Feedback Fridays

Feedback Fridays is a weekly forum that aims to connect the 502d Air Base Wing with members of the Joint Base San Antonio community. Questions are collected during commander’s calls, town hall meetings and throughout the week.

If you have a question or concern, please send an email to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil using the subject line “Feedback Fridays.” Questions will be further researched and published as information becomes available.

Installation & Facilities

Q. What is the process for trying to add another business on base? I know there are plenty of personnel on base who like to stay in shape and have healthy options, but do not always have the time when it comes to waiting.

I think having something like Smoothie King on base would be beneficial for those who are in a rush, want something healthy, and even use a meal replacement at times when needed.

A. Thank you for your question – the health and wellbeing of our personnel is a top priority. We are always looking for new businesses and opportunities to better serve our Joint Base San Antonio community!  Businesses interested in serving as vendors at JBSA can reach out to the Exchange Services Business Office at 210-675-8965 or 210-225-1305. 

In the meantime, we currently have juice bars at the Rambler Fitness Center at JBSA-Randolph and the Jimmy Brought Fitness Center at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston that offer fruit smoothies and meal replacement shakes.

Q. I live on JBSA-Medina Annex and tonight we had two coyotes literally sitting on our back porch. I have small animals and two sons that are younger than 4.  This brings up questions to me. Why am I not allowed to protect my family from potential attack, with my rights granted to me by the second amendment?

A.  Great question. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizens the right to bear firearms. 

However, discharge of a firearm in a residential area is potentially dangerous, filled with risk of unintended consequences, and with few exceptions, unlawful according to the Manual for Courts-Martial, Texas Penal Code, and San Antonio City Ordinance. 

That said, with JBSA’s size and diverse environment, it’s common to find wildlife on parts of the installation.  But, personal safety is paramount.  Anyone who sees wildlife around facilities, homes, or in public areas should contact our Civil Engineer team or Security Forces.  They have experts trained and equipped to address wildlife and keep our families and visitors safe.

Q. At JBSA-Lackland, there is no way for children leaving the Youth Center to get to the back housing area (contractor provided housing) without walking in the street, unless they cross the street twice. 

The sidewalk next to the youth center along Treumper Road ends at the corner of Service Road R (south side) and there isn’t a sidewalk for them to use until they get to the contractor housing office at Kellack Street. 

Kids are walking in the street or jaywalking to reach the other sidewalk. I’m not sure why a sidewalk wasn’t put in originally.  Can a sidewalk (about 50 feet) be poured to cover the gap? 

A.  Thank you very much for your question.  The 502d Civil Engineer team conducted an assessment of the area and have identified a solution to provide a continuous path for that side of the street. 

Unfortunately, the abundance of buried infrastructure along the grassy area adjacent to the street is prohibitive of installing a new sidewalk in that location.  However, CE can tie into the existing raised sidewalk that is set back from the road by installing a new set of stairs and handrail which will lead to a new crosswalk, in order to provide a safer route for children walking to and from the Youth Center.

CE is already taking steps to prepare for the project, and should be completed by the end of July.

Q. Is it possible to put up signs at the intersections just inside of the Luke West and Selfridge East gates at JBSA-Lackland to direct inbound drivers of their right of way?

Oftentimes – especially Thursdays and Fridays – drivers stop or yield even though they have the right of way. This causes congestion and eliminates the gaps between inbound vehicles for other lanes to proceed through the intersection.

A. Thank you for your suggestion.  We recognize traffic is a significant challenge at all of our JBSA gates, and particularly so when major events at JBSA-Lackland are involved. 

Regarding your idea of adding signage, our Civil Engineer and Security Forces experts met and surveyed the intersection to determine feasibility and effectiveness.  The initial assessment was not supportive of adding new signage due to the fact that there is already an abundance of entry information signage in that area, and new signage would likely not be well noticed and potentially add more distraction. 

Additionally, existing right of way traffic laws already provide the guidance needed.  The issue will be officially reviewed as part of our next JBSA-Lackland Traffic Safety Working Group. 

There is a plan for a major redesign and expansion of the Luke East gate, which is JBSA's No. 1 MILCON priority, and should address much of the traffic challenges in that area.

Q. What is the status on JBSA-Lackland Valley Hi Gate construction? It’s a terrible mess to navigate through in the morning.

Not only have I witnessed accidents in the line to the gate, but I’ve been involved in a hit and run there due to the traffic.

A.  I am extremely happy to report that the construction at Valley Hi Entry Control Point was completed May 22.  Many thanks go to the amazing efforts by the entire Project Delivery Team which included CE, Contracting and Security Forces.  I am equally grateful for the patience of those who were impacted by the project.  This improvement to our installation's security could not have been accomplished without everyone's support.

Q. Why is the walk through gate at the Quadrangle on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston still open now that the North New Braunfels gate is open?  Those personal manning that gate could easily man the Wilson gate instead.  It wouldn’t be that much farther to walk in the New Braunfels gates and it certainly affects way less people than closing the Wilson gate.

A. Thank you for your question.  I asked the same question myself a few months ago. 

The New Braunfels gate is unfortunately not configured to safely process pedestrian traffic based on the sidewalk being on the opposite side of the street from the gate house.  People would have to cross traffic to have their identity vetted which places them at risk for injury. 

The pedestrian gate is properly configured for the safe entry of personnel who support Army North activities both at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and in the leased facilities adjacent to the post.  The good news is a project to automate the pedestrian gate is being designed.  Funding for the project is under discussion as well. 

Once the pedestrian gate is automated, we will examine what gate capacity increases will best serve the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston community.

Miscellaneous

Q. This is regarding pets in base housing. I live in Frank Tejada West housing JBSA-Lackland on Vosler Loop. In the past two months there has been families moving in with pit bulls. I have contacted Balfour Beatty housing and was told these dogs were either grandfathered in or are service support dogs.

In one case the owner’s dog has had two litters of pups in the last year, so it seems that they are breeding their dog. So my main concern is are pit bulls on the list of banned breeds?

A.  Thank you for your question.  The safety of our base housing residents is of the highest importance.  The following dog breeds are not permitted at Lackland Family Homes as pets: Akita, Chow, Doberman, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terriers, English Staffordshire Bull Terriers, wolf-hybrids or any other breed with dominant traits geared toward aggression.

Any mix-breed dog which has 50% or more Pit Bull or Rottweiler breed type is also prohibited.  However, the dogs may indeed be grandfathered before the current restrictions were put in place, and dogs designated as service animals are exempt from the restrictions. 

In order to determine the exact status, we will look at the details of that particular resident.  We also wanted to highlight that our JBSA Military Housing Office at 210-671-2146 is always available to help resolve issues between residents and/or privatized owners of military family housing.