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MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
[Approval of Minutes ]
STARTED, UH, WITH OUR FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE APRIL 12TH COMMITTEE MEETING.WOULD YOU LIKE US TO VOTE ON OUR PADS CHAIR? I MEAN, CLERK
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION PASSES, CARRIE.
[Public Comments ]
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GREAT.I MEAN, THAT'S NOT, I MEAN, EVERYONE'S ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME GET PUBLIC COMMENT
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
TODAY WILL BE AN UPDATE ON OUR C OVID 19 RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS BY OUR RELATIVELY NEW METRO HEALTH DIRECTOR, MR. CLAUDE JACOB, OURMS. SANDOVAL, UH, BID
ON THIS COVER SLIDE IS A PHOTO OF SOME OF THE MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO VOLUNTEERED OR WORKED, UH, AT THE COVID TO 19 VACCINE CLINIC AT SOME POINT BETWEEN DECEMBER OF 2020 AND MARCH OF 2022.
AND THIS WAS TAKEN AT THE, UH, UH, COSA, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEE CELEBRATION THAT HELD, THAT WAS HELD ABOUT A MONTH AGO ON MARCH 25TH.
UH, WE, DURING THAT TIME, THE 15 MONTHS, WE ADMINISTERED OVER 226,000 DOSES OF VACCINE, UH, DURING 15 MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION.
AGAIN, I CAN'T SAY THANKS ENOUGH TO OUR FANTASTIC PARTNERS AT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AMONG OTHERS FOR THEIR TIRELESS SUPPORT FOR THAT EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
GO TO THE TEAMS LED BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DR.
ANITA IAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARTI MARIO MARTINEZ, AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JENNIFER HARRIET, WHO HELPED TO STAFF THIS FANTASTIC PROJECT ACTIVITY ACTIVITY.
SO, UH, THIS IS A QUICK SNAPSHOT, WHICH IS WHAT I SHARE EACH MONTH.
UH, JUST KNOW THAT TODAY AS OF, UH, UH, APRIL 24TH, WE NOW, UH, HAVE REPORTED, UH, 537,884 REPORTED CASES TO OUR DEPARTMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WHICH NOW GOES BACK TO MARCH OF 2020.
AND TO DATE, SADLY, WE REPORT 5,320, UH, RELATED COVID DEATHS.
UH, AND WE HAVE JUST ONE DEATH, UH, ONE COVID RELATED DEATH REPORTED OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.
UM, OUR SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE HAS GONE UP FROM 100, UH, HAS GONE UP TO 116, UH, FROM 60, UH, WHICH WAS THE MARK WHEN I WAS HERE JUST A MONTH AGO.
OUR POSITIVITY RATE HAS ALSO, UH, SLIGHTLY INCREASED UP TO 5%, UH, FROM 2.3% FROM A MONTH AGO.
UH, ONE THING TO NOTE, AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE WITH SOME OF THESE FIGURES, IS THAT THE PEAK AT THE LATEST SURGE THAT WE HAD BACK IN JANUARY, SOME OF YOU MAY NOT RECALL THAT OUR POS PERCENT POSITIVITY WAS CLOSE TO 40%.
UM, AND AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ADMINISTERING ABOUT OVER 80,000 TESTS PER WEEK.
UH, RIGHT NOW, WE'VE SEEN A STEADY DECLINE IN THE VOLUME OF TESTS BEING, UH, ADMINISTERED.
UH, THIS PAST WEEK WE ONLY ADMINISTERED ABOUT 16,000 TESTS.
SO THAT DRIVES WHAT WE SEE IN TERMS OF THE REPORTED PERCENT POSITIVITY.
UH, BASED ON THAT VOLUME, KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND STATE PARTNERS ARE, AND AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT THESE INDICATORS, UM, BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT THE PERCENT POSITIVITY IS LESS RELIABLE DUE TO THE LOW TESTING NUMBERS.
AND THE C D C, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION IS CURRENTLY USING AN ALGORITHM THAT LOOKS AT THE CUMULATIVE CASE RATE FOR THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.
THE NEW, UH, C OVID 19 HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS ADMISSIONS PER A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR THE PAST SEVEN DAYS, AND THE PERCENT OF STAFF INPATIENT BEDS, AGAIN, LOOKING AT A SEVEN DAY AVERAGE.
SO, IN TERMS OF OUR VACCINATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, CURRENTLY, WE'RE SHOWING 77% OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION, UH, MEETING THOSE FIVE YEARS AND OLDER ARE FULLY VACCINATED.
KEEP IN MIND THAT ONLY A THIRD OR 36% OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER HAVE
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RECEIVED ONE.SO WE'VE NOT SEEN MUCH CHANGE FROM A MONTH AGO.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THE MESSAGING TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE GETS THEIR VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTER SHOTS, AND WE REMIND RESIDENTS THAT THE VACCINE IS STILL THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM SEVERE ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, AND DEATH.
AGAIN, THIS IS A QUICK SNAPSHOT.
I SHARE THIS EACH MONTH JUST SO YOU CAN SEE THE SIDE BY SIDE OF THOSE FULLY VACCINATED THAT ARE ELIGIBLE COMPARED TO THOSE WHO ARE BOOSTED.
SO THE PATTERNS LOOK THE SAME IN TERMS OF THE PROPORTIONS OF OUR POPULATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, THIS, AGAIN, ROLLERCOASTER RIDE THAT WE'VE BEEN ON FOR TWO OVER TWO YEARS NOW.
THIS IS A SNAPSHOT ABOUT THE C OVID 19 HOSPITALIZATIONS AS OF APRIL 25TH.
UM, UH, THE DARK BLUE LINE, UM, SHOWS 58, UH, UM, UH, COVID RELATED PATIENTS.
AND THIS IS DOWN FROM 117 FROM JUST A MONTH AGO.
KEEP IN MIND THAT STILL OVER TWO THIRDS OF THOSE, UH, IN THE HOSPITAL DUE TO C OVID 19 HAVE BEEN UNVACCINATED OUR INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
AGAIN, AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE SHOWED 13, WHICH IS THAT YELLOW LINE, UM, A MONTH AGO.
AND, UH, THOSE ON VENTILATORS, THAT'S THE LIGHT BLUE LINE WE SHOW EIGHT, UM, A MONTH AGO, THAT FIGURE WAS 16.
SO, OVERALL COMMUNITY RISK LEVEL AS OF THIS WEEK, UH, WE HAVE BEEN AT THE LOW, UH, LIST RISK LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS.
