[00:00:01]
[ATD 1. Call to Order]
OKAY.IT'S 5:00 PM ON DECEMBER 20TH, 2022.
AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I AM BOARD CHAIR FERNANDO REYES.
AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS MEETING.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL.
YOU CAN BE BACK IN A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR A QUO SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
NEXT, UH, LET'S PLEASE STAND FOR THE ALLEGIANCE OF THE US FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLAYED THE LEAD THROUGH THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLICAN FOR WHICH IS SAYING, ONE NATION UNDER GODD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR TO ONE STATE, ONE INDIVIDUAL.
OKAY, MR. A, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? I DO NOT.
[ATD 3. Citizens to be Heard]
NEXT WE HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON THE AT D FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT? WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.
SINCE WE HAVE ONE PERSON, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE SPEAKING, I HAVE TO READ THIS STATEMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS TO BUREAU PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN THE SAN ANTONIO BE COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING ITEMS THAT MAY APPEAR ON THE AGENDA, WHICH MAY ARISE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, C E O AND ARE HIS STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
AND ATTD, APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
TORI REESE, BOARD MEMBERS, UM, APPRECIATE THANK YOU.
I SAW MOST OF YOU UPSTAIRS AT YOUR, YOUR MEETING EARLIER.
UM, I SIGNED UP FOR THIS MEETING CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE WE STARTED THIS OFF CORRECTLY.
AS I TOLD YOU UPSTAIRS, I WAS THREATENED WITH ARREST.
IF I WENT TO SPEAK AT THAT MEETING BY CORPORAL CONTRERAS WHEN I CAME DOWNSTAIRS, I ASKED HIM TO MAKE SURE HE WAS AWARE THAT THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
SOMEBODY FROM YOUR LEGAL TEAM NEEDS TO SPEAK WITH CORPORAL CONTRERAS.
HE STATED FLAT OUT, IT'S NOT HIS PROBLEM.
HE WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR YOU AS A BOARD.
YES, THAT IS WAS AN UNUSUAL SITUATION.
BUT WHEN I BEGGED THAT CORPORAL, INSTEAD OF TELLING ME HE'D ARREST ME, IF I WENT TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING TO TALK TO ONE OF YOUR BOARD ME MEMBERS, HE TOLD ME IT'S NOT HIS JOB.
I HAD TO SEEK ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS OUT WHO WALKED INTO THE MEETING TO DO WHAT I'M LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO.
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH POLICE OFFICERS.
THAT SAME CORPORAL REST OF ME FOR BEING ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK.
THEY THREATEN PEOPLE WITH ARREST ON PUBLIC SIDEWALKS ALL THE TIME.
YOU GUYS HAVE A ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION BOARD.
YOU GUYS SPEND MONEY TO IMPROVE CERTAIN ROADS, BUT THEY DON'T BECOME YOUR ROADS JUST BECAUSE YOU IMPROVE THEM.
YOUR OFFICERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, ESPECIALLY DOWN BY VIA METRO CENTRO PLAZA.
THEY KEEP TELLING PEOPLE THEY OWN THE ROADS AND SIDEWALKS.
THIS, THE, THIS MEETING REQUIRES FOR SPEAKERS TO SPEAK ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, THE VIA BOARD MEETING.
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTERS RELATED TO VIA, BUT ON THIS MEETING AGENDA, IT REQUIRES YOU TO SPEAK ONLY ON MATTERS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
I DO APOLOGIZE, I WILL YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. GARZA FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IN THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA.TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO
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MOVED.ALTHOUGH IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[ATD 5. *Legal Briefing]
UH, LEGAL BRIEFING.MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT.
WE ARE REACHING IN OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND A SECOND, SECOND SIGN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE AT T D MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[1. Call to Order]
OKAY.IT IS NOW 5:12 PM I'M CALLED TO ORDER THE DECEMBER 20TH 22 MEETING OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
[3. President/CEO Report]
ARN, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT? YES, SIR, I DO.SO WE'LL BEGIN, UH, THE MEETING THIS WITH VIA STAR ADMINISTRATOR FOR THIS MONTH, AND THAT IS OUR SENIOR SYSTEMS ANALYST, JOSE FLORES.
JOSE, IF YOU STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU THERE WE ARE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU COME DOWN.
WE'LL HAVE YOU COME DOWN FOR A PICTURE.
I FIRST HAVE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ABOUT YOU.
JOSE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCE FOR THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.
HE IS ALWAYS FORWARD THINKING AS A PROBLEM SOLVER FOR SO MANY APPLICATIONS AT VIA IN THE PAST YEAR, HE'S WORKED ON THE TRAP SQL UPGRADE TO VERSION 19, THE MITIGATION OF THE LEXUS SERVER, THE E R P AM E E E A M A PROJECT AND MANY OTHERS, MOST OF WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THOSE ARE.
HE ALSO, HE HELPED CREATE A DATA WAREHOUSE FOR FLEET AND FOR FINANCE.
SO HAVE MORE ACCURATE AND TIMELY REPORTS.
HE FIXES PRODUCTION PROBLEMS, TROUBLE CALLS, HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO TEAM MEMBERS AND IT COMMUNICATES WELL WITH ALL DIVISIONS AT VIA AND A CONSTANT RELIABLE RESOURCE.
AND OF COURSE, EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION IS IMPORTANT FOR US FOR OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
WE THANK YOU AND WE HONOR YOU.
AND WE'D LIKE YOU NOW TO COME DOWN FRONT.
[00:10:11]
I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT MONA HAZEL HAS BEEN HIRED AS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SENIOR VP OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.NOW MONA'S A FAMILIAR FACE AROUND VIA, SO FOR OVER 15 YEARS, SHE WORKED, HAVING SERVED IN A VARIETY OF ROLES BETWEEN 2005 AND 2021 WHEN SHE LEFT US BRIEFLY TO WORK AT HER FAMILY'S BUSINESS.
SO WE ARE GLAD YOU'VE COME BACK HOME AND WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR JOHN GARY.
TONIGHT WE ARE RECOGNIZING AN ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST, CAROLYN DORTY, FOR HER HEROIC AND QUICK RESPONSE TO A PATRON'S NEED THAT RESULTED IN SAVING THAT PERSON'S LIFE.
SO CAROLYN, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND? IN OCTOBER, A 79 YEAR OLD PATRON WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR CAME INTO THE VMC TO DO HER VIA TRANS ORIENTATION.
WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING HER PICTURE TAKEN IN THE CAMERA ROOM, THE PATRON BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING.
AND SO CARRIE ARRIVED, ASSESSED THE SITUATION QUICKLY, ASKED THE GUARD AT THE FRONT DESK AT THE FRONT STATION TO CONTACT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
THEN SHE STOOD BY WATCHING FOR THEM TO ARRIVE.
AND THEN WHEN THEY ARRIVED, SHE STAYED WITH THE PATRON AND, AND HELPED PREPARE HER FOR TRANSPORT.
CARRIE THEN GAVE HER BUSINESS CARD TO THE PATRON'S GRANDDAUGHTER WHO WAS PRESENT AT THE TIME SO THEY COULD REACH OUT LATER.
THEY NEEDED ANYTHING, OR ESPECIALLY IF HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT VIA TRANS SERVICES.
CARRIE'S QUICK THINKING AND THOUGHTFUL ACTION ENSURED THE PATRON RECEIVED VITAL CARE SHE NEEDED.
AND I'M, I'M CERTAIN, VERY CERTAIN HER FAMILY THANKS YOU, UH, FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND YOUR CONCERN.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CHRISTINA CASTAGNO, STRATEGIC PLANNER THREE, WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO TAKE THE LEAD IN COORDINATING VIA HIS CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES FORUM HIM.
THAT WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 6TH, THAT THE NORRIS CONFERENCE CENTER, THIS EVENT WAS JOINTLY ORGANIZED BY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICE OF BUSINESS SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AND THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT GROUP.
AND IT GAVE CONTRACTORS INTERESTED IN DOING BUSINESS WITH VIA THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ONE-ON-ONE CON CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AFTER REFORM PRESENTATION.
UH, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAURICE BRIDGES, MELISSA DEL FUENTE AND RALPH FLORES AND LAUREN SANCHEZ'S NOT ON THAT LIST.
OTHERS FROM SEVERAL DIVISIONS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO ORGANIZING THE SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
BUT CHRISTINA, WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, CHRISTINA.
AND WHILE ON THE TOPIC OF THE CONTRACT O OPPORTUNITIES FORUM, IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT'S PROBABLY A BIT OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
THIS FREE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 140 PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEEDED THE RELEASE OF, UH, VARIOUS CONTRACTS TO INCLUDE WORK FOR VIAS ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT.
THE SCOPE OF THE CONTRACTS WILL ENCOMPASS A WIDE VARIETY OF UPCOMING PROJECTS AND SERVICES.
AND THE FORUM PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR NETWORKING BETWEEN POTENTIAL PRIME AND SOME CONTRACTORS AHEAD OF THESE CONTRACTS, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND FIRMS FOR PROJECTS NEEDED TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL TRUSTEES WHO, UH, WERE ABLE TO JOIN AND, AND SEE IT.
BOB, I THINK YOU WERE ONE OF THEM.
I JUST WANT TO ADD MY THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO PUT IT TOGETHER.
IF YOU SAW THE DIVERSITY IN THE ROOM, I THINK YOU'D BE VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THE, WITH THE OUTREACH THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
AND THE FACT THAT ALL OF THESE POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS COULD HEAR THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TO SHOW.
SO I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR PULLING IT OFF.
SO NEXT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ACTING DEPUTY CEO TRAMEL BROWN, WHO'S BEEN ACCEPTED IN THE 2023 LEADERSHIPS LEADERSHIP SAN ANTONIO OR LSA CLASS 47 PROGRAM.
LSA LEADERS STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, STAYING CONNECTED AND GIVING BACK.
AND I ESPECIALLY LOOK FORWARD TO IT SINCE I WILL BE A PART OF THAT CLASS.
MUCH TO TRAMMELL'S DISADVANTAGE
BUT WE ARE REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE THERE.
AND MY CO-CHAIR, BY THE WAY, IS STEPHANIE SUAREZ, WHO IS A FORMER VIA EMPLOYEE.
[00:15:01]
WE HAVE A STRONG VIA PRESENCE THIS YEAR AT VSA.WE AT VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT HAD THE HONOR TO HOST MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, OR TEXT 21 FOR THAT ORGANIZATION'S SAN ANTONIO CONFERENCE HELD ON DECEMBER 1ST AND SECOND.
THIS EVENT FEATURED TRANSPORTATION EXPERTS AND INFLUENCER FROM ACROSS THE REGION AND STATE AND BEYOND, INCLUDING LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEADERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.
THE PURPOSE OFT 21 IS TO JOIN CITIES, COUNTIES, PRIVATE BUSINESSES, PORTS, AIRPORTS, TRANSIT, OTHER TRANSPORTATION ENTITIES IN A COLLECTIVE INFORMED VOICE TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY MAKERS TO IMPR, IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION IN TEXAS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT TEXAS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A TRULY MULTI-MODAL ORIENTED, STATEWIDE TRANS TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATION.
