Jan 11, 2021 Commissioners Court Budget Hearing

[Call to Order]

[00:00:07]

OF BUDGET HEARINGS TO ORDER. LET'S START WITH SPEAKERS IF WE HAVE ANY, LUCINDA.

[Public Comment]

>> YES, MA'AM, WE DO. MICHAEL MAZOCK. GO AHEAD.

>> YES, MA'AM. JUDGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN HEAR

YOU. >> OKAY. MY NAME IS -- OKAY MICHAEL IS MY LEGAL NAME. Y'ALL KNOW ME AS DOMINIC MAZOCK FOR THE RECORD.

I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, BUT PERTAINS TO TODAY'S TOPIC OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. LAST WEEK I GAVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA A THANK YOU FOR HELPING METRO IMPROVE THE SERVICE AND THE INDEMNITIES ALONG THE 56 AND MONTROSE CORRIDOR. THE CORRIDOR TENDS TO GO BETWEEN -- BECAUSE THE WAY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY LINES ARE, THEY ARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND PRECINCT 2 AND THEN BACK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I UH -- APPRECIATE THAT HE IS PROVIDING METRO STOPS. THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT METRO WANTS TO IMPROVE WITH THE METRO NEXT PROJECT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THIS IS THAT WITH ENGINEERING OF THE COUNTY AND WITH THE ENGINEERING AT METRO THEY COME UP WITH A COMMON THING FOR BUS STOPS UP ALONG THIS CORRIDOR. THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS WITH IMPROVED CORRIDORS THAT GO FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON BACK TO THE COUNTY AND BACK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON SO WE DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL WHEN THERE IS A PROJECT. WHEN THIS AIRLINE PROS JECT -- PROJECT IS DONE AND METRO GOES TO ANOTHER PROJECT IT IS READY TO GO.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF SPECIFICS FOR A PARTICULAR LOCATION, BUT LET'S DO THIS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. WE HAVE A TEMPLATE THAT CAN BE SENT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY WITH METRO. WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY. THAT MONEY CAN BE USED FOR MORE BUS STOPS AND IT CAN HELP METRO WITH IMPROVING MORE FREQUENT SERVICE AND MORE COMMUNITY CONNECTORS AND SO ON. LASTLY I WANT TO SAY, JUDGE, I LIKE THE WAY YOUR BUDGET HEARINGS ARE DONE. I LIKE THE IDEA THAT EACH DEPARTMENT COMES AND PRESENTS HIS OR HER VIEW OF WHAT THAT DEPARTMENT DOES. THAT GIVES US CLARITY.

THAT GIVES US OPENNESS IN GOVERNMENT. THAT'S LIKE YOUR FAVORITE PLANT BLOOMING IN THE SUN ON THE TOP OF THE WATER. WITH THAT I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS. I WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. HELLO?

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.

BYE-BYE. >> JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR TODAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. COMMISSIONER CAGLE [INAUDIBLE].

WE HAVE FLOOD CONTROL, POLLUTION CONTROL, ENGINEERING AND TOLL ROAD IS BEING MOVED

[Flooding]

CONTROL? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> NO, JUDGE.

TOLL ROAD WAS ORIGINALLY LISTED FOR TODAY SO I DID WANT TO JUST ON THE ADVICE OF THE COUNTY TORCH -- COUNTY ATTORNEY PROVIDE ONE MINUTE ON FLOOD CONTROL.

THEY ARE WORKING OFF A PRIOR YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET OF 275 MILLION FOR O AND M AND THEY WILL HAVE A TOTAL PROPOSED CAPITAL PLAN OF 2.7 BILLION WHICH IS ABOUT 1.5 BILLION IS IN EXECUTION AND CONSTRUCTION. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS ARE ON THE WEBSITE AND IF THERE IS ANYBODY LISTENING IN AND WANTS TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION IT

WILL BE ON THE 13TH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS ON

TOLL ROAD, DAVE, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL HEAR MORE ON WEDNESDAY. LET'S GET STARTED WITH FLOOD CONTROL THEN.

>> I AM UNMUTING RUSS POPPE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

RUSS POPPE. THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME SOME TIME TO GO OVER OUR BUDGETARY VIEW. I CAN SEE OUR FIRST SLIDE IS UP.

LUCINDA, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAS

[00:05:01]

I WANT TO CALL OUT A FEW THINS -- THINGS OF IMPORTANCE.

WE HAVE 22 WATER SHEDS IN OUR PER VIEW. THAT INCLUDES AROUND 1777 SQUARE MILES INSIDE HARRIS COUNTY. HOWEVER, AS NOTED ON THE SLIDE, THE SECOND BULLET UNDER OUR SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY, WE HAVE 4500 SQUARE MILES THAT ULTIMATELY DRAIN TO US. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF OUR WATER SHED COMES TO US FROM OUTSIDE HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S A BIG DEAL WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT WHAT THOSE OTHER COUNTIES USE AS FAR AS CRITERIA. WE CAN TALK ABOUT MORE IN THE PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AS WELL AS WE HAVE ABOUT 1500 CHANNELS NOW TOTALING 2500 MILES IN LENGTH AND 750 OF THOSE ARE NATURAL.

MEANING THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN MODIFIED OR HEAVILY WOODED AND VEGETATED.

THEY CAN CAUSE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FOR US WHEN IT COMES FOR TIME TO DO MAINTENANCE OR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHANNELS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE SERVICE THAT'S FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROVIDES.

ALONG THE SLIDE THERE, OUR BIGGEST DIVISION WITHIN FLOOD CONTROL IS OPERATIONS.

OPERATIONS HOUSES REALLY THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE FLOOD CONTROL PROGRAM.

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS IN THE OPERATIONS. THE FIRST IS OUR PLANNING

DIVISION. >> RUSS? >> YES.

>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. THE SLIDES YOU ARE PRESENTING, ARE THEY -- THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS SUBMITTED TO US OR AM I JUST NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PAGE? I'M LOOKING AT MY BUDGET BOOK. I THINK YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT

SLIDE PRESENTATION. >> THE SLIDE PRESENTATION WAS BY REQUEST.

WE HAVE 10 SLIDES PREPARED THAT WE FOLLOWED THE FORMAT PROVIDED TO US.

THE DATA THAT IS ON THESE SLIDES IS PULLED FROM THE BACKED UP DATA I BELIEVE YOU

HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> SO SO I HAVE THE BACK UP.

SORRY TO INTEREST RIPT YOU, RUSS. >> QUITE ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PLANNING DIVISION AND THAT'S WHERE THE ENGINEERS START TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND WE ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN THE PLANNING PHASE TO CONFIRM WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE AS WE START TO PREPARE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

WE INCORPORATED OUR ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM IN OUR FUNCTIONING.

WHAT WE DOES IMPACTS THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THE CHANNELS ARE WET AND THERE IS A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING. THAT CAN BE ONE OF THE LONGER LEAD ITEMS. AS A RESULT WE WANT TO PUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PORTION WITHIN OUR PLANNING EFFORTS AS WELL. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RIGHTS NEEDED NOT ONLY FROM A PROJECT FROM A HYDRAULIC PERSPECTIVE, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. THE NEXT BIG GROUP WE HAVE IN OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION IS ENGINEERING. THIS IS WHERE ONCE THE PLANS ARE IDENTIFIED THEY ARE ADOPTED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND IT IS PREPARING THE DOCUMENTS.

WE HAVE JUST SHY OF 70 PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

THEY DO ALL OF THE BASICALLY -- THEY DOT MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSULT TEPTS WHO DASH -- DASH CONSULTANTS WHO PUT THESE TOGETHER FOR US. 99% OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE PRODUCED BY ENGINEERING CONSULT TEPTS WE PROCURE AND THE ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS SUCH AS SURVEYING AND ENVIRONMENTAL. AND THERE IS UTILITY RELOCATION. DEALING WITH A HIGHLY URBANIZED ENVIRONMENT LIKE HARRIS COUNTY THERE IS UTILITY RELOCATION THAT HAS TO BE INVOLVED IN DEEPENING AND WIDENING CHANNELS AND BUILDING BASINS. THE NEXT BIG GROUP IN OUR OPERATION IS CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE TRACKING ABOUT 33 EMPLOYEES IN THE GROUP.

THEY ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

CURRENTLY THAT INCLUDES AROUND $400 MILLION IN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION.

OUR CONSTRUCTION GROUP IS VERY BUSY MANAGING THAT PORTFOLIO. THE LAST BIG GROUP WITHIN OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION IS INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE IS OVER A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES IN INTBRAW -- INFRASTRUCTURE. THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS MANAGING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. EVERYTHING FROM DEBRIS REMOVAL AND IDENTIFYING DEFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM WHETHER IT IS SEDIMENT ACCUMULATION OR NEEDED REPAIRS IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAS GONE WRONG IN THE FIELD. THAT ROUNDS OUT OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION. NEXT ON THE LIST IS OUR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP.

THERE IS JUST UNDER A DOZEN PEOPLE WITHIN COMMUNICATIONS AND THEY ARE AUGMENTED BY AROUND SEVEN I BELIEVE CONSULTANTS TO HELP US WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. THAT'S JUST KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

THE NEXT DIVISION IS COMMUNITY SERVICES. THIS COULD BE TITLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WELL. COMMUNITY SERVICE IS REALLY THE WAY THE RESIDENTS

[00:10:01]

BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS AS FAR AS A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DISTRICT WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE FIELD IT COMES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE DO THE VAST MAJORITY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE WITHIN THIS GROUP AND I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR WE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED A CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEY LINK. YOU CAN NOW ACCESS THAT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AS WELL SO WE CAN START GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMIT SERVICE REQUESTS SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE ARE DOING AND OBVIOUSLY LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE.

THE NEXT GROUP BELOW THAT IS THE HYDRO LOGIC OPERATIONS AND IT IS MANAGED BY JEFF LEONARD. THE MAIN FOCUS AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS GROUP IS THE FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM. WE ARE UP TO 276 GAUGES IF YOU INCLUDE OUR PARTNERS.

THAT'S AROUND 187 GAUGES WE MAINTAIN OURSELVES. THERE IS 89 ADDITIONAL GAUGES THAT ARE PAID FOR BY OUR PARTNERS. THOSE ARE OTHER CITIES, COUNTIES PRIMARILY OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S A LOT OF GAUGES THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP ACTIVE BECAUSE THE DATA THAT THOSE GAUGES PROVIDE ULTIMATELY GOES INTO THE FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S BY YOUR RESPONSE TO THE RAINFALL. NEXT IS FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL SERVICES. THERE ARE 21 EMPLOYEE THERE'S AND THEY HANDLE THE FINANCES OF THE DISTRICT WHETHER IT BE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOCALLY FUNDED OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, THINGS THAT ARE GRANT FUNDED. THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES AND MAKING SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AUDITS. AND THEY HELP WITH I.T.

SUPPORT IN ADDITION TO OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH HARRIS COUNTY EVEN VERSE SAL SERVICES. THE LAST GROUP THAT ROUNDS OUT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS THE HUMAN RESOURCES GROUP. IT IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLAIN -- SELF-PLAN TORE.

THEY HELP WITH SAFETY TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR COMPLIANCE PURPOSES.

IF YOU ADD THAT TOGETHER WE ARE AROUND 337 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES IN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING AUGMENTED BY 22 DIFFERENT FIRMS PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL OVER HUNDRED PERSONNEL TO HELP US MANAGE PRIMARILY ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE BOND PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THIS?

OKAY. >> SO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT I THINK STANDS TO REASON. ITEM NUMBER ONE WORKS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF STRUCTURAL IN HARRIS COUNTY. THERE ARE A COUPLE I WANT TO POINT OUT.

EXECUTING OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM WHICH IS PRIMARILY BEING FUNDED BY THE BOND PROGRAM AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS A BIG COMPONENT OF REDUCING FLOOD RISKS.

AS WE REDUCE FLOOD RISKS IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES OF LETTING OUR RESIDENTS KNOW WHEN THERE IS A THREAT OF FLOODING.

ITEM B UNDER 1 THERE IS REALLY WHAT THAT IS REFERRING TO. WE'VE GOT SOME ON GOING WORK RIGHT NOW WITH OUR FLOOD FORECAST CAPABILITIES. WE ARE BUILDING AN INTERNAL DASHBOARD, IF YOU WILL, THAT WILL LOOK AT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF WE KNOW IT IS RAINING THREE MORE INCHES AND HOW MUCH MORE WILL THAT TRANSLATE INTO FLOODING ALONG POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE BAYOUS. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ON GOING IN OUR FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM. WE ALSO ARE MONITORING AND MANAGING OUR BUYOUT PROGRAM. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN 2020 ALONE WE VOLUNTARILY BOUGHT OUT 140 HOMES. THESE ARE HOMES THAT ARE LOCATED HOMELESSLY DEEP IN A FLOOD -- HOPELESSLY DEEP IN A FLOOD PLAIN OR FLOOD WAY.

WHEN IT DOES START TO FLOOD THEY ARE WAITING -- WADING OUT OF THEIR HOMES OR WAITING TO GET RESCUED. THOSE ARE HOMES THAT WILL NO LONGER FLOOD BECAUSE WE REPURCHASED THEM AND RELOCATED THE FAMILIES TO SAFER RESIDENCES.

WE REMOVED THEM FROM THE FLOOD PLAIN. WE SUPPORT OUR MISSION BY MAKING SURE WE VALUE OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS WHICH ARE EMPLOYEES.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT IN 2020 WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC GOING ON.

WE FOUND A WAY TO WORK AROUND THAT. I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED SOME COVID CASES IN OUR DEPARTMENTS, BUT WE MITIGATE THOSE AND ACTIVELY MONITOR THAT. WE HAVE CONTINUED FOR THE MOST PART TO WORK REMOTELY. MOST OF OUR STAFF IS CONDUCTING THE WORK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FROM THEIR HOMES. THE ONLY FOLKS COMING INTO THE OFFICE ARE THE ONE THAT'S HAVE TO REPORT AND GET IN THE FIELD TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE SECOND GOAL AND OBJECTIVE IS THE COMPLETION OF THE 2018 FLOOD CONTROL BOND PROGRAM. TO DATE WE HAVE INITIATED ALL BUT 21 OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS IN 2018. THOSE WILL BE INITIATED THROUGHOUT THIS COMING YEAR. SO BY THE END OF THE YEAR ALL OF THE WORK WITHIN THE BOND PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. IT WILL BE INITIATED. THESE ARE BEING INITIATED IN

[00:15:03]

IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND GETTING INPUT FROM OUR PUBLIC WE HAVE A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS WITHIN THE BOND PROGRAM.

IN FACT, IN 2020 ALONE WE HELD 32 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS AND THEY WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 3,000 PARTICIPANTS. THE FEEDBACK WE ARE GETTING IS IT IS A GOOD FLAT FORM -- PLATFORM AND RESIDENTS FEEL THEY ARE BEING APPROPRIATELY INFORMED BY THE PRESENTATIONS. AND THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE INTERACTIVE. WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND RESPOND TO THEM LIKE WE WOULD IF WE WERE IN PERSON.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, LUCINDA. OUR THIRD GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. I HAVE SOME NUMBERS IN A COUPLE SLIDES FURTHER DOWN.

THE MAIN THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS WE START TO LOOK AT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS WE HAVE IN OUR PORTFOLIO AND WE TRY TO MATCH THAT AS BEST WE CAN TO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE ARE SUBJECT TO THEIR CRITERIA. WE DON'T NECESSARILY -- WE DON'T GET TO SET THE CRITERIA FOR THESE GRANTS OR LOANS AS THE CASE MAY MAY BE. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS ON SOME OF THESE GRANTS ARE BENEFIT TO COST RATIO.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, BUT IT IS WORTH MENTIONING HERE THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHICH PROJECTS IN OUR PORTFOLIO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE VALUE THEY ARE PROTECTING THAT MAKE THEM WORTH WHILE APPLYING FOR AND A GRANT THAT HAS THE BENEFIT OF A COST RATIO REQUIREMENT.

THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGH HUD OR HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE IN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREAS. IT IS A FULL TIME JOB REALLY FOR OUR STAFF TO LOOK AT OUR PROJECT PORTFOLIO AND MAX THAT AS BEST WE CAN TO THE APPROPRIATE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE ALSO WORK TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

I LIKE TO USE THE ANALOGY OF A CAR. JUST LIKE YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR WITH PROPER AIR IN YOUR TIRES AND CHANGING YOUR FUEL FILTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. JUST LIKE YOUR CAR, WILL IT RUN IF YOU MAINTAIN IT? IT WILL, BUT EVENTUALLY YOU WILL HAVE A MAJOR BREAK DOWN.

THERE IS THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENT FOR US TO BE AS PRACTICAL AS WE CAN NOT ONLY IN VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, BUT THAT WE RESPOND TO THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE LONGER YOU LET IT LINGER THE WORST IT GETS WITH EVERY SUBSEQUENT RAIN AND IT GETS MORE COSTLY. IN 2020 ALONE WE COMPLETED 22 MAINTENANCE PROJECTS ACROSS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 32 ACTIVE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AT A VALUE OF $91 MILLION. THE FIFTH GOAL HERE IS TO BECOME A BEST IN CLASS PUBLIC AGENCY. WE WORK HARD AT THAT. I WILL GIVE UH COUPLE OF EXAMPLES WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT. RECENTLY WE BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AN $800,000 GRANT WE RECEIVED FROM FEMA.

IT WAS ONE OF TWO GRANTS IN THE COUNTRY PROVIDED AND IT WAS TO HELP US LOOK AT THE PHENOMENON OF URBAN FLOODING. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ITSELF.

IT MAKES SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH FEMA AND THEY ARE AWARE OF OUR CAPABILITIES AND BECAUSE OF THOSE RELATIONSHIP ITSELF HELPS US HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WHEN THE FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE THAT WE PRESENT OURSELVES AS A GOOD AND COMPETENT SPONSOR TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS. IT ALSO HELPS US BUILD TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS A LOT OF TRUST WE HAVE TO BUILD WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WE HAVE TO ACQUIRE LANDS TO BUILD OUR PROJECTS. THAT CAN BE SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO DO. HAVING GOOD TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING A GOOD DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY HELPS US HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

NEXT SLIDE, LUCINDA. SOME OF THE KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS WE TRACKED AS WE GO ALONG AND EXECUTING OUR MISSION STATEMENT ARE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE.

A COUPLE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THE FIRST ONE IS OUR GOAL AND OBJECTIVE 1A.

IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT IT IS WORTH REFERENCING THAT ONE OF THE BEST METRICS WE CAN LOOK AT IS THE NUMBER OF STRUCTURES AND THE NUMBER OF LAND WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY OR ROADWAY MILEAGE THAT IS NOT IMPACTED BY FLOODING. TO DATE WE ARE AVERAGING 5600 HOMES HAVING A REDUCED FLOOD RISK BECAUSE THE WORK WE HAVE DONE SINCE THE BOND PROGRAM WAS PASSED. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE METRICS WE DO KEEP TRACK OF.

WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A WAY TO STANDARDIZE THAT AND HAVE THAT INFORMATION PUT ON OUR WEBSITE SO THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE AS WE GET THESE PROJECTS COMPLETED WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS BEING PROVIDED IN A CLICK OF A BUTTON. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS OUR FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM. THAT TAKES A LOT OF MAINTENANCE. WE DO TWO INSPECTIONS PER YEAR AT EVERY ONE OF THESE SITES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND NOT DAMAGED BY A FLOOD OR HIGH WATER EVENT.

[00:20:07]

IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER A DECADE WE HAD THE SAME WEBSITE. AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME CAPACITY ISSUES ESPECIALLY DURING HARVEY. WE HAVE TAKEN SOME NECESSARY STEPS WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO INCREASE BAND WIDTH.

THE NEXT KEY POINT IS UPDATE OUR OVERALL FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM.

WE PROCURED A VENDOR NOW THAT IS HELPING US DO THAT. THAT'S GOING TO BE AN 18 TO 24-MONTH PROCESS TO GET THAT DONE. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS GOAL AND OBJECTIVE 2B. THIS GOES BACK TO THE AUTHORIZATION TRACKING OF HOW WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE BOND PROGRAM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS BASED ON THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

WE COULDN'T START IT ALL AT ONE TIME SO WE ARE STARTING THOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS ADOPTED IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. AND I HAVE TALKED WITH THE COUNTY AUDITORS ABOUT THIS. THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT COULD WE DO AN AUDIT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT? THE ANSWER IS YES.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS COURT COULD CONSIDER. USING THE AUDITOR AS OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN FACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION BECAUSE WE ARE ASKED A LOT ABOUT IT IS THE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 4A. THAT'S HOW WE MANAGE OUR VEGETATION WITH RESPECT TO MOWING. CURRENTLY WE HAVE FREE -- THREE MOWING SICKLES AND IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR SOME TIME. THAT IS MOWING 51,000 ACRES OR ROUGHLY 17,000 PER MOWING CYCLE. IT IS A BIG JOB AND IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS TO ACCOMPLISH ONE OF THE MOWING CYCLES WHEN WE START ONE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT WE NOW HAVE RIGHT AROUND 2500 BUYOUT LOTS WE MOW EIGHT TIMES ANNUALLY AS WELL. THAT IS A BIG COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DO IN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WHICH IS BASICALLY VEGETATION MANAGE MEANT.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION ON THIS SPREAD SHEET IS ITEM 4B WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF FEET OF CHANNELS SERVED. THIS LAST YEAR WE SERVICED ROUGHLY 300,000 LINEAR FEET OF CHANNELS AND THAT'S 56 MILES. IN DOING SO WE MOVED AROUND 100,000 CUBIC YARDS OF SILT.

TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE THAT'S 14,000 DUMP TRUCKS. WE ARE BEING AS ACTIVE AS WE CAN WITH MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MAKE SURE OUR SYSTEMS ARE RUNNING AS EFFICIENTLY AS WE CAN IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT TIME WE GET A RAINFALL. WE AVERAGE WELL OVER A THOUSAND SERVICE REQUESTS EACH YEAR COMING IN FROM THE PUBLIC. OUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO HAVE LESS THAN A 300 COUNT ROLLOVER TO THE NEXT YEAR. WE WANT A 90% CLOSURE RATE OF THESE REQUESTS AS THEY COME IN. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

CURRENTLY, THIS IS HOW WE ARE TRACKING RIGHT NOW. OUR ADOPTED BUDGET IS THE FIRST COLUMN, THE $120 MILLION COLUMN. THAT'S BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS I WENT THROUGH EARLIER IN MY PRESENTATION.

AND NEXT TO THAT THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN IS THE ADJUSTED BUDGET.

AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR THERE ARE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS MADE AS PROJECTS HAPPEN AND COSTS ESCALATE. THAT'S JUST ARTICULATED IN THE DIFFERENCES OF WHAT WE PLAN TO DO VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO DATE. AND THERE IS A $20 MILLION DELTA. HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR OF THIS YEAR BACK IN SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME WE MADE A REQUEST TO BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION. THAT WAS PRIMARILY TO CREATE A $15 MILLION DISASTER CONTINGENCY FUND. WITH AS ACTIVE A HURRICANE SEASON WE HAD, WE FELT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO DO. AT THE END OF THE DAY, 90% OF THE DAMAGES THAT WE INCUR ARE USUALLY COVERED BY FEMA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK HAS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM, AND THAT'S DONE WITH LOCAL FUNDS AND WE ARE REIMBURSED AFTER THE FACT. THAT $15 MILLION FUND WAS SET UP TO HAVE THERE IN CASE WE NEEDED IT. THANKFULLY IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT THE FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT TAPPING INTO THAT.

