1 00:00:00,833 --> 00:00:01,800 On the record is 2 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:03,000 brought to you by Steve 3 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,833 and Adele Dufilho. 4 00:00:08,233 --> 00:00:10,033 San Antonio is a fast 5 00:00:10,033 --> 00:00:10,933 growing, fast 6 00:00:10,933 --> 00:00:11,966 moving community 7 00:00:11,966 --> 00:00:13,200 with something new 8 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:14,866 happening every day. 9 00:00:14,866 --> 00:00:16,133 And that's why each week 10 00:00:16,133 --> 00:00:17,833 we go on the record 11 00:00:17,833 --> 00:00:19,166 with the newsmakers 12 00:00:19,166 --> 00:00:21,166 who are driving this change. 13 00:00:21,166 --> 00:00:23,200 Then we gather at the Reporters 14 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:24,433 Roundtable to talk about 15 00:00:24,433 --> 00:00:25,833 the latest news stories 16 00:00:25,833 --> 00:00:27,066 with the journalists 17 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:28,833 behind those stories. 18 00:00:28,833 --> 00:00:29,833 Join us now 19 00:00:29,833 --> 00:00:39,400 as we go on the right. 20 00:00:40,266 --> 00:00:40,866 Hi, everybody. 21 00:00:40,866 --> 00:00:41,766 Thank you for joining us 22 00:00:41,766 --> 00:00:42,466 for this edition 23 00:00:42,466 --> 00:00:43,233 of On the Record. 24 00:00:43,233 --> 00:00:44,233 I'm Randy Beamer. 25 00:00:44,233 --> 00:00:45,566 A lot to talk about this week. 26 00:00:45,566 --> 00:00:47,566 And one of the signs of spring 27 00:00:47,933 --> 00:00:48,600 will be showing 28 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:49,866 up in your mailbox 29 00:00:49,866 --> 00:00:50,866 if it isn't already there 30 00:00:50,866 --> 00:00:51,600 right now. 31 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,266 And that is your Bear 32 00:00:53,266 --> 00:00:54,566 County property 33 00:00:54,566 --> 00:00:55,833 tax appraisal 34 00:00:55,833 --> 00:00:57,666 or whatever county you are in. 35 00:00:57,666 --> 00:00:58,533 Chief appraiser 36 00:00:58,533 --> 00:00:59,733 of the Bear County 37 00:00:59,733 --> 00:01:00,700 Appraisal District, 38 00:01:00,700 --> 00:01:02,966 Michael Amezquita joins us. 39 00:01:03,466 --> 00:01:04,233 Thank you very much 40 00:01:04,233 --> 00:01:05,533 for coming in. 41 00:01:05,533 --> 00:01:06,866 We were talking before 42 00:01:06,866 --> 00:01:08,733 about what you learned 43 00:01:08,733 --> 00:01:09,266 in the past 44 00:01:09,266 --> 00:01:10,233 couple of three years 45 00:01:10,233 --> 00:01:11,933 in terms of how to deal 46 00:01:11,933 --> 00:01:13,766 with the challenges 47 00:01:13,766 --> 00:01:14,833 that you get, 48 00:01:14,833 --> 00:01:16,433 people's appraisal, 49 00:01:16,433 --> 00:01:17,233 What did you learn 50 00:01:17,233 --> 00:01:18,666 and how are things now 51 00:01:18,666 --> 00:01:21,100 in terms of my property taxes, 52 00:01:21,166 --> 00:01:22,333 the appraisal is too high. 53 00:01:22,333 --> 00:01:23,266 What do I do? 54 00:01:23,266 --> 00:01:23,833 Well, you know, 55 00:01:23,833 --> 00:01:24,200 obviously 56 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:25,033 the first thing you want to do 57 00:01:25,033 --> 00:01:25,733 is get to 58 00:01:25,733 --> 00:01:27,066 get your protest in on time, 59 00:01:27,066 --> 00:01:28,333 get your plan on time, 60 00:01:28,333 --> 00:01:29,600 May 15th, as a state 61 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:30,866 mandated deadline 62 00:01:30,866 --> 00:01:31,633 or 30 days 63 00:01:31,633 --> 00:01:32,200 after the date 64 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:33,300 that you receive the notice, 65 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:35,066 whichever is later. 66 00:01:35,066 --> 00:01:36,100 Probably the biggest thing 67 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:36,533 we learned 68 00:01:36,533 --> 00:01:36,766 coming 69 00:01:36,766 --> 00:01:37,866 out of the pandemic turned 70 00:01:37,866 --> 00:01:38,600 into a really big 71 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:39,600 convenience factor, 72 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:40,866 and that is offering 73 00:01:40,866 --> 00:01:42,766 virtual or telephonic 74 00:01:43,766 --> 00:01:46,000 and informal meetings 75 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,500 with our staff. 76 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:49,500 We had about 150,000 77 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:50,566 residential properties 78 00:01:50,566 --> 00:01:51,533 appeal last year. 79 00:01:51,533 --> 00:01:52,466 94% of 80 00:01:52,466 --> 00:01:53,733 those were settled 81 00:01:53,733 --> 00:01:55,500 using that process 82 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:56,466 and about the same number 83 00:01:56,466 --> 00:01:57,566 the year before. 84 00:01:57,566 --> 00:01:58,800 And so, you know, 85 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,166 we are carrying forward 86 00:02:00,166 --> 00:02:00,433 with that 87 00:02:00,433 --> 00:02:01,066 because we're able 88 00:02:01,066 --> 00:02:02,833 to help about 10 to 12000 89 00:02:02,833 --> 00:02:03,900 more people annually 90 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:04,733 because you don't 91 00:02:04,733 --> 00:02:06,166 have to take off work, 92 00:02:06,166 --> 00:02:07,433 you don't have to find someone 93 00:02:07,433 --> 00:02:08,300 to watch the kids, 94 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:08,866 you don't have to 95 00:02:08,866 --> 00:02:09,800 drive downtown, 96 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:11,133 you don't have to try to find. 97 00:02:11,133 --> 00:02:12,033 And now that's assuming 98 00:02:12,033 --> 00:02:14,400 you're going to protest 99 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,300 your property tax appraisal 100 00:02:16,300 --> 00:02:17,766 with the interest rates 101 00:02:17,766 --> 00:02:19,966 changing, with the real estate 102 00:02:19,966 --> 00:02:20,900 market changing, 103 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:22,233 what can people expect 104 00:02:22,233 --> 00:02:23,233 in their mailbox 105 00:02:23,233 --> 00:02:23,633 in terms 106 00:02:23,633 --> 00:02:24,533 of how 107 00:02:24,533 --> 00:02:25,800 their appraisal is going to be 108 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:26,666 or is anybody 109 00:02:26,666 --> 00:02:28,066 going down at all? 110 00:02:28,066 --> 00:02:29,666 Very few. 111 00:02:29,666 --> 00:02:30,033 I mean, 112 00:02:30,033 --> 00:02:31,733 the volume of sales is off. 113 00:02:31,733 --> 00:02:31,966 You know, 114 00:02:31,966 --> 00:02:32,533 we look at the 115 00:02:32,533 --> 00:02:33,166 real estate center 116 00:02:33,166 --> 00:02:35,566 at Texas A&M University for our 117 00:02:35,566 --> 00:02:37,266 big data, if you will. 118 00:02:37,266 --> 00:02:38,400 And so we look at different 119 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:39,366 regions of the state 120 00:02:39,366 --> 00:02:40,366 and especially San 121 00:02:40,366 --> 00:02:41,600 Antonio, and particularly 122 00:02:42,633 --> 00:02:44,833 when we look at those markets 123 00:02:44,833 --> 00:02:46,300 that volume of sales is up, 124 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:47,500 the number of sales is up, 125 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:48,433 but the sale prices 126 00:02:48,433 --> 00:02:49,366 are still going up 127 00:02:49,366 --> 00:02:50,133 year over year, 128 00:02:50,133 --> 00:02:51,233 month over month. 129 00:02:51,233 --> 00:02:53,966 For the last 36 months, 130 00:02:53,966 --> 00:02:55,833 we currently have about a 131 00:02:55,833 --> 00:02:56,800 three month 132 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:58,666 supply of housing stock. 133 00:02:58,666 --> 00:02:59,966 So the stock 134 00:02:59,966 --> 00:03:01,900 is still very tight 135 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:03,033 even though 136 00:03:03,033 --> 00:03:04,966 interest rates are up, 137 00:03:04,966 --> 00:03:06,166 people are still buying 138 00:03:06,166 --> 00:03:07,633 and moving to San Antonio. 139 00:03:07,633 --> 00:03:08,366 Now, in the past 140 00:03:08,366 --> 00:03:09,266 couple of years, people 141 00:03:09,266 --> 00:03:10,633 have just been hammered 142 00:03:10,633 --> 00:03:12,400 with the percentage 143 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,800 of the taxes going up. 144 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:14,366 How much is it 145 00:03:14,366 --> 00:03:15,666 going up this year 146 00:03:15,666 --> 00:03:16,900 given all of that? 147 00:03:16,900 --> 00:03:17,633 Sure. 148 00:03:17,666 --> 00:03:19,900 Last year went up roughly 28%. 149 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:20,933 Countywide market 150 00:03:20,933 --> 00:03:21,833 values are up 151 00:03:21,833 --> 00:03:23,833 15.8% countywide 152 00:03:23,833 --> 00:03:26,666 this year, 14.8 on residential. 153 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:28,600 The interesting thing is, 154 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,366 is when you look at the data 155 00:03:30,366 --> 00:03:31,033 and you look at all 156 00:03:31,033 --> 00:03:32,700 the major metros in Texas, San 157 00:03:32,700 --> 00:03:34,866 Antonio remains by far 158 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:35,900 the most affordable 159 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:36,866 of all of them. 160 00:03:36,866 --> 00:03:37,366 In fact, 161 00:03:37,366 --> 00:03:38,233 we were just rated 162 00:03:38,233 --> 00:03:39,266 by Smart Asset 163 00:03:39,266 --> 00:03:40,233 as being one of the 164 00:03:40,233 --> 00:03:40,566 I think 165 00:03:40,566 --> 00:03:41,433 we're the number nine 166 00:03:41,433 --> 00:03:43,166 in the nation large metro 167 00:03:43,166 --> 00:03:44,666 for home investment. 