Common Council - Regular Meeting

Got it. All right. Now, we'll start off with a prayer and then the pledge afterwards. Let's pray.

Our fathers, as we come before you today, we thank you for just giving us the grace to meet today. We pray for the council. We ask that you would give them wisdom, discernment, humility, and just uh uh what a blessing to have uh these uh individuals, men and women uh serving uh this community. So we pray for Marian, and we ask Lord that you would bless Marian, that you would uh give uh good uh wisdom uh to all the discernment tonight. We pray for uh those who are sick. I know Sheriff Garcia is sick. We pray for him and those others that have this flu bug tonight. and we ask that you would bless them and uh bless the proceedings. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Jason.

Everybody face the flag, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Kane here. Reyes here. Ford ice here. Brunner here. Klein Marshall Whitten here. Divine here. Calgill

here. Um, okay. Next is uh we have the recognition recognition spotlight and er uh vice president Erica Divine set this one up here. So, I'm going to let you take this over. Very proud to u give awards to some very talented young ladies and gentlemen tonight. Toshima, would you like to bring up your students?

Yep. All the way up. Yes, I will actually turn it to you to discuss uh the awards and the students and

do you guys want to talk? No. Okay. I am Tashima Davis. I am currently the art teacher at McCulla Junior High and these are some outstanding eighth graders that I've had the pleasure of pushing and pressuring and really annoying uh this school year but it paid off. So we uh participated in the art and scholastics um competition which happens for our region in Fort Wayne at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and during that competition is from like thousands of kids apply and only hundreds make it and you are looking at some who made it and not only did they make it but they received awards. It is a big deal and a big honor although we are not sports this is like our you know NBA of the arts. So it is a huge deal which I express to them quite often that this is something that you will continue to do in your art career and we should make a big deal out of it because it's a big deal. Um there are gold a gold key, a silver key and an honorable mention. An honorable mention is just like a great award because some kids aren't even mentioned you know they don't even make it into uh the competition. Um, and then from the gold and silver that those two go on to national awards and we did have a national winner. Uh, it was Tula Gibson who's couldn't be here tonight because she's doing Spongebob rehearsal for CSA, but humongous deal. So, her work goes to New York and it's just a big deal for those of us here in Marian, Indiana. So, I just wanted to give you a brief little oversight of that. Please come to the art show, the end of the year art show May 17th and May 16th and you'll see their works and the works that uh received recognition from Scholastics. Is that enough for you? Let me talk some more introduce the ones that are here.

Yes, I can do that. Yes. I don't want to say the real thing, so let's take a picture. Okay, let's see. Nia Cruz here received two awards. She got a gold for a drawing that she did of my Say it for me. How do you say it? Do you remember? Okay. Your grandmother. Okay. It's for her grandmother or it was about her grandmother. And in this piece I I'm so proud. So I'm going talk about it for a little bit. So this piece she did of um tribute for her grandmother who came from

Mexico. came from Mexico in the back of a truck. And instead of showing that um scene in particular, she chose a rose, which is her grandmother's favorite flower. And she put it in the rear like rearview mirror or the side mirror. So you can see that it's a truck, but it's not a truck. You can tell that it's about something. And then also the Mexican flag was also on there. So it's pretty deep stuff for an eighth grader. That's what she got a gold for. She also placed an honorable mention for a tiger that she that she did which you'll see at the art show when you come. And then we have Elena. Raise your hand. Jackson, she received I can't find it now. Did you receive a go? You got a go. Okay. I don't see it on my list, but she received a gold key again. The highest key. and she did a painting which was some pretty deep thought into her painting. She has these floating eyeballs and then this bride and some really deep thinking for kids this age and phenomenal. So you'll see it when you come to the art show. And then we have SA. SA also did a um a tiger and hers was an honorable mention which again is a huge um accomplishment because not all kids even make it into the show. So, these girls work was showcased for a month or so. Fort Wayne Museum of Art, um, Big Deal, newspapers, all the things. And I'm very, very proud of them. I'm sad to see them go this year, but I know they're going to continue to do great things because I'm going to keep the pressure on them while they're at the high school. So, but these are great kids that I had this year.

