* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:07] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO [ ITEMS  ] OUR CITY COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION TIME IS 10:03 AM ON THE 24TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2023. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING THE ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER KERR? COUNCIL MEMBER MAKI RODRIGUEZ. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER ILLA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER VARDA HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RETO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE HERE. MAYOR NURNBERG HERE, SIR. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALRIGHT, UH, WELCOME EVERYBODY. WE DO HAVE, UH, THREE DEPARTMENTS WE'RE GONNA BE BRIEFED ON TODAY, SO WE'LL GET RIGHT TO IT. AND DON'T FORGET, WE CONTINUE OUR SESSION THIS AFTERNOON, I BELIEVE AT TWO O'CLOCK. SO, ERIC MORNING AMERICAN COUNCIL. THANK YOU. SO YES, THREE PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING. UH, WE'LL START WITH, UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA START WITH, UH, MARK CARMONA, WHO'S GONNA GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE SHIP AND WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT THE PLANS ARE, HIGH LEVEL. THAT'LL BE A GOOD, UH, INTRO INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS. THAT'LL BEGIN WITH MEL AND HUMAN SERVICES, UH, VERONICA AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES. AND THEN WE'LL WRAP UP WITH, UM, UH, CLAUDE AND METRO HEALTH. SO MARK'S GONNA START US OFF. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, MARK CARONA, THE CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I'M EXCITED THIS MORNING, UH, TO INTRODUCE OUR WORK IN THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SPACE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24. THE CITY'S OPERATING WITH TWO STRATEGIC PLANS, UH, FOR HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS. UH, MY JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF BOTH OF THOSE PLANS, I CONSIDER BOTH OF THEM TO REALLY BE SYMBIOTIC AND ESSENTIAL FOR EACH SUCCESS. SO WE DO OUR WORK THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION, AND RESOURCES. THIS SLIDE SHOWS REALLY THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. AND, UH, OUR HOUSING CONTINUUM REALLY IS A RANGE OF HOUSING TYPES AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM EMERGENCY SHELTERS ON ONE END, ALL THE WAY TO HOME OWNERSHIP ON THE OTHER, IN BETWEEN LIES IN ASSORTMENT OF HOUSING OPTIONS AND TYPES. EACH CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A COMMUNITY TO HAVE SUCH VARIETY, SO IT DOESN'T PUT PRESSURE ON SUPPLY FOR ANOTHER HOUSING TYPE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS WILL STAY IN EMERGENCY SHELTER UNTIL P S H UNITS BECOME AVAILABLE, CAUSING A SHORTAGE IN EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS, WHICH IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO HAVE PEOPLE COME OFF THE STREETS. OR IF THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SUPPLY OF HOW MARKET RATE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS MAY BE CONVERTED TO MEET THE MARKET DEMAND, THEREFORE ELIMINATING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY. SO OUR HOUSING CONTINUUM MUST BE BALANCED IN ORDER FOR THE CONTINUUM OF CARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SERVING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS. OUR SHIP, OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS A 10 YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, WE'RE TRACKING OUR PROGRESS WITH OUR SHIP GOALS AND ARE CURRENTLY AHEAD OF TARGET. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IN ADDITION TO OUR PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION GOALS, WE ARE MAKING CONSISTENT PROGRESS IN MEETING OUR SHIP STRATEGIES WITH OUR PARTNERS AND IN THE COMMUNITY. SOME EXAMPLES OF THESE ARE WITH COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. AND THEN FINALLY, WITH OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. I THINK OUR KEY ACCOMPLISHMENT HERE IS THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. I CAN TELL YOU WITH FULL CONFIDENCE, IT'S ALIGNED, IT'S COMMUNICATING AND COORDINATING ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IDENTIFYING ISSUES IN REAL TIME. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS OUR COORDINATED CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. OUR PRIMARY MEMBERS ARE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS, OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE, BEAR COUNTY, THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES, HAVEN FOR HOPE. SAM MINISTRIES, CORDON MINISTRIES, CHRISTIAN ASSISTANT MINISTRIES IN CENTRO. I'M EXCITED TO TELL YOU WE'VE BEGUN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY OPPORTUNITY HOME ON THE POTENTIAL FOR THEM TO BE A PART OF OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AS WELL. NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MELODY WOOSLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR HER BUDGET PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO THIS MORNING I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, PROPOSED BUDGET AND HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATE AGENCY BUDGET. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, THE HUMAN SERVICES TEAM AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND YOU ALL HAVE A BINDER AT YOUR SEAT THAT PROVIDES [00:05:01] MORE DETAIL ON OUR DELEGATE AGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS. SO DURING TODAY'S SESSION, I WILL REVIEW THE, THE D H S PROPOSED BUDGET, TARGETED DEPARTMENT IMPROVEMENTS, FISCAL YEAR 24 PRIORITIES AND DELEGATE AGENCY INVESTMENTS. AND SO HUMAN SERVICES FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE RE RESIDENTS. THROUGH BOTH DIRECT SERVICES AND COLLABORATION. NUMEROUS NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENTAL, AND FAITH-BASED PARTNERS HELP US ENHANCE OUR CORE SERVICES AND EXTEND OUR REACH INTO THE COMMUNITY. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS IN FORCE STRATEGIC LANES TO HELP CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE TO HELP FACILITATE FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO HELP OLDER ADULTS STAY HEALTHY, ENGAGED, AND INDEPENDENT. AND TO ENSURE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NON-RECURRING. THE WORK WE DO IMPACTS THOUSANDS DAILY, 21,000 THROUGH HEAD START AND CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS, CONNECTING CHILDREN TO EARLY LEARNING AND CARE, HELPING PARENTS WORK AND PROVIDING A PROTECTIVE FA FACTOR FOR CHILDREN AT RISK. OVER 5,000 DISCONNECTED FOSTER SYSTEM AND JUSTICE INVOLVED IN HOMELESS YOUTH ARE CONNECTED TO EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH NEXT LEVEL YOUTH OPPORTUNITY AND AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS, YOUTH COMMISSIONS AND YOUTH SERVING DELEGATE AGENCIES, WE HELP STABILIZE FAMILIES THROUGH RESOURCES, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, BENEFITS, REFERRAL, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. AND 11 COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS AND 33 NUTRITION SITES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY SERVE ALMOST THREE 33,000 OLDER ADULTS WITH A WARM, NUTRITIOUS MEAL AND AN ARRAY OF RECREATION, FITNESS, AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES TO PREVENT ISOLATION AND PROMOTE HEALTH. AND SO OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST HOMELESSNESS IS TO PREVENT IT. AND THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY BY ADDRESSING TRAUMA, POVERTY, AND LOW EDUCATION ATTAINMENT EARLIER AND MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY THAN ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH HOMELESSNESS JUSTICE SYSTEM AND CRISIS DOWN THE ROAD. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT OUR HOMELESS EFFORTS, UM, SHORTLY, BUT FIRST I'LL TALK ABOUT OUR TOTAL BUDGET. THE HUMAN SERVICES PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET IS 239 MILLION, INCLUDING GENERAL FUND AND GRANTS, A 21% INCREASE OR 51 MILLION OVER THE FISCAL YEAR. 2023 ADOPTED BUDGET PRIMARILY TO SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. WITH AN ADDITIONAL 25 MILLION FROM ARPA GRANTS, WE WILL MANAGE A TOTAL OF 265 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 459 D H S POSITIONS, AN INCREASE OF SIX FROM THE, UH, F Y 23 BUDGET DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING FOR CONTRACTS RELATED TO SENIORS AND HOMELESS SERVICES. AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET PREVIOUSLY WERE REORGANIZED THIS YEAR INTO THE DELEGATE AGENCY BUDGET. ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A TOP PRIORITY BY CITY COUNCIL AND OUR RESIDENTS COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS PO UH, POINTED TO ENCAMPMENT OUTREACH AND ABATEMENT AS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN FOR, FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY. WHILE RESIDENTS SURVEY COMMENTS CLEARLY CONVEY, CONVEYED THEIR DESIRE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE CARE OF ENCAMPMENTS, MANY RESIDENTS ALSO ASKED FOR MORE RESOURCE SOURCES TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE ENCAMPMENTS. THIS BUDGET RESPONDS BY PROVIDING DIVERSE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHILE RESPONDING TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELESSNESS. TO THIS END, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 1.4 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL HOMELESSNESS RESOURCES AND FOUR NEW POSITIONS TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO ADDRESS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, OFFER MORE STREET OUTREACH RESOURCES, IMPROVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND INCREASE PREVENTION RESOURCES TO DIVERT PEOPLE FROM HOMELESSNESS AND SHELTER. THROUGH ADDITIONAL GRANT AND ARPA FUNDING SOURCES, WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING LOW BARRIER, NON CONGREGATE SHELTER AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPTIONS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES $578,000 IN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS [00:10:01] TO EXPAND SENIOR TRANSPORTATION AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR SENIORS WITH DISABILITIES. IMPLEMENT, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO VOLUNTEER EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS PROGRAM PROPERTY TAX PROGRAM AND BEGIN DESIGN AND SITE LOCATION FOR PROPOSED NEW COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS IN DISTRICTS TWO AND SIX TO HELP US UNDERSTAND. OKAY. IT DIDN'T, IT WENT TOO FAR. SORRY. NO. OKAY. TO HELP US UNDERSTAND, UM, WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS, OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, UM, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NON-RECURRING. THIS IS NOT A MISSION WE TACKLE ALONE. THE COMMUNITY'S HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM INVOLVES CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENTS, SARAH, C O C, THE SOUTH ALAMO ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS, OR, UM, HOMELESS LEAD AGENCY, UM, A COALITION OF NONPROFIT PROVIDERS AND FAITH ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT AND PROVIDE, UM, OUTREACH AND CONNECTION TO DIVERSE SHELTER AND HOUSING OPTIONS. OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE WORKED TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT KEY IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE EQUITY ACROSS THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, INCLUDING WORKING TO COLLECTIVELY RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDE UNIFORM TRAINING TO OUR 38 OUTREACH WORKERS TO CREATE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE SYSTEM. AND THOSE 38 WORKERS ARE HOUSED IN MULTIPLE AGENCIES, NOT JUST THE CITY. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN, IN THIS BUDGET, THE CITY, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, HAVE DEVELOPED TARGETED INITIATIVES TO FILL OUR SYSTEM GAPS, LEVERAGING FEDERAL AND BOND FUNDING TO EXPAND A NON CONGREGATE SHELTER CAPACITY. WE HAVE SECURED AND ARE LOOKING, UM, WE HAVE SECURED 130 UNITS, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK TO EXPAND THAT NUMBER WITHIN BUDGET, CREATING A CENTRALIZED SHELTER AND HOUSING AVAILABILITY RESOURCE THAT HELPS OUTREACH WORKERS AND CASE MANAGERS CONNECT INDIVIDUALS QUICKLY TO APPROPRIATE SHELTER OR TREATMENT OPTIONS AND COORDINATING HOUSING NAVIGATION RESOURCES. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM TO QUICKLY CONNECT MEDICALLY FRAGILE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT MEET THEIR DAILY NEEDS WITH, WITH SKILLED NURSING CARE. WHILE WE WORK TO CONNECT THEM TO MEDICAID AND OTHER FEDERAL BENEFITS, WE THAT WILL COVER THEIR LONG-TERM COST OF CARE FOR THE ONGOING PERIOD. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES LIVING ON THE STREET DETERIORATING. IT IS A HUGE STRAIN ON OUR OUTREACH WORKERS, AND THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP RESTORE THOSE INDIVIDUALS DIGNITY AND SAVE THEIR LIVES. THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER, AND A TOTAL OF 28 INDIVIDUALS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE SERVED IN FISCAL YEAR 24. SO TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT APPROACHES ARE WORKING, UM, AND THE GAPS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. AND ANNUALLY, THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM LED BY THE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS. SARAH CONDUCTS A PHYSICAL COUNT OF HOMELESS IN THE IN BEXAR COUNTY. IT IS A SINGLE NIGHT SNAPSHOT OF WHO AND HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE COUNTED 3,155 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE COUNTY. 2,281 WERE SHELTERED AND 874 WERE UNSHELTERED. WHAT THAT COUNT TELLS US COMPARED TO LAST YEAR IS THERE'S A 5.3% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS OVERALL, WHICH IS ON PAR WITH NATIONAL, UM, DATA SINCE COVID AND IS PRIMARILY DUE TO A 25% INCREASE IN FAMILY HOMELESSNESS. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, THE COUNT POINTED TO A 15.6 DECREASE IN UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AND A 33% DECREASE IN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS SINCE 2022, AS WELL AS THE LOWEST REPORTED COUNT OF UNSHELTERED VETERANS SINCE 2016. THE PER CAPITA RATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY HAS DECLINED BY 23% OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS COMPARED TO POPULATION GROWTH OF 12% OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD. AND WHAT THESE STATISTICS MEAN IN TERMS OF OUR CONTINUED ONGOING HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION IS THAT INVESTMENTS IN SHELTER AND HOUSING [00:15:01] OPTIONS FROM LOW BARRIER SHELTER TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ARE CRITICAL TO TRANSITIONING. UM, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER UNSHELTERED PE UNSHELTERED PEOPLE FROM THE STREETS TO SUSTAINED HOUSING. UNSHELTERED AND CHRONIC HOMELESS ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO POPULATIONS TO SERVE. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS PUTS THE AVERAGE COST TO THE COMMUNITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT 35,000 ANNUALLY FROM POLICE E M S, UM, HOSPITAL JAIL AND SHELTER COSTS, THEY ESTIMATE THE AVERAGE COST OF HOUSING AND INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF DOING NOTHING. AND SO THE CITY'S, UM, THE CI, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2024 DIRECT HOMELESSNESS INVESTMENT IN SERVICES IS 31.5 MILLION, 29.3 MILLION IN THE D H S BUDGET AND 2.2 MILLION FROM THE SOLID WASTE BUDGET. THE MAJORITY 29.3 MILLION SUPPORTS SHELTER AND HOUSING OPTIONS OUTREACH IN THE AMOUNT OF 4 MILLION SUPPORTS 17 STREET OUTREACH POSITIONS, INCLUDING A TEAM OF 11 SPECIALISTS AND 10 COUNCIL DISTRICTS, AND SIX CONTRACTED OUT STREET OUTREACH SPECIALISTS WITH CORONE SA AND SAM MINISTRIES, AND ALSO INCLUDES THE HOMELESS CONNECTIONS HOTLINE, WHICH SERVES AS THE FRONT DOOR TO THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM WITH NEARLY 20,000 CALLERS EACH YEAR WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR HOUSING OR WITH HOMELESSNESS. $2.9 MILLION IN FUNDS, FUNDS, ENCAMPMENT, ABATEMENTS, INCLUDING FOUR ENCAMPMENT OUTREACH POSITIONS AND SOLID WASTE WASTE OPERATIONS FUNDING. THIS CHART ALSO INCLUDES OUR HOMELESS DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING IN THE HOMELESSNESS CATEGORY. THE HAVEN FOR HOPE CAMPUS OPERATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT CATEGORY, UM, IN THE SHELTER, UH, EMERGENCY SHELTER CATEGORY. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SERVICES, INDIRECT COSTS FROM POLICE, FIRE AND E M S OF 19.1 MILLION ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF HOMELESSNESS BOTH ON THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET ALIGNS WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS BY EXPANDING AND PROFESSIONALIZING OUTREACH, DIVERSIFYING SHELTER OPTIONS, AND DEVELOPING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. APOLOGIZE, THINGS ARE OUT OF ORDER. SO THE, UM, HOMELESS IMPROVEMENTS, UH, IN THE F Y 24 BUDGET TOTAL, 1.4 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES HOMELESS PREVENTION AND DIVERSION FUNDS TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INCREASING THE UTILITY RENTAL AND DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE FOR PREVENTION AND DIVERSION TO SH OF SHELTER. UM, AND WE, UH, ANTICIPATE THAT 300 PEOPLE WILL BE DIVERTED FROM HOMELESSNESS OR SHELTER AND PROVIDING MEDICATED ASSISTANT TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE OPIOID ADDICTIONS AND ARE LIVING ON THE STREET AND ARE NOT INSURED, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT AND ABATEMENT. UM, THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT AND ABATEMENT IMPROVEMENT TOTALS 737,249 AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS INVESTMENT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF, UM, ENCAMPMENT VISITS THAT WE CONDUCT FROM 500 THIS YEAR TO 700. UH, WE WILL EXPAND OUR ABATEMENT RESOURCES BY ADDING TWO POSITIONS TO THE HUMAN SERVICES PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT AND OVER 500,000 TO THE SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS FUND. THIS ADDRESS, UM, THIS ADDRESSES REQUESTS, UM, WITHIN TWO WEEKS, ALLOWS US THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT. UM, OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH PEOPLE. ONCE A, UH, ABATEMENT IS IDENTIFIED, WE'LL IMMEDIATELY START DOING, UM, CASE MANAGEMENT WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE, UH, ENCAMPMENT AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AS WELL AS SHELTER. THEY WILL, AGAIN, DO THAT ON THE DAY OF THE ABATEMENT. AND SO THE 400 SHELTERED, UM, IS CONCURRENT WITH THE ABATEMENT ENCAMPMENT [00:20:02] FUNDING, EXPANDED SHELTER AND HOUSING OPTIONS. SO AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE DOING ADDITIONAL ABATEMENTS, WE ARE LEVERAGING 15 POINT MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL LOW BARRIER SHELTER AND EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS THROUGH FEDERAL AND BOND FUNDS. EXPANDED TRANSPORTATION FOR OLDER ADULTS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $578,000 IN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. 328,000 SUPPORTS EXTENDED EXPANDED TRANSPORTATION. D H S PROVIDES FREE ROUNDTRIP SENIOR CENTER TRANSPORTATION FOR THOSE 60 AND OLDER WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS OF 11 COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS AND SIX NUTRITION SITES, TWO CHAUFFEUR POSITIONS, AND TWO, A D A ACCESSIBLE BUSES WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY TO PICK UP OLDER ADULTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE, UH, WITH DI, HAVE DISABILITIES AT THEIR HOMES AND BRING THEM TO SENIOR CENTERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS IMPROVEMENT EXPANDS THE NUMBER OF DAILY RIDERS BY 48 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. $120,000 WILL SUPPORT THE SAVES PILOT PROGRAM, ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS 65 AND OLDER TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN RETURN FOR CREDIT TOWARD THE CITY'S PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL. UNDER THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE CITY WILL PAY THE, UM, CITY PORTION OF THE HOMEOWNER'S PROPERTY TAXES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE ON BEHALF OF AN ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNER AFTER VERIFYING THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS THE HOMEOWNER WORKS IN THAT YEAR. AND THIS IS UP TO A MAXIMUM PAYMENT OF $406 PER PARTICIPANT. THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES FUNDING, UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR PROPOSED NEW DISTRICT TWO SENIOR CENTER AND A FEASIBILITY AND LOCATION STUDY FOR THE PROPOSED NEW CENTER IN DISTRICT SIX. AND SO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 CAPITAL AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE BUDGET INCLUDES 6.9 MILLION FOR A FOR DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION OF A 7,500 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AT THE CURRENT SITE TO PROVIDE OLDER ADULT AND PARKS PRO UH, PROGRAMMING. THAT CENTER HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE, UH, NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR DUE TO SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND FOUNDATION ISSUES. FUNDING FOR COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF UM, HVAC SYSTEM AT THE BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTER, IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. AND AS AN UPDATE SITE PREP WORK ON THE DISTRICT FOUR HERITAGE COMMUNITY CENTER HAS RESTARTED AND IS THE, UH, CENTER IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN OCTOBER OF 2025. DESIGN WORK IS IN PROGRESS FOR EXPANSION OF THE DISTRICT ONE WEST END PARK SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OUR SMALLEST CENTER. AND THAT FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JUNE OF 2026. AND FINALLY, DESIGN WORK IS ALSO IN PROGRESS FOR COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER. IN COUNCIL. DISTRICT TWO CONSTRUCTION IS PLANNED TO START IN MARCH OF 2025 WITH COMPLETION BY SUMMER 2026. AND SO IN SUMMARY, OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 KEY PRIORITIES INCLUDE CONTINUED, CONTINUED EXPANSION OF HOUSING OPTIONS AND INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE NAVIGATION TO HOUSING, GROWING OUR SENIOR CENTER MEMBERSHIP AND ENHANCING SERVICE OPTIONS AND ACCESS TO SERVICES, CONNECTING VULNERABLE YOUTH TO HOUSING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONNECTING PARTICIPANTS ACROSS ALL OF OUR DIRECT SERVICES AND FUNDING PROGRAMS TO READY TO WORK. AND THEN FINALLY, EXPANDING RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR CASEWORKERS, ESPECIALLY OUR BENEFITS NAVIGATORS TO STABILIZE FAMILIES. AND SO MOVING ON TO PART TWO, I WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS AND DELEGATE AGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET CONTINUES THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WITH 24.4 MILLION BUDGETED FOR CONTRACTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS. THE BIENNIAL CONSOLIDATED MODEL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2005 TO IMPROVE THE WAY THAT WE INVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. THIS TWO YEAR PROCESS AWARDS [00:25:01] GENERAL AND GRANT FUNDS TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELP THE CITY ADDRESS KEY OUTCOMES AND COUNCIL PRIORITIES. THE PROCESS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 CYCLE BEGAN ON MARCH 1ST WITH COUNCIL PRIORITY DIRECTION AT B SESSION. PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE COMPETITIVE R F P D H S WORKED WITH CITY COUNCIL OFFICES TO HOST R F P INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR CONSTITUENTS AND TO GET FEEDBACK FOLLOWING THIS, WE HELD A SERIES OF SIX STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY INPUT AND INFORMATION SESSIONS ACROSS THE CITY TO REVIEW THE PROCESS AND FUNDING PRIORITIES PRIOR TO RELEASING THE R F P. THE COMPETITIVE R F P WAS ISSUED ON MARCH 27TH AND WAS OPEN FOR EIGHT WEEKS. THREE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS WERE HELD FOR INTERESTED APPLICANTS, UM, ONLINE, ONLINE SYSTEM GRANT DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING BUDGET AND PERFORMANCE SCORECARD. APPROXIMATELY 90 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THESE SESSIONS. IN TOTAL, WE RECEIVED 86 PROPOSALS REQUESTING A TOTAL OF 31 MILLION. THEY WERE SCORED AND EVALUATED BY NINE PANELS, WHICH INCLUDED 63 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EVALUATORS, EVALUATORS SUCH AS COMMUNITY FUNDERS, STAKEHOLDERS, PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, AND, UH, CONTENT EXPERTS ACROSS THE CITY. WE ARE PROPOSING TWO YEAR CONTRACTS, WHICH BEGIN OCTOBER 1ST AND END SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AWARDS WILL BE APPROVED THROUGH THE BUDGET, UM, ADOPTION PROCESS ON SEPTEMBER THE 14TH, AND CONTINUED SECOND YEAR FUNDING IS OF COURSE CONTINGENT ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND CONTRACT PERFORMANCE. THE HUMAN SERVICES CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS IMPLEMENTS A STRATEGIC EQUITY BASED APPROACH TO DIRECTING FUNDING INVESTMENTS TO THOSE MOST IN NEED BY USING DISAGGREGATED COMMUNITY DATA AND ENGAGING FUNDED PARTNERS, LARGER COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY THE GAPS, UM, IN OUR WORK AND EX AND EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES. THROUGH THIS CYCLE, WE CONTINUE TO ALIGN WITH OTHER COMMUNITY FUNDERS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED WAY, THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION, AND THE UP PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE A GREATER COLLECTIVE IMPACT WITH THESE, THE, THESE FUNDS. WE FURTHER SIMPLIFIED OUR FUNDING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO CREATE MORE ACCESSIBLE APPLICATION PROCESS AND FORWARDED EQUITY IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS BY IMPLEMENTING EQUITY CRITERIA AND SCORING AND SELECTING DIVERSE EVALUATION PANEL MEMBERS. AND AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE FUNDING CYCLE, WE WORK WITH OUR FUNDED PARTNERS TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING OUTCOMES AND PROVIDING ONGOING REPORTING, UM, IN A TRANSPARENT WAY THROUGH OUR ONLINE DIGITAL DASHBOARD. AND SO THE, UH, WE ARE PROPOSING IN FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 24 0.3 MILLION TO DESIGNATED AND COMPETITIVE, UM, FUNDING INVESTMENTS ACROSS FOUR STRATEGY AREAS, UM, WHICH INCLUDE CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND READY TO SUCCEED. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARE FINANCIALLY SECURE AND IN STABLE HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING. AND OLDER ADULTS ARE HEALTHY, ENGAGED AND INDEPENDENT. THESE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS ALIGN WITH CITY COUNCIL IDENTIFIED FUNDING PRIORITIES AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM OUTCOMES FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT. THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET IS 900,000 HIGHER THAN FISCAL YEAR 2023 FROM GRANT RELATED INCREASES FROM HUD HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS AND ADDITIONAL ARPA FUNDING PUT INTO THE PROCESS. IT ALSO INCLUDES ADDITIONAL 400,000 IN GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT, UM, OUTREACH WORKERS AND, UM, NONPROFIT AGENCIES. THE MAJORITY OF FUNDING, FUNDING ALMOST HALF IS ALLOCATED TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS. A TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION 708,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND 790,000 IN GRANT RESOURCES REMAINS UNALLOCATED FOR THREE PRIMARY STRATEGY AREAS. AND THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET ENOUGH APPLICATIONS IN THOSE CATEGORIES TO, TO FUND 150,000 IS FROM THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES CATEGORY TO SUPPORT LEGAL SERVICES, ASSISTANCE TO IMMIGRANTS AND OLDER ADULTS. 558,000 IN THE SENIOR INDEPENDENCE [00:30:02] CATEGORY TO SUPPORT SENIOR CENTER TECHNOLOGY AND ARTS PROGRAMMING, BOTH FINE ARTS AND THEATER ARTS, 500 OR 790,000 IN RESTRICTED HOME HUD HOMELESS GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS WHO ARE UNSHELTERED AND RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS. A SECOND CONSOLIDATED FUNDING. R F P WAS ISSUED ON AUGUST THE 10TH AND WILL CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH TO AWARD THE REMAINING FUNDING. WE ANTICIPATE BRINGING RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL IN OCTOBER OF 2023 AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTINUED IMPACT THAT COVID HAS HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY. CITY COUNCIL AWARDED 43.9 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING TO 81 PROGRAMS OVER THE LAST YEAR IN THE AREAS OF IMMIGRANT SERVICES, NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICES, YOUTH CAREER AND EDUCATION, AND SENIORS COMBINED ARPA INVESTMENTS AND HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS REPRESENTED TWO YEAR INVESTMENT OF 92.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT 136 HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS AND 16 OF THOSE AGENCIES OVERLAP THAT CON. AND SO THAT CONCLUDES MY FORMAL PRESENTATION. WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST I WILL PASS THE PODIUM TO VERONICA GARCIA TO TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING'S BUDGET. THANK YOU, MEL. GOOD MORNING, VERONICA GARCIA. I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND I'M ALSO JOINED THIS MORNING BY IAN BEES, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND VERONICA GONZALEZ, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM. SO THIS MORNING I'M GONNA GO OVER OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, INCLUDING OUR FUNDING SOURCES. I'LL TALK ABOUT THE VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT WE OFFER THE COMMUNITY, AND I'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR PROPOSED PROGRAM CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR. OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2024 INCLUDES IS $51.8 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT A 3% INCREASE OVER THIS YEAR. THIS INCLUDES A GENERAL FUND AND OUR HUD GRANTS, INCLUDING HOME AND C D B G AND OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE MADE UP OF TIFF AND OUR INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND. OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR ALSO INCLUDES A SPENDING PLAN FOR OUR ARPA AND CARESS GRANTS, WHICH HELP FUND OUR RELOCATION AND EVICTION PREVENTION EFFORTS, AS WELL AS HOME ARPA FUNDS, WHICH HELP ADDRESS AND HELP INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR ALSO INCLUDES SPENDING FOR $36.1 MILLION OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND. AND WE ARE PROPOSED AT 123 POSITIONS NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS A SEVEN NEW, A TOTAL OF SEVEN ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. TWO OF THOSE WERE ALREADY APPROVED BY COUNCIL THIS PAST MONTH, BUT WE WILL BE HIRING THEM NEXT YEAR. AND THE OTHER FIVE ARE NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED AS PART OF THE BUDGET. OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR IS PROPOSED AT $41.2 MILLION, WHICH IS A $5.3 MILLION INCREASE FROM OUR CURRENT YEAR IS PRIMARILY THROUGH, UH, GRANTS AND REALLOCATING OUR GRANT FUNDING IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR GAP FINANCING, WHICH IS WHAT WE UTILIZE TO PROVIDE TO THIRD PARTY ENTITIES TO HELP US BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HAVE OUR CURRENT EVICTION PREVENTION EFFORTS RIGHT NOW ARE FUNDED THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS, AND THE STATE GRANT WILL BE EXPIRING LATER THIS YEAR. SO WE PROPOSE UTILIZING OUR C D B G FUNDS TO HELP CONTINUE OUR EVICTION PREVENTION EFFORTS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATED TO OUR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS BUY A NEW HOME. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL. SO AS MARK MENTIONED, OUR DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AND THE SHIP IS REALLY A 10 YEAR COMMUNITY VISION OF QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHOICES. WE REALLY HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON THOSE WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES. WE WORK TO STABILIZE HOUSEHOLDS BY PRESERVING OUR EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY AND BY LEVERAGING TOOLS SUCH AS OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO HELP BOOST PEOPLE'S INCOME SO THEY CAN AFFORD THE HOUSING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY. IN SAN ANTONIO, OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS, UH, FOCUS ON HELPING ALL KINDS OF RESIDENTS. IN SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON HELPING TENANTS AND RENTERS STAY HOUSED. WE HAVE CERTIFIED FAIR HOUSING COUNSELORS THAT HELP MEDIATE TENANT LANDLORD ISSUES. WE HAVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS AIMS AT [00:35:01] HOMEOWNERS AND KEEPING THEM IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THEY ALREADY LIVE IN. WE HAVE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS AIMED AT HELPING PEOPLE REHAB THEIR EXISTING HOMES. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS WHERE WE UTILIZE PARTNERSHIPS 'CAUSE THOSE ARE KEY TO HELPING US ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGES. THESE PROGRAMS ARE THE ADMINISTERING OUR VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO HELP OTHER ENTITIES BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING ALL OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS, OUR HUD GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE AS AN ENTITLEMENT CITY, WHICH ARE UTILIZED TO FUND ALL OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND MANY OF OUR HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS AS WELL. AND THEN OUR TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE $150 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, WHICH IS APPROVED BY VOTERS A YEAR AGO. ALL OF OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN FOUNDATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION EFFORTS. SO THE FIRST THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS OUR HOUSING ACCESS AND STABILITY TEAM. THIS TEAM IS VERY CRITICAL IN HELPING RESIDENTS DURING MOMENTS OF CRISIS AND REALLY VULNERABLE TIMES IN THEIR LIVES. WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON HELPING PEOPLE AVOID THE EVICTION PROCESS AND STAY HOUSED WHEN A FAMILY IS FACING A POTENTIAL EVICTION. THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE IN GREAT TIME OF NEED. SO WE CAN HELP THEM IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. WE HELP THEM FIND NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR RELOCATION PROGRAM CAN HELP THEM WITH MOVING INTO THAT NEW HOUSING, HELPING THEM WITH SECURITY DEPOSITS, TEMPORARY LODGING IF NEEDED, TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN GETTING INTO THAT NEW UNIT. WE ALSO HAVE A, WHAT WE CALL A COURTS TEAM THAT FOCUSES STRICTLY ON EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES IN OUR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS. THIS TEAM IS PRESENT AT EVERY SINGLE EVICTION COURT HEARING TO CONNECT LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN CRISIS WITH RESOURCES INCLUDING FREE LEGAL AID SUPPORT. COLLECTIVELY, OUR EVICTION PREVENTION AND RELOCATION BUDGET IS PROPOSED AT $5.8 MILLION NEXT YEAR. OUR TEAM ALSO HAS AN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER PROVIDING FAMILIES UP TO THREE MONTHS OF RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM STAY IN THEIR CURRENT HOUSING. WE'VE HAD THREE SEPARATE ROUNDS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION PERIODS THIS YEAR, AND SO WE ARE HAVE FUNDING IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO CONTINUE THIS EFFORT. $3.2 MILLION IS PROPOSED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT WE ALSO CONTINUE TO HAVE FEDERAL FUNDS IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WAS REALLOCATED TO SAN ANTONIO FROM OTHER CITIES. AND WE CAN EXPECT TO HAVE AT LEAST $4 MILLION REMAINING FROM OUR A FUNDS GOING INTO NEXT YEAR TO HELP BOOST OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE BUDGET TO AT LEAST $7.2 MILLION. WE ALSO OFFER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO HELP FAMILIES QUALIFY AND BUY THEIR FIRST HOME. THIS RENT, THIS UH, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED TO FAMILIES MAKING UP TO 120% OF THE AREA MEET AND INCOME. SO IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S A THREE PERSON HOUSEHOLD MAKING UP TO $95,000. IT'S A HIGHER INCOME PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO DUAL INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE IN A WIDE RANGE OF, UM, JOBS. SO THIS PROGRAM CAN OFFER UP TO $30,000 IN A FORGIVABLE LOAN, WHICH IS FOR FORGIVEN OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD. AND NEXT YEAR WE HAVE $1.5 MILLION IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO REALLY HELP ENCOURAGE FAMILIES INTO THE HOME OWNERSHIP. SPEAKING OF HOMEOWNERS, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS WHICH HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR CURRENT HOMES. ONE OF OUR LARGEST PROGRAMS IS MAJOR REHAB, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL HOMES IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE IN SERIOUS NEED OF MAJOR REPAIR IN ORDER TO AVOID THE DEMOLITION PROCESS. SO WE HAVE NEXT YEAR, $10.8 MILLION TO HELP WITH MAJOR REHAB. THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM NEW ROOFS, FOUNDATION WORK, UPGRADING ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, YOU NAME IT, WE DO IT INCLUDING COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF A HOUSE IN SOME DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES THIS YEAR. UH, WE REALLY FOCUSED ON GOING BEYOND WHAT IS JUST THE HOME NEED, BUT REALLY ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT DOES THE FAMILY NEED. AND WE HIRED TWO FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKERS THAT ARE PART OF OUR TEAM NOW, AND THEY WORK WITH ALL OF OUR MAJOR REHAB RESIDENTS TO HELP CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN DURING THE HOME REHAB PROCESS AND WHAT ELSE DO THEY NEED IN ORDER TO HELP CONTINUE UPKEEP OF THEIR HOME. SPEAKING OF THAT, THIS YEAR WE ALSO STARTED OFFERING ALL OF OUR MAJOR REHAB CLIENTS, UH, HOMEOWNER MAINTENANCE CLASSES. WE FOUND THAT JUST BECAUSE WE REHABBED THE HOME, DID A QUICK ONE HOUR WALKTHROUGH WITH THEM AND TALKED ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S REALLY A MOMENT OF LIKE, WOW, NOW I HAVE HVAC LOOK, I LOVE THAT PAINT COLOR. GLAD I WENT WITH IT. UM, AND SO THERE'S A LOT THAT THEY'VE TAKEN AT THAT TIME. SO WE ALSO NOW HAVE A FOUR HOUR CLASS FOR ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNERS SO THEY CAN GET THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IT'S DONE IN PARTNERSHIP [00:40:01] WITH LISC AND WE GO OVER EVERYTHING ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THAT NEW HVAC SYSTEM, HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR FOUNDATION ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A WILL OR A SOME SORT OF DOCUMENT SO YOU CAN LEAVE THAT, PASS THAT ASSET ON TO SOMEONE ELSE AS WELL AS FINANCIAL COUNSELING. SO HELPING THEM BUDGET FOR THOSE FUTURE REPAIRS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THE HOME. SO ALL THAT IS A NEW SERVICE THAT WE STARTED OFFERING THIS YEAR, AND WE'VE HELPED OVER 70 FAMILIES HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THOSE CLASSES AND WE JUST STARTED THEM THIS SPRING. WE'LL BE SURE TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT NEXT YEAR. ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT STARTED AS A PILOT THIS PAST YEAR WAS OPERATION REBUILD. SO THESE ARE FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE ALREADY HAVE A DEMOLITION ORDER ON THEIR HOME OR THEY'VE BEEN DEEMED A DANGEROUS STRUCTURE. SO, UH, WE ARE PROPOSED TO CONTINUE ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM, MAKING AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN ANTONIO AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH A MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR HOUSING BOND, WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP FAMILIES AVOID THE DEMOLITION PROCESS. WE ALSO FIND A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS WANT TO UTILIZE OUR HOME REHAB PROGRAMS, BUT THEY MAY HAVE A TITLE ISSUE. PERHAPS THEY'VE INHERITED THE HOME FROM A FAMILY MEMBER, COULD HAVE BEEN DONE GENERATIONS AGO AND THAT LEGAL WORK WAS NEVER DONE TO PROPERLY DEEDED OVER THE HOME. SO WE'LL CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN THIS WORK, SUCH AS THE MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER PARTNERS THIS YEAR AS WELL. WE HAVE A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, UM, SABOR SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS AND SOME OTHER NEW CREATIVE PARTNERS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER THESE TITLE CLEARANCE SERVICES SO HOMEOWNERS CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR HOME REHAB PROGRAMS. SOMETHING I WANNA SPEND JUST A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT IS OUR MINOR REHAB PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY FUNDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AT $8 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES BOTH OUR UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM AS WELL AS OUR MINOR REHAB. SO FOR MINOR REHAB, WE CAN DO UP TO $25,000 OF IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR HOME, AND IT'S DONE IN THE FORM OF A FIVE OR 10 YEAR FORGIVABLE LOAN. DEPENDING ON OUR LEVEL OF INVESTMENT, THEY HAVE TO HAVE CLEAR TITLE AND WE DO EVERYTHING FROM UPGRADING ELECTRICAL, INSTALLING A WATER HEATER, MAKING SMALLER IMPROVEMENTS, THAT REALLY HELPS THE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THESE SMALL THINGS SO THAT THEIR HOME DOESN'T GO INTO FURTHER DECLINE. SO WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY FAMILIES WHO NEED THESE SMALL REPAIRS, BUT THEY CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THEIR PROGRAM OR WAITING LIST IS REALLY LONG. SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES WHO HAVE LIENS OR JUDGEMENTS LESS THAN $5,000 WILL NOT BE DISQUALIFIED FROM PARTICIPATING. WE ALSO ARE PILOTING A NEW GOOD NEIGHBOR GRANT, SO IT'S NOT A NEW FUNDING ASK, IT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE MINOR REHAB BUDGET. SO WE'RE POSING TO TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR EXISTING FUND AND UTILIZING IT FOR THIS NEW GRANT, WHICH YOU PROVIDED TO FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN HIGH EQUITY AREAS, SENIORS, FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES, OR SOME A FAMILY WHO'S A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD. SO THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY GEARED TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO JUST NEED THOSE REALLY SMALL REPAIRS. THESE WILL BE FOCUSED ON HELPING FAMILIES WITH CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES, HEALTH, SAFETY, OR OTHER ACCESSIBLE ISSUES. ELIGIBLE REPAIRS COULD INCLUDE INSTALLING A NEW A D A RAMP SO THEY CAN BETTER GET INTO THEIR HOME OR, UH, DRESSING, UH, REPAIRING A BROKEN FENCE SO THAT THEIR ANIMALS DON'T GO ROAMING IN THE STREETS. SO ALL OF THIS IS PROPOSED AS PART OF THIS NEW EFFORT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS EARLIER THIS MONTH APPROVED A PARTNERSHIP WITH C P SS ENERGY, WHERE ALSO THROUGH OUR CURRENT MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM, WE ARE FUNDING C P S ENERGY $500,000 THIS YEAR TO HELP WITH MINOR REPAIRS TO HOMES, JUST LIKE I DESCRIBED, SO THAT THOSE HOMEOWNERS AREN'T DISQUALIFIED FROM USING THEIR COST OF THEIR WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENTS. SO THE FUNDING GOES TO C P S ENERGY, THEY FIND A HOMEOWNER WHO JUST NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF REPAIR AND THEY MAKE THOSE REPAIRS AND THEN PROCEED THROUGH THE COST OF OTHER WEATHERIZATION. SO WE EXPECT THAT TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP TO PROPOSE NEXT YEAR. A MILLION DOLLARS IS BUDGETED FROM THE REESE FUND TO CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH C P SS ENERGY SO THEY CAN MAKE THOSE WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENTS. IT'S STUCK, PLEASE. THANK YOU. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT MEET ALL OF OUR CITY HOUSING GOALS ON OUR CITY INVESTMENT ALONE. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO HELP BUILD NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES. WE HAVE OUR CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, WHICH IS $2.5 MILLION THIS YEAR THAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, HISTORIC REHAB PROJECTS THAT'S ADMINISTERED BY OUR DEPARTMENT. THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM IS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES LOOKING TO EXPAND OR NEW TARGETED BUSINESSES COMING TO OUR CITY THAT'S ADMINISTERED THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OUR TEAM ALSO OVERSEES THE INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS [00:45:01] DEVELOPMENT IN INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS WITH PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR INFO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO IT'S A FLEXIBLE TOOL WE CAN USE TO HELP CERTAIN PROJECTS FILL A GAP OR, OR MEET A NEED SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT PROJECT CAN HAPPEN. ALSO, OUR TEAM OVERSEES OUR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PROGRAM, WHICH USES TAX INCREMENT FROM NEW PROJECTS TO HELP CONTINUE ONGOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT HOUSING AND REVITALIZATION IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. OUR TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 24 DIFFERENT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS IN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND THE UTILIZATION OF TIF AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION TOOL HAS REALLY GROWN IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. SO YOU'RE PROPOSING TO RIGHT SIZE THAT TEAM BY ADDING TWO NEW POSITIONS, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH TIF REVENUES, AND THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE CONTRACT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE, UH, CLOSELY ADHERED TO. SO I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE WORK OF OUR CITY STAFF, OUR DEPARTMENT, AND ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO BE A EMPLOYER OF CHOICE AND KEEP OUR TALENTED CITY TEAM MEMBERS HERE. SO ONE PROGRAM THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OFFERS IS A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR CITY FULL-TIME STAFF. THIS BUDGET IMPROVEMENTS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL REGULARS, BUT THIS YEAR WE WERE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN INCREASE THE MAXIMUM DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEE HOME BUYERS, FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS FROM $20,000 TO $40,000. WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING TO INCREASE THAT LOAN FORGIVENESS PERIOD FROM FIVE YEARS TO 10 YEARS, WHICH WILL REALLY HELP ENCOURAGE OUR EMPLOYEES TO KEEP WORKING WITH OUR CITY TEAM. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO BOTH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING OUR CITY, UNIFORMED FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR FULL-TIME CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERS SIGNED AND ADMINISTERING OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND, WHICH IS $150 MILLION. WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD THIS YEAR TO GET THAT HOUSING BOND FUNDS AND LEVERAGE THE HOUSING BOND WITH OUR FEDERAL FUNDS AND GET THAT FUNDING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE'VE ADMINISTERED THREE SEPARATE FUNDING ROUNDS THIS YEAR AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'VE AWARDED FUNDING TO 30 PROJECTS TOTALING $81 MILLION IN BOND FUNDS AND $18 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS. COLLECTIVELY, THESE PROJECTS WILL PRODUCE OR PRESERVE OVER 4,800 UNITS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHERE THE PROJECTS AT, RIGHT? WHERE ARE THESE 30 PROJECTS? WELL, WE HAVE 11 PROJECTS THAT WERE RENTAL REHAB PROJECTS, AND THEY ARE ALL GOING THROUGH VARIOUS STAGES OF CLOSING AND FINALIZING. SO THOSE ARE IN PROGRESS OF OUR 11 NEW RENTAL PRODUCTION PROJECTS. THREE ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION OF OUR TWO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECTS. ONE OF THOSE IS ALREADY CONSTRUCTION AND THE COUNTY IS FINALIZING THEIR FUNDING FOR A THIRD P S H PROJECT. AND THEN OF OUR SIX NEW HOME OWNERSHIP PROJECTS, ONE OF THOSE IS ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION. SO YOU CAN SEE OUR GOAL IS TO GET WITH WITH YOUR DIRECTION. OUR GOAL IS TO GET THAT FUNDING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AND WE ALREADY HAVE FIVE PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ADDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS WE TRANSITION FROM A MOMENT OF IDENTIFYING PROJECTS AND DISTRIBUTING FUNDING AND TRANSITION TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT AND MAKING SURE THESE PROJECTS GET BUILT, WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD THREE POSITIONS TO OUR HOUSING BOND TEAM TO HELP BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. AND ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE FOCUSED ON HELPING GET INFORMATION INTO THE PUBLIC ON WHERE WE AT WITH THE HOUSING BOND, AND SO PEOPLE CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING. SO ONE ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT UP MANY TIMES IN ALL OF THE TOWN HALLS AND THE BUDGET SURVEY, WE'VE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE VERY FOCUSED ON HELPING TO SEE HOW THEY CAN ADDRESS AND COMBAT RISING PROPERTY TAXES. AND THIS PAST IT'S ALSO A SHIP STRATEGY FOR OUR TEAM TO HELP EMPOWER RESIDENTS WITH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS PAST JUNE DOUBLED THE CITY'S HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION RATE FROM 10% PERCENT TO THE STATE'S MAXIMUM ALLOWED RATE OF 20%. SO THIS MEANS HOMEOWNERS CAN SAVE MORE ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THEY MUST HAVE THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON FILE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THAT. SO OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS, THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH SAN ANTONIO LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION, TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID AND BEXAR COUNTY TO HOST OVER A DOZEN SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO HELP SAN ANTONIO HOMEOWNERS GET ANY EXEMPTIONS FOR WHICH THEY QUALIFY AND LEARN ABOUT HOW TO PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. THE OUR OFFERING DIRECT SERVICES ON SITE AT EVERY SINGLE SESSION, AND THIS IS WITH TRAINED [00:50:01] VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP FAMILIES FILL OUT ALL OF THE PAPERWORK AND FILE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COUNTY SO THEY CAN KNOW THAT THAT EXEMPTION WILL BE RECORDED. WE ALSO HAVE SPANISH AND A S L INTERPRETATION SERVICES AVAILABLE AT EVERY SINGLE SESSION. WE HAVE A LOT OF MATERIALS INCLUDING VIDEOS AVAILABLE ONLINE, IF CASE YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO A SESSION. AND WE HAD A STRONG MAILING CAMPAIGN WITH POSTCARDS AND DOOR HANGERS, MAKING SURE PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF, OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. AND THE INFORMATION WAS ALSO DISTRIBUTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND THE, UM, RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY STRONG. WE'VE ALREADY HELPED OVER 1400 PEOPLE WHO'VE ATTENDED SESSIONS. WE'VE HELPED ALMOST 400 HOMEOWNERS FILE FOR NEW EXEMPTIONS ONSITE AT EACH OF THESE SESSIONS. AND WE, UM, CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE SESSIONS. WE'RE DONE, NOT DONE YET. WE HAVE OUR NEXT SESSION ON MONDAY AT SOUTH SAN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN ANOTHER SESSION IN SEPTEMBER ON A SATURDAY MORNING. UM, SO THIS IS ALREADY FUNDED AND IT'S WILL BE AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN NEXT YEAR AT $250,000. SO WE'LL CONTINUE THIS EFFORT, ADD MORE VIDEOS, AND WE WILL BE WORKING NEXT YEAR, UM, AS A REQUEST FROM THE COMMUNITY AND SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON ADDING SATELLITE LOCATIONS AND LOOKING FOR PARTNERS TO HELP US OFFER THE SERVICES TO HELP HOMEOWNERS FILE FOR EXEMPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OOPS. SO ON THE SUCCESS OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, WE FIND THAT ONCE THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE, THERE IS A VERY STRONG RESPONSE AND THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED FOR THOSE SERVICES. SO A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IS A PRIORITY BUDGET STRATEGY. RESIDENTS WANNA KNOW ALL ABOUT THESE RESOURCES, AND WE CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT OUR SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND REFLECT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS. SO WE'LL ALWAYS BE CHANGING AND ADAPTING. SO AS OUTLINED IN THE SHIP, A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IS NEEDED TO CREATE CITYWIDE AWARENESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, WE WILL ALSO CREATE AWARENESS OF OUR HOMELESS PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND HOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A KEY COMPONENT TO THAT EFFORT. THE GOALS WITH THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO INCREASE, INCREASE ACCESS TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RESOURCES. WE WILL ALSO BE EXPANDING ON OUR TENANTS RIGHTS EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, MAKING SURE BOTH PROPERTY MANAGERS AND TENANTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND OUR EXISTING REGULATIONS. WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SHIP PARTNERS AND ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN ALL AREAS OF OUR CITY. SO THIS IS A NEW IMPROVEMENT PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR AT $250,000. ALL OF OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH, AND FOR OUR TEAM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS CENTERED STRONGLY ON MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. WE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING HOW TO BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS AND DELIVER CITY SERVICES BY CONNECTING DIRECTLY AND OFTEN WITH THOSE THAT WE SERVE. WE'VE WORKED TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMS AND WITH OUR PUBLIC FACING MATERIALS, WE'VE ALSO REMAINED COMMITTED TO KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED ABOUT PROGRESS ON OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. OUR WORK BEHIND THE SCENES WE KNOW HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES, AND WE USE THAT SENSE OF URGENCY EVERY DAY IN OUR EFFORTS WHEN WE'RE BUILDING A HOME, CONNECTING FAMILIES TO A NEW HOME, PRESERVING AN EXISTING HOME, OR PROVIDING SERVICES THAT SUPPORT SOMEONE STAYING HOUSED. ALL OF THAT WORK IMPACTS EVERYBODY'S IN SAN ANTONIO. WE KNOW THAT WHEN A FAMILY HAS STABLE HOUSING, THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR OTHER NEEDS, SUCH AS JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER. THEY CAN ALSO FOCUS ON THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND OTHER SERVICES. SO ON THAT NOTE, I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE CLAUDE JACOBS, THE DIRECTOR OF OUR METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SO HE CAN TALK ABOUT HIS TEAM'S EFFORTS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, VERONICA. GOOD MORNING, CLAUDE JACOB, REPRESENTING THE FANTASTIC TEAM AT METRO HEALTH. SO THANK YOU MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE F Y 24 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR METRO HEALTH. I'M JOINED BY MEMBERS OF MY LEADERSHIP TEAM, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM UT HEALTH TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOLLOWING MY FORMAL PRESENTATION. THE BUDGET ITSELF REPRESENTS THE CITY'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE, UH, TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY TO MODERNIZE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE PICTURES SHOWN HERE ARE JUST A FEW ILLUSTRATIONS OF OUR TEAM IN ACTION WHILE WE ADJUST TO A NEW NORMAL, UH, RESULTING FROM THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC. THE F Y 24 BUDGET ANCHORS THE DEPARTMENT'S REGULATORY FUNCTIONS ALIGNS WITH PRIORITIES OF OUR ESSAY FORWARD PLAN, AND ACCELERATES THE GLIDE PATH TOWARDS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, RE-ACCREDITATION EXPECTED BY 2025. SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT THROUGH THIS ODYSSEY. I WOULD ALSO ADD A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS TO OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS ON THE GROUND. AND, UH, [00:55:01] TO BE REMISS, A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR FANTASTIC AND RESILIENT TEAM AT METRO HEALTH WHO HELPED TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION POSSIBLE. SO IN BROAD STROKES, TODAY'S PRESENTATION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED F Y 24 BUDGET. I'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF ORIENTATION TO THE FUNCTIONS SPEARHEADED BY OUR DEPARTMENT THAT ADDRESS THE CONDITIONS WHERE ALL CAN BE HEALTHY. THIS WILL INCLUDE A QUICK PREVIEW OF OUR METRO HEALTH 2.0 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH HELPS TO ENSURE THE SYNERGIES WITHIN OUR AGENCY AS WE PREPARE TO SERVE AS A 21ST CENTURY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL FEATURE THE PROGRESS TO DATE REGARDING THE S A FORD PLAN THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN APRIL OF 2022. AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE TARGETS AND INITIATIVES TAKING PLACE OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND THE INVESTMENT IN OUR TB PROGRAM AND OUR ONGOING JOURNEY TO BECOME AN ACADEMIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO, UM, OUR F Y I, OUR PROPOSED F Y 24 OPERATING BUDGET IS, UH, UH, UH, AMOUNTS TO, UH, $103 MILLION. IT'S BROKEN OUT IN, UH, SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF $43.6 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 25.9% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. UH, THIS ACCOUNTS FOR, UH, 307 GENERAL FUNDED POSITIONS AND THE SUPPORT TO COMPLIMENT TO THAT, IT'S THE EXTERNAL GRANTS, UH, BROKEN OUT IN TWO DOMAINS. UM, THIS ACCOUNTS FOR, UH, 333 GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS, ALONG WITH 12 POSITIONS ANCHORED TO OUR APA FUNDING. THE TOTAL POSITIONS REQUESTED FOR F Y 24 IS 652. UM, AND THAT REFLECTS A NET OF SIX ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO SUPPORT OUR TB PROGRAM. AGAIN, A CORE REGULATORY FUNCTION OF OUR DEPARTMENT. SO, IN BROAD STROKES, THIS IS, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE THREE PSS OF OUR WORK, UH, THAT COMPROMISE, UH, THAT COMPROMISE OUR WORK MADE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE INTERNAL COLLABORATIONS AND MULTI-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALLOW US TO FULFILL OUR MISSION WHEREBY WE PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE OR INJURY, PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES, AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE CATEGORIES, AND THESE THREE PS DESCRIBE VERY BROADLY. BUT THE NEXT SET OF SLIDES WILL, UH, FOCUS ON CERTAIN AREAS AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. SO OUR WORK AROUND PREVENTING DISEASES THROUGH IMMUNIZATIONS, TESTING, AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES. OUR INVESTMENT IN ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS, UH, OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGH ACCESS, AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE CARE AND RESOURCES, OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS, UH, HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIVING AND EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN PART AND PARCEL TO OUR WORK IN PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THE BROADER ENVIRONMENT. SO, METRO HEALTH 2.0, UH, COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU, THIS PLAN WAS CATALYZED BY FEDERAL GRANT THAT IS HELPING TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OR OUR ESSAY FORWARD PLAN WHILE SHORING UP OUR AGENCY'S CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES. UH, THIS PLAN SERVES AS AN ANCHOR TO EXISTING DEPARTMENTAL PLANS SUCH AS OUR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, OUR ESSAY FORWARD PLAN, OUR HEALTH EQUITY ACTION PLAN, AND IT ALIGNS WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN REQUIRED FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION. UH, MANY OF THESE PLANS ARE REQUIRED AND IN ADDITION, UM, THIS, UH, GRANT, UH, WE RECEIVED FUNDING THIS PAST DECEMBER IN, UH, THE AMOUNT OF $25.5 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. WE ARE ONE OF 107 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT HAS RECEIVED THIS FUNDING. UH, THIS PLAN IS THE COMPLIMENT TO THE NATIONAL BLUEPRINT THAT WAS RELEASED BY THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER, UM, CALLED PUBLIC HEALTH FORWARD. UM, THE MAYOR, UH, SERVED ON THE NATIONAL ADVISORY, UH, THAT OF ELECTED, UH, OFFICIALS THAT HELPED TO PUT THAT PLAN THE FED TOGETHER. I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE COMMUNITY OF HEALTH DIRECTORS, UM, WHO AGAIN HELPED TO SHAPE THIS PLAN. UH, IT WAS RELEASED DURING COVID, SO MOST FOLKS ARE NOW UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLIMENT TO THAT. IT'S THE FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. UM, THIS PLAN ALSO ACCELERATES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SA FORWARD, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT FOR CONTINUING ACCREDITATION, WHICH WE EXPECT