[00:00:12]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION SPECIAL -- EXCUSE ME, OUR WORK SESSION ON THE BUDGET. WE HAVE FOUR BIG ITEMS TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO ROLL THROUGH THOSE JUST LIKE WE DID YESTERDAY AND HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER THE PRESENTATIONS. THE TIME IS 2:05 P.M. ON AUGUST 28TH, 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL? >> CLERK:
CALL]. MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. AS I SAID, FOUR BIG ITEMS TODAY, SO WE WON'T WASTE
ANY TIME. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO, YES, MARK CARMONA WILL KICK US OFF WITH JUST KIND OF A QUICK OVERVIEW. WE'LL TRANSITION INTO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES OF ME MELODY WOOSLEY AND VER R VERONICA WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES, A SHORT UPDATE ON ARPA, AND CLAUDE WILL WRAP US UP WITH METRO HEALTH.
SO, MARK, KICK US OFF. CAR >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS. TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO OUR COORDINATION AND ALIGNMENT EFFORTS THAT ARE ADVANCING OUR WORK IN THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SPACE. I WANT TO THIS AFTERNOON GIVE SOME SPECIAL THINGS TO SOME OF THE PARTNERS THAT ARE PRESENT WITH US TODAY THAT ARE ESSENTIAL IN THIS HOUSELESS AND HOMELESS COORDINATION WORK.
LORI HOUSTON, V VERONICA GARCIA, MELODY WOOSLEY, JESSE HIGGINS, ERICA BOREGO, DAWN VOSTICK, ID WARD GONZALES WITH TOWN TWIN VILLAGE, KATIE WILSON WITH CLOSE TO HOME, TRISH DEBERRY WITH CENTRO, KIM JEFFRIES COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT SHE'S BEEN A FABULOUS PARTNER.
PETE ALANIZ AND MIE MICHAEL REYES WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME SAN ANTONIO. THETHE SHIP WAS ADOPTED IN 2021 AND STAFF IMMEDIATELY GOT TO WORK. SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE SHIP, WE'VE INCREASED OUR INCRESTMENT IN HOUSING. SPECIFICALLY ALMOST 85 MILLION IN BOND FUNDS HAVE LEVERAGED ANOTHER 642 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT 24 PROJECTS THAT WILL BUILD 156 HOMES, THAT WILL BE SOLD TO FAMILIES MAKING LESS THAN 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME AND BUILD OR REHAB 4,188 MULTIFAMILY AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS. IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE COMPLETED 1,366 HOMES THROUGH THE CITY'S MAJOR REHAB AND MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM, AND IN FISCAL YEAR '24, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT HELD 14 CITYWIDE WORKSHOPS ATTENDED BY 875 RESIDENTS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION OR PROTEST YOUR TAXES. ADDITIONALLY, NHSD HAS HELD NINE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ATTENDED BY 322 RESIDENTS ON RENTERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, 10 HOUSING COMMISSION MEETINGS, ONE WHICH HAPPENED TODAY, AND 49 HOUSING COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS. FINALLY, ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, OUR HOUSING AND HOMELESS ECOSYSTEM HAS PARTICIPATED IN SA TO.
DC, WE HELD OUR FIRST HOUSING LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP ON AUGUST THE NIENTD. THE NINTH. .
SINCE JANUARY OF 2024, THE CITY, CORE RO ZONE, HAVEN, SAM AND CAM OUTREACH WORK V WORKERS HAVE REMOVED 500 HOMELESS AND PLACED THEM WITH OUR PARTNER. THE DASHBOARD IS UPDATED MONTHLY AND SHOWS HOW THE SYSTEM IS HOUSING MORE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAN THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS THAT RETURN TO THE STREETS AND NEW HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
CENTRO AND OUR HOMELESS PARTNERS HELPED LAUNCH THE HUMAN NICING HOME BREAKFAST, OVER 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND RAISED $80,000 FOR OUTREACH WORK AND AMBASSADOR TRAINING, TEAM BUILDING AND QUALITY OF LIFE INCENTIVES. THROUGH THIS HOUSING BOND, WE'VE FACILITATED THE CONSTRUCTION OF 477 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS IN YEAR 3 OF OUR 10-YEAR GOAL TO BUILD 1,000 PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
[00:05:04]
UNITS. WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR HOUSING RESPONSE SYSTEM AND PARTNERS, WE ASSISTED TOWN TWIN VILLAGE IN SECURING A $10 MILLION GRANT FROM THE STATE. OUR SKILLED NURSING PROGRAM PILOT IS GOING TO MOVE FOUR INDIVIDUALS IN BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST. WE SECURED FUNDING TO PILOT A STREET MEDICINE PROGRAM AND A PSYCHIATRIC PROGRAM, BOTH WILL BEGIN IN FISCAL YEAR '25. OUR FOCUS FOR FISCAL YEAR '25 AS A SYSTEM IS YOUTH HOUSING AND HOUSING FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FORMALLY SEX TRAFFICKED INDIVIDUALS. NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MELODY WOOSLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR HER BUDGET PRESENTATION.THANK YOU. >> WOOSLEY: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MELODY WOOSLEY, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET TODAY. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY TEAM, HUMAN SERVICES HAS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, BUT THE DHS TEAM IS STRONG AND COMMITTED. WITH ME TODAY, I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, JESSICA DOVALINA AND PATRICK STACK. AND SO I'LL BEGIN WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PROPOSED BUDGET. SO IT PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON FISCAL YEAR 2024 INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS AND PREVIEW OF WHAT'S TO COME IN FISCAL YEAR 25. AND I'LL ALSO BRIEF YOU ON DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. SO AS BACKGROUND, HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDES AND FUNDS AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS FOR VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. I'LL SPEAK ON HOMELESSNESS AND OLDER ADULT IN SLIDES TO COME, THOUGH OUR FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAM SERVE MORE THAN 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY THROUGH FINANCIAL COUNSELING, VITAE SERVICES, JOB DRAINING AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
OUR PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDREN INCLUDE HEAD START AND THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, WHICH SERVES BEXAR AND 12 SURROUNDING RULE COUNTIES AND COLLECTIVELY THEY SERVE 23,000 CHILDREN EVERY YEAR, ALLOWING ALMOST 13,000 PARENTS TO WORK ANDEN GL ENGAGE IN TRAINING.
THESE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE DEPARTMENT'S TOTAL BUDGET. 16MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS INITIATIVES SERVING ALMOST 8,000 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, INCLUDING NEXT LEVEL, SUMMER AMBASSADORS, YOUTH COMMISSIONS, AND CAFÉCOLLEGE. AND DELEGATE AGENCIES IN THE FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND EVERY EFFORT THAT WE ENGAGE IN. THE TOTAL HUMAN SERVICES FY '25 PROPOSED BUDGET IS 271 MILLION, 55.4 MILLION IS PROPOSED FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND 213 MILLION IS FROM FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS, INCLUDING ARPA. THIS BUDGET -- PROPOSED BUDGET CONTINUES THE PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT OF 465 POSITIONS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 44.2 MILLION FOR DIRECT HOMELESS SERVICES THIS YEAR.
THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS 12.8 MILLION, WHICH IS 29% OF THE CITY'S INVESTMENT, WITH 8.4 MILLION OF THAT SUPPORTING HAVEN FOR HOPE AND CAMPUS PARTNERS. 65% OF THE DIRECT HOMELESS INVESTMENT IS FROM FEDERAL ARPA AND HUD GRANTS. 2.7MILLION IS FROM THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND, AND IT SUPPORTS ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENT AND FUNDS A THIRD SOLID WASTE CREW THIS YEAR FOR ABATEMENTS AND ILLEGAL DUMPING. THE TOTAL FISCAL YEAR '25 INVESTMENT REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $6.3 MILLION, AND THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO THE TIMING OF ARPA SPENDING. IN ADDITION TO THOSE DIRECT SERVICES, THE INDIRECT EXPENSES OF THE POLICE, THE FIRE AND EMS RESPONSES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS ARE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 21 MILLION.
AND SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW METRICS MONITORED AND REPORTED BY DHS HOMELESS SERVICES AND THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
FOR FISCAL YEAR '24, WE ESTIMATE THAT 325 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS OR ON THE STREETS WILL BE SERVED AT THE SAM LOW BARRIER SHELTER WITH 110 OF THEM MOVING TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
[00:10:03]
STREET OUTREACH TEAMS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND HUMAN SERVICES CONTINUES TO COORDINATE AND MONITOR THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE.SYSTEMWIDE, 562 VETERANS WILL BE HOUSED IN AN AVERAGE OF 86 DAYS FROM IDENTIFICATION. WE HAVE MONITORED AND MAINTAINED THESE FEDERAL BENCHMARKS SINCE OUR DESIGNATION AS EFFECTIVELY ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS IN 2016. THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR SYSTEMWIDE RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS. DHS LAUNCHED THE HOMELESS SYSTEM RESPONSE DASHBOARD IN APRIL TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF OUR COORDINATED SYSTEM AND PROVIDE CONTEXT ON THE FLOW OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT WE CAN'T GET FROM THE POINT IN TIME COUNT THAT YOU RECEIVE ANNUALLY. WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING FROM THE STREET TO SHELTER AND SHELTER TO HOUSING, AND COMPARED THAT TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NEWLY HOMELESS OR RETURNING TO HOMELESSNESS. THE NET RESULT FROM OCTOBER THROUGH JULY WAS 1371 PEOPLE MOVING TO A BETTER LIVING SITUATION. AND THAT'S THANKS TO THE WORK OF 43 ALLIANCE AGENCIES WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. AN ESTIMATED 12,000 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WILL FLOW THROUGH HMIS IN 2024 ALONE.
PRIORITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 INCLUDE INCREASING HOUSING AND SHELTER OPTIONS, CONTINUING THE SAM LOW BARRIER SHELTER, WORKING WITH HA HAVEN FOR HOPE TO EXPAND LOW BARRIER BEDS, ESPECIALLY FOR MALES, AND FULLY FUNDING CENTRALIZED SHELTER COORDINATION OPERATED BY HAVEN FOR HOPE. SINCE JANUARY, THIS SOLUTION HAS HELPED OUR OUTREACH WORKERS CONNECT OVER 500 CLIENTS TO SHELTER.
HUMAN SER SERVICES WITH SUPPORT FROM CLOSE TO HOME AND THE HOUSING TRUST WILL BRING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS IN OCTOBER -- OR ON OCTOBER 8TH, TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND SOLVE FOR GAPS IN THE SYSTEM SERVING YOUTH AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. AND OUR THIRD PRIORITY IS REDUCING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS, WHICH CONTINUES TO BE A TREMENDOUS PRIORITY. THIS YEAR'S 90 IN 90 INITIATIVE, LED BY CLOSE TO HOME AND HAVEN FOR HOPE RESULTED IN 90 FAMILIES BEING HOUSED IN 95 DAYS. THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE VOUCHER PROCESS AND BRAIDING RESOURCES, INCLUDING DEDICATED RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THIS SYSTEM IS MAKING PROGRESS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO REFINE THIS WORK IN F FISCAL YEAR '25. AND SO HUMAN SERVICES LEADS AN INNER DEPARTMENTAL TEAM TO ADDRESS HOMELESSE ENCAMPMENTS.
IT INVOLVES MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS, TXDOT AND SAMMINISTRIES.
THE COORDINATED APPROACH PROVIDES ASSESSMENT ABATEMENT. NOTICE AND OUTREACH ARE PROVIDED AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF EVERY ABATEMENT. THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETING 1100 SITE ABATEMENTS, EXCEEDING OUR TARGET OF 700. THE AVERAGE TIME FROM REPORT TO ABATEMENT DROPPED FROM 44 DAYS IN OCTOBER TO AN AVERAGE OF 10 DAYS IN JULY.
WITH THE THIRD SOLID WASTE CREW IN FISCAL YEAR '25, WE WILL COMPLETE 1300 ABATEMENTS -- DASHBOARD SHOWS THAT THE SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING ABATEMENTS, IT SHOWS DATA BY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND A MAP OF 32 RECURRING ENCAMPMENT SITES THAT WE ABATE BIWEEKLY. HUMAN SERVICES AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING, ALONG WITH THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION REVIEWED THREE PANDEMIC RESPONSE PROGRAMS THAT LAUNCHED IN 2020. TO STREAMLINE INTAKE PROCESS FOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TRANSITIONED PRE-SCREENING OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO THE HOMELESS HOTLINE.
AND BEGINNING IN OCTOBER, DHS WILL ALSO ALIGN THE HOMELESS HOTLINE AND BENEFITS NAVIGATORS INTO ONE ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT WITH ONE PHONE NUMBER AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER SERVE PEOPLE FACING FINANCIAL CRISIS AND HOMELESSNESS. NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING IS ALSO WORKING ON TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES TO IMPROVE THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER.
[00:15:07]
AND SO MOVING ON TO OUR SENIOR SERVICES, THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS, OUR PROGRAMS WILL SERVE MORE THAN 43,000 OLDER ADULTS THIS YEAR. IN FISCAL YEAR '25, 12 COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS AND 32 PART-TIME NUTRITION SITES WILL PROVIDE ROBUST CENTER PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTH AND FITNESS PROGRAMMING.THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOOD SECURITY WITH NUTRITIOUS DAILY MEALS, SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD COMMODITIES AND NUTRITION EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. WE SURVEY OUR PARTICIPANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND ACHIEVED A 94% OVERALL SATISFACTION RATE FOR 2024.
WE WANT IT TO BE HIGHER, AND OUR GOAL FOR FISCAL YEAR '25 IS 98%.
AS A RESULT OF THE CITY'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN OLDER ADULTS AND OUR SENIOR SERVICES TEAM'S COMMITMENT AND CREATIVITY, IN MAY, WE ACHIEVED ACCREDITATION FOR OUR 11 EXISTING COMPREHENSIVE CENTERS FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING. NEW INVESTMENT IN 2025 WILL SUPPORT THE NOVEMBER OPENING OF OUR 12TH COMPREHENSIVE CENTER, THE ROVANET MULTIGENERATIONAL CENTER IN DISTRICT FOUR. INVESTMENTS CONTINUE STRATEGIC PLAN PRIORITIES, INCLUDING EXTENDED SENIOR HOURS AND 3.1 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO SUPPORT THOSE EXTENDED HOURS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR '26.
DEDICATED FINANCIAL COUNSELORS WILL CONTINUE TO CONNECT SENIORS TO RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING AND SUPPORT PREVENTION OF ELDER FRAUD AND ABUSE. THROUGH THE SAVES VOLUNTEER PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, 30 SENIORS REDUCED THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL IN FISCAL YEAR '24. WE STARTED MUCH EARLIER THIS YEAR AND ANTICIPATE THAT MORE THAN 100 OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM IN 2025. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDED AN EFFICIENCY OF $62,478 FROM ENDING THE MOBILE SHOWER PROGRAM. THE MOBILE SHOWER IS REALLY NOT VERY MOBILE. AND SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2021, THE SHOWER HAS PROVIDED LESS THAN 100 SHOWERS PER YEAR. IT'S AN EXPENSIVE WAY OF DELIVERING SHOWERS, COMPARED TO FIXED SHOWERS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT CAM AND CORE RO ZONE SIX DAYS PER WEEK.
AND THE HAVEN FOR HOPE COURTYARD SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK.
HUMAN SERVICES STREET OUTREACH TEAM HAS VANS AND CAN TRANSPORT CLIENTS TO SHOWER LOCATIONS. WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING REDUCTION OF $275,000 ALLOCATED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY USE OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS. DHS IS ABLE TO MANAGE THE INITIATIVE WITH EXISTING RESOURCES, AND THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT TO SERVICES FROM THIS REDUCTION.
AND SO WE HAVE SEVERAL LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE BOND AND IS AS A QUICK UPDATE, THE BOND, TIRZ AND OTHER CAPITAL FUNDS, 1.7 MILLION IS PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR '25 TO UPGRADE THE PLUMBING SYSTEM AT THE FRANK GARRETT MULTIPURPOSE SERVICE CENTER. THE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION IN JULY OF NEXT YEAR. COMPLETION OF THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS ANTICIPATED IN MAY OF 2026. EXPANSION OF THE WEST END SENIOR CENTER WILL BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER OF 2026, AND COMPLETION OF THE NEW KENWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER AS PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER OF '27.
AND THE LAST SECTION, DELEGATE AGENCIES, THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET REPRESENTS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIAL DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING CYCLE. BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND FUNDING AVAILABILITIES, WE'RE RECOMMENDING RENEWAL FOR 52 AGENCIES WITH 97 PROGRAMS. A TOTAL HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATE AGENCY BUDGET IS 25.2 MILLION.
RECOMMENDED AWARDS CONTINUE, FISCAL YEAR '24 GENERAL FUND AWARDS AT THE SAME LEVEL, AND REFLECT ADJUSTMENTS TO GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS THROUGH INCREASES IN OUR FEDERAL FUNDS. HUMAN SERVICES INVESTMENTS FUND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCESS, FAMILY FINANCIAL SECURITY, REDUCING HOMELESSNESS AND ACTIVE ENGAGED SENIORS.
[00:20:04]
AGENCY PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR '24 ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE QR CODE ON THE SCREEN.AND SO WE WILL BEGIN THE NEXT DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING CYCLE FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026 AND FISCAL YEAR 2027 IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
THE PROCESS WILL START IN OCTOBER WITH COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON CHALLENGES, GAPS AND PRIORITIES. WE WOULD BRING RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL AT B SESSION IN FEBRUARY FOR DIRECTION PRIOR TO RELEASING THE REQUEREQUEST FOR PROPOSALS IN THE SPRING.
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF FUNDING FOR ADOPTION DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROCESS.
AND SO THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I WILL TURN THE REMOTE OVER TO VERONICA GARCIA TO TALK ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. >> GARCIA: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M VERONICA GARCIA, I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE I'M JOINED BY IAN B BENAVIDEZ AND VERONICA GONZALES AS WELL AS SEVERAL MEMBERS OF OUR DHSD TEAM WHO WORK IN COMMUNITY EF RIFF SINGLE DAY. I'LL START WITH AN OVERVIEW, GO INTO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR AS WELL AS OUR PROGRAM EFFICIENCIES AND END WITH AN UPDATE ON THE HOUSING BOND AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING FOR. NHSD IS A STRONG TEAM OF 122 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS. WE UNDERSTAND THE MANY CHALLENGES RESIDENTS FACE WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
WE TACKLE A VARIETY OF COMPLEX HOUSING ISSUES DAILY, WHICH REALLY REQUIRES INNOVATIVE THINKING. WE ARE IMPLEMENTING OUR CITY'S STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY'S 10-YEAR HOUSING -- OUR SERVICE LINES ARE STRUCTURED AROUND DELIVERING KEY PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SHIP HOUSING STRATEGIES.
WE OFFER HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WE PRESERVE HOMES, INCENTIVIZE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, MANAGE FEDERAL GRANTS AND OVERSEE OUR HOUSING BONDS. MANY OF OUR TEAMS WORK TOGETHER ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP US REACH RESIDENTS AND WE ADJUST OUR APPROACH AS NEEDED THROUGH OUR DAILY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND REALLY MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND DELIVER SERVICES THAT TRULY MEET THEIR NEEDS. OUR FY 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET IS $93.7 MILLION AND INCLUDES $23 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND ANOTHER $24 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT MONEY. WE ALSO HAVE RESTRICTED FUNDS OF $6.7 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES OUR INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND, OUR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AND SOME FUNDING FROM THE REES PROGRAMMING TO HELP OUR HOME REHAB PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR OUR ARPA FUNDS ARE FINISHING TO SUPPORT MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE 8.7 MILLION IN ARPA, THAT'S THROUGH THE HOME ARPA PROGRAM WHICH WILL SUPPORT SOME OF OUR PSH PROJECTS. AND OUR STAFFING COMPLEMENT REMAINS STEADY NEXT YEAR AT 122 POSITIONS. WE DO HAVE SOME PROPOSED EFFICIENCIES FOR NEXT YEAR, TOTALING $2.4 MILLION AND THESE -- THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM PROVIDES WAIVERS OF CITY PERMI PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT FEES, AND NEXT YEAR WE WILL REDUCE THE BUDGET BY $1.5 MILLION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE $2 MILLION AVAILABLE TO FOCUS ON OUR TARGET PRIORITIES, INCLUDING HOUSING, AND THAT FUNDING COMES FROM A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THIS YEAR'S UNSPENT CANCELED PROJECTS AND A MILLION DOLLARS FROM NEXT YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE THE INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND WHICH SUPPORTS INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING -- FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. NEXT TIME WE HAVE A ONE-TIME REDUCTION OF $762.5000 BUT WE'LL STILL HAVE TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR NEW INCENTIVES. THIS YEAR ALSO MARKED THE EXPIRATION OF THE EAST SIDE PROMISE ZONE AND IT SUNSET THIS DECEMBER AFTER A 10-YEAR SUCCESSFUL EFFORT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE EAST SIDE.
SO OUR CONTRACT SHALL OBLIGATION OF $114,000 TO OVERSEE FEDERAL REPORTING, THAT WILL EXPIRE AND BE AN EFFICIENCY FOR NEXT YEAR. EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED EFFICIENCIES, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ONGOING HOUSING INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SHIFTED OUR POLICIES TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS REALLY REFLECT THIS PRIORITY.
WE WILL STILL HAVE ALMOST $1.3 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEE WAIVERS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HELP HISTORIC PROJECTS, SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND HELP ATTRACT TARGETED
[00:25:03]
BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES TO SAN ANTONIO. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDING IN OUR INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND AND OUR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING PROGRAMS HAVE GROWN TO 20 DIFFERENT TIRZ THAT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HOUSING AND REVITALIZATION IN UNDERSERVED AREAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. OUR PREVENTION WORK CONTINUES TO BE SOME OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT WORK AND PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.WITH THE SUPPORT OF FEDERAL FUNDING, THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM HAS GROWN TO A SUCCESS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE'VE PROVEN TO BE A MODEL CITY WITH OTHER CITIES REACHING OUT TO LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND HOW WE'VE GROWN IT.
