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ALRIGHT, THE TIME IS NOW 10:02 AM ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026.
AND WE'LL CALL THE COMMUNITY HEALTH MEETING TO ORDER.
PANEL CLERK WILL PLEASE CALL ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
FIRST THING WE GOTTA DO IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? ALRIGHT, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVE TO APPROVE.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? GREAT.
FIRST THING, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE A COUPLE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, EACH PERSON WILL GET THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND SO WE'LL START WITH, UH, BEATRICE HICKS.
MY NAME IS BEATRICE HICKS AND I'M A RETIRED ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO.
I SERVED IN DEPARTMENT DENTAL HYGIENE THERE FOR 34 YEARS.
IN 2006, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF COLLABORATIVE GRANT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WHO AWARDED US $300,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT DENTAL HYGIENE PARENT, CHILD INCORPORATED, AND THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CULTURALLY SENSITIVE PEDIATRIC PRACTICE DENTAL MODEL FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS. THE COLLABORATORS ESTABLISHED A MODEL INCORPORATED PREVENTIVE SERVICES, SUCH AS DENTAL SCREENING FOR OUR VARNISH APPLICATIONS AND ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS, FAMILY SUPPORT WORKERS, AND HEAD START TEACHERS.
AN EXTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEVELOPED.
THIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDES ORAL HEALTH, ORAL HEALTH CASE MANAGERS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR CHILDREN TO GAIN ACCESS WITH BEXAR COUNTY DENTISTS TO PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR URGENT OR ROUTINE DENTAL CARE, AND AS WELL AS TO FIND A DENTAL HOME FOR THE CHILDREN.
A KEY PART OF THE WORK INVOLVES IDENTIFYING AND BREAKING DOWN TREATMENT BARRIERS.
THIS PROGRAM HELPS BREAK DOWN THOSE WALLS ONE BY ONE TO RESTORE CHILD BACK TO HEALTH.
MANY OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE SEEING COME FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC HOUSEHOLDS AND MAY OR MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID BENEFITS.
AND EVEN IF THEY QUALIFY, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THEY DO NOT TAP IN OR UTILIZE THE SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM WAS LATER EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE MILES OF SMILE SEALANT PROGRAM, AND THIS PROGRAM MODELS AND MIRRORS THE HEAD START PROGRAM AND PROVIDE SEALANT SERVICES TO SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN.
DENTAL SEALANTS ARE PREVENTIVE SERVICE IN WHICH A PLASTIC COATING IS PLACED ON THE CHEWING SURFACE OF THE TEETH TO PREVENT FUTURE CAVITIES IN CHILDREN.
BOTH PROGRAMS INCLUDE MAN, MANDATORY ROTATIONS, BOTH FOR BOTH DENTAL STUDENTS AND DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS AT THE UT SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY.
THIS OFFERS CHANCE FOR THE STUDENTS TO PROVIDE THE PREVENTIVE SERVICES SCREENINGS, THE FLUORIDE VINOUS TREATMENTS WITH THE CHILDREN.
STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE CHILDHOOD CAVITIES, ALONG WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND THE DISPARITIES IN THEIR OWN CITY.
THESE PROGRAMS SERVES THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN'S IN BEXAR COUNTY EACH YEAR.
THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES OF TEXAS CHILDREN.
ORAL HEALTH IS MUCH MORE THAN DENTAL CARE.
IT SHAPES HOW CHILDREN EAT, HOW THEY SPEAK, LEARN, SOCIALIZE, AND THRIVE.
IT INFLUENCES SCHOOL READINESS, FAMILY WELLBEING, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, AND THE BROADER FOUNDATIONS OF LIFELONG HEALTH.
YET ITS IMPACT MANY TIMES IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN CONVERSATIONS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHILD WELLBEING.
THE PROGRAMS MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF WHOLE CHILD HEALTH.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ON BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CRITICAL ROLE IT HELPS IN IMPROVING A CHILD'S OVERALL HEALTH.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LYDIA ALMAREZ.
GOOD MORNING CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LYAL MAREZ AND FOR 51 YEARS FROM THANK YOU, FROM JANUARY, 1974 TO JULY, 2025, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF THE HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM AS A NURSING AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SPECIALISTS FOR FIVE DECADES, I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND WHAT POVERTY LOOKS LIKE IN THE EYES OF A CHILD.
AND I ALSO WITNESS AND HOPE AND HOPE LOOKS WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP, LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE
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WITH METRO HEALTH ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, HEAD START'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES.ORAL HEALTH IS NOT JUST ONE OF THOSE SERVICES, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT AND FOR DECADES, METRO HEALTH ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE HEARTBEAT OF THAT MISSION.
EVERY YEAR WE WORKED SIDE BY SIDE TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN HAD ACCESS TO CONTINUOUS DENTAL CARE.
METRO DENTAL PROFESSIONALS REVIEWED EVERY CHILD'S HEALTH STATUS, HELPED US ENSURE THEY WERE UP TO DATE ON SCREENINGS AND GUIDED US THROUGH THE EARLY PERIODIC SCREENING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS.
THEY DIDN'T JUST SHOW UP, THEY PARTNERED, THEY TAUGHT, AND THEY SUPPORTED US.
WHEN DENTAL CLINICS WERE SCHEDULED AT OUR SCHOOLS, METRO DENTAL STAFF TRAINED OUR FAMILY SERVICE WORKERS, SUPPORTED OUR TEACHERS AND REVIEWED EVERY CONSTANT FORM AND MADE SURE EVERY DETAIL WAS CORRECT.
SO CHILDREN WERE SAFE AND PARENTS WERE INFORMED.
ON CLINIC DAYS, THEY TREATED ISHA WITH PATIENCE, GENTLENESS, AND DIGNITY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, PARENTS WALKED AWAY WITH ANSWERS, RESOURCES, AND A PATH FORWARD.
BUT WHAT TOUCHED ME MOST WAS EVERYTHING THEY DID BEYOND THE CLINICS.
THEY ATTENDED PARENT MEETINGS, THEY GAVE OUT THEIR PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION, THEY MET WITH FAMILIES ONE-ON-ONE.
WHEN A PARENT WAS WORRIED OR CONFUSED, THEY SAT ON OUR METRO ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SHARED OUTCOMES, UPDATES AND GUIDANCE.
THEY WERE PRESENT, NOT JUST AS PROFESSIONALS, BUT AS PARTNERS.
IN MY 51 YEARS, I HAVE SEEN CHILDREN WHO COULD NOT DRINK COAL MILK, COAL MILK BECAUSE THEIR TEETH HURT TOO MUCH.
I HAVE SEEN LITTLE ONES WHO NOT COULDN'T BUY IT INTO AN APPLE BECAUSE OF SEVERE DECAY.
I HAVE HELD THREE YEAR OLDS WHO CRIED FROM PAIN.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER FEAR I HAVE.
AND EVERY TIME METRO DENTAL PROFESSIONALS STEPPED IN WITH COMPASSION SKILL AND A GENUINE LOVE FOR THESE CHILDREN, THIS PARTNERSHIP IS NOT SIMPLY A CONTRACT.
IT IS EARLY INTERVENTION AND IT IS DIGNITY.
IT IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHILD SUFFERING AND SILENCE AND A CHILD SMILING WITHOUT FEAR.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, NOT JUST AS A RETIRED HEAD START SPECIALIST, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED WITH THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES.
I KNOW WHAT THIS PROGRAM MEANS.
I KNOW WHAT IT SAVES, AND I KNOW WHAT WILL BE LOST WITHOUT IT.
SO I'M ASKING TRULY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THAT YOU CONTINUE THE CONTRACT WITH THE METRO ORAL AND HEALTH PROGRAM.
THE CHILDREN OF HEAD START ARE COUNTING ON YOU.
THEY NEED YOU, AND THEY DESERVE THE CARE THIS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR CARING FOR THE CHILDREN WHO NEED US THE MOST.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS DAVID SINGLETON.
I'VE HAD A DENTAL PRACTICE IN DISTRICT 10 FOR 24 YEARS.
UH, WITHIN THAT TIME ALSO, I WORKED PART-TIME, UH, WITH THESE PROGRAMS AND ACTUALLY WAS A PART-TIME DENTIST, UH, FOR THE CITY.
UM, SO I'VE BEEN IN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM HANDS-ON WITH THESE CHILDREN.
WE'VE SEEN THE KIDS FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY UP TO THIRD GRADE, AND THEY COME IN MANY TIMES.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER EVEN SEEN A DENTIST.
AS THEY COME INTO US, WE GO INTO THE SCHOOLS, UH, WE HAVE ALL THE SUPPLIES THAT WE NEED, THE EQUIPMENT, UH, WE SEAT THEM DOWN.
I LOOK IN THERE AND I NOTICE SO OFTEN MANY DECAY TEETH THAT THEY HAVE.
UH, I SEE BIG HOLES IN THE TEETH AND EVIDENTLY THE MANY TIMES THE PARENTS ARE JUST NOT AWARE OF THE HUGE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS.
I'LL ASK THE KID, THE CHILD, ARE YOU IN PAIN? AND THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE 6-YEAR-OLD KID, UHHUH.
BUT IF I HAD NOT ASKED THEM, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN TELL ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THIS CHRONIC PAIN IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
SO IT'S, AND WE ARE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
WE SEE INFECTIONS AND WE GET THEM TO A DENTIST TO GET THEM A DENTAL HOME AND, UH, MOST, AND THEY HELP THEM TO GET ON MEDICAID IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.
SO I JUST CAN'T OVEREMPHASIZE THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THIS PROGRAM MEANS.
AND IN FACT, THIS IS, THIS PROGRAM IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THESE CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
NOBODY ELSE CAN DO WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.
JUST THE NATURE OF DECAY, WHICH I'M SURE MANY OF Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF.
BUT THE FACT IS, ONCE A TOOTH GETS A DECAY, IT DOES NOT GO AWAY.
IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE AND EVENTUALLY REACHES THE POINT TO WHERE THERE IS PAIN OR THERE IS INFECTION.
AND IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE HEALTH OF THE CHILD BY GETTING THESE KIDS INTO
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THE, UH, DENTIST WHERE THESE IT'S TREATED, IT'S REALLY A LIFE CHANGING THING FOR 'EM.AND A LOT OF TIMES PARENTS WILL THINK, WELL, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BABY TOOTH.
WELL, THE PROBLEM IS A BABY TOOTH THAT GETS INFECTED AFFECTS THE PERMANENT TOOTH THAT'S DOWN UNDERNEATH.
SO THE, LIKE I SAY, IT'S, IT'S A LIFE CHANGING THING.
WE HAD TWO YEARS OF COVID WHERE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO TREAT THESE CHILDREN.
