[00:01:21]
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
THE TIME IS NOW 9:19 AM WE HAVE A FULL, UM, UH, AGENDA FOR TODAY, BUT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN
[Additional Item]
OUR MORNING TODAY WITH A RECOGNITION OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES AND EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DOING TO SAVE LIVES AND KEEP EACH OTHER HEALTHY AND SAFE.UH, ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO C OVID 19 IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'VE BEEN, UH, HAVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN THIS SINCE THIS BEGAN, AND ALSO LISTENING TO THE BELLS OF THE SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL RING FOR A MINUTE.
UH, AND OTHER CHURCHES HAVE JOINED IN THE MISSIONS OF SAN SAN JUAN, SAN JOSE MISSION CONCE AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE JOINING IN THAT SOLIDARITY.
SO WE WOULD ASK YOU NOW FOR US ALL TO OBSERVE THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE.
[1. Invocation]
OUR MORNING WITH AN INVOCATION AND I'D LIKE TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN, COURAGE TO WELCOME AN INATE.TODAY I AM PROUD TO HAVE WITH US RYAN TAU.
RYAN WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO.
HE GRADUATED FROM ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL.
HE ATTENDED TRINITY UNIVERSITY AND IN 1966, UH, EXCUSE ME, 1996, GRADUATED WITH A BA DEGREE IN HUMANITIES AND WHILE HE WAS THERE, HE WAS A MEMBER OF MEN'S TRINITY TENNIS TEAM WHEN TRINITY WAS A REAL NATIONAL POWERHOUSE.
AFTER GRADUATING, HE SERVED AS THE MEN'S TENNIS TEAM COACH FOR 12 YEARS BEFORE TAKING OVER THE HEAD COACHING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WOMEN'S TEAM FROM 2008
[00:05:01]
TO 2011.CURRENTLY, RYAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF TENNIS AT SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS AND SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE THOUSAND OAKS, Y M C A, AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF STILLWATER MINISTRIES.
RYAN IS MARRIED TO TICK, KERRY TO CAL, WHO IS MY DAUGHTER.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE HIM AS A SON-IN-LAW AND THEY HAVE A SON NAMED NATE, MY GRANDSON.
THE FAMILY ATTENDS RIVER CITY COMMUNITY CHURCH, WHERE HE AND CARRIE SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS IN THE CHILDREN'S MINISTRY, AS WELL AS SPEARHEADING A SMALL CHURCH GROUP.
RYAN HELPS SERVE THE REAL LIFE CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE, ASSISTANCE MINISTRY, WHICH SERVES FOOD AND CLOTHING FOR FAMILIES IN NEED, AND IS PARTNERED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
HE IS ALSO ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO TABERNACLE HOUSE OF PRAYER AND UNITES SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS A GATHERING OF, OF PASTORS AND VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE SAN ANTONIO REGION THAT COME TOGETHER BIMONTHLY TO DISCUSS WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY AND HOW THEY CAN WORK AND PRAY AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR NUREMBERG.
THANK YOU, UH, CITY OF COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, JUST COME HUMBLY BEFORE YOU.
DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, WE JUST ASK DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE SERVING FOR ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THE MILITARY, OBVIOUSLY SAN ANTONIO.
ONE OF THE GREATEST ONES THERE IS, I JUST PRAY AS THINGS ARE OPENING UP, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND THROUGH A CRISIS, UH, MAY WE JUST, UH, REALLY JUST SHINE.
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THROUGH US.
DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, TO COME TOGETHER.
DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD AT THE, AT THE GLOBAL, OBVIOUSLY AT THE NATIONAL AND THE STATE AND THE, AND THE LOCAL LEVEL TOO.
DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, I JUST ASK AS THEY GO THROUGH AND THEY DISCUSS, UH, THEY DO COME TOGETHER DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, FOR THESE FAMILIES AND FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
AND AS THEY DO UTTER OUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE WANT TO WALK IN.
DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD WITH RESPECT, PLEASE ALSO KEEP THE, OBVIOUSLY THE OFFICERS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN JUST BE CALM AND NOT RUN IN FEAR.
DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, BUT GO BY FAITH AND AS WE TURN TO YOU AND SEEK YOUR WAYS, DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD, MAN, YOU GET ALL THE GLORY AND ALL THE HONOR, BUT BLESS THESE ONES, DEAR LORD, FATHER GOD.
'CAUSE WE KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT PROMISED EASY WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO, UH, OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF
[3. Approval of Minutes from the City Council Regular Meeting of March 19, 2020.]
THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 19TH.HEY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 19TH.
AND JUST, UH, AS A, UH, NOTE FOR OUR VIEWING PUBLIC, UH, WE DO HAVE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO HAVE VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO APPEAR VIA REMOTE SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, UH, ON THE DAIS.
UH, FOR THOSE WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE ANOTHER PERSON, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WEAR YOUR MASK.
UM, THOSE OF US UP HERE WHO ARE ABLE TO KEEP THE SIX FEET MAY NOT BE WEARING A MASK, BUT WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO YOU, WE PROBABLY WILL.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR BUSINESS AND WE'LL START WITH
[4. Ordinance extending the current Declaration of Public Health Emergency issued by Mayor Ron Nirenberg to continue active preparedness and response for COVID-19 contingencies. (Part 1 of 2)]
ITEM FOUR.ITEM FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE CURRENT DECLARATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ISSUED BY MAYOR RON NUREMBERG TO CONTINUE ACTIVE PREPAREDNESS IN RESPONSE TO C OVID 19 CONTINGENCIES.
I'M NOT SURE WHO HAS THAT, UM, PRESENTATION.
IS THAT YOU ANDY? I THINK, UH, MAYOR FIRST THERE'S A PRESENTATION FROM HEALTH AND THEN WE'RE GONNA REVIEW THE, UH, NEW ORDER.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL.
[00:10:01]
UM, MY NAME IS DAWN EMMERICH, DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH, AND I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW.I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK TOO, IS THAT WE'RE GOOD.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW.
WE HAD A WONDERFUL RELEASE YESTERDAY OF THE, UM, HEALTH TRANSITION PLAN OR THE OTHER DAY, THE HEALTH TRANSITION PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
I WAS HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT PLAN.
AND SO NOW I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE IZATION OF THAT PLAN THAT METRO HEALTH WILL TAKE THE LEAD ON.
AND I'M GONNA BREAK IT OUT INTO SOME BUCKETS.
DON'T WE KNOW THAT THE HEALTH PLAN HAD HAD CHUNKS? WE GOOD? UM, DR.
I AM BEING SIGNALED HERE, UH, THAT, UH, WE DO HAVE A
[Consent Agenda]
CONSENT AGENDA,SO IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND PAUSING, IF I HEAR NO OBJECTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WHAT WE'LL DO YOU BET IS I'LL TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA SO WE CAN CLEAR THAT OUT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE TIME ON, ON THIS ITEM.
SO, UM, THERE IS A CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM FOUR IS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
AND SO I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES AT THIS POINT IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION BEYOND ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
AND I VERY MUCH APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS OTHER THAN FOUR FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR ITEM FOUR.
UM, WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON, UM, ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THOSE FOLKS NOW.
AND DON I'LL GIVE YOU A GOLD STAR FOR PATIENCE THIS MORNING ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
THERE'S SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.
UM, I'M GONNA CALL THE FIRST ITEM, FIRST NAME ON THE LIST, IF YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOUR TIME, BUT I'LL CALL THE SECOND PERSON IF YOU CAN GET PREPARED TO COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
AGAIN, WE, OR EXCUSE ME, TO THE MICROPHONE.
WE ARE NOT USING THE PODIUM, WE'RE USING THE MICROPHONE ON THE STAND.
AND IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT SANITIZED.
SO YOU DO NOT NEED TO TOUCH THE MICROPHONE.
WE'LL START WITH VICTOR ZUNIGA AND MR. ZUNIGA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIE MITCHELL.
I AM, UH, THE VICE CHAIR FOR ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, I'VE BEEN SITTING ON THE BOARD FOR PAST FOUR YEARS, AND, UH, WE HAVE BEEN, UM, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 127 YEARS.
UM, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH WITHIN THE PROCESS AND THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I'VE ALSO SEEN SOME CHANGES.
JUST RECENTLY, WE JUST HAD A, UM, LEADERSHIP CHANGE WHERE WE HAVE, UM, OUR PAST EXECUTIVE THAT WAS THERE FOR 25 YEARS AND PLUS.
AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW, UH, LEADERSHIP, UH, DR.
LINDA CHERRY, AND SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ELLA AUSTIN.
UM, AND SO SHE HAS, UM, INVESTED HER TIME WITH ELLA AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, WE SELECTED HER TO SUPPORT OUR ENDEAVORS AND OUR MISSION STATEMENT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
UM, WE ARE CALLING TO ACTION TO, UM, SAVE SOME SPOTS THAT WE HAVE, UM, POTENTIAL OF LOSING SOME EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN IN OUR CAPACITY.
UM, I THINK NOW THAT WE ARE, UM, UNDER DOCTOR'S LEADER, UNDER DR.
CHERRY'S LEADERSHIP, UM, WE HAVE A GREAT CHANCE OF, UM, ACCOMPLISHING A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST.
AND I THINK IT'S A TIME TO REDISCOVER EL ELLA AUSTIN, UM, IN THE 2020 VISION.
MR. MITCHELL, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
UH, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER, AND MY PURPOSE IS I'M A FORMER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER WITH THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS.
I'M A FORMER, UH, MEMBER OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY BE IN SAN ANTONIO
AND MY WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO SAY THAT AS A COMMUNITY CENTER, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE DISTRICT TOO THAT I THINK NEEDS, I THINK, NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED IN DISTRICT TWO.
AND I KNOW SOME, UH, ELLA AUSTIN HAS BEEN PROVIDING A LOT OF ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
[00:15:01]
SO THEREFORE THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO REMOVE FROM SOME, FROM ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER.AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD REMAIN THERE BECAUSE OUR PURPOSE IS TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS LOCATED IN DISTRICT TWO IN A GOOD POSITIVE AREA.
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS REALLY GROWING TO WHERE IT'S MUCH BETTER.
I HAPPEN TO GROW UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD MYSELF.
AND SO THAT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THERE THAT I THINK THAT SHOULD STAY THERE.
AND I THINK THE PEOPLE REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THERE IN ANY PROGRAM, STAY IN THAT AREA SO THAT THE PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHERE THEY GO, HOW TO GO, AND WHEN TO GET THERE.
AND I THINK THE LOCATION IS JUST PERFECT.
MY WHOLE PURPOSE AS A EX-PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, THIS CITY HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO ME.
MY WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE CAN ENJOY AND WE AS PEOPLE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE MUST STAY TOGETHER AS PEOPLE AND UNITE OURSELVES AND MAINTAIN THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK ONE THING L AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS DOING FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE THERE AND KEEP SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, UH, HAS NOTIFIED THE CLERK, THE CLERK THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO PULL THE ITEM FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, VOTE.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
SO ITEM NUMBER NINE WILL BE HEARD FIRST BEFORE THE CONSENT VOTE.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL KEEP MOVING THROUGH, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
JACK FINGER, MR. FINGER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LIZ FRANKLIN.
WELL, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M, FINGER MASK AND ALL.
AND, UH, IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY I'M ALSO DRESSED UP IN MY TEXAS FLAG SHIRT, WHERE I'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
IN THE MEANTIME, REGARDING THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, A FEW ITEMS I DO WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 11 AND ITEM NUMBER 12.
THE, UM, YES, UH, MR. AUDI ILMAN TO PUT THAT FIRST AND ON AGENDA AND TO SEE, LET'S LOOK AT THE UNDERLINED ITEMS IF WE CAN.
JUST A LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BLURRY THERE.
THIS IS, UH, ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.
AND IT'S HAPPENING OVER AT 1 43 NORTHWEST 36TH STREET.
MS. GONZALEZ, THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT RIGHT THERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IF THE NEARBY RESIDENTS WERE POLLED AS TO WHETHER THEY REALLY WANT THIS KIND OF HOUSING NEXT TO THEM, BUT, UH, MY GOD, THEY'RE GONNA GET IT ANYWAY.
SEE, WHAT IS THE OTHER REST OF THE LINE? LINE CENSUS.
ALL UNITS IN THE PROJECT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WHOSE AVERAGES OF SIX, WHOSE INCOME AVERAGES 60% ARE LESS THAN THE MEDIAN INCOME.
THIS IS A 100% SECTION EIGHT PROPERTY.
YEAH, YOU MIGHT, UH, GO TO THE NEXT ONE, MR. AUDIO VISUAL MAN.
YEAH, JUST ONE INTERESTING T TIDBIT HERE IS THAT, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING WITH RESPECT TO THE PROJECT, AN ISSUANCE OF THE WHAT WAS HELD ON THE CITY ON SAN ANTONIO ON APRIL 27TH.
NOW, SUPPOSEDLY THIS MONDAY, THE, THE NEXT LINE SAYS THAT NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK FURTHER DOWN THAT PAGE WHERE THE ARROWS ARE LOOKING, IT SAYS THIS THING WAS PRINTED ON APRIL 24TH.
IN OTHER WORDS,
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? HUH? YOU MIGHT WANNA ASK SOME QUESTION OR TWO ABOUT THAT, MR. DIVISION, MAN, GO TO THE NEXT ONE IF YOU WOULD.
WE'VE HAD, UH, OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS.
SO, A ROTOR, THIS SHIP, THAT WAS THE ARTICLE IN EXPRESSED NEWS REGARDING THE WHOLE SITUATION WITH, UH, SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC HOUSING SAYS WITH LITTLE OVERSIGHT, THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST IS OFFERED 39 MILLION IN TAX BREAKS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT RENTS ARE TOO HIGH FOR MOST LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.
THE NEXT PAGE, MR. AUDIOVISUAL MAN.
YES, UH, MR. JIM PLUMMER, HE'S, UH, ESSENTIALLY HAS BEEN A LOBBYIST, BUT JIM PLUMMER ASSUMED THE DEFACTO LEADERSHIP OF
[00:20:01]
THE SAN PUBLIC P F C TAKING ON THE ROLE OF AN EX EXECUTIVE LEADER, C E O, THAT WOULD FOR FORMALLY EXECUTE THE REPORT.HERE HE ACTS AS A GO-BETWEEN, BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO ANYWAY, NOW, MR. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER, THE COURAGE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS.
LET'S SEE, FRANKLIN, Y'ALL TALK ABOUT THIS.
MS. FRANKLIN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY COSTELLA GREEN.
UH, I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE THREE, THREE HOURS.
UM, FIRST THINGS I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE LEADERSHIP EXTRAORDINARY TIMES.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, I TRAINED MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT ME, BUT I TRAINED MY WHOLE LIFE CA FOR CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS.
INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY, INCREDIBLE DUTY.
AND BY AND LARGE, I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
AND DAVID, OVER THERE WITH THIS IS A SIMPLE THING, DAVID, OVER THERE WITH SOLID WASTE.
I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE TRASH.
IT'S SEAMLESS IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES.
THAT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT IT'S TRUE.
SO LEMME GET TO WHY I AM HERE.
ELLA AUSTIN, CONSENT AGENDA, THE LOSS OF 16 SEATS, PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND POLICIES FOR LIZ FRANKLIN.
OKAY, THE PEOPLE, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR SECOND LUNCH PROGRAM FOR A HUNDRED KIDS.
WHERE DID WE COME UP WITH A HUNDRED KIDS? BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.
CHERRY, THAT A HUNDRED KIDS, IT WAS ACTUALLY 98.
UH, BUT SOMEBODY HAS A STRAIGHT COUSIN OUT THERE.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING THROUGH FOOD INSECURITIES IN THE SUMMER PERIOD, THE END, ALL RIGHT? THE, THE ESSENCE OF THE WHOLE THING IS THAT FOOD WENT IN 20 MINUTES.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE KIDS THAT WE HELPED.
I REMEMBER THE ONE NEXT KID IN LINE THAT COULDN'T GET A LUNCH.
AND THE, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH THE SUMMER.
SO WHERE DOES THE 18 KIDS FIT INTO THAT? THAT 18 KIDS, THEY WERE IN LINE YESTERDAY.
UM, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE GRANT HAS TO GO THROUGH.
SO GOING BACK, ANOTHER QUICK STORY ON PEOPLE IS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, THREE MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE WORLD WAS STILL GOOD AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND WORRY ABOUT WHETHER MY CLOTHES FED, I PULLED UP TO ELLA 'CAUSE I THINK I'M SOMEBODY AND I DOUBLE PARKED.
THERE WAS A LADY IN FRONT OF ME, SHE WAS DOUBLE PARKED.
SO I ASKED HER, I SAID, ARE YOU MOVING OR AM I GONNA TAKE YOUR SPOT? SHE SAID, I'M OUTTA GAS.
THOSE ARE THE IMPACTS OF THOSE 18 SEATS.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE.
IT WILL BE AN EXTRAORDINARY ISSUE FOR A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO MOVING FORWARD.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT A, THE GRANT HAS TO GO THROUGH.
BUT IF YOU REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THE LETTER THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW BAD WE ARE, AND I KNOW YOU ALL SAW IT.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT WEDNESDAY, 'CAUSE WE GOT IT YESTERDAY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO CHANGE SOME LANGUAGE TO ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT.
THANK YOU MS. AND YOU CAN STILL GO FORWARD.
MS. GREEN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY LYNA BRYANT.
I AM COSTELLA GREEN AND I AM REPRESENTING WEST CARE FOUNDATION.
AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ELLA AUSTIN.
I JUST WANNA SAY THIS HEADSTART WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK THE POVERTY CYCLE.
WE ARE IN A COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS THE TEACHERS AND THE TEACHERS ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, I'VE NEVER SEEN A ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT TEACHING THEM.
I AM ASKING THAT YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE DATA IN THIS COMMUNITY AND SEE WHY THIS PROGRAM AND THE SLOTS THAT ARE BEING THOUGHT ABOUT TO BE
[00:25:01]
TAKEN AWAY, THAT YOU KEEP THEM AND YOU SUPPORT THE TEACHERS, THE PARENTS, AND THE CHILDREN.I STAYED UP ALL NIGHT WITH OUR TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PROGRAMS AND SLOTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT YOUR VOTES, YOUR TIME, AND LOOK AT THE DATA THAT IS NEEDED FOR YOU TO MAKE A DECISION.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ELLA AUSTIN, THEIR LEADER, DR.
UM, MY NAME IS PLUS IS LINDA BRYANT.
I'M WITH THE L AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A TOTAL OF 26 YEARS, BE 27 COME JUNE.
AND I'M THERE BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN.
AND I LIKE TO SEE THE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES THEY GO THROUGH.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE UNDER THE GUN AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THEM TAKING 16 SLOTS FROM OUR FACILITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY, REALLY WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THOSE 16 CHILDREN THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM US.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN AND MY STAFF, YOU KNOW, THEIR DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL.
AND WE WANT TO JUST CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AT THIS PRESENT TIME WITH NO DEDUCTIONS.
YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY TERRANCE LITTLEFIELD.
CITY COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, I GUESS THIS IS ACTUALLY NOT A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO BE SPEAKING, BUT I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHY I'M HERE.
I JUST WANNA, OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THEM CANNOT GET UP HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, IF I MAY INTRODUCE JUST SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT HAVE COME IN SUPPORT OF ELLA.
WE HAVE SOME CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
WOULD YOU STAND, PLEASE? WE HAVE SOME BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.
WILL YOU GUYS STAND UP TOO, PLEASE? AND I WANNA THANK THEM FOR COMING OUT AND BEING SO PASSIONATE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS JOURNEY THAT WE'RE ON.
AND I WANTED TO SAY TOO, THAT LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I DID QUOTE TO YOU THAT ALL OF OUR TEACHERS WERE HIRED AND THAT THEY WERE READY TO WALK ON.
AND I WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT I SAID.
WE HAVE CHOSEN ALL THE TEACHERS.
WE HAD, UM, ACTUALLY 11 TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO RETURN FROM LAST TIME.
THESE ARE THE SEVEN THAT, UH, WHEN THE CITY CAME THE VERY ALMOST NEXT DAY AFTER THIS MEETING, THEY CAME MONDAY AND THEY WANTED TO SEE THE APPLICANTS.
AND WE GAVE THEM THEIR PERSONNEL FILES AND THEY DETERMINED THAT ONLY TWO OF THE SEVEN WERE READY TO WALK ON.
AND THEY SAID THEY HAD, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER APPLICANTS HAD THINGS LIKE PENDING BACKGROUND CHECKS AND WHATEVER, AND THEY WERE NOT, UM, GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FIRST FOR SAYING THAT ALL SEVEN WERE READY TO WALK IN.
ONLY TWO OF THE SEVEN ARE READY TO WALK IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND THE OTHER FIVE AWAITING, UH, MISCELLANEOUS THINGS THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR PERSONAL RECORDS.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO PLEAD, AND I'M SAYING THE WORD PLEAD WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE TO LET ELLA AUSTIN REMAIN WITH THE STAFF.
UH, IF THIS PASSES THE ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER THAT IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH BY MS. WOOSLEY, FOUR PEOPLE ARE, WE'RE GONNA DOWNSIZE BY FOUR STAFF MEMBERS AND 16, UH, CHILDREN.
ALSO, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE HAVING TO LEAVE HAVE
[00:30:01]
SIBLINGS THAT ARE IN OTHER PROGRAMS AT ELLA, LIKE THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.AGREE TO THE, UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS, UH, TERRENCE SOFI.
AND SO FROM BOTH, UM, PRE, UM, UH, ELEMENTARY, ALL THE WAY TO POST-SECONDARY.
UH, AND SO THE DISRUPTION OF A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS ARE BECOME VERY UNTIMELY.
THEY BECOME VERY CONSEQUENTIAL IN THE LIVELIHOODS OF A LOT OF KIDS.
AND SO, ELLA AUSTIN, AS THE TAPESTRY OF THE EAST SIDE HAS BEEN ERODING, UH, I, UH, IMPLORE YOU TO REALLY TAKE TIME OUT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
JUST AS THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN VERY VESTED IN WHAT WE DO, UH, AT ELLA AUSTIN, UH, UNDER DIRECTION, THE RESTRUCTURE OF MS. CHERRY, I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL CHANGE.
THERE ARE THINGS, THE DYNAMICS THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
YOU CAN'T JUST ALLOCATE NUMBERS AND NOT WHAT PEOPLE, UH, MEAN TO THAT COMMUNITY.
THE CHILDREN THAT SHE SPOKE OF, MS. GREEN TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT REALLY WHAT HEAD START WAS ABOUT.
IT WAS ABOUT SERVING THE PARENTS.
AND SO AS WE TAKE TIME OUT, WE NEED TO REALLY BE REFLECTIVE OF THE TAPESTRY OF THE EAST SIDE.
THE TAPESTRY OF THE EAST SIDE IS ERODING, AND IT'S BEFORE US TO MAKE REAL CRITICAL DECISIONS ON HOW WE SUPPORT THAT.
LET'S NOT MAKE DECISIONS FROM BEHIND THE DESK.
LET'S MAKE REAL CRITICAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT FAMILIES NEED IN THAT COMMUNITY AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
UH, AS A REMINDER, ITEM NINE WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS POINT.
IT'S ALL ITEM SAVED FOR FOUR AND NINE.
UH, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON CONSENT.
I'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO.
UH, AND MR. DEDO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
HE WAS THERE BEFORE 9:00 AM UH, DID NOT, UH, UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURES TO SIGN UP.
SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MR. DELGADO.
IS MR. DELGADO HERE? MORNING MAYOR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS? UH, MY NAME IS JOHNNY DELGADO.
ME AND MY FAMILY, SORRY, I'M NERVOUS.
UH, WE OWN SIX BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN CLOSED DOWN DUE TO THE, UH, C OVID 19.
UM, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ON BEHALF OF OUR GYM.
UM, YOUR TASK FORCE, UH, PUT OUT YOUR, YOUR LETTER.
THE, UM, ALL THE GYMS WERE MEDIUM RISK, JUST LIKE RESTAURANTS.
RESTAURANTS ARE ALLOWED TO OPEN TO CERTAIN CAPACITIES.
UH, WE SHOWED PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE SHUTDOWN THAT WE CAN ORGANIZE IT.
'CAUSE WE DO OWN BEAUTY SALONS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WORK ON RESERVATIONS THAT WE CAN CONTROL CAPACITY, WE CAN, UH, MONITOR IT.
TIME SLOTS, UM, OBESITY IS A KILLER AS WELL.
UM, ACTUALLY IT TAKES MORE LIVES.
UM, AND SAN ANTONIO HAS A HUGE OBESITY, UH, ISSUE.
MAYOR, JUDGE YS SPOKE ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT ON YOUR, UM, PRESS CONFERENCE AS WELL.
KEEPING PEOPLE ACTIVE, CLOSE DOWN THE PARKS, THEN YOU CLOSE DOWN THE PLAYGROUNDS, YOU CLOSE DOWN THE GYMS. UM, AS THESE BUSINESSES START TO OPEN UP, UM, EVERYBODY'S SPEAKING ON THAT.
WELL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP OUR BUSINESS TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED US.
THE, THE FIREMEN, THE SHERIFFS, THE NURSES, THE DOCTORS, AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT, UH, USE FITNESS TO STAY HEALTHY, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
UM, THREE YEARS AGO, ME AND MY WIFE TURNED OUR LIFE AROUND, LOST OVER 60 POUNDS.
WE KEEP OUR KIDS ACTIVE, OUR FRIENDS ACTIVE, THE PEOPLE THAT WE COME IN CONTACT WITH.
UH, WE ARE A SMALLER GYM, SO WE'RE NOT A COMMERCIAL GYM THAT CANNOT CONTROL IT.
WE CAN ACTUALLY CONTROL THE, UM, THE ATTENDANCE AND KEEP IT DOWN TO A LOW CAPACITY, FIVE TO 10 PEOPLE PER HOUR TIME SLOTS, UM, SEND, YOU KNOW, SANITIZING THINGS.
WE HAVE A TOWEL SERVICE AT OUR GYM.
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WE CAN USE THAT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE SMALLER GYMS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY, FAMILY OWNED ONES.AND THEN LAST ONE NOT LEAST, WE DO HAVE A SIDE PART OF OUR GYM THAT'S OUTDOORS, THAT HAS EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE, UH, FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
I DID SEE THAT THE STATE SAID THAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.
CAN WE USE, CAN WE ALLOW FOUR PEOPLE AT A TIME ON A TIME SLOT TO USE THAT TO AT LEAST STAY HEALTHY AND STAY ACTIVE? NO, THAT WAS A QUESTION
UM, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GOING ON THE RIGHT PATH OF THEIR HEALTHY FITNESS JOURNEY AND SAVE LIVES AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT VERY FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, BEGINNING TEXT WITH THE FOLKS, UM, WHO WANT TO EXPRESS CONCERNS AND HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED FEAR OR EXPRESSING THEIR, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO FEAR, UH, IN, IN EXPRESSING YOUR FRUSTRATION AND YOUR, YOUR OPINION.
UM, KNOW THAT, UH, WE MAY NOT AGREE ON, ON CERTAIN ASPECTS, BUT THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE, UH, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF HEALTH EXPERTS.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE THAT, THAT DID WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION AND CONCERNS CAN DO SO AT ANY TIME AT CITY COUNCIL.
UH, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING ON ITEM NUMBER NINE.
OKAY, UM, WE ARE GONNA TAKE UP NOW THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR AND NINE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.
[9. Ordinance approving the submission of an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grant and acceptance upon award of up to $2,847,532.00, a budget including an in-kind grant match of $711,883.00, and revised personnel complements for the Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership programs. [Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Assistant City Manager; Melody Woosley, Director, Human Services]]
NUMBER NINE.ITEM NINE IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SUBMISSION SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE EARLY HEAD START CHILDHOOD PARTNERSHIP GRANT AND ACCEPTANCE UPON AWARD OF UP TO $2,847,532 A BUDGET INCLUDED AN IN-KIND GRANT MATCH OF $711,883, AND REVISED PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT FOR THE HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
OKAY, I DO HAVE A PRESENTATION.
UM, SO GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO THIS MORNING I'LL PROVIDE A QUICK, IT'S NOT UP.
THIS MORNING I'LL PROVIDE A QUICK BRIEFING AND REQUEST APPROVAL TO SUBMIT OUR PROGRAM YEAR 2021 EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP CONTINUATION APPLICATION.
THIS DOES INCLUDE PROPOSED REALLOCATION OF 16 FUNDED ENROLLMENT SLOTS FROM THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER TO THE, UH, HEALY MURPHY CENTER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM ELLA AUSTIN, AND BLESSED SACRAMENTO ACADEMY, WHICH IS ABOUT FIVE MILES.
IN 2015, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AWARDED THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
THIS GRANT TO ESTABLISH A EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
WE PARTNER WITH SIX NON-PROFIT CHILDCARE CENTERS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR 216 VERY LOW INCOME INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HIGH QUALITY EARLY HEAD START PROMOTES PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN IN SIX CHILDCARE CENTERS.
AND SO THIS ORDINANCE REQUESTS APPROVAL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 3.6 MILLION, INCLUDING 2.8 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS, AND LOCAL IN-KIND MATCH REQUIREMENT OF 20%.
AND THIS IS FOR THE PERIOD AUGUST 1ST, 2020 TO JULY 31ST, 2021.
FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL COSTS AND PROVISION OF DIRECT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS SERVICES, INCLUDING A PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT OF 16 POSITIONS AND SERVICE PRIDE PROVIDER OPERATIONS CONTRACTS.
THE APPLICATION IS DUE TO H H S TOMORROW, MAY 1ST.
AND THE ALSO THE ORDINANCE ALSO REQUESTS APPROVAL OF A REVISED HEAD START PERSONNEL COMPLIMENT THAT ADDS 707 ADDITIONAL FAMILY SUPPORT WORKERS FROM ADDITIONAL
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COLA AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDING WE RECEIVED EARLIER THIS YEAR.AND SO FUNDING IS ALLOCATED TO SIX CONTRACTED CENTERS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FUNDED ENROLLMENT SLOTS THAT THEY HAVE.
THE FUNDS ALLOW, UM, CHILDREN, THE FUNDS FOLLOW THE CHILDREN AND THE SLOTS AND ARE NOT ALLOCATED BASED ON, UH, CHILDCARE PROVIDER.
