08.17.21 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes August 17, 2021 governments to use coronavirus recovery funds to help with current staffing expenses. Mr. Lumbreras stated any relief from the State could take up to a month or longer to receive, and it won't solve all of the issues surrounding staff retention and the increasingly high volume of cases. The request this evening is for $500,000 that would go toward staffing costs including clinical staff and does not include additional costs incurred for supplies. This amount is based on how much the hospital spent in July and August to ensure adequate staffing levels. Mr. Lumbreras stated Mr. McKinney has also approached Hays County with a similar request for funding. He noted that staff has reviewed the projects Council approved for the $9M the City received through the American Rescue Plan and determined funding can be reduced in the following areas for the initial year, with the idea that the amounts would be restored in the second round of funding next year. Those reductions include: • $200,000 from the Briarwood and River Ridge Stormwater project • $100,000 from the Small Business Counseling Program • $100,000 from stormwater improvements at older facilities • $100,000 to address flooding at Hull and Grove Street Mayor Hughson noted that she hopes the council will commit to replacing this funding when we allocate the next $9M sometime in the summer of 2021. The intent of this item is to address the immediate need for our hospital. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Scott inquired if the hospital is requiring staff to be vaccinated? Are they also providing alternative medicine for preventative measures to take if patient does not want to get vaccinated Mr. McKinney stated staff has been in internal discussion since July, strongly encouraging to get vaccinated and actively engaging with the community. He stated they have partnered with the City and County to give 40K vaccines. Mr. McKinney stated there are currently doing internal incentive campaigns. Mr. McKinney stated he is working on bringing awareness and also has a staffing crisis and is not in a position to mandate vaccinations, as to not lose hospital staff. Mr. McKinney stated doctors are using Remdesivir to treat patients but also utilizing other therapies. He mentioned that doctors use monoclonal antibody therapy to keep people out of the hospital that consists of a four hour infusion when patients does not need hospitalization. Council Member Baker expressed concern with the money going towards staffing and inquired if the majority of funding would be used for sign on bonus or incentives. Mr. McKinney stated their payroll is $3M per month and there has been an increase of salaries and cost with the market having a City of San Marcos Page 5