PCDC Committee Meeting Summary – April 28, 2026

The Planning and Community Development Committee (PCDC) met on April 28, 2026, from 10:01 a.m. to 12:29 p.m. The meeting focused on expanding housing access for veterans using vouchers, including a new city-run voucher incentive program and a proposed ordinance banning source-of-income discrimination against veterans. The committee also discussed amending the Unified Development Code (UDC) for data centers.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes – Unanimously approved by voice vote.
• Consent agenda – Adopted without objection after a councilmember noted an item listed as a briefing could not be passed on consent; after brief discussion, the agenda was approved without a briefing.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anita Kegley – Supported expanding housing access for voucher holders but argued the policy places disproportionate financial burden on property owners. Urged incentives (tax credits, risk mitigation funds, faster payments) rather than mandates.
• Martha Spinks (Lt. Col., U.S. Army, retired) – Stated that stable housing is critical for veterans. Cited research that fixing housing minimizes social problems. Estimated 800 veterans potentially impacted and noted only 1% of rentals are involved. Urged the committee to advance the ordinance.
• Tony Fuentes (Executive Director, San Antonio Coalition for Veterans and Families) – Reported helping nearly 300 veterans in 16 months, with 500 in the last year, half of whom were female veterans sleeping in cars. Supported the ordinance to ban voucher discrimination. Noted the HUD-VASH process is too long.
• Ute Hall (Retired VA social worker) – Described a revolving door of unhoused veterans with mental health issues. Explained that 2024 rule changes allowing disability payments to be excluded from income calculations improved voucher eligibility. Encouraged landlords to accept VASH vouchers.
• Martin Gutierrez (VP, San Antonio Board of Realtors – SABOR) – Stated that locally 95% of VASH vouchers and 93% of housing choice vouchers are accepted. Recommended targeted solutions (e.g., a dedicated staff member at the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, incentive-based programs). Opposed a one-size-fits-all ordinance.
• Brendan Rodriguez (Secretary, American GI Forum of Bexar County; active-duty military training instructor) – Reported that DOD now discusses HUD-VASH in separation briefings. Asked why Military City USA would not align with DOD efforts to combat veteran homelessness. Urged passage of the ordinance.
• Teresa Brown (Property manager) – Stated she manages 158 properties, three-fourths owned by active-duty or veterans. Said some owners refuse Section 8 due to stigma and payment delays. Warned the ordinance could hurt veterans if not paired with fixes to the voucher system.
• Lawrence Romo (LULAC National VP for Veterans; former national commander of American GI Forum) – Cited Fort Worth’s successful ordinance. Argued that 100% acceptance should be the goal in Military City USA. Criticized SABOR’s PAC contributions to council members. Called for a tri‑partite partnership among SABOR, the Apartment Association, and the city.
• Larissa Martinez (Founder/ED, Circle of Arms; U.S. Air Force veteran) – Stated housing is a basic need and that many veterans are denied housing despite having vouchers. Emphasized landlords can still screen for credit/background. Called for fixing the voucher system instead of denying veterans.
• Harry Robinson (Veteran) – Noted that 13 American service members have been killed in Operation Epic Fury. Stated the ordinance has no budget impact and strong public support. Questioned why the ordinance has not been brought to a vote. Urged passage.
• Cynthia Garcia – Noted the ordinance has been in development for 2.5 years. Cited support from State Representative Ray Lopez and Senator Josie Garcia. Argued it costs nothing and does not infringe on landlord rights beyond barring voucher-based denials.
• Johnny Garcia (Lifelong public servant) – Supported the ordinance. Cited the 20-year life expectancy gap in San Antonio and argued limiting where veterans can live reinforces inequity. Noted rising costs. Urged passage.
• Myra Carrier – Stated there are 250,000+ rental units and fewer than 800 veterans relying on vouchers. Argued the ordinance impacts a small part of the market but creates life‑changing access. Urged action.
• Robert Mahara (Army officer, West Point graduate) – Argued the community must decide if veterans should bear voucher program burdens alone. Urged shared sacrifice and recommended moving forward with source-of-income protections.
• Irene White (Community health worker, Empower House SA) – Supported protections. Noted veterans are overrepresented among homeless populations. Said clear policy creates predictable expectations. Asked for education and support for landlords.
• Wayne (Property manager) – Represented 55% of homes managed owned by active-duty military. Cited 60–90 day payment delays and secondary inspection costs. Asked for program administration fixes.
• Marty Hutchinson (Property manager) – Cited inspection timelines exceeding 30 days, lack of rent guarantees, and administrative burdens. Recommended enforcement of inspection timelines (3–5 business days), rent protections, and streamlined communication.
• Albert Acevedo (spoke for a veteran with PTSD) – Said the veteran was turned away 8 times before finding housing in Canyon Lake, not San Antonio. Urged passage so the veteran can return.
• Aaron Hunter (Texas Housers) – Presented data: only 8% of available listings indicate voucher acceptance; over 70% of veterans using VASH are in high social vulnerability areas; 84% live in multifamily housing. Supported source-of-income protections.
• Crispin Pettis (Retired Army combat vet) – Described finding a homeless veteran family in a wooded area on Thanksgiving 2023. Stated the city needs to do more. Supported the ordinance.
• Jason Bridgman (Broker/owner, True Asset Management; veteran) – Said his company never denies based on voucher; many property management companies are veteran-owned. Suggested the city connect the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs with property managers to help the 5–7% of veterans not being served.
• Pete Brunell – Stated administrative concerns are not justification for denying housing. Urged passing the ordinance now and fixing details later. Cited 25 veteran suicides in San Antonio last year.
• Antonio Roman (Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient) – Urged the council to live up to the name Military City USA and pass the ordinance.