WE OFFER ON-SITE SUPPORT WITH CITY STAFF AT EVERY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT WE HAVE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LEGAL PROVIDERS, WHICH OTHER CITIES CONSTANTLY INQUIRE ABOUT. WITH OUR FEDERAL GRANTS EXPIRING, WE WILL GO TO OUR BASE BUDGET NEXT YEAR OF $100,000.
WE'LL STILL SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEGAL AID PROVIDERS TO HELP OVER 300 FAMILIES. SINCE WE HAVE PROVEN TO GROW THIS PROGRAM BE SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE ALREADY APPLIED FOR A $2.5 MILLION HUD EVICTION PREVENTION GRANT. WE HOPE TO HEAR ABOUT RECEIVING THAT GRANT THIS FALL, AND IF WE DO, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM WITH TODAY'S SERVICE LEVELS. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO OFFER RENTAL AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, HELP FAMILIES STAY IN THEIR HOUSING WITH UP TO THREE MONTHS' HOUSING ASSISTANCE OR HELPING FAMILIES RELOCATE TO NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SUPPORT. WITH A $1 MILLION IMPROVEMENT NEXT YEAR, WE BILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 4.7 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR THESE PROGRAMS. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO HELP FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS WITH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. WE OFFER UP TO $40,000 IN A FOR GIVEABLE LOAN, AND THAT REALLY HELPS FAMILIES REALIZE THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP WITH A BUDGET OF $1.7 MILLION NEXT YEAR. FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS, WE KNOW THAT THEIR HOME IS LIKELY THEIR LARGEST ASSET, AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM MAINTAIN THAT ASSET. FOR MAJOR REHAB, WE HAVE OVER $9 MILLION TO HELP OVER 50 HOMES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE FUNDING FROM THE REES FUND TO ENSURE -- WE ALSO CONTINUE TO OFFER HOME MAINTENANCE CLASSES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. THIS YEAR WE'VE HELPED OVER 120 RESIDENTS WITH A FOUR-HOUR WORKSHOP AND HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATIONS THAT REALLY HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND HOW TO CARE FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND HELP THEM LAST FOR MORE THAN THE NEXT DECADE. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT AND THE HELP THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES.
FOR MINOR REHAB NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE $8 MILLION TO HELP OVER 450 HOMEOWNERS, AND I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WE STARTED THIS YEAR WITH CPS ENERGY.
WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE PROVIDING CPS ENERGY FUNDING SO THAT FAMILIES WHO APPLY FOR THE CASA VER DA WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENTS IF ALL THEY NEED IS A MINOR REPAIR, WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP, THOSE MINOR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THEY'RE AVERAGING LESS THAN $3,000, AND THEN CPS ENERGY HAS ALREADY PROCEEDED WITH THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. SO THESE ARE MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WHO WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HELPED WITHOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.
AND WE'LL BE CONTINUING IT AND MAKING IT EVEN STRONGER NEXT YEAR.
WE'LL ALSO BE USING A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE REES FUND TO REALLY FOCUS OUR COOL ROOF PROGRAM AND INSTALL WHITE ROOFS IN TARGETED URBAN HEAT ISLAND HOMES THAT HELP COOL THE HOME ITSELF AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR TEAM ADMINISTERS THE $150 MILLION HOUSING BOND TO REALLY PRODUCE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CAN REHAB AND PRODUCE BRAND-NEW AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS, WE PROVIDE HOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, AND WE PROVIDE NEW HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'VE AWARDED OVER $80 MILLION FROM THE HOUSING BOND A HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION REMAINING. THIS FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED THE NEW OR PRESERVING OVER 4,003 AFFORDABLE HOMES, AND THAT'S FOR FAMILIES MAKING LESS THAN 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
OF THESE HOMES, 174 ARE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE. THOSE ARE HOMES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, INCOME-BASED UNITS OR HOMES FOR FAMILIES MAKING LESS THAN $40,000 A YEAR. FOR OUR HOME OWNERSHIP PROJECTS, ALL OF THEM ARE TARGETED FOR FAMILIES AT 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME OR MAKING LESS THAN 64,000 A YEAR. AND THE AVERAGE SALES PRICE THAT THE BOND IS PRODUCING IS APPROXIMATELY $170,000.
BY THE END OF THE 2025, OVER 2100 HOMES WILL BE COMPLETED DUE TO OUR HOUSING BOND INVESTMENTS. AND THE REMAINING FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED IN A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION NEXT YEAR.
[00:30:02]
OUR WORK ON THE HOUSING BOND IS IMPORTANT, AND WE KNOW THAT HOUSING COSTS ARE RISING. AND TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING GOALS, WE'RE UTILIZING STRATEGIES FROM THE SHIP.I WILL HIGHLIGHT THREE THAT WE'RE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD NOW AND WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK INTO NEXT YEAR. THE FIRST IS TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WHICH FOCUSES OUR HOUSING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ALONG TRANSIT RATHER THAN BUILDING OUTWARDS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HOUSING COMMISSION, REMOVING BARRIERS, TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP, AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ALONG OUR NEW TRANSIT LINES REALLY RESPECTS THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
SECOND, OUR WORK WITH ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ALSO LOOKS TO CREATE HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ALIGN WITH NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE'RE USING CREATIVE STRATEGIES, SUCH AS RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS TO DEVELOPER MIT-READY PLANS, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE THIS FALL. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON SOME ADU INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO HELP FINANCE AND INCENTIVIZE THE CREATION OF MORE ADUS IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS PROGRAM WILL COME TO COUNCIL WITH INCENTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO NEXT YEAR. AND THEN LASTLY, WE OR WORKING TO STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH COMMUNITY DRIVEN HOUSING OPTIONS. WE'RE LOOKING TO ADOPT THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST DESIGNATION POLICY AND WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH FOUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN STARTING CLTS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE CLTS DESIGNATION WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PROPERTIES GET APPRAISED CORRECTLY AND REALLY HELPS ENSURE AFFORDABILITY FOR FUTURE HOMEOWNERS. WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR SHIP PARTNERS, INCLUDING OPPORTUNITY HOME SA, THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST AND BEXAR COUNTY, TOGETHER WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS BEING AT 40% OF OUR HOUSING GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT'S 11,238 HOMES THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED, UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR IN THE PIPELINE BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. OUR WORK ON THE HOUSING BOND AND IMPLEMENTING THE SHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICAL THAT THE COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THESE EFFORTS. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR PROPERTY TAX HELP CAMPAIGN WHERE WE ARE HELPING HOMEOWNERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR PROPERTY APPRAISALS AND PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES SO THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES. OUR WORK IS CONSTANTLY DAILY INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS HAS REALLY HELPED US REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT OUR PREVENTION WORK IS. FAMILIES ARE FACING EVICTION BECAUSE THEY WITHHELD RENT, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUE, OR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY COULD ASK FOR AN ADJUSTED RENT DATE THAT ALIGNED WITH THEIR BENEFITS CHECK. SO THIS HAS HELPED INFORM OUR WENT-WISE CAMPAIGN, TO REALLY -- RENT-WISE CAMPAIGN, TO REALLY HELP TENANTS UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. WE'VE DONE THIS THROUGH IN-PERSON INFORMATION SESSIONS AS WELL AS THE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS VIDEO SERIES WHICH COVERS SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY REQUESTED TOPICS, LIKE UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEASE, HOW TO -- WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE FACED WITH AN EVICTION OR HOW TO REQUEST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE REQUEST.
IN ADDITION TO OUR RENT-WISE CAMPAIGN, THE NEXT PHASE FOR THE PUBLIC INFORMATION, WE ARE WORKING WITH SHIP PARTNERS, THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY ON A CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN AROUND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. WE'RE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH DHS, COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT, THE ALLIANCE TO HOUSE EVERYONE ON THE WHICH WILL DEBUT THIS FALL. IT WILL CREATE EFFORTS TO CREATE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE FACE TO KEEP STABLE HOUSING. HOUSING FOR CHRONICALLY UNHOUSED PEOPLE IS REFERRED TO AS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND PSH COMBINES THE HOUSING WITH ON SITE SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE AND TREATMENT.
OUR COMMUNITY GOAL IS 1,000 PSH HOMES OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WE BROKE DOWN JUST THIS WEEK ON ANOTHER PSH DEVELOPMENT, MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WERE THERE AND I WANT TO THANK THE PARTNERS WHO HELPED MAKE THAT DEPARTMENT POSSIBLE, INCLUDING SAMMINISTRIES, OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PARTNERS. WITH THE BREAKING GROUND ON THAT DEVELOPMENT AND OUR OTHER PROJECTS, WE'RE AT 477 PSH HOMES BRINGS US TO NEARLY 50% OF OUR 10-YEAR GOAL IN JUST THREE YEARS. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, PUBLIC HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE USE A LOT OF TECHNICAL TERMS IN OUR WORK, AND THEY MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SOMETIMES THESE TERMS DON'T MEAN HAVE MUCH TO PEOPLE WHO STILL DON'T HAVE A STABLE HOME. SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON MOVING TOWARDS ACCESSIBLE HOUSING. AND REALLY HELPING THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE INNER DEPENDENCE BETWEEN HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION AND HEALTH. THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE TALKED ABOUT TO ADDRESS A HOUSING CRISIS ARE ALREADY BEING DONE RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, PREVENTING EVICTIONS. PRESERVING EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOME BUYER INCENTIVES, ENCOURAGING DENSITY, STREAMLINE --
[00:35:01]
AUDIO] -- ALL THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY HERE.BY OUR TEAM AND OUR SHIP PARTNERS, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE TOGETHER ARE CREATING DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE OUR GROWING POPULATION. BY CREATING HOUSING FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OLDER ADULTS, EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES, YOUTH, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS, WE WILL REALLY HELP ENSURE A HOUSING CHOICES IN SAN ANTONIO ARE ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. AND U NOW I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO G QUEN ESTRADA TO COVER THE ARPA BUDGET.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GWEN ESTRADA AND I'M THE ARPA EXECUTIVE OFFER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
TODAY I'M GOING TO BE PROVIDING YOU WITH AN ARPA UPDATE.
THE CITY WAS AWARDED A TOTAL OF 326.9 MILLION IN ARPA STATE AND LOCAL FIS PHYSICAL RECOVERY FUNDS FROM THE U.S. TREASURY. IT'S BEEN 34 MONTHS SINCE WE RECEIVED THE FIRST TRANCHE OF FUNDS IN MAY OF 2021.
THROUGH JULY, WE ARE 71% SPENT. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE TREASURY HAS ESTABLISHED DEADLINES FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THE OBLIGATION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 2024, AND THE SPENDING DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 2026. FOR BOTH DEADLINES IF FUNDS AREN'T OBLIGATED ON TIME OR AREN'T SPENT ON TIME, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE RETURNED TO THE TREASURY. WE MUST INSURE THAT FUNDS PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT NEED TO BE REALLOCATED ARE BOTH REALLOCATED AND OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER 2024. OBLIGATED MEANS THEY'RE TIED UP ON A PURCHASE ORDER OR A CONTRACT. LOOKING AHEAD TO DECEMBER 2026, WE HAVE 29 MONTHS REMAINING TO SPEND DOWN THE FUNDS. AND THE CITY'S FINAL TREASURY REPORT WILL BE DUE APRIL OF 2027. HERE'S AN OVERVIEW THAT ILLUSTRATES THE SPENDING BY PROGRAM THROUGH JULY. WE'VE SPENT $231 MILLION. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 93.4 MILLION COMMITTED TO SPEND, WITH SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THE REST ARE UNDERWAY. AS YOU RECALL AT THE FY 2025 BUDGET PRESENTATION -- PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION, THE CITY MANAGER SHARED WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE $5.8 MILLION FOR REALLOCATION, WHICH I WILL COVER NEXT. I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FIRST TABLE ILLUSTRATING WHERE THE 5.8 COMES FROM. FOR AGENCY CONTRACTS, SINCE MARCH, WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR CONTRACTED NONPROFIT AGENCIES THAT RECEIVED AWARDS IN THE CATEGORIES OF MENTAL HEALTH -- AND PARTNERSHIP WITH AGENCIES, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THE END OF THE CONTRACT PERIOD, THERE WILL BE FUNDS THAT REMAIN UNSPENT TOTALING 2.1 MILLION. THIS AMOUNT IS COMING FROM 11 CONTRACTS ACROSS EIGHT AGENCIES IN THE AREAS OF MENTAL HEALTH, YOUTH AND SENIORS.
FOR INTEREST ON OTHER PROGRAMS, 90% OF THAT IS COMING FROM INTERESTS THAT WE'VE EARNED OF THE 3.7 MILLION. IN THE SECOND TABLE FOR THE PROPOSED USE, THE 3.1 MILLION IS TO CONTINUE EXTENDED HOURS AT THE SENIOR CENTERS. THIS WAS, OF COURSE, INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET PROPOSAL. THIS LEAVES 2.7 MILLION REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. THE REALLOCATIONS OF THE 5.8 MILLION WOULD TAKE PLACE THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET ADOPTION. NOW, AS MENTIONED THE TREASURY'S DEADLINE OF OBLIGATING FUNDS IS CRITICAL. SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, WE DON'T RECOMMEND DOING RFPS. THINK OF THINGS THAT ARE ONE-TIME IN NATURE, NONRECURRING. OR THAT ARE QUICKLY ABLE -- ABLE TO BE QUICKLY EXECUTED OR PURCHASED. BOTTOM LINE, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE INSURING THAT WE ACT SWIFTLY TO CONTINUE TO MITIGATE THE LOSS OF FUNDS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
NEXT I'LL PASS IT OFF TO OUR DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH, DR. CLAUDE JACOB.
>> JACOB: THANK YOU, GWEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M DR. CLAUDE JACOB, DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR FY '25 DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET. TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL FEATURE OUR PROGRAMMATIC PRIORITIES AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR FANTASTIC TEAM FOR HELPING TO PREPARE THIS BUDGET OVERVIEW, MY SENIOR TEAM HAS JOINED US THIS AFTERNOON AND I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE THEM THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION. SO TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL INCLUDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR PROPOSED FY '25 BUDGET.
IN ADDITION I'LL PROVIDE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR SA FORWARD INITIATIVES, WALK THROUGH OUR CORE REGULATORY FUNCTIONS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AND END WITH SOME FISCAL ADJUSTMENTS PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR.
BEFORE I START MY PRESENTATION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION
[00:40:01]
THAT WE ARE A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD. THIS IS A VOLUNTARY DESIGNATION FOR ALL LOCAL, TRIBAL, STATE AND TER TORE YALT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND WE EXPECT TO BE REACCREDITED IN 2025.THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN TEXAS THAT HAVE EARNED THIS DESIGNATION TO DATE. SO WITH THAT, THE PROPOSED FY 2025 BUDGET REFLECTS A SOLID INVESTMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK. THE BUDGET INCLUDES A MIX OF A GENERAL FUND AND GRANTS THAT AMOUNT TO $100 MILLION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO THANK ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARIO MARTINEZ AND HIS TEAM FOR SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT WITH OUR SENIOR STAFF, ALONG WITH O AND B TO CRAFT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. JUST KNOW THAT THE GENERAL FUND'S SUPPORT AMOUNTS TO $49.6 MILLION WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 4.7 MILLION FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, ACCOUNTING FOR 301 FULL-TIME OR EQUIVALENTS POSITION. THERE ARE 353 GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS.
AGAIN, NO ARPA-SUPPORTED POSITIONS TIED TO OUR GRANTS.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EQUIVALENCE PROPOSED FOR THE NEXT PHYSICAL YEAR IS 654. POSITIONS REFLECTING A NET CHANGE OF TWO POSITIONS COMPARED TO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. THIS INVOLVED A REASSESSMENT OF STAFF AND FUNCTIONS AS WE DETERMINE THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS FOR OUR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. OVERALL, THIS BUDGET REFLECTS A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN THE CAPACITY NEEDED TO ADDRESS OUR LOCAL HEALTH PRIORITIES. SO JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS, REMINDER THAT IN APRIL OF 2022, THE SA FORWARD PLAN WAS ADOPTED AND IS ORGANIZED INTO SIX PRIORITY AREAS REFLECTED ON THE SCREEN. THIS COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT WAS CRAFTED IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
OUR TARGETS FOR FY '25 INCLUDE ACCESS TO CARE IN THE UNLOCK PROGRAM, WHICH WILL CONNECT 155 RECENTLY RELEASED JAIL ATTENDEES, OUR ONGOING INVESTMENTS IN AUTOMATING OUR FUNCTIONS, ESPECIALLY OUR DATA AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, TO IMPLEMENT THREE DATA PUBLIC DASHBOARDS FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES, TUBERCULOSIS, HIV AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, OUR ONGOING EMPHASIS ON ADDRESSING CONDITIONS LIKE FOOD INSECURITY AND MEAN MENTAL HEALTH.
SIX ADDITIONAL SITES RESULTING IN 50 NEW LOCATIONS.
SO WITH THIS, THE MISSION OF OUR DEPARTMENT IS TO PREVENT ILLNESS, PROMOTE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND PROTECT AGAINST HEALTH HAZARD HEALTH HAZARD THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION , COLLABORATION AND KEY SERVICES. I'LL HIGHLIGHT THE DEPARTMENT'S CORE FUNCTIONS USING THIS FRAMEWORK. THIS WILL INCLUDE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACHES PERFORMED, AND A SNAPSHOT OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND PROGRAM TARGETS FOR FY '25. KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE NEARLY 3,000 LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES. WHILE THE ROLE AND VISIBILITY OF HEALTH DEPARTMENTS MAY DIFFER FROM COAST TO COAST, THE NEXT SEGMENT WILL GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE VAST ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE AT OUR DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE CATEGORIES BUT REFLECT THE WAYS THAT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF DISEASE WHILE ADDRESSING THE CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AREA RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
SO WITH THAT, THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE DIVISION AT OUR DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOGNIZING, IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO EVENTS SUCH AS DISEASE OUTBREAKS, EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL, STATE MANDATES AND GUIDELINES.
THIS IS LED BY OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR DR. ANITA KURIAN AND SERVED AS THE ANCHOR TO OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE TEAM MONITORS THE HEALTH STATUS OF OUR COUNTY AND CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH. OUR IMMUNIZATION TEAM EDUCATES AND VACCINATES THE COMMUNITY. MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE PARTNERED WITH US FOR RECENT BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS. THEY ALSO HELPED TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DATA THAT'S REGISTERED IN OUR STATE VACCINE REGISTRY. IT'S ALSO ESSENTIAL TO HEIGHT THAT OUR METRO HEALTH LAB SERVES AS A REGIONAL LAB FOR BIOLOGICAL AND HIGH SEQUENCE DISEASE TESTING. THIS LAB SERVES A BROADER REGION THAT INCLUDES 29 COUNTIES ACROSS DHHS REGION EIGHT WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS. THIS LAB ALSO CONDUCTS DAIRY TESTING AND RABIES TESTING. THIS IS A SNAPSHOT THERE ARE FEW MEASURES FOR OUR DISEASE PREVENTION EFFORTS ON THE GROUND.
OUR WE INVESTIGATE ALL NOTIFIABLE CONDITIONS REPORTED TO THE
[00:45:02]
DEPARTMENT AS CHOIRED FOR THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.TARGET WAS MADE WHILE COVID-19 WAS STILL A NOTIFIABLE CONDITION.
BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, COVID-19 WAS REMOVED FROM THIS LIST AND IS NO LONGER REPORTABLE. THIS CHANGE IS REFLECTED IN THE NUMBERS YOU SEE. WITH REGARDS TO VACCINATIONS, THIS PERFORMANCE MEASURE INCLUDES VACCINES ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION CLINIC AND POPUP EVENTS HELD THROUGH OUR TEAM AND ALSO POPUP LAB SPECIMENS FOR DRINKING WATER, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, BIOTHREAT AGENTS AND AS I MENTIONED MILK AND DAIRY AND RABIES. THIS IS TO ENSURE PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMPTION ARE SAFE AND TO THE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND BIOTHREAT AGENTS. YOU SEE THE FY TARGETS TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF NOTIFICATION TO OUR DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF VACCINES ADMINISTERED TO PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF LAB TESTS TO BE PERFORMED. SO ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF OUR PREVENTION EFFORTS, OUR OVERALL PREVENTION EFFORTS SPAN A NUMBER OF DIVISIONS AND UNITS AT OUR DEPARTMENT. OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION SECTION, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT, IS OVERSEEN BY ERIKA STEVENSON AND COVERS AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS SLIDE.
THESE INCLUDE LINKAGES TO AREA NONPROFITS, OTHER COSA DEPARTMENTS LIKE SAPD AND DHS, AS WELL AS COUNTY-LEVEL INITIATIVES LIKE THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COCHAIRED BY OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MARIA VILLAGOMEZ. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES IMMEDIATE SUPPORT AND LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE INTIMATE VIOLENCE. WE'RE SUPPORTING VICTIMS IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF A VIOLENT. VENT.
AGAIN VIOLENCE PROGRAM CALLED STAND UP SA IS BUILT ON THE EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.
THIS TREATS GUN VIOLENCE LIKE A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS INTERRUPT VIOLENT SITUATION AND CHANGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTITUDES ABOUT THE USE OF VIOLENCE.
AND LASTLY, THE POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM, ALSO CALLED PPP, DELIVERS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING CURRICULUM THAT REDUCES CHILD ABUSE AND MALTREATMENT FOR PARENTS OF IP INFANTS TO AGE 16.
THESE EFFORTS DOVETAIL WITH OUR OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WHICH I'LL HIGHLIGHT IN A FEW SLIDES.
SO WITH THIS, LAST FALL YOU MAY RECALL THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A MAP OF OUR DISTRIBUTION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS TO DATE.
THE SIGN SHOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SLIDE IS REQUIRED TO BE POSTED IN EVERY RESTROOM OF ALL PUBLIC PLACES -- OF ALL PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION. ENFORCEMENT BEGINS OCTOBER 1 OF THIS YEAR.
JUST KNOW THAT OUR TEAM INITIATED A COMMUNITY-WIDE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN EARLIER THIS YEAR TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS ARE I HVISITING AREA ESTABLISHMENTS TO DISTRIBUTE THESE SIGNS OR DECALS.
