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>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 2:01 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, JUDGE. TODAY WE HAVE LEADING OUR
[Opening prayer by Richard Hill of The Mission of Yahweh in Houston.]
INVOCATION RICHARD HILL WITH THE MISSION OF YAHWEH. HE IS A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 THERE IN THE SPRING BRANCH AREA. IT IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CARVER DALE. IT IS A FAITH-BASED SHELTER THAT RESTORES THE LIVES OF HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY SINCE 1961. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR ME, JUDGE BECAUSE THAT'S THE YEAR I WAS BORN. PASTOR HILL WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN 2011 AFTER SERVING AT ANOTHER MISSION CALLED THE OPEN DOOR MISSION. HE IS A GRADUATE OF UT AUSTIN AND HAS AN MBA FROM BAYLOR UNIVERSITY. HE HAS BEEN MARRIED FOR 46 YEARS. THIS DECEMBER JANET AND I 39. SO HE HAS A LEG UP ON US A TOUCH. AND THEIR DAUGHTER, COURTNEY FOLLOWS HER PARENTS EXAMPLE BY WORKING AT THE NONPROFIT COVET HOUSE IN TEXAS. PASTOR HILL, WOULD YOU LEAD USIN OUR OPENING INVOCATION? >> YES. LET US PRAY.
FATHER GOD, I WOULD LIKE TO LIFT UP TO YOU TODAY'S SPECIAL SESSION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE ADDRESS IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING HARRIS COUNTY. AND WE PRAY FOR REIS DOM -- WISDOM IN MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING TODAY'S AGENDA ITEMS. PLEASE HELP US WORK TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION IN BLUISH -- IN ACCOMPLISHING YOUR WILL.
WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME. AMEN.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, PASTOR. >> YOU BET.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR. >> YES.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE TWO ITEMS TO TAKE UP TODAY.
THE FIRST IS THE LETTER TO TEXD. ONE IS ON BEHALF OF THE TOLL ROAD AND ONE -- ONE FROM THE
[I. Department(s) (Part 1 of 2)]
TOLL ROAD AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THEN ENGINEERING I THINK IS SUBMITTING ONE AND THEN THE ONE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS, RIGHT LUCINDA, ON THIS ITEM? PERHAPS WE HAVE TO HEAR FROMTHEM. >> YES, MA'AM, WE DO. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND WE CAN DISCUSS IT JUST VERY BRIEFLY. THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE EACH SUBMITTED THEIR LETTER.
IT WAS SENT TO EVERYBODY. ALL OF THE LETTERS WERE SENT TO EVERYBODY ON FRIDAY.
THE COUNTY LETTER WAS BASICALLY A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT FROM MR. SPIELER WHO IS THE HEAD OF PLANNING FOR NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND PLANNING FIRM.
HE IS A RICE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND SERVED ON THE METRO BOARD AND HAD BEEN RETAINED BY HOUSTON TO ANALYZE ALTERNATIVE SUB 45 AND TO HARRIS COUNTY SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF VALUE -- EVALUATING THEN -- THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
THEY PUT TOGETHER A 60 SOME ODD PAGE REPORT. HE REVIEWED IT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REVIEWED IT AND THAT IS THE LETTER THEY RECEIVED FROM MY OFFICE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. AND THEN THE ONES THAT CAME FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, THE DEPARTMENTS DRAFTED THOSE. MR. SPIELER AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAVE REVIEWED THOSE LETTERS. SO, LUCINDA, DO YOU WANT TO CALL UP THE SPEAKERS?
>> YES, MA'AM. AKIA NELSON WITH AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON. AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON IS A RESEARCH-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ADD VAW -- ADVOCATES TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION.
WE BELIEVE WHERE YOU LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY SHOULD NOT DETERMINE YOUR HEALTH.
THERE IS INDICATION THAT A PERSON'S ZIP CODE IS A STRONG PREDICTER OF THEIR HEALTH CODE AND GENETIC CODE. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGE AND GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH WE LIVE, WORK, LEARN AND PLAY SHOULD BE HEALTHY. A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE EPISCOPAL HEALTH FOUNDATION FOUND THE MAJORITY OF TEXANS THINK MEDICAL CARE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE. WE KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ARE VITAL COMPONENTS THAT COMMUNITIES THAT ALLOW FOR THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS IN THE THE EFFICIENT MANNER. THEY AFFECT AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING AND HOUSING, JOBS AND ULTIMATE -- ULTIMATELY PUBLIC HEALTH.
I AM HERE TO REITERATE TEX DOT'S OWN REPORT SAYS 41 SCHOOLS, DAYCARES, HOSPITALS
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AND, PAS WILL BE TRAPPED IN THE AIR POLLUTION ZONE OF THE EXPANDED I-45 PROJECT.DESPITE THE PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS TEXT DOT DOUBLES DOWN ON THEIR ANALYSIS AND FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS. THEIR CLAIMS ARE STILL -- THE AIR QUALITY CLAIMS ARE STILL BASED ON THE REGIONAL ANALYSIS AND DISREGARDING THE LOCALIZED IMPACTS. TEX DOT RELIES ON THE INCREASING FUEL EFFICIENT -- EFFICIENCY. THEY ALL STILL CONTINUE TO DEPOSIT THE LONG-TERM CONGESTION RELIEF. AGAIN ADDING MORE VEHICLES WILL NOT HARM INEQUALITY BECAUSE THEY ASSURED US THEY ARE GOING FASTER. THEY HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED FROM MODERATE NON-PAYMENTS IN THE OZONE. IT IS A POLLUTANT THAT TRIGGERS ASTHMA ATTACKS. THE PROJECT IS OPPOSED TO THE LOCAL PLANS TO DECREASE MILES TRAVELED PER CAP TAU AND MASS TRANSIT RIDERSHIP. IN ADDITION TO WHICH THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE THE NEED FOR CONCRETE -- [INAUDIBLE] WHAT NEIGHBORS ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO BUILD THIS PROJECT. HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY NEEDS TO WORK FOR EVERYONE. EVERY INCOME AND EVERY COLOR AND EVERY FAMILY AND EVERY COMMUNITY AND THAT STARTS WITH ACTIONS THAT REFLECT OUR SHARED HOMES.
THIS PROJECT DOES NOT RESPECT COMMUNITIES AND PER PERPETUATES THE LONG ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE IN OUR REGION. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT TEX DOT HAS A COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT THAT AFFECTS THE METHODOLOGY
AS REQUIRED BY LAW. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> BELINDA EVERETT WITH NAACP HOUSTON. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING MY COMMENTARY THIS AFTERNOON.
I AM BELINDA EVERETT AND I AM THE HOUSING CHAIR FOR THE HOUSING ADVOCACY OF THE NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH. THE NAACP BRANCH IN HOUSTON HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE MEETINGS AND THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE I-45 EXPANSION PROJECT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND TEX DOT ON THE COMPREHENSIVE AND COHESIVE AND SENSITIVE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE EXPANSION.
DURING MY RECENT TESTIMONY TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ADDRESSING DISCRIMINATION IN THE HOUSING SECTOR, IT WAS NOTED THAT HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR MINORITIES RUNS 10 POINTS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, NATIONALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOME OWNERSHIP IS 40%. AND IN HOUSTON IT IS 30.
WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT THAT TEXT DOT -- TEX DOT HAS PROVIDED FOR THIS EXPANSION YOU CAN FIND OVERWELMING OPPORTUNITY TO AFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH JUST SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP.
UNLIKE ANY OTHER URBAN EXPANSION PROJECTS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, SPECIFICALLY IN CHICAGO WITH THE REMOVAL OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE FROM THE CABRINI GREENS OR OTHER HOUSING PROJECTS TO SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES WITH LITTLE OR NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE TEX DOT PLAN NOT ONLY PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH A SUBSTANTIAL CHOICE IN RELOCATION OX -- BUT RELOCATION WITHIN ONE TO TWO MILES OF THE EXISTING COMMUNITIES.
THE NAACP IS THRILLED TO WORK WITH TEX DOT ON THIS PROJECT THAT WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, IT WILL ADDRESS THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO POPULATIONS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE EVER REALIZED IT. THE PROJECT WILL FACILITATE A MODEL FOR GENTRIFICATION THAT INCLUDES AND NOT EXCLUDE THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES FOR A TRUE WIN-WIN RESOLUTION.