Discussion Items

• Item 4: COSA Vouchers (Council Consideration Request from Councilmember Castillo) – Staff presented a proposed city-run voucher incentive program. Key elements: $500 incentive for landlords who sign a 12-month lease with a voucher holder (targeting about 900 households); use of existing rental assistance funds starting FY2027; focus on new landlords and prioritizing VASH and then Section 8. Councilmember Castillo emphasized tracking metrics (new landlords, units preserved, demographics). Councilmember Courts requested adding funds (not just reallocating) and focusing on veterans. Councilmember Gonzalez supported targeting VASH holders. The committee approved the motion to implement the program as recommended, with feedback to refine the focus.
• Item 5: Source of Income Protections for Veterans – Staff presented a proposed ordinance prohibiting landlords from denying qualified veterans solely based on lawful source of income (e.g., vouchers). Ordinance would be complaint‑based, with enforcement first through mandatory training, then escalating fees (modeled after the housing choice voucher program). Applicability discussion: Councilmember Courts moved to apply to housing providers with five or more residential units, include an escalating fee structure (no fine on first violation, education), and reassess in six months. Councilmember Mesa-Gonzalez supported but expressed concern about leaving out smaller landlords. Councilmember Castillo supported, noting potential for unintended effects on active-duty military homeowners. After legal clarification, the motion passed unanimously to recommend the ordinance to full council with the specified amendments.
• Item 6: UDC Amendments for Data Centers – Staff presented options for amending the Unified Development Code (UDC) regarding data centers, either during the normal five‑year cycle (starting 2027) or out-of-cycle. Topics discussed: special use authorization, fencing, landscape buffers, noise mitigation, fire code coordination. Councilmember Galvan supported out-of-cycle process; stakeholder meeting scheduled May 8. Councilmember Courts questioned the five-year cycle but acknowledged the urgency for data centers. Council consensus directed staff to proceed out-of-cycle and bring proposed amendments to council.

Key Outcomes

• Item 4 (COSA Vouchers): Approved unanimously. Staff will refine the incentive program focusing on new landlords and prioritizing VASH and Section 8 vouchers, funded from existing rental assistance starting FY2027. Tracking metrics will be developed.
• Item 5 (Source of Income Protections): Recommended to full city council with amendments: applies to housing providers with 5+ residential units; escalating enforcement (education first, then fees); reassessment in six months. The vote was unanimous.
• Item 6 (UDC for Data Centers): Direction given to proceed with out-of-cycle amendments; stakeholder meetings begin May 8; proposed amendments to be brought to council for consideration.