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EVERYONE, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION. THE TIME IS 2:04 P.M. ON THE TENTH DAY OF APRIL, 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> CLERK: RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION.
I'M GOING TO START OUR MEETING JUST BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE PASSING OF A VERY DEAR FRIEND, A TITAN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS IN PHILANTHROPY. MANY OF YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT CARLOS ALVAREZ PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY YESTERDAY, SO I'D LIKE FOR US TO OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HIS HONOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO CONVENE IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION BRIEFLY, AS WE BEGIN OUR SESSION TODAY. THE TIME IS NOW 2:06 P.M. ON THE TENTH DAY OF APRIL, 2024. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY STOARN'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO 551.087, THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY, 72, AND LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING CITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ALL PURSUANT TO 551.071. ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE FOR OUR B SESSION MAY REMAIN SEATED HERE. WE WON'T BE GONE LONG, AND WE'LL RECONVENE BACK IN THE CHAMBERS SHORTLY. THANK
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OARCH WELCOME PACK. CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 2:26 P.M.
NO EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL RESUME OUR B SESSION. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS TODAY.
BEFORE WE GET TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH, I AM GOING TO TOSS IT OVER FIRST TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY ANDY SEGOVIA SO IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT'S OCCURRING IN OUR DELIBERATIONS TODAY.
>> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THAT TODAY THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HEARING FROM METRO HEALTH ON POTENTIAL USES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN THE LAST BUDGET SESSION.
AND JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS IS JUST A PRELIMINARY STEP BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL DETERMINES HOW THE MONEY'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SPENT. YOU WILL, AGAIN, HEAR A BRIEFING TODAY.
FROM THAT BRIEFING THE METRO HEALTH TEAM WILL PREPARE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL HEAR A PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING
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BASED ON THEIR FRAMING OF THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, IN WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FURTHER INPUT, AND THEN THE RFP WILL BE ISSUED. THERE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTION FOR PROPOSAL. BASED ON THOSE RESPONSES, RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE TO COUNCIL, IN WHICH -- HOW THE MONEY SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED OR SPENT. AND IT'S NOT UNTIL COUNCIL VOTES IN AN A SESSION AS TO THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THERE WILL BE AN ACTUAL DETERMINATION OF HOW THE MONEY'S TO BE SPENT. SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I PROVIDED THE ACTUAL FRAMEWORK OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE AS IT RELATES TO THE SPENDING OF THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND.THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ANDY.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH TO GET
US STARTED ON ITEM NUMBER ONE. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. OUR FIRST ITEM OF THE DAY IS DISCUSSION ON THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND AS ANDY MENTIONED.
THE COUNCIL INCLUDED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FY '24 BUDGET.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM DR. JACOB AND DR. WU, THEY'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS IN PREPARATION OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION. THERE ARE FUNDS SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE'LL DISCUSS TODAY THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN OTHER CITIES AND OTHER STATES, AND THAT WILL BE KRU INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION. METRO HEALTH WILL ULTIMATELY MANAGE THE FUNDS OF THE PROGRAM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH DARE WE'LL DO THIS AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION, THE ROLES THAT WE PLAY AT METRO HEALTH IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND CLINICAL CARE THAT ARE PROVIDED BY OTHER ENTITIES. METRO HEALTH IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON PREVENTION AND EDUCATION WHILE AGENCIES SUCH AS UHS PROVIDE THAT CLINICAL OR AMBULATORY CARE. I'LL ECHO WHAT ANDY SAID, SO THIS IS THE FIRST CONVERSATION THAT THE COUNCIL'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SINCE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET APPROVAL, AND WE'LL BE TAKING INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL AS IT RELATES TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM METRO HEALTH TO FASHION THAT PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING FOR THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE GO OUT FOR CONTRACT. SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CLAUDE, WHO WILL KICK US OFF, AND THEN TO DR. WU.
>> JACOB: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ERIK. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I HAVE A FEW REMARKS BEFORE I TURN OVER THE SESSION TO DR. GENERAL DA BUT. DR. WU SERVES AS OUR SHE'S A COSA EXECUTIVE AND HAS BEEN A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE METRO HEALTH STAFF SINCE 2015. SHE WILL PROVIDE A SHORT PRESENTATION TO FRAME TODAY'S BRIEFING WHICH WILL HIGHLIGHT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GAPS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, SHARE THE CURRENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY METRO HEALTH AND DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL USES FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF OUR FULL PRESENTATION EARLY R THIS WEEK.
JUST AGAIN A REMINDER THAT THE SA FORWARD PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED TWO YEARS AGO WAS ORGANIZED IN SIX PRIORITY AREAS WHICH INCLUDE ACCESS TO CARE, MENTAL HEALTH, FOOD INSECURITY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THE ACCESS TO CARE FOCUSES ONACCESS TO TIMELY, AFFORDABLE, EVIDENCE-BASED AND RESPECTFUL HEALTHCARE. INITIATIVES INCLUDE ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ELEVATING THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND ADDRESSING OUR LOCAL HEALTH NEEDS AND INCREASING CULTURAL AND COMPETENT TRAUMA-INFORMED AND STIGMA-FREE PRACTICE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. DR. WU EARNED HER MASTER'S IN PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ATTENDED MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND COMPLETED HER RESIDENCY IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. SO WE'LL BE AVAILABLE TO FIELD QUESTIONS FOLLOWING HER PRESENTATIONCH I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO DR. WU.
>> THANK YOU. LET ME MAKE SURE I'VE GOT -- YES.
SO E I THINK THE FIRST BULLET POINT HAS BEEN COVERED THAT CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATED THIS AMOUNT IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. AND FUNDS HAVE BEEN -- THIS CONCEPT HAS ALSO BEEN ADOPTED IN THE CITIES AND STATES THAT YOU SEE LISTED THERE. WE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE COMING UP WITH MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE CITIES. THE FUNDS HAVE GONE TO A WIDE ARRAY OF INITIATIVES, EVERYTHING FROM CLINIC CAPACITY BUILDING JUST FOR GENERAL MATERNAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES LIKE LACTATION SUPPORT TO ABORTION ACCESS.
THE FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO METRO HEALTH WHICH HAS A PRIORITY AREA OF [INDISCERNIBLE] MENTAL HEALTH AND TOMORROW IS THE FIRST DAY OF BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK. EVERYBODY'S INVITED TO COME TO OUR EVENT ON SATURDAY, WE'LL HAVE PANEL OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES, WE'LL HAVE STI TESTING AND RESOURCES, SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND COME
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OUT. WHY DID I GO THERE TO BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH? BECAUSE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS A TERM THAT WAS COINED BY A COALITION OF BLACK WOMEN IN 1994. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DEFINITIONS THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE. THE MOST COMMONLY USED SUMMARY IS IT'S THE RIGHT TO HAVE CHILDREN, THE RIGHT TO NOT HAVE CHILDREN, AND THE RIGHT TO NURTURE THE CHILDREN WE HAVE IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.SO WHAT IS THE STATE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH HERE RIGHT NOW? IT IS NOT GREAT. WE'VE HAD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF UNENSURED WOMEN IN TEXAS FOR SOME TIME. THERE ARE LOW COST, NO COST SERVICES, FOR FAMILY PLANNING, CANCER SCREENING AND STI TESTING.
BUT THE FEDERAL TITLE X PROGRAM IS A SHADOW OF IT'S FORMER SELF.
THERE ARE TWO MEDICAID-LIKE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE, BUT MORE APPLICATIONS WERE DENIED THAN APPROVED IN 2020 TO 2021.
IMPORTANTLY, IN 2021, THE APPLICATION CHANGED FROM A TWO-PAGE TO A 13-PAGE FORM. AND IT'S EVEN MORE HARD FOR IMMIGRANTS, LAWFULLY PRESENT IMMANTS ARE BARRED FROM MEDICAID. SOME ARE -- MANY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PLANS BUT MAY NOT KNOW IT.
SO CLEARLY, COST GETS IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE OBTAINING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, AND NOW I WANT TO GO INTO FOUR NEEDS OR GAPS.
THE BIGGEST ONE BY FAR IS CONTRACEPTION. HALF OF PEOPLE EARNING LESS THAN 250% OF FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR METHOD OF CHOICE. 250% OF FTL IS ABOUT 36,000 FOR A SINGLE PERSON OR 62,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF THREE. THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT COST. COST IS HUGE, BUT THERE ARE ALSO TRANSPORTATION AND GEOGRAPHY BARRIERS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE NORTH SIDE AND THE FAR WEST SIDE. THE NEXT BIGGEST GAP IS TIMELY PRENATAL CARE. WITH ONE IN FOUR PREGNANCIES HERE, PEOPLE ARE GETTING PRENATAL CARE, STARTING PRENATAL CARE OUTSIDE OF THE FIRST TRIMESTER. AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE NOW ON THIS ISSUE, AND COLLECTIVELY MADE GREAT PROGRESS FROM 2018 TO 2021 WHEN OUR RATES WERE ABOVE -- WERE BETTER THAN STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL LEVELS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, 2022 SAW DROPS ACROSS THE STATE, SO THAT'S NOW A WIDER GAP THAN IT USED TO BE.
AND IN THE MAP ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THE IGEOGRAPHICAL DIFFERENCES WITH DARKER COLORS INDICATING GREATER ACCESS.
THIRD, SEX TRALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS HAVE INCREASED AT RECORD RATES AT ANY GIVEN TIME ONE IN FIVE OF US HAS AN STI AND SYPHILIS RATES IN PARTICULAR ARE UNACCEPTABLY HIGH, AND THAT ALSO MEANS HIGH RATES OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS WHICH CAN CAUSE STILLBIRTHS, BIRTH DEFECTS. EACH CASE IS HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE SYPHILIS IN NEWBORNS IS 100% PREVENTABLE IF WE GET MOM INTO PRENATAL CARE, DIAGNOSE AND TREAT HER ADEQUATELY IN PRENATAL CARE.
THE MAP ON THE RIGHT SHOWS A HIGHER NUMBER OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS CASES IN THE DARKER AREAS. I'VE BEN ATE METRO HEALTH FOR NINE YEARS AND I CAN REMEMBER WHEN AN ALARMINGLY HIGH NUMBER OF CASES WAS 14 CASES A YEAR, 18 CASES AER 82. IN 20 2021, WE HAD ALMOST ONE 100 CASES. AND FINALLY, ABORTION REPORTED TO THE STATE SERVICES HAVE, OF COURSE, DECREASED DUE TO CHANGES IN THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE.
WHAT THE GRAPH ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE DISPARATE IMPACT ON OUR BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN. SO WHAT IS METRO HEALTH'S ROLE IN ALL OF THIS? WE PROVIDE SCREENING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, VACCINATION FOR HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS WHICH CAUSES CERVIX CANCER AND LOTS OF ANCILLARY SERVICES. WE HAVE THE WARMINGEST WIC PROGRAM IN THE CITY -- LARGEST WIC PROGRAM IN THE CITY, CASE MANAGEMENT THROUGH BABY CAFE, BABIES BORN WITH SYPHILIS, HEPATITIS B, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE MANAGEMENT AND THEN OUR COALITION, THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THE HEALTHY FAMILIES NETWORK TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY AND OUR EMERGING COALITION FOR BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH. IN 2008, OUR MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC CLINICS WERE TRANSFERRED TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH IN AN EARLIER PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION AND COST CUTTING. SO AT THIS POINT, WHAT METRO HEALTH PROVIDES IS A SLIVER OF THE RECOMMENDED WELL WOMAN CARE HERE, WHICH IS WHAT
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FOUR MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES RECOMMENDS. SO YOU CAN SEE GENERAL SCREENINGS, FAMILY PLANNING, STI CARE, IMMUNIZATIONS, CANCER SCREENING AND PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM CARE. SO WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO GET THOSE THINGS AT LOW COST? WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PARTNERS IN UNIVERSITY AND CENTRAL MED AND COMMUNE ANY CARE.THOSE TWO CLINICS, THE LAST TWO, ARE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, FQHC. IT'S A SPECIAL KIND OF CLINIC THAT GETS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SLIDING SCALE LOW COST CARE TO ALL COMERS. HERE ARE THE MOST REPUTABLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT STUDIES FOR SOME OF THE TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION WITH A COUPLE OF CAVEATS. NUMBER ONE, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE STUDIES ARE PRETTY OLD. NUMBER TWO, THEY'RE ALL SNAPSHOTS FROM DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME, SO THE IDEA IS NOT, FOR INSTANCE, TO COMPARE FAMILY PLANNING AND PRENATAL CARE APPLES TO APPLES, BUT RATHER TO SAY THESE BOTH PAY OFF MANY TIMES OVER. ANOTHER CAVEAT IS THAT THE PAYOFF IS NOT SO MUCH FOR GENERAL FUND AS FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF BEXAR COUNTY BECAUSE THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS HAVE TO DO WITH COSTS OF MATERNITY CARE, NICU CARE, CANCER TREATMENT, THAT KIND OF THING.
HERE'S WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING. THERE ARE THREE MAIN BUCKETS OF FUNDED PROJECTS. HARRIS COUNTY HAS NOT YET ANNOUNCED THEIR AWARDEES, SO THAT INFORMATION IS VAGUE.
AUSTIN, BACK IN FY '20 DID FUND ABORTION TRANSPORTATION BUT CURRENTLY, IT'S ENTIRELY HEALTH EDUCATION. AND ST. LOUIS' NUMBER, WHICH I KNOW SEEMS REALLY SPECIFIC THERE, IS FOR A CURRICULUM, FOR A PARENTS AS TEACHERS CURRICULUM. FOR OB LASH GYN ACCESS, OR MORE ACCURATELY ACCESS TO ANY KIND OF WOMEN'S HEALTH PROVIDER, NEW YORK FUNDED MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BOTH FOR SERVICES AND COORDINATION, DUAL-A-CARE AND HOME VISITING, CHICAGO FUNDED LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, ST. LOUIS FUNDED DOULAS AND LACTATION SUPPORT. ST. LOUIS HAS AN ASTERISK BECAUSE THEY WERE BLOCKED BY A COURT AND THEY RECENTLY REQUESTED REALLOCATION FOR MATERNAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL DEBT FORGIVENESS.