THE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES THAT TEX DOT HAS PROVIDED IN THIS PLAN WILL UP LIFT AND HELP THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED FROM THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. THE NAACP IS PROUD TO SUPPORT TEX DOT IN THIS EXPANSION
PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JONATHON BROOKS WITH LINK HOUSTON.
YOU ARE UNMUTED. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COURT. AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. I AM WITH LINK HOUSTON AND WE ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY AND TRANSPORTATION. LIKE THE OTHER SPEAKERS I AM ADDRESSING ITEM NUMBER 1.
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WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK HARRIS COUNTY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH VARIOUS STAFF AND DEPARTMENTS. SPECIFICALLY WE APPRECIATED YOUR SUPPORT IN PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CDRC.THE INFORMATION THAT THE CONSULTANTS PUT TOGETHER WERE VERY INFORMATIVE AND WERE USEFUL FOR US AND WE NEW YORK OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS.
BEING ABLE TO MEANINGFUL COMMENT TO TEX DOT SO THE PROJECT THAT DOES RESULT EVENTUALLY IS A POSITIVE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. WE SUBMITTED OUR OWN COMMENTS YESTERDAY TO TEX DOT AND WE EXPRESSED OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL BY JUDGE HIDALGO FOR THE COUNTY LETTER AND LOOK FORWARD TO EACH OF THE DEPARTMENT'S LETTERS AS WELL AS THE COUNTY STAYING INVOLVED IN THE MOU PROCESS THAT WILL CONTINUE.
A QUICK FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR LETTER TO SHARE WITH EACH OF YOU IS THAT WE DO BELIEVE THERE IS MUCH TO BE DESIRED. AND THERE IS A LOT TO IMPROVE THE PROJECT SO IT IMPROVES LOCALLY, REGIONAL AND HAS FEWER COMMUNITY IMPACTS. AS AN ORGANIZATION WE FOCUSED OUR COMMENTS ON THREE AREAS. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE AND DIS -- AND BUSINESSES, SECOND LOCAL CONNECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WICK -- WALKING, RIDING AND NOISE POLLUTION. THESE ARE THREE AREAS WHERE AS BETTER OF THE I-45 COALITION WE PROVIDE BETTER RELATIONSHIP. WE CONCLUDE OUR LETTER WITH FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I WILL BE BRIEF. WE THINK THERE IS A CASE FOR TEX DOT AND PARTNERS DEVELOPING A NEW PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
IT WILL MINIMIZE DISPLACEMENT AND CAN STILL REALIZE ALL OF THE BENEFITS TEX DOT IS LOOKING FOR IN PURPOSE AND NEED. AND IN THAT NEW ALTERNATIVE, IT WOULD NECESSITATE AND WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM A NEW SUPPLEMENTAL FBIS IN THE FUTURE BEFORE A RECORD OF DECISION WHERE WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY OF THE SEGMENTS. THE LAST THREE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THAT THE COMMUNITY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESS -- ASSESSMENT, THE COMMENTS WERE DRESSED -- WERE ADDRESSED DIFFERENTLY AND IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO UNTSDZ -- TO UNDERSTAND IF THE AGENCY WAS BEING RESPONSIVE. WE EXPECT IT IS IDENTIFIED AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. AND THEY REMOVE ALL OF THE OTHER.
THE DISCUSSION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS WERE NOT PRESENT ANY LONGER AND THEY SHOULD BE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
WE AGAIN EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE JUDGE'S LEAT -- LETTER AND THE OTHER LETTERS.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS PROJECT RIGHT THAT WILL HAVE GENERATIONAL IMPACTS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: IF YOU --
THANK YOU. >> ROGER HAIR -- HARRIS WITH NAACP HOUSTON BRANCH.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS PUT FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY I AM WITH THE NAACP. I CHAIR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF THIS PROJECT.
IT IS ESTIMATED AT $7 MILLION THAT WILL BE SPENT AND WILL CREATE MORE THAN 100,000 CONSTRUCTION-RELATED JOBS. THAT'S AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS FOR OUR AREA.
IT IS AN EXTENDED STIMULUS BECAUSE THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE MORE THAN A DECADE TO COMPLETE AND KEEP A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED. SO THERE IS A BULK OF THE $7 MILLION WILL GO TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS DELIVERING SUPPLIES AND ENGINEERS. ON AND IT IS NOT ONLY -- AND IT IS NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE SECONDARY JOBS THAT WILL BE CREATED AND THE FOOD INDUSTRY.
THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND ALL OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT WILL BE CREATED AS SECONDARY AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT. MANY OF THOSE -- SOME OF THEM ARE DOING SO AND HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHAT COULD BE RELOCATION. 27 BUSINESSES HAVE REQUESTED EARLY ACQUISITION AS WELL AS FOUR CHURCHES HAVE REQUESTED EARLY ACQUISITION THAT
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OTHERWISE THESE BUSINESSES MAY HAVE TO GO UNDER, BUT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE EARLY ACQUISITION AND MOVE FORWARD. IN CLOSING DON'T LET IT GO UNDER.ASK WHAT IT IS LIKE TO PICK UP A LOAD AT POINTS NORTH OF DALLAS.
THAT TRUCKER WILL TELL YOU THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IS GETTING OUT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE DRIVE TIMES GET LONGER AND LONGER EVERY YEAR. TIME IS MONEY AND NAVIGATING I-45 IS TAKING DOLLARS OUT OF THE POCKETS OF TRUCKERS AND MANY OTHERS.
IN MY OPINION THIS PROJECT IS DECADES OVERDUE. FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AND AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY NEEDED TO HAVE THIS PROJECT. THE REAL ESTATE VALUE AS WELL AND THE IMPACT OF THAT WILL BE MORE SALES TAX DOLLARS AND PROPERTY TAXES THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO COLLECT AND THE
COUNTY TOO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> DUNCAN DEETERVILLE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> YES, HELLO AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS THE COURT.
I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON WITH THE PROJECT.
I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE AREA.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BAD THING. TEX DOT IS TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AND MORE IMPORTANT THAN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A SAFER PLACE TO DRIVE.
ON I-45 EVERY TIME YOU GET ON THE ROAD YOU HAVE TO TURN RIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS SOME SORT OF AN ACCIDENT. IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT STOP, I SAY WE DO IT NOW.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING TEX DOT IS TRYING TO DO WITH US AND I AGREE WITH IT.
YOU KNOW THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE CHANCES.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO DO. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GIVE MY COMMENTS.
HAVE A GOOD DAY, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU. RAPHAEL CASTILLO.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RAPHAEL CASTILLO AND I DRIVE I-45 TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY. I DON'T THINK THE ROADWAY IS SAFE. IT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH. EVEN WHEN IT IS BACKED UP IT CAN LEAD TO WRECKS. I SEE IT ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THERE IS HARDLY A SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE. THIS WORRIES ME BECAUSE IF SOMEONE GETS IN TROUBLE THEN THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE A BREAK DOWN OR THEY HAVE TO DRIVE ACROSS US.
EITHER WAY THAT IS NOT GOOD AND THERE IS A LOT OF DEBRIS ON THE ROAD.
IT IS HARD TO GET AROUND. I WOULD LIKE TO RIDE THE BUS IF I COULD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IF APPROVED THERE WOULD BE MORE LANES FOR THE METRO BUSES ON 45 AND THEN MAYBE MORE OF US COULD RIDE THE BUS AND THAT COULD BE GOOD ALSO.
FOR THOSE REASONS I SUPPORT THE I-45 PROJECT AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE SUBJECT,
JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, LUCINDA.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, DO YOU NEED A MOTION?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE THAT WE SEND A LETTER.
