Feb 26, 2026 Community Health Committee

[00:00:06]

>> GALVAN: MORNING EVERYBODY. AT 10:01 A.M. WE WILL OFFICIALLY CALL THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER.

MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?

[Approval of Minutes  ]

>> CHAIR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING? CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? ANY OPPOSED, ABSTENTIONS? GREAT. SECOND THING IS TO MOVE INTO

[Public Comments  ]

FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> GOOD MORNING. I WILL BE QUICKMENT I WANT TO SAY HI, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MEALS ON WHEELS SAN ANTONIO.

SO GRATE OF THE FOR WILL ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SENIOR CENTERS AND DHS. WE'VE BEEN OUT IN THE CENTERS A LOT RECENTLY GETTING GOOD FEEDBACK FROM OUR SENIORS ON THE FOOD THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT LOT OF MENU CHANGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT DELIVERED MEALS WITH US

RECENTLY AND WHO ARE GOING TO SOON, THANKS SO MUCH. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE CAROL ARSENIO. >> SHE'S NOT HERE YET. >> GALVAN: GREAT.

WE CAN TRY TO GET HER WHEN SHE COMES IN, BUT WE'LL MOVE FORWARD INTO ITEM NUMBER

[Briefing and Possible Action on  ]

OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS. TAKE IT AWAY. >> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE CITY'S OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS.

THIS MORNING WE'LL LOOK AT NATIONAL AND OVERDOSE DATA. THE CITY'S OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, AN UPDATE ON THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS SPENDING AND NEXT STEPS.

BEGINNING WITH AN OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL FATAL OVERDOSE DATA, I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS DATA FROM THE CDC. BEGINNING IN THE YEAR 2023 THERE WAS A DECREASE IN FATAL OVERDOSES NATIONALLY. THIS DATA SHOWS THAT THROUGH 2024 AND 2025 THAT DECREASE CONTINUES. THIS SLIDE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK INTO BEXAR COUNTY AND TEXAS TO SHOW THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE. ON THESE TWO GRAPHS THE GRAY LINE IS THE U.S. AS A WHOLE, THE RED LINE IS TEXAS AND THE TEAL LINE IS BEXAR COUNTY. THESE GRAPHS SHOW DATA FROM 2018 TO 2024 AND SHOW A FATALITY RATE BY STIMULANTS AND OPIOID. THE FIRST SHOWS THAT OUR STIMULANTS OVERDOSE DEATH IN BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH IS TEAL, OUT PACED THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHICH IS GRAY, AND THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH IS RED.

THE SECOND CHART ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE NATIONAL OPIOID DEATH RATE IN GRAY, WHICH IS FAR HIGHER THAN OUR STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, BUT ALSO THAT BEXAR COUNTY REMAINS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE STATE OF TEXAS AS A WHOLE.

HERE WE SEE A CONTINUED DECREASE IN FATAL OVERDOSES, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.

I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SEE IMPROVEMENT WE DON'T TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS. WE KEEP GOING WITH STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES THAT HAVE WORKED HERE AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. ON THIS SLIDE WE HAVE ONE MORE DATA POINT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. THIS DATA IS FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER 2024 REPORT AND SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF OVERDOSE DEATHS BY DRUG. WE SEE HERE THAT POLYSUBSTANCE USE IS COMMON, MEANING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY USING ONE DRUG AND THAT STIMULANTS AND OPIOIDS BOTH POSE A THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ASK AS YOU ARE MAKING POLICY AND BUDGETARY DECISIONS WITH THESE FUNDS YOU SUPPORT SUBSTANCE USE CONTINUUM AS A WHOLE TO INCLUDE ALCOHOL USE AND NOT THINK OF ONE PARTICULAR SUBSTANCE OVER ANOTHER. THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF TEXAS ALL JOINED LAWSUITS AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS. SETTLEMENTS TO DATE INCLUDE PHARMACY CHAINS, OPIOID MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND MORE.

AND THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS SECURED MORE THAN $1.6 BILLION IN OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS. THESE SETTLEMENT FUNDS DO HAVE SPENDING RESTRICTIONS ON THEM, BUT IN THE FIELD OF SUBSTANCE USE ABATEMENT THE FUNDS CAN BE USED PRETTY BROADLY. AS OF NOW FROM THE LAWSUITS THE CITY JOINED DIRECTLY WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING ABOUT $6.1 MILLION. SO FAR WE HAVE RECEIVED $2.9 MILLION AND THE BALANCE WILL BE PAID IN PAYMENTS THROUGH 2041.

WE ARE USING THE FRAMEWORK OF PREVENTION, HARM REDUCTION TREATMENT AND RECOVERY TO CREATE POLICY AND BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS. ALSO YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2024 CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION DECLARING OVERDOSE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. THIS RESOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS AN OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL,

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THE NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES WILL WALK YOU THREAT THE PROJECTS AND THEY'RE MAPPED TO THE FRAMEWORK AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT THE BUDGET. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGING IN SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR SPECIFICALLY THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PRACTICE SHIFT IN SUBSTANCE USE OUTREACH SERVICES. FOR THIS PROJECT THAT SPANS PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION WE TAKE A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH WITH HIV AND SUBSTANCE USE COMBINED WHERE OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE COMPLIMENTARY.

WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL CONTRACTS THAT WILL GO TO A SESSION NEXT WEEK.

THESE CONTRACTS CAME FROM AN RFP FOR OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, TRAINING AND NARCAN KITS. IN THE AREA OF HARM REDUCTION THROUGH AN AISLE LA WITH BEXAR COUNTY WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WIDESPREAD KNOWLEDGE OF AND ACCESS TO NARCAN IS TRUE KEY TO REDUCING FATAL FATAL OVERDOSES. THE CONTRACTS THAT WILL GO IT FOR APPROVAL NEXT WEEK WILL BRING MORE NARCAN INTO COMMUNITY. FOR FY26 WE ARE ALSO [INDISCERNIBLE]. TO ENCOURAGE PROVIDERS TO HELP ENGAGE THEIR PATIENTS IN TREATMENT, METRO HEALTH IS WORKING WITH OTHERS ON AN ANIMATED STORYTELLING CAMPAIGN DIRECTED A THE LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. TO ADJUST OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS WE HAVE INCREASED FUNDING FOR AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS UNDER DHS, BUT IS NOW UNDER THE HOMELAND SERVICES AND STRATEGY DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, ALSO KNOWN ASEMIA T FOR THOSE WITH ATTRIBUTION. THIS PROVIDES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A FINANCIAL BARRIER FOR MAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR RECOVERY. ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM IS A SUBSTANCE USE RESOURCE PORTAL THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO RESOURCE DIRECTTER. THIS PORTAL WILL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE NEED TO ACCESS THESE RESOURCES ALL IN ONE CENTRALIZED WEBSITE THAT IS UPDATED REGULARLY. THE PORTAL IS IN THE TESTING STAGES WITH USERS IN THE FIELD. IT'S VERY CLOSE TO COMPLETION. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE DEDICATED TO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ON OUR OPIOID SETTLEMENTS FUNDING. THIS IS AN UPDATED SPEND PLAN THROUGH THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2026. NEXT WEEK ON MARCH 5TH CITY COUNCIL WILL LOOK AT SEVEN CONTRACTS FOR OUTREACH CAPACITY AND NARCAN KITS THAT WILL IMPACT HARM REDUCTION EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IN PARTICULAR THIS WORK I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO DID A GREAT LEAD ON TO HELP WITH THAT FRAMEWORK AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR. WE'LL START WITH ANY COUNCILMEMBER CONVERSATION.

ANYONE WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION? COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

IT IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE -- OUR EFFORTS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE 2025 NUMBERS.

WHEN DO WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT INFORMATION RELEASED? >> THE DATA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET FROM THE CDC? THEY JUST APPROVED 2024. IT WAS PROVISIONAL.

LAST TIME I SHOWED YOU IT JUST BECAME OFFICIAL. I THINK LATER IN THE SPRING

WE'LL GET 2025. >> GAVITO: I SERIOUS WANT TO MAKE SURE --

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES OF THE NATIONAL DATA SOURCES IS THEY TAKE A LONG TIME TO

BE APPROVED AS OFFICIAL. >> GAVITO: YEAH. AND CHAIR, JUST A REQUEST THAT WHENEVER THOSE NUMBERS DO COME OUT MAYBE WE CAN SEE THEM RIGHT AWAY SO THAT WAY WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF IT. THAT'S ALL. THANKS AGAIN.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GALVAN: YEAH. IF WE CAN GET IT IN MEMO

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COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, JESSE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

LIKEWISE WHEN THE 2025 DATA BECOMES AVAILABLE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S A DOWNWARD TREND OF FORMALITY RATES. IF THERE IS I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE STRATEGIES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED PARTICULARLY WITH YOUTH IN THE CLASSROOM. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS PAST WEEKEND MY TEAM AND I HAD A HEALTH PANEL AND THE MIH TEAM WAS TABLING. AND ONCE THE EVENT WAS OVER THEY SHARED THAT THEY HANDED OUT ALL THEIR NARCAN KITS AND THE COMMUNITY SAID WE REALLY NEEDED THIS. SO JUST GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE MAKING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS AND GETTING THE KITS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY BELONG. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALSO THE WORK THAT YOU ALL AND THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST ARE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH [INDISCERNIBLE] MINISTRIES. THAT'S A NEED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COME COMING TO OUR FIELD OFFICE WE WILL TELL THEM HOW TO ACCESS IT AND THEY SAY IT'S TOO FAR, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A BUS? HOW CAN WE HAVE HUBS, RATHER THAN ONE CENTRAL LOCATION BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND HOW CAN WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO ANY DAY CENTER OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, BECAUSE ACCESS CONTINUES TO BE A BARRIER THAT WE HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS WHEN WE TRY TO SEND THEM, WHETHER IT'S SAMMS MINISTRIES, OFTEN TIMES IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION PIECE THAT'S THE BARRIER. I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING STRATEGIC WITH THESE INVESTMENTS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE UPDATED DATA WHEN THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

AND THEN OF COURSE I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THE YOUTH -- THE PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS A&M AND THEIR YOUTH CURRICULUM, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN ALSO WHICH SCHOOL DISTRICTS THEY'LL BE IN PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO.

>> CAN I TALK ABOUT THAT, A LITTLE BIT, COUNCILMEMBER? SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THESE FUNDS IS THAT NOT ONLY DID OBVIOUSLY US, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GET FUNDS, THE COUNTY GOT FUNDS, BUT THEN THE STATE GOT FUNDS.

SO WE'VE -- IT'S BEEN EXCITING, BUT IN THE THREE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, THE STATE HAS FUNDED THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WE WANTED TO FUND. ONE THING IS WHEN THE FUNDS FIRST CAME OUT, NARCAN WAS ONLY AVAILABLE BY PRESCRIPTION. SO IT WAS EXPENSIVE AND WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED A PROVIDER TO HAVE THAT ON HAND. THEN IT BECAME AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER. NOW IT'S ACTUALLY AVAILABLE FOR FREE IF YOU ACCESS IT THROUGH THE STATE'S RESOURCES. SO THIS MONEY THAT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR NARCAN WE DON'T NEED TO PAY FOR NARCAN, WE CAN PUT THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THESE YOUTH PREVENTION SERVICES THAT WE HAD THIS IDEA THAT WE COULD PUT SOME MONEY INTO SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR CURRICULUM BUILDING AND THEN THE STATE CREATED SOMETHING CALLED TOPS, WHICH IS TEXAS OPIOID PREVENTION FOR STUDENTS, AND OUR REGION IS AT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO.

AND WE'RE NOW WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THEM INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IT'S BEEN A MOVING -- A GREAT WAY, LOTS OF PROGRESS, BUT A MOVING TARGET OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT THE STATE IS DOING AND WE ARE ALWAYS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY AND TRYING TO USE OUR LOCAL RESOURCES THE RIGHT WAY AND IN CONCERT.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP. WE'RE TRYING AS BEST WE CAN TO BE ON TOP OF IT AND USE OUR RESOURCES TO FILL GAPS THAT OTHER AGENCIES ARE NOT FILLING. SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING HOW YOU COLLABORATE WITH BOTH THE STATE OR -- I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS SO THAT WAY WE'RE ALSO INTENTIONAL WITH OUR RESOURCES AS WELL. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, JESSE, THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GALVAN: ON THAT NOTE ABOUT ACCESS TO NOT ONLY NARCAN, BUT I THINK GENERALLY THIS -- THIS TREATMENT. DO WE HAVE A HEAT MAP OF WHERE THE PHYSICAL LOCATIONS PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS -- NOT ONLY NARCAN, BUT OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCES?

>> WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK ON THAT. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD SEE THROUGH SACRED'S PORTAL. I WOULD EVERYONE TO ACCESS THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU CAN SEARCH BY ZIP CODE AND YOU CAN SEE IT LOCATION BASED, NOT JUST RESOURCES. AND IT'S THAT TOO, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, GETTING TO THE RESOURCES IS HALF THE BATTLE OR EVEN MORE SOMETIMES.