THE PROPOSED APPLICATION REDUCES ELLA AUSTIN'S FUNDED SLOTS BY 16.
AND, UM, THAT EQUATES TO $122,000 REDUCTION IN FUNDING.
THE GRANT REQUIRES THAT 25% OF ENROLLED CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS, UM, TO FULLY FUND THE PROGRAM.
HUMAN SERVICES IS RECOMMENDING THE REALLOCATION OF SLOTS, WHICH, UM, IS WHAT EQUATES TO TWO CLASSROOMS. EIGHT SLOTS WOULD GO TO HEALING MURPHY CENTER AND EIGHT TO BLESSED SACRAMENT.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO MITIGATE STAFF SHORTAGES AND OTHER NON-COMPLIANCES, AS WELL AS THAT INCLUDED HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.
UM, REPEATED CONCERNS, FINANCIAL ISSUES BASED ON THE MOST CURRENT AUDIT THAT WE HAVE FROM 2018, HUMAN SERVICES MONITORING.
UM, UH, THIS MONDAY ON 4 27 NOTED THAT THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF HIRED FOR THE 64 CURRENTLY ENROLLED CHILDREN.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ACTION, THE REDUCTION OF 16 SLOTS WOULD HELP RELIEVE, UM, THEIR HIRING DIFFICULTIES THAT WOULD REDUCE THEIR NEED TO HIRE BY FOUR TEACHERS.
THERE IS NO IMPACT TO CURRENTLY ENROLLED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OR STAFF SINCE THE, UM, TEACHERS HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED.
HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL, UM, REVIEWS AND UNANIMOUS UNANIM, THE HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL REVIEWED AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS ACTION ON APRIL THE 14TH.
HUMAN SERVICES HEAD START STAFF CONDUCTS A MINIMUM OF SEVEN ANNUAL MONITORING VISITS, BOTH ANNOUNCED AND UNANNOUNCED TO ALL OF THE PROVIDERS.
AND SO WE, WE MONITOR HEAVILY HEAD START, UH, REGULATIONS REQUIRE STRICT MONITORING, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE A LOT OF ONGOING SUPPORT AT THE SAME TIME, INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR, UM, CENTER AND AGENCY LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS COACHING SUPPORT.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, ELLA AUSTIN HAS BEEN MET WITH SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PROGRAM PERFORMANCE VIOLATIONS RELATED TO THE QUALITY OF CARE CHILDREN RECEIVE.
IN ADDITION, UM, TO THEIR ONGOING REGULAR SUPPORT, THE EARLY HEAD START TEAMS PROVIDED MORE THAN 50 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS TO SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND, UM, DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF.
WE HAVE HELD 13 MEETINGS WITH ELLA AUSTIN LEADERSHIP, UM, AND D H SS HEAD START MANAGEMENT AND D H S MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO ADDRESS QUALITY ISSUES, PARENT CONCERNS, AND STAFFING SHORTAGES, WHICH SEVERELY IMPACTED ELLA AUSTIN'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED TEACHER RATIOS.
SINCE AUGUST 1ST, 2019, L AUSTIN STAFF HAVE NOT ATTENDED PEER COACHING SESSIONS PROVIDED BY HUMAN SERVICES CITING TEACHER ABSENTEEISM VACANCIES.
AND THIS IS ALSO, UH, INHIBITED THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CARE LIKE THE CENTER'S.
UM, 2018 FINANCIAL AUDIT IDENTIFIED SUBSTANTIAL DOUBT ABOUT THE AGENCY'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN.
AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR 2019 AUDIT, WHICH WAS DUE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF 2019.
ADDITIONALLY, THE AUDIT IN HUMAN SERVICES MONITORING REPEATEDLY REVEALS RECONCILIATION ERRORS, LACK OF SEGREGATION OF DUTIES, AND VACANCIES IN KEY FISCAL STAFF POSITIONS.
REPEAT UNCORRECTED FINDINGS, SIGNALS SU SYSTEMIC ISSUES TO FEDERAL AUDITORS.
THE CITY, UM, AS PART OF THIS ACTION HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ELLA AUSTIN.
AND THIS IS BEYOND THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO THE ENTIRE AGENCY.
THIS WOULD INCLUDE HELPING THEM DEVELOP A BUSINESS PLAN AND A STRATEGIC PLAN IN COORDINATION, OF COURSE, WITH THE AGENCY.
AND THE VISION IS TO HELP ELLA AUSTIN, UM, REALLY STRENGTHEN THEIR FINANCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
THE CITY RECOGNIZES HUMAN SERVICES RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF THIS AGENCY TO THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY AND TO THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND WE WANT TO HELP THEM MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE DRIVEN, UM, BY DATA AND HELP THE CENTER TO BECOME EXCELLENT.
UM, IN ADDITION, D H SS WILL NOT BE REMOVING ANY FURNITURE OR EQUIPMENT FROM THE CENTER.
SO THEY WILL HAVE TWO CLASSROOMS THAT, UH, COULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT PRIVATE PAY, UM,
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STUDENTS OR ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE SERVICES SUBSIDY, UM, CHILDREN.AND SO, YOU KNOW, HUMAN SERVICES SUPPORTS THAT IDEA AS THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY, UM, GRANTEE FOR BEXAR COUNTY AND THEIR SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
AND WE'LL PROVIDE WHATEVER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM DO THAT.
THEY ARE STILL A STATE LICENSED CHILDCARE PROGRAM, AND SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM THOSE TWO CLASSROOMS. AND SO WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL, WE WILL SUBMIT OUR APPLICATION TOMORROW, MAY THE FIRST, UM, IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO AMEND THE APPLICATION, WE WOULD CALL AN EMERGENCY, UH, SPECIAL POLICY COUNCIL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON TO GO BACK TO POLICY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE CHANGES.
AND THEN, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO KICK OFF OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INTENSIVE TEAM, PUT TOGETHER AN INTENSIVE TEAM TO HELP ELLA AUSTIN, UM, WITH THEIR AGENCY STRUCTURE.
AND WE WOULD DO THAT, MEET WITH L AUSTIN BOARD AND DR.
AND SO THAT'S, UM, MY FORMAL PRESENTATION, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
ON THE, UH, PREVIOUS VOTE ON CONSENT, THERE WAS A, A, UH, TECHNICAL ISSUE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL'S, UH, IPAD, UH, VOTING SYSTEM.
SO HER VOTE IS RECORDED AS A YES VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS CONSENT AGENDA.
SO, MOVE, UH, NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ANDREW SULLIVAN ON ITEM NUMBER, NUMBER NUMBER NINE.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE, UM, DISTRICT TWO ADVOCATES TO ELLA AUSTIN, TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
UM, AT THIS PRESENT TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION ON THE GRANT APPLICATION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE THE MOTION THAT ELLA AUSTIN CONTINUES WITH THE 64 TO REINSTATE THAT NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND TO, UH, MOVE THOSE 16 SLOTS.
UM, EIGHT FROM HEALING MURPHY AND THE EIGHT FROM BLESSED SACRAMENT BACK TO ELLA AUSTIN.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO, UH, AMEND THE STAFF SUGGESTION BY HAVING THE COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM HELP TO, UH, ASSIST ELLA AUSTIN SPAN IN COMPLIANCE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.
UM, AT THIS TIME, THAT IS MY MOTION.
UM, WE'LL MOVE TO, UM, TO, I'M SORRY.
UM, MEL, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UH, MY FIRST ONE IS, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL SAID THAT THE HEADSTART POLICY COUNCIL APPROVED THIS ON APRIL THE 14TH.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT VOTE COUNT WAS? WAS IT A UNANIMOUS VOTE? WAS THERE SOME DISCUSSION? I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION AND LOOKING FOR MAJOR CONCERNS.
THERE WAS A THOROUGH REVIEW WITH THE POLICY COUNCIL AND DISCUSSION AND IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
WHAT, UH, KIND OF SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS, UM, HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS, UH, ANY INFORMATION OR MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND, LIKE, LIKE WHAT ARE SOME OF THEM? CAN YOU GIMME SOME EXAMPLES OF THEM? SO THE, UM, UNDER HEAD START, THE ISSUE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATION.
UH, WE HAVE ALSO IN THE LAST, UM, COUPLE OF YEARS EXPERIENCED A SEVERE RAT INFESTATION AT ELLA AUSTIN, UM, TO INCLUDE, UH, MOST OF THE BUILDING, BUT ALSO INCLUDING THE CHILDCARE CENTER, UM, THAT IS CORRECTED.
UM, RIGHT NOW, FOLKS BEEN CITED.
FOLKS, I NEED ASK PLEASE TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE CHAMBER SO WE CAN HEAR THE PRESENTATIONS AND THE QUESTIONS AND THE RESPONSES.
BUT IT WAS ALSO CITED BY STATE LICENSING AND METRO HEALTH.
IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED, BUT WE, UM, CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND, UM, HELP WITH FACILITIES ISSUES IN THAT MATTER.
UM, THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM IS REALLY THE, THE MAIN HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN.
AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS, I NOTICED THAT, UM, ELLA AUSTIN STAFF HAS NOT ATTENDED IN PEER COACHING SESSIONS SINCE AUGUST OF 2019.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT PEER COACHING SESSIONS MEANS AND ARE THEY REQUIRED TO ATTEND? ARE THE OTHER, UM, CENTERS ALSO REQUIRED TO ATTEND? ALL REQUIRED TO ATTEND? SO EVERY PROVIDER APPOINTS A PEER COACH AND THOSE PEER
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COACHES ATTEND THESE SESSIONS.IT'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT THAT IS, IS, UM, WORKING WITH THE COACH TO THEN GO BACK AND IT'S ALMOST TO TRAIN THE TRAINER, THEN GO BACK AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE TE OTHER TEACHERS AT THE CENTER.
AND SO, UM, ELLA AUSTIN'S CURRENT PEER COACH IS NOW THE INTERIM CENTER DIRECTOR.
UM, BUT EVEN BEFORE THE DIRECTOR LEFT, THEY WERE NOT MAKING THOSE MEETINGS, UM, CITING THE HELP, THE CITING THE VACANCIES AS THE REASON THEY COULDN'T ATTEND.
I ALSO NOTICED IN THE 2018 FINANCIAL AUDIT, THERE WERE SOME I, UM, ITEMS IDENTIFIED THAT NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED.
DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN CORRECTED? UM, I HAVE, WELL, LET ME SAY THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN OUR MONITORING REVIEWS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CONNECT CON UH, CORRECTED.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE KEY STAFF POSITIONS.
UM, THE SEGREGATION OF DUTIES, UM, DISPERSED PROBLEMS WITH DISBURSEMENT, DISBURSEMENTS, UM, THE AUDITOR, I DON'T KNOW IF THE AUDITORS, UM, HAS FOUND ADDITIONAL FINDINGS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE 2019 AUDIT.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY NEXT QUESTIONS ACTUALLY.
I, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS DUE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019 AND I DIDN'T GET AN UPDATE TO SEE IF THEY HAD SUBMITTED IT.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE IF DO, IF DO YOU KNOW, SO, BUT I THINK YOU ANSWERED THIS, UH, THERE WERE SOME KEY FISCAL STAFF POSITIONS THAT HAD NOT BEEN FILLED.
SO TO DATE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED.
IS THERE AN ACTIVE SEARCH FOR THEM? CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND MAYBE WHY, UH, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED, DO YOU KNOW THAT? I DON'T, UM, I CAN GET, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO PROVIDE YOU MORE INFORMATION.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WE HEARD, UH, FROM ONE OF THE SPEAKERS EARLIER ABOUT STAFF BEING DISPLACED, AND I'M CONCERNED WITH THAT.
WOULD STAFF BE ABLE TO BE RELOCATED TO ANOTHER ONE OF THE CENTERS? OR ARE WE NOT GUARANTEED THAT BECAUSE, UH, DO THE OTHER CENTERS GET TO HIRE THEIR OWN PEOPLE? WELL, RIGHT NOW, UM, ELLA AUSTIN HAS HIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL STAFF, BUT THEY WERE DOWN BY EIGHT, UH, EIGHT.
SO THREE, UM, HAVE NOT BEEN FORMALLY HIRED AND THEY WOULDN'T, SO THERE WOULDN'T BE A DISPLACEMENT THERE.
UH, THEN THAT WAS AS OF MONDAY.
SO, UM, AND THERE MAY BE ONE NEW HIRE, I GUESS THAT, UM, THAT WOULD NOT BE FULLY BROUGHT ON.
I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN HIGH RISK SINCE MAY, 2018.
HAVE THEY BEEN REASSESSED? AND IF THEY HAVEN'T, WHEN WILL THEY BE REASSESSED? WELL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CORRECT THE MONITORING FINDINGS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN OUR FISCAL MONITORING, UM, BEFORE WE WOULD TAKE THEM OFF THE HIGH RISK.
AND SO WHAT HIGH RISK MEANS IS FOR OUR MONITORING IS THAT WE REVIEW A HUNDRED PERCENT OF BACKUP DOCUMENTATION FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT OF INVOICES.
AND SO IT'S, UM, MUCH MORE TIME INTENSIVE AND STAFF INTENSIVE, BUT IT ENSURES THAT WHEN WE REIMBURSE ELLA AUSTIN FOR, UM, A, AN INVOICE OR A PURCHASE, THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN, UM, PURCHASED AND THAT IT'S BEEN, UM, IT'S ACCURATE.
AND THEN I'VE NOTICED THAT, UM, I, I SAW THAT THERE HAD BEEN A, UH, 50 VISITS OVER A PERIOD OF HOW LONG I, I NOTICED YOU GUYS SAID THAT YOU PROVIDED 50 VISITS OVER HOW LONG? TWO YEARS.
AND THEN I KNOW THAT, UM, IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE, OR YOU ALL STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO IMPACT TO CURRENT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT WE JUST HEARD FROM A SPEAKER EARLIER SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE FAMILIES THAT HAVE SIBLINGS AND SO THEREFORE THEY WOULD BE AFFECTED IF, UH, IF, IF THESE PHYSICIANS WERE LOST.
CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS DIFFERENT FROM THE INFORMATION THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM THE PERSON WHO MADE THE PUBLIC COMMENT? SURE.
SO RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE, UM, SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CURRENTLY ENROLLED CHILDREN WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED.
UM, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE 26 CHILDREN THAT ARE MOVING FROM, UH, BEING THREE YEARS OLD FROM EARLY HEAD START TO A PRE-K THREE OR HEAD START PROGRAM.
AND THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE SUMMER.
AND SO AS THAT ATTRITION HAPPENS, WE WOULD, UM, MOVE 16 SLOTS THAT ARE VACANT, UM, OVER THE SUMMER TO THE OTHER TWO PROVIDERS.
CAN YOU ALSO LET ME KNOW HOW, UM, HOW IF WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE SAME WAY WE WILL, UM, OR EVEN WITH COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SULLIVAN'S, UM, RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT, COULD THIS STILL BE COUNTED AGAINST US FOR THE ENTIRE HEAD START GRANT? HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT, OR, OR WHY IS THE REASON FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION TODAY? RIGHT.
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THE ENTIRE HEAD START GRANT.WE, UM, WE ARE MONITORED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR OUR OVERSIGHT AND, UM, MANAGEMENT OF THE GRANT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF I, I THINK I MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT, UM, CONTINUED REPEAT FINDINGS THAT AREN'T CORRECTED SIGNAL TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THERE'S A SYSTEMS ISSUE WHICH THEY WOULD CITE POTENTIALLY AS A DEFICIENCY.
UM, A DEFICIENCY WOULD ENSURE THAT WE HAVE TO RECOMPETE FOR THE GRANT.
UM, WHEN THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH HEAD START GRANTS IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, IN THE LAST PROBABLY FIVE TO 10 YEARS SINCE THE HEAD START STARTED WORKING THIS WAY, THOSE GRANTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP.
AND SO YOU'VE HAD, UM, PROVIDERS LOSE SLOTS AND, AND GO THAT GO TO NEW PROVIDERS OR DIFFERENT PROVIDERS, WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN A COMPLETE CHANGE OF, UM, LOCATIONS AND, UH, WHERE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.
SO IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AND WE DIDN'T RETAIN ALL OF OUR SLOTS, A NEW PROVIDER MIGHT, MIGHT NOT WANT TO, UH, PROVIDE SERVICES AT BLESSED SACRAMENT OR, UM, AT HALEY MURPHY OR AT AUSTIN.
AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION, HELP ME UNDERSTAND, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, BASED ON, ON THE DECISION TODAY THAT YOU ALL WOULD CONVENE A SPECIAL COUNCIL POLICY EMERGENCY MEETING TODAY.
UH, AND SO ARE PEOPLE PREPARED TO DO THAT? I KNOW THERE'S, UM, LIKE WOULD YOU ALL BE ABLE TO HAVE A QUORUM IF THAT HAPPENS TODAY? I JUST, I WAS CONCERNED, I KNOW IT'S AN EMERGENCY, UM, MEETING, BUT I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, LIKE CAN THAT ACTUALLY HAPPEN TODAY? WERE THEY PLACED ON ALERT ALREADY? WOULD THERE BE SOME MORE DISCUSSION, UM, YESTERDAY WITH CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WITH, UM, STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN? OKAY.
UM, WELL I THINK THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
AND I, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING IT TO SEE IF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TOO.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROJA GARCIA.
I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO REPEAT THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE, UH, JUST SO WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS PROPERLY.
UH, ACTUALLY, UH, MAYOR I, I, I THINK THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS THE ONE WHO READ THE MOTION AND, UH, SO I WOULD ASK HER TO REPEAT IT 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE, WE ARE ANTICIPATING.
COUNCIL MEMBER, WOULD YOU JUST REPEAT THE MOTION AND THEN WE'LL RESUME, UH, CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? YES, SIR.
THE MOTION IS TO AMEND THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION, UM, TO REINSTATE ELLA AUSTIN WITH THE 64 SLOTS AND TO MOVE THE EIGHT SLOT OR EIGHT SLOTS FROM SACRAMENT BACK OVER TO ELLA AUSTIN AND MOVE FROM HEALY MURPHY THE A SLOTS BACK OVER TO ELLA AUSTIN TO INCREASE THEM BACK TO THE 64 AND FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM TO HELP ELLA AUSTIN FOR SIX MONTHS.
WE'LL, UH, GO NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UM, MELODY OR ANYONE ELSE MAYBE AND, AND I SUPPOSE D H S CAN ANSWER THIS, UH, HOW MANY PROGRAMS ARE GOING THROUGH THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER RIGHT NOW THAT THE CITY IS AWARE OF? WELL, THE CITY FUNDS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, A AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM.
AND WHAT IS THE, UH, FUNDING FOR THAT? HOW MUCH MONEY IS THAT? A YEAR? IT'S $90,000 ANNUALLY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS GOING THROUGH THERE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM WHICH YOU'RE FORECASTING, UH, FROM 4 92 TO 360 9.
AND THEN A CONTINUATION OF THE, UH, 90,000 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
THAT WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO ISSUE AN R F P THIS SPRING TO, AND THAT'S PART OF THE FUNDING OF FROM THROUGH CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.
UM, SO THAT'LL BE A DECISION THAT'S MADE DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THEY'RE A LICENSED DAYCARE FACILITY.
IS THAT SEPARATE FROM THESE TWO THAT YOU KNOW OF? UM, SO THE LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITY IS THE HEAD START PROGRAM.
SO THEY'D BE, UH, LOSING $122,000 OUTTA THEIR BUDGET ACCORDING TO THIS? YES.
UM, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER FUNDING GOING INTO THAT CENTER, UH, BESIDES THOSE TWO SOURCES THAT, THAT WE KNOW OF.
UM, RIGHT NOW THE CENTER FUNDING COMES FROM EARLY HEAD START AND CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM.
AND THEN, UH, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY PRIVATE PAY CHILDREN,
[01:00:01]
BUT ELLA WOULD NEED TO ANSWER WHO OWNS THE BUILDING? THE CITY OWNS THE BUILDING AND IS PART OF THE FUNDING THAT THE CITY, UH, PAYS, UH, DOES THAT COVER THE RENT OR ARE THEY AT A, A RENT FREE OR A DOLLAR A YEAR SITUATION? IT'S A DOLLAR A YEAR, I BELIEVE, AND OR IT'S EITHER A DOLLAR OR $10 A YEAR.AND THEY, WE DO ALLOW ELLA AUSTIN TO LEASE PART OF THAT BUILDING TO OTHER AGENCIES, AND THEY, UM, ARE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE REVENUE FROM THAT TO SUPPORT MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING.
DO WE KNOW WHAT OTHER, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ARE CURRENTLY LEASING ANY SPACE THERE? UH, WEST CARE, UM, IS LEASING SPACE THERE AND, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO, TO GET THAT FOR YOU, THE OTHER.
THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
UM, I'M GONNA ASK OUR CITY MANAGER BEFORE WE RESUME CONVERSATION AGAIN TO, UM, GIVE SOME THOUGHTS HERE ON HOW WE CAN SOLVE THIS, UH, AND MEET SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT MELODY'S ADDRESSING.
UM, AND KIND OF ALONG THE SAME LINES AS YOUR LINE OF QUESTIONING THERE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, WE ALL, WE ALL RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER IS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE, UH, THAT FACILITY AND PROGRAMMING BE SUCCESSFUL.
IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, THEN, THEN WE'RE ALL SUCCESSFUL.
UM, I DID WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT, THAT MEL TALKED ABOUT IN HER PRESENTATION, AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA ASK COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
UM, IS THAT WITH THE $123,000 IN, UH, ADJUSTED HEAD START GRANT FUNDS THAT ARE ON THE ITEM TODAY, UM, WE DO NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ASSISTANCE TO THE AGENCY TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL AND PROVIDE THEM THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED BEYOND MONITORING VISITS.
BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL THINGS THAT WE COULD HELP THEM WITH? BECAUSE AGAIN, THEIR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS.
UM, WHAT MEL MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION IS THAT IF WE CAN WORK ON THAT WITH THEM, THERE MAY BE THE ABILITY TO U UTILIZE CHILDCARE FUNDS THROUGH OUR CHILDCARE GRANTS, UM, TO FILL THOSE SLOTS.
AND SHE MENTIONED THAT TOWARDS THE END OF HER PRESENTATION, THAT THE CAPACITY IS THERE.
AND, UM, WHILE, WHILE THAT MAY BE A REDUCTION IN THE HEAD START GRANT THAT THEY GET, UM, IF WE CAN GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE DR.
CHERRY IS WELL ON HER WAY TO HIGHER POSITIONS AND FILL THEM AND GET THEM TRAINED AND DO THE PEER COACHING, I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT SHE WILL DO THAT.
THEN WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR CHILDCARE SYSTEM, IN OUR GRANT SYSTEM TO BACKFILL THOSE SLOTS WITH ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE.
AND, AND MEL MENTIONED THAT AT THE END OF HER PRESENTATION, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANT.
THAT MEANS PROBABLY GET WORKING WITH THEM TO, UM, RECTIFY SOME OF THE, THE CURRENT ISSUES.
AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT THE CENTER, UH, OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND, UH, I HAVE NO DOUBT WITH, UH, THE ACTIVE BOARD, THEY HAVE THAT, UH, THAT THAT THINGS WILL GET, UH, BACK IN LINE QUICKLY OVER THERE.
SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
UH, ERIC, SO IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THEN, AND MAYBE MELODY, YOU CAN, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, UM, WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS, IS WHAT IS ON, ON HERE, THESE STEPS TO, TO SHIFT THOSE, UM, THOSE SLOTS TO THE APPROPRIATE, UH, TO, UH, BLESSED SACRAMENT.
AND THAT'S THE ONE, UM, ON MISSION ROAD, CORRECT? YES.
BLESSED SACRAMENT ACADEMY AND HEALY MURPHY.
AND THEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE THESE CHILDCARE, UM, FUNDS.
WHAT, WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? WHICH THE CHILDCARE, SO LET ME, LET ME AND THEN MEL, YOU CAN ADD THE DETAIL PART.
WE, WE, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS PROVEN A GRANT FOR OUR HEADSTART GLOBAL SYSTEM AND YOU SEE THERE ARE SEVEN OR EIGHT DIFFERENT AGENCIES THERE, RIGHT? RIGHT.
AND WE'VE GOTTA CERTIFY, UH, THAT GRANT APPLICATION OR YOU HAVE TO CERTIFY THAT GRANT APPLICATION.
UM, THE ADJUSTMENT WOULD BE, UH, THE 16 SLOTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE ON THE ITEM MOVED TO TWO OTHER CENTERS.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS BACKFILL WITH,
[01:05:01]
UH, CHILDCARE GRANTS, UH, THAT WE HAVE THROUGH D H S TO POTENTIALLY FILL THOSE SLOTS.SO WHAT THAT COULD DO THEN, UM, YES, I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE, SO WHAT THAT COULD DO THEN IS STILL EVEN BRING ELLA AUSTIN BACK TO 48 WITH THOSE CHILDCARE GRANTS.
UH, ONCE WE GO THROUGH A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, A TRAINING, OR THE INTENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT, UH, WE, WE FEEL NEEDS TO HAPPEN THROUGH THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO RECRUIT CHILDREN, UM, TO FILL THOSE CLASSROOMS. MM-HMM.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO, WE WOULDN'T ASSIGN SLOTS, UM, BUT WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT ELLA AUSTIN, UM, BEING ADDING MORE CHILDCARE, UM, SLOTS TO THEIR, OR FUNDED CHILDREN TO THEIR, UM, CLASSROOMS. WE CAN'T SPECIFICALLY MOVE THEM AND THE PARENTS WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE ACCEPTED INTO THE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, THEY CHOOSE WHERE THEY GO.
BUT IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN, UH, MAY BE ATTENDING OTHER PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SIBLINGS.
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO, UM, POTENTIALLY BE IN THE CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, APPLY FOR THAT, AND THEN ATTEND THE CENTER THROUGH THAT FUNDING SOURCE RATHER THAN EARLY HEAD START.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF, UH, MURMURS THAT WERE IN THE CROWD, UH, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT RAT INFESTATION FOUND AT ELLA AUSTIN.
SO TELL ME WHEN YOU SAY, I MEAN, ANYTHING LIKE THAT IS, IS NOT GOOD, BUT WHEN WAS THAT AND THEY RECTIFIED IT? YOU SAID THAT THAT WAS ALREADY RECTIFIED, BUT WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF THAT? JUST, I MEAN, ONE OR MANY TIMES OR ONE IS BAD.
YES, I UNDERSTAND, BUT STILL ONGOING.
UM, FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS, UM, IT TOOK A WA YOU KNOW, THERE HAD TO BE A NUMBER OF ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE BUILDING.
THERE WAS TREES THAT WERE TOO CLOSE, THERE WAS, UM, SOME PLUMBING ISSUES THAT WAS ALLOWING THEM INTO THE BUILDING.
THERE WERE, UM, LOCKED ROOMS THAT HAD A LOT OF THINGS STACKED IN THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS A, A GOOD HIDING PLACE.
AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT THAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THAT.
SO IT IT, AND IT WAS ALL CORRECTED.
AND, UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT, UM, THAT WOULD BE GIVEN FOR THESE SIX MONTHS.
IS THAT RIGHT? OR WAS THAT THE MOTION? WELL, WE, WE DIDN'T, I, WE DIDN'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT ON THAT.
UM, IT WOULD JUST BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WAS PROVIDING, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE INTENSIVE TECHNICALS.
SO WHAT WAS THE, WHERE WERE THE, WHERE WAS THE FUNDING GOING TO COME FROM WITH, UH, OUT OF WHAT BUDGET? SO WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THAT, AND THAT IS, UM, THROUGH EARLY HEAD START.
THE PORTION THAT RELATES TO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM COULD COME FROM EARLY HEAD START POTENTIALLY, BUT THE CITY, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND, AND WORKING ON A BUSINESS PLAN, A STRATEGIC PLAN, WE WOULD IDENTIFY, UM, THAT ASSISTANCE THROUGH CITY RESOURCES.
NUMBER ONE, WE KNOW THAT ELLA AUSTIN IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND INTEGRAL A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE WANT TO SEE SUCCESS, UM, FOR NOT JUST THE LOCATION, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE AND EVERYONE, UM, HEALTH PROSPERITY IN, IN AND AROUND THROUGH THIS, UM, AREA.
AND WE KNOW, LIKE WAS POINTED OUT LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK, UM, EVEN MORE SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED ELLA AUSTIN AND AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY TO GROW.
AND WE ALSO NEED ALL OF THE OTHER EARLY HEAD START AND C C P PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS.
UM, LOOKING AT SETON HOME, OF COURSE B S A HEALY MURPHY, EVERYONE PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE.
THAT'S GONNA BE EVEN MORE, UM, IMPORTANT AS WE, WE COME THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
SO MY CONCERN IS KIND OF WHAT YOUR QUESTION TO YOUR ANSWER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WAS, IS THERE A WAY, I MEAN, THIS COULD POTENTIALLY, IF WE WENT AGAINST THIS RECOMMENDATION IN THE POLICY GROUP AND IDENTIFYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD SAY, THERE ARE SOME FLAWS IN THIS, AND WE COULD BE JEOPARDIZING THE FUNDING FOR ALL OF THESE ENTITIES, IF THE NON-COMPLIANCES ARE NOT CORRECTED.
IT, IT PUTS US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE DONE THE MONITORING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, CITED, PROVIDED THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
AND SO THAT, THAT IS A, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S A SIGNAL OF A, A SYSTEMS PROBLEM IN OUR, IN OUR PROCESS AND, AND COULD ACTUALLY, UM, IMPACT THE GRANT.
[01:10:01]
OKAY.COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRIN, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN.
SO, MELODY, I HAVE A QUESTION WHEN YOU SAY THAT THIS COULD POSSIBLY IMPACT THE GRANT OR THE COMPLIANCES HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED.
UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT, UH, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THAT HASN'T BEEN RECEIVED.
UM, AND IT WAS DUE IN SEPTEMBER.
DO WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE? UH, WHERE ELLA AUSTIN IS RIGHT NOW? WE'RE GETTING THAT AUDIT IN.
SO WE MET WITH THEM IN DECEMBER, AND AGAIN, I BELIEVE IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
AND BOTH, AT BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS WAS TOLD THAT WE WERE DAYS FROM RECEIVING THE AUDIT.
UM, WE HAVE FOLLOWED UP AND REQUESTED IT SEVERAL TIMES, UM, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN PROVIDED IT.
