[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6646154,"mediaKeyId","3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10","parentId",3395523,"title","San Antonio updates SA Climate Ready plan: municipal solar projects moving, community funds and neighborhood pilots emphasized","audioSeconds",1637,"startMs",3110520,"endMs",4747744,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10&start=3110&end=4747","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10/thumbnail_3110520.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646154/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-updates-SA-Climate-Ready-plan-municipal-solar-projects-moving-community-funds-and-neighborhood-pilots-emphasized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646154-33a60fc479216eefe82dd52ec5c4617a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202888&Signature=QugIMsDaVALawkS0wPRd~G1MOUt~Qjq2vIQdj~JKJZFM4x0vsv7SopmrDn6gDRvxrE1j7B6UY9Oe-v8xIVnQ8Z1sI~AuQmKWkAm9qmzPmA-sVEP34OqQwJrVl3~Ldbi3jab-zkwgMLzeZj-qmOfrgTtV9c32Rwffv98AzPnqCX0LyEA9bIMzYbOMTUtSutCU9i-hlKWdv9lyHGyGpia-gy4h9Nlbcl6ZaJiP5634ymnu3WegVImyX-B2LJ-GRhS10nAGo0CZwjBvR4OzJCkns1fT8u4cUIB4Wwgm3RiuVm-C3Cz~t4-sYtWU4EdKEqZwpleHsynL7aPTmYC6D1nGxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","Doug Melanch, San Antonio’s sustainability officer, presented an update of the SA Climate Ready plan and related resilience programs to the Community Health Committee on May 19. Melanch said the city is updating the 2019 plan with science-based targets, prioritized implementation strategies and new data-visualization tools to translate emissions and impact scenarios into actionable milestones.

Melanch reviewed municipal on-site solar activity: council approved up to 13 megawatts of rooftop and carport solar in November 2023 with an estimated cost cited in the presentation; the program has completed projects producing just over 4.1 megawatts, has two projects under construction and has authorized additional work that would bring the total near 8 megawatts in the near term. The presentation said the full 13-megawatt program could yield an estimated $1.8 million in annual energy savings and offset roughly 11% of the city’s electricity usage under the assumptions shown.

Melanch described a Community Action Fund built from lessons learned in EcoScholars and other efforts. The fund includes a $2.5 million business grant program, a $2.0 million neighborhood and community grant program (individual awards up to $15,000–$20,000) and an ongoing $125,000 microgrant program to support local outreach and communications. Melanch said staff will release a midyear report on how these community grants are performing and will pursue partnerships and philanthropic matches to sustain funding where possible.

The Climate Ready Neighborhoods Network was presented as a capacity-building initiative that convenes community- and faith-based organizations to become local points of distribution, communications and coordination for resilience. Melanch said the program provides convening, microgrants and field guides and focuses on buildings and landscapes, programs and services, connectivity and access, and power and operations.

Melanch also summarized a Low-Income Community Resilience pilot in South San and Quintana funded at $825,000 that identified extreme heat as a priority vulnerability. The city used consultant support and community convening to prioritize residential weatherization and cooling, cooling-recreation features and creation of a local cooling committee; Melanch said about $100,000 was used for consultants in FY24 and roughly $450,000-committed so far in FY25 for projects and implementation steps.

Finally Melanch described an e-bike rebate pilot aimed at income-qualified residents. The presentation said the pilot planned up to 1,000 vouchers, attracted 616 applications, and will require participants to complete a bike-skills class and allow anonymized usage tracking through a National Renewable Energy Laboratory smartphone tool to measure trip displacement and frequency. Melanch said the first disbursements will begin the week following the presentation, and staff will report usage outcomes to inform any future scaling decisions.

