Category: Uncategorized

Briefing on Proposed Code of Conduct for the Historic and Design Review Commission on March 3, 2021

Purpose: The residents of San Antonio are entitled to have a fair, ethical, and accountable local government. To achieve this goal appointed officials should: 

• Comply with the letter and the spirit of the laws and ordinances that apply to the structure and operations of local government. 
• Be independent, impartial, and fair in their judgements and actions. 
• Use their office for public good and community needs and not for personal gain or self-promotion.
• Conduct public deliberations openly and in an atmosphere of respect and civility. 

To this end the City of San Antonio Historic Design and Review Commission adopts the following Code of Conduct to increase public confidence and trust in the integrity of local government and its effective operations. 

Code of Conduct

All members of the Historic Design and Review Commission, including the Chair, have equal votes. 

No Commissioner has more legislative power than any other Commissioner, and all should be treated with equal dignity and respect. 

All Commissioners should: 

• Fully participate in Commission meetings, public hearings, and other public forums while demonstrating respect, kindness, considerations, and courtesy to others.
• Prepare in advance of meetings by reviewing Staff presentations, reports, memorandums, and other pertinent material and be familiar with issues on the agenda. Questions and comments should be directed to Staff in advance, if practical, so that public deliberations and information sharing can be effective and timely. 
• Represent the City at public events in a professional manner. Serve as a model of leadership and civility to the community. 
• Be respectful of other people’s time. Stay focused, be succinct, and act efficiently during meetings.
• Inspire public confidence in San Antonio local government through thoughtful representation and a commitment to discuss and deliberate issues based on fact.

Public Meeting Hearing Protocol  

It is the responsibility of the chair to keep comments on track during public meetings. 

Commissioners should honor efforts by the chair to focus discussion on current agenda items. If there is a disagreement about the agenda or the Chair’s actions, those objections should be voiced politely and with reason, following procedures outlined in parliamentary procedure. 

The Chair has the responsibility to run an efficient public meeting and has the discretion to modify the public hearing process to make the meeting run smoothly. Commissioners will not express opinions during the public hearing portion of the meeting except to ask pertinent questions of the speaker or staff. “I think” and “I feel” comments by Commissioners are not appropriate until after the close of the public hearing. Commissioners should refrain from arguing or debating with the public during a public hearing and shall always show respect for different points of view. 

Main motions may be followed by amendments, followed by substitute motions. Any Commissioner can call for a point of order when a procedural rule is not followed and seek a timely ruling by the Chair. Only Commissioners who voted on the prevailing side may make motions to reconsider. 

The Commission is composed of individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds, personalities, 

values, opinions, and goals. All have chosen to serve in a public office to preserve and protect the past, present, and future of the community. In all cases, this common goal should be acknowledged even as the Commission may “agree to disagree” on contentious issues. 

In Public Meetings

Difficult questions, tough challenges to a particular point of view, and criticism of ideas and information are legitimate elements of a free democracy in action. This does not allow, however, Commissioners to make belligerent, personal, impertinent, slanderous, threatening, abusive, or disparaging comments. 

• Honor the role of the Chair in maintaining order.
• Practice civility, professionalism and decorum in discussions and debate.
• No shouting, verbal intimidation, or physical actions that could be reasonable construed as threatening will be tolerated.
• Each Commissioner has five minutes to speak the first time, and an additional five minutes after each Commissioner who desires to speak has done so. 
• Respect the five-minute speaking time limits, and do not interrupt a speaker. 
• Notwithstanding, the time limits set forth above, the Chair has discretion to alter the speaking time limits, based on the length of the agenda and complexity of cases.

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Christina Wright and Cynthia Spielman

Commentary: Make neighborhood groups part of disaster response by Christina Wright and Cynthia Spielman,  For the Express-News March 3, 2021

We all knew it was coming: In the days leading up to the winter storm, neighbors started helping neighbors with advice on how to prepare for the cold weather and assisted those who needed an extra hand. We all watched the weather reports as the temperature dropped dramatically.

