SAN ANTONIO – City Hall is grappling with how quickly to phase out horse-drawn carriages in downtown San Antonio.

Two months ago, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to have city staff draft multiple plans outlining how the city could begin phasing out transportation operations.

On Thursday, those staff members developed three potential options and informed the City Council. Options included 12-, 24-, and 36-month transition plans.

According to the presentation, each plan included changes to a current municipal ordinance or code, and a summary of short-, medium- and long-term strategies that will be available to transportation operators to assist with employment.

The transition plans also outlined the necessary support and involvement of horse carriage business owners for an effective transition.

In terms of supporting transportation operators and business owners, all three transition plans call for providing access to workforce resources, including training through the city’s Ready to Work program, career fairs and workshops.

Additionally, all three options also suggest that business operators and owners connect to LaunchSA and LiftFund to explore zero-interest loans.

However, the plans are different in how they address necessary changes to the city code.

The 12-month transition plan:

• End all horse carriage permit renewals after March 2026.

• Limit the number of e-carriage or electronic transportation permits issued by September 2025 to only 25 permits.

• Restrict the first two years of e-carriage operating permits to only horse carriage business owners who make the switch to e-carriages.

The two-year plan:

• End all horse carriage permit renewals after March 2027.

• Reduce operating hours by 25% starting in April 2026.

• Restrict the first two years of e-carriage operating permits to only horse carriage business owners who make the switch to e-carriages.

The three-year plan:

• End all horse carriage permit renewals after March 2028.

• Reduce operating hours by 25% starting in April 2026.

• Implement an additional 25% decrease in hours of operation in April 2027.

• Limit e-transport or e-transport permits issued before September 2025 to only 25 permits.

• Restrict the first two years of e-carriage operating permits to only horse carriage business owners who make the switch to e-carriages.

Following the presentation, city councilors and Mayor Ron Nirenberg made their positions known.

Everyone recognized the inevitable ban on horse carriages in downtown San Antonio.

However, a consensus on how soon the ban should be implemented prompted a vigorous debate with the mayor and council. All except Ward 9 Councilman John Courage specified a timeline they would prefer.

Nirenberg and Ward 8 Councilman Manny Palaez expressed their belief that steps should have already been taken to phase out horse carriages.

“I think it’s time, actually it’s time. I would like to make the transition thoughtfully and compassionately as soon as we can,” Nirenberg said.

Palaez did not suppress his frustration at the slowness of the action.

“I am in favor of prohibiting these horse carriages from circulating through the center yesterday and for me one year seems too long,” he said.

District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, through a written statement, agreed with District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda in supporting the one-year plan .

Council members Adriana Rocha García (District 4) and Sukh Kaur (District 1) stated that they would support a three-year phase-out.

Although city staff did not present them as an option, Councilmembers Marc Whyte (Ward 10), Teri Castillo (Ward 5), and Phyllis Viagran (Ward 3) stated the need for a five-year transition plan.

Viagran referenced her own experience as a small business owner and interjected that a quick phrase could put business owners in an unwanted financial situation.

“What I know, because I was a small business owner and he had to close his business, is that if it happens in a year or two, you can basically guarantee that there will be a bankruptcy proceeding,” Viagran said.

Whyte echoed a similar possibility based on investments horse carriage business owners have already made.

“They have a lot of debt and they need to retire,” he said. “It does not seem reasonable to these groups, based on their investment, that they will be able to pay off the debt in one, two or three years.”

Castillo said: “I think anything less than five years is a disservice and will create more distrust among San Antonio and Texas residents…”

Kaur also asked city staff if electric cars are street legal.

City staff explained that e-cars would have to be assigned vehicle identification numbers, or VINs, in order for the Texas Department of Transportation to issue them a license plate.

After registration, electric car owners will be able to obtain vehicle insurance.

Not only that, the city would have to make another change to the municipal ordinance to allow electric cars to operate on city streets as rental vehicles.

Thursday’s briefing did not lead to a vote, nor was it supposed to.

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh ended the discussion by saying the issue will be presented again for council action during the first council meeting in December.