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THE TIME IS 10:13 AM ON THE 16TH DAY OF MARCH, 2022.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE RULE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA? HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
[Approval of Minutes ]
UH, WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.UH, AND IT WILL START WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16TH, 2022.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16TH, 2022.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
ITEMS TODAY RELATED TO CCRS FILED BY OUR COLLEAGUES.UH, SO I'LL TAKE THEM IN ORDER.
WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER TWO.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER MANNY'S, DISTRICT EIGHT TO DESIGNATE THE CIRCULAR AREA AND FRONT OF CITY HALL TO INCLUSION PLAZA.
SO IN DE IN DECEMBER OF 2021, COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS, UH, ISSUED A C C R, UH, UH, REQUESTING THAT THE AREA IN FRONT OF CITY HALL BE DESIGNATED HAS, UH, HAS INCLUSION PLAZA.
UH, MILITARY PLAZA WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 1722, HAS A PARADE AND MARKET GROUND.
UH, IT EVOLVED INTO THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT WHEN, UH, CITY HALL WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS.
UH, AND IT CURRENTLY HOLDS A HISTORIC DESIGNATION STATUS.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, UH, I AM, UH, REALLY PLEASED TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT AND TO WORK WITH OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE ON THIS, UH, THE AREA IN FRONT CITY HALL HAS A C C R NOTES WAS, UH, INITIALLY A, A PARADE GROUND AND EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE, UH, CIVIC LEADERS AND, AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS PRESENT AND HOLD PRESS CONFERENCES IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE THE, UH, PUBLIC COMES TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT TO PETITION YOU ALL, UH, FOR, FOR REDRESS AND, AND FOR FRANKLY, INCLUSION.
AS YEARS HAVE GONE BY, UM, THE RENOVATIONS TO CITY HALL HAVE ADDED THESE TWO RAMPS, AS YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE, UH, THAT MAKES CITY HALL MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES.
UH, AND JUST LIKE CITY HALL NOW IS, UH, MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN IT WAS BEFORE, UM, THE DESIGNATION OF INCLUSION PLAZA WILL ALLOW IT TO THE UNDERLYING FEELINGS AND ETHOS OF DESIGNATING AND NAMING THAT AREA HAS INCLUSION PLAZA WILL BE MORE WELCOMING.
THOSE ARMS LOOK LIKE, I THINK I'VE HEARD IT DESCRIBED BEAUTIFULLY, HAS SORT OF WELCOMING ARMS INTO THE SEAT OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND SO, UH, JUST AS WE'VE, AS A CITY HAVE EVOLVED TO EXPAND THE PROTECTIONS TO OUR INHABITANTS, UM, INCLUSION PLAZA WILL BE A PLACE WELCOMING OF EVERYBODY, UH, BOTH, UH, THE CIVIC MEMBERS OF THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO PETITION YOU ALL FOR THEIR REDRESS AND FOR YOU ALL TO COMMUNICATE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO, SO I BELIEVE IT IS A, UH, FITTING DESIGNATION, ESPECIALLY IN WELL TIMED WITH THE EXPANSION OF, AND THE RENOVATIONS TO CITY HALL.
SO I'M VERY PLEASED, PERSONALLY, AT LEAST TO BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN THIS PROJECT.
UH, OF COURSE, THERE'LL BE LEGAL ISSUES, UH, AS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE.
UM, WE WILL UNDERTAKE A REVIEW OF, UH, APPLICABLE AUTHORITY, UH, AND, AND, AND LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.
UH, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT, UH, THAT THE C C R BE PRESENTED TO COUNSEL.
UH, SO IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, GREAT.
UH, MR. DOMINGUEZ, THIS WAS A C C R FILED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MANNY S SO LEMME TURN THE FLOOR TO HIM TO INTRODUCE OUR DISCUSSION.
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THANKS.I, I, I DON'T THINK THIS, THIS REQUIRES A, A, A LONGER CONVERSATION.
I THINK, UH, I THINK IT'S SELF, SELF-EXPLANATORY, AND I APPRECIATE THE, MY COLLEAGUES WHO SIGNED, UM, THE C C R HAVING DONE SO.
UM, I, I GOT TO VISIT WITH, UH, WITH GORDON HARTMAN LAST WEEK AND MENTIONED TO HIM THAT THIS WAS, THIS WAS COMING UP AND, AND HE SAYS, HEY, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST INCLUSION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS.
HE GOES, BUT THIS IS INCLUSION.
UM, AND, AND SAN ANTONIO'S NEEDS TO REMEMBER THAT INCLUSION MEANS, UM, THAT THIS IS INCLUSION WITH A CAPITAL I, RIGHT? AND THAT THIS IS WHERE ALL THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN, AND ALL GROUPS ARE WELCOME.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY, UM, WHO WANTS TO, UM, DESCEND UPON THE STEPS OF, OF CITY HALL, THAT IS THE PLACE WHERE THEY DO IT REGARDLESS OF, OF, UM, THEIR MESSAGE, COLOR, CREED, ETHNICITY, OR, YOU KNOW, ABILITIES.
AND SO, WE'RE, UH, THAT'S THE POINT OF THE C C R MAYOR.
I APPRECIATE YOU IZING IT AND, UM, MAKE THE MOTION.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UM, MOVING THE C C R DISCUSSION AND FOR POSSIBLE ACTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
UH, MOTION BY PALA SECOND, BY KIO HDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I, I NOTED IS, ISN'T THE ADDRESS OF CITY HALL 100 MILITARY PLAZA, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IF WE CHANGE THE NAME, UH, TO INCLUSION PLAZA? UH, I, I DO NOT BELIEVE, UH, THERE, THERE, THERE WILL BE NO NAME CHANGE.
IT'S JUST A, A NAMING OR DESIGNATION OF THE, OF THE, OF THE AREA, I DON'T BELIEVE.
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MAY WEIGH IN WHAT THE ADDRESS OF CITY HALL WON'T CHANGE.
THIS IS DESIGNATING THE CIRCULAR PORTION INCLUSION PLAZA.
SO IT WON'T CHANGE THE MAILING ADDRESS.
IT'LL STILL BE MILITARY PLAZA.
I THINK THAT MAY HAVE ANSWERED, UH, PART OF MY QUESTION, BUT, UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN AYA FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.
UM, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC'S, UM, SAKE, WHAT, WHAT USED TO BE THERE, UM, BEFORE THE, THE TWO, THE WELCOMING ARMS, YOU KNOW, HOW IT WAS, IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR, UH, MAYBE SOMEBODY THAT WAS, HAD SPECIAL NEEDS TO GET INTO CITY HALL.
OH, UH, I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO JOHN.
I, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DESCRIBE TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE.
SO, UM, IF YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAYBE HAD AN ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO TO WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING OR THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.
AND THAT WAS THE ONLY A D A ENTRANCE FOR THE BUILDING.
SO AT THE FRONT OF CITY HALL, THERE WERE SIMPLY STAIRS AND THERE WERE A, A LARGE NUMBER OF STAIRS ACTUALLY, TO GET INTO THE FRONT DOOR OF CITY HALL.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT CHANGED IN THE RENOVATION.
SO, UM, PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A, A PIECE OF, UH, CONCRETE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL THAT WA HAD SOME PARK BENCHES, BUT IT WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A PLAZA, NOT A CIRCULAR GATHERING SPACE.
SO THAT SPACE GREW IN THE RENOVATION AS WELL.
SO THERE WAS NOT REALLY MUCH THERE BEFORE, BEYOND JUST A SORT OF WIDER SIDEWALK.
UM, SO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO IN MY L S A CLASS, WE DID A WHEELCHAIR CHALLENGE GETTING AROUND DOWNTOWN INTO OF THE MORE DIFFICULT, UH, BUILDINGS TO GET INTO WHERE THE COURTHOUSE AND CITY HALL.
SO I, I, IT'S REALLY, UH, I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE KIND OF THIS, THIS CHANGE AND COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH, WITH THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
UM, AND I'M CURIOUS, DID, UM, DID THE DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE DID, OR DISABILITY ESSAY, WERE THEY INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE PROCESS? SO, I KNOW THERE WAS A DESIGN COMPETITION COUNCILWOMAN THAT ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN THE, THE RAMPS YOU SEE TODAY.
AND I'M SURE THAT, UM, DEBBIE COULD ANSWER IF HER COMMITTEE WAS A PART OF THAT INITIAL PROCESS.
I DON'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, SO I AM PROBABLY GOING TO SAY NO.
UM, AS I WAS TAKING OVER THE OFFICE AND THE PRE, OUR PREDECESSOR HAD JUST PASSED AWAY.