IT WILL REMAIN THERE MOVING INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR THE VERY SAME REASON.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE IS WHERE WE GET DOWN TO THE BUDGET REQUEST DISCUSSION. IN THE -- THE THE FIRST THING WE ARE ASKING FOR IS A CONSIDERATION OF AN $8 MILLION INCREASE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR: THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE MEMO OUR OFFICE PRESENTED TO COURT IN OCTOBER OF 2020 WHICH BASICALLY SAYS AS WE HAVE ALL THIS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE COMING ONLINE WITH ALL OF THE WORK BEING DONE WITH THE BOND PROGRAM, WE KNOW WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HELP US DO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY THAT'S THIS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE WILL REQUIRE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2020 ALONE WE PURCHASED OVER 2,200 ACRES. THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM BUYOUTS

[00:25:07]

WHEN WE BUILD THE NEW CHANNELS WE ARE BUILDING THEM TO LAST A LONGTIME.

WE LEARNED A LOT. THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE IS WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE LADDER SLIDE SLOPES ON THE CHANNELS. WHAT WE FOUND IS BLADDER SLIDE SLOPES MAY HAVE MORE RIGHTS OF WAY, BUT HOLD HOLDUP DURING EXTREME EVENTS OR PROLONGED EVENTS. THEY DON'T ERODE AS MUCH AS A STEEP SIDE SLOPE.

THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY FOR CHANNEL REPAIRS ON NEW INFROCK STRUR -- INFRASTRUCTURE. WE BUILT THEM BASED ON LESSONS FROM THE PAST.

PART I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN THE REQUEST IS AN ASSETS AND WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT AND 3-1-1 CUSTOMER SERVICE SOFTWARE. WE PUT MONEY FOR BOTH THESE ITEMS AND I WILL ARTICULATE WHY. WE WERE EXCITED TO HEAR THE COUNTY WAS STANDING UP A 3-1-1 SYSTEM. WE PARTICIPATED EARLY ON WHEN WE FOUND OUT THIS WAS COMING ONLINE PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY RELATION SYSTEMS WE HAVE NOW TO TRACK OUR SERVICE REQUESTS IS ANTIQUATED. IT DOESN'T DO THE JOB WE NEED IT TO DO. WE WANTED TO GO ALL IN ON A 3-1-1 SYSTEM THAT WILL REPLACE THE SYSTEM WE VVMENT WE HAVE 200,000 IN THIS REQUEST TO HELP US FUND THE COUNTY'S ON GOING EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT A 3-1-1 SYSTEM. THE OTHER THING HERE THAT WE HAVE MONEY IN HERE IS A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR A COUNTY WIDE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THERE IS A COUPLE PIECES HERE I NEED TO TALK THROUGH. THE FIRST IS WE ARE WORKING CLOSE WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE AND HCTRA AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES IN PROCURING A TECHNICAL CON -- CONSULT AT THE PRESENT TIME THAT WILL -- CONSULTANT THAT WILL BUILD THE ASSET DATABASE. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OTHER TWO DEPARTMENTS AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO PROCURE THAT TECHNICAL CONSULTANT.

THE OTHER PARALLEL ACTIVITY WE ARE WORKING ON IS WORKING WITH PURCHASING TO DEVELOP A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION OR RFQ TO PROCURE ANEN -- AN ENGINEERING TEAM.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA NEEDED TO POPULATE A TRUE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

IN ANTICIPATION OF PROCURING A VENDOR THROUGH UNIVERSAL SERVICES WE WILL ENGAGE A CONSULTANT TEAM TO FILL THE DATA GAPS AND COME UP WITH THE DATA FIELDS NECESSARY FOR A TRUE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THESE ARE ALL ON GOING AND COORDINATED PARALLEL EFFORTS WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 185 ACTIVE PROJECTS IN OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM. 173 OF THOSE ARE BOND PROJECTS. THERE ARE FIVE NEW PROJECT REQUESTS ON THE NEXT SLIDE I I CAN ARCTIC COULD YOU LATE IN A -- ARTICULATE IN A MINUTE. AND SOME RELATED TO THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM THAT ARE COMPLETED THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

IF YOU ADD IT UP, THE CURRENT BUDGET TO COMPLETE THE $2.5 BILLION BOND PROGRAM IS JUST OVER 5 BILLION. YOU MAY RECALL THAT WHEN WE FIRST PUT THE BOND PROGRAM TOGETHER WE WERE HOPING FOR EVERY $1 WE INVESTED LOCALLY WOULD BE MATCHED BY $1 FROM A PARTNER WHETHER IT WAS A FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDED. TO DATE WE WERE ABLE TO REPORT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE OVER $1 BILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP US EXECUTE THE BOND PROGRAM. AND 670 MILLION OF THOSE ARE BROUGHT TO YOU FROM FEMA AND NICS AND THE CORE OF ENGINEERS. AND THEN ADDITIONAL 350 MILLION THROUGH COUNTY ENGINEERING AND COUNTY SERVICES FOR BUYOUTS AND DRAWN NEGLIGENT PROJECT -- AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS. IF YOU SUBTRACT THAT, THERE STILL REMAINS 1.67 BILLION IN INSECURED FUNDING THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANAGE.

BEFORE I GET INTO THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT BECAUSE IT DOES COME UP A COUPLE TIMES. WE HAVE $175 MILLION IN MONIES -- IT IS 100% FUNDED LOCALLY WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES. THIS IS BECAUSE THE FLOODING IS ONE AVENUE OF FLOODING EXPERIENCED IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE HIGH INTENSITY RAINFALL RATES THAT FLOODED RESIDENTS JUST BECAUSE THE WATER COULDN'T GET TO THE CHANNELS AND THE CHANNELS WERE NOT AT CAPACITY WHEN THEY FLOODED.

WE HAVE THIS $175 MILLION IN THERE OF WHICH 25 PROJECTS HAVE COME FORWARD.

WE INVESTED PART OF THE 175 THAT LEAVES 37 MILLION IN THE REMAINING PARTNERSHIP

[00:30:01]

I DO WANT TO SAY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HELPED US IMMENSELY IN GETTING MAYORS IN PRECINCT 2 TOGETHER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS MONEY AND COME FORWARD WITH PROJECTS WE CAN IMPLEMENT ON A PARTNERSHIP BASIS. AS A RESULT OF THAT OVER HALF OF THE PROJECTS OF THOSE 25 ARE INCREASING TO WORKING WITH PRECINCT 2.

MY POINT IN BRINGING THAT UP IS THERE IS CAPACITY FOR MORE PARTNERSHIP FUNDS TO HELP US WORK WITH OUR MUNICIPAL SISTER AGENCIES TO TACKLE THE WHOLE URBAN FLOODING PHENOMENON.

GETTING BACK TO THE TOTAL REMAINING INCURED FUNDING OF 1 -- UNSECURED FUNDING OF 1.67 BILLION, PART IS OVERAGES WE DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR IN THE BOND PROGRAM SUCH AS RIGHT AWAY COSTING MORE THAN WE HOPED FOR AND CONSTRUCTION ESCALATION AND MATERIALIZING ON PROJECTS GETTING READY TO BID. THAT LEAVES OUR 1.38 BILLION IN FUNDING THAT WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR FROM OTHER SERVICES -- OTHER SOURCES.

WE DID SUBMIT ON OUR AGENDA AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND COUNTY ENGINEERING IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR ABOUT 914,000,013 GRANT REQUESTS PRIMARILY TO THE GLO OR THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE ULTIMATELY REQUESTING HUD MONEY TO HELP US IMPLEMENT PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK ON THOSE.

AND AS YOU MAY IMAGINE, THE GLO WAS WELL OVERSUBSCRIBED. I THINK THEY HAVE ABOUT 2 BILLION AT THE STATE LEVEL AND I THINK THEY RECEIVED 6 BILLION REQUESTS.

THEY ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE REQUESTS AND PRIORITIZE THOSE.

WE ARE HOPE -- HOPING MAYBE THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR WE WILL GET FEEDBACK FROM THE GLO WHICH PROJECTS SUBMITTED FOR GRANTS WILL BE SELECTED AND HOW THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY WE SUBMITTED 14 MILLION IN GRANTS AND 84 MILLION IN ZERO INTEREST LOAN APPLICATIONS TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR THEM TO FUND OUT OF THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. THEY ARE WELL OVERSUBSCRIBED IN THAT PROGRAM, BUT WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM THEM IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AS WELL.

AGAIN, THAT STILL LEAVES AROUND 1.5 BILLION OR SO IN UNSECURED FUNDING TO DATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING I TALKED ABOUT WITH DAVE BERRY EXTENSIVELY.

WE ARE MONITORING THIS AND WE SHOULD KNOW MORE WHEN WE START TO FIND OUT IF WE ARE COMING INTO THE 914 MILLION OF GRANTS AND IF THEY WILL BE AWARDED. WE ASSUME THAT ALL THAT GETS AWARDED AND IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL YEARS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, IT LEAVES 500 MILLION, 600 MILLION FUNDING GAP FROM WHAT WE KNOW TO DATE. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE HAVING TO MONITOR AND BE WATCHFUL OF AS WE WORK TO COMPLETE THE BOND PROGRAM.

CERTAINLY I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOLKS MAY HAVE ABOUT HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY FUND THAT. LAST SLIDE, LUCINDA THAT I HAD? IT IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING REQUEST FROM A CIP PERSPECTIVE FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BOND PROGRAM THE FUNDING REQUIRED FOR ALL OF THE ACTIVITY WOOSY CURRENTLY HAVE PLANNED IS AROUND 767 MILLION. THAT'S PRIMARILY FUNDED FROM THE BOND PROGRAM.

THAT INCLUDES JUST SHY OF $500 MILLION IN ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION.

WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE A VERY BUSY CONSTRUCTION YEAR IN 2021-2022.

AND THEN THE FUNDING REQUESTS WE HAVE FOR FIVE NEW CIP REQUESTS ARE OUTLINED HERE BELOW. I WILL TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT EACH ONE OF THEM.

THE FIRST ONE IS DISTRICT FACILITY AND SERVICE CENTER CONSTRUCTION.

WE HAVE A SOUTH SERVICE CENTER THAT IS LOCATED IN THE SIMS BAYOU WATER SHED OFF ALITA AND GENOA. WE ARE OUTGROWING THAT FACILITY WITH THE WORK WE ARE HAVING TO DO WITH RESPECT TO OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. WE HAD TO GET COUNTY ENGINEERING TO PUT A PORTABLE BUILDING OUT THERE TO HOUSE THE STAFF WE HAVE.

WE HAVE FUNDING IN THIS REQUEST TO HELP US START EITHER EXPANDING THAT FACILITY OR WORK TO FIND A NEW LOCATION AND FINDING A STRUCTURE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE WORK COMING OUT OF THE SOUTH SERVICE CENTER. AND WE ARE AWARE OF THE ON GOING EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY A JOINT FACILITY FOR SOME COMBINED DEPARTMENT USE.

I THINK THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE LAST COURT AGENDA. WE HAVE SOME MONEY BAKED IN SO WE CAN HAVE A SHARE OF BUILDING REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY COME UP WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING. THAT'S THE FIRST ITEM. THAT'S THE $5 MILLION ASK FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THEN FUTURE SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THE NEXT LINE ITEM DOWN IS AN ASK OF JUST AROUND $5.8 MILLION TO HELP US DO COUNTY WIDE FEDERAL CONCRETE LINE CHANNEL MAINTENANCE. THESE ARE CHANNELS BUILT WITH THE CORE AS A PARTNER AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE STRUCTURES. THESE FUNDS WOULD HELP US MAINTAIN THAT WE STAY IN COMPLIANCE AND OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE OPERATION AND MAIBT

[00:35:01]

I MENTIONED WE HAVE 750 MILES OF NATURAL CHANNELS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND AS WE START TO BECOME MORE URBANIZED, THE WATER SHED CONDITIONS CHANGE.

EVEN WITH OUR CRITERIA IN PLACE WITH THE TENSION AND MANAGING ADDITIONAL RUNOFF FROM DEVELOPMENT IT STILL HAS AN IMPACT ON THE NATURAL SYSTEMS. THIS MONEY WOULD HELP US STAND UP A NEW PROGRAM AND START ADDRESSING THE MAINTENANCE AND LONG-TERM STABILITY ON OUR NATURAL CHANNEL SYSTEMS. THE NEXT ITEM BELOW THAT IS THE BIGGEST ASK. THAT'S ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH THE COUNTY WIDE NONFEDERAL CHANNELS. THERE ARE A HUNDRED MILES OR SO THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A FEDERAL PARTNER THAT ARE JUST OURS TO MAINTAIN OURSELVES.

MANY OF THESE HAVE REACHED THEIR USEFUL LIFE IF NOT EXCEEDED IT.

THAT'S WHY THIS NUMBER IS AS LARGE AS IT IS. IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FUNDS TO GET TO.

THIS 40 MILLION ASK IS NOT -- IS AN ESTIMATE. WE ARE WORKING TO GET THAT DOWN. WE HAVE GIVEN SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY LOOK LIKE IT IS MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, THESE ARE ACTUALLY ACTIVITIES THAT WERE RESET THE CAPITALIZATION FLESH -- THRESH -- THRESHOLD. AND THAT'S WHY IT IS BEING PROPOSED AS A CAPITAL COST. WE ARE LOOKING AT A FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS THESE HUNDRED MILES OF CONCRETE LINE CHANNELS, BUT IT CAN BE SCALED UP OR FURTHER OUT DEPENDING ON AVAILABLE FUNDING. THE LAST THING IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST FOR CIP FUNDING IS A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP US ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY THAT WOULD PHO SILL -- FACILITATE MORE. AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT 62 MILLION IN CAPITAL COSTS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO EXPENNED IN OUR CAPITAL -- EXPEND IN OUR CAPITAL FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT'S MY LAST SLIDE. I KNOW I COVERED A LOT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BUT WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS RENNE

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN RAMSEY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE SLIDES WERE VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.

SOME YOU WENT THROUGH, BUT I MIGHT NOT HAVE QUITE CAUGHT IT.

O AND M IS 8 TO 9 MILLION PER YEAR? OBVIOUSLY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP AS MORE PROG EXPWRECTS -- PROJECTS COME ONLINE.

I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING DES MOINES. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO FINANCIALLY GOING FORWARD. HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE O AND M COSTS GOING

FORWARD? >> RIGHT. AND SO THOSE ARE ON GOING DISCUSSIONS WE ARE HAVING WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT. I WILL POINT OUT THAT RIGHT NOW STATUTE -- STATUTE EARLY TO -- STATITORILY OUR TAX RATE CAN GO JUST SHY OF 3 CENTS, BUT AS HIGH AS 30 CENTS PER HUNDRED. THAT IS ONE CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS WE START TO LOOK AT THESE INCREASED ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO MAINTAIN THIS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE. THE OTHER OPTION IS WE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY GETTING FUNDING FROM HCTRA. I KNOW THERE ARE FUNDS COMING IN FROM THE CORPORATION FOR THAT. THOSE ARE CERTAINLY DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HAD WITH PETER KEY AS WELL AS BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

WE DO FEEL THERE IS A NEXT SUCCESS THERE, IF YOU -- A NEXUS THERE IF YOU WILL BETWEEN WHAT WE DO AT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND MORE LANES IMPACTED IN A FLOOD

CONTROL EVENT SO THAT IS A FUNDING OPTION AS WELL. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW IT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE COMING UP WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY POLITICALLY.

THERE IS NEVER A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT WHEN IT COMES TO US HAVING TO RAISE OUR RATES AND EVEN GETTING MONEY FROM THE TOLL ROAD HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.

IT HAS TO BE PAID FOR OR WHY KEEP BUILDING THINGS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO JUMP IN ON THAT?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: PLEASE DO. >> I THINK I GREAT WITH COMMISSIONER POPPE SAID.

I AM TALKING ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE COST HERE, THE 8 MILLION TO 9 MILLION IN RUSS' PRESENTATION AND I AGREE IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. LAST YEAR COMMISSIONER'S COURT AUTHORIZED EFFECTIVELY A 3.5% INCREASE IN MNO REVENUE FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

THAT'S CAPPED AT 4 MILLION A YEAR. THAT'S ROUGHLY 4 MILLION A YEAR. GOING ABOVE THAT WOULD REQUIRE GOING TO AN ELECTION.

WHAT WE HAVE AND GIVEN THE BUDGET NOW IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO THINK ABOUT AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK IN IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED

[00:40:03]

THERE IS LOW-HANGING FRUIT THERE WHICH IS THE ROAD BRIDGE COMPONENT OF FLAD CONTROL PROJECTS. RIGHT? THAT HELPS MORE ON THE CAPITAL SIDE THAN THE OPERATING SIDE. THERE MAY BE POTENTIAL IF WE FREE SOME MONEY UP OF FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS WITH HCTRA MONEY. WE COULD REINVEST THAT MONEY ELSEWHERE. AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE WORKING ON WITH RUSS AND TEAM IS LOOKING AT THAT -- SORT OF THE EXISTING BUDGET.

IT HAS GROWN A LOT, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMANDS ON FLOOD CONTROL.

WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH THIS GOING FORWARD. THE REALITY IS THE NEED ON FLOOD CONTROL WILL ALWAYS BE GREATER THAN OUR ABILITY TO FUND.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MY SECOND AREA -- AND THANK YOU, MR. BERRY.

RUSS TALKED A LOT ABOUT PARTNER FUNDING AND TALKED ABOUT US MEETING OUR PRIORITIZATION SCHEDULE. SO SINCE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO START SO MANY PROJECTS, MANY OBVIOUSLY ARE RELYING ON PARTNER FUND. YOU GAVE SOME UPDATE ON HOW THAT IS GOING AND I WANT TO YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE, BUT THE CRUX OF MY CONCERN IS WHAT IF WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING? TELL US WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO POLITICALLY OR ANYTHING ELSE. IF WE DON'T GET IT, WHEN DO WE CHANGE WHAT WE'RE DOING IF THE

FUNDING IS NOT COMING IN? >> THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS. LIKE I SAID, WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE GLO ABOUT HOW MANY OF THE APPLICATIONS WILL MOVE FORWARD.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS. EVEN IF WE ARE SELECTED -- LET'S JUST SAY THEY AWARD HALF OF THE 900 MILLION UP FRONT IN THE FIRST FUNDING.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT RELEASING THE FUNDING, THE 2 BILLION IN TWO SECTIONS.

THE FIRST WILL BE FIRST THIS YEAR AND THE SECOND TOWARD THE END OF THIS YEAR IF NOT EARLY THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY COVER AS MANY APPLICANTS THEY CAN BASED ON THE CRITERIA THEY PUT OUT THERE. WE ARE LOOKING AT LET'S JUST SAY 400 MILLION COMES IN. TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER IT LEAVES US WITH QUITE A BIT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING OUT THERE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PARTNERSHIP COMPONENT TO IT.

AND IN THOSE INSTANCES WHAT WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO IS EXECUTE WHAT WE CAN WITH THE LOCAL MONIES THAT ARE IN THESE DIFFERENT BOND PROJECTS. IF WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT THAT ASSUMES 10 MILLION LOCAL FUNDING AND 10 MILLION FROM A PARTNER, IF THAT 10 MILLION PARTNER DOESN'T MATERIALIZE WE ARE STUCK WITH ONLY SPENDING 10 MILLION AND WE ARE ONLY -- I AM GIVING YOU 50% OF THE PROJECT.

WE WILL HAVE TO PUT THE REMAINING 50% ON HOLD UNTIL A, THE FUNDING PARTNER

MATERIALIZES OR B WE HAVE TO FUND IT OURSELVES. >> MR. BERRY, DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT? I GUESS WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WILL WE HAVE RAISED THE EXPECTATIONS IF THE MONEY DOES NOT COME AND IF THE PARTNERSHIPS DON'T COME IN? WE STARTED THESE PROJECTS, AND AT SOME POINT DO WE SLOW DOWN AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND SOME OF THEM? I JUST DON'T WANT ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS STARTED AND THEN WE ARE POINTING THE FINGER. AT SOME POINT WE WILL HAVE A JUDGMENT DAY ON THAT.

>> MY QUICK THOUGHT GOING BACK A COUPLE DAYS THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF APPROVAL FRAMEWORK FOR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS. THE PROJECT SHOULD GO SO FAR WITH THE FUNDING APPROVED AND BEFORE WE GO TO THE FULL EXECUTION AND CONSTRUCTION WE NEED TO COME BACK AND WRITE UP AN INVESTMENT MEMO AND SAY ARE WE GOING ALL THE WAY ON THIS PROJECT? I THINK THAT'S THE MOMENT IN TIME WE HAVE TO GO -- TO DO THE GUT CHECK. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ONLY TAKE A PROJECT SO FAR BEFORE WE HAVE ALL OF THE FUNDING LINED UP SO THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH HALF COMPLETED

PROJECTS AND THEN BE STUCK ON FUNDING. >> I AM JUST GENERALLY ASKING DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE TO YOU? AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT A NUMBER OF TIMES AT COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND I THINK WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN DO, ALL FIVE OF US POLITICALLY, BUT IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE TELL US.

DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE? WHAT DO WE DO? DO WE GO BACK TO THE VOTERS?

[00:45:03]

GET. >> RIGHT. AND E-MAIL -- AND WE KNOW A LOT MORE NOW THAN WHEN WE PUT IT TOGETHER AS FAR AS WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING AND STATE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE. WE PUT THE BOND PROGRAM TOGETHER BEFORE SOME OF THE BIG KEY INITIATIVES WERE PASSED THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL SIDE AS WELL AS NOW THE STATE SIDE. MAYBE CALL IT OVEROPTIMISM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT TERM IS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE. BUT GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION ON HOW WE MANAGE THIS, I WOULD SAY IT IS THE SAME AS BEFORE THE BOND PROGRAM WAS AVAILABLE. WE GOT 60 MILLION A YEAR TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAM. WE HAD TO DO SMALLER PROJECTS AND WE HAD TO PARSE THEM UP AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO AS WE LOOK AT ADDRESSING SHORT FALLS IN THE

CURRENT PROGRAMS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: ON THE CAPITOL PLANS YOU HAVE 62 ROUNDED OFF. HOW DO WE PAY FOR THOSE? EITHER YOU OR MR. BERRY.

>> RIGHT NOW OUR TAX RATE BRINGS IN, AND MR. BERRY YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON THIS, $120 MILLION A YEAR. SO ABSENT OF ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT FUNDING ALL OF THIS OUT OF WHATEVER COMES IN FROM OUR TAX RATE AND THEN THE REMAINDER WOO -- WOULD GO WHAT IS LEFT FOR OPERATION MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.

>> I THINK THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO REVIEW, IF WE CAN USE ANY OF THE BOND INSTRUMENTS TO FUND THESE PROJECTS. IT WOULD JUST DEEPEN THE GAP ON THE 2018 BOND PROJECT, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE MOBILITY FUNDS COULD PLAY A ROLE. WE CAN'T JUST GO AND CREATE A NEW DEBT AUTHORIZATION FOR THE PROJECT. WE HAVE TO WORK WITH -- THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, THE M AND O TAX RATE THAT CAN'T FUND 60 ADDITIONAL MILLION A YEAR.

MOBILITY FUNDS AND BROADENING THE SCOPE OF PROJECTS WE USE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS AN EASY ANSWER, COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK ON

PRIORITIES HERE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I GUESS I AM THINKING ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS SNOW YESTERDAY. WE ARE ALL WRAPPED UP AT LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS.

IT WILL BE RAIN AGAIN. THE FLOODING CHALLENGES WON'T GO AWAY.

AT SOME POINT I GUESS WE AS A BOARD HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON WHAT IS OUR APPETITE FOREGOING BACK TO THE -- FOR GOING BACK TO THE VOTERS OR PRAYING AND HOPING THE MONEY COMES IN. I THINK WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN DO.

WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE, BUT WE OUGHT TO BE REALISTIC THAT AT SOME POINT -- WELL, WE HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY RUN OUT OF MONEY. IF IT DOESN'T COME IN, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. RUSS, ANY UPDATE ON HOW WE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR NWBE'S? I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED LATER ON, BUT JUST MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING THAT.

AS PART OF THAT, YOU MENTIONED THE AUDITOR. I KNOW MY STAFF IS WORKING ON SOME LANGUAGE HOPEFULLY TO PUT ON THE AGENDA. I MAY NOT HAVE TO THOUGH.

WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MEETING THE PRIORITIZATION SCHEDULE.

MAYBE THERE IS SOME ROLE, IF IT IS LEGAL, FOR THE AUDIT TORE PLAY ON KEEPING UP WITH HOW WE ARE DOING ON MWBE ISSUES OR MAYBE THE NEW DEPARTMENT DOES THAT AS WELL.

HOW ARE YOU COMING ON THE MWBE ISSUES? >> YES, COMMISSIONER.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE CO -- COLETTE ASSIST US WITH THE MWBE FOR THE CLERK RECOVERY PRODUCT.

SHE IS A SUB CONSULT -- CONSULTANT ON THE BIG PROJECT.

I MENTIONED IN RFQ WE ARE WORKING WITH PURCHASING TO HAVE SOMEBODY HELP US WITH THE ASSET MANAGEMENT DATA GAPS. WE ARE WORKING WITH COLETTE TO GET THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE INCLUDED IN THE EVALUATION CRITERIA SO WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF THE MWBE PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE RECENT EXAMPLES. >> AND I'M SORRY, BECAUSE I GET THE ACRONYMN MIXED UP.

IT IS ALL IN PLACE SO WE WILL HAVE THE NUMBERS AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

>> WE ARE RELYING ON COLETTE EAST EXPERT CEASE FOR THE MWBE IN THE RFQ'S.

THAT'S CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> WELCOME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,

[00:50:03]

IF YOU COULD HAND OUT YOUR PRESENTATION TO ALL OF US THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AS WELL. >> OKAY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: BEGINNING WITH YOU MENTIONED YOUR -- THAT A LOT OF YOUR STAFF IS WORKING FROM HOME. AND SO HAVE YOU FOUND THAT TO BE EFFICIENT? ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY CHALLENGES WITH THAT? WHAT'S BEEN YOUR STAFF'S

RESPONSE TO THAT? >> IT VARIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE PROJECT MANAGERS AND WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS ARE BEING JUST AS EFFICIENT AS IF THEY ARE HERE IN THE OFFICE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE CANNOT DO REMOTELY WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF THE FINANCING AND SOME OF THE DAILY APPROVALS WITH HOW THE SYSTEM IS SET UP. A LOT OF THE FINANCE STAFF HAS TO COME INTO THE OFFICE.

EXECUTIVE LEVEL STAFF COME IN INTERMITTENTLY. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER, THAT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THING FOR ME IS NOT HAVING MY EXECUTIVES HERE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. I CALL THEM AND THEY MAY BE ON ANOTHER CALL.

SO WE ARE PLAYING PHONE TAG. I THINK WE ARE MAKING IT WORK FOR THE MOST PART, COMMISSIONER, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO OBVIOUSLY GETTING INTO A POST PANDEMIC SITUATION WHERE WE CAN BRING MORE STAFF BACK IN. I WILL SAY BECAUSE OF THE EFFICIENCIES AND I GO BACK TO THE PROJECT MANAGERS, THAT I THINK WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO COME UP WITH A MORE ROBUST TELE COMMUTE PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS MORE FOLKS TO WORK FROM HOME MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. THEY ONLY HAVE TO COME IN TO MAYBE DO CHECKUPS WITH THEIR MANAGERS AND REVIEWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOT IT. IF YOU COULD MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH MR. BERRY TO SEE WHERE YOU THINK THERE WILL BE SOME AREAS OF OPERATION THAT WILL BE PERMANENT AND SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY PLAN FOR SPACING NEEDS OR NOT.

IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO PUT THAT AS A WORK ITEM. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE OTHER THING TO WITH RESPECT TO THE PROJECTS YOU HAVE GOING ON AND YOUR MAINTENANCE AND MOWING AND ALL THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE WE TEND TO GET A LOT OF CALLS DIRECTLY ABOUT PULLING THE DUMPSTER OUT OF THE CHANNEL AND THE AREAS THAT NEED TO BE MAINTAINED. FOLKS COME TO US AND MAYBE YOU GET THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS NOT -- THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO AS IT RELATES TO WHO TO RESPECT THESE THINGS TO.

AND THERE IS A TWO FOLD POINT THAT TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN SEE IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO MAKE IT MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY.

AND HAVE A QUICK LANDING SPOT TO GO TO TO REPORT THOSE THINGS THAT GENERALLY COME FROM THE PUBLIC ITSELF. MOST OF IT IS GOING TO BE CLEAN UP AND MAINTENANCE RELATED. AND THEN SECONDLY IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM AND US TO HAVE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD. I AM ABOUT TO UNVEIL ONE AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LET YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT ONCE WE ARE DONE. IT TELLS PEOPLE ALL OF THE DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE I HAVE DONE IN 2020. IT TELLS PEOPLE WHERE I AM PLANNING TO BE IN 2021. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON MAKING SURE THE 2021 SCHEDULE GIVES PEOPLE MORE PRECISE INFORMATION WHETHER IT IS IN THE THIRD OR LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE PEOPLE AND THEY WILL CALL IN COMPLAINTS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAY BE DEALT WITH ALREADY AND WE WILL KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR MANAGED PROGRAM TO US AS NECESSARY. I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS TOUCHED ON THE ON GOING NEEDS

[00:55:09]

IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT MORE MONEY TO MAINTAIN. SIMILAR TO THE LAST POINT IS A MAP LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THE PROPOSE -- THE PROPOSED GROUP, WHERE THEY ARE AT AND WHAT TIME OF YEAR AND WHICH YEAR THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THERE WILL BE SOME GOOD SCHEDULING OF -- OR THE -- OR WHAT WILL DRIVE THE SCHEDULE BETTER YET AS TO ALL THAT. AND THEN LASTLY HAS -- HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES ABOUT THE ASSET WORK ORDER 3-1-1 CUSTOMER SOFTWARE.

IT GOES BACK TO MY POINT ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOUR PROCESS AND THEIRS WORKING ON THE 3-1-1 SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE IT IS ALL TIED WELL TOGETHER AND COORDINATED AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO GAPS BETWEEN WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING TO ACCOMPLISH FOR THE CITIZENS SO YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO LET ME KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING.

AND IS IT FEASIBLE TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITHIN

THE YEAR? WITHIN ONE YEAR RATHER? >> YEAH, PUTTING TOGETHER AN ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN ONE YEAR WILL BE A TALL ORDER, COMMISSIONER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE YOU? >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT WORKING THROUGH THE RFQ TO GET A CONSULTANT TEAM TO FILL THE DATA GAPS WE HAVE.

WE ARE HOPEFUL TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF REPORT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT BY THIS SUMMER, JULY OF THIS YEAR. AT THAT POINT WE WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER FEELING FOR A WAY TO BUILD THE SYSTEM AROUND THE DATA THAT WE FEEL NEEDS TO GO INTO THE ASSET MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: VERY GOOD. >> I AGREE.

I LIKE FIGURING OUT WHAT IS FIRST AND ACCOMPLISHING THAT TASK.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DO WE HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE DATA ALL -- I GUESS IT WOULDN'T BE AT ONE PLACE BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID. THE COMPREHENSIVE DATA AS TO WHAT CHANNELS AND WHAT BRIDGES AND TENSION POND AND CONDITION READILY AVAILABLE TO INTEGRATE

INTO THE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM? >> WE HAVE SOME OF IT, BUT NOT

ALL OF IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I TOO AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE END OF DE PARTICIPATION. AND THE LAST QUESTION IS A -- IS WITH ALL OF THE BUYOUT WE ARE DOING, AND THE FACT WE WILL BE -- OUR BUYOUT PROCESS IS GOING TO STILL CONTINUE ON FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS RELATED TO THE MAINTENANCE, ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE BUYOUT PROPERTY WILL FALL ON YOUR SHOULDERS. IS THE OUTLINE YEARS A MAINTENANCE COST BEING THOUGHT OF TODAY AND BEING PREDICTIVE FOR THE MOST PART FOR IF AND WHEN WE GO OUT FOR ANOTHER BOND ELECTION WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL BE TELLING THE

CITIZENS THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON? >> YES, SIR.

WE ASSUME WE WILL HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 400 AND 500 ADDITIONAL HOME BUYOUTS FOR THE NEXT DECADE. THE COSTS ARE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTIES

ARE INCLUDED IN THE NUMBERS WE HAVE BEFORE YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL.

AND THE SCHEDULE OF -- OR THE MAPPING OF YOUR PRONL JECTS AND THE -- PROJECTS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THEM, -- I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE MAP WE'VE GOT.

IT IS PHENOMENAL. IT IS GOING TO HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

[01:00:01]

I AM SO PROUD OF MY STAFF. ORIGINALLY WHEN WE STARTED ON THE DRAINAGE PROGRAM WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE US 10 YEARS TO GET TO A FULL CYCLE.

IT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE US BETWEEN 5 TO 7 YEARS NOW BECAUSE OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE. PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING THAT -- MAYBE NOT SO MUCH NOW, BUT WHEN I GOT HERE THEY COMPLAINED THEY HAD NOT SEEN IT IN 10, 20, 30 YEARS.

I KNOW THIS WILL BE CHALLENGING, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT, COMMISSIONER. WE STRUGGLE WITH HOW TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE RESIDENTS AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DITCHES YOU ARE DOING IN FRONT OF THE HOUSES WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE THEY SEE THE WORK.

IT IS BEHIND THE PRIVACY FENCES IN THE BACKYARD. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PROGRAM YOU HAVE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE HOPING TO GET OUT OF THE 3-1-1 SYSTEM WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS THE INFORMATION AND HELPING US PUT UP THE PUBLIC DASHBOARD. THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. AND THE LAST POINT ON THE PREVIOUS IS NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, MAKING SURE YOUR MAINTENANCE WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME.

I KEEP TELLING MY STAFF THIS IS COORDINATED WITH YOUR OFFICE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO BREAK THE DITCHES IF IT IS NOT READY TO ACCEPT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS COORDINATION ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE SIDE OF THE COUNTY WE ARE ON.

>> YES, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, RUSS.

THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: RUSS, GOOD REPORT. I WILL ECHO THE OTHER TWO COMMISSIONERS PRIORITY RELATED TO MAINTAINING WHAT WE'VE GOT. I KNOW I CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN CITIES WHEN YOU ARE NOT OUT THERE CLEANING OUT THE DITCHES.

IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT SEVEN YEARS BEFORE THEY ARE SILTED UP.

UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT IS AN IMPACT COUNTY WIDE WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

QUICK QUESTION ON PARTNERING. HOW MUCH ARE WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON?

>> WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THEM, COMMISSIONER. LET ME LOOK AT MY LIST.

>> TOM RAMSEY: SO WE ARE DOING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WITH THEM?

>> RIGHT NOW OUT OF THE NUMBERS I GAVE TO YOU EARLIER WE HAVE AROUND 25 PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS. I COUNT FOUR OR FIVE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

>> TOM RAMSEY: GOOD. THE OTHER QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE CORE.

I HAVE SEEN THROUGH THE DECADES HOW CORE PHILOSOPHY DRIVES PRIORITIES.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE LIKE THEIR MONEY, SOME DAYS I DON'T LIKE THEIR PHILOSOPHY.

YOU MENTIONED ONE IS THE COST BENEFIT. THERE ARE SO MANY PROJECT THAT'S WE NEED TO GET DONE, YET IT DOESN'T MEET THEIR CRITERIA.

I AM ONE TO ADVOCATE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE LOCAL PROJECT RATHER THAN WAIT AROUND 10 YEARS FOR CORE MONEY. AND BY THEN THE PROJECT IS DOUBLED IN PRICE, AND WE HAVE EATEN UP ANY CORE BENEFIT THERE ANYWAY. SO HOW MUCH IS THE CORE DRIVING OUR PRIORITIES ON THE -- I'LL START WITH THE HARVEY BOND ISSUE.

>> SO WE HAD FOUR ACTIVE PROJECTS WITH THE CORE OF ENGINEERS.

PRAISE, HUNTING, WHITE OAK AND CLEAR CREEK. HUNTING AND WHITE OAK WAS WHEN THEY PASSED THE BIPARTISAN ACT OF 2018. AND THEREFORE WE HAVE FUNDED AT FULL FEDERAL EXPENSE $185 MILLION TO GET US COMPLETE ON BRAIS HUNTING AND WHITE OAK. THEY ARE ON GOING NOW. WE ARE -- WE HAVE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION AND WE HOPE TO COMPLETE THOSE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

CLEAR CREEK WAS NOT DETERMINED TO BE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS DONE IN PRECINCT ONE.

[01:05:01]

WE INITIATED A 10 MILLION PROJECT ON MUD GULLY. THAT'S THE FIRST STAYS OF THE PROJECT. THE REMAINING WORK IS ON THE MAIN STEM OF CLEAR CREEK.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF ISSUING A PROGRESSIVE BILL CONTRACT TO GET THE PROJECT UNDER FULL CONSTRUCTION. AFTER THAT THE ONLY OTHER THING WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THE CORE IS DOWNSTREAM BUFFALO BAYOU AND THERE IS A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT THAT CAME IN ON THE INTERIM REPORT. IT IS DIGESTING THE COMMENTS AND REDIRECTING THEIR EFFORTS AS APPROPRIATE. AND WE ARE INVOLVED AS A NONFEDERAL PARTNER BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FUNDING IT OR A PARTNER IN THAT AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY CONCERN AND WHAT THEY HAD IN THE REPORT.

>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU FOR SETTING UP A MEETING HERE SON WITH -- HERE SOON WITH THE CORE WITH ME. I THINK WHAT THEY DID ON BUFFALO BAYOU WAS HORRIBLE.

IN A WORD THE PUBLIC INPUT WOULD BEAR THAT OUT. WHAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO ON ADDICTS AND BARKER WAS NOT HELPFUL. PEOPLE ARE BEING FLOODED TODAY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO GET SOME RECONCILIATION THERE. THE OTHER QUESTION IS YOU HAVE A BUDGET. THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT THING THAT WILL HAPPEN IN TWO YEARS IS A REMAPPING OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY. DOES ALL OF THE PROJECT AND DOES YOUR PLAN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT REMAPPING THE WHOLE COUNTY IN TWO YEARS AND PEOPLE TODAY ARE NOT IN THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT THEY ARE IN THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAIN THAT'S A BIG DEAL. ANYTHING WE CAN DO FROM A PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TO RECOGNIZING WHAT MAPPING IS GOING TO DO TO REAL PEOPLE OUT THERE, IS THERE MONEY IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR TO DEAL WITH THAT VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE?

>> GOOD POINT. >> THERE IS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON ALL 22 WATER SHEDS AND UPDATING THE FLOOD PLAIN MAPS.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE PRELIMINARY MAPS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

AT THAT POINT WE WILL BE ABLE TO START RELEASING THOSE AS BEST AVAILABLE DATA FOR THE COMMUNITY TO START LOOKING. THEY WON'T BE EFFECTIVE, BUT THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE AN IDEA AT THAT POINT OF WHAT THE ACTUAL FLOOD RISKS ARE. THAT'S OUR PLAN AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE ARE ENGAGED AND HAVE A COMMUNICATION FIRM WORKING WITH US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THAT COMMUNICATION TOUCH POINT LOOK LIKE WITH THE COMMUNITY? IT IS MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS. WE HAVE A TAB ON OUR WEBSITE COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO THE REMAPPING EXERCISE. WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.

SINCE WE ARE STILL A LITTLE EARLY IN THE PROCESS, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MAPPING TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC JUST YET, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CRITICAL MILESTONES NOW TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND WORKING WITH Y'ALL'S OFFICE AND HUH -- AND HOW WE ROLL THAT OUT.

WE WILL BE WRAPPING UP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS YEAR.

>> TOM RAMSEY: THAT'S GOOD. MOST PEOPLE ARE SITTING HERE CONSIDERING THE OLD 500 IS THE NEW HUNDRED. WE WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT SOON.

AND THE LAST THING IS DID YOU SAY 60% OF THE WATER THAT COMES -- THAT WE PROCESSED?

>> WE HAVE 400 SQUARE MILES DRAINED TO US, BUT IT IS 1777 IN SIZE.

>> TOM RAMSEY: WHAT KIND OF HELP ARE WE GETTING FROM THOSE OTHER COUNTIES ? FROM OUR PARTNERS ADJACENT TO US? ARE WE GETTING ANY HELP?

>> NOT MUCH AS OF LATE. IT DOES VARY. WE HAVE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. I WOULD SAY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME IS BETTER THAN OTHERS. ONE THING TO GO A LONG WAYS FROM THAT, AND THEY WERE STABBED -- THEY WERE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE IS PUTTING OUR FLOOD PLAIN TOGETHER AND THAT'S TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES THAT DRAIN INTO OUR WATER SHEDS AND EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE GOOD FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.

THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY ACTIVITIES WE ARE DOING. AT THE STATE LEVEL THEY WILL BE AWARE OF THE CRITERIA THAT IS EITHER IN GOOD SHAPE OR NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.

BECAUSE THE COUNTIES ARE OUTSIDE OUR JURISDICTION THERE IS LITTLE WE CAN DO TO INFLUENCE THEIR DECISIONS ON UPDATING THE GOOD CRITERIA. I AM HOPEFUL THAT BECAUSE THE

[01:10:01]

RAINFALL RATES IN MITIGATION. >> TOM RAMSEY: I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON A LOT OF THOSE COUNTIES. WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS HARRIS COUNTY CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE THESE OTHER COUNTIES TO BE A GOOD PARTNER.

WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT AND DO MORE ABOUT THAT. APPRECIATE IT AND THAT'S ALL

MY QUESTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: RUSS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO EVEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE REQUEST YOU ARE MAKING FOR THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET ARE LARGE.

I I DO THINK IT IS WORTH HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PREDICTED THAT WE WOULD MOW MORE GRASS IF WE BUILT MORE DETENTION BASINS AND CHANNELS AND ALL OF THIS AND THE FACT IT WASN'T ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BOND PROGRAM FOR IN THE FUTURE OPERATIONAL PLANNING IS A PROBLEM. IT IS A MISTAKE WE SHOULDN'T MAKE AGAIN. FOR THE MOWING COSTS AND THE MAINTENANCE COSTS WITH THE LIMITED FUNDING WE HAVE, THAT'S ALL A BIG CHUNK. I DO HOPE THE BUDGET WILL BE ABLE TO FIND SOMEWHERE SOME EFFICIENCIES WITHIN YOUR BUDGET OR A WAY TO PUT IT ON CIP. I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS ALARMING TO ME THAT IT WASN'T ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN THE BOND WAS FIRST PROPOSED. MOST IMPORTANTLY I THINK -- I HOPE THE IRT WILL SOLVE THIS. I CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF THE GOAL.

THE GOAL SHOULDN'T JUST BE TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FLOODING.

REDUCE IT TO WHAT POINT? IT IS ABOUT RESILIENCY. EXECUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER ELLIS BRINGING IT UP, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS ABOUT HOW DO WE DEFINE RESILIENCE AND HOW DO WE GET THERE? I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED MORE MONEY. WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE BOND IS NOT GOING TO GET US THERE.

I THINK WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THE IRT OR I DON'T KNOW, BUT FOR THE TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR A MORE CONCISE DIRECTION AND MORE CONCISE GOAL AND A WAY TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARD RESILIENCY. WE CAN'T BRAG WE ARE BUILDING ALL THESE PROJECTS AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUTH ADMIT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PREPARE US AGAINST A HARVEY-TYPE SCENARIO OR AN AMELDA DEPENDING ON WHERE IT LANDS. I AM STILL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

I COULD ASK YOU AS WE HEAD INTO ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON IN SIX MONTHS HOW ARE WE DOING ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE BUYOUT MONEY SO AS SOON AS PEOPLE FLOOD WE CAN BUY THEM OUT INSTEAD OF WAITING. I HAVE BEEN ASKING THAT QUESTION FOR TWO YEARS.

WHATEVER PROJECT I ASK ABOUT WHETHER IT IS WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY BROUGHT UP ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS, WHETHER IT IS WHAT YOU AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE DRAINAGE SIDE OF THINGS, ALL OF THIS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ADNAUSEAM. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT ON A TRACK THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND THAT GETS US TO OUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS. WE NEED A DEFINITION OF SUCCESS ASAP THAT IS NOT SIMPLY DO MORE WORK, CREATE MORE FLOOD REDUCTIONS OR HOW MUCH. I CONTINUE TO BE DISAPPOINTED ON THAT.

I WILL WORK THROUGH THE IRT AND LOOKING AT THE BFM REPORT. THAT CONTINUES TO BE MY CONCERN. WE ARE PEDALING HARD, BUT I DON'T THINK WE ARE PEDALING SMART. I REALLY DON'T. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT DEALT

WITH. >> I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS, JUDGE.

WE NEED THE IRT. FLOOD CONTROL IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE COMMUNITIES WE ARE WORKING TO FIND OUT WHAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION THEY EXPECT. AND ONCE WE IDENTIFIED THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK TOWARDS. YOU ARE RIGHT. WE NEED IRT INVOLVEMENT.

>> THE IRT IS NOT THE COMMUNITY BOARD, RUSS. THAT'S THE ONE THAT IS YOU AND ENGINEERING. THE COMMUNITY BOARD IS THE OTHER ONE.

>> THE TASK FORCE. YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M SORRY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, DAVE. >> JUDGE, TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET REQUEST ON FLOOD CONTROL, THE PLAN WE ARE WORKING ON IS TO IDENTIFY FUNDING SOURCE THAT'S ARE NOT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO IT WOULD EITHER BE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TAX REVENUE OR POTENTIALLY SOME USE OF MOW -- MOBILITY FUND. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

I WANTED TO STATE THAT AND IF ANYONE HAS DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS PLEASE LET US

[01:15:03]

KNOW. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THE 6 MILLION OR 7.5 MILLION, YOU ARE TRYING TO HAVE IT COME FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND?

>> CORRECT. THAT'S USUALLY HOW WE PAY FOR FLOOD CONTROL.

I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT WAS OUR PLAN AND GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM YOU AND

MEMBERS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S GREAT.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT'S A GOOD MOVE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: ON THAT POINT I WAS GOING TO SAY MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO NOT TAKE IT OUT OF GENERAL FUND IF THERE IS ANYWAY TO AVOID THAT. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE ASKING.

WE MAY SURVEY THE OTHERS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND COMMISSIONER THAT MAY REQUIRE ASSUMING ANOTHER SMALL BUMP UP IN THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR.

THAT'S SOMETHING BEFORE WE ASSUME IT -- AND YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THIS BEFORE

YOU VOTE ON IT, BUT THAT MAY BE OUR BEST WAY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I DID

HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION BEFORE WE FINISH. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW DO WE MAKE THE DECISION, RUSS, POLICY WISE ABOUT AUGMENTATION OF STAFF AS OPPOSED TO NEW HIRES? HOW DOES ONE FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE? AND I WAS ASKING BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DECIDE TO DO AUGMENTATION AS OPPOSED TO HIRE FOLKS TO DO IT. DOES IT TAKE TOO LONG TO TRAIN THEM? I AM NOT SAYING I DISAGREE. JUST ASKING.

