[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6567397,"mediaKeyId","3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7","parentId",3327280,"title","San Antonio council adopts revised metal-recycling rules after months of task-force work and public debate","audioSeconds",2223,"startMs",897000,"endMs",3120000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7&start=897&end=3120","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7/thumbnail_897000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567397/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-council-adopts-revised-metal-recycling-rules-after-months-of-task-force-work-and-public-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567397-bbbb95604d5bea45b6314ea61dbea865/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443038&Signature=IzW9HU0cG6UCASH-Fev7RJE7SW4yRh58hHcaZgAtfowNHBZ6SBE0wsB-T11ubN4qcYXSzj0tEuORVkFEy5PeryuYjwIyGB~-E5FA43IxU~AVzW~GSjWVl3bNfeV1GpdlTQH7HbWpoooF8UtYrTqw~Bh7ZY5~h3XGkAJhXu6Ihwdzx4qs3A1G6eTyiGiPrK1pS2Ci0e148ptx~KWt48lvkuQNQS8iT~HcPvMAteL2m47J4OwCofT-YIUufy3d8zKvWXMVtbZ6tAzwiiLh6fkGgdJvGjAjdvDNL-crbZPt~qO2L7sR3FncWpIoE8SxoAt6nnjWPecz6~~FE5JPqgHBlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","San Antonio City Council on May 15 approved revisions to Chapter 16 of the Unified Development Code that update rules for metal recycling and related uses after months of task-force work and public comment.

The code changes—brought to the council as item 8 and approved on the consent agenda—tighten operational requirements for metal recycling, add enforceable timelines for correcting violations and broaden enforcement options, city staff and council members said. Council member Ana Castillo thanked task-force members and staff for drafting the overhaul and said it will require periodic review.

The rewrite adds or clarifies several requirements the task force and city staff described in council discussion and public comment: shorter notice-to-correct windows when violations are found (two days instead of the current 10–30 days), authority for the city to use civil tickets in addition to criminal penalties, clearer grounds to revoke a certificate of occupancy for operating without a license, and the ability to suspend or revoke a license after three or more violations accepted by municipal court in a rolling 12‑month period (the prior period was 18 months). The revisions also specify stricter pile-height limits, require fire‑prevention plans and fencing, and add a formal definition for materials such as automotive shredder residue (commonly called “fluff”).

Industry representatives who spoke at council urged protection for longstanding businesses and said some provisions should preserve the legal status of “nonconforming” uses that existed before annexation. Lloyd Welty, a task-force participant and industry representative, said the task force spent dozens of hours updating the code and asked council to preserve state-law protections that allow businesses operating before annexation to continue certain operations. “This is a state law,” Welty told the council when explaining protections for properties annexed into the city.

Representatives of Monterey Metal Recycling Solutions, including Vice President Jeff Vexler and environmental consultant Peter Kane, said Monterey complies with state and federal oversight and provides local jobs. Jeff Vexler described ongoing neighborhood outreach and said the company works with nearby groups, including VFW Post 4700. VFW commander Mike Molina said his post, directly across the street, had not documented air-quality complaints related to the facility.

Public health and environmental advocates urged stronger limits on expansion of existing facilities in residential or flood‑prone areas. Deborah Ponce, a climate‑justice organizer with Public Citizen, told the council that fires at local metal-recycling yards in 2023 released toxic smoke into neighborhoods and prompted a city request for enforceable reforms. “Safety should not be negotiable,” Ponce said, asking the council to remove a proposed exception allowing existing recycling businesses to expand nonconforming operations.

Council member Castillo, who said the task force met regularly over eight months, described several concrete changes she said followed that collaboration: faster timelines for city responses when violations are identified, the new civil‑ticketing option, and strengthened license‑suspension language. Castillo said the city will revisit the Unified Development Code every five years and that the rewrite is a step toward preventing future incidents.

The council approved the revisions on the consent agenda. Because the item was approved as part of consent, no roll‑call tally was read into the record during the council meeting.

The council and staff said further work on implementation and community outreach will continue; the task force, members told the council, included business representatives and community stakeholders and met repeatedly to draft the language now adopted.