ELLA AUSTIN WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER WHEN THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE IT.
IS THAT AUDIT BEING DONE, UM, OUTSIDE RESOURCES OR HOW IS THAT AUDIT BEING COMPLETED? UH, IT'S A STANDARD FINANCIAL AUDIT.
THEY HAVE A EXTERNAL, UM, INDEPENDENT AUDITOR THAT'S DOING THE AUDIT.
SO, UM, THEY REVIEW THE FI THE FISCAL SYSTEMS, THE, UM, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND, AND MAKE THEIR DETERMINATION.
AND I KNOW ELLA AUSTIN HAS USED A LOT OF THE, THE FUNDING THEY DO RECEIVE TO UPKEEP, UM, A CITY OWNED BUILDING.
AND I KNOW JUST THIS PAST BUDGET, WE FINALLY STEPPED UP TO SAY THAT WE WOULD INCREASE WHAT WE DO TO, UM, KEEP THE MAINTENANCE ON OUR CITY OWNED BUILDINGS UP TO DATE.
UM, SOME OF THESE, UM, SAFETY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WITH RATS AND INFESTATION, IF WE HAD DONE MORE TO KEEP OUR CITY BUILDINGS UP WITH THE ELLA AUSTIN BE IN, IN THAT SITUATION THAT WE KNOW OF NOW.
WELL, SOME OF THE ITEMS, UM, THAT LED TO THE RAT INFESTATION, UM, REALLY ARE PART OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE FACILITY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE, UM, WE DO MONITOR THAT LEASE AS WELL.
AND, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THERE WE FIND THINGS LIKE THERE'S MATERIALS JUST BEING STORED ON THE ROOF, UM, MATERIALS THAT SHOULDN'T BE STORED INSIDE, THAT ARE STORED INSIDE.
UM, AND WE WORK WITH ELLA AUSTIN TO CORRECT THOSE.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACILITIES ISSUES, AND IT IS AN OLD, VERY LARGE PROPERTY.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NEEDING TO HAVE YOUR TREES TRIMMED, THOSE ARE NORMAL ANNUAL MAINTENANCE, UM, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT JUST AREN'T BEING DONE.
SO IT'S JUST THE DAILY, UM, ROUTINE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE ON.
AND AS FAR AS THE 50 TIMES THAT YOU WENT IN, UM, WHAT OTHER TRAINING AND RESOURCES HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ELLA AUSTIN OUTSIDE OF JUST, UM, WHAT, WHAT OTHER THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE TO HELP THEM GET INTO COMPLIANCE? I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GONE IN SEVERAL TIMES, AND SO CAN I GET A BREAKDOWN OF EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ASSIST THEM? UM, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GIVEN TODAY.
I HAVE A, A LIST I CAN PROVIDE YOU OF ALL OF THE MONITORING.
SO I GET THAT TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
UM, FIRST IS, UH, WHEN EXACTLY ARE THE GRANTS, UH, THE, THIS GRANT CYCLE? WHEN DOES THAT BEGIN IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURE OF THOSE, THOSE FUNDS? THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST THE FIRST BEGINS AUGUST THE FIRST.
I'M GONNA ASK ERIC AGAIN TO, TO CHIME IN WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES BECAUSE I, I WILL JUST TELL YOU, IT'S, IT'S EVIDENT THAT WE CAN'T MAKE THESE GRANT ADJUSTMENTS ON THE FLY.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR FEDERAL PROCESS.
UH, AND ALSO WE ALSO CAN'T DISMISS, UH, A VERY LENGTHY, UH, REVIEW PROCESS BY A POLICY BOARD WITH REGARD TO PUTTING TOGETHER THE ALLOCATIONS 'CAUSE IT WOULD JEOPARDIZE OUR FUNDING.
SO I WANNA ASK ERIC, UH, IF THERE'S A OPPORTUNITY HERE, UH, TO, UM, SPLIT THE UPRIGHTS.
SO, UH, LET, LET ME, LET ME OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE HERE.
UM, THAT, UM, UH, IS THAT, I'M, I'M, I WANT TO OFFER TO THE COUNCIL FOR, FOR CONSIDERATION, UH, THE ITEM BEFORE
[01:15:01]
YOU IS FOR THE GRANT THAT NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED, UH, TOMORROW FOR OUR PROGRAM.UM, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OUTSTANDING ISSUES WITH L AUSTIN.
WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES.
UM, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO, UH, AND MY EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY'LL WORK WITH US TO RECTIFY ALL OUTSTANDING ISSUES TO INCLUDE THE SEPTEMBER, 2019 AUDIT.
AND IF WE CAN RECTIFY, UH, ALL OF THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES, THEN UH, WE WILL WORK TO IDENTIFY SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT WE BRING BACK TO COUNCIL TO ADJUST, UH, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR WHAT THEY'RE, UM, LOSING IN TERMS OF THE HEAD START GRANT.
UM, AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'LL FUND THAT, BUT WE'LL COME UP WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES.
BUT I THINK THE PRIMARY THING THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT, IS THAT WE RECTIFY, UH, THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND THE REPORTING ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL SUCCESSFUL TOGETHER.
AND, UM, THAT'S AN ALTERNATIVE THAT I'LL OFFER TO THE COUNCIL.
AND WE WILL WORK WITH THEM, UH, UH, QUICKLY, UH, TO RESOLVE THOSE AND COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH SOME ALTERNATIVES ON THAT $123,000.
AND, UH, SO LET ME JUST, UM, KIND OF RESTATE THE OBVIOUS, UH, FIRST IS THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD AN OUTSTANDING GOLD STANDARD RECORD WITH REGARD TO HEAD START.
WE KNOW PEOPLE UP HERE WHO ARE PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO HEAD START PROGRAM, SO WE DON'T WANT TO, TO WASTE THAT, AND WE DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THAT.
WE WANT THE HEAD START SUCCESS TO CONTINUE AS IT HAS IN PLACES LIKE ELLA AUSTIN, WHICH THE SECOND PART OF MY COMMENT IS THIS CITY COUNCIL IS NOT GONNA ABANDON ELLA AUSTIN.
I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT AND INTEGRAL ELLA AUSTIN IS, NOT JUST TO THE DISTRICT TWO COMMUNITY, BUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO A COMMITMENT UP HERE, UH, VOICED IS A COMMITMENT IN THESE SEATS AS WELL.
AND SO WE INTEND TO FOLLOW THAT THROUGH.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE GRANT PROCESS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE STICK TO THAT AND WE SHOW THAT WE CAN LIVE UP TO THAT STANDARD SO WE CAN ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THESE THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA NEED A LOT OF COOPERATION TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT I'M GONNA ASK, UM, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, TO CONSIDER WHAT WAS JUST, UH, DISCUSSED BY THE MANAGER.
AND MAYBE I'LL ASK, UM, UH, FOR, UH, CONSIDERATION FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN AS WELL.
AND, UH, WE CAN, UH, TAKE UP AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION, UH, OR WE CAN TAKE UP TWO, UH, MOTIONS AS THE COUNCIL DEEMS NECESSARY.
SO THERE'S NO OTHER, OTHER FOLK, UH, THERE'S NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE QUEUE.
I'LL GIVE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ANDREW SULLIVAN A A COUPLE SECONDS, UH, TO, TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
I JUST, UH, WANTED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.
UM, WE ARE, UH, WE ARE ON A DEADLINE, RIGHT, APRIL 30TH.
AND, UH, IT'S FOR, SO THE FUNDING WE'RE APPLYING FOR WOULD BEGIN TO, IF, IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, THAT MONEY WOULD COME IN BEGINNING AUGUST 1ST FOR OPERATION NOW.
OUR CURRENT GRANT EXPIRES, UM, WE, WE RENEW ANNUALLY.
UH, THE CURRENT GRANT EXPIRES ON JULY THE 31ST.
AND SO THE, THIS GRANT THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION FOR THE, THE TERM BEGINS AUGUST THE FIRST FOR THIS PARTICULAR GRANT.
AND I JUST, UH, WANTED TO ECHO THE, THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.
AND, UH, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, DR.
CHERRY, IT IS VERY RARE THAT, UH, AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM AN AGENCY COMES TO CITY COUNCIL AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY THREE OFFICERS OF HER BOARD.
IT REALLY, I THINK, SPEAKS TO THE UNITY AND SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE FROM, FROM YOUR BOARD.
AND I'M, I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT, PLUS ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE.
AND, UM, I, I, I TOO WILL COMMIT, LIKE THE, THE MAYOR SAID TO MAKING SURE THAT ELLA AUSTIN IS SUCCESSFUL, UH, NOT JUST FOR, FOR D TWO, BUT, UH, FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
IT, IT HAS A RICH HISTORY, AND I, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO, TO LOSE THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, DR.
UM, AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, JUST TO REMIND THE COUNCIL WHERE WE'RE AT PROCEDURALLY, WE JUST HAVE A MOTION BY THE COUNCILWOMAN TO AMEND IT.
UM, IF, UH, I COULD RECOMMEND A, A MOTION IF SHE DECIDES TO WITHDRAW, THAT IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, BUT WITH THE DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO FILL THE GAPS, UH, FOR ELLA AUSTIN.
ANDY, I'LL, I'LL ADD THAT, THAT, THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE ALL OUTSTANDING
[01:20:01]
ISSUES AS PART OF THAT DATE, CERTAIN DATE, CERTAIN RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH AN UPDATE.IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK, COUNCIL MEMBER SULLIVAN.
UM, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT ARE, I'M JUST, I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE OUR FUNDING, BUT I NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ELLA AUSTIN'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART WITH, UM, OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE.
UM, AND I'M LISTENING RIGHT NOW, AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THIS ENDS JULY 31ST, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE STUDENTS OR, OR THE TEACHERS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE AT THIS ENDS JULY 31ST? WHERE DO THEY GO? AUGUST 1ST? UM, I, I JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW, UM, THOSE TEACHERS WOULD STAY AT ELLA AUSTIN BECAUSE THEY'RE, ELLA AUSTIN WILL STILL BE ONE OF OUR LARGEST PROVIDERS.
THEY WOULD STILL HAVE 48 SLOTS.
AND SO THAT 48 SLOTS, UM, SIX CLASSROOMS REQUIRES 12 FULL-TIME TEACHERS, UH, PLUS TWO TEACHERS THAT FLOAT, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS TWO TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND SO THAT'S HOW, UM, WE, WE STAFF THESE CENTERS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, REALLY THERE'S STILL 14 POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR, FOR TEACHERS.
SO REALLY THERE THE TRANSITION WOULD BE, UM, SMOOTH.
AND SO, UM, MELODY, THESE ARE ONLY SLIDES FOR NEW STUDENTS.
I'M SORRY? I SAID THESE 16 SLOTS WE'RE MOVING ARE ONLY FOR NEW STUDENTS.
THEY WOULD BE FOR NEW STUDENTS BECAUSE ELLA WILL, UM, HAVE 26 CHILDREN AGE OUT OF THE PROGRAM OVER THE SUMMER.
UM, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS WITHDRAW THE ORIGINAL MOTION, MAKE AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION TO APPROVE AS IS, BUT TO ADD THE TECHNICAL COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALLOCATE THE RESOURCES LOCALLY TO RESTORE THOSE 16 SLOTS.
UH, AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, AGAIN, PROCEDURALLY, WHAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UH, THE, THE APPLICATION.
UM, WHAT WE CAN DO, AGAIN, WHAT I SUGGEST IS IF WE ARE GONNA HAVE A, A MOTION, UH, TO MOTION TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH OPTIONS ON HOW TO FILL THE GAPS, CONTINGENT ON CORRECTING THE DEFICIENCIES, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, UH, UH, AN ACTION THAT THE COUNCILMAN IS ASKING FOR ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE CAN DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION ON HOW THOSE GAPS CAN BE FILLED.
YEAH, I, I READ THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S MOTION TO BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, ANDY.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, IF YOU CAN JUST RESTATE YOUR MOTION AS IT WAS WORDED BY, UM, BY THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO I MOTION TO PULL DOWN THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO APPROVE THE MOTION AS IS, BUT TO REQUEST THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMITMENT TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO RESTORE THOSE 16 SLOTS TO AL AUSTIN.
YOU MADE OUR CITY ATTORNEY SMILE COUNCIL MEMBER
SO, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UM, I SEE NO OTHER, UH, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
UH, SO I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT UP.
LET ME JUST SAY AGAIN, LET ME REPEAT THIS VERY CLEARLY.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO TURN OUR BACK ON ELLA AUSTIN.
WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH YOU HAND IN HAND ON ADDRESSING ALL THESE ISSUES TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY SLOT THAT COULD BE UTILIZED BY OUR COMMUNITY GETS FILLED.
AND THAT GOES FOR THE SAME WITH ALL THE OTHER CHILDCARE SERVICES THAT ARE GONNA BE ALLOCATED IN THIS GRANT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WORKING WITH US.
THIS IS A MESSY PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS, BUT WE WILL BE WITH YOU, UH, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE ITEM, PLEASE VOTE.
[01:25:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN, UH, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE NEED TO PAY TO IT OVER THE NEXT SENATE FOR MONTHS.WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
[4. Ordinance extending the current Declaration of Public Health Emergency issued by Mayor Ron Nirenberg to continue active preparedness and response for COVID-19 contingencies. (Part 2 of 2)]
I, OH,I'M NOT MAKING THIS ANY EASIER.
I'LL CALL ON ERIC NOW TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THE ITEM, AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, SO, UH, TWO PORTIONS OF TODAY'S, UH, PRESENTATION.
UH, EMRICH, WHO WILL, UH, KIND OF WALK THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS, UH, TO THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM'S REPORT, AND SHARE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS METRO HEALTH COLLECTS MONITORS AND REPORTS ON INDICATORS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE REPORT AND, AND WALK THE COUNCIL THROUGH THAT.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE INDICATORS ON OUR DASHBOARD, UH, BEGINNING ON MONDAY.
UM, AND, AND I THINK IT'S, SHE'LL TALK ABOUT THE, THE IMPORTANCE OF SCALING UP TESTING WHAT OUR CURRENT PLANS ARE.
UM, IT IS REALLY, UH, TAKING THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM REPORT AND TURNING IT INTO A DOCUMENT THAT, UH, IS OUR GUIDE.
THIS GUIDE WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST, UH, OR, OR CHANGE AS NEEDED.
BUT, UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD UPON WHAT THE, THE GOOD WORK OF THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM.
THE SECOND PART, ANDY WILL COVER THE EMERGENCY ORDER INFORMATION, AND THEN I'LL WRAP UP WITH AN UPDATE ON SOME FEDERAL, UH, STIMULUS ISSUES.
CAN WE DO HAVE THREE CITIZENS SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THEM FIRST, AND THEN TURN IT RIGHT OVER TO YOU.
DAWN
DEANNA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
I'M JUST HERE TO WANTING TO KNOW, UH, UH, PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, UH, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THEIR RENT LIVING IN AN APARTMENT.
UH, THEY WANNA KNOW IF YOU'RE REALLY GONNA HELP 'EM OUT WITH YOUR 75% THAT YOU'RE SAYING, OR ARE THEY GONNA BE JUST, UH, LIKE, UH, POSTPONED UNTIL JULY THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY APRIL, MAY AND JUNE, JULY? UH, UH, ONCE, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY JUST WANNA KNOW.
THE PEOPLE WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OR ARE THEY GONNA HAVE TO PAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, UH, THE 25%, YOU KNOW, UH, ON THAT, THAT TIME.
UH, THEY, THEY'RE, UH, QUESTIONING IT.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE'RE IN IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT IT'S MAINLY COMING FROM THE DISTRICT.
OH, JADA, UH, YOUR PEOPLE OVER THERE, UH, WANTING TO KNOW, UH, ME, AND ALSO, UH, I WANNA SAY THE VIA BUSES ARE RUNNING ON A SUNDAY SCHEDULE SINCE APRIL 27.
UH, THEY WERE RUNNING ON A SATURDAY SCHEDULE BEFORE THAT, AND I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET A COMPUTER OR NET OR WHATEVER, UH, FOR MY GRANDKIDS.
AND, UH, THERE'S NO BUSES RUNNING OUT THAT WAY TO THE SOUTH SIDE, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, IT'S KIND OF HARD WITHOUT A CAR.
ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE BUSY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T TAKE YOU OR THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANNA COME OUT TOO BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, KOBE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T BLAME HIM.
UH, BUT I'VE BEEN GETTING HELP A LITTLE BIT FROM MR. DIAZ, AND I THANK HIM FOR IT, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, JUST WANNA SAY, IT'S KINDA HARD FOR, UH, MY KID, MY GRANDKIDS, TO,
[01:30:01]
TO LEARN.YOU KNOW, TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE USED TO GOING TO SCHOOL, RIGHT.
AND THE TEACHERS TELL 'EM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO, BUT WHEN IT'S LIKE THEY HAVE PHONES, YEAH.
BUT IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO DO THEIR, THEIR WORK ONLINE WHEN I COULDN'T GET A, A, A COMPUTER FOR THEM.
ALSO, UH, THANK YOU MS. ERGAS FOR ALL, EVERYBODY THAT'S GRADUATING THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MR. DIAZ GOT THREE GRANDKIDS THAT ARE GRADUATING THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, BUT CONGRATULATIONS.
THEY WON'T BE WALKING THE STAGE.
MR. FINGER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ADRIAN LOPEZ.
WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JACK M.
UM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU KNOW, TYRANTS LIKE TO USE NATIONAL EMERGENCIES TO ESSENTIALLY STEAL OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES.
AND, UH, THIS ONE, THIS, UH, NATIONAL EMERGENCY IS BASICALLY NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHERS THERE.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNLESS THEY GET PUSHED BACK FROM YOU AND ME, THE PUBLIC.
WHICH BRINGS ME JUST TO WHY I'M DRESSED UP LIKE THIS TODAY.
THIS IS THE WAY I WAS DRESSED UP IN MY TEXAS FLAG SHIRT AT A BIG PROTEST EFFORT.
UH, LAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON, I WAS AMONG, UH, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE RIGHT THERE NEAR THE ALAMO AT THE SENATE TAF THERE.
AND, UH, YES, MR. AUDIOVISUAL MAN, PUT THAT FIRST ONE UP THERE.
WHAT'S THE HEADLINE THERE? IT SAYS, UH, THE COVID 19 CASES, NO CITATIONS WERE ISSUED AT THE ALAMO PROTEST.
WHY WAS THAT? WELL, FLIP THE PAGE, MR. AUDIOVISUAL, MAN.
IT SAYS, UH, SEE WHAT THE UNDERLINE SAYS.
MAYOR NIERENBERG WAS ASKED WHY NO CITATIONS WERE ISSUED, AND HE RESPONDED, WELL, THOSE GUYS JUST WANT A CONFRONTATION, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO THEM.
SAID, MR. NIERENBERG, THANK YOU.
RE RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE, TO THE MICROPHONE.
WELL, MR. MAYOR, I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY MEAN IT, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO PUT TEETH INTO THIS, THIS THING ABOUT, UH, NOT HAVING, UH, PEOPLE, UH, GATHER TOGETHER AND LARGE CROWDS IN PUBLIC, I MEAN, YOU, YOU SHOULD, IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN IT, YOU WHY NOT ENFORCE IT? WHY NOT ARREST THE ALL OF US WHO ARE DOWN THERE? HUH? I MEAN, ASSUMING YOU REALLY AND TRULY MEAN IT, ASSUMING YOU REALLY TO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING TO, TO, TO GO FORWARD WITH THERE.
NOW, UM, I NOTICED ALSO, I MEAN, YOU KEEP MOVING THE GOALPOSTS ON THIS THING.
FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS JUST TO FLATTEN THE, THE, THE CURVE THERE.
AND NOW YOU SAY, OH NO, WE GOTTA GIVE IT ANOTHER STANDARD.
GOTTA GIVE WAIT TILL IT REALLY GOES DOWN, MAYBE 14 DAYS OR SO.
UH, MR. MODERAT, PUT THE NEXT ONE UP THERE, IF YOU WOULD.
LET'S IT SAY, UH, THE, UM, UH, FROM DISTRICT SEVEN.
OH, WHERE'D SHE GO? SHE'S, SHE, SHE SEEMS TO ESCAPE ALL THE TIME.
BUT MS. SANDOVAL, WHAT'S IT SAY? THE LITTLE, UH, UPDATE FROM HER, HER, HER DISTRICT THERE, UH, FLIP THE PAGE IF YOU WOULD, MR. ORIGINAL MAN.
IT SIMPLY SAYS, UH, THE TOP THERE.
IT SAYS, BLOW THAT UP A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU CAN.
IT SAYS, BASICALLY IT SAYS, IF YOU, UH, SEE ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE, UH, OF THE ORDERS THERE, THE STAY HOME, THE THING, FEEL FREE TO CALL THE SAN T POLICE DEPARTMENT THERE.
I THINK THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK IF I SEE ANYBODY WITHOUT DO, I'LL JUST GET MY EYEGLASSES AND SAY, OH, THERE'S A GUY WITHOUT HIS MASK ON.
WE NEED TO ARREST YOU, MR. MERRIER.
ALL RIGHT, DON, YOU'RE FINALLY UP.
ADRIAN LOPEZ, JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
UM, THIS COMES FROM THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM CHINA AND THE WORLD HEALTH NET SUPPORTS IT.
UM, THE OFFICIAL OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOR THE RECOMMENDED TREATMENT OF C OVID 19 USING VITAMIN C.
UM, THE OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION
[01:35:01]
THAT VI C OVID 19 SHOULD BE TREATED WITH HIGH DOSES OF VITAMIN C COMES AS WELCOME NEWS AS THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO SPREAD.UM, A RICHARD Z. CHANG MD PHD TRAINED IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE CLINICAL TRIALS.
UM, WORLD HEALTH IS PROUD TO SAY THAT DR.
CHANG IS A FELLOW AND BOARD CERTIFIED ANTI-AGING PHYSICIAN BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ANTI-AGING MEDICINE, AS WELL AS BEING A FELLOW AND BOARD CERTIFIED ANTI-AGING, INTEGRATIVE CANCER THERAPY PHYSICIAN.
CHANG HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH MEDICAL AND GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT CHINA, AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN TREAT FACILITATING TREATMENT IN THAT COUNTRY.
CHANG, VITAMIN C IS VERY PROMISING FOR THE PREVENTION AND ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TREAT DYING PATIENTS.
UM, THE CURRENT SOLE FOCUS ON VACCINE AND SPECIFIC ANTIVIRAL DRUGS FOR EPIDEMICS IS MISPLACED.
EARLY AND LARGE DOSES OF INTRAVENOUS VITAMIN C ARE CRITICAL, NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
VITAMIN C IS NOT ONLY A PROTOTYPICAL ANTIOXIDANT, BUT ALSO INVOLVED IN VIRUS KILLING AND THE PREVENTION OF VIRAL REPLICATION.
THE PROTOCOL FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ARE NOT BLOCKING THE NEWS.
UM, TO BE BLUNT, ACCORDING TO DR.
CHANG, NOT SHARING OR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC OF POTENTIAL TREATMENTS SHOULD BE SEEN AS NEGLIGENCE.
WE HEAR OF NOTHING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT IS AVAILABLE AND HAS BEEN PROVEN AND USED SINCE THE 1930S.
UM, I WANNA SAY I, UH, CHINA HAS LIFTED ITS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND REOPENED ITS ECONOMY, AND THE GREATEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD IS TWO MONTHS BEHIND THEM.
I'M ACTUALLY GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO ERIC 'CAUSE HE CAN GET US ON TRACK HERE.
OKAY, DON, YOU'RE UP REAL THIS TIME.
SO ON TUESDAY, THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM RELEASED, UH, GUIDANCE ON HOW TO TRANSITION TO A GRADUAL OPENING OF THE CITY, UM, AND THE COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WHAT METRO HEALTH'S PLANS ARE TO OPERATIONALIZE SOME OF THIS WORK AND TO DISPLAY SOME OF THE INDICATORS.
UM, SOME OF OUR INDICATORS ARE ALREADY DISPLAYED, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO REALIGN THOSE THAT WILL SUPPORT THIS HEALTH TRANSITION PLAN.
SO THIS MAY LOOK FAMILIAR TO YOU.
THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT, UM, DR.
TAYLOR, UH, UTILIZED ON TUESDAY WHEN SHE, UM, RE HELPED US RELEASE THIS PLAN TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THESE ARE THE FOUR PROGRESS INDICATORS.
SO THERE ARE A SET OF INDICATORS OF PROGRESS INDICATORS AND WARNING INDICATORS.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE THERE ARE THE PROGRESS PROGRESS INDICATORS.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GO THROUGH THE FOUR THAT ARE LISTED THERE, AND THEN THROUGHOUT THOSE FOUR, I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW METRO HEALTH WILL UP OPERATIONALIZE AND TO DISPLAY SOME OF THESE INDICATORS.
THE FIRST ONE, TO SUSTAIN A DEC DECLINE OR A, TO SEE A SUSTAINED DEC, A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES OF C OVID 19 FOR MORE THAN, UM, 14 DAYS.
SO THREE VERY CRITICAL PIECES TO THIS.
WE WANT TO SEE THAT THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN THE DATE.
JUST NOTICED THE TV WAS HERE, UH, THE DELAY BETWEEN THE DATE AND THE ILLNESS, UM, UH, BETWEEN THE DATE THAT THE ILLNESS STARTS AND THE DATE THAT THE CASE IS REPORTED TO METRO HEALTH.
WE ALSO WANNA SEE THE TREND IN THE NUMBER OF CASES TRENDING DOWNWARD FOR AT LEAST 14 DAYS.
AND THAT NUM, NONE OF THESE INDICATORS STANDALONE.
UM, THERE ARE TWO SETS OF INDICATORS FOR A REASON, AND THEY ALL COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER.
SO ONE SET OF THESE INDICATORS DO NOT STANDALONE
[01:40:01]
ALL WILL BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN PAINT A COMPLETE PICTURE AS WE ARE OPENING THE CITY.THE SECOND INDICATOR IS THE ABILITY TO PERFORM TESTS FOR THE VIRUS IN ALL TO, TO TEST FOR THE VIRUS IN ALL PEOPLE.
UM, WITH SYMPTOMS OF C OVID 19, THERE ARE CLOSE CONTACTS AND THOSE IN PUBLIC FACING ROLES.
SO WE DO PLAN METRO HEALTH DOES, WE DO PLAN TO DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY OF TESTING.
SO THE EXPANSION OF TESTING CAPACITY FROM THE CURRENT, WHICH IS 1600 A DAY TO 3000 A DAY BY JUNE, 2020.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO THAT THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU THOSE THREE WAYS, AND THEN I'M GONNA GO DOWN INTO MORE DETAILS ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES.
THE FIRST ONE IS, IS THAT WE WANT, UM, TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSITION TRANSMISSION THAT IS OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANNA COLLECT SPECIMENS ON TARGETED SYMPTOMATIC POPULATIONS.
AND THEN WE ALSO WANNA CONDUCT UNIVERSAL TESTING IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS, BOTH SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC.
THOSE THREE THINGS COMBINED WILL HELP US MEET THIS PARTICULAR INDICATOR, AND IT WILL BE DISPLAYED ON OUR DATA VISUALIZATION BOARD, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO LET'S LOOK AT THREE OF THESE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
SO, CONDUCT A STUDY IN THE ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
RIGHT NOW, WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN ESTIMATE THAT IT COULD BE LESS THAN, UM, THE, THE CURRENT PREVALENCE OF C OVID 19 SYMPTOMATIC COULD BE LESS THAN 1%.
IT ALSO SEEMS PLAUSIBLE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ASYMPTOMATIC OR PRESYMPTOMATIC COULD PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN TRANSMISSION OF C OVID 19.
THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS AND TRANSMISSIONS IN BAYER COUNTY HAVE YET TO BE DETERMINED.
WE DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE, WE, WE DO GET THE CALL FOR US TO EXPAND OUR TESTING TO TEST THE ASYMPTOMATIC, BUT WE HAVE STILL LIMITED RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE STILL MAINTAIN OUR RESOURCES TO TEST THOSE WITH, UM, SYMPTOMS. BUT WE ALSO DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE PREVALENCE.
SO METRO HEALTH WILL PARTNER WITH LOCAL ACADEMIC PARTNERS, HOSPITAL FACILITIES, AND THE MOBILE INTEGRATION HEALTH UNIT TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ESTIMATE THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTION IN BEXAR COUNTY.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DETERMINE THE PREVALENCE OF, OF THESE INFECTIONS TO INFORM THE MEASURES, AND TO SLOW THE SPREAD.
WE WILL TAKE 385 RANDOM HOUSEHOLDS, AND WE WILL CONTACT THEM AND ENROLL THEM INTO THIS STUDY.
THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY OF DOING IT.
MANY OTHER CITIES YOU MIGHT SEE ARE OPENING UP ALL OF THEIR TESTING TO TEST BOTH ASYMPTOMATIC AND SYMPTOMATIC.
AND THAT JUST IS NOT THE SCIENTIFIC OR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE TO DO SO.
AND SO WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE BE THOUGHTFUL AND CONDUCT THIS STUDY WITH OUR PARTNERS.
LET'S DO THIS, RIGHT, NOT RUSH IT, BUT LET'S DO THIS, RIGHT? TWO, WE WANT TO EXPAND THE ACCESS TO SYMPTOMATIC TESTING.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE WANNA INCREASE TO 3000, BUT WE WANNA DO IT TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
FIRST, WELL, THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
FIRST, AGAIN, AS I JUST MENTIONED, WE WANNA DO THAT STUDY TO ASSURE OR TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC IS TO REALLY HELP GUIDE OUR DECISIONS.
THEN WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS.
WE WANT TO ASSURE THAT WE STILL HAVE AND EXPAND THE ACCESS TO THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS. SO, THREE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IMPROVING, UM, THE ACCESS TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK.
WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD WITH THAT.
THE MOBILE HEALTH UNITS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WE DO HAVE TWO MOBILE HEALTH UNITS THAT WE, UM, THINK THAT WE CAN GET ON BOARD.
AND WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY, UM, AVAILABLE AND, UH, UH, IDENTIFIED THAT WE ARE HOPING TO STAND UP SOME OF THOSE MOBILE UNITS.
WE ALSO WANT TO EXPAND THE LARGE SCALE TESTING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH.