SO WE CAN LOOK UP THAT. LIKE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A HEAT MAP OF RESOURCES.

>> GALVAN: YES. IN PARTICULAR WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, BUT ALSO WITH THE OPIOID PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE MAKING, ARE THERE ONES THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THAT FOLK CAN GO HERE. AND SO WE CAN SEE WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND THEN MAYBE NOT ONLY FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK AT, BUT [INDISCERNIBLE] TO TALK TO TO SAY ARE THERE WAYS TO EXPAND THIS TO YOUR CENTER FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS ALSO THINKING OF A SOBERING CENTER. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN THIS,

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BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THIS. >> ? THE SOBBING CENTER IS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT CAN DROP PEOPLE OFF FOR A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN SPEND SOME TIME UNTIL THEY FEEL BETTER. THE BEST THING -- ALL OF IT'S GREAT. IT SAVES LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME, BUT THE BEST THING FOR THE PERSON IS IT'S CO-LOCATED WHERE CHCS HAS DETOX.

SO EVERY TIME -- NOT WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR. THEY'RE NOT READY AT THAT MOMENT, BUT AFTER THEY'VE HAD SOME REST, THEIR ENGAGEMENT STAFF, THEIR PEER SUPPORT STAFF WILL GO AND TALK TO THEM AND TRY TO GET THEM TO CONVERT IMMEDIATELY INTO DETOX RIGHT THEN IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED. SO THAT'S A HUGE RESOURCE.

AND OF COURSE CHCS WILL DETOX ANY PERSON ON ANY SUBSTANCE.

IT DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE ALCOHOL OR OPIOIDS. IT CAN BE ANY SUBSTANCE.

SO THAT'S A HUGE RESOURCE. IT'S A BIG FRONT DOOR INTO SERVICES THAT -- YOU GET TAKEN THERE, BUT YEAH, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HELP PEOPLE IN MOMENT THAT THEY MIGHT BE

MOSTLY TO SAY YES. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER GONZÁLEZ? >> GONZÁLEZ: JUST A QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I GUESS ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE COORDINATION WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, SO WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON X, BUT THE STATE IS NOW PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES FOR FREE. I FEEL THAT'S THE SAME WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. FLOOR ZOOM STATE AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS ON THIS ALREADY. I UNDERSTAND FILLING IN THE GAPS, BUT I'M JUST -- IS

THERE A BETTER USE OF THOSE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN DOLLARS? >> YEAH.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT. SO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS MORE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S OUT THERE AND WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT WE CAN ACCESS AND WHAT EVERYONE MIGHT AGREE ON. SO INSTEAD OF DOING A MORE BROAD CAMPAIGN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE FOCUSING ON THINGS IDENTIFIED, REALLY WORKING WITH -- WHEN WE SAY PROVIDERS, YOU MEAN LIKE MEDICAL PROVIDERS, RIGHT? WHO ARE SEEING WOMEN WHO ARE USING SOME SORT OF SUBSTANCE AND HOW DO WE -- BASICALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WOULD BE TO HELP WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN BE HEALTHY. SO HOW DO WE GET A PROVIDER'S OFFICE WHERE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD TREAT SOMEONE, LIKE MEDICALLY, HOW THEY UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY NEED TO ENGAGE CPS OR WHEN IT'S NOT NECESSARY, HOW THEY KEEP AND RETAIN THAT PATIENT SO THAT SHE'S NOT DROPPING OFF AND HIDING BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID OF CPS BEING CALLED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S REALLY -- IT'S A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. IT IS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING OUT BROADLY OUTSIDE OF OUR HANDS, BUT THAT'S A GOAL IN US TRYING TO BE MORE STRATEGIC INSTEAD OF THIS BIG, YOU KNOW, SORT OF JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS SORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE REACH.

THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE FILL IN LOAD NEEDED GAPS. THE WAY WE KNOW THAT'S A GAP IS BECAUSE WE KNOW ABOUT THE INCREASE IN CONGENITAL SYPHILIS AND WE KNOW THAT HAPPENED AFTER COVID AND WE KNOW THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE NOT GETTING CARE AND THERE'S A BIG OVERLAP IN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT GET SYPHILIS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE USING DRUGS. WE ALSO ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED -- THERE IS ONE CLINIC AT UH THAT SERVES WOMEN WHO ARE USING AND PREGNANT.

AND HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE IN THAT DOOR OR IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT DOOR, HOW DO WE GET THEIR PROVIDERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NUNS OF THE ISSUES.

>> THAT'S HELPFUL. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION LAST WEEK ABOUT THE DIVERSION CENTER. SO I GUESS DO THESE TWO

CONNECT AT SOME POINT OR NOT? >> I THINK THEY CAN.

SO THIS IS ALL THE SPACES THAT WE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE IN THIS ARENA, ARE SWIMMING AND RUNNING AND WALKING AROUND IT.

SO THIS IS DEFINITELY CONNECTED WITH THAT. SIMILAR PARTNERS DOING THIS WORK, SIMILAR PARTNERS THERE, CONNECTIVE TISSUE WITH OUR DEPOSIT, WITH ME, WITH MARK CARMONA AND PATRICK IN THE HOMELESS STRATEGIES DEPARTMENT, WE'RE

ALL AROUND IT. >> GONZÁLEZ: OKAY. JUST TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS ON SACRED, I REALLY VALUE THAT WHOLE PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING.

SO IF WE CAN DO SOME PUSHOUT, ROLLOUT OF THAT, I THINK ANYONE AND EVERYWHERE.

I HEARD ABOUT THAT WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING. LIKE, IT WAS RANDOM NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOLKS WOULD BRING THAT UP AS A SERVICE OR I'D SHARE IT WITH THEM. IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL. SO JUST REALLY SUPPORT THAT.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. >> BE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHEN THE SUBSTANCE RESOURCE PORTAL IS LIVE. WE CAN ACCESS IT NOW.

WE HAVE USERS TESTING IT AND GIVING FEEDBACK. WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AS WELL.

[00:20:06]

>> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU. >> GALVAN: ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

ARE WE COORDINATING WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND THE STATE TO MAKE SURE WE AVOID

DUPLICATION OF SERVICES? >> YES. SO I MEET MONTHLY WITH BEXAR COUNTY ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY FUNDED HEAVILY IN THE REALM OF TREATMENT, MORE BEDS, MORE TREATMENT, OPENING UP CAPACITY. EVEN DOING SOME RENOVATION ON EXISTING FACILITIES SO THEY COULD HAVE BEDS THERE OR PUT THEM BACK ONLINE. SO WE'RE PRETTY REGULARLY INVOLVED WITH THEM. THE STATE'S HARDER TO NAIL DOWN, BUT WE'RE PAYING

ATTENTION. >> WHYTE: THANKS. >> GALVAN: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO WE NEED A ACTION ON THIS ONE? IT'S JUST A BRIEFING FOR NEXT WEEK. GOT IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, JESSICA, FOR PRESENTING TODAY.

EXCITED FOR HAVING THIS COME TO A SESSION VERY SOON, BUT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT COUPLE OF ITEMS. BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, I WANTED TO SEE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF CAROL [INDISCERNIBLE] IS HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 4? GREAT. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SORRY FOR THE PARKING SITUATION THAT DELAYED ME GETTING HERE.

THANK YOU. NOW I CAN SEE YOU. I WANTED TO THANK FIRST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR INVESTMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE IN THE PAST IN SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALL OVER TEXAS AND FLORIDA, AND EVERYONE'S JEALOUS OF THE COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY HAS MADE AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU HAVE MADE IN THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS WHEN OTHERS FORGET THAT WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO BUILT OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE QUALITY EVIDENT WORK THEY DO AND THEIR COLLABORATIVE INTERRUPT. WE DO MORE IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THE STAFF HERE BELIEVE IN COLLABORATION, WANT TO HAVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK FOR YEARS WITH THE CITY AND PARTNER ON THE DIFFERENT SENIOR CENTERS WITH OUR -- THE DORRIS GRIFFEN CENTER AS WELL AS THE LOPEZ CENTER IN DISTRICTS SIX AND SEVEN. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU IS I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS, AND AT THIS TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR 30 YEARS FOR THE BABY BOOMERS TO GET OLDER AND THAT COVID CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE, THAT THE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE CHANGED AND THAT WE HAVE TO BE IMAGINATIVE, CREATIVE, COLLABORATIVE AND DEDICATED TO ENSURING THIS THAT OUR OLDER ADULTS DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND. OUR SURVEYS SHOW THAT 30% OF OUR OLDER ADULTS GET THEIR MEAL OF THE DAY, THEIR ONE MEAL OF THE DAY AT THE SIGHT THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROVIDES. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT.

I THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, THE HARD WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE THE SERVICES POSSIBLE FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS. AND TO KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE. IT IS A CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE AND THRIVE INTO OLD AGE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT AND THE PASSION THAT YOU ALL BRING FOR THE CITIZENS WHO BUILT OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> GALVAN: WE'LL MOVE INTO ITEMS TWO, THREE AND FOUR AND WE'LL TRY TO DO THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE OVERLAP THAT THEY HAVE. WHAT I WANTED TO GET INTO, WHAT I REALLY ENJOYED IN THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY COMMITTEE, WE LIKE THE PROGRAMS AND SEE HOW THEY CONNECT SO WE CAN HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR OWN DISTRICTS, OUR OWN SENIOR CENTERS AND PARKS THAT WE HAVE THOUGHTS ON.

AND A BROADER VIEW TO MAKE SURE THE CITY HAS AS MUCH ACCESS AS POSSIBLE TO PUBLIC SPACE. TODAY IS A BIG FOCUS ON PUBLIC SPACE WHERE WE HAVE LIBRARIES HERE TODAY, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PROGRAMMING AND DHS AND SENIOR CENTERS. I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I WANTED TO LAY IT OUT FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH ITEM 2, WITH LIBRARIES.

>> GOOD MORNING TO YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SAN ANTONIO CITY MANAGER.

>> I'M HERE WITH THE TEAM, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND OUR ADULT SERVICES COORDINATORS, PROGRAM COORDINATORS. TODAY I'M PLEASED TO SHARE A PRESENTATION TITLED HOW SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY SPARKS COLLABORATION AND CATALYZES COMMUNITY. FOR THIS PRESENTATION, WE ARE FOCUSING ON ONE CENTRAL

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A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COME TO, A PLACE WHERE CONNECTIONS HAPPEN.

A PLACE THAT FEELS WELCOMING, TRUSTED AND ACCEPTABLE.

IN A GROWING CITY LIKE OURS, PHYSICAL SPACE MATTERS. WHERE PEOPLE GATHER MATTERS AND HOW THEIR SPACE FUNCTIONS WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD MATTERS.

THIS PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS HOW OUR BRANCHES ACROSS ALL 30 LOCATIONS SERVE NOT ONLY AS SERVICE POINTS, BUT AS CATALYSTS FOR COLLABORATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, HEALTH, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY LIFE. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS MAP WE DON'T JUST SEE THESE 30 LOCATIONS, WE SEE INTENTIONAL ACCESS, LIBRARIES IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, LIBRARIES EMBEDDED IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR METROPOLITAN AREAS, LIBRARIES WITHIN REACH OF MOST SAN ANTONIANS. THIS MOST IS OF COURSE WITH AN ASTERISKS. THIS LEVEL OF DISTRIBUTION REFLECTS YEARS OF THOUGHTFUL PLANNING, STEWARDSHIP AND ADVOCACY. MUCH OF IT IS SHAPED BY OUR COMMUNITY, OUR LIBRARY BOARD AND STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING OUR CITY COUNCIL.

BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP, ACCESS TO PUBLIC LIBRARY IN SAN ANTONIO IS NOT LIMITED BY GEOGRAPHY. AS OUR CITY GROWS, THAT FOUNDATION BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. ACCESS IS WHERE EVERYTHING BEGINS.

ONE OF THE CLEAREST WAYS WE SEE THE IMPACT OF THAT ACCESS IS IN HOW OUR BRANCHES BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. PROGRAMS LIKE POETRY SLAMS, VIRTUAL TRAVEL PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS, CROCHET CLUBS THAT CONTINUE MEETING IN OUR TEMPORARY LOCATION AT DENVER HEIGHTS DURING RENOVATION OF THE MAIN LIBRARY.

