[00:00:06]
I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, AND WE ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY TODAY DUE TO THE CURRENT STAY AT HOME ORDERS ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2020.
THIS IS THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING, AND IT IS NOW 10:17 AM.
[CALL TO ORDER]
THE MEETING TO ORDER.UM, WE START THIS MEETING WITH GENERAL CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
UM, SO WE'LL TAKE UP CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING ITEMS POSTED ON THE AGENDA.
UM, IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? I HAVE A LIST OF SPEAKERS, BUT NOT, UM, THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY'LL SPEAK.
SO IF YOU JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE YOURSELF A CHAIR, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A SHUTTLE ORDER, WHICH WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO I, I, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THIS WAS THE SET ORDER, SO IT APPEARS AS THOUGH OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ELLEN JEFFERSON.
I BELIEVE SHE SHOULD BE UN-MUTED.
I'M ALAN JEFFERSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
I'M ASKING YOUR, FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO TRANSFORM AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES INTO THE HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES, WHICH IS A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO TRANSFORM THE WAY GOVERNMENT SERVE ANIMALS INTO A NEW WAY OF SERVING COMMUNITIES.
AS A WHOLE HAAS IS ALLOWING OUR INDUSTRY TO ACT ON WHAT WE, WE NOW KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT THE FOUNDATION OF TRADITIONAL ANIMAL SERVICES HAS BEEN TONE DEAF TO EQUITY UP UNTIL THE PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE BELIEVED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF ANIMALS MEETING SHELTERING ARE UNKNOWNS, ABANDONED, AND OR NEGLECTED.
HOWEVER, RECENT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE VAST MAJORITY OF PETS, EVEN THOSE THAT ARE LOOSE ARE OWNED AND LOVED AS A FAMILY MEMBER.
IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THOSE LOOSE ANIMALS GO HOME AT NIGHT AND ARE OFTEN WITHIN ONE CITY BLOCK OF THEIR HOMES.
HOWEVER, ONCE BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER, THE CHANCES OF BEING REUNITED BECOME A BISMAL LARGELY DUE TO THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT LOVED THEM.
AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PETS THROUGH THE SHELTER SERVICE MODEL ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
HAAS IS SHOWING IF WE CAN KEEP STRAY PETS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS, WE CAN DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS WHO CAN GET HOME, REDUCING THE BURDEN ON THE SHELTER SYSTEM AND FREEING UP FUNDING FOR SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN PETS DIFFERENTLY.
AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING STAFF ON TOP OF THAT, YOU CAN SEE THAT EVEN THOUGH AUSTIN IS A LEADER IN MY STATE, AND WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW WE OPERATE AS A LOCAL SERVICE MODEL, 90% OF ANIMALS ENTERING AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE NORMAL ON INTAKE, MEANING NO NOTED BEHAVIOR OR MEDICAL PROBLEMS YET GREATER THAN 40% OF ANIMALS LEAVE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AS QUOTE UNQUOTE ABNORMAL, BEHAVIORALLY, OR MEDICALLY, WHICH MEANS THAT CONSIGNMENT AND SEPARATION ARE CAUSING DAMAGE THAT IS EXPENSIVE TO REVERSE.
AUSTIN'S BEEN DOUBLED THE AVERAGE DOLLAR PER CAPITA ON ANIMAL SERVICES.
AND THE ADVISORY COMMISSION AND CENTER HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO ASK FOR 2 MILLION MORE TO CARE FOR ANIMALS IN SHELTER.
ON TOP OF THAT, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS STILL FAILING TO MEET THE CRITERIA OF THE NO KILL ORDINANCE SET BY COUNCIL.
EVEN THOUGH APA TAKES 20% OF THE CITY'S ANIMALS.
AND WE ADD ANOTHER 3 MILLION TO THE MONEY SPENT ON ANIMALS, ENTERING THE SHELTER, THE CITY SHELTER AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I IMAGINE YOUR THINKING IS ALIGNED WITH APA IS WHEN WE ASK HOW THE CITY COULD BE SPENDING THAT MONEY MORE EQUITABLY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY THAN WE ARE NOW, OUR CITY CAN ABSOLUTELY KEEP SPENDING AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF MONEY TRYING TO SAVE LIVES THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE SHELTERING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND MAKE MICRO IMPROVEMENTS TO HOW YOU SERVE PEOPLE IN THE WAY THAT THEY NEED IT MOST.
OR YOU CAN TAKE A GIANT LEAP FORWARD AND CHANGE THE WAY YOU OPERATE SO THAT YOU CAN FREE UP THE BANDWIDTH AND MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.
I CAN TELL YOU AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S LARGEST ANIMAL PARTNER, IT IS FRUSTRATING AND DISINCENTIVIZING TO CONTINUE OUR HEALTH IN THE WAY WE ALWAYS HAVE HELP.
WHEN WE WATCHED THE CITY LOSE MONEY IN TIME AND ETHICACY, WHEN SO MUCH MORE COULD THEY HAPPENING TO INNOVATE AND HELP THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT APA WANTS OUR CITY TO BE THE BEST AND WANTS TO HELP.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ATLANTA LESLEY.
I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR AUSTIN PETS ALIVE FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
IT IS WELL PAST TIME FOR AUSTIN TO RESUME OUR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITION IN ANIMAL WELFARE.
BY JOINING HAAS AS A TIER ONE PILOT SHITTY, AS ALAN SAID, MOST ANIMALS END UP ON THE STREET BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT CARED FOR AND LOVED THAT ANIMAL RAN INTO AN OBSTACLE, THE MEDICAL CRISIS, EVICTION JOB LOSS BEHAVIOR ISSUES.
WE KNOW THAT THE ROOT CAUSES OF PET RELINQUISHMENT
[00:05:01]
CENTER AROUND PEOPLE, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THIS NEW MOVEMENT AND ANIMAL WELFARE SCHUMANN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES IS FOCUSED ON KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZES THAT NO TWO FAMILIES ARE ALIKE AS A TIER ONE PILOT CITY.WE CAN IDENTIFY THE NEEDS AND THE ASSETS OF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD IN AUSTIN, NOT EACH DISTRICT, BUT EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND SET UP ANIMAL SERVICES TAILORED TO THOSE UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.
HAAS IS COMMITTED TO COMBATING DISCRIMINATION AND INEQUITY IN ANIMAL SERVICES AND TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, TO PET RETENTION, ADOPTION, AND FOSTERING, WE CAN FORM COALITIONS OF SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT AND OBTAIN THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR PETS.
HAAS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE NEW PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GAIN TO THE MANY RESOURCES.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN ALREADY OFFERS.
HAAS CAN BE AN INFORMATION HUB AT THE INTERSECTION OF PEOPLE IN NEED, SOCIAL SERVICES, NONPROFITS, AND ANIMAL WELFARE SERVICES.
LET'S TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, ALTRUISM AND HUMAN SUPPORT NETWORKS THAT ARE ALREADY IN ABUNDANCE IN OUR CITY.
ONCE ALL OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE NEEDLESSLY SENT TO THE SHELTER ARE INSTEAD REHOMED OR DIVERTED TO FOSTER HOMES OR REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES BEFORE THEY EVER SEE THE SHELTER, THEN WE'RE FREEING UP ANIMAL CARE, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, FACILITIES, AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE ANIMALS THAT URGENTLY NEED THAT KIND OF CARE.
EVERYBODY WINS HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR ANIMAL WELFARE.
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO AND DESERVES TO ENJOY AN ANIMAL COMPANION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUCY FERNANDEZ.
UM, MY NAME IS LUCY FERNANDEZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
UM, I'M CURRENTLY A CAT ADOPTION COUNSELOR FOR AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AS WELL AS A VOLUNTEER FOR TRAPPERS AND A MODERATOR FOR APA PAST FACEBOOK GROUP.
FROM THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC OFF AMERICAN PESTLE, I'VE CREATED THE HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES PILOT MODEL.
IT WASN'T PERFECTLY OUTLINED AND THERE WERE NO PLANS SET IN STONE, BUT IT DID HAVE A PASSIONATE DRIVE CREATED WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY TO DO SOMETHING NOW WITH THE POWERFUL COALITION COMPRISED OF OVER 600 ANIMAL WELFARE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND ADVOCATES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND CANADA, IT'S BEEN LAUNCHED IN 38 PILOT CITIES WITH 36 WORKING GROUPS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ACHIEVING PERFECTION.
IT'S NOT ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH TO EVERY PILOT CITY.
WHAT IT IS IS A COMMITMENT FOR LEADERSHIP EXPERTS IN ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCATES TO COLLABORATE ON EFFECTIVELY SERVING RESIDENTS IN THEIR ANIMALS.
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT AUSTIN FINALLY, AND OFFICIALLY JOINED THAT COLLABORATION USING THE CITY'S OPEN DATA PORTAL INTAKE DATA AND MAPPING HAS PROVEN WHAT MOST ANIMAL ADVOCATES IN THE CITY ALREADY KNOW.
THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LIMITED EMERIL RESOURCES SUCH AS CLINICS, BOARDING FACILITIES, TRAINERS, AND SUPPLY STORES, AND IN REGIONS WITH THE HIGHEST RATE INTAKE NUMBERS OFTEN WEST OF BY 35 AS WELL STOPPED WHILE EAST OF I, 35 IS A RESOURCE DESERT.
SIMILAR FINDINGS WERE CONFIRMED IN DALLAS WHO JOINED THE HOC COALITION IN JULY WHEN THEY SAW EXTREME DISPARITIES AND RESOURCES SOUTH OF
THEY ESTABLISHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH HOME TO HOME, WHICH IS A SERVICE THAT PROVIDES SHELTER, SUPPORTED SELF RE-HOMING IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ALSO DEPLOYED VETERINARY TELE-HEALTH SERVICES.
SIMILAR TO THOSE PROVIDED FOR HUMANS.
THERE'S ALSO A DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIP WITH PROMINENT OF A VETERINARY CORPORATION TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE, TO OWN ANIMALS AND MAJOR PILOT CITIES AT POTENTIALLY, UH, POTENTIALLY AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
ON TOP OF THAT MADDIE'S FUND HAS RECENTLY ISSUED $50,000 GRANTS TO EACH OF THE LARGEST HOT PILOT CITIES.
THIS DECENTRALIZATION DECENTRALIZATION OF SHELTER RESOURCES HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DEFERRED INTAKE AND MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KALEY MATHISON.
UH, I'M KAYLEE MATHISON AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST A PUBLIC HEALTH COVID POLICY FOR YOUR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WILL RELATE TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALLOWED TO REMAIN OPEN BECAUSE IT'S A STATE MANDATE, BUT THEIR OPERATIONS MAY NOT REFLECT THE HIGH RATE OF COMMUNITY SPREAD.
AND OFTEN JUST AS THE CITY HAS MANDATED THAT EACH BUSINESS HAS A MASK PLAN
[00:10:01]
POSTED SIGNAGE AND ENFORCEMENT.I AM PROPOSING THAT THEY ALSO POST THE CURRENT STAGING LEVEL OF THE CITY PROMINENTLY ON THEIR DOORS.
