City of Austin Public Health Committee met March 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Public Health Committee Members Present:
1. Chair Vanessa Fuentes
2. Vice-Chair Marc Duchen
3. Ryant Alter (virtual)
4. Zohaib "Zo" Qadri
5. José Velásquez
Call to Order
Chair Vanessa Fuents called the Public Health Committee meeting to order at 10:00 AM.
Public Communication:
Kate Grazziani with Vocal Texas -comment related to budget amendment on Texas Harm Reduction
Approval of Minutes
1. Approve the Public Health Committee minutes for the March 5, 2025 meeting. On the motion by Council Member Qadri and the second by Council Member Alter, the minutes for the February 4, 2025 meeting of the Public Health Committee were approved on a vote of 5-0.
Discussion and Possible Action
2. Discusion and possible action on an appointment of a member of the Sobering Center Board of Directors.
This item was taken up with item number 6 in Executive Session. The Committee decided to interview candidates and with the selection of a member to the Board of Directors
Briefings
3. Receive briefing on the status of the Austin Animal Services Strategic Plan [Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer - Animal Services Office, Audrey Muntz, Budget and Performance Manager – Office of the Budget & Organizational Excellence] Received briefing on the Austin Animal Services Strategic Plan from from Chief Animal Services Officers, Don Bland, and Performance Manager Audrey Muntz. No action taken.
4. Receive a briefing on Bond Funding priorities for the Homelessness Strategy Oiffice [David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer – Homeless Strategy Office James May, Housing and Community Development Officer – Housing Department.
This item was postponed. No action taken.
Memo Discussion
5. Discussion of Measles Health Alert memo dated February 10, 2025 (Austin Public Health). Committee received update on the measles heath alert memo distributed on February 10, 2025 from Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin Travis County Health Authority. No action taken
Executive Session
6. Discussion of the selection of a member to appoint on the Sobering Center Board of Directors (Personnel matters – Section 551.074 of the Government Code).
This item take with item 2.
Chair Fuentes adjourned the Public Health Committee meeting at 11:00 AM.
https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=448174