IN ONE MOTION? ALL OF THEM? >> LINA HIDALGO: ONE MOTION JUST FOR THE -- AS PRESENTED. YOU KNOW, IT IS FOR APPROVAL. IT IS AN AUTHORIZATION FOR
TOLL ROAD AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
YOU ARE ON MUTE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. NO.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW ABOUT NOW? THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO GET THIS LETTER TOGETHER. IT IS A VERY STRONG STATEMENT TO THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG. IT IS THE POINTS WE HAVE BEEN MAKING AND THE POINTS THAT YOU AND I AND OUR STAFF HAVE EXPRESSED IN MULTIPLE
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DIFFERENT EVENTS. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR HAVING YOUR TEAMWORK ON THIS.IT TOUCHES ALL PARTS OF HARRIS COUNTY, BUT IT IMPACTS THE WARD AND THESE ARE AREA THAT'S WOULD SPECIFICALLY BE IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY THIS PROJECT. WHILE MANY MAY ARGUE THAT THIS IS ABOUT JOBS AND AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT I SUPPORT, WE SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING IMPACTED BY THIS. HOMES AND BUSINESSES WILL BE ELIMINATED. INSIDE OF EACH OF THE 1079 HOMES ARE FAMILIES WHO WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE AREA OR STAY IN THE COMMUNITY.
KIDS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SCHOOLS THEY ARE ENROLLED IN.
THERE ARE 343 BUSINESSES WHO WILL NO LONGER EXIST BECAUSE TEX DOT WANTS TO ADD ADDITIONAL LANES. THEY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR VOICE AND THE DREAMS OF BEING A BUSINESS OWNER. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE ENGINEER'S OFFICE AND THE TOLL ROAD WORKING TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER A RESPONSE TO THE 8,000-PAGE FBIS REPORT.
I WANT TO THANK THE CONSULTANTS, CDRC, TOOL AND TEI.
THEY ALSO HELPED AND DID SOME HEAVY LIFTING IN PUTTING IN THE RESPONSE TOGETHER AND HELPING TO ANALYZE THE FBIS. I SPECIFICALLY WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ASK RUSS A FEW QUESTIONS. RUSS POPPY. IT IS ABOUT THE RESPONSE PROVIDED BY THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT'S RESPONSE TO TEX DOT'S FBIS.
RUSS, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, RUSS POPPY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, RUSS. IN YOUR FIRST PARAGRAPH YOU MENTION THE FBIS INCORPORATES MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROPOSED 45 PROJECT BASED ON THE COMMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED FOR THE FBIS. CAN YOU TELL US, ME, SPECIFICALLY WHAT THOSE CHANGE HAD -- WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE TO THE PROJECT? AND HOW COMMENTS HAVE BEEN
INCORPORATED? >> MAKING SURE I AM LOOKING AT THE RIGHT COMMENTS, OUR FIRST BULLET POINT OR MEMO ACKNOWLEDGES THE ATLAS 14 RAINFALL.
AM I NOT LOOKING AT THE SAME DATA AS YOU ARE? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM TRYING TO FIND YOUR LETTER. LET'S SEE. RIGHT HERE.
YES. IT IS THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. THE DIS.
THE VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH STARTS WITH IN AUGUST. IT IS YOUR VERY FIRST
PARAGRAPH. >> OKAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I APOLOGIZE. I REFERRED TO AS THE FBIS. IT IS THE DEIS.
>> I AM LOOKING AT IT NOW. I THINK OUR COMMENTS ON THE DEIS WERE THAT THE MAJORITY THAT TEX DOT ACKNOWLEDGES -- ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WE ARE USING THEM.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG COMMENTS TO TEX DOT AS PART OF THE BEIS.
SINCE THEN THEY HAVE COME BACK AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CRITERIA ADOPTED 18 MONTHS AGO THERE ABOUTS, THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FBIS. SO THEY ARE USING THE RAINFALL RATES THAT WE RECOMMENDED FOR USE WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE EXISTING 500-YEAR RAINFALL RATES. AND THEY WILL MITIGATE IN THE CURRENTLY MAPPED 500 FLOOD PLANE AS OPPOSED TO THE EXISTING 100-YARD FLOOD PLANE.
RAINFALL WILL GO UP 500% AND UNTIL WE HAVE NEW MAPS ASSOCIATED WITH ATLAS 14 WE
WILL USE THE 500 YEAR MAPS. >> -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA.
YOU SAID THE COMMENTS WERE INCORPORATED. HOW SO?
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>> COMMISSIONER, THAT WAS THE BIG COMMON WE HAD. IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC COMMENTS I DON'T HAVE THOSE IN FRONT OF ME AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO CIRCUMSTANCE -- CIRCLE BACK.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU MENTIONED TEX DOT HAS DONE DETAILED DRAINAGE STUDIES FOR SUBJECTS TWO AND THREE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND A STUDY WILL BE COMPLETED FOR SEGMENT ONE. YOUR ASK IS TO SUBMIT A COPY TO THE DISTRICT'S WATER -- WATER SHED DEPARTMENT FOR FORMAL REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE. AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE MOU BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND METRO AND HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HAVE YOU FORMALLY ASKED THIS BE INCLUDED IN THE LANGUAGE OF
THE MOU? >> TO MY RECOLLECTION, YES, IT IS.
I WILL VERIFY, BUT WE ARE SUGGESTING NOT ONLY THAT, COMMISSIONER, BUT ALSO THAT TEX DOT WORKS WITH US AND ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE -- WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL COMPLETE SOME TYPE OF A PROJECT AND HISTORICALLY TEX DOT HAS NOT PARTICIPATED TO THE EXTENT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO WITH RESPECT TO THE MAP REVISIONS.
AND SO WE HAVE ADDITIONALLY REQUESTED THEY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THAT LETTER OF MAP REVISION AND FINAL UH ADOPTION PER FEE FEMA'S REQUIREMENTS.
>> I WAS HOPEFUL AFTER DIGESTING SOME OF THE FBIS THAT SINCE YOU WERE A PART OF THE MOU WORK GROUP THAT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED AND SUGGESTED BY YOU INTO THE MOU. AND I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF 45 AND 610 AND I10 IN THE 50S AND THE 60S HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE FLOOD PRONE BUFFALO BAYOU. THE LITTLE WIDE BAYOU.
THE HIGHWAYS RUN THROUGH THE FLOOD PLAINS AND ADDED IMPERVIOUS COVER.
SOME PLACES IT RESTRICTS WATER FLOW AND IT CAUSES SIGNIFICANT UP STREAM FLOODING IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS. THE FBIS IS NOT COMMITTING TO ANYTHING THAT IS OFFSETTING THE IMPACTS OF REBUILDING THE HIGHWAY.
PART OF THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS YOUR LETTER DOESN'T MENTION CORRECTING ISSUES IN THE PAST. IT IS JUST NOT TO ADD MORE TO THEM.
DO YOU AGREE THAT WITH THE ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT SOME
OF THE IMPACTS CREATED BY THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION? >> WE DEAL WITH THAT ALL ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. WE BUILT THINGS DECADES AGO WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. SINCE THEN WE KNOW MORE TODAY THAN WE KNEW BACK THEN.
AND I GUESS THE WAY WE ADDRESS THAT IS WE ARE SUGGESTING AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDING THAT TEX DOT COLLABORATE WITH US AS WELL AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR OWN DRAINAGE SO WE COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS AS BEST AS WE CAN OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THIS CORRIDOR.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY, YES OR NO, TO DEAL WITH THE CHRONIC FLOODING THAT HAS BEEN A CASE ALL ALONG? COULDN'T WE DO A BETTER JOB IF THIS PROJECT WILL MOVE FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THAT HISTORY WE KNOW VERY WELL?
>> ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE IN MY CAREER FOR SURE, TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC FLOODING PROBLEMS. I THINK THE JUDGE'S LETTER PUTS IT AS ONE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE FLOOD CONTROL WEIGHING IN ON THIS.
IN THE REPORT IT MENTIONS THAT THERE IS MULTIPLE RETENTION BASINS, BUT NO DETAIL ON DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY. DO YOU BELIEVE WE NEED MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR DETENTION BASINS IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY PLAN THE FUTURE AND CURRENT BOND PROJECTS AND THEY ARE MULTI USE FACILITIES INCORPORATING PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE PATHS TO BETTER CONNECT
THE NEIGHBORHOODS? >> ABSOLUTELY, YES, SIR. >> AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE
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DISTRICT FOR MENTIONING THE BAYOU AS TRAIL AREAS UTILIZED FOR RECREATIONAL USE.AND I AM HOPEFUL TEX DOT WILL THINK OF THE THOUSANDS WHO USE THESE TRAILS TO GET TO WORK AND TO PLAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND EXERCISE. THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE COUNTY. IT OFTEN FLOODS.