168 00:03:44,666 --> 00:03:45,900 So I should feel better 169 00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:47,466 if my appraisal goes up 170 00:03:47,466 --> 00:03:47,966 that much 171 00:03:47,966 --> 00:03:49,000 still that it's less 172 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:50,833 than maybe a comparable city 173 00:03:50,833 --> 00:03:51,933 doesn't make me feel too good. 174 00:03:51,933 --> 00:03:53,766 But when you go out 175 00:03:53,766 --> 00:03:54,766 and talk about 176 00:03:54,766 --> 00:03:55,466 helping people 177 00:03:55,466 --> 00:03:57,300 protest their taxes, 178 00:03:57,300 --> 00:03:58,433 they might wonder why? 179 00:03:58,433 --> 00:03:59,833 Why do I have to protest? 180 00:03:59,833 --> 00:04:03,033 Why aren't you guys doing, 181 00:04:03,033 --> 00:04:03,866 you know, 182 00:04:03,900 --> 00:04:05,600 keeping it lower to begin with? 183 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:06,300 Right. 184 00:04:06,466 --> 00:04:07,000 Well, by law, 185 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:07,666 we're required 186 00:04:07,666 --> 00:04:08,433 to be 187 00:04:08,433 --> 00:04:09,200 within a standard 188 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,033 margin of error, 189 00:04:10,033 --> 00:04:11,166 and that's very boring 190 00:04:11,166 --> 00:04:11,800 discussion. 191 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,933 But that's by and large, 192 00:04:13,933 --> 00:04:15,133 the reason we just passed 193 00:04:15,133 --> 00:04:16,100 the property values 194 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:17,433 study this last year done 195 00:04:17,433 --> 00:04:18,200 by the state 196 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:19,100 comptroller's office 197 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:20,800 and they do it biennially. 198 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,100 So that's reason number one. 199 00:04:23,833 --> 00:04:25,233 But as markets continue 200 00:04:25,233 --> 00:04:26,600 to go up and go down 201 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:27,566 like they did in 202 00:04:27,566 --> 00:04:29,866 oh nine and ten, our values 203 00:04:29,866 --> 00:04:30,866 follow that trend. 204 00:04:30,866 --> 00:04:31,800 So our job 205 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:32,866 isn't to set the market, 206 00:04:32,866 --> 00:04:34,233 our job is to 207 00:04:34,233 --> 00:04:35,133 follow the market. 208 00:04:35,133 --> 00:04:35,766 And your advice 209 00:04:35,766 --> 00:04:37,300 for people who are protesting. 210 00:04:37,300 --> 00:04:38,900 You know, we believe at Bay 211 00:04:38,900 --> 00:04:39,633 Appraisal District 212 00:04:39,633 --> 00:04:40,633 that property owners 213 00:04:40,633 --> 00:04:41,433 know their properties 214 00:04:41,433 --> 00:04:42,200 better than we do. 215 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:43,500 If there's something 216 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:44,466 about your home 217 00:04:44,466 --> 00:04:45,800 that makes it different 218 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:46,666 than the average home 219 00:04:46,666 --> 00:04:47,233 that's selling in 220 00:04:47,233 --> 00:04:47,800 your neighborhood, 221 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:48,766 and we are going to go down 222 00:04:48,766 --> 00:04:49,433 to the neighborhood 223 00:04:49,433 --> 00:04:51,966 level with you. 224 00:04:51,966 --> 00:04:52,866 We want to make sure 225 00:04:52,866 --> 00:04:54,033 that we have a conversation 226 00:04:54,033 --> 00:04:55,933 with you to try to help you 227 00:04:55,933 --> 00:04:56,533 get a better 228 00:04:56,533 --> 00:04:57,600 quality assessment, 229 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:58,500 get a more fair 230 00:04:58,500 --> 00:04:59,966 and equitable assessment. 231 00:04:59,966 --> 00:05:00,966 And the other way we can do 232 00:05:00,966 --> 00:05:01,600 that is for you 233 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,033 to help us understand 234 00:05:03,033 --> 00:05:04,066 what your issue maybe. 235 00:05:04,066 --> 00:05:05,400 And if you help 12,000 people, 236 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:06,333 if they might wonder, okay, 237 00:05:06,333 --> 00:05:08,400 how can you do that so quickly 238 00:05:08,833 --> 00:05:10,466 without me coming in? 239 00:05:10,466 --> 00:05:11,600 What's the process like? 240 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:12,500 How much time do I have 241 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:13,000 to spend? 242 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:14,533 The really cool thing is this. 243 00:05:14,533 --> 00:05:15,800 Nowadays, it's like setting up 244 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,133 your doctor's appointment. 245 00:05:17,133 --> 00:05:19,233 So once you get your appraisal 246 00:05:19,233 --> 00:05:20,166 notice and you file 247 00:05:20,166 --> 00:05:20,900 your protest, 248 00:05:20,900 --> 00:05:21,766 you're going to go online 249 00:05:21,766 --> 00:05:23,333 to our appointed system. 250 00:05:23,333 --> 00:05:24,166 You're going to pick a date 251 00:05:24,166 --> 00:05:24,700 and time 252 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:25,600 that you want my staff 253 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,400 to contact you by phone 254 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,266 or contact you by Zoom. 255 00:05:29,266 --> 00:05:30,800 Whatever your preference, 256 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:31,533 we'll be able to have 257 00:05:31,533 --> 00:05:32,633 an exchange of data. 258 00:05:32,633 --> 00:05:33,966 You'll see our data. 259 00:05:33,966 --> 00:05:35,866 We'll see your data 260 00:05:35,866 --> 00:05:37,300 94% of the time. 261 00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:38,500 That conversation leads 262 00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:39,700 to a reduction in value 263 00:05:39,700 --> 00:05:40,966 or a settled appeal. 264 00:05:40,966 --> 00:05:42,900 What data should I bring? 265 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:43,800 Well, again, 266 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,200 if you have structural issues 267 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:45,600 with your 268 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,133 with your home or if you have 269 00:05:48,133 --> 00:05:49,633 whatever condition issues 270 00:05:49,633 --> 00:05:51,033 with your home, 271 00:05:51,033 --> 00:05:52,700 any estimates that you have 272 00:05:52,700 --> 00:05:54,300 from a reputable firm 273 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,033 that gives you a dollar figure, 274 00:05:56,033 --> 00:05:57,366 that gives us the best data 275 00:05:57,366 --> 00:05:58,566 to hang our hat on. 276 00:05:58,566 --> 00:06:00,133 If you've recently refinanced 277 00:06:00,133 --> 00:06:01,300 like a lot of people have 278 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:02,533 and your value is lower 279 00:06:02,533 --> 00:06:04,000 than we have 280 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,066 indicated, that's good evidence 281 00:06:06,633 --> 00:06:07,366 if you've recently 282 00:06:07,366 --> 00:06:08,666 purchased it, obviously. 283 00:06:08,666 --> 00:06:09,733 And that seems 284 00:06:09,733 --> 00:06:10,800 maybe a little daunting 285 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:11,633 to get that information 286 00:06:11,633 --> 00:06:12,266 for some people. 287 00:06:12,266 --> 00:06:12,766 And so there are 288 00:06:12,766 --> 00:06:13,400 other companies 289 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:14,800 that promise to help you, 290 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:15,400 but you say 291 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:16,933 you really don't need those. 292 00:06:16,933 --> 00:06:18,900 If you can just do a little 293 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:19,800 research online. 294 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,233 I really don't like folks 295 00:06:21,233 --> 00:06:22,666 using data, 296 00:06:22,666 --> 00:06:24,300 using companies 297 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:25,800 to file their exemptions. 298 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:26,966 There are companies in town 299 00:06:26,966 --> 00:06:28,233 that do a good job representing 300 00:06:28,233 --> 00:06:30,433 tax payers on value issues, 301 00:06:30,433 --> 00:06:31,866 and I get that. 302 00:06:31,866 --> 00:06:32,700 But you're again 303 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:33,266 giving away 304 00:06:33,266 --> 00:06:34,633 part of your tax savings 305 00:06:34,633 --> 00:06:36,066 by paying someone to do. 306 00:06:37,933 --> 00:06:39,033 To do that work for you. 307 00:06:39,033 --> 00:06:39,300 Okay. 308 00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:41,000 So if people want to file 309 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:41,400 an appeal, 310 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:42,200 they get it in the mail 311 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:42,566 this week. 312 00:06:42,566 --> 00:06:44,766 Can you go to what Bear Dawgs? 313 00:06:44,766 --> 00:06:48,666 It's w w w dot BCD, dot or BCD. 314 00:06:48,666 --> 00:06:50,333 And so 315 00:06:50,333 --> 00:06:51,233 the most important thing, 316 00:06:51,233 --> 00:06:53,233 Randy, besides that 317 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:54,500 protest deadline 318 00:06:54,500 --> 00:06:55,066 or appeal 319 00:06:55,066 --> 00:06:55,800 deadline 320 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,533 is when you sign that document 321 00:06:57,533 --> 00:06:59,000 and you file your appeal, 322 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,200 there's a little red box. 323 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,333 We want you to check that 324 00:07:01,333 --> 00:07:02,400 that authorizes me 325 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,100 to give you all of our data 326 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:05,633 in advance of your hearing. 