Well, let's try to get through them.

The time is now 2 02 p.m.

on October 7th, 2025, and the meeting of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is now called to order.

Madam Clerk, can you please call the roll?

Councilmember Corr.

Councilmember Mungia.

Present.

Councilmember Aldete Gavito.

Councilmember Spears?

Here.

Chair McKee Rodriguez.

Wonderful, thank you so much.

We're gonna do things a little bit out of order, but we are gonna start off with uh first item on the agenda is approval of minutes.

Are there any corrections to the minutes?

If not, I'll entertain a motion for approval.

Motion to approve.

Second.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Item passes.

Uh Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public signed up to speak?

No, there is no public comment.

Okay, next time.

Uh, like I said, we're gonna do things a little bit out of order.

I'm gonna ask via Metropolitan to hold off just a little bit.

Uh you'll be the last item today if we're able to get through all the interviews and whatnot, but we're gonna start off with uh item three.

Or item yes, three.

Good afternoon.

Uh John Stevens, C C DO.

Um, have a short item for you related to Dockless Vehicles.

Uh currently we have two vendors in the market, and this will be a uh one year contract extension.

Uh and then we're seeking feedback from you all on initiating an RFP for future contract award.

Oops, excuse me.

So the Dockless Vehicles first launched here in 2018.

We've completed two RFPs at this point.

Under both of those RFPs, we selected two vendors.

Um our current operators are Byrd and VO, and since our program was initiated, over four million trips have been taken.

The current contract terms is that each vendor has a two-year agreement with a one-year renewal.

Each company is allowed a thousand vehicles, uh, and then we had several other important contracting goals, which included geofencing of priority downtown sidewalks to soil vehicles, uh, voice uh voice alerts to vehicles, and then there's a section of the agreement that allows flexibility for increasing vehicle counts, and we had always committed to coming back to the transportation committee uh uh council committee before we would ever do that.

So program revenues.

You can see that uh program revenues rose in FI25 compared to 24.

Uh and the program makes about 373,000 a year.

The city basically earns revenue in several ways.

There's a per vehicle annual fee, there's a 30 uh cent ride chair revenue uh for each trip taken, and then we receive um fee-based revenue for violations.

Um and those violations are really for sensitive areas like the River Walk and Alma plaza when the vendors fail to comply and correct violations within the contract SLA.

So at this point, we have this one year extension under the contract.

City staff would like to go ahead and execute that um or bring forward that uh one year amendment and then initiate an RFP uh with the same terms, two years with one one-year renewal option.

Uh and during that RFP process, we'd be looking at technology improvements and geofencing, uh, things to prevent sidewalk riding and just further safety, which are really the same things that we've looked at through each iteration of of these RFPs.

The timeline for this, uh the timeline at the top here is what it took us to get through an RFP the last time, which was that we issued the RFP in September of 2022, and then we came back for the contract award in October of 2023.

We're planning for a one-year process again, and so we would initiate the RFP in the summer of 2026 and come back to you again in October of 2026.

So that's really the in summary of the item.

We're looking forward an endorsement for the uh the one-year amendment or the one-year extension, and then feedback on the initiation of the RFP.

And that's the presentation.

Gotcha.

Thank you for that uh for that presentation.

Um, do we need to take action ascended this to full council?

We like an endorsement.

Yes.

Okay, so I'll um we'll have we'll have council discussion.

Uh everybody will have about five minutes for the first round, three minutes for a second round.

Um my first and really only question is uh since the inception of the program in 2019, what have been I guess the major feedback from constituents, visitors alike, and how has that feedback been implemented as time goes on, especially with those the contractors that we have?

Sure.

So uh on the community side, um we've done numerous community surveys.

Um most of them are uh deal with sidewalk clutter, uh responsiveness of vendors uh in correcting issues, um and that's been largely the community feedback, and it's split kind of demographically between there are the users uh that value the product versus some uh more commute community feedback, which has more concerns over vehicles and right-of-way.

Um so with that, the sidewalk riding was a big effort.

Um 2018 when this was initially developed, it was a very open pilot program.

The feedback from council at the time was to have a very light touch.

We had seven vendors and many thousands of scooters, uh, and so we implemented this RFP process to really constrain the number of vehicles and the number of vendors that we were working with that gave us an opportunity to better look at where vehicles were deployed, what the appropriate vehicle caps are, uh, and those are the are the main changes that we've implemented.

Gotcha.

And when we um I guess what is the ecosystem of folk who provide this service, the vehicles, how many organizations, how many businesses do this?

There's two current vendors.

So beyond the two, so say we issue an RFP, will we just get applications from those two, or are there no there are there are significantly uh more vendors than that?

Um there's been quite a bit of consolidation in the market.

I don't know exactly what the whole universe is, but there's probably six to eight respondents at least that we would expect to see.

Gotcha, and I guess just uh in terms of renewal of the contract.

Do we have any concerns with the existing vendors that haven't been worked out, or do we feel no uh at this point we feel pretty comfortable with the number of vehicles in the market and the operators that we have?

Well, that's all for my questions.

Uh council committee members?

Uh council member Mungia.

Thank you, Councilman.

Um I just had a couple quick questions.

Are the fees that we charge and assess um consistent with other comparable cities?

Um yes, they are.

We've done various uh assessments of pure cities in the past.

Um we had a shorter um expectation for correction than many cities uh when these services were kind of rolled out nationally.

Um our council kind of pushed for the operators to operate within a stricter time frame for correction.

Uh and so our fees and our timelines for correction historically were a little higher, um, and other uh cities have kind of caught up to that.

Okay, good.

So I want to make sure we weren't on the low end of fees, of course.

Um and you know, as far as community feedback, have you communicated directly with folks like disability SA or other folks?

And I I mentioned that specifically because this past Saturday I was at the disability SA parade downtown, right?

And it's at one of our central parks, and access is very important.

Um so I just wonder if you've heard from that community about blockage of the access of the right of way with bikes and if there's a huge conflict there.

I haven't engaged that group specifically.

I'm happy to do that before we come back to council.

Um we've had many different community outreach efforts um really focused on you know issues with accessibility, um, but we can reach out to them before moving forward to go.

Yeah, if you don't mind, I think they're um pretty they're a conglomerate of a lot of other folks, and I think they're doing a lot of work right now, especially to call attention to that.

So I'd appreciate that.

Thank you.

Thank you, council member.

Uh council member uh Dr.

Core.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, just a couple of questions on this one on the chart with the how much we're getting on the parking, or like the parking fee is a hundred dollars.

How much are we receiving in revenue for that?

We received about a hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars related to uh hundred and excuse me, 146,000 related to compliance fees in FY25.

Excuse me.

Um of that second row, the revenue share for that is uh about a hundred and seventy-five thousand for ridership fees, and then a hundred and forty-six thousand for compliance related parking fees.

So what changed in 2420?

Did we just go out and start ticketing more?

Uh so we use a third-party data aggregator uh called Populous that actually assesses these companies for failure to correct in those sensitive areas.

Um, and so that fee revenue, first of all, did not apply in the first quarter of the contract.

It was a new feature, and the companies we gave them an opportunity to adjust to kind of that new environment where they were going to be fined, and we had to build out a appeal process and the like.

So the first quarter um there was no revenue related to that fee compliance.

And then secondly, we've seen an increase in the in the amount the number of instances of violations.

If they leave the vehicle in a sensitive area like Almo Plaza, and they don't correct it within the stipulated contract period, they automatically are assessed to fine, and then we get the fee revenue.

And what's the compliant like what's the time period that they have to be able to do?

It's one hour for correction in those sensitive areas like the River Walk and Almo Plaza.

So when I've traveled to other cities, they just have spaces that are already like blacked out.

Have we implemented that feature at all?

We have.

So all of those areas are geofenced.

And so all of them stop rides in those footprints.

They give alerts and audible alerts to the riders.

Ultimately, if the rider decides to just leave the vehicle there because just because the technology worked and the vehicle stopped, doesn't mean that the problem still doesn't exist.

So the vehicle gets left essentially in that footprint, and then the company is responsible for coming to collect it.

So if the company fails to collect it at that point in the contract SLA, then at that point they recess the fine.

Do you by any chance have a map of which areas are geofenced?

I'll need to follow up.

It's Main Plaza, the River Walk, Elmo Plaza, La Vie ETA, Market Square are important downtown parks and plazas.

Okay.

And they have a lot of areas that are like you can't park.

And so it's it's annoying for the rider, but it prevents like the clutter that I think we see in certain spots.

And so I was wondering if we'd looked at the map of how much we've geofenced and if there was any changes that needed to be made on areas that we don't want parking to be excessive.

Um so I don't know if we could just take a look at that.

Like I know uh Pearl and for example is scooter free, so you can't go, so that would be an example of a place that I know that's private property, and we may have only been choosing public property, but I think it'd be good to just look at where like hot spots from those violations and if there's any additional geofence locations that we need to incorporate within that.

Um and also if there is a way with all of our downtown changes that are happening to look at specific micro mobility, like where we want additional scooters, like if we provided an ascent incentive to make sure there is enough supply at certain areas.

