Health and Human Service Committee Meeting Transcript –2/8/2017 Title: ATXN 24/7 Recording Channel: 6 - ATXN Recorded On: 2/8/2017 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 2/8/2017 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== [2:03:42 PM] >> Houston: Good afternoon. I'm councilmember Ora Houston. A quorum is present. I'm calling to order the meeting of the health and human services committee of the Austin city council to order. Today is Wednesday, February the 8th and we're meeting in the city hall chambers at 301 west second street, Austin, Texas. The time is 2:03. Before we get started I've got some announcements that I need to make. Item number 5 has been withdrawn by city management staff, so that will not be discussed today. And item number 6 we received a request for postponement from the chair and vice-chair of the human rights committee commission. They have asked that reset this on the agenda for April the 12th. I want to remind everybody that after we approve the minutes, we will go immediately into executive session to discuss the central health board of managers candidates and interview for that position. We will then have citizens communication once we return from that. So councilmember troxclair? >> Troxclair: Can I ask about the reasoning why item number 5 was withdrawn? >> Houston: I posted on the council message board, assistant city manager ray arrestian know requested that we remove the item because it needs consideration to move forward for council consideration and I brought back to each office some backup, late backup from the vision zero task force that would more explain what kinds of data they are looking for that was not in [2:05:48 PM] the information that was sent to the public safety commission. It was public safety commission. So they had asked for some additional information. And you may not have seen it. >> Troxclair: So are we planning on adding this to our next health and human services agenda? >> Houston: The way that I understand it from assistant city manager Arrellano, as soon as they get the things worked out and the data, there's been a lot of data that they have requested that has not been developed, they will let us know what -- when that should come back on, if it should come back on. >> Troxclair: And that's the resolution that's referenced in this agenda item, do you know? >> Houston: It's do you know what that was? >> Houston: It was the resolution where we the city council adopted the vision zero task force. It was part of that. >> Madam chair? >> Yes, sir. >> We do have the resolution should you want to enter the number into the record? >> Troxclair: We have the resolution number. I was wondering what that resolution said. I guess I'll just say that I have -- since this and on the health and human health and human services committee agenda I've gotten a lot of feedback from the community about unlicensed drivers on our roads and the number of austinites being killed every year by people without a license. I do think it's an important issue for us to talk about. I don't know ultimately what direction the council would go or -- but I see it was something and austinites are dying. He was dying because of it. So I think that it's -- it's irresponsible for us to not address it. So I look forward to having that conversation once the staff comes back with information. >> Right. [2:07:55 PM] >> Houston: And as far as the city manager needing to substantiate some of the items, that will come back and we'll have a chance to review that. And as always, councilmembers can have an opportunity to meet at the public safety folks as we move the process along. >> Troxclair: Thanks so much. >> Houston: Chair tovo? >> Tovo: I'm not sure if the public safety staff would be bringing something forward to the council for consideration or not. I was initially listed as a co-sponsor on this item, which was an error, so it would need council sponsorship to come forward. At this point, you know, this is not a solution I would support. >> Houston: Councilmember Garza? >> Garza: I guess I knew we were going to have this discussion, but I guess I'm concerned if we're talking about austinites dying I think we need to be careful about causation and just because there's unlicensed drivers doesn't mean that that's not going to happen anyway. They may have not -- that assumes that they're going to get pulled over before they could potentially do something that could cause a death. Even implementing a policy like that does not mean that it's going to stop that from happening. And there's also different layers to what populations that this could have a very negative effect on. But we'll have this -- we can have this conversation when - - if it comes back. I too do not support bringing that back. I think it's -- I think the policy as is, is an appropriate policy. >> Houston: And again, that's where the city manager asked for it to be withdrawn because they need to look at it and there are some other suggestions that could be less harmful to people that they have not had an opportunity to look at. So that's where it is now. It's being withdrawn and we accept that. So as far as the approval of the minutes, did everyone have a chance to read the minutes of our December the [2:09:56 PM] 5th meeting? >> Troxclair: Yes. >> Houston: I have one correction. Councilmember troxclair was off the dais under the minutes, so that should be 3-0. Instead of 4-0. And everything else looks okay to me. May I have a motion? >> Garza: So move. >> Houston: Second? I'm going to remember this time. Any comments? All in favor let it be known by raising your right hand. It's unanimous on the dais with the correction. The committee will now go into closed session to take up one item. Pursuant to section 551.074 of the government code the committee will discuss item number 2, the appointment of board members to the central health board of managers, interview identified applicants and select a top candidate. Is there any objection to going into executive session on the item announced? Hearing none the committee will now on go into executive session. [2:15:00 PM] Ize [2:33:29 PM] [ >>> >> >>> >> >>> [Executive session]. >> [3:25:59 PM] . . . [4:41:54 PM] >> Good afternoon. We're out of closed session. In closed session, we took up and discussed personnel matters related to item two. As usual, we had an amazing group of dedicated members of our community who were willing to serve on the central board health of managers. We've had a lot of discussion, and we've got a motion that's coming forward from council member Garza. >> Yeah, I agree it was great candidates, but I would like to make the motion that since we weren't able to come to a decision that we do an open call for candidates to the central health board that have a financial background, some kind of accounting, financial background as well as a desire to serve the community and to be part of an organization that provides care for our indigent community, access to health care for our indigent community. >> I'll second. >> Mayor protem seconds that motion. Can we have some discussion. Yeah, it's the person that we're asking that will be replaced had extensive background in finances, and so we just want to make sure there's a tie versety of professions on the board, and we may -- it could be that we're appointing somebody in this pool right now, but I thought it was important that we had one more opportunity to try to get financial background. If we're not able to, then we have some amazing individuals to [4:43:57 PM] choose >> I agree with that. I think the emphasis is also on community care for those who are indigent. That is a specific passion and mission for central health. We hope you will come back with someone else very soon. Did you have something else? >> Really, we've been so fortunate every time we've done this call that we've gotten excellent, excellent cannoneds, and this time was no exception. We have some terrific cannoned -- candidates. We really just as said could not reach a final decision today, but hope to very soon. >> Thank you. I will call the question now. All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying aye. It's unanimous on the die dias. The possible agenda items for the meeting include gentrification, human rights resolution regarding gentrification. Would we be interested in having the doctor at the medical school that's over women's health come and talk to us about her issues or is it something else that we would like to have on the agenda? >> Okay. So we'll have a couple of agenda items. I want to thank you all for being here this afternoon. This completes our agenda. Without objection, the meeting of the health and human services committee is adjourned at 4:45. Thank you. [4:45:59 PM]