tiharina, followed by Sharon Samuels and Massiate.

In South Sand ISD, 36%, 36 36.8% of our students are chronically absent.

In Texas, that means a student has missed 18 or more days of school in a single year.

For our students with disabilities, that number rises to 46.7%.

These are not just numbers, they're uh they're children whose futures depend on whether they can go to school consistently consistently or not.

The issue is not about families, it's about value and education.

It's not about value, not that they value, they don't value education.

Um as someone who grew up on the south side, I know this personally.

If you don't have a reliable way to get to school or where you need to go, uh, opportunities just end up slipping away.

Uh, as uh as someone who grew up on the south side and know this personally.

For too many of our families, transportation is the difference between showing up or staying home.

When work and education don't align, when a family member is sick, or when when there is no safe or affordable option, students fall behind, not through not through any fault of their own.

Low attendant doesn't just hurt our students, it directly reduces uh safe funding.

In our district, the size of South Send ISD, students students' app students' absences can cost over $500,000 in a single year, which is a really a really high amount of money that impacts uh our district.

Uh low attendance doesn't just hurt our students, it directly uh reduces state funding, like I said.

Uh, that money is lost.

Funds funds can cannot be paying for teachers, counselors, funds that we could be using for teachers, counselors, uh, and tutoring and student supports.

We partner currently with organizations like community and schools and San Antonio youth, but schools cannot remove transportation barriers alone.

This is where the city leadership matters.

That is why today I urge you to vote yes on agenda item 31.

This is a practical immediate step that removes barriers, strengthens attendance, and helps students show up, learn and succeed.

Thank you for your time.

Uh, and thank you for uh your leadership, Lady San Antonio.

Sharon Samuelson Masyate, followed by Pastor Vincent Robinson.

Um good morning, Mayor Jones and members of the city council.

My name is Sharon Samelson Masyate, and I have been an educator for 10 years, and I am the founder and CEO of Mobile Education Center for All.

We are a nonprofit here in San Antonio that brings tutoring and academic support directly to students who are chronically absent due to medical, emotional, or environmental challenges.

At Mecca, we meet students where they are, literally, because too many families getting to school is not guaranteed.

While the students we serve often face complex barriers, transportation is one of the most common reasons families across our city struggle to maintain consistent attendance.

We created a mobile model because we know access and not motivation is often the real issue.

This is not an abstract problem.

This past fall, Futuro San Antonio found that 43% of families report transportation barriers as a leading cause of school absences, making it the most the second most common reason students are missing school.

Families on the east and west sides are disproportionately affected.

Nearly one in five families say household schedules alone make regular attendance difficult.

When students can't go to school, the consequences are real and lasting.

Nearly half of San Antonio's third through eighth grade students are not reading on grade level.

And one in three students is chronically absent.

Students with strong attendance are twice as likely to be proficient in reading and math.

And if we improved attendance citywide by just one percent, research shows that 2,250 more children could read on grade level.

These numbers represent children who want to learn, who deserve consistency, and who deserve a system that will work for them.

At Mecca, we do everything we can to remove barriers by bringing education directly to students.

But we also know that tutoring alone is not enough.

Students still need safe, reliable ways to get to school, to after school programs, to tutoring and back home.

That's why initiatives like free via bus passes for students are so critical.

It could be the determining factor for a child to graduate and to have a chance for a better future.

This proposal is a practical solution, one that families themselves are asking for.

In fact, 27% of parents surveys specifically supported free public transportation passes for students.

San Antonio has shown what's possible when we prioritize education from pre-K to SA to ready to work.

Today, you have the opportunity to take another meaningful step.

Chronic absenteism isn't about lack of care, it's about lack of access.

And access is something we can absolutely change.

As an educator and a nonprofit leader and a parent serving uh serving and having vulnerable students, I urge you to vote yes to fund free via bus passes.

Thank you all for your time, your leadership, your commitment to San Antonio's children.

Pastor Vincent Robinson, followed by Francis Barones Johnson.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mayor, Council members.

I am here today, not only as a faith leader, but as a voice for families and students across our community who are failing behind because of a barrier of transportation.

Forty-three percent, as we heard of San Antonio families identified transportation as a second leading reason their children are missing school.

The statistic is not abstract to us.

Our ministry, we serve the most impoverished zip code in San Antonio, 78207 on the West Side.

In 2025 alone, I worked with several high school students who experience chronic absenteeism due to transportation barriers, trauma, lack of access to health care, homelessness, and the absence of a safe path to walk to school.

When a child misses school, it doesn't just affect attendance.

It impacts academic success, graduation rates, mental health, and ultimately the future workforce and the safety of our city.

Transportation should never be the deciding factor in whether a child receives an education.

Why does attendance matter?

Nationally, more than two-thirds of the U.S.

fourth grade students are not reading at a grade level.

By the sixth grade, chronic absenteeism is one of the strongest indicators that a student will eventually drop out of high school.

This proposal is to provide free via bus passes for students ages 12 to 18.

And it's not a handout.

It is a smart preventive investment.

It removes a barrier we already know that exists in this city.

It supports families who are stressed in.

If this does not move forward, the burden will continue to fall on our children who have no control over circumstances they were born into.

And as a pastor, I am called to advocate for the well-being of this next generation.

And as a community member, I am asking you to vote yes, not just with numbers in mind, but with children in mind.

As scripture teaches us that God placed children at the center of the kingdom of God.

He warned us not to be a stumbling block.

We have a chance today to remove those barriers.

And I urge you to support this initiative and ensure that no student education is limited by the lack of transportation.

Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration.

Francis Baronis Johnson, followed by James Ward.

Good morning, Mayor Jones and members of the San Antonio City Council.

My name is Francis Berronis Johnson, and I serve as superintendent CEO of Triumph Public High Schools.

We are a dropout recovery program.

I've had the honor of serving our Triumph community for the past 25 years.

And I'm here today on behalf of our students and families, especially those we serve at our San Antonio campus to express my strong support for free via bus passes for students ages 12 to 18.

At Triumph, we serve students who are working hard to stay in school, catch up, and graduate.

Many of them are balancing responsibilities that would challenge any adult.

And one of the most consistent barriers we see, one that impacts attendance immediately, is transportation.

For many of our families getting to school, this is not as simple as having a car available every morning.

Some households have one vehicle shared across multiple jobs and changing schedules.

Some students are living with relatives temporarily.

Others are trying to manage school while supporting their home in very real ways.

And when transportation falls through, even just once, it quickly becomes more than just a missed day.

A student misses a day, then struggles to catch up, then feels discouraged, and before you know it, that student is missing far more than anyone ever intended.

This is why this initiative matters.

You have heard the statistics, which reflect what we see at our schools and the work we do with our students every day.

When students have a reliable way to get to school, they show up.

And when they show up, everything changes.

Attendance improves, students make academic progress, teachers can do what they do best, and most importantly, students stay connected to hope, stability, and a real path to education.

This is not just an education issue, it is a community issue.

Students who are chronically absent are at a much higher risk of falling behind and dropping out.

We cannot allow transportation to be the reason a student loses their future.

So today, with respect and urgency, I am asking you to vote yes in support of this initiative and allow these funds to be used for free via passes for students.

Thank you for your time, your service, and for supporting the students of San Antonio.

Thank you.

James Ward, followed by Jessica Palacios.

My name is James Ward.

I am a senior at Triumph Public High School here in San Antonio, and I'll be graduating this May.

For most of my time at Triumph Via is the only way I was able to get to my school of choice.

I used to live in the Highlands neighborhood about eight miles away from campus.

That meant a 16-mile round trip every single day.

My family did not have a car for me to use, and there was no way for me or for them to afford transportation passes, not just for me, but for all my siblings.

Having access to free via passes through my school made all the difference.

Without that support, I don't know how I would have been able to triumph.

Choosing this school mattered to me because it gave me the opportunity and the opportunity to choose the education system that fit best for me.

This semester, my situation has changed.

I moved closer to campus and was able to buy my first car, and I'm close to graduating.

But many of my peers and my younger siblings are still in the same position I was in, not having reliable transportation and depending on public transit to get to school.

