[CALL TO ORDER]
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I WILL NOW CALL THE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION MEETING FOR AUGUST 2ND TO ORDER, AND THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
AND, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, DO WE HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO.
NO PUBLIC COMMENTS? NONE AT ALL.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Public Health Commission Meeting on July 12, 2023.]
ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.UH, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES FROM, UH, JULY 12TH.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THE MINUTES? SO MOVED.
I HAVE A MOTION BY VICE CHAIR RICE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? FIVE SECONDS.
ANY QUESTIONS? UM, JUST FOR PROTOCOL, IF THEY WOULD SAY THEIR NAME.
SO WHEN I'M, IF I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LISTEN.
I CAN ACTUALLY GET THE NAME OF THE PERSON WHO MAKES THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.
SO FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, COMMISSIONER RICE, I, UM, UM, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE MINUTES.
AND, OKAY, COMMISSIONER, UH, CIAO.
I MOVE TO SECOND AND IT HAS BEEN SECONDED.
ANY QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? THERE BEING NONE.
YOU WANNA DO ROLL CALL? IS THAT HOW YOU WANNA DO IT? OR YOU WANNA DO? ALL RIGHT.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSING RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOVING ON TO, UM, I'M GONNA MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT REAL QUICK, AND, UH, I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG ONE.
[2. Discuss and take action to recommended changes to bylaws and general provisions.]
AND ACTION ITEMS. DISCUSSION TO TAKE ACTION TO RECOMMENDED CHANGES OF THE BYLAWS IN GENERAL PROVISIONS.HOPEFULLY EVERYONE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BYLAWS AND THE, UM, GENERAL PROVISIONS.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE BYLAWS OR THE PROVISIONS POINT OF ORDER? YES, SIR.
RATHER THAN, WELL, I HAVE FIVE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO DISCUSS THAT WERE DEVIATIONS FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.
WHEN WOULD WE DISCUSS THE DEVIATIONS FROM ONE TO THE OTHER? SO LET'S DO A MOTION FIRST, UM, AND THEN HAVE A SECOND THAT SAYS, YES, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS, THIS ITEM ACTUALLY DISCUSSED FOR A VOTE.
AND THEN WHEN I GO TO, UH, QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION, THAT'S WHEN YOU WOULD PRESENT.
AND IF THERE IS A DESIRE TO MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION, THEN THAT'S WHEN THAT WOULD OCCUR.
SO DO I HAVE, UH, A MOTION ON, ON THE FLOOR? I MOVE.
TO APPROVE THE BIOLOGICALS? NO, NO.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER RICE? SECOND.
DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? YES, SIR.
UM, I HAD REVIEWED THIS AND I HAD, UM, REDUCED IT TO AN EMAIL, WHICH I THINK, UM, WAS, WAS SHARED WITH OTHERS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS EXACTLY, BUT I, UM, AND I, I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE.
LEMME JUST WALK THROUGH THE FIVE AND SEE WHAT WE THINK, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S FIVE THINGS THAT I FOUND AS I READ THE TWO OF 'EM THAT WERE DIFFERENT.
AND SO, LET ME JUST SEE IF I CAN DO IT.
I DON'T HAVE THIS WELL MEMORIZED, BUT I SAY IN PARAGRAPH 1.4 OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH GENERAL PROVISIONS, IF WE WILL HAVE THOSE COPIES.
PARAGRAPH 1.4 OF THAT DOCUMENT SAYS THAT THE WORKING GROUP CAN INCLUDE COMMISSION MEMBERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED MEMBERS.
BUT IF THIS IS NOT MENTIONED OF THE BYLAWS, DO WE WANNA CLARIFY THAT A, UM, THAT A WORKING GROUP CAN HAVE COMMISSION MEMBERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED MEMBERS VERSUS IT'S NOT MEMBERS MENTION OF THE BYLAWS.
AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A, UM, UM, AN INEX EXACTITUDE WE WANTED TO, UM, THINK ABOUT.
AND SO I DO HAVE A RESPONSE HERE, UH, THAT SAYS, UH, I BELIEVE TO THAT ONE.
WELL, 1.4 IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
UH, ACCORDING TO ARTICLE NINE COMMITTEE'S WORK GROUPS, A THE COMMISSION CAN DETERMINE THE SIZE OF THE WORKING GROUP, BUT THE NUMBER OF COMMISSION MEMBERS SERVING ON THE WORKING GROUP MUST BE LESS THAN A QUORUM OF THE COMMISSION.
SO IS THAT WHAT THE NEW VERBIAGE IS GONNA SAY? WELL, IT'S ALREADY IN THE BYLAWS, YOUR WORKING, YOU, FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T HAVE WORKING GROUPS ESTABLISHED
YOU, YOU HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED WORKING GROUPS.
BUT IF YOU SHOULD ESTABLISH WORKING GROUPS, YOU CANNOT HAVE A QUORUM OF YOUR COMMISSION.
BECAUSE NON-COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE NON-VOTING
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MEMBERS.I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY, DOES THAT THEREFORE MEAN THAT THAT COVERS THE QUESTION OF CAN WE HAVE NON-COM MEMBERS ON A WORKING GROUP YES.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT ONE ADDRESSES AND ONE DID NOT CORRECT.
SECOND THING I HAD WAS CONCERNING PARAGRAPH 3.2 OF THE GENERAL PROVISION.
THIS SAYS, UM, LEMME JUST READ IT HERE.
THE FIRST SENTENCE SAYS, THE COMMISSION ACTION MUST BE ADOPTED BY AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A QUORUM.
SO WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A QUORUM, RIGHT? AND THAT SENTENCE AGAIN SAYS THAT THE, THE COMMISSION ACTION MUST BE ADOPTED BY AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MEMBERS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A QUORUM, WHICH IS FINE.
SO THEY'RE SAYING WE CAN'T DO AN ACTION IN THAT SENTENCE UNLESS WE HAVE FIVE VOTING MEMBERS VOTING YES FOR AN ACTION.
HOWEVER, IN THE SECOND SENTENCE OF THAT 3.2 PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS, FOR A NINE MEMBER COMMISSION, A COMMISSION ASKED ACTION MUST BE ADOPTED BY AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT AT THE MEETING, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, WHAT WE ALL ASSUME.
SO IF WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS AT A MEETING AND THERE'S A QUORUM, THEN A MAJORITY OF THAT GROUP CAN MAKE A, AN ACTION, WHICH WOULD BE THREE VOTES.
SO IN THOSE TWO SENTENCES, ONE REQUIRES FIVE FOR AN ACTION TO BE APPROVED AND ONE THE SECOND SENTENCE APPROVED, THREE FOR AN ACTION.
SO THOSE ARE TWO MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE SENTENCES.
AM I MAKING SENSE? I THINK IN THIS SENSE, AND, AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I, IF I HAVE AN INCORRECT AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, MEANING EVERYBODY HAS TO VOTE UNLESS THEY ABSTAIN FROM VOTING, UH, FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON, UM, ON, ON THAT AGENDA ITEM.
SO NOBODY CAN JUST NOT WANT TO VOTE.
THERE HAS TO BE A LEGITIMATE REASON.
BUT I'M SAYING A COMMISSION ACTION MUST BE ADOPTED BY AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE.
I ASSUME THAT MEANT A YES VOTE AMONG FIVE MEMBERS, NOT JUST THE ACTION OF VOTING.
NO, I THINK IN THIS ASPECT, AFFIRMATIVE MEANING AN OFFICIAL OR A LEGAL VOTE VERSUS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T HAVE FIVE MEMBERS UP HERE AND THEN TWO JUST DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE UNLESS THEY RECUSE THEMSELVES OR ABSTAIN THEMSELVES FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON.
AM I, DO I STAND CORRECT ON THAT? MAY I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? YES.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE IMPLIES THAT ALL FIVE MEMBERS WHO ARE THERE FOR THE QUORUM, ALL FIVE MUST APPROVE IN AFFIRMATIVE? NO.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THE FIRST SENTENCE, I BELIEVE SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE FIVE VOTES TO BE AFFIRMATIVE.
TO APPROVE ANY ACTION THAT ALL FIVE HAVE TO VOTE.
WELL, I MEAN, IT COULD BE NINE MEMBERS ON TODAY AND WOULD FIVE WOULD BE A MAJORITY.
BUT IF YOU ONLY HAD FIVE MEMBERS TO MAKE A QUORUM, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE AND, AND ONLY THREE VOTED FOR AN ACTION.
THAT'S IN THE SECOND SENTENCE.
THAT WOULD THOSE THEN YOU WOULDN'T, ONE SENTENCE SAYS, THE SECOND SENTENCE SAYS YOU WOULD PASS AN ACTION, YOU WOULD HAVE AFFIRM IT.
AND THE FIRST SENTENCE SAYS YOU HAD TO HAVE FIVE VOTES TO AFFIRM AN ACTION.
AND I DIDN'T REALIZE ONE COULD INTERPRET AFFIRMATIVE AS SOMETHING AS AS INCLUDING A NO VOTE.
IT COULD JUST BE, UH, ONE WORD.
SO CAN WE JUST LOOK AT POTENTIALLY, I'M, I'M GONNA READ IT THE WAY I GOT IT FROM ROBERT'S RULES
OKAY? YOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTE FOR COMMISSION MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT.
WHETHER THEY VOTE YES OR NO, THAT YOUR FIVE VOTING, THAT'S YOUR VOTING STRENGTH.
YOUR FIRST CONCERN WHEN YOU HAVE AFFIRMATIVE, THAT'S ALL I HAVE THE QUESTION IN.
SO AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A QUORUM THAT HAVE, DOESN'T MEAN FIVE YES VOTES, RIGHT? IT DOES NOT MEAN YES, BUT IN, IN, IN THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM.
AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE YOUR BUSINESS, NOT NOT EXCLUDING THE PEOPLE OFFLINE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO USE YOU FIVE HERE AND YOU ARE YOUR VOTING STRENGTH.
ONLY THREE NEEDS TO VOTE TO HAVE AN ACTION.
IF THAT, IF, IF THAT MAKES SENSE, THE MAJORITY OF A, A VALID COURT OF THAT MAJORITY.
AND I THINK THE KEY PIECE HERE IS, AS JUANITA SAID, SHE'S USING ROBERT'S RULES ORDERS VERBIAGE, AND I PULLED THAT BOOK OUT.
AND IF SOME OF YOU ALL LOOKED AT SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT MOTIONS YOU CAN MAKE, THEY HAVE THE TITLE OF IT MAKES NO SENSE TO WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS.
SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S JUST THE WORD TERMINOLOGY, THE WAY IT'S USED IN ROBERT RULES OR ORDERS IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE THINK OF IN ACTUAL PRACTICALITY USE.
IT JUST MEANS YOUR VOTING STRENGTH IN, IN ESSENCE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IT'S YOUR, IT'S YOUR CURRENT VOTING STRENGTH, YOU, YOUR PRESENT AND NON, UM, VIRTUAL AND NON-VOTING MEMBERS.
YOUR PATIENCE AND WALKING ME THROUGH THAT.
LEMME DO THE THIRD ITEM IF I MAY.