Council members asked about community engagement in the SA Climate Ready update, how to translate greenhouse-gas targets into clear metrics, the lifespan and maintenance of solar panels, the status of cool-pavement installs and the portion of the Low-Income pilot already committed. Melanch said the city will use ICLEI’s ClimateView/Clearview data-visualization tools to run scenarios and align strategy with measurable short- and mid-term milestones, and staff are convening subcommittees and community stakeholders to accelerate the plan update.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Community Health Committee May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The city reported progress on municipal on-site solar and several community resilience initiatives including a $1 million school grant lesson learned, a Community Action Fund of neighborhood/business grants, a Low-Income Community Resilience pilot, the Climate Ready Neighborhoods Network, and an e-bike rebate pilot with hundreds of applicants.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646159,"EcoScholars: San Antonio’s $1 million school grants finish with 100 schools funded, 109 projects reported",637,1862045,2499555,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10&start=1862&end=2499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10/thumbnail_1862045.jpg","/articles/6646159/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/EcoScholars-San-Antonios-1-million-school-grants-finish-with-100-schools-funded-109-projects-reported","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646159-c2af5437d5cb429ad3d43a9f5dc21281/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202888&Signature=TYI9VHdQNRKH-ZZyoaHbeICTG7I4GhnkIYgd4NfG5SIx8cypD9-OUCU88TW061CWKPwRf8yto5FVh4R0bFwnoMeliTswg1fNEzf1ErbxS7HgSHmYrJGwwVoqYpPSgasrv0p5e9SWDUrwkKgcYj-SxVGdfj2rNGjGFCZ0jmKC0vTy8EW4PPoWod~RE~O9Eu6B6aN7~2VBtmNxxyrqipybQ0dt24jhWx2XWmDnOh5JnSmPhT0OGLoHxHqqLVK082haalTWCHnX1yWJzu9NNhR2EyRvRV-dqZMnbUd6XxjV9DTmvWx4lURBnqBwTlJK7no0it5iV~Qo3gRlZsRFtSnHPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Josephine Valencia, director of Solid Waste, presented the conclusion of the EcoScholars grant program to the Community Health Committee on May 19 and said the city made $1 million available in grants to local schools for projects supporting the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

Valencia said Solid Waste designed the program after researching peer programs, consulting teachers and simplifying the application to reduce barriers. Grants were teacher-initiated but awards were issued to school districts with principal approval; the program provided half the award up front as seed funding and released the remainder when projects were substantially complete.

Valencia reported that 100 schools received grant awards covering 109 projects and that the program distributed about $907,000 of the $1,000,000 budget. She said 109 projects were substantially complete; the remaining funds and incomplete projects were mostly affected by school consolidations, closures, teacher retirements and reassignments that interrupted implementation.

Projects spanned food gardens, composting, recycling programs, curriculum purchases in English and Spanish, CO2 sensors and infrastructure improvements such as water cisterns, low-flow toilets and water-filling stations. Valencia said seven schools installed low-cost CO2 sensors designed to contribute data to a national air-quality network and several schools purchased solar- or hydroponic-garden systems and small livestock for educational programs.

Council members praised the program’s simple application, seed-payment structure and city staff support during implementation. Valencia said Solid Waste performed outreach through existing school relationships, provided individual application assistance and combined similar projects at a campus to increase completion rates. She said program staff evaluated projects with three panels of city employees organized by grade level (elementary, middle and high school). Valencia concluded that although the program was a one-year effort, many improvements provide lasting benefits to campuses and communities.

Valencia and committee members said the fund did not come from the Solid Waste operating budget; future replenishment would depend on budget priorities. Committee members asked whether staff had surveyed teachers post-award; Valencia said staff did not perform a formal survey but considered doing so for future iterations.","Solid Waste presented results from the EcoScholars grant program: 100 schools received awards for 109 projects totaling $1,000,000; $907,000 was distributed and 109 projects were substantially complete. The program emphasized simple applications, seed funding and educational outcomes tied to the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646162,"San Antonio outlines opioid settlement spending plan; city, county coordinate on Narcan, harm reduction and youth prevention",507,59890,567395,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10&start=59&end=567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395523-6ffd2dcd873a692d2e03537901845a10/thumbnail_59890.jpg","/articles/6646162/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-outlines-opioid-settlement-spending-plan-city-county-coordinate-on-Narcan-harm-reduction-and-youth-prevention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646162-cf82a37cbbd204d0e0f20a6b473564ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202888&Signature=jTj1IJMdUfVmCDC2mWSJvlBfP2V47rGS-IIA~sG7TrbeMA7FW279A6xCWCDIQEEBIEYBJ1WoG~1PS2-CoE8ugjF5YrY0OxlWd43schThs1AMLBEd7LN3twZ-GbB4Yb4G1kVHNZsds4pXYDTZk4y541SnH3iaKzhXPhkiCSK5cuvyO7b7JtRejQlXtk75363X2GQLaVL0u5AxQzgZKS6UQJJgH8ttNOWkTW-rdd22GpjXsNOvmK7~Lm~QRRqKe0jZBLZsYTGs11GDXwumR3UO8Dx~ExpR9nZHvPMndRnpQjkpMuI~BTApQccbctVmuCGy-3FPPATsTNUHd8R7FK-3Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jesse Higgins, chief mental health officer for Metro Health, told the San Antonio Community Health Committee on May 19 that national and local fatal overdose data show declines into 2024 while local stimulant-related deaths remain a concern. Higgins said the city is using an evidence-informed framework—prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery—to develop spending recommendations for opioid settlement funds and will present a spending plan to City Council for approval.