I'm here today to speak on behalf of them.

Transportation should never be the reason a student can't afford, can't attend the school that's right for them.

Continued support for free via passes would mean opportunity, consistency, and hope for students like me.

Thank you for listening and supporting students.

Good morning, Mayor and City Council members.

My name is Jessica Palacios.

I'm here on behalf of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, America's first Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and we have nearly 900 member businesses, and we're here in support of approving no cost via passes for students ages 12 to 18.

Workforce development and education are core pillars of our mission.

In fact, the Hispanic Chamber is unique in that we recently hosted our Gincinieta of our Core Force STEM events where we welcomed more than 2,000 middle school students to engage in hands-on STEM activities and curriculum.

This initiative was intentionally designed to strengthen our future workforce and would not be possible without the collaboration of our schools, community, and our members who joined and gave their time, their wisdom, and their generosity through contributions.

Students cannot become our future workforce if they cannot get to school.

Transportation barriers are often viewed as impacting only certain parts of our city, but this is a citywide issue.

My husband is an educator on the city's north side, and part of his responsibility is to participate in mandatory meetings where students and parents monitor the progress of what is referred to at risk students.

One of the most consistent factors that comes up in those conversations is chronic absenteeism.

Many of these families include parents who work overnight or early morning shifts in manufacturing, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

These are the very industries that keep our local economy running.

And as the chamber representing many of these employers, we hear directly from businesses whose employees are balancing demanding schedules with family responsibilities.

There's data that confirms what families are experiencing.

A recent study by Futuro San Antonio, a local nonprofit, found that 43% of families cite transportation barriers as a cause of absenteeism.

Families on the east and west sides are more most impacted, and 27% of respondents support free public transportation passes as a solution.

Improving attendance by just one percent could mean that just over 2,000 more students are reading on grade level, a gain that strengthens not only education outcomes, but also public safety, economic development, and a long-term quality of life for San Antonio.

We thank Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito for her leadership and the entire council for its consideration.

On behalf of our members, we respectfully request your support.

Thank you.

Amanda Pierre, followed by Sandra Torres.

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Amanda Pierre, and I have five children.

We live in District 2 off of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

I grew up in the SeaWorld area and attended John Jay High School.

I then went to college and graduated with the bachelor's in business management.

I am currently collecting disability due to an unforeseen illness.

I am here today to speak in support of item 31, creating semester passes for middle school and high school students through an agreement between the city of VM.

I was ecstatic to read about a new incentive with the city council that would create via passes for students.

This is a great example of how the city can support students and families.

Transportation is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.

Having a car has always been a goal, but very hard to achieve on my disability check.

Via has helped me and my children get to doctor's appointments, school, city activities, and many other places.

The via schedule is the first place we check to plan our day or week accordingly.

Within it, we would be for without it, we would be forced to depend on others for rides and or homeschool my children.

Life would be very limited for us all.

Being a single parent every little bit helps.

There are days we have to get on the bus with only pennies in our pocket to get to an important engagement.

Then there are times when the pennies just aren't enough, and we have to find other ways to get to our destination.

Many people are juggling home, work, and school.

Having a safe and easy cheap way to get this the kids to and from school will take one of those things out of the juggle.

VI is the answer.

I have relied on via to get me to and from many times, and there and any other times there are others like me out there.

Voting yes means not having to choose our our kids staying at home because of the lack of money.

It means each child has a chance to never miss school simply because of the lack of transportation.

I am asking you to please vote yes to item 31.

Help help more students get to school every day.

They are our future of the city.

Thank you.

Sandra Torres she'll utilize an interpreter.

Followed by Inga Cotton.

So mad of quattro hijos y actually tengo una hija que assiste a memorial high school in the district of ESGU ISD.

Stoya in apoyo al Punto 31 de la agenda que crearia los passes gratuitos de la Autobus VIA para studiante de nuestra ciudad.

My name is Sandra Torres and I live in District Five of our City.

I am a mother of four children, and I currently have a daughter who attends memorial high school in Edgewood ISD.

I'm here to speak in support of agenda item 31, which would create free via bus passes for students in our city.

Tomamos dos buses para gigaral 103 de la Calle Sarzamora y el 82 de la Calle Culebra, Local Cost of $1.30 per day.

Aunque un pase anual cost $375 y un pase de semestre cost $38.

Realisticamente my family and much solo podemos pagar la tarifa diaria, que termina siendo más de 40 in un anno.

Esto es solamente el costto para una persona.

Last year in 2025, transportation was an essential factor for my daughter to attend school.

We take two buses to get to school, the 103 on Salsamora Street and the 82 on Culebra Street, which costs a dollar 30 cents per day.

Although an annual pass costs $365, and a semester pass costs $38, realistically, my family and many others can only afford to pay the daily fare, which ends up being more than $400 a year.

This is only the cost for one person.

Please take into consideration that transportation costs increase when families have more students.

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

Attendance and learning are deeply connected.

When students miss school, they fall behind academically, and when they fall behind, it becomes harder for them to return.

Families face real barriers such as transportation, health, safety and economic pressures.

By reducing transportation barriers, we can help more students show up ready to learn.

These free via bus passes are an important step in supporting our families and strengthening education in our city.

For all these reasons, I respectfully ask you to vote yes on agenda item 31 for free via bus passes.

Thank you very much for your time and for listening to me.

Inga Cotton, followed by Jenny Margot Gonzalez.

Good morning, Mayor and good morning, Mayors members of the City Council.

And I'm also a mom.

I have two teenagers.

My daughter is a tenth grader at School of Science and Technology, and my son is an alumnus of that school.

He's now a freshman at UTSA.

My son is on the autism spectrum, and as a teenager, he frequently used VA as a way to get home from school.

So it made a real difference to us in terms of him being able to attend school regularly, me being able to continue working, and my daughter being able to participate in activities.

And my son also has a vision impairment.

So eventually he will be able to learn to drive.

So we have personal experience with VIA.

So I want to speak in support of item 31 on the agenda because based on our personal experience, I know that this would help a lot of other families to give them more flexibility and for their teenagers to be able to attend school more regularly.

And so for a teenager to be able to be involved in that decision about where they go to school, find a school that serves their interests, you know, find schools that are going to prepare them for college and career.

Expanding transportation options, it makes a huge difference.

But more than just the financial aspect of offering the via bus passes for free.

And uh one thing that my son did, he volunteered for hundreds of hours at the Duzium while he was a teenager, and it really helped him develop his social skills, and uh he really enjoyed serving the young uh visitors at the Duceum, and now he still volunteers, but he uh more often goes to the WITI Museum.

And uh VIA is a great way to be able to access the cultural sites in our city.

So um I apologize for my voice, I'm getting over the flu, but it was really important for me to be here.

And um thank you for your consideration about item 31.

And I I hope you'll support uh free free via bus passes for teenagers so that they can um access high quality schools in our city.

Thank you.

Chronic absenteeism is one of the greatest barriers to student success.

Missing just 10% of the school year significantly impacts academic performance and graduation rates.

In Bear County, 26% of students were chronically absent last year, and one third were economically disadvantaged.

Transportation is a major factor.

At communities and schools of San Antonio, we see this every day.

One recent example.

If the city funds semester passes for middle and high school students, non profits like ours can redirect those dollars to other critical needs, mental health support, academic assistance, and basic necessities.

This initiative will ensure safe, reliable transportation, reduce absenteeism, and help students access after school jobs, recreation, and essential services.

We urge you to approve this funding.

Thank you for your time and commitment to San Antonio's youth.

Thank you.

All individuals signed up to speak have spoken.

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

It is moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda.

Council members, are there any highlights or questions about the consent agenda?

Okay.

Uh Councilmember Mungia is recognized.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'd like to highlight item number 18, which is going to be a 8.6 million dollar grant in support of the Greenway Trail expansion included in that grant is $177,000 to support the railroad crossing of the creek at Leon Creek near Quintana Road.

So again, this is uh Pierceau Park has a really nice part of Leon Creek.

It does not yet connect to the rest of Leon Creek, and so this grant will help us get there.