SO IN SECTION 5.8 OF THE GENERAL VISIONS, AGAIN, IT SAYS A COMMISSION MEMBER MAY BE REMOVED AT ANY TIME BY AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE GOVERNING BODY THAT APPOINTED THE COMMISSION MEMBER.
AND I'M JUST POINTING OUT THAT THE GOVERNING BODY THAT APPOINTED THE COMMISSION MEMBER ACTUALLY INCLUDES TWO GOVERNING BODIES MM-HMM.
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DOES THAT NEED CLARIFICATION TO SAY THAT EITHER GOVERNING BODY COULD VOTE TO REMOVE ONE? OR, OR DOES THAT, DOES THAT INCLUDE WHAT WE'D WANNA SAY? IN OTHER WORDS, THE QUESTION IS, IS DOES SOMEONE NEED TO, IF I, IF ONE OF THOSE AUTHORITATIVE, UM, AFFIRMING BODIES WANTED TO REMOVE SOMEBODY, DO BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES NEED TO VOTE? YES.AND IS THAT WHAT THIS SAYS? RIGHT.
SO, AND, AND YOU HAVE IN YOUR NOTES A, UM, A COMMISSION MEMBER IS NOT APPOINTED BY A SINGLE GOVERNING BODY.
SO THAT PART MEANS THAT JUST LIKE YOUR APPOINTMENT HAD TO BE APPROVED BY CITY AND UM, COUNTY, THAT AFFIRMATIVE OR, OR THAT REMOVAL OF THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE TO BOTH BE REMOVED BY CITY AND COUNTY, UM, GOVERNING BODIES.
SO I, I THINK I GET IT, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THE COMMISSION MEMBER MAY BE REMOVED AT ANY TIME BY AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF WHEN IT SAYS THE GOVERNING BODY THAT SHOULD, IT COULD SAY THE GOVERNING BODIES, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S TWO GOVERNING BODIES.
IT JUST HAS A SINGULAR VERSUS THE PLURALITY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS CONFUSED BY.
AND, AND BODY COULD ALSO BE INTERPRETED AS PLURAL MM-HMM.
SO IF YOU SAY BODIES, IT WOULD KIND OF BE REDUNDANT.
I'M JUST MAKING THE POINT TO THE LAY READER WHO WOULD READ THE BYLAWS.
YOU MIGHT THINK THAT'S A CONFLICT.
IF IT DOESN'T CLARIFY IT, WE CAN DECIDE TO OR NOT TO CHANGE IT.
I, I, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, UM, I'M NOT VOTING TO AMEND THE MOTION RIGHT NOW.
I THINK I'M JUST DISCUSSING THE QUESTIONS.
AND WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE FOR CLARITY WE MAY SAY, LET'S DO THAT OR NOT.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONER RICE, IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN GET TOTAL CLARIFICATION FROM LEGAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING THE PROPER VERNACULAR TO DETERMINE BODY OR BODIES TO MAKE SURE IT IS LAYMAN TERMS AND EASIER TO READ FOR ANYONE WHO JUST WANTS TO READ THE BYLAWS.
AND I, I WOULD DEFER TO THE GROUP ABOUT THAT, JUST WHAT THEY FEEL LIKE.
I, I PROBABLY AM, YOU KNOW, SPENDING WAY TOO MUCH TIME BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THESE MINUTIA DETAILS SAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, I TRIED TO READ THROUGH THE TWO OF THEM AND, AND, AND MAKE SENSE OF THEM.
SO I'LL JUST STILL DEFER AND LET THE GROUPS DECIDE WHAT THEY THINK.
SO, UM, ARTICLE FIVE OF THE BYLAWS SPECIFICALLY DEFINES THE CHAIR, THE OFFICES OF COMMISSION OF, UM, SO SHALL CONSIST OF A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR.
AND I GUESS I NOTICED ON, ON 12, ONE OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS IT SAYS THE COMMISSION SHALL ANNUALLY SELECT A MEMBERSHIP FROM ITS MEMBERSHIP, A CHAIR, AND ANY ADDITIONAL OFFICERS THAT COMMISSION FINDS APPROPRIATE.
SO I'M JUST POINTING OUT, ONE SAYS THEY'LL HAVE A CHAIR AND A VICE CHAIR AND THE OTHER SAYS THEY'LL HAVE A CHAIR AND ANYBODY ELSE THEY WANNA MAKE FOR NEW OTHER OFFICES.
THAT'S NOT INCONSISTENT, BUT IT'S JUST ONE OF THESE THINGS WHERE I'M LOOKING FOR THE POETRY OF, OF, UM, OF CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE TWO.
AND THOSE TWO THINGS SAY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT, IT'S FINE.
IF WE'RE NOT, THEN I'M, AGAIN, I'M JUST DOWNING SOME MINUTIA.
SO I, I JUST BRING THAT AND, AND MM-HMM.
I'LL DO THE FIFTH ONE AND YOU CAN, OTHERS CAN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK ANY OF THESE ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE, UM, WORTHY.
AND THE LAST ONE WAS, UM, IT SAYS AS IT RELATES TO THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION, THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 15 TWO, I'M SORRY TO DO THIS TO US ALL 15.
TWO, THE GENERAL PROVISION SAYS THE COMMISSION SHALL NOT BE DISSOLVED UNLESS BOTH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSION'S COURT VOTE TO DISSOLVE IT, WHICH I'M, I CALL OUT THERE.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY, IT DIDN'T SAY BODY, IT CALLED OUT BOTH OF THEM SPECIFICALLY.
SO, HOWEVER, PARAGRAPH 17, ONE OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS GUESS, UM, A LITTLE LATER DOWN THE PAGE MM-HMM.
AND THAT ORS MEANING IT MEANS, YOU KNOW, IS A DIFFERENT COMPLETE MEANING OF COURSE THAN THE, THE, UM, THE SENTENCE ABOVE WHICH SAYS THEY, UM, AND CORRECT, YOU KNOW, TO DISSOLVE IT.
SO I, I, I LAY THAT OUT AS ANOTHER, AGAIN, MINOR DETAIL OF WHAT'S NOT CONSISTENT BETWEEN THOSE TWO PARAGRAPHS IS A, IS AN ITEM WE MIGHT DISCUSS FOR THE BYLAWS TO BE PERFECT.
AND I BELIEVE YOU ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT, THAT'S GONNA GET SWITCHED TO ANN.
AND, AND THE, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CHANGE IT THE OR TO ANN.
SO WE'LL MAKE THAT NOTATION IN YOUR GENERAL PROVISIONS SO THAT IT IS CLEAR.
AND THEN YOU THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO PRESENT THAT.
AND I'LL, YOU KNOW, UM, DEFER TO THE COMMENTS OF THE GROUP.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION? UH, LET ME TAKE A SECOND.
SO YOU GOT THAT 15 CHANGED, YOU SAID THAT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT WHICH WE'LL ACCEPT.
UM, AND THEN I WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND THE AMENDMENT TO, UM, WHAT WAS THE OTHER SECTION? THE AMENDMENT TO THE GOVERNING BODIES ONE.
BASED UPON WHATEVER LEGAL SPECIFIES, SO THAT WAY IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO US.
UM, AND I CAN READ FOR YOU, FOR YOUR RECORD SO YOU CAN HEAR IT IN YOUR BYLAWS, THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN, UM, AND WE USED THE BEST WAY TO, TO, UM, MAKE THIS SOUND MORE APPLICABLE TO, TO YOUR TERM LIMIT,
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UH, YOUR TERMS APPOINTED MEMBERS SERVED FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST ON THE YEAR OF APPOINTMENT WITH A MAXIMUM OF THREE CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS TO STAGGER THE TERMS AFTER ASSUMING OFFICE IN 20 23, 5 APPOINTED MEMBERS SHALL SERVE TWO CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS. THE FOUR, THE FOUR DEMOCRATICALLY SELECTED MEMBERS SHALL SERVE AN INITIAL THREE YEAR TERM AFTER THESE INITIAL TERMS HAVE EXPIRED.THE SUBSEQUENT TERM OF EACH MEMBER SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OF THREE CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT HELPS ADDRESS THE CONCERN THAT YOU MADE ABOUT THE, THE, UM, INAUGURAL YEAR, WHICH IS THIS YEAR.
SO YOUR FIRST YEAR WILL START 2024 FOR TWO YEARS.
UM, AND, UM, I WAS ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FOR CLARITY BECAUSE THE FIRST SENTENCE SAYS APPOINTED MEMBERS SHALL SERVE A TERM OF TWO YEARS BEGINNING JANUARY, FIRST OF THE APPOINTMENT YEAR FOR THE MAXIMUM OF THREE TERMS. SO WE'VE SAID INITIALLY THERE'S THREE MAXIMUM TERMS OF TWO YEARS.
AND THEN WE IMMEDIATELY CHANGE THAT WHOLE CONCEPT BY SAYING FIVE PEOPLE WILL BE CONSERVED, WILL SERVE TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS, WHICH IS FOUR YEARS, AND THEN FOUR PEOPLE WILL SERVE A THREE-YEAR TERM, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST SENTENCE NOW.
AND THEN WE SAY AFTER THAT EVERYBODY CAN SERVE THREE CONSECUTIVE MORE TERMS, WHICH IS ALL FINE.
BUT I'M JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT THAT FIRST SENTENCE, YOU WOULD, YOU MIGHT BE A LAWYER NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER AND SAY, WELL, THAT FIRST SENTENCE RULES, 'CAUSE IT'S THE FIRST SENTENCE, YOU ONLY GET THREE TERMS OF TWO YEARS.
BUT THEN WE IMMEDIATELY UP TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN AND SAY SOME PEOPLE GET A A, A THREE YEAR TERM AND SOME PEOPLE GET A FOUR YEAR TERM AND THEN WE START AND WE THEN HAVE THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS THEREAFTER.
SO, SO AGAIN, NO, NO ONE MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, BUT I, I I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT MEANS IF I'M, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE DEEP INTO THE MINUTIA, I APOLOGIZE.
THAT MEANS THAT IF I READ THIS RIGHT, SOME MEMBERS WILL HAVE A FOUR YEAR INITIAL TERM AND THEN THREE INITIAL THREE ADDITIONAL TERMS TO MAKE SIX YEARS TO MAKE 10 YEARS AS THE INITIAL, AS THEIR TERM.
THOSE, THEN THEY WOULDN'T BE UP AGAINST THE TERM LIMIT, WHICH IS PERFECTLY FINE.
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT SAYS, I BELIEVE.
SO I HAVE JUST THOSE TWO QUESTIONS AND IF NO ONE'S BOTHERED BY THAT, THEN I'M FINE AND IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, ACCEPT IT AND WE'LL GO ON DOWN THE ROAD.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS, AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO ANY TIME COUNSEL OR COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAKES CHANGES TO THEIR TERM LINKS, THAT THAT TERM THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN IS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE NEW CHANGEOVER OF THE TERM LINK.
AND SO THEY KIND OF GET THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT BUY FOR, FOR THAT PARTICULAR TERM.