327 00:07:05,633 --> 00:07:06,733 That's what helps 328 00:07:06,733 --> 00:07:07,933 move this process along. 329 00:07:07,933 --> 00:07:08,666 Well, thank you very much, 330 00:07:08,666 --> 00:07:09,533 Michael Amezquita, 331 00:07:09,533 --> 00:07:10,733 who is the chief 332 00:07:10,733 --> 00:07:12,500 appraiser here in Bear County. 333 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:13,400 Thank you so much 334 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:14,433 for coming in. 335 00:07:14,433 --> 00:07:18,466 Appreciate it. 336 00:07:18,466 --> 00:07:19,533 You may have heard about 337 00:07:19,533 --> 00:07:20,233 some of the growth 338 00:07:20,233 --> 00:07:21,366 issues in Boerne 339 00:07:21,366 --> 00:07:22,766 and about a couple of plans 340 00:07:22,766 --> 00:07:24,133 for transportation 341 00:07:24,133 --> 00:07:24,866 there that have drawn 342 00:07:24,866 --> 00:07:26,333 a lot more people 343 00:07:26,333 --> 00:07:27,533 to the city council meetings 344 00:07:27,533 --> 00:07:27,966 than usual, 345 00:07:27,966 --> 00:07:29,466 a little more controversy 346 00:07:29,466 --> 00:07:30,666 than we would expect in a 347 00:07:30,666 --> 00:07:32,266 small town like Burnie. 348 00:07:32,266 --> 00:07:33,166 Joining us to talk about 349 00:07:33,166 --> 00:07:34,466 that is communications 350 00:07:34,466 --> 00:07:35,866 director for the City, 351 00:07:35,866 --> 00:07:36,833 Chris Shadrach. 352 00:07:36,833 --> 00:07:37,466 Thank you very much 353 00:07:37,466 --> 00:07:38,766 for coming in. Glad to be here. 354 00:07:38,766 --> 00:07:39,633 We talked about this 355 00:07:39,633 --> 00:07:40,933 last week on the show. 356 00:07:40,933 --> 00:07:42,700 There is a mobility master plan 357 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:43,700 which is separate. 358 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:44,800 That's a city plan. 359 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,000 And then the thoroughfare 360 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:47,866 master plan. 361 00:07:47,866 --> 00:07:49,266 A lot of people were out 362 00:07:49,266 --> 00:07:49,833 wondering 363 00:07:49,833 --> 00:07:50,533 what it's going to mean 364 00:07:50,533 --> 00:07:51,033 for them. 365 00:07:51,033 --> 00:07:51,266 Is there 366 00:07:51,266 --> 00:07:52,366 going to be eminent domain 367 00:07:52,366 --> 00:07:53,133 this in that town? 368 00:07:53,133 --> 00:07:53,666 First of all, 369 00:07:53,666 --> 00:07:54,900 what's the difference 370 00:07:54,900 --> 00:07:56,566 in these two plans? 371 00:07:56,566 --> 00:07:57,133 One approved 372 00:07:57,133 --> 00:07:57,833 last week, one 373 00:07:57,833 --> 00:07:58,766 that will be approved 374 00:07:58,766 --> 00:08:00,300 or is going to be talked 375 00:08:00,300 --> 00:08:01,566 about next week? Correct. 376 00:08:01,566 --> 00:08:02,900 So the mobility plan 377 00:08:02,900 --> 00:08:03,933 that was approved 378 00:08:03,933 --> 00:08:05,333 last week really focuses 379 00:08:05,333 --> 00:08:05,733 on, again, 380 00:08:05,733 --> 00:08:07,166 our existing intersections, 381 00:08:07,166 --> 00:08:09,233 our existing mobility 382 00:08:09,233 --> 00:08:09,966 connectivity 383 00:08:09,966 --> 00:08:11,200 within the city of Burnie. 384 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:12,700 So the worst 385 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:13,533 intersection in town 386 00:08:13,533 --> 00:08:14,800 is half in River Road. 387 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:15,766 What does the future 388 00:08:15,766 --> 00:08:16,733 of that intersection 389 00:08:16,733 --> 00:08:17,433 need to look like 390 00:08:17,433 --> 00:08:18,866 to get folks from point A 391 00:08:18,866 --> 00:08:19,433 to point B 392 00:08:19,433 --> 00:08:20,600 without that choke point 393 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,333 being so terrible 394 00:08:22,333 --> 00:08:24,033 as it is today? 395 00:08:24,033 --> 00:08:24,900 The Thoroughfare 396 00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:27,200 plan is a wider planning tool, 397 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,566 if you will, and it's 398 00:08:28,566 --> 00:08:29,600 kind of got the caveats 399 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:30,100 of what it is 400 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:31,333 and what it also is not. 401 00:08:31,333 --> 00:08:32,633 So the planning tool 402 00:08:32,633 --> 00:08:33,866 that is thoroughfare 403 00:08:33,866 --> 00:08:35,300 plan is if 404 00:08:35,300 --> 00:08:37,066 future growth develops, the 405 00:08:37,066 --> 00:08:38,266 the city is able to 406 00:08:38,266 --> 00:08:39,733 track and say, okay, 407 00:08:39,733 --> 00:08:40,800 it makes sense to make sure 408 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:41,800 that there's connectivity 409 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:43,833 between point A and point B. 410 00:08:43,833 --> 00:08:45,100 This is thoroughfare of meeting 411 00:08:45,100 --> 00:08:46,800 outside the city limits 412 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:47,900 and not necessarily 413 00:08:47,900 --> 00:08:48,633 you think thoroughfare. 414 00:08:48,633 --> 00:08:49,533 You may think highway, 415 00:08:49,533 --> 00:08:50,833 you think parkway. 416 00:08:50,833 --> 00:08:52,100 What are you looking at 417 00:08:52,100 --> 00:08:52,633 in that area? 418 00:08:52,633 --> 00:08:53,966 So these are definitely not 419 00:08:53,966 --> 00:08:54,400 this is not 420 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:55,400 a planning tool for text 421 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,000 or text that builds highways. 422 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:58,466 The city builds roads 423 00:08:58,466 --> 00:08:59,466 that we drive on every day. 424 00:08:59,466 --> 00:09:01,500 So it could be a two lane road 425 00:09:01,500 --> 00:09:03,600 with sidewalks and bike lanes. 426 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,700 It could be more of a parkway 427 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:06,333 that we have, 428 00:09:06,333 --> 00:09:07,966 which is currently half road. 429 00:09:07,966 --> 00:09:09,300 That was once on the third plan 430 00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:10,833 that has now been upgraded 431 00:09:10,833 --> 00:09:12,500 to a four lane road 432 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:13,600 with a grassy median 433 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:14,566 sidewalks and bike lanes. 434 00:09:14,566 --> 00:09:15,266 Now we talk about 435 00:09:15,266 --> 00:09:16,366 the extraterritorial 436 00:09:16,366 --> 00:09:17,000 jurisdiction 437 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:18,033 and we hadn't heard about that 438 00:09:18,033 --> 00:09:19,733 in a long time, but it's areas 439 00:09:19,733 --> 00:09:20,966 that could be annexed 440 00:09:20,966 --> 00:09:21,733 by the city 441 00:09:21,733 --> 00:09:23,833 or may no longer be annexed. 442 00:09:23,833 --> 00:09:25,166 So they could 443 00:09:25,166 --> 00:09:26,200 still be annexed by the city 444 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:27,033 if the property 445 00:09:27,033 --> 00:09:28,566 owner requests it. 446 00:09:28,566 --> 00:09:29,633 That is by function 447 00:09:29,633 --> 00:09:30,133 of state law. 448 00:09:30,133 --> 00:09:32,366 Now, that changed in 2019. 449 00:09:32,366 --> 00:09:34,500 And so in the East, 450 00:09:34,500 --> 00:09:35,133 we also have the 451 00:09:35,133 --> 00:09:36,066 Interlocal agreement, 452 00:09:36,066 --> 00:09:36,666 which is 453 00:09:36,666 --> 00:09:37,600 basically an agreement 454 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,000 between the City of Burning 455 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,433 and Kendall County on 456 00:09:40,433 --> 00:09:41,566 how to best kind of 457 00:09:41,566 --> 00:09:43,166 plan for this land. 458 00:09:43,166 --> 00:09:44,066 And knowing 459 00:09:44,066 --> 00:09:45,666 that future development 460 00:09:45,666 --> 00:09:47,066 is likely to occur, 461 00:09:47,066 --> 00:09:48,033 What needs to occur 462 00:09:48,033 --> 00:09:49,300 in that area. 463 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:50,633 People wonder with Texas 464 00:09:50,633 --> 00:09:51,666 law is especially 465 00:09:51,666 --> 00:09:52,333 I have the right 466 00:09:52,333 --> 00:09:53,066 to do what I want 467 00:09:53,066 --> 00:09:54,433 with on my property. 468 00:09:54,433 --> 00:09:56,700 You can't come in and say 469 00:09:56,700 --> 00:09:58,000 take my land for a road. 470 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,033 Is that being looked 471 00:09:59,033 --> 00:10:00,166 at in this thoroughfare 472 00:10:00,166 --> 00:10:01,766 plan or no? 473 00:10:01,766 --> 00:10:02,566 And simply put, 474 00:10:02,566 --> 00:10:03,800 in the last 49 years 475 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:04,500 that the city has had 476 00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:06,233 a thoroughfare plan in place, 477 00:10:06,233 --> 00:10:07,833 we've never once had to utilize 478 00:10:07,833 --> 00:10:09,833 eminent domain to go take land. 479 00:10:09,833 --> 00:10:10,333 And that's 480 00:10:10,333 --> 00:10:11,466 that's not the function 481 00:10:11,466 --> 00:10:13,100 of this planning document. 