[00:00:12]
[ATD 1. Call to Order]
PRESENT.TRUSTEE PA, I'M SORRY, TRUSTEE.
PARE TRUSTEE TO WILL TRUSTEE WAL HERE AND TRUSTEE CAB JUST WALKED IN.
NOW WE HAVE, UH, MOMENTS OF REFLECTION.
LET'S DO THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE,
[ATD 2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements]
OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO SIDE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE TO LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR TEXAS FLAG UNDER TEXAS FLAG.NEXT, UH, MR. BROWN, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? THERE ARE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THIS TIME, MR. CHAIR.
THIS BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, PRESIDENT, C E O.
NEXT WE WILL ADDRESS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IF THERE BE ANY, UH, CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
MR. CHAIR FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE, UH, TO BE HEARD.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
AGENDA ITEM.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 ITEM AS PRESENTED, MOVE ADOPTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? YES.
TRUSTEES, WE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[1. Call to Order]
5:09 PM AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE JULY 25TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.OKAY, MR. BROWN, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? THERE ARE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THIS TIME.
THIS BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, PRESIDENT,
[3. President/CEO Report]
C E O REPORT.MR. BROWN, THANK YOU CHAIR FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE DAY FOR THE, UH, PRESENT C E O REPORT.
WE'LL START OFF WITH OUR STAR OPERATOR OF THE QUARTER.
I'M PLEASED TO BEGIN WITH THIS MONTH'S REPORT BY RECOGNIZING OUR STAR OPERATOR OF THE QUARTER BUS OPERATOR, KIRK ANDERSON, WHO MAY NOT BE PRESENT, AND PARA TRANSIT OPERATOR.
MR. CARDOSA, IF YOU'RE HERE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND.
KIRK IS A FULL-TIME BUS OPERATOR WHO HAS BEEN SERVING SAN ANTONIO'S.
ANDREW JOANN VIA, IN 2010 TO SERVE SAN ANTONIO'S MOBILITY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY IS A FULL-TIME PARATRANSIT OPERATOR.
MS. PATONS ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE KIND AND DEPENDABLE SERVICE THAT HE'S BEEN PROVIDING AT THIS TIME.
SO IF WE COULD PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MR. ANDREW CARDOSA.
[00:05:02]
SO, MR. CARDOSA, IF YOU COULD KIND OF COME TO THE FRONT, WE'RE GONNA GATHER TOGETHER SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU.NEXT WE HAVE OUR WE HIRE VETS RECOGNITION.
ONCE AGAIN, V HAS RECEIVED THE WE HIRE VETS RECOGNITION AWARD FROM THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION.
THIS HONOR, WHICH HAS BEEN BESTOWED UPON US AS THE ANNUAL TEXAS EMPLOYER CONFERENCE MEETING HELD IN SAN ANTONIO EARLIER THIS MONTH, RECOGNIZES THE EFFORTS OF EMPLOYEES IN TEXAS TO ACTIVELY RECRUIT AND HIRE VETERANS OF THE ARMED FORCES, THE EMPLOYEES 417 VETS, WHICH IS ALMOST 19% OF OUR WORKFORCE.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR VIA THRIVE RECOGNITION VIA THRIVE CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR ITS WORK SITE WELLNESS EFFORTS.
RECENTLY, THE HEALTH WORKPLACE RECOGNITION PROGRAM AND INITIATIVE OF THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH AND THE MAYOR'S FITNESS COUNCIL AWARDED VIA THRIVE THE PLATINUM AWARD, THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION LEVEL FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
THE VIA THRIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM HAS ALSO RECEIVED THE AETNA WORKPLACE WELLBEING AWARD.
THIS YEAR'S VIA WELLNESS PROGRAM RECEIVED AND CONTINUES TO HOLD THE MAKING A DIFFERENCE GOLD LEVEL AWARD BASED UPON SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN THE HEALTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND DESIGN WELLBEING PROGRAM, IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THE ORGANIZATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AS AN EMPLOYER WITH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ITS EMPLOYEES VIA THRIVE FEATURES A COMPREHENSIVE WELLNESS STRATEGY THAT V EMPLOYEES ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
THIS AWARD IS A CULMINATION OF VIA EMPLOYEES' DESIRE TO LIVE HEALTHIER, MORE ACTIVE LIVES, AND MAKE WELLNESS A PRIORITY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE THRIVE TEAM.
WE HAVE THE SUPERHERO EMPLOYER RECOGNITION AS V'S.
CURRENT HIRING CAMPAIGN TARGETS HIRING SUPERHEROES.
VIAS HR DIVISION IN COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT CELEBRATED ITS EXISTING SUPERHEROES WITH THE SUPERPOWERED YEARS OF SERVICE CEREMONY IN JUNE.
IN ADDITION TO MARKET OR TO MAKING THE RELAUNCH OF AN IN-PERSON RECOGNITION OF THIS TYPE, THIS EVENT WAS REINTRODUCED WITH A SUPERHERO THEME TO EMPHASIZE THE VALUE VIA PLACES ON ITS DEDICATED EMPLOYEES.
THIS PARTICULAR CELEBRATION RECOGNIZED STAFF MEMBERS OF SERVICE MILESTONES FROM FIVE TO 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.
THIS EVENT WAS AN OUTSTANDING DISPLAY OF EMPLOYER RECOGNITION, HIGHLIGHTED WITH SERVICE AWARDS, A VIDEO MONTAGE, A DJ VIA MASCOTS, AND AN UPLIFTING CROWD OF COWORKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
[00:10:01]
GOES TO VIA HIS HR TEAM AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM, UH, AS WELL AS THE MARKETING TEAM FROM THAT GROUP FOR THEIR COORDINATION OF THIS MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION EVENT VIA PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ITS EMPLOYEES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING MORE EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE.SO IF WE HAVE ANYONE FROM HR OR FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OR THE MARKETING TEAM, PLEASE STAND.