SO I THINK THAT, UH, THE DESIGN CHALLENGE INCLUDED THE CITY CONVERSATION IN OUR OFFICE, BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
BUT THEY, UH, THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, UM, WAS INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN CHALLENGE AND THE DESIGN DESIGN CONVERSATION.
AND I'M, I'M VERY LOOKING FORWARD TO VOTING FOR THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEO, HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
AND I'LL ALSO BE SUPPORTING THIS TO MOVE FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
I, I DID MENTION TO COUNCILMAN PAL SAID, UM, I VISIT REGULARLY WITH, UH, THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT I REPRESENT.
AND, UM, I'M THE LIAISON TO THE CANARY ISLANDERS.
AND SO I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHAT WE'RE RENAMING.
AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, TALKING TO THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
I, I, I'M, I'M SURE THAT PROBABLY COUNCILMAN AYAS A STAFF ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THEM, ET CETERA, TO KIND OF, UM, SETTLE THAT CONFUSION, BUT THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
SO JUST, UM, I JUST WANTED TO BRING
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THAT UP AS A LIAISON.NO, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT COUNCIL ONE THAT, UM, AS A PART OF THE RENOVATION, THERE IS A PLAQUE IN FRONT OF SUNNY HALL HONORING THE HERITAGE OF THE CANARY ISLANDERS THAT WAS ADDED AS A PART OF THIS RENOVATION.
SO WE CAN A ABSOLUTELY REACH OUT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S NO IMPACT TO THAT, OR TO THE CURRENT NAME OF THE ENTIRE AREA.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT THEY WERE AWARE, AND SO IT WAS A CONCERN, AND I TRY TO EXPLAIN, NO, IT'S MORE ABOUT INCLUSIONS, ABOUT THE PLAZA ITSELF.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL, UM, MENTIONED TODAY.
AND SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT SINCE I'M THEIR LIAISON.
AND THEN ALSO, ARE WE GONNA CREATE THEN AN ADDITIONAL SIGN FOR THIS? AND WHERE ARE WE THINKING OF PUTTING THIS UP? I MEAN, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IS THAT GONNA LOOK WITH THE TWO SIGNS? UH, AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO, THERE'S, THERE ARE NO PLANS THAT THE DI IS ENVISIONING FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIGN.
UM, AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION THERE, THERE'LL BE NO SORT OF RENAMING IT, IT IS SIMPLY A, A DESIGNATION OR NAMING OF, OF THIS AREA WITHIN.
UM, I HOPE THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS.
AND I'LL JUST, UH, ECHO MY, UH, SUPPORT FOR THIS.
THIS IS NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT ACTION EITHER.
SO, UH, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND I DO SUPPORT IT.
GOING TO CITY COUNCIL, UH, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HISTORY IN THE FRONT OF CITY HALL.
UH, AND MY FAVORITE IMAGES OF THE FRONT OF CITY HALL INCLUDE SOME OF THE RALLIES THAT HAVE BEEN HELD.
UH, I REMEMBER RECENTLY, UH, THE NIGERIAN COMMUNITY HELD A RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE GIRLS WHO WERE KIDNAPPED THERE.
UM, THERE ARE MANY GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RALLIES THAT EMMA 10 YUCCA WOULD, WOULD CONDUCT ON, ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY IN THE FRONT OF THAT BUILDING.
SO IT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE TO RENAME IT, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER NAME, UH, FOR THE FRONT PLAZA, WHICH IS NOW A MUCH MORE GRAND SPACE, GRANDER SPACE, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, AND THIS IS, FRANKLY, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, CALLING IT INCLUSION TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT MEMBER, UH, OF THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE, WHAT, WHAT, UH, HOW THEY, UM, IDENTIFY THIS IS A CITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND THAT THIS IS THEIR, UH, THAT THIS IS THEIR PLAZA, THIS IS THEIR HOUSE.
AND SO, UM, I THINK IT'S ALSO TIMELY, UH, CONSIDERING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT TO EXPRESS TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES WHEN MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING TARGETED.
UH, WE JUST SAW SOME EGREGIOUS PRONOUNCEMENTS BY STATE POLITICIANS ON, UH, ATTACKING OUR TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, THAT WE KNOW THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WE STAND WITH ALL PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXPRESS THAT MEANINGFULLY AND PERMANENTLY, UH, IN FRONT OF THE CITIES, UH, IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS AS IT GOES TO FULL COUNCIL.
UH, WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND, UM, FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBERS MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND SANDOVAL REGARDING THE CREATION OF A FOOD ACCESS MASTER PLAN.
THIS WAS A, UH, C C R FILED, UM, JOINTLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY.
UM, SO LET ME CALL FORWARD, UH, ACTUALLY, LET'S GET THE PRESENTATION, DR.
JACOB, AND THEN I'LL CALL FORWARD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ TO BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION.
ARE YOU SURE? DID I JUST JUMP THE LINE OR ARE WE NO, NO, NO.
GO AHEAD AND, AND THEN WE'LL, UH, START THE DISCUSSION WITH, WITH JAY.
UM, THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE, UM, TOPIC ON FOOD ACCESS MASTER PLAN.
SO JUST A QUICK, UH, PRESENTATION.
SO GOOD MORNING AGAIN, AND THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE C C R ON FOOD ACCESS MASTER PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL ON JANUARY 11TH.
ALSO, UH, MARCH IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, WHERE NATIONWIDE COMMUNITIES ARE INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT THE ONGOING CHALLENGES WITH, UH, MAKING THE HEALTHY CHOICE, THE EASY CHOICE, WHILE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THE INNOVATIONS THAT ARE LIKE, THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, DESPITE SOME OF THE, UH, CONSTRAINTS ECONOMICALLY AND LOGISTICALLY.
SO WITH THAT, UH, THE C C R HIGHLIGHTED THE DISPARITY OF FOOD ACCESS IN OUR CITY, AND INCLUDED SUGGESTIONS FOR WAYS THAT WE MIGHT BEGIN TO ADDRESS IT.
UH, THE C C R INCLUDED THE PROPOSED PROGRAMS, UH, AND POLICIES.
SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT, UH, PROGRAMS TO
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EXPAND OR INCENTIVIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY FOOD RETAIL.IT'S ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IN AND INCENTIVIZING OF LOCAL FOOD GARDENS.
IT'S ABOUT A CITY OWNED VACANT LOT PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY GARDENING.
IT'S ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE FOOD FOREST PILOT PROGRAM TO CITY OWNED LAND.
AND IT'S ABOUT THE ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH FIA TO ESTABLISH BUS, BUS ROUTES THAT CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EXISTING ACCESS TO FRESH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE FOOD TO A NETWORK OF GROCERY STORES.
SO, THESE ARE VERY GOOD INITIATIVES, AND WE ARE PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE METRO HEALTH TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF THESE ALREADY, WHICH IS WHAT I'LL DESCRIBE IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
SO, FOR BACKGROUND, UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU AT LEAST THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY AND FOOD ACCESS.
UH, RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE PRIORITY AREAS BEING ADDRESSED IN OUR FIVE-YEAR GROWTH PLAN WITH SA FORWARD.
SO, THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEFINES FOOD INSECURITY AS A LACK OF CONSISTENT ACCESS TO ENOUGH FOOD FOR AN ACTIVE HEALTHY LIFE.
UH, MANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO STEADY SUPPLY OF FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH NEEDS AREAS OF THE CITY.
OFTEN, THIS IS DUE TO A LACK OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL, OCCUPIED OR COUPLED WITH A LACK OF AVAILABLE GROCERY STORES NEARBY.
ACCORDING TO DATA FROM FEEDING AMERICA, APPROXIMATELY 14% OF BEX COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE FOOD INSECURE COMPARED TO 11% ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE FOOD, UH, THE CHILD FOOD INSECURITY RATE IS EVEN HIGHER AFFECTING ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SO, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE ONGOING PLIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THIS HAS LED TO MORE FOOD INSECURITY IN S AND HAS IMPACTED FOOD SYSTEMS EVEN FURTHER.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT FOOD INSECURITY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WHERE ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE FOOD IS LIMITED AND OFTEN AND SOMETIMES NON-EXISTENT.
SO THIS IS, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN, AND WE KNOW THAT THESE CONDITIONS ARE PREVALENT HERE IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE, UH, LOOKING AT THE, UH, TOP CAUSES OF MORTALITY WITHIN THE HISPANIC AND BLACK COMMUNITIES.
SO, WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT.