AND WHEN WE CAME BACK AFTER THOSE TWO YEARS, IT'S, IT WAS SO DISRUPTING FOR US TO SEE SUCH AN INCREASE IN THE DECAY AND HOW BAD IT WAS.
SO, UM, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS THAT THIS PROGRAM, THAT IT CON CONTINUE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AND MANY, MANY OTHERWISE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEIR HEALTH ISSUES.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFECTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIFE CHANGING THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.
THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS I SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY, UM, WITH THE GREAT PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ITEM TWO, UH, WHICH IS AN OVERVIEW AND UPDATE OF THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR METRO HEALTH.
I DON'T REALLY GET TO DO THAT OFTEN, SO.
ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING, UH, COMMITTEE HEALTH COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
JACOB FROM, UH, THE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED METRO HEALTH AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ABOUT OUR ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE, UH, COMMENTARY FROM OUR GUEST SPEAKERS.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, YOU, WE KICKED OFF OUR SERIES LAST OCTOBER TO PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS THAT MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE LAPSE OF THE MEDICAID 1115 WAIVER RESERVE FUNDING, UH, WHICH WILL EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THE PREVIOUS EXAMPLES, UH, FOR OUR PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE DIABETES PROGRAM AS WELL AS OUR HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM, AS WE ADDRESS THE LOOMING FISCAL CONSTRAINTS EXPERIENCED BY OUR TEAM AS WELL AS PARTNERS ON THE GROUND.
SO, UH, I'LL BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF ORAL HEALTH.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UH, THE PROGRAM ITSELF AND IMPLICATIONS AND NEXT STEPS.
JUST KNOW THAT I'LL PROVIDE THIS OVERVIEW.
AND I AM JOINED BY MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM AND OUR CLINICAL, UH, OUR DENTAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR, DR.
A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO, UH, NORMA SUFUENTES, WHO IS OUR ADMINISTRATOR FOR OUR MATERNAL INFANT CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SECTION, ONE OF OUR LARGEST SECTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS MEREDITH, HOW, WHO IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT AS WELL TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARJORIE WHITE, WHO OVERSEES THE DIVISION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY.
SO WITH THIS, UH, ZOOMING OUT FOR A FEW SLIDES, THEN I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF.
THIS IS DEVELOPED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
IT MEASURES THE NATION'S PROGRESS IN CRITICAL AREAS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING ORAL HEALTH, UH, THE LEADING HEALTH INDICATORS ABOUT INCREASING THE USE OF ORAL HEALTHCARE, THE ORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
AND THESE ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE DATA AVAILABLE REFLECTED IN THAT, UH, 10 YEAR PLAN.
AND THE BENCHMARKS, JUST KNOW THAT THE DATA REPRESENT 10 YEAR TARGETS ACROSS A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
WHILE THE MOST RECENT NATIONAL DATA USED TO ESTABLISH THESE TARGETS PREDATE THE PANDEMIC, THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE INDICATORS REFLECTED, UH, MOSTLY FOCUSING ON AGES THREE TO 19.
JUST KNOW THAT AS YOU'VE HEARD, TOOTH DECAY ALSO REFERRED TO AS CAVITIES OR CARIES ARE THE MOST COMMON CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE, CHRONIC DISEASE THAT IS PREVENTABLE AMONGST, UH, CHILDREN, AGES FIVE TO 17 UNTREATED TOOTH DECAY, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, FROM OUR, UH, SPEAKERS, CAN LEAD TO PAIN AND INFECTION AFFECTING CHILDREN'S OVERALL WELLBEING AS AND HAVING LIFELONG HEALTH IMPACTS.
UH, THIS, WHILE THIS IS, UH, A SIDE BY SIDE LOOKING AT, UH, NATIONAL DATA SET, UH, STATEWIDE SURVEY HERE IN TEXAS, AS WELL AS OUR PROGRAM.
JUST KNOW THAT THE SLIDE SHOWS A SNAPSHOT OF THE PREVALENCE OF UNTREATED YOUTH DECAY.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A PICTURE BASED ON THE AVAILABLE DATA, UH, FROM A FEW DATA SOURCES THAT INCLUDE A NATIONAL DATA SET, A STATEWIDE SURVEY ADMINISTERED AS WELL AS THE MOST COMPLETE SCHOOL YEAR FOR OUR ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
JUST KNOW THAT THE NATIONAL DATA SHOWED THAT ONE IN SIX ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AGES, UH, SIX THROUGH NINE HAD, UH, AN, UH, WERE SCREENED AND SHOWED UNTREATED DUTY.
THE STATEWIDE SURVEY HERE IN TEXAS SHOWED THAT ONE IN FOUR, UH, THIRD GRADERS THAT WERE SCREENED AT THAT TIME.
AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK, UH, IN THE 20 22, 20 23 SURVEY, AND ON THE GROUND HERE IN, UH, SAN ANTONIO, UH, TIED TO OUR OR HEALTH PROGRAM, WE SHOWED THAT A THIRD OF THE THIRD GRADERS THAT WERE SCREENED SHOWED UNTREATED TOOTH DECAY.
JUST KNOW THAT WHILE THIS SLIDE SHOWS A PREVALENCE BASED ON THE PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAM, THIS SPEAKS TO OUR FOCUS AND INTENTIONALITY FOR REACHING THE INTENDED STUDENTS AND THOSE OF HIGHEST NEED.
SO, JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A LOCAL CONUNDRUM, JUST KNOW NATIONALLY, WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE MANY BARRIERS TO
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CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCESSING ORAL HEALTHCARE, BOTH NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY.ON THE SLIDE, WE HAVE A FEW EXAMPLES.
SO, DENTAL CARE IS EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR NON-MEDICAID ELIGIBLE FAMILIES.
MANY FAMILIES WITH THE CHILDREN HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, UM, PROGRAM STILL CANNOT AFFORD THE DENTAL TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED.
FOR MANY FAMILIES, THIS IS DUE TO INEXPERIENCE, NAVIGATING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT MEDICAID AND CHIP CAN COVER, HELP COVER DENTAL CARE, OR NOT KNOWING THAT, UM, UH, WHO THEIR CHILD'S ASSIGNED DENTAL HOME IS, OR EVEN BEING UNSURE HOW TO COMMUNICATE, UM, THE NEED FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, UH, SUCH AS A SINGLE INCOME HOUSEHOLD WHERE A DAY OF MIXED WORK OR, UH, PAY OR FAMILY UNABLE TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE BASIC ESSENTIALS SUCH AS FOOD OR HOUSING.
HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING DENTAL CARE, OFTEN BECOME SECONDARY UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
UM, THE LACK OF EDUCATION, AGAIN, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY AND BABY TEETH, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM, UM, DR. SINGLETON.
AND JUST KNOW THAT PAST EXPERIENCES, WHETHER IT'S FEAR OF VISITING A DENTIST OR PARENTS HAVING FEARS OF THEMSELVES, WHICH IN TURN THEY'RE FEARFUL TO TAKE THEIR CHILD IN FOR TREATMENT.
SO NOW IN THE LOCAL CONTEXT OF OUR EFFORTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM OUR, UH, FROM OUR SPEAKERS, JUST KNOW THAT OVER 50 YEARS ON THE GROUND, OUR ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, NATURAL HEALTH, UH, HAS EXISTED, UM, UH, FOUR, FIVE DECADES.
AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE DECADES.
UH, JUST KNOW, AS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE LINKAGES TO HEAD START.
UH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, UM, WE USED TO BUS, UH, CLIENTS OUR CLINICS TO RECEIVE PREVENTATIVE AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES.
UH, IN THE BACK IN THE NINETIES, WE WERE ABLE TO BILL MEDICAID AND CHIP AT THAT TIME FOR NON-MEDICAID CHIP, UH, CHILDREN WHO WOULD, UH, BUILD A GRANTOR FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
UM, AND AROUND 2006, OUR PARTNERSHIPS EVOLVED.
AND THIS IS, UM, PART OF THE STORY HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF THESE INVESTMENTS IN THIS PROGRAM.
OUR TEAM ON THE GROUND BEGAN ONSITE, UH, MOBILE CLINICS AT HEADSTART SITES UNDER A COLLABORATIVE GRANT WITH UT HEALTH.
UM, AND OUR TEAM AND THE PARENT CHILD INC.
OR PCI STAFF WERE USING, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEIR OWN VEHICLES.
UH, AND WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CARING FOUNDATION OF TEXAS, WE PROVIDED, UH, VAN CARE FOR METRO HEALTH USE.
JUST KNOW THAT OVER THE YEARS THAT WE'VE EVOLVED AND WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, UM, WE HAVE THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UH, REALLY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING OVERALL HEALTH BY PROVIDING ORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCREASING ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED FAMILIES, AND PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION.
UM, JUST KNOW THAT THIS TRIPLE AIM, SO THE WORK IS ROOTED IN THE, UH, THE INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENTS TRIPLE AIM FRAMEWORK, FOCUSING ON IMPROVING INDIVIDUALS ACCESS TO CARE AND CARE EXPERIENCE, IMPROVING POPULATION HEALTH AND REDUCING COSTS.
WITH THAT, THE WORK IS GUIDED BY THE, OR HAVING THE RIGHT PATIENTS FOCUSING ON, UH, THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE RIGHT SERVICE, OR INTERVENING WITH PREVENTIVE CARE, SUCH AS APPLYING FLUORIDE VARNISH OR PLACING SEALANTS AND AT THE RIGHT TIME ANCHORING TO SCHOOL-BASED SETTINGS TO MAKE IT MOST CONVENIENT FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS.
SO IN THE NEXT SEGMENT I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE SERVICES, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY ABOUT THE ORAL HEALTH EXAMS OF VARNISH, THE SEALANTS, THE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND THE REFERRALS.
AND I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH, UH, THREE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM.
BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF HOW WE'RE WE'RE FUNDED.
SO, JUST KNOW THIS IS A, A QUICK, QUICK SNAPSHOT.
THE LEFT SIDE, THE TABLE REFLECTS THREE MAIN CATEGORIES OF FUNDING, THE MEDICAID 1115 WAIVER, SOME EXTERNAL GRANTS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
SO, UH, $1.4 MILLION ANCHORED TO THE MEDICAID WAIVER.
AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, OVER A DECADE IN THE MAKING.
WE'VE HAD, UH, SOME GRANTS, UH, THAT AMOUNT TO ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE DEBT SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF.
AND THEN, UH, SOME ANCHORED SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 16% OF THE PROGRAM'S OVERALL BUDGET.
THE PIE CHART ON THE RIGHT THAT SHOWS YOU THE PROGRAM COMPONENTS.
