Jun 08, 2021 Commissioners Court

[00:00:01]

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:02 A.M. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL

[Opening Prayer Rev. Diane McGehee of Bering Church in Houston.]

>> R. JACK CAGLE: GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR.

TODAY IS PRECINCT ONE'S DAY TO PRESENT OUR PERSON WHO IS GIVING THE INVOCATION. I WILL HAND THAT BALL OFF TO

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU. TODAY WILL BE OFFERED BY REVEREND DIANE MCGEHEE OF BERING CHURCH.

SHE SERVED FOR FOUR YEARS. SHE IS THE WIFE OF ATTORNEY JACK MCGEHEE AND A MOTHER AND A GRAND MOTHER OF LUKE AND COLIN. A GRADUATE OF HAIR -- HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A TRIAL LAWYER IN CIVIL COURTS. FIVE YEARS AS A PASTOR OF THE ASIAN-AMERICAN CONGREGATION OF BEL-AIR UM -- UMC AND THE CENTER FOR MISSION OF EXCELLENCE OF THE TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

DIANE IS THE FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR OF FORWARD THE PHILIPPINES AND A FOUNDING MEMBER OF JUSTICE AND OFFERS FREE AND REDUCED FEES FOR LEGAL SERVICES.

SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDING ADVISORY BOARD OF DUKE CENTER OF RECONCILIATION AND SENIOR FELLOW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND REFUGEE AND FOSTER CHILDREN AND ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY ARE BELOVED CHILDREN OF GOD AND HAVE INPHO INEPT -- INFINITE WORTH. SHE DOES ALL OF THAT AND HAS TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY. WE SHOULD WELCOME REVEREND DIANE MCGEHEE. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE IS VIRTUAL.

>> YEAH. I'M VIRTUAL.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES.

WE CAN. >> I INVITE YOU ALL TO PRAY IF WHATEVER FORM YOU ARE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.

LET US PRAY. DIVINE ONE IN WHOM WE ALL LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEINGS, AS WE EMERGE FROM PANDEMIC WITH MANY IN OUR COUNTY STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY WITH HEALTH ISSUES AND IN NEED OF RESOURCES, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS HURRICANE SEASON AND THE CHALLENGES IT BRINGS, AND AS WE DEAL WITH THE POLITICAL HOSTILITY AND VOTER RIGHTS THAT IS THREATENING THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

AS WE SEEK TO ASSIST SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS AND ARE STRUGGLING AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF PANDEMIC, THAT WE SEEK TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO SAW -- TO SURVIVE AND KEEP US ALL SAFE AND EMPLOYED GRANT COUNTY JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT WISDOM AND COURAGE TO LEAD JUSTLY SO ALL HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. PROVIDE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR THE WORK THAT IS THEIRS AND OURS TO DO SO THAT IN THIS COUNTY ALL HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

SO THAT WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL, SO THAT IN FACT DIGNITY WELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY FIND THE LEADERS OF THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THE COMMUNITY OF THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS.

MAY THE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT ALWAYS SPEAK THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE. GRANT THEY AREN -- ARE ENABLED TO LEAD OUR COUNTY WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.

WE ASK IT IN THE NAME OF GOD OF ALL OF US, AMEN.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU REVEREND, DOCTOR, ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND FOR THAT PRAYER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE FOUR RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF

[Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. MY RESOLUTION IS A SIGNIFICANT ONE AND I TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF HONOR AND PRIDE IN PRESENTING IT. IN THE TIME I HAVE HAD IN YEARS PAST. WE WILL HAVE MS. LOU MOLTON WHO WILL BE RECEIVING THE RESOLUTION AND WILL SHARE SOME COMMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO CALL ON OUR BRAND-NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, MS. BARBIE ROBINSON TO TALK ABOUT THE KNISH -- INITIATIVES AS IT RELATES TO THIS RESOLUTION.

THE RESOLUTION READS, WHEREAS IN A RECENT PROCLAMATION PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN RECALLS HOW THE UPRISING AT THE STONEWALL INN IN JUNE OF 1969 SPARKED A LIBERATION MOVEMENT. A CALL TO ACTION THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE US TO LIVE UP TO OUR NATION'S PROMISE OF EQUALITY AND LIBBER TEE AND -- LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

[00:05:05]

AND WHEREAS HAIR KISS COUNTY -- HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS LAUNCHING AN INITIATIVE TO FOCUS ON INNOVATION, EQUITY AND INCLUSION FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEREAS CURRENTLY HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVES THE COMMUNITY WITH HIV PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND HOLISTIC PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES THAT INCLUDE IMMUNIZATIONS AND WELLNESS SCREENINGS.

WHEREAS AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S INITIATIVE BECOMES ESTABLISHED, IT WILL DEVELOP EQUITY GUIDELINES AND PROGRAMMING TO BETTER SERVE PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS PRIDE MONTH WE REAFFIRM -- RATHER, WE AFFIRM OUR OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE AND DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, CELEBRATING THE GREAT DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT CELEBRATES JUNE 2021 AS LGBTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH. JUDGE, LET ME JUST SAY THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ALWAYS OF PARTICULAR VALUE TO ME BECAUSE OF MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT SO MANY HAVE MADE TO TAKE HOUSTON FROM NOT JUST BEING A POPULATION OF THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO BEING A CITY THAT EMBRACES ALL PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE REGARDLESS OF YOUR EXPERIENCES, YOUR LIFESTYLES, BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY A VIBRANT AND ECONOMICALLY RELEVANT COMMUNITY. SO I'M ALWAYS SO EXCITED TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION -- I'M NOT SURE IF WE GOT TO DO IT LAST YEAR. I AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO PRESENT

IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING IT.

IT IS IMPORTANT AND YOU TALKED ELOQUENTLY ABOUT HOW THIS ISSUE HAS IMPACTED YOUR FAMILY , SO I'M HONORED TO DEFER TO

YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY SPEAKERS FOR THE RESOLUTION?

[Appearances before court]

>> YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD.

>> MO ROBERTS. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE. IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO YOU AND ON BEHALF OF PRIDE HOUSTON ORGANIZATION, MY NAME IS MO ROBERTS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND HAVE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION OVER 10 YEARS NOW.

IT IS ALWAYS AN EXTREME PLEASURE TO OFFER DIFFERENT EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING FOR OUR QUEER COMMUNITY.

2020 WAS HARD ON ALL OF US. IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OVER HOUSTON, AND NOT HAVING A CELEBRATION HURT HARD WHEN IT CAME TO NOT ONLY THE ORGANIZATION, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE WILL NOT HAVE A PARADE IN JUNE AND IT WILL BE IN THE FALL, WE ARE STILL HAVING POP UP EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHTING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE QUE ARE -- QUEER COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JUNE. PRIDE IS SOMETHING THAT LIVES ON FOREVER AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EMBEDDED IN US UNTIL THE END OF TIME. IT IS NOT JUST ONE DAY CELEBRATIONS. IT IS NOT JUST A MONTH.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WORK TOWARD AND FOR 365.

LAST YEAR 366 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR.

IT IS ALWAYS A SURPRISE WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OUT REACH AND INITIATIVE GOALS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WE ARE MORE THAN JUST A VESSEL AND MORE THAN JUST A PARADE AND WE DO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. WE HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU AT NOT ONLY THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN JUNE, BUT WE HAVE JULY 25TH WHICH IS THE KICKOFF EVENT WHERE WE WILL ANNOUNCE EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING THIS YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO PRIDE 2021. AND THEN STARTING THOSE EVENTS

[00:10:01]

THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,

MS. MOLTON. >> COMMISSIONER, DID YOU NEED ME TO UNMUTE DIRECTOR ROBINSON?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> THANK YOU.

DIRECTOR ROBINSON, YOU'RE UNMUTED.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

AT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WE RECOGNIZE AND WILL CELEBRATE PRIDE DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE.

AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION, WE ARE LAUNCHING AN INITIATIVE TO FOCUS ON EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

THIS YEAR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS PARTNERING WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESS THAT'S SERVE THE LGBTQI PLUS COMMUNITY AND BY OFFERING COVID 19 VACCINE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY VACCINE UNIT.

IN MAY OF THIS YEAR WE KICKED OFF A FOCUSED OUT REACH EFFORT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND PARTICIPATED IN TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS SO FAR. HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CREATED AND LAUNCHED THE PRIDE COMMITTEE WHERE THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS REPRESENTED AND INVOLVED IN THE DIFFERENT EVENTS DURING THE PRIDE CELEBRATION. HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CONTINUES TO PROVIDE NO COST HIV AND OTHER S S -- STI.

OUR AGENCY ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT WE RESPECT AND RECOGNIZE AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LGBTQI PLUS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE AWARE OF THE STRUGGLES AND THE HARDSHIPS MANY HAVE LIVED IN FOR AN ACCEPTING SOCIETY AND NO ONE SHOULD BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR WHO THEY CHOOSE TO LOVE.

I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, MS. ROBINSON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WELCOME TO HARRIS COUNTY,

TEXAS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

[Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

COMMISSIONERS IT IS ITEM 252. PAGE 31.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED RODRIGUEZ SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR SO IT CARRIES 3-2. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU

HAVE ANOTHER? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DO AND THIS IS ALMOST AS EXCITING AS THE PREVIOUS RESOLUTION.

THIS IS EXCITING BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE I AM SO PROUD TO WORK WITH ON ANY GIVEN DAY. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, EVERY YEAR THEY GIVE NATIONAL AWARDING -- AWARDS IN 18 CATEGORIES THAT REFLECT THE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT COUNTIES PROVIDE. CATEGORY THAT'S INCLUDE CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUSTICE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH, ENGAGEMENT AND SO MUCH MORE. THIS STARTED IN 1970.

THE ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT RENOVATIONS AND IT IS JUDGED ON ITS OWN MERIT AND NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THE OTHER APPLICATIONS.

WHAT IS EXCITING, JUDGE -- LOOK, THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PRECINCT 2. I ALSO RESPECTFULLY SAY THAT I SHARE THIS WITH YOU. I CAN'T DO THE THINGS THAT I ENJOY DOING. THESE SUCCESSES ARE BECAUSE THIS COURT HAS BEEN IN PART SUPPORTIVE OF THE INITIATIVES IN PRECINCT 2. ACCORDING TO THE DATABASE BACK TO 2009 HARRIS COUNTY HAS NOT RECEIVED THIS MANY AWARDS IN

THE SAME YEAR. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S

WONDERFUL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: 844 TOTAL AWARDS WERE GIVEN OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ENTITIES IN 28 STATES. 13 AWARDS GIVEN TO TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDING TARRANT, WILLIAMSON AND BAIRD.

THERE WERE FOUR OTHERS. FOUR AWARDS WILL BE IN THE NACO CONFERENCE IN JULY. THE FIRST AWARD IS ONE THAT LIKE THE PRIDE RESOLUTION, IT IS ABOUT INCLUSION AND IT IS ABOUT EQUITY AND IT IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE JAMES

[00:15:03]

AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST FULLY ALL INCLUSIVE PARK THAT HAS BEEN BUILT IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE LEAD STAFF ON THIS INCLUDE CHRIS SADLER AND MILTON RAMEN.

THAT'S THE FIRST AWARD FOR THAT PARTICULAR PARK.

THE SECOND AWARD -- AND WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS, JUDGE, AND I WANT TO GO THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE AWARDS.

THE NEXT AWARD WILL BE FOR OPERATION DELIVER.

THIS IS FOR VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD.

THE VETERANS HELP TO DESIGN AND BUILD A -- MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS. IF THAT'S NOT COOL ENOUGH, IT IS ALSO TO RECOGNIZE THAT MOST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS IF NOT ALL OF IT I CAN THINK OF ARE GENUINELY CREATED BY THE SHEAR WILL OF THE MOUNTAIN BIKERS. GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TEND TO ENDORSE THEM. WE WORK WITH OUR VETERANS AND THEY DESIGN AND HELP TO BUILD THE TRAILS.

THESE ARE THE FIRST THEY HAVE DONE AND ALSO IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

THEN THE LEAD STAFF ON THIS WAS OR IS MR. JIMENEZ AND CASSIE GIBSON BOTH WHO ARE VETERANS AND SERVED OUR NATION WELL. OUR THIRD AWARD IS FOR THE AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL GRANT.

THIS IS AS YOU RECALL, JUDGE, IN RESPONSE TO THE ITC FIRE.

A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT THAT HAS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE AIR MONITORS AND A PUBLIC DASHBOARD FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND THE FIRE MARSHALL WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN USING IN THE RECENT FIRES AT CHANNEL VIEW.

IT HAS ALLOWED US TO ENGAGE AS AN INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY BE OCCURRING.

WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE CHEMICAL THAT'S MAY BE INVOLVED IN A PARTICULAR INCIDENT THAT MAY BE BURNING AND WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND DESCRIBING THE SITUATION. AND THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND -- PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND AS CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE INDICATED ONE WAS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE OF THE OTHER. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS GRANT IS STRUCTURED, IT PROVIDES FOR A MODEL PROGRAM THAT ACC HAS RECOGNIZED THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE AROUND THE STATE AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY. I WANT TO THANK MY LEAD STAFF ON THIS WHO HAS BEEN IMMENSELY PASSIONATE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND ALL THINGS RELATED TO PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT. AND THE LAST ONE THAT HAS BEEN SO NECESSARY AND A WELCOME ADDITION TO OUR TOOL KIT, IF YOU WILL, IS OUR ACCESS TO HEALTH SMART PODS.

PRECINCT 2 IS THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO DEPLOY THESE UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ADDRESSES HEALTH DISPARITIES SUCH AS PRECINCT 2 HAVING THE FEWEST RATE OF HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE COUNTY, IN THE STATE AND THE MOST PEOPLE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE. PRECINCT 2 STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS IS A YOUNG MAN AND YOUNG LADY, BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT THESE -- THE ISSUE OF ACCESS TO HEALTH AND ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH AND IMPROVING THE STATE OF HEALTH FOR PRECINCT 2 CONSTITUANTS WAS A DAY ONE ITEM THAT I FOCUSED ON. WE WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE WAY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WAS EVER A REALITY FORCE.

WE GOT THE PODS TESTED AND THEY HAVE NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE UNITS IN THEM. THAT WAY IT HELPS TO CONTAIN ANY POTENTIAL SPREAD OF THE VIRUS WHEN SOMEONE WAS

[00:20:05]

I HOPE THE HAHN -- THE HONORABLE RICHARD CANTU WHO IS A TRUSTY ON THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

MR. CANTU, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?

>> I'M HERE. GOOD MORNING.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD MORNING.

GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> YES, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

ON BEHALF OF THE EAST ALDING MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE PRECINCT 2 AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON THE AWARD BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE NATIONAL SEW -- ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY ALL INCLUSIVE PARK PROJECT IN THE GREAT EAST ALDING COMMUNITY.

WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IT IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME PARK AND A ONE OF A KIND OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES. I CAN ATTEST BECAUSE OF THE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE THROUGHOUT THE CON -- COUNTY TO THE DISABLED AND TO THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED. HOW IMPORTANT THIS FACILITY, THIS GREAT PARK IS GOING TO BE, NOT JUST TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE, BUT TO ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY AND SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE PRECINCT AND COMMISSIONER FOR THIS RECOGNITION. WE ARE NOT SURPRISED YOU ARE BEING RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THIS PROJECT.

IT WAS AWESOME TO PARTICIPATE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDING INPUT ON WHAT THIS PARK SHOULD INCLUDE AND WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND SO IT WAS REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT AND IT IS ONE ADDITIONAL WAY WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRECINCT. MORE THAN ANYTHING WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE AREA KIDS WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS WONDERFUL FACILITY. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, MR. CANTU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN ENSURING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL LOCATIONS THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN COME AND ENJOY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. CANTU, RODNEY ELLIS.

I WANT TO CHIME IN. IT IS GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS RIDING BIKES NOW SO I CAL -- SO I CHALLENGE HIM TO GO FROM THE ALL INCLUSIVE PARKS TO THE TRAILS BUILT BY THE VETS AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE AIR MONITORS AND THE SMART PARTS

ON BICYCLE. >> LET'S DO T MAN.

DO IT, MAN. YOU'RE ON.

GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU, MR. CANTU.

>> THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FOR OPERATION GILBERT.

THESE ARE OFFICIALLY CALLED THE GILBERT TRAILS.

ERIC, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? >> COMMISSIONER, WE DO NOT HAVE HIM ON THE LINE YET. WE HAVE GOT OTHERS BEFORE HIM.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA. I WILL MOVE ON TO ANNE COULTON WITH THE AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL.

SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY AND MARKET OUT REACH.

ANNE, ARE YOU ON? >> I AM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL.

GO AHEAD. >> GREAT.

I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE AND THE COMMISSION FOR HAVING ME SPEAK TODAY TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US TO GET SOMETHING DONE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY MEMBERS WOULD ARE THE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS WHO OPERATE THE UNITED STATES, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LARGE PRESENCES IN THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE MADE HERE.

AND WE REALLY ARE LOOKING TO THIS AS A MODEL THAT MAY BE DEPLOYED THROUGH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND IN CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY HAS SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONS. YOU ALL HAVE HELPED US SEE THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER WE REALLY CAN BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND PROVIDE BETTER INFORMATION. I REALLY WANT TO THANK KRISTEN LEE AND DR. BABMAN AND OUR FRIENDS WORKING SO CLOSELY

[00:25:05]

WE HOPE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

WE WILL BE LOOKING TO HARRIS COUNTY AS A MODEL THAT WE CAN SHOW OTHERS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION AND GETTING GOOD INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND MAKING SURE WE ARE PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, MS. COULTON AND THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE ACC FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH US. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT FOR RECOGNIZING DR. BABBITT. I AM SO PROUD OF HER WORK.

SHE IS AN IMMENSE ASSET TO OUR COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OUR LAST SPEAKER IS -- AND I'M GONNA GIVE THIS A SHOT EVEN THOUGH MY STAFF TOLD ME NOT TO. SHARMILA ANANDASABA WITH BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. SHE IS THE ARCHITECT OF THE SMART PODS. AND SHE WAS WORKING AND IN AFRICA IN THE UH BOW LAW CRISIS.

AND AS A RESULT OF HER EXPERIENCE.

SHE DESIGNED SOMETHING THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TERRAIN AND THE QUALITY TREATMENT AND THOSE SUFFERING FROM EBOLA. AS A RESULT SHE CAME BACK AND DESIGNED IT AND THEN WORKED WITH NASA TO VALIDATE IT, IF YOU WILL. AND THEN IT HAS ALSO BEEN BUILT BY A HARRIS COUNTY COMPANY UNDER THE WONDERFUL LEADERSHIP OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A STALL WORK ADVOCATE ON SO MANY THINGS IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTY AND THAT'S MR. STAN MERICK. DOCTOR, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?

>> I AM, COMMISSIONER. GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> YEAH. SO I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE COMMISSIONER AND THE OUTSTANDING PRECINCT TEAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. WE KNOW THIS WAS NOT EASY.

ALSO I REALLY WANTED TO APPLAUD HARRIS COUNTY.

I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE BY DOING THIS IS BECOME PIONEERS IN A NEW APPROACH TO COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE.

NOT JUST IN THE U.S., BUT I THINK WORLDWIDE.

WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THIS IN 2014 AND DEPLOYED UNITS FOR THE -- YOU KNOW, THE WEST AFRICAN EBOLA EPIDEMIC, WE NEVER THOUGHT HOUSTON WOULD FACE MULTIPLE STORMS, A MAJOR HURRICANE AND AN UNPRECEDENTED EPIDEMIC.

AND NOW WE ARE SEEING THAT THESE WORK.

THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE NOT ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED CARE, BUT BY THE ADDITION OF TELE MEDICINE AND TELE EDUCATION BACK UP FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AT THE DISEASE EXPERTS AT BAYLOR, I HAVE BEEN [INAUDIBLE] HAPPEN WEEKLY AND THE QUESTION BEING ASKED ON VACCINATIONS AND VACCINE HESITANCY, SIDE EFFECTS AND MANAGEMENT OF COVID HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE. SO THIS IS A DIGITAL, ANYMORE -- NIMBLE, FLEXIBLE APPROACH THAT USES RAPID SHOE CONTAINERS WORLDWIDE. AND NOW RECENTLY, LITERALLY WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AND SEVERAL OTHER FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT FOR RESILIENCY RE -- RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS, BUT FUTURE EPIDEMICS AND PANDEMICS AND GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HARRIS COUNTY FOR BEING PIONEERS IN THIS INNOVATIVE AREA. WE REALLY DO HOPE WE GET TO DO

MORE WITH YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE YOU HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY SAVED AND TOUCHED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I AM SO EXCITED THAT THE MEDICAL CENTER NOW HAS A SIGNIFICANCE PRESENCE IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY AND PRECINCT 2.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND GIVE EVERYONE AT BAYLOR OUR HIGHEST RECORDS. JUDGE, I JUST -- AGAIN I WANT TO SAY THAT THESE AWARDS ARE GIVEN IN THE NAME OF PRECINCT 2, BUT I SENT THEM ON BEHALF OF OUR COUNTY WITH YOU AS OUR

[00:30:05]

I'M EXCITED. I'M PROUD OF MY TEAM.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN MY OFFICE AND EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

I WANT TO THANK THE CONSTITUENTS OF PRECINCT 2 AND THESE AWARDS ARE ACCEPTED IN THEIR NAME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN DMITION -- AND

THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> TOM RAMSEY: COMMISSIONER, WELL DONE. THEY DON'T SAY PRECINCT 2 OR ANYTHING, BUT HARRIS COUNTY. WHEN YOU ARE DOING THINGS MATTERS FOR VETERANS AND DOING THINGS FOR MATTERS OF THE DISABLED, AND DOING THINGS RELATED TO AIR AND DOING THINGS THAT MATTER FOR PARKS, THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

I'M SO PROUD OF HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE RESOURCES AND THIS IS CLEARLY AN INDICATION OF PRUDENT USE OF RESOURCES THAT WE ARE GIVEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT. I JUST SAY HAVING WORKED WITH 20 COUNTIES IN TEXAS, THESE AWARDS ARE A GOOD THING.

AND TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS AND RECEIVE THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT, I AM JUST AS PROUD OF THIS AS YOU ARE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I WILL BE WITH YOU AT THE NACO CONFERENCE IN JULY. LOOK, IF THESE ARE GOING TO BE AWARDS GIVEN AND HOPEFULLY OTHER COUNTIES WILL INFLATE, IF THEY FIGURE TO THE GUIDELINES OF SOME OF OUR FEDERAL MONEY, THANKS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT FUNDING SOME OF THESE AS THEY FIT INTO THE

GUIDELINES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ABSOLUTELY.

AND JUDGE I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM NACO, BUT IF WE COULD GO TO ERIKA CA -- ERIC CARASCA. I THINK YOU HAVE HIM ON THE

LINE. >> YES.

ERIC CARASCA WITH OPERATION YELLOW BIRD.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> YES, GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, HOW ARE YOU?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. >> MY NAME IS ERIC CARASCA AND THE FOUNDER OF OPERATION YELLOW BIRD.

WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS FOCUSED ON ASSISTING VETERANS WITH TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE AND REDUCING THE VETERAN SUICIDE RATE BY USING NATURE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION THERAPY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE PRECINCT 2 AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS. THAT'S A FANTASTIC THING TO DO FOR PRE -- PRECINCT 2 AND HARRIS COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR ALLOWING US TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROJECT. THIS PROJECT HAPPENED BECAUSE COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS A TRUE ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS WHICH I ASSUME IS DUE TO HIS FAMILY HISTORY AND PERSONAL HISTORY AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, MOUNTAIN BIKING TENDS TO BE OVER LOOKED AS AN OPTION FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. IT IS THE FASTEST GROWING TOURISM SPORT IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE VERY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH PRECINCT 2 ON BRINGING HEALTHY AND EXCITING METHODS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION TO HOUSTON VETERANS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO PROMOTE MENTAL WELL BEING WHICH AS YOU KNOW VETERANS HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS GOING ON.