YOUR LETTER DOES NOT MENTION THIS FLOODING IN PARTICULAR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS WAS A CONCERN IDENTIFIED BY HEWLET ZOLARD'S ANALYSIS OF THE FBIS.
THE FLOOD CONTROL'S LETTER TALKS ABOUT A LACK OF QUALITY AND THE IMPACT OF STREAM ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION. BUT THESE ITEMS ARE LACKING CLARITY.
DO YOU BELIEVE TEX DOT'S FBIS MEETS NEPA COMPLIANCE? >> I AM NOT A NEPA EXPERT, COMMISSIONER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM ADDRESS SOME OF THE CLARITY ISSUES BEFORE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE SIGNING OFF ON THE FBIS. THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND FINALLY WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON POTENTIAL FLOOD RISK DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT AS THE FBIS HAS NO PLANNING DURING THE
CONSTRUCTION. >> THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT A LOT OF PROJECTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO FAIL. WE SEE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE THINGS ARE NOT APPROPRIATED -- APPROPRIATELY PLANNED FOR. WHEN THEY COME UP WITH THE POINT OF DETAILED CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE LOOK FOR.
MY POINTS -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MY POINTS IN SOME OF THESE REMARKS IS WE NEED OUR SYSTEM WORKING. I WANT TO COMMEND HCTRA FOR THEIR STRONG AND THOUGHTFUL RESPONSE. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR WORKING ON IT AS A NON-EN VIN NEAR. THAT IS A WELL STRUCTURED LETTER.
IT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT KIND OF A THOUGHT GIVEN BECAUSE HE WAS HOLISTIC AND IT NOT ONLY TALKED ABOUT THE WORK OF THE PROJECT, BUT IT TALKS ABOUT THE THING WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH AND IT IS THE IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY. ENGINEERING'S LETTER IS ESSENTIALLY THE CONSULTANT'S LETTER. WE NEED OUR DIRECTOR'S LETTER TO AMPLIFY THE CONCERNS THAT WE RAISED IN COURT AND AS IT IMPACTS OUR RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS. I WANT TO COMEPPED YOU FOR THIS LETTER.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD LETTER AND I WAS CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULD SEE OUR CONCERNS AND HOPES PENNED IN YOUR LETTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU FORGIVING GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE LETTER. WE GOT IT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON , AND WE WERE ABLE TO REVIEW IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND ON MONDAY.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS.
LET ME SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT. NUMBER TWO, I DO NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE FLOOD CONTROL AND THE ENGINEERING LETTERS AND REPORTS.
MY STAFF DID COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR STAFF AND WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY YESTERDAY THAT I HAVE CONCERNS AFTER THE FIRST THREE PARAGRAPHS OF YOUR LETTER THAT WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE PUTTING OUR -- OR THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT'S OPINION AND INSTRUCTING TEX DOT ON WHAT WE WOULD DO. AS I INDICATED TO YOU LAST WEEK, I FEEL LIKE I CAN ENVISION US HAVING AN AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF A REPORT THAT GOES OUT THAT SENDS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY. ONCE WE MOVE INTO OPINION AND DISPUTED OPINIONS I WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EVERYTHING PAST THAT THIRD PARAGRAPH OF THE EIGHT-PAGE LETTER. IF I WAS TO INJECT THE OPINIONS, IT WOULD BE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF THE NAACP AND MY OPINIONS WOULD BE MORE ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT TESTIFIED WITH US TODAY AS OPPOSED TO THE REPORT THAT IS
[00:35:01]
THE BULK THE -- OF WHAT OCCURS AFTER THE THIRD PARAGRAPH IN YOUR REPORT.AND SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE STOP AFTER YOUR THIRD PARAGRAPH AND SUBMIT THAT AS A TRANSMITAL OF THE EIS THAT WE HAVE. I PREDICT I MAY BE OUT VOTED ON THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST. IT IS THAT WE JUST DO A TRANSMITAL OF THE EIS. IT IS WHAT IT IS. THAT'S A FACTUAL THING THAT WE TRANSMIT THE LETTER AMONG THE FIVE OF US OF JUST THAT FIRST THREE PARAGRAPHS OF YOUR LETTER AS MY STAFF COMMUNICATED WITH YOURS YESTERDAY.
THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST. BEYOND THAT I THINK WE WREN GAUGING IN -- THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IN DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS AND I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO DO BEYOND THAT POINT. AND SO MY MOTION WOULD BE THAT WE SUBMIT YOUR LETTER, BUT THAT WE SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO WHERE IT ENDS AFTER THE THIRD PARAGRAPH.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE, COMMISSIONER, WHICH I ASSUME WE WILL VOTE ON FIRST. LET ME SUGGEST THIS. I KNOW I'M GONNA SEND A LETTER TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS PROJECT IMPACTS PRECINCT 1. AND I WILL TRY NOT TO MAKE REFERENCE ABOUT WHAT IT WILL DO TO PRECINCT 2 SO I AM NOT BEING REDUNDANT OR DISAGREEING WITH MY COLLEAGUE ON IT. THE REQUEST BY THE JUDGE WHEN WE LAST MET WAS TO SUBMIT A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE COURT. AND FROM THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD LAST WEEK, I ASSUME THAT AT LEAST THREE OF US WHO WERE IN CONCURRENCE WITH THAT, WE WERE GOING TRUST HER JUDGMENT AND HER STAFF, SHE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
YOU ASKED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND I AGREE. LET'S SEND IT OUT AND DO THIS SPECIAL MEETING TODAY. I WENT THROUGH MY CONCERNS. I COULD DO IT AGAIN.
I DID TELL SOME FOLKS THAT I SAW OVER THE WEEKEND WITH THE ALLIANCE WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE AND TESTIFIED MANY TIMES ABOUT THE VERY THINGS I CAN SAY AGAIN OR I CAN JUST PUT THEM IN MY LETTER OR IN A PRESS RELEASE FOR THAT MATTER. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DID CALL JAMES DOUGLAS, THE FORMER DEAN OF THE U.S. LAW SCHOOL AND PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE NAACP. THE NAACP DOES NOT TAKE THE POSITION THAT THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE TEX DOT PROJECT.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NAACP, A LIFE MEMBER. I AM SPEAKING AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, BUT I ALSO SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE NAACP, BUT I JUST DIDN'T SIGN UP THAT WAY. MS. EVERETT AND MR. HARRIS WERE EXPRESSING THEIR POINT OF VIEW AS MEMBERS OF THE NAACP. THE NAACP DID HAVE A MEETING ABOUT WORKING WITH TEX DOT ON HOUSING ISSUES AS PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE REFERENCE TO A LAUNDRY LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE DISPLACED.
I WON'T BE REDUNDANT AND SAY IT AGAIN, BUT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW I WANT AN INVESTMENT BY TEX DOT. 10BILLION CAN TURN INTO 15 BILLION.
EVERYBODY WANTS THAT. THE QUESTION IS AT WHAT COST? AND WE HAD A HISTORY OF NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN PARTICULAR, BEING RIPPED APART. AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT OUGHT TO BE TEX DOT'S WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FOR THEM AND I SUPPORTED THEIR BUDGET REQUEST. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. BUT IT IS MORE CAR CENTRIC THAN PEOPLE CENTRIC. BY THAT I AM REFERENCING MASS TRANSIT.
ALL OTHER ISSUES THAT GAY ARE SEE YAW JUST SPOKE ABOUT AS WELL.
THAT GARCIA JUST SPOKE ABOUT AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF THE GOOD LORD WOULD PLAN FOR US TO HAVE FIVE MILLION PEOPLE HERE, BUT WE ARE HERE AND GROWING.
AND MASS TRAN SIS JUST -- MASS TRANSIT HAS TO BE A PART OF THE EQUATION.