SO I'LL BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE HEALTHY SMILES PROGRAM, OUR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START.
AND YOU CAN SEE AT LEAST THE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT ANCHORING THIS WORK OUT IN COMMUNITY.
SO TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO OUR INITIATIVE, STARTING WITH THE ORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START, THIS PROGRAM COMPONENT ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE PROGRAM BUDGET.
SPECIAL THANKS AND SHOUT OUT TO OUR PARTNERS AT DHS FOR COADMINISTER.
OVER THE YEARS, THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS OLD, ENROLLED IN HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START THROUGH COSA, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AVANSE FAMILY SERVICES ASSOCIATION, AND PARENT CHILD INC.
SERVICES FOR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START.
INCLUDE A LIMITED ORAL HEALTH EXAM TO EVALUATE THE CHILD'S ORAL HEALTH STATUS AND IDENTIFY AREAS OF CONCERN, FLUORIDE, VARNISH APPLICATION, AND ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION.
THE TEAM TRAVELS TO THE FACILITIES AND SET UP MOBILE DENTAL EQUIPMENT ON SITE SO THAT CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE SCHOOL, NOR PARENTS MISS WORK TO RECEIVE SERVICES
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AND ALIGNING WITH THE HEAD START PROTOCOL AND THE RENDED STANDARD FOR PREVENTIVE CARE.HEAD START AT EARLY HEAD START, CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED AN ORAL HEALTH EXAM AND FLUORIDE BIANNUALLY, SPRING AND FALL, UH, WHICH ALSO ASSURES THE HEAD START.
CHILDREN RECEIVE FLUORIDE AT THE INTERVALS RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY.
SO JUST KNOW THAT OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE PREVENTIVE SERVICES IN OUR CLINICS HAVE CONTINUED ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE.
UM, IT'S HARD TO SEE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, BUT JUST KNOW THAT FEBRUARY IS ALSO NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH.
AND SO THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS WITH, UH, DHS THE HEAD START PROGRAM.
WE CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE, UH, THIS EACH FEBRUARY BY CONDUCTING AN ART CONTEST.
WINNERS ARE SELECTED BY A PANEL OF HEAD START OR OLA HEALTH STAFF, AND THEIR ARTWORK IS INCLUDED IN A CALENDAR.
WINNERS ALSO RECEIVE AN ORAL HEALTH GIFT BACK GIFT BASKET TO INCLUDE AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH AND OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES.
SO WE CELEBRATE EARLY, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THAT ACTIVITY'S HAPPENING THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND.
THE SECOND EXAMPLE, MILES OF SMILES.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF OUR PROGRAM.
UM, UH, WE HAVE, UH, NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS OR ABOUT 39% OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM BUDGET.
THE MILES AND SMILES ORAL HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT PARTICIPATING, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IT SERVES PRE-K, UH, OR NON HEADSTART TO THIRD GRADE PRIMARILY, BUT SOMETIMES FOURTH TO SEVENTH GRADERS, AS WELL AS DEPENDENT ON THE SCHOOL.
AS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO SEAL PERMANENT MOLARS.
OUR DENTISTS ALSO PROVIDE ORAL EVALUATIONS IN THE SMILES OF SMILES CLINICS, ALONG WITH FLUORIDE VARNISH APPLICATION, ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION.
AND WITH THE ADDITION OF THE, UH, DENTAL SEAL APPLICATION TO PREVENT CAVITIES ON THE MOLARS OR THE BACK TEETH ADMINISTERED BY OUR TEAM OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS.
JUST KNOW THAT, UH, ALL PARTICIPANTS AND PARENTS RECEIVE A REPORT, UM, FORM OUTLINING THE FINDINGS OF THEIR CHILD'S EXAM, ALONG WITH THE RESOURCES PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN IDENTIFIED WITH URGENT NEED OR CONTACTED BY PHONE AS A FOLLOW UP TO THEIR VISIT.
THE LAST EXAMPLE ARE ALL OF, UH, THE PROGRAM IS ALSO A RECIPIENT OF TITLE V, UM, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH BLOCKER GRANT, OR MCH BLOCKER GRANT RECEIVING FUNDING TO ASSIST CHILDREN AGES SIX MONTHS TO 17 YEARS OLD WHO ARE UNDER OR INSURED OR UNINSURED.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UT HEALTH, THE SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, THE PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT QUALIFYING FAMILIES RECEIVE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE PAID THROUGH THE TITLE V FUNDING, NO COST TO THE FAMILIES.
THE QUALIFICATION IS BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS.
JUST KNOW THAT THE REFERRALS FOR THE TITLE V FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NOT ONLY COME FROM PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MOBILE DENTAL CLINICS THROUGH HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START AND MILES AND SMILES PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED REFERRALS AND INQUIRIES YEAR OVER YEAR.
THE NEED FOR ACCESS TO CARE IS SO SUBSTANTIAL THAT THE STATE FUNDS ALONE ARE EXHAUSTED VERY QUICKLY WITH DEMAND FAR OUTPACING OUR CAPACITY.
UM, AND JUST KNOW THAT, UH, IN THE PAST PROGRAM YEAR, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE, UH, UT SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, WE PROVIDED TITLE V UH, ELIGIBLE DENTAL SERVICES TO OVER 800 CHILDREN THROUGH THIS FUNDING, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE WAIVER AND THE GENERAL FUND.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, THIS MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO READ, BUT JUST KNOW THAT THIS HEAT MAP SHOWS THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDES, UH, PREVENTIVE SERVICES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND HEAD START FACILITIES IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT ACROSS THE CITY, AS WELL AS HO SOME SCHOOLS AND HEAD START CENTERS ACROSS THE GREATER BEAR COUNTY.
DUE TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SIZE, MANY OF THE SCHOOLS WE VISIT ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED AS WELL AS THE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START LOCATIONS.
UH, JUST PAST PROGRAM YEAR, THERE WERE OVER 17,000 PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN THE LAST, UH, SCHOOL YEAR ACROSS, UH, THE COUNTY.
THE HIGHEST NUMBER WERE SERVED IN DISTRICT FIVE.
THE LOWEST NUMBER WERE SERVED IN DISTRICT EIGHT, WHICH CORRELATES WITH THE NUMBER OF SITES ACROSS DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS THE AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED ACROSS THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE ASKED FOR PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING JUDSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND, UH, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A LISTING OF THE SITES WITHIN YOUR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
SO WITH THAT, UH, OF THE, UH, 17,000 CHILDREN WE REACHED, UH, IN THE PAST, UH, SCHOOL YEAR, UM, AGAIN, UH, ONE THIRD OF THE CHILDREN SCREENED, HAD DECAY THAT HAD BEEN TREATED AT THE TIME OF THEIR EXAM, WHEREAS A THIRD SHOWED DECAY THAT HAD NOT YET BEEN TREATED OR UNTREATED.
KEEP IN MIND THAT TREATED AND UNTREATED DECAY CAN BE AND OFTEN IS CO-OCCURRING, MEANING THAT MANY CHILDREN WE ENCOUNTER HAVE ALREADY HAD DENTAL WORK DONE OR, AND HAVE ALSO HAD NEW OR ACTIVE CAVITIES THAT NEED TREATMENT.
ABOUT 5% OF CHILDREN SCREENED HAD SIGNS OF URGENT DENTAL NEED, MEANING SEVERE TOOTH DECAY AND OR ABSCESS OR INFECTION AT THE TIME OF THEIR EXAM.
THIS LEVEL OF DECAY RESULTS IN INCREASED PAIN AND LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MOST CHILDREN THAT ARE EXPERIENCING IT.
[00:25:01]
SOME DISTRICTS THAT HAVE HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF CHILDREN WITH URGENT NEEDS.JUST KNOW THAT THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR MANY YEARS AND HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES TO REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF TOOTH DECAY AMONG CHILDREN INNER CITY.
INEVITABLY, MANY OF THESE BARRIERS TO CARE STILL PERSIST AS YOU HEARD, UH, THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC.
UM, AND WE'VE FOUND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITH DECAY AND URGENT NEEDS, AND WE'RE STILL, UH, ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF THAT, UH, ON THE GROUND.
SO I DO HAVE, UH, THIS IS A VERY SHORT VIDEO JUST TO SHOW THE TEAM IN ACTION AND THEN I'LL COMPLETE MY PRESENTATION.
SO WE DO HAVE AT LEAST A WAY FOR YOU TO SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER AND THE IMPACTS OF THE WORK AND COMMUNITY, BUT JUST KNOW THAT, UH, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN VIEW AT YOUR LEISURE.
SO LET ME END BY SAYING THAT, UH, AT OUR CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL, WE HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, WE KNOW THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE MEDICAID 1115 WAIVER WILL END AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR.
UM, WE KNOW THAT, UM, MOST OF THE POSITIONS, AGAIN, 35 AND 39 POSITIONS THAT SUPPORT BOTH CLINICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE PROGRAM ARE SUPPORTED BY THE WAIVER, AS IS THE, UH, ENTIRETY OF THE SMILES, MILES OF SMILES OPERATIONAL BUDGET, WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO ELEMENTARY AGE SCHOOL, U AGE YOUTH, UH, MOST AT RISK FOR CAVITIES.
JUST KNOW THAT WHILE, UH, UM, THE WORK CONTINUES IN TERMS OF OUR PLANNING, ADDITIONAL DETAIL WORK ON THE OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF THE FUNDING REDUCTION IS ONGOING AS THE TEAM EVALUATES THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR SUSTAINING OR SUNSETTING COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM.
AGAIN, GIVEN THE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE EXPECTED AFTER THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THESE RESERVE FUNDS, JUST KNOW THAT THIS ANALYSIS WILL BE PRESENTED AS PART OF THE FY 27 BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH WILL BE SHARED WITH FULL COUNCIL.
SO WE REMAIN PROUD OF THE TEAM'S INNOVATION, DEDICATION, AND OVERALL RESILIENCE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST, UH, DECADES.
UM, DESPITE THESE LOOMING FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, WE REMAIN DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE NEEDS OF AREA RESIDENTS AS WE RESPOND TO THE NATIONAL CONUNDRUM AND THE INSTABILITY OF FUNDING.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
UM, MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, YOU WANNA START WITH THE COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE CONVERSATION? ANYONE WANNA START? FIRST? COUNCIL WHITE.
UM, CLAUDE, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANNA NOTE, UM, STRONG SUPPORT FOR, UH, FOR THE PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S REALLY MEETING KIDS WHERE THEY ARE, LIKE WE SAW IN SCHOOLS AND THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS.
AND, UM, THERE ARE, UM, HUNDREDS OF, OF KIDS IN, UM, DISTRICT 10 THAT ARE, THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM THE PROGRAM.