UM, WE DO KNOW, AND WALMART IS ONE OF THEM.
OUR FREEMAN COLISEUM IS ANOTHER ONE.
AND THEN WE KNOW THAT THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO ADD THREE ADDITIONAL SITES OF DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING FOR SYMPTOMATIC THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
WE CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE MOBILE UNITS GO, AND WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS AS WE SPEAK.
FINALLY, THE EXPAND AND PRIORITIZE TESTING.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO ELEVATE THE NUMBER OF TESTS THAT ARE GOING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TESTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
THE NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE DON'T WANNA JUST THROW BROCHURES OUT OF A HELICOPTER.
WE WANNA USE DATA, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TESTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND THE RIGHT PLACE.
WE WANNA START DOING UNIVERSAL TESTING.
[01:45:01]
THE THREE APPROACHES THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN DOING.MANY CITIES HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS STEP, AND SAN ANTONIO IS HAPPY AND PROUD THAT WE ARE LEANING IN AND PROVIDING SOME REALLY GREAT STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
UNIVERSAL TESTING IS BOTH SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE SITUATIONS OF ISOLATED OUTBREAKS, JUST LIKE WE DID AT THE SOUTHEAST NURSING HOME, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO GO IN QUICKLY BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTAINED THAT OUTBREAK.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID LOSE SOME LIVES, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR FAST RESPONSE, UM, AND THE QUICK RESPONSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN METRO HEALTH AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE MANY MORE LIVES.
OUR APPROACH THERE WAS WHEN WE WENT IN, WE DIDN'T JUST TEST THE, THE SYMPTOMATIC STAFF AND RESIDENTS.
WE TESTED EVERYONE, AND WE WANTED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ISOLATED WHO THE ASYMPTOTICS WERE IN THE, IN THE SYMPTOMATIC IN THOSE AREAS.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND EXPAND NOW THAT WE ARE SCALING UP OUR TESTING.
SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH ALL NURSING HOMES, SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, SHELTERS FOR HOMELESS AND STREET HOMELESS, AS WELL AS E S R D.
THE E R C D IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS A VERY HIGH PREVALENCE OF DIABETES IN KIDNEY DISEASE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT IS A HIGH UNDERLYING FACTOR TO MANY OF OUR FOLKS WHO HAVE, UH, LOST THEIR LIVES, UM, THROUGH DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION.
AND SO E S R D WILL BE A MAIN FOCUS FOR US.
WE ALSO WANNA TEST ALL INMATES.
THAT PROCESS IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH TESTING THE, UM, THE STAFF AT THE JAIL AS WELL AS THE INMATES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
HOSPITALS ARE ALSO STARTING TO, TO TEST PATIENTS BEFORE PROCEDURES AND ADMISSIONS, AND THEN OTHER WORKERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING, UM, FORWARD FACING OR FACE, UH, COMMUNITY FACING SETTINGS.
SO THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE, YOU KNOW, HIGH LEVEL STRATEGY OF US EXPANDING OUR TESTING MOVING FORWARD.
SO THE NEXT INDICATOR IS TO EXPAND OUR CONTACT TRACING TO 175.
WE WILL DO THAT THROUGH A MIX OF RECRUITING, NEW, NEW HIRES, NEW EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS TRAINING VOLUNTEERS, AND ALSO USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US SCALE TO THAT 1 75.
THAT 1 75 IS A RECOMMENDATION, UM, BASED ON A FORMULA OF 15 CONTACT TRACERS PER 100,000 IN YOUR POPULATION.
IT IS A FORMULA BASED ON POPULATION, AND I THINK THAT WE'LL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THAT.
AND HOW WILL WE DO THAT? AGAIN, WE'LL DO THAT THROUGH DATA INTEGRATION, SCALED CONTACT TRACING, AS I JUST MENTIONED, AND THEN THE USE OF MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY.
SO I WANNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MOBILE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY.
I'VE MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES IN SOME OF MY PRESENTATIONS, BUT I'D REALLY, I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT METROHEALTH HAS BEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, IS IN A POSITION TO USE TECHNOLOGY BY USING TECHNOLOGY.
REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE THE SCALING APPROACHES OF HIRING NEW STAFF, RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS, AND TRAINING THEM.
AND THEN USING THIS TECHNOLOGY, THE TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW, ALLOW US TO SCALE AND THEN TAKE THE HUMAN RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S STAFF OR VOLUNTEERS, AND REDIRECT THEM INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE KNOW NEED EXTRA ATTENTION.
SO USING TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW US TO USE OUR RESOURCES IN A MORE EFFICIENT WAY, IN A MORE TARGETED WAY, AND, AND PUT, UM, PUT OUR CONTACT TRACERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE MOST NEEDED FOR CONTACT TRACING.
SO THIS IS A, A MOCA IS A PILOT.
UM, PART OF IT WILL START ACTUALLY TOMORROW.
THAT, UM, PROCESS WILL START WITH OUR POSITIVES IN SOME OF OUR CONTACT TRACING TOMORROW.
UM, IT'S A DIGITAL APPLICATION FOR POSITIVE PATIENTS AND ALSO THEIR CLOSE CONTEXT TO SELF-MONITOR.
THAT IS WHAT WE'LL BE STARTING ON FRIDAY.
AND THEN ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT IMOCA WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US WILL START IN ABOUT A WEEK.
THE NEXT PROGRESS INDICATOR IS LOOKING AT, UH, PREPARING THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT CAN SAFELY CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS, INCLUDING SUFFICIENT HOSPITAL CAPACITY, WORKFORCE, P P E AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
CURRENTLY, WE RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION THROUGH STRAC, AND STRAC PROVIDES US A GRAPHIC LIKE THIS ON A DAILY BASIS.
THAT'S CALLED THE HEALTH, THE HEALTH SYSTEM STRESS, UH, INDEX.
AND SO EVERYTHING THAT I JUST LISTED OUT, WHETHER IT'S THE HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE I PEOPLE THAT ARE IN ICUS, THE VENTILATORS, IT'S A LONG LIST, IS PULLED TOGETHER INTO AN INDEX.
AND EACH DAY WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY LOOK AT A, A CUMULATIVE PERSPECTIVE OF ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE CITY AND LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE ON NO STRESS LEVELS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A CURRENT INDICATOR.
UM, WE ARE AT A NORMAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW IN OUR CITY.
[01:50:01]
ANY DEVIATION OF THESE INDICATORS, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVING BACKWARDS WOULD BE A SIGNAL FOR US THAT THINGS ARE NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THESE INDICATORS TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.SO EVERYTHING I JUST MENTIONED TO YOU WERE THE PROGRESS INDICATORS.
AGAIN, METROHEALTH WILL LOOK AT THOSE INDICATORS.
WE WILL THEN COMMUNICATE AND SHARE, UM, THIS INFORMATION SO THAT ALL OF OUR POLICY MAKERS, INCLUDING YOU, WILL HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION POSSIBLE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE PHASING OF THE OPENING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO NOW I'M JUST GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THREE WARNING INDICATORS THAT ARE ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THOSE THREE, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE FIRST ONE IS A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS IT TAKES FOR THE NUMBER OF C OVID 19 CASES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO DOUBLE.
AND THIS IS SORT OF YOUR EPIDEMIOLOGY 1 0 1.
THIS IS REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A GREAT STAT.
PRIOR TO THE MAYOR'S FIRST PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER, WE WERE SEEING A DOUBLING OF CASES EVERY THREE DAYS.
THAT IS JUST HOW PREVALENT C OVID 19 WAS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE WERE SEEING A DOUBLING OF CASES EVERY THREE DAYS SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDER, WE'VE AVERAGED A DOUBLING EVERY 2.5 WEEKS.
THAT SHOWS THAT THE DECLARATION HAS WORKED.
IF WE START SEEING TRENDS INDICATING THAT THE CURRENT DOUBLING OF 2.5 WEEKS, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT STATE, IF WE START TO SEE THAT THAT IS DECREASING AND HEADING BACK TO THAT THREE DAY DOUBLING, UM, THEN WE HAVE AN ISSUE OF WARNING.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS AGAIN, THAT OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS WILL BE LOOKING AT.
WE'LL BE SHARING WITH YOU AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE.
WE'RE SEEING AN UPTICK IN THE DOUBLING OF OUR CASES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.
THE NEXT ONE IS THE PERCENTAGE OF ALL LAB TESTS, UM, THAT ARE POSITIVE USING THE GOLD STANDARD OF THE P C R TESTS FOR C OVID 19 AND FOR SYMPTOMATIC.
SO WE DO EXPECT, WITH THIS RAMPING UP OF THE TESTING THAT WE JUST SHARED WITH YOU, WE DO EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES DUE TO THIS EXPANDED TESTING.
AGAIN, A WARNING INDICATOR WOULD SHOW IF WE SEE A 14 DAY INCREASE IN POSITIVE CASES, THEN WE'LL SEE AN ISSUE THAT WE WOULD WANT TO SET AN ALARM THAT WE'RE SEEING AN UPTICK.
WE WILL SEE A BUMP IN THE POSITIVE CASES BECAUSE WE'RE EXPANDING OUR TESTS.
BUT IF WE SEE THAT OVER A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF TIME OF MORE THAN 14 DAYS, THAT'S AN INDICATOR THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON AND WE WILL RAISE THE ALARM.
THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE HAD IN OUR PROGRESS INDICATORS.
IF WE SEE THAT BLACK LINE GROWING INTO A SEVERE, WHERE WE REALLY START SEEING THE DEFICITS OR SOME STRESS ON OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UM, THEN THAT IS ANOTHER WIN, UM, UH, WARNING SIGN THAT WE WILL LET YOU KNOW.
THAT COULD BE A VARIETY OF THINGS.
THAT COULD BE A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE, THAT COULD BE A P P E SHORTAGE, THAT COULD BE, UM, A VENTILATOR SHORTAGE.
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN MONITORING TO MAKE SURE OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS STRONG.
WE WILL DO THE, JUST THE, IT WILL DO THE SAME THING IN TERMS OF THE WARNING THAT IF WE SEE THAT BLACK LINE GOING UP, WE WILL, UM, RAISE THE ALARM TO SAY, HEY, WE MAY NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR DECLARATION AND HOW WE'RE OPENING THE, THE COMMUNITY.
FINALLY, THE PHASES IN THE ENFORCEMENT.
SO WHAT I JUST REVIEWED FOR YOU WERE THE INDICATORS FROM THE HEALTH TRANSITION PLAN, AS WELL AS THE EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING TWO OTHER AREAS OF THE PLAN THAT METROHEALTH WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON, WHICH IS OUR, THE PHASES COMPONENT AS WELL AS ENFORCEMENT.
SO METROHEALTH AND STRAC WILL MONITOR, WILL MONITOR THIS PROGRESS AND WARNING INDICATORS THROUGHOUT ALL FOUR PHASES OF THE REOPENING.
METROHEALTH WILL NOT DETERMINE THE THRESHOLDS OF, OR THE TRANSITIONS TO EACH PHASE.
THAT IS REALLY LEFT UP TO THE POLICYMAKERS TO DO THAT.
WE WILL HAVE THESE, THE DATA AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
WE WILL HELP INTERPRET THAT FOR YOU, BUT WE WILL NOT BE THE ONES TO SAY, YES, IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY MITIGATION STRATEGIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TEAM-BASED APPROACH BETWEEN METRO HEALTH, D S D AND SS A P D.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, SO WHEN ARE WE GONNA DO THIS? I KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN THIS ONE SLIDE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA DO ALL OF THIS OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I WANNA BE VERY
[01:55:01]
CAUTIOUS.I'VE BEEN MENTIONING THIS TO YOU EACH TIME I TRY TO GET UP HERE.
ALL OF THIS IS BASED ON WHETHER WE HAVE SUPPLY.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN A REAL CRITICAL ISSUE FOR US, NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ACROSS OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY.
WE CAN SCALE UP, BUT WE CAN ONLY SCALE UP AS MUCH AS THE, THE SUPPLIES ALLOW US TO SCALE UP.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN SUPPLIES AROUND MID-MAY.
THAT'S WHAT SOME OF OUR LABS ARE TELLING US.
THAT'S WHAT SOME OF OUR PLACES THAT SUPPLY THESE MATERIALS MID-MAY SEEMS TO BE.
I'VE CHECKED WITH THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, THEIR VENDORS ARE SAYING THE SAME THING.
SO MAY 1ST WE'RE HOPING TO INCREASE THAT BY 2100, OUR TESTING OF 1600 TO 2100.
HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THAT? WELL, WE WANNA HOPEFULLY SEE AN INCREASE OF 500 DAILY, UM, UM, STARTING IN MAY, EARLY MAY.
WE'LL USE THAT, UM, THAT EXTRA TESTING CAPACITY TO DO OUR RANDOM SAMPLE OF OUR ASYMPTOMATIC STUDY.
REMEMBER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 385 HOUSEHOLDS, SO THAT'S SUPPLY THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED.
AND THEN WE'LL LAUNCH OUR AM MOCA, WHICH I TOLD YOU IS LAUNCHING TOMORROW.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TRY TO TRAIN 60 CONTRACT TRA CONTACT TRACERS AS WELL, JUNE 1ST AS WE PROGRESS, WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT SUPPLY CONTINUES TO GROW, AND WE'LL ADD, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE TESTING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, UM, OR THROUGHOUT EACH DAY.
SO JUNE 1ST, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR RANDOM SAMPLE ASYMPTOMATIC STUDY, BUT WE'LL ADD THE UNIVERSAL TESTING OF OUR NURSING HOMES.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO TEST OUR INMATES AT THE JAIL.
WE WILL RAMP UP TARGETED POPULATION TESTING AND THEN RAMP UP, WALK-UP TESTING SITES.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO START JUNE 1ST, JUNE 30TH.
BY THE END OF JUNE 30TH, WE HOPE, AGAIN, IF SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE TO US, WE'RE HOPING BY JUNE 30TH THAT WE WILL MEET THAT 3000 A DAY TESTING, UM, AT BY THE END OF JUNE.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING IN THE MIDDLE BOX, AS WELL AS CONTINUE TO SCALE IN MOCA AS NEEDED AND CONTACT TRACING STAFF AND, UM, TRAINING AS NEEDED AS WELL.
SO I DO THINK THAT IS MY LAST SLIDE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, BEFORE WE START LOOKING AT SLIDES, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO LEVEL SET NOT ONLY, UH, THE COUNCIL, BUT FRANKLY THE COMMUNITY ON, UH, THE EMERGENCY ORDERS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND WHAT THEY DO AND DON'T DO.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALREADY HAVE SOME MISINFORMATION THAT I HEARD COMING IN, UH, IN TERMS OF WHETHER OUR LOCAL ORDERS ARE ESPECIALLY MORE DRACONIAN, DRACONIAN, UH, OR RUN FAR AFIELD FROM WHAT THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S ORDERS ARE.
UM, AND, UH, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF STATES, CITIES, AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE ISSUED EMERGENCY ORDERS FOLLOW THE SAME FRAMEWORK.
THAT FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION THAT WE GET FROM FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE CITY'S ORDINANCE, THE COUNTY COUNTY'S, UH, ORDER AND THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER FOLLOW THAT FRAMEWORK.
AND WHAT IS THAT FRAMEWORK? THERE ARE FIVE KEY ELEMENTS TO THAT FRAMEWORK.
ONE IS STAY AT HOME, TWO, LIMIT SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
THREE, IF YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE THE HOME, IT SHOULD BE TO ENGAGE IN ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY OR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND BUSINESSES ARE BASED ON GUIDANCE ISSUED BY HOMELAND SECURITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING.
THAT'S WHAT THE STATE'S BEEN FOLLOWING.
NUMBER FOUR, EVEN IF YOU ENGAGE IN, UH, ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY OR ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, YOU STILL NEED TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND EXERCISE THE APPROPRIATE HYGIENE ACTIVITY.
FIVE, ACTIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ACTIVE ENFORCEMENT SO THAT THE, UH, ORDERS ARE BEING FOLLOWED BY THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE THE FIVE PILLARS, AGAIN, OF MOST OF THE STATE, MOST OF THE COUNTY, MOST OF THE CITY, UH, EMERGENCY ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN PROMULGATED, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT NATIONWIDE, AGAIN, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GET INTO THE SLIDES.
SO THE SIXTH DECLARATION ISSUED BY THE, UH, MAYOR, WHICH AGAIN, ALIGNS WITH, UH, AN ORDER ISSUED BY THE COUNTY, UH, WAS ISSUED YESTERDAY.
AS I MENTIONED, IT ALIGNS WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, UH, 18 THAT WAS ISSUED ON MONDAY.
AGAIN, IT MAINTAINS A FRAMEWORK THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF, UH, KEEPING THE ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES THOSE REMAIN IN PLACE.
AND THOSE, AGAIN, ARE BASED ON CSA GUIDANCE, UH, ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, THE NEW ORDER, THOUGH, ALIGNS WITH THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S ORDER ISSUED MONDAY IN TERMS OF, UH, OPENING UP A NEW
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CATEGORY OF REOPEN SERVICES, WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY A SUBCATEGORY OF WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, BUT ARE NOW DEEMED REOPEN BUSINESSES IN WHICH THEY'RE ALLOWED TO REOPEN.BUT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, UH, GATHERINGS ARE STILL LIMITED TO THE HOUSEHOLD EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL OR REOPEN SERVICES OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.
SO AGAIN, I EMPHASIZE WE'RE WE'RE STILL NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, 30 PERSON BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
THAT'S STILL NOT ALLOWED UNDER THE CURRENT ORDER.
UM, THOSE ARE STILL, UH, ACCORDING TO THE GUIDANCE THAT WAS ISSUED BY CISA.
AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, AGAIN, UPDATING OUR WEBSITE AS TO WHAT IS DEEMED ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND OR NOT.
UH, BUT EVEN THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND BUSINESSES STILL NEED TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR STORE OR ESTABLISHMENT.
UH, THEY NEED TO IMPLEMENT, UH, SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES.
AND, UH, NOW WE ARE ENCOURAGING, NOT REQUIRING, WE'RE ENCOURAGING, UH, THOSE ESSENTIAL, UH, SERVICES TO LIMIT, UH, THE PEOPLE IN THEIR STORES IF THEY'RE RETAIL STORES, TO 25% OF THEIR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
AGAIN, THAT'S A HIGHLY ENCOURAGED ITEM.
UH, NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AGAIN, REMAIN CLOSED UNLESS THEY FIT INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE REOPEN SERVICES ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR.
WHAT, WHAT ARE THOSE SERVICES? WELL, I'LL FIRST START WITH THOSE THAT ARE LIMITED TO BE OPEN, BUT WITH 25% OF THEIR OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
THOSE ARE DINE-IN RESTAURANTS.
AND AGAIN, BUT THOSE ARE THE RETAIL STORES THAT AREN'T ALREADY DESIGNATED AS ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
MOVIE THEATERS, RESTAURANTS, MALLS, BUT THEIR FOOD COURT AREAS AND PLAY AREAS REMAIN CLOSED.
AGAIN, UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, HE ALLOWED LOCAL ENTITIES, UH, TO DETERMINE TO WHAT EXTENT THEIR LOCAL, UH, UH, FACILITIES AND SERVICES WILL BE OPEN.
UH, CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, SOLE PRACTITIONERS ARE NOW ALLOWED TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS AND GOLF COURSES ARE OPEN.
CLOSED BUSINESSES, UM, BARS, GYMS, UH, INTERACTIVE AMUSEMENT VENUES LIKE BOWLING ALLEYS, UH, MASSAGE PARLORS, UH, HAIR SALONS, BARBERSHOPS.
UH, THOSE CONTINUED TO BE CLOSED.
ONE THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS, IS THE, IN, IN THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, PRESENTATION OF THE NEW ORDER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THESE WERE, UH, BUSINESSES THAT REMAINED CLOSED UNDER HIS ORDER.
BUT, UH, THERE WAS SOME, UH, INDICATION THAT PERHAPS THEY WOULD BE IN THE NEXT WAVE OF REOPENED BUSINESSES AS THEY WERE, UH, LOOKING AT DATA, HEALTH DATA AND HOW THE, THE, THE INITIAL REOPENING WORKED.
UH, IT IS NOT ALL INCLUSIVE OF ALL THOSE BUSINESSES THAT REMAIN CLOSED.
I'LL USE A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE.
UH, BIG VENUES LIKE THE ALAMO DOMES, SPORTS VENUES, THOSE ARE NOT ON THIS LIST, BUT THEY ARE NOT, THEY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF NON-ESSENTIAL.
SO THEY REMAIN CLOSED, UH, FACE COVERINGS, UM, IN THE, IN THE, UH, MAYOR'S ORDER AND THE, AND THE, UH, JUDGE'S ORDER, THEY REMAIN A REQUIREMENT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE A REQUIREMENT IF YOU'RE GOING OUT AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN A ACTIVITY OR IN AN AREA WHERE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT OR IT'LL BE VERY CHALLENGING TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND AGAIN, WE USE THE EXAMPLE OF GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.
UH, AND THAT REMAINS A REQUIREMENT.
UH, ALTHOUGH WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, THAT WE WILL NOT BE ISSUING ANY CIVIL OR PENALTY, UH, CITATIONS FOR PEOPLE NOT, UH, COMPLYING WITH THAT FACIAL COVERING REQUIREMENT.
AGAIN, THAT'S MAKES IT CONSISTENT WITH, WITH, WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
UH, A THING I'LL MENTION ABOUT GYMS, UH, THAT'S IT, THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
HE WANTED THAT TO REMAIN CLOSED.
UH, WE DO, I DO WANNA EMPHASIZE THOUGH THAT OUR, OUR PARKS REMAIN OPEN, UH, FOR, UH, ACTIVITY AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
UH, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY, AGAIN, THE, UH, GOVERNOR MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, PEOPLE ENGAGING IN SPORTS, IT'S LIMITED TO FOUR PEOPLE.
UH, SO THAT WOULD BE A FOURSOME, THAT WOULD BE FOUR PEOPLE PLAYING CATCH.
UH, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE, THOUGH, UH, SPORTS ACTIVITY THAT NECESSARILY ENTAILS PHYSICAL CONTACT, LIKE A TWO ON TWO BASKETBALL GAME.
UH, ALL RECREATIONAL AREAS WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, LIKE OUTDOOR EXERCISE, EQUIPMENT, BASKETBALL COURTS, PLAY AREAS, THOSE REMAIN CLOSED.
UH, THE, UH, RESTRICTIONS AND DIRECTION IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE HANDLING NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE HEALTH FACILITIES, THOUGH, ARE, THOSE ARE A DIRECT CARRYOVER FROM THE LAST ORDER.
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IT DOES ALSO MAINTAIN THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL C OVID 19 TESTED BE REPORTING RE BE REPORTED TO METRO HEALTH.IT ALSO SUPPORTS THE, UH, BEXAR COUNTY ORDER ON EVICTIONS, WHICH THE JUDGE IN HIS ORDER HAS EXTENDED NOW TO MAY 18TH.
UH, WE DID ADD A PROVISION THAT ALERTS THE COMMUNITY, UH, TO A LOT OF C OVID 19 ANTIBODY TESTING THAT IS BEING MARKETED OUT THERE.
UH, WE'RE ADVISING THE COMMUNITY THAT IF THEY ARE CONSIDERING SUCH A TEST, UH, THAT THEY, UH, BE FULLY INFORMED OF WHAT THE TESTING ENTAILS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD ONLY BE TAKING TESTS THAT ARE F D A APPROVED.
ALL OTHER, UH, ELEMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS ORDER REMAIN IN PLACE, INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AGAIN, THE ONLY ENFORCEMENT, UH, RESTRICTION THAT WE NOW HAVE IS WE CANNOT ISSUE ANY CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUIREMENT ON THE FACE COVERINGS.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, JUST, UH, UH, AN UPDATE ON, ON ONE ISSUE AND TO KIND OF FORECAST NEXT THURSDAY'S CONVERSATION.
UM, SO THE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT THE CITY RECEIVED, UM, CITIES AND URBAN COUNTIES IN THIS COUNTRY RECEIVED DIRECT ALLOCATIONS THROUGH THE CARESS ACT.
AND THE, UH, THE CITY WAS ONE OF SIX, UH, CITIES HERE IN TEXAS THAT, UH, RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDING, UH, FOR CORONAVIRUS EXPENSES THAT WERE NOT BUDGETED PREVENTION AND, UH, AND, AND, UH, RELIEF EFFORTS.
SO IT WAS $270 MILLION THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS ALLOCATED.
UM, IN TOTAL, THE CARES ACT, UH, PROVIDED 150 BILLION TO STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL, UH, GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
NOW, THE FUNDS, UH, ARE, ARE LIMITED TO EXPENSES NOT PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED, AND CANNOT BE USED TO FILL BUDGETARY GAPS DUE TO REVENUE LOSSES.
AND THERE'S BEEN A, A LOT OF DISCUSSION, IF YOU'VE SEEN ON THE NEWS ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, AS WE, UH, PREVIOUSLY HAVE REPORTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PROJECTED REVENUE LOSS, GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE NOW, UH, ACROSS ALL OUR FUNDS, IT TOTAL IS ABOUT 180, $190 MILLION.
NOW, PART OF THAT IS INCLUDED, UH, THE AIRPORT IS INCLUDED IN THERE, AND THERE'S SOME DIRECT FUNDING, UH, FOR THE AIRPORT.
SO, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY ABOUT $160 MILLION IN REVENUE LOSSES JUST IN F Y 2020, UH, IN OUR CURRENT PROJECTIONS.
AND WE DO EXPECT, UM, AS WE'VE MENTIONED, UM, MAJOR, UH, FINANCIAL CHALLENGES IN FISCAL YEAR 21.
UH, WE HAVE, ALONG WITH OTHER TEXAS CITIES, THE, THE OTHER FIVE CITIES, HOUSTON, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, AUSTIN, AND EL PASO HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER.
UM, UM, AND WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH THE COUNCIL, UM, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, UH, AND ADVOCATE FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE SPENDING OF THESE FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE THE IMPACT, UH, TO, UM, OUR BUDGET AND, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE, THE RHETORIC THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, DC OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO HAS BEEN POTENTIALLY FUTURE, UH, CARESS ACT, UH, LEGISLATION.
UM, AND, UM, I SUSPECT THAT, UM, THERE WILL BE A PUSH FROM MUNICIPALITIES AND STATES AND COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT MONEY FOR REVENUE LOSS.
THE, THE CARESS ACT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE CONGRESS SPECIFICALLY SAYS, UH, IT CANNOT BE FOR REVENUE LOSS, BUT I SUSPECT THAT'LL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE, UH, FOR EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY.
NEXT THURSDAY AT OUR UPDATE, UH, WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE COUNCIL A, A FRAMEWORK FOR THE U THE USE OF THESE FUNDS.
UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE BEEN ON A NUMBER OF CALLS WITH THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH, UH, A LOT OF OTHER BIG CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, UH, ATTEMPTING TO GET GUIDANCE FOR, UH, WHAT THAT, WHAT THESE FUNDS CAN BE UTILIZED FOR.
UH, A PORTION OF THESE FUNDS, UH, ARE, UH, NEED TO BE USED TO RECOVER COSTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY INCURRED AS A CITY ORGANIZATION, AND THAT WE, THAT WE, UH, INTEND THAT, THAT WE, UH, WILL CONTINUE TO INCUR, UM, TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF, OF COVID 19 AND SOME OF THE LOCAL ISSUES.
AND, AND DAWN TALKED ABOUT, UH, SEVERAL OF 'EM IN HER PRESENTATION, WHETHER THAT'S TESTING OR CONTACT TRACING OR P P E FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, POLICE AND FIRE.
UM, THE OBVIOUS, THE OBVIOUS THINGS ARE THE PAYROLL AS THE, THE PERSONNEL RELATED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THE RESPONSE.
NOT ONLY WHAT WE'VE SPENT, BUT WHAT WE INTEND ON SPENDING OR WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF, UH, UNTIL DECEMBER 30TH, 2020.
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THAT MONEY IS ONLY GOOD UNTIL UNDER THE CURRENT LEGISLATION DECEMBER 30TH, 2020.UH, THE FUNDS AND SOME OF THE GUIDANCE WE'RE GETTING, UH, CAN ALSO BE USED TO RESPOND TO WHAT IS CALLED, UH, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SECOND ORDER EFFECTS OF THE EMERGENCY, SUCH AS PROVIDING, UH, ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS DUE TO C OVID 19 RELATED, UH, BUSINESS CLOSURES AND, AND IMPACTS.
UH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET, UH, UH, INQUIRE ABOUT ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE, UH, ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND, AND I THINK AS PART OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE'LL PRESENT TO COUNCIL NEXT WEEK, UM, UTILIZING BOTH WHAT THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM, UH, RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL THIS WEEK AND, AND ANTICIPATING WHAT THE ECONOMIC TRANSITION TEAM WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL NEXT TUESDAY, UM, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE SET A FRAMEWORK TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL ABOUT, UM, ENSURING THAT WE'VE GOT, UH, MONEY TO PROTECT, UH, THE ORGANIZATION, THE SERVICES, BOTH IN 20, BOTH IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND FISCAL YEAR 2021, AND, UM, WHAT FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE OR, OR, OR, UH, UH, FUNCTIONS THAT WE CAN FUND, BOTH FROM A SMALL BUSINESS STANDPOINT, UH, AND A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT, AND I WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT I INTEND ON BRINGING THAT FRAMEWORK TO BEGIN THAT CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL AND GET SOME INPUT, UH, NEXT THURSDAY.
UH, WITH THAT, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR.
EMERICK FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA.
UM, I THINK IT'S A SECOND SLIDE.
YOU NOTED SOME PROGRESS INDICATORS, UH, NOTING THE ABILITY TO PERFORM TESTS IN ALL SYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE, THEIR CLOSE CONTACTS, AND THEN, UM, PUBLIC FACING, UM, INDIVIDUALS PREVIOUSLY, I UNDERSTOOD THAT CLOSE CONTACTS OF A POSITIVE PERSON WERE DEEMED OR ASSUMED TO BE POSITIVE AS WELL.
DID WE CHANGE THE CRITERIA OR, UM, ARE WE, ARE WE NOW TESTING EVERYONE WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD? IF THERE'S A PERSON THAT COMES UP POSITIVE? YEAH.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS THOSE THAT ARE POSITIVE, WHO HAVE CLOSE CONTACTS AT HOME, UM, IF THEY HAVE, UM, SYMPTOMS. AND, UM, AND AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE CONTACT TRACING AND DOING THAT INTERVIEWING, WE'LL DECIDE ON WHETHER WE FEEL LIKE THERE IS A MEDICAL NEED FOR THEM TO GET TESTED.
