Commissioner Rodriguez Announcement Display

Supporters gather at Site of New Southside County Satellite Office
to launch campaign. Bexar County Commissioner Sergio “Chico”
Rodriguez announced his plans to seek re-election to the Precinct 1 position.
Rodriguez is running for a third term and was first elected Commissioner in
2004. Joining Commissioner Rodriguez in front of the future home of the Bexar
County Southside Satellite Office, were a broad group of distinguished
neighborhood and business leaders along with elected officials including Bexar
County Judge Nelson Wolff and State Senator Leticia Van de Putte.

Rodriguez told supporters the completion of the satellite office
marks a commitment he made to voters when he first sought the Precinct 1
position, “From the time I first ran, my goal has been to make county
government more accessible and responsive to our community, especially those
with the greatest needs like children and seniors… This facility will put
important services within the reach of many who may not otherwise get
them.”

Commissioner Rodriguez also discussed initiatives he started to
help abused and special needs children as well as important health care
projects like the building of the new University Hospital System (UHS) Diabetes
Treatment Center in Precinct 1 and the expansion of the Downtown UHS Health
Center. “This type of screening, preventative care and life saving
treatment is vital to ensure that our community can live healthy, fulfilling
lives and part of my commitment to Precinct 1 voters that health care stays one
of our highest priorities on Commissioners Court,” stated Commissioner
Rodriguez.

With several important projects like the San Antonio River Mission
Reach underway for Precinct 1, Rodriguez added, “You expect honesty from your
public servants and as your county commissioner, I’ve done my best to represent
you in a way that you can be proud of and that makes your voice heard. As a
true Democrat, I will continue working to solve neighborhood problems and
standing up for those least able to speak for themselves.”

The Precinct 1 position takes in Bexar County’s south and
southwest side. Election Day for the primary election is March 6^th,
2012 and early voting begins on February 21, 2012. For more information about
the upcoming election or how to register to vote, contact the Bexar County
Elections Department at (210) 335-VOTE (8683).

I would like to thank my family, friends, and supporters for joining me at my fundraiser to help kick-start my re-election campaign. A special thank you to my hosts, Marty Wender, Henry Cisneros, Jane Macon, Gene Dawson and Carrie Baker-Wells.

I hope to see all of you again as I ask you to join me this Sunday, November 20th at 2pm for my official re-election kick-off. I will be surrounded by family, friends and community members at the future home of the Precinct 1 satellite field office located at the 3500 block of Pleasanton Rd. (near Moursund Blvd.).

San Antonio, Texas 78205-3036

210.335.2555 | 210.335.2926/fax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 1, 2011

Contact Laura Jesse: Office - 210.335.0073 | Mobile - 210.787.9038

Mission County Park No. 1 is one of the four most used recreational areas in Bexar County’s park inventory. The park’s 16 acres occupy a historically significant area of southern Bexar County dating back to the Spanish Colonial period of this region’s history. From its first established use as farmlands associated with Mission San Jose to its establishment as a county‐owned park in 1950, Mission County Park continues to play a vital role in the historic and cultural story of Bexar County. But, with all of that use, the parks are in need of upgrades.

Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved acceptance of a $1 million Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to contribute to the redevelopment of Mission County Park 1 and tie it into the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Improvements Project. When complete, the park will serve as a major portal between the river trails and the San Antonio Missions Historical Park. The grant requires a $1 million County match. This is the second of two grants received for the project and contributes to the $4.3 million total cost of the redevelopment.

“The improvements and investment that we will pour into Mission County Park and the neighboring area represent the increased value of this jewel of a park that is hidden within the south side of Bexar County,” Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez said. “The detailed design and work on the park and its amenities also will mirror one of the original purposes of the neighboring Mission San Jose.”

The project, which will shift park use from recreation to cultural functions, will focus on three distinct areas: the Albert Pena Jr. Festival Complex and its seven separate facilities, a pecan grove and picnic area, and the artistic recreation of a segment of the San Antonio River which used to flow across the property.

In the festival complex the 60‐foot by 60‐foot rotunda, which was designed and constructed with old telephone poles and tractor blades in 1951, will be restored. A ticket booth and two older pavilions will be demolished and replaced with pavilions that include a stage and the electrical and lighting required for small music venues, a dance floor, and natural ventilation with misting devices. The Henry B. Gonzalez kitchen pavilion will be renovated so it can continue to support outdoor food preparation and service for large public events. The asphalt pathways within the festival complex will be realigned and resurfaced with a more natural, water permeable and ADA‐compliant surface material.

An old native pecan grove will be restored and seating will be installed in five sitting areas. The pecan grove also will serve as overflow parking for large events at the festival complex. In three public meetings with residents who regularly use the park, traffic flow and parking were the two major issues attendees wanted addressed.

Other planned improvements include trails for walking and bicycling with interpretive signage, installation of a San Antonio Water System recycled water line for irrigation, restroom upgrades, and the burial of overhead utility lines and removal of CPS Energy utility poles.

“Through the detailed planning, I hope to educate our community about the diverse culture and history that lives within, to encourage more growth and acculturate those who visit Mission County Park, so they may take a piece of this treasure with them,” Commissioner Rodriguez said. “This South Side park is something to be proudly shared with everyone, and I encourage visitors to come to our community to experience the deep historic and cultural ties we have to the entire region.”

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San Antonio, Texas 78205-3036

210.335.2555 | 210.335.2926/fax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 1, 2011

Contact Laura Jesse: Office - 210.335.0073 | Mobile - 210.787.9038

Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously accepted the results of the Lackland Air Force Base Joint Land Use Study, which was commissioned to provide an ongoing framework to enhance compatibility around the base and improve the quality of life for the surrounding community. The collaborative study included the County, Joint Base San Antonio, Port San Antonio and the City of San Antonio.

“Bexar County has worked diligently since 2008 to study the needs of the military at Lackland and to develop ways to preserve the mission of the military base and Port San Antonio,” said Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez, whose Precinct 1 includes the study area. “Our challenge was to protect the surrounding community and to develop a cooperative plan to maintain the quality of life and the safety for all residents in this area.”

The key recommendations of the study include:

• Implement science-based sound mitigation for the flight paths.
• Explore voluntary real estate disclosure of noise and other factors that may affect property.
• Conduct a modeling study of mission activities at the Lackland Training Annex and assess the feasibility of on-base noise mitigation measures.
• Conduct a lighting study for night vision device operations at the Lackland Training Annex.
• Formalize communication procedures between stakeholders through a memorandum of understanding.
• Ensure the City of San Antonio West/Southwest Sector Plan considers the compatibility of findings of the study, along with other relevant input.
• Develop educational outreach materials, including Web sites, handouts, brochures, regular community briefings with Joint Base San Antonio and Port San Antonio representatives.
• Establish a group of stakeholder and industry representatives of the study’s advisory committee to put the plan into action.

“I will continue to work with partners to make sure we implement the recommendations, which are intended to promote communication in the community and sustain economic activity,” Commissioner Rodriguez said.

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