AND SO, UM, REALLY, REALLY PLEASED THAT, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE SUPPORTING IT.
UM, JUST QUICK QUESTIONS ON IF WE'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, REPLACEMENT FUNDING IN THE, TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, UM, LEAVE US.
SO THIS IS ONE OF, UM, THREE EXAMPLES.
UH, THE SAME WITH DIABETES PROGRAM, THE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM.
NO, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED REPLACEMENT FUNDING.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, WITH THE IMPACTS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CHANGES TO FUNDING STREAMS, UH, WE'RE MAKING A CASE FOR THE IMPACTS OF THE PROGRAM ON THE GROUND.
BUT NOW, AS OF YET, NO, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED REPLACEMENT FUNDING.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR OTHER FUNDING STREAMS, BUT THIS IS REALLY A WAY FOR YOU TO SEE THE IMPACTS OF THE WAIVER AS WELL AS THE OTHER SUPPORT OF EXTERNAL FUNDS THAT WE'VE LEVERAGED OVER THE YEARS.
AND, AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE GENERAL FUND WAS, UM, I DIDN'T WRITE IT DOWN, BUT SOMEWHERE AROUND AROUND 400,000 OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE, UH, YES SIR.
SO IF, IF THE WAIVER GOES IT'S ABOUT A MILLION MILLION FOUR, THAT HAS TO BE FOUND, RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, I GUESS SOME WORK'S GONNA BE DONE BETWEEN NOW AND, UH, WHEN WE PASS THE BUDGET THIS COMING YEAR TO SEE IF THERE'S MORE FUNDING AVAILABLE,
SO FOR NOW, THIS IS, UH, A SNAPSHOT SO YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACTS AND, UH, THIS DOVETAILS WITH A BROADER FY 27 BUDGET.
ARE THERE OTHER GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE OUT THERE? YEAH, WE'RE SHAKING EVERY TREE.
UM, YEAH, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY, ONLY PROGRAM, BUT JUST KNOW THAT EVEN FUNDERS ARE TRYING TO RESET WHERE THEY'RE ALLOCATING OR REALLOCATING DOLLARS FOR DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.
WELL THIS, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT I THINK REALLY, UM, IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN, IN CHILDREN'S HEALTH LEARNING AND, AND, UH, OVERALL WELLBEING.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, DOLLARS ARE, DOLLARS ARE CERTAINLY TIGHT.
UH, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, UH, SUPPORT THE PROGRAM IN, IN A REASONABLE
[00:30:01]
WAY, I'M CERTAINLY FOR THAT.THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
DO WE PARTNER WITH PRE-K FOUR SA ON THIS INITIATIVE? WE DO PARTNER WITH, UH, PRE-K FOR SA.
WE DO PARTNER WITH JUST HEAD START.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH PRE-K FOR SA OR, OKAY.
THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY YES.
TO PARTNER WITH PRE-K FOR SA OR INVITE ANY OTHER PARTNERS.
YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN, JUST THAT SEEMS LIKE A, LIKE AN OBVIOUS PARTNERSHIP TO ME, SO I HOPE WE CAN SET SOMETHING UP THERE.
I KNOW THE NUMBERS IN DISTRICT EIGHT ARE RATHER LOW.
UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S, 'CAUSE THE NEED ISN'T THERE.
UM, BUT JUST HAVE TO BE EXTRA CREATIVE, I GUESS, ON WHO WE, WHO WE CONNECT WITH IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE DO HAVE A PRE-K FOR SA FACILITY IN, IN DISTRICT A OFF MEDICAL.
SO I HOPE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, A PARTNERSHIP IS POSSIBLE THERE.
AND I ALSO NOTICED THE, UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ON THE LOWER END DISTRICT EIGHT, THERE'S STILL THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF URGENT NEED.
I DIDN'T, UM, IF, IF, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN HELP KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT OR I'M GONNA INVITE DR. DAVENPORT TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE, UH, CHILDREN OF HIGHEST NEED.
SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE CONNECT WITH, THERE'S SPECIFIC DISTRICTS AND SPECIFIC HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS THAT WE CONNECT WITH WITHIN THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
A SCHOOL HAS TO BE A TITLE ONE SCHOOL MM-HMM
SO IF YOUR DISTRICT HAS VERY FEW TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, THAT'S GONNA BE WHY WE DON'T HAVE A CONNECTION WITH THEM.
HOWEVER, THOSE SCHOOLS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE NEEDED, IF THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN YOUR AREA ARE SO HIGH, WE'RE GETTING TO THOSE KIDS THAT ARE MOST, MOST NEEDY.
SO EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PERCENTAGES OF, VERSUS THE STATE OF TEXAS OVERALL.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS IS LOOKING AT EVERY KID.
SO THEY'RE TAKING A SNAPSHOT OF A GENERAL OVERVIEW.
WE ARE ONLY LOOKING AT THOSE KIDS THAT ARE IN THOSE TITLE ONE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING THE GREATEST NEED.
SO THAT'S WHY OUR PERCENTAGES LOOK SO MUCH GREATER.
I, I GUESS, UM, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A, I GUESS I'M JUST FLAGGING THE, AND IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF URGENT NEED WAS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF PARTICIPANTS.
AND THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS WHERE THERE'S LARGE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS IN THOSE AREAS, AND THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE SEE HAVE A LOT OF URGENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
THEY ALSO HAVEN'T GROWN UP WITH COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION, WHICH HAS HEALTH, THOSE TEETH BE HEALTHIER OVERALL.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
YEAH, DEFINITELY IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO GO OUT TO SOME OF THE NONPROFITS THAT DO A LOT OF WORK WITH OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION, A REFUGEE POPULATION IN DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, TO GIVE THEM A, NO PUN INTENDED, BUT GIVE THEM A HEADSTART OF THE PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOLS.
UM, 'CAUSE THE MORE EDUCATION THEY HAVE AROUND WHAT PROGRAMS EVEN ARE IN THE SCHOOL ITSELF, IT'S HELPFUL.
SO WE HAVE A MOSQUE IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
I THINK THAT, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A THOUSAND FOLKS THAT GO EVERY WEEK.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE ONE OF THOSE, UM, PLACES I THINK WE COULD, UH, COMMUNICATE OR WORK WITH THEM EXPAND.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE MORE MONEY.
UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO EXPAND THAT.
THAT'S SPEAKING TO THE MICROPHONE, BUT JUST KNOW TO YOUR POINT, UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE PROGRAM OVER THE YEARS.
UH, ONE OF THE CORE TENETS OF OUR DISCIPLINE IS ABOUT MOBILIZING AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS ON THE GROUND.
EVERY DISTRICTS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE SUGGESTIONS FOR US TO YEAH.
AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE, UM, CONTACT AND, AND CONNECT Y'ALL.
'CAUSE IT IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF, OF HEALTHCARE REALLY DOES START IN THE MOUTH.
WE'VE GOT DENTISTS HERE THAT WOULD SAY THAT AND AGREE.
'CAUSE THAT THEN LEADS TO DIABETES AND WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, HIGH PERCENTAGE OF DIABETES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT REALLY DOES START, START THERE.
SO HOWEVER WE CAN BE HELPFUL, UM, TO CONNECT YOU AND DISTRICT EIGHT, UM, KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE HERE AND JUST A QUICK THANK YOU TO THE, THE FOLKS THAT CAME TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID.
IT'S CLOSE TO PROBABLY 80 YEARS OF SERVICE AMONGST THE THREE OF Y'ALL, WHICH IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
SO THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME AND YOUR PRACTICE TO THE KIDS IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, ALSO DID ALSO WANNA THANK THE, UM, FOLKS WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK.
[00:35:01]
VALUABLE.WE KNOW THAT MOST KIDS STILL NEED HELP BRUSHING THEIR TEETH UNTIL THE AGE OF EIGHT.
I WAS CURIOUS THOUGH, ON SLIDES THREE OR FOUR ON, UM, THE NUMBER OF TREAT, UH, TREATED.
HOW HAVE WE SEEN THESE NUMBERS CHANGE OVER TIME FOR THE CITY? THANK YOU.
UM, SO WHAT WE SAW PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC IS WE, WE HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR A LONG TIME.
WE WERE SEEING THOSE NUMBERS SLOWLY GO DOWN MM-HMM
AND WE WERE SEEING OUR URGENTS GO DOWN.
THEY HAD STAYED AROUND ABOUT 3% AND WE WERE GETTING DOWN CLOSER TO ABOUT 2.7% POST PANDEMIC.
UM, BECAUSE THE KIDS, THEIR DIET WAS DIFFERENT, THEIR HABITS WERE DIFFERENT.
THEY WEREN'T GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO MAYBE THEY WEREN'T BRUSHING THEIR TEETH BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GONNA BE BREATHING IN PEOPLE'S FACES.
WE CAME BACK FROM CVID AND NOT ONLY DID OUR URGENTS INCREASE, BUT OUR URGENTS BECAME MORE URGENT.
SO INSTEAD OF A CHILD HAVING ONE ABSCESS MM-HMM
THEY WOULD HAVE AN ABSCESS ON EACH SIDE.
SO WHEN YOU, WHEN IT HURTS ON THIS SIDE, YOU EAT ON THIS SIDE MM-HMM
WELL NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD SIDE TO EVEN EAT ON.
SO, SO WE HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, AS WE WE'RE SITTING AROUND 3% DOWN TO ABOUT 2.7, THAT NOW WE'RE ABOUT 4.6% URGENT CASES.
SO YES, WE'VE SEEN A DRASTIC AND THAT ALSO OUR POPULATION IS EVER IN INCREASING.
YEAH, BECAUSE I, I DEFINITELY WANT US TO STILL YEAH.
THAT, THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
YOU KNOW, I, I WANT US TO, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE GET BACK ON THAT DOWNWARD TREND THAT WE'RE MAKING A DENT IN THIS ISSUE FOR OUR KIDDOS.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS ON HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET IS GOING TO, UH, EITHER MARKETING OR INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL, YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS TO, IF THEY'RE GONNA GET SOMETHING SWEET, EAT CHOCOLATE INSTEAD OF LIKE GUMMY WORMS OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
UM, HOW MUCH ARE WE DOING, UH, OF THAT? WE, WE CAN, TO PREVENT IT REALLY, WE CAN PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN.
AGAIN, PRIMARY PREVENTION, IT'S REALLY AROUND EDUCATING.
UM, SO WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR PARTNERS, THE STAFF, UM, BUT IN TERMS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, WE CAN PULL THAT UP FOR YOU THEN IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE ALLOCATED SPECIFIC TO MARKETING.