UM, OTHERWISE, UM, WE, WE WOULD JUST, UM, ASK THEM TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES AND PRESUME THAT THEY ARE POSITIVE.
IF THEY LINE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT WARRANT US, UM, TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR MEDICAL PLAN WITH THEIR PHYSICIAN, UM, THEN WE WOULD ASK THEM TO GO AHEAD AND GET TESTED.
SO HOW, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN HOW, HOW DOES THIS SHOW PROGRESS TOWARDS REOPENING? IT'S ACTUALLY, CAN YOU PULL MY SLIDE BACK UP? I THINK IT'S A SECOND SLIDE.
I THINK IT'S THAT ONE, IT, THIS ONE, THE NEXT ONE.
SO THOSE WERE THE OVERALL INDICATORS FROM THE HEALTH TRANSITION PLAN.
AND SO THE QUESTION, SO THE QUESTION IS AGAIN, REMIND ME, PLEASE.
UM, SO ON HERE, ON THE RIGHT SIDE, I THINK THE, THE SECOND ONE DOWN, YES.
YOU, YOU NOTE THE ABILITY TO PERFORM TESTS.
AND WHAT, WHAT I WAS SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN IS YOU NOTING THEIR CLOSE CONTACTS.
UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU EX EXPLAINED THAT WE DIDN'T CHANGE OUR CRITERIA.
WE'RE WE'RE NOW TESTING PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR CLOSE CONTEXT WHO HAVE A SECOND AN UNDERLYING CONDITION.
IS THAT RIGHT? WE DO RECOMMEND THAT, YES.
SO IN, SO LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THAT INDICATOR MEANS, FIRST OF ALL.
THAT INDICATOR IS REALLY ABOUT MEASURING OUR CAPACITY TO DO THAT.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ASKING ABOUT THE TESTING PER SE, IT'S ABOUT, REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE SHORT SUPPLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY ABOUT ASKING THAT QUESTION.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY, HOW MANY TESTS ARE WE ABLE TO PROVIDE? NOT HOW MANY CAN WE DO, BUT HOW MANY CAN WE ACTUALLY DO A DAY? SO THAT'S THE CAPACITY OF IT.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD THE CAPACITY UP TO 3000 A DAY, RIGHT? SO THAT, SO THAT'S THE MEASURE OF THAT PARTICULAR INDICATOR.
IT'S NOT THE NUMBER OF TESTS THAT WE DO.
IT'S HOW MANY CAN WE DO A DAY AND WE WANNA GET TO THAT POINT OF 3000 A DAY, WHICH IS REALLY ABOUT THAT SUPPLY PIECE AGAIN.
AND THEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DISCUSSED, UM, IN TERMS OF ACTIVITIES IS WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE CAPACITY.
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SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT INDICATOR FIRST, AND THEN FOCUSING ON YOUR CLOSE CONTACT QUESTION.UM, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS A POSITIVE PERSON, AND WE DO THE CONTACT INVESTIGATION WITH THAT PERSON, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD, THAT POSITIVE PERSON, THE KNOWN POSITIVE PERSON, WE'LL BE ISOLATED WITHIN THEIR HOME.
IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO BE ISOLATED IN THEIR HOME, THEN WE HAVE THOSE ISOLATION FACILITIES THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THEM TO GO.
AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD HELP ALSO SECURE AND MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THERE'S NOT LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE HOME.
UM, THE CONTACT TRACING STEP WOULD THEN TAKE PLACE WITH THOSE THAT WERE IN THE HOME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PROXIMITY AND THEIR DURATION OF CONTACT WAS WITH THAT POSITIVE PERSON, IF THERE ARE.
AND, AND THEN WE WOULD ASK THEM TO ALSO QUARANTINE, UM, AND ISOLATE WITHIN THE HOME AND WATCH THEIR SYMPTOMS IF THEY'RE ASYMPTOMATIC.
I'M GETTING INTO THE WEEDS, BUT IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.
UM, AND SO, AND IN EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
OUR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS WITH M I H WILL ALSO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE ARE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A HIGH RISK FACTOR, THEN WE WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET TESTED OR OUR M I H PERSON WOULD SWAB ON THE SCENE.
SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING, IT'S, UH, IT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE NUMBER OF TESTS.
WE'RE DOING THE NUANCES PER DAY.
WE WANT TO GET TO 3000 TESTS PER DAY, AND THAT'S GONNA SHOW US THAT WE CAN START TO REOPEN.
AND, UM, I GUESS THE, WHERE THE DISCONNECT FOR ME IS, HOW DOES THAT SHOW THAT WE'RE READY TO REOPEN, THAT WE CAN PERFORM MORE TESTS? HOW, HOW DOES THAT SHOW THAT IT'S TIME TO, TO START? IT'S ONE INDICATOR.
SO REMEMBER THERE ARE FOUR INDICATORS THAT ARE THERE.
SO HOW DOES A SPECIFIC ONE SHOW THAT SPECIFIC ONE IS WHEN WE GET TO THAT 3000 MARK, THAT MEANS THAT IF WE START, WE CAN OPEN UP.
AND ONCE WE START GRADUALLY OPENING UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME POSITIVES.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TESTS TO BE ABLE TO START TESTING THE ASYMPTOMATIC, I MEAN THE SYMPTOMATICS THAT START TO OCCUR IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IF WE DON'T HAVE CAPACITY TO TEST AND WE'RE SEEING RATES GO UP, THEN WE'RE IN A BAD SPOT.
SO EVERYTHING'S REALLY ABOUT FRONT LOADING.
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TESTS ON HAND.
IF WE DO, THEN THAT HELPS US INFORM HOW WE CAN PHASE IN PHASE IN OPENING COMMUNITY.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON 'CAUSE MY SHOT CLOCK'S RUNNING DOWN, BUT, UM, I HAVE A
UM, WE'VE, I'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, EMAILS FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ITEM ONE AI OF THE SIXTH DECLARATION REGARDING FACE COVERINGS.
WILL YOU EXPLAIN, UH, CLARIFY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, OR THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE ORDER WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE TODAY AND THEN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER? UH, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
UH, COUNCILMAN, I, I COULD DO THAT.
UH, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT INDIVIDUALS, WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR HOUSEHOLD AND ARE GOING TO PLACES IN WHICH IT'LL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SOCIAL DISTANCES THAT THEY WEAR, A FACE COVERING THAT COVERS THEIR NOSE AND MOUTH.
UH, OUR ORDER DOES, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, ALTHOUGH IN OUR PREVIOUS ORDER, UH, IT WA WE COULD USE OUR ENFORCEMENT TOOLS TO ENFORCE THAT.
UH, BEING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER MANDATED, WHICH IS LOCAL ENTITIES CANNOT ISSUE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
UH, THAT PART WE MODIFIED IN THE NEW ORDER, AND SO WE CANNOT DO THAT, BUT IT STILL REMAINS A REQUIREMENT.
UM, ONE MORE QUESTION FOR MARIA.
HOW ARE WE DOING ON KEEPING MASK, GLOVES, HAND SANITIZERS FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS? ARE WE FULLY STOCKED, ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR THEM? UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, MANY CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING, UH, PROTECTIVE PERSONAL EQUIPMENT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AS OF TODAY, WITH THE ORDERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRICKLING IN, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT STOCK FOR MASKS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR TWO MONTHS OR 60 DAYS.
UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL ORDERS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING, AND OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN VENDORS THAT CAN'T US WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES.
UM, SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING MORE COMING IN, IN, IN THE NEXT, UH, WEEK OR SO.
UH, SO WE CONTINUE TO BE VERY ACTIVE DOING THAT.
IN TERMS OF HAND SANITIZER, WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY THAT WE GOT, UH, SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, UH, WITHIN THE CITY WHO DONATED, UH, INVENTORY PLUS WHAT WE PURCHASED.
SO WE'RE GOOD FOR SIX MONTHS, UM, FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
FOR THOSE THAT CAN MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE, WE HAVE, UH, PROVIDED CLOTH, UH, MASKS AND, UH, IN SOME DISPOSABLE MASKS, UM, UH, TO THE
[02:20:01]
TUNE OF ABOUT 3000 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE STILL COMING INTO WORK AND, AND NEED THE, THE PROTECTION.UM, SEEING NO CONTRADICTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, I SUPPORT US MOVING FORWARD CAUTIOUSLY I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE CURRENT DECLARATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE DECLARATION.
UH, DID YOU WA WAS THE DATE IN THE RECOMMENDATION, ANDY, OR DO WE NEED TO VERBALIZE THE DATE? THE DATE WASN'T THE RECOMMENDATION, MAYOR AND I WANT, IT'S MAY 8TH.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I GET THE 18TH.
OKAY, SO THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR EXTENSION TO MAY 19TH.
MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER BER COURAGE.
UH, DAWN, I'VE, I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO GOVE WITH YOU.
COULD YOU TELL ME HOW MANY, UH, COVID VIRUS TESTS WERE CONDUCTED FROM ALL TESTING ENTITIES IN SAN ANTONIO? YESTERDAY? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I'M SAYING, I'M LOOKING AT, OUR GRAPH IS OVER 20,000.
NO, I MEAN, JUST DURING THE DAY YESTERDAY.
WE, WE ARE AVERAGING 1600 TESTS A DAY.
UM, BUT, UH, IS THAT FROM ALL OF THE ENTITIES? AND FOR HOW LONG HAS THAT AVERAGE BEEN IN EFFECT? YEAH.
SO BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY, THE CAPABILITY OF DOING 1600, ARE WE ACTUALLY HITTING THAT NUMBER EVERY DAY? UM, SORRY.
I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION.
SO ABOUT 1,250 TESTS A DAY ARE BEING DONE.
WHAT WAS THE HIGH TESTING DURING THIS WHOLE VIRUS? THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE DID, UM, I'D HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT.
AND IT'S SPORADIC BECAUSE WE KNOW I COULD, I COULD SAY THAT THE SOUTHEAST NURSING HOME SITUATION, WE COULD HAVE SEEN A SPIKE BECAUSE THAT WAS, UH, GOING IN AND DOING A LOT OF TESTING AT ONE TIME WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE AN OUTBREAK.
UM, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT SPECIFIC NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
YOU ARE SAYING NO, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 1,250.
ARE WE TESTING ANY ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE? UM, WE ARE NOW DOING SOME INITIAL UNIVERSAL SCREENING AGAIN AT SOME OF OUR HIGH RISK NURSING HOMES.
SO WE'RE NOT MAKING THAT AS A GENERAL, UM, YOU KNOW, TEST ALL GENERAL POPULATION OF ASYMPTOMATIC, BUT IT IS FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MONITORING ISOLATED OUTBREAKS CURRENTLY.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TESTING, WE WERE HAVING RESULTS WHERE ABOUT 10 OUT OF EVERY 100 OR ABOUT 10% WERE SHOWING POSITIVE MM-HMM.
AND NOW I THINK IT'S DOWN TO ABOUT SEVEN.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT UNDER 7% OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TESTED.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS? CORRECT.
AND WHAT, WHAT IS THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE ARE RUNNING INTO THAT KEEP US FROM DOING MORE TESTING? IS IT JUST THERE AREN'T THAT MANY SICK PEOPLE COMING FORWARD? IT'S SUPPLY, FIRST OF ALL.
SO IT'S SUPPLY THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
UM, IN PREPARATION FOR THE HEALTH TRANSITION PLAN, WE DID OUR, UM, SUPPLY INVENTORY OF BOTH LABS AND THE ACTUAL TESTING SUPPLY.
AND, UM, WE WEREN'T GOING TO SEE ANY, WE WEREN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO INCREASE ANYTHING IN OUR CONTRACTS UNTIL MID-MAY.
THE VENDORS WERE SAYING THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPLIES AND THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SCALE UP UNTIL MID-MAY.
NOW, UH, THERE'S DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND IS IT THE COMPONENT OF THE LAB SIDE? AFTER WE TEST AND WE TAKE IT TO THE LAB AND THEY HAVE TO EVALUATE IT, UH, THERE, IT'S ON THEIR SIDE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT'S CALLED WHAT REACTING THE REAGENTS.
BUT THAT'S BEEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND SOMETIMES NOW WE'RE SEEING A SHORTAGE IN SUPPLY, I MEAN, IN THE SWABS.
SO IT'S BEEN DIFFERENT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, THE LAST RELEASE HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDED US ANY OF THOSE SUPPLIES, THOSE REAGENTS.
UM, THE REAGENTS COME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
SO WE GET, I'M SORRY, WE GET OUR SUPPLY AT THE METRO LAB.
WE GET THAT THROUGH C D C ORDER.
UM, BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR LAB, THEY GET THAT THEY GENERATE THOSE REAGENTS AND THE MATERIALS TO CREATE THE REAGENTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER.
SO WE WERE GETTING THE TESTS THAT WE COULD GIVE OUT, BUT WE HAD NOT,
[02:25:01]
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, DIDN'T GIVE US ANY OF THE REAGENTS.IT WAS THROUGH PRIVATE LABS THAT WENT OUT AND GOT IT THEMSELVES.
SO EVEN FREEMAN, OUR FREEMAN SITUATION WAS SPONSORED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE HAD A PRIVATE SECTOR LAB THAT WAS PROCESSING ALL OF OUR SPECIMENS, AND THAT WAS QUEST DIAGNOSTICS.
UM, I NOTICED THAT WE WANT TO, WE HAVE RECENTLY EXPANDED TESTING SITES, AND YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THEM FURTHER.
I NOTED THERE ARE NO TESTING SITES OUTSIDE LOOP FOUR 10.
UH, WILL THERE BE EXPANSION OF TESTING SITES OUTSIDE OF FOUR 10 INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY? YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND ALL OF THE DATA.
WE HAVE A PROVIDER SURVEY THAT'S GOING OUT AS WELL AS A CONSUMER SURVEY GOING OUT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ACCESS POINTS ARE.
UM, YOU MENTIONED ON SLIDE 17, UH, THE TERM IMOCA, WHAT IS THAT AGAIN? IT'S A HEALTH TECHNOLOGY VENDOR, UM, THAT, UM, PROVIDES, UM, AN APPLICATION ON A PERSON'S PHONE SO THAT THEY CAN DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION AND INPUT ALL OF THEIR, UM, SYMPTOMS, UM, INTO THEIR PHONE.
AND THEN THAT INFORMATION COMES TO US.
SO IT ELIMINATES, I SHOULDN'T SAY ELIMINATE, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE AND REDIRECT THOSE RESOURCES INTO AREAS OF DEFICIT.
IF FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, WE WANT THEM TO USE THAT SO WE CAN TAKE OUR HUMAN RESOURCES AND REDIRECT THEM.
I, I'VE HEARD THAT IN HOUSTON, THEY HAVE 15 MINUTE TESTS AVAILABLE AND, UH, THEY'RE THROUGH DRUG STORES AND MAYBE THROUGH OTHER RESOURCES.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE 15 MINUTE TESTS AVAILABLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? YEAH, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT IN OUR TESTING TASK FORCE.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONALS OF LABS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCS, UM, UH, SEROLOGISTS.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT ARE ON THAT TESTING TASK FORCE.
AND WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR TESTING OPTIONS AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T WANNA TEST JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TESTING.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EFFECTIVE AND THAT IT'S APPROVED BY THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE.
UM, RIGHT NOW, THE P C R TESTS THAT WE'RE USING, UM, IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR ALL OF OUR TESTS.
SO WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
THERE ARE SOME VENDORS ON THE MARKET THAT ARE DOING WHAT'S CALLED RAPID TESTS.
UM, BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD.
SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT VERY GOOD.
THE ONES THAT ARE VERY GOOD, OF COURSE, THEY'RE ON A BACKLOG.
UM, AND SO IT'S HARD TO GET THEM INTO THE MARKET.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS.
WE'RE IN FACT, WE'RE EVEN OFF LOOKING AT SELF, UM, SELF SWABBING TESTS SO THAT WE CAN DECREASE THE USE OF PPES.
IF SOMEBODY CAN SWAB THEMSELVES AND SEND THAT AWAY, BOY, THAT REALLY HELPS DECREASE THE EXPOSURE TO OUR, TO OUR FRONTLINE STAFF AS WELL.
DO THEY JUST STICK THAT IN A PLASTIC BAG? OR IS THERE SOME KIND OF SOLUTION THAT NEEDS TO BE IN TRANSFER TO WHAT? YEAH, IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE WOULD HAVE IN OUR REGULAR P C R, BUT THEY'RE JUST IN A DIFF THEY'RE A DIFFERENT ELEMENT, BUT IT'S ANOTHER OPTION.
UH, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL VERY, UM, CONCERNED AND I'M GLAD THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS.
UH, I'M GLAD THAT THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT WITH, UH, HIS RECOMMENDATIONS SAID, DON'T RESTRICT US AS A COMMUNITY FROM TRYING TO EMPLOY MORE IMPORTANT ONES HERE.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IS THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS OUT THERE.
AND IF WE'VE BEEN TESTING PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK AND GETTING A 7%, UH, A RATING OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE VIRUS, IF WE MULTIPLY THAT TIMES THE WHOLE CITY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 140,000 PEOPLE WHO COULD BE WALKING AROUND WITH THE VIRUS TODAY.
AND IF WE DON'T TEST MORE PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEN HOW ARE WE TO KNOW HOW SAFE, YOU KNOW, SHOULD I FEEL I'M 69 YEARS OLD TO GO TO H E B OR HOME DEPOT OR MY PHARMACY, IF THERE'S 140,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY WALKING AROUND WHO COULD BE CONTAGIOUS SPREADING THIS VIRUS, AND I DON'T KNOW.
AND THE SAME, I'M SURE IT CAN BE SAID OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, YET WHAT YOU ARE SHOWING IS THAT YOU'RE REALLY NOT GONNA BE GEARED TO TELL US THAT UNTIL SOMETIME IN JUNE.
UH, AND THAT'S TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.
AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO OPEN BUSINESSES.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE BECOME MORE MOBILE.
I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOVING FAST ENOUGH.
AND I, I THINK THAT MAYOR, YOU AND, UH, AND THE COUNTY JUDGE AND US AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO BE PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE US MORE OF WHAT WE NEED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, THEY'RE HELPLESS IN PROTECTING THEMSELVES.
[02:30:01]
CAN STAY HOME, THEY CAN WEAR A MASK, BUT IF THEY'VE GOTTA GO TO THE STORE, IF THEY'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING ELSE, IF THEY DECIDE BECAUSE THEY'RE HEARING FROM THE GOVERNOR OR READ INTO OUR DECLARATIONS, THAT IT'S A LITTLE SAFER TO GO OUT AND DO THINGS, THEY ARE AT RISK WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE RISKS ARE.SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, AND I UNDERSTAND THE EXPLANATION YOU'VE MADE, AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, THE HEALTH TRANSITION GROUP, AND I HOPE THAT THAT GIVES GOOD INSIGHT INTO THE BUSINESS TRANSITION GROUP SO THAT WE DON'T MOVE TOO FAR TOO FAST.
BUT WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE GENERAL SPREAD IS OF THIS, I'M AFRAID WE'RE WALKING AROUND BLINDFOLDED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT CONTINUING.
AND I HOPE WE CAN DO MORE ABOUT IT MORE QUICKLY.
SO LET ME START WITH A, A QUESTION FOR ANDY.
UH, SO WE KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GYM OWNERS COME AND MOST OF THE GYM OWNERS ARE ALSO CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINERS MM-HMM.
SO IF, IF A CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER TOOK FOUR PEOPLE OUT TO ONE OF OUR TRAILS AND DID A TIME TRIAL, SO THAT MEANS YOU RUN IN 32ND INTERVALS, IS THAT ALLOWED? IF, IF A, UH, I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
SO IF A CERTIFIED TRAINER TOOK FOUR PEOPLE OUT AND THEY SOCIAL DISTANCED BY, BY, UH, TIME SPACING OUT THE PEOPLE, UH, IT WOULD THAT BE ALLOWED, UH, UNDER THE CURRENT
IF FOUR PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE RUNNING AND THERE'S DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM, YES.
THAT'S AN EXCEPTION UNDER, I MEAN, THAT'S ALLOWED UNDER THE ORDER.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION BECAUSE I, I, THAT WAS ALSO I THINK, THE POINT THAT ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN WAS MAKING THIS MORNING.
IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE GYM, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.
AND YOU'RE NOT IN THE PARK, YOU'RE NOT USING THE EQUIPMENT, YOU'RE JUST DOING, UH, EVEN A ZUMBA CLASS, BUT YOU'RE FOUR PEOPLE APART.
OR RATHER YOU'RE SIX FEET APART, BUT THERE'S FOUR PEOPLE.
AGAIN, I'M GLAD YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTION, COUNCILMAN.
'CAUSE WHAT WHAT'S CLEAR IS THAT GYMS NEED TO REMAIN CLOSED.
UM, WHAT WHAT WE'RE TELLING, UH, PEOPLE THAT ASK QUESTIONS LIKE THAT IS YOU CAN'T TAKE A ACTIVITY AND THEN ONE ACTIVITY THAT MAY BE ALLOWED UNDER THE ORDER, AND THAT THEN BOOTSTRAP THAT TO MEAN THAT YOU CAN BE OPEN COMPLETELY OR BE OPEN MORE.
THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED UNDER THE ORDER.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE RUNNING, THEN MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT IS ALLOWED, WHAT'S NOT ALLOWED IS THAT BEING THEN A PRECURSOR TO GYM, A PARTICULAR GYM BEING OPEN.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY'VE ASKED.
UM, SO LET ME JUST, UH, UH, THEN MOVE ON TO SOME OF THE TESTING.
SO, UH, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, REGARDING THE TESTING, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S REALLY WHAT EVERYBODY'S ASKING ABOUT.
THAT, THAT ONE OF THE WAYS WE WOULD RAMP UP THE TESTING IS THAT NOW THAT SOME OF THE HOSPITALS ARE OPEN FOR, UM, NON-ESSENTIAL.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, A CATARACT SURGERY THAT IS DONE IN A HOSPITAL, OR AT LEAST IN A CLINIC THAT'S, IT'S A, UH, SCHEDULED SURGERY.
IT'S NOT USUALLY AN EMERGENCY, BUT IS IMPORTANT.
RIGHT? SO THE PEOPLE GOING IN FOR A CATARACT SURGERY OR FOR, UM, I DON'T KNOW A VASECTOMY COMES TO MIND OR 'CAUSE THEY'RE ALL SORT OF DONE IN THE SAME PLACE.
SO WE'RE THINKING OF DURING C O D
PROCEDURES ARE INSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL.
UH, DONE OFF OFTEN MULTIPLE, UM, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER.
SO I KNOW WHEN I HAD CATARACT SURGERY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE ABOUT 30 OTHER PEOPLE GETTING CATARACT SURGERY THAT DAY.
EVERY ONE OF THEM WOULD BE TESTED FOR THE, UM, FOR COVID.
SO THAT'S A HOSPITAL POLICY THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS HERE LOCALLY ARE CONSIDERING DOING SO THAT THEY CAN AGAIN, UM, MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS, IF THEY'RE OPENING UP THESE PROCEDURES, THEY WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS THAT ARE MORE, THAT THE, THAT, BECAUSE THE QUANTITY OF FOLKS COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL WILL INCREASE.
THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THAT THEY'RE TESTING EVERYONE AHEAD OF TIME.
AND SO THAT MIGHT BE WHERE WE GET THE INCREASE IN TESTING, BECAUSE I, I'M STILL NOT UNDER, AND THIS IS ANOTHER CONFUSION, I THINK CONFLICTING INFORMATION.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE REPORT FROM YESTERDAY, THE ONE THAT ERIC SENDS, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE BEFORE THERE'S A BIG PUBLIC RELEASE, I, I SHOW 330 PEOPLE TESTED.
UM, BUT YOU JUST, WHEN COUNCILMAN COURAGE ASKED, YOU SAID YOU HAD 1200 PEOPLE TESTED A DAY, ROUGHLY, SO THAT OUR INFORMATION SHOWS 330.
[02:35:01]
IS THAT ONLY IN APPROVED SITES OR THAT THAT CHART IS, UH, THAT I SAID AT THE END OF DAY, UM, IS THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE TESTED AT THE FREEMAN CENTER ONLY.AND THE NUMBER THAT DAWN, UH, ANSWERED A SECOND AGO WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE WOULD ENCOMPASS THAT NUMBER PLUS, UH, TEXAS MED CLINICS OR DOCTOR'S OFFICES OR HOSPITALS, KIND OF THE TOTAL COMMUNITY NUMBER.
I, AND, AND, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE ADJUSTING HOW WE'RE REPORTING THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, TO YOU GUYS, BUT THAT'S JUST THE FREEMAN NUMBER.
SO I THINK I HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL THIS TIME THAT WHY WAS IT, WHY DID IT SEEM LIKE THERE WERE SO FEW PEOPLE BEING TESTED? YEAH, I COULD SEE THAT.
UM, BUT SO THAT'S NOT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING TESTED.
THERE'S ACTUALLY, IT'S, IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
AND SO, AGAIN, WE HAVE THAT NUMBER BECAUSE OF THE, WE GET ALL THE LAB RESULTS FROM EVERY TEST THAT OCCURS IN BAYER COUNTY.
THAT'S HOW WE ARE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT THE DAILY TESTS ARE.
THE REASON WHY WE REPORT OUT ON THAT IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE CITY CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE TO RUN THAT, THAT DRIVE THROUGH.
SO WE ANTICIPATE SCALING UP THE TESTING.
UH, BUT, BUT YOU DID GIVE SOME EXAMPLES HERE OF, UM, UH, IN, IN YOUR SLIDE ABOUT, UM, LIKE SOME PILOTS THAT YOU WOULD DO IN MM-HMM.
YOU MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THE L G B T COMMUNITY.
SO CAN YOU JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE? SURE.
SO THE MOBILE UNITS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WE WERE LOOKING AT CONVERTING OUR S T D MOBILE UNIT, UM MM-HMM.
SO WE COULD, UM, UH, IF WE PARTNER WITH A LOCAL HEALTHCARE FACILITY, THEY WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO GIVE US THEIR SUPPLY OF THEIR TEST, OR WE COULD USE OUR OWN SPECIMEN THROUGH THE METRO HEALTH LAB, AND WE COULD GO INTO A COMMUNITY PARK, OUR VAN IN, IN ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES, SET UP SORT OF A TENT, IF YOU WILL.
AND PEOPLE COULD, UM, WE COULD MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DO OUR MARKETING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY COULD WALK UP AND ACTUALLY GET TESTED THERE, UM, TO BRING, TO BRING THE TEST TO THE COMMUNITY VERSUS ASKING THEM TO GO TO ANOTHER ONE.
SO, UM, AND THEN IN THE BACK OF THE, UM, OF THE SLIDE, IT TALKS ABOUT HOW WE, THE NUMBER OF TESTS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO SORT OF GET INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT'S ONE, THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
ANOTHER, UM, ONE WOULD LET, LET ME JUST ASK SURE.
SO, UH, WOULD IT BE ONLY PEOPLE AGAIN THAT HAD SYMPTOMS OR WERE YOU TRYING TO GET A SAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY? SO, UM, I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE VERY HIGH RATES IN THE OH SEVEN ZIP CODE WHERE I LIVE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE TEXAS DIABETES HOSPITAL WHERE I LIVE MM-HMM.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD LOCATION, NO QUESTION THAT WE WOULD BRING IN PEOPLE, BUT THEY STILL WOULD HAVE TO BE SYMPTOMATIC.
OR COULD IT BE, BECAUSE THAT'S ALREADY A MEDICAL FACILITY, PEOPLE ARE COMING, ARE COMING IN.
ALSO, PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN JUST FOR THEIR REGULAR VISITS, NOT A HOSPITAL VISIT, BUT JUST A REGULAR VISIT FOR THEIR, UH, UH, INSULIN TESTING OR VISIT WITH A DOCTOR.
THEY'RE NOT BEING TESTED UNLESS THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS. SO THERE'S, OKAY.
SO THERE'S MULTIPLE APPROACHES.
METRO HEALTH IS NOT DOING, WE, WE DON'T DO ALL THE TESTS.
THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND THE COMMUNITY THAT DO IT.
SO HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS ARE DOING IT.
UM, IF IF THERE'S A HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT, UM, YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM TESTED, THAT'S THEIR POLICY, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT AS A PART OF A POLICY.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE THEIR DECISION IN THEIR HEALTHCARE FACILITY, WHETHER THEY WANT TO TEST PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO THEIR FACILITY.
AND HOW CAN WE, WHAT WOULD BE THE, SO THAT'S PART OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS MM-HMM.
UM, SO THAT'S IN THE DISTRICT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO YEAH.
THAT, SO OUR TESTING TASK FORCE, I THAT MM-HMM.
HAS A LOT OF THOSE REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THAT TASK FORCE.
AND THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE, UM, UH, POLICIES THAT WE COULD RECOMMEND AND THEN ASK, UM, IF THEY'RE DOING IT.
AND THEN THOSE NUMBERS WILL COME TO US BECAUSE WE GET THE LAB RESULTS SO WE'LL KNOW.
AND SO I GUESS I JUST, I, I, UM, I AGREE, OF COURSE, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THE TESTING, UH, AND THAT THERE SOME INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE TARGETED, UH, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE WE'VE HAD A, A HIGH NUMBER.
UM, BUT I ALSO, UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS, WE'RE STILL NOT QUITE GETTING THERE.
UH, AND WHICH IS THE PART WHERE I THINK EVERYBODY'S CONCERNED ABOUT, BECAUSE EVEN IF I KNOW THAT I, I HAVE ALWAYS BRAGGED THAT I HAVE NEVER MISSED A DAY OF WORK DUE TO ILLNESS.
UH, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DIDN'T COME TO WORK SICK A LOT OF TIMES.
UH, AND SO THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START TO REALLY LOWER THAT THRESHOLD.