THIS PAST WEEK, WE MOVED INTO THE MILD, UH, UM, CATEGORY, AGAIN, BASED ON OUR REPORTED PERCENT POSITIVITY.
AND I EXPLAINED THE CONTEXT OF HOW THAT'S DERIVED.
WE DO REMAIN VIGILANT AT REMINDING RESIDENTS TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS, UH, SO THAT WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO SEE AN UPWARD TREND IN CASES.
AND OVERALL COMMUNITY RISK LEVEL.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE AT THIS LEVEL, UH, LOW FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE RE WEEKS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WAS THIS PAST FALL, UH, JUST BEFORE SURGE NUMBER FOUR.
WE DO EXPECT THIS PATTERN TO CONTINUE TO FLUCTUATE.
SO THIS ONGOING ROLLERCOASTER RIDE AND OUR DESIGNATION, AS WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS A STAFF AND OUR TEAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CDC D'S INDICATORS, AND WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ALIGN WITH OUR, UH, TO REPORT OUT OUR OVERALL COMMUNITY RISK LEVEL.
SO YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY THIS CHANGED.
JUST KNOW THAT WE NOW KNOW MORE TODAY THAN WE DID A YEAR AGO OR TWO YEARS AGO.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS, UH, THAT DRIVE THIS.
WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS.
WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE INDOOR VERSUS OUTDOOR TRANSMISSION.
WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINES.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT WITH THE INCREASE, UH, IN THE NUMBER OF HOME TESTING THAT'S BEING CONDUCTED, AND FEWER TEST RESULTS BEING SHARED WITH LOCAL AND STATE HEALTH AUTHORITIES, THAT PERCENT POSITIVITY BECOMES LESS RELIABLE.
AND WE KNOW THAT CASES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND WITH THE PUSH OF VACCINATIONS TO AVERT SEVERE ILLNESS, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO TRACK HOSPITALIZATIONS AND OUR READINESS IN AREA HOSPITALS TO RESPOND SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.
SO JUST A REMINDER, UH, LAST FALL, LAST SEPTEMBER, WE ROLLED OUT THIS INTENT INCREDIBLE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
UH, WE PURCHASED, UH, BASED ON OUR FUNDING, UH, THAT WAS APPROVED, WE PURCHASED 10,000 GIFT CARDS.
AND AS OF EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE DISTRIBUTED 9,427 GIFT CARDS, THE TOP FIVE ZIP CODES.
UH, LET'S SEE WHO WINS THE POWERBALL.
SO WE HAVE ZIP CODE 7 8 2 0 7 7 8 2 4 5.
AND THIS IS AN ORDER OF, UH, UH, THE VOLUME THAT WE'VE DISTRIBUTED, 7 8 2 2 3 7 8 2 2 8 AND 7 8 2, 1 0.
UM, SO, UH, THOSE UNDER 18, WE'VE ADMINISTERED 58% OF THOSE, UH, TO THOSE WHO ARE, UH, UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
UM, SO, UM, AGAIN, THE LION SHARE OF THESE HAVE GONE TO THE HIGHER RISK GROUPS.
WE JUST KNOW THAT WE'VE, UM, BEEN STEADY AT IT IN THE HIGHER THE AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED ACROSS THE CITY.
AND, UH, CAN'T SAY THANKS ENOUGH TO OUR, UH, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND DIFFERENT PARTNERS ON THE GROUND WHO HAVE HELPED US WITH THIS PROGRAM.
UH, LASTLY, AS I WRAP UP MY REPORT, UM, THIS PA THIS MONTH, UH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE'RE ABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR FIRST MAJOR IN-PERSON, UH, FIESTA.
I'M STILL IN RECOVERY MODE FROM THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE.
UM, WE ALSO CELEBRATED NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, AND ROLLED OUT OUR ESSAY FORWARD, UH, PLAN TO TALK ABOUT OUR HEALTH PRIORITIES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
UM, SO ON THE SLIDE, IT MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEE, BUT WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, UH, EVENTS.
UM, AND DURING FIESTA, WE HAD, UH, OVER 35 FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FEATURED.
WE WERE AT MISSION MARQUEE, UM, ON THURSDAY, APRIL 7TH.
WE HAD OVER 500 INDIVIDUALS ATTEND THAT ONE EVENT.
UH, WE HAD ONSITE NO-COST C OVID 19 AND FLU VACCINATIONS.
UH, WE ALSO HAD ONSITE NO COST, UH, S T D TESTING AND LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.
GOOD FUN WAS HAD BY ALL, UH, THROUGH THE EXTENT OF THE FIESTA CELEBRATIONS.
UH, WE DID A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES TIED TO TV AND RADIO, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND SOME OUTDOOR BILLBOARDS.
SO OUR TAGLINE WAS TO SAY, CELEBRATE, BUT
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CELEBRATE SAFELY.SO WE HAD OVER 10 MILLION HOUSEHOLD IMPRESSIONS TIED TO TV AND RADIO, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE TRIED TO REALLY FLOOD THE, UH, LOCAL TV STATIONS.
AND IN TERMS OF THE, UH, OLD SCHOOL OUTDOOR BILLBOARDS, WE HAD OVER 11 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, UH, THAT WERE SERVED IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS BE COUNTY.
SO, AS I WRAP UP, UH, IT'S BEEN ALL COVID ALL THE TIME.
WE CONTINUE TO REMIND FOLKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO GET THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS REGARDING, UH, THE LATEST VARIANT.
SO, BA TWO, WHICH IS A SUB LINEAGE OF OMICRON.
UM, AND BEFORE THAT, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DELTA.
UM, SO AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR C OVID 19, WE DO SEE A SHIFT NATIONALLY FROM CONTROLLING OR PREVENTING C OVID 19 TO MANAGING C OVID 19 IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE SHOWN US THAT C OVID 19 WILL REMAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE NEW VARIANTS AND SUB VARIANTS, UH, AGAIN, WHICH EXPLAINS THIS ONGOING ROLLERCOASTER RIDE THAT WE'VE SEEN.
AND AS I'VE SHOWN ON SLIDE FOUR, UH, MANY OF THESE NEW VARIANTS ARE EASIER TO TRANSMIT.
HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT THE VACCINE CONTINUES TO BE OUR BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET OUR COMMUNITY BOOSTED.
CURRENTLY, WE SHOW THAT 53% OF CASES SEQUENCED IN BEXAR COUNTY ARE OF THE B A TWO VARIANT.
LASTLY, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, SO WE, AS YOU MAY REMEMBER FROM A MONTH AGO, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENDED THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR TESTING AND VAC UH, AND VACCINATING THE UNINSURED.