AND THEN ALSO TOO, I MEAN, I WAS THINKING THROUGH, UH, YOU KNOW, PARTNER KIND OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN, MEA GONZALEZ, HOWEVER WE COULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE COUNCIL OFFICES HAVE DIFFERENT EVENTS AND, UM, TONS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SHARING, UH, THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION WITH, WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
SO, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN, UM, YEAH, THAT'S, THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, THE COMMENTS.
JACOB FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL AS TO DAVID, LYDIA, AND BEATRICE FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM.
UH, I APPRECIATE THIS BRIEFING AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT BUDGET CONVERSATION, THAT THIS REMAINS A PRIORITY, UH, TO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SEE ANY REDUCTIONS AND THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY EXPAND THE PROGRAM, UH, INTO PRE-K FOR ESSAY, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
UM, THIS IS JUST, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED, RIGHT? THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL HEALTH.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, COUPLED WITH THAT, I BELIEVE IN APRIL, UM, WITH SNAP BENEFITS, THERE'S SOME CHANGE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGES IN WHICH THE TYPE OF ITEMS YOU CAN PURCHASE.
SO YOU CAN NO LONGER PURCHASE, UH, VERY SUGARY DRINKS AND OR CANDY BARS.
UM, SO I'M HOPEFUL WITH THOSE CHANGES, WE'LL ALSO SEE A REDUCTION IN KIDS, UH, WITH UNTREATED TOOTH DECAY.
UM, BUT UNTIL THEN, RIGHT, UNTIL WE SEE THOSE RESULTS, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THIS PROGRAM.
SO APPRECIATE THIS BRIEFING AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE THAT WE, UM, MAINTAIN, IF NOT INCREASE THE FUNDING, GIVEN THE BUDGET DEFICIT AND THE REMOVAL, UM, OF, OF THE POTEN THE GAP THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE.
'CAUSE THIS PROGRAM'S GOING TO END.
JACOB, AND THANK YOU CHAIR COUNCILMAN.
MR.
DID THIS COME UP IN THE TABLETOP EXERCISE THAT Y'ALL COMPLETED? OR? SO, UM, YOU'LL GET A FORMAL BRIEFING IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. UM, SO WE HAVE A, A SHORT LIST.
UM, IS THIS IN THERE? I'LL PUT IT IN IF IT'S FINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE QUESTION.
MY NAME JUSTINA TATE ON THE INTERIM ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
SO YES, THIS WAS PART OF THE TABLETOP EXERCISE.
UH, WE LOOKED AT HEALTH GRANTS, UH, HUMAN HUMAN SERVICES GRANT, AS WELL AS HOUSING AND HOMELESS GRANTS.
SO THE, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS FUNDING IS GOING AWAY A HUNDRED PERCENT MM-HMM
UM, THE OTHER SCENARIOS THAT WE RAN WERE 50%, BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT AS PART OF THE REPORT THAT'LL BE PROVIDING IN, UH, FEBRUARY.
UH, I HAD A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.
UM, I KNOW FOR THE MILES AND SMILES PROGRAM, I THINK THAT ONE WAS, IS REALLY INTERESTING.
ONE, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY SCHOOLS,
[00:40:01]
UM, WE'RE SERVING WITH THAT PROGRAM? WE CAN ALSO GET A FOLLOW UP MEMO, BUT, SO WE HAVE OVER 200 SITES, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF, UH, HOW MANY SCHOOLS.SO WE KNOW THAT A THIRD OF THE COASTAL SITE, THE, UH, EARLY HEAD START, UH, SITES ARE ANCHORED TO COSA, BUT WE'LL GET YOU THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS SERVED BY MILES AND SPOUSES.
UH, AND HOW OFTEN ARE SERVICES PROVIDED THERE? I KNOW IN THE HEAD START, ONE SAID BI-ANNUALLY, BUT IN NON HEADSTART ONES, ARE THERE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES, OR IS IT ALSO TWICE A YEAR? I'LL HAVE DR.
OUR, OUR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START ARE TWICE A YEAR AND OUR MILES OF SMILES RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FUNDING THAT ALLOWS US TO DO ONE.
OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE A SECOND ONE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US THEN TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHICH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE RESOLVED AND WHICH THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE.
UM, I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE EVEN JUST A MEMO, UH, TO THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE, JUST ABOUT HOW THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND WELL ALL OF 'EM, MILES SMILE, BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM IMPACTS, UH, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
IF THAT'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN REALLY TIE TO, I DUNNO IF WE HAVE THAT DATA IN ANY SENSE, BUT I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF WE COULD.
UM, AND FOR BOTH OF THE PROGRAMS, OR I GUESS FOR THE ENTIRE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC ONES, UH, THAT, UH, HELP MEET THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLDS, UH, DENTAL CARE, OR IS IT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN? DO YOU MIND REPEATING THE QUESTION? YEAH, I WAS WONDERING, I GUESS FOR EACH OF THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS LISTED TODAY, UHHUH, UM, DO ANY OF THEM, UH, IMPACT THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD, UH, DENTAL NEEDS, OR IS IT JUST SPECIFICALLY THE CHILDREN ENROLLED? SO OUR TITLE V PROGRAM, ONCE ONE MEMBER OF THAT FAMILY IS ENROLLED THERE, IT GOES FOR ALL OF THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD.
UM, WHAT WE DO ALSO SHARE IS INFORMATION TO HELP CONNECT ADULTS.
SO IF THEIR PARENTS ARE GRANDPARENTS, WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THOSE EXAMS IN FLUORIDE, BUT WE ARE CONNECTING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN OUR CITY FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG FOLLOW UPS I WAS WANTING TO KNOW WITH ALL OF THESE WAS THAT WHAT'S THE CONNECTION TO LONG-TERM CARE? I KNOW WE DO THE REFERRAL PROCESS, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON FOLKS WHO ARE ENROLLED FULLY AND HAVE STAYED WITH IT FOR A WHILE, UH, WITH OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S ADULTS OR CHILDREN, OR I GUESS MAYBE ADULT MAKES THE MOST SENSE? N NO, WE, UM, UH, WE DON'T GATHER ALL OF THAT.
BUT, UH, WE CAN AT LEAST TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WHAT WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE.
RIGHT? THE, WE'RE DOING THOSE SERVICES DIRECTLY.
I THINK IT'S A PRIMARY MISSION AND THEN OF COURSE THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT.
BUT ONCE THE KIDS AGE OUT OF MEDICAID OR CHIP, UM, OR I GUESS OF CHIP, UM, OR TITLE V EVEN, WHERE DO THEY GO NEXT? RIGHT.
AND IF THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GET THE DENTAL CARE AND IDEALLY, I THINK WE TRY TO KEEP IT THERE AND I HOPE IT DOES, AND I ANTICIPATE IT WILL 'CAUSE IT'S MORE EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO THEM.
THAT MAY BE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT JUST WANNA SEE IF THERE'S ANY TREND LINE THERE.
I'M REALLY SUPPORTIVE COUNSELOR WHERE OTHERS THAT GIVE THOSE POINT, POINT ABOUT THE KIND OF YEAR TO YEAR CHANGE.
UH, I KNOW IT'S WITHIN CHILDREN, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT ADULTS TOO.
UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO OFTEN MENTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE CONNECTION OF READY TO WORK THERE AND THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP, UH, WITH DENTAL CARE.
AND SO JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, UH, FROM OUR PROGRAM.
USUALLY OVER TIME YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, BUT JUST KNOW THAT NATIONALLY THE STUDIES LOOK AT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CARIES AND ABSENTEEISM OR ASTHMA RATES AND ABSENTEEISM.
SO WE'LL DRILL DOWN AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO, BUT POINT WELL TAKEN.
UH, ONE OF THE LAST QUESTIONS I HAD WAS JUST, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY DATA INCLUDED FROM OUR PARTNERS ABOUT HOW THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM IS HELPING IDENTIFY OTHER LINKED DISEASES THAT COUNSELOR, ME GONZALEZ MENTIONED, DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR, ET CETERA? YEAH, CLEARLY THE MOUTH IS CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE BODY, AND SO WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE CORRELATIONS, BUT FOR NOW WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON PEDIATRIC POPULATION.
BUT WE COULD LOOK AT HOW THESE ARE CORRELATED WITH OTHER DISEASES THAT WE SEE HERE.
THAT'D BE GREAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
WE'LL GO TO ITEM THREE, UH, WHICH IS UPDATED IN CURRENT STATUS AND ON ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOWARD PETE GREENWELLS TRACELESS TRAIL SYSTEM, THE HOMEWORK EXCUSE.
MY NAME IS HOMER GARCIA PARKS DIRECTOR, AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL BE PROVIDED BY BRANDON ROSS, WHO LEADS OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
BUT I WANNA PROVIDE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS TO KIND OF TEE THIS UP AND SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UM, SO THE HOWARD W PEAK GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM, UH, AS WE STAND RIGHT NOW, IS MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY IN THE MAKING.
SO JUST KIND OF LET THAT RESONATE A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE MORE THAN 100 MILES OF TRAILS WITH THE ULTIMATE VISION, MUCH LIKE LOOP 1604, THAT WILL ENTIRE ALL OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, SEAMLESSLY CONNECTING CITYWIDE ACROSS EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, UM, BY THE NUMBERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A SLIDE IN THE UPCOMING PRESENTATION THAT TALKS ABOUT FUNDING, BUT ORIGINALLY THIS PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED WITH THE SALES TAX SELECTION DATING TO 2000, AND THAT SALES TAX SELECTION WAS SUCCESSFULLY RENEWED THROUGH 2015.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THAT PERIOD, UH,
[00:45:01]
$190 MILLION HAS COME IN TO THE CITY FOR THE BUILD OUT OF THIS TRAIL NETWORK AND THEN MOVING AND PIVOTING AWAY FROM SALES TAX.UH, THE 2022 BOND PROVIDED ANOTHER $103.5 MILLION TO CONTINUE THE BUILD OUT, THE BUILD OUT AND INVESTMENT IN THE HOWARD WP GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM.
AND IN FEBRUARY, MARCH OF 2022, THERE WAS AN INTERLOCAL TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY, THE RIVER AUTHORITY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHERE THE COUNTY OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR 10 YEAR CAPITAL PROGRAM IS GONNA BE PROVIDING NEARLY $84 MILLION TO AUGMENT AND TO AUGMENT AND CONTINUE INVESTMENT IN THIS TRAIL NETWORK.
AND JUST THIS PAST, UH, FALL, AND THIS WAS PART OF MY BUDGET PRESENTATION, UH, FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE FIRST TRANCHE OF TRAILS, UH, UNDER THE TRI-PARTY ILA FOR THE COUNTY IS MORE THAN $13 MILLION.