Higgins said Centers for Disease Control data included in the presentation show a continuing decrease in fatal overdoses nationally into 2024, while Bexar County’s stimulant (primarily methamphetamine) overdose deaths outpace state and national levels. She also cited the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s 2023 report showing that polysubstance use is common and that stimulants and opioids both pose local threats.

The presentation summarized the legal and funding context for settlement dollars. Higgins said the state has secured settlement payments and that a portion will be passed through to local governments; the city has been allocated funds from lawsuits it joined directly and has received an initial payment to date. Higgins noted the city is bound by settlement spending restrictions and is creating policy and budget recommendations mapped to the four-part framework.

Planned and existing uses described by Higgins include: an outreach-based medication-assisted-treatment expansion for people experiencing homelessness coordinated by the Department of Human Services; an RFP to procure and package Narcan (naloxone) kits and related training; an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Bexar County supplying harm-reduction supplies (needles, syringes and related items) for nonprofit distribution; a provider-directed animated storytelling campaign to reduce stigma, particularly addressing pregnant people who use substances; and a centralized substance-use resource portal in the San Antonio Community Resource Directory (SACRED).

Higgins said Metro Health executed a recent contract with a nonprofit to produce substance-use disorder and harm reduction guidelines and that Metro Health will serve as fiscal agent and data partner for some projects. She described a $100,000 contract that Metro Health executed with a nonprofit to develop guidelines and an ILA with Bexar County that the county matched, enabling distribution of harm-reduction supplies into the community.

Committee members asked how prevention programs would look, how Metro Health will measure outcomes and whether Narcan distribution will reach encampments, shelters and college campuses. Higgins said prevention work is in early design and described a proposed youth prevention effort that could include an evidence-based curriculum or gap analysis; she said distribution of Narcan kits will be organized through an RFP and that some outreach partners already conduct Narcan training during encampment outreach. Higgins described tracking measures tied to harm-reduction work—syringes returned, repeat clients, and surveys tied to vending-machine-distributed Narcan kits—but said nonfatal overdose tracking remains limited in local data systems.

The presentation stressed coordination with Bexar County, which Higgins said is distributing a larger pool of settlement funds and has adopted a similar resolution declaring overdoses a public health crisis. Committee members encouraged continued coordination with county jail reentry programs and outreach efforts near the county jail and shelters. Higgins said the next step is a formal spend plan to bring to City Council.

Notes and clarifications: presentation materials cited national CDC data and the Bexar County Medical Examiner 2023 report; several numeric figures given on funding in the presentation were not specified with units in the transcript and are recorded here as stated by the presenter rather than converted.","City health officials presented data showing recent declines in fatal overdoses and described planned uses of opioid settlement money including Narcan distribution, harm reduction supplies via the county, youth prevention pilots and expanded medication-assisted treatment for people experiencing homelessness.","actionData","errors"]

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San Antonio updates SA Climate Ready plan: municipal solar projects moving, community funds and neighborhood pilots emphasized

EcoScholars: San Antonio’s $1 million school grants finish with 100 schools funded, 109 projects reported

San Antonio outlines opioid settlement spending plan; city, county coordinate on Narcan, harm reduction and youth prevention