No one expected or had warning of the power outages.

The reality of it all came swiftly as the neighborhood social media pages filled with reports of the loss of food and no water. Ordinary residents performed countless acts of kindness for one another. After a week of struggling to stay warm in the dark and freezing cold, the first thaw caused countless numbers of burst pipes and a significant amount of damage to homes. Anyone that could help turn off water, add a temporary fix until a plumber was scheduled, or offer their services as a plumber, helped their neighbors.

Despite all this, the fear we felt for our neighbors who are not online, for our elders, and our families with young children was quickly realized. Those horror stories will be told for a long time to come. They needed help quickly.  

This story is proof of the generosity of spirit of which we are all capable.

 It is a story of the good that starts locally and works its way outward. An email from Ann Helmke from CoSA’s Faith-Based Initiative to Sarah Woolsey sparked what we started calling, Neighbors Helping Neighbors: “Research clearly indicates that the most effective and efficient method to impact community need is to act as locally as possible in expanding concentric circles…”

Thanks to Sarah Woolsey (Founder)  and employees of The Impact Guild , Beacon Hill Area Neighborhood Association, and Christina Wright (Alta Vista), and over 50 volunteers from the neighborhoods, local churches, Trinity students, TIG co-working members and their friends, about 175 neighbors were helped. Organized in hours, we knocked on doors to conduct wellness checks over the next three days, organized food and water, made deliveries, and distributed flyers. We solicited donations and Councilman Treviño and State Representative Diego Bernal provided water and State Senator José Menéndez provided hot meals.

Beacon Hill and Alta Vista were two of many neighborhoods across the city that bore the brunt of the power outages and broken pipes. It wasn’t until after the emergency that information started coming in from CoSA, CPS, and SAWS. Information that created more questions than answers.

There is a structure in place to help residents on a micro level: neighborhood associations. All of the registered neighborhood associations are fully accessible through the Neighborhood & Housing Services Department. But the system, or lack of system, failed us. There were significant gaps in the relief efforts by the city getting being accessible to all residents. But there’s an opportunity – neighborhood associations are connected on this micro level and with the support of city council districts can play a bigger role on reaching neighbors on a house-by-house level. But we need timely communication and resources.

The more local the solutions, the more effective they will be. 

Neighborhoods have proven their ability to rise to the challenge. There should be a structure in place in which neighborhood leaders are part of the disaster response. The communication should be two-way. Neighbors know what is needed and how it can best be delivered. 

Even in the best of times, neighborhoods should be encouraged. We should have a leading voice in the decisions about our communities. In times of crisis, the resiliency of our neighborhoods could make the difference between life and death.

Rep. Steve Allison, Rep. Diego Bernal, Rep. Lyle Larsen

Gentlemen:

I am addressing the three of you as a group for two reasons.  First, though each of you represents a slightly different political philosophy, you are all men of principle and integrity, and you have served the people of San Antonio loyally and well.  Second, having met you personally, I know that each of you acts with an independent, open mind for the best interests of our City – not because of partisan pressure from some Authority Figure.  Given your common interest and shared background, I believe that the three of you can and will work together to solve a compelling problem.  The matter at hand is of the highest importance to the people of Texas.

We have just experienced a very severe winter storm that paralyzed much of our City.  We experienced widespread power blackouts, loss of water in some areas, and a host of problems.  At the heart of these problems is the Texas power grid which frankly failed the people of San Antonio.  I am sure you agree that this failure should not be repeated.

Our City-owned CPS Energy is merely a part of the Texas-wide power grid overseen by ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.  ERCOT bears responsibility for the disasters we suffered due in part to its unfounded assumptions regarding the lack of need to “winterize” power generating facilities.  ERCOT’s lax policies, which victimized four million Texans, are partly due to policies set by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and ultimately by the state legislature in Austin.  It is at the state legislature, where you play key roles, that changes in policy must be made.