MOVING TO METRO HEALTH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU KNOW BY NOW, PUBLIC HEALTH IS ALWAYS GOING TO EMPHASIZE THE UPSTREAM -- REDUCE THE NEED FOR DOWNSTREAM CARE. SO IF DOWNSTREAM, IN THIS CASE MEANS DIRECT SERVICES ONCE SOMEBODY ALREADY IS PREGNANT, HAS A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION, HAS CERVIX PRECANCER, THEN WHAT'S MOST UPSTREAM FOR THAT IS GOING TO BE ECONOMIC STABILITY AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THAT'S OUR FOUNDATION FOR PREVENTION.
THEN MIDSTREAM, ACCESS TO A TRUSTED MEDICAL PROVIDER, A FULL RANGE OF FAMILY PLANNING OPTIONS. LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT NEEDS IN SAN ANTONIO, STARTING WITH ECONOMIC STABILITY, SO THERE'S AN INVERSE CORRELATION BETWEEN INCOME AND UNINTENDED PREGNANCY, BETWEEN LOW INCOME AND UNINTENDED PREGNANCY. MEANING THE HIGHER MY INCOME, THE LOWER MY CHANCES OF HAVING AN UNINTENDED PREGNANCY, AND THAT CORRELATION IS TIGHT. IT'S DOSE DEPENDENT. IT'S REALLY STRIKING TO SEE ON A GRAPH HOW UNINTENDED PREGNANCY HAS BECOME CONCENTRATED IN POOR WOMEN. WHEN WE COLLECTIVE LY WORK TO INCREASE FOOD AND HOUSING SECURITY, THEN WE'RE BROADLY IMPROVING PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. MIDSTREAM ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING TO MAKE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS DURING THE RFP.
BUT HERE'S SOME INITIATIVES THAT WOULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY INCLUDE TRAINING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND HEALTH NAVIGATORS ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND OUR LOCAL SERVICES, SEX ED, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY'D LIKE MORE ACCURATE SEX INFORMATION THAN THEY'RE GETTING, CONTRACEPTIVE TRAINING. YOU SAW THE MAP WHERE WE'RE LACKING MEDICAL PROVIDERS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MORE THAN 500,000 TO INCREASE MEDICAL PROVIDERS, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS TRAIN THE PROVIDERS THAT EXIST, THE FAMILY PRACTICE, GENERAL PRACTICE PROVIDERS ON CONTRACEPTION. WE CAN INCREASE NAVIGATION TO KOMPLE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE -- COVERAGE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THAT 13-PAGE APPLICATION, WE CAN ELEVATE OUR LOCAL PROVIDERS OF RESPECTFUL QUALITY CARE AND THAT'S -- THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE CARE INITIATIVE AT METRO HEALTH THAT'S WORKING ON AND FINALLY, TRAIN MORE DOULAS WHO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR WOMEN, MOSTLY IN PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM,
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BUT THERE ARE SOME SPECIALTY DOULAS FOR OTHER THINGS LIKE INFERTILITY CARE AS WELL. AND FINALLY HERE ARE SOME DOWNSTREAM USES, GROUPED BY THE SAME FOUR CATEGORIES THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH THAT COULD BE ACCEPTABLE IN RFP PROPOSALS.FOR THE LAST ONE, ABORTION TRANSPORTATION, WE'D BE GUIDED BY THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION TODAY AND IMPORTANTLY BY THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS. AND HERE'S A SHORT VERSION OF THE RFP CRITERIA, VENDORS ARE GOING TO NEED TO COME COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S CONTRACTING AND AUDIT CRITERIA AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF OPEN RECORDS LAWS. AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST PROVIDE REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES. WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROPOSALS. IF WE WANT TO CLOSE THE HEALTH DISPARITIES, THEN WE NEED TO INTENTIONALLY SERVE THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED, SUCH AS BLACK WOMEN OR PEOPLE IN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OR PEOPLE WHO USE SUBSTANCES, SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR TAILORED PROPOSALS THAT INCLUDE THAT AND UPSTREAM AND MIDSTREAM APPROACHES. SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING ALLOCATING 30% UPSTREAM, 50% MIDSTREAM AND 20% DOWNSTREAM.
AND HERE IS A TIMELINE. NOTICE THAT WE WILL COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN IN THE FALL WITH PROPOSED CONTRACTS AND THERE WILL BE A PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING AS ANDY NOTED. AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, DR. WU. BEFORE WE GET OUR CONVERSATION STARTED, I JUST HAVE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS.
THE AUTONOMY OF WOMEN REMAINS UNDER CONSTANT THREAT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE OVER THEIR OWN BODIES.
SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR A CITY COUNCIL THAT IS WILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON WHAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY TO ADDRESS THE INACTION AND ATTACKS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND IN CONGRESS.
THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS, WHICH HAS HAD 60,000 MEMBERS SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1951, STATES IN VERY PLAIN TERMS THE FACT IS ABORTION IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE. CLOSING THE GAPS IN ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE, CONTRACEPTION, SCREENING AND CARE FOR STIS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL IS PARAMOUNT TO FORGING A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, SO I LOOK FORWARD, AGAIN, TO THE DISCUSSION. THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALWAYS STEPPING UP TO FACE OUR CITY'S MOST PRESSING ISSUES. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THE
FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, DR. WU FOR THE PRESENTATION. STAFF HAS ASKED FOR A CLARIFICATION ABOUT ACCEPTABLE USES FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. I'M GOING TO BE CLEAR THAT MY FIRM COMMITMENT IS THAT THESE FIRMS SHOULD BE USED TO HELP WOMEN MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR BODIES, ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.
THAT INCLUDES ACCESS TO OPTIONS THEY CAN ONLY GET OUTSIDE OF TEXAS.
TO BE CLEAR, TRAVELING OUT OF STATE TO OBTAIN ABORTIONS.
THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND IS ABOUT GIVING WOMEN IN TEXAS THE OPTION TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND NOT HAVE RESTRICTIONS FORCED UPON THEM. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE UNITED NATIONS AGENCY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH PUT IT PLAINLY. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GIVES WOMEN THE CAPABILITY TO REPRODUCE AND THE FREEDOM TO DECIDE IF, WHEN AND HOW OFTEN TO DO SO.
BUT IN TEXAS TODAY, IT'S A MATTER OF JUSTICE. FOLKS ARE OBSESSED WITH BORDERS AROUND HERE. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE WHO WANT TO KEEP WOMEN FROM CROSSING THE STATE LINE. WOMEN IN TEXAS ARE HELD HOSTAGE AGAINST THEIR WILL AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ACCESS THE HEALTHCARE THEY WANT, NEED AND CAN'T AFFORD. THE CLOSEST CLINIC THAT PROVIDES ALL THE SERVICES A WOMAN IN SAN ANTONIO MIGHT NEED IS IN SANTA TERESA, NEW MEXICO, THAT'S 564 MILES AWAY, ABOUT AN EIGHT-HOUR DRIVE. PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO PROMOTE HEALTH, PERIOD. THAT INCLUDES PROVIDING WOMEN WITH THE MEANS TO GET CARE -- THE CARE OF THEIR CHOICE, EVEN IF IT'S ANOTHER -- IN ANOTHER STATE. FULL STOP. SO, YES, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND PROVIDES FREEDOM OF AUTONOMY. REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT WOMEN WHO MAY -- SOME MAY CALL IRRESPONSIBLE, WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSING WOMEN WHOSE PREGNANCIES POSE A DANGER TO THEIR LIVES, WHOSE MISCARRIAGES POSE A DANGER TO THEIR LIVES AND MAY HAVE POTENTIALLY OTHER CHILDREN WHO THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. POTENTIALLY ALSO CHILDREN WHO MAY BE ABUSED OR ABANDONED FURTHER BURDENNERING OUR FOSTER CARE CHILDREN, WOMEN SUBJECT TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, BOTH MINORS AND WOMEN -- I SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AS IT'S STATED BECAUSE IT'S VITAL AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE WELL-BEING AND DIGNITY OF PEOPLE WHO FACE BARRIERS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE. FOR THOSE WHO WILL SAY THIS ISN'T A CITY ISSUE, I DISAGREE. IT BECAME A CITY ISSUE
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WHEN THE STATE TRIED TO CONTROL THE BODIES OF WOMEN.THIS IS MY CITY PROTECTING ITS OWN COMMUNITY.
STI CARE, CANCER SCREENINGS, POSTPARTUM CARE, DR. WU NOTED TODAY THAT A QUARTER OF ALL BEXAR COUNTY PREGNANCIES DON'T RECEIVE PRENATAL CARE UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST TRIMESTER. REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS NOT NEARLY ABOUT THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IT'S ABOUT A BROAD SCOPE OF ISSUES, CONTRACEPTIVE HEALTHCARE, PRENATAL CARE AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INTERSECT WITH ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES LIKE ECONOMIC STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY. REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IS ABOUT MATERNAL MORTALITY. 25% OF MATERNAL DEATHS COULD BE AVERTED OF ALL WOMEN WISHING TO AVOID PREGNANCY COULD USE MODERN METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION. THIS ADDRESSES INEQUALITY AS NOTED IN THE PRESENTATION, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS AND LGBTQIA PLUS FOLKS, THIS FUND IS CRUCIAL. I THINK -- I HOPE I WAS CLEAR ABOUT MY DIRECTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO?
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DR. WU, FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE WITH US ON THIS PRESENTATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT TEXAS DOES NOT DO ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR BLACK AND BROWN PREGNANT WOMEN.
THIS IS CONFIRMED WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE DURING CHILDBIRTH WHEN COMPARED TO WHITE WOMEN. ADDITIONALLY AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE MA TERN TL MORTALITY RATE IN TEXAS IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE TO ACQUIRE ATTENTION FROM ALL OF US. FURTHER MORE, IT IS ALSO KNOWN THAT STATES WITH STRICTER ABORTION LAWS TEND TO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY AND TEXAS IS ONE OF THOSE. THESE STATS POINT TO A LARGER PROBLEM OF HOW WE PROVIDE SEXUAL EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN IN TEXAS.
I BELIEVE THIS FUNDING NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO HIGHER RATES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY, AS WELL AS THE OTHER BARRIERS THAT IMPACT THE WELL-BEING OF WOMEN IN SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DEMONSTRATING LEGAL USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHILE ALSO IMPACTING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE POSSIBLE. I WANT US TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE WAY WE USE THESE DOLLARS IS NOT POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZE FUTURE FUNDING OUR CITY MAY RECEIVE, TOO. IDEALLY, WE WILL NOT BE DICTATING TO NONPROFITS HOW TO SPEND THEIR MONEY, JUST HOW TO SPEND THIS PARTICULAR MONEY TO INSURE IT FITS WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW.
I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT DOWN THE LINE WHEN WE ARE CONSIDERING PROPOSALS, WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PROFESSIONALISM OF ARGUIZATIONS WE'RE AWARDING FUNDING TO AND HOW THAT WILL REFLECT ON THE CITY AS A WHOLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND MONEY SPENT ON PROVIDING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES RATHER THAN TO COVER NONPROFITS' OVERHEAD COSTS. REFERRING TO THE VISUALS ABOUT THE UPSTREAM,DOWN STREAM AND MIDSTREAM EFFORTS I THINK THE LARGEST EMPHASISES NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON MIDSTREAM EFFORTS AND DOWNSTREAM EFFORTS COMING IN SECOND. I RECOGNIZE THAT UPSTREAM LEVELS REPRESENT THE PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS BUT THE DOWNSTREAM REFLECTS WHERE OUR COMMUNITY IS THERE. THE LARGEST SHOULD BE ON SLIDE 15 ON THOSE MIDSTREAM EFFORTS. I WANT TO SEE US INVESTING IN HEALTH EDUCATION FOR OUR YOUTH BUT ALSO FOR YOUNG ADULTS.
EDUCATION EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR BODIES, WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE A FAMILY OR WHEN TO HAVE A FAMILY, AND WHERE AND WHEN TO ACCESS RESOURCES. I AM CURIOUS, I HAD A QUESTION, IF THERE IS A DEFICIT IN CONTRACEPTION TRAINING FOR FAMILY MEDICINE PROVIDERS -- BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WERE ALREADY WELL VERSED IN. I BELIEVE IT WAS ON SLIDE 15.
LET ME SEE ONE SECOND. >> IT'S GOING TO VARY. THERE SAN ANTONIO MOVEMENT TO HELP INTERNIST AND FAMILY MEDICINE PROVIDERS DO THAT, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, WELL, I'LL JUST REFER YOU TO AN
OB/GYN FOR THAT. >> GAVITO: OKAY. YEAH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTRACEPTION EFFORTS MORE FOCUSED ON INCREASING TANGIBLE ACCESS VERSUS FILTERING THEM THROUGH -- WITH THE PROVIDER MAY OR MAY NOT SAY. AS DR. WU NOTED, SLIDES 5, 6 AND 7 ARE EVIDENCE OF WHY THIS IS NEEDED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP ON SLIDE 5, LACK OF ACCESS TO OB/GYN OVERWHELMINGLY IMPACTS OUR POOREST COMMUNITIES AND WHEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH LACK OF ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVES, YOU'RE SETTING UP WOMEN IN THOSE AREAS TO HAVE UNPLANNED PREGNANCY AND REMAINED TRAPPED IN POVERTY. ON SLIDE SEVEN, WE SEE 78228 IS ONE OF THE THREE
[00:30:02]
ZIP CODES WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS AND ON SLIDE 6 WE SEE THAT DISTRICT 7 IS IN THE SAME AREA THAT HAS THE LOWEST RATES OF PRENATAL CARE IN THE CITY. THIS FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS THE LACK OF MATERNAL HEALTHCARE IN DISTRICT 7 AND THE POOREST AREA OF TOWN AND WHY INCREASING THIS ACCESS IS SO IMPORTANT.GOING BACK TO SLIDE 15, I'M CURIOUS ON HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT CARE NAVIGATORS IN OTHER -- ABOUT INSURANCE NAVIGATION EFFORTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE EXPANDED MEDICAID IN TEXAS, AND I HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE LOW QUALITY OF ACA INSURANCE IN RELATION TO THE COST. I'D RATHER SEE THE FUNDING GO TO LOW BARRIER WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IN SAN ANTONIO, SINCE INSURANCE STILL ISN'T NECESSARILY ACCESSIBLE FOR A LOT OF WOMEN.
