Jan 05, 2021 Commissioners Court

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MR. GARCIA. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:01. IT IS JANUARY 5TH, 2021

[Opening prayer by Dr. Ed Young of Second Baptist Church in Houston.]

COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT WITH WHO IS GOING TO BE STARTING OUR YEAR OFF.

THIS COMMISSION -- THIS MINISTER HAS A CONNECTION TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND FOR TODAY ONLY I WILL HAND OFF THE INTRODUCTORY RESPONSIBILITIES TO OUR NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, TO INTRODUCE THIS PARTICULAR MINISTER WHOM HE HAS ALSO GOT A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I HAPPENED OFF THE -- I HAND OFF THE INTRODUCTORY BALL TO YOU

AT THIS TIME. >> TOM RAMSEY: MR. CAGLE, I APPRECIATE.

IT IT IS AN EXTREME HONOR THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THING I DO ON COURT IS INTRODUCE MY PASTOR, ED YOUNG. FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS HE HAS LEAD THE CONGREGATION AT SECOND BAPTIST THROUGH MANY STORMS AND MANY TOUGH TIMES. HE HAS INSPIRED US.

HE HAS CHALLENGED US TO REMEMBER THE LEAST, THE LAST, THE LOST.

HE IS A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGE -- ENCOURAGEMENT AND WE ARE TO BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

THAT'S SOMETHING HE EMPHASIZES. I THINK THAT IS BEST EL STRAIGHTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP THAT PASTOR YOUNG HAS HAD WITH BISHOP DIXON, COMMUNITY OF FAITH AND THE CREATION OF LOVING KIDS WHERE WE ARE WORKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS THERE AND TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE UNDER SERVED COMMUNITY.

I AM JUST SO PLEASED TO HAVE DR. YOUNG HERE THIS MORNING. PASTOR YOUNG, WOULD YOU PLEASE

JOIN US HERE? >> I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE WITH YOU AND TO SAY A WORD OF GREETING TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE READ AND I RECOMMEND THIS HIGHLY TO ALL COMMISSIONS AND COMMISSIONERS [INAUDIBLE] HE HAS DONE AN AMAZING, AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK AS A SOCIOLOGY -- SOCIOLOGIST AND HE INFORMED ME OF SOMETHING I'M SURE YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN KNOW. IN HARRIS COUNTY SOON WE HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF FORCE OF BLACKS, HISPANICS AND ANGLICANS IN OUR COUNTY.

IF YOU CAN LEAD US AND BRING US TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE, THAT WOULD BE AN AMAZING THING TO ACCOMPLISH. IT WILL BE A MESSAGENT -- SENT OUT TO THE WORLD.

WE HAVE EQUAL FORCE IN THE COUNTY YOU REPRESENT. I KNOW THAT IS A CHALLENGE AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU WISDOM AND NO HUMAN BEING COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE, COMMISSIONERS, I WILL LEAD US IN A PRAYER.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THESE WHOM THE PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GIVE TO EACH ONE OF THESE WHO REPRESENT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND SO MANY CHALLENGES. GIVE TO THEM AN INSIGHT AND MAY THEY LOOK TO YOU DAILY AND REGULARLY SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NEEDED FOR US TO BE ONE NATION UNDERGOD, ONE COUNTY COMMITTED TO THE WELFARE AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEADING DESIRE TO US AS A PEOPLE. HEAL US, FORGIVE US, CHALLENGE US AND WE WILL GO INTO THIS SECOND DECADE OF THE 21ST CENTURY, MAY WE WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU AND GIVE THEM WISDOM AS THEY VOTE AND GIVE THEM INSIGHT AS THEY DISCUSS AND WE PRAY OH LORD THAT IT WILL BE SIMPLY OUT OF THIS WORLD. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING.

MAY WE WALK HUMBLY ON OUR KNEES IS OUR NAME AND THE PRAYER MADE IN OUR LORD AND

SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, AMEN. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU,

DR. YOUNG. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND YOU MAY HAVE KNOWN ME BETTER AS SHERIFF GARCIA. YOUR LEADERSHIP AT SECOND BAPTIST PROVIDED MY DAUGHTER AN INCREDIBLE EDUCATION. AS YOU REMEMBER SHE IS ONE OF YOUR ALUMNI THERE AND IT IS NICE TO HEAR YOUR VOICE ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT BESIDES ON TV. I WATCH YOU EARLY AND OFTEN ON SUNDAYS.

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>> I PUT TO YOU SLEEP. BE CAREFUL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOD BLESS

YOU. >> WE BELIEVE IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

THESE ARE CHALLENGING DAYS, BUT I THINK THEY ARE DAYS IN WHICH WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND

WE CAN BE HEALED AS A PEOPLE. THAT IS MY DAILY PRAYER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DR. YOUNG, THIS IS RODNEY. >> HI, RODNEY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH. BEST WISHES TO YOU AND HAPPY

NEW YEAR. >> THANK YOU. HOPE EACH ONE OF YOU LADIES AND MEN HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR. I THANK GOD FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GET IN THE ARENA. SO MANY SIT BACK AND CRITICIZE OR THEY HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS, AND YOU GUYS, ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING IN THE TOUGH, TOUGH TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE.

WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO MOVE INTO THIS NEXT NEW YEAR AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU INSIGHT AND PATIENCE AND WISDOM AND I PRAY THAT NO HUMAN BEING CAN POSSIBLY HAVE. I THINK IT IS SO INTERESTING THAT HOUSTON NOW IS A MY -- MICROCOS SEEM OF WHAT AMERICA WILL BE. IF YOU READ "THE PROPHETIC CITY" IT WILL TELL YOU IN CLEAR STATISTICS WHERE WE ARE GOING IF WE HAVE ONE-FOURTH ASIAN AND, ONE OF FOURTHS BLACK, ONE-FOURTH HISPANIC AND ONE-FOURTH ANGLOS, IF WE CAN LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER, MY, MY, MY, WHAT A VISION TO THE WATCHING WORLD.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. GOD BLESS YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO START THE YEAR. I NOTICED OUR NEW FIRST ASSISTANT AND WANTED TO WELCOME HIM AS WELL. HE WILL BE A BIG PART OF COURT GOING FORWARD AND ALL OF OUR COUNTY LEADERSHIP, JUST WISHING EVERYBODY A HEALTHY

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S START

[I. Departments (Part 1 of 3)]

THE FIRST IS DECLARING 2021 THE YEAR OF THE LIBRARY. IT SERVED PEOPLE IN WAYS WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS POSSIBLE. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE MORSEL CELEBRATORY EVENTS.

2021 MARKS THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IN THE NEAR 1921 THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ESTABLISHED HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH A BUDGET OF $6,500 WHICH THE NATIVE TEXANS AND THE FIRST LIBRARY LUCY FULLER SET UP 26 LOCATIONS IN SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE HOMES.

BY THE TIME SHE LEFT THE ORGANIZATION IN 1925, WE HAD 23,000 BOOKS AND 67 STATIONS AND THE FIRST PURPOSE FILLED LIBRARY IN GOOSE CREEK. NOW WITH THE SUPPORT OF MANY OTHER LIBRARIANS, YOU HAVE 1.8 MILLION PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL TITLES.

I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO MUTE. LET ME JUST SAY THAT THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY THAT THE LIBRARY HAS ALREADY HARNESSED IN TERMS OF WHAT KIND OF SERVICES THEY CAN PROVIDE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

WE HAVE DIRECTOR MEDICAL -- MELTON ON THE PHONE. >> I WILL UNMUTE ED MILTON.

MR. MILTON? >> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS ED MILTON.

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING AND PROCLAIM TWOG 021 AS THE YEAR OF THE LIBRARY IN HARRIS COUNTY IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIBRARY'S FIRST HUNDRED YEARS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO REMAIN VIBRANT AND VITAL TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION WE WILL HAVE A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION IN TERMS OF CELEBRATING THE LIBRARY.

WE STARTED A HARRIS COUNTY DIGITAL ARCHIVE WHERE WE STARTED TO COLLECT AND DIGITIZE THE LIBRARY'S HISTORY. THIS EFFORT HAS RESULTED IN THE ACPL DATA ARCHIVE OF ON GOING PHOTOS, ARTICLES AND VIDEOS OF ACPL SINCE 1921.

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WITH THAT WE WILL BE USING A MODEL BASED OFF A STORY CORE IN WHICH WE WILL RECORD VARIOUS STORIES AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN EXPECT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES WITH HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. AS WE RECORD THEM WE WILL OR COULD I HAVE THEM AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE.

WITH THIS CELEBRATION WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE HAVING CELEBRATIONS WITH MUSIC AND FUN. EACH MONTH, THE LIBRARY WILL RELEASE VIDEOS HIGHLIGHTING THE LIBRARY EXISTENCE. WE WILL HAVE IN HOUSE PRODUCTIONS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL AND NATIONAL ACTS. THE FIRST OF THESE ACTS WILL BE JANUARY 20TH AT 6:30 P.M. ON FACEBOOK LIVE WITH THE PREMIERE OF THE SCREENING OF ACPL'S PRODUCTION "A LIBRARY IS BORN." IT IS A SILENT FILM FOLLOWED BY THE 1920S STYLE FILM WITH A JAZZ AND BOOMTOWN BRASS BAND.

AND FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE APOLO CHAMBERS PLAYERS, TWO NATIONALLY KNOWN COMPOSERS WILL DEBUT A MUSICAL PIECE IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIBRARY'S FIRST HUNDRED YEARS. AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WILL DO IN TERMS OF INTRODUCING OR ANNOUNCING OUR CELEBRATION IN 2021.

WE ARE ALSO PLANNING TO LAUNCH A PRENATAL TO ADULT LITERACY. WE WANT TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF READERS. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN MAKING SURE THE LIBRARY IS SUCCESSFUL. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU ALL AT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING. THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION.

LIBRARIES ARE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN PRECINCT 2, THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD AND BEYOND. AND SO WE ARE VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE AND GRATEFUL FOR OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND THOSE WHO WORK THERE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU, JUDGE. A HUNDRED YEARS.

WOW. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE NEXT RESOLUTION, I HAVE ONE MORE UNDER MY AGENDA, AND THAT IS TO CELEBRATE HIM ASY MOVES ON.

HE HAS BEEN SERVING AS THE RECOVERY CZAR WITH THE CITY COUNTERPART, MARVIN OWE -- ODOM AND HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

TO ME AND TO ALL OF US AND AS A LIAISON TO THE CITY. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK HIM. THE RESOLUTION READS WHEREAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALL WAS ELECTED TO SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS OF TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 140 WHICH INCLUDES PORTIONS OF NORTH HOUSTON AND UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, HE WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER AND IS THE OLDEST OF FIVE CHILDREN, THE FIRST IN HIS FAMILY TO ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SCHOOL OF LAW.

HE WAS SELECTED IN APRIL AS HARRIS COUNTY'S RECOVERY CZAR AND HELPED TO MANAGE THE EFFORT TO DRIVE THE REGION FOR RECOVERY IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE COURT. HE AND HIS STAFF AND I CAN'T THANK HIS STAFF NUMBER.

RAUL, RACHEL, HE AND MYRIAM SANDOVAL. HE LEAD KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDING FACE MASK DISTRIBUTIONS AND REESTABLISH MEANT OF THE HOUSING STABILITY TASK FORCE. HE ADVOCATED FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE PANDEMIC P.E.T.PROGRAM. THEY HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

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BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONGRATULATES AND EXPRESSES INSEAR -- SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANTED TO OFFER MY GRATITUDE.

WE HAVE BEEN ON A NUMBER OF CALLS AND CONVERSATIONS. IT IS ONE OF THE MANY AREAS THAT HELPED US AND IT WAS OUR CONNECTIVE TEE PROGRAM AND WORKING WITH GUIDE HOUSE AND EVERYONE ELSE. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN IMPORTANT, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A LEGACY OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE OF THE PANDEMIC. I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS HELP IN SEEING THAT PROJECT THROUGH. ADVOCATING FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU CAN'T HAVE FAVORITES IN THESE TIMES, BUT OBVIOUSLY HE HAD AN EYE OUT FOR ALL, AND THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED.

ALL RECEIVED HIS ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT AND THAT'S JUST ONE AREA OF HIS WORK IN THE PANDEMIC. THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE, FOR ALL OF YOUR GOOD WORK.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO FIRST THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SELECTION.

IT WAS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. REPRESENTATIVE WALLY UNDERSTANDS OUR UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL AS URBAN AREAS.

HE UNDERSTANDS STATE GOVERNMENT. HE GETS ALONG WITH PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND WAS A GREAT CHOICE. REPRESENTATIVE WALLY, THANK YOU. JUST IMAGINE, 7TH SESSION.

THAT IS A LONGTIME. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING YOU WHEN YOU WERE SO YOUNG.

ALONG WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, I AM JUST SO PROUD AND GLAD ALONG THE WAY DURING THIS PANDEMIC YOU HAD TIME TO DO A LITTLE BIKE RIDING. I NOTICED WHEN YOU ARE RIDING WITH ME, ALTHOUGH I AM THE OLDER ONE, KNOWING WHEN WE ARE OUT THERE YOU KEEP YOUR MASK ON AND THEN YOU TELL FOLKS TO PUT THEIR MASK ON AND ARE SO POLITE ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. IT WAS A TREMENDOUS SACRIFICE.

DURING THE INTERIM MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A LIVING BEFORE THIS PACK UP AND GO IN. I KNOW IT WAS A SACRIFICE FOR YOU AND YOUR GREAT STAFF. I JUST SAW YOU WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AT AN EVENT DURING THE HOLIDAYSS IN FACT. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LINE?

>> YES, MA'AM. HE IS UN -- UNMUTED. >> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, FOR THIS IMPORTANT ROLE AND THIS ASSIGNMENT AND HAVING THE CONFIDENCE IN ME AND MY TEAM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THE FOUR AND FIVE MILLION OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT REALLY NEEDED GUIDANCE. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM'S LEADERSHIP JOE, ALEX, JOSH AND EVERYBODY ON YOUR TEAM AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT ITSELF AND THE EFFORTS THEY MADE THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC. ONE, I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE A LONG SPEECH, BUT I WILL SAY THIS. I READ SOMEWHERE, I THINK IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES," THAT WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF NOT JUST SAVING LIVES, BUT SAVING LIVELIHOODS. IT HASN'T BEEN EITHER/OR. WE HAVE TO SAVE LIVES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE AND THE WORK THE PUBLIC HEALTH HAS DONE IS TREMENDOUS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. DR. SHAW HAS GONE ON TO I GUESS GREENER PASTURES FOR HIM. BUT GLEN AND ALL OF THE TEAM THAT IS OVER THERE, JENNIFER, ALL OF THE FOLKS AT PUBLIC HEALTH AND WHO GETS PULLED IN OVER THERE TO PROVIDE INPUT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AND EVERYBODY AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS ABOUT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COME PONE INEPT MOVING -- COMPONENT MOVING FORWARD UTILIZING THE DOLLARS FOR LONG-TIME STRATEGIZING WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO PROVIDING CONNECTIVE TEE TO FOLKS.

NOT JUST CONNECTIVE TEE, BUT THE DEVICES AND THE HOTSPOTS. I DO APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU. WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS FAILED

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STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AT CITY COUNCIL AS AN INTERN. COUNCILMEMBER CAROL GALLOWAY'S OFFICE AT THE TIME. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FORGIVING SOMEBODY LIKE ME -- ELLIS FOR GIVING SOMEBODY LIKE ME A SHOT. YOU HAVE BEEN LONG-TIME FRIENDS AND APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING FRIENDS. COMMISSIONER CAGLE WE OVER -- OVERLAP MY DISTRICT BY THE VETERAN'S NATIONAL CEMETERY. I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. MY TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND THE COLLABORATION WITH PAUL. WORKED WITH HIM ON THE DAILY AS A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THE LEGISLATURE MEETS NEXT TUESDAY, AND WE WILL BE SWORN IN AND HAVE THE PROTOCOLS. BUT TO THE EXTENT Y'ALL CAN COME AND VISIT, WE WELCOME THAT. A ZOOM IS JUST AS READILY AVAILABLE TO YOU GUYS AS WELL TO COME AND VISIT US. WE WILL HAVE SOME CHALLENGES GOING INTO THE NEXT SESSION, AND I WOULD JUST SAY Y'ALL HAVE A WILLING AND ABLE AND A FIGHTER IN ME IN PROTECTING HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK AND THIS RECOGNITION. ON BEHALF OF MY STAFF RAY RACHEL, MARION AND THE TEAM, WE WENT ALL IN. THEY WERE READY. AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID, YOU USUALLY PREPARE FOR THE NEXT SESSION, BUT THIS TASK IS SOMETHING THAT I JUMPED ON TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE AND HELP OUR REGION WITH RECOVERING THE EFFORTS.

THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. I AM JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. I'M A ZOOM AWAY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION, JUDGE HIDALGO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU,

REPRESENTATIVE. YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ZAR WALLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID NOT MENTION IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT I THINK I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF A LITTLE EARLIER AND GIVEN US A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT IS YOUR WORK YOU DID WITH US WHEN WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR FLOOD BOND. I ATTENDED 23 OF THE WATER SHED MEETINGS.

YOU WERE NOT ONLY AT THE WATER SHED MEETINGS THAT INVOLVED YOUR DISTRICT DIRECTLY, BUT YOU WENT TO ALL OF THE ONES WHERE YOU FLOWED INTO OR FLOWED OUT OF YOUR DISTRICT.

YOU WERE VERY HELPFUL IN THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF THE FLOOD BOND.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS TOGETHER IN THAT AREA.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH THAT SENORITY SYSTEM, ARE YOU IN

THE FANCY OFFICES OR STILL IN THE BASEMENTS? >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THOSE FLOOD BONDS ARE GOING TO PAY DIVIDENDS AND WE OBVIOUSLY NEED MORE PARTNERSHIP, MORE FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS AND PASSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WITH THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON FLOODS. AS FAR AS MY SENORITY, AND FOR THE RECORD I THINK I AM 28TH, 29TH IN SENORITY NOW.

I AM IN THE BASEMENT AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP TO THE THIRD X FOURTH FLOOR AND I DECIDED TO STAY IN THE BASEMENT OFFICE IN THE CAPITOL.

IT IS CONVENIENT TO EVERYBODY AND TO MY STAFF. I STILL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PARKING SPOT. THAT'S WHAT GETS YOU SENORITY.

THE GOOD OFFICE SPACE AND A GOOD PARKING SPOT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> JUDGE WE HAVE -- [INAUDIBLE]

>> R. JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS TRYING TO RAISE HIS FINGER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SO SORRY. >> TOM RAMSEY: ANY GOOD WORK THAT REPRESENTATIVE WALLY CAN GO IN -- CAN DO IN AUSTIN TO HELP HARRIS COUNTY IS APPRECIATED. I KNOW THE FOLKS IN AUSTIN DON'T ALWAYS RELATE TO WHAT OUR LOCAL ISSUES ARE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM AND MEETING HIM AND DISCUSSING FURTHER THOSE FLOOD ISSUES. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

I'M SORRY. APOLOGIZE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY IN MY OFFICE TO THE EXTENT WE CAN BE HELPFUL ON BEHALF OF HARRIS

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I HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME AND VISIT.

AS COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS IN THE PAST AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND OUR

COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: I BELIEVE WE

HAVE REPRESENTATIVE HERNANDEZ ON THE LINE? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> YES, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE HERNANDEZ. I AM DELIGHTED TO JOIN YOU TODAY IN RECOGNIZING A DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE. REPRESENTATIVE WALLY AS OUR HARRIS COUNTY RECOVERY CZAR. A TITLE HE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO USE.

I THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION AND GRIT AS HE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO RE -- RECEIVE SOME RELIEF ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS PANDEMIC. AND AS WE HONOR REPRESENTATIVE WALLY WE THANK HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS WHETHER IT IS TACKLING FOOD INSECURITY AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES.

HE IS NOT AFRAID TO ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES AND GET HIS HANDS DIRTY.

HE IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

AND SO HE HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME FRIEND AND I KNOW HE GENUINELY CARES ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

PROUD TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE. I AM HONORED TO SAY THANK YOU

FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU, KOLL -- COLLEAGUE.

APPRECIATE THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT IS GREAT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AND THANK YOU FOR WEIGHING IN ON THIS VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT RESOLUTION FOR OUR CZAR.

THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT MS. HERNANDEZ HOW IMPORTANT SHE IS AS WELL AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHIME IN FOR YOUR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND. OLOGY -- ALL OF US NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET IN

AUSTIN. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF RESOLUTIONS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I DO. THE FIRST ONE I WOULD LIKE -- IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE GIFT OF LIFE AS BLOOD DONATION IS OFTEN REFERRED TO. BUT IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON BLOOD DONATION. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WE HEARD DON'T FOR -- FORGET TO GIVE. IT IS TAKING ON A SENSE OF URGENCY WITH THE PANDEMIC IN OUR MIDST. FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY BLOOD DONORS WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP TO DONATE BLOOD LIKE IT IS THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT. THEY SET THEIR CLOCKS TO IT. THEY GO OUT THERE.

A BUDDY OF MINE I USED TO WORK WITH WAS PROUD OF GETTING THE MULTI GALLON DONOR AWARDS FROM THE GULF COAST BLOOD CENTER. AND SO I WAS -- WHEN THEY TOLD ME GIVING PLATELETS WAS IMPORTANT -- BLOOD DONOR WASN'T IMPORTANT, BUT IT WAS THE PLATELET THAT GAVE A DIFFERENT SENSATION. IT IS ALL IMPORTANT AND IT ALL SAVES A LIFE.

FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER DONATED AND CONTINUES TO DONATE WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED I HOPE IT CREATES AN AWARENESS AND A SENSE OF URGENCY TO THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED TO STEP IT UP.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T MAYBE CONSIDER STEPPING UP AND STEPPING FORWARD AND CONTRIBUTING. THIS RESOLUTION READS WHEREAS JANUARY 2021 IS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH, AND WHEREAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT AN UNPREVENTED FLUCTUATION IN BOTH SUPPLY AND THE NEED FOR BLOOD. AND WHEREAS THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER NEEDS 800 TO A THOUSAND BLOOD DONATIONS MEETING 170 HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITYIES IN A 26-COUNTY AREA.

