Aug 22, 2024 Community Health Committee

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. >> CASTILLO: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[1. Approval of minutes from the Community Health Committee meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2024.]

>> CASTILLO: WE CAN MOVE ON TO ITEM 1, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE

JUNE 24, 2024 MEETING. DO WE HAVE A MOTION. >> MOTION.

[Public Comments  ]

>> CASTILLO: CAN WE GIVE A VOICE VOTE? MOTION CARRIES.

WE CAN MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE DO HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP.

WE CAN BEGIN WITH BOYD BAXTER WHO IS SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 3.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

MY NAME IS BOYD BAXTER AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING DEBRIEF COALITION AND OUR SUPPORT FOR SAN ANTONIO METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THE MISSION IS PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES RELATED TO ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, SMOKING, VAPING.

WE HAVE COMPRISED A A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF MEMBERS FROM HEALTH CARE WORKERS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, POLICYMAKERS, THE MEDIA AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND OUR GROUP IS WORKING TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON TOBACCO, THE HARMS OF TOBACCO AND NICOTINE USE AND VAPING. WE BELIEVE PUBLIC HEALTH IS A PROBLEM -- OR VAPING IN PUBLIC IS A PUBLIC PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR AND VAPING IS BECOMING A NEW TREND WHICH IS BECOMING VERY SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.

AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT VAPING IS A NEW PATHWAY TO ADDICTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

UP NEXT WE HAVE ABIGAIL MOORE SPEAKING ON ITEM 3. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ABIGAIL MOORE AND CEO FOR THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS. AND WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES ABOUT 70% OF OUR SERVICES OF PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE KNOW THAT VAPING IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS WITH KIDS AND BEING ABLE TO DO THE PREVENTION WORK AND HAVE THE CITY PASS -- INCLUDE THIS TO THE ORDINANCE IS VERY EXCITING TO US. WE JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT OUR AGENCY, THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS, ALONG WITH THE COALITION ARE COMMITTED TO BE PARTNERS TO HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY WHETHER IT'S THROUGH DIFFERENT MEDIA CAMPAIGNS AND/OR PRESENTATIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN TRUST ON THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT SUPPORT AND WE JUST WANT TO COME AND SUPPORT AND SHARE THAT WE ARE READY TO DO IT AS SOON AS THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED.

THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MS. MOORE.

WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] ON ITEM NUMBER 3 AS WELL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ALEC PUENTE, I WORK FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IN TEXAS. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO UPDATING ITS SMOKING REGULATIONS TO BETTER PROTECT FROM DANGEROUS EXPOSURE TO SECOND-HAND ARROW SOLS.

SAN ANTONIO PASTED IT'S LAST MAJOR UPDATE IN 2010 WHEN ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES WERE JUST ENTERING THE MARKETPLACE. SINCE THEN THESE DEVICES HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE ABLE TO EXPLOIT LOOPHOLES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE ARROW SOLS EMITTED BY IS A MIXTURE OF NICOTINE, ULTRA FINE PARTICLES AND TOXINS KNOWN TO CAUSE LUNG DISEASE AND CANCER. IT'S NOT SAFE TO USE THESE PRODUCTS IN SMOKE-FREE SPACES. NO WORKERS IN SAN ANTONIO SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND ARROW SOL. CURRENTLY OVER 90 TEXAS CITIES HAVE SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCES AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OTHER CITIES TO OBTAIN FURTHER

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SECONDHAND AEROSOLS. THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: THAT'S THE

[Briefing and Possible Action on  ]

BELIEVE DR. MATA IS GOING TO KICK US OFF. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, OVER 2900 AFGHAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE CALLED SAN ANTONIO HOME.

TODAY'S BRIEFING WILL COVER THE REPORT EXAMINING AFGHAN EVACUEES FUTURE HUMANITARIAN POPULATIONS. IT WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE AFGHAN EXPERIENCE IN SAN ANTONIO INCLUDING INTEGRATION CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS ONGOING SERVICES FOR AFGHAN ARRIVALS AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN POPULATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SCREWS DR. DIANE IN GUELESPE, WITH THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND NADIA, CEO OF CULTURINGUA. THEY WILL PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS.

THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE FINDINGS FROM OUR REPORT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE DEIA OFFICE FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU. SO EXACTLY THREE YEARS AGO, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BEGAN THE AFGHAN EVACUATION. IT HAD NOT CARRIED OUT AN EVACUATION OF THIS SCALE IN SEVERAL DECADES SO THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT, AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE EVACUEES BUT ALSO THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO ASSISTED THEM AS THEY -- AS THE COUNTRY FACED SOME VERY CHALLENGING CONDITIONS. SO THE MAIN QUESTION WE HOPE TO ANSWER THROUGH THIS STUDY WERE HOW ARE AFGHANS FARING A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER ARRIVAL AND HOW DID THE BROADER COMMUNITY RESPOND TO THEIR COMPLEX NEEDS.

BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO LEARN WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THE AFGHAN EXPERIENCE TO BETTER PREPARE FOR FUTURE NEWCOMERS. WE TOOK TOOK A COMMUNITY ENGAGED APPROACH. WE CONVENED AN ADVISORY BOARD OF AFGHAN AMERICANS AND ENGAGED CULTURINGUA BEING OUR PARTNER IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND WE TRAINED SIX COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCHERS WHO ARE ALL AFGHAN FLUENT.

SO THIS APPROACH MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO INTERVIEW 36 AFGHAN EVACUEES, 51 STAKEHOLDERS AND 12 LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THREE SITES, SAN ANTONIO BEING ONE OF THEM. THE AFGHAN EVACUEE POPULATION IS DIVERSE AND HAS VARYING NEEDS BASED ON DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS, LIKE IMMIGRATION STATUS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE FLUENCY, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, GENDER AND OTHERS.

SO THIS TABLE REFLECTS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY PARTICIPANTS, BUT I WANT TO PARTICULARLY DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAN ANTONIO PARTICIPANTS. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MAJORITY THAT WE INTERVIEWED IN SAN ANTONIO WERE PASHTO SPEAKERS, THEY CAME FROM RURAL AREAS IN AFGHANISTAN AND MANY HAD NO NORMAL EDUCATION. ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC IS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR BEING A SECONDARY MIGRATION SITE.

MEANING AFGHANS NOT INITIALLY RESETTLED HERE EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO MOVE HERE TO BE CLOSER TO FRIENDS OR FAMILY. I'LL TURN NOW TO OUR FINDINGS. AMONG OUR INTERVIEWS WITH EVACUEES, WE CONSISTENTLY HEARD HOW HAVING HUMANITARIAN PAROLE IMPACTED THEIR ABILITY TO SECURE STABLE EMPLOYMENT. THE MAIN CHALLENGE WAS THE LONG DELAY IN RECEIVING WORK AUTHORIZATION CARDS BUT ALSO IN RECEIVING RESOLUTIONS TO ASYLUM CASES.

SECOND FINDING WAS THAT MOST MEN AND WOMEN REPORTED FEELING STRESSED AND IN A STATE OF POOR MENTAL HEALTH. THEY PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTED THIS TO BE SEPARATED FROM CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS LEFT BEHIND, BUT ALSO MEN REPORTED BEING STRESSED ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND WOMEN BEING HOME SICK. AND A THIRD FINDING WAS THAT MOST WOMEN EXPRESSED WANTING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN OR IMPROVE THEIR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS, MEET OTHER WOMEN, EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE, AND SPECIFICALLY GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO WOMEN REPORTED THAT THE CONDITIONS TO ESL CLASSES

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AND ONE OF THE EVACUEE WOMEN ALSO SAID OUR PRIMARY NEED IS TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. AFGHAN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND AFGHAN-LED ORGANIZATIONS VOLUNTEERED AND CONTRIBUTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES WHICH WERE CRUCIAL IN AIDING RESPONSE EFFORTS. IN SAN ANTONIO WE FREQUENTLY HEARD DOING NAVIGATION WORK IN AN INFORMAL AND VOLUNTARY BASIS. THIS INCLUDED TROUBLE-SHOOTING ISSUES IN BENEFITS APPLICATIONS TO CAR ACCIDENTS OR JUST HOLDING INFORMAL ORIENTATIONS ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM OR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SPACES.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THEY ALSO RAISED AS LEADERS WAS A LACK OF ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS IN AIDING THE EVACUEES.

SOME LEADERS ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE IN NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO RECEIVE FURTHER EFFORTS.

AMONG OUR INTERVIEWS WITH LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE RECEIVING INFORMATION ON A TIMELY BASIS SO THEY COULD ADEQUATELY INFORM CLIENTS PARTICULARLY WHEN IT HAD TO DO WITH BEING REPAROLED OR AUTHORIZATION. THEY FACED UNRELIABLE INTERPRETATION SERVICES, SOMETIMES INTERPRETERS SPEAKING INCORRECT DIALECTS OR JUST NOT BEING ABLE. AND AGAIN, THIS COULD CAUSE A HUGE DELAY IN THEIR CLIENTS' CASES. THERE WERE ALSO ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE PART OF THE RESPONSE EFFORTS LIKE FAITH GROUPS, OTHER HEALTH CLINICS AND EMPLOYERS AND LANDLORDSMENT THEY ALL COMPLEMENTED THIS LIMITED CAPACITY OF RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES. THE MAIN CHALLENGES REPORTED WERE INSUCH -- INSUFFICIENT AND STAFF. FOR EXAMPLE, CBOS REPORTED NOT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE SAME WAY RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES DID, ALTHOUGH THEY STEPPED IN TO HELP WITH THE CORE SETTLEMENT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, SAN ANTONIO, SETTLEMENT ORGANIZATIONS, FOOD BANKS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN SERVICES, COLLECT DONATIONS AND RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS AND THIS WAS VIEWED AS A KEY RESOURCE HAVING THESE PARTNERSHIPS. STAKEHOLDERS ALSO DESCRIBED SOME INNOVATIVE WAYS THEY WERE HELPING EVACUEES. SOME OF THE THINGS WERE HIRING AFGHANS AND AFGHANS AS INTERPRETERS. HAVING THESE GOVERNMENT CONVENED COLLABORATIVES, BUT ALSO BRIDGING CULTURAL AND INFORMATION GAPS FOR EVACUEES AND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH EDUCATION. WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT INTERESTING EFFORTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, LIKE CREATING A CRICKET TEAM TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUNG EVACUEES. AND THE IMPORTANCE HAVING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH OUR AFGHANS TO COMBAT SOCIAL ISOLATION.