NOW, AS PART OF THE ACTIVITIES VIA HOSTED A TOUR OF PRIMO AND A VIA C N G FUELING STATION.
AND WHILE THEY WERE THERE VISITING FING STATION, THEY ALSO WERE ABLE TO SEE THE ELECTRIC BUS, WHICH WAS PARKED OUT IN FRONT THIS THIS AFTERNOON, FOLLOWED BY DINNER AT THE ALAMO ON THURSDAY EVENING.
AND THEN ON FRIDAY, I WAS PLEASED TO WELCOME THE GROUP AND SERVED ON A PANEL ON THE RAIL TRANSIT TASK FORCE PANEL WITH A C PRESENT CEO O OF HOUSTON METRO, THE ACTING CEO E O FOR CORPUS CHRISTI, AND THE INTERIM C E O FOR CAT METRO.
UH, I THINK THAT THE REVIEWS FROM THOSE WHO ATTENDED, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL TRUSTEES THAT WERE THERE, INCLUDING TRUSTEE COMO, TRUSTEE PARES, TRUSTEE CABANA CABELLA, AND TRUSTEE MALONE, UM, WILL TELL YOU THAT THE, I THINK THE RECEPTION WAS INCREDIBLE.
WE, WE SET A VERY HIGH MARK FOR THAT ORGANIZATION AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THE EVENT, WHICH IS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT GROUP OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE TEAM, AND OUR PARTNERS IN THE ALAMOS.
YOU ALL REALLY MADE, UH, SHOWED SAN ANTONIO OFF WELL AND SHOWED VIA OFF WELL, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A TRUSTEE OR BOARD, VICE CHAIR AKIEM BROWN.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING AKIEM ON THE RECENT GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION FOR ESSENCE PREPARATORY SCHOOL.
THE CEREMONY HELD LAST WEEK SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 17.7 MILLION PERMANENT CAMPUS ON SAN ANTONIO'S EAST SIDE, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF AKEEM'S VISION, PASSION, AND HARD WORK FOR EDUCATION.
THIS MILESTONE IS ONE OF MANY ON THE HORIZON, I BELIEVE, FOR HAKEEM AND FOR OUR CITY, WHICH HE IS HELPING BY LEADING AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE.
UH, HE CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT I HOPE THAT HE MIGHT EVEN BE LISTENING IN OR WATCHING, WATCHING.
BUT NONETHELESS, IT WAS, IT'S QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.
IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS SO WELL PUT TOGETHER.
BUT IT'S SUCH A, UH, SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND I KNOW HAKEEM AKEEM'S HEART IS REALLY THERE FOR THE SCHOLARS.
THEY'RE NOT STUDENTS, THEY'RE SCHOLARS.
AND SO CONGRATULATIONS A HAKEEM ON THAT.
AND AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE YEAR, UH, WE HAVE A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND TO BE GRATEFUL FOR, FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE DEDICATION, DEDICATION IS SERVICE SHOWN BY OUR VIA TEAMS EACH DAY.
WE CAN CELEBRATE SEVERAL IMPORTANT MILESTONES IN 2002 AND LOOK AHEAD TO OUR 45TH YEAR OF SERVICE WITH CONFIDENCE TO CONTINUED GROWTH AND SUCCESS FOR VIA AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
SO THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR OPERATORS, OUR MECHANICS FOR THE CON CONTRIBUTION OVER THE PAST YEAR.
IT'S REALLY MY HONOR TO BE PART OF SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM.
AND THEN A THANK YOU, OF COURSE, TO OUR BOARD FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF FAITHFUL AND FRUITFUL SERVICE TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION AND VISION, THAT IS TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY AND KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK WITH Y'ALL.
SO HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TOGETHER.
AND JUST FYI, THIS IS A PICTURE I BROUGHT BACK FROM LAST WEEK IN THAT IS NUREMBERG, GERMANY.
AND THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF MY COMMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO, UH, THANK AND CONGRATULATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
UH, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT, UH, MY INVOLVEMENT WITH VIENNA THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE LEARNED, UH, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, BUT IT TAKES EVERY ONE OF US TO BE INVOLVED AND, AND A LOT OF TIMES TO GO OUTSIDE OF OUR, OUR NORMAL ROUTINE OF WHAT WE DO.
UH, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND, UH, I, I KNOW VIA APPRECIATES YOU AND THE CITY APPRECIATES YOU.
THE COUNTY APPRECIATES ALL THAT YOU DO.
AND I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A MERRY, MERRY
[00:20:01]
CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.[4. Citizens to be Heard]
WILL WE, UH, MOVING ON TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.UH, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, CITIZENS OF REGISTERED TO SPEAK? WE DO.
MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE 16, UH, CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, SINCE WE HAVE CITIZENS BE HEARD, I HAVE TO READ THIS COMMENT OR THIS STATEMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BE COUNTY AREA QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL THAT MAY ARISE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT SLASH C E O AND OR HIS STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
AND WE, WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
MR. CHAIR, OUR FIRST CITIZEN IS CELESTE KONES.
I'M TALKING REGARDING THE RAPID ADVANCED, UH, TRANSIT THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR 2025.
MY NAME IS CELESTIA YOS AND I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR THE NORTHMORE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT HAS 700 PLUS RESIDENTS.
I'M SPEAKING FOR THIS SECTION NORTH OF HILDERBRAND 24 TO THE LOOP FOUR 10 SECTION, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR HALF OF THE PROJECT LIMITS.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE VIA ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT.
JEFF, YOU STATED THAT IN MARCH IN 20 20, 22, THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED AT 68% BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, THAT MOST OF YOUR SERVICE AREAS SAID, YES, WE WANT THIS.
WE WANT TO IMPROVE TRANSIT IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHAT YOU FAILED TO MENTION TO THEM WAS WHERE THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
SO YOU CAST A WIDE NET AND YOU SAID, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO IMPROVE TRANSIT NATIONWIDE, BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL US WHERE WE ASKED.
YOU ASKED FOR OUR INPUT AND WE PROVIDED IT TO YOU.
WE SAID, NO, WE SPOKE TO CAMMI JOHN LEROY ELOY, THE RESIDENT ENGINEER, THE TRAFFIC STAFF, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF.
WE SPOKE TO YOU AND WE TOLD YOU, NO, WE DO NOT WANT THIS.
WE MET AT EVERY, WE WENT TO EVERY MEETING AND WE SUGGESTED, WHY DON'T YOU MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE? WE DO NOT WANT IT.
WE GAVE YOU A PAGE FILLED WITH NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE ART WOULD IMPOSE ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND YET YOU IGNORED US AGAIN.
YOU'VE HAD FOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH US, NOT THREE, LIKE YOU SAY ON YOUR WEBSITE.
WE'VE MET, WE'VE TALKED, WE'VE DISCUSSED, AND WE'VE PROVIDED NOT ONLY WRITTEN MESSAGES, WRITTEN COMMENTS, VERBAL COMMENTS.
WE'VE TOLD YOU NO, WHEN IS OUR NO ENOUGH FOR Y'ALL? ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE TOLD YOU NO, WE DO NOT WANT THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT DOWN SAN PEDRO.
OUR SAN PEDRO, NORTH OF BASSI IS WIDE ENOUGH.
BUT THAT'S GONNA STILL CAUSE US AN, UH, A PROBLEM FOR US AS NEIGHBORS, AS NEIGHBORHOODS ADJACENT TO THAT CORRIDOR.
YOU'RE ASKING US TO GIVE UP A LOT.
NOT JUST THE THE CULTURE OF IT, BUT YOU'RE ASKING US TO, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE YOU THIS GREAT CORRIDOR, BUT YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO US.
SO WHEN IS HER VOICE GOING TO BE HEARD? WE'VE SPOKE TO YOU, JOHN.
WE'VE, I MEAN TAMMY, WE'VE SPOKEN TO EVERY ONE OF THEM AT EVERY MEETING.
WHEN IS NO ENOUGH? WHEN IS OUR VOICE GOING TO BE HEARD? WHEN DO YOU TAKE US INTO CONSIDERATION? YOU WANT TO RAM THIS CORRIDOR DOWN OUR THROATS, NOT JUST DOWN SAN PEDRO.
AND THEN YOU WANT TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA EXTEND THIS AND YOU'RE GONNA BE WEAVING IN AND OUT SOUTH OF, UH, ALMOST YOU HAVE OH, FOUR LANES, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA CROSS YOUR VIA BUSES FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT.
HOW THE, HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IF YOU'RE PUTTING VIA BUSES WITH A LEFT SIDE, UH, ON RAMP, YOU'RE GONNA CROSS 'EM OVER TO THE OUTSIDE LANE AND THEY'RE MAGICALLY GONNA HAVE A RIGHT SIDE DOOR.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS CORRIDOR.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR RESIDENTS.
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I APOLOGIZE IF I GOT YOUR LAST NAME INCORRECT.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF NORTHMORE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M A RESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS RAPID TRANS IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.
WHEN WE WERE AT THE HERMAN HALL, UH, MEETING, I'D ASKED IF ANYBODY HAD SPOKEN TO
[00:25:01]
ANY BUS RIDERS, IF THE BUS RIDERS HAD ASKED FOR THIS.AND I WAS TOLD NO, THAT THE BUS RIDERS WEREN'T CONSULTED OR THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS.
WE SPOKE WITH, UH, THE POLICE OFFICER THAT'S IN CHARGE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR SAFE OFFICER, AND ASKED IF WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF IT.
AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ACCESS TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GONNA HAVE REDUCED ACCESS TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THIS MEDIAN'S GOING TO PREVENT THEM FROM TURNING LEFT IF THEY'RE GOING NORTHBOUND OR PREVENT THEM FROM TURNING RIGHT, IF THEY'RE GOING SOUTHBOUND AND OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED BUS RIDERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CROSS IN PEDRO AND WALK FURTHER TO ACCESS A BUS STOP.
AND SO WHO DOES THIS REALLY SERVE AND BENEFIT? IT'S NOT THE BUS RIDERS, IT'S NOT THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
AND I VOTED FOR THE IMPROVED TRANSIT CONTEMPLATING THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING MORE FREQUENT SERVICE LATER SERVICE TO HELP PEOPLE THAT WORK DOWNTOWN THAT COMMUTE IMPROVED SAFETY AT BUS STOPS, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUSES.
THAT'S WHAT I CONTEMPLATED WHEN I VOTED ON THIS.
BUT THIS PROJECT WASN'T PROPOSED TO US.
IT WASN'T INCLUDED, UH, WHEN, WHEN THAT VOTE WAS TAKEN.
AND THIS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS CONTRARY TO THE NORTH CENTRAL COMMUNITY PLANS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
IT UNDERMINES THE OBJECTIVES TO ELIMINATE HAZARDS, TO IMPROVE STREET CONDITIONS, TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS, TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC ON ISSUES OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC TRANSIT RESPONDS TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
NONE OF THOSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE BEING SATISFIED OR MET.
HOW DOES REDUCING TWO LANES ON SAN PEDRO TO ONE LANE FURTHER ANY OF THESE GOALS? AND WHEN I WERE ALSO CONCERNED THAT VIAS NOT LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS WHEN I WAS AT THESE MEETINGS AND SPOKE WITH PEOPLE, IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS BEING HEARD.
