Apr 02, 2025 Public Health Committee

[00:00:01]

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR

[CALL TO ORDER]

IF WE CAN PLEASE HAVE, IF WE CAN PLEASE MINIMIZE OUR CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN GET STARTED ON OUR COMMITTEE HEARING.

THANK YOU.

NOW I NEED MY GAVEL.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE ABOUT TO GET STARTED.

THANK YOU.

WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE EVERYONE.

WE LOVE HAVING A PACKED COMMITTEE HOUSE.

THANK YOU.

I CALLED TO ORDER THIS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

THE TIME IS 10:01 AM ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2025, AND WE ARE HERE IN THE CITY.

COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR APRIL PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING.

I'M JOINED TODAY BY OUR VICE CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER UCHIN, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER ZOE CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

WE HAVE A PACT COMMITTEE AGENDA.

WE'RE GONNA START OUT WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM OUR MARCH 5TH COMMITTEE MEETING.

FROM THERE, THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WE WILL HEAD INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TAKE UP PERSONNEL MATTERS.

AFTER THAT, WE'LL COME BACK AND RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE IMPACTS OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING LOSSES.

I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS FEELING THOSE IMPACTS GREATLY, AND IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE.

UH, THEN WE'LL HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE STATUS OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES BY LIFEWORKS.

THAT HAS BEEN A TOPIC OR A TOPIC OF INTEREST FOR THIS COMMITTEE.

SO WE WILL BE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A DEEPER CONVERSATION AROUND YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

AND THEN, UH, AND THAT'LL CONCLUDE OUR MEETING.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY? ALRIGHT, LET'S BEGIN.

WE WILL NOW WELCOME SPEAKERS

[Public Communication: General]

MAY THE CLERK'S OFFICE, PLEASE START US OFF WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER.

GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR.

YOUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SHERWIN PATTON.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER ON DECK WOULD BE JOE BLAND.

IF YOU'RE PRESENT, YOU CAN COME TO THE MIC.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

WELL, GOOD MORNING.

SO MY NAME IS SHERWIN PATTON.

AND I, I COME HERE ON BEHALF OF A GROUP OF, OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THIS CITY.

WE'RE CALLED DREAM TOGETHER 2030.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, UM, WITH US.

AND IF, UH, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE HERE WITH THIS ENTIRE GROUP, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND JUST FOR A MOMENT? SO, THE REASON WHY WE CAME IS BECAUSE OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A NEW SEASON OF FLOURISHING JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR GREATER AL AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

OUR VISION IS FOR ABOUT 2030 THAT CENTRAL TEXAS WILL BE A MODEL FOR JUSTICE, EQUITY, SHARED CONVICTION AND ACTION AIMED AT CREATING A MORE PROSPEROUS AND VIBRANT, EXCITING FUTURE FOR EVERY AUSTIN KNIGHT.

AND SO, THE REASON WHY WE'RE DRIVEN TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE MANY OF US, BUT NOT ALL OF US, ARE FAITH LEADERS.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CONVICTION FROM GOD IS THAT WE HAVE TO CARE ABOUT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ISAIAH ONE IN 17 SAYS THIS, LEARN TO DO GOOD, SEEK JUSTICE, CORRECT OPPRESSION, BRING JUSTICE TO THE FATHERLESS, PLEAD THE CAUSE OF THE WIDOW.

AND SO DREAM TOGETHER.

2030 DOES THIS BY ADDRESSING A FEW CAUSES, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, FOOD DISPARITIES, HEALTH EQUITY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, KINSHIP, FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION, MENTAL HEALTH, RELATIONAL CONNECTIONS, AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

JUST TO NAME A FEW, A MAJORITY OF THESE CAUSES ARE SUPPORTED BY DOLLARS THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UNDER THE PHENOMENAL LEADERSHIP OF ADRIAN STIR PROVIDES.

SO I ASK IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD TOGETHER WORK WITH US TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING NEEDED IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, 12% OF RESIDENTS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.

THE MOST COMMON, UH, RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IS WHITE, FOLLOWED BY HISPANIC AND TWO OR MORE.

AND THEN THE OFFICIAL POVERTY RATE OF BLACK ADULTS AGES 18 TO 64 IS 14.9%.

ALTHOUGH BLACK PEOPLE MAKE UP LESS THAN 8% OF THE POPULATION.

SO WE HAVE 116,000 PEOPLE IN OUR CITY THAT ARE AFFECTED.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT AFFECTS ALL OF US.

SO THIS IS NOT JUST ONE DEMOGRAPHIC BEING AFFECTED, IT'S THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND SO I MAKE THIS STATEMENT TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT

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AND SO DREAM TOGETHER 2030 AS A COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE FOR US TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT WORKS.

AND WE LEND OUR THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER, JOE BLAND, AND THEN SEAN OLIVER, IF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE COME TO THE MIC.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

JOE BLAND.

SEAN OLIVER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING.

NAME IS SEAN OLIVER FROM LIFE OF NEW A TX PIECE.

AND THE REASON I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUES ARE THE FACT THAT THE HELP, THE COOPERATION, THE PARTNERSHIPS, THE SUPPORT THAT A PH HAS GIVEN THE COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, HAVE ENABLED US TO HELP INDIVIDUALS.

AND I JUST WANNA JUST SHARE JUST A STORY ABOUT HOW AN INDIVIDUAL WAS HELPED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A PH AND OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP MOTHERS.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP CHILDREN.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIMES.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPACT REHABILITATION AND REENTRY.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS ON OUR OWN.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETARY DECISIONS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA LOOK AT DATA.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA LOOK AT NUMBERS, AND THAT IS NECESSARY.