MANY STOIC HOLDERS EMPHASIZED THE BENEFITS OF OF WORSHIP, FOOD, MEDICAL CARE AND OTHER NEEDS. AND THEN THE REPORT LISTS SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM BUT BRIEFLY MENTION SUPPORTING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS SOMETHING THAT WAS RAISED AS AN ONGOING NEED. HAVING RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ESPECIALLY FOR INTERPRETATION SERVICES. AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVACUEES HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES THAT MATCH THEIR SKILLS. LESSONS FOR FUTURE POPULATIONS, THERE ARE ALSO SUGGESTIONS MADE, ONE OF THOSE IS JUST ENGAGING COMMUNITY LEADERS PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEWCOMER POPULATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY. EXTENDING AND HAVING ONGOING TRAINING AND ORIENTATIONS. ENSURING AGENCIES SPEAK THE NATIVE LANGUAGES OF THE NEWCOMER POPULATION, BUT KEEPING THESE COLLABORATIVES GOING SO THERE COULD EASILY BE IDENTIFICATION OF GAPS AND NEEDS IN SERVICES FOR THAT POPULATION.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO NADIA NOW AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M CEO OF CULTURINGUA. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK THAT CULTURINGUA HAS BEEN EITHER A LEADER AND PARTNER IN IN SAN ANTONIO IN WORKING WITH SAN ANTONIO'S

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THE PROGRAM CONNECTED LONG-STANDING MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY ACROSS 13 DIFFERENT FAITH-BASED CONGREGATIONS AND CORPORATE EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS WHICH CONSISTED OF NEARLY 200 ADULTS AND CHILDREN. WE SAW OVER THE MONTHS OF BUILDING BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND SUPPORT BETWEEN THESE TWO COMMUNITIES THAT THE AFGHAN REFUSE JEEZ REPORTED INCREASES IN NAVIGATIONAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTEGRATION ACCORDING TO EVALUATION BASED ON STANFORD'S IMMIGRATION POLICY LAB INTEGRATION INDEX. NEXT IS THE PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY, A COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS THAT WAS FORMED IN SPRING OF 2022 TO CREATE AND LATER IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE GREATER MEDICAL CENTER COMMUNITY TO OBTAIN MEANINGFUL WORK AND WEALTH. IMPORTANTLY THE COALITION CONSISTS OF AFGHAN EVACUEES AND OTHER AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE WORKED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES. THE TWO PILLARS OF OUR STRATEGY ARE ONE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM TO TRAIN PROXIMATE LEADERS IN THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY ON HOW TO ACCESS CITY RESOURCES SO THEY CAN BE LEADERS WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES TO ENABLE UNDERSTANDING HOW TO ACCESS RESOURCES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND TWO IS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST FOCUSED ON EVEN GABLING AFFORDABLE AND OBTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. CULTURINGUA HAS SUPPORTED OVER 200 REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE AFGHANS. THESE ARE IN THE AREA OF SE WING, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND CULINARY WHICH ARE SKILLS THEY BROUGHT FROM HOME COUNTRIES, AS WAS REVEALED IN A STUDY THAT CULTURINGUA AND TEXAS TECH CONDUCTED IN 2021 FOCUSED ON ASSET BASED COMMUNITY. THESE TRAININGS ARE CONDUCTED IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGES OF THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY WITH THE MAIN TWO SPOKEN IN AFGHANISTAN. CULTURINGUA WAS THE FIRST PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ACCREDITED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOOD HANDLING CERTIFICATION IN AFGHAN'S NATIVE LANGUAGES. AND FINALLY, WITHIN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, CULTURINGUA AND FAMILY SERVICE ARE JOINTLY DELIVERING A PROGRAM CALLED MIND WELL WHICH IS A REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PEER SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP GROUP SESSIONS FOR 300 AFGHAN YOUTH WHICH CULTURINGUA DELIVERS AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOR 75 AFGHAN YOUTH. THE FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AS DIANA'S PRESENTATION EMPHASIZED, THERE'S STILL MUCH NEED WITHIN THE AFGHAN POPULATION AND MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO TO USE LESS SONS LEARNED TO PREPARE TO WELCOME FUTURE POPULATIONS.

THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT GLOBAL ISSUES ARE LOCAL ISSUES AS DEMONSTRATED IN THIS PRESENTATION AND STUDY THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US TODAY. AND I WANTED TO THANK CULTURINGUA FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. I SEE ANA LISA HERE AS WELL.

THEY PROVIDE SUCH GREAT WORK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RESETTLED AFGHAN FAMILIARS IN DISTRICT 5 LIVE PRIMARILY IN THE CASSIANO HOMES AND I THINK IT DEPEND STRAIGHTS IMPORTANCE NOT JUST TO -- DEMONSTRATES NOT JUST THE IMPORTANCE BUT HOW CAN WE CONNECT AND SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE RESETTLED FOLKS WITH THE

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I'M CURIOUS IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH THE GLOBAL ACONVEYORS OFFICE TO POTENTIALLY ASSIST WITH RESOURCES OR FUNDING WITH SCALING UP SOME OF THIS PROGRAMMING AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT OPPORTUNITY IS THERE?

>> THERE IS OPPORTUNITY IN WORKING WITH THE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT OFFICE.

IN FACT, WE DO HAVE MYRA AND SAMANTHA WORKING WITH THEIR OFFICE.

WE CAN GET IN TOUCH AND SEE HOW WE CAN FURTHER SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THIS WORK.

>> CASTILLO: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. IN REGARDS TO THE STUDY, IT HIGHLIGHTED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, IT'S ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT HAS A BARRIER TO ACCESS. WHAT CAN BE DONE WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WITH EXPANDING MEDICAID AND MEDICARE EXPANSION, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU ALL WOULD RECOMMEND THAT OTHER CITIES MAY BE DOING TO PROVIDE

SUPPORT AND/OR ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE? >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT TOUGH BECAUSE IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S NOT JUST ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BUT ALSO FINDING PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS THE LANGUAGE AND, YOU KNOW, IS CULTURALLY ALIGNED WITH THE PERSON SEEKING THE SERVICES. I CAN CHECK -- THE OTHER SITE THAT WE ALSO STUDIED WAS CHICAGO. AND THEY HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS. BUT I CAN CHECK ON WHAT THEY HAVE [INAUDIBLE] AND ALSO REPORT BACK BECAUSE, YEAH, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I CANNOT SAY.

I KNOW THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY TRIED TO HANDLE CERTAIN SERVICES THROUGH THE LANGUAGE LINE AND THAT WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, MET WITH MUCH SUCCESS.

I DON'T WANT TO MENTION THAT IF IT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL FOR THEM, BUT I CAN GET BACK TO YOU. ONE THING JUST CAME TO MIND. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH LINE THAT WAS CREATED BY AN AFGHAN GROUP OUT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT AT LEAST IN THE SHORT ONE THERE COULD BE SOME CONTACT MADE WITH GROUPS, AFGHAN-LED GROUPS THAT WORK ON MENTAL

HEALTH SERVICES AS WELL. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. I'M CURIOUS, DR. MATA, NOW THAT WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH THE BUDGET, IF THERE'S ANY BUDGET NEUTRAL ITEMS OR IF WE COULD INCREASE SPACE OFF THE PIECES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS BARRIERS TO ACCESS WHETHER IT'S HOUSING OR HEALTH CARE THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY ADVOCATE FOR TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN

DIG INTO. >> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE PRESENTATIONS AND FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. I WANT TO SHOUT-OUT NADIA WHO IS A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED EFFORTS.

I'M PROUD THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS OPENED UP ITS ARMS TO AFGHAN EVACUEES.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LOVE SAN ANTONIO. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AS YOU ALL HAVE POINTED OUT. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR YOU, DR. MATA.

THERE A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE EVACUEES ARE LIVING BY DISTRICT?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, I'M IN THE IMMIGRATION LIAISON.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THERE WAS A REPORT DONE IN 2019 THAT LOOKS AT OUR IMMIGRANT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE HOW MANY WE HAVE.

AND BACK IN 2019, DISTRICT 8 WAS WHERE THE MAJORITY ARE. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL TO UPDATE THAT REPORT THAT WILL HAVE THE DEMOGRAPHICS, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK INTERNALLY BECAUSE IT REQUIRES US TO WORK WITH OUR DATA INTERNALLY TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE LOOKING INTERNALLY. BUT BASED ON THE -- SO REFUGEES, THEY COME THROUGH THREE RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES, CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND GLOBAL REFUGE.

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>> GAVITO: I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT INSIGHT.

REFERRING TO SLIDE 6, OBVIOUSLY TRANSPORTATION IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SOCIETY AND YES, WHILE WE HAVE A BUS SYSTEM, VIA HAS SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT AFGHAN WOMEN'S GREATEST NEED IS TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE. CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THE STEPS IT WOULD TAKE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE AND WHERE BARRIERS EXIST? I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO TAKE A STAB AT THAT. I'M ALSO CURIOUS WHERE THE BARRIERS EXIST AND WHAT RESOURCES WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGE.

>> SAMANTHA SMITH, CIVIL RIGHTS MANAGER. THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC LEGAL BARRIERS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT BASED ON PARTICULAR IMMIGRATION STATUS. HERE IN THE CITY.

THAT IS GOING TO PRESENT A BARRIER THAT'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING WE CAN ADDRESS AT THE CITY LEVEL SHE THAT'S GOING TO BE STATE LAW THAT DICTATES THAT.

AS FAR AS ANY PARTICULAR WORK, I'LL SEE IF NADIA HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

>> SO I THINK THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT ONE TO NOTE AND I THINK PARTICULARLY FOR AFGHAN PASHTO SPEAKERS, I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE PASHTO SPEAKERS ARE PRETTY LITERATE, ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN.

EVEN IF THE EXAM WAS OFFERED IN PASHTO, WHICH IT'S NOT, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE A WRITTEN EXAM. I ALSO WANTED TO JUST TOUCH ON ONE OF DIANA'S POINTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S QUESTION RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH WHICH IS I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO GET TRAINING THAT ARE CULTURALLY RELEVANT MENTAL HEALTH. CORNERSTONE OUT OF NEW JERSEY THAT'S SPECIALIZED IN WORKING WITH LEVEE POPULATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY BROUGHT A PASHTO TRAINER TO SAN ANTONIO TO TRAIN OUR STAFF ON USING THE RIGHT VERB TERMINOLOGY. IF YOU USE THE TERMS MENTAL HEALTH, YOU SAY I'M NOT CRAZY, I DON'T NEED MENTAL HEALTH, BUT USING ITOF WHAT AREY APPROPRIATE FOR THEM AND HAVING THAT TRAINING AND RESOURCES I THINK IS ALSO

IMPORTANT. >> GAVITO: AND ALSO TOO I DID WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S QUESTION ON THAT. HOW MANY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN SAN ANTONIO DO WE HAVE THAT SPEAK PASHTO OR DARI.

>> FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS THERE ARE NONE. NOT ONLY IS LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR A CHALLENGE PERIOD, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE ARE VERY FEW. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ONE IN VIRGINIA THAT'S A -- SHE'S A DARI SPEAKER AND SHE'S LICENSED IN THE STATES OF VIRGINIA, NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK. SO WE EXPLORED WORKING WITH HER THROUGH TELEMED, BUT SHE WASN'T LICENSED IN TEXAS SO FAMILY SERVICE HAS AN AIR -- ARABIC SPEAKING ASSOCIATE.

ARABIC IS NOT THE SAME LANGUAGE BUT CULTURALLY SIMILAR AND ALSO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE PICKED UP ENGLISH RAPIDLY AND SHE IS ALSO TAKING PASHTO COURSES. THROUGH ALL OF THAT COMBINATION, SHE IS ABLE TO DELIVER HER COUNSELING SESSIONS EFFECTIVELY. BUT OUR PRE SUPPORT SESSIONS --T

SESSIONS. >> GAVITO: ONE MORE THING TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S QUESTION, I'M WONDERING WHAT IS BEING DONE FOR -- OR WHAT MORE WE COULD DO AS A CITY TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIERS THAT EXIST FOR EVACUEES OBTAINING AND GAINING EMPLOYMENT. SO IF IT IS A LEGAL ISSUE OR OTHER ISSUES, WHAT WE COULD

DO LOCALLY TO HELP. >> SO I'M NOT IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, BUT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS IS LOOKING AT DEVELOPING THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND COUNCIL WILL HAVE

AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT AT THAT POINT. >> GAVITO: AWESOME.

I THINK A FEW OF US WILL PUSH THAT THROUGH. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO DR. MATA AND

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I GOT TO ATTEND AN EVENT THE OTHER DAY AND GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE NEED.

SO I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR ALL BEING THERE AND FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

I'M JUST WONDERING, I KNOW THERE IS A SURVEY IN HERE OR THERE IS A REPORT.

ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE THESE TYPE OF SURVEYS TO LEARN ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES

THAT ARE IN NEED? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT DEIA IS GOING TO -- WE'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT TO CREATE THE IMMIGRANT INCLUSION ADVISORY GROUP WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT OUR -- THE BARRIERS OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS ARE FACING, CITY SERVICES.

THE GOAL IS ALSO TRAIN OUR CITY STAFF ABOUT HOW TO, FIRST OF ALL, KNOW HOW MANY IMMIGRANTS WE HAVE IN OUR CITY, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, LANGUAGES.

BUT AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE WITH THOSE POPULATIONS. THIS ADVISORY GROUP IS GOING TO GIVE US THAT FEEDBACK THAT WE NEED SO AS I'M WORKING WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, I CAN PROVIDE THAT INPUT. THAT PROJECT, IT'S GOING TO START IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL WITH THE CONTRACT PROCESS, JANUARY OF 2025 TO ALL THE WAY JULY 2025 AND WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE BUT AS WELL AS THE

IMMIGRANTS SERVING NON-PROFITS. >> GARCIA: I LOVE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. EACH ONE OF US AS COUNCILMEMBERS AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OR EVERYONE IS AWARE, EACH ONE OF US IS DESIGNATED CERTAIN AREAS ACROSS THE WORLD AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LIAISONS FOR THOSE AREAS. AND SO I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED A FEW AREAS IN THE PAST AND I WORKED A LOT WITH THE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES AND IN PARTICULAR I HELPED THEM SET UP A SCHOOL FOR THEIR KIDS TO LEARN EVERY OTHER WEEKEND.

THAT'S BECAUSE I WAS THEIR LIAISON. I'M ALWAYS SENSITIVE ABOUT OVERSTEPPING AND GOING INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S TERRITORIES BECAUSE I'M RESPECTFUL THAT THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT MY COLLEAGUES REPRESENT. BUT I TALKED TO NADIA AND I ASKED WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW CAN I HELP. AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER, THERE ARE THOSE COUNCILS HE WILL LIAISONS SO LET'S GET THEM TO PLUG IN AND REALLY CHAMPION SOME OF THESE SERVICES BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN REPLICATE A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING AS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER AREAS. IS THERE ALSO A PLAN ALREADY TO UTILIZE THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO THOSE THAT ARE STILL LEARNING TO ADAPT TO LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES? AND IN PARTICULAR IN SAN ANTONIO. LIKE IS THERE -- AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF HOW I CAN REWORD IT, BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN ENGAGE LIKE OUR RESIDENTS TO HELP BE

MORE WELCOMING ESSENTIALLY? >> WHEN COMMUNITIES OF WELCOME WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2021, NADIA'S GROUP BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NEEDED IS JUST HAVING A MORE AFFORDABLALIZED COLLABORATIVE THAT IS NEEDED TO CONNECT. I KNOW THERE'S SOME IN THE FAITH LIAISON THAT IS STILL HAPPENING, BUT LIKE THE PROGRAM THAT NADIA HAD -- I HAVEN'T SEEN IT EXPANDED MORE. I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THOUGH, THEY HAVE WHAT IS CALLED LIKE NEWCOMERS COORDINATORS THAT ARE WORKING THERE IN THE SCHOOL WITH THE FAMILIES AND THEY ARE HELPING THEM NAVIGATING AS WELL. BUT I THINK WHAT IS NEEDED IS HAVING ONE COLLABORATIVE ALL COMING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT AND WHERE THE GAPS IN SERVICES ARE.

BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME OUT THERE, BUT THEY ARE NOT KIND OF COLLABORATING OR

WORKING TOGETHER. >> GARCIA: AND I THINK NADIA, YOU WANTED TO ADD

SOMETHING? >> YEAH, ON SLIDE 14, IT TALKS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OF WELCOME PROGRAM. I'LL JUST SHARE THAT I THINK THAT WE HAD TWO COHORTS, ONE IN 2022 AND ONE IN 2023. AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF MOMENTUM IN 2021 BECAUSE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS COMING TOGETHER, IT WAS IN THE NEWS.

THEN IN 2023 WE HAD A LOT FEWER COMMUNITY GROUPS REALLY STEP UP AND

[00:35:01]

THERE IS A PROGRAM THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS PILOTING CALLED WELCOME CORPS AND THAT PROGRAM ENABLES PRIVATE CITIZENS TO FORM PRIVATE SPONSOR GROUPS AND THEY WOULD PRIVATELY SPONSOR THE REFUGEE FAMILIES. BUT THEY ALSO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY WELCOME CORPS INITIATIVES IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS EXPLORING BASED ON AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MORE ENGAGED IN REFUGEE

RESETTLEMENT. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. I THINK THAT WE COULD ALSO USE THE WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE THAT TALKS ABOUT BEING BILINGUAL IS A SUPER POWER AND ENGAGE THE KIDS. I WAS AT A SCHOOL A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I ASKED HOW MANY WERE BILINGUAL AND ASKED THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

LIKE THERE WAS AT LEAST NINE KIDS THAT RAISED THEIR HAND AND ALL SPOKE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND COUNTED TO TEN IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. IT WAS JUST SO AWESOME TO SEE, BUT WE NEED THIS. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE. ALSO THE GROUP YOU ALL ARE FORMING THE IMMIGRANT INCLUSION GROUP, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT COMING TO REALITY.

AND THEN I WANT TO FOCUS MY LAST COMMENTS ON THE MENTAL SUPPORT GROUP.

THERE'S SOME FOR CHILDREN IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS. AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFOCUS OR SHIFT MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN USED IN DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT WE HAVE STILL SOME MONEY THAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT IN THE MENTAL HEALTH ARENA.

AND SO THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY, LIKE IF IT HASN'T BEEN SPENT IN ONE AREA THAT WE CAN DO THIS AND HELP THE PARENTS OUT AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

GREAT IDEA. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND PRESENTATION. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ONE, I WAS -- HUMANITARIAN PAROLE, IS THAT WORD TRIGGERING FOR ANYONE ELSE? JUST A SIDE NOTE. HI TO LOOK THAT UP. I'M GUESSING THAT'S A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TERM WHICH IS WHY WE USE IT. THE ACTUAL QUETUSTIONS I HAVE, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST PROGRAM. I WAS GETTING MY BRIEFING FROM CITY STAFF AND YOU GUYS ARE ONE OF THE NON-PROFIT PARTNERS WORKING WITH THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS, HOW MANY PROJECTS YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND JUST WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS OR WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS IT REALLY.

>> SURE. SO ON THE BACKUP SLIDE, SLIDE 22, IT TALKS A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE CLT. IT'S JUST -- WE'RE JUST BEGINNING THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE, SO METHODIST HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES IS OUR FUNDER AND WE HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS IN DEVELOPING THIS STRATEGY.

AND THE PERSONS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS IS A LOT OF THE -- HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO OBTAINING -- TO WEALTH BUILDING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO WE -- MYSELF AND CULTURINGUA'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WENT EARLIER THIS MONTH TO VISIT THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST NETWORK SO THEY HAVE A COALITION IN MINNESOTA OF 14CLTS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE '97 AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH FIVE OR SIX OF THEM AND REALLY UNDERSTAND THE LANDSCAPE OF CLTS. AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL IN THE STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT PHASE AND WORKING ON OUR BUSINESS PLAN, BUT WE -- WITH OUR INITIAL PILOT, WE ARE PLANNING TO BUILD ONE TO TWO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN THE GREATER MEDICAL CENTER WHICH COULD EXTEND INTO DISTRICT 1.

AND THEN WE HOPE TO GROW FROM THERE TO PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE

HOMEOWNERSHIP. >> KAUR: ARE YOU ALL THINKING ABOUT THE DEVELOPING ARM OR WOULD YOU BE CONTRACTING SOMEONE ELSE OR PROVIDING THE CONNECTION

TO THE HOMEOWNERS? >> SO WITHIN OUR COALITION, THERE IS A DEVELOPER THAT'S PART OF THE COALITION THAT'S A MISSION ASSIGNED DEVELOPER, SO WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER IN COALITION. BUT WE DID -- WE DID LEARN FROM THE VISITS WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, A CLT WOULD PARTNER WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AS

[00:40:06]

ON THE REAL ESTATE. >> KAUR: HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ACQUIRING LAND? ARE YOU PLANNING TO FUND RAISE FOR THE ACTUAL PIECE

FOR THE LAND PURCHASE? >> WE HAVE SEED MONEY, BUT WE DO NEED TO DO ANALYSIS BECAUSE OF THE PRICE OF LAND BEING AS HIGH AS IT IS, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING INTO ENABLING US TO ACQUIRE AN AFFORDABLE PARCEL OF LAND WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE RISING COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION THAT ARE ALL, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE BUDGET.