AND WHEREAS BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS ARE THE MOST FREQUENT PROCEDURE PERFORMED IN

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AND WHEREAS TO ENSURE BLOOD IS AVAILABLE WHERE NEEDED COMMUNITIES RELY ON THE COMMITMENT OF DONORS WHO EMPOWER BLOOD CENTERS TO RELY -- TO CONTINUE TO SERVE -- TO SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE AVAILABILITY OF A SAFE AND PLENTIFUL BLOOD SUPPLY. BE IT RESOLVED THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT HERE BY RECOGNIZES JANUARY 2021 AS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I THINK WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE BLOOD CENTER TO ACCEPT.

>> WE DO. THERESA PENA WITH REGIONAL GULF COAST BLOOD CENTER.

>> IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND JUDGE HIDALGO AND ALL OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COURT ATTENDEES WHO RECOGNIZE GETTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN SAVING LIVES. THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY HAVE THE POWER TO IMPACT AND PROVIDE HOPE TO PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.

ONE OF THE STARTLING STATISTICS WE HAVE GOTTEN IS ONE IN 20 PEOPLE GIVE BLOOD.

THAT'S 5%. COMMUNITY CENTERS NEED A THOUSAND DONATIONS A DAY TO SERVE OUR PATIENTS. THAT'S A HEAVY BURDEN FOR THE 5% OF THE POPULATION WHO DONATE. THE LOCAL STORY ISN'T UNIQUE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER TEXAS BLOOD CENTERS OR EVEN THE NATION'S BLOOD SUPPLY. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE WAYS BLOOD DONATIONS CAN SAVE OR SUSTAIN LIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, TRAUMA AND ACCIDENT VICTIMS, ORGAN TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND MOTHERS DURING LABOR FREQUENTLY USE A LOT OF BLOOD. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT CANCER AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT PATIENTS RECOVERING FROM TREATMENT OFTEN NEED THOSE TRANSFUSIONS AS WELL. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE BLOOD AVAILABLE WHEN YOU NEED IT.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHEN YOU OR A LOVED ONE NEEDS THE BLOOD SUPPLY IT NEVER CROSSES YOUR MIND. THE COMFORT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY WE CARRY FOR YOU, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. IT IS EASY AND TAKES AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME. THAT HOUR CHANGES THE FUTURE OF SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

IT CAN HELP AS MANY AS THREE PATIENTS IN THE LOCAL HOSPITALS.

IN ADDITION TO DONATING BLOOD, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19 TO DONATE CONVALESCENT PLASMA TO TREAT THE MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT CANNOT BE MANUFACTURED. THE SURROUNDING HOSPITALS ARE DEPENDENT ON VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONORS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEY ARE THE ONLY BLOOD PROVIDER TO HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES 24 HOURS A DAY AND SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

WE NEED THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF LEADERS TO ENSURE WE HAVE A HEALTHY BLOOD SUPPLY THAT COMBINE COVER ALL PATIENTS IN NEED. WHEN INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF USE YOUR VOICE TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD DONATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT AND I HAVE NO DOUBT YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL INSPIRE OTHERS TO GIVE. WE ASK THAT THOSE WHO ARE FEELING HEALTHY AND WELL, GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT GIVE BLOOD.ORG TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

WE NEED DONATIONS REGULARLY AND URGE YOU TO GIVE A CONVENIENT LOCATION TO DONATE BLOOD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND RECOGNIZING SUCH A VITAL

COMMUNITY SERVICE. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THAT THEY DO.

JUDGE, I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT IN THE TIME I HAVE GONE TO DONATE BLOOD, THE STAFF THERE IS ALWAYS VERY, VERY WELCOMING. THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER TO DONATE. SO THANK YOU FOR A -- FOR WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE.

>> THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND TO ALL OF US ON COURT. IT HAS TO DO WITH RECOGNIZING THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD A REGRETFUL HISTORY IN SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE.

[00:35:05]

THE STATEWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING MAP, PROJECT OF TEXAS ESTIMATED 300,000 PEOPLE , 79,000 BEING MINORS, ARE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY REMAIN COMMITTED TO PROTECTING INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM THERE IS A LOCAL DESIRE TO ELIMINATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THAT MEANS RECRUITMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PROVISION OR OBTAINING OF AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE USE OF FORCE, FRAUD, CO -- CO WESHES FOR THE -- COERCION TO SUBJECT THEM TO SERVITUDE. OR THEN -- OR THE INDUCE MEANT OF THE -- COMMERCIAL SEX TRAFFICKING. OR IF THE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMS THAT ACT IS YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE. AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY IS AN EGREGIOUS CRIME IT IS IN SUPPORT OF THE LAWS IN PLACE AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING TRAFFICKERS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT AND PROSECUTING TRAFFICKERS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW AND WHEREAS TO EDUCATION, HARRIS COUNTY MUST WORK TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MODERN SLAVERY IN ALL FORMS, BOTH COUNTY AND STATEWIDE. BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 1 AND ENDING FEBRUARY 4TH, 2021 AS NATIONAL TRAFFICKING AND MODERN DAY SLAVERY PREVENTION MONTH TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY HAVE IN ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MODERN SLAVERY. JUDGE, LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE NEWS REPORTS AS OF LATE REMIND US THAT THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS. WE SAW LATE LAST YEAR AN EVENT IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON AND ANOTHER ONE RECENTLY. WE KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. IT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY AND IT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I JUST APPLAUD SHERIFF GONZALEZ, THE CON STANL -- CONSTABLES, HPD AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR WHAT THEY DO, BUT I WANT TO COMMEND US FOR TAKING A STEP IN ADDRESSING THE NEED TO BE VERY STRATEGIC WITH OUR INITIATIVE. YOUR INITIATIVE, JUDGE, WILL HELP US IDENTIFY THOSE VICTIMS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE BEING PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY BEING SUPPORTED IN OUR COUNTY. AND SO THOSE ARE MY TWO RESOLUTIONS, JUDGE.

THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE SOME FOLKS TO SPEAK ON THIS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YES, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

JUDGE, 9 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST BEGAN TO SERVE I WAS APPROACHED BY REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA HARLIS TO ASK FOR MY HELP IN SHUTTING DOWN TEA ROOMS. WHEN SHE SAID TO ME SHE WANTED MY HELP IN SHUTTING DOWN TEA ROOMS I INSTANTLY THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TAKE ME TO THE SAKOWITZ DOWNTOWN AND THEY HAD A TEA ROOM THAT WAS THERE TO WHERE THEY SERVED YOU THESE SANDWICHES WITH THE CRUST CUTOFF AND THERE WAS VEGETABLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE SANDWICHES.

THEY WOULD HAVE THE LADIES PINCHING ME. IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AND I WAS ALL FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE TEA ROOMS. LATER ON IT WAS REVEALED THAT

[00:40:05]

YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHUTDOWN THESE THINGS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY INVOKE -- WITH THE HELP OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE CONSTABLES, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN AND ATTACK THE PROBLEM AT THE ROOT WHICH WAS THE TRAFFICKERS THAT WERE PAYING CASH FOR THE USAGE OF BUILDINGS. THEN WHEN WE ATTACHED THE OFFENSE TO THE BUILDING WE WERE ABLE TO STOP A LOT OF THAT THAT'S HERE.

THAT'S RYAN'S OFFICE AND WE WILL GIVE HIM RECOGNITION LATER ON AND THEN SHERIFF GARCIA'S OFFICE AND CONSTABLE HERMAN'S OFFICE. IT WASN'T ROSEN JUST YET, BUT THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ALLOWING US TO PUSH BACK PART OF THE BLIGHT.

IT IS LIKE TAKING A BATH. YOU MIGHT CLEANSE YOURSELF FOR AWHILE, BUT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY GO BACK OR YOU START TO SMELL AGAIN. THIS IS A BLIGHT, AND IT NEEDS TO HAVE LIGHT SHED ON IT. ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON THAT, WAS IN PART TO RECOGNIZE HOW WE HERE HAVE COOPERATED WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. I THINK SENATOR ELLIS, YOU AT THE TIME ASSISTED US IN GETTING THIS THROUGH TO HELP PUSH BACK AND SHED LIGHT.

WHEN YOU PUT LIGHT ON THINGS IT IS A DISINFECTANT AND IT HELPS KILL THE BAD STUFF.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR, BUT IT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF IN TERMS OF THE BEST PRACTICES OF THE STATE IF NOT ELSEWHERE IN TERMS OF HOW YOU ATTACK HUMAN TRAFFICKING HERE IN YOUR OWN REGION. WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEPS. THANK YOU THEN SHERIFF GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT'S PULLED TOGETHER TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR THAT AMENDMENT.

ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF HELPING US GET THE MESSAGE FURTHER ACROSS.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED SENATOR ELLIS. TEXAS IS AMONG -- I THINK, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ISN'T TEXAS THE LEADING STATE IN LEGISLATION AGAINST HUMAN

TRAFFICKING? >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE ARE, COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE SO MANY -- I KNOW BISHOP DIXON WORKING WITH PASTOR YOUNG AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO DO IT LIKE A NO PRASKING EXAMPLE -- NO TRAFFIC EXAMPLE.

CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THE RODEO AND CERTAIN EVENTS -- I WAS JUST SITTING HERE THINKING MAYBE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS MAY HAVE IDEAS. I WAS ASKING AND I KNOW WE GOT A LOOK AT YOUR STATS AND THEY ARE ALL ON BEST PRACTICES. BIG SPORTING EVENTS IN THE MAJOR AREAS LIKE NEW YORK OR CALIFORNIA OR WHEREVER, TEXAS, THEY DO ATTRACT THAT ELEMENT.

THE COUNTS YOU MADE REFERENCE TO EARLIER, YOU OR CACTUS, EVEN DESPITE WHAT WE HAVE DONE, THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

I WAS ASKING AND TALKED TO DIXON ABOUT IT. I KNOW THESE BIG EVENTS ATTRACT A LOT OF IT. WE'RE ON THE BORDER. PEOPLE COME NOT NECESSARILY FROM MEXICO, BUT COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. IT IS SUCH A PROBLEM.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU WERE RECOGNIZED BY

THE ABL FOR YOUR WORK ON THE BIRD ACT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: HATE CRIMES.

[00:45:08]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, THE HATE CRIMES BILL. BUT YOU WERE ALSO VERY VOCAL ON ADDRESSING THIS TYPE OF EGREGIOUS ACTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY SO I WANT TO APPLAUD

YOU DURING YOUR LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR THE RESOLUTION. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE AS CABBING -- AS CABBING -- CACTUS SAYS, SHED A LIGHT ON THESE ISSUES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE STREETS EVERY DAY.

EVEN IN THE CITIES THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, LAW ENFORCENT IN, THEY SEE IT AND THEY KNOW WHERE IT IS. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT SO WE KNOW WHERE IT IS HAPPENING AND WHEN WE SEE IT, WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. SLEPT AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS OUT. AND IDENTIFYING THIS AS A BIG ISSUE OF THE COUNTY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, JUDGE, IT HAS REALLY BEEN MS. TEA PULLING TOGETHER THE BIPARTISAN. OTC HAS ALWAYS BEEN -- EVEN WITH THE PORT AND THE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE AND OTHER GREAT PORT CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

WE OUGHT TO PUT SOME ATTENTION ON IT THIS SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, DO

WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? >> KIMBERLY ISA WITH RESCUE US

INC. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMIS -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I AM KIMBERLY ISA AND I AM A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I AM HONORED TO REPRESENT RESCUE US COMMISSION THIS MORNING. WE ARE A FAITH-BASED TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND LIFE COACHING. OUR DOORS ARE OPEN 24/7. I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE OUR THIRD ANNUAL EVENT HONORING THE AWARENESS MONTH IT WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 29TH FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. WE WILL BE FEATURING MANY SPEAKERS FROM MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. YOU CAN REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER THE CURRENT EVENTS TAB. WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE OUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER WHICH IS 832-225-6879. I, MYSELF, I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE OF BEING TRAFFICKED FOR 21 YEARS. I AM CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF -- ON THIS SIDE OF LIFE AND OUT OF THE GAME. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I GUESS IT WAS ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO I RAN ALONGSIDE OF YOU IN A RECOVERY 5K RUN AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY GOT TO KNOW YOU AND GOT TO SPEAK TO YOU. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR HEART AND THAT YOU WERE THERE WITH US, THE ONES THAT DID NOT BELIEVE WE WERE WORTH RUNNING FOR.

YOU WERE RIGHT THERE FOR US. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT MEMORY.

YES. WE ARE ACTUALLY -- AT RESCUE US MISSION WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF OPENING A SECOND HOME, A STATE HOME. AND WE SHOULD BE CLOSING IN ON THAT SOMETIME THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK. WE ARE GROWING.

AS I GO TO WORK IN THE MORNINGS, I DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND I AM APPALLED -- I CAN'T SAY APPALLED. THERE ARE SO MANY TRAFFICKERS IN PLAIN SIGHT AND IT BREAKS MY HEART. THEY ARE SITTING IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES AND THEY ARE STANDING ON THE CORNERS WITH THE GIRLS. I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, THAT'S WHERE THE ATTACK NEEDS TO BE FROM THESE POLICE OFFICERS -- I MEAN FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS TO BE A HEFT -- HEFTIER SENTENCING AND MORE OF A PRESENCE OF POLICE OUT THERE. JUST DRIVING TO WORK YESTERDAY MORNING I SAW ABOUT 30 FEMALES OUT THERE ON THE CORNER. TRAFFIC IS NONSTOP.

IT IS NOT THE WAY WE WANT TO LIVE IN OUR CITY. I KNOW WHEN I AM DRIVING PAST THOSE YOUNG LADIES THEY ARE HEART BROKEN AND I KNOW THE PAIN AND THE SHAME AND THE GUILT. AND EVERYTHING THAT IS KNOWN. WE ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO GIVE SOME HOPE AND TEACH THEM SOME LIFE SKILLS. LET THEM KNOW IF I CAN DO. IT

ANYONE CAN DO IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> AND THANK YOU THIS

MORNING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

[00:50:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> STELLA WITH RESCUE US INC. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THIS MORNING. IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO WALK WITH THE SURVIVORS AND DECIDED TO COME OUT AND WE ARE HELPING THEM TO BECOME DRIVERS. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO -- TO USE THE ALLIANCE IN A WAY THAT IF WE TURN TO THE CITY -- WE KNOW THEY ARE BIG, STRONG WOMEN AND HAVE STRONG TRAFFICKING. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY IS GIVEN TO US AND KNOWING THAT WHAT WE DO IS WE ALLOW THEM TO COME AND REHAB TATE. WE ARE OPEN 24/7. WE ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN THE HOUSE WHILE WE HELP THEM. THE SPIRITUAL WELL BEING. THEY NEED TO DO THE CAREER AND WE HELP THEM AND LEAD THEM TO RESOURCES IN THE CITY. A LOT OF THE WOMEN WE HAVE HELPED ARE NOW SETTLING DOWN. WE HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP ON THE 29TH AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK PEOPLE TO JOIN US AS WE PRESENT THE MONTH OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND WE PREENINGS OF SLAVERY -- PREVENTION OF SLAVERY. IT IS WWW.RESCUE ADMISSION.ORG. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, LUCINDA. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. LET'S MOVE TO THE COVID-19 AGENDA. THAT'S SECTION 24 ON PAGE 19. ITEMS A1 AND 2 IS A REQUEST OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO EXTEND THE EMPLOYEE PAYMENT PROCEDURES DURING COVID.

AND THE OPTION FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEE FRONT LINE WORKERS. 24B1 THROUGH 3 PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES REQUEST. 24C, CS DID IS APPLYING FOR GRANTS FOR THE COVID-19 RENTAL

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I HAVE A QUESTION ON 2 TOUR B -- 24B1 WHICH IS ON THE GIFT CARDS.

HOW ARE WE TRACKING THE GIFT CARDS? IS THERE AN ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IN PLACE WITH REGARD TO THOSE? IS THERE SOME SORT OF SYSTEM IN PLACE SO WE KNOW THEY ARE ACTUALLY -- SO WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE BEING GIVEN? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR TRACKING THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. TO CLARIFY IT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH DR.

BORWINKLE ON WHO CURRENTLY HAS THE VIRUS. IT IS AN ACADEMIC STUDY THAT IS ON GOING. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE SMART ABOUT WHERE WE DEPLOY THE VACCINE. WE RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS, A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE AND THEY NEED TO BE COMPENSATION -- COMPENSATED. THE COMPENSATION IS A STANDARD GIFT CARD. I BELIEVE IT IS $15. I THINK SOMEBODY FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WILL HAVE THE ANSWER TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S QUESTION ABOUT HOW IT IS BEING

TRACKED? >> I AM UNMUTING PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU HAVE A BIT OF ANY -- OF AN ECHO SO IF

YOU CAN GET CLOSER TO THE PHONE. >> YES, MA'AM.

[00:55:03]

WE WILL BE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE FAMILY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GET GUIDANCE ON ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GIFT CARDS. WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE SUCH AS INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE THE GIFT CARD SO WE COULD HAVE THE IDENTIFIERS -- [INAUDIBLE] IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS WELL AS FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HEARD AS WELL.

THE GROUP WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A GIFT CARD FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY AS

WELL. [INAUDIBLE]. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I COULDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING, BUT THE TWO THINGS I HEARD IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS VERY INVOLVED AND THERE IS A TRACKING SYSTEM IN PLACE AND THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. ITEM 24D1 THROUGH 5. THE LIBRARY REQUESTED NO ACTION ON THAT. ITEM 24E IS THE BROAD COVID RESPONSE.

THERE IS ONE ITEM THAT DWIGHT REQUESTED WE MOVE ON AND HE IS OUT OF THE OFFICE, BUT HE WANTS TO MOVE ON. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ARE YOU COMMENTING ON THAT? OKAY. SO IN PERSON VISITATIONS AS YOU KNOW ARE SUSPENDED FOR INMATES DUE TO COVID. THEY ARE COVERING TWO CALLS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S COSTING 2 CENTS A MINUTE. ON SEPTEMBER 29TH WE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO EXTENT THE CONTRACT. NOW THE CONTRACT IS EXPIRING AGAIN.

PURCHASING AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE PROVEN THE SAME AGREEMENT THROUGH FEBRUARY OF 2021 AT THE LATEST. EXCUSE ME. AT THE LEAST.

SO THE JAIL SECURES A CONTRACT FEBRUARY 28TH, 2021 AT THE SAME RATE AND NUMBER OF CALLS

CURRENTLY PROVIDED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: DO YOU WANT A MOTION ON THAT NOW, JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS? >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, DO YOU MIND SENDING THAT OVER TO US A LITTLE LATER? I THINK IT IS SIMPLE ENOUGH I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT IN MY HAND, BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND FOR OUR RECORDS YOU SEND THAT OVER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. I WILL HAVE THEM SEND IT. MY STAFF IS SENDING IT RIGHT NOW. WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE ON IT NOW, COMMISSIONER CAGLE?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING THE CONTRACT.

IT MAKES SENSE AT THIS TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: A MOTION BE COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND

BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THE OTHER POINT I WILL MAKE BRIEFLY IS JUST THE VACCINES. I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN QUITE A ROLLERCOASTER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE HAD A BIT OF AN UPDATE ON A SITUATION.

THERE'S TWO BIG POINTS. THE FIRST POINT AS YOU ALL KNOW THE VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, AND THAT'S GREAT. THE SECOND KEY POINT IS THE SUPPLY IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.

WE BELIEVE THERE IS AROUND A MILLION PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO QUALIFY FOR CATEGORIES 1A OR B. WE ONLY RECEIVED THE COUNTY POPULATION HAS RECEIVED IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VACCINES. SO WE ARE AT THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING OF THE ROLLOUT. THE BULK OF THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN SENT TO PRIVATE PROVIDERS OR PUBLIC HOUSE -- ANYWAY NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES, ET CETERA. THE NUMBERS ARE LIMITED. THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED AROUND 6,000 OR 7,000 VACCINES OUT OF THE BLUE. ON THE 23RD WE GOT AN E-MAIL SAYING YOU GET 5,000 VACCINES TODAY. WE GOT ADDITIONAL VACCINES

[01:00:05]

VERY LIMITED NUMBER. WHAT I BELIEVE AND THE TEAM AND WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE TEAM AND OTHER COUNTIES ABOUT THIS. WHAT IS THE BEST ROLE THE COUNTY CAN PLAY. I SEE TWO PARTICULAR ROLES. IT IS TO KEEP TRACK OF THE NUMBER IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE THIS MANY RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY.

HOW MANY VACCINES HAVE WE RECEIVED? HOW MANY HAS THE COUNTY RECEIVED, AND HOW MANY HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED? THAT TO ME IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR THE COUNTY TO HAVE SO WE CAN TRACK IT AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMUNITIES LEFT BEHIND. THE CHALLENGE IS THERE IS NO PUBLIC DASHBOARD WITH THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE IS SORELY OUTDATED.

SO THE STATES -- THEY KNOW THIS AND THEY TOLD US THEY ARE WORKING ON THIS THEY WILL TELL US FOR EXAMPLE 20,000 VACCINES WERE ADMINISTERED IN HARRIS COUNTY WHEN THE MEDICAL CENTER ALONE ADMINISTERED 50,000. SO THE DATA IS SO FAR OFF THAT IT IS NOT EVEN WORTH ANALYZING AND PUBLISHING IT. RIGHT NOW I SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ASKING HE SEND US ACCURATE AND -- COLLECT ACCURATE DATA. I WILL SAY THE STATE STARTED REQUIRING THEY COLLECT DEMOGRAPHICS AND COLLECT ZIP CODES AND THAT KIND OF THING TO SEE ARE THERE CERTAIN REGIONS OR DEMOGRAPHICS BEING LEFT BEHIND.

AGAIN, THE DATA IS SORELY OUTDATED. THE SECOND KEY ROLE WOULD BE AS A PROVIDER OF LAST RESORT. SO IF THERE ARE FOLKS FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS OR IF THERE ARE FOLKS WHO QUALIFY AND THERE IS A DEMAND OF VACCINES AND THEY ARE NOT MATCHING, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY COULD HELP MATCH. THE PROBLEM IS WE DON'T HAVE A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHO ALL HAS HOW MANY VACCINES. SO RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T PLAY THAT CONNECTOR ROLE EITHER. WE ARE WORKING -- JOSH IS WORK -- WORKING WITH THE TEXAS MEALING SEN -- MEDICAL CENTER TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THE COORDINATION HAPPEN.

