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53. Regular Meeting June 14, 1999 Page 8 provided temporary housing to families and need a shelter for the single homeless. Mr. Garza stated they could not continue to operate as they have and requested the City budget for the administration of the homeless shelter. He stated they are providing services, such as medical needs and putting children in school, to the single homeless but not providing housing. Mr. Hernandez stated he understands there is a need, but the City has a funding process. He would like to have the Human Services Advisory Board make a recommendation on this matter. Mr. Garza stated these are long-term problems that need long-term solutions. They have requested grants, but there is no money through grants for administration. Mr. Cox stated their program is meritorious for teaching rather than handing out. Mr. Hernandez moved to table this matter until the Human Services Advisory Board could make a recommendation to the Council and Mr. Cox seconded the motion. On roll call the following vote was recorded: AYE: Hughson, Doiron, Cox, Hernandez. NAY: Mihalkanin, Moore, Moseley. ABSTAIN: None. Mayor Moore introduced a discussion regarding lease of City property located on River Road next to the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Dr. Jamie Chahin/SWT for development of a Pepper Farm. Dr. Chahin advised the Council he is working on a project with EDA and Kellogg to grow habaneros on one acre of land in San Marcos and will use treated effluent. Women who reside at C. M. Allen Housing will be provided tools, they will grow the peppers and sell them. Mr. Gilley stated a location has been identified in front of the treatment plant. Dr. Chahin has been in contact with Jardine's to purchase the peppers, which will be sold for $3.00-$9.00 a pound. The Council directed a lease be prepared. Mayor Moore introduced a discussion regarding flood recovery summary of the October 1998 flood. Chief O'Leary provided the Council with a summary, written and oral, regarding the flood recovery. Chief O'Leary stated 723 homes sustained flood damage, and 20% of the population was evacuated. He stated there are four phases of a disaster: planning, response, recovery and mitigation. He stated our planning strengths were our management structure, we mobilized very well, and we have good relationships with other jurisdictions. He stated our weaknesses were communication (we did not get good information from the National Weather Information Center, which is our primary means to get information), and we were unable to communicate with the public as effectively as we wanted to (relying on Austin and San Antonio radio stations). Chief O'Leary stated in a 12 hour period from 12:00 Noon to 12:00 Midnight the City received 3700 calls regarding evacuation, search and rescue and sheltering. We can only request people evacuate, and most people evacuate only when they think they need to. Some of the evacuations included people with special needs, such as bedridden. The search and rescue operations numbered in the hundreds, most being done by ordinary citizens. The first shelter was opened at St. John's about 12:30 p.m. Six shelters were opened housing 3600 people. There was difficulty in immobilizing the Red Cross, so the City managed this operation. In the recovery phase, on Monday morning we Here in the neighborhoods with packets of information, including how to apply for FEMA funding, which continues today. The City also set up emergency funding to assist citizens and for infrastructure. Chief O'Leary's advice on how to address future floods is to continue to regulate building in the floodplains and FEMA's flood insurance program. He stated the City set up a mitigation assistance program and made a commitment to rebuild the infrastructure. Chief O'Leary then showed the Council a video made from a compilation of videos from citizens regarding the amount of street flooding and runoff. Chief O'Leary stated he has served as Chief for ten years and is the emergency management coordinator. He stated the best training he receives is speaking with his counterparts. He stated everything went smoothly because everyone worked together; the agencies in the community carne together. He is looking at affordable