482 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:13,966 This is 483 00:10:13,966 --> 00:10:15,466 if a private property 484 00:10:15,466 --> 00:10:16,366 owner sells their land, 485 00:10:16,366 --> 00:10:17,100 which they have the right 486 00:10:17,100 --> 00:10:18,166 to do, 487 00:10:18,433 --> 00:10:19,733 and a developer comes in 488 00:10:19,733 --> 00:10:20,100 and says, 489 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:20,700 I want to now 490 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:22,033 develop this land, 491 00:10:22,033 --> 00:10:23,333 we have some tools in place 492 00:10:23,333 --> 00:10:24,666 that says, Hey, 493 00:10:24,666 --> 00:10:26,333 thinking of the general 494 00:10:26,333 --> 00:10:27,433 good of the community 495 00:10:27,433 --> 00:10:28,566 in terms of connectivity 496 00:10:28,566 --> 00:10:29,500 and mobility, 497 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:30,333 these are some of the things 498 00:10:30,333 --> 00:10:31,300 that we need to see. 499 00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:32,333 So that way 500 00:10:32,333 --> 00:10:33,733 it can be the best development. 501 00:10:33,733 --> 00:10:34,300 You need to see 502 00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:35,333 from the developer meeting 503 00:10:35,333 --> 00:10:37,166 what would they have to do or 504 00:10:37,166 --> 00:10:38,500 where does the money come from 505 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:39,700 to expand the road in that. 506 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:41,433 Area. So exactly that. 507 00:10:41,433 --> 00:10:42,200 So they have to either 508 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:42,666 set aside 509 00:10:42,666 --> 00:10:44,666 right of way for a future road 510 00:10:44,866 --> 00:10:45,866 or they have to build a road 511 00:10:45,866 --> 00:10:46,366 in the sidewalk, 512 00:10:46,366 --> 00:10:46,966 in the bike lanes 513 00:10:46,966 --> 00:10:48,533 that we need per 514 00:10:48,533 --> 00:10:50,200 our mobility plan. 515 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:51,966 So what this plan does is 516 00:10:51,966 --> 00:10:52,933 it has different 517 00:10:52,933 --> 00:10:54,866 areas of town, different roads. 518 00:10:54,866 --> 00:10:55,600 And in some areas 519 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:56,766 we're saying, hey, 520 00:10:56,766 --> 00:10:57,766 a two lane road 521 00:10:57,766 --> 00:10:59,133 with sidewalks and bike lanes 522 00:10:59,133 --> 00:10:59,700 is exactly 523 00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:01,100 what this area needs. 524 00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:02,900 But if there's a larger area 525 00:11:02,900 --> 00:11:03,800 that we're trying to connect, 526 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,333 it might make sense to have 527 00:11:05,333 --> 00:11:06,466 where down the road 528 00:11:06,466 --> 00:11:07,700 there could be four lanes 529 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:08,333 again, two lanes 530 00:11:08,333 --> 00:11:09,600 in each direction. 531 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:10,166 So that way 532 00:11:10,166 --> 00:11:11,000 there's better flow 533 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:12,500 and connectivity. 534 00:11:12,500 --> 00:11:13,033 Speaking of that, 535 00:11:13,033 --> 00:11:13,833 what you're talking about 536 00:11:13,833 --> 00:11:14,666 and people have talked 537 00:11:14,666 --> 00:11:16,700 about a loop around Berney 538 00:11:16,700 --> 00:11:18,833 thinking that means a highway. 539 00:11:18,833 --> 00:11:20,400 How far away are you from 540 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:21,100 some kind of loop 541 00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:21,533 and what's it going 542 00:11:21,533 --> 00:11:22,433 to look like. 543 00:11:22,566 --> 00:11:24,000 That is. 544 00:11:24,033 --> 00:11:24,966 Is that a. Misconception? 545 00:11:24,966 --> 00:11:26,366 That is a huge misconception. 546 00:11:26,366 --> 00:11:27,033 And if I had to be 547 00:11:27,033 --> 00:11:27,866 a betting man, 548 00:11:27,866 --> 00:11:29,733 not in my lifetime, really. 549 00:11:29,733 --> 00:11:31,766 I there is such opposition 550 00:11:31,766 --> 00:11:32,766 to that 551 00:11:32,766 --> 00:11:34,600 because of what Gateway did 552 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:36,666 that it would be very hard 553 00:11:36,666 --> 00:11:38,400 pressed to see 554 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:39,800 any type of agreement 555 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:40,566 between the city 556 00:11:40,566 --> 00:11:41,466 and the county and Tex 557 00:11:41,466 --> 00:11:41,966 not to come in 558 00:11:41,966 --> 00:11:42,933 and do something like that 559 00:11:42,933 --> 00:11:44,066 because all of those entities 560 00:11:44,066 --> 00:11:45,466 would need to be aligned 561 00:11:45,466 --> 00:11:46,700 to have that occur. 562 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:47,633 What do you tell people 563 00:11:47,633 --> 00:11:49,733 who are concerned? 564 00:11:49,733 --> 00:11:50,433 You know 565 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:52,066 that there is so much growth 566 00:11:52,066 --> 00:11:53,200 in Burnie 567 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:54,166 that there needs 568 00:11:54,166 --> 00:11:56,566 to be some expansion of roads, 569 00:11:56,866 --> 00:11:58,433 whether it's with Tech Start, 570 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:00,366 Should there be an 571 00:12:00,366 --> 00:12:02,100 expansion of 46, 572 00:12:02,100 --> 00:12:03,733 that kind of thing. 573 00:12:03,733 --> 00:12:04,900 We've seen some of the changes 574 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:06,500 in San Antonio have taken place 575 00:12:06,500 --> 00:12:07,566 over 20, 30 years. 576 00:12:07,566 --> 00:12:08,333 But what do you tell 577 00:12:08,333 --> 00:12:09,800 people who are concerned 578 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:10,433 that's going to mess 579 00:12:10,433 --> 00:12:11,300 with my land 580 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:13,600 and my kind of living? 581 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:14,900 It's out in a rural area. 582 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:15,633 I've lived here for years. 583 00:12:15,633 --> 00:12:16,233 You're going to change 584 00:12:16,233 --> 00:12:17,300 my whole lifestyle. 585 00:12:17,300 --> 00:12:18,766 So I think I would say 586 00:12:18,766 --> 00:12:20,066 let's look at again 587 00:12:20,066 --> 00:12:21,533 what the totality of this plan 588 00:12:21,533 --> 00:12:23,333 has been for over five decades. 589 00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:25,466 And we had a lot of residents 590 00:12:25,466 --> 00:12:26,466 20, 30 years ago 591 00:12:26,466 --> 00:12:27,466 say the same thing. 592 00:12:27,466 --> 00:12:28,400 And since then, more 593 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,200 than a dozen roads 594 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:31,633 and connectivity 595 00:12:31,633 --> 00:12:32,833 right of way dedications 596 00:12:32,833 --> 00:12:35,166 have been set aside 597 00:12:35,166 --> 00:12:35,866 from property 598 00:12:35,866 --> 00:12:36,933 that has since been developed. 599 00:12:36,933 --> 00:12:38,200 And a lot of those folks 600 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:38,866 would have said, 601 00:12:38,866 --> 00:12:39,566 I'll never sell 602 00:12:39,566 --> 00:12:40,133 my land, 603 00:12:40,133 --> 00:12:41,733 I'll never develop my land, 604 00:12:41,733 --> 00:12:43,200 but inevitably 605 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:44,400 that ownership changes hands. 606 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,233 So this is the planning tool 607 00:12:46,233 --> 00:12:47,333 that we have made available 608 00:12:47,333 --> 00:12:48,866 to us by the state 609 00:12:48,866 --> 00:12:49,966 to be able to plan for that. 610 00:12:49,966 --> 00:12:51,466 And again, if nothing happens, 611 00:12:51,466 --> 00:12:52,100 nothing happens. 612 00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:52,566 There's currently 613 00:12:52,566 --> 00:12:53,300 a road right now 614 00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:55,700 where it literally dead ends, 615 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:58,200 and part of it was built 616 00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:58,900 by the developer 617 00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:00,233 who developed a piece of land. 618 00:13:00,233 --> 00:13:00,966 But it stops at 619 00:13:00,966 --> 00:13:01,633 the property line 620 00:13:01,633 --> 00:13:03,466 because that next piece of land 621 00:13:03,466 --> 00:13:04,333 hasn't developed. 622 00:13:04,333 --> 00:13:06,466 So it's not 623 00:13:06,466 --> 00:13:07,700 in literally dead ends. 624 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:08,966 Is it expected to be developed, 625 00:13:08,966 --> 00:13:09,733 do you think? I mean. 626 00:13:09,733 --> 00:13:11,600 If it can be, we do anticipate 627 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,600 it will be in front Highway 46. 628 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:14,466 But again, 629 00:13:14,466 --> 00:13:15,333 because there's now 630 00:13:15,333 --> 00:13:16,900 a line on that map 631 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:17,666 that developer 632 00:13:17,666 --> 00:13:18,500 would be responsible 633 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:19,433 for connecting the road. 634 00:13:19,433 --> 00:13:19,733 All right. 