May I ask a question? You mentioned the art show. Where is it at and what time? Perfect. Thank you. It is at Marian High School. Okay. Friday from something until 6:00 p.m. the doors will open throughout the day because the high school art teachers there will have it open. And then Saturday is from 11 to 5:00 p.m. and then the band concert and a lot of great things. So, not just the visual arts, but also the performing arts. Okay. Awesome. Thank you.

Welcome. Thanks for asking. And then we uh on behalf of the city council, we got certificates for each one of your students so that they could put in a frame and and have the acknowledgement to where we spotlighted them for their artistic ability. And man, congratulations, girls. I mean, that that's amazing. Seriously,

are you missing? Well, if we're missing one, tell me. We'll get it. Okay. Yes, I'll get it. Okay. Yeah. Marty, you want to Who we missing hers?

We'll get you. We'll have to give her one to hold up in a picture. Oh, you want to use your camera? Is that what you want? Or you want to use mine? We can use mine if you want. Yep. You want to hold

at least. Good job, ladies. Very good. Congratulations. Good job. Thank you.

Thank you. I wanted to say I just think that we spotlight so many of the athletes, but I think it's important to make sure that we're also doing the arts, especially with the designation that we're trying to do with having the um the arts district district. Thank you. In the downtown area as well. So very special for these girls and and all your art students. Thank you.

I agree. And man, to have the artistic ability. I have zero. So I have a lot of respect for that. Okay. The next thing up on the uh agenda is the be the consent agenda. Is there any discussion on this? If not, I will entertain a motion. Mr. President, I move that we accept. Second. Okay. I have a motion by Councilman Kaine, a uh second by Councilwoman Divine. Roll call, please. Kane I Reyes I Fordise I Brunner I Whitten yes Divine yes

Calgill

I uh next committee reports any committee reports we had a uh park board meeting earlier this week and just wanted to kind of update you because uh in the month of May now We're getting closer and closer to summer. Um quite interesting that the Ballard Field uh is about 80% uh completed. Uh also want to let you know that um the dog park uh is 99% complete. Um I think it's called Wiggly Field. Um also, um the Ballard field, uh that they're uh trying to update is 80% uh completed and will be probably done before we get to summer. So, just wanted to let you know that there's some exciting things going down right down uh from where we're at. So, uh, again, uh, congratulations to the park board for getting things done in a big hurry.

I agree. Anybody else?

Um, the board of works met Monday. What day am I on? Wednesday. Monday. So, two days ago, um they did a life-saving award, which is the first time they've ever done a medal for that, uh for officer Anthony McClung regarding, um a lifesaving effort he made, uh while off duty, um for an individual who was, uh choking. And so, they wanted to recognize him and give him that um that life-saving award. I think moving towards doing that more often for the officers. Um, and then the Marian Police Department also did swearins of four new officers, uh, Jeff Wallace, Aaron Shipley, Gio Giovani Cruz, and Austin Castillo. And so they welcomed them to the force as well. And that was it for that border works meeting.

Okay. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. Uh we'll go ahead and move on to unfinished business. Uh we'll go into additional appropriation 62026. This is a second reading public hearing. An additional appropriation appropriating $18,168.58 to miscellaneous contractual services. speaking city administration.

Welcome, Ken. Uh, good evening. Uh, Kenan Dav, COO for the city of Marion. Um, I am not supposed to be I wasn't scheduled to speak on this, but um, the mayor is not was not able to make it tonight and he asked me to give as much information as I know. So, uh I recently Creed um decided to dissolve itself and um Creed is a earlier development from the 2000s um that uh early 2000s. They closed around 2013 and there's some remaining funds. So, the board um has decided and voted that those remaining funds be given to the riverfront development. So, uh that's all the information that I can give you at this time. Yeah, they and on the the first reading um when they dissolve themselves, they asked that we honor their wishes in giving their remainder of their money to the riverfront as well. Any questions from any council members? If not, I will open this up to the public. You will have three minutes to speak uh either for or against this. Uh, when you come up to the microphone, state your name and your address and we'll get you on the clock. Don't see anybody. Okay, I'll go ahead and close the public portion of that. Um, if there's no other questions from any of the council members after this, uh, I'll entertain a motion.