WE ALL KNOW 22 A DAY. 22 VETERANS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY DAY IN AMERICA STATISTICALLY.

SO HAVING A PLACE WHERE VETERANS CAN SEEK AND FIND AND ENJOY OUTDOOR RECREATION BECOMES PARAMOUNT TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER. AND IT IS NOT JUST A VETERAN'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. IT IS A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. WE DESPERATELY NEED TO PRESERVE GREEN SPACE. WE NEED TO MAKE EXCITING, FUN GREEN SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY.

THE MOUNTAIN BIKERS OF HOUSTON WHETHER IT IS FROM CYPRESS CREEK TO THE ANT HILLS IN THE MEMORIAL AREA TO SUGARLAND IN

[00:35:01]

THE VETERANS THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH PRECINCT 2 TAKE EXTREME PRIDE IN CREATING THE TRAILS.

IT HONORS OUR FALLEN THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES US PURPOSE AS VETERANS TO SAY WE ARE DOING SOMETHING FOR OTHER VETERANS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, VETERANS HAVE THIS KIND OF THING ABOUT THEM WHERE OUR SERVICE NEVER ENDS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION. PLEASE TELL THE WORLD BECAUSE I'M GOING TO THAT WE HAVE THE YELLOW BIRD TRAILS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: BEFORE WE HEAR THE NEXT SPEAKER,

COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ERIC, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AND MY KUDOS GO TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA. VETERANS ARE SOMETHING THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO -- WE SHARE THAT IN COMMON.

ERIC, I INVITE YOUR OPERATION, YELLOW BIRD GROUP TO COME OUT IN AUGUST. WE DO A VETERANS BANQUET TO HONOR OUR VETERANS THERE. AND WE HAVE A FEW TRAILS OUT IN PRECINCT 4 AS WELL. IF YOU WOULD CONTACT US, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER WITH YOU OUT THERE AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR THIS PARTICULAR AWARD AND ERIC THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SERVICE TO MAKE OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

AS YOU SAID, IT IS A COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR.

>> THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BRIAN?

WITH NACO? >> YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS BRIAN AND I AM THE CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, ALSO KNOWN AS NACO. I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH NACO. FOUNDED IN 1935, AS YOU KNOW NAC WORK'S MISSION IS TO -- NACO'S MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN COUNTIES. ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT THROUGH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PROGRAM.

BEGINNING 51 YEARS AGO NACO'S ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD HONORS IN GNAW VIA TIFF -- INNOVATIVE COUNTY PROGRAMS AND IMPROVES RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE.

EACH YEAR WE INVITE COUNTIES ACROSS AMERICA TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR THE MOST NOTEWORTHY PROGRAMS AND WE EVALUATE THEM ON THEIR OWN MERIT AND RESOLVE.

I EXTEND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY FOR EARNING FOUR NAY -- NACO ACHIEVE MEANT UH UH-HUH -- AWARDS IN HEALTH, COUNTY RESILIENCY AND PARKS AND RECREATION. THESE FOUR EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE SERVE AS EXAMPLES FOR COUNTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE APPLAUD HARRIS COUNTY FOR YOUR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE. I WILL ALSO NOTE HARRIS COUNTY HAS HAD MORE AWARDS THIS YEAR. COUNTY AND RESIDENTS HAVE FACED HISTORIC CHALLENGES. THE LEADERS AND THE FRONT LINE EMPLOYEES HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN INSPIRATIONAL COMMITMENT TO SERVE. IT IS JUST SOME OF THE WAYS YOU ARE BUILDING HEALTHY, SAFE AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, BRIAN.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S IT, JUDGE.

AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AGAIN, I WANT TO TIP MY HAT TO MY TEAM.

THEY ARE IMMENSELY DEDICATED TO SERVING OTHERS AND I AM PROUD OF THEM. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER. YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I HAD THE GLUED PLEASURE ON SATURDAY TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS THEY CELEBRATED THEIR 50TH. THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

BEING THERE WITH THE FACULTY AND THE STAFF AND THE TRUSTEES WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE. I HAD NO IDEA THE BEAUTY OF THE CAMPUS. I HAD NOT BEEN THERE IN A COUPLE THREE YEARS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING AT HUE -- HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS AMAZING.

[00:40:01]

AS I TOLD THEM ON SATURDAY MORNING, HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ANOTHER WORD FOR THAT IS JOBS.

IF YOU WANT TO GET A JOB, THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN GET THAT. THE RESOLUTION, WHEREAS ON MAY 18TH, 1971, THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON VOTED TO ESTABLISH HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS A COMPONENT OF THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF NEEDS OF STUDENTS NOT READY FOR A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY.

IN AUGUST OF THAT SAME YEAR 5711 STUDENTS REGISTERED FOR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL COURSES.

IF JULY OF 1973, HISD AND HCC TRUSTEES APPROVE A PROPOSAL SEPARATING IT AND IN 1977HCC RECEIVED ACCREDITATION FROM THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS.

10 YEARS LATER ON MAY 30, 1987 , LEGISLATION WAS APPROVED ESTABLISHING THE ATC BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPARATE FROM HIST AND ALLOWING HCC THE ABILITY TO COLLECT A TAX RESTITUTION FUNDING. THE HCC FULLY SEPARATED FROM HISD IN 1989 AND ESTABLISHED ITS OWN BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN A 1992 THE COLLEGE RESTRUCTURED INTO A MULTI-COLLEGE SYSTEM.

WHEREAS HCC HAS GROWN TO BE A PILLAR IN HOUSTON COUNTY FOR HIGHER AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.

HCC HAS HAD MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AMONG WHICH IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF TECHNICAL TRAINING IN THE STATE. BEING THE FIRST COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH A PRESENCE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, THE SECOND LARGEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE NATION AND BEING RANKED FOURTH IN THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BY THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND BEING THE NUMBER ONE IN THE REGION WITH STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO COLLEGES OF THEIR CHOICE AND HAVING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF EXEMPLARY WORKFORCE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE AND TRAINING 70% OF OUR REGION'S POLICE, FIRE, EMT, HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND DOING SO ALL OF THIS MORE AND STILL MAINTAINING AMONG THE LOWEST TAX RATE AND COST PER CREDIT HOUR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH 60 WORKFORCE AND ACADEMIC ACCREDITATIONS AND 90% OF HCC COMPLETERS GOING ON TO A JOB OR UNIVERSITY OF THEIR CHOICE.

WHEREAS HCC HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER WITH PRECINCT 3 SUPPORTING THREE JOB FAIRS AND GETTING STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS BACK TO WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES. WHEREAS ON JUNE 5TH, HCC CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE STUDENT REGISTRATION FAIR, JOB FAIR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND OCCUPATIONAL KAW -- CAREERS TO PERSPECTIVE AND CURRENT STUDENTS.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT EXTENDS BEST WISHES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THE OUTSTANDING HISTORY AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAD ONE OF MY CHILDREN WHO WAS TRYING TO DECIDE WHERE TO GO AND THEY WENT TO HCC.

I SAID, OKAY, WELL I HOPE EVERYTHING TRANSFERRED.

I HAD OTHER CHILDREN GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL AND TRANSFER.

EVERY HOUR HE TOOK AT HCC TRANSFERRED TO TEXAS A&M.

HAD TO BRING THAT UP. YOU DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.

YOU DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. IT IS A GREAT ASSET FOR THE AREA AND PARTICULARLY NOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER THINGS -- WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB, THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WILL LEAD TO A JOB.

I'M PROUD OF THEM. MR. ELLIS, ONE OF YOUR GREAT FOLKS IS THE TRUSTY THERE. AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT HCC

DOES IN THE COMMUNITY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS ON THIS, LUCINDA?

>> NO, MA'AM. THERE'S NOT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I BELIEVE

YOU HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION. >> TOM RAMSEY: QUICKLY WE TOUCHED ON THIS, SAFETY IS A BIG DEAL.

I THINK WHEN WE DO AIR MONITORING AS A SAFETY ELEMENT AND WHEN WE DESIGN HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS THERE IS A SAFETY ELEMENT TO IT AND WHEN WE DESIGN HIGHWAYS OR ANYTHING WE DO IN THE COUNTY THERE IS A SAFETY ELEMENT TO IT.

THIS IS SAFETY MONTH. LET ME READ THE RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JUNE 2021 WE CELEBRATE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH WHICH IS AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF PROMOTING SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE AND WHEREAS

[00:45:03]

AN AVERAGE OF 10 TEXANS ARE KILLED ON OUR ROADS EVERY DAY. MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY ARE ENTITLED TO FEEL SAFE IN THEIR HOME.

AGENCIES ARE BATTLING DEFUNDING AND ALSO BATTLING HARRIS COUNTY AT A 43% INCREASE IN MURDER AND 33% INCREASE IN ASSAULTS. WHEREAS MY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING WHEN DISCUSSING ROAD PLANS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ON ANY PROJECT IS IT GOING TO BE SAFE SNEER WHETHER IT IS WORKPLACE TRAVEL IT SETS THE STAGE AND IT IS THE BASE -- BASIS FOR CELEBRATING NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RE -- RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZE JUNE 2021 NATIONAL SAFETY

MONTH. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ALTHOUGH I SUPPORT WORKPLACE SAFETY BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN TOO MUCH UP FRONT AND CLOSE, THE DEVASTATION IN THE WORKPLACE, I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF YOUR BIG PARAGRAPH.

IT IS VERIFY BELLY -- VERIFIABLY FALSE.

IT CLAIMS THAT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE BATTLING DEFUNDING. NO HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN RECENT HISTORY, POSSIBLY EVER, HAS BATTLED DEFUNDING. IF ANYTHING, WHEN I WAS SHERIFF, I WAS FUNDED AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DEFUNDED.

I HAVE IN MY HAND, THIS IS THE PAGE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET THAT THIS COURT APPROVED IN FEBRUARY WITH YOUR VOTE THAT CONTAINS THE FIGURES OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THEY ARE GETTING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE BUDGETS.

IT IS A HIS -- HISTORICAL LOOK BACK TO FY2016.

I AM HAPPY TO PASS THIS AROUND.

AS ANYONE CAN SEE, NO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS HAD A SINGLE PENNY REMOVED FROM THEIR BUDGET AT ANY POINT IN THE HISTORY REFLECTED HERE. IN FACT, WHEN I TOOK OFFICE IN 2019, THE BUDGET FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WAS $679 MILLION COLLECTIVELY. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET IT IS PROPOSED AT $783 MILLION.

THAT'S A 15% INCREASE. A MORE THAN 100 MILLION INCREASE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETS ACROSS THE BOARD AND NOT INCLUDING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUT INCLUDES A 2% SALARY INCREASE FOR ALLAH ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS THE BOARD. THE FUNDS THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MAY SITE AS AN EXAMPLE OF SO-CALLED DEFUNDING WERE NOT BEING UTILIZED.

THEY WERE COLLECTING DUST BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BEING UTILIZED AND NOT PROP -- APPROPRIATED TO ANYTHING.

THEY WERE UNUTILIZED FUNDS FROM A PREVIOUS BUDGET CYCLE.

AS A RESULT OF THE ROLL OVER EXERCISE WE WENT THROUGH EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE SPENDING 4.5 MILLION ON ESSENTIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT LIKE BULLETPROOF

[00:50:03]

YOU ARGUED ON MARCH 9TH THAT IT WAS A GOOD POLICY CHANGE BEFORE VOTING ON THIS. AS A RESULT COMMISSIONER CAGLE VOTED AGAINST IT, BUT IT WAS A 4-1 VOTE.

THAT WAS WHEN YOU WERE FOR IT AND NOT AGAINST IT.

YOU VOTED HIGH ON THE ROLL OVER.

I NEVER HEARD A MEMBER OF THIS COURT ADVOCATE FOR DEFUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF THEY EVER DID, THEY WOULD HAVE ME. NO ONE ON THIS COURT HAS DEALT WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL HAVE DEALT WITH BETTER THAN ME. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK YOU WOULD DO BETTER THAN SPREADING MISINFORMATION OR FALSEHOODS. THEY ARE DANGEROUS, AS WE HAVE SEEN. AS A COURT WE HAVE ALWAYS STOOD FOR LOCAL CONTROL AND FAKE INTRUSION.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN AUSTIN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ANY EXCUSE TO CHIP AWAY AT OUR AUTHORITY AND THE LIE THAT HARRIS COUNTY DEFUNDED LAW ENFORCEMENT IS USED AS ONE OF THOSE EXCUSES.

AND YET HERE YOU ARE GIVING OXYGEN TO THAT LIE.

SPREADING THIS FALSEHOOD MAY BE GOOD FOR STIRRING UP A PARTISAN BASE, BUT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IT IS BAD FOR HARRIS COUNTY. OTHERWISE IT IS A GOOD RESOLUTION. WORKPLACE SAFETY IS IMPORTANT. I AM GLAD TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH. TO KEEP THE RESOLUTION HONEST, I MOVE TO STRIKE THE FIFTH PARAGRAPH AND REPLACE IT WITH THE FOLLOWING. WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOY -- EMPLOYS MANY PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS LINES OF WORK INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMITS TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND THE SAFETY OF THESE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE PURCHASE AND THE MAINTENANCE OF NECESSARY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BULLETPROOF VESTS FOR ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON STRIKING THAT PARAGRAPH AND INSERTING THIS ONE.

SO I MOVE ON STRIKING THE PARAGRAPH, JUDGE.

>> WELL, I AM GOING TO SAY THAT I DO THINK THERE IS A EPIDEMIC. I THINK THE MAYOR AGREES WITH ME. WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT. YOU AND I WILL JUST DISAGREE ON ROLL OVER. I DID VOTE ONCE I UNDERSTOOD FULLY HOW THAT IMPACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I DID VOTE AGAINST IT. ONCE I UNDERSTOOD IT FULLY.

AND SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO AGREE TO DISAGREE ON WHAT IS DEFUNDING. THAT'S NOT A LIE.

IT IS A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS.

I WILL JUST SAY MY RESOLUTION STANDS AS IT IS.

THE FACTS ARE WHAT THEY ARE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I CALL TO QUESTION -- I MADE A MOTION TO STRIKE THE FIFTH PARAGRAPH.

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

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED. >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR.

SAME IDEA. WE HAVE INCREASED THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

AND I ALSO SUPPORT THIS SAFETY COUNCIL MONTH, SAFETY AT HOME AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE AND SAFETY ON OUR ROADS.

AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PEDAL THIS KIND OF THING.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE MOTION WAS TO STRIKE.

I DO WANT TO ASK MR. BERRY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR SPENDING DOES GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT? OVERALL SPENDING. YOU CAN TELL US LATER MR. BERRY. WE HAVE A FULL DAY, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT HANDY YOU CAN TELL US LATER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND SO SHOULD WE TAKE A VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION NOW, JUDGE? AS AMENDED?

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE IS -- YOU HAVE A MOTION?

[00:55:03]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE ORIGINAL MOTION SUBSTITUTED.

>> I THOUGHT WE JUST VOTED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE VOTED --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE VOTED TO AMEND IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO NOW WE ARE VOTING ON THE AMENDED RESOLUTION. SO THERE IS -- JAMES, YOU HAVE THE AMEND ETD -- AMENDED RESOLUTION WITH THE FIFTH

PARAGRAPH EDITED? >> NO, MA'AM.

I DO NOT HAVE THE AMENDED RESOLUTION, BUT I'M SURE SOMEBODY CAN GET IT TO ME. I HAVE THE WORDING.

>> FORWARD IT TO US AS WELL, PLEASE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THIS SAYS WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYS PEOPLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITS TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THESE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF NECESSARY EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BULLET PROOF VESTS.

IS THERE A MOTION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE WITH ALL DUE -- DID YOU WANT TO

MAKE YOUR OWN MOTION? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I --

>> TOM RAMSEY: I THOUGHT -- WHAT DID WE VOTE ON?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE VOTED TO SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE FOR THE FIFTH PARAGRAPH. AND THEN ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE

AGAINST YOUR RESOLUTION NOW? >> TOM RAMSEY: WELL, IF THEY ARE SUBSTITUTING PARAGRAPH I, LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I OPPOSE THE ROLL OVER IN THE BEGINNING. I DON'T THINK IT IS GOOD POLICY. I DO BELIEVE IT TAKES TOOLS OUT OF THE CHEST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE CANDICE AGREE ON THE I'M -- WE CAN DISAGREE ON THE IMPACT OF THOSE THINGS. NOW THAT I LOST THAT FIGHT, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED WITH A STRONG ASTERISK THOUGH THAT I STILL DON'T THINK THE ROLL OVER IS GOOD AND TAKING THE ROLL OVER FROM OUR LAW

ENFORCEMENT IS A BAD THING. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU ARE A NO.

AND I AM A YES SO IT PASSES 4-1.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND BASED ON THIS DISCUSSION I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO ITEM 260. IT IS JERMAINE -- GERMAIN IT SEEMS LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO EVEN CONSIDER 260.

IT REFERS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT -- AGENCIES THAT WERE DEFUNDED BECAUSE OF THE ROLL OVER AND WE CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS NO SUCH AGENCIES AND NO TOPIC TO DISCUSS.

I WOULD SUBMIT THAT THERE IS NO ACTION THAT COULD BE REASONABLY TAKEN. THIS ITEM IS EFFECTIVELY AN INSULT TO THE COUNTY AND TO THIS COURT AND I OBJECT TO ITS CONSIDERATION. I WOULD DEFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR -- WHETHER MY OBJECTION HAS ANY

WEIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE OBJECTION

IS TO CONSIDER 260 SPH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOT TO

CONSIDER 260. >> TOM RAMSEY: LET ME JUST SAY WHAT 260 IS. IT IS AN EARLY HEADS UP.

I WASN'T PLANNING ON TAKING ANY ACTION TODAY.

IT IS THE FIRST STEP AS WE, IN COMING WEEKS, TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ROLL OVER, WHAT ISN'T ROLL OVER AND WHAT IS DEFUNDING AND WHAT ISN'T DEFUNDING. SO AS WE GO THROUGH THIS EVALUATION, WHETHER IT IS ANY OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM THE D.A. TO THE SHERIFF TO CONSTABLES, AS WE GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THIS OVER THE COMING WEEKS, THIS IS AN EARLY ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THIS. I THINK IT IS FAIR TO GIVE MR. BERRY AND FAIR TO GIVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AN EARLY HEADS UP. I WASN'T PLANNING ON TAKING ACTION OTHER THAN THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION COMING DOWN THE

PIPES. >> JUDGE, THANK YOU.

I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. WHAT WE DISCUSS IS RELATED TO THE POSSIBLE ACTION. THIS WAY, THE WAY IT IS WORDED WE WOULD NOT DO THAT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID THAT'S NOT WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

AS FAR AS HAVING A GENERAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE OR THIS TOPIC THOSE ARE POLICY QUESTIONS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE.

I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT I THINK IT IS VERY MUCH A QUESTION THAT WHAT -- IT POINTS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA RAISED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS APPLIES TO THE COUNTY

[01:00:01]

I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE IS LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATION ALREADY.

WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY SURE IF IT WILL APPLY TO US IN LARGE PART. OUR FUNDING HAS NOT BEEN REDUCED. THAT'S OUR INITIAL INTERPRETATION. IF THE COURT WANTS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WHETHER OR NOT IT APPLIES IN THE COUNTY IS IN

ITS PER VIEW TO DO SO. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO I GUESS I WILL ASK FOR A LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF YOUR

INTERPRETATION. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON THE POSTED ITEM, YOU ARE -- YOU CAN HAVE THAT -- YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION. YOU ARE NOT GONNA -- IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO DIRECT ANY RESOURCES BACK TO ANYBODY, THIS ITEM DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A -- WANT TO DIRECT OUR OFFICE OR THE BUDGET OFFICE OR ANY ELEMENT OF THE COUNTY TO LOOK INTO THIS TOPIC, THAT WOULD BE A VALID POSSIBLE ACTION.

SHORT OF THAT THIS IS REALLY JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM AT

MOST. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SINCE WE HAVE 273 ITEMS AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE WAITED, IF WE CAN DO THAT LATER.

IT IS SO GOOD BEING WITH ALL OF Y'ALL.

MAYBE I SUGGEST WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA AND MAYBE YOU TWO CAN SIT DOWN AND WORK IT OUT.

JUST A SUGGESTION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT SEEMS TO HAVE A FISCAL NOTE. I WOULD DEFER SO -- TO THE BUDGET OFFICE THE COMMISSIONER CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT HAS AND

HASN'T BEEN DEFUNDED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO THERE

WOULD BE NO ACTION ON IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO ARE WE DIRECTING -- IT SOUNDS LIKE A CONVERSATION ON THIS IS DONE, RIGHT?

ARE WE DIRECTING -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD REFER TO THE BUDGET OFFICE TO VISIT WITH THE COMMISSIONER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DAVE BERRY, DID YOU GET THAT?

>> SO NO ACTION? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I WOULD REFER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DO A LEGAL ANALYSIS TO SEE IF THE ROLL OVER REMOVAL DOES IMPACT THE RECENT LEGISLATION FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IT WAS IN ESSENCE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND IT IS PART OF THE LEGISLATION IMPACT.

>> AND WHILE THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME OFFICES THAT HAVE MORE IN THEIR ROLL OVER THAN OTHERS AND THERE IS ALSO EQUITY PRINCIPALS IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THEY DEEM THE LEGISLATION DOES APPLY TO IT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS EQUITY.

THERE WAS A CERTAIN ELEMENT OF DISCRETION OR FAVORITISM.

SOME DID BETTER THAN OTHERS. IF IT DOES CUT BACK AT SOME POINT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE LATITUDE TO HAVE EQUITY PRINCIPALS OF THE MONEY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE DAVE AND JAY?

>> YES, JUDGE. OUR OFFICE WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH THE COURT AND GET THAT BACK TO YOU BY THE NEXT

MEETING. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T THINK THE LAW APPLIES TO IT, BUT IF IT DOES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS EQUITY IN THE PROCESS.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. >> R. JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO SAY?

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT WAS IT ON MY ITEM.

>> JUDGE, THIS IS JAMES. FOR 260 IS THAT NO ACTION OR

ACTION TO BE HAD LATER? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: REFER TO THE -- REFER TO BUDGET AND LEGAL IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S

[01:05:03]

OFFICE. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND SO THIS WAS ON ITEM 260.

SO WE WILL GO BACK TO THE RESOLUTIONS.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE HAD GONE THROUGH YOUR RESOLUTIONS. COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

YOU DID NOT HAVE ANY OUT OF ORDER.

OKAY. GREAT.

AND LET'S GO TO THE REMAINING SPEAKERS LUCINDA, PLEASE.

>> YES, MA'AM. DAVID GARCIA WITH CHEETAH.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> YES, THANK YOU.

I'M DAVID GAR SEE -- GARCIA, THE DIRECTOR OF TIE -- CHEETAH. GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO OUR JUDGE FOR MISTAKE MISTAKEN LEER -- MISTAKENLY SAYING YOUR FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF DID NOT FOLLOW-UP ON OUR PROPOSALS.

WE ADVISED COMMISSIONERS GARCIA, CAGLE AND RADACK.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOUR BUDGET OFFICE FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND INTERACTING WITH AN ARTICULATE PROFESSIONAL.

TO THE MATTER AT HAND WE HAVE PRESENTED BEFORE THE DIGITAL SHIFT WOULD IMPACT OUR ECONOMY.

IT EXPOSES HOW FAR BEHIND OUR WORKFORCE IS POSITIONED.