SO CURRENTLY, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT METRO HEALTH TEAM HAS BEEN, UH, UH, IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE C C R AIMED AT INCREASING EDUCATION AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHY NUTRITION.
AND THAT, UH, OUR TEAM HAS INCLUDED FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION AS ONE OF THE, OUR SIX STRATEGIC PRIORITIES OF OUR FIVE YEAR GROWTH PLAN.
SO, JUST KNOW THAT, UM, OUR TEAM HAS ALSO EXPANDED OUR OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY BY ADDING NEW POSITIONS TO ASSIST PROGRAMS AND UTILIZING AND EQUITY FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS RACIAL AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES THEN TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AT OUR DEPARTMENT RELATED TO THE C C R, THE PROJECTS LISTED ON THE SLIDE MIRROR, SOME OF THE SLIDE MIRROR, SOME OF THE IDEAS ALREADY PRESENTED IN THIS, UH, C C R.
UH, THIS PROJECT STARTED AS A PILOT PROGRAM A FEW YEARS AGO, BACK IN 2018, THE HEALTHY STORE, THE HEALTHY CORNER STORES PROJECT WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD AND THE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM, AND INCLUDED EIGHT PARTICIPATING STORES.
THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY RESIDES WITH THE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM AT OUR DEPARTMENT, AND HAS 34 PARTICIPATING STORES.
UH, THE PROGRAM INCENTIVIZES STORE OWNERS AND SELLING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT THEIR STORES, WHICH ARE SELECTED BASED ON BEING LOCATED WITHIN A FOOD DESERT AREA, ACCEPTING SNAP BENEFITS, AND THE STORE OWNER'S INTEREST IN SUPPORTING THE HEALTH OF THAT COMMUNITY.
THE PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED TREMENDOUS SUPPORT BY MANY OF YOU, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADD NEW CORNER STORES EACH YEAR, COMMUNITY GARDENS.
SO OUR, AGAIN, OUR HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMMUNITY GARDENS AND, UH, TEACHING GARDENS WITHIN OUR PRIORITIZED NEIGHBORHOODS AS A WAY TO CONNECT RESIDENTS, UH, TEACH ABOUT NUTRITION AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND SUPPORT OF VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
CURRENTLY, SEVERAL GARDENS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE PROGRAM IN INCLUDING THE PECAN, UH, VALLEY WIC TEACHING GARDEN, THE GARDEN CLUB AT VILLAREAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND THE PRESA, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER GARDEN.
ADDITIONALLY, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WITH THE PROGRAM ARE AVAILABLE TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ORGANIZING GARDEN WORK DAYS.
ON TEACHING DAYS, THESE GARDENS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FANTASTIC COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR, WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS LIKE, UH, OPIA GARDENS, THE FRUIT TREE PROJECT, UH, METRO HEALTH HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM, AGAIN, SUPPORTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH FRUIT TREES AND A COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS FRUIT TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FRUIT WAS GROWN.
THIS INITIATIVE ADDRESSES BOTH FOOD WASTE AND FOOD INSECURITY BY CONNECTING EXCESS FOOD WITH A DISTRIBUTION CENTER IS A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH THEIR OWN, UM, WITH THEIR OWN LAND AND FRUIT TREES THAT THEY MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO, TO TEND OR HARVEST.
IT'S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT NEIGHBORS TO EACH OTHER IN THE SHARING OF FRUIT AND NUTS.
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UM, UH, OX STALLONE, UH, THE FOOD FORCE INITIATED BY THE FOOD PO UH, POLICY COUNCIL, UH, THROUGH FUNDING, UH, FROM THE CITY'S OFFICE OF INNOVATION, A FOOD FORCE IS BEING DEVELOPED ON THE COUNTY'S PADRE PARK, UM, LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY.HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS HAVE FACILITATED A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE VISIONING, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION STEPS OF THE PROJECT, AND BROUGHT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO THE PROJECT TO PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN DETERMINING THE PURPOSE OF THE SPACE AS A WAY TO TEACH YOUTH ABOUT NATIVE CULTURE, UM, AND LOCAL FOOD AND MEDICINE PRODUCING PLANTS.
SO THE NAME TAMIMA STALLONE MEANS FIRE SPIRIT AND HONORS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SACRED CEREMONIAL FIRE FIRE IN THE SUN, WHICH PROVIDES ENERGY AND WARMTH FOR OUR PEOPLE AND THE PLANTS WE GROW.
FINALLY, LAST EXAMPLE, HEALTHY FOOD AND, UH, FITNESS RESOURCE BROCHURES ANCHORED TO EACH OF YOUR RESPECTIVE COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
SO, JUST KNOW THAT OUR TEAM HAS DEVELOPED RESOURCE BROCHURES FOR ALL 10 CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, THAT HIGHLIGHT THE AVAILABILITY OF DIABETES PREVENTION AND SELF-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, THE PORT VITA RESTAURANT PARTNERS, THE FREE FITNESS IN THE PARK ACTIVITIES, OUR WIC SERVICES, AND THE HEALTHY CORNERSTONES WITHIN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
THE BROCHURES ARE A AVAIL, ARE A VALUABLE ADDITION TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND OUTREACH TEAMS ACROSS OUR, UH, OUR AGENCY.
THESE WERE DEVELOPED TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO NEARBY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
SO I KNOW IT'S A LONG LIST, BUT JUST KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM AS WE ROLL OUT OUR GROWTH PLAN HERE AT METRO HEALTH.
SO, WITH FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION AS ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S PRIORITY AREAS, OUR STAFF WILL SOON BEGIN RECRUITMENT FOR A FOOD INSECURITY WORKING GROUP.
UH, THIS WILL BE CONVENED BY STAFF AT OUR DEPARTMENT AND ANCHORED TO OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED OFFICE OF POLICY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
THE WORK GROUP WILL IDENTIFY POLICIES TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS.
WE'LL HAVE MEMBERS FROM BOTH GRASSROOTS AND GRASSTOPS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH FOOD INSECURITY.
THE WORK GROUP WOULD ALSO COLLABORATE TO RESEARCH AND CONDUCT A FOOD ASSESSMENT, AND THEN DEVELOP A REPORT ON THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS THE CITY AND BEXAR COUNTY.
SO THIS WILL ALSO CARRY FORWARD THE NEXT STEPS, UH, FROM THE UNITED NATIONS FOOD SYSTEMS SUMMIT DIALOGUE THAT WAS HELD LAST YEAR, AND WE'LL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR FOOD, UM, FOR FUTURE FOOD SYSTEMS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.
SO, WITH THAT, OUR, UM, JUST WANNA APPLAUD AGAINST, AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SUBMITTED THE C C R.
AND I WANNA APPLAUD OUR FANTASTIC TEAM.
SO OUR STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT FURTHER RESEARCH BE DONE ON THE TWO ITEMS PROPOSED IN THE C C R.
UM, SO IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF COSA DEPARTMENTS, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDER NETWORKS, RESEARCH THE FEASIBILITY OF USING CITY OWNED VACANT LOTS FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS.
IN ADDITION, IT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT A CONNECTION BE ESTABLISHED WITH VIA, TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING BUS ROUTES TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO GROCERY STORES WHERE ACCESS IS LIMITED.
SO, I DO WANT TO JUST SAY AGAIN, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND THE DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERS THAT WE RECOMMEND, UH, IN, UH, IN THIS PROCESS ARE THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS PLANNING, OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES, PARKS AND REC, THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION, THE MAYOR'S FITNESS COUNCIL.
AGAIN, JUST TO, TO NAME A FEW.
SO, WITH THAT, I AM JOINED BY MEMBERS OF MY, UH, INCREDIBLE TEAM, AND WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
SO AGAIN, THIS WAS A C C R FILED, UH, JOINTLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
SO WE HAVE, UH, COUNCILMAN MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ HERE, AND GIVE HIM THE FLOOR TO GET OUR DISCUSSION STARTED.
UM, I APPRECIATE ONE, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE TO THE, UM, C C R.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SPEAK ABOUT IT AND, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THE C C R CALLING FOR A FOOD ACCESS MASTER PLAN THAT COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL AND I CO-SPONSORED.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS FOR BEING ONE OF THE SIGNERS ON THAT C C R.
UM, I SET THE STAGE FOR THE C C R BY RECALLING THE COMMITMENT THE CITY MADE, UM, WHEN WE DECLARED RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, FOOD DESERTS, AND A LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS OR ISSUES FELT DISPROPORTIONATELY BY BLACK, BROWN, AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY.
AND I APPRECIATE THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPERATES TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES.