UH, WE DO CURRENTLY STILL HAVE, UH, 19, UH, SITES, UH, UH, STAFF BY OUR, OUR PARTNERS AT CURATIVE LABS.
UM, THEY'RE ONLY AVAILABLE, THE, THE CHANGES THAT THEY'RE ONLY AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INSURANCE ARE THOSE WILLING TO SELF-PAY.
THE COMPLIMENT TO THAT ARE THE COMMUNITY LABS.
UM, AGAIN, WONDERLAND MALL AND ALAMO COLLEGES HAVE JUST RECENTLY CLOSED.
WE DO RETAIN THE RIGHT TO ACTIVATE OR REACTIVATE THOSE SITES IF THE, UH, SCENARIOS CALL FOR THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S PART OF OUR STANDING AGREEMENT.
AND JUST TO REMIND THE VIEWING AUDIENCE THAT FOR THOSE HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THE INTERNET, THEY CAN CALL, UH, 1-800-232-ZERO THREE THREE, UH, 0 2 3 3, UH, TO GET HELP IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND MORE THAN 150 OTHER LANGUAGES.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, UM, THAT, UH, ACCESS, UH, 7:00 AM TO 11:00 PM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND LAST, CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UH, WITH ALL THIS TALK ABOUT TEST TO TREAT CENTERS, WE DID, UH, JUST THIS WEEK, UH, PILOT AND LAUNCH A, A SITE ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL IRONING OUT THE KINKS WITH OUR PARTNERS.
WE ARE, UH, DOING SOME TARGETED OUTREACH TIED TO THAT TEST AND TREAT CENTER, UH, INFORMATION IS BEING DISTRIBUTED BY OUR TRUSTED AMBASSADORS ON THE GROUND, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND WE ARE WORKING SPECIFICALLY THROUGH PROVIDER NETWORKS.
SO IT'S TARGETED OUTREACH BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED CAPACITY, AND THE ELIGIBILITY IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA STOP THERE AND JUST SAY THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PROVIDE THIS MONTHLY UPDATE.
AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
THANK YOU, CLAUDE, FOR THE UPDATE.
UM, I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP, IS YOUR MIC, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? IT MIGHT BE MY HEARING.
UM, THANK YOU CLAUDE, FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR ALL THE WORK OF THE TEAM, AND I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE THEM, UM, BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO SOME OF THE, THE REGULAR DUTIES AND, UH, AND SOME OF THE NEW, UH, DUTIES THAT THEY'RE TAKING ON WITH THE ESSAY FORWARD PLAN.
UM, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT HAVE AN UPDATE FOR US ON THEM.
UH, AMONG THEM, I REMEMBER COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN VRAN WANTED TO KNOW, UH, COULD WE GET A LIST OF, UH, OR SOME EDUCATION AROUND THE NEW VARIANT IN TERMS OF ANY DIFFERING SYMPTOMS FROM THE LAST VARIANT? YOU KNOW, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE LOOK OUT FOR? I KNOW THAT SHE ALSO ASKED ABOUT, UM, ADDITIONAL TEST KITS.
AND THEN ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS ON YOUR, THE THERMOMETER OR THE, THE SCALE THAT WE LOOK AT IN TERMS OF HOW, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPACTED OUR SYSTEM IS RIGHT NOW, AT WHAT POINT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE GO BACK TO MASKING INDOORS? SHOULD IT BE YELLOW? AND, AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, BUT,
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UM, AS THE DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH, I WOULD VERY MUCH RESPECT YOUR OPINION.SO AT WHAT POINT DO I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT MASKING INDOORS? FAIR ENOUGH.
SO THE C D C RECOMMENDATION BASED ON ONE'S, UH, RISK, THEIR HEALTH CONDITIONS, IT'S STILL RECOMMENDED WHEN INDOORS, IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
UM, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF KERFUFFLE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE AIRLINES, DIFFERENT CITIES.
SO CLEARLY WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT TO SETTLE IN.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, FOLKS, UH, STAFF INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT'S MOST COMFORTABLE FOR THEM.
UM, WE DO ASK FOLKS TO CONFER WITH THEIR PROVIDERS, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR RISK OF EXPOSURE BASED ON YOUR OCCUPATION TYPE.
UM, WE DO KNOW THAT INDOOR TRANSMISSION IS HIGH, IS MORE LIKELY THAN OUTDOOR, JUST IN GENERAL.
UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE FOR US IS, YES, MASK UP IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, GET YOUR VACCINATION, GET YOUR BOOSTER SHOT.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST ANY OF THESE VARIANTS AND THIS VIRUS OF COVID 19.
UM, SO YOUR CORE META QUESTIONS AROUND AT WHAT POINT, WHAT'S THE TRIP WIRE? THAT'S BEEN A MOVING TARGET, AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY NOW WE HAVE A LARGER SUBSET OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED, DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO, AND VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHERE WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO.
SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL BACK THEN, PART OF THE CHALLENGE, THE KERFUFFLE WAS THAT THE C D C HAD, UH, ASKED THAT FOLKS LEAVE THE MASKS ALONE.
BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS LIMITED SUPPLY, AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS HAD ACCESS TO THE MASKS.
UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE A TRIP WIRE DEFINED IN TERMS OF GOING BACK UP, WHICH IS WHY WE REPORT OUT EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, WHERE WE ARE, AND OUR MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS.
IF YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE WEARING A MASK, PLEASE DO SO.
THERE ISN'T A PENALTY FOR WEARING, FOR MASKING UP.
YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS? OKAY, GREAT.
WHAT IS THE, WHAT I GUESS IS CITY MANAGEMENT'S POSITION ON PROVIDING, CAN YOU HEAR ME? WHAT IS CITY MANAGEMENT'S POSITION ON PROVIDING MASKS TO STAFF AND MAKING THEM AVAILABLE? UM, POSITION, OR, OR MR. MCCAREY, IF THAT'S, UM, UH, JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE FOR MASK IS WE HAVE MASKS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD HOLD US FOR ANYWHERE FROM SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
WE ARE PREPARED SHOULD THAT, SHOULD IT COME TO THAT? THANK YOU.
SO WE SHOULD, I GUESS WHO WOULD, IF AS COUNCIL OFFICES, WHO SHOULD WE ASK FOR THAT? GIVE ME A BUZZ.
UH, WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
AND THANK YOU CLAUDE AND TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN, UH, PUTTING IN AND AS WELL AS ING UH, OTHER INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, RIGHT.