AND LASTLY, ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE, A MOMENT OF REFLECTION.
FORMER TRUSTEE BARBARA CHRISTIAN PASSED AWAY JUNE 24TH AT THE AGE OF 90, APPOINTED BY SUBURBAN CITY MAYORS.
SHE WAS ALSO MAYOR OF TAR HILLS FOR TWO DECADES.
HER FAMILY HELD A PRIVATE CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE EARLIER THIS MONTH.
NOW AT VIA, WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND REFLECTION FOR TRUSTEE CHRISTIAN AS WE REMEMBER HER, AND THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENCE REPORT CHAIR.
UH, AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO, UH, CONGRATULATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY, UH, ARE SUPERHEROES.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK AND EFFORT THAT YOU DO IN, IN HELPING US SERVE THE CITIZENS OF, OF SAN ANTONIO.
I KNOW YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH APPRECIATION FROM EVERYONE, BUT KNOW THAT THE BOARD REALLY SEES YOUR, UH, INVOLVEMENT WITH VIA AND YOUR WORK WITH THE, UH, AS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS, IS INVALUABLE.
YEAH, MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ALSO THE RECOGNITION OF VIA AND HIRING 19% OF VETERANS.
I KNOW, UH, OFTENTIMES IT'S HARD TO, UH, HAVE THAT CAREER TRANSITION INTO CIVILIAN LIFE, AND 19% IS NOTHING, UM, TO SNEEZE AT.
IT'S A GOOD PERCENTAGE THERE AS COMPARED TO OTHER COMPANIES.
SO I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THROUGH THE TEAM, UH, THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE, TRAMELL AND THE HR TEAM.
[4. Citizens to be Heard ]
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.UH, WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK, MR. CHAIR.
WE HAVE NINE CITIZENS HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE TO READ THIS STATEMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS TO BE A PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATIENTS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BEXAR 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, C E O AND OR HIS STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
FIRST CITIZEN TO SPEAK, UH, ALBERT CAMPBELL.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALBERT CAMPBELL.
I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST 54 YEARS.
LIVED IN DISTRICT FIVE, YOU KNOW, AS MY MOTHER BACK IN THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.
SHE WOULD TAKE US TO ON THE VIA BUS.
NOW, SHE ALWAYS TOLD US SHE WAS PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND IT WAS CALLED THE COPS DURING THAT TIME, AND THEY WOULD STAND UP FOR THE CITIZENS AND THE PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE WAS ATROCITIES OR THINGS GOING ON THAT WASN'T BEING MISUSED.
PUBLIC FUNDS OR STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT VIA IS, UH, PUBLICLY FUNDED, AND I KNOW VIA PUBLICLY USED PUBLIC MONEY TO BUY THE SCOBY.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS PART OF YOUR BUDGET.
NOW, BEING PART OF THAT, MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD US TO STAND UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE, AND THAT'S WHY I AM HERE TODAY, THAT WE ALL NEED, WE'RE NOT, I'M NOT HERE SAYING THAT WE DON'T, DON'T NEED DEVELOPMENT, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HELP OUR CITIZENS, THE PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT FIVE FOR EVERYBODY TO
[00:15:01]
BENEFIT EVERYBODY, NOT JUST VIA.WE ALSO BE ABLE TO BE MORE FOCUSED OF A 100% PUBLIC HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, ALSO HAVING IT USED FOR COMMERCIAL UNITS THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE'S NEED, ESPECIALLY IN CAREER TRAINING.
SO THAT CAN, THE WAY THEY CAN BE ABLE TO HAVE A HIGHER PAYING JOB, TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE I M E THAT Y'ALL ARE CONSIDERING FOR THE UNITS, THE V.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IRONIC THAT THINGS OF, OF TODAY, IT'S MORE PROVIDED THAT PEOPLE WANT TO PUT MORE PROFIT OVER PEOPLE, BUT IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THAT MONEY IN YOUR POCKET.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET TO WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE FAIR OR THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE MONTHLY PASS OF $38, OR THE YEARLY, THE THREE SIX, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE, WOULD THAT PUT THEM IN A WAY FOR THEM TO GO OUT WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION OF GOING WITHOUT FOOD OR, OR WATER OR ELECTRICITY BEING BEHIND ALL THEIR BILLS, OR NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO PAY, PAY THEIR RENT.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE SOME KIND OF COMPASSION, SOME HUMILITY.
WHAT ARE WE ALWAYS JUST DOING? I KNOW THE C A O MAKES SIX FIGURES.
WHY CAN'T WE PUT SOME OF THAT BACK INTO, TO THE PUBLIC? WHY CAN'T WE HAVE FREE TRANSPORTATION FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT? LIKE FOR THE STUDENTS TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL TO GET THERE, NOT TO PUT THEIR PARENTS IN A BIND.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S 30 CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT PROVIDE FREE TRANSPORTATION.
JUST LIKE IN, UH, VILLE, ARKANSAS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS OFFERS FREE TRANSIT AROUND THE CITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST STUDENTS THROUGH THE RAZORBACK TRANSIT, YOU KNOW.
WE NOW HAVE DUNCAN, UH, TOWNSEND UP.
UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, LETTING US HAVE THIS, THIS PUBLIC FORM IN ORDER TO SPEAK ON THESE ISSUES.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM LIBERATION.
UH, THE CURRENT PLAN IS DISASTROUS FOR WORKING PEOPLE.