LARGE COMPANIES WITH MULTIPLE SITES ARE CONTACTED BY OUR TEAM TO REQUEST THE SIGNS THAT THEY NEED. SEVERAL CITY SITES ARE SERVING AS POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION, INCLUDING CITY HALL, CITY COUNCIL FIELD OFFICES, THE LIBRARIES AND DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SERVICES CENTERS. JUST KNOW THAT AS OF AUGUST 27TH, OUR STAFF HAS VISITED OVER 13,000 SITES REPRESENTED BY THE PURPLE DOTS ON THE MAP.
YOU MAY SEE OR RUN ACROSS SOME OF THESE DECALS POSTED OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, AND TO DATE, ONLY 27 SITES HAVE DECLINED TO ACCEPT THEIR SIGNS. THESE ARE MOSTLY SOME OF THE SMALLER BUSINESSES.
WHILE THAT MAY BE THE CASE, WE DO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND HEIGHTEN THE AWARENESS, SO POTENTIAL VICTIMS CAN ACCESS THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND OVERALL WELL-BEING.
OUR TEAM WILL PREPARE A SUMMARY REPORT ON THE EDUCATION EFFORTS AND THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS VISITED IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT.
SO WITH THAT, THESE ARE JUST A FEW MEASURES FOR OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE FOCUS ON THE NUMBER OF SURVIVORS REFERRED FROM SAPD TO OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM AND SERVICES, AND SO YOU SEE FOUR FY '25, WE HAVE 17,000 AS OUR TARGET. IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR NUMBER OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENT SURVIVOR WHO ULTIMATELY ACCEPT SUPPORT SERVICES FROM OUR TEAM AT METRO HEALTH WHICH IS A SUBSET OF THE REFERRALS SH AND FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT 11,500 OF SURVIVORS TO BE
[00:50:02]
TARGETED. IN ADDITION WE CAPTURE THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONTACTED THROUGH OUR GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR OUTREACH WORKERS. WE'RE LOOKING AT NEARLY 2,000 INDIVIDUALS TO BE CONTACTED, AND LASTLY, A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PPP PROGRAM, AGAIN, USING THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THIS EVIDENT-BASED CURRICULUM. SO WITH THAT, JUST KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WAS ESTABLISHED AS ONE OF THE NEWEST UNITS AT OUR DEPARTMENT AND ONE OF OUR SA FORWARD PRIORITY AREAS. IT ACTUALLY REFLECTS A PIVOT FOR OUR INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND THE ALIGNMENT OF OUR EFFORTS WITH AREA PROVIDERS AND KEY PARTNERS. THIS OFFICE IS LED BY JESSE HIGGINS, OUR CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER WHO WORKS TO ENHANCE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMPETENCIES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE BY SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF PARTNER AGENCIES LIKE THE CENTERS FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICE, THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL TEXAS ADVISORY COUNCIL OR STRAC, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. WE TALK ABOUT THESE EFFORTS AND THESE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW WE'RE EXPANDING TEEN AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS IN AREA SCHOOL, IMPLEMENTING THE FOURTH ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY, E EXPANDING THE CERTIFICATION OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CERTIFICATION ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS. IN TERMS OF OUR MIDSTREAM EFFORTS WE'RE CONTINUING OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH FOSTER AND AT-RISK YOUTH, CONTINUING MENTAL SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY AND FOR CHILDREN IN AREAS OF NEED IN OUR GENERAL FUNDED CONTRACTS. CONTINUING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATION FOR SA-CORE, THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESILIENCY EFFORT, CONTINUING OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MULTIAGENCY PARTNERSHIP FOR CIVIL CIVILIZATION AND EXPANDING ARPA FUNDING AND USING OUR OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS. SO IN THE END, KNOW THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE EFFORTS DEPEND ON THE STEADFAST COMMITMENT STRIPPING AWAY THE STIGMA AND MISNOMERS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AS WELL AS MORE INTENTIONAL AND INNOVATIVE COLLABORATIVES& LIKE SA-CORE AND OTHER INITIATIVES.THESE ARE A FEW METRICS -- CLOSELY AT THE NUMBER OF 9-1-1 CALLS FOR THE SA-CORE TEAM RESPOND TO AND EXPECTING AN INCREASE AGAIN THIS YEAR DUE TO THE TEAM'S EXPANSION TO 24/7 AND CITYWIDE COVERAGE. WE'RE NEWLY MONITORING THE NUMBER OF YOUTH CLIENTS RECEIVING FOUR OR MORE SESSIONS THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUND COUNSELING CONTRACTS, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS TO INITIATE THE LEVEL 1 TRAUMA INFORMED CERTIFICATION PROCESS. JUST NOTE TO DATE, SAPD AND METRO HEALTH HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR CERTIFICATION AND SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN QUEUE INCLUDE HUMAN SERVICES, LIBRARY SERVICES, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE. SO WITH THAT, THESE ACTIVITIES, AS YOU SEE HERE, GL AGAIN, IN PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, THESE AN CORE TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY DIVISION OVERSEEN BY MARJORIE WHITE. THIS DIVISION OVERSEES THE AREAS SEEN ON THIS SLIDE AS WELL AS THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION SECTION.
SO WITH OUR W WIC PROGRAM. KNOW THIS IS A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FOOD BENEFITS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT AND HEALTHCARE REFERRALS TO FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY. WIC SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO PREGNANT, POSTPARTUM AND BREASTFEEDING WOMEN AND AND CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. SERVE AN AVERAGE OF 34,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR ACROSS 10 CLINICS HERE IN THE CITY. COCOMPLEMENT IS THE ORAL HEALTH SERVICE WHICH PROPROVIDES DENTAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM EARLY HEAD START IN DISTRICTS ACROSS THE CITY.
THESE ARE FOCUS -- FOCUS ON CHILDREN'S AGE SIX MONTHS TO 17 YEARS WHO DO NOT DWAWLIFY FOR MEDICAID OR CHIP BUT MAY QUALIFY FOR TITLE V.
FINALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR OUR DIABETES PROGRAM HAS RECOMMENDED A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR SERVICES WITHIN OUR LOCAL REFUGEE POPULATIONS AND WE PLAN TO FOCUS SOME OF OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS WITHIN THOSE GROUPS.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO BRING YOUTH-FOCUSED CURRICULUM TO OUR DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FY '25.
LAST YEAR'S INNOVATION NOW INCLUDE THE DIABETES GARAGE THAT FOCUS ON EDUCATING MEN ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. AND WITHIN OUR HEALTHY CORNER STORES PROGRAM, WE HAVE OVER 50 SITES AND FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING THE DOUBLE UPS FOOD -- THE DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM.
SO, AGAIN, THESE ARE SOME METRICS THAT GAUGE OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES AND THE ACCESS TO PROGRAM.
WITH THE WIC PROGRAM CURRENTLY, WE AVERAGE, AS I MENTIONED 34,000
[00:55:02]
PARTICIPANTS PER MONTH ACROSS THESE 10 CLINIC LOCATIONS, ACROSS THE CITY. FOR FY '25, WE ARE ESTIMATING TO MEET 35,000 INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THE CURRENT PARTICIPATION TRENDS.THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER 21,000 SCHOOL-AGED PARTICIPANTS, AND FOR OUR DIABETES PROGRAM, LOOKING AT 550 INDIVIDUALS.
SO WITH THAT, FINALLY IN TERMS OF OUR FRAMEWORK, A NUMBER OF OUR CRITICAL REGULATORY FUNCTIONS INVOLVE THE OVERSIGHT OF FOOD SAFETY SURVEILLANCE OF VECTOR-BORNE ILLNESSES AND THE MONITORING OF AIR QUALITY AND POLLUTION.
KEEP IN MIND THAT MANY OF THESE FUNCTIONS DOVETAIL WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN COORDINATION WITH OUR CHEMICAL DISEASE DIVISION IN ORDER TO MITIGATE OUTBREAKS WHILE EDUCATING ABOUT THE FACTORS THAT MAY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF AREA RESIDENTS. SO JUST KNOW THAT WHILE WE TALK ABOUT THIS -- WHILE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST REMIND COUNCIL AROUND OUR HEALTH INSPECTORS, AROUND OUR SURVEILLANCE FUNCTIONS AS WE PAY ATTENTION TO MO MOSQUITOES AND VECTOR-BORNE ILLNESSES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY ALSO THE REGULAR REPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW WE MONITOR THE AIR QUALITY AND POLLUTION HERE IN CONCERT WITH STATE AGENCIES. SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF MEASURES FOR THIS YEAR, JUST KNOW THAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS CONDUCT A HIGH VOLUME OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTIONS AND RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS TO PREVENT FOODBORNE ILLNESSES. THIS INCLUDES PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS THAT ARE ALSO INSPECTED TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS SAFE. OUR VECTOR CONTROL STAFF MONITOR AND COLLECT MOSQUITO SAMPLES FROM 20 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AGAIN TO PREVENT VECTOR-BORNE ILLNESSES. AND PER OUR CITY ORDINANCE, KNOW OUR AIR POLLUTION PROGRAM, WE INSPECT AND MONITOR PROGRAMS TO DECREASE AIR POLLUTION. THESE ARE THE TARGETS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOLSTER OUR CORE REGULATORY FUNCTION WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF. SO AS I WIND DOWN MY PRESENTATION, JUST KNOW THAT A REMINDER, BACK IN 2022, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF A NEW COLLABORATIVE UT PUBLIC HEALTH SAN ANTONIO WITH A $2 MILLION ANNUAL INVESTMENT OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD WITH THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, OR UTSA. THE COUNTY, THE STATE AND THESE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE EACH COMMITTED $10 MILLION TO THE NEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH WHICH HELD ITS INAUGURAL CLASS WITH THE INCOMING COHORT OF STUDENTS JUST EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THE GOAL OF THIS PARTNERSHIP IS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S -- THAT OUR DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS WORK COLLECTIVELY ON THE FUTURE COLLABORATIONS TO INCLUDE OUR SA FORWARD COMMUNITY BLUEPRINT.
YOU ALSO HEARD EARLIER THIS WEEK -- OR LAST WEEK, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THE -- THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS WILL MERGE INTO ONE PREMIER GLOBAL UNIVERSITY TO BEST SERVE THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE REGION AND STATE COMBINING THEIR COLLECTIVE ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RANKS TO DELIVER IMMENSE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
THIS POSITIONS OUR DEPARTMENT WELL TO FUNCTION AND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ARN ACADEMIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT MIRRORING NATIONAL TRENDS WHERE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE ESTABLISHING MORE ROBUST COLLABORATIONS WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS REAL-WORLD PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
SO FINALLY, OUR TEAM REVISITED THE PRIORITIZATION OF SERVICES AND THE REALIGNMENT OF OUR NEEDS.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET EFFICIENCIES THAT WILL NOT IMPACT THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR TEAM AT METRO HEALTH.
THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO RIGHT SIZE OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS WHILE STILL PROVIDING THESE SERVICES TO AREA RESIDENTS.
SO IN THESE TWO BUCKETS, JUST KNOW THAT OUR ONGOING EFFORTS AROUND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, WE IDENTIFIED A CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND OUR DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED IN-HOUSE RESOURCES AND CONTRACTORS TO SUPPORT THIS ONGOING WORK IN INVESTING IN OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
THE COMPLIMENT TO THAT, WITH OUR PROJECT WORTH PROGRAM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE NO LONGER NEEDED CONTRACT TO OUTSOURCE FOR SEPARATE NAVIGATOR.
IN ADDITION, RATHER THAN -- WE DO HAVE STAFF& WHO ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE REFERRALS TO YOUTH AND LOCAL AGENCIES, AND THIS ALLOWS US TO AT LEAST, AGAIN, RIGHT SIZE OUR PROGRAM AND THESE ARE THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE RECOGNIZE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. SO AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF OUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO ADOPTING A CULTURE OF IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY AT OUR DEPARTMENT, THESE IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES ALLOW US TO STREAMLINE OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS WHILE ENSURING THE ACCESS AND LINKAGES TO SERVICES. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY
[01:00:04]
FORMAL PRESENTATION. I'M JOINED BY MEMBERS OF MY SENIOR STAFF AND WE'RE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE THIS AFTERNOON.THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. JACOB AND EVERYBODY THAT MADE THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME BRIEF COMMENTS AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO DISCUSSION. AND I'M REALLY GLAD, ERIK, THAT YOU GROUPED THESE DEPARTMENTS IN THIS WAY. ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS WERE DIRECTLY CALLED UP, SO TO SPEAK, DURING THE HEIGHT OF OUR EXPERIENCE IN COVID, ALL DEALING WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS, SO ON HOUSING TO OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HUMAN SERVICES, THEY WERE ALL DIRECTLY WORKING TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF OUR CITIES. THAT WAS TRUE PRETTY MUCH IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY, SO I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON ARPA, BECAUSE, ERIK, YOU NEED SOME SPECIFIC FEEDBACK ON THE REMAINING BALANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT DOWN BY DECEMBER '26. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION, I THINK LAST WEEK, WHEN YOU PRESENTED THE BUDGET BRIEFLY ON THIS, AND I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC THERE. THE 2.7, I BELIEVE, NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO GO TOWARDS THOSE SAME ISSUES THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE RESILIENCY THAT WAS ON CLEAR DISPLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY. I HAD MENTIONED HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WE STILL HAVE TREMENDOUS VULNERABILITY WITHIN OUR HOUSING ECOSYSTEM, SO -- AND THEN A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAD MENTIONED THE HEALTH EQUITY RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY AS THEY RELATE TO THE SOUTH SIDE. SO WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE HEALTH EQUITY PIECE ABOUT A TWO-YEAR, $300,000 COMMITMENT OVER -- EXCUSE ME, $600,000 COMMITMENT OVER TWO YEARS, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE CONSIDER DOING, AND, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR FEEDBACK FOR MY COLLEAGUES, $1 MILLION OF THE REMAINING BALANCE GO TOWARDS THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES TO NEED RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON THE VERGE OF EVICTION OR OTHER FORMS OF HOMELESSNESS, AND THEN THE SECOND IS OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM HAS A PROPOSAL, OUR CLOSE TO HOME IS GOING TO BE PUTTING IN A PROPOSAL FOR HUD ASSISTANCE FOR CENTRALIZED LABOR -- EXCUSE ME, CENTRALIZED LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO HELP SPEED THE PROCESS OF GETTING FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING. ONE OF THE BARRIERS BEING RENTAL HOUSING THAT IS NOT BEING COORDINATED PROPERLY WITH THE REST OF OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. HOUSING THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE USED WITH VOUCHERS TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO GET HOUSED IMMEDIATELY. THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE ON THAT EFFORT, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE SPLIT THE REMAINING FUNDS TO THE CLOSE TO HOME CENTRALIZED ENGAGEMENT -- CENTRALIZED LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT PROPOSAL, BOTH, AGAIN, ADDRESSING SERIOUS NEED WHERE WE ARE SEEING CONTINUED IMPACT FROM NOT ONLY THE PANDEMIC, BUT ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S EXPERIENCED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THAT WERE REVEALED ON CLEAR DISPLAY DURING THOSE LAST FEW YEARS. SO, AGAIN, MY RECOMMENDATION, A MILLION TOWARDS THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THE COMMITMENT TO THE TWO-YEAR COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH EQUITY COMPONENT, AND THEN THE REMAINING TO THE CLOSE TO HOME CENTRALIZED LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. SO LET ME GO RIGHT INTO CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, GREAT PRESENTATIONS, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ?
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION. I GUESS I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THREE THINGS FOR FOLLOW-UP MEMO. NUMBER ONE AS IT RELATES TO THE INNER CITY DEVELOPMENT FUND, I'D BE INTERESTED IN MAYBE A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT [INDISCERNIBLE] OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THAT WOULD JUST BE OF INTEREST TO ME. SECOND, AS IT RELATES TO ARPA AND ANY UNSPENT DOLLARS, I HAVE ASKED A FEW TIMES FOR THIS, AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT, I DO WANT IN PRACTICE THE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE FUNDED ARE AIMED TO TARGET THE EAST, WEST AND SOUTH SIDE WHERE THERE'S DISPARITIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES AND IN THEORY, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT IN PRACTICE, I DON'T BELIEVE -- I'M NOT SEEING THAT INVESTMENT ON THE EAST SIDE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE EXCLUDED FROM [INDISCERNIBLE] THERE'S A LITANY OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PRIORITIZING THOSE SERVICES ON THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE AND NEGLECTING THE EAST SIDE. SO I WOULD -- BEFORE I CAN SUPPORT ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE SOUTH SIDE AGAIN, I WOULD NEED TO KNOW THAT THE EAST SIDE IS GETTING ITS JUST SHARE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND IF THAT IS NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND IF WE RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION, I WOULD LIKE SUPPORT IN ALLOCATING SOME OF THESE FUNDS AND SETTING IT ASIDE SPECIFICALLY TO
[01:05:04]
ADDRESS THOSE CONDITIONS ON THE EAST SIDE. THE LAST THING WAS RELATED TO FOR SENIOR SERVICES. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A RADIUS OF ABOUT 5 MILES THAT SENIORS CAN GET PICKED UP TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE SENIOR CENTERS. I HAVE A LOT OF -- I HAVE SUCH A BIG DISTANCE, I HAVE A VERY BIG DISTRICT AND I HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS THE SENIOR SERVICES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DRIVE, THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WILL PICK THEM UP AND TAKE THEM, AND SO WHAT I WOULD BE VESTED IN IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO IS AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO EXTEND THAT RADIUS OR THAT TRAVEL PERIMETER, I GUESS, FOR ANYONE IN DISTRICT TWO, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE DISTRICT TWO SENIOR CENTER AND THE SAME FOR EVERY OTHER DISTRICT. THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.IS THAT POSSIBLE? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. APPRECIATE IT.
THANK Y'ALL AND HAVE A GOOD ONE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PRESENTED TODAY AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS A LONG LIST BUT MARK AND MELANIE AND VERONICA AND GWEN AND CLAUDE AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED SOMEONE , SO MY APOLOGIES TOO. WHOEVER STARTED OFF.
AND SO SIMILAR TO -- AND I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS BUT SIMILAR TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, SPECIFICALLY, I HAD BROUGHT UP THE CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN SOUTH TEXAS AND WHAT IT IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE.
AND TO COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S POINT, WE HAD INCLUDED THE EASTSIDE AS WELL ON THAT. I'LL GET YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN OUR AREA WE HAVE LESS RESOURCES, LESS SERVICES TO SUPPORT HEALTH. WE HAVE LOWER FOOD ACCESS. WE HAVE LESS ACCREDITED CHILDCARE CAPACITY AND WE HAVE FEWER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
AND SO SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'M READING, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL. IT WILL BECOME A LITTLE MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION.
WE'RE WORKING ON A SERIES OF EDITORIALS BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FOCUSED ON HEALTH. WE WILL BE ROLLING THAT OUT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE CHALLENGES ARE JUST -- THE HEALTH CONDITIONS WE SAW THAT WERE THE ONES THAT CREATED A LOT OF ESSENTIALLY THE COMPLICATIONS AND UNTIMELY DEATH OF A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS WE REPRESENT. A LOT OF IT WITH DIABETES, ET CETERA. HOWEVER, WE'RE ALSO FIGURING OUT IN THERE HOW TO ADDRESS ASTHMA, VASCULAR DISEASES, HYPERTENSION, FAMILY VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND MENTAL HEALTH IS ALSO IMPORTANT IN THAT. WE'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE A BIGGER DENT. WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO ESTABLISH HEALTH CORRIDORS SO THERE'S ACCESS TO FOOD, HEALTHY FOOD. AND WE'RE TRYING TO SEE IF EVENTUALLY WE CAN INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE HEALTHY SOLUTIONS TO THE RESIDENTS IN THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE LONG SUFFERED.
SO I'LL BE CONTINUING TO MAKE THAT PITCH FOR THE $600,000.
$300,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR AND $300,000 IN THE NEXT. BUT I'LL MOVE ON TO DHS NOW.
AND SO, MEL, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY EXCITED WE HAVE OUR ROBINETTE SENIOR CENTER OPENING IN JUST A MATTER OF MONTHS. I WANT TO THANK MY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR SEEING THAT THROUGH THROUGH THE NAMING OF THE ROBINETTE CENTER. IN THE CURRENT BUDGET THERE'S $42 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS BUT 53% OF THAT IS FROM FEDERAL FUNDS AND I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN FEDERAL FUNDS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. AND SO I'M ALSO TROUBLED THAT THE INDIRECT SERVICES COST NEARLY WHAT OUR GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT IS. I KNOW IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS AND I THINK THAT SHOULD CHANGE. IF YOU COULD HELP ME
UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER, MEL. >> SO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND
THE INDIRECT INVESTMENT? >> GARCIA: CORRECT. THE INDIRECT SERVICES.
>> THE INDIRECT SERVICES. THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE POLICE RESPONSE TO SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON THE STREET. CLEAN UP OF MAYBE URINE OR DEFECATION DOWNTOWN.
FIRE EMS. >> GARCIA: I'M SO SORRY. LET ME CLARIFY.
I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE FOR THAT WHEN THE FEDERAL
[01:10:01]
FUNDING GOES AWAY? IT'S A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY. >> THE INDIRECT INVESTMENTS I DON'T BELIEVE ARE SUPPORTED BY THE GRANT. SO THOSE ARE SUPPORTED BY
GENERAL FUNDS. >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, THE INDIRECT IS -- MARIA CAN EXPLAIN A BIT MORE. BUT THE INDIRECT IS THE TIME PUBLIC SAFETY -- THOSE TWO PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS SPEND ON THOSE THINGS. IF THEY WEREN'T SPENDING -- IN A PERFECT WORLD IF THEY WEREN'T SPENDING TIME, WE WOULD STILL BE SPENDING THAT MONEY BUT IT WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS PATROL OR AVAILABILITY OR HANDLING OTHER CALLS. SO THAT INDIRECT DOESN'T GO AWAY BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH HOMELESSNESS, IT GOES BEYOND MEL'S DEPARTMENT.