WE DON'T HAVE A CARROT OR A STICK, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN DO IT.

CURRENTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WORKING ON THOSE TWO AREAS AND WORKING ON DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINES WE DO RECEIVE. WE RECEIVED A HANDFUL OF A THOUSAND VACCINES.

THE ASSESSMENT WAS WHO ARE THE FOLKS THAT QUALIFY, THAT NEED THEM AND THAT WILL HAVE A HARD TIME OBTAINING THEM THROUGH THEIR JOBS. SO THE GROUPS WE IDENTIFIED IS TEACHER S WHO ARE OVER 65 QUALIFY, THE MORTUARY WORKERS, THE JAIL MEDICAL STAFF, THE HOME HEALTH WORKERS. THEY DON'T WORK AT THE FACILITY, BUT THEY WORK AT HOMES. THROUGH OUR INTERNAL NETWORKS WE REACHED OUT TO THOSE POPULATIONS AND OFFERED THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO QUICKLY GET THEM OUT THE DOOR. WE GOT THEM ON THE 23RD AND FOLKS WORKED THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY AND CHRISTMAS EVE. THEY HAD THEM OUT BY THE 31ST.

WE ARE TURNING THOSE OUT. THERE WAS A BRIEF ISSUE WHERE INITIALLY AT ONE POINT FOR A COUPLE DAYS THERE WAS A LINK FOR THOSE TO SIGN UP WHO WERE NOT IN THE GROUPS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO FIX THAT ISSUE. AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT. ADVOCATING FOR MORE VACCINES AND SAD -- ADVOCATING FOR BETTER DATA. TRYING TO BE A CONNECTOR BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON GETTING THE VACCINES OUT THE DOOR TO LIMITED POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THAT'S WHAT I GOT.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YES, JUDGE. YOUR TWO POINTS ARE THE TRACKING POINT AND THE SECOND POINT IS THAT THE FOLKS THAT FALL INTO THE GAPS.

I SUPPORT BOTH OF THOSE. WE'VE GOT 32 CITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

PLUS IF YOU INCLUDE SOME OF THE CITY THAT'S ARE NOT TRUE CITY CITIES LIKE SPRING.

IT IS NOT ITS OWN INCORPORATED CITY, BUT IT CONSIDERS ITSELF A CITY AND IT IS A ZIP CODE.

OR THE WOODLANDS WHICH IS A TOWNSHIP AND NOT QUITE A CITY.

BUT IT IS A CITY FOR OUR PRACTICAL PURPOSES AND WE HAVE ALMOST AS MANY PEOPLE IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND WE WILL FIND THIS OUT IN THE NEXT CENSUS AS IN THE INCORPORATED. YOUR TWO GOALS THERE ARE I THINK GREAT, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TRACK HOW MANY FOLKS ARE GETTING THE VACCINES AND HAVE HARRIS COUNTY BE THAT COLLECTION SOURCE FROM THE 32 CITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE

[01:05:01]

IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW WHAT HAS OCCURRED FOR US TO BE THE GLUE TO BIND THE 32 CITIES AND THEN THE LARGE -- THE LARGEST OF THEM ALL WHICH IS THE UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

AS YOU SPOKE TO THE SECOND ELEMENT OF THE LAST RESORT, BECAUSE HALF OF THE COUNTY ISN'T IN THE CITY, WE ARE IT. I THINK 30% OF PRECINCT 2 DOESN'T HAVE A CITY.

20% OF PRECINCT 1 DOESN'T HAVE A CITY. I KNOW THE LARGER PERCENTAGES FOR 3 AND 4 AND WE ARE IT FOR THOSE FOLKS. THAT ABILITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF EVERYBODY IN TERMS OF OUR POPULATION.

SO THE QUESTION IS, JUDGE, HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THOSE TWO VERY WORTHY GOALS? I'M 100% BEHIND THE GOALS. I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT AND I THINK THAT IS THE PROPER ROLE OF THE COUNTY WITH REGARD TO THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND HOW DO WE -- YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM WHICH YOU HAVE DONE VERY WELL THERE TO EXECUTING THE PROBLEM. HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT THAT YET? HOW DO WE GET FROM THE PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION TO PROBLEM SOLUTION? WE HAVE A GUY OVER HERE WHO CAME FROM ONE OF THE SMALL CITIES AND HE MAY CLUE US IN ON HOW WE CAN INCLUDE THOSE GUYS INTO THAT FIRST MEASUREMENT THAT YOU HAD THERE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. AND I WILL SAY WE ARE COLLECTING THE DATA -- THE DATA WE HAVE THAT WE KNOW IS COMPLETE IS ON WHO WE HAVE ADMINISTERED THE VACCINE TO.

WE OBVIOUSLY -- OBVIOUSLY NO PERSONAL INFORMATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE CAN HAVE SOME SEMBLANCE OF METRICS. AS THAT IS COLLECTED, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE IT AND ANALYZE IT. THE THING TO REMEMBER RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE SPEAKING PEANUTS , RIGHT? A MILLION PEOPLE QUALIFY AND WE HAVE 10,000 VACCINES. IT IS VERY, VERY SMALL. EVEN IF WE SAID WE ARE GOING TO COVER UP A -- ALL OF THE HOME HEALTH WORKERS, THERE ARE MORE THAN 10,000 HOME HEALTH WORKERS. THE BEST WE CAN DO IS REACH OUT TO ALL OF THE HOME HEALTH WORKER NODES. THEY DECIDED NOT TO PUT OUT A PUBLIC CALL LIKE THE CITY DID. IT WAS OUR ASSESSMENT THAT WITH SUCH A LIMITED NUMBER OF VACCINES. IT WOULD CREATE MORE CONFUSION AND HEARTACHE THAN IT WAS WORTH.

AS WE RECEIVE BIGGER NUMBERS, I THINK THAT'S THE SOLUTION, COMMISSIONERS.

WE CAN'T HAVE MUCH OF A SOLUTION BESIDES WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW UNLESS WE GET BETTER DATA AND/OR WE GET A LOT MORE VACCINES. IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE DON'T DISTRIBUTE THEM. I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO.

BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRACK ARE THEY MEETING THE DEMAND OR NOT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW. THE TEAM HAS SPOKEN WITH THE STATE. THEY SAY THEY ARE WORKING ON THE DATA.

WE ARE ALL PUSHING FOR MORE VACCINES. I BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET MORE. I HAVE A CONCERN AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, AS HARRIS COUNTY, GETTING SHORTED. THAT'S ALSO WHY THE DATA IS IMPORTANT.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY VACCINES HAVE BEEN SENT TO HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE OUTDATED NUMBERS. IT IS TO THE -- IT IS NOT A PERFECT SITUATION.

I THINK JOSH AND THE TEAM ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. >> R. JACK CAGLE: HE DID A GREAT BRIEFING TO OUR STAFF AND MYSELF YESTERDAY. I APPLAUD HIS BRIEFING.

WELL DONE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I APPRECIATE -- I WILL JUST SAY AGAIN THAT I GREATLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU HAVE STAYED FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE AND JUST HAVE THOUGHT THROUGH SO MANY DATA PIECES AND MOVING PIECES AND PROCESSES AND THE LIKE. AGAIN, THANK YOU. I SPOKE WITH JOSH AS WELL YESTERDAY BECAUSE I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES. RECOGNIZING THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES LIKE MY MOM WHO IS TURNING 97 THIS YEAR LIVES WITH MY SISTER. SHE DOESN'T LIVE IN A SENIOR HOME FACILITY. THE QUESTION OF HOW TO REACH THEM.

WE TALKED ABOUT A POSSIBLE DESCRAT -- STRATEGY AND WE ARE FLUSHING THAT OUT.

[01:10:01]

THE THOUGHT OCCURRED THROUGH OUR CONVERSATION THAT MAYBE STRATEGY 1 IS JUST VACCINATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, NOT NECESSARILY TRYING TO MEET THE TWO-WEEK DEADLINE.

WE GET 20,000 VACCINES AND WE HAVE ONLY VACCINATED 10,000 PEOPLE.

SO MAYBE WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DISTRIBUTE ON A MASS SCALE OF VACCINATING ALL -- AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND THEN MONTHS LATER OR A COUPLE MONTHS LATER AT LEAST START TO WORK ON GETTING THAT SECOND DOSAGE TO THOSE WOULD RECEIVED THE FIRST.

THE OTHER SIDE OF IT TOO IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PROPAGANDA CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THE CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT THIS IS INTENDED TO KILL OFF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RAMP UP OUR MESSAGING IN OUR CONVERSATION TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE RAISING THE CONFIDENCE IN TALKING TO THE COMMUNITIES AND ENSURING THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND WE NEED TO WORK TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE TO THE FOREFRONT AS POSSIBLE. THE LAST PIECE OF IT IS WE LEARNED A LOT FROM TESTING. I URGE THE STAFF TO REFLECT ON THE LESSONS LEARNED AND USE THE LESSONS LEARNED FOR THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH JOSH AND THE DOCTORS IS THAT WITH MY FOOD DISTRIBUTION THAT I AM CONTINUING TO DO LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO OVERLAP THOSE TWO WITH THE WORK OF THE TOLL ROAD. LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO -- LET'S WORK AS A COUNTY GETTING THE LIBRARY AND FLOOD CONTROL AND ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC SAFETY TO BE SYNCE UP ON THE MESSAGING -- SYNCED UP ON THE MESSAGING AND THE COORDINATION.

MAYBE OUR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE CAN HARRIS COUNTY PLAN -- OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE 4 MILLION VACCINES ARRIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT AS A POSSIBILITY. MAYBE IT SHOULD BE CAN THE GOVERNOR AT LEAST WORK WITH US SO THAT WE CAN PREDICT, JUST USING A NUMBER, 20,000 VACCINES? IT IS MANAGEABLE AND WE CAN PLAN FOR IT VERSUS THE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY WHERE IT JUST CAME AND WE HAD TO MAKE SURE TO GET IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MAYBE WE CAN WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR TO CREATE A PREDICTABLE PROCESS SO HE TOO CAN THEN PLAN FOR THE REST OF THE STATE.

I KNOW EVERYBODY IS SAYING GIVE ME EVERYTHING. I NEED IT ALL.

MAYBE WE SIMPLY SAY TO HIM WE CAN EFFECTIVELY DISTRIBUTE 20,000 OR 30,000 MONTHLY.

THAT WAY WE CAN COORDINATE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE CAN CREATE A MORE PREDICTABLE PROCESS SO THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T START SAYING, HEY, I WAITED IN LINE FOR AN HOUR AND IT WAS SHUTDOWN. THAT WAY WE CAN TAKE ONLY THOSE PERSONS FOR WHICH WE HAVE VACCINES INSTEAD OF JUST DOING A MASSIVE CALLOUT AND DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE AS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGH THE TESTING. SO THOSE ARE JUST THOUGHTS, JUDGE. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS ROLE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A COMMENT.

JUST ON YOUR POINTS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE ARE DISTRIBUTING ALL OF THE ONES

[01:15:01]

WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING A REPORT FROM THE FIRM AS FAR AS TWEAKS THAT NEED TO BE DONE BASED ON THE REACTION AND THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON BROADCAST ET CETERA SHOULD BE READY TO GO LATER THIS MONTH. ALL OF THAT WILL BE PRE-LOADED TO YOU GUYS BEFORE IT GOES OUT. AND THEN YOUR POINTS ARE ALL WELL TAKEN, COMMISSIONER.

IF WE HAD A LOT MORE IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO DO A BROAD CALLOUT.

RIGHT NOW I AGREE WITH YOU. I I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT.

OBVIOUSLY THE CITY HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON IT. WE ARE TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE NETWORKS. OF COURSE PEOPLE SHARE THE INFORMATION SO THEN THERE IS CONFUSION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR MORE CONSISTENCY FROM THE STATE AND FUND MENTALLY THIS IS SOMETHING GOVERNMENTS ARE FACING.

EVEN METHODIST HAD PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR VACCINES THAT THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR.

IT IS THE LACK OF COORDINATION AT A STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. I THINK THEY RECOGNIZE THAT.

I BELIEVE THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. I HOPE SO.

WE WILL KEEP TRYING TO DO OUR BEST AND TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS. YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> TOM RAMSEY: LET ME SIMPLY ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERENCED.

YES, I HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH JOSH YESTERDAY ON THE TOPIC.

I THINK WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER. COMMISSIONER CAGLE REFERENCED THE 33 CITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK WITH US.

BELIEVE ME, THEY HAVE A LOT MORE OPTIMISM IN WORKING THROUGH THE COUNTY ON THESE TYPES OF ISSUES AND WE SHOULD DO THAT. WE HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS.

WE HAVE UNTOLD NUMBERS OF NETWORKS WITH SPORTS AND OTHER KINDS OF LEAGUES.

IT WOULDN'T BE HARD FOR US TO CUE -- QUE UP. AS I TALKED TO JOSH HE SAID WE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING 7,000 ARMS TO PUT THE VACCINE IN. WE WANT TO GET AS MANY OF THOSE AS WE CAN. I THINK OUR JOB TODAY -- AT LEAST I LOOK AT MY JOB IN PRECINCT 3 IS TO FIND AS MANY OF THOSE ARMS AS WE CAN IN PRECINCT 3.

IDENTIFY THOSE FOLKS. IT IS EASY TO CATEGORIZE THEM. RIGHT NOW PEOPLE KNOW THE VACCINE'S COMING, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. WE WISH IT WAS HERE TODAY, BUT MAYBE WE CAN TAKE THE TIME WE'VE GOT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO GET EVERYBODY ORGANIZED IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO IT. WE DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATE'S GONNA DO, BUT I AGREE WITH GETTING THAT DONE.

I JUST KNOW IN PRECINCT 3 WE ARE GOING TO GET TO WORK AT IDENTIFYING THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE COULD OFFER THE VACCINE TO AND GET THEM QUED UP SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

ONE OTHER THING ON COVID, IF I COULD JUDGE, DATA. I HAVE BEEN A VERY LOYAL, COMMITTED DATA PERSON SINCE MARCH. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WERE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE. SO EVERY MORNING THE FIRST THING I DO IS I CHECK AND SEE HOW MANY BEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE A COVID PATIENT IN THEM.

TODAY IT IS 1560. THAT'S IN HARRIS COUNTY. THERE ARE 1600 BEDS IN USE TODAY, AND WE HAVE 14,800 PLUS BEDS AVAILABLE. THAT INFORMATION IS OFFERED WITHOUT COMMENTARY. IT IS JUST GOOD INFORMATION. WHEN I SHARE THAT KIND OF DATA WITH PEOPLE, THEY ARE SOMEWHAT ENCOURAGED. OBVIOUSLY TO BE SAFE.

IT IS SERIOUS. WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE CDC GUIDELINES, BUT GOOD INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITALIZATION DATA. PARTICULARLY WHEN WE ARE FACING SHUTDOWNS IN TERMS OF ELECTIVE SURGERY AND THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATES AND SOME OF THOSE. AND WE RESPOND -- WE KNOW THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT DO ELECTIVE SURGERY, AND YET WE ARE SITTING HERE WITH ROUGHLY 8,000 BEDS AVAILABLE IN HARRIS COUNTY. MY ONLY POINT IS IF WE CAN JUST BE SURE WE GET THE DATA OUT THERE IN HARRIS COUNTY TERMS. I KNOW SOME OF IT IS LUMPED TOGETHER IN 22 COUNTIES. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE STATE, BUT THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY WHERE IF WE CAN

GET DATA LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ON READY HARRIS.ORG WE HAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY DATA.

THERE IS A LINK ON THE THREAT LEVEL SYSTEM THAT HAS THE BREAK DOWN.

[01:20:04]

WITH THE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE CASES AND THE POSITIVITY RATE AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS.

IT IS ALL FOR HARRIS COUNTY INCLUDING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

AND IT ALL HAS EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AND WHATNOT.

I WILL MAKE SURE THE STAFF SENDS YOU THAT FNLT. ON THAT POINT ON THE DATA, WE ARE CROSSING TODAY THE GOVERNOR'S THRESHOLD THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MENTIONED. THERE IS A THRESHOLD OF 15% TOTAL BEDS.

IT CAN BE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, CHILDREN'S BEDS, GENERAL BEDS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ICU BEDS. 15% OF THE TOTAL BEDS AVAILABLE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SEVEN OTHER COUNTIES IN OUR REGION, IF THOSE ARE TAKEN UP BY COVID PATIENTS FOR SEVEN DAYS IN A ROW, THEN THERE IS A SLIGHT ROLL BACK OF RESTRICTIONS. THE ROLL BACK IS FOR THINGS THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW 75% CAPACITY TO GO TO 50% CAPACITY AND FOR BARS TO CLOSE. IN THEORY BARS ARE CLOSED IN HARRIS COUNTY. IN PRACTICE THERE IS A LOOPHOLE.

IN THEORY 75% IS LIMITED ENFORCEMENT. THE MOST WE CAN DO IS A FINE AND IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHETHER SOMEONE IS AT 75 OR 50 OR NOT.

WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS. WE WERE JUST ON WITH THE DATA TEAM THIS MORNING. WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT 14 OUT OF THE 22 REGIONS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE CROSSED THE GOVERNOR'S THRESHOLD. THE ONLY MAJOR METRO AREA, IF WE CROSS IT TODAY WHICH WE SHOULD. THE ONLY MAJOR METRO AREA NOT TO HAVE CROSSED IT YET IS AUSTIN. THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY.

IN JULY WE ALSO CROSSED THE GOVERNOR'S THRESHOLD. IT DIDN'T EXIST BACK THEN, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT, 10 OUT OF THE 22 REGIONS CROSSED IT IN JULY.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IS BASICALLY IF WE HAVE THE SAME TRAJECTORY, WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW, AND IF IT PEAKS IN 30 DAYS AND THEN COMES DOWN, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE ALL RIGHT, BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE. IT WOULD REQUIRE A PEAK.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO SIGN THAT THINGS ARE SLOWING DOWN. IF THINGS DON'T SLOW DOWN, THEN WE COULD BE IN OVERWELMING PLACE. EL PASO, FOR EXAMPLE, CROSSED THEIR THRESHOLD FIRST AND THEN WERE OVERWHELMED. THE ACTIVATION OF THE THRESHOLD DIDN'T KEEP THEM FROM BEING OVERWHELMED. WE WILL BE DASH -- IT CONTINUES TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY'S HANDS. IT IS A BEHAVIOR CHANGE.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THE FLATTENING AWAY.

IT WILL TAKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT THEY ARE CHANGING THE DENOMINATOR EVERY DAY ON US. ONE DAY 15% AND THE NEXT 15.1%.

BARRING THEY CHANGE THE DENOMINATOR AGAIN FOR SOME REASON, WE OUGHT TO BE -- WE EXPECT TO CROSS AND ACTIVATE THE THRESHOLD TODAY WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THOSE RESTRICTIONS AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE ALREADY CROSSED THAT 15% A FEW DAYS BACK.

YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU PUT IF -- PUT IN ON THIS. I THINK OUR COUNTY TEAM HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB. I DO HOPE THAT THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE WILL TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

I THINK WHAT YOU ARE ELUDING TO IS THE SMALL FRACTION OF DOSES THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD CONTROL OF ARE REALLY PEANUTS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.

BY THE TIME WE MEET AGAIN IN THREE WEEKS, WE WILL MEET AS A GROUP ON THE BUDGET SESSIONS, BUT THERE WILL BE A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON. ON KNOW -- I KNOW ON OUR STATE PARTNER SIDE THEY WERE BLIND CITED A LITTLE BIT -- BLIND SIGHTED.

PEOPLE WERE HOPING TO GET THE VACCINE QUICK AND WHEN IT WAS PUT OUT IT WAS PUT IN THEIR HANDS. WHEN THE FEDS GOT IT, THEY GOT IT OUT TO THE STATES.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAD TO GET IT OUT. I JUST HOPE AS MUCH AS WE CAN DURING THIS THREE-WEEK BREAK WE HAVE, ASSUMING SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS, THE STATE

[01:25:01]

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A WINDOW IN WHICH WE HAVE TO GO BACK BY THE NURSE WHO GAVE IT TO ME, OR YOU HAVE TO START IT OVER. AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE HAD DIFFERENT ADVICE. THIS WAS THE UT FOLKS. SOME OF IT IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER WHEN WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY, OBVIOUSLY IT CHANGES A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE REASON I TOOK IT WAS CHAIRWOMAN THOMPSON REACHED OUT TO ME SEVERAL WEEKS BACK AND SAID WHEN IT GETS HERE, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR STILL HUNG UP ON THE TUSKEGEE PROJECT.

NOT JUST THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. SHE WAS WONDER FIGURE SHE SHOULD ORGANIZE A GROUP OF STATE LEGISLATURE. I SAID GREAT.

GREAT VISUAL TO GO AND DO THAT. MAYBE SHE THOUGHT I WAS STILL A LEGISLATURE JUST KNOWING HOW OLD I AM. THERE WAS A ROLE WE PLAY IN ENCOURAGING ALL COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NOT TO BE AFRAID OR BELIEVE THE ANTI-VACCS CROWD AND EVEN IN THE ANGLO COMMUNITIES.

I HOPE IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS IF THERE IS A MESSAGE THAT WE CAN STAY ON THE SAME PAGE AND SHOW AS MUCH AS WE CAN THAT WE ARE UNIFIED AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE DISAGREE ABOUT, BUT WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO THAT HERD INNOCULATION LEVEL THERE.

AND THEN GO BACK TO THE PLACES WE AGREE ON. I WILL GO BACK AND DO A PUBLIC EVENT. THEY GIVE UH CARD FROM THE CDC WITH YOUR NAME AND YOUR STUFF ON THERE OF WHEN YOU TOOK IT. IT TELLS YOU ON THE BACK WHEN YOU GO BACK AND TAKE IT.

I THINK WE ARE GOING SOMEWHERE IN A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON'S DISTRICT. I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO BACK LIKE THE 20TH AND THE 24TH. THE WINDOW THEY ARE TELLING US IS WE NEED TO GO BACK.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOUR POINT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. I'M GOING TO LEAN ON THE SCIENTISTS TO HELP GUIDE US ON THIS PROCESS. JUDGE, I ALSO WANT TO LET THE STAFF KNOW THAT WE WORKED HARD LAST YEAR TO THINK ABOUT THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND HOW REGRETFULLY PROLIFIC THEY WERE REPRESENTED IN THE MORTALITY OF THE PANDEMIC, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS -- I KNOW I REPRESENT -- I AM IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU ARE AS WELL, AND IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR COUNTY.