WITH THE S T D TESTING AND A LOT OF GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
UH, I KNOW DURING OUR LAST, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING, RIGHT, UH, IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE FIESTA AND SOME OF US EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT A POTENTIAL SPIKE FOLLOWING FIESTA WE'RE ABOUT, I BELIEVE, TWO WEEKS PAST FIESTA.
UM, SHOULD WE ALREADY BE SEEING THAT SPIKE, OR WOULD THAT BE COMING POTENTIALLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, FEW WEEKS? OR HAVE WE, THAT WINDOW ALREADY CLOSED? UM, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? WELL, YOU ARE A QUASI EPIDEMIOLOGIST, AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT YES, WE TEND TO LOOK AT THE TWO OR THE THREE WEEK LAG TIME AFTER THESE EVENTS.
UH, IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SHOW AND DRAW A CAUSAL LINK, ESPECIALLY SINCE A NUMBER OF THESE ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE OUTDOORS.
UM, BUT JUST KNOW THAT GIVEN WHERE WE ARE NOW IN THIS ONGOING ROLLERCOASTER RIDE, UM, IT'S OUT THERE.
YOU HEAR THE TERM, THE REFERENCE TO IT'S ENDEMIC RATHER THAN AN EPIDEMIC OR PANDEMIC.
IT'S ENDEMIC, WHICH JUST MEANS THAT IT'S, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO POINT BACK TO THAT SINGLE EVENT, UH, WHICH IS WHY THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE REMAINS THE SAME.
IF YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE WEARING A MASK IN CERTAIN SETTINGS, THEN DO SO.
AND IF WE START TO SEE SOME OF THOSE HOTSPOTS POPULATE, UH, IS METRO HEALTH AND OUR PARTNERS AVAILABLE TO COME OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR, UM, VACCINATION CLINICS AND TESTING WITHIN SPECIFIC AREAS? YES.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE COMPLIMENT TO THE MASS VACCINATION SITE.
WE'VE HAD THIS OVERLAY OF THESE MOBILE POP-UP CLINICS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'VE FOCUSED ON EAST, WEST, AND SOUTH IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE WE SAW THOSE AREAS TO BE THE AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED.
SO WE WORK WITH COMMITTEE PROVIDERS, WE WORK WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION.
AND THAT'S HOW WE DEPLOY WHERE THOSE SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE.
SO YES, AS WE SEE IT, WE'VE REPORTED HERE IN TERMS OF APPLYING THE EQUITY INDEX, THAT'S WHY WE USE THOSE TOOLS TO DEPLOY THE RESOURCES TO THE AREAS OF HIGHEST
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NEED.AND, UH, WITH SOME OF OUR SENIOR CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, DO WE COLLECT DATA ON THE PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS WHO HAVE THEIR BOOSTER? RIGHT? BECAUSE LOOKING AT 36.6%, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE, WE NEED TO
UM, AND I'M ASKING SO THAT WAY MAYBE LIKE OUR OFFICES CAN HOST, UH, BOOSTING EVENTS AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS, BUT DO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT DATA TO KNOW IF THEY'RE VACCINATED? OUR SENIOR, WE KNOW ON THE AGGREGATE THAT ACROSS THE POPULATION, THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION, WHAT PERCENTAGE, UM, HAVE RECEIVED THEIR VACCINES.
UM, WE DO SHOW THAT THERE'S A LAG, THERE'S A MALAISE TIED TO GETTING THEIR BOOSTERS.
JUST KNOW THAT SENIORS BY AND LARGE ARE MORE, UM, RESPONSIVE THAN THE YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHICS.
PLUS THERE WAS A SCHEDULE OF WHEN DIFFERENT GROUPS WERE ELIGIBLE.
SO SENIORS WERE FRONT LOADED, WE EXPECT THERE TO BE A BETTER, UH, PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS WHO HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.
UM, BUT WE CAN REPORT BACK IN TERMS OF THE BOOSTED.
UM, BUT IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC TO SENIOR CENTERS, WE JUST WORK WITH HAND IN HAND WITH, UH, DIFFERENT PARTNERS ON THE GROUND.
BUT WE CAN REPORT OUT, WE DO SHOW ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF THE AGE GROUPS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION IS CURRENTLY, UM, VACCINATED.
UM, WOULD YOU MIND GOING TO SLIDE THREE FOR ME? SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND I CAN NOW TELL THAT IT IS OF THE, OF THE POPULATION THAT IS VACCINATED FULLY, 43% OF ALL VACCINATED ARE HISPANIC.
IT'S NOT 43% OF HISPANIC PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED.
DO WE HAVE THAT DATA? WE DO HAVE THAT DATA, AND WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST SEE THE COMPARISON.
SO IF WE HAD A THIRD PIE CHART, YOU WOULD SEE APPLES TO APPLES OF THE TOTAL POPULATION THEY MIRROR.
WE DID WANNA SHOW YOU SPECIFICALLY THE FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, BUT WE'LL ADD THE THIRD PIE CHART SO YOU CAN SEE THAT.
IT'S, IT'S, I DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IT'S AROUND THAT SAME PERCENTAGE.
I THOUGHT ABOUT, I THOUGHT A PIE CHART WAS AN ODD WAY TO DISPLAY DATA IF IT WAS LIKE 43, BUT IT, IT ALL MAKES SENSE.
SO, UM, YOU SAID THIS AND SO I, I DIDN'T, I WASN'T GONNA ASK A QUESTION 'CAUSE YOU ANSWERED A LITTLE BIT.
IS THAT WHERE YOU BELIEVE THAT THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON IS HOSPITAL STRESS AND HOSPITAL TRENDS? UM, IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT PRIMARILY? ONE OF MY CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, BEING AT MILD AND WHAT TRIGGERS MOVING TO MODERATE OR SEVERE OR EVEN LOW.
UM, FOLK AREN'T GETTING TESTED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT CAUGHT, THERE'S A COST WITH IT, I IMAGINE.
AND SO IF WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE, UM, IF WE'RE GONNA SEE A LOT LESS PEOPLE TESTING, EVEN IF THEY DO HAVE IT, JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA PAY FOR IT, I FEEL LIKE THAT MESSES WITH THE DATA A LITTLE BIT FOR POSITIVITY RATES.
SO IT MIGHT LEAD TO IT LOOKING LIKE A MORE POSITIVE OUTLOOK THAN RIGHT.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT OUR, UM, JUST OUR LENS.
IT'S REALLY THE C D C THAT'S RE UM, ENCOURAGING US TO FOCUS ON HOSPITALIZATIONS RATHER THAN, UH, OTHER INDICATORS.