>> KAUR: MAYBE WE CAN SET UP A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION. I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO HAS ASKED FOLKS DOWN THE STREET ABOUT THIS ISSUE TOO AND HOW WE CAN REALLY FIGURE OUT -- I THINK YOU HAVE ALSO DOVE INTO A STRATEGY, BUT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS PLAN.

>> FOR SURE. >> KAUR: THE LAST QUESTION PROBABLY FOR CITY, I KNOW WE --E GAVITO ASKED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS THAT ARE TRAINED, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY EVEN IF WE WERE HIRE TRAINED WELCOMING FOLKS ARE TRAINED -- CAN SPEAK THOSE LANGUAGES? DO WE HAVE LIKE -- IS THERE A NEED FOR US TO START A LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAM IN THOSE TWO LANGUAGES?

>> SO WHILE OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS MANAGER COMES UP, EMILY, WE ARE DEVELOPING SOME LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AND I'LL LET HER SPEAK FURTHER ABOUT THAT AND WHAT THOSE

CAPABILITIES ARE. >> I'D HAVE TO LOOK UP -- I'M LANGUAGE ACCESS MANAGER.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK UP THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR SPOKEN LANGUAGE FOR PASHTO AND DARI IN SAN ANTONIO. I WILL SAY THAT DATA IS DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY SHOWN IN OUR AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA YET BECAUSE THE POP LAYING WAS SO NEW AND WHEN THAT -- POPULATION WAS NEW AND PASHTO DID MAKE IT ON TO OUR TOP LANGLEYS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE CAN SEE IN DATA FROM HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS, BUT ISN'T IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY IN THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY BECAUSE IT'S PART OF A GROUPING OF LANGUAGES.

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING SPACE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT. BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S ABOUT 4,000 AFGHANS TOTAL IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY OLD AND CONTINUOUSLY GROWING. OF THAT POPULATION, THERE'S A GROUP THAT SPEAKS PASHTO

AND A GROUP THAT SPEAKS DARI. >> KAUR: I WAS JUST THINKING IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A POSITION SPECIFICALLY CENTERED AROUND THOSE LANGUAGES. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR

WORK AND THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING. >> CASTILLO: COUNCILMEMBER

VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, JENNIFER. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA IN LOOKING BACK AND UNDERSTANDING HOW THERE IS CONFLICT WORLDWIDE WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THESE SITUATIONS HAPPENING. I WAS INTERESTED TO HEAR WE ARE THE SECOND LOCATION THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE WELCOMING AND WE WANT TO TRY --S HAPPENED, AS UNFORTUNATE AND TRAGIC AS WE SAW THE LOST, THERE WERE SO MANY THAT WANTED TO STEP UP AND HELP.

I THINK WE NEED TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE HAVE IS A NEW COMMUNITY AND HOW DO WE EMBRACE THEM AND MAKE THEM SAN ANTONIO. THE AFGHAN COMMUNITY IS SAN ANTONIO. AND NOW WE HAVE THESE TWO LANGUAGES AND I THINK FROM THESE TWO LANGUAGES WE CAN REALLY SEE PEOPLE EXPAND THAT AND THAT'S WHY I THINK A LANGUAGE SCHOOL IS KEY AND SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK TO INVEST IN.

AND ALSO THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE LEARNING BOTH LANGUAGES RIGHT NOW SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A CAREER IN THE FUTURE IF YOU ARE MULTI-LINK WALL.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THE ONE SLIDE I WANTED TO STICK WITH IS SLIDE 16, IN TERMS OF THE CAREER AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES.

THE SEWING FOR SUCCESS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, I THINK WE HAVE LAND WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT IS RURAL WHERE THEY COULD LIVE AT THE MEDICAL CENTER.

IF THERE WAS A WAY WE COULD GET PEOPLE INTO THE RURAL AREAS TO DO THE HUSBANDRY,

[00:45:15]

IF WE COULD SAY BRING YOUR GOAT -- THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO LEARN MORE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT -- WHETHER IT'S COWS OR GOATS OR HORSES, I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE THAT I REALLY WANT TO EXPLORE. BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS IS DESIGNATED RURAL. SOME PEOPLE CAN -- THEY ARE NOT WORKING THE LAND ANYMORE, BUT IT'S THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO RAISE ANIMALS.

AND THEN REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE REGULATIONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A RESOURCE. I THINK THE SEWING FOR SUCCESS IS ANOTHER RESOURCE, SOMETHING THAT WE -- WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ANYMORE, BUT NOW PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO BUY SEWING MACHINES AND TRY THINGS NEW. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND TO COMMUNICATE LOOK AT WHAT OUR NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE BRINGING AND HOW DO WE SHARE THIS WITH THE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS ON DOING THAT. IF YOU WANT TO SHARE, GO

AHEAD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION, BUT I THINK THAT OUR ANNUAL HUSBAND BANDRY PROGRAM IS IN D3 OR D4. WHEN THE AFGHANS WENT THERE, THEY WERE SO EXCITED.

ARE YOU SERIOUS, THIS IS HERE? ARE THERE APARTMENTS? CAN I MOVE MY FAMILY HERE? SO THERE IS -- WE PROVIDED THE TRANSPORTATION TO YOUR POINT, THE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, BUT I THINK THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THAT. AND BACK TO THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST CONVERSATION, WE HAVE THIS LONG-TERM VISION OF CREATING A AGRI-HOOD IN ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF AREAS WHERE THE AFGHANS AND OTHER REFUGEE COMMUNITIES THAT COME FROM THESE AGRARIAN SOCIETIES CAN LIVE IN AN AGRICULTURE NEIGHBORHOOD, HAVING HOMES AND BE ABLE TO WORK THE LAND. ALSO ON SEWING FOR SUCCESS, I THINK YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. SAN ANTONIO SHOES AND OTHER EMPLOYERS HAVE HIRED AFGHANS TO DO SEWING WORK FOR THEM SO I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. AND I ALSO WANT TO EMPATHIZE, SEWING FOR SUCCESS, BACK TO I THINK COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA'S POINT, PROVIDES IT'S SEWING CIRCLES SO IT REDUCES SOCIAL ISOLATION AND PROVIDES SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AMONG THE AFGHAN WOMEN. PART OF THE MEASUREMENT OF THE IMPACT IS ALSO RELATED TO IMPROVEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THE AFGHAN

WOMEN. >> VIAGRAN: IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL FOR LANGUAGES, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE COMING IN, REFUGEE COMMUNITIES, ARE CONNECTED DIGITALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE CAN COMMUNICATE AND WORK EASILY TO GET MESSAGES OUT THERE.

WE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO UNDERSTAND IF IT'S A CONCENTRATION OF 4,000 THAT CRISIS, A FLOOD, A TORNADO. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IN OUR TOP THREE OR FOUR, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THEM WHETHER IT'S TEXT MESSAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA, THINGS LIKE THAT. THANK YOU.

>> WE DO HAVE OUR DISABILITY ACCESS OFFICE WORKING WITH EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO MAKE

SURE THAT HAPPENS. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> CASTILLO: WONDERFUL. IT'S IN THE REPORT BUT WASN'T IN THE PRESENTATION AND ONE THING IT HITS ON IS LACK OF ACCESS TO FUNDING FOR AIDING RESETTLEMENT.

I THINK THAT'S WHY THE POINT DR. ROCHA RAISED ON THE FUNDS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN USED AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THOSE FUNDS GO TO ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY DOING THE WORK. LET'S NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL IN FOLKS HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S WHO WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING.

THE BURNOUT THAT COMES FROM TAKING THIS ON, MANY FOLKS VOLUNTEER, THEY HAVE THEIR JOBS AND VOLUNTEER IN THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS AND JUST MAKING SURE FOLKS FEEL WELCOME. AND HOW CAN WE CONTINUE AS WE HAVE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS OR DEBATE AROUND REMAINING ARPA FUNDS CONTINUE THE WORK THAT CULTURINGUA IS DOING.

THIS REPORT IS GREAT. THIS IS MY JAMS, CASE STUDIES AND REPORTS.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION AND I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES

[00:50:04]

WE CAN MOVE ON TO ITEM 3, BRIEFING PROVIDED BY THE SAN ANTONIO METRO HEALTH DISTRICT ON AMENDING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE TO INCORPORATE ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES ALSO KNOWN AS E-CIGARETTES OR VAPES.

I BELIEVE DR. CLAUDE JACOB WILL BE GIVING THE PRESENTATION.

>> JACOB: GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE.

TODAY'S BRIEFING IS TO RECOMMEND THAT WE AMEND OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 36. I WILL -- I'M CLAUDE JACOB, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH. I'M JOINED BY MY FANTASTIC TEAM AND JUST KNOW THIS AFTERNOON I WILL HIGHLIGHT LOCAL AND NATIONAL TRENDS AS WE ADDRESS THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS AS WELL AS ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES. SO THIS AFTERNOON I'D LIKE TO START BY PROVIDING A TIME LINE OF THE IMPORTANT MILESTONES THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE IN OUR TOBACCO POLICY WORK IN SAN~ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS 60 YEARS AGO THAT THE SURGEON GENERAL'S SMOKING AND HEALTH REPORT WHICH WAS A LANDMARK REPORT LINKED SMOKING CIGARETTES WITH DANGEROUS HEALTH EFFECTS INCLUDING LUNG CANCER AND HEART DISEASE.

THIS LED TO NUMEROUS ANTI-SMOKING MEASURES OVER THE COURSE OF DO YOU REMEMBER DECADES INCLUDING THE MODERN PUBLIC HEALTH INDOOR SMOKING BANS.

FAST FORWARD TO 2010, THAT'S THE YEAR WE ADOPTED THE SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT WAS 14 YEARS AGO. I KNOW WE'RE STILL REELING FROM THE LOST YEARS OF COVID, BUT KNOW OUR CURRENT SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF E-CIGARETTES OR VAPES.

JUST ABOUT A DECADE AGO, E-CIGARETTES ENTERED THE MARKET.

SO I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT E-CIGARETTES OR ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES ARE DEVICES THAT SIMULATE SMOKING BY USING A MECHANICAL HEATING ELEMENT, BATTERY OR ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT TO DELIVER NICOTINE OR OTHER SUBSTANCES BY INHALATION. SO THIS AFTERNOON YOU WILL HEAR ME REFERENCE VAPES AND JUST KNOW WHEN WE FAST IN ORDER TO 2018, JUST KNOW SAN ANTONIO WAS THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO ADOPT A TOBACCO 21 POLICY WHICH RAISED THE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE TOBACCO PRODUCTS FROM 18 TO 21. TEXAS THEN ADOPTED A STATEWIDE LAW IN 2019 AND JUST KNOW THIS EFFORT WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS A KEY ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT LED TO OUR GOAL DIZZYING -- DESIGNATION.