635 00:13:19,733 --> 00:13:20,433 Well, thanks very much. 636 00:13:20,433 --> 00:13:20,766 And again, 637 00:13:20,766 --> 00:13:21,166 April 638 00:13:21,166 --> 00:13:22,500 11th is the next meeting there 639 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:22,933 in Burnie 640 00:13:22,933 --> 00:13:25,133 about the thoroughfare plan, 641 00:13:25,133 --> 00:13:26,366 not a highway plan 642 00:13:26,366 --> 00:13:28,100 and not the inside 643 00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:29,033 the city plan. 644 00:13:29,033 --> 00:13:29,400 Well, thanks 645 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:30,600 very much for clearing up 646 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:31,166 some of that. 647 00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:32,000 Chris Shadrack, 648 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,400 communications director, city 649 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:34,133 of Burnie, thanks. 650 00:13:34,133 --> 00:13:36,433 Thank you. 651 00:13:38,233 --> 00:13:39,166 The problem of stray 652 00:13:39,166 --> 00:13:41,033 animals and dangerous animals 653 00:13:41,033 --> 00:13:41,366 in San 654 00:13:41,366 --> 00:13:42,366 Antonio has been in the news 655 00:13:42,366 --> 00:13:43,100 a lot recently 656 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:44,300 after the death of a man 657 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:46,500 mauled to death by a dogs here. 658 00:13:46,866 --> 00:13:48,333 But the Animal Care Services 659 00:13:48,333 --> 00:13:49,466 Department has been 660 00:13:49,466 --> 00:13:50,500 in the process 661 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:53,733 of updating its policies 662 00:13:53,733 --> 00:13:55,400 or plans and a budget 663 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:56,533 which they're working on right 664 00:13:56,533 --> 00:13:57,133 now, getting a 665 00:13:57,133 --> 00:13:58,466 lot more publicity 666 00:13:58,466 --> 00:13:59,333 and maybe some pressure 667 00:13:59,333 --> 00:13:59,666 on that. 668 00:13:59,666 --> 00:14:00,600 Joining us to talk about 669 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:01,766 that is Shannon Sims, 670 00:14:01,766 --> 00:14:02,633 the director of Animal 671 00:14:02,633 --> 00:14:03,633 Care Services. 672 00:14:03,633 --> 00:14:05,033 Thanks very much for coming in. 673 00:14:05,033 --> 00:14:05,800 Thank you for having me. 674 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,600 First of all, after this 675 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:08,400 dog attack 676 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:09,033 and the mauling 677 00:14:09,033 --> 00:14:10,966 that got all the news, 678 00:14:10,966 --> 00:14:12,133 what are some of the changes 679 00:14:12,133 --> 00:14:13,533 that you put in place? 680 00:14:13,533 --> 00:14:13,733 Yeah. 681 00:14:13,733 --> 00:14:15,333 So we went into a phase 682 00:14:15,333 --> 00:14:16,200 of immediate action 683 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:16,666 to kind of 684 00:14:16,666 --> 00:14:19,000 reallocate resources. 685 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,033 One of the key things 686 00:14:20,033 --> 00:14:21,200 that we did from a policy 687 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,000 standpoint was we elevated 688 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:24,800 bites 689 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:25,833 any time that an animal's 690 00:14:25,833 --> 00:14:26,533 free of restraint 691 00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:27,600 in its involved in a bite. 692 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:28,666 Now, whether it's mild, 693 00:14:28,666 --> 00:14:30,766 moderate or severe bite. 694 00:14:30,766 --> 00:14:32,066 Previously, 695 00:14:32,066 --> 00:14:33,433 officers had discretion 696 00:14:33,433 --> 00:14:34,533 to be able to write a civil 697 00:14:34,533 --> 00:14:36,433 or criminal citation. 698 00:14:36,433 --> 00:14:37,266 We're now mandating 699 00:14:37,266 --> 00:14:38,200 that all free 700 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,666 of restraint bites 701 00:14:39,666 --> 00:14:40,866 animals off their property 702 00:14:40,866 --> 00:14:42,133 at the time 703 00:14:42,166 --> 00:14:44,000 or criminal citations. 704 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,333 And that is important 705 00:14:45,333 --> 00:14:46,333 because in this case, 706 00:14:46,333 --> 00:14:47,200 there had been reports 707 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,500 of dog bites in the past. 708 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:48,833 Yes. 709 00:14:48,833 --> 00:14:49,966 And I don't want to say 710 00:14:49,966 --> 00:14:50,800 nothing had changed, 711 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,533 but nothing had come out of it. 712 00:14:52,533 --> 00:14:53,233 That's correct. 713 00:14:53,233 --> 00:14:54,566 And one of the other things 714 00:14:54,566 --> 00:14:54,966 that we did 715 00:14:54,966 --> 00:14:56,033 to try to identify 716 00:14:56,033 --> 00:14:56,766 potential sites 717 00:14:56,766 --> 00:14:58,200 like Depot where we know there 718 00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,066 are problems 719 00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:00,766 just kind of 720 00:15:00,766 --> 00:15:02,366 globally at that 721 00:15:02,366 --> 00:15:04,533 originating from that address. 722 00:15:04,533 --> 00:15:05,200 The city is 723 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:05,733 actually going to 724 00:15:05,733 --> 00:15:09,066 be briefing today a new program 725 00:15:09,066 --> 00:15:09,433 called the Good 726 00:15:09,433 --> 00:15:11,433 Neighbor Program, where CPD, 727 00:15:12,233 --> 00:15:13,000 DSD Code 728 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,333 Compliance, neighborhood 729 00:15:15,333 --> 00:15:17,533 Services, Access. 730 00:15:17,533 --> 00:15:18,433 All of our data 731 00:15:18,433 --> 00:15:19,900 is being brought together 732 00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:20,566 to try to 733 00:15:20,566 --> 00:15:22,633 identify these homes early 734 00:15:22,633 --> 00:15:23,833 so that we can take action 735 00:15:23,833 --> 00:15:24,166 early. 736 00:15:24,166 --> 00:15:26,133 In the hiring of animal 737 00:15:26,133 --> 00:15:27,366 care services. 738 00:15:27,366 --> 00:15:27,900 People 739 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:29,666 and particularly people 740 00:15:29,666 --> 00:15:30,366 are on patrol. 741 00:15:30,366 --> 00:15:31,233 Where are you in that? 742 00:15:31,233 --> 00:15:31,466 You say 743 00:15:31,466 --> 00:15:32,900 we're going to be staffing up 744 00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:34,533 some training academies. 745 00:15:34,533 --> 00:15:34,800 Yes. 746 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:35,366 So right now 747 00:15:35,366 --> 00:15:36,033 we've been authorized 748 00:15:36,033 --> 00:15:37,666 to do some over hiring, 749 00:15:37,666 --> 00:15:38,666 which is going to allow us 750 00:15:38,666 --> 00:15:39,266 we know. 751 00:15:39,266 --> 00:15:39,800 What does that mean 752 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:40,966 when you say hiring people 753 00:15:40,966 --> 00:15:41,633 get nervous. 754 00:15:41,633 --> 00:15:42,500 That's my tax money. 755 00:15:42,500 --> 00:15:44,466 So we know that it takes us 756 00:15:44,466 --> 00:15:45,633 about 3 to 4 months 757 00:15:45,633 --> 00:15:46,400 to get an officer 758 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:47,300 completely trained 759 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:48,900 and ready for the field. 760 00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:49,400 Obviously, 761 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:50,566 we're leaning forward 762 00:15:50,566 --> 00:15:52,200 for the fiscal year 24 budget, 763 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:53,033 which is an approved 764 00:15:53,033 --> 00:15:54,433 until October 765 00:15:54,433 --> 00:15:55,833 to go ahead and get those folks 766 00:15:55,833 --> 00:15:57,000 as apprentices right 767 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:57,766 now, temp 768 00:15:57,766 --> 00:15:59,500 employees into the training 769 00:15:59,500 --> 00:15:59,866 track, 770 00:15:59,866 --> 00:16:01,800 get them through that training 771 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:02,800 so that as those 772 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:03,500 those positions 773 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:05,100 become formalized, 774 00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:06,266 we've got ready 775 00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:07,733 readily trained individuals 776 00:16:07,733 --> 00:16:08,700 to slide right in there 777 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:09,366 and be active. 778 00:16:09,366 --> 00:16:10,866 Day one How important is that? 779 00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:12,300 Because in the past 780 00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:12,900 some say I don't know 781 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:13,800 how many years, decade 782 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,300 you haven't increased in terms 783 00:16:15,300 --> 00:16:16,766 of the number of officers 784 00:16:16,766 --> 00:16:18,100 compared to the increase 785 00:16:18,100 --> 00:16:19,866 in population. Correct. 786 00:16:19,866 --> 00:16:20,900 We've you know, 787 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,833 we have added once again 788 00:16:22,833 --> 00:16:25,200 to the officers, but nothing 789 00:16:26,033 --> 00:16:26,933 nothing even close 790 00:16:26,933 --> 00:16:28,233 to the capacity 791 00:16:28,233 --> 00:16:29,233 as far as how quickly 792 00:16:29,233 --> 00:16:29,833 San Antonio 793 00:16:29,833 --> 00:16:31,333 has grown over the last decade. 