So I'm really appreciative of this grant and look forward to seeing that project go through.

Thank you.

Councilmember Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor.

This morning I would like to highlight item number 12, the award to San Antonio Concepts Construction.

My team and I have had an opportunity to work with them on several district five projects, and they uh demonstrate the utmost professionalism.

Oftentimes in our work, particularly when it comes to uh infrastructure projects, we receive a lot of calls in terms of what can be done better and issues that arise.

And with concepts construction, we receive calls from constituents about how great this contracting company works with our constituency from ensuring that they're cleaning up the site to offering uh assistance to some of our seniors who they may see struggling to take out their trash to avoid uh some of the construction debris.

Uh, this is a company that we receive so much positive feedback when we do work with them.

And I'm sure my colleagues can can relate that it's very rare, right, that we receive those uh positive calls in terms of infrastructure.

So just wanted to be sure that uh we highlight and recognize and celebrate um some of these teams that um tackle these public infrastructure projects uh with professionalism and of course ensuring that they provide that level of care, not just in terms of the quality of work, but the service to the constituents in the neighborhood that they're serving.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Galvan.

Thank you, Mayor.

I had a couple quick highlights I wanted to get to.

Uh, first and foremost, highlight item number 21, the appointment of Dr.

Sonia Hasso uh to the education commission for district six.

Dr.

Hasso, if you would like to come up to the podium.

Dr.

Hasso brings over two decades of leadership experience and education with a career focused on advancing student success, academic excellence, and a meaningful community and meaningful community engagement all around.

A proud first generation college graduate, she currently serves as the college director of high school programs at Palo Alto College, where she collaborates with 37 ISDs to strengthen and expand high quality dual credit programming.

Dr.

Hassel also serves as vice president of the Northside ISD Board of Trustees, advocating for strong public schools and equitable opportunities of support student achievement year-round.

I'm so excited to have you on uh the commission, Dr.

Hasso, to continue working together.

And she's also my school board member, so I'm very happy to have her continue serving our shared community uh here in District 6 and throughout the city of San Antonio.

Do you have any words you like to share?

Um yeah.

Um, I just want to thank everyone for the opportunity to serve and the education commission.

I'm grateful to the mayor and the city council for their continued support and investment and education across our city.

Um it's an honor to contribute to this work, and I look forward to collaborating with fellow city leaders and also community partners to really advance educational access, equity, and opportunity to all students, and thank you again for your trust and support.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Hussle.

I also want to highlight item number 23.

Um, the district six field office uh is going to be renaming the community room of our office uh to Martin Travino Community Room.

Um with Javino family, please come up to the podium.

Uh some of you may recognize uh these familiar faces of uh a family member of a former staff member for district six uh prior to my my tenure.

Um, Martin Trevino was a incredible uh father, husband, um, and just person on this earth, uh member of our community.

He was the district staff district six staff member for Pepper's Meadow Neighborhood Association, where I was serving as president, um, as well as liaison for many of the other neighbor associations in District Six.

Um, and I unfortunately he passed away last year, and uh I'm always struck that uh just a little bit before his passing, I texted him on March 6th, um, and he responded immediately.

And I it just was always something to know about Martin was that his commitment to service uh to the whole community, particularly district six, serving through multiple council members.

Um I I always remember you know I knew how good he was.

I knew how incredible it was at his is his job and his and his life, but so too to the community.

When I was knocking doors while running for office, there was a big ask, three of them that um residents asked me, it's crossing in the Great Northwest and Piper's Meadow and Los Ardinas and multiple places throughout the entire district.

And they asked for three people to stay on board in the district's office if I won.

Orlando Ramidez, who is still here?

Nancy Reina, who is also here.

And Martin Travinio.

Because they knew the work that he put in every single day.

They knew his commitment to the community and to service and for the city uh to provide for our working families.

And so it is my honor to be able to follow through with the work that Councilmember uh Cabel Haverta, who was here earlier started, uh to name this community room in the district six field office after Martin Travinio, so that every time we have a community meeting, every time we host residents in our community, we were reminded by the work not of the council members, not of the electeds, but the staff member who made sure we followed through on every single step uh for public works for uh trash pickup, anything that came up with residents.

Martin was able to handle it.

Would anyone like to have any words for the family?

On behalf of my family here, thank you for valuing uh the constituent service work that he did.

Uh and I think he started what in 2009, and it started first with uh Councilman Ray Lopez.

Uh, and then you know, I think he was gonna be on board with uh with Rick as well.

Was uh so thank you for valuing uh this uh gift to me and the family here.

So thank you very much.

And uh we look forward to uh getting this passed and then having a little bit of fun in uh the district office there with the constituents that also valued him and uh and thank you very much.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

I also just wanted to shout out Councilor Alter Covito for your wonderful program of pushing forward uh that we heard good speakers about today.

So ready to have more about it.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilmember Gavito.

Thank you.

I'm excited to highlight I item number 31, which is approving the funding between the City of San Antonio and Vietnam to fund bus passes for students ages 12 to 18.

This uh pilot was actually uh launched on December 20th, and families are already signing up daily.

So today is just the last official step to make sure that uh it's done.

The idea the idea came about when I served on the VIA board and I was on an innovation committee with David Adleman, and he talked about the importance of getting kids to to school on via for free one day.

And the idea always stuck with me, and actually, fast forward to a couple months ago, I was attending a breakfast panel on education that Futuro had put on, and actually Dr.

Korr and Dr.

Shem Shak were speakers there, and we were talking about a lot of the things that that many of the speakers mentioned today, the real barriers to get kids to school.

And so uh fast forward uh a couple months later, and I worked with my team.

I have I have the best team, and uh we figured out a way to get it done.

So I I definitely want to give kudos to helping us do that.

We know, and I'm gonna reiterate some of the points.

Recent reports from orgs like city education partners, Futuro San Antonio communities in school have highlighted the issue of chronic absenteeism in our community.

Nearly one in four San Antonio students misses at least 10% of the school year, which surpasses the state average.

Chronic absenteeism is linked to lower literacy rates, lower graduation rates, higher rates of justice involvement, and other issues.

What we learned for that one of the biggest barriers to get kids to school is transportation.

And so this was our effort to tackle that head on.

You know, this is also especially true.

I know that one of the comments was hey, there's school buses, but families living within two to three miles are often don't qualify for the school bus service.

So this definitely helps them.

Uh the this pilot program aims to tackle chronic absenteeism by providing free transportation to our youth to eliminate that transportation barrier.

In addition, our kids can use the past to get to after school activities like tutoring, jobs, and other activities that they may not have a chance to participate in without transportation options.

This funding from my office budget is an initial investment in what we hope to be a permanent program.

Kind of like my uh senior assistance pilot program, which I know that several of my colleagues up here supported, it was just a pilot to help our seniors instead of punish our seniors with code compliance issues.

And now it is a permanent fixture in our budget.

So we're hoping that that we we can get the same result with with this program.

And today the work is only getting started.

You know, we're gonna be having conversations with our county commissioners, with the private sector and others to keep this funding going because as so many of the speakers stressed today, the importance of it.

This is a very real barrier.

So I I want to close in extending my sincerest gratitude to all the speakers who came here today.

You all do so much vital work that touches the lives of our kids, um, whether it is through leading organizations, whether the parents that we heard.

Um so thank you so much for coming today and advocating on this important change.

Uh we're we're excited to to spearhead this effort.

We know that it will make such a huge difference in so many families' lives, and and and together we're gonna move forward together.

Thank you so much.

Councilman Councilman White.

Yeah, thanks, Mayor.

And I'll just pick up there and again say thank you uh to the councilwoman.

I mean, this to me really is is what leadership is all about identifying a problem um in the community, talking to various stakeholders, uh identifying a solution, bringing it to uh her colleagues working on it and getting it done today.

So uh this is a big win for for the community, and so uh thank you to Councilwoman Aldretica Vito.

Um for me I'll I'll uh highlight item 20.

We're excited to point uh Gerald Mulvey as our stormwater to the stormwater management advisory board.

