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Record of Proceedings

Community Health Committee Meeting: Oral Health Program & Greenway Trail System (Feb. 2, 2026)

Council Committees — Monday, February 2, 2026
BodySan Antonio, Texas
SessionCouncil Committees
DateMonday, February 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:12:58

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

All right.

0:11

The time is now 10.02 a.m.

0:13

on February 2nd, 2026, and we'll call the community health meeting to order.

0:18

Councilmember Castillo.

0:20

Councilmember Alarete Cabito.

0:22

Here.

0:22

Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez.

0:25

Councilmember White.

0:26

Chair Gavon.

0:27

Here.

0:27

Chair, we have quorum.

0:29

Thank you so much.

0:30

All right, first thing we gotta do is the approval of the minutes.

0:32

Are there any corrections to the minutes?

0:35

All right, can I get a motion to approve?

0:37

Absolutely.

0:39

All right, great.

0:41

Uh all those in favor to approve the minute, say aye.

0:43

Aye.

0:44

Aye.

0:44

Any opposed?

0:46

Any abstentions?

0:47

Great.

0:47

Motion passes.

0:48

All right.

0:49

First thing we have public comment.

0:50

We have a couple speakers signed up to speak.

0:52

Each person will get three minutes to speak, and so we'll start with uh Beatrice Hicks.

1:04

Good morning.

1:05

Um City Council members.

1:07

My name is Beatrice Hicks, and I'm in a retired associate professor at the UT Health San Antonio.

1:12

I served in the Department of Dental Hygiene there for 34 years.

1:16

In 2006, I was very fortunate enough to be a part of collaborative grant with the Department of Health and Human Services who awarded us $300,000 to the Department of Dental Hygiene, Parent Child Incorporated, and the Metropolitan Health District.

1:31

And the reason for that was to develop and implement a culturally sensitive pediatric practice dental model for Head Start programs.

1:39

The collaborators established a model incorporated preventive services such as dental screening for our varnish applications and oral health programs for parents, family support workers, and Head Start teachers.

1:51

An extensive case management system was also developed.

1:55

This management system provides oral health case managers who pave the way for children to gain access with Bear County dentists to provide treatment for urgent or routine dental care and as well as to find a dental home for the children.

2:11

A key part of the work involves identifying and breaking down treatment barriers.

2:16

This program helps break down those walls one by one to restore a child back to health.

2:21

Many of the children who are seen come from low socioeconomic households and may or may not qualify for Medicaid benefits.

2:29

And even if they qualify, we have found that they do not tap in or utilize the services.

2:35

This program was later expanded to include the Miles of Smile Sealant Program, and this program models and mirrors the Head Start program and provides sealant services to school-age children.

2:48

Dental sealants are preventive service in which a plastic coating is placed on the chewing surface of the teeth to prevent future cavities in children.

2:57

Both programs include mandatory rotations for both dental students and dental hygiene students at the UT School of Dentistry.

3:05

This offers chance for the students to provide the preventive services, screenings, the fluoride vinyl treatments with the children.

3:13

Students learn how to recognize childhood cavities along with the opportunity to experience firsthand the disparities in their own city.

3:22

These programs serves thousands of children in Bear County each year.

3:26

The goals of the program is to strengthen health, development, and long-term opportunities of Texas children.

3:34

Oral health is much more than dental care.

3:37

It shapes how children eat, how they speak, learn, socialize, and thrive.

3:42

It influences school readiness, family well-being, chronic disease prevention, and the broader foundations of lifelong health.

3:51

Yet its impact many times is often overlooked in conversations when we talk about child well-being.

3:57

The programs meet the needs of our community and an essential component of whole child health.

4:04

It is my hope that you can understand the impact that these programs have on Bear County and the critical role it helps in proving a child's overall health.

4:15

Thank you for your attention.

4:20

Thank you so much.

4:22

Our next speaker is Lydia Almare.

4:28

Good morning, Chairperson and members of the council.

4:31

My name is Lydia Almaris, and for 51 years from thank you.

