REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2026, AT 2:30 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARD & COMMISSION ROOM, ROOM 1101 301 W. 2nd STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by remotely, contact Daniela Romero, daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS: Cara Dahlhausen, Chair Jawad Ali Martha Lujan William Rice Jacob Whitty EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Adrienne Sturrup, Director, Austin Public Health Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Ana Almaguel, Division Director, Travis County Health & Human Services Perla Cavazos, Deputy Administrator, Central Health AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Health Commission Regular Meeting on June 3rd, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. Conduct officer election for Chair and Vice Chair. Approve the 2027 annual schedule of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission. Discuss and approve draft recommendation “Sexual Health Funding” created by Commissioner Jacob Whitty. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please contact Daniela Romero at Austin Public Health, at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov, or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Public Health Commission, please contact Daniela Romero at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Recommendation Number: [20260902-004]: Sexual Health Funding Preservation Date of Approval: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 Recommendation: This recommendation seeks to stabilize long-term funding sources to address sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the Austin/Travis County area through prevention, testing, linkage to care, treatment, retention, and supportive services. This recommendation directly addresses priorities outlined by Austin/Travis County as a Fast-Track City to end urban HIV epidemics, including goals to reach 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% are on treatment, and 95% maintain viral suppression by 2030. Description of Recommendation to Council: WHEREAS gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV infections are reportable conditions to Austin Public Health (APH), WHEREAS APH provides core public health services not covered by other STI/HIV service providers, WHEREAS there is an overburdened demand for STI/HIV testing and treatment in Austin/Travis County for local service providers, WHEREAS trends for congenital syphilis cases have increased across Texas, leading to preventable infant illness and death, WHEREAS incidence rates for HIV are higher in Texas than the national average, WHEREAS gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis co-infections are more common in people living with HIV and those at highest risk of acquiring HIV, WHEREAS STI/HIV incidence rates are consistently higher in Black and Hispanic people compared with White people, WHEREAS STI/HIV incidence rates are higher in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people compared with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, WHEREAS investing in STI/HIV prevention efforts is more cost-effective than treatment, WHEREAS preventing one new HIV infection yields an estimated $300,000+ cost saved for lifetime medical costs, WHEREAS APH’s funding for STI/HIV programs is largely grant-reliant, and Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)/Public Health Follow-up (PHFU) and HIV Surveillance are completely reliant on grant funding, WHEREAS Austin Public Health performs DIS/PHFU Surveillance for all of Travis County, WHEREAS federal budget negotiations demonstrate a shift in funding priorities and potential loss of STI/HIV funding, WHEREAS federal directives have threatened or already removed targeted approaches that serve people most disproportionately impacted by HIV, WHEREAS STI/HIV community partners are experiencing financial setbacks due to loss of funding and changing federal initiatives, WHEREAS vulnerable populations are at-risk for worse health outcomes with loss of funding, WHEREAS loss of grant funding for DIS/PHFU and HIV Surveillance would affect partner investigations, handling outbreaks, and community health data, WHEREAS any reduction to STI/HIV funding …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Recommendation Number: [20260902-004]: Sexual Health Funding Preservation Date of Approval: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 Recommendation: This recommendation seeks to stabilize long-term funding sources to address sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the Austin/Travis County area through prevention, testing, linkage to care, treatment, retention, and supportive services. This recommendation directly addresses priorities outlined by Austin/Travis County as a Fast-Track City to end urban HIV epidemics, including goals to reach 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% are on treatment, and 95% maintain viral suppression by 2030. Description of Recommendation to Council: WHEREAS gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV infections are reportable conditions to Austin Public Health (APH), WHEREAS APH provides core public health services not covered by other STI/HIV service providers, WHEREAS there is an overburdened demand for STI/HIV testing and treatment in Austin/Travis County for local service providers, WHEREAS trends for congenital syphilis cases have increased across Texas, leading to preventable infant illness and death, WHEREAS incidence rates for HIV are higher in Texas than the national average, WHEREAS gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis co-infections are more common in people living with HIV and those at highest risk of acquiring HIV, WHEREAS STI/HIV incidence rates are consistently higher in Black and Hispanic people compared with White people, WHEREAS STI/HIV incidence rates are higher in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people compared with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, WHEREAS investing in STI/HIV prevention efforts is more cost-effective than treatment, WHEREAS preventing one new HIV infection yields an estimated $300,000+ cost saved for lifetime medical costs, WHEREAS APH’s funding for STI/HIV programs is largely grant-reliant, and Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)/Public Health Follow-up (PHFU) and HIV Surveillance are completely reliant on grant funding, WHEREAS Austin Public Health performs DIS/PHFU Surveillance for all of Travis County, WHEREAS federal budget negotiations demonstrate a shift in funding priorities and potential loss of STI/HIV funding, WHEREAS federal directives have threatened or already removed targeted approaches that serve people most disproportionately impacted by HIV, WHEREAS STI/HIV community partners are experiencing financial setbacks due to loss of funding and changing federal initiatives, WHEREAS vulnerable populations are at-risk for worse health outcomes with loss of funding, WHEREAS loss of grant funding for DIS/PHFU and HIV Surveillance would affect partner investigations, handling outbreaks, and community health data, WHEREAS any reduction to STI/HIV funding …
AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION APPROVED 2027 REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE AUSTIN CITY HALL – BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM AUSTIN, TEXAS Month January February March April May June August September October November December Day/Date Wednesday, 6th Wednesday, 3rd Wednesday, 3rd Wednesday, 7th Wednesday, 5th Wednesday, 2nd Wednesday, 4th Wednesday, 1st Wednesday, 6th Wednesday, 3rd Wednesday, 1st Time 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:30 PM