794 00:16:31,333 --> 00:16:32,066 And so this has 795 00:16:32,066 --> 00:16:32,733 been in the works, 796 00:16:32,733 --> 00:16:33,366 some of the budget 797 00:16:33,366 --> 00:16:35,200 planning for long 798 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,533 before this incident, right? 799 00:16:37,533 --> 00:16:38,200 Yeah. 800 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:39,100 One of the first things 801 00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:39,566 that I did 802 00:16:39,566 --> 00:16:40,233 when I took over 803 00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:41,000 as director, actually 804 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,600 with the first formal action 805 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:43,066 that I took 806 00:16:43,066 --> 00:16:45,433 was put ourself on the 807 00:16:45,433 --> 00:16:46,100 in the budget 808 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:47,500 with no funding associated 809 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:47,933 and said 810 00:16:47,933 --> 00:16:48,900 we're going to redevelop 811 00:16:48,900 --> 00:16:50,366 our strategic plan. 812 00:16:50,366 --> 00:16:51,233 And the intent of that 813 00:16:51,233 --> 00:16:52,900 is to identify weaknesses 814 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:53,900 that we know we have. 815 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:55,466 Do the formal 816 00:16:55,466 --> 00:16:56,166 research, 817 00:16:56,166 --> 00:16:57,200 find out from the community 818 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:58,400 what is their expectation 819 00:16:58,400 --> 00:16:59,700 and things like that. 820 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:00,800 So for the last year, 821 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:01,766 we've been bringing all that 822 00:17:01,766 --> 00:17:02,666 information together. 823 00:17:02,666 --> 00:17:04,266 Best practice research. 824 00:17:04,266 --> 00:17:06,500 What does council want? 825 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:08,366 What does the citizens want? 826 00:17:08,366 --> 00:17:09,333 Bringing that all together 827 00:17:09,333 --> 00:17:11,933 to to to build a ten year plan 828 00:17:12,066 --> 00:17:12,666 that tells us 829 00:17:12,666 --> 00:17:13,266 where do we need to 830 00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:14,833 be from a capacity standpoint 831 00:17:14,833 --> 00:17:16,033 for buildings 832 00:17:16,033 --> 00:17:17,166 as well as where we need to be 833 00:17:17,166 --> 00:17:19,233 at a capacity standpoint for 834 00:17:19,233 --> 00:17:20,700 officers live release 835 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:22,600 staff, animals. 836 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:23,633 Capacity for animals 837 00:17:23,633 --> 00:17:24,900 really hasn't changed in a lot. 838 00:17:24,900 --> 00:17:26,666 The strains that you take in 839 00:17:26,666 --> 00:17:27,366 per year, 840 00:17:27,366 --> 00:17:29,033 you're kind of stuck right now. 841 00:17:29,033 --> 00:17:30,400 Is that going to change? 842 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,700 That is that is part of the 843 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:32,700 the capital improvements 844 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:33,500 that we're proposing 845 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:35,666 is to expand our kennel space. 846 00:17:35,666 --> 00:17:37,633 When AX was built, 847 00:17:37,633 --> 00:17:38,500 the current campus 848 00:17:38,500 --> 00:17:40,566 back in 2007, 849 00:17:40,566 --> 00:17:41,466 since then, 850 00:17:41,466 --> 00:17:42,966 we have not added any 851 00:17:42,966 --> 00:17:44,533 any actual capacity 852 00:17:44,533 --> 00:17:45,700 to the kennels. 853 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:47,033 And so what we're seeking to do 854 00:17:47,033 --> 00:17:48,066 is try to grow 855 00:17:48,066 --> 00:17:48,800 that capacity 856 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:49,866 over the next several years 857 00:17:49,866 --> 00:17:50,333 through kennel 858 00:17:50,333 --> 00:17:52,200 space to be able to facilitate 859 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,066 and bring more animals in 860 00:17:54,066 --> 00:17:55,266 while at the same time 861 00:17:55,266 --> 00:17:57,033 enhancing our enforcement, 862 00:17:57,033 --> 00:17:57,800 our live release 863 00:17:57,800 --> 00:17:58,633 staff, all of that 864 00:17:58,633 --> 00:17:59,300 so we can push 865 00:17:59,300 --> 00:18:00,166 the whole initiative 866 00:18:00,166 --> 00:18:01,533 forward, maintain 867 00:18:01,533 --> 00:18:03,033 a strong live release rate, 868 00:18:03,033 --> 00:18:03,833 but also provide 869 00:18:03,833 --> 00:18:04,466 additional public 870 00:18:04,466 --> 00:18:05,466 safety in the community. 871 00:18:05,466 --> 00:18:06,200 You said there's also 872 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:07,533 some legislation right now 873 00:18:07,533 --> 00:18:08,266 in Austin 874 00:18:08,266 --> 00:18:09,166 that would change 875 00:18:09,166 --> 00:18:10,900 some of how you deal 876 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:12,766 with complaints. 877 00:18:12,766 --> 00:18:14,100 People might be hesitant 878 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:14,800 to complain 879 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:15,700 about a neighbor's 880 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:16,833 animal, as we saw 881 00:18:16,833 --> 00:18:18,600 in this case, sir, 882 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,333 but that could change in terms 883 00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:21,533 of how that's dealt with. 884 00:18:21,533 --> 00:18:22,433 What would that do? 885 00:18:22,433 --> 00:18:22,700 Yeah. 886 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:23,933 Right now, in legislation, 887 00:18:23,933 --> 00:18:24,966 there are a couple of bills 888 00:18:24,966 --> 00:18:26,366 being proposed, 889 00:18:26,366 --> 00:18:27,366 one by Representative 890 00:18:27,366 --> 00:18:28,566 Luis Campos 891 00:18:28,566 --> 00:18:30,933 and one by Senator Menendez 892 00:18:30,933 --> 00:18:33,266 to actually provide 893 00:18:33,266 --> 00:18:34,633 some protection 894 00:18:34,633 --> 00:18:37,133 as a form of anonymity 895 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:38,833 for the individuals 896 00:18:38,833 --> 00:18:39,433 that are filling out 897 00:18:39,433 --> 00:18:40,500 these affidavits. 898 00:18:40,500 --> 00:18:41,400 We do still need 899 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,166 that sworn statement, 900 00:18:43,166 --> 00:18:44,266 but these would provide 901 00:18:44,266 --> 00:18:44,966 some protection 902 00:18:44,966 --> 00:18:46,366 and they would provide 903 00:18:46,366 --> 00:18:47,633 the animal care authority 904 00:18:47,633 --> 00:18:48,366 in all these 905 00:18:48,366 --> 00:18:49,333 different jurisdictions 906 00:18:49,333 --> 00:18:50,533 to also have a little bit 907 00:18:50,533 --> 00:18:51,933 more capability 908 00:18:51,933 --> 00:18:53,233 to initiate a dangerous 909 00:18:53,233 --> 00:18:54,433 dog investigation. 910 00:18:55,466 --> 00:18:56,233 Easier than we 911 00:18:56,233 --> 00:18:57,100 can right now, because. 912 00:18:57,100 --> 00:18:57,466 Right now, 913 00:18:57,466 --> 00:18:59,333 if somebody complains, 914 00:18:59,333 --> 00:19:01,433 but they don't want to offend 915 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:03,333 or anger their neighbor 916 00:19:03,333 --> 00:19:04,500 with a dog, 917 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:05,133 how tough is it 918 00:19:05,133 --> 00:19:07,000 to get them to file 919 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:07,566 that complaint? 920 00:19:07,566 --> 00:19:09,366 You really need them to do that 921 00:19:09,366 --> 00:19:10,833 to go to the next step. 922 00:19:10,833 --> 00:19:11,666 Yeah, the 923 00:19:11,666 --> 00:19:12,766 the only alternative 924 00:19:12,766 --> 00:19:13,900 without that dangerous 925 00:19:13,900 --> 00:19:14,666 dog designation 926 00:19:14,666 --> 00:19:16,366 or that affidavit is 927 00:19:16,366 --> 00:19:17,700 if we catch the animal loose 928 00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:19,033 and we can capture it, 929 00:19:19,033 --> 00:19:20,633 I can bring it to the facility. 930 00:19:20,633 --> 00:19:21,700 They do have the ability 931 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:23,666 to reclaim that animal, though. 932 00:19:23,666 --> 00:19:24,966 If it's involved in a bite, 933 00:19:24,966 --> 00:19:25,900 I can quarantine it 934 00:19:25,900 --> 00:19:26,733 for ten days. 935 00:19:26,733 --> 00:19:28,600 But again, like their plan, 936 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,100 they can reclaim that animal 937 00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:31,066 and I can't restrict them 938 00:19:31,066 --> 00:19:32,066 from that reclamation. 939 00:19:32,066 --> 00:19:32,200 Now, you. 940 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:32,766 Also have to deal 941 00:19:32,766 --> 00:19:33,800 with stray animals. 942 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:34,633 That's a big issue. 943 00:19:34,633 --> 00:19:36,866 So how 944 00:19:36,866 --> 00:19:38,266 how is the problem change? 945 00:19:38,266 --> 00:19:39,066 We're trying to spay 946 00:19:39,066 --> 00:19:39,466 and neuter 947 00:19:39,466 --> 00:19:40,366 as many animals 948 00:19:40,366 --> 00:19:40,866 as we can 949 00:19:40,866 --> 00:19:41,600 in San Antonio 950 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,033 used to be stray dogs all over 951 00:19:43,033 --> 00:19:44,566 the city are a problem. 