So if we know there's a parking garage that folks are using to move go back and forth, like making sure that there is parking allowed in specific areas and that there's addition, there's always supply there because that's also a problem with the the scooters if there's not there and you can't use it right.

So I'd I'd like us to think about how we can revamp all of our micro mobility programs in assumption that we might need more usage of them as we get more people downtown.

Understood.

Thanks.

And I I think that's a great uh comment, and something we should continue to assess to do, just so that you know we have developed and implemented over time parking corrals at those kind of transportation hubs and encourage the vendors to deploy in those areas.

So provide an incentive or anything to say.

There isn't a financial incentive to begin or end or ride in the zone.

It's something that we have talked with the operators about and and in the next contract, that's great feedback for us to include.

Yeah, like maybe the and obviously always taking it back to the end user.

If me as a driver know that I would get uh half off my ride if I drive an extra couple blocks and park it versus stopping at the corner I'm at, I might be more inclined to do that if it was just a pop-up that came up.

And I actually I did have one more thing, Chair.

Um I noticed that we've gone down to two, and uh, Chairman asked us like do we feel good about the number of contractors that we have?

I mean, I know that that has to do a little bit with the industry in general because that it's a tricky industry, but um, do we is there not an ability for us to have a little bit more competition because the rates have significantly increased for both of these because they kind of had a especially bird, I think has a little bit of a monopoly downtown.

So uh for context, VO uh does see more rides than BERD.

Really?

Um significantly more actually.

Uh and so the way we have looked at this has been uh the blend of vehicle types in the market.

So we we have tried to prioritize like seated and standing options for different customer types potentially.

Um so that with that being solved by the current vendors and the number of vehicles being both commercially viable for them and not excessive, that's where we've landed on the recommendation of the two operators of the thousand uh vehicles each.

Um but we we could look at you know that same number of vehicles spread across a different number of vendors uh and and as you guys explore since this is a one year extension.

I would like for us to see what that does, particularly again if we're trying to incentivize more um micro mobility, we need to make sure it's not more expensive than an Uber.

And sometimes if I'm using you have to think about as one person, right, versus three people in an Uber, and the scooter can't be more expensive than the Uber, and the rights have increased and they have changed their way where you have to pay ahead of time.

And I just think I'm obviously you know, anyway.

So I think if you can do a little bit of an analysis on whether if we added more competition back to the marketplace, if that would affect the rates that the end user is facing.

Sure.

When we come back for the RFP, we can refund that.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Core.

Um, and I'll just in summary of what I heard request wise, uh, and if we could get this in a follow-up memo, um, was number one a map with what the geofenced areas are, uh, and I think also what it what our policy looks like in comparison to a city like it was Tampa, yeah, Tampa and other cities with uh Dockless vehicles, uh just to know maybe if if maybe there's room for policy change in terms of where you can park and what amenities are available and parking space, all that kind of stuff.

Then the third thing was maybe a high level analysis of because I can't imagine if you brought the two, if you brought uh Vio and Byrd together and said, hey, what would it look like if we added a third vendor?

I'm sure they would not be a hundred, I'm sure they wouldn't be thoroughly pleased with that.

Uh but if we can look at other similar cities similar to us in size and uh scale and see hey, what has happened in other cities that have three or four vendors?

Uh thank you.

Uh Councilmember Alderetzica Vito.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, thank you for this presentation.

Really quick question.

The current contract was a two-year agreement with a one-year renewal term.

When was that supposed to end?

The the one the two year term just ended.

So the two-year term ended September 30.

Um, and we're bringing the one year renewal to council uh following briefing of the transportation committee.

Okay.

I I think what I was just wondering is is why we're kind of getting into the contract extension conversation in the first place.

Like if we knew that this was going to end um while we're extending it in instead of well, the the idea is to execute the one year renewal and then initiate an RFP so there's not a service gap.

So we know that it will take us quite a bit of time to initiate that RFP.

The contract at all always contemplated a one-year renewal.

So this is just kind of aligning the RFP and coming to Transportation Committee to get feedback on the RFP and also just the contract renewal.

Yeah, I I definitely understand like not having a service gap.

Although I would just think that we would have worked backwards and said, all right, in order to avoid a contract extension, we got to have XYZ done by certain dates.

The city of San Antonio is not going to incur any higher costs or charges from these vendors because of this extension, are we?

No, this is all a revenue contract.

Um, and so the and I mean this is a pretty typical format we have where we have a base year and then renewals.

Um and so it gives us an opportunity to assess how these vendors do in the first several years and whether or not we want to implement this one year extension.

We're at a point where we feel comfortable with doing that, giving ourselves the time to develop the RFP.

Um had we had a very different um experience with the vendors over the first you know 12 months of the contract, we probably would have gone with a different approach and and sought to initiate an RFP earlier and not move forward with the contract extension.

So the contract extension just provided us flexibility.

Okay, so and then we're gonna discuss this one-year renewal in the next transportation committee.

So would you say the intent is to discuss it now?

Is the discussing both the um we are hoping for an endorsement of the one-year contract extension and then any feedback that the committee has related to a future RFP for Dockless Vehicles?

Councilwoman, if I could add we should um with you all's agreements today, the the one year extension will head to city council.

We'll come back with some of the feedback we've received on the RFP moving forward, let you know about that before we issue it.

That's kind of the plan.

I see that makes it more sense.

Thank you.

When is that extension going to come to council?

Um early November.

Yeah.

Early November.

And then we'll come back to you.

See the plan is to issue this fall and the RFP moving forward.

So we'll come back to see you this fall.

Okay, got it.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir.

Thank you.

And I'll add I know I I'll acknowledge that this has been a very interesting year.

We haven't had a transportational infrastructure committee meeting since April, and so the opportunities to handle the handle this kind of business has been very slim and scarce.

And so I would just encourage for future and I don't know what other RFPs or contracts we have coming down the pipeline, but uh we have to be mindful of upcoming events and dates, and let's make sure that if we have to do any extensions that we do it before there before the contracts have already termed out.

Uh councilmember Spears.

Thank you, Chair.

Um so do you know what what the trends are of the usage for these dockless vehicles?

Trends of the usage.

So as far as total trips, uh total trips are up this year over last year.

So last year we had about 730,000 trips.

This year we'll have about 785,000 trips taken.

Uh and so general utilization is up.

Uh trips per vehicle is pretty flat over the last several years.

So slightly higher usage.

So would you say it's so it will be higher usage this year?

Then also is it a lot of um you know regular users or a lot of tourists or it is hard for us to get demographic data of exactly who the user is in surveys?

Uh we've identified that there is a significant local user uh base, um, but it's never going to be the majority.

May I real quick go back to the question that was just asked?

Uh you mentioned that rides per vehicle has been fairly similar, but that ridership has gone up.

I'm gonna use a very simple unrealistic number, and I want you to explain why it's wrong.

If in 2024 there are a thousand vehicles and each one gets five rides a day, that's five thousand rides.

In 2025, I interpret ridership per vehicle to be the same, and so that's five rise rides per vehicle a day, a thousand vehicles, five thousand rides, so that doesn't account for the jump in ridership.

It's a good and reasonable question.

The the reason is the V the companies control the number of vehicles deployed.

They have a cap, not a minimum.

So the uh the number of vehicles deployed will shift based on usage as long as it never crosses that thousand vehicles.

Um so if they get more vehicles out at times of high ridership, they'll see more total trips.

Gotcha, thank you.

So I guess that's kind of in line with what I'm trying to find out too, what councilwoman Corps was asking.

So you're anticipating, so we were at 187, we went up to 353, and then we're going back down to 266.

The reason that 2026 number is low is that we've seen significantly more fee revenue in the last several months that wasn't accounted for in our initial FY26 uh budget.

Um, and so the it may outperform that 286.

So you're being conservative.

So it's being very conservative.

Okay.

Um have we like thought about memberships?

We were talking about fees, and if they're commensurate with other cities, have we thought about like memberships as being part of that structure?

So the um the some the companies some of them do offer membership structure.

Um the membership structures that the we're aware of are really more in our equity programs for lower income users and opportunities for them to enroll in uh free or reduced uh reduced trips.

Um and so that's really how been the city's focus on driving uh usage for um lower income individuals.

Okay.

Um I had some questions about the safety record for the Dockless scooters.

Um how are they comparing with with like the little runner or or the local?

I'll need to follow up to find out how it would compare to the little runner.

Um accident data, uh we do receive accident data every month from police and fire.

Um generally it's a few transports and accidents a month for give you a couple months.

Uh in August, there was one transport accident and two accidents that didn't require transport.

In September, there were three that required transport and two that didn't.

Uh the the accident counts are relatively low.

Um we can follow up with the total accidents.

Okay, and then do you know how many citations have been issued for riders?

I don't believe there have been any citations issued.

Okay, that's all I had.

Thank you.

Any other questions, comments, concerns, songs?

Uh councilwoman Dr.

Kor.