Uh he brings experience as the president and chief scientist of Nighthawk weather since 2020 and has many years of expertise um as a meteorologist.

So we thank uh Gerald um for representing District 10.

Thanks, Mayor.

Great.

Thank you.

Um I want to thank you to everybody that took the time to come speak today about the importance of um the connection between access access to transportation, chronic absenteeism.

Um I understand via is gonna oversee the program.

Uh thank you, Via.

I think we're all quite interested to understand um how the program is going to how it's going to work, um, and if there are specific metrics that will can help us understand the the value of a program like this.

Um I think for some it may be the cost.

I think as we all know, for some it may actually be the convenience of the route.

Um and John, if you want to come up and and speak a little bit about how you anticipate measuring the the aspects of the program to give us a sense of what we can expect um because I think as you may have heard, there's actually great interest from the dias in actually going to full fare-free, right?

And so this will help us understand that.

So welcome your understanding of what you're going to be measuring as part of this pilot.

So, Mayor, thank you, and council members, thank you as well.

Yo, uh, Mayor, it it is a it isn't a uh what we're talking about is a program that's is existed for decades.

Um it's our student pass program.

And the student pass program is indeed a program that is identified first of all and foremost as a discount program for students to uh to take.

But second of all, we do track that program, and we track it through the schools and we track it through our own uh capabilities as well.

So bringing KPIs back to this uh board here or to to you should be no problem whatsoever.

Yeah, welcome understanding, and please make sure that uh you work with uh the chair of the education opportunities committee as we make sure that uh the connection to addressing chronic absenteeism that we fully understand uh the how that needle is moving in any form or fashion.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Okay.

There being no further discussion, there's a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda.

Please vote.

Okay, the motion carries.

Uh we'll move on to the individual items.

Items four and five, we will take together.

Madam Clerk, please read the captions.

Item number four is a resolution confirming the nomination of Dr.

Erica G.

Gonzalez by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees to serve as trustee of the Northeast Quadrant of the CPS Energy Board of Trustees for a term commencing February 1st, 2026 and expiring January 31st, 2031.

Number five, it is a resolution appointing Dr.

Erica Gonzalez to the San Antonio Energy Acquisition Public Facility Corporation Board of Directors for a term of office commencing on February 1st, 2026 and expiring January 31st, 2027.

Great.

We have one member of the community signed up to speak on these items.

Jack Finger, you have three minutes.

My name is Jack M.

Finger, and uh this time you're going to um appoint a person to our city public service board.

Uh a lady whose name is Erica Gonzalez.

Yes, uh this is the board that governs our well, our electric electrical and gas utilities.

The uh perhaps uh Ms.

Gonzalez is is is qualified for this.

I don't know.

I wasn't at the uh the hearings for her, but uh um I do know that she is a uh uh has been trained in the medical field.

She's uh uh deals with an expert in uh I think it's asthma related uh uh afflictions and so forth.

That's great.

Um I I wish her will in that that regard, and uh but um there are many problems, issues, challenges that are going to take place for her if she be gets on to the city public service board.

And these are one of the biggest things has been rate increases that she's going to be facing.

Shall she increase the rates for for the city public service or not?

Mr.

Audiovisual man, look at that.

Uh our last rate increase was just a couple of years ago.

What does it say there?

And can you uh displace it so we can all read it there?

Yeah, okay.

Public pop rapid population and industrial growth.

San Antonio is experiencing one of the fastest growth in the United States, including projected tenfold increase in demand from data centers.

Yes.

And uh put this under Mr.

Audivisual Man.

What does that one say?

Yeah.

As of January 2026, the utility has previously projected another potential increase of up to 5.5% to be requested in late 2025 or early 2026.

And uh, yeah.

In 2024, the CPU energy implemented at 4.25 base rate increase for San Antonio.

This change was uh was approved by the Board of Trustees.

And return the camera to the podium if you would.

You know, I guess maybe Ms.

Gonzalez is here in the in the audience.

Uh the question is, what will you do when the question is pop to you on this one here?

Now especially for the data centers, you know, if will you force all of us rate payers to pay for the data centers, or will you force them to pay their fair share on this stuff?

Um I, for one, uh don't don't like the inequality here, you know.

Thank you.

All individuals signed up to speak have spoken.

Is there a motion to approve items four and five so we may begin council discussion?

I make a motion to approve.

Okay.

CPS Energy is here if there are questions about the process, and Dr.

Erica Gonzalez Reyes is also present.

Uh let me read a little bit about Dr.

Gonzalez Reyes' very impressive background.

Um I was at the uh at the interview process, so I can speak to how well qualified she is for this position, but just so everyone in the community is clear about uh frankly the true asset that is going to join the board.

Dr.

Erico Gonzalez Reyes is the chief executive officer of Stamp, um, which is she previously served as the chief of the Allergy Immunology and Rheumatology Division at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio and was an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

She's actively involved as a community leader serving on the board of directors and as the 2020 and 2021 immediate past chairwoman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors for Central Catholic High School.

She's an advisor to the Dean of Science and Engineering and Technology at St.

St.

Mary's University, and at the state and national level, she's on the stock at Penfrain committee with the Texas Department of State Health Services and is a co-chair for the small business for America's future.

Dr.

Gonzalez founded the nonprofit Con Corazon SA addressing health inequities and emergency preparedness in San Antonio and the surrounding area.

Dr.

Gonzalez is a native of San Antonio, graduated Magna Comlaudi from St.

Mary Mary's University, obtained her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and returned home after completing 10 years of active duty service as a medical officer in the United States Air Force.

She was selected as a 2019 presidential leadership scholar and was appointed to serve on the National Medal of Science Committee by President Joe Biden.

Most recently, Stamp was awarded San Antonio Business Journal's 2002 Diversity and Inclusion Award for their work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

So during the interviews, it was quite clear uh Dr.

Gonzalez.

You can join us if you'd like to say something.

It was quite clear that Dr.

Gonzalez Reyes was by far the most qualified of those that had applied and were considered for this position.

Her understanding of the impact of small business needs, her her unique also understanding of public health.

One of the most prominent issues when we're actually talking about data centers is in fact the impacts on public health.

So her deep expertise in that will be important.

She's as a small business owner herself.

She's got businesses all throughout our city.

So she knows the unique inequities in particular faced by our young people.

But I think we'll also bring that and just common sense to how she understands how we make strategic investments in our community and how those may affect some of the careful not to exacerbate some of the inequities in our community.

So we're very thankful that she is here.

Dr.

Gonzalez Reyes, would you like to say a few words?

Thank you, Mayor.

Good morning, City Council members.

It is a privilege to be here to be considered for this position.

I know that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to do this role successfully, and I'm committed to do that.

For me, it's very important to be able to be a voice for the San Antonio community and make sure that all of our regions are being well represented.

And just like I do in my medical practice, I want to be able to promote safety and the well-being, uh health of our community.

And that's what I would strive to do.

So thank you for the consideration.

Several of my colleagues would like to speak.

Um I'll recognize uh Dr.

Councilman Corps.

Thank you so much, Mayor.

Congratulations, Dr.

Gonzalez.

I've had the privilege of first meeting Dr.

Gonzalez as my allergist uh several years ago when I started block walking and I could not breathe.

And she's like, it's because you have asthma.

And the the care in which you take for each one of your patients, regardless of who they are and the facts of the challenges that they're going through in our community, which Councilman Castillo always talks about the impacts of asthma in our community and how so many of our residents are affected by it because of everything that we have created.

And the way in which you care for your community is I know how you're going to lead for CPS.

And it's a tough role.

I mean, we get calls all the time about uh light bulbs that are out and um other areas of impact that they have.

There's a rate change that it's potentially projected coming up.

There's a need for continuing to build infrastructure that's stronger and modify old existing infrastructure.

And I think the biggest thing we need in leadership there right now is being able to communicate the work that is ahead to our residents and making sure we're doing community engagement thoroughly.

I actually wanted to shout out I got a great uh community resource for a door hanger on my gate this last week, and so we need to do more of that.

And I know your background and leadership and how you treat your family, your your all of the folks at the practices and how you're gonna lead in that role as well.