NO PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE PAID FOR SCOBY SINCE TO BE, UH, SINCE TO BE A, UH, IS A PUBLIC ENTITY.
MEANING, UH, PRIVATE INVESTOR PROFITS WILL NOT GO FOR PUBLIC GOOD.
THIS CURRENT PLAN IS PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED, PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING.
THIS IS JUST A TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, WHICH MAKES ALL OF THE WEALTH TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE WANT CITY OWNED RENT CONTROLLED HOUSING.
WE DEMAND, UH, AND ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE WEST SIDE.
WE CAN AFFORD IT FOR POLICIES TO CREATE AND PERSEVERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE WEST SIDE, BUT INSTEAD, UM, VIA DREAM ON, UH, CAN USE A SMOKE SCREEN OR DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE KNOW DOESN'T MEAN HELPING THE COMMUNITY.
IT MEANS, UH, MAKING HOUSING UNAFFORDABLE TO THOSE CURRENT RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF.
UM, THE WORKING CLASS NEEDS TO STAY INFORMED AND EDUCATED AND FOSTER THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS TO STABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE WEST SIDE.
UH, IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT VIA WANTS TO RAISE THE COST OF LIVING, UH, IN ONE OF THE POOREST ZIP CODES IN THE COUNTRY AS WAGES STAGNATE WITH A MINIMUM WAGE OF 7 25 AN HOUR HERE, UH, IN TEXAS FOR WEST SIDERS WHO HAVE LOW MEDIAN INCOMES, UH, EARNING LESS THAN, UH, 25,000 ANNUALLY.
UH, THE VIA PLAN TO BUILD 120 APARTMENTS EXCLUSIVELY FOR HOUSEHOLDS MAKING, UH, 50,000 TO 150,000 OR MORE.
THAT'S WELL ABOVE THE CITY'S A M I AREA MEDIA INCOME.
AND THERE IS REMARKABLE INFLUX OF HOMEOWNERS WITH EXTREMELY HIGH ANNUAL INCOMES.
THE ONLY TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS PUBLIC OWNED HOUSING, UH, FREE OR PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
UH, SECTOR FIVE RESIDENT DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD MARKET RATING.
HOUSING FREE MARKET CAPITALISM EXISTS ONLY TO EXPLOIT AND STEAL FROM US THE WORKING PEOPLE, UH, FROM EDISON STEALING, UH, NIKOLA TESLA'S IDEAS TO THE MILLIONS OF GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES GIVEN TO, UH, GIVEN
[00:20:01]
TO PRIVATE CORPORATIONS.PUBLIC GOODS SHOULD BE USED FOR PUBLIC GOOD, NOT PRIVATE GAIN.
UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM LIBERATION.
WE NOW HAVE TORY CRUZ, FOLLOWED BY ROBERT HERNANDEZ.
I AM A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF P S L SAN ANTONIO.
AND I WANT TO SPEAK WITH MY CONCERNS ON THE, UH, PROPOSED SCOBY DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT SCOBY DEVELOPMENT THAT VIA, UM, HAS PARTNERED WITH DREAM ON ON.
UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, UH, THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO BUILD APARTMENTS FOR HOUSEHOLDS MAKING $50,000 TO, UM, $150,000 OR MORE.
UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT, UM, IS IN THE 7 8 2 0 7 ZIP CODE, ONE OF THE POOREST ZIP CODES IN THIS COUNTRY.
UM, THE AVERAGE INCOME FOR THIS ZIP CODE IS, UH, AROUND $25,000.
NOW, ACCORDING TO DREAM ON'S WEBSITE, AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRM THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT VIA HAS PARTNERED WITH, WHETHER IT BE A BINDING OR NON-BINDING AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP SCBI, UM, SAYS THAT THEIR MISSION IS TO BUILD IMPACTFUL PROPERTIES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES WE TOUCH.
NOW, THIS MAY SOUND NICE, BUT, UH, IN REALITY, UH, IT'S QUITE DISHONEST TO PRETEND THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS FOR HELPING THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WHAT IT REALLY IS IS USING PUBLIC MONEY TO MAKE A PRIVATE PROFIT.
CURRENTLY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, IS LOOKING FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT, UM, TO DEVELOP KOBY.
AND IT SEEMS THAT A SELLING POINT TO PRIVATE INVESTORS IS THAT THEY WON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE THIS LAND IS PUBLICLY OWNED LAND AS IT IS OWNED BY VIA, UH, THIS MEANS THAT THE PRIVATE PROFIT MADE OFF OF SCOBY WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE PUBLIC COMMONS.
AS POOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE GET DISPLACED.
UH, THERE CAN BE NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF THERE ARE ANY PRIVATE INVESTORS IN THE SCOBY DEVELOPMENT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, PRIVATE INVESTORS WILL ALWAYS WANT TO RAISE THE RENT, RAISE THE RENT WAY BEYOND AFFORDABLE TO SQUEEZE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN OUT OF SCOBY VIA AND DREAM ON NEEDS TO STOP PUTTING PRIVATE INTEREST OVER.
THEY NEED TO STOP PUTTING PRIVATE INTEREST OVER PUBLIC GOOD AND STOP THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCAM.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY OF THE WEST SIDE IS HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC HOUSING, EMPHASIS ON HIGH QUALITY.
UM, HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND SAN ANTONIO CAN DO, CAN DO RIGHT BY THE WEST SIDE BY MAKING HOUSING THAT MUCH MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH PUBLIC HOUSING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
ROBERT OR HERNANDEZ, ROBERT HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY DOMINIC, HER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBERT HERNANDEZ AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION AND MEMBER OF THE PUEBLO FOR PROFIT COALITION AND HAVE BEEN A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, UH, MY WHOLE LIFE.
