CITY OF SAN ANTONIO

OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST

TO: Mayor & City Council

FROM: To Be Determined
Erik Walsh, City Manager; Leticia Vacek, City Clerk; Andy Segovia, City
COPIES TO: Attorney; John Peterek, Interim Assistant to City Manager; Emily McGinn,
Assistant to the City Council
Review Approach to Incentivize the Faith Base and Non-Profit Communities in
SUBJECT:
Providing Human Services
DATE: September 5, 2019

Issue Proposed for Consideration

I ask for your support for the inclusion of the following item on the agenda of the earliest
available meeting of the Governance Committee:
I respectfully request City Staff to review and make recommendations to assist the Faith
Based and Non-Profit Community involved with providing homeless or other human
services through the waiver or reduction of Fees, Permits or Fines associated with
complying with City Codes to perform those service activities.

Brief Background
The City of San Antonio continues to experience the need to provide human services beyond
its capabilities. These human services include providing assistance to the homeless or near
homeless, addiction intervention, and providing meals to those most in need of help. Many
of these service gaps can be filled by the Faith Based and Non-Profit Community.

The purpose of this request is to direct City staff to determine the feasibility of Waiving or
Reducing Fees for Zoning, Plan Amendments and Building Permits, or Health Permits for
projects that the Faith Based and Non-Profit Community requires to stay in compliance with
City safety and land use directives.

A dollar saved from a fee is a dollar spent on food, clothing and other basic essentials for
human dignity.

Fee waivers or reductions can focus on the following areas:

1. Planning and Zoning Fees to rezone properties to comply with the human services
mission.
2. Electrical, Plumbing and other permit fees issued by Development Services in
order to promote building code compliance at a reasonable cost.

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 3. Assist with Health Department through waivers or reductions in fees for food
permits.
4. Review of how to reduce or exempt property taxes.
5. Waive or forgive existing fines already levied upon the property involved in
providing human services.

By partnering with the Faith Based and Non-Profit Community we can maximize our
investment into homeless and other human services in partnership with City programs.
Additionally, these organizations will be in compliance with all City Codes and Land Uses
and provide the public safety necessary to provide these services to the community.

Guidelines should be in place for this request by ensuring that the mission fits with providing
homeless and human services. For example:

1. Churches or non-profits must perform homeless support at a minimum of 3 days

per week.
2. Homeless services and support must be tracked and monitored to demonstrate
program performance.
3. Must be in existence for a reasonable time and be a qualified church or non-profit.
Minimum standards should be set to determine minimum qualifications.
4. Understand the gaps with Haven for Hope and how other programs can assist in
partnering to help fill needs within the homeless population.

By creating a partnership with the Faith-Based community and Non-Profit organizations, the
City of San Antonio will help increase the reach of all of these organizations, who have a
singular mission to help those who need the help the most. Many Faith-Based and Non-Profit
organizations want to expand and grow their ministry, but basics like application fees for
planning and zoning, permit fees for development and permitting are overly burdensome.

Submitted for Council consideration

by:

Councilmember ___________________, District ___

Supporting Councilmember’s Signatures (4 only) District

1.

2.

3.

4.

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