Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 (Agenda)
Executive Session
I suggest we go to executive session items. I told interfaith people that we would probably reach number 19 at 10:30, so if we go into is executive session on all three items and hear from the health care district on 19, by the time we get back to open court, hopefully mr. Ekstein and interfaith folks will be here and if my office is listening, if we can reach mr. Ekstein on the cell phone and tell him the judge was right, we should reach the legislative item at 10:30 or earlier, so if he could head this way, we appreciate it.
17.
consider and take appropriate action regarding the lease agreement at 700 lavaca with Austinsuites management, ltd.
1 and 2 this is through the open meetings act.
18.
receive briefing from the county attorney and take appropriate action concerning submission by Travis County of an amicus curiae brief to the Texas supreme court in the eminent domain case of reid road municipal utility district no.
2 v.
speedy stop food store, ltd.
1 consultation with attorney exception.
19.
consider and take appropriate action on approval of transaction by central health involving real estate in east Austin consultation with attorney and real property exceptions to the open meetings act.
we will discuss these three items in executive session, but we will return to open court before taking any action.
We have returned from executive session where we discussed the three items we announced. Number 17, the matter involving the lease agreement for 700 Lavaca with Austin Suites Management, Ltd, move that we authorize county staff to continue to negotiate with Austni Suites Management and bring to us an acceptable lease agreement for our consideration.
second by Commissioner Huber.
any discussion?
passes by unanimous vote.
18 is the matter involving a request for an amicus curia brief request to the Texas Supreme court regarding the matter involving reid municipal utility district number two verses speedy stop food store unlimited, I move we authorize the county attorney's office to file a brief setting forth the position of Travis County in this important matter.
>> second.
>> any discussion?
all in favor?
that passes by a unanimous vote.
>> now, going back to item 19, consider and take appropriate action on approval by transaction of central health involving east Austin.
interfaith representatives asked to give comments on this item, and mr. Bauer is back, bruce bar did she ever show?
>> I don't know what may have occurred --
>> she would want us to proceed without her, I'm sure.
>> yes, your honor.
>> [one moment please for change in captioners]
>> I met last night with leaders from dove springs at a church in south south and so what I am going to say is something that has been discussed as recently as yesterday evening.
what I have handed out to you are two reports.
one is optimal health and I will direct your attention to page 5 where you have a charge that shows there is a serious childhood obesity problem in the dove springs neighborhood.
the mendez middle school population expected 29.5% of the children there, for childhood obesity.
turn to go page 7 at mendez middle school which is in dove springs, 58.9% of the children who were tested failed the cardiovascular test.
the second handout I handed to you was a report that was prepared by the university of Texas Austin program and directing you to the footer of page 4, there is a quote from a member of the community, I never go to the park in that community at any hour, it is unsafe.
so we have a situation in dove springs where there are some public assets, the recreation center, a library, there is a park, there is a swimming pool, two schools, elementary school, a middle school.
there are, however, significant gaps in services including in health care.
there is not in dove springs what has been termed by the current administration the health and human services, there is not what they call health equity in dove springs.
and several determinants of health most recently occur by the secretary of health and human services during her visit to Austin, it was determined social determine than, behavior and environment and biological and genetic determinants, what we see from this report is despite 7 years of existence of central health, there are still serious unaddressed health problems in dove springs.
we do not oppose the purchase of the real estate that you have under consideration, judge, and members of the Commissioners court.
we do not oppose that but it is not a response to the years long call from dove springs for health equity.
even after the real estate purchase is carried out, there will be several years before services are provided from that location.
health equity, in the meantime, needs to be addressed.
and so we ask that although we do not oppose the purchase of the property that you have under consideration, that you continue to exercise your leadership.
I do want to say it was only from conversations that members of the dove springs leadership had yesterday with elected officials that it became clear what -- it became clear to any extent what may be underway in regard to a hub in south Austin.
there has to be secrecy approached to real estate purchases while underway by a public entity, there doesn't have to be secrecy and lack of communication with regard to health planningch we know in health care there is concept called informed concept, where the provider and the patient have a meaningful conversation about the health care that will or will not be provided.
it will be a new day if there were to be that kind of conversation with the leadership from dove springs that has devoted years and years of effort to bring about health equity in this neighborhood in southeast south and southeast Travis County.
thank you for your leadership, judge Biscoe and especially Commissioner Gomez who serves the precinct where dove springs is locate and Commissioner Eckhardt and Commissioner Huber, thank you for your careful consideration of this real estate purchase and thank you for your leadership and thank you for your continued interest in bringing about health equity in dove springs and other parts of the southeast Travis County county.
thank you.
>> thank you.
>> and in fact, I met with him and I found out they did not oppose the direction that the health direct was taking.
it would seem that there was just a misunderstanding of, I guess terminology and then meetings that were held where it appeared that the answer was no, we can't do -- like, no, we can't do anything about this.
although, here are the studies that show there is real need for attention in that community and probably southeast Travis County.
and -- but there is missing missing -- the communication is not connecting.
it is not two-way and I think they are interested in trying to meet -- continue to meet to get this communication and this connection cleared and so, I would like to ask trish for us to continue meeting and I will be glad to meet with y'all as well and the community so there is no missing the point of what we are trying to achieve here.
I will be glad to help with that.
>> that would be very helpful.
thank you very much Commissioner.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
I have a two-part motion.
part a would be basically to approve central health taking the steps necessary to purchase a tract of land in southeast Travis County in the amount of $8 million, including acceptance of an assignment for purchase.
b would be to approve a budget amendment to transfer $10 million from allocated reserves to the central budget to be reimbursed by certificates of obligation issued this summer for the purchase of a tract of land in southeast Travis County.
so $8 million for the purchase of the land, 2 million in addition to cover related expenses so the $10 million would cover -- would be the total for both.
a and b.
>> and I will second that, judge.
>> okay.
>> and I would like to, as well, just encourage us to have those meetings, because I think it's extremely important that we get those folks feel included in the process.
>> I agree with that.
we will do whatever I can assist.
any more discussion of the two-part motion?
all in favor?
this passes by unanimous vote.
I believe that does it for the voting session of Commissioner's court.
does it, mr. Porter?
>> maybe, in the afternoon.
>> a1 in the afternoon.
>> thank you.
>> I indicated my preference to start a1 this afternoon, try to clear our owe heads over lunch and discuss that but take up corporations a moment here.
I move we recess the voting session of the Commissioner court until 1:30 this afternoon.
>> second.
>> all those in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
