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>> CASTILLO: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 2:01 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> CLERK: WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO IS HERE. I COMBINED THE LAST NAMES. AND DR. KAUR IS PRESENT AS
[1. Approval of minutes from the Community Health Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.]
WELL. THE NEXT ITEM -- THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024. CAN I GET A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL? CAN WE VOTE, PLEASE. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. ITEM 2 IS PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY FOLKS SIGNEDUP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> CLERK: WE HAVE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
UP TO SPEAK. >> CASTILLO: WE CAN MOVE ON TO ITEM 2, BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF THE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS ROAD MAP BY THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT TO DISCUSS PLANS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN FOOD ACCESS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO. THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY DR. CLAUDE JACOB.
>> JACOB: GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE TODAY'S BRIEFING. THIS AFTERNOON'S PRESENTATION PERTAINS TO DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOOD ACCESS ROAD MAP AND PROGRESS MADE SINCE OUR LAST REPORT TO THIS COMMITTEE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2022. AGAIN, THIS EFFORT ALIGNS WITH PRIORITY AREAS REFLECTED IN OUR SA FORWARD PLAN AND ANCHORS TO THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED POLICY OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OFFICE AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT'S CHRONIC DISEASE SECTION. SPECIAL THANKS TO MY CREW, SHAUN GREEN, KATHY SHIELDS, SONIA GONZALES AND MARJORIE WHITE AND OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR DR. WOO FOR PROVIDING OVERSIGHT FOR THIS EFFORT. I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH THESE. YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE SLIDES.
I WANT TO BRING FOLKS UP TO SPEED AND TALK ABOUT PROGRESS AROUND OUR ASSESSMENT, OUR ORGANIZATIONAL ALIGN THIS AND HOW THIS OFTEN COURSE TO PARTNERS ON THE GROUND. JUST A REMINDER OUR JOURNEY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS WAS A CHARGE SET FORTH BY THE CCR FILED BY COUNCILMEMBERS JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER SANDOVAL TO ADDRESS DISSPIRE TEASE IN FOOD -- DISPARITIES AND ASSESSMENT, LOOKING AT THE WAY WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR REACH THROUGH PARTNERS, DEVELOPING METRICS AND LOOKING AT COORDINATED ACTIONS.
JUST NOW MY PRESENTATION THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE ORGANIZED AROUND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LAST FUEL. SO FOR ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, WE SHARED THIS DIAGRAM TO ILLUSTRATE THE VARIABLES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CONUNDRUM OF FOOD INSECURITY. WHAT WE HEARD IS FOOD INSECURITY IS A PRODUCT OF SEVERAL COMPLEX FACTORS. THIS IS IN LINE WITH NUMEROUS FOOD SECURITY STUDIES INDICATING ACCESS IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE. FOOD INSECURITY IS DEFINED AS A LACK OF CONSISTENT ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT, SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD WHICH MEETS DIETARY NEEDS FOR AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFE. IT'S ALSO HOUSEHOLD LEVEL AND SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF LIMITED OR UNCERTAIN ACCESS TO ADEQUATE FOOD THAT MEETS CULTURAL OR PERSONAL NEEDS. FOOD INSECURITY MAY BEGIN WITH WORRYING ABOUT WHERE THE NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM AND CAN LEAD TO MISSED MEALS AND POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES.
JUST KNOW THIS SCHEMATICS SHOWS THEE CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO FOOD SECURITY, ACCESS, AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF FOOD AND NUTRITION AND UTILIZATION OF FOOD. OUR TEAM JUST KNOW AND I'LL BE PROVIDING HIGHLIGHTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ACROSS THESE THREE DIFFERENT AREAS, SO LOOKING AT AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR HEALTHY TOWARD NATURE STORES, HEALTHY FOOD POLICY FOR COSA AND DOUBLE UP BUCKS PROGRAM AND RESOURCE CENTER AND THEN UNDER NUTRITION AND UTILIZATION, KNOWING OUR ONGOING EFFORTS AND INNOVATIONS AROUND THE GARDENS PROJECT, OUR WORK AROUND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS
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AND TEACHING GARDENS. I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS. JUST A CONTEXT. MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING FOOD TO EAT.NEARLY 18% OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY, 14% OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY, ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN ACROSS SAN ANTONIO EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY. AND JUST KNOW THESE CONDITIONS WERE EXACERBATED DURING THE PANDEMIC. THESE DISPARITIES IN SEVERAL AREAS BY DISRUPTING FOOD SYSTEMS EVEN FURTHER. AGAIN, FOUR YEARS AGO OR THREE YEARS AGO IF YOU CAN THINK BACK TO MARCH OF 2020 AND FEBRUARY OF 2021, MORE THAN A THIRD OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE FOOD FROM THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK WERE USING THE RESOURCE FOR THE FIRST TIME. RISING ECONOMIC SECURITY HAS DRIVEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN FOOD INSECURITY DURING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PANDEMIC WITH BLACK AND HISPANIC HOUSEHOLDS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE WORKERS INN LOW-WAGE JOBS AND ACCESSING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WITH THAT, SADLY THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS. THIS IS A SNAPSHOT FROM FEEDING AMERICA, THAT FOOD SECURITY MAY BEGIN WITH WORRYING ABOUT WHERE THE NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM AND CAN LEAD TO MISSED MEALS AND POOR OUTCOMES SUCH AS HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES.
FOOD INSECURITY IS WHEN FAMILIES MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT AND PAYING A MEDICAL OR UTILITY BILL OR EVEN RENT. THESE ARE HARD CHOICES TO MAKE AND OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION RESIDENTS AND ONE OUT OF FIVE CHILDREN ACROSS GREATER BEXAR COUNTY HAD AND HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE. LET ME BRING YOU UP TO SPEED SINCE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN FALL OF 2022 AND PROGRESS TO DATE.
SO I'M GOING TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT AT LEAST WHAT WE SENT IN TERMS OF FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT. I DO HAVE COPIES AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMITTEE, SO WE DO HAVE HARD COPIES IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. THIS IS ALSO AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY. IN BROAD STROKES WHAT THAT DOCUMENT HAS PROVIDES AND THIS EFFORT ANCHORED BY U.T. HEALTH MULTIPLE, THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE MOBILIZED A FOOD AND SECURITY PLANNING TEAM COMPRISED SOME OF OUR STAFF TO DEVELOP REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS AND LAID THE GROUND WORK FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD INSECURITY WORK GROUP. BACK IN THE SPRING OF 2023, WE HIRED A U.T. HEALTH HOUSTON, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS A CONTRACTOR TO HELP DEVELOP THIS ASSESSMENT AND ALSO FORMED LOCALLY THIS WORK GROUP.
THE THREE DELIVERABLES ARE WHAT I WANTED TO WALK THROUGH IN TERMS OF DASHBOARD, LAW AND POLICY REVIEW AND LEVERAGING PARTNERS ON THE GROUND AND THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AS LOCAL COMMUNITY ASSETS. THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO READ, THIS IS A PUBLIC-FACING DASHBOARD CREATED BY THE U.T. HEALTH RESEARCH TEAM. THE TEAM MEMBERS DR. DR. RUMFELD AND REBECCA HURL IMAN. THE DASHBOARD AND THE ACCOMPANYING STORY MAP.
IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE FOLLOWING FOOD INSECURITY INDICATORS, LOOKS AT ELIGIBLE FAMILIES RECEIVING S.N.A.P., CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR WIC AND THE MEASURE OF HEALTHY FOODS AVAILABLE FROM CERTAIN RETAILERS IN A CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
THE SECOND DELIVERABLE HAD TO DO WITH LOOKING AT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATION AND POLICIES REVIEWED BY THE U.T. EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND BAYLOR UNIVERSITY ECONOMISTS. THEY FOUND STRONGEST EVIDENCE FOR INCREASING PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY.
OUT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FAMILIES ELIGIBLE FOR S.N.A.P. BENEFITS, ONLY 63% OF FAMILIES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS BENEFIT.
LOOKING AT IMPROVED HOUSING STABILITY, SO THAT OVER HALF OF LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ARE FORCED TO SPEND MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING EXPENSES REALLY LEAVING LITTLE ROOM FOR OTHER NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD, UTILITIES AND MEDICINE. LASTLY, STRENGTHENING CHARITABLE FOOD ASSISTANCE SUCH AS FOOD BANKS AND LOCAL PANTRIES, THERE ARE CURRENTLY 362 CURRENTLY OPERATING FOOD PANTRY SITES ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY PROVIDING DIRECT FOOD ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS IN NEED. SO WITH THAT, THE LAST DELIVERABLE, ANCHOR TO OUR TEAM AT U.T. HEALTH HOUSTON, WE'RE LOOKING AT LEVERAGING ASSETS ON THE GROUND OR ANCHORING TO COMMUNITY VOICES.
SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EFFORTS THAT WERE LED IN A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS HERE ACROSS THE CITY. SO WE HELD FIVE CONVERSATIONS, COMMUNITY
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CONVERSATIONS, HELD A NUMBER OF FOCUS GROUPS AND COMPLETED NEARLY 400 SURVEYS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WERE HELD BACK IN FEBRUARY AT THE D2 SENIOR CENTER. BACK ON MARCH 8TH WE HAD A EMPOWER HOUSE HOSTED COMMUNITY CONVERSATION. BACK IN APRIL WE ENGAGED COLLEGE STUDENTS, WE ALSO BACK IN EARLY APRIL WENT TO GOOD SAMARITAN AND HAD SPANISH SPEAKERS AND EARLIER THIS MONTH WE HELD A CONVERSATION AT HARLANDALE MAKER SPACE. THE FOCUS GROUPS ALLOWED US TO AT LEAST GIVE PERSPECTIVE TO THE ASSESSMENT AND WE TRIED TO ANCHOR TO THOSE WHO HAD BEEN FORMERLY INCARCERATED, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE LOOKED AT A CROSS-SECTION OF ADULTS BETWEEN 18 AND 59. THIS ROUNDS OUT THE PERSPECTIVE WE GLEANED FROM THE ASSESSMENT AND OTHER CONVERSATIONS LOCALLY. SO IN TERMS OF OUR TASK, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ALIGNMENT OF EFFORTS IN ANCHORING THIS TO THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE TIED TO OUR DEPARTMENT HERE AT METRO HEALTH.SO AT THE TOP OF THE SLIDE, THIS IS A REMINDER ABOUT OUR NEW ENGLAND FORWARD INITIATIVE WHICH WE -- SAN ANTONIO FORWARD ISSUE. THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS CONDITIONS WE SAW EARLY ON HAD WORSENED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITION ARE IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE -- AND PART OF THIS UPDATE BRIEFING TODAY IS GIVING EXAMPLES HOW WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT ON THE GROUND AND OVER TIME. DECADES OF EVIDENCE SHOW FOOD INSECURITY INCREASES RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES TOUCH AS TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE. THESE ARE THE SAME UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE RISK OF COVID 19 HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.
