City Attorney and Fire Union Disputes Add Heat to San Antonio Council’s Agenda

City Attorney and Fire Union Disputes Add Heat to San Antonio Council’s Agenda

Following the demand of five members, two contentious issues have unexpectedly found their place on the San Antonia City Council’s agenda this week. While these topics may appear unrelated to observers outside City Hall, they could significantly shape the city’s operations and the career of the current city attorney. They may also reignite the long battle to secure a contract with the powerful firefighters union that transpired from 2014 to 2020.

Contentious Topics for Discussion

The council is slated to assess the job performance of City Attorney Andy Segovia in a private session on Wednesday and hold a public discussion regarding contract negotiations with the firefighters union on Thursday. Both sessions come as a result of Segovia’s refusal last week to arrange a private ‘executive session’ concerning these stalled negotiations.

Ironically the council members asking for these sessions seem to be pleased rather than incensed. “I’m glad we’re having the discussions [on Wednesday and Thursday]. That’s really, at the end of the day, all we were really asking for”, said Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda who alongside four other members of the council had requested such meetings.

The Role of Politics in Procedure

Many observers have found the addition of these dispute topics onto the city’s official docket rather unusual. Interestingly, it is standard practice to discuss personnel issues in closed meetings according to Michael Bernard, former city attorney. However, the city’s charter restricts council members from instructing or asking city managers to hire or fire their subordinates; the idea is to decrease political influence on daily management.

Amid such regulations, calling for Segovia’s removal, as Cabello Havrda did last week, could result in actions considered as ‘official misconduct’, which could lead to a public hearing and her expulsion. However, the councilwoman is keen that her conduct does not violate the charter. ”We’re giving direction and advice to the city manager,” was her explanation for demanding Segovia’s removal.

Negotiations Stalemate

The important conversation surrounding the fire union contract mostly revolve around wage disputes. The current firefighter’s contract expires on December 31, and negotiations between the city and the union started this February. However, negotiations have been less than fruitful with each side unable to come to terms with financial figures tabled by the other.

The city has presented figures showing how competitive salaries and benefits for firefighters are when adjusted to the cost of living, as compared to other Texas cities. However, the union cries foul claiming these figures to be manipulated. The city’s proposal outlined that the union’s demands would cost around $363 million more than the city’s proposal of $157 million.

With a projected city deficit of at least $10.6 million for the 2025 budget, meeting the demands of the union seems rather impossible. The city is predicting a financial deficit for the years following 2025 as well. Maria Villagomez, Deputy City Mayor, has made it clear that the union’s proposal, in terms of the city’s finances, is not sustainable.

As these contentious discussions loom this week, it remains to be seen how these negotiations progress and what impact it may have on the workings of the San Antonio city council and its key members.