INSTEAD, I WAS TALKED AT, TALKED DOWN TO, I WAS TOLD, WE'LL COME WE'LL, WE'LL COME AND TALK ABOUT IT TO YOU LATER.
SO NORTH WAR NEIGHBORHOODS OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT.
NEXT CITIZEN IS ANDREA FLORES.
I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHMORE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AGAIN, AS CELESTE MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT REPRESENTS MORE THAN 700 RESIDENTS.
UM, AND I'M ALSO A COMMUTER, UM, ALONG ALMOST THE ENTIRE SPAN OF THE PROPOSED BUS ROUTE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UM, BOARD MEMBERS REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES ALONG SAN PEDRO THAT HAVE VOICED THEIR COMMUNITIES OPINION.
NORTHMORE INCLUDED THAT THE MAJOR, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS ARE OPPOSED TO THIS PLAN.
NORTHMORE HAS RAISED CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED, AND, UM, WE'VE VEHEMENTLY EXPRESSED OUR VOTE IS NO TO THIS PLAN.
UM, I'D PERSONALLY LIKE TO KNOW AND BE CONTACTED, UM, REGARDING VIAS PLANS TO PUBLICLY ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS WHEN THEY PROPOSED THE SCHEMATIC SCHEME TO RESIDENTS, UM, REGARDING THE ADVANCED PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN.
UPON REVIEW OF THE PLAN, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE COMMUNITIES WERE NOT DRIVEN THROUGH
ANYONE WHO DROVE THROUGH ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY STREETS WOULD KNOW THAT IF YOU, UM, THAT IF YOU, UH, PROHIBITED RESIDENTS ABILITY TO TURN ON SAN PEDRO OUT OF NORTHMORE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO THEN DRIVE THROUGH, UM, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, MANY OF WHICH ARE, UM, IN THEY HAVE POTHOLES.
THERE ARE ALSO NO SIDEWALKS, UM, THROUGHOUT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ANOTHER PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, IS RIDDLED WITH BROKEN SIDEWALKS.
UM, THIS VIA TRANSIT PLAN, AS MR. GTOS MENTIONED, IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY PLAN OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
[00:30:01]
THIS PROJECT IS CONTRARY TO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY PLAN.THE LONG-TERM COMMUNITY PLAN WAS DEVELOPED BY SIX NORTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG THE SAN PEDRO CORRIDOR, WHICH TOOK A LOT OF INPUT AND DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THIS PRO PROSE PROJECT WILL INCREASE CONGESTION.
IT WILL NOT MAINTAIN ROADWAYS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IT WILL REQUIRE RIDERS TO CROSS SAN PEDRO.
ADDITIONALLY, IT'LL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BUS STOPS, WHICH DOES NOT IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSIT, UM, ACCESSIBILITY VIA PROVIDING A, AS MR. CATOS MENTIONED, A PROPOSED SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
SEVERAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS INCLUDE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, INCLUDING DIFFICULTY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND SMALL CHILDREN TO ACCESS THE BUS.
REDUCTION IN LANES WILL CAUSE INCREASED TRAFFIC, CONDE CONGESTION, UM, FLOODING ALSO, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REGARDING, UM, FLOODING ISSUES, UM, AND HOW THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED ON THE STREET.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, AS MR. KUDOS MENTIONED, EMERGENCY ACCESSIBILITY.
I'M THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE MONTE VISTA TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND FROM THE LISTENING TO THESE COMMENTS, I HOPE ALL OF Y'ALL ARE LISTENING.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF WRINKLES THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT HERE.
MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS THE CORRIDOR PLANS AND THE, UH, QUARTER MILE ON EACH SIDE OF EVERY CORRIDOR WHERE THE LAND USES ARE GONNA CHANGE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT GIVES THEM, IT'S LIKE A BACKDOOR IMMINENT DOMAIN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
UH, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WILL ENCOMPASS THE, THE ENTIRE QUARTER MILE WILL TAKE UP MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT ABOUT HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS? IS THIS, IS THAT GONNA OVERRIDE MY N C D? IS IT GONNA OVERRIDE A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD? UM, I THINK THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT NONE OF VIA IS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WE TRIED TO GET LANGUAGE IN THERE IN THE UDC AMENDMENT THAT IS GOING TO TAKE UP, THAT IS GOING TO CODIFY THIS QUARTER MILE, UH, CHANGE IN LAND USE ON EACH SIDE OF EVERY CORRIDOR.
THEY WOULD NOT PUT ANY LANGUAGE IN THERE TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE NEED ASSURANCES THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GOING TO BE PROTECTED AND THAT THEY WON'T BE EMINENT DOMAINING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO PUT IN, UH, WALL-TO-WALL APARTMENTS AND CONDOMINIUMS. SO IT WOULD BE GREAT IF Y'ALL COULD GET ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TELL US YOU WILL BE PROTECTED.
I AM, UH, A RESIDENT AND A LIFELONG.
AND IN ALL THE YEARS THAT I HAVE LIVED, I'VE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE SAN ANTONIO CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT IN A SUBURB.
I'M FROM THE SOUTH SIDE FROM HIGHLAND HILLS, AND I LIVE IN GREATER HARMONY HILLS.
I SERVE AS THE TREASURER AND VICE, UH, TREASURER AND SECRETARY OF THE ALMOST PARK TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF, UH, OF THE CITY.
SAN ANTONIO HAS, LIKE, I LIVED IN MONTE VISTA FOR, FOR A TIME IN MY LIFE.
I LOVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD HATE TO HAVE IT TORN UP WITH THIS ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT, UH, THE, THE ESPECIALLY, UH, SAN PEDRO AVENUE.
IT IS A, IT IS A LIFELINE, IS A QUARTER.
WE, I ENJOY DRIVING TO DOWNTOWN.
I WORK AT OUR LADY AT THE LAKE UNIVERSITY.
I, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE WEST SIDE ALSO.
AND DRIVING THROUGH, THROUGH, UH, SAN PEDRO IS A DELIGHT BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE, UH, OF
[00:35:01]
THE LIGHTS.AND WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH, UH, FREEWAYS.
I BELIEVE THAT HAVING, UH, UH, TAKING UP TWO OR THREE LINES IN THE CENTER IS A HAZARD, IS A VERY, VERY, UH, THE PROBABILITY OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BEING IN ACCIDENTS, UH, IS VERY, VERY HIGH.
UM, THE, THE FACT THAT THE, UH, THE BUSES WILL BE TRAVELING IN, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH DIRECTIONS, UH, IS VERY GOOD.
I MEAN, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT IT BLOCKS TRAFFIC.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCESS OF, UH, THE, UH, MEDICAL, UH, FIRE, UH, TO GET TO THE COMMUNITIES.
OUR STREETS ARE SO BAD OR SO AWFUL, SO RIDDLED WITH POTHOLES RIGHT NOW.
SAN PEDRO IS AN AWFUL, UM, STREET.
AND SO THE, THE FACT THAT IT'S 35 MILES AN HOUR, THAT'S ABOUT AS FAST AS YOU COULD GO ANYWAY, UH, WITHOUT RISKING, UH, YOUR, UH, MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CAR.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU LISTEN TO PEOPLE THAT YOU, THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE SAKE OF AN AGING COMMUNITY THAT IS IN THIS AREA, THE DOWNTOWN AREAS.
WE OWN, YOU KNOW, OUR PROPERTIES.
WE SPEND OUR LIVES, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN THIS, THESE COMMUNITIES.
WE WANT TO PRESERVE THEM AND HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND, UM, AMBULANCE AND FIRE.
NEXT, NEXT WE HAVE RAYMOND SAVALA.
I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BY THE WAY, LET ME, LET ME RESTART OVER AGAIN.
I AM A BOARD MEMBER ON THE HOMELESS PARK TERRORIST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND ABOUT A YEAR AGO, ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES CAME TO OUR MONTHLY MEETING.
AND I THOUGHT I WAS TALKING TO THE GUY WHO SOLD THE BEANSTALK BEANS, THE JACK, BECAUSE HE WAS SAYING THINGS THAT, MY GOD, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, DID SOMEBODY REALLY WANNA BUY THIS IDEA? IT'S A BAD IDEA.
HE SAID THAT THEY HAD CONTACTED THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT, UH, A LOT OF RESIDENTS WANTED THIS PLAN.
NO, THEY DIDN'T CONTACT ANYBODY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE PROOF.
WHEN YOU DO RESEARCH, YOU JUST DON'T DUMP THE DATA AFTER YOU, YOU SEE IT.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT REGULAR PEOPLE DO.
AND THE THINGS HE SAID WAS, UH, IT'LL BE MORE EFFICIENT.
UH, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GO FROM SAN PEDRO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE AIRPORT BY GETTING ON THE BUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANES.
REALLY? THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS ON WILDWOOD.
I CAN JUST SEE A SENIOR CITIZEN TRYING TO LUG THAT LUGGAGE DOWN THE STREET, CROSS SAN PEDRO TO GET IN THE MIDDLE AND GET ON THAT BUS.
NOW, WAS HE LYING? I DON'T KNOW.
WHEN I CONFRONTED HIM DURING THAT MEETING AND, AND I ASKED HIM, DO YOU RIDE THE BUS? HE A, HE TOOK HIS TIME.
HE WAS LIKE A DEER IN, IN THE HEADLIGHTS.
AND HE SAID, UH, NO, I DON'T RIDE THE BUS.
WELL, YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL ME A PLAN THAT YOU DON'T EVEN USE OR WILL USE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THE BOARD HERE RIDE THE BLESS? THAT'S GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO HONEST.
BUT YOU KNOW, I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING.
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT US TO ACCEPT THIS FOOLISH PLAN IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE IN THE REVENUE THAT IT MIGHT BRING? I DO RECONNAISSANCE, DRIVE-BYS EVERY MORNING AND IN THE EVENING.
AND I LOOK AT, I LOOK INSIDE YOUR VIA BUSES RIDERSHIP IS DOWN.
WHY? BECAUSE THE BOARD MEMBERS DON'T TAKE THE BUS.
THE EMPLOYEES DON'T TAKE THE BUS.
HOW CAN YOU SELL SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN IT YOURSELF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND YOU'LL HAVE A NICE EVENING.
[00:40:01]
NAME IS ON GOOD EVENING.MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
UM, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER HARMONY HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE'RE LOCATED OVER BY THE AIRPORT BETWEEN SAN PEDRO AND BLANCO.
UM, I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED, WHAT, BACK IN 2020.
AND WE WERE, AS MR. SOS, I THINK SAYS, PRETTY WELL SOLD A HELL OF BEANS AND NONE OF US REALLY THOUGHT VERY WELL OF IT AT THAT TIME.
SO HERE YOU ARE TODAY, READY TO BUILD IT, BUT I'M REALLY KIND OF HERE.
BUT I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT WE ARE FEELING AS A GREATER HARMONY HILLS.
UM, YOU RECENTLY CAME DOWN NORTH OF BLANK OF FOUR 10 ON BLANCO, GOING NORTH TOWARDS WEST AVENUE, WHICH COMES INTO GREATER HARMONY HILLS.
AND YOU STARTED TO PUT IN SOME NEW, UH, BUS PAD SITES.
