San Antonio Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting - September 29, 2026

The San Antonio Intergovernmental Relations Committee convened at 2:08 PM with Chair Maquí Rodríguez presiding. Members present included Munguía, Alderete Gavito, Mesa González, and Spears, establishing a quorum. The meeting focused on a resolution regarding the potential impact of a new Level II trauma center designation, the draft 2026-2027 State Legislative Program, and guest presentations on transportation and education funding.

Routine Approvals and Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the August 4, 2026 meeting.

Trauma Center System Resolution

• Assistant Division Director Scott Jackson and Deputy Assistant Director Jeff Coyle presented a resolution initiated by Councilwoman Spears concerning Methodist Healthcare’s intent to seek a Level II trauma center designation.
• Background Context: The region currently has two Level I trauma centers (BAMC/BAMSI and University Health). Methodist Healthcare announced its intent to elevate its facility to Level II, sparking concerns that surfaced publicly in late August 2026.
• Methodist’s Stated Position: Methodist indicated they are not seeking Level I status and do not wish to compete with BAMC. They argued the current model forces patient transfers out of their system or out of the region (to Austin or Houston) when BAMC or University Health is at capacity. They emphasized operating similar models in 52 other markets through HCA.
• Military and Regional Concerns: The primary worry expressed by military partners and committee members was that adding Level II capacity without a corresponding increase in trauma volume would dilute the patient load. This directly threatens BAMC’s ability to maintain its Level I certification and conduct essential medical readiness training for the Department of Defense. It was noted that approximately 13,000 trauma patients are treated annually, with around 1,167 (slightly less than 10%) transferred out of the system.
• Council Deliberation:
  • Councilwoman Spears emphasized protecting BAMC’s mission as a national security priority and expressed hope for a collaborative task force.
  • Councilwoman Alderete Gavito sought balance between protecting military training and allowing for business decision-making. She expressed frustration over the lack of specific data on patient volume trends and questioned whether blocking the designation was appropriate if it meant patients are sent out of town.
  • Councilman Mesa González (representing the medical district) called for more comprehensive data and earlier communication with the council before such urgent discussions arise.
  • Councilwoman Munguía warned that diluting BAMC’s volume over a ten-year horizon could risk the military moving its mission and economic investment elsewhere.
• Outcome: The committee agreed to bring all stakeholders—Strack, Methodist, and BAMC—to the table for further study. Although Methodist’s application process begins October 1, the certification takes a full year, allowing time for policy coordination. The goal is to report recommendations to the full council for a Session A deadline.

2026-2027 State Legislative Program

• Director of Government Affairs Sally Basurto presented the draft legislative program, incorporating feedback from previous committee meetings and individual council briefings.
• Key Priorities Presented: Protecting CPS Energy’s single-ownership model, securing funds for flood mitigation and the South Texas Parkway, enhancing public safety measures (cryptocurrency fraud, organized retail theft), and investing in public education and workforce development.
• Council Member Additions to the Program:
  • Alderete Gavito proposed adding support for expanding hospital capacity, particularly in South San Antonio, and including childcare facilities in the 300-foot alcohol buffer zone requirement currently applied to schools and churches.
  • Munguía requested exploring an extension of the Project Financing Zone (PFC) for the Alamodome and Convention Center from 30 to 60 years to help fund downtown infrastructure.
  • Mesa González emphasized preserving local decision-making authority (especially regarding CPS Energy) and supported the childcare center buffer addition.
• Next Steps: The program will be presented to the full City Council for approval on October 7, 2026, and formally adopted on October 29, 2026.

Guest Presentation: SAMCO Transportation Funding Update

• SAMCO Executive Director Beck Foyer provided an overview of regional transportation successes and future legislative needs.
• Current Status: The region has over $6 billion in transportation projects underway. A major success was the coalition formed to secure railroad grade separation funding.
• Challenges: The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) identifies a need of $50 billion but has only $12–14 billion identified for the 2025 plan. TxDOT faces funding volatility due to reliance on oil and gas taxes (Proposition 1) and a gas tax that has not been raised in four decades. A 60% increase in construction costs was cited.
• Legislative Goals: Support continuation of the railroad separation program, back Proposition 7 (vehicle sales tax adjustments), and monitor efforts by other regions to restructure TxDOT formulas that could disadvantage San Antonio.

Guest Presentation: Bexar County Education Coalition

• Julia Cassar, Executive Director of the Bexar County Education Coalition, presented the community’s legislative priorities for public education.
• Core Issue: Texas ranks in the bottom 10% nationally for per-student spending. Average teacher pay is approximately $6,000 below the national average.
• Special Education Funding Gap: The federal government mandates a certain funding level, but the state faces a $2 billion gap relative to those requirements. The last session only offered an additional $250 million.
• Affordable Housing Impact: Lower school enrollment is often linked not to population decline, but to a lack of affordable housing pushing families out of district boundaries.
• Advocacy Campaign: The “Bexar Builds” campaign was recently launched, drawing 300 attendees. A 26-point legislative agenda was distributed.
• Council Feedback: Councilwoman Alderete Gavito noted that the state imposes unfunded mandates such as requiring armed officers on campus; districts spend an average of $100 per student on safety while receiving approximately $20 from the state.

Key Outcomes

• Committee Alignment / Resolution: The committee supports bringing all trauma system stakeholders together to develop a coordinated solution that protects BAMC’s military mission while allowing Methodist to pursue its designation. A formal resolution draft will incorporate this collaborative approach.
• State Legislative Program Finalized: The committee approved the additions requested by members (hospital capacity, childcare buffer zones, PFC exploration).
• Action Items for Staff:
  • Schedule a meeting with Methodist, Strack, and BAMC to evaluate volume impact.
  • Investigate state-level mechanisms or incentives for hospital construction in underserved areas.
  • Review the feasibility of extending the PFC term.
• Next Meetings:
  • Full City Council review of the Legislative Program: October 7, 2026.
  • Committee report back on trauma center collaboration study: targeted before the October 29, 2026 Session A deadline.