OUR CURRENT POLICY DOES NOT PROHIBIT E-CIGARETTES OR VAPING INDOORS WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? THERE ARE TWO MAIN PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES WE MUST ADDRESS.

INVOLUNTARY EXPOSURE AND THE NORMALLALIZATION OF NEGATIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS.

WHILE THERE MAY BE A PERCEPTION THE VAPOR FROM COME FROM E-CIGARETTES IS CLEAN OR SAFE, IT POSES A SERIOUS HEALTH RISK. THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF E-CIGARETTES USE EXISTS FOR BOTH THE PRIMARY SMOKER AND THOSE EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND SMOKE. THERE IS CONCERN THAT PERMITTING INDOOR VAPING MIGHT NORMAL TOBACCO IN SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS. WE MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR MESSAGING AND PRACTICES AND AS WE COMMUNICATE THE POTENTIAL RISKS THAT RESULT FROM EXPOSURE. THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION E-CIGARETTES OR VAPES ARE LEGITIMATE TOBACCO CESSATION METHOD WHICH HAS LED TO A DANGEROUS THINKING THAT IT'S SAFE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. TO DATE, THE FDA, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, HAS NOT APPROVED ANY E-CIGARETTE TO AID IN SMOKING CESSATION.

NOW I'M GOING TO SHARE A FEW SLIDES THAT WILL PROVIDE DATA ON THE CURRENT EPIDEMIC OF E-CIGARETTES. KNOW THESE DATA ARE TAKEN FROM THE NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY AND THE CDC. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND E-CIGARETTES OR VAPES ARE

[00:55:07]

BY CONTRAST, THE MAP IN GREEN IS FOR E-CIGARETTE USAGE.

E-CIGARETTE USAGE IS HIGHER IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE WHERE POPULATION CENTERS ARE LOCATED INCLUDING OUR REGION, REGION 8.

WHILE THIS SHOWS THAT ONLY 6% OF THE ADULT POPULATION HAS REPORTED E-CIGARETTE USE WHICH MIRRORS THE STATEWIDE PREVALENCE, OUR REGION IS SHOWING A HIGHER USE THAN ABOUT HALF THE REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE. SO WITH THIS GRAVEL, ANOTHER WAY TO EXAMINE TRENDS AMONG ADULTS. THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE ADULT E-CIGARETTE USE REFLECTING A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 2016 AND 2021, THE ORANGE LINE ON TOP IS OF IMPORTANCE BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE ADULTS THAT HAVE EVER USED E-CIGARETTES REACHING OVER 36% OR ABOUT A THIRD OF THOSE 18 AND OLDER. AGAIN, THIS IS 2021 DATA. AND LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE. OUR DATA ALSO SUGGESTS THAT THE PREVALENCE OF CURRENT E-CIGARETTE USE IS HIGHER THAN REPORTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE HIGHER PREVALENCE OF E-CIGARETTE USE OBSERVED BACK IN 2021 MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO CHANGES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE PANDEMIC SUCH AS INCREASED ONLINE SALES WHICH FACILITATED EASY ACCESSIBILITY AND STOCKPILING. MOORHOUSE OVER THE HEIGHTENED SOCIAL STRESS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN MORE INDIVIDUALS TURNING TO E-CIGARETTES AS A COPING MECHANISM. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE FRIENDS.

YEAR HERE TODAY TO -- WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY TO INCLUDING THESE E-CIGARETTES IN OUR POLICY. IT'S IMPORTANT WE USE A BROADER LENS TO SEE WHAT OTHER PARTNERS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL ARE RECOMMENDING.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE POLICY STATEMENTS ON E-CIGARETTES AND SMOKE-FREE INDOOR AIR. WITH THE CDC AND CITY HEALTH, JUST KNOW THOSE ARE THE TWO EXAMPLES I USE AND WE HAVE OTHERS. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION HAS A POLICY STATEMENT ON PROTECTING YOUTH FROM A THE HARMS OF VAPING, SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE SMOKE-FREE POLICIES THAT PROHIBIT THE USE OF ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN INDOOR AREAS OF ALL PUBLIC PLACES.

THESE POLICIES PROTECT EVERYONE FROM HARMFUL SECONDHAND SMOKE AND AND AND --.

CITY HEALTH PROMOTES THE GOLD STANDARD FOR CITIES WITH CRITERIA THAT INCLUDE

[01:00:03]

THE GOAL OF UP GATING OUR POLICY IS PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE OR AEROSOLS FROM VAPES. WHILE THE EFFECTS ARE STILL BEING RESEARCHED, VAPING CAN CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE LUNG DAMAGE DUE TO DANGEROUS CHEMICALS PRESENT.

THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO UPDATE OUR POLICY TO INCLUDE E CIGARETTES.

THE PURPOSE IS THREE-FOLD. FIRST, IT WILL MODERNIZE OUR POLICY.

SECOND, IT WILL MOVE US TO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY. THIRD, IT WILL CREATE UNIFORM STANDARDS BETWEEN BOTH TYPES, COMBUSTIBLE. WE WANT TO MODERNIZE SO WE CAN STAY ON TOP. WE FEEL A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH OPENS THE DOOR TO ALLOW US TO BUILD MULTI-LEVEL VAPING INTERVENTIONS MOVING FORWARD. AND WE MUST PUT ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES ON THE SAME LEVEL AS COMBUSTIBLE TOBACCO PRODUCTS. THE SNAPSHOT, YOU HEARD THIS EARLIER IN PUBLIC COMMENT AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE, WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS QUEST HERE IN TEXAS. 91 CITIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ALREADY INCLUDED E-CIGARETTES. DALLAS, HOUSTON, AUSTIN AND EL PASO HAVE ALREADY DONE IT. HOUSTON IN 2022 AND DALLAS EARLIER THIS YEAR. NEXT STEPS. I GUESS TO THIS GROUP I WOULD SAY THAT WE RECOMMEND MAKING THE CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE ADDING THE DEFINITION OF AN ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE TO THE POLICY WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL E-CIGARETTES AND VAPING DEVICES. WE WILL ALSO RECOMMEND SIGNAGE INCLUDE THE NO VAPING SYMBOL. WE PROPOSE THE CHANGE GO INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY AND OUR ENFORCEMENT WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS CURRENT ORDINANCE WHICH IS A COMPLAINT-DRIVEN SYSTEM AND ANCHORED TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTORS AS WELL AS THE 311 SYSTEM. THE TIME LINE, OUR PROPOSED TIME LINE FOR NEXT STEPS, SO WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

WE PROPOSE BRINGING THIS ITEM TO FULL COUNCIL DURING AN A SESSION OVER THE COMING MONTHS. WE THEN LAUNCH AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO INFORM AND ENGAGE OUR PARTNERS AND AREA RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS UPDATE. AND AGAIN, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THE NEW YEAR. AS PART OF THE NATIONAL CALENDAR, IN NOVEMBER THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT IS TAKING PLACE NOVEMBER 3.

AFTER THE NEW YEAR IN APRIL WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE OF THE TAKE DOWN NATIONAL TOBACCO DAY KNOWN AS A KICK BUTTS DAY, THAT'S ON APRIL 1. ON MAY 31 WE ACKNOWLEDGE WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY. FINALLY I WANT TO TAKE A ACKNOWLEDGE THE AREA PARTNERS. I TRULY BELIEVE IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. THESE SUPPORTERS HAVE GATHERED LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE STATE TO HELP SAN ANTONIO TAKE THIS IMPORTANT STEP.

MANY OF THEM ARE IN THE ROOM HERE TODAY AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS. AND BREATHE CLEAR AIR COALITION OF SAN ANTONIO, THE SOUTH TEXAS ASTHMA COALITION, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, TEXAS ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS, ANY BABY CAN, THE YWCA, AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN NON-SMOKERS RIGHTS FOUNDATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THAT CONCLUDES MY FORMAL BRIEFING. I'M JOINED BY MEMBERS OF MY STAFF AND SHOUT-OUT TO MARJORIE WHITE AS WELL AS KATHY SHIELDS AND THEIR TEAMS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM TO AMEND OUR SMOKE-FREE ORDINANCE AND ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY

[01:05:02]

HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, DR. JACOB, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, PARTICULARLY THE SAN ANTONIO ALCOHOL COUNCIL. I KNOW YOU ALL WERE IN DISTRICT 5 YESTERDAY AND WERE ABLE TO GO OUT AND PICK OUT SOME OF THE CIGARETTE BUTTS AT THE PARKS.

THIS IS VERY MUCH NEEDED AND DID WE EVEN NEED THE PRESENTATION, RIGHT? BUT A COUPLE OF PIECES. SMOKING IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND I'M GRATEFUL METRO HEALTH HAS THIS RESOURCE SHEET IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO QUIT SMOKING.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HAVE A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SOLID WASTE AND ILLEGAL DUMPING.

HOW CAN PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THERE ARE RESOURCES. OVER THE WEEKEND I WAS ASKED BY A COUPLE FOLKS WHAT IS THE STANDARD FOR VAPING IN PUBLIC OR ENCLOSED PLACES, PARTICULARLY CONCERT VENUES ANIMALS. I'M SURE WE'VE ALL SEEN FOLKS SMOKING IN ENCLOSED SPACES AND THIS IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.

MY QUESTION IS THE -- THE CHAPTER 36 CODE OR RATHER -- 36-12 ENFORCEMENT MENTIONS METRO HEALTH IS TYPICALLY THE AUTHORITY THAT HAS JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE.

WHO ENFORCES VIOLATION? IS IT METRO HEALTH, PD? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> TWO THINGS. WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS THIS CONFUSION WHERE FOLKS ARE ENGAGED IN THIS BEHAVIOR WHICH IS WHY WE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS LOOPHOLE BY AMENDING THE ORDINANCE. THIS IS A COMPLAINT-DRIVEN SYSTEM.

IT GOES THROUGH THE 311 SYSTEM AND WE ARE THE ENFORCING BODY OF RECORD.