WE WERE, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE KIND OF A NICE COURTESY TO LET THE NEIGHBOR ASSOCIATION KNOW THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE IN OUR AREA AND TELLING US WHAT WE WERE DOING.
SO WE CAN TELL THE RESIDENTS, BE AWARE AND MAYBE LOCK YOUR DOOR BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING OR WHATEVER.
BUT AS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS, WE HAVE A LOT THAT WE DEAL WITH.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL KINDS OF ENTITIES, CITY, COUNTY, VIA BUS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO, WE'RE THE ONES THAT PROBABLY CLEAN UP THE GRAFFITI OFF OF A BUILDING SO THAT YOU FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFE OFFICERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOING THEIR PATROL SO THAT YOU FEEL A LITTLE MORE, UH, COMFORTABLE.
AND I JUST WONDER HOW MUCH WE GET BACK FROM U VIA FROM THE CITY, FROM THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF WORK ON OUR OWN WITHOUT ANY PAY.
WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PAD SITES GOING IN.
THEY ENCROACH A LOT INTO THE FRONT YARDS OF NEIGHBORS ALONG BLANCO.
THEY'RE ALSO PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD FROM AN, FROM AN ACCESS ROAD TO AN ACCESS ROAD.
SO THEY'RE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE.
WE SEE A LOT OF, UH, ACCIDENTS OCCUR AT THOSE POINTS BECAUSE ANYONE OFF A BUS WANTS TO CROSS IMMEDIATELY THE STREET.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE SEE SOME OF THE ACCIDENTS.
UM, BUT WE ALSO FIND THAT THERE'S NO, UM, THERE'S JUST NO CONNECTION FROM YOU TO US.
AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE THE BIGGEST THING THAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR HERE.
SO I'M NOT TOO HIGHLY IMPRESSED.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME TO SPEAK TO VIA, JUST TO KIND OF SEE ALL OF YOU.
I THINK YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PR THAT YOU GOTTA WORK ON.
A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, A LOT OF THOSE IN HARMONY HILLS, WHICH IS 2000 HOMES, DON'T TAKE THE BUS.
UM, WE PROBABLY JUST GET IN OUR CAR.
MY ADVANCEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAS, WOULD BE TO TAKE MY 2015 INTO A 2023 CAR.
BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST MY CHOICE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE MORE CONNECTION A LITTLE MORE.
WE'VE INVITED YOU SEVERAL TIMES BACK AT 2020.
WE'VE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM YOU.
AND I THINK YOU GOTTA GET INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU GOTTA GET ON THE GROUND AND ON THE STREET AND SEE WHAT WE DEAL WITH AND SEE HOW IT FEELS AND UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTION OF REALLY WHO YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T LISTENING, THANK YOU.
UM, I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I'M AN ACTIVIST.
UH, I HIT ON SOME POINTS EARLIER.
I WANT TO HIT ON WHY I'M DOWN HERE.
UM, A LOT OF ISSUES THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT OUT THERE WILL NEVER COME TO YOUR ATTENTION UNLESS CITIZENS LIKE THESE BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR COMING DOWN HERE.
WHEN I PULLED IN TODAY, 30 P 30 SPOTS IN YOUR PARKING LOT ARE BLOCKED OFF.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S WHAT IT IS.
IT APPEARS TO THE CITIZEN AS IF WE'RE BEING TOLD WE DON'T WANT YOU COMING TO THESE MEETINGS.
MAYBE, MAYBE IT WAS BLOCKED OFF IN ANTICIPATION OF PEOPLE GETTING HERE.
CAUSE I GOT HERE EARLY, CAME FROM THE FOUR O'CLOCK MEETING.
BUT WITH THOSE 30 SPACES BLOCKED OFF, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE DON'T RIDE THE BUS EITHER.
WHERE DO THEY PARK? HOW DO THEY COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND SPEAK AND GET TO YOUR ATTENTION? UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WHEN YOU DO HAVE A BOARD MEETING, YOU, YOU KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION AND PERHAPS HAVE SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES PARK BACK THROUGH GATE 14 TO MAKE MORE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
BUT BACK ONTO THE ISSUES THAT I WANNA MAKE YOU GUYS AWARE OF.
UM, NOT VIAS ISSUE, BUT IT IS BECAUSE YOU HIRED THE VENDING COMPANIES OUT AT ALL YOUR SITES WHERE YOU HAVE THE VENDING MACHINES THAT PROVIDE CHANGE FOR PEOPLE TO GET ON THE BUSES.
YOU, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT? CORRECT? AT YOUR TRANSIT CENTERS, ALL ALL THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, TILAK, RANDOLPH INGRAM, CROSSROADS, OR MAYBE YOU KNOW THAT AS UM, WONDERLAND, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO, THESE SITES HAVE CHANGED MACHINES IN 'EM.
THOSE CHANGED MACHINES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO
[00:45:01]
THE CITIZENS.A CITIZEN WHO CATCHES THE BUS AND PUTS IN $2 GETS NOTHING BACK.
I BELIEVE THE DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME SHIFTY DRIVERS WHO WERE STEALING THE CHANGE FS.
SO THEY WERE RIPPING OFF THE CITIZEN THAT 70 CENTS.
SO NOW THE CITIZEN JUST DOESN'T GET THAT.
SO THEY NEED THOSE CHANGE MACHINES TO BE WORKING.
PLEASE GET WITH JAPA, WHICHEVER VENDOR YOU'RE USING.
I APOLOGIZE IF THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT VENDOR.
AND MAKE SURE THEY GO OUT AND MAKE SURE, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS, THOSE CHANGE MACHINES ARE RUNNING.
CUZ DURING THE WEEK, IF YOU HAVE THE KIOSK, PEOPLE CAN GET CHANGED THERE.
AND I THANK YOU FOR HAVING THOSE KIOSKS MANNED.
THE LAST POINT THAT I'M GONNA MAKE AT THIS MEETING IS THE I SORES OF THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU GUYS INHERITED FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DOWN ON MEDINA STREET.
YOU KNOW IT AS THE SCOOBY BUILDINGS.
THEY'RE EYESORE, THEY'RE CONDEMNED.
YOU CAN'T USE 'EM, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
WHAT IS VIA PLANNING TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY AT THIS POINT? THEY HARBOR PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SEX ACTS, DRUG USE, OTHER THINGS FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND THERE'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH THAT.
WE PAY OUR SECURITY AND POLICE TO PATROL THAT ALL THE TIME.
IT IS, IT'S, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
BUT WE, WE NEED TO SPEND OUR SECURITY FUNDS ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN PATROLLING THAT.
CAN WE MAKE THE COMMENT WE SEE A OF YOU ON YOUR PHONE NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND HE THAT THE PERCEPTION CAN I HEAR YOU? YEP.
WE, WE, WE CAME OUT HERE TO SPEAK TO Y'ALL ON BEHALF OF SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
SO WE WOULD, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU PAY THAT RESPECT TO US.
ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO DO THIS? DO YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL THE APPROVALS AND FUNDING YOU NEED? I'M BETTY ECKARD AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALMA PARK TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
WE WERE TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS.
I HEARD CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK WHEN VIA PRESENTED TO 'EM AND SAID ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE IN FAVOR OF THIS.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO? ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO BACK OUT OF THIS? ARE YOU GONNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS YOU REPRESENT, THE PEOPLE, THE MONEY COMES FROM THE PEOPLE.
EVEN THOUGH IT COMES FROM WASHINGTON? GOODNESS GRACIOUS.
THIS WILL NOT IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION.
YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE WRONG AVENUE AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IF YOU WANTED PEOPLE TO RIDE AND USE VIA AND BECOME A STARSHIP IN TRANSPORTATION IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION.
YOU WOULD'VE GOTTEN THOSE BUSES OFF THE ROAD.
AND ARE STREETS THAT ARE BEING DESTROYED BY THEM, MILLIONS OF MILES OF STREETS ARE OR IS THIS GROUP WAITING FOR 'EM TO TAKE AWAY ALL OUR CARS SO WE CAN RIDE WHATEVER THIS IS GOING TO NOWHERE FROM MY HOUSE.
I CAN GET TO THE AIRPORT IN FIVE MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE.
OH, BY THE WAY, MY DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS APPROVED TODAY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
SO I CAN DRIVE TO THE AIRPORT.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I CAN DRIVE TO CITY COUNCIL.
I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT YOU DISCUSS SOME EMINENT DOMAIN
[00:50:01]
IN OUR AREA.WE ARE A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DON'T WANT OUR HOMES DESTROYED.
WE WANT TO LIVE THERE JUST LIKE MONTE VISTA, JUST LIKE KING WILLIAM, JUST LIKE DISTRICT NINE, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DISTRICT.
I'M ASKING YOU TO TRY TO REVERSE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO GET OUT THERE AND DO.
IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU CANNOT THEN YOU CAN'T.
GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE SHEER HILLS UM, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.
MY PARTNER RODE VIA BUS, WORKED AS A NURSE AT UM, THE NICK'S HOSPITAL.
SO RODE THE BUS FIVE YEARS BACK AND FORTH, WORKED SEVEN P TO SEVEN A SHIFT, WORKED OUT PERFECT FOR HIM, DIDN'T HAVE TO PARK OR NOTHING, WORKED FINE, NO PROBLEMS, DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S ALL KINDS OF ISSUES CUZ YOU'RE ALL ARE WANTING TO DO THIS RAPID TRANSIT TRANSIT WHEN THE SYSTEM YOU HAVE NOW IS WORKING.
UM, THE THING THAT I FIND MOST DISHEARTENING IS THE LACK OF HONESTY, THE LACK OF STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS, THE LACK OF TELLING THE COMMUNITY WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON.
AND EVERYTHING IS KIND OF DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
THAT DOESN'T FLY VERY WELL WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND IT'S, I FIND IT VERY FRUSTRATING.
AND AS A LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, HAVING BEEN IN AND OUTTA SAN ANTONIO WHILE I WAS IN THE MILITARY AND THEN RETIRING HERE 30 YEARS AGO, I'M A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON.
I WASN'T BORN HERE, BUT LIKE THEY SAY, I GOT TO TEXAS AS FAST AS I COULD.
I JUST, I THINK THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT VIA, NEEDS TO LOOK AT WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
AND I FIND IT SO DISHEARTENING THAT THERE'S THIS BLANKET STATEMENT THAT EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS PROGRAM WHEN THEY, THIS IS THE COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
SO THE FIRST I HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY'RE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH IT.
PEOPLE ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU REALIZE OR NOT, BUT IF YOU COME DOWN BLANCO ROAD AND YOU HIT OBLATE, THAT IS THE FIRST CROSS STREET THAT YOU CAN GET TO 2 81 FROM BLANCO ROAD.
THEY DO HAVE THE OPENING NOW ON FOUR 10 WHERE YOU CAN GET OFF OF FOUR 10 ONTO 2 81.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH TRAFFIC THERE, PEOPLE GO DOWN ON BLANCA ROAD AND CUT ACROSS ALEY TO GO TO UM, TO GET UNDER 2 81.
WHAT KIND OF, WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE IS THAT GONNA CAUSE AT ALEY IN SAN PEDRO WHERE YOU HAVE THE H E B AND GROCERY STORES IN, IN, UH, PHARMACY AND STUFF WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET IN AND OUT AND STUFF.