SUCH A COMPLEX ISSUE TAKES STRONG PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS.
WHEN WE WORK WITH PARTNERS TO CENTER RACIAL -- RESOURCE ALLOCATION, SERVICE PROVISION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGE MANY, WE CALL THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH HEALTH EQUITY IN ALL POLICIES. SO OUR LOCAL PLAN, SA FORWARD PRIORITIZES ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND I DON'T KNOWIC DISEASE RATES AND WORKS WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK AND HARLANDALE SUNSHINE FOOD PANTRY TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL ENABLE EVERYONE TO ACCESS MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND GREATER FOOD SECURITY. THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS SCHEMATIC, WE ARE A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE EIGHT ACROSS TEXAS THAT HAVE MET THIS. WE ARE TRYING TO AUGMENT AND BECOME RECOGNIZED AS A 21ST CENTURY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
OUR WORK ALIGNS WITH NATIONAL FRAMEWORKS THAT LOOK AT COMMUNICATING MORE EFFECTIVELY TO INFORM AND EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ABOUT HEALTH, FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THEIR HEALTH AND HOW TO IMPROVE IT AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS ON THE GROUND. SO INVESTMENTS WITHIN OUR AGENCY.
SO WE TWO YEARS AGO LAUNCHED THIS UNIT. THE POLICY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OFFICE. THIS IS AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE HEALTH OUTCOMES BY BUILDING STRONGER NATIONALLY IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW HEALTH DEPARTMENTS CAN BECOME A BETTER PARTNER BY NOT WORKING IN ISOLATION BUT COLLABORATION. WITH AN EXPLICIT COMMITMENT TO INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AS DECISION-MAKERS, ADVANCING EQUITY ACROSS POLICY DOMAINS AND BUILDING NETWORK MEMBERS CAPACITY TO ELIMINATE SPACES AND INFLUENCE KEY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
JUST KNOW THIS ALIGNS WITH NATIONAL FRAMEWORKS WHEN ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY UNITS SHE BUT THIS IS AN ANCHOR TO OUR WORK AT METRO HEALTH. INVESTMENT. WE HAVE NEARLY A DOZEN STAFF. WE HAVE MOSTLY GRANT FUNDING IN TERMS OF THAT PORTFOLIO.
THE DELIVERABLES HAVE TO DEAL WITH CONDUCTING THE FOOD ASSESSMENT WHICH I JUST REFERENCED, SOME SMALL-SCALE INITIATIVES WHICH WILL COME UP LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT BUILDING CAPACITY IN COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE MINI GRANTS.
JUST KNOW THIS IS PART AND PARCEL TO OUR COMMITMENT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A BETTER PARTNER AS WE ADDRESS CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL THOSE WHO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY OR PRAY HERE IN OUR JURISDICTION.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN APPLICATION OF A HEALTH EQUITY IN ALL POLICIES FRAMEWORK ANCHORED TO THE PACE OFFICE. A COUPLE THINGS.
THE NEXT TWO SLIDES TALK ABOUT SHIFTS IN POLICY AND PRACTICE.
WHILE WE TALK ABOUT PROGRAMS AND PILOTS AND INITIATIVES, THIS IS A WAY TO BE A BETTER PARTNER IN CONCERT WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THE GROUND. HERE TO ADVANCE THIS EFFORT
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REQUIRES ALIGNMENT, ALIGNMENT, ALIGNMENT WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND ACROSS PARTNERS. THE PACE OFFICE SUPPORTS NOT ONLY OUR TEAM AT METRO HEALTH BUT CROSS THE COSA ENTERPRISE. NATIONALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONSTELLATION OF THE 3,000 LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, SADLY ONLY ONE IN FIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS EVEN ENTER INTO THIS SPACE TO HELP SHAPE BETTER POLICIES ON THE GROUND BECAUSE IT'S A HEAVY LIFT AND REQUIRES ALIGNMENT OF EFFORT AND INVESTMENT BY LEADERSHIP. I'M PROUD OF THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS IS A TWO-YEAR SNAPSHOT FOCUSING ON OUR FOOD SYSTEM ROAD MAP.FOOD ACCESS ROAD MAP. THESE OTHER TWO EXAMPLES HAVE TO DO WITH HB 1743 WHICH ALLOWS ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS CREDITING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO ACCESS S.N.A.P. AND AT ONE TIME INFLATIONARY --S AT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR S.N.A.P. SO IN TERMS OF PRACTICE, WE HAVE MOBILIZED A LOCAL WORK GROUP. JUST KNOW THE SECTORS REPRESENT A BROAD SPECTRUM OF PERSPECTIVES AROUND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFITS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ACADEMIA, INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES. THIS IS A COMPOSITE JUST IN TERMS OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO PROVIDED INPUT TO THIS EFFORT.
JUST KNOW DURING THE MEETINGS PARTICIPANTS PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH BY HELPING TO INFORM THE WORK OF OUR TEAM AND THE STAFF, THE PACE OFFICE, HELPED FACILITATE THE GROUP'S DISCUSSIONS AND HELPING TO INFLUENCE AND MAKE SYSTEM CHANGE. SO I'LL COME BACK TO THE COMMITMENTS, BUT JUST KNOW WE'RE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AND THE LATTER PART OF THIS PRESENTATION WILL GIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT PROGRESS WE'VE MADE TO DATE. I DID WANT TO AT LEAST ZERO IN ON ONE OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION WE SHARED BACK IN FALL OF 2022.
AND FOR US OUR GOAL IS VERY CLEAR, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DECREASING FOOD INSECURITY, A 5% DROP OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS BY 2030.
THIS IS LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS ON THE GROUND. WE DO FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE. I CAN SAY THAT WITH CONFIDENCE AS I LISTEN TO THE TEAM AND WE'VE BEEN AT LEAST GETTING THE WORK OF THE PACE OFFICE OFF THE GROUND THAT THIS REQUIRES US TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO KEY STRATEGY PARTNERSHIPS AND LEVERAGING VOICES ON THE GROUND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY, BLACK AND HISPANIC RESIDENTS IN PARTICULAR. THE ROAD MAP. WE SIGNALED THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT I'LL HIGHLIGHT PROGRESS ACROSS THESE FOUR PHASES.
WHAT YOU HEARD SO FAR, PHASE 1 WAS ABOUT SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS BY ENGAGING CROSS SECTOR PARTNERS, GATHERING INFORMATION, STAFFING THE INITIATIVE AND DEVELOPING AN RFP. PHASE 2 WAS ABOUT CONVENING EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO SET A SHARED GOAL FOR REDUCING FOOD INSECURITY AND UNDERTAKING FEUD -- FOOD ASSESSMENT. CURRENTLY WE'RE IN -- THE NEXT PHASE IS ABOUT EXECUTING STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING FOOD INSECURITY, COLLECTING DATA, SCALING AND DEFINITELY FUNDING WHAT WORKS. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE KEEPING OURSELVES AND HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO PARTNER COMMITMENTS BUT ALSO PROGRESS OVER TIME. WHAT YOU SEE HERE ARE THE STRATEGIES AROUND STRENGTHENING CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, INCREASING PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS, AND ADDRESSING ONE OF THE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AROUND IMPROVING HOUSING STABILITY.
HOW MUCH AND HOW WELL. CLEARLY WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NATURE OF THE ACTIVITY, SO HOW MANY MEALS DISTRIBUTED, HOW MANY FOOD EVENTS AND FURTHER OUT LOOKING AT HOW WELL AND THE PERCENT INCREASE IN TERMS OF COORDINATION OF SERVICES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STRATEGY AROUND INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL FOOD PROGRAMS, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THAT PRIMARY PREVENTION AROUND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, MAKING SURE FOLKS HAVE THE INFORMATION, BUT ALSO ENGAGING MORE AMBASSADORS ON THE GROUND. IN TERMS OF HOUSING STABILITY, WE'RE LOOKING AGAIN AMPLIFYING OUR REACH TO MAKING SURE FOLKS ARE WAY WEAR OF THE SITUATION BUT ALSO THE CHANGE AND INCREASE. THIS WORK ANCHORS TO WHAT WE CALL THE WORK GROUP, THE HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK. THIS IS ANCHORED TO THE WORK OF THE PACE OFFICE. WITH THAT, THE COMPLEMENT TO THAT IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE KEEPING SCORE OVER TIME IS LOOK AT THESE POP-UP MARKETS WE'VE ROLLED OUT.
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THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN SHAPED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NETWORK.THERE ARE THREE VENDORS THAT WERE SELECTED TO HELP US ORGANIZE FOR ALL RESIDENTS WITH A FOCUS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS, BLACK RESIDENTS, IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEE POPULATIONS. THE THESE POP-UP MARKETS, INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO TANGIBLE ITEMS LIKE REPRODUCTIVE CARE, FOOD, HOUSING SUPPORTS AND PARTNERS WILL BE ABLE TO TEST, LEARN AND THEN SCALE BEST PRACTICES FROM THIS WORK. THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO TEST THINGS OUT, TEST THE MESSAGING BUT ALSO ENGAGE THESE VOICES ON THE GROUND. SO SEPTEMBER.