952 00:19:44,566 --> 00:19:46,666 Has that changed much? 953 00:19:46,666 --> 00:19:47,433 I would say. 954 00:19:47,433 --> 00:19:49,333 So we did a study in 2019 955 00:19:49,333 --> 00:19:49,866 and we've been able 956 00:19:49,866 --> 00:19:50,566 to validate it 957 00:19:50,566 --> 00:19:51,700 in the last few months 958 00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:52,300 with what 959 00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:52,666 we're calling 960 00:19:52,666 --> 00:19:54,200 our canvasing team. 961 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:55,066 As we were working 962 00:19:55,066 --> 00:19:56,533 through neighborhoods, 963 00:19:56,533 --> 00:19:57,366 checking where 964 00:19:57,366 --> 00:19:59,100 any animals are loose, 965 00:19:59,100 --> 00:19:59,933 doing their 966 00:19:59,933 --> 00:20:00,666 doing their business 967 00:20:00,666 --> 00:20:01,166 and everything 968 00:20:01,166 --> 00:20:02,433 free of restraint. 969 00:20:02,433 --> 00:20:03,833 And what we found is, 970 00:20:03,833 --> 00:20:05,566 which was validated again, 971 00:20:05,566 --> 00:20:07,800 is that about 80 to 80 972 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,133 to 85% of the animals 973 00:20:09,133 --> 00:20:10,366 that we find free of restraint 974 00:20:10,366 --> 00:20:11,333 have a home. 975 00:20:11,333 --> 00:20:13,066 They have an owner. 976 00:20:13,066 --> 00:20:14,133 And so most of the dogs 977 00:20:14,133 --> 00:20:15,166 that we see lose. 978 00:20:15,166 --> 00:20:17,166 Not to say there aren't strays, 979 00:20:17,166 --> 00:20:18,266 but the 980 00:20:18,266 --> 00:20:19,133 the players 981 00:20:19,133 --> 00:20:20,833 that we see out there, the bad 982 00:20:20,833 --> 00:20:22,000 you know, the bad players 983 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,133 and everything, 984 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:24,966 they tend to be owned 985 00:20:24,966 --> 00:20:25,666 in about 80 986 00:20:25,666 --> 00:20:27,600 to 85% of those cases. 987 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:28,466 And so, you know, 988 00:20:28,466 --> 00:20:30,266 the the big push has to be 989 00:20:30,266 --> 00:20:31,366 for that responsibility, 990 00:20:31,366 --> 00:20:32,566 that ownership, 991 00:20:32,566 --> 00:20:33,300 keeping the animal 992 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:34,400 on the property. 993 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:35,633 Spay neuter helps 994 00:20:35,633 --> 00:20:36,566 keep them wanting 995 00:20:36,566 --> 00:20:38,166 from wanting to go out and, 996 00:20:38,166 --> 00:20:39,233 you know, find a girlfriend 997 00:20:39,233 --> 00:20:40,933 or find a boyfriend. 998 00:20:40,933 --> 00:20:42,133 That's one way to put it. 999 00:20:42,133 --> 00:20:42,800 Thank you very much, 1000 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:44,000 Shannon Sims, 1001 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:45,100 Animal Care Services. 1002 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:45,666 And are you going to be 1003 00:20:45,666 --> 00:20:46,400 in the news more 1004 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:47,500 with the budget process 1005 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:48,400 coming up. 1006 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:49,333 We appreciate your time. 1007 00:20:49,333 --> 00:20:52,300 Thanks. Thank you so much. 1008 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:55,700 On Reporters roundtable this 1009 00:20:55,700 --> 00:20:57,100 week, we're talking business 1010 00:20:57,100 --> 00:20:58,266 with Mattison Iszler 1011 00:20:58,266 --> 00:20:59,633 who is a business reporter 1012 00:20:59,633 --> 00:21:00,666 for the Express-News. 1013 00:21:00,666 --> 00:21:02,266 Thanks for coming in. 1014 00:21:02,266 --> 00:21:02,900 A lot of stories 1015 00:21:02,900 --> 00:21:03,633 you've been working 1016 00:21:03,633 --> 00:21:04,866 on recently, 1017 00:21:04,866 --> 00:21:05,766 including what we talked 1018 00:21:05,766 --> 00:21:06,666 about earlier, 1019 00:21:06,666 --> 00:21:08,300 the tax appraisals. 1020 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:09,733 But the solar farm 1021 00:21:09,733 --> 00:21:10,766 coming to the South Side 1022 00:21:10,766 --> 00:21:11,666 I thought was interesting 1023 00:21:11,666 --> 00:21:12,900 because it's 1024 00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:14,500 a little complicated 1025 00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:15,866 how they're getting 1026 00:21:15,866 --> 00:21:17,066 some tax breaks 1027 00:21:17,066 --> 00:21:17,733 or at least people 1028 00:21:17,733 --> 00:21:18,833 might not realize 1029 00:21:18,833 --> 00:21:20,266 and opportunities. 1030 00:21:20,266 --> 00:21:21,833 Tell us about this. Yes. 1031 00:21:21,833 --> 00:21:22,866 So opportunity 1032 00:21:22,866 --> 00:21:24,000 zones are designated 1033 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,066 by the federal government. 1034 00:21:25,066 --> 00:21:26,200 There are about two dozen 1035 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,166 census tracts in San Antonio 1036 00:21:28,166 --> 00:21:28,866 that are considered 1037 00:21:28,866 --> 00:21:30,066 these zones. 1038 00:21:30,066 --> 00:21:31,633 And basically investors 1039 00:21:31,633 --> 00:21:32,600 who put their capital 1040 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:33,700 into these zones 1041 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:34,366 for the long 1042 00:21:34,366 --> 00:21:35,666 term can get breaks 1043 00:21:35,666 --> 00:21:37,566 on capital gains taxes. 1044 00:21:37,566 --> 00:21:38,500 And so there are 1045 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:39,566 a bunch of zones, 1046 00:21:39,566 --> 00:21:40,366 as I mentioned, in San 1047 00:21:40,366 --> 00:21:42,633 Antonio, downtown Brooks. 1048 00:21:42,633 --> 00:21:44,400 Parts of the east side, 1049 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:45,366 the solar farm will be 1050 00:21:45,366 --> 00:21:46,600 in one on the south side 1051 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,033 near Toyota. 1052 00:21:48,033 --> 00:21:49,633 And it was interesting to me 1053 00:21:49,633 --> 00:21:50,900 because a lot of the projects 1054 00:21:50,900 --> 00:21:51,666 that we've seen in 1055 00:21:51,666 --> 00:21:53,033 opportunity zones here 1056 00:21:53,033 --> 00:21:55,066 have been apartment projects, 1057 00:21:55,066 --> 00:21:56,433 office renovations, 1058 00:21:56,433 --> 00:21:58,033 a self-storage facility, 1059 00:21:58,033 --> 00:21:59,633 an Amazon delivery station, 1060 00:21:59,633 --> 00:22:01,033 but a solar farm is 1061 00:22:01,033 --> 00:22:02,466 a different type of project 1062 00:22:02,466 --> 00:22:03,600 than I had seen. 1063 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,300 And now to be in one of these, 1064 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:06,966 you said it has to have 1065 00:22:06,966 --> 00:22:07,833 X percent 1066 00:22:07,833 --> 00:22:09,166 of the poverty level 1067 00:22:09,166 --> 00:22:10,366 in terms of the people 1068 00:22:10,366 --> 00:22:11,733 in that area. 1069 00:22:11,733 --> 00:22:12,666 And then the governor 1070 00:22:12,666 --> 00:22:14,133 has to designate it, 1071 00:22:14,133 --> 00:22:16,533 even though it's 1072 00:22:16,533 --> 00:22:17,466 paid for or whatever, 1073 00:22:17,466 --> 00:22:18,366 by the federal government. 1074 00:22:18,366 --> 00:22:19,166 This is different. 1075 00:22:19,166 --> 00:22:20,566 I mean, how does it work? 1076 00:22:20,566 --> 00:22:21,600 If I want to have 1077 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,033 this property in my area 1078 00:22:23,033 --> 00:22:23,833 designated and 1079 00:22:23,833 --> 00:22:25,433 opportunities are. 1080 00:22:25,433 --> 00:22:26,233 Well, at this point, 1081 00:22:26,233 --> 00:22:26,933 you can't because 1082 00:22:26,933 --> 00:22:27,700 the nominations 1083 00:22:27,700 --> 00:22:28,533 have already happened. 1084 00:22:28,533 --> 00:22:30,200 So this was part of President 1085 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,266 Trump's 2017 tax bill. 1086 00:22:32,266 --> 00:22:33,233 And so people could 1087 00:22:33,233 --> 00:22:34,100 nominate census 1088 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:35,400 tracts to the governor 1089 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:36,300 who nominated them 1090 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:37,300 to the federal government, 1091 00:22:37,300 --> 00:22:38,466 which ultimately said 1092 00:22:38,466 --> 00:22:39,500 here are the designated 1093 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:41,200 areas in San Antonio. 1094 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:42,166 And there were certain 1095 00:22:42,166 --> 00:22:43,400 poverty levels, 1096 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:44,033 as you mentioned, 1097 00:22:44,033 --> 00:22:44,800 that had to be met 1098 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:45,833 for those zones. 1099 00:22:45,833 --> 00:22:47,033 And the point of the program 1100 00:22:47,033 --> 00:22:47,633 is basically 1101 00:22:47,633 --> 00:22:48,866 to encourage investment 1102 00:22:48,866 --> 00:22:50,033 in underserved areas. 1103 00:22:50,033 --> 00:22:51,833 And the investment in the areas 1104 00:22:51,833 --> 00:22:52,933 may not translate 1105 00:22:52,933 --> 00:22:54,666 into jobs, people 1106 00:22:54,666 --> 00:22:56,366 living in that area. 1107 00:22:56,366 --> 00:22:57,800 In this solar farm, 1108 00:22:57,800 --> 00:22:58,966 how big is it 1109 00:22:58,966 --> 00:22:59,866 and how much more is it 1110 00:22:59,866 --> 00:23:01,233 going to add to CPS? 1111 00:23:01,233 --> 00:23:01,800 Energy is going 1112 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:03,100 to get the energy from this. 1113 00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:03,366 Yeah. 1114 00:23:03,366 --> 00:23:05,033 So it's over 800 acres, 1115 00:23:05,033 --> 00:23:05,866 which is very large. 