4:36

From January 1974 to July 2025, I had the privilege of serving the children and families of the Head Start Early Head Start program as a nursing and family and community specialists.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Parks and Recreation████████████████████████25%
Budget███████7%
Public Education███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Procedural███3%
Medicaid Waiver██2%
Early Childhood Education██2%
Mental Health Awareness█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Community Health Committee Meeting: Oral Health Program & Greenway Trail System (Feb. 2, 2026)

This meeting of the Community Health Committee was called to order at 10:02 AM on February 2, 2026, with a quorum present (Councilmembers Castillo, Alarete Cabito, Mesa Gonzalez, White, and Chair Gavon). The committee focused on two major items: a critical update on the Metro Health Oral Health Program facing a funding cliff, and an overview of the completed and planned sections of the Howard P. Peak Greenway Trail System.

Consent Calendar

  • The meeting minutes from the previous session were approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

Three speakers advocated for the continuation of the Metro Health Oral Health Program.

  • Beatrice Hicks, a retired UT Health San Antonio associate professor, detailed the history and success of a collaborative grant that created a culturally sensitive pediatric dental model for Head Start, emphasizing the program's role in breaking down barriers for low-income families.

  • Lydia Almare, a retired Head Start specialist with 51 years of service, described the partnership as the heartbeat of the Head Start mission. She pleaded with the committee to continue the contract, stating the children of Head Start are counting on them.

  • David Singleton, a retired dentist who worked for the city on these programs, stated the program is the only entity available for these children in the city of San Antonio. He described the severe pain, infections, and systemic health impacts he witnessed, particularly noting the devastating increase in decay after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion Items

### Oral Health Program Overview and Update

Dr. Jacob from Metro Health presented this item as part of a series on programs impacted by the impending September 2026 expiration of the Medicaid 1115 Waiver reserve funding.

  • Funding Breakdown: The oral health program has a total budget of $2.5 million, with $1.4 million coming from the expiring waiver, approximately $625,000 from external grants, and $400,000 (16%) from the General Fund. A total of 35 out of 39 staff positions are supported by the waiver.

  • Scale of Need: Tooth decay is the most common chronic infectious disease in children. Data presented showed untreated tooth decay prevalence: 1 in 6 children nationally, 1 in 4 in Texas, and 1 in 3 of the children screened in the city program. Post-COVID, urgent dental needs spiked from 2.7% to 4.6%.

  • Program Components:

    • Head Start/Early Head Start (24% of budget): Provides biannual exams and fluoride varnish to children 6 weeks to 5 years old.
    • Miles of Smiles (39% of budget): Mobile school-based clinics serving Pre-K to 3rd grade across 200+ sites and 8 school districts. Over 17,000 children were served last year.
    • Title V MCH Block Grant: A partnership with UT Health School of Dentistry providing dental care to over 800 uninsured children annually, with demand far outpacing capacity.

  • Councilmember Positions and Questions:

    • Councilmember White expressed strong support for the program, stating it meets kids where they are. He asked if replacement funding had been identified; Dr. Jacob confirmed it had not, and the program's fate is part of the FY27 budget planning process.
    • Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez noted the program serves her district (8) the least but found the highest percentage of urgent need there. She suggested expanding partnerships to Pre-K 4 SA and local immigrant/refugee nonprofits.
    • Councilmember Alarete Cabito thanked the speakers and asked for trend data (which showed worsening conditions post-COVID). She offered council offices as distribution points for educational materials.
    • Councilmember Castillo voiced hope that the program would be prioritized in the upcoming budget to avoid reductions and allow potential expansion.
    • Chair Gavon requested specific data on the number of schools served (200+), the frequency of Miles of Smiles visits (currently once yearly, goal is biannual), and follow-up data on long-term care and links to chronic diseases. She also suggested a memo on the program's impact on student achievement.

### Howard P. Peak Greenway Trail System Update

Homer Garcia (Parks Director) and Brandon Ross (Capital Programs Manager) provided the update.

  • System Overview: The trail system is over a quarter-century old, with over 100 miles of trails completed, connecting all council districts. It is a massive public investment funded by $190 million in sales tax, $83.4 million from Bexar County, and $103.5 million from the 2022 Bond.

  • Current Status: 103 miles are complete, with 12.3 miles in construction, 30 miles in design, and 7 miles planned. Over 1,700 acres of creekway land have been preserved.