So thank you so much for wanting to step up for this role and can't wait to see what you do.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Great.

Councilman Viegeran.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, Dr.

Gonzalez, I um I am proud to call you friend.

I'm proud to the fact that you are a business in District 3, neighbor to uh the field office.

I this is we need strong leaders.

The tasks ahead are always heavy.

There, they're this is the seventh largest city in San Antonio, but I know that your leadership is going to be needed and necessary as we move forward because of its innovation and its forward thinking.

I want to that you happen to be a woman is just a plus because your leadership quality is there.

But I I think that as we move forward, I feel very confident in the decision in the movement that the CPS board of directors and leadership has made.

And thank you, Mayor Jones, for sitting on that and seeing that in the future we need the different perspectives and the perspectives you bring that the mayor mentioned regarding small businesses and running a small business, the health issues, the understanding of how we build the tax base within the different parts of our cities and those that have been redlined and haven't been served.

How do we move forward?

And together, I think this board, under the leadership of Dr.

Romero, can get us there.

And it is going to be difficult decisions, but what helps is that I know I have the confidence in the board that sits there right now in CPS to give us the right counsel and advice as we move forward.

And then ultimately, of course, we as a council need to make those decisions.

So I am super proud and excited.

You know my priorities regarding resiliency, sustainability, being ready, um being the CPS energy industry that that people across the state and the nation talk about.

And I think that we're we're ready and we're we have the team gathered.

I don't want to say assembled uh to move forward as we do this.

So I I want to thank you for serving because I know that this that you have a lot of responsibility um and you have a lot of things you're passionate about, and thank you for taking the passion for this and and being willing to serve on this uh CPS board at this time.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilman Munkia.

Congratulations, Doctor.

When you and I got a chance to speak, I was very happy and surprised that you were a finalist.

Um and I think you're helping break the mold as far as your seats, what the tradition has been, and I'm very glad to see that moving.

And I think you'll bring the right balance of keeping the bottom line at CPS and and and considering small businesses, but also considering the most vulnerable of San Antonio.

Uh we had a great conversation about that.

And even though we're on opposite sides of town, I know that you you see a lot of my residents as your clients as as patients, and you understand the the plights of poverty that happens in our city, and I know that you'll weigh that with your decisions of the board.

So I appreciate it.

I'm very glad to see you up here, and I'm excited to see what you do there.

So thank you very much.

Councilwoman Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Dr.

Gonzalez, for your willingness to serve in this capacity.

Uh, as folks have mentioned, I think it's important that uh we continue to highlight the intersection of public health and public utilities, and I value the conversation that we had talking about district five resident priorities in terms of CPS Energy.

And District Five is going to be having uh public health conversation at Las Palmas and CPS Energy is always reaching out to see how they could get plugged into our events and present, and as a team, we were discussing what that intersection looks like, right?

And I think the critical care programs really important uh and I value that expertise and lens uh that you'll be bringing to the CPS Energy Board.

Um, but I would be remiss if I didn't highlight this council and a couple of our appointments have had that public health lens, whether it's that Sov community first getting appointed to the SAWS board.

Uh I I think it's uh really exciting to see the perspective that you all are going to bring to our public utilities.

As folks have mentioned, uh, you have a wealth of expertise from small business, public health, and so much more.

So uh I would be remiss if I didn't highlight, I think what uh makes you an even greater asset to the board is that uh your work during the city of San Antonio navigating COVID-19 and that pandemic uh and the role that your team played and ensuring that folks had access to vaccines.

Uh and I think in terms of in a crisis, whether it's another uh winter storm Uri, whatever the case may be, right?

You have that experience on how to navigate and what steps to take.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Councilman Galvan.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you so much uh Dr.

Gonzalez for applying for the um applying and getting to a finance and now coming here today to be approved.

Fingers crossed, I think you're gonna get it.

Um to the CPS energy board.

Uh I'm really excited based on the conversation we had.

You know the district six priorities that we discussed, talking about sustainability and weatherization needs, talking about of course the rate uh the rate equity throughout our city and ways that we can continue to move our city forward uh with reliable and affordable energy here in our community.

I did not realize when we were talking, we focused primarily on the main issues there, but that you also worked within the asthma and allergen fields, uh it's something that's near and dear to my heart and lungs uh because I'm a chronic asthmatic.

Um and so it's also the thing that inspired me to get involved in more energy policy when I was in college and learn more about it, uh, not only taking a lot of classes but also doing community-based research um with folks here in our city who are advocating for different ways to look at our rates here at CPS, primarily because when you talk about energy generation, the intersection that Caleb Castillo highlighted with uh the effects it could have on um asthma rates along with just general uh clean air in our city.

And so that's very important to me as well as residents of my community and things that we've shared across the board uh when talking about it.

So excited to have your leadership there and continue to see ways that we can collaborate going forward.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilwoman Aldera Gavito.

Thank you.

Uh I'm so excited about today.

I've known uh Dr.

Erica Gonzalez Reyes for years.

I mean, I our relationship goes way back.

Um and so whether it was me serving, I I just remembered on the St.

Mary's Alumni Board and honoring you as a distinguished alumni um through uh us having our, you know, it felt like quarterly or a couple times a year breakfast, and we talk about uh being working moms, you know, and we're both trying to navigate work and uh in our different um fields and also our kiddos' lives as well.

And so I definitely appreciate uh uh all that you have done so far.

I mean, I remember talking to you about getting into Texas Lyceum, which we're gonna be welcoming Dr.

Sakorin this weekend, so we're excited about that.

Um, but through all of you know, when I was gonna run for office and having that conversation with you.

So I know uh your professional background, I know your background as a mother, and I know your background as a friend, and I know that you're gonna do the best to represent all of us on the CPS board uh CPS Energy Board.

So thank you so much for stepping up and willing and your willingness to give your time and energy to that because we all need that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Uh Councilmember uh Meso Gonzalez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, thank you, Erica.

Dr.

Gonzalez, I look forward to taking this vote and thank you for reaching out when you did.

Thank you for applying.

Um, there's a lot of really residents, local residents that um volunteer their time and effort to making the city uh grow and move forward in the right direction.

So I appreciate you uh taking that on.

Um I know this is a responsibility that you do not take lightly.

You know, every vote that we take impacts residents, just like every vote that um you take on the board will impact residents as well.

So just always keep community engagement top of mind.

Um that's where we come in, and that's the questions that residents ask us about.

Um, and so want to make sure that um our residents are always um at the front of the decisions that you make on that board.

Um, and also want to give a shout out to Dr.

Francine Romero, District 8 resident, um, who is doing a fabulous job um as a chair of of this board.

So thank you again.

Thank you.

Councilmember White.

Thanks, Mayor.

Uh Dr.

Gonzales, we we don't know each other too well, but I uh appreciated you reaching out and really enjoyed our meeting.

Um, and at that meeting um we talked a lot about rates, right?

And and uh, you know, it's my opinion that that too often uh we ask the citizens of San Antonio to continually um give more money out of their pockets, their their hard-earned money uh to to uh bet back to us, and it's it's not right.

And so I appreciated our conversation around that, and I know that um you have a vast array of experience and you have a compassion for the people of San Antonio.

Uh and so when we move forward and have discussions like this, I know you're gonna um do everything that you can to uh to guard our our ratepayers.

And so uh congratulations uh on the appointment today and look forward to your service.

Thank you.

Okay.

There being no further discussion.

Oh, you had something.

Oh, okay.

Save the best for last.

All right, Councilman McKee Rodriguez.

I had not realized we were going in this order, and so I missed my missing my chance, but I just want to say very briefly, congratulations.

You did represent a very small sliver of my district, and so uh I look forward to the work that you'll do.

I hear everyone speaking so highly of you, and I'm excited to see what all what all you'll be able to continue to accomplish in this new world.

So thank you.

There being no further discussion.

Um it is moved and seconded to approve items four and five.

Please vote.

The motion carries.

Congratulations.

The city clerk will now swear in Dr.

Erica Gonzalez Reyes.