SEPTEMBER IS RECOGNIZED AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH. NOW THAT WE SEE THAT THE GROUP IS CLEAR ON THEIR AIM AND ROLES, WE NEED TO LIFT UP OUR CAUSE.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE NATIONAL CALENDAR, IT DOVE TAILS WITH OUR WORK ON THE GROUND. THIS ALLOWS US TO AMPLIFY OUR MESSAGE AND CREATES A NATIONAL ECHO CHAMBER ESPECIALLY WHEN TIED IN WITH THE NATIONAL CALENDAR.
JUST KNOW THAT YOU AS MEMBERS OF THE ELECTED BODY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS AMBASSADORS, AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGING AROUND HUNGER ACTION MONTH AND LIFT UP THESE STORIES. THIS ALLOWS US TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS AND TO REACH OUR GOAL OF REDUCING FOOD INSECURITY BY 5% BY 2030.
SO WITH THAT, THE LAST SET OF MY PRESENTATION IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS OF EFFORTS AND EXAMPLES SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES YOU MAY BE NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH ALREADY SO I'LL JUST QUICKLY WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE TO DATE AND, AGAIN, SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM FOR HELPING TO MOBILIZE THESE EFFORTS.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THE URBAN FARM PILOT PROJECT. YOU MAY RECALL THERE WAS A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET TO ALLOCATE $60,000 TO ESTABLISH LEASES WITH THREE URBAN FARMERS ON CITY-OWNED VACANT LOTS. SO LAST FALL WE ESTABLISHED A STEERING COMMITTEE, THROUGH THE WINTER WE'VE DEVELOPED THE SCOPE FOR MASTER LEASE AGREEMENT, AND THROUGHOUT THE SPRING WE'VE WORKED WITH PUBLIC WORKS, FOOD POLICY COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LOTS WITH --. SO BASICALLY DOING THE LEGWORK ON THE GROUND IS WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR. NEXT STEPS HAVE TO DO WITH CONDUCTING A FINAL REVIEW OF THE CITY-OWNED LOTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, WORKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DEVELOP FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL, EXECUTING THAT AGREEMENT AND THEN LEVERAGING THE SUPPORT OF OUR AREA FARMERS. SO THAT'S THE URBAN FARM PROJECT COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU. SO FOOD WAYS. JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE BECAME AWARE OF IN MAY OF LAST YEAR. IT'S ADMINISTERED BY A STARTUP TECH COMPANY BASED IN FLORIDA. WE WERE INVITED TO -- THIS IS A INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE DIGITAL TOOLS TO REDUCE FOOD DESSERTS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE GROCERIES AND HEALTHY FOOD THROUGH TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS.
THIS PROJECT BECAME DESIGNATED AS A SMART CITIES PROJECT BY OUR OFFICE OF INNOVATION LAST YEAR AND JUST KNOW IT'S A TWO-YEAR PROJECT AND IN ADDITION TO SAN ANTONIO AND BALTIMORE AND ORLANDO HAVE EXPERTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SOLUTION AND THE TOOLS WILL INCLUDE DIGITAL SUPPORT SYSTEM OR AN APP FOR AREA RESIDENTS.
HIGHLIGHTS, AGAIN SHOUTOUT TO THE GOING HE WILL OF STAFF WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS. JUST KNOW I'M GOING THROUGH THE LAST SET OF SLIDES TO BRING YOU UP TO FEED ON A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES. THIS IS PICTURES OF THE MILLION GARDENS PROJECT. THIS IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR TEAM AT METRO HEALTH, THE SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT AME CHURCHES AND BIG GREEN, A NON-PROFIT BASED IN COLORADO. LAST FALL WE HAD 100 HOME GARDEN BEDS DELIVERED AND SET UP AND WE -- IN ADDITION WE HAD FOUR COMMUNITY TEACHING GARDEN SITES CANDY.
EARLIER THIS SPRING WE HAD 75 HOME GARDEN BEDS DELIVERED AND SET UP.
ONIST PICTURES AGAIN WE DABBLE IN SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THE GENTLEMAN IN THE KHAKI, THAT'S ELDER RAYMOND BRYANT, HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BIGGEST AMBASSADORS OF THIS WORK. ANY TIME YOU GO OUT THERE TO VISIT WITH ELDER BRYANT, JUST BE READY TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES, WEAR OVERALLS AND BE READY TO DO WORK. THESE ARE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND YOU CAN SEE MORE ABOUT THE MILLION GARDENS PROJECT. HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, TEACHING GARDENS.
JUST KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SITES ACROSS THE CITY. THESE ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED, SMALLER GARDENS THAT ARE USED TO DEMONSTRATE HOME GARDENING METHODS.
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THE MELT I NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM HOLDS A MONTHLY CLASS AT EACH OF THESE THREE SITES. THE EAST SIDE IS PECAN VALLEY, INCLUDES SEVERAL PEACH AND PEAR TREES AND OUTDOOR MEETING SPACE. ON THE SOUTH SIDE WE HAVE THE VIA CORONADO PARK TEACHING GARDEN ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR, WITH THE OPENING OF THE RESOURCE CENTER AND INCLUDES A FRUIT TREE ORCHARD.AND TWO YEARS AGO WE ESTABLISHED THE WEST SIDE SITE, THE SALINAS WIC TEACHING GARDEN. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMBED THESE IN COMMUNITIES.
THESE ARE PART OF THE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM.
HEALTHY CORNER STORES. AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN AN OFFERING SINCE 2018.
INITIALLY PILOTED IN DISTRICT 3. CURRENTLY FUNDED FOR OVER $100,000 PER YEAR. JUST KNOW THAT INITIALLY WE HAD EIGHT STORES.
IT'S OPERATED, OF COURSE, OUT OF THE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM.
AND YOU FAST FORWARD, WE HAVE OVER 40 SITES, 45, I BELIEVE, TO DATE, AND JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT IS VERY POPULAR.
YOU CAN SEE THE MAP OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WHERE WE HAVE THESE SITES LOCATED AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS PROGRAM. WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS TO SCALE IT UP OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. RESOURCE CENTER AT VIA CORONADO, THE NEWEST OFFERING. THIS OPENED LAST SEPTEMBER.
THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, I REMEMBER THAT DAY, A SUNNY DAY.
ITS MISSION IS TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY. JUST KNOW THAT IT IS ONE OF THE SITES PROVIDING IMMEDIATE FOOD AND OTHER TANGIBLE RESOURCE ASSISTANCE. FOOD DISTRIBUTION, FOOD PANTRY.
THERE'S A SHARED CLOSET FOR DIAPERS, INFANT FORMULA, INCLUDES, ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY BY ALSO LOOKING AT ASSISTANCE WITH RESUMÉ WRITING, PUBLIC USE OF COMPUTERS, ASSISTANCE FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND CLASSES ON FINANCIAL WELL-BEING, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA.
SO I JUST THREW A LOT AT YOU. THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IT FORWARD BASED ON THE COUNCIL -- THE CCR THAT WAS ISSUED BACK IN JANUARY OF 2022. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. AGAIN, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HIGHLIGHTS AND PROGRESS TO DATE.
AND I ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF MY METRO HEALTH TEAM ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> CASTILLO: GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK AS WELL AS TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND ANA SANDOVAL FOR INITIATING THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST. IF MY COLLEAGUES ALLOW, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON HIS CCR.
IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR WAY UP, IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
I DON'T SEE HIM SO WE'LL DIVE RIGHT INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU CHAIR CASTILLO AND THANK YOU TO DR. JACOB. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ALL -- THIS IS VERY THOROUGH PRESENTATION. MY FIRST QUESTION REALLY FAST ON THE $30,000 FOR THE POP-UP MARKETS. IS THAT ABOUT 6,000 THAT YOU BUDGET PER POP-UP MARKET,
AND HOW MANY DO YOU SERVE? >> JACOB: OKAY.
GREAT QUESTION ABOUT THE POP-UP MARKETS. I WILL INVITE SHAUN GREEN FROM OUR PACE OFFICE TO AT LEAST WALK THROUGH WHAT THOSE ALLOCATIONS ARE FOR.
THE POP-UP MARKETS ARE A NEW OFFERING. I SHARED WITH YOU AND I'LL
PUT UP THE SLIDE -- >> GARCIA: I'M GLAD SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THAT'S
IMPORTANT. >> JACOB: YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN
FOR THE POP-UP MARKETS. >> GARCIA: I WAS TRYING TO BREAK DOWN HOW MUCH MONEY
PER MARKET. >> THAT WOULD BE -- HI. THAT WOULD BE 10,000 PER
MARKET. >> GARCIA: GOT IT. OKAY.
SO I LOVE THIS. MY SON WORKS AT THE MADONNA SENIOR CENTER AND THEY DO LIKE -- THEY DO SOMETHING WITH THE FOOD BANK. HE SAYS THE SENIORS ARE SO EXCITED ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY GET TO COME AND SHOP FOR THEIR PRODUCE.
WHEN I SAW THIS, I WAS LIKE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TELL ABOUT IT AND PROBABLY TELL SENIORS ABOUT THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE STEPS YOU'VE TAKEN JUST IN GENERAL TO ASSESS THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. ON THE SA FORWARD DASHBOARD, THERE'S DATA BY ZIP CODE.
THAT ALSO INCLUDES -- OR USES S.N.A.P. PARTICIPATION. BUT I THINK THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT DON'T QUALIFY FOR S.N.A.P. AND SO I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN USE OTHER TOOLS, THINKING IN PARTICULAR OF THE ALICE HOUSEHOLDS.
[00:30:02]
IN MY AREA I HAVE MIXED STATUS FAMILIES. SO WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES AND ARE CITIZENS, BUT THEY HAVE NON-CITIZEN PARENTS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THAT. BECAUSE OF THAT 20% THAT WE SEE OF KIDS THAT ARE IN FOOD INSECURITY AREAS IN PARTICULAR. WHEN I WORKED AT SOUTHWEST ISD, I I KNEW THERE WAS PARENTS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE AM I GOING TO FEED MY KIDS. ON SLIDE 6, WE GET A LOT OF THESE CALLS IN MY OFFICE OF PEOPLE SAYING I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING THE RENT AND EATING.AND SO THIS JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE REAL FOR MAYBE SOMEONE WHO HASN'T EXPERIENCED IT, SO I APPRECIATE THIS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT WE USE IN ARE LOT OF THINGS. SO IT JUST KIND OF PUTS IT IN PERSPECTIVE. ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE THE DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH THAT YOU HAVE IN GENERAL. ON THE ITEM NUMBER -- OR SLIDE NUMBER 13, I LOVE HOW YOU HAVE -- HOW THE NEW POLICY PROPOSALS FIT INTO THE LARGER FRAMEWORK.
