[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6666540,"mediaKeyId","2324239-8d7baf9a7ce62908b4017d813210f5fe","parentId",2324239,"title","Governance committee forwards study of fee waivers and coordinated assistance for San Antonio house‑fire victims","audioSeconds",504,"startMs",2747000,"endMs",3251000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324239-8d7baf9a7ce62908b4017d813210f5fe&start=2747&end=3251","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324239-8d7baf9a7ce62908b4017d813210f5fe/thumbnail_2747000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6666540/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Governance-committee-forwards-study-of-fee-waivers-and-coordinated-assistance-for-San-Antonio-housefire-victims","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666540-203feabb8f544d1961389c9d793235b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189659&Signature=LPFR-8QvLYwb3JGchs-3Xc8TLRUB3jVI8e4CKnUe5DF3eNFUy5z68yEgM2Y6KLzXFIPw8YcnD2gogstMu3i2t~CIi-oZrF3UxwcAJO4fCVqlaETBHmEg-ksi1esTOE8BkECaADpcUtUWT~s3g2pIQunnu-jBfvA51Q9wovdyI-WMBQsGgAmovcTyF2WPxu4dTdfPKx2jZ4TY0cTmLxL8KvkqMLgjr3S2Y2t-QwPpdCGAEjhFc~76CVfz61ESu5zfLegF6uyGHglQap9aC4lJll15ZIKDHcMjo4bB6loM0l-zWWilMBHKRAtIe6EMLOL3cASllQZVm45ydQp6acMspw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","The San Antonio City Council Governance Committee on Feb. 17, 2025, voted to forward two council consideration requests (CCRs) addressing relief for households that experience home fires to the Planning and Community Development Committee for further review and policy development.

One CCR, titled in committee discussion as the \"rebuilding\" request, reported an average of 43 residential fires per month over the last two years and raised concerns that rebuilding homeowners can accumulate city fees of as much as $5,000–$6,000 during recovery. The CCR asked staff to examine fee waivers and other programs that could reduce that financial burden and to return with an implementation plan.

A second CCR requested establishment of a coordinated city assistance process after a home fire, including identifying agency partners and expanding available programs beyond existing renter moving assistance. Committee discussion noted the City currently offers up to $3,000 in rental moving assistance for renters but does not have an equivalent homeowner moving or rebuilding assistance program.

Councilmember Rocha Garcia described recent constituent cases to illustrate the gaps the CCRs aim to address, including a family displaced after a fire who were temporarily packed into another household and a separate incident in which pets were lost. \"It was so sad,\" Rocha Garcia said, recounting outreach efforts and the difficulty of tracking displaced families and coordinating needs beyond immediate shelter.

Committee members said they expect staff to review fee waiver policy, identify applicable programs across Development Services and Human Services, and bundle recommended policy changes for Planning and Community Development Committee review. The Governance Committee then approved a motion and second to forward the CCRs for discussion and development at Planning and Community Development.

Council members who spoke in favor stressed both immediate needs after a disaster (clothing, temporary shelter, food) and longer‑term recovery challenges that can create blight and broader neighborhood impacts when properties are not rebuilt or are left unsecured. Councilmember Cabello Haverda, who joined the motion to forward the CCRs, said the requests “shine a light on that gap in services that we have to fill.”

