Governance Committee Meeting June 17, 2026: Rezoning, Erica Andrews Memorial, Safe Lodging Task Force
Governance Committee Meeting: June 17, 2026
The Governance Committee of the San Antonio City Council met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jones, with a quorum present. The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes and heard public comment before considering three Council Consideration Requests (CCRs). The meeting adjourned at 10:34 a.m.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved unanimously on a voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jack Finger (speaking on Agenda Item 2 - Erica Andrews Memorial Designation): Expressed strong opposition to honoring Erica Andrews, referring to her as a man born in Mexico named Eddie Salazar and describing her as a "drag queen performer" and a "conglomeration of perversions." He called on the council to stop the designation, stating it would honor evil. Council members corrected him, insisting on using the name Erica Andrews. The speaker referenced the use of $5,000 in tax dollars for the renaming.
Discussion Items
- Large Area Rezoning for Stone Ridge Neighborhood (CCR by Councilmember Mark White): Amin Tomaz, Director of Development Services, presented a request to rezone the Stone Ridge neighborhood (District 10) to align zoning with existing uses, primarily duplexes currently zoned for single-family residential. The staff recommendation was to initiate a formal rezoning process, including analysis and plan amendments. The committee voted unanimously to approve the staff recommendation.
- Memorial Designation for Erica Andrews (CCR by Councilmember Secor): A proposal to designate a section of North Main Avenue between East Cypress Street and East Ashbury Place as "Erica Andrews Memorial Way" to honor her positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Staff recommended starting the review process (technical reviews, public meetings, Historic and Design Review Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council). Letters of support from Equality Texas, Pride Center San Antonio, and Daniel Pacheco were noted. Councilmember Spears inquired about streamlining the memorial designation process; staff indicated a CCR is currently required but the process could be reconsidered. Councilmember Via Gran supported the designation while calling for a standardized process. The committee voted unanimously to approve the staff recommendation.
- Safe Lodging Partnership Task Force (CCR by Councilmember McKee Rodriguez): A proposal to create a task force to collaborate with motel operators experiencing high calls for service (911/311) to address public safety and quality-of-life concerns while preserving short-term housing options for vulnerable populations. Staff recommended referring the CCR to the Public Safety Committee for further evaluation, including research on evidence-based programs in other cities and an equity impact analysis. Discussion focused on potential costs, budget constraints, and the need for incentives for motel operators. Councilmembers Via Gran and Mungia expressed support but raised concerns about funding and the voluntary nature of the program. Staff noted existing programs (Good Neighbor, DART, crime prevention efforts) that could align with this initiative. The committee voted to send the CCR to the Public Safety Committee for evaluation.
Key Outcomes
- Stone Ridge Rezoning: Approved staff recommendation to initiate the rezoning process (motion carried unanimously).
- Erica Andrews Memorial: Approved staff recommendation to begin the review process (motion carried unanimously).
- Safe Lodging Task Force: Approved staff recommendation to refer the CCR to the Public Safety Committee (motion carried unanimously). The committee requested that the Public Safety Committee provide a full cost analysis and explore partnerships with existing programs.
- Streamlining Memorial Designations: Councilmember Spears requested that staff consider developing a streamlined process for future memorial designations, potentially bypassing the CCR step. This was noted for further discussion.
Meeting Transcript
10 a.m. on Wednesday's uh June 17, 2026, meeting of governance committees called to order. Madam Clerk, please call roll. Councilmember Mickey Rodriguez, Councilmember Via Gran. Here, Councilmember Mungia. Councilmember Spears. Mayor Jones. Here, Mayor, we have quorum. Great. Is there a motion and a second to approve the minutes? I make a motion to approve the minutes. Great. There's a motion and a second to approve the minutes. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Public comment. We have one individual from the public, Jack Finger. So you have three minutes. Madam Mayor, I'll sign up to speak on number two. May I speak when that matter is uh deliberated upon? No, we're gonna actually take them all together. So your comments now are fine. Okay, well, here it goes. Um, item number two. Main Avenue is a uh main street here in San Antonio. Many of our motors citizens travel upon it, hence the name Maine. Um you are going to use uh five thousand tax dollars. Five thousand taxes, go ahead count them uh to uh rename or re-honor portions of it in honor of who? Uh a person whose name is Erica Andrews, but exactly who is Erica Andrews. Erica Andrews was actually a male, a man born in Mexico. As best we can tell, his his original name was Eddie Salazar. That's who I shall refer to in my presentation. Eddie Salazar uh moved to United States legally, illegally, we don't know. But he decided to become uh sir. This is about Erica Andrews, that's who we're talking about. We don't know this other person that you're talking about. So please use the correct title. Otherwise, we're not gonna know what you're talking about. Well, very good. Uh I'm sorry you don't know that. Madam Mayor, it is in Wikipedia, his original name, whom you refer to as Erica Andrews. Um decided to become a woman, and uh yes, became uh, well, uh used chemicals to become a female from a male. Uh I refer to that as a perversion in itself. But then that person, as you say Erica Andrews, decided to become a drag queen performer. I consider that another perversion. And so consequently, and performing at various uh homosexual lounges upon Main Avenue, and uh so consequently uh now currently you folks decide you are going to honor this conglomeration of perversions with a portion of Maine Avenue named after whom you call Erica Andrews. Uh this is wrong, quite frankly.
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