I understand from reading the financial pages of the Express-News (and newspapers published outside Texas analyzing our disaster) that the heart of the matter lies in the desire of certain Texas business interests to obtain the absolute cheapest power that can be produced.  As a consequence, ERCOT and several Utilities cannot commit even minimal funds for the steps necessary to “winterize” power sources, be they natural gas, wind, or other means.  The rationale is that “Texas winters are always mild.  We don’t need to spend good money to winterize because a bad winter will never happen and, in any case, winterizing will only raise the cost of each kilowatt hour of electricity generated.”  ((Although this rationale works much of the time, it did not work in 2011, nor this year, nor in earlier crises.))

ERCOT’s lax policies are underscored by a stubborn, unwarranted “go it alone” desire in the matter of power generation despite the obvious examples of northern states such as Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas – subjected to far colder temperatures than Texas – yet which experienced no crises due to ample preparation for winter weather.

We read in the newspapers about a flurry of lawsuits filed against ERCOT, to include possible “wrongful death” lawsuits in consequence of people who died, either freezing to death or because vital equipment such as dialysis machines failed during power outages.  Some businesses suffered losses due to disruption of production lines.  Firms in the food business lost millions of dollars’ worth of food when power to their refrigerators failed.  Power failures also damaged critical stocks of vaccines and other medicines.  Even printing, publishing, and electronic communications were negatively impacted.  This morning’s paper had news about a Houston Utility filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  Attorneys could plausibly argue their cases against ERCOT along “willful negligence” lines.  After all, these disasters werepreventable.

It may be that some of your adversaries on the House Floor may object and say “Well, that freeze was a fluke.  It will never happen again.  Therefore, there’s no need to waste money on winterizing.  And we will not adhere to any federal power safety and security standards because they only just cost us more money.”  This pseudo-reasoning will only set us up for a repeat of the disaster we just experienced. 

You should remind these naysayers that the cost to Texas goes beyond the billions of dollars of damage inflicted due to lack of foresight, indifference, and callous neglect.  What business from another state or foreign country would wish to set up a plant or conduct operations in a state whose power supplies are demonstrably unreliable?

Pointing fingers or assigning blame for the disaster is merely a waste of time.  What is required is to fix a system that clearly is broken. The three of you, working together with like-minded colleagues from other parts of Texas, have it within your power to do this. The legislature can secure our grid in two ways — by joining our grid to the other 49 states, and by adopting federal guidelines for the safe and secure operation of its energy producers, especially as regards fully “winterizing” our power generating facilities.

With every good and warm wish,

G. L. LAMBORN

Colonel, USAR (Ret.)

Former President

North Central Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association (NCTONA)

Council District 9

Large Area Rezoning (LAR) 

In  2017 and 2018, Councilman Trevino initiated a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to direct staff to  “rezone, with plan amendments where necessary, the following properties in collaboration with property owners and the community to make zoning consistent with the current uses of the property or the land use plan, where appropriate: […]   for the neighborhoods of Dellview, River Road, Monte Vista, Beacon Hill, Alta Vista, and West End Hope in Action neighborhoods. Dellview and River Road have completed their rezoning and their LAR was adopted by Council. Monte Vista’s LAR was approved by the Zoning Commission and goes to City Council soon. Alta Vista and Beacon Hill are beginning their process.  

In 2019, District 2 Council member Jada-Andrews filed a CCR for the intersection of intersections of Lamar Street and N.Hackberry Street, and Nolan and N. Pine Street.  