CHESS, GROUPS THAT DRAW MULTIPLE GENERATIONS TO THESE PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY. THESE AREN'T JUST PROGRAMS ON A CALENDAR, THEY ARE CONNECTION POINTS. THEY REFLECT A SYSTEM THAT IS RESPONSIVE, CREATIVE AND GROUNDED IN NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS. A SYSTEM OUR CITY COUNCIL, LIBRARY BOARD AND CITY LEADERSHIP HAVE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THROUGH POLICY, INVESTMENT AND REGION. WHEN PEOPLE GATHER AROUND SHARED INTERESTS, COMMUNITIES [INDISCERNIBLE] QUIETLY AND STEADILY. OUR LIBRARIES CONTINUE TO SERVE AS STEWARDS OF CULTURE AND HISTORY. THIS YEAR HOLOCAUST LEARN AND REMEMBER SERIES INCLUDING EIGHT PROGRAMS ACROSS SIX LOCATIONS INVITING 500 PLUS ATTENDEES. AND THIS WAS OUR 14TH YEAR OF COLLABORATION WITH THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF SAN ANTONIO. LAST YEAR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FEATURED 28 PROGRAMS WHICH HAD -- AND WITH ATTENDANCE OF ALMOST 600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN 2025 JUNETEENTH PROGRAMMING ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 700 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAD 1900 PROGRAMS AT NINE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

WE ALSO HOSTED LARGE SCALE EVENTS LIKE POKER FEST ATLAS PAM MASS AND [INDISCERNIBLE], DRAWING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS. THE RANGE OF PROGRAMS IS REMARKABLE FROM SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE TO JOYFUL CELEBRATIONS.

AND THAT EXISTS BECAUSE OUR LIBRARY STAFF UNDERSTAND THAT LIBRARIES REFLECT THE FULL STORY OF OUR CITY. OUR CITY CONSISTENTLY AFFIRM THAT OUR ROLE IS NOT ONLY TO CIRCULATE MATERIALS, BUT TO CONVENE CONVERSATIONS, PRESERVE MEMORY AND CELEBRATE CULTURE. THESE PHOTOS ARE FROM SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. AND THE FIRST PHOTO ON YOUR LEFT YOU SEE IS FROM LAZ PALMAS LIBRARY WHERE WE HAD AROUND 200 PEOPLE IN OUR NEWLY RENOVATED BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY ROOM.

OF COURSE THIS PICTURE DOES NOT DO JUSTICE TO HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE, AND HERE WE HAVE ON THE STAGE YOU SEE IS JOY, WHO IS A U.S. POET LAWYER RAT.

AND THE PERSON IN PINK IS ADRIANA, THE ILLUSTRATOR OF HER NEW BOOK.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE LITTLE CHILDREN YOU SEE, THEY WERE

[00:30:03]

AND NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT PEOPLE. THIS HAPPENS DUE TO THE SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY, DEDICATED STAFF, PASSION NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD, CITY LEADERSHIP AND THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT FROM THE COUNCIL.

SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED AND WELL USED INSTITUTIONS IN THIS CITY. THE TRUST IS BUILT DAILY BY OUR STAFF ACROSS 30 LOCATIONS WHO DESIGN, ADAPT, RESPOND AND SERVE WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND CARE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO THE SYSTEM AND TO RESIDENTS WE SERVE.

TOGETHER WE ARE ENSURING THAT AS SAN ANTONIO GROWS, ITS PUBLIC LIBRARY REMAINS STRONG, RELEVANT AND DEEPLY CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M GOING TO ASK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, DID YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION OR DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS NOW ON LIBRARY? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 3, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ITEM 3 WE'LL GO INTO PARKS

RECREATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. >> HI, GOOD MORNING.

I'M NIKKI RAMOS, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW. WE HAVE -- FOR THOSE OF YOU ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THERE WILL BE SOME NEW INFORMATION FROM WHAT YOU JUST RECEIVED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION WITH 271 PARKS, ALMOST 300 MILES OF TRAILS, ALMOST 200 PLAYGROUNDS.

YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS, 30 COMMUNITY CENTERS, OVER 30 POOLS AND SPLASH PADS, 18 DOG PARKS. WE ARE A CERTIFIED PARK AGENCY.

THERE ARE OTHER LARGE TEXAS CITIES THAT ARE ACCREDITED, BUT WE JUST ACHIEVED THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THESE AMENITIES, THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT WE DO THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. SO JUST COMMUNITY OFFERINGS, WHETHER IT BE PROGRAM OR EVENTS. THERE'S A LOT. I'M GOING TO TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THEM WITHOUT LISTING ANYTHING AND HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AFTER. SO AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE 30 COMMUNITY CENTERS CITYWIDE. THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES SO WE HAVE 20 INCLUDING ATHLETIC LEAGUES, OUT OF SCHOOL CAMPS, JUST PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 70% OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS.

OUR CENTERS ARE OPEN SIX DAYS A, WE'RE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

WE DID EXPAND HOURS TO 50 HOURS THIS FISCAL YEAR. THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER. JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF PARTICIPATION, IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR WE HAD OVER 350 YOUTH AND TEEN PARTICIPANTS AND ALMOST 150 ADULT PARTICIPANTS. WE DO HAVE FOUR ADULT AND SENIOR CENTERS IN THE CITY THAT SERVE AGES 18 PLUS. SO THEY'RE NOT SENIOR CENTERS. WE DO ADULTS -- ALL ADULT PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THE HOURS DO VARY. YOU KNOW, THEY END A LITTLE BIT EARLIER FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE SERVING. IN FISCAL YEAR '25 WE SERVED

[00:35:01]

WE DO OFFER SUMMER YOUTH AT FOUR OF THOSE CENTERS, AND WE PARTNER ACTUALLY, SO THEY HAD MENTIONED DENVER HEIGHTS. THAT'S ONE OF OUR CENTERS AND ONE THAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM ON AS THEY'VE HAD A LIBRARY CLOSURE THEY ARE CO-LOW INCOMING A LIBRARY THERE. WE USE THE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH PROGRAMMING WHERE WE CAN PARTNER WITH OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IN THOSE YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LESS PARTICIPATION, BUT THEY ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS IS A MAP JUST TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL SENSE OF WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED SO YOU'LL SEE THE TRIANGLES ARE OUR REGULAR CENTERS. THE SQUARES ARE OPEN PLAYS AND THEN THE FOUR ADULT AND SENIOR CENTERS, AND THEN THEY ARE LISTED OFF TO THE SIDE.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CREATED THESE CLUB HUBS, RIGHT? SO WE OFFER HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS EVERY YEAR, WHICH CAN BE A BIT MUCH, RIGHT? IF YOU'RE A PARENT LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO OR JUST AN INDIVIDUAL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CREATED THESE HUBS. THEY'RE CALLED THE DISCOVERY LAB. THAT'S OUR SCIENCE, OUR TECHNOLOGY, OUR ENGINEERING.

JUST MAKE IT FUN, ENGAGING. WE HAVE THE STUDIO, WHICH IS MORE OF YOUR CREATIVE SPACE, YOUR ART, FINE ARTS, CRAFTS. YOUR FIT ZONE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, OUR FITNESS. SO IT'S A PLACE TO STAY ACTIVE.

AND THE SPORT CLUB IS REALLY YOUR MORE ORGANIZED TYPE OF ACTIVITIES, COMPETITION, TEAMWORK, THAT WOULD BE THAT FOCUS. AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED OVER TIME IS TEENS ARE JUST A UNIQUE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T FIT IN THE BOX OF JUST REGULAR PROGRAMMING, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TEEN CLUBS. SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CREATED THESE HUBS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT OUR OFFERING AND RECOGNIZE THEM BY THOSE HUBS AND FIND THEIR AREA OF INTEREST. SO WHAT WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED UP HERE, THE GALLERY IS A FINE ARTS PROGRAM THAT WE'VE DONE OVER TIME. IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE CENTERS -- ACTUALLY, I SAY KIDS, BUT OUR SENIOR CENTERS HAVE BEGUN PARTICIPATING IN THESE AS WELL. THEY WILL DO A PROGRAM OVER A NUMBER OF WEEKS. IT COULD BE ART. OUR UPCOMING GALLERY WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHY. SO WE LEARN IT OVER TIME. THEY GO OUT AND THEY LIKE WITH PHOTOGRAPHY IT MAY BE NATURE PHOTOS. THEY GO OUT AND THEY DO THAT AND THEN WE SET UP A GALLERY SETTING FOR THEM, FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO COME.

WE DO, YOU KNOW, FOOD, WE DO MUSIC, WE'VE BROUGHT POETS OUT.

SO IT'S A REALLY GOOD PLACE FOR THEM TO SHARE WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

CPERCH IS REALLY COOL, THAT'S THAT TOP PICTURE. IT'S AN UNDERWATER ROBOT.

THIS IS IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM AND THEY LEARN HOW TO BUILD THE ROBOT AND THEN THEY ARE ABLE TO BRING IT OUT TO ONE OF OUR POOLS AND THEY DO OBSTACLE COURSES.

I'VE SEEN THEM DO RACES AGAINST EACH OTHER AND DO TEAMS. SO IT'S TEACHING THEM ROBOTICS IN A REALLY FUN WAY, BRINGING THEM OUT TO OUR POOLS, BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM. AIM TO FLOAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU WILL SEE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT PICTURE AND THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT. THAT WAS A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH OUR STATE AGENCY, AND BASICALLY THE KIDS THROUGH OUR SUMMER PROGRAM GOT TO LEARN KAYAKING, THEY GOT TO LEARN ARCHERY AND THEY ALSO LEARNED SOME CONSERVATION NATURE EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. SO WE BROUGHT THEM OUT TO THE RIVER TO KAYAK. I GOT TO GO DOWN THE CHUTE. FRANKLY, THEY'VE ALL ENJOYED IT SO MUCH, I WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THIS LATER, BUT WE'VE BROUGHT IT NOW TO OUR SENIORS BECAUSE WHY LIMIT THIS FUN TO THE KIDS? BUT THAT WAS A REALLY COOL PROGRAM THAT WE ARE CONTINUING AFTER THE GRANT. AND THEN OZOBOTH, ROBOTIC PROGRAMMING WE BRING TO THE CENTERS, SPECIFICALLY THE TEENS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND IN THE SUMMER. WE HAVE STARTED EXPANDING OUR REACH TO YOUTH AND TODDLERS FIVE AND UNDER. A LOT OF THE CHILDREN IN THE PEOPLE ARE SIX AND UP.

WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH KIDS, AROUND KIDS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE SIBLINGS AND YOU START SOMEWHERE. SO WE WERE SEEING FAMILIES COMING TO THE CENTERS WITH YOUNGER ONES AND WE THOUGHT WHY NOT START THAT OUTREACH AT THE YOUNGER AGE? SO THESE ARE JUST SOME REALLY COOL PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE DONE JUST ANYWHERE FROM FREE PLAY, THE CREATIVE EXPRESSION IS FREE PLAY.

WE'LL PUT BLOCKS OUT. STORY TIME. VIVA LOS TOTS.

THAT'S THE STOP PICTURE. IT'S ACTUALLY DURING FIESTA TIME AND IT'S LITTLE RELAY RACES AND ACTIVITIES AND IT'S JUST FOR TOTS. IT'S THE CITEST.

WE HAD BABY RACES AND A TROPHY FOR THE LITTLE BABY WHO WON.

[00:40:02]

THAT ONE IS COMING UP RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER WITH FIESTA.

LEAGUES. LEAGUES TRADITIONALLY START AT AGE SIX.

WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE STARTED THEM EARLIER AND THOSE LEAGUES ARE FREE.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE FUN, LET THEM LEARN ORGANIZED PLAY, GET OUT, LEARN THE SPORT. AND FRANKLY, ONCE THEY'RE READY FOR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER LEVEL IN RECREATION, THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT US AND THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH US AND OUR STAFF AND OUR FACILITIES SO WE'VE STARTED DOING THAT AS WELL.

OUT OF SCHOOL CAMPS. SO WE ALL KNOW THAT THE VALUE FOR US TO PARENTS IS A PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS TO GO THAT IS SAFE, THAT THEY CAN LEARN, THEY CAN HAVE FUN, THAT THEY WANT TO BE, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE CAMPS DURING THANKSGIVING, DURING THE WINTER HOLIDAY, DURING SPRING BREAK AT ALL OF OUR REGULAR CENTERS.

WE DO ALIGN OUR SCHEDULES WITH THE SCHOOL CALENDARS, WHICH IN PROBABLY THE LAST FIVE PLUS YEARS USED TO GO FROM WHERE THEY ALL USED TO BE ALIGNED TO NOW THEY'RE ALL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. SO WHAT WE DO IS WHEREVER THE CENTER IS LOCATED, WHATEVER DISTRICT THEY'RE IN, THAT'S HOW WE ALIGN THE CALENDAR.

SO THEY'RE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 7:30 TO 5:30. THREE DOLLARS A DAY.

THOSE ARE AGES SIX TO 14. SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM IS OUR LARGEST PROGRAM SERVING OVER 4,000 KIDS. THAT'S AT ALL OF OUR REGULAR CENTERS AT OUR OPEN PLAY CENTERS, AND WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WE ASK THEM TO GIVE US AS MANY SITES AS THEY CAN FOR US TO SERVE. THIS ONE HAS A MUCH MORE DEFINED CURRICULUM. WE DO HIRE RECREATION INSTRUCTORS THAT ARE TYPICALLY TEACHERS THAT AREN'T WORKING IN THE SUMMER AT THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE DO MATH INSTRUCTION, WE DO SCIENCE INSTRUCTION. WE ALSO PARTNERSHIP IN THE LIBRARY'S READING PROGRAM SO WE KEEP THE KIDS READING THROUGH THE SUMMER.