Ending: The adopted Chapter 16 changes take effect as part of the city code and will be enforced by Development Services and other city departments. City staff said they will provide implementation details and community outreach in the coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - City Council A Session May 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","San Antonio City Council on May 15 approved revisions to Chapter 16 of the Unified Development Code that update rules for metal recycling and related uses after months of task-force work and public comment.","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},6567382,"Votes at a glance: San Antonio council approves minutes, consent items, project finance zone and midyear budget adjustments",2513,545000,3058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7&start=545&end=3058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7/thumbnail_545000.jpg","/articles/6567382/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-San-Antonio-council-approves-minutes-consent-items-project-finance-zone-and-midyear-budget-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567382-3de043f36e319e1239a3059d1e9a4315/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443039&Signature=Dr2bMHqR~VX4FgVzFKfq-beOAcy-JHbMFmQYcX50h2BDDbt5HNm8mv8XF1FdxT13elEmpJ~vQhEo6~xU0emAu0QQb1ztCNwNnQ84~dRZ~Sk04gqg7gumGnYTv9noDeCdGuh6Qzpd2NuU2FTas3K0T4gOOv3aQtrADElzYQrfK~iOUA7C8B7Z5zNkW0N0DxQK~ZwjwxfygU3-QrCH2b~LzBnidDf8NlUiH47tX31-Rf56~AgpLBiZozUHt2jDasP7nJmV3uqgLF-ono1BiIsTkJ8U3Uy6D4COWGDCwjCCJRBirmsgGSJFA4Pn1~wM32bA3yGvUxnjx0ETgx01l6Wx7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Antonio City Council took the following recorded actions during its May 15 a‑session. This roundup lists each item and the outcome recorded in the meeting. Where a roll‑call tally was not read into the record, the published minutes record the action as approved by motion.

- Item 3 — Approval of meeting minutes (11/21/2024, 04/30/2025, 05/01/2025): Motion carried; minutes approved.

- Consent items (items 4 through 15, excluding those saved for individual consideration): Motion carried approving the consent agenda. Notable consent items called during public comment included:
• Item 5 — Funding agreement: An ordinance approving a funding agreement between the City of San Antonio and Journey of Flight Inc. (Kelly Heritage Learning Center) for $500,000 for design services for the Airman Heritage Museum and Aerospace Learning Center. Council member Rocha Garcia highlighted the project and thanked Public Works staff. Approved on consent.
• Item 15 — Interlocal agreement with VIA Metropolitan Transit: Approval of an interlocal partnership to advance the East‑West Silver Line rapid‑transit corridor project. A public commenter, Jack M. Finger, asked why the backup indicated “dedicated and mixed‑use lanes” and questioned the fiscal impact language; the item remained on consent and was approved with the rest of the consent agenda.
• Item 8 — Chapter 16 rewrite (MRE/UAPR): The code revisions governing metal recycling and related uses were included on consent but drew multiple public speakers; council later approved the Chapter 16 changes and staff will publish implementation guidance (see separate coverage).

- Item 14 — Ordinance designating Project Finance Zone Number 2: Council designated a zone covering a three‑mile radius around the convention center complex (Alamodome, convention center and potential arena) to capture incremental state hotel and related taxes for eligible venue improvements. Staff will finalize a community engagement and community‑benefits plan and return with project‑level proposals. Approved after discussion.

- Item 16 — FY2025 midyear budget adjustments: Council approved ordinance amendments aligning FY2025 operating and capital budgets to actual revenues and expenditures through March 2025 and projections for the remaining fiscal year. Staff said no service cuts are included in the midyear adjustments. Approved after brief discussion.

Ending: Multiple items were approved on consent; items pulled for individual consideration (including the project finance zone and the midyear budget amendment) were approved after council discussion. The meeting record indicates motions carried; the transcript did not include detailed roll‑call vote tallies for each item within the excerpt.

For more complete detail on each item, see the separate articles on the Chapter 16 code rewrite, the Project Finance Zone and the FY2025 midyear budget adjustments.","At its May 15 meeting the council approved meeting minutes, approved a batch of consent items (including a $500,000 funding agreement for an Airman Heritage Museum project and an interlocal with VIA for an East‑West transit corridor), adopted a Project Finance Zone around the convention complex and approved FY2025 midyear budget adjustments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567387,"City approves midyear FY2025 budget adjustments; staff say no service cuts planned",0,9002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7&start=9002&end=9002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7/thumbnail_9002000.jpg","/articles/6567387/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/City-approves-midyear-FY2025-budget-adjustments-staff-say-no-service-cuts-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567387-2deeab9e9be465f6da45888f751b50e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443039&Signature=JhIAYhxjl1Fd7JgpZArJWQ-0h4kMNVIq~f0P5AXE2rQhWHXX3WHKuvm~AnkZXwvLXb2NvbALQchdxixZKOD6DQvxspn8i7ibnYPYmTOqsw96xmmYZ-hRixeL221HOJS3dGN8R2xr0xe4u-cGwFgs~pGICilc9oGiR-1MZPgET0oCyFJtJWY4hjIuUYdB3p6drr~Lr8ZM6jcxzcM4gI2B66QxMbDmCMr0UbRkkU5BRZJfXm1~RAT9Oa1aoRULnTuaUShUqVx0MONiSpsq0erZzRwk-cMwOK3o-JesteLfNXKK5OG6ekBufkqcpEH0L9wK9Gbg8Kw6qi7e4r50z~IFFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Antonio City Council on May 15 approved a midyear amendment to the FY2025 operating and capital budgets, a staff presentation said the changes reconcile actual revenues and expenditures for October 2024–March 2025 with projections for the remaining fiscal year.