  • Future Funding: An estimated $40-50 million is needed to complete essential projects, with the Port San Antonio connector ($30M) identified as a top priority for the next bond.

  • Maintenance and Safety: Operations and maintenance are funded entirely by the General Fund, a growing challenge. Safety features include Park Police, Trail Stewards, lighting at trailheads, and a mile marker system integrated with 911 dispatch.

  • Councilmember Positions and Questions:

    • Councilmember White praised the trails and raised concerns about long-term maintenance funding given budget constraints. He asked about safety measures.
    • Councilmember Alarete Cabito stressed the trails' importance for physical and mental health. She raised significant concerns about trail safety (violence) and the functionality of the 911 mile marker system, requesting better patrolling and public awareness.
    • Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez supported the expansion and used her CIP funds for restroom improvements. She proposed implementing trailhead parking passes for non-residents as a potential new revenue stream.
    • Councilmember Castillo highlighted the importance of the Port San Antonio connector for District 5, calling it a critical link for employment and amenities.
    • Chair Gavon requested a dedicated committee discussion on long-term safety strategies (lighting, police presence) and maintenance funding models. She also inquired about volunteer programs (Trail Watch Stewards, Basura Bash) and future expansions like the Great Springs Project. No consensus was reached on parking passes, as one member explicitly opposed the idea.

Key Outcomes

  • Oral Health Program: The committee did not take a formal vote on funding but expressed unanimous, strong support. The impending gap from the Medicaid 1115 Waiver was clearly established. The program will be a key consideration in the FY27 budget process. Multiple data requests were made to strengthen the case for continued investment.

  • Greenway Trail System: The update was accepted. The committee agreed to hold a future discussion on comprehensive trail safety and sustainable maintenance funding. The Port San Antonio connector was confirmed as a top priority for the 2027 bond program.

  • Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 AM.

Meeting Transcript

All right. The time is now 10.02 a.m. on February 2nd, 2026, and we'll call the community health meeting to order. Councilmember Castillo. Councilmember Alarete Cabito. Here. Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez. Councilmember White. Chair Gavon. Here. Chair, we have quorum. Thank you so much. All right, first thing we gotta do is the approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes? All right, can I get a motion to approve? Absolutely. All right, great. Uh all those in favor to approve the minute, say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Great. Motion passes. All right. First thing we have public comment. We have a couple speakers signed up to speak. Each person will get three minutes to speak, and so we'll start with uh Beatrice Hicks. Good morning. Um City Council members. My name is Beatrice Hicks, and I'm in a retired associate professor at the UT Health San Antonio. I served in the Department of Dental Hygiene there for 34 years. In 2006, I was very fortunate enough to be a part of collaborative grant with the Department of Health and Human Services who awarded us $300,000 to the Department of Dental Hygiene, Parent Child Incorporated, and the Metropolitan Health District. And the reason for that was to develop and implement a culturally sensitive pediatric practice dental model for Head Start programs. The collaborators established a model incorporated preventive services such as dental screening for our varnish applications and oral health programs for parents, family support workers, and Head Start teachers. An extensive case management system was also developed. This management system provides oral health case managers who pave the way for children to gain access with Bear County dentists to provide treatment for urgent or routine dental care and as well as to find a dental home for the children. A key part of the work involves identifying and breaking down treatment barriers. This program helps break down those walls one by one to restore a child back to health. Many of the children who are seen come from low socioeconomic households and may or may not qualify for Medicaid benefits. And even if they qualify, we have found that they do not tap in or utilize the services. This program was later expanded to include the Miles of Smile Sealant Program, and this program models and mirrors the Head Start program and provides sealant services to school-age children. Dental sealants are preventive service in which a plastic coating is placed on the chewing surface of the teeth to prevent future cavities in children. Both programs include mandatory rotations for both dental students and dental hygiene students at the UT School of Dentistry. This offers chance for the students to provide the preventive services, screenings, the fluoride vinyl treatments with the children. Students learn how to recognize childhood cavities along with the opportunity to experience firsthand the disparities in their own city. These programs serves thousands of children in Bear County each year. The goals of the program is to strengthen health, development, and long-term opportunities of Texas children. Oral health is much more than dental care. It shapes how children eat, how they speak, learn, socialize, and thrive.

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