WE -- THAT ONE IS A SLIDING SCALE FEE, SO YOU WILL SEE THE FULL FEE FOR ONE CHILD IS 260, BUT IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE REDUCED FEE, IT'S 25 FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER.

SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR KIDS QUALIFY FOR THAT REDUCED FEE.

IT DOES INCREASE INCREMENTALLY FOR EACH CHILD, BUT I THINK THE MOST YOU WOULD PAY IS 50 OR $60 FOR A FAMILY WITH FOUR OR MORE CHILDREN IF YOU'RE ON THAT REDUCED RATE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS PROGRAM.

WHILE IT CAN BE VERY REASONABLY PRICED, IT IS ALSO A VERY HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE SUMMER TEEN CLUB CAMPS, SO SOME OF OUR CENTERS WE WILL DESIGNATE AS TEEN SITES. AGAIN, AS I TALKED ABOUT THE FOCUS WITH THE TEENS, WE USED TO JUST DEVELOP THE CURRICULUM AND JUST MAKE IT AGE APPROPRIATE AND WE'RE JUST FINDING -- WE DON'T TEENS DON'T WANT THAT, THEY JUST DON'T. SO THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING THEM THERE, THE CURRICULUM IS DIFFERENT. WE TRY TO DO COLLEGE VISITS, JUST OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE TEACHING THEM THAT IS HELPFUL FOR THEM THAT THEY WANT TO DO. TALK ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, JUST IT'S VERY SPECIALIZED FOR THAT DEMOGRAPHIC. WE'VE ALSO DONE DANCE CAMP AT WOODLAWN LAKE AT OUR DANCE STUDIO, SO THOSE ARE DONE IN TWO-WEEK SESSIONS, NOT QUITE A FULL DAY, BUT IT'S ALL DANCE INSTRUCTION. I'VE BEEN THERE, THEY'RE CUTE, THEY'RE LEARNING, THEY LOVE IT. IT IS FREE AND IT'S FOR YOUTH AND TEENS.

AND THEN THE ONE THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON ALL OF THESE IS SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER FOR US AND SO THEY PROVIDE THE MEAL AND THE SNACK. IT'S ALL FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR PARTICIPANTS AND WE DO THAT THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. SO JUST OTHER PARTNERS TO MENTION, EXTERNAL PARTNERS. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT COMES THROUGH OUR SUMMER PROGRAM TEACHING FINANCIAL LITERACY. I ALREADY MENTIONED SEA PERFECT, AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, WE DO THAT UNANIMOUS WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROJECT POWER, IT'S TEACHING FITNESS, TEACHING NUTRITION. WE ACTUALLY GET A BENEFIT FROM THAT PROGRAM IN ACTUAL PAYMENT WHEN WE ARE DOING THE EDUCATION AND SURVEYS OF THE KIDS, WE RECEIVE MONEY BACK THAT WE CAN PUT BACK INTO NUTRITION AND EDUCATION AND OUR PROGRAMMING. SO THAT'S BEEN A REALLY NICE PARTNERSHIP.

WELL MED, SENIORS IN PLAY, THOSE ARE ALL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP IN OUR SENIOR CENTERS. SENIORS IN PLAY IS REALLY COOL.

IT'S A GROUP AND THE GROUP COMES OUT AND THEY ARE ENCOURAGING SOCIALIZATION AND EXPRESSION. SOMETIMES THEY DO PLAYS. THEY'RE JUST LEARNING DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEY TYPICALLY WILL END WITH A PERFORMANCE OF SOME KIND IN THE CENTER. THEIR FAMILIES CAN COME AND IT'S A REALLY COOL PARTNERSHIP. INTERNALLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE, I THINK THE JOKE IS THE POWER 3, POWER 4 DEPARTMENTS WITH HUMAN SERVICES, HEALTH, LIBRARY AND US ALL DOING THE SAME TYPE OF WORK SO WE LIKE TO REALLY PARTNER WITH EACH

[00:45:03]

IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT ENGAGEMENT. HEAL MEALS IS ACTUALLY THE PROGRAM THAT WE PARTNER WITH DHS WITH TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR OUR SENIORS AT THE ADULT AND SENIOR CENTERS. HEALTH, WE HAVE PROJECT WORTH COME OUT.

THEY DO ALSO NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OUR HEALTHY EATING PROGRAM.

LIBRARY, I MENTIONED THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM. THEY'VE COME OUT TO OUR SITES AND DONE LET'S PLAY ACTIVITIES WITH OUR YOUNGER GROUPS.

AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THIS ONE HAS BEEN REALLY COOL OVER TIME.

THEY'LL BRING PROGRAMS TO US, SO [INDISCERNIBLE], WE HAD OUR KIDS DOING ART PROJECTS, PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECTS WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY, AND THEIR WORK IS ACTUALLY -- IT IS DISPLAYED IN THE OTHER COUNTRY. THEY RECEIVE AN AWARD, A CERTIFICATE. AND SAN PEDRO PARK, WE DID A LITTLE CONTEST WITH THEM.

SO WE REALLY TRY TO EXPAND OUR REACH, TEACH THE KIDS AND REALLY LET THEIR WORK SHINE. SO COMMUNITY EVENTS, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIVISIONS AND FOLKS WE WORK WITH. FLAY MINUTE LOW WE DID IT AT CARVER. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN SEE THE DANCERS ON THE TOP RIGHT. RESTORED BY LIGHT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

MISSION SAN JOSÉ, WE HAD DANCERS PERFORMING THERE ADULT AND SENIOR.

YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE TURKEY BINGO. WHO DIDN'T DOESN'T LIKE BINGO. THEY CAN WIN TURKEYS DURING THANKSGIVING TIME.

WE HAVE DANCES THAT WE DO. WE OPEN THEM TO THE PUBLIC. WE BRING PEOPLE FROM OUR CENTERS, DHS WILL BRING PEOPLE FROM THEIR CENTERS. WE BROUGHT THEM OUT KAYAKING, I WAS OUT THERE AND THEY HAD A FANTASTIC TIME.

WE DO MOVIES IN THE PARK, WE DO A PARK & RIDE TENNIS SOCIAL.

FREE FAMILY SWIMS AT OUR NATATORIUM. AND OUR YOUTH AND TEENS WE'VE DONE A BER DI DASH -- DERBY DASH. SKATEBOARD COMPETITION IN DISTRICT 10 BROUGHT OUT A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AND FOR THE TODDLERS, I KNOW I MENTIONED VIVA LOS TOTS THERE'S AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

IT GETS LARGER EVERY YEAR. OUR SUPERVISOR DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE REALLY TRY TO BRING WHAT WE OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY AND JUST BRING EVERYONE OUT TOGETHER TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. SO ATHLETIC FACILITIES.

I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR ATHLETIC CENTERS.

WE HAVE THE TENNIS CENTER AND FAIRCHILD PARK. FAIRCHILD HAS PICKLEBALL.

WHEATLEY HEIGHTS SPORTS COMPLEX, IF YOU RECALL THAT WAS RUN BY ANOTHER ENTITY.

WE USE BOND FUNDS TO RENOVATE THE ACTUAL TRACK AND FOOTBALL STADIUM AND WE BUILT AN EVENTS CENTER. WHEN THAT REOPENED, PARKS TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMING OF THAT FACILITY. WHILE IT IS AVAILABLE FOR RESERVATIONS, WE ALSO RUN PROGRAMS. WE DO FLAG FOOTBALL THERE, WE DO COMMUNITY PLAY THERE, WE DO CLINICS THERE. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, IT'S REALLY NICE. IT'S LOCATED IN MLK PARK. PROGRAMMING AND ATHLETICS.

WE DO COMMUNITY CLINIC AT MCFAR LIEN. WE DO FITNESS IN THE PARK FOR BEGINNER TENNIS. PADDLE AND PRAY WAS SOMETHING WE DID LAST SUMMER THAT'S BOTH PICKLEBALL AND TENNIS SO THEY LEARN A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

AS I MENTIONED, DOING COMMUNITY OPEN PLAY. I KNOW SOMEONE MADE THE COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT ACCESS. SO WHILE WHEATLEY HEIGHTS IS A RESERVATION FACILITY, IT'S A REALLY NICE FACILITY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW IT'S THERE AND THEY'RE USING IT. MCFAR LIEN THE SAME WAY.

YOU RESERVE THOSE COURTS. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE DESIGNATED DAYS AS COMMUNITY OPEN PLAY DAYS, SO PEOPLE CAN JUST COME PLAY TENNIS ON TUESDAYS.

TENNIS TUESDAYS. AND WHEATLEY HEIGHTS IS WEDNESDAY.

THERE WERE EASILY 200 PEOPLE THERE ON THE FIELD AND TRACK USING IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS USING IT IN ADDITION TO THE RESERVATIONS. WE DO THIS, WE HAVE A LIST OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THERE.

ON THE TENNIS SIDE EVERYTHING WE DO IS THROUGH A PARTNER.

SO WE HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO TENNIS ASSOCIATION, TENNIS CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE TENNIS PROS THAT ARE THERE. THE MCFAR LIEN TENNIS FOUNDATION. SO WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY WILL PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTION. AND WE WILL -- WE WILL PROMOTE IT, WE WILL HELP PROVIDE GOODIES IF IT'S AN EVENT, BUT MOST OF THESE ARE ONGOING CLINICS BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND PLAY, COME SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY ENJOY AND IT CAN BE SOMETHING THIS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO USE. SPURS GIVE HAS REDONE A LOT

[00:50:04]

THEY HAVE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER. THE SPURS WILL COME OUT AND DO CLINICS WHEN THEY DO COURTS. THAT'S ALWAYS FUN. ON PARK GOLF.

WE'RE TRYING TO BRANCH OUT INTO SOME NEW SPORTS. WE'VE BUN CONTRADICT, WE'VE DONE LACROSSE. A LOT OF REALLY COOL STUFF THAT WE -- PARTNERS FIND US AND WE ARE ALWAYS SEEKING PARTNERS. IT'S A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY WE THINK FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO IN ATHLETICS TOTAL PARTICIPATION WAS ABOUT 11,000 LAST YEAR, PRIMARILY YOUTH, BUT WE DO OF COURSE SERVE OUR ADULT PROGRAMS. WE DO PARTNERSHIP WITH POLICE IN THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE. SPURS LEAGUE IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S OUR MOST POPULAR BY FAR. WE HAVE DONE THE TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION, WE'VE DONE TRACK AND FIELD THROUGH THEM. WE'VE HOSTED IT HERE.

WE'VE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN SWIM WITH THEM. WE'VE DONE PICKLEBALL SOCIALS. WE ALSO OFFER IN THAT BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER PICTURE THE SAN FERNANDO BOXING CLUB. IT USED TO BE RUN OFF FORMERLY KNOWN AS SAN FERNANDO GYM. AND WE MOVED THIS FACILITY OVER TO LINCOLN IN DISTRICT 2. WE DO OPERATE THIS BOXING CLUB.

REALLY THE COST IS TO JOIN USA BOXING AS A MEMBER. WE HAD FIVE TO EIGHT JUST ACTUALLY ADVANCE TO GOLDEN GLOVES HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO SOME OF IT IS FOR FUN, SOME OF IT IS FORFEITNESS, BUT WE HAVE SOME PRETTY COMPETITIVE AND PRETTY SUCCESSFUL BOXERS THAT COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AS WELL.

FITNESS, I'M SURE MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH FITNESS PROGRAMMING.

FITNESS IN THE PARK IS OUR LARGEST. IT IS FREE FITNESS CLASSES EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE CITY. WE HAVE OFFER 6500 CLASSES A YEAR SERVING ALMOST 73,000 PEOPLE. AGAIN, WE PARTNER WITH PEOPLE.

WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT OFFER THESE CLASSES, BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH PEOPLE TO BRANCH OUT. THERE'S PICTURES OF THEM. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION GOTOMEETING YOGA. IF YOU LIKE YOGA AND YOU WANT TO FIND SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I LITERALLY JUST HELD THE BABY GOAT FOR PROBABLY THE WHOLE HOUR. BUT IT BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT AND IT'S A GOOD, FUN WAY TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE IF TO OUR PARK AND PARTNERS IN FITNESS.

MOBILE FIT IS IN THAT TOP LEFT CORNER. THERE'S A VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE TO WE BRING OUT TO PARKS. WE ALSO HAVE IT OFFERED OUT THROUGH OTHER VENDORS. AND IT HAS A GAMING SYSTEM, IT HAS THE ABILITY TO TEST YOUR BMI, YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. WE DON'T KEEP ANY DATA BY INDIVIDUAL. WE'LL GIVE YOU YOUR INFORMATION.

AND WE DO FITNESS CLASSES FROM IT. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BRING OUT TO EVENTS. YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IT OR YOU MAY HAVE REQUESTED IT BY IT'S A REALLY COOL FITNESS TOOL FOR US TO PUT OUT. THE BARRERRA FITNESS CENTER IS OFF OF OLD HIGHWAY 90. WE HAVE A CLASSES, A WEIGHT ROOM.