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN WHAT THE SNAPSHOT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
UM, AND YES, WE HAVE SEEN THIS MALAISE, THIS DELAY IN TERMS OF FOLKS GETTING TESTED, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CILA FREE TESTS.
BUT IT'S THE VACCINATIONS WHERE, WHERE THERE HAS BEEN, UM, CONCERN ABOUT THE COST.
IS THERE ANY EQUATION OR SO, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE ARE ALL FACTORS.
IS THERE AN EQUATION OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD SAY, LIKE, BASED ON THIS COMBINATION OF INDICATORS WHERE MOVE, IS IT STANDARD LIKE THAT OR? WELL, THAT'S WHY THE FEDS AND THE STATE ARE REVISITING THIS, JUST SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, THE, THE BIAS AROUND WHAT'S REPORTED.
SO WITH THE FLOOD OF HOME TEST KITS AND THE REQUIREMENT, THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT IF SOMEONE TESTS AT HOME THAT THEY REPORT OUT TO THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THE STATE.
SO THERE'S A BLIND SPOT, UH, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE REVISITING AND THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS TO PAY ATTENTION FURTHER DOWNSTREAM ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM RATHER THAN COMMUNITY TRANSITION.
BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S OUT THERE AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW OF ANECDOTES, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WILL TELL YOU, OH YEAH, I HEARD JOE GOT IT.
SO, 'CAUSE WE KEEP HEARING THAT.
UH, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH AND I HOPE THE NUMBERS ARE LOWER, IF, UH, THE SAME, IF NOT LOWER.
UM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO MM-HMM
SO I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO MR. MCCAREY 'CAUSE THIS IS KIND OF HIS, HIS BABY
[00:25:01]
WASTE ALONG WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.UH, WE HAVE JOSEPHINE VALENCIA, WHO IS OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE.
WE HAVE OUR REWORKS SA PINNACLE AWARD.
WE'RE NOT TALKING BRONZE, SILVER, OR GOLD, WE'RE TALKING PINNACLE.
SO I LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO HERB, MADAM CHAIR.
SO SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER I WAS HERE ALMOST A YEAR AGO LAST MAY, TALKING ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION OF OUR PINNACLE AWARD.
SO JUST AS A, A BRIEF RECAP, OUR REWORKS PROGRAM IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM THAT THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT RUNS TO HELP COMPANIES START OR IMPROVE A RECYCLING PROGRAM.
AND LAST YEAR WE INTRODUCED A NEW LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION KNOWN AS THE PINNACLE AWARD.
AND, AND IF YOU GIVE ME A MOMENT HERE TO, I NEED TO OKAY.
IF WE CAN GET BACK TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE PINNACLE AWARD IS, AS I SAID, THE PINNACLE AWARD IS RECOGNIZES COMPANIES THAT KIND OF GO BEYOND THE, THE TYPICAL RECYCLING.
AND WE ADDED A SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT ACHIEVING CERTIFICATION PROVIDES A VALUABLE RECOGNITION FOR OUR COMPANIES AND IS ALSO A POWERFUL MARKETING TOOL FOR OUR COMPANY.
SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE ENVIRONMENT, AND I THINK THEY WANNA SHOP WITH THEIR DOLLARS AND SUPPORT LOCAL COMPANIES THAT DOING THE BEST THEY CAN FOR SAN ANTONIO.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST THREE PINNACLE AWARD WINNERS.
SO AS A RECAP, IN ORDER TO ATTAIN THE PINNACLE AWARD, THIS IS GOES WAY BEYOND.
THESE COMPANIES HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT BENEFIT THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT.
AND OUR VERY FIRST PINNACLE AWARD WINNING IS, UH, SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDENS WHO ARE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT TO BE RECOGNIZED.
I THINK THAT WHAT THEY DO THERE IS SO EXCITING AND ADDITIONAL TO HAVING THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
I'M A MEMBER, I LOVE GOING OUT THERE, BUT THEY HAVE LOTS OF REALLY COOL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THEIR EMPLOYEES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE BIKE, UH, THEY HAVE BIKE RACKS ON THERE, THEY HAVE SOLAR POWER.
AND WHAT I THINK IS REALLY COOL IS THEY KIND OF RECAPTURE THE WATER FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM TO USE IT IN THE GARDEN THEMSELVES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WATER CONSERVATION AS WELL AS BOTTLE REFILL STATIONS.
SO ME AND MY SON GO TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THEY HAVE THESE WATER STATIONS THAT KIND OF, YOU JUST PUT YOUR WATER BOTTLE NEXT TO IT AND IT REFILLS IT.
THE OTHER COMPANY THAT WE HAVE HERE IS STEVE'S AND SONS.
THIS IS A LO A LOCAL, UH, COMPANY.
THEY MAKE DOORS AND THEY HAVE SOME WONDERFUL THINGS THERE THAT I THINK THE THING THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THEY HAVE A STYROFOAM COMPACTOR.
YOU KNOW, THIS HAS ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED ME HERE AT SOLID WASTE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING INTO DOING THIS FOR OUR, FOR OUR DROPOFF CENTER.
SO YOU, YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATION AND MADE US AWARE OF THIS IS KIND OF PUSHING US IN THAT DIRECTION.
THAT, SO THAT'S SOMETHING HOPEFULLY THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT.
AND SINCE THEY'RE, AS I SAID, THEY DO A LOT OF WORK WITH WOOD, SO THEY REUSED OR SAWDUST.
I'M LIKE, HOW COOL IS THAT? YOU KNOW, THE, THE LANDFILLS THEMSELVES USE SOME OF THEIR SAWDUST TO KIND OF LOOK, UH, TO SOLIDIFY SOME OF THEIR SLUDGE.
I'M LIKE, THIS IS REALLY COOL STUFF.
AND THEN OF COURSE THEY DO THE TRADITIONAL STUFF THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT OF A WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD, YOU KNOW, RECYCLING REUSABLE ITEMS AND AS WELL AS ANOTHER SOLAR POWER COMPONENT.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU COULD STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
AND THIRD ON OUR LIST IS VIA WE ALL LOVE VIA, WE ALL LOVE VIA, AND I'M SURE YOU, YOU COULD NOT HAVE MISSED, YOU KNOW, THE C AND G BUSES THAT YOU HAVE TRAVELING DOWN.
I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THAT, BUT I YOU MAY NOT.
AND THE FUEL EFFICIENCY THEY HAVE THERE, IN ADDITION TO JUST TRANSPORTATION BEING REALLY GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND REDUCING, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING ONE BY ONE AND CARS, BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DO.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, THE STORM WATER CAPTURE I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING AND THE INCREASE, WE KNOW ABOUT THE C N G, BUT, AND THE INCREASING TO THE ELECTRIC FLEET AS WELL.