THE CURRENT SCOE PLAN THAT VIA AND DREAM ON REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS, UH, HAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY AS A SCAM AND A POORLY DEVELOPED PLAN TO ACCELERATE GENTRIFICATION IN THE WEST SIDE.
SCOBY MUST BE PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT WITH NO EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH DONE VIA AND DREAM ON HAVE PLANNED TO BUILD HOUSING IN THIS SPACE THAT WILL PRICE OUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORKING CLASS ON THE 7 8 2 7, A MAJORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT COMPLEXES WILL BE MADE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN INCOME OF $50,000 TO $150,000 WITH SOME NEW UNITS HAVING NO INCOME RESTRICTIONS WHILE ARE THERE MORE THAN 90,000 CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING WAIT LIST.
HOW WILL THE SCOBY BUILDING SERVE THE MEMBERS OF THE WEST SIDE WHEN THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $25,000? THIS IS GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT VIA AND DREAM ON HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT THEIR SCOPEY PLAN WILL BRING POSITIVE GROWTH TO THE COMMUNITY OF THE WEST SIDE.
BUT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN THEIR PLAN MAKES HOUSING EVEN MORE UNAFFORDABLE THAN IT ALREADY IS? WE SAY NO.
AND WE DEMAND THAT THE SCOPEY BUILDING BE USED FOR PUBLIC GOOD AND PUBLIC HOUSING.
THE VIA TRANSIT SYSTEM EXISTS TODAY OFF OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND CAN HARDLY MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS AVERAGE EVERYDAY RIOTER WITH SOME ROUTES ALWAYS BEING LATE, BUT STOPS UNABLE TO PROTECT FROM THE BLISTERING HEAT.
AND THE AVERAGE COMMUNITY BEING AT THE AVERAGE COMMUTE BEING LONGER THAN ONE HOUR IF YOU'RE TRYING TO CROSS THE CITY.
ALL OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH OUR TRANSIT
[00:25:01]
SYSTEM AND THE LEADERSHIP STILL DECIDES TO TURN ITS BACK ON THE COMMUNITY THAT USES IT THE MOST BY DABBLING IN HOUSING AND CREATE, TRYING TO CREATE A TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITY THAT'S BUILT ON THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE 7 8 2 0 7.VIA MAKE SCOBY PUBLIC HOUSING.
NOW DREAM ON IS A PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER THAT IS FOCUSED ON PROFIT, NOT AFFORDABILITY.
DREAM ON SHIELDS ITSELF AS A PROGRESSIVE, INCLUSIVE REAL ESTATE COMPANY.
AND THAT SENTENCE IS ALMOST LAUGHABLE FOR ME TO SPEAK VIA MUST ANSWER TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE PAY FOR ITS EXISTENCE.
HOWEVER, DREAM ON IS ANSWERABLE TO NO ONE, BUT PRIVATE INVESTORS MAKE GOBY PUBLIC HOUSING AND DREAM ON FIND IT IN YOUR HEARTS TO ACTUALLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
PLEASE, WE HAVE DOMINIC RENTERIA.
I'M WITH THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION, ALSO A PART OF THE PUEBLO OVER PROFIT COALITION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT PLANS VIA AND DREAM ON HAVE FOR THE GOBY DEVELOPMENT, UM, THE WEST SIDE, AND TO LET THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO KNOW, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE RESIDENTS OF THE WEST SIDE, THAT THIS PLAN IS IN FACT NOT BUILT FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT WILL PUSH OUT THE POOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE OF THE WEST SIDE.
MARKET RATE HOUSING IS NOT AFFORDABLE TO DISSEMINATE 2 0 7 RESIDENTS, AND IT'S DISRESPECTFUL FOR VIA A PUBLIC ENTITY TO PUT TO WORK WITH THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER DREAM ON, AND FOR BOTH TO PRESENT THIS PLAN AS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THE COMMUNITY CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE THERE VIA SHOULD NOT BE WORKING WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER LIKE DREAM 'CAUSE THEIR INCENTIVE IS PROFIT.
AND ANY PRIVATE INVESTMENT WILL MEAN UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOUSING IS NOT A MARKET TO LINE YOUR POCKETS.
AND YES, THE WEST SIDE NEEDS DEVELOPMENT BUT DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL ENRICH THE COMMUNITY WITH LONG-TERM GROWTH.
AND THAT STARTS WITH DIGNIFIED HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC HOUSING.
IF DREAM ON WANTS TO BUILD THINGS THAT MATTER, THEY NEED TO BUILD A HUNDRED PERCENT PUBLIC HOUSING.
IF THEY REFUSE, THEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT.
AND IT'S BAFFLING THAT VIA BOUGHT LAND TO BEGIN BUSINESS IN THIS HOUS IN HOUSING WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN PROVIDE FREE HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHEN IT'S WELL WITHIN THEIR MEANS.
MEXICO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT PUBLIC HOUSING AND START PUTTING PEOPLE OVER PROFIT.
WE HAVE ENRIQUE IGL, FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
UH, MY NAME IS ENRIQUE IIA, A CITIZEN IN, UH, SAN ANTONIO, AND AN ORGANIZER WITH THE PUE OF PROFIT COALITION.
SO THE CITY HAS RECENTLY STATED THAT OVER 90,000 FAMILIES ARE IN NEED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
A NUMBER HAS NEARLY TRIPLED FROM PRE PANDEMIC TIMES, AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE PRIVATE OR PUBLIC PRIVATES DEVELOPMENTS THAT OFFER MARKET RATE HOUSING UNAFFORDABLE TO THE MANY WORKING CLASS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF THE CITY.