>> SO LOOKING AT THE STAFF AUGMENTATION, WE LOOK AT HOW LONG THE PARTICULAR POSITION IS BUSY. WE SAW THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORK ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE REPAIRS THAT WE DID, WE ARE WRAPPING UP $90 MILLION OF REPAIRS FROM HARVEY THROUGH THE NATURAL CONSERVATION SERVICE. WE KNOW THAT WAS A SHORT-TERM PROJECT. WE HAD 22 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THAT'S THE TIMELINE THEY GAVE US. WE KNEW IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIRE A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE TO MANAGE THAT WORKLOAD. WE USED STAFF AUGMENTATION FOR THE TWO YEARS TO HELP US GET THROUGH THAT BUBBLE, IF YOU WILL, IN THE WORK -- WORKLOAD.

IF IT IS AN ON GOING EFFORT THAT WILL KEEP SOMEONE BUSY FOR FIVE TO EIGHT YEARS THAT'S

SOMETHING WE WILL BRING FULL TIME EMPLOY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND A QUICK FOLLOW-UP TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S QUESTION ABOUT BENEFIT TO COST.

YOU MENTIONED WHERE IT CREATES A PROBLEM WITH ONE ENTITY. WHAT ABOUT FEMA AND OTHERS? I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP A SENSE OF GRAVITY AND BENEFIT COST RATIO CHALLENGE.

>> FEMA REQUIRES A BENEFIT TO COST RATIO AS WELL. THE ONLY FEDERAL PARTNER WE WORK WITH THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE BENEFIT TO COST RATIO IS HUD.

>> AND THEN WITH THE STATE MONEY WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT, BUT IN SOMEWAY IF IT IS NOT MONEY COMING FROM CDBG WILL THEY LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT IT QUALIFIES ON THE BENEFIT TO COST AS WELL? IF YOU KNOW. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN I HEARD YOU ANSWER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S QUESTION I DIDN'T WANT US TO LOSE SIGHT OF IT IS A BIG PROBLEM AND NOT JUST WITH THE COURT, BUT OTHER FEDERAL PARTNERS OTHER THAN

CDBG. >> RIGHT. WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO RUN THE NUMBERS FOR ALL OF THE OTHER FEDERAL PARTNERS AND EVEN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS ASKING US TO

RUN THE NUMBERS FOR THEIR PURPOSES ALSO. >> RODNEY ELLIS: BINGO.

THAT'S WHERE I WAS HEADED. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT NOW. SEND IT TO US SO WE WILL KNOW. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WHEN I HEARD THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE IT IS NOT AS BIG OF A PROBLEM AS I THOUGHT. AND SO YOU THINK IF THE STATE ASKS, OBVIOUSLY IT IS SOMEWHERE IN THERE AND WE DON'T KNOW QUITE WHAT THE FORMULA IS. I GET THAT. THAT'S THEIR PER ROUGHING

GO -- THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE. >> WE WOULD BE GLAD TO SHARE

THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, RUSS, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. DO YOU FOLKS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT OF WE MOVE TO

POLLUTION CONTROL? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[Environment]

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM DR. BABIN FROM POLLUTION CONTROL.

>> DR. BABIN, YOU ARE UNMUTED. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND HONORABLE JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS BUDGET TO YOU THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. WE WILL START OFF WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A OVERVIEW OF POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES. WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN 1953 AS

[01:20:01]

AND AS THE EARLY START INDICATES WE PREDATED THE CREATION OF THE EPA WHICH WASN'T STARTED UNTIL 1970. WHEN POLLUTION CONTROL CAME ABOARD, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RULES THAT WE HAVE NOW TO UTILIZE. AS OF NOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS WE ARE STATUTORY AUTHORITY THAT WILL ALLOW US THE REGULAR -- THE REGULATION OF POLLUTION. WE UTILIZED CHAPTER 361 OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

WE UTILIZED CHAP -- CHAPTER 382 OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

WE UTILIZED CHAPTER 26 OF THE WATER CODE AND CHAPTER 7 OF THE WATER CODE OF WHICH CHAPTER -- SECTION 351 PROVIDES US THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE TOWARD LITIGATION THROUGH CIVIL ENFORCEMENT. POLLUTION CONTROL HAS LOTS OF STAKEHOLDERS.

WE HAVE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE WORK WITH QUITE OFTEN WHICH IS PUBLIC HEALTH AND FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE AND OEM AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE EXTERNAL PARTNERS LIKE THE TCEQ AND THE EPA AND THE HGAC AND OTHER VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS. AND THEN INDUSTRY GROUPS LIKE LEPC AND EKMA WE HAVE STAFFED ON COMMITTEE FOR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

POLLUTION CONTROL HAS BEEN RECENTLY REORGANIZED INTO THREE SEPARATE DIVISIONS.

MOSTLY THAT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE GAP ANALYSIS REPORT THAT GAVE US A BETTER OUT VIEW OF HOW WE SHOULD LOOK AT THINGS FROM A MORE PRO ACTIVE STANCE.

AND IN THE PFM REPORT WE ARE IDENTIFYING THINGS WE NEED TO DO OPERATION AND POLICY WISE.

WE DEVELOPED THE OPERATIONS AND POLICY DIVISION AND THAT GROUP ACTUALLY CONTAINS THREE SECTIONS. THE COMPLIANCE SECTION THAT DOES THE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT END AND PERMANENT SERVICES WHERE THEY REVIEW ALL OF THE WATER QUALITY AND THE AIR QUALITY AND THE SOLID WASTE AND HAZARD MATERIALS PERMITS AND THEN WATER SERVICES SAMPLES ALL OF THE WATER. EITHER SURFACE WATER OR STORM WATER. THE STORM WATER IS IN RELATION TO THE HARRIS COUNTY STORM WATER PERMISSION -- PERMIT. THE TECHNICAL DIVISION IS THE GROUP THAT DOES MOST OF THE INVESTIGATIONS WE HAVE. WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP THAT GOES OUT AND DOES THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE AND OEM. AND THEN WE HAVE THE INVESTIGATIVE AND -- THE FIELD INVESTIGATOR THAT'S RESPOND TO CITIZENS' COMPLAINTS. THEY DO THE PRO ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND THEN ALL OF THE GROUPS THAT BRING IN LAP SAMPLES AND BRING THEM TO THE IN HOUSE LABORATORY THAT PROVIDES THAT INFORMATION FOR THE DATA WE NEED.

THEY PROVIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DATA ANALYSIS AND THE TOCKS KOLL -- TOXICOLOGISTS IN THAT GROUP AS WELL. SO FROM MAY OF 2019 THERE WERE 44 EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC HEALTH -- I'M SORRY, IN POLLUTION CONTROL.

AND NOW WE HAVE 71 EMPLOYEES IN POLLUTION CONTROL. THAT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE GAP ANALYSIS REPORT THAT INDICATED THAT WE NEEDED TO BEEF UP OUR STAFF TO RESPOND BETTER. WE DID THAT AND WE ARE RESPONDING TO MORE COMPLAINTS AT THIS TIME. WHEN I LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVED OVER THE YEAR 2020 COMPARED TO 2019, THIS YEAR WE HAD 2,122 COMPLAINTS THAT CAME IN COMPARED TO 1,958 COMPLAINTS LAST YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, IF YOU TAKE OUT THE ITC REPORTS, THE ITC COMPLAINTS, THAT'S A 20% INCREASE. IF YOU INCLUDE THE ITC COMPLAINTS, THEN THAT'S A 10% INCREASE OVERALL. FOR VIOLATIONS, LAST YEAR IN 2019 WE HAD 722 VIOLATIONS ISSUED. IN 2020 WE HAD 882 VIOLATIONS ISSUED. FOR PERMIT ACTIVITIES IN 2019 WE HAD 218 PERMITS WE REVIEWED. IN 2020 WE ACTUALLY REVIEWED 550 PERMITS.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED WITH THE INCREASED STAFF.

[01:25:03]

THE TECHNICAL DIVISION ALSO LOOKS AT CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS IN ALL MEDIAS.

SOME OF THEM ARE RELATED TO COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVE FROM CITIZENS AND AGAIN WE ARE LOOKING AT MORE PRO ACTIVE ACTIVITIES. WE PERFORM ROUTINE AIR MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE AND PERFORM ROUTINE WATER MONITORING.

THIS DIVISION SUPPORTS THE ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES AND THE THREE MAIN GOALS OF THIS DIVISION IS TO PROVIDE A TIMELY RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMPLAINTS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRO ACTIVE INSPECTIONS AND AGAIN TO PROVIDE THE DATA DRIVEN OPERATIONS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION WAS BIRTHED OUT OF THE NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNICATION DIVISION OVERSEES ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND PROVIDES MEDIA RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUT REACH FOR THE DEPARTMENT. THE COMMUNICATION DIVISION SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION AND VISION THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION PLANNING AND IMPACTFUL COMMUNICATION POLICIES. THE THREE MAIN GOALS IS TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC AND DECISION MAKERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO GARNER FEEDBACK AND INPUT ON JUSTICE AND EQUITY TOPICS AND FACILITATE AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY COMMENTS TO TPEG REGARDING FACILITY -- TPEQ REGARDING FACILITY COMMENTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW WE COME TO OUR SPECIAL INITIATIVE AND PRIORITY ACTIONS. YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR FLEET THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED. THE GREEN FLEET WILL NOT ONLY GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LESSEN THE CARBON FOOTPRINT, BUT WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES ON THIS PARTNERSHIP WAS AN EXTREMELY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT CARBON FOOTPRINT LESSENING AND PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR OUR STAFF. PRIOR TO THIS OUR INVESTIGATORS WERE GOING OUT IN THEIR OWN VEHICLES. NOW THEY CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND SHOW THAT WE ARE BEING A GREENER DEPARTMENT. WE PURCHASED 12 ENVIRONMENTAL -- ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND SEVEN HYBRID VEHICLES FOR THIS SUSTAINABLE FLEET. WE HAVE ENGAGED OUR COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING PROGRAM OUR CAMP PROG -- PROJECT. THIS ALLOWS US TO PERFORM COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING DURING AN EVENT, BUT NOT JUST WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY EVENT.

WE HAVE CERTAIN PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WE CAN UTILIZE ON THE BLUE SKY DAYS AND THEY CAN DRIVE AROUND A TO AREAS WHERE THERE ARE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND THEY CAN COLLECT THE MONITORING DATA SO WE CAN USE THAT AS A BASELINE SO THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS AN EMISSION EVENT THAT ENCROACHES UPON THE COMMUNITY WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR BASELINE EXPOSURE WAS BEFORE THE INITIAL EVENT HAPPENED.

AND IT IS A GROUP THAT DOES ONLY THE MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE.

IN THAT GROUP WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO ADD A LITTLE MORE TECHNOLOGY TO THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT INCLUDING A DRONE INTO THAT GROUP. THE DRONE WOULDN'T BE FOR PHOTOS ONLY. WE CAN TAKE PHOTOS, BUT THE DRONE'S RESPONSIBILITY WOULD BE TO TAKE AN AIR SAMPLE IN AN AREA THAT WE MAY NOT BE SAFE TO SEND PEOPLE INTO, BUT WE CAN SEND THE DRONE INTO. IT CAN CAPTURE THE AIR SAMPLE AND OFFER IN A LIMITED LIBRARY

[01:30:03]

AND THEN WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY -- I'M SORRY, THE CONCRETE BATCH PLAN INITIATIVE WHERE WE STARTED THIS IN FEBRUARY OF 2019. IN THAT YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT A TOTAL OF 93 INVESTIGATIONS AND WE ISSUED ABOUT A HUNDRED VIOLATION NOTICES AS A RESULT OF THOSE INSPECTIONS. THE LAST INITIATIVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE FLOATING ROUTINE INSPECTION.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL ADD TO OUR EMISSIONS EVENT PROGRAM.

WE CAN TAKE A CAMERA OUT THAT IS A FLARE CAMERA OR A FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED USING THERMOGRAPHIC IMAGERY TO LOOK AT EMISSIONS THAT MAY BE COMING FROM ABOVE GROUND STORAGE TANKS. THIS COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SOMETHING THAT WAS LOOSENED THAT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO TIGHTEN A LITTLE BIT TO LESSEN THE FUGITIVE EMISSIONS. FUGITIVE EMISSIONS IN SMALL AMOUNTS AGGREGATE TOGETHER TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DEGRADATION OF OUR AIR QUALITY.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COME PONE INEPT TO LOOK -- COMPONENT TO LOOK AT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT WE ARE ADDING IN. I WILL GO INTO THE NUMBERS ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE.

HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DIVISION OPERATING BUDGET. THE POLICY DIVISION IS REQUESTING ABOUT 863,000 DOLLARS FOR THOSE POSITIONS. I BELIEVE THERE ARE EIGHT POSITIONS ON THE PRECEDING SLIDE. WHAT THAT INCLUDES IS THE POSITIONS THEMSELVES AND THE EQUIPMENT THE POSITIONS WOULD NEED AND THE TRAINING FOR THOSE POSITIONS TO GET STARTED. AND THEN THE ON GOING COST IS ABOUT $674,000 A YEAR. THE TECHNICAL DIVISION HAS A REQUEST OF ABOUT 18 POSITIONS. FOR THOSE POSITIONS, BECAUSE IT IS IN THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN THE INVESTIGATIVE AND SOME OF THE LABORATORY, THE FIRST YEAR COST IS $2.4 MILLION AND THAT INCLUDES THE PPE THAT THOSE RESPONDERS AND INVESTIGATORS WOULD NEED.

THAT INCLUDES VEHICLES FOR THEM. THAT INCLUDES OTHER MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND SOME TRAINING. AND THEN THE ON GOING COST IS 1.7 MILLION.

COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION IS REQUESTING SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS AND THAT WOULD BE A FIRST YEAR START UP OF $673,000 WITH AN ON GOING COST AROUND THE SAME, BUT THAT INCLUDES SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THOSE PROGRAM THAT'S THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB FUNCTION.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE NEXT SLIDE LOOKS AT THE REQUEST THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR CIP. THE CIP REQUEST IS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND UPDATES IN EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE EQUIPMENT. NEXT SLIDE.

HERE IS WHERE I GO INTO THE POSITIONS THAT I INDICATED A COUPLE OF SLIDES AGO.

THEY ARE LOOKING TO INCLUDE SEVEN NEW POSITIONS. THE POSITIONS WILL SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY AND THE NEW FLEET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE AIR MONITORING INITIATIVES AND WATER INVESTIGATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

THE TECHNICAL DIVISION REQUESTS 18 POSITIONS WHICH SHOULD I SAY ALL OF THESE POSITIONS ARE REQUESTED BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MULTI-YEAR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SAW FROM THE GAP SANL SIS.

GAP ANALYSIS. AND THE PFM AUDIT. SO FOR THE TECHNICAL DIVISION THERE IS, AGAIN, 18 POSITIONS AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE DEDICATED EMERGENCY PLANNING CAPACITY AND THE EXPANSION OF THE LABORATORY SERVICES SO THAT WE HAVE CHEMIST THAT'S OPERATE THE NEW PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE LOOKING TO DO SBOC'S AND THE MORE COMPOUND ANALYSIS AND INCREASED CAPACITY FOR OUR ER TEAM AND COMPLAINT RESPONSE AND SOME OF THOSE MORE PRO ACTIVE FIELD INVESTIGATIONS. AND THEN WE LOOK AT THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION AND THERE IS A REQUEST FOR SEVEN POSITIONS AND THEY WILL HELP US TO BRING THE COMMUNITIES INTO CONVERSATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE PFM AUDIT SO WE CANNOT ONLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE COMMUNITIES SEE AS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SO IT CAN READ THE DATA WE ARE PUTTING

[01:35:05]

I JUST WANT TO SAY IN CLOSING THAT THAT I AM VERY HONORED TO LEAD SUCH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE IN POLLUTION CONTROL. THEY ARE DEDICATED AND THEY ARE HARD WORKING.

I WANT TO SAY TO YOU ALL AS THE COURT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AS A NEED FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY. TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE ONE ON ONE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IT IS WE ARE DOING IN POLLUTION CONTROL TO SEE HOW HOW WE CAN FOCUS THAT ATTENTION THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR CONNECTICUT STITCH WENT.

THANK YOU -- YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I AM READY TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOLLOWED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DR. BABIN, A GREAT PRESENTATION AND GREAT HISTORY LESSON FOR ME.

DID YOU SAY 1953? >> YES, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE IT, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I WAS BORN. THE COUNTY LEADERS, I'M SURE THEY WERE ALL MEN BACK THEN, THE COUNTY FATHERS WERE AHEAD OF THEIR TIME.

I DO THINK ALONG THE WAY, ALTHOUGH WE BEAT LBJ, A GOOD TEXAN COMING UP WITH CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT WE ARE -- WE WERE NOT AGGRESSIVE OVER THE YEARS AND SEVERELY UNDER FUNDED. THE RESEARCH FROM MY STAFF AND YOU DID IT.

YOU MORE THAN JUSTIFIED THE 50% STAFF INCREASE. ANY IDEA WHAT PHASE 2

INVOLVES? IT IS UNDERWAY I KNOW. >> ACTUALLY PHASE 2 WE HAVE SOME MONITORING LOCATIONS PLANNED. THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN RESPONSE TO A COUPLE OF PROJECTS WE WERE WORKING ON. WE ARE LOOKING TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM BLUE SKY MONITORING SO WE CAN IDENTIFY LOCATIONS WHERE THOSE NEED TO BE CITED. AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY SEE THE NEED FOR MONITORS AND PLACE THE MONITORS APPOINTED TO OUR INTERIOR. WE DON'T WANT TO THROW IT OUT THERE AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW YOU NEED. WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT AS A

PROBLEM AND INVESTIGATE THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW, A ROUGH IDEA, HOW MANY OF OUR COME -- COMPLAINTS ARE FROM WITHIN A CITY AS OPPOSED TO UNINCORPORATE SNED IS IT PRETTY EVEN OR MOST COMING FROM UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I HAVEN'T BROKEN THE DATA DOWN TO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, BUT I

DEFINITELY CAN DO SO TO FIGURE THAT OUT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT MIGHT ENCOURAGE MORE COOPERATION AND FUNDING AS WE GET MORE AGGRESSIVE.

I COMMEND YOU ON THE SUSTAINABLE FLEET INITIATIVE FROM YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.

JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES, WE NEED TO DO IT COUNTY WIDE. CLEARLY YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE CHARGED WITH POLLUTION CONTROL THEY ARE STEPPING UP SAYING WE ARE DOING OUR PART. I HOPE WE DO IT COUNTY WIDE. I'M SURE MY STAFF IS LISTENING.

AT LEAST WE WILL FOLLOW, BUT WE WANT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND HAVING A DISCUSSION. MR. BERRY -- I GUESS I WON'T DO IT ON DR. BABIN'S TIME, BUT KNOW I WILL ASK HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO DO IT COUNTY WIDE. I WON'T TAKE DR. BABIN'S

TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. DR. BABIN, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND YOU ARE STEPPING UP IN A HUGE WAY.

I WILL NEVER FORGET TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE ASKED THE QUESTION TO YOUR PREDECESSOR WHAT DO YOU NEED. THE DEAR IN THE HEADLIGHT LOOK OF I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED.

YOU ARE ASKING AND THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. OUR STEP NOW IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK WITH YOU TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS A CONTINUATION FOR THE POLICIES AND WE HAVE THE CAPITAL IN OUR BACKYARD AND WE NEED TO PROTECT IT IN THE COMMUNITY.

[01:40:11]

SO I WILL SUGGEST MAYBE A CONVERSATION IN GENERAL ON A COUPLE OF YOUR ITEMS, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT IS TECHNOLOGY INTENSIVE TO SEE IF THERE IS A CAPACITY THAT HE ALREADY HAS IN THE -- IN HIS ORGANIZATION THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO YOU TO GET UP AND RUNNING AND SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. A QUESTION ON YOUR WATER QUALITY WORK. YOU MENTION YOU ARE DOING 950 WATER ASSESSMENTS AND 220 DRY WATER SCREENINGS AND 22 WITH WEATHER. ARE THESE ADDITIONAL BFT'S YOU ARE REQUESTING, HOW MUCH MORE OUT POUT DO YOU THINK -- HOW MUCH MORE OUTPUT WILL THERE BE OR WILL THERE NOT BE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY BACKLOGS OR YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO GET TO

THE NUMBERS AND WHERE YOU ARE AT CURRENTLY. >> I AM NOT SURE IF MR. BRADY IS ON THE LINE OR NOT. IF HE IS NOT I WILL ANSWER THAT.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WITHIN OUR WATER QUALITY SECTION THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT OF. WE HAVE SOME SAMPLING AREAS WE DON'T GET TO BUT ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS. THE ADDITIONAL STAFF WE ARE REQUESTING WOULD ALLOW US TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE SO WE CAN GO OUT MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

AND THEN THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE -- SMALL CITIES THAT WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO GO INTO UNLESS WE GET A CALL ABOUT A COMPLAINT THAT WE CAN MAYBE SEND OUR INVESTIGATOR INTO ON A LITTLE MORE FREQUENT BASIS TO DO SOME OF THOSE SCREENINGS TO LOOK AT THE

WATER PROBLEMS AND WHAT THAT REALLY IS. >> GOT IT.

AND I GUESS WOULD THAT BE ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION REQUEST -- WITH YOUR GROW COMPLIANCE SERVICES AREA WHERE YOU WANT TO ROLF -- RESOLVE 80 AND 90% OF THE CASES BY GETTING A VIOLATION NOTICE OUT AND THEN BE ABLE TO GET TO 10% THAT ARE BEING FORWARDED FOR PURSUIT OF ENFORCEMENT? IS THAT ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION YOU ARE DEALING WITH

THERE? >> ONE OF THE VIOLATION NOTICES, OUR COMPLIANCE GROUP REVIEWS ALL OF THE COMPLIANCES. IT IS RATHER SMALL.

THERE IS ABOUT FOUR COMPLIANCE OFFICERS AND A MANAGER. EVERY VIOLATION THAT COMES FROM OUR DEPARTMENT THAT IS TO GO THROUGH ONE OF THOSE FOUR COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.

THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNEASE OF LOOKING AT THOSE MORE CLOSELY. WHETHER IT GOES TO ENFORCEMENT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR FOR CRIMINAL IT IS BASED ON THE EGREGIOUSNESS OR THE FREQUENCY OF THOSE.

AND HAVING A LITTLE MORE STAFF WOULD ALLOW US TO LOOK AT THAT HISTORY A LOT FASTER AND BE

ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: VERY GOOD.

ON YOUR FIELD SERVICES INVESTIGATION AND ON YOUR I THINK IT WAS YOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SECTION IF I CAN FIND IT HERE, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

ONE IS FOR -- HERE IT IS. THE GROW EMERGENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES.

I GUESS YOU NEED THE ADDITIONAL 10 AND THEN THE 1 AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL 5 IN THE OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE TWO DISCIPLINES AND YOU CAN'T USE ONE FOR THE SAME.

>> SO THE INVESTIGATIVE GROUP IS DIFFERENT FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP.

THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE GROUP IS ON CALL. THEY ARE ON CALL WHICH SHIFTS TO GO OUT WHENEVER THE HAZMAT GROUP GOES OUT BE IT IT IS A FIRE OR EXPLOSION THEY GO

[01:45:01]

WE TRY TO KEEP THOSE SEPARATE BECAUSE THE ER GUYS ARE RUNNING ALL THE TIME.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE -- JUDGE? WE ARE HAVING TWO CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU, DR. BABIN. SO THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES. YOU NEED THE CAPACITY. AND APPROXIMATELY -- WHEN YOU SAY ON CALL TO RESPOND, HOW MANY CALL UPS ARE YOU DEALING WITH?

>> IN LOOKING AT THE 2020 NUMBERS WE HAD ABOUT 1400 CALLS.