TO WRAP IT UP, I WANT TO SEE THESE FUNDS BEING USED MORE TOWARDS MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM SERVICES. I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE USED IN A MAA MANNER THAT PROVIDES THE GREATEST IMPACT TO MOST WOMEN WHILE INSURING THE LEGAL USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ALDARETE GAVITO.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AS MANY OF US KNOW FOR DECADES TEXAS LEADERS HAVE WORKED TO BLOCK TEXANS FROM RECEIVING HEALTHCARE SERVICES THEY NEED, WHETHER IT'S BEEN BY REFUSING TO EXPAND MEDICAID SERVICES WITH OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS, FREQUENT FLASHES TO OUR STATE'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET OR THE CRIMINALIZATION AND BARRING OF THE RIGHT TO SEEK ABORTION SERVICES IN OUR OWN STATE. AS A RESULT AND AS EVIDENT IN THE PRESENTATION, TEXANS ARE THE MOST UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED IN THE COUNTRY. TEXANS HAVE THE WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE WORST OUTCOMES FALLING ALONG RACIAL AND CLASS LINES AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR WOMEN'S HEALTH, TEXAS IS DEAD LAST.
WE FEEL THESE ISSUES IN OUR CITY AND IT'S EVIDENCE IN THE DATA, WHILE WE AS A CITY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE STATE LAW, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LEAVE OUR RESIDENTS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS CRISIS IN HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND AN ATTACK ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES.
LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, OUR CITY MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE WERE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF ITS RESPECTS TO MAKE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DECISIONS, INCLUDING ABORTION CARE, FOR THEMSELVES.
IN THAT SAME RESOLUTION, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AFFIRMED THAT EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE REQUIRES FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT MOST OFTEN PROVIDED BY ABORTION FUNDS. PRACTICAL SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS. THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, AS ADVOCATED FOR BACK IN SEPTEMBER, MUST REAFFIRM OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, RACIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH BY SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, RESOURCES, EDUCATION, INCLUDING SUPPORT TO LOCAL ABORTION FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES PROVIDING ALL OF THESE SERVICES FOR DECADES.
AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF -- A LARGE GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK AND PROVIDING THAT CARE AND WE'RE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THEM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING PUSH THIS INITIATIVE AND INSURING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE TOWN. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE RFP. I UNDERSTAND THE EMPHASIS ON THE UPSTREAM, BUT WHEN I THINK OF THOSE BASIC PILLARS IN THE UPSTREAM STRATEGIES, I THINK OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, RIGHT? AND THAT LOOKS LIKE INVESTING IN NHSD, CONTINUING TO INVEST IN METRO HEALTH.
SO IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NONPROFIT OR ORGANIZATION THAT MAY HIT EACH BUCKET TO APPLY FOR EACH BUCKET, OR IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO ABSORB ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY MEET MIDSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM AND UPSTREAM SERVICES, OR PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, RATHER?
>> THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY ACROSS THE
BUCKETS, YEAH. >> CASTILLO: OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL TO HEAR.
AND AGAIN, BECAUSE I WANT TO INSURE THAT WE'RE NOT PITTING EACH OF THESE STREAMS AGAINST EACH OTHER WHEN THERE'S NONPROFIT THAT'S HIT EACH AND PROVIDE ALL THOSE SERVICES, SO WOULD APPLYING ORGANIZATIONS -- JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR MULTIPLE TIERS? SO -- OKAY. EXCITING.
WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IN THE RFP PROCESS, THAT WE INSURE THAT THE APPLICANTS HAVE A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FRAMEWORK, RIGHT? SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO INSURE -- AND WHAT I WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE QUALIFIED ARE PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAVE A HISTORY OF STEERING WOMEN INTO ONE DIRECTION AND NOT NECESSARILY PROVIDING THEM ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS. IS THERE OPPORTUNITY -- OF COURSE, I KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSENSUS, BUT I WOULD BE HESITANT TO SEE SOME OF THESE DOLLARS GO TOWARDS PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTERS.
>> I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS A QUESTION. >> CASTILLO: I WANT TO
HEAR ASSURANCE. >> WALSH: I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM YOU IS
[00:35:01]
THAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE THAT POTENTIAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANY CONTRACTORS THAT DO ANY OF THIS WORK, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WECAN BUILD INTO THE RFP. >> CASTILLO: OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT ASSURANCE. OVERALL, WITH THE RFP ALLOCATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON THE DOWNSTREAM. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION FROM JANUARY 2024 INTERNAL MEDICINE ARTICLE THAT FOUND THAT IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 26,000 RAPE-RELATED PREGNANCIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS SINCE THE ABORTION BAN WAS ENACTED AND THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF RAPE-RELATED PREGNANCIES IN THE U.S. AMONG THE 14 STATES WITH ABORTION BANS.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE INTENTIONAL WITH THIS FUND TO HELP RESPOND TO THE CRISIS THAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE STATE, BUT IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR ENSURING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LEADS IN BEING A REPRODUCTIVE
JUSTICE CITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE?
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY BECAUSE DEPENDING ON THE COMMENTS OF MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AVOID WHAT I BELIEVE WOULD BE A REALLY DARK, DARK DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LIG LATER THIS FALL, AND THAT WOULD BE IFWE VOTE TO APPROVE ANY CONTRACT THAT USES PUBLIC DOLLARS TO PROMOTE ABORTION
SERVICES. >> SEGOVIA: COUNCILMAN, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
AGAIN, THERE'S NO VOTES BEING TAKEN TODAY. >> WHYTE: I DIDN'T SAY THERE WAS A VOTE. I DIDN'T SAY, RESPECTFULLY, ANDY, THAT THERE'S A VOTE. I SAID WITH THE COMMENTS TODAY, HOPEFULLY WE CAN AVOID THE VOTE. TODAY, AGAIN, WE'RE FACED WITH WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON CITY ISSUES OR WHETHER WE'RE, ONCE AGAIN, GOING TO VEER OFF AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE NOT THE PROVINCE OF OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYBODY SAYS, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THIS: WE JUST GOT A NICE, LONG PRESENTATION, AND I APPRECIATE STAFF PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, BUT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT ONE THING, AND ONE THING ONLY. AND THAT'S FUNDING OUT OF STATE ABORTION. AND WHETHER OR NOT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WANT TO SUPPORT THAT. WE SPEND ALREADY AS A CITY OVER $16 MILLION ON WOMEN'S HEALTH, $7 MILLION FROM OUR GENERAL FUND.
FAMILY PLANNING, CANCER SCREENINGS, STI TESTING, ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE, HEALTH AND SEXUALLY EDUCATION, HPV VACCINES, GENERAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND IMMUNIZATIONS. IF WE WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER $500,000 ON THAT, THOSE AREAS OF WOMEN HEALTHCARE, I'M ALL FOR IT.
IT'S BEEN BROKEN DOWN IN THIS PRESENTATION INTO UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM. UPSTREAM SERVICES DEAL WITH FOOD, HOUSING AND OTHER CARE. MIDSTREAM SERVICES, SEX EDUCATION FOR THE YOUTH, NAVIGATING INSURANCE. WE WANT TO SPEND $500,000 ADDITIONAL ON THOSE AREAS, THAT'S GREAT. AND EVEN SOME OF THE DOWNSTREAM CATEGORIES OF SERVICES, PREGNANCY TESTS, TRANSPORTATION TO PRENATAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH VISITS, WE WANT TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY THERE, THAT'S FINE.
BUT WHAT WE SHOULD NOT DO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IS SPEND OUR CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS TO FUND TRAVEL FOR OUT H -OF-STATE ABORTION.
LET'S BE CLEAR ONCE AGAIN THAT TODAY'S DISCUSSION SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT MY FEELINGS ON ABORTION, NOR SHOULD IT BE ABOUT ANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE'S FEELINGS ON ABORTION. I'LL ALWAYS STAND FOR LIFE, I SAID THAT LAST FALL. THAT WAS TRUE THEN, IT'S TRUE NOW.
IT WILL ALWAYS BE TRUE. BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT TODAY IS ABOUT.
OUR PERSONAL FEELINGS MUST BE PUT ASIDE. TODAY IS ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD USE OUR CITIZENS' TAX DOLLARS TO FUND OUT-OF-STATE ABORTIONS.
[00:40:03]
AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO, NO, NO, WE SHOULDN'T.AND I'M GOING TO GIVE JUST THREE REASONS WHY, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY.
THE FIRST IS THAT ABORTION IS NOT A CITY ISSUE.
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT IN THE DOBS DECISION WAS EXTREMELY CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOW AN ISSUE FOR THE STATEDS. THE STATES.
WE AS A CITY COUNCIL SHOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR POLICE, FOR FIRE, FOR STREETS. WE DID A SURVEY LAST YEAR ON THE NEEDS MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. THEY DIDN'T TELL US ANYTHING RELATED TO FUNDING OUT-OF-STATE ABORTION.
THEY TOLD US ABOUT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM, THEY TOLD US ABOUT CRIME.
THOSE ARE CITY ISSUES, AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED.
NUMBER TWO IS THE LEGAL REASONS. I FRANKLY DISAGREE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM HERE. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN SUED ONCE, JUST AS I WARNED WE WOULD BE, WHEN WE HAD THIS DEBATE IN THE FALL.
THAT SUIT IS JUST SIX MONTHS OLD, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS SPENT OVER $135,000 DEFENDING ITSELF AGAINST THAT LAWSUIT.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD THIS FALL AND GAVE MONEY TO AN ORGANIZATION TO FUND OUT H-OF-STATE ABORTIONS, THE SUITS WOULD MULTIPLY AND TAX DOLLARS GOING OUT OUR DOOR TO DEFEND OURSELVES WOULD INCREASE.
WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM HERE LEGALLY, WITH RESPECT TO THE GIFT CLAUSE.
WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS RULING THAT'S GOING TO GO UP ON APPEAL FROM JUDGE P PITMAN'S COURT. WE'VE GOT OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AS WELL THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL -- ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE US THE LEGAL ADVICE. ANDY.
>> SEGOVIA: YEAH, COUNCILMAN, AGAIN IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES AND THE LEGALITY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT LEGAL RISK AND LEGAL CONCLUSIONS HERE PUBLICLY. I CAN STATE THAT, AGAIN, THAT KNOW DECISION IS BEING MADE TODAY, AND WHENEVER THE COUNCIL MAKES A DECISION ON HOW MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT, WE'LL BE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW.
>> WHYTE: IN MY VIEW, THIS IS LEGALLY INAPPROPRIATE, AND THAT WILL BEAR ITSELF OUT IN THE COURTS. BUT THE THIRD REASON IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT. AND EVERYONE UP HERE HAS A STATEMENT FROM THE ARCHBISHOP, AND I WOULD REMIND FOLKS THAT OUR CITY, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR, IS MADE UP OF APPROXIMATELY 30% CATHOLICS. AND IT'S NOT JUST CATHOLICS THAT HAVE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION TO ABORTION, THERE'S, OF COURSE, OTHERS.
AND THE ARCHBISHOP SAYS IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF HIS STATEMENT THAT HE IS CONCERNED TO HEAR THAT CITY COUNCIL IS AGAIN CONSIDERING ALLOCATION OF SCARCE TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND TO ENABLE CIRCUMVENTION OF TEXAS STATE LAW FOR ABORTION PROCUREMENT OUT OF STATE. AND IN THE END, HE SAYS HE'S EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND WOULD REMOVE OUR SHIFT DOLLARS THAT COULD BE ALLOCATED TO PROGRAMS WHICH COULD SURROUND WOMEN AND FAMILIES FACING AN UNEXPECTED OR CHALLENGING PREGNANCY -- AS A CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ANY ACTION THAT WOULD PREVENT -- AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET IT RIGHT -- WE'RE ACTUALLY GIVEN THE POWER TO TAKE ANY ACTION THAT WOULD PREVENT AN ACT DETRIMENTAL TO THE MORALS OF OUR INHABITANTS OF OUR CITY, YET IRONICALLY, WHAT THIS COUNCIL WANTS
[00:45:05]
TO DO, OR AT LEAST MANY, IS TAKE AN ACT THAT GOES AGAINST DEEPLY HELD MORAL OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF OUR CITIZENS. HOW CAN WE TELL MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY THAT HAVE THESE DEEPLY HELD MORAL OR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS THAT THOSE BELIEFS SIMPLY DON'T MATTER? THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT TO FUND OUT-OF-STATE ABORTIONS.IT'S FLAT-OUT WRONG. AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD THIS FALL AND WE VOTE TO GIVE THIS MONEY TO A GROUP TO PAY FOR FOLKS TO GO OUT OF STATE TO RECEIVE ABORTION SERVICES, THAT WILL BE A STAIN ON THIS CITY GOVERNMENT THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I REMEMBER WHERE I WAS WHEN ROE V. WADE WAS REVERSED.
IN THE LIGHT OF THE YEAR IN CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S JUST A KIND OF WOW MOMENT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT CONVERSATION MY -- SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO HAVE, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SPOKEN SO ELOQUENTLY ON WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND SHARING THAT.
SO WHEN ROE V. WADE WAS REVERSED, WHEN -- WHEN OUR CONGRESS AND SENATE FAILED TO LEGALIZE ABORTION, THIS BECAME NOT JUST A WOMEN'S ISSUE, BUT A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. BECAUSE WOMEN ARE HUMANS.
AND I -- COMMON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONCERN FOR WOMEN INCLUDE ENDOMETRIOSIS, CYSTS, CANCERS, INCLUDING CERVICAL, UTERINE, VAGINAL, OVARIAN, VULVAR, AND THEN TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES FROM STDS. AND THEY DO NOT JUST LIVE WITH THIS WHEN THEY ARE -- WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, BUT THIS CONTINUES WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND UNLESS YOU'RE A WOMAN AND YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS AND YOU HAVE SAT IN THOSE OFFICES AND SAT IN YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE THIS ISSUE UP AND UNDERSTAND OUR POPULATION.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDES REPRODUCTIVE, THE HEALTH GAP SLIDE, WHICH I THINK WERE 5, 6, 7, AND 8, YOU CAN SEE THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE ALSO. TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER CONVERSATIONS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE BUT I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE MIDSTREAM ACCESS TO TRUSTED MEDICAL CARE, A FULL RANGE OF FAMILY PLANNED OPTIONS WITHOUT BIAS OR COERCION, AND DIRECT SERVICES WHEN NEEDED. AND, OF COURSE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST THE STATE LAW OF TEXAS. AND IT'S THE STATE LAW OF TEXAS, WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO REPRESENT. THAT'S WHY IT GETS KIND OF HARD BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AGAINST THE LAW. WE SAID THAT BACK IN THE FALL AND WE'RE SAYING IT AGAIN AND IT HAS BECOME -- THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE.