SO WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS

ANCHORS TO OUR HEALTH AUTHORITY. >> CASTILLO: IT'S CONCERNING GIVEN THE HEALTH RISK, BUT TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF YACHT AND INTERESTED IN THE FLAVORED VAPES IS ALARMING. JUST ON THE 20TH, THE SAISD SCHOOL BOARD, THEY VOTED TO OPT OUT OF A STATE-MANDATED PUNISHMENT FOR VAPES AND THC CARTRIDGES I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SO THAT WAY WE CAN STEER OUR YOUTH AWAY FROM PICKING UP THESE VAPES. I REMEMBER GROWING UP THOSE COMMERCIALS DID IT FOR ME WHERE FOLKS COULDN'T REALLY TALK AND THAT WAS IT, NEVER TOUCHED A CIGARETTE BECAUSE OF THOSE COMMERCIALS. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING OUR KIDS NEED TO BE AWARE OF. ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE WORKED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ALARMED AND CONCERNED HOW COULD THIS ADVERTISEMENT FOR VAPING BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT I KNOW SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE AND THE ADVERTISEMENT OF THESE VAPES, PARTICULARLY GEARED TOWARDS GETTING YOUTH TO USE. THOSE ARE MY PRIMARY COMMENTS. I'LL MOVE INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO DR. JACOB AND ALL THE TEAM. ALEC, I KNOW YOU SUBMITTED AN EMAIL AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MUCH LIKE MY CHAIR, THE CHAIR TODAY, I WAS TERRIFIED. WHEN I SAW THOSE PICTURES OF THE LUNGS AND WHAT IT DOES TO YOUR LUNGS WHEN I WAS LITTLE. MARKETING WORKS AND ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. BUT YEAH, PEOPLE ARE -- I FEEL LIKE VAPING EVERYWHERE. I WAS ON A FLIGHT AND SOMEBODY WENT AND STARTED VAPING SO EVERYBODY FREAKED OUT, OF COURSE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF VAPES SHOPS POPPING UP EVERYWHERE. I WOULD LOVE TO LOOK A LITTLE MORE AND TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THERE. BUT [INAUDIBLE] MENTIONED THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE RECENTLY AND I WAS ON A PANEL WITH SENATOR MENENDEZ AND WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE BERNAL, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW KIDS ARE -- ARE ALMOST -- NOT ONLY ARE THEY BEING TARGETED, THEY ARE GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR NOT REALIZING HOW HARMFUL THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THEIR HEALTH, ET CETERA.

I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO MORE ALONG THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

I'LL BE GRATEFUL TO SEE THOSE -- THEY USED TO HAVE STICKERS, KISS ME, I DON'T

[01:10:06]

DR. JACOB, IF YOU BRING STICKERS, WE'LL WEAR THEM. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TALK TO THAT CERTAIN AUDIENCE APPROPRIATELY. AND I UNDERSTAND SOME PARENTS HAVE CONCERN, BUT HOW DO WE START TALKING TO THEM ENGAGING THEM EARLY ON AT THEIR LEVEL. SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO I WOULD LOVE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION TO YOU, HOW ARE WE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE THEM, EVEN ON OUR NEW ORDINANCES AND HOW THEY

COULD PASS ALONG THE MESSAGE? >> JACOB: WE'RE STARTING HERE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE BRIEFED. THAT WE UPDATE OUR ORDINANCE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CUSTOMIZE THE MESSAGING, THAT WE AT LEAST ARE MORE CONSISTENT AS WE MITIGATE THE EXPOSURE TO SOME OF THESE TOXICANTS.

WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND, OUR ISDS.

WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE ORDINANCE AND PUSH THIS OUT WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND THE ISDS. WE WILL BE AS CREATIVE AS WE CAN BE TO TRY TO COMPETE WITH THE INCREDIBLE MARKETING AND THAT OF THE INFLUENCE THAT OUR YOUNG FOLKS ARE EXPOSED TO REGULARLY. IT'S LIKE FIGHTING GRAVITY.

>> GARCIA: ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE NEXT QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IS HOW MUCH DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE SPENDING ON EDUCATING ON THE CAMPAIGN?

>> I CAN COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT. RIGHT NOW OUR FIRST STOP IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE WANT TO AMEND THE LANGUAGE, THE DEFINITION, AND UPDATE THE ORDINANCE. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, WE TRY TO PUSH THIS OUT. WE'LL FIGURE OUT, IN TERMS OF ANY OTHER COST BUT A LOT OF THIS IS REALLY PACKAGING INFORMATION AND JUST HITTING THE STREETS.

>> GARCIA: SO I USED TO BE A CITY STAFFER WHEN WE PASSED THIS ORDINANCE IN 2010 SO I REMEMBER WORKING ON IT AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM A LOT OF BUSINESSES AT THE TIME. AND SO WHAT KIND OF PUSHBACK

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THIS GOAROUND? >> THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A WHOLE LOT SINCE 2010 AND SO WE DON'T SEE THERE TO BE PUSHBACK.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH AREA PARTNERS AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ESPECIALLY THE UNPRECEDENTED EXPERIENCE AROUND THE PANDEMIC, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DIGEST, I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME, WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM HAND IN HAND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE INFORMED OF THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT AS

WE'RE COMING TO YOU WITH THIS. >> GARCIA: AND HAVE WE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SMOKING AND SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS ALREADY?

DO WE MEASURE THAT ANYWHERE? >> AGAIN, IT'S A MOVING TARGET SO WHEN YOU SAY INCREASE, WE CAN SHOW YOU THE TRENDING DATA BUT IT'S STILL EARLY TO TELL.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS FOLKS HAVE BEEN STRESSED OUT, WHETHER IT IS THE VAPING OR SMOKING OR WHATEVER OTHER BEHAVIORS. AND WE DO SURVEY REGULARLY WITH THE YOUTH. THAT'S WHY WE'RE SIGNALING TO YOU ALL, WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE TRENDS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AMEND THE ORDINANCE SO THAT WE CAN BETTER PROTECT OUR YOUTH AND ADULTS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> GARCIA: I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED YOUTH HOW WE CAN GET THEM TO -- I MEAN, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SPEAKING THAT LANGUAGE AND SO THEY'RE A LITTLE CLOSER IN AGE THAN ANY ONE OF US.

[LAUGHTER] OKAY. EXCEPT DR. KAUR.

BUT THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. JACOB.

>> CASTILLO: TH THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO CURB THIS TREND IN OUR COMMUNITY. I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

ON SLIDE 4 WHEN WE'RE COMPARING YOUTH -- IF WE WERE TO COMPARE YOUTH SUBSET USAGE AT ITS PRIME, WHAT DO THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE TO E-CIGARETTE USAGE?

>> SO THIS IS ABOUT E-CIGARETTE USE HERE. WHAT WE FOUND IS A DOWNWARD TREND OVER TIME. WE DO KNOW IT'S REALLY BEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE SEEN THIS EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF EXPOSURE BY YOUTH TO E-CIGARETTES. WHILE TOBACCO USE MAY HAVE DECLINED BUT WE KNOW THAT E-CIGARETTE USE HAS BEEN CLIMBING. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS TRENDS ON THE GROUND BUT EDUCATE ABOUT THE HAZARDS AND EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE AS WELL AS THE AEROSOL EXPOSURE FROM

[01:15:04]

VAPES AND USING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES. >> GAVITO: I WAS JUST IMAGINING REGULAR CIGARETTE USAGE WAS PROBABLY MORE OF AN UPHILL BATTLE TO CLIMB.

I'M NOT SURE SO THAT'S WHY I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE DATA BEHIND, YOU KNOW, IF THAT WAS A BIGGER BATTLE TO FIGHT OR THIS ONE IS. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY TICKETS

HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO YOUTH FOR VAPING? >> TO YOUTH? WE HAVE COUNTED JUST A FEW CITATIONS. REALLY, NO CITATIONS.

IT'S JUST COMPLAINTS. WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE COME TO OUR ATTENTION. BUT BY AND LARGE IT NOT ABOUT CITATIONS, IT'S REALLY

ABOUT FIELDING THE COMPLAINTS. >> GAVITO: DO WE KNOW HAVE WE SEEN ANY CODE VIOLATIONS FOR THE STORES AND AGENCIES SELLING THESE PRODUCTS

WITHOUT PROPER PERMITS? >> I CAN COME BACK TO YOU ABOUT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT TALLIED ANY CITATIONS THAT WE HAVE ISSUED BUT WE CAN GO BACK AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS. THAT'S BEEN OUR METRIC IN TERMS OF WHAT COMES TO 311 OR OUR OFFICE. FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IS THE

SHORT ANSWER. >> GAVITO: WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF THOSE COMPLAINTS.

I KNOW THAT OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED QUITE A BIT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS TOO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WAS IF THERE WERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON WHERE THESE SHOPS OR VAPE SHOPS COULD BE LOCATED. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF RESIDENTS FEEL THAT THEY'RE TOO CLOSE TO SCHOOLS. I THINK IT WAS LIKE 1,000 FEET OR WHATEVER. IT'S NOT VERY FAR. SO I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO PUSH THESE SHOPS FURTHER AWAY FROM

SCHOOLS. >> WE COULD LOOK AT THE DISTANCING.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW THIS IS REALLY ABOUT AMENDING THE ORDINANCE AND WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT PARENTS OR RESIDENTS MAY HAVE IN TERMS OF PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS.

BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL. >> GAVITO: SURE.

I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF AMENDING THE ORDINANCES AS YOU ALL RECOMMENDED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> CASTILLO: COUNCILMEMBER DR. KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. WHY THE RECOMMENDATION OF

JANUARY IMPLEMENTATION? >> AS OPPOSED TO? >> KAUR: TOMORROW.

>> GOT IT. [LAUGHTER] SO, AGAIN, THIS IS A BRIEFING BUT WE KNOW THIS MUST COME TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION AND SO

THAT'S WHY WE MENATTIONED JANUARY. >> KAUR: AND THEN IN THE

FALL THE ACTUAL EDUCATION AND MARKETING STRATEGY? >> IT WILL BE TO FRONT LOAD THIS IN ANTICIPATION. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP BUT WE WANT TO MAKE

SURE WE PUSH THIS OUT. THAT'S WHY JANUARY. >> KAUR: IT'S JUST SO CHALLENGING BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO TUCK YOUR HEAD UNDERNEATH AND TAKE A HIT OF THESE E-CIGARETTES. IT'S GOING TO BE SO HARD BUT AT LEAST WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING. THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT. WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, CAN YOU CONVINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAN MENTHOL CIGARETTES TOO?

THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF IT. THANK YOU ALL, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE THIS FORWARD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE ON LOOKING AT ORDINANCES REGARDING WHAT SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SAID ABOUT WHERE THE VAPE SHOPS ARE, HOW THEY'RE DOING ADVERTISEMENT. I THINK WHAT'S TELLING TO ME --O MAKE CHOICES BECAUSE THEY'RE ADULTS AND THAT'S GREAT. BUT TO PRETEND LIKE VAPING IS NOT USING TOBACCO OR SMOKING A CIGARETTE, THEY'RE JUST KIDDING THEMSELVES.

