Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Antonio public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in general with medium priority
NIOSA agreement
San Antonio's beloved NIOSA festival is in limbo after the Conservation Society suddenly pulled out of its agreement with the city. This means a massive shakeup for one of our biggest annual traditions, and nobody quite knows what's next for Fiesta's biggest party.
Utility Leadership
San Antonio's city-owned utility, CPS Energy, is dropping the "interim" label and making Frank Almaraz the permanent CEO. He's stepping into a tough spot, though, with looming budget problems and heavy breathing from state politicians.
Property Appraisal Policy
Bexar County's chief appraiser is catching heat for changing a popular rule that usually saves homeowners from having to fight their property value hikes year after year. If you're a local homeowner, this means your property tax appeals could get a whole lot more annoying.
Hotel Fee Increase
San Antonio wants to raise hotel fees so it can pull in extra cash to market the city and reel in massive conventions. Basically, tourists and visitors will be chipping in a bit more to help boost the local tourism scene.
County Leadership Retirement
Bexar County Manager David Smith is stepping down at the end of the year, meaning big leadership changes are coming right as a new judge takes the bench. Since Smith is the only person who's ever had this job, finding his replacement will set a totally new tone for county government.
Burn Ban
Bexar County just slapped a 90-day ban on outdoor burning because things are super dry and the wildfire risk is no joke. Leave the backyard fire pits and brush burning alone until we get some rain.
Utility Competition
Governor Abbott wants to open up city-owned utilities to more competition, which could shake up how San Antonio's local providers operate. If this goes through, it might end up changing the monthly utility bills you pay.
Eight-liner Machine Ban
Councilwoman Teri Castillo is pushing to ban eight-liner gambling machines across San Antonio to crack down on illegal operations. If it passes, these casino-style games will disappear from local neighborhoods.
Power Outage
Over 3,800 North Side residents are currently sitting in the dark while CPS Energy hunts for the cause of the outage. If you live in the area, keep your phone handy for updates on when the lights might come back on.
Gas Explosions Investigation
Big gas explosions rocked a San Antonio neighborhood, and investigators think they know where it started. They're digging up a specific backyard to figure out what went wrong with the gas lines.