AND THAT IS, UH, TO EXTEND SAAM MOTA CREEK ACROSS DISTRICTS FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN.
AND SO THE RIVER AUTHORITY, THEIR ROLE IN THIS TRI-PARTY ILA, THEY EFFECTIVELY FUNCTION AS PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE COUNTY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, ON OUR END, WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND DOING PLAN REVIEWS, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE CELL NETWORK ITSELF, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT'S FUNDED OR DESIGNED, LOOKS SEAMLESS TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS.
AND ALL OF THE O AND M, UH, IS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO THEY BUILD THE TRAILS, WE OWN THEM, WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE THEM.
SO I'LL KIND OF LET THAT BE THE BACKDROP TO THE PRESENTATION THAT BRANDON WILL WALK THROUGH.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION, HOMER.
I'M THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS MANAGER FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ON THE GREENWAY TRAILS PROGRAM NOW FOR, UH, 20 YEARS AND HAVE, HAVE REALLY ENJOYED, UM, MY PARTICIPATION IN IT.
SO, UM, I'LL START WITH THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO APPROXIMATELY 1998, HOWARD PEAK AND HIS COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME BEGAN TO, UH, DRUM UP SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA OF BUILDING A NETWORK OF HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ALONG, UH, PRIMARILY SATO CREEK, LEON CREEK, MEDINA RIVER, AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER.
AND, UH, SO THAT BUILT SOME SUPPORT.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE WORD OUT AND, UM, GET IT ON THE BALLOT FOR 2000.
AND SO AT, IN 2000, THAT WAS THE, UM, SORRY.
UM, THAT WAS THE FIRST SALES TAX ELECTION.
UM, THE FIRST SALES TAX ELECTION WAS 2000 THAT PROVIDED, UM, $20 MILLION.
AND EACH OF THE SALES TAX ELECTIONS THAT FOLLOWED IN 2005, 2010 AND 2015 WERE PASSED WITH LARGE MAJORITIES.
UM, WE GOT 45 MILLION IN 2005, 45 MILLION IN 2010, AND THEN 80 MILLION 2015.
SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SALES TAX THAT WE'VE COLLECTED, UH, OVER THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN 190 MILLION IN 2021.
THAT'S WHEN THE BEXAR COUNTY, UH, PROGRAM WAS INITIATED THAT INCLUDED, THESE INCLUDED A LARGE PACKAGE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, BUT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED $83.4 MILLION, UH, TO BE CONTRIBUTED FROM THE COUNTY TO THE PROGRAM TO HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ON THE HOWARD W PEAK SYSTEM.
AND THEN IN 2022, THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT, UH, THE, THE PROGRAM WAS FUNDED BY THE BOND, UH, 22 BOND, UH, PROVIDED $103.5 MILLION TO CONTINUE THE EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAM.
SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE MISSION OF THE PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
UH, BUT THERE ARE SPECIFIC GOALS THAT WE HAVE AND THAT IS TO, UH, EXPAND AND PROVIDE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SPEND TIME IN THE OUTDOORS.
UM, THAT HAS A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH PUBLIC HEALTH BECAUSE OF COURSE, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND, UH, MENTAL WELLBEING AND BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE, UH, WE HAVE PRESERVED, UH, A LOT OF ACRES OF OPEN SPACE AND, AND CONNECTION OF THE RIPARIAN HABITAT ALONG THE FLOODPLAINS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALTH OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS ALONG THE CREEKS WE'VE PROVIDED FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT EXPANSIONS.
AND WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO CONNECT IN WITH ALL OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT HIKE, UM, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS HAVE WITHIN THE NETWORK OF THE CITY SYSTEM, LIKE THE STREET SYSTEM, UH, BE IT BIKE LANES, UH, SIDEWALKS AND SO FORTH.
AND THEN WE ALSO, UH, AS WE BUY PROPERTY, AS WE CONT AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR INVESTMENT IN THE CREEK WAYS, IT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT GROUP
[00:50:01]
TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND DO THE FLOODPLAIN MAINTENANCE THAT THEY NEED TO DO.SO THE DESIGN OBJECTIVES FOR THE PROGRAM ARE TO PROVIDE FOR USER FRIENDLINESS AND SAFETY.
UH, THAT INCLUDES A WIDE TRAIL SO THAT TWO-WAY TRAFFIC CAN OCCUR.
UM, THE SIGNAGE MILE MARKERS AND USER FRIENDLY, UM, DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE AND INFORMATION, UM, CONNECTIONS AND, AND TO DESTINATIONS TO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS SO THAT THE ACCESS TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM IS VERY CONVENIENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND ALSO TO HAVE TRAIL HEADS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND PARK TO GET INTO THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
OUR OPERATING HOURS ARE SUNRISE TO SUNSET, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF LIGHTS.
THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT WE HAVE, UM, ON THE TRAILS CURRENTLY ARE AT THE TRAILHEAD PARKING AREAS, ALTHOUGH WE ARE, UM, LOOKING TO POTENTIALLY DO SOME EXPERIMENTATION WITH SOME LIGHTING ALONG THE WEST SIDE.
CREEKS, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INCLUDE LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES, SO TRYING TO TREAT WATER QUALITY AS THE RUNOFF OCCURS FROM OUR PARKING AREAS AND TRAILS TO USE NATIVE LANDSCAPE MATERIALS LIKE CEDAR AND LIMESTONE AND THINGS THAT ARE LOCALLY SOURCED.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO IMPORT A LOT OF THOSE MATERIALS TO PRESERVE AS MUCH TREE CANOPY AS POSSIBLE, AND EVEN TO EXPAND IT WITH TREE PLANTINGS TO PROTECT THE GEOLOGY OF THE CREEKS TO ALLEVIATE ANY KIND OF DUMPING OR OFF-ROADING.
WE TRY TO CONTROL THE ACCESS TO THESE PLACES SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INFILTRATION BY VEHICLES.
AND THEN WE TRY TO REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES WHEREVER WE CAN AND PROPAGATE THE NATIVE SPECIES TO SAN ANTONIO, LIKE OAK AND CEDAR ELM AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UM, OVER 103 POINT, UH, 103 MILES OF TRAIL THAT ARE COMPLETED.
WE'VE PURCHASED OVER 1700 ACRES OF CREEKWAY.
UM, AND BY THE WAY THAT THAT'S, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PARKS.
UM, THE CREEKS DO GO THROUGH A LOT OF THE MAJOR PARKS IN SAN ANTONIO, LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK, OI, SCHNABEL PARK, AND SO FORTH.
UM, THE 1700 ACRES THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED HAVE BEEN IN EXCESS OF THAT.
AND BY THE WAY, I WILL MENTION AS WELL THAT MANY OF THOSE ACRES HAVE BEEN DONATED.
AND SO THOSE ACQUISITIONS, OF COURSE, ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
UH, WE HAVE 12.3 MILES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.
WE'VE GOT 30 MILES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN AND ANOTHER SEVEN MILES THAT ARE PLANNED.
SO ONCE WE BUILD THE TRAILS, UM, COMING ONLINE PIECE BY PIECE, UM, THE PARK POLICE PATROL, THE TRAILS FOR SAFETY, WE ACTUALLY GOT KIND OF A MULTI-TIERED, UM, SAFETY SYSTEM STARTING WITH PARK POLICE AND SAPD.
AND THEN WE HAVE A TRAIL STEWARDS PROGRAM, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, UM, PARKS EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE PART-TIME PARKS EMPLOYEES THAT RIDE THEIR BICYCLES.
UM, THEY CARRY WATER FIRST AID KITS, THEY'RE CPR TRAINED AND SO FORTH SO THAT THEY CAN HELP PEOPLE ALONG THE TRAILS AND GIVE 'EM DIRECTION AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.
AND THEN OUR PARK OPERATION GROUP, UM, THEY DO, UM, THE CONTINUING MAINTENANCE OF THE GREENWAY TRAILS, UM, BE IT CRACK REPAIRS OF THE TRAILS OR REPLACEMENTS OF SIGNAGE.
UM, WE MOW BOTH SIDES OF THE TRAIL, LIKE WITHIN FOUR FEET OF THE EDGE OF THE TRAIL.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE STORMWATER OPERA OPERATIONS GROUP, WHICH IS HOUSED IN PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY DO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE, THE, THE CREEKWAY ON A FIVE YEAR ROTATING SYSTEM WHERE THEY GO IN AND REMOVE TRASH AND WOODY DEBRIS AND SO FORTH TO KEEP THE FLOODPLAIN, UH, MOVING TO, TO HAVE DRAINAGE WITHIN THE CREEKS.
SO HERE ARE SOME IMAGES JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT, UM, SOME OF THE TRAIL SYSTEMS. THE SATO CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL HAS 34 MILES OF TRAIL.
LEON CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM HAS 26 AND A HALF MILES OF TRAIL.
THE WEST SIDE CREEKS HAVE APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES OF TRAILS THAT CONNECT INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER.
AND THEN THE MEDINA RIVER GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM HAS 17.6 MILES OF TRAILS.
AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO TRIBUTARIES THAT FLOW INTO THESE MAJOR CREEK WAYS THAT COMPRISE ANOTHER 13 MILES OF TRAIL.
SO IT'S A LOT OF HIKING BIKE TRAILS, AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT SOME OF THEM TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT THE LEON AND SATO THAT ARE NOW CONNECTED AT EISENHOWER PARK.
WE'VE CONNECTED THE MEDINA RIVER GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM TO THE SAN ANTONIO MISSION REACH.
AND, UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS AND FILL THOSE GAPS AS WE REALIZE THE VISION OF COMPLETING THAT CIRCLE AROUND THE CITY.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME IMAGES HERE OF SOME OF THE DIFFERENT AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE AT OUR TRAIL HEADS.
WE'VE GOT DRINKING FOUNTAINS WITH BOTTLE FILLERS, WE HAVE BIKE REPAIR KITS, WE'VE GOT SHADE STRUCTURES, SIGNAGE, BUTTERFLY GARDENS, LID FEATURES, AND THEN SOME PUBLIC ART AS WELL.
UM, THERE'S A, THERE WAS A SERIES OF, OF PUBLIC ART CALLED THE BLOOM
[00:55:01]
SERIES THAT, UH, HAD THESE LARGE FLOWERS.THIS IS EISENHOWER PARK AT THAT TRAILHEAD.
SO, UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND THEN I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANYONE, UH, WANNA START WITH THEIR COMMENTS? HUNTER WHITE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, MY FOLKS LOVE THE TRAILS IN, IN, IN DISTRICT 10, AS I'M SURE THEY DO, UH, IN EVERY DISTRICT.