MANY JOBS AND BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN LOST AND ARE NOT COMING BACK. THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROJECTED THAT IN 20,201.4 MILLION TECHNOLOGY JOBS WOULD BE UNFILLED. WITH CO -- COVID AND RANSOMWARE, THESE HIGH-TECH JOBS WILL REMAIN UNFILLED IN 2021. WITH THESE COMPANIES MIGRATING TO TAX TAX DALLAS 30, AUSTIN 22 AND HOUSTON AT 14.

WHY IN WE HAVE NOT DONE THE NECESSARY TECH WORKFORCE IT REQUIRES. WALLET HUB PUTS HOUSTON ONLY AT 97 IN BEST CITIES FOR JOBS.

THE COST OF DOING NOTHING CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE OUR ECONOMIC AND HUMAN FABRIC AND GHETTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

RECENTLY ZEUS WAS BOUGHT FOR $1.4 BILLION.

ZEUS IS A TAXI THAT IS TECHNICALLY PERFECT AND PUTS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS OUT OF WORK.

ZOOS, ZOOS. IT WAS A COUNTY-WIDE LOW COST COMPONENT OF RESIDENTS. OUR PROJECT OFFERS TALENTS THAT PUTS MARKET VALUE TO OUR OWN PEOPLE RATHER THAN IN COURT FOR MOST CONSUMERS. FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU WILL PAY TO THIS QUALIFIED BOSTON FIRM, OUR PROGRAM CAN TRAIN THIS WORKER TO BUILD ABOVE AVERAGE PAYING RECESSION-PROOF JOBS RESULTING IN AN ROI OF $1 BILLION AND IT COMES BACK TO THE ECONOMY. WE HOPE TO SIT IN FRONT OF OUR SENIOR STATES MEN TO TALK ABOUT PARTICIPATION.

WE WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND GARCIA TO WORK WITH US TO MAKE OUR ECONOMY A STRONGER PLAYER IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY. WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT

THIS TIME OR LATER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MR. GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING IN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE TO HELP REDESIGN, I GUESS IS THE WORD, FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO BECOME MUCH MORE HIGH-TECH THAN WE ARE. I KNOW YOU ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONER CAGLE SO I WILL WORK -- LOOK AT THE WORK WITH HIM TO SEE HOW THIS CAN POSSIBLY GO FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> DARR AIR PES ARNAZ.

>> FIVE YEARS AGO I HAD A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE WITH HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY.

EVEN WITH THE GUIDELINES FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE, I WAS TOLD THE GUIDELINES DO NOT APPLY TO ME. WHAT MAKES MATTERS WORSE IS I EXPERIENCED ABUSE OF POWER UNDER THE MANAGER INSTALLED IN CHARGE OF THE SERVICE CENTERS.

BY THE WAY, IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TODAY.

I ALMOST GAVE UP HOPE MY RESEARCH LEAD ME TO

[01:10:03]

I WITNESSED AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN ON THE VERGE OF TEARS SHARING THIS STORY FOR A BILL WORTH $2.25.

HE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR THREE HOURS AND HAD TO LEAVE FOR A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WITHOUT RESOLUTION TO HIS CASE. HE HAD BEEN COMING TO THIS OFFICE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS ONLY TO BE TURNED AWAY WITHOUT RESOLUTION. WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROADS AND THE [INAUDIBLE] THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS UNPAID TOLLS. THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IF THE STORY OF MR. WALTERS IS TOO, MY SAD EXPERIENCE IS NOTHING TO BE SURPRISED ABOUT. IT IS THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED FIVE YEARS AGO -- IF THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY I COULD NOT CONTEST MY CASE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WEST SIDE ANY ACCUSED VIOLATOR.

I TOLD THIS COURT IN POSITION TO PUT MECHANISM THAT'S PROTECTS RESIDENTS' RIGHTS WHEN THEY ARE AT ODDS WITH HCTRA. RIGHT NOW THE ONLY AVENUE FOR ANY REVENUE IS TO BE HEARD BY THIS COURT.

THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU CALLING.

THIS IS TOM RAMSEY. WE WILL BE FOLLOWING BACK UP

WITH YOU. >> OKAY.

I APPRECIATE IT, SIR. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE, WE ARE TRYING TO REACH OTHER SPEAKERS.

SOME ARE CANCELING ON US AT THE LAST MINUTE.

IF YOU WILL GIVE ME A COUPLE MINUTES, PLEASE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. WE WILL GO THROUGH THE CHANGES

TO AGENDA ITEMS. >> I JUST GOT ONE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. >> DORIS BROWN WITH NORTHEAST

ACTION COLLECTIVE. >> HELLO.

GREETINGS. MY NAME IS DORIS BROWN AND I RESIDE IN THE NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY.

ONCE AGAIN I AM HERE TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF A SYSTEM THAT HISTORICALLY HAS SET THE BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR UP FOR FAILURE. $5MILLION WAS DETERRED BECAUSE OF THE WORD [INAUDIBLE]. WE SHOT THIS MONEY WOO -- WOULD BE USED TO MITT GRATE -- MITIGATE FLOOD IN THE COMMUNITY. ONCE AGAIN, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ADD -- ADMINISTRATORS DO NOT UNDERSTAND EQUITY.

ONCE AGAIN AS ALWAYS THE POOREST COMMUNITIES ARE STILL DOOMED TO FLOOD. RESIDENTS FOR THE HUD RELEASE AND MITIGATION -- -- MITIGATION GRAB.

IT WAS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE.

COULDN'T COUNT ON THE GENERAL LAND OFFER.

NOW THE LEADER THE GLO WHICH IS THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE HAS ASKED FOR $750 MILLION. WE ARE $600 MILLION SHORT OF NEED. WERE IT NOT FOR [INAUDIBLE] HE WOULDN'T DO THIS AT ALL. MY QUESTION IS DO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE GLO WILL BEEF UP THE PEOPLE? ONCE AGAIN WE ARE STILL FLOODING.

WE ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR MORE EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS.

ONCE AGAIN WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT? WHETHER THEY BE GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFER RENT. WE THE PEOPLE ARE -- WE THE PEOPLE OF THE POOR COMMUNITY ARE CAUGHT UP IN A TERRIBLE WAR BETWEEN THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, GLO, AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD DISTRICT. THE GLO USES THE FORMULA FROM THE YEARS GONE BY AND MADE PUBLIC THAT WAS ALREADY

[01:15:03]

THIS HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND REALLY AND TRULY -- WHEN DOES IT END? ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE BEHIND THIS AND THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE AND WE ARE PART OF THE CITY WITH THE MOST RESIDENTS AND --

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER, MY NAME IS CAROLYN RIVERA. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE TO NO IMPROVEMENTS IN LAKEWOOD, SUBDIVISION AREAS DURING THE 40 YEARS AND DISTRICT B, HARRIS COUNTY.

A TAXPAYER. I WANT TO FIRST THANK THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL FOR REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE PROGRAM.

HOWEVER, THE LINES FOR IMPROVEMENT STOPS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA. WHAT IS INCORPORATED VERSUS UNINCORPORATED WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE LAKEWOOD AREA? IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS MEANS.

WHAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC POLICY MEAN TO YOU? THERE HAS BEEN NO DRAINAGE AND STREET REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENTS BEFORE OR AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.

THERE IS STAGNANT, TOXIC WATER SITTING IN DITCHES WHICH BREATHES SNAKES AND DEATH AND ILLNESS AND DESTRUCTION IMMINENT WITHOUT REPAIRS AND UPGRADING OF THE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE AND STREETS. THE PROLL MITT -- THE CULPRIT DRAINAGE [INAUDIBLE]. PEOPLE INCLUDING ME ARE MADE DO DRIVE IN AND OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND A DEEP DITCH IS IN FRONT OF MY PROPERTY THAT LOOKS LIKE A BAYOU.

THE LAKEWOOD AREAS, THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS NEED TO IMPROVE SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE IN THE LAKEWOOD COMMUNITIES AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

EQUITY AND ACTION IS NEEDED BY HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO INCLUDE THIS AREA IN THE BUDGET AND BE PUT TOWARD DRAINAGE IN THE LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, MS. RIVERA. THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS SON.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN, YOU AND MS. BROWN.

I KNOW YOU WILL TAKE IT TO CITY HALL AS WELL.

WE WILL DO OUR PART OVER HERE AND WILL DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO FIGHT FOR THE STATE. I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

>> AND WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO CITY HALL TOO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU HAVE A

GREAT VOICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL

CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS. >> THANK YOU.

>> CARMICHAEL LEE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES. THIS IS ARMICHALE LEE.

WHY SHOULD MOVING [INAUDIBLE] ON MY PROPERTY TURN INTO A TWO-YEAR BATTLE. IT TOOK $250,000 FROM THE VALUE OF MY HOMESTEAD. NO CLARIFICATION AND MISCONCEPTION BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

MY CLAIM IS AGAINST HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT.

IT IS NOT A CLAIM AGAINST HARRIS COUNTY.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS NOT RESPONDED TO EMAILS OR LETTERS AS OLD AS SIX MONTHS. I CONTINUE TO ASK THE COURT TO MEDIATE A RAPID SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE TREATING THIS LIKE A NASTY DIVORCE CASE BEING

[01:20:01]

11 TIMES I HAVE APPEARED BEFORE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND JUDGELY GNAW HIDALGO -- JUDGE LINA HIDALGO.

WILL JUDGE HIDALGO NOT HELP THE ELDER ABUSE?

I WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL THE

SPEAKERS WE COULD REACH. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT.

THANK YOU, LUCINDA. LET US KNOW IF YOU REACH

ANYBODY ELSE. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: NOW WE WILL GO THROUGH THE MINOR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA ITEMS ON PAGE 16 ITEM 123.

IT SHOULD BE 885,000 INSTEAD OF 370,000.

THAT'S THE FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

ON 135, LOSS IN PRECINCT 1 CHANGE THE WORDS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HARRIS COUNTY.

IT SHOULD SAY HARRIS COUNTY INSTEAD.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE, JAMES. AM I MISSING ANYTHING?

>> NO, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

SO LET'S GO THROUGH THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. FIRST CHECKING EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. ANYTHING THAT FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I THINK COMMISSIONER --

>> TOM RAMSEY: JUDGE THAT WOULD BE TALKING TO THE COUNTY

ATTORNEY THE GLO. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

YEAH. I HAVE IT HERE.

>> TOM RAMSEY: IT IS 259. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL BE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 259 BECAUSE IT INVOLVES NEGOTIATIONS. I WILL FLAG THAT ONE.

AS FAR AS THIS -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND 269.

>> JUDGE, I'M SORRY. THIS IS JAMES.

ON ITEM 269, IT IS LISTED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.

IF THE COURT WANTS TO DISCUSS IT, IT WOULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THIS IS THE CONTRACT THAT WILL BE REFERENCED IF THE COURT APPROVED -- APPROVES -- THAT THE COURT APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING.

UNLESS YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE --

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 269? NO? OKAY.

WE WILL STICK WITH 259. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE IF I MIGHT, MR. AIYER, WHEN WE GO IN ON COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S ITEM IF WE WANT TO TALK STRATEGY WE CAN GET INTO THE -- THERE RATCLIFF'S INVOLVEMENT, RIGHT?

>> YES, SIR. AND I CAN MAKE SURE HE IS AVAILABLE IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: LET ME ASK

FOR A CLARIFICATION. >> -- JAY, UNDER 269 WHICH IS OUR AGREEMENT WITH RATCLIFF, YOU ARE SAYING THAT THAT WOULD GIVE US THE OPEN MEETING ACTS COVERAGE TO DISCUSS HIS

STRATEGY? >> NO, SIR.

I HAD A CONVERSATION ON COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S ITEM RELATED TO THE GLO. I BELIEVE THAT IS --

>> R. JACK CAGLE: SO OUR DISCUSSION WITH RATCLIFF WOULD BE TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S ITEM?

>> YES, SIR. >> I JUST WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION. I DIDN'T WANT TO DISAGREE WITH YOU, BUT I WAS THINKING 269 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT SPOT, BUT I DO AGREE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S PLACE

WOULD BE THE RIGHT SPOT. >> CORRECT.

>> TOM RAMSEY: AND THE ONLY THING AS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, THE ONLY THING ABOUT 259, TO KIND OF FRAME THAT, THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY IN THAT WE WERE THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE A $2.5 BILLION BOND ISSUE. THE FACT THE GLO IS CONSIDERING A DIRECT ALLOCATION AND THERE ARE DIRECT REASONS THEY WOULD CONSIDER US OVER ANYBODY ELSE IN THE STATE. THAT'S THE FRAME GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON STRATEGY.

IT IS WORTH NOTING BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY PUBLIC

[01:25:03]

>> RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE. ITEM 3 I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS. THAT IS REVERTING TO THE 75-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

ITEM 7, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU NEED TO DISCUSS THAT ONE?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I DON'T. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 11,

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 14 IS MASS CONFUSION, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 15 IS THE BROAD COVID AND I NEED TO DISCUSS IT. 22, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 54, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TRANS SYSTEMS ?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: LET ME GET THERE, JUDGE.

NO, I'M GOOD. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 56, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? THAT'S ALSO PAGE 8.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL PULL THOSE.

OR NOT AT THIS MOMENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 93, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY

OF BAY TOWN. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 106 COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND CAGLE BOTH FLAGGED HCTRA'S MISSION STATEMENT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M ALL RIGHT WITH IT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. I JUST HAVE A BRIEF COMMENT SO IT JUST NEEDS TO STAY ON THERE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S 106. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THAT'S THE CHANGE FROM HEAD COMMISSION FROM BEING TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY

TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 107 IS COMMISSIONERS GARCIA AND CAGLE FLAGGED IT FOR NON-REVENUE USE

POLICY WITH METRO. >> TOM RAMSEY: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 119, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THAT IS THE FLOOD BONTD -- FLOOD BOND.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: 139

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 164, REPORT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STOP DATA.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR FROM THE HOUSTON

ENDOWMENT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUST WANT TO

MAKE SURE WE VOTE ON IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL VOTE ON IT. ITEM 181, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY,

PAYMENT OF AUDITED CLAIMS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ON 181, I DO NEED TO DISCUSS THAT. THERE'S 1.4 MILLION THAT WILL BE AN ENDOWMENT AND I WANT TO VOTE ON THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL DISCUSS THAT.

ITEM 221. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ADVERTISEMENT FOR -- REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NOW -- FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION TRAINING SERVICES. 222 CASTLE WOOD SUBDIVISION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 249, COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND CAGLE.

IS THERE A RESOLUTION ON VOTING RIGHTS --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M ALL RIGHT WITH IT.

DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT? >> R. JACK CAGLE: OR JUST VOTE

ON IT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST VOTE ON

IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: 251, THE FEASIBILITY OF AN OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.

MULTIPLE FOLKS FLAGGED THIS ITEM.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M ALL RIGHT WITH IT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE CAN JUST VOTE ON IT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: LET'S VOTE ON IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL VOTE ON IT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I MIGHT BE REACHING A CONSENSUS HERE THAT IF YOU DON'T GIVE A LONG SPEECH AND I DON'T GIVE A LONG SPEECH WE CAN JUST VOTE ON

IT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST VOTE YAY

OR NAY, OR EITHER WAY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I WILL TAKE THAT TRADE. I THINK WE BOTH KNOW POSITIONS. I THINK I'M RIGHT AND YOU

THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL

VOTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: KEEP TALKING AND YOU ARE BOTH ARE LOSING ME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 257 IS -- I KNOW YOU WANT TO TAKE IT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ALONG WITH ANOTHER ITEM, ITEM 11.

IT IS ON THE CONSULTING GROUP.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M ALL RIGHT WITH THAT ONE TOO.

DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT OR TALK ABOUT IT?

>> BRIEFLY. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 258 IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THIS IS YOUR ITEM ON JURY BEING

[01:30:01]

PANELED. >> TOM RAMSEY: JUST BRIEF

COMMENTS. >> LINA HIDALGO: 259, HARVEY RECOVERY FUNDS. THIS IS THE ONE WE ARE TAKING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 260 WE ALREADY DISCUSSED.

261, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT'S YOUR ITEM.

262 -- AND THEN THAT ONE IS ON THE INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS EMYD -- BID. ITEM 262, THE BACKLOG OF COURT CASES. COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I HAVE TALKED TO ED WELLS AND TO CLAY BOWMAN AND JUDGE SCHAEFER AND WE ARE PUSHING TOWARD NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING, AND I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT.

WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO DISCUSS IT TODAY EXCEPT TO SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. BEFORE OUR NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT WE SHOULD HAVE OUR DASHBOARD UP TO WHERE WE CAN SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH REGARD TO THE BACKLOG.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO IS GIVE THE UPDATE THAT OUR WORK HERE AROUND THE HORSESHOE IS BEING HEARD, AND WE SHOULD HAVE BY -- BY THE TIME WE MEET AGAIN WE SHOULD HAVE SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE ARE WORKING TOWARD.

WITH THAT WE CAN TAKE THE ITEM OFF THE AGENDA.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING IN THIS, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. AS A FORMER JUDGE, IT IS A BEG -- BIG CONNECTION THERE. SO NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM, JAMES. NO ACTION ON 262.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: 265 IS ISSUANCE OF HARRIS COUNTY FINANCE CORPORATION MULTI

FAMILY BONDS. >> TOM RAMSEY: I DON'T NEED TO

DISCUSS THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

ITEM 272, DISTRICT CLERKS PROPOSAL OF ADDITIONAL BUDGET FOR THE JURORS. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT.

ITEMS 273 IS ALLOCATION TO UNIVERSAL SERVICES OF GRANT

FUNDS. >> YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 274 IS THE AGREEMENT WITH ELEVATE

STRATEGIES FOR COVID OUT REACH. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. GREAT.

SO IN THAT CASE -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUDGE, YOU CAN PUT 54 AND 56 BACK ON.

>> LINA HIDALGO: 54 AND 56. GOT IT.

SO WE ARE -- WE WILL DISCUSS THE AUTHORIZATION TO GERBE EAT -- YOASH -- NEGOTIATE SYSTEM -- GOT IT.

THAT'S 54 AND 56. SO WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS AGENDA. JAMES, YOU GOT EVERYTHING I

READ OUT? >> DO I HAVE A QUESTION.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS IT IS ITEM

3,. >> YES.

>> 11. >> YES.

>> 14, 15, 22, 54, 56, [INAUDIBLE] 106, 107, 119, 139 , 164, 179, 181, 221, 222, 249 , 251, 257, 258, 259 WHICH

WILL BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> CORRECT.

>> 261, 272, 273, 274. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

THAT'S CORRECT. >> I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS ON ITEM 13 IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THAT ONE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: ONE SECOND. SO ITEM 13 IS THE -- THE -- THERE SHOULD NOT BE, BUT I FLAGGED IT FOR DISCUSSION SO WE'LL DISCUSS IT AND IF ANYTHING COMES UP, THERE MAY BE ACTION. THAT'S THE BROAD COVID ITEM.

>> SO I WILL ADD THAT TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THERE.

I MISSED THAT ONE. THANK YOU.

>> HOW ABOUT ITEM 127? IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THAT?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT NUMBER?

>> LINA HIDALGO: 127 HE SAID. >> FOR DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PLATFORM?

>> LINA HIDALGO: NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT.

LET'S GET STARTED. THE FIRST ONE IS --

[01:35:07]

>> JUDGE I'M SORRY. DID YOU WANT TO TAKE THE

CONSENT VOTES? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE IT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS 1 THROUGH 274 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ITEMS ALREADY VOTED ON AND THE DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT WE JUST LISTED. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IT WAS YOUR MOTION, AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU, JAMES. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: FIRST LET'S GO TO ITEM 3.

WE ARE REVERTING TO THE POLICY OF A 75-DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE THE HEALTH BENEFITS KICK IN.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHETHER THAT IS A BEST PRACTICE.

75 DAYS OR IF THAT IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT'S OKAY.

IT IS SOMETHING FOLKS CAN COME BACK WITH.

I WAS JUST WONDERING. THAT'S ON PAGE 2.

PERHAPS IT IS A QUESTION FOR SHANE OR DAVE BERRY.

>> JUDGE I AM GOING TO LET SHANE ANSWER IF LUCINDA CAN UNMUTE HIM TO COMMENT IF NEEDED.

>> JUDGE, THIS IS SHANE. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND SHANE THE REASON I AM CONCERNED IS IF SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, STARTS THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND THEN THEY GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT, THEY DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR 75 DAYS.

PERHAPS I'M MISSING SOMETHING.

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT IS A STANDARD PRACTICE IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. THE PURPOSE IT IS IN THERE IS NOT THE CAR ACCIDENT YOU MENTIONED, BUT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THEY ARE HAVING AN EXTENSIVE PROCEDURE AND WILL PULL IT AND THEN GET THE PROCEDURE DONE AND LEAVE AND IT KEEPS COSTS AND THERE IS NOT A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AS FAR AS NOT HAVING ONE. THERE IS A MKS MUM OF -- MAXIMUM OF 90 DAYS FROM THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

NOT HAVING ONE THAT IS NOT STATUTORY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOU TOUCHED ON IT. 90 DAYS IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. WE ARE A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE BETTER IN TERMS OF WHAT IS OFFERED FOR EMPLOYEES. AM I CORRECT?

>> COMMISSIONER, YOU ARE CORRECT.

THE REASON IT IS 75 IS WE DO IT BY PAY PERIOD.

WE RUN INTO -- WE RUN PAST THE 90 DAYS.

WE CAN'T FROM OUR SYSTEM-WISE WE DON'T HAVE IT ON 90 DAYS.

WE ARE A LITTLE BETTER IN THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS.

I WAS CURIOUS IF IT IS AN INDUSTRY STANDARD WHAT DOES THE CITY DO AND THE STATE DO? IS THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WITH US OR SEPARATE? I AM CURIOUS.

>> I DON'T HAVE THE COMPETE WITH.

HARRIS HEALTH FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THEY DO NOT HAVE A WAITING PERIOD FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

I WILL HAVE T -- TO CHECK ON THAT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU WOULD, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

AT LEAST WE WILL KNOW IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

SEND US A REPORT. I DON'T HAVE A PREFERENCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND A LITTLE SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A STANDARD PRACTICE NATIONWIDE NECESSARILY.

MAYBE JUST LOOK AND SEE WHAT A COUPLE OTHER BIG COUNTIES DO.

MAYBE EVEN ADVANCES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

RANDOMLY GRAB A COUPLE OF BIG EMPLOYERS IN THE REGION.

>> JUST BE SURE WE ARE CONSISTENT IN HARRIS COUNTY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE TWO OR THREE POLICIES THERE.

>> HAVE I NO IDEA WHAT WE WOULD DECIDE, BUT I WOULD LIKE

TO AT LEAST KNOW. >> AND I DID THINK OF THAT, SHANE, OF COURSE THE FLIP SIDE IS YOU DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO JUST COME FOR A PROCEDURE THEY KNOW THEY WILL HAVE.

HOW DO YOU SQUARE THE TWO? ANYWAY, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM APPROVING IT AND THEN YOU CAN COME BACK.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE HAVE THE LATITUDE TO CHANGE.

IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT

RIGHT, SHANE? >> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE ANOTHER COURT IN JUNE.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT EXTENTED PAST JUNE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER COURT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I DON'T WANT TO DELAY IT. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT PASSING, BUT WE WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE SAY STANDARD PRACTICE WHAT IS THE REGIONAL PRACTICE? SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY OR FOR GOVERNMENT EVEN AT LESS PAY BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE BENEFITS. MAYBE THEY CAN GET BETTER INSURANCE BENEFITS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

[01:40:03]

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL VOTE ON T BUT SHANE WILL YOU LET US KNOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WHAT YOU FOUND FOR COMMISSIONER

ELLIS' QUESTION? >> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WILL SURVEY EMPLOYERS AROUND AND GET Y'ALL A

REPORT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

SORT OF BEST PRACTICES. SO WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE ON THIS, CORRECT? OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM WAS --

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP IT ON THE LIST SINCE IT IS ON THE DISCUSSION.