I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
WHICH LEADS TO MY QUESTION ON THE HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK.
WHO IS ON THE HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK? >> OKAY.
SO AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE GALLERY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE VILLAGE THAT'S HELPED US TO GET HERE, SO THEY STARTED OUT AS A WORK GROUP. THIS WAS AN EXERCISE FOR US AT LEAST PUT AND TIE STORIES TO THE EXPERIENCES FOLKS ARE HAVING OUT AND AROUND. WE'VE GOT TO SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, WE'VE GOT GARDOPIA, A NUMBER OF ACADEMIC PARTNERS.
I CAN ASK THEM TO STAND UP. >> GARCIA: MAYBE YOU CAN GET ME A LIST.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT ENTITIES ARE REPRESENTED. >> JACOB: WHAT I CAN DO ALSO IS SINCE WE HAVE THEM LISTED AND REFERENCED IN OUR FOOD ASSESSMENT, WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO SEE THE LONGER LIST.
>> GARCIA: THAT WORKS. I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE THE EXPENDITURES RELATING TO ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD THAT THE CITY HAS.
AND I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE HOW WE PARTNER WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THAT THEY CONTINUE TO -- HOW SHOULD I SAY THIS -- ENCOURAGE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS.
I DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT THE NON-PROFIT SO I WON'T, BUT I NOTICED THAT A NON-PROFIT HAD THIS HEALTHY VENDING MACHINE, BUT THEY WERE SELLING SUGARY EVERYTHING.
THERE WAS NOTHING HEALTHY IN THERE. I THINK DR. KAUR KNOWS WHICH I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE WON'T SAY. JUST FYI.
MAYBE AS WE ARE MAKING VISITS MAYBE WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME ABILITY TO HAVE HEALTHY PRODUCTS. I'M THE CHAIR OF THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND WE'RE FOCUSED ON FOOD IN OUR FEDERAL POLICY DISCUSSION. ANYTHING I CAN DO OR I'LL SHARE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES I SEE, BUT I ALWAYS USE US AS AN EXAMPLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR.
>> CASTILLO: IF MY COLLEAGUES ALLOW, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ IS PRESENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A COUPLE COMMENTS.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE.
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING? FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU TO METRO HEALTH FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO IN SUPPORT OF ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND AS WELL AS THE HOST OF ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO DO THIS WORK.
AT THE TIME AND WHEN -- MY GOD, IT'S BEEN YEARS NOW, WHEN COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL AND I CO-AUTHORED THIS, THOSE GABS AND EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEED.
SO WHILE I'M EXTREMELY THRILLED ALL THE INITIATIVES, I STILL FEEL LIKE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY, ONE, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO CREATE A PLAN LIKE THIS AND CONVENE THE STAKEHOLDERS, WE'RE ALREADY A PORTION OF THE WAY THERE, WITH A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE. BECAUSE I -- WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE AND WHAT I WORRY IS WHEN WE TAKE ALL THE PROGRAMS AND EVERY PROGRAM THAT HAS A FOCUS HERE, IT'S A PATCH WORK OF SOLUTIONS. WE NEED AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY UNFORTUNATE IF SAY AT THE TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STRATEGIC
[00:35:06]
HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WE ARE GOING TO INVEST MORE IN HAVEN FOR HOPE AND MORE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, THE CONVERSATION THAT'S NOT HAPPENING IS HEB.WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO USE SOME OF THE LAND THAT YOU HAVE IN THE CITY TO BUILD UP. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE GROCERY STORES, WALMART, ALL THE GOESERS, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE INCUBATORS FOR LOCAL FOOD GARDENS.
THERE'S CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THAT WOULD LEND ITSELF TO A PLAN, A FULL MASTER PLAN. AGAIN, JUST WANT TO SAY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE WOULD BE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO IDENTIFY WHAT WOULD IT COST TO CREATE A PLAN TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY, COMPLETELY ERADICATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILMEMBER SANDOVAL FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS CCR AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE IMPORTANCE WHY WE STILL NEED TO KEEP DOING THIS AND ALSO CONQUERED, I GUESS. YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT 20% OF OUR KIDS IN SAN ANTONIO FACE FOOD INSECURITY REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME. THAT'S ONE IN FIVE KIDS.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. DO WE KNOW HOW THAT LINES UP WITH THE STATE AND NATIONAL
AVERAGES? >> JACOB: GREAT QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN.
JUST KNOW THAT WE LAG BEHIND. WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SET A STANDARD AND SET A GOAL. SO ERADICATING THIS, HAVING A 5% DROP BY 2030, WE EXPECT THAT TO HELP US IMPROVE ACROSS THE STATE.
JUST KNOW THAT SADLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE RANKINGS FOR THE GREATER BEXAR COUNTY AND THE OTHER 253 COUNTIES, WE RANK 51ST OVERALL. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING SURE THAT THIS INITIATIVE AND ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY THAT WE IMPROVE
THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT SIX YEARS. >> GAVITO: WOW.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. REFERRING TO THE PACE OFFICE, WHO ARE SOME OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO RECEIVE FUNDING? I HEARD COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA ASK THAT AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT SOME OF
THOSE NON-PROFITS. >> JACOB: SO WHAT I SHARED WAS IN TERMS OF THE SCHEDULE OF THE POP-UPS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT -- THE YWCA, SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. JUST KNOW THESE ARE OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND AND THIS ALLOWS US TO HAVE THIS OFFERING IN COMMUNITY OVER THE COURSE OF THE COMING
WEEKS AND MONTHS. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT AND ALSO TO PIGGYBACK ON HER QUESTION ABOUT S.N.A.P. BENEFITS. I WONDER WHAT ARE CREATIVE WAYS WE CAN GO AROUND, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOME FOAMS JUST CANNOT RECEIVE THESE S.N.A.P. BENEFITS. IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE ISN'T A NEED THERE, THERE JUST MIGHT NOT BE PROPER DOCUMENTATION OR OTHERS. I'M WONDERING WHAT CREATIVE WAYS WE CAN GET AROUND SUPPORTING THEM
>> JACOB: THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING THE HEALTH EQUITY NETWORK.
WE'VE CREATED AT LEAST A SPACE HERE. NEATS PART AND PARCEL TO THE ROAD MAP AND ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CITY -- THAT'S.
>> GAVITO: REGARDING THE POP-UP MARKETS, WE WOULD LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU ON WOODLAWN LAKE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE URBAN FARM PROJECT.
I'M ASSUMING THIS HAS BEEN TRIED IN OTHER CITIES. >> JACOB: WE'RE NOT UNIQUE IN THIS, BUT WE HAVE AN EARMARK FOR THIS YEAR AND WE'RE LEARNING FROM OTHER
COMMUNITIES AND APPLYING THAT HERE. >> GAVITO: AWESOME.
THANK YOU. I KNOW THESE ARE INKNOW INNOVATIVE.
WHAT DID YOU SAY THREE TIMES? >> JACOB: ALIGNMENT.
>> GAVITO: THAT'S IMPORTANT TO POOL ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM OUT OF THEIR SILO BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS BUSY DOING THEIR OWN WORK, IT'S A HUGE UNDERTAKING SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE DO TO DRIVE THIS FORWARD. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> CASTILLO: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. FIRST ON THE ASSESSMENT PIECE IN THE TIME LINE AND I'M SORRY IF YOU SAID THIS. IN THE TIME LINE THERE'S THE SYSTEM IN EFFECT IN 2023 AND
WHAT WAS THE PART IN 2024? >> JACOB: THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT PHASES YOU ARE
[00:40:06]
REFERRING TO. >> KAUR: JUST FOR THE INSECURITY ASSESSMENT.
I WAS REVIEWING IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION YOU DESCRIBED WHAT THE ASSESSMENT WAS AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS PHASE 3 THAT HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED YET OR -- YEAH, QUESTIONING WHETHER IT'S BEEN COMPLETED.
>> JACOB: THE DELIVERABLES THAT HAD TO DO WITH DASHBOARD, MAKING SURE WE CONDUCTED THIS LAW AND POLICY REVIEW, AND WE'VE HAD THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OR INPUT FROM PARTNERS ON THE GROUND. IN TERMS OF THE PHASES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS -- LET ME GET TO THIS SLIDE. SO WE'VE COMPLETED PHASE 1, PHASE 2, WE'RE IN PHASE 3 AND THIS IS REALLY ABOUT RAMPING UP THE ASSESSMENT AND NEXT PHASE WILL BE ADDED DATA COLLECTION, SHARING COMMUNICATION AND LOOKING AT
COMMUNING OPPORTUNITIES. >> KAUR: THANK YOU. -- FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS DASHBOARD WAS THAT ALL FROM THIS PROJECT? THERE'S A LOT OF DATA
COMPONENTS. >> JACOB: IN COLLABORATION WITH U.T. HEALTH HOUSTON, THIS ALLOWS US TO HAVE A BETTER SNAPSHOT OF PROGRESS MADE SLOWLY.
THE HEAT MAP, IF I GO BACK TO IT, THIS WAS A PRODUCT GENERATED THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, BUT THIS IS THANKS IN LARGE PART TO OUR ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. CI NOW IS KEY IMPORTANT TO THIS INITIATIVE.
>> KAUR: HOW ARE WE USING THIS DATA? WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ACCESS IT AND WHAT IS THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN WITH THE
NETWORK AND PARTNERS TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION? >> JACOB: ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO INVITE SHAUN TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS DASHBOARD AS THE NEWEST
PRODUCT THAT WE SHARED WITH YOU ALL. >> KAUR: GREAT.
THANK YOU. >> HI THINK THE QUESTION WAS HOW IS THE DASHBOARD BEING UTILIZED, CURRENTLY USED BY OUR PARTNERS TO INFORM STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT.