AND, UH, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND PARKS ALONG THE CREEKWAY GIVE, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS A GREAT PLACE TO GET OUTSIDE AND, AND BE ACTIVE AND, AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER.
UM, WE'VE GOT THE SATO CREEK GREENWAY, UM, SPECIFICALLY COMES TO MIND IN DISTRICT 10.
AND, AND AGAIN, OUR FOLKS REALLY, REALLY ENJOY IT.
UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM, UM, HOW ARE WE PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE, UH, AND OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE BUDGET IS TIGHT? WELL, I MEAN, I, I WOULD JUST SAY WE HAVE, UM, A REPORT THAT WE GIVE EACH BUDGET CYCLE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING ONLINE.
AND WE HAVE REQUESTS OF COURSE, TO CITY COUNCIL FOR, UM, INCREASES IN STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND SO THAT'S, I THINK, GONNA CONTINUE TO BE, UM, THE SOURCE THAT WE USE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO GET THE, THE DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE GREENWAY TRAILS INTO THE FUTURE FROM GENERAL FUND.
ARE, ARE THERE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER POTENTIAL AVENUES FOR DOLLARS? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF AT HOMER.
I, YOU KNOW, I AM GETTING A KNOW FROM HOMER, SO AT THIS POINT THAT'S IT.
UM, WHAT ABOUT SAFETY MEASURES FOR, UH, FOR TRAIL USERS, LIGHTING, SIGNAGE, THINGS LIKE THAT OUT THERE? YES, SIR.
WE'VE GOT LIGHTING AT THE, AT THE TRAIL HEADS, WE HAVE, UM, EMERGENCY CALL BOXES THAT WE'VE INSTALLED AT MANY OF THE TRAIL HEADS AND ALONG THE TRAILS.
UM, WE HAVE OF COURSE, UH, THE, THE SIGNS THAT, THAT GIVE INFORMATION ON HOW TO STAY SAFE, WE'VE GOT BASICALLY TIPS ON HOW TO, HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN YOU'RE USING THE GREENWAY.
SO SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO LIKE USING, YOU KNOW, YOUR CELL PHONE, HAVING PLENTY OF WATER WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO OUT MM-HMM
USING SUNSCREEN AND USING A HAT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
BUT ALSO JUST WE, WE'VE GOT OUR MILE AND QUARTER MILE MARKER SYSTEM, WHICH IS TIED TO THE 9 1 1 DISPATCH.
SO IF ANYBODY'S IN DISTRESS OR GETS A BROKEN LEG OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, THEN THEY CAN BASICALLY USE THAT AS A REFERENCE IF THEY NEED TO CALL 9 1 1.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE, CHAIR.
I, UM, MY COMMENTS ARE FAIRLY SIMILAR.
CAN WE, CAN WE USE, UH, BOND FUNDING? CAN WE, UM, SET ASIDE SOME OR CAN WE PLAN TO START, UH, LOOKING AT A BOND ALLOCATION TO CONTINUE PROGRESS ON THE, THE GREEN WAGE TRIAL? I MEAN, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY WORTH LOOKING AT MM-HMM
BUT I, I KNOW THERE ARE, I BELIEVE ARE LEGAL LIMITATIONS FOR WHAT WE CAN USE CAPITAL, LIKE WHAT CAPITAL DOLLARS AND THE BOND DOLLARS, WHAT THEY CAN BE USED FOR.
BUT CERTAINLY I THINK WE, WE'D BE INTERESTED IN MAYBE LOOKING INTO THAT HOMER.
SO RIGHT NOW, THE O AND M, EXCUSE ME, FOR, UM, THE GREENWAY TRAILS MM-HMM
IT IS SUPPORTED BY OUR GENERAL FUND.
WE ARE LOOKING TO THE NEXT BOND MM-HMM
TO CONTINUE THE BUILD OUT OF THIS GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM IN PARTICULAR.
AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT ONE, UH, CRITICAL CONNECTOR, UH, IN, UM, DISTRICT FOUR, BUT IT'S THAT CONNECTION THROUGH THE PORT THAT'S MORE THAN SEVEN MILES THROUGH THE, IN THE 22 BOND.
IT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL BY THE BOND COMMITTEE TO DESIGN ONLY AND THEN BUILD IT OUT IN A FUTURE BOND.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE BOND TO CONTINUE THE INVESTMENT ON THE CAPITAL SIDE.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT USING THAT FOR AN O AND M, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT NOTES AND, AND BRANDON IS CORRECT, MAY I, I WILL DEFER TO, UH, BOND COUNSEL AND WHAT ULTIMATELY THOSE DOLLARS CAN BE USED FOR.
I'M, OF THE OPINION IS PRIMARY CAPITAL, NOT O AND M MM-HMM
AND, AND I, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEAR, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT FOR US TO FURTHER EXPAND ON THE TRAIL.
UM, USING, UH, A BOND ALLOCATION FOR THAT.
BECAUSE I MEAN, I THINK HONESTLY OUR, OUR GREENWAY TRAIL IS ONE OF LIKE THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHTS IN OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PEOPLE LOVE IT.
PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY USING IT.
I, I KNOW I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE IS SO IMPORTANT NOT FOR PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL HEALTH, BUT ALSO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
SO, UM, ANY WAY THAT WE COULD FURTHER EXPAND ON IT, I, I'M ALL IN ON.
UM, THE OTHER, THE OTHER THING, AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME MENTION IT BEFORE, IT CAME UP A COUPLE TIMES
[01:00:01]
AT MY MONTHLY COFFEES WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN.IT IS TRAIL SAFETY, NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE KEEPING THEMSELVES LIKE HYDRATED AND STUFF, BUT JUST NOT GETTING ATTACKED.
AND SO WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF HORRIBLE INSTANCES OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE, UM, ADVANTAGE OF THE GREENWAY TRAILS, BUT IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN THEY SEE THESE HEADLINES.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, SO HOWEVER WE CAN AMP UP, UM, PARK POLICE OR WHOEVER TO, TO JUST STAY ACTIVE ON THE GREENWAY TRAIL, UM, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, I KNOW I USE THE TRAIL SYSTEM ALL THE TIME AND I HAVE HARDLY EVER SEEN ANYBODY OUT THERE PATROLLING.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS A CYCLIST OR A RUNNER IS SEEING SOME SORT OF SAFETY COMPONENT EVERY BLUE MOON, THEN I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT REALLY GOES A LONG WAY.
UM, AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS TOO, UH, AND I, I THINK THAT Y'ALL HAD MENTIONED THIS, UM, AS WELL, THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE SOME CONFUSION WITH RES, UH, FROM RESIDENTS.
SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WE CAN, UM, DO AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, BUT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN ON THE GREENWAY TRAIL, TRYING TO GET POLICE TO GO TO THAT EXACT SPOT, UM, HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE, THEY'VE, UH, RESIDENTS HAVE PROVIDED THE FEEDBACK OF POLICE ARE ASKING THEM WHAT MARKER THEY'RE AT, AND THEY'RE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
OR, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY GOT IN.
SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICE ARE FULLY INFORMED OF HOW TO GET TO SOMEONE QUICKLY ON THE TRAIL SO THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT LEFT GOING BACK AND FORTH, UH, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY NEED HELP.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, WE ALL LOVE THE TRAILS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR MESS GONZALEZ.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GREENWAY CHERYL SYSTEM.
UH, DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENTS, REALLY EVERYONE IN THE CITY, BUT, UH, I KNOW THAT DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENTS REALLY USE THEM RECREATIONALLY, BUT ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A, A MENTAL HEALTH, UH, PLACE RIGHT FOR YOU TO, TO GO TO.
I KNOW THE TRAILS WERE VERY POPULAR DURING COVID TIMES, UH, JUST REALLY GET PEOPLE OUT AND, UM, AND SO THAT WAS HELPFUL.
I'M SUPPORTING THE GREENWAYS CURRENTLY BY UTILIZING MY, UH, CIP DOLLARS TO INSTALL PLUM PLUMBED RESTROOMS AT THE VALERO TRAILHEAD.
UM, SO RECOMMEND, UM, MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PROPOSED BOND TO EXPLORE EXPANDING THIS, UM, WITH THE NEWLY REDISTRICTED PART, UM, WITH THE MARTINEZ TRAIL.
UH, THE FARIAS COMMUNITY'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT BEING COMPLETED.
UM, SO PLEASED TO SEE THAT THAT'S MOVING ALONG THERE.
UM, BUT ALSO, UM, WHAT I'VE HEARD, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, PROPOSED PROJECTS, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED PORT SAN ANTONIO AND, UH, FUNDING DOLLARS FOR PLANNING AND NOW, RIGHT.
I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT EXTENSION.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS THAT, UH, WANNA GET TO THE PORT AND THERE'S NO BUS THAT WILL TAKE YOU THERE.
AND I THINK A TRAIL AND, UM, THAT EXPANSION CAN HELP GET FOLKS TO ALL THE AMENITIES THAT THE PORT HAS TO OFFER AS WELL TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK THERE AS WELL.
UM, BUT, UM, SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE THIS BRIEFING.
GLAD TO SEE THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG AGAIN, PARTICULARLY WITH THE WEST SIDE CREEKS.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE THE MEMORIAL EXPANSION MM-HMM
MARY'S UNIVERSITY IN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY EAGER AND EXCITED, UM, TO, TO UTILIZE THOSE NEW EXPANSIONS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS AS WELL.
UH, I THINK, WELL, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT ONE BIG THING I WANTED TO KNOW, WELL, LEMME DO THE PLEASANTRIES FIRST.
I WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING A TRAIL RIGHT AT OUR FIELD OFFICE AT TEEL.
IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER FOR ALL OF US AT THE, UH, OFFICE ON MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS, UH, TO WHEN WE FINISH EATING, TAKE A QUICK LAP, UH, TRY TO STAY FOCUSED FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
AND I KNOW I SEE A LOT OF MY, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, WALKING ALONG THERE AND THEY'LL CATCH ME WORKING LATE ON THE EVENINGS THERE, UH,
BUT I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE THERE, UM, AND ENCOURAGING AND ENABLING THAT, UH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, I KNOW COUNCILOR VITO BROUGHT UP, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SAFETY COMPONENTS AND JUST KIND OF THE, HOW ARE WE MAKING IT ALL BLEND TOGETHER? I KNOW SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS TALKED ABOUT THAT AS WELL, AND SO I, I WONDER IF IT'S WORTHWHILE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS OFFLINE AS WELL, BUT TO BRING BACK TO COMMITTEE MAYBE EVEN SOME LARGER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR, UH, SAFETY THERE.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTAL LIGHTING COMPONENTS, BUT SEEING, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF NEEDS WOULD BE THERE OR COULD BE THERE, UM, AT SCALE, UH, SIMILARLY TO KIND OF, UH, PARK POLICE NEEDS THERE ALONG THE, THE ROUTE AND EVEN THE BATHROOM COMPONENT THAT MR. GONZALEZ BROUGHT UP, I THINK IS ALSO MAYBE NOT PART OF SAFETY, BUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST
[01:05:01]
USABILITY OF IT ALL, RIGHT? MM-HMMSO WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON.