DO YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR IT SO WE ARE CONSISTENT OR HOLD THEM

FOR THE END? >> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL VOTE ON ALL OF THEM TO THE END. WE JUST SAID WE WILL NOT VOTE AS A UNIT. IT WILL JUST SAVE US TIME.

NEXT IS ITEM 11. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I IDENTIFIED THIS, JUDGE, SIMPLY TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK WITH BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.

I AM PLEASED WITH SOME OF WHAT I FOUND.

SOME OF WHAT I FOUND WAS THERE IS STILL A LOT OF THIS WORK NOT BEING DONE LOCALLY. AS I TRY TO PROCESS DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO DO THIS IN L.A. OR BALTIMORE AND SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES? MAYBE IT DOES.

HAVING DONE CONSULTING FOR 40 PLUS YEARS AND MOST OF IT IN THIS REGION, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO TRY TO KEEP AN OFFICE UP AND GOING AND HOW VALUABLE TO DO WORK FOR AN ENTITY LIKE AIR REIS COUNTY. WHEN A LOT OF THE WORK IS NOT BEING DONE HERE, I WILL ASK THE QUESTION AND NOSE -- AND NOT THAT IT IS WRONG AND AS DWIGHT HAS TOLD ME ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT IS IN HARRIS COUNTY OR NOT.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESOURCES BEING DONE. WHAT PRECIPITATED THIS IS IT APPEARED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR STAFF. I WILL GO INTO THIS WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN IN TERMS OF BEING SURE WE GIVE PROPER SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZING THAT MUCH OF THE WORK IS NT GOING TO BE DONE -- IS NOT GOING TO BE DONE.

SOME OF THOSE ARE EXCELLENT AND I LIKE TO SEE THAT.

I AM DOING IT TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER.

NOT THAT I THINK THEY ARE BAD, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AS MUCH OF THAT DONE LOCALLY. THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF THE QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE WHEN WE

CAN AND WHERE WE CAN. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> JUDGE, I WANT TO COMMEND DAVID BERRY. WE HAD SERVICES ISSUES AND MAYBE WE WERE SPOILED BY GUIDE HOUSE THAT MAYBE GUIDE HOUSE WOULD DO THE WORK AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE PRODUCT.

SEEMS LIKE WITH THIS ENTITY THEY HAVE THE WORK TO DO AND EMPLOYEES HAVE TO STOP AND TAKE CLASSES AND LISTEN TO THINGS. AND THEN THEY GIVE US WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND THEN THEY WATCH OUR PEOPLE DO THE WORK.

DAVID INDICATED THAT HE WILL WORK AND WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN GET TO WHERE THEY DO A LOT MORE OF THE WORK AS OPPOSED TO GIVING MORE WORK FOR OUR PEOPLE TO DO.

I CAN SEE A NOD FROM ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. I WANT TO THANK PEOPLE FOR GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WHERE THEY ARE HELPING US AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING MORE BURDENS ON US.

OUR PEOPLE ARE BUSY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW THE BOSS CONSULTING GROUP IS PART OF THE BIG FIVE CONSULTING TERMS. THEY ARE GIVING US MORE THINGS TO DO. SO I TRUST MR. BERRY TO WORK IT OUT AND THEY DO IN BEST PRACTICES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A REPUTATION.

I HOPE IT DOES WORK OUT. MR. BERRY, ARE WE MEETING THE TARGETS ON THE MWBE'S? THAT'S A PLACE WHERE THAT CAN

BE INVOLVED. >> THEY ARE A CERTIFIED MWBE

[01:45:11]

BUT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL COMPONENT IN TERMS OF THE SUBCONTRACTOR AND THE TEAMS INVOLVED.

WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SOME OF THE STUFF THEY ASK OUR OFFICES TO DO IT.

ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANT TO SPEAK OF THIS FROM A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I ACTUALLY DO ENJOY THAT THE FIRM IS ENGAGING IN THE OFFICE.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FEEL THAT WAY FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE STRUCTURED IN A WAY TO DO AD-HOC FOCUS GROUPS AND GET THE COMMUNITY OUTLOOK. I LIKE IT BECAUSE IN TIMES PAST WE HAVE HAD FIRMS COME IN AND TELL US WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITHOUT GETTING THE INPUT AND THE FEEDBACK AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING -- I TAKE THEIR WORK AS MAKING SURE THEIR PULSE IS AS CLOSE TO THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE.

I TAKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

WOULD I LIKE THIS TO BE IN? WITHOUT A DOUBT.

AND AS LONG AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS TOUCHED ON, AS LONG AS THEY ARE REALLY WORKING TO CONNECT WITH OUR LOCAL SUBS AND BUILD THE CAPACITY, THEN I WOULD SAY WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE BUSINESSES SAYING WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE CAPACITY AT THAT LEVEL ALREADY LOCALLY AND WE OUGHT TO BE WORKING ON THAT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

I LIKE THAT THEY ARE ASKING QUESTIONS AND THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THIS. I AM GLAD WE HAVE GIVEN SOME ADVICE. I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON THIS. OKAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM -- COMMISSIONER, DID YOU WANT TO TAKE ANOTHER ITEM UP WITH THIS ONE?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I THINK WE COVERED IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. ITEM 14.

>> SO JUDGE ON ITEM 257 IS THERE ACTION?

>> TOM RAMSEY: NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE'LL VOTE ON IT IN THE END.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 14 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> TOM RAMSEY: I BRING THIS TO THE TABLE.

LET ME START WITH I APPRECIATE THE LAST WEEK AND 10 DAYS AND ALL OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD.

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS WITH THE COUNTY.

MY INTENT WAS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE 300 PLUS EMPLOYEES IN PRECINCT 3 TO BE SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE ISSUES WERE RELATED TO MASKS AND ANYTHING ELSE.

IT CHANGES, OBVIOUSLY. STUFF HAPPENS IN AUSTIN.

STUFF HAPPENS HERE. MY SIMPLE COMMUNICATION AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MY SIMPLE COMMUNICATION TO THE EMPLOYEES IN PRECINCT 3 IS MASKS ARE NOT REQUIRED. VACCINATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED.

YOU SHOULD PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHEN YOU ARE IN A BUILDING. THAT'S THE SIMPLE COMMUNICATION THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT 18,000, 16,000 PLUS COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OTHER ARE.

MAYBE AT SOME POINT, JUDGE, WE CAN MAKE IT A GENERAL COVID ITEM AND BE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL OPERATING ON THE SAME PAGE.

THAT'S MY COMMUNICATION. VACCINATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED

[01:50:05]

>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A MOTION?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION RELATED TO SIMPLY TO THAT EXTENT. WHEN WE COME INTO --

>> COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE YOUR MICROPHONE IS OFF.

>> TOM RAMSEY: SORRY. HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT REQUIRE STAFF OR VISITORS TO WEAR MASKS.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO GET VACCINATED AND FOLLOW CDC COVID-19 GUIDELINES.

THAT WOULD BE OUR MOTION RELATED TO THESE FOLLOW -- TO

THESE POLICIES. >> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? I AM TRYING TO FIND IT ON HERE.

>> TOM RAMSEY: HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT REQUIRE STAFF OR VISITORS TO WEAR MASKS. HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO GET VACCINATED AND FOLLOW CDC

COVID-19 GUIDELINES. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE POLICY WE ALL PASSED AT THE LAST COURT. ON ONE LEVEL, THERE IS THE ROLL OVER POLICY. I THINK THE VCG CONTRACT, THINGS WE PASSED. AND THEN WE REVOTE ON.

I THINK MAYBE IT IS JUST NOT GOOD PRACTICE.

AT THE LAST COURT WE VOTE OWED A COUNTY WIDE POLICY AND INTENT OF COURT TO KEEP UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES SAFE.

I AM HAPPY TO SIT WITH GAL AND GIVE -- SIT WITH Y'ALL AND GIVE Y'ALL A HUG. I KNOW ARE YOU VACCINATED.

I DON'T WANT -- I THINK WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES. WE ROLLED OUT THE STICKER POLICY. I WILL SAY WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE TABLE WAS THAT FOLKS WHO HAD A STICKER WOULDN'T NEED TO BE SCREENED COMING IN, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ACTUAL POLICY SAID SO WE NEED TO TWEAK THAT --

>> TOM RAMSEY: IF WE SIMPLY NEED TO TWEAK THE POLICY, I AM NOT ASKING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.

I THINK IT NEEDS A LITTLE TWEAKING BECAUSE THERE WAS CONFUSION OUT THERE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WHAT I DID NOTICE -- WE SAID FOLKS VOLUNTARILY CAN GO SAY I'M VACCINATED AND I DON'T WANT TO WEAR MY MASK. WHY? IF WE SAY EVERYBODY WEAR A MASK, IT IS UNFAIR.

IT IS LIKE, PEOPLE ARE TIRED AND IT IS ENOUGH.

NOBODY WEAR A MASK, WELL WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE FOLKS WOULD ARE UNVACCINATED? WE ARE GOING TO PUT THEM ALL IN THE SAME KIND OF A SITUATION AND BE AN AREA FOR SPREAD OF THE VIRUS? IT IS NOT RIGHT.

WE DID WANT TO SAY IF YOU HAVE YOUR STICKER, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE SCREENED COMING IN. BUT THAT IS NOT IN THE POLICY. SO WE DO NEED TO CHANGE THE POLICY SPECIFICALLY TO SAY "THOSE EMPLOYEES, THE THIRD BULLET -- THE THIRD BULLET POINT.

WE ADDED A FEVER SCREENING EXSEEMION FOR -- EXEMPTION FOR VACCINATED EMPLOYEES. THEY WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FEVER SCREENING REQUIREMENTS AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE IDENTIFIER. AND THE 9TH BULLET POINT NEEDS TO BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE FEVER SCREENING REQUIREMENT FOR VACCINATED EMPLOYEES.

EMPLOYEES WITH A VACCINATED STICKER MUST SHOW THE STICKER UPON ENTRY TO A COUNTY BUILDING AND WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO SOCIAL DISANGS -- DISTANCE.

AND IT MUST SAY STILL MUST GO A TEMPERATURE CHECK.

I DID HAVE MY STAFF CHECK WITH SHANE AND HE SAID WE HAD MAYBE 5 TO 10 EMPLOYEES THAT WERE CONCERNED.

I CHECKED WITH JAY AND HE SAID WE HAVE MAYBE 10 EMPLOYEES ARE CONCERNED OUT OF 20,000. INSTEAD I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CLAMORING FOR THE STICKERS. PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED TO

SHOW OFF THEY ARE VACCINATED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU

SUGGESTING THAT? >> LINA HIDALGO: I SUGGEST THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THE POLICY WE DISCUSSED WAS NOT THE SAME POLICY THAT WAS VOTED ON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S

CONSISTENT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: TOM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT AS A MOTION?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I THINK THE QUESTION I HAVE IS I UNDERSTAND REFERENCING THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATE THAT NO ONE CAN BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK.

DOES THIS POLICY, IS THAT IN KEEPING WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR

[01:55:01]

HAS SAID IS MY QUESTION? >> LINA HIDALGO: AND THAT QUESTION WE RAN THROUGH AND I WILL GIVE JAY A CHANCE TO ANSWER, BUT WE RAN THROUGH IT THOROUGHLY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AHEAD OF LAST COURT AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO CHANGE THE POLICY TO WHERE VISITORS NO LOANINGER CAN BE REQUIRED -- NO LONGER BE REQUIRED WHETHER IT IS HERE OR OUR LIBRARIES OR WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT EMPLOYEES IS A DIFFERENT THING.

THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME IS JUST THE WAY THE LAW IS AT LARGE THAT EMPLOYEES IS JUST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

>> -- JAY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> YES. I THINK I SAID THIS AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT THIS POLICY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH GA36.

I THINK -- I DON'T THINK THERE IS A DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND I SPOKE AT GREAT LENGTH AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER CAGLE. I THINK YOU GOT SOME VERIFICATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

I WANTED TO -- I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT.

I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT WHETHER THE MASK POLICY OR THE VACCINATION POLICY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH

GA36? >> MY QUESTION IS ON THE MASK.

I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER ALLOWS US TO REQUIRE US TO REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO WEAR A MASK.

YOU SAY IT DOES? >> NO.

AS AS I -- AS WE SPOKE AT THE LAST MEETING WHAT THIS POLICY DOES IS IT BASICALLY SAYS, LOOK, WE WANT YOU TO WEAR A MASK. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDELINES AND BE SOCIALLY

DISTANT. >> TOM RAMSEY: THERE IS AN OPTION OF NOT WEARING A MASK IF YOU FOLLOW CDC GUIDELINES?

>> CORRECT. THE SOCIAL DISTANCE REQUIREMENT IS THERE WHICH IS WHY IT IS CONSISTENT WITH GA30 SECONDS. DAB -- GA36 WHICH IS WHAT I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING AND WHAT I CONTINUE TO SAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T HAVE IT, BUT I WILL MAKE THE

MOTION. >> TOM RAMSEY: I WANT TO SAY AND I AM LOOKING AT JAY SO HE WILL KNOW, WHEN THIS ONE IS CORRECTED IT IS GOT -- IT IS NOT GOING TO REQUIRE CON -- COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHICH WOULD BE IN KEEPING ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. IF OUR POLICY DOES PRESIDENT REQUIRE EM -- DOESN'T REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO WEAR A MASK WE ARE IN CONCERT, WE ARE IN HARMONY WITH WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAID. IF OUR POLICY REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO WEAR A MASK WE ARE NOT IN SYNC WITH WHAT THE

GOVERNOR SAID. >> AS I SAID, POLICY REQUIRES

THAT YOU -- >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU WEAR A MASK AND YOU SOCIAL DISTANCE. THE POLICY WE HAD IS THAT -- THE CURRENT POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES IS AROUND MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR THOSE. FOR THOSE FULLY VACCINATED A VOLUNTARY PROCESS WILL BE CREATED ALLOWING THEM TO SELF-IDENTIFY AS FULLY VACCINATED HR REPRESENTATIVE SO THEY CAN BE GIVEN A STICKER AND BE EXEMPTED FROM MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS.

SO THE IDEA IS WE KNOW THE WAY TO NOT SPREAD THE VIRUS IS TO WEAR MASKS. THIS IS WHAT IT WAS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE PARKS, REMEMBER? IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE AND OUT RIDING WHATEVER IT IS, RIDING A LAWN MOWER IN THE PRECINCT WITH A HEAVY TRUCK, OF COURSE YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR A MASK.

THE POLICY AROUND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS YOU NEED TO WEAR A MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCE. IF YOU HAVE YOUR VACCINE YOU CAN VOLUNTARILY BE EXEMPTED FROM THAT.

WHAT AM I MISSING, JAY? PERHAPS WE NEED TO --

>> YEAH. AND THIS IS THE CONFUSION.

I APOLOGIZE THAT WE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONFUSION.

THE POLICY IS AND I THINK I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE COURT ABOUT THIS. THE POLICY IS WEAR A MASK OR YOU CAN SOCIALLY -- BE SOCIALLY DISTANT AND NOT WEAR

[02:00:01]

YOU EITHER WEAR IT, BUT IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WEAR IT YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE.

WHICH IS THE CDC GUIDELINES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO ARE YOU SAYING WITH THE TWEAK SUGGESTED, IT MAKES IT CLEAR AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATE?

>> YES. AND I DON'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE THAT THE JUDGE HAS PUT OUT, BUT FROM WHAT I BELIEVE SHE

SAID IS IT SHOULD. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THIS. THIS WOULD BE ITEM 14.

THE POLICY -- THE POLICY IS THAT HARRIS COUNTY -- JAY, I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY AND MAYBE WE NEED TO HEAR FROM MR. MENEFEE. THE POLICY WE PASSED AT THE LAST COURT SAID HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ENTERING -- AND THIS IS THE SAME POLICY WE HAVE HAD , BUT WE HAVE TO CHANGE IT FOR VISITORS. HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ENTERING BUILDINGS FOR ANY PURPOSE FOR OFFICIAL JOB DUTIES ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS, UNLESS, A, ALONE IN A ROOM OR OFFICE IN A COUNTY-OWNED OPERATED BUILDING BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. B, IN ANY AREA IN A COUNTY BUILDING WHERE HE OR SHE WOULD NOT OTHERWISE COME INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY OF OTHER OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES OR THE PUBLIC.

C, THE EMPLOYEE HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION OR DISABILITY THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM WEARING A FACE COVERING.

D, THE EMPLOYEE IS CONSUMING FOOD OR DRINK OR SEATED TO EAT OR DRINK IN A CAFETERIA OR RESTAURANT AND KEEPING A SAFE DISTANCE FROM OTHERS. E, EXEMPTED FROM THIS REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO AN OFFICIAL HARRIS COUNTY ORDER OR EMPLOYEE POLICY. AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE POLICY IS THAT UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO DISCUSS -- DISCLOSE THEIR VACCINATION STATUS NEED TO FOLLOW THE POLICY I JUST READ.

FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS CAN VOLUNTARILY SELF-REPORT AND BE EXEMPTED FROM MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FEVER SCREENINGS. IT IS NOT JUST SOCIAL DISTANCING AS A VAGUE TERM. IT IS IF YOU ARE ALONE IN A ROOM OR A COUNTY BUILDING. WE CAN SAY WE ARE SOCIAL DISTANCING. I'M JUST TRYING TO PROTECT UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES. I AM NOT SAYING PEOPLE ARE CATCHING COVID IN OUR COUNTY OFFICES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT IS VALUE -- VALID.

WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE NOW, BUT WE COULD BE IN A BAD PLACE

AGAIN. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT THIS, JAY. I HAVE THE LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE LAST COURT THAT YOU SAID WAS GOOD TO GO.

I AM HAVING TROUBLE SEEING. >> THAT LANGUAGE TRACKS WITH

THE PREVIOUS ORDER. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT DOES NOT SAY QUOTE, UNQUOTE, SOCIAL DISTANCING.

ALONE OR REMOVED IN A COUNTY OPERATED BUILDING BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. IN AN AREA AND A COUNTY BUILDING WHERE HE OR SHE WOULD NOT OTHERWISE COME INTO CLOSE PROXIMITY OF OTHER OFFICIALS OR EMPLOYEES OR THE PUBLIC.

EMPLOYEE HAS MEDICAL CONDITION AND IT IS SIMPLY ABOUT NOT COMING INTO -- YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE IF YOU ARE IN YOUR OWN OFFICE AND IN A VEHICLE.

>> THAT'S THE LANGUAGE WE USED BECAUSE IT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED PREVIOUSLY. IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE

SPECIFIC LANGUAGE -- >> NO, I DON'T WANT TO INCLUDE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. I AM TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE PASSED AT THE LAST COURT WAS IN COMPLY -- COMPLIANCE WITH

THE ORDER. >> IT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH

GA36 BECAUSE OF THAT. >> WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING IS

[02:05:09]

REQUIREMENTS. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT WHAT WE

VOTED ON. >> TOM RAMSEY: AND AGAIN THAT IS A POLICY AND THE QUESTION AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH JAY IN TERMS OF THE DETAILS IS THIS IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD ISSUE? AND THEY WOULD BE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED. ARE YOU SAYING DIFFERENT? IT IS CREATING A PROBLEM HERE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE AND IT IS WITHOUT WEARING A

MASK. >> WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE TOLD

OUR EMPLOYEES. >> SO THAT'S WHY IT IS IN

COMPLIANCE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DON'T THINK THERE IS MASK CONFUSION.

I THINK THERE IS MASS CONFUSION.

JAY, DO WE HAVE A POLICY THAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER? SOME MAY SAY OUR POLICY NEEDS AUTHORITY AND I NEED A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.

ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, YES OR NO?

>> YES WE ARE. >> AND I GUESS WE NEED AN

ELECTION ON THIS. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SORRY.

I FORGOT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, JUDGE. PART OF THE TROUBLE AND THE STRUGGLE IS THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK. WE SAY YOU DO UNLESS YOU QUALIFY UNDER THE SUB PAR OF THE SMALL PRINT ON THE SECOND POLICY. AND THEN MAYBE YOU CAN BE ALLOWED TO NOT WEAR A MASK OVER THERE IF YOU GO THROUGH QUALIFICATION PROCESS. I -- MY APOLOGIES IF I GOT A LITTLE ROUGH WITH YOU, JAY. IS THIS WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER WAS? JAY SAID YES AND HE DID IT BECAUSE WE WERE DANCING ON THE PIN OF AN INTERPRETATION.

WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE THESE ADDED RESTRICTIONS AND THEY SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO AND WE SAY WE DO UNLESS -- AND WE ADD A FEW EXTRA STRAINS TO THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE SIMPLE AND JUST SAY WE ARE FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE START ASKING PEOPLE TO REVEAL THEIR STATUS UNDER HIP -- HIPPA REQUIREMENTS OF AIRLINES JUST WANT FOLKS TO BE TESTED BECAUSE OF THEIR CONCERNS OF POTENTIAL HIPPA VIOLATIONS.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.

AND SO MAYBE WE SHOULD -- AND WE WILL GET THAT REPORT FROM YOU IN A MINUTE, JUDGE. AS WE MOVE CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GREEN, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD MOVE CLOSER AND CLOSER TO BEING WHERE WE URGE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED.

WE URGE PEOPLE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

AND WE URGE PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL.

THAT'S WHERE MY STRUGGLE WAS IS THAT WE TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH. WE SAY YOU MUST AND THEN IF IF -- IF IN THE FINE PRINT YOU MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS AND MUST DO A COUPLE OF THINGS AND MAYBE THAT'S WHERE I GET A LITTLE BIT LOST IN ALL OF THE RULES BECAUSE LAWYERS TEND TO COMPLICATE THINGS A LITTLE BIT.

AND NOW MAYBE SOMETIMES DOES BETTER.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK PART OF WHAT IS AT PLAY HERE IS YOU HAVE A NARROW ELEMENT AND WE SAY WE FOLLOW THE SCIENCES AND

[02:10:02]

IF YOU WOULD LIKE THAT. IF NOT I HOPE WE GET TO THE REST OF THE AGENDA, BUT DO YOU WANT ME TO ADD THAT, I WILL.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: AND IF I DIDN'T, I WILL SECOND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S MOTION SO YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO

VOTE ON BOTH OF THE MOTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE A MOTION REQUIRING -- TO THE REQUIRING STAFF MEMBERS TO WEAR MASKS. THAT'S A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M OPPOSED.

WE ALREADY VOTED. THE MOTION FAILS.

COMMISSIONERS I DID HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICY THAT WE ADOPTED LAST TIME FOLLOWS WHAT WE DISCUSSED AND THIS CAME OUT AFTER WE ADJOURNED.

THAT IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE STICKER DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FEVER SCREENING.

I HAVE THIS MOTION TO CHANGE THE THIRD BULLET AND IT HAS BEEN SENT AROUND TO SAY THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL BE GIVEN A VISIBLE IDENTIFIER AND EXEMPTED FROM MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND FEVER SCREENING REQUIREMENTS AND THEN THE 9TH BULLET POINT WAS AMENDED AND IT WAS ENTRY TO THE COUNTY BUILDING AND WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE. THAT WAY YOU DELETE THE PARTS AND STILL MUST UNDERGO A TEMPERATURE CHECK.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO UNDERGO A TEMPERATURE CHECK.