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

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA. I TOTALLY GET IT. I WANT TO COMMENT THAT I APPRECIATE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEED TO ENGAGE AND BETTER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. INCREASING YOUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES IS MUCH APPRECIATED. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU MAKE SURE YOU GIVE THOUGHT TO THE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY OF THE COUNTY AND A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS STRUGGLING WITH SOME OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES TEND TO BE -- ESPECIALLY MANCHESTER AND THOSE AREAS, THEY ARE GENERALLY STRUGGLING FOR SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT.

IF YOU WOULD JUST GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT. >> YES.

WE DO HAVE SOME SPANISH -SPEAKING DOCUMENTS AND WE HAVE SPANISH SPEAKERS WE ARE WORKING WITH IN THAT DEPARTMENT. MATTER OF FACT, THE TOXICOLOGIST IS SPANISH SPEAKING. THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS DIRECTLY AND RELAY THAT INFORMATION. I JUST FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD SOMEONE THAT KNEW TEXT COLLING AND KNEW HOW -- TOXICOLOGY AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPANISH-SPEAKING

COMMUNITY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. AND AGAIN THE OTHER -- AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT. ONE AREA THAT MAY BE GOOD TO HAVE A DISCUSSION -- I AM JUST VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT OUR -- ANY GOVERNMENTS -- GOVERNMENT'S VULNERABILITY TO BAD ACTORS. I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR I.T. SYSTEMS ARE PROTECTED EFFECTIVELY. WHERE THIS GOES I WILL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU AND THE GENERAL, BUT I HOPE YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE

WEBSITE. >> YES, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL.

THANK YOU, DR. BABIN. I APPRECIATE AND APPLAUD YOUR WORK.

KEEP IT UP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: DR. BABIN, GOOD REPORT. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. DO YOU FEEL LIKE NOW THAT YOU ARE STARTING TO GET DATA, DO YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASE AIR CONDITIONED IN THE COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR THE QUALITY OF AIR IS GOING TO BE JUST BASED ON BEING IN A GULF COAST REGION. IF THEY ARE BURNING THINGS IN MEXICO WE WILL HAVE A CERTAIN AVER -- AIR QUALITY IF YOU GO TO A DIFFERENT COUNTY.

DO YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THAT? >> WE ARE GETTING OUR HEADS WRAPPED AROUND THAT. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME COMMUNITIES IT WILL BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS. IF YOU HAVE AN AREA WHERE

[01:50:02]

>> AND JUST BE SURE WE HAVE PROPERLY ACCOUNTED FOR THE CONDITIONS WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. I CAN'T CONTROL THE FACT THAT BURNING THINGS IN MEXICO AND IT DRIFTS ACROSS THE GULF AND INTO OUR AREA. JUST BE SURE THOSE THINGS AND OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ARE NEAR A FREEWAY YOU WILL HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT IMPACT YOU. WE ARE GOING TO BE COLLECTING DATA.

I WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT TO DO WITH THAT DATA.

AS WE GATHER DATA AND AS WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTING DATA TIG -- PARTICULARLY ON THE EASTSIDE PASADENA, DEER PARK, LA PORT, THEY HAVE GO INFORMATION THERE.

I LOOK FOR YOU TO SHARE DATA AND MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL PUTTING OUR RESOURCES IN A FOCUSED MANNER TO MAKE IT BETTER IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> YES, SIR. >> TOM RAMSEY: THE OTHER THING THAT IS OF CONCERN ON THE WET SIDE, THE WATER KNOW THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS MANY TREATMENT PLANTS.

ALL OF THOSE ARE SOURCES OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT WITH THE WATER DURING MAJOR RAINFALL EVENTS. I AM TALKING ABOUT RAW SEWAGE IN THE BAYOUS.

ARE WE MONITORING THAT FOR THE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENCE? WHEN YOU HAVE A SPILL AND WHEN THINGS HAPPEN IN AN EVENT LIKE THAT, AND IT IS NOT LIKE IT ONLY HAPPENS IN HARVEY.

EVERY MAJOR EVENT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO OUR OUT FALLS BECAUSE OF WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS. IT IS NOT ONLY HOUSTON, BUT OBVIOUSLY HOUSTON HAS A BIG PART OF IT. ARE YOU IN ANYWAY ENGAGED ON THAT SIGNIFICANT WATER ISSUE?

>> YES, SIR. WHENEVER THERE IS A FLOODING EVENT WE ALSO WATCH TO SEE WHAT THOSE AREAS LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS THE FLOOD GAUGES SO WE CAN DETERMINE IF IT IS CLOSE TO A WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE.

WE HAVE THAT MAPPED OUT. WE PLACE CALLS TO THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

WE SEND E-MAILS TO THEM TO LET THEM KNOW WE NEED THEM TO REPORT TO US AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEIR FUNCTIONALITY IS DURING THE EVENT AND AFTERWARD SO WE CAN TELL IF THEY HAVE A COMPLETE WASHOUT AND WE DO SEND SAMPLERS OVER THERE TO SAMPLE THE AREAS WHEN WE --

WHEN WE ARE NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT. >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU,

DR. BABIN. >> YES, SIR. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU DR. BABIN SO MUCH. I KNOW YOU HAVE SEVERAL PERSONNEL REQUESTS.

AND IT IS BUILDING OFF OF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID. I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE GAP ANALYSIS, BUT SOME OF THEM LOOK TO ME AND MY STAFF IT GOES BEYOND WHAT THE GAP ANALYSIS RECOMMENDED. I WOULD SAY AS WE TRY TO BALANCE ALL OF THE COMPETING REQUESTS AND THE LIMITED FUNDS THIS YEAR PERHAPS TO WORK WITH DAVE BERRY ON, COULD YOU START WITH A CERTAIN NUMBER, AND THEN IF YOU STILL NEED MORE, Y'ALL CAN COME BACK.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOME OF THEM ARE GOING BEYOND THE NUMBER THAT THE GAP ANALYSIS REQUESTS -- REQUESTED. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS ON THE SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING.

I KNOW THE ANALYST'S OFFICE IS WORKING ON THAT, SO MAKING SURE YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS TOO EARLY ON THIS OR NOT, BUT JUST THAT IT MAKES SENSE WITH THE BROADER PLAN. THOSE ARE REALLY THE NOTES I

HAD HERE, DR. BABIN. DID THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YES, MA'AM, IT DOES.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WE WILL REVIEW THAT INFORMATION AND WE WILL GET IN CONTACT WITH DAVE BERRY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANYWAY WE CAN STREAM LINE THAT.

OR MAYBE WE CAN PUSH BACK SOME OF THAT. WE DO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR SUCCESSION PLAN. THE REQUESTS WE ARE MAKING NOW IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO PUSH MAYBE SOME OF THOSE BACK TO FISCAL YEAR 23 THAT MAY BE SOMETHING

WE MAY NEED TO LOOK INTO. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS HAVE GOOD METRICS AND THEY ARE ON THE PATH, BUT SOME OF THEM WHERE WE COULD FOCUS

[01:55:01]

NOT BE SUFFICIENT AS FAR AS THE METRICS. >> OKAY.

I WILL TAKE NOTES ON THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND JUST TO CLARIFY BASED ON WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS SAYING TOO, EVERY TIME WE HAVE THESE RAIN EVENTS AND YOU AND I SPOKE THIS SUMMER WITH THE DIFFERENT STORMS, THERE ALWAYS COMES THE QUESTION OF, WELL, IF IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR THE WORKERS TO GO OUT, THEN IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE COMPANIES COULD POLLUTE WITH IMPUNITY THE ONE THAT'S ARE NOT GOOD ACTORS.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THE DRONE PROGRAM WOULD ELIMINATE THAT PROBLEM? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS COMES UP. IT CAME UP DURING HARVEY.

IT IS JUST ALWAYS AN ISSUE. AND TO ME WHEN THERE IS A STORM IS WHEN WE NEED THE MOST NEED THE ABILITY TO MONITOR AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE SAY WE CAN'T MONITOR BECAUSE IT IS RAINING WHEN THE RAIN IS WHAT IS CAUSING THESE RELEASES OR ALLOWING FOLKS TO RELEASE UNDER THE GUYS -- GUISE OF

IT'S RAINING. >> A LOT OF TIME WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RAIN EVENTS BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. I'M NOT AWARE THIS PARTICULAR DRONE WE ARE LOOKING AT, AND WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER MANUFACTURERS IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE ACTIVATED DURING A RAIN EVENT. IF SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TYPE OF DRONE WE ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE. IT IS REALLY JUST FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT

WE DON'T GO OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE EVENTS. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND WOULD THE

SIX MONITORS BE ABLE TO SOLVE THAT ISSUE? >> THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK DURING THOSE EVENTS AS LONG AS IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO MOVE THEM FOR SAFETY. IF WE ARE THINKING THE AREA MAY BE IMPACTED BY FLOODING OR BY HEAVY WINDS, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SECURE THOSE SO THEY DON'T GET BLOWN AWAY OR DESTROYED. DURING HARVEY WE HAD A COUPLE OF OZONE UNITS WE WEREN'T AWARE THEY WERE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EXPECT THE FLOODING

TO BE AS BAD AS IT WAS. WE TOTALLY LOST THOSE. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK WE HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION AND WE CAN'T BE THE ONLY JURISDICTION THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES. YOU JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE IT, DR. BABIN. WE CAN'T JUST SAY IT IS RAINING SO WE HAVE TO TAKE AWAY THE INSTRUMENTS. AND IT IS RAINING SO WE CAN'T SEND OUR STAFF AND THEREFORE

WE JUST CAN'T MEASURE IT UNTIL AFTERWARDS. >> THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL DO SOME MORE RESEARCH INTO AND TALK WITH SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO SEE HOW THEY

DO THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH, JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT QUESTION. I REALLY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO ASK RUSS ABOUT IT. IT IS A GOOD POINT TO MAKE TO DR. BABIN.

WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD CALL AND COME -- COMPLAIN ABOUT FLOODING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS I WOULD CALL THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THEY WOULD SAY WE'LL BE RIGHT ON IT. AND THEN THEY WILL CALL ME BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND THEY WILL TELL ME, YEAH, WE CHECKED THAT PLACE YOU WERE TELLING US ABOUT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. WE DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS. IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. IT TURNS OUT THEY DON'T GO OUT AND INSPECT FLOODING CONDITIONS IN REALTIME. THEY WOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE WATER CUBE SIDED -- THE WATER SUBSIDED. THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE WANT TO DO BUSINESS BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED GOOD, ACCURATE INFORMATION AT THE TIME.

THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO MAKE. DR. BABIN, I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE -- I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN THE PROTOTYPE WEBSITE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH MY OFFICE.

THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING I WILL HAVE UNIVERSAL SERVICES LOOK AT FOR SECURITY.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE AT SOME POINT THAT YOUR OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO ADOPT IT IF YOU

SEE IT BENEFICIAL TO YOUR OPERATIONS. >> YES, SIR.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU DR. BABIN.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO TAKE A BREAK BEFORE THIS HEARING. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE NEED

[02:00:03]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 12:02 AND WE ARE ADJOURNING FOR LUNCH. THANK YOU.

>> T >> RODNEY ELLIS: I HEAR HIM, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 2:01 AND LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE BUDGET HEARINGS.

NEXT IS THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN.

[Transportation]

>> I AM UNMUTING JOHN BLOUNT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> JOHN, YOU'RE UNMUTED.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT'S 2022 BUDGET. WE WANT TO THANK DAVE BERRY AND PFM AND THEIR OFFICE TO HELP WITH THE ANNUAL BUDGET THIS. YEAR HAS BEEN QUITE CHALLENGING. WE ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE CONTINUED NEED TO SPEND GENERAL AND CAPITAL FUNDS WHILE CONTINUING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. AFTER ALL THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS TO BE THE MOST RESPECTED AND TRUSTED PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY IN THE NATION.

THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION I WILL SHARE WITH YOU OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE METRICS. BUDGET, DATA AND NEW REQUESTS AND OUR CIP FUNDING REQUEST. I WILL SEE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL SLIDE.

THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS OUR LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND THE ASSOCIATED SERVICES AND FUNCTIONS A WILL -- ALLOCATED TO EACH DIVISION. WHILE THIS STRUCTURE IS NEWLY IMPLEMENTED IT IS PIVOTAL IN STREAM LINING OUR FUNCTION BUILT IN HOW WE TRACK OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS AND MEASURE OUR SUCCESS. FOR EXAMPLE THERE ARE PRODUCT DESIGN SERVICES IN THREE SEPARATE DIVISIONS THAT CREATES CHALLENGES IN SEEKING DATA-DRIVEN RESULTS. IN THE OLD ORGANIZATION I HAD 14 DIRECT REPORTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE WE MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

HERE I AM GOING TO GO OVER THE SERVICES THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PROVIDES.

STRATEGIC REGIONAL PLANNING. EXAMPLES OF THIS IS THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN 2040.

INCLUDED IN THAT TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2030. THE MULTI-MODAL THOROUGH PLAN IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER WITH THE GOAL OF ADOPTING IT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THEIR SEPTEMBER ADOPTION SCHEDULE AND THE EQUITY AND TRANSPORTATION STUDY WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER. ADDITIONALLY AS PART OF THIS WE INCLUDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE TEAM. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FIRST COMMUNITY FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK FORCE MEETING AND WE ANTICIPATE TO HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE THIS SUMMER, THE LATE SUMMER ON HOW WE WILL SET OUR RESILIENCE PLANNING FROM HERE FORWARD. ADDITIONALLY THIS GROUP INCLUDES PRECINCT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING INITIATIVES,. SEVERAL PRE SINKS -- PRECINCTS IS PLANNING GOING ON AND SPEARHEADING THE IMAGINATION ZONE PLAN AND CRITERIA FOR A RESILIENT, DIVERSE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITIES.

WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING INTO ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE FOUND OUT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN THE CITY'S E T.J. THAT -- E EJ THAT LOCKS 43% LARGER IN THE HE -- IN THE E.T.J. IT IS -- WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES AND EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

OUR NEXT GROUP IS OUR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS GROUP. THAT'S AN INTERNAL GROUP.

ONE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR WAS THE FORMATION OF AN EMPLOYEE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

[02:05:02]

THIS ESSENTIALLY IS A PIPELINE TO -- TO THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR GROUND LEVEL FRONT LINE EMPLOYEES ARE THINKING.

TO BE A MEMBER YOU HAVE TO BE AN EMPLOYEE AND CANNOT BE ANY HIGHER THAN A FIRST LINE SUPERVISOR. OF THESE, ALL OF THESE EMPLOYEES WERE ELECTED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE GROUPS. SO IT IS TRULY AN ELECTED GROUP THAT WILL HELP ADVISE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ON EMPLOYEE RELATIONS. THE NEXT GROUP IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE SUPPORT. THERE IS AN INTERNAL SUPPORT THAT PREPARES AGENDA ITEMS. NEXT IS EMPLOYEE SAFETY TRAINING.

THAT IS NOT ONLY TRAINING FOR OUR STAFF, BUT THAT INCLUDES THE TRAINING THAT WE ARE WORKING TO GIVE THE CONTRACTORS A IS PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

WE HAVE A A PUBLIC SERVICE ENGAGEMENT AND OUT REACH. THIS INCLUDES THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE DID WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL BOND PROGRAM AND CONTINUE TO DO.

IT ALSO INCLUDES THE REQUIRED PUBLIC OUT REACH AND VISION ZERO.

THE MULTI MODAL THOROUGHFARE PROGRAM AND TRANSPORTATION STUDY.

THAT EEN COMPASS -- THAT ENCOMPASSES THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

WE DID OUT REACH ON ALL OF THESE. IT WAS VIRTUAL BECAUSE WE STARTED IT DURING THIS COVID PANDEMIC, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF INPUT, AND WE ARE EXIELT -- EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE ARE WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO MODERNIZE OUR OUTWARD FACING WEBSITE TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY AND FURTHER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

WE WORKED WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES. WE HAVE THE CONSULTANT AND THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY AND EXPECTING TO COME TO COURT NEXT MONTH.

OUR FINANCES IS AN INTERNAL DEPARTMENT. TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING MAINTAINS 996 SIGNALS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 25 CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ANNUALLY WE ADD APPROXIMATELY 50 ADDITIONAL SIGNALS. CURRENTLY WE HAVE A REHABILITATION SCHEDULE TO ADDRESS ALL OUTDATED SIGNALS. SYSTEM WIDE WE COMPLETED SOFTWARE UPGRADES AND BATTERY BACK UPS AT ALL LOCATIONS. AND WITHIN -- WITH A FIT FISCAL YEAR 2022 WE ARE SLATED TO COMPLETE REMOTE COMMUNICATION TO ALL SIGNALS. SO IN ESSENCE, WE WILL KNOW WHEN A SIGNAL IS DOWN, HAS BEEN HIT, BECAUSE IT WILL REPORT BACK TO US ELECTRONICALLY. WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING ADA ACCESSIBLE PUSH BUTTONS AT ALL APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS. WE GOT AUTHORIZATION TO BID THAT I THINK LAST PORT. NEXT CATEGORY IS FACILITY MAINTENANCE.

FACILITIES AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE WAS TRANSFERRED SHORTLY BEFORE HURRICANE HARVEY. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT BACKLOG OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. MANAGING THE BACKLOG WAS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT THROUGH THE FACT THAT A FACILITY MAINTENANCE TRACKING SYSTEM HAD BEEN PURCHASED, BUT NEVER IMPLEMENTED. THAT'S A SYSTEM WE KNOW AS PRIOR TO RITA.

WE MAINTAIN 140 BUILDINGS THAT INCLUDES THE LANDSCAPING, CLEANING, REPAIRS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 8.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET.

THESE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE THE WORK PERFORMED BY FACILITIES AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE WHEN WE ASSIST THE PRECINCTS WITH THEIR BUILDINGS AND WORK ON HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL BUILDINGS THAT WE HELP MAINTAIN. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY PFM, WE ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING $4.44 PER SQUARE FOOT PER YEAR TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDINGS WHERE LOS ANGELES SPENDS $7.28 AND MIAMI-DADE SPENDS $9 A SQUARE FOOT. THERE IS A COMPARISON THAT CLEARLY WE ARE SPENDING A LOT LESS MONEY, BUT ARE WE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT AS WE BRING IT ONLINE. UTILITY IS ANOTHER SERVICE.

UTILITY COORDINATION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO PROJECT DELIVERY AND MANAGED INTERNATIONALLY BY A TEAM AND SUPPORT STAFF. UTILITY CONFLICTS AND RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITIONS ARE A CRITICAL PATH WITH OUR PROJECTS.

THE NEXT SERVICE IS REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION. OUR REAL PROPERTY GROUP SERVICESES -- SERVICES EXTENT BEYOND ENGINEERING. THEY PROVIDE REAL PROPERTY SERVICES FOR THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND FLOOD CONTROL. IN FACT, THEY EVEN DO BUYOUTS

[02:10:04]

OUR NEXT SERVICE IS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CONSISTS OF PLANNING, DESIGNING AND INSTRUCTION OF COUNTY FACILITIES.

WE ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING A PORTFOLIO, 68 BUILDING AND OPEN SPACE PROJECTS WITH A VALUE OF 585 MILLION. ROAD AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. ROAD AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CONSIST CONSISTS OF PLANNING AND STUDY OF PROJECTS. WE ARE CURRENTLY MANAGING A PORTFOLIO OF 356 TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND RELAY -- AND WITH A VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY $1.2 BILLION. DISASTER RECOVERY. IT IS ANOTHER SERVICE.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEBRIS MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSPECTIONS AND ALL REQUIRED RESOURCES INCLUDING PERSONNEL, TRAINING AND CONTRACTS TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE.

ADDITIONALLY WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY FACILITIES AND MODIFICATIONS AS WELL AS REPAIRS REQUIRED FOR DAMAGED PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THIS PANDEMIC WE DID ALL OF THE WORK AT THE NRG FOR THE TEMPORARY HOSPITAL AND FOR THE UH SEEM -- ASSEMBLY OF THE GRAND JURIES AND PUBLIC COURTHOUSE OPERATIONS. DURING 2020, THERE WAS THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE.

SIGNIFICANT COORDINATION HAS OCCURRED WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE JAIL. FINALLY, HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT STOOD UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MONITORING PROGRAM TO ASSIST PUBLIC HEALTH IN THEIR EFFORTS TO KEEP THE COUNTY BUILDINGS SAFE.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE. THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE IS ESSENTIALLY SERVICED TO THE PUBLIC. WE COLLECTED 150-TONS OF WASTE IN 2019.

OFTEN THIS WASTE WILL END UP IN ROAD SIDE DITCHES OR OTHER PLACES INSTEAD OF PROPERLY DISPOSED. DUE TO THE COVID CRISIS, THIS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AND THEN JUST REOPENED IN SEPTEMBER. OUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE GROUP OFFERS EVENTS THAT ARE TEMPORARY EVENTS HELD AT THE PRECINCTS AS AN ADDED SURFACE TO THE COMMUNITY.

FINALLY PERMITTING. THE PERMITTING OFFICE ISSUES PERMITS FOR THE REGULATORY PERMITS THAT THE COUNTY ISSUES. THROUGHOUT 2020 OUR OFFICE ISSUED 57,000 PERMITS COMPARED TO 50,000 IN 2019. A 13% INCREASE.

EVEN THOUGH THIS PANDEMIC OCCURRED, WE HAD A 13% INCREASE IN PERMIT ACTIVITY.

VERY SIGNIFICANT. PERMIT REVENUES LAST YEAR WAS APPROXIMATELY $16 MILLION.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE GENERAL FUND. APPROXIMATELY SIX MILLION OF THAT GOES BACK TO THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE AND OUR OFFICE IN A SPECIAL RESTRICTED ACCOUNT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. ADDITIONALLY IT IS NOTED THAT 89% OF OUR PERMITS ARE ISSUED USING OUR AWARD-WINNING E PERMIT SYSTEM.

PEOPLE NEVER COME TO THE OFFICE, BUT 11% OF OUR PERMITS ARE STILL ISSUED WHAT I WOULD CALL THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY. PEOPLE COME TO THE OFFICE AND APPLY FOR PERMITS AND WE ASSIST THEM. CLEARLY WE WANT TO INCREASE THE USE OF THE E PERMIT SYSTEM, BUT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT STILL WANT TO DO IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY COME TO THE OFFICE OR NEED ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROCESS OR NEED HELP. WE ARE WORKING ON THE ABILITY TO FURTHER HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE HAVE LISTED OUR TOP FIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS DIRECTED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY MORE. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN THINGS LIKE THE EQUITY AND TRANSPORTATION STUDIES AND THE MULTI-MODAL THOROUGHFARE PLAN ARE JUST PART OF THE PLAN AS IS VISION ZERO. THIS COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. QUITE FRANKLY THIS REGION DOESN'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE NETWORKS. HGAC HAS A PLAN, BUT IT IS ON HIGHWAY NETWORKS. THIS PLAN IS LOOKING AT NOT ONLY HIGHWAYS, BUT LOOKING AT COLLECTOR STREETS. MORE IMPORTANTLY WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATIONS. WE ARE LOOKING AT MASS TRANSIT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SIDEWALKS. WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE COMPONENTS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. THIS IS A 2040 PLAN AND IT WILL BE UPDATED EVERY YEAR AS

[02:15:06]

AS ARE SIGNIFICANT OTHER ITEMS OF THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT IS OUR DUTY IN THE GOVERNMENT. AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN BOTH CHALLENGING AND REWARDING.

WE WERE AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON MANY FACETS. IF YOU LOOK, AND I DID CHECK BECAUSE I WENT TO OTHER GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, WE WERE THE FIRST TO IMPLEMENT TEMPERATURE SCREENING. WE WERE THE FIRST TO DO MANY THINGS.

WAS IT PERFECT? NO. I AM PROUD OF THE EFFORTS MADE TO TRY TO PROTECT THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PROJECT IS THE BEN COB LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER.