WE DO OFFER FITNESS IN THE PARK CLASSES THERE. WE'VE HAD OVER 15,000 PARTICIPATE THERE AS WELL. AQUATICS. SO THIS IS A LARGE ONE, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE ONE INDOOR NATATORIUM, THE GARCIA NATATORIUM LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN NEAR LANIER HIGH SCHOOL.

WE ALSO HAVE 24 OUTDOOR POOLS. AT THE NATATORIUM IT IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND AND A PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH SAISD, SO THEY HAVE DEDICATED TIME FOR THEIR SCHOOLS TO HAVE PRACTICES AND MEETS. OTHER THAN THAT WE USE IT FOR OPEN SWIM, FITNESS CLASSES, FAMILY TIME. WE HAVE DESIGNATED DAYS EACH MONTH FOR FREE FAMILY SWIM. WE ALSO DO SPRING BREAK CAMP SO WE'RE GETTING READY TO -- ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S ALREADY FULL, SPRING BREAK CAMP THERE.

WE WILL DO SOME FREE TIME DURING SPRING BREAK AS WELL. SO THAT IS OUR INDOOR OFFERING. AGAIN, YOU SEE WE DO SWIM LESSONS THERE, BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUP, AND WE DO THEM BY AGE GROUP AS YOU SEE THERE.

24 OUTDOOR POOLS. WE'VE HAD OVER 265,000 ATTEND LAST YEAR.

WE HIRE ALMOST 300 LIFEGUARDS A YEAR. WE ARE HIRING NOW SO I'LL MAKE MY PITCH NOW. IF YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY 16 OR OLDER THAT WANTS TO MAKE $18 AN HOUR, SEND THEM OUR WAY. WE WILL TRAIN THEM, WE WILL CERTIFY THEM BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THOSE POOLS GOING, RIGHT? SO WE DO THE LET'S SWIM IS OUR OUTDOOR SWIM LESSONS. WE'VE DONE THEM IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

LAST YEAR WE DID THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE SPREAD OUT WHERE WE DID -- EACH SESSION HAD POOLS. THIS YEAR OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERY POOL AT EVERY SESSION SO THAT WOULD GET US CLOSER TO 2,000 PARTICIPANTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO US WHILE THE POOLS ARE A FUN ACTIVITY, WATER SAFETY IS VERY CRITICAL AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE OF ALL AIMS ARE LEARNING TO SWIM AND

[00:55:01]

OUR AQUA HIT BOARDS ARE CRAZY. IF YOU IMAGINE A PADDLE PORT AND YOU'RE STANDING ON TOP OF IT AND DOING EXERCISES WHILE THE WATER IS MOVING, IT IS INTENSE. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT, A LOT OF AQUA ZOOM BAH.

WE HAVE SENIOR SWIM THAT WE PILOTED IN DISTRICT 3. WE HAVE APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERSHIPS. WHILE WE HAVE A LOT OF POOLS, THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THERE'S POCKETS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY AND WE USE OUR PARTNERS.

SO SAISD IT THE PARTNER AT THE NAT, BUT NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST ISD WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM AND WE HAVE FACILITIES TO DO FREE COMMUNITY SWIM DAYS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE THOUSAND OAKS YMCA AND THEY DO SOME FREE COMMUNITY SWIM DAYS.

WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH THEM. PRE-K 4 SA, ANOTHER CITY DEPARTMENT, WE PARTNER WITH THEM, THEY BRING THEIR KIDS TO THE NATATORIUM FOR SWIM LESSONS. THEY HAVE A SESSION GOING ON ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS WHO WE PARTNER WITH ON TRAININGS.

AND AGAIN THE FOOD BANK BRINGS -- THEY PROVIDE MEALS AT ANY OF OUR CAMPS THAT WE OFFER. ACTUALLY, AND LET ME BACK UP, BECAUSE WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER THAT FEEDS ANYBODY 18 AND UNDER. AND SO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR LOCATIONS YOUTH THAT IS LOOKING FOR A MEAL IN THE SUMMER, YOU CAN COME TO OUR POOLS AS A LOCATION AS WELL. THIS IS THE MAP OF THOSE LOCATIONS.

SO HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT US? AND WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE TO OFFER? SO WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STEWARDSHIP DIVISION. SO THEY SERVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY PUT ON, WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AT WOODLAWN LAKE. IT WILL BE APRIL 18TH. WE DO A RESOURCE FAIR AND TREE ADOPTION AT ELMENDORF PARK. CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES. ACTIVITIES WHILE THEY'RE THERE.

THE SILENT BOOK CLUB IS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL IF ANY OF YOU ARE READERS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A -- IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS CREATED IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT ACTUALLY IS -- IT HAS MEMBERS IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES.

I THINK IT'S LIKE 60 COUNTRIES OR SOMETHING. AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY PEOPLE JUST GET TOGETHER AND READ. SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR TRADITIONAL READING CLUB OR BOOK CLUB WHERE EVERYONE IS READING THE SAME BOOK. YOU LITERALLY COME AND JUST EVERYONE'S READING WHATEVER THEY WANT TO READ. THEY SOCIALIZE IF THEY CARE TO SOCIALIZE. WE ARE ONE OF THEIR LARGER MEMBERS.

WE HAD A FEATURE HUNDRED THAT PARTICIPATED. I THINK IT WAS ALMOST 500 LAST YEAR. WE'VE DONE EVENTS, SO WE'LL DO BOOK SWAPS, SOMETHING AT THE HOLIDAYS. AND SO WHILE THEY ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, THEY DO COME TO PARKS LOCATIONS. SOMETIMES IT'S INSIDE, WE'VE DONE IT AT THE FIELD, AND SOMETIMES IT'S OUT IN A PARK WHEN THE WEATHER SUPPORTS THAT. UNPLUG TEXAS DAY WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WE DID THROUGH OUR STATE AGENCY TRAPS. AND THAT WAS REALLY AN EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE OFF THEIR PHONES, OFF THEIR IPADS AND JUST COMING OUT TO PARKS AND ENGAGING NATURE, BUT ALSO ENGAGING WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. AND SO WE HAD AN EVENT, WE ACTUALLY HOSTED AT DEWITTTY TO DO THAT, BUT WE ALSO PUT WORD OUT TO FOLKS, HEY, COME AND JOIN US.

SO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IS A LOT OF WHAT WE USE FOR THIS, AND OF COURSE WE USE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, X. OUR WEBSITE HAS ALL OF OUR INFORMATION, OVER A MILLION VISITORS, SO PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING FOR WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR NATURAL AREAS. THEY PROVIDED OVER 600 OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE. THAT'S ANYWHERE FROM HIKES, FIELD TRIPS, ART CLASSES, PRESENTATIONS, ALMOST 26,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED OUR NATURAL AREAS.

IT'S REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY, JUST VERY DIFFERENT PROGRAMMING, NATURE PROGRAMMING, ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO TO ONE OF THE NATURAL AREAS.

AND THEN OUR URBAN FORESTRY, THAT'S OUR TREES. SO THEY DO AN EVENT IN NOVEMBER. THIS YEAR WE DID IT AT MISSION MARQUEE.

ALL OF OUR TREE ADOPTION EVENTS ARE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO COME, RECEIVE TREES, LEARN ABOUT TREES, BUT AGAIN PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER.

AND FINALLY, I'VE ALREADY MADE MY PITCH FOR EMPLOYMENT ON AQUATICS.

WE ALSO HIRE FOR OUR SUMMER PROGRAM SO IT'S SOMETHING FOR OUR YOUTH ANYWHERE INTO OUR ADULTS AND SENIORS. SO THAT WAS A LOT. I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS WHEN WE GET THROUGH. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR LAST PRESENTATION IS ABOUT OUR SENIOR CENTERS.

TAKE IT AWAY. >> NOT QUITE AS TALL AS NIKKI HERE.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS JESSICA, DEPUTY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. TODAY I WILL BE PROVIDING JUST A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION ON OLDER ADULT PROGRAMMING THAT IS PROVIDED BY OUR DEPARTMENT.

[01:00:02]

THEY ARE A FUNDER AND SERVICE PROVIDER. AS WELL AS MEALS ON WHEELS AND RED CONNECT TEXAS. SO SPECIFICALLY DURING TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A VERY BRIEF SNAPSHOT ON OLDER ADULT CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN SAN ANTONIO, REVIEW OUR SITE LOCATIONS AND JUST OVERALL PROGRAMMING IN GENERAL. PROVIDE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM FISCAL YEAR '25.

DISCUSS OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 WORKMAN. TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS THAT WE HAVE AS WELL AS REVIEW SOME UPCOMING CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP US TO EXPAND ACCESS AND SERVICES. SO IN TERMS OF THE SNAPSHOT -- THIS IS JUST FOR CONTEXT. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OLDER ADULTS FACE IN SAN ANTONIO, SO THIS IS BASED ON THE 2024 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, WHICH IS A FIVE-YEAR ESTIMATE, BUT ACCORDING TO THE DATA, 14.6% OF OLDER ADULTS IN SAN ANTONIO LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN BEXAR COUNTY AND HIGHER THAN MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS. BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS 24.2% ARE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED AS COST BURDEN, SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE SPENDING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR GROSS INCOME ON HOUSING, UTILITIES AND RELATED FEES, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER RESOURCES LIKE MEDICATION, FOOD AND HEALTH SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, NEARLY 44% LIVE ALONE AND EIGHT PERCENT LIVE WITH GRANDCHILDREN. AND THOSE THAT ARE LIVING WITH GRANDCHILDREN INCLUDE THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY SERVING AS CAREGIVERS FOR THOSE CANDIDATE CHILDREN.

IN ADDITION, ROUGHLY 42% OF OLDER ADULTS ALSO LIVE WITH A DISABILITY AND THAT CREATES AS WE KNOW NOT ONLY MOBILITY CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES AMONG OTHERS. AND LASTLY, 48.3% SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME. AND OUR POINT IN KIND OF IDENTIFYING THIS IS THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE REGULARLY LOOK AT, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRAMMING, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT TWEAKING SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THIS INTO ACCOUNT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING, THERE ARE 44 COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS AND PART-TIME NUTRITION SITES THAT ARE PROVIDING CENTER-BASED PROGRAMMING ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S BOTH DHS OPERATED AND PARTNER OPERATED SITES. WE MANAGE 12 COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS. TWO OF THOSE WERE OPERATING IN PARTNERSHIP WITHWELL MED AND TWO WERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, THAT NIKKI MENTIONED EARLIER THAT PROVIDE MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

11 OF THOSE SITES ARE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING AND THEN THE CITY ALSO DIRECTLY OPERATES EIGHT ADDITIONAL PART-TIME NUTRITION SITES. FOUR OF THOSE ARE OPERATED BY HUMAN SERVICES AND FOUR ARE OPERATED BY PARKS AND RECREATION. THE REMAINING PARTNER SITES ARE ACTUALLY OPERATED BY CHURCHES, SENIOR HOUSING LIVING SPACES AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND THE CITY SUPPORTS THOSE OPERATIONS AS WELL.

SO THE PRIMARY SUPPORT IS THE DAILY MEALS THAT MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDES THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GENERAL FUND AND GRANT AND IFING FROM AACOG, BUT WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MONITORING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO HELP ENSURE SMOOTH OPERATIONS. THROUGH DHS AND OUR PARTNERS WE'RE SERVING ROUGHLY 22,103 AVERAGE PARTICIPANTS DAILY, OVERALL FOR THE YEAR, RATHER.

OF THOSE NEARLY # THOUSAND ARE PARTICIPATING DAILY. IN TOTAL ROUGHLY 88% OF THOSE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING AT ONE OF THE 12 DHS COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DON'T DO ANY OF THE WORK WE DO ALONE. TO THAT END WE COLLABORATE WITH NATIONAL AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE USING BEST PRACTICES AND WE'RE REALLY DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES NOT ONLY TO THOSE OLDER ADULTS THAT WE'RE SERVING IN OUR CENTERS, BUT ALSO THE OLDER ADULTS THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE SERVING IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

THE GOAL OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING AND EQUIPPING OLDER ADULTS WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY, ENGAGED AND INDEPENDENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE ALSO CLOSELY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION, NOT ONLY FOR OLDER ADULTS, BUT ALSO FOR CAREGIVERS. ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THIS

[01:05:01]

AS THEY AGE AND TRANSITION BEYOND ATTENDING OUR SENIOR CENTERS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT PLAN IN PLACE AND TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT INDEPENDENCE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO AGE WITH DIGNITY. TO ACHIEVE THAT INCLUDES FITNESS, RECREATION, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIALIZATION.

IN FISCAL YEAR '25 WE PROVIDED A LITTLE OVER 10,000 ART, MUSIC, THEATER, FITNESS AND EDUCATION CLASSES. AND THAT WAS NOT ONLY PROVIDED BY OUR STAFF, BUT IT INCLUDED OUR PARTNERS, WELL MED, OASIS, OATS, MILL HOUSE, YWCA AND PARTNERS AMONG OTHERS. WE HAVE A ROBUST VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND THAT HELPS US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING EFFICIENT SITE OPERATIONS AND GIVES OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE IN THE SENIOR CENTERS OWNERSHIP OF THE CENTER ITSELF AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS INCLUDES A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO IMPLEMENTED IN 2024 CALLS THE SAVES PROGRAM.