THEY ARE MAKING COMMITMENTS ON BEHALF OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHICH STRATEGIES THEY ARE GOING TO LEAD AND MOVE FORWARD ON AND REPORT ON.
AND IN THE NEXT YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPED SHARED MESSAGING THAT DOES OUT REACH TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES AND CLIENTS. AND THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> KAUR: AND IT'S OKAY IF YOU DON'T, BUT WOULD YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THEY MIGHT PICK? I'M LOOKING AT THE HYPERTENSION DATA RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST TRYING -- >> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DO NOT.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU. THE OTHER QUESTION WAS AROUND THE GOAL.
THE 5% DECREASE, I LOVE THAT AMBITIOUS GOAL. ARE THE STRATEGIES ON THE SLIDE AFTER HOW WE'RE EXPECTING HOW TO GET TO THAT GOAL?
>> THEY ARE. THEY ARE THE STARTING POINT FOR HOW WE'LL GET TO IT.
WE IMAGINE THOSE STRATEGIES WILL EVOLVE AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL SAY WE'LL TEST, EVALUATE, CHECK BACK AND REVISE GOING FORWARD. BUT YES, THOSE ARE MEANT TO BE THE STARTING POINTS FOR THE STRATEGY, HOW WE BRING THAT DOWN.
>> KAUR: ARE WE GOING TO ASSESS WHICH MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT?
>> EXACTLY, THAT'S THE IDEA. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE'LL SEEK FUNDING FOR AT A LATER
DATE TO SCALE AND DO MORE OF. >> KAUR: HAVE YOU ALLOCATED X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR EACH OF THOSE STRATEGIES?
I'M ON SLIDE 20 IS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. >> BECAUSE WE'RE -- I THINK I CAN ANSWER WITHOUT GOING TO THE SLIDE. BECAUSE WE ARE JUST RAMPING UP AND MOVING TO IMPLEMENTATION, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE PROVIDING THE EQUIVALENT OF SEED GRANTS TO OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE SIGNING ON AS RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OF THE STRATEGIES TO BEGIN WORK AND TO RAMP UP THEIR EFFORTS.
>> KAUR: GREAT. >> THAT'S WHY THE POP-UP MARKETS ARE THE EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE'RE PROVIDING SEED MONEY TO GET THEM OFF THE GROUND TO SEE DO THEY WORK, WHO ARE THEY GOOD AT REACHING, HOW CAN WE ASSESS THOSE, ARE THEY SOMETHING WE WANT TO SCALE UP, DO WE TRY SOMETHING ELSE AND COMBINE.
>> KAUR: I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF PRIVATE GROUPS IN THE MARKET.
ARE THERE FOLKS LIKE HEB THAT WE'RE ENGAGING IN THIS WORK TOO?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME DIRECTLY. I WILL SAY SOME OF OUR PARTNERS HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. WE DID HAVE A SLIDE, BUT IT WASN'T AESTHETICALLY USEFUL SLIDE. WE CAN PROVIDE A LIST AND WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY ABLE TO GET ALL OF THEM ON ONE SLIDE.
>> KAUR: I'M SURE ALL OF US IF YOU WOULD SHARE THAT. THE LAST COMMENT IS THE YOU ARE URBAN FARM, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND CURRENT OFFICE IS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED AND THAT'S CITY LAND
THANKS. >> THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: COUNCILMEMBER
[00:45:05]
VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I'LL START WITH THE URBAN FARM PILOT PROJECT. MARJORIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING WITH OUR TEAM.
WE HAD PADRE PARK, WE PLANTED TREES, FRUIT AND NUT TREES THERE IN THAT AREA.
APPEAR THEN THE FOOD POLICY COUNCIL WAS QUICK TO COMMUNICATE TO ME ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD DO WITH THE CITY-OWNED VACANT LOTS FOR URBAN FARMERS.
I WAS REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT BUDGET AMENDMENT GET APPROVED.
WHILE THEY DON'T ALL HAVE TO BE IN DISTRICT 3, I ALMOST FORGOT IN A WE HAD GOTTEN TO THE THING BECAUSE THE PROCESS WITH THE COMMITTEES TAKES SO LONG.
I'M SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A NATURAL FIT WITH OUR HEALTHY CORNER STORES BECAUSE I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY SEE THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT FRUIT THERE. THEY KNOW MAYBE A GRANDMA HAS A PREACH TREE OR SOMEBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A FIG TREE. I GOT FRESH FIGS THE OTHER WEEK. IT'S IMPORTANT THEY ARE SOLUTIONS WE CAN BE PART OF IN THE COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT MOVING FORWARD.
AGAIN, WITH THE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD STORES PILOTED IN DISTRICT 3, HOW WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT FOOD DESERT THAT WE REALLY HAD, AND THEN AS YOU KNOW PARTS OF OUR DISTRICT IN THE SOUTH SIDE, WE'VE GOT ALL THE FAST FOOD CHAINS YOU WANT, BUT IF IT'S GOT HEALTHY OPTION WERE THEY GOING TO GET IT. WE NEED MORE GROCERY STORES WHICH TELL ME THEY NEED MORE ROOFTOPS. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD KIND OF POINT, BUT LIKE MY COLLEAGUES SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHO ARE THE BIGGER FOR-PROFITS THAT ARE PART OF THESE PROJECTS AND HELPING US ADDRESS THESE NEEDS.
I THINK THE DASHBOARD IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THE DIABETES, THE HYPERTENSION, WHAT WE'RE SAYING ON THE SOUTHERN PART, THE SOUTHWEST TO THE SOUTHEAST NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE HOSPITALS AND YOU READILY DON'T HAVE DOCTORS, WE CAN EASILY START WITH LET'S START WITH YOUR NUTRITION.
AND I KNOW SOME COMPANIES, ONE GROCERY STORE IN PARTICULAR, HAS PUT OUT A SHEET, IF YOU BUY THIS, THIS IS THE LOW-CARB DIET OR THIS IS THIS DIET.
I WANT US TO MAKE SURE OUR PARTNERS KNOW AND IDENTIFY WHO IS REALLY HELPING IN THESE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THAT. SO MANY -- AND THIS IS METRO HEALTH IN PARTICULAR, SO MANY OF OUR AILMENTS ARE TIED TO OUR DIET.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY DISEASES OUT THERE THAT AREN'T -- THAT JUST RANDOMLY COME UP. BUT THE ONES THAT WE CAN PREVENT, THE HEART DISEASE, THE DIABETES, THE -- YOU KNOW, THE KIDNEY PROBLEMS THAT WE CAN PREVENT WITH A CHANGE IN OUR DIET PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THESE INEQUITIES I THINK IS HUGE. I WANT TO THANK THE FOOD BANK FOR -- SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THE REGISTRATION AND YOU ASK FOR ZIP CODES AND YOU WANT TO KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE IN S.N.A.P. AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST WALK IN AND TELL THEM I'M HAVING A HARD WEEK AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THE Y, MY Y WILL JUST HAND YOU A BOX OF FOOD.
AND THAT'S HUGE ALSO. SO I JUST -- I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE -- THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TIE IT IN WITH A LOT OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WE SEE.
AND I DO, LAST JUST A SHOUTOUT TO THE VIA CORONADO PARK AND RESOURCE CENTER AND WHAT WE'VE DONE THERE. I WANT TO THANK YOU, CLAUDE, FOR STANDING IN THE HOT SUN WITH ME LAST YEAR I THINK IT WAS SO WE COULD OPEN UP THAT CENTER.
BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT AN IMPACT THAT'S MAKING ON A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY DOES NEED IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I SEE A HANDFUL OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS HERE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THEY DO IN CONNECTING OUR CONSTITUENCY TO ACCESS TO FOOD.
A D5 RESIDENT WHO HELPS SUPPORT FARMERS MARKETS, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT WORK AS WELL. MY REQUEST TO METRO HEALTH IS WHEN COUNCIL HAS CONVERSATION ABOUT UTILITY RATES OR OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND/OR HOUSING PROJECTS, THAT SLIDE 6 GETS SENT TO COUNCIL TO REMIND US 69% OF INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND UTILITIES AND CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION SO ON AND SO FORTH. WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE ERADICATE FOOD INSECURITY, IT'S ENSURING WE CONTINUE PRIORITIZING MEDICAID,
[00:50:04]
MEDICARE FOR ALL WITH THE CITY'S ELECTIVE AGENDA. ENSURING WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR DISTRICT 5 TEAM, WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND ACCESS TO QUALITY FOOD WITHIN OUR GROCERY STORES AND HOW MANY OF US COMMUTE TO GROCERY STORES OUTSIDE OF OUR HEALTHY FOOD. EVERYONE IN THE ROOM REALIZED WE DON'T GO TO A GROCERY STORE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OR WEST SIDE. WE ALL GO NORTH AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S METRICS THAT ARE TAKEN, BUT I THINK IT'S A LARGER CONVERSATION. AND I THINK COMMUNITY BENEFITS BECAUSE I'M REMINDING OF THE AGREEMENT WITH INCENTIVES AND THE GIFT CARDS TO INCENTIVE I'VE FOLKS TO GET THE VACCINE AND HOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR GROCERY STORES ABOUT HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY, HEALTHY FOODS WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.PARTICULARLY IN THOSE AREAS THAT HAD HIGH MORTALITY RATES WITH COVID.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTERSECTION, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY AND I'M HOPEFUL MOVING FORWARD THAT WE'LL BE SURE TO PUG MANY OF THOSE PIECES -- PLUG MANY OF THOSE PIECES IN. BECAUSE THE URBAN FARMING ARE GREAT SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, BUT LONG TERM HOW DO WE CHIP AWAY AT THE LARGER SYSTEMIC ISSUES.
ULTIMATELY WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR MANY OF THE INITIATIVES YOU'VE LAID OUT.
IN REGARDS TO THE HEALTHY CORNER STORE, THE TRINITY FOOD STORE, JUST HELPS TO PROVIDE SO MANY SERVICES TO FOLKS WHO LIVE AROUND THE AREA.
