Health and Human Services Committee Meeting Transcript – 12/13/2017 Title: ATXN 24/7 Recording Channel: 6 - ATXN Recorded On: 12/13/2017 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 12/13/2017 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== [2:02:51 PM] >> Houston: Good afternoon, everyone. The health and human services council committee will be meeting as soon as we have a quorum. If you need have your tickets validated, please see the young lady with her hand up. We don't want you to have to pay. [2:10:41 PM] >> Houston: Good afternoon. My name is Ora Houston. A quorum is present tosyl calling this meeting of the health and human services committee of the Austin city council to order on Wednesday, December the 13th. We're meeting in the council chambers, Austin city hall, 301 west second street, Austin, Texas. The time is 2:11 P.M. I've given you a reminder about the parking garage. So that you get your tickets validated if you haven't. The first order of -- on our agenda is the minutes from both the October the 11th meeting and the November 27th meeting. Please stake a moment -- oh, you've reviewed them already. Is there a motion? >> [Inaudible - no mic]. >> Houston: The motion has been made to accept both of the amendment agenda minutes as -- [laughter]. >> Kitchen: It's okay. >> Houston: As printed. It's been seconded by mayor pro tem tovo. Did you have -- all those in favor let it be known by saying aye? >> Aye. >> Houston: Passes unanimously on the dais. We have one person who has signed up for citizens communication. Mr. Gus Pena? Come on down, sir? Mr. Pena, you will have two minutes to talk to us about whatever you want to. >> I'm a member of veterans for progress. We were born because of the health care fiasco at clinic hospital. First I want to thank Mr. Clarke hidrick who retired from the Austin board. I've been meeting frequently with the president of central health and the CEO of community care health care centers because we need more health care centers. I know one at del valle is opening up. [2:12:41 PM] We need one more, two more, whatever we can for the outer lying areas, manor, et cetera. Dove springs has one. We need one or two more just like del valle does. What I wanted to also, for the record, the va is still not doing a good job of triaging and improving the veterans health care. That's why they tend to go to community care or the clinics at central health. We're fighting like no tomorrow. Secretary showgun was not able to be here after veterans day. He was not able to be here after the fiasco with that person that calls himself president. I want to be respectful, but I tell you that's been very, very difficult to deal with for our veterans care and veterans for the united States of America. I want to say this, we've been to Washington already. I was there last week before the council meeting and I'm going to go again. Right now I've been invited by the secretary of veterans affairs, David shulkin, to bring forth the concerns of our central Texas health care centers. I ran for justice of the peace in 1993. I wanted to let you know that I thank the board, whatever you do, but we need more activism for more health care centers and better health care. And I'll leave it at that and I'll see y'all tomorrow, good lord willing. But merry Christmas and happy new year. People stray away from merry Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, but I ain't like that. I'm a Christian, and I love my Jesus Christ, he's been good to me. Thank you very much for the hard work you'll do. I know you're on several boards and commissions, but we need more help on the boards and clinics. >> Thank you, Mr. Pena and merry Christmas to you as well. We're now on item number 3 to discuss and possible action regarding the reappointment of Dr. Charles bell to the central health board of managers. You have his curriculum vitae in the backup. [2:14:46 PM] Dr. Bell was serving an unexpired term and it was a one year so he is currently serving as treasurer on the board of managers. And has done a very good job and has asked to be reappointed. >> Garza: I'm happy to make the motion to reappoint Dr. Bell. >> Houston: Thank you. Is there a second? >> Kitchen: I'll second. >> Houston: Councilmember Garza made the motion to reappoint Dr. Charles bell for a full term. Councilmember kitchen second that motion. Is there any discussion? All those in favor let it be known by saying aye? Unanimous on the dais. We will refer this matter to the full council in February to affirm his reappointment to the board of managers. The last item on our agenda is the council options for meeting -- calendar options for meetings in 2018. There are two options in front of you. One starts in January of every other month and the other one starts in February every other month. Is there any discussion about that? Councilmember Garza. >> Garza: I could do either, but would prefer the first option. >> Houston: Mayor pro tem tovo? Councilmember kitchen. >> Kitchen: I don't have a strong preference. I could do either, but if you're looking for preferences, my preference would be option 2. >> Houston: Mayor pro tem? >> Tovo: So I would just want to understand if we met every other month I would not want to meet in March for spring break. [2:16:49 PM] So that would put us in July. I'm fine with either option, I just don't think we should schedule a meeting in spring break or July. >> Houston: I don't have one in July on the options. >> Tovo: My apologies. >> Houston: That's okay. Okay. That's okay. I just thought that not having the January meeting would give us a little time to do -- to rest and get ready. So councilmember Garza, are you -- can you be swayed to do option 2 to give us the whole month of January with with -- >> Yes. >> You could be? >> Garza: Yes. >> Houston: Thank you. So may I have a motion to adopt option number 2, which starts in February and goes through December? And if there's a need to have a special called meeting we will always post that and check with everybody's calendar to make sure it's a date agreeable for something that falls in between those dates. Could I have a motion? >> Garza: I'll make the motion for option 2. >> Houston: A second? It's been moved and seconded that we go with option 2 for 2018, the meetings. All those in favor let it be known by saying aye? >> Aye. >> Houston: Opposed? It's unanimous on the dais. Are there any other suggestions for items that we need to look at starting in February of 2018? If there are none, if you think of some over the Christmas holidays as our brains unfreeze from this treadmill that we're on, if you would let me and Bob core Ron in a and Sophia Williams know what those are and we can go ahead and get those scheduled and posted for February the 14th. That is Valentine's day, so we'll try to get something sweet here for you guys to come in for that day. [2:18:51 PM] Barring any other business, this meeting is adjourned at 2:19 P.M. It's time -- we have just enough time to go and come back.