San Antonio City Council Meeting - January 15, 2026

The San Antonio City Council met on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 9:07 AM, with Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones presiding. The meeting included recognitions, a consent agenda with 25 items, individual agenda items for the appointment of a new CPS Energy Trustee and an ordinance authorizing an offer to purchase federal properties for the sports and entertainment district project (Project Marvel), public testimony, and executive session. The meeting adjourned at 1:40 PM.

Points of Privilege

• Recognition of Malia Sessar, a Trinity University student and member of the Philippine women's national soccer team, for winning gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
• Recognition of Catalea Perez, a 13-year-old student from Southwest ISD who was the only student from Texas selected for the Stanford University Middle School Scholars Program.
• Recognition of five graduate students from UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy visiting to study Texas policy.
• Recognition of the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center and proclamation of January as National Blood Donor Month. Councilman Mungia noted his personal history as a donor and urged donations.
• Proclamation declaring January 19, 2026, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Speakers included Councilman McKee Rodriguez and representatives from the MLK Commission. Councilman Galvan quoted Dr. King on economic equality.

Consent Calendar

• Items 7 through 31 were approved as a group, with several items highlighted by council members:
  • Item 18: $8.6 million grant for Greenway Trail expansion near Leon Creek.
  • Item 12: Award to San Antonio Concepts Construction for infrastructure work, praised for professionalism and community engagement.
  • Item 21: Appointment of Dr. Sonia Hasso to the Education Commission for District 6.
  • Item 23: Renaming the District 6 field office community room to the Martin Trevino Community Room in honor of a former staff member.
  • Item 31: Ordinance approving a funding agreement with VIA Metropolitan Transit for up to $150,000 to provide free semester bus passes for middle and high school students as a pilot program to combat chronic absenteeism. The funds come from District 7's budget (Councilwoman Alderete Gavito).
• The consent agenda was moved and seconded, and passed unanimously after council discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Consent Agenda Item 31 (VIA bus passes):

• Jack Finger opposed, questioning why the city is funding transportation when parents and school buses should handle it, and suggesting the pilot favors Council District 7.
• Dahlia Flores Contreras (CEO, City Education Partners) supported, citing 26% chronic absenteeism citywide and transportation barriers.
• Diane Fernandez (Executive Director of Enrollment, SAISD) supported, noting 28% of SAISD students are chronically absent and transportation costs are a barrier.
• Dr. Atica Shimshek (Superintendent, Jubilee Academies) supported, stating that 86% of Jubilee students are economically disadvantaged and transportation is a key issue.
• Ray Tiharina (South San ISD spokesperson) supported, reporting 36.8% chronic absenteeism in South San ISD and 46.7% for students with disabilities, costing the district over $500,000 in state funding.
• Sharon Samuelson Masyate (CEO, Mobile Education Center for All) supported, citing a Futuro San Antonio report that 43% of families identify transportation as a leading cause of absences.
• Pastor Vincent Robinson supported, stating he serves the 78207 zip code (most impoverished) and sees transportation barriers daily.
• Francis Berronis Johnson (Superintendent/CEO, Triumph Public High Schools) supported, noting many students balance work and school without reliable transportation.
• James Ward (senior at Triumph High School) supported, sharing his personal experience using VIA to get to school when his family lacked a car.
• Jessica Palacios (San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) supported, emphasizing workforce development and citing that 43% of families report transportation barriers.
• Amanda Pierre (resident, District 2) supported, describing her reliance on VIA as a single mother on disability.
• Sandra Torres (mother, District 5) supported through an interpreter, explaining the financial burden of daily bus fares ($1.30/day, over $400/year per student).
• Inga Cotton supported, sharing that her son on the autism spectrum used VIA to get to school and volunteer.
• Jenny Margot Gonzalez supported, speaking as a parent of teenagers and noting chronic absenteeism statistics.
• Several other speakers echoed support for the pilot program.

On Individual Item 6 (Federal property acquisition for Project Marvel):

• Cindy Munch opposed, raising concerns about lack of transparency, the use of non-disclosure agreements, the $4 million annual rent on a $1.3 billion arena, and the redirecting of tax revenues to TIRZs. She questioned why the Spurs do not buy the property directly and argued public ownership does not generate tax revenue.

Discussion Items

Items 4 & 5 – Appointment of Dr. Erica Gonzalez Reyes to CPS Energy Board:

• The council considered resolutions confirming Dr. Gonzalez (CEO of Stampa, an allergist/immunologist) as Northeast Quadrant Trustee for CPS Energy (term Feb 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2031) and to the San Antonio Energy Acquisition Public Facility Corporation Board (term Feb 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027).
• Public comment: Jack Finger questioned her qualifications regarding rate increases and data center costs.
• Council members (Corr, Mungia, Castillo, Galvan, Alderete Gavito, Mesa Gonzalez, White, McKee Rodriguez) praised her background in public health, small business, and community leadership. They emphasized the need for ratepayer protection, equity, and transparency.
• The items were approved unanimously, and Dr. Gonzalez was sworn in.

Item 6 – Ordinance for Federal Property Acquisition (727 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd. and adjacent lots):

• Staff presented: The city proposes to offer $30 million (plus up to $120,000 closing costs) to the U.S. General Services Administration for 5.7 acres of federal properties, based on an appraisal of $29.995 million. The San Antonio Spurs will provide the $30 million and cover closing costs. The property would be used for mixed-use development as part of the sports and entertainment district (arena project). A contingency deed allows the city to retain title if the arena project proceeds; if not, the city can reimburse the Spurs or transfer title to them. The offer deadline is Jan 26, 2026.
• Council discussion:
  • Councilman McKee Rodriguez queried why the Spurs cannot buy the land directly (answer: federal negotiated sale only to public entities). He asked if the property was named in community engagement; staff said the mixed-use development was identified in presentations. He expressed concern about the need for city input on future development.
  • Councilman Viagran stressed the importance of retaining downtown property and controlling development.
  • Councilman Galvan echoed the need for city input and alignment with sustainability and affordable housing goals.
  • Councilwoman Alderete Gavito supported continued community input.
  • Councilwoman Castillo raised concerns about the McKinney-Vento Act process: she requested a list of homeless service providers who deemed the site unsuitable. Staff explained that HHS posted a screening, and an appeal was made, but no entity ultimately applied. She urged the council to ensure affordable housing on the site.
  • Mayor Jones made a motion to delay the vote until Jan 22 to obtain the list, but there was no second; the motion did not proceed. Castillo said she would work directly with staff on affordability.
  • The item was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda (Items 7-31): Approved without objection.
• Items 4 & 5 (Dr. Erica Gonzalez Reyes appointments): Approved unanimously; she was sworn in.
• Item 6 (Federal property acquisition): Approved unanimously. The city will submit a $30 million offer to GSA by Jan 26, 2026, funded by the Spurs. If the arena project does not proceed, the city may reimburse the Spurs or transfer title.
• Executive Session: The council met in closed session from 11:25 AM to 1:39 PM to discuss economic development, real property, and legal issues. No action was taken.

Next Steps: The city manager will submit the offer for the federal properties; staff will work on definitive agreements for the arena project and brief the council. The VIA bus pass pilot program will launch with metrics tracked by VIA and reported to the council.