The Governance Committee's action was to request further study and policy development; no fee waivers or program changes were adopted at the meeting. Staff indicated any policy proposals and specific eligibility parameters would be returned to the Planning and Community Development Committee for direction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Governance Committee - Feb 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Governance Committee voted to send two council requests — one to explore fee waivers for homeowners rebuilding after fires and another to establish a coordinated assistance process after home fires — to the Planning and Community Development Committee for further development.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666545,"Governance committee recommends five planning commission applicants to full City Council",2650,61000,2711000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324239-8d7baf9a7ce62908b4017d813210f5fe&start=61&end=2711","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324239-8d7baf9a7ce62908b4017d813210f5fe/thumbnail_61000.jpg","/articles/6666545/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Governance-committee-recommends-five-planning-commission-applicants-to-full-City-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666545-4550f8f02d571b4275a4f432fcb04ce6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189659&Signature=MNlc6J6podSrPzgNKCt0oMt--ZqQ2u4sNHwDvjHKjK-5vplSpgOKEJ~G-rXksJ6mmDF38OypDsUzsEaHJe~oaCDRJ66WiDSB2XvAgwrlsLSHQCfiWM4~EYj2Rr3ZfrX2cqSNCyz2yehI0Udcpb6ll9-2aO0E1vmJBB3Am6e~42ntGNBprEbZam8Mtm7oqbxPPDkStiI7tRK0oYCr3hvC3didSEnul17n33VkcHZK1A71Iz-vsgDEz39nIzUuw9tT7RirmJN6g3-w8kLJRKVigLnaipCFGUwe0rTZY49IczO4gyAyRd4sEdrf~PedN1FbllvOoOYie5Auz7nG~h3h1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Antonio City Council Governance Committee on Feb. 17, 2025, voted to recommend five applicants to the full City Council for appointment to the Planning Commission after interviewing nine candidates for five at‑large seats.

The committee recommended Samer Dasuki, George Peck, Matthew Prophet, Jacob Sanchez and Meredith Siegel be forwarded to the full council for consideration, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said after a motion and a second and a voice vote approving the recommendation.

The committee held in‑person interviews with five applicants and noted three additional applicants had submitted written statements in the meeting packet. Applicants who appeared in person gave two‑minute opening statements and answered questions from committee members about their experience and priorities for planning in San Antonio.

Among those who spoke during interviews, applicant Corin Hooper said he would bring professional planning experience to the commission. \"I have a bachelor's of science in regional development from the University of Arizona and a master's in city and regional planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology,\" Hooper said in his opening statement, and later described his work background as a noise analyst at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland and prior employment with the City's Development Services Department.

Longer‑serving commissioner Matthew Prophet, who sought reappointment, told the committee he has served on the Planning Commission since 2020 and said the body balances staff recommendations, technical review and public input when making recommendations to City Council. \"Two things can be true. We can grow and we can preserve,\" Prophet said, summarizing his view on managing development.

Applicants highlighted transit‑oriented development, outreach to communities experiencing rapid change on the South Side, and balancing affordability with neighborhood character as priorities. Several council members asked candidates about their perspectives on transit‑oriented development and on planning challenges tied to the South Side's recent growth near institutions such as Palo Alto College and Texas A&M‑San Antonio.

Before interviewing applicants, committee members noted nine initial applicants with one withdrawal; the committee then recessed into executive session to deliberate on appointments and legal issues. After returning, Councilmember Cabello Haverda moved to forward the five names to the full council; the motion received a second and carried on a voice vote.

The committee also approved the meeting minutes from Jan. 15, 2025, at the start of the session.

The recommended names will be considered by the full City Council at a future meeting; the Governance Committee did not make final appointments.

Reported speakers and applicants include Mayor Ron Nirenberg; Councilmembers Rocha Garcia and Cabello Haverda; and applicants Corin Hooper, Matthew Prophet (seeking reappointment), Jacob Sanchez, Meredith Siegel, Mary Ann Smith, Samer Dasuki, George Peck and Tomasia Resti. Staff noted three applicants submitted written statements that were included in the meeting packet for committee review.","San Antonio governance committee conducted interviews for nine applicants and voted to forward five names — Samer Dasuki, George Peck, Matthew Prophet, Jacob Sanchez and Meredith Siegel — to the full City Council for appointment to the Planning Commission.","actionData","errors"]

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Governance committee forwards study of fee waivers and coordinated assistance for San Antonio house‑fire victims

Governance committee recommends five planning commission applicants to full City Council