THAT SORT OF WORKS SIMILARLY TO HOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWS THE THREAT LEVEL OF WILDFIRES OUTSIDE THEIR STATION.
I PERSONALLY CHECKED THE STAGING LEVELS AND THE DASHBOARDS DAILY, BUT I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT AND MAY NOT REALIZE THE RISK LEVEL INVOLVED IN GOING OUT IN PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY IN A PLACE WHERE MITIGATION MEASURES SUCH AS MATH CAN NOT BE USED A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME FROM MY VIEWPOINT ONLY BUSINESSES THAT ALLOW MASK REMOVAL LIKE RESTAURANTS, BARS, OR SPORTING EVENTS WITH FOOD, UH, WOULD NEED TO FOLLOW THIS.
SOMETHING LIKE A SHOP OR A GROCERY STORE MAY NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN REASONABLY HAVE THEIR MASKS ON 100% OF THE TIME.
I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANYONE REGARDING THIS OR BRING THIS TO A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.
IF THIS IS NOT THE PLACE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, MS. MATHISON, OUR NEXT AND FINAL SPEAKER IS DOROTHY RENO.
UM, MY NAME IS DOROTHY RENO AND I WORK WITH SURVIVED TO THRIVE.
THE MISSION OF OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND REQUIRE IMMEDIATE SHELTER AND SECURITY.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH LOCAL HOTELS TO PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FROM ABUSE WHEN SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS CURRENT PANDEMIC.
UM, I'M SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TODAY ON MENSTRUAL EQUITY IN THE INTERSECTIONALITY WITH BEING DISPLACED AND DISPLACED DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR OTHER REASONS SUCH AS COVID THE OVERALL MEANING OF MENSTRUAL EQUITY REFERS TO THE AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND SAFETY OF MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS AND MENSTRUAL EDUCATION WITHOUT SHAME OR STIGMA, UM, PERIODS DO STOP.
WHEN A PERSON IS DISPLACED BY DOMESTIC ABUSE.
HOWEVER, THE SURVIVORS OFTEN FIND THAT PERIOD PRODUCTS ARE NOT ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS THEY THINK TO GRAB WHEN THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME DUE TO VIOLENCE.
MENSTRUAL EQUITY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS IN AUSTIN.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS REPORT THEIR CURRENT STATE AS A RESULT OF ABUSE OR TRAUMA PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY ARE MOST EFFECTED BY A LACK OF ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS.
UM, THESE INDIVIDUALS OFTEN CANNOT AFFORD SUFFICIENT PERIOD CARE AND MAY DISAPPROVE, UH, DISPROPORTIONATELY SUFFER THE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF NOT HAVING THESE HYGIENE PRODUCTS READILY AVAILABLE AT ABOUT $50 PER YEAR.
EVERY MENSTRUATING PERSON DESERVES TO HAVE ACCESS TO PRODUCTS THAT ALLOW FOR A HYGIENIC PERIOD AND CONTINUED PRODUCTIVITY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES SURVIVE TO THRIVE, SEEKS TO MODEL ADVOCACY, EMPOWERMENT, PARTICIPATION, AND INCLUSION FOR A GOAL OF NORMALIZING PERIODS, SURVIVE TO THRIVE, SUPPORT, AND HOPES.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO IMPROVE MENSTRUAL EQUITY ACROSS AUSTIN, BY IMPROVING THE ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL EDUCATION AND PERIOD PRODUCTS ALONG WITH RE REMOVING THE TAX OR NEEDS ESSENTIAL HIDING PRODUCTS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, FOR THE RECORD, MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING SOME SOLUTIONS AROUND DISTRIBUTION AND THE PROCUREMENT OF THOSE PRODUCTS.
SO THERE'LL BE MORE, MORE TO COME IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.
UM, I IS, IS THE COLOR STILL ON THE LINE BY CHANCE? IS DOROTHY STILL ON THE LINE? UM, YES, MA'AM, I'M STILL HERE MORE THAN HALF OF PEOPLE REPORTED THEIR, UM, THEIR INTRODUCTION TO, UH, HOMELESSNESS WAS BY WAY OF ABUSE OR TRAUMA.
DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? YES, MA'AM STUDY THAT.
I, I CONTAINER HAS JUST, AND I DON'T HAVE, UM, THE REPORT THAT I RECEIVED THE STUDY FROM, BUT IT WAS, UM, UH, PAIRED IN THE ARTICLE IN THE STATESMAN THAT SHOWED THAT MORE THAN HALF OF, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERVIEWED SHOWED THAT ABUSE OR TRAUMA WAS THE REASON THAT THEY WERE FACING HOMELESSNESS AT THE TIME.
AND THEN THE OTHER, STUFF'S ALMOST YOUR QUESTION.
UM, AS IT, AS A STATEMENT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, UM, UH, DY HOWARD TRIED TO INTRODUCE, UH, TO THE LEGISLATOR, A BILL THAT WOULD REMOVE THE TAX FOR PERIOD PRODUCTS AND IT DIED.
SO I KNOW THAT SURVIVE TO THRIVE IS VERY ACTIVE AND ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO CONTINUE THAT ADVOCACY BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THAT ACHIEVABLE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT FIGHT.
[00:15:02]
OKAY.[1. Approve the minutes of the Health and Human Services Committee meeting on October 14, 2020.]
SO NEXT UP, UM, ITEM ONE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE OCTOBER 14TH, 2020 MEETINGS? I'M MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO ALL IN FAVOR AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS VOTE.
UM, UH, COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER KITCHEN, TOVO HARPER, MADISON WITH MAYOR PRETEND GARZA OFF THE DICE ITEM, NUMBER TWO, UM, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
UH, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
[2. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation by the Animal Advisory Commission that the City of Austin’s Animal Services Office participate in the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) pilot program as a Tier 1 city.]
OUR FIRST ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION BY THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE PARTICIPATE IN THE HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES.UM, ALSO KNOWN AS HAAS PILOT PROGRAM AS A TIER ONE CITY.
UM, COLLEAGUES, ARE WE READY TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM FOR ANIMAL SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HAAS PROGRAM? OR DO WE NEED TO HEAR FROM STAFF FIRST? I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM STAFF IF THAT'S OKAY.
I'M NOT SURE WHO WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US THIS MORNING.
I AM DON BLANDER, CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER, AND, UH, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF JASON GARCIA.
WE'RE BOTH ON THE LINE WHEN I GOT THERE, MR. ATLANTA, MR. GARZA.
UM, WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE US TO HELP US MAKE, UH, UM, SOUND DECISIONS ON THIS ITEM.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW WAS POINTED, WE WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THIS DATA THAT WE'VE DONE FOR YEARS, UH, IT IS PART OF THE HAAS MODEL ALREADY IN TERMS OF, WE KNOW THAT ANIMALS ARE PICKED UP A THOUSAND PAID FROM THEIR HOME.
UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE TRACK THAT FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, WE HAVE GONE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND REDUCED OUR INTAKE FROM THOSE AREAS AND OUTLIVE THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WE DO HAVE PREVENTION SERVICES.
WE, WE, A LOT IN THIS COMING YEAR, THIS BUDGET FISHINGER, OUR PREVENTION SERVICES IS A $1.3 MILLION IN PREVENTION SERVICES ALREADY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE HELP OVER 10,000 PEOPLE, SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND RABIES VACCINATIONS THAT CANNOT AFFORD THAT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, Y Y THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SHORTER AND MYSELF, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND WE DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE ORIGINALLY IS BECAUSE THE PUSHBACK, WHEN WE CLOSED FOR THE PANDEMIC AND ANIMAL FINDERS, OR ASKED TO TAKE THE PET BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH THEY FOUND IT AND HELP TRY TO FIND IT, UH, IT'S HOME RATHER THAN BRINGING IT IN BECAUSE OF THE, THE COVID CONCERNS, THE PUBLIC OUTCRY WAS ENORMOUS.
I THINK Y'ALL ALL EXPERIENCE EMAILS ACCORDINGLY.
AND, UH, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PUBLIC INPUT AND HE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE IT MORE, LOOKING AT GETTING MORE PUBLIC INPUT AND GET, YOU KNOW, TRY SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND GET BUY IN FROM THE COMMUNITY BEFORE WE STARTED MAKING MAJOR CHANGES DURING THE PANDEMIC.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO IN THE HAAS MODEL, UM, IT WILL BE SOME COSTS INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, THEY TALK ABOUT TAKING THE CALLS AND FOLLOWING THEM THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, UH, CREATING A PLAN.
CURRENTLY, THREE, ONE, ONE TAKES OVER 50,000 CALLS FOR US.
35, OVER 35,000 THIS YEAR HAD BEEN DIRECTED TO US AFTER THEY PRE-SCREENED THEM.
AND TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THAT CALL THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFFING.
AND CURRENTLY WE'RE VERY THIN STAFF, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FOLKS AROUND TO HANDLE THAT.
THAT WOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT WE WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO HAVE.
MR. BLAND, IF YOU DON'T MIND, DID YOU SAY 35,000? I'M HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.
UH, YES, FOR THE FIRST 50 WEEKS THIS YEAR, SINCE JANUARY 1ST, WE'VE, WE HAVE TAKEN 35,379 CALLS.
AND THAT IS AFTER THREE, ONE, ONE SCREENS OUT OF THIS PORTION OF DEMS THAT THEY CAN HANDLE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT COMING TO US.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO ALSO IN THE HAAS MODEL IS THAT AN AND THE SERVICE IT IS THAT IS, HAS TO HAVE TO BE HANDLED BY A THIRD PARTY, BUT TEXAS SITE LAWS, SHELTER, MARION CANNOT TREAT THE PUBLIC ANIMALS.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO OUTSOURCE THAT.
AND THAT IS A VERY COSTLY ENDEAVOR.
[00:20:01]
UM, WE CURRENTLY SPEND, UH, IN EXCESS OF $300,000 WITH, UH, EMERGENCY CLINICS, HELPING PETS GET HIT BY CARS WHEN WE'RE NOT OPEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.UM, GOOD MORNING, COUNSELOR, JUST TO, JUST TO TAG ON TO SOME OF, UH, MR. BLAND'S EARLIER COMMENTS.
WE, WE, WE'VE BEEN TAKING A LONGER DESERTS OVER THE YEARS TO TRY TO BE ABLE TO KEEP ANIMALS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE BUILT IN OUR FENCING FROM BRAND, UH, RATHER THAN TAKE SERIOUS MEASURES ON INDIVIDUALS.
I MEAN, WE, WE, OUR ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS WILL HAVE CONVERSATION WITH DOGS, OWNERS FIND OUT WHY YOUR ANIMAL IS GETTING OUT.
IF IT'S BROKEN FENCING OR A CLOSING REFUSE, THEN WE'LL PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN HELP THEM MAKE THOSE.