UH, WOULD THAT BE CONSISTENT WITH, UM, SAME THING THAT'S HAS HAPPENED, UH, HERE WITH, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN WHEN THEY DID TERM CHANGES, UM, THAT THE TERM THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS IN IS NOT COUNTER TOWARDS THE, THE MAX REPEATED TERMS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
IF, IF, IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY MM-HMM.
BUT I DO WANNA GO BACK AND READ THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY, UM, COMMISSIONER KILLIAN, SO THAT IF THE LANGUAGE AND THE BYLAWS NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, WE MAKE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CONSISTENT.
SO ACCORDING TO THE MINUTES OF LAST MEETING, UM, COMMISSIONER, UM, KILLIAN MADE A MOTION FOR A TWO YEAR TERM WITH A MAXIMUM OF THREE CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BYLAWS AS IT'S WRITTEN REVISION.
THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE MINUTES THAT WE MAY HAVE MENTIONED ANYWAY, AWARE THE MINUTES HERE.
SO THE AMENDMENT TO THAT IN STAGGERING THE TERMS WAS, UM, IN STAGGERING TERMS TO BEGIN THE TWO YEAR TERM FOR FOUR MEMBERS AND THREE MEMBERS FOR FIVE, UH, OF THE FIVE MEMBERS WILL SERVE, UM, THE LONGER TERM.
AND SO IN ORDER TO GET YOU TO STAGGER THAT, SOMEONE'S GONNA DO AN ODD YEAR, THEY'RE IN ORDER TO GET TO THE, THE FOUR YEARS AND NO MORE THAN THREE.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOUR FOUR DEMOCRATICALLY SELECTED PEOPLE CHOSE TO SERVE THE SHORTER OF TWO YEARS.
SO THEY'RE ONLY GONNA SERVE THREE YEARS.
THEY'RE GONNA SERVE THREE YEARS, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA ROLL BECAUSE YOUR LONGER TERM IS YOUR FIVE.
AND IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THAT, WHEN YOU GET READY TO, UM, SOLICIT OFFICERS OR MEMBERS FOR THE NEXT YEAR, YOU'LL HAVE YOUR FIVE MEMBERS THAT WILL STAY ON AFTER THE TERM OF THOSE TWO, EVERYONE WILL BE ON THE SAME TERM.
SO YOU'LL HAVE A STAGGERING, UM,
[00:20:01]
BEGINNING NEXT YEAR WHERE THE, THE FIRST FOUR PEOPLE WILL STAY ON FOR A TOTAL, NOT MORE THAN THREE YEARS.I THINK IN THIS CASE, RIGHT? THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN CITY OF MANOR WHEN WE SWITCHED FROM TWO TO FOUR YEAR TERMS. AND SO OUR LAWYERS DID THE SAME THING.
I THINK HERE IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST PUTTING THAT FIRST SENTENCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S CREATING THE STAGGERING IS ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PARAGRAPH.
VERSUS HOW WE DID IT, IT BASICALLY SAID FOUR YEAR TERMS, TWO TIMES REELECTED, BUT THEN IT KIND OF DID A, FOR PEOPLE BEING ELECTED IN 2023, THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
B, PEOPLE BEING ELECTED IN 2024, THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN AND THEN C THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN GOING INTO 2025 THEREAFTER.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN A PARAGRAPH VERSUS BEING KIND OF THIS PART-TIME.
BUT DO WE ALL AGREE THAT THE, THE FOUR, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE SHORT TERM, WE'LL HAVE THIS EVOLUTION SO THAT THEY WON'T, THEY WON'T, UM, YOU KNOW, TERM OUT AT THE END OF 23 MM-HMM.
AND THEN THE OTHER FIVE WILL TERM OUT AT THE END OF SIX MM-HMM.
AND AT THAT POINT, AND ACTUALLY FOR THE, FOR EACH OF 'EM, WHEN YOU TERM OUT, THEN YOU HAVE THE, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE NOW FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS THEREAFTER, RIGHT? YES.
I JUST HAD TO WELL, THAT FOR A MAX.
SO THEIR FIRST, THEIR FIRST TERM WOULD BE THAT IF THEY FINISHED IN TWO YEARS, THEY WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE REAPPOINTED TWO MORE TIMES.
THAT WOULD BE THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS. THIS SAYS, AFTER THESE INITIAL TERMS HAVE EXPIRED, THE SUBSEQUENT TERMS FOR EACH MEMBER SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE MAX THREE MAXIMUM ACTUALLY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OF THREE CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS AFTER THAT INITIAL TERM IS EXPIRED.
I'LL READ THAT LAST PARAGRAPH, THAT LAST SENTENCE AGAIN MM-HMM.
SO AFTER THE, THESE INITIAL TERMS HAVE EXPIRED, THE SUBSEQUENT TERMS OF EACH MEMBER SHALL NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OF THREE CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS. I TOOK THAT TO MEAN THREE MORE TWO YEAR TERMS AFTER THE, AFTER THAT TERM HAD EXPIRED.
IS THAT WHAT I, WHAT I'M SAYING? OR, SO NOBODY REALLY, NOBODY ACTUALLY HAS A FOUR YEAR TERM.
OH, IT'S A THREE YEAR TERM, BUT WITH THIS FOUNDATION YEAR OH, I SEE.
IT BASICALLY THAT'S THE TERM UNTIL YOU GET TWO MORE.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE INITIAL TERM.
GEEZ, I'M, I'M, I'M THE SLOWEST GUY HERE, SO I'LL SHUT UP NOW.
SO I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PAST THIS VERBIAGE BY OUR, UH, LEGAL TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE, WHAT HAS BEEN VOTED ON BY THE BODY TO, UM, PUT IN OUR, IN YOUR BYLAWS, AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL LANGUAGE IS CONSISTENT ACROSS THE GENERAL PROVISIONS AS WELL AS IN THE BYLAWS AS SUGGESTED.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, DO I HAVE ANYONE, UH, TO MOVE TO AMEND THE BYLAWS IN THE GENERAL PROVISIONS? SO THAT SECTION 15.2, UH, THE WORD OR IS REPLACED WITH THE WORD AND, AND FOR SECTION, SECTION, IS IT 5.8? LEMME GET BACK TO THIS.
UH, GOES TO THE LAWYERS FOR DETERMINATION ON GOVERNING BODIES TO MAKE IT, UH, PLURAL.
DO I HAVE ANYONE THAT SO AMENDS THE MOTION? SO AMENDS.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT SINCE YOU ALREADY SECONDED? FIRST TIME
ANY QUESTIONS TO THE AMENDED MOTION? ANY QUESTIONS TO THE AMENDED MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSING RAISE YOUR HAND.
[3. Briefing on the organizational structure, programs, and services Austin Public Health and Austin Travis County Public Health Authority.]
BRIEFINGS.HAVE A BRIEFING ON ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY.
I WAS LOOKING ON THE SCREEN TO SEE WHO ELSE WAS ONLINE.
LA LA FUENTES, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UH, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, MARCEL, WHO IS THE DIVISION CHIEF OVER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND OUR MEDICAL AUTHORITY AT DESMO WALKS ARE ALSO ONLINE, UM, AND AVAILABLE TO DO PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.
THIS PRESENTATION TODAY IS INTENDED TO BE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE WORK OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE'RE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR SERVICE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, WE ARE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
OUR VISION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPTIMAL QUALITY OF LIFE, HEALTH, AND WELLBEING, FREE FROM RACISM, POVERTY, AND OPPRESSION.
AND THESE WERE, IS AN INTENTIONAL UPDATE THAT WE MADE
[00:25:01]
A FEW YEARS AGO TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE CAPTURING KIND OF RACISM, POVERTY, AND OPPRESSION FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY.SO THAT WAS AN INTENTIONAL CHANGE THAT WE MADE AFTER WE ADOPTED OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT DISEASE, PROMOTE HEALTH, AND PROTECT THE WELLBEING OF ALL.
SO WE DO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR DELINEATION THAT WE DO NOT PROVIDE HEALTHCARE.
SO ANYTHING THAT IS TRANSMISSIBLE, THINK COVID, THINK STIS, UM, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, THAT IS THE PLACE THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH WILL PLAY A ROLE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION OF CLARIFYING OUR SERVICES.
UM, YOU HAVE THE SEVEN GOALS THERE.
I DON'T WANNA READ EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY HIGHLIGHT THAT.
OUR GOAL IS TO USE SCIENCE DATA AND PREVENTION FOCUSED APPROACH TO GUIDE AND SUPPORT HEALTH AND RACIAL EQUITY.
WE WANNA MINIMIZE THE PUBLIC'S EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTHY BEHAVIORS ACROSS ALL LIFE STAGES.
PREVENT AND CONTROL CHRONIC DISEASES AND RISK FACTORS, PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTION TO PREVENT, RESPOND TO AND RAPIDLY RECOVER FROM PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS BOTH NATURAL AND MANMADE.
PREVENT AND CONTROL THE SPREAD OF H I V STIS, TB, AND VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES WITHIN THE GENERAL POPULATION.
AND TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY, ELIMINATE DISPARITIES AND ASSIST PEOPLE IN ACHIEVING WELLNESS, STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE OUR BUDGET, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.
THE CITY IS ON A, UH, OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
OUR BUDGET IS 103, $3.4 MILLION.
THIS IS, UM, WITH SEVEN DIVISIONS WITHIN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH PLUS THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL AUTHORITY.
UM, THAT, THAT IS INCLUDED HERE.
SO YOU'D SEE KIND OF A DEEPER DIVE WHEN YOU START LOOKING INTO THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS AND HOW THAT FUNDING IS BROKEN OUT.
UH, OVER HALF OF THAT IS OUR SOCIAL SERVICE INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE IN UPCOMING SLIDES.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE GONNA COVER THIS IN THE OTHER SLIDES, BUT, UM, THE O P O SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
I KNOW LAST MEETING WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHERE THEY ALSO DID OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDS WITH ABOUT 1.5 MILLION.
SO I GUESS HOW DO Y'ALL MAKE SURE COVERING SIMILAR POPULATIONS, BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THE FUNDS, HOW DOES THAT KIND OF WORK? I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A WORKING GROUP WHERE WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ON HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE DISPERSED.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DISPERSED YET.
UM, SO WE CAN HAVE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AND HAVE A WORKING GROUP BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, THERE ARE ALSO SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING IN OTHER GRANTS ON HOW THOSE PIECES WORK TOGETHER.
AND I WOULD PROBABLY ENVISION THIS AS ALSO RELATED TO THE SUBSTANCE USE CONSORTIUM THAT WE ARE WORKING ON JOINTLY TO SEE HOW THOSE FUNDS CAN BE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
I JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A TOPIC THAT COMES UP SURE.
AND WE CAN COME BACK AND DO A BROADER PRESENTATION ON THAT SPECIFICALLY.
ANOTHER QUESTION AND CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW INFORMAL MAY WE BE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GIVE THIS? WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL? HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS WE HAVE A QUESTION OR, OR, OR WHATNOT THROUGH A PRESENTATION HERE? I, I RECOMMEND THAT THE QUESTIONS BE JUST VERY DIRECT AND, AND IT'S MORE JUST GENERAL INFORMATION THAT MAY BE A TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD.