1116 00:23:05,866 --> 00:23:07,200 It's on a property, 1117 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:07,900 mostly property 1118 00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:08,733 that was formerly owned 1119 00:23:08,733 --> 00:23:09,566 by the Bill Miller 1120 00:23:09,566 --> 00:23:10,800 Barbecue family. 1121 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:11,533 And CPS 1122 00:23:11,533 --> 00:23:12,100 is going to buy 1123 00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:13,200 a portion of the property 1124 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:14,533 from this this farm, 1125 00:23:14,533 --> 00:23:15,200 which a company 1126 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:16,333 in Austin and a company 1127 00:23:16,333 --> 00:23:18,233 in Israel are co-developing. 1128 00:23:18,233 --> 00:23:18,900 But now, 1129 00:23:18,900 --> 00:23:20,400 you know, Austin and Israel, 1130 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,366 it's not like local companies 1131 00:23:22,366 --> 00:23:23,466 necessarily 1132 00:23:23,466 --> 00:23:24,733 are going to benefit 1133 00:23:24,733 --> 00:23:26,666 from these opportunity zones. 1134 00:23:26,666 --> 00:23:27,566 Yes. Yes. 1135 00:23:27,566 --> 00:23:29,533 The developers or investors 1136 00:23:29,533 --> 00:23:30,166 in these projects 1137 00:23:30,166 --> 00:23:31,333 don't have to be local. 1138 00:23:31,333 --> 00:23:31,866 And how much is 1139 00:23:31,866 --> 00:23:32,833 this going to add? 1140 00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:33,866 I guess that's what is figured 1141 00:23:33,866 --> 00:23:35,200 into CBS Energy's 1142 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:36,433 portfolio of energy, 1143 00:23:36,433 --> 00:23:37,033 that they were going 1144 00:23:37,033 --> 00:23:38,033 to add so much solar. 1145 00:23:38,033 --> 00:23:39,100 And this is just part of that. 1146 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:39,866 Yes. Yes. 1147 00:23:39,866 --> 00:23:41,500 CBS has been trying to expand 1148 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:43,633 its solar generation capacity. 1149 00:23:43,633 --> 00:23:44,133 And so 1150 00:23:44,133 --> 00:23:45,300 this will be one of the farms 1151 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:46,233 that it will be buying. 1152 00:23:46,233 --> 00:23:47,466 And we're also talking 1153 00:23:47,466 --> 00:23:49,700 you did a story on home prices, 1154 00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:50,733 which we kind of 1155 00:23:50,733 --> 00:23:51,933 touched on earlier. 1156 00:23:51,933 --> 00:23:53,700 What's the latest on that? 1157 00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:56,766 It's not as huge an increase 1158 00:23:56,766 --> 00:23:57,333 as it was, 1159 00:23:57,333 --> 00:23:58,466 but it's still at least 1160 00:23:58,466 --> 00:23:59,800 where it was. 1161 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:01,266 Yes, the market has calmed down 1162 00:24:01,266 --> 00:24:01,833 quite a bit 1163 00:24:01,833 --> 00:24:02,766 since the frenzy 1164 00:24:02,766 --> 00:24:03,766 of the pandemic. 1165 00:24:03,766 --> 00:24:05,000 Sales have started slowing 1166 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,600 quite a bit over the past year 1167 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:07,233 or so. 1168 00:24:07,233 --> 00:24:08,566 But prices are still going up. 1169 00:24:08,566 --> 00:24:09,833 Prices are still very high 1170 00:24:09,833 --> 00:24:10,666 compared to where 1171 00:24:10,666 --> 00:24:11,600 they were prior 1172 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:12,800 to the pandemic. 1173 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:13,766 And inventory 1174 00:24:13,766 --> 00:24:14,800 is starting to expand, 1175 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:15,500 which is another 1176 00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:16,466 another good sign. 1177 00:24:16,466 --> 00:24:17,533 But as I mentioned, 1178 00:24:17,533 --> 00:24:19,133 prices are just tough right now 1179 00:24:19,133 --> 00:24:20,200 and that's sidelined 1180 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:20,900 some buyers 1181 00:24:20,900 --> 00:24:22,533 who can't afford it. 1182 00:24:22,533 --> 00:24:23,166 And then so 1183 00:24:23,166 --> 00:24:24,166 the prices are still up, 1184 00:24:24,166 --> 00:24:25,900 plus the interest rates. 1185 00:24:25,900 --> 00:24:27,366 Yes. Yes. 1186 00:24:27,366 --> 00:24:27,866 Interest rates 1187 00:24:27,866 --> 00:24:28,600 are still quite a bit 1188 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:29,766 higher than they were 1189 00:24:29,766 --> 00:24:30,700 at some point 1190 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:31,433 during the pandemic 1191 00:24:31,433 --> 00:24:31,766 when they were 1192 00:24:31,766 --> 00:24:32,666 historically low. 1193 00:24:32,666 --> 00:24:33,566 And that's part of what 1194 00:24:33,566 --> 00:24:34,600 set off the 1195 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:35,700 the frenzy in the market 1196 00:24:35,700 --> 00:24:36,300 as people trying 1197 00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:37,266 to take advantage. 1198 00:24:37,266 --> 00:24:38,466 Projections yet 1199 00:24:38,466 --> 00:24:39,433 as to where it's going to go 1200 00:24:39,433 --> 00:24:40,433 because we're just getting more 1201 00:24:40,433 --> 00:24:41,233 and more people coming 1202 00:24:41,233 --> 00:24:42,000 into Bear County. 1203 00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:43,800 I think we're 1204 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:44,833 starting to see price 1205 00:24:44,833 --> 00:24:45,900 growth moderate a bit, 1206 00:24:45,900 --> 00:24:46,900 which is a good sign. 1207 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:48,000 I don't think that we'll see 1208 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:49,133 prices fall, 1209 00:24:49,133 --> 00:24:49,966 but the percentage 1210 00:24:49,966 --> 00:24:51,666 growth in terms of it's 1211 00:24:51,666 --> 00:24:52,500 the prices are going up 1212 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:54,466 10% or 20% year over year. 1213 00:24:54,466 --> 00:24:55,100 I think that that 1214 00:24:55,100 --> 00:24:56,133 will come down quite a bit 1215 00:24:56,133 --> 00:24:56,933 because the market 1216 00:24:56,933 --> 00:24:58,133 is really slowing down. 1217 00:24:58,133 --> 00:24:59,633 How about a seller's 1218 00:24:59,633 --> 00:25:00,333 market right now? 1219 00:25:00,333 --> 00:25:00,733 A buyer's 1220 00:25:00,733 --> 00:25:01,833 market is where you usually 1221 00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:02,733 label something, 1222 00:25:02,733 --> 00:25:04,300 or is it that easy 1223 00:25:04,300 --> 00:25:05,533 right now to decide what to do? 1224 00:25:05,533 --> 00:25:06,466 This is 1225 00:25:06,466 --> 00:25:08,166 inventory is about three months 1226 00:25:08,166 --> 00:25:08,866 and a balance 1227 00:25:08,866 --> 00:25:10,066 between buyers and sellers 1228 00:25:10,066 --> 00:25:10,900 is usually considered 1229 00:25:10,900 --> 00:25:12,200 about six months. 1230 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:13,833 We haven't had a market 1231 00:25:13,833 --> 00:25:14,500 with six months 1232 00:25:14,500 --> 00:25:15,400 supply of inventory 1233 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:16,533 for a long time, 1234 00:25:16,533 --> 00:25:17,300 and three months 1235 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:18,233 is about where we were 1236 00:25:18,233 --> 00:25:19,400 prior to the pandemic. 1237 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,300 So it's tilting a little bit 1238 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:22,800 back toward that six months, 1239 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:23,466 but I don't think 1240 00:25:23,466 --> 00:25:24,666 that we're going to get there. 1241 00:25:24,666 --> 00:25:25,900 Okay. Well, I'd like to. 1242 00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:26,733 Here are your crystal 1243 00:25:26,733 --> 00:25:27,366 ball on that. 1244 00:25:27,366 --> 00:25:28,466 Any other good news down 1245 00:25:28,466 --> 00:25:29,066 the road that you're going 1246 00:25:29,066 --> 00:25:29,966 to be reporting on? 1247 00:25:31,033 --> 00:25:32,000 Any other good news? 1248 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:32,866 Well, like I said, 1249 00:25:32,866 --> 00:25:33,700 hopefully the price 1250 00:25:33,700 --> 00:25:35,000 growth will moderate 1251 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:36,066 and so more people 1252 00:25:36,066 --> 00:25:37,500 can can afford to buy a house. 1253 00:25:37,500 --> 00:25:38,833 No pressure. Okay. 1254 00:25:38,833 --> 00:25:39,566 Thanks very much, 1255 00:25:39,566 --> 00:25:40,366 Madison Iszler 1256 00:25:40,366 --> 00:25:41,166 our business reporter 1257 00:25:41,166 --> 00:25:41,933 from the Express-News. 1258 00:25:41,933 --> 00:25:42,833 Thanks for coming in. 1259 00:25:42,833 --> 00:25:43,566 Thanks for having me. 1260 00:25:43,566 --> 00:25:44,633 And thank you for joining us 1261 00:25:44,633 --> 00:25:45,266 for this edition 1262 00:25:45,266 --> 00:25:46,000 of On the Record. 1263 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:47,266 You can see this show again 1264 00:25:47,266 --> 00:25:48,933 or any previous shows. 1265 00:25:48,933 --> 00:25:50,533 You can also download podcasts. 1266 00:25:50,533 --> 00:25:52,633 Just go to KLRN dot org. 1267 00:25:52,633 --> 00:25:54,533 And we'll see you next time. 1268 00:26:40,033 --> 00:26:40,766 On the record 1269 00:26:40,766 --> 00:26:41,766 is brought to you by 1270 00:26:41,766 --> 00:26:45,133 Steve and Adele Dufilho.