ULTIMATELY, WE WANT THEM TO KEEP THEIR PETS AND THEN THINGS, OTHER OTHER ITEMS WHERE WE, WE, WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THINGS THAT YOU MAY NEED.
AND WE HAVE HEARD THAT IT IS ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES, ACCESSIBILITY TO VET CARE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ACCESSIBILITY, JUST TO GET TO THE PET SUPPLIES THEY NEED.
SO WE HAVE TEAMS THAT WILL GO AND DELIVER DOG FOOD TO THEN DELIVER OTHER, OTHER, OTHER THINGS THEY MAY NEED.
UM, WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS OUT GROUP WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL WITH HELPING US, YOU KNOW, GET, PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE OR VOUCHERS TO INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY IT'S AN INSIGHT, AGAIN, A REASON FOR THEM TO KEEP THEIR PET RATHER THAN BREAK THAT FAMILY APART.
SO WE'LL BE CONSIDERING GIVING IT.
WE ALSO, UH, WE HAVE, UH, AN EMPLOYEE THAT DEALS WITH THE HOMELESS AND THEIR ASSISTANCE NEEDS, AND HE SPENDS, UH, 20 HOURS A WEEK, UM, WORKING WITH THOSE HOMELESS TO GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN THEIR PETS SAFELY.
OF COURSE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS ONE OF HIS CONCERNS STAYS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL VACCINATED.
AND IF THEY DO HAVE AN INCIDENT THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S PROTECTED.
SO WE'RE LIKE I SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE STATE MANAGERS, IT WAS MODEL POST THE HAAS IN FELT THE DATA.
IT'S MORE IN PUBLIC INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY SINCE WE HAD SUCH PUSHBACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND, UM, THAT WAS OUR MAIN CONCERN.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? THANK YOU, MR. BLAN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY.
YOU SAID THERE'S A DEDICATED FTE WHO SPENDS 20 HOURS WEEKLY FOR HOMELESS PET ASSISTANCE.
IS THAT A PART OF A SPECIFIC INITIATIVE THAT IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PROGRAMMING AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ACCOUNTS NUMBER, IT'S NOT A DEDICATED AT T IT'S A GRANT FUNDED POSITION THAT WE HAVE AS PART OF, AS DAN WAS SAYING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PROGRAM.
THIS IS SOME FUNDS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN SOME YEARS AGO, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, AT FIRST, WE WERE ABLE TO TARGET TARGETED ZIP CODES, BUT WE'VE EXPANDED IT TO OTHER ZIP CODES AS WELL AS SPECIAL MARKETS, THE HIGH INTAKE AREAS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND OTHERS, WHERE WE WERE SEEING SOME CONCERNS, WE, WE SORT OF MODIFIED THAT TO, TO ADDRESS IT AND, AND TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
AND SO WE WE'VE GOT FIVE GRANT, THE GRANT FATIGUE, OR THE GRAND TOUR, AND THEY WERE LIKE, WHATEVER, Y'ALL CAN DO THOSE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE TO STAY WITH THEIR OWNERS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UM, SPECIFICALLY TO THAT COMPONENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE
YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
UM, WE HAD, I HAD GOTTEN AN EMAIL FROM, FROM SOMEONE ABOUT THAT OUTREACH PROGRAM AND INDICATED WHO INDICATED THAT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE DOG FOOD, UM, LEASHES, THINGS OF THAT SORT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THEIR PETS, OR TO THEIR PET VIGILS, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR THEIR PETS.
IS, ARE THOSE THE KINDS OF RESOURCES THAT, THAT FTE OR THAT PART-TIME ASSISTANT? IS THIS SUFFERING CORRECT? YES, HE DOES PROVIDE THOSE KIND OF RESOURCES AS WELL AS WE HAVE GONE OUT AND DONE VACCINATIONS AT HOMELESS COUNTS, UH, WHERE ANIMALS NEED TO GET VACCINATED.
IF AN ANIMAL NEEDS TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, HE WILL HELP COORDINATE THAT TO GET THEM SPAYED AND NEUTERED.
SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, FOOD AND COLLARS AND LEASHES.
I WASN'T CLEAR ON WHERE THE VACCINATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE IF THEY WERE TAKING PLACE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, ONSITE.
SO THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL INFORMATION, I GUESS WHAT, YOU KNOW, AS THERE WERE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT, UM, MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME, I'M, I'M WONDERING, YEAH.
SOME OF THE SPRAYING OR ABOUT, UM, HOW IMPLEMENTATION
[00:25:01]
OF THIS PROGRAM COULD, COULD IMPACT SHELTER, THE SHELTER'S ABILITY TO, TO BE A PLACE OF OPEN INTAKE.IT WOULD SEEM TO ME JUST, YOU KNOW, AS AN OUTSIDE OBSERVER, OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T MY LINE OF WORK, BUT THAT IT, THAT THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY TO BALANCE BOTH OF BOTH OF THESE, UM, EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ANIMAL CENTER THAT IS OPEN FOR, FOR, UM, THAT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR WHICH THAT IS THERE THE MAIN OPTION OR FOR PET OWNERS WHO NEED THAT OPTION WHILE ALSO, UM, ENHANCING THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
IT'S REALLY BEEN A HELPFUL CONVERSATION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE, THE KIND OF, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL SUPPORT THAT THE ANIMAL CENTER ALREADY PROVIDES, BUT IT WOULD, IT, THERE DO SEEM TO BE SOME IMPORTANT ELEMENTS AND WAYS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES FACING EVICTION AND OTHER KINDS OF, OF DIRE SITUATIONS REALLY HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR, THEIR ANIMAL MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY.
SO CAN, CAN YOU ADDRESS CONCERN, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CALLS YOU'RE RECEIVING, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THERE'S A WAY TO BALANCE THESE TWO DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.
AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD RESPOND TO THAT, OR ARE WE THINKING ABOUT IT? UM, TOO SIMPLISTICALLY? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN DOING EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, UH, AND PRIOR TO THOMPSON MINE COMING ON BOARD IS WHEN ANIMALS ARE FOUND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BY SOMEONE, THEY TRY TO GET THAT PERSON TO FOSTER THAT ANIMAL AND HELP FIND ITS HOME WITHOUT COMING INTO SHELTER.
EVEN WHEN SOMEONE SHOWS UP WITH A STRAY AT THE SHELTER, WE HAVE ALWAYS ASKED THEM, BUT YOU CAN HELP FIND THIS ANIMALS, HOW LONG, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S PICKED UP WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET WHEN YOU TAKE IT BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, KNOCK ON SOME DOORS, WALK IT AROUND, SEE, SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ITS HOME.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WILL DO THAT.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WALKED IN THAT.
AND, UM, SO WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED WITH THAT, BUT WHEN SOMEONE CALLS US, JAYDEN WANTS TO UNDER SURRENDER, UH, WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL, YOU HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL DATA THAT PRC WILL SPEAK TO THEM AND TRY TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE PETS INTO THOSE HOMES WHERE THEY'RE LOVED, AND WE COULD HELP WITH SOME WAY WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ACHIEVE THAT.
AND SO THAT IS PART OF OUR PROGRAM ALREADY.
UM, ANSWERING QUESTIONS, A COUNSELOR, JUST TO TACK ON A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MR.
UM, YOU KNOW, BUT WE WERE, WE WEREN'T PUTTING MICROTIP SCANNERS AT ALL OUR AFP STATIONS AND OUR PARKS AND REC CENTERS.
SO THAT WAY WE COULD HAVE FOLKS TO FIND A PET TO GO TO A ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY TO COME GET IT SCANNED.
WE HAD IT SET UP WITH THE, WITH THE MICROCHIP FAMILIES THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE OWNER AND THE OWNER, AND, AND HOPEFULLY THEN SET UP A SNEAKY PICKUP AND MEETING AND DROP-OFF WITH THE FINDER AND THE OWNER OF THE W WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT WAYS ON HOW WE CAN SORT OF, YOU KNOW, A THINK SAMARITAN WANTS TO DO THE BEST.
AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE THE SEEDS, ALL I'LL TAKE YOU TO THE SHELTER.
AND, BUT IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY, SO THAT WAY IN PIECES, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT PET REUNITING, IN OTHER WORDS, TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS WHO, WHO TO GET THEM INTO THAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE THAT DEFINITELY WANT TO HELP AND GET THAT PET BACK TO THE FILM.
AND WE KNOW FROM, UH, TAKING THREE MORE MONTHS SERVICE REQUESTS WHERE PEOPLE HAD FOUND THE ANIMALS AND WE TALKED WITH THEM AND I KEPT IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY ANIMALS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF BEING RETURNED TO THEIR OTHER ROOMS IF THEY STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD RATHER THAN COMING TO THE SHELTER.
AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS ONE OF THE BIGGER THINGS IS HERE.
IF EVERYONE MIGHT REJECT THEIR ANIMALS, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
AND WITH $3 AND 75 CENTS FOR A MICROCHIP, YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY, AND WHEN WE GET SO MANY IN ENGLAND AND YOU'RE GETTING MACRO-TRENDS FOR FREE, SO THERE'S REALLY NO EXCUSE THAT, UH, IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU CAN GET IT UP.
AND I THINK THAT IN THE FIELD ALSO.
DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DIDN'T SEE WHETHER OR NOT YOUR HAND WAS RAISED? NO, I'M I'M OKAY.
UM, SO I BELIEVE IT WAS MR. LOPEZ.
YOU MENTIONED THE GRANT FUNDED POSITION FOR HOMELESSNESS PET, UH, FOR A HOMELESS PET ASSISTANCE.
WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PROGRAMMING, BUT IS GRANT FUNDED.
[00:30:01]
UH, EXPIRES, UH, IN MAY AND ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH HAS AGREED TO FUND THAT FOR THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.AND WE WILL PUT IT IN OUR BUDGET REQUESTS AS A FULL-TIME POSITION, THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I THINK YOU MAY HAVE ANTICIPATED WHAT MY QUESTIONS WOULD BE.
SO THE APH WILL FUND THROUGH THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 21.
UM, SO YOU SAID THAT YOU ALL WILL PUT IT IN YOUR BUDGET REQUEST.
IS THERE ANY ANTICIPATION THAT YOU'LL, UM, ALSO APPLY FOR THE GRANT? AGAIN, THE GRANT IS A, WE USE IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IT WILL NOT BE OFFERED.
SO THAT WILL NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE FUNDING.
UM, WE, WE ACTUALLY PLACED IT IN THE BUDGET THIS PAST YEAR AND IT DIDN'T GET APPROVED, BUT I THINK IF WE SHOW THAT WE, WE DO SHOW, WE TALKED ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD LOW IN PROGRAM, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE, I DON'T THINK UNDERSTOOD.
AND IF WE CONCENTRATE ON THE MATH THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE HOMELESSNESS AND WHAT IMPORTANT POSITION, THIS POSITION PLAYS IN THAT, I THINK THAT, UH, IT GET A GOOD, STRONG GROWING EVEN STRONGER THIS TIME.
SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THAT FTE POSITION, BUT I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UM, MIKE, MY OFFICE WILL CONNECT WITH YOU AND MR. BLAND AND, AND ASK SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS JUST TO GET A CLEARER PICTURE.
UM, SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT, SO THERE WAS, UH, A STATEMENT THERE WILL BE ADDED COSTS, UM, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR A NUMBER WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL, IF IT, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN A PART OF THE HAAS PROJECT SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANGES THEY'VE MADE, BUT IF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT WERE LOOKED AT AND THE VERY FIRST OUTLINES THAT THEY PROVIDED, IF WE WERE TO PROTECT, HANDLE ALL THE CALLS THAT CAN BE IN AND ALL OF THE SAVVY NEEDED TO RUN ALL THESE PROGRAMS, THE WAY THEY ORIGINALLY WERE ANTICIPATED, WE WERE LOOKING LIKE 1.4 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF AND BENEFITS.
AND THEN DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT THE NET FINANCIAL IMPACT WAS IN DALLAS? I DO NOT.
I'M NOT PRIVY TO THAT INFORMATION, BUT I DID IT.
I DID HEAR THAT THEY ACTUALLY HIRED A THIRD-PARTY CALL CENTER TO HANDLE THEIR CALLS.
I AM INCLINED AS WE DIG INTO THIS MORE, I'M INCLINED TO, UM, TO REQUEST THAT WE POSTPONE THIS ITEM JUST SO I CAN GET A FEW MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND FEEL, UM, FULLY INFORMED AND CONFIDENT AS WE MOVE INTO, UM, MAKING A DECISION HERE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GAVE ME PAUSE FOR REFERENCE, UM, HAVE TO DO WITH COST, OBVIOUSLY, UM, ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO THIRD PARTY VETERINARIAN, UM, SERVICES, I JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE WITH LIKE, WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS? UM, I CERTAINLY DON'T MEAN TO SOUND INSENSITIVE, BUT, UH, AT, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE DOING HARM AND NOT OFFERING SOME OF THESE ANIMALS THE BEST IN THE WAY OF POTENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE.
UM, AND WHILE WE SUBSEQUENTLY, YOU KNOW, UH, USE LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DO SO.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE POSTPONE THE ITEM, UM, IF THERE AREN'T ANY OBJECTIONS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UM, WE'LL POSTPONE THIS ITEM FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION.
UM, UH, LUCY, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE, BUT PROCEDURALLY DO I HAVE TO GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN WE PROPOSE TO POSTPONE THE ITEM INTO, I CAN'T REALLY SEE THOMPSON.
UM, I DID CHECK IN WITH ANIMAL SERVICES ON THIS ITEM, TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T A RUSH TO FORWARD IT TO COUNCIL.
ONCE WE HAVE THE APPROVAL AND I CAN WORK WITH THEIR OFFICE, OUR NEXT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 17TH.
I CAN WORK WITH THEIR OFFICE TO SEE IF THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT PROCEDURALLY, NO, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVA, I'M NOT SURE IF OUR ANIMAL CENTER, UM, TEAM HAS HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TODAY, BUT I'M ALSO, I KNOW THAT, UH, FRED STEP PRIDE HAS STARTED A NEW, A NEW, UH, EFFORT OF HAVING KENNELS AVAILABLE, UM, AT A SHELTER TO PROVIDE FOR ANIMALS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WHO ARE OUR GUESTS AT THE SHELTER.
[00:35:01]
LAST TIME I CHECKED IN, IT WAS A NEW PROGRAM, UM, RELATIVELY NEW.AND SO I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW HOW THAT SPARED AND IF THAT'S ALSO A MODEL THAT COULD BE EXPANDED TO SOME OF OUR OTHER, OUR OTHER SHELTERS, CAUSE I'VE JUST INVITED OUR ANIMAL CENTER STAFF.
IF THEY HAVE ANY INFORMATION, IF NOT, I'LL CONTACT HER OR FRONT STEPS THAT WE HAVE HOUSED ANIMALS WOULD MATE WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE GONE INTO THE HOSPITAL OR CARE AND WE HELD THEIR ANIMALS HERE UNTIL THEY COULD GET OUT, UH, IN THE TIME.
BUT THAT'S NOT A SERVICE THAT WE JUST OFFER.
YOU KNOW, GENERALLY, UH, IT'S NORMALLY WHEN THEY'RE PICKED UP FROM THE HOSPITAL OR ANIMAL IS PICKED UP AND BROUGHT TO, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, WE, WE, WE ARE HAVE LIMITED CABLE SPACE.
WE ARE AT, UH, CAPACITY, UH, WHERE WE WERE AT BEFORE COVID SHUT DOWN.
UH, THE COMMUNITY IS NOT VERY FORTHCOMING IN HELPING, UH, KEEP ANIMALS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE MADE, THEY DRIVE ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN TO BREED HERE.
IT'S, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THEM TO TAKE IT BACK.
THERE'S SOME THAT WILL, BUT MOST OF THEM IT'S NOW OUR PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ONCE THEY MAKE THEIR TRIP ACROSS TOWN.
SO WE, WE ARE FULL AND ONE IS IT, THERE'S NO PROBLEM GETTING THEM IN, BUT WE, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE SHELTER DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS TO ADOPT AND GET THEM OUT.
SO WE'RE COMING IN AND WE'RE GETTING OUT AND WE HAD TO ACTUALLY REACH OUT LAST WEEK TO APA AND OTHER RESCUE PARTNERS TO HELP FILL ANIMALS, TO HELP MAKE SPACE BECAUSE WE WERE, YEAH, I MEAN I'VE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC I'VE VISITED THE ANIMAL CENTER, UM, PRETTY OFTEN IT'S, IT'S ONE OF MY DAUGHTER'S FAVORITE PLACES TO GO TO WALK DOGS AND VISIT WITH THE ANIMALS.
SO I'VE SEEN, I'VE SEEN THAT VERY OFTEN.
YOU'RE BEYOND CAPACITY, UM, ACT CAPACITY BEYOND CAPACITY.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THOSE CHALLENGES, UM, AND JUST WOULD ENCOURAGE, I KNOW SOME YEARS WE'VE DONE, UH, UM, THE COUNCILS PARTICIPATED IN, UH, IN HELPING BRING ATTENTION TO THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS ABOUT THE WONDERFUL JOYS OF, OF, UM, BRINGING A PET INTO YOUR FAMILY.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PAT FROM THE ANIMAL CENTER WHO IS JUST, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T IMAGINE OUR LIVES WITHOUT, SO ANY, ANY SUPPORT WE CAN OFFER YOU AS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
UM, AGAIN, I KNOW AT THE ANIMAL CENTER DID KIND OF NICE T-SHIRTS AND WE ALL DID LITTLE VIDEOS AND THINGS OF THAT, OF THAT SORT TO HELP PROMOTE, PROMOTE, UM, ANIMALS, LEAVING THE, LEAVING THE CENTER AND INTO FAMILIES, BUT BACK TO THE ISSUE OF FRONT STEPS, I, I THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY INFORMATION WE NEED TO GET FROM FRONT STEPS, BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE, HOW WE REALLY MEET PEOPLE, WHERE THEY ARE AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO KEEP, TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS WITH THEM.
AND SO I REALLY APPLAUD FRONT STEPS FOR TAKING ACTION.
THEY CONVERTED A LITTLE ROOM TO ONE THAT NOW HAS KENNEL, SO THAT DOGS AND OTHER PETS CAN BE, CAN BE PUT IN THERE.
I'M JUST, AGAIN, I JUST WOULD BE I'LL REACH OUT TO THEM AND GET AN UPDATE ON HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT'S BEEN AND HOW WIDELY USED IT'S BEEN.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, I DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION.
SO I HEARD, UM, I HEARD YOU THAT, UM, UH, LIST OUT ALL THE SERVICES, INCLUDING SPAY AND NEUTER AND MICROCHIP AND FOOD, ET CETERA.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS IT EXTENDS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT UNSHELTERED, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND CAN'T AFFORD FOOD OR VETERINARY CARE, ET CETERA.
SO THAT IS WE, WE RUN AN, UH, SPAY-NEUTER FIBER CHIP RABIES CLINICS THROUGHOUT, UM, THE CITY AND COUNTY ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN PUBLIC AREAS WHERE IT'S ADVERTISED AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT ASSISTANCE AND GO TO THOSE LOCATIONS.
UH, WE CONTRACT THAT OUT THREE MAN, SO PADS AND, UH, THE COUNTY ALSO, UH, FINANCES, $140,000 A YEAR FOR CLINICS LIKE THAT IN THE COUNTY, THEY HAVE INCORPORATED AREAS.
SO THOSE ARE THE RESOURCES THERE ARE AVAILABLE.
UH, AND IF SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GET LOTS OF DONATED FOOD AND THAT IS WHAT WE USE, UH, WHEN PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES AND THEY HAVE ISSUES, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR HAPPENS.
AND WE ALSO, WHEN SOMEONE WANTS TO SURRENDER AN ANIMAL AND IT NEEDS SOME VETERINARIAN CARE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OUR FRIENDS
[00:40:01]
WITH AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WILL PROVIDE VOUCHERS, UH, FARGO'S FOLKS, UH, TO GO OUT AND SEEK ASSISTANCE.AND I THINK IN THEIR BUDGET THIS YEAR, THAT IT'S LIKE $20,000.
AND IF THEY PUT IN THEIR BUDGET FOR ASSISTANCE, WHEN PEOPLE NEED IT, AND WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING BEHAVIOR ISSUES THAT NEED TO REHOME THEIR ANIMALS, BECAUSE THEY, THEY HAVE A BEHAVIOR ISSUES BETWEEN FRIENDS OF AN AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
WE HAVE ABOUT $75,000 THIS YEAR THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM VOUCHERS TO SEE TRAINING, TO HELP KEEP THOSE ANIMALS IN THEIR HOMES.
WHERE DOES THE FUNDING FOR THAT $75,000 WITH THE MATTRESS COME FROM THE ANIMAL AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SIDE? IS THAT OUT OF YOUR BUDGET? UH, THAT PAIN OUT OF OUR DONATION BUDGET, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S UH, ABOUT 35,000 OUT OF OUR DONATION BUDGET, AND THEN THE REMAINING 40,000 THAT'S, UM, FRIENDS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
AND IT SAID, UM, THE KIND OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION THAT YOU DEPEND ON REGULARLY TO WHERE THERE'S SOME SORT OF, UM, I GUESS A PERPETUAL DONATION IS THAT INCONSISTENT OR, YOU KNOW, PREDICTABLE.
IT IS UNPREDICTABLE OUR DETONATION BUDGET THAT HAS DOMINATED LIKE THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE WEREN'T ABLE TO USE IT TILL NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND WE HAVE A PUBLIC INPUT, THE DONORS THAT DOMINATE, THEY GIVE US INPUT ON THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS ON.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE ADVICE FROM THAT AND WITH OUR NEEDS AND THEIR ADVICE, WE PUT A PLAN TOGETHER AND THAT'S TRAINING DOLLARS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BIG ON THEIR AGENDA LAST YEAR.
