Your District 7 Newsletter
VOLUME 24 | Jan. 18, 2017
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Our first State of District 7 Town Hall meeting is next Tuesday night. I would love to see you there.
We’re looking forward to a true community conversation about our goals for District 7. What investments do we need to make to strengthen our district? How can we make local government more open and accountable to taxpayers?
We’ve scheduled two meetings for your convenience. If you can’t make it to one, hopefully you can attend the other.
- The first Town Hall will be January 23th at Braun Station Elementary from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- The second will be January 30th at Jefferson High School, also from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Also, CPS Energy, SAWS, and numerous City departments will be on hand between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and afterward to address your concerns and answer your questions.
I look forward to seeing you either next Tuesday or on January 30!
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One of the ways Councilwoman Sandoval wants to give you the answers you need about city government is through "Ask Ana Anything", a recurring part of the weekly District 7 newsletter. Have a question for Ana? Email it to
district7@sanantonio.gov with the subject line "Ask Ana Anything".
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Dear Ana,
I support the San Antonio Symphony, and would hate to lose it. But I worried about the City throwing good money after bad in trying to save the organization.
Concerned Music Lover
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Dear Music Lover,
I, too, am a music lover. I grew up playing the viola in the orchestra, and thanks to what I learned in school, I was able to get a job performing as a mariachi musician at events throughout San Antonio.
To me, having a symphony brings value to our city in numerous ways that extend far beyond performances at the downtown auditorium. However, I also want to make sure our City Council is a responsible steward of the public funds we are entrusted to oversee.
While City Council has decided to help the symphony, I must point out that the council did not approve any additional funds for the symphony. In the 2017-2018 budget, the city approved a grant of $614,000 for the symphony. About $246,000 has been provided to date.
In today’s vote, Council approved releasing the remaining amount immediately, instead of waiting until the end of the year. I supported this agreement because it’s funding we had already allocated for the symphony and because it allows the organization to keep the lights on during our City’s Tricentennial celebration.
In addition, the city’s move of support has spurred an influx of private sector donations in recent weeks to save the symphony’s season.
It is important to note that the original grant was part of the city’s biennial award program to dozens of local arts and culture organizations. The funding comes directly from the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax, not property or sales tax revenue.
While the short-term crisis appears to be easing, there are still many challenges. The City will be watching closely to ensure the organization plans for its long-term viability.
Sincerely,
Councilwoman Sandoval
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Announcing: State of District 7
Town Halls
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Martin Luther King Jr. March
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Dates Available for
Coffee with Ana
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Councilwoman Ana Sandoval values your input (and coffee). That's why we're inviting you to: Coffee with Ana.
District 7 residents have the opportunity to have a 15-minute, one-on-one conversation with Councilwoman Sandoval. These conversations are
by appointment.
The February 10th, and February 17th coffees will be held from 9 AM to 11 AM. All coffees will be held at the District 7 Field Office at 4414 Centerview Dr., Suite 160.
To make an appointment, call 210-207-0872 or send an email with the subject line "Coffee with Ana" to district7@sanantonio.gov.
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Construction Project Updates
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Councilwoman Ana Sandoval pressed the city staffers, questioning the effectiveness of their proposal.
“Based on some of the recommendations you have here, I also don’t see how we could have … avoided what had happened at Centro,” she said.
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Construction Project Updates
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The survey will close on January 31.
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Applicants Sought for City's Municipal Civic Service Commission
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The City of San Antonio is recruiting citizens interested in serving the public as Municipal Civil Service Commissioners. The selected individuals will be appointed by City Council and must be available to serve a two-year term.
The purpose of the Municipal Civil Service Commission is to hear administrative appeals of City employees in the classified service who have been suspended, demoted or terminated from their positions. The Commission makes recommendations to the City Manager as to the disposition of these cases. The Commission has the authority to issue subpoenas to witnesses and request investigations.
Interested applicants must meet the following requirements:
- U.S. citizen
- Registered voter
- City of San Antonio resident
- Mentally competent
- Have no legal conviction of a felony
- Be able to attend 1 – 2 meetings per month, averaging 2 – 5 hours per meeting
Preferred qualifications include:
- Knowledge of progressive discipline and Human Resources practices
- Knowledge and experience in conducting administrative hearings
- Experience in policy interpretation
- Good analytical skills
- Ability to make case decisions in a fair and impartial manner
- Knowledge of Texas Open Meetings Act
- Knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order
When serving in an official capacity, Commissioners will be compensated $20 per meeting and provided free designated parking.