DON'T BE CONFUSED. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. WE HAVE A HEALTH GAP ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR ABOUT WOMEN WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO AND SO THE STATE GOVERNMENT WENT AHEAD AND MADE THIS A POLITICAL ISSUE. HERE WE ARE TODAY, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN BUT I THINK MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM IS WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS.
UNTIL WE GET OUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDERS TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO WOMEN WHEN THEY HAVE MEDICAL
[00:50:03]
CONCERNS, WE ARE -- THERE'S A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.AND I SAT -- AND THE MAYOR WAS THERE WITH ME ALSO WHEN VENUS WILLIAMS SPOKE AT TRINITY AND TALKED ABOUT HOW HER DOCTORS WOULDN'T LISTEN TO HER WHEN SHE TOLD THEM IT WASN'T THE MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS OF THE GAME, SOMETHING WAS PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH HER.
SHE HAD TO ADVOCATE FOR HERSELF. THIS IS VENUS WILLIAMS. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR A FEMALE FROM THE SOUTHSIDE THAT'S 20 OR 21 ADVOCATING FOR HERSELF IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE A TRUSTED MEDICAL PROVIDER? SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS. LET'S NOT BE SWAYED BY THAT, BY OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WE NEED TO GET THESE RFP PROPOSALS.
WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE NEED IS IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE SERVICES THAT THOSE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR IN THIS DIVIDE AND THIS HEALTH GAP DIVIDE NEED BEFORE WE START MAKING STUMP SPEECHES.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THTHANK YOU, DR. WU AND THE MEDICAL HEALTH TEAM AND THE CITY STAFF FOR THEIR SUPPORT. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, COUNCILMAN CABELLO HAVRDA, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN FOR THE COMMENTS THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE IN AN ISSUE THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH TODAY. I'D LIKE TO BRING UP SLIDE NO. 3 TO START MY COMMENTS WITH.
I JUST WANT TO READ THIS SLIDE REALLY LOUDLY AND CLEARLY FOR EVERYONE ONE MORE TIME.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE MEANS THE HUMAN RIGHT TO CONTROL OUR SEXUALITY, OUR GENDER, OUR WORK, AND OUR REPRODUCTION. WE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE CHILDREN, THE RIGHT NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN, THE RIGHT TO NURTURE THE CHILDREN WE HAVE IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT IS A HUMAN RIGHT THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ANY WOMAN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AS AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE HAD VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE TURNED TO ME AND SAID I HAVE FRIENDS THAT NEED HELP. CAN YOU HELP US? NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS NOT A RIGHT FIT FOR THEM.
I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL A BELIEF THAT WE ALL AGREE UPON. THE GOVERNANCE OF OUR CITY SHOULD NOT BE DEFINED BY A RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE. WE ARE HERE TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AND REPRESENT EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGIOUS FAITH. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED THE SLIDES THAT HAVE THE MAPS ON THEM. AND I WANTED TO BRING THEM UP AGAIN. CAN WE START WITH SLIDE NO. 3 -- EXCUSE ME.
SLIDE NO. 5. ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION. WE ARE A DATA BASED DECISION-MAKING BODY. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE BLUE DOTS AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.
ACCESS TO PRENATAL CARE. IT'S VERY EVIDENT WHERE THE DARK BLUE BOXES IN COMPARISON WHERE THE LIGHT BLUE BOXES. THE NEXT ONE. SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE. THE PERCENTAGE IN DECREASE FOR ABORTIONS IN BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHITE WOMEN. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I AM HONORED THAT US AS A COUNCIL TODAY ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND THAT WE HAVE PUT THIS FUND FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN HELP WOMEN THAT REALLY NEED IT IN OUR CITY.
SO GETTING TO THE PROPOSAL FOR THE RFP. DR. WU, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE? AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT WE COULD USE FOR THE UPSTREAM AND
MIDSTREAM WORK. >> SO FOR UPSTREAM, THE PACE OFFICE, THE POLICY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OFFICE, IS THE BACKBONE SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK THAT IS SPECIFICALLY WORKING ON THE HOUSING SECURITY AND FOOD INSECURITY.
AND SO THEY DO HAVE SOME GENERAL FUND SUPPORT FOR THEIR SALARIES. WHAT THE NETWORK IS LOOKING FOR
[00:55:05]
NOW IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THEIR PROJECTS. SO FOR HOUSING, IT'S HOUSING ASSISTANCE. FOR FOOD SECURITY -- ONE IS INCREASING CHARITABLE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND ONE HAS TO DO WITH THE SNAP ENROLLMENT. WHAT'S DIFFERENT, COMPARED TO WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING, IS THE IDEA OF THE NETWORK IS THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET A LING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, A CHANGE FROM THIS TO THIS KIND OF A THING.AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT PART GOING ON RIGHT NOW. FOR MIDSTREAM, I WOULD SAY THERE ARE A VARIETY OF AGENCIES DOING SOME OF THAT WORK. BUT THE REASON THAT WE PUT THOSE ON THERE IS THAT THERE ARE GAPS RIGHT NOW. SEX ED, THE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DEVOTE TO THAT AS THEY USED TO. THE HEALTH NAVIGATORS, THERE ARE THREE AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE FUNDED BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY ABLE TO HOLD PEOPLE'S HANDS THROUGH THAT ENTIRE 18-PAGE APPLICATION, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE SEEN SUCH A DECLINE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THESE BUT THEY'RE ON THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF IT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
>> KAUR: GOT IT. SO THERE'S A GAP IN THE WORK BEING DONE BUT MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING WE COULD USE TO SUPPORT THOSE ELEMENTS AS WELL.
>> WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING. >> KAUR: YEAH.
UNDERSTOOD. THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE DOWNSTREAM WORK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS RFP. AND SO 500K IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF -- THE 56K FOR 150 PROVIDERS IN TRAINING SEEMS LIKE A REALLY BIG BENEFIT THAT COULD BE PROVIDED AT THE MIDSTREAM LEVEL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE RFP MORE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THE DOWNSTREAM WORK WITH SOME SUPPORT AT THE MIDSTREAM LEVEL AS WELL AND US TO FIND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THE UPSTREAM WORK.
NOT SAYING THOSE ARE NOT IMPORTANT BUT WITH 500K LIMITED RESOURCES, WE NEED TO USE THOSE FUNDS AS STRATEGICALLY AS POSSIBLE TO HELP THE MOST AMOUNT OF WOMEN THAT REALLY NEED IT.
I WANT TO REITERATE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S STATISTIC THAT SHE SHARED.
26,000 RAPE PREGNANCIES SINCE WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ABORTIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. AND SO THAT BEING SAID, THAT WOULD BE MY EXPLICIT REQUEST. AND THE ADDITIONAL REQUEST THAT I HAVE IS ONE OF THE STATISTIC WEBSITES THAT YOU USE, THE HEALTHY WOMEN 2030, HAS A DASHBOARD THAT LISTS GOALS FOR ALL THE WOMEN AND FOR ALL OF THE WOMEN STATISTICS PRE, DURING, AND POST PREGNANCY.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AS WELL TO TRACK PROGRESSING TOWARDS GOALS
THAT WE CAN SET. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, DR. WOO.
I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. I CAN TELL THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT.
EXCELLENT JOB TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I'M LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED NUMBERS. 30% OF THE PROPOSED FOR UPSTREAM REPRESENTS 150K.
50%, 250K. AND THEN 20% IS $100,000. I'M LOOKING AT THE MIDSTREAM AND I NOTICED THAT $56,000 IS PROPOSED TO BE ALLOTTED TO CONTRACEPTION TRAINING FOR FAMILY MEDICINE TRAINING PROVIDERS. I HEARD THE QUESTION THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT ASKED -- AND I HEARD YOUR ANSWER.
MY CONCERN IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE FAMILY MEDICINE CURRICULUM PUBLISHED BY THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CME IS SOMETHING THAT FOR THE FAMILY PRACTITIONER THIS DISCUSSION OF CONTRACEPTION COMES UP REGULARLY. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I BELIEVE IN OUR LOCAL DOCTORS THAT THEY KNOW HOW MOVED OVER TO THE NAVIGATION TO INSURANCES AND TEXAS PROGRAMS WELL WOMAN CARE FAMILY PLANNING.
[01:00:01]
I THINK THAT'S A MORE PRESSING NEED THAN EDUCATING 150 DOCTORS ON SOMETHING THEY PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW. IF THOSE DOCTORS AREN'T DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING, WHICH IS PRESCRIBING OR, YOU KNOW, SUGGESTING THE RIGHT CONTRACEPTION, I'M NOT SURE HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS TO HEAR FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT, HEY, YOU CAN DO THIS, RIGHT? I DO THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON OUR PARTNERS LIKE AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, YOU KNOW, U.T. HEALTH AND MAYBE EVEN OUR PARTNERS OVER AT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD LOCALLY, ET CETERA TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT PUSHING DOWN THAT INFORMATION. AGAIN, I THINK THAT THAT MONEY WOULD GO FURTHER. REASONABLE MINDS ARE WELCOME TO DISAGREE WITH ME BECAUSE -- ANYWAY, YOU'RE WAY SMARTER ON THIS ISSUETH THAN I AM. MAYBE I'M TALKING OUT OF LEFTFIELD. PLEASE EDUCATE ME. >> ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THE FORM OF CONTRACEPTION THAT SOME PEOPLE -- IT IS EASY FOR A FAMILY MEDICINE PROVIDER TO PRESCRIBE THE ORAL CONTRACEPTION, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER.
SOME PEOPLE WOULD PREFER A LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTION, WHICH NOT AS MANY FAMILY MEDICAL PROVIDERS DO OFFER BUT YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO PERSUADE THEM EITHER. >> PELAEZ: BEING THE CHILD OF A PHYSICIAN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT OFTENTIMES THE CALCULUS THAT GOES THROUGH THE PHYSICIAN'S HEAD IS WHETHER OR NOT I'LL BE REIMBURSED FOR PROVIDING THAT SERVICE. IF NOT, I HAVE TEN PATIENTS IN THE WAITING ROOM THAT NEED MY CARE BEFORE THE DAY IS OVER. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME AND I'M NOT SURE YOU AND I HAVE MUCH DAYLIGHT BETWEEN US ON THIS ISSUE BUT I DO THINK THE 56K, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT, AND ACCESS TO INSURANCE. THE SECOND THING I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT I'M LOOKING AT THE THREE TRANCHES, 100% SUPPORT FROM ME ON THE UPSTREAM PROPOSAL.
100% SUPPORT FROM ME ON THE MIDSTREAM. SO FOR NAVIGATORS AND PATIENT ADVOCATES, SEX EDUCATION FOR YOUTH. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
NAVIGATION FOR INSURANCE. SHOWCASING OUR CARE INITIATIVE PROVIDERS.
ALL THAT'S GREAT. AS FAR AS DOWNSTREAM GOES, OF THE -- I THINK THERE'S EIGHT BULLET POINTS THERE. PREGNANCY TESTS, EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, TRANSPORTATION TO PRENATAL CARE, TELEHEALTH VISITS FOR STIS, STI HOME TEST KITS, I'M ON BOARD.
I DO THINK THAT THE TRANSPORTATION TO ABORTION CARE, THAT'S JUST A LIGHTNING ROD.
IT'S VERY DIVISIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. ONE OF OUR JOBS IS ALSO NOT JUST LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABATE, PREVENT, AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE BUT OUR JOB IS NOT TO UNNECESSARILY DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY AND THERE'S NO MORE DIVISIVE ISSUE THAN THIS. I THINK WE GO A LONG WAY IF WE USE ALL THE MONEY AS PROPOSED ON EVERYTHING. ON ALL THESE BULLET POINTS. AND I THINK THAT THERE'S LOTS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO, EVEN WITHOUT THIS $100,000, ARE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AS FAR AS TRANSPORTING PEOPLE.
I THINK THIS $100,000 IS GOING TO CREATE MORE FRICTION THAN WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
REASONABLE MINDS ARE WELCOME TO DISAGREE WITH ME. AND BUT THAT'S WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW. ANDY, QUESTION FOR YOU. JUST TO MAKE SURE.
SO FAR THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN DECIDED IS THE ALLOTMENT OF $500,000 THAT WE AS A CITY COUNCIL DECIDED THAT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
THAT'S THE ONLY DECISION THAT'S BEEN MADE THUS FAR. >> SEGOVIA: CORRECT, COUNCILMAN. THE ONLY DECISION THAT'S BEEN MADE IS THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS TO ALLOT THE $500,000 TO A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. AS I STATED EARLIER, THIS BRIEFING IS A STEP IN DETERMINING HOW THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.
>> PELAEZ: IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY DID NOTHING AS FAR AS DECIDING WHAT TO DO WITH THESE FUNDS. IN OTHER WORDS, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE BY THIS COUNCIL.
NO VOTES HAVE BEEN CAST ON HOW TO SPEND IT. >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT,
COUNCILMAN. >> PELAEZ: TODAY'S PURPOSE IS JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEBATING AND HEARING EACH OTHER OUT AND UNDERSTANDING THE CITY STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE IT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, DOCTOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DR. WOO FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND IMPORTANT TO NAME THE CONTEXT UNDER WHICH WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. AND THAT CONTEXT IS THAT OF A CRISIS. AND THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SPACE THAT HAS MADE CLEAR, WHEN
[01:05:03]
WE LOOK AT THE MORTALITY RATES OF BLACK WOMEN AND A DELIBERATE EFFORT TO SUPPRESS ACCESS TO EDUCATION RELATED TO SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GUIDED BY PERVASIVE SEXIST AND RACIST INTENT . IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT I SEE THAT IN THIS ROOM.AS I SEE SIGNS THAT SAY EQUITY -- >> YEAH!