In 2020, District 5 Council member, Shirley Gonzales, filed a CCR  for a large area rezoning for some Westside neighborhoods.(to review and rezone properties generally bound. by Castorville Road, U.S. 90 and S.W. 19th Street)

“Throughout the past few decades, many areas of the center city have had ongoing concerns regarding zoning inconsistencies. These inconsistencies were the result of the code conversion from the “old” zoning code, which utilized an A-J tiered system of zoning, to the new system we use today. While some of these changes are subtle, given new development patterns in the urban core, these subtle differences are causing large impacts throughout our neighborhoods. Some of these impacts include the inability for residents to pull permits in their neighborhoods because their use does not match their zoning, incompatible development within our NCDs and Historic Districts, and placing our city staff, commissions, and City Council in difficult positions regarding zoning changes which are contradictory in nature.“ (Trevino, 2017 CCR)

So what does this mean? 
If your neighborhood has a large area of inconsistent zoning (zoning that is not compatible with its land use) you may qualify for a large area rezoning. The LAR must be requested by your council member through a CCR.  No property’s zoning will be changed without the permission of the property owner. But there are several reasons a property-owner might welcome a change of zoning and compatible zoning is good for the well-being of our communities. 

Contact Cat Hernandez at Developmental Services Department for more information.

CCRs: 
D1 Council member Roberto Trevino: Dellview  and  near north and west neighborhoods
D5  Council member Shirley Gonzalez: Westside neighborhoods
D2 Council member Jada Andrews-Sullivan: Intersections of Lamar Street and N. Hackberry Street and Nolan and N. Pine Street.

February 20, 2021

Dear Mayor,

CPS has a presentation on their website wherein they reveal their growth strategies through 2021 and beyond. After studying that presentation, it is clear that a substantial portion of their strategy for managing growth of demand is “Demand Response”, which on the last page is revealed to be a code word for “curtailment”, which is another code word for blackouts. You can study the presentation yourself, it’s at…..https://www.cpsenergy.com/content/dam/corporate/en/Documents/Trustees/BOT-Presentations/2019-03-25%20-%20Generation%20Update.PDF

In an interview with KTSA on February 15^th, CPS Energy President and CEO Paula Gold-Williams said she is “absolutely sorry.” I guess she goofed or made a small mistake somewhere. That interview can be found on the web at, https://www.ktsa.com/cps-energy-on-rotating-outages-were-absolutely-sorry-that-this-is-happening/

In the interview, Gold-Williams reveals that CPS Energy has the “electrical capacity of 7,000 megawatts” of power and she further reveals that the current freeze has raised demand to “around 5,000 to 5,400 megawatts”. That’s really good news. San Antonio does not have to draw on the Texas grid to supply ALL of the demand for electricity in the CPS Energy service area. Except, they made a small error which she explains, “we actually had thought that the cold weather was behind us”.

That error has caused deaths. Pets and people have died of exposure, which is polite speak for “froze to death”. That error has caused MILLIONS of dollars of property damage. That was one hell of an error.

How does a person keep their job when they make that kind of mistake? In fact, how do they stay out of prison when they fail so spectacularly? How can I get a cushy job like that?

SAN ANTONIO WAS CAPABLE OF MEETING ITS OWN NEEDS DURING THIS TEXAS FREEZE EXCEPT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE HIRED TO DO THE PLANNING FOR OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOOFED UP. How is that not criminal?

The following are possible actions that the City might take to make sure this crises does not happen again:

1. Terminate the top 5 executives at CPS Energy TODAY. Also terminate the Chairman of the Board of Directors TODAY.
2. Form an investigative group made up as follows and require them to grill every executive, board member and department manager at CPS energy to determine why and how CPS energy failed to provide for it’s customer’s needs:
   1. 5 City Council Members
   2. 5 Citizens at large, preferably neighborhood leaders.
   3. 5 SAPD Officers or Fire Fighters
   4. 5 Middle managers in the CPS System
3. Change the Mission Statement of CPS Energy to include the following, “Demand Response or blackouts are not any part of a solution to San Antonio’s energy demand growth. CPS Energy’s primary duty is to plan for, prepare for and provide for the Electrical Demand of CPS Energy’s consumers”
4. Clearly post on the CPS Energy home web page a graph that shows the real time Capacity and Demand (without DR, Curtailments or blackouts) on a 24 hour timeline.
5. Require CPS energy to finance repairs for it’s consumer’s properties for damage they claim was caused by CPS’s failure to provide Electrical service, at a interest rate of 0% with a repayment term of not less than 10 years.