I MEAN, I, I, AND I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE WHEN I, I SAY THAT, UM,
[02:40:01]
I'VE NEVER MISSED A DAY OF WORK, BUT I'VE OFTEN COME SICK.SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SYMPTOM, AND THEN HOW, YOU KNOW, AND, AND UNLESS YOU'RE TARGETING A PARTICULAR AREA, LIKE PERHAPS IF SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AS WE OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY THAT LIVES, UH, WITHIN TWO MILES FROM THE DIABETES HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF LOCATION AND BECAUSE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC, BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE SYMPTOMS. SO OUR PLAN IS NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA TEST ASYMPTOMATIC.
WHAT WE WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL WITH IS IF WE ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN SUPPLY OF TESTS, BUT WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP OUR TESTS TO TEST EVERYONE, THEN WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPLIES TO ACTUALLY VERIFY THE DIAGNOSTIC OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE IT.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO DO THE STUDY FIRST.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW THE PREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVING THAT STUDY OF A RANDOMIZED SELECTION, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT WILL GIVE US IT.
AND WE CAN DO THAT QUICKLY AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PREVALENCE IS SO THAT WE CAN USE A STUDY AND RESEARCH TO GUIDE OUR DECISION INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, HEY, LET'S JUST OPEN UP EVERYTHING.
I, I, I JUST AM NERVOUS THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY TO GO AND, AND ADDRESS A BREAKOUT IN A NURSING HOME OR THE JAIL IF WE ARE INDEED OPENING ALL THESE TESTS UP TO SOMETHING THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PREVALENCE IS.
AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO, UM, TAKE THIS APPROACH, A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO DO A STUDY.
ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THE PREVALENCE IS, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO THEN REDIRECT OUR STRATEGY BASED ON THAT.
WE JUST WANNA HAVE THE SCIENCE TO BACK THAT.
MOVING NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN.
UM, I WANNA SHIFT TO FIRST ABOUT THE ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING.
AND, AND THANK YOU DON AND EVERYONE FOR DOING ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
BECAUSE I MEAN, WE JUST HAD SOMEBODY WHO CAME UP AND SPOKE AND SAID THEY WERE AT A MASS GATHERING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THEN THEY'RE HERE AND THEN THEY SNEEZED.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE, UM, NO QUESTION THAT TESTING ON SLIDE NUMBER NINE, YOU HAVE EXPAND CONTACT TRACING TO 1 75.
AND WE HAVE 70 VOLUNTEERS ALREADY TRAINED IF WE NEED TO ACTIVATE THEM.
AND THEN YES, OF COURSE, WITH YOUR ADDITIONAL SITES, I WOULD ADVOCATE TO CONTINUE TO PUT SOME ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE FOUR PLUS THE, THE, UM, ADDITIONAL TEXAS MED.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO RAMP UP MORE IN THAT PART OF, OF THE AREA.
IT'S MUCH BETTER THAN THE GOVERNOR'S REPORT BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT BACKED UP THAT WAY.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I DID WANT TO JUST HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION OF THE PRO OF THE, UM, PROGRESS INDICATOR WHERE IT SAYS THE DOUBLING TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT EXAMPLE.
UM, BUT AS WE CAN, AS WE OPEN, AS BUSINESS ARE GONNA START OPENING, AND THERE IS GONNA BE THAT BUMP, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WHAT WE CAN STILL DO IS THEN TELL, IT MAY BE AN INCREASE IN CASES, BUT WE'RE STILL GONNA JUST MONITOR FROM POPULATION THE NUMBER OF TESTS.
AND IF THERE IS A TRUE DOUBLING, NO QUESTION.
SO THAT'LL BE, THAT'S PART OF WHAT METRO HEALTH HAS BEEN DOING FROM THE BEGINNING.
BUT THE, BUT THE WARNING TRIGGER IS IF WE ARE AT 2.5 WEEKS NOW, AND, AND BEFORE WHEN THINGS WERE REALLY BAD AND WE WERE AT A DOUBLING TIME OF THREE DAYS MM-HMM.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS WILL WANNA WATCH THAT, UM, CLOSE ENOUGH TO WHERE WE DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT GETS TO THREE DAYS DOUBLING.
LIKE, WE DON'T WANNA GO THAT FAR.
WE, SO WE WANNA REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THAT THRESHOLD IS.
IF IT STARTS TO DIP BELOW 2.2 AND A HALF WEEKS, THEN WE'RE GONNA REALLY START MONITORING VERY CLOSELY.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.
AND THE NEXT, UM, ANDY, UH, SO LET, LET ME GO BACK TO THE, UH, WELL, FIRST I DO WANNA THANK OUR CHAIRMAN, UH, OUR CO-CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS, AND REPRESENTATIVE TREY MARTINEZ FISHER, BECAUSE YESTERDAY WE HAD A GOOD, UH, BRIEFING WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO GO OVER THE GOVERNOR'S REPORT.
AND THEY WERE REALLY APPRECIATIVE
[02:45:01]
OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.AND WE DID ADVOCATE, UH, TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND THEY FELT, UH, VERY CONNECTED THAT WAY.
AND THEN, UM, ANDY, TO THE POINT OF THE COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ REGARDING THE GYMS, AND I THINK TO THE INDIVIDUAL RIGHT THERE WHO WAS HERE EARLIER, HE DID MENTION, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'LL DO THEIR WORKOUTS OUTSIDE OF HIS FACILITY, NOT INSIDE, BUT THAT WOULD STILL BE AGAINST THE, THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S, UM, THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
COUNCILMAN, AGAIN, WHAT, WHAT ACTIVITY THAT'S ALLOWED FOR INDIVIDUALS.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY I HIGHLIGHTED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUTSIDE ENGAGED IN ACTIVITY MM-HMM.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION THAT BEING, YOU KNOW, REMOTE CLASSES THAT ARE DONE, UH, THROUGH, UH, VIDEO.
AND THEN, UM, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL OF THESE SUPPLIES THAT OUR GOVERNOR'S GOING TO BE SENDING US WHEN IT COMES TO THE TESTING AND TO THE, UH, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS WELL.
ANDY, I DO HAVE ONE MORE, UH, QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE WHAT I'M SEEING, WHAT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF CALLS IN OUR, UM, OFFICE IS ABOUT, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING SCAMMED, EITHER, UH, THEY'RE GETTING CALLS TO SAY, OH, DO YOU WANNA COME AND GET YOUR, UH, WE'RE GONNA COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND DO A C OVID 19 TEST.
UM, OH, YOUR STIMULUS, UH, CHECK IS TRYING TO GET THROUGH TO DIRECT DEPOSIT.
UM, BUT WE NEED YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
IF PEOPLE GET THESE CALLS, WHO SHOULD THEY GO TO? WHERE SHOULD THEY, UH, REPORT THAT THE SCAM? WELL, FIRST THEY SHOULD REPORT THAT, UH, TO SS A P D.
AND WE CAN ALSO WORK WITH THE, UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MAYBE TO SET UP A DIFFERENT MECHANISM.
'CAUSE WE DO WANT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY, AND PARTICULARLY THE DA'S OFFICE, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A LOT OF SCAMS GOING OUT THERE.
AND SO WE'LL LOOK AND, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORKING WITH THE DA'S OFFICE TO INCREASE THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AND PROVIDE AN EASY AVENUE FOR PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE INSTANCES WHERE THEY ARE BEING SCAMMED.
ONE QUESTION, UH, OF CLARIFICATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, DAWN, IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS OR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SAND DEVAL, WHEN WE SAY CONTACT LESS PAYMENT, CONTACT LESS PAYMENT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IN THE H T T REPORT, IT SAID RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PHASING AND THE BUSINESSES.
WHEN THEY'RE SAYING CONTACTLESS PAYMENT, DOES THAT MEAN, UH, I, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR DIRECTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS.
DOES IT MEAN NO CASH? DOES IT MEAN WHAT COUNCIL, WHAT? OH, GO AHEAD, JOHN.
I MEAN, I THINK, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, HAVE YOU EVER PAID, LIKE, UM, WITH COURSE YOUR PHONE OR YOU, YOU, UH, WITH PROXIMITY CHIP IN YOUR CARD MM-HMM.
SO NO CASH, IT'S LIKE APPLE PAY OR CORRECT.
IF YOU'VE GOT A CREDIT CARD ON YOUR PHONE, BUT NOT EVERY RETAIL HAS RIGHT.
NOT EVERY SMALL BUSINESS CAN DO THAT.
NOT EVERY, SOME HAVE IT, SOME DON'T.
BUT THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION FROM H T T THAT IT WOULD BE CONTACTLESS.
AND THEN, UM, UH, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
I DO JUST WANNA GIVE ONE, UH, CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE OF, UH, MISS DIANA URIEGAS REMINDED ME.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE SENIORS FROM PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL WHO ARE GRADUATING THIS YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT CROSSING THE STAGE.
AND IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MARISA GONZALEZ.
UH, HER DAD IS AN SS A P D OFFICER, AND I WANT TO WISH HER CONGRATULATIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK AT, UH, JEFF COYLE'S MASK, UM,
UM, AS FAR AS THE, UM, THE P P E THAT'S TRICKLING IN, I, I THINK, MARIA, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE N 95 MASKS AND THE MASKS THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS NEED IN ORDER TO STAY SAFE.
UM, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, DETAIL TO, TO KEEP IN MIND.
UH, AND THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DID GET $270 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THANKS TO SALLY VATOS WORK, AND ERIC'S WORK AND JEFF'S WORK AND EVERYBODY ELSE INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDERSTOOD
[02:50:01]
EXACTLY THAT, THE POSITION THAT SAN ANTONIO WAS IN.BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE THING RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT WE COULD REALLY USE IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S UNDERSTANDING AND FLEXIBILITY AS FAR AS OUR NEED TO USE THAT MONEY AND, UH, ALLOT IT WHEREVER IT IS THAT WE DEEM IS APPROPRIATE FOR SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO, UM, I'M, I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME, AND WHEN WE SPEAK TO OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AND, UM, FOLKS IN DC THAT Y'ALL REMIND THEM THAT THAT'S ONE AREA THAT WE NEED SOME HELP IN.
UM, THE OTHER THING I I WANNA POINT OUT IS THAT, UM, Y'ALL SAW THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE YESTERDAY, HEADLINE, FRONT PAGE ABOVE THE FOLD, YOU KNOW, THE CITY AND THE STATE CLASH.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE WAY THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THIS, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CLASH.
UM, YESTERDAY WE HAD A VERY, VERY POSITIVE PHONE CALL WITH THE ENTIRETY OF THE SAN ANTONIO DELEGATION IN AUSTIN.
UH, WE HAD SENATORS, WE HAD STATE REPRESENTATIVES THERE.
UM, THERE WAS UNANIMITY AS FAR AS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THEY'RE AGREEING THAT WE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT WE'VE HANDLED THINGS PROFESSIONALLY AND APPROPRIATELY, AND THAT WE'VE BALANCED ALL IN ALL INTERESTS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, DELIVERING SERVICES, AND ALSO CHASING, YOU KNOW, THOSE RECOVERY FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN, UH, SENATOR CAMPBELL, UH, DR.
CAMPBELL SPOKE UP AND, YOU KNOW, UM, WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN HER PRAISE, AND THAT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
UM, AND WE HAVE, UH, A $200 MILLION REVENUE LOSS.
AND SO, UM, I, I THINK EVERYBODY IS KEENLY AWARE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE STATE AND, UH, LEVEL THAT A $200 MILLION REVENUE LOSS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, I ASKED MARIA VIA GOMEZ, UH, TO JUST GIMME SOME ROUGH NUMBERS AS TO WHAT $200 MILLION WOULD, UH, BE USED FOR IF WE HADN'T LOST THAT REVENUE, UM, IF WE SPENT $200 MILLION ON POLICE.
THAT'S, ERIC, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT'S 2000 POLICE OFFICERS.
IS THAT RIGHT? ROUGHLY? YES, SIR.
AND IF WE SPENT $200 MILLION JUST ON SIDEWALKS, THAT'S 3.6 MILLION, ROUGHLY 3.6 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SIDEWALKS, NEW SIDEWALKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BUILD.
UM, AND SO THIS IS REAL MONEY WITH VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES.
AND YOU'VE GOT A CITY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF HEROES, IN MY OPINION, WHO WORK, UM, BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO EVERYBODY.
UM, NOW I, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, ALL, AND BY WE, I MEAN, ALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, UH, VOLUNTEERING.
UH, I KNOW I'VE SEEN A LOT OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, SWEATING AND ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES, AND THE MAYOR DID TOO.
UH, WE'VE SEEN, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF YOU DO COLLECTIONS AND DRIVES FOR DONATIONS OF NOT JUST MONEY, BUT FOOD FOR THE FOOD BANK AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CLOTHES FOR THE SHELTERS AND ALL THAT.
UM, AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, UH, ALL BEEN WORKING ON ANSWERING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, CONSTITUENT PHONE CALLS, UM, FROM FAMILIES, FROM VULNERABLE PEOPLE FROM SMALL BUSINESSES, RENTERS AND LANDLORDS, TRYING TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT IN SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WITH THEM WHAT BENEFITS THEY'RE ENTITLED TO FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL THAT.
UM, SO ALL, AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, UM, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING NOT JUST ON ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING NONSTOP WITH SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS AND, UM, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, EVERYBODY'S DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND SO, UM, I CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, EMERGENCY ORDERS AND THE SACRIFICE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS IS MAKING BY STAYING HOME AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER, UH, WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND HEALTHCARE PARTNERS.
I CHALLENGE ANYBODY TO DEBATE, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S WORKED.
AND WE SAW DON EMRICH SLIDES TODAY, AND, UH, I THINK THEY WERE EXCELLENT DOC.
UM, AND THE, THE ONLY, UH, TAKEAWAY FROM THAT IS THAT IT'S WORKING, UM, AND THAT IT'S LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK, OBVIOUSLY, SO LONG AS ALL OF US CONTINUE TO WORK HARD ON, YOU KNOW, HONORING THE SPIRIT OF THESE EMERGENCY ORDERS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND THERE'S ALSO NO DEBATE THAT HAD WE NOT TAKEN TAKING THESE STEPS, THERE'D BE MORE SAN ANTONIONS TODAY PLANNING THE FUNERALS OF THEIR LOVED ONES.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY POWERFUL.
AND, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, THIS IS WHAT I DEDICATE MY TIME TO WHEN WE SPEAK, UH, AT THE DIOCESE, IS TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHERE WE WOULD BE IF NOT FOR
[02:55:01]
A LOT OF THESE EFFORTS.UM, BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT ALSO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT DOESN'T WORK TO FLATTEN THE CURVE OR TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IS WHEN I SEE GROWN MEN IN SOLDIER COSTUMES MARCHING AROUND THE ALAMO, UH, STANDING IN VERY, VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER, CROWING WORDS LIKE TYRANNY AND SILLINESS LIKE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THAT DOESN'T HELP IT, IT ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING.
UM, AND QUITE HONESTLY, THE, THE VIRUS DOESN'T CARE WHAT COSTUME YOU'RE WEARING, WHETHER IT'S A TEXAS FLAG COSTUME OR A POTENTIAL SOLDIER COSTUME OR, UH, WHAT YOUR SIGN SAYS.
UM, THE VIRUS ONLY CARES THAT YOU'RE STANDING NEXT TO ANOTHER PERSON.
AND WE'VE EVEN SEEN PROTESTORS DIE FROM THE COVID, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, VIRUS.
AND SO, I, I, IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO FATHOM WHY ANYBODY THINKS THAT THOSE ARE, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GO OUT AND GATHER IN LARGE PLACES AND SCREAM AND YELL AND STAND NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
UH, MAYOR, I DO WANNA, UH, TAKE MY TIME, THE REMAINING TIME TO POINT OUT, UM, THE, UH, THAT THERE ARE SOME HEROES THOUGH, UM, WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND SO, JASON DADY AND FROST BANK GOT TOGETHER, UH, AND DELIVERED 80 MEALS TO, UH, THE PRU ROAD SUBSTATION, UM, AND A LOT OF S A P D OFFICERS ON THE NIGHT SHIFT GOT TO GO OUT ON THE NIGHT SHIFT AND KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE, UH, WITH FULL BELLIES, THANK YOU TO THEM.
AND, UM, BARBECUING, UH, PARTNERED UP WITH MY OFFICE TO DELIVER A LOT OF FOOD, UH, TO OUR FRIENDS OVER AT THE VA.
UM, AND SO, UH, ALSO OUR FRIENDS OVER AT, UH, SONS OF LIBERTY GUN WORKS, UM, YOU KNOW, HELPED OUT AND HAVE BEEN DELIVERING FOOD TO SUBSTATIONS.
AND THANK YOU TO MIKE MAHOKY FOR THAT.
UM, THAT'S HELPING, THAT'S IMPORTANT WORK.
SO MY PROPOSAL, UM, FOR THIS COUNCIL IS, I HOPE YOU ALL JOIN ME SOMETIME IN THIS NEXT WEEK, UM, TO LOOK AT, UM, RESTAURANT DELIVERY FEES.
UM, I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM RESTAURANTS ALL DAY LONG, UH, THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE ADOPTED, UM, AS PART OF THEIR EMERGENCY ORDERS, CAPS ON THE FEES THAT, UH, GRUBHUB AND DOORDASH AND OTHER DELIVERY SERVICES CHARGE TO RESTAURANTS, UH, TO DELIVER FOOD TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THESE FEES CAN BE AS HIGH AS 30% SOMETIMES MAKING IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR RESTAURANTS, UH, DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME, UH, TO MAKE A SINGLE BUCK.
AND TO ADD TO THAT, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING IN CASH TO DO THIS, THEY'RE PAYING WITH CREDIT CARDS, WOULD TAKE, WHICH TAKE EVEN MORE FEES.
AND SO, MAYOR, UH, AND COUNCIL, I HOPE THAT, UM, Y'ALL WILL HELP ME TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND, UM, ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF, UH, ISSUING SOME SORT OF CAP ON ON THOSE FEES.
UH, THAT MAYOR, UH, I'LL SEE THE REST OF MY TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER PAL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS IN RELATION TO SLIDE SIX ON DR.
EMMERICH'S PRESENTATION, AND DR.
EMMERICH, HELP ME UNDERSTAND, THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE NOTICED THIS.
UH, AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE NOTICED IT, AND YOU HAD IT BEFORE, BUT YOU REFERENCED PRESYMPTOMATIC.
UH, I HAD ONLY SEEN ASYMPTOMATIC AND SYMPTOMATIC, UM, AGAIN, APOLOGIES IF I MISSED IT, BUT CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT PRESYMPTOMATIC MEANS ON SLIDE SIX? YEAH, I'M GONNA NEED TO PROBABLY GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.
UM, I THOUGHT I HAD LOOKED THROUGH EVERYTHING.
THE OTHER ITEM IS SPECIFICALLY IN RELATION TO, UM, YOU MENTIONED A RANDOM HOUSEHOLD TESTING OF 385 HOUSEHOLDS.
CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE? I, I, I DON'T, I COULDN'T FIND THE SLIDE OR I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THERE WASN'T A SLIDE, BUT CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND HOW THOSE 385 HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE, UM, SELECTED? SO WE DO NOT HAVE THE STUDY DESIGN CREATED YET.
SO WE'RE MEETING WITH ALL OF OUR RESEARCH PARTNERS TOMORROW.
ONCE WE DO THAT, WE KNOW THAT THE 3 85 IS BASED ON A CALCULATION OF THE RANDOM SELECTION.
CURIAN PULLED THAT UP SO SHE KNOWS THAT RANDOM NUMBER, UM, FOR US TO DO.
AND THEN WE ARE MEETING WITH U T S A U H S AND M I H TO ALL THESE ACRONYMS, THE ALPHABET SOUP.
SO WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER THE, UM, HYPOTHESIS AND THE STUDY DESIGN AND, UM, THEN ALSO SUBMIT THE I R B.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT THE I R B TO, UM, U T S A.
YOU ARE JUST MAKING ME SO HAPPY SAYING ALL OF THESE, BY THE WAY.
AND SO, UM, I'M NERDING OUT OVER HERE.
UH, QUESTION IN RELATION TO THAT.
WE HAD, UM, COUNCILMAN ELIAS LAST WEEK SENT, UM, US HE WAS VERY NICE TO FIND THIS FOR US.
IT WAS, UM, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
[03:00:01]
HAD SET FORTH SOME, UM, ETHICAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN PANDEMICS IN GENERAL.AND SO, UM, ONE OF THOSE WAS, UM, THE HALLMARKS, IF YOU WILL, OF A RESPONSE TO PANDEMICS.
AND SO, UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THOSE AREAS WERE, UH, PAYING, UH, PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WHICH I THINK THAT YOU ADDRESSED TODAY IN YOUR, UM, IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU ALSO ADDRESSED, UH, OR, OR, OR WHAT I, WHAT I THINK THAT IS ADDRESSED IN THAT DOCUMENT THAT I DON'T SEE ADDRESSED, BUT THAT I SEE YOU ALL DOING, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THAT LAST QUESTION'S RESPONSE IS THE IMMEDIACY FOR RAPID, UM, INFORMATION SHARING AND DATA SHARING.
SO AS PEOPLE ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION, UM, THAT, THAT WE CONTINUE TO SHARE OUT.
AND SO, UM, YOU MENTIONED TOMORROW YOU ALL WILL BE MEETING WITH SOME OF THESE RESEARCH, UM, AGENCIES.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU ALL SHARE INFORMATION? I'M ASSUMING SOME OF IT GOES ON A DAILY BASIS, SOME OF THEM'S AUTOMATED.
UM, BUT HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE EXPERTS COMING TOGETHER AND JUST KIND OF BRAINSTORMING AND TALKING ABOUT NEXT STEPS? HMM.
SO THE TESTING TASK FORCE IS WHAT I THINK OF WHAT, HOW YOU JUST DESCRIBED THAT.
WE MEET, UM, EVERY WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING AT NINE O'CLOCK FOR AN HOUR.
UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SUBGROUPS THAT WILL BREAK OFF.
SO IF WE HAVE A REAL HOT TOPIC THAT COMES UP IN OUR WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY MORNINGS, WE WILL THEN SOLICIT RIGHT THERE ON THE CALL THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A SUBGROUP WHERE WE WILL THEN HAVE A, A SMALLER GROUP OF EXPERTS THAT WILL HELP, UM, HAVE A DISCUSSION AND A DIALOGUE AROUND, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATING THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THAT JUST HAPPENED WITH OUR ANTIBODY TESTING, UM, UH, POSITION PAPER.
SO WE HAVE AN EDUCATION POSITION, UM, AN EDUCATION FLYER THAT WE JUST CREATED, AS WELL AS A HEALTH ADVISORY STATEMENT AND HEALTH AND, UM, AND METRO HEALTH USED THE EXPERTS OF THIS TASK FORCE TO HELP US DEVELOP THAT SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES AND SOME DIALOGUE, SOME BACK AND FORTH, AS WELL AS EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH TO MAKE OUR POLICIES.
SO, UM, FOLLOW UP TO THAT QUESTION.
AND SO THIS MORNING I'VE LEARNED THAT, UM, THE, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO, UH, BLOOD AND TISSUE, UH, CENTER HAS RECEIVED ITS 100TH UNIT OF PLASMA AS OF TODAY.
THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 20 SOMETHING DONORS AND GENERAL, UM, WHO IS KEEPING UP WITH THAT? OR, OR WHAT, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THOSE PLASMA DONATIONS ARE, OR IF THEY'RE BEING USED BY HOSPITALS OR, OR WHERE THOSE 100 UNITS ARE.
UM, WHERE HAS MAYBE, UM, A RECOVERY BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO PLASMA? LIKE WHO'S KEEPING UP WITH THAT AND WHO'S GOING TO REPORT OUT AND WHERE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTH TEST, UM, TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER.
THEY'RE THE MAIN ENTITY THAT'S DOING A LOT OF THE PLASMA, UM, WORK.
SO WE'RE DOING, UM, REFERRAL, SO ANY OF OUR POSITIVES THAT ARE RECOVERED, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT NUMBER INCREASE EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IS GREAT.
UM, WE ENGAGE THOSE POSITIVES UNTIL RECOVERY.
AND ONCE THEY MEET THAT RECOVERY CRITERIA, WE THEN ENCOURAGE THEM TO ACTUALLY CONTACT THE BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER TO DO A DONATION.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THAT, ONCE THEY CONTACT THEM, WE DON'T DO THAT FOLLOW UP.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE THAT OFFER AND WE WANNA FOCUS BACK ON CONTACT TRACING.
UM, AND SO IT, SO WE ARE NOT DOING, WE DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UM, GOING AND DOING THE PLASMA, BUT WE KNOW WE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF THE REC OR THE REFERRALS THAT WE ARE, UM, ASKING THEM TO DONATE ISRA OR ANY OTHER ENTITY, MAYBE KEEPING TRACK OF HOW THAT, UM, PLASMA IS BEING USED AND IF IT'S WORKING OR NOT WORKING.
I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANYONE THAT'S DEDICATED TO DO THAT.
I CAN CERTAINLY ASK, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS A LOT AROUND THE PLASMA DONATION, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EVER COMES UP.
I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE, UM, TO PREPARE FOR WAVE TWO, WHICH IS MY NEXT QUESTION.
AND WHAT IS OUR PLAN FOR WAVE TWO? WHO'S WORKING ON IT? UM, WHAT ARE THE BENCHMARKS THAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING WAVE TWO OR, OR OTHER CITIES PERHAPS? SO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ECHO, SO I'M TRYING, CAN YOU TRY ONE MORE TIME? I'M SORRY.
UM, WHAT IS OUR PLAN FOR WAVE TWO WHO'S WORKING ON WAVE TWO, UH, OR PREPPING REALLY FOR WAVE TWO OF COVID? AND WHAT COUNTRIES ARE WE, UM, OUT THERE LOOKING AT THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED EXPERIENCING WAVE TWOS OR EVEN CITIES? YEAH, SO I'LL ANSWER THE FIRST PIECE AND WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THESE INDICATORS.
SO AS WE, AND THEN ALL THE FRONT LOADING THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR CAPACITY OF WHETHER IT'S
[03:05:01]
GETTING THE 175 CONTACT TRACERS AS WELL AS OUR CAPACITY TO TEST, WE'RE FRONT LOADING THAT SO THAT WE CAN BE READY, IF INDEED, UM, WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE WAVE IS GONNA COME, WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW BAD IT'S GONNA BE.NOW IF WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH FLATTENING THE CURVE AND BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT, UM, THEN WE KNOW THAT WHEN THAT WAVE COMES, WE KNOW KIND OF WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
SO I THINK WE ARE PREPARED FOR THAT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THOSE INDICATORS THAT ARE NOW BEING DISPLAYED, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON, ON THE HORIZON AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE WATCHING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE WATCHING? I'D HAVE TO ASK MY EPIDEMIOLOGIST THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO, UM, EVERY DAY, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE EXACTLY WHO THEY WERE LOOKING AT.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WATCHING OTHER CITIES WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
SO, UM, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY, BUT I CAN FIND THAT OUT FOR YOU.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, UH, IT'S SPECIFICALLY REGARDING, AND, AND I KNOW WE, UH, DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW WE ARE HELPING SPECIFICALLY WITH, UM, THE JAIL FOLKS.
UH, AND, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE EMPLOYEES SPECIFICALLY THAT ARE IN AND OUT.
UH, AND SO MIGHT HAVE HAD CONTEXT, UH, I'M ASSUMING WE'RE TREATING THEM THE SAME WAY.
THERE'S CONTRACT TRACING, UM, THERE'S INCREASED LEVELS.
I KNOW THAT IN YOUR, UM, UH, PRESENTATION YOU REFERENCED 175 WOULD BE AN IDEAL NUMBER TO GET TO, TO HELP, TO CONTACT, UH, CONTACT TRACING.
UM, BUT ARE WE MAKING SURE WE HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT, AGAIN, ARE GOING IN AND OUT THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED POSITIVE, UM, OUT OF THE JAIL? YES, WE ARE ACTUALLY, AND WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH U H SS.
AS YOU KNOW, U H S IS THE MEDICAL PROVIDER FOR THE JAIL.
AND SO THEY ARE THE LEAD ON, UM, ON THAT TESTING WORK WITH THE JAIL.
BUT WE ARE VERY CLOSE PARTNERS WITH THEM.
UM, WE JUST HAD A MEETING WE CHECK IN EVERY OTHER DAY, UM, WITH, WITH OUR FOLKS, OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE WORKING WITH U H S TO REALLY KEEP A CLOSE MONITOR OF THAT.
UM, OUR, THE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, M I H GROUP HAVE BEEN AT THE JAIL ALMOST DAILY.
NOT ONLY SWABBING THE WORKERS, BUT ALSO INMATES AS WELL.
AND ON MY TIMELINE, ON THE, UM, ONE OF OUR TARGETED AREAS, AS YOU KNOW, FOR UNIVERSAL TESTING IS THE INMATES.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING A HEALTH JUSTICE LENS ON THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT WAS ALSO REFERENCED IN THE DOCUMENT THAT, UM, THAT COUNCILMAN PALAI HAS SHARED.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
EMERICK, UH, BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, UM, YOU, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT, UH, FURTHER STUDIES, UM, TRAINING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TRACING, UH, EXPANDING ALL THOSE SERVICES.
HOW, HOW DO YOU ENVISION THOSE BEING FUNDED? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT'S, WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM FOR ALL OF THAT? YEAH, SO WE HAVE OUR GRANT, OUR REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS THAT WE ARE GETTING BACK FROM C D C.
UM, AND SO OUR BUDGETS ARE REFLECTING OF THAT.
SO WE KNEW, WE KNEW AHEAD OF TIME A WHILE BACK WHEN THOSE GRANTS WERE COMING IN FOR US TO DEVELOP OUR BUDGET, WHICH ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED.
WE KIND OF KNEW WE, WE WERE ANTICIPATING WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THAT.
SO THE STUDY AND THE, AND THE TESTING, THE RAMPING OF THE TESTING AND THE STAFF ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU AT THIS POINT.
UM, ANDY GOT SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, SO THIS NEW DECREE IS TOTALLY IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S DECREE.
WELL, WHEN YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN, WHEN YOU SAY TOTALLY IN LINE, UH, IT, IT DOES, IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S.
UH, THERE'S CERTAIN GAPS IN THE GOVERNORS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE, THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T TALK ABOUT, UH, THE C OVID 19 ANTIBODY TESTING.
UM, AND IT'S ALIGNED WITH THE, UH, GOVERNORS THOUGH OTHER ORDER REQUIREMENTS.