WITH THAT SAID I WILL RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE VOTE -- IF THERE IS A SECOND ON THE
MOTION -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IT GIVES YOU THE LATITUDE, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, COMMISSIONER RADACK AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ME,
[00:40:05]
SOME THINGS I WILL PUT IN MY LETTER WHICH IS DUE BY TOMORROW, THAT GO TO THAT -- YOU COULD WRITE A LETTER SAYING I AGREE WITH THE FIRST TWO SENTENCES OR TWO PARAGRAPHS OF THE JUDGE'S LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE COURT AND GO FROM THERE.YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR VIEW POINT. AND AS I SAID BEFORE I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF AT SOME POINT WE CAN'T GET OUR STATE PARTNERS TO WORK WITH US, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO LITIGATION AS AN OPTION. JUST TO SHOW WE ARE SERIOUS, I WISH IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LONGTIME AGO ON OTHER PROJECTS, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. IF THE SUPPORT IS THERE ON THIS COURT, AS I SAID I WILL DEFER TO THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA. YOU AND I USED TO BE ON IT AND WE ARE WILLING TO DIG THOSE UP, COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE, FOR OUR OTHER
COLLEAGUES, BUT I MADE A MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: IF I CAN ADD AND I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE POINT TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S NOTE THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT -- THE INITIAL QUESTION IS, IS THERE NO ALTERNATIVE TO ADDRESS THE CONGESTION AND THE UNSAFE SHOULDERS, ET CETERA, OTHER THAN WHAT TEX DOT IS PROPOSING. AND THAT'S WHY THIS EXPERT WAS RETAINED BY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. AND SO THE IDEA IS NOT THAT WE SHOULD DO A PROJECT FOR THE SAKE OF A PROJECT. THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A PROJECT THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND WILL LIMIT THE NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES.
THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROJECT THAT COULD DO THAT. THE PROBLEM IS THEY IGNORED THE EXTERNALITIES THAT THE CONSULT TEPTS IDENTIFIED. YOU CAN BUILD A PROJECT THAT WOULD REDUCE -- AND CAN BUILD A ROAD THAT WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE FRONTAGE ROADS AND NOT DISPLACE PEOPLE WHILE THE OPPORTUNITY PIECE AND THAT IS THE VALUE OF THE SPIELER REPORT THAT HAS BEEN SUMMARIZED IN THE COUNTY LETTER.
I THINK WE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD GET THE BEST PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE DONE. IT IS NO -- IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE GUESSING AT HOW TO FIX IT, WE SPENT MONTHS AND YEARS FIGURING OUT HOW TO BE FIXED AND OFFERED THE PLANS AND IDEAS TO TEX DOT, BUT THE CITY HAS THAT PERSPECTIVE TOO. AND TEX DOT HAS NOT CONSIDERED THAT AND CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT THEIR PROJECTIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BACKING THAT THEY SAY THERE IS GOING TO BE ROOM FOR TRANSIT AND WE NEED A GOOD PROJECT SOME -- THAT WILL BE WITH IT. I PERSONALLY WENT THROUGH EVERY SENTENCE OF THIS LETTER AND MADE SURE THAT THERE WASN'T OPINIONS BECAUSE OF THE COMMENTS YOU MADE AT THE LAST COURT. AND SO EVERYTHING IS VERY SPECIFIC.
THE FBIS DOES NOT INTEGRATE THE METRO NEXT PLAN. IT DOES OR IT DOES PRESIDENT.
IT DOESN'T -- IT DOESN'T KEEP THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE FRONTAGE ROADS ARE NOT DESIGNED AS CITY STREETS OPERATED BY BIKE LANES OR IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY. FBIS MAKES THE CLAIM THAT THE CONGESTION WILL INCREASE 40% BY 2040. DATA SHOWS TRAFFIC VOLUMES DECREASING.
HOW CAN IT DECREASE AND YET YOU SAY IT INCREASES BY 40%? THIS IS AN EXPERT LOOKING THROUGH THE FBIS AND BEING LIKE, HEY, THIS ISN'T THERE. THE PROJECTION IS DECREASING AND YET YOU SAY IT IS GOING TO INCREASE. THAT'S NOT THERE.
I'M SORRY YOU THINK IT IS OPINIONS BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO HEART AND IT IS SOLELY WHAT THIS PROFESSOR INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT AND HIS TEAM HAD UNCOVERED IN THE
RESEARCH OF THE LETTER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOUR LETTER IS TECHNICAL.
[00:45:07]
IT IS CLEAR TO ME. IT WASN'T INFLAMMATORY AND IT WASN'T EMOTIONAL.IT WAS FACTUAL. AGAIN, THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANYWAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND GARCIA.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE THIS IS RADACK. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD.
COMMISSIONER, IF YOU ARE SPEAKING YOUR MIC IS NOT COMING THROUGH.
>> STEVE RADACK: CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.
>> STEVE RADACK: OKAY. DID THE PEOPLE AT RICE UNIVERSITY PAY FOR THE REPORT,
THIS LETTER? >> LINA HIDALGO: SAY THAT AGAIN, COMMIS --
COMMISSIONER? >> STEVE RADACK: DID THEY PAY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN
THIS LETTER? >> LINA HIDALGO: THE CITY RETAINED THEM TO ASSESS WHETHER THERE COULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO I-45. AND THEN THE COUNTY RETAINED TO FURTHER EVALUATE POSSIBLE IMPACTS AND TO ANALYZE WHAT MAKES THEIR OWN OPINION OF THE
FBIS. YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK HE
ASKED DID THE CITY PAY. >> THE COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE COUNTY AND THE CITY PAID. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY FUNDS CAME OUT OF THE ENDOWMENT.
I THINK WE ALSO GOT SOME SUPPORT I CAN'T REMEMBER. >> RODNEY ELLIS: HE MAY BE ON THE LINE. I THOUGHT THE ENDOWMENT -- THE CITY GOT THE ENDOWMENT -- THE ENDOWMENT PUT MONEY IN FOR THE CITY, AND THEN WE PUT MONEY IN WHEN THE MONEY RAN OUT.
I THINK. SPIELER MIGHT BE ON THE LINE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH, SPIEL
-- YEAH. SPIELER, ARE YOU ON? >> I CAN UNMUTE HIM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANKS. >> YOU ARE UNMUTED, SIR. >> THE INITIAL ROUND OF WORK WAS FUNDED BY HOUSTON ENDOWMENT THROUGH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND THEN THE SECOND ROUND OF WORK THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE PARKS BOARD AND THROUGH ACTION OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
>> STEVE RADACK: HOW MUCH WAS PAID? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. AND THAT NUMBER INCLUDED MORE THAN THE FBIS EVALUATION WORK. THERE IS ALSO CONTINUED WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY PHO SILL STATION GROUP WE HAVE HAD ON THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS SOME FOCUS DESIGN EFFORTS ON
SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE PROJECT. >> STEVE RADACK: PLEASE GIVE
US THE TOTALS IF YOU COULD. OKAY? >> WILL DO.
>> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO. >> I VOTE NO, AND I APPRECIATE -- APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS OF THE NAACP FOR THEIR COMMENTS AS WELL AS SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. I VOTE NO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I VOTE IN FAVOR. SO THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2.
WE NEXT HAVE AN ITEM COMMISSIONER GARCIA PUT ON THE AGENDA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO, BEFORE I MAKE THE MOTION SAY THAT PRECINCT 2 HAS BEEN WORKING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC ON BUILDING OUT ITS BROADBAND STRATEGY. AS A RESULT WRY HAVE IDENTIFIED -- AS A RESULT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MORE TARGET LOCATIONS THAN ALL PRECINCTS COMBINED. 47 COMPARED TO 12, 7 AND 5 AND ANY OTHER PRECINCTS.
THE REALITY OF IT IS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BUILDING OUT OUR WI-FI PROJECTS EVEN BEFORE GUIDE HOUSE CAME INTO THE PICTURE. OUR EFFORTS AT PRECINCT 2'S I.T. DEPARTMENT IS TO BE AS FORWARD THINKING AS POSSIBLE. WE JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE CARES FUNDS SO THAT -- AND WE THEN GOT IF TOUCH WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WORKED OUT A PLAN THAT INCLUDED THE BUILDINGS IN PRECINCT 2.
