San Antonio City Council Meeting Summary (December 2, 2025)

The San Antonio City Council convened on December 2, 2025, to review three City Council Resolution (CCR) items: the transition to electric carriages and micromobility pilot programs, speed limit and traffic calming reforms, and the strengthening of prevailing wage contract enforcement. Key presentations were delivered by the Chief of Police Operations, the Interim Director of Public Works, and the Director of Labor Compliance. The council debated the scope of pilot programs, equity for existing permit holders, and the financial and engineering requirements for implementation.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the November 2025 meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments or testimony were received during the meeting as no members of the public were in attendance to speak.

Discussion Items

• Micromobility and Electric Carriages:

  • Rick Riley (Deputy Chief of Police) presented data on existing electric vehicle services (20 permits total, 33 drivers, ~22,000 trips this year), bike-share programs, and scooters, noting no citations have been issued under Chapter 33.
  • Concejal Cor expressed full support for increasing permits for bike taxis (pedicabs) to empower local residents to become entrepreneurs, citing anecdotal success in District 1 and desiring a holistically higher number of permits rather than capping them.
  • Concejal Alderete Gabito questioned the specific rationale for the 20-vehicle cap, noting it was based on 2022 congestion concerns without a current study, and expressed support for pilot testing expanded vehicle counts for special events.
  • Concejal Munguia expressed a desire to increase micromobility options to alleviate congestion, specifically for "last mile" transportation, and noted the benefit of electric vehicles operating where cars cannot move efficiently.
  • Concejal Spears inquired about operational costs and the financial feasibility of transitioning horse-drawn carriages to electric ones, noting the initial vehicle cost is approximately $20,000, with horse-drawn carriage owners wishing to retain their animals.
  • Concejal Mackie Rodriguez emphasized the need for a just transition that maintains horse-drawn carriage operations while encouraging electric adoption, highlighting that three companies have expressed interest in the switch.
  • Staff Response: Staff indicated that a one-to-one permit swap was the initial recommendation but noted no impact study has been conducted to determine safe capacity increases. They confirmed the city's pricing is comparable to other major cities (Austin, Nashville).

• Speed Limits and Traffic Calming (CCR #3 & #4):

  • Interim Director of Public Works explained that while Texas law allows municipalities to change prima facie speed limits, a state-mandated engineering study is required. They recommended a pilot program in District 7 (where the CCR originated) focusing on school zones and residential areas to identify streets for review.
  • Concejal Gabito expressed strong support for the pilot, citing it as a top concern in District 7, and argued that reactive police enforcement is insufficient compared to proactive infrastructure changes like speed limits and traffic calming devices.
  • Concejal Munguia sought clarification on the cost of engineering studies and the feasibility of expanding the pilot to new developments to prevent future safety issues, noting that current processes are too slow compared to accident rates.
  • Concejal Spears supported combining speed limit studies with other traffic calming measures (like speed bumps) for greater effectiveness, suggesting a broader approach than just speed reduction alone.
  • Concejal Dr. Core criticized the delays in implementing the online traffic calming request portal, stating residents have waited over a year for access, and advocated for testing "quick-build" solutions (e.g., temporary plastic barriers) to allow for faster, lower-cost experimentation compared to permanent concrete projects.
  • Concejal Mackie Rodriguez noted the difficulty of applying these solutions to state-regulated areas, such as farmers markets, and suggested state-level coordination.

• Contract Integrity and Prevailing Wage (CCR #5):

  • Mike Shannon (Director) presented a proposal to strengthen the city's prevailing wage ordinance, which is currently less restrictive than state law.
  • Proposed Changes: The council discussed increasing the complaint filing window from 60 days to 180 days, extending debarment periods for repeat offenders from three years to longer terms, and clarifying that prime contractors remain liable for sub-contractor violations.
  • Concejal Munguia asked for clarification on sub-contractor penalties, ensuring that non-violating contractors are not penalized. Staff confirmed the prime contractor remains legally responsible, but the city will investigate sub-contractor violations to inform future contracting decisions.
  • Concejal Core supported the initiative, calling current wage violations "unacceptable" when taxpayer money is involved, and emphasized the need for the new board to include diverse labor organizations.

Key Outcomes

• Motion #3 (Speed Limit Pilot): Approved a motion to initiate a traffic analysis and pilot program to consider lowering prima facie speed limits, starting with a review of streets in District 7. (Vote: Unanimous)
• Motion #5 (Contract Integrity): Approved a motion to proceed with the CCR to strengthen local contract integrity, including extending the complaint window to 180 days and clarifying prime contractor liability for prevailing wage violations. (Vote: Unanimous)
• Next Steps: Staff will conduct engineering studies for the speed limit pilot, prepare a memo detailing costs and scope for each district, and finalize the formation of a 12-15 member Multimodal Transportation Commission.
• Actionable Directives:
  • Staff to provide the online traffic calming request link to Council members immediately.
  • Staff to coordinate with District 7 residents to identify specific streets for the speed limit pilot.
  • Staff to meet with horse-drawn carriage owners to discuss the specifics of the electric transition and permit transfer process.
  • Legal review to ensure the proposed contract ordinance changes align with state and federal requirements before final adoption.