BUT AS FAR AS THE MEAT OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS IN HIS DOCUMENT OPEN TEXAS, WE'RE, WE'RE IN LINE WITH ABSOLUTELY.
IN FACT, WE MAKE REFERENCE, UH, COUNCILMAN TO HIS OPEN TEXAS, UH, PUBLICATION, THE STATE PUBLICATION, AND WE FOLLOW, AGAIN, THE SAME MODEL THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS IN TERMS OF THE FRAMEWORK I OUTLINED BEFORE.
SO YES, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
UM, THE, THE AREA THAT I'M, THAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HERE IS ABOUT THE FACE COVERINGS.
[03:10:01]
FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S THING THAT, UM, A CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PENALTY WILL NOT BE IMPOSED ON PERSONS WHO DO NOT WEAR A CLOTH FACE COVERING, BUT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THEIR NEIGHBORS AS THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES FOR ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD.AND THEN I LOOK AT THE, UM, UM, HIS COMMENTS ON THIS, THAT, I'LL JUST READ THIS.
THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER SHALL SUPERSEDE ANY CONFLICTING ORDER ISSUED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS IN RESPONSE TO THE C OVID 19 DISASTER.
BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH A LOCAL ORDER RESTRICTS ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR REOPEN SERVICES ALLOWED BY THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWS GATHERINGS PROHIBITED BY THE EXECUTIVE, OR ORDER OR EXPANDS A LIST OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR THE LIST OF SCOPE OR SCOPE OF REOPEN SERVICES.
IT SETS AS SET FORTH IN THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, I HEREBY SUSPEND SECTIONS FOUR 18 POINT 10 15 B AND FOUR 18.108 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 81 SUBCHAPTER E OF THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT STATUTES TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL OFFICIALS DO NOT IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS INCONSISTENT WITH THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER PROVIDED THAT LOCAL OFFICIALS MAY ENFORCE THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, AS WELL AS LOCAL RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER.
SO I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THIS AS COMMON SENSE.
I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THIS SAYING HE SUSPENDED THESE SECTIONS OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE FOR TEXAS, AND HE HAS COME OUT WITH HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT SUPERSEDES EVERYTHING FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES, AND IT GIVES THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO, UH, THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THIS CONSISTENT WITH HIS ORDER.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THIS, ARE WE BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY HERE ON SAYING YOU WILL VERSUS YOU SHOULD WEAR FACE MASKS? UH, UH YES.
COUNCILMAN, I'LL TAKE THAT ON.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THE SUPERSEDING LANGUAGE THAT YOU JUST READ DOES NOT, AND I UNDERSCORE, DOES NOT PROHIBIT LOCAL ENTITIES FROM ISSUING EMERGENCY ORDERS.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT SAYS THAT IT'S SUPERSEDED TO THE EXTENT THERE IS A INCONSISTENCY WITH ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND AN INCONSISTENCY WITH REOPENED BUSINESSES.
UH, THE FACE MASK COVERING UNDER THE LOCAL ORDERS, FIRST OF ALL, DOES NOT REALLY DIRECTLY APPLY OR IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO WHAT BUSINESSES ARE OPEN, WHICH BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIAL, WHICH ONES ARE NON-ESSENTIAL.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE THE SUPERSEDING LANGUAGE, OUR ORDER IS NOT, IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT IN TERMS OF ESSENTIAL NON-ESSENTIAL REOPEN BUSINESSES.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE GOVERNOR WAS VERY LOCAL ENTITIES CANNOT, CANNOT ISSUE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR FACE MASK COVERING REQUIREMENTS.
AND AGAIN, IN, IN THE LOCAL ORDER, WE DO THAT.
ONE, ONE LAST THING TO, TO UNDERSCORE WHEN HE SAYS THAT IT, IT, AGAIN, IT REINFORCES THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR ENVISIONED, AND IN, AND THE ORDER ENVISIONS THAT THERE WILL STILL BE LOCAL CITY COUNTY EMERGENCY ORDERS IN PLACE.
I, I'M LOOKING AT SHOULD CONSIDER VERSUS WILL, AND THE LAST STATEMENT PROVIDED THAT LOCAL OFFICIALS MAY ENFORCE THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER AS WELL AS LOCAL RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER.
AND I, I STILL THINK THAT WE'RE OVERSTEPPING THAT BOUNDS ON SAYING IT'S MANDATORY VERSUS YOU SHOULD WEAR IT CONSIDERING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AND, UM, SO YEAH, I, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I READ IN HIS, HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, UM, AND WITH OUR EXECUTIVE ORDERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EARLY ON TALKED ABOUT STAYING IN LINE WITH THE STATE, AND ONE OF 'EM WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF GOLF COURSES WHERE IN OUR, OUR ORDER, WE SAID PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES WILL BE CLOSED.
WHICH ORDER WAS THAT? THAT WAS IN THE, UH, PREVIOUS, THAT
[03:15:01]
WAS IN THE FIFTH DECLARATION COUNCILMAN.AND THEN, UH, REMEMBER THE, THE GOVERNOR, AFTER HE ISSUED HIS STAY AT HOME WORK ORDER, THERE WAS THEN SUBSEQUENT GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE, WHICH WE, UH, FOLLOWED AND ADHERED TO IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR, OUR, OUR ENFORCEMENT OF OUR CURRENT ORDER.
BUT OUR SUBSEQUENT ONLY ADDRESSED PRIVATE COURSES DIDN'T ADDRESS MUNICIPAL COURSES.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I READ IN THE NEWSPAPER, MUNICIPAL COURSES WERE OPENING.
AND I THINK THAT SINCE THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION AND THOSE ORDERS, THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK IN SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA AMEND THIS AND BRING OUR, THIS ORDER IN LINE WITH THE STATE, WHICH INCLUDED INCLUDED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GOLF COURSES.
WHY, WHY DIDN'T THAT HAPPEN? UM, AGAIN, MUNICIPAL AS ACTUALLY THE GOVERNOR MADE CLEAR IN HIS LATEST ORDER, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, MUNICIPAL FACILITIES, IT'S UP TO THE MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP, THE MUNICIPAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN, IN TERMS OF FOLLOWING THEIR PROCESS AND PROCEDURES TO WHETHER THOSE STAY OPEN OR NOT OPEN.
VERY SIMILAR TO ANY OWNER OF A STORE AND THE OWNER OF A GOLF COURSE, THEY CAN ELECT WHETHER THEY WANT TO REOPEN OR NOT.
UM, SO HERE, UNDER OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UNDER, UNDER OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, IT'S THE CITY MANAGER THAT CAN DETERMINE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL IN, UH, IN ADVISING THEM, UH, WHETHER THE CITY, MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES OR REALLY ANY CITY, UH, FACILITY WILL BE OPEN OR NOT.
COUNCILMAN, MAYBE I CAN COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY.
MAYBE I CAN, LET ME ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT QUESTION'S PROBABLY MORE APPROPRIATELY DIRECTED TO ME.
AND LET ME, LET ME GIVE YOU THE RATIONALE THERE.
UM, AS WE ENTERED INTO THE ORDER THAT HAD, UM, THE CLOSURE OF GOLF FACILITIES, UM, BOTH PRIVATE AND, UH, PUBLIC COURSES WERE TREATED THE SAME.
AND WHEN THE GOVERNOR MADE HIS, UH, DETERMINATION THAT, UH, THOSE COURSES COULD OPEN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS BEST AND MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, ALLOW THE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES TO OPEN UP UNDER THE SAME RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDANCE THAT, UH, THE GOVERNOR HAD GIVEN OTHER COURSES SO THAT WE WERE TREATING, UH, BOTH TYPES OF FACILITIES, UH, THE SAME.
I, I, I APPRECIATE THAT ERIC REALLY DO.
BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS A COUNCIL VOTE ON THAT EXTENDING THAT ORDER ON CLOSING MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE GOLF COURSES.
AND I THINK THAT SHOULD HAVE COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL OR ADVISE THE COUNCIL THAT, UH, THIS, THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION AND BROUGHT THAT BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR, UM, INFORMATION OR EVEN POSSIBLY A VOTE TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT PROCEDURES HERE AND KEEPING THE COUNCIL INFORMED AND, AND IN LINE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON INSTEAD OF READING IT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I I'VE TALKED TO YOU MORE ABOUT GOLF OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS C OVID 19 RESPONSE.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK YOU'RE MUTED.
WE'RE STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING YOUR AUDIO COUNCIL MEMBER.
WHY DON'T WE, UM, LET ME MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, AND WE'LL TRY TO WORK OUT THE AUDIO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
IN THE MEANTIME, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, TO THE STAFF FOR, FOR TODAY'S, UH, PRESENTATION.
UM, AND, UH, AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS TIME LIMIT, I HAVE TO TIME IT PROPERLY, RIGHT.
SO I, UH, I CAN GET THROUGH WHAT I WANNA SAY.
UM, UH, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE US AT THIS POINT, UH, AND I, AND I REALLY WANNA THANK THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM FOR HELPING US, UH, ARRIVE AT THIS POINT TO ALL THOSE MEMBERS, UH, INCLUDING OF COURSE, DR.
EMER AND HER TEAM WHO, WHO SERVED ON THAT.
UM, ERIC, THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THE SLIDES THAT DAWN PRESENTED, UH, TODAY, AND I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THEM LAID OUT THIS WAY.
AND I THINK THIS WORK IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, AND BECAUSE OF HOW SERIOUS IT IS, AND, UH, FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY,
[03:20:01]
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DOCUMENT THAT PRESENTS THIS INFORMATION, UM, AND EXPLAINS IT, UM, AND EXPLAINS BASICALLY OUR C OVID 19 RESPONSE ACTIONS GOING FORWARD.IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR TEAM CAN PUT TOGETHER AND BRING TO COUNCIL? YEAH.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN, FRANKLY, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM AND, AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO, UM, UH, LAY OUT BOTH FOR THE COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC, FOR OURSELVES, UH, WE'VE GOT A SEMBLANCE OF A ROADMAP PUT TOGETHER BY, UH, SOME, UH, REAL EXPERTS.
AND, UH, WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO, UH, ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
SO, YES, BY ALL MEANS, THERE'S PROBABLY A COUPLE OTHER PIECES OF THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM REPORT THAT, UH, WEREN'T INCLUDED IN TODAY'S POWERPOINT, BUT THE INTENT IS TO DEVELOP A WRITTEN PLAN, UH, THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU, UH, AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL, UH, UPDATE YOU ON PERIODICALLY, UH, MAKE SURE THE INDICATORS THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO THE PUBLIC ARE CONSISTENT.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THE GRAND PLAN.
WELL, YOU CAN'T SEE ME BECAUSE A, I HAVE A MASK ON AND B, BECAUSE OF OUR, UM, UH, THIS TV IN OUR WAY.
BUT I AM SMILING AT, UH, HEARING YOU SAY THAT, SO THANK YOU.
AND WE UNDERSTAND, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THINGS WILL CHANGE AS WE ACQUIRE MORE INFORMATION, AND IT NEEDS TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AS WELL.
BUT I, I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF LAYING OUT OUR DIRECTION AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO, TO POINT TO.
UM, THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO, TO SEE AS PART OF THE, THE, UM, THE TEXT IN THAT PLAN.
AND I'LL, I'M JUST GONNA LIST THESE OFF FOR A SECOND.
UM, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO, UH, WOULD BE RECOMMENDED FOR, FOR TESTING, LIKE A CONGREGATE SETTING, UH, INDIVIDUALS AND PUBLIC FACING INDIVIDUALS.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY, UH, INDIVIDUALS WE ANTICIPATE TO BE IN THAT CATEGORY, UM, AND HOW THAT RELATES TO THE TESTING NUMBER FOR 3000, UH, INDIVIDUALS.
UM, I'D ALSO, UM, LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS TRACKING, UH, THE P P E FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
IT SEEMS LIKE A, A GARGANTUAN TASK TO DO THAT FOR THE HOSPITALS AS WELL AS THE, THE PROVIDERS.
SO I'D, I'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT THAT.
UH, SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS HOW LONG WILL THE INCIDENT COMMAND BE IN PLACE, UM, AND WHAT ARE THE, THE PLANS FOR, FOR THAT? UM, AND NOW I, I DO HAVE A, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEN, UH, WHEN, WHEN I'M DONE WITH THIS, I WILL ASK, UH, STAFF A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEW ORDER AND, UH, AND HOW THAT'LL GO GOING FORWARD.
BUT I'LL, I'LL STICK WITH THIS SECTION, UH, FOR A MINUTE.
EMMERICH, I WANTED TO ASK, AND, UM, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE TESTING, UM, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT WE'RE ALS AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE INCREASE TESTING, CHANCES ARE WE GET MORE CASES, RIGHT? RIGHT.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR THAT 14 DAY DECLINE AS ONE OF OUR PROGRESS INDICATORS.
SO I'M WONDERING HOW IS THAT TIMING GOING TO WORK OUT, UH, IN BETWEEN PERFECT AND NON AND IMPERFECT? UM, SO I, I, I THINK, AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR TEAM LOOKING.
AND WE ALREADY LOOK AT THE DAILY CASES ALREADY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG IN THE CASES AS WELL AS THE ONSET.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EPI CURVE, THERE'S ALWAYS AN ANTICIPATED LAG, UM, LAG IN THAT.
UM, WHEN WE DO THE CONTACT INVESTIGATIONS, WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE GO BACK AND WE CHANGE THAT.
UM, AND SO I THINK IT'S AN EVERYDAY SITUATION WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE THRESHOLDS, BUT OUR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE A KEEN SITE ON THAT.
UM, AND I CAN, I CAN CERTAINLY TRY TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THE SPECIFICS, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION ACCORDINGLY.
I'D LOVE TO TALK DIRECTLY WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR EPIDEMIOLOGIST, UH, ON THAT.
UM, MY OTHER QUESTION, UH, SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED IF THEY WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER CONTACT TRACER.
UH, WHO DO THEY REACH OUT TO? YEAH, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH DR.
EGR ON THAT, AND SO SHE'S HELPING US WITH, UM, THE RECRUITMENT AND THE TRAINING.
UH, SO IF THEY ARE INTERESTED, WE CAN, THEY CAN CALL OUR HOTLINE MM-HMM.
AND, UM, IT'S THE EASIEST THING TO DO IS JUST TO CALL 3 1 1.
AND THAT 3 1 1 WILL GET TO OUR, TO OUR HOTLINE, TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, UM, THAT TRAINING, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET ON THE LIST.
AND, UM, SORRY, I HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
IN TERMS OF THE ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING.
[03:25:01]
TOO EARLY TO ASK, BUT I GUESS HOW WILL OUR PLANS CHANGE DEPENDING ON THE FINDINGS, WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE FIND A LOW PREVALENCE, AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT A LOW PREVALENCE IS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE DO? AND IF WE FIND A HIGH ONE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE DO? I THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TOMORROW WHEN WE MEET WITH THE RESEARCHERS.WHAT THAT WILL ENTAIL IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND DEEP LITERATURE REVIEW, SO THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE RESEARCH IS ALREADY SAYING.
AND THEN OUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS WILL BE DESIGNED ACCORDINGLY, AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ONCE THAT STUDY IS DONE.
AND THEN JUST ONE MORE ADDITION I'D LIKE TO SEE IN, IN THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU BRING FORWARD IS, UM, YOU REFER TO A LOT OF RESEARCH PARTNERS.
WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT THERE IS SUCH A GREAT RESOURCE POOL TO DRAW FROM.
I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO SEE, UH, WHO'S IDENTIFIED AS A, AS A RESEARCH PARTNER MM-HMM.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND THEN, UH, A COMMENT ABOUT THE IMOCA APP.
UM, HOW WAS THAT ONE SELECTED? HOW WAS THAT SELECTED? YES.
UM, THEY WERE SELECTED BASED ON A WHITE PAPER THAT I READ ABOUT THEIR WORK.
AND, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE ONLY M MHEALTH PLATFORM THAT HAS PIVOTED TO, AT THAT TIME.
THERE'S A LOT MORE NOW, UM, THAT ARE TRYING.
BUT THEY WERE, UM, A PLATFORM THAT HAD ALREADY PIVOTED TO DO C OVID 19, UM, CONTACT TRACING.
THEIR SPECIALTY WAS WITH THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR, AND NO ONE WAS DOING GENERAL PUBLIC AT THE TIME.
AND SO, UM, I WORKED WITH OUR I S D, UM, I S T D, UM, DEPARTMENT.
THEY REACHED OUT AND ASKED IF THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A PILOT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC.
AND SO CRAIG HOPKINS HELPED ME WITH THAT.
SO I IDENTIFIED IT THROUGH A RESEARCH WHITE PAPER, AND THEN WE ASKED THEM WHAT THEIR CAPABILITIES WERE.
AND IT WAS A WHITE PAPER AVAILABLE ONLINE OR WHAT? I CAN FIND IT.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ON YOUR LAST, UH, SECOND TO LAST SLIDE, UM, YOU WERE VERY CLEAR THAT METRO HEALTH WILL NOT DETERMINE THRESHOLDS OF IN TRANSITIONS TO EACH PHASE, UH, BUT THAT YOU WILL BE MONITORING, UH, PROGRESS IN MORNING INDICATORS.
UH, I'M WONDERING, UM, IS WHERE, WHERE ARE WE ON, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING OUR EXTERNAL RESEARCH PARTNERS ASSIST IN THIS? UM, WELL, I THINK IT IS METRO HEALTH'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THE, THE ONES THAT ARE REVIEWING THE, THE INDICATORS.
AND, AND THEN WE CAN SHARE THOSE, WE CAN SHARE WHAT THOSE, WHAT THOSE BENCHMARKS AND WHERE, WHAT THE INTERPRETATION OF THOSE, UM, OF THOSE INDICATORS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT GOES AFTER OUR RECOMMENDATION, I THINK IS LEFT UP TO THIS GROUP.
AND WE CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN OUR, OUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT IS, METRO HEALTH'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MONITOR, IT'S WHAT WE DO WITH EVERY INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
AND COVID DOES NOT CREATE A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, SO YOU'RE MONITORING THE PROGRESS AND THE WARNING INDICATORS THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL, WHEN WE SEE MOVEMENT IN THE THRESHOLD, I MEAN IN THE INDICATORS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, RIGHT? SO WE'RE WATCHING ALL OF THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, AND THEN MAKING RECOMMEND.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE OPERATING UNDER THAT UNIFIED COMMAND.
SO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS GOING THERE, AND WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS AS A UNIFIED COMMAND THAT WON'T STOP.
BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO PHASE TWO.
WE'RE GONNA SAY, HERE'S SOME INFORMATION.
WE'RE GONNA SHARE THAT ON A PERIODIC BASIS.
WE CAN DETERMINE HOW OFTEN WE WANNA SHARE THAT.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THAT, UM, CONVERSATION.
BUT, UM, YEAH, WE WANNA PRESENT THAT AND THEN ALLOW OTHERS TO, UM, DECIDE IF IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'M GONNA SIGN UP FOR A GO BACK.
UM, DID WE GET COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN AUDIO WORKED OUT YET? NOT YET.
WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER TRAVINO.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I'LL START OFF WITH, UH, I'VE BEEN GETTING SOME QUESTIONS, UH, REGARDING SENIORS AND A LOT OF OUR UPDATES.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE, THE CONCERNS THAT, THAT SOME OF THE SENIORS ARE HAVING, THAT THEY'RE, THEY ARE OFTEN, UH, ON FIXED INCOMES AND, UH, ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS KIND OF CHANGE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF, UH, CONCERN AND FEAR WHEN
[03:30:01]
IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE NEW ORDERS.UM, WHAT CAN WE, UH, CAN WE DO TO UPDATE, UH, ON THE RECORD HERE WITH, UH, D H S? UM, WHAT CAN WE, WHAT CAN WE TELL THEM, UH, ABOUT, UH, THE, THE, THE SERVICES AND THE, THE FOOD DISTRIBUTION? CAN WE GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON THAT? SO I CAN GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE? COUNCILMAN? UM, WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EITHER DRIVE THROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY, OR IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THROUGH, WE DO HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
UM, I THINK WHAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TELL SENIORS IS THAT AS LONG AS THEY NEED THAT SERVICE, WE WILL PROVIDE IT FOR THEM.
UM, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING OPENING SENIOR CENTERS UNTIL THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER.
SENIORS ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK.
WE DO NOT WANT THEM CONGREGATING FOR MEALTIME.
SO WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING, WHICH IS EITHER DRIVE-THROUGH MEALS OR MEALS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO SENIORS HOMES.
AND THE, THE SENIOR CENTERS ARE, ARE BEING VERY HELPFUL.
IT'S THAT FROM, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S MANY OTHER SITES THAT, THAT ARE NEEDING HELP BY THE, UM, BY THE, UM, SENIOR CENTERS.
AND, UM, AND SO, UH, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, HOW WE CAN HELP AUGMENT, UH, SOME OF THAT SUPPORT AS PEOPLE ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE WE LOOKING FOR, FOR THOSE GAPS? UM, AS, AS PEOPLE ARE, ARE, ARE, UH, MAYBE CLOSING DOWN CERTAIN SITES? I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE, UM, LOOKING FOR HELP RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
IF WE GET TO THAT POINT, WE WILL CERTAINLY PUT OUT A, UM, A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE WILL REMAIN EXACTLY AS IT IS.
UM, WE'RE USING CITY FACILITIES AND CITY STAFF TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
UM, ALSO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO, IN LIGHT OF, OF, UH, WHAT HAPPENED OVER AT ALMOST CLUB APARTMENTS, UM, OVER THIS LAST WEEK.
UH, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AND ALL THE GREAT FOLKS WORKING OVER THERE.
WE'VE BEEN FIELDING A LOT OF CALLS HERE, UH, IN MY OFFICE, UH, FROM A LOT OF THE, THE TENANTS AT THOSE APARTMENTS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVING A PROGRAM LIKE THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL THAT WE'VE BEEN PILOTING HAS BEEN SO CRITICAL.
UH, I WANT TO, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY IN THAT DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP, UH, A LOT OF THE TENANTS IN, IN THOSE APARTMENTS, UH, WITH WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
UH, THIS IS, UH, REALLY JUST AN UNFORTUNATE EXAMPLE OF THE KINDS OF, UH, BAD EXAMPLES I SHOULD SAY, OF, OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE, ARE GETTING LOCKED OUT, GETTING, UM, UH, HARASSED TO, TO LEAVE THEIR, THEIR LIVING SITUATION.
UM, AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT ANYBODY DISPLACED IN ANY WAY DURING THIS CRISIS.
AND, AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, AGAIN, KEEP PUSHING, UH, THAT WE LAYER ON TO WHAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED WITH THE RISK MITIGATION FUND WITH, UH, POLICIES THAT THEY CAN HELP WITH THAT, LIKE RIGHT TO COUNCIL, UH, AND, UH, OF COURSE, UH, RIGHT TO CURE, WHICH CAN, CAN ALSO HELP, UH, WITH THE EVICTION PROCESS AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE TIME.
UM, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING A LOT, UH, MORE ABOUT THIS.
UH, I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE EVICTION MORATORIUM WAS EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 18TH.
THE JPS, UH, HAVE DECIDED TO NOT OPEN THE COURTS UP UNTIL JUNE 1ST.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUX, UH, THE MANY FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING TO THOSE COURTS, UH, UM, BECAUSE OF IT.
AND SO, UH, WE, WE'VE GOTTA BE THINKING AHEAD.
UH, WE'VE GOTTA BE THINKING ABOUT ALL THE, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE, UH, FACED WITH, WITH THESE ISSUES, UH, IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS AND, AND MONTHS.
UH, SO WE GOTTA KEEP PUSHING AHEAD ON BETTER POLICY.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, I WANNA POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN, THAT, UH, PROPERTY TAXES, PROPERTY VALUES, I SHOULD SAY, ARE, ARE ROLLING OUT AND, UH, PEOPLE ARE GONNA START TO GET THEIR NOTICES.
UH, THIS IS ONLY GONNA FURTHER EXACERBATE IN, IN MY OPINION, UH, THE, THESE, UH, RENTAL PROPERTIES BECAUSE, UH, THE, AS WE KNOW, THERE'S, THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES WHEN IT COMES TO APPRAISED VALUES.
AND SO, UH, AS THOSE NOTICES GO OUT, UH, WE'VE, WE NEED TO MAKE THE, THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE GONNA FEEL IS, IS, UH, UNJUST THAT, UH, THE, THE VALUES, UH, BY LAW ARE TAKEN AS OF JANUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
AND OF COURSE, WE WERE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC AT THAT TIME.
[03:35:01]
AGAIN, I KNOW ERIC, YOU'RE WORKING ON, ON TRYING TO GET, UH, MORE INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.WE'LL BE DOING, UH, SOME, SOME PSSAS WITH, UH, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO, TO TRY TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT, UH, MORE TO THE PUBLIC, TO, TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF, OF HOW WE INTEND TO, TO TACKLE THAT OVER AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS YEAR'S PROTEST.
'CAUSE WE KNOW IT WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE, UH, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PROTESTS, UH, THAT, THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS EVER SEEN.
BUT WE, WE WANNA ASSURE EVERYBODY THAT, THAT, UH, ALL THOSE PROTESTS WILL BE HEARD AND IT WILL BE HANDLED, UH, IN A TIMELY MANNER.
YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
I THINK WE GOT THE AUDIO FIXED.
UM, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR IT, UM, THAT IS HELPING ME WITH THIS.
AND, UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, UH, FOR DR.
UM, SO I WAS WONDERING, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND TRACING, UM, HOW OR WHAT WILL WE BE DOING TO, TO, UH, RECORD THAT I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION? SO, CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY ASYMPTOMATIC WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IS OUR UNIVERSAL TESTING, AND THOSE ARE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS.
SO WE WOULD HANDLE THOSE THE SAME WAY THAT WE WOULD HANDLE A POSITIVE.
UM, SO IF WE GO INTO A NURSING HOME AND WE WANT TO TEST EVERYONE THAT'S THERE, THAT'S WHAT A UNIVERSAL TESTING WOULD BE.
IT'S NOT JUST FINDING THE SYMPTOMATICS.
WE WERE GONNA TEST EVERYONE, THE WORKERS AND THE RESIDENTS, AND THEN JUST PRESUME THAT THEY ARE, UM, POSITIVE UNTIL THE, UNTIL THE, UM, TEST RESULTS COME BACK.
SO AT THIS PRESENT TIME, THE ONLY UNIVERSAL TESTING WILL BE THE NURSING HOMES, THE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND, AND THE JAIL POPULATION.
UM, CURRENTLY FOR RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE, SO ON PAGE OR SLIDE EIGHT, IT'S THE NURSING HOMES, SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, SHELTERS FOR HOMELESS, STREET HOMELESS, AND E S R D AS WELL AS JAIL.
UM, THOSE WOULD BE OUR PRIMARY, AND THAT WOULD REALLY BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ACTUALLY WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR M I H, UM, AND USING OUR SUPPLY OF TESTING TO REALLY HELP THOSE VULNERABLE AND HIGH RISK AREAS, THE HOSPITAL PATIENTS, THAT WOULD BE A POLICY THAT EACH HOSPITAL OR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM COULD DETERMINE ON THEIR OWN.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE COMMUNITY FACING SETTINGS AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS KIND OF IN OUR PRIORITY SETTING.
UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR ANDY AS WELL.
ANDY, WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, OUR STAY HOME AND WORK EXTENSION, HOW DOES THAT, UM, COMPARE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, LIFT LIFTING OF THE, UH, HOME OR STAY HOME WORK? THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD QUESTION.
'CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, UH, UNFORTUNATELY A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT'S STILL OUT THERE.
UH, AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, WHEN I WENT OVER THE SLIDES THAT TALKED ABOUT, UH, ACTUALLY THE SLIDES THAT I COVERED WITH COUNCIL AND THE, AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON TUESDAY, AND THE SLIDES WE COVERED TODAY, THE, THE GOVERNOR HAS MAINTAINED THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, IN TERMS OF A STAY HOME WORK SAFE ORDER.
UH, SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE STILL HAVE, UH, THE GOVERNOR VERY CLEARLY IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, VERY CLEARLY IN HIS ORDER, VERY CLEARLY, AGAIN, IN THE REOPENING TEXAS PUBLICATION, THAT HE'S ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO, TO STAY HOME LIMIT SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
THERE'S A STRUCTURE OF ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY, ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
THERE'S A SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND THERE'S MECHANISMS FOR ENFORCEMENT.
SO IN TERMS OF THE, THE BROAD FRAMEWORK, IT'S VERY MUCH ALIGNED WITH THE GOVERNORS.
UH, AND, UH, THEIR DIFFERENCES ARE PRIMARILY IN TERMS OF LOCAL PROVISIONS THAT ADDRESS, FOR EXAMPLE, COVID TESTING, REPORTING, AND AGAIN, THE, UH, THE ASKING THE COMMUNITY IF THEY'RE CONSIDERING ANTIBODY TESTING, UH, TO MAKE SURE THEIR F D A APPROVED, ET CETERA.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT, UH, AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, BUT AGAIN, WHAT THE GOVERNOR INSISTED IS IF LOCAL ENTITIES, AND IT DOES ENVISION LOCAL ENTITIES HAVING EMERGENCY ORDERS, THAT THEY BE CONSISTENT WITH HIS FRAMEWORK
[03:40:01]
IN TERMS OF ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, NON-ESSENTIAL REOPENED BUSINESSES.AND THAT CERTAINLY, UH, THE ORDER IS OKAY.
AND THEN, ANDY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE REOPENING AND, AND GATHERINGS, WHEN IT, WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE INCREASING OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE JUST WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD, UM, MEMBER GATHERINGS, HOW IS THAT GONNA BE, UM, PUT ACROSS TO THESE REOPENING CATEGORIES? UH, THE, THE REOPENING CATEGORIES, A AGAIN, THOSE, THOSE PERTAIN TO THE REOPENING OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, AND AGAIN, ARE MATCHED IN THE, UH, CURRENT, UH, UH, CITY ORDER.
UM, IN TERMS OF HOUSEHOLDS, UH, AGAIN, GATHERINGS ARE LIMITED TO HOUSEHOLD PEOPLE, UNLESS YOU'RE GOING AND VISITING ONE OF THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES OR REOPENED BUSINESSES.
BUT THE LIMITATION ON THE RESTRICTION ON GATHERINGS STILL APPLY.