Mayor, you have been presented with the opportunity to show leadership and to step up and deal with a crisis and you will be judged by how you manage the current San Antonio Freeze crisis. Please take decisive action quickly.

Respectfully,

Everette Ives

. 

This op-ed was published originally in the Express News: Commentary: Tree exception has become the rule” (February 9, 2021) by Cynthia Spielman and Cosima Colvin, Steering Committee members of the Tier One Neighborhood Coalition.

Re: “Killing Trees,” by Brian Chasnoff, Front Page, Jan. 24

The fact that in every instance, Michael Shannon and the city of San Antonio’s Development Services Department waived the tree ordinance to make exceptions for developer requests is unsurprising to anyone working on neighborhood issues.

An “arbitrary approach to the codes” is something people living in downtown neighborhoods feel they are faced with almost every time a developer wants a zoning change or variance for a project, no matter how incompatible or against the “spirit of the ordinance.” When every case is treated as an exception, the exception becomes the rule.

Residents have seen, repeatedly, how Development Services works with the development community to discard the standards in the Unified Development Code to preserve our natural and built environments. Even in neighborhoods “protected” by a zoning overlay (historic districts or neighborhood conservation districts), Development Services staff has helped developers overbuild lots to maximize profits.

Time after time, Development Services staff approves plans, including exceptions to legal ordinances, that continue to erode our neighborhoods through their interpretations of code. We ask ourselves, much like Debbie Reid, a former city arborist quoted in the article, why have ordinances or standards if every exception is approved? Like the tree ordinance, these standards have become a façade of protection.

Residents work tirelessly to get Development Services to adhere to the ordinances on the books. This places undue burden on the people of this city, especially those with the fewest resources. Meanwhile, the development community is almost always included in discussions regarding new ordinances that will affect it and all too often influences how those ordinances are written.

We mistakenly think Development Services works for residents when actually it serves developers, who are their customers. It is funded by permits and developer fees. We naively expect Development Services to regulate the very entities on whose success it depends.

When the city does try to develop and implement policies that are more community-friendly, it has the challenge of defending those measures against a state government that weighs in on the side of developer. When you have someone like state Sen. Roland Gutierrez sitting within that house of power maneuvering for an exception, it becomes a daunting task indeed to say, “No.”

It should be the job of the city to strike a balance that benefits developers and residents. When the city stands behind and enforces its ordinances, exhibiting a culture of consistency rather than leniency, everyone knows the rules and can plan accordingly. Developments are more likely to be compatible with the neighborhood and contribute to its revitalization and stability.

We appreciate Chasnoff and Reid for bringing this issue into the light, and we appreciate the hard work of neighborhood leaders who, without the benefit of attorneys and staff, work tirelessly to hold developers and the city to account. We hope Chasnoff continues investigating other areas where Development Services is failing to hold developers accountable to the laws that City Council has passed.

Cynthia Spielman and Cosima Colvin sit on the steering committee of the Tier One Neighborhood Coalition.

Compiled by the Beacon Hill Area Neighborhood Association

Updated February 27th to add storm crises resources

Storm Crisis Resources for Water and Food and Other Help

WATER

Beacon Hill Community Garden (corner of Grammercy and Capitol) can provide water to fill your containers. Contact Cynthia Spielman at 210-396-3688 or cspielmanbhana@gmail.com  for hours. 

To further assist customers, the City of San Antonio will also be setting up separate bottled water distribution sites throughout the city, as well as the San Antonio Food Bank. 