IT DEMONSTRATES ENGINEER AGRICULTURE -- ENGINEERING'S ABILITY TO WORK WITH PARTNERS AND ACCOMPLISH LARGE SCALE BUILDING PROJECTS. THERE IS NOTHING MORE COMPLICATED THAN ADDING AND REMODELING OPERATING ROOMS WITHIN A HOSPITAL THAT IS ACTIVELY TREATING PATIENTS. IT ALLOWED HARRIS HEALTH TO KEEP THEIR LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER STATUS. THIS WAS AN $80 MILLION PROJECT.

SUSTAINABILITY. HARRIS COUNTY HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON TRAINING STAFF AND CONSULTANTS ON PROGRAMS SUCH AS ENVISION. THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS ONE ENVISION PROJECT ON GOING, AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT MORE.

ENVISION IS NOT JUST LOOKING AT SUSTAINABILITY, BUT IT INCLUDES OUT REACH TO THE PUBLIC. AN ENVISION PROGRAM REQUIRES PUBLIC INPUT, COMMUNITY INPUT. IT IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING PROJECTS, BUT IT MAKES SENSE.

ADDITIONALLY WE CONTINUE WITH OUR ENERGY EFFICIENT -- EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE SUCH AS THE LED LIGHT CONVERSION PROGRAM AND THE USE OF HYBRID VEHICLES.

REGULATIONS. REVISIONS AND IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING REGULATIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ADDITION OF ATLAS 4 KEY RAINFALL WAS DONE. ADDITIONALLY OF SIGNIFICANCE IS THIS SUMMER WE ASKED THE COURT -- AND I SAY WE BEING HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, WE ASKED THE COURT TO PUT A BURDEN ON THE CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTIES DRAINING INTO HARRIS COUNTY. AND WE SAID YOU NEED TO ADOPT A MINIMUM SET OF STANDARDS SIMILAR OR EQUIVALENT TO OURS. AND THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS MADE. IT IS NOT COMPLETE, BUT BETWEEN THE CITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE COUNTIES DRAINING HARRIS COUNTY THERE ARE 40 DIFFERENT ENTITIES.

WE WORK WITH ALL OF THEM AND EIGHT HAVE UPDATED THEIR REGULATIONS FULLY.

THREE HAD THEIR REGULATIONS UPDATED AND THEY ARE WAITING TO GO TO THEIR BODY FOR APPROVAL. 18 HAVE RECEIVED OUR CONSULTANT REVIEW AND ARE WORKING ON THEIR REVISIONS. AND SIX ARE PEBDING FURTHER -- ARE PENDING FURTHER DISCUSSION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE THAT HAVE NOT APPLIED TO OUR REQUESTS AND TWO INDICATED THEY DO NOT INTEND TO MODIFY THEIR REGULATIONS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT IS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. IF YOU WILL REMEMBER, THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS THE COUNTY WOULDN'T PARTNER WITH THESE ENTITIES UNLESS THEY WERE WILLING TO STAND UP AND WORK WITH US ON REDUCING FLOODING. I THINK IT WAS LAST COURT YOU HAD TWO SEPARATE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENTS. BOTH OF THOSE COMMUNITIES HAD THEIR ORDINANCES APPROVED. THERE IS A LOT OF PROGRESS ON THIS AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THESE CITIES. AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, YOU GAVE US THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE A CONSULTANT ASSIST WITH THEM. WE ARE PROUD ON THAT EFFORT. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT ONE ON GOING INITIATIVE BECAUSE I HEARD IT DISCUSSED IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.

ASSET MANAGEMENT. ASSET MANAGEMENT IS A HUGE DEAL.

WE ARE WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES. AND NEXT COURT THERE WILL BE A LETTER FROM OUR OFFICE AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES ON ASSET MANAGEMENT.

WE INTEND TO START THE FIRST 9-MONTH DUE DILIGENCE PHASE THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES RECOMMENDED. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND DONE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS AND MADE A RECOMMENDATION WHICH WE THINK IS APPROPRIATE. THEY WILL BE SENDING THEIR LETTER TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON THAT. WE WILL BE SENDING OUR LETTER

[02:20:02]

THIS IS A RATHER COMPLICATED SLIDE, BUT I'M GOING TO TALK THROUGH THESE.

WE WERE LIMITED TO 10 SLIDES AND I PROBABLY COULD HAVE USED 200.

YOU ARE PROBABLY GLAD I DIDN'T. OUR TOP 10 GOALS ARE ALL ALIGNED WITH THE COUNTY'S VISION AND GOALS AS ILLUSTRATED ON THIS SLIDE.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE COURT'S TIME AND DISCUSS SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS WITHIN OUR GOALS AND THE RATIONAL BEHIND THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND ASSOCIATED PERFORMANCE METRICS. ALONG WITH OUR OVERARCHING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS, WE HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED STWO -- 25 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE METHODS. ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE PERFORMANCE METRICS WE HAVE ESTABLISHED ARE NEW, WE RECOGNIZE IN THIS STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT SOME ARE TRACKING OUTPUT AS OPPOSED TO OUTCOMES. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO GET TO AN OUTCOME DEVELOPED PROCESS. WHILE THIS IS NOT THE ALLOT -- THE ULTIMATE GOAL THEY ARE BEING TRACKED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND WE HAVE THE CURRENT METRIC SYSTEM. IN TERMS OF STRATEGIC AND REGIONAL PLANNING SERVICES AND OUR GOAL OF CREATE AND SUPPORT A SAFE AND EQUITABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE COUNTY WIDE MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS A GRADING OF THE COUNTY'S CREEK. AND THE STREET NETWORK.

IT IS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS COMPLETED AND DOLLARS SPENT. WE NOW HAVE A STANDARDIZED SYSTEM OF GRADING NETWORK. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE OVERALL PAYMENT INDEX IS A SCORE OF 80 REPRESENTING A SATISFACTORY RATING OF THE ROAD SYSTEM. WE HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION FOR A NETWORK OF THIS SIZE. THIS IS ONLY LOOKING AT ROADS. IT IS NOT LOOKING AT SIDEWALKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE HAVE EVALUATED THOSE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A GRADING SYSTEM AND THERE ISN'T A NATIONAL GRADING SYSTEM FOR SIDEWALKS. THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. THE STREET NETWORK SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY USING A NATIONAL ASPM METHOD. WE GOT 80. ONE CAN ARGUE THAT YOU CAN GET ANY SCORE IF YOU SPEND ENOUGH MONEY. YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT OUR SCORE WHICH IS SATISFY -- WHICH IS SATISFACTORY, BUT HOW MUCH DID IT TAKE TO GET TO THE SCORE? THE ONE COMMUNITY WE COMPARED TO WAS HOUSTON.

HOUSTON HAS THE SAME TYPE SOILS AND THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS.

IT IS COMPARABLE. ON THE AVERAGE WE SPEND APPROXIMATELY THE SAME DOLLAR PER MILE MAINTAINING AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. HOWEVER, WE GOT A SCORE OF 80 AND THEY GOT A SCORE OF 72. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S JUST LOOKING AT THE ROAD NETWORK. CLEARLY WE WILL SPEND MORE TIME IN THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN LOOKING. WE LOOKED AT THE CONDITION OF THE SIDEWALKS. WE LOOKED AT THE ADA RAMPS. WE HAVE A LOT OF SIDEWALKS AND ADA RAMPS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED. MORE IMPORTANTLY WE HAVE A LOT OF SIDEWALKS AND HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS AND SEGMENTS THAT ARE MISSING.

WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO FIX WHAT IS THERE, BUT WE NEED TO BUILD WHAT IS MISSING AROUND SCHOOLS AND OTHER LOCATIONS. ANOTHER GOAL OR WHAT IT TAKES US TO DO GOOD PROJECT DELIVERY.

THREE YEARS AGO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PURCHASED E-BUILDER TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE AND TRACK PROJECT DELIVERY METHODS. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY UTILIZE THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SYSTEM DUE TO THE DELAY -- DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION OF PEOPLE SOFT TO E-BUILDER. E-BUILDER IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS COMPONENTS. IF IT DOESN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO METRICS. WE ARE WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON HAVING THIS IMPLEMENTED.

ONCE IT IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THE PRECINCTS SO MUCH MORE DATA AS WELL AS GATHER SO MUCH MORE DATA ON THE COST. THINGS THAT ARE TYPICALLY MEASURED IN THIS TYPE OF PROJECT DELIVERY ALL RELATE TO THE FINANCES AND THEY ARE TIED BACK TO THE SYSTEM. ONCE WE HAVE PEOPLE SOFT IMPLEMENTED WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF METRICS ON THAT. ONCE E-BUILDER IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED WE WILL HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO PRODUCE MEAN -- MEANINGFUL DATA AND

[02:25:04]

EMPLOYER RELATIONS. OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON EMPLOYER RELATIONS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD CALM -- GOOD COUPLE YEARS FOR THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. WE HAD HURRICANE HARVEY AND THEN IMELDA AND NOW COVID. IT ALL DRAMATICALLY AFFECTS THE WORK WE DO.

WE ARE STILL WORKING ON HARVEY RECOVERY PROJECTS BOTH FOR THE PRECINCTS WITH DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND THE BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE CJC CENTER. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WE IMPLEMENTED THE EMPLOYEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WITHIN THIS FUNCTION WE WILL TRACK AND ENGAGE EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND FEEDBACK. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS FEEL VALUED AND THEIR VOICES BE HEARD. THEY ARE, AFTER ALL, OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET. LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WORKFORCE DIVERSITY.

HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO HAVING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE THAT MATCHES THE MAKE UP OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN RECRUITING, HIRING AND PROMOTING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE. CONSIDERING THE UNDER REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES AND WOMEN IN TECHNICAL FIELDS THIS GOAL IS CHALLENGING, BUT WE'RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE. A COUPLE THINGS WE WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE DID HAVE -- WE PREVIOUSLY ASKED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DO AN INDEPENDENT LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PROFESSIONAL REG STRAPT -- REG STRAINTS, BOTH ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS AND COMPARE THAT TO OUR STAFFING AND WHAT IS, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, AVAILABLE IN THE POOL OF REGISTERED ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS. ALTHOUGH WE ARE DOING MUCH BETTER, ALMOST TWICE AS GOOD, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THE FACT THAT THERE AREN'T AS MANY MINORITY REGISTERED ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR OUR REGISTERED ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS TO MATCH THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES. SUN -- ONE OF THE THINGS I AM EXCITED TO SAY IS THAT IN OUR ENGINEER AND TRAINING POOL WHICH IS THE FIRST LEVEL OR THE YOUNGEST GROUP OF ENGINEERS WE HIRE THAT HAVE REACHED THEIR FIRST LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION, 67% OF THEM ARE MINORITIES. SO WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IN HIRING. THIS IS PART OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WE HAVE PUT IN AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND IT INCLUDES OUT REACHING TO THE RIGHT UNIVERSITIES. AND IT IS A COMMITMENT, BUT WE'RE UP TO THE COMMITMENT.

WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO LOCAL UNIVERSITIES TO PROMOTE THIS. ANOTHER ISSUE WE ARE WORKING ON IS A STEM PROGRAM.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST HIRE PEOPLE AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL.

MULTIMODAL INTERESTED IN TECHNICAL FIELDS ENGINEERING AND ACT TEXTURE. ONE OF THE COMPONENTS WE'VE SET THIS YEAR IS WE HAVE ACTUALLY SET SET A POSITION FOR A TECHNICAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.

ONE OF THEIR JOBS, BESIDES RUNNING THE INTERN PROGRAM AND ASSISTING WITH THE RECRUITING, IS WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOLS. OUR TRADITIONAL INTERN PROGRAM WE ONLY ACCEPT PEOPLE IN JUNE YOUR OR SEEN -- SEEN YOUR OR SENIOR LEVELS, BECAUSE THAT'S A HIRING POOL WE HIRE FROM BUT WE INTEND TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SO THAT'S ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT PRO PROGRAM. WE'RE ALSO PROUD TO HARRIS COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT NOW HAS THE FIRST EVER FEMALE ACCOUNTANT ENGINEER, LISA MACS IN THE 104 YEARS HISTORY OF THIS DEPARTMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

[02:30:02]

BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 1819 AND FISCAL YEAR 1920, YOU WILL NOTE A 35% INCREASE IN OUR ACTIVE PROJECT PORTFOLIO. AND ONLY 3% INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET.

COMPARING FISCAL YEAR 1920 TO FISCAL YEAR 2021, THERE WAS A 13% INCREASE IN OUR ACTIVE PROJECT PORTFOLIO AND 11% INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WE COVER THE DEFICIT IN OUR BUDGET WITH ROLL OVER FUNDS AND WERE PREPARED TO DO THAT AS WELL THIS YEAR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS SLIDE WILL GO OVER THE BUDGET REQUESTS. IT WILL TALK ABOUT THE DOLLAR VALUE.

THE NEXT SLIDE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ASSOCIATED POSITIONS. BR2, THE FIRST REQUEST IS AN ADJUSTMENT FOR BASE OPERATING OF INDIVIDUALS WE HIRED IN NOVEMBER AND MARCH.

SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE DIFFERENCE OF THE PEOPLE WE HIRED THAT YEAR.

WE DIDN'T OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BUDGET FOR THEIR ENTIRE SALARY. SO THIS IS THE REMAINING SALARY.

BR3 IS FUNDING TO INCREASE STAFFING DIMINISHED A PROJECTED 15% INCREASE IN PRECINCT ACTIVITY. AND THAT INCLUDES LEASED SPACE FOR AUTHOR INDIVIDUALS.

I'LL POINT OUT ALTHOUGH THAT'S 15%, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MOBILITY FUNDING.

AND THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE WORK WE GET FROM THE PRECINCTS. IF THEY HAVE MOBILITY FUNDING, MORE MOBILITY FUNDING THEY CREATE MORE PROJECTS THEY CREATE MORE PROJECTS MORE WORKLOAD FOR US. MOBILITY FUNDING TRANSFER WENT FROM 120 MILLION TO 159 MILLION, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. M THE NEXT ITEM IS BR4.

THIS IS FUNDING TO INCREASE HAVINGO IMPLEMENT AND ESTABLISH THE MWBE PROGRAM.

WE READ CAREFULLY THE COURT'S APP ADOPTED FRAMEWORK FOR THE MWBE PROGRAM AND IT DIRECTING EACH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTING IN SECTION B TO A HIGHER INDIVIDUAL TO BE THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS.

BR5 IS FUNDING TO INCREASE STAFFING TO IMPLEMENT AN ORGANIZATIONAL METRICS BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. BECAUSE ONCE WE FULLY IMPLEMENT -- AS WE HAVE ADOPTED THESE METRICS WE'VE GOT TO TRACK THEM. WE'VE GOT TO REPORT THEM.

AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND THE COURT MEMBERS.

BR6 IS THE FUNDING NEEDED TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE IN THE PERMITTING GROUP TO A CONTINUED INCREASE ACTIVITY. AS WE DISCUSSED, THERE'S SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PERMIS, SO WE NEED INDIVIDUALS TO ASSIST WITH THAT.

I'LL POINT OUT THAT THE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAN BE DIRECTLY OBTAINED FROM THE PERMIT OFFICE BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN RAISE PERMIT FEES TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS.

THE REASON HAS TO BE SHOWN IN OUR BUDGET IS BECAUSE THAT FUNDING -- THE PERMIT OFFICE REVENUE DOES NOT COME TO OURS, IT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE GENERAL FUNDS.

SO IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, THE GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE TO GIVE US THE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE. BUT WE COULD RAISE PERMIT FEES TO OFFSET THIS.

AND PROBABLY SHOULD. BR7 IS THE FUNDING NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH QUALITY PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF COUNTY FACILITIES. THIS IS WHERE WE NEED PEOPLE, ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, LOCKSMITHS, JANITORIAL SUPERVISORS, TO ENSURE THERE ARE FACILITIES ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED. AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, WE'RE SPENDING SIGNIFICANT LESS MONEY MAINTAINING OUR FACILITIES THAN OTHER MAJOR ENTITIES. AND BR8, BR8 IS THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO MANAGE THE 300 MILLION AT THE TIME, WHEN WE PREPARED THIS THERE WAS A 300 MILLION TRANSFER OF MOBILITY TO THE COUNTY. SINCE 70 MILLION OF ROAD BONDS HAVE BEEN PAID OUT, IT IS 230 NOW. AND THIS WHAT WOULD COST TO MANAGE THE DOLLAR VOLUME IF, IN FACT, THE COURT ELECTED TO SPEND IT ON MOBILITY PROJECTS IN THIS

[02:35:02]

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME FROM GENERAL FUNDS. WE TALKED TO THE BUDGET OFFICE.

AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DEMONSTRATE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED SO THAT WE DIDN'T MISS IT. AND THEN -- LET'S SEE. I THINK THAT IS IT.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, JOHN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. >> I HAD ONE -- COMMISSIONER, DO

YOU WANT ME TO -- >> A COUPLE MORE SLIDES. I'M SORRY.

>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT. AND THEN YOU SAID THAT'S IT. SO -- OKAY.

GO AHEAD, JOHN. >> SORRY. I'M -- SORRY ABOUT THAT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY, THESE ARE THE ASSOCIATED PCN'S WITH THE SLIDE WE JUST SAW. AS YOU CAN SEE, BR3, WHICH IS THE INCREASE IN PROJECT MANAGERS AND INSPECTORS IS 25. AND IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE LAST ITEM, IF, IN FACT, WE WERE GOING TO -- IF THE COURT ELECTED TO SPEND THE 230 MOBILITY MONEY, WE WOULDN'T ANTICIPATE HIRING PEOPLE, YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT ALL BEING CONTRACTED OUT SINCE THAT IS SHORT TERM.

BUT THOSE ARE THE LIST OF PCN'S. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 727 EMPLOYEES NOT COUNTING 30 TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DOING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MONITORING. THEY'RE FIELD AND INTERN POSITIONS. BUT ABOVE OF OUR -- WE HAVE 66 ADDITIONAL VACANT PCN'S.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I UNDERSTAND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OVER CIP HERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS. WHAT WE DID WAS PUT IT IN CATEGORIES. FOR EXAMPLE, ON BUSINESS ENABLE, THERE'S A DISCUSSION OF A DOWNTOWN CIVIC ART PROGRAM 250,000, THAT'S SOMETHING THE COURT ASKED US TO LOOK INTO.

BUT IMPORTANTLY, IN THAT SAME CATEGORY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, $100,000, THIS IS ACTUALLY TO SUPPLEMENT -- PARDON ME -- COMPLIMENT DR. HOLLOWAY'S PROGRAM.

AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, WE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON DEVELOPED A LOW COST RAISED FOUNDATION SYSTEM FOR USE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND IT IS BEING USED ON OUR PROJECTS AND HABHABITAT FOR HUMANITIES AND OTHERS ALREADY AND IS SAVING SIGNIFICANT MONEY.

THIS IS A FUNDING TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS 99K HOUSE PROGRAM, WHERE THEY GET ALL OF THE LOCAL ARCHITECTURE FIRMS AND THE LOCAL UNIVERSITIES HAVING ACT TEXTURE PROGRAMS AND THEY DEVELOP INNOVATIVE WAYS TO DESIGN NEW LOWER COST STRUCTURES AND THIS FUNDING WOULD BE USED TO -- IT IS ONE THING TO DESIGN THEM.

BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE THE PROGRAM A LITTLE FURTHER AND SAY, NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO DESIGN THEM, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS AND STUDENTS WORK WITH BUILDERS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY BUILD THE HOMES. IT IS ONE THING TO SAY IT CAN BE BUILT FOR THIS PRICE.

IT IS ANOTHER TO DO IT. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM, IS TO DEVELOP A MODEL.

AND THIS IS DONE BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY IN THE RURAL STUDIO PROGRAM WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAD THESE HOMES DESIGNED AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY GO OUT AND BUILD THEM AND FIGURE OUT THE COST OF THEM. BECAUSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A BIG PROBLEM HERE.

AND IT IS A PROBLEM EVERYWHERE. AND WE MAY STRIDES WITH OUR FOUNDATION.

BUT WE NEED TO GO FOUNDATION UP. LOOK AT LESS EXPENSIVE WAYS TO BUILD WALLS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THAT'S HOW WE COMPLIMENT WHAT COMMUNITY SERVICE HAS DONE. THOSE ARE THE TWO PROGRAMS -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK OR IF YOU WANWANT TO HOLD THIS UNTIL WE HAVE FURTHER CIP DISCUSSIONS, JUDGE.

>> YEAH, I'M GOOD WITH THAT. AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD A QUESTION.

BUT I THINK SINCE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CIP, UNLESS FOLKS WANT TO DISCUSS IT, WE OUGHT TO TALK

ABOUT IT THEN. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, JOHN.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR PRESENTATION. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME LOOK AT MY NOTES HERE. THAT I'M GOOD YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PROJECT

[02:40:06]

HOW MUCH MORE CAN WE EXPECT WITH THE 8 THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING? >> WELL, COMMISSIONER, YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT OF THE 8 PLUS MILLION SQUARE FEET WE MAINTAIN, WE DO THE AIR-CONDITIONING WORK, WE DO THE PLUMBING WORK. A LOT OF PEOPLE CONTRACT A LOT OF THAT WORK OUT.

AND WE CONTRACT SOME OF IT OUT. DON'T GET ME WRONG. AS YOU'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS.

BUT WE FOUND IT IS OFTEN TIMES WHEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, IT IS NOT EASY TO CALL A CONTRACTOR AND SAY, I NEED YOU OUT THERE NOW, AS OPPOSED TO WE HAVE CONDITIONS WHERE BREAK ER BOX WILL NOT JUST FLIP BUT WILL GO BAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A JURY TRIAL OR SOMETHING.

SO IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO QUICKLY REACT TO THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS.

LIKE I SAID, THE COST, WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT HALF OF WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS SPENDING.

SO -- AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE BUILDINGS ARE IN BAD SHAPE. THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY WORN OUT, AS

YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF. IT IS -- YOU KNOW -- >> OKAY.

NO NO. THAT'S A GOOD EXPLANATION, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU GIVE SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHT TO THE END OF THE PROGRAM BECAUSE I DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT ONE POINT WILL BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE WORK OF

THE SIZE OF YOUR OFFICE. >> YEAH, SIR, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT'S ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON. WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED ONE

PERSON THAT IS GOING TO BE DOING THAT. >> OKAY.

>> AND IF THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE, WE'LL COMMIT MORE. BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE ISSUES -- AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK THIS ONCE DIRECTOR S ON BOARD IT AND WORK CLOSELY WITH HER TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE -- WE HAVE THE BEST PROGRAM AND WE'RE

GOING TO ENSURE WE DO. >> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF YOUR FUNDING TO INCREASE STAFFING TO MANAGE PROTECTING 15% IN THE

PRECINCT ACTIVITY, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR 15%? >> WELL, WE LOOKED AT -- WE LOOKED AT THE MONEY THAT WAS TRANSFERRED, THE MOBILITY TRANSFER THAT WENT UP FROM 120 TO 159. WE ALSO MET WITH ALL OF THE PRECINCTS AND ASKED FOR THEIR PROJECTED WORKLOAD. AND SOME OF THE PRECINCT PROJECTED THE WORKLOAD TO ACTUALLY DOUBLE. BUT WE THOUGHT 15% WAS A VERY CONSERVATIVE METHOD OR NUMBER.

BUT LIKE I SAID, SOME OF THEM HAD TOLD US, IT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS. AND WHAT WE GET COMMISSIONER, IS WE KNOW THAT THE INCREASE IN FUNDING ACTUALLY, 32%, BUT WE KNOW WITHOUT THAT ALL WON'T BE SPENT IN ONE YEAR, SO WE CAME UP

WITH HALFWAY AND CAME UP WITH 15%. >> GOT CHA.