WHAT THAT PROGRAM DOES IS ACTUALLY PROVIDES A CREDIT TOWARDS SOMEONE'S CITY PROPERTY TAXES IN EXCHANGE FOR VOLUNTEERS HOURS THAT THEY DONATE TO HELP WITH SERVICES AT THE CENTER. IT WAS ABOUT 48,000 HOURS THAT WERE PROVIDED IN VOLUNTEER HOURS AT SENIOR CENTERS IN FISCAL YEAR '25. WE ALSO HAVE A ROBUST NUTRITION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. THAT INCLUDED NEARLY 500,000 MEALS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY MEALS ON WHEELS FOR DAILY SERVICES AT THE CENTERS ALONG WITH ROUTINE PRODUCE MARKETS, MONTHLY FOOD COMMODITY DISTRIBUTIONS THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK'S PROJECT HOPE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS NUTRITION EDUCATION SESSIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY OUR DHS NUTRITION SPECIALISTS AND OUR REGISTERED DIETICIAN. OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY SERVICES ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON ASSET PROTECTION AND BUILDING ASSETS. WE DO THAT THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING, BENEFITS NAVIGATION AND MORE RECENTLY WE HAVE INCREASED OUR FOCUS ON REALLY COORDINATING TO HELP ADDRESS CASES OF ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING BEING LIFTED UP AS AN ISSUE NOT ONLY AT OUR CENTERS, BUT ALSO AMONGST PARTNERS. LASTLY OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IS CRITICAL TO ALLOWING US TO ENSURE THAT THOSE THAT FACE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO FULLY ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMMING. IN FISCAL YEAR '26 WE ARE FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS FROM OUR WORSHIP AND THE POINT OF THE WORK PLAN IS REALLY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IMPACTING THE REACH AND SCOPE OF OUR SERVICES. ENHANCING ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION. THERE ARE A FEW SITES IN PARTICULAR THAT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON WHERE WE HAVE A LOWER AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, BUT WE STILL HAVE CAPACITY AT THE CENTER TO INCREASE HOW MANY MEMBERS WE'RE SERVING DAILY.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE CORTEZ SENIOR CENTER IN DISTRICT 4, THE DISTRICT 5 SENIOR CENTER AND THE ROBINETTE MULTI-GENERATIONAL CENTER, WHICH MORE RECENTLY OPENED IN DISTRICT 4. WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING OUR FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND OUR BENEFITS NAVIGATION REACH THROUGH COLLABORATION, GREATER INTEGRATION WITH THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT. THAT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN THROUGH OUR FAMILY ASSISTANCE DIVISION.

SO LEVERAGING IN-HOUSE RESOURCES AS WELL TO BETTER SUPPORT SENIORS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ARE ALSO FURTHER IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS. AND WE'RE USING PARTNERS LIKE UTSA, TEXAS A&M, AND AACOG AMONGST OTHERS TO NOT ONLY PILOT NEW INITIATIVES, BUT ALSO CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES IN THE CENTERS. WE'RE EXPANDING OUR SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS.

NOT ONLY BY HOW TO INCREASE OUR ONLINE PRESENCE TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING RESOURCES, BUT HOW DO WE HAVE MORE ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SENIOR CENTERS TO SERVE THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE CHALLENGES THAT PROHIBIT THEM FROM FULLY PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMMING. AND LASTLY, WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE CITY/COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS.

IN PARTICULAR WE'RE LOOKING AT THINK DELAYS AND THEIR NAME.

WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THOSE TWO THINGS ACCURATELY REFLECT HOW IMPORTANT THEIR ROLE IS AS AN ADVOCACY BOARD TO BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, NONE OF THE WORK WE DO IS IN ICE LIKE.

OF COURSE WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY/COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS, BUT WE ALSO PARTNER WITH MORE THAN 43 NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THAT INCLUDES SISTER CITY DEPARTMENTS, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, BOTH THOSE THAT WE FUND THROUGH THE DELEGATE AGENCY PROCESS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS LIKE AACOG AND BACKBONE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SUCCESSFULLY AGING AND LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO COALITION. AND AARF. RP.

[01:10:05]

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO PRESENTED.

I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION. I THINK IT SPEAKS TO BREATH OF OUR PROGRAM THAT WE HAD THERE. AND THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE COMMITTED OURSELVES OVER DECADES AND OF COURSE UNTIL NOW NOT JUST TO THIS IDEA OF A THING TO HAVE, BUT THE NECESSITY THAT THOUSANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS UTILIZE SO I THINK IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO HEAR THIS. I ALSO THINK WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT -- I WILL -- ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

SOME OF THE HOPES, FUTURE, AND VISION. IT'S COMING FROM A PLACE THAT RESIDENTS ARE ALWAYS ASKING FOR I WISH THIS WAS CLOSER TO ME.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO EVERY DAY AND THE STAFF WHO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. WITH THAT, I WANT TO START

THE COUNCIL CONVERSATION. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, CHAIR. THANK EVERYBODY ART FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.

I'LL GO IN REVERSE ORDER. FIRST OF ALL, OUR SENIORS LOVE OUR SENIOR CENTERS.

IT IS SO WELL RUN AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR SENIORS TO GATHER AND INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. I LOVE GOING THERE AND OUR SENIORS CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. MY ONLY QUESTION HERE IS SORT OF A FIVE-YEAR VISION FOR SENIOR CENTERS. ANY NEW GOALS, INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO ENHANCE THE SENIOR CENTERS AND THE PROGRAMMING

FOR THOSE THAT ATTEND. >> SURE. ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE HAD TALKED A LITTLE BIT BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR '26 WORK PLAN.

THAT INCLUDES THE FACT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON ENHANCING ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION. AS PART OF THAT WORK, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE ELDER ABUSE SUBCOMMITTEE.

ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAD MADE WAS THAT WE ACTUALLY WORK WITH A LOCAL RESEARCHER TO CONDUCT WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE OLDER ADULTS IN SAN ANTONIO.

THE GOAL IS NOT TO ONLY FOCUS ON WHAT THE ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES WE CAN LOOK AT BUT WHAT ARE THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SENIORS.

THAT STUDY IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2026 AND WE'RE REALLY ANTICIPATING THAT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT STUDY WILL HELP US DRIVE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OLDER ADULT PROGRAMMING. THE INTENTION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IS TO TAKE THAT REPORT AND PARSE OUT RECOMMENDATIONS BY CONTENT AREA TO THE DIFFERENT CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES FOR THEIR REVIEW

>> WHYTE: GREAT. THANK YOU. MOVING TO PARKS.

I CAN'T LET THIS GO SO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET SESSION LAST YEAR.

AND I JUST PULLED THE KSAT ARTICLE ON THIS. AND I'LL JUST -- I ONLY BRING THIS UP TO SAY THESE BUDGET REVIEWS AND MY PUSH FOR A NEW BUDGETING MODEL HERE WITH OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY, I THINK, STARTING TO PAY OFF.

AND ONE OF THE AREAS WE SAW IT HERE IS WITH SOME OF THESE CLASSES, I GUESS, THAT THE CITY WAS OFFERING. SO A REVIEW OF 79,000 CLASSES OFFERED IN 2024 FISCAL YEAR, FOUND THAT 32% OF THE CLASSES HAD NO ONE PARTICIPATING IN THEM.

AND THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT BECAUSE WE'RE CLOSING THESE DOWN, WE ARE GOING TO SAVE CLOSE TO $624,000. AND I BRING THAT UP TO, ONE, I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT FOR GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS, IDENTIFYING THESE AREAS WHERE WE HAD NO TURNOUT OR SMALL TURNOUT AT THESE CLASSES.

[01:15:05]

WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING OUR BANG FOR OUR BUCK? >> YES.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES.

THAT REVIEW IS VERY INTENSE AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WERE DOING PRIOR TO THE REVIEW WAS OUR APPROACH WAS FOR EVERY SPACE IN A CENTER WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING OFFERED EVERY HOUR THAT WE WERE OPEN. THAT WAS OUR APPROACH.

AND I THINK WHAT THAT REVIEW DID FOR US WAS REALIZE, OKAY.

PERHAPS PEOPLE AREN'T LOOKING FOR THAT STRUCTURE EVERY MINUTE THAT THEY'RE THERE. YOU KNOW, THEY MAY WANT TO JUST COME IN AND PLAY BASKETBALL OR READ OR USE OUR WI-FI. AND SO WE DID STEP BACK AND OFFER LESS. BUT I DON'T VIEW IT AS LESS FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S JUST WHAT MADE MORE SENSE FOR WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. THAT'S HOW WE WERE ACHIEVING THAT. WHAT WE DID PUT IN PLACE WERE PROCESSES FOR HOW WE REVIEW -- AND WE'RE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF REVIEW. SO YOU PUT A PROGRAM OUT AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT. WE ALSO DO, YOU KNOW, WE ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE BUT SOMETIMES YOU JUST PUT IT OUT THERE AND SEE HOW IT GOES. OUR FITNESS CLASSES, WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN OUR FITNESS GOING THROUGH THE SAME REVIEW AS THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.

MAYBE IT'S THE RIGHT CLASS ON THE WRONG DAY OR THE WRONG TIME.

AND SO WE TRY TO, YOU KNOW, TWEAK IT A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN WE DO HAVE A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE SAY, OKAY. WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAN DO. THIS ISN'T MAYBE THE RIGHT PLACE OR THE RIGHT OFFERING. AND THEN WE SWITCH TO SOMETHING ELSE.

THEN YOU START THAT CYCLE AGAIN. BUT WE DO HAVE THAT PROCESS

IN PLACE AND WE DID ADJUST OUR APPROACH TO OFFERINGS. >> WHYTE: GREAT.

THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM OF THE PROGRAMS BEING OFFERED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THE COMMUNITY LOVES THEM, JUST MAKING SURE WE HAVE METRICS AND DATA TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE BEING UTILIZED AND, AGAIN, THAT THE CITIZENS ARE GETTING WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I'LL SAY HERE WITH RESPECT TO PARKS IS MY OFFICE IS -- I THINK WE'VE REACHED OUT TO Y'ALL -- IS CONSIDERING A CCR RELATED TO TREE PLANTING IN FLOODPLAIN AREAS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO ASSESS THE FLOOD MITIGATION BENEFITS OF THIS.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PARKS, URBAN FORESTRY, AND RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS ON THE FEASIBILITY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BENEFIT THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND FINALLY, LIBRARIES. AGAIN, MY FOLKS IN DISTRICT 10 LOVE THE LIBRARIES. I WAS PLEASED TO JOIN WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR THE SIMS LIBRARY ANNIVERSARY A MONTH OR TWO AGO NOW. I ENJOYED THAT.

THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT. HERE'S MY QUESTION FOR Y'ALL: YOU'VE HEARD OF THIS LIBRARIES OF THINGS PROGRAM THAT'S BEING DONE IN SOME OTHER TEXAS CITIES? BASICALLY WHAT IT IS IT ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO BORROW TOOLS, COOKWARE, HOBBY KITS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. I WAS WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS PEOPLE THAT MAYBE CAN'T AFFORD TO GO BUY THINGS FOR JUST A ONE-TIME USE. THEY CAN COME TO THE LIBRARY, BORROW THEM, AND THEN BRING THEM BACK. IS THAT ANYTHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT HERE FOR OUR LIBRARIES, POTENTIALLY SOMETHING WE COULD DO ON A

PILOT PROGRAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> SO, YES.

BUT I'M GOING TO CALL OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DALE, TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE DETAILED

ANSWER ON THAT. >> GOOD MORNING. I'LL JUST SAY WE'RE OF COURSE VERY AWARE OF THESE LIBRARY OF THINGS. THERE'S COMPLICATIONS TO THEM THAT AREN'T IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS. WE'LL DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THEM, SEE WHAT MIGHT BE RIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO

[01:20:01]

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO FROM THE LIBRARY THAT WE COULD DO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OTHERS AND WE'LL KEEP LOOKING AT THEM.

>> WHYTE: YEAH. TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT SITTING HERE PRETENDING I'M AN EXPERT ON THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH THE PROGRAM. BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE LOOKED

AT. >> YEAH. DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'VE

LOOKED AT. ABSOLUTELY. >> WHYTE: THANKS, CHAIR.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

THIS IS DEFINITELY THE BEST MEETING OF THE DAY, DISCUSSING PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND OUR SENIOR CENTERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND INPUT TODAY.

I'LL START OFF WITH THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU.

WE ACTUALLY JUST CELEBRATED WITH DAVID AND OTHERS, THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAVERICK LIBRARY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT.

AND THE LIBRARIES REALLY ARE FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE TEAM TO MAKE THAT A TRULY POWERFUL PLACE ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO JESSICA, WHO IS WITH THE LIBRARY BUT IS ALSO A DISTRICT 7 RESIDENT AND LEADS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE HER.

