San Antonio City Council Meeting – August 6, 2026

The San Antonio City Council met on August 6, 2026, to consider a consent agenda, several individual items, and public testimony. Key actions included approving a new community advisory committee for the downtown sports and entertainment district, establishing a citywide on-call marketing and communications contract pool, and consenting to the creation of the Jones Avenue Municipal Management District.

Consent Calendar

• Items 7 through 32 (with the exception of items 10, 11, and 23) were approved as a group without separate discussion. Council highlights included:
  • Appointments to boards and commissions for District 6 (items 16–19): Adriana Ziga (Historic Compliance and Technical Advisory Board), Erica Gonzalez (Commission on Status of Women), Nutanda Taiwo (Commission on Strengthening Family Well-Being), and Kathleen Davis (ACS Advisory Board).
  • Item 24: Memorial Way designation for Jose Flores III, in memory of a John Jay High School student killed in a traffic incident.
  • Item 13: Renewal of Title V dental program grant for Metro Health.
  • Item 14: Nearly $24 million HUD action plan for housing, youth centers, and infrastructure.
  • Item 9: Traffic calming improvements related to the Green Line advanced rapid transit construction.
  • Appointment of Dr. Sherry Albright to the San Antonio Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation (District 9).
  • Appointment of Jacob Chapa to the Streets, Bridges, and Sidewalks Advisory Board (District 7).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Suzanne Scott (former General Manager, San Antonio River Authority) spoke in support of creating a community advisory committee for the sports and entertainment district. She recommended jointly forming the committee with Bexar County, selecting community-based organizations for membership, carefully choosing chairs, and adequately staffing and resourcing the engagement process.
• Kathy Vail (District 1 homeowner, former state employee) expressed disappointment with the city's lack of urgency in public engagement since the November 2025 Prop B vote. She urged the council to create a larger citizens advisory committee with broad oversight, criticized closed meetings of the downtown working group, and called for transparency on a project involving public dollars and land. She noted that the city vote on Prop B was only about 51% and should not be seen as a strong mandate.

Discussion Items

• Item 5: Resolution creating a community advisory committee for the proposed downtown sports and entertainment district.

  • Councilmember Corr introduced the resolution as a way to engage the public on the $75 million community benefits agreement (CBA) and broader project phases. The committee would have 33 members (3 from each council district plus 3 mayoral appointments) and meet monthly.
  • Councilmember McKee Rodriguez moved to table the item to a B session on August 19 and an A session on September 3, arguing that the committee should be created after negotiations, that it weakens the city's hand by assuming $75 million, and that equity concerns (districts most impacted) were not addressed. The motion to table failed on a voice vote.
  • McKee Rodriguez then offered two amendments: (1) requiring all committee members to sign the city ethics code, and (2) requiring that the three committee chairs be elected from residents of districts 1, 2, and 5, and that each council district appoint at least one resident from their own district. The first amendment passed; the second amendment failed.
  • The original resolution as amended then passed.

• Item 6: Ordinance approving on-call citywide marketing and communication services contracts (14 firms, up to $4.6 million annually, $23 million total over 5 years).

  • City staff explained that the contracts are pre-qualified pools for advertising, graphic design, public relations, public engagement, and video production. No funds are appropriated at this time; departments use their own budgets or grants. The approach is expected to save approximately 6,270 hours of staff time per year by avoiding individual procurements.
  • Councilmembers expressed support for the efficiency and local business inclusion. Some raised concerns about potential increased spending, but staff clarified that spending is limited by departmental budgets.
  • The item was approved.

• Item 23: Resolution consenting to the creation and inclusion of land in the Jones Avenue Municipal Management District (MMD).

  • Councilmember Galvan requested this item be pulled for presentation, as it is the first MMD in San Antonio. The district covers about six acres near the San Antonio Museum of Art, formerly owned by CPS Energy, now owned by McCombs Enterprises. The MMD can levy assessments and issue bonds to finance infrastructure. The city appoints five voting directors (Lawson Jesse, Pat Bernacki, Andrew Sims, Nick Prater, George Warren).
  • Discussion included the MMD's ability to tax itself, its potential connection to a future TIRS (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone), and the project's goal to activate the riverfront and connect the Pearl and River North areas. Councilmembers praised the investment and design.
  • The resolution was approved.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda (items 7–32, except 10, 11, 23) approved.
• Items 10 and 11 (eminent domain for South Sarzamora Overpass and District 9 traffic improvements) approved unanimously.
• Item 5 (community advisory committee for sports/entertainment district) approved, as amended to include ethics code requirements.
• Item 6 (on-call marketing contracts) approved.
• Item 23 (Jones Avenue MMD) approved.
• The meeting adjourned at 11:02 a.m.