BUT I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE.

A PH HAS HELPED PEOPLE, THEY HAVE HELPED ME.

AND WITHOUT SOME OF THESE PROGRAMMING, WITHOUT SOME OF THE SUPPORT, WITHOUT DREAM TOGETHER 2030 AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO, I DON'T KNOW ACCURATELY WHAT THOSE RESULTS WILL BE.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING, WHEN YOU'RE VOTING, I'M JUST ENCOURAGING YOU THAT PREVENTION WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL OVER PROSECUTION.

AND WHEN YOU SERVE THE COMMUNITY, IT WILL AFFECT ALL OF AUSTIN AND NOT JUST SOME OF AUSTIN.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS PASTOR MARL RES, AND THEN PASTOR JOSEPH PARKER.

HI, MY NAME IS MARYVILLE REYES.

I'M A FAITH LEADER HERE IN AUSTIN WITH A PASTOR HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

BUT I WORK WITH DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNING THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

BUT, UH, LIKE, UH, SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, WAS SAYING IS, UH, WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED, UH, FROM CRIME, FROM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALL KINDS OF NEEDS.

IF WE CUT THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DOUBLE THE BUDGET IN THE YEARS TO COME.

BECAUSE DREAM TOGETHER 2030 IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

THAT'S WHAT I'M PART OF THIS, THIS BIG PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HELPING IN ALL AREAS OF SOCIETY.

AND I'M THE VOICE OF MANY, MANY, MANY HISPANIC FAMILIES THAT REALLY NEED THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT NUMBERS, IT'S JUST ABOUT PHASES AND PREVENTION AND, AND, AND SOLUTIONS FOR, FOR THIS, FOR, UH, FOR, UH, THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WILL HELP ON THE LONG RUN.

SO PLEASE DON'T, DON'T, DON'T CUT THE BUDGET.

AND I JUST THINK, UH, A-P-A-I-D UH, A PH FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT WE REALLY NEED THE FUND, ESPECIALLY ON THIS TIME THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ANXIETY CRISIS, UH, FAMILY PROBLEMS. SO THANK YOU.

AND I, I JUST WANT YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TO HEAR THAT WE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.

THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JOSEPH PARKER.

I PASTOR THE DAVID CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH IN EAST AUSTIN.

UH, I STAND TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH, UH, PASTOR PATTON AND WITH ALL OF THE OTHERS WHO HAVE COME, UH, RELATIVE TO DREAM TOGETHER.

UH, I CANNOT RECALL OVER THE ALMOST 33 YEARS OF MY PASTOR, THE DAVID CHAPEL, HOW MANY TIMES THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS CALLED ON US PASTORS, UH, OF CHURCHES THERE WHO, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT

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AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY WE STRIVE TO LEAD THOSE, UH, YOU'VE CALLED ON US IN THE PAST BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A CALLING ON OUR LIVES TO SEEK THE PEACE OF THE CITY.

UH, THAT'S WHAT JEREMIAH TELLS US.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEACE OF THE CITY, OR THE SHALOM OF THE CITY REPRESENTS THE WELLBEING AND THE PROSPERITY OF ALL WHO ARE HERE.

AND SO WE ARE HERE SPEAKING WITH THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, SOME OF WHOM MAY BE WORKING TODAY BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE HERE, BUT SHARE IN THE CONCERNS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS GARNERED A, UH, REP REPUTATION FOR BEING LITERALLY A TRAILBLAZER IN BRINGING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

I WOULD URGE YOU TO LIVE UP TO THAT AS WELL AS YOUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELLBEING, NOT ONLY, UH, HEALTH, UH, IN TERMS OF THE BODY, BUT WELLBEING OF PROSPERITY AND HEALTH OF ALL CONCERNS.

SO WE URGE YOU, UH, TO CONTINUE TO BE A TRAILBLAZER, TO BE CREATIVE, UH, TO USE YOUR STAFF AND YOUR OWN THOUGHT PATTERNS TO DO MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE OR THINK, AND KNOW THAT WE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST STAND WITH YOU IN PRAYER.

THANK YOU.

THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR VELASQUEZ.

UH, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.

UH, I WANT TO THANK MIKE, UH, GUPA FROM DREAM TOGETHER LIFE, A NEW AT XPS FOR REPRESENTING, UH, FOR THEIR ADVOCACY FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THEIR FAMILY REUNION OUT IN THE HALLWAY.

I KNOW WE GOT A LITTLE BIT ROWDY, BUT WE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT UNDER WRAPS TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO CHAMBERS.

UM, COLLEAGUES, I KNOW THAT THE CHAOS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH FUNDING CUTS ISN'T LOST ON ANY OF US.

AUSTINITES FOLKS WILL BE LOOKING TO US TO HELP.

AND WHILE WE WILL BE OPERATING ON AN ALREADY RIDICULOUSLY TYPE BUDGET, I THINK THE ONUS WILL FALL ON US TO STAND IN THE GAP, ACT AS BEST WE CAN AS A SAFETY NET, AND TO GET CREATIVE ABOUT HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING CUTS TO CVI CUTS TO EDUCATION WITH OUR PSSS MENTAL HEALTH, UH, ISSUES AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

AND THE POINT OF ALL THIS IS THAT THESE PROGRAMS SAVE LIVES.

UH, THESE AS, AS MY DEAR FRIEND ALLUDED TO THESE, THESE ARE PEOPLE WE'RE HELPING.

THEY'RE NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A PAGE.

THEY'RE NOT JUST PERCENTAGES IN A BUDGET.

UH, WHILE SOME MAY SEE THESE PROGRAMS AS NON-ESSENTIAL, A LOT OF US KNOW THE VITAL ROLE THESE PROGRAMS PLAY TO OUR PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING AND WE GOT YOUR BACK.

VERY WELL SAID.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER I RIGHT? I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.

JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT.

I KNOW IT'S NEVER EASY, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK TO TAKE TIME OFF TO COME DOWN HERE.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

AND, UH, WHEN I USED TO WORK AT THE LEGISLATURE, THERE WAS A MEMBER WHO ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, PUT A FACE ON IT, RIGHT? WE HAVE NUMBERS ON A PAGE, JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.

UH, BUT YOU CAN SOMETIMES LOSE THE HUMANITY BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS.

AND I THINK Y'ALL BEING HERE TODAY IS REALLY PUTTING A FACE ON THE CONVERSATION WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING ABOUT THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS AND WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE.

'CAUSE AS YOU WELL KNOW, AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND, A CURE.

SO, UH, IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? VERY GOOD.

UM, AND JUST TO, UM, PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE PREVIOUS COMMENT, JUST WANNA ALSO SHARE MY APPRECIATION FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND PROVIDING YOUR TESTIMONY.

I LOVE TO SEE COALITIONS AND IT'S VERY CLEAR TODAY THAT WE HAVE A COALITION HERE WITH THE DREAM TOGETHER 2030 GROUP.

AND WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK, WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION.

KNOW THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WILL BE CONVENING WITH OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE HERE IN A FEW WEEKS, UH, TO DO A, A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING AROUND HOMELESSNESS.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO, TO COME IN AND PROVIDE TESTIMONY.

UM, WE WILL BE RECEIVING OUR FINANCIAL FORECAST FOR THE CITY NEXT WEEK ON TUESDAY.

SO THAT'LL ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT AS TO THE BUDGET CLIMATE THAT WE'RE WALKING INTO IN A FEW MONTHS.

UM, BUT THE FACT REMAINS IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OUR COMMUNITY HAS RIGHT NOW WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS, THE IMPACTS TO OUR SAFETY NETS.

AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, I AM VERY, UM, INVESTED IN, COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL STEP UP TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND PROTECTIONS THAT AUSTINITES DESERVE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, COLLEAGUES, WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON

[Approval of Minutes]

THIS IS ITEM NUMBER ONE.

CAN I GET A MOTION, MOTION BY VICE CHAIR UCHIN AND A SECOND

[00:15:01]

UH, ANY OBJECTIONS AND APPROVING THOSE MEETING MINUTES? SEEING NONE, THOSE MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 5TH, STAND APPROVED.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON APPOINTMENTS TO THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I'D

[Executive Session]

SO WITH THAT, THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP ONE ITEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER TO THE SOBERING CENTER, LOCAL CORPOR GOVERNMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS? SEEING NONE, THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA CALL US BACK TO ORDER.

IF FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE CAN PLEASE MINIMIZE CONVERSATION SO THAT WE CAN RESUME OUR MEETING.

WE ARE NOW OUT OF CLOSED SESSION ENCLO SESSION.

WE DISCUSSED PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

WE'RE RESUMING

[2. Discussion and possible action regarding the appointment of a member to the Sobering Center Local Government Corporation Board of Directors]

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION.

DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW TWO APPLICANTS FOR THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF MANAGERS.

AND, UM, I WILL NOW CALL FOR, UH, A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THAT APPOINTMENT.

YES, YES.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPOINT, UH, JUDGE LAURIE ELOW TO THE BOARD OF THE SOBERING CENTER.

THANK YOU.

CAN I HAVE SECOND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE? ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

SEEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT.

SEEING ANY, ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, THAT MOTION IS APPROVED.

THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THAT RECOMMENDATION.

SO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WILL BE RECOMMENDING LORI ELOW TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR APPOINTMENT AND CONSIDERATION TO THE SOBERING CENTER BOARD OF MANAGERS.

WE WILL WANT TO ENSURE THAT THAT GETS ON THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.

OKAY.

SO WE'LL

[3. Briefing from Austin Public Health on the impacts of federal funding losses. [Adrienne Sturrup, Director - Austin Public Health].]

WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME ADRIAN STIRRUP, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO PROVIDE A BRIEFING ON THE IMPACTS ON FEDERAL FUNDING.

UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE MEMOS FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM REGARDING, UH, CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT.

I KNOW I HAVE A CHILDCARE CENTER IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAD A CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK THAT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN CUT.

AND, UM, WHICH IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE.

WE JUST OPENED THAT CHILDCARE CENTER, UH, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SO, UM, I WANNA THANK OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM FOR BEING HERE, AND WE WELCOME YOUR PRESENTATION.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.

JOINING ME IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR CASSANDRA DELEON.

UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT CAME TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND IF YOU HEAR THE, THE WAIVER IN MY VOICE, IT IS, UM, THE EMOTION BEHIND THE, UH, SERIOUSNESS OF THIS MOMENT, UM, AND THE WEIGHT THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH GLADLY CARRIES.

BUT THE RELIEF IN KNOWING THAT, UM, WE WORK IN A COMMUNITY THAT UNDERSTANDS, ACKNOWLEDGES AND VALUES, UM, THE WORK OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO, MY, MY THANKS AGAIN TO, UM, TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S GET TO IT.

UM, I DO WANNA PREFACE THIS, THAT THIS IS A VERY, UH, AN EVER EVOLVING SITUATION.

AND THE INFORMATION THAT I AM PRESENTING IS WHAT WE KNOW, UM, TO DATE.

AND SO JUST TO GIVE, OH, HERE, CASSIE, CAN YOU HELP ME? YES.

SORRY.

'CAUSE I CAN'T DO TWO BUTTONS AT ONE TIME.

UM, I JUST WANNA GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S.

OH, OKAY.

HERE WE GO.

OUR GRANT FUNDING.

UM, SO OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IS 131 MILLION AND, AND SOME SPRINKLES, AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, FROM THE PIE CHART.

OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, UM, IS $92 MILLION.

UH, AND THAT'S ROUGHLY 70% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET, HOWEVER, THAT REPRESENTS 313 EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 49%.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? 49% OF OUR STAFF, UM, ALSO INCLUDED IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS, UH, THE, OUR SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT GO TO SUPPORT

[00:20:01]

AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 29.5% OF OUR GENERAL FUND.

UM, OUR GRANT DOLLARS MAKE UP, UH, NEARLY 40 MILLION, WHICH IS 30% OF OUR BUDGET BUDGET, BUT REPRESENTS 51% OF A PH FTES.

OKAY.

AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO, WHEN WE MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, UM, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SHOWING YOU HERE TODAY, WE JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE SOME SCENARIOS OF, OF WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE PIE.

AND SO YOU CAN SEE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, THAT BREAKDOWN THAT WE, WE SHOWED YOU OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES, UM, BASED ON WHAT WE KNEW AT THE TIME, AND THIS WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, THE MIDDLE GRAPH SHOWS, UM, 63 FTES LOST TO GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 25.

UH, 35 OF THOSE POSITIONS WERE LOST IN THE FALL OF 2024, UH, DUE TO GRANT REDUCTIONS THAT, UH, SUPPORTED KEY PUBLIC HEALTH OPERATIONS.

I DO WANNA SAY THOUGH, UM, IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE, WE WERE ABLE TO ABSORB 23 OF THOSE POSITIONS INTO EXISTING VACANT PCNS OR FIND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES.

UM, THE REMAINING POSITIONS WERE EITHER PLACED THROUGH OUR REDUCTION IN FORCE PROCESS PROCESS AT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, OR FROM ATTRITION.

THEY JUST WEREN'T FILLED.

AND SO, ALTHOUGH WE LOST CAPACITY IN TERMS OF PROGRAM DELIVERY, UM, THE OTHER GOAL THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS AS A DEPARTMENT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PRESERVING EMPLOYMENT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

UM, WE KNEW, UH, THAT AN ADDITIONAL 28 POSITIONS WERE EXPECTED TO BE LOST OVER THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2025.

UM, AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE GRANT OR THE COVID RELATED DOLLARS THAT WERE PHASING OUT.

UM, NEW REDUCTIONS THAT WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR, UM, WAS OUR REFUGEE MEDICAL SERVICES CLINIC, AND THAT'S 13 ADDITIONAL STAFF.

UM, OUR TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM BREATHED WITH PRIDE THAT TARGETS, UM, TOBACCO CESSATION EFFORTS FOR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITIES WAS LOST.

THAT EQUATED TO TWO, UM, EMPLOYEES OUR GO A TX PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS, UH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND JOB.

UM, SUMMER EMPLOYMENT WAS LOST, SO THAT'S ABOUT 25 SUMMER YOUTH INTERNS, UM, AND THREE FULL-TIME STAFF.

OUR COVID VACCINATION PROGRAM, WHICH, UM, WAS SEVEN STAFF AND OUR, UH, DIABETES CARE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS TWO STAFF.

UM, WE EXPECT AT THIS TIME FROM EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND, UM, OTHER, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN TEXAS, AS WELL AS THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING ON THE NEWS, THAT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL 7.8 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT'S AT RISK, UM, AND WOULD IMPACT AN ADDITIONAL 57 FTES.

UM, AND SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDE OUR WORK AROUND HEALTH EQUITY, UM, OUR STAFF TRAINING WORK AROUND HEALTH EQUITY AND THE, UM, EQUITY ACADEMY.

IT INCLUDES, UM, SOME OF OUR HIV AND STI WORK.

IT INCLUDES, UH, SOME OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS. UM, IT INCLUDES COVID-19 SURVEILLANCE.

UM, AND THE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED.

AND SO THAT THIRD PIE CHART SHOWS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

UM, IF ALL OF OUR GRANT FUNDING, UM, WAS LOST, AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE REDUCED TO 314 FTES.

AND I'LL GO INTO THE IMPACTS ON, UM, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. BUT JUST LIKE REALLY QUICKLY ALREADY, THAT'S OUR HIV PREVENTION AND, UH, STI TEAM.

SO THE MOBILE VAN THAT WENT TO COMMUNITIES FOR FOLKS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE CLINIC, UM, THAT WAS IMPACTED.

OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WHO WERE CONDUCTING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH SCREENINGS AND PROVIDER REFERRALS WAS IMPACTED.

OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS CONDUCTING HEALTH EQUITY OUTREACH TO, TO HIGH RISK POPULATIONS, PROMOTING VACCINES AND MAKING CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES WAS IMPACTED.

UM, AND OUR DIABETES CARE PROGRAM PROVIDING CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, UM, TO FOLKS WHO JUST CAN'T MAKE IT INTO REGULAR CARE, BUT WANT TO COME TO ONE OF OUR CLINICS AND CLASSES WAS IMPACTED.

UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT BRIEFLY BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OH, I SHOULD JUST USE MY FINGER, LOOK AT CASSIE, UM,

[00:25:01]

PUBLIC HEALTH NATIONALLY HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDERFUNDED.

UM, THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT CAME THROUGH FROM THE PANDEMIC NOT ONLY GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SCALE UP TO RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS, BUT IN SOME WAYS TO RIGHT SIZE.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, UM, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALLOWED LOCALS TO CONTINUE TO USE THOSE FUNDING DOLLARS AFTER THE PANDEMIC ENDED.

UM, AND WE SAW THE RESULTS OF THAT WHEN RIGHT AFTER COVID, WE HAD TO DEAL WITH EM IMPACTS.

UM, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MEASLES OUTBREAK.

IT MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE THERE'S AN A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON, BUT WE HAVE THE HEALTH EQUITY LINE STAFFED UP, AND PROVIDERS ARE CALLING TO FIGURE OUT IF A PATIENT THAT THEY'VE SEEN IN THEIR CLINICS MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEASLES TESTING.

WE'RE RUNNING ALL THOSE LABS.

UM, WITH THE, WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES TO SEE IF THEY ACTUALLY ARE A MEASLES CASE.

WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE REPORTING AND MEETING WEEKLY.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK THAT GOES ON.

UM, AND THE FACT THAT WE ONLY HAD ONE MEASLES CASE AND THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO THAT, THOSE DOLLARS FOR THE ADDITIONAL VACCINE STAFF AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND IN THAT WAY.

SO EVERYBODY COULD JUST GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THE, ON THE NEWS, BECAUSE THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH HEROES ARE WORKING LITERALLY 24 HOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MONITORING MEASLES.

NEXT SLIDE.

AND SO, AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE POTENTIAL FUNDING IMPACTS, THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THAT 39 MILLION IN, IN GRANT, UM, FUNDING.

AND SO THAT'S REPRESENTED BY THE ORANGE.

AND SO IF WE ONLY HAD THE 64 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND, UM, TO PLAY WITH, THERE WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN SERVICES.

UM, AND SO JUST TO, AGAIN, PUT A, A FACE TO THE DOLLARS, THAT'S 373 MOTHERS AND CHILDREN THAT RECEIVE WIC BENEFITS, THAT'S ALMOST 300,000 PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE FREE VACCINES, UM, THROUGH THE VACCINE FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM.

THAT'S 126,000 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE SUPPORT THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.

AND THAT'S FOOD PANTRY, THAT'S EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, THAT'S MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, AND THAT'S PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES.

UM, IT'S 17,000 SEXUAL HEALTH AND TB CLINIC APPOINTMENTS.

UM, IT'S 8,000 REFUGEE HEALTH SCREENINGS.

AND SO ALL OF THOSE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, A, WE MEET, WE, WE RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TO EXPECT.

UM, IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, 810,000 OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.

IT INCLUDES PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

UM, IT INCLUDES, AGAIN, DISEASE INVESTIGATION AND SURVEILLANCE.

AND THAT'S NOT ONLY S-T-I-H-I-V AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES LIKE MEASLES OR EM IMPACTS, BUT IT'S ALSO FOOD SAFETY FOODBORNE ILLNESSES.

THERE'LL BE IMPACTS TO US BEING ABLE TO MONITOR, UM, RESTAURANTS AND, UH, THE THINGS THAT MAKE AUSTIN VIBRANT AND, AND THE PLACE TO BE WITH OUR FOOD TRUCKS.

AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE ENJOYING THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING SO IN A SAFE MANNER.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE DO IN, UH, NURSING HOMES, WHEN THERE'S THOSE TYPE OF ILLNESSES THAT BREAK OUT THAT WOULD IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND.

NEXT SLIDE, CASSIE.

AND SO, JUST, SO, AGAIN, TO PAINT THE PICTURE OF HOW AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS SUPPORTED, UH, THE GREENEST GENERAL FUND, THE ORANGES GRANT, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NOT MANY AREAS OF OUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY GENERAL FUND.

UM, IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, SO THAT'S THINGS LIKE IT, UM, MANAGER SUPPORT AND, AND OTHER, UH, CORE INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS THAT DO THE FOOD INSPECTIONS AND THE VECTOR, UM, CONTROL AND THE POOL INSPECTIONS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

BUT YOU SEE EVERY OTHER DIVISION, UM, RELIES IN SOME WAY ON GRANT FUNDING, UH, SOME AREAS MORE THAN OTHERS.

AND SO, AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE A MAP OF WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE AS WE ARE MAKING PLANS TO FIGURE OUT

[00:30:01]

UM, WE HAVE OVER 35 FACILITIES.

OUR, OUR PLAN IS ALWAYS TO BE MORE OUT INTO EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOT ENOUGH IS LOCATED THERE, BUT DEPENDING ON HOW THE CUTS SHAKE OUT, THOSE YELLOW DOTS WILL BE F FEWER.

AND SO, UM, THIS, I, I LAUGH BECAUSE TWO WEEKS AGO THIS WAS THE EMERGING, UM, ISSUE.

AND SO THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AT PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND SO WE, WE KNEW THAT OUR REFUGEE PROGRAM CONTRACT WAS GOING TO END ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.

AS OF JANUARY 20TH, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENTS FOR FUNDING, UH, DUE TO ACTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

UM, AND SO THIS IMPACTS 13 FTES.

UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE CASSIE HEMAN WITH THE NUMBER, HOW MANY, UH, FAMILIES ARE IN QUEUE TO RECEIVE SERVICE? IS THAT HERE? UM, AND WHILE SHE'S LOOKING FOR THAT NUMBER, I, I WANNA SAY THAT THAT REPRESENTS $5 MILLION IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM.

AND WHAT IT IS, IS IF THEY'RE A FAMILY SEEKING ASYLUM IN THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE THEIR FIRST PORT IN ENTRY.

UM, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH, UH, VACCINATIONS AND WE MAKE REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES AND PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER SUPPORT.

AND SO AS THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY IN, WE'RE CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER SERVICES.

AND SO, UM, THE CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN CLEAR IN HIS MEMORANDUMS TO, UM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL ABOUT MINIMIZING THE IMPACTS ON SERVICES AND COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE'VE RECEIVED A STAY, UM, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO, TO FLOAT THAT PROGRAM FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, IF WE WERE TO RESPOND, LIKE OTHER AGENCIES, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'VE CLOSED THEIR DOORS AND STOPPED THEIR PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THE RISK TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF REIMBURSEMENT.

UM, AGAIN, HERE'S THE TOBACCO PREVENTION GRANT.

WE ACTUALLY TOOK THAT ITEM TO COUNCIL TO APPROVE AN EXTENSION FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYING THAT THAT PROGRAM WAS CANCELED.

UH, SAME THING LAST WEEK FOR THESE COVID-19 IMMUNIZATIONS AND EPI CAPACITY GRANTS.

AND SO, REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE COVID FUNCTIONING, WE'VE USED THEM FOR MEASLES, FOR M IMPACTS FOR SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

UM, WE GOT NOTICE ON A WEDNESDAY THAT ON THE PROCEEDING MONDAY, SO ON THE 24TH ON, NO, ON THE 26TH, WE GOT NOTICE THAT OUR CONTRACT WAS CANCELED AS OF THE 24TH.

UM, AT THAT TIME, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ASKED US TO PAUSE BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO RESPONDING FROM IN TO INFORMATION THEY'RE GETTING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

UM, AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, IS THIS REALLY A CANCELLATION OR IS THIS JUST A HALT AND PAYMENT? WE GOT CONFIRMATION LAST WEEK THAT THOSE CONTRACTS ARE CANCELED, EFFECTIVE 3 24.

AND AGAIN, UM, WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND MARCHING TOWARDS THE DIRECTION AND THE COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY MANAGER MADE, UM, WE'VE GOTTEN APPROVAL TO EXTEND EVERYONE'S EMPLOYMENT FOR 30 DAYS WHILE WE TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND SO, WORKING WITH, UH, WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROVED, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CARE FOR THESE STAFF AND TRY TO GET THEM PLACED INTO, UM, OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND SO THIS IS KIND OF THE, THE SITUATION WHERE THAT WE'RE IN, I'VE, I'VE CALLED IT DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS.

UM, AND SO THE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING TO PRIORITIZE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT LOCAL DOLLARS CANNOT FILL THE GAP, UM, OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO PUT TOGETHER INFORMATION TO GIVE OUR BEST RECOMMENDATION, UM, TO CITY MANAGER AND COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND THE FIRST THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS LOOKING AT THE THINGS, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO AS A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT? WHAT ARE WE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE PUBLIC? THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE THINGS, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DO THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES THAT WE CAN KIND OF SHIFT OVER OR HAND OFF OR PARTNER WITH SO THAT THE CITY, UM, WOULDN'T HAVE TO, TO BEAR THOSE COSTS ALONE.

AND THEN THE THIRD LEVEL IS WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T DO, BUT WE KNOW ARE, UM, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO

[00:35:01]

WE DID IT IN COVID.

AND I THINK THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THERE IS NO FEDERAL WINDFALL THAT'S GOING TO COME THROUGH TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS.

AND SO IT, IT WILL REALLY BE, UM, UNFORTUNATELY US TAKING A HARD LOOK AT, UM, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE JUST CAN'T SUPPORT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TURN TO COMMUNITY FOR, UM, FOR HELP AND ASSISTANCE.

UM, I'M OPTIMISTIC NOT ONLY, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TODAY, UM, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK OUT OF TURN.

WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, LOCAL FOUNDATIONS, AND THEY TOO, YOU KNOW, MY ASK HASN'T BEEN, HEY, CAN YOU, CAN YOU PAY? IT'S LIKE, HEY, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER AS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE, UM, POSITIVE MOVEMENT TOWARDS MORE EQUITABLE HEALTH OUTCOMES? UM, AS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, IT, IT, IT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR US TO, TO TAKE A STEP BACKWARD.

AND I, I, I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN OUR CITY LEADERSHIP AND THIS BODY THAT, UM, THAT WON'T BE THE CASE.

THERE'S A, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT, UM, WE FEEL ARE, ARE AT RISK, UM, THAT WILL IMPACT ANOTHER 28 POSITIONS SUPPORTING CORE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.

UM, THOSE ARE NURSES, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, DIABETES EDUCATORS, AND SOME IT SUPPORT.

'CAUSE WE HEARD Y'ALL DURING COVID, LIKE, WHY CAN'T THE CITY BE LIKE CHICK-FIL-A? AND SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON OUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE, UM, SERVICES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T BE CHICK-FIL-A, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL BE BETTER THAN WE WERE.

UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC ALSO WORKING ON OUR COMMUNICATIONS, UM, WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT THE EFFORTS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS, SO THAT GRANT FUNDING SUPPORTS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

UM, CASSANDRA, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD? I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY, JUST ADDING THE PATIENT IMPACT FROM THE REFUGEE CLINIC.

SO WHAT WE KNOW, UM, AT THE TIME THAT, UH, AND WHILE WE, WHEN WE RECEIVE THIS NEWS, WE, I IMMEDIATELY WANT TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE WE, UH, DEALING WITH AS FAR AS PATIENTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATING COMING INTO THE CLINIC AND GETTING THEIR SCREENINGS.

AND SO AT THAT TIME, WE PULLED OUR APPOINTMENT ROSTER.

UM, AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE THINKING OF FROM, UH, FEBRUARY THROUGH END OF JULY.

THESE ARE THE PATIENTS AND THE TYPE OF PATIENT APPOINTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.

UM, WE HAVE 595 SCHEDULED INITIAL APPOINTMENTS, 8 647 SCHEDULED SCREENINGS, 1,608 SCHEDULED VACCINE APPOINTMENTS.

AND THEN WE HAVE 883 UNSCHEDULED REFERRALS.

THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, AS ES, UM, THAT ARE SEEKING, UH, THAT NEED THAT MEDICAL CARE, UM, AS THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR, OUR, UH, CITY.

AND SO IT IS, WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AND, AND SUPPORT THOSE, UM, THOSE FAMILIES, THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE THE, THAT IS PATIENT IMPACT.

THOSE ARE THE REAL PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED.

AND I KNOW I'VE, I'VE RATTLED OFF A LOT AND THERE'S DOLLAR AMOUNTS HERE, DOING SOME QUICK BACK OF THE MAP, UH, NAPKIN MATH, I WANT TO SAY IT'S ABOUT THOSE LOSSES ON THIS SCREEN REPRESENT ALMOST 15 MILLION IN, IN GRANT FUNDING, RIGHT? IT'S CLOSE TO THAT.

THE REFUGEE ALONE WAS 8 MILLION.

AND SO YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

I KNOW THAT THE STAFF NUMBERS SEEM LOW, BUT THERE'S LIKE THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE TO BUY THAT GO WITH THAT AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE, UM, THE GRANTS COVER.

BUT I AM FOCUSING ON THE, THE STAFF BECAUSE MY TWO PRIORITIES ARE, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE EQUAL.

HOW ARE WE PROTECTING THE EMPLOYEES OF A PH AND HOW ARE WE BEING SMART ABOUT REMAINING RESOURCES TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY? UM, WITH THAT, I THINK THAT ENDS OUR PRESENTATION, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO KICK US OFF? YES.

COUNCILOR PADRE? YES.

GO.

COUNCIL QUEZ.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UM, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHAIR.

UH, WHILE YOU'RE PRESENTING ON SLIDE THREE, YOU RAN THROUGH A LIST OF PROGRAMS THAT WERE AFFECTED.

UH, CAN YOU SHARE, AND, AND I'M SURE THE DIOCESE WANT THIS ALSO, CAN YOU SHARE

[00:40:01]

IF WE CAN GET, UH, A LIST OF, OF ALL OF THOSE.

UM, AND THE SECOND THING THAT I HAD IS, UH, WE SPOKE YESTERDAY AND EARLIER TODAY ABOUT, UH, CVI FUNDING, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTOOD YOUR, YOUR RESPONSE.

I ASKED ABOUT THE DOLLARS, UH, TO THE DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE LOST TO CVI FUNDING BECAUSE OF FEDERAL CUTS.

UM, AND YOU HAD INDICATED THAT, THAT THE MONEY THAT WE LOST WAS, WAS AN EARMARK THAT WE HAD APPLIED FOR.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR, FOR OUR, OUR BUDGET FOR CBI, OUR CITY OF AUSTIN, BUDGET FOR CBI.

AND SO I SPOKE TO, UM, THE MANAGER OF THE OFFICE FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO GET HER TAKE ON THIS WHEN THE NEWS CAME OUT.

UM, THE BUDGET TABLE THAT I SENT YOU HAS SECURE FUNDING FOR TWO YEARS.

UM, SHE HAS A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTIONS TO SERVICE DELIVERY.

JUST THE ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE WOULD NOT HAPPENED.

UM, BUT SHE'S ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, A NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC, UH, ORGANIZATION.

AND THERE'S, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LARGE INFLUX OF PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT COME INTO COMMUNITY FOR CVI.

UM, AND GOOD NEWS IS IT'S STRAIGHT TO, UM, THE AGENCIES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CITY CONTRACTING PROCESS.

UM, AND SO SHE'S PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THAT LOSS WHILE HURTFUL, IS NOT GONNA IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR, OUR WORK.

THANK YOU.

AND, AND WHEN WE, WHAT TWO YEARS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT THAT FUNDING IS IN PLACE FOR, I BELIEVE IT'S THIS YEAR AND, UH, 26.

THE NEXT TWO FISCALS? YES, SIR.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

COUNCILOR CADRY.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION.

COULD YOU FURTHER EXPLAIN THE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE SUPPLEMENTAL ROLE AND ITS, AND ITS RESPONSIBILITIES? YEAH.

UM, AND THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THAT, THAT WAS ON COUNCIL AGENDA LAST WEEK TO, UH, ACCEPT THE, THE RENEWAL OF THE FUNDS, AND THEN WE, WE GOT THE NOTIFICATION.

AND SO, UM, THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I BELIEVE IT'S A TEAM OF THREE AND THEY SUPPORT DISEASE INVESTIGATION.

AND I'LL, I'LL LET MS. DELEON GIVE ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

SO THOSE THREE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS SUPPORT ARE OVERALL, UM, DISEASE INTERVENTION, UM, OH, SURE.

SORRY.

UH, THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS SUPPORT AN OVERALL TEAM.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE STAFF THAT, UM, WORK IN THAT SPACE, BUT SPECIFICALLY THAT HELPS SUPPORT THAT OVERALL DISEASE INTERVENTION SPECIALIST INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WE HAVE A MANAGER THAT MANAGES OUR TEAM OF 14.

UH, THERE IS A SPECIFIC DIS INDIVIDUAL THAT, UM, IS FOCUSED ON, UM, WORKING WITH, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, AND THEN THEY DO PUBLIC HEALTH FOLLOW UP WHERE THEY ARE CONTACTING THAT INDIVIDUAL, UH, USING MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TO FIND OUT WHO ARE THEIR CONTACTS, UM, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN THEN FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM INTO TESTING AND OUR TREATMENT, UM, OR WHATNOT, JUST TO HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF TRANSMISSION.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A, SPECIFICALLY, ONE OF THE STAFF ON THAT, UH, GRANT IS A DISEASE SURVEILLANCE SPECIALIST WHO, UH, WORKS IN OUR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE UNIT, WHO'S WORKING SPECIFICALLY ON A CONGENITAL SYPHILIS PROJECT, WHICH IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT MOTHERS, UM, EXPECTANT MOTHERS, UM, RECEIVE EARLY INTERVENTION AND TESTING FOR SYPHILIS TO BETTER IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH OUTCOME AND ALSO THE HEALTH OUTCOME OF THEIR UNBORN CHILD.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

YES, VICE CHAIR.

THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

UH, MY QUESTION IS RELATED TO, UH, A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS YOU RAISED A FEW MINUTES AGO.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE GOING, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU'VE GOTTA DO, UH, REGARDING STATUTE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU CAN PARTNER WITH OR HAND OFF TO OTHER RELATED NONPROFITS OR AGENCIES? AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS, UM, THAT WE, THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY ARE REQUIRED TO DO, BUT ARE STILL IMPACTFUL? CAN YOU EXPAND ON, UM, HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE OR THE TIMELINE OR THE PROCESS YOU'RE GONNA UNDERTAKE TO TRY AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THOSE THREE QUESTIONS? UH, I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER FOR THAT.

UH, THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON I AM.

I LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE MARBLES THAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT WHO GETS WHAT.

UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THE WAY THAT THIS IS ROLLING OUT AND THE, THE WAY THAT THE INFORMATION IS FLOWING, WE'RE GONNA BE MORE REACTIVE THAN, THAN PROACTIVE.

BUT, UM, AS I SAID, THE TEAM IS WORKING REALLY HARD.

WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WE'VE MATCHED THAT UP WITH THE THINGS WE KNOW THAT ARE HAPPENING LOCALLY.

AND, UM, WE'VE

[00:45:01]

AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE STARTING POINT FOR US TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY, UM, OKAY, IF THIS HAPPENS, WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER? UM, YEAH.

AND, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

UH, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ONLY HANDLING THIS HERE LOCALLY IN AUSTIN, UH, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS, WHICH AUSTIN IS A PART OF, HOLDS REGULAR CALLS.

UM, WE'RE HAVING ONE ON FRIDAY.

WE'RE KIND OF MAPPING OUT, THE LOCALS WHO GET MOST OF THEIR FEDERAL DOLLARS THROUGH STATE PASS THROUGH ARE LOOKING AT WHAT SOME OF THE BIGGER CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING AND WHAT NOTIFICATIONS THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, AND THIS IS PUBLIC NEWS, SO I'LL SAY IT.

I KNOW THAT ONE, UH, COUNTY SOUTHEAST OF US LOST A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR, UH, HIV FUNDING.

UM, I'M HOPING THAT THAT HEALTH DIRECTOR IS ON THE CALL ON FRIDAY, AND SHE'LL SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE REST OF US ABOUT WHAT THAT REPRESENTS.

AND THEN THAT'S INFORMATION THAT I'LL TAKE BACK TO MY TEAM.

OKAY.

THIS PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GO AWAY.

UM, THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING THAT I, I WOULD ASK FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THIS, THIS COUNCIL TO, TO, TO GIVE US IS THE SPACE OF GRACE.

UM, I'M GIVING THAT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.

I CAN'T IMAGINE, UM, WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

AND I'LL SHARE BE BECAUSE THE PERSON SAID IT PUBLICLY ON THE DAY THAT THEY GOT THE NOTICES FOR THE TWO CONTRACTS THAT ULTIMATELY WERE CANCELED.

THEY SAID THEY RECEIVED A FLURRY OF NOTIFICATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT GRANTS THAT WERE ENDING, AND THEN SOME OF THEM WERE TAKEN BACK, AND THEN SOME OF THEM WERE ISSUED AGAIN.

AND SO THEY'RE REALLY LIKE, YEAH, THIS IS, THIS IS THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF WORKING IN.

AND SO I'M CONFIDENT FROM THE COMMUNICATION THAT THEY'VE HAD WITH THE LOCALS, AS SOON AS THEY KNOW SOMETHING, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO LET US KNOW.

BUT I'M, I'M SURE THEY'RE FIGURING OUT THEIR OVERALL OPERATIONS AND THEN WHAT COMES BACK TO COMMUNITIES.

UM, I DO KNOW THAT 60% OF WHAT THEY GET FROM THE FEDS DOES GO, UM, TO LOCALS.

AND SO, UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE PLAYING WITH WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING INTERNALLY IN, IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO MAKE SOME, UM, GOOD, GOOD GUESSES ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE HERE LOCALLY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.

I JUST WANNA UNDERSCORE THE INFORMATION THAT WAS JUST PROVIDED TO US.