MOVING ON TO PARKS. THANK YOU, NICKI, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

YOU KNOW, OFTEN I TALK ABOUT OUR PARKS NOT ONLY BEING BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL HEALTH BUT FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL. THERE'S DEFINITELY AN IMPACT THERE. PARKS, TO ME, ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE $8 MILLION INVESTMENT COMING IN TO WOODLAWN LAKE. IT'S LONG OVERDUE. IT'S NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UTILIZED PARKS ON A DAILY BASIS.

BUT ALSO TOO ON OTHER PARKS IN DISTRICT 7. I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A BIKES COURSE IN O.P. SCHNABEL PARK. TO ME, ALL OF THESE ARE PART OF THE CORE SERVICES THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE INVESTING IN.

THANKS FOR Y'ALL'S HELP WITH THAT. FINALLY, JESSICA, FOR THE SENIOR CENTERS, THANKS FOR THAT PRESENTATION THERE. YOU KNOW, YOU POINTED OUT THAT 44% OF OUR SENIORS LIVE ALONE. SO I AM GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER PLUG FOR MY CCR, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DISCUSS IT HERE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PASSING GOVERNANCE, NOT SURE WHY . BUT REALLY MY CCR WAS REALLY ABOUT EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION TO OUR SENIOR CENTERS.

RIGHT NOW IT'S AT A FIVE-MILE RADIUS. THAT WAS SET A LONG TIME AGO. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE CITY HAS GROWN AND SO WE DO NEED TO EXPAND TRANSPORTATION TO OUR SENIOR CENTERS.

SO MUCH GOODNESS HAPPENS AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND LACK OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULDN'T BE A REASON WHY OUR SENIORS CAN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING ON THAT. WE'LL FIND A WAY, HOWEVER IT WAS BOUGHT THE FIRST TIME, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING ON THAT.

REALLY QUICK TOO, FOR MEALS ON WHEELS, HOW MANY MEALS -- I KNOW THERE WAS SOME FUNDING SCARES A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK. DEVELOPMENCAN YOU LET US KNOW HY HOT MEALS ARE PROVIDED TO SENIORS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS ON A DAILY BASIS?

>> SURE. BETWEEN THE DHS AND PARTNER-OPERATED SITES, IT'S 500,000 OVER THE YEAR. BUT WE'RE SERVING ANYWHERE FROM 1700 TO 2300.

IT WAS 1700 IN FISCAL YEAR '25. NOW IT'S ABOUT 2300 MEAL

PARTICIPANTS DAILY. >> GAVITO: WOW. >> SO THAT'S ACROSS DHS AND PARTNER SITES. AND THEN IF I COULD JUST COMMENT EARLIER ON YOUR CCR, COUNCILWOMAN. ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT YET MOVED FORWARD, WE ARE USING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAD PROPOSED, INCLUDING WORKING WITH VIA AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT SENIORS KNOW ABOUT FREE RIDES OFFERED THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE AND TRYING TO LEVERAGE THOSE RESOURCES. AS I MENTIONED, RIDE CONNECT TEXAS IS ALSO HERE AND THEY'RE PROVIDING QUITE A BIT OF FREE RIDES IN THE

COMMUNITY AS WELL. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

AT LEAST WE COULD TAKE AWAY SOME OF THAT. AGAIN, ME AND MY TEAM ARE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE PUSHING TO TRY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL'S WORK WAS HAPPENING. THE REASON I WANTED Y'ALL TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DAILY MEALS THAT MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDES IS THIS IS A

[01:25:05]

THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I WANTED TO BRIEFLY SAY MEALS ON WHEELS ON TOO, WE DID IT LAST WEEK AND ONCE AGAIN JUST REMINDED ME OF THE GREAT WORK. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND GREAT TO SHOW UP TO FOLKS' HOMES AND GET THEM THOSE WARM MEALS. THANK YOU, GUYS FOR ALL THAT

YOU DO. >> GALVAN: COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

>> CHIEF: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. AS I MENTIONED DURING THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE WHEN YOU ALL BRIEFED US IS WHEN I THINK OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAKING A GREAT IMPACT, IT'S PRIMARILY THE WORK OF Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENTS.

WHEN I SEE THE WORK BEING DONE WITH ELDER FINANCIAL SECURITY AND HOW TO PREPARE OUR SENIORS TO MITIGATE FRAUD. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE THERE. SEEING IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THOSE STATISTICS IN TERMS OF HOW MANY SENIORS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY SO MUCH FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY.

I THINK ABOUT PARKS AND REC AND THE "SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS" HAD AN ARTICLE ON THE SAN FERNANDO BOXING GYM AND HOW IT'S PRODUCING A LOT OF GOLDEN GLOVE ATHLETES.

WITHIN THE ARTICLE IT MENTIONED JOE, THE ORIGINAL COACH AT THE JESSE JAMES LEIJA GYM. I ALWAYS HIGHLIGHT THAT GYM BECAUSE I HAVE MET SO MANY FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS THAT GREW UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE ALL WENT THERE AS KIDS AND THE ONE QUESTION TO SEE IF PEOPLE WENT THERE WAS, WHO IS YOUR COACH? IF YOU SAID JOE, WE KNEW YOU WENT AND TRAINED.

ALL THAT TO SAY, WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS AND REC AND THE PROGRAMS FOR MANY OF THE YOUTH IN MY DISTRICT, IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND GET OFF THE STREETS AND LET OFF SOME STEAM IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY. THAT'S WHY, AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE 2027 BOND CONVERSATIONS, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST IN NORMOYLE PARK BECAUSE THE GOAL AND VISION IS TO ALSO INCLUDE A GYM SIMILAR TO WHAT IS AT SAN FERNANDO AT LINCOLN HEIGHTS. HOW CAN WE REPLICATE THAT.

THE WEST SIDE OF DISTRICT 5 HAS A WEALTH OF BOXING GYMS BUT THE SOUTH SIDE OF DISTRICT 5, THERE'S ONLY ONE TOP DOG BOXING GYM OFF OF SOMERSET ROAD .

IT IS A REALLY GOOD GYM OFF OF SOMERSET BUT WE NEED MORE BOXING GYMS ON THE SOUTH SIDE BECAUSE WE KNOW IT KEEPS OUR KIDS OUT OF TROUBLE.

AND THEN OF COURSE WITH OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, I'M GRATEFUL THAT OUR FIELD OFFICES ARE BOTH HOUSED IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES. WITH THAT, SOMETIMES YOU SEE YOUTH WHO ARE WAITING OUTSIDE DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL DAY TO GET INTO THE LIBRARY. AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY'RE WAITING TO GET INTO THE LIBRARY RATHER THAN A VACANT STRUCTURE, VACANT BUILDING.

SO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCESS TO THESE SPACES AND PROGRAMS, CONNECT FOLKS TO RESOURCES, AND KEEP SOME KIDS OUT OF TROUBLE.

I APPRECIATE THE BRIEFING, ALL THE PROGRAMMING. WE WILL BE SURE TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO APPLY FOR THE LIFEGUARD OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT I SHARE AT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BECAUSE THE QUESTION, ONCE IT GETS HOT -- I'M SURE TODAY IS GOING TO BE IN THE 90S, WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT QUESTION OF WHEN ARE POOLS GOING TO BE OPEN. I'LL BE SURE TO PLUG IN THAT WE NEED TO APPLY TO STAFF THE POOLS TO KEEP THEM OPEN. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK TERRY KILLMER, OUR APPOINTEE, AND HER WORK WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE COMMISSION AND ALL THROUGHOUT DISTRICT 5. YOU'RE A FORCE AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE AND VERY ACTIVE IN DISTRICT 5.

AND OF COURSE YOUR ADVOCACY WITH THE PARK AND SEEING THE CITY INVEST IN THAT PARK AS WELL . THANK YOU, TERRY. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS THE PROGRAMMING, WHETHER IT'S WITHIN OUR SENIOR CENTERS, LIBRARIES, OR PARKS AND REC, THIS IS VITAL TO THE OVERALL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS. THANK YOU ALL TO YOUR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ.

>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. MAYBE WE CAN DO THIS FOR A FUTURE MEETING BUT I APPRECIATE EVERY -- ALL THE WORK THAT ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING. THEY ARE CRUCIAL AND NEEDED FOR DISTRICT 8 RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS ALL OVER THE CITY. BUT THE ONE THING I DIDN'T SEE IN THE LIBRARY PRESENTATION -- AND I'M SURE WE COULD HAVE AN ENTIRE MEETING ON THIS.

WAS ANY SORT OF LITERACY PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE OFFERING.

AS YOU KNOW WE'RE STILL ONE OF THE -- WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST LITERACY RATES IN THE STATE. 25% OF OUR ADULTS ARE CONSIDERED ILLITERATE AND SO

[01:30:01]

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AT A MEETING.

AND ANY SORT OF LITERACY GRANTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON WOULD BE HELPFUL. I RAN INTO ONE JUST GOOGLING.

I DON'T HAVE THE BACKGROUND ON IT AT ALL. BUT A TEXAS READS GRANT THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION.

OTHER GRANTS YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT SO WE CAN TACKLE THIS ISSUE WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BROUGHT UP AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL JUST BE CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE. ALSO, WHEN I TALK ABOUT LIBRARIES, YOU KNOW, CODY LIBRARY IS AN IMPORTANT LIBRARY FOR RESIDENTS AND ALSO A VOTING LOCATION THAT IS VERY ACTIVE NOW, AS WE SPEAK.

I REMEMBER TALKING WITH THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR THERE -- AND THIS WAS AROUND 3:30, 4:00, AND WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND SHE HAS KIDS COMING UP TO HER AND SHE'S GIVING THEM SNACKS. I WAS LIKE, OH, HOW MANY KIDS COME THROUGH THERE A DAY? SHE SAID I GOT 90 KIDS A DAY THAT STOP BY AFTER SCHOOL.

SO THEY'RE EITHER GETTING PICKED UP OR USING IT AS AFTER-SCHOOL CARE.

JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ACCOMMODATING THEM OR THINKING OF THE LIBRARY SPACE IN THAT WAY AS WELL. THAT IT IS REALLY AN AFTER-SCHOOL PLACE FOR KIDS.

AND SO IF THERE'S ANY PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT IN THOSE TIME-FRAMES, THAT WOULD BE -- I WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND BE HELPFUL IN ANY WAY I CAN.

SENIOR CENTERS, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE OLDEST SENIOR CENTER IN DISTRICT 8.

THE FIRST ONE, BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER, BECAUSE OF A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SAID, HEY, I THINK WE NEED SENIOR CENTERS IN THE CITY AND RESEARCHED THIS AND TOURED SENIOR CENTERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. AND SO REALLY IS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF WHAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN DO. SO I'M GOING TO A SENIOR DANCE AT BOB ROSS. IT'S A LATE VALENTINE'S DANCE.

THAT'S TODAY SO IT'S VERY ACTIVE AND IT'S JUST SUCH A WELL-NEEDED RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU TO THE JOINT COMMISSION OF ELDERLY AFFAIRS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO . WE JUST APPOINTED A MEMBER LAST WEEK TO THAT BOARD. SO JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE THAT'S DOING ALL THE WORK THAT WE REALLY DO NEED IN THE CITY. THANK YOU.

>> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY ON THE CONVERSATION.

I HAD A COUPLE QUICK THINGS BUT I WANTED TO ALSO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO THE FOLKS THAT I APPOINTED TO THE ELDERLY AFFAIRS AS WELL AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL THERE RECENTLY PASSED AND HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE DISTRICT 6 ADVOCATE AND PARKS AND RECREATION AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS ADVOCATE.

HE BRIEFED ME MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN HE WAS STILL HERE WITH US.

I'M GRATEFUL WE FILLED THE POSITION WITH ROSEMARY GOMEZ TO HELP CONTINUE THAT WORK.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT FERNANDO FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTEE.

THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY ON LISTENING IN TO WHAT THE FOLKS WHO USE THESE SERVICES ARE LOOKING FOR. JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT HERE. ON THE NOTE OF ACCESS OR EXPANDING SERVICE IN SOME FORM, DO WE HAVE A LIST -- MAYBE NOT A LIST. SORRY.

SOME DATA ON THE LIFETIME OF LIBRARIES OF COMMUNITY CENTERS, OF SENIOR CENTERS? WHETHER IT'S WITH CAPITAL NEEDS OR PROGRAMMING, DO WE SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN OTHER CITIES AS TO HOW LONG THEY ARE AROUND AND EXPANDED UPON?

>> WE WORK CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL OFFICES RELATED TO ANY KIND OF BOND IMPROVEMENTS. BUT WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE CAPITAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT. AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT A FACILITY INVENTORY AT COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION ACROSS THE CITY. I KNOW THAT WORK IS ONGOING.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CHARGE OF THAT PARTICULAR WORKING GROUP.

>> GALVAN: GOT IT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD ANY COMPARISONS TO OTHER PLACES AS TO CERTAIN LIFETIME FOR THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES THAT WE SEE OCCURRING.