Um thanks, Chair.

I was just gonna ask, make a recommendation, maybe I'm overstepping, but um, it would be great since you know the little runner was brought up, maybe, and we also have petty cabs and a couple of other um transportation methods for downtown.

If we could just get like a um overview, maybe and a comparison of all of the different uh transportation methods, how many permits are allowed, what's the revenue, things like that.

Uh maybe we could get a briefing that cross-examines those.

We can do that.

Of course.

Uh any other questions, comments.

Okay, with that uh being said, I'll entertain a motion to uh support the item as it goes to council.

Make a motion to move it to council.

Second.

Wonderful.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor.

Passes unanimously.

Uh we'll move on to the next item, which is item four, the big ticket item for the day, consideration of applicants to the airport advisory board.

Um, can we please get a staff presentation?

Good afternoon, transportation and infrastructure committee.

I'm Debbie Rockassitter, City Clerk.

And I'm gonna be presenting kind of a background on the airport advisory commission and our process.

So the commission advises the aviation director on matters affecting the city's airports and air transportation initiatives, and consists of 19 members representing the Avis Aviation Industry, the travel and tourism industry, the ground transportation industry, the airport business community, the larger business community, and the greater community at large.

Each member is appointed to a two-year term with appointments staggering from year to year.

So the Office of the City Clerk opened applications on December 18th of 2024, which is 90 days before the expiration of the term.

There was a web posting and social media postings by communications and engagement department on and on the January 27th.

And by September 15th of 2025, we received 78 applications.

The city attorney's office vetted those 78 applications, and of the 78, 67 were eligible.

The ad hoc committee was created by former chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Infrastructure Committee.

Uh and that included District 4 council member and district nine council member.

So thank you both for serving on the ad hoc committee to help shortlist.

They reviewed all of those 67 applications and came up with a short list that you see here today.

And the plan will be to interview those today and make a recommendation, hopefully, to this full city council.

City Council would vote on the full board appointment at an A session, and then after that, the city clerk would notify the folks uh that they have been appointed, ask them to complete proper forms, swear them in, as well as uh invite them to complete the municipal leadership institute training, and then they can be seated on the board.

So this is a list of those that have made it to the short list for the different categories.

I want to make a note that in the community seat, uh, pretty much any of these folks could serve.

And then we have uh another individual uh Marco Barros in the business community seat who could also serve in the travel and tourism uh seat as well.

So the process today will be for the applicant to give a two-minute opening statement.

If the applicant cannot attend, there's a written statement that is provided in your packet.

If the chair would like the city clerk's office to read that statement, we can do that.

But you can see those, those written statements.

The council committee will interview all shortlisted applicants, break into executive session to deliberate, but no formal action may be taken in executive session.

Then the committee reconvenes, a member would make a motion, and that would go to full city council for appointment.

Um I forgot to mention that during the interviews, all candidates will be sequestered and will not be able to listen to each other's uh answers to the questions.

So if you have any question about the process, I'm here.

Otherwise, Chair, you know you've done this before, so it's back to you.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Thank you all so much, all the applicants for your interest in service interest in serving in the airport advisory commission.

Uh as was mentioned, we're gonna begin interviews.

Each applicant will have a two-minute opening statement, uh, and the committee will ask up to three questions.

I'm asking all except for the first applicant to leave the room so that we can begin the interviews, but before we do that, uh I'll ask uh Mr.

Peterik if you wouldn't mind uh just setting the tone.

Uh, what are the kinds of decisions, actions, feedback that the uh airport advisory commission will be offering in their service?

the applicants for your interest in service interest in serving in the airport advisory commission uh as was mentioned we're gonna begin interviews each applicant will have a two minute opening statement uh and the committee will ask up to three questions i'm asking all except for the first applicant to leave the room so that we can begin the interviews but before we do that uh i'll ask uh mr bateric if you wouldn't mind uh just setting the tone uh what are the kinds of decisions actions feedback that the uh airport advisory commission will be offering in in their service right so uh this commission provides um uh direct feedback to airport staff as they work through um all aspects of their business right so um how they provide air service to our community how they provide concessions within the airport how they provide um ground transportation connections within the airport so they they serve as a link to the business community the the the um uh hospitality community the community in general um between both the airport staff and the public thank you thank you um the first person is going to be uh mark provost uh good afternoon hello mr provost how you doing doing great thank you for letting me uh come and uh talk to you guys today so real quick um i have an undergrad in engineering and mba in finance uh spent my professional career uh as an aerospace engineer working for both commercial and u.s defense aerospace companies um been a resident of bear county um only because my dad was in the air force at uh randolph air force base so i grew up in that area went to school in that area um but since the age of two I've been a um resident of this area that leads pretty much to why I have the interest in the airport just not only did I spend a good 30 years working at various companies uh at the airport the old D Howard company uh Sino Swear engine then M7 which turned into Elbut so just a a general interest again like I say I've done um all of my career in aerospace did uh although worked for you know U.S.

defense companies they were always dual purpose we always had commercial aviation in line at the same time so it it sounds good to say it worked for aerospace defense company uh but uh while it's true we did a lot of commercial uh work also mostly uh modification of existing existing airframes uh as you know m7 morphed from um fairchild which turned to Fairchild Dormier and then um m7 and then m7 L but Fairchild was the original uh type certificate holder for the Metro Merlin aircraft so actually built one thousand twenty-three of those aircraft here at the facility at the San Antonio International Airport so we did a lot of that work also that's pretty much uh I'm about the luckiest guy in the aviation industry but uh that pretty much sums it up in a nutshell well thank you for that uh uh council members will be asking questions you'll have about try to keep it to about a minute sure uh council member spears thank you um okay so airports serve many stakeholders travelers businesses nearby residents and as the city as and the city as a whole how would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests well of course you know there's a that's the big issue right having the the residents who are served by the airport and then the commercial interest those have to to balance um I I think you know the the airport people on the on the airport staff just I'm I've been impressed do an awesome job of you know looking at uh everything from noise abatement to uh times at which uh the curfews are um so I think you I think the big thing is is is you have to start out with what the populace is looking for both in service for air you know uh air service and then of course you have to balance that with the with the financial aspects of it and so it's really I if if if if I were king it'd be serving the populace first making sure we have good uh routes and and good service uh and then make sure that we have the smart people make sure that we can fund it thank you uh council member mungia thank you uh what skills experiences or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport so I will we'll admit as far as an operational uh knowledge of how airports work I was on the certification side um all my work was with the FAA on making sure air airframes were and mods were safe so I don't have I have a uh fair knowledge of what it takes to be a leaseholder and work around the airport but as far the the the FAA regulations as to how uh uh airport operations must run um not that big again I do have an MBA in finance so I I I do have a keen interest in how we fund this stuff and what makes sense and what doesn't as to when we you know uh have have different vendors come in um but like I say have a a lot of experience one of the things I did under Elbitt was uh you

So I don't I have a uh fair knowledge of what it takes to be a leaseholder and work around the airport, but as far as the the the FAA regulations as to how uh airport operations must run, um not that big.

Again, I do have an MBA in finance, so I I I do have a keen interest in how we fund this stuff and what makes sense and what doesn't, as to when we you know uh have different vendors come in.

Um but like I say have a lot of experience.

Well one of the things I did under Elbitt was uh consult on transformational technologies and how to plan for those.

That's a that's a big button for me is as we look at uh um you know the VCR Betamax thing of of today is whether we're gonna go to electrical, uh you know, battery-power airplanes or hydrogen-powered airplanes.

I won't give you my debate on why hydrogen's gonna win, but uh but so but we do need to as as a as a community, we need to start looking at that now because those transformational technologies will take place quite quickly.

I mean, you've already got both hydrogen-powered and electric battery-powered airplanes of all sizes, both you know, the personal air taxis, and then now even larger aircraft.

And so, you know, electricity is a little easier, you know, but hydrogen's is not, but hydrogen's got more, you know, kilocalories per mole as a as a weight ratio for for batteries.

Um gotta look now as is if we're gonna make this uh switch to either way we go, whether it be petrochemical, I mean from petrochemicals to either battery powered or petrochemicals to hydrogen power, that's coming on us.

And it's those things that interest me in just uh looking at where the airport's going.

But but to answer your question, I I I am by no means an expert on airport operations.

That that wasn't where I grew up.

Thank you, Councilmember Dr.

Core.

What do you see is the most important role the airport plays in the community, and how would you help the commission strengthen that role?

Well, the most in my mind, the most important role of the airport is to make sure the populace is served with reliable, reliable and uh economic you know, transportation.

Um I mean you look at some communities that have done a done a poor job of that, many reasons, some just been infrastructure bound.

Uh I think San Antonio does a great job of it, but I but I I think it's it's uh the airport's responsibility to make sure that you have um economical um well-scheduled uh air service to places that um you know the populace to travel thank you that concludes the interview.

Uh we're gonna get through the rest and then absolutely um next we have Ignacio Reyes.

Thank you for being here, Mr.

Reyes.