BUT I THINK THAT'D BE WORTHWHILE TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM VISION, OF COURSE, ONCE THE PARK OR THE TRAILS ARE COMPLETED, WHAT ELSE WE'RE DOING TO CONTINUE, UH, SPRUCING THEM UP.
UM, AND ON THAT NOTE, UH, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FUNDING.
HOW MUCH FUNDING IS EXACTLY NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM? I DUNNO IF WE HAD THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT READY.
YEAH, SO WE WE'RE, WE'RE PRETTY WELL OFF IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY HAS HAS CONTRIBUTED SO FAR.
BUT THERE IS SOME FUNDING THAT WE STILL NEED SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE POOR SAN ANTONIO PIECE.
AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DESIGNING THAT WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE SHOVEL READY FOR THE 2027 BOND THAT WE WOULD THEN HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT FUNDED THROUGH THE 27 BOND.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT WITH THE FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
IT, YOU KNOW, IF IT WERE, UM, A, A LARGER BOND, WE CAN CERTAINLY USE ALL THE MONEY THAT WE CAN GET TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE SYSTEM, BUT IT'S GONNA BE PROBABLY A MINIMUM OF MAYBE $40 MILLION, $50 MILLION JUST TO DO THE ESSENTIALS.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE EXPANSION OF THE PORT SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS PROBABLY GONNA BE $30 MILLION.
AND THEN THE CONTINUATION OF BUILDING THE PROJECTS THAT ARE SHOVEL READY, WHICH IS PROBABLY GONNA COME TO CLOSE TO 20, $30 MILLION.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE HAD MORE THAN THAT, CERTAINLY WE CAN USE EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE GET.
THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, UM, FOR PARKS EXPANSION AND GREEN WASTE PER EXPANSION.
SO THAT 40 TO $50 MILLION WOULD COVER, I YOU SAID THE PORT ONE, BUT ALSO THE OTHER EXPANSIONS LISTED IN THE TRAIL IN PROGRESS? WELL, I, IT, IT DEPENDS ON, AGAIN, THE AVAILABILITY, RIGHT? IF WE FIND THAT THERE'S $60 MILLION AVAILABLE, WE'RE GONNA SPEND EVERY DOLLAR, RIGHT.
AND MOST OF THOSE DOLLARS PROBABLY CLOSE TO ALL OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE GONNA BE FOR SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PREPARED TO GET THAT CAPITAL FUNDING.
I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL TO KINDA SEE IT BROKEN DOWN.
AND THAT CAN COME DURING THE BOND CONVERSATIONS OF COURSE.
SO JUST HAVING THOSE BROKEN DOWN ONE SO WE CAN ALSO SEE, UH, WHERE EXACTLY THOSE FUNDING WOULD BE GO GOING TOWARDS.
UM, IS THERE ANY WAY, AND MAYBE THIS IS ALSO THE LATER CONVERSATION WITH THE BOND, BUT UH, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH OF OUR DRAINAGE NEEDS CAN BE, DRAINAGE NEEDS CAN BE COUPLED WITH OUR TRAIL CREATION? YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S MORE PASSIVE DRAINAGE THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE PRESERVING THE LAND AND ALLOWING THE FLOOD WATERS TO CONTINUE TO FLOW.
UM, WE DON'T DO REALLY ANY STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE GREENWAY TRAILS.
WE TRY TO BASICALLY BE LIKE A ZERO FOOTPRINT WHEN WE GO IN AND BUILD THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS.
SO WE'RE NOT REALLY DOING A WHOLE LOT.
I MEAN, WE TRY TO DO WHATEVER DRAINAGE, UM, UH, TREATMENTS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF WHEN WE BUILD PARKING AREAS AND TRAILS AND SO FORTH.
BUT IT'S REALLY VERY, ON A VERY SMALL SCALE, THE LARGER QUESTION OF THE FLOOD CONVEYANCE AND SO FORTH IS, IS REALLY MORE OF A CAPITAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS OPERATION.
UM, LAST COUPLE THINGS I WAS GONNA ASK WAS ABOUT, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE THIS CURRENT MAP HERE AND THE KIND OF TRYING TO GET TO THAT END.
UH, ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY FUTURE EXPANSIONS, UH, LATER ON BEYOND THIS KIND OF MAP AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS? I'M MAINLY ASKING, 'CAUSE I KNOW RESIDENTS, UH, WHO LIVE NEAR GOVERNMENT CANYON IN MY, IN MY DISTRICT OR EVEN THROUGHOUT, UH, KIND OF A, ALONG 1 50, 1 4, 10, AND 1604, ALWAYS ASKING FOR WAYS THAT THEY CAN CONNECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE TRAIL A BIT BETTER.
UM, AGAIN, I KNOW I'M ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL NEXT SET AFTER EVERYTHING, BUT ARE THERE ANY PLANS ON THAT? UH, ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE LOOKING EVERYWHERE WE CAN.
UM, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES ESPECIALLY ON, UM, THE, THE, THE HE LOTUS CREEK SYSTEM MM-HMM
THAT FLOWS INTO COLLABO CREEK.
THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON THE TRIBUTARY TO OTHER TRIBUTARIES OF LEON CREEK AND SATO CREEK.
THERE ARE ALSO EASEMENT AREAS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CAN BUILD TRAILS AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT STREET LEVEL CONNECTIONS THAT WE CAN BUILD BETWEEN THE TRAILS.
UM, SO CONNECTING, FOR INSTANCE, THE DOWNTOWN AREA WITH SATO CREEK, UH, ALSO LOOKING AT THE GREATER THE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT, UH, VISION TO CONNECT THE TRAIL SYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO WITH, UH, OTHER TRAILS THAT GO NORTH TO AUSTIN.
AND SO THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL USE EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE CAN GET TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO TIE INTO MORE NEIGHBORHOODS, SERVE MORE SAN ANTONIO, AND, UH, SERVE MORE OF SAN ANTONIO WITH, UH, ACCESS POINTS AND TRAILS EVERYWHERE.
AND THEN ONE LAST THING AND I'LL GIVE, UH, GO TO MY COLLEAGUES.
ONE LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT, I KNOW WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITE BROUGHT UP THE KIND OF OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF IT.
UM, AND JUST TO KIND OF GROWING NEEDS RISE, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THIS SYSTEM.
IT'S A SIMILAR VEIN OF THAT, BUT I ALSO THINK IT'S JUST, UH, A WORTHWHILE, POTENTIALLY COULD BE A WORTHWHILE OPPORTUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH PARKS, UM, DOES A BUILDING A VOLUNTEER BASE SIMILAR TO THE WAY SARAH DOES WITH THE RIVER WARRIORS.
I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFERENT SET OF THE, OF THE TRAIL, RIGHT.
[01:10:01]
BUT I, I'D JUST BE INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THERE, WHAT WAYS THERE COULD BE TO INVOLVE EVEN LOCAL IDS OR, UH, ARE SENIORS THROUGH THE SALES PROGRAM, UM, OR MANY OF THE OTHER KIND OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO BRING PEOPLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAILS.NOT JUST TO USE THEM, BUT ALSO TO MAINTAIN OR HELP CREATE, UH, EVEN IN SMALL FORMS. UM, I JUST THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE IN THE KIND OF SKILLS THAT YOU LEARN IN DOING THAT, BUT ALSO EVEN THE CONNECTION CLOSER TO NATURE AND EVEN THE, THE POINT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, RIGHT.
TRYING TO GET A BETTER FEEL OF WHAT THESE TRAILS ARE LIKE FINDING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT THEM THAT YOU CAN WALK ALONG THE TRAIL WITH.
IS, WAS THERE ANY, HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANY KINDA CONVERSATION AROUND A VOLUNTEER AT LARGE PROGRAM? ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT'S BEEN INTEGRAL ACTUALLY TO OUR SYSTEM FOR A VERY MANY LONG YEARS.
UM, THERE, I, I SKIPPED THE BULLET ON ACCIDENT, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TRAIL WATCH STEWARDS, TRAIL WATCH VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM THAT HAS OVER JUST 70 MEMBERS.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, CONNECTIONS TO RIVER AID AND SO BE SUR BASH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A LOT OF WHAT BE SUR BASH TARGETS IS ALONG THE CREEKS WHERE WE HAVE TRAILS.
AND SO YES, WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT WAY AND, AND THERE ARE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS THAT WE UTILIZE.
UH, THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL ES GONZALEZ, I KNOW YOU HAD SOME FOLLOW UPS.
I WAS WONDERING IF, UM, IF WE'VE EVER KIND OF HAD A CONVERSATION AROUND, UH, TRAILHEAD PARKING PASSES, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT COME AND FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S TRAILHEADS IN OTHER CITIES AND STATES THAT CHARGE A SMALL FEE, AND I THINK IT'S A FEE THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T MIND PAYING FOR BECAUSE I'M JUST CURIOUS
WELL, SO NO, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT SOMETHING WE'VE LOOKED AT BEFORE, BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO BAD IDEA.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THIS, UH, GETTING INTO THE TRAIL SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY EASY.
UM, EVEN IF YOU DON'T GO TO A PARKING LOT FOR THE RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THAT LIVE NEAR THESE TRAILS, MANY OF THEM HAVE GATES THAT BACK STRAIGHT UP TO THE TRAILS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN EVER, YOU KNOW, UH, BE ABLE TO CONTROL EVERYBODY COMING IN, BUT CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE THE PARKING, I MEAN, THAT, YOU KNOW, IS SOMETHING WE COULD POTENTIALLY CONTROL, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WITH SOME KIND OF GATE SYSTEM AND AN INVESTMENT, UM, TO TRY TO COLLECT THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS.
WELL LOVE, UH, ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, JUST AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT'S, I, WE DON'T LIKE TO PAY FOR THINGS, BUT I THINK THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT FOLKS MIGHT BE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR.
ANY OTHER LAST COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? UM, ONE QUICK COMMENT.
WE CONTINUE WORKSHOPPING IDEAS THROUGH COMMITTEES, SO NO WORRIES.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT GOES ALL THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
UM, AT THIS TIME, AT 11:15 AM UH, THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.