AND THEY ALSO, UH, PARTICIPATING IN CARBON CREDIT, CREDIT, CARBON CREDIT TRADING.
SO, SO SOME OF THE LANDFILL GAS COMING FROM THE REPUBLIC LANDFILL IN SAN ANTONIO KI KIND OF HELPS TO POWER THEIR GAS FLEET.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN, AND EVEN THEY'VE ALSO BEEN RETROFITTING SOME OF THE OLDER BUSES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MEET OUR NEWER CLEAN AIR STANDARDS, WHICH WE ALL WE NEED IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WANNA APPLAUD ALL THREE OF THESE COMPANIES WHO WERE THE FIRST TO ACHIEVE OUR PINNACLE AWARD CERTIFICATION.
AND I KNOW THESE WILL NOT BE THE FIRST, BUT YOU KIND OF ARE SETTING THE PATHWAY FOR THE FUTURE.
AND I'M HOPING THAT SO MANY OTHER COMPANIES WILL DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND SEE THIS AS AN
[00:30:01]
ENCOURAGEMENT FIRST STEP AND IMPROVE THEIR OWN PROGRAM.SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITTEE FOR ALLOWING US THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THESE WONDERFUL COMPANIES.
WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WOULD YOU MIND IF BEFORE WE GO INTO QUESTIONS, WE INVITE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF OUR WINNERS TO JUST SAY A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT, UM, WHATEVER YOU WANNA SHARE WITH US.
I'M, I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY AND, UM, YEAH.
BUT WHATEVER YOU WANNA SHARE WITH US ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
WITH VIA, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO LOOK FOR GREENER MORE RESPONSIBLE WAYS OF TRANSPORTATION AND BENEFITING THE SAN CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO ALWAYS REPURPOSE OUR WASTE STREAMS AND TO USE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITING OUR WATER QUALITY FOR THE CITY.
MY NAME IS SAM STEVES, I'M A SIXTH GENERATION DOOR MANUFACTURER IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE, UH, ABOUT A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES THAT HELPED US, UH, ACHIEVE THIS.
AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, OUR MOTIVATION WAS IF YOU LOOKED AT OUR FACILITIES, WE, WE HAD WASTE.
AND, UH, UH, AS, AS WE DISCUSSED IT ON THE, ON THE DRIVE HERE, YOU KNOW, WE PAID FOR THE WASTE JUST AS, AS MANY BUSINESSES DO.
YOU BOUGHT THE CARDBOARD, YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD YOU THROW IT IN THE LANDFILL? YOU BOUGHT THE STYROFOAM, WHY WOULD YOU THROW IT IN THE LANDFILL? LET'S FIND A USE FOR IT.
AND SO THERE'S REALLY AN, AN ECONOMIC GIVE BACK FOR, FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
SO, UH, IT, IT, IT WAS, IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR, FOR OUR BUSINESS AND A GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE HAPPY, UH, TO BE PART OF IT.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR INCLUDING US.
SAM HAW WITH THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF WATER THAT GOES INTO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN.
SO WATER IS A REALLY PRECIOUS RESOURCE FOR US.
SO CATCHING IT WHEREVER WE CAN AND REUSING IT FOR FOUNTAINS, FOR WATERING OUR PLANTS, THAT'S REALLY KEY.
AND WE'VE ALSO ROLLED IN QUITE A FEW OTHER ELEMENTS, COMPOSTING FOR PLANTS, UH, UM, RENEWABLE ENERGY, SOLAR POWER TO KIND OF CUT DOWN ON THOSE COSTS.
REALLY TRY TO BE THE FRONT RUNNER FOR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS.
'CAUSE EVERYBODY'S COMING TO VISIT US AND REALLY SHOW THEM WAYS THEY CAN DO THAT AT HOME AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE'LL MOVE INTO COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS.
AND FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILWOMAN EZ HAS JOINED US.
UM, JUST A COMMENT AND A CONGRATULATIONS.
THE BOTANICAL, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS ARE IN DISTRICT TWO.
UM, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD THAT YOU REPRESENT OUR DISTRICT SO WONDERFULLY.
AND SO, HAIR FLIP, BEYONCE, WALK, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE SETTING THE STANDARD.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A COUNCIL, WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INCENTIVES OR ANYTHING, RIGHT, THIS SHOULD BE THE STANDARD, UM, WHEN WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND, UH, SHOUT OUT TO STEVENS AND SONS IN DISTRICT FIVE.
COUNCILWOMAN, DID YOU WANNA GO AHEAD? YES.
UM, THOSE THAT, UH, GOT THE PINNACLE AWARD, I THINK YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK SETTING THE EXAMPLE.
UM, WHILE I AM SAD THAT NONE OF THEM ARE IN DISTRICT THREE VIA DOES TRAVEL THROUGH DISTRICT THREE.
SO
'CAUSE I KNOW PARTICIPATING IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, SO THANK YOU.
AND, AND BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I, I ALSO WANNA GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SOLID WASTE TEAM FOR DREAMING THIS UP AND CARRYING IT THROUGH.
UH, I DON'T, I DON'T RECALL IF WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION OR IF IT WAS WITH SOMEONE ON MY TEAM.
OH, DOUG, UH, FROM OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM WHERE IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, WE, UH, WE RECOGNIZE YOU AND, UH, AND WE HAVE A CHECKLIST AND WE TRY TO MAKE IT EASY.
AND, AND THEN HE SAID, WELL, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR REWORKS PROGRAM, COUNCILWOMAN? SO I AM, I'M JUST, UH, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR, FOR
[00:35:01]
MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, SO, YAY.CONGRATULATIONS TO, TO ALL THE WOMEN THERE, ALL THE WINNERS.
UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR OUR NEXT CONVERSATION, BUT UNDERSTAND IF, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE, WE WILL BE HEARING FROM, OH, GIMME ONE SECOND.
SO COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY WE'RE DOING FOR THE FIRST TIME A REPORT OUT FROM ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES, UH, SORRY, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT IS LINKED TO OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
SO THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PARKS AND RECS, THERE'S LINEAR CREEK WAVES, THERE'S A FEW OTHERS.
UM, AND, UH, TO KICK US OFF IN THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM OTHER ADVISORY COMMITTEES TOO, AND DIRECTLY FROM THE MEMBERSHIP, UH, WE HAVE, UM, MR. OH, WHAT'S THE NAME? MR. JOSE MARTINEZ, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF OUR DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHO WILL BE GIVING US A REPORT ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE'S BEEN UP TO, THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND HOW THEY WORK WITH THE CITY.
SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, SIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS OR SPEAK AT THIS COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS JOSE MARTINEZ, AND I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR DAC.
THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO IS A GROWING AND DIVERSE POPULATION WITH UNIQUE NEEDS AND ABILITIES.
THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED, UH, BY COUNCIL IN 1979 AND SERVES AS THE CITY'S CONNECTION TO ALMOST A, UH, QUARTER OF A MILLION SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.
OUR ROLE IS TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND PROVIDE CITY STAFF WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY FACES EVERY DAY.
OUR MEMBERS PROVIDE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE SO CITY STAFF CAN IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, UH, IN CITY PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES.
UH, I SERVE AS THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, AND MELANIE KAIN SERVES AS THE VICE CHAIR.
UH, BOTH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR APPOINT MEMBERS AS, UH, THEIR, UH, REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS OF EACH COMMITTEE HAVE EXTENSIVE, UM, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, EITHER BY, UH, EITHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL LIVING WITH A DISABILITY, UH, A FAMILY MEMBER, OR A DISABILITY SERVICE PROFESSIONAL.
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS WHO ARE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY, UM, AND TO HAVE AS MANY TYPES OF DISABILITIES, UM, EXPERIENCES REPRESENTED IN THE, IN OUR MEMBERSHIP.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO VACANT POSITIONS ON THE COMMITTEE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT THESE, UH, VACANCIES ARE FILLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE DAC SERVES AS THE VOICE OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, AND THIS, UH, ROLE ALLOWS US TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS, ELECTED LEADERSHIP, CITY STAFF, AND THE DISABILITY ACCESS OFFICE.
WE BELIEVE IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WHERE WE CAN RECEIVE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK SO WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING
[00:40:01]
WITH DISABILITIES.IN, UH, 2021, UH, THE COMMITTEE CREATED LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR THREE, UM, CITY DEPARTMENTS.
THE DEPARTMENTS INCLUDED PARKS AND RECREATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
THE MEMBERS, UH, RECOMMENDED THAT SERVICES IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL RESIDENTS.
BY PARTNERING WITH THE DAC FOR, UH, REVIEW AND FEEDBACK OF CURRENT PROGRAM, CURRENT PROGRAMMING AND FUTURE PROJECTS, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY PROVIDE INPUT AS TO WHAT BARRIERS ARE FACED AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASED ACCESS FROM, UH, FROM A LIVED EXPERIENCE STANDPOINT.
ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMITTEE CREATED WELCOME PACKETS FOR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PROVIDED ONBOARDING TRAINING FOR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, DAC MEMBERS ALSO RECEIVED TRAINING ON THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT AND MEMBER COMMUNICATION.
IN 2022, THE DAC WILL CONTINUE OUR FOCUS ON EQUITY AND TO, UM, AND FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, OUR PRIORITY IS TO IMPROVE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON CITY COMMITTEES, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND WORK GROUPS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION EQUAL TO OUR OVERALL REPRESENTATION IN THE COMMUNITY THIS YEAR.
THE DAC WILL, UH, ALSO REVIEW UPCOMING BOND PROJECTS AND PROVIDE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE ACCESSIBLE, USEFUL, AND BENEFICIAL FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THE COMMITTEE, UH, STRIVES TO ASSIST IN THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO A WELCOMING, WELCOMING, AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS COME FAR SINCE OUR BEGINNING IN 1979, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO.
THE DAC WOULD, UM, THE DAC WAS CREATED TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UM, TODAY, UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER TWO QUESTIONS.
HOW CAN THE DAC BE A STRONGER PARTNER TO THESE, UH, TO CITY, TO CITY LEADERSHIP? AND HOW CAN CITY LEADERSHIP BETTER LEVERAGE THE DAC AND OUR MEMBERS? THE DAC IS, UH, COMMITTED TO PROMOTE EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL OF, UM, SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENTS, AND ARE HERE TO ASSIST, UH, CITY LEADERSHIP TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS.
I, ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE D THANK YOU, UM, THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL COMMITTEE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF YOUR AND OF YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP MAKE SAN ANTONIO A NATIONAL LEADER.
I INVITE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOUR STAFF TO ATTEND A UPCOMING MEETING OF THE, UM, OF THIS, OF, OF DAC.
UM, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN TODAY'S MEETING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PROLIFICALLY AT WORK.
UH, THERE IS SO MUCH THAT YOU HAVE TO REPORT.
UH, I, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GONNA START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
[00:45:01]
YOU.SO I HEARD THIS QUOTE, UM, OR MY SISTER HEARD THIS QUOTE AND GAVE IT TO ME THAT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IS A MINORITY THAT WE CAN JOIN AT ANY TIME IN OUR LIFE, AT CIRCUMSTANCES CAN LEAD US TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE THIS A PRIORITY, UM, AND WE TRY AND FIND A WAY TO GET DAK MORE INVOLVED.
THE ONE THINGS I WOULD, THE, THE TWO COMMITTEES THAT I SIT ON THAT I THINK WE CAN GO OUT TO IS THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, MAKING SURE WE TAKE SOME INFORMATION THAT WE'RE DOING THERE.
AND WE HAVE, UM, A, I FEEL LIKE A TRUST THAT IS FOCUSED ON THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, BUT MAKING SURE WE INCLUDE OUR COMMITTEE ON THIS, THE DAC.
AND THEN THE OTHER IS VISIT SAN ANTONIO, BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT, AT TRAVEL AND TOURISM AND BECOMING MORE INCLUSIVE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES FEEL WELCOME HERE.
AND I THINK WE, THAT IS ONE WHEN YOU ASK THOSE TWO QUESTIONS IS THAT IS ONE WAY WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DAC.
SO IN MOVING FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S A, A, A REQUEST WE HAVE TO MAKE IF THEY WANT TO SEE A PRESENTATION OR, UM, HAVE REPRESENTATIVES DO A SURVEY WITH THE MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT'S MOVING FORWARD.
PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THOSE TO COME FORWARD AND, AND BE PART OF YOUR MEETINGS.
SO ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS CONTACT THE DISABILITY ACCESS OFFICE AND OFFER TO DO A PRESENTATION OR CONNECT WITH THE COMMITTEE.
AND THEN I, UH, OUR OFFICE IS, THE LIAISON WORKS WITH JOSE AND THE VICE CHAIR TO PUT THEM ON AN AGENDA AT THE TIME THAT THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE.
