San Antonio board reviews code‑compliance strategic plan and district demolition counts

The San Antonio Building Standards Board on May 15 heard a multi‑part update from code‑compliance staff that included a strategic‑plan timeline, citizen‑satisfaction results and a district‑by‑district demolition status report.

Manager Michael Ersti, who presented enforcement figures and fines, said the department is tracking case volumes and collections and has a small assistance fund available later this fiscal year. "We have 15390 available to use from October if we want to help someone," Ersti said, summarizing funds set aside for homeowner assistance. He also cited changes in claimed totals for penalties, payments and balances as part of the department’s ledger (transcript figures were presented by staff and will be clarified in the next report).

Alex Guajardo, manager of development services, presented the demolition and appeal inventory for the board’s review. He reported that, across October 2023 through April 30, 2025, the agenda included a total of 116 demolition‑status items and gave a district breakdown (examples: District 1 — 3 appeals; District 3 — 19 total; District 5 — 29 total). Guajardo explained that when an owner does not appeal within the 30‑day window the department proceeds to contractor action to abate the hazard.

The department tied the enforcement work to a broader strategic plan that responds to a 2023 citizen survey. "We increased about 15 percentage points and are now around 72 percent in citizen satisfaction," Guajardo said, describing a target to align technology, communications and procedures to improve timeliness and resident outreach.

Board members asked for additional, clearer data. A member who asked about illegal dumping and clean‑up costs was told the city will add cost data to the next report; staff agreed to provide clearer comparative statistics on demolition counts that appeared under different headings in the packet. Members also pressed for counts of referrals to partner agencies (for relocation or social services) and whether referrals resulted in services; staff said referral tracking exists and committed to present disaggregated figures — for example, "dark" properties vs. others — at a future meeting.

Procedural notes: the meeting included a brief reading of an individual demolition case (118 Union, fire damage) and an early motion to approve the minutes, which the board announced as passed on the record; the transcript does not name the motion’s mover or seconder. The board later recessed for a short executive session and returned to continue its agenda. The meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Next steps: staff said they will hold district‑level outreach sessions in mid‑summer to collect community feedback, will add cost and collection clarifications to the next enforcement report, and will provide the requested referral outcome counts for an upcoming meeting.