THE URGENT NEED FOR HOUSING HAS BEEN TAKEN UP BY THE MARKET-BASED MODEL, UH, AND CATCHALL PHRASE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, MOST ARE PIECEMEAL OFFERS OF 60 TO A HUNDRED A M I UNITS.
UM, AND A M I IS ALREADY AN UNFAIR FIGHT FOR THE POOREST CITY ZIP CODES.
THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE RUN BY PREDATORY LANDLORDS, UM, WITH A LACK OF LONG-TERM RENT AND TENANT PROTECTIONS.
DEVELOPERS GET MASSIVE TAX SUBIES DRAIN PUBLIC POCKETS, UH, FOR PRIVATE GAIN.
AND OVERALL, A USELESS CONTRIBUTION TO REAL PUBLICLY OWNED AND MANAGED HOUSING NEEDS.
THE CURSING, THE THE CURRENT HOUSING EFFORTS WILL NEVER MEET THE NEED FOR HOUSING BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO NEVER MEET THIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO A DECENT HUMANE SHELTER.
TO THIS DAY, SAN ANTONIO REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST RESIDENTIALLY SEGREGATED CITIES IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN IN THE COUNTRY WITH LOW WAGES AND HISTORICAL DISINVESTMENT AND ABANDONMENT IN THE PLACES THAT NEED IT THE MOST.
THE WESTERN AND SOUTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF THE CITY HAVE LONG BEEN A TRANSNATIONAL PLACE FOR MANY A CELEBRATED CULTURAL HAVEN, DESPITE THE CITY'S AND CORPORATE INTERESTS THAT HAVE MADE MANY EFFORTS OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS TO LEAVE IT BEHIND.
WE SAY STOP SCOBY, NOT BECAUSE ALL DEVELOPMENT IS INHERENTLY BAD, BUT BECAUSE THE REAL COMMUNITY PROJECT HERE WOULD BE PUBLIC HOUSING.
WE SAY STOP SCOBY BECAUSE OF VIA CARED ABOUT ITS VITAL ROLE IN TRANSPORTING AND UPLIFTING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS VIA WOULD FIGHT FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AS A PUBLIC ENTITY.
WE SAY STOP KOBY, BECAUSE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS ONLY HAVE PROFIT MOTIVES.
NO REAL DEVELOPERS WILL SERVE AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
WE SAY WE CANNOT SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS, WHICH IS ONE PROJECT, BUT VIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSING JUSTICE NOW AND SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE LISTENING.
JACK FINGER, FOLLOWED BY KAY VELAZQUEZ.
MR. CHAIRMAN, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
[00:30:01]
FIRST OF ALL, MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. C E O, WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE FIX THAT STUPID CLOCK UP THERE.IT'S AHEAD BY SEVERAL MINUTES AND YOU'RE USING THE ERRONEOUS TIME FOR YOUR MINUTES.
I, I THINK YOU HAVE AT LEAST A MONTH TO DO THAT BEFORE THE NEXT, UH, BOARD MEETING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SOMEBODY FIXING THE DARN THING.
THE, UH, MR. C E O, MR. BROWN.
I, UH, I CAME BY HERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND I, UH, COMPLAINED ABOUT A FEW THINGS, BIG THINGS.
AND, UH, I GOT, YEAH, FINALLY DID GET A LETTER FROM, FROM VIA, BUT, UH, ABOUT ADDRESSING ONE OF THEM.
BUT AT LEAST, UH, ONE OR TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT I DEEM OF IMPORTANCE WERE NOT ADDRESSED IN THAT LETTER.
AND I, QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THAT'S A, UH, A BIG, UH, MISTAKE ON YOUR PART.
AND I'M TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT A, AN OPERATOR WHO FAILED TO, UH, UH, DO SOMETHING ABOUT AN A, UH, UH, A RIDER WHO WAS CAUSING A DISTURBANCE ON THE BUS.
I WAS POLITE IN TRYING TO ASK THE OPERATOR TO DO SOMETHING, HE REFUSED TO DO SO, AND THIS, THIS WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
I'M STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY, SIR.
AND I EXPECT IT IN, UH, THE UPCOMING LETTER.
AND I WANT, FRANKLY, I WANT YOU TO GIVE A COPY TO, TO THE CHAIRMAN SO THAT HE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GETTING AT AS WELL.
OTHER ITEM, WISH TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION.
SEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER FAIR BOX I ON EVERY OTHER BUS I GET ONTO IS BROKEN.
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE? DON'T Y'ALL CARRY OUT TO RECEIVE THE PITTANCE OF MONEY YOU GET FROM US TO, TO BOARD THESE THINGS, TO DO ANYTHING, I MEAN, TO, TO RUN OUR OPERATION.
NOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LATER ON WE ARE MISSING OUR MONIES? AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRE PRESSED TO TELL US WE'VE GOT TO RAISE OUR FARES.
HUH? DO YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THE, THE PROFITS? I MEAN, I SAY THE PROFIT, THE REVENUE WE NEED FOR VIA TO KEEP GOING OR NOT? I MEAN, THIS THING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS.
I'M SURE YOU MUST BE BEEN APPRISED OF IT.
I I DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER.
EV EVERY OTHER BUS HAS TO HAPPEN.
AND FINALLY, THE, UH, THE, UH, SCOOBY DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT THE HECK IS VIA DOING, GETTING INTO THE HOUSING BUSINESS? YOU ARE A BUS COMPANY.
WHAT BIG FAT CATS HAVE GLAD HANDED YOU UNDER THE TABLE AND SAYING, HEY, GIVE US A MONEY GROUP THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO FROM THE FEDERAL COFFERS AND, AND FROM THE STATE.