AND I THINK BY COMMUNICATING NO SMOKING CIGARETTES, NO VAPING, IT'S ONE OF THOSE REALITY CHECKS THAT SAYS YOU MAY BE OFF OF CIGARETTES BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE OFF TOBACCO. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HOPE THIS KIND OF MAKES PEOPLE LOOK AT THEIR HABITS AND SAY MAYBE I REALLY NEED TO QUIT.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD A FRIEND TELL ME, OH, I'M VAPING BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO QUIT. THAT IS NOT TRYING TO QUIT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS.

WE DON'T NEED A MOTION, RIGHT? YOU'RE JUST TAKING IT?

>> THIS IS JUST A BRIEFING HERE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU,

CLAUDE. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, DR. JACOB FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO THANK THE FOLKS THAT GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING POSSIBLE CITY COUNCIL ACTION IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER AND THEN HOPEFULLY IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STRATEGY AND EDUCATIONAL MARKETING PIECE OF NOT JUST THE CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE BUT ALSO THE IMPACTS OF VAPING AND SMOKING. THANK YOU, DR. JACOB.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >> CASTILLO: THE TIME IS NOW 3:22 AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. OH, WE HAVE ITEM 4.

JUST KIDDING. [LAUGHTER] PSYCH.

[01:20:07]

AND I BELIEVE HOMER WILL BE GIVING THE PRESENTATION. SORRY, HOMER.

>> WHEN EVERYONE THOUGHT THE MEETING WAS OVER, I GOT CAUGHT UP WITH THE EXIT.

MADAME CHAIR, YES, TODAY WE DO HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE MUNICIPAL GOLF ASSOCIATION BOARD SEATS THAT WE WILL BE WALKING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

RYAN HARRISON HAS BEEN WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR A WHILE.

HE IS NOW IN THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION. HE WILL BE MAKING THAT PRESENTATION. WE HAVE OUR PARTNER HERE, ANDREW PETERSON, BUT I WON'T STEAL THEIR THUNDER. I'M GOING TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO THE TEAM.

>> GREETINGS, EVERYONE. KIND OF EMBARRASSED OR INSULTED, MAYBE, THAT EVERYONE LEFT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GOLF BUT I UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.

MY NAME IS ANDREW PETERSON. I'M PRIVILEGED AND FORTUNATE TO BE THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE MUNICIPAL GOLF ASSOCIATION. WE DO BUSINESS AS ALAMO CITY GOLF TRAIL . IT'S SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT MORE GOLF LIKE.

SO THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BRIEFING ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RYAN TO TALK ABOUT THE MECHANICS OF WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. THE MUNICIPAL GOLF ASSOCIATION WAS DEVELOPED IN 2007 AS A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THE GOLF COURSES WERE IN ROUGH SHAPE AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET THE KEYS FOR THE CAR FROM THE CITY AND WE HAVE HAD A PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS AND PRETTY GOOD RUN AS PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OVER THE LAST 17 YEARS OR SO. OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE GOLF. AND THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE HIGH TENETS WITHIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ENSURING THAT OUR RATES STAY AFFORDABLE AND WE'RE PROVIDING GOLF OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEYOND.

A LITTLE BIT OF OUR BACKGROUND ON THE NEXT SLIDE.

THANK YOU. PROBABLY REALLY THE THIRD AND FOURTH BULLET POINTS ARE THE KEYS THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT. IN 2015 WE TOOK ON THE ADDITION OF THE NORTHERN HILLS GOLF CLUB. THAT WAS PRIVATELY OWNED AT THE TIME AND THE CITY ACQUIRED THAT PROPERTY AND WE STARTED RUNNING IT.

THE FOURTH BULLET POINT DOWN IS IN 2022 WE PICKED UP THE LAST FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION OF OUR CURRENT TERM, WHICH EXPIRES IN 2027. ON TO THE FOURTH PAGE THERE.

THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THE EIGHT FACILITIES ARE WITHIN THE ALAMO CITY GOLF TRAIL. MAINLY UP AND DOWN THE 281 CORRIDOR.

THE GOLF COURSES THAT WE OPERATE THAT ARE CITY OWNED, THEY'RE RELATIVELY OLD BY STANDARDS. IN FACT, OUR BRACKENRIDGE PARK FACILITY, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT 1, IS 108 YEARS OLD. AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC GOLF CLUBS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT WAS THE FIRST MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE. VERY HISTORICALLY FROM THAT NATURE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE WILLOW SPRINGS GOLF COURSE, WHICH IS 101 YEARS OLD IN DISTRICT 2. AND DOWN IN DISTRICT 3 OUR RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE IS 95 YEARS OLD . A LOT OF COOL HISTORY AND SOMETHING THE CITY SHOULD BE PROUD OF TO HAVE SUCH HISTORIC AND HIGH-VALUE GOLF COURSES IN OUR NETWORK.

JUST A QUICK BRIEFING ON THE NUMBERS. WE HAVE ROUGHLY 290 EMPLOYEES WITHIN OUR NETWORK. WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 420,000 ROUNDS OF GOLF THIS YEAR SO WE'RE HIGH VOLUME.

VERY, VERY BUSY FACILITIES. A LITTLE OVER $21 MILLION, WE'VE GOT OVER 10,000 MEMBERS WITHIN OUR PLAYERS CLUB PROGRAM, ROUGHLY 74,000 PEOPLE IN OUR E-MAIL DATABASE. WE WORK WITH 45-PLUS SCHOOLS AROUND THE CITY, SO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS IN TRYING TO GROW THE GAME.

AND OVER 115 DIFFERENT CORPORATE AND CHARITY GROUPS TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THOSE VARIOUS FOUNDATIONS. ALL SAID, BECAUSE WE OPERATE AS A NONPROFIT OPERATION AND ALL OF OUR PROCEEDS GO BACK INTO THE COURSES IN THE FORM OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REINVEST OVER $28 MILLION IN THE 17 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE. REALLY BEEN A BLESSING FOR US TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESSIBLE GOLF COURSES, BETTER-QUALITY GOLF COURSES WITHOUT CONTINUALLY RAISE THE RATES. OUR COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE RATE INCREASES BECAUSE OF THAT BUT CERTAINLY THE GOLFERS NOW ARE GETTING A MUCH BETTER VALUE AS A BY-PRODUCT OF THAT. AND KNOCK ON WOOD WE'VE BEEN

[01:25:02]

THE FIRST BULLET IS THE FEMALE AUDIENCE. THANKS TO OUR DISTRICT 1 COUNCILWOMAN, THE FEMALE PARTICIPATION CONTINUES TO GO UP.

CERTAINLY WE WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THAT BUT THAT 25% REPRESENTS A HIGHER INCREASE THAN WHAT WE HAD SEEN TEN YEARS AGO BY 4 OR 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

ON THE CUSTOMER AGE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE 25 TO 34 GROUP AND 35 TO 44 GROUP, THAT'S REALLY, REALLY SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF THE MILLENNIAL LEVEL THERE AND THAT SHOWS US GOLF IS IN A HEALTHY SPOT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. EVERYONE IS UNDER THE IDEA THAT GOLF IS AN OLD PERSON GAME. SURE, THERE'S PLENTY OF RETIREES AND SENIOR AGE PEOPLE PLAYING THE GAME BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT IT USED TO BE.

IT'S A YOUNGER PERSON'S GAME AND IT'S A HEALTHY GAME. WE SAW THAT BOOST DURING THE COVID AGE AND THAT MAKES US CONFIDENT WE'RE IN A VERY SUSTAINABLE POSITION FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. A QUICK LOOK ON THE NEXT SLIDE STARTS TO TALK ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE'RE COMPRISED OF 15 BOARD MEMBERS.

SEVEN ARE LONG-TERM AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS. SIX ARE APPOINTED BY Y'ALL.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS: HOMER GARCIA AND MELANIE KEATON.

I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO RYAN. HE'S KICKING ME OFF THE

STAGE. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. >> THANK, ANDREW.

MY NAME IS RYAN HARRISON. AS ANDREW MENTIONED, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RUNS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN A CITY ADVISORY BOARD. WE HAVE OUR PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD WHICH HAS A MAYOR AND COUNCIL APPOINTED FOR EACH DISTRICT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH MGA IS REALLY A POLICY-MAKING BOARD. WE'LL GIVE DIRECTION TO ANDREW AND HIS TEAM.

SO WE DO HAVE THE CURRENT BOARD CONSISTS OF SEVEN AT-LARGE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD. SIX AT-LARGE MEMBERS APPOINTED AS A SLATE OF GROUP AS WELL AS TWO EX OFFICIO MEMBERS. THE BOARD MEETS SIX TO SEVEN TIMES ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS HAS A VARIOUS NUMBERF SUBCOMMITTEES. TABLE ON YOUR RIGHT DOES SHOW OUR CURRENT BOARD COMPOSITION OF THE 15 BOARD MEMBERS, NINE MALES, SIX FEMALE, ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN, FIVE HISPANIC, AND NINE CAUCASIAN. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COMPOSITION HAS CONTINUED TO GROW OVER TIME WITH THE FOCUS ON INCREASING OUR FEMALE GOLFERS ON TO THE COURSES BUT ALSO TRANSLATING THAT OVER TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS WELL. SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK NEXT ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR HOW WE'LL RELEASE THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS. SO STARTING ON MONDAY, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL DO A PRESS RELEASE AND OPEN UP THE PROCESS FOR THE BOARD APPLICATIONS. WE'LL DO A PRESS RELEASE. WE'LL DO A NOTIFICATION TO ALL CITY COUNCIL OFFICES, SAN ANTONIO SPORTS. MGA WILL POST IT ON THEIR WEBSITE AND HAVE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO WOMEN GOLF ASSOCIATION, THE BRACKENRIDGE PARK GOLF ASSOCIATION, AND THE LPGA AS WELL. REALLY BROADENING THOSE THE BOARD . TABLE ON YOUR RIGHT DOES SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORICAL COMPONENT OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND THE REAPPOINTMENTS. THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS ARE SERVING IN A HOLDOVER STATUS SO THERE HAS BEEN NO ADVERSE IMPACT TO OPERATIONS.

MGA IS CONTINUING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT ENGAGEMENT AND INCREASE THOSE NUMBER OF APLICATIONS THAT ARE RECEIVED. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING HERE TODAY IS HOW WE WILL SELECT THE SIX. SO WE'LL HAVE A REVIEW THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL AS HOMER AND MELANIE WHO BOTH SERVE AS THE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS, AS WELL AS ANDREW, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MGA WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE BOARD ON A DAILY BASIS. WHEN REVIEWING THOSE APPLICATIONS, LOOKING AT A STANDARD CRITERIA OF OUR STANDARD COSA REQUIREMENTS REGARDING WHO IS TO SIT ON THE BOARD, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, ET CETERA. BACKGROUND.