AND SO OUT OF CURIOSITY, HAVE THOSE DONATION DOLLARS SHIFTED DURING COVID, UH, WE ACTUALLY NOT SEEING ANY SHIFTS OF WHAT YOU RECEIVED AS MANY $90 THIS PAST YEAR SAY THE PREVIOUS YEAR, I GUESS.
I MEAN, THE, UM, THE EXPENDITURE, THE USE OF THE DOLLARS, CERTAINLY THERE'S BEEN SOME SHIFT IN OPERATIONS.
WE, WE SAW LESS BEING USED BECAUSE WE HAD LESS IT'S BEING USED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE COULD NOT, YOU KNOW, GATHER MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE.
AND A LOT OF OUR CLINICS WERE, UH, CLOSED.
ALL THE FACILITIES WERE CLOSED AND THE MANTIC THAT, UH, HAD TO SCALE BACK ALSO.
SO WE'RE SEEING THAT AS WE'RE RANTING THAT AS BACKUP AND AS MORE PARKS OPEN UP AND MORE FACILITIES FOR US.
UH, SO YES, WE DIDN'T SPEND AS MANY IN SPAIN DID OR DOLLARS THIS YEAR AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
AND THOSE WILL CARRY OVER AND BE APPLIED TO THIS YEAR'S SPAY AND NEUTERS, AND WE'LL PROBABLY GET MORE CLINICS TO HELP UTILIZE THOSE DOLLARS.
ONCE WE CAN OPEN UP A SECOND POINT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TODAY, BUT WHEN WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME INFORMATION AROUND PARAMETERS UNDER WHICH WE, UM, USE EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE, UM, TO SAVE ANIMALS.
WHO'VE BEEN IN AN AUTO ACCIDENTS.
UH, I CAN JUST TELL YOU THE WAY IT WORKS.
NOW WE ARE CLOSED AND INSTEAD OF SYNCING, HE'S AN ANIMAL THAT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, BEING HIT BY A CAR IN DISTRESS.
THEY CAN TAKE THAT TO THE EMERGENCY CLINIC.
THE EMERGENCY CLINIC WILL STABILIZE THAT ANIMAL AND WAIT FOR US TO OPEN AND THEN TRANSFERRED OVER TO US.
AND WE ALWAYS, IF IT'S AN ANIMAL THAT'S RECLAIMED, WE ASKED THE FOUNDER TO HELP PAY THOSE COSTS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT 95% OF THE TIME THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND WE ABSORB COSTS FOR THOSE, YOU HAVE A GENERAL IDEA OF, OF AN ESTIMATED COST THAT WE INCUR AS A CITY.
IT WAS LESS THAN 300,000 LAST YEAR.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF PARAMETERS, LIKE WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL, IF, I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS HOW DOES THE VET GO ABOUT DETERMINING VIABILITY FOR, YOU KNOW, HAVING A QUALITY LIFE AFTER RECOVERY?
[00:45:01]
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, DO WE TRY TO SAVE EVERY SINGLE PET THAT COMES IN AFTER AN ACCIDENT, OR ARE THERE PARAMETERS WHERE WE MAKE THE DETERMINATION ABOUT COST BENEFIT? IT'S NOT COST BENEFIT IT'S UM, THE VETERINARIANS, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR OATH IS TO SAVE ANIMALS AND DO LOPSIDED MEASURES THAT WILL GET THEM.YOU KNOW, IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE.
IF THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO, THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK AND THEN WOULD MAKE A DECISION ACCORDINGLY.
BUT THOSE WERE VERY FEW THAT TRIED TO SAVE EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES IN REGARDLESS OF COST, REGARDLESS OF COST, THEY DON'T MAKE DECISIONS ON COST IS WHETHER THEY CAN SAY
I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION.
IF NONE OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES QUESTIONS, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY LET YOU ALL GO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, OR TO-GO ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
WELL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON.
I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING THOUGH.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO, I THINK A COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO IS BEING A TEACHER RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WAIT, JUST A MOMENT.
I'M HEARING BOTH OF YOU OUT OF EACH YEAR.
WELL, I'M AN EDUCATOR BY DAY ALSO I SCHOLAR.
DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL I DIDN'T, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOURS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE PROBING ARE PROBING THE LEVEL OF, UM, FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN SOME OF THESE AREAS.
UM, AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE EMERGENCY CARE WITH ACCIDENTS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
SO THANK YOU CHAIR FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE INTO WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING BUDGET TIMES JUST TO BE AWARE, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTEMPLATE TAKING ON NEW COSTS FOR THE ANIMAL CENTER.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS THIS MORNING.
AND FEEL FREE TO SEND OVER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AFTERWARDS.
UM, SO IN ORDER TO POST ALONE THE ITEM, UH, IF WE'RE READY, I NEED A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE THE HAAS ITEM.
UM, AND I'M GOING TO SAY INDEFINITELY, BUT LET'S PRESUME TILL, UNTIL AT LEAST THE FEBRUARY 17TH.
UM, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
TOVO SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, ALL IN FAVOR.
THAT PASSES THREE TO ZERO WITH MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA OFF THE DIETS.
[4. Discussion and possible action regarding the process for the selection of the joint appointee to the Sobering Center Local Government Corporation Board of Directors.]
OUR SECOND ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS.THIS ITEM WILL BE TAKEN UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, OUR THIRD SCHEDULED ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PROCESS FOR THE SELECTION OF THE JOINT APPOINTEE TO THE SOBERING CENTER, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
YEAH, SO IT APPEASES A JULIE WEAVER, TRAVIS COUNTY INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON WHAT THE PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE FOR THE SOBERING CENTER VACANCY, SINCE THIS IS A JOINT APPOINTMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
UM, WE DO APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY ON THESE APPOINTMENTS.
ONCE WE HEAR FROM JULIE, THE COMMITTEE CAN TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE PROCESS.
UM, JULIE, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? I AM.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
UM, AS THE CHAIR MENTIONED, I'M JULIE WHEELER, THE INTER GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING THE CURRENT VANC.
THEY CAN SEE FOR THE JOINT APPOINTEE TO THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, ANDY BROWN RESIGNED FROM HIS POST, UM, AN UNEXPIRED TERM THAT RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022 AS IS NOW THE COUNTY JUDGE.
SO BY VIRTUE OF THAT POSITION, HE IS ACTUALLY STILL A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
TYPICALLY IN THIS SITUATION, WE WOULD ISSUE A JOINT CALL FOR APPLICATIONS, UM, CREATING A SHARED APPLICANT POOL, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST DID FOR THE CENTRAL HEALTH JOINT APPOINTMENT.
HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE ISSUED CALLS IN THE PAST YEAR.
SO IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS, UM, COUNTY STAFF AND CITY STAFF MET AND DISCUSSED A POSSIBLE WORKAROUND AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THAT WILL EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO SHARE GOALS FROM BOTH CALLS SO THAT WE'LL CREATE ONE CANDIDATE POOL THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE NEXT
[00:50:02]
TWO MEMBERS FROM YOUR COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH TWO MEMBERS FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.LOOK AT THOSE APPLICANTS AND COME UP WITH A SLATE OF CANDIDATES TO BE INTERVIEWED SEPARATELY BY EACH, UM, ENTITY.
SO AGAIN, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST DID WITH CENTRAL HEALTH AT THAT POINT, EACH ENTITY WOULD HOLD INTERVIEWS, COME UP WITH A CANDIDATE.
IF THERE'S CONSENSUS, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
IF THERE'S NOT CONSENSUS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL MEET AGAIN, TRY TO COME TO ONE, UM, AND THEN MAKE AN APPOINTEE.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT IF WE CAN FOLLOW THIS PROCESS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT IN PLACE BY NO LATER THAN APRIL, UM, POSSIBLY SOONER, DEPENDING ON WHAT SCHEDULING CAN LOOK LIKE FOR BOTH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND FOR YOUR COMMITTEE.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
UM, COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER TOPO.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THOUGHTS.
I'M TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER I NEED TO ASK THEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE HAD DONE, WE DID A VERY RECENT SEARCH AND I CAME OUT OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION THINKING THAT WE WERE, THAT WE HAD, UM, ANOTHER POTENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO WE MIGHT RECOMMEND FOR THIS JOINT APPOINTMENT.
AND I, I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC TO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE AND TO PROVE THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE WE'D LIKE FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD THAT APRIL, I SURE HOPE WE CAN DO IT BEFORE APRIL, BECAUSE APRIL WOULD BE A SIX MONTH DELAY AND THIS IS SUCH A SMALL BOARD THAT IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
AND SO WE, WE JUST ARE GOING TO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY THROUGH, THROUGH OUR JOINT APPOINTMENTS AND THROUGH OUR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THAT MATTER.
SO I WONDER IF, UM, I GUESS I THROW THAT OUT THERE AND, AND ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW 1:00 AM I REMEMBERING THAT CONVERSATION CORRECTLY? OR COULD WE, COULD WE FIGURE OUT, I GUESS, WONDERING WHETHER THE CITY FEELS TO DO OUR INTERVIEW? LET ME KATHY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
I WAS TALKING WITH MY HANDS AND IN DOING SO I HIT MY BUTTON.
THAT'S THE DOWNFALL OF TALKING WITH YOUR HANDS, I GUESS, BUT I WAS SAYING, I WONDER IF ONE, I GUESS, AM I REMEMBERING THAT DISCUSSION CORRECTLY, THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR EXISTING POOL AND MAKING THAT SUGGESTION TO THE COUNTY AND IF, AND IF OUR RE INTERVIEWING, HOW QUICKLY, HOW QUICKLY COULD WE GET THAT PROCESS UP AND RUNNING? SO THAT WOULD BE REALLY APPOINTMENT SOON.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVAR.
I ACTUALLY RECALL THAT CONVERSATION AND I HAVE THE SAME TAKEAWAY THAT WE WERE MAKING OUR CONSIDERATION FROM THE APPLICANT POOL THAT WE HAD ALREADY INTERVIEWED.
UM, IN WHICH CASE, JULIE, I'M NOT SURE HOW WE'D MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE COUNTY IS COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CURRENT, UM, APPLICANTS AS OUR POOL OF CANDIDATES TO SELECT FROM.
SO, UM, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS NOT TAKEN OFFICIAL ACTION ON THIS PROCESS YET WE WERE, UM, THEY'RE SCHEDULED TO DO SO ON TUESDAY.
I KNOW THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO SHARE THE CANDIDATE POOLS SINCE IT DOES SEEM LIKE BOTH ENTITIES RECEIVED A NUMBER OF WELL-QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS SEVERAL APPLICANTS THAT THEY INTERVIEWED, THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO RECOMMEND FOR THIS PROCESS SIMILAR TO YOU ALL AS WELL.
BUT I THINK IN FAIRNESS, IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE FAIR TO GIVE BOTH ENTITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT COMBINED CANDIDATE POOL, JUST IN CASE THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT YOU ALL LIKE FROM OUR LIST.