IT IMPACTS OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
SORRY, GO AHEAD, MARIA. >> VILLAGOMEZ: I WOULD JUST ADD, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT THAT IS FUNDED WITH THE GENERAL FUND. THE INDIRECT INVESTMENT.
WHAT IS FUNDED OUT OF ARPA INCLUDES THE LOW-BARRIER SHELTER AND THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL EXPIRE WHEN THE FEDERAL
FUNDING EXPIRES. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT ABATEMENTS ARE DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
THEY MAKE OUR RESIDENTS FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I STILL THINK WE ARE NOT SOLVING THE ISSUE. I KNOW WE'RE WORKING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE ON THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, ET CETERA. BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF -- WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK CUT OUT FOR US ESPECIALLY WITH THAT FEDERAL FUNDING GOING AWAY. I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOU DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION FOR MEL IS HOW MANY HOMELESS FAMILIES ARE WE ENCOUNTERING COMPARED TO SINGLE INDIVIDUALS?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL MORE SINGLE THAN FAMILIES. AND I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT NUMBER BUT I'LL GET IT FOR YOU. WE'LL GET YOU SOME DATA.
>> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. AND THEN ALSO WHY ARE WE EXPECTING A LOWER TARGET ON
THE CALLS TO THE HOTLINE? >> SO IT WAS IN FISCAL YEAR '23, IT WAS ABOUT 25,000.
IT SPIKED FROM THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE STARTING IN FEBRUARY.
AND SO WE EXPECT WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IT WILL GO BACK DOWN
TO THE LEVEL. >> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WALSH: FRANKLY, IT WAS CAUSING AN IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND ISSUES. AND VERONICA HAD A SLIDE ON THAT.
WE COMBINED EFFORTS AND WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT.
SO WE'RE REENGINEERING THAT PROCESS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR BOTH DEPARTMENTS AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY THE CLIENTS. >> GARCIA: I'M ASSUMING THE REASON WE'RE LISTING IT UNDER ARPA IS SO WE CAN CHARGE IT TO AARP?
>> WALSH: IT WAS A PROGRAM BORN OUT OF THE PARTICIPATED.
WE HAVE A NAVIGATION SYSTEM THAT SHOULD BE EASY FOR FOLKS, IN NORMAL TIMES.
THAT'S A COST THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED WITHIN PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, YEAR
AND A HALF WITHIN OUR NORMAL BUDGET. >> GARCIA: OKAY.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND NHSD HAS A STANDING INVITATION AT PCDC. SO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE, VERONICA. AND YOU ALL DO A WHOLE LOT TO SUPPORT EVERYONE WHO NEEDS UTILITY ASSISTANCE, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EVERYTHING. OUR STATE COMPTROLLER STATED TEXAS NEEDS TO BUILD MORE HOMES. MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HELPS EVERYONE AND I'M GLAD THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT. HOWEVER, THE HIGHER THE DEMAND THE HIGHER THE COST THE HIGHER THE TAXES. AND SO WHAT ALL CONSTITUTES THE $8.2 MILLION REDUCTION IN GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR BUDGET?
>> SO IN THE GENERAL FUND WE HAVE A REDUCTION, IT'S 8.2% SO IT'S $2 MILLION REDUCTION. THAT'S A MYRIAD OF THINGS. WE HAD A ONE-TIME IMPROVEMENT THIS YEAR FOR OPPORTUNITY HOME MAINTENANCE FUND.
SO THAT'S NOT ACCOUNTED FOR NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A REDUCTION TO THE CITY FEE WAIVERS AND A REDUCTION TO OUR INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND.
SO THEY -- AND THEN THERE'S AN ADDITION FROM THE REES FUND THAT REALLY MOVES MONEY FROM UNDER ONE ROOF OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE REES FUND.
SO IT'S NOT LOWERING THE INVESTMENT UNDER ONE ROOF, IT'S JUST SWAPPING IT.
>> GARCIA: I SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADUS.
YOU'RE PROPOSING THE 4.7 IN RENTAL AND RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO PRIOR YEARS? >> SO THIS YEAR FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE -- AND IT DID COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUT WE ALSO STILL HAD LEFTOVER ARPA FUNDING. WE HAD AN ALMOST $13.6 MILLION FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND RELOCATION. >> GARCIA: HOW QUICKLY DO YOU ANTICIPATE TO SPEND
THAT? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE ARE LOOKING TO WORK WITH
[01:15:01]
DHS AND SINCE WE WILL HAVE A SMALLER BUDGET NEXT YEAR WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN RELEASE IT IN TRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO IT WILL BE AVAILABLE, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RATHER THAN RELEASING IT ALL AT ONCE, TAKING A BUNCH OF APPLICATIONS. BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A SMALLER TEAM IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO PROCESS ALL THOSE AT ONE TIME.RELEASING IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR MIGHT BE A BETTER ALTERNATIVE.
>> GARCIA: THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MAYOR'S REQUEST FOR THAT BUCKET, IF YOU WILL, TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN MONITORING THE HOUSING BOND, OBVIOUSLY, AND WE'RE MEETING THE MARKS.
WE SAW A GREAT STORY WITH TOWNE TWIN VILLAGE. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THAT. I WILL GO ON TO THE ARPA BUT I ONLY HAVE 46 SECONDS.
GWEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE LOVE THE DASHBOARD. BEFORE I GO INTO THE DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE DASHBOARD, SO IT'S SO COMPLEX, THE DASHBOARD ITSELF. LIKE IF YOU FORGET TO CLICK ON ONE SIDE OF IT YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT OTHER INFORMATION. BEAR WITH ME AND ANTICIPATE I MIGHT HAVE WRONG INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THAT ALONE.
BUT MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHEN WAS THE LAST UPDATE? IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UPDATED EVERY 25TH OF THE MONTH BUT WE HAVE DISCREPANCIES ON SLIDE 13 AND IN THE INFORMATION I SEE ON THE DASHBOARD. WHAT INFORMATION ARE WE USING THAT WE'RE BEING PRESENTED WITH TODAY COMPARED TO WHAT'S ON THE DASHBOARD?
>> WHAT EXACTLY ON THE DASHBOARD ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
>> GARCIA: ON THE DASHBOARD IT SAYS THAT THE UPDATES ARE MADE EVERY 25TH OF THE MONTH. AND IT'S ACTIVITY THROUGH THE 31ST.
DO YOU ALL HAVE ON SLIDE 13 A DIFFERENT -- LIKE DO YOU HAVE THE MOST UP TO DATE?
>> THIS RIGHT HERE IS JUST STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
THAT DIFFERENCE IS ALL OF THE OTHER ARPA AWARDS THAT ARE BOTH FOR THESE PROGRAMS THE AUGMENT OF GENERAL FUNDS, INTEREST EARNINGS, AND THEN THE OTHER ARPA GRANTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF STSTATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I'LL START WITH THE ARPA FUNDS.
I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS THE CENTER FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN SOUTH TEXAS. AND I THINK THAT'S FROM SOUTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST. AND JUST IN THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD THIS PAST YEAR WAS REALLY EYE OPENING AND JARRING TO SEE. ON THE E.R. RIDE THEY WANT TO TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL CLOSEST TO YOU. THAT WAS NOT CONVENIENT.
SO I HEADED DOWNTOWN AND EVERYBODY WAS DOWNTOWN. FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TALKING WITH THE GROUP FROM CHEST TO LEARN THAT THERE'S ONLY 120 BEDS ON THE SOUTHSIDE. AND IF I HAD BEEN FURTHER SOUTH AND NOT AS CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. WHEN I TALK ABOUT REDLINING, WHEN WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE INEQUITIES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
AND WE SAW IT COME TO LIGHT VERY FULLY DURING COVID WHEN THE COUNCILWOMAN GOT UP THERE, SOME SPEAKING IN SPANISH, TELLING PEOPLE GO GET YOUR VACCINATIONS.
AND THEN AS WE WERE TOGETHER IN THE STAKEHOLDERS GROUP, HEARING THE STORY THAT PEOPLE ARE TOLD TO GO GET VACCINATIONS, IT'S FREE. BUT THE LAST TIME THEY VISITED THE DOCTOR THEY HAD A PAYMENT THAT THEY JUST COULDN'T MEET.
SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE HAVE THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE, FOR GENERATIONS, BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS DIABETES, TO ADDRESS THE HEALTHCARE.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DISEASES WE CAN TAKE CARE OF.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEALTHY EATING, STAYING OUT OF THE SUN.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE JUST GOING TO COME BECAUSE GENETICS OR BECAUSE IT'S CANCER. SO WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THAT.
AND I APPLAUD THE COMMITMENT OF THIS COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COVERED BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, SOUTHWEST AND THE FAR WEST SIDE AND DEEP INTO THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AND EVEN GETTING OUR SMALLER TOWNS THAT COME UP TO THE CITY TO GET THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS MET. BECAUSE WE CANNOT ALL BE
[01:20:07]
GOING DOWNTOWN. IT JUST DOES NOT WORK AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S WHY OUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, SPECIFICALLY OUR NURSES, ARE OVERWORKED AND BURDENED.SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MONEY MOVE THERE. I LIKE THE IDEA OF MOVING ARPA DOLLARS TOWARDS THE HOUSING. I WOULD LEAN MORE TOWARDS UTILITY ASSISTANCE OR PRESERVING OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK.
BECAUSE AS WE GET INTO NEW BUILDS, IT GETS A LITTLE DICEY AND EXPENSIVE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PORTION, 250 OR $200,000 GO TO ARTS AND CULTURE. I'M ALWAYS GOING TO BELIEVE THAT ARTS AND CULTURE IS A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN HEAL AND MOVE OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
THEY DID AN OPERA FOR THE TRICENTENNIAL OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO DO SOME ART FOR US GETTING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
THE OTHER IS SMALL BUSINESS. I KNOW WE HAVE MONEYS COMMITTED AND I WOULD LIKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT. IF WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SPECIFICALLY SERVES SENIORS AND CHILDREN. AND I'M THINKING CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE UNDERSERVED AREAS, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THAT.
AND THE OTHER IS -- AND I'M SO GLAD THESE ARE ALL TOGETHER.
DIGITAL ACCESS AND MAYBE FINDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO, WITH THE ARPA DOLLARS, GET METRO HEALTH BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WHETHER IT'S THE HEALTH WORKERS OR THE CLINIC AT THE VIA CORONADO PARK. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO TALK AND GUIDE THE RESIDENTS TOWARDS WHAT THEIR DIGITAL RESOURCES ARE. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
SO CLAUDE, EXCELLENT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WORKING SO HARD.
YOUR TEAM, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH. I THINK THE REASON WHY I FEEL CONFIDENT IN, YOU KNOW, THE MENTAL HEALTH IS BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR TEAM IS TAKING CARE OF IT AND I KNOW THEY'RE SEEING THIS IS A CONTINUED ISSUE.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
THE ONE THING TO LOOK FOR FUNDING AND GRANTS IS HOW WE CAN GET INTO THE SCHOOLS AND TALK ABOUT STDS. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KIND OF NEED TO TALK ABOUT WITH -- EVEN THE SENIOR CENTERS TOO -- GETTING IN AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT JUST STAYING HEALTHY. THE OTHER IS DHS, I LOVE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING BUT I DO WANT TO PRESENT A MAP FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER.
ERIK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT THIS. IT'S JUST A HOT SPOT OF ENCAMPMENTS AND I KNOW EACH OF US COULD PROVIDE A MAP OF THAT.
BUT IN TERMS OF REALLY HEARING FROM OUR HOMELESS COORDINATORS THAT ARE GOING OUT THERE TO SAY THIS, IF WE WANT TO REALLY GET THEM HELP, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THIS IS A WOODED AREA BETWEEN THE LITTLE COWBOYS FIELD AND FIVE DIAMONDS AND, YOU KNOW, WE CALL, WE WAIT TWO WEEKS, WE MOVE THEM OUT AND THEY'RE BACK AGAIN. I'VE DRIVEN BY WHERE THEY HAVE EVEN BROUGHT FURNITURE IN. I REALLY NEED THAT CLEAR COMMUNICATION.
DO WE NEED A FENCE? DO WE NEED MORE LIGHTS? WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED? AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE MY IDEAS -- AND MY RESIDENTS GET SO FRUSTRATED THEY COME EVERY DAY. BUT I REALLY NEED TO HEAR THE WORKERS ARE GOING OUT THERE AND TALKING TO THEM AND SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE NEED.
IF THEY REALLY WANT TO BE IN THIS AREA BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSE TO HOME, I KNOW THAT'S PART OF IT TOO. THEY WANT TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE MY HOT SPOT. I SUGGEST ALL OF US SEND ERIK OUR MAPS OF OUR HOT SPOTS SO WE CAN KIND OF IDENTIFY THEM AND SEE WHERE WE'RE GETTING MOST OF THE
CALLS FROM. >> IF IT'S SUPER FREQUENT AND NOT ON OUR MAP OF RECURRING SITES, WE'LL ADD IT. AND WE'LL ASSESS FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS CAN BE PUT UP.
>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. BECAUSE THIS ONE SEEMS TO KEEP ON GETTING BIGGER.
LIKE MORE PEOPLE KEEP COMING SO THEY REACH ONE PERSON, FIND THEM HELP, BUT THEN
IT'S REPLACED WITH TWO OTHER PEOPLE. >> THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: AND THE OTHER IS NHSD PRESERVING -- VERONICA IF YOU COULD COME
[01:25:05]
AND TALK ABOUT WHAT -- THE MOBILE HOME PARK, ABOUT HOW THAT CREATIVITY HAS HELPED US REACH OUR GOALS AND DO WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET WHAT WE NEED TO GET CREATIVE?>> THIS YEAR REUSED A COUPLE OF THINGS TO HELP CONVERT MOBILE HOME PARK FROM PURE RENTAL TO HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ROC COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
WE USED HOUSING FUNDS AND MONEY FROM THE ISEF TO HELP 43 HOMEOWNERS IN THE MISSION TRAILS MOBILE HOME PARK. WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A SECOND GRANT FROM HUD, THE PRICE GRANT, OVER $23 MILLION ASKING TOSECOND COMMUNITY. WE'LL FIND OUT IF WE'RE RECIPIENTS OF THAT GRANT. HOPEFULLY THIS FALL. WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES ON HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND HELP MOBILE HOME OWNERS.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY LIKE SHE'S BRINGING UP SOIL EROSION AGAIN BUT, YES I AM BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SEEING A MOVE TOWARDS MOBILE HOME PARKS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALIZING IT'S JUST HARDER WITH THE DROUGHT TO BUILD ON THE SOIL THAT WE HAVE IN SOME PARTS OF TOWN.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE STUDIES AND IF WE NEED MORE MONEY TO HELP DEVELOPERS THAT WANT TO BRING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST MARKET RATE.
THEY CAN DO THEIR OWN STUDIES. THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT DONE. THAT IS ALL FROM ME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO START WITH HUMAN SERVICES. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DIFFICULT, COMPLEX, DYNAMIC PROBLEM.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET ANSWER. I DO APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S EFFORTS THUS FAR. I AM FRUSTRATED KNOWING WE ARE INVESTING SO MUCH MONEY IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS BUT FOR MANY RESIDENTS IT FEELS LIKE THE PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. RECENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TAKING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY ONLY TO BE MET WITH HOMELESS RESIDENTS NEAR SCHOOLS, WHICH WAS A FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE FOR MANY OF THEM.
AND THEN THEY START ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER ON FACEBOOK. THEY START TAKING OPPOSITE STANCE. YOU'RE COMPASSIONATE. NO, YOU'RE NOT.
IT HAS CAUSED ALL SORTS OF FIGHTS BETWEEN RESIDENTS. EVEN LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS WALKING INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, MY TEAM WAS PREPPING ME THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN HOMELESSNESS.
THEY'RE VERY UPSET ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. TO ME, IF WE TAKE A STEP BACK, WE'RE INVESTING MORE MONEY BUT THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING WORSE.
IT FEELS WORSE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND SO SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FEELING.
SO I WAS CURIOUS WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 THAT WILL HAVE THE
MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACTS TO HOMELESSNESS. >> PROBABLY THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORHOOD ENCAMPMENTS AND HOMELESSNESS IS THAT WE'LL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ENCAMPMENT ABATEMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO THERE'S A THIRD CREW BEING ADDED. WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO DO MORE -- SOLID WASTE WILL DO MORE ILLEGAL DUMPING PICKUP.
SOMETIMES ILLEGAL DUMP SITES ARE CONFUSED WITH ABATEMENT NEAR ENCAMPMENT SITES.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMMEDIATE THING THAT YOU'LL SEE BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HOST OF PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET INTO SHELTERS. WE STILL HAVE THE LOW-BARRIER SHELTER.
WE'RE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR. AND THEN MORE OUTREACH. AND SO WE CONTINUE TO BE ON THE OUTREACH. WE'VE HAD VACANCIES THAT WILL BE FILLED SHORTLY AND WITH A FULL TEAM WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE MORE AND SPEND MORE TIME BUILDING
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. >> GAVITO: SO KIND OF WHAT I'M HEARING IS MORE OF THE
SAME. >> YES. >> WALSH: WELL, IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. I MEAN, WE COULD SPEND $144 MILLION AND IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. AND I THINK THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.
I DO THINK THAT -- I'LL REITERATE WHAT MEL SAID. IT'S A COMPLETE SPECTRUM AND WE CAN CLEAN UP ENCAMPMENTS AND MORE ENCAMPMENTS -- WHAT WE LEARNED THIS YEAR AS WE CREATED THE MONTHLY DASHBOARD REPORT -- WAS AS MANY FOLKS AS WE GET IN THE EMERGENCY SHELTER FUNDED BY ARPA, THERE ARE NEW HOMELESS EVERY MONTH.
HOW DO WE STEM THAT TIDE? THAT'S THROUGH RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND THOSE THAT ARE ON THE BUBBLE. THEY'RE ONE CHECK AWAY.
[01:30:02]
AND THEN IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING UPON THE HOUSING BOND AND CONSTRUCTING UNITS OR HAVING SOMEBODY INCENTIVIZING THE CONSTRUCTION UNITS SO THAT FOLKS HAVE A PLACE TO GO ONCE THEY LEAVE SAM OR HAVEN FOR HOPE.BUT THE MOST IMMEDIATE THING IS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE DILIGENT AND CONSISTENT IN THE CLEANING UP OF THOSE CAMPS. I MEAN, ANDREW AND HIS TEAM COULD WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WE HAVE GOT TO STAY CONSISTENT.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE INCONVENIENT FOR THOSE ENCAMPMENTS.
AND THE MINUTE WE LET UP -- ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE PACE OF HOW WE'VE CHANGED OVER THE LAST 24 MONTHS. I BELIEVE, PROFESSIONALLY, THE MINUTE WE LET UP IT WILL THE THINGS I MENTION TO THE RESIDENTS OFTEN IS PART OF THE CCR THAT WE DID, OUR OFFICE FILED LAST NOVEMBER, WAS TO OUTLINE THE SENSITIVE AREAS TO SAY, HEY, THERE CAN'T BE ENCAMPMENTS NEAR SCHOOLS, IN DRAINAGE DITCHES, IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. AND OUR INTENT WITH THAT IS TO CONNECT OUR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS TO THE HELP AND SERVICES THAT THE CITY IS ALREADY PROVIDING.
SURE, WE CANNOT FORCE ANYBODY TO GO BUT IT BECOMES FRUSTRATING WHEN THEY'RE SEEING OUR HOMELESS NEAR SCHOOLS. AND SO OR THEY'RE SEEING THEM IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS OR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH A PROPERTY WHERE THIS GENTLEMAN WANTS TO INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT BUT HE'S FRUSTRATED BECAUSE HE'S CONSTANTLY CHASING PEOPLE PEEING ON HIS PROPERTY AND THROWING TRASH ON HIS PROPERTY. LIKE HERE IT IS WANTING TO INVEST IN OUR AREA. WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT BUT HE'S LIKE I'LL TAKE MY INVESTMENT UP TO DISTRICT 9 BECAUSE I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS.
I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOSH. IT IS FRUSTRATING FOR US BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE CITY IS SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THIS AND FOR US IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE.
I AGREE WITH YOU, ERIK, IN THAT WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THE ABATEMENTS BECAUSE WHILE I DO THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF MARBLES IN A BOX AND WE GET A LOT OF THAT FEEDBACK, RESIDENTS WILL SEE AN ENCAMPMENT CLEANED UP ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET ONLY TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET THE NEXT DAY AND BACK.
THAT IS FRUSTRATING FOR THEM, US, AND TAXPAYERS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY FOOTING THE BILL. BUT I OFTEN SAY IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING THESE BECOME PERMANENT STRUCTURES. PERMANENT ENCAMPMENTS, WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER BEAST IN AND OF ITSELF. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM OUR TEAM IS THAT WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLING US WHO ARE ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS AND THEY -- THERE'S SOME GAPS IN THE SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HOMELESS BUT NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE AT IMMEDIATE RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOTLINE, DHS HOTLINE ISN'T STAFFED 24/7.
AND THE COORDINATED ENTRY PROGRAMS OPERATE WITHIN BUSINESS HOURS AND TYPICALLY NOT EVEN A FULL EIGHT HOURS. SO IT REQUIRES LIKE THE FULL FAMILY TO SHOW UP.
AND SO FOR US, JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE WORK. AND SO IF THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR WHOLE FAMILY, POTENTIALLY PULL KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL TO SHOW UP TO FIND SHELTER, THAT MAY MEANTIME OFF FROM WORK, KID OFF FROM SCHOOL. SO WE FEEL LIKE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF UNNECESSARY BARRIERS. I'M ALL IN FAVOR FOR US ALLOCATING FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN SEEK SHELTER. I'M SURE THERE'S GOOD REASONS WHY WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY SET UP THIS WAY AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE INSIGHT ON THAT.
>> SO THAT'S EXACTLY THE REASON WE STARTED LOOKING WITH INNOVATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING ON HOW TO ALIGN THOSE THREE DIFFERENT INTAKE PROCESSES FOR ASSISTANCE. SO THE HOUSING HOTLINE HAS FIVE CALL TAKERS.
