SAN ANTONIO Jan. 16, 2025 — The San Antonio City Council approved the consent agenda covering items 4 through 43, with two items pulled for separate consideration, and discussion during the meeting focused briefly on a program to provide free or reduced-cost VIA transit passes for employees.

What was approved: the council moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda, excluding items 13 and 14; the mayor pro tem confirmed the motion passed on the record. Councilmember discussion and public comment addressed item 16, which the materials describe as a VIA employee pass program.

Public comment and council response: resident Jack Finger told the council he was concerned that VIA employees were being given free rides at taxpayer expense and cited specific income thresholds mentioned in the backup materials. A councilmember (unnamed in the transcript) thanked city staff for the initiative and said the council should monitor the program through the appropriate committee and that staff should return with usage information. "Es una buena iniciativa... Quiero asegurarnos que estamos monitoreando esto dentro del comité," the councilmember said.

Why it matters: the program changes the distribution of transit benefits to employees and raises questions about oversight and public cost. The consent-approved status means the program was carried forward as part of the overall consent package after the council removed two items for separate review.

Record and next steps: the consent agenda vote to approve items 4to 43, excluding items 13 and 14, is recorded as passed in the meeting transcript. Council members requested monitoring and committee follow-up on the VIA employee pass program; the transcript does not include later committee scheduling or program metrics.