YOU HAVE KIDS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.
I DON'T THINK Y'ALL THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THIS AND I, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, I FIND IT DISHEARTENING THAT PEOPLE SIT UP IN THEIR GOLDEN TOWERS AND COME UP WITH THESE WONDERFUL IDEAS AND THESE WONDERFUL PLANS AND THEN EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN LIKE A MIRACLE.
BUT THEY DON'T FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BOTTOM LEVEL BEFORE THEY COME UP WITH THESE GREAT IDEAS.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.
I'M LYDIA RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT OF NORTH TO EARL HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND UH, WHEN I WAS CALLED AND ASKED IF I WAS SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM, I SAID NO.
FROM THE FIRST MEETING THAT I WENT TO, I SAID THAT UNTIL THEY GAVE US MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THIS WAS GONNA DO TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, ME INCLUDED, UH, I I WASN'T GONNA MAKE A DECISION AND I RESEARCHED IT MYSELF.
WHAT WAS GOING ON EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO MEETING, THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING NEVER RETURNED AGAIN.
AND WHEN HE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT THERE, IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
AND THEN WE HAD OTHER PEOPLE THAT WOULD STAND UP AND SAY, AND SAY THAT THIS WAS A WAY FOR THE CITY TO GET RID OF SENIOR CITIZENS.
THEY WERE PUTTING THEM IN DANGER.
AND THE MORE I LISTENED TO THEM AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AFTER I GOT HOME, I GOT VERY UPSET BECAUSE I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER,
[00:55:01]
IF I DIDN'T THINK THAT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT TO SENIORS, MAYBE I WOULD BELIEVE IT.SO I TRIED VERY HARD TO STAY ON AN EVEN KEEL AND NOT GO THAT WAY.
BUT THEN WHEN I JUST GOT CALLED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND SAID, LYDIA, YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND.
WHO SAID I WAS SUPPORTING IT? WELL, WE WERE TOLD THAT EVERYBODY, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS FOR IT.
WELL I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT NORTH SHE HILLS IS NOT FOR IT, NOR ARE 250 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'VE CONTACTED NEARLY ALL OF THEM.
AND THEY ARE VERY UPSET BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT OF COURSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE BLAMING VIA AND VIA AS THE ONE ON THE FOREFRONT FOR VIE TO SAY THAT THEY AGREED TO THIS WHEN NOBODY EVER TALKED TO THEM.
SAID, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT PART OF THIS WAS GOING ON UNTIL LATELY, UNTIL YOU TOLD US.
AND I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS BECAUSE WE'RE ALL SENIORS AND UH, AND WE'RE STILL SCARED OF COVID AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
SO WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT VIE TO PUT US OUT THERE WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE IN DANGER.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AND I'M, I'M SORRY TO TO FEEL THAT WAY BECAUSE UM, I KNOW THAT THE TRANSPORTATION IS NECESSARY BUT LIKE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, IT'S WORKING.
WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WORKING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS AND I HATE TO THINK THAT IF THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SAN PEDRO WITH THE TRAFFIC THE WAY AS FAST AS IT TRAVELS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT BUS.
SO THINK ABOUT IT, PLEASE AND CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE SENIORS BUT EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S GONNA BE PUT IN DANGER WHEN THIS SYSTEM GOES IN.
IF IT GOES IN, WHICH I HOPE IT DOES NOT.
THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ON THE BOARD.
I AM A RESIDENT OF HYAM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DOESN'T, DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS, BUT WE ARE NORTH DUE NORTH OF HIGHLAND HILLS AND PECAN VALLEY.
SO I COME HERE TODAY, UH, I AM THE MOST RECENT VICE PRESIDENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
BETH CARR IS THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT.
SO I HAVE TO POINT OUT SOME ERRORS AND IT'S NOT A COMEDY OF ERRORS.
MY SON, I FIND THAT THE COMMUNICATION WITH VIA AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN NIL.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION MORE A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE CITY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT CAME AND GAVE A PROGRAM AND THEY TALKED AND THEY GAVE US A BOOKLET THAT NAMED IN ONE SENTENCE ABOUT THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, THE BUS LINE.
THERE WERE TWO YOUNG MEN THAT HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON THIS AND THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT THE BUS LINE WAS ABOUT.
WE ATTEMPTED TO REACH VIA AND VIA, NEVER REACHED BACK.
SO ON COMMUNICATION, I REALLY HAD TO GIVE YOU A FAILURE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER IS, BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING.
IT'S CALLED THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR APP.
AND MANY CITY OFFICES USE THAT TO HAND OUT INFORMATION.
AND THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE CITY IN GENERAL REALLY HAS A POOR REPORT CARD ON REACHING OUT TO CITIZENS.
IT'S LIKE, OH, WE'RE HAVING A MEETING TOMORROW, THE PUBLIC'S INVITED.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS BUS LINE? WELL THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.
WE CAN'T EMBRACE SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE.
AND THE MAP THAT'S UP ONLINE FOR VIA IS A VERY MUDDY MAP.
SO WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD? UM, IS IT GONNA BE ON STEVE'S THE FULL LENGTH OF STEVE'S AVENUE? IS IT GONNA
[01:00:01]
BE THE FULL LENGTH OF NEW BRAUNFELS? WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE.IS IT ALSO JUST DISCUSSION ON BEING ON FAIR AVENUE? AND IF IT'S GONNA BE ON STEVE'S, WHY DIDN'T YOU ALL PICK HIGHLAND BOULEVARD, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL TROLLEY STREET, WHICH IS ACTUALLY WIDER.
THE OTHER THING IS THIS THREAT OF THE RIGHT OF IMMINENT DOMAIN.
AND I BELIEVE I HAVE BETH CARR'S THREE MINUTES THAT WOULD BE YIELDED TO ME THAT I MAY CONTINUE.
OKAY, SO THE RIGHT OF IMMINENT DOMAIN, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO A SENIOR WHO OWNS A HOME THAT COULD POSSIBLY THAT POVERTY BE TAKEN? I CAN TELL YOU ALREADY BEING A RETIRED REGISTERED NURSE AND A PUBLIC SERVANT THAT'S, I'M A VOLUNTEER.
UM, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO OUT AND BUY A $250,000 HOME OR A $300,000 HOME.
THOSE HOMES DON'T EXIST IN HIGHLAND PARK.
AND WE TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN THE HISTORIC HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UM, MY HUSBAND HAS LIVED IN HIS HOME FOR 72 YEARS.
HOW MANY OF YOU CAN SAY THAT? HOW MANY? AND WE'VE BEEN MARRIED 30 YEARS.
SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE ANN THAT I LOVE IT AND I DIDN'T, I WOULDN'T WANNA BE ANYWHERE ELSE.
BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO OUR SENIORS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? ANYONE WHO IS 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER QUALIFIES AS A SENIOR.
DID YOU KNOW THAT ANYBODY WHO'S 62 CAN GET YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY 65 FOR MEDICARE, BUT SAN ANTONIO IS 60.
SO WHAT ELSE? I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME EXTENSION OF A BUS LINE NOT LONG AGO THAT HAD TO COME THROUGH SOME PART OF HIGHLAND PARK DOWN TO HIGHLAND HILLS, BUT NO ONE CONTACTED HOLLAND PARK.
WAS IT 5 31? IS THAT THE CORRECT ROUTE NUMBER 5 31 OR FIVE 13? I'M IGNORANT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T RIDDEN THE BUS SINCE COLLEGE DAYS.
SO, UM, WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY TO YOU? LET ME GET MY NOTES.
WE WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING, UM, NOT JUST THE IMPACT ON THE STREETS IN OUR IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE AREA AND WE KIND OF REALLY PRIDE OURSELVES ON NOT BEING CONGESTED LIKE THE REST OF THIS CITY.
HOW'S IT GONNA IMPACT TRAFFIC PATTERNS, PROPERTY OWNERS, THE ELDERLY CHURCHES ALONG THESE ROUTE AND BUSINESSES? AND IF IT REALLY IS TRUE THAT YOU HAVE TO GET INTO THE BUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, WELL THEN I'M GONNA TELL YOU MY KNEES AREN'T GONNA MAKE ME RUN ACROSS THE STREET AND THIS CITY IS NOT FRIENDLY WITH PEDESTRIANS.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE ANSWERS THAT WE NEED.
AND I WOULD APPRECIATE, AND I KNOW THE OTHER OFFICERS, UM, IN HOLLAND PARK WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE FROM VIA COMING IN, SPEAKING WITH US, THIS THING OF OH YEAH, WE'VE TALKED TO EVERYBODY IN THE ENTIRE CITY.
I KNOW THAT IS NOT THE TRUTH AND IF WE'RE BEING LEFT OUT, SOMEBODY ELSE IS BEING LEFT OUT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER DISCUSSION.
IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS SOME ANSWERS.
BLESSINGS VIA I'M GINGER, CHAPLAIN GINGER TO GIRLS AT HOME IN RECOVERY FROM ADDICTION.
AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HIGHLAND HILLS FOR 27 YEARS.
AND I'M SORRY TO SAY I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS RAPID TRANSIT, BUT IT SURE HAS CAUGHT MY INTEREST.
NOW, UH, MY ONLY COMPLAINTS WITH VIA WHICH I SPEAK A LOT UP HERE, I NEVER HAVE COMPLAINTS.
UH, IF I HAD ONE IT WOULD BE SUNDAY SCHEDULE.
IT'S USUALLY A SHORT SHORTENED SCHEDULE AND WE'RE RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE HOMELESS.
THEY'VE COMPLAINED TO ME FOR YEARS.
BUT THE GIRLS IN RECOVERY, WHEN THEY EXIT THE PROGRAM, IT'S A 90 DAY PROGRAM.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE DIVERTED THERE FROM JAIL.
UM, BUT THEY EXIT, THEY GO INTO SOBER LIVING HALFWAY HOUSE AND THEY TRY TO GET BACK TO OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CHURCHES AT TRINITY.
WE MEET AT TRY POINT EVERY SUNDAY AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE BUS STOP AND UH, REPORT AND THEY'RE TIMED, BUT IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.
SO I JUST ASK IF YOU CAN ADJUST THE SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAYS, AT LEAST BETWEEN THE HOURS OF NINE AND TWO, UH, FOR
[01:05:01]
THOSE IN RECOVERY AND OTHERS THAT STRUGGLE.UM, ON OCTOBER 17TH, GOVERNOR ABBOTT CREATED THE ONE PILL KILL STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN AMONGST MANY OTHER ACTIONS.
HE DECLARED FENTANYL AS POISONING IN LIEU OF OVERDOSE.
BETWEEN FEBRUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY OF 22, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 45, MY DAUGHTER BROOKE WAS ONE OF THEM.
THIS IS WHY I KEEP COMING TO VIA TO SPEAK OUT, I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING BY EMAIL WITH JOHN GARY, JESSICA GONZALEZ, RACHEL BENAVIDES, STEVE CERNA, UH, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO REQUEST A MEETING WITH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE TO FINALIZE MY REQUEST TO GET A WRAP ON THESE BUSES.
I ATTENDED THE B BEAR COUNTY DWI TASK FORCE AND SAKATA CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON LAST WEEK.