BENEFITS NAVIGATORS, THAT'S ANOTHER EIGHT. AND BY PUTTING THOSE TEAMS TOGETHER AND CROSS-TRAINING THEM THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP MORE PEOPLE.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO 24/7 ANSWERING CALLS WITH THAT BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO STRETCH THE HOURS AND PROVIDE MORE COVERAGE. AND WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO, INSTEAD OF SOMEONE CALLING AND MAYBE THE HOMELESS HOTLINE SAYS YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING. AND THEN THEY HAVE TO CALL BENEFITS NAVIGATORS OR NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING, IT WILL ALL BE HANDLED IN ONE PLACE SO THAT THE CUSTOMER
[01:35:02]
EXPERIENCE IS BETTER. >> GAVITO: WHEN IS THAT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN?
>> WE'RE GOING TO START THAT OCTOBER 1ST. >> GAVITO: OUR TEAM IS SPENDING A WHOLE LOT OF TIME GATHERING THESE NONPROFITS FOR THEM.
AGAIN, THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THEM AND THEIR FAMILY BEING OUT ON THE STREET. BUT WE'RE FACING BARRIER AFTER BARRIER AFTER BARRIER AND IT BECOMES VERY FRUSTRATING FOR US. I DID ALSO HAVE A QUESTION.
COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA ALSO BROUGHT IT UP. ON SLIDE 6 IT WAS INTERESTING THAT OUR TARGETS ARE LOWER FOR NEXT YEAR IF WE KNOW THE NEED WAS HIGHER THIS YEAR. YOU ANSWERED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CALLS ON THE HOTLINE BUT EVEN PEOPLE FROM SHELTERED TO THE STREET, LIKE WHY ARE WE SEEING FROM
530 TO 500? >> THIS WAS 400 AND WE DO OUR ESTIMATES AND THEN PEOPLE KEEP GETTING PUT INTO SHELTER OR HOUSED SO THAT '24 NUMBER WENT UP AND WE ESTIMATED 500. WE'RE REESTIMATING IT WILL BE MORE THAN 500.
WE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH A YEAR OF DATA TO BE ABLE TO CORRECTLY ASSESS THAT.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WITH THE NUMBER OF VETERANS HOUSED.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HIT PROBABLY 580 TO 600 FOR THAT.
WE'LL UPDATE ALL OF THAT FOR THE ADOPTED BUDGET. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. I DID ALSO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR WHEN WE'RE CLEANING UP HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS. WHAT IS OUR PROCESS FOR STAYING IN CONTACT WITH OUR UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS TO SAY MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO HAVEN FOR HOPE. I CAN CONTINUE AFTER THIS.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK. THESE ARE DIFFICULT AREAS TO NAVIGATE AND I KNOW SO MUCH GOES INTO IT. AND WE'VE GOT REALLY GOOD FOLKS THAT ARE ON TOP OF IT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. I WANT TO BEGIN WITH WHERE COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO LEFT OFF BECAUSE I THINK SHE'S RIGHT ON ON THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
IT'S NOT GETTING BETTER. IT IS NOT GETTING BETTER AND WE ARE SPENDING I THINK, PER THE SLIDES, OVER $60 MILLION DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY ON THIS PROBLEM.
AND I HEAR ABOUT IT EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 10.
THESE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS CONTINUE TO POP UP. I KNOW WE'RE CLEANING THEM UP. ERIK, I KNOW WE MADE A TWO-WEEK COMMITMENT LAST
YEAR AND WE'RE 17, 18 DAYS TO CLEAN THESE UP? >> WALSH: 18 FOR THE
AVERAGE BUT LAST MONTH WE WERE 10, 11 DAYS. >> WHYTE: SO IT'S IMPROVING. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER.
WE HAVE GOT TO STAY ON THESE ENCAMPMENT CLEAN UPS. THE NUMBER OF ENCAMPMENT CLEAN UPS YOU PUT ON THE SCREEN EARLIER, THOSE COUNT REPEAT ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE CLEANED UP, RIGHT? RIGHT. BECAUSE AS WE KNOW THESE THINGS GET CLEANED UP AND TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER THE FOLKS ARE BACK.
AND SO IT'S NOT LIKE THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL SITES BEING CLEANED UP BUT MULTIPLE SITES A LOT OF TIMES AT THE SAME TIME. I'M NOT SITTING HERE SAYING I'VE GOT THE ANSWER BUT THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS. AND WE NEED -- I MEAN, THIS IS A TON OF MONEY AND EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING I GO TO THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS THEY SAY, MARC, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE SPENDING ON THIS? HOTELS AND DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND YET THE ENCAMPMENTS DO NOT SEEM TO BE GOING AWAY.
AND I ACTUALLY TALKED WITH SOME FOLKS -- THERE'S DIFFERENT CITIES THAT ARE TAKING DIFFERENT APPROACHES. AND I TALKED TO SOME FOLKS OVER IN BEAUMONT, ACTUALLY THIS WEEK. YOU KNOW, AUSTIN DID SOMETHING WHERE THEY MADE IT ILLEGAL TO CAMP OUT IN SOME SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. DALLAS, I THINK, HAS DONE SOMETHING. I WANT TO READ THIS QUOTE FROM THE MAYOR OF BEAUMONT.
HE SAID RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HOMELESSNESS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT'S AFFECTING PROPERTY VALUES AND AFFECTING IF PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING THEIR KIDS OUT TO PLAY. I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL AND CURRENTLY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSING IT. SO I THINK NO ACTION BY THIS COUNCIL IS FAILING OUR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES AND
[01:40:04]
EXPECT A DEGREE OF SAFETY. AND THAT'S, I KNOW, HOW MY RESIDENTS FEEL AS WELL.THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING OUTSIDE BECAUSE THESE ENCAMPMENTS EXIST AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY AS WELL. I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO REALLY, AGAIN, GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER HERE. REGARDING SLIDE 6 THAT YOU JUST HAD UP THERE AND TARGET NUMBERS, I DIDN'T SEE TARGETS FOR 2024. DID WE HAVE TARGETS?
>> WE DO. SO I CAN -- YEAH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE TARGET IN AUDIO]. THE PEOPLE SHELTERED -- THANK YOU.
OUT OF THE LOW BARRIER, THAT'S NEW. PEOPLE SHELTERED FROM THE STREET, THE TARGET WAS 400 THAT WE COMMITTED TO. SO 1,000 PEOPLE ENGAGED BY
DHS STREET OUTREACH. >> WHYTE: WE'VE BEEN MEETING OUR TARGETS, MORE OR
LESS THIS YEAR. >> YES. >> WHYTE: AT OUR BUDGET SESSION THE OTHER WEEK, ERIK, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AUDIT OR REPORT REALLY THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS SAID Y'ALL WILL GET US BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE HOMELESS NETWORK, EACH AGENCY, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE GETTING, WHERE THEIR FOCUS IS AND WHAT THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT TOGETHER. THERE WAS A SLIDE EARLIER: STRENGTHENING FAMILIES.
AND THAT RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR MY OFFICE WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH AND WE WENT BACK TO A B SESSION THAT WE HAD BACK IN JANUARY AND THE TITLE WAS HOMELESS AND LEGAL SERVICES AWARDS. AND IN THAT -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN PULL UP THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES SLIDE.
I THINK YOU ANTICIPATED $2.8 MILLION FOR THE COMING YEAR.
WHEN WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED, THERE WAS A SLIDE BACK IN JANUARY THAT WE WERE PRESENTED THAT TALKED ABOUT FAMILY STRENGTHENING AND GIVING $150,000 TO A GROUP CALLED AMERICAN GATEWAYS. WE DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND WE STARTED FUNDING THIS GROUP BACK WITH ARPA FUNDS, OVER $400,000. AND NOW THEY ARE GETTING GENERAL FUND MONEY. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTRACT BETWEEN OUR CITY AND AMERICAN GATEWAYS, THIS MONEY IS GOING TO PROVIDE LAWYERS, LEGAL SERVICES FOR NON-CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. BUT THERE WAS A NEWS STORY DONE BACK IN I THINK MARCH.
AND THERE WAS SOME INVESTIGATION ON WHO IS AMERICAN GATEWAY SERVICING? AND BENECIO DIAZ, WHO IS THE MANAGING ATTORNEY WITH AMERICAN GATEWAYS, STATED THAT MANY OF THE CLIENTS OR NEWER CLIENTS HAVE COME FROM THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
WHAT I AM NOT TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS HAVE ANY SORT OF DEBATE ABOUT THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. OKAY? WE'RE HAVING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS TODAY. AND SO THIS IS A POLICY ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK AT. DO WE WANT TO SPEND $150,000 ON FOLKS THAT HAVE COME UP HERE, GO THROUGH THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AND ARE NOW HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE TALKED YESTERDAY. 22% OF OUR STREETS ARE IN POOR OR FAILING CONDITION.
WE TALKED YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT INTO TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THESE ANIMALS THAT END UP GETTING EUTHANIZED.
WE TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW WE STRETCH OUR DOLLARS TO SOLVE SOME OF OUR CITY ISSUES, HOW WE BETTER SERVE OUR CITIZENS WITH OUR CORE CITY SERVICES.
[01:45:01]
AND WE'RE SPENDING $150,000 IN THIS MANNER. >> SERVICES SINCE 2018. SO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '24 AND FISCAL YEAR '25 CONSOLIDATED FUNDING IT WAS VOTED AS A PRIORITY BY CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO FUND
LEGAL SERVICES AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FUNDED. >> WHYTE: LISTEN.
THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT. THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT IS THAT -- I MEAN, I WANT TO KNOW WHO AROUND THIS TABLE BELIEVES THAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING THERE AS OPPOSED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, AS OPPOSED TO ART INFRASTRUCTURE --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE A VOTE RECORD ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE IT BUT WE ARE ON THE BUDGET. >> WHYTE: WE ARE ON THE BUDGET AND WE'RE HAVING A POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD SPEND OUR MONEY AND I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD SPEND OUR MONEY IN THIS MANNER GOING FORWARD.
I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. OUR CITIZENS EXPECT THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON THEM AND ON IMPROVING THEIR DAY-TO-DAY QUALITY OF LIFE.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAT I WILL HAVE TO SAVE FOR MY NEXT FIVE MINUTES.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> WALSH: MAYOR, JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR CONTEXT. THE $150,000 THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND IS CONTRACTED -- COME ON BACK UP, MEL. LET'S DEFINE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. THAT MONEY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2017-2018 AND REAFFIRMED BY THE COUNCIL. THAT IS NOT FOR INDIVIDUALS AT THE MRC.
SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS IS DEFINED -- AND HAS BEEN DEFINED IN THE DELEGATE AGENCY CONTRACT. AND INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY BE PASSING THROUGH THE MRC AND THROUGH SAN ANTONIO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE LEGAL SERVICES.
DO YOU WANT TO SHARE HOW WE DEFINED THROUGH THE CONTRACT, SAN ANTONIO
RESIDENTS. >> IT'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX MONTHS, AT LEAST. AND THE AMERICAN GATEWAYS WILL REQUEST THAT DOCUMENTATION WHEN THEY'RE ENROLLING THEM IN THE PROGRAM.
>> WHYTE: I HAVE READ THE CONTRACT AS WELL AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEIR MANAGERRING DIRECTOR IS
TELLING US. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE --
>> WALSH: I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A POLICY LEVEL CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY, BUT REGARDLESS OF -- AMERICAN GATEWAYS DOES A LOT OF STUFF IN THIS FRONT AND THEY MAY CERTAINLY DO THAT. WE'RE NOT PAYING THEM TO DO THAT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND THAT STUFF HAS TO BE VALIDATED WITH DHS BEFORE WE REIMBURSE THEM. BUT NO QUESTION.
THEY'RE PROBABLY INVOLVED IN THE MIGRANT ISSUE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT CITIES.
I'M NOT DISPUTING THAT. BUT I WOULD DISPUTE THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDING THAT WORK THROUGH THE DELEGATE AGENCY CONTRACTS. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. >> WALSH: YOU'RE BRINGING
UP A LARGER POLICY ISSUE FOR THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AT A LATER TIME.
THIS MEETING IS ABOUT THIS BUDGET AND I'M SURE WE CAN ALL CHERRY PICK ANYTHING THAT WE DISAGREE WITH. BUT, FOR THE RECORD, ANYTHING THAT'S BEING FUNDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WAS VOTED ON BY THIS CITY COUNCIL.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO WHAT'S RELEVANT TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR THEIR PRESENTATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE ARPA FUNDING. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MAYOR'S REQUEST TO INVEST $1 MILLION IN HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND RELOCATION FUNDING AS WELL AS DEDICATING THE $600,000 TOWARDS THE HEALTH EQUITY COMMITMENT.
AND THEN AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED WITH THE ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION GOING TOWARDS WHETHER IT'S WHAT THE MAYOR PROPOSED OR GOING TOWARDS HOME REHAB, MAJOR REHAB, AND/OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE. THESE ARE THE CALLS WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE BUT ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE THE BULK SHOULD GO TOWARDS ADDRESSING AND TACKLING HOUSING. AND WITH THE REMAINING FUNDING AND IF WE COULD FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE AUDIO] ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE. BUT I WANTED TO SHIFT OVER TO NHSD IN PARTICULAR. MY NUMBER ONE REQUEST IS HOW CAN WE BRING THOSE CREWS ON FULL-TIME? SHE'S AMAZING. OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM IS SO IMPRESSED BY THE WORK THAT SHE DOES . IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN WORK TOWARDS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH OUR HOME OR NHD FUNDING?
>> THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENTS FOR LIZ CRUZ. SHE IS WONDERFUL.
[01:50:04]
LIZ IS A MASTER SOCIAL WORKER SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT POSITION ON STAFF BUT WE MODELED SOME OTHER POSITIONS AFTER THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.BUT THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AND WE'LL LOOK INTO HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP HER ON OUR TEAM. SHE'S GREAT.
>> CASTILLO: YEAH, SHE'S AMAZING. AND ON THAT NOTE WITH THE $300 MILLION GOING TOWARDS HOME REHAB, I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT IT'S AT $30 MILLION, RATHER. IT'S SOMETHING OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN ADVOCATING TOWARDS BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP KEEP US ON OUR SHIP GOALS TO MEET THOSE MAJOR/MINOR REHAB GOALS. BUT ON ONE OF THE SLIDES OR THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS IT HAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TARGET THREE LESS HOMES THAN LAST YEAR.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S THREE LESS? >> WELL, WE HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF MAJOR REHABS. IT COULD BE THE MAJOR REHAB NUMBER IS GOING DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUT WE WILL DO MORE OVERALL BECAUSE WE ARE USING THE HOUSING BOND FUND TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THE MAJOR REHAB AND THE MINOR REHAB. SO THE NUMBERS IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ARE REALLY JUST THE GENERAL FUND BUT IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY INCLUDE ALL THE HOMES FOR THE REHAB BOND.
>> CASTILLO: IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDING FOR TITLE CLEARANCE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ALLOCATED FUNDING HELPS TACKLE ROUGHLY 50 FAMILIES.
IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INCREASE MORE FUNDING? I KNOW YOU ALL WITH THE MAJOR/MINOR HOME REHAB AND REBUILD, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY RESIDENTS COME IN SEEKING
TITLE CLEARANCE ASSISTANCE. >> TITLE CLEARANCE IS A VERY BIG NEED.
OUR BUDGET FOR THAT IS $100,000 AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO SEE HOW WE CAN PAY THEM TO HELP CLEAR TITLE.
PART OF IT IS A CAPACITY ISSUE ON HOW MANY THEY CAN HELP BECAUSE SOME OF THESE TITLES ARE CLOUDED AND TAKE A LONG TIME. BUT WE ALSO ENLIST THE HELP OF ST. MARY'S LAW SCHOOL, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP IN MORE COMPLICATED CASES.
>> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE TO PIVOT OVERIV TO DHS. A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MOVING PIECES. IN REGARDS TO THE HOMELESS HOTLINE.
MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM DOES SHARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SHIFTING THE HOURS TO WHERE THEY ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE. THERE'S ONE CONSTITUENT AND HE JUST GOT A NEW JOB SO HE'S ON PROBATION AND HE CAN'T CALL IN AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS HE NEEDS TO HAVE BECAUSE HIS DAY ENDS AT 5:00.
WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE HIM AS BEST WE CAN. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS IN THE SAME SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WITH SCHOOL BACK IN SESSION SO I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER SHIFTING THE OPERATION OF THOSE HOURS.
>> THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. >> CASTILLO: I WANTED TO BE SURE -- THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT, NOT NECESSARILY FOR YOU, MELODY, BUT I THINK IT'S A SLANT TO SHADE DHS AND THE INVESTMENT IN HOUSING OUTREACH.
WHEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS BODY CAN'T PLAY ARSONIST AND FIREFIGHTERS AT THE SAME TIME. LATER THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON AN AGREEMENT THAT'S GOING TO DEMOLISH WORKFORCE HOUSING AND REPLACE WITH MARKET-RATE HOUSING. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY'S GOING TO VOTE ON AND THAT'S GOING TO ESSENTIALLY REMOVE THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IF IT'S FROM A PLACE OF COMPASSION OR OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, RATHER, THE SOLUTION IS SHELTER HOUSING, SOME TYPE OF HOUSING TO GET FOLKS IN. I'M REPULSED TO HEAR IT SUGGESTED THAT JAIL IS THE SOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SOLUTION. IT ACTUALLY ADDS AND PERPETUATES THE PROBLEM BY CREATING MORE BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO ACCESS HOUSING AND/OR RESOURCES. SO THAT'S A SOLUTION FOR YOU. AND THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT INVESTING IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS DOING THAT WORK AROUND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BECAUSE IT WORKS.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO BE SURE WE'RE BEING FRANK WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THAT WE'RE APPROVING MARKET-RATE HOUSING, DEMOLISHING WORKFORCE HOUSING AND THEN BLAMING DEPARTMENTS WHEN IT'S OUR ACTIONS AND OUR VOTES.
LET'S HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE THERE. IN REGARDS TO THE HOMELESS OUTREACH HOTLINE AS WELL, I HAVE SAT WITH A CONSTITUENT TO GO DOWN THAT LIST TO CALL AND GET CONNECTED TO SERVICES. I THINK THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN HAVING A BREAKDOWN ON WHAT TYPE OF ROOMS AND/OR BEDS ARE AVAILABLE WITH EACH PROVIDER. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONSTITUENT WE WERE TAG TEAMING, GOING THROUGH THE LIST, AND ONLY TWO FOLKS ANSWERED AND ONE TOLD THEM WE HAVE A ROOM BUT IF YOU SHOW UP IT MAY NOT BE HERE BY THE TIME YOU SHOW UP.
BUT WE HAVE IT. THIS WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH -- I BELIEVE A 7-YEAR-OLD. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLOR CODE, TO DETAIL WHAT'S AVAILABLE WITH EACH OF THESE SERVICE PROVIDERS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST WE WERE THERE GOING THROUGH THE PHONES FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND THEN JUST TO BE
TOLD IT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU SHOW UP. >> SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK
[01:55:04]
WITH THEM ON THAT. IT'S WORKING VERY WELL WITH THE CENTRALIZED SHELTER COORDINATION. THAT'S LIMITED TO STREET OUTREACH RIGHT NOW BUT IN A SIMILAR VEIN WE'LL WORK WITH OUR KEY PARTNERS ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THE AVAILABLE INVENTORY MORE ACCESSIBLE>> CASTILLO: IN REGARDS TO THE SHOWERS, ARE THEY GOING TO BE DONATED TO A NONPROFIT
OR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SHOWERS? >> THE CITY HAS A DISPOSAL
PROCESS AND WE'LL WORK WITH BESD TO FOLLOW THAT. >>
>> WALSH: WE'VE GOT A PROCESS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW BUT THAT COULD BE THE END
RESULT. >> CASTILLO: OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.
I KNOW THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT WE HAD AT OUR BUDGET TOWN HALL AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH PARTNERS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY -- IT'S NOT AN OCCUPATION, JUST A PASSION THEY DO AND THEY'RE ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT THOSE SHOWERS AND WHERE THEY CAN FIND THEM. IN REGARDS TO THE SAFE PROGRAM, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ENGAGING SENIORS IN THE SENIOR CENTERS. I'M HOPING WITH THIS NEXT YEAR THEY'LL HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET FOLKS INVOLVED. IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MY TEAM TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS WE WOULD LOVE TO STRATEGIZE HOW TO GET MORE FOLKS ON BOARD. WHAT WE HEARD FROM SOME SENIORS IS THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MORTGAGE. AND THEY STILL NEEDED ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR TAXES. SO IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD RECALIBRATE SOME MORE FOLKS QUALIFYING I THINK THERE WOULD BE A VALUE TO SAN ANTONIO SENIORS THERE.
ULTIMATELY I AGREE WITH -- MOVING ON TO METRO HEALTH. THANK YOU, MELODY.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S RECOMMENDATION ON STI EDUCATION WITH YOUTH AND SENIORS. WHEN WE RECEIVED THE BRIEFING ON THE LATEST STATISTICS, THEY'RE HIGH. I BELIEVE THAT PANDEMIC LEVEL. CAN YOU SHARE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN REGARDS TO THAT AND THE IMPACT OF THE TESTING SERVICES THAT ARE FUNDED IN THE BUDGET?
>> FAIR ENOUGH. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
JUST KNOW THAT WE DID A BRIEFING WITH THE HEALTH COMMITTEE LAST SEPTEMBER.
I'M GOING TO INVITE DR. KURIAN TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EFFORTS WE HAVE UNDERWAY. THIS IS A NATIONAL CONUNDRUM.
THE BURDENS OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS, IN PARTICULAR. I'M GOING TO INVITE DR. KURIAN TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE SHARED WITH THE HEALTH COMMITTEE LAST FALL AND WHY THIS IS STILL A PRIORITY IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE CHEC PRESENTATION THAT WAS DONE, RIGHT? SO THE STIS, SINCE 2019, WE ARE SEEING 121% INCREASE IN GONORRHEA. AN 85% INCREASE IN SYPHILIS. SO OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY. WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO COMBAT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OF INCREASING SYPHILIS CASES AND CONGENITAL SYPHILIS. WE WORK -- WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED HEALTHY BEATS.