EVERYBODY IS IMPORTANT, BUT OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING STRATEGIC TO ENSURE WE DON'T LOSE MORE LIVES AND WORK TO PREVENT THAT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S -- THAT THE STAFF KNOWS THAT WHAT I CALL A LITTLE ROUGH, IT MAY JUST BE MY WINTER VOICE, BUT IT IS ALSO THAT I AM THINKING OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN MY PRECINCT AND IN HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL. LEERCH

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE IDEAS. I JOTTED IT ALL DOWN. IF YOU THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WE ARE MISSING, AND FOR MY PART RIGHT NOW WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FROM YOU ALL AND IN YOUR NETWORKS IS REQUESTING THAT THE STATE SEND ACCURATE AND TIMELY DATA AND THAT THEY SEND US MORE VACCINES. I SHARE YOUR CONCERN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA IN ALL COMMUNITIES. THE ISSUE IS HOW CAN WE KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY COMMUNITIES LEFT BEHIND IF THE ONLY DATA WE HAVE IS THE VACCINES WE ARE ADMINISTERING WHICH IS A TINY

[01:30:05]

A STRATEGY. COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, ON YOUR FIRST POINT OF THE DATA COLLECTION SIDE OF THE EQUATION AND THAT ROLE WE CAN PLAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAR HEAD THAT WITHIN YOUR OFFICE, OR IF YOU WANT TO HAVE KATIE SHORT'S GROUP OVER THERE AS THE ANALYST PROVIDE SOME OF THEIR MAN POWER INTO SOME OF IT. I WILL VOLUNTEER CLIFF EDWARDS FROM MY OFFICE TO HELP.

HE IS A NUMBERS STATUS STITION PERSON. I KNOW WE ALL HAVE THOSE PEOPLE ON OUR STAFF THAT CAN HELP OUT. LET'S, IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, PUT OUR COLLECTIVE MINDS TOGETHER AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN FIND THIS DATA OUT AND PERHAPS NOT HAVE TO RELY UPON THE STATE TO DO IT.

THAT COULD BE A GREAT SERVICE IN THE DATA COLLECTION WE CAN DO FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS AND AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MENTIONED, OUR THISHT -- 32, 33 CITIES, THEY ARE GOING TO BE WANTING TO JOIN WITH US IN TRYING TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION FLOW.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ABSOLUTELY. AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS EQUIPPED TO DO THE COLLECTION AND PUT IT UP. I BELIEVE JOSH HAS CALLS WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO GET THEM TO SHARE INFORMATION AND TO GET THE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO REACH OUT AND DON'T KNOW WHICH PHARMACIES HAVE RECEIVED THE VACCINE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I LOVE THAT, JUDGE. JOSH IS A FIXER.

I'M GONNA TAKE THAT AS AN INFORMAL MOTION THAT WE WILL PUT JOSH IN CHARGE OF FIXING HOW DO WE GET THE DATA FROM EVERYBODY, AND I WILL LOAN JOSH CLIFF OR ANYBODY ELSE FROM MY TEAM. EXCELLENT IDEA, JUDGE. PUT THE FIXER ON IT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ACTUALLY, JUDGE, IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER CAGLE WAS IN MY WAVE LENGTH AND THAT IS THAT I DO WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO ASK THE ANALYST'S OFFICE TO TRY TO FIND THOSE DATA SOURCES. SHE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH UNDERSTANDING THE DEATH RATE DURING THIS PANDEMIC. I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION AND SHE CAN RECORD IT WITH JOSH.

JOSH IS FOCUSED RIGHT NOW ON JUST DEALING WITH THE ROLLOUT. THE DATA COLLECTION IS OBVIOUSLY A SEPARATE PIECE. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO ASK THE ANALYST OFFICE TO THINK THROUGH HOW TO ACQUIRE THE DATA. WHETHER WE GET IT IN A CENTRALIZED REALTIME PLACE LIKE YOU DID WITH THE ITC PART, JUDGE, I'M NOT SURE.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT CAN HAPPEN. BUT AT THE MINIMUM, SHE CAN PROVIDE US MAYBE A MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY REPORT OF THE VACCINATIONS THAT ARE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT HARRIS

COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT KATIE SHORT, YOU KNOW, THE ANALYST'S OFFICE, SUPPORTS THE HEALTH TEAM IN COLLECTING THE DATA.

THEY ARE GOING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. I SUPPORT THAT NOTION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. DO YOU SECOND THAT? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE IS A

SECOND. DONE. >> JUDGE, FOR CLARITY, WOULD

YOU MIND HAVING THE MOTION REPEATED CLEARLY? >> LINA HIDALGO: SO DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT THE ANALYST'S OFFICE SUPPORT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN DATA COLLECTION TO TRACK THE RECEIPT AND ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND

PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FROM ALL OF THE SOURCES BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE PRIVATE SOURCE THAT'S ARE KIND OF HARD FOR US TO TRACK AS WELL. IF YOUR LOCAL CVS IS DOING STUFF, WE COULD INADVERTENTLY DIVERT RESOURCES TO AN AREA WE THINK IS NOT BEING SERVED, AND THEY ARE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SENDING OUR RESOURCES WHEN, AS YOUR SECOND POINT WAS, THE STOP GAP ESPECIALLY IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE FOLKS ARE NEEDING THE SERVICES.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO A MOTION

AND A SECOND. ARE YOU GOOD, JAMES? >> I BELIEVE SO, YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT'S WHAT I HAD ON THE BROAD ITEM.

[01:35:01]

>> CAN WE TAKE A LITTLE BREAK? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

LET'S TAKE A LITTLE BREAK. IT IS 11:37 AND LET'S BE BACK AT 10

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 11:51 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

LUCINDA, WE WERE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS ON THE BROAD COVID ITEM.

>> YES, MA'AM. I HAVE ONE. SUSAN LARMORE.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS SUSAN LARMORE.

I AM A 70-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY. I LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.

I AM RECENTLY RETIRED REGISTERED NURSE CASE MANAGER. AFTER LISTENING TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I WANT TO ECHO THEIR THOUGHTS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF UNDER SERVED PEOPLE. IN THIS CASE THE UNDER SERVED ARE ALL OF US. I AM IN CLASS 1B AS AN OVER 65 PERSON AS WELL AS PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE CALLED ALL OF THE SITES IN THIS AREA THAT ARE LISTED ON THE TEXAS HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEBSITE THAT CONTAINS A MAP.

IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO GET THROUGH. MOST HAVE RECORDINGS AND MOST ARE NOT TAKING ANY TYPE OF REGISTRATION OR RESERVATION SYSTEM OR ASSIGNING APPOINTMENTS. I WAS INITIALLY CONTACTED BY MEMORIAL MEDICAL GROUP BECAUSE I SEE A PHYSICIAN IN THAT GROUP. THEIR SYSTEM CRASHED THE FIRST DAY AS THEY SENT OUT THE INVITATION. THEY SAID THEY WILL SEND PEOPLE OUT INFORMATION LATER. AS YOU KNOW THE STATISTICS RIGHT NOW ARE VERY HIGH.

WE HAVE A HIGH HOSPITALIZATION RATE. WE HAVE MANY, MANY MORE CASES.

I REALLY FEEL IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEIR PARTNERS, HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEMS AND OTHERS TO COORDINATE MASS IMMUNIZATION CLINICS SIMILAR TO THOSE PRODUCED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THE FEW HUNDRED THAT ARE BEING GIVEN WHAT'S AVAILABLE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A DENT IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BECOME IMMUNIZED AND IMMUNE TO THIS VIRUS.

IT IS GOING TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY SHUTDOWN. IT IS GOING TO LIMIT OUR LIFE AND OUR ABILITY TO SEE FAMILY MEMBERS. I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE LEADERSHIP AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND AT THE GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL TO GET THIS IN GEAR.

SO I AM ADVOCATING THAT HARRIS COUNTY BEGIN COORDINATING MASS IMMUNIZATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE OTHER THING THAT WAS MENTIONED BY THE COMMISSIONERS WAS NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH VACCINE WE WILL GET. EARLY ON ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOKED AT AND SAW RELATED TO PHARMACIES AND OTHER LOCATIONS IS THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING THE NUMBER THEY WANT. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO TRY.

YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET THE NUMBER YOU REQUEST, BUT AT LEAST YOU WILL BE TELLING THEM AS YOU DISCUSSED EARLIER WE CAN HANDLE 20,000 DOSES AND GET THOSE OUT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. IF YOU DON'T ASK YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT.

I WAS APPALLED TO SEE THAT HARRIS COUNTY INITIALLY GOT 3,000 DOSES WHERE THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOT 10,000 DOSES. I UNDERSTAND AS A REGISTERED NURSE THE HOSPITAL IS GIVING

THE BULK OF IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. KNOW WE ARE WORKING HARD ON THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. THAT'S THE BROAD COVID ITEM. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS? NEXT IS ITEM 24F AND WE COVERED IT. IT IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S RESOLUTION. THE SUPPLEMENTAL COVID ITEMS. THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS 8

[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 1 of 2)]

[01:40:07]

FOR RIGHT NOW THEY FEEL THAT IS AN ADEQUACY. ITEM 10, COMMISSIONER GARCIA,

THIS IS YOUR ITEM. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, JUDGE. I WILL MOVE ON THIS ITEM.

JUST EXCITED THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS AND AGAIN I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE INCREDIBLE RESIDUAL FOR US AS WE WORK TO CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY AND BUILD CAPACITY AND RESILIENCY IN PARTICULAR. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS

ITEM AND I MOVE ON IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND ITEM 11 IS ALSO YOUR ITEM COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. LET'S SEE.

WHERE IS THAT ITEM? HERE IT IS. JUDGE, I HAVE -- THIS ITEM STARTED WITH OUT REACH THAT I THINK BOTH YOU AND I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE SMALL MOTEL ASSOCIATION. BUT REALLY IT IS FROM RESIDENTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND BUSINESS OWNERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN MUCH LESS BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES.

HOWEVER, I LEARNED THAT IF YOU DIDN'T OPT INTO THE PAYMENT PLAN EARLIER THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR RATHER, THEN YOU WOULD -- YOU ARE NOW SUBJECT TO PENALTIES AND INTEREST.

I AM JUST URGING OUR GOVERNOR TO THINK ABOUT OUR FIXED INCOME COMMUNITY WOULD HAS A HOME AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR. BUT THIS ITEM IS STRICTLY TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING MORE THAN OTHERS. AND SO THIS RESOLUTION IS SPECIFICALLY INTENDED NOT TO WAIVE PROPERTY TAXES, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES I STRUGGLED WITH EVEN SAYING THAT. IT IS REALLY JUST TO ENCOURAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR FORGIVE THE PENALTIES AND INTEREST OF THOSE OPTING IN LATE TO THE PAYMENT PLAN PROGRAM.

WHERE CHAPTER 418 OF THE CODE GIVES POWER OF A DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY AND UNDER SUCH DECLARATION GIVES THE BROAD POWER TO SUSPEND STATUES, RULES AND ORDERSS IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH RULES AND ORDERS AND WOULD PREVENT AND HIPPEDDER THE DELAY OF NECESSARY ACTION IN COPING WITH THE DISASTER THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF -- AND MARCH 13TH, 2020 GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ISSUED A PROCLAMATION FOR A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A DECLARATION THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED 9 TIMES AND REMAINS IN EFFECT AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROCLAMATION.

AND WHEREAS CHAPTER 33 IN THE TEXAS TAX CODE ESTABLISHES PENALTIES AND INTEREST FOR LATE PAYMENT ON TAXES AS A MEANS TO ENCOURAGE TIMELY PAYMENT OF TAXES, AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF THE RESPONSIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE WORKING FOR AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE TAXPAYERS MORE THAN NORMAL.

LEADING TO TIMELY PAY. AND WHEREAS ALL PENALTIES MAY SERVE AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE, THEY MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CLOSURES AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES THAT INCREASE HOUSING AND STABILITY. WHEREAS HOUSING AND STABILITY FREQUENTLY LEADS TO HOUSEHOLDS TAKING RESIDENTS WHICH OTHER HOUSEHOLDS IN CLOSE QUARTERS FACTOR IN THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THEY MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THOSE THAT ARE CLOSE.

THERE IS A PROCESS THAT PROVIDES THE PAYMENT PLAN AND MAY ASSIST IN PREVENTING UNEMPLOYMENT AND MAINTAINING HOUSING STABILITY. AND THESE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO TO THE SPREAD OF COVID IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TIMELY PAYMENT OF TAXES.

THAT'S MY RESOLUTION. IT IS TO ENCOURAGE THAT THE GOVERNOR EXTEND THE POWERS AT THE MOMENT TO HELP RESERVE -- RESOLVE PENALTIES AND INTEREST FOR THOSE STRUGGLING TO PAY

THEIR TAXES. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, THERE ARE TWO COMMENTS THAT I HAVE ON THIS, AND I THINK THAT THIS

[01:45:05]

THE FIRST QUESTION THOUGH IS I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT IS THERE A WAY WHERE WE CAN MEASURE WHAT THAT WOULD COST US IN HARRIS COUNTY. WHAT WOULD THE FISCAL NOTE BE IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH REGARD TO HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE SECOND POINT IS RELATED TO THE FIRST POINT. THAT'S BECAUSE THESE PENALTIES AND INTEREST CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVID, WHAT FEDERAL FUNDS WE MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT WOULD THEN RECOVER THOSE COSTS ON THAT NOTE.

AND IT MAY BE AND COMMISSIONER GAR SEE -- GARCIA, I WANT TO YOU BRAINSTORM, BUT IF WE CAN SAY, BY THE WAY IF YOU DO THIS, WE WILL BE REIMBURSED BY FEMA OR THE CARES ACT OR THE NEXT ZONE COMING IN. I AM NOT WANTING TO DELAY IT, BUT IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE GREATER SUCCESS IF WE CAN COME WITH WHAT IS THE FISCAL NOTE AND WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT? THAT COULD BE PART OF THE RESOLUTION AND IT IS A FRIENDLY THOUGHT PROCESS TO YOU AND I WANT TO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW ABOUT, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, JUDGE IF I MIGHT, HOW ABOUT WE PASS THE RESOLUTION, BUT I MAKE A MOTION WITH YOUR SECOND TO DIRECT THE BUDGET OFFICE TO DEVELOP THAT COST IMPACT THAT WE CAN THEN PRESENT TO THE GOVERNOR ON A SEPARATE LETTER

FROM THE JUDGE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND WHAT THE COST IMPACT WAS AND THE SOURCES TO PAY FOR THAT AND WHETHER THAT WOULD BE UNDER FEMA OR CARES ACT OR I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE STATUS IS OF THE SECOND TRAUNCH THAT WOULD COME DOWN FROM THE FEDS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF YOU WOULD LIKE, I CAN HAVE MY STAFF WORK WITH YOURS SO WE CAN PRESENT

THAT MOTION AND THEN PRESENT IT WHEN WE HAVE IT POLISHED. >> R. JACK CAGLE: EXCELLENT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I THINK IT IS A GREAT RESOLUTION. ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH I GOT FROM MY STAFF, IN 2020 A NUMBER OF STATES EXTENDED A DEADLINE OF TAX PAYMENTS DUE TO COVID.

I THINK BELOIT PUT OUT A GRAPHIC, MAYBE I GOT IT FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I AM NOT SURE, OF WHAT HAPPENED IN VARIOUS STATES. THIS IS A REQUEST AND NOT ADDING IT TO THE RESOLUTION, THAT THEY LOOK AND SEE WHAT THESE PENALTIES IF ANY WE CAN WAIVE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND IF WE DO THAT, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS RIGHT AND I ASK BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO IDENTIFY THE FISCAL CONSEQUENCES ON ANY WE CAN WAIVE AS WELL. I THINK THERE ARE SOME. THERE IS A SECTION IN THE STATUTE OUT -- STATUTE IN CHAPTER 33, SUB CHAPTER A. IT SAYS YOU CAN WAIVE PENALTIES TAXES OWED BY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO THE EXTENTED DEADLINES DUE TO THE INCORRECT MAILING ADDRESSES OF TAX BILLS. THERE MAY BE OTHERS IN THERE.

WHAT CAN WE DO ON OUR LEVEL? AND ALSO I WOULD ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I KNOW WE DID REDUCE THE FEE FOR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION PENALTIES FROM 20% TO 15% JUST BECAUSE OF COVID. AT LEAST SOMEBODY AT THE OFFICE ASKED CAN WE TAKE IT THERE. IF IT WAS 14% IT WOULD HELP. AT LEAST IT IS WORTH AN ASK IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. I KNOW WE VOTED AS A COURT TO TRY TO GET LEGISLATION SO WE CAN COLLECT OUR PROPERTY TAXES ON THE SAME TERMS A PRIVATE FIRM CAN DO IT.

I WANT TO THROW THAT OUT. AND I WANT TO ASK BUDGET MANAGEMENT WHERE ARE YOU ALL?

WHERE ARE WE A MONTH AGO OR THREE WEEKS AGO? >> THIS IS MR. BERRY AT THE BUDGET OFFICE. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO WRITE THE RP FOR IT.

SO WE ARE NOT TERRIBLY FAR ALONG, JUST TO BEGIN. I KNOW IT DEFINITELY NEEDS OUR

[01:50:05]

AS I READ YOUR RESOLUTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN NEED THE MOST. I THINK WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HELPING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND LOOKING AT WHAT POWERS WE HAVE NOW TO DO IT.

I AM INTERPRETING YOUR REQUEST MORE BROADLY THAN WHAT CAN WE ASK THE GOVERNOR, BUT LOOKING IF THERE ARE ANY SOLUTIONS TO SEE IF PEOPLE NEED IT AND WHAT WOULD THE COST TO THE COUNTY BE? COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE WILL GET YOU A BETTER UPDATE ON WINE BARRINGER -- ON WEINBARGER SHORTLY. I WILL BE CANDID WE HAVEN'T

DONE MORE THAN BRAINSTORMING. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU HAD A FEW THINGS GOING ON.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: YES.

I'M FOR THIS MOTION AS WELL. I GO ALONG WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE. WE DO NEED THE DATA. WHEN WE DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW THE DATA. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW OUR PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED NOT ONLY BY COVID, BUT BY TAXES AND OTHER THINGS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SEND THE GOVERNOR A MESSAGE, BUT WE ALSO TRACK VERY CAREFULLY THE DATA HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE FOLKS. THERE MAY BE, AS WE SAY, MORE THINGS WE WANT TO DO.

IF WE KNEW MORE DATA MAYBE THERE IS MORE WE CAN DO. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT OUT

THERE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IT BRINGS TO MY MIND WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO TRYING TO HALT EVICTIONS.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T THINK OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO OWN PROPERTY AND THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE LATE PAYING THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. ON ONE HAND WE HAVE BEEN DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES OR UH PASHT -- APARTMENTS. I AM AWARE OF THE PUBLIC SIDE AS WELL. IT IS GOOD TO COLLECT THE DATA FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WON'T MAKE THAT PAYMENT ON JANUARY 15TH.

AND THEY HAVE NEVER IN THEIR LIVES MISSED THE PAYMENT. WHEN IT KICKS IN IN JUNE OR JULY, THEY WILL FIND OUT UNDER OUR SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE DUG THEMSELVES A PRETTY DEEP HOLE THEY CANNOT GET OUT. I THINK THE DATA WILL BE IMPORTANT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO I WILL LOOK OUT FOR THE MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE. FOR NOW THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE IS MOTIONED AS WRITTEN. THAT IS THE FULL COVID AGENDA.

AND SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL AGENDA. LET'S START WITH COUNTY

[I. Departments (Part 2 of 3)]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I'M SORRY.

I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK ON ITEM -- PAGE 5 AND ITEM 3 AND REALLY APPLAUD THE MAYOR FOR THEIR HELP ON THIS ITEM. THEY ARE COMING UP WITH THE STRATEGY ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THAT HAS IMPACTED GOOSE CREEK. I AM VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS

AND APPLAUD YOU HOW TO RESOLVE IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS

UNDER FLOOD CONTROL. TOLL ROAD? >> R. JACK CAGLE: ON THAT LAST ITEM WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA I HAVE TO CHUCKLE. WE -- HE HAS A SPRING GULLY AND WE HAVE TWO OR THREE IN OURS. IN ALL OF OUR RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS WE WOULD GET CONFUSED IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE NUMBER DESIGNATION SYSTEM THE

CON TIP -- THE COUNTY ATTORNEY USES FOR US. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: THERE IS ONE ITEM ON THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY, ITEM 3A ON THE HIRING -- SENDING OUT QUALIFICATIONS ON THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. JUST A POINT HERE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HIRE WHERE THAT SPIRIT TEASE EXISTS. FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THERE NEEDS TO BE MWBE'S AND HUBS AND DBE'S. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AND OUR

[01:55:05]

MUST BE GIVEN -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I MOVE ON THAT ITEM.

>> TOM RAMSEY: WE DO NEED THE JOBS IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND THAT IS AN OPTION WE CAN CERTAINLY GET SOME MORE FOLKS TO WORK HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ON THAT ITEM, AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR WEIGHING IN ON THIS.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR PETER ON THIS ITEM. MOST AGENCIES USE DATA FOR LIFE SICKLE PLANNING OF -- LIFE CYCLE PLANNING OF THEIR ASSETS.

THE LIFE CYCLE PLANNING IS DEFINED BY THE FHWA AS A PROCESS TO ESTIMATE THE COST OF MANAGING ASSETS -- AN ASSET CLASS AND IT IS OVER THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE CONSIDERATION AND PRESERVING AND IMPROVING THE CONDITION. BUT THE LIFE CYCLE PLANNING PROCESS IS A PROCESS THAT CAN BE USED TO FUND NEEDS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE INVENTORY.

SECONDLY TO RECOMMEND THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE PROJECT OR TO GIVE AN AS -- AN ASSET TO MAX -- MAXIMIZE THE CONDITION. THIS IS A GREAT INITIATIVE AND WE NEED TO KNOW THE CONDITION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT ONLY TO MEET THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS BUT CONDUCT LIFE CYCLE PLANNING AND RISK MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOP INVESTMENT STRATEGIES TO THE SAME. THE SCOPE SHOULD INCLUDE THAT THE CONSULTANT REVIEW AND RECOMMEND THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR TOLL ROAD ASSET MANAGEMENT. IN THAT REGARD THE CONSULTANT SHOULD BE PERFORMING AN ANALYSIS TO DEVELOP THE FUNDING OF THE BASELINES TO SUSTAIN PAYMENT CONDITIONS IF THAT'S THE CASE. IN THAT LARD -- IN THAT REGARD DOES HCTRA HAVE AN ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN AND GUIDANCE FOR EACH ASSET WE OWN? THAT'S QUESTION ONE.