AND TWO OF YOUR OFFICERS WERE PRESENT AND ONE OF 'EM RECEIVED THEIR ANNUAL AWARD, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ARE PROUD OF.
UM, OKAY, I GOT A MINUTE LEFT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH ONE OF MY GIFTS.
YOU'VE SEEN MY OLD SIGNS, BUT THIS ONE SAYS THE OPIOID FENTANYL POISONING PANDEMIC.
IT HAS THE 9 88 CRISIS HOTLINE AND IT SAYS YOUR LIFE MATTERS.
AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO GO ON THE VIA BUSES BECAUSE THEY GET TO OUR HOMELESS, THEY GET TO OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOL-AGE KIDS, THOSE MOST VULNERABLE, TO TAKE A PILL FROM SOMEBODY OFF THE STREETS AND DIE OF A FENTANYL POISONING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A DRUG ADDICT TO DIE FROM FENTANYL.
AND PEOPLE CAN GET ADDICTED JUST FROM HAVING SURGERY IN A HOSPITAL AND GET ON PAIN PILLS.
BUT MY DAUGHTER WAS A HEROIN ADDICT AND I CAN'T HELP HER.
BUT I'M HERE TO TRY AND HELP OTHERS AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU'LL LISTEN TO ME, GONNA MAKE IT MORE AWARE BY PUTTING IT ON YOUR OWN BUSES.
SO I'M CREATED THESE LOW CHRISTMAS BUSES FOR EACH OF YOU.
UM, SORRY, I'M JUST PUTTING THIS ROOM RIGHT HERE.
UM, TO MY RIGHT, RIGHT HERE IS, UH, MY ELECTRONIC SCOOTER ARE KNOWN AS EESS SCOOTER.
UM, I'VE UTILIZED THIS AS PRETTY MUCH MY PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE UH, UM, MEDICAL CENTER AREA THAT I LIVE IN.
UM, AND I'VE UTILIZED THE BUS A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I WAS UNAWARE THAT I WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT YOU BELIEVE I HAVE A POLICY REGARDING THE, UM, BRINGING THESE ONTO THE BUSES AND ON THAT DAY, CUZ NOT EVERY BUS DRIVER ABIDES BY THAT POLICY CUZ I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT.
AND THEN, UM, ONE DAY I WAS ON MY WAY TO A JOB INTERVIEW AND, UM, THE LAST BUS DURING A TRANSFER PAPER TRANSFER TWO, UH, THE LAST BUS RIDE DO NOT LET ME ON BECAUSE I HAD THAT IN MY POSSESSION, WHICH WAS VERY SURPRISING AND VERY, VERY, UH, FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST.
NOW I DID MY RESEARCH REGARDING EAST SCOOTERS ON BUSES, EVEN LOOKED AT OTHER METRO AREAS, AUSTIN, DALLAS, HOUSTON, AND EL PASO.
AND I GET BACK PROBABLY ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN, UM, EAST SCOOTERS AND HOVERBOARDS FIRST CAME OUT.
I BELIEVE THE BATTERY EXPLODER NAME CAN UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S PROBABLY WHY A LOT OF METRO, UH, COMPANIES PROBABLY BANNED THEM BECAUSE IT WAS A HAZARD.
BUT THAT NOW IS AN ANTIQUATED POLICY AT THE MOST.
AUSTIN AND DALLAS HAVE, HAVE PROGRESSED THEIR POLICY REGARDING THAT, IN FACT ENCOURAGING IT.
AND I ASKED THAT VIA AMENDS THEIR POLICY AS WELL, UM, REGARDING THIS EESS SCOOTER.
UM, IT IS, I MEAN I'M NOT, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT FROM THE SCOOTERS THAT YOU SEE DOWNTOWN.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE NOT THE SKI SCOOTERS THAT I'M I I TRANSPORT.
BUT THAT IS NO BIGGER THAN ANYBODY WHO BRINGS WHO
I'VE SEEN THE RIDER WHO BRING ALMOST LIKE THEIR OWN HOUSE ONTO THE BUS AND THAT'S BEEN OKAY.
AND I SEE NO REASON WHY THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IT'S THE SAME KIND OF BATTERIES THAT ARE BOTH REGULATED THAT THE SAME, THAT THE US REGULATES THE SAME BATTERIES THAT EAST, EXCUSE ME, THAT SCOOTERS ARE ON FOR DISABLED PEOPLE.
SO I SEE NO REASON WHY THESE, UM, CAN BE BROUGHT ONTO THE BUSES ANYMORE.
UM, IT SHOULD BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BUS DRIVER, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO EASILY TRANSPORT.
THE LAST CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IS AN EMAIL RECEIVED FROM MR. WILL MCLEOD.
DEAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOARD CHAIR, THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING SERVICE AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED
[01:10:01]
AN ANSWER TO WHY THE BOARD WOULD PASS A PARTIAL SERVICE CHANGE AND PLANNING MAKING MAJOR SERVICE CHANGES AFTER THE FACT.SUCH AN ACT SEEMS TO BE IN VIOLATING THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AS APPLE NOTICE AND DELIBERATION WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT, THE 64.
ANY REASON WHY THERE'S A 20 MINUTE LAYOVER AT CADILLAC PARKING RIDE, WHICH IS MID ROUTE INSTEAD OF HAVING THE LAYOVER AT NORTHWEST EASTERN COLLEGE, WHICH IS AT THE TERMINUS OF SAID ROUTE.
I THINK THE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE STATE LAW REQUIRING ALL UPPER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEMBERS PLANNERS TO TAKE THE BUS ROUTES EACH WEEK AS A CONDITION OF THEIR POSITIONS AT VIA.
I WILL BE CONFERRING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE NEXT YEAR TO HOPEFULLY MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF, OF PORTION OF ROOSEVELT PARK FOR ROOSEVELT PARKS FOR ROOSEVELT PARK, YOU NEED TO VOTE.
NO, WE DO NOT WANT OR NEED ANOTHER PET PROJECT.
THERE IS NO BUSINESS AT ROOSEVELT PARK.
MAYBE VAGRANTS AND OPEN FIELDS, WHICH VIA SEEMS TO LOVE, I GUESS LESS RIDERSHIP, REALLY DOES EQUAL MORE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES.
AND VIA YOU WANT YOU, THE RIDER OFF THE BUS.
PROVE ME WRONG, BY UPGRADING AND INSTALLING DECENT BUS SHELTERS AND TRASH CANS.
AND PLEASE TAKE DOWN THE, IT'S SO EASY WHEN YOU TAKE THE BUS MISINFORMATION.
WE ALL KNOW VIA HIRES, PAID ACTORS WHO ARE WELL OFF AND DON'T ACTUALLY UTILIZE THE BUS SYSTEM AND BACKUP MATERIAL FOR YOUR AGENDA ITEMS. WHY AREN'T THEY POSTED ONLINE ON VIAS WEBSITE? WE, WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS IN EACH AGENDA ITEM VIA WANTS TO PASS.
AND WE SHOULD BE RE WE SHOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO GO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET THAT YOUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS HAVE ENOUGH TO DO ALREADY.
I NEED TO KNOW IF ANY BUS STOPS ARE BEING ADDED ALONG ROUTES 5 52 AND I WANT SOME MONEY FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO REACH OUT WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR SO REGARDING THIS SERVICE AND SERVICE PLANNING.
THANK YOU WILL MCCLOUD, THAT ENDS OUR ASSISTANCE TO BE HEARD PORTION OF THE AGENDA LOOK AND THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS SIGNED UP, SIR.
WHO CAME UP TO SPEAK? UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PORTION OF THE MEETING.
[5. Public Hearing]
6:18 PM AND IT'S PUBLISHED IN THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS ON NOVEMBER 20TH, 2022.NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022 AND DECEMBER 10TH, 2022.
THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL NOW CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ACQUISITION OF A PORTION OF ROOSEVELT PARK AND RECEIVED COMMENTS AS REQUIRED UNDER CHAPTER SW 26 OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE, ANY COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION FOUR F OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 1966, AND ON THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 0.046 ACRES OF ROOSEVELT PARK FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING TRANSIT AMENITIES AND COMPLIMENTARY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WAS SERVED, UH, PATRONS USING THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT LINE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND TO ENHANCE THE TRANSIT PURPOSES AND USES ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM.
MR. DO WE HAVE, WE'LL PROVIDE A INFORMATION, UH, RELATED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING, MR. THE SHEET THAT WE HAD TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS ITEM.
MR. CHAIR IS NOT ON THE BACK OF THE ROOM, SO WE ARE TRYING TO LOCATE IT.
I AM THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER AT VIA.
AND TO KICK OFF THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A, A SLIDE DECK THAT PROVIDES SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS WELL AS TO DISCUSS THE, THE PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AS IT RELATES TO A FEW OF THESE, UH, PROCEDURAL CHAPTERS.
SECTION FOUR F AND CHAPTER 26 TO MY RIGHT IS LAUREN TAYLOR.
SHE IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL TASK LEAD WITH WSP, WHO HAS BEEN TASKED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, UH, AS IT RELATES TO ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT.
WE'LL START WITH A QUICK PROJECT OVERVIEW, UH, THIS FIRST SLIDE BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO LAUREN TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS REGARDING FOUR F AND CHAPTER 26.
UH, JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS A 11.7 MILE CORRIDOR THAT'S PROVIDING SERVICE FROM THE AIRPORT TO STEVE'S AVENUE THROUGH THE SAN PEDRO CORRIDORS, ST.
MARY'S AND ROOSEVELT CORRIDORS AS WELL.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 17 LOW NO EMISSION VEHICLES.
THESE WILL BE THOSE ARTICULATED BUSES VERY SIMILAR TO THE PRIMO BUSES THAT WE CURRENTLY OPERATE.
[01:15:01]
UH, AND THEY WILL AT THE VERY LEAST BE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, UH, POWERED HEADWAYS.SO THE FREQUENCY OF THE BUSES WILL BE EVERY 10 TO 15 MINUTES, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SO THAT'S SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM APPROXIMATELY 6:00 AM THROUGH 6:00 PM HOWEVER, I SHOULD NOTE THAT THE FIRST BUS TO PULL OUT FROM THE GARAGE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY THREE 30 TO 4:00 AM AND RETURN BACK INTO THE GARAGE THE FOLLOWING MORNING, EARLY AT ONE 30 OR SO.
UH, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THIS WILL OPERATE THREE DIFFERENT WAYS ALONG THE CORRIDOR USING CENTER RUNNING LANES.
SO THESE WOULD BE DEDICATED LANES, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, THE RIGHT OF WAY WITH STATIONS ALSO LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.
IT'LL ALSO OPERATE USING WHAT WE CALL BUSINESS ACCESS TRANSIT LANES, ESSENTIALLY A DIAMOND LANE.
SO IT ALLOWS FOR, UH, VEHICLES TO USE THAT LANE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD, A BUSINESS, OR A SIDE STREET.
UH, BUT OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE DEDICATED FOR BUSES ONLY.
AND THEN IN MIXED TRAFFIC LANES IN SECTIONS OF THIS CORRIDOR WHERE WE WOULD BE OPERATING VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE OPERATE TODAY, UM, IN, UH, IN OUR CURRENT STREETS, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THIS EVENING IS A PORTION OF ROOSEVELT PARK LOCATED AT LONE STAR BOULEVARD.