WE TRY TO ENROLL PREGNANT WOMEN INTO THE HEALTHY BEATS PROGRAM AND OUR STAFF CASE MANAGE THESE WOMEN UNTIL THEY DELIVER. SO WHAT I MEAN BY CASE MANAGEMENT IS ENSURING THAT EVERYONE WHO IS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM GETS CONNECTED TO PRENATAL CARE SERVICES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY RECEIVE THOSE STATE-REQUIRED TESTING, SCREENING FOR SYPHILIS AND HIV SO YOU DON'T HAVE BABIES BORN WITH
SYPHILIS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT AND, AGAIN, I SUPPORT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S RECOMMENDATION ON THE EDUCATION PIECE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO TALK REAL FAST BECAUSE I HAVE A BUNCH TO SAY IN TEN MINUTES. STARTING WITH HOUSING.
OBVIOUSLY YOUR DEPARTMENT IS CRUCIAL IN SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. YOUR WORK IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW. I WANT TO ADDRESS -- CAN YOU PULL UP THIS INFAMOUS SLIDE 6 THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT.
IN 2019, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2019. DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER WE COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK ON HOUSING THE UNHOUSED? A CONSULTANT CAME FROM A DIFFERENT STATE AND THEY DID ALL THIS TIME AND WORK.
I WAS TRYING TO NOT TO SAY THAT, WHERE IT CAME FROM. I REMEMBER THEY SAT ME IN THE OFFICE OVER AT PLAZA DE ARMAS AND SAID Y'ALL ARE DOING GREAT.
IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING. IT WAS SET A LET DOWN. WE SPENT ALL THAT TIME AND MONEY AND THEY SAID Y'ALL SHOULD JUST GIVE MORE MONEY TO HAVEN FOR HOPE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? I REMEMBER AT THE TIME THINKING, ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A WAY MORE COMPLEX ISSUE THAN I UNDERSTOOD. THIS IS IN 2019.
[02:00:05]
THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY GROWN BUT I ASK YOU FOR THAT SLIDE 6 -->> YOU MEAN DHS, RIGHT? >> HAVRDA: I'M SORRY. WRONG SLIDE 6.
YEAH, NOT THAT SLIDE. THE OTHER INFAMOUS SLIDE 6. THE ANSWER IS SUPPORTING THIS RESPONSE SYSTEM. THIS IS A SYSTEM, RIGHT? AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WAS ALSO MAKING THIS POINT BUT SUPPORTING HOME OWNERSHIP PRESERVATION, SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES, SUPPORTING HOUSING FOSTER KIDS AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM. SUPPORTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, SUPPORTING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS IS HOW WE GET TO HOUSING ALL OF THE UNHOUSED IN THIS CITY. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS GROWING.
I HEAR THE FRUSTRATION. I'M FRUSTRATED MYSELF. WE HEAR FROM BUSINESSES THAT WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE UNHOUSED ARE STEALING, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES, WATER, ELECTRICITY. I UNDERSTAND IT BUT OUR CITY IS GROWING IN EVERY SINGLE WAY AND NOT ALL OF IT IS GREAT. SO I THINK AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND WE'RE MOVING THESE GOALS, WE HAVE TO JUST CONSIDER THAT ALSO OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION IS GROWING AND FOR A LOT OF THE REASONS THAT WE JUST MENTIONED. AND THEY ARE BIGGER POLICY DISCUSSIONS BUT WE ARE GOING BACK TO THAT 2019 STUDY, DOING REALLY WELL. THE PROBLEM IS GROWING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN I SAY REALLY WELL, THAT'S RELATIVELY SPEAKING.
WE'RE NOT DOING -- WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE. WE HAVE THE SOLUTION.
I THINK IT'S JUST INVESTING MORE IN THAT AND IF THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO FOCUS ON THIS, I THINK WE COULD DO IT BUT WE CAN'T. OUR BUDGET ONLY GOES SO FAR.
WE HAVE TO WORRY AND STREETS, DRAINAGE, AND OTHER THINGS.
I WANT TO REMIND THAT I THINK THAT WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN GIVEN OUR RESOURCES. WE JUST HAVE TO INCREASE RESOURCES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THESE PROGRAMS AND ALL THE OTHER POLICIES THAT WE TALK ABOUT. ANYWAY, SHOUT OUT TO THAT FIVE-YEAR-OLD STUDY.
THAT WAS REALLY FRUSTRATING THEN AND PROBABLY MORE FRUSTRATING NOW.
I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE SHOWERS ALSO. IS THERE A -- WHY DON'T WE JUST PARK THEM AT CORAZON OR HAVEN WHERE THEY ARE BEING USED?
IS THERE A COST TO KEEPING THEM THERE? >> IT WOULD BE BETTER OFF FOR THEM TO BE FIXED. THEY CAN BE HOOKED INTO BUT CAM AND CORAZON HAVE FIXED SHOWERS AND SO DOES HAVEN FOR HOPE. WHERE THE BENEFIT WOULD BE IS IF WE COULD PULL IT AROUND AND REALLY HELP PEOPLE GET SHOWERS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. IT'S JUST PROVING TO BE TOO DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEING REPAIRED. IT'S OFFLINE ALL THE TIME. IT HAS TO BE WINTERIZED SO WE CAN'T EVEN USE IT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN CASE OF A FREEZE.
SO THIS PARTICULAR UNIT IS NOT WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP OTHER AREAS. WE NEED TO FIND MORE PLACES THAT ARE WILLING TO HOST
FIXED SHOWERS. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> AND THAT'S PART OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING. >> HAVRDA: ARE WE GOING TO RECOVER ANY COST FROM THAT?
>> POTENTIALLY. >> HAVRDA: I HOPE WE DO. I'LL JUST SAY THAT.
>> WALSH: WE MAY A LITTLE BIT BUT IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE DONATING IT, NO, WE WON'T. AND WE MADE NO ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE WOULD MAKE ANY MONEY
OFF OF THIS CHANGE. >> HAVRDA: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NONPROFITS AND DELEGATE AGENCIES. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES.
THE PANDEMIC WAS A STARK EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WERE LEANING ON NONPROFITS.
I KNOW THAT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOVERY FUNDS THAT WENT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH. I THINK THAT WORK WAS INVALUABLE. THAT SAID, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT EXIT RAMP FOR DELEGATE AGENCIES. I'M NOT SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT IN POLICY. I THINK THEY DO GOOD WORK BUT THEY SHOULDN'T DEPEND ON THE CITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT. OUR POLICY SHOULD SET A PATHWAY FOR NEW AGENCIES TO GET THE ONRAMP BUT ALSO FOR AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN USING CITY FUNDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS AGO -- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW -- THAT THEY HAVE THAT OFF RAMP. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING IN PLACE NOW FOR HELPING DRAW THAT PATHWAY TO ELIMINATE CITY FUNDING FOR PARTICULAR DELEGATE AGENCIES, RIGHT?
>> IF THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE RECOMMENDED IF THEY SUBMIT GOOD PROPOSALS AND THEY'RE PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TO THE
[02:05:01]
COMMUNITY. >> HAVRDA: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE'LL BRING THAT DISCUSSION LATER IN THE YEAR.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO HEALTH. CLAUDE -- THANKS, EVERYBODY OF COURSE FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. THANKS TO METRO HEALTH. YOUR WORK IS VITAL AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU OFTEN GET THE AND Y'ALL REALLY CAME THROUGH FOR US IN A BIG WAY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
BUT WE FORGET SOMETIMES THAT YOU'RE EVERY DAY DOING DISEASE INVESTIGATION, VACCINATIONS, RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS, ORAL HEALTH. WHILE I'M ON ORAL HEALTH I DO WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE DENTAL SCHOOL FUNDING THAT WAS MENTIONED.
BUT CLOSE TO HOME THERE WERE SOME WEST NILE VIRUS CASES FOUND IN MOSQUITOES IN DISTRICT 6 AND 7 AND THEY HAVE BEEN RIGHT OUTSIDE 6 AND THE COUNTY.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN NOTIFYING US AND THANKFULLY THERE'S NOT WIDESPREAD PANIC ABOUT IT. BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WAY Y'ALL ROLLED THAT OUT.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE REALIZATION OF METRO HEALTH CITYWIDE GOAL OF BECOMING MORE INNOVATIVE, MORE PROACTIVE WITH UTSA, U.T. HEALTH AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US TO A NEW LEVEL IN HEALTHCARE IN OUR CITY SO I'M APPRECIATIVE THAT Y'ALL ARE A PART OF IT.
I WANT TO TALK JUST QUICKLY AND THE BUDGET SHOWS WE SURPASSED THE TARGET NUMBER OF 9-1-1 MENTAL HEALTH CALLS FOR THE CORE TEAM. THE TARGET WAS 1500 AND WE WERE ALREADY AT 2500. I'M SAYING I'M GLAD BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT TO SEE MORE INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH EPISODES BUT WE ALL THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AND WE ARE NOW MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO IT. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION FORMER COUNCILWOMAN ANA SANDOVAL WHO DID A LOT OF WORK ON THIS.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND A COUNCIL. WE RECENTLY WENT TO 24 HOURS AND GROWING THOSE TEAMS SO WE CAN RESPOND TO ALL MENTAL HEALTH EPISODES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. SO ARPA. ONE AND A HALF MINUTES.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHICH PROGRAMS WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE ENDING OF ARPA? I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE DONE THAT RESEARCH BUT ARE WE ADJUSTING THE BUDGET TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR NO LONGER HAVING THAT INFUSION OF ARPA FUNDING? MAYBE THAT'S A LONG-TERM DISCUSSION.
>> WALSH: WHEN YOU SAY "MOST EFFECTIVE" WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> HAVRDA: THEY WERE FOR RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY AND A LOT OF -- FOR EXAMPLE, I REMEMBER THE AUTISM NETWORK THEY WERE 18 MONTHS BEHIND. HAVE WE LOOKED TO SEE WHERE ARE THEY NOW AND WHO IS STILL IN THAT DEFICIT? WHO HASN'T TOTALLY RECOVERED
FROM THE PANDEMIC. >> WALSH: I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE DONE THAT LEVEL OF
REVIEW BUT WE COULD. >> HAVRDA: IS THERE A REPORT THAT THEY OWED US
BACK? >> WALSH: ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES? YES. AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE GOT OVER THE SUMMER, LATE SPRING AND SUMMER TO GENERATE SOME OF THE AGENCIES CAME FORWARD AND SAID WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND THIS MONEY WITHIN THE TIMELINE WE CONTRACTED.
AND SO ALL OF THAT -- WELL ALL OF THAT MONEY WAS MONEY THAT THE AGENCY SAID WE CAN RELEASE THIS. WE DIDN'T PULL ANY MONEY. AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY WORTH PROVIDING A FOLLOW-UP MEMO TO THE COUNCIL A RECAP OF THE NONPROFITS, THE SENIOR CATEGORY, THE YOUTH CATEGORY, THE MENTAL HEALTH CATEGORY AND WHAT WE FUNDED.
THERE IS SOME OVERLAP WITH DELEGATE AGENCIES BUT THERE ARE NEW AGENCIES IN THERE.
WE CAN PROVIDE THAT RECAP SO YOU CAN SEE WHICH ONE SAID THAT.
>> HAVRDA: REAL QUICK, I WANT TO PUT IN THE PLUG FOR THE SENIOR CENTER, INCREASING THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA FOR THE SENIOR CENTERS' TRANSPORTATION, EITHER IN YOUR OWN DISTRICT OR THE ONE NEARBY YOU, WHICHEVER IS EASIER.
GO AHEAD, MARIA. >> VILLAGOMEZ: I WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT ERIK MENTIONED THAT EACH OF THE CONTRACTS WE HAVE WITH THE DELEGATE AGENCIES HAVE PERFORMANCE METRICS SO WE CAN PROVIDE A STATUS OF WHERE THEY ARE COMPARED TO WHAT THE TARGETS WERE FOR THOSE CONTRACTS. ALSO AS WE EVALUATE ALL THE PROGRAMS -- AND WE'LL PROVIDE THIS IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO. WE HAD PROGRAMS THAT WE FUNDED WITH ARPA THAT WE INCORPORATED INTO THE GENERAL FUND, LIKE THE BENEFIT NAVIGATORS IS AN EXAMPLE. WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT WE AUGMENTED WITH ARPA JUST TO HELP US DURING THE PANDEMIC LIKE STREET MAINTENANCE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FOR EXAMPLE. AND THEN THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WERE ONE TIME IN NATURE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO FUND AGAIN.
[02:10:03]
WE'LL PROVIDE THAT ANALYSIS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WERE FUNDEDTHROUGH ARPA AND HOW THEY ARE CONTINUING OR NOT. >> WALSH: MAYOR, JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION ON SOMETHING THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED.
NEXT SPRING WE'LL BE COMING TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE DO DELEGATE AGENCY SOLICITATIONS TO GET FEEDBACK. I THINK WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE, PRIMARILY IN ARTS, WHERE TO ADDRESS THE OFF RAMP.
YOU KNOW, I'M COMPLETELY MAKING THIS UP. MAYBE IT'S AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF FUNDING OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS. SHOULD THE PERCENTAGE GO DOWN. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO ASK?
>> HAVRDA: MAY I CLARIFY? YES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WHATEVER THAT LIMIT IS OR THE SCOPE OF THAT -- THE TIME THEY WOULD BE RECEIVING CITY FUNDS. THAT THEY KNOW THAT GOING INTO THE AGREEMENT.
>> WALSH: OKAY. WE CAN -- WE'VE GOT TIME. WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AT NEXT SPRING'S B SESSION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THAT WOKE EVERYBODY UP. I REALLY WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE WORK THAT ALL OF THE STAFFS HAVE DONE HERE ON THESE. YOU KNOW, I SAID THIS BEFORE A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT AND I WAS GOING BACK AND LOOKING IN THE CHARTER AGAIN --D ONCE BEFORE. THE CHARTER SAYS THE ROLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS TO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH SUCH ACTS AND REGULATIONS AND ORDINANCES NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE AND THIS CHARTER, AS SHALL BE NEEDED FOR THE GOVERNMENT INTEREST, WELFARE IN GOOD ORDER OF THE CITY AND THE INTEREST, WELFARE, HEALTH, MORALS, COMFORT, SAFETY, AND CONVENIENCE OF ITS INHABITANTS.
AND WEBSTER'S DEFINES INHABITANTS AS LIVING IN A PLACE FOR SOME LENGTH OF TIME. AND I THINK THAT THESE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS WE LOOKED AT TODAY: HUMAN SERVICES, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES, METRO HEALTH, HOMELESS, ALL OF THOSE REALLY FALL INTO PROVIDING FOR THE WELFARE, HEALTH, MORALS, COMFORT, SAFETY, AND CONVENIENCE OF THE INHABITANTS OF THIS CITY. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING GOOD WORK IN THAT DIRECTION BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON, I'LL SAY.
LET ME START OFF WITH SAN ANTONIO METRO HEALTH. I FIRST WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION BECAUSE METRO HEALTH REALLY STEPPED UP LAST NOVEMBER WHEN WE DID THAT WEAPON EXCHANGE PROGRAM, AND ARE WORKING WITH US NOW TO DO ANOTHER ONE THIS COMING NOVEMBER. I THINK IT'S JUST PART OF THEIR GUN SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. BUT ONE THING I DIDN'T SEE IS HOW MUCH DOLLAR AMOUNTS YOU SPEND ON A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT BREAK DOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH. HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON SENIOR HEALTH.
AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON MENTAL HEALTH. BECAUSE I THINK THESE ARE IMPORTANT CATEGORIES THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT MAYBE NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I RECOGNIZE Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. IF YOU COULD GET THAT INFORMATION FOR ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO HUMAN SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD I THINK SOME REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES. YOU LISTED 52 AGENCIES. THEY HAVE 97 PROGRAMS OVER $25 MILLION IS WHAT WE'RE BUDGETING. IF WE CUT THAT IN HALF FOR THOSE AGENCIES, DO YOU THINK THEY COULD STILL PROVIDE WHAT THEY PROVIDE OR WOULD
THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE MAYBE HALF AS MUCH? >> I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE LESS. WE DON'T COMPLETELY FUND ANY AGENCY.
THEY ALL HAVE OTHER BUDGETS. BUT IT WOULD CERTAINLY IMPACT SOME MORE THAN
OTHERS, THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES. >> COURAGE: I WOULD LIKE
[02:15:02]
TO SEE AN ACCUMULATION OF ACTUALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SERVED FROM THESE 25DEPARTMENTS LAST YEAR AND THESE 97 PROGRAMS. >> WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
>> COURAGE: I NOTICED WE SET ASIDE $32.7 MILLION FOR SENIOR SERVICES.
AND IN THE NEXT BUDGET. >> UH-HUH. >> COURAGE: AND I THINK THERE'S $17 MILLION SCHEDULED TO GO FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD BENEFIT SENIORS LIKE SENIOR CENTER IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE YOUTH SERVICES. I DIDN'T SEE A LOT THERE.
$7.6 MILLION. BUT THEN WE'RE REDOING OR IMPROVING A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY CENTERS, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES BENEFIT YOUTH. AND THEN WE'VE GOT $7.2 MILLION IN ARPA MONEY THAT WE'RE DEDICATING TO YOUTH AND SENIORS.
AND NOW WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT EVEN COMING BACK.
I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD AGAIN GET A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MONEY IN HUMAN SERVICES THAT REALLY BENEFITS SENIORS OR YOUTH. BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T PRESENT IN THE BUDGET THAT TOUCH ON THAT.
>> RIGHT. ACTUALLY, ON SLIDE 3 IT SHOWS WE INVEST $16.1 MILLION IN YOUTH SERVICES. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR
DELEGATE AGENCY CONTRACTS AS WELL. >> COURAGE: I MISSED THAT.
>> WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN FURTHER. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
THANKS. >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR THE
CAPITAL INVESTMENT, RIGHT? >> COURAGE: RIGHT. BOTH.
BOTH BENEFIT YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR SENIORS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
>> RIGHT. THE PLUMBING WORK AT THE FRANK GARRETT CENTER WILL
BENEFIT YOUTH. >> COURAGE: I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ARPA FOR JUST A MINUTE. WE HAVE $5.8 MILLION THAT IS UNCOMMITTED AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANY OF THAT REMAINING MONEY -- WE HAD 3.1, I THINK YOU WERE PROJECTING MAYBE FOR SENIORS. IT WAS FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH. AND THE OTHER 2.7 WAS KIND OF OUT THERE.
I THINK ALL OF THAT MONEY SHOULD GO INTO SENIORS AND YOUTH.
PARTICULARLY YOUTH. WE HAD AN EFFORT UNDERTAKEN TO INCLUDE AN ISSUE IN OUR CHARTER ELECTION TO TRY AND DEDICATE MORE FUNDING FOR YOUTH.
THAT DIDN'T GET MOVED FORWARD BUT IF WE'VE GOT $2.7 MILLION, LET'S PUT IT INTO YOUTH SERVICES. AND SO THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION ON THAT.
NEXT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING. YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS HAVE BEEN BUILT OR ARE BEING BUILT.
AND HOW MANY FOR YOUTH COMING OUT OF FOSTER CARE HAVE BEEN BUILT OR ARE BEING BUILT. AND THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF UNITS IN THE PIPELINE AS WELL AS BEING BUILT, AS WELL AS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. BUT MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS IN THE PIPELINE DON'T END UP BEING BUILT BECAUSE THEY FALL THROUGH BECAUSE THE STATE FUNDING DOESN'T COME THROUGH OR THE INTEREST RATE WENT UP AND THEY CAN'T BUILD IT AT THAT COST. SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS AND HOW MANY FOR YOUTH COMING OUT OF FOSTER CARE ARE ACTUALLY BUILT OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AND WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE OPENING UP.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE US LOOK AT THAT. >> OKAY.
OUR SHIP HAD A GOAL FOR OLDER ADULT HOUSING OF 1200 UNITS.
WE HAVE 2500 UNITS BUT WE CAN CLARIFY HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE COMPLETED OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION. BUT WE DEFINITELY SURPASSED THAT GOAL FOR THE SHIP.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. THE LAST THING I WANT TO COMMENT ON IS HOMELESSNESS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY CITY IN THIS COUNTRY WHO HAS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR HOMELESSNESS. TO ME, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE PROGRAMS AND MORE BEDS TO DEAL WITH DRUG ADDICTION, ALCOHOLISM, MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR FACTORS THAT WE HAVE FACING MANY PEOPLE WHO BECOME HOMELESS. OF COURSE SOME OF THEM ARE FINANCIAL AS WELL OR HEALTH.
THEY GET SICK, THEY LOSE THEIR JOB, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
AND SO I THINK THAT NUMBER ONE, DEVELOPING MORE THOROUGH PROJECTS AND BEDS TO PUT PEOPLE IN, SO TO SPEAK, TO BE TREATED FOR THOSE MENTAL HEALTH DRUGS
[02:20:04]
AND ALCOHOLISM PROBLEMS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE OF AS A CITY.AND EMPHASIZING TO THE STATE THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND DO MORE.
BUT ALSO HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE. YOU TREAT THOSE THINGS, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT PEOPLE? THEY NEED TO HAVE HOUSING.
IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETIMES TEMPORARY, SOMETIMES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE.
ALL THE TIME AFFORDABLE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE FACE BIG CHALLENGES IN THIS CITY WITH PROVIDING THE HOUSING, EVEN IF PEOPLE GET TREATED FOR DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. OR THEY LOST A JOB AND ARE OUT ON THE STREETS.
IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMEPLACE TO PUT THEM THEY ALL BECOME HOMELESS AND THEY BECOME THE CITY'S CONCERN. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AND WE NEED TO MOST OF ALL PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THESE PEOPLE.
THEY MAY BE HOMELESS. THEY MAY BE WITHOUT ANY KIND OF RESOURCES.