Uh, we'll have uh two minutes for introduction and then followed by three uh three questions.

You'll have about a minute for each of those questions.

You're free to go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I appreciate uh and appreciate your time and the invitation to participate.

My name is Ignacio Nacho Reyes.

Uh I am taking a little uh break from work uh taking care of my grandkids while my son is deployed overseas for a year.

So um it's a little interesting.

But I just came to San Antonio from Austin Bergstrom International.

I worked there for uh 22 years.

I saw that airport grow from the very beginning, the lines, um just growing the airlines, and uh I see the same coming in San Antonio.

I see the airport leadership doing a good job here, and I I believe I can help, and that's why I'm here.

Uh my background as an air traffic controller in the Air Force, uh airspace doing the terminal procedures, clear zones, things like that that are in an airport that many people don't know about pilots do.

Um, and uh also after I retired uh after 9-11, I wanted to do something else.

So I joined the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration with the Department of Transportation, and uh and then uh became its own agency.

So my job was a stakeholder relations manager and uh regional emergency coordinator.

So I work with FEMA, the state of Texas governor's office in emergencies, uh, a firefighter, basically, and public relations.

What's going on at the airport?

What's going on with the city?

Uh what do we need to communicate to the public so that everybody's at ease and nobody panics?

Um it's a tough job, but I loved it.

Um I think I'll end there so I don't go over my two minutes.

No resistance.

No penalties.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember uh Spears.

Okay, so airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Um depends on the issue at hand.

Um I know, for example, when we uh had uh uh lines uh going out the door, uh sometimes uh it depended on the equipment.

If it was equipment that uh TSA had, for example, then we needed to own up to it, and I made sure that I got our public affairs and we would go ahead and provide that to the traveling public.

If it was something where the air carriers uh uh canceled flights or they had issues with uh their systems, and uh you know, nobody wants to come out and say, hey, it was my fault.

For the traveler, it doesn't matter.

It's not working right, and they want it uh to be more efficient.

So my job again was to kind of work with the airport director, the stakeholders, primarily the air carrier bosses, uh, and also the uh law enforcement for security, especially when we had crowds.

And the other thing, as far as my transportation security job was security of those crowds.

It's it's a target.

I mean, uh, and so my job in TSA was avoiding terroristic attacks and things like that.

So uh behind the scenes, those were other things that drew what was more important, which was a priority.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Mungia.

Thank you for your service, Mr.

Reyes.

Uh, what skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Well, some of the uh um things that we've gone through in Austin, I see sometimes uh um at other airports.

Uh we only we didn't have only Austin, we had uh eight eight airports all the way up to Amarillo, Midland, uh San Angelo, um Lubbock, uh College Station, so we had them all.

Each one had something different.

For example, in Midland, we couldn't find TSA officers because the oil rigs were paying them more.

So why go do security for a Fed federal job when uh an oil will pay me more?

But then when the oil or things change, now they were lacking a job and would come to us.

So each airport is not the same.

Uh you have to look at the community, you have to look at the demands.

You have to look at what is the are the drivers of that city.

For example, in Austin, South by Southwest, Austin City Limits is going on right now.

Formula One is coming real soon.

Here we have Fiesta, you know, and other events.

I I would like to be part of helping San Antonio be even better.

Thank you.

Councilmember Dr.

Corps.

Why do you see the most important role the airport plays in the community, and how would you help the commission strengthen that role?

Um I'm sorry, I I I couldn't hear very well.

Could I ask you to appreciate it?

Sorry, let me use it.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community, and how would you help the commission strengthen that role?

Um, well, first things first, we have to be in tune with the airport directors, the uh uh the staff to see where are they going, where have they been?

You just can't jump in and say, hey, I I got it, this is what we're gonna do.

You have to communicate, you have to fall in sync.

Uh some of the things I see is uh non-stop flights, for example, we got uh about 48 here in San Antonio versus like a hundred up in Austin.

People travel up to Austin so they can go on nonstop flights.

Um we have the DCA flight now.

That's awesome.

You know, I mean, we have so much clientele here with our military leaders that they need to get to the Pentagon real quick.

So it just made sense.

So I'm great that happened.

Uh those lessons learned.

I don't think we need to repeat them.

I think we can, you know, if we have knowledge of those, we can bring them to the table and uh all of us work on how we can improve the air service out of San Antonio to other non-stop locations, uh, which is a big driver for people flying instead of driving.

Uh and then the domestic flights.

Um parking, ground transportation, you know, this is a transportation piece also.

Um I parked over at uh Market Square right now, coming over here, but I found my way.

I passed the first test.

And uh I know that sometimes uh at the airport we get uh full.

So how much parking do we have?

And those are other pieces that also uh drive the airport because the land site capacity drives the air side capacity of an airport.

Thank you.

That concludes the interview.

Uh, we're gonna get through the rest of them, have a discussion, and then we'll make a uh recommendation by I appreciate your time.

Thank you.

Absolutely, thank you.

The next person is Doyle Turner.

Hello, Mr.

Turner, how are you doing?

I'm great, how are you?

Wonderful, wonderful.

Uh, we're gonna start off with a quick two-minute uh opening statement, and then I'll have three questions.

Each one, you'll have about a minute to respond if you can keep it to about that.

Thanks, Chair, committee members.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about why I'd like to serve on the airport advisory committee or the commission.

I grew up in San Antonio, uh, was appointed to United States Air Force Academy in 1987.

I graduated and was commissioned in 1991 as an officer in the United States Air Force.

Earned my pilot wings down in Del Rio in 1992, um, and then retired honorably in 2014 uh from the U.S.

Air Force.

Well, on the way I earned my master's degree at the time of my retirement, I was in charge of uh line officer assignments for the United States Air Force, which is all officers other than the uh JAG and the lawyers and so forth, uh, but took care of all kinds of people, whether it was personnel, intelligence, uh, our maintainers, our pilots, the the entire group, I was responsible for moving them.

In that process, um, I have been flying after I retired, I've been flying out of San Antonio uh for the last 14 years, um, and I've flown out of all four uh airports in both my military capacity and as a civilian.

I'm currently the director of uh aviation and the chief pilot for Zachary Industrial.

Technically, we're a tenant on the airport.

We're on the far northwest corner, um, along with some other uh friends that are there.

Um, and so we're considered a tenant, so you all need to know that.

Um, I have flown out of every airport as I spoke about.

I'm a ATP rated pilot, which is airline transport pilot rating.

I'm also a certified flight instructor and I have multiple type ratings in uh different jet aircraft.

I believe I can serve the city and the commission as a valuable team member working with professionalism and integrity, um, helping it striving for in innovation in our modern aviation system.

I believe I can have be a help in the continuous improvement of that.

Airport expansion is essential to meet the needs of the future, uh, but to do so while not accommodating, we have to accommodate both the major airlines and general aviation in that process, um, both tenants and users.

Also, thinks it takes a lot of time, effort, and ingenuity for us to do that.

I've been in aviation 34 years.

Um, it takes a team working together, and I hope to be a part of that team.

Okay, perfect timing.

Uh Councilmember Spears.

Um, okay.

So, number one, airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

It's a great question.

Thank you for the question.

I think the hardest part is the balance, uh, but I think having the understanding inside and hearing from each aspect of the community and how they what their stakeholders are, what's important, making sure you're meeting those needs is essential in that process.

Um, and a fair and balanced approach to to doing that.

One one does not get to say over the other.

We have to be in a mutual agreement as you go forward in taking care of uh each of those stakeholders.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Thank you for your service.

Um, what skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

I think our biggest challenge, we're starting a new terminal.

I think what I add to it, um, part of my time in the Air Force, I was a fighter pilot.

You have to understand airspace extremely well.

I'm not an air traffic controller.

Ignatios and I hit it off quite well.

But understanding how those parts integrate, because no one goes and buys an airline ticket or charters an airplane or schedules their flight with their company and expect to be delayed.

Right now, the greatest challenge I see is our airspace for the future of we can have a huge terminal, but if all our flights are delayed and able to get them here and out in a timely fashion, I think that's it.

That takes a lot of time and effort coordination, whether it's Austin, Randolph, Lackland, our local air space.

There's a lot to be done there, and I think I had an ad strength uh significantly to that, understanding the three-dimensional aspect as well as some of the weather and military versus civilian challenges that are faced.

Thank you, Councilmember Dr.

Corr.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community and how would you help the commission strengthen commission strengthen that role?

Thank you for that question.

Years ago, there was a great advertisement that was made about you can spend a million dollars and pave, say a mile of uh pavement uh on the highway.

You can just go one mile.

You spend a million dollars and pave the runway and provide all the things that go with it.

You can go anywhere in the world.

Our airport is access both to our local businesses being able to get out and our and our uh uh local constituents to be able to get out and go see the world.

It's also a way for people to come here and get in and do that.

Yeah, they can take I-10 or I-35, but our ability to get people in and out is our greatest asset that an airport brings, and we've got to recognize that and be able to make it comfortable, competitive, and an enjoyable experience for people to use our airport system.

