San Antonio Community and Planning Committee Meeting – February 24, 2026

The Community and Planning Committee (PCDC) of the San Antonio City Council met on February 24, 2026, at 10:04 AM. The meeting covered approval of minutes, a consent agenda, a detailed housing provision report, updates to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) policy, and a discussion on post-fire assistance for residents. Key actions included unanimous approval of minutes and consent items, and consensus to refine housing goals and TIF language before final adoption.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from a previous meeting were approved by voice vote (no opposition).
• The consent agenda for District 4 was approved by voice vote (no opposition).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kit Bernal (self-identified as a veteran and member of American Veterans for Equal Rights) spoke in support of a policy to expand housing options for veterans using housing vouchers. He urged the committee to pass the ordinance to reduce discrimination and help veterans live in any part of San Antonio, including near hospitals, schools, and transit.
• A second speaker (also a veteran advocate with American Veterans for Equal Rights) echoed support for the same policy, emphasizing that veterans should be able to live wherever they choose as long as they have a voucher and ability to pay. She noted that many veterans face barriers due to limited case management and landlord acceptance.

Discussion Items

1. Housing Provision Increase for Vulnerable Populations (Item 3)

• Veronica Garcia, Director of the Department of Housing Services, presented an initial report from a workforce group formed in August 2025. The goal is to increase housing for veterans with housing vouchers, people with disabilities (especially deaf/blind), LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness, and seniors.
• Methodology: Included 150+ survey responses (expanded to 200), field visits, panels with lived-experience individuals, and case studies from other cities (e.g., Buffalo School conversion in New York, LGBTQ+ supportive housing in New York).
• Proposed targets: 3,200 total units: 250 for veterans (within 5 miles of healthcare facilities), 500 for people with disabilities, 100 for LGBTQ+ youth, and 2,400 for seniors (age-restricted).
• Recommendations: For veterans – increase landlord education, streamline voucher acceptance, and explore land acquisition for veteran-focused communities. For disabled – require more accessible units (currently 2% required by state tax credits), develop a universal design ordinance, and create accessible housing lists. For seniors – encourage accessory dwelling units, shared housing, and near-transit density. For LGBTQ+ youth – pilot rental assistance, partner with justice-involved reentry programs, and advocate for state/federal funding.
• Council Comments:
  • Councilmember Galván praised the work and asked about coordination with existing programs (e.g., SHIP, trust fund) and the need for deeper subsidies for LGBTQ+ youth.
  • Councilmember Castillo requested adding a universal design ordinance to the recommendations and emphasized reentry housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. She also urged including youth participation.
  • Councilmember Corps questioned how the targets were set relative to actual need, noting a gap between goals and real demand. She asked for a clear methodology and suggested focusing on the highest-need population (LGBTQ+). She also critiqued the housing bond map for lacking filtering capabilities.
  • Councilmember Mungía (Chair) thanked presenters and noted $9 million from the housing bond is available for land acquisition, and a second round of bonds may be needed.

2. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy Update (Item 4)

• Staff presented proposed language changes to the TIF displacement policy, following a January 14 work session. Key changes: clarify that displacement evaluation applies to the entire project (including adjacent phases) and not just the funded component; define a quarter-mile radius for displacement impact assessment.
• Example: The baseball stadium project (which received TIF funding) previously had ambiguity about whether housing displacement on contiguous land was covered. The new language ensures such displacement is evaluated.
• Councilmember Corps expressed initial disappointment with the previous presentation but accepted the clarification. Councilmember Galván asked about the origin of the quarter-mile radius (standard practice in displacement impact analysis) and requested a comparative analysis with policies from other cities (e.g., Washington, D.C.). Staff agreed to explore.
• Councilmember Castillo voiced support for the update. The committee reached consensus to forward the revised policy to the full City Council on March 19, 2026.

3. Post-Fire Assistance Process (Item 5)

• Johanny (Assistant City Manager) presented current procedures after a home fire, noting improvements since a Council Consideration Request (CCR) in February 2025. Key steps: Fire Department contacts Red Cross for temporary shelter; Development Services Department (DSD) inspects and may demolish unsafe structures; exemptions were expanded for repair permits in December.
• Challenges: Residents may not know about resources; liens for demolition costs (averaging $7,000) can burden homeowners, especially those without insurance. Councilmember Castillo asked for policy to waive or reduce demolition liens for owner-occupied properties after a fire.
• Red Cross Dr. Daniel Martinez reported San Antonio has the highest fire response rate in Texas (average 8 calls/day), often linked to socioeconomic status (e.g., space heaters in cold weather). He emphasized prevention programs and partnerships (Valero) to build resilience in low-income areas.
• Councilmembers agreed on the need for better communication to council offices when a fire occurs, formalizing a list of immediate resources, and exploring lien relief for owner-occupied homes.
• No formal vote; the committee directed staff to continue refining the process and report back.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: Approval of minutes and consent agenda passed unanimously.
• Housing Report: Committee directed staff to finalize the report with clearer methodology for targets, incorporate universal design ordinance, deepen focus on LGBTQ+ youth and reentry populations, and return for final approval at the end of March 2026.
• TIF Policy: Committee gave consensus to forward the revised displacement language to the City Council for a March 19, 2026, vote.
• Post-Fire Assistance: Committee asked staff to explore lien reduction options for owner-occupied properties and to formalize notification to council offices after residential fires. Staff will bring back a refined proposal.
• Next Meeting: The PCDC committee will meet again before the full council session to finalize the housing report.