Those interested in applying may do so online using the City’s web-based application for boards and commissions
here. For additional information, please call Brandon Smith, at (210) 207-7253. For more information on City Boards, please visit the City Clerk's website
here.
For additional information regarding the Municipal Civil Service Commission, click
here and click on the Municipal Civil Service tab.
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Applicants Sought for City's Firefighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission
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Applicants are being sought for the City of San Antonio’s Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission. The selected individual will be appointed by the City Manager and must be available to serve a three-year term.
The Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission administers civil service aspects of the Local Government Code, Chapter 143. The Commission has the power of interpretation of the City’s Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Civil Service Rules. The Commission hears appeals of disciplinary actions from Fire and Police uniformed personnel, appeals of promotional examination questions from uniformed personnel, and appeals of applicants to the Fire and Police Departments. Appointed Commissioners will be compensated $20 per meeting and will have free parking for all meetings.
Requirements:
- Resident of the City of San Antonio for at least three years
- U.S. citizen
- Good moral character
- Over 25 years of age
- Not have held any public office within the preceding three years
- Able to meet one or two meetings monthly; averaging two hours per meeting
Preferred Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of Local Government Code, Chapter 143
- Knowledge of progressive discipline
- Knowledge and experience in conducting administrative hearings
- Experience in policy interpretation
- Must be able to make case decisions in a fair and impartial manner
- Knowledge of Texas Open Meetings Act
- Knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order
Those interested in applying may do so online using the City’s web-based application for boards and commissions
here. For assistance with the application, contact Brandon Smith, Boards and Commissions Coordinator, at (210) 207-7253. For more information on City Boards, click
here.
For additional information regarding the Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Civil Service Commission, click
here and click on the Uniform Civil Service tab.
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CivTechSA Startup Residency Application Opens
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At a Glance
- CivTechSA connects local government with tech and entrepreneurial communities to solve civic challenges and facilitate growth of the startup ecosystem
- For the Residency, startups will embed in City departments for 16 weeks to observe operations firsthand, work with City staff, access data & develop an intimate understanding of the challenge
- There are seven challenges for startups to propose solving; the top three will be selected for the program’s inaugural year
- Find Your Forever Friend Notification System – Animal Care Services Department
- Airport Customer Experience Tool – Aviation Department
- Transportation One Pass for Downtown – Center City and Development Operations Department
- Alamodome Customer Experience Tool – Convention and Sports Facilities Department
- Centralized Entrepreneur Portal and Tracking – Economic Development Department
- Utility Assistance Digitization and Tracking – Department of Human Services
- Cart Tracking and Notification System – Solid Waste Management Department
- The application period opens on January 12, 2018, and closes on February 12, 2018
- A Question & Answer session/livestream will be held January 24th at 6pm at the Geekdom Centre
- To access the application (solicitation document), click here
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COPS/METRO Owner-Occupied Home Restoration
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COPS/Metro Leaders are accepting applications for funding for Owner-Occupied Home Repairs.
The application deadline is January 30, 2018.
For more information, call 210 -207-6459 or 210-207-5403.
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Metro Health kicks off 2018 with New Health Policy
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Today San Antonio became the first city in Texas to increase the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookahs, and chewing tobacco. The public health measure is intended to reduce the number of young consumers of tobacco products and, in time, reduce overall tobacco addiction.
The changes will take effect on Oct. 1, 2018.
“This is about saving lives,” Councilwoman Ana Sandoval said. “One of our most important tasks as city leaders is to protect the health of our communities. Raising the legal age for tobacco-product purchases is the most direct step we can take as a city to prevent deaths that come too soon.”
After passing Tobacco 21, as the initiative is known, San Antonio now joins five states and more than 290 U.S. communities in 19 states to increase the tobacco sale age to 21 to protect youth from the harms of tobacco use.
“Raising the legal sale age to 21 will help improve our city’s public health and quality of life for decades to come. It will impact all of San Antonio and save lives,” said Dr. Colleen Bridger, Director, Metro Health. “Reduction in smoking rates will help save millions of dollars in healthcare costs.”
Metro Health is committed to working with other local municipalities in Bexar County and with the State of Texas to support their efforts to raise the tobacco sale age to 21 and reduce youth smoking and addiction.
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2018 Homeless Point-In-Time Count to be Updated on January 25th
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On January 25, 2018, the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), City of San Antonio, and Bexar County will conduct the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) count, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on an annual basis. The PIT is an unduplicated count conducted of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals, families, and youth on a single night.