>> COURAGE: WE MIGHT TREAT THEM FOR ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AND GET THEM CLEANED UP AND GET THEM A PLACE TO LIVE, BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND THEY NEED TO HAVE A JOB. AND ALL OF THOSE ARE INGREDIENTS THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF IF WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN TREATING HOMELESSNESS UNTIL SOMEBODY ELSE COMES UP WITH A BETTER SOLUTION, I THINK WE NEED TO BE INVESTING MORE IN ALL OF THESE THINGS AND WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO BE MORE INVOLVED AND THE BUSINESSES TO BE MORE INVOLVED AND THE CHURCHES TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN HELPING TO PROVIDE THESE THINGS. THAT'S MY OPINION.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WAS ASKING ERIK, AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE DENTAL CLINIC AT UT HEALTH ACTUALLY SERVES KIDS FROM HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND THEIR PROFESSIONALS GO OUT TO HAVEN FOR HOPE AS WELL, SO THAT WOULD BE A WELCOME INVESTMENT. THE -- AS FOR THE MOBILE SHOWERS, IT'S A SMALL THING, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING, MELODY. AND I REMEMBER WHEN THEN COUNCILMAN TREVINO WAS POUNDING HIS FIST AND ASKING THAT WE DO THIS, WE ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO GO TO WHERE HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN ARE AS OPPOSED TO ASKING THEM TO COME TO US, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT AS A FIXED, YOU KNOW, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT ISN'T ROVING THE CITY, ISN'T GOING TO THEM, RIGHT? AND SO I -- AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE LAYING OUT, RIGHT? MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE SAY WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THE PROBLEM, I THINK WE ALL MEAN IT, RIGHT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR HOW -- COMMISSIONED THE CREATION OF THIS MOBILE SHOWER PROGRAM.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> WOOSLEY: ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE OFFERING IS THAT OUR OUTREACH WORKERS WHO EACH HAVE A FAN CAN PICK UP PEOPLE IN ANY PART OF THE CITY AND BRING THEM TO A LOCATION THAT HAS A FIXED SHOWER, AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST THING TO LOOK AT.
>> PELAEZ: YEAH. >> WOOSLEY: BUT WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONGREGATIONS OR NONPROFITS THAT HAVE SHOWERS ALREADY THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN AND USE THEM, AND THAT WAY IT'S MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED.
>> PELAEZ: YEAH, AND ALL OF US COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO -- AND WE'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT FROM SOME OF THEM WILL SAY, THEY JUST NEED TO GO GET A JOB, RIGHT? AND ASIDE FROM BEING C CALLUS, IT'S ALWAYS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT SOMEBODY WHO CAN'T TAKE A SHOWER TO GO GET A JOB.
IT'S A SMALL THING, BUT REALLY BENEFICIAL. I'M GOING TO MAKE COMMENTS, MELODY. YOU'RE WELCOME TO TAKE A LOAD OFF.
I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY IN ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE THERE IS A MOM OUT THERE WHO CRIES HERSELF TO SLEEP EVERY SINGLE NIGHT BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT HER KID IS OUT ON THE STREET AND THEY'RE HOMELESS, RIGHT? AND THAT STUCK WITH ME, BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER, SOMEONE'S SON, SOMEONE'S SIBLING, SOMEONE'S PARENTS. AND I FEEL LIKE TOO OFTEN WHEN WE AS SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST -- NOT INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT WE, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, WE SPEAK ABOUT THESE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE ABSTRACT AS IF THEY'RE SOME SORT OF HOME GENEOUS MONOLITHIC GROUPS, AND THEY'RE NOT. MANY OF THEM ARE IN THE GRIPS OF A CRUSHING
[02:25:05]
ADDICTION, OTHERS, YOU KNOW, ARE VICTIM OF A POSTCOVID ECONOMY WHO PUSHED THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND THEIR JOBS. A LOT OF THEM ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION, A LOT OF THEM ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS THAT JUST NEEDED TO RUN AWAY FROM THEIR ABUSER AND THE ONLY PLACE THEY COULD RUN TO WAS OUTSIDE, RIGHT? AND IF YOU REALLY STUDY THE ISSUE, LIKE -- AND I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HOMELESSNESS UNTIL I GOT HERE AND I BENEFIT FROM ALL THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM YOU AND LORI, AND OUR FRIEND MARY ROSE BROWN WHO PASSED AWAY, SHE WAS AN ENCYCLOPEDIC AS FAR AS THE ROOT CAUSES.IF YOU REALLY LIKE AT IT, RISE-OMATIC. IT TOUCHES ALL OF US.
IT'S A HUMAN CRISIS THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED WITH COMPASSION AND A LOT OF DECENCY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PULL FROM EVERY SINGLE LEVER.
I THINK THAT THAT SLIDE THAT WE SAW OF THE INVESTMENTS, IT'S OKAY IF WE DON'T SEE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC SLIDE.
I THINK THAT REALLY COMMUNICATES TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE PULLING FROM ALL THE LEVERS, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A COMPLEX PROBLEM.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S OKAY TO ALSO DESCRIBE IT AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT CRISIS AS WELL, RIGHT? THERE'S NOTHING CRUEL OR LACKING IN COMPASSION TO DISCUSS THIS BIGGER PROBLEM AND ADD TO IT THE ELEMENTS OF MUNICIPAL COURTS AND POLICE AND ORDINANCES AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF THIS LARGER ALGEBRAIC FORMULA WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR, RIGHT? THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE LAWS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS SEND US UP HERE -- BECAUSE WE PROMISED THEM, LAWS WILL BE ENFORCED AND WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN A FIXED FOCUS ON YOUR SAFETY. AND MY CONSTITUENTS, AND MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, I'D SAY, ARE -- WOULD REJECT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CONVERSATION -- THAT THIS IS A BINARY CHOICE AND WE CAN ONLY CHOOSE FROM ONE OR THE OTHER. HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE OR ENFORCING OUR ORDINANCES, RIGHT? AND I THINK MOST OF THEM -- MOST REASONABLE ONES WOULD AGREE, WE'VE GOT TO INCLUDE THAT PART IN IT AS WELL. MY CONSTITUENTS ARE AFRAID, THEY'RE ANXIOUS, THEY'RE WITNESSES TO THE GRAFFITI, WITNESSED TO THEE ENCAMPMENTS AND SEEING THE GARBAGE AND FECES IN AND AROUND THESE ENCAMPMENTS, THEY'RE WITNESSED TO THE STOLEN SHOPPING CARTS AND THE PANHANDLING, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH HEARTS, RIGHT? SAN ANTONIANS ARE GOOD PEOPLE. AND THEY'RE AFRAID. AND THEY'RE ANXIOUS, AND FOR ME TO GO OUT THERE AND TELL THEM, BE NOT AFRAID R, RIGHT? THIS IS REALLY JUST A SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROBLEM AND YOUR FEARS ARE NOT MERITED, THAT'S NOT REASONABLE EITHER. AND SO I THINK WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM HERE. BY THAT, I MEAN I THINK WE CAN WRAP THESE MEN AND WOMEN IN COMPASSIONATE SOCIAL SERVICES, RIGHT? SAFETY NET SERVICES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE A VERY REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR THERE TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT DISCUSSION, RIGHT? AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO IS RIGHT, JAIL IS NOT THE SOLUTION IN MANY OF THESE CASES. IN PROBABLY MOST OF THESE CASES. SOMETIMES THE THREAT OF JAIL IS PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE SOLUTION, RIGHT, AND IT MAY BE A MOTIVATOR TO GET PEOPLE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND STOP DOING KNUCKLE-HEADED THINGS, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY, MELODY, WHEN I SEE THAT SLIDE, I THINK IT NEEDS TO -- JUST FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETENESS, I THINK IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE MUNICIPAL COURT, RIGHT? I THINK THERE NEEDS -- I THINK IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, A DISCUSSION WITH JUDGE OBLEDO SITTING NEXT TO YOU AND OUR MUNICIPAL JUDGE IS HERE TO REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRE PROBLEM.
AND IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE ANDY SEGOVIA AND LIZ SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALSO WHAT OUR PROSECUTORS, YOU KNOW, ARE THINKING AND DOING WHEN THEY DO ENCOUNTER A MAN OR WOMAN, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CRISIS, RIGHT? AND I FEEL LIKE TODAY WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION, A THOROUGH ONE, BUT NOT A COMPLETE ONE. WE CAN DO IT'S TH FOR DAYS, RIGHT? TIME WON'T PERMIT FOR IT.
BUT I DO THINK THE SLIDE NEEDS TO INCLUDE SOME MENTION OF THE OTHER LEVERS THAT WEREN'T MENTIONED. THOSE ARE INVESTMENTS IN THE HOMELESS ISSUE AS WELL, RIGHT? SO THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO ALL OF US, RIGHT? AND I DO THINK ALSO THAT I'VE NEVER REALLY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE HOMELESS MAN OR WOMAN DURING Y'ALL'S PRESENTATIONS, RIGHT? I THINK THAT THERE -- I MEAN, IF WE REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM BEING SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, I
[02:30:02]
THINK IT'S FAIR TO ASK THOSE RESIDENTS TO WEIGH IN ON HOW ARE WE DOING, RIGHT? ARE WE DOING RIGHT BY THEM? IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO BETTER, BECAUSE GETTING A WHOLE BUNCHED OF HOUSED PEOPLE WITH JOBS IN AN AIR CONDITIONED BUILDING WHO GET SNACKS AND DELICIOUS COFFEE TO PRETEND THAT WE ARE THE SOLUTION TO THIS WITHOUT INCLUDING THEIR INPUT I THINK IS H HUBER ROUSE OR JUST MALPRACTICE, RIGHT? I KNOW YOU BAKE INTO YOUR SOLUTIONS THOSE VOICES, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD THOSE VOICES, AND I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL WOULD BENEFIT THERE THAT. MELODY, I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.I REALLY DO. AND WHERE'S LORI HOUSTON?
LORI, YOU'RE A ROCK STAR, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR?
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THESE PRINCETATIONS, AND, YES, AGREED IT IS A GOOD COMBINATION TODAY.
AYE M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN BECAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I'LL START WITH DHS. I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THAT MY STAFF REALLY APPRECIATES THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY IN CORASON. CORAZON.
THEY ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO PARTNER. JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT ACCOLADE. AS FAR AS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AROUND THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE ON SLIDE 6, THE TARGET FOR HOUSING FOR VETERANS IN 2025 IS LOWER THAN OUR ESTIMATE FOR '24.
WHY IS THAT DECREASED? >> WOOSLEY: SO OUR TARGET FOR 2024 WAS 550, AND WE PUT IT BACK AT THE SAME LEVEL, BUT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING ADDITIONAL VETERANS WHO ARE BEING HOUSED. AND SO WE WILL INCREASE THAT NUMBER.
PROBABLY THAT WE ACTUALLY SERVE. >> KAUR: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THAT POPULATION HOWEVER POSSIBLE GIVEN OUR CITY'S PURPOSE AND FOCUS. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE TIMES WITH THE MOBILE SHOWER PROGRAM, AND I JUST WAS WONDERING, IF YOUR COMMENTS YOU SAID IT'S NOT VERY MOBILE.
WHY WASN'T IT VERY MOBILE. >> WOOSLEY: WELL, PRETTY MUCH EVERY TILE WE HOOK IT UP, WE HAVE TO BRING A VENDOR TO PULL IT UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN WE DID GET A TRUCK. IT BREAKS A LOT.
THE HITCH BREAKS A LOT. [INDISCERNIBLE] BREAKS WHILE IT'S IN TRANSIT.
WE CAN GET ABOUT 12 SHOWERS OUT OF ONE FILL OF WATER, AND THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER VENDOR COME AND REMOVE THE GRAY WATER AND REFILL IT. SO IT'S JUST VERY TIME-CONSUMING FOR VERY
LITTLE OUTCOME. >> KAUR: GOT IT SO THE THOUGHT THAT WE HAVE WOULD IT BE AN ASSET THAT MAY BE [INDISCERNIBLE] LIKE AN AGENCY WOULD WANT TO OPERATE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE ASSET ITSELF ISN'T THAT VALUABLE?
>> WOOSLEY: AND LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY, IF IT WERE FIXED AND NOT MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND HOOKED INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM, IT MIGHT WORK BETTER, BUT IT PROVIDES -- IT HAS THREE SHOWER STALLS, SO IT'S
HARD TO GET A LOT OF SHOWERS OUT OF IT. >> KAUR: OKAY.
FOR THE DELEGATE AGENCIES IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO, CAN WE GET A REPORT.
I REMEMBER LAST YEAR I WAS -- YOU GUYS SENT OVER THE METRICS THAT THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHEN THEY GET THEIR GRANTS AND HOW THEY'RE PERFORMING ON THEM. CAN WE -- CAN YOU FOLLOW UP WITH THAT REPORT AS
WELL FOR US. >> WOOSLEY: I WILL. >> KAUR: AND THEN FROM THE PERFORMANCE METRICS, THERE WAS AN AVERAGE AMOUNT OF CPS ASSISTANCE PER CUSTOMER. IS THERE A METRIC THAT -- IS THAT DIFFERENT ASSISTANCE THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE THAN WHAT CPS IS PROVIDING?
>> WOOSLEY: WE DO WORK TO HELP CPS SPEND THEIR REEP DOLLARS.
IT'S CALLED PROJECT REEP. WE HAVE A PHONE APP SIMILAR AND PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR UTILITY ASSISTANT AND THEN WE
DEDUCT IT FROM THE R EREEP PROGRAM. >> KAUR: SO THAT IS THE
COSA TARGET, THAT'S NOT THE CPS TARGET? >> WOOSLEY: NO, THAT'S
DHS. >> KAUR: OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS ON THE HYGIENE KITS THAT WE CREATE.
ARE THOSE DEVELOPED INTERNALLY? LIKE DO WE MAKE THEM INTERNALLY, OR DO WE PURCHASE NEM THEM FROM A CONTRACTOR?
>> WOOSLEY: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE BUY THE SUPPLIES AND
THEN WE MAKE THEM. >> KAUR: OKAY. IT WAS JUST -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IF THERE WOULD BE AN EFFICIENCY IN JUST PURCHASING THEM ASSEMBLED OR BEING ABLE TO CONTRACT OUT THAT
WORK, JUST A QUESTION AROUND TIMING. >> WOOSLEY: WE'LL TAKE A
LOOK AT THAT AND COMPARE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO JUMP INTO THE NHSD QUESTIONS AND
[02:35:03]
I'M GOING TO MAKE MY COMMENT FOR THE ARPA. I THINK SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, I KNOW I HEARD IT FROM COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND A COUPLE OTHERS AROUND THE MAJOR/MINOR HOME REHAB.I WAS LOOKING AT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND WE'RE SERVING LIKE THIS PAST YEAR, OR I GUESS IN 2023, THE ACTUALS WE AD R RECEIVED OVER 3,000 APPLICATIONS BUT WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SUPPORT, I GUESS, OVER 500 PEOPLE.
CAN I JUST GET SOME COLOR ON WHY THOSE APPLICATIONS NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED AND WHAT'S THE BIGGEST BARRIER IN SUPPORTING FOLKS WITH THIS PROGRAM? GARCIA YES, SO WE HAVE DID A LOT OF CHANGES THIS YEAR WITH OUR APPLICATION, MOSTLY ON THE FRONT END HELPING HOMEOWNERS UNDERSTAND IF THEY'RE HOME REHAB READY.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING MASS APPLY EVERYONE PROCESS, WHICH DOES RESULTS IN SEVERAL HOMEOWNERS THAT WE JUST CAN'T REACH DUE TO OUR FUNDING LIMITATIONS, WE INSTEAD THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON HELPING HOME HONEENERS WHAT EXACTLY THEY NEED, DO THEY HAVE CLEAR TITLE IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MAJOR REHAB, DO THEY HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTS READY. SO THAT DID RESULT IN, ONE, HELPING HOMEOWNERS UNITS HOMEOWNERS UNDERSTAND THESE ARE FOR GIVEABLE LOANS. REALLY PROVIDING THE EDUCATION ON THE FRONT END RESULTED IN STRONGER APPLICATION POOL ON THE BACK END, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT FAMILIES WHO DID APPLY THIS ROUND BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH THEM DUE TO FUNDING LIMITS, CAN WE JUST USE THEIR APPLICATION AGAIN AND THEN SEE IF THEY CAN BE HELPED NEXT YEAR.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU. CAN WE GET A BREAKDOWN OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE DID RECEIVE IN 2024 BY DISTRICT AND THEN HOW MANY WERE ABLE TO BE SUPPORTED, AND THEN -- AND WHERE ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT -- AND THE REASONS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT. SO IF IT WAS JUST ALL FUNDING LIMITATIONS OR JUST TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
AND I WOULD SUPPORT USING THE ADDITIONAL 2.7 MILLION FOR ADDING INTO THESE PROGRAMS IF THE TRUE BARRIER, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IS FUNDING. AND ALSO THE OTHER COMPONENT WOULD BE FOR HELPING SUPPORT FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR ADUS.
THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE HOUSING AS WELL. >> GARCIA: SO FOR D1 SPEFNGLY WE HAD 147 APPLICATIONS AND WE CAN REACH ALMOST 70 PROJECTS BUT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT BREAKDOWN PER DISTRICT. IT'S DUE TO FUNDING LIMITATIONS AND HOW MANY HOMES WE CAN ACTUALLY SERVE IN A SINGLE YEAR.
>> KAUR: LIKE CONTRACTORS AND SUCH. OKAY.
ALSO FOR FOLLOW-UP, CAN WE SHARE FOR -- HOW OUR HOUSING -- AUDIO] -- HOW WE ARE EVALUATING MULTIFAMILY FOR REHAB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING AS MANY UNITS AS WE CAN UP ONLINE, AND THEN ALSO ON THE SHIP DASHBOARD, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE THE HOUSING STOCK BY DISTRICT AS WELL. AND ALSO ANOTHER REQUEST THAT I MADE FOR DATA IS WAITLIST NUMBERS BY FOLKS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY.
SO BESIDE FROM THE METRIC, I'VE ASKED FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT HOUSING AT 50%, AT 80% AMI, SO THAT AS WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR MORE UNITS TO BE BUILT, WE KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF NEED THERE IS AT THOSE
DIFFERENT AMI LEVELS. >> GARCIA: SURE. WE DO HAVE OUR SHIP GOALS. YES, MA'AM, WE CAN DO THAT.
>> KAUR: OKAY. GREAT. A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS ON JUST THE PRESENTATION COMPONENTS. I KNOW THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, WE WILL SUPPORT AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER -- AUDIO] -- WE HAVE SOME LOTS IN DISTRICT ONE WHERE WHEN SOMEONE PASSES, THE HOME KIND OF BOUNCES BETWEEN AND THEN LIKE ACCRUE PROPERTY TAXES. SO JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP SUPPORT
RESIDENTS WITH THAT. >> YES, WE DO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH MOC AND ANOTHER ONE WITH UTSA TO HELP FAMILIES CLEAR THEIR TITLES AND WE ASK THEM TO GO THE STEP FURTHER TO HELP THEM PREPARE THE DOCUMENT THAT TRANSFERS THE DEED TO THEIR HEIRS BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SERVICE WHERE WE COULD SUPPORT FAMILIES TOTALLY. WE WOULD REFER THEM TO M
OC BUT WE'RE NOT PAYING MOC FOR THAT. >> KAUR: I'M NOT SURE HOW WE DETERMINE A NEED FOR THAT, BUT MIGHT BE A THING TO THINK ABOUT.
AND FOR THE TENANTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES SERIES, DO WE SOMETHING FURTHER THAT THE LANDLORDS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
BE COMPLYING WITH. >> YES, WE HAVE A SERIES AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PARTNER ASSOCIATION AND SABOR, AND THIS YEAR WE HAD A LANDLORD FOCUSED SESSION FACILITATED BY OUR PARTNERS AND WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. THEY DO A LOT OF WORK EDUCATING THEIR MEMBERS ON WHAT THE LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, BUT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM
AND MADE THAT SERIES AVAILABLE AS WELL. >> KAUR: OKAY.
AND THEN LASTLY, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK OVER THERE.
IF YOU HAD A FEW ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES, WHAT WOULD YOU FOCUS THEM
[02:40:02]
ON NOW? WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST NEED RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OFCAPACITY? >> YES, SO WE DEFINITELY NEED STAFF TO HELP WITH HOME REHAB, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A POPULAR PROGRAM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE WORK AND HELP THE HOMEOWNERS AS WELL.
WE FIND THE HOMEOWNERS THAT WE WORK WITH NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY OUR RENTAL ASSISTANT TEAM, A LOT OF THE STAFF THAT WE HAD WERE FUNDED THROUGH ARPA, ARPA TEMPS AND WITH LESS FUNDING, WE'LL HAVE A SMALLER TEAM. ALL THE TEMPS WILL BE GOING AWAY, WE'LL STILL HAVE OUR FULL-TIME STAFF THAT WILL HELP PROCESS
AND MEET OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. >> KAUR: OKAY.
GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'LL JUST USE THE LAST MINUTE FOR -- THANK YOU, VERONICA.
FOR METRO HEALTH. SO JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS, CLAUDE, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY MY FOUR QUESTIONS. IF YOU CAN FOLLOW-UP WITH THE ANSWERS TO THEM, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THE FEW QUESTIONS THAT I HAD WAS I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE 27 INSTITUTIONS THAT TURNED DOWN THE SIGNAGE WERE SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY MORE UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THEY TURNED IT DOWN. AND ALSO WHAT -- HOW MANY CALLS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE SIGNAGE, SO LIKE THE EFFICACY OF IT. AND THEN ALSO A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AROUND THE NUMBER OF SURVIVORS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY IN YOUR METRICS, THE AMOUNT THAT DON'T ACCEPT SERVICES, SO WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THEM TURNING DOWN THOSE SERVICES. A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS AROUND METRICS ARE MAKING SURE -- LIKE GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY NURSES THAT WE HAVE ON STAFF FOR IMMUNIZATION SUPPORT.
WE WERE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL FOR OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT.
THERE WERE SO MANY FOLKS LOOKING FOR IMMUNIZATION, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SHOTS, WE ALSO DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF. SO JUST KIND OF GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING OF IF THERE'S A NEED THERE. AND THEN ALSO THE DATA THAT WE'RE USING FOR MOBILE -- FOR THE STD/STI MOBILE TRUCK.