AND IF NOT WHAT METHODS OR STANDARDS IS THE CONSULTANT GOING TO USE? AND THEN IS THE TOLL ROAD GOING TO PROCURE AN ASSET SYSTEM TO USE FOR LIFE CYCLE PLANNING OR MAINTENANCE NEEDS FORECASTING. IT IS A DISCUSSION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE ROADWAY NETWORK THAT IS CURRENTLY PART OF THE SERVICE THAT'S WILL HELP IN THE CONVERSATION.

PETER, ANY THOUGHTS ON THOSE QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER, YES, I DO HAVE SOME THOUGHTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE COUNTY'S TOLL ROAD SYSTEM HAS AN OVER ARCHING ASSET MANAGEMENT PROBE. I ALSO BELIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT MAY HELP THE COUNTY'S TOLL ROAD SYSTEM GOING FORWARD. OBVIOUSLY IT HELPED SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND THE FACILITY NEEDS IN THE FUTURE.

THE COUNTY HAS BEEN FORTUNATE IN A SENSE THAT IN THE VENTURES OF THE BONDS, THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A CONDITION ASSESSMENT ON THE COUNTY'S TOLLS.

THE INTERPRETATION ON THE LANGUAGE IS THE COUNTY IS CONDUCTED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND WE SUBMITTED THAT TO THE TRUSTY. THAT REPORT HAS BEEN THE DRIVER OF MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGETS. IT IS ALSO FAIR TO SAY THAT THE COUNTY'S TOLL ROAD SYSTEM HAS BEEN MAIN -- MAINTAINED IN A SUPERIOR STATE FOR 35 YEARS. IF THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA, THERE IS A WAY TO WRITE THE

[02:00:01]

INCORPORATE IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. PETER, IF YOU COULD AS YOU THINK THROUGH THIS ITEM AND JUST AS YOU WERE SPEAKING YOU MADE ME THINK ABOUT FLOOD CONTROL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO UNDERSTAND AND I THINK WE ARE NEARING SOMETHING LIKE TWO BILLION IN MAINTENANCE COSTS WE HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED FUNDING FOR ALL OF THE ASSETS WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING AS A RESULT OF THE FLOOD BOND.

I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN TALKING WITH FLOOD CONTROL ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS LIFE CYCLE PLANNING SOFTWARE OR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THAT WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR FLOOD CONTROL ASSETS, BUT I ASK YOU TO VISIT WITH RUSS AND MATT AND MAKE SURE WE CAN LOOK AT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE IN THAT RECORD.

>> AT THE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANTED TO ASK PETER, MAYBE YOU OR MR. BLOUNT, ON THAT ITEM 3A THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE REFERENCE TO, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PROCURE SOMEONE AND COME BACK WITH A SYSTEM WIDE STUDY?

>> WELL, WITH REGARDS TO THE ITEM ON THE TOLL ROAD AGENDA, AND THIS IS AN ITEM ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT BEFORE. THE COUNTY HAS A REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT A CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND WE INTERPRETED THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE WOULD SUBMIT THE REPORT AT THE END OF EVERY CALENDAR WITH THE TRUSTING OF THE COUNTY TOLL ROAD.

I WOULD HOPE FOR THE COUNTY'S SAKE THAT WE HAVE FIRMS SELECTED AND UNDER CONTRACT BY THE END OF APRIL SO WE CAN HAVE LATE SPRING AND SUMMER AND EARLY FALL TO DO THE ASSESSMENT AND GET THE REPORT DRAFTED AND READY TO GO SO WE CAN BEAT THAT TIMELINE.

>> THAT'S HELPFUL, COMMISSIONER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JOHN. JOHN, ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS WITH REGARD TO THE VERTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF DOING AN ASSESSMENT OF WHEN THE ROOVES ARE GOING TO GO OUT, WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND TRYING TO HAVE THAT -- BILL JACKSON USED TO REFER TO IT AS AT -- AS THE FLAT LINE.

YOU SPEND THE MONEY TO REPLACE ALL OF THAT STUFF WHEN IT IS WINTER TIME INSTEAD OF THE SUMMER WHEN IT IS MOST EXPENSIVE AND MOST DIRE WHEN IT COLLAPSES.

IS THAT A SYSTEM THAT IS UTILIZING A COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS THAT IS

BEING PROPOSED BY THE TOLL ROAD? >> COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT THE COUNTY BOUGHT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

WE ARE NOW PUTTING THE DATA IN IT. THE COUNTY -- I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PRECINCTS AND IN PARTICULAR UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO ACQUIRE AN ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND THEY JUST WENT THROUGH A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE WOULD NEED AND WE WILL BE BRINGING SOMETHING BACK NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

I HAVE TO WORK WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES ON THAT SO WE CAN TRANS -- TRANSFER SOME FUNDING TO THEM SO THEY CAN START THE INITIAL STATE OF THAT. I WILL COMMIT WITH PETER AND RUSS. WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS DUPLICATE ANYTHING.

I WILL DO THAT. THE BUILDINGS ARE SOMEWHAT SEPARATE.

IT IS A DIFFERENT PROGRAM. WE USE THE BIGGEST SYSTEM OF TYPE.

WE WILL MAKE SURE IT INTEGRATES WITH ANYTHING WE ADOPT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS IN THE BACK OF MY BRAIN.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE SYSTEM FOR TOLL ROAD, ANOTHER FOR ENGINEERING AND A THIRD FOR FLOOD CONTROL, BUT THAT WE ARE ALL IN A SIMILAR FLAT LINE APPROACH WHERE WE ARE REVIEWING OUR ASSETS AND WHAT DOES IT COST TO CONSTRUCT AND WHAT DOES IT COST TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT DOES IT COST TO REPLACE IT AT THE END OF THE NORMAL LIFE SPAN, AND THAT WE REPLACE IT WHEN IT IS MOST COLD FRONT

[02:05:01]

EFFICIENT FOR US AND NOT WHEN IT COST US THE MOST. >> RIGHT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> AND I WAS GOING TO POINT OUT THAT THE SYSTEM INCLUDES A WORK ORDER-TYPE SYSTEM. THE PRECINCTS HAVE THEIR OWN WORK ORDER-TYPE SYSTEMS. IT IS A COMPLEX SYSTEM WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU ARE MUTED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF PETER IS HERE AND MR. BLOUNT, I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION. IT IS JERMAINE BECAUSE -- GERMAINE, BUT THE POINT BRINGS IT TO MY MIND. PETER OR JOHN, MAYOR PARKER PASSED A BILL SOME YEARS AGO SO YOU COULD GIVE A PREFERENCE -- THEY CARVE OUT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CALLED ON HOUSTON FIRST. YOU COULD GET POINTS IF YOU HAVE AN OFFICE HERE. IS THAT NECESSARY FOR US TO ASK FOR THAT UNDERSTATE LAW? THE REASON I AM ASKING IS I WILL MAKE A MOTION WE ADD IT TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

>> COMMISSIONER, WE WERE TOLD BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT WE COULD NOT -- FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU ARE DOING AN RFQ, YOU COULDN'T GIVE POINTS TO SOMEONE WHO HAD AN OFFICE IN HOUSTON. HOWEVER, WHEN WE -- A FIRM'S ABILITY TO RESPOND IF YOU HAVE AN OFFICE IN HOUSTON WE COULD HAVE AN IN PERSON MEETING. THEY GET A HIGHER NUMBER OF POINTS BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO REQUICKER. RESPOND QUICKER.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE STATS THE CITY HAS WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE RAD --

LEGISLATURE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AM I IMAGINING THAT? I DON'T KNOW WHO CARRIED IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT CHANGED MUCH.

IT WAS CALLED HOUSTON FIRST AND IT WAS A BIG DEAL IN THE CITY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU'RE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. YOU'RE CORRECT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU PUT IT ON MY MIND WHEN YOU SAID IT. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT SOME TIME AGO AND NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT. I MAKE A MOTION THAT SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A LEGISLATIVE

PROPOSAL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD DO IT NOW, BUT -- WELL, I THINK THEY CAN AFFORD. IT YOU PUT IT IN MY MIND,

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHEN YOU SAID IT. >> THERE WAS THAT HOUSTON FIRST INITIATIVE. THIS IS WHAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD BEING ON THE RECEIVING END OF THESE RFQ'S. IF WE DON'T MAKE IT PATENTLY CLEAR THAT IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES IN HARRIS COUNTY YOU MIGHT NOT GET PICKED.

PART OF UNDERSTANDING THAT IS IT IS NOT HAVING AN OFFICE IN MISSISSIPPI OR NEW YORK OR CALIFORNIA. IT IS HAVING AN OFFICE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

MAYBE THERE IS LEGISLATIVE ACTION, BUT THERE IS CERTAINLY REVIEW OF THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATION THAT'S JOHN BLOUNT WAS TALKING ABOUT. WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS -- YOU ARE GOING TO DO A CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND YOU DO PRESIDENT HAVE AN -- YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFICE IN HARRIS COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU THINK ABOUT DOING THAT. THERE ARE ENGINEERING REASONS WHY ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU WOULD NOT SELECT SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICE IN

HARRIS COUNTY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL WOULD BE, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, BUT IF YOU WORK IT UP WE WILL MEET AND TAKE A BREAK. I ADMIRE HOUSTON, BUT MAYBE THE VACCINE IS WORKING AND I AM FORGETTING STUFF. IT WAS A BIG DEAL FOR MAYOR

PARKER. I MAKE THE MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT

CLEAR, JAMES? DO YOU NEED A CLARIFICATION? >> I NEED A CLARIFICATION.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DEVELOP A HARRIS COUNTY FIRST MODEL COMPARABLE TO THE HOUSTON FIRST CARVE OUT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON. ADD THAT LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.

JAMES, DOES THAT HELP OR SHOULD I MAKE IT LESS WORDY? I CAN WRITE IT UP.

WHEN WE GET TO INTER GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS I WILL DO IT THERE.

>> SO IT WILL NOT BE ATTACHED TO ITEM 3A, CORRECT? >> RODNEY ELLIS: NO.

I DON'T THINK I COULD. I WILL DO IT FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACTION.

MR. -- IT IS THE RAMSEY MOTION. YOU PUT IT ON MY MIND,

COMMISSIONER. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> TOM RAMSEY: ONE OTHER POINT. PRECINCT 3 HAS A 10-YEAR PAYMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. WE ARE IN YEAR FIVE. WHAT AM I SAYING? IN ANOTHER FIVE YEARS WE WILL HAVE EVERY ROAD IN HARRIS COUNTY UP TO A STANDARD.

[02:10:01]

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. GOING OFF THE CONVERSATION AT THE COURT TABLE, IT MAY BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANNUAL CONDITION OF THE COURT THAT IS GENERATED FOR THE COUNTY'S TOLL ROAD SYSTEM. I WILL ENDEAVOR TO GET WITH JOHN AND RUSS AND OTHERS TO SEE HOW THAT COULD ALSO BE FOLDED INTO THE ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND HOW THAT CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY PRE SINKS AND -- PRECINCTS AND OTHERS IN THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE IT BETTER. AND IT WILL HELP DRIVE A MORE

RIGOROUS BUDGET SETTING PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, PETER. SO THAT WAS TOLL ROAD. LET'S MOVE TO BUDGET

MANAGEMENT. >> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, JAMES.

>> 3A IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED? >> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT.

AND THERE WILL BE AN ITEM ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN A SECOND.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: BUDGET MANAGEMENT THERE IS A CORRECTION. ITEM 4C. STRIKE CONSULTATION COORDINATION SERVICE IN RELATION TO EXPANSION OF THE CORE PROGRAM AND REPLACE IT WITH MENTAL HEALTH AID TRAINING SERVICES. AND THEN JUST A THANK YOU TO THE CLERK AND THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR AND EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING THE TACH -- THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS ON THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.

IGA. >> TOM RAMSEY: ARE WE STILL ON 4B?

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN BE. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER AND THEN I KNOW COMMISSIONER CAGLE

HAS A QUESTION. >> TOM RAMSEY: ON 4B. THE QUESTION IS THAT IS A NEW POLICY AND IT IS COMPREHENSIVE IN TERMS OF PAID LEAVE WHETHER IT IS TO ADOPTION, FOSTER, SICK LEAVE OR NEWBORN. DO WE KNOW THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF WHAT THAT CHANGE IS GOING TO BE? SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF FUTURE IMPACT. BUDGET IMPACT TO THAT CHANGE IN POLICY?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. THIS, COMMISSIONER, WAS DONE IN SOMEWAYS BEFORE YOUR TIME IN THAT IT TRANSLATES THE RECOMMENDATION THE COURT APPROVED IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE WERE PRESENTED THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS. PERHAPS DAVE CAN CAN --

>> TOM RAMSEY: SO THAT HAS BEEN DEFINED? >> LINA HIDALGO: IT HAS BEEN.

IT WAS DEFINED AND PASSED. SO THIS IS THE NEXT STEP. IT IS PUTTING IT INTO A FORMAL

WRITTEN POLICY IN THE HAPPENED BOOK. >> TOM RAMSEY: HAVING OWNED AND OPERATED A BUSINESS FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS THESE DEFICITS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.

IF THAT WAS THE OBJECTIVE, THE OBJECTIVE OF OFFERING SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY IS BUILT -- IS BUT CHEAP. I WANT TO KNOW THE FINANCIAL IMPACT FOR THIS CHANGE AND IT

SOUNDS LIKE WE DO. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE DO, AND THE THINKING WAS TO MAKE IT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, BEST IN CLASS WITH OTHER COUNTIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR RECRUITING AND RETAINING WORKERS. THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF STUDIES DONE INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, LBJ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SAYING THIS HAS ALL KINDS OF BENEFITS.

DAVE, IS THERE SOMETHING TO ADD ON THE BUDGETARY? >> NO.

I THINK IT IS CORRECT WE DID THE FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT AND GOT INPUT FROM THE DEPARTMENTS BEFORE THIS WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF YOU

WOULD LIKE, WE CAN CERTAINLY SHARE IT WITH YOUR OFFICE. >> TOM RAMSEY: COULD YOU LET

ME KNOW WHAT THAT IS? >> SURE. >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. ALSO WANTED TO REMIND US THAT THIS WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST ITEMS EARLY LAST YEAR. WE STARTED STRATEGICALLY SO WE COULD CREATE A BASELINE.

OBVIOUSLY IT WAS VERY PROPHETIC ON OUR PART THAT NO ONE KNEW WHEN WE FIRST DID THIS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PANDEMIC IN OUR MIDST SO THIS HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO A LOT

[02:15:01]

THIS IS A BUILDOUT OF WHERE WE STARTED. IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO MAKE

SURE WE COULD CREATE A BASELINE ON THE COST AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET OFFICE, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS UNDER BUDGET OFFICE AND THERE IS A THIRD ONE UNDER 15C THAT DEAL WITH THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATED -- ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR DEPARTMENT. AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH WHAT THESE MOTIONS ARE, I WANT TO NOT VOTE FOR ANY SHIFTING OR CHANGING OF POLICY DEALING WITH THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR UNTIL WHAT ISSUES WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE RESOLVED. AND SO I WOULD BE VOTING NO ON THOSE THREE ITEMS. THOSE THREE ITEMS ARE 4D UNDER BUDGET MANAGEMENT, 4F3 UNDER BUDGET MANAGENT -- MANAGEMENT AND 15C UNDER COUNTY CLERK. JUST WANTED TO HAVE AN

OPPORTUNITY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO MOVE IT AND TO VOTE ON IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I WILL MOVE THEM NOW TO MAKE IT EASIER. I WILL MOVE THEM.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WILL MOVE THEM NOW TO MAKE IT EASIER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: A MOTION UNDER BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 300,000 AND 15C UNDER THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHICH IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSFER TO POSITIONS OF FUNDING TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR EFFECTIVE JANUARY 16TH. A AMERICAS TO -- A MOTION TO

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I TAKE IT YOU ARE A NO, COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YES.

I THOUGHT I SAID NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: SORRY. I MISSED IT.

AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU ARE A NO? THOM

>> TOM RAMSEY: I AM A NO. THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2. I AM A YES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT TO SAY ON THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY, IT IS A BIG, BOLD STEP. IT IS INCLUSIVE. I AM GLAD WE INCLUDED ADOPTION OR FOSTER TO ADOPT AS PART OF THE POLICY. I THINK IT WILL MAKE US VERY COMPETITIVE. I THINK YOUR PHRASE WAS FIRST IN CLASS.

I HOPE -- IT TOOK A LONGTIME. THANK YOU. IT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU TALKED ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO BECOME JUDGE, AND I'M GLAD WE ARE FINALLY GETTING IT WORKED OUT. I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE LBJ SCHOOL IN PARTICULAR.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT CAME OVER AND SPOKE UP IN

SUPPORT OF THIS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU,

COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ON ITEM F1. I AM JUST TRYING TO GET AN UPDATE.

I LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AND I CAN SEE THE CJC BEING WORKED ON. IT DOESN'T LOOK ANYWHERE NEAR OPENING. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND JUDGE WHEN THEY GIVE US AN UPDATE, UPDATE EL FRANCO LEE PLAZA AS

WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: JOHN, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE?

ARE WE ON SCHEDULE? >> RODNEY ELLIS: HE MIGHT BE MUTED.

>> I'M SORRY, JUDGE. I WAS HAVING TROUBLE. CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> LINA HIDALGO: THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IS ASKING AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS ASKING ABOUT THE EL FRANCO LEE PLAZA.

>> WE ARE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES ON THAT. I WILL GET THAT TO YOU. I WAS JUST TOLD WE ARE AHEAD

OF SCHEDULE. WE WILL GET YOU THOSE DATES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S BOTH OF THEM, MR. BLOUNT? >> YES.

ONE TIES INTO THE OTHER. YOU HAVE TO FINISH THE JURY CENTER BEFORE WE DOT EL FRANCO

CENTER. THAT'S ON TOP. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS BUDGET MANAGEMENT. NOW MOVING TO IGA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WILL COME BACK TO IT.

I DON'T HAVE MY COMPUTER. I CAN'T READ IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL COME BACK TO IT. UNIVERSAL SERVICES. I HAD A QUESTION ON A WHICH AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL THIS EXPENDITURE WAS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

[02:20:02]

>> I DON'T, JUDGE. IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY ALL FIVE YEARS OF THE CONTRACT.

WE RESERVED THIS AND -- WE RESEARCHED THIS AND WE DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THE PAYMENT. I THINK GOING FORWARD I CERTAINLY WANT TO GET OUT OF THE HABIT OF NOT INCLUDING EX -- EXPENDITURES IN THE BUDGE -- BUDGET.

WE SHOULD INCLUDE EVERYTHING IN THE BUDGET AND THAT WILL LET US DO A BETTER JOB OF BUDGETING. MOST -- BUDGETING MOST OR ALL OF OUR REVENUE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR RAISING THIS ITEM. MAYBE LAST YEAR OR EVEN THE YEAR BEFORE WE JUST KEPT WRITING CHECKS ON THE SYSTEM. IT WAS A HORRIBLE SYSTEM AND WE GOT OURSELVES INTO A BLACK HOLE, A DEEP BLACK HOLE AT THAT. I THINK THIS PARTICULAR PAYMENT IS THE LAST PAYMENT IN THE PURCHASE OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

I WANT TO APPLAUD THE SHERIFF FOR HELPING US BE MORE THOUGHTFUL IN WHAT WE NEED TO DO OUR WORK HERE. HE IS THE LARGEST USER. BOY, THIS HAS BEEN A PAINFUL THING. WE HAVE BEEN WRITING CHECK AFTER CHECK WITHOUT IT BEING BUDGETED AND UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE FISCAL IMPACT OF IT. I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE ANOTHER

MOTION LATER TO HELP US DEAL WITH THESE THINGS. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 6B,

POLLUTION CONTROL REQUEST NO ACTION BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE ON 6B2 I MADE AN ADJUSTMENT. THAT IS ALSO AN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ITEM.

IT IS NOT I AM OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT I AM OPPOSED AT VOTING ON ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET OUR ISSUES WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RESOLVED.

SO IF WE COULD TREAT THIS THE SAME AS WE DID THE OTHERS, I THINK -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS,

DID YOU JUST SAY A MOTION? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, SIR. >> JUDGE, IF I MAY.

ON 6B2, WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER COMMISSIONER'S COURT WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH BOTH THE CAPITAL FUNDING PORTION OF 6B2 WHICH IS FOR THE TRANSITION AS WELL AS THE ON GOING COST WHICH IS A LITTLE OVER 900,000. OUR RECOMMENDATION UP TO THIS POINT IS TO PROCEED WITH THE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR THE TRANSITION, BUT HOLD ON THE ANNUAL FUNDING UNTIL WE HAVE AN MOU AND MORE DOCUMENTATION AND A BETTER SCOPE FROM

UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND FROM THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THE USE OF COMMERCIAL PAPER TO FUND THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR I.T.

TRANSITION COSTS OF 1 MILLION 124THOUSAND. THE REST THEY ARE WORKING ON WITH THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATION TO SEE WHAT SUPPORT THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE. I FAILED TO MENTION THAT EARLIER, DAVE.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> . >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES. SO THAT WAS UNIVERSE SERVICES. PUBLIC HEALTH. POLLUTION CONTROL.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE ON ITEM 8A, I AM VERY, VERY EXCITED AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK DR. BANDEN AND HER TEAM FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE EFFORTS AND THEIR TIRELESS WORK TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

THIS AIR MONITOR IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR BY THE AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL FOUNDATION.

IT IS A GRANT THEY PROVIDED TO PRECINCT 2. WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT THE NEIGHBORING REFINERY OUT THERE IS THE VALERO AND VALERO WAS APPROACHED TO HELP PAY FOR THIS. UNFORTUNATELY THEY DIDN'T SEE IT FIT.

HOWEVER, THE ACC STEPPED UP IN A HUGE WAY AND MADE SURE THAT WE COULD GET THIS DONE.