DO YOU WANT US TO ASK PERMISSION TO CHAIR, TO, TO ASK A QUESTION? NO, GO AHEAD AND ASK DIRECTLY.
I JUST WONDERED, SEVEN DIVISIONS.
ARE THOSE SEVEN DIVISIONS LIKE ACCOUNTING, BUDGET, COMMUNICATIONS, IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN? I JUST WONDER WHAT SEVEN DIVISIONS ARE.
SEVEN DIVISIONS MEAN, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THEM SPECIFICALLY IN THE SLIDE.
SO I'LL, THERE'LL BE A SLIDE TO TELL YOU LIKE, THIS IS THE DIVISION AND THIS IS THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
SO YEAH, YOU'LL SEE THAT SHORTLY.
UH, I HAD A QUESTION IN TERMS OF, UH, IS THERE A PLACE WE CAN GO TO SEE WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DISPERSED FROM THAT YEARLY BUDGET? THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND SPECIFICALLY? IN GENERAL OR OVERALL? OVERALL.
UM, SO THESE FUNDS INCLUDE BOTH STAFF AND ALSO SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACT AND A WIDE VARIETY OF, UM, I WOULD ENVISION, I'LL HAVE TO GET WITH OUR BUDGET OFFICE TO SPECIFICALLY DIRECT YOU WHERE YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
IT PROBABLY DOESN'T LOOK THE SAME THIS WAY, LIKE YOU'D HAVE TO, BUT UH, I CAN FOLLOW, WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THAT AND YOUR
I'M SORRY, SOMEBODY ELSE REAL QUICK ABOUT THE OPIOIDS.
SO E OR A P H AND TRAVIS COUNTY ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
WHAT ABOUT E M SS? I KNOW THEY RECEIVED A BIG POT AS WELL.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT WE CAN HAVE A FURTHER CONVERSATION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THOSE OPIOID FUNDS.
AND YEAH, I, I JUST WONDERED IN GENERAL, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHAT PORTION OF THE WORK GETS DONE BY THIRD PARTY CONTRACTS AND YOU'VE SIGNED CONTRACTS AND PEOPLE DO RFPS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? OR WHAT PORTION IN GENERAL DOES, DO WE JUST HAVE ACTUALLY THE SERVICE PROVIDERS EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN? PART OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH? I WOULD SAY IN
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GENERAL PROBABLY THAT 52 MILLION THAT IS STRICTLY SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS.THERE MAY BE OTHER DIVISIONS THAT HAVE SMALLER CONTRACTS, BUT THAT 52, 50 2% OF THE BUDGET, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE, THAT IS STRICTLY MONEY THAT GOES OUT INTO COMMUNITY THROUGH NONPROFIT PARTNERS, THROUGH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE BULK OF THE OTHER FUNDING IS SERVICES THAT STAFF ARE PROVIDING IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THIS IS ONE OF OUR DIVISIONS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ARE, THAT'S OUR ACCOUNTING, THAT'S OUR BUDGET STAFF COMMUNICATIONS, RECORDS MANAGEMENT FACILITIES, HUMAN RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
THEY MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS GET KEPT ON THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO BUILDINGS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID ON TIME THAT WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION.
WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES, WE HAVE A FAMILY HEALTH UNIT.
UM, THIS SPECIFIC UNIT IS WORKING MAINLY KIND OF WITH YOUTH.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 10 TO 22 YEAR OLDS, WHETHER IT'S THE AUSTIN HEALTHY ADOLESCENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS HELPING YOUTH UNDERSTAND KIND OF BOUNDARIES AND ALSO EDUCATING THEM ON, UM, THEIR OWN PERSONAL HEALTH.
UM, AUSTIN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS YOUTH WORKING IN COMMUNITY.
UM, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOP COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT WAS A SPECIFIC GRANT FOR THE 7 8 7 4, UH, FOR DISTRICT OF SPRINGS AREA, UM, TO HELP YOUTH, UM, STAY AWAY FROM CRIME.
UM, OUR FIRST WORKERS DAY LABOR PROGRAM, SO CONTRACTING PEOPLE TO DO DAY LABOR IN THE COMMUNITY.
SOME WORK AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND OUR FAMILY CONNECTS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS NURSES VISITING, UH, FAMILIES ONCE THEY'VE HAD A RECENT NEWBORN, UM, TO TALK ABOUT SERVICES THAT THEY NEED FOR THAT.
UM, SO THAT IS THE FAMILY FAMILY HEALTH UNIT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION.
REAL QUICK, ANY ANY REASON UP TO AGE 22 IS CONSIDERED PART OF YOUTH, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED PART OF YOUNG ADULTS.
AND I PROBABLY DIDN'T READ THAT FULLY, BUT THERE ARE CHILDREN UP TO SIX THAT ARE WORKING IN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM.
AND THEN ALL FAMILIES WHO HAVE A BABY AT ST.
DAVID'S IN SOUTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER AND ASCENSION THAT RECEIVE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES.
SO IT IS BROADER, UM, THAN I PREVIOUSLY STATED.
SO OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE TARGETED TO 10 TO 22.
UM, OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS ARE WORKING WITH CHILDREN FAMILIES UP UNTIL THE AGE OF SIX.
THE FAMILY CONNECTS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH, UM, PARENTS WHO'VE HAD INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE HAD A BABY AT ST.
AND SOME OF OUR FIRST WORKER PROGRAM WOULD BE KIND OF ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO WORK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT.
SO THESE ARE THE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS THAT ARE WORKING, UH, AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN COME BY AND RECEIVE SUPPORTS, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS, THERE'S A SOCIAL WORKER AND CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING.
SO GETTING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED, MAYBE TAKING YOUR TEMPERATURE, POTENTIALLY GETTING A FLU SHOT.
SO THAT IS THE SERVICE THAT IS OFFERED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT.
UM, TYPICALLY ALSO IF SOMEONE IS CASE MANAGED, THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.
UM, THERE ARE SIX DIFFERENT, AND WE HAVE A VARIETY OF OUTREACH SITES AS WELL.
AND THERE IS A BOARD AND COMMISSION, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAT THEY ALSO REPORT BECAUSE THEY DO RECEIVE, UM, SOME STATE FUNDING FOR MANY OF THEIR PROGRAMS. SO THAT HELPS INFORM THE SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED AT THE VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.
AND SO I'M ASSUMING WITH THE LOCATIONS, UM, DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE LIKE A MAP THAT JUST KIND OF LAYS OUT WHERE THOSE ARE LOCATED AND KIND OF WHAT THAT TRAFFIC LOOKS LIKE REGARDING? YES, YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AT THE VARIOUS, 'CAUSE THEY ARE BRICK AND MORTAR LOCATIONS, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON WHY WE DO HAVE SOME OUTREACH SITES.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE ROSEWOODS OSA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER OR THE ONE IN BLACK LANDS.
BUT, UH, YES, WE CAN PROVIDE A MAP AND LOCATION OF THOSE SITES KIND OF WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE ALSO HAVE THE WOMEN INFANT AND CHILDREN UNIT, UM, OR WE CALL IT WIC.
UM, SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT, WIC NUTRITION, BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION, NUTRITIOUS FOODS, AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE HAVE 14 DIFFERENT CLINIC SITES AND WE KIND OF APPROXIMATELY SEE ABOUT 23,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THIS SITE.
UM, THROUGH SOME OF KIND OF OUR ARPA FUNDING THAT I'M AWARE OF, WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO HELP, UH, FAMILIES ACTUALLY SHOP FOR GROCERIES AND ACTUALLY DELIVER THEM TO THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE WE WERE STARTING TO REALIZE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD WIC WEREN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.
SO WE STARTED OFFERING THAT SERVICE WITH SOME OF OUR ARPA FUNDING AS WELL.
AND OUR YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES UNIT, UM, THIS IS KIND OF UNIT THAT'S SPECIFICALLY VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON OUR YOUTH.
SO THERE IS A YOUTH COUNCIL THAT HAS 80 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
[00:35:01]
AND THEN THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WORK PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT'S THE AUSTIN CORE PROGRAM OR THE AMERICORPS VISTA PROGRAM.SO WE'VE HAD OVER 260 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND APPRENTICESHIPS ACROSS THE CITY AND ALSO WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO KIND OF MORE OF A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THIS ALSO HAS A COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION.
SO RECENTLY THAT COMMISSION ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS HERE IN THE AUSTIN AREA BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THEY NEEDED MORE FOOD ACCESS ASSISTANCE AND NEXT TO OUR DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION, UM, DIVISION.
SO WITHIN THIS DIVISION WE HAVE OUR CHRONIC DISEASE AND INJURY INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
UM, WITHIN THIS UNIT WE'RE FOCUSED, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON HEALTHY EATING, FOOD ACCESS, UH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, TOBACCO-FREE LIVING, DIABETES PREVENTION, AND ANY UNINTENTIONAL INJURY PREVENTION.
SO THAT IS THE WORK OF THIS UNIT.
UM, THEY DEFINITELY FOCUS ON HOW TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET LIKE FRESH GROCERIES OR FRESH FOOD TO SOME COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A GROCERY STORE.
SO WHETHER THAT'S WORKING WITH A SMALLER RETAIL LOCATIONS TO HAVE REFRIGERATION, HAVE FRESH FRUIT DELIVERED, UM, THAT IS PART OF WHAT OUR CHRONIC DISEASE AND ENTRY PREVENTION PROGRAM DOES.
REAL QUICK, REAL QUICK QUESTION ON THIS ONE.
UH, SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FOOD AND ASSISTING WITH THAT ONE, ARE Y'ALL WORKING OFF OF, UM, THE DEFINITION, I FORGET WHAT THE DEFINITION COMES FROM, BUT THE DEFINITION OF A FOOD DESERT OR ARE Y'ALL COMING OFF OF MORE WHAT YOU ACTUALLY SEE BOOTS ON GROUND IN THE COMMUNITIES OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING PROVIDED BY THOSE GROCERY STORES TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A GREATER NEED OF SUPPORT? SO I'LL HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT WITH THE STAFF FROM THAT AREA, BUT I DO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE WORK WAS BEING DONE IN THOSE FOOD DESERTS THAT DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE A GROCERY STORE.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT WAS A SMALL CORNER SHOP, THEY COULD HAVE SOME FRESH FRUIT THAT WOULD BE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE THERE.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME WORK ON OTHER MOBILE MARKETS, BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT NOTE.
'CAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, CITY OF MANOR, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A WALMART HALF THE TIME, IT'S USUALLY NOT THE TYPE OF IDEAL STUFF YOU WANT TO GET.
SO IT DOESN'T MEET THE DEFINITION OF A FOOD DESERT, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD AND HOW OFTEN IT MAY BE STOCKED POTENTIALLY COULD.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE UNIT.
SO THIS IS, UM, WE HAVE CLINICS THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDE CLINICAL OUTREACH AND INVESTIGATION AND FOLLOW UP AND SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH SEXUAL HEALTH TB AND OUR REFUGEE CLINICS, UH, TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPOSED OR SEEKING SERVICES FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF TRANSMISSION.
UM, SO THERE ARE THREE CLINICS.
THERE'S THE SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC, THE TB CLINIC, AND ALSO THE REFUGEE CLINIC.
AND THOSE RECEIVE ABOUT 20 VISITS PER YEAR.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO GROUPS THAT DO KIND OF FOLLOW UP FOR H I V AND STIS, AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO OUTREACH TEAMS THAT ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DOING SOME TARGETED TESTING OUTREACH.
UM, ONE OF THE GOALS IS THERE IS A SOCIAL WORK TEAM THAT IS TRYING TO LINK INDIVIDUALS TO CARE AND ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
UM, SO WE'RE TALKING KIND OF ABOUT 83 STAFF, UH, INCLUDING DOCTORS, NURSES, LAB TECHS, X-RAYS, UM, AND WE USE THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS FOR ALL OF THOSE OPERATIONS.
QUICK QUESTION HERE, UH, ARE THESE TREATMENTS FREE OR ACCESSIBLE TO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR REFUGEES? WOULD THEY HAVE TO FIND HEALTHCARE SOMEHOW OR SO? UM, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OVER THIS AREA IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE.
SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CASSIE DEION WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS MORE SPECIFICALLY.
I THINK I'M ABLE TO JOIN THE CALL.
UM, SO CASSIE DEION WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR DISEASE PREVENTION HEALTH PROMOTION.
SO REGARDING, UM, SERVICES FOR OUR SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC AND, UM, OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, WE DO HAVE, UM, WE DON'T REFUSE ANYONE WHO HAS, UH, AN ABILITY TO PAY, BUT THERE IS, UH, A FEE FOR SERVICE, UH, THAT IS REQUESTED AT THE, AT THE TIME OF SERVICE.
AND NOW, SAY FOR THE REFUGEE CLINIC SPECIFICALLY, THAT IS A PROGRAM WHERE THERE ISN'T A CHARGE WHEN THEY DO NEED THOSE SERVICES.
FOR REFUGEE, IT IS A COMPLETELY GRANT PROGRAM.
SO REFUGEES A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OUR OTHER SERVICES.
THEY ARE, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A CHARGE INVOLVED WITH THOSE.
NEXT UP IS TO TALK ABOUT OUR IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM.
I FEEL LIKE, CHRIS, I SHOULD JUST TURN
[00:40:01]
IT OVER TO YOU, BUT I WANTSO OUR, OUR IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM IS TO ELIMINATE VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COMMUN AND QUALITY IMMUNIZATION SERVICES.
UH, SO WE PROVIDE VACCINATIONS TO INFANTS, CHILDREN'S, AND ADULTS WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON UNDER OR UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS, RESIDENTS.
UM, THIS IS PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO DIVERSE CLIENTS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
UM, THEY SUPPORT OVER 80 VACCINES FOR THE VACCINE FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM IN CLINICS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
UM, AND THEY'VE VACCINATED OVER A HUNDRED LOW INCOME AND UNDER, THEY VACCINATE OVER A HUNDRED LOW INCOME AND UNINSURED CHILDREN ANNUALLY.
THEY WERE BUSY, VERY BUSY DURING COVID.
UH, QUICK QUESTION, DOES THIS INCLUDE H P V? YES, IT INCLUDES H P V
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
I BELIEVE OUR DIVISION CHIEF OVER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH THESE SLIDES WITH YOU.
SO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS THE DIVISION THAT IS CONCERNED WITH ALL SPAC, ALL ASPECTS OF NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT AFFECTING HUMAN HEALTH.
UM, SO THERE ARE OVER 70 STAFF THAT ARE LICENSED SANITARIANS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
AND THEIR PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH FACILITY INSPECTIONS, EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATIONS, SURVEILLANCE, INVESTIGATION, AND ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL CODE STATE LAWS AND, AND LOCAL REGULATIONS.
UM, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS NOT JUST FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS YOU'LL SEE.
THEY DO UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, THE CITY OF BE CAVES, LAKEWAY, MAINOR, WESTLAKE HILLS.
SO THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER CITIES THAT THEY ALSO SUPPORT, UM, IN PROVIDING THESE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SO WHEN YOU THINK OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FOOD IS SAFE THROUGH INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATION, EDUCATION AND REGULATORY ACCIDENT ACT ACTIONS.
SO ANY FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, THINK OF THE MOBILE VENDORS, THINK OF FARMER'S MARKETS, ANY TEMPORARY FOOD EVENTS OR VENDING MACHINES.
THEY'RE ENSURING THAT THOSE ARE SAFE WHEN WE ALL GO AND TRY TO BUY SOMETHING FROM THOSE LOCATIONS.
THERE ARE SPECIAL EVENTS FOR SANITATION.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT CUSTODIAL CARE FOR DAYCARE INSPECTIONS, UM, MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE, RODENT CONTROL, ANIMAL ENCLOSURE, ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTING, UM, VIOLATORS THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT.
SO THEY'RE ENSURING THAT OUR POOLS AND SPAS ARE SAFE.
UM, AND THEY ENSURE THE SANITATION WITH FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE TALL GRASS AND WEEDS, JUNK VEHICLES, AND, UM, SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES.
THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE ON THIS ONE IS SAYS WHO WE SERVE.
I SEE IT'S ALL GOVERNMENTAL, ANY, ANY ENGAGEMENTS OR COLLABORATIONS WITH THE ACTUAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AS WELL.
MARCELLA, YOU STILL ON TO ANSWER THAT ABOUT CHAMBERS? YES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS, UH, COMMISSION.
I'M ACTUALLY HOPING TO, UH, REACH OUT TO THIS BOARD LATER ON ON SOME INITIATIVES THAT I'M WORKING ON, UH, TO TRYING TO, UH, OBTAIN A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION.
AND ONE THING THAT REQUIRE IS TO WORK WITH A, A LOCAL BOARD OF COMMISSION ON, ON OTHER INITIATIVES.
BUT LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
UH, YES, WE DO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
AND, UH, BUT UNDER THAT UMBRELLA IS THE GREATER AUSTIN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION.
AND I HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH A T R A, UH, FOR ANY QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE.
UH, ON THE LESS FREQUENT BASIS, I, WE WILL MEET WITH THE AUSTIN DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATION FOR ANY ISSUES SPECIFICALLY WITH THEM.
IT'S GONNA BE WITH POOLS AND SPAS, UH, AND ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ON THAT.
UH, AND OTHERS MAJOR PROJECT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS THAT CERTIFICATION I WAS DISCUSSING EARLIER, AND THAT'S THE UNITED STATES F D A, UH, RETAIL PROGRAM STANDARDS, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO GET THAT GOLD STAR OR THAT, UH, NATIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR OUR, OUR SPECIFIC DIVISION.
I, I THINK IN THIS ASPECT, THE QUESTION THAT I'M, THAT I'M ASKING IS, UM, WORKING WITH THE CITIES IS GREAT, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THE LARGER CITY, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS BETTER EMBEDDED, UH, AND THERE'S GREATER COMMUNICATION THAT OCCURS.
BUT IN THE RURAL CITIES, SOMETIMES THEY'RE LESS COLLABORATIVE.
UH, AND, UH, ARE, IS THERE ENGAGEMENTS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH SAY, UM, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR PFLUGERVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR ROLLING WOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU ARE, UH, WANTING TO ENSURE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO BEING RELAYED TO THOSE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO THEIR WEBSITES.
THAT INFORMATION IS BEING ADDED ON THERE VERSUS, UH, POTENTIALLY OVERLYING ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO HAVE THAT INFLUENTIAL CAPACITY.
THAT IS, THAT IS ACTUALLY ON THE, UH, RADAR AND HORIZON.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR T R A AND
[00:45:01]
I HAVE DISCUSSED ABOUT UTILIZING MORE LIKE THE, UH, HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE JUST GENERAL GENERAL COMMERCE FOR THE, I MEAN SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT, UH, DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO LOOK TO FOR THE, UH, SMALLER CITIES THAT WE DO SERVE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.I ALSO JUST HAD A QUESTION THAT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS FOOD AND, AND, AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.
IS WATER PART OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AT ALL OR IS THAT JUST A COMPLETELY SEPARATE THING? THAT'D BE A COMPLETELY SEPARATE THING.
OUR NEXT DIVISION IS OUR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS DIVISION.
SO WITHIN THIS DIVISION, OUR EPIS ARE ANALYZING HEALTH DATA TO EXAMINE THE BURDEN OF DISEASE, UM, WITHIN THE COUNTRY FOR A VARIETY OF DISEASES.
SO THINK ABOUT THE DASHBOARD THAT WE HAD FOR C OVID 19.
IT WAS OUR EPI TEAM WHO WAS PULLING THE DATA, THEY WERE GETTING THE INFORMATION IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT.
CURRENTLY THEY'RE WORKING ON A SUBSTANCE USE DASHBOARD.
I THINK WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY ONE, BUT, AND WE KNOW WE WANNA CONTINUE TO ADD.
SO THEY'RE ALSO CONDUCTING DISEASE SURVEILLANCE, UM, CASE AND RE RE OUTREACH OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION FOR OVER 70 NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
SO I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID, I THINK OUR D I S WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN TRY TO TRACK, UH, WHERE INDIVIDUALS WERE, BUT THAT IS SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY WOULD BE DOING ONGOING.
AND THEY'RE ALSO IDENTIFYING, MONITORING AND PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVENTATIVE MEASURES AND INTERVENTIONS.
SO AS WE LEARN ABOUT POTENTIAL DISEASES THAT MAY BE COMING FROM SOMEONE FROM THE AIRPORT OR WHO'S TRAVELED TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, THIS WOULD BE THE GROUP THAT WOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD THOSE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THOSE DISEASES DID NOT SPREAD HERE.
UM, SOME OF THE SUCCESSES OF THIS AREA IN TERMS OF WAS THE OCS OUTBREAK AND RESPONSE, INCLUDING THE TESTING AND VACCINATION, UH, THE ONGOING C OVID 19 CASE OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION, AND THEN THE MONITORING OF TRAVELERS WITH SYMPTOMS FOR EBOLA AND MARBURG DISEASE.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE YOU MAY END UP COVERING THIS IN THE NE IN THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, ZIP CODES, I KNOW ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING PIECES WAS ZIP CODES DON'T NECESSARILY ACTUALLY FIT TO THE CITY OR THE TERRITORY THAT THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH.
SO HOW IS THERE A WAY TO ENSURE THAT WHAT MAY BE HAPPENING WITH THE ZIP CODE 7, 8, 6, 5 3, THAT ALSO INCLUDES PORTIONS OF EAST AUSTIN, PORTIONS OF PFLUGERVILLE AND, AND SO FORTH THAT THERE'S NOT MISREPRESENTATION ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY OCCURRING WITH THE CITY THAT ZIP CODE IS ASSOCIATED WITH.
AND WE DEFINITELY SAW THAT DURING C O V I D, THE LITTLE, THE LITTLE HOT, UH, ZONES AND SO FORTH.
BUT, UH, THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WERE KIND OF SAYING, WELL THAT'S, THAT DOESN'T FULLY INCLUDE US.
THAT INCLUDES OTHER TERRITORIES THAT ARE NOT US.