City staff explained the adjustments are intended to align department spending with updated revenue and expenditure forecasts; council member Alberta Aldrete de Gavito asked whether the changes would reduce services. Staff said the midyear adjustments do not include service cuts and will not affect ongoing encampment cleanup, homeless services or the Woodlawn Lake projects cited by the council member.

The ordinance was pulled for discussion by Council member Aldrete de Gavito and then approved after brief comment. Staff described the changes as alignment actions and said departments will continue to manage projects and services under the revised projections.

Ending: Council approved the midyear amendments; staff will continue monitoring revenues and expenses and return to council if deeper adjustments are needed.","The council approved an ordinance adjusting the FY2025 operating and capital budgets to reflect actual revenues and expenditures through March 2025. Staff told council the midyear adjustments align spending to projections and do not include service reductions.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567392,"Council designates Project Finance Zone around convention‑center complex to tap state revenues for venues",463,8335000,8798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7&start=8335&end=8798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3327280-211501e60255974d6c51e82c6ccc86c7/thumbnail_8335000.jpg","/articles/6567392/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Council-designates-Project-Finance-Zone-around-conventioncenter-complex-to-tap-state-revenues-for-venues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567392-ec16a75cc5a86282469bf42562642067/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443039&Signature=almLz5aYshwRbGTQGoccH3MHcWq~RaBNVigxRunnPWMQwSaf2BO8YMBr65sxemhuZR~A36SuPGQJ~xiD2KYDYAvaabYiseAbDQF7qbRafycM6W9NnSCtM~8y09T-3c8Z5fKJIF21iHqOPo9Wtv~-DTsOYkGF0k5uuPmoBVEE-KYOs0ULgcWXSYp4K6RJOAUP2WqB9QqEAg3mi-s9yB31nzSADKvue1KzrEOCjJP7hGrbVobmWYQJYR4TlQR9QUd5aLm12DC-mcrdDzzXRzSgE5mXejqC7Ompdf5lnNJ7Z6GLFdd40pF7m4Z8~uAbS936Xn5oYDMuNLImAnqNT5jH5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Antonio City Council voted May 15 to designate a Project Finance Zone that centers on the city’s convention‑center complex, including the Alamodome and the convention center, and a potential arena project.

Under state law enacted in 2023, a municipality may establish a project finance zone to capture incremental state revenues generated inside the zone—principally state hotel taxes and certain mixed‑beverage taxes from hotels—and use those revenues for eligible venue and convention‑related improvements. The ordinance creates a zone defined by a three‑mile radius around the designated complex and sets an expiration date consistent with state requirements.

Council discussion focused on the scope of eligible uses and the statutory timeframes. Council member Ron Nirenberg and staff explained the tool does not raise taxes; instead it redirects a share of existing state tax revenue generated inside the zone back to the city for qualifying projects. Council member Diego Courage asked whether privately owned projects within the zone—such as a redeveloped federal courthouse—would automatically be eligible; staff clarified that funds may be used only for projects that meet the statute’s definition of eligible venues and that state authorization and statutory definitions limit flexibility.

Council member Courage and others asked about a five‑year “shot clock” in the statute for commencing projects included in the zone; staff said the city must follow state deadlines for project commencement and that additional state approvals and a community engagement plan are part of the implementation process. Eric Walsh, staff lead, said a community engagement and benefits plan is being finalized and will be circulated to council and the public within days.

The ordinance was moved and seconded and approved after discussion. The council decision directs staff to proceed with implementation steps, including finalizing public outreach and the community benefits framework that will accompany any future project proposals funded through the zone.

Ending: Staff said they will release the engagement plan soon and return with implementation details and any request for project‑level approvals.","The council approved an ordinance designating a project finance zone that covers a three‑mile radius around the Alamo Dome, the convention center and a potential arena so the city may capture incremental state hotel and related taxes for qualifying venue improvements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

San Antonio council adopts revised metal-recycling rules after months of task-force work and public debate

Votes at a glance: San Antonio council approves minutes, consent items, project finance zone and midyear budget adjustments

City approves midyear FY2025 budget adjustments; staff say no service cuts planned

Council designates Project Finance Zone around convention‑center complex to tap state revenues for venues