Thank you.

Uh thank you so much for your service also.

Forgot to say that earlier.

Um, we're gonna do um we're gonna finish up the rest of the interviews, uh, have a quick discussion, and then hopefully make a recommendation by four o'clock.

Okay, great.

Thank you for your time.

Up next, we have Marcia Hendler.

Oh, okay.

I didn't have her as here.

She's here.

She's just here, yes.

Okay, we'll just perfect.

We'll go ahead with uh Ms.

Tasha Karr.

Hi, Ms.

Carr.

Thank you so much for being here.

Hello, everyone.

How are you?

Excellent, excellent.

How are you?

I'm good.

Wonderful.

We're gonna start off with uh two-minute uh opening statement, and then uh we'll have three questions from council members, and you'll have about a minute for each of those.

Okay.

The floor is yours.

All right, thank you.

Thank you for having me.

I hope y'all like my outfit because I wore it for y'all, bought this in words for you all.

Newfound outfit.

So my name is Tasha Carr.

Um, I am retired military.

I'm 44 years old.

Um heavily heavily involved in transportation.

My background is transportation, and I'm also a logistician.

Um I actively have a commercial driver's license, and I do drive uh commercial vehicles.

So I do drive semi trucks.

Um I currently haul water for HEB.

Um, so all the water you drink in San Antonio, uh, you're welcome.

I haul that water to the stores and also to the distribution centers.

Um I also own a party rental company called Inflatable Movies and More.

Um and I also uh just finished my contract with the city of San Antonio.

Um I am heavy in bridging the gap between businesses and the community.

I am the bridge who goes out and where um the city says, Well, we have a problem reaching the youth, we have a problem reaching um the, you know, like um, the lower income uh how housing, we have a problem reaching those individuals.

I go out and I bridge that gap between the city and the community.

Um I'm very successful at doing it.

My numbers are really high.

They just did a data study on me, and it came back really high.

So um I believe I received a call today, and they want me to come back again to um help them with those numbers again.

So um I love transportation, is what I do.

I eat, sleep, and breathe transportation.

I have done a rail trans rail operations, I've done air operations, I've done sea operations, which really sucks because I'm I don't like riding on a ship with the vehicles.

It's oh god, it's dangerous.

Um and I guess that's my time.

Thank you.

And I I'm with you on being in the middle of the ocean.

Uh councilmember Spears.

Okay, so airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Um balancing those competing interests.

Well, you have to it's hard to satisfy everyone, but uh we want to try to bridge the gap between everyone, you know.

Um, make sure that the people who are coming in they get the San Antonio Southern Comfort experience.

Um, make sure the people that's going out, you know, they also get a good experience as well.

And um make sure that we're doing our part to make sure that the community is safe while traveling.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Mungia.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you for your time or service.

Thank you.

Um, what skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Um, what I bring one, like I told you, I I'm the person who bridges our gap between a community and the airport.

So any issues that you have in that area, I will be able to help you reach the community as well as talk to you about hey, this is what's happening, this is why they're feeling that way.

This is what we need to do to fix it, you know.

So, because maybe you don't understand where they're coming from.

So I can I can help you with that.

Thank you, Councilmember Dr.

Corps.

Thank you.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community?

And how would you help the commission strengthen that role?

Um, well, as a transporter, um to me, the biggest role for the airport always for me is going to be safety.

It's always safety.

Um, I'm a big safety person, so uh letting the community know that yes, the airport is here, but yes, we're always thinking about your safety.

100% your safety, making sure that your kids are safe, making sure that your your pets are safe, everyone is safe.

So safety is my thing.

Thank you.

We're gonna uh wrap up the rest of the interviews and then have a quick discussion, and then by four o'clock we'll have some recommendations made.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, everyone.

I hope you have a good day.

You as well.

Okay, up next we have Marcia Hendler, if I am correct this time.

Hi, Ms.

Hendler, thank you for being here.

Thank you.

Of course.

You ready?

Um, we'll give you uh we'll have about two minutes for an opening statement, and then you'll have three questions.

Each one try to keep your response to about a minute.

I'm Marcia Hendler.

I am a resident of District 9 for about 40 years now.

And what brought me to San Antonio originally was I was asked to be vice president of marketing for La Montyon Hotels, is I have a Bachelor of Science in Global Hospitality Leadership from the University of Houston.

I took a severe left turn in my career path uh 14 years ago, and I founded Tarafina Energy.

We are a licensed oil and gas company, and a year ago we formed a second company, Terrafina Fuels, and we're now fuel dealers.

Uh in 2021, I was named to the inaugural group of Forbes uh Forbes 50 over 50, and I believe I'm the only San Ant that has been named to that group.

I serve on the currently serve on the airport advisory commission, and I am one of three officers, and I am one of the senior members.

I would like to continue working on the commission because there is I'd like to see the construction of the new terminal through.

Uh this last round I was asked to serve on the architectural committee and was working with everyone to present proposals to council for approval on our architectural firm, and then was asked to come back and served on the uh concession and retail vendor uh assignments, and that's now been approved.

And I'm proud to say it looks like I think there are three Michelin restaurants that are gonna be in our airport terminal, and that is just spectacular.

So I'm very pleased that all that has happened, and um uh that's why I'm seeking reappointment, and that's kind of who I am.

Absolutely, thank you so much.

Uh Councilmember Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

How would I balance them?

Uh I think they're all equally important because the airport has to service all community all parts of our community.

And there is not, I don't think there is one that should supersede the other.

We have military that leave during the holidays and they need to be handled in a certain way.

Coming out of hospitality, it is critical that that our hospitality community have access to the airport, and our visitors have access to and from the airport.

How they get from the airport downtown is all important.

I mean, it's all transportation and it all has to work together.

And I think San Antonio has done an exceptional job of making all that work.

Thank you.

Councilmember Moon Gian.

Thank you.

What skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

I think my time of service on the airport has opened doors, and there's knowledge that I've gotten from just being a part of the commission for the time period that I have, and then serving on these last two panels to select both the architects and the food and beverage service.

And doing the food and beverage service, it really became important to address types of food, ethnic foods, uh, dietary restrictions.

I mean, all of those were things that we addressed as we were going through that process as a group.

And so that again emphasizes the different kinds of travelers that we have in the airport as the new terminal is is built, and and as you go through that process, you know, obviously you've got access and accessibility issues that need to be addressed, and that's all the architect's job, but it's also I think our responsibility as we look at things to see ideas and help things happen.

And I don't know how many people really know this.

But the rental car center, that whole concept of placing it where it currently is came out of the airport advisory commission.

That it was conversations that we kept having about visitors to the city that were missing flights because they're trying to figure out where to go to return their rental cars and issues like that, and it kept coming up in conversations.

And we were talking about terminals where you stack cars in some of the European uh parking garages and different ways that we could do it, and it all ended up in a bigger and bigger and bigger conversation that actually led to the can the demolition demolishing the current facility and building the new one with the rental car center.

So all of that is part of what I've had the opportunity to work on for the number of years I've been involved.

Thank you.

Councilmember Dr.

Core.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community?

And how will you strengthen the commission to play that role?

I see it as financial growth.

I don't see how the community can continue to grow financially without a strong airport facility.

And I think that's one of the reasons we're adding the terminal that we're adding is because there is so much demand and so much growth and so much more potential beyond that.

You know, it's unfortunate we lost the uh uh foreign service um, I can't remember the name of the airline airline right now, Condor.

Uh and but I know that that is a focus is to bring back uh and the circumstances around that were unfortunate, but we're gonna bring back more international flights, and that's a focus is to help see that through too.

So all of those become important factors in in our future growth of the city.

Thank you so much for all of your answers and for your service on the commission.

Uh, we're gonna finish the last few interviews, have a quick discussion, and then uh ideally making uh recommendation by four o'clock.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um next we have David Hensey.

Hello, Mr.

Henzi, am I saying that correctly?

Hello, how are you?

Yes, you are.

Thanks.

Wonderful.

Uh we'll have about you.

We'll have about two minutes for an opening statement, and then uh you'll have three questions from council members and try to keep your responses to about a minute.

Sure.

Yeah, thank you again.

I appreciate the opportunity to visit with you all.

I noticed my name was listed in the in the business category.

I actually currently serve as senior associate dean at the School of Health Professions at UT Health San Antonio.

Just as a reminder, UT Health has six different schools.

So we have our school, school of health professions, we train PAs, PTs, OT, SLPs.

We also have medicine, dentistry, nursing, graduate school, and a school of public health.

My interest here today is to remind everybody that as we are bringing in candidates, both student and faculty for our different programs, the large majority of them come through the airport.

That is their first impression when we are bringing in the best and the brightest to fill different roles at UT Health San Antonio and to provide them with that opportunity to highlight San Antonio right when they get off the plane, and then also to give them that lasting impression when they leave our city is something that would be great to provide assistance with.

And it would be great to hear the more good when we are recruiting the best and the brightest.

As a reminder, I used to work also in the School of Medicine, and we bring in roughly about a thousand individuals to apply for residency programs.