BY 2025. I DO HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THAT NATIONAL BOARD THAT ACCREDITS ALL LOCAL TRIBAL STATE AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FROM COAST TO COAST. UH, THE LAST LATEST UPDATE IS THAT THE C D C DID NOTIFY US EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THIS FUNDING, UH, WILL INCREASE BY NEARLY $750,000. UM, UH, IN THIS SECOND YEAR, UH, THIS WILL BE USED TO SHORE UP OUR EPI, UH, SURVEILLANCE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VERY TIMELY AS WE CONTINUE TO ENHANCE CAPABILITIES AT OUR DEPARTMENT. SO TO, UM, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, PS PREVENT OUR PREVENTION EFFORTS, OUR PROMOTION EFFORTS AND EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. SO ON THIS SLIDE, UH, IT REFLECTS A DYAD, UH, THAT LOOKS AT THE INVESTMENT FOR, UH, IN, UH, MANAGING DISEASE OUTBREAKS AS WELL AS, UH, MANAGING CONDITIONS, UH, CHRONIC CONDITIONS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THE ANCHOR HERE, THE WORK, UH, LED BY, UH, DR. ANITA CURIAN AND OUR AL DISEASE DIVISION, UH, PROTECTS THE PUBLIC FROM THE SPREAD OF COMMUNICAL DISEASES. [01:00:01] UM, THIS DIVISION INCLUDES OUR COVID RESPONSE EFFORTS, OUR, UH, SEXUALLY TRANS INFECTIONS PREVENTION EFFORTS, OUR TUBERCULOSIS, UM, UH, EDUCATION AND CONTROL, OUR IMMUNIZATIONS AND OUR LAB SERVICES, UM, AND OUR DISEASE DETECTIVES OF RECORD. OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE ANCHORED IN THIS DIVISION. UM, THIS UNIT SERVED AS THE ANCHOR DURING OUR C OVID 19 RESPONSE EFFORTS, UH, WHICH HAD BEEN AND REMAINS A HERCULEAN TASK AS WE ARE DEALING WITH A MORE ENDEMIC STATE OF THIS GLOBAL DISRUPTION. UM, ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ONGOING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, REPORTING AND TRACKING OF COMMUNICAL DISEASES NOTIFICATION RESPONSE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF OUTBREAKS. THE COMPLIMENT. UH, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPLIMENT OF THESE, UH, THE CHRONIC DISEASE LISTINGS, UM, THIS IS THE SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMMING TO MITIGATE THE BURDEN OF CHRONIC DISEASES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS ARE HOW HOUSED IN A DIFFERENT DIVISION WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, THE, THE VISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY. THESE PROGRAMS WORK TO PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASES BY PROMOTING GOOD NUTRITION, REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS SERVICES TO PROMOTE WELLNESS. JUST KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLAY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THE WORK, UH, UH, THE, THE COMPLIMENT HERE IS TO, UH, AGAIN, LOOK AT THE DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL THE WORK OF OUR COMMUNICAL DISEASES PROVISION. UM, DIVISION ACCOUNTS FOR $27 MILLION OR ABOUT A QUARTER OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET. UH, THE SUPPORT OF OUR POPULATION HEALTH EFFORTS HELP TO IMPROVE THE ACCESS TO SERVICES, AS WELL AS PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION OR ABOUT 30% OF OUR PROPOSED F Y 24 OPERATING BUDGET. SO THIS IS A QUICK SNAPSHOT, A VERY SHORT LIST OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES ANCHORED TO THE WORK, UH, UH, SUPPORTED BY ABOUT 175 STAFF AT OUR DEPARTMENT. SO WE TRACK 32 PERFORMANCE MEASURES SPECIFIC TO THIS PORTFOLIO AND A BROAD, UH, MORE ROBUST SET OF METRICS. THE WORK OF THIS DIVISION, THE CHEMICAL DISEASE DIVISION, UH, REQUIRES KEEPING TRACK OF OVER 70 REPORTABLE CONDITIONS. THE F Y 24 OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDES, UM, UH, UM, A TARGET INCLUDES 150,000 INFECTIOUS DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS BY OUR STAFF, 140,000 LAB TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED BY OUR DEPARTMENT AND ADMINISTERING 10,000 VACCINES TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN. I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT, UM, AGAIN, F Y 22 ACTUALS REFLECT THE VOLUME OF COVID CASE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE PEAKS OF THE PANDEMIC. WE STILL TRACK THOSE REPORTED, UH, TO OUR DEPARTMENT AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS. WE'RE AVERAGING TWO OR 300 CASES REPORTED, UM, EACH DAY OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. UM, AND AGAIN, THIS, UH, NOT AN UNUSUAL, UH, PATTERN GIVEN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WE'VE WITNESSED EACH OF THE LAST FOUR SUMMERS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE LION'S SHARE OF, UH, COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST THE FIRST ROUND OF C OVID 19 VACCINES, AND WE HAVE NOW ACCESS TO THERAPEUTICS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE VIRUS. WE STAY ON MESSAGE ABOUT VACCINE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND REMAIN VIGILANT AS WE MONITOR EMERGING STRAINS OF THIS VIRUS, THE LATEST BEING BA 0.2, POINT 86. SO OUR POPULATION HEALTH EFFORTS, AGAIN, THIS REFLECTS A ROBUST INVESTMENT BY THE CITY AND THE SUPPORT MADE AVAILABLE BY EXTERNAL FUNDING. OUR POPULATION HEALTH FOR HEALTH EFFORTS ARE ANCHORED TO THE DIVISION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY LED BY ASSISTANT, UH, DIRECTOR, MARJORIE WHITE. UM, THIS PROMOTES HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, NOT JUST THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, BUT THROUGH POLICY SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES, UH, THAT HAVE A POPULATION LEVEL IMPACT. UM, THIS DIVISION WORKS WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT SELF-SUFFICIENCY, IMPROVE WELLNESS, INCREASE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND ACHIEVE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AS WE PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES AND MAKE THE HEALTHY CHOICE THE EASY CHOICE, IMPROVING ACCESS, PROMOTING SAFETY, HEALTHY EATING, AND ACTIVE LIVING. OUR KEY PILLARS OF THE WORK OF THIS DIVISION, THE PROPOSED F Y I 24 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE WORK OF THIS DIVISION IS 31.4 MILLION AND ACCOUNTS FOR 280 STAFF. THIS DIVISION INCLUDES THE CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAMMING, OUR OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY, OUR MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. I'LL HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THESE PRIORITY AREAS AS PART OF OUR S A FORWARD PLAN AS WE'RE NOW IN YEAR TWO. SO WITH THAT, UH, THE WORK OF ITS DIVISION IS SUPPORTED BY A MIX OF EXTERNAL GRANTS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL FUND. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT. A FEW MEASURES USED TO TRACK OUR PERFORMANCE, UH, ACROSS A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. WE KEEP TRACK OF 52 PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO GUIDE OUR WORK, UH, CURRENT F UM, FOR F Y 23 AND PRIOR, UH, THE STANDUP PROGRAM OPERATED SOLELY ON REFERRALS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS WE'RE WORKING IN. THE COMMUNITY WAS OUR GUIDE IN DETERMINING WHERE INCIDENTS ARE AND WHERE WE SHOULD PLACE OUR FOCUS. UM, OUR TARGET FOR F Y 24 IS, UH, 70% TO ADDRESS, UH, ANTICIPATED CHANGES ATTRIBUTED TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS. UM, WE'RE NOW RECEIVING, UH, UH, DATA FROM S A P D, WHICH EXPANDS OUR, UH, CAPABILITIES TO ANALYZE AND CONFIRM WHAT THE TEAM IS HEARING ON THE GROUND, INCREASE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE INCIDENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON OUR RADAR, AND ALLOWS US TO STRATEGICALLY [01:05:01] ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT, UH, TO TARGET ZONES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED. WE HAVE TWO TEAMS NOW ON THE EAST AND THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY, AND JUST KNOW THAT, UM, IF A CHANGE IN TARGET ZONE IS NEEDED, THE TEAM WILL NEED TO ENGAGE TIME TO ENGAGE AND BUILD RAPPORT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS TO FOSTER TRUST IN ORDER, UH, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MEMBERS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH SENDING REFERRALS TO OUR STANDUP TEAM. JUST KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAVE A ROBUST INVESTMENT IN OUR, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS. UM, THIS PAST, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR HAS ALLOWED US TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO AVOID REDUNDANCIES AND SERVICES, BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THAT ALL CASES RECEIVE A RESPONSE. UM, EXAMPLES INCLUDE IN, UH, WORKING WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S ADVOCATES, THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES, BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER, UH, WHERE WE ENSURE THAT CLIENTS REFERRED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE WORKING WITH ONE OF OUR AGENCIES. UM, IF A REFERRAL COMES IN, BUT THE CLIENT HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE PROVIDE WOMEN'S SHELTER, THEN WE DON'T PROVIDE SERVICES, UH, BECAUSE IT WILL BE RECEIVED AT THE SHELTER. IF THE CLIENT NEEDS AN EMERGENCY HOTEL SH STAY FOR NIGHT BEFORE ADMISSION TO THE SHELTER, THEN OUR PROGRAM WILL ASSIST AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION. SO OUR TARGETS FOR, UM, UH, F Y 24 ARE PROJECTING TO SERVE ABOUT 4,500 CLIENTS, WHICH WILL BE INCLUSIVE OF CLIENTS BEING SERVED THROUGH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT AND REPEATED CRISIS ADVOCATE SERVICES. SO, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. UM, I'M, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE INVESTED, UH, ROBUSTLY IN THIS, UH, THIS AREA. UH, WE HIRED OUR INAUGURAL CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER, JESSE HIGGINS. UH, IN THE PREVIOUS, UH, FISCAL YEAR, JESSE, UH, WORKS ON COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS TO BRING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND ASPECTS OF REDUCING COMMUNITY STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH TO THE FOREFRONT. UH, WORKING IN CLOSE CONCERT WITH MANY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. UH, THIS UNIT WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE WORK. UH, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS A LONGER LIST OF PARTNERS AND EFFORTS. UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS DIVISION OVERSEES, UH, ROBUST PORTFOLIO OF $18 MILLION IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACTS. THE CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH THE MOBILE MENTAL WELLNESS COLLABORATIVE, WHICH EXPAND ACCESS TO SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN AREAS OF HIGHER NEED. WE HAVE A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, WHICH IS LEADING THE CITY'S DEPARTMENTS IN GETTING TRAUMA-INFORMED CERTIFICATION LEVEL ONE, UH, WHEN WE INVESTMENTS INCLUDE THE EXPANSION OF PROJECT WORTH AND DREAM SA. AND CLEARLY THIS WORK HAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF COLLABORATIONS WITH S A P D, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, RAC, AND THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES. SO, THE THIRD P, UM, PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. SO, WHAT YOU SEE HERE WITH REGARDS TO STRATEGIES FOR ENVIR ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND REGULATORY FUNCTIONS, THIS IS ALL ABOUT PROTECTING THE WELLBEING OF RESIDENTS. UH, THIS UNIT IS, UM, THIS DIVISION IS LED BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARIO MARTINEZ, AND HELPS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AGAINST HEALTH HAZARDS AND OVERSEE OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CROSS-CUTTING FUNCTIONS REFLECTED HERE. THE PROPOSED F Y 24 OPERATING BUDGET IS, UH, 70 HALF, $17.5 MILLION TO SUPPORT ABOUT 140 STAFF. THIS INCLUDES A MIX OF EXTERNAL GRANTS, AS WELL AS A GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT, UH, FOR FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS, VECTOR CONTROL, PUBLIC HEALTH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND THAT PLANNING FUNCTION, AIR QUALITY, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AS WELL AS IT ANCHORS OUR WORK AROUND NATIONAL ACCREDITATION AND RE-ACCREDITATION, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, SERVES AS THE ANCHOR FOR OUR C D C WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ROLE. SO, WITH THAT AND A QUICK SNAPSHOT, UH, FOR THE WORK LED BY THIS DIVISION, WE KEEP TRACK OF 28 PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF BROADER LIST TO GUIDE OUR WORK. F Y 24 TARGETS DEMONSTRATED OUR DEMONSTRATE, OUR CONTINUED PUSH TO THE ASSURE TO ASSURE THE CONDITIONS WHERE ALL CAN BE HEALTHY IN OUR JURISDICTION. FOR F Y 24 FOOD INSPECTIONS ARE AIMING FOR 96% FOOD INSPECTIONS FOR, UH, MEDIUM AND HIGH RISK FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS. WE'RE AIMING TO HAVE 93% OF ESTABLISHMENTS TO SCORE IN A ON INSPECTION REPORTS, AS WELL AS COLLECTING, UH, 1500 MOSQUITO SAMPLES TO TEST FOR WEST NILE VIRUS AND OTHER VECTOR-BORNE ILLNESSES. SO, TO PIVOT, TO ESSAY FORWARD, UM, FOR F Y 24 ESSAY FORWARD WILL, UH, CONSTITUTE ABOUT 23% OF THE DEPARTMENT'S TOTAL, UH, PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET, OR 22 POINT, UH, $6 MILLION OTHER DEPARTMENT SERVICES EQUAL. UH, AGAIN, UM, UH, 75, NEARLY $78 MILLION OF THE TOTAL BUDGET. UM, UH, THIS CLEARLY GOING INTO YEAR THREE, UH, THIS ALLOWS US TO FULLY TRANSITION, UM, TO THE GENERAL FUND BY YEAR FIVE. UM, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THIS DEMONSTRATES THE PIVOT THROUGH COVID. UM, AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE SUPPORT BY, UH, THIS ELECTED BODY, BY THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM, AS WELL AS [01:10:01] THE ADVANTAGE, UH, THAT WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SOME EXTERNAL RUNS TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN. SO, FOR F Y 24 SPECIFICALLY, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT $3.2 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR YEAR THREE THAT SUPPORTS SIX TO EIGHT POSITIONS, UM, FROM GRANTS THAT WILL CONVERT TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO AGAIN, IT'S THE ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR, UM, MULTI-YEAR PLAN FOR ESSAY FORWARD. AND THE SIX PRIORITY AREAS HAVE TO DEAL WITH ACCESS TO CARE DATA AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION, HEALTH EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. SO, A COUPLE QUICK EXAMPLES, UH, SPECIFIC TO THE WORK OF, UH, UM, TIED TO THIS INITIATIVE. AGAIN, KEEP IN MIND THAT, UM, UH, SAFE FORWARD, UH, EFFORTS CONSTITUTE JUST A, A FRACTION OF THE BROADER DEPARTMENT'S WORK. SO NOW I'LL JUST, UH, ZERO IN ON A COUPLE EXAMPLES TIED TO OUR WORK AROUND FOOD INSECURITY AND PROGRESS TO DATE, AS WELL AS TARGETS FOR F Y 24. AND I'LL, UH, GIVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS AROUND OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS. UM, SO REGARDING FOOD INSECURITY, UH, THE OVERALL OUTCOME IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE NUTRITIOUS FOODS BY WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO CREATE POLICY LEVEL SOLUTIONS AND TO SUPPORT DIRECT INTERVENTIONS. UH, OUR TEAM STRIVES TO BUILD MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. UM, WE HAVE SOME ANCHOR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT JUST KNOWING BROAD STROKES, OUR TARGETS FOR F Y 24, UH, THE FIRST TARGET IS, UM, UH, IS, UH, ANCHORED TO OUR DIABETES PREVENTION CONTROL PROGRAM THAT WILL HAVE, UH, 500 PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE. THE DIABETES PREVENTION, SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS. UH, WE USE A CURRICULUM FROM THE C D C THAT MEASURES THE PERCENT REDUCTION OF RISK OF DEVELOPING DIABETES. OUR SELF-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, UH, RUN AROUND IN SEVEN WEEK CYCLES, AND OUR EDUCATORS, UH, USE THE DIABETES CURRICULUM JUST FOR MEN WITH DIABETES AND OUR DIABETES EMPOWERMENT EDUCATION CURRICULUM FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE TYPE TWO DIABETES. IN ADDITION, OUR TEAM ALSO IMPLEMENTS HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE THE RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASES. THE SECOND TARGET IS OUR, UM, OUR DIABETES PREVENTION PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE A 40% REDUCTION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES UPON COMPLETION OF OUR, UH, UH, FIRST, UM, UH, DIABE, OUR YEAR ONE DIABETES, UH, PREVENTION WORKSHOPS. THE THIRD TARGET IS THAT OUR HEALTHY CORNER STORE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A POPULAR OFFERING THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE, UH, UH, 2018, WE WAS FIRST LAUNCHED. THE PROGRAM'S GOALS ARE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO CONVENIENT, FRESH, AND AFFORDABLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IN F Y 24, THE PROGRAM WILL RECRUIT AT LEAST EIGHT NEW CORNER STORES. UM, AND THE STORES ARE RECRUITED BASED ON A SET OF SIX CRITERIA. AND JUST A REMINDER, THESE CRITERIA, UM, PRIORITIZES LOCATIONS WITHIN A U S D A DEFINED FOOD DESERT, A LOCATION THAT IS AT LEAST ONE MILE FROM A GROCERY STORE, A STORE THAT ACCEPTS SNAP BENEFITS, THE STORE OWNER'S INTERESTS IN THE PROGRAM, GAPS IN AREAS THAT HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF FOOD INSECURITY. WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR INFORMATICS TEAM TO CREATE NEW TOOLS BASED ON THE DATA. UM, AND AGAIN, THE MAY BE A LITTLE HARD TO SEE THE MAP, BUT JUST KNOW THAT, UH, YOU SEE A LONG LIST OF HEALTHY CORNER STORES. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO EACH DISTRICT, AND WE CAN TELL YOU, UH, IN BROAD STROKES, UM, UH, THE NUMBER OF STORES THAT WE HAVE IN, UH, DISTRICTS ONE THROUGH SEVEN. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE AREAS OF NEED. AND JUST KNOW THAT, UM, UH, THIS WORK IS COMPLIMENTED BY OUR, UH, RECENTLY LAUNCHED POLICY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OFFICE AT OUR DEPARTMENT. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MULTI-SECTORAL, UH, WORKING GROUPS. UH, THIS INCLUDES MORE THAN 30 CROSS-SECTOR AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE SA FOOD BANK, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THE FOOD SECTOR. THE PARTNERS HAVE IDENTIFIED UNIVERSAL AND TARGETED GOALS. WE'VE CONDUCTED AN ANALYSIS OF ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, AND IDENTIFIED STRATEGIES WHICH, UH, THEY OR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS COULD ALIGN TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY. SO, JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE, UH, WORKING HAND IN HAND ON CONDUCTING A LONGER ASSESSMENT ANCHORED TO UNIVERSITY OF, UH, UT HEALTH HOUSTON, THAT WILL INFORM OUR COLLECTIVE ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE PARTNERSHIPS. I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT. ANCHORED TO OUR, UH, PARTNERS HERE AT COSA ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THAT INCLUDES PARKS AND RECS, HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, COASTAL WEALTH, D H S, SUSTAINABILITY, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, SOLID WASTE PLANNING, WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE INNOVATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UM, SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND JUST KNOW THAT FOR EACH AMBASSADORS OF THIS WORK, UM, OH, THIS IS STUCK A LITTLE BIT. SO THE NEXT IS JUST AN UPDATE. OH, THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. UM, THE COMPLIMENT TO OUR WORK IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION, UH, THIS IS ABOUT OUR DIABETES CONTINUUM [01:15:01] OF CARE, WHICH I JUST MENTIONED BRIEFLY. THE FOCUS IS ON PRIMARY PREVENTION TO ENSURE ACCESS TO CARE AND SERVICES. THE CURRENT DIABETES CONTINUUM WITH MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDES A FOCUS ON OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IN OUR EXPANDING SUITE OF DIABETES PREVENTION AND SELF-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS. UH, THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE WAS FORMED BACK IN 2012 TO PROVIDE DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS, WE'VE GROWN THIS TEAM FROM ONE TO A DOZEN STAFF, AND WE'VE EXTENDED OUR PORTFOLIO TO FOCUS ON PRIMARY PREVENTION OR EDUCATING COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENROLLING INDIVIDUALS FROM AREAS OF THE CITY WITH THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF DIABETES. AGAIN, WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOPS, A PEER LED DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM CALLED T TWO FOR ADULTS AT RISK FOR DIABETES. THE DIABETES, UH, GARAGE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON HELPING MEN MANAGE THE DIABETES SUCCESSFULLY. AND THE NEWEST CURRICULUM CALLED DIABETES EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM, OR DEEP, WHICH IS A SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH DIABETES. OUR WORKSHOPS ARE OFTEN DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE Y M C A SAVE CLINIC AND SEVERAL COSA DEPARTMENTS, AGAIN, INCLUDING PARKS AND REC, HUMAN RESOURCES, PRE-K S A, PRE-K FOUR S A, AND PUBLIC WORKS. UM, AND RECENTLY, WE, UH, LEARNED IN, IN CHATTING WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE WAY AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, THEY HAVE A UNIVERSITY HEALTH, UH, PRESCRIPTION SAVINGS PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS FOR CLIENTS TO RECEIVE MEDICATION, REC, RECONCILIATION, COUNSELING, AND MEDICATIONS, INCLUDING INSULIN. UH, THESE ARE FREE OF COSTS IF, UM, UH, PATIENTS CANNOT AFFORD THEM. OUR DIABETES PROGRAM IS WORKING CLOSELY, UH, WITH THAT, UH, UNIT TO ENSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS WHO NEED INSULIN ASSISTANCE WILL BE REFERRED, UM, FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT VIOLENCE PREVENTION. UM, THIS HAS BEEN A, A FOCUS OF OUR EFFORTS FOR SOME TIME NOW, THIS ACTUALLY CONSTITUTES THE WORK OF THE SECTION CONSTITUTES THE LARGEST SECTION AT OUR DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE, UH, OVER A HUNDRED AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL, MOSTLY SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO PROMOTE A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING INTERRUPTING AND PREVENTING INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. THE MAJOR FOCUS AREAS ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, PARENTING SKILLS, COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND GUN VIOLENCE. UH, JUST ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND, THE THIS, UM, OUR, UH, DV EFFORTS PROVIDE IMMEDIATE CRISIS SUPPORT AND LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED, UH, PRACTICES FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM INCLUDES STANDUP SA AND OUR POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM CALLED TRIPLE P, WHICH DELIVERS, UM, VIOLENCE PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTIVELY OR HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. UH, THE TRIPLE P PROGRAM, UM, IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD, UM, BACKED UP BY MORE THAN, UH, THREE DECADES OF ONGOING RESEARCH. TRIPLE P GIVES PARENTS SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM BUILD STRONG, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, CONFIDENTLY MANAGE THEIR CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR AND PROBLEM SOLVING, UH, UM, AND PREVENT PROBLEMS FROM DEVELOPING THE COMPLIMENT TO THAT. SO, THE STANDUP MODEL APPROACHES VIOLENCE AS A CONTAGION, UH, CONTAGIOUS, BUT PREVENTABLE DISEASE. WHEN ALL ELEMENTS IN A COMMUNITY WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE OR END VIOLENCE, THE MODEL PRESUMES, UH, THAT LIKE ALL BEHAVIOR, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, RESPONSE TO STRUCTURES, NORMS, AND INCENTIVES. UH, FINALLY, UM, AGAIN, THIS WORK IS ANCHORED TO A BROADER COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WAS FORMED IN 2019 UNDER A SPECIAL OVER ORDER BY THEN, UM, UH, UH, LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, UH, PETER SAKA. THIS COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY LED BY, UM, A CO-ED BY OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MARIA ILLA GOMEZ AND JUDGE MONIQUE DIAZ. UH, THE GROUP'S PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESPONSE AND INTERVENTION SYSTEM. IT, IT OPERATES, UM, IN A LARGER ECOSYSTEM, ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO CREATE A SYSTEM WITH, UH, MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS TO ENSURE, UH, TO HELP ENSURE A COHESIVE COMMUNITY-WIDE RESPONSE THAT IS PROACTIVE, COMPASSIONATE, AND EFFECTIVE. UH, JUST KNOW THAT THE CROSS SECTION OF THAT CO OF THAT, UM, COMMISSION INCLUDES CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, MENTAL AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION. SO, WITH THAT, UM, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY LAST FALL TO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF A NATIONAL, UH, LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. UM, AND I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, ERICA HELLER STEVENSON, WHO SPEARHEADS, UM, AND LEADS THE WORK OF THIS SECTION. SHE'S A PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR WHO'S HELPED TO WORK ON THIS, UH, BROADER VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIC PLAN. THE GOALS OF THAT PLAN ARE A, UH, MULTI-SECTORAL STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL USE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND WORK, UH, WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO DEFINE SHARED DIRECTION AND COMBINE RESOURCES TO INCREASE POSITIVE OUTCOMES. UH, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE GREATER BEAR COUNTY. UM, IN BROAD STROKES, UH, THIS IS A, UH, TEAM THAT INCLUDES, UH, UH, UH, UH, ERICA AT OUR DEPARTMENT. UH, WE WORK CLOSELY. WE INCLUDE PD, THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, [01:20:01] ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH, AND OUR ACADEMIC PARTNERS AT U T S A. UM, SO TO DATE, WE'VE GALVANIZED 46 DIFFERENT PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE, UH, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, UH, THAT WAS LAUNCHED, UH, LATE LAST WINTER. IT INCLUDES COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE LIVING, UH, PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES, FAITH LEADERS, HEALTHCARE, HIGHER EDUCATION, UH, JUSTICE SYSTEM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CITY AND COUNTY, UH, GOVERNMENT. THE TIMELINE IS THAT BY THIS COMING WINTER, BY NOVEMBER, WE EXPECT TO HAVE AT LEAST THIS PLAN CODIFIED AND THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT STARTING IN 2024. SO WITH THAT, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AGAIN, OUR TARGETS FOR, UH, F Y 24. UH, JUST KNOW THE CONTEXT OF THIS WORK, UH, GOES BACK TO THE, UH, AGAIN, COLLABORATIONS, ONGOING COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN OUR DEPARTMENT AND, UH, S A P D. UM, SO BACK IN, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2021, UM, WE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENT TO AT LEAST EXPAND OUR PORTFOLIO OF OUR, OF OUR, UH, ASSETS ON THE GROUND. SO WE, UH, THE CR, THE CRISIS ADVOCATE TEAM WAS EXPANDED AT THAT TIME, AND A LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICE WAS ADDED. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 36 CRISIS ADVOCATES, NINE CASE MANAGERS, AND THREE SUPERVISORS OR MANAGERS SUPPORTING PEOPLE REFERRED THROUGH SS A P D. THESE POSITIONS ARE FUNDED BY A COMBINATION OF CITY AND GRANT FUNDS. UM, SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING THEN, FOR AS TARGETS FOR FY 24, UH, THAT WE'LL CONTINUE OUR LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICE, ENHANCE OUR COORDINATION OF CARE, AND USE CLIENT OUTCOME DATA TO INFORM OUR DECISIONS. UH, WE ARE PROJECTING, UH, TO SERVE 4,500 CLIENTS, WHICH WILL BE INCLUSIVE OF CLIENTS BEING SERVED THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT AND REPEATED, UH, CRISIS ADVOCATE SERVICES. UH, IN ADDITION, UM, WE DO SEE THAT BY THE END OF FY, UH, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, 70% OF CLIENTS RECEIVING ONGOING SERVICES WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN INTENTIONAL SAFETY PLANNING. UM, AND THAT LASTLY, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH S A P D AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DANGER ASSESSMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR DALE, AND EVIDENCE-BASED RISK ASSESSMENT THAT WILL RELIABLY IDENTIFY AS VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE WHO ARE AT HIGHEST RISK TO BE KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED DUE TO ABUSE. I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED ABOUT, UH, UH, STANDUP ESSAYS. SO THESE ARE JUST HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TARGETS FOR F Y 24. I DID WANT TO AT LEAST, UH, ZERO IN ON, UH, ONE IMPROVEMENT TIED TO OUR TB PROGRAM. SO, UH, THE OUTCOME HERE IS TO, UH, CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF, UH, TUBERCULOSIS OR TB, UH, RATES AND CURB THE SPREAD OF TB IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE ARE, UH, 70 PLUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES, INCLUDING TUBERCULOSIS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, SUCH AS SYPHILIS THAT ARE CURRENTLY REPORTABLE, UH, HERE IN THE STATE. THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF THESE REPORTABLE CONDITIONS IS ONE OF THE CORE REGULATORY FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH. UH, THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT IS TO SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM THIS REGULATORY, UH, THIS CORE REGULATORY FUNCTION AND ENHANCED CAPACITY TO CURB THE FURTHER SPREAD OF TB IN OUR COMMUNITY BY ENSURING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THERAPY BY PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE AND TB INFECTION, UH, WITH DAILY MEDICATION SERVICES, TOXICITY CHECKS, MEDICATION COUNTS, AND A COMPLETION OF TIMELY CONTACT INVESTIGATIONS. SO, UM, UH, WITH THIS, UH, WE ARE TARGETS FOR F Y 24 THAT AT LEAST 94% OF NEWLY REPORTED TB CASES WILL HAVE AT LEAST THREE CONTACTS EVALUATED INVESTIGATIONS, UM, INTO AT LEAST 90% OF ALL TB CASES WILL BE INITIATED WITHIN, WITHIN THREE BUSINESS DAYS. AND AT LEAST 80% OF NEWLY IDENTIFIED CONTACTS ARE EVALUATED FOR TB INFECTION AND DISEASE. UM, SO WITH THIS IMPROVEMENT, THIS, UH, THE ADDITION OF 16 POSITIONS TO THIS UNIT WILL, UH, GREATLY ENHANCE THE TIMELY AND COMPLETION OF OUR, UH, CASE AND, UH, CONTACT INVESTIGATIONS. JUST KNOW THAT, UM, GIVEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH SOME OF OUR EXTERNAL GRANT FUNDING, UH, WE FEEL THAT, UM, HAVING THESE ADDITIONAL STAFF, UH, WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING, UH, DIRECTLY OBSERVED THERAPY, OUR CONTACT INVESTIGATIONS, AND ALL THE STATE REQUIRED QUESTIONNAIRES AND DOCUMENTATION TO BE LOGGED IN OUR TB DATA SYSTEMS FOR EACH OF THEIR FIELD VISITS IN A TIMELY VAN MANNER TO BE COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT STATE REQUIREMENTS. AS I WRAP UP, UH, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER THAT WE ARE NOW IN YEAR TWO, UH, PROPOSED IN F Y 24 OF A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT OF $10 MILLION, THE INVESTMENT OF ESTABLISHING THE COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE UT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAN ANTONIO. UH, THE GOAL IS TO ADMIT THE FIRST COHORTS OF STUDENTS OF BETWEEN 35 AND 70 STUDENTS FOR THE FALL OF 2024. SO BY NEXT AUGUST, UM, UT HEALTH WILL CONTINUE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING OF STAFF AND STUDENTS, UH, FOR THE FIRST COHORT. UM, UH, SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL MEETING, UH, THE INAUGURAL DEAN, UH, VASAN RAMACHANDRAN, WHO STARTED LAST SEPTEMBER. UM, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, UH, TO BRING THIS, UH, COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL TO BEAR. AND I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE ACADEMIC AS A MEMBER OF THE, UH, ACADEMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE. SO JUST KNOW THAT [01:25:01] UT HEALTH WILL DEVELOP THE DEAN'S ADVISORY BOARD. AND THIS IS AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST DOCTORAL PROGRAM, AGAIN, TAKING SHAPE OVER TIME. UH, LASTLY, AS WE'VE BEEN, AS I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET, UH, WE ARE ON THIS JOURNEY OF, UH, BECOMING RECOGNIZED AND, UH, OPERATING AS THE 21ST CENTURY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. UM, I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT, UH, ONE OF THE NATIONAL PARTNERS OF THE BEAUMONT FOUNDATION, UM, UH, THE CITY, UH, RECEIVED A GOLD DESIGNATION BACK IN 2018 FOR OUR POLICY LEVEL WORK. UM, UH, THEY NOW HAVE A NEW RUBRIC, UH, TIED TO THAT INITIATIVE CALLED CITY HEALTH, WHERE THERE ARE 12 DOMAINS OF EFFECTIVE POLICIES. UH, LAST WINTER, UH, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE NATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT BASED ON A NEW, UH, RUBRIC. WE RECEIVED BRONZE DESIGNATION, BUT JUST KNOW THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE A GLIDE PATH TO GOLD. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT OUR, UH, QUEST AND WHEN THEY DO THE NEW ASSESSMENT THIS COMING WINTER. SO I WON'T, UH, STEAL THE THUNDER, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT OF THE CITY, OUR COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CITY PARTNERS, AND, UH, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS COME TO BEAR AFTER THE NEW YEAR. SO, LOOK FOR AN UPDATE. LATE WINTER, UH, CITY HEALTH, UH, HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED, UH, FOR THESE, THE DESIGN OF THESE EFFECTIVE POLICIES. AND I CAN'T THANK THE STAFF ENOUGH FOR HELPING TO AT LEAST NOT ONLY ADDRESS, UH, UH, PROGRAMS AND, AND, UH, APPLY BEST PRACTICES, BUT ALSO IN SHAPING, UH, MORE EFFECTIVE POLICIES TO PROTECT ALL THOSE WHO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY OR PRAY HERE IN THIS JURISDICTION. WELL, THAT CONCLUDES MY FORMAL REPORT. AGAIN, I'M JOINED BY MEMBERS OF MY, UH, LEADERSHIP TEAM AS WELL AS UT HEALTH ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, CLAUDE AND, AND TO THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT, PRESENTERS, EXCELLENT JOB. IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE ENDED YESTERDAY WITH THE DISCUSSION OF, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT ARE THE, UH, CAUSES FOR REDUCTION IN CRIME. UH, AND IN MY VIEW, I THINK THE THREE DEPARTMENTS WE HEARD FROM PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST DIRECT LINK TO, UH, OUR CRIME NUMBERS. UH, AND JUST TO NOTE, UM, IT'S NOT ALL ON YOUR SHOULDERS, OBVIOUSLY. UH, WE DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT, UH, CHALLENGES DEAL WITH, IN OUR COMMUNITY RELATED TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO KNOW AS THEIR SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX, WHICH, UH, IS AN EQUITY ISSUE IN OUR CITY. SO, UH, IT'S A LOT OF UPHILL WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, BUT KNOW THAT, UH, ALL THE EFFORTS AND, AND PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE JUST DEMONSTRATED HAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND MOVES THE NEEDLE IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. UM, I'M GONNA JUMP AROUND A LITTLE BIT. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I'M GONNA TRY TO GO AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UH, THE TIME IS RUNNING SHORT. UM, I'M GLAD YOU ENDED WHERE YOU DID. UM, DR. JACOB ON, ON THE CITY HEALTH NEW RUBRIC. I MEAN, THIS CITY HAS COME A LONG WAY. WE WERE NO MEDAL BEFORE, AND I THINK WE WENT BRONZE THEN TO SILVER, AND THEN WE'VE DONE GOLD THREE IN A ROW, BUT THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED. AND SO I JUST WOULD LIKE, UH, YOU TO BE UPFRONT WITH US IN TERMS OF THE GAPS IN POLICY THAT WE NEED TO ONCE AGAIN BE ON TOP, UH, IN TERMS OF, UM, BEING AGGRESSIVE WITH OUR HEALTH POLICY. 'CAUSE THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE INVEST IN, IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU. UH, JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU REAL QUICK, DR. JACOB, WHILE, WHILE WE'RE HERE, I KNOW IT'S ON PEOPLE'S MINDS, UH, WITH RESPECT TO COVID, UM, IT'S PROBABLY NOT A A FAIR QUESTION FOR YOU. WE, WE, WE WOULD NEED ERIC OLE UP HERE TO, TO REALLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION. BUT WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN THE HOSPITALS? DO WE HAVE ANY CONCERN WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S, UH, HEALTH CAPACITY IN DEALING WITH THESE LATEST ROUNDS OF COVID? THINK THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, MAYOR, AND I'LL JUST QUEUE IT UP. UM, UH, TO SAY IN BROAD STROKES, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS NOT, UH, UNEXPECTED. AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE LAST FEW SUMMERS, UM, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, UH, THIS HAS BEEN A QUIET SUMMER. YES, WE HAVE. AND WE REPORT OUT EVERY TUESDAY AT FOUR 30. WE REPORT OUT WEEKLY TALLIES. WE'RE SEEING ON AVERAGE TWO OR 300 CASES REPORTED TO OUR DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF THE BURDEN ON THE AREA HOSPITALS. I'M GONNA ASK DR. CURIAN TO AT LEAST COMMENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING. WE'RE SEEING, UM, ON THE GROUND, WE STAY AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION WITH OUR AREA PROVIDERS. BUT LET ME HAVE, DR. KERRY AT LEAST LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF COVID. AND I'M ONLY ASKING THIS AGAIN BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING TO GET QUESTIONS AGAIN. IF WE CAN ADDRESS IT RIGHT NOW, LET'S, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. SO, YES, WE ARE, UM, I'LL START WITH THE BURDEN THAT WE HAVE AT, AT, AT, UM, AT PRESENT. UH, IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF CASES, WE ARE SLIGHTLY OVER 714,000 CASES. HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS HAVE PRETTY MUCH STABILIZED. I KNOW IT'S IN THE NEWS THAT WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A SLOW AND STEADY INCREASE SINCE THE END OF JULY IN TERMS OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS. SO YOUR QUESTION WAS ABOUT HOSPITALIZATIONS. WE STILL DO TRACK HOSPITALIZATIONS. UH, AT PRESENT, ON AN AVERAGE, WE ARE SEEING ABOUT 119 NEW ADMITS PER WEEK, WHICH IS ABOUT TIMES SEVEN 17, UH, NEW ADMITS PER DAY. UM, SO TO PUT THIS IN THE [01:30:01] CONTEXT, IF YOU COMPARE IT, UH, TO LAST YEAR, UH, WE WERE SEEING ANYWHERE, UH, CLOSE TO 1500 TO 2000 NEW ADMITS PER YEAR. LIKE CLOSE TO, I'M DOING MY MATH IN MY HEAD, SO FORGIVE ME. 250 TO 300 PER DAY, RIGHT? SO IT'S A LOT MORE. SO THE SITUATION IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. WE ARE STARTING WITH A SMALL BASELINE. UM, 97% OF OUR POPULATION HAS SOME SORT OF IMMUNITY. WE HAVE BETTER THERAPEUTICS. UM, SO, UM, WE ARE SEEING A, A SLOW INCREASE. UM, AGAIN, TO PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT TOO, FOLKS ARE PANICKING. METROHEALTH IS NOT PRESSING THE PANIC BUTTON JUST YET. UH, SINCE THE END OF JULY, UP UNTIL NOW, NEW CASES ARE, UH, SLIGHTLY OVER 5,500 AS OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR FOR THE SAME TIMEFRAME. WE HAD 46,000 NEW CASES. SO WE ARE NOWHERE WHAT WE WERE, UM, IN THE PAST. SO, UM, I, I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, WE STAY THE COURSE CONTINUE WITH THE VACCINATIONS. UH, WE HAVE NEW VACCINES COMING UP. UM, LIKE I SAID, UH, CASES ARE COMING UP. COVID IS BECOMING ENDEMIC. AND, UH, IN TERMS OF WHO'S BEING IMPACTED MOST, THAT ALSO HAS NOT CHANGED. IT IS STILL THE ELDERLY WITH IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, UH, CONDITIONS. AND AGAIN, ONE MORE THING SINCE I HAVE THE PODIUM. I WANTED TO SAY COMMENT TO THE MISCONCEPTION OUT THERE. METRO HEALTH IS STILL TRACKING COVID C OVID 19 IS STILL A REPORTABLE CONDITION, WHICH MEANS THAT HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, EVERY PROVIDER IN THE LAB THAT MAKES A DIAGNOSIS OR DETECTS COVID ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPORTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND IN RESPONSE TO THOSE NOTIFICATION, WE GO AHEAD AND INITIATE AND COMPLETE A PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATION. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. KIAN. UM, DR. JACOB, JUST REAL QUICK, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO SA FORWARD OR, OR THE METRO HEALTH 2.0 PLAN. FANTASTIC. I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE FULLY FUNDING, APPRECIATE THE CDC D'S INVOLVEMENT. UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SEASON COMING UP, WE NORMALLY DO FLU CLINICS AND ALL THAT STUFF. ARE WE GONNA BE OFFERING THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR? AND WILL THE NEW VACCINES THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE BE PART OF THAT? SO YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS. SO THE C D C WILL BE, OR LEASING, UM, THE NEW, UH, VACCINES, UM, TIED TO COVID. UH, LAST YEAR WE DID ADMINISTER BOTH, UH, FLU SHOTS AND COVID VACCINATIONS. BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO SEE THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS OR GO TO THE LOCAL PHARMACIES TO GET THEIR, UH, REQUIRED FLU SHOTS. AND, AND WE'LL BE DOING IT. YES. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET A SHOT IN YOUR ARM, UH, MR. MAY, WE'LL, OKAY. I'M SURE WE'LL, WE'LL PUT THAT OUT THERE. THOSE THAT NEED IT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT, YES. IF THEY NEED IT AT METRO HEALTH. YES. GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, DR. JACOB, LET ME MOVE OVER TO, UM, AND THIS IS GONNA BE FOR THE GROUP 'CAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OVERLAP BETWEEN YOU, MELODY, VERONICA, UH, MARK, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU DO IS AN, AN ECOSYSTEM OF WORK. SO I'M JUST GONNA ASK THESE QUESTIONS. UM, I'D LIKE TO GO TO, UH, SLIDE 12 OF THE H H SS BRIEFING THAT SHOWS THE HOMELESS NUMBERS AND MELODY, YOU, YOU QUOTED A STATISTIC THAT I HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE, WHICH IS THE, UH, HOMELESSNESS PER CAPITA, UM, OVER TIME IN SAN ANTONIO. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? YES. SO IT HAS, OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, OUR PER CAPITA RATE OF HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PER PEOPLE, HAS DECLINED FROM, UM, ABOUT 20 POINT 20%, OR NOT 20% 0.2% TO 0.15%. IT'S A 23% DECLINE, UM, IN THE PER CAPITA RATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND OVER THAT SAME PERIOD, THE GROWTH, UM, IN POPULATION'S BEEN ABOUT 12%. AND THAT, THAT WAS FROM 2010 TO 2020. IT'S 2012 TO 2023. OKAY. WELL, THAT, THAT STANDS IN A BIT OF A CONTRAST TO THE NARRATIVE THAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY WITH REGARD TO HOMELESSNESS. SO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ISSUE, AND I THINK THAT HAS TO DO WITH, WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE, WHICH IS THE INCREASE IN, IN FAMILIES. UH, AND THEN THE CHALLENGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE STORIES FROM, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE, ARE WITHOUT HOU HOUSING, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDICTION ISSUES, VIOLENCE ISSUES, THE REASONS PEOPLE END UP, UH, ON THE STREETS TO BEGIN WITH. SO, UM, MY REASON FOR WANTING TO PUT THIS UP THERE, 'CAUSE I MEAN THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION, WHICH IS THE VISIBLE HOMELESSNESS THAT WE, UH, ENCOUNTER, THAT'S REALLY, UM, OUR BIGGEST AREA OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW. UM, WE'RE TRYING TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS. THE $1.4 MILLION FOR LOW BARRIER SHELTER, UH, [01:35:01] IS IMPORTANT. UM, IS THAT DIRECTED TOWARDS, UM, THAT UNSHELTERED POPULATION? ABSOLUTELY. SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING, OUR GOAL IS TO, WITH THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER, GET 400 FOLKS RAPIDLY. SO OUR GOAL IS TO SEE THAT NUMBER AT LEAST CUT IN HALF. IN 2024? YES. OKAY. YES. WE'RE, WE'RE, AND THEN WE'RE DOING SOME INITIAL WORK, ADDITIONAL WORK WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME TO FREE UP VOUCHERS FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. IS THAT, IS THAT RIGHT? OR IS THAT OVERLAPPING NUMBERS? NO, THAT'S CORRECT. UM, SO GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF SHELTERS AND INTO HOUSING IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE DON'T CLOG UP THE SYSTEM. SO WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME, WE'RE EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING VOUCHERS TO OUR MIX OF RESOURCES. OKAY. AND, AND THAT'S ONGOING. AND MAYOR, I WANTED TO CLARIFY, OUR GOAL IS TO REMOVE 400 PEOPLE FROM THE STREET INTO SHELTER. NOW, WHERE THEY GO IN SHELTER, IT COULD BE LOW BARRIER, IT COULD BE EMERGENCY SHELTER, IT COULD GO TO DIRECTLY FROM THE STREET TO P S H AND MORE. IT COULD GO INTO A VOUCHER UNIT. SO THE 400 ISN'T TIED JUST TO THAT LOW BARRIER. OKAY. UM, AND THEN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT VOUCHERS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE OTHER RESOURCES, UM, SOMETHING KEY TO REMEMBER IS, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY HOME. THEY HAVE A WAIT LIST. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE, IT'S THE SAME POPULATION WE'RE TRYING TO HELP. YEAH. AND SO IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE A PARTNER. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL, I JUST WANTED TO GET A, A A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR TRUE NORTH WAS IN TERMS OF THE STATISTICS THAT WE'RE PRESENTING THE PUBLIC. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR. UM, LET ME ASK NOW ON, UM, OWNERSHIP VERSUS RENTER. THIS HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION. I KNOW, I GUESS THIS IS FOR YOU, VERONICA. UH, ONE OF THE INITIAL SLIDES SHOWED OUR, WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL ON OUR SHIP GOALS IN TERMS OF PRESERVATION AND, UM, UH, CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTION OF, OF UNITS. ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS TILTING AGAINST US IS HOME OWNERSHIP PRODUCTION. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO CHANGE THAT? WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT, UM, PLAY IN HERE? SURE. SO WHAT HOMEOWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW IS RISING INTEREST RATES AND RISING HOUSING COSTS. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS ADD THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. UM, BECAUSE TWO THINGS WE FIND THAT IT'S HARDER TO QUALIFY FOR A HOME, AND HOMEOWNERS DON'T HAVE THE SAVINGS NEEDED TO QUALIFY AT TODAY'S HOUSING PRICES. SO WE ARE CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THIRD PARTY ENTITIES, AND OUR HOUSING FUND IS MAKING GREAT STRIDES TOWARD CREATING THOSE NEW SINGLE FAMILY UNITS. UM, AND THEN WE ARE ALSO GONNA LOOK AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN, UH, WE STILL HAVE SOME HOUSING BOND FIGHTS, HOUSING BOND FUNDS SET ASIDE. WE HAVE ABOUT $15 MILLION REMAINING TO PURSUE OTHER CREATIVE SHIP STRATEGIES. AND ONE OF THOSE, UM, WILL BE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST TO SEE HOW WE CAN LOOK AT PROPERTIES, VACANT PROPERTIES THAT ARE PERHAPS GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY FORECLOSURE PROCESS. GREAT. AND HOW WE CAN LAND BANK THOSE AND USE THOSE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. TERRIFIC. SO LOTS OF CREATIVE WAYS TO GET THERE. OKAY. UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I HAD A SIDEBAR WITH MARK, UH, YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, IS DOING. AND I NOTED YESTERDAY, FROST BANK MADE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT PROGRESS MORTGAGE PRODUCTS. YES. AVAILABLE, PARTICULARLY FOR SAN ANTONIO. LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES ARE OFFERING DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND LOWER INTEREST LOANS. UH, FANTASTIC. WE NEED TO ELEVATE THAT BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE COMMUNITY EFFORT. WE NEED MORE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO, TO DO THE SAME THING. SO LOWERING THE BARRIERS TO HOME OWNERSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT PRODUCING THE HOMES THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LENDING SORT OF THE REVERSE OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING REDLINING. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HOWEVER, WE CAN USE OUR STRENGTH AS A HOUSING ECOSYSTEM NOW, WHICH IS ALL ALIGNED TO LEVERAGE AND, AND BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT DO OTHER ELEMENTS OF THIS, UH, I WOULD LIKE US TO, TO EXPLORE. UH, BUT CERTAINLY FROST BANK DESERVES, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF GRATITUDE FOR THEM TAKING THE INITIAL STEP FORWARD ON, ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS. ABSOLUTELY. UM, ON THAT NOTE, AND, AND THIS GOES MORE TO NOW RE REHABILITATION. THIS MIGHT BE FOR MELODY, BUT I I NOTED THAT YOU'RE NOW GOING TO BE FUNDING THE, UM, TITLE CLEARANCE, UH, POLICY. OR MAY IS THAT VERONICA AGAIN? OKAY. SORRY, YES. TITLE CLEARANCE. SO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. WE DON'T WANT, UH, SOMEBODY TO HAVE THE, A TITLE ISSUE BEING A BARRIER TO REHABILITATING THEIR HOME. YES. UM, IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH? WELL, WE HAVE THAT IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, AND [01:40:01] IT HAS BEEN ENOUGH TO HELP OUR CURRENT. THE, THE NEED IS GREAT. SO THIS IS HOW MUCH THE CITY INVESTMENT IS, AND THIS IS NOT ENOUGH ON ITS OWN. WELL, WE'LL BE PARTNERING WITH OTHER ENTITIES. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSOCIATION. SO WE COULD LEVERAGE OUR FUNDING WITH THEIR LEGAL VOLUNTEERS AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP MORE HOMEOWNERS GET CLEAR TITLE. UH, WE DO FIND OFTEN THAT THAT'S A BARRIER. A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE APPLYING FOR OUR PROGRAM DON'T HAVE THAT CLEAR TITLE. SO IT'S REALLY A PARTNERSHIP EFFORT TO TRY AND WORK TOWARDS THAT. YEAH. AND SO TWO THINGS. ONE IS WE WANT THE TITLE TO BE CLEARED. SO THERE'LL BE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR REHABILITATION PROGRAM SO THAT HOUSING STOCK, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AFFORDABLE, STAYS AFFORDABLE IN, IN OUR SYSTEM. SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY WE LOSE IT ALTOGETHER. AND, AND THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE HOME OWNERSHIP. WE WANT THAT HOUSE TO STAY WITH THAT PERSON, AND WE WANT THAT PERSON POTENTIALLY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT HOUSE TO THEIR FAMILY. UH, SO WE BUILD ASSETS. AND SO I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION ON TITLE CLEARANCE IS, ARE WE HELPING FOLKS KEEP THEIR TITLE CLEAR? YES. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. ALL OF OUR HOMEOWNERS WHO GO THROUGH OUR HOME REHAB PROGRAMS, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH MOCK AND OTHER ENTITIES TO HELP GET THAT DOCUMENTATION SO THAT THERE'S A CLEAR DELINEATION ON WHOM THAT ASSET WILL PASS TO. OKAY. I, SO I, I GUESS LONG STORY SHORT IS, UM, I THINK YOU, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IS A FIRST STEP. IT'S A FIRST STEP. IT'S PROBABLY WAY UNDER WHAT WE NEED TO BE AT SOME POINT. WELL, CERTAINLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD JUST SAY IF THERE ARE NEW DOLLARS AVAIL AVAILABLE, WE LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE IT IS, UM, IT IS A BARRIER TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, WE PROVIDE AS A COMMUNITY MELODY THAT YOU GUYS FUND. SO LET'S, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF, UM, ECONOMIC MOBILITY REVOLVES AROUND REDUCING BARRIERS. AND SO IF TITLE ISSUES ARE A BARRIER, LET'S WORK REALLY HARD TO REMOVE THAT BARRIER FOR FOLKS. UM, SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. AND LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, COMPLIMENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I SAW THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT THEIR OPERATION REBUILD IS NOW A PERMANENT PROGRAM. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT, UM, EXCELLENT INNOVATION WITHIN OUR HOUSING ECOSYSTEM. SO, GREAT JOB, EVERYBODY. REALLY THRILLED ABOUT ALL THE WORK AND, AND LET'S CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS ALONG WITH MIKE RAMSEY AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AS IF WE WANNA FIGHT CRIME IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A WELL-RESOURCED POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT IF WE WANT TO PREVENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE RESOURCED, UH, AT WHAT YOU NEED AS WELL. SO, UM, LET ME GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, I DO WANNA START OFF BY THANKING ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. UM, OFTEN THE CALLS THAT MY OFFICE GETS ARE ABOUT MEETING THE PHYSICAL AND SAFETY NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. UM, AND JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, HAVE AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AND OVER 20 UNITS WERE AFFECTED. AND N H S D IMMEDIATELY GOT TO WORK WITH US AND ASSISTED WITH RELOCATION AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THESE, UH, VERY ABRUPTLY DISPLACED RESIDENTS. UM, AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE SHALL KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WE'RE ALL A LOT CLOSER TO CRISIS THAN SOME OF US REALIZE. AND DEPARTMENTS LIKE THESE PROVIDE NECESSARY SERVICES THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED AND SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED. UM, I I DO WANNA START OFF BY HIGHLIGHTING A FEW THINGS THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT WITH D H SS. UM, $328,000 FOR TWO ACCESSIBLE BUSES TO EXPAND TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS TO AND FROM THE, UH, SENIOR CENTERS AND NUTRITION SITES AS WELL. ANYONE UP HERE WILL TELL YOU THAT DURING A NON BOND SEASON, IT IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING TO GET A NEW BUILDING AND START THINGS LIKE THAT. UH, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE, SEE FUNDING FOR THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A NEW SENIOR CENTER IN DISTRICT TWO. UH, AND THE FEASIBILITY, UH, STUDY FOR DISTRICT SIX, UH, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES SINCE BEING ELECTED. UM, AND WE'VE MADE A LOT OF MOVES. WE'RE AT A, AT THE POINT NOW OF ACQUIRING THE LAND. AND THIS IS, UH, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP TO PROVIDE SOMETHING TANGIBLE. SO I'M EXCITED TO BEGIN THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WITH OUR SENIORS AND BEGIN FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. UH, MOVING ON TO DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING. I'M EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY FANTASTIC PARTNERS. UH, LARGELY THE WORK THAT WE DO IS GUIDED BY THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS. SO, UH, I'M EXCITED TO SEE SOME NEW AND RETURNING AGENCIES. UH, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M FAIRLY CONSISTENT ON THIS. SO ANYTIME THAT, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND CONTRACTS ARE INVOLVED, UM, I WOULD LIKE A MAP OR A DESCRIPTION OF OUR DE DELEGATE AGENCY SERVICE AREAS. UM, AND IDEALLY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THOSE EXPECTED TO BE SERVED BY OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES, UH, IN THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY LIVE IN. AND I'LL NAME THAT I, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT ARE HOUSED IN DISTRICT TWO, SO THAT'S A CONCERN ONCE AGAIN, UH, AS IT WAS DURING THE ARPA ALLOCATION PROCESS. BUT MY HOPE IS THAT THEY'RE SERVING DISTRICT TWO RESIDENTS, UM, REGARDING OUR ARPA DOLLARS BEING USED TO SUPPORT NECESSARY PROGRAMS. [01:45:01] I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY USED TO REALLY WANNA KNOW OUR PLAN AND THE, THE PLAN OF OUR PARTNERS FOR CONTINUING TO PROVIDE VALUABLE SERVICES, UH, BEYOND THE DAY THAT ARPA FUNDS ARE EXHAUSTED. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED IN A MEMO, UM, IS HOW WE MIGHT BE PR PREPARING OUR PARTNERS FOR THAT. UM, REGARDING OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND PROGRAMS, I DO WANNA STRESS THAT THOUGH MANY PEOPLE, MANY CONSTITUENTS EVEN MAY BE, UH, REALLY EXCITED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN ABATEMENTS. I WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT THOSE ARE NOT THE SOLUTION, AND THAT WILL NOT BE THE REASON THAT WE SEE TANGIBLE RESULTS. IT'S GONNA BE IN THE WORK OF OUR OUTREACH WORKERS, OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, UH, OUR ENGAGEMENT AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE. UM, AND, AND SO I, I JUST WANNA BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE I'M HEADING BECAUSE ABATEMENTS ARE VERY UPSETTING TO ME. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S AT ALL A COMPASSIONATE WAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, BUT I DO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND RESIDENTS WHO JUST WANT SOMETHING DONE AND THEY WANT TO GET RID OF THAT, UH, PHYSICAL REMINDER OF ONE OF OUR SOCIETAL FLAWS. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT MORE ABATEMENTS IS THE ANSWER. AND SO OFTEN WE'LL HEAR, OH, BUT THEY DON'T WANT HELP, UM, OR DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THE HELP WHEN REALLY THE PROBLEM IS THE HELP THAT THEY NEED HASN'T BEEN OFFERED YET. UM, HAVEN FOR HOPE, FOR EXAMPLE, PROVIDES A NECESSARY SERVICE AND HELPS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE FOR EVERYONE. NEITHER ARE ANY OF OUR SOLUTIONS. THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE FOR EVERYONE. SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER SHELTER AND HOUSING OPTIONS, BUT I HAVE TO EXPRESS THAT THAT'S WHERE OUR PRIMARY INVESTMENT SHOULD BE ABATEMENTS OR NOT. UM, AND IF WE DO APPRE, UH, PROCEED WITH THESE ADDITIONAL ABATEMENTS, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO, AS A COUNCIL, EVEN AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, UM, HAVE A GREATER, GREATER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER AN ABATEMENT. UM, AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE NEXT POINT. I FILED A C C R EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AN ABATEMENT NOTIFICATION POLICY WITH THE GOAL OF, UH, INCREASING COMMUNICATION TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH REGARD TO OUR, UM, ABATEMENTS. AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED HERE. UH, I CONSIDER THAT TO BE A SUCCESS, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT A FEW THINGS ARE INCLUDED, UM, INCLUDING THE COST OF EACH ABATEMENT, THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF OUTREACH THAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO AN ABATEMENT AND THE SERVICES THAT WERE OFFERED IN THOSE THAT WERE REJECTED. AND I THINK GENERALLY THIS IS DATA THAT WE SHOULD BE COLLECTING ANYWAY, AND IT SHOULD INFORM OUR ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES AND HOW WE PROCEED, UH, STRATEGICALLY MOVING FORWARD. UM, REGARDING NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES, I HAVE TO MENTION A FEW THINGS THAT I REALLY LIKE, INCLUDING, UH, THE HOME MAINTENANCE CLASSES. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY SMART INVESTMENT TO MAKE. UM, I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC. I'M ALSO THRILLED TO SEE AGAIN, UH, THE CITY EMPLOYEE HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO TIE THAT INTO ANOTHER C C R I FILED, UH, REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SIMILAR TEACHER HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. UM, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, I, I'VE RECENTLY RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER. UM, AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A COUNCIL. AND I'VE, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT CITYWIDE FOR A PROGRAM TO HELP OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ATTRACT TEACHERS AND TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE. AND SO, IF THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE, UM, AT A LARGE SCALE AND THIS BUDGET, I WOULD LE LIKE TO SEE THIS IMPLEMENTED, UH, IN THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WE ARE PREPARING FOR RIGHT NOW. UM, METRO HEALTH, I AM EXCITED TO SEE THE DIABETES CONTINUUM OF CARE HERE. UH, WHEN I RECEIVED MY ORIGINAL BRIEFING, IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE IT WAS THERE, SO I'M RELIEVED. UM, AND EXPANDED CONTINUUM OF CARE WAS PART OF A RECOMMENDATION AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER C C R I FILED WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA, UH, CALLING FOR AN INSULIN COST SHARE PROGRAM. AND THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, THAT STAFF PROVIDED THAT LEFT GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE AND WAS APPROVED BY CHECK INCLUDED A COST SHARE PROGRAM. AND SO, WHILE THERE IS A PIECE HERE TO SUPPORT REFERRAL TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE MORE DIRECT SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. THERE ARE STILL CALLS THAT WE GET, UH, FROM FOLK WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS BETWEEN INSULIN RENT OR FOOD. UH, AND SO I'D ASK THAT WHILE WE WAIT FOR COUNCIL TO RECEIVE THE FULL PRESENTATION THAT WAS DIRECTED FROM CHECKS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, UM, THAT WE IMPLEMENT THE COST SHARE PROGRAM AS A PILOT PROGRAM. UM, SO I'LL BE ASKING FOR SUPPORT ON THAT FROM MY COLLEAGUES. LASTLY, UM, LAST YEAR, ONE OF MY SUCCESSFUL BUDGET AMENDMENTS WAS REALLOCATION OF POSITIONS WITHIN METRO HEALTH FOR, UH, TO ESTABLISH A CRIME AND RECIDIVISM PREVENTION COORDINATOR. AND SO I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT POSITION. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS YEAR, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CREATION OF A CRIME AND RECIDIVISM PREVENTION GRANT COORDINATOR WHO CAN WORK WITH ALL OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY GRANTS, UM, THAT WILL AID THEM IN ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WILL REDUCE, UH, BOTH VIOLENT AND PARTICULARLY NON-VIOLENT CRIME. UH, INCLUDING THE RISE IN PROPERTY CRIMES THAT WE'RE SEEING. EVERY DEPARTMENT, UH, SHOULD VIEW THEIR WORK THROUGH A LENS OF CRIME PREVENTION, THE SAME WAY THAT THEY SHOULD VIEW THEIR WORK THROUGH A LENS OF EQUITY. AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS THROUGH GRANTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND ADDRESS A, UH, A KEY PRIORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO I WOULD ALSO ASK FOR SUPPORT, UM, OF THAT FROM MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL [01:50:01] MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA GRANT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA START 'CAUSE I ONLY HAVE 10. I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES. OH, 10 MINUTES. UH, I'M GONNA START WITH VERONICA. VERONICA AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ANYBODY, ANY OF YOUR TEAM THAT'S HERE IF YOU GUYS COULD STAND. IS IT JUST IAN? EVERYBODY ELSE IS WORKING. UM, I JUST WANT YOU GUYS, WHEN YOU GAVE YOUR PRESENTATION, I COULD HEAR THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S TALKED TO RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT THREE OR WORKED WITH MY STAFF HAS TALKED TO VERONICA AND SHARED WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD. I WAS LIKE, YES, SHE GOT IT. YES, SHE GOT IT. SO I JUST NEED TO BRAG ON YOU ALL FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. I THINK THE ONE THING WHEN WE KNEW THIS BOND HAD PASSED, WE WERE LIKE, WE NEED THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND YOU GUYS TOOK SOMETHING THE CITY HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE AND YOU ARE MAKING IT SUCCESS. THERE'S WORK WE NEED TO DO, THERE'S THINGS WE NEED TO DO BETTER, BUT I JUST, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE AND BEING SUCH GREAT LISTENERS. SO THANK YOU VERONICA. UM, THAT'S IT FOR YOU. THE ONLY THING I'M GONNA ADD IS IN SPANISH, MAKE SURE WE MAKE EVERYTHING BILINGUAL. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, MY SENIORS WHO I KNOW NO ENGLISH WANNA USE NOTHING BUT SPANISH. ABSOLUTELY. UH, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR VIDEOS, LIKE OUR PROPERTY TAX HELP CAMPAIGN VIDEOS, ARE TRANSLATED IN BOTH SPANISH AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. OUR, UM, TENANT'S RIGHTS VIDEOS WILL BE THE SAME. AND EVEN I'LL HIGHLIGHT OUR, WE HAVE A DESIGN COMPETITION RIGHT NOW FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, WHICH IS KIND OF ALSO ANOTHER FUN VIDEO GETTING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND COMMON LANGUAGE, LIKE WHAT IS AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT. AND THAT VIDEO IS ALSO IN SPANISH AND IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. SO IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S TOP OF MIND IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC FACING MATERIALS. THANK YOU. AND, AND I KNEW Y'ALL WERE WORKING ON SOMETHING, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, I THINK THE NEXT, UH, I'LL GO TO IS, UH, HUMAN SERVICES MELODY. I'LL START WITH YOU. UM, I JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ SAID IN TERMS OF IF WE COULD GET THAT MAP OF WHERE THESE AGENCIES ARE WORKING WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO GET, AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF FUNDRAISING. I I, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK OVER IT. SOME ARE OUT THERE, THEY'RE GOING AFTER GRANTS. I KNOW THROUGH PROJECT WHO GOT ADDED HAS THEIR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AND CONTINUES TO, TO RAISE. BUT I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OTHER GROUPS, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S SUCH A NEED AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING, UH, WISE WITH OUR DOLLARS. SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO, TO MEET WITH YOU ALL ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC CONCERNS, UH, WITHIN, WITHIN THAT. AND I'LL BE SCHEDULING ONE-ON-ONES, UM, BRIEFINGS WITH ALL OF YOU ON THAT PROCESS. GREAT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN A ANSWER THIS QUESTION, OR THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR ERIC 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S GONNA GO BACK TO FLEET AND IT'S GONNA GO BACK. I'M, I LOVE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE, UM, THE, THE FLEET AND THE TRANSPORTS FOR OUR SENIORS. AND I, MY TEAM IN DISTRICT THREE IS DOING THEIR PART TO MAKING SURE OUR SENIORS HAVE THEIR VIA DISCOUNTED BUS PASSES. BUT WHEN A BUS GOES DOWN, WHAT I, I KNOW SOMETIMES MY RESIDENTS GET UPSET BECAUSE THEN THEY GET THE OTHER BUS THAT DOES THAT ISN'T AS NICER AS THEIR, THE THE THE ONE. SO HOW, HOW ARE, DO WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE PLAN OR IS IT JUST AS, AS THEY BREAK DOWN, WE, WE, WE SEND THEM INTO SERVICE. WE DO. AND WE ALSO HAVE A REPLACEMENT PLAN. AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY SO MANY YEARS OR SO MANY MILES, THE BUSES ARE REPLACED. PART OF WHAT SLOWED THAT DOWN IS SUPPLY CHAIN. IT'S TAKING LONGER TO, TO GET THE BUSES. BUT THIS, UM, IMPROVEMENT REALLY DOES HELP BY PROVIDING TWO BRAND NEW, COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE BUSES. BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE VANS, UM, AND WE'LL WE'LL USE THE VAN IF A BUS GOES DOWN, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALL ACCESSIBLE. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY FALL SHORT SOMETIMES, IS BEING ABLE TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT ACCESSIBLE BUS. YEAH. AND THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE SENIORS, AND I APPRECIATE THIS 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE SOUTH SIDE LIONS, BUT WE ALSO DO HAVE, AND I MADE A JOKE YESTERDAY THAT ON THE SOUTH SIDE WE NAME EVERYTHING SOUTH SIDE OR HARLANDALE . SO I HAVE THE SOUTH SIDE LIONS SENIOR CENTER, BUT WE DO HAVE, UM, HAR HARLANDALE COMMUNITY CENTER AND HARLANDALE PARK, BOTH, UH, HOUSING SENIORS FOR NUTRITION. YES. SO, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THERE AND, AND THAT THEY CAN ACCESS, UM, THE, UH, THE SERVICES YOU HAVE. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK, UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS ABOUT SENIOR MINOR MAINTENANCE. [01:55:01] SO WHEN THERE'S A MINOR MAINTENANCE ISSUE, AND THIS IS DISTRICT FIVE, SENIOR CENTER, WE WALKED IN AND THE DOOR, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR WASN'T WORKING. MM-HMM. , WHAT CAN THE STAFF KIND OF SAY IN TERMS OF WHEN CAN WE GET THIS FIXED? UM, DO WE HAVE SOME, AND THIS MIGHT BE PUBLIC WORKS OR MAINTENANCE IN TERMS OF WHO'S MY ON-CALL PERSON, DO I NEED MORE ON-CALL PEOPLE TO FIX THAT? SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE FACILITY. SO IF IT'S THE DISTRICT FIVE ON PRESA, THAT'S A LEASED FACILITY AND WE, WE WORK WITH THE LANDLORD TO MAKE REPAIRS. BUT A A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL ALSO JUST CALL A JOCK AND DO IT THAT WAY. SO WE HAVE A LIST OF CONTRACTORS THAT WE CAN USE. IF IT'S A, A CITY OWNED FACILITY, THEN IT ABSOLUTELY IS OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT THAT, THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT MAINTENANCE. OKAY. BECAUSE I DON'T, I, I DO WANNA LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT OTHER BONDS, AND MAYBE WE NEED A SAN ANTONIO MM-HMM. WE DON'T NEED TO LEASE, BUT WE NEED A DISTRICT FIVE SENIOR CENTER THAT IS A DIS IS A SAN ANTONIO BUILDING, BUT THAT'S FOR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, MELANIE. SURE. I, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR, UM, FOR THE SENIORS. UH, I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND, UM, MARK, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING TO GET EVERYONE HOUSED. UH, THE ONLY THE ONE THING I WANNA BRING UP IS THE SHOPPING CARTS. UH, WE WERE DRIVING, UH, BACK TO CITY HALL FROM THE FIELD OFFICE, SOUTHEAST MILITARY AND GOLIAD 15 SHOPPING CARTS IN A DITCH. SO I KNOW COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? HOW DO WE, UM, HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION THAT, UH, THAT, THAT THE UNHOUSED HAVE TO THEIR STUFF, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS BECOMES A HAZARD FOR DRAINAGE, THAT THIS BECOMES, UM, AN ISSUE FOR THE, JUST THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. SO I, I WANNA KEEP LOOKING AT THAT AND, AND I DO LIKE THE EFFORTS THAT I HEAR ABOUT GETTING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND, UM, AND GETTING CREATIVE ON HOUSING. I HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS ABOUT THAT. LAND BANKING ALSO. AND THEN CLAUDE, UM, YOUR TEAM WAS OUT FOR THE SOFT OPENING AT VIA CORONADO ALONG WITH PARKS AND A C S AND WE GOT SOME PICTURES OF THEM. JUST GREAT JOB. I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHERE WE'RE MOVING. THE ONE THING THAT I DO WANT TO, IN TERMS OF THE HEALTHY LIVING AND YOU KNOW, SOME WILL CALL IT A FOOD DESERT, OTHERS WILL CALL IT, UM, FOOD APARTHEID, APARTHEID, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE GROCERY STORES AND WE DON'T, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE HEALTH CRISES IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, ESPECIALLY AS WE DO NOT HAVE, UM, A HOSPITAL. AND MAYBE WE NEED TO MOVE, UM, RAMP UP OUR EFFORTS THERE AND LOOK AT THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT ARE DOING SOME PORTION OF NUTRITION AND HEALTH THAT WE CAN DIRECT THEM TO, TO KIND OF BE ON PAGE WITH US. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, WE'VE, UM, MY TEAMS USED THE DIABETES GARAGE AND PREVENTION. PO VIDA WAS THERE YESTERDAY. HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, OF COURSE, HEALTHY CORNER STORES. UM, AND I JUST WANNA APPLAUD MY CHIEF OF STAFF, RUBEN ALDE, WHO REALLY WORKED ON THAT VIA CORONADO PROJECT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT YOU THERE. AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER BUILDINGS TO HOUSE YOUR TEAM AT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, BUT THE, THE, UH, THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. I DO DO WANT, DO WE HAVE AN IDEA IF WE'RE DOING REDUNDANCY SERVICES WITH SOME OF THOSE DELEGATE AGENCIES? ARE Y'ALL WORKING WITH THEM? DELEGATE AGENCY QUESTION. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. AND I WOULD SAY WE COORDINATE WITH, UM, METRO HEALTH ON THOSE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS. SO WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT IT IN A VACUUM. WE LOOK AT HOW, WHAT IS FUNDED IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WHO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH, AND THEN WE MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS PART OF PROCESS. OKAY. BECAUSE WE'RE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS IN PARTICULAR THE PHYSICAL, THE SEXUAL, THE STALKING, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AGGRESSION. AND, AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR SEVEN YEARS I WORKED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK MY CONCERN IS, IS WHERE, WHERE WE, WHERE WE ARE KIND OF STRENGTHENING WITH OUR 4,000 AND THEN WHAT THE DELEGATE AGENCIES ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS DON'T SEE. BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES YOUR REFERENCES ARE COMING STRAIGHT FROM THE POLICE, BUT THAT, UH, PSYCHOLOGICAL AGGRESSION, UM, THAT, THAT STALKING ASPECT THAT WE HAVE, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT. SO, UM, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THERE. UM, I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO [02:00:01] KIND OF LOOK AT THAT. UM, AND I THINK THE OTHER THING I'D REQUEST IS HOW OFTEN ARE WE GONNA GET BRIEFINGS, UH, REGARDING THE TUBERCULOSIS? 'CAUSE THAT WAS THE KIND OF A CONCERN FOR ME. UH, TYPICALLY WE PROVIDE BRIEFINGS AT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH, UH, FORMERLY KNOWN THE CHECK COMMITTEE. SO, UM, YEAH, WE ARE QUEUED UP TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE LATER THIS, UH, FALL ON OUR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND OTHER EFFORTS. SO, UM, AGAIN, I LOOK TO THE, UH, CITY MANAGER ANYTIME THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING. YEAH. BROADLY, I MEAN THE, THE REASON WHY WE'RE MAKING SOME ADDITIONS, WE'RE PROPOSING TO MAKE ADDITIONS THERE IS BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF TB CASES HAS GONE UP. SO THE WORKLOAD, UM, SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY SCHEDULE TO GIVE THE COUNCIL, UH, THE FULL COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON TB MAYBE BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. YEAH. AND, AND I'D APPRECIATE THAT. I I'M ON CHECK. SO I'M, AND I'M SURE MY CHAIR IS GONNA SCHEDULE THE REGULAR BRIEFINGS WITH METRO HEALTH. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT'S BACK AT THESE NUMBERS AND MAYBE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO BE BRIEFED. YES. SO ANYTIME YOU, YOU SEE THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU GUYS. JOB WELL DONE. THESE ARE THE UPSTREAM ISSUES. WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT, AND I THINK WE'RE ON, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT WAY, AND WE'RE READY TO GET CREATIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON. COUNCIL MEMBER CAB. OH, THERE'S ATO. OH, I'M SORRY. I SKIPPED KIO HRA. SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU'RE NEXT. MARINA. IT'S WITH A BUNCH OF NAMES, RIGHT? , SORRY. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THANKS TO MARK MEL, UM, VERONICA AND CLAUDE FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. UH, THANKS, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, CLAUDE METRO HEALTH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND GUIDANCE IN INCREASING ACCESS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVES AND UPCOMING, UH, UPCOMING WOMEN'S HEALTH FAIR PROMOTING REFERRALS FOR PREVENTATIVE EXAMS FOR WOMEN. UM, I, I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. I'M NOT SURE YOU HIT IT IN, IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT WOMEN'S HEALTH IS AN AREA THAT WE SHOULD INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING AND ACCESS. CAN YOU TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? JUST OUR FOCUS ON PRIMARY PREVENTION, AND SO WE DO A LOT WITH OUR, UH, NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PROVIDERS TO AT LEAST INCREASE REFERRALS. UM, I DO, UH, I AM JOINED BY OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, UH, DR. JIM DE WU, WHO CAN AT LEAST TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY OFFER. BUT IN BROAD STROKES, WHAT YOU'VE ASKED IS THAT WE MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE FOR HEALTH FAIRS OR MAKING SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE. SO I'M GONNA ASK DR. WU JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING WITH AREA PROVIDERS. PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, THE MOST COMMON REFERRALS THAT WE MAKE ARE FOR OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, UM, WHICH WE HAVE TWO OF IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN, UM, UNIVERSITY METHODIST HEALTH MINISTRIES. UM, AND WE HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THEM GET THAT CARE MORE READILY. RIGHT? LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS FREE. IT'S NOT LIKE HAVING FULL MEDICAID, BUT YOU CAN GET FREE WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE, UM, INCLUDING BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS, INCLUDING DIABETES CHECKS, BUT ALSO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. SO, YOU KNOW, WE TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN APPLY FOR THAT. UM, OR, UM, THERE, THERE'S SOME OTHER PROGRAMS. WE DO A LOT AROUND ENROLL SA WHEN IT'S TIME FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT. WE'RE DOING A LOT TO TALK ABOUT MEDICAID UNWINDING, SO THAT KIND OF THING. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR. UM, GO AHEAD. JUST SAY, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST TO SUPPORT A HEALTH FAIR NEW DISTRICT, SO, UM, WE'LL LOOK FOR THE DETAILS AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT ARE STAFF ARE AVAILABLE FOR THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CLAUDE. I APPRECIATE YOU. UH, AND AS, UH, TO ADD TO WHAT COUNCIL WMAN, UH, GERRAN NOTED, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, TOWARDS, UH, ERADICATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT, UM, UH, NOT, BUT, AND, UH, I THINK THAT WOMEN'S HEALTH IS ANOTHER FORM OF CONTROL, AND SO I THINK THIS IS PART OF IT AND, AND ALL ADDS KIND OF IN TOGETHER TO, TO SUPPORT A WOMAN THAT IS, UH, OR, UM, SPECIFICALLY A WOMAN THAT'S HELPED, UH, DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ALTHOUGH, OF COURSE, THEY'RE NOT JUST WOMEN THAT, UH, ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. UM, I, I ALSO, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND UP THEIR CLUB, BUT I JUST WANNA NOTE, UM, ON SLIDE 13, YOU HAD THE SIX PRIORITY AREAS. I THINK THAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE, UH, THEY REALLY EMERGED FROM THE PANDEMIC YEARS, AND IT ILLUSTRATES HOW RELATIVELY QUICKLY OUR CITY RESPONDED AND PIVOTED TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO, UH, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE FROM, UH, FROM THE CITY AND OF COURSE, THE SUPPORT FROM COLLEAGUES THAT, UM, HAVE MADE SURE THAT THOSE SIX PRIORITIES ARE, ARE FOCUSED AND NOT JUST DURING THOSE YEARS. OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE ONGOING. I REALLY THINK THEY WERE ALL THERE. WE JUST, UM, THERE WERE SO MANY, UM, SHONE A LIGHT ON WHAT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH AS A COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU. UM, THE DIABETES CONTINUUM OF CARE. I, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS TO, UH, WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED IN THE LAST YEAR, ANY DATA BEHIND THAT? UM, I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN TO ALL OF OUR EVENTS. THEY'RE, IT'S VERY WELL, UM, THOSE BOOTHS ARE VERY WELL ATTENDED AND, UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A HUGE, [02:05:01] HUGE CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S MUCH NEEDED. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. UM, JUST KNOW THAT THIS, UH, REFLECTS THE ONGOING INVESTMENT IN THIS WORK. SO, BUT IN BROAD STROKES, YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT THE VOLUME OF ACTIVITY THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THAT INITIATIVE. SO, UH, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLAY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, I WOULD SAY IN, UM, UH, THE PROGRAM ITSELF. SO TYPICALLY WE REACH OUT TO, UM, UH, SIX OR 700 COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE COURSE OF OUR VARIOUS WORKSHOPS. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR JUST A NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS OR JUST VOLUME IN GENERAL? I'M JUST, YEAH. ANOTHER, A NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS LAST YEAR. UM, SO THIS PAST YEAR THEN, UM, IN TERMS OF OUR WORKSHOPS, SO WE HAD 33 WORKSHOPS IN DISTRICTS ONE THROUGH SEVEN. UM, OUR, UM, WE PARTICIPATED IN 90 COMMUNITY EVENTS. UM, WE DID HAVE, UH, AN F Y 22, UH, WHICH WAS THE LAST FULL YEAR OF DATA. WE HAD 369 ADULTS, UH, WHO COMPLETED THE WORKSHOPS. UM, AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON WORKSHOPS AND PARTICIPANTS. UH, THE DIABETES GARAGE IS A NEWER OFFERING MM-HMM. , UH, WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING ON, ON MENS. SO WE ARE STILL TALLYING UP THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THOSE WORKSHOPS. BUT, UM, SO WE'VE HAD, UH, TIED TO THE DIABETES GARAGE 252, UH, WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE WORKSHOP. UM, OUR GOAL, AGAIN IS TO GET TO, UM, 500 PARTICIPANTS. UH, WE'VE OBTAINED, UM, ADDITIONAL, UH, REFERRALS FOR, UH, CLINIC PARTNERS, UH, THAT INCLUDE UNIVERSITY HEALTH, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER. SO WE CAN SUMMARIZE FOR YOU, UH, WHERE WE ARE TODAY. GREAT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU'VE SEEN HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE HAVE FOR F Y 24. THANK YOU. I, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT SERVICE THE CITY PROVIDES. UM, ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, UH, VERONICA, THE TWO SOCIAL WORKERS THAT YOU MENTIONED Y'ALL SEND OUT FOR, UM, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH HOME REHAB, UM, PROJECTS, I THINK THAT WE, UM, WE HAVE TO TAKE ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN TO, OFF TO, TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. UH, THEY'RE VERY BUSY WORKING AND RAISING FAMILIES AND DEALING WITH THE EVERYDAY LIVES, AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS COME TO THE CITY TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP THEM. AND SO TAKING TWO SOCIAL WORKERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN, UM, PROVIDE, UM, CARE FOR THE WHOLE PERSON OR THE WHOLE FAMILY IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. A ADDITION. THANK YOU. UM, I'M GONNA END, I THINK, YEAH. WELL, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME TIME. I MIGHT USE IT FOR ONCE , UM, THE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, FOR MAYBE NEXT YEAR, MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR, BUT TO SOME DIRECT FUNDING RELATED TOWARDS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE BUDGET. I KNOW WE HAD A BIG SHOT IN THE ARM WITH A BOND. UM, AND, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING. I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'VE, I'VE NEVER SEEN IN A SURVEY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS MUCH AS, UM, THAT, THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR. SO I THINK THIS IS HOPEFULLY THE TREND GOING FORWARD. AND THEN THE NEXT BOND, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER SHOT IN THE ARM, BUT I WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY TO PROVIDE, UH, GENERAL REVENUE FUNDING FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR HOUSING. YES, MA'AM. SO WE DO HAVE 9.9 MILLION PROPOSED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. GREAT. IT IS CALL IT GAP FINANCING, BUT IT'S REALLY FOR THAT TO DISTRIBUTE TO THIRD PARTY ENTITIES TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT CAN BE FOR NEW, UM, HOME OWNERSHIP PROJECTS OR NEW, UH, RENTAL PROJECTS. SO, UH, WE DO HAVE, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT WE HAD WITH THE BOND, BUT IT IS GREAT. OKAY. UH, I'M GONNA THANK, UH, JOE VAN KI AND THE OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENT COORDINATOR. UH, AND THEN OUR DISTRICT SIX LIAISON ANDERSON. UM, THEY WORKED REALLY HARD TO HELP US WITH A, UH, AN AREA IN MARBA AND FOUR 10 A COMMUNITY WAS, UM, WAS CALLING FOR THAT. AND NOT, NOT JUST COMMUNITY NEEDS, UH, BUT THE ALSO HELPING THE UNSHELTERED. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF UNSHELTERED THAT WERE ASSISTED IN THAT ABATEMENT. SO I APPRECIATE THAT WORK. IT WAS A, A BIG TASK AND I KNOW IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND WE HAD TO WORK WITH TEXDOT AND ALL THAT, SO I APPRECIATE IT. UM, I'M GONNA END JUST BY THANKING, THIS IS WHERE I THINK WE ALL SHOULD HAVE HAD FIREWORKS IN THE PRESENTATION. UM, IT WAS KIND OF, UH, VERY SUBTLE AND Y'ALL ARE VERY MODEST, BUT THANKS TO ERIC, MARIA, MEL HOMER, AND ALL YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO GETTING A SENIOR CENTER IN THE EDGEWOOD AREA. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, IT'S A FIRST STEP, BUT IT'S A HUGE FIRST STEP. LAST YEAR WE SECURED FUNDING FOR SENIOR PROGRAMMING AT DONNER. AND, UH, THEY, THEY REALLY TOOK TO IT. THE SENIORS REALLY HAVE, UH, ENGAGED THERE IN THE PROGRAMMING THERE MADE A HUGE IMPACT. THE STEP MAKES IT MORE OF A REALITY FOR THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE, FOR THE NEXT BOND, HOPEFULLY. AND IT'S LONG BEEN, THE EDGEWOOD AREA HAS LONG BEEN A SENIOR SERVICES DESERT, IF YOU WILL. AND, UM, I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THESE SENIORS ARE THE SAME GENERATION WHO STAGED THE WALKOUT IN THE SIXTIES AND BROUGHT, UM, INEQUITIES OF SCHOOL FUNDING TO LIGHT NATIONWIDE. AND THEY LOST THE MOST FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE VIETNAM WAR OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN, IN THE COUNTRIES. THIS IS THAT SAME GENERATION WHO IS NOW AGING AND NEEDING THESE SERVICES. AND THEY HAVE ASKED FOR IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I KNOW, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, BUT MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT. SO THEY REALLY DESERVE THIS CARE AND PROGRAMMING, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR RESPONDING TO THEIR NEEDS. I'M REALLY HEARTFELT. THANK YOU FOR, FOR THIS BEING THE BUDGET THAT THE FIR THE SEED GETS PLANTED. I'M, I'M VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. [02:10:01] THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KIO HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTE VETO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I, FIRST OFF WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL, ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS. THEY'RE ALL GREAT. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE CAN CLEARLY SEE Y'ALL'S PASSION AND, AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. UM, I DID WANNA START OFF WITH THE HOMELESS, THE HUMAN SERVICES, THE HOMELESSNESS, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE HOMELESSNESS. SO WHEN I WAS DOING A LITTLE BIT OF MATH, JUST NOTEBOOK MATH, YOU KNOW, I'M SEEING THAT WE'RE, THE CITY IS DIRECTING $50.6 MILLION BOTH IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT FUNDS TOWARDS HOMELESSNESS. THERE'S, FOR, FROM THE POINT IN TIME COUNT, ROUGHLY 3,200 HOMELESS. THAT'S 15,800 A PERSON. UM, I'M GONNA START OFF BY SAYING I THINK THAT INVESTMENT IS NEEDED. I APPLAUD COUNCIL'S, PREVIOUS COUNCIL'S INVESTMENT IN IT. I WOULD BE EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL IF WE DIDN'T INVEST IN THIS PROBLEM. SO I WANT, I I, I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, RIGHT? THE, THESE, THIS IS A GOOD THING. UM, AND SO JUST TO CLARIFY VERY QUICKLY MM-HMM. , UM, AND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, SO THAT'S A POINT IN TIME SNAPSHOT MM-HMM. , UM, OF ONE NIGHT IN JANUARY. SURE. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, OUR H H M I S SYSTEM SEES ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 12,000 MM-HMM. PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING HOMELESSNESS SERVICES. YEAH, NO, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO, I ALSO SEE THE SURVEY RESPONSE FROM THE LAST SURVEY AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS STILL, THIS IS A TOP CONCERN ON ALL, ALMOST THE ENTIRE CITY'S MIND. AND YET WE'RE INVESTING THAT MUCH MONEY. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M WANT US TO PUSH TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN A MORE NEAR TERM SOLUTION. ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT THE TEAM AND I ARE READING IS THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A HOUSING PROBLEM. 'CAUSE WE KNOW IT IS. RIGHT. AND SO I'M WONDERING WHAT WE COULD DO, UM, TO GET PEOPLE HOUSED IN A MORE SHORT TERM. I, I LOVE THE PLAN. THE, THE PLAN THAT Y'ALL WENT OVER WITH, WITH OUR TEAM ON HOW WE'RE GONNA BE GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED QUICKLY. I JUST WOULD LIKE FIRE UNDER OUR BUTTS TO DO IT QUICKER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A, IT IS SUCH A PRESSING ISSUE. UM, I, OUR TEAM, I THINK ALMOST ALL OF OUR TEAM ALSO JOINED THE MAYOR'S, UM, TASK FORCE TO GO AND LOOK AT THE HO UH, HOMELESS INFRASTRUCTURE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND IT WAS GREAT. UH, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT THERE AND THE FEEDBACK THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO OUR TEAM DIRECTLY IS AROUND FRUSTRATION WITH THE VOUCHERS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING THAT THERE'S LACK OF THEM OR LACK OF PARTNERS GETTING ACCESS TO THEM. OR EVEN, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED THAT DAY IS, YOU KNOW, IS IF SOMEONE GETS A VOUCHER, THEY'RE STILL NOT GONNA GET PLACED FOR A YEAR UNTIL THEY GET THE VOUCHER. SO I WAS JUST HOPING THAT I COULD GET SOME INSIGHT ON THAT OR THAT BOTTLENECK. AND THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATION WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME IS THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO WE NEED MORE VOUCHERS SET ASIDE FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS. RIGHT. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PROVIDING SOME OF THOSE SERVICES, UM, THROUGH OUR US THROUGH OUR PARTNERS. SURE. HOW DO WE GET THEM MOVING FASTER? YEAH. AND, AND NOT JUST US. YEAH. MAYBE WE WAS GONNA SAY THIS, BUT NOT JUST US, BUT ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF SAM AND HAVEN FOR HOPE. 'CAUSE AS PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM THOSE PROGRAMS MM-HMM. , THE HAVEN AND SAM ARE GET, ARE THE NEXT STEP OF THAT IS GETTING THEM HOUSED. SO IF THERE'S AVAILABLE VOUCHERS THAT CAN BE UTILIZED, THEN THAT FREES THE PRODUCTION LINE UP A BIT. I HATE TO REFER IT AS A PRODUCTION LINE, BUT IT FREES SPACE UP. YEAH. AND I WANNA ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE SET ASIDES CURRENTLY FOR HAVEN AND SAM MM-HMM. , UM, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO USE ALL OF THOSE. BUT IT GOES BACK TO, UM, STAFF SUPPORT FOR OPPORTUNITY HOME TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS 'EM AS WELL. AND SO WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE HAD WAS THAT INSPECTION TIMEFRAME. YES. RIGHT. AND THAT WAS HOLDING THINGS UP. MM-HMM. , BUT OPPORTUNITY HOME WAS ABLE TO FIND, UM, A STAFF PERSON TO FILL THAT PHYSICIAN. AND SO NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET INSPECTIONS DONE IN A QUICKER TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET THE VOUCHER INTO THAT UNIT THAT'S AVAILABLE. AND SAM AND, UM, HAVEN, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE STAFF FOR HOUSING NAVIGATION MM-HMM. . AND THEN THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS. AND SO WHEN THEY ARE WORKING WITH CLIENTS, THEY CAN PROVIDE OPTIONS TO THAT CLIENT MM-HMM. BASED ON THOSE, UM, RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEN HELP THAT CLIENT LOOK AT THE UNIT AND GET THEM IN THERE. MM-HMM. AND THEN WE GET IT INSPECTED. AND SO OPPORTUNITY HOME, WE HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH THE CHAIR. OKAY. YESTERDAY. I KNOW YOU'VE HAD SOME MEETINGS WITH THEIR STAFF MM-HMM. . BUT, UM, WE'RE WORKING OUT A LOT OF THOSE KINKS TO MAKE THE PROCESS GO MUCH FASTER. AND I ANTICIPATE THIS YEAR WE'LL SEE A LOT OF MOVEMENT ON THOSE VOUCHERS. AWESOME. THANK YOU. I'M SO GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE PUSHING ON THAT BECAUSE YEAH, WE DID HEAR THAT FEEDBACK OF, YOU KNOW, A PERSON GETS A VOUCHER [02:15:01] AND IT'S, IT LITERALLY IS A YEAR UNTIL THEY CAN USE IT, YOU KNOW? AND SO AGAIN, AS THE TEAM AND I ARE RACKING OUR BRAINS ON WHAT COULD WE DO MORE IN THE SHORT TERM, UM, THAT SEEMS TO BE AN AREA RIGHT. OF OPPORTUNITY. UM, THANKS SO MUCH. UM, ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION ON THE ENCAMPMENTS. UH, I KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, CLEANING THEM UP WITHIN A TWO WEEK TIMEFRAME. AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR. HOW ARE WE GONNA PRIORITIZE WHICH ENCAMPMENTS ARE GONNA GET CLEANED UP? WE DO ASSESSMENTS OF THE ENCAMPMENTS. SO WHEN WE'RE, UH, WE GET A CALL FROM THREE ONE ONE OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY COUNCIL, OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WE GO OUT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE ENCAMPMENT AND DEPENDING ON THE, YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES, CRIMINAL ISSUES, UM, POSSIBLY FIRES MM-HMM. AT THE, THE ENCAMPMENT. SURE. WE'LL SCHEDULE THAT RIGHT AWAY IF WE NEED TO. SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE, THAT'S HOW WE CREATE OUR CALENDAR EVERY WEEK. OKAY. UM, AND WHAT IS THE TOTAL THAT WE'RE GONNA INVEST IN ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP? SO IT'S 2.9 MILLION I SAW IN TOTAL 2.9 MILLION. OKAY. 2.2. IT'S 2.9 INCLUDES, IT INCLUDES, OH, OKAY. 2.2 IS FROM, IS THE SOLID WASTE FUND. OKAY. I MEAN, AND I KNOW IT'S NEEDED AND I KNOW IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR. BUT I ALSO DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND KIND OF ECHOING, UH, COUNCILMAN MCKEY RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS. IT'S, IT'S NOT SOLVING ANYTHING. RIGHT. IT'S MARBLES IN A BOX. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TOO, UM, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR. AND, AND ALSO TOO, WE'RE NOT LETTING THE PROBLEM, YOU KNOW? YES. AND WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL, UM, PART OF THAT, THAT COST IS DISPOSAL OF THE WASTE. SURE. AND WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL BE CLEANING UP ABOUT 2000 OR DISPOSING OF 2000 TONS. WOW. OF DEBRIS AND BIOHAZARD THIS YEAR. YEAR. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MM-HMM. , UM, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES PRESENTATION. SO, ON SLIDE SEVEN, WITH THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM, WHAT SMALL SCALE REPAIRS CAN RESIDENTS DUE TO THEIR PROPERTIES? AND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTS TO APPLY? SURE. SO WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN HIGH EQUITY AREAS. SO THAT'S A COMBINED EQUITY SCORE OF SIX THROUGH 10 WOULD ALSO BE TRYING TO, WE WANNA PILOT IT. SO IT'S ONLY A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THAT BUDGET NEXT YEAR. SO WE'LL BE FOCUSING THE GRANT TO HELP, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER 65 FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES, SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS OR VETERANS. SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT MEET THAT CRITERIA. AND THE TYPES OF REPAIRS THAT WE CAN DO WOULD BE FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING CODE ISSUES, SAFETY ISSUES. SO WE COULD DO MAYBE, UH, REPAIRING A FENCE SO THAT THEIR ANIMALS CAN'T GET OUT. WE COULD ADD AN A D A ACCESSIBLE RAMP IF NEEDED. SO THE KEY WILL BE, UM, LOOKING AT THOSE KEY IMPROVEMENTS, UM, AND KEEPING THEM UNDER $10,000 SO WE CAN PROVIDE IT TO THE HOMEOWNER IN THE FORM OF A GRANT VERSUS OUR FIVE OR 10 YEAR FORGIVABLE LOAN. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANKS. THAT'S HELPFUL. AND THEN I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SEE AN INVESTMENT BEING MADE FOR PROPERTY TAX HELP. OUR, OUR OFFICE WAS WORKING ALONGSIDE B C A ABOUT THIS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRYING TO GET COMMUNICATION. 'CAUSE WE FOUND THERE WAS 11,000 RESIDENTS WHO WEREN'T, UM, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET THEM, UM, UH, SIGNED UP FOR IT. UM, I WILL ALSO JUST WANNA PLUG THAT, I WANNA ADVOCATE FOR A DISTRICT SEVEN OFFICE, SINCE Y'ALL ARE MAKING THE, THE CHOICES NOW, WE, WE COULD USE IT. OKAY. BUT THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ALDER. DETO. COUNCIL MEMBER CAS. OH, CORE. SORRY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WOO. UH, WOKE Y'ALL UP. RIGHT. OKAY. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. MELODY, I'LL START WITH YOU. UM, SO FOR THE DELEGATE AGENCY WORK, HOW DO WE DETERMINE IMPACT IN TERMS OF, UM, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REAPPLY? 'CAUSE I NOTICED THAT A MAJORITY OF, ALTHOUGH WE DID THE PRIORITIES ALL OVER AGAIN, MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE FUNDING ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING IN 20, IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR 2023. AND SO HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DETERMINE THEIR IMPACT TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE, DECREASE, OR MAINTAIN THEIR FUNDING? SO WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A PERFORMANCE SCORECARD, UH, AGREEMENT WITH THE AGENCIES. IT'S PART OF THEIR CONTRACT. AND THEY LAY OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING TO SERVE, WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE, THE RESULTS AND OUTCOMES. AND WE MONITOR THAT. AND SO WE RECEIVE REPORTS MONTHLY. WE, UM, DO DESK REVIEWS. WE MONITOR MORE DEEPLY EVERY QUARTER. [02:20:01] AND THEN WE DO AT LEAST ONE SITE VISIT. IF AN AGENCY IS NOT MEETING THEIR PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS, UM, WE ASK THEM TO DO A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, AND THEN WE MONITOR THAT. GREAT. SO IF THERE WERE SOME AGENCIES THAT WERE RECEIVING LESS FUNDING THIS YEAR, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THE DATA AS TO, IS THAT PUBLIC INFORMATION? AS TO DATA? IT'S ACTUALLY ON OUR, OUR WEBSITE. WE POST IT TWICE A YEAR. OKAY. GREAT. THE, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S ON THEIR PERFORMANCE SCORECARD. WE POST THOSE RESULTS. OKAY, GREAT. SO I'LL GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK. THE SPECIFIC AGENCIES THAT DO A LOT OF WORK IN DISTRICT ONE THAT I'D LIKE TO JUST ADVOCATE FOR AND LET ALL OF, UH, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IS BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS LAW, UH, DECREASE THEIR FUNDING BY, UM, ALMOST MORE THAN 50%. SO IT'S LIKE 65,000. AND THEN IN, IN ADDITION, UM, ANY BABY CAN LOST SOME SERVICES FOR CASE MANAGEMENT. AND SO BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK. WE TALK ABOUT YESTERDAY, WE JUST HAD THE MUNI COURTS IN HERE, AND HOW ALL OF THE REACTIVE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING, AND WE SPEND DOLLARS THERE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH PROACTIVE WORK. SO JUST WANNA REITERATE SUPPORT FOR THOSE NONPROFITS. UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM, I NOTICED THAT SAM'S OUTREACH IS ACTUALLY BEING CUT, AND URA OWENS IS BEING INCREASED, WHICH I THINK GUAN IS GREAT, BUT I WANTED TO SEE WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE, SOME OF THOSE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS? SO, UM, FOR SAM, THEIR, THEIR DOLLARS WEREN'T CUT. THEY WERE FUNDED FOR THE APPLICATIONS THAT THEY SUBMITTED. THEY, THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT ONE OF THE THREE, UM, PROGRAMS THAT WE FUNDED IN 2023. THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THAT IN THE SECOND R F P PROCESS. THE 1.5 THAT YOU'RE HOLDING. I'M SORRY. OKAY. YES. UM, AND THEN WHAT ABOUT FOR RA? DOES THAT MEAN WE GET EX EXPANDED SERVICE IN DISTRICT ONE? YES. REALLY IT DOES MEAN THAT. OKAY. SO, SO WHEN WE, UM, EXPAND FUNDING FOR AN AGENCY, WE DO EXPECT CONCURRENT, UH, INCREASE IN PERFORMANCE. CAN WE SEE A MAP OF WHERE THEY'RE, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE REALLY JUST FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN. AND I, I MEAN, LORI DID A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING ESSO TO ME AND GETTING A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH THEM. MM-HMM. , AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING REALLY GREAT WORK. AND THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IS SHARING THAT. SO CAN I SEE A MAP OF WHERE MAYBE THEIR SERVICE RANGE, HOPEFULLY THEIR SERVICE RANGE IS EXTENDING IN TERMS OF, UM, AREA OF COURSE. AND WE CAN PROVIDE A MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE ALL OF OUR OUTREACH IS GOING. OKAY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND JUST WANTING TO ECHO COUNCIL MEMBER GTA'S CONCERNS ABOUT LIKE, SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, RIGHT. WE'RE DOING, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO BE DONE. SO WE COULD JUST, WE, YES, WE ARE CELEBRATING THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER THAT'S BEING FUNDED, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS WHY I AM TRYING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON OUTREACH SERVICES. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET PEOPLE INTO THOSE HOUSING, UM, SOLUTIONS, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT BRIDGE THERE. WE'RE NOT BE USING THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING. WE AGREE. OKAY. UM, SPECIFICALLY ON KENWOOD, I'M JUST GONNA STATE THIS REQUEST 'CAUSE I ALREADY TALKED TO CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. I WOULD, I'M SUPER EXCITED, ONE THAT THIS IS BEING PRIORITIZED. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND THIS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, IF Y'ALL HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, TRULY FEELS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN LEFT OUT. THEY'RE NESTLED RIGHT IN BETWEEN SOME REALLY WEALTHY COMMUNITIES, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH. THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST ADVOCATE AND URGE CITY STAFF TO SEE, INSTEAD OF BUDGETING THIS FOR THREE YEARS, IF WE CAN BUDGET IT FOR TWO. SO I KNOW WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT 24 TO 26, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT. 24, 25. OKAY. ALWAYS ASKING FOR MORE. I KNOW IN THE FIRST TIME Y'ALL TOLD ME I WAS SO EXCITED, BUT, UM, I JUST NOTICED THAT, SO I WANTED TO MENTION IT. UM, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SURE. GOING OVER TO, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES. GOOD. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE TALKED THE OTHER DAY AND YOU GUYS FILLED ME IN ON OPERATION REBUILD. SO I'M SUPER EXCITED AND THANK YOU TO MY PREVIOUS COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE PUT THAT, UM, ON Y'ALL'S RADAR FOR THE MINOR REHAB PROGRAM. ARE YOU ALL GOING TO BE WORKING? AND I KNOW COUNCIL, WE'RE JUST ASKED ABOUT LIKE, THE RECRUITMENT. ARE YOU GONNA BE WORKING WITH C P SS TO JUST GET THE PEOPLE ON THEIR WAIT LIST SO THEY CAN GET BOTH SERVICES? SO YES, WE'RE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH C P S ENERGY. AND THE WAY WE WERE DOING THIS BEFORE WAS IF THEY WERE DISQUALIFIED FROM GETTING CASS OF OTHER WEATHERIZATION BECAUSE OF A MINOR REHAB, C P SS ENERGY WOULD JUST SAY, YOU DON'T QUALIFY. RIGHT. GO CALL THE CITY. AND THEN THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH OUR APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH IS NOT EFFICIENT. SO NOW WE HAVE FUNDED C P S ENERGY 500,000 THIS YEAR, AND THEN IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IS ANOTHER MILLION. SO THEY HAVE THE MONEY, THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE REPAIRS AND BRING IN THEIR WEATHERIZATION CONTRACTORS IMMEDIATELY. OH, AWESOME. SO YOU'RE JUST CONTRACTING THEM OUT TO DO THE WORK, GIVE IT TO THEM TO DO IT. MM-HMM. . OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL. AND WE STILL DO OUR, OH, GO AHEAD. WELL, UH, WE HAD AN AHA MOMENT LAST YEAR WHEN THE COUNCIL REAUTHORIZED THE STEP PLAN. WE HAD AN AHA MOMENT THAT THEY WERE WORKING WITH GROUP OR WITH INDIVIDUALS, AND WE WERE WORKING AND, AND A LOT WERE GETTING BOUNCED OUT OF ELIGIBILITY FROM THE STEP BECAUSE OF A 1500 OR $2,000, UH, ADJUSTMENT THAT NEEDED, NEEDED TO BE MADE. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO, SO, UH, UM, THAT'S MINOR REHAB. ALL RIGHT. SO FOR MAJOR [02:25:01] REHAB, SORRY, I'LL ADD THAT THE CITY ALSO DOES OUR OWN MINOR REHAB, BUT THAT IS, UM, A SEPARATE PARTNERSHIP WITH C PSS ENERGY. OKAY. AND I'M JUST REITERATING AND PUBLIC WHAT I TOLD TO YOU FOR THE MAJOR REHAB PROGRAM. WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. RIGHT. AND SO HOW CAN WE USE SOME OF THESE FUNDS TO INCENTIVIZE VACANT BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN JUST SITTING THERE? UM, WE MENTIONED LAND BANKING ALREADY, LIKE PROACTIVELY THINKING OF SOLUTIONS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND UP AND DOWN SAN PEDRO IN PARTICULAR, SINCE WE'RE ALREADY BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE THERE. YES, ABSOLUTELY. UM, OKAY. AND THEN, UM, THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND I HEARD THAT FROM SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TOO. SO, UH, JUST ALSO PROACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE COMMUNITY ENGAGE PREEMPTIVELY KNOWING THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? SO A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND THEY'RE NOT GOOD AT THAT, BUT YOU, YOU ALL HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO THAT. SO HOW CAN WE CREATE PARTNERSHIPS TO EDUCATE ABOUT WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, WHAT DIFFERENT PROJECTS LOOK LIKE, JUST IN ADVANCE OF NEW POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING? I'LL TAKE THAT AS A MOMENT TO GET, UH, REITERATE OUR REQUESTS FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE STRATEGIES IS HOW CAN WE NOT JUST BE REACTIVE TO WHAT THE COMMUNITIES, BUT HOW CAN WE ALSO PROACTIVELY TALK ABOUT HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, IT'S IMPORTANCE. WHAT PROJECTS LOOK LIKE, WHO LIVES IN THESE PROJECTS AND WHY, UM, THEY, UH, THEY ARE BENEFITS TO EVERYBODY. THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU. OKAY. AND THEN LASTLY, I'VE, I'VE GOT A COUPLE MINUTES AND LEARNED HOW TO GO FASTER. I DUNNO IF Y'ALL REALIZE THIS, I'M TALKING FASTER TODAY FOR METRO HEALTH CLASS . I'M LIKE TRYING. UM, OKAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THERAN MATE, ABOUT THE DUPLICITY, RIGHT? WE ALL, UM, WANT TO FUND THIS WORK, AND WE WANNA FUND THE WORK MORE, EVEN LIKE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE SPECIFICALLY AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AN ENTITY ARISE THAT KIND OF LIKE WE HAVE FOR SARAH, FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS DOING WORK, RIGHT. IN OUR DELEGATE AGENCY BUDGET. WE INCREASE THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICE CENTER. UM, YOU ALL ARE RECEIVING WORK AND FUNDING AROUND THIS. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE LIKE, REALLY QUICK ANY THOUGHTS ON WHETHER METRO HEALTH WOULD BE A GOOD ENTITY TO LIKE, COALESCE AND BRING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER? UM, WITHOUT SPEAKING OUTTA TURN, JUST KNOW THAT ONE OF THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS TO MOBILIZE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK. AND SO I ALREADY MENTIONED THAT WE ARE AN ACTIVE MEMBER. SO THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UH, CO-CHAIRS THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO ENSURE, UH, THE SYNERGIES OF THESE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. SO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, BUT JUST KNOW THAT IT'S PART AND PARCEL OF OUR WORK. UM, SO ANY OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THOSE COLLABORATIONS, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE DO DAY TO DAY. OKAY. GREAT. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. UM, AND THEN FOR THE HEALTHY CORNER STORES, HOW ARE WE, I THINK THOSE ARE A GREAT ASSET. ONE, HOW DO YOU ALL, DO YOU ALL FUND THEM ADDITIONALLY FOR BEING A HEALTHY CORNER STORE? AND THEN HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THEIR SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE? ARE ARE FOLKS GOING TO, 'CAUSE OSCAR DE LA IS MY NEIGHBORHOOD STORE? DO ARE FOLKS GOING THERE FOR THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, OR ARE THEY GOING THERE FOR OTHER BEVERAGES OR SOMETHING? WELL, WE'RE NOT THE POLICE, UH, OR WE'RE NOT POLICING THAT ACTIVITY, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS BY DESIGN THAT WE'RE GETTING. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE HEALTHY CHOICE THE EASY CHOICE. SO WE DO WORK WITH THOSE, UM, UH, DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENTS. WHAT YOU SEE TARGETED, WE HAVE 41 RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS AMPLIFYING OUR REACH IN THESE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. WE CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY WE HAVE IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS. BUT TO YOUR CORE QUESTION, UH, QUESTION, UH, A LOT OF THIS IS PREDICATED BY FEEDBACK THAT WE GET, UH, FROM THE, UM, OPERATORS. UH, AND WE DO HAVE STAFF WHO VISIT THESE PLACES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE MORE VISIBLE. UM, I REMEMBER THIS INITIATIVE BACK WHEN I WAS IN CAMBRIDGE. WE CALLED IT THE HEALTHY MARKET PROGRAM HERE. IT'S HEALTHY CORNER STORE. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A BEST PRACTICE. IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY POPULAR, BUT WE DO FOCUS ON THE DISTRICTS ONE THROUGH SEVEN. UM, SO WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AND TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW WE SEE THE ENCOUNTERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, WHY THIS IS POPULAR IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. THAT'S GREAT. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING THAT YOU ALL RECEIVE ACTUALLY, UH, HAS DATA AND METRICS THAT WE ALREADY REPORT. SO JUST BEING ABLE TO CO UH, TRIANGULATE THAT DATA WOULD ALSO BE REALLY HELPFUL AS TO SEE WHAT IMPACT EACH OF THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT YOU ALL ARE USING MAKE. AND THEN JUST WANNA, UH, ECHO COUNCILWOMAN AND KA VARDAS REQUEST ON WOMEN'S HEALTH AND HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON THAT. FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. THERE'S, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED IN, AND THAT'S THE SUSTAINED FUNDING FOR OPERATION REBUILD. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR MARK CREMONA AND LIZ, UH, THE SOCIAL WORKER WHO HELPED SHAPE THAT PROGRAM. UH, ONE THING THAT I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS, UM, THE SAVES PILOT PROGRAM. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR BEN AND TROY. UM, THIS MEANS THAT SAN ANTONIO WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN TEXAS TO DEPLOY SUCH A PROGRAM. UH, NOT ONLY DOES THIS ALLOW FOR OUR SENIORS TO STAY HOUSED, BUT IT ENCOURAGES SOCIALIZATION. RIGHT. WHAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM SO MANY OF MY SENIORS IS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE FEELING, THEY'RE STILL FEELING ISOLATED. RIGHT? DESPITE [02:30:01] FOLKS BEING OUT AND ABOUT OUR SENIOR CENTERS OPEN, THEY'RE FEELING VERY ISOLATED. AND THIS IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, TO GET OUT. UH, AND THEN ALSO TO STAY HOUSED, UH, WITH THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, UH, OFFLINE. AND IF YOU HAVE THE DEFINITION NOW, THAT'D BE HELPFUL. UM, HOWEVER I UNDERSTAND, UM, I, I, I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S DEFINITION FOR LOW BARRIER HOUSING. AND IF D H SS AND N H S D HAVE TWO DIFFERING DEFINITIONS OF WHAT LOW BARRIER HOUSING IS FOR THE CITY, I THINK WE OPERATE UNDER THE SAME DEFINITION. IT'S EASY TO ACCESS HOUSING THERE, THE BARRIERS THAT ARE OFTEN THERE WITH, UM, SHELTERS, WITH HOUSING, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING HAVING TO HAVE AN ID TO GO INTO THE SHELTER, HAVING TO BE SOBER TO GO INTO THE SHELTER ARE NOT THERE. MM-HMM. . OKAY. AND THEN AS WELL AS EFFECTIVE HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESSNESS, ARE THERE SIMILAR DEFINITIONS THAT BOTH D H SS AND N H S D SHARE? UM, I, FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT WE HEAR OFTENTIMES IS IF SOMEONE WAS IN A SHELTER, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY CONSIDERED HOMELESS, SO THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING. OR IF THEY'RE LIVING IN A VEHICLE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED HOMELESS. SO I, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO HAVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHICH DEFINITION IS HOUSING AND IF IT, IM UNHOUSED RATHER, AND HOW IT IMPACTS, UM, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OR SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES. BOTH OF THOSE, UM, EXAMPLES ARE HOMELESS, UH, CONSIDERED HOMELESS BY HUD MM-HMM. . SO WE WOULD CONSIDER THEM, UM, EFFECTIVELY HOMELESS, ACTUALLY, HOME, ACTUALLY, WE USE ACTUALLY HOMELESS, ACTUALLY HOMELESS. MM-HMM. . OKAY. THAT, THAT'S HELPFUL FOR CLARIFICATION. 'CAUSE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES CASES WHERE, UH, THEY WERE IN A SHELTER, THEY LEFT, SO THEN THEY NO LONGER QUALIFIED FOR SPECIFIC HOUSING SERVICES, UH, UNTIL THEY HIT A SPECIFIC THRESHOLD OF, OF BEING OUT ON THE STREET. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE TEEING EVERYTHING UP TO WHERE WE CAN STREAMLINE INDIVIDUALS INTO HOUSING. BUT I, I, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING. I'M INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE HOUSING VOUCHER PROCESS, UM, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S OVER 97,000 FAMILIES ON THE OPPORTUNITY HOME WAITING LIST. UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SHORTAGE OF LANDLORDS WHO ARE ACCEPTING HOUSING VOUCHERS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF MOVING PIECES. AND I THINK WHAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE HOUSING INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER IT'S FROM, FROM SAM'S OR HAVEN, UH, IS FOR CONSISTENT WRAPAROUND SERVICES, RIGHT? AND AGAIN, I'M GONNA POINT TO LIZ AS A GREAT EXAMPLE FROM OPERATION REBUILD, UH, THAT CONNECTED FOLKS TO READY TO WORK AND, AND DID A HEALTH AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THAT FAMILY NEEDS. UM, A A YEAR OR TWO AGO, I DID A RIDE ALONG WITH THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT. AND THERE WAS A VERY UNIQUE CASE WHERE HE WAS A VETERAN, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM INTO HOUSING, BUT HE HAD LIVED OUT ON THE STREETS FOR SO LONG THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO, TO KEEP HIM HOUSED, RIGHT? YES. IT, IT, IT TOOK, UM, A A LOT OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. UH, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD SELL SOME OF HIS BELONGINGS THAT THE OFFICERS WOULD DONATE TO HELP, HELP KEEP HIS, HIS HOME FURNISHED. UH, AND, AND IT WAS A, A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS, RIGHT? SO I WANNA BE SURE THAT IF WE'RE PROVIDING, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH THESE VOUCHERS, THAT WERE ALSO PROVIDING THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES. UH, ANOTHER PIECE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEEK CONTINUED SUPPORT ON IS, UH, O OFTENTIMES WHAT WE HEAR FROM, UH, FOLKS SEEKING HOUSING ASSISTANCE IS THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE GIVEN A PACKET, RIGHT? AND THAT'S COUNTED AS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE THAT THEY'RE GIVEN A PACKET OF, UH, HOUSING RESOURCES. AND, UH, MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET. LUCKILY, OUR FIELD OFFICE IS IN THE LIBRARY WHERE THERE'S COMPUTERS, RIGHT? BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT, UM, THERE'S A, A HOUSING NAVIGATOR, WHICH I KNOW WE HAVE, BUT THAT WALKS THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE APPLICATION. AND ANYTIME THAT, UM, OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE AGENCIES ARE PROVIDING RAPID REHOUSING OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THAT THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT ARE PROVIDED WITH THE VOUCHERS. THAT'S ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME IS HOW DO WE PROVIDE THAT ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN, UM, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. MM-HMM. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR, OUR PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S THE HOUSING TRUST OR, UM, PROJECTS THAT WE'RE FUNDING, RIGHT? THAT'S ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT THEY ACCEPT HOUSING VOUCHERS. BUT I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REQUIRE A REQUEST THAT THEY CAN TAG ON PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS. I KNOW OPPORTUNITY HOME HAS, UH, OVER 1500, UH, PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS THAT THEY CAN ADD TO OTHER PROJECTS. AND I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE NEED TO, TO, TO TAKE A SERIOUS, HOLD ON, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE'RE PROVIDING MORE ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS. UM, I WANTED TO SHIFT OVER TO THE, THE SENIOR CENTER, UH, IMPROVEMENTS. UH, I, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT SENIOR SENATORS ALL ACROSS THE CITY ARE RECEIVING INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT. UH, COUNCILMAN MENTIONED THE DISTRICT FIVE SENIOR CENTER. MM-HMM. , UH, THAT'S ONE THAT I, I KNOW IT'S RELEASING THE BUILDING, BUT I, I, I THINK OUR SENIORS DESERVE A, A BUILDING [02:35:01] WITH MUCH MORE LOVE THAN WHAT EXIST IN, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT . YEAH. AND WE'LL, WE'LL WORK WITH THE LANDLORD IF WE NEED TO. THE DISTRICT FIVE, SENIOR CENTER OFFICE. SOUTH PRESA. ITS INSIDE OF OLD H E B. RIGHT. UM, AND I, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY, WHETHER IT'S, UH, ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT THREE OR CONTINUED IN THE SAME SPACE, I THINK, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY THAT WE INVEST IN A CITY OWNED SENIOR CENTER. UH, WHETHER IT'S, AGAIN, IN D THREE OR D FIVE, UM, WITH THE CONVERSATION OF THE ABATEMENTS, I SEE THAT SOLID WASTE IS GOING TO BE TAKING ON MORE WORK. UH, IS SOLID WASTE GOING TO BE RECEIVING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP SUSTAIN TAKING ON, UH, ADDITIONAL PROJECTS? YES. OVER 500,000. OVER 500,000. AND THAT WILL BE FOR, THAT, THEIR CREWS AND EQUIPMENT, BUT ALSO FOR CONTRACTORS TO ASSIST WITH, UM, BIOHAZARD REMOVAL. OKAY, GREAT. 'CAUSE OUR, OUR TEAM LOVES SOLID WASTE , AND WE WANNA BE SURE THAT, UH, THE RESPONSIVENESS DOESN'T, UM, LAG. YEAH. THE, THE 500,000 IS REALLY TO ADD CONTRACTUAL FORCES TO OUR CITY CREWS. MM-HMM. , AND, AND IN SOME CASES, AND, AND MEL MENTIONED, HAS MENTIONED IT TWICE ALREADY, THERE'S BIOHAZARD MM-HMM. . AND WE WANT TO, WE WANT, I, I'D RATHER HAVE A CONTRACTOR DO THAT THAN THE CITY CREWS DO THAT. OKAY, GREAT. KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, UM, GOOD TO HEAR. UM, CIRCLING BACK TO THE SENIOR CENTERS, I ALSO WANNA ENSURE THAT THEIR QUALITY SENIOR CENTERS, RIGHT? MM-HMM. AT THE BUDGET MEETING, I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE, AND ONE OF THE WORKERS WANTED TO GIVE ME A TOUR OF OUR NORM SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS FAIRLY NEW. UH, AND THEY IDENTIFIED SOME FOUNDATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT, UM, THEY WERE A BIT SURPRISED WERE HAPPENING DESPITE THE AGE OF THE STRUCTURE, WHICH I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TOO. UM, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE FOR THESE NEW SENIOR CENTERS THAT, THAT WERE HOLDING THOSE CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE FOR A QUALITY PRODUCT. UM, WITH THE DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING, I KNOW THROUGH ARPA FUNDING, WE SUPPORTED THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION PROVIDING THE YOUTH COMMISSION WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO, TO, TO GOVERN RIGHT. AND PROVIDE, UH, MANY GRANTS. I'M REALLY HOPING TO SEE THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE YOUTH COMMISSION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY AND CAN EARN THOSE SKILLS ON, ON, UH, NAVIGATING A BUDGET AND ALSO LETTING US KNOW AS COUNCIL ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, UH, AS YOUTH IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. UM, ONE THING, AND THERE MAY BE A SOLUTION, I'M NOT QUITE SURE, BUT, UH, DISTRICT FIVE HAS BEEN, UM, HAVING AN INCREASE IN, UH, A AFGHANISTAN, UM, RESIDENTS. AND WE'VE BEEN FINDING OURSELVES NEEDING TO HIRE TRANSLATORS TO WORK THROUGH CONSTITUENT SERVICES CASES. AND THAT COSTS ROUGHLY ABOUT 65, UH, DOLLARS AN HOUR. AND THEN OUR OFFICE HAS TO COVER THAT. I, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A, A DELEGATE AGENCY SERVICE THAT WE CAN, UH, BRING ON BOARD AND WE CAN LEAN ON, UM, TO HELP WITH THOSE, UH, THOSE CASES, I THINK. YEAH. WELL, WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE. WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONTRACT, UM, FOR THE CITY THAT PROVIDES, UM, THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES, AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING. UM, BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. UH, I, I KNOW WE CAN'T FIT EVERYTHING IN THE BUDGET, BUT I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT, DISAPPOINTED THAT PARENTING PLUS IS NOT, UH, IDENTIFIED AS A DELICATE AGENCY. THEY DO GREAT WORK AT CONNECTING, UM, THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF INCARCERATED OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH, UH, FAMILY CLASSES, FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES, UH, AS WELL AS, UM, THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO, TO KEEP A BABY HEALTHY, LIKE PAMPERS FORMULA AND BOTTLES. THEY PROVIDE ALL THAT ON A VERY SMALL, UH, LIMITED BUDGET, UH, WHERE THERE'S SUCH A HIGH, UH, NEED. UM, AND THANK YOU ME, I'M GOING TO SHIFT OVER TO N H S D NOW, AND JUST REAL QUICK, SO WE DO HAVE AN AGENCY THAT WE FUNDED THROUGH ARPA LINGA THAT DOES PROVIDE THAT TRANSLATION, UM, AND WORKS WITH AFGHANI. PERFECT. THANK YOU, MY LADY. I APPRECIATE THAT, VERONICA. THANK YOU. AND YOUR TEAM, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK Y'ALL DO. UM, ON THE ISSUE OF, OF HOUSING, RIGHT? WE KNOW, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS DURING THE, THE PREVIOUS BUDGET CONVERSATION IS THE LIMITED FUNDING. I HAVE 30 SECONDS THAT OPPORTUNITY HOME RECEIVES. UH, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO EXPLORE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY HOME FOR A MAINTENANCE AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM, WHICH CAN HELP US KEEP THOSE UNITS UP TO CODE AND STANDARD AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR TENANTS HAVE ACCESS TO A HEALTHY UNIT. UM, AND ULTIMATELY RIGHT WHERE OUR PUBLIC HOUSING, OUR LIMITED PUBLIC HOUSING, DOESN'T FIND IT ITSELF IN A POSITION OF DISREPAIR WHERE WE END UP LOSING, UH, THAT AFFORDABILITY. AND I'VE, I WILL CHIME BACK IN. THANK YOU, VERONICA. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTI. AND I'LL START OFF WITH N H SS D. AND SO I'LL START OFF BY THANKING, UM, THE VERONICAS AND, AND IAN AND ALL OF THE STAFF OVER AT N H SS D. UM, WE WORK WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT ON A DAILY BASIS, I FEEL LIKE. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALWAYS LISTENING TO, TO OUR IDEAS AND FOR HELPING PEOPLE [02:40:01] WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEIR BILLS OR WHO ARE, UM, FACING EVICTION. UM, UH, Y'ALL HAVE AWESOME PROGRAMS. SO I THINK THAT IT'S, IT'S COME A LONG, LONG WAY. THERE'S A $10.8 MILLION BEING PROPOSED FOR THE MAJOR HOME REHAB PROGRAM. UM, AND IT'S, REMIND ME, IS THAT FROM THE GENERAL FUND? THAT IS PRIMARILY, THAT'S FROM C D B G AND HOME FUNDING. OKAY, PERFECT. IT'S ALL FEDERAL FUNDS. THANK YOU. AND SO, AND I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S A SLIGHT INCREASE IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE. I I STILL THINK THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF WORKING WITH, UM, READY WORK AND THE A R P FOUNDATION SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM? UM, AND I THINK THAT WE COULD ASSIST SOME FAMILIES IN OLDER ADULTS, SPECIFICALLY IN RENTAL AND RELOCATION SERVICES. AND I'LL GIVE YOU, AND VERONICA, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS STORY, BUT I'LL SAY IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY COLLEAGUES. I HAD, UM, A D FOUR SINGLE MOTHER WHO WAS A PRIMARY CAREGIVER FOR HER DAD, UM, WHO WAS ON HOSPICE CARE. AND, AND SHE, UM, WAS PAID AS A HEALTHCARE WORKER THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY. UM, BUT HER LANDLORD ASKED HER TO MOVE OUT, AND THEN HE WAS, HE WAS IN HIS SEVENTIES, AND HE DIDN'T WANNA BE A LANDLORD ANYMORE. SO IT WAS A, A VERY DIFFICULT CASE. AND, UM, EVEN THOUGH HER DAD WAS REALLY SICK, HE JUST NEEDED TO SELL THE PROPERTY. AND SO, UM, THAT SAME WEEK, UM, HE WAS STAYING IN THE HOSPITAL, THEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH, UM, AGGRESSIVE PANCREATIC CANCER, AND, UM, IT SPREAD TO HIS STOMACH. SO IT, IT JUST KEPT GOING, RIGHT? LIKE THERE WAS JUST BAD NEWS AFTER BAD NEWS. AND SO, UM, SHE, UH, SHE HAD JUST, UH, SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, WHICH, UM, WAS VERY HELPFUL. SHE APPLIED FOR THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS WELL, THE RELOCATION. UM, AND THEN SHE STARTED TAKING THE CYBERSECURITY CLASSES, BUT THEN IT WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO, TOO, TOO LATE FOR HER DAD. SHE FOUND AN APARTMENT. UM, BUT THE REASON THAT I'M FOCUSING ON THE READY TO WORK, AND EVEN ON THE A A R P IS BECAUSE SHE IS A LITTLE YOUNGER, RIGHT? SO SHE WAS ABLE TO SAY, OKAY, I'LL DO, UM, UH, READY TO WORK CYBERSECURITY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OLDER RESIDENTS THAT DON'T THINK THAT THEY COULD LEARN SOMETHING, RIGHT? AND SO I FEEL LIKE IF WE WORK A LITTLE CLOSER WITH THAT A R P PROGRAM, THAT MAYBE WE COULD REACH THAT AUDIENCE. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY, VERONICA? YEAH. WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH, UM, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND WITH THAT TEAM AND SEE WHAT OPTIONS THERE ARE. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN, UM, AND THEN IT'S SIMILAR, RIGHT? UM, WE, I, I'D LOVE TO SEE IF THERE WAS, IF THERE'S AN OPTION TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SPECIFICALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS OR FOR, UM, FOLKS WHO ARE DISABLED. AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S, UM, A POSSIBILITY, BUT WOULD LOVE TO, TO LOOK AT THAT. WE COULD LOOK AT THAT. OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS FOR, UH, IT'S BASED ON INCOME VERSUS SPECIFIC CLASSIFICATIONS OF POPULATIONS. OKAY. UM, HAVING SAID THAT, WE DO PLAN TO LOOK AT THE, ALL THE PROGRAM CRITERIA TO SEE THIS YEAR, TO SEE WHAT UPDATES MAY BE NEEDED. GOT IT. THANK YOU. AND THEN, UM, I SAW THAT WE ARE FOR THE CITY, UM, EMPLOYEE HOME BUYER PROGRAM. UM, I, ARE THOSE INCOME MAXIMUMS SET FROM THE FED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DO YOU KNOW? SO FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEE, WE DON'T HAVE INCOME MAXIMUMS. THE INCOME MAXIMUMS THAT WE DO HAVE IS FOR OUR GENERAL PUBLIC DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND THAT IS, UM, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. ONE IS AT 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THAT IT'S THE HIP 80 THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDS. SO YES, THAT'S SET THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THEN WE UTILIZE, UH, THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND A SEPARATE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THAT ALLOWS US TO GO UP TO 120% OF THE AREA MEETING INCOME. THANK YOU, VERONICA. AND THEN I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON TENANTS RIGHTS AND THE EXPANDED LANGUAGE ACCESS, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH PROPERTY TAX. I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO, UM, DO SOME ADDITIONAL THERE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUSH ON THAT. UM, AND THEN ALSO, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER AT P C D C AND THROUGH THE HOUSING TRUST AND, AND EVEN, UM, BRINGING IN THE, THE SHIP, UM, SAN ANTONIO WAS RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED ON THE HUD STOP. AND SO, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO, UM, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HUD ABOUT A PROJECT. AND SO WE KICKED IT OFF IN D FOUR AND MARK CARMONA AND, AND A WHOLE, UM, BUNCH OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS WERE THERE AS WELL. UM, SO I THINK THAT WE'RE GETTING GOOD, GOOD TRACTION. SO, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M, UM, ALSO ON THE, UH, STEERING COMMITTEE FOR OUR NATIONAL ACCELERATOR ON HOME BUILDING. AND, UM, WITH THE NEWS, UM, WITH FROST BANK DOING THEIR, THEIR HOME MORTGAGE, WE'LL BE SHARING THAT AS WELL AS WHAT PRIVATE IS DOING. UM, SO I BRAG ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. UM, AND I'LL MOVE ON TO D H S. THERE'S, UH, $532,000 ALLOCATED TO THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND. AND SO IS THAT ALL FOR ABATEMENT? LIKE ALL OF IT? YES. FOR, FOR CONTRACTORS TO HELP WITH THE OKAY, PERFECT. JUST MAKING SURE. UM, [02:45:01] AND THEN WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE HERITAGE SENIOR CENTER. UH, SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, THEN THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE WELLMED CAREGIVER, THE S O S PROGRAM, IT, UM, GIVES SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO CARETAKERS. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT, UM, HAS THE DEMENTIA THAT'S SPECIFICALLY LABELED IN THERE. UM, I, UH, RECENTLY SHARED, UM, UM, WITH, WITH MARIA VILLAGOMEZ THAT MY DAD HAS BEEN, UM, PRE DEMENTIA DIAGNOSED. SO I'M LIKE TRYING TO LEARN ALL ABOUT IT. I HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS LIKE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHOSE PARENTS WERE DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA, AND SO I HAD KIND OF STARTED LEARNING ABOUT IT. UM, BUT I JUST SEE, LIKE, I KEEP, I FEEL LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY I HEAR SOMEBODY MENTION DEMENTIA. RIGHT? AND SO, AS OUR POPULATION IS AGING, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THE SUPPORT THERE. UM, THAT, THAT'S ALL FOR YOU ALL. I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS TALKING TO YOU AS WELL. AND THEN DR. AND THERE ARE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER PROGRAMS THERE. I'LL SEND YOU INFORMATION PROGRAM. THANK YOU. UM, AND THEN, UM, DR. JACOBS, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON DR. JACOBS. NOW I CAN CALL YOU DR. JACOBS, REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU. UM, THANK YOU TO YOU AND DR. IAN. I HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND WE EMAILED THEM AS ALWAYS TO, UH, DEIDRE MURPHY. AND SO THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, DEIDRE, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SORRY. YOU'LL BE LEAVING THE CITY. SO IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW, DEIDRE WAS HERE 21 YEARS AND NEXT WEEK IS HER LAST DAY, AND SHE'S GONNA BE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR SAN ANTONIO SPORTS. SO, UM, HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU. BUT THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE, UH, IN, IN ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS SHE WAS WITH. UM, CAN YOU HELP ME GO OVER HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THE GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 ON SLIDE SEVEN? SLIDE SEVEN. GOT IT. SO THESE ARE JUST A SHORT LIST. UM, SO YOU'RE, THE TARGETS REFLECT OUR ONGOING, SO INFECTIOUS DISEASES. SO THESE ARE, UH, UM, THE REPORTABLE CONDITIONS. UH, THESE ARE TARGETS FOR F Y 24. IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF ACTIVITY, THE ACTUALS, ALL THIS IN REFLECTS, UH, ONGOING, UH, REPORTS, UM, NOT ONLY C OVID 19, BUT ANY OTHER REPORTABLE CONDITIONS. UM, SO WE DO HAVE TARGETS FOR VOLUME AT THE AREA, TESTING LAB, AS WELL AS THE VACCINES, UH, TO BE ADMINISTERED TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN. SO, UM, THOSE, THOSE ARE THE TARGETS FOR F Y 24. SURE. AND LET ME ASK YOU WHY I'M SO WORRIED STILL, AND I KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS DON'T COMPARE TO LAST SUMMER. UM, HOWEVER, THERE'S, UM, ACCESS TO TESTING AT HOME. THOSE DON'T GET REPORTED, DO THEY? UNLESS SOMEONE SELF REPORTS IT, THAT, THAT THAT IS CORRECT. UM, JUST A, A REMINDER THAT, UH, THE HOME TEST KITS, AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPTION FOR FO THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT YEAH. TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. SO AS YOU HEARD, DR. KERRYANN MENTIONED THAT THE AREA PROVIDERS, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS, SO WE CAPTURE THAT. SO IT IS A, AN UNDER REPORT IN TERMS OF YES, THE VOLUME OF ACTIVITY OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WE DO REPORT OUT SURE. WHAT'S REPORTED TO THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. GREAT, THANK YOU. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE KIND OF I WOULD, UM, UH, I, I, I'M JUST, UH, KIND OF AFRAID, RIGHT? THAT, THAT WE'RE MISSING SOMETHING. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE TRACK HOW MANY TESTS ARE BEING SOLD OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? I DOUBT THAT WE DO THAT. UM, BUT I, I, AGAIN, I KNOW JUST LIKE IN, JUST LIKE A, JUST IN, IN DIFFERENT CIRCLES, RIGHT? I HEAR, OH, SO AND SO HAS COVID AND THEN LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN, SO AND SO, AND SO, IT'S JUST, I'M, I'M AFRAID THAT THAT UNDER-REPORTING IS GREATER THAN, UM, THAN, THAN MAYBE WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT. YEAH. AGAIN, I'M JUST GONNA COMMENT AND I'LL ASK DR. KAREN TO CHIME IN. WE'VE KNOWN OF THIS CONUNDRUM FOR SOME TIME NOW, UH, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE AVAILABILITY OF HOME TESTING KITS. UM, JUST, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER REPORTABLE CONDITIONS, UNLESS YOU REPORT OUT TO YOUR AREA PROVIDER OR TO YOUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YEAH, WE WOULD NOT CAPTURE THAT. UM, BUT RECOGNIZING THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN AS AN UPTICK OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, THAT IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OKAY. UM, A TREND. SO YOUR POINT WELL TAKEN, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, BROADER QUESTION WAS AROUND HOW WE AT LEAST ARRIVE THESE. AND THIS IS BASED ON, UH, WHERE WE WERE, UH, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, AND ALSO OUR ESTIMATES FOR F Y 24. GOT IT. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GONNA ALLAY SOME ANXIETY HERE. . UM, SO THE HOME TEST KITS, YES, WE DON'T CAPTURE THOSE RESULTS AT THIS POINT. WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PHASE IN THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE ACUTE PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC. AT THIS PHASE IN THE PANDEMIC. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TRACK SEVERE ILLNESSES, ATYPICAL PRESENTATIONS, UH, THAT MIGHT LAND SOMEBODY IN A HOSPITAL. SO WE ARE CAPTURING THAT DATA, RIGHT? ONCE SOMEBODY GETS A SEVERE ILLNESS, LANDS IN A HOSPITAL OR DIES, THAT GETS REPORTED TO US. SO WE ARE CAPTURING IT. WE MAY NOT BE CAPTURING THOSE MILD ILLNESSES EXPERIENCED BY IMMUNOCOMPETENT INDIVIDUALS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT IS BECOMING ENDEMIC. IT'S BECOMING LIKE FLU. SO WE ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THOSE MILD ILLNESSES. WHAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS THOSE SEVERE ILLNESSES, [02:50:01] ATYPICAL ILLNESSES, INCREASE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU, DR. KI. THANK YOU MAYOR . THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN WHITE. THANKS. ALRIGHT, STARTING ON, UH, HUMAN SERVICES IN OUR, IN OUR HOMELESS SITUATION. UM, I WAS LOOKING AT SLIDE FIVE, YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ON THIS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE UP THERE UNLESS I, I MISSED IT. UM, SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE TALKED WITH SOME OFFICIALS IN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES. I'VE ALSO VISITED WITH, UH, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS WHO, WHO ARE DEALING WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, WHO HAVE TOLD ME THAT WE'VE GOT HOMELESS FOLKS COMING HERE FROM OTHER CITIES. AND TO ME, STEP ONE OF THIS PROBLEM, UH, HA HAS OR STEP ONE OF THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE STOPPING OTHER CITIES FROM BRINGING THEIR HOMELESS FOLKS OR SENDING 'EM HERE. UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH OTHER, OTHER CITIES AROUND US? HAVE WE OPENED A DIALOGUE ON THIS? SO WE, WE, IT IS SOMETHING WE TRACK AND WE HEAR REPORTS OF PEOPLE BEING BROUGHT ON BUSES. WHENEVER WE HEAR THAT, WE FOLLOW UP AND WE CHECK ON IT. WE VERY RARELY FIND, UM, THAT MASSES OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BY BUS. SOME PEOPLE MAY MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN I 35 FROM AUSTIN OR FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES LOOKING FOR SERVICES. HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO INTO THEIR, UM, SAFE SLEEPING COURTYARD, UM, BUT YOU ONLY HAVE SO MANY DAYS TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR RESIDENCY IN ORDER TO STAY ON THE CAMPUS. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT. WE'VE ALSO OPENED A DIALOGUE WITH JUDGE SAKA, UH, THE COUNTY TO TALK ABOUT THESE SMALL AREAS, UM, CITIES. SO CASTLE HILLS, LEON VALLEY, VA, HONEYS HEIGHTS, AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE OUTREACH SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, OR MAYBE THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH US TO PROVIDE THOSE. AND THEN ALSO INCREASE SERVICES IN TERMS OF LOW BARRIER SHELTER OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. SO THAT DIALOGUE, IT'S IN ITS EARLY STAGES, WE SEE THAT IT'S A PROBLEM PRIMARILY FROM THOSE SMALLER CITIES WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY. AND WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. WE NEED TO DO MORE THOUGH, COUNSEL. YEAH. YEAH. AND I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I'M GLAD THAT DIALOGUE STARTED BECAUSE, UH, THESE OTHER CITIES, UH, CANNOT ADD TO OUR PROBLEM. UM, THEY NEED TO COLLABORATE WITH US AND BE A PART OF, UH, A PART OF THE SOLUTION. AND, AND FRANKLY, I KNOW I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A FEW MONTHS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S CONCERNED ME SO FAR IS, IS WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF AN INABILITY, UM, OF OUR CITY TO GET ALONG WITH, WITH OTHER, OTHER, OTHER GOVERNMENTS, WHETHER THEY'RE OTHER CITY GOVERNMENTS, THE COUNTY LEVEL, OR THE STATE. AND I THINK WE'VE GOTTA DO, WE'VE GOTTA DO MORE, UM, TO IMPROVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK WITH THESE OTHER CITIES. UH, AND THE HOMELESS PROBLEM COULD GET A LOT BETTER IF WE COULD GET SOME MORE COLLABORATION. UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE, UH, THE LOW BARRIER HOUSING. UM, HOW LONG WOULD AN INDIVIDUAL BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN ONE OF THESE LOW BARRIER SHELTERS? IT VARIES. UM, FROM, FROM INDIVIDUAL. SO I'LL GIVE YOU A NUMBER. UM, FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, WHICH WAS THE LAST COMPLETE FISCAL YEAR FOR THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER, THAT IS THE DAYS INN OVER ON HOUSTON STREET, THEY HAVE 45 ROOMS. YOU HAD 270 PEOPLE CYCLE THROUGH THOSE 45 ROOMS. SOME STAYED FOR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DAYS, SOME STAYED FOR SIX MONTHS. IT'S, THE GOAL IS TO REALLY DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, DO THE ASSESSMENT, AND THEN IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE HOUSING. PREFERABLY PERMANENT HOUSING FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. SO, AND, AND I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS, BUT WE'VE GOTTA LOOK AT WHAT THE DEFINITION IS. THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IS MM-HMM. , WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR HOMELESS SOLUTION HERE MM-HMM. , AND IN MY OPINION, IT CANNOT BE, UH, GET, GETTING THEM OFF THE STREETS, YOU KNOW, IS IMPORTANT. MM-HMM. , WE, WE, WE NEED TO START THERE. BUT THEN GOING TO LOW BARRIER AND PUTTING EVERYBODY IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UH, IS NOT THE WAY THE SUCCESS NEEDS TO BE FOR ANY ABLE-BODIED, UH, HUMAN BEING, UM, TO [02:55:01] SHELTER THEM, FIND A WAY TO REHABILITATE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY MOVE THEM BACK INTO SOCIETY WHERE THEY CAN BE A SELF-SUSTAINING, UM, MEMBER OF SOCIETY. AND, UH, AGAIN, THERE'S SOME FOLKS THAT CAN'T WITH WHATEVER PHYSICAL OR OR MENTAL DISABILITY THAT THEY HAVE. AND THEN WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SAFETY NET OF THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. BUT FOR ABLE-BODIED FOLKS, WE CAN'T HAVE THEM JUST SITTING IN LOW BARRIER HOUSING, UM, ENDLESSLY PAID FOR BY, BY OUR TAXPAYERS. WE'VE GOTTA PUT SOME SORT OF LIMIT ON THIS TIME, TRY TO REHABILITATE, AND THEN THEY, THEY'VE GOTTA GET BACK OUT THERE AND TRY TO, UH, SUSTAIN THEMSELVES. I MEAN, I MEAN, IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT YOU GUYS SEE? WELL, LOW BARRIER IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTION. LOW BARRIER IS INTENDED TO BE A STOPPING POINT AND A SAFE PLACE WHERE WE CAN DO ASSESSMENT, HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS AND MOVE THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. PERMANENT HOUSING COULD BE GIVING THEM A VOUCHER AND MOVING ONTO A, TO A UNIT WHERE THEY ARE EMPLOYED AND THEIR INCOME GOES TO CONTRIBUTE TO PART OF THAT HOUSING. OR IT COULD BE MOVING 'EM INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. IT JUST DEPENDS ON THAT INDIVIDUAL. UH, I HEARD EARLIER THAT, UM, PERHAPS YOU, YOU DON'T NEED AN ID TO GET INTO THIS LOW BARRIER SHELTER. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT. SO, BUT ONCE YOU GET INTO THE SHELTER, WE HELP YOU GET THOSE ID AND THOSE SERVICES. SO THEORETICALLY, COULD AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT MAKE HIS OR HER WAY TO SAN ANTONIO, UM, AND THEN END UP IN LOW BARRIER HOUSING HERE, PROVIDED BY THE CITY? WE DON'T COLLECT THAT INFORMATION, NOR DO WE CHECK ON THEIR STATUS. AND, UM, WHEN WE FOCUS ON THE, WHEN HOMELESS POPULATION, WE HAVE NOT SEEN CROSSOVER IN OUR FACILITY. SO I CAN SPEAK TO THAT. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT CROSSOVER WHERE YOU HAVE MIGRANTS STAYING IN THIS FACILITY, BUT WE DON'T CHECK FOR THAT. SO, SO THERE IS NO CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE LOW BARRIER HOUSING. IS THAT THAT FAIR? FAIR? NO, 'CAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THE LOW BARRIER OPTION IS TO GET THEM IN THE, THE, THE MORE, THE APPROPRIATE PERMANENT SOLUTION AND PROGRAM. WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE, THE HOMELESS NUMBERS FROM 2017 TO TODAY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN 2017, THERE WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 2,700 HOMELESS, AND NOW WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER, A LITTLE OVER 3000. IS, IS, IS THAT RIGHT? I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DATA. SO TO, TO ME, THE HOMELESS POPULATION'S INCREASING, IT'S NOT GOING THE OTHER WAY. AND SO I'M WONDERING, UM, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SPEND ON THIS? IF WE KNOW, AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON IN, IN 20 21, 22, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SPEND ON THIS PROBLEM? ON, ON HOMELESS PREVENTION, I GUESS SPECIFICALLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. OKAY. LAST QUESTION. I MEAN, 20, 21, 22. SO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ALREA, GATO SAID EARLIER, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING ON THIS. AND I AGREE WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR PLAN. AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT SUCCESS IS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE REMOVING FROM THE STREET. BECAUSE IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT OUR TAXPAYERS IN SAN ANTONIO, UM, WOULD BE ASKED TO, TO FOOT THE BILL ENDLESSLY FOR FOLKS THAT CAN AND SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES. AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO SOUND LIKE I'M NOT COMPASSIONATE WITH RESPECT TO THOSE CITIZENS THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WE NEED, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THERE. UH, AND I'M ON BOARD, UH, HERE TO MAKE SURE WE GET SOMETHING IN MOTION THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, UH, AS I'VE HEARD FROM, FROM MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 10. AND IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN, WHERE THAT ARE LEAVING THE CITY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEIR STAFF OR CUSTOMERS ARE, UM, ARE BEING AFFECTED NEGATIVELY BY, BY THE HOMELESS PROBLEM. SO WE DO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. UM, AND, AND I'M GONNA END WITH THIS RECENT MILKEN INSTITUTE STUDY THAT I WAS READING [03:00:01] THE OTHER DAY. UM, AND IT MEASURED THE, UH, BEST PERFORMING CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. AND OUT OF THE 200 CITIES THAT IT ANALYZED, SAN ANTONIO CAME IN NUMBER 65. SO WE WEREN'T IN THE TOP QUARTER. AND WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS STUDY LOOKED AT IS A CITY'S EFFECTIVENESS AT LEVERAGING ITS RESOURCES TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS CITIZENS. AND THIS ISN'T A CITY STAFF ISSUE. 'CAUSE I THINK Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB. THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR, FOR US AROUND THIS TABLE AND OUR PRIORITIES AND HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR RESOURCES AND EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND ON SOMETHING WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PLAN AND THE MONEY, UM, ISN'T WORKING AS IT'S INTENDED TO, AND NOT PROVIDING THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT, IS MONEY WE COULD BE SPENDING ELSEWHERE AND COULD BE SPENDING BETTER. AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE'RE REALLY GONNA LOOK HARD IN THIS BUDGET AT WHAT WE'RE SPENDING OUR DOLLARS ON. UM, BECAUSE I, I DON'T WANT TO SEE US AS THE 65TH BEST PERFORMING CITY, UH, WITH THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO. IF WE DO BETTER HERE, UM, WE'LL GET A LOT HIGHER UP ON THAT, ON THAT LIST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, WHITE COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA START OFF WITH SOME COMMENTS ABOUT D H S. UH, THE FIRST THING I'LL SAY IS THAT, UH, I THINK WE LOOKED AT THEIR BUDGET. IT WAS $265 MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS. IS THAT PRETTY CLOSE? YES. AND I NOTICED THAT 186 MILLION OF THAT WAS GRANTS. YES. AND ANOTHER 25 MILLION WAS ARPA. THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO ONLY 33 MILLION OF THAT WAS MONEY FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, IT'S ABOUT 53 MILLION BECAUSE IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR GENERAL FUND DELEGATE AGENCIES. OH, OKAY. 'CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE TOTAL THERE. YES. BUT EVEN SO, WE CAN ADD THAT OTHER 20 MILLION INTO THIS, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN 20% OF THE MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO D H S SERVICES COMES FROM OUR TAXPAYERS. 80% OF IT COMES FROM FEDERAL, STATE GRANTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. CORRECT. UH, HOMELESSNESS UNDOUBTEDLY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT. I HEAR ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. UH, BUT IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM AROUND THE COUNTRY. I DON'T CARE WHAT CITY YOU GO TO, YOU'RE SEEING HOMELESSNESS AND IT'S NOT GETTING EASIER OR BETTER ANYWHERE I'VE BEEN. BUT HAVE WE FOUND THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS HERE? UH, WE THINK WE'RE GETTING, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING ALONG. WE THIS, UM, INCREASE IN AVAILABLE SHELTER AND HOUSING IS REVOLUTIONARY FOR US. SO HOUSING FIRST IS KIND OF ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. WELL, I HOPE IT'S GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY CITY THAT SAID WE'VE SOLVED OUR HOUSING PROBLEM, OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM. COUNCILMAN, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO BE CREATIVE AND, UM, UH, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T, THERE ISN'T A MODEL THAT, THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL. BUT LOGICALLY SPEAKING, WITH THE, WITH THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY'S MADE IN PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, UM, WE, WE THINK THE, THE PLAN, WE LAID OUT OUR GOAL. AND, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'VE STRETCHED OURSELVES TO SAY, 400 IS OUR GOAL OF THE 8 74, AND WE'RE GONNA CLEAN UP IN TWO WEEKS. IT'S NOT, UH, INDEPENDENTLY. THOSE THINGS AREN'T GONNA MAKE, MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. BUT COLLECTIVELY, IF WE DO THOSE TWO THINGS AND, AND FOCUS ON PREVENTION, THEN, UH, AND OUTREACH, THEN UM, WE WANNA REALLY STRETCH TO BE SUCCESSFUL. OKAY. THANKS. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT SENIOR CENTERS AND, UH, I LOVE THE SENIOR CENTER WE HAVE IN DISTRICT NINE. UH, BUT, UH, WHAT IS THE SENIOR CENTER PARTICIPATION OR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? WELL, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 33,000 MEMBERS ENROLLED AT THOSE CENTERS. AND OF COURSE THEY VARY MM-HMM. , UM, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION AND THE SIZE AND WHAT'S, WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WHAT'S OUR TOTAL SENIOR POPULATION, OUR ESTIMATE ON THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLOSE TO 300,000. SO 10% ARE PARTICIPATING THEREABOUTS. YES. OKAY. WELL, I THINK THEY'RE GREAT PROGRAMS AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE. I WANT TO TALK TO N H SS D RIGHT NOW. SURE. VERONICA. UM, YOUR BUDGET, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS AROUND 77 MILLION. YES. WHEN YOU INCLUDE OUR [03:05:01] ARPA GRANTS. OKAY. AND 22 AND A HALF MILLION IS GRANTS 25 ALMOST, AND A HALF MILLION IS ARPA AND CARE MONEY. YES. UH, AND SO OUTTA 77 MILLION, ONLY 24 MILLION IS REALLY COMING FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH MEANS, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN 26% OF THE MONEY WE SPEND ON HOUSING AND RELATED SERVICES COMES FROM THE TAXPAYER. THREE QUARTERS OF IT ALMOST COMES FROM FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES. OKAY. UM, I THINK RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS REALLY GOOD PROGRAM. I THINK IT REALLY HELPED OUR, OUR CITY A FEW YEARS AGO, AND IT CONTINUES TO DO THAT. AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS, YOU KNOW, I HEAR CRITICISM ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BUT WE'RE NOT ASSISTING JUST THE TENANT. WE'RE ASSISTING THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWNERSHIP AND BE, MAINTAIN INCOME COMING IN SO THEY CAN KEEP THAT PROPERTY. I, SO I THINK THAT'S A WIN-WIN FOR BOTH TENANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS. UM, AND HOME OWNERSHIP, UH, PRESERVATION FUNDS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET. THEY PAY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONTRACTORS AND IT PAYS LOCAL WORKERS. SO THAT MONEY WE'RE SPENDING TO REHAB SMALL OR LARGE OR, UH, APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT PROVIDES INCOME REVENUE FOR BUSINESSES AND, AND SALARIES FOR WORKERS. SO THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE, THAT WE WORK ON. BUT I THINK PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT. I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW WE'RE HITTING A LOT OF THE NUMBERS IN THE SHIP PROGRAM. HOWEVER, I WILL SAY I, I'M CONCERNED THAT THOSE NUMBERS DON'T REALLY SHOW THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY THAT WE STRUGGLE TO REACH THAT 30%, 40%, 50% A M I LEVEL. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO HIT THOSE NUMBERS BETTER. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND ALL OF OUR NEW HOUSING PROJECTS THAT WE'RE FUNDING WITH CITY INCENTIVES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AT LEAST 10% OF THE UNITS FOR FAMILIES AT 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME ARE BELOW. SO WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON REACHING THAT TARGET POPULATION. YEAH, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. LEMME GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT METRO HEALTH. THANK YOU. THANKS, CLAUDE. I THINK METRO HEALTH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS CITY. UM, YOU KNOW, TO ME, PUBLIC SAFETY IS POLICE, FIRE AND METRO HEALTH, AS WELL AS THE COURT SYSTEM. UH, AND SO I REALLY COMMEND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. NOW, YOU HAVE A BUDGET IC OF $445 MILLION, INCLUDING ALL THE GRANTS AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GET IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SORRY, DID YOU SAY 4 45? YEAH. OKAY. SO, SO WE MUST HAVE GOTTEN A SUBSTANTIAL BUMP. NO. OKAY. 4, 4 45 IS, OH, NO, I'M SORRY. THIS MORNING, I MISSPOKE. I MISSPOKE. I'M SORRY. LET ME CORRECT YOU. 103 MILLION. YEAH, 103 MILLION, BUT 59 AND A HALF MILLION OF THAT IS GRANTS. SO THAT MEANS 43 AND A HALF MILLION, UH, IS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FROM THE TAXPAYERS. SO 45% OF THE MONEY THAT FUNDS YOUR SERVICES COMES FROM THE TAXPAYERS. THE OTHER 55 MILLION COMES FROM GRANTS FEDERAL STATE. AND TO ME, IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE SHOULD BE HELPING TO KEEP THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEN I, WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A POINT OF WAS YOUR 103 AND THE 77 FROM N H S D AND THE 265 FROM D H SS, THAT ADDS UP TO $445 MILLION. AND OUT OF THESE THREE PROJECTS WE'VE TALKED TODAY, $445 MILLION IS THEIR COST OF DOING BUSINESS FOR THE CITY AND PROVIDING SERVICES. BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR EACH OF THOSE IS 101 MILLION. SO THE TAXPAYERS ARE ONLY PAYING 23% OF THE COST OF ALL OF THESE SERVICES FOR THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY. AND I THINK THAT'S A DEAL. I THINK IT'S A DEAL FOR THE TAXPAYERS. I THINK IT'S A DEAL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHEN PEOPLE SAY, GOD, WE'RE PAYING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY OUT FOR THESE SERVICES. IT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER GRANTEES THAT ARE PAYING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE FUNDS FOR THE SERVICES, FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT. ONE OTHER THING I WANNA MENTION IS, IN YOUR PRESENTATION [03:10:02] ON SLIDE FOUR, YOU TALKED ABOUT PREVENTING VIOLENCE. ON SLIDE EIGHT, THEY TALKED ABOUT PROMOTING SAFETY, REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE INCIDENTS, EXPANDING DIVES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES. SLIDE 13 THAT TALKED ABOUT ESSAY GOING FORWARD WITH VIOLENCE PROTECTION. SLIDE 16 TALKED ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, COMMUNITY SAFETY, GUN VIOLENCE. SLIDE 17 SAID, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, STRETCH STRATEGIC PLAN. OBVIOUSLY, METRO HEALTH UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS A GENUINE VIOLENCE PROBLEM WITH GUNS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO STEP UP AND DO MORE ABOUT IT. AND SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, AND SOME OF YOU MAY NOT, THAT MY STAFF AND I HAVE DEVELOPED A WEAPONS EXCHANGE INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IN THIS CITY TO TRY AND GET GUNS FROM HOMES THAT NO LONGER WANT THOSE GUNS FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED THEM, WHO HAVE INHERITED THEM, WHO HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULNESS TO THEIR FAMILY, WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE ELSE GETTING THAT GUN AND DOING HARM TO THEMSELVES OR OTHER PEOPLE. AND SO I'VE TALKED TO THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION, THE PEACE INITIATIVE, FAITH-BASED GROUPS. I'VE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER, I'VE TALKED TO THE MAYOR, I'VE TALKED TO THE POLICE CHIEF, I'VE TALKED TO BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I'VE TALKED TO BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND I'VE TALKED TO YOUR STAFF. AND TOGETHER, I THINK WE CAN HELP GET UNWANTED WEAPONS OFF THE STREET. AND, UH, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO MOVE ON THAT, AND I HOPE THAT I GET THE, UH, ASSISTANCE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN MAKING A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO HELP US DO THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER APPIA. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR MELODY, JUST, UH, SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO. I, I'D HAD THIS QUESTION A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT OTHER CITIES SENDING PEOPLE TO, UH, TO SAN ANTONIO. UM, AND, AND I JUST LOOKED IT UP. I REMEMBER SEEING IT EARLIER. UH, NEW YORK HAS A PROGRAM CALLED THE SPECIAL ONE TIME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY BUS HOMELESS PEOPLE TO OTHER CITIES. AND IN 2019, THEY BUSED OUT 5,700 PEOPLE, UH, TO MULTIPLE CITIES. AND I BELIEVE SAN ANTONIO WAS ON ONE OF THOSE LISTS. UM, I JUST LOOKED IT UP. UM, BILL DE BLASSIO WAS UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT IT, AND HE WAS LIKE, LOOK, WE, THAT'S A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR US. AND THAT PROGRAM STILL EXISTS ON THEIR WEBPAGE. UM, AND SO I IMAGINE, UM, IN THOSE FOUR YEARS OR FIVE YEARS, UM, THEY'VE PROBABLY SET MORE PEOPLE. SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA STOP NEW YORK, ERIC, FROM, FROM, UH, DOING WHATEVER THEY DO. UH, BUT I MEAN, ANYWAY, I LEAVE THAT TO YOU AND, AND, UH, YOUR, YOUR IMAGINATION. BUT, UM, IT'S A REALITY MELODY. I MEAN, I, MAYBE IT'S A MINUSCULE NUMBER THAT COMES HERE, BUT I MEAN, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE CLEAN HANDS, UM, AND ARE SHIPPING PEOPLE TO US. RIGHT. UM, EXPECTING US TO, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YEAH. UM, I, I DO WANNA MENTION WITH REGARDS TO HOUSING, I HAD A REALLY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE RECENTLY. AND, AND I JUST WANNA CALL THEM OUT. UH, PROSPERA WAS, UM, REALLY STEPPED UP IN A WAY THAT IMPRESSED ME. THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. UM, THERE'S AN ARTIST, UM, AN AUTISTIC DISABLED ARTIST, UM, WHO LIVES IN ONE OF THEIR FACILITIES THAT ARTIST'S WORK IS HANGING ACROSS, UM, THE PARKING LOT OVER AT PLAZA. THE ARE ARMAS IS PART OF THE, UH, AFRICAN-AMERICAN LOCAL ARTIST EXHIBIT THAT WE'VE GOT. UM, HER NAME'S ANGELA WEDDLE. UH, SHE'S BECOME A FRIEND OF MINE. AND SHE WAS HAVING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND TROUBLE AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE OF ALL THE, ALL THE MOVES PROSPER IS MAKING TO IMPROVE THESE FOLKS' LIVES. AND, UM, THEY JUST WENT, UH, I MEAN, THEY BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO HELP THAT LADY. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, IF YOU SEE THEM GIVE 'EM A, GIVE 'EM A FIST BUMP, THEY, THEY REALLY IMPRESS THIS COUNCILMAN. UH, WITH REGARDS TO SENIOR SERVICES, I, I, I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE, AND I'M NOT KIDDING. I, I REALLY WANT US TO, TO LEAN INTO THIS. UH, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RUNS A PROGRAM, UM, AND IT CREATED THIS NETWORK, A GLOBAL NETWORK OF CITIES. UM, THEY CALL THEM THE, UH, AGING FRIENDLY CITIES. UM, AND THIS FRAMEWORK, UH, FOCUSES ON RECOGNIZING THOSE CITIES AND LEARNING FROM THOSE CITIES THAT ARE, UH, ENABLING OLDER PEOPLE TO AGE SAFELY IN PLACE, UH, IN A PLACE THAT'S RIGHT FOR THEM, UH, TO BE FREE FROM POVERTY, UH, TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING PERSONALLY, RIGHT, EVEN PROFESSIONALLY, AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, UM, WHILE, UH, RETAINING AUTONOMY AND, AND DIGNITY. [03:15:01] UM, AND THEN ALSO FOCUSES ON THEIR HEALTH, RIGHT? AND THESE CITIES ARE THE ONES, UM, WHO ARE AGGRESSIVELY TAKING STEPS, UM, TO BECOMING MUCH MORE RELEVANT EVERY DAY TO THEIR SENIOR POPULATION. AND, UM, THEY'RE FOCUSING ON, UH, THESE OLDER RESIDENTS NEEDS FOR A BUILT ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM, RIGHT? PEOPLE ARE GETTING OLDER. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY, ERIC, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A HUNDRED MAYBE. UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ERIC, I WANT THIS CITY, UH, TO BE, YOU KNOW, CITY'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND SERVICES TO BE READY FOR YOU. UM, , THE, UM, I, I LOOKED AT THIS NETWORK, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY TEXAS CITY THAT'S ACTUALLY WORKING ON ACHIEVING THAT STATUS AS AN AGING FRIENDLY CITY AND BEING RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE IS DALLAS. WE'RE NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THAT LIST. UM, OUR, OUR A R P LOCAL ORGANIZATION HAS PUT TOGETHER A REPORT ON THAT FRAMEWORK, AND WE ACTUALLY USE THAT FRAMEWORK IN DEVELOPING OUR STR SENIOR STRATEGIC PLAN. BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP TO SEE. YEAH. BUT WE'RE NOT IN, WE'RE NOT CONSIDERED ON THAT LIST. YEAH. SO WE'RE NOT IN THE NETWORK. RIGHT. UM, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT NETWORK WE'RE IN, WE'RE IN THE MONARCH FRIENDLY CITY NETWORK. WE'RE FRIENDLY TO BUTTERFLIES. WE'RE, UH, WE'RE AN AUDUBON BIRD FRIENDLY CITY, RIGHT? UM, AND WE'RE ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR WORLDWIDE, FOR OUR TEX-MEX FOOD. BUT, UM, I MEAN, THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT, RIGHT? YES. UM, AND, AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THERE. SO, UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, UM, YOU KNOW, ERIC, YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA MENTION BOB ROSS 'CAUSE I SAW THAT WE'RE SPENDING SOME MONEY ON THE HVAC SYSTEM. UM, IT'S, I HEARD THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE OLDEST SENIOR CENTER, OLD COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO. START FIRST. UM, Y'ALL, I NEED A PLAN. UH, I, I DESPERATELY NEED A PLAN. UM, YOU KNOW, THE HVAC SYSTEM IS NEEDED, UM, BUT WE JUST KEEP PUTTING LIPSTICK ON THAT PIG AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, UH, THAT CENTER IS, AND NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER, RIGHT? AND IN FACT, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF FALLING APART. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NAMED AFTER BOB ROSS, ONE OF OUR FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, RIGHT? AND HIS WIFE, HANNAH MAYOR, YOU AND I CELEBRATED HER BIRTH, HER HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY, RIGHT? I THINK SHE'S 101 OR 102 NOW, THAT LADY'S IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THE BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER. UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN DO BETTER. UM, I WILL REMIND YOU, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING THIS FACILITY, UH, AND MAKING ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL AND, AND ENJOYABLE, RIGHT? AND MEANINGFUL TO THESE FOLKS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THIS GYM ACROSS THE STREET AT, AT, UH, YOU KNOW, CITY TOWER. YES. UM, THAT THING IS, I MEAN, THE PUBLIC, I DON'T THINK KNOWS HOW AMAZING THAT GYM IS. AND THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO USE THAT GYM OFTEN, INCLUDING ME, RIGHT? I, I BELIEVE OUR SENIORS DESERVE, UM, THE SAME KIND OF QUALITY THAT WE'VE PROVIDED OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? AND, UH, I CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THIS TO OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK WE CAN STEP UP AND, UM, AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT BOB ROSS. SO, UM, I SAW THAT WE, THAT WE'VE GOT A, UM, AN ONGOING, UM, YOU KNOW, PLAN FOR FEASIBILITY AND, AND EXPLORING EXPANSION FOR SOME OF THE OTHER SENIOR CENTERS. I, I THINK IT'S BOB ROSS HAS TURN TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HAVE SIMILAR, A SIMILAR LOOK RIGHT. AT WHAT CAN BE DONE. SO, UM, MOVING FORWARD, CLAUDE AND, AND EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS THAT I'M UNAPOLOGETICALLY OBSESSED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RIGHT? UM, TO THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER ISSUES. AND, UM, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S IN LARGE PART BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY AND I HAVE DEDICATED OUR LIVES TO THIS ISSUE, RIGHT? AND, UH, 23 YEARS NOW OF REPRESENTING WOMEN AND KIDS, UM, IN THESE ISSUES. TODAY I REPRESENT WOMEN AND KIDS IN COURT. UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE GOT A FEW OF THOSE WOMEN WHO I THINK ARE GONNA GET SOME GOOD RESOLUTIONS FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I CELEBRATE WHAT I SAW TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME. I THINK YOU GUYS ARE HITTING EVERY NOTE THAT I WANT YOU TO HIT. UM, AND CLAUDE KUDOS, UH, YOU, YOU'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. UM, IN LARGE PART, THAT'S BECAUSE SHIRLEY GONZALEZ AND I, MANY YEARS AGO, , IT SEEMS FOREVER AGO, WE, YOU KNOW, WE WROTE THAT C C R AND SUBMITTED IT TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE BIRTH TO THIS COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION, RIGHT? UM, AND THAT WAS THE EFFORT HERE WAS TO CREATE A FIRST EVER, RIGHT, UM, EFFORT TO CREATE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CROSS-SECTOR, MULTI-SECTOR GROUP OF, OF STAKEHOLDERS AND GET THEM ALL WALKING, YOU KNOW, UM, LOCKSTEP AND SINGING FROM THE SAME HYMNAL, IF YOU WILL. SO, I, I THINK YOU GUYS ARE AT, AT THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION, MARIA, I THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING IT. YOU'RE, YOU'RE MEETING THE GOALS, RIGHT? THE GOAL WAS TO ALIGN SERVICES AND GET EVERYBODY START TALKING THE SAME WAY, AND TO AMPLIFY THE CONVERSATION FOR EVERYBODY, AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND EDUCATE OURSELVES. AND, UM, I'M, I'M REALLY PROUD OF, OF WHAT YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING OVER THERE. AND I [03:20:01] WANNA THANK YOU AND, UH, JUDGE MONIQUE DIAZ FOR, FOR, UM, TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY. I, I DO THINK, CLAUDE, AND YOU'VE HEARD ME MENTION IT BEFORE, THAT, UM, THE, I FEEL LIKE THE, THE NEXT EVOLUTIONARY STEP OF THIS EFFORT IS TO RECRUIT MEN. UM, AND TO BE REALLY, REALLY, UH, DELIBERATE ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ROLE THAT MEN PLAY. WE, WE PROVIDE A LOT OF SERVICES TO VICTIMS, RIGHT? ON THE BACKEND AFTER THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. BUT, UM, IF WE DON'T INCLUDE MEN AND TALK ABOUT BOYS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP IS AND WHAT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP NOT ISN'T, AND THEIR OBLIGATION TO KEEP THEIR LOVED ONES AT HOME SAFE, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE DOING HALF THE JOB, RIGHT? AND I, IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE FOR THE NEXT BUDGET, RIGHT? I'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR PLAN IS TO, UM, TO EMBRACE RIGHT MEN IN, IN, IN THIS CONVERSATION. ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, AS IF, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CROSS-DISCIPLINARY EFFORTS, I, UH, AND CHRIS CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CROSS-SECTOR, UM, PARTNERS, I, THIS IS A BUSINESS ISSUE. THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE. WOMEN THAT ARE BY DEFINITION, HOMELESS, STAYING IN A HOMELESS SHELTER, AND WOMEN WHO CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE THEIR PARTNER ISN'T LETTING THEM GO TO WORK, OR WHO ARE TERRORIZED AT WORK BY THEIR PARTNERS, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE MORE LIKELY TO QUIT THEIR JOBS, MORE LIKELY TO NOT SHOW UP EVER AGAIN, RIGHT? MORE LIKELY TO PRODUCE, UM, AND TO PERFORM POORLY. AND SO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A ROLE FOR OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND OUR BUSINESS ADVOCATES HERE IN TOWN TO BE INVITED TO THIS COMMISSION, MARIA. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THEY ARE, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S SOME LARGE COMPANIES OUT THERE WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE INVITED. UM, ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A LARGE L G B T Q POPULATION HERE IN TOWN, AND WE KNOW THAT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IS, UH, A BIGGER PROBLEM IN THE COMMUNITY THAN, THAN IT IS IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NON L G B T Q COMMUNITY. AND WE NEED TO, UM, HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SPECIALIZED SERVICES AND, UH, MAYBE BRING IN MORE OF THE ADVOCATES, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, BUT ALSO THE RESEARCHERS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS AREA TO SEE IF THERE'S WAYS TO, UM, TO INNOVATE AROUND THAT. LASTLY, I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU IN THE, UH, LAST 10 SECONDS, THIS, UM, ACADEMIC HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT YOU COVERED, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT, UM, WE HAVE AN INDIAN POPULATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT'S HUGE, RIGHT? SO 20 PLUS PERCENT OF MEDICAL STUDENTS ARE INDIAN. UM, 20 PLUS PERCENT OF DOCTORS IN THE US ARE INDIAN, RIGHT? UM, AND THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATION AS WELL. WHEN THE MAYOR AND I WERE IN INDIA, WE LEARNED THAT $7.1 BILLION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS GENERATED BY STUDENTS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. I THINK ALEX LOPEZ, ERIC, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY HAVE THIS HEALTH PROGRAM CONVERSATION IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SAN ANTONIO IN INDIA, RIGHT? AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING THAT PIECE, AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD ENHANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ABILITY TO SERVE PEOPLE. AND SO, ANYWAY, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, AND I, I APPRECIATE WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE DOING. CLAUDIA, YOU'RE MY HERO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. PIA, I WILL CONCUR ABOUT BOB ROSS, UH, HAVING SERVED IN THAT AREA. UH, BUT I DO WANNA MAKE NOTE, SAN ANTONIO IS PART OF THE AGE FRIENDLY CITY NETWORK FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE SIGNED THE COMMITMENT IN 2014, WHICH WAS REAFFIRMED IN 2017, WE HAVE, UH, WE NEED TO TELL THE WORLD A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE GREAT STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING HERE, BUT, UM, CERTAINLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANNA LEAVE BEHIND, UH, AS AN AGE, COMMUNITY AGE FRIENDLY CITY. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, AND, AND THANK YOU. UH, I, I DON'T INTEND TO TALK AT CITY STAFF, BUT I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. AND, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REBUTTAL TO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GET THINGS RIGHT. RIGHT. UM, FIRST STARTING OFF WITH THE 2022 HOUSING BOND WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE FIRST, UH, MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO INVEST IN THEIR PUBLIC HOUSING. UH, WE'RE IN A UNIQUE POSITION IN THAT WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING STOCKS STILL EXISTING WITH LEADERSHIP THAT'S COMMITTED TO KEEPING PUBLIC HOUSING PUBLIC. WE NOW HAVE THE SAFES PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW SENIORS TO STAY HOUSED. UH, WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT, TO INVEST IN OPPORTUN AN OPPORTUNITY HOME MAINTENANCE AND ACCESSIBILITY FUND TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PRESERVE AND KEEP THAT REOCCURRING PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE PUBLIC HOUSING. UM, FURTHER RIGHT? I THINK THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TITLE CLEARANCE IS IMPORTANT. AND A GOOD START. I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL AND THE REQUEST FOR A HOME PRESERVATION CENTER, WHICH WOULD ACT AS A ONE-STOP SHOP, UH, FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO, UM, ONE RIGHT, WORK ON THAT TITLE CLEARANCE. TWO APPLY FOR THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. AND THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE, UM, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, HAVE THEIR OFFICE THERE AS WELL. SO IT'S A ONES STOP SHOP FOR HOUSING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL COMMUNITY [03:25:01] MEMBERS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. FURTHER, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALSO INVESTED IN THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST LAST BUDGET YEAR, AND I HOPE THAT WE COULD CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT THIS YEAR WITH A $250,000 INVESTMENT TO CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT THAT WE PUT THERE LAST YEAR. UH, BRIEFLY, I WANTED TO PIVOT OVER TO METRO HEALTH. I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN HOVER OFF FOR HER ADVOCACY IN ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UH, WOMEN AND THEIR, THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE. UH, AVOW TEXAS WAS HERE EARLIER, UH, AND THEY, THEY LEFT ME THIS FLYER, AND I KNOW THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO THE MAJORITY OF OUR OFFICES, UH, ASKING FOR US TO SUPPORT A RE, UH, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND. UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PASSED, UM, A RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THAT WE SUPPORT WOMEN IN THEIR HEALTHCARE. AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PUT, UH, A FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF THAT. SO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FUND THAT WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AND LIFESAVING REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES. SO THERE ARE A WEALTH OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS DOING THAT COMMUNITY WORK, LIKE BUCCAL BUNNIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ESTABLISH SAFE ACCESS POINTS FOR RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE RESOURCES SUCH AS EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, PREGNANCY TESTS, UM, MENSTRUAL MENSTRUAL SUPPLIES, DIAPERS, AND SO MUCH MORE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE, UH, CULTURALLY RELEVANT, UM, REPRODUCTIVE RESOURCES. SO THERE'S A WEALTH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, AND I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO SCALE UP AND SUPPORT, UH, METRO HEALTH, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT, UH, FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THAT REALLY OF TIME, UH, WITH THE HEALTHY CORNER STORES. DURING OUR BUDGET MEETING, WE HAD A REALLY, UH, INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE HEALTHY CORNER STORES. I KNOW THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ADVERTISE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I LIVE TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM A CORNER STORE THAT IS A HEALTHY CORNER STORE, AND THEY HAVE A, A DECAL ON THE DOOR. UM, BUT I, I WOULD HOPE TO SEE US, UM, DO MORE OUTREACH SO COMMUNITIES KNOW THAT IT'S A HEALTHY CORNER STORE. UH, OFTENTIMES, UM, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENCY KNOWS THAT IT'S IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF US DO MORE EXTENDED OUTREACH ON THAT. FOR THE AIR QUALITY PIECE ON, I BELIEVE SLIDE 11, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR MY DISTRICT, GIVEN OUR HIGH CONCENTRATION OF METAL AND CAR RECYCLING PLANTS. UH, I KNOW ARKANA NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FOR YEARS HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING, UH, TO HAVE THE AIR QUALITY TESTED THERE. RIGHT. AND I GUESS A, A QUESTION THAT WE CAN, I'D LIKE TO GET A RESPONSE OFFLINE, IS FOR MANY OF THESE AUTOMOTIVE AND METAL RECYCLING PLANTS THAT RECEIVE CODE COMPLIANCE CITATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US EXPLORE SHIFTING THOSE, UM, CITATION DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE TREATMENT, TO SUPPORT THE TREE MITIGATION FUND OR METRO HEALTH TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HELP ALLEVIATE, UH, THE, THAT, THAT, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL HARM AND THE AIR QUALITY THAT'S REALLY IMPACTING THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, STANDUP SA HAS, UM, LOOKING AT THE DATA, THEY'VE SUCCESSFULLY HELPED ALLEVIATE, UH, GUN VIOLENCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BRIEFED ON THE OVERALL IMPACT OF STANDUP SA, BUT THIS PROGRAM'S WORKING, RIGHT. THEY'VE DIFFUSED THE ESTIMATED 100 CONFLICTS A YEAR. UH, AND I THINK WHILE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POLICE STRATEGY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLIMENT IT WITH STANDUP SA THAT HAS THE DATA TO PROVE, UH, THAT IT IS IN FACT SUCCESSFUL. SO, A, A, AGAIN, IF WE HAVE 9 MILLION FOR A HUNDRED NEW OFFICERS, THEN WE SHOULD AT LEAST COMPLIMENT IT WITH INCREASING, UH, STANDUP ESSAY. I HAVE 13 SECONDS. SO WITH THAT, I THINK COUNCILMAN BLIS HIT ON A REALLY GOOD POINT WITH, UH, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH UT HEALTH. UH, THE MAYOR AND DR. ROCHER AND I WERE ABLE TO VISIT WITH THE, THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, UH, LEARNING THAT THEY ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. UH, AND THEY PROVIDE SERVICES IN DISTRICT FIVE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, HELP US HELP THEM EXPAND THEIR PROGRAMMING TO SERVE ADULTS, UH, WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE. YEAH, JUST, JUST TWO LAST THINGS HERE. AGAIN, WE'VE GOTTA BE MORE STRATEGIC WITH HOW WE USE OUR DOLLARS. AND IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT ALWAYS, AND RARELY, I WOULD ARGUE, IS IT THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO JUST THROW MORE MONEY AT A PROBLEM, HIRE MORE, MORE PEOPLE. UM, WE NEED TO USE OUR DOLLARS BETTER, UH, AND THE FOLKS WE HAVE OUT THERE, UM, DOING SOME OF THIS WORK, UM, NEED TO FIND NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO, TO GET THE JOB DONE. I MEAN, I SEE TWO MORE POSITIONS. UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THE, ON THE OUTREACH SIDE, TWO MORE POSITIONS ON THE, YOU KNOW, HOMELESS, HOMELESS PREVENTION. UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S A LOT OF DOLLARS GOING INTO THIS STUFF. AND, UH, I'D RATHER SEE THE MONEY THAT WE'RE ALREADY SPENDING, UM, USED IN, IN A BETTER MANNER, UM, ON HEALTH. UM, I WAS TALKING TO MY, TO MY FRIEND HERE IN, UH, IN DISTRICT NINE. UM, WE TALK ABOUT GRANTS AND [03:30:01] WHAT, WHAT SAN ANTONIO TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR AND, AND WHAT THEY'RE NOT. YOU KNOW, GRANTS ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIOS ARE STILL PAYING FOR, FOR THAT AS WELL. I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS NOT MONEY COMING OUTTA, UH, COMING OUTTA THIN AIR. SO, SO YES, I UNDERSTAND THE POINT THAT, THAT FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, MAYBE MAYBE 23 OR 24% IS, IS COMING FROM THERE. BUT THIS GRANT MONEY, UM, AGAIN, IT'S DOLLARS THAT OUR TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. UM, AND SPEAKING OF THAT ESSAY FORWARD, I GUESS WAS A, WAS A GRANT PROGRAM, RIGHT? AND THE FUNDING IS, IS ENDING IS, IS THAT RIGHT? NO, NO. SA FORD IS OUR PLAN. IT WAS INITIALLY FUNDED THROUGH A VARIETY OF GRANTS. PART OF THE PLAN, UM, WAS THAT AS THOSE GRANTS ROLLED OFF, THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD INCREASE OUR LOCAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE THOSE PROGRAMS. RIGHT. SO IT DID, IT STARTED OFF THROUGH GRANTS AND NOW SLOWLY WE'RE TRANSITIONING IT, UM, TO A PROGRAM WHERE, WHERE WE'RE PAYING FOR IT OUT OF, OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND. YEAH. BUT IT'S NOT A GRANT PROGRAM. THE S A FORD WAS OUR LOCAL STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE GAVE TO THE COUNCIL. SO WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT. IT WAS MADE UP OF A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE, THAT WE'D RECEIVED PRIMARILY DURING C O V I D, BUT WAS FOCUSED ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SO THAT, THAT ENGINE GREW OVER TIME, UH, GOING FORWARD. RIGHT. AND THERE'S, THERE'S NO LONGER GONNA BE ANY GRANT THERE, THERE ARE SOME STILL, THERE ARE SOME GRANTS THAT ARE, WE STILL HAVE ACCESS TO. THEY'LL ROLL OFF COMPLETELY IN 25, I THINK IN 20 25, 27. SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE A, A LITTLE BIT OF A RUNWAY TO, TO GET TO, WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE THOSE GRANTS PRIMARILY, BUT AS THEY ROLL OFF, CONTINUE TO BUILD UP THE CAPACITY OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO AS THE GRANTS ROLL OFF, WE'LL START TO DO MORE OF THE FUNDING YES. OURSELVES AS THE PLAN. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE, LET, LET ME JUST WRAP UP WITH A FEW COMMENTS. IT'S, UH, 1 35 AND WE'RE WAY OVER TIME. WE ARE GONNA START THE, UH, SECOND BUDGET MEETING AT TWO 30. SO, UH, WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO TAKE YOUR MEETINGS AND GRAB A BITE TO EAT. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY JUST THIS IS ALL REMINISCENT OF THE FIRST BUDGET IN 2017 WHERE WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO USE AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK, AND WE PRECEDED THAT BUDGET WITH A CONVERSATION, A VERY OPEN AND CANDID CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF REDLINING ON OUR CITY. AND WE HAD CHRISTINE RENAN COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF A CITY IGNORING ITS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITY, DISPARITIES THAT HAVE LED TO THE THINGS THAT WE SEE AND ARE FORTUNATELY SEEING MORE OF BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS HAD, THAT HAS SUFFERED DISPROPORTIONATELY WITH ECONOMIC INEQUITY AND POVERTY HAS SUFFERED MORE BE THROUGH THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC. AND THAT'S TRUE EVEN ON SIDES OF TOWN. AND WE CAN TRACK THOSE THROUGH THE HEALTH METRICS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO IT WOULD BE FAR EASIER FOR US TO IGNORE THOSE PROBLEMS AND JUST CONTINUE TO BUILD A TALE OF TWO CITIES HERE. BUT WE DEVOTED OURSELVES TO CHANGING THAT FORMULA IN 2017. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT DESPITE THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHANGING NAMES ON THE NAME PLATES, WE'VE STAYED COMMITTED TO THAT. AND THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE FOR THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, GENERATION OR MORE. SO, UM, WE ARE DOING THINGS BY STRATEGY, AND OUR STRATEGY IS TO RESTORE EQUITY IN COMMUNITIES. AND YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH THE STRATEGY, BUT IT IS A STRATEGY. AND IN MY VIEW, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT TRAILING INDICATORS TO TALK ABOUT HOW A CITY IS PERFORMING, WE'RE MISSING THE MARK BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BUILD CITIES THAT HAVE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS, AND THEY HAVE PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THAT'S EDUCATION OR CAREERS OR FRANKLY, JUST TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE. UM, AND, AND WE DON'T DO THINGS FOR PEOPLE, BUT WE DO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT SO LONG AS I'M MAYOR, IS MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD A CITY THAT IS RESTORING EQUITY AND GIVING EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN TO LAUNCH STRATEGIC PLANS FOR HOUSING, FOR HEALTH, UH, FOR HUMAN SERVICES. MELODY, I REMEMBER, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME YOU GAVE US THOSE FOUR MAJOR AREAS TO INVEST OUR HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET BEFORE, BEFORE THAT IT WAS JUST A GRAB BAG. NOW WE HAVE ACTUAL STRATEGIC FOCUS, WHETHER THAT'S FAMILY WELLBEING OR THAT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. WE'VE GOT AREAS OF STRATEGIC FOCUS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET THAT WE NEVER HAD BEFORE. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT OUR PROCESS IS PERFECT. [03:35:01] I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS HOW WE HAVE TO DO THINGS, UM, EXACTLY THE WAY MOVING FORWARD. WE ARE GOING TO EVOLVE. UM, BUT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. AND IN DOING SO, WE'RE TACKLING THE VERY FOUNDATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT MADE THIS CITY SO INEQUITABLE AND DISPARATE TO BEGIN WITH, WHICH IS WHY EVEN TO THIS DAY, YOU D DRAW A LINE IN MERIDIAN ARE CITY ON A MAP, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW LIFE EXPECTANCY CHANGE, LIFE EXP EXPENSE, LIFE EXPECTANCY CHANGES ALONG WITH THE CORRELATED ISSUES OF POVERTY, LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, LACK OF CAREER OPPORTUNITY, ET CETERA. SO WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS WITH REGARD TO BUILDING A CITY WHERE ANYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. AND I'M PROUD OF THAT WORK AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE AFTER IT. AND HOPEFULLY ONE OF THESE DAYS, UH, WE'LL SEE THAT AFFECTED AND THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT OUR CITY FROM OUTSIDE. BUT, UM, THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE THE, THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE 'EM. UH, SO WITH THAT, IT'S UH, 1 5 30 9:00 PM ON THE 24TH OF AUGUST, 2023. UH, WE ARE ADJOURNED. WE'LL BE BACK AT TWO 30 IN THIS ROOM. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.