AND I EXPECT THAT THEY'RE PRODUCING GREAT, GREAT RESULTS.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW IS HOW WELL ARE WE MOVING THE FOOD ACCESS NEEDLE AS A COMMUNITY? WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT THE NEEDLE IS MEASURING, AND I HAVE NOT YET SEEN A CITYWIDE METRIC SHOWING WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, WHAT OUR GOAL IS, AND WHEN WE THINK WE CAN GET THERE.
FURTHERMORE, AS WE ADDRESS FOOD ACCESS, THE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST CAN BE ALIGNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW PROGRAMS TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL THAT WE SET.
[00:25:01]
UM, AS IDENTIFIED EARLIER, THE CITY IS NOT THE ONLY STAKEHOLDER IN THIS EFFORT.AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO GATHER STAKEHOLDERS DETERMINE NOT ONLY THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO MOVING THE NEEDLE ON FOOD ACCESS, BUT ALSO WHAT THEIR FEEDBACK IS ON THE GOAL THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY WILL SET.
IN SHORT, WE NEED STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TABLE, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THAT.
UM, WE NEED TO SET A GOAL COLLABORATIVELY, AND WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT AND TRUSTED ENTITY TO TRACK AND KEEP US INFORMED OF OUR PROGRESS.
THE ISSUE OF FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD ACCESS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND I PROPOSE A PLAN.
THE C C R IS PROPOSING A PLAN, UM, TO MEET A GOAL.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PARKS HAS A GOAL OF WITHIN 10 MINUTES WALKING DISTANCE, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A PARK.
I'M PROPOSING THAT WE SET A GOAL.
HOW FAR AWAY SHOULD SOMEONE BE FROM AFFORDABLE ACCESS OR FROM ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE QUALITY PRODUCE? UM, AS I THINK WE KNOW AS A COUNCIL, THERE'S BEEN A LOT, UM, THE PANDEMIC, THE FREEZE.
WE SAW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, AND THEY HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO GO TO ONE OF THE THREE GROCERY STORES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN WHEN THOSE ARE RUN, WHEN THOSE RUN OUT, THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL TO THE NORTH SIDE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A HEAD START ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES AS A RIGHT.
AND WHERE THE CITY SEES THAT THERE ARE FOOD DESERTS, HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND A LACK OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE A DUTY TO ACT STRATEGICALLY.
MY FAVORITE WORD STRATEGICALLY.
SO I'M REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE SEND THIS AGENDA ITEM TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE COMMUNITY, UH, COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER INPUT AND DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, OR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA.
I, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE, UH, PLANS FOR PARTNERING WITH VIA, UM, ACTUALLY, IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT AT TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK I'D LIKE TO SEE THE FULL PRESENTATION ON THAT.
UM, AND I, I, I, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I'M TRYING TO BUILD A FOOD, UM, UM, FOREST IN DISTRICT SIX.
SO I, I'M EXCITED TO SEE, UM, SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY ARRANGED, AND MAYBE WE CAN KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THOSE.
BUT, UM, I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A, WELL, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
WILL THE COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICES BE INCLUDED TO DISCUSS THE COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THAT WAY? YEAH, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL OFFICES TO, UM, AS WE DEVELOP THESE PLANS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT, I THINK, HERE TO, TO BE, UM, EXCITED ABOUT.
AND SO I, I, I FEEL LIKE IT'S KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF IT, AND, UM, I WANNA TAKE PART IN AS MUCH AS I CAN.
AND WITH THAT, I MOVE TO, UM, MOVE THIS ITEM TO CHECK.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE FURTHER BRIEFING ON THE FOOD SECURITY PLAN TO, OR FOOD INSECURITY PLAN TO, UH, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS.
YEAH, I, I, I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS, UH, I WAS REPRESENTING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AT THE TIME, I WAS REPRESENTING BRAND NEW HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS, AND WE WOULD WRITE THE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS IN THERE.
UM, AND JUST AS A MATTER OF COURSE, EVERY H O A, UM, SET OF COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS HAS LANGUAGE IN IT.
IF YOU, ON THE NORTH SIDE, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, UM, THAT SAYS NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO PLANT FRUIT TREES IN THEIR BACK OF THEIR FRONT YARD.
UM, AND NOBODY EVER BLINKED AN EYE, AND WE REALLY NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT.
IT WAS JUST INCLUDED IN THERE.
UM, AND NOW LOOKING BACK, UH, I'M STUMBLING ACROSS THOSE H O A DEEDED RESTRICTIONS IN, UM, DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND I KEEP ASKING SOME OF THESE DEVELOPERS AND THESE H O A MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, WHY, AND NOBODY CAN TELL YOU WHY THEY JUST INCLUDED IT IN THERE.
RIGHT? AND SO THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AROUND SAN ANTONIO THAT ALREADY PROHIBIT YOU FROM PLANTING YOUR OWN FOOD IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.
UM, AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY THAT WAS EVER STARTED.
UM, AND SO, UH, THIS ONE MAKES SENSE, UH, AND I SUPPORT IT, AND I'M, I'M HAPPY TO VOTE YESTERDAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLI, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I THINK THIS IS A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO EXPAND OUR INVOLVEMENT, UH, WITH PROVIDING FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THAT'S ONE OF OUR TOP JOBS.
YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY INCLUDES THE POLICE, THE FIRE, AND ALSO IT INCLUDES PUBLIC HEALTH.
SO, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING THIS.
[00:30:01]
GUESS ONE OF OUR GREATEST PARTNERS, UH, WILL BE THE, THE FOOD BANK, BECAUSE THEY CERTAINLY ADDRESS THE FOOD NEEDS OF 70 TO 80,000 PEOPLE ALMOST MONTHLY AT THIS TIME.AND SO THAT SHOULD HELP US REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE MANY OF THOSE FOOD DESERTS ARE, UH, AND, AND HOW WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DEVELOP A PLAN THAT MEETS THOSE NEEDS.
SO I'LL BE SUPPORT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
AND, UH, GOOD LUCK TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR BRINGING UP THE, THE ISSUE.
UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN COURAGE ASKED IF OTHERS WOULD BE INVOLVED.
I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, TO BE INVOLVED.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S A LEARN LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILDREN, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HARMONY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, AND I ASSIGNED THEM A PROJECT, UM, AND IT WAS A, AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY THAT THEY DID.
AND, UM, I WAS A SPEAKER AND THEY'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING.
SO, UH, CLAUDE, I'LL INVITE YOU TO THAT.
I THINK THEY'RE HAVING A PRESENTATION FOR ME NEXT WEEK.
UM, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INVOLVE THE STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'RE OPENING ONE OF THE, UH, AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ONES THAT I HELPED APPROVED IN, IN, IN MY DISTRICT.
AND THE FIRST REQUEST THAT I HAD FOR THEM WAS FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN.
AND SO, UM, ANYTHING THAT WE COULD THINK ABOUT IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS ACCESS, I THINK IS, IS CRITICAL AS WELL.
AND THEN MY QUESTION, I HAVE ONE QUESTION, IS, IS THIS INITIATIVE, IS IT GONNA SERVICE THE ENTIRE SERVICE AREA FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, OR IS IT JUST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? HAVE YOU ALL GIVEN THOUGHT TO THAT? OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THIS IS INTENDED TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND MAYBE, I MEAN, LATER ON, I THINK THAT WE COULD EXPAND, I GUESS WE COULD TOTALLY MAKE THIS A, A PROJECT THAT CAN KEEP GROWING.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CLA I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
ALSO, I DID NOT KNOW, UM, ABOUT THE TEX LUM, AND SO I'M REALLY INTERESTED, I HAVE A, A WHOLE AREA THAT I THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
SO I WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE FROM THERE, AND SEE IF WE COULD PLUG D FOUR INTO THAT.
WELL, I THINK FOOD SECURITY HAS BECOME SORT OF A HOUSEHOLD PHRASE AT THIS POINT AFTER HAVING WITNESSED WHAT WE'VE SEEN, UH, DURING THE PANDEMIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT, UH, MY QUESTION, UH, RELATED TO THIS IS TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE FOOD BANK ALREADY INVOLVED, UH, IN, IN, IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE PLAN? CLAUDE, THANK YOU.
SO I MENTIONED THE, UH, FOOD POLICY COUNCIL.
WE ARE HAND IN HAND WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE FOOD BANK.
I'VE HAD EXCELLENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LEADERSHIP.
OUR TEAM ON THE GROUND HAS BEEN WORKING AND SYNCHRONIZING THIS EFFORT.