IT IS IN THE MANCHESTER COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE LONG STRUGGLED WITH

[02:25:04]

IT IS A LATINO LOW INCOME COMMUNITY. MANY RESIDENTS ARE SPANISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS. SO THIS AGREEMENT IS A NECESSARY STEP TOWARD PLACING AN AIR MONITOR IN THE AREA. DR. BABIN HAS BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. I AM GRATEFUL TO HER. SHE WORKED -- I APPRECIATE THIS, BUT SHE WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE WE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE BEST POSSIBLE MONITOR FOR THE AVAILABLE DOLLARS INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING OUT SOME TECHNOLOGY.

SHE WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE RIGHT ONE. AND THEN THE GRANT THAT IS PAYING FOR IT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE WITH AIR ALLIANCE AND OTHERS WHO HAVE RAISED ISSUES OVER YEARS. I AM GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AND WITH ACC AND WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO BRING LONG OVERDUE CHANGES IN COMMITMENT TO A COMMUNITY THAT BEARS A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN FOR OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR. DR. BABIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

THIS ROLE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY, BUT IT WAS THRUST UPON YOU.

YOU HAVE THE REINS AND YOU ARE IN CHARGE AND I LOVE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THAT OF YOUR TEAM. AGAIN I JUST CAN'T THANK ACC AND EKMA ENOUGH FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH PRECINCT 2 AND PROVIDING US A HISTORICAL GRANT OF A MILLION DOLLARS TO BRING THESE INITIATIVES FORWARD.

JUDGE, IT IS RECOGNIZING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONITORS.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE MOST MONITORED IN TEXAS, BUT WE HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE AND GRADUALLY THAT IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO FIND THE DUCT TAPE AND THE GLUE AND THE BUBBLE GUM AND BANDAIDS DURING THE HORRIFIC FIRE. AND NOW WE ARE WORKING AS A COMMUNITY TO BRING A BETTER WAY TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO EACH OTHER. BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO THE

INDUSTRY OR BE A GOOD INDUSTRY TO US. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU, COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE AIR IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY FOREGOING ON 40 -- FOR GOING ON 40 YEARS. IT INVOLVES STACK SAMPLING AND SOME OTHER THINGS. I TOO REACHED OUT TO DR. BABIN YESTERDAY.

WE HAVE PARTNERS IN THE CITY OF PASADENA AND CITY OF DEER PARK AND CITY OF LA PORT.

THE AMOUNT OF RECORDS THAT THEY HAVE ON THESE ISSUES IS SIGNIFICANT.

ONE THING I LEARNED EARLY ON WHEN YOU ARE MONITORING THE AIR, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE DATA ONCE YOU GET IT. YOU CAN HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE DATA WHEN YOU GET IT. WE HAVE BAY TOWN AND WE HAVE A PORT AND DEER PARK AND PASADENA. WE HAVE THE ENERGY ENTERPRISES THAT HAVE DATA. TCQ HAS DATA. I WILL BE WORKING WITH DR. BABIN'S OFFICE AND ENCOURAGING DR. BABIN IN A PURSUIT TO BE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE KNOW TO DO. I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN I LOOK AT THE AIR IN 2021 AND I CONSIDER WHAT THE AIR WAS IN 1972, PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE,

[02:30:10]

CLEAR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS?

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, LUCINDA. >> YES, WE DO.

DO YOU WANT ME TO UN-- UNMUTE DR. BABIN? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> DR. BABIN, YOU ARE UNCOMMUTED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS AND WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE. WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WE NEED TO FOCUS AND WE AREN GAG -- WE ARE ENGAGING THE COMMUNITIES. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL PUT UPON AND JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE MANCHESTER AREA AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND THE NECESSITIES. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO OTHER AREAS ALONG THE SHIP CHANNEL AND AT OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE ARE POCKETS OF INDUSTRIES BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE POCKETS OF INDUSTRY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ZONING IN OUR AREA.

THERE IS AN EXPOSURE ISSUE AND WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE AREAS AND WE WILL BE MOVING OUT. WE WILL TRY TO DO IT IN A GRADUAL AND STRATEGIC WAY.

WE CAN'T PLACE THEM AT ONE TIME, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE COMMUNITIES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE ADDRESS ADDRESSED.

I THANK THE COURT TREMENDOUSLY FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: PROUD OF YOU, DR. BABIN.

>> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMAN ROBERT GUYEGOS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING AND CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 8A WHICH WILL HELP WITH A PARTNERSHIP OF THE AIR PROGRAM AT HARDEMAN PARK. DISTRICT I IS DOWNTOWN AND THE JAVIER PORT AREA AND THE SHIP CHANNEL AND PARTS OF EAST HOUSTON WHICH INCLUDES THE MANCHESTER COMMUNITY. THE MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS AND SENIORS WHO HAVE RESPIRATORY ISSUES. THE AIR MONITOR SYSTEM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE AIR MONITORING NETWORK AND HELP PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO PROTECT AND RESPOND TO THE IMMUNITY THREATS. THEY HAVE THE MARE MONITORING -- THEY HAVE THE AIR MONITORING PROGRAM AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP. ALL DATA REEF -- ALL DATA RECEIVED IS SHARED WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR HELPING THE HEALTH OF THE CITIZENS. I COMMEND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND JUDGE HIDALGO AND DR. BABIN AND HER TEAM FOR THEIR GREAT WORK.

THE MANCHESTER COMMUNITY AND I IMPLORE COMMISSIONERS TO SUPPORT ITEM 8A AND THANK YOU

FOR YOUR TIME, AND AGAIN GOOD AFTERNOON. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR CALLING IN. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS ITEM AND MANY OTHERS IN YOUR AREA. PLEASE CONVEY TO THE RESIDENTS OF MANCHESTER THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY GETTING AN AIR MONITOR, BUT THEY ARE GETTING

SIDEWALKS TOO. >> I APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER, FOR YOUR HELP ON

THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, FOR CALLING IN. WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON. >> SENATOR CAROL ALVARADO.

GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I AM VERY PLEASED TO WEIGH IN JUST A BIT ON THIS AGREEMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS BECAUSE IT IS COMBINEING -- COMBINING THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.

EVERYBODY IS INVESTED IN IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF AIR. I CAN'T THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA ENOUGH FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. I KNOW YOU WERE ENGAGED IN THE

[02:35:06]

WHEN YOU AND I WERE ON CITY COUNCIL WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH BILL WHITE TO REDUCE THE BENZINE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENGAGE IN THAT AND SAW RESULTS.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS IN COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PRECINCT I WANT TO THANK THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, ELLIS, CAGLE, RAMSEY AND OF COURSE JUDGE HIDALGO.

THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING THE OVERALL QUALITY OF AIR IN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AIR HAS NO BOUNDARIES AND POLLUTION HAS NO BOUNDARIES. IF WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN MANCHESTER, THAT HELPS TO REDUCE HOPEFULLY EMISSIONS -- BETTER INFORMATION AND BETTER DATA. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TESTING IS IN THE PANDEMIC.

THIS WILL HOPEFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. I AM REALLY THRILLED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS WHERE I GREW UP. MY MOTHER STILL LIVES THERE.

MY 93-YEAR YOUNG MOTHER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS KNOWS MY MOM VERY WELL.

THIS IS WHAT I THINK CATAPULTED MY DESIRE TO BE IN PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE AS A TEENAGER AND COLLEGE STUDENT I WAS ADVOCATING FOR THINGS LIKE THIS AND HAD SUCH A HARD TIME GETTING ANYWHERE WITH IT BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS KIND OF PASSING THE BUCK BETWEEN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SO I AM EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE OF COMMISSIONER GASH -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S EFFORTS TO BRING THESE PARTIES TOGETHER AND TO KNOW THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT IN THE STATE SENATE AND MY MOM AND SOME OF YOU NEIGHBORS THERE THAT I HAVE KNOWN ALL OF MY LIFE AND STILL GO TO CHURCH THERE THAT THERE IS -- HELP IS ON THE WAY. THIS INFORMATION IS CRITICAL.

LAST SESSION I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER DELEGATION MEMBERS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DELEGATION IN APPROPRIATING ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE TWO EXISTING MOBILE AIR MONITORING VANS AND PURCHASE A THIRD. WE WILL CONTINUE THAT WORK.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH Y'ALL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SENATOR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR CALLING IN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE REALLY THE PERSON WHO INSPIRED ME TO STAY FOCUSED ON MANCHESTER.

IF NOT FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, CONGRESSMAN GREEN MAY NOT HAVE WORKED TO FIND FUNDING TO FIND THOSE OVERPASSES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFER AND TO SEPARATE THE TRADE FOR PUBLIC STREETS.

YOUR ADVOCACY FOREMAN CHESTER -- FOR MANCHESTER HAS HELPED OVER THE YEARS.

I WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR EFFORTS. IT IS GREAT TO WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THE NECESSARY CHANGE FOR COMMUNITY THAT WE JUST WANT THE SAME THING WE ALL WANT. CLEAR AIR, CLEAN WATER, CLEAN LAND, A CLEAN COMMUNITY AND A SAFE PLACE TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN BRO -- THEY CAN GROW UP TO BE

SENATORS AS WELL. >> WELL, THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT AND THANK SENATOR ALVARADO AS WELL. SHE IS SUCH A DEAR FRIEND.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR HER.

I HAVE BEEN OVER THERE TO HER MOTHER'S HOUSE ON MY BICYCLE. HER MOTHER, BY THE WAY, MET US A COUPLE TIMES WHEN WE DID A BIKE RIDE ACROSS TEXAS MANY YEARS AGO.

I THINK SHE STILL -- I THINK HE WAS STILL IN THE HOUSE THEN OR WERE YOU ON CITY COUNCIL?

I CAN'T REMEMBER? >> I WAS ON THE HOUSE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CALL IN. GIVE OUR REGARDS TO YOUR HOME AND GOOD LOOK IN UH --

AUSTIN. WE NEED YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: SENATOR, THIS IS JACK CAGLE AND I WANTED TO CHIME IN AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND GIVING US YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AS WELL AS WITH CITY COUNCILMAN GULLEGOS.

Y'ALL MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IT, BUT MY COLLEAGUES ARE BECAUSE I SAID IT MANY TIMES.

I AM A PRODUCT OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COUNTY. I GREW UP DOWN THERE.

I WENT TO THE PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

I WAS THAT LITTLE KID IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT READ THE PLEDGES AND THE PRAYER BEFORE THE

FOOTBALL GAMES STARTED. >> NICE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WE GREW UP

[02:40:06]

THAT'S HALF THE PHRASE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA KNOWS THE OTHER HALF OF THE PHRASE.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND WE WOULD STEP OUTSIDE AND THE KIDS WOULD SMELL THE ROTTEN EGGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND COMPLAIN TO OUR DADDY. MY DADDY WOULD SAY, SON, THAT'S THE SMELL OF MONEY.

SUCK IT UP AND IT IS TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL. I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE MAKING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF KIDS TO WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT SMELL LIKE I HAD WHEN I WAS A CHILD GOING THROUGH THE PASADENA SCHOOLS BACK IN THE DAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND SENATOR ALVARADO, IF I CAN SAY THIS, GIVE THE SENIOR SENATOR OUR RECORDS -- OUR REGARDS AND

LOVE IN THIS NEW YEAR. >> I WILL. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE SIDEWALKS. BADLY NEEDED.

LONG OVERDUE. THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: LOVE IT.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS POLLUTION CONTROL.

ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA? >> NO, MA'AM. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I HAVE

ANOTHER ITEM ON POLLUTION CONTROL, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT IS ON ITEM B. I JUST VERY QUICKLY WANT TO MAKE SURE I OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN AIR AGENCIES IS SUBMITTING FOR A GRANT AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NO SAVINGS IDENTIFIED, WE ARE LENDING OUR SUPPORT TO THE NACC'S -- NACCA'S AGENCY THROUGH THE CLEAN AIR ACT. IT IS THE LOCAL CLEAN AIR AGENCY AND THE CLEAN AIR YIELDS INCREDIBLE SAVINGS TO THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND IMPROVED PROPERTY VALUES.

I JUST WANT TO COMMEND DR. KEALE. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US AT AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN PRECINCT 2. THE COMMITMENT IS LONG AND DISTINGUISHED IN HIS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND CLEAN AIR AND I SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORT TO DIRECT THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION'S ATTENTION TO THE CLEAN AIR ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH THOSE THAT ARE WORKING TO BRING MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND AS THE PREVIOUS ITEM INDICATED WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER THERE IS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN LEVERAGE FOR OUR

RESIDENTS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON ALL OF IT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, IS

THAT ON 8B? >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 8B ON PAGE -- UNDER POLLUTION

CONTROL. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ALL RIGHT. IT IS THAT READS IT IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN AIR AGENCY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT JOSEPH R BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT KAMALA HARRIS RELATED TO KEY ISSUES WITH STRATEGIC CLEAR AND CLIMATE PROGRAMS. JUDGE, I HAVE REVIEWED THE, I GUESS IT IS THE SEVEN ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THERE THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF AND SUPPORTIVE OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUE.

I I AM A RESPECTFUL NO BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THE OTHER SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS I CAN'T GO ALONG WITH. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO TIE US UP IN GOING THROUGH THE MY KNEW -- MINUTIA OF ALL OF IT, BUT I WILL DO A TO ON THAT. I -- TO DO A NO ON THAT.

I DO WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE BECAUSE WHAT HE REEATED IS A GREAT AND LOFTY GOAL. I CAN'T VOTE A YES FOR THAT IN THE SUB PARTS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO PROBLEM, JACK. I WILL MOVE ON THESE ITEMS,

JUDGE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 8B. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR

OF THE ITEM. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,

JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. COMMUNITY SERVICES.

COUNTY LIBRARY. CONSTABLES. SHERIFF.

FIRE MOORE SHALL. FIRE MARSHALL. INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES. COUNTY CLERK. COUNTY ATTORNEY.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY. JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. YES COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

[02:45:04]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO THANK THE JAD FOLKS FOR EXPANDING ON THE SCOPE OF THE WORK THAT YOU AND OTHERS ON THIS COURT HAVE DONE TO MAKE PROGRESS AND MAKING SURE OUR CRIMINAL JUS SIS SYSTEM -- JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATES WITH FAIRNESS.

AT MR. FLOYD FUNERAL WE CAME IN WITH A LARGE LIST OF ITEMS. I THINK THERE WERE 10 OR 11.

THIS IS A PROGRESS REPORT AND SHOWING THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

THEY ARE TRIKING TO MAKE -- TRYING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM FAIRER IN IMAGINING WHAT WE DO. THEY HIRED A NUMBER OF OUTSIDE EXPERTS SO THAT WE CAN COLLECT THE DATA AND KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THEM ON THE FINE WORK THEY HAVE DONE. I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN CALLING AND BUGGING THEM QUITE A BIT TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T JUST PASSING ITEMS AND CREATING MORE STUDIES TO PUT ON THE SHELF. JUST PAPERING OVER PROBLEMS. THEY HAD A NOW METHODICAL APPROACH. WE HAVE SEEN SOME PROGRESS ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS LIKE PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

OF COURSE JUDGES THAT MOVE FORWARD CREATING A HOST OF OTHER THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT THEM AND APPRECIATE THE TIME THEY PUT INTO IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, JAD. I KNOW Y'ALL UPDATED THE CJCC ESPECIALLY ON THE VICTIMS' PROGRESS AS WELL. IT IS IMPRESSIVE AND MERITED, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS. DISTRICT COURTS. TRAVEL AND TRAINING.

GRANTS. FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE. I'M SORRY. I WANT TO GO BACK TO GRANTS.

ON ITEM 21B -- I'M SORRY. 21A2. THE -- YOU KNOW, JOHN BLOUNT'S OFFICE LEAD THIS GRANT APPLICATION. I ASKED IF ANY PROJECT IN OUR PRECINCT COULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THIS GRANT AND HE SHARED THAT THE FEMA BRICK ELIGIBILITY IS STRINGENT IN RELATION TO COST RATIOS. THERE WERE NO PROJECTS IN PRECINCT 2 THAT DIDN'T HAVE EXISTING GRANT APPLICATIONS OR REWARDS THAT MET THE FEMA OR BRICK INFRASTRUCTURE OR EXCEEDED THE BRICK OF 1. O. FROM WHAT I AM TOLD THERE WERE ABOUT 15 PROJECTS IN THE ENTIRE PROGRAM THAT MET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, BUT THE BENEFIT COST RATIO ELIMINATED IT FROM ELIGIBILITY. I JUST WANT TO ASK JOHN WHEN THE COUNTY ENGINEERING LEADS A GRANT PURSUIT OF THIS NATURE WHAT IS THE TYPICAL PROCESS FOR NOTIFYING WHOLE PRECINCTS ABOUT THE POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY AND HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHICH PROJECT QUALITY THAT COULD HAVE THE BEST CHANCES OF GETTING FUNDED?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU MAY BE MUTED IF YOU ARE SPEAKING. WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK TO

HIM, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALL RIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'LL MAKE A

NOTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOVING ON TO

-- >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE UNDER AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

I AM GOING TO OBJECT TO ITEM 22A1 WITH REGARD TO THE PAYMENT TO PFM OF $820,000.

IT IS A PART IN THAT REPORT AND I WANTED TO VOTE NO ON THE PFM.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I SECOND. WHAT PAGE IS THAT?

I JUST LOST MY PAGES. >> R. JACK CAGLE: PAGE 13 AND ITEM 22A1.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I DO HAVE JOG B -- JOHN BLOUNT AVAILABLE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S VOTE ON THIS, LUCINDA, AND THEN HEAR FROM HIM.

[02:50:04]

>> I HAVE TO SAY THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SORRY. MOTION BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY ELLIS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: CORRECT, YOUR HONOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN

FAVOR? >> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO. >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES.

JOHN, GO AHEAD. DID YOU CATCH THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION?

>> I THINK I HEARD IT. UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO GO DOWN THE HALL BECAUSE MY COMPUTER WENT BLANK. I HAD TO WALK DOWN THE HALL. COMMISSIONER, WHAT WE DID WITH THOSE PROJECTS IS WE HAD OUR CONSULTANT DO THE COST BENEFIT RATIO FIRST AND UNFORTUNATELY LIKE YOU MENTIONED, ALMOST NO PROJECTS MET THAT. UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE FOUND IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THOSE ANYBODIES -- THOSE INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

THE FLOOD INSURANCE LOSSES ARE NOT CAPTURED. THAT GOES AGAINST THE ABILITY TO GET A GRANT. IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. WE DO GO THROUGH IT AND SUBMIT ANYTHING THAT IS ELIGIBLE THAT HAS A CHANCE OF GETTING A GRANT.

IN THIS CASE THE COST BENEFIT RATIO AND THE LACK OF FLOOD INSURANCE WIPES OUT ANYTHING

SUBMITTED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I GET IT, JOHN.

THE MAIN THING I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS JUST TO COORDINATE WITH MY OFFICE.

AT LEAST COMMUNICATE WITH US THAT THERE ARE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND MAYBE WE CAN HELP LOOK AND ASSESS AND MAYBE RECOMMEND PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE.

THIS ONE CAUGHT US BY SURPRISE AND WE JUST WANT TO BE A PARTNER IN THESE

OPPORTUNITIES. >> YES, SIR. WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE A

COLLABORATION IN THE FUTURE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, WHILE MR. BLOUNT IS ON, I CAN WAIT, BUT ON THE ISSUE OF COST BENEFIT RATIO IT REALLY TIES IN WITH THE INTER GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS STRATEGY IF MR. POPPY IS ON AS WELL.

HE GAVE ME A GOOD BRIEFING THE OTHER DAY. WE TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, BUT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOME UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON CHANGING THE FEDERAL RULES AS THEY RELATE TO COST BENEFIT. JOHN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OR MR. POPPY COULD COMMENT ON IT. IT WOULD GOVERNMENT UNDER

INTER GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. >> YES, COMMISSIONER AND COURT MEMBERS.

THIS IS RUSS POPPY WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. JOHN IS BORROWING MY MICROPHONE AS HE GETS HIS COMPUTER BACK UP. WE ARE SHUFFLING BACK AND FORTH TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE. WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS WITHIN THE WORD OF THE 2020 BILL WHICH IS THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT.

THAT OPPORTUNITY DEALS MORE WITH THE CORE PROCESS AND HOW THEY REQUIRE A BENEFIT TO COST RATIO FOR FEDERAL PROJECTS. IF WE CAN GET SOME GOOD TRACTION THERE AND COME UP WITH PILOT PROJECTS IN HARRIS COUNTY TO SHOW AND ILLUSTRATE THE BENEFITS OF FEDERAL INVESTMENTS EVEN THOUGH THESE NEIGHBORHOODS MAY NOT JUSTIFY BENEFITED COST RATIO, THERE IS A NEED THERE. CERTAINLY THERE IS A BENEFIT FOR THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY I WAS REFERRING TO, COMMISSIONER. IT IS MORE SO ON THE CORE OF ENGINEER'S SIDE. IF WE SHOW MORE ON THE CORE SIDE IT MAKES SENSE FOR THOSE

WHO RELY ON BENEFIT TO COST RATIO. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I ONLY BRING THIS UP NOW BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I MET RUSS POPPY, HE JUMPED ON MY RADAR WAS WHEN HE WALKED ME THROUGH THIS AND HE WAS THINKING THAT COMING TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT I CAN HELP MAKE THE CASE TO SUMMON OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. WHEN I DID THE RESEARCH I FIGURED I WISH SOMEBODY EXPLAINED IT TO ME BEFORE I GOT HERE, BUT I THINK WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW WE GET HIGHER AT A DC REPRESENTATION. THAT OUGHT TO BE A TOP PRIORITY AND ONE WE SHOULD GET ON THE RADAR. ALL OF US SHOULD HAVE AGREED THAT IT REALLY HAS SET SO MANY COMMUNITIES BEHIND IN SO MANY WAYS. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO STRESS BECAUSE I HOPE HE IS SERIOUS ABOUT THE STRATEGY TO CHANGING IT.

WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN, NOW IS THE TIME. RUSS, AND -- YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT A MEETING WE HAD WITH CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER AND TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE OTHER WHEN'S THEY WALK IN WITH A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS. WITH SO MUCH FOCUS ON EQUITY, IF WE CAN PUT A DENT IN THERE SOMEWHERE TO FIND SOME COMPROMISE AND GET AWAY TBR

[02:55:04]

PUT THAT OUT THERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE HAVE ALL BEEN IN AGREEMENT ON FOR QUITE AWHILE IS THAT OUR STREAMS AND BIOS ARE RELATED IN OUR -- AND OUR COMMUNITIES ARE INTERRELATED. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS OUT OF THE $2.5 BILLION BOND 900 MILLION OF THAT WAS SET ASIDE TO WHERE WE WERE, AND WE MENTIONED THIS IN OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS AND WE PUT THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC THAT 900 MILLION OF THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE PUT ASIDE FOR THESE COST BENEFIT RASH YORES.

IT -- COST BENEFIT RATIOS. IT WAS GOING TO WHERE THE NEED WAS THE GREATEST.

THEY NEEDED TO HAVE WORK DONE THAT WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR THESE COST BENEFIT PROGRAMS. UNTIL THAT WORK WAS DONE, EYE RON PHYSICALLY BECAUSE WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL, IF YOU ARE DOWNHILL AT ONE OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T BENEFIT FROM A PROJECT, YOU WERE GETTING THEIR WATER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT PROJECT DONE UP STREAM BECAUSE WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL. THAT WAS PART OF WHAT WE DID WITH REGARD TO THE BOND AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR FOLKS IN WASHINGTON IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THESE AM SIS THAT -- THESE ANALYSIS THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE THAT THEY INDIRECTLY HARM THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS APPROACH. WATER FLOWS DOWNHILL. THEY ARE HITTING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU SAY YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP BY NOT TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WORSE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF FIRST, AND ONE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD NOT SWALLOW THE WATER OF ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD DOWNSTREAM. PRECINCT 2 IS DOWNSTREAM OF US ALL. IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE WATER IN PRECINCT 4 AND IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THE WEAR IN PRECINCT 3, COMMISSIONER GARCIA GETS IT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL STOPPING THE WATER WHERE WE CAN AS AN INTEGRATED EFFORT. AND SO I SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATIVE EFFORT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS WAS DESCRIBING THERE, MAKING SURE THAT WE EDUCATE OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS THAT THIS MODEL IS NOT ONE THAT IS SYSTEMICALLY

BENEFICIAL TOWARD ELIMINATING THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: I DO NOT WANT THE CORE OF ENGINEERS DRIVING POLICY IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT DOES NOT MAKE A LICK OF SENSE.

I BATTLED THIS COST BENEFIT NUMBER FOR 40 YEARS. THEY ARE NOT APT TO CHANGE IT TOMORROW, BUT WE SHOULD KEEP THE DRUM BEAT UP. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IT SHOULD BE THE TOP OF THE LIST.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATORS, OUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON WORST FIRST. WE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WE WORKED UP A MODELING SYSTEM NOT BASED ON COST BENEFIT, BUT BASED ON FLOODED STRUCTURES.

WHERE ARE THE FLOODED HOUSES THAT MUST GO AND FIX THOSE FIRST? THE CONVERSATIONS AND JUST SO YOU WILL KNOW, THE CORE IS ON MY RADAR SCREEN.

I WANT YOU ALL TO GO OUT TO GREENHOUSE ROAD NORTH OF I-10.

WHEN YOU GET THERE YOU LOOK UP STREAM OF GREENHOUSE THAT HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL MAINTAINS IT. DOWNSTREAM THE CORE MAINTAINS IT.

THERE ARE A HUNDRED HOMES FLOODED BECAUSE THE CORE OF ENGINEER'S POLICY RELATED TO HOW THEY KEEP AND MAINTAIN IT. I DON'T HAVE PATIENCE FOR THOSE KIND OF THINGS. PART OF WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME IS THAT THE WATER WOULD COME INTO THE RESERVOIR FAR TOO QUICKLY AND IT WOULD CREATE AN ISSUE WHICH AGAIN DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. I WILL JUST LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT I AM CAMPING OUT AT GREENHOUSE ROAD NORTH OF I-10 FOR THE NEXT YEAR IF I HAVE TO UNTIL THE CORE OF ENGINEERS FIXES THAT PROBLEM AND THEIR POLICIES RELATED TO THAT ARE MUCH LIKE THEIR POLICIES ON COST BENEFIT. THEY ARE NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY SHOULD BE. I KNOW THEY ARE A PARTNER WITH US ON MANY THINGS, BUT THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE CORE, THEY NEED TO BE ABOUT GETTING FLOODED STRUCTURES AND ALL OF THOSE PROJECT THAT'S CAN ELIMINATE FLOODING IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

[03:00:04]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO I JUST WILL CLOSE ON THIS AND I WANTED TO PAUSE AND JUMP ON IT FOR A SECOND. NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE LOBBY ORCA JOEL OR -- OR CAJOLE WITH THE CORE AND THE OTHER ENTITIES, AND RUSS TELL ME IF I AM WRONG, WHEN IT IS WRITTEN IN THE STATUTE OR IN THE INSTANCES WHERE IT EMINATES FROM THE OLD EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM 1982, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS CAN CHANGE BY EXECUTIVE ORDER, BUT A GOOD BIT OF IT

HAS TO CHANGE LEGISLATIVELY. RUSS, AM I RIGHT? >> YES, I AGREE WITH YOU,

COMMISSIONER. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO I WANT TO -- THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY INSTANCES WHERE ALL OF US AGREE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHEN RUSS EXPLAINED IT TO ME, I DIDN'T GET IT THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME I GOT IT. I WENT TO AN EVENT AND MENTIONED IT TO A COUPLE OF MY ELECTED OFFICIALS. PEOPLE EXPECT US TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

WE ARE PROGRAMED TO KNOW THE GLAZED LOOK. YOU SAY OH YEAH.

WHEN THE EYES GET BRIGHT YOU KNOW THEY REALLY DON'T GET IT.

WE HAVE TO DO UH -- A LOT OF EDUCATING. I THINK WE CAN GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAVE FIRES OR EARTHQUAKES AND I CAN SEE SOME OF THE LOGIC IN IT. I DON'T THINK EVEN WITH WHAT WAS IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BY RONALD REAGAN HE INTENDED IT THE WAY IT WAS INTERPRETED. AND THEN PEOPLE WENT AND GRABBED WHAT WAS IN THE LEGISLATION. BUT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO UNDO SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1982. I THINK IT IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO -- RUSS, I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE PAYING IN DC AND USE US. YOU HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN -- IF TEXAS COULD LEAD THE WAY. AND WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION I THINK AT THE BEGINNING THAT

IS THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE STATUS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE.

LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO DO THIS.

ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT -- >> JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, JAMES.

>> I HATE TO INTERRUPT, BUT CAN WE GO BACK TO 22A1. THERE WAS A VOTE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY ELLIS. AM I TO SHOW THAT THE ITEM WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PORTION RELATING TO PFM?

>> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT. THE PORTION RELATED TO PFM WAS A NO BY COMMISSIONERS CAGLE

AND RAMSEY. >> BUT THEY VOTE YES ON ALL OTHERS?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: UNDER COUNTY JUDGE I HAVE A RESOLUTION -- A RESOLUTIONS AND AN AGREEMENT FOR AN INTERN. COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GIVE ME A SECOND, JUDGE.

YES. I HAVE A MOTION I WANT TO THANK MR. BERRY --

>> R. JACK CAGLE: SECOND. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANT TO THANK MR. BERRY FOR HIS WORK FOR BRINGING NEEDED AND NECESSARY CHANGE TO OUR BUDGETING PROCESS AND FORECASTING PROCESS. ON THIS AGENDA THERE ARE 271 ITEMS FOR US TO CONSIDER.

EACH HAS A UNIQUE FISCAL IMPACT WHICH MAY BE SIGNIFICANT OR MAY MAY BE NEGLIGENT. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE ITEMS, BUT IT IS THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT WHO BEAR THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY OF BUDGETING FOR THEM. WITH SO MANY ITEMS WE NEED A CONSISTENT MANNER OF SEEING THE FISCAL IMPACT. BUDGET MANAGEMENT MAY BE IMPLEMENTING THIS DIRECTIVE, THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT IS REQUIRING THIS INFORMATION SO THAT WE MAY MAKE THE MOST PRUDENT DECISIONS.

THIS IS A REQUEST -- RATHER IT IS A MOTION TO MOVE THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT DIRECT BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE AGENDA DRAFTING PROCESS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT MAKES MANDATORY FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN ITEM THE SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THE ITEM. INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED COST, WHETHER IT IS A REOCCURRING

[03:05:08]

IN 2020 I ASKED MR. JACKSON TO WORK TO IMPLEMENT SOME ZERO-BASED BUDGETING CONCEPTS AND PRIORITY-BASED BUDGETING CONCEPTS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND MR. BERRY IS DOING A GREAT JOB. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE AND THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMY. IT IS INCREDIBLY PRUDENT THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO I'M POWER -- TO EMPOWER THE BUDGET OFFICE TO GET THE NECESSARY INFORMATION AND WE CHALLENGE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO DO THEIR JOB.

IT SHOULDN'T BE DONE AT THE BUDGET OFFICE, BUT WE SHOULD BE CHALLENGING THOSE CLOSEST TO THE GROUND WITH PROVIDING THE BUDGET OFFICE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO THEN GIVE US THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US TO CONSIDER. THIS MOTION WILL GO A LONG WAY IN MAKING US MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AS A WHOLE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: YES.

I SAW THIS ON THE AGENDA AND I WASN'T -- IT WASN'T COMPLETELY CLEAR OF THE OBJECTIVE.

YOU CLARIFIED THAT AND I UNDERSTAND IT. BUT THE THOUGHT THAT OCCUR OCCURRED TO ME IN MY 40 YEARS OF ENGINEERING I WORKED FOR 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES AND OBSERVED HOW THEY DO THEIR MEETINGS AND CARRY ON THEIR MEETINGS.

I AM THE NEW GUY IN THE ROOM. I GUESS MY COMMENT ON OUR MEETINGS ARE THIS.

IT IS VERY HELPFUL WHEN WE GET A DEADLINE SET IN TERMS OF WHEN THE AGENDA ITEMS ARE DUE. THEY GET POSTED. IF GIVES NOT ONLY US TIME TO REVIEW, BUT PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE AN INTEREST. I THINK THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA, I HAVE OBSERVED FOR THE PAST YEAR, HAS -- AS BEING SOMETHING -- NOT THAT IT SHOULD BE A RARE THING, BUT IT IS FAR MORE COMMON THAN ANY OF US WOULD LIKE AND MAYBE IT IS COVID RELATED TO SOME EXTENT, BUT I WOULD SAY ON OUR MANAGEMENT OF THE AGENDA RELATED TO OUR MEETINGS TO MAKE THEM AS EFFICIENT AS WE CAN IS IMPORTANT.

THE ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE MEETINGS, AND THIS HAS BEEN MY POLLING, IF YOU WILL.

I HAVE DONE A STUDY JUST BY WORKING IN THESE CITIES AND IN THESE COUNTIES.

WHEN YOU ALLOW PEOPLE, THE FISHES THING THEY DO IF YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR SPEAKERS UP FRONT, YOU GIVE THEM THREE MINUTES. IT HONORS THEM AND IT HONORS THEIR TIME. IT IS MORE TRANSPARENT IN MY OPINION.

IT IS THE FIRST THING WE DO. IT IS NOT THE LAST THING WE DO.

BY HAVING ALL OF THE SPEAKERS UP FRONT AND NOT HAVING COMMENTARY WITH THEM, IT IS NOT THAT IT WOULDN'T BE ON THE AGENDA, BUT I FOUND AND OBSERVED AND SEEN HOW HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS IN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND SPEAK WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO SPEAK AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING OR AT 10:00 AT NIGHT.

THAT REEL -- REALLY DOZEN COURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

I ENCOURAGE US HAVING THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE VERY FIRST OF OUR MEETINGS AND GATHER IT THERE. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP WITH OUR AGENDA MANAGEMENT AND THE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH. THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL MOVE ON THIS ITEM, JUDGE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND JUDGE

-- >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA -- I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WHEN I RECEIVED THIS AGENDA ITEM, I CALLED UP COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND I SAID I WOULD FUSS AT HIM FORGETTING IT TO ME TOO LATE. I TOOK A TWO-MINUTE POTTY BREAK TO READ IT AND I LIKE IT. WE WILL KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE AND WHEN THEY POST THEIR STUFF WE WILL KNOW IT. WE ARE NOW IN CHICKS -- NOW IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND IT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE FRONT END. INSTEAD OF FUSSING AT MY COLLEAGUE FORGETTING IT TO ME

[03:10:08]

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST GENTLE REPRIMAND I HAVE EVER GIVEN MY COLLEAGUE FORGETTING

ME SOMETHING -- FOR GETTING ME SOMETHING LATE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR AGENDA ITEM ALSO ASKS FOR AN UPDATE ON THE SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE THERE? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES,

PLEASE. >> SURE. WE ARE WORKING IN MY OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT A SOFTWARE PACKAGE TO HELP WITH AGENDA PREPARATION.

I THINK FOLKS ARE AWARE THAT WHAT WE DO NOW IS DEPENDING ON THE PEOPLE PREPARING AND THE PEOPLE REVIEWING. THAT TRAINING WILL OCCUR OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS STARTING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS THAT SUBMIT THE MOST ITEMS. WE WILL WORK TO INCORPORATE INTO THE SOFTWARE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR PROPOSAL.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS SUPPORT. I THINK IT WILL BE A BIG IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF TIME SPENT AND ACCESS OF INFORMATION.

WE ARE SHOOTING TO GO LIVE ON JANUARY 26TH. THAT MIGHT SLIP TO FEBRUARY 9TH. WE MIGHT HAVE A SMALL BUMP OR TWO, BUT I REALLY THINK IT WILL PAYOFF. THIS IS SOMETHING MOST BIG GOVERNMENTS USE.

THE STATE USES SOMETHING LIKE IT AND DALLAS COUNTY USES SOMETHING LIKE IT.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE JAMES HAD THE CORRECT VERSION. THERE IS A MINOR TYPO. THE WORD AFTER AGENDA DRAFTING PROCESS TO NOT USE. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE JAMES HAD THE RIGHT VERSION.

>> YES, SIR. >> R. JACK CAGLE: GREAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUDGE, THAT IS MY MOTION. I DO HAVE A THIRD ITEM IF I MAY HAVE MORE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AS WE KNOW OVER THE WEEKEND --

>> LINA HIDALGO: OH! >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU KNOW, DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR JUDGE GEORGE? I THINK IT WILL FIT HIM VERY NICELY.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE JERSEY. SON OF ONE OF MY -- THIS IS ACTUALLY THE JERSEY OF THE SON OF ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES. I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO FLASH THE CROSBY COUGAR JERSEY AND COLOR. BUT, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT 2 ALSO HAD A TWOFER AND THE NORTH SHORE MUSTANGS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN.

I WILL BE THERE TO HELP JUDGE GEORGE SWITCH OUT JERSEYS AS HE VOLUNTEERS IN PRECINCT 2.

I REALLY WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE THE SKULL -- THE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR WINS AND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF -- SUPERINTENDENTS.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR FACULTIES AND YOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS A CRITICAL YEAR.

WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET, AND I WANT TO SAY TO THE PARENTS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP YOUR KIDS STAY FOCUSED. NOT ONLY ON THEIR SCHOOLWORK, BUT THEY CAN'T PLAY BALL IF THEIR SCHOOLWORK IS NOT IN ORDER AND THEY GO HAND IN HAND. IT IS THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT THIS GAME HAVE HELPED TO ADD THE FACT THAT THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL. I AM VERY, VERY PROUD.

SENDING SHOUTOUTS TO THE COUGARS AND TO THE MUSTANGS AND ALSO TO COMMEND THE SCHOOLS IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR DOING THE SAME THING. THEY WORKED HARD ALL YEAR LONG AND THEY PERSEVERED LIKE WE DID AND THEY GOT TO AN IMPORTANT GAME IN THEIR SEASON UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR US. I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR FACULTY AND THEIR STAFF AND THEIR PARENTS, THEIR ATHLETES FOR ALSO WORKING HARD LAST YEAR. THIS IS ALL IN FUN, BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT TO SAY FORT BEND COUNTY, JUDGE, YOU WILL LOOK SHARP IN HARRIS COUNTY

[03:15:10]

PICTURES. >> CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE OPENED PANDORA'S BOX. WE HAVE A LOT OF CHAMPIONS UP HERE IN PRECINCT 4. I CONGRATULATE YOURS AND NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT YOU HAVE

TO LISTEN TO SOME OF OURS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO PROBLEM. I MADE A BET WITH MY NEIGHBOR.

DO THAT WITH ALL OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS YOU'VE GOT. >> LINA HIDALGO: CONGRATULATION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, HAVE YOU SOME ITEMS ?

>> TOM RAMSEY: NO. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ACTUALLY YOU DO.

YOU NEED TO SAY MOTION. WHREERCH DAP. >> LINA HIDALGO: UNDER YOUR

AGENDA. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOU HAVE FOUR ITEMS.

NEWBIE, JUST SAY MOTION. >> TOM RAMSEY: MOTION. >> R. JACK CAGLE: EXCELLENT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I DON'T SEE ANY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: TODAY I DON'T. BUT I WILL SAY MOTION JUST IN CASE -- I WILL BE A GOOD MODEL

FOR OUR NEW GUY. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WENT OVER THE COVID ITEMS. SUPPLEMENTAL THERE IS A TRANS -- TRANSMIT -- TRANSMITAL IN THE BUDGET.

SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS. ITEM 1 IS A REQUEST FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 2 of 2)]

LOOKS LIKE THE OFFICE WANTS FUNDING, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT HAS COME TO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THEY ARE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU ARE OKAY I WOULD ASK THEY BRING IT BACK THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I CAN SUPPORT THAT, JUDGE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ON THE

SUPPLEMENTAL IT IS HARD TO LOOK AT. >> IS THAT A NO ACTION?

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S CORRECT, JAMES. ITEM 4, THERE IS -- WE DON'T HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, ARE YOU ON ITEM 4? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE MADE AN INQUIRY TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MR. MENEFEE AND/OR MR. HYER, YOU MAY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON. IT HAS BEEN BOLT -- BOTHERSOME TO ME IF IT IS APPROPRIATE OF BONUSES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. I WANT TO ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IF THEY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THIS BEFORE WE APPROVE IT.

I THINK IT IS GREAT THAT PEOPLE GET BONUSES, BUT THESE WOULD BE THE ONLY COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT DO. I THINK THERE ARE LAWS THAT GIVE US QUESTION AND SOME PAUSE. I THINK IT IS FUNDED BY GRANT FUNDS WHICH MAY BE THE WAY THIS HAS TRADITIONALLY GOTTEN AROUND THE NORMAL PROHIBITIONS.

BEFORE I SAY YES TO IT I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY COUNTY ATTORNEY SO THEY HAVE

THOROUGHLY REVIEWED IT AND IT IS APPROPRIATE. >> CHRISTIAN MENEFFE -- MENEFEE HERE. WE HAD TIME TO PUT EYES ON IT, AND WE CAN RECONSIDER IT FOR

THE NEXT MEETING. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, WITH THAT COMMENT I REQUEST WE DO GIVE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE IT IS RIGHT AND PROPER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AGREE. I AM I AM NOT OPPOSED TO IT. IT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE ASKING, BUT WE CAN RUN IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO NO ACTION, JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND MR. MR. MENEFEE, I THINK THAT IS

THE FIRST TIME WE OFFICIALLY HEARD YOUR VOICE. >> YEAH.

I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE SINCE THE MEETING STARTED WAITING FOR YOU ALL.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN. >> R. JACK CAGLE: CONGRATULATIO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 5? CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

ITEM 6 IS A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING OUR PREVIOUS COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THIS IS ON BEHALF OF HIS TEAM AND THE NEW INCOMING COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. VINCE RYAN IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT WE WANT TO CELEBRATE HIM.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, ON THAT ITEM ON VINCE RYAN, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HE

[03:20:05]

I THINK THIS ONE IS WORDED CAREFULLY ENOUGH TO WHERE I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR IT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BY DOING SO VINCE DOESN'T WAKE UP AND SUDDENLY SAY OH CAGLE AGREED WITH ME ON THIS THING WE DISAGREED ON BEFORE. I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED ON THE AREAS WE DISAGREED, BUT HE DID ADVOCATE FOR THOSE THINGS.

HE ADVOCATED FOR THEM SKILLFULLY AND WELL WITHIN HIS POWERS WHETHER I AGREED WITH HIM OR NOT. I AM GOING TO BE FOR IT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I PUT MY FLAG DOWN SAYING I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH HIM ADVOCATING FOR ALL THOSE

THINGS. >> JUDGE, CHRISTIAN MENEFEE HERE.

WE REQUEST NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM SO WE CAN APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF THE CON TEEN ATTORNEY -- COUNTY ATTORNEY VINCE RYAN. WE ARE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. WE WANT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE IT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING OR A MEETING SOON THEREAFTER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. GREAT. HAPPY TO.

AND THEN ITEM 7 WE ALREADY TOOK OUT OF ORDER. NO PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR TODAY'S AGENDA. EXECUTIVE SESSION I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO --

[I. Departments (Part 3 of 3)]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I HAVE HAD ONE ITEM AND WE SENT THE MOTION AROUND.

AND SO I WILL JUST READ IT OUT. THIS IS A MOTION, MOVE TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF INTER GOVERNMENTAL AND GLOBAL UH PAIR -- AFFAIRS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY AND THE PURCHASING OFFICE TO ADD TO THE COUNTY LEGISLATION IN HARRIS COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO PRIORITIZE CONTRACTING WITH THE BUSINESSES WITH HEADQUARTERS AND FISCAL OFFICES CONDUCTING SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND TWO LOCAL HIRING POLICIES PRACTICES TO THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE. BASICALLY SAYING THAT'S THE MOTION, JAMES.

I CANNOT REMEMBER WHAT WAS IN MAYOR PARKER'S HOUSTON FIRST POLICY.

I JUST REMEMBERED VOTING FOR IT. OBVIOUSLY WE WILL SEE IT, BUT I WANT THEM TO START DRAFTING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WHATEVER HOUSTON CAN PASS WE

CAN. I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A

SECOND? >> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I. >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I AM IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND CAGLE HAD A THOUGHT.

WE STILL HAVE PLENTY TO GET THROUGH IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT READY YET!

I CAN'T REMEMBER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I THINK WE WERE BRINGING IT BACK IN THE

NEXT COURT. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. I WILL SCRATCH THAT.