Mr. President, I move that we suspend the rules on additional appropriation number 6, 2026. Second. Okay, we have uh appropriation by Councilman Kaine, a second by Councilwoman Divine on suspending the rules. Roll call, please. Kane, I. Reyes, I. For Ice, I. Brunner. I Whitten. Uh, yes. Divine. Yes. Calgill. I. I'll entertain a motion at this time to pass.

Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number 6, 2026. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Councilman Kaine, a second by Councilman Whitten. Roll call, please. Kane, I. Reyes. I. For ice. Hi Brunner. Hi Whitten. Yes, Divine. Yes, Calgill. Hi. Okay, we'll move on to new business. Uh we have an additional appropriation 72026.

An additional appropriation appropriating $30,000 for opioid settlement unrestricted. Speaking Dr. Jada Montero, welcome Jada. Hi.

Okay, sorry. First time. Um, hi, I'm Dr. Jada Montero and um, for the last year I have been serving as a contracted consultant um, for the opioid settlement fund. Um, so the additional appropriation for today is the ask for a renewal of my contract. um that expires in June. Um it is from the unrestricted opioid settlement fund account. It is allowable under exhibit E um under sections J for leadership planning coordination um K um in training and L and research. Um to be able just to talk a little bit because I don't report to you all on the daily basis um about where we are in the process. Um the guidelines for spending the opioid settlement funds are have been pretty simple. Um so conduct a local needs assessment which I've completed um and disseminated to our city administration as well as to the council um to assemble an advisory committee um and then to save lives. That's the gist of the state guidelines and what's been given to us. Um so for that purpose um outside of working on the recommendations made in my assessment I have collaborated and partnered with Marian Community Schools um to create what we are calling the giant mind safe choices program. It is to implement prevention programming for our students from grades 5 through 12. Um I created the program and wrote the grant to get the funding to match it during my tenure. Um, I also created the one Marian giant care program and wrote the grant through the criminal justice institute program which is a behavioral health intervention program for our Marian community schools system as well and we are awaiting award notification for that. Um, in the process of meeting

with our advisory committee and also in conducting the community needs assessment, I was able to create, administer and evaluate three, four, sorry, four different surveys. One that went to the general public, one that went to our public safety officials, um, and then one that went to our students in Marian Community Schools, and then also through to our parents in Marian Community Schools to help us to identify the needs. Um, I conducted several one-on-one meetings and interviews as well as a review of current data and literature about what this epidemic is meaning for us now. as well as just reviewing um proposals, communicating with stakeholders and ensuring that we are doing everything within the state guidelines to um remain um in line with their expectations and also um funneling whatever additional settlements that are coming through the state, ensuring that Marian is being a part of them. Um, so I've done quite a bit of work in the last year. Um, and this appropriation is to ask for me to continue that work for the next year.

Any questions from any council members? Great. Dr. Montero, I've worked with you a little bit on this um just on in various aspects. Can you explain to the council so they know kind of what you know what you're seeing in some of that data so they understand kind of where we're at you know in in the research that you've done and what the plan is going forward to kind of mitigate this opioid crisis that we're that we're seeing. Yes,

it's on. Okay, leave it on. Okay. Um so first things first um something to celebrate is that our um fatal deaths to overdose are down. They've been trending down for the last few years. Um the anomaly of it is we can't figure out why. Um because our treatment structure has not changed over the last few years. Um currently Radiant Health is our only certified addictions provider in Grant County. Um, I've met with Radiant on multiple occasions and they are doing everything that they can to meet the needs here. Um, but they they continue to be just overloaded much like a lot of the health care systems are. Um, so our emergency room visits that include substance use are up. Um the last data that I received from Marian Health in particular was last week and it was 10,000 out of 40,000 ER visits included some type of substance use. So that's 1/4. Um in review of just resource mapping um we had no formal prevention programming happening for our youth which is why I focus there first um because our youth are our future. and also Superintendent Lockwood was very agreeable um to implementing any type of programming to assist as we are having ongoing behavioral issues um with our school that include vaping um as well as we have multiple sober living homes here um or recovery residents depending on what they look like. However, um because they are sober living, um they don't all have to have the same standard of care as you would see in a community mental health center. That is going to change um with House Bill 1296. That'll go in effect in July, which is on my to-do list to figure out