>> MAKE A MOTION AND I SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I HAVEN'T MADE MY LONG SPEECH AND I WON'T MAKE IT AGAIN ABOUT HOW WE WOULD JUST GO SIMPLE AND FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES, WITH REGARD TO THE TWEAK OF THE EXISTING ONE WHICH I DID VOTE FOR LAST TIME AFTER WHAT I HEARD JAY SAY AND WE HAD OUR CHAT. I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE TWEAK, BUT I AM NOT SUPER -- I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF THE PERMISSIVE APPROACH OF OUR CURRENT POLICY.

>> TOM RAMSEY: JUDGE, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TWEAK. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHAT WE ARE SAYING. IT JUST APPEARS TO ME THAT IT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.

THAT'S NOT JUST MY OPINION. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD HAVE THE SAME OPINION. WE HAVE JAY HERE AND IF -- I'M GONNA VOTE NO BECAUSE OF THAT ON GOING CONCERN.

HOPEFULLY IT IS NOT AND WE CAN FULLY VET THAT LATER.

I THINK THERE IS AN ON GOING CONCERN.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO -- I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR SO THAT MEANS THE TWEAK HAS US 4-1 NOT TO REQUIRE THE FOLKS TO GET THE FEVER SCREENING WHO HAVE THE STICKER.

AND JAY CONFIRM THAT'S THE POLICY THAT WE ADOPTED LAST TIME IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND LOOK, WE ARE WATCHING TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.

I MADE IT A POINT TO CHECK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND HR TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN SOME BIG PROBLEMS AND THEY REALLY SAID FIVE TO TEN QUESTION COMPLAINTS AND THE REST IS, HEY, WHERE IS MY STICKER BECAUSE MY EMPLOYEES WANT IT. WE'LL KEEP AN EYE.

I'LL GIVE A REPORT, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES.

LOOK, IT IS 12:17. LET'S BREAK FOR 15 MINUTES.

WE WILL CONTINUE DOWN THE AGENDA.

WE WILL COME BACK AT 12:35. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 12:39 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

WE WENT OVER EYE -- ITEM 14 AND NOW WE WILL GO TO ITEM 15 WHICH IS THE BROAD COVID ITEM.

>> JUDGE, THIS IS JAMES. I DON'T BELIEVE YOUR

MICROPHONE IS ON. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS.

CAN YOU HEAR BETTER NOW? >> YES, MA'AM.

AND FOR ITEM 13 IS THE COVID ITEM I THOUGHT.

[02:15:03]

>> [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE GOING OVER 13 WHICH IS THE COVID ITEM.

GENERALLY GOOD NEWS. THE FACT THAT WE ARE -- [INAUDIBLE] AS FAR AS VACCINES DOING VERY, VERY WELL AND THAT'S THE REASON OUR NUMBERS ARE LOOKING SO GREAT.

AS OF THIS MORNING 46.1% OF ALL HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS HAD RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE. 36.8% OF ALL HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

WHEN YOU TAKE THE RESIDENTS THAT QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINE, SO RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 12, 55.9% OF RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE 12, SO WELL PAST HALF, HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE AND 44.7% ARE FULLY VAC SAW NAILTED -- VACCINATED OF FOLKS OVER THE AGE OF 12. AND I ACTUALLY DROVE BY NRG ON SATURDAY AND THE LINE IS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF VACCINATION. DEPENDING ON HOW WE DO THIS WEEK, I DO THINK THERE CONTINUES TO BE CONSISTENTLY BETWEEN 1,000, 2,000 PEOPLE COMING TO NRG.

THEY ARE READY TO OPERATE -- [INAUDIBLE].

>> JUDGE, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO MUTE THEIR

MICS? >> LINA HIDALGO: SECOND I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN INITIATIVE -- [INAUDIBLE] LAST WEEK WE WERE WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND IT IS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS. SO WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING WHAT IS WORK SCG WHAT IS NOT WORKING -- WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING. FOLKS ARE DOING SIMILAR THINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WHAT WE DID WAS A $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR TEXAS SCHOOLS.

IT COULD BE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND IT IS FOR STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A VACCINE.

THEY ARE ENTERED INTO A RAFFLE AND ONE IS SELECTED EACH WEEK FOR 10 WEEKS. $FOR A $5,000 -- IT IS FOR A $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY FOR THE SCHOOL FOR BOOKS AND TUITION. WE GOT GOOD ATTENTION FROM IT AND OBVIOUSLY WE SAW THE BOND ON SATURDAY.

IT IS TOO SOON TO TELL IF IT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

THE COUNTER FACTUAL IS NOT THERE.

IF WE COULD NOT UNVEIL WITH THE NUMBERS -- IT IS SORT OF TOUGH TO SEE THE IMPACT, BUT GENERALLY THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS OR THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE FOLKS THAT RAN THIS DOWN, FOLKS SEEM EXCITED AND I KNOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED OTHER DETAILS FROM MY STAFF SO WE WANT TO SPREAD THE WORD.

>> TOM RAMSEY: SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, JUDGE, THEY ARE ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM -- [INAUDIBLE] ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T RAMP UP OR FALL IN TERMS OF VACCINATIONS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE SUMMER.

PARENTS TYPICALLY GET THEIR SHOTS.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE AND HOW WE MIGHT TALK WITH THEM?

>> IT DOES SOUND LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PARTNERING WITH THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY WERE ABOUT TO HAVE ANOTHER VACCINATION EVENT.

WE HAVE BEEN TO 40 SCHOOLS. WE HAVE 50 SCHOOLS LINED UP IN ADDITION TO THOSE 40. WOO -- WHAT I HAVE SAID AND WE SENT A LETTER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TWICE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO SEND VACCINATIONS TO YOUR SCHOOL, LET US KNOW. OF COURSE WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE ARE GOING -- WE HAVE TO PIVOT.

WE HAVE 40. PFIZER REQUIRES A SECOND SHOT AND SO WE ARE DOING MORE SCHOOLS AND FEWER PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT WHAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS FINDING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL VACCINATION EVENTS THESE DAYS ARE AT SCHOOLS.

[02:20:02]

IT IS A GAP -- THIS IS JAMES. WE CANNOT HEAR ANY AUDIO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT BETTER, JAMES SPH.

>> IT IS FAINT. >> THANK YOU PUSH IT MORE TOWARD YOU BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMPLETELY TURNED

OFF. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS ON.

LET ME SEE THE CABLE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE QUILL -- MAYBE -- MAYBE WE CAN FIX THE TABLE BECAUSE I CAN'T PULL IT

ALL THE WAY OVER HERE. >> THAT'S BETTER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WAS SAYING THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE -- WE HAVE BEEN TO 40 SCHOOLS AND WE ARE GOING TO 50 MORE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY SCHEDULED. SUPERINTENDENTS KNOW TO REACH OUT AND SCHEDULE THEM. WE HAVE A FINITE NUMBER OF TEAMS TO GO OUT TO THESE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

DOES THAT NUMBER NEED TO GROW? WE WILL SEE HOW THE DEMAND WORKS OUT? RIGHT NOW THE LAST COMPETITION I HAD WITH JOSH, HE WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT OUR TEAMS ARE A GOOD NUMBER.

IT IS QUITE A LIFT THAT THEY HAVE DONE THAT.

WE ARE DOING MORE SCHOOLS AND FEWER OTHER ENTITIES NOW BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE PROVING TO BE RELATIVELY SPEAKING MORE SUCCESSFUL EVENTS.

THAT'S TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: COLLEGE-AGED KIDS OR ARE THEY ADULTS? HAVE THE COLLEGE GROUP -- IS THAT A PRETTY HYPERS TEG OF FOLKS WHO -- HIGH PERCENTAGE

OF FOLKS WHO SL TAKEN IT? >> LINA HIDALGO: WE DO HAVE DATA BY AGE IN OUR THRICE WEEKLY DOCUMENTS.

WE CAN PROBABLY PULL THAT FOR YOU.

WE ARE SEEING A GREATER PERCENT TJ OF THE FOLKS -- PERCENTAGE OF THE FOLKS BEING BEINGER OLDER FOLKS.

WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE COLLEGE KIDS IN THE RAFFLE BECAUSE WE JUST THOUGHT -- IT IS THE YOUNGER KIDS THAT ARE NEWLY ELIGIBLE AND THAT WAY WE CAN LIMIT IT TO THEM.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND THE AGE GROUPS HERE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE HAVE 10 THROUGH 19.

THIS PAST WEEK 27% OF OUR VACCINES WENT TO KIDS 12 THROUGH 19 AND 18% WENT TO 20 TO 209.

SO I GUESS -- 20 TO 29. I GUESS THE OLDER COLLEGE AGE ARE NOT COME PRIZING AS LARGE OF A PERCENTAGE AS THE YOUNGER FOLKS. THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE OVER 18 FOLKS HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR AWHILE.

SO WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON THAT.

AN UPDATE ON THREAT LEVEL, IT IS LOOKING GOOD.

WE ARE AT YELLOW. AS FAR AS GOING TO GREEN, THE HOSPITAL POPULATION TREND IS NEGATIVE SO THAT IS AT GREEN.

THE HOSPITAL USAGE NEEDS TO GET TO WHERE 5% OF THE ICU POPULATION IS COVID POSITIVE. RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 8.7%.

IT HAS BEEN TRENDING DOWN. SO THAT'S VERY POSITIVE.

THE NEW CASES ARE THE ONLY CONCERNING METRIC.

IT IS NOW TRENDING UPWARD AGAIN.

NEW CASES IS ACTUALLY AT ORANGE RIGHT NOW.

NEW CASES TOTAL ARE 100,000 RESIDENTS TO GET TO GREEN AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 27.5. I KNOW BE -- WE WERE 21.4.

THEY ARE TRENDING UP. WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT MEANS.

WE HAD AN ENORMOUS SPIKE OF CASES.

2,000 CASES A DAY AT ONE POINT, BUT THE HOSPITAL POPULATION AND HOSPITALITY RATE DIDN'T GET AS HIGH AS THEY DID IN JULY. FOLKS FEEL FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT IT IS NOT GONNA BE A BIG ISSUE, BUT WE'LL WATCH IT.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT STARTED WITH THE PANDEMIC THE POSITIVE RATE DROPPED BELOW 5% LAST WEEK WHICH IS A VERY TALL ORDER GIVEN THE POSITIVITY RATE NUMBER IS ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED TESTING.

THAT'S VERY GOOD. AND THERE IS REDUCED TESTING.

[02:25:02]

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED LIKE IN NEW YORK AND EL PASO AND THE BORDER AND WASHINGTON AND CHICAGO. ALL OF THE OTHER AREAS, EL PASO AND OTHERS, SO THAT -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT AND THAT

SPEAKS WELL TO THE COMMUNITY. >> TOM RAMSEY: I WALKED IN HERE AND IT FELT LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF COURT.

NO ONE KNEW THAT THIS WAS IN OUR WINDSHIELD, I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT FULLY IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR.

JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

NONE OF US HAD? NONE OF US HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE EP -- EPIDEMIC. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF YOUR WORK.

WE MAY ALL DISAGREE ON CERTAIN ASPECTS ON WHAT FOLKS MAY THINK ABOUT OR SPEAK ABOUT, BUT THERE IS A VERSE THAT SPEAKS ABOUT STAYING THE COURSE, BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF. STAYING THE COURSE AND BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF. AND YOU HAVE BEEN.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. IN THIS BUSINESS YOU DON'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF THANK YOU'S. I WANT TO SAY I'M PROUD OF YOU. YOU GUIDED US AND YOU GUIDED US WELL. THERE IS NO DOUBT BECAUSE YOU STAYED TRUE TO THE SCIENCE AND YOU STAYED TRUE TO LISTENING TO OTHERS WHO HAD A BETTER PERSPECTIVE ON ALL THIS, THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED.

ALL THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY TO YOUR CREDIT.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEALTH AND HARRIS HEALTH AND ALL OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE HAVE AN IMMENSE, IMMENSE AND GOD LOVE THEM AS WELL.

WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS AND WE DIDN'T. WHEN -- WE KNEW WHERE WE ARE AT. IT HELPED MY OPERATIONS AND I WILL ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT IT HELPED MY OPERATIONS AND MY OFFICE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WERE GONNA BE.

PREDICT BUILT -- PREDICTABILITY IN AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT IS HUGE. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU CAN SPEAK FOR ME AS WELL. JUDGE, I'M SURE IT HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL, BUT HAVE YOU BEEN CALM OVER THE LONG NIGHTS.

I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND GETTING THE VACCINE.

YOU MAKE REFERENCE TO THE LOTTERY.

A COUPLE TIMES I HEARD YOU SAY THAT IN STATES THAT DID IT.

FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY IS THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST DARK -- I BIGGEST I WON'T CALL IT A GIMMICK, BUT FACTOR BECAUSE WE ARE IN A LARGE STATE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS AMAZING. IN OHIO THEY UNVEILED -- THEY DID A MILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY. WHEN THEY UNVEILED IT, THEIR PARTICIPATION WENT UP 28% IN THE VACCINES.

THE CHALLENGE WITH DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE, AND THE REASON, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TO DO A RAFFLE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE VACCINATED IN HARRIS HEALTH IS WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION FOR PROVIDERS AND WE WOULD NEED TO -- WE NEED TO CONTRACT OUT. IT HAS DONE WELL.

THEY UNVEILED IT IN MEXICO AND THEY UNVEILED IN WASHINGTON.

AND THEN -- OH IT IS LIKE EVERYBODY IS DOING IT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAD SUCH GOOD RESULTS.

[02:30:03]

IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DO AS A COUNTY.

>> I USED TO CARRY THE CASINO GAMING BILL.

THEY STARTED CARRYING THE GAMING BILL.

I WANTED TO SAY I DON'T GAMBLE.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE IT EVEN IF IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT.

I THINK WE -- >> TOM RAMSEY: I THINK WE LOOK AT HOW OTHER STATES WILL BE DOING IT.

MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING STATEWIDE WE CAN DO.

WE ARE HOPE -- WE ARE OPEN. WHAT I APPRECIATE IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT WORLD VIEW, YOU ALWAYS TAKE MY PHONE CALL. THERE ARE 10 DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED. WE -- THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE WE WANT. WE HAVE A BREAK AND THEY HAVE A BREAK. MAYBE THEY CAN BE HOME AND WE

CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THE PERCENTAGE THAT HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

10% VACCINATED AND THEN 19%. I TALKED WITH STEVEN WILLIAMS AND I SAID WHAT'S NEXT? HE SAID THERE IS A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE -- THERE WAS A MINISTER THAT SAID -- THAT SAYS HE WANTS TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HE WANTS TO SEE THE REACTION.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING HE SAID TO ME. I'M THINKING SOME GIMMICKS AND MAYBE THE STATE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN IT.

IT IS A DIFFERENT ROLE. WE ARE LOOKING -- IF IT IS LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE, YOU CAN LET US KNOW IF THE STATE IS LOOKING AT THIS. THEY ARE RUNNING FACEBOOK ADS TO PROMOTE WE HAVE TICKETS TO EVENTS.

IT IS NOT JUST FACEBOOK, BUT SOCIAL MEDIA ADS TO PROMOTE THAT. OUR NUMBERS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU MENTIONED 33% OF THE VACCINATED FOLKS ARE HISPANIC, BUT 44% OF THE COUNTY'S RESIDENTS ARE HISPANIC. FOWFORT 1% OF THE -- 41% OF THE FOLKS VACCINATED ARE HISPANIC.

SAME WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN. 18% OF THE POP LAKES IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND 10% OF OVERALL VACCINES HAVE GONE TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT 15% OF HARRIS COUNTY VACCINES HAVE GONE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND WHITE AND ASIAN CONTINUE TO BE OVERREPRESENTED. I THINK IT MAY MAKE SENSE SINCE WE ARE ON THE TOPIC FOR US TO JUMP TO THIS ITEM, 274.

IT IS ON THE QUESTION OF WHAT ELSE DO WE DO TO CONTINUE GETTING THE COMMUNITY VACCINATED.

274 IS THE RESULT OF AN RFP THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.

WE HAVE HAD A QUICK CONTRACT WITH SOME BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IT IS A VERY SMALL CONTRACT WHILE THIS LFP WAS UNDERWAY. AND NOW IT HAS COME BACK AND BASICALLY THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING AWARDED THE CONTRACTOR, THE SAME FOLKS THAT DID THE CENSUS WORK.

THE THINKING IS WE HAVE DONE THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND DONE THE INCENTIVES AND DONE THE MOBILE UNITS.

WE NEED A GROUND WAR, SO TO SPEAK.

WE HAD A LIMITED DOOR KNOCKING EFFORT, BUT THIS WOULD BE A

[02:35:01]

IT IS THE SAME ELEVATE STRATEGIES IS THE NAME OF THE GROUP THAT DID THE WORK. THEY DID A GOOD JOB.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THIS AND THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. THE FOLKS DO RESPOND TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT ONE ON ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY WE GO AFTER THE (770)607-7013.

BUT AS WELL AS THE TOP FIVE MOST STUBBORN ZIP CODES, IF I COULD JUST ASK THAT WE GIVE TO THEM AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.

ALTHOUGH THE RATES ARE GETTING BETTER, THOSE TWO ARE VERY STUBBORN AND REGRETFULLY IN MY PRE SINK.

I THINK WE GIVE THEM THE CAMPAIGN AND DIRECT THEM WHERE

OUR PRIORITIES GO. >> AND I I WILL GIVE A CHANCE FOR DIRECTOR ROBIN SOVEREIGN TO CHIME IN -- DIRECTOR ROBINSON TO CHIME IN. THAT IS THE SENSE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TO CONTINUE PRIORITIZING THE HARDEST HIT AREAS AND JUST GO TO AN ALL OUT, YOU KNOW, -- AND THEY WILL BE ECHOING THE MESSAGE OF THE STAY SMART, DO YOUR PART CAMPAIGN. THEY ARE BASICALLY DOOR-TO-DOOR, SOPHISTICATED DOOR-TO-DOOR WORK.

CALLS, TEXT, SOCIAL MEDIA, FACE-TO-FACE CANVAS -- CANVASSING AND DIRECT MAIL. COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST WANTED TO SEE IF DIRECTOR ROBINSON HAD ANYTHING TO ADD IF SHE IS ON THE LINE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ARE YOU ON, BARBIE?

>> SHE IS TO THE AVAILABLE. I'M TRYING TO UNMUTE HER.

>> DIRECTOR ROBINSON? SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS ON ANOTHER

CALL. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: THE QUESTION I HAD, JUDGE, WAS RELATED TO THE SCOPE AND THE ORDER OF THE MAGNITUDE AND THE DOLLARS I LOOKED AT, THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT. I KNOW YOU MANAGE THINGS TO A PRETTY HARD METRIC. I DON'T WANT THIS TO GET -- I DON'T WANT THIS TO GET TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE ARE SOMEWHAT COME AT THE PRESENT TIME IN WHAT THE RESULTS WILL BE AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS, AT LEAST IN MY MIND THEY ARE, AND I WOULD LIKE -- I LIKE TO BETA TEST SO LET'S BETA TEST. LET'S TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

I DON'T WANT US TO JUST BE SPENDING MONEY TO BE SPENDING MONEY. IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WILL GET FOR IT.

THERE IS ANY NUMBER OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET THE COMMUNITY MORE ENGAGED AND VACCINATED.

THE SCOPE LOOKED ALT SQUISHY AND RESULTS LOOKED A LITTLE VAGUE. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT AND MANAGING PRETTY CLOSE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE EXPECT AND I THOUGHT WE WOULD GET A REPORT ON THAT FIVE MONTHS AGO. THIS IS SOMETHING YOUR OFFICE NEEDS TO BE BRIEFED ON SO THAT THERE IS -- WHERE WE CAN SEE THE BENEFIT. IF SOMETHING IS WORKING, THEN

DOUBLE DOWN. >> LINA HIDALGO: ONE THING I MENTIONED IS THIS SHOULD BE FEMA REIMBURSABLE.

IT IS A HEFTY AMOUNT BECAUSE IT IS GOING BIG -- IT IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT. I MEAN, WE ARE 5 MILLION PEOPLE, RIGHT? REALLY YOU COULD SAY THAT IT COULD BE BIGGER. WE WILL START WITH THIS.

I CONFIRMED WITH MY CHIEF AND AND SOMETHING IS FUNDING AND

[02:40:13]

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN INTERVALS AT WHICH THESE FOLKS ARE COMING BACK AND GIVING A REPORT SO WE CAN SAY, YES, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE AND WE WILL FREE UP THE TRONCH TO CONTINUE OR NOT.

I WILL SAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AND I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RFP. WHEN I HEARD WHO IT WAS I WAS HAPPY BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY DID A GOOD WORK ON THE CENSUS. IT WAS VERY CLEAR AND IT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD TO SEND -- ONE THING I APPRECIATE IS AS THEY GET CLOSER TO THE DATE YOU WANT TO SENSOR A MORE SERIOUS LOOKING MAILER. WE ARE NOT PLAYING AROUND WITH PRETTY COLORS ANYMORE. YOU GET A BLACK AND WHITE TIME TO SUBMIT THE DEADLINE AND THEY HAD EVIDENCE OF WHERE THAT WORKS AND WHY AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO STOP THE DOOR KNOCKING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DOOR KNOCKERS. LET'S NOT DO THAT.

LET'S DO THE MAILING. I R I -- I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WILL SAY REALISTICALLY IS IT WORKING OR IS IT NOT? CAN SOMEBODY ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT THERE ARE INTERVALS BUILT IN AS TO WHERE THEY WILL NOT GET ALL OF THE MONEY AT ONCE AND WE WILL CHECK TO SEE IF IT IS WORKING

OR NOT WORKING? >> JUDGE, THIS IS DWIGHT.

WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENT.

WE CAN PUT ALL OF THE INTERVALS IN BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED. THIS IS AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD AND THEN PRESENT THE AGREEMENT BACK TO COURT.

THOSE ITEMS CAN BE ADDRESSED IN THE AGREEMENT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DWIGHT, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, YOU LET US KNOW WHAT YOU RECOMMEND. WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS.

IF IT IS A FIFTH -- YOU KNOW IF IT IS AFTER THE THE FIRST FIFTH OF THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED THEN COME BACK AND WE WILL APPROVE THE NEXT SO ON AND SO FORTH.

OR AND THERE A TIME INTERVAL? >> WE CAN DO AN INTERVAL.

WE WON'T RELEASE ALL OF THE FUNDS IMMEDIATELY.

IF YOU FEEL THE COURT IS NOT GETTING WHAT THEY DESERVE WE CAN CACEL -- CANCEL AND THEN GO ANOTHER DIRECTION.

WE CAN COME UP WITH THE TIMELINES AND PAYMENT OBJECT TAU CALS. OBSTACLES.

>> I HAVE THREE CONCERNS IN THIS TRANSACTION.

ONE OF WHICH IS SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUE.

WE CAN'T DISCUSS WHAT, BUT IT IS BIG.

IF IT WAS COMING TO US IN A SMALLER CHUNK, AND I UNDERSTAND IF WE VOTE FOR THE BIG THING WE CAN CANCEL LATER, BUT I WOULD RATHER VOTE FOR THE BIG THING.

IT GOES BACK TO BIG AND SMALL AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT BIG AND SMALL IS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I KNOW YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF TRANSPARENCY AND THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING ON THIS KIND OF A PROGRAM. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

THERE IS SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SENSITIVE -- MY STAFF LOOKED AT THIS PARTICULARREN TAU SEE AND THEY ARE VERY INVOLVED IN ONE OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

THEY REPRESENTED THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PARTY.

NOT THE PARTY, BUT THE DEMOCRAT -- DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. DEMOCRAT NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

THEY REPRESENTED HILLARY CLINTON.

THEY REPRESENTED BARACK OBAMA.

THEY REPRESENTED A NUMBER OF LOCAL DEMOCRAT -- DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES INCLUDING SOME VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO US HERE, SO I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE CONTRACT GOING TO SOMEBODY WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND THINGS WE ARE PAYING THEM

[02:45:02]

I WANTED TO RAISE IT AS A POTENTIAL OBJECTION.