WE'RE STILL, ME AND MY STAFF HAVE STILL BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE LAG TIME BETWEEN THE PROJECTS WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE CUE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY OF YOUR OFFICE.

SO I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THIS -- THIS ISN'T BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP INTO ACCOUNT THE WORK THAT IS ALREADY BEHIND SCHEDULE AND THE WORK THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR MY OFFICE AND YOU TO VISIT ON THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THIS. BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE RAISE THOSE CONCERNS TO YOU MONTHS BACK. AND WE'VE HAD YOUR COMMITMENT TO MOVE THOSE THINGS ALONG, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TIME TO SEE WHETHER THEY'RE MOVING ALONG AND WHETHER THIS PARTICULAR ITEM ON TOP OF TTHA IS SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE NEW WORK THAT

[02:45:11]

WILL BE COMING DOWN IF WE'RE JUST CATCHING UP ON OLD WORK. >> YES, AND I WOULD -- I DID TALK TO YOUR STAFF. ONE OF THE THOUGHT PROCESSES IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. AND WE'RE THINKING AS OPPOSED TO NECESSARILY HIRING MORE PEOPLE.

AND WE'VE PROPOSED HIRING MORE PEOPLE. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DIFFERENT METHODS OF CONTRACTING SOME OF THIS -- BE IT CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT RISK.

THERE ARE OTHER PROPOSALS WE'RE EXPLORING CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WITH YOUR STAFF IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO GET THE AMOUNT OF WORK OUT THAT YOU WANT TO GET WORK OUT -- THAT YOU WANT TO GET OUT AND WE WANT TO GET OUT FOR YOU, WE CAN'T KEEP ON DOING IT THE

SAME OLD WAY. >> YEAH. >> SO WE DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT BECAUSE THOSE COSTS WOULD BE FUNDED BY ACTUALLY THE MOBILITY MONEY YOU RECEIVED AS OPPOSED TO

ACTUAL POSITIONS. >> YEAH. AND I -- YOU KNOW, JUST REAL QUICKLY ON THAT POINT, WE CAN DISCUSS FURTHER, IS THAT -- YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS STILL THIS COURT THAT HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PRIOR TO FUNDING IS GOING TO BE.

AND HOW IT WILL BE SPENT. SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE REALLY SET THE POLICY FOR THAT YET.

SO THAT COULD CHANGE SOME THINGS ON YOUR END. SO I THINK THAT IS STILL SOME WORK FOR US TO FIGURE OUT. BUT THE OOTHER -- AND GOING BAC TO MY PREVIOUS QUESTIONS OR POINTS ABOUT THE WORK IN THE QUEUE, AND THE WORK BEING PROJ PROJECTED, IS THAT THIS REQUEST FOR A METRIC BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO IMPROVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, I'M KIND OF -- I'M KIND OF SHOCKED THAT AN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF YOUR SIZE DOESN'T ALREADY HAVE THIS. AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE KIND OF BUILDING THE PLANE AS YOU'RE FLYING IT A LITTLE BIT AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING. I'M REALLY SURPRISED WE DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE A MELT TRICKS BASING -- METRICS BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

>> COMMISSIONER, YEAH, QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS SURPRISING. I'LL TELL YOU I THINK IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A PROJECT TRACKING SYSTEM HERE.

>> WOW. >> I IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST PROJECT TRACKING SYSTEM.

WE BUILT IT IN HOUSE. AND THEN WE MOVED TO -- BUY E BUILDER.

AND THEN WHEN WE BOUGHT E BUILDER WE NEVER GOT THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT WHICH WE SELECTED E BUILDER ON THE WHOLE BASIS THAT IT COULD TIE INTO PEOPLE SOFT.

WE WERE TOLD PEOPLE SOFT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE E BUILDER WAS EVER PURCHASED.

>> WOW. >> SO YOU'RE RIGHT. IT IS AMAZING.

>> GOTCHA. OKAY. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, THIS ONE HAS MY FULL ATTENTION. AND -- BECAUSE PERMITTING AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS OR BANE. AND OUR E-MAILS I SENT TO YOUR OFFICE, CONTINUES TO BE MY BANE HERE IN THE ECONOMY. WITH THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY WE HAVE, IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OPEN BUSINESSES WE'VE GOT TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE AT HOW WE GET INSPECTIONS AND PERMITTING DONE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS STUFF FOR A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF TWO YEARS, JUST TO GET THEIR DOORS OPEN SO THEY CAN GIVE US SOME SALES TAX OR PROPERTY TAX. AND SO I WANT TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS TO HOW YOU ENVISION THE PERMITTING PROCESS TO BE IMPROVED. I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT THE E PERMITTING SYSTEM. BUT IN TALKING TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHO HAS ALREADY GOTTEN THEIR PERMITTING SYSTEM, I THINK THEY'VE HAD IT FOR MAYBE TWO, THREE YEARS NOW.

AND TALKING TO SOME FOLKS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS AN ELECTRONIC PLACE TO DROP YOUR PLANS.

BUT IT STILL GOES INTO THE OLD WAY OF DOING BUSINESS, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO IT THE OLD WAY. AND SO I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO THINK THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL PROCESS OR THAT GUY WHO JUST WANTS TO PUT UP A TOOL SHED OR MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON THEIR PROPERTY, MAYBE SOMEBODY DOING SOME REMODELLING, VERSUS SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO BUILD A, YOU KNOW, HOTEL OR OTHER COMMERCIAL ENTITY. I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO -- I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT BEFORE I LAY JUDGMENT. BUT THIS ONE HAS MY FULL

[02:50:02]

CAN HELP OUR -- >> YES, SIR. >> BUSINESSES MOVE FORWARD.

>> YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SITUATIONS, SOME OF THEM ARE CAUSED BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE SCITY REQUIRING PLAX, WHICH IS AN ISSUE WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH.

AND I WAS WORKING WITH THE PLANNING DIRECTOR FRIDAY TO TALK ABOUT WAYS.

BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF D DISINGENUOUS FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GET A, FOR EXAMPLE, BUILD A GARAGE ON THEIR PROPERTY, AND FIND OUT TO BUILD A SHED -- AND BUILD A GARAGE 8,000. THAT IS THE PLAIDING ISSUE WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH.

THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES. AND WE'VE HAD AN INTERNAL DISCUSSION ABOUT MAYBE AN BUDSMAN TYPE PROCESS TO HELP PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THE SYSTEM. BECAUSE IT IS ONE THING IF YOU'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING THINGS TO GET PERMITS. YOU KNOW THE PROCESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF TIMES, CUSTOMERS OR THE PUBLIC JUST WANTS TO GET A PERMIT FOR THEMSELVES ARE THERE -- THE PERSON THEY'RE DEALING WITH, HASN'T BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF NEW ENGINEERS IN THE SYSTEM THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM. TO ADDRESS THAT WE'RE WORKING ACEB GROUP WE'RE HAVING PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE ENGINEERS ON THE MIDDLE PROCESS OF THE REQUIREMENTS. BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE WANT TO MAKE THAT -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO USE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS THE BAR.

WE WANT TO BE MUCH MUCH BETTER. >> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I THINK WE STILL NEED TO FLUSH OUT THE FUNDING AUGMENTATION FOR THE 300 MILLION IN MOBILITY FUNDING SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE POLICY OF THE COURT IS GOING TO BE ON HOW THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO BE USED AND HOW IT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

>> YES, SIR. >> ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE PRECINCTS.

AND SO I THINK WE STILL NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CONVERSATION ON THAT ONE.

>> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU, JOHN. >> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU'RE MUTED. >> THANK YOU, JOHN.

APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. I'M GOING TO PIVOT OFF OF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERENCED THERE. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE CAN DO, NOT ONLY ON THE PERMITTING SIDE, BUT HOW WE GET MORE PROJECTS ON THE STREET. WHAT WE KNOW IS, IF FOR EVERY BILLION DOLLARS OF CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S 20,000 JOBS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

AND WE NEED THAT IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO I WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET MORE PROJECTS BID. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN TERMS OF YOUR ANTICIPATED INCREASE. BUT WHETHER IT IS PERMITTING OR WHETHER IT IS SIMPLY GETTING MORE CONTRACTORS TO WORK, AS I UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT CAPACITY IN THE COUNTY. WE -- THERE'S A APPETITE FOR A LOT MORE WORK OUT THERE WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE NEED TO GET -- WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK. SO WITH THAT SAID, YOU SEE THE ABILITY TO GET MORE PROJECTS OUT FOR BID. IF I LOOK ALTHOUGH WHAT WE BID LAST YEAR COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BID THIS YEAR, IS THERE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN

WHAT CONTRACTS ARE ACTUALLY BEING BID? >> YES, SIR.

THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MAYBE NOT JUST DOING HARD BID ON ALL PROJECTS. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S A LOOK AT -- DEPENDING ON THE PROJECTS, SOME PROJECTS ARE CERTAINLY APPROPRIATE FOR HARD BID.

BUT OTHERS MIGHT -- WE MIGHT BE DOING DESIGN BID -- D BID -- DESIGN -- ADDITIONAL DESIGN BUILD BID AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER METHODS. WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH CONSTRUCTION MANAGER RISK. WHICH IS RARELY EVER USED ON ROAD PROJECTS OR OTHER THAN BUILDING PROJECTS. AND WE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY USE IT ON BUILDING PROJECTS AND WE'RE ALWAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND UNDER BUDGET. SO WE WANT TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT PROCESSES. WE ARE STILL GOING TO PUT OUT MORE STRAIGHT BID PROJECTS NO DOUBT COMMISSIONER BUT WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE OTHER CONTRACTING METHODS.

>> MY EXPERIENCE ON CMR IS VERY GOOD. IT SAVES TIME.

IT PUTS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE CONTRACTOR, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

THERE'S WAYS THAT YOU CAN MANAGE THAT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF IT.

I'LL SIMPLY REPORT THAT OUR TRANSPORTATION PLAN BASED ON THE FOUR BUCKETS OF SAFE ROUTES, EQUITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL, AND BE ARE BETTER WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT IN PRECINCT 3.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING THE

[02:55:04]

BUT I'M SURE WE'LL GIVE YOU A BIG ENOUGH HEADS UP THERE. BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT QUICK UPDATE ON THE TRANSPORTATION. I'M CURIOUS, YOU MENTIONED THERE'S TWO PARTNERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SENDING WATER TO HARRIS COUNTY THAT HAS CHOSE NOT

TO WORK WITH US. WHO ARE THEY? >> MONTGOMERY COUNTY HAS CHOSEN

NOT TO, AND THE CITY OF TOM BALL. >> YOU KNOW, THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

I'LL JUST SAY THAT IS INCREDIBLE. I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS AREA FOR 40 SOMETHING YEARS. FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS -- THAT'S ONE OF OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT COUNTY PARTNERS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO TRANSPORTATION WISE.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO GIVE PRIORITY TO. AND LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU ENGAGE WITH THAT. I KNOW COMMISSIONER CAGLE PROBABLY WOULD TOO.

>> YES, SIR. HIS OFFICE ALREADY REACHED OUT AND IS AWARE OF THIS.

AND THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND TOM BALL TO RESOLVE THIS.

>> YES. >> PARTICULARLY SINCE ONE OF THE AGREEMENTS YOU HAD ON THE COURT IN THE LAST MEETING WAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY TO WORK WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN MITIGATING A DRAINAGE ISSUES. SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT WITH THAT GOODWILL ON OUR PART, THAT -- AND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING HIM TO DO WITH ATLAS AND OTHER THINGS, IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT. SO WE'LL WORK WITH YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE THAT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> JUDGE, TRYING TO PIVOT ON WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. DID YOU SAY, MR. BLUNT, THAT

THERE ARE SIX WHO HAVE NOT RESPONDED? >> YEAH.

LET ME GET THAT LIST IN FRONT OF ME COMMISSIONER. >> I'M JUST WONDERING IF NO RESPONSE IS NO? WHEN DOES A NO RESPONSE BECOME NO?

THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL TALKING TO THE HAND. >> SIX ARE PENDING FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED. AND THEY'RE WAITING TO HAVE A MEETING WITH US AND OUR CONSULTANT. SO THEY HAVEN'T SAID NO.

>> OKAY. SO JUST THE TWO THAT HAVE SAID NO.

>> RIGHT. >> STILL SHOWING INTEREST. >> RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT, THAT'S THE VAST MAJORITY, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THEIR ORDINANCES SHOWING THE CHANGES THEY NEED TO MAKE AND IT

TAKES SOME TIME TO DO THAT. BUT IT IS WORKING. >> THAT WAS A LOLOT OF MASHING TEETH OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE FIRST PASSED ATLAS 14. I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY, WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE ASKING FOR PERMITS, RIGHT? SO IT HAS NOT REDUCED ACTIVITY,

IS THAT A FAIR COMMENT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. NO, PERMIT ACTIVITY IS UP,

COMMISSIONERS, AT 13%. >> WHEN I WAS TALKING TO RUSS, MR. POPPI EARLIER, ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO AT SOME POINT IF YOU HAVE TO PULL THE PLUG, DO YOU KEEP STARTING PROJECTS, AND WHEN DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T COMPLETE THEM, WHEN DO YOU DO? DO YOU PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING BLOOD CONTROL WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THAT DECISIONS OR IS THAT TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM YOU?

>> THEY DO IT ALL ON THEIR OWN PROJECTS. WE WORK WITH THEM ON THESE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROJECTS. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH MR. BARRY TO IMPROVE THE CIP PROCESS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES MONEY IS WAS WASTED -- MOST PROJECTS YOU CAN'T BUILD HALF OF TO BE EFFECTIVE. IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE FUNDING FOR HALF, YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT UP FRONT. SO YOU BUILD THE MOST EFFECTIVE HALF. AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE -- AND THAT'S NOT JUST FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. THAT'S ANY KIND OF PROJECT.

IF, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT THE COURT WANTS TO DO AND WHAT THEY CAN

AFFORD BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. >> WELL, I ONLY ASK -- AND I WAS THINKING MORE FLOOD CONTROL.

BUT ASSUMING THAT WILL BE A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE, COMING THROUGH ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

I CALLED MR. BARRY DURING THE BREAK. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION BEFORE FLOWING SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.

BUT WE CAN'T KEEP GUESSING. YOU GOT ME? SOME POINTS YOU GOT TO KNOW ARE WE ALL LOOK KIND OF STRANGE IF WE RAISE EXPECTATIONS AND THINGS JUST DON'T COME THROUGH.

HERE'S THE OTHER ISSUE ON HOUSING, YOU HAD A MOUNTAIN OF MONEY ABOUT 500,000, I THINK,

[03:00:02]

DIDN'T I SAY THAT -- >> YES, SIR. >> AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW I MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES AT OUR REGULAR MEETINGS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOING BACK TO 91 OR SO, PUTTING ABOUT 5 MILLION IN THERE CIP. WHAT IS THAT CIP, FIVE YEARS OR

SIX YEARS? >> I THINK IT IS -- >> FIVE YEARS.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO IT IS ABOUT A MILLION A YEAR, THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN IN THE CIP PACKAGE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY HAVE NOT ALWAYS ISSUED THE PAPER. BUT AT LEAST IT WAS THERE. EACH MAYOR ABOUT 20 MILLION.

WHIT MYER, LA NEAR, BROWN, WHITE. IT WENT DOWN A BIT ON THE MAYOR PARKER. AND BECAUSE IT WASN'T BEING ISSUED, MAYOR TURNER DECIDED NOT TO PUT IT THERE. SO I ASSUME YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CSD.

SO AT SOME POINT. IF THE COUNTY HAS AN APPETITE, I DO.

I JUST THINK, IN ADDITION TO WAITING ON FEDERAL MONEY, MAYBE MORE IS COMING.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE STRINGS ATTACHED. AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE USE THOSE STRINGS AS A WAY TO FIGHT, GIVING HOUSING OUT THERE. AND BECAUSE THIS REGION IS GROWING, YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, AND EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES, IT WILL BE MORE OF A PROBLEM. SO I GUESS I'M SAYING, WHEN WE GET TO THE CIP, IF WE COME IN 30 YEARS AFTER, THE CITY OF HOUSTON DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING. AND NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE UNINCORPORATED THAN YOU HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE CASE AT LEAST THAT

HE WITH OUGHT TO BE AGGRESSIVE. >> SIR, I MET WITH DR. HOLLOWAY. AND IF I RECALL, THEIR CIP DID ASK $5 MILLION. AND I'LL SAY THAT TO SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY FIGURE AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT ONLY BECAUSE THEIR COMPLETE HOUSING STUDY WON'T BE DONE UNTIL MIDYEAR.

THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT SAYS, WE KNOW -- WE KNOW THAT 5 MILLION IS NOT EVEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO START ADDRESSING THE PROGRAM. AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE BEHIND ON STARTING THE PROGRAM. BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO ASSIST DR. HOLLOWAY ON THIS ISSUE.

IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. IT IS A COMPLICATED PROBLEM. BUT IT HAS GOT TO BE SOLVED.

I TELL EVERYBODY IT CAN'T BE SOLVED JUST BY HOUSE US. WE NEED PARTNERS WITH THE HABITATS AND EVERYBODY -- ALL OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE WORK WITH THOSE GROUPS DAILY ON ALTERNATIVE FOUNDATION DESIGNS AND ASSISTING THEM WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT LAND AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

>> ON THE DIVERSITY ISSUE, JOHN, YOU HAVE FULLY ENGAGED AND FOLKS KNOW HOW TO WORK E2G NOW.

I JUST WANT US TO BE IN A POSITION OF GUESSING OR MAKING UP NUMBERS ANY MORE ON WHERE WE

THOUGHT TO BE TRANSPARENT. SO IS EVERYTHING IN PLACE? >> WELL B2G'S RUN THROUGH THE PURCHASING OFFICE. BECAUSE THAT'S THE SIDE THAT HANDLES THAT.

SO DWIGHT WOULD BE BETTER OFF TO TELL YOU THE EXACT. BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CHANGED OUR CONTRACT SO WE TRACK ALL OF THE SUBS.

WE NEVER TRACK THE -- WHO THE SUBS WERE, WE DIDN'T TRACK THE DOLLAR VALUES, ALL OF THAT IS BEING TRACKED. AND THEN THOSE NUMBERS CAN BE PUT IN B2G TO FIGURE OUT THE EXACT AMOUNTS. BUT WE'VE CHANGED OUR CONTRACT FORMS TO TRACK ALL OF THAT.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, LESS IMPORTANT BECAUSE -- SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THESE FOUR YEARS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOLOT OF SPECULATED BUT NOBODY HAD THE NUMBERS.

SO WE JUST -- PEOPLE JUST MAKE UP NUMBERS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE -- YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST AGREE F PHILOSOPHICALLY BUT WE ALL HAVE TO ARK ABOUT THE FACTS.

AT LEAST WE OUGHT TO HAVE ONE SET WE'RE LOOKING AT AND IS TRANSPARENT THERE.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T TRACK IT. B2G WOULDN'T GET IT, THEN YOU WOULD BE -- THAT'S WHY IT COST SO MUCH MONEY GOING BACK AND DO THE DISPARITY STUDY TRACKING IS LIKE RECONSTRUCTING ONE'S TAX

RETURNS YEARS LATER. >> AND COMMISSIONER, THE CONTRACT IS THE GOAL, B2G IS YOU KNOW, WHAT IS ACTUALLY DONE. IT ACTUALLY TRACKS THE ACTUAL PAYMENTS MADE TO THE MWBE SUBS.

THEN OUR CONTRACT MAKES THE PRIMES KNOW IF THEY DON'T MEET THOSE GOALS THERE'S CONSEQUENCES. THAT'S THE ISSUE THERE. IS YOU'VE GOT TO ENSURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THERE'S A CON -- IT IS ONE THING TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE MWBE'S

IT IS ANOTHER TO REALLY USE THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET PAID. >> AND I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT WILL OBVIOUSLY TAKE THE LEAD ON ALL OF THIS. -- A LOT OF THIS.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME OF AND WITH THE PORT DOING ITS STUDY, METRO, THEIRS WILL BE COMING OUT I'M TOLD IN LATE JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, HARRIS HEALTH IS LOOKING AT ONE.

I THINK IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP FOR MISTAKES IN OUR PAST.

AND MAYBE DO SOME JOINT BINDING PROGRAMS AND OTHER THINGS. OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT OR WILL

[03:05:04]

SAID IN THE PAST AT THE TABLE ABOUT IDEAS OF WHAT WE CAN DO. >> I MEAN, THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE SMALL CONTRACTORS, MWBE'S, NOT SO MUCH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BUT ACTUALLY CONTRACTING WORK, THEY CAN'T GET THE BONDS. BUT A LOT OF OUR WORK DOESN'T REQUIRE BONDS BECAUSE WE PAY WHEN THE WORK IS COMPLETED. AND I'VE SAID THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THE OTHER ISSUE IS PAYMENT. WE PAY AS FAST AS ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BUT THAT'S NOT HOW SMALL CONTRACTORS WORK.

MY DAD USED TO PAY A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY -- RUN A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, EVERYBODY GOT PAID EVERY FRIDAY. EVERY FRIDAY HE WROTE THE CHECKS.

THAT'S HOW THE SMALL CONSTRUCTION AGENCIES WORK. IF WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE PEOPLE WE WANT TO WORK WITH A THIRD PARTY VENDOR TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THEY CAN GO UP AND PICK UP THEIR CHECKS AND PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES. BECAUSE IT IS THAT -- IT IS THAT SHARP -- YOU WILL KNOW THE CONTRACTOR -- THE OWNER ISSUES A CHECK, THE CONTRACTOR CASHES THE CHECK AND THEN THEY WRITE THE CHECKS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. SO -- AND THAT'S A BIG STRUGGLE FOR THE SMALL FIRMS TO START DOING COUNTY WORK. BECAUSE IF WE PAY THEM 30 DAYS

THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPITAL TO WAIT THAT LONG. >> LESS POINT ON THE ACCOUNT ISSUE IN TERMS OF OUR STAFFING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WOULD -- AT THE MEETING EARLIER JOINT MEETING WITH THE CITY, I LOOKED AT THE STATS AND EVEN WHERE ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE COME ABOUT, THERE MAY ONLY BE ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, A HANDFUL OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA THAT ARE MARITIME PILOTS FOR PORTS, NUMBER FOR HISPANICS IS PROBABLY EQUALLY AS LOW, WOMEN IS A BIG PROBLEM. WHAT ARE YOU ALL THINKING? WHAT CAN WE DO IN TERMS OF EQUITY ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE PAY MINORITIES AND WOMEN IN YOUR SHOP IN PARTICULAR? JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT US AND SEE SOMEHOW TO MEASURE OUR PROGRESS, KNOWING THAT YOURS IS AN AREA WHERE IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE GLASS CEILINGS, DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR

TO BREAK. >> WE HAD THE COUNTY ATTORNEY LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.

AND WE CAN SEND YOU SOME OF THE DATA, IF YOU'D LIKE IT. BUT WE'RE CLOSELY TRACKING THAT.

BUT HERE IS SOME STATISTICS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT REGISTERED ARCHITECTS, LESS THAN 1.2% OF REGISTERED ARCHITECTS ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN. THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE. LESS THAN 1 -- WE HAPPEN TO HAVE 37% OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE REGISTERED ARCHITECTS HAPPEN TO BE AFRICAN AMERICAN. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE POOL, IT IS SIGNIFICANT. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE TALKED ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE -- NOT JUST THE INTERNS. BECAUSE, HEY, YOU CAN'T REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY WHO IS ALREADY A JUNIOR AND SAY YOU SHOULD BE AN ENGINEER BECAUSE THEY'RE IN ENGINEERING.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS APPROPRIATE THE JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY OUGHT TO BE PICKING THIS AS A CAREER AND THE WAY TO DO IS HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM COME TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND SAY THIS IS A GOOD CAREER. THIS IS WHAT YOU THOUGHT OUGHT

TO BE DOING. AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT. >> I ALSO THINK THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, IT HELPS TO INSPIRE FOLK.