SO AGAIN, UH, YOU CANNOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, 20, 30 PEOPLE BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE THAT RESTRICTION STAYS IN PLACE.
AND HOW IS THAT LOOKING FOR THE RELIGIOUS, UM, CONGREGATIONS OPENING UP? I KNOW WE HAD SEVERAL THAT DID OUTSIDE, UM, DRIVE IN STYLE, UH, WORSHIP SERVICES.
AND SO NOW WITH THE REOPENING, HOW ARE WE CONDUCTING, UM, THOSE CHURCH SERVICES? BECAUSE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED.
THANK, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE, THE, THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S, UH, OFFICE HAS PUT OUT SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON PLACES OF WORSHIP, WHICH, AGAIN, THE CITY HAS BEEN FOLLOWING.
UH, AGAIN, THEY HIGHLY RECOMMEND AND ENCOURAGE REMOTE RELIGIOUS SERVICES, BUT TO THE EXTENT HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE GONNA CONDUCT SERVICES ON SITE, UH, THERE IS SOME PRETTY, UH, SPECIFIC, UM, REQUIREMENTS IN THIS, UH, PUBLICATION THAT PROVIDE, UH, AGAIN, HOUSES OF WORSHIP CLEAR, UH, GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO PROCEED.
AND ANDY, MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU IS, WITH THE REOPENING OF THESE BUSINESSES, ARE THERE ANY WAYS TO DO, UM, CONDUCTING OF SCREENINGS OR MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S STILL SANITARY, UM, PRECAUTIONS SUCH AS, UH, THE, UH, HAND SANITIZER, UM, UM, IF WE'RE OPENING RETAIL STORES, HOW THEY, UM, ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN WITH, UH, CLEANING OF THE BASKETS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE? IS THAT GONNA CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE ING OF THE RETAIL STORES? UM, YES.
ALL THE, UM, REQUIREMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, ET CETERA, WHEN IT COMES TO HYGIENE PRACTICES, UH, THAT WERE IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER IN OUR CURRENT ORDER, AND, AND FRANKLY, THAT ARE ALSO IN, JUST IN TERMS OF BEST PRACTICES, THOSE REMAIN IN PLACE.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE WERE USING THE SAME ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS THAT WE HAD BEEN USING PREVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF VISITING STORES.
WE GET CALLS TO OUR, UM, ENFORCEMENT LINES, AND WE GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK.
AND, BUT AGAIN, THE, THE EMPHASIS IS ON, UH, EDUCATION AND ON INFORMING THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT COMPLIANCE REQUIRES.
UH, BUT WE WILL BE USING OUR USUAL ENFORCEMENT TOOLS TO APPLY THOSE.
AND, AND AT THE LAST QUESTION IS EXACTLY HOW WILL WE BE DOING PUBLIC EDUCATION TO HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE NOW WITHIN THIS TRANSITIONING OF REOPENING? I'M GONNA PASS THAT ONE ON TO JEFF COUNCILWOMAN.
HI, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, JEFF COYLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF, UH, PROMOTION THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER SAID, NUMBER ONE.
AND THEN LAST NIGHT, UH, WITH, UH, THE, THE, UH, NEW CITY ORDER, THE NEW MAYOR'S ORDER LAST NIGHT, UH, AS I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE, I'VE BEEN GETTING, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, POSTS AND SO FORTH AS WELL THAT ARE POINTING OUT THE DIFFERENCES.
UM, COUNCILMAN PLY HAS HAD ME ON A DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, TELE-TOWN HALL LAST NIGHT.
UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO SPREAD THE WORD AND, AND, UH, WITH THE GENERAL MESSAGE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE IN ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE STATE'S ORDER AND THE LOCAL ORDER THAN DIFFERENCES, UH, AND THAT WE'RE, UH, OUR STEPS, UH, GO A LITTLE BIT INTO A LITTLE DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S, IT'S ALL CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE ORDER.
THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
UM, JUST REAL QUICK, UH, ERIC, REGARDING THAT DOCUMENT
[03:45:01]
THAT YOU'RE PUTTING, UH, THAT YOUR TEAM WILL PUT TOGETHER, UH, DO YOU HAVE A TIMEFRAME FOR THAT WHEN WE MIGHT SEE IT? UH, NO MA'AM, BUT I'LL, UH, GATHER UP WITH THE TEAM.THEY'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY FURIOUSLY SINCE, UH, UH, SINCE THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM, UH, DRAFT REPORT WAS PUT TOGETHER.
BUT WE'LL, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THAT QUICKLY AND, UM, AND WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU AND THE REST OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL KIND OF ANTICIPATED DATE.
BUT, BUT REST ASSURED, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE IT'S A PRIORITY TO, TO GET DONE QUICKLY.
UM, I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP, UH, BRIEFLY ON A QUESTION THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN VEYO, UH, HDA ASKED REGARDING, UM, TESTING OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS A, AS A POSITIVE.
AND I, I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO, UH, SAVE THE TESTS, RIGHT, FOR CASES WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW.
UM, AND MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE PRESUME SOMEONE IS POSITIVE, THAT IS NOT PART OF THE TESTING COUNT, RIGHT? OF OUR POSITIVE CASE COUNT? NO, IT'S NOT.
IAN SENT ME A TEXT MESSAGE TO HELP ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, AND WE DO TEST EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA, UH, FOLLOW UP ON.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE FANS THAT ARE WATCHING.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, COUNSEL, AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASKED ME IS HOW I WAS GONNA BREAK OUT THAT 3000 TEST THAT IS ON THE LAST SLIDE OF THE PRESENTATION.
AND THEN, UH, JUST ONE LAST QUESTION.
WE WERE, WELL, I SAY THAT NOW, BUT WHAT
AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS LOOKING AT THE RAPID TESTS THAT WERE AVAILABLE.
UH, I FEEL LIKE THE ANSWER WE GOT TODAY WAS SIMILAR, THAT THERE WAS STILL UNDER EVALUATION.
SO I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO.
SO IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.
UH, MAYBE IF THEY HAVEN'T COME TO A CONCLUSION, BUT MAYBE THEY'VE ELIMINATED OTHER OPTIONS.
IT'S JUST, UM, WE, WE, WE GET THOSE QUESTIONS TOO.
AND THAT GOT REDIRECTED INTO ANTIBODY TESTING, AND THAT TEND, THAT WAS A MORE URGENT ISSUE, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME MARKETING PRACTICES THAT ARE, UM, NOT FAVORABLE MARKETING PRACTICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE REDIRECTED INTO ADDRESSING THE ANTIBODY TESTING, AND WE'LL GET BACK TO THE RAPID TESTING VERY SOON.
UM, COULD I REQUEST A SUMMARY, UH, AT THE END OF THIS WEEK AS FAR AS WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THAT? SURE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, I WANTED TO ASK, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHO THE RIGHT PERSON IS, SO I'LL GO TO, TO ERIC.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT IF IT CAN BE REVEALED OF THE, UH, IF WE'RE NOT GIVING AWAY OUR HAND HERE, OF THE ENFORCEMENT PLANS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CURRENT, UH, FOR THE ORDER THAT WE'RE EXTENDING TODAY, IN OTHER WORDS, UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF, UH, OR POSSIBLY SOME BUSINESSES OPEN UP AT 25%.
UH, DO WE HAVE THE STAFFING AVAILABLE TO, UH, DO THE MONITORING THERE OR WILL IT BE ON A COMPLAINT BASIS? UH, COUNCILWOMAN IT, IT'LL PRIMARILY BE COMPLAINT BASED.
UM, BUT, UM, WE STARTED DOING THIS, UM, ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO WHEN THE FIRST, UM, MASK ORDER WAS IN PLACE JUST TO PROVIDE SOME, UM, VISIBILITY.
BUT, UH, IT'LL BE COMPLAINT BASED.
WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR, FROM THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE, UM, KIND OF FOCUSED ON EDUCATION FIRST, UM, AND, UM, AND THEN CITATIONS.
AND YOU SEE ON THE DAILY REPORTS, UH, WE, WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE DONE CITATIONS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE FIRST COURSE OF, OF ACTION THAT THE, THAT THE CITY'S TAKEN AS WE'VE, UH, EITHER VISITED PEOPLE'S PRIVATE HOMES OR, UH, BUSINESSES OR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
I WILL ADD THAT, UM, THAT ONE THING I THINK THAT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
AND IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE BUSINESSES MIGHT DO, UM, UNDER THE REQUIREMENT.
YOU KNOW, A COMPANY OR A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT OR A RESTAURANT COULD REQUIRE, UH, THEIR PATRONS TO WEAR MASKS AND, UM, AND THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND THAT'S, THAT IS COMPLETELY UP TO THEM.
UM, AND, AND ONE THING WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED YET, WHICH WE COULD EXPERIENCE IS THAT IF THERE'S A PATRON WHO VISITS A RETAIL STORE OR ESTABLISHMENT AND REFUSES TO WEAR A MASK, UM, THEY COULD CALL THE POLICE AND THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD BE TRESPASSED OFF THE PROPERTY JUST LIKE, UH, ANY SORT OF UNRULY CUSTOMER COULD.
UM, WE'RE, UH, THAT COULD BE A NEW SCENARIO THAT WE
[03:50:01]
DEAL WITH, DEPENDING ON WHAT BUSINESSES DO.AND, UH, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE AN EDUCATION APPROACH.
IF I MAY QUICKLY ADD TO THAT, ERIC, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS COUNCILWOMAN THAT THIS CAPACITY RESTRICTION, WHICH I WOULD REMIND THE COUNCIL, WAS IN THE MAYOR'S LAST ORDER BEFORE IT APPEARED IN THE STATES ORDER.
UM, ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THAT IS THAT WE CAN EASILY DETERMINE, BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON THEIR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE LOCAL ORDINANCE AND THE GOVERNORS IS WE ADD THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE BUSINESSES POST THAT CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, AGAIN, TO FURTHER FACILITATE AND HELP IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
AND, UH, A FOLLOW UP QUESTION, UH, FOR ERIC.
UM, IS THERE A BUDGETARY ITEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLAN HERE? THERE, THERE WILL BE COUNCILWOMAN AND I ANTICIPATE THOSE EXPENSES TO BE OUT OF THAT FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE AND NOT ANYWHERE OUT OF OUR OTHER NORMAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET OR EXISTING DOLLARS.
SO, UH, AND, UM, YOU'D BE CURIOUS TO, WELL, WE'LL GET AN UPDATE WHEN THE TIME COMES.
SO I, I, UM, RIGHT, AND IT'LL BE PART OF THAT FRAMEWORK WE PRESENT NEXT WEEK THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AND THE RESPON, UH, TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING AND THOSE, THOSE ISSUES.
UH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CHIME IN AGAIN.
UM, I, I WANNA ASK A, A QUESTION THAT, UM, I GOT FROM A CONSTITUENT, I, I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT, UM, MAYBE DR.
EMRICH, YOU CAN, UM, HELP US WITH THIS ANSWER.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE, UM, WHO ARE CONFUSED AND, UM, ARE, AREN'T, UH, ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR EYES ARE TELLING THEM, RIGHT? WHICH IS, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN HOW SOME OF OUR MAJOR RETAILERS, LET'S SAY WALMART, C V SS, WALGREENS, H E B, UM, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY OPEN THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PERIOD AND, UM, NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OUTBREAKS OF, OF THE, OF THE VIRUS THERE.
AND WHAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE DOING IS PUTTING TWO AND TWO TOGETHER, RIGHT? WHICH IS, IF THERE IS NO OUTBREAKS THERE, THEN THERE WON'T BE OUTBREAKS ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND THEREFORE, MAYBE OUR RATIONALE AND REASONING BEHIND ALL OF THIS IS FLAWED.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT DOC TALK? YEAH, I'LL TRY MY BEST HERE.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY AROUND, I'M, I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS IT AROUND LANGUAGE.
SO WE, WHAT, I MEAN, AN OUTBREAK HAS A DIFFERENT DEFINITION DEPENDING ON ITS SETTING.
WHEN WE HAVE A NURSING HOME OR, OR SOME OF OUR HIGH RISK CONGREGATE AREAS, WE CAN, WE CAN DEEM AN OUTBREAK.
ONE POSITIVE WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN OUTBREAK DEPENDING ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN A SETTING LIKE A GROCERY STORE WHERE THERE ARE A VARIETY, IT'S, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IT'S A FAST-PACED WHERE THERE'S NOT A LONG DURATION OF EXPOSURE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY OUTBREAKS IN OUR GROCERY STORES NOW, DO WE SEE POSITIVES? YES.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING, WE WE'RE NEVER GOING TO DISCLOSE WHERE THIS PERSON LIVES OR WHERE THEY WORK.
UM, THAT'S ALL INFORMATION THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE.
UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IN THESE GROCERY STORES AND IN THESE PUBLIC FACING, UM, UM, ESTABLISHMENTS ARE USING SOCIAL DISTANCING PRACTICES, THEY'RE USING MASKS.
UM, NOW THEY'RE TELLING PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN'T COME IN UNLESS YOU HAVE A MASK ON.
AND SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE, UM, ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DECLARATION AND THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING, THE VERY GOOD WORK THAT OUR UNIFIED COMMAND AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE DOING, WE'RE CONTROLLING THAT VERY WELL.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING POSITIVES, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT SEEING OUTBREAKS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, ANDY, UM, WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE, THE LANGUAGE IN THE ORDER AND WHETHER OR NOT IT, UH, THE, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER AND WHETHER OR NOT IT NOW CONFLICTS WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE TODAY.
UM, AND, AND I WANNA FOCUS ON THE WORDS TO THE EXTENT THAT HE SAID THAT HE WAS, UH, IN THIS ORDER, HE USED THOSE WORDS TO THE EXTENT THAT, UM, THE, UM, SOME STATUTE IN THE GOVERNMENT CODE AND IN THE HEALTH CODE CONFLICTS WITH A LOCAL ORDER, UM, THAT THAT LOCAL ORDER WON'T STAND, OR THAT PORTION OF THE LOCAL ORDER WON'T STAND.
HOWEVER, UM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN, UM, THAT, THAT THOSE FOUR WORDS
[03:55:01]
TO THE EXTENT THAT ARE UNIMPORTANT.UM, IN FACT, WHAT WHAT I DO WANNA DO IS, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER WHEN THE GOVERNOR GAVE HIS PRESS CONFERENCE, HE HELD UP THIS DOCUMENT, UM, REPEATEDLY AND, YOU KNOW, AS THE RATIONALE BEHIND HIS ORDER.
UM, AND IT, IT REMINDS ME OF THAT 1995 HIT SONG BY OUR VERY FAVORITE DEBBIE GIBSON.
UH, WHERE SHE SAYS, I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE REASON BEHIND THE RHYME.
AND THE REASON BEHIND THE RHYME, UM, THAT HE CITES IN THAT REPORT, UM, IS UNEQUIVOCAL.
HE SAYS, UM, TO AVOID FURTHER SPREAD OF A NEW OUTBREAK, I'M QUOTING FROM PAGE FIVE, TO AVOID FURTHER SPREAD OF A NEW OUTBREAK, WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE CRITICAL HEALTH GUIDELINES.
IF YOU CAN, YOU USE THE WORD MUST, RIGHT? UM, PAGE SIX, PEOPLE 65, AGE OR OLDER, UM, SHOULD STRICTLY ADHERE TO ALL C D C GUIDELINES, AS WELL AS ALL RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS DOCUMENT IF YOU MUST GO OUT, WEAR A CLOTH MASK AND STAY SIX FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
AND SO, ANDY, WHY THE MANDATE WITHOUT THE ENFORCEMENT PART OF IT? AND TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU INTERPRET TO THE EXTENT THAT, WELL, I'LL ANSWER YOUR LAST QUESTION FIRST.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, AGAIN, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT MEANS THAT THE GOVERNOR ENVISIONS THAT COUNTIES, CITIES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL ORDERS.
AND WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS THAT THEIR SUPERSEDED ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CONFLICT WITH HIS, UH, DIRECTION ON ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES AND REOPENED BUSINESSES.
UM, SO AGAIN, IT ENVISIONS LOCAL ORDERS.
OUR LOCAL ORDER IS CONSISTENT WITH THE, UH, GOVERNOR'S ORDERS I MENTIONED BEFORE.
UM, AND TO, UH, ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, UH, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MAYOR AND THE JUDGE, IT, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THREE THINGS BY HAVING A MANDATE OF THE FACE COVERING, EVEN THOUGH, UH, IT, WE DON'T HAVE THE, UH, OPTIMAL ENFORCEMENT TOOLS.
UH, I WILL SAY THOUGH, AS A LAWYER, I MEAN, NO LAWYER'S A BIG FAN OF HAVING A MANDATE WITHOUT THE OPTIMAL ENFORCEMENT TOOLS.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THEY WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH THREE THINGS.
ONE OF 'EM IS TO REINFORCE TO THE COMMUNITY THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT MITIGATING MEASURE IN TERMS OF WEARING FACE COVERINGS, WHERE IT'D BE CHALLENGING TO SOCIAL DISTANCES.
TWO, I THINK THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO PROVIDE LEVERAGE TO THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS, RETAIL STORES THAT WANTED TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY PROHIBITING CUSTOMERS FROM COMING IN UNLESS THEY WERE WEARING A FACE COVERING AGAIN, THAT THEY STAND ON FIRMER GROUND IF, IF THE CITY IS MANDATING THAT.
BUT THIRDLY, AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ALWAYS RELY FIRST AND FOREMOST ON VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ORDERS AND THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE ORDERS.
AND BY HAVING IT A MANDATE VERSUS A RECOMMENDATION, WE DO THINK IT'LL MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD IN TERMS OF VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A A PERSONAL EXAMPLE OF THAT, COUNCILMAN, WHEN MY PARENTS SHIP ME OFF TO COLLEGE, THEY DIDN'T SAY, ANDY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO TO MASS EVERY SUNDAY.
WHAT THEY SAID WAS, ANDY, YOU BETTER GO TO MASS EVERY SUNDAY.
NOW, IT BEING THE LATE SEVENTIES, THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM FOR THAT.
BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I PROBABLY WENT TO MASS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, BECAUSE IT WAS A DIRECTION AND NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
THE DIRECTION REINFORCES THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.
AND, AND MAYOR, I'LL END BY, UM, REMINDING FOLKS THAT WHENEVER WE GO OUT, WE'RE ALWAYS SEEING AT H E B, AT WALMART, C V S, WHEREVER WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE, THEY'RE WEARING THEIR MASKS.
AND I BET YOU IF YOU PLUCK ANY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE OUT AND JUST SAY, WHY ARE YOU DOING IT? NONE OF 'EM ARE GONNA SAY, BECAUSE THERE'S A MANDATE WITH ENFORCEMENT.
UM, MOST OF 'EM ARE GONNA SAY, BECAUSE I LOVE SAN ANTONIO AND I'M, I WANNA TAKE CARE OF MY NEIGHBORS AND MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, COUNCIL MEMBER PLY.
AND, AND FOR THOSE WATCHING, I ALLOWED THAT LAST SENTENCE BECAUSE ANDY JUST HAD THE LONGEST RUNOFF SENTENCE, I THINK, IN THE HISTORY OF THESE CHAMBERS.
SO THANK YOU, MEMBER COUNCIL, MEMBER PIAS, UH, WE DO WANNA NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN TO FINISH THIS OUT.
ONE QUICK QUESTION, UM, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO GET FROM CONSTITUENTS WITH THOSE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE HAD TEST POSITIVE, UM, EMPLOYEES, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE BACK IN COMPLIANCE OR WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS, UM, HAVE PRACTICED THE PROPER SANITIZING OF THE BUILDING? SO I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE ECONOMIC GROUP IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
[04:00:01]
IN TERMS OF SOME OF THAT RISK.UM, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT, AND THAT'S ALSO PART OF AN ENFORCEMENT PLAN.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT METROHEALTH IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN.
UM, I CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK TO THE OFFICE AND SEE IF I CAN FIND THAT ANSWER FOR YOU.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOT LEANING IN ON DOING ANY TYPE OF THE EMPLOYMENT MITIGATION AND RISK REDUCTION AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
AND I'LL JUST FINISH AND WE CAN GO TO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
UH, JUST BY THANKING OUR, OUR STAFF, UH, AND OUR COUNCIL, UH, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, UM, USING A SPORTS ANALOGY.
WE ARE VERY CLOSE, UH, IN THIS PHASE OF IT TO THE END ZONE AND THE CARDINAL SIN, UH, IN A GAME LIKE THIS, AS WE DON'T TURN THE BALL OVER WHEN YOU'RE IN THE RED ZONE.
SO I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH, UH, A GROUP OF COLLEAGUES HERE ON STAFF AND ON THE COUNCIL THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FINISHING THE JOB.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION AND THE TWEAKS THAT WE'VE MADE ALONG THE WAY TO THESE ORDERS, AS WELL AS THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE BEEN DOING TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES FOR THOSE SECOND ORDER CONSEQUENCES TO THE CRISIS RESPONSE.
THAT WORK IS GONNA BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS AS WE GET THIS COMMUNITY BACK ON ITS FEET.
HOWEVER, UM, AND KNOWING THAT WE WILL RETURN TO A POST-CRISIS WORLD, I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT WE CAN TAKE AWAY, UH, THAT I DON'T WANNA LOSE SIGHT OF.
UM, FIRST IN MY MIND IS THE AMOUNT OF TEAMWORK THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN, UH, NOT JUST IN THIS BUILDING, UH, WHERE WE HAVE STAFF AND COUNCIL AND COUNCIL STAFF WORKING IN WAYS THAT ARE CREATIVE AND, AND, UH, URGENT AND REALLY GETTING THINGS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE WAY OVER THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING.
AND IN A FAIRLY HISTORIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK BEING DONE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT COLLABORATION CONTINUES EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT SO URGENT.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE HAVE, UM, REALLY SEEN THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT I THINK EXTEND BEYOND, UM, ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND NONE OF THIS WOULD GET DONE.
NONE OF THIS IS GETTING DONE TO COUNCIL MEMBER REPLIES POINT BECAUSE WE'VE MANDATED IT.
IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE PUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OUT FRONT TO GIVE US THE DATA AND THE INFORMATION, EVEN THE STUFF THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR.
AND PEOPLE ARE ACTING ACCORDINGLY.
THEY KNOW, UH, BASED ON THE INFORMATION THEY'VE BEEN GIVING, THAT IN ORDER TO SAVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS LIVES, UH, THEY HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS, UH, THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO.
SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAYING AT HOME, WEARING OF MASKS, WHEN YOU'RE GONNA BE WITHIN SIX FEET OF SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS PAIN AND FRUSTRATION, UH, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET IT THROUGH IT TOGETHER.
AND I DON'T WANNA LOSE THAT SENSE OF COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK THAT WE'VE BEEN EXHIBITING FOR SO LONG.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, UH, COLLECTION OF BRAIN POWER THAT WE'VE HAD IN THESE TRANSITION TEAMS AS WELL.
THE HEALTH TRANSITION TEAM, I'LL PUT UP AGAINST ANYBODY FROM DC TO AUSTIN OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND I DO HOPE THAT THERE'S CONTINUED WORK AND WE CAN WORK WITH THEM IN WAYS DOWN, UH, THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS CRISIS RESPONSE AND EVEN PERHAPS AFTER.
AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR ECONOMIC TRANSITION TEAM, UH, SOME FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR VERY LONG, FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT ARE NOW STARTING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT LIFE SHOULD BE LIKE AFTER THIS PANDEMIC AND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT EVEN BETTER AND STRONGER.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'M VERY PLEASED, UM, TO, UH, GET MOVING NOW TO THE REST OF OUR DAY.
UH, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE MOTION FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE ORDER.
UH, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE VOTE.
[17. City Manager's Report]
MANAGER'S REPORT AND AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.I'M GONNA PASS OUT AND WE'LL GET TO THE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE, UH, THE, AN EMAIL, BUT A REVISED BUDGET CALENDAR, UH, BACK, UH, A LONG, LONG TIME AGO IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD SET THE BUDGET CALENDAR FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, AND SO I AM, UH, UM, SHARING WITH YOU A REVISED BUDGET CALENDAR THAT HAS OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT OCCURRING ON MAY 28TH.
UM, OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET ORDINANCE ON JUNE 4TH, OUR FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST WILL BE IN ON JUNE 18TH.
[04:05:01]
KEY BECAUSE, UM, SALES TAX, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MARCH SALES TAX, WE WON'T HAVE UNTIL THE SECOND WEEK IN MAY.SO, UH, BY THE SECOND WEEK IN JUNE, WE'LL HAVE THE APRIL SALES TAX CHECK.
SO WE NEED TO 'CAUSE OF THIS, UH, LINGERING UNCERTAINTY.
UH, WE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BEFORE WE DO THE FORECAST.
WE'VE SET ASIDE JUNE 26TH FOR THE COUNCIL, UH, GOAL SETTING SESSION.
UM, I AM, UM, GONNA BE INTRODUCING A NEW, UH, PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
IT'S CALLED THE TRIAL BUDGET, AND WE WILL SHARE THAT WITH YOU ON JUNE 18TH DURING THE FINANCIAL FORECAST.
AND THEN THE IDEA IS TO, UH, BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR WHAT WE KNOW.
AND THAT WAY THE COUNCIL HAS A COMPLETE PICTURE OF, OF, UH, WHAT OUR, UH, EXPENSES AND, UH, REVENUES ARE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ON THE 26TH DURING YOUR WORK SESSION.
UH, FROM THAT POINT FORWARD ON THE MEMO, THE SCHEDULE'S THE SAME.
SO WE HAVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET COMING TO YOU ON AUGUST SEC, UH, AUGUST 6TH.
UH, THEN WE GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
UH, DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE AT, WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
AND I KNOW, UH, LAST YEAR WE HAD A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UM, AND WE'LL JUST, UM, PIVOT AT THAT POINT.
BUT, UH, WE PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, UH, DURING YOUR WORK SESSION IN JUNE.
UM, AND MAYBE WE'LL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE LOCAL CONDITIONS ARE.
WE CERTAINLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND GETTING THE INPUT OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, THE SECOND ITEM, MAYOR, IS, UH, WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, UH, ON EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE TESTED POSITIVE ON COVID.
AND YOU'VE SEEN THIS, UM, A COUPLE TIMES IN THE END OF DAY REPORT.
WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 19 CITY EMPLOYEES THAT'S BOTH POLICE, FIRE AND CIVILIANS, UH, TO DATE THAT HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT EIGHT OF THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE RETURNED TO WORK, SO THEY'VE RECOVERED, UH, AND 11 ARE STILL RECOVERING AT HOME.
AND I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO, UH, THOSE FOLKS, UM, AND THEY'VE BEEN FORTUNATE.
AND I WANT TO JUST, UM, I THINK IT'S A GOOD REMINDER FOR ALL OF US TO KNOW THAT AS ORGANIZATION, WE'RE DEALING WITH IT, UH, AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, IN KEEPING WITH THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, UH, I'VE GOT A REAL QUICK VIDEO.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE THINK ABOUT, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN, UM, THE, THE CURRENT SITUATION.
UH, TODAY'S VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, UH, MONA AND LUIS RIOS, THEY BOTH WORK IN THE HR DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND, UM, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING, UH, FACE SHIELDS USING THREE D PRINTERS ON THEIR OWN TIME, UH, THEIR OWN PRINTERS.
LUIS HAS NINE PRINTERS, UM, AND THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING, UH, FACE SHIELDS FOR MEDICAL OFFICES.
I WORK FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
I WORK FOR, UH, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND ALSO IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN, UH, SUPPLIES AND THE THREE D PRINTING COMMUNITY KIND OF STEPPED UP TO FILL IN THE GAP BETWEEN THE, UH, SUPPLY LINES AND THE NEED.
AND SO I JUST REACHED OUT TO MY DOCTOR OUT OF CURIOSITY TO SEE IF THEY NEEDED ANY FACE SHIELDS.
AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE OFFICE MANAGER.
THEY SAID THAT, UM, THEY'D BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE AND EVERYBODY WAS SOLD OUT.
I WAS ACTUALLY A MEDIC IN THE MILITARY, SO I COME FROM A MEDICAL BACKGROUND AND I UNDERSTAND THE RISKS THAT THEY TAKE.
AND SO THAT WAS ANOTHER THING THAT, UM, MADE ME REALLY WANNA BE ABLE TO HELP.
UM, AND IN THE BACK OF THE, THE SHIELD THAT, UM, THAT I SELECTED, UH, IS APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH.
AND SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO PRINT.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE MATERIAL, BUT I FELT THAT THE ADDED PROTECTION WAS WORTH IT.
I CAN PRINT PROBABLY ABOUT 30 IN A DAY.
WE ACTUALLY, UM, DELIVERED THEM IN PERSON.
THEY WERE BUSY, BUT THEY WERE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL.
WE HAD DOCTORS WHO WOULD RUN IN THE OFFICE JUST TO KIND OF SEE THE SHIELDS.
ONE OF THEM ASKED ME IF THEY WERE BULLETPROOF AND YOU KNOW, JUST STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY NO
WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, SERVICE TO OTHERS IS A POWERFUL MEDICINE.
AND ACTUALLY, WE ARE LOOKING TO CHALLENGE OUR FELLOW CITY EMPLOYEES TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IF, EVEN IF IT'S VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME.
EVEN IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T WANNA LEAVE YOUR HOME, YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTRIBUTE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, UH, TAKES DONATIONS ONLINE.
THEY CAN TAKE $1 AND TURN IT INTO SEVEN MEALS.
IT SHOWS THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE HELPING AND ALSO YOURSELF THAT WE ALL HAVE VALUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SAM MAYOR, UH, THE SPECIAL THANKS TO LUIS SIMON MONA WHO HAVE KIND OF ON THEIR OWN, UM, TWO, UH, HUMAN RESOURCE, UH, EMPLOYEES TO, UH, AID WHERE THEY CAN AND, UH, REALLY APPRECIATED THEIR, UH, CALL FOR ALL
[04:10:01]
EMPLOYEES TO HELP ANY WAY THEY CAN.[Executive Session]
AN EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW.UH, THE TIME IS 1 27, UH, PM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 30TH, 2020.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 TO DELIBERATE DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC NEGO DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE, OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072.
AND CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LITIGATION AGAINST THE CITY AND C OVID 19 PREPAREDNESS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.071.