WELL, NOT POTENTIAL, BUT AS AN OBJECTION.

IN TERMS OF IF WE ARE BANNED -- IF WE BAN SOMEBODY FROM DOING THE WORK WHAT INFORMATION CAN THEY GAIN? THERE IS AN OLD ADAGE MY GRAND DADDY USED TO SAY, DON'T EVER PUT A WEAPON IN THE HAPPENED OF A FRIEND THAT CAN BE TURNED AGAINST YOU IF IT ENDED UP IN THE HAND OF A FOE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME GOOD STUFF DONE HERE WITH REGARD TO COMMUNITY OUT REACH.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT TOOL COULD BE USED IN A NEGATIVE

WAY. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CONCERN FOR SOME INDEPENDENT AND SOME DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE. IF WE DID THAT, I WOULD HATE TO SAY WE WOULDN'T AWARD AN ENGINEERING CONTRACT BECAUSE SOMEBODY LOOKED AT SOMEBODY'S DONATIONS AND MOST WERE SKEWED TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER. THAT'S A DANGEROUS ROAD TO GO DOWN. I JUST MOVE THE ITEM.

>> DWIGHT, THE ITEM IS SIMPLY APPROVING THE AWARD TO THIS ENTITY, RIGHT? YOU GUYS ARE STILL DRAWING UP THE CON TRAPT -- CONTRACT. MY UNDERSTANDING AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE AMOUNTS ON THE AGENDA IS TO SAY WHEN THE FIRST ITERATION COMES BACK THERE WILL BE A NUMBER ON THE AGENDA. SO THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW -- SO IT IS NOT LIKE THIS APPROVES THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO GO TO THE ENTITY. WE WILL BE APPROVING THEM AS

WE GO ALONG. >> WE CAN BREAK OUT THE PHASES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IF THE COURT PREFERS WE CAN BRING THEM BACK EACH TIME LIKE WE DID WITH GUIDE HOUSE OR OTHERS IN THE PAST. WHAT WE NORMALLY DO IS SEND AN AGREEMENT TO COURT AND HAVE YOU APPROVE THE AMOUNT.

WE PHASE IT OUT WITH ANY AGREEMENT.

>> A NUMBER WILL COME BACK. WE WILL BE ANAL -- WE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE IT DOWN IF NEED BE.

THAT'S CONCERNS ONE AND TWO. I GET IT.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS SAYING WE HAVE TO FIND THE BEST PEOPLE. THEY FOLKS WENT THROUGH THE RFT AND -- RFP AND THEY WERE SELECTED AND DID GOOD WORK WITH CENSUS. I DIDN'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE BEFORE. I MET THIS PERSON AT THE END OF THE CENSUS. THEY AREY -- THEY'RE GOOD.

>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO HIRE FOLKS THEY WILL DO POLITICAL

WORK. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONER ARE YOU PROPOSING THAT WE DEVELOP A LITNESS TEST?

>> WHAT WE ARE HIRING THESE PEOPLE TO DO IS GO OUT AND GET IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS OPPOSED TO FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTORS ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

MANY ARE SUPPORTED BY FOLKS WHO SUPPORT EVERYBODY.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB IT IS TO PROMOTE SOMEBODY IN THE AREA WE HAVE PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE THE CON TABTS IN THE AREA -- CONTACTS IN THE AREA.

THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DRAW DISTINCTION ON AND I HAVE AN

ISSUE WITH THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I DO WANT TO, JUDGE, SINCE THE ITEM WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA, THIS WAY, DWIGHT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT HERE. YOU CAME UP WITH THE PROCESS.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT MORE CONVOLUTED THAN ANY OTHER CONTRACT OF THIS NATURE. ASSUMING WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. THIS IS JUST THE PURCHASING AGENT APPROVAL AND AWARD ON THE BEST PROPOSAL MEETING

REQUIREMENTS, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO GET THIS DONE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THEY NEED TO KEEP THE INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT THERE IS A PURCHASING PROCESS THAT EXISTS FOR A REASON.

I TRUST DWIGHT'S WORK AND OUR COMMITTEE'S WORK AND I KNOW ALL OF US TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

I THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT WE SHOULD -- THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE SET UP THROUGH A CERTAIN PROCESS.

IT IS SO THEY DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THE POLITICS OF

[02:50:04]

IT. >> THE COUNTY OWNS THE DATA AND THAT'S WHAT IS THE NORMAL PROCESS.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR ON THIS REQUEST AND WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST, WE AWARD A CONTRACT AND WE SEND THE AGREEMENT BACK TO COURT AS A TRANSMITAL.

IF THE COURT WOULD PREFER THAT WE SEND IT BACK AS AN AWARD I CAN DO SO WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OR WE CAN SEND IT BACK AS A TRAM -- TRANSMITTAL. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE REPORT THAT WE HAVE DONE IT EITHER WAY.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE I AM REQUESTING A TRANSMITTAL SO WE CAN START THE WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SINCE IT IS COVID

RELATED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THE REASON I ASKED ABOUT ANY BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

IF IT IS A TRANSMITTAL AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO STOP IT,

THEY CAN. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO KNOW THE NUMBERS, THEY CAN ASK FOR IT. IN FACT, THE PUBLIC CAN GET

IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK WE SHOULD PUT THE NUMBERS OUT WHEN IT COMES BACK.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU PUT THE NUMBERS ON IT, PUT IT ON EVERYTHING.

WHATEVER WE DO, LET'S BE CONSISTENT.

KEEP THE TRANSPARENCY GOING. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO SAY, OR DO YOU GUYS AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH DETERMINE THE TRONCHES AND

JUST -- >> WE WILL -- I WILL WORK WITH THEM TO DETERMINE WHAT TRONCHES THEY PREFER.

AND WE CAN REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND ASK THEM.

WE JUST DON'T WANT TO DRAG IT -- LIKE YOU SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS TIMELY AS POSSIBLE FOR COURT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHEN YOU SAY ALL COURT MEMBERS ON BOARD, I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE ALL AGREE. IT IS GOOD IF WE DO, BUT WE WANT TO GET IT DONE. SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE

LEGITIMATE DIFFERENCES. >> YES, SIR.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE A MOTION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> TOM RAMSEY: I AM VOTING FOR IT.

I AM VOTING FOR IT AND LOOKING AT DWIGHT BECAUSE HE PROCESSED IT. BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PROPOSAL, GOING THROUGH THE RFP, IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION I WILL SUPPORT THE MOTION.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM A NO, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR SO IT PASSES 4-1.

>> THAT'S AS PRESENTED, CORRECT?

>> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT. AS PRESENTED.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 15 WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS. IT WAS JUST LEFT OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. DID ANYBODY NEED TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 15? IT IS SIMPLY THE TRANS --

TRANSMITTAL OF NOTICE. >> I THINK WE ARE GOOD.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I THINK WE WERE CONFUSING 13 AND 15.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, WE WERE.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO VOTE ITEM 15 AT THE END.

ITEM -- YES, JAMES? >> SO FOR 13 IS THERE ANY

ACTION? >> LINA HIDALGO: NO ACTION.

THAT'S THE BROAD COVID ITEM. NO ACTION.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 15 WE WILL VOTE AT THE END. ITEM 22, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, JUDGE, ON ITEM 22 I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT, SINCE WE WERE SORT OF TOUCHING ON AS SPOACTS OF -- ASPECTS OF BEFORE AND AFTER WORK AND WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO TOO -- TO THAT PARTICULAR FIRM DOING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN I WENT TO GO AND VISIT A CONSTITUENT. A CONSTITUENT REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE AND DECIDED TO HOST THE MEETING AT HIS HOME HE WENT OUT THERE, THIS IS OUT IN CROSBY.

WENT OUT TO HIS HOME AND REALLY -- YOU KNOW, IT IS HARD TO SAY, BUT DUE TO HIS FEEDBACK IT ENDED UP COSTING SOMEONE THEIR JOB FOR NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.

NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS.

ULTIMATELY WHAT I LEARNED FROM THAT PARTICULAR MEETING IS THE PRECINCT HAD A LONG PRACTICE OF JUST WASTEFUL SPENDING OF MAINTAINING A ROAD THAT WAS PROBABLY PAID FOR MAYBE A COUPLE TIMES OVER. AND SO I AM JUST EXCITED.

I WANT TO THANK THE CITIZEN FOR REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE THAT LEAD TO GOOD CONVERSATION.

AND NOW THEY HAVE A ROAD THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BILLED

[02:55:01]

THEY WERE HAVING WINDSHIELDS BROKEN BECAUSE THE GRAVEL WAS SPITTING OUT AT THEIR WINDSHIELD AT A REGULAR BASIS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO ADJUST.

THEY ADJUST THEIR DRIVING BECAUSE OF LEGAL PURPOSES, BUT THEY ADJUSTED THEIR DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE LOOSE GRAVEL THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A ROADWAY HAZARD FOR THEM.

THIS IS A GOOD BEFORE AND AFTER STORY AND I AM EXCITED BE TRACKING DOWN THIS ROAD. HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN DOING THIS WASTEFUL MAINTENANCE? WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT A LONGTIME. TIME TO DO IT RIGHT AND DO

GOOD BY THE CITIZENS. >> TOM RAMSEY: YOU HAVE A GOOD, LOCAL CONTRACTOR TO DO IT.

THAT'S NICE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I SURE DID.

YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF THAT -- I MEAN, 54, 56, YOU HAVE NATIONALLY-BASED FIRMS DOING YOUR WORK.

THEY HAVE A PRESENCE HERE, BUT THEY ARE BASED IN CANS -- KANSAS. TELL THEM TO MOVE THEIR OFFICES DOWN HERE SO THEY CAN HAVE FULL INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY LIKE THE ANGEL BROTHERS AND THEN WE NEVER HAVE TO WORRY IF THE MONEY IS STAYING HERE.

>> TOM RAMSEY: I AM SO EXCITED WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL.

THE TERMS -- THE TERM USED TO BE LOCAL AND LOCAL LOCAL.

THE TWO YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED, COMMISSIONER, IT IS INTERESTING. I KNOW PARTICULARLY WITH TERACON, THEY ARE BASED IN KANSAS, BUT THEIR HISTORY -- IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY AND WHO DOES BUSINESS FOR THE COUNTY. I WAS ON THE BOARD WITH SOUTHWESTERN LAB -- LABORATORIES, ME AND MY FRIEND ED FROM -- FRED MARTINEZ. THEY SOLD SOUTHWESTERN AND THEN IT WENT THROUGH ANOTHER CHANGE AND HBC GOT IT AND THEN ANOTHER CHANGE AND THAT IS TERACON.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT SOUTHWESTERN ENDED UP OVER

THERE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW COME THEY SHUTDOWN THEIR KANSAS OPERATIONS -- HOW COME THEY CAN'T SHUTDOWN THEIR KANSAS OPERATIONS ?

TELL THEM TO MOVE HERE. >> TOM RAMSEY: WHETHER IT IS KANSAS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, THE QUESTION I HAVE IS WHEN THERE ARE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE FROM A NATIONAL FIRM HERE AND THEY COME HERE AND GET A SIGNIFICANT CONTRACT, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE 100, 150 AND THEY MAY BE LOCATED OR BASED IN OTHER PLACES, I THINK IT IS HEALTHY FOR US TO KNOW WHO IS DOING OUR WORK. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING IT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING HERE.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE WORK ARE THE ONE THAT'S WILL BE THE ONE THAT BENEFITS FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF IT ALL.

I WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOMEBODY THAT ENDS UP TAKING THE EXPERIENCE AND MOVING BACK TO MISSISSIPPI OR WHATEVER.

IT IS NICE TO HAVE IT HERE. IF THAT IS 54 AND 56, I'M GLAD TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF LOCAL PEOPLE WORKING ON PRECINCT 3 PROJECTS. I THINK IT IS A GOOD EXERCISE TO TALK ABOUT WHO IS DOING OUR WORK.

I UH -- I APPLAUD THE WORK OF THE ENGINEERING STAFF.

CLEARLY THESE FOLKS ARE -- IS THAT THE QUESTION,

COMMISSIONER? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT WOULD BE NICE WE HAVE A POLICY THAT IS WORKING TO PRIORITIZE LOCALLY-OWNED FIRMS. THEY DO GOOD WORK.

THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK FOR ME.

THEY NEED TO RAISE A LOCALLY-OWD OFFICIAL OVER ANYTHING ELSE

OTHER THAN -- >> SO THAT WAS ITEM 22, 54 AND 56. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 93.

YOU FLAGGED THIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT IS ACTUALLY 93 TO 97.

I AM JUST EXCITED ABOUT THESE PROJECTS, JUDGE.

THIS IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH INVESTMENT PROJECTS THAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE VARIOUS CITIES.

THERE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $50 MILLION

[03:00:02]

I WAS TALKING WITH THE MAYOR THE OTHER DAY AND THERE IS MORE NEED THAN THERE IS MONEY.

WE NEED A GOOD PROCESS TO HELP US GUIDE OUR DECISIONS WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES. THESE ARE EXCITING PROJECTS AND WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND MUD.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. ITEM 106.

THAT'S HCTRA'S MISSION STATEMENT.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE? SCWAK

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE SAID WE SHOULD JUST VOTE AND NOT MAKE LONG SPEECHES.

THE TOLL ROAD SHOULD BE ABOUT THE TOLL ROAD.

THE EXPANDED MISSION STATEMENT IS BROADER THAN THAT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE IT. I THINK THEY PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THE MISSION STATEMENT.

I'M PLEASED WITH IT AND TO SOME EXTENT IT WAS A RESULT OF EFM REPORT AND I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING SO I JUST MOVE IT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL SECOND AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU MR. TREVINO FOR THINKING ABOUT HOW TO REIMAGINE OUR TOLL SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING MORE THAN A FREEWAY, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS SAW -- SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. $535MILLION SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND KEEPING THEM FROM FLOODING.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT THIS IS WHEN THE TOLL SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED, THEY NEVER FORMALLY ADOPTED THE MISSION STATEMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST MISSION

STATEMENT OF OUR TOLL SYSTEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND FOR PEOPLE WATCHING I MIGHT READ IT SO THEY KNOW WHAT WE ARE AGREEING OR DISAGREES ON. HCTRA'S MISSION IS TO RESPONSIBLY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE, RELIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE AND EVOLVING MOW PILL TEE -- MOBILITY SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE REVERSE CONNECTIVITY NEEDS OF ALL

HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SOUNDS GOOD

TO ME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A

MOKES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY ELLIS SECONDED BY GARCIA.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR.

THE MOTION CARRIES 4-1. >> THANK YOU.

AND THAT IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AS PRESENTED.

IT WAS THE MISSION AND THE VISION.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS READ JUST THE MISSION.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

106. OKAY.

ITEM 107. THAT IS THE REVISED NON-REVENUE USAGE POLICY SO METRO IS EXEMPTED FROM TOLLS.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AGAIN, THIS IS STRATEGIC AND COLLABORATIVE THINKING THE FACT THAT THIS GREW OUT OF ONE, AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMING OVER FROM METRO WHO UNDERSTANDS THE WAYS OF THE BROAD CONSTITUENCY, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS FOCUSED ON THE METRO LYFT CLIENTELE. THAT GOES TO THE ALL INCLUE TIFF -- ALL INCLUSIVE PART. WE WILL THINK ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE AND CHALLENGED. IT GREW TO THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND THE VETERANS SO KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I WILL MAKE THE MOTION ON THIS ONE.

I LOVE HOW WE ARE ASSISTING OUR VETERANS.

SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR HAVING PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN. IN FACT, WHEN I WAS A JUDGE I HAD A NUMBER OF CASES INVOLVING OUR EMPLOYEE THAT'S WERE INJURED WHILE WORKING IN THE TOLL BOOTHS AND OTHER ACTIONS THAT OCCURRED. BY MOVING TO AN ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM YOU DON'T HAVE THE POINTS TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T

[03:05:03]

THIS WILL MOVE US TO WHERE IT IS SAFER AND EASIER TO USE AND MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE PUBLIC.

I APPLAUD THE ELECTRONIC PORTION AND I APPLAUD THE METRO PARK. I DID HAVE A SLIGHT QUESTION ON THERE. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ADOPTING IT RIGHT AWAY AND I KNOW THEY HAVE TO HAVE A TRANSITION TIME BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTRONIC. I THROW THAT OUT FOR JAY TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD TO THIS AREA IS NOT ADOPTING IT AND TOMORROW THEY HAVE TO BE ELECTRONIC AND WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO GO THROUGH A TRANSITION TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT -- IS THAT CLEAR ALREADY, JAY?

YOU MAY BE ON MUTE. >> SORRY, JUDGE.

CAN YOU REPEAT THAT LAST THING, COMMISSIONER?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE USAGE POLICY AND THE STATEMENT THAT BECAME -- IT TALKS ABOUT THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ALL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, BUT IT DOESN'T EXPRESSLY SAY THERE WILL BE A TRANSITION TO IT.

THERE DOES NEED TO BE A REASONABLE TIME PERIOD TO IMPLEMENT THAT. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A LEGAL ISSUE IF SOMEBODY GOES OUT THERE AND YOU STILL HAVE A TOLL BOOTH AFTER COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND IT IS ALL ELECTRONIC. WE MADE NEED TO ADD SOMETHING TO IT TO SAY THAT THERE WILL BE A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME FOR TRANSITION TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE THERE.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

DO YOU WANT TO DEFINE WHAT THAT PARTICULAR TIMETABLE IS OR WHERE PRACTICAL OR AS SOON AS PRACTICAL WOULD BE THE

EASIER WAY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I LOVE AS SOON AS PRACTICAL. IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU, JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE TACK ON "AS SOON AS PRACTICAL" ON THE END? DID YOU GET THAT, JAMES?

>> YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: DOES ANYONE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT? OKAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE WITH THE EDIT AND SECONDED BY GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 119 IS NEXT, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BONDS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE COUNTY ENGINEER PROVIDE A MOLLY AND ORDERLY UP -- UPDATE ON THE BOND SUBDIVISION PROGRAM. IT SHOULD INCLUDE THE BUDGET AND COST INCURRED TO DATE AND THE PROJECT STATUS AND ANY CRITICAL ISSUES AND THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION START DATE AND THE ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT. THE REASON FOR THIS, JUDGE, THIS MONEY IS VALUABLE. IT IS NOT OUR MONEY.

IT IS THE PEOPLE'S MONEY. IF WE ARE NOT PUTTING IT TO WORK, IT IS A DISSERVICE TO THE CONSTITUENTS.

IT IS PROJECTS DONE ON TIME AND DONE QUICKLY.

WE ARE RACING AGAINST MOTHER NATURE.

HURRICANE SEASON IS UPON US. IT GOES TO THE FACT THAT ON ITEM 90, THAT PARTICULAR ITEM HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR NO REAL APPARENT REASON FOR SIX MONTHS.

THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES SAYING WE ARE DONE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND WE WILL PUT MORE MONEY INTO ANY DEPARTMENT AND THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY TO GET THAT MONEY PROCESSED TO THE WORK THE COMMUNITY IS NEEDING AND DEMANDING AND SO THAT'S MY REQUEST TO HAVE THAT PARTICULAR SET OF PERFORMANCE METRICS PUT ON THIS FUNDING.

>> IS THAT A MOTION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S A

MOTION. >> TOM RAMSEY: I WILL SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> JUDGE FOR CLARITY, IS THE ORIGINAL ITEM, THE ORIGINAL MOTION FOR 119 ON THE AGENDA, IS THAT STILL IT?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT IS STILL THE MOTION WITH THE ADDITION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, JAMES?

>> YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. GO AHEAD.

>> SO BASICALLY, TO MAKE IT EASIER, 119 IS STILL ON THE TABLE TO BE VOTE OWED LATER WITH THE REST -- VOTED ON LATER WITH THE REST OF THE ITEMS?

[03:10:01]

>> LINA HIDALGO: SURE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THOUGHT WE

JUST PASSED IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE JUST PASSED THE OTHER MOTION UNDER 119.

JAMES, CAN YOU JUST TAKE 119 AS AMENDED TO ADD AT THE END WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID?

>> YES. AS LONG AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS OKAY WITH THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: JAY? DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, OR DO THEY NEED TO BE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS.

>> THAT WORKS FOR ME, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S AGREE WHAT PASSED WAS THE ITEM AS AMENDED.

WHAT IS WRITTEN IN 119 PLUS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S LANGUAGE

THAT JUST PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM 139.

IT IS A SINGLE FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IN

PRECINCT 3. >> TOM RAMSEY: I DON'T KNOW IF DR. HOLLOWAY IS ON OR NOT. THE PROJECT WE DID FOR THE GARRISONS OUT OF MY PRECINCT WHICH WAS A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE. WE ELEVATED IT AND BUILT IT AND IT ENDED UP BEING A WELL DONE THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR AUTHORIZATION ARE OF CERTAIN PROJECTS.

WHAT IS THE -- ARE THESE GOING TO BE IN CONCERT WITH THAT? I THINK IT IS RELATED TO SINGLE-FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION. MAYBE I JUST NEED TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM DR. HOLLOWAY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE. THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

I CAN WAIT UNTIL SHE GETS -- >> I CAN UNMUTE HER.

DR. HOLLOWAY? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

THE GARRISON'S HOME FELL UNDER OUR CAT PROGRAM WHICH [INAUDIBLE] AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES AND WE REINVESTED SO THEY CAN MOVE BACK. THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS AN UNDER CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM WHICH IS A RELATIVELY NEW PROGRAM RELATED TO OUR RECOVERY AS WELL AS GLO.

[INAUDIBLE] BRINGING ADDITIONAL SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES BACK TO THE PORTFOLIO FOR THE COUNTY.

EITHER BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP NEW HOMES OR PURSUING EXISTING INVENTORY. THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA UH -- ITEM IS TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AND THE DEVELOPMENT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOME DEVELOPMENTS AND LEVERAGING EXISTING DEVELOPER COSTS TO THE BUILDING SUBDIVISIONS ACCORDING TO THE RESIDENTS IN OUR AREA.

AND THAT IS TO DESIGN THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AS PART OF OUR HEART RATE RECOVERY PROGRAM.

>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU. THAT IS A GOOD CLARIFICATION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DR. HOLLOWAY, I JUST WANT TO ASK, DO WE HAVE A TIMETABLE ON HOW LONG WE HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY

BEFORE WE LOSE IT? >> FOR SINGLE-FAMILY CONSTRUCTION IT HAS TO BE CONVEYED BY AUGUST OF 2024.

THE GRANT ENDS IN DECEMBER OF 2024 [INAUDIBLE].

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND ARE WE PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK TO SPEND

THAT MONEY? >> YES WE ARE.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE PUSHING BOTH AVENUES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM. WE ARE TRYING TO PURCHASE AND BUILD NEW HOMES. COST OF HOUSING HAS ESCALATED AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH EXISTING DEVELOPERS AND IT IS

ONE WAY TO DO SO. >> I RAISE THE ISSUE BECAUSE I KNOW THE POLICY OF THE COUNTY WAS PREVIOUSLY YOUR DEPARTMENT AND I GOT THAT FROM TOM MCCASLIN AND OTHER PRE SINKS -- PRECINCTS WITH SEVERE LIMITATIONS AND WE ARE CONCENTRATING ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE CHANGED THE POLICY. WE ARE TRYING TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND NOT JUST CONCENTRATING IT AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN NO LONGER ENGAGE

[03:15:13]

WE WILL STOP THAT IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS ITEM 164, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAFFIC STOP DATA REPORT BY

JAD. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM. I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION AND MR. BETKEY FOR THEIR PHENOMENAL WORK.