HUH? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I DON'T LIKE THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT.
IT'S TIME YOU GET DID THE RIGHT THING AND GET OUT OF IT.
VELASQUEZ FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER FARLEY.
I'M A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE, AND I'M HERE TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE VIA, TO ADDRESS THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE WEST SIDE.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SEVERAL OF Y'ALL HAVE REQUESTED TO SUBSCRIBE TO ESPERANZA'S COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE, VOS COINCIDENTALLY, RIGHT AFTER WE RELEASED AN ARTICLE WRITING WRITTEN ABOUT, UH, THE SCOBY DEVELOPMENTS AND INCLUDING STATEMENTS OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY FROM THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
THERE'S GREAT IRONY IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH SCOBY, BUT WANTING TO SEE THE ARTICLE THAT WE WROTE ABOUT B'S PLANS FOR SCOBY.
THERE'S GREAT IRONY IN RECOGNIZING THAT MANY PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO CANNOT AFFORD THEIR OWN VEHICLE, BUT CREATING A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT MANY FAMILIES ON THE WEST SIDE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD.
Y'ALL ARE WATCHING AND SEEING US, BUT Y'ALL ARE NOT LISTENING OR INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
VIAS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY DOES NOT STOP AT SC BE THOUGH I'VE SAT IN ON SOME OTHER BOARD MEETINGS AND IT IS CONSISTENTLY THE SAME PEOPLE BRINGING THE SAME ISSUES TO Y'ALL AND Y'ALL NOT LISTENING.
THERE'S GREAT IRONY IN OPERATING AS A PUBLIC ENTITY, BUT NOT WANTING TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE YOU SERVICE.
WE WANT PUBLIC HOUSING, HOUSING THAT ACCOMMODATES THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST SIDE, MULTI-FAMILY UNITS.
WE WANT SCOBY THAT CAN PROVIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION, FREE CHILDCARE IN A PLACE THAT CAN SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESSES OF THE WEST SIDE.
WE NEED A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO UPLIFT BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES.
WE ARE NOT AT ALL AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE AGAINST DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES AGAINST THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WEST SIDE.
SCOBY HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS BEING A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WILL BE A CATALYST FOR THE WEST SIDE, BUT A CATALYST FOR WHAT GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACEMENT
[00:35:01]
THE WEST SIDE NEEDS DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.SCOBY NEEDS TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE.
MAKE SCOBY FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO MS. MY CONCERN, SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, I STILL CONTINUE TO KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS. OUR CITY BUSES ON THE MORNING OF THURSDAY, JUNE THE 29TH, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT TIME THE 6 0 2 ARRIVED, UM, PATRICIA, BUT RAN LATER TO WHERE WE GOT TO THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER.
THE NUMBER FOUR HAD JUST TAKEN OFF.
I HAD TO CATCH THE NUMBER THREE INSTEAD.
THEN ON THE 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, WHICH THE BUSES WERE RUN ON A SUNDAY SCHEDULE, I WAIT OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT MORNING.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE AT 5:45 AM INSTEAD CAME AT FIVE 50 AND I WAS WORKING WHEN WE GOT TO THE TRANSIT CENTER AND NUMBER FOUR WAS ALREADY GONE.
AND THEN I WAITED FOR THE NEXT NUMBER FOUR TO, UH, TO ARRIVE.
BUT THE BUS OPERATOR TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO LEAVE FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES.
WHEN TIME, WHEN THAT TIME ELAPSED, THE DRIVER WHOSE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS 2 3 5 6 9, DECIDE TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL EXTRA FIVE MINUTES SMOKING A CIGARETTE AND CHECKING THE MESSAGES ON HIS CELL PHONE.
THEN ON THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY, JULY THE FIFTH, I WAS AT THE BUS STOP 8 5 6 7 9, WAITING FOR THE BUS TO ARRIVE AT 6:05 PM IT DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL AFTER 6:10 PM WHEN WE ARRIVED TO THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER, THE 6 0 2 HAD RA TAKEN OFF, SO I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE ON THE MORNING OF THURSDAY, JULY 6TH.
ONCE AGAIN, THE 6 0 2 RAN JUST S LATE ENOUGH TO WHEN WE ARRIVED TO THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER, THE NUMBER FOUR HAD JUST TAKEN OFF, SO I HAD TO CATCH THE NUMBER THREE INSTEAD.
ONCE AGAIN, ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY, JULY 7TH, I WAS AT BUS STOP 4 6 9 6 6 WAITING FOR THE NINE SIX, COMING FROM DOWNTOWN TO ARRIVE AT 11:31 AM IT WAS MORE THAN SEVEN TO EIGHT MINUTES LATE AND DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 11:30 AM ON THE AFTERNOON OF THURSDAY, JULY THE 13TH.
WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER AND GOT ON THE 6 0 2, THE FLOOR UP FRONT WAS REALLY SLIPPERY AND STICKY.
AND I DO NOT KNOW WHO WAS CLEANING THE BUSES, BUT THEY SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB.
UH, ON MON ON THE MORNING OF MONDAY, JULY 17TH, I WAITED FOR THE NUMBER 6 0 6 0 2 TO ARRIVE JUST AFTER 6:00 AM BUT IT WAS RUN, BUT RUNNING LATE WAS BAD ENOUGH AND AT A DIFFERENT DRIVER, AND HE WAS GOING AT A REAL SLOW PACE.
SO SLOW THAT WHEN WE ARRIVED TO THE NORTH STAR TRAIN CENTER, UH, NUMBER FOUR WAS ALREADY GONE.