In addition to the physical count, the PIT includes a survey of demographic and social information, which is used to plan local homeless assistance systems and to measure progress towards the goals of preventing, reducing, and ending homelessness. In 2017, almost 800 volunteers and 71 San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) uniformed officers participated in the 2017 PIT in which 2,743 total persons were surveyed. Of those surveyed, 1641 were sheltered, 661 were unsheltered safe sleeping, and 441 were identified as unsheltered encampment or street.
This year, the PIT will begin at D.R. Semmes Family YMCA at TriPoint, 3233 N. St. Mary's St. Volunteers will meet at TriPoint and disperse to assigned areas throughout the City. The City-wide Count will organize at 5:00 pm and disperse at 6:00 pm to begin the count. A second group of volunteers, focusing on the downtown area, will organize at 9:00 pm and disperse at 10:00 pm.
Additional details are available
here. Results from this years' count will be made available in March 2018.
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To view more events, visit the calendar on the Your District 7 website
here.
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Date: January 19 - 21
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Forest Hills Library, 5245 Ingram Rd
VITA staff and volunteers will be available to assist with filing your tax returns. This is for people with $60,000 or less in taxable income.
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District 7 Graffiti Removal Volunteer Opportunities
Date: January 20
Location: 5111 Glen Ridge and 5455 Glen Ridge
The No Graffiti SA Team is looking for volunteers to help beautify the community by ridding San Antonio of unsightly graffiti. If you are interested in signing up, contact the District 7 Office and we will connect you with the No Graffiti SA Team.
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Office of City Clerk Hosts Passport and Vital Records Day
Date: January 20
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Municipal Archives & Records Facility, 719 S. Santa Rosa
The Passport Book costs $110 for adults and is valid for 10 years and $80 for children 15 years old and younger. Children's Passports are only valid for five years and children must appear with both parents or guardians to apply for a passport.
Be aware that ID requirements for domestic flights will be even more strict for this year’s spring break. Starting this month, the US government will start enforcing
REAL ID requirements at airports. If you don’t have a REAL ID certified driver’s license, you will need to use your passport to catch your flight!
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Date: January 29
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Location: Conference Room A, University Center, St. Mary's University, One Camino Santa Maria
Last year's election season brought a lot of fresh faces to City Hall. With a new mayor and six of ten City Council seats now occupied by first-term members, our municipal government is experiencing a surge of new perspectives and priorities.
Join the Rivard Report and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval for a community discussion regarding the new Council, the future of San Antonio, and District 7’s place in it. Audience members will guide the evening’s conversation, so come with your questions, concerns, and topics of discussion. Rivard Report Publisher Robert Rivard will moderate.
Admission is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the conversation will begin at 6:30.
Tweet your questions before and during the event using #d7convo.
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Date: January 29
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location:
The City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation is currently gathering public input regarding the locations and designs of potential new
Viewshed Protection Districts. we invite you to attend a public input meeting taking place on Monday, January 29, to share your ideas for views and sites that should be protected.
During the month of January, you can participate by sharing photos of some of your favorite San Antonio views. Submissions can be provided for public input thee ways:
- Share your photo on social media using #ThisViewMatters and tagging @SApreservation
- Email your photo to info@sapreservation.com
- Print your photo and bring it with you to the January 29 public input meeting. Printed photos should be 8x10 or letter-sized format. OHP will print all photos received electronically.
OHP will create a galley of images for public input at the January 29 meeting. Following the meeting, the gallery will remain on display at the AIA offices for an extended period of time to allow for additional public comment.
For more information, please visit
sapreservation.com
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AAMPO Public Meeting on Potential Bexar County Transportation Projects
Date: February 21
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: VIA Metropolitan Transit, 1021 San Pedro
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization wants your input! Attend one of our public meetings to give us your thoughts on transportation projects competing for funding in our region.
Can't attend in person? Participate online February 19-28 at www.alamoareampo.org/YourMove
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Parks Dept's Spring Break Camp
Date: March 12-16
Location: Gilbert Garza Park, 1450 Mira Vista; other locations
available.
Registration is now open for the Parks and Recreation Department's Spring Break Camp for children ages 6 to 14. Register
here.
Activities will include sports, fitness, active games, and crafts. Lunch and snack included. The camp is $3 per child per day.
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- Joseph Bravo
- Chief of Constituent Services & Administration
- 210.207.2727
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Brass Professional Center
4414 Centerview Dr #160
Monday - Friday:
9am - 5pm
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Maury Maverick Library
8700 Mystic Park
By appointment only.
Please call 210-207-2727.
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