SO MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THAT THAT ARE CONNECTING CONSTITUENTS TO OUR OFFICE. IF SOMEONE SAYS THEY ARE HAVING A HARD DAY BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY, HE REFERS FOLKS TO OUR OFFICE.
GRATEFUL FOR THOSE PARTNERS. IN REGARDS TO THE HEALTHY CORNER STORE, ARE WE TRACKING WHAT'S BEING PURCHASED FROM EACH CORNER STORE AND ABOUT HOW MUCH FOLKS ARE SPENDING WITH THEIR HEALTHY CORNER STORE INITIATIVES?
>> JACOB: WE CAN SHARE OUT METRICS. I'VE SHARED THE 45 AND SHOW THE MAP OF WHERE THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED, BUT YES, WE KEEP TRACK OF SOME OF THOSE PURCHASES, BUT WE ALSO ARE DEMONSTRATING HOW THAT MODEL WORKS.
WHEN I WAS IN CAMBRIDGE, WE CALLED IT THE HEALTHY MARKETS, MUCH SMALLER, FEWER NUMBER IN SIZE, BUT WE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S PURCHASED BUT ALSO KEEP TRACK WHAT WE COULD DO TO EDUCATE ABOUT MAKING THE HEALTHY CHOICE THE EASIER
CHOICE. >> CASTILLO: IN REGARDS TO THE MOBILE VAN OR MARKET THAT THE FOOD BANK HAS, THAT'S JUST AMAZING. WHAT WOULD BE GREAT IS HOW CAN WE HAVE A METRO FOOD VAN SIMILAR TO VACCINES AND TESTING THAT GOES OUT INTO THESE FOOD DESERTS AND ALLOWS FOLKS TO PURCHASE THAT FOOD.
IS THAT IN THE WORKS? >> JACOB: THE CONCEPT OF THE METRO HEALTH FOOD AND BOOK MOBILE KIND OF THING. HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, BUT YES, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE FOOD BANK AND OTHERS WHO HAVE THESE BEST PRACTICES.
WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT BUT TYING IN WITH AREA PARTNERS.
LOVE THE IDEA. >> CASTILLO: HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FOOD BANK TO HAVE MORE MOBILE MARKETS TO GET INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPACTFUL. IN MY DISTRICT MANY FOLKS TRAVEL BY BUS OR FOOT OR BIKE AND BRINGING FOOD INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN HELP ALLEVIATE MANY OF THE DISPARITIES EVEN IF THEY MAY HAVE SOME FUNDING. GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK DO YOU. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
WONDERFUL. >> LAST COMMENT, I MENTIONED DURING THE PRESENTATION I BELIEVE IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, I BROUGHT MY OWN SORT OF CHEERING SECTION. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTNERS HERE, A NUMBER OF STAFF. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
COUNCILMAN, YOU ASKED ABOUT -- YOU MENTIONED HEB, BUT IN TERMS OF A CONVENING OF SORT. WITHOUT STEALING THUNDER FROM THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCE, JUST KNOW WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT USING OUR CONVENING POWER TO TALK ABOUT BROADER SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES RESIDENTS MAY BE EXPERIENCING.
COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU, SOME TYPE OF CONVENE. JUST KNOW THAT'S -- CONVENING. IT DOVE TAILS WITH OTHER EFFORTS THAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO PANDEMIC BUT ALLOWS US TO AT LEAST ADDRESS THE OTHER FACTORS THAT IMPACT THE ACCESS RESIDENTS MAY HAVE TO HEALTHIER OPTIONS. IF I COULD ASK MY FANTASTIC TEAM TO JUST STAND. AGAIN, I REFERENCED THE POLICY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OFFICE. OUR NUTRITION TEAM, METRO HEALTH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
[00:55:01]
STANDING. [APPLAUSE] WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERS LIKE THE FOOD BANK AND OTHER PARTNERS ON THE GROUND WHO ARE KINFOLK TO METRO HEALTH, SO I WOULD ASK OUR AREA PARTNERS ON THE GROUND TO ALSO STAND.SO I SEE MARIO AND WHO ELSE DO WE HAVE? [APPLAUSE]
>> JACOB: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN. WE ARE NOT DOING THIS ALONE.
WE ARE APPLYING LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC. THIS IS A PRIORITY REFERENCE IN SA FORWARD AND I CAN'T SAY THANKS ENOUGH TO YOU ALL FOR HELPING US SHARE OUR STORY AND WE'LL REPORT BACK PROGRESS MADE. HAVE A GOOD SUMMER.
BE SAFE, BE WELL. [APPLAUSE] >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
WE CAN NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 3, BRIEFING ON BRACKENRIDGE PARK RECONCILED PARK.
THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY SHANNON MILLER, DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HISTORIC
PRESERVATION. OR CORY EDWARDS. >> CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME OKAY? I'M CORY EDWARDS WITH THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
SHANNON IS HERE WITH ME. OTHER SIDE. IF WE GO TO THAT FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE. I'LL WAIT A SECOND. THE ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS A BRIEFING TO GIVE YOU PROGRESS UPDATE ON THE RECONCILED PLAN FOR BRACKENRIDGE PARK. WHY BRACKENRIDGE PARK? WE ALL LOVE IT.
VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE CITY AND OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS VISIT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. BECAUSE IT HAS THAT LAYERED HISTORY AND CULTURAL TIES, WE GO THERE AT EASTER, IT HAS HISTORIC BUILDINGS, HISTORIC WALLS, THE RIVER.
THERE'S A THE LOVE LAYERS AND A LOT OF VOICES THAT EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT RESOURCES. WE WANTED TO TOOL IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE DECISIONS ARE INFORMED AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. SO A REMINDER, THERE WAS AN ITEM AT COUNCIL LAST YEAR TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TOKER THE MIDTOWN TIRZ.
$150,000 WAS FUNDED. IS GOALS WERE TO CONSOLIDATE AND ALIGN THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PREVIOUS PLAN FOR THE PARK INCLUDING THE PLASTER PLAN DONE BY THE CITY IN 2017. THERE ALSO WAS A CULTURAL REPORT.
AN EXHAUSTIVE 500-PAGE DOCUMENT WITH A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PARK AND RECOGNIZING THAT LADDER HISTORY AND CULTURAL TIES OF THE PARK.
THE MIDTOWN REGIONAL CENTER PLAN WHICH IS MORE REGIONAL WHICH ALSO RECOMMENDED PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY AND WAYFINDING AND HOW PEOPLE ACCESS THE PARK.
THE GOAL WAS TO KIND OF ALIGN THOSE PLANS, LOOK AT WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, WHICH ONES WERE OUTSTANDING AND UNDERSTAND WHICH SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR IMPLEMENTATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE RESULT IS A NEW EVALUATION TOOL AND PROCESS THAT WILL INFORM DECISION-MAKING ABOUT WHICH PROJECTS ARE FUNDING AND ALSO WHAT THE DESIGN OF THOSE PROJECTS SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
THIS EFFORT IS FOCUSED ON CAPITAL PROJECTS. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OFPR PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT PARK OPERATIONS, BIRDS AND WILDLIFE AND TREES, BUT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS, CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ AND HOW THOSE ARE INFORMED. A LITTLE ABOUT THE GROUP WE WORKED WITH. THERE'S A STANDING COMMITTEE, THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT'S BEEN LONG STANDING.
IT'S BEEN AROUND TO INFORM INDIVIDUAL BOND PROJECTS FOR THE PARK.
THIS HAS BEEN COME IS PRACTICED OF NEIGHBORHOODS HERE THE PARK.
WE'VE EXPANDED THE MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE MORE GENERAL POSITIONS.
SO WE ADDED TWO POSITIONS FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE AND TWO POSITIONS FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE. SO BRINGING IN MORE EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE.
THAT COMMITTEE IS CO-CHAIRED BY LORI HOUSTON ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND TERI BRECHTEL. THE ROLE IS ADVISE ON DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN. WE WENT INTO THE DETAILS ABOUT THE WORDING ITSELF, WHAT THE GUIDELINES SHOULD BE, WHAT THE EVALUATION TOOL IS, WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY DOWN TO MEETING FORMAT, WHEN AND WHERE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS EFFORT. THE RESULT, AND YOU ALL RECEIVED THIS REPORT IN YOUR PACKETS. THIS REPORT IS A FEW THINGS.
IT IS SORT OF A SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS AND THE OUTCOMES, BUT THIS WILL ALSO SERVE AS AN EVALUATION TOOL THAT WILL BE USED BY PROPOSING PROJECTS IN THE
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FUTURE. THIS ESTABLISHES NEW GUIDING PRINCIPLES ALL PROJECTS SHOULD MEET IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED READY FOR FUNDING AND EVALUATION CRITERIA THAT COULD BE USED IN A COUPLE WAYS. THE CRITERIA COULD HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO CAN INFORM WHAT THE ACTUAL DESIGN LOOKS LIKE. OFTEN ON THE FRONT END OF A PROJECT, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT JUST DON'T EXIST YET.THAT HAPPENS DURING DESIGN. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, RIGHT? WHETHER OR NOT A PROJECT IS RESPONSIVE TO THESE MIGHT COME LATER AND SO THESE ARE ALSO A TOOL TO HELP INFORM THE DESIGN AND HOW PROJECTS ARE SHAPED.
THE EVALUATION TOP ITSELF WILL BE USED -- TOOL WILL BE USED BY CITY STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE, THE STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE ITSELF IN THE PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO SHARE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT FIRST I WANTED TO SHARE GUIDING OPINIONS PRINCIPLES. THE FIRST IS PEOPLE FOR RESPECT AND NATE.
THIS IS LOOKING AT THE FACTORS THAT IMPACT HOW PEOPLE USE THE PARK, WHO USES THE PARK AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE PARK ITSELF.
THESE FIRST TWO BULLETS ARE EQUITY CENTERED AND THAT WAS ANOTHER PRIORITY WAS ENSURE WE WERE CREATING PRINCIPLES THE PROJECT MUST MEET IN ORDER TO PROACTIVELY ENSURE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES WERE TAKIN PLACE. THESE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE REPORT ITSELF. ANOTHER THING THAT'S IN HERE IS AN EXPLANATION FOR EACH OF THESE. THERE'S A LITTLE EXPLANATION FOR EACH OF THESE THAT IS HELPFUL FOR UNDERSTANDING. THE SECOND IS RESPECT FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE.
