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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

San Antonio City Council Meeting – May 14, 2026: Proclamations, Consent Agenda, and Executive Session

City Council — Thursday, May 14, 2026

BodySan Antonio, Texas

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, May 14, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:37:22

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0:22

So San Antonio with the rhythm here we go and somehow in the beat drop so everybody let's go let's go let's go on a meet again again.sa.gov diagonal TV S-A.

1:14

Good morning.

1:15

The time is now 9 01 a.m.

1:18

on May 14th, 2026, and the meeting of the San Antonio City Council is called to order.

1:25

Madam Clerk, please call roll.

1:28

Councilmember Corps.

1:31

Councilmember McKee Rodriguez.

1:34

Councilmember Villagran.

1:35

Here.

1:36

Councilmember Mungia.

1:38

Councilmember Castillo.

1:39

Here.

1:40

Councilmember Gabon.

1:42

Here.

1:42

Councilmember Andarenda Gavito.

1:44

Here.

1:45

Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez.

1:47

Councilmember Spears.

1:48

Here.

1:49

Councilmember White.

1:52

Mayor Jones.

1:53

Here.

1:53

Mayor we have quorum.

1:54

Great.

1:55

Thank you.

1:59

Quiet in the chambers, please.

2:01

We're gonna get started.

2:03

Councilman White, you recognize to introduce today's invocator wherever you are.

2:25

Thank you, Mayor.

2:27

It's my honor uh today to introduce Pastor Neldo Schmidt who was born in Santa Rosa in Brazil on February 15, 1960.

2:37

He's married uh to his wife Lori Smith, and they have two daughters.

2:42

Um sorry, a daughter, Vanessa, and a son, Philip.

2:46

Uh following his years in elementary school at St.

2:49

Matthew Lutheran School in Santa Rosa, he graduated from Colegio Concordia in Santa Rosa in 1978.

2:57

One year later, Pastor Schmidt entered Concordia Seminary in Porto Alegre, graduating in December of 1983.

3:06

Pastor Schmidt has served uh in the IELB, the Brazilian Partner Church of the Lutheran Church, from February 1984 until August of 1993.

3:18

In December 1994, he began serving at the Concordia Lutheran Church in St.

3:22

Paul, Minnesota.

3:24

He was elected circuit counselor for the Lindell East Circuit of the Minnesota South District in 2003 and 2006.

3:32

And in October of 2006, he accepted the call to serve at St.

3:37

John Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minnesota, and then in 2017 came here to the King's Lutheran Church in San Antonio.

3:47

So Pastor Schmidt, it's our honor uh to have you here today.

4:00

It's my honor to be with you this morning.

4:03

Uh let us focus on a word from the Lord God recorded in 1st Peter chapter 3, verse 15.

4:11

Here is what the Lord God says.

4:14

But in your hearts, honor Christ, the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense of anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

4:26

You may not be seated.

4:30

We will rise later for prayer and pledge of allegiance.

4:37

Dear mayor, city councils, members, thank you so much for the opportunity.

4:42

I bring to you greetings from our congregation, King of King's Lutheran Church, affiliated with the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.

4:49

It is indeed an honor to address you today.

4:55

Hero Onoda was a Japanese soldier who fought the war, World War II, 29 years after it was over.

5:08

He couldn't believe the flyers, the letters that family members sent him to the island in the Philippines where he was still fighting, thinking that the war was still going on.

5:19

It was over.

5:21

When he finally received someone from Japan that came and actually communicated to him that the war was over, then he finally returned.

5:31

He actually came to Brazil to the state of Mato Grosso.

5:34

He had a nice farm there and returned to Japan before he died.

5:39

Question.

5:41

What would lead a man to such an extreme commitment and not believe the message?

5:51

To serve his country, to serve the emperor of Japan, to that kind of sacrifice.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety██████████████████████████████████34%

Procedural██████████████████████████26%

Youth Programs██████████████14%

Active Transportation█████████9%

Water And Wastewater Management████████8%

Community Engagement███3%

Transportation Safety██2%

Engineering And Infrastructure██2%

Infrastructure█1%

Summary of Proceedings

San Antonio City Council Meeting – May 14, 2026

The San Antonio City Council convened on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 9:01 a.m. and adjourned at 11:52 a.m. after an executive session. The meeting opened with roll call (quorum present), an invocation by Pastor Neldo Schmidt of King of Kings Lutheran Church, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the April 29–30, 2026, minutes. Five proclamations were read, recognizing Communities in Schools (40th anniversary), National Salvation Army Week, National Bike Month/Bike to Work Day, Police Officers Memorial Day/National Police Week, and Texas Flood Awareness Week. The consent agenda (items 5–16, minus withdrawn item 13) was approved unanimously after several council members highlighted individual items. No public testimony was delivered despite two individuals signing up.

