Social Services and Public Safety Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services and Public Safety Committee met on June 3, 2025, at 1:00 P.M., with Jennifer Reynolds presiding. The meeting included five agenda items covering a range of social services topics. The committee took 1 vote during the session, approving the April 15, 2025 Committee Summary. Three informational presentations were given, covering updates on Substance Use Disorder Intervention, the EmPATH Center, and the Hope Center Expansion Project, along with a review of items referred to the committee. No public comments were heard during the meeting.

Attendance

The following 14 members were present at the June 3, 2025 Committee meeting:

• Jennifer Reynolds
• Dan Wu
• Chuck Ellinger II
• Tyler Morton
• Shayla Lynch
• Denise Gray
• Joseph Hale
• Amy Beasley
• Whitney Elliott Baxter
• Hilary Boone
• James Brown
• Emma Curtis
• Liz Sheehan
• Dave Sevigny

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took one formal vote during the June 3, 2025 meeting.

• Approval of April 15, 2025 Committee Summary 4:45: Whitney Elliott Baxter moved to approve the April 15, 2025 Committee Summary, with Tyler Morton providing the second. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote was recorded.

Approval of April 15, 2025 Committee Summary

4:45

The committee took up the approval of the summary from its April 15, 2025 meeting. Jennifer Reynolds led the discussion on this agenda item. No significant concerns or debate were noted regarding the contents of the prior meeting's summary, and the committee moved forward with its consideration.

The April 15, 2025 Committee Summary was approved.

Substance Use Disorder Intervention Update

5:15

Carmen Combs Marks presented an update on the Substance Use Disorder Intervention Program to the Committee. The presentation covered the program's funding sources, goals, and recent achievements.

No additional details regarding specific funding amounts, program metrics, or particular achievements were included in the available record of this agenda item. The item was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken by the Committee.

EmPATH Center Update

28:29

Dr. Lindsey Jasinski and Dr. Marc Woods presented an update on the EmPATH Center, describing its role as a mental health emergency room. The presentation covered the center's operations, outcomes, and future plans.

No additional details regarding specific statistics, concerns raised, or debate among committee members are available from the provided data. The item was informational in nature, with no vote or formal action taken.

Hope Center Expansion Project Update

1:01:49

Jeff Crook presented an update on the Hope Center's expansion project during this agenda item. The presentation covered details about the building's features, the funding sources supporting the project, and the impact of a recent setback caused by a burst pipe.

The burst pipe has resulted in a delay to the project's timeline, though specific details about the extent of the delay or associated costs were not captured in the available summary data. Crook outlined the features of the expanded facility as part of the update, along with information on how the project is being funded.

The item was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken by the Committee as a result of the presentation.

Items Referred to Committee

1:28:47

The committee reviewed the status of various items that had been referred to them for consideration. Jennifer Reynolds led the discussion, during which the committee assessed which referred items should remain on the agenda for future action and which could be removed.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational, with the committee making determinations on the disposition of the referred items rather than taking any formal votes or actions at this time.