In the name of and in and by the authority of the state of Texas, please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

I state your name.

I, Erica Gonzalez, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute, that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of the duties of the office of Northeast Quadrant Trustee, Northeast Quadrant Trustee of the CPS Energy Board of Trustees.

Of the CPS Energy Board of Trustees, and the San Antonio Energy Acquisition, and the San Antonio Energy Acquisition, Public Facility Corporation, Public Facility Corporation, Board of Directors, Board of Directors within the State of Texas, within the state of Texas, and will and will to the best of my ability, to the best of my ability, preserve, preserve, protect, protect, and defend and defend the constitution, the constitution and laws and laws of the United States, of the United States, and of this state, and of this state.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Item number six is an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute the private development site acquisition and escrow agreement among the City of San Antonio, San Antonio Spurs Holdings LLC, and Chicago title acting as escrow agent to accept 30 million dollars plus closing and carrying costs for the per purpose of submitting an offer to the United States of America to purchase real property commonly described as 727 East Caesar Chavez Boulevard, 610 Indianola Street, and 611 Indianola Street, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the offer to purchase real property and acceptance agreement.

Staff has a presentation, please.

Uh General Services Administration to acquire what we refer to as the Federal Building West properties.

They're noted there on the map on the right hand side of this slide.

They include the Federal Office Building, which is located just to the east of the current or the former uh Wood uh federal courthouse, along with the adjacent parking lot, and then the two parking lots just south of that across the street on uh from on Cesar Chavez.

Uh the total parcels are 5.7 acres.

Uh we're asking authorization to issue to uh propose an offer of $30 million plus closing costs up to $120,000.

The $30 million is informed based on an appraisal that we had done in coordination with uh the General Service Administration or GSA that came in at just under 30 million at 20 million 29 million nine hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars, um, and then some closing costs of up to 120,000.

Um future mixed use development should the arena project move forward.

Um I will note here this is a little bit different that we're asking you authorization to issue an offer to the federal government.

Typically, when we're requiring real estate, we've already negotiated the real estate transaction asking for your approval, but the federal government is going through a disposition process.

Under that process, they have opened up uh uh a negotiated sale to a public body.

They did that um about mid-last year uh as a political subdivision of the state of Texas.

Obviously, we're eligible to do that.

We expressed our interest about mid-last year that we were interested in acquiring that property through a negotiated sale process.

So that's why we're going through an offer uh process on the on the transaction.

Um a little bit of a timeline there on the bottom.

If you approve the item today, we would submit the offer mid next week.

They've given us a deadline of January 26 by which to submit the offer to uh GSA.

The second part of the offer deals with a contribution from the San Antonio Spurs.

Based on the term sheet that was approved uh late last summer, uh the Spurs have agreed to provide uh $30 million to be utilized by the city to acquire this property.

Um they've also agreed to cover the closing cost of up to $120,000.

Um the GSA accepts the offer, the city gets fee simple title to the property subject to contingency deed.

And I'll talk about the contingency deed in a second.

But this would be property that we would own.

The arena project advances forward, moves forward.

This is property that would be ground lease for uh guaranteed mixed use uh development.

The contingency deed comes into play in the event that the arena project does not commence or does not move forward.

Um if it moves forward and it's financed, at that point the contingency deed would be destroyed.

We retain fee simple title to the property.

If the project does not move forward and does not commence, whether the Spurs determine that or we determine that, the city has the option at that point to reimburse the Spurs for the $30 million plus their carrying costs on the loan that they would take out to give us this funding.

It'd be based on their actual carrying cost.

Um if we do that, then the contingency deed again is destroyed.

We retain fee simple title to the property.

If we choose not to do that, um, then the contingency deed kicks in and it would transfer fee simple title from the city to the Spurs in that situation if we opt to not reimburse the $30 million.

Uh again, a little bit of a timeline there on the bottom.

Uh, with your approval today, we would submit the offer mid next week.

With the offer, we need to submit a um earnest money deposit of three million dollars.

That would be funded by the Spurs.

Typical real estate transaction.

If the GSA rejects that offer, that earnest money would come back and would go back to the Spurs if we're if we don't acquire the property.

Um the timeline goes out to July 31st.

Um, the GSA has up to 120 days to review the offer.

Um, we don't think they will likely take that uh much time once they accept the offer, probably a 30 to 60 day closing after that.

Um so with that uh mayor and council, we recommend approval of this ordinance, and we're happy to answer questions.

Thanks, Ben.

Uh there are several members of the public that have signed up to speak on this item.

We'll start with Father Richard Aguilar.

All individuals will have three minutes to speak.

Groups of three or more will have a total of nine minutes.

Father Aguilar is the first speaker, followed by Sandra Martinez.

Sandra Martinez.

Okay.

Rebecca Flores.

Mary Cabral.

Cindy Munch.

Good morning.

My name is Cindy Munch, and I was here at the SAS A speak out yesterday to inform the board counsel that why I was signing up today to say I would like your no vote on agenda item number six today.

Agendum item number six requests authority to enter into a real estate contract on behalf of the citizens of San Antonio and in relation to Project Marvel costs and contract risk to be borne by the citizens of San Antonio.

My loss of faith in Marvel information has developed from the shroud of non-disclosure agreements keeping the pay ease for Marvel in the dark.

When information has been presented, it was just strategically incomplete.

Before city elections last spring, and in reference to a new arena, I heard three different councilpersons tell an audience that not one dollar will come out of the general fund to pay for this.

But to date, I have not heard one council person or city employee explain that not one dollar of tax revenue from improvements in a TIRZ will go into the general fund.

So much of the toute development in the city is in TIRZs, and one can easily relate TRZ redirection of public funds to budget shortfuts falls and budget cuts.

The governments themselves have identified declining valueations on older properties and the lack of new development taxes coming into the general funds as the cause of budget shortfalls.

So how do today's agenda item number six fall short?

After negotiating a only four million dollars annual rental on a structure with an announced valuation of 1.3 billion, which would, if privately owned, generate almost 32 million in tax revenue.

Every deal must be better explained.

Why now?

The federal owner occupant is by today's agenda description years away from leaving the properties.

There is time for community input before transfer of ownership.

Why the purchase contract with San Antonio City ownership?

By description of the purch of the uh Spurs terms in the agenda, fee simple title to the property can be transferred to the sponsor, the Spurs, the purchase sponsor.

Why not have Spurs buy this property directly if they want the purchase to happen now?

It is the Spurs promised development that the city deems a critical component to the financing plan for the arena.

There has been no taxation of this federal property, therefore the TURS base would be should be zero.

Under Spurs ownership of the property, it would now it would immediately uh generate $732,000 taxes paid by the Spurs who could be receiving the rental income from the current tenants.

Public ownership does not generate public rent of revenue, and the lease amount negotiated for the 1.3 billion publicly owned arena does does not generate public confidence in a land lease from agenda item number six.

I'm asking for your no vote today.

All individuals signed up to speak have spoken.

Second.

Okay.

We'll now move on to council discussion.

Just the only one.

Councilman McKee Rodriguez.

Thank you.

And this hopefully answers the question that we heard yesterday and then today from Ms.

Munch.

Um yesterday I asked uh why can't the Spurs just buy the land outright?

It seems cleaner that way.

Can you please explain that?

Freeze the time, please.

Thanks.

Uh good morning, Councilman again.

Um the process that the federal government is using to do this is a negotiated um sale of property, so it's a disposition process that they can do under which they get fair market value.

But in that case, they've got to uh have that negotiated sale happen with a public entity.

So in that case, that would be us.

This board would not be eligible to do that negotiated um sale.

Okay, thank you.

So basically, right now, the because of the disposition process that the federal government is using, they're only allowing the sale to public entities, which would be city, county, states, the like school boards.

Essentially, public uh political subdivisions of the state of Texas, yes, sir.

Um, and so I I mentioned yesterday I'm not inherently opposed to this, right?

The Spurs are paying for it and will own it and receive the ground lease payment.

So again, it's not really a losing deal unless all hell breaks loose and we own that we decide to own this property that we don't know what to do with later.

