San Antonio council approves 33‑member advisory committee to guide $75 million community benefits for proposed downtown arena

San Antonio City Council voted to create a 33‑member community advisory committee to advise on the proposed downtown Sports & Entertainment District and the community benefits agreement (CBA) linked to the arena term sheet. Staff told the council the term sheet envisions "$75,000,000 to be provided by the Spurs over 30 years," money the resolution would help the city allocate and oversee.

The resolution calls for a committee composed of three mayoral appointments and three appointments from each council district, meeting at least monthly and reporting to the council every six months beginning December 2026. Supporters said the committee is intended to broaden and speed public engagement beyond the formal CBA process, with representatives from artists, labor, small business, neighborhood groups and other stakeholders.

Public commenters urged stronger, sustained civic engagement. Suzanne Scott, who identified herself as the former general manager of the San Antonio River Authority, recommended joint city‑county membership and sufficient staffing so stakeholder participation is sustained rather than episodic. Kathy Vale, a District 1 homeowner and Bexar County election advisory official, said residents merit more transparent, consistent involvement, citing what she described as a "narrow 52% countywide approval of prop B" and low voter engagement in November 2025.

Several council members emphasized the distinction between approving an advisory framework and finalizing negotiating terms. Council member Castillo said, "I don't want to mislead the public, that this approval of this resolution means that we've accepted what's currently being negotiated," and noted that detailed negotiations and a definitive contract would still be subject to future council votes. Other members pressed staff for clarity about how the committee would receive documents and what authority it would have; staff said the downtown office and city manager's office would staff the committee and could provide notice of critical votes to the advisory group.

Council amendments during debate included requiring committee appointees to follow the city's ethics rules; some proposed residency and chair‑selection language failed. After discussion and recorded voice votes on amendments, the council approved the resolution and directed staff to develop processes—including a public dashboard and scheduling of briefings—to support sustained engagement. The advisory committee now moves forward as a standing vehicle for public input on planning, design, construction and distribution of any CBA funds.