San Antonio City Council met Thursday to advance the city’s 2027‑2032 municipal bond program. Councilmembers approved a trio of new bond chairpersons who will shape the project list and steer the public‑review process that begins on Nov. 16.
Tri‑chair appointments
The council, acting on proposals from Councilwomen Sukh Kaur (District 1) and Phyllis Viagran (District 3), named Kevin Dinnin, president and CEO of the FirstDay Foundation; Anita Fernandez, co‑founder of OCI Group; and Sandi Wolff, vice president of Community Engagement and Advancement at Hallmark University, as the bond tri‑chairs.
“We have three great people who will make sure the bond gets the attention it deserves from the community,” said Councilmember Marc Whyte (District 10). He added that the chairs will lead an effort that the city can rally around.
Bond details and fiscal context
The proposed $442 million bond is roughly half the size of the 2022 bond, reflecting a tougher economic environment. The bond package focuses on a smaller slate of public‑infrastructure and improvement projects and does not include a tax increase.
Three bond‑related propositions, slightly revised since the council’s Oct. 29 briefing, will be placed on the May ballot for voter approval. The public‑review phase, which allows residents to comment on the proposed projects, starts Nov. 16. The tri‑chairs will refine the project list and present it to the council on Jan. 21, then work to secure community support.
Mayor’s concerns and council response
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones raised a question about potential conflicts of interest among the tri‑chairs, noting that OCI had previously worked with the Spurs. City Attorney Andy Segovia said his office sees no disqualifying conflicts and that any concerns would be handled case‑by‑case.
When the mayor asked for a formal disclosure, council members voted down further discussion, and the tri‑chair ordinance passed unanimously, with the mayor casting the sole dissenting vote.
Related storm‑water revenue bond
Alongside the municipal bond, the city will issue a separate $208 million storm‑water revenue bond to fund drainage and flood‑control projects citywide. This bond does not require voter approval. The council will consider raising the average residential storm‑water fee to $4.94 per month in its January meeting.
Implications for the community
The bond process aims to address critical infrastructure needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility. By keeping the bond size modest and avoiding new taxes, the council hopes to gain broad voter support, especially after recent school‑district bond measures failed on the midterm ballot.
Community members are encouraged to participate in the public‑review period beginning Nov. 16 to ensure that the projects reflect local priorities and that the bond package receives the backing needed for successful passage.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