>> WE'RE HAPPY TO DO ANY RESEARCH RELATED TO SENIOR CENTERS.

I'M SURE PARKS AND LIBRARIES WILL WANT TO ADD. >> I'LL SPEAK BRIEFLY.

GOOD MORNING, CHAIR. HOMER GARCIA, PARKS DIRECTOR.

WE ARE COLLABORATING ALSO WITH MIKE SHANNON AND HIS TEAM FOR THAT COUNCIL COMMITTEE AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION, I BELIEVE.

SO BACK TO THE LIFE CYCLE, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE BUILDING INTO IT.

SO THAT WORK EFFORT IS A COLLABORATION. THERE ARE SEVERAL

[01:35:05]

THAT IS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT. AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD INTO

OUR SYSTEM. >> GALVAN: I'M ALWAYS EAGER TO FIND WAYS TO -- ESPECIALLY GIVEN DISTRICT 6'S GROWTH AND THE CCR THAT COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AUTHORED, SOME OF THE PLACES WE IDENTIFIED AS KEY SPOTS TO PUT SENIOR CENTERS OR COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE INCREDIBLE SPOTS TO HAVE BUT ALSO OUR CITY HAS GROWN PAST THAT. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THAT? AND IF WE MADE AN INVESTMENT 30 YEARS AGO, IS THAT INVESTMENT NOT ONLY STILL SOLID IN THAT REALM BUT STILL SERVING AS MUCH PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE OR IS THERE A NEED TO EXPAND? NOTHING YOU NEED TO ANSWER TODAY.

>> WE'RE ON IT. >> GALVAN: THAT'S HELPFUL. IS THERE A SHARED GOAL WITH THE CITY BETWEEN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACCESS TO PUBLIC SPACE? IS THERE A THOUGHT ABOUT THE AREA LIMITS OR THE PEOPLE, THE POPULATION SERVED, THE NUMBERS THERE? I KNOW I'M ASKING ALL THREE.

>> WELL, WHAT I CAN SAY IS YES. IN THE BACKGROUND -- AND I THINK YOU SAW A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES TODAY. SUKRIT HIGHLIGHTED THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN DENVER HEIGHTS. THAT WORKS THERE WHILE THE CARVER LIBRARY IS OFFLINE FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS . THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE WE'RE COLLABORATING. IN DISTRICT 3 THERE IS A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WAS RAZED. THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF OUR BUILDINGS, ULTIMATELY THAT WAS RAZED AND THERE'S FUNDING TO REBUILD THAT. CAPITAL DELIVERY IS RUNNING POINT ON IT. AT THAT SITE, HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAD AN EXISTING FACILITY THAT WAS AN OLD DENTAL CLINIC AND THEN FELL OUT OF USE.

SO WHAT WE WORKED IS WITH CLAUDE'S TEAM TO OPEN THAT BACK UP.

AND SO WE'RE CO-LOCATED THERE BUT IT'S REALLY THEIR FACILITY.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS STEP INTO THAT SPACE TO RUN CAMPS, SUMMER, SPRING BREAK.

THOSE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES WHERE WE ARE IN FACT USING DATA AND REALLY TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF OUR FACILITIES. VERY MUCH I FEEL WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD PARTNERSHIP AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THE BIG FOUR AND HOPEFULLY I'VE GOT THAT NUMBER RIGHT. BUT WE REALLY THINK THOUGHTFULLY ABOUT WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO CROSS-POLLINATE SERVICE DELIVERY TO MAXIMIZE USE AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHETHER IT'S BASED ON LIBRARY DATA, OUR YOUTH DATA, OR DATA FROM DHS RELATIVE TO SENIOR SERVICES.

THAT IS HAPPENING AND THAT'S THE GROUP THAT MEETS ON A FAIRLY FREQUENT BASIS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, SO THAT, AGAIN, IF WE CAN PARTNER, WE WILL.

BUT ALSO AVOID DUPLICITY TO THE EXTENT WE CAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR

THAT. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> JUST TO ADD TO WHAT HOMER JUST SAID, I THINK WE ALL HAVE OUR BUILDING STANDARDS. I KNOW THE LIBRARY HAS A FACILITIES ASSESSMENT ON THE CONDITION OF EACH OF OUR BUILDINGS.

OUR INTENTION IS FOR ALL OF US, WHEN WE BUILD A BUILDING WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, WE REALLY WANT IT TO LAST. I THINK YOU CAN SEE GREAT EXAMPLES OF BUILDINGS BUILT IN THE 1920S FOR THE LIBRARY, THE SAN PEDRO LIBRARY, AND OF COURSE THE ROOSEVELT LIBRARY , WHICH IS NO LONGER A CITY LIBRARY BUT THE BUILDING IS STILL A GREAT, STRONG, SERVICEABLE BUILDING. I THINK ALL OF US LOOK AT OUR BUILDINGS THAT WAY AND CONTINUE TO LOOK AT KEEPING THEM UP TO DATE AND USEFUL.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SERVICE HAS CHANGED. AGAIN, I THINK YOU COULD USE BOTH OF THOSE LIBRARIES AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BE EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD BUILD NOW. ALSO, TWO OTHER THINGS I WANT TO ADD -- AND I KNOW ALL THREE OF US DO. FOR THE LIBRARY, WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO OVER THE YEARS IS HAVE A PHILOSOPHY ABOUT BUILDINGS, WHICH IS UNLIKE SOME OTHER LARGE CITIES -- NOT GOING TO NAME ANY NAMES IN TEXAS -- OUR SERVICE HAS BEEN -- THE IDEA HAS BEEN TO HAVE SIMILAR SERVICES, SIMILAR HOURS, SIMILAR-SIZE BUILDINGS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW, SOME OF OUR NEW LIBRARIES, OF COURSE ARE LARGER BECAUSE THE GROUNDS WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE WERE LARGER.

[01:40:02]

WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY THERE. YOU KNOW, IT WILL TAKE A COUPLE MORE BILLS TO GET THERE WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY PLAN. AND I WILL SAY BEFORE -- NOT AFTER -- BEFORE THE LAST TWO BOND ELECTIONS, WE ASKED OUR DEPARTMENTS IS THERE ANYTHING INSTEAD OF INDEPENDENTLY. AND I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> JUST LASTLY TO ADD. SO BEYOND FACILITIES, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SERVICES IN ADDITION TO THE WORK WE DO WITH DEPARTMENTS, WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OTHER PROVIDERS. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT THE SOLE PROVIDER IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO IN INSTANCES WHERE THERE'S A PARTNER WITH BETTER EXPERTISE AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES -- LIKE IN THE CASE OF WELL MED, WE'LL BRING THEM IN BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LEADERSHIP TO WORK THROUGH WITH OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS THOSE PLANS .

WE DO THAT SPECIFIC TO EACH AREA. WE'RE BEING EFFICIENT ABOUT

WHO IS DOING WHAT AND WHAT RESOURCES WE'RE LEVERAGING. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL AND I THINK THAT WAS REALLY THE LINCHPIN FOR ME IF THOSE GAPS EXIST, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY ARE.

NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THIS IS WHAT THE CITY IS DOING BUT WE HAVE JUST GROWN THE LAST 20 YEARS, PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY. SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE ADJUSTING AND ACCOMMODATING THAT. SOMETHING I'M KEEN ABOUT IN DISTRICT 6, IN ALAMO RANCH OR GOVERNMENT CANYON, THERE'S THOSE GAPS TO ACCESS FACILITIES. WHERE OUR RESIDENTS WILL SAY POTRANCO LIBRARY IS GREAT AND I LOVE IT, BUT IT'S TOO FAR AWAY. THEY WILL SAY I LOVE THE LIBRARY. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

BEYOND THAT, POOL SPACE, COMMUNITY CENTER, ET CETERA. ALL THAT TO BE SAID, IT'S GOOD WORK WE'RE DOING BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THAT DATA Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT AND SEE WHAT WAYS WE CAN BE SUPPORTIVE TO HELP FILL THOSE GAPS.

THINKING ABOUT THE JOINT PLANNING WE CAN DO AT SOME OF THE BORDER AREAS OF OUR DISTRICTS AND SEE WHAT THINGS CAN BE DONE. DOUBLE UP ON RESOURCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WAS GOING TO ASK WAS ON -- THIS MAY BE MORE EDUCATION A LITTLE BIT MORE. NORTHSIDE ISD ROLLED OUT THEIR GOLD CARDS WHERE THEY HAVE SOME ACCESS TO -- THEY GIVE ACCESS TO SENIORS IN THE AREA TO GO WATCH ANY KIND OF PERFORMANCES WITHIN NORTHSIDE ISD, WHETHER IT'S A HIGH SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SENIOR CENTERS ARE TAKING NOTE OF AND PARTNERING WITH THE ISD? ALSO SEEING THE COMMUNITY ASSETS IN THE AREA. IS THAT SOMETHING ON Y'ALL'S

MIND OR RADAR? >> WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO REACH OUT AND COORDINATE. WE ARE LEVERAGING OTHER PROGRAMMING HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL TAKE THEM TO PARKS EVENTS. WE'LL TAKE THEM TO LIBRARY EVENTS.

AND EVEN PARTNER-OPERATED EVENTS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE UTILIZING EVERYTHING THAT'S

AVAILABLE FOR OLDER ADULTS. >> GALVAN: THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU.

LAST THING I WAS GOING TO ASK WAS ON THE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION OR JUST IN GENERAL, THE TRANSPORTATION TO SENIOR CENTERS, IN PARTICULAR, HAVE WE COLLECTED ANY DATA ON THE AVERAGE TRIP LENGTH PER CENTER, I GUESS?

>> YES. IN SOME CASES, DEPENDING ON THE NEED OF EACH CENTER, WE MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO DRIVERS. SO THERE'S MULTIPLE ROUTES THAT ARE HAPPENING.

THE SHORTEST ROUTE, WHICH IS NOT THE AVERAGE, IS HALF AN HOUR.

BUT THE TYPICAL ROUTE IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO HOURS.

AND WE REALLY -- TWO HOURS IS THE UPPER LIMIT OF WHAT WE WANT IN TERMS OF ROUTE TIMES BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT OLDER ADULTS IN VEHICLES FOR THAT LONG OF A PERIOD.

AND SO MOST OF THE ROUTES ARE RUNNING ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO HOURS.

>> GALVAN: I KNOW Y'ALL ARE DOING THAT WORK ALREADY IN REGARDS TO COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO'S CCR AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK GENERALLY THIS COMMITTEE IS KEEN ON SEEING THAT MOVE FORWARD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND SO WHETHER IT'S LOOKING AT SOME OF THAT DATA AND EVEN EVALUATING -- AT LEAST FOR ME THINKING ABOUT NOT ONLY ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THE PLACE BUT IF THERE'S ACCESS TO CENTERS AS WELL, WHAT'S THE WHAT WOULD THAT COST BENEFIT LOOK LIKE AND IF YOU CAN REPORT BACK TO US ABOUT

THOSE THINGS AND WE CAN KEEP THAT CONVERSATION GOING. >> I THINK THE GREATEST NEED THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW ARE THE UPPER NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE

[01:45:01]

AND THEN VERY FAR SOUTH. AND SO WITHIN THE CITY, WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD COVERAGE.

AND THE FIVE-MILE RADIUSES, BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE SENIOR CENTERS, THEY ACTUALLY OVERLAP. IT'S REALLY ON THESE OUTER AREAS THAT HAVE SEEN GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPLORING AND TRYING TO FIND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

>> GALVAN: GOT IT. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. TO BUILD OFF YOUR QUESTION, I THINK THAT IS A GOOD ANALYSIS. ALSO TOO, I DO THINK -- AND I'VE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS -- SORRY -- SOME PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ON HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY . ESPECIALLY IT'S KIND OF LIKE MAYBE THE NORTHERN PART WHERE IT SERVES CITY AND COUNTY RESIDENTS. I THINK THE COUNTY ONLY HAS ONE TECHNICAL SENIOR CENTER. AND SO I DO FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE A WORTHWHILE COLLABORATION EFFORT FOR ALL FOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THEY GET THOSE REQUESTS AS WELL. BUT I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH YOU ON KIND OF THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF IF WE DO TRANSPORT MORE PEOPLE, I THINK WE ALL KNOW OUR SENIOR CENTERS ARE PRETTY CROWDED TOO. SO AND I THINK LIKE YOU TOUCHED ON THE SENTIMENT. ALL OF US WANT OUR SENIORS TO GET TAKEN CARE OF.

SOME WAY, SOME HOW. IF IT'S A NOW SHINY CENTER OR EXPANDING ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION. I'M GLAD YOU'RE RAISING THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK IT IS PART OF THE EQUATION TOO. SORRY. THANK YOU.

THANKS, CHAIR. >> GALVAN: ANY OTHER LAST COMMENTS FROM THIS GROUP ON ANY OF THESE TOPICS? ALL RIGHT. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

11:48 A.M. WE WILL OFFICIALLY ADJOURN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE.

THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.