San Antonio Public Safety Committee Meeting - August 31, 2026

The Public Safety Committee met on August 31, 2026, from 2:08 PM to 4:24 PM, with Council Members Maki Rodriguez, Castillo, Spears, White, and President Corr present. The meeting was conducted in Spanish; this summary is based on the Spanish-language transcript. The committee unanimously approved the June 16, 2026, meeting minutes, advanced a council consideration request (CCR) to protect vulnerable neighbors (including transgender, non-binary, and intersex residents), approved funding for a six-month diversion center pilot program, received an update on elder abuse prevention, and clarified the graffiti ordinance as it applies to sidewalk chalk.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the June 16, 2026, meeting were approved unanimously with no changes or comments.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 2 – Vulnerable and Impacted Neighbors CCR:

• Sofía Sepúlveda (District 1 resident) expressed support, citing medical privacy rights and the need for transgender residents to use restrooms "in peace and without fear."
• Junior Norris, a district resident, voiced support for single-person restrooms, noting he has been questioned when using the women's restroom.
• Tommy Knecuerta, speaking for himself and for the state of Texas, expressed support for privacy protections for all Texans, including those who wear gowns or robes for their work.
• Rachel Candy (District 7) asked the committee to protect the privacy and safety of all San Antonians.
• Kate Sánchez, representing the parenting preparation organization Preparación para Padres, expressed support, citing documented assaults and killings of transgender people and ICE detentions leaving children behind.
• Tracy Bradley (District 8) supported the measure on behalf of people with health conditions including celiac disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colostomies.
• Nicole Bonner (District 1) called privacy and safety fundamental rights and an opportunity to strengthen the community.
• Ananda Thomas, executive director of a community organization, stated: "When San Antonio is safe for all vulnerable people, San Antonio is safe for all."

Item 3 – Diversion Center Pilot:

• A UT Health professor expressed support for the pilot, reporting that most of 35 interviews conducted this month with law enforcement and public health agencies favored launching and testing the program.

Item 5 – Graffiti Ordinance:

• Pedro Ruiz, a chalk artist who described creating chalk messages of hope for immigrants over the past 12 weeks, opposed restricting sidewalk chalk, stating his chalk messages are temporary and wash away with rain. He reported being arrested for 20 hours in 2024 for sidewalk chalk in District 5 and winning his case (covered by the San Antonio Express-News), and claimed his videos showing San Antonio police in a poor light have received over 30 million views. He also cited Texas code 51.002 as preventing cities from enacting ordinances stricter than the penal code.
• Mac Becheco (also transcribed as Michael Pacheco), general administrator of Center City San Antonio and its downtown ambassadors, expressed conditional concern. While supporting public art, he urged the committee to consider sanitation, accessibility, maintenance, public safety, and financial consequences before permitting unrestricted sidewalk chalk downtown, noting downtown crews have cleaned 832 square feet of sidewalk so far in fiscal year 2026.

Discussion Items

Item 2 – Council Consideration Request: Vulnerable and Impacted Neighbors

• Staff presenter Jennifer Matas outlined the CCR, requested on April 9, 2026, to protect transgender, non-binary, and intersex San Antonians from discrimination and service barriers, including access to correct identification, safety for people seeking public health services, and expansion of single-occupancy restrooms in city facilities.
• Staff noted that Metro Health protects individual health information under HIPAA, JIPA, and Hi-Tech laws; Administrative Directive 4.67 prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and expression and requires use of chosen names and pronouns; and Administrative Directive 7.2 protects personal and sensitive personal information.
• The city has already posted standardized notices about restroom access laws and created an inventory of single-occupancy restrooms. Staff recommended prioritizing single-occupancy restrooms in major future renovations funded through the capital budget.
• Council Member Maggie (Maki) Rodriguez, the CCR sponsor, made the motion, stating the measure responds to state and federal overreach involving restroom policing.
• Council Member Spears voiced support. Council Member White raised concerns that supporting documents referenced private businesses and potential costs, but staff confirmed the recommendation applies only to city-owned public facilities. White stated he opposes future expansion of such requirements to private businesses.
• Council Member Castillo defended the measure, stating the state manufactured the issue and that transgender people are being attacked and photographed in restrooms.
• Council Member Maki Rodriguez requested tracking of the percentage of public facilities with single-occupancy restrooms to document progress through the 2027 capital program.

Item 3 – Diversion Center Pilot Program

• Staff (Maria Vargas) reported that the CCR was introduced by Council Member Terry Castillo in October 2025. The ad hoc committee, co-chaired by Castillo and County Commissioner Justin Rodríguez, has met four times with city and county partners.
• Jolene Burley of the Center for Healthcare Services presented the work plan developed with the UT Houston School of Public Health; recommendations are expected around January 2027.
• Jail data from January to May showed 56% of arrested individuals faced criminal trespass charges. 2025 misdemeanor data showed 1,700 criminal trespass arrests, including roughly 612 individuals with mental health conditions and 805 experiencing homelessness. Processing times average about 8 hours for county jail and 12 hours for police arrests, during which individuals can decompensate.
• The proposed six-month pilot, funded at approximately $625,000 by the city and University Health (with no General Fund cost), would make 15 beds available at the existing crisis and respite center at 711 Josephine Street (District 2). The target stay is 14 days with up to 90 days of follow-up care. MEDCOM clinical staff would screen eligible individuals for voluntary admission before arrest for agreed eligible offenses in the central response area.
• Council Member White asked how success will be measured and noted the funding would come from the West Side TIRZ. Council Member Maki Rodriguez questioned the geographic scope, the use of West Side TIRZ funds, and the concentration of a citywide program in one neighborhood; she requested a progress update in about three months and suggested a 50-50 cost split to lessen the burden on the West Side TIRZ. CHS indicated the pilot could launch around January 1, 2027.

Item 4 – Elder Abuse Prevention Update

• The committee received a memorandum updating ongoing work to inform older adult populations about abuse prevention and interpersonal violence. No action was taken.

Item 5 – Graffiti Ordinance Clarification

• Police Chief Salomé presented a recommended clarification to the city's graffiti ordinance. State law defines graffiti as unauthorized paint, markers, or etching. The current ordinance includes chalk (GIS) under substances applied with pressure. From 2024 to 2026 there were 147 graffiti offenses, of which 136 involved the penal code graffiti statute; in 2024, 22% of graffiti citations resulted in incarceration for non-compliance.
• Staff recommended removing chalk from the ordinance's definition unless it leaves an indelible mark, while retaining authority to remove chalk marks from public and private property in response to complaints.
• Council Member White questioned enforcement for inappropriate chalk content; city counsel confirmed that the change does not alter graffiti removal policy and that other codes can address offensive displays.
• Council Member Maki Rodriguez expressed frustration that public resources were spent on what she characterized as a conflict between the chalk artist and Center City, and called the issue "very silly," but supported moving the clarification forward.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1: The June 16, 2026, minutes were approved unanimously.
• Item 2: A motion passed by voice vote to advance the recommendation (single-occupancy restrooms in city facilities) to the full City Council's Session A, with staff directed to provide information to all council members.
• Item 3: A motion passed to approve approximately $625,000 in West Side TIRZ funding for the six-month diversion center pilot; the item will be presented to the full council on September 10, 2026.
• Item 5: A motion passed to move the graffiti ordinance clarification to Session A for full council consideration on September 10, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 4:24 PM.