HOW DO YOU KNOW OR HOW ARE YOU DETERMINING WHERE IT'S BEING PLACED? AND THEN THE LAST TWO QUESTIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR SA-CORE, THERE'S ABOUT HALF THAT DON'T GET REFERRED TO FOLLOW-UP SERVICES, SO CURIOUS AS TO WHY THEY DON'T GET REFERRED TO FOLLOW-UP SERVICES. AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WIC ENROLLED AND ACTIVELY RECEIVING SERVICES. SO SORRY, I CAN ALSO SEND THOSE OVER IN AN E-MAIL BECAUSE I KNOW I JUST SHARED THEM OUT LOUD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> GOT IT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU GOT THEM?
>> KAUR: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA?
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I WANTED TO JUST REFERENCE AND CLARIFY SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED EARLIER ABOUT AMERICAN GATEWAYS, AND SO BEYOND WHAT WE'VE HEARD, THEY ALSO PROVIDE PETITIONS FOR THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT, TVISAS FOR SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING, UVISAS FOR CERTAIN VIOLENT CRIMES AND ALSO HELP WITH BUT I WANTED TO INVITE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME ON SATURDAY, THE 14TH OF SEPTEMBER, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE, LIKE, TWO OF THESE WORKSHOPS A YEAR. AND IT'S THE BEST THING BECAUSE YOU WALK IN AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO FOR MANY, MANY YEARS ARE JUST SO EXCITED THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ATTORNEYS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME. I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL ATTORNEYS ON OUR COUNCIL, AND I'D INVITE THEM TO BECOME VOLUNTEER AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS. THERE'S EVEN TRAINING AVAILABLE, AND SO I JUST THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO PEOPLE WHO WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP THERE, I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT OUT FOR MY COLLEAGUES. BUT I'LL GO BACK TO THE DASHBOARD NOW.
THERE'S FOUR BROAD CATEGORIES, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC RELIEF, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND OTHER PROGRAMS. AND IN THERE OF THE $326.9 MILLION, HOW MANY WENT DIRECTLY TO ASSIST RESIDENTS, LOCAL ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES? SO YOU'LL HAVE TO PROBABLY GET BACK TO ME ON THAT QUESTION, SO NO PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. AND THEN I WANT TO KNOW ALSO WOULD THAT BE LISTED ON THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE CATEGORY OF ECONOMIC RELIEF? BECAUSE THAT ALONE HAS $71.55 MILLION, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT WOULD BE PART OF IT, BECAUSE IN THERE, THE 30 MILLION THAT'S ALLOTTED FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE, IT SAYS THAT WE'VE SPENT 7.65 OF THE ONES, FOR INSTANCE, THAT HAS BEEN SPENT, AND 7.65 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR
[02:45:02]
THE ARTS, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO, LIKE, FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT FUNDING, HOW MANY INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, FOR INSTANCE, WERE AWARDED GRANTS, HOW MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WERE AWARDED.AND SO I'D LOVE TO SEE ALL OF THE BREAK DOWN. AND GWEN, I'LL SEND YOU ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I LITERALLY HAVE THEM WRITTEN DOWN SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, BUT SPECIFICALLY I'M ALSO TRYING TO SEE WHAT ARE CONTINGENCY FUND IS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ARTS AGENCIES AND I'M AFRAID WITH THE DRASTIC REDUCTION, RIGHT, AND SO WITH SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT'S GOING AWAY, BUT ALSO WITH THE DRASTIC REDUCTION IN THE HOT FUND OR EVEN OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FUNDING CONTINGENCY GOING FORWARD. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ART, BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE -- REALLY, COULD AFFECT CRITERIA, RIGHT? AND NOT JUST IN THERE, BUT JUST IN OTHER AREAS AS WELL. AND THAT MIGHT BE FOR ANOTHER CONVERSATION. BUT SPECIFICALLY ALSO FOR MARIA, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MARIA OR FOR BEN, DID THE CITY -- HAS THE CITY USED ANY RESERVE FUNDS BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024? NO? THANK YOU, ERIK. AND SO WHAT'S OUR CURRENT RESERVE BALANCE? NOW I NEED MARIA. OH, SHE'S HERE. COUNCILWOMAN, SO I'M
ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND. >> GARCIA: YES, SORRY.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: SO WE HAVE OUR FINANCIAL POLICY OF A 15% AS A MINIMUM ENDING BALANCE, 10% IS OUR BUDGET FINANCIAL RESERVES, AND THEN 5% IS THE RESERVE FOR A TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET.
SO -- AND GO AHEAD, JUSTINA. >> TATE: THE TOTAL
BETWEEN THOSE TWO IS ABOUT $300 MILLION. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
THANK YOU. AND I'D LOVE TO JUST KIND OF ALSO -- AND I'M JUST ASKING, LIKE, WHAT HAPPENS? LIKE EXTREME, RIGHT? AND SO I'M LOOKING AGAIN FOR FINANCIAL TURMOIL. I WISH THAT WE COULD HAVE KIND OF LIKE A MATTER OF RIGHT SIZING OUR BUDGET AND TRYING TO, LIKE, FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS OR WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY CARES OR ANY ARPA FUNDING. AND THEN SPECIFICALLY, I MENTIONED SLIDE 3 OF THE ARPA FUNDING PRESENTATION, THERE'S -- DID WE GET -- AND I KNOW THAT ON THE DASHBOARD -- WHILE GWEN COMES UP, WE HAVE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT, LIKE YOU HAVE THE ACS EVACUATION CENTER, PLEADING CONTROL KITS, AED MACHINES, U THINK IT WAS GENERATORS, ET CETERA, SO I APPRECIATE THAT ONE-TIME -- EVERYTHING THAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO SPEND ON THE ONE-TIME -- OKAY.
>> TATE: NO, NOT YET, BUT WE HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF IT.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO VOLUNTEER PASTOR VINCENT ROBINSON AS THE RECIPIENT OVER AT HARPER'S MINISTRY FOR THE SHOWERS IF THE ROUTE TO DONATE IS A PATH FORWARD. I WANTED TO THANK LORI AND HAVEN FOR MEETING WITH KATIE TO DISCUSS SOME HAVEN FOR HOPE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD BEEN OBSERVING, BUT IN REGARDS TO THE GARDENDALE COMMUNITY, OUR OFFICE AND THE GARDENDALE COMMUNITY HAVE SHARED EXPECTATION THAT OUTREACH IS DONE AROUND HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES AND THERE'S ANOTHER FACILITY DOWN THE STREET, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE GARDENDALE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS OUTREACH. I THINK A ZERO BUDGET ASK IS TO ASK VIA TO OPEN UP THEIR RESTROOMS OVER AT CENTRO. THERE'S NOWHERE FOR FOLKS TO USE THE RESTROOM IF THEY HAVE TO GO, AND THE RESTROOMS NEAREST ARE LOCKED. AND I THINK INVESTING IN A PORTLAND LOO AND ASKING VIA TO OPEN THOSE RESTROOMS CAN ALLEVIATE CONCERNS WE'RE HEARING FROM AROUND THAT AREA. AND I THINK ALSO THIS IS MORE FOR SOLID WASTE, AND I WANTED TO THANK ERIK FOR EXPANDING THE STREET SWEEPERS AROUND THAT AREA AS WELL, TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THERE.
I NOTICED ON THE METRO HEALTH, THERE'S A NEW PIECE FOR A NUMBER OF YOUTH CLIENTS SERVED WITH FOUR OR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS.
THIS MORNING I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN WITH A CONSTITUENT WHO ASKED ME TO SIT IN IN HER CHILD'S ARD EVALUATION, AND WHILE WAITING IN THE WAITING ROOM, I OBSERVED JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT STRUGGLES THAT PARENTS ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, AND JUST WANTED TO THANK METRO HEALTH FOR MAKING THIS INVESTMENT, AND THEN ALSO JUST OVERALL, RIGHT, THE DIFFERENT MOVING PIECES WITH WHETHER IT'S PARKS OR THE YOUTH LINE ITEM, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH, AND THAT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED. SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT YOUTH
[02:50:01]
CLIENT SERVED WITH FOUR OR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE TION, AND, OF COURSE, THE NEXT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT AT WELL OVER AT THE FRANK GARRETT CENTER AS WELL. IT'S VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.>> WALSH: MAYOR, JUST ONE SECOND. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE
AGENCY THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT. >> CASTILLO: NEXT LEVEL.
>> WALSH: THE FIRST ITEM YOU BROUGHT UP. >> CASTILLO: HARPER'S
CHAPEL. >> WALSH: GOT IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO?
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I DIDN'T GET TO INCLUDE FOR METRO HEALTH, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COLLABORATION, SPREADING AWARENESS ABOUT MITIGATING THE WEST NILE VIRUS IN DISTRICT 7. WE HELD A MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH DR. KURIAN AND IT WAS SO HELPFUL. ON SLIDE 8, I'M PARTICULARLY HOPEFUL ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. OBVIOUSLY PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY TOP PRIORITY FOR RESIDENTS. WE GET REPORTS CONSTANTLY ABOUT GUNSHOTS ALL OVER DISTRICT 7, SO THE LEVEL OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S UNACCEPTABLE, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS GUN VIOLENCE PILLAR. NO QUESTIONS, I JUST WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT WAS THE BIG THING FOR ME. AND FINALLY FOR THE ARPA SECTION, WITH THE $2.7 MILLION LEFT OVER, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION. I'M IN SUPPORT OF ALLOCATING THIS MONEY TOWARDS HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS, EXPANDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER TYPES OF SUPPORT THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES IS A TOP PRIORITY.
I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S REQUEST FOR 150,000 FOR THE SALINAS DENTAL CLINIC. THIS CLINIC SUPPORTS MANY DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS AND I APPRECIATE THE DETAILED REQUEST FOR THIS CLINIC.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE?
>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE WHAT JALEN MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT TRANSFERRING SENIOR CITIZENS TO THE CENTER.
I THANK THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR THE INFORMATION ABOUT AMERICAN GATEWAYS, HOWEVER IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTRACT THAT OUR CITY IS CONTRACTING WITH AMERICAN GATEWAYS FOR, IT'S FOR FREE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT RISK OF DEPORTATION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, HAVE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CONTRACTING WITH THEM FOR. AND REALLY, THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN HERE.
AND, AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT BUDGET PRIORITIES, RIGHT? AND SO, MAYOR, TO TIE THIS ALL BACK IN AND YOU SAID, OH, WELL, THERE WAS A VOTE EARLIER THIS YEAR. YEAH, THERE WAS, AND WE WERE TOLD IN A B SESSION FAMILY STRENGTHENING AMERICAN GATEWAYS, $150,000, RIGHT? NOTHING ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES, FREE LEGAL SERVICES AND CERTAINLY NOTHING ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES FOR MIGRANTS AS THE AMERICAN GATEWAYS GUY STATED. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDES -- WE SEE $2.8 MILLION -- IT'S SLIDE NUMBER 10 ON THE DHS PRESENTATION, WE SEE STRENGTHENING OF FAMILIES, $2.8 MILLION. SO MY QUESTION IS, WE HAD FAMILY STRENGTHENING BACK HERE, RIGHT, $150,000. IS THIS STRENGTHENING OF FAMILIES ON THIS SLIDE FOR $2.8 MILLION PROPOSED FOR 2025, IS THAT THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE DOING WITH AMERICAN GATEWAYS NOW? WILZ NO, FAMILY STRENGTHENING INCLUDES OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OUR UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT WHICH INCLUDES JOB TRAINING AND OTHER SERVICES TO FAMILY. THE ONLY LEGAL SERVICES
WE FUND ARE THE 150,000 TO AMERICAN GATEWAYS. >> WALSH: YEAH, I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS THE 150 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, RIGHT?
>> WHYTE: WELL, IT'S JUST THAT, AGAIN, IT SAYS FAMILY STREK THENING HERE AND WE'RE DOING LEGAL SERVICES. SO WHEN I SEE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES HERE, I'M WONDERING WHAT THAT'S FOR.
COUNCILMAN, IF I MAY, WHEN WE STARTED THE PROGRAM BACK IN 2017 AND 2018, ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM, AS YOU DESCRIBED PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES, WAS TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER.
SO IF THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL, A PARENT, THE DAD OR THE MOM THAT WAS
[02:55:05]
AT RISK OF DEPORTATION AND THE CHILDREN WERE U.S. CITIZENS, OUR GOAL WAS TO KEEP THE FAMILIES TOGETHER. SO THAT IS WHY IT'S UNDERSTRENGTHENING FAMILIES. >> WHYTE: YEAH, SURE. THANK YOU.
AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR. I'M ALL FOR KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER, TOO. I'M ALL FOR HELPING FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT NEED THE HELP, BOTH HOMELESS AND OTHERWISE, BUT THIS, TO ME, THIS IS ABOUT COUNCIL PRIORITIES IN HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. AND IN MY OPINION, IF YOU ASK THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR $150,000 SPENT ON FIXING THEIR ROADS OR CLEANING UP HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS OR FIXING DRAINAGE PROBLEMS OR HELPING WITH OUR ANIMAL -- OUR STRAY ANIMAL SITUATION, THEY WANT THE MONEY SPENT THERE, AND NOT ON PROVIDING THESE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO THESE FOLKS.
THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, LUCKY YOU, MY MIC MIC WAS NO LONGER POWERED. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO GO BACK AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JUST SEEING ALL OF THE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND NOT SEEING CITIZENS, NONCITIZENS, NOT SEEING COLOR, NOT SEEING LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES.
THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT PRESENTED TODAY INCLUDING THE ARPA DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW HOW COMPLEX THIS IS AND HOW YOU -- THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, THE IMMIGRATION STATUS, THE DREAMERS. AND SO I -- WHAT WE DO IN STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, WHAT WE DO IN SERVICING OUR YOUTH, WHAT WE DO IN SERVICING OUR SENIORS, AND I HAVE SENIORS THAT ARE STILL IN -- ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND SPEAK PRIMARILY SPANISH, IF ONLY SPANISH, AND YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE THEM. AND THAT IS WHEN COUNCILMAN COURAGE TALKS ABOUT THIS IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND WHERE WE'RE MEETING THE PRIORITIES, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. IF WE HAD THE MONEY AND THE CAPACITY TO FIX ALL THE STREETS IN ONE BIG PUSH, WE'D STILL NEED MORE MONEY THAN WE GIVE TO OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES.
AND SO MY CHALLENGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IS WE LOOK AT BUDGET, IS REALLY TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH MORE WORK WE WOULD PUT ON OUR CITY STAFF IF WE DID NOT USE THE DELEGATE AGENCIES.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES WHO ARE BILINGUAL, AND NOT ONLY JUST SPEAK SPANISH, BUT SPEAK TAO, YOU KNOW, THE PHILIPPINE.
AND -- BECAUSE I RUN INTO THEM. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR COMMITMENT, THESE PRESENTATIONS, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I WISH WE HAD MORE DOLLARS, AND MAYBE WE WILL BE ABLE TO PIN SOME, IF CPS DOES WELL, TO SEE WHAT THESE ONE-TIME ASKS ARE, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR EFFORT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE JUST MY PERSPECTIVE ON A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF OUR TIME IF WE'RE GOING TO RELITIGATE LINES IN THE BUDGET THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PASSED. AGAIN, WE CAN PICK OUT -- EVERYBODY CAN PICK OUT THEIR OWN AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT. THE BUDGET WILL BE A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT. ONCE IT'S PASSED, WE MOVE FORWARD.
WITH RESPECT TO THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, I WILL -- I WILL SAY THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS NOT THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN DONE FOREVER AND FOREVER, AND PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF OTHER CITIES, ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN -- WHO HAVE VISITED HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE HEARD CLEARLY THE REASON WHY WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS FROM HUD WHEN THERE'S LEFTOVER DOLLARS FROM OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN USED IS BECAUSE THEY SEE SAN ANTONIO'S HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND HOUSING EFFORTS AS WORKING.
IT IS WORKING. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, THOUGH, FOUR YEARS AGO, THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT OF OUR ECONOMY. MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO WEREN'T NECESSARILY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR ON THE CUSP OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS NOW ARE ON THE BUBBLE.
THE NUMBERS-WISE OVER -- IN THIS COUNTRY OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE SEEN A 12% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS NATIONWIDE. SAN ANTONIO HAS REMAINED FLAT IN TERMS OF OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT. THE NUMBER -- OUR CENSUS
[03:00:05]
ON HOMELESSNESS HAS REMAINED FLAT. I THINK IT'S AT ONE POINT SOMETHING PERCENT INCREASE. OUR UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED. MORE PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BUT ARE ACTUALLY UNDER A SAFE ROOF.THAT'S WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT. WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS ON SHELTER SERVICES AT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING RELIEF, BUT WE HAVE NEVER HAD OUR HOUSING EFFORTS -- FRANKLY, WE'VE NEVER HAD A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING PLAN UNTIL NOW, AND MARK'S SITTING THERE, THAT IS CONNECTED TO OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. WHERE WE WEREN'T GETTING IT RIGHT IN THIS COMMUNITY IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO. I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT ENCAMPMENTS, AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, THEY HAVE FEARS, THERE'S STIGMA, BUT LET'S BE REAL. IF OUR ONLY SOLUTION IS JUST TO SWEEP ENCAMPMENTS, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IF PEOPLE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO AND NO SERVICES TO REHABILITATE.
IT'S JUST GOING TO POP UP SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND TO IGNORE THAT PART OF IT, I THINK, IS NOT LIVING UP TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL THE PLAIN TRUTH TO THE PUBLIC. WE CANNOT SIMPLY SWEEP -- ABATE ENCAMPMENTS AND PRETEND THAT THAT'S GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
PEOPLE HAVE DUE PROCESS, THEY HAVE RIGHTS. WE CAN'T ALSO PUT THEM IN JAIL, EVEN IF THEY WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN PUT PEOPLE ON A PIPELINE -- ON A PATHWAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS PERMANENTLY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO REACH EVERYBODY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
NOW WE'VE IDENTIFIED WE NEED LOW BARRIER SHELTER, WE NEED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. PUBLIC PASSED $150 MILLION BOND, WE'RE STARTING TO PLUG THOSE GAPS. NOW THERE ARE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO. GO I'VE HEARD YOU SAY BEFORE, ERIK, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT ABATEMENT IS NOT THE SOLUTION. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY OUR ORDINANCES AND WE CAN'T PERMIT PUBLIC CAMPING.
WE NEVER HAVE. LET ME BE CLEAR ON THAT, WE NEVER HAVE.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SWEEP ENCAMPMENT UNLESS WE HAVE PLACES AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO SO THEY CAN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
THAT'S WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH. FRANKLY, IF WE WEREN'T -- IF PEOPLE WEREN'T EXPERIENCING THE DISTRESS, WE WERE DOING A BETTER JOB ON ISSUES LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT, DOING A BETTER JOB IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS IN SOME CASES, IF WERE DOING A BETTER JOB THERE, WHICH WOULD BE FAR CHEAPER FOR US TO DO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON THE BACK END DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS AS A SYMPTOM OF OTHER ISSUES. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. I WOULD SUGGEST RELATIVE TO OUR PEERS AND TO THE STATE OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO I GUESS THE MESSAGE FOR ME IS LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE EFFORT IN CREATING CHANGE, MASSIVE CHANGE, TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ALIGNED, AND THAT THIS BIG AIRCRAFT CARRIER OF A CITY IS MOVING FORWARDS THE RIGHT HEADING.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT HEADING. THAT MUCH IS TRUE.
BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REACHED OUR DESTINATION YET DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO CHANGE COURSE. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESOURCING ALL THOSE AREAS THAT NEED TO BE PROPERLY RESOURCED. AND IT IS EXPENSIVE.
THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. AND THE PUBLIC WHO SEES ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS, WHO SEES THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FRUSTRATED. WHEN IS IT GOING TO CHANGE? WE HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING PRETTY WELL, RELATIVE TO OUR PEERS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE CRISIS SIMPLY BY PUTTING IT OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND. NOT ONLY IS THAT NOT THE WAY TO SOLVE IT EFFECTIVELY, IT'S NOT ALSO NOT WHO WE ARE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE SERVICES, WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE INTO JOBS.
I WOULD ALSO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS WHY WE'RE FUNDING READY TO WORK.
IN MANY CASES, IT'S THE LAST OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET ONTO A PIPELINE FOR EDUCATION AND CAREERS. THAT'S THE LAST RESORT.
THERE'S NO OTHER TRADITIONAL PATHWAY FOR THEM.
SO AS FRUSTRATING AS IT IS THAT WE'RE NOT AT OUR DESTINATION YET, THIS IS WHY WE'RE RESOURCING THE EFFORTS TO GET US MOVING TOWARDS THAT DESTINATION. I WOULD ALSO AGREE WITH YOU, ERIK, WE'RE NOT GOING TO EVER SOLVE THE CRISIS, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE ISSUES THAT CREATE THIS CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WE CAN LOOK OURSELVES IN THE EYE WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND SAY WE ARE -- WE ARE WORKING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IF WE HAVE THAT HONEST CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SWEEP OUR ENCAMPMENTS, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND THAT THEY
[03:05:01]
HAVE RESOURCES TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. SO HOPEFULLY AFTER A FEW OF THESE CASES, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE ENCAMPMENT WHEN THEY'RE READY TO COME INTO SERVICES. SO I'M SORRY, THAT WAS A LONGWINDED RESPONSE, BUT THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING ON MY MIND THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. WE NEED TO BE HONEST WITH FOLKS ABOUT WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHY IT'S SO EXPENSIVE, BUT ULTIMATELY, THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT WE ARE EMPHATIC ABOUT THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THE ROOM THAT IS WORKING TOWARDS THOSE EFFORTS. YOU NAMED THEM ALL AT THE TOP, I DON'T REMEMBER WHO DID THAT, BUT YOU ALL DESERVE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR DEALING WITH AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX ISSUE AS GOOD AS ANYONE IS IN THIS COUNTRY AND DOING IT COMPASSIONATELY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S IT IN ME. WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 5:10 -- EXCUSE ME, ACROSS THE STREET RIGHT NOW. IT'S 5:10 P.M. ON AUGUST 28, 2024. WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANKS,* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.