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I HAVE TO SAY LIVES DON'T SEEM TO MATTER AFTER THEY'RE BORN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IMMIGRANTS, LGBTQT PLUS, BLACK OR BROWN OR POOR. LIFE DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER TO YOU THEN AND THAT'S THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
THERE ARE ENORMOUS GAPS IN INFORMED COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN AND QUEER, NON-BINARY, AND TRANS PEOPLE. WHEN THERE ARE GAPS, WHETHER IT'S ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR BUSINESSES OR RESOURCES FOR VETERANS OR HEALTH SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN NEED, THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES NOT DIRECT ISSUES THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE DICTATED BECOME OUR BURDEN TO CARRY. AND WHEN THAT GAP EXISTS, OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT US TO FILL IN IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN SO WHEN THE STATE SUCKS, WHEN THE COUNTY SUCKS, WHEN OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES SUCK, WE HAVE TO STEP UP. YOU MAY DISAGREE THAT RESIDENTS IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT WANT OR NEED SOMETHING, AND YOU CAN CITE RELIGIOUS REASONS, ANY REASONS YOU NEED BUT WE REPRESENT VASTLY DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES AND I TRUST EVERYONE HERE WILL STRIVE TO FILL THOSE GAPS THROUGH THE LENS OF THEIR CONSTITUENCY AND THAT'S WHY A MAJORITY OF US SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. BODILY AUTONOMY FOR ALL IS NOT NEGOTIABLE AND IT'S A RIGHT WE SHOULD ALL BE PROVIDED FULL STOP AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE POLITICS AND PERSONAL FEELINGS OR BELIEFS HAVE SUPERSEDED WHAT IS FACTUAL AND JUST FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. TEXAS AS SHAMEFULLY LED THE WAY IN POLITICAL GAMES TO REDUCE SOMEONE'S CHOICE TO COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING THE ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION. THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WAS INITIALLY CREATED AS A PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT VARIOUS COMMUNITIES WHO ARE FACING THIS CRISIS ON THE FRONT LINES WITH ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, PRENATAL SUPPORT, AND POSTPARTUM CARE.
MANY ARE FORCED TO TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES AND HOURS OUT OF STATE TO ACCESS ABORTION CARE. I WANT TO SEE US ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS THROUGH OUR SOLICITATION.
THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE HEARD A FEW TIMES, 26,310 RAPE-RELATED PREGNANCIES SINCE TEXAS ENACTED ITS ABORTION BAN IN JULY OF 2022. THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY PREGNANCIES THAT REPRESENT A DANGER. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO JUSTIFY A PREGNANCY AS A RESULT OF RAPE. IF SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO CARRY A FETUS, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO. IT SOUNDS EXHAUSTING, EMOTIONAL, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE MANY, MANY REASONS A PERSON MAY USE TO MAKE A DECISION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT SHOULD BE THEIR OWN TO MAKE. ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO FACE STRAIN TO ASSIST THOSE WITH AN INFLUX IN PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE. THIS IS A CRISIS AND THIS FUND IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER. IN THE FALL WE STATED HOW DISAPPOINTING IT WAS THAT A $500,000 FUND, A SMALL PORTION OF OUR BUDGET, TOOK UP THE BULK OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE AROUND THE BUDGET AND FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE, $500,000 IS NOTHING. $500,000 WON'T MAKE A DENT BUT I UNDERSTAND WE'LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO EVERYTHING WE WANT TO DO BUT I HOPE WE CAN DO EVEN MORE IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, CONSIDERING THE NEED WILL STILL EXIST AND THE TIMING OF THE EXECUTION OF THESE FUNDS COULD LEND ITSELF TO ANOTHER ROUND OF FUNDING.
HEADS UP, IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET, I WILL BE SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
I WANT TO ADD THAT ANYONE WHO UNDERSTANDS SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION KNOWS HOW HOUSING AND FOOD ACCESS INTERSECTS WITH REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE. HOWEVER, THIS FUND WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF LACK OF ACCESS TO CARE DUE TO TEXAS' LANDSCAPE FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO BE PARENTS AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BE. I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT I BELIEVE HEARD COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND KAUR SAY AND WE SHOULD RESTRUCTURE TO MEET THE CRISIS MOMENT . I BELIEVE DOWNSTREAM SERVICES SHOULD RECEIVE LEAST 40%.
I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. I WANT TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING BE ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES AND THE FACTS THAT WERE STATED IN THIS PRESENTATION. SO THAT'S TO SAY THE ANTI-ABORTION CENTERS, ALSO KNOWN AS CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS, SHOULD NOT RECEIVE FUNDS.
OVERALL, THIS IS A NECESSARY AND CRITICAL MOMENT FOR US. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY REPRESENTS OR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING MONTHS FROM NOW REPRESENTS A DARK AND HORRENDOUS PERIOD FOR OUR COUNCIL AND CITY. INSTEAD IT'S ONE OF THE MOMENTS
[01:10:01]
THAT I'LL HAVE TO LOOK BACK ON WITH PRIDE AS A TIME THAT OUR COUNCIL USED ITS BACKBONE TO STAND ON BUSINESS AND TO MEET THE MOMENT. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ADVOCATED FOR THIS FUND AND HELPED GIVE US THE ENERGY TO SEE IT THROUGH TO THIS POINT. I KNOW THE STORIES THAT YOU'VE HEARD AND THE CRISIS THAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED AND BEEN A PART OF HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC AND BURDENSOME.I SEE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE OUR SUCCESS. THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS RIGHT THERE.
THANK Y'ALL AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'D LIKE TO ASK DR. JACOBS. COULD YOU REMIND US HOW MUCH IS THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALREADY DEVOTING TOWARDS WOMEN'S HEALTH AND MAYBE FAMILY HEALTH RELATED TO THAT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. OUR FY24 OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT $16.3 MILLION,
MOSTLY GRANT FUNDS. >> COURAGE: OKAY. HOW MUCH IS DIRECTED TOWARDS
WOMEN'S HEALTH? >> SO THAT'S SPECIFIC TO OUR WOMEN'S HEALTH EFFORTS THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT EDUCATION, SCREENING ACTIVITIES, THE ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM, OUR HEALTHY BEACH PROGRAM, OUR STD CLINIC. $16.3 MILLION OF OUR OPERATING
BUDGET THIS YEAR. >> COURAGE: NOW WE HAVE A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK THERE'S ABOUT 18 OF THEM, AS I LOOK THROUGH UPSTREAM AND MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM. LET ME JUST ASK, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT ON FOOD INSECURITY, HOUSING SECURITY, ACCESS TO RESPECTFUL CARE.
AND SO WE HAVE RESOURCES IN YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE DEDICATED TOWARDS THOSE.
OKAY? NOW, HOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHERS.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOCUSED, CHWS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> I'M GOING TO ASK DR. WOO. CHW IS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. >> COURAGE: AND NAVIGATORS AND
PATIENT ADVOCATES. >> IS THE QUESTION TO DESCRIBE THE WORK?
>> COURAGE: WELL -- >> RIGHT. THIS IS NOT JUST TO METRO HEALTH. WE WORK IN COLLABORATION THROUGH THE CITYWIDE NETWORKS.
AND SO IT'S ONE OF THE FOCUS AREAS TO EXPAND OUR ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH RESIDENTS ON THE GROUND. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, THAT'S A PARTICULAR SUBSET.
THEY HELP RESIDENTS AT LEAST NAVIGATE THROUGH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. BUT WE HAVE THOSE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY AND WE WORK IN
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. >> YES, WE DO.
>> COURAGE: SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR YOUTH. ARE WE ENGAGED IN THAT THROUGH YOUR DEPARTMENT? NO? OKAY.
>> IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, WE DO HAVE PROGRAMMING ANCHORED TO THE AREA SCHOOLS.
AND WE COULD TELL YOU IN DETAIL WHAT IS ACTUALLY ALLOCATED TO SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. BECAUSE IT'S ON YOUR LIST OF MIDSTREAM NEEDS.
SO I PRESUME THAT YOU SAY YOU ARE DOING SOME OR YOU'RE NOT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, I WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED IF WE'RE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THESE SERVICES, HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED TO PUT IN TO DO THOSE SERVICES?
>> YEAH, SO WHAT YOU SAW IN REFERENCE TO DR. WOO'S PRESENTATION, WE STILL HAVE ONGOING GAPS. THAT'S WHAT THE REFERENCE OF THE THREE DIFFERENT BUCKETS.
UPSTREAM, MIDSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM. >> COURAGE: WE HAVE CONTRACEPTIVE TRAINING FOR FAMILY MEDICAL PROVIDERS, DO WE DO THAT? NO.
NAVIGATION THROUGH INSURANCE AND TEXAS PROGRAMS, WELL WOMEN'S CARE, FAMILY PLANNING.
WE DO HAVE SOME OF THAT THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT NOW? >> THESE ARE THINGS THAT -- SOME OF THESE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE DOING. WE DON'T HAVE --
>> COURAGE: OKAY. >> AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE US FOR EVERYTHING.
WE DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER WHO JUST FOCUSES ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
ALTHOUGH I AM AWARE OF ONE THAT ONE OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAS.
SO I FORGET THE MOST RECENT THING YOU A ASKED ABOUT BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T DIRECTLY DO BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE?
SORRY. >> COURAGE: IT WAS NAVIGATING TO INSURANCE, TEXAS PROGRAMS,
WELL WOMEN CARE, FAMILY PLANNING. >> SO THERE ARE THREE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THAT WORK.
AND THEN OF COURSE SOME OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS DO TOO BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR PATIENTS TO BE INSURED. BUT THERE CAN DEFINITELY BE MORE.
WE WOULD NOT BE SEEING THE DROPOFF THAT WE'RE SEEING IN PEOPLE BEING ENROLLED IF THEY
WERE HAVING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. >> COURAGE: DO WE DO DOULA
TRAINING? >> NO, WE DO NOT. AGAIN, METRO HEALTH DOESN'T HAVE
TO OWN ALL OF THIS. >> COURAGE: OKAY. WELL, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. DO WE HELP WITH HOME PREGNANCY TESTING?
[01:15:04]
>> NO. >> COURAGE: OKAY. DO WE HELP WITH EMERGENCY
CONTRACEPTION? >> NO. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
TRANSPORTATION TO PRENATAL CARE? >> NO. WELL, SOMETIMES.
IF THEY HAVE -- FOR INSTANCE IF THE MOTHER HAS SYPHILIS, SOMETIMES WE WILL HELP.
>> COURAGE: TELEHEALTH FOR STIS? >> IN OUR CLINIC, WE DO TELEHEALTH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON A PREVENTIVE MEDICATION. BUT, AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DOING ALL THESE THINGS. IT'S JUST THAT THERE COULD BE
MORE. >> COURAGE: AND HOW ABOUT STI HOME TEST KITS?
>> WE DO SOME IN A TARGETED WAY. >> COURAGE: OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. MANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AREN'T THINGS THAT WE DO OR THAT WE'RE LIMITED IN WHAT WE DO. AND SO THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW OTHER AGENCIES TO TAKE ON THESE RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS $500,000 BUDGET WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. >> AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE PROPOSE.
>> COURAGE: RIGHT. OKAY. I UNDERSTAND.
THE LAST ITEM ON HERE IS TRANSPORTATION TO ABORTION CARE. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I SUPPORT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT TO DO WITH HER BODY.
I ALWAYS HAVE AND I ALWAYS WILL. I HAVE DAUGHTERS. I HAVE GRANDDAUGHTERS.
I HAVE NIECES. I KNOW A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU ANOTHER STORY OF SOMETHING THAT I EXPERIENCED. I TAUGHT FOR 25 YEARS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I TAUGHT AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND WHILE I WAS TEACHING THERE, I HAD THE OCCASION TO TEACH A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS PREGNANT. AND AT THAT TIME SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HER, HER BABY, OR HER LIFE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME ALL THESE YEARS. AND SOMETIMES WE SAY IT'S A WOMAN'S CHOICE AND I GRANT EVERY WOMAN THE CHOICE TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR HERSELF. BUT SOMETIMES THESE YOUNG GIRLS, THESE YOUNG WOMEN DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. YOU GOT TO DO IT THE WAY WE SAY YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ABORTION. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TELLING A WOMAN OR EVEN A YOUNG GIRL WHO'S IN A CRISIS LIKE THAT WHAT THEY CAN OR CAN'T DO ABOUT THEIR BODY AND THEIR FUTURE. AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN A DECISION ABOUT ENABLING SOMEBODY TO HAVE AN ABORTION.
I WISH NO WOMAN WOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HAVING AN ABORTION.
BUT IT HAPPENS IN REAL LIFE AND IT HAPPENS IN THIS CITY AND I UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT OF SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE TODAY. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA OF EXPANDING WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR REPRODUCTION OPTIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND CARE FOR THEM AND THEIR NEWBORN CHILDREN. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF SPENDING CITY TAX DOLLARS ON WHEN IT COMES TO ENABLING A WOMAN TO GO AND HAVE AN ABORTION. BUT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS LIST MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PROPOSALS WE GET AS THESE GO FORWARD. AND I HOPE THE FINAL DECISION AND THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO HELP THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR DR. WOO.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND TO DR. JACOBS AS WELL FOR YOUR WORK.
ON SLIDE 17 AND ON 18 -- ON SLIDE 17 YOU HAVE INCLUDE UPSTREAM AND MIDSTREAM APPROACHES ON THE RFP CRITERIA. BUT ON 18 YOU HAVE ALL THREE. AND SO I T JUST WANTED TO GET A CLARIFICATION. WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO INCLUDE THE TWO OR THE THREE?
>> I SEE. IF SOMEBODY IS COMING IN WITH A DOWNSTREAM APPROACH ONLY, THOUGH WE WOULD LOOK MORE FAVORABLY IF THEY WERE ALSO LOOKING MIDSTREAM AND UPSTREAM.
>> GARCIA: I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. THE FINAL CLARIFICATION IS ON SLIDE NO. 2. YOU HAVE THAT SIMILAR FUNDS EXIST IN TWO TEXAS CITIES IN THERE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THE TRAVEL
PORTION IN THOSE CITIES. >> AUSTIN IS NOT FUNDING TRAVEL AT THIS POINT.
[01:20:04]
BACK IN FY20 THEY DID BUT BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE, THEY DO NOT.AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS NOT RELEASED THEIR AWARDEES BUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THEY ARE LOOKING TO FUND EDUCATION IN ONE PART OF THE RFP, AND IN THE OTHER CLINIC CAPACITY-BUILDING.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, DR. WOO. THOSE ARE MY ONLY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD TO BE ON A MAJORITY-WOMEN COUNCIL THAN TODAY. AND EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR OUR TWO MALE COLLEAGUES AND ALLIES.