>> JUDGE I THINK YOU ARE MUTED. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

I WAS GOING TO SAY FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION 1A WE WILL GO BACK UNLESS FOLKS HAVE

[IV. Executive Session (Part 1 of 2)]

NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK WE CAN DISCUSS THOSE OPENLY, JUDGE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH

THAT UNLESS SOMEBODY THINKS -- >> JUDGE, ON OUR ITEM IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS A PURCHASE PRICE, I DO WANT TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ITEM WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT WHICH WOULD BE FINE WITH ME.

WE CAN GIVE IT A GO AND THEN DECIDE IF WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THEN LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON YOUR ITEM, MR. BERRY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND ITEM 2A IS TO RETAIN LEGAL COUNSEL ON THE NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE?

>> YES, JUDGE. WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON BOTH OF THE COUNTY

ATTORNEY ITEMS. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS NOT ON THE AGENDA AND THEN WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEMS 1A, 1B, 2A AND 2B.

YES. LET'S GO AHEAD. OH, AND WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE

REST OF THE AGENDA. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, DO YOU WANT TO OFFER THAT TO THE

[03:25:04]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SURE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF I CAN GIVE UH TIP.

WHAT YOU SAY IS I MAKE A MOTION ON THE ENTIRE AGENDA AND FORGET EVERYTHING THAT

JACK VOTED NO ON TO BE INCLUDED AS A YES. >> TOM RAMSEY: THAT'S THE MAJOR FIX IT. I MAKE A MOTION WE ACCEPT ALL OF THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE

AGENDA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANYTHING WE DIDN'T ALREADY VOTE ON, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. LUCINDA, IF YOU CAN CALL UP THE SPEAKERS NOT ON THE

[V. Appearances before court (Part 1 of 2)]

AGENDA. >> YES, MA'AM. ANTHONY COLLINS.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HELLO. HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? MY NAME IS ANTHONY COLLINS. JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME INPUT AND THAT WOULD BE IN DEALING WITH THE HOUSTON GALVESTON COUNCIL. HAVE I BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE GUYS ON AND OFF FOR A FEW YEARS. AND ROUGHLY WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE WORKFORCE ARE NOT MAKING IT TO THE MINORITY COMMUNITY FNLT THIS IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED THROUGH THE YEARS. I DON'T THINK THERE IS A GREAT EFFORT IN EXPLOITING THAT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IN MANY CASES AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE DOING BUSINESS IN HYPER STOCK. MANY PEOPLE DON'T GO TO HYPER STOCK.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE ISSUE WE NEED TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.

WHAT I AM FINDING OUT IS THAT TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS NOT BEING APPLIED IN A COMMUNITY.

THIS IS DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.

I THINK IN MANY INSTANCES IT IS LIKE ME FEEDING A SANDWICH TO SOMEBODY THAT HAS NEVER EATING A SANDWICH MADE OUT OF ALLIGATOR. IT IS UNIQUE TO ME.

I THINK IN DEALING WITH THE SITUATIONS, MANY PEOPLE CAN'T INTERPRET WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I GUESS THEY CAN'T RELATE TO IT. I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THERE IS NO REPRESENTATION AT THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL.

MY EXPERIENCE, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITHIN A DIFFERENT WORKFORCE BOARDS ARE REALLY JUST HIRED WITHIN WHETHER IT IS BAKER RIPLEY AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH WORKING WITH THOSE GUYS AND BROUGHT THROUGH THE SYSTEM. WHAT THE EXPERIENCE IS IS THAT THEY CANNOT RELATE AND GO BACK AND DO BUSINESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND RECRUIT IN THE COMMUNITY. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS AT SOME POINT START APPOINTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT IS SIGNIFICANT ON BRINGING THE TRADE OF SKILLS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED. IT IS LIKE I CAN FEED MY OWN SELF IF JUST GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. I WANT TO BRING THIS FORTH TO YOU. BRINGING PEOPLE FORWARD TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AND LOOKING AT LONG-TERM JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, SO ON

AND SO FORTH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW I PROMISED A BREAK EVERY TWO HOURS. WE WILL TRY TO POWER THROUGH THIS. I THINK WE WILL FINISH SOON. WE HAVE VERY FEW SPEAKERS IN THIS BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. PERHAPS WE OUGHT TO TAKE OUR 10-MINUTE BREAK AS PROMISED UNLESS YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO DO THAT?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK. I WILL ASK CSD IF YOU CAN TO

CALL MR. COLLINS AND FOLLOW-UP WITH HIM. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, SIR.

LET'S BREAK IN 10 MINUTES AND COME BACK AT 5 MINUTES UNTIL AND FINISH THE AGENDA.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 1:56 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

LUCINDA, IF YOU CAN CONTINUE TO CALL UP THE SPEAKERS. >> THIS PARTICULAR SPEAKER'S NAME IS WILLIAM FOLKS. HE SAID HE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO ITEM 24E.

GO AHEAD, SIR. >> FIRST OFF, WILLIAM FOLKS. I WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO THEM.

I REPRESENT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY RELATED TO THE OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL

[03:30:06]

WE HAVE SEEN BUSINESSES LIKE THE HOUSTON TEXAS CHEERLEADING COMPETITION TAKE PLACE INDOORS WHERE OUR EVENTS ARE OUTDOORS AND OVER MILES OF ROAD WHERE COVID HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ARE LODGED. WE HAVE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS ON GUIDELINES RELATING TO SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FACE COVERING AND MINIMIZING THE POINT OF CONTACT. WE SEE OTHER BUSINESSES AND BRICK AND MORTAR STRUCTURES.

WE INVESTED ON SANITIZING TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID.

AGAIN I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO ADDRESS THE COURT AND YOUR FUTURE REVIEW OF THE MATTER TO BE PRO ACTIVE. HARRIS COUNTY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. I KNOW THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU HOST AN EVENT OVER FIVE MILES OR 10 MILES AND SO ON IT REALLY IMPROVED THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR WELL BEING AND HEALTH. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA AND SPEAK ON IT.

JUDGE HIDALGO, I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE I SPOKE TO YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF REGARDING THIS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS NOT SWORN IN IN THE EVENT IT WAS COMMISSIONER'S RAMSEY'S NEW PRE SINK.

THANK YOU -- PRECINCT. THANK YOU AGAIN AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL FOLLOW-UP. LOOK, I GET IT.

I AM A RUNNER AND RUNNING A MARATHON BY MYSELF IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

WE DO NOT STAND BY THE TEXANS GAMES HAPPENING AND THE THINGS YOU LISTED.

THERE IS A REASON THE NUMBERS ARE CROSSING THE 15% THRESHOLD TODAY BECAUSE THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON. I WOULD LOVE FOR THE GATHERINGS.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PERSONALLY DO TO KEEP HEALTHY AND ENJOY MYSELF.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING PLACE ARE TAKING PLACE AND ALL OF THAT IS SPREADING THE VIRUS.

UNFORTUNATELY WE COULDN'T APPROVE THAT EVENT. I WILL MAKE SURE SOMEONE

FOLLOWS UP IN RESPONSE TO YOUR LATEST COMMUNICATION. >> WELL, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. JUST SO YOU GUYS CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND LOOK AT OUR

COVID MEASURES AND PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU. >> GABRIELLE LAW BEE WITH TEXAS JAIL HOUSE PROJECT.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES, MA'AM, GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO. I AM GABRIELLA AND I WORK WITH TEXAS JAIL PROJECT.

I AM WRITING TO CONTINUE TO SOUND THE ALARM ON THE DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS. THIS MONTH HARRIS COUNTY WAS FOUND NONCOMPLIANT ON JAIL STANDARDS AFTER AN INFECTION WAS DONE IN EARLY DECEMBER. AND IT IS MORE TROUBLING NOT SO FOR MENTAL ILLNESS. THE INFECTION CONFIRMS WHAT WE AT TEXAS JAIL PROJECT RDU AND HARRIS COUNTY JAILS HAVE ALLOWED THE PANDEMIC TO BE EXACERBATED AND FAILURE TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION. WE ARE WITNESSING A CRITICAL FAILURE AND CONTINUITY OF CARE AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENT ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN A DOZEN INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT GIVEN A MANDATED COMPREHENSIVE

[03:35:06]

WE WERE TROUBLED TO HEAR VACCINATIONS WERE BEING GIVEN TO JAIL STAFF, BUT NOT INCARCERATED. GIVEN THE TESTIMONY OF STAFF REFUSING TO WEAR MASKS IN THE FACILITY, WE ARE TERRIFIED AT THE THOUGHT OF MORE PEOPLE BEING DENIED PPE.

BUT WE KNOW THE SCIENCE. VACCINATION DOES NOT PREVENT THE ABILITY TO SPREAD THE DISEASE. TWO, UNLIMITED FREE PHONE CALLS.

A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION HAS MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF THE BACKS OF POOR WORKING FAMILIES OF LOVED 1S IN JAIL. BECAUSE VISITATION HAS BEEN BANNED SINCE MARCH PEOPLE IN JAIL ARE LANGE WISHING AND MENTAL ILLNESS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONTACT. FINALLY AN INVESTIGATION INTO BEST PRACTICES.

WE LOST 40 TESTIMONIES WHILE BEING SERVED EXPIRED FOOD. WE KNOW PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WERE NOT SERVED HOT FOOD FOR THREE MONTHS LAST YEAR AND TO THIS DAY MANY FOLKS ARE STILL RECEIVING DAMAGED AND COLD AND UNHEALTHY FOOD --

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

I'M AFRAID I HAVE TO STOP YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN AND RAISING THIS ISSUE.

>> JACOB CLEMENTECK. GO AHEAD. >> HAPPY 2021, FOLKS.

I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY. I WANTED TO TELL YOU THIS.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE GAVE ME ANOTHER NOTE THANKING ME FOR TALKING BEFORE THE COURT.

ALSO COMMISSIONER RODNEY EL -- ELLIS GAVE ME A MORE LENGTHY NOTE THANKING ME FOR SPEAKING BEFORE THE COURT ON THE INITIATIVE. HE SAID ENGAGED INDIVIDUALS LIKE ME AND WANTS DEMOCRACY AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT MY PRESENCE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. I WANTED TO THANK COUNTY JUDGE HIDALGO FOR HAVING THESE MEETINGS WHICH IMPROVES THE TRANSPARENCY OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THIS IS AN AWESOME DECISION OF YOURS, COUNTY JUDGE. AND YOU DO HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO DEBATE. AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THIS , IT IS NOW JOKE TIME.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS' LETTER IS MORE LENGTHY THAN COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S LETTER.

THAT'S BECAUSE HE IS A LIBERAL AND HE BELIEVES IN LENGTH. CAGLE BELIEVES IN EFFICIENCY.

WELL, HERE IS THE OTHER JOKE. THE BUCK STOPS HERE IS FOR CONSERVATIVES, AND FOR LIBERALS IT IS THE BUCK SPREADS AND FOR THE LEFT THEY SHRED THE BUCK.

YOU KNOW WHY THEY SHRED THE BUCK? IT CONTAINS IN GOD WE TRUST.

THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT WHICH IS QUESTIONABLE.

AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE THAT I AM NERVOUS. OH, CAGLE, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THANKED ME AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS THANKED ME FOR THE -- WELL, CONGRATULATING COMMISSIONER RADACK FOR BEING A SERVANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMISSIONER AS -- COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. ONE REASON WHY IS HE IS A REPUBLICAN.

THAT'S WHY. ALSO -- I AM SEEING WHAT ELSE -- OH.

[03:40:02]

ALL I CAN SAY IS MAYBE HE NEEDS TO HAVE A SONG CLOSER TO HOME.

I AM YOUR CAPTAIN OR -- OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS CAGLE. THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH I THINK.

>> WELL, I'M GONNA WRITE YOU A LETTER OKAY? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I'M GONNA

SEND YOU A VERY, VERY SHORT CARD NEXT TIME. >> YEAH, YOU BELIEVE IN LITTLE

GOVERNMENT JUST LIKE A REPUBLICAN. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU. >> THOMAS KIRK. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES, FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE BOARD FOR ANY FRUSTRATING E-MAILS I HAVE BEEN SENDING. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME I CALLED ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AND PAYING MY RENT. BOTTOM LINE IS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU ARE. YOU DON'T PAY RENT YOU CAN'T LIVE THERE.

THEY HAVEN'T PAID IN ABOUT A YEAR, AND THEY DIDN'T PAY IT IN THE LAST TWO PLACES I LIVED. IT CAUSED ME A -- A LOT OF TROUBLE.

I HAVE A LONG, LONG LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE I AM RAMBLING. I WANT TO ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE UH POINT A LIE YEA SON TO SOLVE THIS -- LIASON TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MALICIOUS AND I NEED HELP. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT IT ONCE BEFORE.

NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT. WHEN THEY DO THEY JUST SAY HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING HAS A PERFECTLY GOOD EXPLAIN FOGS FOR -- INFORMATION FOR WHAT THEY DO.

BUT THEY ARE ALL LIES. I AM QUAKING YOU TO HELP -- I AM ASKING YOU TO HELP ME.

THEY ARE MAKING ME MOVE LIKE REPLACE CARPET AND BUY DOORS AND PARTS AND WORSE THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO. THAT'S WHY I ASK FOR A LIASON.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, CAN WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM COMMUNITY

SERVICES TO REACH OUT TO THIS GENTLEMAN? >> I DON'T WANT ANY MENTAL --

THIS IS NOT A MENTAL PROBLEM. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO, IT IS A COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND

FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAM. >> WELL, I AM NOT LOOKING FOR SUPPORT.

I AM SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE MY VOUCHER TO ANOTHER CITY AND THEY WON'T LET ME.

THEY ARE FORGING MY SIGNATURES AND ATTACHING FALSE E-MAILS TO MY PHONE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CRIMES GOING ON HERE. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY FOLLOW-UP. THANK YOU.

>> EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. DREW WILEY WITH RESTORING

JUSTICE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> YES.

HI. DREW WILLY WITH RESTORING JUSTICE.

TALKING ABOUT CASE LOAD LIMITS AND THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL POINTS I WANTED TO BRING UP.

IT IS NOT AN AGENDA ITEM AND I KNOW THERE CAN'T BE DISCUSSION.

JUST TWO IMPORTANT POINTS. IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT A LOT OF MEETINGS FOR MONTHS NOW.

I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THE URGENCY OF THIS ISSUE. EVERY MONTH YOU GET NOTHING DONE THERE IS 1500 TO 2,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSIGNED A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY.

THAT MEANS THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED. THAT IS EVEN AFTER THE INCREASE IN THE PDO APPOINTMENT RATE. SO EVERY MONTH, EVERY MEETING, EVERY TWO WEEKS THAT NOTHING HAPPENS, IT IS ANYWHERE FROM 750 TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE WHOSE RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED. THE SECOND POINT I WANTED TO ADD IS TO REFRAIN THE DISCUSSION. THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS THE PROPER LEGAL AVENUE. I THINK THE QUESTION NEEDS TO BE FRAMED AS HOW LONG CAN THIS ILLEGAL SYSTEM ALLOWED TO BE PUT. I THINK THE PROPER LEGAL AVENUES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AND REPEATEDLY TO THE DECISION MAKERS.

AND FOR THE THOUSAND PEOPLE EVERY TWO WEEKS THAT NEED HELP, WE WOULD JUST ASK AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO VETO ASSIGNMENTS. TO QUOTE ONE ATTORNEY FOR

CIBC'S CASE LOAD. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

[03:45:04]

>> JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WE COULD REACH. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

THANK YOU, LUCINDA. SO WE VOTED ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON FOUR ITEMS.

[IV. Executive Session (Part 2 of 2)]

ATTORNEY. IS THAT APPROPRIATE, JAY? >> YES.

YES, JUDGE. THAT'S RIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 2A IS ON LEGAL ADVICE FROM OUR ATTORNEY. ITEM 2B, SAME ISSUE, CON TOLL SAYINGS ON -- CONSULTATION ON LITIGATION WITH THE CON -- COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THOSE FOUR ITEMS. DO FOLKS HAVE THE CALL

NUMBER? >> JUDGE, YES, WE DO. I WAS JUST INFORMED THAT WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER THAT JUST CALLED BACK. CAN WE DO THAT ONE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, THANK YOU. >> RONALD CUNNINGHAM.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE, SIR. MR. CUNNINGHAM, GO AHEAD. MR. CUNNINGHAM? RONALD CUNNINGHAM, GO AHEAD, SIR. I DO HEAR HIM ON THE LINE, JUDGE. WE COULD PROBLEM BLAY PICK HIM -- WE COULD PROBABLY PICK

HIM UP AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. SO FOLKS HAVE THE CALL IN

NUMBER. IT IS 2:14 AND WE ARE >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 2:58 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. YES, JAY.

>> I WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED ACTION ON 1A, ITEM 1A, FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. DO WE NEED ONE ON 1B?

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WANT TO CONFIRM. SHANE MENTIONED THAT WE NEED TO APPOINT THE PERSON EFFECTIVE DATE WITH SALARY AND MONTHLY CAR ALLOWANCE.

>> I'M SORRY. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME RUN THROUGH.

IT DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD

AUTHORITY? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 315016 AND A $550 MONTHLY CAR ALLOWANCE. A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I. >> .

I. >> >> REPORTER: I AM

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND B OFF TORE MAKE A NONBINDING OFF TORE BUY A CENTRALLY LOCATED BUILDING FOR COUNTY NEEDS SUBJECT TO DUE DILIGENCE AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL FOR ANY

TRANSACTION. >> APPROVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: UP TO 300,000 COMMERCIAL PAPER FUNDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING DUE DILIGENCE WITH THIS POTENTIAL PURPOSE. THE MOTION WAS COMMISSIONER GARCIA DP -- IF I GOT THAT

CORRECTLY. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> . >> >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION

CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM AN I WITH AN ASTERISK WE ARE DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE PHASE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I DON'T WANT TO BEMIS CONSTRUED -- BE MISCONSTRUED THAT AFTER WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE I WILL BE AN I AT THAT I'M TOO. I AM IN FAVOR OF DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND EXPLORING WHAT

IS A -- WHAT SEEMS TO BE A GOOD FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY. >> LINA HIDALGO: NOTED.

ON 2A THE MOTION IS AS STATED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I. >> .

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> NAY.

>> NAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR AND THAT MOTION CARRIES 3-2.

AND ITEM 2B. IS THERE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE TERM SHEET IN THE OPIOID

SETTLEMENT AS LAID OUT BY COUNCIL? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>>IVE. >> -- I. I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AS WELL.

[03:50:03]

JAY, DID I MISS ANYTHING? >> YOU GOT IT ALL. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> JUDGE, THIS IS JAMES. >> LINA HIDALGO: AIMS -- I'M

SORRY, JAMES. >> THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER IN THE DAY WHERE THE COURT WOULD COME BACK REGARDING A SECOND MOTION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER 11.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A STATEMENT REGARDING BUDGET MANAGEMENT DEVELOPING

COSTS -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S THE ONE THEY SAID WILL COME BACK

AT THE NEXT COURT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, WE WILL COME BACK AT THE NEXT COURT.

AND BEFORE WE ADJOURN I DO WANT TO QUICKLY GIVE MR. TRUJILLO A CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR OFFICES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. I AM EXCITED. MR. TRUJILLO COMES FROM MET -- METRO. WE TALKED ABOUT REENVISIONING OUR TOLL ROAD SYSTEM.

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE POSSIBILITIES THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE. UNDERSTANDING AND HAVING WORKED ON MASS TRANSITS -- TRANSIT AND HOW THAT COULD TRANSLATE TO THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM AND TURNING IT INTO SOMETHING THAT HAS A LOT MORE BENEFIT TO OUR GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. I AM VERY EXCITED AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MR.

TRUJILLO. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT TO SECOND THAT AND WELCOMING MR. TRUJILLO AND I WANT TO THANK PETER AND HIS TEAM FOR HOLDING DOWN THINGS IN THE INTERIM. THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AND LOOK FORWARD TO MR. TRUJILLO.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, PETER AND YOUR TEAM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MR. TRUJILLO, CONGRATULATIONSES AND I AM THRILLED AS WELL TO HAVE YOU

ON -- IN THE GROUP. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: AND CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR SURVIVING HIS FIRST COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND MR. RAMSEY AND MR. MENEFEE. >> JUDGE, WE DO HAVE ONE

[V. Appearances before court (Part 2 of 2)]

GO AHEAD, PLEASE SIR. >> MY NAME IS RON CUNNINGHAM AND I LOVE IN AN UNINCORM -- UNINCORPORATED PART OF HARRIS COUNTY. THE FIREWORKS OUT HERE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE PREVALENT. IT IS GETTING LARGER AND LARGER. I KNOW IT IS A STATE LAW, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT IN TIMES LIKE -- WHEN IT IS DRY THAT YOU CAN BAN FIREWORKS. I KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THEM IN HOUSTON. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CAN DO THEM HERE.

IT IS A SAFETY RISK. AS Y'ALL KNOW, THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OUT ON HIGHWAY 6 AND AROUND THERE IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. THESE PEOPLE ARE SHOOTING FIRECRACKERS A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND THE FACT THEY WERE SHOOTING THEM IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THIS PAST SUNDAY. YOU KNOW, AT 2:00, 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND IT IS LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR PEOPLE THAT HAS TO WORK.

IT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD. I MEAN, WHO CAN WE CALL? WE CAN'T CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, TIME TO COME OUT THERE.

BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THEY WOULDN'T BE SHOOTING THEM ANYMORE.

I THUPG -- I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME VOICE MY OPINION. I HOPE IT IS NOT FALLING ON DEAF EARS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY FROM OUR OFFICE REACH OUT TO YOU TO CONNECT YOU TO

YOUR STATE REP. >> OKAY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WE CAN'T COMMENT ON THESE THINGS, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION AGAIN. YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST, AND OUR STATE REPS HAVE BEEN WORKING

ON THESE ISSUES FOR US. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND I JUST WANT TO ADD TO STAY TUNED TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE UPCOMING SHOT SPOTTER. I THINK THAT WILL BRING A

PERIPHERAL BENEFIT TO THE CHALLENGER EXPRESS. >> WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN, SIR?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: PAY THANK YOU -- PAY ATTENTION TO THE UPCOMING NEWS ON SHOT

SPOTTER. >> OKAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THAT WAS THE LAST SPEAKER, THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

JAMES? >> I'M OKAY, JUDGE, THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. IT IS 3:05 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.