To find a water distribution site closest to you, see below:

Pump Station Water Distribution Sites

• NACO (drive-thru) – 13655 O’Connor Road
• Seale – 254 Seale Road
• Mission – 615 E Theo Ave
• Maltsberger (drive-thru) – 8910 Jones Maltsberger
• University (drive-thru) – 7172 Hausman Road
• Seaworld – 10349 Military Dr. W.
• SE Booster (drive-thru) – 1208 S Loop 1604 W

 Bottled Water Distribution Sites for Resident pickup:
Beginning today the City of San Antonio will begin bottled water distribution.
Ten sites will be open beginning today throughout the City. Residents will be able to pick up one case of water per family per day. These centers will remain open through March 6. In addition to the ten sites in the City of San Antonio we have partnered with Bexar County and The San Antonio Food Bank to host additional water distribution at local distribution sites. Full list of locations below.

The bottled water distribution site will open at 1 pm today through 5 p.m. Following today, the hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The closing times may change if water is exhausted before closing time.
The sites will abide by COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing masks and practicing physical distancing.

Bottled Water Distribution to Senior Residents
The City will also provide bottled water delivery to homebound seniors, San Antonio Housing Authority properties and nursing homes without water. These locations have been identified and coordinated with partner agencies. Delivery availability is limited but can be requested by calling 311.

Water Distribution Site Locations

• Wheatley Heights Sports Complex – 200 Noblewood Dr.
• Brooks – Challenger Dr. @ Research Place
• Texas A&M University – San Antonio – Main Campus – One University Way
• Port San Antonio – 907 Billy Mitchell Blvd
• SeaWorld San Antonio/Aquatica – 10500 Sea World Drive
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas – 17000 IH 10 West
• Food Bank – 5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy
• Our Lady of the Lake University — 411 SW 24th St
• Community Bible Church – 2477 N Loop 1604 E
• Heroes Stadium – 4799 Thousand Oaks Dr.
• Rolling Oaks Mall — 6909 N Loop 1604 E
• Bullis County Park – 27583 Old Blanco Rd
• Julius Matthey Middle School – 20350 Red Forest Ln

SHELTERS AND GROCERIES: 

If you are in need of shelter, the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless has curated a list of warming centers, including the city-run Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, here.

• If you or a neighbor are in need of assistance securing groceries, contact 211 (United Way Helpline) or 311 (San Antonio Customer Service Office).
• ​The San Antonio Police Department has partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank to deliver food to our elderly, disabled, and neighbors most in need. Call 311 to organize a delivery. 

Busted Pipes and Leaks:

• If you find yourself in a situation where you have a busted pipe, follow these instructions to turn your water off at the meter and contact a plumber. A list of State licensed plumbers can be found here.
• If you plan on making an insurance claim following the winter storm, review these tips from the Texas Department of Insurance by clicking here.

Beacon Hill Community Garden can provide water to fill your containers. Contact Cynthia Spielman at 210-396-3688 or cspielmanbhana@gmail.com  for hours. 

Insurance Help After the Storm: 

Food Resources

• San Antonio Food Bank: 210.337.3663, info@safoodbank.org, https://safoodbank.org/. Founded in 1980, The San Antonio Food Bank has quickly grown to serve 58,000 individuals a week in one of the largest service areas in Texas. Their focus is for clients to have food for today but to also have the resources to be self-sufficient in the future.
• SAISD Community Resource Hub: Utility, rental, food, and clothing are among the available ways the District can help: https://www.saisd.net/page/social-services-resource-hub?fbclid=IwAR2R8qIA33Yw08JptN13gLjIjSkjF34QGBaKGeTzs05iJX9CpDFwtw9daK4 
• Food Pantry (Clothing) – https://www.sacrd.org/directory/subcategory/emergency-food?zipcode=78201&page=2&fbclid=IwAR0xP1DHZ9UymqzEPkmKWXVa4lbMnMSf-byYloltgpUicddq8pSic2FyXzc 
• The City of San Antonio Department of Human Services Financial Empowerment Center has $100 HEB gift cards available to qualifying individuals impacted by COVID19 as follows (under the 125% Federal Poverty Guidelines), if you or someone you know might qualify please contact me at the email below as soon as possible.Robert Herrera City of San Antonio Financial Empowerment Center SvcsRobert.Herrera2@sanantonio.gov
• Christ Episcopal Church: https://www.cecsa.org/community-outreach. Join us every Saturday for Sidewalk Saturday!  We serve the community with Christ’s love.  We share groceries, clothing, toiletries, and household items. 