SO UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF THE PARK ITSELF, THE -- FROM THE INDIGENOUS BEGINNINGS AND HABITATION TO THE STRUCTURES WE SEE TODAY. FINALLY UNDERSTANDING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERY PROJECT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
IT'S ROLE IMPORTANT THOSE PROPOSING PROJECTS ARE -- REALLY IMPORTANT THOSE PROPOSING PROJECTS ARE OPEN TO COMPROMISE AND DEFINING WAYS TO ADDRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH EITHER WHAT DETERMINING THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT OR TWEAKING THE DESIGN IN ORDER TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THESE. SO IN ADDITION TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, SO ALL PROJECTS MUST MEET THOSE. THERE'S ALSO A SERIES OF EVALUATION CRITERIA. THESE LIVE IN A SPREAD SHEET, THEY ARE ALSO IN THE REPORT FOR REFERENCE. THE SPREAD SHEET WILL BE DELIVERED TO STAKEHOLDERS SUBMITTING PROJECTS, THINGS LIKE THE WITTE, THE CONSERVANCY AND THE ZOO.
THEY WOULD COMPLETE THE SPREAD SHEET, GIVE THEMSELVES A SELF-EVALUATION AND SCORE AND THEN PRESENT THAT TO THE STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDATION. I WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THIS. THIS WAS PROBABLY 50% WORKING THE STAKEHOLDERS AND 50% WITH THE PUBLIC. THOSE TWO PROCESSES OVERLAPPED AS THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE VERY INVOLVED IN THE MEETINGS. DR. KAUR WAS AT THE FIRST MEETING AND GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE LEVEL OF HANDS-ON INTERACTION HAPPENING WITH THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS. AND SO THEY HELPED INFORM WHAT THOSE LOOKED LIKE. THE FIRST TWO MEETINGS WEREN'T REALLY INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS, THEY ARE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS. SO WE REALLY INVITED PEOPLE TO GATHER IN SMALL GROUPS, AND THEN LEADING THE DISCUSSION WERE THE STAKEHOLDERS THEMSELVES AND THEN MEMBERS OF STAFF AND THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.
WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY GET INTO THE WEEDS OF WHAT LANGUAGE IS BEING CONSIDERED, HOW THE EVALUATION CRITERIA WILL BE USED AND TWEAKING THOSE.
THE MEETINGS AND A SURVEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY WAS PROHIBITED ON SA SPEAK UP -- PRESENTED ON SA SPEAK UP. WE KNOW NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY, BUT SA SPEAK UP ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ANSWER ONE OR MORE. WE HAD ABOUT 2100 UNIQUE USERS THAT ANSWERED AT LEAST ONE QUESTION, MOST ANSWERED MOST QUESTIONS. BUT THEN ALL IN ALL WE HAD 30,000 UNIQUE RESPONSES, AND SO ABOUT HALF THOSE WERE MULTIPLE CHOICE AND ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND CATEGORIZE THEM SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND THE TRENDS AND PATTERNS WERE. WE DID GET RESPONSES FROM NEARLY EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT AS WELL AS A FEW FROM OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS. NEW BRAUNFELS, KERRVILLE AREAS, PEOPLE THAT VISIT THE PARK OR ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PARK.
AS I MENTIONED, THIS WAS ENDORSED BY THE MIDTOWN TIRZ LAST WEEK.
WE WANT TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE. THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE THEN THEY WOULD WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND STAFF DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE MIDTOWN TIRZ FOR POTENTIAL FUNDING.
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I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMAN DR. KAUR. YOU GOT VOLUNTEERED. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG WITH THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. I JUST KIND OF -- IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE THAT MIGHT BE MADE AS A RESULT OF THESE FINDINGS? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO GET A BASELINE SO THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A BOND, WE CAN SORT OF HAVE MORE GUIDANCE AROUND
WHAT WE'RE SUPPORTING FUNDING. >> FUTURE PROJECTS ARE AT PLAY HERE. AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF ONGOING STUFF, BUT AS CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE PROPOSED FOR FUNDING, PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE MIDTOWN TIRZ, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT TO SAY YES THIS MEETS WHAT WAS
DISCUSSED AND WE CAN RECOMMEND IT. >> KAUR: COULD YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE THAT WOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER SOMETHING ELSE? LIKE WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT, LIKE, PRESERVATION OF SOME HISTORIC COMPONENT MIGHT TAKE PRESENCE DENSE OVER A SPORTS FIELD OR SOMETHING? YEAH, I MEAN SO THE EVALUATION CRITERIA THEMSELVES, AND I'LL GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS US. THERE'S FOUR CATEGORIES. APPLICABILITY IS GOING TO DEPEND ON NATURE OF THE PROJECT SO WE'RE TRYING TO ANTICIPATE AS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AS WE CAN. THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE RIVER.
THERE'S ANOTHER CATEGORY FOR THE LAND. WHICH IS LIKE YOUR NATURE AND WILDLIFE. THERE'S ANOTHER CATEGORY FOR CIRCULATION AND CONNECTIVITY, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE WALKING PATHS OR ROAD PROJECTS, TRAFFIC PROJECTS. THERE'S ANOTHER CATEGORY FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES WHICH IS ARCHEOLOGY, ARCHITECTURE, BUILDINGS. SO YEAH, AS PROJECTS ARE PROPOSED, IF WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, THIS WILL GET A SCORE. DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY THIS ONE IS MEETING MORE THINGS THAN OTHERS. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO GO BACK TO THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES. IF ONE PROJECT IN PARTICULAR DOESN'T PROMOTE FREE AND -- FREE ACCESS TO THE PARK OR OPEN ACCESS TO PREVIOUS RESTRICTED AREAS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S PRIVATIZING THE PARK, THAT IS NOT GOING TO DO WELL. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BASED ON THOSE TYPE OF QUESTIONS.
>> KAUR: IS THERE A MINIMUM SCORE A PROJECT WOULD NEED TO GET ON
CRITERIA TO BE FUNDED OR SAID YES TO? >> ALL WE'RE SAYING IS DOESN'T MEET ALL THE -- IT'S HARD TO SAY THERE'S A MINIMUM SCORE, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT IS RESPONSIVE TO ONE OF THESE. THE FORM ITSELF THAT IS IN THE APPENDIX WILL PROPOSAL PEOPLE REQUESTS PROJECTS TO RESPOND.
EVEN IF IT'S NOT APPLICABLE, WE'RE ASKING THEM TO THINK HOW IT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE.
>> KAUR: IF I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND SAY GO BACK TO REEXAMINE THE EMPATHY, HOW WOULD WE DECIDE USING THIS TOOL WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD FUND OR SUPPORT THAT? I GUESS THE PARK WOULD FUND OR SUPPORT THAT.
>> JUST THAT, LIKE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY IF THERE'S SCOUTING PRINCIPLES, LIKE A PRIVATE USE WITHIN THE PARK MIGHT COMPETE WITH, THAT SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS IN THE PROGRAMMING OF WHATEVER THE PROJECT IS. FOR INSTANCE, THE WITTE HAS FREE TUESDAYS OR THINGS LIKE THAT SO THOSE THINGS CAN BE ACCESSIBLE.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD ONE THING. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS GOING TO APPLY TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, PRIMARILY BOND FUNDED BUT ANY DECISION COMES TO CITY COUNCIL. WE WILL FORM THE BASIS OF OUR RECOMMENDATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS BASED ON THIS CRITERIA, BUT ULTIMATELY THE FUNDING DECISION WILL BE CITY COUNCIL.
>> KAUR: BUT WE CAN EXPECT ANY FUTURE PROJECTS TO HAVE THIS EVALUATION CRITERIA USED FOR IT. AND ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK FROM THE 2022 BOND AND USE THIS CRITERIA ON -- WE'VE ONLY GONE THROUGH PHASE 1 OF BRAC SO FAR.
ARE WE GOING TO USE THIS ON ANY OTHER PROJECTS? >> PHASE 1 IS REALLY CLOSE TO BEING PERMITTING SO IT'S NOT IMPACTED BY THIS. PHASE 2 HAS BEE 81 AND WE THINK -- BEGUN SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE AND SHOWING THE DESIGN RESPONSE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A
PROBLEM WITH WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THAT DESIGN. >> KAUR: I OBVIOUSLY LOVE THAT WE DID THIS AND TRIED TO CREATE A BASELINE. IT JUST GETS TRICKY BECAUSE
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WE COULD ESSENTIALLY SAY YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO FUND THIS PROJECT, LIKE IT'S A 50/50 SCORE, AND FUND ANOTHER PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S 70 AND USING IT FOR JUSTIFICATION BUT IT SEEMS A LITTLE SUBJECTIVE OF HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING OR NOT.THAT'S KIND OF LIKE WHY I WAS ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. >> THE ULTIMATE IS THAT IT'S INFORMED AND INFORMED BY WHAT WAS PROVIDED BY PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY A DELICATE PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AND THIS IS A CITYWIDE INPUT -- OR CITYWIDE PARK.
IS THIS CONSIDERED A REGIONAL PARK? >> OH, GOSH.
>> GARCIA: I THINK THAT'S A HOMEWORK QUESTION. >> THAT'S A HOMEWORK
QUESTION. >> GARCIA: SO THE REASON THAT I HAVE THAT IS BECAUSE -- I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED IN THE RESPONSES ON THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BREAKDOWN. THERE IS NOBODY FROM DISTRICTS 4, 5 AND 6 THAT RESPONDED. AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND I GREW UP WITH THIS, LIKE OUR FAMILIES WOULD GO CAMP OUT AT BRACKENRIDGE PARK AND THE REASON THAT THE FAMILIES DID THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T PARKS IN OUR DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO HOST ONE LARGE FAMILY GATHERING OR TWO.