SO THE REFERENCE TO THE, UH, WORK GROUP, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOOD INSECURITY WORK GROUP.
SO THEY ARE AN, UH, AT LEAST AN ANCHOR TO THIS WORK.
SO WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE FOOD BANK.
THEY'RE AN AMPLIFIER OF OUR WORK.
AND, AND I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT ONE OF OUR CHIEF CHALLENGES IS TO IDENTIFY WHERE FOOD DESERTS ARE, UM, AND, AND, AND WHY THEY EXIST.
BUT, UH, IF, IF, IF ONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT THAT FIRST SLIDE.
UM, OUR FOOD INSECURITY RATES ARE ALMOST PERFECTLY CORRELATED WITH OUR POVERTY RATES IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, CHILD POVERTY ISSUES, UH, THAT ARE, ARE RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUES.
SO, UM, TO THE EXTENT WE'RE ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING OUR ROOT CAUSE OF POVERTY.
SO, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, I, MY ONLY ASK IS THAT WE MAKE, UH, OUR TARGETS CLEAR, OUR METRICS IDENTIFIABLE BASED IN EQUITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ALL FOR, UH, HAVING ACCESS TO FOOD QUALITY NUTRITION, BUT OUR GOAL NEEDS TO BE THAT WE HAVE NO ONE LIVING IN, UH, SSE FOOD INSECURE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHETHER THEY'RE A CHILD, A FAMILY, OR OTHERWISE.
SO, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK.
I KNOW IT'S DAUNTING, UH, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE DO HAVE A, A, UM, MOTION AND A SECOND FOR MOVING THIS DISCUSSION ALONG TO CHECK HEARING.
NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KIO HDA ON ANIMAL CARE SERVICES MASTER PLAN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS SHANNON SIMS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING YOU A BRIEF,
[00:35:01]
UH, OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEW, KINDA THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.UH, BEFORE I GET INTO THE BRIEF ITSELF, THOUGH, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OUR A C S ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS HERE.
WE HAVE RITA BROGAN, WHO'S OUR CHAIR, UH, ALSO KAREN SPEAR, WHO'S OUR SECRETARY.
UH, ANY OF YOU THAT WORKED WITH US VERY MUCH KNOW THAT THEY ARE, ARE, ARE REALLY STRONG, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR SOCI OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY REALLY HELPED TO PUSH ALONG ANIMAL CARE
SO, A LITTLE HISTORY OF WHERE WE'VE KIND OF COME FROM.
UH, MANY OF YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT BACK IN 2004, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE RELEASED BY SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS, UH, IT WAS CALLED DEATH BY THE POUND.
UH, BACK THEN WE WERE TAKING IN 35 TO 40,000 ANIMALS A YEAR, AND IT HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT ONLY 10% OF THESE ANIMALS ACTUALLY ACHIEVED A LIVE RELEASE OUTCOME.
UH, THIS HAD CHA UH, THIS ACHIEVED NATIONAL, UH, KIND OF VISIBILITY ON THE PLIGHT THAT WE HAD HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND STARTED PUSHING US TOWARDS A, A, A HIGHER RECOGNITION OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO INCREASE OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE.
BY 2006, WE HAD, UH, MADE SOME CHANGES.
UH, WE HAD FOCUSED ON, UH, GETTING OUR LIVE RELEASE UP.
UH, AT THAT POINT, WE HAD ALREADY, UH, GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR NEW FACILITY BUILT, MOVING FROM, UH, OVER BY THE ZOO TO WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY.
AND THEN BY 10 2011, UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST ACTUAL CITY COUNCIL APPROVED STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS PUSHED THROUGH, UH, IT HAD THREE MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT WE WERE, WE WERE WORKING ON THAT WAS GOING TO BE INCREASING OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE, UH, ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE STRAY POPULATION.
UH, BY 2015, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DID ADD A FOURTH ITEM TO THAT, WHICH WAS, UH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR THE PUBLIC.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT KIND OF WHERE, UH, WE'VE BEEN GOING WITH THIS.
UH, IN MARCH TO APRIL OF, UH, 2021, MYSELF AND MY STAFF SAT DOWN AND WE ACTUALLY STARTED KIND OF IDENTIFYING THE FACT THAT THAT LAST STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2011, BY 2017, WE HAD ACHIEVED EVERYTHING THAT WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE.
THROUGH THAT, WE'D GOTTEN OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE UP TO THE 90 PERCENTILE.
UH, AND, AND WE HAD KIND OF BEEN OPERATING RUDDERLESS, UH, FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE, OF THE FOUR YEARS PRECEDING THAT.
UH, SO AT THAT POINT, WE DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO ACTUALLY DO A STRATEGIC PLAN.
UH, IN JULY, 2021, WE ACTUALLY PRESENTED IT TO, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, HAD SOME INITIAL DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDING THIS AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
UH, WHILE IT'S AN UNFUNDED INITIATIVE, WE DID WANNA GET OURSELVES ON KIND OF THE CLOCK TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS A, A PRIORITY THAT WOULD NOT FALL OFF THE, UH, UH, OFF THE AGENDA.
SEPTEMBER, 2021, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE BUDGET, WHICH OF COURSE, ALSO APPROVED, UH, THE INITIATIVE FOR US TO GO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT STRATEGIC PLAN.
IN THE FALL, UH, WE STARTED OUR KIND OF CONCEPTUAL DESIGN.
BY DECEMBER, WE HAD INITIATED A PLANNING PROCESS, KIND OF ESTABLISHING HOW WE NEEDED THIS TO FLOW.
AND THEN BY JANUARY, WE BEGAN PHASE ONE, UH, OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT.
UH, MANY OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THIS SLIDE.
UH, THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE SLIDE THAT WE PRESENTED DURING THE 2022 BUDGET, UH, PROCESS, IDENTIFYING THAT, HEY, WE NEED TO GET A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE AND GIVE US A RUDDER AND KIND OF A DIRECTION FOR THE NEXT 10, 12, 15 YEARS.
SO THIS IS GONNA SHOW YOU REAL BRIEFLY, KIND OF THE STRATEGIC TIMELINE THAT WE'VE ALREADY PUT INTO PLACE, UH, JANUARY TO MAY.
UH, WE'RE PUSHING THROUGH OUR DISCOVERY PHASE.
UH, OUR ENGAGEMENT PHASE WILL KIND OF INITIATE DURING THE MAY TIMEFRAME THROUGH NOVEMBER.
AND THEN FINALIZATION WILL OCCUR BETWEEN DECEMBER AND MAY, 2023 WHEN WE'LL BE BRINGING IT TO COUNCIL IN OUR DISCOVERY PHASE.
UH, WHAT WE ARE REALLY DOING HERE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE, WE, WE WERE KIND OF A NATIONAL LEADER THERE UP THROUGH 2017.
UH, A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, UTILITIES ISSUES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO RETAIN THEIR PETS AND RETAIN OWNERSHIP.
UH, SO WE NEEDED TO FIND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO FIND WHAT ARE THOSE NEW INITIATIVES.
UH, WE STARTED THIS WITH INTERNAL STAFF SURVEYS.
UH, WE, UH, TONIGHT WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING TO OUR BOARD AT OUR BOARD MEETING THAT WE'LL BE, UH, DOING INDIVIDUAL BOARD INTERVIEWS WHERE YOUR APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO US AND ACTUALLY KIND OF GIVE US FEEDBACK FROM YOU.
UH, SO WE'LL BE SCHEDULING THOSE IN THE NEXT MONTH.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DEEP IN, DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH.
WE'RE REACHING OUT TO OTHER LARGE MUNICIPALITIES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND, AND EVEN SOME THAT DON'T HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT THEY'VE GOT SOME INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, UH, THAT MAY, UH, MAY BE ABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR INITIAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SURVEY, WHICH IS GONNA BE KIND OF LIMITED IN NATURE.
UH, AND THE REASON FOR THIS IS ALL OF THESE SURVEYS THAT WE'RE DOING ARE INTERNAL STAFF, AS WELL AS THIS,
[00:40:01]
THIS LIMITED, UH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SURVEY ARE GONNA BE KIND OF OPEN-ENDED.UH, AND THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT OPEN-ENDED APPROACH IS WE DON'T WANNA LIMIT FOLKS TO THEIR IDEAS.
UH, WE WANT TO GET A GOOD FEELING ABOUT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT IDEAS SO THAT WE CAN REFINE THAT FOR THE LARGER SURVEY THAT'LL GO OUT IN THE NEXT PHASE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, UH, WE WILL BE PROVIDING OUR ADVISORY BOARD, UH, AND UPDATE IN ON MAY 18TH AT OUR NEXT, UH, BOARD MEETING FOR THE ENGAGEMENT PHASE.
AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ALL THAT DATA THAT WE GOT TOGETHER DURING THE SURVEYS AND EVERYTHING, UH, START BRINGING THAT ALL TOGETHER, UH, CONTINUE WITH LEADERSHIP PLANNING AND INPUT.
UH, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN GOING REALLY IN DETAIL WITH A LOT OF THE LEADERS IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE INDUSTRY, BRINGING THOSE, THOSE TOOLS TO THE TABLE.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE, UH, DOING EVEN FURTHER STAFF INPUT THROUGH A RETREAT WITH ALL OF OUR, UH, A C S EMPLOYEES SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE ONE-ON-ONES WITH THEM, UH, KIND OF, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THROW THINGS AT THE WALL AND SEE WHAT STICKS.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE CONDUCTING AN ADVISORY BOARD RETREAT WHERE WE WILL HAVE AN ENTIRE DAY SIT DOWN WITH OUR BOARD AND JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF CULMINATED.
UH, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA START OUR ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
UH, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE IDEAS BOILED INTO EASILY IDENTIFIABLE AND, UH, METRICS KIND OF BASED, UH, YOU KNOW, SURVEYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WE'LL BE OBVIOUSLY PROVIDING OUR ADVISORY BOARD AN ADDITIONAL BRIEFING, KEEPING THEM IN LINE WITH THE, WITH THE, THE STATUS AND EVERYTHING.
AND, UH, WE'LL BE PROVIDING CITY COUNCIL, UH, AN UPDATE IN A B SESSION IN THE NOVEMBER, DECEMBER TIMEFRAME OF THIS YEAR.
AND FINALLY, WE MOVE INTO OUR FINALIZATION PHASE.
UH, WE'RE GOING AT THAT POINT TO HAVE, UH, BE REFINING THE LANGUAGE, DETERMINING WHAT THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UH, NEW PRACTICES THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE TO ACHIEVE KIND OF THAT UPWARD TRAJECTORY THAT WE'RE ALL SHOOTING FOR.
UH, WE'LL BE BRIEFING THAT DRAFT PLAN, UH, DURING A B SESSION IN APRIL OF 2023, UH, GETTING FINAL APPROVAL THROUGH OUR BOARD, AND THEN OF COURSE, PRESENTING IT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL ADOPTION BY MAY OF 2023.
SO, I, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD VERY, VERY CLEARLY FROM CITY COUNCIL THAT, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS GREAT AT PUTTING OUT SURVEYS.
WHAT WE ARE NOT GREAT AT IS REACHING THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE DIGITAL INCLUSION AND, AND ACCESS OR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO UTILIZE THE TECHNOLOGY.
UH, BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE GONE INTO A VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH USING, UH, SA SPEAK UP BEST PRACTICES FOR THAT DIGITAL OUTREACH, UM, ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY PRESENCE, UH, WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT KIND OF GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE OUT IN THE FIELD, UH, GETTING ANSWERS FROM FOLKS THAT, THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE THAT COMPUTER ACCESS, SECURING MEDIA COVERAGE.
UH, WE'LL BE UTILIZING OUR, OUR EARNED MEDIA, YOU KNOW, TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO, THINGS LIKE THAT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS, UH, TO GET THE WORD OUT.
AND THEN LAUNCHING DIGITAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS.
UH, IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS SLIDE, IT'S GONNA SHOW YOU THAT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING VERY COLLABORATIVELY, UH, WITH OUR LIBRARY PARTNERS WHO ARE CONCURRENTLY ALSO DOING A STRATEGIC PLAN.
UH, WE'RE GONNA KIND OF COMBINE OUR RESOURCES TO GET A BETTER FOOTPRINT OUT THERE SO THAT, UH, ANYWHERE THEY ARE, THEY CAN BE ASKING ABOUT OUR SURVEY OR PUSHING THAT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND ANYWHERE WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING LIKEWISE FOR THEIR, UH, THEIR SURVEYS, WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, OUR COMMUN COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF EQUITY.
AND OF COURSE, WE'VE, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THEIR LOGO UP THERE, WE'VE WORKED VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION.
SO THE GRASSROOTS ROOTS ACTION PLAN, THIS IS WHERE INNOVATION REALLY CAME INTO PLAY.
UH, WE'RE UTILIZING A LOT OF THEIR G I S, UH, MAPPING TECHNOLOGIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, TO REALLY LOCATE WHAT COMMUNITY CENTERS, WHAT CITY OPERATED CENTERS ARE GETTING THE MOST TRAFFIC, THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO GARNER THIS TYPE OF, EXCUSE ME, SURVEY FROM, UH, SHOWS ABOVE THE FOUR PRIMARY TYPES OF LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHICH IS, UH, WORKING AGAIN WITH LIBRARIES IN THOSE LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, SENIOR CENTERS, AND DIFFERENT PARTNERED LOCATIONS SUCH AS, UH, ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE, HUMANE SOCIETY, THE BROOKS SPAY NEUTER CLINIC, WHERE WE GET THOSE, THOSE LARGE PERCENTAGES OF PEOPLE THAT MAY COME FROM UNDERSERVED DISTRICTS.
THIS PROVIDES YOU KIND OF AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE GARNERED FROM THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, UH, THAT GRASSROOTS APPROACH.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT THROUGH THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
HOWEVER, UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FOCUS ON DISTRICTS ONE THROUGH FIVE.
UH, THE REASON FOR THAT IS AS WE LOOKED THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH THE INNOVATION TOOLS AND THE CENSUS DATA AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THESE
[00:45:01]
ARE THE LOCATIONS WHERE WE SEE THE GREATEST DEFICIENCY OF, OF ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY, UH, VIA THE STANDARD DIGITAL SURVEYS THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY ACCOMPLISH.AND WHILE IN, IN CLOSING, UH, THIS, THIS, THIS ISN'T A HUGE INITIATIVE THAT'S GONNA COST THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS, UH, WE, BY UTILIZING SOME EXISTING MONEY WITHIN OUR BUDGET, WE'RE GONNA SPEND ABOUT $20,000 TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UH, FOLKS THAT CAN COME IN, UH, FROM THE OUTSIDE AND KIND OF MEDIATE THESE.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, WE SEE THIS AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE TO DEPLOY RESOURCES THAT WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF GARNERED FROM CITY COUNCIL.
LAST YEAR, UH, CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE OUR CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS NOW KNOWN AS OUR COMMUNITY ANIMAL SUPPORT ASSISTANCE OR CASA, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, WE LOOK AT THIS AS A WAY TO REALLY GET INFORMATION AND HOW WE CAN PUSH THOSE RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY, UH, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY VACCINATION CLINICS THAT WE'VE STARTED OUT.
UH, SO SUBJECT TO ANY QUESTIONS, UH, THIS CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE BRIEF, AND I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, THIS WAS A C C R FILED JOINTLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KIO HDA.
SO LEMME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER KIO HDA, UH, AND THEN RODRIGUEZ FOR, UH, TO START OUR DISCUSSION.
AS THE WORLD AND BEST PRACTICES OF ANIMAL CARE EVOLVE, SO SHOULD OUR CITY, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, UM, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT AND THIS, I THINK THIS MASTER PLAN REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS INCLUDE A SURVEY, WHICH I THINK YOU DISCUSSED HERE, THE SS SPEAKUP SURVEY, BUT ALSO DISCUSSIONS WITH FOSTER PET GROUPS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OVERWHELMED WITH NEEDS FOR THE ANIMALS THAT THEY FOSTER, AND I THINK THEY COULD IN, UM, COULD BE INCLUDED IN AND HAVE A LOT TO OFFER US IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, THOSE TYPES OF GROUPS ARE, ARE, I THINK, VITAL TO, TO US AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE, I MOVE TO SEND THIS ITEM TO BE HEARD AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE BEFORE THE B SESSION, UH, LATER THIS YEAR.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO, UH, MOVE FURTHER BRIEFING TO PUBLIC SAFETY BEFORE THE B SESSIONS AT BEGINNING OF THE FALL.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ ALSO, UH, SIGNED THIS, UH, FILED THIS C C R.
SPEAKING UP HERE MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS.
UH, I WOULD THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KILDA FOR CO-AUTHORING THIS WITH ME AND FOR YOUR GUIDANCE ALONG THE WAY IN THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.
UM, MUCH LIKE THE FOOD ACCESS MASTER PLAN EFFORT, THE A C S MASTER PLAN MUST INCLUDE A PROCESS TO BRING KEY STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER, UM, AND TO CREATE COMMON METRICS AND INDICATORS.