SO IT'S THE THIRD STATION FROM THE BOTTOM WHERE WE NEED APPROXIMATELY 0.05 ACRES OF LAND, UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, USE SOME OF THAT LAND FOR A BIKE ONLY LANE AS WELL AS A SIDEWALK.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO LAUREN TAYLOR TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICS WITH THAT.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ONCE WE CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'D BE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
SO NOW I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT SECTION FOUR F.
SECTION FOUR F IS A FEDERAL REGULATION.
UM, IT'S PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APP, WHICH WAS ENACTED IN 1966.
SPECIFICALLY THIS SECTION FOUR F OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APP PROTECTS PUBLICLY OWNED PARKS, RECREATION AREAS, AND WILDLIFE RE REFUGEES, UM, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT HOR HISTORIC SITES, REGARDLESS OF IF THEY'RE PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY OWNED.
SECTION FOUR F IS APPLIED TO ACTIONS, UM, EITHER THROUGH FUNDING OR APPROVALS UNDERTAKEN BY ALL AGENCIES WITHIN THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THAT CAN INCLUDE THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION OR FTA OR THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
SECTION FOUR F APPLICABILITY TO THIS PROJECT IS DUE TO THE PROJECT HAVING FTA OVERSIGHT.
IN ADDITION, ROOSEVELT PARK IS PUBLICLY OWNED AND DESIGNATED AS A PARK, UM, ROOSEVELT PARK, AS WELL AS SOME HISTORIC SITES ALONG THE CORRIDOR ARE PROTECTED BY SECTION FOUR F.
TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE DE MINIMUS USE AT ROOSEVELT PARK.
UM, WE FOUND THAT ACQUISITION WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ACTIVITIES, FEATURES, OR ATTRIBUTES OF THE RESOURCES THAT QUALIFY FOR SECTION FOUR F PROTECTION.
SO WHAT IS A DE MINIMUS IMPACT UNDER SECTION FOUR F A DE MINIMUS IMPACT IS WHEN THAT AFTER CONSIDERING IMPACT AVOIDANCE, MINI MINIMIZATION OR MITIGATION MEASURES, RESULTS IN A DETERMINATION THAT THE PROJECT WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ACTIVITIES, FEATURES, OR ATTRIBUTES QUALIFYING PROPERTY FOR PROTECTION UNDER SECTION FOUR F.
SO THERE ARE SEVERAL REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A SECTION FOUR F DE MINIMUS DETERMINATION.
UM, MINIMALIST DETERMINATION IMPACTS OR DETERMINE AFTER ANY AVOIDANCE, MINIMIZATION, MITIGATION OR ENHANCEMENT MEASURES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT.
UM, WE ALSO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUB PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, INCLUDING JUST STANDARD PROJECT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESSES SUCH AS PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND THAT IS REQUIRED FOR EVERY SECTION FOUR F PROPERTY.
LASTLY, DIMINIMUS DETERMINATIONS MUST BE MADE FOR INDIVIDUAL EFFECTIVE PROPERTIES AND NOT THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
SO WE MAKE SECTION FOUR F DETERMINATIONS.
UH, DI MINIMUS DETERMINATION SPECIFICALLY AFTER PUB PUBLIC COMMENT, HAS BEEN RECEIVED WITH THE OFFICIAL, WITH JURISDICTION OR O W J FOR THAT SECTION FOUR F PRO PROPERTY.
AND THEY MUST ALSO CONCUR, UH, WITH FTAS FINDINGS FOR DO MINIMUS IMPACT.
UM, SPECIFICALLY THE O WJ FOR PARK PROPERTIES FOR THIS PROJECT AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN FOR OTHER HISTORIC PROPERTIES ALONG THE CORRIDOR, THE OJ O WJ IS THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, OR SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW THEM AS THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICIAL.
UM, FTA DOES ISSUE A FINDING THAT THE PROJECT'S EFFECT OF THE PROPERTY IS A DE MINIMUS IMPACT.
SO THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE, UM, SCI SIGNATORY AUTHORITY.
LASTLY, A DOCUMENTATION FOR SECTION FOUR F DE MINIMUS IMPACT, UM, MAY BE INCLUDED EITHER IN THE NPA DOCUMENT OR A STANDALONE DOCUMENT.
NOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT CHAPTER 26.
[01:20:01]
STATE LAW THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO SECTION FOUR F, WHICH IS A FEDERAL LAW, AND THAT IS CHAPTER 26 OF TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE.UM, THAT CODE DOES NOT ALLOW STATE AGENCIES OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO PROVE THE USE OR TAKING A PUBLIC LAND DESIGNATED AS A PARK RECREATION AREA, SCIENTIFIC AREA, WILDLIFE REFUGE, OR HISTORIC SITE, UNLESS THERE IS NO FEASIBLE OR PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE USE IS NOT DEFINED IN THE CODE, BUT IT IS ASSUMED TO MEAN EITHER CHANGING THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OR ITS FUNCTION.
A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION IS DEFINED AS, UH, ANY AGENCIES THAT ARE INCLUDED AS A PART OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, THE PROGRAM OR PROJECT MUST CONDUCT ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE LAND AS A PARK, RECREATION AREA, SCIENTIFIC AREA, WILDLIFE REFUGE, OR HISTORIC SITE RESULTING FROM THE USE OR TAKING.
SO, CHAPTER 26 IS APPLICABLE TO THIS PROJECT BECAUSE VIA IS CONSIDERED A PUBLIC, UH, POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
UM, IN ADDITION, ROOSEVELT PARK IS PUBLIC OWNED AND DESIGNATED AS A PUTT PARK, THUS IT IS PROTECTED BY CHAPTER 26.
IN ADDITION, AS ART MENTIONED, THERE WILL BE A POTENTIAL USE, UM, OF ROOSEVELT PARK.
SO SPECIFICALLY THE THE PROJECT, WE REQUIRE APPROXIMATELY 0.046 ACRES OF RIGHT OF WAY FROM ROOSEVELT PARK, UM, TO ACCOMMODATE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ART MENTIONED OR EARLIER AT LONE STAR BOULEVARD STATION.
UM, ALTHOUGH A USE IS ANTICIPATED TO AFFECT THE RECREATIONAL FUNCTION OF THE PARK AND POTENTIALLY COULD ENHANCE IT WITH BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN FEATURES, UH, THE PARK PROPERTY ACQUISITION IS STILL CONSIDERED A USE BECAUSE IT'S, IT IS CONVERTING PARK PROPERTY TO A TRANSPORTATION FACILITY.
SO THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 26, UM, THERE'S A FEW THAT ARE NOTED HERE.
SO FIRST, UH, THERE'S REQUIREMENT FOR PROVIDING NOTICE AND HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS HEARING.
UH, FOR WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, NOTICE WAS RE PUBLISHED 30, 20 AND 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING, UM, IN THE EXPRESS NEWS IN LARENA IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
ALSO, THE NO NOTICE WAS POSTED ON KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING, UM, DOT COM OR KEEP SA MOVING WEBSITE.
ANOTHER REQUIREMENT IS SHOWING THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OR TAKING OF THE PARK LAND.
UH, THE LAST REQUIREMENT IS SHOWING THAT ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE PARKLAND HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING PROPOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION OUTSIDE OF THE FUNCTIONAL PARK BOUNDARIES.
UM, WE WILL BE REVIEWING VERBAL OR WRITTEN COMMENTS, UH, PRESENTED DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WE WILL CONTINUE ONGOING CARBONATION THAT HAS ALREADY STARTED AND SEEK INPUT REGARDING ELIGIBILITY EFFECTS FROM OR IN ABOUT THE GENERAL PROJECT FROM, UH, THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION, OR AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THE STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OFFICIAL, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND CONSULTING PARTIES.
AS PART OF THE SECTION 1 0 6 PROCESS, UH, WE WILL CONCLUDE DOCUMENTATION OF IMPACTS TO CHAPTER 26 IN SECTION FOUR F RESOURCE.
AND THEN THE LAST STEP OF THIS PROCESS WILL BE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FOR, FOR THE PROJECT FROM FTA.
MR. CHAIR, MR. CHAIR, THAT, UH, CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN THE, UH, MEETING TO PUBLIC TO PUBLIC MEETING.
UH, BUT BEFORE I LET ANYONE COME AND SPEAK, I NEED TO READ THIS, UH, STATEMENT.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF A PORTION OF ROOSEVELT PARK, APPROXIMATELY 0.046 ACRES OF THE PARK AS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
THE THREE MINUTE TIME ALLOW WILL APPLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REGISTER TO SPEAK DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING OR WISHING TO SPEAK OR WISHING TO COME UP AND SPEAK? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION DIRECTLY.
WHEN DO YOU GUYS PLAN TO DO THE ACQUISITION? IS IT PRIOR TO GOING BACK AND REVISITING THE ART PROGRAM, OR IS IT NOW, BECAUSE THAT DETERMINES WHERE WE STAND AS WELL, WE'VE BEEN TELLING YOU NO, AND NOW YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH ACQUISITION.
AND ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION, Y'ALL ARE GOING INTO ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE SOON.
WHEN IS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE GONNA HAPPEN AND WHEN, HOW SOON DO YOU PLAN TO DO THE ACQUISITION OF RIGHT AWAY?
[01:25:12]
OKAY.WE CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS, UH, RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL GET A REPLY BACK TO YOU FROM SOMEBODY IN OUR STAFF THAT CAN BETTER ASSIST YOU WITH THAT QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE, ANY FURTHER PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM SIX
[6. Consent Agenda]
ON THE AGENDA.UM, YOU SEE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, UH, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM.
TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS,
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[7. *Board of Trustees]
WILL HAVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.I BELIEVE IT'S THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD.
NO, NO, THAT'S NOT, NOT EXACTLY.
OH, WELL, WE HAVE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTION BOARD CHAIR TO ELECT BOARD CHAIR TO TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING, ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE THIS TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
WE HAVE TWO OF OUR TRUSTEES WHO ARE NOT PRESENT, UH, AT THE PRESENT TIME.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT THERE'S A PRECEDENT FOR DOING THIS, UH, AT LEAST ONE O OTHER OCCASION WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO POSTPONE THE ELECTION.
AND, UH, SO I WOULD, UH, MOVE IF THERE'S A SECOND, UH, THAT WE POSTPONE IT TILL THE JANUARY MEETING.
TRUSTEE SUE, IS THERE A SECOND? UM, CAN I, IS IT POSSIBLE TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE NOW? UM, IF MAYBE WE CAN GET THEIR VOTE AT ANOTHER TIME OR DO SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, OR, SINCE WE HAVE A QUORUM, JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
I DIDN'T, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
CAN WE VOTE ON THE, UH, POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT, THAT ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED AND LEAVE THE ONE POSITION THAT HAS TWO PEOPLE BEING CONSIDERED FOR OUR NEXT MEETING? YOU CAN SEPARATE THE AGENDA ITEMS AND VOTE ON ONE OR TWO POSITIONS AT YOUR PLEASURE, AND IF THERE'S A, A ONE OF THE POSITIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UH, DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING, YOU DO HAVE THE, THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
TRUSTEE, IS THAT OKAY? IF THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND, SO, CORRECT, CORRECT.