how do we need to implement that at the city level. Um the other thing that really stood out to me was not just expend expanding treatment options for us but also escalating the type of treatment that we have. Um so currently you can receive outpatient treatment. Um there is a possibility for you to have a detox which is a very short-term stay um inatient through radiant but that's it. Um we don't have any longer term inpatient stays. We do not have intens intensive outpatient care which that model is three times a week typically um for treatment. So in my report I mentioned the lack of warm handoffs that happen. So imagine um choosing recovery um going outside of Grant County or Marian to go through detox, have a short stint in rehab and then returning to Marian and not having the appropriate resources for treatment. um there's a lack of warm handoff. Um we also have I think national data says about 80% of our criminal cases typically around 80% of the people in our jail have either a dual diagnosis which is a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder or one or the other. Um and we currently are not having consistent treatment for individuals within our jail. So they're not receiving treatment within our jail. They are then released and then what happens? So there's no warm handoff that's happening. Um so my focus for the next year is ex expanding those treatment options as well as looking at the recovery system and how do we support um especially our sober living homes and how do we standardize the level of care um to the extent that it can be for someone in recovery.

Thank you very much. Yes. Anybody else have any questions? Yeah, I did. You mentioned uh we have a shortfall here and on the warm handoff. Um what would be the plan to do something there and are there any other models in similar size cities that have been successful?

Yeah. Um so there are a couple of options. Um so similar in size. I think Florida County is a little smaller than ours. Um, but they do have something called the LEAD program, which is federally recognized and what it looks like for someone to be involved with the criminal justice system, but then also receive treatment instead of incarceration. Um, so I'm in researching that. Um, I also modeled a program after it's called the heart team in Allen County. Um, which is where there is a response. So, if there's a call from to police and say there's an overdose, say they believe that there's substance use involved or someone is having a severe mental illness crisis, the police can divert to the heart team and the heart team then responds to connect that person with services. Um, I modeled something like that for the city. We're still working on it. Um, it takes um coordination. Um, it takes bodies. Um and then I think also just making sure that when someone is ready to choose recovery um that the option is there right so um if we have our sole addiction provider that is running on over capacity the option that someone's going to be able to go and get what they need at that moment is slim. So, a lot of my work and interviews um meetings had been with the other mental health providers here to say, "How can I motivate you to take this next step into addictions work?" Um because it's I mean, I'm a therapist myself and it's not for the faint of heart. So,

anybody else? Go ahead, Erica. Um, so do you feel like the money that has been given to us in the opioid settlement is a good amount that will help start launching these programs and see them succeed and see them sustainable for for a period of time or is it only a tip of the iceberg and we'll have to be looking for other um financing options or funding?

Yeah. So, I I I think it's um kind of a two-edged a two-edged sword. Um, for instance, I think with this position, I've been able to leverage the funds to ensure that we are bringing in additional, right? So, our our next appropriation is for a match fund, which means it's going to spread the money. I think you also have to look at um the organizations in which we empower, how do they intend to sustain? Um, is there someone in a position that can continue to search for grants and write for grants? because the idea that the money is not there is not completely accurate. Um you just have to be actively looking for it. Um I do think that we are going to be able to have really good options in the prevention, treatment and recovery access for quite a while. Um, and what I'm really happy about is being in this position to make sure that when I'm no longer in this position that these programs will sustain themselves.

Yeah. Go ahead.

One more thing. So, you mentioned you've talked to Radiant, you've you're trying to entice or bring other organizations on board. How many organizations are we talking about in this community that are that you've seen are able to provide a service like this and choose not to because of funds or some whatever their reasoning are? You don't have to give an exact amount but what what are we talking about? Um I I will say it this way. Um the only organization that has agreed to continue planning with me and talking about providing more services is Marian Health. So, we have one, two, three, at least five other organizations that provide mental health services in Marian. Um, and they are not ready um to engage fully yet

because of funding. They're not ready or they're choosing not to be ready.

Um I I think it's probably a mixture of all of all the things, right? So, to be accredited as an addictions provider, there is a process that you have to go through with the state. Um it can be costly. You also have to have the staff that's willing to get credentialed to be able to provide that. Um, Marian Health has been um almost a no-brainer because they are seeing, right, I just gave the stat for the ER, right? So, and they're also seeing a lot of substance use just in their family practice, people coming through um and how do we help in that way? So, I don't know so much that it's a choice not to as much as um getting in a position to be ready on all fronts. So we don't start providing a service and then it fail later on.