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR SUPPORTING THE FULL AUTONOMY OF BODY AND CHOICE. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE AND THE URGENCY OF MOVING WITH THIS RFP PROCESS. AS THE DATA DEMONSTRATED THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO ENSURE WE'RE GETTING THESE RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES INTO COMMUNITY'S HANDS AS SOON AS WE CAN AND WE KNOW THAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS HIGH WHEN WE HAVE DIRECT SERVICES TO MANY OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. I WANTED TO THANK THOSE AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN SUBPOENAED AND THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY WOMEN TO HAVE FULL AUTONOMY AND CHOICE.
JUST EMPHASIZING THE NEED TO MOVE THIS RFP PROCESS ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE WOMEN ARE DYING AND BEING IMPACTED THE LONGER WE WAIT TO GET THESE PROPOSALS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. IF NOT, ERIK, OVER TO YOU FOR INTRODUCING ITEM 2.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. WOO AND OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION.
>> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR. SECOND ITEM TODAY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATED PROPOSAL FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL AT OUR B SESSION IN LATE FEBRUARY .
BASED ON THAT ORIGINAL -- ANA IS GOING TO GO THROUGH -- IT'S A FAIRLY SHORT PRESENTATION THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE INCORPORATED WITHIN THE PROGRAM.
WE'VE WORKED WITH BUSINESS OWNERS TO GET SOME DIRECT FEEDBACK ON AT LEAST ONE OF THE ITEMS TALKED ABOUT. WE HAVE ALSO COORDINATED WITH LIFTFUND.
THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE WE WOULD OPEN UP APPLICATIONS BY MID-JUNE TO BE DISBURSING FUNDS TO BUSINESSES AT THE END OF THE SUMMER. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANA.
SHORT PRESENTATION. >> ANA BRADSHAW. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU WILL RECALL IN LATE FEBRUARY BROUGHT TO YOU THE PROPOSED PROGRAM AND IT WAS DRIVEN BY FEEDBACK THAT WE HAD RECEIVED FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION. ON THE SLIDE I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO TWO FACTORS THAT WE HEARD WHICH WAS THE SENSE OF URGENCY OF GETTING THE FUNDING OUT, AS WELL AS THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PROCESS. SO THAT HAS REALLY -- ALL OF THESE PRINCIPLES HAVE GUIDED US IN DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM. AS WAS PRESENTED ON THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY, THE PROGRAM IS A TOTAL OF $1.4 MILLION. YOU SEE THE DISTRIBUTION OF DIRECT GRANTS AND LIFTFUND'S ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. ORIGINALLY PROPOSED 10 TO $35,000 AND WOULD LOOK TO PRIORITIZE THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. A NUMBER OF ITEMS WERE MENTIONED BY THE COUNCIL DURING THAT PRESENTATION AND SOME OF THE MAJOR DISCUSSION POINTS ARE LISTED HERE, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIONS AS WELL AS LOOKING AT PERHAPS EXPANDING THE ELIGIBILITY OF PROJECTS TO INCLUDE THOSE SHORTER-TERM, PRIORITIZING MICROBUSINESSES VIA THE CRITERIA, AND STANDARDIZING THE MAXIMUM POINTS IN THE SCORING CRITERIA.
BASED ON THAT AND GOING BACK AND CONDUCTING ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, WORKING WITH LIFTFUND AND TALKING TO SOME ADDITIONAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WE HAVE UPDATED A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS.
VAPE SHOPS ARE NOW AMONG THOSE EXCLUDED. WE HAVE DECREASED THE -- WE HAVE LOWERED THE NET REVENUE DECREASE FROM $10,000 TO $5,000. THAT WORKS IN TANDEM WITH THE LAST POINT OF LOWERING THE MINIMUM AWARD AND THAT IS REALLY TO HELP THOSE SMALLEST OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THE MICROBUSINESSES, WHO MAY NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED THOSE LARGEST LOSSES BUT STILL HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
WE DID LOOK AT REDUCING THE DURATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION TO SIX MONTHS.
HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT NET ANY ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. AND THEN WE DID MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SCORING CRITERIA. YOU'LL SEE HERE LISTED THE PROJECTS. THERE WERE NO NEW PROJECTS ADDED SO ALL OF THESE WILL LAST AT LEAST 12 MONTHS AND ARE ONGOING AS OF FEBRUARY 1. AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE WITH THE
[01:25:05]
TIMELINE. AGAIN, WE ARE FEELING THE SENSE OF URGENCY FROM THE BUSINESSES AND WE'LL LOOK TO BEGIN MARKETING TOWARDS THE END OF MAY WITH THE APPLICATION BEING OPEN FROM MID-JUNE TO MID-JULY. AND WORKING WITH LIFTFUND THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE GOAL OF ADMINISTERING THE FUNDS IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER. THAT CONCLUDES THE BRIEFPRESENTATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, ANA. IT SEEMS LIKE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR IMPACTS RATHER THROUGH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, CONSTRUCTION DELAYS, ET CETERA. I WANT TO FIRST JUST THANK YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF ITERATIONS THROUGH THESE SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS. WE HAVE HAD TO WORK WITH MANY OF OUR PARTNERS, INCLUDING LIFTFUND, FOR DISTRIBUTION. THAT'S NOT EASY WORK, ESPECIALLY AS THE COURSE OF THESE AND THE POLICY PARAMETERS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO YOU HAVE CHANGED. I'M GOING TO THROW A LITTLE BIT OF A CURVEBALL MAYBE JUST FOR FOOD FOR THOUGHT. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND IT SEEMS AS WE TRY TO SLICE AND DICE, PARTICULARLY POST PANDEMIC, A LIMITED AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO DEAL WITH THE IMPACTS OF VERY EXTREME ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
AND THEN OF COURSE CONSTRUCTION DELAYS. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE GRANTING, WHEN WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST LOANS, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE GRANTING IS NOT MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THESE BUSINESSES. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE IMPACT POSITIVELY THAT WE WANT TO HAVE TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION.
WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO DO IS FINISH THE CONSTRUCTION JOBS FASTER.
WE WANT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES, LET'S GET THE WORK DONE.
SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO AND WHAT WOULD BE A FAIR APPLICATION OF THESE DOLLARS, WOULD BE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAMS AND OUR CONTRACTING TEAMS IN WHATEVER MANNER WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE. BUT USE THOSE DOLLARS TO GET THE CONSTRUCTION WORK FASTER -- DONE FASTER. WHETHER THAT'S INCENTIVIZING THIRD CREWS AND FOURTH CREWS, OVERNIGHT CREWS. WE KNOW WHERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE.
WE WOULD BE FAIR TO THOSE BUSINESSES -- IN FACT, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE'RE ALMOST INSULTING BY SAYING HERE'S A CHECK FOR $15,000. SORRY FOR THE IMPACTS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AND FAIR FOR THESE BUSINESSES IF WE UTILIZED THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE -- AND IT'S WITHIN OUR PURVIEW -- TO GET THE WORK DONE FASTER, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH INCENTIVES OR SOMETHING ELSE. WE HAVE SOME TIME BEFORE THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK FOR ACTUAL RELEASE OF APPLICATION, SO YOU GUYS ARE CREATIVE.
I TRUST, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO, YOU'LL BRING US BACK SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FAIR AND MORE LOGICALLY DELIVERED TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY HARD TO EXPLAIN SOMETIMES WHO GETS THESE GRANTS AND WHO DOESN'T. THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS LIKE GOING THROUGH A MAZE. THIS WAY EVERYBODY IS FAIRLY TREATED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE HOT SPOTS IN CONSTRUCTION. I THINK WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION. I THINK THAT'S WHERE I WOULD SUPPORT, AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK ABOUT THAT ALONG WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, IF WE STAY IN THIS MANNER OF DELIVERY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER
ALDERETE GAVITO. >> WALSH: MAYOR, CAN I ADD ONE THING, JUST FOR CONTEXT? THIS IS JUST TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THESE DOLLARS ARE ARPA DOLLARS AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD -- WE'RE SO FAR OUT THE GATE ON THIS PROGRAM, WE MIGHT NEED TO SEE IT THROUGH.
BUT THE ISSUE YOU RAISE, IT'S A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE THAT ACHIEVES MORE THAN ONE THING AND GETS PROJECTS DONE FASTER. AND SO I'M THINKING ABOUT AT THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION NEXT WEEK THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE, THAT WE TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BUILD. NEXT YEAR, LATE '24, EARLY '25, WE'RE GOING TO BE BIDDING CONTRACTS FOR THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM WHERE WE WANT TO MAYBE
INCORPORATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I WANT TO PROVIDE THAT CONTEXT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IT DEALS WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- THE SOLUTION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS NOT TO DO LESS CONSTRUCTION. WE NEED TO IMPROVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT BUT I DO WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING THANK YOU TO ANA, BRENDA, ALEX, THE WHOLE TEAM. YOU'VE REALLY DONE AN AMAZING JOB TRYING TO FIT SQUARE PEGS
[01:30:01]
INTO ROUND HOLES WITH THESE GRANT PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, ANA FOR THE PRESENTATION. I KNOW IN THE LAST B SESSION WE HAD SEVERAL REQUESTS AND ASKS FOR Y'ALL AND IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN IN THAT FEEDBACK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. MAYOR, I DO AGREE WITH YOU THAT I THINK THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK GETS DONE FASTER. SO I WOULD BE IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF HOWEVER WE DECIDE TO DO THAT. I KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM WON'T IMPACT ANY DISTRICT 7 BUSINESSES AT THE TIME BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP BUSINESSES WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY PROJECTS DOWN THE LINE. FOR EXAMPLE, CULEBRA ROAD AND BANDERA ROAD ARE LOOKING AT LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE COMING YEARS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS BUSINESSES ALONG THESE CORRIDORS. WHILE THESE PROJECTS WILL LARGELY BE CONDUCTED BY TXDOT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON DISTRICT 7 BUSINESSES.
SO I WANTED US TO BE PROACTIVELY PLANNING FOR HOW WE WILL SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES DURING THAT TIME WHEN SOME ROAD CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO START. THAT'S REALLY MY ONLY REQUEST IS HOW WE LOOK SPECIFICALLY FOR BANDERA AND CULEBRA ROAD. AND ALSO HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THE STATE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> GARCIA: TH TH THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANT TO FIRST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT FUND AND WILL DO SO DURING THE UPCOMING BUDGET SESSION. I'M GOING TO LARGELY FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON WHAT THE PERMANENT FUND SHOULD LOOK LIKE. I THINK WE ALL AGREE FUNDING THIS THROUGH ARPA OR OTHER TEMPORARY FUNDS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SUSTAINABLE RISING COSTS. WE ARE SEEING MANY BUSINESSES FORCED TO CLOSE DUE TO HIGH OPERATING COSTS AND CLIENT BASE BEING PRICED OUT OF PATRONIZING IN ORDER TO PRIORITIZE BASIC HOUSEHOLD NEEDS. ESTABLISHING A GOOD BASIS FOR FINANCIAL LOSS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BUSINESSES ARE FORCED TO COMPARE POST-COVID NUMBERS TO REBOUND NUMBERS. TYING IT TO FINANCIAL LOSS PRIMARILY IS NOT HELPFUL.
I ALSO BELIEVE THIS FUND SHOULD BE PREEMPTIVE. WE SHOULDN'T WAIT TO CAUSE FISCAL HARM TO A SMALL BUSINESS. I'M GOING TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT MAYOR RON SUGGESTED.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS IS NOT INCLUDED. MORE BUSINESSES WILL CLOSE DOWN AND I WILL BE DISGUSTED AT THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT A HISTORICALLY BLACK CORRIDOR RECEIVED. WHEN COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BROUGHT UP A CONTRACTOR DOING HORRIBLE, UNTIMELY WORK IN HER DISTRICT, THE NAME RANG A BELL AND IT'S THE SAME CONTRACTOR WHO CONSTANTLY DELAYED NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS WITH HORRIBLE WORK AND HAD TO KEEP GOING OVER AND REPAVING AND DIGGING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND SHE AND I BOTH VOTED AGAINST THAT CONTRACTOR TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL PROJECT. BUT COUNCIL APPROVED IT.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE UP FOR ANOTHER CONTRACT SOON AND I WILL BE VOTING NO BUT WE CAN'T SAY IN ONE BREATH BUSINESSES WANT FASTER PROJECTS BUT NOT HOLDING THE CONTRACTORS DOING HORRIBLE WORK ACCOUNTABLE. IT SAYS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT AND WE'RE GOING TO REWARD THEM WITH ADDITIONAL WORK, ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT THEY ARE NOT OWED.
AND SO ANY REAL DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND HOW WE CAN SPEED UP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LOT DEEPER. I THINK THERE ARE SOME ROOT CAUSES OF THE DELAYED CONSTRUCTION THAT I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER TOUCHED ON AND I DON'T KNOW THAT -- I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF DIGGING THERE.
BUT GENERALLY I DON'T WANT TO SEE US DISREGARD THE NEED FOR A PERMANENT FUND.
SO I WANTED TO REITERATE THAT. THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I'M IN QUEUE NEXT SO I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS.
I WILL START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE EDD TEAM. WE HAVE ON HERE, SPECIFICALLY FOR BYNUM THAT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING. I WANTED TO SAY I'M GRATEFUL ABOUT THAT. THERE'S ABOUT A DOZEN BUSINESSES IN THAT CORRIDOR.
I WOULD EXPECT DOOR TO DOOR CONTACT. WE KNOW THAT LAST TIME THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF PARTICIPATION FROM DISTRICT 4. I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF INTEREST. I GENUINELY THINK THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, LAST NIGHT I WAS TALKING TO A REPORTER SAYING THAT I THINK THAT THE
[01:35:02]
REASON THAT READY TO WORK NUMBERS ARE DOWN OR NOT AS HIGH IS BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. THERE SHOULD BE A LOT OF INTEREST.I BELIEVE THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGY, ALSO THE EASIEST STRATEGY IS TO UTILIZE DIGITAL MARKETING BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S ALWAYS THE BEST APPROACH FOR EVERY COMMERCIAL SECTOR.
I WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT IF BUSINESS OWNERS DECIDE NOT TO APPLY, THAT AT LEAST THEY'RE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY IS IF WE GO FACE-TO-FACE OR MAKE A PERSONAL CALL. AND SO IF WE CAN JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF ALL OF THE SERVICES AND THAT THERE'S JUST -- THE EXCUSE THAT THERE WAS NO INTEREST IS A BAD EXCUSE AND IT SHOULD NO LONGER BE AN EXCUSE. CHECK OFF THE BOXES. SHOW ME THAT YOU WENT, RIGHT, THAT YOU MET WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS. THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO ME. OR INVITE US TO COME ALONG AND SPEAK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS.
I THINK FOR ANY INITIATIVE TO BE EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE AREAS OF TOWN THAT EXPERIENCE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE OR THAT HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL NEEDS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL STRATEGIES AND SPECIFICALLY THE STRATEGY OF GOING DOOR TO DOOR. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO DO, REACH THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT MOST SO I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT, THERE WAS A RECENT OP-ED BY A.J. RODRIGUEZ, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF TEXAS 2036. HE SAID ACCORDING TO 2022 NUMBERS FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, THERE'S 3.1 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES DEFINED AS BUSINESS WITH LESS THAN 500 EMPLOYEES. ABOUT 99.8% OF ALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE ARE CLASSIFIED AS SMALL BUSINESSES AND MORE THAN 2.6 MILLION OF THOSE BUSINESSES ARE MICROBUSINESSES, EACH WITH LESS THAN TEN EMPLOYEES. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT IN OUR DISTRICTS.
BUT TAKEN TOGETHER, TEXAS SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY 4.9 MILLION TEXAS AND SO THAT SMALL BUSINESS LABOR FORCE IS CRITICAL, NOT ONLY IN SAN ANTONIO BUT ACROSS THE STATE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH LOUDER, RIGHT, SMALL BUSINESSES CAN BE BUT THESE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR HOW CRITICAL THEY ARE TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND OF COURSE TO THE STATE ECONOM BUT I THINK WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO AND THE MAYOR ALL MENTIONED THAT WE SHOULD DO MORE, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND TRYING TO SPEED THEM UP.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY ASPECT AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND WE NEED TO BUILD SAFE, RELIABLE ROADS BECAUSE OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSETS ARE FOLKS TRAVEL ON THOSE SO I UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS BUT WISH TO SEE HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE THAT FASTER BUILD. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAD HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FURTHER FUNDING AFTER THIS ROUND. AND SO I'D LIKE TO JUST REMIND US THAT WE STILL NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> CONSTRUCTION GRANTS AND WE'LL LOOK TO DO IT AGAIN AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT SCHEDULE
WITH THE COUNCIL, SHOULD YOU WISH TO JOIN US. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR IS NEXT. >> KAUR: THANKS. I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL THANK CITY STAFF FOR DOING THE ADDITIONAL WORK OF UPDATES TO THE PRESENTATION SINCE WE RECEIVED IT LAST. COMPLETELY ECHOING EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID.
DISTRICT 1 IS VERY HEAVILY HIT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND WE GET CALLS ALL THE TIME FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ON HOW CAN WE HELP BECAUSE WE HEAR ABOUT A NEW ONE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS EVERY WEEK. WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT A FEW THINGS THAT OUR OFFICE IS DOING TO SHOW THAT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL SIDE BY SIDE IN HELPING SUPPORT. WE PUT OUT A SHOP SMALL HOLIDAY GUIDE FOR ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT 1. WE CREATED A DISTRICT 1 LOYALTY CARD THAT HAS A MAP OF ALL THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE LOCATIONS. IF YOU GO TO TEN PLACES YOU GET A FREE PRIZE FROM OUR OFFICE. AND WE HAVE, ON OUR STAFF, PUT UP SIGNS FOR SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THOSE SIGNS, EVERYBODY LOVED THOSE SIGNS -- FOR THE MOST PART EVERYBODY. WE HAD A FEW PEOPLE. WE'RE REALLY WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU ALL TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP PROMOTE OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. SO THAT BEING SAID, WE ALSO TOOK THIS PRESENTATION AND GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE FOLKS THAT CONSTANTLY CALL US AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT THE GRANT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW AND SO CAN YOU GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK? PEOPLE WERE APPRECIATIVE THAT WE INCLUDED THE VAPE BUSINESSES AS A PART OF THE NEW MATRIX. I THINK THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT
[01:40:08]
WE WERE EXCLUDING FOR MORAL REASONS. THAT SHOULDN'T OCCUR SO WE WERE EXCITED THAT THAT WAS A PART OF IT. WE DID ALSO HEAR THE FEEDBACK THAT THE MAYOR SAID WHERE CONSTRUCTION JUST NEEDS TO BE FASTER.SO THEY'RE LIKE, THIS IS GREAT BUT YOU NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB. I KNOW WE'RE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE PUT IN SOME POLICIES INTO PLACE THAT WILL MAKE CONSTRUCTION GO FASTER. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON HOW THE SCORES WERE CREATED AND WHAT GRANTS WERE OFFERED AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT ON THIS ROUND, THAT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO ALL FOLKS SO THEY CAN SEE WHERE THEY SCORED ON THE SCORING MATRIX. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SCORING MATRIX, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT AS WELL. ALSO, JUST EXPEDITIOUSNESS OF THE PROCESS, OVERALL PROCESS. THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM, WE WERE EXCITED TO BLOCK WALK WITH YOU AS WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR TO PASS OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.
BUT FOLKS HAVE BEEN CALLING OUR OFFICE NONSTOP SAYING WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK.
I THINK WE DID THAT WORK EARLY LAST FALL, MAYBE EVEN AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US, WHEN WE'RE PUTTING OUT THESE PROGRAMS, TO HAVE STRONG TIMELINES OF WHEN WE THINK WE CAN GET RESPONSES BACK FROM. I KNOW IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO A CAPACITY ISSUE BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE, IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED A GRANT PROGRAM AND YOU'RE MAYBE WAITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH ONE PURCHASE OR NOT AND YOU NEED THOSE FUNDS, IT'S HARD IF YOU'RE JUST WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. MAKING SURE WE PRIORITIZE THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO KEEPING THIS CRITERIA OPEN TO AS MANY FOLKS. THERE WAS STILL SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE 2022 BUSINESSES NOT HAVING ENOUGH SALES DATA TO SHOW. AND THAT WE ALSO ASKED LAST TIME IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO USE EITHER BANK STATEMENTS OR POS INFORMATION INSTEAD OF A MEANS OF -- INSTEAD OF TAX FILINGS. SO IF THAT'S A CONSIDERATION THAT YOU ALL CAN TAKE, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THE LAST QUESTION THAT I JUST HAD WAS WE HAD REQUESTED THE SURVEYS FROM THE PREVIOUS ITERATION. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN
RECEIVE THE RESPONSES TO THOSE SURVEYS? >> YES.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE ON THAT. >> KAUR: PERFECT.
THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT. I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE DOWN ONE MORE TIME ON GETTING INPUT FROM SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW ERIK MENTIONED THAT WE'RE SO FAR DOWN THIS ONE THAT IT PROBABLY IS BEST TO CONTINUE BUT AGREE WITH THE MAYOR'S SENTIMENT THAT IF WE CAN USE DOLLARS ELSEWHERE TO MAKE SURE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED. AND ALSO IF WE'RE HAVING -- I KNOW WE HAVE SBAC AND THE COMMISSION THAT PROVIDES FEEDBACK BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE A TASK FORCE OF OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO GIVE THEM A SPACE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON SOME OF THESE GRANTS. JUST A THOUGHT.
THE LAST THING IS -- I KNOW THESE ARE ARPA DOLLARS BUT IF A BUSINESS SAYS CAN WE JUST CREATE A NEW SIGN WITH SOME OF THESE GRANT DOLLARS, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DO ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE?
>> THROUGH OUR CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION, WE HAVE A SIGNAGE PROGRAM.
IF THERE'S A BUSINESS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT WANTS SOME SIGNAGE, YOU CAN REFER THEM TO US. WE'RE WORKING WITH TWO LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THOSE SIGNS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION.
>> KAUR: GREAT. THAT'S FOR ANY SMALL BUSINESS IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION CAN GET
A SIGN SHOWING WAYFINDING, ET CETERA. >> AS LONG AS IT'S A SMALL
BUSINESS -- A CITY-INITIATED PROJECT, CORRECT. >> KAUR: I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE -- >> WALSH: MAYOR PRO TEM, ALEX IS GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY A QUICK UPDATE ON THE FACADE PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE'S A MEMO YOU'RE GOING TO GET ON FRIDAY,
SINCE IT CAME UP. >> WE DID EXTEND THE TIMELINE FOR THAT PROGRAM.
WE KEPT APPLICATIONS OPEN. WE ACCEPTED APPLICATIONS FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
WE'RE FINISHING UP REVIEW OF THOSE APPLICATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM BUSINESSES, WE TRY TO GET THAT BEFORE WE TELL THEM NO, YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE. WE ARE CLOSE TO FINISHING THAT UP AND WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE WRAP THAT UP. HOPEFULLY, IF NOT THIS WEEK, THEN NEXT WEEK.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, ALEX. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: STAY UP THERE.
I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE FORMULA FOR DETERMINING HOW MUCH A BUSINESS MAY GET.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF A SMALL BUSINESS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS LOST $50,000, ARE THEY GOING TO GET LIKE 10%, $5,000? 20%, $10,000? HOW IS THAT DETERMINED?
>> THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $35,000 BASED ON THE REDUCTION IN THEIR NET EXPENSES.
[01:45:03]
>> COURAGE: IF THEY LOST 50, THEY COULD GET 35 BACK. >> CORRECT.
>> COURAGE: IF THEY LOST 20, THEY COULD GET 20 BACK? >> YES.
>> COURAGE: NOW, ONE THING I NOTICED THAT WASN'T ON THIS LIST THAT KIND OF SURPRISED ME WAS
NORTH ST. MARY'S. WHY WEREN'T THEY ON THIS LIST? >> THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM, ON THAT ONE SLIDE . IT'S ACTIVE PROJECTS AS OF FEBRUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR. THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE TO HELP THEM KIND OF BRING BACK FOLKS AND THROUGH THE ACTIVATION PROCESS. BUT FOR THIS, IT'S ACTIVE PROJECTS.
>> COURAGE: SO THAT WAS UNDER OTHER FUNDING? >> CORRECT.
THE ROUND OF CONSTRUCTION GRANTS WE DID AROUND THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR INCLUDED NORTH ST. MARY'S.
>> COURAGE: GOOD. I GUESS MY OTHER REALLY IS A COMMENT AND IT'S BASED ON WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. I AGREE TOTALLY. WE NEED TO GET THINGS DONE SOONER. AND I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF PLANNING AND COORDINATING WITH WHATEVER BUSINESSES ARE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT. OR THE CITY ITSELF.
AND I WOULD ALWAYS AGREE -- AND I THINK ALL OF US WOULD -- IF THERE'S BAD CONTRACTORS, THEY NEED TO BE GONE. AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND SO I HOPE THAT THE BAD CONTRACTORS WHO WERE LETTING US DOWN WON'T BE AROUND ANYMORE.
BUT I GUESS WE ALSO HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, NOT JUST CITY, BUT COUNTY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.
RAZI, YOU'VE GOT YOUR HANDS FULL. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, ANA FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M GLAD TO SEE THE B COMMENTS HAVE BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE PRESENTATION, PARTICULARLY THE CONVERSATION AROUND ENSURING THAT FOLKS' NET WORTH IS INCLUDED. I BELIEVE WITH THIS WE WOULD BE THE SECOND CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO INCLUDE THE NET WORTH COMPONENT. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOLKS TO BE OUT WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS 24/7, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE WORKERS ARE PROTECTED AND RECEIVING THEIR WAGES AND ARE BEING PROTECTED. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT.
BUT ULTIMATELY I AM JUST PLEASED TO SEE THIS MOVE ALONG AND JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR GOING OUT INTO THE DISTRICT 5 COMMUNITY TO GO TO THE STORES OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO DO THAT EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THEY HAD ALREADY RECEIVED A MAILER AND FLIER. GRATEFUL FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOUR TEAM MADE CONTACT WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. OVER AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY, I SPOKE TO A [INDISCERNIBLE] HE SAID ABOUT THAT BYNUM PROJECT. I SAID, THAT'S DISTRICT 4 BUT I'LL LET HER KNOW. PLEASED TO SEE THAT'S ONE OF THE PROJECTS IN THERE.
AND THEN OF COURSE WITH THE ZONA CULTURAL, THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ANA FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR TAKING THIS UP IN TERMS OF HOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT SPENDING THE REST OF OUR ARPA DOLLARS. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT GEVERS AND SOUTH PRESA ARE ON THERE. AS YOU KNOW MY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE BUSINESSES AND THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT AREA TO ADDRESS ISSUES. AND MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ THAT THERE IS SOME STILL SYSTEMIC ISSUES WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CONTRACTORS GO INTO THE SOUTHSIDE AND WHAT SORT OF SERVICE THEY GIVE US AND WHAT SORT OF SUBCONTRACTORS THEY USE. I AM VERY HESITANT TO GIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO GETTING IT DONE QUICKLY. I AM INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT BEST VALUE AND LOCAL PREFERENCE BUT, AGAIN, WHAT I KNOW OF THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS, BECAUSE OF MY FAMILY'S INVOLVEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVEMENT, FASTER DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU GET BETTER.
SO I'M VERY HESITANT TO THAT. THE OTHER THING IS GEVERS AND SOUTH PRESA ARE MASSIVE PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE FOR DECADES, GENERATIONS. SO WE WANT TO MOVE ALL THIS SOUTH AND THE WEST AND THE EAST PROJECTS TO THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS SO WE CAN
[01:50:04]
GET THEM DONE SOONER, I'M ALL FOR THAT. SO, OTHER THAN THAT, I THANK YOU FOR THE OUTREACH. I KNOW MY TEAM'S REACHING OUT. THIS IS VERY GOOD IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION GRANTS AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT.BUT REALLY LOOKING FOR ADJUSTMENTS FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.
BECAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, WHEN YOU TALK SOUTHERN, SOUTHEAST, SOUTH, SOUTHWEST, AND WEST, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT VERY OLD INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEXAR MET STILL THERE. ALL THOSE LOOKING TO HAVE A SEAT SOMEWHERE ELSE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT THAT ALSO . THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: TH THANK YOU,
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: TO THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS, I COMPLETELY AGREE. WE NEED TO GET THIS STUFF DONE QUICKER BUT IT SHOULDN'T COME IN LIEU OF THIS PROGRAM. THE TRUTH IS WE NEED TO DO BOTH. WE NEED TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE AND WE ALSO NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, PERHAPS AS INCENTIVE FOR THE CONTRACTORS TO FINISH THESE JOBS QUICKER. AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO HOW DO WE SPEND OUR MONEY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE TO HELP OUR CITIZENS AND OUR BUSINESSES.
AND SO WE SHOULD BE DOING BOTH OF THESE THINGS AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD USE OF CITY DOLLARS AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE SPEND OUR MONEY ON.
WITH RESPECT TO BAD CONTRACTORS, I COMPLETELY AGREE. THEY'RE OUT THERE.
WE NEED TO STOP USING THEM. WE NEED TO START PICKING OUR CONTRACTORS BASED ON MERIT AND BASED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE. AND MY LAST POINT HERE GOES TO THE EQUITY ATLAS AND ITS USE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. AND WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THIS, WHY ARE WE USING THE EQUITY ATLAS HERE, THE ANSWER THAT I GOT WAS, WELL, CITY COUNCIL SAID YEARS AGO TO APPLY EQUITY ATLASES -- THE EQUITY ATLAS TO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. SOMEBODY'S GOT TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT BENEFIT THE EQUITY ATLAS HAS OR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE EQUITY ATLAS ON A PROGRAM LIKE THIS. BECAUSE LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THE POINTS THAT ARE GIVEN HERE, BASED ON WHERE A PHYSICAL BUSINESS IS LOCATED, WHICH ARE THESE EQUITY ATLAS POINTS, ARE GOING TO COMPLETELY DICTATE WHICH BUSINESSES GET THE MONEY.
FOR INSTANCE, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A MECHANIC SHOP UP IN DISTRICT 10 WHOSE OWNER IS SOMEBODY ON THE SOUTHSIDE. AND THE BUSINESS IS JUST STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, YET THEY HAVE LOST A BUNCH OF MONEY BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON OUT FRONT.
THAT GUY WHO OWNS THAT BUSINESS IS NOT GOING TO GET THESE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION FUNDS SIMPLY BECAUSE HIS BUSINESS IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN DISTRICT 10.
CONVERSELY -- AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ -- THERE ARE CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS, LET'S SAY, ON THE SOUTHSIDE THAT ARE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST AND THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE CONVENIENCE STORES, THEY LIVE UP IN THE DOMINION, DISTRICTS 8, 9, AND 10 THOSE GUYS ARE GOING TO GET THIS CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION MONEY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR BUSINESS IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED ON THE SOUTHSIDE. I WASN'T HERE WHEN THIS EQUITY ATLAS WAS CREATED BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK IN THAT WAY.
AND SO MY PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THIS IS SET OUT RIGHT NOW IS THAT SO MANY POINTS ARE GIVEN TO A BUSINESS BASED ON ITS PHYSICAL LOCATION. THAT I DON'T THINK THE INTENT OF THIS CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE REALIZED. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS ON THAT. IF THERE'S A REASON WHY WE BELIEVE THE EQUITY ATLAS FULFILLS SOME PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THIS CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM, I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR IT. >> SO THE INTENT BEHIND INCLUDING THE EQUITY ATLAS -- JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WE'RE INCLUDING ONLY THE INCOME PORTION OF THE EQUITY ATLAS.
[01:55:05]
IT IS TIED TO CENSUS TRACTS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY NORTH OR SOUTH.IT'S TIED TO CENSUS TRACTS WITH THE LOWEST INCOME LEVELS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING
TO ADDRESS THROUGH THE USE OF THE ATLAS. >> WHYTE: RIGHT.
SO BUSINESSES THAT ARE PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN THE LOWEST-INCOME AREAS WILL RECEIVE
THE FUNDS. >> NO. THAT'S JUST PART OF THE
CRITERIA. >> WHYTE: WILL RECEIVE THESE POINTS.
>> THAT HAS NOW BEEN STANDARDIZED, YES. >> WHYTE: AGAIN, THE BUSINESS
CAN BE PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN A POORER PART OF TOWN -- >> EXACTLY.
>> WHYTE: BUT THE OWNER CAN BE A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE LIVING ON SOMEWHERE UP IN THE NORTH SIDE
OF TOWN, RIGHT? >> YES. WE ARE CONSIDERING THE CLIENTELE WHO FREQUENT THE LOCATION. THAT'S WHY IT'S BASED ON GEOGRAPHY.
>> WHYTE: BUT IT'S THE BUSINESS THAT'S GOING TO BE RECEIVING THESE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION FUNDS. SO WHY IS IT THAT WHERE THE BUSINESS IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED -- WHY ARE WE BETTER SERVED GIVING THAT BUSINESS THE MONEY THAN PERHAPS TO A POORER BUSINESS OWNER WHOSE BUSINESS IS LOCATED UP IN DISTRICTS 8, 9, AND 10.
>> WE'RE BASING IT OFF OF THE ECONOMIC -- >> SEGOVIA: I CAN GIVE THAT A TRY, COUNCILMAN. I'M USING MY DEIA HAT, NOT MY CITY ATTORNEY HAT.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IS IN THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE USE THE EQUITY ATLAS, THOSE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN UNDERSERVED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPECTRUMS. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IS MAKING SURE THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO CONVENIENCE STORES, HEALTHCARE, ALL THE SORTS OF SERVICES THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED IN, FRANKLY, OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY. THESE AREAS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THE EQUITY ATLAS. >> WHYTE: SO WE'RE THINKING THAT THE $10,000 OR WHATEVER ONE OF THESE BUSINESSES GETS WILL SAVE THE BUSINESS FROM GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AND THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA WILL THEN HAVE ACCESS TO WHATEVER SERVICES THAT
BUSINESS PROVIDES. >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT. >> WHYTE: OKAY.
THANKS. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NOBODY ELSE LEFT IN THE QUEUE. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO -- OH, I'M SORRY. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. GO AHEAD.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I THINK MY COLLEAGUE BRINGS UP A REALLY GREAT POINT BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND WITHIN THE OVERALL RUBRIC OF THE POINTS IT'S ALL TAKEN INTO FULL CONSIDERATION. BECAUSE I THINK IN DISTRICT 5 WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND LOCATIONS ON WHERE THEY CAN OPEN UP, WHETHER IT'S A POP-UP SHOP OR AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HEAR THAT POINT.
BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION. INTERNALLY, IT'S MORE OF A PUBLIC WORKS QUESTION.
DO WE TRACK INTERNALLY WHEN CONTRACTORS FAIL TO COMPLETE A PROJECT ON TIME? AND IS THAT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THROUGH WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS, RATHER?
>> YEAH, COUNCILWOMAN. WHEN WE PASSED THAT ORDINANCE, WE HAVE CREATED THE SCORECARD.
WE SCORE THE CONTRACTOR ON MANY AREAS, ONE OF THEM IS QUALITY OF THE WORK, SCHEDULE, TIMELINESS, RESPONSIVENESS, AND [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THEM FOR CITY COUNCIL TO AWARD ANOTHER CONTRACT. THIS IS ON LOW-BID ONLY .
ON TOP OF THAT IF THEY ARE BEHIND THE TIME WE GIVE THEM TO FINISH THAT PROJECT, WE COLLECT DAMAGE. EVERY DAY THEY ARE BEHIND THE SCHEDULE, WE REDUCE THAT DOLLAR
FIGURE FOR THAT PARTICULAR DAY FROM THE PAY ESTIMATE. >> CASTILLO: I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE REASONS THAT A PROJECT MAY BE DELAYED WITH UTILITIES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
I KNOW THERE'S ONE CONTRACTOR THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED. I WOULD LIKE TO GET A BRIEFING ON WHAT THAT HISTORY LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WAY WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO RECALIBRATE WITH THE SCORING MATRIX IF THERE'S A CONTRACTOR THAT WE'RE HEARING HAS HAD DELAYED PROJECTS OR HAS TO GO BACK. I JUST WANT TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT. SO IF OFFLINE I COULD GET A BRIEFING ON THAT CONTRACT IN
PARTICULAR. >> ONE IS UNKNOWN CONDITION, USUALLY HAPPENS ON ALL PARTS OF THE CITY, WHICH IS DOWNTOWN. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF UTILITY THEY ARE OR WHAT KIND OF CONDITION THEY ARE. THAT'S ONE CONDITION. CONDITION TWO, AS THE OWNER,
[02:00:04]
SOMETIMES WE ADD A MORE SCOPE. THAT'S CONDITION TWO. CONDITION THREE IS CONTRACTOR NOT HAVING ENOUGH RESOURCES TO FINISH THE PROJECT ON TIME. THIS TIME HE HAS TO PAY -- HE OR SHE HAS TO PAY PENALTY PER DAY HE'S FALLING BEHIND THE SCHEDULE.>> CASTILLO: GO AHEAD. >> WALSH: AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE RESPONSIBLE BIDDER ORDINANCE, THEY PUT IN THE ORDINANCE WHAT WE HAD STARTED DOING BY PRACTICE, WHICH WAS SKIPPING OVER AT THE STAFF LEVEL AND ADJUSTING OUR RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO NOT HIRE CONTRACTORS THAT HAD A BAD TRACK RECORD, AT LEAST WITH US. THE RESPONSIBLE BID ORDINANCE HAS BEEN IMPORTANT FOR US TO FORMALIZE THAT WITHIN STATE LAW. SECONDLY, THE CONTRACTOR IN QUESTION THAT WE'LL BRIEF YOU ON, I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES ON TWO PROJECTS. THAT CONTRACTOR HAS ACTUALLY COME IN AND RECOVERED US IN OTHER PROJECTS WITH BAD CONTRACTORS.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THE ITEM THAT WENT TO COUNCIL HERE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE REFERRING TO, WE BELIEVE THERE'S A GOOD SOLID CONTRACTOR.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTRACTORS RIGHT NOW UNDER CONTRACT WITH US THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL FAITH AND BACKING OF IN TERMS OF CONFIDENCE. OTHERWISE, WE WOULD NOT BE BRINGING THEM TO YOU GUYS FOR APPROVAL. ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY KEY BECAUSE LATER ON THIS YEAR AND IN EARLY 2025, WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD ALL THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS -- A LOT OF THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, BEGINNING WITH 2022.
AND WE'RE GOING TO WANT A STABLE OF GOOD, SOLID CONTRACTORS TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THAT WORK.
AND UNDOUBTEDLY -- AND I'LL ECHO WHAT RAZI SAID. WE ARE CONTEMPLATING CHANGING HOW WE DO THE UTILITY ASPECT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE IN CERTAIN PARTS OF
TOWN AN ELEMENT THAT IMPACTS OUR SCHEDULE. >> CASTILLO: GREAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>> GARCIA: TH THANK YOU, CAN TH. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: SHE SAID IT'S ALL LOOKED AT TOGETHER WITH RESPECT TO THE POINTS.
BUT IT DOESN'T WORK. THE MATH DOESN'T WORK. AND JUST A
>> WHYTE: HOW THE POINTS ARE SET UP NOW, IF LET'S SAY A BUSINESS HAS LOST 50% OF THEIR REVENUE, RIGHT? 50% OF THEIR REVENUE, BUT THEY'RE ON THE NORTH SIDE, RIGHT? THEY GET 20 POINTS.
RIGHT? AND THEY'VE LOST 50% OF THEIR REVENUE.
AND THEN LET'S SAY A COMPANY HAS ONLY LOST 10% OF THEIR REVENUE, BUT THEY'RE IN THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE YOU GET THE BIG EQUITY ATLAS POINTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO END UP WITH 25 POINTS. SO EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY LOST 10% OF THEIR REVENUE AND THE OTHER GUY LOST 50% OF HIS REVENUE, THE PERSON THAT LOST MORE REVENUE IS NOT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THIS MONEY. AND I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE POINT. I DON'T THINK THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE BUSINESS SHOULD PLAY INTO WHO'S GETTING THIS MONEY.
I MEAN, THIS WAS ABOUT HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED BY CITY-INITIATED CONSTRUCTION, PERIOD. WHETHER THE BUSINESS IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST OR WEST. WHOEVER'S BEEN HURT THE MOST, I WOULD ARGUE, WE SHOULD TRY TO HELP THEM THE MOST.
THANKS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE CUE. ALL RIGHT.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT DISCUSSION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT -- >> VIAGRAN: I'M HERE.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN DOES HAVE A COMMENT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK WE NEED TO, AGAIN, THESE ARE ARPA DOLLARS. WE DID HAVE THE EQUITY ATLAS, I THINK THE ONE THING WE WERE LOOKING AT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF CITY STAFF AND THE BUSINESS COULD HELP IS -- WE ALREADY KNEW, AND THIS WAS COUNCILS BEFORE US, THAT WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES NEEDING HELP IN THE SOUTH, THE EAST, THE WEST AND THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.
SO THEN YOU LAYER ON THE PANDEMIC. AND A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET. AND I KNOW THERE ARE ZIP
[02:05:05]
CODES IN DISTRICT 10 THAT NEED HELP. I DO KNOW THAT.BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE -- THE COUNCILPEOPLE BEFORE ME, ADRIANA AND I BELIEVE MELISSA WERE SITTING ON THAT COUNCIL ALSO, THAT SAW AN INEQUITY THAT THEY LOOKED AT, AND WE KNEW THE PANDEMIC HIT THEM HARD. SO I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE FORGETTING THAT IT'S ARPA DOLLARS, AND WE'RE FORGETTING THAT WE CAME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC. SO WHILE I HEAR COMMENTS, I THINK THE EQUITY LENS IS A GOOD IDEA, I THINK WE'RE ADDRESSING IT, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES IMPACTED. AND I AM LOOKING -- WE CAN LOOK AT ZIP CODES IN DISTRICT 10 THAT HIT THAT POVERTY LEVEL.
I THINK IS FINE, BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESSES THAT ARE PAYING THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF RENT FOR LOCATION, I THINK WE NEED TO -- I DON'T THINK THAT MATCHES THE EQUITY LENS, SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THERE, AND JUST LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT BUDGET SESSION. SO THANKFUL THAT YOU SET THAT UP RIGHT BEFORE
FIESTA, ERIK. THANKS! >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 4:28. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.