I MEAN, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY I SAW THAT INSPIRED ME TO GET WHERE I WAS TO WHERE I AM. SO THAT'S A ROLE WE PLAY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF SENIOR

LEADERSHIP -- >> ABSOLUTELY. AND IF YOU LOOK AT OUR REVISED LEADERSHIP, ESSENTIALLY HALF IS FEMALE. BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A HUGE -- STILL A HUGE SHORTAGE IN FEMALES IN THESE PROFESSIONS. IN ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE.

IN ENGINEER ING, OF THE RE REGISTERED ENGINEERS THAT ARE FEMALE, ONLY 14% ARE REGISTERED IN THE -- OURS IS CLOSER TO 30%. BUT STILL THAT'S NOT GOOD. IT SHOULD BE 50%.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON. AND THE WAY YOU HAVE TO WORK ON

IT IS YOU HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVELY RECRUITING. >> RIGHT.

THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU, JOHN.

I SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS ON THE DIVERSITY AND THE -- TRYING TO SEE WHAT CARROTS WE HAVE TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES ON A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT MONTGOMERY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS.

SO COUNT ME IN ALSO IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO OR WHAT WE CAN DO CREATIVELY.

AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY FOR YOUR REQUEST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT ON YOU GUYS ARE WORKING TOWARDS OUTCOMES, BASE METRICS. AND I WOULD JUST SAY FOR THE ONES ON STAFFING, IT IS SORT OF A SIMILAR THING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE KNOW

[03:10:03]

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> WE'LL MOVE ON TO TEXAS. A REAL LIFE EXTENSION.

[Public Health]

>> I'M MUTING DAVID WRIGHT. YOU'RE UNMUTED, SIR. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> SO I'M GOING TO SAY GOOD AFTE AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

AS WE ALL KNOW, IT HAS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE COUNTY AND CERTAINLY FOR AGRILIFE AS WELL. BUT WE TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE MADE BOTH CHALLENGES MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US MOVING FORWARD AND SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE DURING COVID. SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS FILL A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE. AND HOPEFULLY I'M ABLE TO INTERPRET SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE COURT HAS ASKED ALL DEPARTMENTS TO DO IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEW METRICS SYSTEM AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AND SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE LOOKING AT MAINTAINING IN THE FUTURE. SO WHAT YOU CAN SEE OUR MISSION IS, THAT IS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, YOUTH, HEALTH, BY DOING THAT, WE IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ACROSS NOT ONLY TEXAS BUT SPECIFICALLY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

OUR VISION IS TO BE THE LEADER IN PROVIDING SCIENCE BASED INFORMATION AND SOLUTIONS IN AG AND HEALTH TO EVERY TEXAN. AND SO WITH THAT, ONE IMPORTANT WORD THERE IS IN SCIENCE BASED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF, IS WE DO NOT LIKE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO MEMBERS AND CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTY UNLESS IT IS RESEARCH BASED OR SCIENCE BASED INFORMATION BY WORKING WITH OUR RESEARCHERS.

AND AT TEXAS A & M AND COLLEGE STATION. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS WALK THROUGH THE SPECIFIC PROGRAM AREAS WE OFFER AND I'LL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE INFO GRAPHICS BASED ON THE WORK WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, PRIMARILY FOUR AREASING A RESOURCES, COMMUNITY HEALTH, COMMUNITY RESOURCES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH ITS YOUTH. OT OTHERING A AG NATURAL RESOURCES COMPONENT. WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY OF GROWING VEGETABLES.

WE PROVIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMS A LONG TIER URBAN GARDENING, EARTH KIND, SLOW FERTILITY.

RAIN HARVESTING. CONTROL NUISANCE ANIMALS AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF, AS FAR AS OUR WORK, WITH REACHING AND OUR ABILITY TO REACH MORE CITIZENS HERE IN THE COUNTY IS OUR ABILITY TO TRANSITION TO MORE OF A VIRTUAL PROGRAM AND CERTAINLY COVID PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THAT.

FOR US, IT BECAME REALLY AN ASSET BECAUSE OFTEN WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS OR I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONERS IN THE PAST ABOUT OUR INABILITY TO REACH CERTAIN RESIDENTS AND CERTAIN PARTS -- DIFFERENT PRECINCTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND BY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE VIRTUAL, OUR INCREASE IN NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP DRASTICALLY THIS PAST 6, 8, 9 MONTHS, BECAUSE OF OUR ABILITY TO BE VIRTUAL FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED.

THERE WILL BE A SLIDE A LITTLE BIT LATER THAT WILL WE WILL BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE REACHED. OUR SECOND AREA OF INTEREST IS FAMILY COMMUNITY HEALTH. WE WORK REALLY HARD WITH PROVIDING A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO NUTRITION, MANAGING DIABETES AND HYPER HYPERTENSION. WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT KEEPS FOLKS ACTIVE AND OUTSIDE CALLED WALKING ACROSS TEXAS, IMPROVING FAMILY MEAL TIME, MONEY MANAGEMENT, WE ALSO HAVE SOME PROGRAMS RELATED TO PARENTING AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE OFFER CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

[03:15:04]

A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY TWOFOLD. ONE OF THE AREAS I HOPE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IS OUR 4-H PROGRAM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY TO HAVE 4-H CLUBS THAT MEET ONCE A MONTH. THEY LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH WORKING WITH PARTICULAR PROJECTS WHETHER FOOD AND NUTRITION AND WHETHER IT IS LIVESTOCK, WHETHER IT IS CLOTHING. EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST SIX LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN.

I'M HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH LEADERSHIP FROM OUR FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS THAT WE TRAIN TO LEAD THOSE PROGRAMS EACH MONTH. SPECIFICALLY WE REACH ABOUT 1,000 KIDS PER YEAR.

THIS INVOLVED IN THAT PROGRAM. WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY CLUBS. IN COMPARISON TO OUR CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT NUMBERS, WHICH ARE PROGRAMS WE OFFER IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY.

ON AVERAGE REACH 18,000 YOUTH PER YEAR. SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO STEM AG LITERACY TWO OF OUR MAJOR COMPONENTS THAT WE'RE WE'VE EMPHASIZED THIS PAST YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IN WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THEM UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

SO WE HAVE A VERY STRONG AGRICULTURAL LITERACY PROGRAM MOVING FORWARD.

THAT PROGRAM IS CALLED PATH TO THE PLATE. THAT PATH TO THE PLATE PROGRAM HAS MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE, HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT USED TO BE IN PERSON BUT NOW WE'VE TRANSITIONED TO A VIRTUAL FORMAT. SO WE DO A LOT OF PROGRAMS CURRENTLY WITH SCHOOLS WHERE WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK THROUGH OUR VIRTUAL PLATFORM.

BUT THAT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD FOR US TO BE INVOLVED FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

THE OTHER PROGRAM AREA IS CALLED COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP A SMALL BUSINESSES VERY INTERESTED IN LOANS TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESSES.

AND IT IS CALLED THE ART OF THE -- ART OF HOME OWNERSHIP. THAT'S A JOINT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE AT A AND M THAT LEADS THAT EFFORT. SO WE SUPPORT THEM IN ENSURING AND HELPING THEM NAVIGATE WHERE LOANS ARE AVAILABLE AND SPECIFICALLY HOW THEY CAN HELP SUPPORT THEIR PARTICULAR BUSINESSES. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I REALLY EMPHASIZE IS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IS THE IMPORTANCE OF US WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL. ONE OF THEM INTERNALLY IS HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT, WORKING HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT JUVENILE PROBATION FACILITIES TO ASSIST WITH THE HORTICULTURE PROGRAM AND ULTIMATELY HAVING A CERTIFICATION PROJECT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED WITH. SO WE'VE INTRODUCED EACH OF THE PROGRAM AREAS THAT I MENTIONED THUS FAR AT THE FOUR DIFFERENT JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THAT WORKED REALLY WELL WITH THE INTERNAL PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD WITH THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE. WE'VE REACHED MULTIPLE YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR. AND WE ARE LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICE SERVIC FIELD AS SPECIFICALLY AS WE'RE ABLE TO BECOME MORE IN PERSON. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH THEM AS WELL. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS THE DIVERSITY ISSUE AS WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THE ORGANIZATION HAS DONE IN THE PAST YEAR IS HAD A GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN A TRAINING. IT IS CALLED COMING TOGETHER FOR RACIAL UNDERSTANDING.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOUR OR FIVE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS WENT TO A TRAINING IN D.C.

IN TURN, THEY COME BACK. WE HAVE MULTI -- MONTHLY MEETINGS.

AND FROM THAT, THERE ARE STAFF TRAININGS THAT TAKE PLACE AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR THAT OUR STAFF IS INVOLVED IN TO ADDRESS THAT CONCERN. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHERE THAT PROGRAM IS HEADED. I KNOW THIS YEAR, THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO POTENTIALLY SOME STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL FOR OTHERS TO BE INVOLVED OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED, WHO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE, DOES SERVE AS A COUNTY AGENT HERE IN THIS COUNTY AS WELL. IN RELATIONSHIP TO MEASURING MATRIX, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS OUR EVALUATION PROCESS? THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FEEL AG LIFE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB THE LAST FEW YEARS IS BEING ABLE TO EVALUATE OUR PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING EACH YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INCORPORATE WHETHER IT BE A

[03:20:06]

WHAT THAT CONSIST OF EVERY THREE TO FOUR YEARS, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO COME TO A MEETING, ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS RELATED TO OUR CORE PROGRAM AREAS. WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND IN TURN GO BACK AND THE AGENTS DECIDE WHICH PROGRAM SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED. IF IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH ANOTHER PARTNER BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE IDENTIFIED THAT AGRILIFE CANNOT ADDRESS, IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR WHOM EVER MAY HAVE AN ISSUE FOR US TO BE ABLE TOO ADDRESS TOGETHER AND OR INDIVIDUAL.

SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. PLEASE.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE -- WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THIS PAST YEAR WAS THE COVID-19 RESPONSE RECOVERY EFFORTS. OUR OFFICE, INCLUDING MYSELF PHYSICALLY, WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED, HOPEFULLY IF YOU CAN SEE THE SLIDE WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF PPES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, WE WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED SPECIFICALLY AS WELL DURING THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW RODEO WHEN IT CLOSED. YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS WHO WERE TRAVELLING WITH ANIMALS TO THAT SITE AND THEN IN TURN HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK HOME.

AND WE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING ARE -- OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ASSIST WITH THAT. AND WE SET UP SOME HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANIMALS TO BE HOUSED. AND FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN HOTELS LOCALLY SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND MAYBE DRIVE ANOTHER SIX OR EIGHT HOURS BACK HOME.

FROM AN ANIMAL PERSPECTIVE. FROM A PPE DISTRIBUTION, AS I'VE VISITED WITH A FEW OF YOU THIS PAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE A DISASTER ASSESSMENT RECOVERY AGENT.

THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE, THAT IS NOW LOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT ON A DAILY BASIS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE, WHETHER IT IS DELIVERING PPE'S TO CHILD CARE CENTERS, TO HOSPITALS, DENTIST OFFICES, WHEREVER THE CASE MIGHT BE.

MYSELF, PERSONALLY, I'VE SPENT PROBABLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS ASSISTING AS WELL, MAKING THOSE EFFORTS ASSISTING WITH THOSE EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE ALSO HAVE AGENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR OFFICE THROUGH CONTACT TRACING. THEY ALSO HAVE -- CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED, NOT AS BROAD AS WE WERE EARLY ON. BUT WE CONTINUED AT THIS POINT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES RELATING TO THOSE THAT YOU CAN SEE LISTED ON THE SCREEN. SO THAT AGENT IS NOW HERE IN OUR COUNTY.

WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT ON A DAILY BASIS WHETHER IT IS WITH SIMPLY -- NOT SIMPLY BUT ASSISTING WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF PPES, WITH THE TEST ING KITS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH COVID. SO AGRILIFE CONTINUES TO BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW UNFORTUNATELY HERE IN THE COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND SO THIS NEXT SLIDE IS AN EXAMPLE OVERALL OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE STATEWIDE. THE PREVIOUS SLIDE WAS SPECIFICALLY REPRESENT EED TO HARRIS COUNTY -- RELATED TO HARRIS COUNTY. I WON'T GO IN GREAT DETAIL WITH THIS OTHER THAN TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW THIS IS AN ISSUE AND HOW AGRILIFE IS SUPPORTING IT. NOT ONLY LOCALLY BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOWHERE -- 254 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITH 250 OFFICES DIRECTLY INVOLVED. THOSE OTHER TWO COUNTIES HAVE DUAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH AGENTS.

WE HAVE REGIONAL TEAMS. WE CALL THEM STRIKE TEAMS AT ANY TIME THAT ARE AVAILABLE ALSO TO ASSIST WITH ANY TIME OF ISSUES THAT ARISE RELATED TO FUNDS OR COVID THAT ARE ON STAND BY MANY TIME TO ASSIST WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES. WE'VE ALSO BEEN CONTINUALLY TO BE HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH ASSISTING CITIES THAT CONTINUE TO NEED HELP.

WE'RE NO EXPERTS BY NO MEANS AS FAR AS DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THEY CAN APPLY F FOR, BUT WE HAVE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH ASSISTING ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE MEANS FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHERE TO GO FOR HELP AS NEEDED.

SO WE HAVE A GOOD RESOURCE PAGE SET UP THROUGH TEXAS EXTENSION DISASTER EDUCATION NETWORK THAT

[03:25:04]

BUT THERE ARE OTHER AGENTS IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS WHO SERVE IN THE SAME ROLE WHO HAVE ASSISTED HERE IN THE COUNTY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND SO THE NEXT SLIDE SORT OF HIGHLIGHTS ONE OF OUR OTHER PROGRAM AREAS, IT IS CALLED EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM. AND WHAT THIS DOES, ONE, IT EMPHASIZES THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN LOW INCOME AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

AND GIVES AN IDEA OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO WE REACHED.

OVER 2,000 FAMILIES ENROLLED IN OUR EXTENDED -- EXTENDED FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM.

WE REACHED OVER 500 YOUTH. WE HAD A 92% OF PARTICIPANTS HAD CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 19.

AND 65% OF THOSE FAMILIES WERE BELOW 100% OF FEDERALLY POVERTY LEVEL.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS FEDERALLY FUNDED.

BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I UTILIZED TO HELP SUPPORT AND COMPLIMENT THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT THE COURT PROVIDES FOR US, THAT WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGH TEXAS A & M THAT SUPPORT THE CITIZENS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. MANY OF THOSE ARE PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE LEARNING HOW TO BALANCE THEIR DOLLARS. THEY LEARNED HOW TO EAT HEALTHIER. AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXPAND OUR VOLUNTEER BASE.

AND ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC NUMBERS AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THERE ARE OVER 1700 IN THREE HOURS, THERE WERE VOLUNTEER HOURS THAT WERE PROVIDED HERE IN THE COUNTY.

AND IN KIND, THAT'S $43,000 IN COUNTY WITH THE CONTRIBUTION THAT CAME BACK TO HARRIS COUNTY BASED ON THE WORK THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS HAD DONE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS WORK IN THE COUNTY AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF PROVIDING THESE RESOURCES TO THE CITIZENS HERE. AND ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS I WAS SAYING AND REALLY CRITICAL IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD NEVER APPROVED OF THIS PROGRAM GOING ONLINE BECAUSE THIS WAS A PROGRAM THAT HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN PERSON. OF COURSE WE HAD TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION AS WELL.

AND WE WERE STILL ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES BY GOING VIRTUAL WITH THESE PARTICULAR PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM WAS CALLED EPNEP OR EXPANDED FOOD NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM, THIS ONE IS CALLED BETTER LIVING OR TEXANS ANOTHER FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH LOW INCOME FAMILIES AS YOU CAN SEE 61% OF THOSE WERE FEMALE, 39% WERE MALE. IT IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT NET DOLLARS THAT WE ARE HELPING FAMILIES INCREASE INTAKE, INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

FOOD SAFETY IS A HUGE COMPONENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS.

WE WORK WITH CHURCHES. WE WORK WITH LIBRARIES. COMMUNITIES AND OTHER GROUPS.

AGAIN, LOW INCOME AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES IS ANOTHER GROUP THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR CRITERIA TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AS WELL.

734,000 PARTICIPANTS THIS PAST YEAR. JUST PHENOMENAL BASED ON THE WORK WE'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND SPECIFICALLY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE. BUT ANOTHER THING THAT WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO OFFER THIS YEAR, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT TRANSITION PERIOD. AND WE ARE ADDING HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT. THE TREMENDOUS JOB OF CREATING A HOME GROWN LECTURE SERIES.

WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.

ONLINE -- STRICTLY ONLINE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS INCLUDED FALL GARDENING, ENVIRONMENTAL GRASSES FOR LANDSCAPES, IDENTIFIED BENEFICIAL GARDEN INSECTS. ALL OF THESE PRESENTED ONLINE BY OUR AGENTS.

[03:30:04]

THE MATCH.COM ITERATIVE MAP THAT WE UTILIZED GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS ARE JOINING AND BEING PART OF OUR PROGRAM. WHICH HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY IN BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHAT AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MARKETING AND PROMOTING OUR PROGRAMS. I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU I KNOW THAT THIS WAS NOT THIS EVIDENT PRIOR TO THIS BECOMING MORE VIRTUAL BECAUSE I'VE SHARED WITH OUR AGENTS IN THE PAST PROBABLY WHERE DO WE -- WERE WE MOST CONVENIENT FOR US TO GO BACK HAVING TO RENT A FACILITY, HAVING TO BRING IN A CATERER, HAVING TO PAY TRAVEL FOR A PRESENTER TO COME.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLAYED A FACTOR IN WHERE WE ACTUALLY HELD THOSE EVENTS.

AND IF IT WAS GOOD THE FIRST YEAR, THEY'D PROBABLY DO IT IN THE SAME AREA THE NEXT.

BUT BEING VIRTUAL AND HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS REALLY CRUCIAL MOVING FORWARD IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I WOULD SAY 836 PEOPLE WAS PROBABLY MORE -- NOT PROBABLY.

IT WAS MORE IN THAT ONE MONTH THAN WE WERE ABLE TO REACH THE ENTIRE YEAR BY GOING IN PERSON.

NOW, I SHARE WITH THEM OFTEN AND I SHARE WITH YOU ALL ALWAYS WELL, AGRILIFE BREAD AND BETTER IS IN PERSON PROGRAMMING. BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND MOVING FORWARD THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A HYBRID APPROACH IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND ALSO WE TALKED WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUAL OR AS I TALK TO EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY, I COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING WITHIN YOUR PRECINCTS. THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, OTHER STATES THAT SET AT THE BOTTOM AS WELL. BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OUR AGENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE HAVING ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ALSO ACROSS IN SOME CASES THE COUNTRY AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I MENTIONED, IS FUNDING I THINK I WAS CHALLENGED WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED, HOW ARE ARE WE LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE FUNDS THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE US IN ORDER FOR US TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING. I'VE MENTIONED THE TWO FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, EFNEP AND BLT.

THEY PARTNER WITH THE A AND M UNIVERSITY WHICH ALSO PROVIDES SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT DO A TREMENDOUS JOB AS WELL. OUR IMAGINE SCIENCE GRANT IS A GRANT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, YMCA, GIRLS INK, AND 4-H WORKING TOGETHER ON A NATIONAL BASIS, MORE SPECIFICALLY HERE. THIS IS GREAT FOR US TO CREATE THIS ATMOSPHERE FOR US TO WORK MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER. WE DO WEEKLY VIRTUAL PROGRAMS WITH THOSE PARTICULAR PARTNERS.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT MANY OF OUR S.T.E.M. RELATED PROGRAMS S.T.E.M. OR STEAM RELATED PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IN THE PAST. THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO GET MORE GIRLS INVOLVED IN SCIENCE PROGRAM. THAT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP FOR US. AND IT CREATE AS FEW OTHER FUNDS WE CAN UTILIZE OUTSIDE OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE HERE LOCALLY AND THROUGH A AND M. AND THE OTHER GRANT THAT WE WERE APPROVED -- IT IS A SMALL GRANT IT IS CALLED PROJECT G.R.E.E.N. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL TO INCREASE YOUNG PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED WITH BUTTERFLY GARDENING.

AS YEAR PROGRAM. COVID SLOWED US DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WE'RE NOW ABLE TO GO IN AND PLANT RAISED BEDS. WE HAVE A VEGETABLE COMPONENT AS WELL. SO WE'VE BEEN -- WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER ONES IN THE BOOKS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

I WOULD TELL YOU THAT IS NOT LISTED. BUT FOR THIS NEW YEAR, IT IS A GRANT CALLED WAMS. THAT'S WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN SCIENCE.

SO THAT IS DUE HERE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. I'M HOPING THAT IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN RECEIVE DOLLARS FOR. IT IS A THREE YEAR GRANT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, AGAIN, IT IS TO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY MINORITIES AND GIRLS, TO GO AND LOOK AT A S.T.E.M. AS A CAREER IN THE FUTURE.

SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE. YES.

THAT'S MY BUDGET REQUEST FOR THIS YEAR. SPECIFICALLY ONE IS A NEW POSITION FOR A DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR. THAT PERSON BASED ON WHAT I SHARED WITH YOU THUS FAR, WOULD BE INVOLVED WITH -- MORE INVOLVED WITH OUR VIRTUAL

[03:35:04]

AND CREATED OVER -- RIGHT AT 12,000 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. SO THAT'S ONE POSITION I WAS REQUESTING. THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE AN URBAN WILDLIFE PROGRAM COORDINATOR.

I'VE SHARED SOME OF THE INFORMATION IN RELATION TO THE QUESTIONS AND CALLS THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH OUR AGRILIFE LOCATION IN COLLEGE STATION. BUT WE'VE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT HERE LOCALLY, WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE CALLS RELATED TO OF COURSE WILD HOGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, DEER, COYOTES, THOSE TYPE OF NUISANCE ANIMALS THAT CREATES A HEADACHE FOR MANY MANY PEOPLE HERE IN OUR COUNTIES. THOSE ARE TWO POSITIONS THAT I HAVE REQUESTS FOR. AND AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE LAST SLIDE OF THE DAY.

IF WE WANT TO MOVE TO THE LAST ONE. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. MR. WRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> YES, SIR. >> ANY WAY YOU CAN SQUEEZE A LONG HORN IN THERE SOMEWHERE SO THAT MY DAUGHTER DOESN'T FEEL THE NEED -- APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.

>> I BET WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING, YES, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT.

I LOOK APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND HOW YOU ARE LEVERAGING OTHER

RESOURCES AND LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH YOU. >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> DO FOLKS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR

MR. WRIGHT? >> THIS IS CAGLE. DOING A GREAT JOB, LOOK FORWARD

TO WORKING WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CAGLE. >> IF YOU EVER NEED TO BORROW MY

AID AND TRACTOR, GIVE ME A CALL. >> YES, SIR, I SURE WILL. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING. AND I'M EXCITED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE EVEN MORE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE PROGRAMS YOU GUYS OFFER. BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST

INCREDIBLE. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU JUDGE HIDALGO.

>> THIS WAS THE LAST PRESENTATION OF THE DAY. SO WE BUDGET HEARINGS AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY. COMMUNITY SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH, HARRIS HEALTH, VETERANS, ET CETERA. LUCINDA, AM I MISSING ANYTHING? OR --

>> NO, MA'AM. >> DAVE? >> GOOD HERE.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. IT IS 3:38.

AND BUDGET HEARINGS ARE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.