UM, I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY COUNCIL OFFICE THAT RECEIVES THE CALLS AND THE MESSAGES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO USE THEIR SIDEWALKS OR THEIR TRAILS, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S STRAY ANIMALS ROAMING ABOUT, UM, OR THE NUMEROUS MESSAGES WE GET ON INSTAGRAM, UM, WITH PICTURES OF EVERY ANIMAL THAT'S GOING TO BE EUTHANIZED.
UM, AND RECENTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH THE ANIMAL RESCUE COMMUNITY, WE DISCUSSED THE LIMITATIONS OF USING THE LIVE RELEASE RATE, UM, AS AN OVERALL INDICATOR.
THE REASON BEING IS THAT IT ACCURATELY MEASURES SOME OF THE WORK OF A C S BUT IT DOESN'T MEASURE HOW WELL WE'RE ADDRESSING ANIMAL CARE AS A WHOLE IN THE CITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, TAKING ANIMAL ANIMALS IS GONNA CHANGE THE DENOMINATOR, THE BOTTOM OF OUR FRACTION, UM, WHICH MEASURES THE LIVE RELEASE AND CAN'T BE COMPARED AS ACCURATELY TO PREVIOUS YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE TAKING IN MORE ANIMALS AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO, UM, HAVE THOSE ADOPTED OR FOSTERED, THEN IT'S GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO MORE EUTHANIZATIONS.
BUT YOU COULD BE SAVING MORE ANIMALS THAN YOU WERE BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING IN THE EFFORT OF CAPTURING MORE.
UM, SO TO GET A CITYWIDE PROCESS, WE'LL NEED TO BRING STAKEHOLDERS TO THE TABLE AND ASSESS THE ECOSYSTEM OF ANIMAL CARE IN OUR CITY.
AND ONLY UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT INDICATORS AND GET AN ACCURATE PICTURE, THEN WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE STRATEGIC POLICY DECISIONS INFORMED BY THE DATA.
SO THAT MEANS OUTREACH THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OUTREACH THAT WE'VE EVER DONE BEFORE, SO THAT WE CAN REACH PEOPLE THAT WE NEVER DO AND THAT WE HAVE NEVER GOTTEN BEFORE.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT WE APPROVED AS A PART OF THE BUDGET, UH, THIS MASTER PLAN.
UM, BUT I WISH TO MAKE CLEAR A MASTER PLAN SHOULD COME WITH MEASURABLE GOALS, AN IDEA OF CAPITAL AND MATERIAL NEEDS, AS WELL AS EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE GAPS.
SO THIS PAST, UH, BOND CYCLE OR THE, YOU KNOW, DURING THE BOND PROCESS WE ORGANIZED TO ENSURE THAT A C S HOSPITAL WAS A PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM, THE PROPOSED LIST, BUT IT WAS NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN THAT CITY STAFF PROPOSED TO US.
AND IDEALLY, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A PART OF A MASTER PLAN AND THEREFORE A KNOWN AND DEMONSTRATED NEED SO THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD TO HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THAT TO BE ADDED.
THERE'S GONNA BE NO SHORTAGE OF NEEDS LIKE THIS ONE, BUT I EXPECT A MASTER PLAN TO INVOLVE COORDINATION WITH OUR RESCUE COMMUNITY, CITY COUNCIL,
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CITY STAFF, OTHER STAKEHOLDER EFFORTS AND I, AND AN IDENTIFIED PATH TO FUNDING NEEDS SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION AND SHELTERING OF ANIMALS, INCREASED CAPACITY FOR SURGERIES AND VACCINATIONS, AND AN INCREASE IN THE TYPE OF SURGERIES AND VACCINATIONS WE CAN PROVIDE.SO I ECHO COUNCILMAN CAB HAVE'S REQUEST THAT WE MOVE THE C C R TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS AND ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WAS JUST OUTLINED.
AND I WANT TO END BY SAYING I LOVE A C S SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
ERIC, YOU WANTED TO? YEAH, I THANK MAYOR.
I MEAN, I, THE, UM, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THREE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATES AT, AT, AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND, AND, AND I DID THE FIRST ONE WITH THE THEN DIRECTOR.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, KEY TO ANY OF THESE UPDATES HAS BEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE LAY OUT CLEARLY WHAT THE INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS ARE, UH, WHAT THE GOALS, WHAT THE METRICS ARE, UM, AND I THINK WE CAN LOOK TO, UM, HOW THE DATA HAS CHANGED AND OUR PRODUCTIVITY AND OUTPUTS HAVE CHANGED, UM, UM, IN TERMS OF LIVE RELEASE AND PARTNERSHIP AND A DIFFERENT WAY OF ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA BE PART OF THIS PLAN.
IT'S BEEN THE RECIPE OF SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS AREA SINCE 2013 WHEN WE ADOPTED THAT FIRST PLAN 2012.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE GONNA BE PART OF THIS.
AND WE, AND WE REFRESH THAT UPDATE EVERY FOUR YEARS.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS PAST SUMMER, UM, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET FOR 2022, WE SAID IT'S TIME TO, IT'S TIME TO UPDATE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGING CONDITIONS, THE PANDEMIC MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
UM, AND ONE OF THE COMMON, UM, ISSUES THAT WE'RE CONTINUING ALL TO DEAL WITH IS THE NUMBER OF STRAYS.
UM, AND THE FACT THAT, THAT THE, PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF STRAYS ARE OWNED ANIMALS.
UM, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE HAVE STRAY ANIMALS IN, UM, IN PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON LIVE RELEASE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESCUE ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER ARE GONNA BE THE UNDERLYING FOUNDATIONS OF, OF THIS PLAN.
AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE ABLE TO TACKLE THIS FROM A, UH, FROM A, A HEIGHTENED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEVEL.
BUT IT IS CRITICAL, AND YOU WILL LIKELY SEE THIS AS A ROADMAP THAT, UH, THAT WE'LL BE USING ONCE WE GET IT DONE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS WE GO THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
AND ERIC KIND OF ADDRESSED THIS ALREADY, BUT I WAS GONNA ASK, HOW DO YOU ENVISION THIS TO BE DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS ANIMAL STRATEGIC PLANS? ANIMAL CARE, STRATEGIC PLANS? I THINK ONE OF THE BIG, ONE OF THE BIG ASPECTS OF THIS IS WE'VE NEVER, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM A COMMUNITY HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, UH, WE PREVIOUSLY HAVE ALWAYS DONE VACCINATION CLINICS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A MICROCHIP CLINIC OR IT IS MAYBE A RABIES CLINIC.
UM, ANIMALS AREN'T DYING FROM RABIES IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'M JUST GONNA THROW THAT OUT THERE.
UM, THE, THE ANIMALS THAT WE SEE IN THE DISEASE SPREADS THAT WE SEE IS, IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, ARE DISTEMPER PARVO, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO EXPANDING THOSE VACCINATION CAPABILITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES TO INCLUDE FULL SCALE RABIES D H P P FOR DISTEMPER AND PARVO.
UH, THE SAME FOR THE FELINE, UH, SIDE OF IT.
UH, CONTINUING TO PUSH THOSE MICROCHIPS, UH, AND ALSO INCREASING SPAY NEUTER AVAILABILITY.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS, AND WE'LL BE BRIEFING, UH, UH, AGAIN ON FRIDAY ABOUT OUR, OUR, OUR ZIP CODE SURGERIES AND HOW WE PLAN ON TRYING TO ROLL THAT OUT.
UH, INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO PARTNERS THAT CAN DO 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 SURGERIES A YEAR, UH, WE, WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO DIVERSIFY THAT CAPABILITY SO THAT WE CAN GET THE COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINICS INVOLVED.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY CAN DO FIVE A WEEK, TWO A WEEK, SEVEN A WEEK, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE, UH, THAT'S HOW WE GROW THAT, THAT CAPABILITY.
AND I THINK UNTIL WE GROW THAT SPAY NEUTER CAPABILITY, UH, WHICH OF COURSE IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THERE'S A CRITICAL VET SHORTAGE ACROSS THE NATION RIGHT NOW, UH, BUT I THINK THAT, UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH.
UH, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO, IT'S GONNA GIVE A LOT OF IDEAS LIKE THAT AND ALSO WAYS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY USE THAT NEW HOSPITAL, UH, TO, TO CREATE AVAILABILITY OF SURGICAL CAPACITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THE OTHER THING, AND, AND RITA BRADHAM, THANK YOU.