We fill about 220 resident residency spots at UT Health San Antonio.

Studies have shown that when individuals complete their residency in a particular town, the likelihood of them staying is in the 80 to 75 percent.

So if we can make sure that when those residents, when that student and when those faculty get off the plane, they have that immediate amazing experience when they are applying for our different programs, the likelihood that we're able to have them stay in San Antonio would increase.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Yeah, that's uh that's a great question, and it really depends on priorities, making sure that when you're balancing a wide variety of priorities, that you are, if possible, providing equal amounts of support to each one of those priorities.

I know that's challenging, but if their efforts made and there if there's a conscious effort to make sure that you are uh paying attention to all of those different areas, then uh the likelihood that you'll have some success if focused on that agenda.

Thank you.

Councilmember Moghea.

Thank you.

What skills experiences or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Yeah, it would really be a customer service perspective, and again, that's hearing from the constituents and the different students and faculty that we have coming through our city as we're trying to recruit from all over the country to make sure that they land in San Antonio, the customer service perspective, uh making sure, as I mentioned in the opening statement, that when they get off that plane, they have a positive experience all the way through the terminal, baggage claim, Uber rides, whatever it is that they need.

So it's a customer service perspective.

Thank you.

Councilmember Dr.

Core.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community, and how will you help strengthen the commission's role?

Yeah, the most important role is really welcoming individuals to San Antonio who haven't had an opportunity to be here.

So I think it's highlighting what we have to offer and providing the best service experience that uh that they could possibly have in this role, it's really providing this uh committee uh the perspective from different community members.

And and I think I I kind of serve in a different in a unique uh area simply due to the educational piece with the recent merger with UT San Antonio.

I know UC UT San Antonio is also looking to bring in the best and the brightest.

And if we can make sure that students and faculty candidates have that, uh, we may be able to make sure that they stay here in San Antonio, uh not only caring for our students, but also patient populations.

Thank you.

Uh that concludes the interview.

We're going to uh finish up the rest of the interviews, have a quick discussion, and sometime around four-ish, we'll uh make a recommendation.

All right.

Thanks for y'all's time.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Up next, we have Brian Morris.

Hello, Mr.

Morris, how are you doing?

I'm doing great.

How are you doing?

Wonderful, wonderful.

Uh, we're gonna start off with the opening statement.

You'll have two minutes, and then we'll get into about three uh council member questions where you'll have about a minute for each response.

Okay.

Floor is yours.

Well, good afternoon, Chair and uh members of the committee.

I'm thrilled to be here with you this afternoon.

My name is Brian Morris, and I serve as the director of sales and marketing at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa.

I have dedicated my career to advancing the hospitality and tourism industry here in San Antonio, which continues to be one of the most uh vital economic drivers in our region.

The JW Marriott is one of the largest resorts in Texas, hosting tens of thousands of visitors annually for both leisure and business travel.

Our ability to connect with national and international markets depends directly on the strength, accessibility, and efficiency of our airport system.

Our property is also in the planning stages of its own expansion, and aligning our growth with the airport's progress ensures that we maximize the benefits of increased connectivity, tourism, and convention activity.

This synergy will create a stronger visitor economy, support jobs, and reinforce San Antonio's reputation as the premier destination.

I am seeking a seat on the airport advisory commission because I believe the perspective of the hospitality in industry is indispensable to achieving the airport's long-term goals.

My role allows me to bridge the needs of visitors, meeting planners, and the business community with the priorities of air transportation.

Together, we can ensure the airport growth supports economic development across multiple sectors while enhancing the overall experience of every traveler who passes through San Antonio.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

Councilmember Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, and nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Well, being in the hospitality industry, I think uh I think you have to you balance different stakeholders, whether it be different disciplines within the hotel industry, but I believe uh the effort is in collaboration uh with one another, and I think uh viewing different viewpoints is really important in something like this.

Thank you.

Councilmember Mungia.

Thank you.

Um what skills, experiences or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Sure, sure.

Well, my my long experience in sales and marketing and dealing daily with um in the hospitality segment with meeting planners, business holders via le leisure or and the like would be a really important perspective because when you look at the airport, it's oftentimes if you if you're visiting a destination one time, this is this is really the the first impression and sometimes the last impression of a city.

And I think uh being in that industry, I can provide a really important perspective in some cases.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Dr.

Cork.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community, and how will you help strengthen that role?

Well, again, my experience in the hospitality industry, um, it is about experiences and and what the stakeholders need.

And when you look at you know, whether you're passing through or not, is still it still is an experience.

And so I think um, with being in the hotel business for 36 years, um it we are still in the hospitality business, even at the airport.

So I think it's really really important, and I can provide a valuable perspective in that area.

Thank you.

Uh, I know that was fast, but uh that concludes the interview.

Uh, we're gonna get through the rest of them, and then we're gonna have a discussion as uh as a committee, and then we'll make a recommendation uh by four-something.

Well, thank you for the consideration.

I appreciate it.

Of course, thank you.

Up next, we have Christy Villanueva, hello, Ms.

Vienueva, how are you doing?

Doing well, good afternoon, everyone.

Hello, hello.

Uh, we're gonna give you uh two minutes for opening statement, and then we'll have three questions from council.

Each one will have about a minute for response, and then it'll feel very fast, but the problem is we're getting everything.

So I hear.

All right.

Well, it's an honor to be here in front of all of you, and I greatly appreciate the time.

Taking a couple of notes just so I don't lose track.

Um I've built my career as a small business owner and also consulted with large businesses over a period of many years.

I've been an advocate in our community, and I'm hoping to be of good use as I move forward in my life.

So I felt that this was an exciting opportunity to come and be here in front of all of you.

I did want to let you all know that I do serve as an appointee of District 2 on the Brooks Board.

That basically allows me to play a strategic role in our growth and mobility on the South side.

It also allows me to help our residents and being more mobile and accessing our city.

So I feel that my work throughout the many years that I've been here in San Antonio has helped me to bring a balance both on the business side, on the advocacy side, and then working with a number of groups to help find that common ground.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Spears.

Travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

That's pretty difficult.

Um I know that economic development is a huge driver here.

The upgrades that are much needed in any sort of airport are also top priority, but we do have to be understanding and take into consideration our travelers, both our local travelers and visitors, in addition to those with any special needs.

And that that is something that I think that I can bring to the table because our special needs community, while many would debate it could make up about 12% or so of our city.

It's very critical that we consider light, sound, and other things around in our environment to help make it a smooth transition.

Thank you.

Councilmember Mugia.

Yes, thank you.

Uh, what skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

So I think what I bring in my background as a small business owner, project manager.

I've also traveled overseas with construction.

That has helped me bring parties to the table.

I think also as my role on the Brooks Board.

I've been on the VIA board before and the ethics commission.

That has also helped teach me many lessons that the English English language is understood very differently depending on who is sitting at the table.

And it's important to see things for the facts for what they truly are, and making sure that we do not leave until we have a clear understanding of the subject, and we can come to something to some sort of decision that will help the vast majority as we move forward.

Thank you.

Councilmember Dr.

Cor.

What do you see that is the most important role that the airport plays in the community, and how will you help strengthen the commission's role in that?

Wow.

Um I think the I believe that our airport truly bridges the gap.

It's it's an economic hub for us and brings in folks from all over the world.

That is important as we learn from each other and grow our city into something stronger, more powerful that offers a number of services.

So I believe I can help in that innovation in environmental responsibility and just communication in general.

Thank you.

We're about two-thirds down our list, and then we'll have a uh discussion and make a recommendation around for something.

The time keeps changing.

Thank you so much, thank you.

Up next, we have Marco Barros.

Well, hello again.

Hello, hello.

Uh familiar face.

Absolutely.

Uh, we have two minutes for an opening statement, and then we'll have uh three questions from council members.

You'll have about a minute for each of those.

Well, let me tell you first, uh appreciate the serving on the the airport board.

Um my role has always been to support the uh Jesus and his team.

A couple of things about myself, um, why I'm so interested.

I'm probably the only uh board member serving on the airport that has had experience in route planning.

I uh had the in the mid-80s work for American Airlines in sales.

Uh also did some work for uh Mexican carrier called Aero Litoral that was eventually uh purchased by Aero Mexico, and I did a lot of community affairs for Frontier Airlines when they first uh came back to the market.

So it's really key to support the team and really understands how the decisions are made about new routes.

Uh it's not the CEO or the vice president or the company, it's really the route planning that drives all that.

Uh best practices.

I am very fortunate that my counter job and management uh consultant.

I get to travel quite a bit in the US.

So on an average, I get to see about 15 different airports every year, the new designs and new ideas, and I'm able to bring all that.

Uh an example of that is uh PDX Airport, Portland, Oregon.

Uh, they probably have the most beautiful uh renovation of the airport.

I talked to the team.

Uh if you ever have a chance to go there, it looks like a park, very open environment.

Uh the other airport that I highly spoke about was in Tulum, Mexico.

It's a very open space design with glass and trees and natural elements.