AND THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT WE LIKE FROM YOUR LIST.
SO IT, AGAIN, WHILE THERE MAY BE CANDIDATES THAT BOTH ENTITIES ALREADY HAVE IN MIND, IT MIGHT, IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO AT LEAST LOOK AT THAT LOCAL LIST OF CANDIDATE.
THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME, COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPINIONS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER OR THE OTHER ON, UM, COMBINING THOSE LISTS AND THEN MOVING FROM THERE TO TAKE, UH, TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A COUNCIL MEMBER CATCHES FIRE? WELL, I'M OKAY WITH THAT APPROACH.
I'M, I'M HEARING, UM, KATHY'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMELINE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS DOES TO OUR TIMELINE.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY QUESTION SO THAT THE TIMELINE THAT I'VE GIVEN IS IT IS MUCH LONGER THAN I THINK ANYONE WOULD PREFER.
IT WILL JUST BE A MATTER OF WHEN WE CAN GET THINGS SCHEDULED BETWEEN BOTH ENTITIES.
SO IF THERE IS AN APPETITE TO DO SO, I BELIEVE THAT THE TWO MEMBERS FROM YOUR COMMITTEE COULD MEET WITH THE TWO MEMBERS FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND COME UP WITH, UM, THE SLATE OF CANDIDATES YOU'LL WANT TO INTERVIEW.
AND DEPENDING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR SCHEDULING ON YOUR END, WE COULD BEGIN CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS IN JANUARY,
[00:55:01]
IF, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO.UM, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE DEFINITELY COULD FINISH THIS UP.
WELL, BEFORE APRIL, I JUST, I WANTED TO BE MINDFUL OF SCHEDULING CONSIDERATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
THANK YOU, MISS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOBA.
I THINK IF WE'RE MERGING OUR POLLS, IT'D BE GOOD TO GET THAT MERGED LIST KIND OF SOON.
AND THE COUNTY JUST DID INTERVIEWS RECENTLY, AND WE JUST DID INTERVIEWS RECENTLY.
SO MAYBE COMING BACK TOGETHER AS OUR COMMITTEE AND DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO HAVE INTERVIEWS WOULD BE A STARTING PLACE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, REALISTICALLY, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE COULD EVEN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BEFORE.
I MEAN, WE WOULD NEED, WE PROBABLY WON'T BE HAVING IT BEFORE THE NEXT YEAR ANYWAY.
UM, I THINK ADDRESSING THAT PIECE, IF, IF THE COMMITTEE COULD NAME TWO MEMBERS AMONGST YOURSELVES, UM, AS PART OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
SO AGAIN, WHAT WE DID WITH THE CENTRAL HEALTH APPOINTMENT, WHERE BOTH ENTITIES DIDN'T RE REACH CONSENSUS INITIALLY, BUT WE HAD THE BREAKOUT AND YOU GUYS DID FINALLY COME TO A RESOLUTION, WHICH, WHICH THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT WAS A VERY PROCESS AND WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID THAT PROCESS AGAIN WITH THIS ONE, UM, THAT COULD HAPPEN BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.
SO I THINK THE NEXT STEPS AFTER LOOKING AT THE CANDIDATES WOULD BE, I IMAGINE FOR YOUR PROCESS, THAT IT NEEDS TO COME BACK TO THE FULL COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL OF THAT LIST AND THEN A SECONDARY MEETING TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WITH THAT PROCESS.
WAS THAT A QUESTION? UM, IT IS JUST CLARIFICATION AT LEAST FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE TIMELINE.
UM, I THINK IF YOU ALL COULD TAKE ACTION TODAY TO NAME TWO MEMBERS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS, THE TWO COMMISSIONERS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP, THE SECOND STEP.
UM, THAT WOULD BE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
YOU ALL WOULD NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS THE GROUP AGAIN, TO FORMALIZE THIS ELECTION AND THEN TO SET A DATE TO DO INTERVIEWS.
IS THAT, IS THAT THE NORMAL OF ACTION COUNCIL MEMBER? TOVA I'M SORRY, I WASN'T TRYING TO ANSWER THAT.
I WAS, OH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M SORRY.
I HAVE A THOUGHT, BUT I, I WILL GET RID OF YOU APPROPRIATELY.
FORGIVE ME IF I'M NOT, IF I DON'T HAVE THE FRAME OF REFERENCE TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE NORMAL COURSE OF ACTION, UM, I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT AS OUR PROCESS.
SO IN THE PAST, WHAT WE DID WAS IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN AND MYSELF, UM, AND I'M PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE WITH, UM, UH, RECONSIDERING WHAT THAT SUBCOMMITTEE LOOKS LIKE.
UM, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE US ALL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA WON'T BE WITH US, UM, NEXT YEAR, IN WHICH CASE IT LEAVES THE THREE OF US TO SELECT FROM, FOR THE TWO PERSON SUBCOMMITTEE TO MAKE THAT, UM, TO TAKE THE, THOSE CONSIDERATIONS.
UM, I WILL, I WILL DO WHATEVER Y'ALL NEED.
IF, IF YOU NEED ME TO PARTICIPATE, I WILL, I'M NOT GOING TO BE AROUND, UH, AND I HAVE A FAIRLY FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE, BUT AGAIN, IT'S STUCK TO WHAT YOU TWO WOULD LIKE TO DO.
AND KATHY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE ON IT WITH RUSSIA, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IS, IS A WAY OF MAYBE, UM, SPEEDING UP ONE STEP.
WHAT IF WE, WHAT IF, AND THERE ARE TWO WAYS THIS CAN GO EITHER THE THREE OF US MEET WITH THE COUNTY REPS AND NARROW DOWN THE LIST AND CONDUCT INTERVIEWS TOGETHER, OR IF THERE'S SOME REASON WHY CAN'T BE ON IT.
UM, WE DO A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DOES JUST THAT VERY SAME THING, JUST TO KIND OF SKIP THE STEP OF THE COMMITTEE, HAVING TO COME BACK TO THE OTHER COMMITTEE AND CHECK AND HAVE ALL OF THOSE CHECK-INS IF WE, IF WE COULD AT LEAST ELIMINATE THAT ON OUR SIDE, UM, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE A TIME-SAVER.
AND IF WE COULD ACTUALLY DO THE PROCESS WITH THE COUNTY AT THE SAME TIME IN TIME, THAT WOULD ALSO STOP THE NEED FOR COORDINATION.
THERE MAY BE SOME RULES ON THE COUNTY SIDE THAT PREVENT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY RULES ON OUR SIDE THAT WOULD PREVENT OUR, JUST PARTICIPATING WITH THE COUNTY REPS AND, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
IF, IF THERE CAN'T BE THREE OF US AND THE TWO OF YOU WILL CONTINUE TO, TO CONSTITUTE THAT SUBCOMMITTEE, THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THAT HELPS THE PROCESS, UM, MOVED MORE QUICKLY, I'M HAPPY TO, TO NOT BE A PART OF IT.
I'M ALSO HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.
I MEAN, I LOVE, I LOVE DOING THE REVIEW OF THE SOBERING CENTER CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY, BUT AGAIN, MY, MY
[01:00:01]
INTEREST IS IN DOING WHATEVER WE NEED YOU TO GET THE PROCESS.REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, WHO'S ON THE LINE WHO CAN HELP US TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THE THREE OF US IS PERMISSIBLE.
YOU HAVE TO SELECT TWO MEMBERS, OR CAN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THREE OF US AS A PART OF THE SELECTION AND JOINT CONSIDERATION PROCESS.
THIS IS STEPHANIE WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
I HAVE SOMETHING IN MY THROAT.
UM, THAT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM FOR US.
THE ONLY CONCERN THAT WE WOULD HAVE ON OUR END IS IF YOU DID INTERVIEWS THAT WAY AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO IF YOU JUST WANTED TO MEET TO DISCUSS THE POOLS, THAT WOULD BE, OH, CHAIR, CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME? OKAY.
I GUESS I WAS SQUINTING, BUT YEAH, I'M HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME.
IT'S VERY LOW I'M IN CHAMBER, SO IT'S ECHOING IN HERE, BUT LET ME SWITCH MY EX OKAY.
CAN, IS THAT BETTER? MUCH BETTER.
THIS IS STEPHANIE WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT REALLY PREVENTS US FROM DOING THAT ON THE CITY SIDE.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE INTERVIEWS, WHICH WE WOULD WANT, IF WE DO INTERVIEWS, WE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND I THINK THAT POSES A PROBLEM.
THEN IF WE COMBINE THAT WITH THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE CAN'T REALLY DO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THEM.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY STRUGGLE OTHER THAN THAT, THE THREE OF YOU COLLABORATING ON THAT IS NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.
SO THE THREE OF US COLLABORATING ON THAT CAN HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF AN OFFICIAL HHSC MEETING, CORRECT? OR DO WE NEED TO CALL ANOTHER MEETING IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS? I THINK IF THE THREE OF YOU WANTED TO OFFICIALLY MEET WITH THE COUNTY AND WE WOULD HAVE TO POST THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY SIDE WOULD BE ON THAT.
UH, BUT FOR US, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
UM, TYPICALLY THE FULL COURT CONDUCTS INTERVIEWS FOR APPLICANTS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S LEFT TO THE S TO THE SCREENING.
UM, AND I THINK AS STEPHANIE RAISED, IT MAY BE AN ISSUE IF INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE CITY, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY HESITATION.
AND ADDITIONALLY, IF, IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE SCHEDULED AS A FULL MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE THAT COULD CREATE SOME DELAYS IN THE PROCESS.
SO I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS HERE.
UM, I THINK WE HAD NARROWED OUR CANDIDATE POOL DOWN TO TWO ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
UM, SO I WONDER IF WE COULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO DO THAT.
EITHER ENTITY CONTRIBUTE TO CANDIDATES FOR CONSIDERATION THAT WAY THE COUNTY WOULD ONLY HAVE TO CONDUCT TWO ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS AND THE CITY WOULD ONLY HAVE TO CONDUCT SOME ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS.
THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY OF IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT YOU'RE SORRY, I'M TRIPPING OVER MY OWN TONGUE.
IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO, UM, THAT WOULD NEGATE THE NEED TO MEET AGAIN, AT LEAST AS THE SMALL COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES AS A LIST, PROBABLY STEVE HAVE ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THAT, UM, IDEA.
UM, I'M A, I'M ECHOING COUNCIL MEMBER.
DOES THAT WORK, CATHY? UM, THINK SO.
I'M SORRY, CHAIR, TO ASK YOU TO RESTATE IT.
I GOT HUNG UP ON THE FACT THAT I'M REMEMBERING THAT WE ONLY HAD ONE OTHER, SO I, I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER NOW.
UM, AND SO WOULD YOU MIND RESTATING YOUR PROCESS? YOU WERE SUGGESTED, WELL, IT, IT CHANGES IF IT WAS JUST ONE.