AND, AND SHE'S MY APPOINTEE FOR D FOUR AND SERVES AS CHAIR, SO I HAVE NO DOUBT SHE'LL, UM, GET YOU ALL THE
[00:55:01]
INFORMATION YOU NEED FROM, FROM D FOUR RESIDENTS.UM, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE A D L A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND THEIR SPAY AND NEUTER PROCESS IS JUST, UM, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE ONES THAT I'VE SEEN.
AND SO IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, AND I WOULD LOVE TO MIRROR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT ONE OTHER THING THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WE DO, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT DO WE OFFER A LOT OF OUR, UH, RESIDENTS, THEY'RE, THIS IS THEIR FAMILY, PETS ARE THEIR FAMILY, AND, UM, DO YOU OFFER SERVICES IN ADDITION TO, AS YOU'RE, AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE TREATMENT FOR THESE ANIMALS? FOR INSTANCE, YOU MENTIONED PARVO.
MY DALMATIAN DIED OF PARVO, AND I WAS JUST HEARTBROKEN PROBABLY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, RIGHT? AND SO DO YOU OFFER SERVICES ALSO TO FOLKS WHO ARE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THEIR BEST FRIEND BY ANY CHANCE AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING THESE THINGS? THAT'S, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER AS PART OF OUR, UH, COMMUNITY ANIMAL SUPPORT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UH, AS, AS, AS WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GOING TO BE OUR ONE-ON-ONE TYPE COUNSELORS FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT.
UH, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT I CONSIDERED.
UM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD I HAVE A LOT OF OLDER FOLKS IN DISTRICT FOUR WHOSE PETS ARE, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE FAMILIES AND THEY GET DEPRESSED, UM, OBVIOUSLY AFTER THIS, AND IT TAKES A LOT LONGER FOR THEM TO RECOVER FROM THAT LOSS.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I WAS THINKING, I CAN THINK OF A SITUATION IN PARTICULAR WHERE THIS WOMAN WAS GOING THROUGH THIS, AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION OR IF YOU CAN GIVE THEM, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAYBE WE WORK WITH.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT EXISTS AND I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
IT, IT DOESN'T EXIST TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO NOW.
UM, I, I'VE JUST, I'M SO WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU SO MUCH SIRAM AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? OH, DAVID, DID YOU WANNA RESPOND TO, OH, SORRY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE CERTAIN IT WAS CLEAR WAS THAT THE HOSPITAL IDEAL CAME FROM NOT ONLY A C S BUT THEIR ADVISORY BOARD, THAT MORE THAN LIKELY, AS THEY COME FORWARD, UH, THAT'S ALL PART OF THE STRATEGY THAT WE NEED TO DO COLLECTIVELY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO, JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE HOSPITAL WAS A VISION FROM A C S AS WELL AS THE ADVISORY GROUP.
UH, SHANNON, HOW MANY PARTNERS IS A C S ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS ORGANIZATIONS? SO IF YOU TALK ABOUT OUR LARGE SCALE PARTNERS, LIKE FOR RESCUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUES, SAPPA, A C UH, SAN ANTONIO HUMANE SOCIETY, UH, YOU KNOW, PET SHOTS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE, UH, LARGER ONES.
BUT LITERALLY WE'RE PARTNERED WITH OVER, I BELIEVE IT'S 300, UH, RESCUE AGENCIES.
THAT'S SOME AS SMALL AS MOM AND POP.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY, PART OF THE, UM, THE CONTACTS I'VE HAD WITH SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THAT A C SS HAS BEEN VERY, UH, RESPONSIVE TO WHAT SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SAYING THEY COULD DO OR THEY WANT TO DO.
UH, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS MA PLAN INCLUDES AS MANY OF THOSE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK ON HELPING US PLACE THESE ANIMALS IN, IN DESERVING HOMES.
UH, AND THAT WE DON'T CREATE BARRIERS, BUT WE MAKE IT SIMPLER FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE WITH US.
AND AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN KIND OF, UH, WORKING WITH A LOT OF THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR HURDLES.
SO WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH AND TAKEN SOME OF THAT AND BOILED IT INTO OUR URGENT LIST.
SO NOW ALL THE MEDICAL IS ON THERE FOR THOSE RESCUES, ALL THE TRAINER NOTES, YOU KNOW, IS THE ANIMAL REACTIVE TO OTHER DOGS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO KIND OF FOLLOW THAT PROCESS TO TRY TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE STREAMLINED AND LESS LABOR INTENSIVE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, WHICH I I THINK ALL OF US AGREE, IS CRITICAL, IS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE SOME OUTREACH THROUGH SCHOOLS TO, UH, HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND, UH, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PETS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL WE CAN EXPAND THAT, BUT I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE.
THE MORE THE POPULATION UNDERSTANDS THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF BEING PET OWNERS, THE BETTER OFF FOR THE PETS, THE FAMILY, AND FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.
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BECOMES, UH, A VERY EXPANSIVE PART OF THE FUTURE PLANS.AND MAYBE WE WILL FIND SOME INTERESTING IDEAS, GOOD PRACTICES FROM OTHER CITIES ON YES, SIR.
HOW THEY EDUCATE THEIR POPULATION ON THIS.
THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, W WHY DON'T WE LICENSE PETS SO THAT WE MAINTAIN A LIST OF WHO THE PET OWNERS ARE AND WE CAN WORK WITH THEM, UH, BETTER ON TAKING CARE OF THEIR PETS AND TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY? YES, SIR.
SO, UH, BACK IN 2015 WHEN WE WENT TO THE MICROCHIPPING AS THE PRIMARY FORM OF LICENSE, WE MOVED AWAY FROM THE EVERY YEAR $5 LICENSE.
UH, BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, NOBODY WAS DOING IT.
WE HAD ABOUT A FOUR TO 5% RECIDIVISM WHERE FOLKS WOULD COME IN AND RE-REGISTER.
UH, THE ONLY TIME THAT FOLKS WERE DOING IT IS WHEN THEY GOT BUSTED WITH, WITH THEIR DOG NOT HAVING A CURRENT REGISTRATION.
UH, IN, IN OUR MINDS, IT'S BEEN VASTLY MORE, UH, EFFECTIVE TO SAY THAT A MICROCHIP IS THAT PRIMARY LICENSE.
AND, AND A GOOD MAJORITY OF THOSE DO COME THROUGH US.
SO WE DO HAVE THAT RECORD ANYWAY.
UM, BUT THE GOOD THING IS IT ALLOWS US TO, TO TIE AN ANIMAL TO A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL REGARDLESS IF IT WAS IMPLANTED BY US OR NOT.
UH, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS RTOS WENT FROM, UH, ABOUT 6% RETURN TO OWNERS WENT FROM ABOUT 6% PRE 2015 TO JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
UH, WE ACHIEVED ACTUALLY ABOUT 30% RTOS.
SO ALMOST A THIRD OF THE ANIMALS THAT WERE COMING INTO A C S WERE ABLE TO BE RETURNED TO OWNERS, HENCE NEVER HAVING TO COME BACK INTO THE FACILITY.
AND, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF BASED ON THAT, UH, US AND A COUPLE OF OTHER CITIES IMPLEMENTED THAT, AND THAT HAS KIND OF BECOME A, A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
NOW, WHAT PERCENT OF THE ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH GET MICROCHIPPED? UH, EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES THROUGH US WHEN IT, IF IT GETS PICKED UP BY SOMEBODY OR ADOPTED EVERY ANIMAL THAT LEAVES A C SS NOT ONLY GETS A MICROCHIP, BUT WE PRE-REGISTER IT TO THE INDIVIDUAL BEFORE THEY LEAVE.
HOW MANY, WE'RE NOT TRUSTING THEM.
HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE MICROCHIPPED RIGHT NOW IN THIS CITY? I, I DON'T HAVE, UH, I I DON'T KNOW THAT IF, I DON'T KNOW THERE'S ANY WAY FOR US TO REALLY ASSESS THAT.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, IN THE MOST RECENT STATISTICS, ABOUT 50% OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE IMPOUNDING NOW, SO THE ONES THAT WE'RE CATCHING FREE OF RESTRAINT HAVE A MICROCHIP.
UH, SO IF THAT'S ANY KIND OF INDICATION OF THE POPULACE, IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THAT, IN THAT PERCENTAGE RANGE.
WELL, I HOPE WE COME UP WITH SOME MORE WAYS OF ASKING THE CITIZENS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ANIMALS.
ALRIGHT, THERE IS A, UH, MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
ALRIGHT, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA TODAY.
THE TIME IS 11:16 AM ON THE 16TH DAY OF MARCH, 2022, AND OUR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.