So it makes travel a lot more friendly and a lot more easy and takes the fears away from flying.

Um I was very, very involved uh in bringing new ideas to the airport.

Um ideas like uh global entry that has been around more than 15 years now.

Uh we were one of the lucky airports.

I was like number 12 on the airport, but working with members of uh the Congress, we were able to move it up on the list.

So global entry and the parking technology of the green and the red, uh, I've been involved in all that.

Uh Council Member Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach build balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Um, the airport is for everyone.

Uh to be honest with you, we're very fortunate.

Um we have a beautiful um airport here.

We're about to expand uh on a new terminal that will take a lot more funding.

So I think it's for everyone, it's not just for locals or uh visitors or conventiers, it's everyone.

And I will tell you the the airport could be called a regional airport because it attracts people from all the way from Corpus Christi and Laredo and South Texas.

So to me, the airport is for everyone, it's not just one market.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh what skills, experiences or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Well, I mentioned a experience of being involved in management and seeing a lot of airports and new technology and new things, and to me it's best practices bring him to the team, bring him to Jesus, and let him decide all that.

But there's been a lot of improvements at the airport in the last three years, especially in in the parking area, uh new technology.

Uh I think there's a lot more to do there, but I think Jesus is the right leader at the right time.

Uh his experience coming from um Houston as a number two guy, uh, and really um the challenges is going to be the funding.

I can tell you the next five years uh making sure that we get FAA funding for to complete Terminal C in the proper way so that we don't take any shortcuts.

And the other uh challenge is gonna be airlines are uh it's a tough business.

I I can tell you there a lot of the small carriers like Spirit uh will probably be sold, uh go through another bankruptcy again.

So just getting uh non-stop flights is a big issue, and we're very close.

I think we're at 48 right now, uh non-stop service.

Uh we really have great service to and from Mexico right now, and uh we lost by a little inch uh Copa Airlines, which uh travels from Panama just at their base headquarters, and if we if we lost it to Austin, uh I think it was a huge mistake for uh COPA, and I mentioned that to the director of sales that I think they should have kept Copa Airlines here because we have more traffic into Mexico and and Latin America from San Antonio.

I hope I answer that.

I mean I could tell you lots of things so we could improve, but I think we're on the right track.

Thank you, Council Dr.

Port.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community, and how would you help the commission strengthen that role?

Uh communication.

Uh I gotta tell you I live right by the airport.

Uh I've been there in Bluff U for 19 years.

Um, so I get all the complaints about noise and all that, but you know, uh I think that uh being so close and so involved in the airport and is communication.

I think reaching out to people in chambers of commerce, uh HOAs and meeting public meetings and informing people about all the great things.

You know, I get very personal when people say, hey, uh I got a hundred dollar cheaper fare from Austin.

Yeah, but you had to pay $200 on Uber back and forth.

So you didn't really save a lot of money.

Uh so I think competition um and communication is going to be key.

And and one of the things that is stability.

We have uh great staff members at the airport who have been there for for a number of years.

So it's a consistency of relationship with the airlines.

I gotta tell you one more thing that I like to approach is something that all of you do every year.

The concept of SA2DC, I think we need to bring back something that we used to do about 15 years ago, where we will take some of the executives with uh to go visit the airlines.

I think that we have to be a little more aggressive about visiting the three major carriers, uh, especially American Southwest and United are really the key.

You know, Southwest carries uh close to almost 50% of the travel, and I think we need to keep building on relationship with the three major carriers.

I'm very fortunate that uh I get to travel quite a bit.

Uh so I've experienced 15 different airlines.

And United actually recognized me last month for being a 1K member, which is over 100,000 miles on one carrier.

And I added all that up, and it's just experience working and improved relationship with the airlines, so we're not surprised uh of any issues and new routes, and we're so close to 50 nonstops, and I think that's the key on all of this.

Uh one final thing I gotta tell you.

We probably have, and uh some of you may know, one of the best uh airport ambassador programs in the country.

You know, we have about over 187 volunteers who work at uh and volunteer the airport.

They carry the information booth and all that, and that is probably one of the best things we have going on.

Great customer service.

Thank you so much.

Uh fast the interview.

We're gonna get through the last few interviews and then have a brief discussion and uh make a recommendation around four or something.

Well, I appreciate um all your time and uh your dedication.

Thank you very much to all each one of you.

Absolutely, thank you.

Up next, we have William Brando.

Thank you, Mr.

Brendell.

As I wonderful.

Uh thanks for being here.

Uh, we're gonna have about two minutes for an opening statement.

Tell us about yourself, and then we'll have uh three questions from council, and you'll have about a minute for each of those.

It's gonna feel fast, but it's quite all right.

Thank you.

Uh appreciate uh you having me here today.

Uh thank you, Council uh Chair and Council members.

Uh, my name is William Brendel, uh Bill Brendel, uh, and I'm the president and CEO of the San Antonio Visitor Alliance.

Prior to taking on the leadership of the visitor alliance, I was a local hotel general manager for 16 years and uh have been in the hotel and tourism industry for over 35 years.

I have an interest in serving on the airport advisory committee because I truly believe the airport plays a critical role in the success of San Antonio's travel and tourism industry.

In my role as president and CEO of the visitor alliance, I see every day how important uh the first and last impression is when visitors come through our airport.

It's often the first look at our city and the experience that they have there can shape their entire perception of what San Antonio has to offer.

Also, I can provide input both directions from my over 60 members of the visitor alliance, two aspects of the airport, and I can also take information from the airport uh committee back to my members, which I think is a vital role of sharing information both directions.

Uh joining the committee gives me the opportunity to voice uh like I said, voice uh uh provide the voice of my members, collaborate with the others on the committee, and uh help to make sure the airport remains a strong asset for the community.

Thank you so much.

Uh Councilmember Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests uh well looking at uh where uh they um uh where they line up and in enhancing that and encouraging uh uh services that are you know running in the same direction when there are conflicts, I think looking for the greater good.

Um what um uh you know, sometimes sometimes you can't win everything, and sometimes uh someone else uh uh it needs to advance uh for the better betterment of all.

So I would like to uh operate like that.

Thank you.

Sorry, uh Councilmember Morgia.

Thank you.

What skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Well, my experience is uh, like I said before, uh quite a few years in the industry and in quite a few different markets.

I've uh operated in St.

Louis, Nashville, uh Charlotte, North Carolina, Miami Beach, uh, and Denver, Colorado, before coming to San Antonio.

So having a variety of experience in in markets that are um sometimes competing markets for San Antonio, but different markets as well.

And so I think bringing that diff difference of experience would help uh uh bring that voice to the commission.

Thank you, Councilmember Dr.

Corr.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in our community, and how will you help the commission strengthen that role?

Well, like I said in my opening, um, it's it's the front porch of the city.

You know, it's often the first and last impression of a traveler coming to our city.

It's all also a great gateway.

A lot of people use our airport who aren't uh from here, they come up from the valley or other parts of Texas to depart or return uh here.

So it it's vital uh in in serving uh those different communities.

Um I think vastly important right now is uh the success of the expansion at the airport and how that growth is gonna take place and giving valuable feedback and input as I know it's underway, but it will continue to evolve as decisions need to be made.

And so I think uh it's a critical time for the airport to get it to get as much information from a group like the uh commission would be uh to be successful going forward.

Thank you so much.

I know that felt fast, but that concludes the the interview.

Um we're gonna do our last last couple of uh interviews, have a discussion, and then make a recommendation around for something.

I understand.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate your time.

Thank you so much.

Up next, we have Mr.

Lerma.

Is that your yes?

Yep.

Wonderful.

Hi everyone.

Hello, we're gonna start off uh two-minute opening statement, and then we'll have three questions from council members, and you'll have about a minute for each of those.

Okay.

Well, good afternoon, everyone.

My name is José Lerma.

I am uh currently the chief of staff at Mills and Wheels San Antonio.

Uh I'm uh gladly uh you know, excited to apply for appointment uh on this commission for many reasons.

Uh but uh what one of my my very first jobs was working in the airport.

It was at a bookstore there at the airport.

It's not there anymore, but you know, every time I go by I try to see if it's still there.

But I learned so much from from that job.

Uh and a lot of it was customer service.

And you know, I use it now that that you know that um experience because it really was uh game changer for me to see how you know you interact with people.

Uh the training there was really, you know, when you're interacting with with folks, you know, that are traveling, it's a whole different, you know, game.

And and I learned a lot.

Um I also have uh been through two major capital projects uh in the nonprofit field.

Um I worked at the WITY Museum where we were going through 100 million dollar campaign where you know we were trying to open up this new building, these new exhibits, and you know, I help provide you know uh strategic planning and fundraising for all that, but also just again customer experience and customer service.

Uh and then just recently at Mills on Wheels, uh we went uh through a similar thing, and um the uh we're right next to the airport, and it's it's again one of those things that uh I have a soft spot in my heart for the airport.

Uh I'm a frequent traveler, and like I said, it was one of my very first jobs, and and I'm excited to see that or how I could you know help, you know, see it grow.