SO WE'RE BEING ASKED TO GO TO CERTAIN LEVELS OR IMPOSE CERTAIN THINGS WHEN THE SITUATION IS BASED ON THE ZIP CODE AND NOT THE ACTUAL TERRITORY.
I THINK THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT OUR EPI STAFF TO REALLY TALK MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT HOW THEY HANDLE THAT SPECIFIC SURVEILLANCE.
AND THEN PART OF THIS DIVISION IS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
SO IN ADDITION, THEY ARE CONDUCTING PREPAREDNESS, PLANNING AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO DISEASE CONDITIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTERS, AGAIN, SUCH AS HURRICANE RESPONSE, RE RESPONSE TO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND DISEASE PANDEMICS.
UM, SO THEY ARE DEVELOPING AND WE'RE DOING PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAININGS TO BE PREPARED IN THE EVENT OF SOME KIND OF DISASTER PANDEMIC KIND OF AS WE WE'VE SEEN.
UM, SO AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES KIND OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AROUND EM IMPACTS SOME OF THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE AROUND EXTREME COLD WEATHER PLANNING AND SHELTER RESPONSE AND INCLUDING WINTER STORM MARA, UM, CONTINUING TO MONITOR AND PROVIDE SITU SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ABOUT THE EXTREME HEAT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE AWARE OF THAT WHAT ACTIVITIES WE'RE TAKING.
UM, ACTIVATED MULTI-AGENCY RESOURCE CENTER FOLLOWING KIND OF THE MOST RECENT, UM, STORMS THAT WE'VE HAD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT THE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT FOR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
AND THEN THEY WERE ALSO CONDUCTING SPECIAL EVENTS FOR AIR MOD AIR MONITORING FOR BIOLOGICAL PATHOGENS FOR A C L F ONE AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
WITHIN THIS DIVISION WE ALSO HAVE THE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS.
UM, SO AN INDIVIDUAL CAN PER COME AND GET THE BIRTH, DEATH OR FA FATAL DEATH CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, IN 2022, THEY, UH, THEY CERTIFIED OVER 46,000, UH, BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES, AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY AMENDED ABOUT 31,000
[00:50:01]
CERTIFICATES.SO USING THE DATA FROM THE BIRTH AND THE DEATH, THEY'RE ALSO USING THAT AND FEEDING IT TO OUR EPIS TO BE ABLE TO TELL KIND OF A STORY WITH THE DATA ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WITHIN THIS DIVISION WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PLANNING.
SO THIS IS OUR AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN.
THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY AND COUNTY ARE, UM, ACCESSIBLE TO OUR, OUR OLDER ADULTS, OUR AGING ADULTS, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT, OUR FAST TRACK CITIES AND GETTING TO ZERO, SO WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING TO ZERO, UH, WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE H I V, OUR H I V PLANNING COUNCIL AND ALSO STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR HEALTH EQUITY UNIT.
WE TYPICALLY CALL THIS GROUP OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
SO THIS IS A GROUP THAT IS ACTUALLY HAS A MOBILE VAN AS MANY OF OUR OTHER, SOME OF OUR OTHER AREAS DO WHERE WE'RE OFFERING GOING INTO COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY, UM, THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY DISEASE TO BE ABLE TO DO BLOOD PRESSURE, BLOOD SUGAR, CHOLESTEROL, UM, TESTING, LOOKING AT PEOPLE'S A ONE C, ALSO DOING SOME H I V SCREENINGS, HEALTH FAIRS, UM, HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES.
CURRENTLY WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, UM, LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ALSO AN EQUITY LINE.
SO THIS WAS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD AN EQUITY LINE STOOD UP SO THAT PEOPLE COULD CALL IF THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE INTERNET TO SIGN UP FOR TESTING, SIGN UP FOR VACCINES.
SO THAT EQUITY LINE IS STILL IN PLACE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN GET THOSE SERVICES, UM, THAT WERE NECESSARY FOR COVID AND ALSO FOR MPOS, OUR H I V RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION UNIT.
SO THEY ARE MANAGING ALL THE GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR H I V CORE MEDICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
SO, OR RYAN WHITE, PART A, SOME OF OUR HOUSING, UH, FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AIDS, UM, AND ALSO SOME CITY GENERAL FUNDED H I V SERVICES.
SO THIS IS H I V TESTING, H I V HOUSING SUPPORT, UM, AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS THAT SOME OF OUR H I V POPULATION MAY NEED.
AND THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH H I V ARE DIAGNOSED, SO THERE'S A BIG PUSH FOR THAT ONCE THEY'RE DIAGNOSED, ENSURING THAT THEY RECEIVE CARE AND THAT ONCE THEY RECEIVE CARE, THEY'RE RETAINED IN CARE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN SUPPRESS THE VIRAL LOAD.
SO THAT H I V IS NO LONGER DETECTED.
WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP AND TIE IN WITH THE, UH, JOE POWELL CLINIC? UM, HOW DOES THAT KIND OF WORK TOO? SO DO YOU ALL, WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE THAT ARE UNINSURED UNDER THE 200%, DO Y'ALL STILL TAKE CARE OF THEM OR DO THEY END UP GETTING, UH, REFERRED OVER TO THE JOE POWELL? UM, I CAN RESPOND LOUDER IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
UM, AND THE COMPONENT THAT WE PROVIDE, UM, IN OUR DISEASE PREVENTION HEALTH PROMOTION DIVISION IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY, UM, THE PATIENTS FOR SEXUAL SEXUAL HEALTH AND FOR H I V, UM, THOSE WHO COME INTO THE CLINIC AND UM, UH, NEED H I V SUPPORT, WE DO PROVIDE THEM WITH INITIAL SUPPORT SUPPORT.
BUT THEN THE GOAL IS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A ONGOING, UH, PROVIDER, IS TO REFER THEM OVER TO DAVID POWELL OR TO ANOTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDER SO THEY CAN HAVE ONGOING LONG-TERM, UH, AND GET THEM INTO ONGOING LONG-TERM CARE.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S OUR, OUR, OUR ROLE AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE, UM, IN NEED OF ONGOING CARE THAT WE CONNECT THEM TO, TO THAT, TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.
AND IF THEY'RE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED, WE, UM, CONNECT THEM TO A, A CLINIC THAT, UM, IS ABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
DID YOU WANNA SPEAK AGAIN? SURE.
UM, YEAH, I WAS JUST TO, JUST TO REITERATE WHAT CASSIE WAS SAYING, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG REFERRAL PATHWAY FROM, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE STREET TEAMS THAT ARE, THEY'RE DOING OUTREACH WITH A P H INTO THE DAVID POWELL CLINIC, AND ONCE THEY'RE IN THE DAVID POWELL CLINIC, WE CAN GET THEM TO VIRAL SUPPRESSION WITHIN 28 DAYS.
UM, NOT EVERYBODY, BUT ON AVERAGE.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S KIND OF THE H I V RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION UNIT THAT HAS THE GRANTS.
THERE IS THE WORK IN CASSIE'S UNIT WITH COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND ALSO WORKING WITH CENTRAL HEALTH.
SO THESE ARE KIND OF REFERRALS AND PARTNERSHIPS WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS TO GET THEM INTO CONSISTENT CARE.
AND I THINK AS YOU ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE WORK IS DONE IN-HOUSE, SO THE FUNDING THAT IS PROVIDED BY THE H I V RESOURCE ADMINISTRATION UNIT IS PRIMARILY FUNDED TO NONPROFIT PARTNERS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, IF I HAVEN'T HAD KIND CLINIC, A WIDE VARIETY OF PARTNERS THAT THEY WORK WITH IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, KIND OF WITHIN THE HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIVISION, THE NEWEST EDITION IS OUR OFFICE
[00:55:01]
OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.SO THEY'RE WORKING TO CREATE SAFETY AND SO THAT EVERY AUSTINITE CAN THRIVE.
THAT'S THE NEWEST, UM, UNIT PROBABLY STARTED, UM, TWO YEARS AGO IN 2021.
SO THEY'RE LEADING COLLABORATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY, KIND OF THE STATE, UM, TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH, UM, AND PROJECTS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE EXPANDING SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS SO THAT THERE IS SAFE STORAGE, GUN STORAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WORKING WITH YOUTH SPECIFICALLY, UM, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND ALSO COMMUNITY ROOTED GRANTS, UH, SO THAT COMMUNITY CAN INFORM THE TYPES OF SERVICES THAT CAN BE OFFERED TO PREVENT CRIME IN THEIR AREA.
AND ALSO ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY TO EXPAND THE MESSAGE TO INFLUENCE BEHAVIORS THAT CREATE SAFETY.
SO THINKING ABOUT, THERE WAS AN, THERE IS AN ADDRESS YOUR STRESS CAMPAIGN TO HELP PEOPLE THINK BEFORE THEY, UM, IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION SO THAT THEY DON'T DO, DON'T HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHEN THEY'RE IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
THEN THERE'S A SOCIAL SERVICE AGREEMENT ADMINISTRATION.
SO THIS IS THE 50, I THINK WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE GRANT FUNDING AND ALL, THERE'S ABOUT $58 MILLION THAT IS GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITY FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF SOCIAL SERVICES, WHETHER IT IS ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING WORK WHERE WE'RE INFORMING COMMUNITY ABOUT A WIDE VARIETY OF NEEDS.
UM, BASIC NEEDS, HELPING PEOPLE WITH FOOD, HELPING PEOPLE POTENTIALLY PAY RENT ACCESS, UM, LEGAL SERVICES, OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WHICH ALSO FUNDS OUR SUBSTANCE MISUSE WORK.
UM, OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH WORK, HEALTH EQUITY, UM, OUR HOMELESS SERVICES, WHICH IS THE LARGEST POT OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE, UM, IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS.
AND THEN OUR WORKFORCE READINESS.
IS THAT 7 MILLION FOR BASIC NEEDS AND 7 MILLION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, OR IS THAT, ARE THOSE ONES OR SEVENS? I JUST SEVENS.
7 MILLION FOR BASIC NEEDS, 7 MILLION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, 8.9 FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, 6.2 FOR HEALTH EQUITY, 24.7 FOR HOMELESS, AND 3.6 FOR WORKFORCE READINESS.
SO THESE ARE, AS I MENTIONED, SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS.
THEY'RE CONTRA, WE'RE MOVING TO A MODEL WHERE WE'RE CONTRACTING OUT SERVICES BY ISSUE AREA.
UM, EVERY FOUR TO FIVE YEARS OF OUR NEXT SOLICITATION WILL BE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FOR WORKFORCE READINESS, WITH A SOLICITATION UPCOMING ALSO FOR OUR HEALTH EQUITY SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
PRIMARILY, THIS IS SERVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER 200% OF FEDERAL POVERTY, WHO LIVE EITHER IN AUSTIN AND OR TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND ALSO WITHIN THIS DIVISION IS OUR ACCREDITATION.
SO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS AN ACCREDITED HEALTH DEPARTMENT BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION BOARD.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR REACCREDITATION BECAUSE WE'VE JUST GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AGAIN.
BUT THIS IS JUST ENSURING THAT, UH, WE HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT IS MEETING KIND OF THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WALKS, ARE YOU STILL ON? I AM.
IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I'M SORRY, WERE YOU GONNA SPEAK LAURA? NOPE, GO AHEAD.
WS IS OUR MEDICAL AUTHORITY AND HEALTH AUTHORITY.
SHE WORKS WITH ALL OF OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS TO MAKE SURE ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND STANDING ORDER DELEGATIONS ARE MEDICALLY SOUND.
SHE PARTICIPATES IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISES AS OUR HEALTH AUTHORITY.
UH, SHE PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL INCI SCIENTIFIC CONSULTATION TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, UM, ON QUARANTINE MEASURES, WHICH IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR HOMELESS, UM, SHELTERS, UM, INSPECTION, DISEASE PREVENTION AND DISEASE SUPPRESSION, BIRTH AND DEATH STATISTICS, AND GENERAL SA SANITATION AND THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES JURISDICTION.
UM, SHE REPORTS THE PRESENCE OF CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS AND DANGEROUS EPIDEMIC DISEASES.
UM, IN THIS JURISDICTION, SHE REPORTS TO THE DEPARTMENT ON ANY SUBJECT ON WHICH IT IS PROPER FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO DIRECT THAT A REPORT BE MADE.
UM, AND SHE AID THE DEPARTMENT IN ENFORCING PROPER RULES, REQUIREMENTS, ORDINANCES, SANITATION LAWS, QUARANTINE RULES, PUBLIC HEALTH, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND VITAL STATISTIC COLLECTIONS.
ONLY QUESTION I'D PROBABLY HAVE ON THIS ONE IS SINCE MOST OF THE OTHER CITIES WITHIN TRAVIS COUNTY DO NOT HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, WHAT IS I GUESS THE ENGAGEMENT THEN, UH, WITH THOSE CITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES AROUND TO, UH, ENFORCING QUARANTINE MEASURES AND SO FORTH? UH, SO THAT WE DON'T
[01:00:01]
UNFORTUNATELY HAVE, UH, AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, OVER SPEAKING FOR WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING DOWN IN THOSE LOCAL AREAS.WALKS, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, I'M, I'M ACTUALLY, I'M ACTUALLY THE HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR TRAVIS COUNTY AS WELL.
AND, UM, WHEN WE IDENTIFY A REPORTABLE CONDITION, UM, AND THE SITUATION ARISES WHERE A, UH, CONTROL ORDER IS NEEDED, THEN I'M CALLED UPON TO DO THAT.
I OVERSEE, UM, THE, UM, ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTY THAT REQUIRE MY ATTENTION.
UM, I'VE GIVEN PRESENTATIONS TO, UM, GATHERINGS FOR THE MAYORS OF THE OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND DURING THE PANDEMIC WE HAD REGULAR COMMUNICATION AND STILL HAVE, UH, QUARTERLY ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYORS OF THE OTHER, UM, JURISDICTIONS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND LAST CERTAINLY, BUT NOT LEAST, IS OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY DIVISION.
SO AS IT ENTAILS, UH, THEY ARE WORKING TO RESEARCH, DEVELOP, AND CLARIFY STRATEGIES AND RECOMMENDATION FOR ACTION TO ENSURE PROGRESS ON THE CITY'S GOAL OF AN EFFECTIVE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM TO SUPPORT CITIZENS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, THEY'RE COORDINATING SERVICES ACROSS THE CITY AND PUBLIC SPACES WITH 15 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ENSURING ALIGNMENT AND EFFICIENT RESPONSE.
UM, SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIKE THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OR CO COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COLLABORATION WITH THE HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIVISION ON THE PROCUREMENT EXECUTION AND PERFORMANCE OF SOME OF OUR HOMELESS SOCIAL SERVICE INVESTMENTS AND DEVELOPING THOSE CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING AND INFORMING PERSONS, UM, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MANAGING THE OPERATION OF THE NORTH BRIDGE NON CONGREGATE EMERGENCY SHELTER.
THIS DIVISION IS ALSO ENGAGING KEY STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND MEMBERS EXPERIENCING OR LIVE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE MEDIA TO INFORM, COMMUNICATE, AND EXECUTE THE CITY'S HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE STRATEGY.
SO DEFINITELY WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPING A RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT, UH, ENGAGEMENTS DO YOU HAVE WITH, I DIDN'T SEE, UM, AUSTIN ECHO LIST ON HERE, SO WORK VERY CLOSELY.
THEY'RE PRIMARY PARTNER WITH ECHO IN WORKING, AND I BELIEVE OUR HOMELESS, UH, STRATEGY OFFICER DUSTED ON THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE, BUT I'M SURE THERE'S MORE.
UH, ANY LAST QUESTIONS FROM, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS BRIEF QUESTION? UM, VERY GENERIC QUESTION, AND I KNOW THERE'S NO ANSWER PARTICULARLY, BUT, BUT I WONDERED HOW YOU THINK ABOUT, UM, MEASURING QUALITY IN THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
YOU HAVE THE MASSIVE PORTFOLIO, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, AND YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES, BUT HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU THINK THERE ARE THAT ARE EMPLOYED FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH? WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 800, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
AND, AND THEN PROBABLY THE CONTRACTED SIDE MIGHT BE ANOTHER 800 OR A THOUSAND, I'M ASSUMING THAT WOULD BE WORKING UNDER THE APICES OF THAT $58 MILLION.
SO DO YOU MEAN THE NON-PROFITS AND THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT YEAH, WHO KNOWS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT MY ONLY POINT IS THAT, SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS AND, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE JUST STUDIED.
I, I'M, UM, INTERESTED IN HOW WE MEASURE QUALITY.
SO SOME OF THE MEASURES OF QUALITY IN HERE ARE THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, 200,000 MEALS SERVED OR SOMETHING, OR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE METRIC.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS PROBABLY AN ONGOING CONVERSATION, BUT I WONDERED WHAT ARE THE THINGS SYSTEMATICALLY ARE MEASURED TO UNDERSTAND QUOTE, QUALITY? SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S, I'M JUST GONNA MAKE A TERRIBLE EXAMPLE AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, BUT LIKE, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE A SERVICE TO DO SOMETHING.
AND THE QUESTION IS, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANNA DO IS PROVIDE A SERVICE TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S VOLUME.
BUT THEY MIGHT, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, IS THERE, IF IT'S FOOD, HAVE WE IMPROVED THE NUTRITION? WHAT OTHER KINDS OF METRICS WOULD THERE BE THAT COULD BE BUILT INTO THE SERVICE THAT MAYBE ARE BUILT IN THIS STUDY? THE NOTE YOU'RE DOING, EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO BESIDES JUST PROVIDE SERVICES AND COUNT SERVICES, AND THAT'S THE QUALITY PROGRAM.
AND I SEE CASSIE HAS HER HAND UP BEFORE I CHIME IN, SO I'LL LET CASSIE, THANKS.
RICE, UH, WITH ASKING THE QUESTION, WE LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS TO CONSIDER, UH, QUALITY METRICS, UM, NOT JUST QUANTITY.
WE DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE'RE, UH, DEFINITELY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE SHORT-TERM, INTERMEDIATE TERM AND, AND LONG-TERM, UM, OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AFFECT.
[01:05:01]
AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, UH, ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLEMENTS ARE TRYING TO ASSESS THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS, PARTICULARLY IN LIKE OUR CLINICAL PRACTICES.WE LOOK AT LIKE WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF THE, OF THE CLINIC CYCLE THAT WE'RE DOING, LIKE HOW WELL ARE WE, UH, UH, MANAGING, UM, OUR CLINICAL OPERATIONS? AND, AND SOME OF THAT ALSO WE GET FEEDBACK FROM CLIENTS THROUGH, UM, SATISFACTION SURVEYS OR WHATNOT.
AND SO THAT GIVES US SOME IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK TO KIND OF DETERMINE ON HOW WELL, UH, WE'RE MEETING THE PATIENT'S NEEDS AND TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THAT WAY.
BUT THEN ALSO WE LOOK A LOT AT, UH, TRYING TO LOOK AT CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, UM, AND TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF SHORT-TERM CYCLES, LIKE WE DO A LOT OF EXERCISES ON P D S A CYCLES PLAN, DO, STUDY, ACT TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCIES OF, OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, UM, WHICH ALL KIND OF TRANSLATE INTO IMPROVED QUALITY OF SERVICE.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT FEEDBACK LOOPS THAT ARE PUSHED INTO, UH, REGULAR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE QUALITY METRICS ARE BEING EVALUATED ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO ENSURE, UH, THAT THE WORK THAT'S BEING PUT OUT THERE JUST ISN'T TICKING OFF THE CHECK BOX ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SERVED, BUT WHAT KIND OF LEVEL OF SERVICE WAS PROVIDED AND HOW WELL, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE CAN WE SEE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN WE DO TRY TO, UH, PUSH THAT BACK INTO, UM, IMPROVEMENT OPERATION IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS TRAININGS.
UM, AND UH, KIND OF I HELP US IDENTIFY WHERE WE HAVE PAIN POINTS WHERE WE CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND TWEAK THAT AND, AND THEN WE DO THE, THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN.
UM, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S JUST A, A, A PROCESS THAT WE, THAT IS UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR IMPROVING QUALITY.
AND I'LL PITCH IT BACK OVER TO YOU LOUD IT OR, YEAH, NO, I MEAN, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IN ADDITION TO KIND OF THE CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, I THINK EVERY AREA MAY HAVE SOME SPECIFIC AREAS THAT THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON.
I WOULD SAY SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR HOMELESS WORK, WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT KIND OF HOW DO WE PILOT A MORE OF A PAYOFF FOR PERFORMANCE TO ENSURE THAT OUR RAPID REHOUSING CONTRACTS AS WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, ARE THEY MEETING THE METRICS? IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY? SO I THINK DEPENDING ON THE AREA, THERE MAY BE SOME SPECIFIC FOCUS ON HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND REPORT MORE ON THE QUALITY AND NOT JUST THE QUANTITY OF THE WORK THAT IS DONE.
I HAD A QUICK QUESTION AROUND DISEASE SURVEILLANCE.
I WAS WONDERING IF WE ALSO HAVE WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE DO, BUT I THINK I'D WANT J UNLESS CASSIE KNOWS, UH, I WOULD WANT OUR EPI, OUR CHIEF EPI TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND.
WE, WE ACTUALLY DO DO WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE FOR C OVID 19 AND ALSO FOR MPO.
UM, IT'S DONE THROUGH A C D C CONTRACTOR.
UH, AND UM, WE, OUR EPI STAFF FOLLOW THAT, UM, DATA AND REPORT BACK TO, UM, MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, UM, TO KEEP US ABREAST OF THE SITUATION AND TRENDS.
ANY LAST QUESTIONS? APPRECIATE IT.
SO I DO BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS IS TRYING TO, THERE SHE IS.
WELL, FIRST, AND BEING A PERSON THAT IS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER, SO I AM VERY AWARE WITH A P H AND I WANNA SAY YOU ARE DOING A MAG MAGNIFICENT WORK, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF YOUR PROGRAMS, SO KUDOS TO YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE HERE FOR A PRESENTATION, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT QUALITY, I HAVE SEEN IT MYSELF, NOT ONLY AS A CLIENT, BUT ALSO AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, UH, HELPING THE COMMUNITY WITH YOUR DIABETES CLASSES, WHICH ALL YOUR EXTENSIONS.
