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Committee recommends four candidates for Riverwalk Capital Improvements Advisory Board
Summary
The Economic and Workforce Development Committee interviewed at‑large applicants for the Riverwalk Capital Improvements Advisory Board and voted to forward four nominees — including two riverbed lessee seats — to the full City Council for confirmation.
The Economic and Workforce Development Committee on Feb. 25 recommended four applicants to fill at‑large seats on the Riverwalk Capital Improvements Advisory Board and will forward the appointments to the full City Council for final confirmation.
The committee heard two‑minute interviews from several applicants and debated priorities for the Riverwalk before voting. Councilwoman Villagran moved the recommendation and Councilmember Castillo seconded; the committee approved the motion and will transmit the slate to council.
The committee’s motion recommended Charlie Riley for the downtown business owner (non‑lessee) seat; Dominic Silva for the downtown resident (non‑lessee) seat; and Christopher Hill and Sam Panchevret for the two riverbed lessee seats. Christopher Hill submitted a written statement and did not attend his interview. Marco Barros withdrew his application prior to interviews.
Applicants described a mix of preservation and practical improvements they would pursue if appointed. Taryn Furman, owner of Elsewhere Garden Bar and Kitchen and a member of Visit San Antonio’s board, told the committee she and other applicants “have a deep passion and love for our beloved downtown … especially our Riverwalk,” and said the board should both “preserve and protect it” and “shepherd it into the future.”
Charlie Riley, an attorney who said he has practiced civil litigation for about 22 years and has served on the Riverwalk board previously, described his work completing accessibility improvements and a year‑round tree lighting program. Dominic Silva — who identified himself as a longtime downtown resident and “assistant vice president of land development at Habitat for Humanity” — said his background in planning and capital project assessment would help the board prioritize infrastructure and pedestrian access. Sam Panchevret, who said he has worked on the Riverwalk since the 1980s and now lives downtown, emphasized lighting, vegetation and wayfinding as relatively low‑cost improvements that would improve safety and the visitor experience.
Committee members pressed candidates on specific needs: improving lighting along parade routes and in working‑class sections of the Riverwalk, addressing summer heat for family‑friendly programming, and continuing accessibility upgrades to meet ADA standards. Several council members repeatedly asked that appointed board members monitor lighting so that the Riverwalk’s amenities are equitably distributed during large events such as Fiesta.
The Riverwalk Capital Improvements Advisory Board, established in 2002, advises the City Council on spending priorities from the Riverwalk Special Revenue Fund. The board has seven seats; three are filled by city department heads (Center City Development, Operations, Parks and Historic Preservation) and four are at‑large seats in categories that include riverbed lessees and downtown business owners.
The committee’s recommendation will be placed on the full council agenda for confirmation. The committee did not take any other formal action on Riverwalk policy at the meeting.