Um a concern that I do think has been raised that is valid is has this project has this property been named explicitly in any community engagement that we've done uh in any of the town halls, where any consider could the public say that they were informed that this property would be considered for sale to the spurs.

Has this has this specific property property ever been named in anything?

So I think as we have talked about um this project since last summer, we have identified um the mixed use development that needs to happen to support the arena project financing.

So I think in all those presentations, we've identified this property is a key part of that financing plan, yes, sir.

And councilman, we have also identified uh the effort that we would need to go through to acquire that property in advance of any sort of development.

I'm trying to think that I have any call that questions yesterday that didn't.

I think that answer I think that answered that question.

Um again, as I mentioned before, um this is fairly administrative in nature.

Um I do expect that we have a large role in determining what our expectations are with this property.

It will be the land will be city owned, and so whatever gets developed is stamped by us, and we've set our needs in terms of sustainability, in terms of affordable housing, in terms of uh parks and green space, and so I do expect that whatever is developed here meets helps us achieve our goals and is not just some uh ultra luxury apart set of condos and whatnot that further cause harm in our community.

Thank you.

Councilman Viegeran.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, and thank you again, uh Ben and team for the presentation you put forward yesterday, too.

I think that answered a lot of my questions.

But as we move forward today, I think I want to stress, and I don't think I echoed uh it yesterday with Councilwoman Castillos, uh, is that you know on the slim remote chance that this doesn't go through.

I think it is imperative that we as a council uh look to maintain and retain as much downtown property as possible.

So that is one thing that I you know from the dais today.

I want to say is that our commitment is the the way we keep downtown affordable, the way we keep downtown um with that San Antonio flavor and story being told is that we keep control of um the property that we have downtown within these lease agreements.

So I look forward to to taking this administrative step and continuing to have that conversation about what property is available downtown.

Uh this one has you know, because it was owned by the government, we were able to come in.

If this had been a different situation, and we've seen this with different housing projects, uh, or um iconic places downtown, is then we have to go in and and try and get organizations to help bid that's going to keep it what our goal is in terms of San Antonio and the San Antonio story.

So I think as we move forward, we need to take that into consideration.

So I'll look forward to moving forward with this today.

It's a necessary step, but I think in larger conversations, this council, whether at committee meeting or three at a time, need to have that conversation about strategically what do we control downtown and strategically what is what is coming up for sale that we can possibly purchase or possibly um keep within uh the city coffers to make sure that we do that.

And um again uh also looking at what of the old buildings do we is necessary to keep in historic designation and which is not, because that's the other conversation we need to have.

So I look forward to these conversations.

I look forward to moving this forward today.

And uh thank you, Ben and team, for all your hard work.

I know I know it's a lot, and I know uh the other thing I want to acknowledge is it's not just downtown.

You're doing this citywide in terms of what assets we have and and what we what we hold and and what we need to invest in.

So thank you.

Councilman Galvan.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Ben, for the quick presentation as well as the presentation yesterday.

And thank you, Ben, for the quick presentation as well as the presentation yesterday.

I want to share a lot of what my council colleagues just spoke about, of course.

Uh, I think that answer a lot of the questions that we all had about what happens next if it doesn't go through, what happens, uh, what the exact administrative piece that we need to look at here.

Um I feel comfortable with this uh particular item.

I think I echo a lot of what Council Ravan and Biki Ojiga said about retaining the property, uh, potentially if you know slim chance it doesn't go through that way we can figure out what things we can still try to achieve within our downtown vision for that property.

Um similarly, right, as we go through the negotiations, uh the more definitive documents that we talked about yesterday, too, uh ensuring that we are giving direction on what we want to see within that space, what meets the same goals uh within the term sheet as well, uh, but that we can also do a kind of double using both resources doubly uh to address sustainability needs, infrastructure needs, uh, all the other kinds of things uh that we're looking for there in the larger downtown vision, not just within this particular district.

Thank you, Mayor.

Councilman Alderate Gavito.

Thank you.

Uh, just really quick wanted to reiterate uh my comments yesterday about um I look forward to continuing the momentum on the sport sports and entertainment district project as a whole, and this is just uh a step in in that um overall project.

Um at the same time, too.

I do feel confident that we're gonna continue to do community input, and that's incumbent on all of us to make sure that our residents' voices are heard during this entire process.

But I have faith in my colleagues and uh and the city team um that we will make sure that that happens every step of the way.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Castillo.

Thank you, Mayor, for the um thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Ben, for the presentation.

I understand the consensus of the this body is to continue to move forward uh with this project and around the conversation about the transition of the property um uh to public entities.

I think it's important to note that with the offselling of public property through the McKinney Vental Act that also prioritizes homeless service providers.

Um, however, in order for us to purchase the property before those homeless service providers, um San Antonio homeless service providers have to send in a letter that this site is not fit for affordable housing.

So my question is can City Council have a list of those homeless service providers uh that wrote that this site was not suitable for affordable housing.

And I bring that point to bring my colleagues along to the point that while I understand the financial makeup of this project is market rate, I believe there is opportunity to potentially look at the overlying TERS uh and other funding mechanisms to buy down rents to ensure that we can have affordability within this project.

Um so a couple of things.

Uh, as we continue to receive our briefings and updates, I would like to see who those homeless service providers were that felt that this property was not fit uh because the McKinney Ventu Act was established primarily for unhoused children.

Uh and close to this property, we have some of SCIC's highest rated elementary schools.

Um so I I I want to understand, right?

Um, one, that list of providers, and then two, uh, encourage my colleagues to continue to prioritize and advocate to identify uh a financial structure that we can help buy down rents, whether that's working with opportunity home, future bond funding, or some method to ensure that we do have affordable housing uh on this site.

Those are all my comments.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um has everyone spoken on this issue that'd like to speak.

Okay.

Um thank you, uh Councilwoman Castillo for for raising that point.

Um I think as we move forward in this very important process, and you've heard me say this is a generational investment.

We've got a wonderful opportunity uh downtown if we get this right.

Um, you know, yesterday some of my colleagues talked about the um the potential reputational harm, right?

If we don't um adhere to the term sheet, uh the non-binding term sheet, which we all described it uh as we were voting on it.

Um I think the other reputational harm though that I'm as concerned about is if we don't do things with sufficient due diligence, um, is being the third poorest city in the country and continuing to exacerbate some of those inequities.

Um at this point, I think it is important uh that the people have trust that we've done our due diligence.

So um I'd like to make a motion that we delay this vote until we have the information that councilwoman Castillo um has identified.

Um, and then it sounds like there's still sufficient time to meet this January 26th deadline.

But I I think it is important in the interest of public transparency that we go through the full process.

So the motion is to continue the item to January 22nd.

Is there a second I would like a clarification?

Councilwoman's recognized.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ben, would you happen to have that list of those nonprofit providers that you can share with us at this moment?

So councilwoman, are you referring to to the list of uh the homeless providers that yes, I had requested documents um and Joel Frank provided them to me in terms of communications regarding the transaction of this property.

Uh and within those documents, there was a letter um uh in response to Mayor Ron Nirenberg in terms of within the letter that um there were uh it was uh acknowledged that San Antonio homeless providers uh did not find this property fit.

Um and I've asked this question before.

Um who are those lists of nonprofit providers that have that expressed that this property wasn't fit for affordable housing.

Uh councilwoman, I I do not know which homeless providers um that letter or email may be referring to.

What I what I know is that um as I understand it, the the federal government's process is that as they're gonna dispose property, the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services post uh a screening for homeless service providers to respond to before they move forward with any disposition.

My understanding is HHS uh Health and Human Services did that.

No one responded to that, so that's why they then moved into the competitive or to I'm sorry to the negotiated sale process.

But it's a federal process that they go through.

Yes, I understand the process.

My question was if you all had the list of the nonprofit survivor uh providers that expressed that this was not fit for uh homeless house uh services and or housing.

I do not I do not have that list, no ma'am.

If I may, councilwoman, we can ask the federal government for the list because the list would have the the communications would have gone to the federal government so we can ask them who submitted a letter Councilman Corr.