Proclamations & Recognitions

Communities in Schools of San Antonio (40th Anniversary): Mayor Jones read the proclamation. Jessica Weaver (President/CEO) accepted, noting the organization serves ~12,000 students annually across 12 school districts and partners with schools and the city to remove barriers to education. Council members praised the program’s impact on student success and workforce development. Councilwoman Mungia mentioned that former councilmembers Roger Garcia and Saldaña credit CIS for their success.
National Salvation Army Week (May 11–17, 2026): The Mayor read the proclamation. A Salvation Army representative stated that in 2025 the San Antonio branch served more than 145,000 meals and provided nearly 50,000 nights of shelter. Council members thanked the organization for its thrift stores, senior center, Angel Tree program, and reentry services.
National Bike Month / Bike to Work Day (May 2026, May 15): Multiple speakers from MPO, the Transportation Department, and Activate SA emphasized the need to move from planning to execution. Statistics: 33 cyclists were killed and 109 seriously injured between 2021 and 2025; one cyclist (Mark Anthony Morales) died in 2026. Councilwoman Corps advocated for quick-build solutions (e.g., plastic delineators) and noted that current bike lanes often have obstructions. Councilwoman Galvan and Councilman Aldrete Gavito called for 15–20 projects per year instead of two.
Police Officers Memorial Day / National Police Week: Chief of Police accepted the proclamation, noting SAPD’s 180-year history and 62 officers killed in the line of duty. The memorial ceremony will be held May 29, 2026, at the SAPD Training Academy. Council members expressed gratitude for officers’ sacrifices and highlighted the importance of officer-community relations. Councilman McKee Rodriguez acknowledged the challenges of policing but praised San Antonio’s difference due to officers’ community roots.
Texas Flood Awareness Week: Chief of SAFD emphasized the “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” message after the June 12, 2024, flooding event. Councilwoman Castillo noted that flood mitigation projects are expensive but critical; she highlighted the work of stormwater staff Jessica and Victoria, and that Infrastructure Director Stephanie Morales is pursuing a master’s in hydrology. Councilman Galvan pointed to Old Grissom and Pin Road flooding issues in District 6. Councilman Spears referenced the Perrin Creek tragedy and two homeless deaths on Salado Creek in September 2024.

City Manager’s Report

A video showcased two Development Services Department employees in recognition of Building Safety Month (May 2026): Valerie Gleason (Electrical Inspection Supervisor, 31 years) and Crystal Town (Dangerous Premises Officer, 11 years). The theme was “Built to Last.”

Consent Agenda

All items on the consent agenda (items 5 through 16, with item 13 withdrawn) were approved by a single vote. Council members highlighted the following:

Item 5 (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Grant): Councilwoman Spears noted the ordinance authorizes application and acceptance of up to $2.1 million from the Office of National Drug Control Policy to combat drug trafficking and related crime.
Items 7 & 8 (Appointments): Councilman Galvan appointed Cynthia Landez to the Streets, Bridges, and Sidewalks Board and Aaron Gonzalez to the Parks and Recreation Board.
Item 10 (SA Ready to Work Advisory Board): Councilwoman Castillo highlighted appointments of Michael Benya (IBEW Local 60 labor representative) and Barbara Acosta (serving high-barrier populations), emphasizing organized labor and justice-involved voices.
Item 15 (Taxpayer Impact Statement): Councilman White said the ordinance requires annual publication of a taxpayer impact statement (including CPS Energy and SAWS rates) in the newspaper to improve transparency and accountability.
Item 3 (Minutes Approval): Minutes from April 29–30, 2026, were approved without edits.

Public Comments

No members of the public spoke. Two individuals (Monica Guevara and Kathy Jones) had signed up but did not address the council.

Executive Session

The council met in executive session from 10:36 a.m. to 11:52 a.m. to discuss economic development negotiations (Sec. 551.087), real property transactions (Sec. 551.072), and legal issues including litigation, emergency preparedness, and collective bargaining (Sec. 551.071). No official action was taken in closed session.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:52 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

So San Antonio with the rhythm here we go and somehow in the beat drop so everybody let's go let's go let's go on a meet again again.sa.gov diagonal TV S-A. Good morning. The time is now 9 01 a.m. on May 14th, 2026, and the meeting of the San Antonio City Council is called to order. Madam Clerk, please call roll. Councilmember Corps. Councilmember McKee Rodriguez. Councilmember Villagran. Here. Councilmember Mungia. Councilmember Castillo. Here. Councilmember Gabon. Here. Councilmember Andarenda Gavito. Here. Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez. Councilmember Spears. Here. Councilmember White. Mayor Jones. Here. Mayor we have quorum. Great. Thank you. Quiet in the chambers, please. We're gonna get started. Councilman White, you recognize to introduce today's invocator wherever you are. Thank you, Mayor. It's my honor uh today to introduce Pastor Neldo Schmidt who was born in Santa Rosa in Brazil on February 15, 1960. He's married uh to his wife Lori Smith, and they have two daughters. Um sorry, a daughter, Vanessa, and a son, Philip. Uh following his years in elementary school at St. Matthew Lutheran School in Santa Rosa, he graduated from Colegio Concordia in Santa Rosa in 1978. One year later, Pastor Schmidt entered Concordia Seminary in Porto Alegre, graduating in December of 1983. Pastor Schmidt has served uh in the IELB, the Brazilian Partner Church of the Lutheran Church, from February 1984 until August of 1993. In December 1994, he began serving at the Concordia Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was elected circuit counselor for the Lindell East Circuit of the Minnesota South District in 2003 and 2006. And in October of 2006, he accepted the call to serve at St. John Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minnesota, and then in 2017 came here to the King's Lutheran Church in San Antonio. So Pastor Schmidt, it's our honor uh to have you here today. It's my honor to be with you this morning. Uh let us focus on a word from the Lord God recorded in 1st Peter chapter 3, verse 15. Here is what the Lord God says. But in your hearts, honor Christ, the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense of anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. You may not be seated. We will rise later for prayer and pledge of allegiance. Dear mayor, city councils, members, thank you so much for the opportunity. I bring to you greetings from our congregation, King of King's Lutheran Church, affiliated with the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.

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