Uh I know the airport's going through huge you know transformation, and I want to be part of it, and I want to you know be a voice for the people that we serve at Meals on Wheels, but also you know, we know that those seniors are uh homebound, but you know, we work with all these other seniors and seniors fly too, right?

Nonprofit people fly.

And so uh when I ask myself, okay, how can I be a better citizen, a better you know, advocate of the city, um, you know, what can I do?

And and that was you know the choice.

Thank you.

Councilmember Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents, and the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Yeah, they're all important.

Great question.

And yeah, all those stakeholders are important, and being able to leverage each one and and uh I think creating spaces where you could have open dialogue is very important.

Um it's everyone has a voice, and I think you know, my uh position on the committee would allow that, what would be that voice for them and and open the opportunity for for you know the um all those stakeholders.

Of course, you want to make the the business business folks happy, you want to make the travelers happy.

Uh we um you know it's it's one of the larger airports at this side of uh the state, and there's so many people coming in, and you know, we want to make sure that everyone has as a say.

Thank you, Councilmember Morgia.

Thank you.

Um what skills, experiences or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

Uh thank you for the question.

Um I uh mentioned it earlier, uh strategic planning is as one of my uh uh I guess skills that I've provided at at both Mills on Wills and at the WITY Um, but also uh community engagement.

I've been a nonprofit field for 15 years.

I've been out there, I've um you know, try to really uh I'm a proud Southsider, you know, try to advocate, you know, where I came from and and how to bring more resources and and knowledge and and information.

Um and then also uh in my everyday job, I work with our board, and I know what's expected as a board member and as a staff member, right?

And so governance is one of them, and and being able to, you know, just be uh year, you know, for the director, CEO.

Sometimes they need a vent and you know, need advice, um, or just you know, uh, or you know, help in general.

Councilmember Dr.

Councilmember Dr.

Corey.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in our community and how will you help strengthen the commission's ability to do so?

Yeah, thank you for the question.

It uh I think the most important role it plays is it's it's it's a it one of the places where and I remember this from my training, it's the first impression and the last impression of the city.

When someone you know is flying through here, that's what they you know are gonna take back with them.

You know, how is their airport experience?

And uh, but it's also you know, it's this economic engine of you know, it's bringing in business and and you know, it's only making our city grow.

Uh there's I have this um story.

I flew out of Austin one time and I ran into a friend and I was like, hey, what are you doing here?

Like she's from San Antonio, and she was like, it's cheaper to fly out of here.

And I said, Yeah, me too, that's why I'm over here.

And you know, it shouldn't be that that way, right?

I shouldn't drive up there, and and so being able to see how can we you know have that not happen, right?

And and keeping people, you know, from leaving and flying out of here.

Thank you so much.

I know that felt fast, but that concludes the interview.

Uh we have just one or two more inter one more interview, and then we're gonna have a discussion and uh make a recommendation around four-something.

Okay, bye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Lastly, we have Mr.

Luong.

Hello, Mr.

Luang, how are you doing?

Very well, thank you.

Good afternoon.

Wonderful, wonderful.

Uh, we're gonna start off with a quick two-minute uh opening statement, and then we'll have three questions from council members.

You all have about a minute for each of those.

I love that.

Thank you.

Of course.

So good afternoon, as you mentioned, my name's Wilson Lewong, and I'm honored to be considered for a seat at the airport advisory commission.

My pride in San Antonio runs deep back to 2006 when I first came to San Antonio to see the the river walk and the lights lighting the trees.

Uh this was the opportunity I had to relate this is where home I wanted to be at.

I really relocated here in 2011, um, right after graduation from college with my hospital degree to begin my merit career at the then brand new Jadew Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa.

Since then I spent over a decade with various uh operations in Marit International, including my above property work as a business operation manager, where I had the opportunity to invite general managers from all around the country to my favorite city and show them why I fell in love with the city.

Um I had the pleasure of welcoming for meetings, trainings, and conferences, experiences that deepen my connection to the city and its hospitality community.

Today I serve as an cell executive for the courtyard and residents in airport hotels, or my focus of providing a home away from home for travelers coming through San Antonio.

My career has been rooted in hospitality operations and stakeholder engagement, all of which have been giving me a deeper understanding of the airport ecosystem and its impact on our city's economy, tourism, and community experience.

I seek an appointment to the airport advisory commission because I believe the airport is more than just a transit hub.

It's a gateway to our city's culture, business, and hospitality.

I want to contribute my experiences, operation, community engagement, and strategic planning to help shape the future of our airport and ensure it reflects the excellence and warmth that San Antonio is known for.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Spears.

Airports serve many stakeholders, travelers, businesses, nearby residents in the city as a whole.

How would you approach balancing these sometimes competing interests?

Yeah, stakeholders are a fun and unique fun family of people that we work with, and they have a variety of wants and needs.

Thank you.

Councilmember Mungia.

Thank you.

Um, what skills, experiences, or perspectives do you bring that would help the commission address both opportunities and challenges facing the airport?

So I think my one of my favorite skills I have is uh relationship building.

So I work with I'm currently working sales, and so working with the local businesses in San Antonio right now to showcase why my hotels are the best place for them to stay when they come to San Antonio and they're out of state people or out of city.

Um employees come to San Antonio and saying, hey, this is why you want to stay at my hotel and building all your ships to make sure that they have a home away from home while they're here in our beautiful city.

Um that's that networking opportunities that I bring to the table also with the relationships that I built in San Antonio and the other hotel partners and and um those features.

I think also the just being level-headed.

Sometimes the the challenge that we're running into sometimes is a lot of strong personalities that come to the table, and being able to de-escalate is what I've learned to do in the front office with guests is de-escalate a situation um so that we can have a productive conversation and move things forward is one of my great skills that I bring to the table.

Thank you, Councilmember Dr.

Gore.

What do you see as the most important role that the airport plays in the community, and how would you help strengthen that role with the commission?

And how would you help strengthen that role with the commission?

Yeah.

So really the fundamental to the airport is bringing our travelers here.

We gotta make sure that our travelers, when they come to San Antonio, they have a great experience.

I remember my very first time coming to San Antonio.

I flew through or flying home back to Arizona, and the whole power was out.

I got to the airport, power was gone 2006.

I was like, what happened?

Um and but the way that the airport staff handled that situation and kept everybody informed was what would needed to happen.

And so those are the things that I would recommend that having the open conversations with our guests and with our people that were coming through and our our tourism friends is what needs to happen to make sure that those dialogues are there so they understand what's going on and making sure that everybody is in the know.

Keep doing that.

Uh councilmember Dr.

Corr.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, my bad.

Okay, so ending that.

Uh I know that fell really fast.

Sorry, dad brain, and this has been a long meeting.

Um I get it.

No worries.

Thank you.

That concludes uh the meeting.

What we're gonna do now is we're gonna we're going to go into an executive session, have a discussion, and then right after that, we're gonna make a recommendation.

So it'll be very fast, you'll know an answer.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Of course, so all that being said, um, if you are authorized to be here for executive session, I'll ask you to stay.

If you are not, I'll ask you to leave.

We could go across the way they're what you prefer.

Well, that way they can come back in, they're standing on the hall, I think, right?

Some of them.

Oh, okay.

I thought they were in that room.

Okay, yeah, we'll go ahead and do that.

So the time is now 3 49 p.m.

3 49 p.m.

in the transportation infrastructure committee will now meet in executive session to consult with the city attorney's office concerning attorney client matters under chapter 551 of the Texas government code.

Thank you.

The time is now 4 18 p.m.

and the transportation infrastructure committee will reconvene in open session.

No official action was taken in executive session.

Uh, for all of the applicants who are here and those who had to step away, I do want to express my deepest and sincerest gratitude uh for your time and your willingness to contribute your expertise.

Uh uh, it demonstrates a true commitment to public service and and to the future of not only our airport but to our city as a whole.

While not all can be appointed, your interest is deeply valued, and we encourage you to remain engaged with the city of San Antonio and our community, and I'll flag that uh March of next year we have another slew of appointments for the airport advisory commission that will be open.

So if you're not selected this round, I do promise we were uh very deeply impressed by everyone.

So please continue to stay engaged.

All that being said, I will uh can I get a motion for a motion for the recommendation?

Yep, Chair.

I move the Transportation Infrastructure Committee recommend to full city council the following individuals to serve on the airport advisory commission through March 18th, 2027.

Mark Provost for the Airport Beast Business Lease category, Doyle Turner for the aviation industry category, Wilson Luong for the travel and tourism industry category, Marsha Henler, Brian Morris, Christine Ueva for the business community category, and Ignacio Reyes, Marco Barros, and Jose Lerma for the community category.

Second.

Thank you.

And for the record, via Nueva.

Um we have a motion.

He said no way.

Uh it's all good.

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Motion passes unanimously.

Congratulations to those selected.

Uh, and this will carry forward to the NA session in the near future.

Now the time is 4 20 p.m.

on October 7, 2025, and we will adjourn the meeting.