San Antonio Public Safety Committee Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Public Safety Committee of the San Antonio City Council met on April 21, 2026, to discuss fire department performance indicators, a Bitcoin ATM fraud ordinance, electronic citation processes, and a crime statistics update. Council members Macky Rodríguez, Castillo, Spears, and White were present, along with city staff and external partners.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from March 17, 2026 were approved unanimously. A motion was made, seconded, and passed with no opposition.

Discussion Items

• Fire Department Performance & Dashboard: Fire Chief María Vargas and Mr. García presented key performance indicators and a public-facing dashboard for fire response. The dashboard categorizes incidents (medical, fire, rescues) and tracks response times. Medical calls account for approximately 75% of incidents, with the most common being sick persons with breathing problems. The MIH (Mobile Integrated Health) program has grown contact volumes since 2024, aiming to reduce repeat 911 calls. Response times have remained relatively stable, with the national standard of 8–9 minutes; San Antonio tracks below that. The department added squad units and plans to request more. Councilmember White asked about the relationship between response times and outcomes; the chief stated that seconds matter. Councilmember Castillo noted the high percentage of uninsured patients (8.8%) and suggested exploring Medicare/Medicaid expansion to reduce medical calls. Councilmember Spears inquired about structural fire risks from vacant buildings and the need for code enforcement. The dashboard will be made public through social media and news coverage.
• Bitcoin ATM Fraud Ordinance: Assistant Chief Javier Salazar and ARP Director Lisa Rodríguez presented a proposal for an ordinance to protect consumers from Bitcoin ATM scams. In 2025, San Antonio saw 600+ reported cases with losses of $33 million (80% of victims were 60+; 88% had income under $50,000). The ordinance would require warnings on ATMs (in English and Spanish) and enable police to intervene. A two-track approach was outlined: a public safety ordinance for immediate police response, and a code enforcement ordinance for administrative citations against non-compliant owners. The goal is to reduce financial losses; Omaha saw an 80% reduction after a similar ordinance. Councilmember Castillo expressed strong support, noting collaboration across agencies. Councilmember Ay (White) also supported. The committee voted to advance the ordinance to the full council for the May session. The motion passed.
• Electronic Citation Process: City staff presented a study on transitioning from paper citations to electronic ones. In FY2025, out of 181,000 citations, 97,300 were electronic and 84,465 paper. Paper citations take an average of 73 days to enter the system versus 36 days for electronic; electronic citations also have a higher payment rate (36% vs. lower for paper). The potential annual savings from converting 22,000 paper citations is $300,000–$500,000. The long-term plan (expected completion October 2027) involves a formal solicitation for vendors to create a fully digital system. Councilmember White supported moving forward, noting the cost of 60 additional devices ($600,000) would be recouped quickly. Councilmember Rodríguez emphasized the need for accessibility and local vendors. Councilmember Castillo stressed data privacy and alignment with the Bexar County system. The committee did not vote but expressed general support.
• Crime Statistics Update: The committee reviewed a crime statistics report showing overall crime down 2.4% for 2026. Councilmember Spears raised concerns about a spike in burglaries in the Stone Oak area, saying citizen fear did not match the reported numbers. Chief Salomon noted that property crime detectives are assigned to address it. Councilmember White highlighted that more officers are on the street (60% patrol vs. 40% earlier, up from 50/50), contributing to the decline. Councilmember Castillo asked for a breakdown of obscene material/pornography crimes, which increased from 152 to 165 to 265 cases (including child pornography), and suggested public education. The chief agreed to provide more detail.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the March 17, 2026 minutes unanimously.
• Voted to send the Bitcoin ATM fraud ordinance to the full council with a recommendation for approval. The motion passed; no opposition noted.
• Directed staff to proceed with procurement of additional electronic citation devices and to begin the formal solicitation process for a long-term digital citation solution, with implementation expected by October 2027.
• The crime statistics report was accepted. The committee requested further breakdowns on sexual/pornography offenses and burglary trends, and agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting in May.