Perfect. Thank you. Good. Hi Jada. Hi. I appreciate all the work that you've done on this and and um I know you've done some very hard extensive work on it as far as your research and and the rehabilitation side and the therapy side and we have sat and talked and I expressed my concerns and what I would like to focus on

besides just the rehab and the drug addiction. Um, have have you addressed that any with law enforcement um to where we can give them some additional tools to help cut the head off the snake and get rid of the dealers and and the drugs in the city? I mean, if we address, you know, the addiction and the rehab, I think that's very important and I think you've done a wonderful job on addressing that and going after these additional uh places for rehabilitation. But how about the source of the drugs and and where the people are getting them? If we can I know there's provisions in there for law enforcement that we can appropriate. I know we did appropriate for vehicles and I I appreciate that very much. That's a big assistance to us in our budget. But is there any other additional things and and methods and tools that we can supply law enforcement to stop the drugs and the the dealers that are furnishing the drugs and selling the drugs because if there weren't any drugs in the city and they couldn't buy them, then we wouldn't have this issue unless they, you know, transgraded into the the city or something from other places. But I I was just curious if we could if we could consider eliminating part of the source and helping the law enforcement with some types of method or something with that.

Yeah. So, exhibit E does allow for workforce investment with law enforcement. Um I've actually been in communication with our GAN team um multiple meetings with our GAN team um our Grant County Sheriff's Department as well as our police department to say how can we empower you and what do you need? I'm actively looking for grants to support them in getting additional supplies and training as well as on the on the flip side, what can we use to support them? Um, and how do we do that from the enforcement side? I felt like that was huge. It was one of my first meetings um with the GAN team. Um, they're in a bit of transition right now. Um, just with staffing um it used to be a much larger team, right, the dean team and then um they're moving to a different building or things like that. So, they're in a bit of transition, but I'm in consistent communication with our police department and then also um I've been connected with the Marian Health Police Department as well um just to discuss their needs because they are um they're they're seeing quite a bit and and how to help them. So, yes, that is an ongoing conversation.

Yeah. And I was just I was concerned because, you know, years ago and and the chief and assistant chief can speak to this, we used to have the DARE team. Yeah, if you remember DARE, everybody had DARE stickers on their cars. And we also had a CERT team. Was called Citizens Emergency Response Team. Yes. And they just specifically,

you know, in were involved in neighborhoods in in areas that were ridden with drugs and dealing and stuff like that. Normous Stone was a big advocate on this. I worked I walked many streets with her and lit many tric barrels. She was she was a big advocate on this and I would just like to try to see, you know, a little bit more of that and get some of those programs, not only with the schools. I think it's very important with our our youth to in institute these programs and and get them aware of the bad issues of of drugs. But but dealing with, you know, the root of the cause is, as I discussed with you, if we could cut the head off the snake,

then it wouldn't be slithering around in our community. And I think that that's something that's very important that I'd like to see more of as far as dare something working with our, you know, gene team to maybe help them with anything that they could use in this with this opioid money. I mean, it's it's like a gift,

right? It is. Yeah. Um, DARE for sure. I I even asked when in one of my meetings with Chief Gilbert like what happened to DARE, right? Funding just like kind of everything else. We need all of our law enforcement officers, our public safety officials to be protecting us, right? So, um, DARE was something that we talked about in writing for our prevention grants as well as the CERT team. He let me know exactly about that. Um the goal is is that if we bring someone in um my goal is to find a grant to also assist with their salary, right? Um we don't want to take from what we already have. We want to complement our opioid settlement funds and we want them to stretch, right? Um so as as much as the chief was willing to discuss how do we start this again, it's also how do we pay for it for longevity. Um so that's that's the goal. And just one final question, can you give me the uh um available balance left on the opioid uh uh restricted and unrestricted? I know we were getting dispersements um and we just got one uh here a while back, but I know it was continued on for x amount of years. Yeah.