THERE JUST WASN'T ANY SHADE. WE STILL HAVE SO MANY PARKS IN THE SOUTHERN AND WEST SECTIONS AND EAST SECTIONS OF SAN ANTONIO THAT DON'T HAVE TREES.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY PEOPLE GO AND CAMP OUT DAYS IN ADVANCE TO GET THE BEST PLACES FOR THEIR EASTER I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THERE WERE NO RESPONSES FROM DISTRICTS 4, 5, AND 6. I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE SURVEY
RESPONDENTS? >> THOSE QUESTIONS WERE INCLUDED AS OPTIONAL.
WE DO WHEN PEOPLE ANSWERED THE QUESTION. >> GARCIA: I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE PACKET. I WENT THROUGH ALL 100-SOMETHING PAGES.
CAN I GET IT? >> YES. IT DOES EXIST.
AND I JUST GOT A TEXT RESPONSE TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION.
IT IS A REGIONAL PARK. >> GARCIA: THE 23-QUESTION SURVEY INSTRUMENT, IS THAT
THE SA SPEAKUP OR WAS THAT DIFFERENT? >> YES.
>> GARCIA: IT WAS THE SA SA SPEAKUP. WHO WAS MANAGING THE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH INPUT? >> THAT'S GOING TO VARY DEPENDING ON WHOSE PROJECT IT IS BUT THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKING WITH THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SO WE'LL BE MANAGING THAT PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE COME TO THE TIRZ WITH A
RECOMMENDATION FROM THAT GROUP. >> GARCIA: I THINK COUNCILWOMAN KAUR MENTIONED POTENTIAL BOND PROJECTS AND THE REASON I WAS ASKING ABOUT IF IT WAS DESIGNATED A REGIONAL PARK IS BECAUSE THAT'S -- WE SHOULD HAVE MORE INPUT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS WELL.
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE CHOSEN.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A DEMOGRAPHIC ON THE STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL.
WHEN I DID A QUICK GLANCE AND GOOGLE SEARCH FOR ALL THE FOLKS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
THEY WERE ALL CEO AND ABOVE LEVEL. OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY YES TO CERTAIN THINGS, RIGHT, BUT I WOULD LOVE REPRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DO NOT MAKE SIX-DIGIT FIGURES AND MORE. AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MISSING THAT PART AND THAT PROBABLY IS THE REASON WHY THE DEMOGRAPHICS -- OR WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REPRESENTATION FROM CERTAIN DISTRICTS.
AND SO I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT, THAT WE MAKE SOME SORT OF AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S REPRESENTATION. AND THEN I WAS ALSO WONDERING WHY THE EVALUATION TOOL IS ONLY GOING TO BE USED WITH PHASE 2 AND NOT PHASE 1?
>> FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT REALLY ALREADY -- THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED AND IF WE WERE TO GO BACK AND TRY TO CHANGE, THEN IT'S BASICALLY STARTING OVER WITH ANOTHER
FUNDING. >> GARCIA: OKAY. SO THAT'S A GOOD EXPLANATION. THANK YOU.OU AND THEN I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OF THOSE WHO DID RESPOND, 190 SAID THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM OR MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM. AND THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT PROJECT SHOULD DO IT'S PRESERVE, IMPROVE, AND ENHANCE NATURE.
THAT'S CONSISTENT FROM WHAT I HEAR PEOPLE USING BRACKENRIDGE PARK FOR.
AND I'M PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT THE QUESTION THAT ASKED IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK ALL PROJECTS IN BRACKENRIDGE PARK SHOULD NOT DO? AND THEY SHOULD NOT DESTROY NATURAL SYSTEMS. I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ALL CONSISTENT WITH THE NATURAL SPACE THAT BRACKENRIDGE HAS AND HAS
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HAD. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE PART OF THE ASPECT OF THE PARK THAT THEY'RE MOST UNHAPPY ABOUT IS POLICIES, MAINTENANCE, AND SAFETY. BUT IT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY I THINK SAFETY LISTED AT THE END IN ANOTHER SURVEY QUESTION.SO I WAS TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH THE COMMENTS THAT WERE WRITTEN, THE HANDWRITTEN COMMENTS AND I DIDN'T SEE NECESSARILY TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT THE DISCREPANCY WAS THERE. BUT THEN IN PARTICULAR -- I'LL CLOSE WITH THE ITEM ABOUT DEMOGRAPHICS. THERE IS ACTUALLY A DIRECT QUOTE THAT SAYS THERE SHOULD BE AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO ENGAGE PARK USERS, MOSTLY WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES IN THIS CONVERSATION AND OPINIONS.
SET OF TABLES AND SURVEY QR CODES IN THE PARK. ONE NATIVE PERSON CANNOT BE THE DIVERSE VOICE FOR PARK USERS. AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE ONE THAT STUCK OUT MOST TO ME OF THE COMMENTS. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> CASTILLO: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
BRACKENRIDGE PARK HAS A VERY --L CALLED IT LAYERED HISTORY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE NOW ARE PART OF ITS HISTORY.
WILL BE PART OF ITS HISTORY AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE VOICES THERE.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS GOING TO BE -- THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO COME WITH LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND SOME CONTROVERSY BECAUSE WE ARE KIND OF IN A TUG OF WAR ON WHO'S THE PREVAILING VOICE THERE. BECAUSE THIS IS A PARK THAT DOES HAVE A FOUNDATION FUNDING IT OR GIVING TO IT AND WANTING A SIGNIFICANT SAY. WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THAT GROUP DOES FOR BRACKENRIDGE PARK. THIS IS A REGIONAL PARK, HOWEVER.
IT DOES SERVE THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND EVEN SOME PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OUT OF TOWN FEEL A CONNECTION TO BRACKENRIDGE PARK OR HAD PARENTS WHO LIVED HERE AND USED THE RIVER ALONG THERE. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS DEEP MEANING AND FEELING IS COMING FROM. SO I THINK I LIKE THE MOVEMENT OF HAVING GUIDING PRINCIPLES WHERE WE CAN START WITH.
I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS THAT CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO COME TO THE COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN WEIGH OUT WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING AND GIVING THEIR COMMUNICATION. THERE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S STILL IN A VERY ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE IS THE ZOO AND THAT HAS BEEN JUST BEGUN WITH ITS TRANSFORMATIONS AND WHEN THE GORILLAS ARRIVE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE OTHER SET OF PEOPLE COMING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THAT AREA TO MAKE SURE THE GORILLAS ARE HAPPY. SO I THINK THIS IS JUST A GOOD PLACE OF WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO KIND OF SET UP. AND I KNOW YOU HEAR WHAT WE'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF WE WANT THE VOICES ALL HEARD SO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK AND WE HAVE TO SEE THESE DECISIONS AND WE TALK ABOUT FUTURE BOND PROJECTS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE. AND IF THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR IS DRIVING THE CONVERSATION, THERE'S GOING TO BE PUSHBACK.
AS WE CONTINUE TO JUST MOVE FORWARD, HAVING THE CRITERIA AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE VOICES NOW AND IN A FEW YEARS THERE WILL BE MORE VOICES THAT WANT TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. AND IT TAKES THIS MEANING AND I THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HERE'S SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO START WITH.
KNOWING THEIR FLUID AND FLEXIBLE. AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO A WHOLE COUNCIL AND CHANGE THEM UP BUT STARTING WITH THIS COMMITTEE IS A
GOOD START, I THINK. THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK IN FACILITATING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LACK OF DIVERSITY WITH THE BOARD. I HAD A MEETING WITH A DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT, REBECCA, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CONDUCTED THEIR OWN SURVEY TO CHECK IN WITH PARK USERS TO SEE WHICH DISTRICT THEY LIVED IN. AND A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF THOSE LIVED IN DISTRICT 5.
YOU CAN ASK ANY PARK REP WHO'S FACILITATING A BOND MEETING, WHEN WE HAVE OUR PARKS BOND MEETING, I'M PULLING FOLKS FROM THE PARK TO COME TO THAT MEETING.
IF THEY'RE PLAYING BASKETBALL, I PULL THEM INTO OUR BUDGET MEETING.
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BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FOLKS WHO USE THE PARK TO HAVE A SAY ON WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE, WHAT AMENITIES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE PARK, TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT.
THERE IS A FOUNDATION SUPPORTING IT BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS A CITY ASSET, IT IS A REGIONAL PARK AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO INTEGRATE THE VOICES AND INPUT OF PARK USERS ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROJECT GO TOWARDS.
I APPRECIATE CLARIFICATION THAT ULTIMATELY ANY FUNDING SOURCE WOULD COME TO CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE CONCERN I HOLD FROM THOSE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT I MET WAS ALSO HOW THERE'S NOT MANY COMMUNITY VOICES. PLEASE CORRECT ME.
ON THE MIDTOWN TIRZ THERE AREN'T MANY SPOTS FOR COMMUNITY FOLKS.
IT'S PRIMARILY CITY STAFF. >> THERE'S SPOTS FOR DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2
RESIDENTS. >> CASTILLO: LAY OUT THE MAKEUP FOR ME.
>> OH, GOSH. >> CASTILLO: IF YOU COULD SEND THAT OFFLINE.
>> IT IS ONLINE ON THE CLERK'S PAGE. >> CASTILLO: IF YOU COULD SEND THAT OVER TO US, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. BUT ULTIMATELY JUST LOOKING AT THE BOARDS AND THE DIVERSITY AND ENSURING THAT COMMUNITY INPUT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE PLAN. NOT JUST CONSIDERED BUT INTEGRATED INTO THE PLAN.
I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS WELL AS FROM THE COMMITTEE TODAY. ANY LAST COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? >> I WILL JUST NOTE THIS IS NOT THE END OF PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT ANY PROJECT IN THE PARK. AS INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT PUBLIC INPUT HAPPENS NOW ON THE FRONT END.
THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IT MIGHT BE A MEETING.
IT MIGHT BE QR CODES IN THE PARK. IT MIGHT BE SURVEYING USERS DIRECTLY. BUT THEN IT'S GOING TO ALSO HAPPEN BEFORE FULL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. AND SO THERE'S MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC
TO WEIGH IN AS PROJECTS ARE PROPOSED. >> CASTILLO: GREAT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH MEETING. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.