I COULDN'T RECALL WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS ONE OR TWO, BUT IF IT WAS ONE, ONE, AND NOW I REMEMBER WHO THE ONE WAS, IF IT WAS JUST THE ONE, MAYBE WE COULD SEE IF THE COUNTY COULD NARROW DOWN THEIR SELECTION TO ONE CANDIDATE FOR OUR CONSIDERATION, SINCE WE HAVE THE ONE CANDIDATE FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND THEN EITHER ENTITY INTERVIEW THE, THE ADDITIONAL CANDIDATE.
AND THEN WE MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS A JOINT BODY.
THAT THAT PREVENTS US FROM HAVING TO, TO GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE THAT WE REALLY HAVE ALREADY DETERMINED THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT.
AND SO THEN GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO,
[01:05:01]
YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE IT'S NECESSARY FOR US.I THINK THAT THAT'S JULIETTA, YOU PROPOSE, WE MOVE FORWARD.
DO WE, UM, OFFER AS A BODY? DO WE OFFER THE COUNTY THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE HAVE TENTATIVELY AS OUR TOP CANDIDATE? AND THEN YOU GUYS DO THE SAME.
IF THE COUNTY HAS TWO CANDIDATES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO YOU ALL, WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO THAT? I WOULD, UH, COLLEAGUES.
IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THAT'S AFFIRMATIVE.
UM, THEN WHAT WE COULD DO, I CAN, I CAN PRESENT THAT TO THE COUNTY THAT THEY'LL SELECT THEIR CANDIDATES THAT THEY'D LIKE TO INCLUDE IN THE POOL.
THEY WILL CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW OF YOUR SELECTED CANDIDATE AND THEN YOU ALL, WHEN YOU COME BACK AND INTERVIEW THE COUNTIES SELECTED CANDIDATES, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE SUBCOMMITTEE CAN GET TOGETHER.
IF THERE'S NOT A CONSENSUS ON A CANDIDATE TO GO THROUGH, TO TRY TO FIND ONE, OKAY.
I APPRECIATE THAT IN WHICH CASE, AND IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, I WONDER IF WE NEED TO, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE MOTION.
THE MOTION IS TO PRESENT OUR CANDIDATE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE TO PRESENT THE CANDIDATE TO THE COUNTY FOR CONSIDERATION, RIGHT.
AND THEN TO, I GUESS, A AHEAD OF TIME APPROVE, ACCEPTING THE COUNTIES CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEWS.
AND THEN I GUESS IT WOULD TIME WORKING WITH LUCY TO FIND THE NEXT MEETING THAT YOU ALL WOULD DO INTERVIEWS.
AND STEPHANIE FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME, BUT I THINK THE MOTION IS TO SHARE OUR CANDIDATE, UM, SHARE OUR CANDIDATE FOR THE BOARD, WITH THE COUNTY AND APPROVE, ACCEPTING THE COUNTIES TO CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEWS.
OKEY-DOKEY IN WHICH CASE, CAN I GET A MOTION, UM, FROM MY COLLEAGUES TO SHARE OUR CANDIDATE? OKAY.
UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN MAKES THE MOTION, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO SECONDS, THE MOTION ALL IN FAVOR.
UM, THE MOTION PASSES THREE TO ZERO WITH MAYOR PRO TEM KARSA OFF THE DIAS.
THANK YOU, JULIE, FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
UM, I I'LL, UH, I'LL UH, GET WITH LUCY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY THE BEST WAY TO SEND THAT INFORMATION OVER TO YOU.
[5. Receive a briefing on Menstrual Equity.]
BRIEFINGS.WE'LL HEAR FROM MEG MOORE, THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE FOR OUR DISTRICT ONE OFFICE, MEG WILL BE PRESENTING A BRIEFING ON MENSTRUAL EQUITY.
MIKE, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? I AM.
AND THANK YOU, CITY HALL FOR BRINGING UP MY, UH, BRINGING UP MY SLIDES.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST AN, AN UPDATE ON THE MENSTRUAL EQUITY INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UH, LAUNCHING OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS.
I WANTED TO OPEN BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOBO KITCHEN AND MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE.
ON OUR NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE VISION FOR THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE IS THAT AUSTINITES LIVES ARE NOT LIMITED OR RESTRICTED BY ADMINISTRATION.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, TO, TO BUILD A GROUP THAT CAN SUPPORT THIS WORK.
AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY HEARTENED BY THE ENTHUSIASTIC, UH, ENGAGEMENT OF MANY STAKEHOLDERS ON OUR NEXT SLIDE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD A BROAD COALITION ACROSS THE CITY.
IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL SUPPORT, WE'VE HAD ENGAGEMENT FROM PUBLIC, EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
AND WHEN, UM, LOTS OF GREAT SUPPORT AND LOTS OF GREAT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WILLING TO JOIN US.
WE'VE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE DECIDED THAT IT WILL BE MORE, MOST EFFICIENT TO WORK AT LEAST ON OUR PILOT PROJECTS WITH A LEADERSHIP GROUP.
SO WE FORMED A WORK GROUP WITH PARTICIPATION FROM AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH,
[01:10:01]
AUSTIN, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE TEXAS COMMISSION FOR WOMEN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A COUPLE OF PILOT PROJECTS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UH, LATER ON, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LARGER STAKEHOLDER GROUP, INCLUDING, UH, CENTRAL HEALTH, THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC, AND, UH, A WIDE GROUP OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON ADOLESCENT SERVICES, FOCUSED ON SUPPLYING, UM, BASIC NEEDS PRODUCTS TO, UH, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNDER SUFFERING, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS AND ALSO ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.SO THE, ON THE NEXT SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE TWO PILOT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE LAUNCHED.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THIS TENUOUS SITUATION WHERE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE BUILDING MENSTRUAL EQUITY INTO OUR WORK GOING FORWARD, BUT ALSO WE'RE OPERATING UNDER THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE TRANSITION BACK TO NORMALCY WILL HAPPEN AND ALSO HOW THAT WILL IMPACT THESE INITIATIVES.
SO WE'RE FOCUSING ON, UH, AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE USEFUL AND HELPFUL DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND, UH, THE STAFF OVER AT PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC HAVE A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS WITH ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE APPROACHING THEIR FIRST PERIODS.
AND, UH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
THEY HAVE SORT OF A, A SET TALK THAT THEY GIVE FACE TO FACE DURING CHECKUPS AND, AND OTHER EMERGENT CARE VISITS WITH ADOLESCENTS.
THEY WALK ADOLESCENTS THROUGH BEN STATION, WHAT TO EXPECT THE ANATOMY, UH, PERIOD PRODUCTS, UH, COMMON SYMPTOMS, AND ALSO INTRODUCE THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO, UH, WEB-BASED TOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN ANSWER THEIR OWN QUESTIONS.
AFTER THE VISIT, AFTER A MEETING WITH THE ADOLESCENT IN THESE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN TO SPEAK BRIEFLY WITH THE GUARDIANS AND CAREGIVERS OF THOSE ADOLESCENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAREGIVERS ARE PREPARED AND CAN REDUCE, UH, SHAME AND STIGMA AROUND PERIODS FOR THOSE ADOLESCENTS APPROACHING MONARCHY.
NOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THE COMMUNICATION FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO CONVEY THIS INFORMATION ARE NOT ACTIVE.
THERE ARE, UH, GIRLS CLUBS IN AUSTIN ISD SCHOOLS.
THERE ARE, UM, TALKS IN GIRL SCOUTS MEETINGS.
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE IN-PERSON WAYS TO CONVEY THIS INFORMATION.
AND MANY OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT OPERATING ON THEIR USUAL SCHEDULES AND THEY'RE NOT OPERATING IN THEIR TRADITIONAL MODELS.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAVE ADOLESCENT AUSTINITES WHO ARE NOT, WHO ARE APPROACHING MINISTRATION, WHO DO NOT IDENTIFY AS GIRLS AND STILL NEED THIS INFORMATION AND MAY HAVE EVEN MORE SHAME AND STIGMA AROUND OBTAINING PRODUCTS AND OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT MENSTRUATION.
SO THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS VIDEO IS THAT THIS WILL BE A RESOURCE THAT CAN BE OFFERED TO ANY AND ALL AUSTINITES WITHOUT, UH, NEEDING TO, UH, NEEDING TO MAKE IT TOO PUBLIC.
SO THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT WILL BE VERY USEFUL DURING THE PANDEMIC DURING THESE, THESE SORT OF ALTERED MODEL TIMES, BUT ALSO WILL BE VERY USEFUL TO A LOT OF SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
OUR SECOND, UH, PILOT PROJECT IS DISTRIBUTION OF PERIOD PRODUCTS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH A BUNCH OF ORGANIZATIONS.
AUSTIN IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF, UH, OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE SUPPORT OF MENSTRUATING AUSTINITES IN MIND.
AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ANY AND ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING PRODUCTS AT THE BEST PRICE POINT AND IN THE BEST MANNER AND THE BEST DISTRIBUTION MANNER FOR PEOPLE WHO DURING THE PANDEMIC DO NOT HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THEIR TRADITIONAL MEANS TO PERIOD PRODUCTS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, AGAIN, AUSTIN ISD HAD BEEN PROVIDING PERIOD PRODUCTS THROUGH SOME OF THEIR COUNSELING OFFICES, BUT SWINGING BY THE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE AND PICKING UP A PERIOD PACK IS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT DURING THESE DAYS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO GET PRODUCTS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF HAKA IN HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECTS THEY ARE DOING THAT WOULD
[01:15:01]
ALLOW US TO AUGMENT THEIR SUPPLIES WITH PERIOD PACKS RIGHT NOW.UM, THE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE TWO MAIN INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH HAKA ON THE FIRST IS INCORPORATING PERIOD PACKS INTO COVID RELIEF PACKS.
THEY HAVE BASICALLY THEY DO A PACK DROP WITH ANY HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED OR HAS A POSITIVE COVID TEST.
AND THOSE PACKS INCLUDE A LOT OF BASIC HYGIENE ITEMS. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT INCORPORATING MINISTRATION PRODUCTS INTO THOSE, UH, COVID RELIEF PACKS POCKET IS ALSO PREPARING A PPE DROP.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT THREE OF THEIR PROPERTIES, THESE WITH ABOUT 1000 RESIDENTS, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING TO PROVIDE PPE PACKS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE MASKS AND HAND SANITIZER.
AND SO WE HAVE AN EASY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL TO GET PRODUCTS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH AUSTIN ISD ON THE WEEKLY FOOD PACKS THAT THEY ARE DISTRIBUTING TO ALL AISD STUDENTS AND ALL FAMILIES WITH, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS UNDER THE AGE OF 19.
THE SCOPE OF THAT PROJECT IS SO MUCH GREATER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, I'M GOING TO BALLPARK IT AT 200,000 PACKS PER WEEK, AND THAT IS NOT A SCOPE THAT OUR PILOT IS BEEN UP TO AT THIS POINT.
AND THE MAIN RESTRICTION ON THAT IS WE HAVE A GREAT DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL.
WE HAVE WAREHOUSING THE BIG CHALLENGE.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO GET THESE PRODUCTS, UM, SOURCED ONCE THEY'RE SOURCED.
AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME GREAT NONPROFITS IN TOWN THAT CAN HELP US EITHER BUILD OUT PRODUCTS OR ADD THOSE PRODUCTS IN.
WE HAVE, UH, UNITED WAY HAS OFFERED TO HELP US FIND VOLUNTEERS FLOW CODE HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN OFFERING TO, UH, RUN VOLUNTEER EVENTS AND TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT, UH, SORT OF WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE TO BUILD PERIOD PACKS.
THE AUSTIN DIAPER HAS OFFERED TO SOURCE PRODUCTS AT THE BEST PRICING POSSIBLE.
WE'VE GOT ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES FIGURED OUT.
WE JUST NEED TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL PRICING WOULD BE.
WE'VE UM, WE'RE WE'RE AUSTIN ISD IS NOT A SMALL ORGANIZATION AND FINDING THE PARTICULAR DATA POINTS BY ME, THE PARTICULAR CONTEXT WHO, UH, CAN TALK US THROUGH WHAT DISTRIBUTION WOULD LOOK LIKE, HOW MANY PRODUCTS THEY WOULD NEED, THOSE, THOSE LOGISTICAL DETAILS.
SO I DO NOT HAVE A NUMBER ON THE, UM, THE PERIOD PRODUCTS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO FULFILL THAT AUSTIN IST NEED.
UM, BUT THAT IS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE'RE WORKING ON FIGURING OUT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE BULK OF THE BRIEFING ON OUR NEXT SLIDE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT I'M ALSO CALLING OUT AND ASKING FOR ANY ADVICE OR GUIDANCE, IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS OF, UH, DONORS OR FUNDERS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING BULK PERIOD PRODUCTS, EITHER THROUGH A DONATION OF THE PRODUCTS THEMSELVES OR THROUGH FUNDING.
UM, ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT, WHAT I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF FOR THESE TWO PILOT PROJECTS AND THEN DOWN THE ROAD, AS WE MOVE OUT OF COVID AND INTO, AGAIN, OUR QUOTE, TURN TO NORMALCY, CLOSE QUOTE, UM, HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE MOVING BACK INTO A, A MODEL OF NORMALCY THAT ACCOMMODATES THE MENSTRUAL NEEDS OF ALL AUSTINITES, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ANY IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OR, UH, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT I I'VE MISSED SO FAR.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW, OR, UH, OR DROP ME AN EMAIL, BUT I'M READY FOR QUESTIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU'VE POURED INTO THIS INITIATIVE.
UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A LOT AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA ANY QUESTIONS JUST TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, UM, FOR YOUR OFFICE'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
UM, AND THANK YOU MAC FOR THE UPDATE.
THIS IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT AREA, AND I LI I I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE IT MOVING FORWARD, UM, WITH AN INTENT TO REALLY WORK WITH THE NONPROFITS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THIS SO EFFECTIVELY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS, WHATEVER, WHATEVER WAY AGAIN.
THANK YOU, KEVIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, COULD YOU, YEAH, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS EFFORT AND WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PROCEEDING WITH IT.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT, UM, UH,
[01:20:03]
WELL, YOU TOUCHED ON PARTNERSHIPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.COULD YOU SPEAK AGAIN, UM, TWO OR IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT CENTRAL HEALTH ROLE OR POTENTIAL TO PARTNER? I'VE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPEN SUPPORT, UM, FROM CENTRAL HEALTH STAFF, SPECIFICALLY, MONICA CROWLEY HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN, UH, PARTICIPATING TO THE, TO, TO ANY EXTENT THAT SHE CAN, AND SINCE SHE CAN ENGAGE CENTRAL HEALTH RIGHT NOW, MY FOCUS HAS MOSTLY BEEN ON GETTING THESE PILOTS UP AND RUNNING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE DURING THE PANDEMIC, UM, AS, AS WAS, AS, AS I'M SURE ALL OF, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE, UH, AISD FOOD PACKS WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEW YEAR, GIVEN SOME FUNDING QUESTIONS AND WE ARE, UM, SO THAT'S, WE REALLY WANT TO GET THOSE HAKA PACKS OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT THE, I THINK PART OF THE REASON I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING SOME ANSWERS FROM AISD REVOLVE AROUND THOSE ISSUES, WHICH YOU ARE SO AWARE.
UM, BUT THIS IS ALL A VERY LONG WAY OF SAYING THAT BECAUSE MY FOCUS HAS BEEN PRETTY NARROWLY ON THOSE PILOT PROJECTS AND THE BROADER SEARCH HAS BEEN FOR FUNDING AND TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS.
I HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF ONE-ON-ONE WORK WITH CENTRAL HEALTH.
UM, BUT I'VE, I'VE JUST GOTTEN A LOT OF, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT AND OFFERS OF HELP SO FAR.
I JUST HAVEN'T TAKEN THEM UP ON MANY OF THEM YET.
I WAS JUST THINKING MAYBE, UH, JUMPING AHEAD, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST THINKING OF POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND FUNDING SOURCES TO MOVE BEYOND THE PILOT STAGE.
UM, AND, AND WOULD IT BE CORRECT TO ASSUME THAT YOU'VE GOT THE RESOURCES YOU NEED FOR THE PILOT STAGE? SADLY? NO.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MEET THE HAKA NEED.
WE ARE, UH, THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE, THERE WAS A PILOT FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH THAT RAN, UM, LAST YEAR AND THOSE PRODUCTS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AND OTHER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS.
AND UNDERSTANDABLY BECAUSE THEY HAD, UH, AN EFFECTIVE MODEL UP AND RUNNING.
THEY'RE NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN RE-PURPOSING THOSE FUNDS THEY'RE INTERESTED IN RESERVING THEM FOR OUR RETURN TO NORMALCY.
SO THAT FUNDING SOURCE SEARCH IS STARTING A NEW, OKAY, WELL, I'D BE INTERESTED IN, IN, UH, UNDERSTANDING.
MAYBE YOU COULD SHARE IT BY OFFICE, UM, AND TO SEE IF WE CAN BE OF HELP TO YOU, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ORDER MAGNITUDE OR THE DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU'RE NEEDING FOR RESOURCES AND JUST CAUSE I, I WOULD BE THINKING OF, YOU KNOW, SOME POTENTIAL RESOURCES THAT COULD PERHAPS HELP YOU.
SO, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO REACH OUT TO DAN AND TEAM AND IN MY OFFICE, WE'LL SEE IF WE COULD HELP.
AND I WILL CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO MS. TINA AND WE'VE BEEN ESTIMATING THAT TO GET OUR PILOT UP AND RUNNING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $10,000, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S VERY, UM, IT'S VARIABLE BASED ON HOW THE AISD FOOD PACKS GO AND, UH, WHETHER WE'RE ABLE TO GET ANY OF THE PRODUCTS, UH, DONATED OR, UH, SUBSIDIZED BY SOME OF THOSE DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATIONS.
WELL, THAT'S AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO FIND.
SO KATHY, UM, I, I COMPLETELY AGREE AND I, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK, UM, ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION.
I HAVE A COUPLE IDEAS ABOUT, ABOUT WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND THAT PRETTY EASILY.
AND I JUST REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS ON THIS.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S SOMETHING WE GET GETS OVERLOOKED A LOT.
AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER HART, MADISON, YOU'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING THIS FOR A WHILE, SO I APPRECIATE IT WELL DONE.
UM, MEG, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
UM, SO UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED EFFORT.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[6. Discuss the appointment of members to the Central Health Board of Managers. (Personnel matters - Section 551.074 of the Government Code).]
SO, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM, UH, TO, TO PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE, FIVE, 1.074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM SIX, THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS.
UM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE ITEMS AND NOUNS?
[01:25:02]
OKAY.SO HEARING ON THE COMMITTEE, WE'LL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'LL SEE YOU ALL OVER IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, THE TIME IS 12:05 PM AND THE AJC IS OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE TOOK UP AND DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM SIX, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS.
UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO MAKE SOME UPDATES, UM, OUR JOINT APPOINTMENT ALONGSIDE THE COUNTY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
AND FOR, FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT TERM AND FOR THE UPCOMING UPCOMING TERM IS, UH, MEET 20.
UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW SO MANY QUALIFIED AND PHENOMENAL CANDIDATES, AND WE REALLY FEEL LIKE HE'S GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB.
SO I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
[3. Discussion and possible action regarding the appointment of members to the Central Health Board of Managers.]
UM, THE CITY'S APPOINTMENT, UM, EFFECTIVE 12 ONE OF 2021 IS CYNTHIA BRINSON.UM, AGAIN, ANOTHER FANTASTIC, HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION ON THE BOARD AND, UM, LOVED HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW YOU A BIT IN THE INTERVIEW.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT'S JANUARY, JANUARY 1ST, 2021 FOR CYNTHIA.
I SAID THAT, CORRECT? I THINK I HEARD 12 ONE.
SO I JUST, JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.
I SAID IT TWO SECONDS AGO, SO WE ARE POINTING THE CITY'S APPOINTMENT, UM, TO THE BOARD.
IS CYNTHIA BRINSON EFFECTIVE? UM, JANUARY 1ST, 2021.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, SO THE ONLY THING LEFT IS TO IDENTIFY ANY FUTURE ITEMS LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NONE.
I'M SORRY, THIS IS STEPHANIE AGAIN.
COULD I GET A VOTE ON THAT PLEASE? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE, LET ME SWITCH MICS.
COULD YOU PLEASE VOTE? THANK YOU FOR FUTURE ITEMS OR NO FOR MEAT AND CYNTHIA.
DO WE DO THEM COLLECTIVELY OR INDIVIDUALLY? YOU CAN, YOU CAN TAKE THEM ALL UP IN ONE MOTION.
UM, SO CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPOINT A MEET LET'S WANEE UM, AS THE JOINT APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND FOR THE UPCOMING TERM AND CYNTHIA BRINSON EFFECTIVE ONE, ONE 2021? UM, YEAH.
SO THE MOTION IS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, THE MOTION PASSES THREE TO ZERO WITH MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA OFF THE DIETS.
TOVA SO QUICK COMMENT THAT THIS IS AN, YOU PROBABLY SAID THIS APOLOGIES IF I'M REPEATING YOU, THAT THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
UM, AND SO THE FULL COUNCIL WILL BE TAKING ACTION ON, ON IT, ON THOSE NOMINATIONS SOON.
UM, SO YEAH, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IDENTIFY
[7. Identify items to discuss at future meetings.]
ANY FUTURE ITEMS TO TAKE UP.AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS AN OPTION.
UM, WE CAN COMMUNICATE OUTSIDE OF THIS FORM.
IN WHICH CASE, UM, SO JUST A REMINDER, THE NEXT HHSC MEETING WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2021.
AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, UM, TO US ADJOURNING SAY WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 12:09 PM, 1209 ON 12 NINE.