WE CHALLENGED JAD TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE THE EXISTING RACIAL PROFILING DATA THAT IS PRODUCED BY HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WE DID THIS, IF YOU RECALL AFTER GEORGE FLOYD DEATH. TO MAKE THAT INFORMATION NOT ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT BETTER AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. JAD DID MAKE THIS INFORMATION PUBLIC BY CREATING A DASHBOARD. AS OF THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT THE DASHBOARD WAS TAKEN DOWN.

I HAVE SOME MOTIONS TO GO THROUGH THIS TO SEE IF WE CAN HELP. I WANT TO THANK SEVERAL IN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE WORKING WITH MATTHEW SWEENEY AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THE CONVERSATION IS GOING AS WELL AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MATTHEW SWEENEY IF HE CAN GIVE US A BRIEF REPORT ON THE WORK.

THEN I WILL GO THROUGH IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GO AHEAD. >> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. [INAUDIBLE] RESEARCH ANALYST FROM JAD. IT IS SUPPLEMENTAL IT18 FROM JUNE 9TH, 2020. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS REPORT COME AD SH DASH COME -- COMPLETES A COMMISSIONER'S COURT ORDER RELYING ON DATA FROM THE TAX COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT RACIAL PROFILING REPORT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WHILE THE DATA DOES PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAFFIC STOPS THERE ARE SEVERAL LIMITATIONS.

THE DATA ONLY GIVES TOTALS FOR THE YEAR AND NOT EACH INCIDENT AND SOME DOES NOT PROVIDE THE FULL PICTURE OF TRAFFIC STOPS. [INAUDIBLE] OR OUTCOMES OF TRAFFIC STOPS. COVID DEPARTMENTS [INAUDIBLE] AND THEREFORE WE CAN ONLY RELY ON 2020 AS A SINGLE YEAR WITH NO COMPARISON YEAR. A POINT IMPORTANT TO NOTE, DUE TO THE COMPARISON LIMITATIONS THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT ONE DEPARTMENT'S PROPORTION IS DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER.

THE DATA CANNOT IDENTIFY RACIAL PROFILING OR VIOLENT POLICING. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE ANALYZED DATA HAS RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS WITH A SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTIC OR OUTCOME.

THERE WAS A 10% OR GREATER SPAN OF THE OVERALL COUNTY AVERAGE. QUALITY PROPORTIONS TEST -- [INAUDIBLE] TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE EQUIVALENT.

ONE DEPARTMENT HAD A DISPARITY.

THE STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE WAS 99% STATISTICAL CERTAINTY. THAT MEANS 1% LIKELIHOOD THE RESULT IS DUE TO STAW THIS -- DASH STATISTICAL TRENDS.

THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RELIES ON A 95 --

INAUDIBLE]. >> WHY USE .01 AS OPPOSED TO

.05? >> WHEN WE DID THE ANALYSIS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE RESULTS WERE EITHER COMPLETELY INSIGNIFICANT OR SIGNIFICANT BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS, INDICATING THAT AT LEAST 1 DEPARTMENT WAS EXTREMELY

DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHERS. >> LINA HIDALGO: RIGHT.

>> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OVERALL JAD DID IDENTIFY IGG SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN MOST COMPARISON.

WE DID IDENTIFY INCIDENTS INVOLVING FORCE WITH MODERATE INJURY AND COMPLAINTS. FOR CITATIONS WE IDENTIFIED TWO-THIRDS -- [INAUDIBLE] HISPANICS RECEIVING MORE

[03:20:02]

WHITE DRIVERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS THAT RESULTED IN BODILY INJURY.

A REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENTAL WEBSITE FEW HAD ONLINE SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS AND THE COMPLAINT PROCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY BEYOND ENGLISH. JAD HAS SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT ORGANIZED AT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND IMPROVING DATA. JAD APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CONSTABLE, PRECINCTS 2, 4, 5, 7 AND 8 SO FAR.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP MEETINGS.

FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WE RECOMMEND THE -- THAT AGENCIES INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ACCOMMODATION PROCESSING AND ONLINE COMPLAINTS FOR DEPARTMENTS AND ISSUE BUSINESS CARDS WITH DEPUTY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND PROVIDE THESE FORMS AND CARDS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES WHEN APPLICABLE.

THEY HAVE THEM IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY DEPARTMENTS NEED ACCESS TO TRANSLATED SERVICES. IT INCLUDES ON DEMAND TRANSLATION SERVICES TO AID COMMUNICATION IN THE COMMUNITY , PARTICULARLY CALLS FOR SERVICE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IMPROVING DATA, THE DATA HAS ISSUED [INAUDIBLE]. FOR EXAMPLE THE DATA DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DEPUTY REQUESTED A SEARCH OF VEHICLE, BUT THE DRIVER SAYS NO. ONLY WHEN THE DRIVER AGREES TO A SEARCH. ADDITIONAL DATA CAN INCLUDE THE REASON FOR A TRAFFIC STOP.

IF ARREST OCCURRED IF IT WAS A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR AND BROADER INFORMATION ON USE OF FORCE.

WE CAN ISOLATE IT BACK AND DETERMINE IF AND HOW IT INFLUENCES CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES.

HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD PERFORM SYSTEM UPDATES IN TWO WAYS.

THE FIRST IS TO MODIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS TO PREVENT MISSING DATA THAT DID OCCUR IN SEVERAL VARIABLES.

DEPUTIES WILL BE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE REPORT WITHOUT THE INFORMATION. A SECOND SUSPECT UPDATE CAN SUBMIT RACIAL PROFILING DATA AND CAN IDENTIFY MISSING DATA AND IDENTIFY DATA ENTRY ERRORS AND GENERATE THE ANALYTICAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTING DISPARITIES ON TRAFFIC STOPS AND COMPS AUTOMATICALLY. A MORE ADVANCED SYSTEM WOULD REQUIRE NO HUMAN INTER -- INTERVENTION THAT DRAWS THE INFORMATION PERFORMING AM SIS -- ANALYSIS EACH YEAR.

IT CAN GENERATE REPORTS OF WEEKLY, MONTHLY, QUARTERLY OR BI-ANNUAL TO PROVIDE SUMMARY UPDATES.

THERE CAN BE A DATA DASHBOARD TO SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. THEY WERE HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE.

THESE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SUBSTANTIAL INCLUDING THE FASTEST AND MOST ACCURATE AND RELIABLE DATA REPORTING.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> JAD WOULD LIKE TO COORDINATE TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT COSTS PRIOR TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

JAD APPRECIATES THE ASSISTANCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU AND I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE

REPORT OR PRESENTATION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MATTHEW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK. I THINK YOU ARE ALREADY ON THE RIGHT TRACK SO I WON'T MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL MOTIONS TO THIS. SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING. A POINT I HAD MADE, JUDGE IS WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING THIS DATA, BUT IT WAS REALLY SITTING THERE AND WE HAD NOT REALLY HAD THE CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND IT. I THINK THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I PREF -- PREFACE BY SAYING IT IS NOT TRYING TO CATCH ANYBODY OR HAVE ANY GOTCHAS BUT WE SHOULD KNOW IF THERE IS A CHALLENGE.

AND IF THERE IS WE HAVE TO TAKE STEPS TO CORRECT IT.

I WANT TO THANK THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR

PHENOMENAL WORK. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU HAVE A

MOTION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WAS GOING TO MAKE T BUT BASED ON THE LAST SLIDE, I AM GOOD WITH

THIS BEING A TRANSMITAL. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. IF AT SOME POINT THERE IS A NEED OR FORCED TO MAKE CHANGES --

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK WE IS -- WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THIS ON THE 18TH.

[03:25:05]

>> TOM RAMSEY: I ECHO THAT AND YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE. WE DON'T WANT TO GO AROUND GIVING UNFUNDED MANDATES. IF THERE ARE THINGS WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO MORE OF AND BETTER, THEN WE NEED TO BE SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

WHETHER IT IS THE POLICE OFFICERS AND HAVING LOOKED AT A FEW REPORTS COMING OUT OF THE CITY I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, THE PAPERWORK FOR THE PATROL PEOPLE IS PRETTY HEFTY. IT IS PRETTY HIGH.

IF WE ARE NEEDING MORE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE

THE RESOURCES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE ARE BEING ASKED TO COLLECT, THIS BUT DOING NOTHING WITH IT.

IT IS REALLY TO SUPPORT OUR GUYS FOR DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE MAY CHAT ABOUT THIS LATER ON, BUT MANY TIMES IN THE DATA BEING COLLECTED WHEN THERE ARE VICTIMS WE DON'T COLLECT THIS DATA FOR THE VICTIMS EITHER. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THAT AS WELL. IT APPEARS THAT OUR DISADVANTAGED AND UNDER PRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES ARE THE GREATEST VICTIM SEGMENTS. THERE ARE GREAT DISPARITIES

HERE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ACTUALLY WE HAVE ON ONE OF THE LAST ITEMS WE DID ON OUR DISPARITY STUDY WAS TO COLLECT DISPARITY DATA ON VICTIMS.

WE HAVE TAKEN THAT STEP. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS GOING TO SAY IF THERE ARE RACIAL PROFILING, THOSE WHO ARE RACIALLY PROFILED ARE VICTIMS AS WELL.

IT IS A STATE MANDATE TO DO IT.

THE STATE IS DOING IT FROM A THOUSAND FEET UP.

ALL OF THESE REPORTS WERE COMING OUT AND IT IS MEANINGLESS. THANK YOU FOR DRILLING DOWN TO SEE WHAT IT MEANS. WE WILL MEET ON THE 29TH AND IF WE NEED TO PUT RESOURCES IN THERE TO DO IT, WE SHOULD DO IT. FOR SO LONG PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT THE DISPARITY STUDY. EVERYBODY THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GREAT UNTIL YOU RAN THE NUMBERS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPLICIT BIASES.

>> THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS WE KNEW THE DATA AND WE HAVE KNOWN THE DATA IS A PROBLEM. ON THE VICTIM SIDE.

IT IS WITH THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND THAT'S GREAT.

I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO JAD AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WE STILL NEED THEM TO COME BACK WITH THE MOTIONS TO DEAL WITH THIS. I JUST DON'T WANT THIS TO GO THE WAY OF THE COURT BACKLOG WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE JAD WAS WAITING FOR US TO FIGURE OUT. BUT IT IS YOUR EXPERTISE.

YOU NEED TO RUN IT DOWN WITH THE RELATIVE AGENCIES AND FIX IT AND COME BACK WITH EITHER NEVER MIND WE CAN'T FIX IT OR THESE ARE THE MOTIONS THAT WE NEED FROM COURT.

I SAW THE LAST SLIDE, BUT THERE IS NO TIMELINE AND NO MOTION. IDEALLY YOU BRING THE REPORT AND WE BRING THE MOTION. WHAT HAPPENS IS WE MOVE AND THEN IN A YEAR WE WILL REMEMBER WE DIDN'T COLLECT THE DATA AND IT WILL BE THE SAME THING AS THE DASHBOARD AND THE SAME THING AS THE VICTIM. WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT IT HASN'T GOTTEN DONE. CAN YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BRING BACK REPORT 2.0? HOW DO WE LAND THIS FROM A FACT-FINDING MISSION TO AN ACTIONABLE SORT OF CHANGE-MAKING POLICY CHANGE SITUATION?

>> WE ARE PLANNING TO DO THAT ON THE 29TH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS GREAT TO KNOW.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS. IT IS NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT. GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: BACK TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S ITEM, WE

[03:30:02]

I WANT TO PUT IN THAT REQUEST TO THEM AS WELL TO COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE CAN PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.

>> DR. HOLLOWAY, DID YOU CATCH THAT?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT MUST BE TOUGH TO HEAR.

>> I DID. THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND DR. HOLLOWAY, DO YOU REMEMBER THE TRANSMITAL? IT CAME SHORTLY AFTER YOU GOT HERE. MAYBE YOU DID IT.

YOU PRESENTED IT, BUT IT WAS TRANSMITTED AND SOMETIMES WE WILL SAY WHAT POLICY CHANGES DO WE MAKE? LET ME KNOW SO WE CAN FILE A COMPLAINT WITH HUD.

>> I WANT TO REMIND THE COURT THAT WE WILL HAVE OUR POLICIES.

IT WILL HELP REFORM THE STRATEGIES.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE THAT IN CONCERT WITH AN UPDATED MAP OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THAT WILL DRIVE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S GOOD AND I WANT TO OBVIOUSLY HELP YOU SPEND THAT MONEY. MORE MAY BE COMING, BUT IT COULD BE HARD IF WE DON'T SPEND WHAT WAS GIVEN TO US.

>> YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS SAYING IT IS ABOUT

THE TWO-HOUR TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE STILL HAVE

35 MORE MINUTES. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM 179 AND 181, JUDGE. I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS WAS

MOVING THEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE THEM.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: AND THE 1.4 MILLION ON 181.

I AM IN FAVOR OF THE REST OF THAT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: OH 181. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S DO ITEM 179. THAT IS THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT FOR THE MONEY AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AT THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS OFFICE FOR COMING UP WITH A GOOD, SOLID PROPOSAL. IT IS A GOOD THING TOWARD IN -- INCREASING TRANSPARENCY AND BUILDING INTERNAL TRAINING CAPACITY FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS AND I

MOVE IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THIS IS ITEM 181.

JOCK JOCK I AM IN FAVOR

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM IN FAVOR OF ALL OF 181, BUT THE

4 MILLION PORTION GOING TO PFM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MAKE A MOTION JUST FOR THAT AND THE OTHER WE WILL DO LATER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DID YOU CATCH THAT, JAMES?

>> NO, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: WITHIN ITEM 181, THE AUDITED CLAIMS, THERE IS ITEMS WITHIN THAT ITEM GOING TO PFM. COMMIS -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS MOVING WHAT IS RELATED TO PFM TO 181.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS THE SECOND ON THAT MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO.

NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR SO THAT MOTION CARRIES 3-2. AND WE WILL VOTE ON THE REST

-- >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE CAN KEEP

GOING IF YOU LIKE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL VOTE ON THE REST OF THE ITEMS LATER ON.

>> TO BE CLEAR ON ITEM 179. THAT WAS A 3-2 VOTE AND

PASSED, CORRECT? >> LINA HIDALGO: I WAS IN FAVOR. THAT WAS A 3-2 VOTE.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 221.

IT WAS THE TRAINING SERVICES FOR OFP.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANT TO THANK ENGINEER WHOG IS DOING THIS -- ENGINEERING WHO IS DOING THIS.

IT IS GOOD TO DO. NORMALLY WHEN I PUT SOME ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, FOLKS WILL DO A ME TOO ON ME.

THIS TIME I AM DOING A ME TOO ON THIS ONE.

IT WAS FASCINATING TO FIND OUT THAT MY CREWS HAD NEVER GONE THROUGH OSHA TRAINING. SO WE WILL BE PIGGYBACKING ON THIS TO MAKE SURE OUR FOLKS ARE RECEIVING THE BEST POSSIBLE TRAINING AROUND AND IT GOES TO YOUR RESOLUTION EARLIER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT THIS IS HOW WE WORK TO

[03:35:02]

JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR DRIVING

THIS. >> JUDGE, ON THIS ONE IS THERE

ANY CHANGE. >> NO.

>> THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND ON ITEM 222, THIS IS ANOTHER INTERESTING STORY, JUDGE.

IN IS A -- THIS IS A VERY INTENSIVE PROJECT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IT GOES WITH MY COMMUNITY PLANNING EFFORTS IN THE PRECINCT.

THE C -- THE CASTLEWOOD SUBDIVISION HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BY FLOODING ESPECIALLY DURING HURRICANE HARVEY. 195 HOMES WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. ACTUALLY 195 HOMES FLOODED DURING HARVEY AND 12 OF THESE FLOODED IN IMELDA.

WE BELIEVE IT WILL BENEFIT THE 195 HOMES IN THE CASTLEWOOD SUBDIVISION. WHAT IS INTERESTING, JUDGE, IS THAT THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY HAS A WATER LINE RELOCATION THAT IS OWNED BY A PRIVATE UTILITY PROVIDER.

THE WATER LINE RECONNECTION COST OF THE PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE PASSED ON TO CONSTITUENTS IN THE FORM OF AN INCREASE IN WATER, AND HERE IS THE THING THAT IS INCREDIBLE TO UNDERSTAND. WRY DID THE WORK AND THE WORK IDENTIFIED THAT THE WATER LINE CHANGES HAD TO HAPPEN AND THE PRIVATE UTILITY PROVIDER WOULD HAVE TO DO.

HAD WE STAYED ON THAT TRACK, HERE IS THE COST OF THE PROJECT. I SAID LET'S TAKE IT OUT OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE A SAVINGS TO THE CONSTITUENTS. AND THEN THE PRIVATE UTILITY PROVIDER SAID, NO. WE WOULD THEN SPREAD THE SAVINGS OUT ACROSS OUR CLIENTELE AND NOT TO NEIGHBORHOODS SPECIFICALLY. WE WERE AIBLG TO -- ABLE TO GET A CGDB GRANT. IT IS GETTING A COST PASSED AND IT PREVENTS A COMPANY FROM BENEFITING FROM OUR WORK.

JUST SOME FASCINATING THINGS WHEN YOU WORK ON THESE PROJECTS. I WANT TO THANK THE CASTLE WOOD SUBDIVISION FOR THEIR CONTINUED PATIENCE, BUT IT WILL BRING MUCH-NEEDED CHANGES AND IT WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DROP SOME SIDEWALKS IN THE AREA AND WE WILL REPLACE THE DITCH WITH THE STORM AND SEWER SYSTEM.

IT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M EXCITED.

IT IS HOW IT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IF WE HAD JUST NOT WORKED TO FIND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH IT.

SO IT REMAINS AS IT IS, JAMES.

>> THANK YOU. WHREEN LEAN ITEM --

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 249 ON VOTING RIGHTS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T THINK WE NEED A LONG SPEECH.

IT IS STRAIGHT FORWARD AND I MOVE ADOPTION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR.

MOTION CARRIES 3-2. >> R. JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS, THIS IS WORKING. >> RODNEY ELLIS: KEEP IT UP.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 251 ON ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF

SUSTAINABILITY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE WANT TO MAKE SURE --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE TO DIRECT THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT TO STUDY AND CREATE A PROPOSAL ON THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY WITH MBMD AND

[03:40:06]

BMD SHOULD COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH A PROPOSAL WITHIN 30 DAYS. I MAKE A MOTION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THEY ARE FIGURING OUT WHETHER TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE AND WHERE

TO DO IT AND THEN -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: YEAH, JUDGE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT A NUMBER OF TIMES.

THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE TO PLACE IT IF WE ARE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN. IT IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. SOME MAY BE AGAINST IT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I WILL MAKE A VERY BRIEF -- PROBABLY LESS THAN COMMISSIONER EL -- ELLIS DID.

I GOT THIS LAST NIGHT AT 9:44.

I WANT TO CRITICIZE THE GUYS AT PRECINCT 1 FORGETTING ME MY MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS LATE. THE OTHER RESOLUTION YOU GOT TO US AT 4:16. PRECINCT 3 GOT THEIR RESOLUTIONS TO ME AT 4:22 YESTERDAY SO THEY WERE SIX MINUTES BEHIND PRECINCT 1. IF I AM GOING TO BE FAIR AND FUSSING AT YOU, I HAVE TO ALSO FUSS AT MY COLLEAGUE WITH ME AT THE TABLE. I JUST HAD TO RAISE MY OBJECTION. ZACH ALWAYS WANTS TO HEAR -- OH HE LEFT? ZACH LIKES TO HEAR ME MOWN AND GROWN ABOUT LATE RESOLUTIONS COMING IN AT THE LAST MINUTE.

I AM MOWNING AND GROWNING LIKE I NORMALLY DO.

>> TOM RAMSEY: QUICK COMMENT. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH CLIMATE ISSUES FOR YEARS, BUT WE DIDN'T CALL IT THAT.

CLEANING UP THE SHIP CHANNEL AND CLEANING UP THE AIR AND MAKING MAURY SILL YEN SEE. SH -- MORE RESILIENCY.

I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO SET THAT UP IN THE BUDGET OF MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE ALREADY BEING DONE AND ADDRESSED WITHIN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. I DON'T SEE THE NEED TO DO

THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: ON THAT, DOES THIS ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE OFFICE WILL NOT BE IN

BUDGET MANAGEMENT? >> RODNEY ELLIS: IT DOES, BUT IT IS GOOD TO COME BACK WITH A SCOPE AND A FOCUS, BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT.

SO LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT WE SUGGEST.

IF WE DON'T WANT IT -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I'LL SEE WHAT DAVE COMES BACK WITH, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULDN'T BE A BUDGET MANAGEMENT, BUT WHATEVER THEY COME BACK WITH.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT IT SOMEWHERE.

OBVIOUSLY WE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR SOME TIME AND I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD SOMEPLACE. IF IT IS NOT A GOOD FIT THERE WE CAN PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE CAN CREATE A SEPARATE

DEPARTMENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR CLIMATE ACTION, BUT NOBODY IS TAKING IT ON BECAUSE --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE COULD FARM IT OUT TO A GROUP, BUT AT SOME POINT, I DON'T THINK ANY COUNTY IN TEXAS HAS DONE ONE.

CITY OF HOUSTON HAS, BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO GO

FORWARD. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU MADE YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I.

LEAN LOAN OPPOSED -- >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> NO. NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT KARYT 3 -- IT CARRIES 3-2.

257, WE COVERED. SO NO ACTION ON 257?

>> TOM RAMSEY: NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: 258 ON THE

JURORS. >> TOM RAMSEY: THIS SPEAKS TO WHAT I THINK COMMISSIONER CAGLE MENTIONED EARLIER.

I'M JUST OUT HERE THROWING OUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE BACKLOG. WHEN WE GIVE SPECIFIC DIRECTION LIKE TAKE IT FROM FOUR TO 12.

12 IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO SERVICE 84 COURTS.

OF COURSE WHEN YOU SAY WELL WE NEED TO CALL IN 12 JURIES AND THAT DOESN'T SOLVE EVERYTHING, BUT IT IS A STEP.

AND THEN WE HEAR, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FACILITIES.

AND THEN THE JUDGES SAY, WELL WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THIS.

AND THEN IT JUST -- AS YOU SAID EARLIER, JUDGE, IT IS A NEVER ENDING, FINGER-POINTING, WE CAN'T EVER REDUCE THE BACKLOG SO WE WILL DO NOTHING.

I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TO BE DONE -- I THREW THIS OUT AS JUST TO INITIATE A CONVERSATION MUCH LIKE

[03:45:02]

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT A REPORT COMING BACK NEXT MONTH.

PROBABLY SHOULD WAIT ON THAT BEFORE WE START DIRECTING 12 JURORS TO BE CALLED AS OPPOSED TO FOUR.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW THE PROBLEM.

WE CALLED 12 JURORS AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP FOR JURY DUTY.

I ALWAYS DID. I MUST BE THE ODD DUCK.

IF YOU GET AN OFFICIAL LETTER YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.

IT IS NOT CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE TO SHOW UP.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA WOULD LIKE TO SAY

SOMETHING. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, WHAT I THINK I HEAR MY COLLEAGUE SAYING IS HE WOULD LIKE TO ROLL THAT INTO OUR DISCUSSION IN THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AS TALKING WITH THE

JUDICIARY AND I SUPPORT THAT. >> TOM RAMSEY: LIKEWISE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHATEVER YOU BRING -- THE ONE THING WE CAN BE CERTAIN OF IS SOMETHING PEOPLE NEED TO BE HAPPY WITH.

I ASKED YOU THE SAME QUESTION, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF WE CAN MOVE IT TO THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, SOME SAY IT WILL INCREASE THE JURY AND SOME SAY IT WOULDN'T.

IF WE DO NRG -- SOME SAY IT IS BEST TO DO NRG AND JURY ASSEMBLY ROOM AND SOME SAY THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

WE JUST NEED TO PICK ONE. >> THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE WON'T LIKE.

