CCMIN02052019 - Laserfiche WebLink

In regard to organizational action, Mr. Ingram reported the Strategic Plan recommends the development of a Human Services Commission Communication Plan. Mr. Ingram advised that if the strategic plan is adopted, the Human Services Commission and staff will use the updated plan to guide future recommendations and will continue to work with Dublin, Livermore, and the many nonprofit and service organizations in the Tri-Valley. Additionally, they will continue discussions to jointly fund a 2021 EACHSNA including data from the 2020 US Census. Lastly, he noted the staff recommendation is to adopt the strategic plan. Sue Compton, Executive Director, Axis Community Health, reported on their initiatives and target audience which are the low-income residents of the Tri-Valley area. She reported their main site on Las Positas Boulevard opened three years ago in large part through the generosity of the City of Pleasanton and serves 15,000 residents. Ms. Compton reported dental needs have been a long-term problem in the community with patients being referred to Highland Hospital in Oakland or a community health center in Fremont. The appointment wait times are up to three or four months. A survey of Axis patients was completed and 90% indicated they had not been to a dentist in several years. Ms. Compton reported that Assistant to the City Manager Becky Hopkins spearheaded a community group to start conversations around the dental health issue and gathered key stakeholders to begin addressing the problem. A three-year search was conducted for a site with the criteria being it had to be affordable for Axis Community Health, be accessible for patients, be on a regular bus line and provide reasonable parking. Approximately six months ago, a site was located in Dublin in the Almond Plaza on Regional Street which was a vacated dental site. Axis Community Health entered into a twenty-year lease and purchased the equipment that remained in the facility. The lease costs of the facility will be supported in part by all three of the cities through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that have been allocated to the project. Additionally, a grant was also received from Palo Alto Medical Foundation which went towards purchasing the new equipment. She reported they are in negotiations with Alameda County to obtain additional support through Measure "A" funds. Ms. Compton advised the facility has been updated and the electronic records system has been added for integration with medical and behavioral health patients. Patrice Lane, DDS, has been hired as the Dental Director and is skilled in caring for patients of all ages. Ms. Compton reported the facility received its first patient this morning during its soft opening and will target pediatric and prenatal patients. Mayor Thorne offered to write Congress on behalf of Axis Community Health to share this success story and to help ensure CDBG funding is fought for and continued. In response to Councilmember Brown's inquiry related to service for non-English speaking patients, Ms. Compton reported all staff are bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English, the organization covers 17 languages for translation, and can also leverage the AT&T language line, if needed. Councilmember Testa expressed her excitement for this unmet human service need and noted it is a remarkable accomplishment. Mayor Thorne opened the item for public comments. Lara Calvert, Spectrum Community Services, commended the staff and Commission for all of their work on the strategic plan. She addressed the multi-year contracts for the core safety-net service providers and would like to learn more about the planning to achieve this goal. She City Council Minutes Page 5 of 7 February 5, 2019