THEN WE, WE GO BACK TO THE ELECTION.
WHAT, WHAT'S THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW? CHAIR? WHAT'S THE TABLE TO THE NEXT MEETING AND WHAT TRUSTEE, UH, GONZALEZ SAID, UH, WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE, UH, FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MY MOTION.
I, I THINK WE WOULD NEED CLARITY ON THAT TO, TO VOTE ON ITEMS A, B, OR C TO WHAT WOULD BE CLEAN AS MR. COMO WOULD BE FOR YOU TO PULL YOUR, UH, MOTION DOWN IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING.
AND THEN WE WOULD LOOK IF THERE'S ANOTHER MOTION FOR A, B, OR C.
SO CURRENTLY THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO TO TABLE ALL THREE TO TABLE ALL ELECTION, THE ENTIRE ELECTION FOR ALL THREE POSITIONS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
THAT MOTION CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A SECOND.
SO ACTUALLY IT DOES NOT HAVE A SECOND.
RIGHT? SO IT WOULD FAIL FOR, FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
AND SO WE'D BE LOOKING FOR A NEW, UM, MOTION OR WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD AS THE AGENDA IS CURRENTLY AGENDAS.
I WOULD MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE DOING A VOTE FOR ALL THREE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT, THAT'S A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SORRY, IS THERE A SECOND TO HER MOTION? DID YOU YES, SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
SO WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON ALL THREE.
WAS WAS THERE A DAY? IT WAS ONE.
[01:30:01]
OH, I'M SORRY.OKAY, I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
UNDER ITEM A WOULD BE THE ELECTION OF THE BOARD CHAIR? YES.
ELECTION OF BOARD CHAIR TO ELECT THE BOARD CHAIR FOR A TERM, BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
REVIEW AN ACCEPTANCE OF NOMINEE, UH, NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR, IF ANY.
UH, ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR? NOMINATE? YES, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE FERNANDO REYES IS OUR NEXT CHAIR.
I'M SORRY SIR, BUT HE'S ALREADY NOMINATED.
SO YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND JUST VOTE ON THAT ON THE FIRST ONE? OKAY.
FOR BOARD CHAIR FERNANDO REYES.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE, JUST THE VICE CHAIR.
AND WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE VICE CHAIR.
UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES HERE TODAY.
SO, UM, I WILL JUST GO AHEAD AND LIST THE FIRST NOMINEE, WHICH IS, I DON'T HAVE IT, I DON'T HAVE 'EM IN ORDER, SO I DON'T KNOW.
THE FIRST ONE IS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR FOR A CANDIDATE? TRUSTEE LEWIS COOPER, FOR THE POSITION OF BOARD VICE CHAIR, WE, WE NEED TO, MR. CHAIR, WILL YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY VOTE? YES.
DISCUSSION? I'D BE HAPPY TO ADVOCATE FOR MAYOR LEWIS COOPER.
UM, UH, MAYOR COOPER HAS SERVED ON THIS BOARD FOR FIVE YEARS, REPRESENTING THE SMALL CITIES, AND, UH, HE SERVED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS ON THE CITY COUNCIL OF ALAMO HEIGHTS.
I THINK HE WAS FOUR YEARS AS A CITY COUNCILMAN, AND I BELIEVE 12 YEARS AS A, AS A MAYOR OF ALAMO HEIGHTS.
THE, UH, CHALLENGES THAT WILL BE FACING US HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS ARE, ARE PRETTY ENORMOUS.
AND, UH, I THINK WE SAW EVIDENCE OF THAT THIS EVENING, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME MAJOR PROJECTS THAT, UH, AND, AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF OF THIS BODY DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES OF, OF DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES AS WELL, BUT I THINK THAT, THAT MAYOR COOPER IS UNIQUELY, UH, WELL QUALIFIED.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING A SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
UH, THERE'S, UH, UH, A NEW CONGRESS COMING IN.
MAYOR COOPER HAS EX EXTREME AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE IN LOBBYING FOR THOSE, UH, THOSE DIFFERENT, UH, UM, BODIES.
UM, I THINK THAT HE HAS THE, UH, THE VISION, THE TEMPERAMENT, THE TIME, THE BUSINESS, THE HUMAN, ET CETERA.
AND I THINK THAT HE WOULD MAKE IT EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD VICE CHAIR FOR THE VIA.
AND SO, UH, I'LL, I BRING FORTH HIS NAME.
I ALREADY SUBMITTED HIS NAME, UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO, UH, FOR THIS POSITION.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE, UH, PEOPLE'S SUPPORT FOR MAYOR COOPER.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINEES? I THINK LAURA YES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ON YOUR BEHALF OR HAVE SOMEBODY SPEAK? YES.
SO WE'RE A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER.
SO FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS.
SO WE HAVE TWO ALREADY ON THE FLOOR.
SO WHAT WE'LL ASK IS IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS, AND IF NOT, YOU'LL NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS.
AND THEN, SO WE WERE A LITTLE PREMATURE, BUT WE'RE FINE.
SO, SO RIGHT NOW, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR OR VICE CHAIR BESIDES THE TWO THAT WE HAVE ALREADY? IF NOT, IF NOT, WE'LL GO CLOSE.
YOU NEED A MOTION TO CLOSE? WE NEED A MOTION.
HOLD THOSE IN A FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA VOTE FOR NOW.
AFFORD THE OPPORTUNITY JUSTICE RIGHT HERE.
OKAY, ALL, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT REQUIRED, IF THE NOMINEES FOR THE POSITION OF THE BOARD VICE CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD, THIS WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
[01:35:02]
UH, THANK YOU TRUSTEES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.NUMBER ONE OF, UH, ME HAVING, UH, O THE ROLE OF VICE CHAIR, I, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW TRUSTEE COOPER TO PARTICIPATE, UM, AS AN OFFICER AND WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A CONSIDERATION FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING FOR HIS, UH, CONSIDERATION AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY IF THE BOARD CHOOSES TO ELECT ME AS VICE CHAIR.
UH, I THINK AS TRUSTEE COMO IS EXPRESSED, HE DOES HAVE AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND HAS BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, I DO THINK THOUGH, AT THE SAME TIME, I, I WOULD LIKE YOUR CONSIDERATION AS VICE CHAIR, AS WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US.
UM, THERE'S A LOT TO BE, UH, TALKED ABOUT WITH, UH, THE A R T AS WE SAW TODAY.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS SOMETHING THAT, UH, HAS BEEN IN MY WHEELHOUSE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, STEMMING FROM CITY HALL DAYS 20 YEARS AGO.
UH, AND, UH, ON TOP OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING, INCLUDING SCOOBY, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE OF THIS ORGANIZATION, LOOKING AT HOW WE GROW THIS AGENCY, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
UH, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS STARTING HERE NEXT, UH, SESSION, AND I'D LIKE TO CONSIDER ENGAGEMENT OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTLY.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, MR. CHAIR.
JUST TO POINT OF CLARIFICATION, UH, IF I UNDERSTOOD THAT CORRECTLY, THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF STAFF DIRECTION TO BRING ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSITION TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING FOR CONSIDERATION.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S WHAT I WAS HEARING CORRECTLY.
SO, UH, IF YOU'VE HAD SOMEBODY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF TRUSTEE COOPER AND WE HAVE TRUSTEE LAURA SPEAK.
SO NOW, UM, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR THE VOTE CHAIR.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, UH, TRUSTEE GAIA.
UM, UM, JUST IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND ALSO SEEN HER WORK, UM, SHE'S VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT AS A VERY POSITIVE, UM, UH, PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION GOING FORWARD.
UM, SHE'S CONSTANTLY DOING RESEARCH ON, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.
UM, SHE'S ALWAYS GOT GREAT INPUT.
SOMETIMES I DON'T SPEAK A LOT CUZ SHE'S SAYING WHAT I THINK, SO I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK UP TOO MUCH, WHICH IS GREAT.
SO I THINK WE'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A GREAT BOARD.
I THINK ANY ONE OF US COULD, COULD REALLY HAVE THIS POSITION.
WE'RE REALLY BLESSED WHERE WE'RE AT.
I APPRECIATE ALSO THE CITIZENS COMING UP, YOU KNOW, AND LAURA AND I, OUR TRUSTEE GONY AND I ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, NOT ALWAYS, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER AND TALKED ABOUT IT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY MORE AND MORE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK I SEE HER VISION, HER WORK ETHIC, AND I THINK THAT SHE WOULD MAKE A GREAT VICE-CHAIR AND COMPLIMENT, UM, UH, CHAIR REYES VERY WELL.
SO, UM, SO ANYHOW, SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S WHY I NOMINATED HER.
ANY OTHERS WILLING TO SPEAK? IF NOT, UH, WE CAN I GUESS CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, UH, CANDIDATE TRUSTEE LEWIS COOPER FOR THE POSITION OF BOARD VICE CHAIR? UH, PLEASE SHOW YOUR HAND.
AND THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR ARE TRUSTEE LAURA CABILLA.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
OKAY, MR. CHAIR, WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE SO THAT WE CAN GIVE OUR NEW VICE CHAIR A UNANIMOUS VOTE? DEFINITELY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR ARE MS. LAURA CARDIA BEING THE VICE CHAIR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, THE, UH, SECRETARY.
WHERE IS BOARD SECRETARY? DO WE HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR FOR BOARD SECRETARY? SHE'S ALREADY NOMINATED, IF NOT THE NOMINEE.
WE HAVE THE NOMINEE STATE FOR THE RECORD.
[01:40:01]
YES.STATE FOR THE RECORD? MALONE MALONE FOR SECRETARY.
AND THEN DO WE HAVE ANY, ANYBODY ELSE? SHE'S PRETTY GOOD, IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MS. MALONE BEING THE SECRETARY, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[Items 8 & 9]
SEVEN, AC EIGHT AND NINE, WHICH ARE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS. OKAY.THEN TODAY'S DECEMBER 20TH, 22, 2, AND THIS TIME IS NOW 6:45 PM AND THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO INTO A, A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THIS ITEM WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OR AS FOLLOWS.
ITEM SEVEN, A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ELECTION OF BOARD CHAIR INTERRUPT.
UH, THE PRESIDENT CEO EVALUATION, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PERSON ONE, TEXAS THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 55 1 0.07.
ONE ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND SECTION 50 51 0.0 74 ENTITLED PERSONNEL MATTERS.
AND ITEM NUMBER NINE, ENTITLED LEGAL BRIEFING, WHICH IS ALLOWED AT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ITEM PERSONAL TO TEXAS CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, ALL PERSONS WHO AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ATTEND OR, OR MONITOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEANING IN ANY MANNER.
IT IS NOW 7:00 PM AND WE ARE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM SEVEN A, SEVEN B, SEVEN, C EIGHT, AND NINE.
NO DELIBERATIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY OR VOTE TAKING OCCURRED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
I HAVE A MOTION REGARDING THE PRESIDENT'S CEO EVALUATION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE CEO CONTRACT AMENDMENT AND PAY ADJUSTMENT AS DISCUSSED IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
TRUSTEES WILL REACH THE END OF THIS MEETING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE VIA MEETING? ALL A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
I WANNA WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY.