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NEXT DAY OF BUDGET WORKSHOPS, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO BE STARTING WITH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.WE HAVE DIRECTOR STEVEN WILLIAMS AND ALSO DARREN ASHER.
AND, UM, I'VE, UH, WE'RE BEING JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS.
KATE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN'S, OFFICE.
BRADLEY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER M ANN HUFFMAN'S OFFICE, AND EDITH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JOAQUIN MARTINEZ'S OFFICE AND COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ ARE HERE, AND I EXPECT MORE WILL BE COMING IN, BUT DON'T WANNA, WE'VE GOT A FULL DAY AHEAD, SO WANNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
I, UM, OUR FRIENDS, SARAH, WE ARE BACK TODAY FROM THE KOREAN COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE SHARED, UM, PAGE 20 OF THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH IS A SUMMARY OF THE, UH, EXPENDITURES IN, IN KOREAN WITH YOU, AND WE ALSO HAVE A KOREAN, UM, TRANSLATOR WHO WILL BE ONLINE TODAY, UM, AS, AS PUBLIC COMMENTERS, UH, WANT TO COME UP AND SPEAK.
I'M ALSO JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TWILA CARTER, AND WITH THAT, UM, WE WILL GO INTO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET TO YOU.
I'M GONNA GO STRAIGHT TO OUR DEPARTMENT'S ORG CHART WHERE I WOULD USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE STAFF THAT'S PRESENT WITH ME.
UH, STARTING, UH, IS JUDY HARRIS, UH, WHO'S THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
UH, NEXT TO HER IS, UH, TUCKER WILSON, WHO'S A DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNICATIONS.
NEXT TO HER IS ROGER SEALEY, UH, ROGER'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SERVICES.
AND NAOMI MA SIUS IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, AND NEXT TO HER IS PATRICIA WATSON.
UH, PATRICIA WATSON IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES.
AND AMBER HAGG IS SITTING NEXT TO HER, THE DEPUTY, A, A ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THESE FACES BECAUSE THE, THESE ARE THE, THIS IS THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK.
UH, DAVID PURSE, WHO'S OUR HEALTH AUTHORITY, IS NOT HERE.
HE'S ACTUALLY, UH, PARTICIPATING IN, IN THE CITY CITYWIDE CALL CALL TODAY.
UH, ON, ON SLIDE FOUR, UH, WHAT, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS, UH, IS REALLY A BUDGET AND, AND FUNCTIONAL SUMMARY.
UH, I THINK THIS SLIDE REALLY ILLUSTRATES THE COMPLEXITY AND THE DIVERSITY OF OUR FUNDING BY AREAS OF FOCUS, YOU LABELED THEM AS, AS PROGRAMS. WE CALL 'EM AREAS OF FOCUS, BECAUSE OUR PROGRAM, UNDER EACH ONE OF THESE AREAS, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROGRAMS. I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN INTEREST IN WHETHER WE SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UH, THE REALITY IS THAT THE GENERAL FUND ON ONLY COVERS ABOUT 33% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET.
UH, WE COULD NOT HAVE THE DEPTH OR THE BREADTH OF THE SERVICES IF WE WERE NOT AGGRESSIVE IN SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UH, WHEN WE GET GRANTS, UH, IT IS THE FUNDERS WHO ACTUALLY DICTATE, UH, THE OUTCOMES AND HOW WE ACTUALLY RUN THE PROGRAMS. UH, TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, WE HAVE ABOUT 91 GRANTS, 1600 STAFF, UH, AND, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 35 BUILDINGS UNDER WHICH WE PROVIDE SERVICES.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AND I'VE BEEN PRE PRESENTING THIS SLIDE TO COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS, IT ILLUSTRATES THE CITY'S NET GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, WHICH IS AROUND 39.8 MIL MILLION DOLLARS.
AND REALLY, IF YOU SUBTRACT THE, UH, RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, THAT MEANS THAT REDUCES THAT INVESTMENT TO $31 MILLION.
OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS ABOUT $200.7 MILLION, INCLUDING GRANTS.
SO REALLY, IF YOU SUBTRACT THAT RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS AROUND 26.9 PER PERCENT.
UH, GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE STRATEGIC GUIDE GUIDANCE ALIGNMENT, IT REALLY GIVES YOU A VI VISUAL VISUALIZATION, EXCUSE ME, OF OUR, OUR TOTAL PROGRAMS, UM, RE REALLY DURING OUR PANDEMIC, UH, IT REALLY DEMONSTRATED THE, UH, THE, THE, THE NEED FOR OUR TO BE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF, OF LIFE ISSUES.
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY THINK ABOUT OUR CLINICS AND OUR INDIVIDUAL INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE.
WELL, THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THE SERVICES INVOLVE INDIVIDUAL ENCOUNTERS AND INTERACTION, BUT THE OUTCOME IS ABOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THE IMPACT TO BROADER POPULATIONS
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IS THE IMPETUS FOR WHY WE PROVIDE THOSE INDIVIDUAL SERVICES.THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU SEE EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAMS. THE SLIDE, UH, WILL FOCUS ON THESE INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS OR AREAS OF FOCUS, WHICH I TOLD YOU.
UH, OVERALL VARIANCE EXPLANATIONS AND FY 24 ESTIMATES ARE LOWER DUE TO THE HEART TO REACH, UH, VACANCIES.
A LOT OF OUR CLINICAL STAFF AND SOME OF OUR MORE SPECIALIZED STAFF, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ACTUAL PAY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, UH, UH, BECAUSE THAT IS CHALLENGING.
UH, THE 25 20 25 BUDGET ALSO ASSUMES THAT THE VACANCIES WILL BE FILLED AND INCLUDE INCREASES IN FRINGE BENEFITS.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT, THAT THE AUDIO'S NOT WORKING ON TEAMS. UH, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO WATCH VIA TEAMS, IF YOU COULD SWITCH TO HTV, IT IS WORKING THERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE ISSUE.
I, I WAS WATCHING Y'ALL ON HTV AS I WAS WRITING IN THIS MORNING.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A BUDGET FOR CONTINGENCY WITH HEALTH CENTERS RELATED ITEMS THAT ARE NOT COVERED IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS Y'ALL SOMETIMES WE REALLY HAVE TO USE, UH, THOSE, THOSE FUNDS TO PAY FOR ARMED SECURITIES SERVICES FOR OUR HEALTH CENTERS.
SOME SUPPLIES, SOMETIMES STAFF FOR OUR ORAL HEALTH AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE RE RESPONSES.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS REVENUE BY PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF THOU THOUSANDS AND, AND THE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UH, THERE WAS A 39% CHANGE IN, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND THAT WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO INDIRECT COST REVENUE.
UH, THE WAY THAT THAT WORKS IS OUR INDIRECT COST, WHICH GOES DIRECTLY FROM GRANTS, WHICH GOES DIRECTLY DOWNTOWN.
UH, IT'S REALLY BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PERSONNEL THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT GRANT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, UH, WE, UH, ARE GONNA HAVE LESS STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH GRANTS BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN, IN THE, IN THE COVID GRANTS.
AND WE'RE GONNA LOSE ABOUT, UH, $2 MILLION IN, IN REVENUE AS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL TO 2020, ESTIMATE 2024 ESTIMATE IS HIGHER BECAUSE IT INCLUDES A ONE TIME PRIOR YEAR REVENUE IN THE MEDICAID ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE WERE PAID, UH, THAT WAS BOOKED TWO YEARS, WERE BOOKED IN IN ONE YEAR, AND IN FAMILY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE 2024 ESTIMATE IS HIGHER BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE NEW OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND.
UH, ONE OF THE SETTLEMENTS WERE PAID WAS PAID IN FULL, WHICH PROVIDED ABOUT 37% OF THE EXPECTED REVENUE UPFRONT.
NOW, THE SUMMARY OF, OF, OF, OF PROGRAMS, NUMBER ONE IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
UH, AS I SAID EARLIER, ADMIN, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR 600, 1600 EMPLOYEES, 37, 36 BUILDINGS, 180 VEHICLES, 91 GRANTS.
UH, YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE REALLY CLOSE TO THE GRANTS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF GRANTS TO UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE, THE NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT WE HAVE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE OF THE PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE IS DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL ACTUALLY GO FOR CERTAIN GRANTS, BECAUSE A $50,000 GRANT MIGHT NOT BE WORTH IT BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE TO PROVIDE $75,000 IN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THAT 50 THOU THOU THOUSAND DOLLARS GRANT.
UH, OF THE 24 MILLION IN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, APPROXIMATELY 8.1 MILLION IS IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
AND I KEEP MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE OF THE, THOSE, UH, RESTRICTIVE ACCOUNTS.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THE 16 MILLION, UH, IS USED TO PROVIDE THOSE CRITICAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO USE THIS NUMBER, THIS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IS REALLY UNDER 10% OF OUR TO TOTAL BUDGET.
IF YOU EXCLUDE THE, THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, THE ADMIN, THE COST OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES IS ABOUT 5.6% OF, OF, OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING FOR GRANTS, ESPECIALLY FROM FOUNDATIONS, IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WANNA SEE IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOING FOR SERVICES.
AND SO MOST OF OUR, OUR MONEY ACTUALLY GOES FOR PERSONNEL, UH, AND INDIRECT SERVICES.
UM, IN REALITY, WE'VE HAD TO AUGMENT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS SUPPORTED, UH, THAT IS ACTUALLY SET ASIDE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
WE'VE HAD TO USE 1115 WAIVER MONEY FOR THAT.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN HR SERVICES.
IT SERVICES, UH, OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE
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FUNCTION AND COMPLIANCE FUNCTION.AND ONE FUNCTION THAT IS REALLY CRITICAL TO OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING A RESPONSE TIME LIKE THIS, IS THE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AND, AND CONTRACTS AND, AND PROCUREMENT.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY, UH, USING 11 FEET TO 15 WAIVER DOLLARS TO SUPPORT WHAT OUR CORE SUPPORT PORT SERVICES FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AS I'VE SAID, AND EVERYONE OF THE BUDGETS THAT I'VE PRE PRESENTED AFTER 2011, IS THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT THIS 1115 WAIVER OF MONEY, WHICH IS SETTING INTO AN ACCOUNT, WILL RUN OUT.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL IMPACT LATER.
UH, PROGRAM TWO IS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
UH, OF COURSE, WE GENERATE A NUMBER OF, UH, QUITE A BIT OF REVENUE, REVENUE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN RELYING HEAVILY ON CONSUMER HEALTH SPECIAL FUNDS, WHICH IS OUR FALL PROGRAM TO FUND A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OP OPERATIONS IN THIS CASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DO THIS YEAR IS DEEP DIG INTO OUR 20 20 10 FUNDS, OUR, OUR 1115 WAIVER FUNDS TO GET $366,000 SO WE CAN CONTINUE A BIT OF REVENUE TO DRAW DOWN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
UH, AND WE HAVE BEEN RELYING HEAVILY ON CONSUMER HEALTH SPECIAL FUNDS ON FUNDS.
SECOND, LET GET THAT, WHICH IS OUR FALL PROGRAM TO FUND A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OPERATIONS IN THIS CASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DO THIS YEAR, HD HTV, PLEASE MUTE, DIG INTO 2010 FUNDS ARE ARE 1115 WAIVER FUNDS.
HOLD ON TO GET 360,000, MAKING IT TWICE.
DON'T HEAR MY VOICE,
SECOND, LET JUST GET THAT CORRECTED.
YOU WANNA MAKE SURE WE KNOW ABOUT THAT 1115 WAIVER? WE, WE, WE GOT IT YOU GUYS TWICE.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA DRIVE THAT POINT HOME.
I DO NOT LIKE HEARING MY VOICE.
HE IS REALLY MAKING, ARE WE FINISHED? WELL, THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING WITH, IN THIS CASE RELATED TO THE 1115 WAIVER, WE WERE GETTING ABOUT $8 MILLION IN, IN LEAD ABATEMENT DOLLARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, HOUSING IS A REALLY CRITICAL ISSUE HERE, AND THIS IS ABOUT SAFE HOUSING, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO SEE US MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW DOWN $8 MILLION.
I, WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO PROVIDE THOSE MATCHING FUNDS.
THOSE FUNDS HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN, UH, SUPPLIED BY OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE A MEETING WITH MIKE NICHOLS, AND I'M ASKING FOR THE MONEY BACK, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT THAT IS CERTAINLY A PART OF HOUSING.
I MEANT SAFE HOUSING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF, AND FOR DECADES, THAT, THAT THOSE MATCHING DOLLARS HAVE COME FROM THAT SOURCE.
THE THIRD PROGRAM IS DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
UH, BUT A LOT OF YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT WE'RE THE DESIGNATED ENTITY FOR REPORTABLE DISEASES.
AND THERE ARE ABOUT 80 REPORTABLE, UH, DISEASES THAT, UH, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS HAVE TO RE REPORT TO US.
UH, MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF OUR CLINICAL ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA ARE ACTUALLY SUPPLIED BY GRANTS OF THE 72 MILLION THAT SPENT ON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN THE DEPARTMENT, ONLY ABOUT 5.4% IS PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
ALMOST ALL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, WHICH IS OUR DISEASE DETECTIVE, IS SUPPORTED BY GRANTS IN THIS CASE, IN THIS AREA, I MENTIONING 1115 WAIVER.
AGAIN, BECAUSE WE'RE PROVIDING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN AND, AND, AND SUPPORT FOR TB SERVICES.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, BECAUSE IN OUR 5% CUT, UH, WE WILL NO LONGER BE PROVIDING SERVICES AT, UH, AT A COST LOCATION, YOU WILL SEE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVED.
OUR OVERALL, UH, CAPACITY COULD ACTUALLY ABSORB THOSE CLIENTS, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES IN HOUSTON, WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE A DEC DECLINE.
THE NEXT PROGRAM, REENTRY AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, UH, WE HAD REALLY A SPECIAL MEETING RELATED TO MY BROTHERS KEEPER AND COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK.
THESE ARE, UH, PRO, THESE ARE, UH, STRATEGIES ADDRESS THAT ARE A ADDRESSED AND, UH, REDUCE NEGATIVE INTERACTION AND OUTCOMES WITH, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THERE ARE NO GENERAL FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO THESE INITIATIVES.
ALL, ALL OF REENTRY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION ARE FUNDED BY THE WAIVER AND OR GRANT FUNDS.
UH, WE'RE PAYING FOR MY MEETING RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, MY BROTHER'S KEEPER AND COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK.
THESE ARE A PRO, THESE ARE, UH, STRATEGIES.
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GOT IT.UH, WE'RE PAYING FOR MY BROTHERS KEEPER INFRASTRUCTURE TO REDIRECT PROGRAM, THE COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM CALLED X-Y-Z-M-B-K SYSTEMS OF CARE, WHICH IS A CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULT, AND OUR URBAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM ALL AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE.
ALL OF THESE ARE PAID FOR BY 1115 WAIVER DOLLARS.
WE DID GET SOME UPPER DOLLARS FOR CREDIBLE MESSENGER AND VIOLENCE INTERRUPTIVE PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THOSE CONTRACTS WILL SOON, UH, COME TO COUNCIL.
OUR FIFTH PROGRAM, THE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS, WHICH ALL OF YOU'RE ARE FAMILIAR WITH, AND NOW ARE SERVING AS COOL COOLING CENTERS.
THIS IS WHERE WE HOUSE, UH, VARIOUS HEADSTART PROGRAMS, DAYCARE, UH, PROGRAMS, UH, LIBRARIES, WIC, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS, OUR DIABETES, A WELLNESS NETWORK AND, AND SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY A VARIETY OF, OF, OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UH, THEY ALSO SERVE AS SITES FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND, UH, AND THEY ARE ALSO STRATEGIC VOTE VOTING LO LOCATIONS.
UH, EACH MULTI-SERVICE CENTER HAS EXERCISE EQUIPMENT TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE.
UH, THE $3.0 MILLION IS PRIMARILY SPENT ON PERSONNEL.
THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER OTHER THAN THE DIABETES AND WELLNESS NETWORK, WHICH IS AT OUR A A A LEAF PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW, AN EVENT OF DISASTERS.
THESE MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS ARE DESIGNED, DESIGNATED TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS WARMING AND COOL CENTERS, AS WELL AS FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.
SIX, FAMILY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
IN THIS CASE, THE GENERAL FUND PRIMARILY SUPPORTS CLIENT ACCESS AND CARE COORDINATION.
UH, WE OPERATE THREE CONGREGATE MEAL SITES IN-HOUSE, UH, AT OUR MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS TOO, BUT THAT THE FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDED, UH, THROUGH OUR AREA, A AGENCY ON AGING.
UH, OUR CLIENT ACCESS, UH, SERVICE LINKS UNINSURED PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL COVERAGE AND FINANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. UH, LACK OF ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS LIKE FOOD INSURANCE, UTILITIES IMPACT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO BE HEALTHY CARE COORDINATION, HELPS CLIENTS ACCESS THE SERVICES THAT THEY, THEY NEED.
GOING ON TO THE, THE NEXT PROGRAM, AND OUR LAST PROGRAM IS CHRONIC DISEASE EDUCATION AND WELLNESS.
ALTHOUGH CHRONIC DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF MOBILITY, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED GENERAL FUND OR GEN GENERAL FUND OR GRANT GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THESE ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN 1115 FUNDING FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAMS. NOW, OUR ALE DON PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND, BUT JUST TO TELL YOU WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC SIX IN 10 ADULTS IN THE U UNITED STATES HAVE A CHRONIC DISEASE, AND FOUR IN 10 HAVE TWO OR MORE ALL, ALTHOUGH CHRONIC DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND DISABILITY, WE HAVE VERY LIMITED FUNDS IN, IN CHRONIC DISEASE.
GOING ON TO PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL, THE NEXT FEW SLIDES SHOW THE BREAKOUT OF PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN, IN THIS SLIDE, FALL, UH, FOG PROGRAM HAS A LARGER CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS WITH SPECIAL WASTE DISPOSAL VENDORS AND FUND 2022 OR HEALTH SPECIAL REVENUE.
IT'S USED PRIMARILY FOR CONTRACTS, UH, AND SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.
UH, THIS FUND CONTRIBUTES TO SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUR VITAL RECORDS PROGRAM, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH VETERAN SERVICES, AND OUR MEDICAID ADMINISTRATIVE, CLAIMING TO NAME A FEW.
REALLY, IT'S KIND OF A HODGEPODGE OF PROGRAMS, UH, THAT ARE ACTUALLY, UH, FUNDS THAT ARE FROM VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT ARE PUT INTO THIS.
ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE, PERSONNEL VERSUS NON PERSONNEL.
OUR LAB IS PRIMARILY USED FOR SUPPLIES AND SERVICES FUND 2 0 0 9.
THE SWIMMING POOLS HAVE PERSONNEL CONTRACTS, ANY VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, AND THE PROGRAM.
CENTRAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES IS PRIMARILY PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTS.
I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT 178 PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THAT.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, HOUSTON OPIOID ABATEMENT AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THIS, UH, IS ABOUT ADDRESSING THE OPIOID MISUSE.
UH, MAJOR MAJORITY OF THIS FUNDING WILL IS ACTUALLY GOING TO CONTRACTS AND SERVICES THAT OFFER EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT AND PEER RECOVERY SERVICES EXPENDITURE BY FUND.
UH, THE NEXT CHART, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE EXPENDITURE ACTIVITY OF OUR GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL FUNDS.
A BREAKOUT OF THOSE, IF YOU TURN IT TO
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THE NEXT PAGE, IS YOU'LL, YOU WILL SEE THE, THE BREAKOUT AND THE DETAIL OF THAT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AS YOU CAN EXCUSE ME, AS YOU, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO EXPERIENCE A 5% CUT IN OUR GENERAL FUND.I WISH I COULD HAVE THAT MONEY BACK.
UM, AND OUR HEALTH SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, UH, THE INCREASE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS THAT ARE SERVED BY VETERAN AFFAIRS.
SO OUR PAY IS ACTUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE SEE.
WE SERVE, UH, SWIMMING POOLS AND SPECIAL WASTE DECREASES INCLUDE REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL AND VEHICLES THAT WERE RECEIVED IN THE PRIOR YEAR, WHICH MEANS THAT WE GOT THOSE.
AND SO THEREFORE, EXPENDITURES WOULD BE LESS THIS YEAR.
AND OUR CENTRAL PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, FUND 1115 WAIVER AND CHARITY CARE INCLUDES, IT INCLUDES A, A CONTINGENCY FUND, UH, USED TO, UH, EN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE CAPACITY IN SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE A RESPONSE.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS FUND ALSO IS USED FOR PROGRAMS LIKE REENTRY SEE TO SUCCEED CHRONIC DISEASE, OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM TO ACTUALLY REVIEW THE DEPARTMENT'S PROCESSES AND POLICIES AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
WE ALSO HAVE A CENTER, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTION, AS WELL AS OUR IT SERVICES.
THAT FUND COVERS 179 STAFF PEOPLE.
AND LASTLY, UH, REVENUE BY FUND.
THE, THE CHART HIGHLIGHTS THE REVENUE ACTIVITY OF OUR GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL FUNDS.
AND IF YOU TURN, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN, IN DETAIL, THE REVENUE BY FUNDS AND THE REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS, WHICH IS THE, THE LAST SLIDE, AS I STATED EARLIER, IT'S PRIMARILY THE, THE REDUCTION IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN COVID, COVID, UH, RELATED A, A ACTIVITY.
UH, WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE REC RECOGNIZE DURING COVID THAT SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT WE BROUGHT UP DURING COVID ARE ABSOLUTELY NE NECESSARY SERVES, SUCH AS, UH, ENHANCED, UH, CAPACITY AND IT ENHANCED CAPACITY AND A COMMUNICATION SERVICES.
AND SO, AND ACTUALLY A NEED TO, UH, HAVE A MORE STRUCTURED, UH, CAPACITY FOR RESPONSE.
UH, AS AN EXAMPLE, WE ARE NOW WHAT IN MAY, AND WE'VE BEEN ACT, MY STAFF HAS BEEN ACTIVATED TWICE, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN IN HURRICANE SEASON.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO REALLY BUILD THAT CAPACITY TO REALLY HAVE, UH, RESPONSE CAPACITY AND MORE OF A, A ROUTINE BASIS JUST BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF TIMES THAT MY STAFF HAS HAD, HAD, HAD, HAS HAD TO BE ACTIVATED.
AND THAT'S IT FROM MY PRESENTATION.
I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS, OUR DISCUSSIONS.
UM, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
UH, DOES THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTRACT WITH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL? AND IF SO, DOES THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE A SAY IN WHICH AREAS ARE TARGETED? NO.
UH, THAT'S A SE MOSQUITO CONTROL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS ACTUALLY A SEPARATE TAXING AUTHORITY, ALTHOUGH YOU DON'T REALLY SEE IT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY BUDGET.
UH, NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THAT.
UH, I WOULD WANNA KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SOME INTEREST IN, UH, OUR INFLUENCING THAT IT, IT CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL.
I MEAN, I'VE DONE THIS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE OPEN TO IT.
SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT SO OPEN TO IT.
THE MOSQUITOES ARE BAD OUT THERE.
UM, DIRECTOR, I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT 1115 WAIVER PROGRAM.
COULD YOU GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THAT? AGAIN, I SHOULD ASK THE CHAIR TO DO IT SINCE I'VE
BACK IN 2011, UH, THE, THE STATE PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, ACCESS MONEY THAT WAS USUALLY, UH, SET ASIDE FOR, FOR, FOR MEDICAID.
IT WAS CALLED A MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM.
WE PROPOSED SEVERAL PROGRAMS, UH, UNDER THE 1115 WAIVER PROGRAM, ABOUT 13 PROGRAMS. WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION BECAUSE OF THE PERFORMANCE ON THOSE 13 PROGRAMS. THE WAY THAT WE WERE REIMBURSED WERE, WAS RELATED TO THE VALUE OF THE PROGRAM, NOT THE COST OF RUNNING THE PROGRAM.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP A FUND THAT WAS USED TO RUN PROGRAMS EVEN PAST
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THE LIFESPAN OF THE PROGRAM.UH, THAT'S WHY YOU HEAR ME SAY THE MONIES ARE GONNA RUN OUT, BECAUSE THERE, THERE'S NO, THE WA THE WAIVER IS, IS OVER NOW.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO REPLACE SOME OF THAT MONEY, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT IN THIS CASE, UH, THE GENERAL FUND IS NOT COVERING WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER CONS, UH, ESSENTIAL, UH, SUPPORT SERVICES OR DIRECT SERVICES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR IT SERVICES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNFUNDED, AND SO WE USE MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT THAT.
THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS LIKE OUR TUBERCULOSIS PROGRAM THAT IS PRIMARILY FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND THAT IS UNFUNDED.
AND SO I'VE USED THE 1115 WAIVER TO ROUND OUT, UH, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE FUNDING NEEDS FOR, FOR THAT PROGRAM TOO.
THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS LIKE OUR C TO SUCCEED PROGRAM, OUR COMMUNITY REENTRY PROGRAM, OUR MY BROTHER'S KEEPER PROGRAM THAT WE'VE FUNDED WITH 1115 WAIVER THAT WE, WE, WE SHOULD, OF COURSE, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR CONTINUING THEM.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE SOME OF THAT FUNDING SOURCE, UH, BY THE CHARITY CARE PROGRAM.
AND STAFF, AMBER, WHO'S SITTING BACK THERE, UH, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN AN ADDITIONAL, UH, $10 BILLION THROUGH THE CHARITY CARE PROGRAM.
UH, BUT THAT'S GONNA END IN 2030.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN RE RE REPLACE THOSE DOLLARS TO CONTINUE THOSE PROGRAMS. I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR REENTRY PROGRAM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SAY THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO NOT CONTINUE WHEN YOU COMPARE THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF PEOPLE WHO GRADUATE FROM THAT PROGRAM WITH THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF FOLKS THAT DO, THAT ARE, THAT ARE OUTTA PRISON THREE YEARS LATER WHO DON'T PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.
AND SO I I, AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE, SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, BUT, AND SO OVER THE YEARS I'VE CONTINUED TO STAY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT WORKING ON IT AS A DEPARTMENT, BUT I DON'T WANT, UH, ACTUALLY Y'ALL TO COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS.
SO, SO, UM, HAS THAT PROGRAM OFFICIALLY COME TO AN END ALREADY? YES, IT HAS.
AND AND DO WE HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT OVER THEN? YES.
AND HOW MUCH, ABOUT HOW MUCH IS LEFT OVER? I'M JUST CURIOUS.
AND WE WE'RE PROJECTING THAT MAYBE WE COULD LAST THREE YEARS.
IT, IT ALL DEPENDS BECAUSE AS I SAID IN MY PRESENTATION, THERE ARE THINGS THAT COME UP THAT WE, WE, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR.
UH, BECAUSE I, I, I, I, I, BECAUSE I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S MORE VALUE IN US USING THAT MONEY TO DO IT.
THE, THE EXAMPLE THAT I GAVE YOU EARLIER WAS OUR LEAD PROGRAM.
I, I CAN'T SAY THAT I'M, I, I WOULD UTTERLY SET BACK AND WATCH THE CITY LOSE $8 MILLION IN LEAD ABATEMENT DOLLARS, UH, BE BECAUSE I LOST A FUNDING SOURCE AND, AND HOUSING.
SO I TOLD DARREN, FIND THE MONEY, WE'LL DO IT.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE IT UP SOME WAY, BUT WHY WOULD I LET $8 MILLION GO OUT OF THE WINDOW? BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIND $300,000.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER? NO, THAT IS, UH, THE, UM, COMMUNITY REENTRY NETWORK PROGRAM.
IT'S REALLY OUR REENTRY PROGRAM.
THIS IS WHERE WE, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, ENROLL FOLKS WHO ARE COMING OUT OF, UH, PRISON, UH, AND TAKE THEM THROUGH A, A A A 12 WEEK OR MORE CURRICULUM.
UH, REALLY, UH, LOOKING AT, UH, THINGS LIKE ANGER MANAGEMENT.
A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES, UH, HELPING PEOPLE PREPARE FOR JOBS AND GETTING THEM EMPLOYMENT.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH UNION PACIFIC, UH, AND GET AT LEAST MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN OF OUR FOLKS EMPLOYED BY THEM STARTING OFF AT $70,000 A YEAR.
NOW, YES, WE RUN IT OURSELVES.
UM, I SEE IN YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, YOU WERE BUDGETED FOR JUST UNDER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE YEAR, FOR 2024.
NO, OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS WHAT, 50 54 MILLION.
BUT WITH ALL THE ABATEMENT, FUNDS, SPECIAL WASTE, ALL THAT, IS THAT NOT
[00:30:01]
CORRECT? SLIDE SLIDE 20.OH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING? YES.
YOU TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST SLIDE, SLIDE 20.
THE ANSWER IS YES, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING.
AND OUT OF THAT, YOU'RE GONNA SPEND JUST UNDER 85 FOR THE YEAR.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR? YEP.
AND I GAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT.
UH, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HARD TO FILL POSITIONS, UH, THAT WE, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA FILL ABOUT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND SO WHEN WE DO THE NEXT BUDGET, WE STILL INCLUDE THOSE VA, WE STILL INCLUDE THOSE VACANT POSITIONS, UH, WITH THE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE, HAVE, BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN FILLING THEM THE NEXT YEAR.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE DON'T NEED SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS? ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT AIN'T LIKELY.
BUT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABLE TO OPERATE TODAY FINE OR NO? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I I, I'VE PROBABLY BEEN HERE TOO LONG AND I'VE HEARD THAT'S TOO LONG.
I, I, I KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND YOU, IT'S FRESH ON YOU THAT, THAT, THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S LOGICAL, AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE IT IS.
BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU.
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, I TOLD MY DEPUTY, I SAID, OH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I KNOW WHAT THIS IS GONNA BE LIKE.
I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS ABOUT FOUR TIMES.
IF YOU ASK ME AS A DIRECTOR, AND I'VE SAID THIS, AND CHAIR, YOU'VE HEARD THIS FROM ME BEFORE.
THE CITY DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS DEPARTMENT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT SHOULD.
THIS IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
AND IF YOU EVEN LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON NOW, AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOUR INVESTMENT IS MINIMAL.
AND IF, IF IT WERE NOT FOR GRANT FUNDS, IF, AND IN THIS CASE, IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE CREATIVITY AND THE DILIGENCE OF MY PEOPLE AND DRAWING DOWN TO $30 MILLION, WE WOULD BE IN HOT WATER.
BECAUSE I'VE BASICALLY BEEN DEPENDING ON A SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO KEEP THE DEPARTMENT AFLOAT AND TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TYPE OF CRISIS.
YOU CAN PUT ME BACK IN THE VIEW.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M A LITTLE BIT PASSIONATE.
AND I, AND I WILL, UM, I WILL CONFIRM THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE ABOUT, UM, REVENUE REPLACEMENT AND, AND DRAWING DOWN FUNDS FROM OTHER PLACES.
AND, UM, I DO WANNA WELCOME, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOAQUIN MARTINEZ.
AND STAFF FROM, UM, DIDI FROM, UM, MAYOR PRO TEMS OFFICE AND STAFF FROM FOUR AND STAFF.
VERONICA, I THINK YOU'RE ON FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER, PLUMMER'S OFFICE.
I DUNNO IF YOU RECOGNIZE FRED.
AND FRED HAS BEEN TALKING AND HE IS HERE IN THE CHAMBER.
SO RECOGNIZING COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, FRED FLICKINGER.
NEXT I WILL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ.
DIRECTOR, A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, DOES, DOES THE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATE IN THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM? WE FUND THE MILLS, THOSE PROGRAM.
AND, AND WHAT THROUGH, THROUGH OUR AREA AGENCY.
AND, AND HOW MUCH IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY THROUGH THAT GRANT, OR ROUGHLY, IF YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW SPECIFIC AMOUNT, BUT OKAY.
UH, THE, THE GRANT ITSELF, THE OVERALL AREA AGENCY ON AGING GRANT IS ABOUT, I I WANNA SAY OVER 12 TO 14, 13, $13 MILLION.
BUT NOT ONLY ARE WE PROVIDING THE, THE MEALS ON WHEELS, WE ARE FUNDING THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE RUN BY BAKER RIPLEY.
AND WE HAVE THREE IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS THAT I MENTIONED.
WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IS THAT WE PROVIDE, UH, UH, ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR SENIORS, LIKE, UH, DENTAL SERVICES, UH, EYEGLASS TRANSPORTATION, SOME LEGAL SERVICES.
I, I THINK THAT'S SIGNED OFF ON A, A, A, A A, AN ITEM THAT'S COMING TO COUNCIL FOR ONE OF OUR CONTRACTORS.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK FOR THAT.
AND, UH, I KNOW THE CITY HAS, UM, SOME CLINICS AS WELL.
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY CLINICS WE HAVE? WE HAVE THREE CLINICS.
THREE, UH, WHEN I STARTED, WE HAD EIGHT, UH, DUE TO BUDGET REDUCTIONS, REDUCE REDUCED THEM TO FOUR.
AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR, I'M SORRY, SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED ME.
ONCE THIS BUDGET IS PASSED, IF IT'S PASSED AS IS, WE'LL BE PROVIDING SERVICES OUTTA THREE CLINICS.
UH, I GET UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT, NOT BECAUSE THE CAPACITY WON'T BE THERE, BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT IS HARD TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO THE OTHER TO ACCESS CLINICAL SERVICES.
AND SO, AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES OR WHATEVER, BUT WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN CHALLENGES LIKE THAT.
[00:35:01]
IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ON, THAT ARE ON THE NEAR NORTH SIDE THAT WON'T ACCESS THESE SERVICES BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES.AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE OPERATING COST OF THOSE THREE CLINICS THAT WE'LL HAVE? UH, THEY'RE ABOUT $10 MILLION EACH, EACH OF ABOUT $10 MILLION.
AND, AND LET ME, LET ME ASK YOU, UM, UM, EMPLOYEES HAVE SHARED WITH US A COUPLE CONCERNS REGARDING, UH, SORT OF THE, THE MOBILE UNITS WHEN Y'ALL GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, AND I KNOW YOU DO THAT A LOT, BUT, UH, SOME, SOMETIMES, UM, FOR INSTANCE, YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ACTIVITY WHERE GIFT CARDS ARE GIVEN OUT AND, UM, THERE'S BEEN EXPRESSED TO US SOME CONCERN ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY IN, IN SOME OF THOSE INSTANCES.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS THERE? THEY, THERE WILL BE IF THEY BROUGHT 'EM TO ME, UM, OKAY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD THAT ISSUE AND DURING COVID, BUT WE ALSO HAD POLICE PRESENCE, HAD A LOT OF OUR SITES WHERE WE WERE, WE WERE DOING THAT.
SO I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT CONCERN, UH, PAST THE HOT HOT, YEAH.
SO THEY ARE, THEY, THEY SHOULD BRING 'EM TO ME.
FLICKINGER, I, I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE TRAVELING IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FACILITIES.
I MEAN THAT, AND TYPICALLY I WOULD THINK THE COMMUNITY YOU'RE SERVING, WE PROBABLY HAVE THE LEAST AVAILABILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION, SO THAT MAKES SENSE.
ARE THE MOBILE UNITS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT? IN SOME CASES? THEY DO.
UH, WE, UH, HAVE UNITS PARTICULARLY FOR, FOR, FOR IMMUNIZATIONS AND FOR SPECIAL EFFORTS.
LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF A, A, A CHALLENGE RELATED TO SYPHILIS.
AND SO WE GO TO SPECIAL VENUES TO PROVIDE SERVICE.
SO THE ANSWER IS YES TO SOME EXTENT.
I, I MEAN, I'M ALMOST THINK IN SOME DEGREE THAT THE MOBILE UNITS WOULD BE BETTER THAN A FIXED FACILITY.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ALL THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU AT A MOBILE UNIT, BUT YOU'D ACTUALLY BE IN THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN IN, IN SOME CASES THAT'S TRUE, BUT IT, IT, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT YOUR VOLUME TO BE.
I MEAN, IF IT'S, IF, IF, IF IT'S A HIGH VOLUME, IF THE EXPECTATION IS RELATED TO HIGH VOLUME, THEN YOU WOULD WANT A FIX CYTO, YOU WOULD WANT A BUILDING TO OO OPERATE IN.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE WERE DOING TARGETED OUTREACH FOR OCH, WE WOULD PICK SPECIFIC VENUES.
UH, WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT STAFF'S CONCERN, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE OPERATIONAL DURING THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER AND IT WASN'T REALLY IDEAL.
AND SO IT WAS BETTER TO GO INTO A, A, A FIXED SITE ON, ON YOUR RECIDIVISM RATE.
CAN YOU SEND ME THE INFORMATION ON THAT? I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I'M INVOLVED WITH SOME STUFF WITH THAT AND BE, BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO.
AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, IF YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ONE OF THE GRADUATIONS FROM THIS REENTRY PROGRAM, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE BEEN TO AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH PEP THAT, YEAH, VERY SIMILAR.
UM, KATE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN IS SO SORRY SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
SHE'S COORDINATING SOME EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW.
FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO.
WE'RE ALWAYS IMPRESSED AND EVEN ALWAYS DURING DISASTER, WE GOT TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF AT WEST GRAY AND THEY WERE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
THEY WERE ALSO TAKING 3 1 1 CASES, HELPING THEM BUY 'EM ON WATER QUALITY AND STUFF THAT RANGES FAR BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE DISASTER.
UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE PERIOD PRODUCTS FOR FREE AND THE BATHROOMS OF YOUR HEALTH CENTERS.
AND MY QUESTION IS, DOES YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET CONTINUE TO SECURE THE FUNDING TO MAINTAIN THAT? YES.
I'M LOOKING AT DARREN BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T, I'M GONNA PUSH HIM OUT OF THE CHAIR,
UM, LET ME, LET ME UH, RAISE WITH YOU ANOTHER ITEM OF CONCERN THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY, BY EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S WHEN MOBILE UNITS GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THAT BATHROOMS ARE NOT VERY ACCESSIBLE.
UM, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF TO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS? YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, YOU'RE REPEATING A A, A DISCUSSION THAT I ACTUALLY HAD WITH THE UNION FOLKS.
UM, THEY BROUGHT UP THE SAME ISSUES YOU'RE BRINGING UP, AND ONE OF THE THINGS
[00:40:01]
THAT I ENCOURAGED THEM TO DO IS TO COME AND TALK TO US.UH, BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY, THEY MENTION, UH, WERE NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TOLD THEM IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE SIGN UP TO WORK IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT, THAT I TRY TO STRESS.
ONE IS, THIS IS YOUR REGULAR JOB, YOU KNOW, ON A ROUTINE BASIS, BUT AT ANY TIME YOU MIGHT BE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
CERTAINLY, I DON'T WANT MY FOLKS INCONVENIENCE, I DON'T WANNA PUT THEM IN UN UN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENTS, BUT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE HAVE TO BE MOBILE AND, AND WE HAVE TO BE, BE VERSATILE.
WHAT I'M WILLING TO DO IS TO SIT DOWN AND TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT SITUATION, AND WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.
I GOT A SMART STAFF, WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.
WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, I HAVE LARRY'S PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE IN THAT ROW BACK THERE HAVE, UH, THE COMMANDER'S PHONE NUMBERS WHERE WE, WE CAN GET AN INTERVENTION OR, OR WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU NEED TO REALLY TALK WITH STAFF AND REALLY KINDA, KINDA WORK, WORK IT OUT.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE WILL BE MOBILE BECAUSE THAT'S JUST PART OF OUR JOB.
I STARTED PUBLIC HEALTH IN, IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THE MIDDLE EIGHTIES.
AND YOU KNOW, I HAD TO CONVINCE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES BACK THEN TO CARRY PHONES WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING IN ALL KINDS OF PLACES.
PART OF THIS IS HOW PEOPLE EVEN PRESENT AND I'M WILLING TO TALK AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH STAFF, BUT YOU KNOW, THE SKY'S NOT FALLING.
AND IF, AND, AND MY FOLKS KNOW THAT THEY'RE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO, UH, PRESENT IN A SITUATION WHERE IT, IT, IT IS UNSAFE AND THEY DO HAVE AVENUES.
THEY CAN COME AND TALK TO ME AND THEY CAN COME TALK TO THE STAFF.
UH, AND I DID HEAR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP.
I HAD A CON, I MET WITH THE UNION LEADERSHIP AND THEY BROUGHT THESE ISSUES UP TO ME AND WE HAD A, A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT AND WE SAID WE'D FOLLOW UP WITH IT TOO.
SO, SO THE UNION HAS COME TO YOU THEN AND TALKED ABOUT THESE TWO ISSUES.
I SET, I SET UP A MEETING WITH THE UNION LEADERSHIP BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO KNOW WHO WE WERE, HOW WE OPERATE AND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
AND THEY HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP AND SO I INVITED THEM INTO MY DEPARTMENT.
THESE WERE THE ISSUES THEY BROUGHT UP.
AND, AND SO, SO WHAT WAS DONE TO ADDRESS THEM? WE ONLY HAD AN INITIAL MEETING.
I INVITE THE STAFF TO HAVE THOSE CONCERNS TO COME AND TALK TO US OR TALK TO THEIR MANAGERS ABOUT THIS AND WE WILL RESOLVE IT.
ALRIGHT, SO IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE GONNA WORK ON WITH THEM? YES.
AND CAN WE JUST FINISH OFF THAT, THAT POINT? SURE, GO AHEAD.
UH, I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, BUT LET ME, LET ME MAKE CLEAR THAT NO ONE HAS EXPRESSED NOT SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR NOT GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, UH, OR, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO I'M JUST RELAYING TO YOU SOME CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD AND, AND I HOPE YOU WILL SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND, AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH THESE.
I'M WILLING TO DO IT, BUT THEY HAVE TO BRING IT UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, FROM, UM, KATE DENTLER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN'S OFFICE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SECURED THE FUNDING FOR THE GUN VIOLENCE DATA, INTER INTEGRATION TRACKING AND DASHBOARD PROJECT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAVIN PUT FORWARD.
CAN YOU PUBLICLY CONFIRM THAT THAT'S STILL MOVING FORWARD? I AGREE WITH MELISSA THAT WE WOULD EAT THE COST OF THAT
YOU HEARD HOW I SAID THAT, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
I DIDN'T GET EXTRA MONEY, BUT I'LL EAT THE COST OF IT.
DIRECTOR, I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL SUBMIT MOST OF THEM IN WRITING.
I DID WANT YOU TO TOUCH BRIEFLY, AND I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE MET ABOUT THIS, BUT ON THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY THAT WAS PASSED FEBRUARY 13TH, 2023.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, THE COORDINATING COUNSEL AND IF ANY WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO ESTABLISH, UM, A COORDINATING COUNSEL BETWEEN THE PUB, UH, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, UM, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH THE MAYOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF, CHRIS NEWPORT.
AND WHAT I COMMITTED TO DO WAS TO REACH OUT, UH, TO MAR DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND, AND HAVE A, A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH HER ABOUT HOW WE CAN MOVE THOSE THINGS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN, IN A LOCAL, UH, FORWARD.
I KNOW SOMETIMES Y'ALL THINK I'M NOT, BUT
[00:45:01]
ADDRESS AND I THINK IT'S BEST THAT SHE AND I TALK AND, AND REALLY TRY TO WORK THAT OUT.AND, AND, AND PART OF THAT ILA WAS A A, AN ANNUAL UPDATE.
WE'RE PAST THE ANNUAL UPDATE TIME, SO, UH, I HOPE THAT MEETING HAPPENS AND WE CAN GET SOME FURTHER DIRECTION ON THAT.
UM, I'LL SUBMIT SOME OTHER QUESTIONS IN WRITING.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER BACK IN, CAN YOU GO BACK AND ELABORATE ON THE GUN VIOLENCE? I WASN'T AWARE OF ANY OF THAT AND I'M KIND OF CURIOUS WHAT IT COST YOU AND WHAT IT IS YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING.
I THINK THE, UH, IT'S A COLLABORATION WITH RICE.
I, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CAIN'S OFFICE COULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN ME.
I DON'T HAVE IT IMMEDIATELY PULLED UP, BUT I CAN SEND YOU ALL THE INFORMATION ON THAT LIKE IN FIVE MINUTES.
IT IT, YOU KNOW, GUN VIOLENCE ACTUALLY IS, IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CONSISTENT AND, UH, WE WE'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH FOLKS THAT HAVE SOME LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IN IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT'LL COST YOU TO DO THIS? I, I THINK IT WAS $200,000.
UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU AND EVERYBODY IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THROUGH ANOTHER DISASTER.
YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS THERE ON THE FRONT LINES AND WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP AND GOOD WORK FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON.
ON THE TRANSLATION, THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UM, ISSUES.
UM, WE SET UP THE KOREAN TRANSLATOR ON, ON, UM, TO THAT COULD ONLY PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY TODAY.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS BEING FUNDED FROM MY OFFICE, THIS TRANSLATOR, WE HAD IT YESTERDAY FOR THE HOUSING AND WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING IT AGAIN TODAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S HAVING TROUBLE CONNECTING OR HEARING, SO THERE'S SOME ISSUES.
UM, THE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID TRANSLATE, UM, SOME OF THEIR PRESENTATION.
I KNOW SARAH HAS GOTTEN THAT TO THE GROUP.
YOU GUYS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED A LOT OF THESE STRUGGLES, UM, WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AND WE ARE SEEING FIRSTHAND HOW IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD, BUT WE WERE DO OUR VERY BEST.
UM, YESTERDAY YOU HAD WRITTEN, UH, ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS AND YOU HAVE THOSE AGAIN TODAY.
SO WE WILL COLLEAGUES BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT, UH, THEY'VE BEEN SENT OUT ALSO VIA EMAIL JORDAN TELLS ME.
SO, UM, WE WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF YOUR COMMENTS AND THE TRANSLATIONS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS IMPERFECT SITUATION.
WE WILL TRY TO MAKE THAT BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
AND I DO WANNA MAKE SURE AND WELCOME MY VICE CHAIR, MARIO CASTILLO TO THE CHAMBER.
SO WE WILL START WITH, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
UM, I HAVE STEVEN WU, HE'S NOT HERE.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS SARA FROM WOODY JUNTOS.
I SERVE AS THE SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
UM, TODAY, UH, YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM KOREAN SPEAKING SENIORS AGAIN FROM OUR COMMUNITY, UH, MANY OF WHICH WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE RECENT INCLEMENT WEATHER WE RECENTLY HAD.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT TO THIS BODY AFTER HEARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORKSHOP.
JUST SOME OF THE KEY THINGS THAT ARE, UM, POINTING OUT TO US.
UM, JUST ACCESS TO SERVICES, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL VOICE AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS DIRECTLY AFFECT DISASTER RISK AND RESILIENCE.
UM, KEY FACTORS INCLUDE LIMITATIONS AND HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATION, INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, WE ARE HOPING THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON TAKES ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT IS TAKEN INTO, UM, THAT IS, THAT IS GIVEN TODAY, UM, TO REINVEST INTO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE AS IT SEEMS, UM, THEY ARE REALLY DEPENDENT ON GRANT FUNDING.
UM, WE HOPE THAT, UM, THERE IS AN EXPANSION OF MOBILE UNITS THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET SECURES FUNDING FOR BILINGUAL STAFF SUPPORT, UH, AMONGST THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THAT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION INCLUDES LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY AS A CORE SUPPORT SERVICE, AS A DIRECT SERVICE.
AND JUST KEEPING IN MIND, YOU KNOW, RECOVERY AFTER AN EMERGENCY DISASTER IS UNEVEN IN COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WITH THE LEAST RESOURCES OFTEN ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK, UM, FROM EXTREME WEATHER.
UM, AND SO KEEPING THIS IN MIND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS TODAY, UM, I HOPE THESE ARE SOME OF THE, UH, THINGS THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN, UM, MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT THIS BUDGET.
UM, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, TRANSLATE, UH, OR INTERPRET RATHER TODAY.
[00:50:56]
MY NAME IS M AND I WORK AS A SENIOR FELLOW AT DISTRICT A THIS YEAR MY HUSBAND WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR MEDICARE, EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR MEDICARE SHOULD BE THREE MONTHS BEFORE OR AFTER HIS BIRTHDAY.HE'S PUTTING IT OFF EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF HIS LANGUAGE BARRIER.
EVEN WHEN MY MOTHER WAS ALIVE, THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH KOREAN DOCTORS WHO ACCEPTED THE GOLD CARD.
SOMETIMES DOCTORS SPOKE WITH HER USING KOREAN INTERPRETERS, BUT SHE STILL FELT FRUSTRATED.
SHE WOULD FEEL MORE AT EASE WHEN MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FROM A KOREAN SPEAKING DOCTOR.
I SPENT MUCH OF MY TIME WORKING IN ORDER TO PAY DOCTOR'S BILLS, HOWEVER, WAS NEVER SATISFIED WITH THE GAPS IN LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
LIKE MY HUSBAND AND MOTHER, I ASKED THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALLOCATE FUNDING, INCREASE FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO PROVIDE FREE WORKSHOPS WITH INTERPRETATION IN PERSON TO HELP MEDICARE AND MEDICAL RELATED APPLICATIONS EASIER, MAKE IT, MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.
UH, AND I ALSO ASK THAT THEY PROVIDE ALL APPLICATIONS AND MEDICAL RECORD FORMS IN KOREAN, BOTH ONLINE AND BY PAPER.
MY NAME IS PAUL KIM AND I WORK AS A SENIOR FELLOW AT JUNTOS IN DISTRICT.
A CONTRARY TO THE RAPID INCREASE IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION, MANY PEOPLE ARE LAMENTING THE FACT THAT MEASURES AND FACILITIES TO PROPERLY CARE FOR AND SUPPORT THEM ARE INSUFFICIENT AS PEOPLE LIVE LONGER THAN BEFORE, CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR LONGEVITY ARE GROWING AND CONSIDERING THE STEEP RISE IN MEDICAL COSTS, THE WORRIES OF HOW WILL I GET THROUGH IT AND WHEN I GET SICK OFTEN FILLS MY MIND.
ALTHOUGH MANY SENIORS RECEIVE MEDICARE BENEFITS, THE BURDEN OF OLD AGE MEDICAL EXPENSES, WHICH ARE STILL DIFFICULT TO AFFORD, SHOW NO SIGNS OF BEING EASILY RESOLVED.
I KNOW THAT GOOD MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE LIVE LONGER THAN BEFORE.
CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR LONGEVITY ARE GROWING.
AND CONSIDERING THE STEEP RISE IN MEDICAL COSTS, THE WORRIES OF HOW WILL I GET THROUGH IT AND WHEN I GET SICK OFTEN FILLS MY MIND.
ALTHOUGH MANY SENIORS RECEIVE MEDICARE BENEFITS, THE BURDEN OF OLD AGE MEDICAL EXPENSES, WHICH ARE STILL DIFFICULT
[00:55:01]
TO AFFORD, SHOW NO SIGNS OF BEING EASILY RESOLVED, THEY USUALLY KNOW THAT MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ELDERLY.I KNOW THAT GOOD MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ELDERLY IS CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED IN HOUSTON, BUT THE THRESHOLD FOR USE IS HIGH DUE TO RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY.
LIMITED LANGUAGE ACCESS AND SERVICE COSTS ARE TOO MUCH FOR THE ELDERLY BELONGING TO THE WORKING CLASS TO AFFORD.
BUT WELL GET IN THIS SITUATION, IT SEEMS VERY URGENT
I KNOW THAT GOOD MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ELDERLY IS CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED IN HOUSTON.
I APOLOGIZE YOU GUYS, BUT THE THRESHOLD FOR USE IS HIGH DUE TO RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY.
LIMITED L LANGUAGE ACCESS AND SERVICE COSTS ARE TOO MUCH FOR THE ELDERLY BELONGING TO THE WORKING CLASS TO AFFORD.
IN THIS SITUATION, IT SEEMS VERY URGENT
IN THIS SITUATION, IT SEEMS VERY URGENT TO PREPARE MEASURES TO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY POPULATION BY EXPANDING PUBLIC MEDICAL FACILITIES SUCH AS AFFORDABLE SENIOR CARE CENTERS AND NURSING HOSPITALS.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CURRENT STATE OF MEDICAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE FUTURE AND TRY TO ENSURE THAT A FULLY INCREASED BUDGET IS ALLOCATED FOR THE EXPANSION OF ELDERLY MEDICAL FACILITIES IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READJUST BUDGET ALLOCATION.
JAY KIM, MR. KIM? OH, I APOLOGIZE.
STATE OF MEDICAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY, THE FUTURE ADVISED VICE, AND TRY TO ENSURE THAT A FULLY INCREASED BUDGET IS ALLOCATED FOR THE EXPANSION OF ELDERLY MEDICAL FACILITIES IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO READJUST BUDGET ALLOCATION.
I HAVE A COMMENT FROM YOUNG JAY KIM
I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO EVERYONE WHO COME BACK, I HAD VICE MAYOR PRO TEM, AMY PECK, CAN WE JUST OVER, GO AHEAD.
UM, TO EVERYONE HERE FROM THE KOREAN COMMUNITY, WE DO HAVE THE KOREAN COMMUNITY CENTER IN DISTRICT A AND SPRING BRANCH.
AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
I KNOW THAT THEY DO HAVE TRANSLATION SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY GET WITH THE LEADERSHIP THERE AND SEE WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ASSIST AS WELL.
UM, AND IF WE NEED TO BRING IN SOMEONE FROM FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS TO ASSIST WITH MEDICAID, MEDICARE, THAT KIND OF THING, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
SO, UM, WE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO ASSIST, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH THE REST OF THE KOREAN MEMBERS.
THANKS, MR. DID YOU HAVE ANY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND, UM, VICE MAYOR PRO TEM HAS, HAS A, A LARGE KOREAN COMMUNITY IN HER DISTRICT AND I KNOW HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN, IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE, UM, TO THAT COMMUNITY.
NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM YOUNG JAY KIM.
HTV ENGINEERS ARE HARD AT WORK BACK THERE, SO I APOLOGIZE.
[01:00:22]
MY NAME IS MONG J KIM AND I WORK AS A SENIOR FELLOW AT BUDI JUNTOS IN DISTRICT A.NOW THAT WE HAVE ENTERED THE ERA OF LONGEVITY, THE NUMBER OF MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 4.1 MILLION EVERY YEAR STARTING THIS YEAR.
AND WE ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE REALITY THAT CORRESPONDING MEDICARE BENEFITS AND NURSING FACILITIES FOR SENIORS ARE LACKING TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION I EXPERIENCED WHILE LIVING IN OUR SENIOR APARTMENT COMPLEX.
AN ELDERLY WOMAN COLLAPSED IN THE KITCHEN AND STAYED THERE ALL NIGHT BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT MOVE.
ALTHOUGH THE PHONE WAS IN HER ROOM, SHE COULD NOT CONTACT ANYONE.
SHE SUFFERED FROM A HIGH FEVER AND PAIN ALL OVER HER BODY IN THE EARLY MORNING.
SHE WAS SCREAMING AND BANGING ON THE WALLS, BUT NO ONE COULD CALL THE EMERGENCY NINE ONE ONE LINE BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER.
EVERY HOME HAS A ROPE TO PULL IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RESIDENTS WHO MAY LIVE ALONE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GRAB AND PULL THE ROPE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY COLLAPSE.
IF A 9 1 1 EMERGENCY PAGER OR RESOURCES WERE AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS TO WEAR AROUND THEIR NECK, THIS KIND OF EMERGENCY COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY.
CONSIDERING THAT THE SAFETY AND LIVES OF MANY SENIORS ARE AT STAKE, WE EARNESTLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALLOCATE AND INCREASE FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ADEQUATELY FUND SENIOR ASSISTED DEPARTMENT COMPLEXES AND PROVIDE RESOURCES SUCH AS EMERGENCY PAGERS TO SENIOR RESIDENTS.
MY NAME IS YALI AND I WORK WITH WOODY JUNTOS AS A SENIOR FELLOW IN DISTRICT EIGHT, HAS BEEN 34 YEARS SINCE I MOVED TO HOUSTON, AND I AM NOW IN MY MID SEVENTIES.
I WAS INITIALLY EXCITED, UH, WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED THAT I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE.
WHEN I TURNED 65, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND IT WOULD BECOME EASIER THAN BEFORE.
AT THE TIME MY EYESIGHT WAS VERY BAD, SO I WORE PRESCRIPTION GLASSES AND SOMETIMES CONTACT LENSES.
BUT UPON THE ADVICE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR AND FOUND OUT THAT I HAD TO HAVE CORRECTIVE SURGERY FOR SEVERE CATARACTS.
NOW IT'S MUCH EASIER TO SEE AT NIGHTTIME, HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND, WHO IS NOW OVER 80 YEARS OLD, HAS SEVERE HEARING LOSS AND NEEDS TO WEAR A HEARING AID.
THE COST OF CATARACT SURGERY IS FULLY COVERED BY MEDICARE, BUT THE HEARING AID IS NOT FULLY COVERED.
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE PENSION AVAILABLE OR SAVINGS, THIS COST CAN BE VERY HIGH.
MORE THAN FIVE OUT OF 10 ELDERLY PEOPLE NEED HEARING AIDS.
I ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO SUPPORT FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS FOR SENIORS WHO QUALIFY.
SO THINGS SUCH AS HEARING AIDS CAN BE FULLY COVERED AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED, UH, TESTIMONY.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, UM, TO REACH OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
UM, THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSLATION SERVICES AND THEY ARE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THESE, UH, SPECIFIC TYPE OF ISSUES.
I'LL MAKE SURE TO TELL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN KOREAN
[01:05:01]
IN AN EMAIL.UH, MY NAME IS AKAN CHOI AND I AM 71 YEARS OLD.
I CURRENTLY WORK FOR WOODY JUNTOS AS A PART OF THE SENIOR FELLOWS TEAM IN DISTRICT A.
I MOVED FROM NEW YORK CITY TO HOUSTON TWO YEARS AGO AND HAD MANY DIFFICULTIES IN THE PROCESS OF SWITCHING TO TEXAS MEDICARE DUE TO MY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
BECAUSE I COULD NOT RECEIVE HELP IN MY NATIVE KOREAN LANGUAGE, I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY BENEFITS I WAS ENTITLED TO.
AFTER SEVEN MONTHS HAD PASSED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, I RECEIVED HELP FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE, UH, WHEN REPLACING MY MEDICARE IN 2024.
I'M CURRENTLY LIVING WITH THE USE OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS THAT ARE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE.
AND EVEN IF I TRY TO GET TREATMENT AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THERE ARE MANY DOCTORS WHO DO NOT ACCEPT MEDICARE.
THE COPAY COSTS FOR SPECIALIST TREATMENTS ARE VERY BURDENSOME, AND SO I'M AFRAID TO GO SEE A DOCTOR.
RECENTLY I HAD AN EAR PROBLEM AND RECEIVED, UH, TREATMENT, BUT THE HOSPITAL VISIT FEE WAS SO HIGH AND EVEN THE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION COST WAS OVER $200.
I COULD NOT BUT DOOR THE PAIN.
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO CURRENTLY ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES DUE TO HIGH MEDICAL COSTS AND EXPENSIVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON INCREASED FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND ALLOCATE DEDICATED FUNDING TO SENIORS LIKE ME STRUGGLING TO NAVIGATE THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE YANG RE
I, I DON'T, I'M SURE, I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY DOES, HAS THIS, BUT IF YOU HAVE HTV OPEN SOMEWHERE ON YOUR DON'T ON COMPUTER, SO YEAH.
[01:10:02]
THERE'S A REQUEST IF YOU ARE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER, I'M SURE NOT SURE ANYBODY DOES HAS THIS, BUT IF YOU HAVE HTV OPEN SOMEWHERE, DON'TMY NAME IS YOUNG AND I'M 74 YEARS OLD.
I AM A SENIOR FELLOW AT WOODY JUNTOS IN DISTRICT A AND HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN FOR 43 YEARS.
SEVEN YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND WAS HIT BY A CAR AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE STAYED THERE FOR FOUR NIGHTS AND FIVE DAYS.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT COMPLETELY HEALED, HE WAS DISCHARGED BECAUSE THEY SAID HE NEEDED TO CONTINUE RECEIVING OUTPATIENT THERAPY.
THERE WERE MANY EXPLANATIONS FROM THE DOCTOR AT THE TIME.
WE, HOWEVER, DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
AND AFTER BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL, MY HUSBAND RETURNED TO WORK AND DID NOT ATTEND THERAPY AS INTENDED, AS INSTRUCTED.