IT WAS AT 6 25, 6 20 6:00 AM THAT MORNING.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I HAD TO CATCH THE THREE INSTEAD.
ON THE MORNING OF TUESDAY, JULY 18TH, THE REGULAR DRIVERS BEHIND THE WHEEL.
BUT ON THE MORNINGS OF JULY 19TH AND 20, THERE WERE TWO MORE DIFFERENT DRIVERS.
THOSE LAST THREE DAY I WAS ABLE TO ARRIVE AT IN TIME TO CASH.
NUMBER FOUR, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO HAS TRAINING THESE NEW DRIVERS WHEN THE REGULAR ONES ARE NOT BEHIND THE WHEEL? IF SOMEONE WOULD PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH RESPONSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, I WOULD TRULY, AND REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, LAST NIGHT I WAS AT H E B, UH, I NOTICED A BUS ON PAR, UH, TO MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON PAR PARLIAMENT, UH, OFF OF PATRICIA SAYING OUT OF SERVICE.
UH, CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THAT? UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO THEM FROM A LETTER AS, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE NO MORE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITIZENS CAME, UH, FORWARD THIS AFTERNOON.
WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND THE EFFORT.
[5. Consent Agenda]
WILL SAY IS THE, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM.UH, JUST AS A NOTE, WE WILL BE PULLING ITEM D FOR A SEPARATE VOTE.
SO WITH THAT TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST REAL QUICK, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, THE REASON, UH, WE'RE PULLING FIVE D IS THAT I'M PART OF THAT INDUSTRY AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANY, UH, THOUGHT OF CONFLICTS AND STUFF.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GO GET MY COOKIE NOW AND YOU GUYS DO YOUR DUE JUST FOR THE RECORD.
FOR THE RECORD, YOU'LL BE ABSTAINING,
OKAY, SO LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER.
UH, CONSIDER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE WITHOUT, UH, ITEM D TRUSTEES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MOVE ADOPTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
WE'LL GO TO MR. I MOVE ADOPTION ON ITEM NUMBER D.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM D.
OKAY, WE'RE FIRST AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[00:40:04]
OKAY, NEXT, NEXT[6. Proposed VIA Link Service Changes]
WE WILL GO TO, UH, MR. DIA.WE'LL NOW PRESENT ITEM SIX, PROPOSED VIA LINK SERVICE CHANGES, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM.
I'M SORRY, I THINK IT'S DIA AS WELL.
UH, CHAIR REYES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, I'M THE MANAGER OF SERVICE PLANNING.
I'LL BE PRESENTING FOR ACTION.
PROPOSED VIA LINK SERVICE CHANGES.
UH, LETICIA SEK, UH, MANAGER OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS IS CO-PRESENTING.
SHE WILL PRESENT A RECAP OF OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
THE OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS OF VIA LINK ARE TO PROVIDE US PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR FIRST AND LAST MILE CONNECTIONS TO VIAS LARGER NETWORK WHERE FIXED ROUTE SERVICE IS UNDERPERFORMING, IMPROVE WAIT TIMES AND REDUCE WALKING DISTANCES AND EXPAND SERVICE COVERAGE SERVICE, SERVING MORE PEOPLE AND MORE JOBS, AND PROVIDING MORE ACCESSIBLE TRIPS.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO EXPAND VIA LINK SERVICE OPERATING HOURS TO BEGIN 30 MINUTES EARLIER AT 5:00 AM INSTEAD OF FIVE 30.
SO A PASSENGER'S TRIP CAN START AS EARLY AS 5:00 AM AND START AS LATE AS 9:30 PM THIS CHANGE WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO ALL VIA LINK ZONES, INCLUDING ZONE FOUR THAT IS PROPOSED FOR ACTION TODAY.
THIS CHANGE IS PROPOSED TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER.
THE RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND THE EARLY MORNING SERVICE STEMS FROM AN ANALYSIS WE COMPLETED.
WE FOUND GOOD SUPPORT FOR EARLY MORNING DEMAND BASED ON RIDERSHIP ON ROUTES THAT USED TO SERVE THE AREAS, FEEDBACK FROM OUR CUSTOMERS AND TRENDS FOR TRIPS SOUGHT OUTSIDE OF OUR CURRENT OPERATING HOURS.
IN ADDITION TO AN EXPANSION OF SERVICE HOURS, WE ARE PROPO PROPOSING A FOURTH VIEWING ZONE EAST OF IH 35 NEAR RANDOLPH PARK AND RIDE.
WE'RE CALLING IT ZONE FOUR FOR THE MOMENT, WHILE MARKETING, UH, WORKS ON A MORE SUITABLE NAME FOR US.
THIS CHANGE IS ALSO PROPOSED TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER.
THE SERVICE WILL OPERATE FROM 5:00 AM TO 9:30 PM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
UH, WAIT TIMES ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MINUTES.
THE BOUNDARY ENCOMPASSES RETAIL ALONG SINE AND FOSTER ROADS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES PUBLIC IDEA SCHOOL, WALLUM, NUMEROUS INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
CONNECTIONS TO THE REST OF THE NETWORK ARE AT RANDOLPH TRANSIT CENTER, THE PLANNED EASTSIDE MOBILITY HUB OR TO DOWNTOWN THROUGH ROUTE 21 CONNECTION ON SEGUIN ROAD.
THE ZONE ALSO CONNECTS TO ARTISAN APARTMENTS AND THE NEARBY J B S A FORT SAM HOUSTON.
UM, THIS SERVICE REPLACES LOW PERFORMING 60 MINUTE ROUTES.
UH, THIS SERVICE REPLACES LOW PERFORMING 60 MINUTE ROUTE 6 29 AND SIX 30.