COVID Information

• City of San Antonio COVID-19 Vaccination Information Website:Vaccination for COVID-19 – City of San Antonio
• City of San Antonio Vaccination Registration Portal: Registration – City of San Antonio
•  San Antonio Main COVID-19 Information Website:COVID-19 – City of San Antonio
• University Health System COVID-19 Vaccination Information:COVID-19 Vaccine Online Scheduling | University Health
• South Texas Veterans Health Care Systems information:STVHCS Veterans
• Texas Department of State Health Services Vaccination Hub Providers: Texas DSHS Vaccination Hub
• Texas Department of State Health Services Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Map: Texas COVID-19 Availability Map
• Texas Department of State Health Services Vaccine Information: Texas COVID-19 Information

Housing Resources

• San Antonio Housing Authority: 210.477.6000, https://www.saha.org/. SAHA provides housing assistance to more than 57,000 children, adults and seniors through its Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher and Mixed-Income housing programs.

Utilities Help

• . Residential Energy Assistance Partnership (210) 207-7830 or (210) 335-6770 Can receive assistance with the energy bill 2x per year (1x heat; 1x AC). 
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul
  Limited financial assistance is provided for expenses such as utility bills, rent, funeral arrangements, and medication. https://svdpsa.org/community-assistance-program
• Catholic Charities (210) 222-1294 202 w. French Place San Antonio, TX 78212 Utility Assistance; no rental assistance. 
• CPS Energy Utility Assistance – Submit an Application
  This program assists with utility assistance for CPS Energy and assists with an Affordability Discount Program Application. Seniors, families with young children, individuals with disabilities, and individuals using critical medical care equipment are eligible to apply https://dhs.mendixcloud.com/p/Kinetech/GovTech/UtilityAssistance

Rent, Eviction and Mortgage Help Information

• Housing and Evictions in time of COVID: https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/evictions 
• COVID-19 Housing Facts & Resource Sheet https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/files/assets/public/files/residents/covid19-housing-faq.pdf 
• City’s Emergency Housing Assistance program. Visit https://dhs.mendixcloud.com/p/Kinetech/GovTech/HousingAssistance  or call 210.207.5910.  
• COVID-19  Rent and Mortgage Help https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Services/Rent-and-Mortgage-Help-Housing 
• Fair Housing/COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Program              https://www.sanantonio.gov/nhsd/programs/fairhousing 
• San Antonio and Bexar County rental assistance –  list of resources: https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/san_antonio_rental_assistance.htm 
• Merced Housing’s list of resources for COVID-19 and assistance:  https://www.mercedhousingtexas.org/resources-and-links/ 
• Bexar County Temporary Rental Assistance Measure (TRAM)
  Provides up to 1 – 3 months of temporary rental assistance to residents whose income has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.bexar.org/3265/Temporary-Rental-Assistance-Measure 
  
• SAMMinistries
  Offers rental assistance, utility support and long-term housing assistance.
  https://www.samm.org/get-help/  (210) 377-1616. 5922 Blanco Rd. San Antonio, TX 78216. For rental assistance, requirements include: proof of income and an eviction notice; call and leave message and your call will be returned. 
• Any Baby Can (210) 227-0170 217 Howard St. San Antonio, TX 78212 For rental assistance, must have a child with special healthcare needs under the age of 12. 
• Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) (210) 223-4099 or 210-697-5771 5084 De Zavala Rd. San Antonio, TX 78249 Can assist with $25 towards rent with presentation of an eviction notice; walk-ins welcome
• San Antonio Family Endeavors (210) 431-6466 For rental assistance, eviction notice needs to be presented