Just for all of us, because I know this happened previously.

Maybe you can help us walk us through the process because I know there was just some confusion.

So I think it would be helpful for the community as well to know, and I think you guys did a little bit of diligence on this.

Is was there because I I feel like I just heard a little bit of conflicting information where was the RFP sent out and no one responded, or did people respond saying no, this is not fit.

So if you just walk us through maybe the whole process for the federal building, and that way we can all be on the same page.

Is that okay, Mayor?

Sure.

I will um kind of walk through it at a high level, but again, as the federal government is moving forward with a disposition of property, they will ask the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services to determine whether the property may be feasible for homeless service providers to utilize.

Um they had a determination that the property could be suitable for that.

They posted a screening asking for service providers, homeless service providers to respond to that.

My understanding is none did.

And then they moved to the next phase, which would be then the General Services Administration doing a negotiated sale.

They posted that last mid-last year.

That's what the city responded to and said we're interested in acquiring this property as a public entity and have been in conversations with GSA about uh submission of an offer to acquire the property.

And that's what um culmination of all those conversations is what's in the offer of the four-year consideration today.

Let me just add one piece in there.

So as HHS was going through that and found that the property was unsuitable, there was an appeal to the federal government.

So they went through that the to the HHS for that determination.

We do not know who that appeal was.

So they went back through that process before they released it to GSA.

And as Andy stated, we can ask who made that appeal, but that was something they registered with HHS.

And I think that's part of the I think that's part of the confusion that that about the letter that the councilwoman is talking about, because it's a it it it's involving that dealing with the federal government, and and somewhere um they made that somebody responded to them and wanted them to reconsider it.

And so they did then.

They did, yes, ma'am.

So this is the that was the part that I was missing in the timeline because we were trying to have conversations in the letter that she was talking about we had discussed, and then we went back and said, well, people should be allowed to submit responses.

HHS reconsidered that, made the determination, then moved it back over to GSA.

So they open they made the HS they considered that okay, yes, this is suitable, and then they opened it for an RFP.

So the ultimately the Federal Government did advertise through HHS through that other process Ben described and and received um uh no entity applied for the use of the property.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

I think that helps.

Does that in an attempts to summarize the initially there was no um they had determined that it wasn't suitable, so there was no open RFP.

There was an appeal, and then there was an RFP sent out, no one responded, and that's when we're submitting our offer.

Is that the right summary?

Yes.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Councilman Castillo, does that address your concerns?

I I uh uh the the point that I raised during uh debate was to bring my council colleagues along in terms of y'all's commitment to identifying funding sources to ensure that when this project comes to fruition that there is affordability within this mixed use development.

Okay.

Got it.

Thank you.

Um Councilman Castillo conveyed that she'll work directly with the staff on on that concern.

Have all the council members that would like to speak on this issue spoken.

Would you like councilman white?

Go ahead.

Yeah, just point of clarification.

There was no second on the motion to continue.

Is that correct?

Yeah, councilman Castillo is going to address the issue with it directly with the staff.

Okay, thanks.

Uh Ben, a couple of clarific clarifying points.

Councilman uh McKee Rodriguez asked about um confirming the the role that this body could play in in whatever the facility at that point owned by the Spurs, but on our land uh would um would have on it.

Can you can you identify what some of those rights may be uh when it comes to input?

Well, Mayor, we still have to go forward and negotiate uh definitive documents.

Um those will include, we talked about several of those uh yesterday, uh economic development agreement, uh development agreements, a number of different agreements that we're gonna have to put in place if the project is going to move forward.

So we'll continue, we'll have to continue to work to negotiate those.

Sure.

I I think just to to to the point that he raised, though, I want to make sure we get at least a flavor of some of the things.

Um what are some things that we might be able to expect based on previous experience?

In terms of input on the development on that piece of land.

I think as we talked about yesterday, as we get ready to start to negotiate definitive agreements, we will um brief you all in executive session to get input on some of those areas.

Um certainly heard some of your feedback.

Uh we've talked about what the term sheet encapsulates today, what it's based on in terms of mixed use development, the assumptions it makes.

Um, but that's something we'll continue to get feedback from you all on and then go negotiate documents.

And finally, um, can you clarify what happens if GSA doesn't accept the offer?

So if GSA rejects our offer at that point in time, um the earnest money deposits should be returned.

We would then return that back to the Spurs, and then it will be up to the Federal Government and the GSA in terms of what they decide to do with that property.

Okay.

In terms of the the value of it, though, and based just here on the interest um in ensuring that we protect and have as much uh downtown property as possible.

Um, if that offer uh was rejected, um, would we potentially make another offer?

I think Mary will depend on where the GSA is.

Um I mean, we have um I think our staff has spent a lot of time with them.

We believe that based on the appraisal and the conversations and negotiations that have occurred to date that um the offer will be viewed favorably.

Um I can't sit here and guarantee you that they'll accept it, but there's been a lot of work and a lot of conversation to get to this point.

They also were very much encouraging us to submit the offer quickly.

Um initially wanted to do it in December.

We asked for a little bit more time so that we could complete some of our due diligence.

Um, and they gave us the date of January 26th.

So they seem to be very motivated to move this property pretty quickly.

Mayor, if uh if we find ourselves in that position, I think that's uh that's a that's a bigger conversation that we would need to come back and talk to the council about you.

There being no further discussion is moved and seconded to approve item six.

Please vote.

The motion passes.

The next item is the city manager's report.

Um, Eric, over to you.

Yep, thank you, Mayor.

Um so today's video is um spotlighting an employee that that um some of you may know uh Jennifer Fraga with downtown's uh uh center city development office.

Um the uh the video highlights her work specifically around the marathon in December, but uh Jennifer has worked for the city for about 15 years and has um holds a position, a unique position with the within the city uh because she is our operational tip of the spear for all things downtown parades, uh marathons, festivals, and even uh organized protests, right?

Uh, because Jennifer is the one that coordinates with all of the operational departments.

She does uh a fantastic job.

Um, and uh we need uh an army of her, but um uh let's roll the video and show you a little bit about the work she did with the marathon this year.

Three more planning for this marathon started a year ago.

City leadership wanted a more locally produced marathon.

So the residents of San Antonio can own it and be proud of it and showcase our city.

I think the core values of CCDO operations team exhibits would be innovation.

Working with San Antonio Sports to establish a 26-mile course to highlight some of the city's brightest gems is definitely a challenge.

And we had to think of innovative ways to freshen up this course to highlight the best of San Antonio.

It takes a lot of city departments, police and fire, solid waste, parks and rec.

And so all of them provide some sort of external service, whether it's traffic control, EMS services, solid waste helps us clean up the route.

So it really is a team effort.

As soon as I have some preliminary information, we disseminate that information so they can start preparing their crews and their teams, and then kind of work in some of the responsibilities that they'll have to do, work that into their regular operating schedule so it doesn't put too much pressure on their teams to respond to a request that they don't know is coming.

I have a passion for events um for gatherings, but it was a perfect job, and it's a very unique position within the city.

It's probably the one and only.

So I think I'm very fortunate to have been in this position.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Um, we also have a very special birthday to celebrate.

Councilman Viegeran turning 21.

Congrats.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday, dear councilman Vegan.

Happy birthday to you.

Great.

Thank you.

Exact session.

Yeah, yeah.

Great.

Okay.

And you confirming uh executive session.

Yes, okay.

Um, I'd ask my colleagues to remain seated until I complete reading the the caveats needed to meet in exec session.

The time is now 11.25 p.m.

on January 15th, 2026, the city council of the city of San Antonio will now meet in executive session to consult with the city attorney's office pursuant to chapter 551 of the Texas government code and to deliberate or discuss the following items.

Economic development negotiations pursuant to section 551.087, the purchase exchange lease or value of real property pursuant to section 551.072 and the legal issues related to litigation involving the city emergency preparedness and a collective bargaining, all pursuant to section 551.071.

The time is uh 139 p.m.

on January 15, 2026, and San Antonio City Council will now reconvene in open session.

No official action was taken in executive session.

The time is now 1.40, and this meeting is adjourned.