Workforce and Economy Development Committee Meeting – February 24, 2026

The Workforce and Economy Development Committee of the San Antonio City Council met on February 24, 2026, at 2:01 PM. Chairman Villagrán presided, with Councilmembers Castillo, Galván, Mesa González, and Spears present. The meeting covered two major agenda items: an update on the Brooks development project and a presentation on the procurement process review. Public comment was not taken.

Discussion Items

Brooks Update (Bill Gómez, President of Brooks)

Bill Gómez provided a detailed update on the Brooks development since its transfer to the city in 2003. Key points included:

• The campus and annexed acres were valued at $36 million in 2003; today, development value stands at $2.1 billion—a 57-fold increase.
• The 1,300-acre community is projected to house 10,000 residents. Seven existing communities and seven more in process (including market-rate, multifamily, and senior housing) will contribute to that population.
• Brooks hosts six international companies (from France, South Korea, Japan, and the Czech Republic) representing 2,000 direct jobs.
• Education assets include three high schools on campus, a Carnegie World school, and a $98 million Alamo Colleges project for advanced manufacturing and maintenance training.
• The Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRS) generated $9.5 million for the City of San Antonio in 2023. Sales tax revenue from Brooks was cited at $8.5 billion (likely a total economic output figure).
• Surrounding neighborhoods saw household income growth of 6% over the past decade (vs. 2% city average) and a 4% increase in high school graduation rates.
• Priorities include a proposed $5 million bond program for infrastructure (completing a second road segment with a bridge), development of remaining parcels (less than 300 acres available for employers), and renewal of the Opportunity Zone designation.

Councilmembers expressed strong support for Brooks’ mixed-income housing approach, the public-private partnership model, and the community’s economic impact. Councilmember Castillo highlighted the return on public investment through increased property and sales tax revenues. Councilmember Galván noted the importance of multimodal transportation connections, especially the VIA Green Line, to improve access. Councilmember Mesa González emphasized the need for childcare facilities and coordination with school districts. Chairman Villagrán underscored the importance of affordable housing on publicly owned land and ensuring that high-wage jobs are accessible to local residents.

Procurement Process Review (Victoria Rader, Assistant Director of Finance; Rachel Berger, Director of Procurement; and others)

Staff presented ongoing improvements to the city’s procurement system, focusing on three areas: building supplier capacity, increasing supplier participation, and streamlining the procurement process.

• The Supplier Development Academy has been restructured from a three-year to a one-year intensive program. Fifteen businesses completed the latest cohort, with mentoring from city staff and private partners.
• The city partnered with Supply SA (formerly South Central Certification) to help small businesses navigate certification and public procurement.
• Implemented recommendations from a 2023 review include: delegation of authority to the city manager for contracts up to $2.5 million (with certain thresholds), a refined high-profile procurement process for contracts under $5 million, and an annual procurement forecast (now with 386 items for FY26, updated quarterly).
• Proposed improvements under consideration: aligning the competitive bidding threshold with the state’s $100,000 level (currently $50,000), consolidating small business programs, and increasing the administrative approval limit from $50,000–$100,000 to $250,000.

Councilmembers asked about communication channels (office hours at Launch SA, social media, direct outreach) and the number of small businesses actively registered (690 as of the meeting, up from a low of 400). They stressed the importance of aligning procurement goals with economic development targets and ensuring that participants in the academy are given preference on large projects (e.g., stadium, entertainment district). Staff committed to continuing engagement during the upcoming SAP system upgrade and to reporting back on the impact of process changes.

Key Outcomes

• The committee received the presentations as informational; no votes were taken on either item.
• Councilmembers directed staff to explore opportunities for affordable housing on publicly owned parcels around Brooks, with a target of 30–60% Area Median Income (AMI).
• Staff will continue to refine the procurement process and provide quarterly updates to the committee, particularly regarding the SAP implementation and its impact on small businesses.
• Chairman Villagrán will work with staff to finalize the bond request for Brooks infrastructure in time for the next bond package.
• The committee expressed appreciation for the collaboration between Brooks, the city, and stakeholders like VIA, Alamo Colleges, and school districts.