SERVICE WILL OVERLAP UNTIL THE RETIREMENT OF THE ROUTES ON JANUARY 8TH, 2024.
THERE'S NO CHANGE PROPOSED TO UNDERLYING VIA TRANS SERVICE COMPARED TO ROUTE 6 29 AND SIX 30, UH, THAT ARE IN SERVICE TODAY.
THE PROPOSED ZONE WILL EXPAND THE SERVICE AREA BY 10 SQUARE MILES, WHICH MEANS 34,800 MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICE.
AND 2,700 MORE JOBS WILL BE ACCESSIBLE USING TRANSIT.
THE ZONE WILL PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE BECAUSE CUSTOMERS ARE EXPECTED TO WAIT 20 MINUTES INSTEAD OF AN HOUR.
THE ZONE IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE BECAUSE WE PLAN TO SAVE MONEY AND IMPROVE SERVICE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND BECAUSE WE PLAN TO RETIRE ROUTE 6 29 AND SIX 30, WE WILL HAVE FOUR BUS OPERATORS TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SERVICE, RELI IN SERVICE, EITHER IN SERVICE, RELIABILITY, OR IN FREQUENCY.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THESE RESOURCES CAN BE INVESTED REINVESTED, WE COULD IMPROVE TWO 60 MINUTE ROUTES TO 30 MINUTES DURING PEAK DEMANDS.
BASED ON THE EXPANDED COVERAGE AND IMPROVED WAIT TIMES, WE ESTIMATED 6% INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP.
THIS IS THE SERVICE CHANGES TIMELINE.
WE BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO YOU IN JUNE.
WE WERE ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT THESE SERVICE CHANGES IN OCTOBER AND TO RETIRE THE FIXED ROUTE SERVICE IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
OUR CUSTOMER RELATIONS WILL WORK ON AN EDUCATION PLAN NEXT TO ENSURE ALL CUSTOMERS ARE WELL-INFORMED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR REYES AND TRUSTEES.
[00:45:01]
AWARE, WE'VE CONDUCTED, UH, PUBLIC OUTREACH WITH A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER ON JUNE 21ST WITH ALSO A WEBPAGE THAT WAS PUBLISHED, UH, PUBLISHED ON THE VIA WEBSITE.UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE CONDUCTED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THE CITY OF KIRBY, AND WE ALSO HAD AN E-BLAST WITH EMAIL THAT WAS SENT OUT TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS ON, UH, JULY 10TH AT 5:30 PM THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THE CITY OF KIRBY WAS ATTENDED BY, UH, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF THE NEW SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
IN ADDITION, WE CONDUCTED OUTREACH IN PERSON, UH, ON ROUTE 6 29 AND SIX 30.
AND AT THIS TIME, I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO JESSICA FUENTES, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT FOR HELPING US WITH THE OUTREACH AS WELL AS REGINA RAMIREZ AND HUMMM MARTINEZ, WHO ASSISTED MYSELF AND MY TEAM OF TONY LUNA, CIO VALERIO AND DESTINY LUTER.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE OUTREACH AS WE'RE A LITTLE SHORTHANDED RIGHT NOW.
IN ADDITION, WE, UH, TO THE IN-PERSON OUTREACH, WE HANDED OUT OVER 1800 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES, UH, FLYERS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THAT SAME TWO WEEK PERIOD.
AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAD 13 ATTENDEES.
SEVEN VERBAL COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED, NINE COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED VIA THE SERVICE, UH, WEBPAGE, UH, SERVICE CHANGE.
AND THEN SIX COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED VIA VOICEMAIL.
ALL, ALL, IN ALL 250 PLUS PEOPLE AND COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED FROM WRITERS, WHICH WERE REDUNDANT ABOUT THE ACTUAL CHANGE.
UH, THOSE COMMENTS RANGED ANYWHERE FROM WHY ARE WE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH 6 29 AND SIX 30 AND TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW SERVICE THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE, UH, LESS WAIT TIME AND BE ABLE TO GO INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, COMMENT RECAPS, UH, FROM THE RIDERS ON THE BUS ROUTES, BUSINESSES AND APARTMENTS THAT WE TOUCHED WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE NEW VIA LINK SERVICE.
AND, UM, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE NICE THINGS IS THAT THEY KNOW IT'S ON DEMAND SERVICE THAT WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT HOURLY.
WAIT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER 'EM AT THIS TIME.
TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD AND HEARING ABOUT IT, AND I WAS LIKE, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THIS ALL OVER THE CITY? SO THIS IS EXCITING TO HEAR THAT THIS IS MOVING FORWARD IN ANOTHER AREA.
AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAYBE WHAT IS OUR TIMELINE TO, I KNOW I'M BEING AGGRESSIVE, BUT, UM, CREATING IT ALL OVER THIS CITY AND, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE DO THAT? OR WHAT ARE Y'ALL LOOKING AT? SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT NOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO KIND OF SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO, WHAT ARE Y'ALL'S GOALS, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR, I MEAN FIVE YEAR TENURE YEAR GOALS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, ALSO, AS FAR AS THE CONVERSATION, THERE HAVE BEEN ADDITIONAL ASKS, UM, FOR THE STAFF TO REVIEW AND TAKE A LOOK AT ADDITIONAL EXPANSION OF HOURS.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY BEING UNDER ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW.
I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE BOARD WITH THAT, UH, IN THE FUTURE ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? I MAKE A MOTION.
HERE WE HAVE FIRST AND A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED, NATE? MOTION CARRIES.
AND MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR.
WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING TONIGHT.
WE'LL REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO ADJOURN? OKAY.