BEFORE I WAS A JUDGE I WAS A TRIAL LAWYER.

MY SPECIALTY WAS RURAL JURISDICTIONS.

RURAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GETTING PEOPLE TO SHOW UP. THEY HAD INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND I STARTED TO TALK TO SOME OF THE FOLKS, BUT THEY USED TO DO A THING WHERE THEY HAD THEIR BIG PICK AND THEY ALL CHOOSE FROM THE SAME PANEL SO YOU DON'T WASTE JURORS.

YOU DON'T SEND THEM AWAY. YOU WANT TO BE THE NUMBER TWO OR NUMBER THREE BECAUSE THERE ARE FOUR JURY TRIALS IN A ROW WITH THE SAME BATCH OF FOLKS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE DONE -- SOMETIMES THE OLD COUNTRY WAY IS SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. THEY HAD TO COME UP WITH SCARCE RESOURCES. I AM DWHRIETED TO GET -- I AM DELIGHTED TO GET MY HANDS IN THE WATER AND GET IT

RESOLVED. >> SO NO ACTION ON 258? 259 WE ARE TAKING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THAT'S THE GLO ITEM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH MR. AIYER BRIEFLY.

ARE YOU THERE? >> I AM, COMMISSIONER.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE IS A -- WITH ALL DUE RESPECT WE DIDN'T NOTICE 259 FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WE DID NOTICE MR. RATCLIFF FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT MAY BE BETTER IF WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT WE TALK TO MR. RATCLIFF ABOUT WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO IN TERMS OF HIS HIRING AND HIS CONTRACT REPRESENTING US, BUT IT MAY NOT PEA APPROPRIATE -- I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE AND JAY CAN WEIGH IN, WHEN WE HAVE NOT GIVEN PUBLIC NOTICE THAT -- ON THIS ITEM.

MY APOLOGIES TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE HIM A HEADS UP THAT I THAT IT DIDN'T CLICK WITH THIS.

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE IT NOTICED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION SO MAYBE

WE SHOULDN'T. >> THIS IS A LEGITIMATE GRAY AREA. THE ITEM IS NOTICED AND THE TOPIC FALLS UNDER WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SOMETHING WE WOULD DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I UNDERSTAND MR. CAGLE'S POINT ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDS AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INVOLVED.

TO HIS POINT WE HAVE THE ISSUE RELATED TO RATCLIFF AND HIS ABILITY THAT WAS PROPERLY NOTICED.

THE SUBJECT MATTER IS HIS INVOLVEMENT UNDER THE NEGOTIATIONS AS IT RELATES TO GLO.

IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR PURPOSES OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

[03:50:02]

IN ORDER TO EXERCISE CAUTION THAT MAY BE A MORE PRUDENT WAY

OF GOING. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE WILL GO BACK ON THE NEIL RATCLIFF ITEM?

>> CORRECT, JUDGE. LEAN

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO JAMES, NO ACTION ON 259, AND EVEN THOUGH WE VOTED ON ITEM 269, WE ACTUALLY NEED TO TAKE 269 TO

EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JAY.

ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS 259.

NEXT IS 261. >> TOM RAMSEY: I GUESS IN KEEPING WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERENCED EARLIER IN TERMS OF PROJECTS ON THE STREET, THIS IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT BIDDING CONSTRUCTION. FOR EVERY BILLION DOLLARS OF CONSTRUCTION THERE IS 21,700 JOBS.

SO THE MORE JOBS WE CAN GET -- THE MORE PROJECTS WE CAN GET BID ON THE STREET, THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN GET TO WORK.

PLUS, WE CAN ADDRESS SOME FLOODING ISSUES RELATED TO THAT. I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS EASY TO SAY.

WE WILL JUST INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT WE LEFT BY 20%.

I THROW THAT OUT THERE AS A GOAL.

IF WE GET FEEDBACK FROM DWIGHT AND ENGINEERING AND FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS, IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE WILL NEED TO HIRE X, Y, Z OR SPEND MORE MONEY AND MAYBE THIS IS LIKE THE OTHER.

WE DIRECT FOLKS TO COME BACK AND TELL US WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET US UP TO 20%. MAYBE THEY CAN ONLY DO 10%.

AT LEAST WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE GET MORE PROJECTS BID ON THE STREET AND GET PEOPLE WORK?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF I COULD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I SUPPORT YOU ON THIS. I DO WANT TO BE STRAY -- STRATEGIC ON THIS. WHY SETTLE FOR 20%? I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS.

WE HAVE FOUND OUT HOW THINGS GET STUCK IN SEVERAL -- DIFFERENT STOVE PIPES. I DO WANT TO BE CAREFUL ON THIS IS STRUCTURE. I JUST NEED SOME CLARITY.

JAY, IS THERE ISSUE WITH HOW THIS ISSUE IS LAID OUT?

>> TOM RAMSEY: LET ME READ MY MOTION AND YOU CAN VET THAT.

IT REQUESTS HARRIS COUNTY PARKS -- PURCHASING AND FOR PURCHASING TO BRING BACK ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED FOR FIELDING CONSTRUCTION INQUIRIES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I AM GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE STORY AND BACKGROUND. WHEN OUR BOND FIRST CAME OUT, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS REMEMBERS THIS.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT A 10-YEAR ROLLOUT.

BECAUSE WE AUTHORIZED THEM TO HIRE MORE FOLKS THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE TO WHERE THINGS WOULD BE INITIATED OR STARTED WITHIN A FIVE-YEAR ROLLOUT INSTEAD OF A 10-YEAR ROLLOUT.

PART WAS BY AN ADOPTION OF WHAT I REFER TO AS THE ADOPTION MODEL. WHAT NASA DID IS INSTEAD OF NASSAU MANAGING EVERYBODY, NASSAU HIRED FIRMS TO MANAGE THE PROJECTS. BY HIRING OFFICIALS THEY -- BY HIRING OFFICIALS THEY COULD GET A LOT MORE DONE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS BY LEVERAGING OUT.

[03:55:02]

I THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH IN YOU -- IN ADDITION TO FLOOD CONTROL AND AS OPPOSED TO MANAGING EVERYTHING IN HOUSE.

IT IS A LITTLE MORE EXTENSIVE, BUT IT CAN SPEED THINGS UP.

THIS IS A TIME WHERE GETTING THINGS BUILT BACK MAY BE A VERY GOOD TIME. IN ADDITION I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT IN ADDITION TO SENDING IT TO DWIGHT WE ASK OUR RELEVANT PARTNERS IN FLOOD CONTROL AND HCTRA AND JOHN BLOUNT'S GROUP HCED TO TELL US WHAT IT WILL TAKE IN TERMS OF THE UH IMILT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FASTER.

WITH THAT NASA MODEL. GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW WE WOULD DO THIS. EYE -- I KNOW WE HIRED A MANAGER AND SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DO IT. IT IS LIKE $4 MILLION.

IF WE MOVE TO THAT MODEL, WHERE WOULD WE PAY FOR IT.

WE DID IT TO MOVE THE PROJECTS QUICKER.

YOU HAVE TO AUGMENT STAFF TO DO IT.

WHAT ARE WE SPENDING? >> I THINK IT IS 3.9, COMMISSIONER. YOURS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

YOURS IS THE ONLY PRECINCT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING STAFF.

YOU ARE SUPPLEMENTING YOUR STAFF USING A PROGRAM MANAGER TO DO THAT. I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS DISCUSSING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE ON THE OTHER END WHICH IS FLOOD CONTROL AT MY OFFICE TO TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT THE STOPPING POINT OF PROJECTS.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS ENLARGED HIS ENGINEERING STAFF AND NOW THEY HAVE MORE ENGINEERS TO GIVE PROJECTS AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE FINAL, PER SAY.

WE SHOULD COME BACK WITH A REPORT THAT SAYS WHAT WE COULD DO. THERE ARE THREE APPROACHES.

YOU CAN DO ALTERNATIVE DESIGN.

YOU CAN DO PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.

YOU CAN EXPAND EXISTING STAFF.

THEY ALL HAVE PLUS' AND MINUSES.

WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS LIKE DWIGHT AND THEN GIVE COURT THE OPTION SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS COSTS AND APPROACH THAT'S CAN BE USED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU CAN DO THAT IN 30 DAYS?

>> I WOULD SAY 30 TO 45. CURRENTLY WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON LEGAL OPINIONS ON ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY AND THAT COULD DELAY IT A LITTLE.

BUT WE CAN SHOOT FOR THE COURT IN JULY, IF NOT IN AUGUST.

THERE ARE SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT IN CON TRACKING. WE WERE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT

THAT ALREADY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUST TO ADD WE -- YOU KNOW, MY PREVIOUS MOTION EARLIER ON THAT TRANSMITAL IS RELATED TO THIS AND PURCHASING HAS A CHALLENGE OF GETTING A RELEASE OF MONEY.

THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN SOME PAPERWORK BACK FROM YOUR OFFICE. AND THEN THE SAME THING AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A SIX-MONTH DELAY ON AN ITEM FROM FLOOD CONTROL THAT BECAUSE WE STARTED KICKING DOWN THE DOOR IT FINALLY MOVED.

IT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY.

AS MUCH AS I SUPPORT THIS ITEM , I DON'T THINK THE OWE -- THE ONUS IS ON PURCHASING. IT IS NONAUTOMATED AND IT DEPENDS ON WHO IS AT WORK THAT DAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FLOOD CONTROL AND YOUR OFFICE REALLY

[04:00:04]

WE HAVE TO FIX THIS, MAN, AND IT JUST CAN'T BE BY BRINGING ON MORE CONSULTING STAFF. WE ARE STILL DELAYED ON THOSE PROJECTS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STREAM LINE THE PROCESS FROM ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING LEAD AS FAST AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN BARK AT THE CONSULTANTS SAYING ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH MY PROJECT? DON'T BE DRAGGING YOUR FEET ON THIS. THAT'S THE PROBLEM I WOULD

LIKE TO HAVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COULD I AT RISK OF WAITING UNTIL SOMETHING THAT IS NOT -- STOP ME IF I AM WRONG, BUT THINKING ABOUT CLEARLY THERE IS A BOTTLENECK. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS PROPOSED ACTION IS A WAY TO SOLVE THE BOTTLENECK.

WHAT IF WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE BUDGET AND PURCHASING PRESENT WITHIN 60-DAYS I THINK JOHN SAID AN ANALYSIS OF THE DELIVERY AND THE EFFICIENCY COMPARED TO BEST PRACTICES INCLUDING METRICS LIKE NUMBERS OF STAFF FOR PROJECT DELIVERED AND NUMBER OF STAFF HOURS PER DOLLAR SPENT.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING PROJECT DELIVERY EFFICIENCY IF APPLICABLE. AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT STAFF AUGMENTATION IF ANY IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE A 20% INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION BIDS AND WHETHER SUCH AN INCREASE IS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS DEFICIENCY AND FINANCE ISSUES. THAT'S TO SAY TAKE A SLIGHTLY BROADER LOOK TO SEE HOW DO WE BREAK THE BOTTLENECK AND BRING

IT BACK IN 60-DAYS ? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I DON'T WANT TO CUTOFF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TOO MUCH.

I THOUGHT JOHN SAID 45 DAYS INSTEAD OF 60.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OH 45. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND NUMBER TWO I ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID AND HAVE AT LEAST

20%. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND IF I CAN JUST ADD TO THIS, AS YOU KNOW, WE SAT DOWN AND WE HAD A WHOLE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WAS BETWEEN 9 AND 18 MONTHS DELAYED. I WOULD LIKE TO USE THAT AS A CASE EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THOSE? AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD INTO THIS SOMETHING THAT IS OUTWARD LOOKING AND IT IS THE PERMITTING PROCESS. I WAS TOLD WE ARE MUCH BETTER THAN THE CITY, BUT WE ARE NOT PERFECT . AND I WANT TO GET SOME DATA BACK ON HOW MANY PERMIT APPLICATIONS WE HAVE GOT. I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR PERMITS -- OR PERMITTING APPLICATIONS TO BE DONE AND IT IS COUNTED AS A REVOLVING DOOR OVER ERRORS AND APPLICATIONS THAT WEREN'T CAUGHT THE FIRST TIME, BUT THEY WERE CAUGHT ON THE THIRD OR FOURTH VISIT.

AND AS A RESULT -- I MEAN, MY POINT TO THIS IS THAT THIS IS PURELY ECONOMIC. THE LONGER WE KEEP PEOPLE IN THE RECYCLING DOOR, THE LONGER THEY CAN'T HIRE ANYBODY.

THE LONGER THEY CAN'T GENERATE A TAX BASE AND THE LONGER THEY CAN'T SELL THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE ECONOMY BEING TINDER, I AM RELUCTANT TO INVEST MY MONEY NOW BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE ME TO START RECOVERING MY INVESTMENT.

[04:05:08]

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM SENDING THIS AROUND AND WITH THE EDITS FOLKS HAS MADE. LET ME SEE IF THIS MAKES SENSE. THE MOTION THAT BUDGET WORK WITH ENGINEERING AND PURCHASING TO DOCUMENT A PERCENT TO COURT WITHIN 45 DAYS, AN ANALYSIS OF ENGINEERING AND PURCHASING'S CURRENT PROJECT DELIVERY AND PURCHASING COMPARED TO BEST PRACTICES INCLUDING METRICS SUCH AS NUMBER OF STAFF AND PRODUCT DELIVERED AND NUMBER OF STAFF HOURS FOR PROJECT DOLLAR SENT.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRODUCT DELIVERY EFFICIENCY AND PERMITTING EFFICIENCY IF APPLICABLE.

AND AN ANALYSIS IN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT STAFF AUGMENTATION IF ANY IS TO ACHIEVE AT LEAST 20% INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS BID AND WHETHER SUCH AN INCREASE IS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS TIMING ISSUES.

>> SECOND THAT. >> TOM RAMSEY: HERE IS THE IMPORTANT NUMBER. YOU SAY 20% OF CONSTRUCTION BID. YOU GOTTA KNOW WHERE YOU ARE STARTING TO FIGURE OUT THE 20% INCREASE.

IF YOU LOOK AT AND, JOHN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I ONLY WORKED WITH 20 COUNTIES IN TEXAS WE DO AS GOOD A JOB AS ANY. MY HORROR STORY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IS THIS. THEY GO THROUGH EIGHT REVIEWS. IF YOU GO THROUGH EIGHT REVIEWS FOR PROJECTS, EITHER THE CONSULTANT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT IT WASTES TIME.

>> AND IT IS GENERALLY ON A 30 OF -- 30 OF IT DAY CYCLE --

30-DAY CYCLE. >> TOM RAMSEY: THE NUMBER I HAD IN MIND IS WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE CAN BID. THE BOTTLENECKS WE WILL REFER TO AND THE BASE WE WILL REFER TO.

WE DON'T AUTOMATICALLY BID MORE WORK.

I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR JOHN AND GOOD FOR RUSS AND GOOD FOR ROBERTO IF WE CAN TRACK, AND THEY ARE NOT BIDDING ENOUGH TO DO THIS. IF WE LOOK AT WHAT DID WE BID IN 2019, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND WHAT DID WE BID IN 2020? AND WHAT WILL WE BID IN 2021? IF THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS STAY THE SAME WE HAVE A BOTTLENECK.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE 10-YEAR SCHEDULE COMMISSIONER CAGLE REFERRED TO, WE ARE PROBABLY ON SCHEDULE WHEN YOU COME TO A 10-YEAR SCHEDULE.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND WE SPENT MONEY BEFORE TODAY TO EXPEDITE SOME PROJECTS WE ARE LOOKING AT SUBDIVISIONS.

IT IS HARD TO ARGUE THAT WE BID THIS MUCH, AND I WILL TAKE THE MEGA PROJECTS OFF THE TABLE.

IT IS GOOD, BASIC CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH WE BID IN 2019 AND 2020 AND HOW MUCH WE WANT TO BID IN 2021. THERE IS A QUESTION OF NOT

EVEN KNOWING WHO WE ARE. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN BEGIN COLLECTING? THE WAY WE COLLECT IT IS MANUAL.

WE DON'T HAVE AN INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE SOFT AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE WHEN IT IS FULLY INTEGRATED.

THE U.S. IS WORKING ON THAT. WE CAN MANUALLY -- WE WORKED WITH DWIGHT'S OFFICE TO MANUALLY CREATE THE BID.

WE ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTATION, AND I -- I APPRECIATE WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID, BUT WE HAD A CONSULTANT LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE MANAGING PROJECTS.

I WOULDN'T USE CITY OF HOUSTON AS A COMPARISON.

BUT THEY HAVE THREE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON. THEY HAVE TWO PERSON FOR EVERY ONE PERSON. WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH MILTON AND WE DO TRACK THE DATA YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT.

[04:10:06]

THAT'S NOT THE BAR WE WANT TO BE GRADED BY.

UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE CRITICIZED BY THAT AND BY STATUTE THEY HAVE TO A -- TO APPROVE THINGS AND IT MEANS WE CAN'T ISSUE A PERMIT UNTIL THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS PROCESSED A PLAT. THERE ARE THINGS WE GET GRADED BY THAT WE AREN'T UNDER OUR CONTROL.

WE WILL PUT IT TOGETHER FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THIS IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS AS WE GET TO THIS DATA-DRIVEN FOCUS, WE NEED TO SEE THAT AND HAVE -- ANYWAY, IT IS A GOOD START.

>> YOU HAVE THE MOTION? >> IT IS THE LAST MOTION YOU

SPOKE, CORRECT? >> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE MOTION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I MOVE ON. OR MAKE THE MOTION AND I WILL

SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN

FAVOR? >> I.

>> . >> .

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE THE MOTION AND GARCIA WAS THE SECOND. SO THAT WAS 261.

NEXT IS 272. IT IS THE PLAN FOR DISTRICT CLERK I WAS HAPPY TO SEE SOMETHING COME BACK.

I JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM DAVE IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING TOWARD THIS PHASE AND PHASE 2 AND COLLECTING THE BEST PRACTICES. I KNOW INITIALLY WE ASKED FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T EVIDENCE BASE FOR WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. I DON'T SEE THIS SO I WANT TO BE FAIR. DAVE?

>> HI, JUDGE. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY SPH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> ABSOLUTELY.

FOR THOSE WHO WORKED ON THIS AT JAD OR THE ANALYST'S OFFICE CAN WEIGH IN, BUT WHAT WE FOUND IS THERE IS NOT DECISIVE RESEARCH OR EVIDENCE ON WHAT DOES WORK.

THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN MIXED.

THE APPROACH WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS TWO-FOLD.

THERE ARE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE ACTION THAT'S CAN BE TAKEN. PROVIDING FREE PARKING AND CLEAR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET THERE.

FEEDING FOLKS AND PROVIDING WATER AND COFFEE.

IF WE ARE HAVING PEOPLE THERE, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THE TOTAL COST OF THAT IS ABOUT $500,000.

IT A RELATIVELY MODEST INVESTMENT.

THE PROPOSAL TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE JUROR PAY WHICH WOULD BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, IS SOMETHING WE THINK SHOULD BE RUN AS A TRUE PILOT. A PILOT WITH A DEFINED TIME PERIOD AND AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATING TO SEE IF IT WORKS BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED HERE.

THE PROPOSAL HERE IS THERE IS A PLAN TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

A TIME PERIOD AND THEN DO A EVALUATING PERIOD OF TIME AND SEE IF IT WORKS. I DON'T THINK THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER TELLS US WHAT TO DO HERE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ARE YOU COLLECTING DATA ON THIS? IF JURISDICTIONS DON'T HAVE RESEARCH, WE CAN DO THE RE.

IT IS AN ISSUE EVERY COMMUNITY FACES.

>> I THINK THE DISTRICT COURT IS DOING A GOOD JOB AT TRACKING THE DATA. I INVITE THEM TO WEIGH IN, BUT THEY ARE KEEPING UP WITH THE DATA FOR SURE.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT WE ARE COMPARING IT TO.

OBVIOUSLY AS FOLKS GET VACCINATED AND ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH COVID THEY WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO COME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHICH IS WHY WE ARE STARTING THE PILOT A

LITTLE AFTER -- IN ALT BIT. >> CORRECT.

[04:15:02]

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WANT TO COMMENT THE DISTRICT CLERK ON THIS AND I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO PART TWO COMING BACK.

PART ONE IS JUST VERY COMMON SENSE AND I AM GLAD WE ARE DOING THAT IN HARRIS COUNTY. DO FOLKS NEED TO VOTE ON THIS? GREAT.

THANK YOU, DAVE. >> THANKS, DAVE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 273, ALLOCATION OF SERVICES TO GRANT FUNDS -- TO UNIVERSAL SERVICES OF FUNDS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL BE BRIEF ON THIS, JUDGE.

I WANT TO THANK UNIVERSAL SERVICES FOR WORKING WITH THE SHIP CHANNEL SECURITY DISTRICT. THEIR WORK OVER THERE IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PORT AND AS A RESULT OUR

ECONOMY SAFE AND SECURE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT.

THANK YOU. AND 274 WE DISCUSSED.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DEFENDED YOU.

ANSWER LEAN WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE ONE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM AND THAT WAS 269 ON NEIL RATCLIFF AND WE WERE GOING BACK TO DISCUSS THE RELATED ISSUE OF THE GLO'S CURRENT

POSTURE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION ON THE OTHER ITEMS WE HAVE NOT VOTED ON?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. WE NEED A MOTION ON ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE NOT ALREADY VOTED ON WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 269 WHICH WE ARE TAKING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> TOM RAMSEY: SECOND.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: 259? I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ONE WE ARE NOT TAKING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: NO. THE ONE WE ARE TAKING TO

EXECUTIVE SESSION IS 269. >> R. JACK CAGLE: 269.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I HEARD 259.

SORRY. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THIS IS JAMES. JUST TO BE CLEAR ITEM 269 WAS

PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, IT WAS, BUT WE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE THAT ONE TO EXECUTIVE

SESSION. >> YES, MA'AM.

UNDERSTAND. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

SO IT IS 2:42. EXCUSE ME?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I'M SORRY, JUDGE.

VERY LIMITED DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT. SO IT IS 2:42.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENT MESSAGE

THERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE -- IT IS 2:42 AND WE ARE MOVING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS

[Executive Session]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW DO WE GET COUNCIL TO ZOOM IN?

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE STAY HERE?

>> IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM THERE SHOULD BE A PHONE IF THERE. JUST DIAL INTO THAT NUMBER OR SOMEBODY FROM YOUR OFFICE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU ALREADY.

AND THEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN JOIN

THE OTHER TEAM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AS A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. IF I COULD HAVE JAKE FOSTER FROM PRECINCT 4 STAND FOR A MINUTE.

JUDGE, OUR HYBRID MEETING TODAY WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL GUYS IN PRECINCT 4.

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

GUYS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THEY USED TO BE THE GEEK SQUAD IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, BUT THEY ARE THE GEEK MASTERS FOR ALL OF THE THINGS.

SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM AND A GREAT JOB THEY DID TO HELP

US TODAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I KNOW WE ARE DUE FOR A BREAK. LET'S MEET AT 2:50.

AT 10 UNTIL. >> 2

>> IS YOUR MIC ON? >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS.

>> HOW IS THAT? >> I THINK IT IS THE SAME DEAL

WITH THE -- >> THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS THE WEBCAM.

THANK YOU. SO IT IS 3:39 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.

WE WERE DISCUSSING ITEM 269. WE HAD ALREADY VOTED ON IT AND THERE IS NOT ANY ADDITIONAL MOTIONS, JAMES, ON THAT ONE.

JAMES OR LUCINDA, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR LIST?

SHOULD WE BREAK? >> NO, MA'AM.

>> NO, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: WELL, THIS

[04:20:01]

88 LET'S

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: LET'S NOT RUIN IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 3:39 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.