San Antonio Health Committee Meeting – April 23, 2026

The Health Committee met on April 23, 2026, at 10:32 AM. Present were Councilmembers Castillo, Alderete Gabito, Mesa González, White, and President Galván. Quorum was established. The committee received updates on the Heat Resilience and Sustainability Action Plan, the SA Kids Breathe asthma program, and the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from the previous meeting was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously without discussion or opposition.

Discussion Items

Heat Resilience and Sustainability Action Plan Update

Laura Patiño, Director of the Department of Resilience and Sustainability, presented the update, following a council request from April 16, 2025, to prevent heat-related deaths. Key points:

• San Antonio has experienced record extreme heat days and increases in heat-related illnesses. From 2022 through 2025, nearly 2,400 heat-related illnesses were reported, characterized by dehydration and heat stroke.
• The city developed its first Resilience Catalog with 52 actions (new, existing, and enhanced), over 80% of which are already ongoing. All city departments are involved.
• Goals include: increasing public awareness of cooling resources, expanding partnerships for cooling centers, providing shade and tree planting (400 street trees, 600 park trees, 250 in vulnerable neighborhoods), and working with VIA on bus stop shade structures.
• A pilot project of 20 miles of cool pavement technology is underway with UTSA evaluation.
• Reflective (white) roofs are being installed on city facilities as roofs are replaced.
• For summer 2026, the city will activate extreme heat communications, distribute resources through community centers, and continue coordination with the Office of Emergency Management and DHS.

Councilmember Alderete Gabito expressed strong support and requested:

• Confirmation of coordination with DHS during extreme heat events.
• Expanded focus on colonias inside Loop 410 for cooling resources.
• A progress report on bus stop shade structures at a future Transportation Committee meeting.
• Increased tree planting from 450 to 800 trees to help cool neighborhoods and slow traffic.

Councilmember White asked:

• Whether the new heat‑related illness dashboard can display data by census tract to pinpoint areas of need. Staff responded that state confidentiality rules may suppress small counts, but they will begin reporting provisional death data this month based on resident addresses.
• Whether VIA’s bus stop shade locations correlate with high ridership. Staff noted this needs further exploration.

Councilmember Mesa González asked about:

• Incorporating heat‑resilient building codes (e.g., reflective roofs). Staff said they are reviewing best practices and working with Development Services.
• Potential for solar‑powered fans at bus stops, as piloted by Houston Metro. Staff indicated they are piloting shade designs but not fans.
• Engaging churches and other faith‑based organizations as cooling centers. Staff confirmed an existing network of nonprofits and businesses that can be expanded.

SA Kids Breathe Asthma Program Update

Mother White, Assistant Director of Metro Health, presented the update. Key points:

• SA Kids Breathe is a chronic disease management program for children with asthma. It began in 2018 after three local asthma‑related deaths.
• Annual budget is $827,700 (16% of chronic disease portfolio). Program services are free to participants.
• Eligibility: children aged 3–17 living in Bexar County with one of five criteria (e.g., recent hospitalization, two ER visits, or missing 10% of school days).
• 85% of referrals come from clinical sources; 15% from schools. In 2025, the program served 1 child; as of April 22, 2026, 16 children have been served this year.
• The program provides home visits by community health workers, education on inhaler technique (80% of users use inhalers incorrectly), and connections to social services.
• Outcomes: Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores improved from a baseline of 15.7 (poor control) at enrollment to 24.2 at 12 months, with 80–90% of participants achieving good control.
• Hospitalization rates for asthma in Bexar County remain nearly double the state average (14.7 per 100,000 vs. state).
• Next steps: hire a full‑time position, expand tobacco cessation referrals, and continue partnerships with South Texas Asthma Coalition, UT Health, University Health, and others.
• A success story was shared of a teen girl whose ACT score rose from 10 to 24–25 after two years in the program; she now sings in choir and attends school regularly.

Councilmember Alderete Gabito emphasized the importance of addressing root causes and ensuring access to medications and healthy homes.

Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Update

Grand Dallason, Natural Resources Manager for Parks and Recreation, presented the update. Key points:

• The program began in 2000 with a $25 million bond (Proposition 3), later expanded to $90 million (2010, 2015), and most recently $100 million over 10 years from sales tax revenue (approved by council in 2025).
• The Edwards Aquifer supplies 50% of San Antonio’s drinking water. It is a karst aquifer that recharges quickly after rain (water levels rose 10 feet in the past four weeks).
• Protection focuses on the recharge zone in Bexar, Medina, and Uvalde counties. Water flows west to east.
• Total protected acreage: 188,900 acres, mostly through conservation easements. The program has been nationally and internationally recognized.
• Land acquisition is based on scientific criteria (e.g., adjacency to protected land, geological evaluation). The process involves the Conservation Advisory Board and final City Council approval.
• $10 million of the $100 million was set aside for water quality improvement projects in partnership with the San Antonio River Authority.
• Councilmember White expressed strong support, calling it a generational investment in the community’s health and water security.
• Councilmember Mesa González asked about the funding timeline (the $100 million was approved only a year ago). She also inquired about focusing on Bexar County, where land is more expensive; staff confirmed they continuously evaluate properties there.

Key Outcomes

• Committee unanimously approved the minutes.
• All three presentations were informational; no formal votes were taken on the updates.
• Councilmembers directed staff to:
  • Provide a progress report on VIA bus stop shade structures at the Transportation Committee.
  • Explore expanding the tree‑planting target to 800 trees.
  • Continue refining the heat‑related illness dashboard for geographic analysis.
  • Report back on cost estimates for adding shade structures across all districts.
  • Include more details on cool roof implementation and church partnerships in future updates.
• Strong support was voiced for continuing the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program and expanding its reach.