City Of San Antonio: District 2 Councilman Statement On 2022-2027 Bond Program List, District 2 Funding

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

Thursday, February 10, 2022

CONTACT: Imgard Rop, Director of Public Relations District 2
Imgard.Rop@sanantonio.gov | (210) 207-8261

SAN ANTONIO (February 10, 2022) – Today, the City Council approved the ordinance to send all bond committee selected projects to a public vote on May 7, 2022. The resolution adopting the Housing Bond Committee’s project parameters, funding categories, and allocation amounts as guiding principles was also approved.

“This $1.2 billion bond is equity-focused, and in such a short time the list evolved because of the engaged, energized community members throughout the city. If approved by voters, District 2 will receive more money from the bond, and a greater percentage of the bond, than we ever have before,” said Councilman McKee-Rodriguez.

These projects are the culmination of a rigorous public engagement process where hundreds of community members joined our office in surveys, multiple town halls, work sessions, and many thorough and considerate conversations. We commend all community members who joined us and dedicated their time and energy in this process to ensure their needs are represented.

Five bond committees made of three district representatives each met for several weeks in collaboration to determine these final recommendations. Councilman McKee-Rodriguez attended eleven of the twenty public meetings. Our office deeply thanks our bond committee members for their commitment to our communities and this process. These representatives represented many factions of District 2 in diversity of perspective, race, class, and industry. We thank City staff for all their work to get us through the bond season.

In Councilman McKee - Rodriguez’s first bond process, the following projects are proposed for District 2:

District 2 F-Streets Reconstruction $11,980,000
District 2 Pedestrian Mobility $1,000,000
Eastside Area Street Improvements $6,850,000
New Braunfels (Houston Streets to Paso Hondo) Phase 2 $6,500,000
Eastside Clubhouse (Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio) $3,750,000
District 2 Parks $1,500,000
Lockwood/Dignowity Park $1,000,000
Martin Luther King Park $1,000,000
Peggy Drive Area Drainage Improvements (Eastgate subdivision) $20,000,000
Carver Branch Library $12,500,000
Ella Austin Community Center $11,500,000
Greater Love Multigenerational Center $500,000
Wheatley Heights Sports Complex $1,000,000

As the first of its kind, if passed, the $150 million housing bond allocation will provide accessible housing. The proposal includes a $45M investment in repairing aging homes. The funds in the housing bond proposal focus on households at 30% Area Median Income.

Of the City-wide projects proposed, the addition of the ACS Veterinary Hospital to the final recommendation will address our live release rate, vaccinations and spay/neuter, and the general welfare of animals in our city.

To vote in the May Bond Election, residents should register to vote by April 7, 2022. Early voting will take place from April 25 – May 3, 2022. Election Day will be May 7, 2022.

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.