Pardon me. It's going to be for 15 years. Yeah. Yes. And can you give us a a kind of a a sum of the amount that we're expected to get and be able to disperse? Yes. So, I don't have the exact numbers. I try not to carry that around with me. Um, the last time that I checked the balance of the account. Our restricted fund had a little over 800,000. Um, and our last dispersement was in the $30,000 range. Um, and then our unrestricted prior to our appropriation for the police cars was in the 300 $400,000 range. That was before the police cars. That was before the police cars.

We will continue to get dispersements. Obviously, they're much they're much lower right now. But also, there are additional settlements coming in. There are still drug manufacturers andarmacies that are settling for this lawsuit. One of the settlements that um I had to facilitate signing on to was called the pack uh Packler settlement. Um no one heard about it, right? It's coming, but we just had to fill out a form. I just had to take it to the mayor, but if we didn't fill out the form, then we didn't get to sign on to that. So, it's another thing to just be aware of what's coming in.

Yeah. And I think that's fantastic. And if we could collaborate with, you know, the grants and and like you're doing, uh, like you said, to stretch the money, if we can get collaborating grants, you know, to match and stuff, that'll just make it go a lot further. Yeah. Um, and I appreciate it very much. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? If not, I'll entertain a motion. Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number 7, 2026 to a second reading and public hearing.

Second. Have a a motion by Councilman Kaine and a second by Councilman Brener. Roll call, please. Kain, I. Reyes, I. For ice. Hi. Brunner. I. Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes. Calgill. I Okay. Uh the next on the is the additional appropriation 8206 an additional appropriation appropriating $120,000 for opioid settlement restricted. Speaking Dr. Jada Montero.

Hi, it's me again.

Um, so this ask is for $120,000. Um it is for a state match um fund grant through the department of mental health and addictions um for prevention programming. It would come from the restricted opioid settlement fund and it is allowable under exhibit E4B um support for people in treatment and recovery um C for connections to care and then for prevention of misuse and opioids. Um the funding amount is to match a 2-year grant cycle starting July 1. Um so July 1 of 2026 until June of 2028. The purpose is to implement an evidence-based um curriculum within the classroom um for grades 5 through 12. So we are talking about reaching upwards of 1500 students um every year. And we are also going to implement an evidence-based programming in family workshops called guiding good choices where we would invite parents and families after school to engage in education. Um there is also a component of it's a requirement of the grant that we have professional evaluators um looking at the effectiveness of the programming in the schools. Um, this money funds personnel, the evaluators, the programming supplies and training, and any equipment associated with it.

Oh, and Superintendent Lockwood is here. Can she speak?

Yes. Yes.

Good evening. Um, I'm Dr. Dr. Stephanie Lockwood, superintendent at Marian Community Schools. And um we've worked very closely, I think, over the past few months in developing something. And I've heard you guys ask questions about sustainability. Sustainability is very important to us as a school system. Um we want to I'm excited about the fact of looking at something that we can develop that is more proactive than being reactive to some of the issues that we're dealing with in our community. So, you know, and education is where we need to start at with that, especially with our youngest kids and showing them that there are other options and there are other other ways to deal with stress stressors that we may have in the world. Those are going to happen all the time. So, having something that we're able to build with the city and with Jada and um just building that capacity in our kids, I think will be beneficial as they reach adulthood and become become adult citizens. So, we're we're very excited about the venture. Um we think there is a lot of possibilities. The fact to watch the city and the school come together and work together to to improve our quality of life here has been very important I think to both of us as well. So yeah,

it's been a pleasure working with um it's been a pleasure working with Superintendent Lockwood. Um when this grant came up once again you gota you just got to look for them. Um, I was like, "Oh, wait. We opportunity to stretch our funds." He did meet with me. He did. I I wrote it. Um, because it was like my baby, right? You don't You don't just hand it off when it's like your baby. So, I did write it, but he did meet with me. He gave me great tips. Um, and look, we got awarded. Um, it is the first time the city has received a grant from the Department of Mental Health and Addictions. um when I was meeting with their representatives, they literally said, "You're not a vendor. Wait, Marian's never received funds from us." And I said, "Well, today's the day." So, um we're super excited just about the opportunity. Also, um the the reason that I moved forward with writing the grant for Marian Community Schools was the information that we received um from our surveys that we sent to our students and to our parents, right? Um a lot of it was I get my information about drugs from social media. Um I think that my student needs to be getting this information in school. It also gives them a self place to a safe place to talk. Um also just the promotion of access to mental health treatment as a whole. Um so yeah that's that is our ask.