I JUST WANNA SAY YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
UM, SECOND FOR ME IS HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED OR ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY CAN GET INVOLVED IN YOUR HOMELESS STRATEGY DIVISION? I HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS.
I HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE AS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEMBER.
UM, WE ARE IN DELL VALLEY, SO, UM, SO THOSE ARE MY TWO THINGS.
I'M, I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF YOUR WORK AND YES, THERE'S ALWAYS, UM, ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN EVERY SINGLE ASPECT IN ALL OF, IN ALL OF US.
BUT DEFINITELY RIGHT NOW ON SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PRESENTED, I WANNA SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB AND THEN I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW TO GET INVOLVED INTO YOUR HOMELESS STRATEGY DIVISION.
WE'LL CONNECT YOU WITH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST SPECIFICALLY WORKING IN THE HOMELESS SPACE SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF KIND OF WHEN THE BRIEFINGS ARE COMING UP AND WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, REMARKS? YES.
[01:10:01]
THIS IS FOR CENTRAL HEALTH.I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I THINK Y'ALL MIGHT BE PRESENTING NEXT TIME.
SO PERHAPS THERE'S, INCLUDE THIS IN THERE IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, THE CITY'S GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UM, CALLED OUT CENTRAL HEALTH RECENTLY ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND HOW THEY NEED TO BE MORE INVOLVED.
UM, SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IN TERMS OF HOMELESSNESS AND UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR STRATEGY IS.
I DON'T WANNA STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT FROM A P H, BUT I'LL BE SURE TO INCLUDE IT IN THE PRESENTATION FOR NEXT MONTH.
ANYTHING ADDITIONAL? ALL RIGHT.
NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS, UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
UH, WHAT DO WE ALREADY HAVE CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR NEXT MONTH'S MEETING? HEALTH, CENTRAL HEALTH.OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE? NO, I KNOW THAT ONE'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE, TAKE A WHILE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE.
UM, AND SO YES, NOT NECESSARILY FOR NEXT TIME, BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR VENUE, OUR MEETING VENUE.
IT MEETS ALL THE RULES OF THE STATE LAWS AND EVERYTHING FOR MEETING, BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY IN AN AREA THAT NEEDS US AND WE'RE NOT REALLY IN AN AREA WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO MAY WANT TO PARTICIPATE WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
THAT'S NOT WHO I THINK WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON.
SO MAYBE IF WE HAVE A FACILITY IN EAST AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE WE'RE WITH THE PEOPLE WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO SERVE TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, BUT ALSO JUST TO BE IN THE AREA WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEETING AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE CURRENTLY.
SO THAT MAY BE A LONGER TERM DISCUSSION.
UH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
NO, DEFINITELY, UH, DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE INTENT AND DESIRE TO WANT TO PROBABLY DO MORE OF A ROUND ROBIN OF, OF THE LOCATION.
I THINK FROM THE ONE THING I'LL SAY RIGHT HERE, AND IT'S PROBABLY GONNA COME OUT WRONG OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER LOCATIONS WOULD HAVE THIS SET UP TO HAVE THE GREAT AUDIO, TO HAVE THE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
YES, THERE ARE OTHER MEETING, UM, SPACES, UM, AS SOMEONE WHO LIAISONS FOR ANOTHER COMMISSION MM-HMM.
WE CAN GET A LIST OVER TO JUANITA AND ALSO THE CLERK'S OFFICE CAN DO THE SAME.
UM, TO GET YOU GUYS THAT LIST.
I JUST HAD A THOUGHT ABOUT FUTURE MEETINGS.
UM, I KNOW WE'D MENTIONED THIS BEFORE AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA DO CENTRAL HEALTH NEXT, BUT I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, UM, DAVID EVANS AND INTEGRAL CARE AND THE ISSUE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN GENERAL IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
DAVID HEALTHS, UH, DAVID SMITHS, I THINK DAVID EVANS, DAVID EVANS MM-HMM.
HAS BEEN I THINK A LEADER IN THAT FIELD WITH INTEGRAL CARE FOR I THINK 30 YEARS.
SO HE HAS A VERY DEEP DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE AND HE COULD BRING TO US NOT ONLY A SURVEY OF WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE IN THAT ARENA, BUT ALSO HAS A VERY SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, I THINK ABOUT THE JAIL CHALLENGE AND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AS IT RELATES TO POLICE AND JAIL.
AND SO I JUST LET MAY LAY THAT OUT THERE AS THAT MIGHT BE A LOGICAL NEXT THING AFTER CENTRAL HEALTH, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT SEQUENCING.
SO I WOULD ASK FOR ADDITIONAL PRESENTATIONS, SEND THAT IN BY WHAT, WHAT DO WE SAID ONE WEEK AFTER THIS MEETING? YES.
VIA AS TOPICS? YEAH, VIA EMAIL.
SO, UH, ESPECIALLY ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Y'ALL MAY BE THINKING OF.
LIKE FOR ME, SOBERING CENTER, RIGHT.
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, SOBERING CENTER.
SO WHAT ELSE MAY BE OTHER ENTITIES THAT, UH, WE, WE JUST NEED TO BRING IN, HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THEY DO WORK WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT KEY FOUR HERE AS WELL.
UH, BUT I KNOW AGAIN, FOR AT LEAST US WHEN WE LEAVE THIS MEETING, THE ONLY THINGS OCCURRING NEXT MONTH ON THE AGENDA, AT LEAST FOR RIGHT NOW, WILL BE CENTRAL HEALTH'S PRESENTATION.
AND THEN I GUESS THE FINALIZED VERBIAGE FROM, UH, THE, THE, THE AMENDED BYLAWS, UH, AGENDA.
'CAUSE I BELIEVE CENTRAL HEALTH IS GONNA TAKE UP MOST OF THE TIME.
I THINK THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, BECAUSE IF I DON'T SAY IT NOW MM-HMM.
UM, IS I, I DO WANT TO, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS PREVIOUSLY, IS I WOULD, SINCE WE'RE GETTING THE BALL GOING, IS TO GET THAT KIND OF UPDATE, UM, FROM CITY COUNCIL'S, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON, WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, AND HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY, UM, SUPPORT.
'CAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT, UM, THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THE BALL GOING ON THAT, THAT THEY MAY NEED US FOR.
SO THAT IS A CITY COUNCIL, UM, COMMITTEE.
AND SO IT MAY BE IN REVERSE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT YOU MAY COME TO THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE BECAUSE THEY WILL BE THE GOVERN, THEY WILL BE OUR OVERARCHING, UM, I WANNA SAY RIGHT.
[01:15:01]
I UNDERSTAND THAT.BUT I MEAN THAT THEY EXISTED BEFORE US, SO PERHAPS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT MAYBE THEY WANT US TO START THINKING ABOUT.
UM, AND WE DID SAY WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A REPORT FROM THEM.
SO I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE FOR THAT TO GET STARTED.
SO THERE'S A POTENTIAL WORKAROUND ON THAT.
UM, CAN WE HAVE THE LIAISON, THE STAFF LIAISON? THAT'S, THAT IS ME.
OH, YOU ALREADY IN THE ROOM THEN
UH, COULD YOU I GUESS, UM, INQUIRE WITH, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF THEIR AREAS OF PRIORITY AND NEEDS ARE AND IT JUST BE PRESENTED TO US AS A REPORT BY THE LIAISON OR ANY OTHER, UM, COMMISSIONER TEAM MEMBERS? YES.
SO THIS IS ANNA TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL WANTED AND WHAT TRAVIS COUNTY WANTED OR IN THE RESOLUTION AND THE PROCLAMATION THAT CREATED THESE BODIES AND THEREFORE THAT INFORMATION AND THE DIRECTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED.
I THINK WHEN OPIOID CRISIS WAS ALSO DISCUSSED, CITY COUNCIL ALSO ADDED SOME VERBIAGE FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION.
MAY I MAKE A COMMENT OR YEAH, IT'S IN THAT APPRECIATE THAT.
I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE INTERESTING FOR THIS GROUP MAYBE, UM, TO SEE WHATEVER'S PUBLIC IN AN AGENDA OR RIGHT.
AGENDA ITEMS OVER THE LAST MAYBE SIX MONTHS.
I'M JUST MAKING THAT UP, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT COMMITTEE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE, WHAT'S IT CALLED? IT'S THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.
IT, I MEAN THAT MIGHT HELP US LEARN WHAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE.
IF WE LOOKED AT THE AGENDA OVER, AND YOU COULD EMAIL IT TO US, I SUPPOSE INTEGRALLY, JUST SO WE COULD SEE WHAT THEY WORK ON.
AND WE PROBABLY COULD FIND THAT PUBLICLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WHERE WE'D BE ON, ON COUNT ON THAT.
I CAN PULL THE, UH, I CAN PULL THE LAST, UH, SINCE MY TENURE.
I CAN PULL AGENDAS FROM THE LAST YEAR.
UM, BUT JUST SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE AWARE THEY DO HAVE A MEETING ON SCHEDULE NEXT WEEK, UM, WHICH IS 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UM, SO THEY DO MEET THE OPPOSITE WEDNESDAY OF YOU ALL.
WELL, I THINK IN THIS SENSE, TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST, JUST A TERMINOLOGY DISCONNECT.
I THINK THE QUESTION, THE MORE DIRECT QUESTION IS WOULD THEY WANT US TO TAKE A TOPIC LIKE SAY INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT THEY WANT US TO FOCUS ON, OR HOW ARE THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WORKING ON THAT? OR WOULD IT BE SOMETHING LIKE OPIOID? RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION MORE IN A SPECIFIC, ARE THERE PARTICULAR TOPICS THEY WANT US TO LOOK AT BASED OFF OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE BYLAWS THAT THEY HAVE CREATED THAT THIS COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENGAGING AND OPERATING AND HOPEFULLY IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THE FOUR AGENCIES COULD BETTER COLLABORATE.
OR EVEN IF LIKE, I, I AGREE WITH THAT, WITH EXACTLY WHAT THE CHAIR SAID.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M, I WAS GETTING AT.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO GOOD TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE MEETING SOON BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR EVEN LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT TO JUST GIVE YOU MORE WORK, IT'S TO HAVE THE CHAIR KIND OF GO BY AND, AND SAY, HI,
HI, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE UP AND RUNNING.
YOU KNOW,
GONNA SAY SOMETHING JUST TO SHARE ALL THESE MEETINGS ARE RECORDED AND PUT ON THE WEBSITE JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
UM, SO YOU ARE ABLE TO WATCH THEM ANYTIME YOU LIKE.
AND THE AGENDAS ARE THERE, THE TRANSCRIPTS ARE THERE AS WELL.
THIS IS, GOES BACK TO THE MINUTES AND I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY PROVED THEM.
UH, BUT JUST FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONER LEE, SHE'S NAME WAS MISSPELLED A FEW TIMES IN THE MINUTES.
ANYTHING ELSE? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
I CALLED THIS MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3 49