Housing Repair Assistance 

• Neighborhood & Housing Services Department (NHSD) 210.207.6459,  https://www.sanantonio.gov/NHSD/  focuses on housing and offers information on the following programs: https://www.sanantonio.gov/NHSD/Programs/Repair 
• Assistance for qualified homeowners to help with minor repairs. https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/NHSD/Repair/Minor%20Repair%20App.pdf?ver=2020-11-02-085906-017  Policy: https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/NHSD/Repair/MRP_21.pdf?ver=2020-11-07-133638-297 
• Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (OOR) – Council Districts 1-7 only. OOR Policy: https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/NHSD/Repair/OOR%20Policy%20FY2021.pdf?ver=2020-11-07-132948-377 
• Under One Roof program. Appointments are required. For an appointment call 210.207.2275. If you have a question after you apply, call 210.207.6459.

Other

United Way: Dial 211
VIA Metropolitan Transit Passengers with confirmed appointments may ride to City/County vaccine clinics.VIA Metropolitan Transit will offer complimentary transportation for any person traveling to or from an appointment at a City/County-sponsored COVID-19 vaccination site—including the Alamodome, Wonderland of the Americas mall and others until further notice.This includes regular bus service, VIA Link, and VIAtrans paratransit service. VIA bus and VIA Link passengers may present their appointment registration in print or on their mobile device, and/or their COVID-19 shot record to ride fare-free on the day of their appointment. Registered VIAtrans customers must schedule their trip in accordance with VIAtrans policies and procedures by phone or online. Read the full story at viainfo.net.

St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home (210) 531-8555  Can provide rental assistance for individuals pending disability benefits and individuals who were formerly in the foster care system. 

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OFFICER

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Class Code:

2443

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO

SALARY RANGE

$24.83 – $37.24 Hourly

$51,644.58 – $77,467.00 Ann ually

JOB SUMMARY:

Under general direction, is responsible for conducting and coordinating

a variety of social service and/or community development outreach

activities to help improve neighborhood appearance and quality of lif e.

May exercise supervision over assigned staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Provides guidance and assistance to neighborhood associations with

complex socioeconomic problems.

Organize and provide leadership to citizen groups and committees.

Attends citizen/neighborhood meetings to present and obtain

information on neighborhood improvement efforts, community -based

problem-solving, and encourage citizen involvement.

Promote program activities by designing flyers, brochures, press

releases and other materials in English and Spanish for distributio n.

Meet customer needs efficiently, accurately and within program

guidelines.

Coordinates with City Departments to identify and develop

neighborhood programs.

Assists various City Departments with communicating progress and

delays to policies and projects in the community.

May be required to prepare reports for management and City Council.

Performs related duties and fulfills responsibilities as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

Three (3) years’ experience in the areas of housing and community

revitalization programs or local government.

Valid Class ‘C’ Texas Driver’s License.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of principles and practices of neighborhood program

planning.

Knowledge of neighborhood associations and organizations involved in

providing community and neighborhood services.

Knowledge of funding resources for grants.

Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances,

statutes, and regulations.

Skill in utilizing a personal computer and associated software

programs.

Skill in delivering excellent customer service and conflict

resolution.

Ability to assess neighborhood conditions and determine needed

improvements.

Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priority.

Ability to analyze complex data and develop clear and concise written

reports and presentations.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in

writing in English and Spanish.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships

with City staff and officials, other government officials, commun ity

groups, the general public, and media representatives.

Ability to perform all the physical, intellectual, and analytical

requirements of the position including decision making.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 5 pounds;

visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and man ual

dexterity necessary to operate a computer keyboard and basic office

equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting

and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are

primarily inside an office environment or field environment.