Yeah this I mean any way we can make our money stretch we have to do. I mean drugs is just a constant issue. It's it's not going away anytime soon. and when it, you know, it's affecting our youth in such a terrible way that we have to keep and Jada, you've worked I I know how hard you've worked and I very much appreciate all your efforts you're doing and and putting into this. So, thank you. Anybody have any questions? Dr. Montero, can you So, you said this is a two-year program. Is that 120,000 each of those years or 60 and 60? It's It's 60 and 60. So our contribution is 120 and then the state is matching.

Yes. So we're talking it'll still be 120 a year or 120 a year with our match and our contribution 240 total but 120 from this

right and it will last us for the next two years. And then obviously the intention is for me to write more grants and to get um sponsorships and um sustainability. That's that's my role here to make sure that um anything that will be funded that needs to be funded will have a plan um at the end of that two-year period. As well as these two um evidence-based curriculums require training, right? So to be able to facilitate it, you have to be trained to do so. Um we implemented we added into our budget to ensure that there was a train the trainer for each curriculum. Um so if we if everyone left one day, that's not going to happen. But if everyone left one day, there's going to be a trainer um that can train more staff to facilitate these things.

And and with that on on the guiding good choices program, is there like for fifth to 8th grade is one curriculum 9th to 12th or what does that look like? And then how like what's the implementation strategy on that? Are we talking one hour a week in health class or what what are we talking about so everybody knows?

So great. Yes. Um so actually so too good for drugs each grade has a different um curriculum so we will purchase that um in in the second year we allotted to like replace some of the books but the goal is for the school to store them. It is um 45 minute sessions once a week for 12 to 16 weeks depending on how it looks right how it spells out and it will be implemented in some type of core class like health or something like that. Um we are meeting to plan next week. Uh we are starting to plan what that looks like next week. Guiding good choices is actually for parents and families. So it's an education um about um recognizing warning signs when it comes to mental health, recognizing um warning signs for substance use, addressing vaping um because that is huge here. Um, and it is a 2-hour program, five sessions per semester, um, for parents after school.

And they choose to sign up for that and such on the parent side, like voluntary or how does that work? It's likely going to be a little bit of both. It's likely going to be a little bit of both. Um, which is why we're we're going to plan, but we wanted to make sure that we had the option. And that's for the 26 27 school year. Yes. Anybody else have any questions? Go ahead. And this might be for Dana. Uh Jada. Um what type of account are we keeping these funds in?

Can you can you answer that for me? I mean, we're talking almost a million dollars. I'm hoping it's it's in a high yield interest bearing account or it will be in a separate fund to keep track of the spending. It's not in a separate fund currently right until we get to So where where is it being kept now? What type of fund is it in right now? Just Okay. Thank you. Anybody else? If not, I'll entertain a motion.

Mr. President, I move that we pass additional appropriation number 8, 2026 to a second reading in public hearing. Second. We have a motion by Councilman Kaine, a second by Councilman Whitten. Roll call, please. Kane, I. Reyes, I. Ford Ice. Hi. Brunner. I Marshall. I Whitten. Yes. Divine. Yes. Calgill. Hi. Thank you. Thank you for everything, Jada,

and for all of you. Okay, that's going to that's it on the agenda tonight. Uh for announcements, our next citywide cleanup will be May the 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in District 2. Uh we'll be the only district that will be allowed to set items at the curb. Everyone else uh will be asked to take your items and drop them off at 520 East 6th Street. You guys, anybody else have any announcements? Go ahead, Jim. I did want to mention that uh during our park board meeting uh Rose let us know that the splash house will be ready to go on the 23rd of May. So we're hoping for wonderful weather that day and and and uh today I think was the first day we didn't have 75 mph winds in the last three months. So uh it was nice to actually have a nice spring day. So, uh, that's a Saturday the 23rd for the splash house opening.

Thank you, Jim. Uh, anybody else have anything else? If not, meetings adjourn.