[01:30:01]

SO NEXT STEPS, WE ARE HERE TODAY IN AUGUST LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMITTEE TO SERVE ON THE AD HOC REVIEW COMMITTEE WITH HOMER, MELANIE, AND ANDREW TO REVIEW ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT DO COME IN.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO IDEALLY SHORTLIST THEM. WE WILL CONVENE THE REVIEW COMMITTEE AFTER THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE'LL GIVE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER FOR THE APPLICATIONS TO COME IN. FIRST PART OF OCTOBER, REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS AND SHORTLIST IT TO A GROUP THE COMMITTEE IS SATISFIED WITH.

IN OCTOBER WE'LL COME BACK TO DO INTERVIEWS AND THE COMMITTEE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IDENTIFY THE SIX THAT WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR FULL CITY COUNCIL AT AN A SESSION IN NOVEMBER. THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT TODAY.

WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS PART ONE.

WE WILL BE BACK IN OCTOBER FOR PART TWO. WITH THAT, ANDREW, HOMER,

AND MYSELF ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> CASTILLO: GREAT.

THANK YOU, RYAN, ANDREW, AND HOMER FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M THE 2006 SAISD NUMBER ONE CHAMPION FROM HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR GOLF. HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE OF MS. GONZALES, HARRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTINUES TO WIN IN SAISD.

SO THESE PUBLIC GOLF COURSES AND OF COURSE THE ONE IN DISTRICT 3, RIVERSIDE, IS WHERE THE KIDS PRACTICE. REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AND TAKE ON.

IMPORTANT SPACE. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE, ON SERVING ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, MENTION IN YOUR COMMENTS SO WE CAN SEND OVER A LIST. I'LL HAND IT OVER TO DR. KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANKS, CHAIR. AND, AWESOME. LOVE IT.

I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO PLAY GOLF IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT WASN'T ACCESSIBLE AND MY FAMILY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE WE WOULD PLAY AFTER WORK AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AND PLAY FOR LIKE $16, I THINK IT WAS, TO PLAY A WHOLE ROUND OF 18.

WHICH IS FOR A GREAT PUBLIC GOLF COURSE IS REALLY AFFORDABLE.

I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO TO KEEP RATES -- TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR ANYONE. SAN PEDRO IS WHERE I'M USUALLY AT AT NIGHTS.

IT'S MY STRESS RELIEF. FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ALWAYS PACKED, EVEN IF IT'S 100 DEGREES PLUS. IF YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROW OF PEOPLE HITTING GOLF, IT'S EVERYONE. FAMILIES, KIDS, PARTNERS THAT ARE SITTING AS THEIR FRIENDS ARE HITTING. IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON THE RENOVATIONS YOU HAVE DONE THERE BECAUSE THOSE RENOVATIONS HAVE TRULY IMPROVED THAT RANGE AND IT'S ONE OF THE BEST RANGES THAT WE HAVE.

I KNOW PEOPLE THAT GO THERE JUST TO EAT THE FOOD. DO YOU GUYS PLAY? NO, WE JUST CAME TO EAT AND WATCH GAMES. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE IT THERE. I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO BE VOLLEN TOLD TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.

I ALSO WANTED TO SHOUT OUT A FEW OF US WERE AT THE ON PAR GOLF KICKOFF AT MISSION DEL LAGO AND THAT WAS SUCH A COOL PROGRAM. THEY WERE GIVING GOLF BAGS AWAY TO KIDS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE CHANGE IN ANDALL OF OUR PROGOLFERS LOOK LIKE A FULL REPRESENTATION OF OUR COMMITTEE. FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, TWO QUICK THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION. OUR CITY STAFF OR COUNCIL

EMPLOYEES, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO APPLY TO BE ON THE BOARD? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO .

WE HAVE HAD -- THEY CAN. BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ADVISORY BOARD, I GUESS, PER SE.

>> KAUR: I WASN'T SURE BECAUSE ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES HAD TO PULL OFF OF SBEDA WHEN SHE JOINED. THAT WAS FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

OKAY. AND FOR THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, I LOVE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ADVERTISING TO A LOT OF THE WOMEN GROUPS. THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP THAT HAD A FIESTA TOURNAMENT CALLED CHIPS AND WALK THAT HAS A GOOD SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING TOO. WOULD LOVE TO ADVERTISE TO THEM AND OF COURSE WE CAN ALL COMMUNICATE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND I'M SURE WE CAN GET A HIGHER PERCENTAGE.

DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE AGE FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU. >> KAUR: I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE BECAUSE I DID NOTICE THAT THE AGE POPULATION -- I THINK A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH COVID BECAUSE I HAVE A HANDFUL OF FRIENDS THAT PICKED UP GOLF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PLAY ANY OTHER SPORT DURING COVID. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF

[01:35:02]

THAT YOUNGER REPRESENTATION. >> WITHOUT GIVING YOU THE EXACT SPECIFICS, WE DEFINITELY HAVE A VARIETY OF AGE RANGES OF OUR MILLENNIAL AGE RANGE IS UP.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS, CHAIR. THANK Y'ALL. >> CASTILLO: COUNCILWOMAN

VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. BACK IN 2021 I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE THAT HELPED CHOOSE OUR CURRENT BOARD. SO IT'S A GREAT THING FOR YOU GUYS TO DO. AND YES, DR. KAUR, I THINK YOU SHOULD DO IT.

I THINK OUR CHAIR SHOULD DO IT TOO BECAUSE SHE'S A CHAMPION.

THE BOARD'S MADE GREAT DECISIONS, ANDREW. I MEAN, THEY HAVE JUST -- WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT RIVERSIDE, ON PAR GOLF, BRACKENRIDGE, THE PANDEMIC SAID GET OUTSIDE. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE HEAT PEOPLE ARE GOING EARLIER, STAYING LATER WHERE THEY CAN TO HIT THE GOLF BALLS.

I THINK I LOOK FORWARD TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. I THINK ONE THING ON THE SOUTHSIDE WE SAW IS IF A PRIVATE GROUP GOES IN -- BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN PRIVATE GOLF COURSES GO IN. IT DIDN'T QUITE WORK AS WELL.

BUT RIVERSIDE AND MISSION DEL LAGO CONTINUE TO HAVE GREAT ATTENDANCE SO I THINK WE KNOW THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR GOLF ACROSS THE CITY. YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> CASTILLO: SO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE TOO? [LAUGHTER] COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. I THINK I NEED SOME LESSONS FROM COUNCILWOMAN KAUR AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. DURING COVID I WAS BECOMING A BIRD NERD. I STARTED BIRD WATCHING. IT'S REALLY NERDY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE CANDIDATES THAT COME THROUGH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> CASTILLO: DR. ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THE REASON WHY I WENT LAST IS BECAUSE I WAS HOPING THERE WERE TWO VOLUNTEERS. [LAUGHTER] BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL DO. I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS RELATED TO GOLF. I DON'T PLAY GOLF. I SHOULD LEARN BUT I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN AROUND TO IT. BUT MY KID LEARNED FROM FIRST TEE AND I DID GET TO SEE A LOT OF THE UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES GOT TO BRING THEIR KIDS AND IT WAS ACCESSIBLE AND THEY LEARNED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.

I APPRECIATE WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT AND OF COURSE ON PAR AND HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE KIDS CARRYING AROUND THEIR BAGS AND TUMBLING OVER WAS SUPER CUTE. I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD IN A YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT DO WE HAVE SENIOR DISCOUNTS?

I HAVE NEVER ASKED. >> YES. >> GARCIA: OKAY, GOOD.

THANK YOU. >> YEAH. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY OF MASSIVE

IMPORTANCE TO US. >> GARCIA: I WAS JUST CHECKING.

DO WE HAVE STUDENT DISCOUNTS? DO WE HAVE, LIKE, A PACKAGE?

>> THE BEST PROGRAM OUT THERE STATEWIDE AND, UNFORTUNATELY IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT PARTICIPATE. THERE'S A PROGRAM CALLED YOUTH ON COURSE WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $25 AND THAT ALLOWS THEM ACCESS FOR $5 ON TO OUR GOLF COURSES. THERE'S A REASON WHY THE OTHER PRIVATELY-OWNED GOLF COURSES DON'T DO IT. IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED POOR MANAGEMENT OF THEIR ASSET.

BUT I LOOK AT IT AS A LOSS LEADER IN THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING FUTURE CUSTOMERS ONCE THEY BECOME GROWN UPS AND ADULTS IN THE WORLD. IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

>> GARCIA: HOW MUCH IS OUR MEMBERSHIP ANNUALLY? >> WELL, DEPENDING ON WHICH CATEGORY YOU ARE, WHICH GOLF COURSES YOU PLAY, WHAT TIME. THE DYNAMICS BECOME A LITTLE BIT BLURRY. BUT AN AVERAGE RATE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON IS PROBABLY

SOMEWHERE AROUND $30. >> GARCIA: OKAY. >>

>> NO, WE HAVE KIND OF A BEGINNER MEMBERSHIP, WHICH IS $75.

BUT THAT GETS YOU SIX FREE ROUNDS OF GOLF WITH THAT. SO IT PAYS FOR ITSELF JUST BY PURCHASING THAT. AND OUR HOPE IS YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN THAT SO WE RECEIVE MORE MONEY ON THE BACK END OF THAT PROGRAM.

>> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SPECIFIC ENGAGEMENT TO THE WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT STRATEGY BEING THAT WE ONLY HAVE FIVE WOMEN APPLY AND 22

MEN LAST GOAROUND. GREAT STRATEGY. >> I THINK IT WAS THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS IN 2021, I HAVE SOME WOMEN FRIENDS THAT PLAY GOLF.

I REACHED OUT TO THEM AND SAID YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A BOARD MEMBER.

AND THAT REALLY APPROVED SUCCESSFUL. THEY HELP HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE OUR WOMEN'S BATHROOMS ARE CLEANED AND OUR GOLF COURSES

[01:40:03]

ARE DESIGNED FOR WOMEN GOLFERS. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS,

CHAIR. >> SO I WILL SAY WE COULD EXPAND THE REVIEW COMMITTEE.

IF I KNOW EVERYONE'S RUNNING OUT. [LAUGHTER]

>> CASTILLO: WONDERFUL. IT LOOKS LIKE DR. KAUR AND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WILL BE SERVING ON TH AD HOC COMMITTEE AND MAYBE GOLF COURSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE APPLICANTS. THANK YOU.

NOW THE TIME IS 3:43 AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.