Inner City TIRZ Extension

At a glance

• What: An ordinance extending the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to September 30, 2060 and authorizing a development agreement of up to $46 million plus financing costs for a District 2 Senior Center and Aquatics Center.
• Where it stands: Approved 11-0 on September 10, 2026 (McKee-Rodriguez moved, Kaur seconded).
• Next: Staff were asked to analyze options for shortening the term; McKee-Rodriguez said land acquisition and development requests in the pipeline should be considered in any sunset discussion.

Discussion

• Benavidez presented the proposal, boundaries, design and construction timelines. McKee-Rodriguez said gentrification, not catalytic investment, drove the increment, and described planned improvements at Copernicus Park.
• Kaur serves on the TIRZ board and asked Elliott to display the financial model; she requested analysis of shortening the term. Viagran, Alderete Gavito and Whyte backed analysis of timing options for all city-initiated TIRZ. Castillo said the zone should redevelop areas in need without gentrification.
• On September 15 and 16 several members proposed using Inner City TIRZ money for the Eastside Boys & Girls Club (which planned to close; McKee-Rodriguez asked for three months of emergency funding pending a TIRZ board meeting) and for saving City positions; Walsh said citywide uses would require a cost allocation and a change in the participation rate.

Sources

• City Council A Session 2026-09-10 minutes: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/{982EBC29-69EF-4560-9B60-7E4EB0B487AB}/{982EBC29-69EF-4560-9B60-7E4EB0B487AB}.pdf
• City Council Budget Work Session 2026-09-15 minutes: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/{F5DB6B9A-A1F0-499D-BC94-5D89065D015E}/{F5DB6B9A-A1F0-499D-BC94-5D89065D015E}.pdf
• City Council Budget Work Session 2026-09-16 minutes: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/{ADC76655-2C96-49F2-B36E-3EDA50521C98}/{ADC76655-2C96-49F2-B36E-3EDA50521C98}.pdf

Log

2026-09-16 - City Council Budget Work Session

Spears supported using Inner City TIRZ for the Boys & Girls Club.

2026-09-15 - City Council Budget Work Session

Members debated using Inner City TIRZ funds to preserve positions; McKee-Rodriguez withdrew his proposal after learning all affected employees had been placed.

2026-09-10 - City Council A Session

Approved 11-0.