HOWEVER, THE RESULT IS THAT HIS LEFT FINGER IS STILL DEFORMED.
THAT'S WHEN SHE RAISED HER HAND UP AND HIS FACE HAS AN UNNATURAL FEELING FROM HIS CHEEK TO HIS LIPS.
THE HOSPITAL BILL WAS NOT FULLY PAID BY HIS MEDICARE INSURANCE, AND I WAS UNABLE TO PAY IT DUE TO LACK OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SENIORS WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN UNDERSTANDING WHEN VISITING HOSPITALS, WE ASK THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALLOCATE FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO FUND INTERPRETERS IN PERSON AND BILINGUAL STAFF.
AND I'M VERY SORRY ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND'S CONDITION.
UH, MY NAME IS JOSHUA GNA AND I'M 75 YEARS OLD AND HAVE LIVED IN HOUSTON FOR FIVE YEARS.
I CURRENTLY WORK AT JUNTOS DISTRICT A I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE I HAD THREE YEARS AGO, DUE TO MY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL UNDER THE IMPRESSION I WAS RECEIVING A GASTROSCOPY AND INTESTINAL AND ENDOSCOPY TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME.
HOWEVER, WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, I WAS TOLD I WAS ONLY RECEIVING ONE PROCEDURE, A GASTROSCOPY.
I BEGAN TO THINK OF THE HARDSHIP I WENT THROUGH THE DAY BEFORE TO CLEAR MY COLON.
I STILL FEEL BITTER WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH AND THE TROUBLE I WENT THROUGH IF I UNDERSTOOD THE PROCEDURE THAT I WAS HAVING.
ABOUT 10,000 KOREAN SENIORS LIVE IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA, MANY WHOM HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND STRUGGLE WITH PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO MINE WHEN THEY HAVE HEALTHCARE VISITS OR PROCEDURES.
AS THE ELDERLY POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
[01:15:01]
SO THAT THEY MAY NOT EXPERIENCE COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES AS I DID.I ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET SO PATIENTS CAN RECEIVE BETTER TREATMENT THROUGH FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS WITH KOREAN INTERPRETERS AND WITH NECESSARY BILINGUAL STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING, SIR.
UH, MY NAME IS JOHN KIM, UH, COMMUNITY OWNER OF JUNTOS.
A FEW DAYS AGO IN HOUSTON, UH, SEVERE CLIMATE CHANGES HAVE LED TO WIDER SPREAD POWER OUTREACH, OUTREACH, LEAVING MANY AREAS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, THIS SITUATION HAS CAUSED A GREAT INCONVENIENCE FOR RESIDENTS AND SOME AREAS HAVE REPORTED FATALITIES AND INJURIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, SOME OF OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS COLLAPSED DUE TO THE EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURE AT HOME IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.
WE ALSO OPENED A COOLING CENTER AT KOREAN COMMUNITY CENTER FROM LAST SUNDAY WHERE UH, PEOPLE CAN REST WITH, UH, UH, SOME DRINK INJURIES, SNACKS WHILE, UH, CHARGING, UH, THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
ALSO, WE CAN EASILY EXPECT THAT, UH, INSECT BITES, ACUTE, UH, RESPIRATORY, UH, INFECTIONS, PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS, AND THE INTESTINAL INTESTINAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE INCLUDING, UH, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER, ET CETERA.
YOU NAME IT, WE'LL FOLLOW AFTERWARDS.
I THINK, UH, RECENT GLOBAL CLIMATE, UH, NORMALITIES HAVE CAUSED THE SEVERE WEATHER DISASTER IN MANY REGION.
THE UNITED STATES, CHINA, RUSSIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, AFRICA, AND EUROPE ARE AMONG THE DIVERSE REGIONS AFFECTED BY THESE CLIMATE CHANGES.
I BELIEVE THIS INDICATE THAT HOUSTON CANNOT BE AN EXCEPTION AT ALL, AND THE DISASTER STATION THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY IN HOUSTON CAN ONLY BE SEEN AS A SUBSTANTIVE EVIDENCE OF DEATH.
UH, AND I HEARD THAT, UH, ONE, UH, I MEAN THE DIRECTOR, THE MICRO SAID, UM, UH, WE, UH, HAVE TO EXPECT THAT THE FREQUENCIES OF THIS KIND OF DISASTER WILL INCREASE ANNUALLY.
SO I FULLY AGREE WITH AGREE WITH THAT.
UH, IT MEANS THAT, UH, WE MAY EASILY EXPECT THAT THIS KIND OF DISASTER CAN REPEAT MONTHLY OR ANNUALLY, NOT IN DECADES OR OF YOUR DECADES IN VIEW OF CURRENT CLIMATE CRISIS AND THE HEALTH CONDITION OF HOUSTON RESIDENTS CAN WORSE THAN WORSE.
THE MOST VULNERABLE, UH, GROUPS TO THESE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS ARE INEVITABLY THE POOR.
AND AMONG THEM SENIORS WITH HEALTH ISSUES ARE LIKELY TO BE THE HARDEST HIT.
THE POOR HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO, UH, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT MAKING THEM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING POWER OUTAGE, THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO USE HEATING OR COOLING DEVICES, WHICH CAN BE FATAL.
SENIORS WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO EXTREME, UH, TEMPERATURE CHANGES POSING, UH, SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS OR EVEN, UH, LIFE THREATENING ATIONS.
FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, I REQUEST THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET BE APPROPRIATELY ALLOCATED TO ENSURE THAT THOSE GREATER HOUSTON RESIDENTS ALSO CAN MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH SUB.
UH, THANK YOU MR. KIM, CAN YOU QUICKLY WRAP UP YOUR REMARKS? OKAY.
[01:20:01]
YOU.OF THE LONG 1, 1, 1 SENTENCE OF THE LONG TERM BY PREPARING WELL ORGANIZED SYSTEMS, FOR EXAMPLE, COALITION WITH MANY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN EVERY COMMUNITY FOR THE UNEXPECTED POSSIBLE DISASTERS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
FINAL SPEAKER IS HANYA NORMAN.
GOD, HELLO, MY NAME IS DJA NORMAN, CC COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M A PET AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUN, LOCATED IN THE KOREAN COMMUNIST CENTER IN DISTRICT, A SPRING BRANCH.
I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR TRANSLATING THE 2025 BODY WORKSHOP PRESENTATION INTO KOREAN.
THIS IS A BIG WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE SHOWED UP AND ASK PAUL.
THE CITY IS LISTENING TO OUR NEED.
OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE MANY OTHER IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, FACE CHALLENGES.
MANY FIRST GENERATION KOREAN AMERICANS SPEAK LIMITED ENGLISH AND STRUGGLE WITH HEALTHY ISSUES.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS MAKE IT HARD TO ACCESS RESOURCE LIKE HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, A KOREAN SENIOR CALLED ME IN SEVERE EAR PAIN.
SHE NEEDED A DOCTOR, BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO.
SHE ALONE SEEMS TO HAVE EARLY DEMENTIA.
I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER BECAUSE, UH, SHE MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.
THE HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THE, IN THE WEBSITE SAID THEY PROVIDE HELP TO ALL RESIDENT, BUT IN REAL SITUATION, THE ONLY ONE WHO NEED REAL HELP NEIGHBOR IS AWARE WILL TO HOW TO GET HELP.
I FEEL MUCH MORE OUTREACH TO VULNERABLE POPULATION IS NEEDED IN THE UNITED STATES.
OVER 80 AND THREE AND 38 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIABETES AND ONE IN THREE ADULT HAVE PRE-DIABETES.
THIS RISK GOES OFF WITH THE AIDS ALSO ABOUT 9.1 OPERATION AMERICAN ADULT HAVE, HAVE DIABETES.
I WANT TO HELP MY COMMUNITY LEARN HOW TO MANAGE AND CONTROL DIABETES ON YOUR HHD WEBSITE.
THE DIABETES AWARENESS AND WELLNESS NETWORK OFFERS SUPPORT IN CERTAIN AREAS AND LANGUAGES, BUT HELP THE KOREAN AND VARIOUS OTHER LANGUAGES AND COMMUNITIES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
WE NEED MORE LANGUAGE ACCESS AND INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
WE ASK THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND EDUCATION INITIATIVE LIKE DON AND INCLUDE CODING AND OTHER LANGUAGE SUPPORT.
UM, SARAH AND ALL THE KOREAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SHOWED UP, IT MEANS A LOT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF WHO HAS STAYED TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS.
AND, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR ADVOCACY.
OKAY, EVERYBODY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK WHILE WE ADDRESS TEAMS WELL, WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HECK'S GOING ON WITH THIS AUDIO SITUATION AND WE WILL MOVE.
I'M SORRY WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, WE WILL NEXT MOVE TO THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET PRESENTATION.