WE HAVE A MODEL THAT OTHER PERSONS CAN USE HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS AND HOW THOSE NEEDS CAN BE MET. TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, 123,000
[00:50:01]
HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE NO ACCESS TO WIRED INTERNET. THESE RESIDENTS ARE LARGELY CONCENTRATED AS YOU FIGURE IN THE FIRST AREAS OF THE COUNTY.IN PRECINCT 2 LARGE CONCENTRATIONS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCESS LIVE IN BARRETT, BAY TOWN, NORTH PASADENA AND MANCHESTER -- THE MANCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD OF EAST HOUSTON. ADDITIONALLY ALMOST 5% OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ONLY ONE PROVIDER. FIBER OPTIC INTERNET IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO 53% OF THE RESIDENTS. THE AVERAGE DOWNLOAD SPEED IS 99.6.
WHATEVER NPS IS. 5% IS -- IT IS 5% SLOWER THAN THE AVERAGE TEXAS SPEED.
THE LACK OF ACCESS IN PARTS OF THE COUNTY HAS IMPACTS ON COUNTY OPERATIONS THAT MAY NOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR. FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE LOCATIONS WHERE THE ELECTIONS OFFICE CANNOT PLACE POLLING LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE WIRELESS ACCESS.
SO THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY CHANGINGED -- CHANGED OUR WORKING HABITS AROUND THE WORLD. MANY EMPLOYERS REALIZE IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO HAVE EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM HOME FOR -- HOME, FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY ECONOMY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND EVOLVE AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC. RESIDENTS NEED ACCESS TO STRONG INTERNET AT HOME. AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS LONG FOCUSED ON INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR ECONOMY. JUST AS WE ARE TALKING ROADS AND BRIDGES AND FOCUS ON FLOOD MITIGATION AND IN -- INCREASING CONNECTIVE TEE TO THE WORLD -- CONNECTIVE TEE AND IN -- INCREASING CONNECTIVE TEE TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY COMPETITIVE.
I WILL STRIKE THAT A BIT ONLY TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN FORCED TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT HOW WE BUILD MORE OF THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS PANDEMIC HAS PRECISELY DONE THAT.
THAT'S WHY, JUDGE MY MOTION IS TO MOVE TO APPROVE A LONG-TERM BROADBAND STRATEGY AND SIX-MONTH BROADBAND ACTION PLAN AND DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND ENGINEERING TO PROCEED IN ITS EXECUTION OF UPDATING THE COURT EVERY TWO MONTHS OF ITS PROGRESS. ALSO MOVE TO ESTABLISH THE HARRIS COUNTY BROAD BAND OFFICE AND DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO HOUSE THE OFFICE WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT AND LEAD IT. IN COLLABORATION WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, BUDGET MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE BROADBAND OFFICE IS TO BE STAFFED WITH FOUR FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS AND THE STAFFING LEVEL TO BE REVIEWED AFTER SIX MONTHS.
SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS, JUDGE, AND ALL OF THOSE I MENTIONED, I WORKED ON THAT -- CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL. REGRETFULLY IT DIDN'T PAN OUT AS WE HAD HOPED. THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO COMMIT TO IT THAN NOW.
THAT'S THE MOTION I PUT ON THE TABLE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I SECOND THE MOTION OR THE MOTIONS. JUDGE, IF I MIGHT JUST ALSO ADD THAT I AM PROUD WITH THIS CARES MONEY THAT WE WOULD PUT AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN TRYING TO GET TO THAT LAST MILE THAT EVERYBODY HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR SO LONG. WE WON'T QUITE GET THERE.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME GLITCHES THAT WILL STILL COME UP I THINK MY STAFF TOLD ME THERE WERE ISSUES WITH WHETHER OR NOT AT&T WOULD STEP UP. I HOPE WE THINK ABOUT ANYWAY WE CAN TRY AND PERSUADE THEM TO DO THAT. I HOPE THAT THERE ARE OTHER ROUNDS OF MONEY THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE OTHER -- OUR OTHER PARTNERS, THE CITY AND THE STATE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT WE STEPPED UP IN A BIG WAY FINANCIALLY. I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS SO MANY NEEDS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE THE CONNECTIVE TEE -- HOW YOU MAKE IT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: EXACTLY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I CAN'T EVEN GET IN THESE MEETINGS.
THAT'S WHY I COME TO THE OFFICE TO GET ON. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: EXACTLY.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION THAT
COMMISSIONER CAGLE -- >> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE SECONDED THE MOTION AND I KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS. LET'S HEAR FROM THEM.
[00:55:03]
>> R. JACK CAGLE: I DO HAVE A VERY BRIEF STATEMENT. IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HELD UP MY SIGN FOR MY COLLEAGUE. I VIEW -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS PRECINCT 1 OR PRECINCT 2, BUT THERE IS BROADWAY BOULEVARD NEAR LOOP
610. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: PRECINCT 2. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I GREW UP NEAR THERE. MY MOTHER HAD A SMALL BUSINESS NEAR THE SCHOOL.
I BELIEVE BROADWAY BOULEVARD IS A PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND BROADBAND IS LIKE A BROADWAY BOULEVARD, BUT FOR THE SKY. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF US HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS THE LEGITIMATE ROLE OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAVE OTHERS UTILIZE THAT.
WE ARE NOT TO DO THEIR JOBS FOR THEM, BUT WE ARE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. I AM PLEASED TO SECOND THE MOTION FOR CREATING BROADBAND ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH THAT BROADBAND IS LIKE A BROADWAY BOULEVARD, BUT UP IN THE SKY. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE MY -- IT IS MY HONOR TO SECOND THE MOTION. THANK YOU, JUDGE. , FOR HOLDING -- THANK YOU,
JUDGE, FOR CATCHING ME HOLDING UP MY SIGN. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, LUCINDA. >> ABLE GARZA WITH ABLE ISD.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ABLE GARZA WITH ABLE ISD. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE AGENCIES HIT HARD BY CORONAVIRUS. IT IS PREDOMINANTLY THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY. WHEN WE SWITCHED TO ONLINE LEARNING WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE CHALLENGED. WE PURCHASED CLOSE TO 20,000 CHROME BOOKS.
WE VENTURED TO MAKE SURE EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAD AN -- ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
WE KNEW PRE-K AND K WOULD NOT USE THEM SO WE PMPED 9,000 I -- PURCHASED 9,000 IPADS.
THEY PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 CHROME BOOKS. IN ADDITION TO THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS COULD LOGIN AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE INTERNET ACCESS. TO THIS END IS SD PURCHASED HOTSPOTS.
ONE HOTSPOT IS NOT SUFFICIENT WITH A HOUSE -- HOUSEHOLD OF THREE TO FOUR STUDENTS AND OUR SPEARMENT TO PLACE HOTSPOTS ON BUSS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES BECAUSE THE SIGNAL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO REACH ACROSS THE COMPLEX. ANDAL DEAN HAD -- AND ALDINE SAID SOME DIDN'T ALLOW FOR INTERNET WIRED SERVICE TO COME INTO THE COMPLEX.
WITH THE HELP OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT AGREEMENTS WITH THE APART MEANT -- APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO COME IN AND INSTALL INTERNET WIRING. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE EFFORTS TO BRING BROADBAND SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY AND THE ALDINE COMMUNITY. WE WORKED HARD WITH THE FOLKS AT GUIDE HOUSE WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS. THEY OFFERED SOLUTIONS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY LISTENED TO OUR NEEDS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM LISTENING AND WORKING WITH US. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD IF HARRIS COUNTY COULD ELIMINATE THE ISSUES WITH CONNECTIVE TEE. IMAGINE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO TURN ON THEIR CHROME BOOK AND LOGGING IN WITHOUT WORRYING IF THEIR BROTHER OR SISTER WAS USING THE INTERNET OR HOTSPOT. IMAGINE IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THE ESTIMATED $20 A MONTH FOR EACH HOTSPOT.
INSD WHOLEHEARTEDLY WELCOMES THE VISION OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ELIMINATE CONNECTIVE
TEE ISSUES. THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,
ABEL. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> KATHERINE BYERS WITH THE
HOUSTON FOOD BANK. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS DR. KATHERINE BYERS AND I AM THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICER AT THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN FAVOR OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF A HARRIS COUNTY BROADBAND OFFER.
THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY ARE OFTEN FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BASIC NEEDS.
THIS INCLUDES THE 69% OF PEOPLE WHO REPORTED CHOOSING UTILITIES OVER GROCERIES, THE 57% WHO PAID THEIR RENT OR MORTGAGE RATHER THAN SPEND MONEY ON FOOD, AND THE 67% WHO WATERED DOWN FOOD OR BEVERAGES TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT THEY SPENT ON GROCERIES.
THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK OFFICE PROVIDES GROCERIES SO FAMILIES CAN SHIFT RESOURCES TO THESE OTHER NEEDS. WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OUR VISION IS A WORLD THAT DOESN'T NEED FOOD BANKS. SO WE BELIEVE THE ONLY TRUE WAY PAST THESE DESPERATE CHOICES IS FINANCIAL STABILITY THROUGH ACCESS TO RESOURCES INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, BETTER HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP THAT ALSO POSITIVELY IMPACTS THE
[01:00:03]
ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY SO MANY FAMILIES CANNOT TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A BETTER LIFE BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS TO CONNECT TO JOBS, JOB SEARCHES AND BENEFIT APPLICATIONS OR THEIR CHILD'S VIRTUAL CLASSROOM. THEY MAY ALSO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY DEVICES OR BE ABLE TO PAY FOR BROADBAND SERVICE. IN CONCLUSION, THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE TREMENDOUS WORK YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC TO HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. TODAY WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF A HARRIS COUNTY BROADBAND OFFICE THAT INCLUDES THE STAFFING NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT A BROADBAND STRATEGY FOR THE COUNTY.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> JEFF REICHMAN WITH JANUARY ADVISERS. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THE BROADBAND OFFICE PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND I APPLAUD THE COUNTY FOR SUPPORTING THIS.
I THINK BROADBAND IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE AND WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GOOD QUALITY DATA TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO ADDRESS THAT GAP.
SO IT IS A VERY EARLY STAGE IN UNDERSTANDING WHERE THOSE EQUITY GAPS EXIST.
IT IS GREAT THAT THERE IS SO MUCH INTEREST IN PROVIDING BROADBAND ACCESS TO CHILDREN IN THE ISD'S. THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IT IS WORTHY OF PRIORITIZATION. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE IN THE CREATION OF THE OFFICE TO INCLUDE OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT AND THEY HAVE CHILDREN IN THE OFFICE OR THOSE WHO ARE OLDER AND CAN'T AFFORD TRANSPORTATION. THEY ARE THE HARDEST TO REACH AND YET IN MOST NEED OF BEING CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LEAST MOBILE. AS THIS OFFICE IS CREATED I ENCOURAGE HAVING A MISSION THAT IS DRIVEN BY EQUITY ISSUES AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE LEAST -- HAVE THE LEAST AVAILABLE OPTIONS.
I ALSO THINK THAT SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT IS HIGH SPEED IS NOT JUST -- IT IS NOT JUST A TERM. IT IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
THE WAY IN WHICH COMMUNICATION COMPANIES DEFINE HIGH SPEED IS A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN HOW WE WOULD DEFINE HIGH SPEED. SO AS WE GET INTO THE TECHNICALITIES OF BUILDING OUT THIS INFRO -- INFRASTRUCTURE MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO COLLECT MORE DATA AND UPDATE THE THRESHOLDS OF THE COMMON DEFINITIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. AND I DO THINK AND AM CURIOUS AND FOLKS CAN BRING THIS BACK AND WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATION WITH GUIDE HOUSE HAVING A REALLY CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT THE GOAL IS. I THINK WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WITH NO KIDS WHO ALSO LACK INTERNET. AND SO, JEFF, YOUR POINTS ARE VERY WELL TAKEN AND I HOPE THE NEW OFFICE AND GUIDE HOUSE WILL FOCUS ON THAT.
COMMISSIONER, INCIDENTALLY WHAT IS YOUR THINKING ON HOW GUIDE HOUSE WILL BE INVOLVED
WITH THIS OFFICE, IF AT ALL? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WELL, I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY IN THE INTERIM BECAUSE THERE IS SOME CARES ELEMENT. RIGHT NOW WE ARE A PANDEMIC ELEMENT. WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO SEE IT THROUGH AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION FORWARD THAT I STARTED INITIALLY WITH FIRST NET. WE CAN SEE WHERE THAT CAN POTENTIALLY TAKE US.
THEY DRAFTED A WHITE PAPER ON THAT AND SO WE HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD FURTHER ON THAT POTENTIAL.
IT IS STILL A LITTLE WAYS OUT THERE, BUT THEY HAVE HELPED TO START THE CONVERSATION.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, WE ARE GOING TO NEED A LEADER TO HELP MOVE THIS FORWARD AND I AM GLAD TO HAVE UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO RUN WITH THE BALL THERE.
INITIALLY WHATEVER WE CAN DO WITH CARES, THEN WE WILL BE LEANING ON GUIDE HOUSE TO HELP
GUIDE US IN THAT REGARD. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. AND IF GUIDE HOUSE IS LISTENING, I WILL CIRCLE BACK OFF LINE, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT AT THE NEXT COURT AS THEY SEND THE REPORTS TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT JEFF IS POSING.
THEY HAVE IT IN THERE SOMEWHERE. I'M SURE UNIVERSAL SERVICES WILL HAVE THAT TOO. I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER THAT WE CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE DEFINE BROADBAND ACCESS? YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT LEVEL IS GOOD ENOUGH. AND EXACTLY WHICH AREAS ARE WE TARGETING AND WHY? IS IT THE TIERS FIRST, THE AREAS WITH KIDS AND THEN WITHOUT KIDS AND WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE? WILL IT BE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO BROADBAND WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT? EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO BROADBAND, PERIOD? I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH -- WORK THROUGH THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
[01:05:05]
DRIVING THIS, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT IS SMART TO HAVE AN OFFICE DEDICATED TO IT.>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM EXCITED TOO, JUDGE. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL BECAUSE THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC YOU HAVE REALLY HELPED TO MAKE THESE COMPLICATED ISSUES AND QUESTIONS AND DIRECTION MUCH EASIER.
I REALLY, REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. I WILL SAY OFTEN THAT I DON'T ALWAYS GET HERE INCREDIBLY EARLY, BUT WHEN I GET HERE, YOU'RE HERE.
WHEN I LEAVE HERE AND I DO LEAVE LATE, YOU ARE STILL HERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WORK, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA? >> YES, MA'AM.
AND WE ALSO HAVE GUIDE HOUSE ON THE LINE IF YOU NEED ME TO UNMUTE THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. YEAH. WHO IS ON FROM GUIDE HOUSE?
>> I HAVE TODD AND I ALSO HAVE BRETT CARTER. >> LINA HIDALGO: I DON'T WANT TO KEEP US HERE ALL DAY. BUT I WONDER, TODD OR BRETT WHAT YOU THINK OF THE POINTS I RAISED AND WHAT -- WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE
REPORT THAT I KNOW YOU BRING ONE TO EACH COURT? >> YES, JUDGE.
THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN. I HAVE BRETT ON THE LINE. CLEAR -- CLEARLY WE HEARD THE POINTS. AS YOU STATED, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION IS IN ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING AS WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE COUNTY AS IT RELATES TO THIS ISSUE. SO WE WILL LOOK FOR A WAY TO KIND OF BRING SOME OF THAT OUT. BRETT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THAT.
>> NO, THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS AND THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT EVERY GEOGRAPHY STRUGGLES WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE BOTH CLEARLY DEFINING WHAT YOU MEAN BY ACCESS AND WHAT YOU MEAN BY SUCCESS AND THAT YOU ARE DRIVING TOWARD IT.
THEY ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND WE DO SPELL SOME OF THAT OUT TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE DEFINITIONS SO WE CAN PUSH THE METRICS AS WE TRACK THOSE METRICS WE CAN SEE OUR SUCCESS. SO I AGREE WITH YOU THERE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO BRING IT IN THE SHORT-TERM AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT IN THE LONG-TERM WORK AS THAT IS STOOD UP THROUGH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO PUSH TOWARD SOME OF THOSE LONG-TERM TRACKING
METRICS. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. AND EVEN IF EVEN FOR ONE OF THEM IT IS A QUESTION MARK. IT IS FLAGGED FOR EITHER YOU GUYS LATER OR UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO ANSWER IT. BUT AT LEAST TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS AND THEN THE ANSWERS TO THE DEFINITIONS THAT WE DO HAVE. IT CERTAINLY WOULD HELP ME
ANYWAY. BUT, YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, LUCINDA. >> YES, MA'AM.