AND THEY MEET MONTHLY, CORRECT? THEY MEET MONTHLY.
UM, EXCEPT FOR THIS COMING MONTH, MAY WE ARE NOT MEETING, BUT THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN JUNE, BUT IT'S THE SECOND MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH, UH, THREE TO FOUR 30 OR FIVE, DEPENDING ON MEETING LENGTH.
AND JUST REAL QUICK, IF WE COULD INTRODUCE THE STAFF THAT'S HERE.
DEBBIE CHARVIN, WHO IS ALSO ONE OF THE MANAGERS AND D E I, AND WE ALSO HAVE NICK DOMINGEZ, WHO IS ALSO OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.
AND THAT LADY IN THERE, WHAT, IS SHE AN ATTORNEY? YES.
THANK YOU, JOSE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I, I DO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO LEAD.
I KNOW WITH THE HOUSING BOND, UM, THE BOND COMMITTEE VOTED TO INCLUDE UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL DESIGN WITHIN THE PARAMETERS FOR THAT HOUSING BOND, WHICH IS A, A, UM, A, A GREAT, UH, STEP THAT OUR BOND APPOINTEES TOOK, UH, WITH THAT, UM, AS COUNCILWOMAN VRAN MENTIONED THAT THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST RECENTLY ESTABLISHED THE UNIVERSAL SUSTAINABILITY AND UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL DESIGN COMMITTEE, UH, WHICH I SIT ON.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE PROCESS AND IF THERE ARE ANY, UH, PRIORITIES FOR THE, UH, Y'ALL'S OFFICE, UM, THAT WE CAN BE CHAMPIONING OR ENSURE THAT ARE A PRIORITY WHEN WE'RE BRIEFED, UM, ON THOSE U D C CHANGES.
UM, I AM, UH, UM, LOOKING FORWARD FOR US, YOU KNOW, LEADING, UH, WITH THOSE CODES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE, UM, MEETING THE STANDARDS.
RIGHT? AND OFTENTIMES WHEN IT COMES TO ANY INITIATIVE, WHETHER IT'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OR ANYTHING, RIGHT, IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING? IT'S LIKE, NO, WHAT CAN WE BE DOING? RIGHT? LET US CREATE THAT MODEL AND STANDARD.
SO, UH, I AM EXTREMELY HOPEFUL AND I'LL, WE'LL BE REACHING OUT, UH, SO THAT WAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE PROCESS.
UH, MR. DOMINGUEZ, DID YOU HAVE, UH, SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE? GO AHEAD.
I, I, I'M SO SORRY, UH, CHAIR, BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE KRISTA VER, WHO IS DE I'S FANTASTIC ATTORNEY FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I, I'M SORRY, I JUST DIDN'T SCAN HER IN THE ROOM.
UM, WOW, WE ARE HEARING SOME TREMENDOUS IDEAS, UM, AND I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA HEAR MORE.
COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR PRESENTING AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON THE COMMITTEE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M INTERESTED IN IS I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE TO, UM, TO SORT OF WORK THROUGH AND EVALUATE THE ROLE OUR FIELD OFFICE PLAYS AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE CREATE FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITY LEVELS.
UM, AND SO I, WE'LL BE COORDINATING AND REACHING OUT FAIRLY SOON, BUT, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I'M, I'M VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN.
[00:50:01]
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL ATTENTION TO, UM, A DOCUMENT THAT'S IN THE PACKET FOR TODAY.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING IT STAFF.
IT IS THE ANNUAL REPORT PRODUCED BY THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND ACTUALLY WE, UM, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET THOSE FROM ALL OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND, UH, THE CLERK IS, UM, MAKING SURE WE, THAT HAPPENS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CLERK FOR DOING THAT.
AND TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND STAFF ARE PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
MR. VINNO, I I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, UH, FOR YOU REGARDING, UM, YOU SUBMITTED SOME RECOMMENDATION LETTERS.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OR ONE OF THE TEAM CAN TELL US ONCE THOSE LETTERS ARE SUBMITTED, WHAT, UH, WHAT'S THE CITY PROCESS FOR, UM, REVIEWING THEM, GETTING BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, OR IMPLEMENTING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? I'D, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU.
SO THE PROCESS STARTS WITH THE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS, AND SO IT'LL GO THROUGH THE INTERNAL COMMITTEE PROCESS OF, OF CREATING THE LETTERS, APPROVING THE LETTERS, AND MOVING FORWARD, UM, THROUGH THE CITY, CITY, UH, PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT IT GETS TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND THE MAYOR.
AND THEN ONCE THOSE GO TO THE DIRECTORS, THEN UM, OUR OFFICE STARTS TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THOSE LEAD.
UM, AND SO WE END UP WORKING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS ON THOSE RECOMMENDATION AND GETTING STATUS REPORTS AT CERTAIN POINTS.
AND THEN AT CERTAIN POINTS, THE DISABILITY ACCESS, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, THE CHAIR, USUALLY JOSE WILL CONTACT ME AND SAY WE'RE READY FOR A STATUS UPDATE.
USUALLY IT'S SIX MONTHS, USUALLY IT'S 12 MONTHS.
JUST DEPENDS ON THE PROJECT, JUST DEPENDS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, HOW BIG OR COMPLEX THEY MIGHT BE.
UM, AND THEN THEY COME BACK FOR A STATUS, THEY END UP HAVING MORE DISCUSSION, AND IT JUST IS BASICALLY THAT ORGANIC CONVERSATION AND, AND CYCLE OF, OF HOW THAT GOES THROUGH.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO ATTACH THOSE LETTERS TO THE ANNUAL REPORT? OH, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE, WE CAN DEFINITELY SEND THOSE OUT.
I'M TAKING A LOOK AT, UM, YEAH, IF YOU COULD DOUBLE CHECK.
YEAH, WE WILL DOUBLE CHECK AND WE WILL RESEND THOSE.
AND THEN, UM, I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE CLERK.
WHEN THE ANNUAL REPORT IS SUBMITTED, UM, HOW DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ACCESS TO IT? SO RIGHT NOW, UM, ALL OF THE REPORTS OF ALL OF THE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, UH, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, AND I AM AWAITING THE MAYOR'S APPROVAL FOR WHICH COMMITTEE THEY SHOULD BE ASSIGNED.
AND THEN WE WILL PUT THEM ON THE AGENDA FOR, FOR REVIEW.
UM, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, UH, THEN I THINK WE CAN CLOSE OUR ITEM AND ADJOURN OUR MEETING EARLY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. TREVINO, FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.