[II. Appearances before court]
PAMELA NORMAN WITH BARRETT ECONOMICS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS PAMELA NORMAN FROM THE COMMUNITY OF HISTORIC BARRETT, UNINCORPORATED EAST HARRIS COUNTY AND WE ARE PART OF PRECINCT 2 FAMILY. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THESE INEQUITIES ON WHAT I CALL THE GREAT DIGITAL DIVIDE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I DO SO IN MY ROLE AS A DIRECTOR AND AS CEO OF THE BARRETT ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S A VOLUNTEER STAFFED 501C3 NONPROFIT GROUP. IT IS ESTABLISHED WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY TO ASSURE BARRETT PARTICIPATES IN THE ECONOMIC GROWTH TO OUR AREA.
THE PARTICIPATION IN THE ECONOMIC ROLE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF OUR HISTORIC COMMUNITY. WHAT I SEE AS WHAT I CALL UN -- UNFAIR DIGITAL DIVIDE WE EXPERIENCE IN BARRETT AND COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS HOLDS AN QUALITY -- EQUALLY DEAF VAT -- DEVASTATING RISK FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE FROM STUDENTS TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS AND THE SIMPLE EVERYDAY NEEDS OF LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
DATA SHOWS ONE IN FOUR PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN OUR AREA WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY STUDENTS ARE WITHOUT BROADBAND ACCESS. IT IS ONE IN FOUR.
THINK OF THE GAP THAT CREATES FROM A LEARNING PERSPECTIVE AND DEVELOPING THOSE NEEDED SKILLS. IT IS SIMPLY NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
FURTHER IT RESTRICTS THE STUDENT'S ABILITY TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS GAP IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY HOMETOWN.
IT IS TRUE FOR OTHER NEARBY COMMUNITIES AND UNINCORM OPERATED -- IN UNINCORPORATED
[01:10:01]
EAST HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTY. I SUBMIT TO YOU AN ENABLING OF FULL ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY TODAY IS AS CRITICAL AS ANY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT IN ROADS AND BRIDGES. THE OLD ADAGE YOU ARE EITHER MOVING FORWARD OR FALLING BEHIND IS NEVER TRUER THAN IN THIS CASE. IN MY VIEW A COMPLEMENT OF BROADBAND FOR HARRIS IS WELL OVERDUE. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD EMPOWER RESIDENTS AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS BRING NEW INVESTMENTS AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS NOT ONLY TO THE UNINCORPORATED EAST HARRIS COUNTY, BUT HARRIS COUNTY WIDE. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH ADVANCING THAT LONG-TERM BROADBAND STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN AS IT IS REALLY AN ESSENTIAL INFRO -- INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT. AS I LISTENED TO THE CON VEER -- CONVERSATION BEFOREHAND -- I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS STILL A QUESTION, BUT FROM OUR STANDPOINT AS IT MOVES FORWARD, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MA'AM, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> NEXT I AM UNMUTING ISABEL LONGORIA.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR PLACING THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. AS YOU ELUDED TO EARLIER IN AN INTERNET CONNECTIVE TEE AND ACCESS TO IT IS VITAL TO OUR RESIDENTS AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONDUCT ELECTIONS SAFELY AND ACCURATELY.
I WANT TO MIX IN ON WHAT YOU WERE SHARING EARLIER. AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO VOTING IN -- TO ALL OF THE POPULATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY WE LOOK AT THOSE WHO LACK ACCESS AND IMPACTS THE VOTING LOCATION THAT'S MATCHES UP PERFECTLY WITH THE INFORMATION THAT GUIDE HOUSE PROVIDED. AS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE THE POLL BOOTH. WE USE IT TO CHECK IN AND WE UPDATE VOTER INFORMATION QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY AND IN REALTIME FOR THE ELECTION JUDGES.
POINT BLANK, THE SLOWER THE INTERNET THE SLOWER TO CHECK IN VOTERS AND THAT LEADS TO LONG LINES AND THAT INFLUENCES PEOPLE'S ABILITY OR WILLINGNESS TO EVEN STAND AND VOTE IN SOME LOCATIONS. IN ADDITION TO OTHER IMPACTS REGARDING ADA ACCESSIBILITY WITH OTHER STUFF. WHILE OUR OFFICE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE WI-FI HOTSPOTS WHERE THE CONNECTION IS POOR IN SOME OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND HOW THEY ARE STRUCTURED IT IS A BANDAID COMPARED TO THE INNOVATIVE ACCESS AND BROAD -- BROADBAND ACCESS BEING PROPOSED TODAY. I WANTED TO SHARE A QUICK NOTE AND THANK YOU TO ALL IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR LOOKING FOR THE BROADBAND INVESTMENT AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WHATEVER I CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE BROADBAND OFFICE AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP LINEUP SOME OF THE LOCATIONS WITH THE IMPACT OF VOTING, I AM HERE TO BE OF SERVICE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, MS. LONGORIA. >> JILLIAN DONATO WITH THE
HOUSTON AREA GOVERNMENT COUNCIL. >> YES, THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SOME OF OUR WORK AT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH SPEED INTERNET FOR OUR 13 COUNTIES IN THE AREA. SO IN OUR CAPACITY AS THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS WE HAVE FOCUSED A LOT OF ENERGY ON THIS.
AND PRIOR TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AND IT IS IN RESPONSE TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS REGARDING THE BASIC EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS OF WHAT COME -- COMPRISES THE INTRA STRUCTURE -- INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET AND WE ARE ENGAGING WITH INDIVIDUAL AND LOCAL PARTNERS ON WHAT ASSETS THEY HAVE AND REALLY SETTING A BASELINE OF WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE. MUCH AS I HAVE HEARD IN THIS CONVERSATION TODAY, IT IS REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHO IT IS THAT REALLY NEEDS ACCESS TO INCLUDE INTERNET AND HIGH SPEED INCLUDING CHILDREN OR PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND IT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNET FOR A PARTICULARLY SMALL BUSINESS. WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED ON THIS CONVERSATION SINCE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. AND BY APRIL, MAY, JUNE, A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION TOOK ON A
[01:15:04]
NEW LEVEL OF URGENCY. WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH AS MANY LOCAL PARTNERS AS WE CAN. IT IS REGIONAL AND IT IS A REAL BIG NEED FOR OUR CORE COUNTY AND THAT'S WHERE OUR EMPLOYERS ARE. AS THE COUNTY GOES, SO DOES THE EFFORTS. THE PROPOSAL IS REALLY IN LOCK STEP AND DEMONSTRATING THAT I CAN SUPPORT WITH THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND LEADERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.I THINK AS YOU ALL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THIS SUBJECT AND INFORM -- AND FORM A CENTRALIZED HUB OF INFORMATION PRO ACTIVE LEADERSHIP, WE WILL BE A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER AS WE CONTINUE ALONG WITH THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT AND ASSIST AND FACILITATE THE SAME KIND OF WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING WITH THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND AND HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE LOCAL PARTNERS AND HOW --
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE. LEERCH
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. WE HAD A MOTION COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY
[I. Department(s) (Part 2 of 2)]
COMMISSIONER CAGLE. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.
>> I. >> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD,
COMMISSIONER RADACK. >> STEVE RADACK: THIS IS RADACK.
I AM GOING TO VOTE NO. I AM VOTING NO NOT BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN DOING THE BROADBAND, BUT AS MANY EMPLOYEES AS THIS COUNTY HAS HIRED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS OR SEVERAL MONTHS BETWEEN EVERYTHING AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENTS, I SEE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO DO THIS AT THIS TIME SO I
VOTE NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I ASSUME YOU ARE AN I
SINCE YOU SECONDED IT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE I SAID I EARLIER AND FOR CLARIFICATION I THINK WE ARE HOUSING THIS IN UNIVERSAL SERVICES.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S CORRECT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I DON'T
THINK IT NEEDS NEW EMPLOYEES. IT IS IN UNIVERSAL SERVICES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT WILL BE
FIGURED OUT. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE MOTION CARRIES 4-1.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SO. GREAT. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE AGENDA. AND -- UNLESS FOLKS HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, ROBERT OR
JAMES, DID I MISS ANYTHING? >> NO, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN A WEEK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY BE SAFE. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.