* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. [00:00:01] I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR [Bishop Shelton Bady of Harvest Time Church in Houston.] WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. "HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.." SYLVESTER TURNER. CHRIS BROWN. LUCINDA SYLVA. MICHAEL POST. JAKE TURNER. JAMES HASTINGS. RILEY ROWE. JOHN BLOUNT. RILEY ROWE. RILEY ROWE. PLEASE STAND BY. HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING. JULY 20, 2021. 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. CST. PLEASE STAND BY. GOOD MORNING. 7 GOOD MORNING. IT IS 10:03. AND I'M CALLING THIS JULY 20, 2021 COMMISSIONERS MEETING TO ORDER. GOOD MORNING. PRECINCT 1. JUST BISHOP BEATTY IS THE PASTOR OF THE HARVEST TIME CHURCH. HE IS A NATIVE OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN. HE GREW UP IN A TWO PARENT -- ELEVEN CHILD HOUSEHOLD WITH STRONG CONVICTIONS CONCERNING THE THINGS OF PEOPLE OF GOD LIKE HARD WORK AND INTEGRITY. LONG BEFORE TITLES, DEGREES, THE NATIONAL PULPITS AND PLATFORMS AS A STUDENT-ELECT -- HE INITIATED CRUSADES IN THE PARK WHERE HE WOULD PREACH THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS SAVES TO ANYONE THAT WOULD LISTEN. HE FOUNDED THE HARVEST WITH ONLY SIX MEMBERS. TODAY THE HARVEST MINISTERS TO THOUSANDS AND STRIVES FOR DIVERSITY AS A REFLECTION OF GOD'S LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND. BISHOP BEATTY IS A MULTI-FACETED LEADER WHO IS ALSO A FATHER, MENTOR AND FRIEND ADDRESSING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES FACING MINORITIES AND OTHERS PROVIDING SOUND COUNSEL AS WELL AS BEING A GROWTH LEADER AND ADVISING ME ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE WAS UP AT THE CAPITAL WITH A NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS ISSUES INVOLVING ROTING RIGHTS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR -- FATHER, YOU'VE ALLOWED US TO SEE ANOTHER WONDERFUL DAY AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. -- TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US THAT WE HOPE FOR. WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR TOMORROW THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE WELL FOR US. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THOSE WHO SERVE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EVERY STAKEHOLDER -- WE THANK YOU LORD GOD THAT YOUR WILL IS BEING DONE IN OUR LIVES. WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WILL ALLOW US TO SEE GOOD IN THIS PLAN. MAY IT CONTINUE TO FAREWELL. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO VISITS HERE. THOSE WHO RESIDE HERE. LET THERE BE SUCH A GREAT AWAKENING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WILL BE A MODEL FOR ALL OTHER COMMUNITIES. I THANK YOU FOR THE AGENDA TODAY. THE GREAT THINGS THAT WILL BE DONE. I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE GRANTED FOR YOUR GLORY AND OUR GOOD IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. THANK YOU, BISHOP. BISHOP I NOTICED THAT YOU'RE FAMOUS FOR YOUR DANCING PRAISE. I'M NOT SURE I'M FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THAT IS. I WOULD GO TO PRAISE AND STAND OUTSIDE OF THE CAFETERIA AND CHALLENGE THE COLLEGE STUDENTS. IF YOU ALL TEACH ME I'LL SHUT UP. EVANGELISM DANCING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOCATION. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. LIKEWISE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO LET'S START, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS. [Departments (Part 1 of 5)] I DO WANT TO BRIEFLY GET THROUGH AN ITEM COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I WERE DISCUSSING. THEY ARE EAGER TO SEE THE OUTCOME AND IT IS AN EMERGENCY ITEM. WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN OUR COURTS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT CASE BACKLOG THAT EXIST SO WE TURNED TO ITEM 183. AND IT IS--WE'VE GOT ABOUT 100,000 CASES THAT ARE PENDING IN FRONT OF OUR CRIMINAL COURTS. ABOUT 40,000 ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE. THAT STARTED IN 2017 WITH HURRICANE HARVEY BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE COURTS FLOODED. OUR MAIN COURTHOUSE BUILDING FLOODED AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE -- [00:05:10] FAST-FORWARD A FEW YEARS WE HAVE THE PANDEMIC. THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED CASE BACKLOGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND ONLY EXACERBATED OURS. THERE ARE CASES THAT ARE THREE YEARS OLD AND AS YOU KNOW JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED NOT JUST FOR THE VICTIMS OF CRIME BUT ALSO FOR THOSE ACCUSED OF CRIME. MANY OF WHOM ARE INNOCENT. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SPEEDY SYSTEM IN OUR COURT SYSTEM AND WE ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO INVESTED $17 MILLION TO CREATE MORE ASSOCIATE JUDGES. WE ESTABLISHED A NEW BODY CAM SYSTEM SO THAT EVIDENCE GETS TO THE COURTS FASTER. WE EXPANDED JURY OPERATIONS AND TODAY WE'RE BRINGING A PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKET THREE VISITING JUDGES THAT ARE GOING TO WORK ON THE CASES THAT ARE MOST BACKLOGGED. RAPE, AGGRAVATED, ASSAULT, MURDER. CAPITAL MURDER AND ASSOCIATED STAFF IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT. IS PROPOSAL IS FOR SIX MONTHS. WE'LL EVALUATE THE PROCESS AFTER SIX MONTH PERIOD AND WE'RE ASKING FOR TRACKING METRICS SO WE CAN SEE PROGRESS AS WE GO ALONG AND SEE THAT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THE BACKLOG AND I MEAN THE JUDGES. THESE ARE TOOLS FOR THE JUDICIARY TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE BACKLOG. TRY TO GET AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME. THERE HAS BEEN THIS IDEA SORT OF FAILED CRIME POLICY FROM THE '80S THAT INVOLVES MASS INCARCERATION OF LOW LEVEL OFFENDERS THAT INVOLVES OVER INCARCERATION OF BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE KNOW THAT DOESN'T WORK. TO -- WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT DOES WORK. THIS IS LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN CRIME. IT'S A DANGEROUS DELAY SO THESE ARE PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS IT SO WE CAN PUT DANGEROUS OFFENDERS BEHIND BARS AND LET THOSE WHO ARE INNOCENT TO GO BACK TO THEIR LIVES. I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU AND I HOPE WE'LL HAVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF CONVERSATION. I WANT TO THANK SHERIFF GONZALEZ. CHIEF FINER BECAUSE THEY HAVE SPOKEN REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT A BACKLOG CASE BRINGS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY. WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN PATROLLING THE STREETS PUTTING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY RESPONDING TO THOSE VIOLENT AND HORRIBLE CRIMES. THEY ARE TURNING THOSE CASES OVER TO INVESTIGATORS. INVESTIGATORS ARE FOLLOWING UP AND PACKAGING THE CASES SO THAT THEY CAN TURN IT OVER TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. THOSE PROSECUTORS ARE PUTTING THOSE CASES TOGETHER. THEY DON'T HAVE THE ULTIMATE TEAMMATE TO HAND IT OFF TO WHICH IS THE JUDGES. SO I APPLAUD US FOR HAVING TAKING A VOTE ON THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES. I APPLAUD US FOR EXPANDING OUR DISTRICT COURT WITH AN ADDITIONAL COURT AND I AM ALSO HOPING THAT WE WILL BRING THESE ASSOCIATE OR THESE VISITING JUDGES INTO THE EQUATION AND THINK OF THESE AS SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. THEY ARE THERE TO HELP HANDLE THOSE CLASSROOMS WHEN THEY ARE MORE -- BUSINESS AND OCCUPIED THAN THEY OUGHT TO BE AND SO ALL OF THIS IS WORKING TOGETHER AND I APPLAUD THIS AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK YOU JUDGE FOR MENTIONING THE METRICS. THAT SHOULD GO INTO THIS BUT SHOULD GO INTO ALL OF OUR COURT SYSTEM. SO I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT GETTING OUR DOCKET ON THE WEBSITE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN PUT THAT INTO THE MOTION AS WELL. BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER AND WE'VE GOT TO SEE THOSE DOCKETS MOVE AND THEN WE CAN ALSO TRACK A FEW OTHER THINGS. BUT JUDGE IF WE COULD INCLUDE DIRECTING IS UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO BUILD THAT PORTAL AND PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE TO TRACK ALL DOCKETS INCLUDING OUR ASSOCIATES AND VISITING JUDGES. SO YES. [00:10:01] COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- IF THAT WAS A MOTION COMMISSIONER GARCIA I SECOND IT. THANK YOU. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH OUR CRIME PANDEMIC. WE'VE GOT -- THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TODAY TO SAY IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE DO START WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN FIVE PEOPLE ON COURT ADVOCATING THAT SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THESE COURTS. ABOUT THESE JUMPS AND WHAT THEY DO. AND IN MANY WAYS THEY ARE CITIES FUNCTIONAL AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND BEGGING FOR A DASHBOARD. SO TODAY I'M GOING TO GET A BIG CHIEF PAD AND NUMBER TWO PENCIL AND WE'LL CALL JUDGES AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING. BECAUSE I'M GLAD JUDGE THAT WE TOOK BY THE WAY -- A NOTE OUT OF THE '80S THESE COURTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE COURTS -- THAT WAS CALLED IMPACT COURTS IN THE '80S. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE '80S TO HELP US HERE IN 2021. BUT IT'S A GOOD, GOOD FIRST STEP. I THINK IT MAY BE A LITTLE LATE BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. I'M PROUD TO SECOND IT. WE ALSO NEED TO FIND WHY 29,000 CASES HAVE BEEN DISMISSED. I WANT TO KNOW WHY. I WANT TO KNOW IF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS INVOLVED IN THE DISMISSAL OF THE CASES. SO THERE IS A LOT OF DETAILS. A LOT OF QUESTIONS I THINK THESE JUDGES NEED TO ANSWER TO. AND BEING VISIBLE POSTING WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY DON'T DO ON A WEBSITE WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BACKLOG AND THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP. COMMISSIONER CAGLE. JUDGE I'VE BEEN TO THE LEVEL OF PREACHING ABOUT HOW ACCOUNTABLE WITHIN OUR DOCKETS IS NECESSARY. AND BACK WHEN I SERVED ON THE CIVIL COURT EVERY MONTH OUR DOCKETS WERE POSTED AS WERE ALL OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT POSTING CEASED TO EXIST. WE'RE GETTING BACK ON TRACK SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHETHER OR NOT THEIR JUDGES ARE WORKING OR NOT AND HOW MANY CASES THEY'VE DISPOSED OF AND HOW THEY'VE DISPOSED OF THEIR CASES. JUST DISMISSING IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'VE HANDLED IT APPROPRIATELY. NOW WE HAVE REOFFENDERS THAT KICKBACK IN AGAIN SO THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO THESE DASHBOARDS. I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET. WE NEED TO SEE IT AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY STOLE MY SECOND BECAUSE NORMALLY I WANT TO MAKE THE SECOND WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED AND THE WORST THING FOR THE CRIMINAL IS TO HAVE A FAST FAIR TRIAL. IF YOU'RE NOT A CROOK IT'S FAIR FOR YOU AS WELL. LET'S GET THESE CASES DISPOSED OF PROPERLY IN OUR COURTS. AND I THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA TODAY AND THANK YOU JUDGE FOR PUTTING IT IN OUT OF ORDER. AND THIS IS A QUESTION FOR DAVE AND JAD THAT WAS RELEVANT. ONE IS I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO BE TRACKING THE VICTORY. WE HAVE A 1,000 THAT NEED TO IF IT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKETS. FOR YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO PARSE OUT WHAT WE EXPECT FROM THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES WHAT WE EXPECT FROM THE VISITING JUDGES FROM THE TRIAGE PROGRAM HOW DOES THIS GET US FROM 40,000 FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET AND THEN SECOND AS YOU GUYS REPORT BACK TO COMMISSIONERS' COURT ANSWERING NOT JUST WHAT SHOULD BE THE GOAL NOT JUST ARE WE ON TRACK TO REACH THE GOAL OR THE JUDGES ON TRACK TO REACH THAT GOAL AND MEETING IT BUT SHOWING US THE COMPLETE DATA PICTURE AND TELLING US WHETHER THERE IS DATA THAT IS MISSING. NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU JUDGE BUT IN ORDER TO HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL COURTS YOU DO [00:15:07] HAVE TO HAVE THE ADEQUATE BOTH PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND PROSECUTORS. THIS CONTAINS THAT? NOT ONLY THAT BUT EXPANSION OF JURY OPERATIONS. SO -- AND I THE SPACE ISSUES WILL BE WORKED OUT AS WELL. THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO SOME FOLKS. SOME OF NAMES IN NEW ORLEANS WHERE THEY ARE HAVING NIGHT AND WEEKEND COURTS AND THEY'VE DONE IT SINCE KATRINA. AND THEY DO IT IN NEW YORK TOO. AND I ASSUME THE DASHBOARDS -- THEY HAVE TO HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE REACH OUT. AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY FROM HARVEY WE HAD THE CONSTRUCTION ISSUES BUT WE HAVE COURTROOMS THAT CAN BE USED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK 24 HOURS A DAY AND IF WE HAVE TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STAFF TO DO THAT. WE'VE GOT TO PAY PEOPLE EXTRA TO DO THAT. THAT WOULD BE THE JUVENILE AND CIVIL COURT TO STRATEGICALLY UTILIZE AS WELL. DAVE, CAN YOU COVER WHAT THE DATA TRACKING SITUATION WILL BE AND WHAT YOU PLAN ON HAVING FOR US IS TO SEE IF WE'RE ON TRACK. CERTAINLY ---JUDGE. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STRIDES MADE. WHAT WE NEED IS -- AND OBVIOUSLY JUDGES ARE INDEPENDENTLY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEY ARE MAKE -- MAKING -- SO THE MOTION WOULD BE AS FOLLOWS. APPROVE $2.5 MILLION FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EMERGENCY DOCKETS WITH PRIORITIZING THE SERIOUS CRIMINAL CASES AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG. TO DIRECT BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR MONTHLY UPDATES AFTER THE COURTS BEGIN OPERATION ON AUGUST 28,2021. THE SECOND MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF FIVE ADDITIONAL CLERKS FOR THREE MONTHS TO STAFF THE EXPANDED NRG OPERATIONS. THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED JUDGE 29, 2021 COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU ADDED A THIRD MOTION TO BUILD A PORTAL TO TRACK ALL DOCKETS INCLUDING ASSOCIATE AND VISITING JUDGES AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL. THE MONTHLY REPORT. THERE BE A REPORT AS TO THE PROGRESS IN TACKLING THE BACKLOG WHETHER WE'RE ON TRACK AND WHETHER THERE IS ANY DATA MISSING. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. JAMES, I MADE THE THIRD. SO NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS. WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE TO TAKE PICTURES TODAY SO WE'LL DO THAT AT THE END AFTER WE GO THROUGH OUR RESOLUTIONS. FIRST IS ITEM 379 UNDER COUNTY JUDGE AND THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF AN INCREDIBLE INITIATIVE THAT OUR LIBRARIES PIONEERED AND THAT WAS -- CURBSIDE LARRY DURING THE PANDEMIC. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF JOY AND BOOKS OBVIOUSLY TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC. DURING THE TOUGHEST TIME OF THE PANDEMIC BUT EVEN NOW AND WITH THE CAVEATS THAT NUMBERS ARE WORSENING AGAIN. EVEN AS WE'VE MOVED BEYOND SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES IT HAS CONTINUED TO BE A VERY LOVED SERVICE. THE CURBSIDE LIBRARY SERVICE. WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC STRUCK THE LIBRARY QUICKLY PIVOTED. [00:20:08] JOHN SHAFFER AND FELLOW STAFF CREATED A CHARACTER CURBSIDE LARRY WHO APPEARED IN NUMEROUS VIDEOS AND CURBSIDE LARRY BECAME A VIRAL SENSATION. WITH OVER 100,000 ENGAGEMENTS ON TWITTER. QUICKLY MAKING HIM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY'S CENTURY LONG HISTORY. WHEREAS CURBSIDE LARRY WAS FEATURED IN CBS THIS MORNING. THE "HOUSTON CHRONICLE" AND TEXAS MONTHLY AT A TIME OF WIDESPREAD LOCKDOWNS SPREADING AWARENESS TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE BROAD RANGE OF CRUCIAL LIBRARY SERVICES. IT WAS CREATED AND PRODUCED USING NO COUNTY RESOURCES. AND THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES BY BE STOWING THE COVETED BEST OF SHOW BRANDING IRON AWARD WHICH CELEBRATES THE BEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN LIBRARY MARKETING ACROSS TEXAS. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONSULATE -- CURBSIDE LARRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO SECOND BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHERE CURBSIDE LARRY IS? I THOUGHT HE WOULD COME. HE IS OUT OF CHARACTER. WE HAD COMIC -- HERE. HELLO. MY NAME IS JOHN SHAFFER. YOU MAY KNOW ME AS CURBSIDE LARRY. I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED THAT I WOULD BE STANDING HERE TODAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS. THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS OPEN FOR CURBSIDE SERVICE. BECAUSE LIBRARIES ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE WE CREATED CURBSIDE LARRY. AND IT WORKED. WE GOT THE MESSAGE OUT THAT PEOPLE COULD PICK UP BOOKS AND MATERIALS SAFELY AND WITH A SMILE EVEN IF THAT SMILE WAS COVERED UP WITH A MASK. OUR A LITTLE LIBRARY COMMERCIALS REMINDED PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE HOW MUCH THEIR LIBRARIES MEANT TO THEM ESPECIALLY NOW. I'M SO FORTUNATE TO WORK FOR A LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS STAFF. IT'S A WONDERFUL CULTURE TO BE PART OF. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK SOME SPECIAL PEOPLE. LAURA, AMANDA HERBERT, KATHY CLARKE AND THE ENTIRE STAFF OF THE BARBARA BUSH BRANCH LIBRARY. ALSO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR YOUR RECOGNITION AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. THANK YOU, LARRY. NEXT IS ITEM 380 AND TODAY -- ACTUALLY AN IMPORTANT DAY IN THE MUSLIM FAITH. SO PARTLY THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING. HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO ABOUT 117,000 OF AN ESTIMATED 1.8 BILLION MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD. THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO MAJOR ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS. SHARING THE BELIEF IN ONE GOD AND ONE HUMANITY. IT'S A DAY IN WHICH MUSLIMS COME TOGETHER TO PRAY AND FEAST AND CELEBRATE WITH LOVED ONES. WHEREAS THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY PREVIOUSLY HOSTED SEVEN MOSQUES AS POLLING LOCATIONS DURING THE 2020 ELECTION. HARRIS COUNTY HISTORIC VOTING TURN OUT WAS POSSIBLE IN PART DUE TO THE CRITICAL WORK ON THE GROUND BY MUSLIM COMMUNITY LEADERS. MEMBERS ARE USING THEIR VOICES AND ENGAGING IN THEIR CIVIC DUTIES IN THE COUNTY AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO UPHOLDING DEMOCRACY. [00:25:06] HARRIS COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE CULTURAL AND -- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MUSLIM COUNTY. DO WE HAVE ANYONE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? YES, MA'AM, WE DO. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELCOME EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS HOLIDAY FOR US. IT IS MY HONOR TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE OCCASION OF EID IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. A COURT THAT HAS EMBRACED THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY WITH OPEN ARMS. I THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGING KEY CONVENIENCE IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TAKING THE TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THEM. -- THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY DIVERSE COMPRISING OF BLACK MUSLIMS WHO TRACE BACK TO SLAVERY. A LARGE NUMBER OF PAKISTANI, INDIAN AND BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANTS AS WELL AS A MELTING POT. VOTING IS A SACRED RIGHT BECAUSE THIS BEFORE -- US SACRIFICES LIFE. FOR MANY YEARS THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY -- FACE XENOPHOBIA. -- THE LAST ELECTION SAW A MARKED INCREASE IN THE VOTER TURN OUT AND THIS IS THANKS TO CHANGES IMPLEMENTED BY HARRIS COUNTY. FOR THE FIRST TIME HAD MOSQUES AS VOTING LOCATIONS. MANY MUSLIMS UTILIZED THOSE AS WELL AS WELL AS DRIVE THROUGH LOCATIONS AND MUSLIMS WHO HAVE WORKED BLUE COLLAR JOBS WERE ABLE TO VOTE AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTENDED HOURS AND THE 24 HOUR VOTING PERIOD TO CAST THOSE BALLOTS. IN RECENT YEARS -- THERE ARE MORE MUSLIMS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, AND PERHAPS NOW THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE NEW GENERATION THAT FEELS A SENSE OF BELONGING. IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION I SUBMITTED MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILL 1231 TO ALLOW STAFF TO TAKE EID AS AN OPTIONAL HOLIDAY. I PROPOSE IT SHOULD BE AN OPTIONAL HOLIDAY AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF EID TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. WE ALL FEEL YOUR PAIN. I KNOW YOU LOST YOUR GRANDMOTHER SO I WANT TO YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU WHEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE ADJUSTED AND ARE BACK OUT AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT. I TOO WANTED TO OFFER OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO YOU COUNCILMEMBER AND TO YOUR FAMILY. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THIS. I WANT TO ASK A BIG FAVOR OF YOU BECAUSE WHEN I SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL I SERVED ALONGSIDE A GOOD MAN BY THE NAME OF M.J. KAHN WHO EDUCATED ME ON FASTING SO I TOOK HIM UP ON THE CHALLENGE OF FASTING DURING RAMADAM. AND SO WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BREAK THE FAST HE ASKED ME HOW I WAS FEELING AND I TOLD HIM I HAD A HEADACHE AND WAS FEELING WEAK. AND HE ASKED WHAT DID I EAT FOR BREAKFAST? I THOUGHT YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT OR DRINK ALL DAY LONG BUT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO GET UP BEFORE SUNRISE AND HAVE BREAKFAST AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. SO PLEASE GIVE THE SUPPORT -- SUPPORTIVE NONMUSLIM COMMUNITY THE TRICKS OF FASTING. INSHALLAH WE'LL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE. [00:30:01] HE MAY GET UP EARLY BUT HE DOES NOT GET OUT. YOU KNOW THAT. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER. -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE A OF COMMENT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TALKING. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION FOR ME COMING OUT OF MY FAITH TRADITION. I'M A PRACTICING CHRISTIAN, A BAPTIST AND IN ORDER FOR ME TO BE SAFE IN MY STREETS AND TO WORSHIP IN MY HOME AND MY CHURCH IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO WORSHIP IN THEIR HOME AND CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE/MOSQUE AND WE PROUDLY PASSED A RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF THE WEIGER PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE NOT SAFE TO WORSHIP THEIR GOD IN THEIR HOME OR IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE WHAT HAPPENED OVER IN THE 1940S IN GERMANY WHERE ONE GROUP WAS DISALLOWED AND THEN NO ONE WAS SAFE EXCEPT THOSE WHO WERE A MEMBER OF THE PARTY. I STAND BEHIND THIS RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS MY RIGHT TO WORSHIP MY LORD JESUS CHRIST. TO BE ABLE TO DO IT FREELY AND SECURELY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS PERSON CHECKED IN. HASEEN KAHN. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HERE. GO AHEAD. AND I WANT TO NOTE AS THEY COME UP WE HAVE SEVEN MOSQUES THAT WERE POLLING LOCATIONS AND OVER 60,000 BALLOTS WERE CAST. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT INCREASED PARTICIPATION WHICH IS VERY EXCITING AND VERY WELCOMED. GOOD MORNING. IN THE NAME OF GOD THE MOST MERCIFUL AND THE MOST GRACIOUS GOOD MORNING TO ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING. I WANT TO THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE AND SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF -- MY NAME IS AMEN -- KABIR. THIS IS THE LARGEST REGIONAL ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION IN NORTH AMERICA WITH 22 ISLAMIC CENTERS TALKING ABOUT BRAZORIA, MONTGOMERY AND FORT BEND COUNTY. TODAY IS A SPECIAL OCCASION FOR MUSLIMS. AND WE HAVE OPTED TO BE HERE IN PERSON TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. A FEW ITEMS -- ABOUT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. BACK DURING HARVEY WE WERE IN TOUCH WITH JUDGE EMMITT AT THE TIME TO COORDINATE HOW WOULD OUR ISLAMIC CENTERS HELP THE COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY AND WE OPENED OUR CENTERS AS SHELTERS AND STAGING CENTERS AND THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE THE CARE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE LARGER COMMUNITY IN SOCIETY AND FAST-FORWARD WHEN COVID HIT THE ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN AND THE ISLAMIC CENTERS MOBILIZED QUICKLY WITH HARRIS COUNTY OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE TESTING CENTERS AND THEN WHEN THE VACCINES CAME SOME OPTED TO BE PART OF THE DRIVE. AS WE SPEAK ABOUT POLLING PLACES SERVE ISLAMIC CENTERS ENDED UP AS A POLLING PLACE TO ENSURE THAT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS FULL THROTTLE AND VOICING THEIR CONCERNS AND OPTING TO COME AND EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC DUTY. THIS MORNING WE HAD ONE OF THE LARGEST PRAYERS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THAT IS THE -- PRAYER. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE LIAISON HAD REACHED [00:35:07] OUT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE VOTER REGISTRATIONS AT THE PRAYERS. I PERSONALLY STOOD UP IN FRONT OF THE CONGREGATION TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE REMINDED THAT EXERCISING THEIR CIVIC DUTIES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE WERE VERY HAPPY THAT THESE DRIVES ARE TAKING PLACE. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR EFFORTS, STRENGTHEN YOUR RESOLVE AND MAKING THE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE HONOR TO SPEAK ON THE BIGGEST MUSLIM HOLIDAY CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR. I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M TELLING MY FELLOW LISTENERS TODAY. PEACE BE WITH YOU AND EID -- WHICH MEANS A BLESSED EID. EID JUST MEANS CELEBRATION. AND GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS AND ESPECIALLY JUDGE HILDALGO. IT MAY SEEM LIKE A STANDARD RESOLUTION -- BUT THIS MOMENT IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL TO ME. NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MOSQUE AND THE PRESIDENT JUST SPEAK BEFORE ME AND YOU CALLED -- HIS NAME BUT HE IS ENTERTAINING HIS OWN COMMUNITY. YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO CALL SOME OTHER NAMES. PEOPLE WHO I GREW UP WITH. AND TO HEAR THEIR NAMES BEING RECOGNIZED TODAY IS KIND OF LIKE OH, WOW! SO Y'ALL ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THE LEADERS ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES AND BEING CALLED ON THIS DAY IS BEYOND SPECIAL. MY FIRST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE WAS -- THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP BUT THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS. JUST HERE TO REITERATE AND THANKFUL FOR. WE HAD OVER 60,000 PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT WAS ONE OF MY DREAMS IS OPENING UP VOTING AT THOSE CENTERS OF WORSHIP AND IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST HAVING VOTING BUT THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT AND STAFFED THOSE LOCATIONS AS WELL. SO THE JUDGES WERE FROM THE AREAS AND THE CLERKS WERE FROM THE AREAS WHICH IS IMPACTFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE TO DO THAT. AND TO DO THAT EVEN WHEN THEY RECEIVED SAFETY THREATS. THANK YOU FOR OUR SHERIFFS AND OTHERS WHO KEPT US SAFE. [00:40:06] TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY FELT SAFE VOTING AND THAT CONTINUES TODAY. SO JUST THIS MORNING I GOT TO STOP AT THE MOSQUE KATY LOCATION AND I GOT TO HEAR A PART OF THE PRAYERS AND SOMETHING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS A READYING FROM THE QURAN THAT DO READ DO THE GOOD DEEDS AND FEEL THE BREEZE. WE GOT 15 LOCATIONS THAT WE HAD REGISTRATION. WE HAD VOLUNTEERS EAGER UP AT 5:00 A.M. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT PARTNERSHIP AND SERVICE IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. I HOPE THAT YOU HEAR THAT MESSAGE TODAY AS WELL. LET'S DO GOOD DEEDS AND FEEL THE GENTLE BREEZE TODAY. THANK YOU. 7. IN THE NAME OF GOD THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MOST MERCIFUL. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS AMBRIAN HERNANDEZ. WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE AREA FOR 19 YEARS AND COUNTING AND I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY TO SHARE THAT I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL. AS THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NATION'S LARGEST MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION WHICH HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE POPULATIONS WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS. WITH THAT IT IS IN GRATITUDE THAT CARE HOUSTON WELCOMES THIS RESOLUTION AND RECOGNIZING HARRIS COUNTY MUSLIM'S CONTRIBUTIONS. AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY SO FAR IN THE TESTIMONIES PROVIDED THE MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BEING ACTIVE. THIS IS EVIDENT BUT MOST ESPECIALLY IN OUR VOTER TURN OUT RESULTS AND OTHER OF EFFORTS. OR LOCAL PARTICIPATING MOSQUES PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN EXPANDING VOTER ACCESS WHICH CAN SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE NATION. WE THANK EVERYONE HERE TODAY FOR EXTENDING THEIR BEST WISHES TO OUR LOCAL MUSLIMS HERE ONCE AGAIN AND I WANT TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER AS TO WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY TODAY BECAUSE THE RITUAL THAT'S WE OBSERVE AND FOLLOW HELP US REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT BY PUTTING FAITH IN ACTION. AND THAT MEANS RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SACRIFICE, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. THAT WHEN THE STATION ARE HIGH WE OWE IT TO OUR COMMUNITIES TO DEFEND THEIR POLITICAL AND CIVIC RIGHTS HOWEVER WE CAN AND THIS INCLUDES THE BALLOT BOX. ON BEHALF OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY WE THANK EVERYONE HERE TODAY FOR THEIR EFFORTS, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND HOW GOVERNMENT CAN REFLECT THE VALUES THAT WE PROMOTE. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT. AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, TIME TODAY AND -- EID MUBARAK. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU JUDGE HILDALGO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS SAKINA GUTIERREZ. FIRST GENERATION TO BE BORN AND RAISED HERE IN HOUSTON. DESPITE OF THE CHALLENGES FACED AS A YOUTH IN THE '90S AS A YOUTH IN ALIEF SOMETHING THAT -- THE UNDENIABLE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY. THE ONE THING THAT I DID NOT KNOW WAS ISLAM. I FOUND ISLAM WHEN I WAS 21 AND THE SAME VALUES THAT I CHERISHED WAS ALSO FOUND IN ISLAM AND THE MUSLIMS. NOW 20 YEARS IN MAKING AND AS A CO-FOUNDER ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND OF ISLAM IN SPANISH OUR MISSION WAS TO BRING ABOUT AWARENESS AND EDUCATION TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY ABOUT ISLAM AND THE SPANISH LANGUAGE AND NOW AS LATINO MUSLIM POPULATION CONTINUES TO [00:45:02] GROW AND THE LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP EMBRACING ISLAM IN AMERICA WE'RE NOW LEADING ON THE MISSION TO SEE LIVES TRANSFORMED INTO PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL CITIZENS COLLABORATING FOR THE COMMON GOOD. OUR CENTER -- IS THE ONLY SPANISH SPEAKING ISLAMIST CENTER IN AMERICA AND IT IS LOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY IN THE HEART OF ALIEF. WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AND HAVE DONE SO WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS CREATING CARE PACKAGES FOR THE HOMELESS, DELIVERING GROCERIES AND HOT MEALS DURING COVID AS WELL AS HAVING VACCINE DRIVES. PARTNERING WITH THE 2020 CENSUS BUREAU AND VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES TO NAME A FEW ALL AT OUR CENTER. ALSO THAT OUR CENTER HOSTED MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND OTHER LEADERS AT OUR PRODUCTION CENTER FOR A TELETHON AND RAISED MONEY FOR THE HARVEY VICTIMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY AS TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT THE NUMBER OF LATINO MUSLIMS IS SIGNIFICANT AND BROKEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN PRECINCT 3. WE APPRECIATE YOU. INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU, MOHAMMED. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE OUT IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA. APPRECIATE YOU, BUDDY. THANK YOU. EID. MUBARAK. GOOD MORNING. IT'S ALMOST GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL. THE LEADERS THAT HAVE SPOKE BEFORE ME HAVE NOT LET ANYTHING FOR ME TO SAY. [00:50:07] MUHAMMAD THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BROTHER AND -- TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? -- PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS IMAN -- KAHN REPRESENTATIVE MASS -- IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR OF HOUSTON AND ACTUALLY THIS PARTICULAR MATTER THAT WE'RE HERE TO ADDRESS SHOULD BE VERY EASY FOR ALL OF US. THERE IS NOTHING TO UNITE A COMMUNITY THAN A COMMON DENOMINATOR. AND EVEN THOUGH THAT THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE ON ALL OF THE CURRENCY THAT THIS COUNTRY USES SAID IN GOD WE TRUST. THE COMMON DENOMINATOR WITH ALL OF THE MAJOR RELIGIONS IS ABRAHAM. NO ONE ARGUES ABOUT ABRAHAM AND THIS PARTICULAR OBSERVANCE WORLDWIDE THIS EID -- BRINGS TOGETHER SHOULD BRING WHOLE HUMANITY TOGETHER UNDER THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF ABRAHAM. HE SHOWED THE TRUE EXAMPLE OF WHAT SACRIFICE IS. SOMETIMES THE MOST POWERFUL SACRIFICE IS NOT TANGIBLE. IT'S NOT PHYSICAL OR MATERIAL. SOMETIMES IT'S OUR EGOS OUR PRIDE AND OUR SELFISHNESS. SO WE AS A HUMAN BODY ESPECIALLY IN THESE GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE MELTING POT FOR THE WORLD WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE COMMON DENOMINATOR FOR THE GOOD OF EVERYONE. THERE ARE GENERATIONS COMING AFTER US THAT WILL BE READING BOOKS ABOUT HOW WE TRIED TO COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE FOR EVERYONE AND A MORE COMMON AND BETTER ATMOSPHERE OF PEACEFULNESS, WORKING TOGETHER AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH IT UNLESS WE SEE THAT. WE CAN LOOK PAST OUR RACIAL ISSUES. WE CAN LOOK PAST OUR ETHIC ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ONLY NOT IMPORTANT BUT SUPERFLUOUS TO WHAT THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE. THIS HOLIDAY WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD CELEBRATE REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR RELIGION IS THAT [00:55:03] WE'RE GOING TO LEARN TO FOCUS ON WHAT REAL SACRIFICE IS AND THAT IS WHY EID IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE PRAY THAT EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE CAN MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE AND BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE. THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR YOU'RE NORM US CONTRIBUTIONS. WE'LL MOVE ON, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MORE RESOLUTIONS AND THEN WE'LL TAKE PICTURES. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ITEM 12 ON PAGE 3. YES. THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY EXCITING OCCASION FOR ME. I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO PRECINCT 2 AND ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY. MR. JOHNNY CORTEZ. MR. JOHNNY CORTEZ WILL BE SERVING AS COMMISSIONER FOR A DAY FOR PRECINCT 2. LET ME SHARE WHY. FIRST, I REMEMBER WHEN MAYOR WELCH USED TO HAVE THIS PRACTICE OF DOING MAYOR FOR A DAY. AND I WAS TOLD PEOPLE HOUSTON -- IS MY OLDER BROTHER AND GENERALLY THAT RECOGNITION WAS GIVEN TO ONE OF THE TOP PERFORMING STUDENTS IN THE CITY. WHICH WAS MY OLDER BROTHER. IN THIS OCCASION THIS RECOGNITION IS GOING TO A TOP PERFORMING STUDENT IN PRECINCT 2. JOHNNY HAS GRADUATED FROM EAST EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL. HE RECEIVED EAST END CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SCHOLARSHIP AND HE WILL BE ATTENDING DUKE. HE WANTS TO RESEARCH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. TODAY HE IS BEING JOINED BY HIS BEAUTIFUL MOTHER MARIA CORTEZ, HIS SISTER ASHLEY CORTEZ AND IF JUDGE IF THERE IS NO OBJECTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW COMMISSIONER CORTEZ TO TAKE MY SEAT AT THE TABLE AND BRIEF THE COURT ON COVID-19 AGENDA ITEM 12 AND THEN I WILL RESUME MY POST AS HE CONCLUDES. COMMISSIONER. AND DON'T DRINK MY COFFEE, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT, GUESTS. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE UP HERE. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO -- GIVE ME ONE SECOND -- THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO COVID-19 ITEM 12. ON THE AGENDA IS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION WITH NO MATCH REQUIRED FOR EAST HARRIS PROSPERITY PLAN PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH PANDEMIC RELIEF PROGRAMS AND RECOVERY SERVICE TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS. OUR PROPOSAL WILL SERVE THE 290,800 RESIDENTS OF THE UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $1 MILLION. IF AWARDED. AS COMMISSIONER I WANT TO -- TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH MY SCHEDULER ESTHER -- A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU JUDGE HILDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND GUESTS. WHY DON'T YOU STAY FOR THE VOTE? IS THAT A MOTION? I DON'T KNOW -- YOU GOT IT. YOU'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I'LL MAKE THE SECOND OR VICE AVERSE. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. WELL DONE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. I HAVE A QUESTION -- AND THAT IS THIS IS NOT PART OF THE ARPA FUNDS. THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT GRANT. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. [01:00:05] LET ME RECOGNIZE HIS FAMILY AND JUST SAY THAT JOHNNY IS ALSO PART OF A UNIQUE CLUB. HE IS PART OF THE LITTLE BROTHERS CLUB. AND SO AM I. JOHNNY IS THE YOUNGEST OF SEVEN. HIS FAMILY HIS PARENTS COME FROM -- AND SAN LOUIS, MEXICO. WE WANT TO FIRST OF ALL SAY TO THE OLDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS GO EASY ON THE LITTLE BROTHER. I'VE GOT HIS BACK. SECONDLY WE WANT TO SAY TO HIS MOM AND HIS FAMILY I KNOW YOU ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM. SO ARE WE. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE LOVING ALL OF THE SUPPORT ALL OF THE ATTENTION ALL OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THE -- CLASS THAT MIGHT HAVE COME IN MAKING SURE THAT JOHNNY STAYED FOCUSED AND WAS A GOOD STUDENT AND I KNOW THAT HE WILL GO ON TO MAKE US EVEN MORE PROUD. CONGRATULATIONS. CORRECT. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU, JUDGE. NEXT ITEM -- THIS ONE ALSO VERY EXCITING BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH DEERS. IN PARTICULARLY IT DEALS WITH THE DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM. THE LADY DEERS AND THIS RESOLUTION IS AN HONOR OF THEIR SUCCESS, THEIR PERSEVERANCE, THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR SPORT. AND THEIR PRIDE FOR THEIR SCHOOL AND SO WITH THAT I AM HONORED TO READ THIS RESOLUTION THAT BEGINS WITH WHEREAS THE DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM DEFEATED JUDSON HIGH SCHOOL OF CONVERSE, TEXAS ON SATURDAY JUNE 5, 2021 AT THE MACOMBS FIELD IN AUSTIN TEXAS WITH A 1-0 VICTORY SECURING THEIR FIRST UIL CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE. AND WHEREAS SENIOR STARTING PITCHER HANNAH BENEVIDES -- TOSSED A COMPLETE GAME SHUT OUT ALLOWING ONLY SIX HITS WHILE WALKING TWO AND STRIKING OUT SIX. AND WHEREAS BENEVIDES THREW SHUT OUTS WAS AWARDED MVP OF THIS CLASS 6A TOURNAMENT AND IS HAS SIGNED TO ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. CONGRATULATIONS. YES. GIVE HER A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE THERE. AND THEN WHEREAS CATCH ERGONOMICS IN PEREZ EVERY GOOD PITCHER NEEDS A GOOD CATCHER DROVE IN THE LONE RUN FOR THE LADY DEERS. LET HER KNOW WE'RE SINGING HER PRAISES WHEREAS SENIOR CENTER FIELDER TABBY BAILEY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THREE OUTS IN THE 7TH INNING CAUGHT 9 FLY BALLS BREAKING HER RECORD OF SIX TO RECORD THE FINAL OUT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND IS TABBY HERE? PROUD OF YOU. WHEREAS LADY DEER FINISH THEIR SEASON 40-8 AND ARE NOW TIED IN THE REGION 3 PROGRAM FOR THE MOST STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS WAS THEIR 5TH STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE SINCE 2012 WINNING CLASS 5A TITLES IN 2012 AND 2014. AND WHEREAS COMPLETING HER FIRST SEASON WITH THE LADY DEER HEAD COACH -- AMIE BUSH WAS NAMED SOFTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR. [01:05:06] AND WHEREAS DEER PARK SET THE STATE RECORD FOR MOST RUNS IN AN INNING. 10 IN THE 5TH AND TIED THE 5A. RECORD FOR MOST RUNS IN A GAME 13. FOR WHICH PREPS RANKED THEM 9TH IN THE TOP 25 SOFTBALL RANKINGS IN THE NATION. BE IT RESOLVED THAT TODAY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZES DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL LADY DEER SOFTBALL TEAM FOR THEIR ATHLETICISM, DILIGENCE AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THEY COME FROM THE LAND OF ANDY PETIT AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. COACH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS ON BEHALF OF YOUR TEAM. HI. MY NAME IS AMY VIDA. THE HEAD COACH AT DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL AND ON BEHALF OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND MY STAFF AND ONE OF THEMES IN THE AUDIENCE AND A HANDFUL OF OUR SENIORS THAT HAVE JUST GRADUATED AND ARE OFF TO COLLEGE WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. COACH I WAS GOING TO SAY THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING THING ON THE AGENDA. I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE THAT ME AND MY FRIENDS IN DEER PARK BE IT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE CITY COUNCIL I GREW UP IN CROCKET, TEXAS AND WHEN I GET HOME SICK I GO TO DEER PARK. BECAUSE THAT IS AS MUCH AS LIKE ANY GREAT SMALL TOWN AS YOU FIND ANYWHERE. VERY WELL DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THIS NEXT RESOLUTION OF JUDGE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. A LITTLE MORE HUMBLING. BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH A VOID THAT EXIST IN SO MANY FAMILIES UNFORTUNATELY. AND THIS IS ALSO A GROUP AND AN EVENT AND ACTUALLY A TEAM OF DEDICATED LEADERS THAT I'VE WORKED WITH FOR MANY YEARS AND IT DEALS WITH THE MISSING. WHEREAS IN 2020 -- 10524 NEW MISSING PERSON CASES WERE FILED IN HARRIS COUNTY ALONE. WITH 69% OF THESE CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN. AND WHEREAS LOCAL AGENCIES UNITE IN HOSTING THE MISSING IN HARRIS COUNTY DAY HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY INSTITUTE FOR FORENSIC SCIENCES, THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALEXANDRIA RECOVERY FUND AND OTHERS. AND WHEREAS FAMILIES OF LOCAL MISSING PERSONS WILL BE INVITED TO ENTER INFORMATION INTO THE NATIONAL MISSING AND UNIDENTIFIED PERSON SYSTEM, PROVIDE DNA SAMPLES, REPORT MISSING FAMILY MEMBERS AND CONNECT WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ASSIST IN BRINGING HOME MISSING FAMILY MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE PHOTOS OF THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES. WITH IDENTIFYING FEATURES OR PERSONAL ITEMS. X-RAY, DENTAL OR MEDICAL RECORDS AND POLICE REPORTS. WHEREAS THIS ANNUAL EVENT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT FAMILIES OF LOCAL MISSING PERSONS THROUGH ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS AND PANELS. AND WHEREAS EVERY MISSING PERSON IS SOMEONE'S CHILD. AND DESERVES TO BE FOUND NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY REMAIN MISSING OR UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HOPE THIS DAY CANNOT ONLY BRING INFORMATION TO LIGHT THAT WILL LEAD TO THE LOCATION OF THESE MISSING PERSONS BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO THOSE FAMILIES EXPERIENCING A MISSING LOVED ONE. BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION AREA COURT RECOGNIZE THIS DAY. [01:10:03] AND LET ME ALSO JUST SHARE JUDGE THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF THINGS I HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE WORK TO ADDRESS BACKLOGS IN THE COURT THAT WE LOOK AT ADDRESSING THESE BACKLOGS. IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER. SO DR. SANCHEZ IS TAKING A LOOK AT THIS AND WILL PROVIDE US SOME INFORMATION. HE DOES BELIEVE THAT BY AND FAR THINGS ARE WORKING WELL AND THEY ARE KEEPING UP WITH SITUATIONS BUT THERE IS ONE AREA WHERE HE MAY NEED SUPPORT SO WE WILL BE BRINGING SOME OF THE INFORMATION FORWARD AT A LATER TIME. COMMISSIONER ELLIS. NO. OKAY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA THIS IS VERY GOOD. I HAVE A SLIGHT ADD TO INCLUDE CONSTABLES AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THANK YOU. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADD THAT. AS WE WERE MENTIONING EMERGENCIES EARLIER WE'LL GET TO COVID AND RESOURCES I DO WANT TO MENTION THE EMERGENCY WE HAD THIS WEEKEND AT THE WATER PARK. WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION? WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER. IT'S A SECOND WHEREAS TO JUST ADD CONSTABLES AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO THAT LIST. WE HAVE A SPEAKER. FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS DAY WITH THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. IT'S A PROGRAM COORDINATED BY THE CENTER FOR MISSING AND THE AMBER ALERT IS ONE OF THE PROVIDERS. FIRSTHAND WHAT AN IMPACT THIS HAS MADE ON CERTAIN FAMILIES. WATCH THESE MEN AND WOMEN LAUNCH INTO ACTION. THEY'VE IDENTIFIED 13 MISSING -- 436 INDIVIDUALS WAITING FOR IDENTIFICATION IN THE TWO HARRIS COUNTY CEMETERIES. AT LEAST TWO -- HAVE CLOSED OUT SOME OF THE JANE AND JOHN DOE CASES. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE TODAY TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOUR NETWORKS. SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS. TO PROVIDE THE VOLUNTARY DNA -- LOGS AND ATTEND THE FAMILY ROUNDTABLES. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FORGIVING THOSE FAMILIES HOPE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL FOR BRINGING THIS. I DID A LITTLE BIT OF WORK WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE MISSING AND FOR MANY FOLKS THEY JUST WANT CLOSER. NOT KNOWING IS WORSE. JUST A QUESTION. I'VE GOT ONE MORE RESOLUTION THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT BUT SINCE WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES BEFORE WE DO THE NEXT RESOLUTION. LET'S TAKE THE PICTURES AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK. LET'S BE BACK AT 11:40. IT'S 11:47. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE MY GUEST FOR THE DAY. THIS YOUNG MAN'S FATHER WORKED FOR ME MANY YEARS AGO AND WHEN HE WAS COMING INTO THE WORLD [01:15:04] I DID ONE OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS THAT SOMETIMES WE DO AND DON'T THINK ABOUT IT BUT HE SENT ME A NICE WRITTEN NOTE. HE IS GOING TO HARVARD UNDERGRADS BUT HE SAID ALL OF HIS LIFE HE SAW THIS RESOLUTION ABOVE HIS HEAD WHEN HE WAS A KID EVEN BEFORE HE COULD READ SO I INVITED HIM TO JOIN US TODAY. IT'S GUARANTEED TO GET HIM ALL A AND'S. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD TO MEET YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'VE GOT A RESOLUTION THAT I WILL HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL HELP BE IF NOT A GAME CHANGER WILL BE A GAME CHANGER. PUBLIC HEALTH COMING INTO THIS ROLE HAS BEEN VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. PRECINCT 2 HAS A LOT OF HEALTH CHALLENGES AMONGST THEM AS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PANDEMIC IS HAVING THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE OF ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY. HAVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE. HAVING THE HIGHEST RATES OF CANCER IN ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY. HIGHEST RATES OF ASTHMATIC CASES. FOR THOSE REASONS I CAME IN ON DAY ONE AND WAS COMMITTED TO DOING ALL I CAN TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. AMONGST THE GOAL WAS TO DO WHAT I CAN TO MAKE THE MEDICAL CENTER SOMETHING OF A GREATER REALITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF PRECINCT 2. BECAUSE JUDGE WE'RE PROUD OF THE MEDICAL CENTER BUT FOR FOLKS IN MY PRECINCT BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE THE LOWEST MEDIAN INCOME OF ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY COULD CARELESS THAT THE MEDICAL CENTER EXIST BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT. THEY CAN'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT SO IT'S WHERE THE IDEA TO ACCESS TO HEALTH SMART PODS CAME FROM AND ACTUALLY ON DAY ONE WE WERE HAVING EARLY MEETINGS ON HOW TO PROVIDE TELEMEDICINE ACCESS TO OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS. AS DIRECTOR ROBINSON HAS JOINED HARRIS COUNTY FROM SONOMA COUNTY IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT DR. PORTIA JOINED US ON THE FIRST WEEK OF THE PANDEMIC FROM DALLAS COUNTY. HE MADE HIS WAY TO THAT FOREIGN COUNTRY AND REALIZED HE HAD TO COME BACK. AND THEN THE DEAN OF THE HEALTH COURT IF YOU WILL IS WAYNE YOUNG OVER AT THE HARRIS CENTER. AND I'VE WORKED WITH DR. MESSY AND THEN DR. SHAW WORKED WITH EVERYBODY INDIVIDUALLY BUT I DIDN'T ALWAYS GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS CONSISTENT, EFFECTIVE, STRATEGIC COORDINATION HAPPENING WITH ALL THREE OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS. AND SO WHEN DIRECTOR ROBINSON CAME IN I SAID THIS IS NOW IMPORTANT BECAUSE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. PORTIA WAS THE FACT THAT HE IS COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE DEPENDENCY ON HOSPITAL BEDS IN OBJ AND BEN TAUB AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS OWN THE EFFORT ON THE FRONT END. BUT THAT IS NOT HIS WHEEL HOUSE. THAT IS DIRECTOR ROBINSON'S AND WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH REGRETFULLY TENDS TO HAVE A HAND ON THE FRONT END PUBLIC SIDE AND ON THE BACK END WITH ACUTE CARE. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS CRITICAL FOR US AS COMMISSIONERS'S COURT AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLE IN CRAFTING THIS RESOLUTION. I'M HONORED TO BE THE ONE WHO PRESENT IT. BUT THIS RESOLUTION WILL NOW GIVE THE DIRECTORS AND CEO A CHARGE ON HOW TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER AND WORKING TO HELP HARRIS COUNTY BECOME HEALTHIER. AND CREATING MORE CAPACITY AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID THIS RESOLUTION WILL ALSO HELP TO INDICATE THAT WE'LL START [01:20:04] PROVIDING SERVICES AT THREE PRECINCT 2 FACILITIES. THE MAY, GRACE ON COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE CB RAMSEY VETERAN'S CENTER ALL SERVICES WILL BE VIRTUAL. WHAT I TRIED TO DO AND INTERESTINGLY WE, I HAVE A LOT OF RESENTMENT TOWARDS THIS PANDEMIC BUT THE PANDEMIC ALSO THANKFULLY MADE THE GOVERNOR REALIZE THAT HE NEEDED TO RELAX THE REGULATIONS ON TELEMEDICINE AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT THAT THEY HAVE NOW REMAINED IN PLACE. THAT THESE SERVICES WILL AT THE CENTERS WILL BE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY AND GIVE CONSTITUENTS ACCESS. SERVICES WILL HELP US ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES AND IN TURN BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE HOLISTIC OUTCOMES FOR THESE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND I WANT TO THANK IN ADVANCE DIRECTOR ROBINSON, DR. PORTIA AND WAYNE YOUNG FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANOTHER YOUNG PERSON AND THAT IS MOHAMMED FOR HIS GOOD WORK ON THIS RESOLUTION AND JUST IN GENERAL. HE IS LEAVING US SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE IS GOING OVER TO GOOD SCHOOL OF LAW AND WE WISH HIM THE BEST BUT THIS RESOLUTION AND YOUR WORK YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD. I KNOW I AM. THANK YOU. SO THIS RESOLUTION -- IS THIS 384? YES, SIR. 384. AND ALSO REMEMBERING THAT MY OFFICE AFTER WE HAD RECEIVED THE DISPARITY STUDY THAT PUBLIC HEALTH DID IN 2019 WE WERE GOING TO START 2020 AS A PRECINCT 2 INITIATIVE TO FOCUS ON HEALTH IN 2020. BOY, DIDN'T WE DO THAT? WE ARE NOW BRINGING THAT SUMMIT BACK BUT THIS RESOLUTION WILL NOW BE A PART OF THAT SUMMIT AND SO I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT IT. BEFORE WE READ IT IF I WOULD BE ALLOWED TO JUMP IN TO SAY I'M GOING TO SECOND THIS MOTION AND HOW IT POINTS OUT AN IMPORTANT FACTOR OF HOW OUR HEALTH CARE IS DELIVERED IN THE COUNTY. PRECINCT 4 IS VERY SIMILAR TO PRECINCT 2 IN THAT PRECINCT 4 HAS THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO ARE POOR AS THE COUNTY AT LARGE AND MOST OF THOSE LIVE WELL BEYOND BELTWAY 8 AND SO WHEN THEY NEED TO HAVE CRITICAL SERVICES AT LBJ OR AT BEN TAUB THEY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS. SO THERE IS A VAST ARRAY OF NONPROFITS GROUPS AND OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE STEPPED INTO THE GAP BUT THOSE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT ARE THERE SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES THAT ARE THOSE ON THE EAST SIDE WE HAVE TO THOSE THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY THAT ARE THOSE THAT ARE INDIGENT AND DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE OFFER INSIDE LOOP 610. SO I'M GOING TO SECOND THE MOTION AND I THINK IT DOES POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FOR AND THAT IS ALL OF THE POOR OF THE COUNTY WHETHER INSIDE OF LOOP 610 OR INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF BELTWAY 8 WE CARE ABOUT. THANK YOU. THIS RESOLUTION READS WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT COMMITTED AS PART OF ITS OVER-ALL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES TO STRENGTHEN SERVICE DELIVERY TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S MOST VULNERABLE HIGH NEED RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, RECOVERY, AND WELL-BEING FOR THIS POPULATION. AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY HAS REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IN COUNTY HEALTH RELATED ENTITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY WORKING IN ISOLATION FROM ONE ANOTHER WHICH HAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT COORDINATED CARE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND WHEREAS TO ACHIEVE, IMPROVE HOLISTIC OUTCOMES FOR THESE COMMUNITIES THESE SILOS IN COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COUNTY HEALTH RELATED ENTITIES NEED TO BE BROKEN DOWN BY ADOPTING A SAFETY NET COORDINATED CARE MODEL AND WHEREAS A SAFETY NET COORDINATED CARE MODEL CAN BE DEFINED AS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, SUSTAINED RECOVERY AND [01:25:08] SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF CLIENTS AND FAMILIES INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACCESSING SERVICES, IMPROVE PREFERABLES, ACCESS AND SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT OF CLIENTS AND INCREASE THE COORDINATION OF SERVICES AND REDUCTION IN DUPLICATE SERVICES. WHEREAS THIS INITIATIVE IS REFERRED TO AS ACCESSING COORDINATED CARE AND IMPROVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY OR ACCESS HARRIS COUNTY AND ENCOMPASS THE WORK OF MULTIPLE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND ENTITIES IN VARIOUS AND CROSS DEPARTMENT AND CROSS ENTITY PROJECTS AIMED AT SERVING VULNERABLE HIGH NEED RESIDENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY HAD BEEN HEALTH, HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM, HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD, HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY, JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, COUNTY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTION'S DEPARTMENT, HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER, COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY, VETERANS SERVICES AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT OFFICE. AS WELL AS COORDINATION WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ESSENTIAL IN ACCOMPLISHING THESE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, AND WHEREAS COMMISSION'S COURT RECOGNIZES THAT THE HIGH NEED RESIDENTS REQUIRE COORDINATE AND COMPETENT SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE MULTIPLE NEEDS OF THE PERSON, FAMILY OR COMMUNITY FACILITATED BY GREATER SHARING AND PUBLIC REPORTING OF INFORMATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND BETWEEN COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COUNTY HEALTH RELATED ENTITIES. AND WHEREAS TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, SUSTAINED RECOVERY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF THE COUNTY'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COUNTY HEALTH RELATED ENTITIES NEED COMPREHENSIVE DATA BY UTILIZING THIS AGGREGATION METHODS. BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCESS HARRIS COUNTY FOR IMPROVING THE COORDINATED CLIENT CENTERED DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ADOPTED THIS DAY. JUDGE, I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE DO AT THIS COURT. I'M PROUD OF ALL OF THEM. BUT AS I'VE SAID TO MANY PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS I'M A PRODUCT -- I'M A PUBLIC HEALTH CARE BABY. GOT MY DENTAL WORK AND SHOTS AT MOBILE HOME UNITS PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND WHAT THEY DO FOR SO MANY. IN FACT THIS PAST SUNDAY I WAS VISITING CHURCHES AND HAPPENED TO SIT NEXT TO A 30 YEAR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYEE AMELIA DAY WITH WHILE WE WERE WORSHIPING TOGETHER. SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THIS PANDEMIC HAS REALLY GIVEN US A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE FRONT LINE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEM. WE LOVE YOU ALL. BUT WE ALSO WANT TO ONE DAY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY THAN THE ONE THAT WE ADOPTED AND INHERITED. I BELIEVE THIS WILL GET US CLOSER TO THAT END AND THE GOAL, JUDGE SO I'M VERY EXCITED AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS ON THE CALL FOR THIS RESOLUTION BUT I AGAIN WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU JUDGE IN PARTICULAR FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THIS HAS BEEN ON YOUR RADAR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR CONTINUING TO THIS RESOLUTION. THE COMMISSIONER ELLIS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND YOU AND I RAN INTO I GUESS THEY CALL THEM -- OF SO NAME AFTER COUNTY WHILE WE WERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHO SAID THEY WERE STILL ANGRY THAT WE TOOK DIRECTOR ROBINSON FROM THEM. [01:30:02] BUT IF SHE IS AVAILABLE I KNOW IT'S BASED ON THAT SONOMA COUNTY MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM HER IN A BIT. I KNOW THIS IS A BLUEPRINT. IT DOES NOT GO TO THE ISSUE OF FUNDING. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT WHEN IT COMES UP WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BUT I THINK IT HAS AN IMPACT ON ISSUES THAT WE HAVE INVOLVING CRIME. THAT'S RIGHT. AND I KNOW FROM SONOMA COUNTY I THINK IT'S CALLED ACCESS SONOMA AND THEY HAVE THIS FOUR PRONG APPROACH AND I ALSO WANT TO ASK HER ARE YOU -- ARE WE REACHING OUT TO OUR CITY PARTNERS. I WAS IN CHURCH AS WELL. I ROAD MY BICYCLE TO BISHOP DIXON'S CHURCH AND HE LET ME SPEAK IN SPANDEX BY THE WAY. 42 MILES IN THE HEAT. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN VERY FORGIVING OF THAT. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM DIRECTOR ROBINSON AS WELL. I'M GLAD YOU DID IT. AND SONOMA COUNTY WAS THE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTY. AND LET ME ADD REAL QUICK COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND JUDGE THAT WE'RE ALL INTERESTED IN SMART APPROACHES. THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE SMARTEST THAT WE WILL BE UNDERTAKING. COORDINATION JUST AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE COURTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL OF THE OTHER ENTITIES GOOD COORDINATION LEADS TO BETTER RESULTS. SAVINGS AND EFFECTIVENESS. I THINK THE ISSUE OF FUNDING MAY NOT BE AS BIG AS WE THINK BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE'RE GIVEN A CHARGE OF COORDINATION WILL LEAD TO SOME EFFICIENCIES THAT WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO THEM IN PARTICULAR AND OUR CLIENTS IN GENERAL. STEPHEN WILLIAMS WAS WITH ME AND I MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS ON THE -- AGENDA. I THINK THEY DO PLAY A ROLE BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW THE ISSUE IS WITH FEDERAL ALLOCATION. THEY GET A DIRECT ALLOCATION AND WE DON'T. SOMEBODY ASKED US -- SOMEBODY IS PAYING FOR A STUDY TO LOOK AT THE COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WHICH IS A MORE COMPLEX ISSUE BY THE WAY BUT I THINK THERE IS A ROLE THAT THEY OUGHT TO PLAY. THE SCHOOLS -- IN SOME WAYS LIKE THE QUESTION OF COORDINATION IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES SO I APPRECIATE YOUR REALLY CRYSTALIZING THIS COMMISSIONER BUT I THINK FOR DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND ALSO FOR DAVE WE CAN WISH FOR IT BUT IT'S GOING TO BE ON YOU GUYS TO GET THIS REALLY IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED AND WE KNOW THAT THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE ARE GOING TO COME OUT TO YOUR POINTED ON FUNDING BUT THAT COORDINATION HAS TO BE DONE AT THAT LEVEL. I KNOW IN TALKING TO DR. PORTIA HE IS DOING STUDIES NOW TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF DIRECTION. OBVIOUSLY WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT DR. PORTIA IS TALKING TO EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE ACCESS. I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO GET EVERYONE ON A SINGLE PAGE IN TERMS OF FOCUS THAT WHAT IS DAVE IS THERE FOR. NORMALLY WE SAY PLEASE GET TOGETHER AND TALK AND THEN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. WE HAVE A SILOED CULTURE. AS MOST ENTITIES DO. I DO WANT TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECTOR ROBINSON TO ADD ANY COMMENTS. DR. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNTY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ACCESS HARRIS COUNTY RESOLUTION. TO SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY -- THE -- WE'VE BEEN WORKING AND PARTNERING WITH [01:35:03] HARRIS HEALTH AND THE HARRIS CENTER AS WELL AS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE EMBARKING ON COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT SO I'M EAGER AND EXCITED TO BEGIN THAT COORDINATED COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO DESIGN AND ALIGN OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ACROSS BOTH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY IN IN TERMS R TERMS OF THE QUALITY AND TYPE OF PROGRAMS THAT YOU RECEIVE. WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCESS HARRIS COUNTY RESOLUTION VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS OFTEN REQUIRE THE SERVICES OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. THEY FIND THEMSELVES HAVING TO GO TO SEPARATE AGENCIES. THEIR EXPERIENCE IS FRAGMENTED FOR EACH. SERVICES THAT THEY REQUIRE. THIS BECOMES BURDENSOME AND DISCOURAGING. SILOED SYSTEMS LEADS TO INEFFECTIVE SERVICE. INITIATIVE ENCOMPASSES THE WORK OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. THE TEAM FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING CLIENTS IN A HOLISTIC WAY ADDRESSING MULTIPLE NEEDS. ACCESS HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT JUST AN INCREMENTAL APPROACH TO CHANGING THINGS BUT RATHER A BOLD CHALLENGE TO NOT ONLY GET INDIVIDUALS INTO THE SAFETY NET BUT TO GREATER SUFFICIENCY. WE NEED TO COUPLE THAT WITH ACCESS AND THEN GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO A BETTER LIFE TRAJECTORY. WE HAVE FOUR OBJECTIVES. TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND SUSTAINED AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF THE RESIDENTS. TO COORDINATE A PLAN. TO IMPROVE INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY AND REFERRALS. TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND POLICIES -- AND TO DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED DATA SHARING SYSTEM. I'LL END WITH A STATEMENT. THERE IS AN AFRICAN PROVERB THAT SAYS -- WELL-BEING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THIS IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS. THE JUDGE MAY HAVE REFERENCE EDIT. OUR NOT FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS BECAUSE IN THE STATE LAW IN TEXAS THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE SOME PERCENTAGE OF THE NET PATIENT REVENUE AND CHARITY CARE BUT IN SONOMA COUNTY DID YOU PULL IN -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT CITIES ARE IN SONOMA COUNTY. BUT HERE WILL IT BE A ROLE TO PULL THE OTHERS IN AS WELL? ABSOLUTELY. THEY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE. WE BROUGHT IN THE FRONT LINE STAFF. THEY WERE PART OF THE CARE COORDINATION TEAMS THAT WORKED WITH VARIOUS COHORTS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC CARE IN REALTIME. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A ROLE. ON FRIDAY MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE REFERENCED ARE ENGAGING IN A DESIGN THINKING WORKSHOP TO ALIGN AROUND THE FOLKS THAT WE KNOW WE SHOW TO CRYSTALLIZE IT. AND THEN COME BACK TO SAY HERE ARE THE POPULATIONS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE AND WE WANT TO DESIGN FRONT LINE TEAMS TO WORK WITH THEM IN A HOLISTIC WAY. SO YES, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY A ROLE FOR PRIVATE HOSPITALS. SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DID -- ABLE TO BRING THEM IN AND CALL TO QUESTION IN TERMS OF NOT JUST SUPPORTING AND PARTICIPATING BUT HELPING TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE EFFORT. IS THERE A NEED FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO REACH OUT TO THE CITIES TO HAVE THEM -- PASS [01:40:05] RESOLUTIONS. DIRECTOR? YES. ABSOLUTELY. THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A SEAMLESS HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL UP THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. GOOD MORNING. AS YOU KNOW THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND HARRIS CENTER AND OTHER COUNTY HEALTH RELATED ENTITIES SERVE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHILE WE OFTEN WORK TOGETHER I KNOW THE 80,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE EVERY YEAR DO IN FACT RECEIVE SERVICES ACROSS A WIDE SPOT OF PROVIDERS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT TODAY. THIS COURT HAS SUPPORTED US BEING A PART OF THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD THAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS. THERE IS STILL LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION WHICH WILL DIRECT IN THE RESULT OF THE OUTCOME AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT HEALTH -- RELATED. INCLUDING DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND -- JUSTICE AND PROBATION. THESE ARE ALL CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO STRETCH OUR LIMITED RESOURCES TO DO MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN A COUNTY WHERE OUR LEADERS PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO CARE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ENTITIES TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM AND THE OUTCOME OF THOSE THAT WE SERVE. THANK YOU, WAYNE. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'VE GOT STEPHEN -- GOOD MORNING. MY NAMING STEPHEN WU. WE ARE A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND HEALTH GROUPS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. AS WE SAW COVID-19 HAS SHOWN A BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT ON THE HEALTH INEQUITIES. HIGHER AT RISK FOR INFECTION AND POSSIBLY DEATH AND JOB LOSS LEADING TO THE INABILITY TO PAY RENT DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE ALSO SAW HOW HARRIS COUNTY MET THE MOMENT. TO SHIFTING RESOURCES AND HELPING WITH JOB LOSS AND RENT. HARRIS COUNTY UNDERSTOOD HOW CRITICAL IT WAS FOR AN INTEGRATED AND HOLISTIC APPROACH. WE CANNOT GO BACK TO OUR PREVIOUS NORMAL. IT'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST GETTING TREATED. IT INCLUDES ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD ACCESSIBILITY, INCOME AND HOUSE AND RACE AND GENDER. FOR THIS TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE IT MUST BE GROUNDED IN DATA. EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STARTED TEXANS WERE FACING HEALTH DISPARITIES AT ALARMING RATES. RATES ARE 10% TO 20% LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE POPULATION. AND FROM A SURVEY GROUP OVER 40% OF LGBTQ+ UNDERSTAND THE PAGE OF 50 HAD TO POSTPONE MEDICAL CARE. THESE ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF EXAMPLES. THE CURRENT GAP CREATES BARRIERS. [01:45:05] IT MUST INSTRUCT EXPANDED HEALTH AND ANALYSIS AND REPORTING. WE WILL KNOW WHAT LANGUAGES AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY ARE REQUIRED AND HOW TO -- EFFECTIVELY INVEST. WE'LL MOVE FROM DYING TO SURVIVING AND SURVIVING TO THRIVING. BUT WE NEED BETTER DATA. I VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE THE RESOLUTION. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. WAS THAT UNANIMOUS? CORRECT. UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU ALL. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YES. THIS IS 393. AND SINCE WE'RE ALL GIVING A REPORT ABOUT BEING IN CHURCH YESTERDAY. I WAS IN CHURCH TOO. I DID NOT RIDE MY BICYCLE TO CHURCH. QUESTION IS DID YOU HEAR THE WORD? I DID AND EVEN TAUGHT A COUPLE OF BIBLE STUDY CLASSES. AND WE WERE IN JOB. I FEEL LIKE JOB BEING IN A MIDDLE OF A CRIME PANDEMIC. THIS RESOLUTION 393 I BELIEVE AND I TOOK COUNCIL FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING THERE THAT WOULD IN FACT BE BIPARTISAN AS NOTED IN THE RESOLUTION THIS DID PASS IN THE SENATE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AND I WANT TO STATE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT THE MOST IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE UNDERSERVED WHEN IT COMES TO FOLKS THAT ARE LET OUT ON A LOW BOND, VIOLENT OFFENDERS LET OUT ON A LOW BOND. WE SAW COMPELLING TESTIMONY FROM ANTHONY ALLEN AND TERESA SEK AS THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR BROTHERS WHO WERE MURDERED BY FOLKS WHO WERE OUT ON A 7 FELONY PR BOND. IT'S IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT THAT I MAKE -- THIS RESOLUTION. VIOLENT CRIME BY OFFENDERS OUT ON FELONY BOND HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND WHEREAS THE "HOUSTON CHRONICLE" 221 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER WHILE OUT ON BOND. 58 OF WHICH OCCURRED IN 2019 AND 2020. 63,370 DEFENDANTS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A NEW CRIME SINCE 2015. "THE CHRONICLE" REPORTED THAT 7% OF THE MURDER CASES SINCE 2015 HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY AN OFFENDER OUT ON BAIL WHILE AS VIOLENT CRIMES -- THAT NUMBER ROSE TO 72 IN 2020 AND 2016 THERE WERE 36 SEXUAL ASSAULTS, PERPETRATED BY OFFENDERS OUT OFF BOND. BY 2 TO THAT NUMBER WAS UP TO 92. IN 2020 THERE WERE 3028 ROBBERIES BY THOSE OUT ON BOND HAS INCREASED FROM 232 IN 2016 TO 634 IN 2020. MANY OF THE CRIMES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND DURING THE FIRST CALLED SPECIAL SESSION OF THE 87TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE SENATOR JOAN HUFF FORD INTRODUCED A BILL. IT ADDRESSES CRITICAL ISSUES. AND WHEREAS SENATE BILL 6 PASSED WITH UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WAS APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN VOTE OF THE TEXAS SENATE. [01:50:02] THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORTS THIS AND HARRIS COUNTY SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF THE LEGISLATORS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL BAIL BOND REFORM. -- AND TO CONTINUE THE WORK DONE BY THE SENATE. THIS IS THE SECOND ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON THIS TODAY'S AGENDA DEALING WITH DOING SOMETHING AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING THE FIRST ONE WAS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE BACKLOG IN THE COURTS. THIS IS DEALING WITH A SPECIFIC, WELL-KNOWN ISSUE THAT WE MUST CANNOT BE SILENT ABOUT. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN A THIRD OPPORTUNITY LATER IN THE AGENDA TO DEAL WITH THIS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE THAN JUST TALK ABOUT IT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE. I READ THE BILL AND I'M SURE DUFF AS WELL COMMISSIONER. BASED ON MY YEARS OF BEING IN AUSTIN USUALLY WHEN YOU READ A BILL IT'S NOT THAT CLEAR WHAT IT DOES BECAUSE IT MAKES REFERENCE TO SO MANY OTHER STATUTES THAT ARE IN PLACE. BUT ARE YOU OF THE OPINION THAT THIS BILL DOES SOMETHING TO STOP PEOPLE WHO CAN PAY TO GET OUT? OR IN YOUR MIND IS THIS BILL MAINLY GO AFTER PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY BAIL? THIS BILL IN MY MIND COMMISSIONER WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SOMEBODY GETTING LET OUT OF JAIL THAT HAS 7 -- COMMITTED 7 VIOLENT FELONIES BEFORE AND THE MOST VIOLENT OFFENDERS SHOULD NOT BE GETTING OUT ON AN EASY BAIL. I THINK I ASKED SOMEONE FROM -- COMMISSIONER. HERE IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE AS IT RELATES TO BAIL. AND SOMETIMES I WOULD USE A CASE INVOLVING A FELONY AND A MISDEMEANOR TO MAKE THE CASE MYSELF. I WOULD USE THE SANDRA BLAND CASE IN WHICH SHE DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO POST BAIL AND ENDED UP DEAD IN HER JAIL CELL AND I WOULD USE THE ROBERT DURST CASE BECAUSE HE WAS ACCUSED OF CHOPPING SOMEONE'S HEAD OFF AND HE WAS GIVEN A FAIRLY HIGH BAIL. I THINK HE PAID THE BAIL WITH $100 BILLS. SO THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE IS IF WE BELIEVE IN EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW IF SOMEBODY HAS MONEY AND THEY CAN PAY TO GET OUT YOU SHOULDN'T PENALIZE SOMEBODY WHO DOES NOT HAVE MONEY. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME OF THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO WALK US THROUGH THE BILL. MAYBE START WITH ALEX -- A PUBLIC DEFENDER. HE MADE REFERENCE TO THE "HOUSTON CHRONICLE" ARTICLE. ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH MY TEAM DID ONLY TWO DEFENDANTS WERE GRANTED REDOING ANY ZANDT BOND. -- RECOGNIZANT BOND. -- THIS WOULD DO NOTHING TO STOP THE 179 HOMICIDES COMMITTED BY PEOPLE ON A MONEY BOND. THAT IS A TENDENCY -- HOPEFULLY ACCIDENTALLY TO CONFLATE SOMEBODY WHO PAID TO GET OUT WITH SOMEONE WHO DID NOT PAY TO GET OUT. I HOPE IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL WHEN WE DO THAT. BUT LOOK. I'LL CERTAINLY CONCEDE THAT CRIME IS UP ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK CLEARING THAT BACKLOG WILL HELP US A LOT HAVING SUFFERED FROM HARVEY AND THEN THE PANDEMIC. BUT THE HOST OF ISSUES OUT THERE. BUT I DON'T THINK THIS BILL HELPS. I WANT TO HEAR FROM ALEX. I'LL MAKE THIS COMMENT FROM MY EXPERIENCE. [01:55:03] DON'T ALWAYS ASSUME THAT BECAUSE SOMEBODY VOTED FOR A BILL THAT THEY ARE FOR IT. I DON'T WANT TO COMMENT ON ANY OF MY DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES. WE'LL HAVE SERIOUS HEARTBURN. WE ALL HEARD TESTIMONY OF ANTHONY ALLEN AND -- TERESA SEK. HER LITTLE BROTHER WAS WATCHING TV AND MURDERED BY SOMEBODY THAT WAS OUT ON SEVEN FELONY BONDS. IF THIS IS NOT THE SYSTEM THEN WHAT IS? CLEAR THE BACKLOG IS A BIG PART OF IT. WE CAN MAKE A NUMBER OF SMART INVESTMENTS. I'M GOING TO COME TO THIS COURT WITH AN ITEM IN THREE WEEKS THAT WOULD TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH BUT CLEARLY THERE ARE A HOST OF FACTORS THAT WE OUGHT TO DO BUT IN MY JUDGMENT WE OUGHT TO NOT JUST JUMP AND GO DO THE EASY THING THAT IS SENSATIONAL. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS AT PLAY HERE. I THINK THERE IS POLITICS ON EITHER SIDE. IF I CAN I WANT TO HEAR ON THIS BILL -- I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALEX TO WALK THROUGH THE 33 PAGES AND THE IMPACT OF IT. COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD A QUESTION. AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM ALEX. MY COMMENT IS FAIRLY SHORT ON THIS. WE DO HAVE SOME COMMON AGREEMENT AND COMMON GROUND. AND THAT IS THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE IN JAIL JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR. WHERE I THINK THAT OUR PATHWAYS SEPARATE IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S VIOLENT AND IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO GET OUT ON A MONEY BOND THEN WE SAY WE OUGHT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLENT WHO HAVE HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS GET OUT WITHOUT A BOND AND THAT IS THE PATHWAY WHAT WE SEPARATE. SB6 TRIES TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. WHERE SOMEONE WHO'S VIOLENT AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE CASH DOES NOT MEAN THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WALK THE STREETS AND HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS. JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE MONEY DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD WALK THE STREET AND THAT IS WHERE THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE IS TO STOP THOSE WHO HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS FROM WALKING THE STREET. NOT OH, SOME PEOPLE GET OUT ON THE TECHNICALITY THEREFORE WE NEED TO LET EVERYBODY OUT ON A -- TECHNICALITY. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HURT AND MURDERED -- SOMEONE LET THEM OUT AND WE CAN SAY THAT IT IS THE JUDGE'S FAULT FOR DISMISSING CASES. WE CAN SAY THAT IT'S THE BAIL SYSTEM'S FAULT. BUT IF SOMEONE IS HURTING THEIR NEIGHBORS THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS. NOW YOU SHOULD NOT LET SOMEONE GO FREE BECAUSE THEY ARE WEALTHY OR JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR. MY FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH PERIODS OF TIME WHERE THEY WERE COMFORTABLE AND TIMES WHEN WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE. WE DID NOT COMMIT CRIME. SO I THINK WHERE WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES WE AGREE EVERYBODY SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME. WE DISAGREE ON THE SOLUTION. THOSE WHO HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS WHETHER THEY ARE RICH OR POOR. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PURPOSE OF SB6 -- THE IDEA BEHIND 6 WAS TO TRY TO PROVIDE THAT MEANINGFUL REFORM TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM OR ONE OF THE LARGE PROBLEMS IS THOSE THAT ARE MOST COMMONLY THE VICTIM OF THESE CRIMES OF VIOLENCE ARE THOSE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD OTHER THAN DEATH THAT TREATS EVERYONE THE SAME. WHEN YOU'RE POOR AND ROBBED THAT IMPACTS YOU MORE THAN IF YOU WERE NOT POOR AND YOU WERE ROBBED. IF YOU ARE POOR AND ROBBED AND YOU'RE DEPENDENT ON THE PAYCHECK YOUR KIDS -- THEY GO TO PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY. YOU MIGHT MISS A RENTAL PAYMENT. YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE DOCTOR'S BILL. WHEREAS THE WEALTHY THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO OVERCOME IT. [02:00:01] HOWEVER WE NEED TO STOP, WE NEED TO STOP THIS DOUBLE STANDARD THAT YOU POINT OUT THAT WE AGREE WITH BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT TO LET THOSE WHO HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS FREE BECAUSE SOME WHO ARE WEALTHY ARE GETTING OUT ON A LOOPHOLE. WE NEED TO STOP ALL WHO HURT THEIR NEIGHBORS. THAT IS NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. IT'S IMPORTANT TO WALK THROUGH -- HERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF INCONSISTENCY. THIS BILL SAYS IF A NOT FOR PROFIT GROUP WANTS TO POST A BAIL FOR THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS PUT IN JAIL BECAUSE HE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO VOTE AND OUR LAST ROUND OF ELECTIONS HERE -- I SAW HIM AT CHURCH. THAT IS PART OF WHY I WENT TO GIVE SUPPORT ON SUNDAY. HE WAS PUT IN JAIL. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN OFF PAPERS JUNE 15TH. OBVIOUSLY IF HE HAD KNOWN UNDER TEXAS LAW THAT HE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE HE WOULD NOT HAVE STAYED IN LINE SIX HOUR TO VOTE AND SHAKE MY HANDOUT THERE GOING TO VOTE. THEN HE IS CHARGED WITH A FELONY, PUT IN JAIL IN AN ADJACENT COUNTY BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT CHARGES WOULD NOT BE FILED HERE. $100,000 BOND BECAUSE THIS LAW WAS NOT EFFECT. A NOT FOR PROFIT GROUP PUT UP THE $10,000. SO HE COULD GET OUT. THIS LAW WOULD MAKE THAT ILLEGAL FOR A CHARITABLE GROUP TO DO THAT. THE BAIL INDUSTRY COULD DO IT. IF SOMEBODY HAD MONEY THEY CAN PUT THEIR HOME UP. THAT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS BILL WOULD OUTLAW. IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO THROUGH THE BILL AND NOT ME TRY TO CAST DISPERSIONS. JUST GO THROUGH THE BILL. I WOULD LIKE TO LET HIM COME UP. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE BILL IS A MIXED BAG AND THE NEGATIVE PARTS WOULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC SO THEY NEED TO TRY AGAIN WITH A BETTER ONE. ALEX, GO AHEAD. SOME OF IT IS WRITTEN BY THE BAIL INDUSTRY. IT WOULD HELP THAT BUSINESS. BUT IT WOULD EXACERBATE THE BACKLOG. PUTTING $20 MILLION TOWARD THE BACKLOG. THERE ARE SOME TRAINING PROVISIONS THAT ARE GOOD BUT SOME THAT ARE OBJECTIVELY WOULD WORSEN THE SYSTEM. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, I'M ALEX THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY. DURING THAT TIME A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE LAW. WHEN I STARTED THERE WERE NEW LAWS, NEW FEDERAL LAWS. A FEDERAL BAIL REFORM ACT. FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES ADOPTED. MANDATORY MINIMUM PUNISHMENTS CREATED IN FEDERAL COURTS. I WATCHED LOTS OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE GO TO FEDERAL PRISON. WHEN I WAS A PUBLIC DEFENDER CONGRESS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY REALIZED THEY HAD PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR NO GOOD REASON AND THEN I WAS ENTRUSTED TO FILE MOTIONS TO REDUCE THOSE SENTENCES AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS LEGISLATORS TOOK DISCRETION AWAY FROM JUDGES. THAT IS WHAT THIS DOES. THAT IS WHAT THOSE LAWS DID THOSE FEDERAL JUDGES WOULD THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAY I HAVE TO GIVE YOU THIS SENTENCE. EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT FAIR. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE DISCRETION IN THE JUDGE'S HANDS BECAUSE ALL OF THESE DECISIONS ARE FACT BASED. IF YOU DON'T TRUST THE JUDGES YOU WILL END UP WITH THE SAME TYPE OF IN JUSTICE WE HAD IN THE FEDERAL COURTS. SO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS LAW AND WE DON'T KNOW. YOU'RE RIGHT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED BILL. PARTS OF IT MAY DO WHAT THINK IT DOES. BUT I THINK ALL IN ALL YOU DO NOT WANT A LAW THAT TAKES DISCRETION AWAY FROM JUDGES AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT I WANTED TO MAKE. BECAUSE THERE ARE PARTS OF THE LAW SO FOR INSTANCE IT TALKS ABOUT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE. IT DOESN'T DEFINE WHAT THEY ARE. A CLASS A ASSAULT COULD BE A CRIME OF - LENS. [02:05:01] -- VIOLENCE. IT'S A VERY BROAD LAW. IN BAIL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHARGES. WHAT THE STATE ALLEGES. WE HAVE THE LAW OF PARTIES. YOU COULD BE A PARTICIPANT IN A SERIOUS OFFENSE BUT YOU'RE EQUALLY LIABLE AS THE PERSON WHO'S MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ACT. SO SIMPLY OVER CHARGING WILL PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN JAIL WITHOUT THE JUDGE HAVING THE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND RELEASE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE. SO THIS TIES JUDGES HANDS AND THAT IS WHY I'M AGAINST IT. MAYBE YOU ARE -- OR NICK HUDSON WALKED ME THROUGH THE BILL. IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO ME THAT THE BILL KEEPS ANYBODY IN JAIL IF THEY ARE DANGEROUS IF THEY HAVE MONEY. IT PUTS RESTRICTIONS ON THEM BEFORE THEY PAY TO GET OUT. THE ONLY PERSONS THAT I READ THAT THE BILL ALLOWS JUDGES TO RETAIN AND THIS IS IF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WAS PASSED. IN SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEBODY WAS ALREADY OUT ON BAIL. A PERSON CHARGED WITH A VERY SERIOUS CRIME IS NOT GOING TO BE DETAINED UNDER THIS BILL IF THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON BAIL. IF THEY CAN PAY. SO THE TIGER DEAL -- REMEMBER EVERYBODY WAS WATCHING THIS GUY WHO PAYS HIS WAY OUT BECAUSE HE CAN AND THAT WOULD STILL HAPPEN. THE GALVESTON CASE -- A VERY RICH PERSON -- WAS THAT A $2 MILLION BOND? IT WAS SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSANDS DOLLARS THAT HE PAID IN CASH. AND HE DISAPPEARED FOR A YEAR. SO DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VIOLENT OFFENDERS BEING TURNED LOSE IN VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS? ARE YOU SAYING WE DON'T HAVE A PROPER? SO WHEN I STARTED PRACTICING WE HAD A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM. CRIME IS DOWN. IT'S GONE UP A LITTLE BIT AFTER COVID. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE ON PLANET EARTH THAT HAS SAID THAT ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY. I'VE TALKED TO THE CHIEF AND POLICE OFFICERS AND CRIME IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD BUT PARTICULARLY THE VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. MAYBE NOT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IN VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. I LIVE IN LYNN WARD WORK. A LOT OF WHAT IS BEING SAID IS BASED ON ANTIDOTE. NOT STATISTICS. GOING BACK TO MY PREVIOUS EXAMPLE IN THE 1980S THERE WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO WAS GOING TO THE BOSTON CELTICS AND HE DIED OF A COCAINE OVERDOSE. TIP O'NEAL LED A DRIVE. IT WAS SUCH A SAD CASE. YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND A CASE WHERE PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND HURT BUT YOU'VE GOT TO DO THIS BASED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR EVERYONE. AND FOR JUDGES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FACTS OF THE CASE AND THAT IS WHAT I OPPOSE. NICK HUDSON I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IF HE IS AVAILABLE. THANK YOU. IS HE AVAILABLE? WE DO NOT HAVE HIM ON THE LINE YET. JUDGE, WE DO HAVE OTHERS. LET'S GO THROUGH THEM. YES, MA'AM. LINDSEY AIRENSTENE. HELLO. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 393. VIOLENT CRIME IS SPIKING IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES LEADING THE NATION. THE VIOLENT FELONY CRIME RATE IS ALARMING. THESE ARE NOT JUST SPLASHY HEADLINES. THESE ARE PEOPLE'S LIVES. TO MAINTAIN A VIBRANT COMMUNITY PEOPLE MUST FEEL SAFE. 8 CRIMINALS MUST KNOW THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. DURING THE LAST SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR -- DURING [02:10:08] THE CURRENT SPECIAL SESSION HARRIS COUNTY DID NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE SPEAK WITH THE POSITION ON FELONY BOND REFORM. JUDGE HILDALGO WAS PRESENT BUT MADE NO STATEMENT. TEXAS HOUSE MEMBERS WOULD BE HEARD COMMENTING THAT THEY WERE HAVING TO CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION TO FIX YET ANOTHER ISSUE. THE TEXAS SENATE PASSED SB6 IN A BIPARTISAN VOTE 22-0. THE FULL TEXAS HOUSE IS YET TO VOTE ON THIS LIFESAVING LEGISLATION. THEY'VE SPOKEN OUT ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY. THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS REMAINED MOSTLY SILENT ON THE ISSUE. CONCERNED CITIZENS ASK FOR YOUR VOCAL, UNANIMOUS, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MR. HUDSON CAN YOU HEAR US? I DIDN'T HAVE MY MIC ON. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE BILL. AT SOME POINT I'M GOING -- TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION. I MIGHT CHALLENGE MY COLLEAGUES TO END CASH BAIL PERIOD. WHERE NOBODY CAN GET IT. NO CASH BAIL. WALK US THROUGH WHAT THE BILL DOES. SURE. NICK IF YOU COULD GET CLOSER TO YOUR MICROPHONE THAT WOULD HELP. YOU'RE SAYING THAT SECTION OF THE BILL ONLY SAYS YOU CANNOT GET OUT ON A PERSONAL BOND BUT IF YOU HAVE MONEY YOU CAN GET OUT. THAT IS CORRECT. AND NOT ONLY IS THAT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE 5TH CIRCUIT SAID -- ORGANIZATION WOULD NOT BE FOR THAT. [02:15:02] WE DO SUPPORT ELIMINATING CASH BAIL. THE KEY QUESTION IS -- THAT IS THE OTHER AREA -- DO SOME STATES HAVE SOME GENERAL LANGUAGE THAT SAYS IF YOU GET RID OF CASH BAIL LET THE JUDGE MADE THE DECISION IF YOU'RE A DANGER TO YOURSELF OR SOCIETY THEN YOU CANNOT GET OUT. THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE THINK IT SHOULD WORK. TO YOURSELF OR SOCIETY. I COULD SUPPORT THAT. IF WE HAVE MONEY -- I HAVE MONEY NOW BUT I DIDN'T HAVE IT WHEN I STARTED OFF BUT APPLY THE SAME STANDARD. BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE COMMISSIONERS IF YOU HAVE BUCKS YOU GET OUT. IF YOU DON'T YOU STAY IN. AND MOST OF THE CRIME -- THE RECIDIVISM IS OF THOSE THAT PAID SO YOU'RE NOT SOLVING IT. IT'S USUALLY FOLKS THAT HAVE THE MONEY WHO CAN FLEE -- AS OPPOSED TO THE ONES WHO DON'T. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHATEVER IS HAPPENING IN THE COURTROOMS RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT MAXIMIZING THE SAFETY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S MAXIMIZING RELEASING. SO IF YOUR OBJECTIVE IS TO NEVER LOCK ANYONE UP -- BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THE REALITY IS THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. YOUR RESOLUTION WHAT THIS BILL DOES -- IF YOU AND I WANT TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION THAT IS A DIFFERENT SUGGEST BUT YOUR RESOLUTION RELATES TO THIS BILL AND I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY. IF WE WANT TO PASS A LAW THAT SAYS NO CASH BAIL. A DECISION IS MADE BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A THREAT TO SOCIETY OR YOURSELVES. WHAT WE HAVE IS A SYSTEM WHERE YOUR WEALTH -- DETERMINES IF YOU CAN GET OUT. IT'S INTERESTING TO ME COMMISSIONER THAT THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LOT OF INPUT ON WHAT COULD BE DONE. WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND I DON'T KNOW -- I'M GIVING YOU -- HERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH THAT. THE BAIL INDUSTRY. I'M JUST TELLING YOU. IF YOU WANT TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS THAT GO DO A BILL THAT DOES JUST THAT. NO CASH BOND FOR ANYBODY. THE JUDGE MAKES THE DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC. SOME ENTITY HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. AND THEN YOU GET TO FIGHT WITH FOLKS THAT MAKE A BILLION BUCKS A DAY. MAYBE WE CAN EFFECT IT IN THE HOUSE. I'M JUST TELLING YOU. I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE BAIL INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S NOT A MYSTERY WHY IT IS THE WAY IT IS. YOU WERE GOING TO ADD SOMETHING -- MR. [02:20:01] HUDSON. HE CAN FINISH. HE JUST ANSWERED MY QUESTION. WHAT TWO COUNTIES WERE THEY TALK ABOUT. TARRANT AND TRAVIS COUNTY. ] PLEASE CALL THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KARA MANN. I'M A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT I'M HEARING THIS MORNING. IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG OF CASES IT'S STEP ONE OF MANY TO ADDRESS THESE SKYROCKETING CRIME RATES IN HOUSTON. I AM IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 393. THIS IS NOT ABOUT SCORING POLITICAL POINTS AND I WOULD NOT CALL THE MURDERS OF 127 HOUSTONIANS SPLASHY HEADLINES. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO STOP THE REPEATED HE RELEASE OF FELONS. AND STOP THE HAVOC. AND THAT IS WHY YOUR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT IS NEEDED ON THIS LIFESAVING AGENDA ITEM. DEFENDANTS OUT ON MULTIPLE FELONY BONDS HAVE KILLED 127 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND UNBORN CHILDREN IN HARRIS COUNTY. MORE THAN 250 HOMICIDES HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN HOUSTON SINCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND MURDER IS UP 91% SINCE 2019. THE HOMICIDE RATE IN HOUSTON ROSE AT A QUICKER RATE THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY PER RECENT REPORT BY KDH NEWS. VIOLENT CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. OUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT CANNOT IGNORE THIS DATA. THE COURT MUST ADDRESS THE REVOLVING DOOR AT THE COURTHOUSE. SB6 WILL HELP OUR CITY PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. NOT ONLY IS CRIME SKYROCKETING IT IS SKYROCKETING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 80% OF THE VICTIMS ARE IDENTIFIED AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR HISPANIC. PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENT CRIME ARE RUNNING LOSE ON OUR STREETS. THREE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT ALONG WITH YOUR ACTIVIST JUDGES OWN THIS VIOLENCE AND THAT IS PER CHIEF -- ALSOVADA. A 22-0 VOTE IN THE SPECIAL SESSION. EVEN THE OPPONENTS UPON STUDYING THE BILL AND UNDERSTANDING IT AGREE THAT THIS LEGISLATION CAN SAVE LIVES. DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION TESTIFIED TRYING TO DEFEAT THE LEGISLATION. DURING THE CURRENT SPECIAL SESSION HARRIS COUNTY DID NOT SPEND ANYONE. ARE YOU STILL AGAINST THIS LIFESAVING LEGISLATION. THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY DESERVE AN ANSWER AND ASK FOR YOUR UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOW MANY SENATORS ARE THERE COMMISSIONER? 31. YES. JUDGE I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. BEING THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS ON A FIRSTHAND BASIS. WHEN I CAME ON TO HPD IN 1980 WE WERE DEALING WITH A CRIME EPIDEMIC BACK THEN. AND THAT CRIME EPIDEMIC WAS CAUSED BY OIL. THE OIL BUST HAPPENED IN HARRIS COUNTY. CRIME RATE WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. WE LOST SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. [02:25:04] WE -- THE CITY OF HOUSTON STOPPED HIRING HPD OFFICERS. IT WAS BAD. A LOT OF LEAD WAS FLYING AROUND BACK THEN. THEN WE HAD A FEW MORE CHALLENGES. THE GANG PROBLEM. WHEN WE TOOK ON MAYOR LANIER'S CHARGE HIS NUMBER ONE ASK WAS CAN YOU STOP DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS? AND WE TRIED. THAT IS WHEN SHOTS POTTER GOT MY ATTENTION BACK THEN. 1994. I DID HAVE SUCCESS WHEN I BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF IMPACTING PART OF THE GANG-RELATED HOMICIDE RATE AND THAT WAS BY CREATING A VERY BROAD SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO THOSE MOST AT RISK OF DRIVING CRIME. AND WE WERE ABLE OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WE IMPLEMENTED A GANG VIOLENCE REDUCTION TEAM AND WE GOT TO A NEAR 60% IN REDUCTIONS. BUT THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAD EVERYBODY WORKING OFF THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC AND THEN I BECAME THE SHERIFF OF HARRIS COUNTY. AND WE WERE DEALING WITH ANOTHER CRISIS. ANOTHER EPIDEMIC. CAUSED BY THE ECONOMY AND HOUSING. COMMISSIONERS COURT -- PUT A HIRING FREEZE AND FORCED A LAYOFF OF DEPUTY CONSTABLES. BILL JACKSON TRIED TO GET ME TO LAYOFF SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND I WOULD NOT. UNLESS COMMISSIONER'S COURT PASSES AN ITEM DIRECTING ME TO LAYOFF AND I WOULDN'T AND I DIDN'T. THERE IS A COUPLE OF LESSONS IN ALL OF THAT. NUMBER ONE, THAT THIS COURT HAS NOT STOPPED INVESTING IN PUBLIC SAFETY. SINCE I'VE -- BEEN AT THIS TABLE WE'VE INVESTED OVER $100 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE RECENTLY PASSED MEASURES TO ADD SHOTS POTTER TO THE EQUATION. WE'VE RECENTLY PASSED AN ITEM TO CREATE MORE EVIDENTIARY OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION. WE PASSED AN ITEM TO PROVIDE OVER TIME LIKE MAYOR LANIER DID SO THAT PATROL OFFICERS WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE TIME AVAILABLE TO IMPACT THE CRIME RATE AND THEY DID. WE HAVE PROVIDED AN INVESTMENT TO ROUNDING UP WANTED DANGEROUS PEOPLE. AND WE ARE. WE HAVE AND HOPEFULLY TODAY WE'LL PASS ANOTHER ITEM. WE'VE PASSED AN ITEM BRINGING ASSOCIATE JUDGES INTO EQUATION. WE PASSED AN ITEM TO ADD A DISTRICT COURT SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT BACKLOG MOVING SO WE CAN PROSECUTE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THAT PROSECUTION COMES WITH A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE GUILTY AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION WHERE PEOPLE I FELT WERE GUILTY THE LAW DEEMED THEM NOT. TODAY WE'LL PASS AN ITEM I HOPE BRINGING VISITING JUDGES INTO THE EQUATION PROVIDING MORE FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO THEY CAN SUPPORT THOSE VISITING JUDGES. WE'RE COMMITTED TO IMPACTING THE BACKLOG. JUST AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU -- SITE THE "HOUSTON CHRONICLE." INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO FELONY BAIL REFORM EPIDEMIC. [02:30:02] THE ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES IN THE ROOM KNOW THE LAW AND THE ISSUE OF CONSTITUTIONALITY MUCH BETTER THAN I DO. AS A FORMER COP I JUST WORK WITH THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ME. IT'S UP TO SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THAT. YOU ARE A CIVIL JUDGE NOT A CRIMINAL JUDGE. YOUR PRESSURE ON MAKING LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS TODAY. BUT I'LL SAY THIS -- THAT NUMBER ONE WE LEARN FROM PAST CITY COUNCILS AND PAST COMMISSIONER'S COURTS THAT IN A TOUGH TIME PANDEMIC THAT IMPACTS OUR ECONOMY THAT WE SHOULD BE FISCAL -- CONSERVATIVES BUT THAT MEANS INVESTING IN AREAS OF OUR SYSTEMS THAT MAKE SENSE MAKING WISE, SMART INVESTMENTS. AND NOT BEING WASTEFUL. WE'RE DOING THAT. I JUST LAID OUT NUMBER ONE PRIOR TO THIS RECENT CONVERSATION OF THE PANDEMIC WE'VE INVESTED $100 MILLION. LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETS HAVE INCREASED BY 15% OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS SO WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT STOPPED HIRING ACADEMY CLASSES. WE LEARNED FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT LAID OFF DEPUTIES IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. WE LEARNED FROM A COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT IMPOSED HIRING FREEZES. AND WE ARE INVESTING WISELY, SMARTLY. HOWEVER I DO TAKE EXCEPTION THAT NUMBER ONE WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE A POSITION ON A LAW THAT IS STILL YET TO BE CUT UP. IT'S STILL TO BE DECIDED. JUST TODAY WITH JUDGE HILDALGO -- I DID WEIGH IN ON THIS ISSUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR JUDICIAL OF SYSTEM IS A PART OF THE EQUATION. JUDGES DO HAVE TO SPEAK TO THE PROCESS OR THE LAW -- THAT ALLOWS THEM TO RELEASE REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS. 7 I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I WANT TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN THOSE WITH JURIST PRESENCE BUT THEIR NAME KNOW THE LAW AND HOW IT'S TO BE APPLIED. ALL I KNOW IS THAT I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING TODAY. BUT I ALSO TRY TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING WITH A LENS OF HISTORY. WHEN I CAME IN AS -- SHERIFF WE HAD 12,000 SOME ODD INMATES IN THE CUSTODY. WE WERE SHIPPING 2,000 PEOPLE AT A TUNE OF $20 MILLION ULTIMATELY $60 MILLION TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. JUST A LITTLE COMICALLY I DIDN'T MIND THAT THE INMATES WERE BEING SENT TO LOUISIANA. I JUST DIDN'T LIKE OUR TAX MONEY BEING SENT THERE. BUT THAT BEING SAID THE CRIME RATE PROPERTY CRIME VIOLENT CRIME REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED IN SPITE OF THE TOUGH OFF CRIME MEASURES THAT WE WERE TAKING. IN SPITE OF HAVING A TOTALLY DIFFERENT JUDICIARY -- THE RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME HAD NOT CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK OF CONTINUING TO INVEST WISELY CONTINUING TO INVEST SMARTLY, MAKING THE WHOLE SYSTEM WORK AND WE SHOULD NOT LOSE SITE OF THE FACT THAT PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING OUR CHALLENGES IS THAT WE'RE ALMOST TALKING ABOUT THE CRIME ISSUE WITH A BLIND EYE TO A DISRUPTED ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT IS CREATED A LOT OF MORALE CHALLENGES ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE D.A.'S OFFICE IN PROBATION. THAT SYSTEMS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED BECAUSE OF HURRICANE HARVEY. [02:35:03] AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT TO THIS COURT. AND WE'VE BEEN DRIVING TO GET THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUILDING UP AND RUNNING SO THAT OUR JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS AND VICTIMS CAN GET THEIR WORK DONE. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID I JUST -- I'M ON THE SAME PAGE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ABOUT NEEDING SOME ANSWERS AND THAT IS WHY I PUSH FOR THE PORTAL. I JUST WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE GET THERE BECAUSE WE NEED EVERYBODY -- WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK TO HELP US GET THERE AND GET THERE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. SO YOUR RESOLUTION I JUST -- IN THE FIRST READ I THINK WE GOT THIS KIND OF LATE. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY DIGEST IT. BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS THAT I WOULD BE HOPING TO MAKE. I SEND ONE OF YOURS EARLIER. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LOSING SITE OF THE FACT OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN CONTRARY TO THIS COURT AND IN CONTRARY TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. I'VE SEEN IT FIRST HAND. WE MAY HAVE ALL KNOWN SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME. I'VE SEEN IT ALL TOO CLOSE ALL TOO OFTEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD -- LUCINDA. GOOD AFTERNOON -- THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [02:40:07] INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS -- HELLO. I'M JENNY MCINTYRE AND I LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME BE HERE. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. NEVER FELT THE NEED TO BUT I DO WANT TO PUT MY SUPPORT BEHIND THE RESOLUTION AND SHOW YOU. IT'S IMPORTANT AND PERSONAL TO ME. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN OUR HOUSE, FOLLOWED HOME FROM A RESTAURANT THIS PAST JANUARY. GUNS PUT AT OUR HEAD. TOOK ALL OF OUR JEWELRY, WALLET, PHONES, -- PURSE. THEY DIDN'T GET US UPSTAIRS LIKE THEY WANTED TO. THANK GOODNESS. WE WERE NOT PHYSICALLY HURT BUT IT WAS TERRIFYING. VERY TERRIFYING BUT I ALSO TELL YOU MY FEAR IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO ANGER WHEN I REALIZED THAT THESE VIOLENT -- HABITUAL CRIMINALS WERE ARRESTED AND PUT OUT ON THE STREET IMMEDIATELY. COMMITTING THE SAME CRIMES OFTEN MORE VIOLENT CRIMES. IT'S SAD TO ME THAT WE CANNOT EVEN COUNT ON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND JUDGES TO PROTECT US. IT'S SAD TO ME ALSO IS MY HOME USED TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR ME. IT USED TO BE A COMFORTING WARM HOME. NOT ANY MORE. IT'S ALSO VERY, VERY SAD TO ME THAT HOUSTON USED TO BE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE [02:45:02] CITY. I'VE LIVED HERE 55 YEARS. IT'S THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY AND WE'VE NEVER HAD THE CRIME OF L.A., CHICAGO AND NEW YORK. NOT ANY MORE. I'M NOT A LAWYER. I'M NOT A POLITICIAN. I'M A WIFE AND A MOTHER AND I'M VERY ACTIVE IN MY CHURCH AND MY COMMUNITY AND IT'S THE SAME COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN. ALL I'M ASKING IS I DON'T HAVE STATISTICS, YOU'VE HEARD THE STATISTICS. SOME OF YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THEM. I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO CREATE LAWS OR PARAMETERS FOR INTERPRETING THE LAWS SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY. IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE TO LEAVE -- TO PUT VIOLENT FELONS BEHIND BARS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. I'M GLAD YOU'RE WELL. MICHELLE HEINZ SPEAKING ON TWO ITEMS. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 393. MICHELLE, WERE YOU DONE. IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU HAD LESS THAN 15 SECONDS TO FINISH. IS IT OKAY IF I FINISH. GIVE US YOUR 15 SECONDS BUT NOT MUCH MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU'RE TIME IS UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE. LUCINDA. WE HAVE ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES MORE OF SPEAKERS. WHAT TIME WERE YOU PLANNING ON DOING OUR LUNCH BREAK? I WAS GOING TO SAY WE COULD BREAK FOR A QUICK BREAK AND TRY TO FINISH THIS SPEAKER. I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU HONESTLY. I HAVE A BREAK SCHEDULED FOR [02:50:08] 1:45. I'M GOOD WITH A SHORT LUNCH BREAK. SHORT LUNCH BREAK. SO -- I'VE GOT A HAMBURGER COMING. LET'S GO TO 145 AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A LAUNCH BREAK. 1:45 DOES THAT WORK? OKAY. BUT MAYBE A LITTLE SOONER. I'VE BEEN PUMPING THE COFFEE, JUDGE. LET'S LET THE IN PERSONS GO. I JUST NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION WHEN YOU GET UP TO THE PODIUM. GO AHEAD, SIR. DON'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE BECAUSE YOU'RE [02:55:21] BETWEEN US AND THE HAMBURGER. MY NAME IS MINISTER KEN BROWN. I'M A CORE MEMBER OF TOP. WE'RE COMING HERE TO DISCUSS THE BILL. WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF STATISTICS ABOUT THE BILL. THEY USED TO BE DISTINGUISHING CRIME REFORM. NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. YOU'RE FROM CROCKET AND I'M FROM PALESTINE. WHAT CAN WE DO? WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT AND KILLED NOT ONLY IN THE WHITE COMMUNITY BUT BLACK COMMUNITY, SPANISH COMMUNITY. WHAT CAN WE DO? AND HOW CAN WE FIX THIS PARTICULAR BILL THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT HAVING SERIOUS CRIMES THOSE WHO ARE NOT A THREAT CAN GET OUT? ALSO THOSE WHO ARE GETTING OUT THAT ARE COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIME AFTER VIOLENT CRIME, CAN'T WE TALK TO THOSE JUDGES AND MONITOR THOSE JUDGES THAT ARE LETTING THESE PEOPLE OUT? THEY KNOW THE CRIME. THEY KNOW THE HISTORY. NO. THEY SHOULD NOT BE OUT BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT SHOULD BE OUT. I MYSELF YEARS AGO HAD TO PLEAD TWICE TO SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO BECAUSE THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY WASN'T ANY GOOD. I WAS WORKING AND I NEEDED TO GET OUT. SO I PLEADED GUILTY. I HAVE TWO OFFENSES THAT I DIDN'T DO BUT I HAD TO PLEAD BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GET OUT AND GO BACK TO WORK. SO TODAY WE ASK TO WORK WITH THIS BILL COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THE JUDGE. [03:00:03] SINCE WE ENDORSE Y'ALL AT TOPS WE ASK YOU TO WORK AND LOOK AT THE SPIRITUAL SIDE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS RIGHT. BECAUSE WHATEVER COMMUNITY YOU'RE IN YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LOCKED UP. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ROBBED. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SHOT OR KILLED. SO, THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE'RE DOING WHAT JOHN LEWIS SAID. WE'RE LOOKING FOR GOOD TROUBLE AND THIS IS GOOD TROUBLE AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS COLLECTIVELY FROM ALL ANGLES. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. KENNETH -- THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU SAID THAT I DISAGREE WITH. WE MAY NOT GET THERE ON HOW TO GET THERE. BUT 80% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INJURED BY THESE VIOLENT FOLKS ARE OUT OF THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY -- THAT IS NOT RIGHT. THAT IS DISCRIMINATORY AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAFE. AND THAT IS ALL THAT WE'RE ASKING. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. 7. JUDGE THE NEXT PERSON IS DARLENE -- WE'LL CALL THEM -- WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF SPEAKERS IN PERSON AND WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK SOON. SO WE'VE DECIDED TO TAKE THE SPEAKERS IN PERSON. THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE. I WILL CALL THEM UP. AND WE'LL BREAK RIGHT AFTER THEY ARE DONE. NOT HAVE ANYONE ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE FOLKS AND THEN BREAK FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS PERSON I BELIEVE IS IN PERSON. DARLENE BROWN. GOT IT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THIS SETTING WITH THESE GREAT OFFICIALS AND I ONLY SEE YOU ALL ON TV SO THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT WE MAY AGREE ON. WE MAY NOT. MY NAME IS DARLENE BROWN. I'M WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF TOP. TEXAS ORGANIZATION PROJECT. AND IN THERE THERE IS WHERE WE FIND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY. AS YOU CAN SEE I'M BLACK. THAT IS MY COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT GOING ON. WE HAVE GOOD. WE HAVE BAD. WE HAVE EVIL. AND THAT IS SOMETHING OF A SPIRITUAL WARFARE. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT TOO. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BILL THE JOANNE HOFFMAN BILL TOTALLY AGAINST IT. THERE ARE A MILLION REASONS WHY BUT WE'RE TOTALLY AGAINST THAT BILL. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND A RESOLUTION THAT WILL CLEAR UP SOME OF THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT WE ARE HAVING ABOUT THIS. WHAT YOU ALL SAID ABOUT THE BILL IS KIND OF FAIR. WHAT YOU ALL HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BILL IS KIND OF FAIR BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LAW IN THE PAST. AND I HAD TO TAKE A PLEA BARGAIN FOR SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT DO. BUT I WAS GLAD TO TAKE THE PLEA BARGAIN BECAUSE IT WOULD LET ME OUT A LOT SOONER. AND THOSE WORDS RIGHT THERE I WAS FOREWARNED NEVER PLEAD TO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE NOT DONE. BUT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT. I WAS YOUNG AND I GUESS DUMB TO ALL OF THIS HERE BUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WE'RE MAKING HISTORY AND I THINK THAT WE ALL CAN COLLECTIVELY COME UP WITH AN IDEA TO KEEP THE RATCHET OFFENDERS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND THE FIRST OFFENDERS A CHANCE TO REDEEM THEMSELVES. A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS BROUGHT ON BY DRUGS. A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS BROUGHT ON TO ME AS AUTISM. THEY DON'T KNOW THE MEANING BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. ONCE YOU KILL THAT PERSON THEY ARE NOT COMING BACK AGAIN. I'M SORRY. AIN'T GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH SO WE NEED TO FIND SOME REHABILITATION HERE FOR THESE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN [03:05:03] AND DON'T LOSE THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR HOUSE DUE TO TRAFFIC OF MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION. THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO GO HOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LUCINDA I'M GOING TO CALL UP THE NEXT PERSON. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. MY NAME IS LUCINDA -- AGAIN MY NAME IS LUCINDA. I'M A HARRIS COUNTY TOP LEADER. COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- CORRECT -- I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE COURT TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 393 WHICH IS A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT SB6. INSTEAD OF PROMOTING SAFETY AND JUSTICE ANTIBILL REFORM POLITICIANS ARE TRYING TO PASS THIS AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL ONLY ADD TO THE ALREADY EXISTING PROBLEMS WE HAVE WITH THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN SYSTEM. THIS WILL ONLY ENRICH THE PREDATORY BAIL INDUSTRY. UNDER THESE NEW LAWS MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT. THESE BILLS HARM FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND TAXPAYERS. AS A DIRECTED IMPACTED PERSON I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE ARRESTED AND COULD NOT AFFORD BAIL. THEY ARE WASTEFUL BILLS AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL FURTHER BURDEN THE TAXPAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY NOT KEEPING US SAFER AND POLITICIANS WOULD LIKE US TO BELIEVE. IN TEXAS OVER 60% OF PEOPLE IN JAIL ARE AWAITING TRIAL. CAUSING TAXPAYERS $2.4 MILLION A DAY. THIS BILL WILL INCREASE COST BY TRAPPING MORE TEXANS. TEXANS ONCE DISTINGUISHED ITSELF A LEADER ON CRIMINAL REFORM. THIS WOULD TURN TEXAS INTO A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT AND WE DO NOT WANT HARRIS COUNTY TO BE THE REASON FOR THIS EMBARRASSMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HERE IN PERSON? [Appearances before court (Part 1 of 2)] GO AHEAD. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. HI, MY NAME IS ERIC TURAY WITH DEERFIELD VILLAGE IN WEST HOUSTON. THE TOPIC I HAVE IS VERY MINOR OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY. WE HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAVE A FLOOD CONTROL FACILITY -- I'LL LET YOU FINISH THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE AT THE PODIUM. WE NEED TO FINISH THIS ITEM. CONTINUE. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO TRY TO -- WE'VE GOT A STORM DRAIN THAT IS SINKING IS AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO OUR PROPERTY AND TO PROPERTIES AROUND US. NONAGENDA ITEM. IT'S A NONAGENDA ITEM. COULD YOU HELP US WITH HAVING HARRIS COUNTY COME TO A SOLUTION. IT'S A FACILITY U102-22-00. A STORM DRAIN. AND IT'S SINKING THE PROPERTY ABOUT A FOOT. IT'S AFFECTING OUR RESIDENTS. ONE RESIDENT MAY BE SPEAKING TODAY WHO LIVES AT 3922 HEATHER SAGE. AND WHAT I'M ASKING TO DO IS SEE IF WE CAN START DIALOGUE BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND US WHERE THEY'VE SAID IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. NOT THE MUD PROBLEM. WHO'S IT TO FIX THIS STORM DRAIN? WE'VE GOT A FENCE THAT IS LEANING AND ALMOST FALLING AND I'M LOOKING FOR SOME HELP. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ERIC, WE'LL FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON SB6 THAT ARE HERE IN [03:10:03] PERSON? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK FOR 30 MINUTES. WE'LL BE BACK AT 2:15 AND CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS [Departments (Part 2 of 5)] ON-LINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. START AGAIN. -- DIFFICULTIES ] THAT DID NOT MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES FEEL ANY SAFER AND EVEN WORSENED THE PROBLEM. WE HEARD SOMEONE SAY THE JUDGES WOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION TO NOT GRANT BAYLOR THE DISCRETION NOT TO GRANT BAIL ON REPEAT FELONY CHARGES AND THIS BILL PUSHES TO ELIMINATE COMMUNITY BILL -- LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE AT TOP MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR LOW LEVEL FELONIES TO BE RELEASED ON BOND. MAKING THIS A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT TO KEEP POOR PEOPLE IN JAIL. OUR FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM HAS FOUND THAT CASH BAIL REQUIREMENTS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POOR PEOPLE. -- I WAS FOUND GUILTY BEFORE I HAD A COURT DATE AND SPENT A YEAR -- JAIL FOR A CRIME I DID NOT COMMIT. IT WILL ALSO FURTHER CRIMINALIZE POVERTY GUARANTEEING THAT MORE TEXANS STAY STUCK IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD BAIL. NO ONE DESERVES TO STAY IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY THEIR FREEDOM. IT WILL SET US BACK RETURNING US BACK THROW AWAY THE KEY. THE SOLE INTENSE IS A POLITICAL ONE. THAT IS WHY WE CALL ON YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THIS HARMFUL MISGUIDED RESOLUTION AND TAKE BOLD STANDS AGAINST THE RIGHT WING AGENDA. HELLO, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OSCAR TOMEZ. NUMBER 34. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. GO AHEAD PLEASE. MY NAME IS -- THOMAS AND I'M A HARRIS COUNTY TOP LEADER AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND I'M [03:15:07] ASKING YOU TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM 393. THE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT SB6. THIS BILL IS NOT ONLY WRONG BUT UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WAS STATED BEFORE. THIS BILL HARMS FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND TAXPAYERS. THIS BILLS DESIGNED TO SHORT CIRCUIT ANY EFFORTS BY ADVOCATES IN HARRIS COUNTY TO REFORM THE FELONY BAIL SYSTEM. THESE BILLS DISCRIMINATE FORCING THE POOR DEFEND ANTS TO REMAIN IN JAIL FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS WHILE AWAITING FOR TRIAL. SO HOW DOES THAT MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER WHILE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THOSE THAT CANNOT BOND OUT. THIS INHIBITS THE ABILITY TO HAVE A PR BOND IN A COUNTLESS LIST OF SITUATIONS ALSO PROHIBITING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO BAIL DEFENDANTS OUT AND FORCING THEM TO SIGN TO AN AFFIDAVIT. AND I END WITH SAYING THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE WHEN YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR IN THE STATE THAT SAYS EVERYBODY CAN HAVE A GUN WITHOUT A PERMIT. I ONCE AGAIN I ASK THE COURT TO VOTE AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT ALLOWING THOSE THAT HAVE CASH TO BAIL OUT OF JAIL WHILE KEEPING THE POOR LOCKED UP AND NOT ALLOWING THEM THOSE THAT HAVE MENTAL AND ANGER MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS TO BE PUT IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS BEFORE THEY ARE LET OUT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO. INSTEAD OF JUST ALLOWING PEOPLE TO HAVE MONEY TO BAIL OUT AND WITH THAT I'LL STOP AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. LAUREN WHEN WITH RESTORING JUSTICE. HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I WORK WITH RESTORING JUSTICE. A LOCAL NONPROFIT. I'M ALSO A PROUD HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND THAT IS WHY IT PAINS ME TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A BILL THAT WOULD HARM VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY. IN TEXAS OVER 60% OF PEOPLE IN JAILS ARE AWAITING TRIAL OR SENTENCING COSTING $2.4 MILLION A DAY. I HEARD COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT BACKLOG IN CRIMINAL COURTS AND THIS WOULD ENTRAP MORE PEOPLE. BY REQUIRING THE INCREASED USE OF CASH BAIL AND THEREFORE THE LOCKING UP OF POOR TEXANS -- PEOPLE BEFORE A CONVICTION. THIS BILL CRIMINALIZES POVERTY. AT RESTORING JUSTICE WE WORK FOR CLIENTS THAT ARE OFTEN IN JAIL FOR MONTHS AT A TIME. THE SYSTEM REEKS HAVOC ON THEIR LIVES AND MANY LOSE EVERYTHING. THEIR JOBS AND HOMES AND SOMETIMES THEIR CHILDREN. WE WOULD CONFUSE JUSTICE AND PUNISHMENT. THE ONES WHO SUFFER ARE THOSE IN JAIL WITH ONLY A PLEA BARGAIN AS A WAY OUT. SB6 TARGETS CHARITABLE BAIL FUNDS AND ALSO PROVIDES OTHER SERVICES -- ALL OF WHICH SUPPORT PEOPLE AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED BY TAKING AIM IT ENRICHES A BAIL INDUSTRY THAT RELIES ON NONREFUNDABLE FEES THAT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WILL NEVER RECOUP. [03:20:01] RESULT OF THE O'DONNELL LITIGATION BUT ALSO AROUND RHETORIC OF FEAR MONGERING. NOTING THAT A CONSISTENT -- ACROSS CATEGORIES OF CRIME IS LACKING. THIS BILL DOES NOT MAKE US SAFER AND I ASK THE COUNTY NOT TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 38 CHRIS HARRIS WITH TEXAS APPLE SEED. MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRIS WITH TEXAS APPLE SEED. I'M CALLING IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RESOLUTION. PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT'S UNCLEAR THAT THIS WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT IT'S TARGETED TO ADDRESS THAT IT'S EVEN AIMED AT TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND IT WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE POOR AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN HARRIS COUNTY AGAIN WITHOUT ADDRESSING AT ALL THE ISSUES THAT IT'S DESIGNED SUPPOSEDLY TO ADDRESS. SO LOOKING AT 60 OF THE 69 LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THEY REPORTED INCREASES IN -- HOMICIDES IN 2020. THEY REPORTED THOSE IN A WAY THAT WAS PROPORTIONAL TO THEIR PREVIOUS YEAR REPRESENTATION OF HOMICIDES WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS NATIONALLY. THE INCREASE IN HOMICIDES IS CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED AND EXPERIENCED IN HOUSTON IS ACTUALLY VERY MUCH A NATIONAL TREND AND A NATIONAL TREND IN A UNIFORMED WAY. WHICH SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ANY SPECIFIC CHANGE OR FORM OR POLICIES OF HARRIS COUNTY OR HOUSTON BUT RATHER IN RESPONSE TO THINGS OF IMPACTING THE ENTIRETY OF THE COUNTRY AND WE KNOW WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE. SECONDLY EVEN IF THINGS RELATED TO BAIL WERE CAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS LEGISLATION DOESN'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS -- IT ACTUALLY ADDRESSES OTHER PARTS OF THE BAIL SYSTEM WHICH ARE IN NO WAY TIED OR CAN BE TIED IN ANY WAY TO ISSUES GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY. THIS LOOKS AT AND ATTACKS COMMUNITY BAIL FUNDS. PR BONDS AND THE PROCESS THAT RULE NINE THAT HAS BEEN SET UP IN RESPONSE TO MISDEMEANOR LITIGATION. AND SO THERE IS REALLY NOT EVEN ANY CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LEGISLATION AND THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING POINTED TO AGAIN WHICH ARE NATIONAL ISSUES AND FINALLY WE UNDERSTAND THAT ANY INCREASE IN THE REQUIREMENT THAT MONEY BAIL BE USED -- BE RELIED UPON WILL A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE OF COLOR IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE HIGHER BAIL AMOUNTS SET. HELLO, SIR. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. -- WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. GO AHEAD PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CAR MOON -- AND I'M FROM TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. NOW I'M ASKING TO WORK AGAINST THE ITEM 393. THEY ARE PULLING BACK ON THE DARK HOLE WHERE WE COME FROM. AND THEY STOLE THIS LAND FROM MEXICO. THIS LAND DOES NOT BELONG TO NOBODY. AND THEY DECIDE TO KEEP THE SLAVE PEOPLE OVER HERE. THE BROWN AND BLACK COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IT'S ABOUT THE SYSTEM. -- THEY DON'T DO NOTHING FOR THE COMMUNITY. THEY. THEY WANT AND THEY ASK FOR THE VOTES TO BE IN THAT POSITION. REMEMBER THE -- OF WHAT WE HAVE ON TOP OF OUR. [03:25:08] AND DON'T CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE. NOW -- SINGLE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY COME OUT OF JAIL FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T DO BUT THEY PLEAD GUILTY TO COME OUT OF JAIL. SOME STAY FOR YEARS. AND WHO'S AT FAULT? THE SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM OF WHAT THEY DO BEFORE AND THEY TRY TO KEEP ON THAT POSITION. -- NOW WHO IS AFFECTED? THE FAMILY. WHEN THEY PUT SOMEBODY -- THEIR FAMILY. MOST OF THE TIME THEY DON'T COMMIT. ] PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM 393. WE ARE -- GIVE A SECOND CHANCE TO THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER RIVERA. TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT. SPEAKER 42 ON PAGE 7. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 393. WHICH CLAIMS TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES SURROUNDING BAIL. THEY MAKE THE BROKEN SYSTEM EVEN WORSE. BY ENSURING MORE PEOPLE CAN BE HELD IN JAIL PRETRIAL ON UNAFFORDABLE BAIL. THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS WHO OPPOSE ACTUAL BILL REFORM OBSCURE -- CITIES LIKE HOUSTON NONE OF WHICH APPEAR IN SB6 ARE ENSURING PEOPLE ARE OUT OF JAIL WITHOUT ANY NOTABLE -- ACCORDING TO MONITORS THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN MISDEMEANOR CASES. A NOTABLE DECREASE IN BOND FAILURES. THE MONITORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT BAIL REFORM HAS LED TO INCREASE IN HOMICIDE. CHARITABLE BAIL FUNDS ARE ALSO BEING TARGETED. THEY OFTEN OUT PERFORM PROGRAMS BY ASSURING THAT THEIR CLIENTS APPEAR. THEY ARE A VITAL TOOL FOR SUCCESSFUL REENTRY. THEY ALSO REMIND CLIENTS ABOUT COURT APPEARANCES AND WHEN NECESSARY PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM COURTS. BY LIMITING WHO THEY CAN BAIL OUT THIS -- LIMITS -- REFORM REDUCES THE JAIL POPULATION AND INVEST IN COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND AVOID EXPANDING GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE. SB6 IS NOT A GOOD BILL. IT IS NOT REFORM AND IT WILL NOT IMPROVE UPON A BAIL SYSTEM THAT NEEDS CHANGE. COUNTY LEADERS NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 44. [03:30:05] CARSON WHITE WITH TEXAS APPLE SEED. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. HI, MY NAME IS CARSON WHITE. I'M AN ATTORNEY FOR TEXAS APPLE SEED. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THE LEGAL ISSUES AND HOW IT WOULD LEAVE HARRIS COUNTY VULNERABLE. RECENT LAWSUITS -- COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES ALONE. SB6 WOULD COMPLETELY UP END THAT SETTLEMENT AND COST TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY. THE CORE HOLDING IS THAT IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR PEOPLE TO BE HOUSED IN PRETRIAL CUSTODY FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THEY ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD BAIL. MAGISTRATES HAVE TO FIRST CONSIDER EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY. AND SECOND IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE ASSIGNED A BAIL AMOUNT THAT IS UNAFFORDABLE TO THEM THE COURT MUST FIRST MAKE A FINDING THAT IT IS NECESSARY. SB6 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT REQUIRES CASH BAIL. WHETHER OR NOT A JUDGE FINDS THAT CASH BAIL IS NECESSARY. FIRST THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF DONALD. O'DONALD HELD THAT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR THIS POSSIBILITY. O'DONALD IS BASED ON A LONG LINE OF LAW THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT ANY BLANKET RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING CASH BAIL VIOLATES DUE PROCESS BECAUSE OUR RIGHT IS A CORE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND WHEN A RIGHT IS THAT IMPORTANT IT'S CALLED A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT AND THE RULE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD REASON FOR MESSING WITH IT. AND THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT JUST SAY IT HAS A GOOD REASON. A COURT HAS TO FIND THAT IT HAS A GOOD REASON. THAT IS DUE PROCESS IN A NUT SHELL. SO THE PROBLEM WITH A BLANKET REQUIREMENT -- EVEN IF A JUDGE WERE TO FIND THAT A CASH BAIL IS NOT NECESSARY AT ALL IS THAT IT VIOLATES DUE PROCESS ON ITS FACE. IT WILL DIDN'T THOUSANDS OF TEXANS THEIR MOST BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. IT WILL BEGIN COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DEFEND A NAKEDLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN COURT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S A LONG DAY BUT IS THAT NOT MY ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE DISCUSSED IT. BUT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU WERE ELUDING TO -- I'M SAYING NO THAT THE LEGISLATURE REALLY CARES BUT I'M LISTENING TO THE SPEAKER AND I WANT TO CHALLENGE THEM AND SEE IF I CAN WORK UP SOMETHING NOT THAT ANYBODY IS GOING TO LISTEN BUT YOU GET AROUND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE IF YOU DID BAN CASH BAIL. I'M WILLING TO BET YOU A LOT OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE GOING TO START RUNNING TO THE WINDOWS IF THAT WAS THE ITEM TO VOTE ON BUT THEN WHAT WOULD YOU PUT IN PLACE? YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY MAKE A DECISION WHETHER YOU'RE RICH OR POOR. ARE YOU A DANGER TO SOCIETY? THAT IS HOW YOU GET AROUND IT AND THE ROLE THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO PLAY IF THEY WERE TO PASS A BAIL REFORM MEASURE AND I THINK OF NEW JERSEY AND OTHER PLACES THE STATE DID STEP UP TO PICK UP SOME OF THE COST IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET RID OF CASH BAIL. IF MOST OF THESE OFFENSES ALLEGED OFFENSES ARE FROM PEOPLE WHO PUT MONEY UP TO GET OUT. I'M GOING TO WORK ON SOMETHING. I DON'T WANT TO TRY IT AT THE TABLE. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN SOME OF THEM AGREED WITH ME BECAUSE IN THE PAST WHEN I'VE SAID WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH MISDEMEANOR BAIL JUST GET RID OF CASH BAIL PERIOD. FIND SOMETHING ELSE. SOME OF MY ALLIES WOULD GET HEARTBURN. ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL -- SOMETHING IS BROKE IN THE SYSTEM. I GET THAT. AND SOME OF COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE HAVE RESONATED. [03:35:04] WHEN SOMEBODY DOES A RISK ASSESSMENT ON SOMEONE THAT HAS SEVEN FELONIES CLEARLY A VIOLENT OFFENDER DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS BEING RELEASED AND THEY RELEASE THEM -- THE QUESTION WAS WHERE THE PERSONAL BONDS PAID -- WHETHER THE BOND IS THE ISSUE. THE JUDGE IS MAKING A RISK ASSESSMENT AND THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING IF THE JUDGES ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING LEGISLATIVELY AND I DON'T MIND TYING PEOPLE'S HANDS IF IT KEEPS A VIOLENT OFFENDER OFF THE STREET. GET THE MONEY OUT. THAT BILL IN COST IN TERMS OF INCARCERATION GET THE MONEY OUT. THAT IS WHERE THE EQUAL PROTECTION COMES IN. BY THE WAY IT'S RARE ANY REFORM HAS PASSED IN TEXAS ONLY WITH THE CLUB OF A LAWSUIT DID WE SETTLE IT ON THE MISDEMEANOR AND THAT IS WORKING PRETTY GOOD. DURING CHALLENGING TIMES I MIGHT ADD. BUT I'M GOING TO TRY MY HANDS-ON SOMETHING. I DON'T THINK FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATURE CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT I THINK. I WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A FEW THINGS PASSED. I TRY TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET BEYOND THE FINGER-POINTING. AND IF THAT IS THE INTENT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU. THE POINT IS GETTING THE MONEY OUT. EQUAL PROTECTION ARGUMENT. GET THE MONEY OUT AND YOU GET RID OF THAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA? YES, MA'AM. SPEAKER NUMBER 45 ON PAGE 8 MICHAEL FIELDS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? LOUD AND CLEAR. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE YOU'VE BEEN THERE ALL DAY AND SITTING ON BURGERS BUT I DO WANT TO DO SOMETHING COMMISSIONER ELLIS THAT YOU ASKED FOR EARLIER AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN DONE YET AND SUGGEST SOMETHING COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- THERE IS NO FELONY BAIL REFORM IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND SB6 AND HB2 WILL NOT STOP A 7 TIME FELON FROM BEING RELEASED. IT WON'T. NEITHER ONE OF THEM WILL AND HERE IS WHY. WE HAVE TO CHANGE A DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED HERE AND THAT IS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. I'LL GET TO THAT LATER. WE KNOW THAT A MAJORITY OF VIOLENT CRIMES MURDERS IN PARTICULAR ARE COMMITTED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ON ANY BAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CHARGED WITH ANYTHING. THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED MURDERS ARE 80% TO 90% OF PEOPLE ON SURETY BONDS. AND THEN THE SMALLEST GROUP ARE THOSE WHO ARE ON A PRETRIAL RELEASE OF BOND OF SOME SORT. NOW WE KEEP HEARING THAT THIS IS ABOUT FELONY BAIL REFORM BUT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT MISDEMEANORS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ATTACKING -- AND TO DOUBLE OFF -- OF THE APPLE SEED LAWYER -- LOOK AT BRAVO 2 THAT SAYS NOT WITH STANING ANY OTHER LAW A DEFEND MAY NOT BE RELEASED ON PERSONAL BOND IF CHARGED WITH AND YOU GO DOWN TO BI AND IT SAYS ASSAULT, MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT AND I'VE BEEN A PROSECUTOR AND A DEFENSE LAWYER AND A JUDGE. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES USED TO DESCRIBE ASSAULT IN TRIAL IS A SLAP ON THE HAND THAT CAUSES PAIN. THAT PERSON WOULD BE DENIED PRETRIAL RELEASE. ANOTHER OFFENSE THAT IS LISTED IS DEADLY CONDUCT. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING CHARGED WITH OF DEADLY CONDUCT FOR SPINNING THEIR WHEELS AND DOING DOUGHNUTS IN THEIR CAR WHEN THEY ARE SPECTATORS NEARBY. THAT IS BEING CALLED DEADLY CONTACT. SO SOME 17-YEAR-OLD KID COULD BE DENIED PERSONAL BOND BECAUSE HE IS SPINNING HIS TIRES. WE SAY THAT IS RIDICULOUS AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BUT THAT IS WHAT THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR WHEN YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO DO WHAT IT IS NOT INTENDED TO DO. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHO'S POSITIONED ON THIS. [03:40:01] ADRIAN GARCIA LIFETIME PUBLIC SERVANT LONG TIME POLICE OFFICER IS POSITIONED AGAINST THESE TWO ITEMS. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FAIR. HELLO, SIR. WOULD YOU PLEASE EDUCATE ME ON THIS. THANK YOU. SO THEY ARE NOT FAIR BECAUSE IF THEY WERE FAIR THEY WOULD TREAT FOR PROFIT BAIL SYSTEMS AND CHARITABLE BAIL SYSTEMS THE SAME. THEY DON'T. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON CAN GET OUT OF JAIL JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONEY WHEN WE HEAR ON KNOW THEY DIDN'T DO THAT. YES THEY CAN BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE USE OF BAIL SCHEDULES IN MISDEMEANORS AND FELONIES. A SHERIFF CAN TAKE BAIL IF THEY'VE GOT THE MONEY TO POST IT AND IT SAYS IT IN 1703 -- OR 028 IN THIS THING. THERE IS A LOT OF UNFAIRNESS IN THIS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU ASKED WHAT CAN WORK? WHEN I LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY UP IN AUSTIN WITH RESPECT TO HB2 THE AUTHOR KEPT SAYING WE WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO O'DONALD. WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED. SO IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WORKS SUGGEST TO FOLKS THAT THEY FOLLOW THE O'DONALD RULING AND MAKE THAT THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. HOWEVER IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE I THINK THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR IT. BECAUSE 11A OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION'S BILL OF RIGHTS ALLOWS FOR A PROSECUTOR WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE FILING OF A CHARGE TO ASK A JUDGE TO HOLD A PERSON FOR 60 DAYS. NOW IF YOU JUST -- AND IT FOCUSES ON JUST THE MOST VIOLENT OFFENSES. TALKING ABOUT MURDER, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD. AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING. IF YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON THE MOST VIOLENT PEOPLE THEN EXTEND THE ABILITY TO HAVE THOSE 60 DAY DETENTION PERIODS LONGER IN THE SENSE THAT EVERY 60 DAYS A PERSON IS ENTITLED TO A DUE PROCESS HEARING WHERE IT CAN BE DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SAFE TO RELEASE ON BOND AND A JUDGE HAS TO ENTER CLEAR AND CONVINCING FACT OF LAW AS OPPOSED TO HOLDING PEOPLE FOR SPINNING THEIR WHEELS ON THEIR CAR. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I TRIED TO TRUNCATE THAT AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT WITH YOUR BACKGROUND THE VALUE YOU BRING INTO THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE REALLY DO TRY TO -- WE DO NEED TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND ON THIS MATTER AND YOU'RE A VERY, VERY SALIENT VOICE -- AND I APPRECIATE YOU WEIGHING IN ON THIS. YOU DO ADD WISDOM TO THIS SUBJECT AND SANITY AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, JUDGE FIELDS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. SPEAKER NUMBER 47 JUSTIN MARTINEZ WITH TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION. GOOD AFTERNOON. I WORK FOR THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION. I'M HERE TO VOICE OPPOSITION. FIRST -- THIS PUTS TEXAS ON THE WRONG PATH. THESE BILLS TRAP MORE PEOPLE IN JAIL. THIS POINT IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE IMPACT CAN BE DEVASTATING TO A PERSON'S LIFE, LEGAL OUTCOMES AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITIES. THIS COULD INCLUDE LOSING HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES. IT CANNOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH THAT UNNECESSARY PRETRIAL -- INCARCERATION -- -- ALSO LET US NOT FORGET WHO WILL CONTINUE TO BE MOST HARMED. [03:45:01] PEOPLE WHO WILL LANGUISH IN JAIL ONLY BECAUSE THEIR WALLET IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THEIR FREEDOM. LASTLY SENATE BILL 6 AND HB2 MASQUERADE -- THEY MAKE US LESS SAFE. NOT ONLY HAS RESEARCH SHOWN THAT UNNECESSARY PRETRIAL DETENTION -- THERE IS NO MEANINGFUL CORRELATION. MOST PEOPLE WERE OUT ON CASH BOND. BY BOTH REINFORCING THE SYSTEM THAT TREATS PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON WEALTH -- CURRENT BAIL REFORM LEGISLATION WILL FAIL AT IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY. BECAUSE OF THESE AND OTHER ISSUES I URGE THIS BODY NOT TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION WHICH ONLY PROMOTES A BROKEN SYSTEM. AND INSTEAD WORK TO CHAMPION LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROMOTE TRUE SAFETY AND LEGISLATION FOR ALL TEXANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 48SABA. CAN YOU HEAR ME. YES. GO HEAD. YES. I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE GRASSROOTS LAW PROJECT. I'M CALLING TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT SENATE BILL 6. HB2 AND SB6 MAKE US LESS SAFE. THEY REQUIRE GREATER USE OF MONEY BAIL. PRETRAIL DETENTION CAN INCREASE A PERSON'S LIKELIHOOD OF REARREST PERPETRATING A CYCLE OF CRIME. IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER RATES OF CRIME. -- ONE WHICH HAD HIGH RATES OF CASH BONDS AND ONE WITH HIGH RATES OF PERSONAL BONDS. PEOPLE ON CASH BONDS COMMITTED 22% MORE NEW CRIMES. THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES WAS 8 TIMES HIGHER. THEY ARE WASTEFUL. IN TEXAS OVER 60% OF PEOPLE IN JAILS ARE WAITING FOR TRIAL OR SENTENCING. COSTING $2.4 MILLION A DAY. HB2 AND SB6 MAKE OUR BROKEN BAIL SYSTEM EVEN WORSE. NOBODY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY MONEY TO STAY OUT OF JAIL BEFORE TRIAL. YOUR ABILITY TO RETURN HOME TO YOUR FAMILY YOUR JOB AND YOUR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES WHILE FIGHTING YOUR CASE DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND SOCIAL NETWORK CAN COME UP WITH. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AS INTENDED. INSTEAD OF GETTING MONEY OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THIS CREATES A NEW WEB OF OBSTACLES. FROM ATTACKING BAIL FUNDS THAT HELP THE POOREST TEXANS TO GET OUT OF JAIL -- THESE BILLS ARE NOT ABOUT MAKING TEXANS SAFER. THEY ARE ABOUT MAKING IT EASIER TO LOCK PEOPLE UP BASED ON THEIR BANK ACCOUNT. THESE BILLS ELIMINATE ACCESS TO PERSONAL BONDS FOR MANY PRISONERS AND EXPAND PRETRIAL DETENTION. AS SUCH THESE BILLS WILL INCREASE PRETRIAL DETENTION AND COUNTIES MUST PAY TO INCARCERATE MORE PRISONERS. 93 TEXAS COUNTIES WERE ALREADY PAYING TO HOUSE PRISONERS OUTSIDE OF THEIR COUNTY JAILS. THE TEXAS COMMISSION ESTIMATES AVERAGE JAIL COSTS ARE ROUGHLY $60 PER DAY. THEY LIKELY WOULD FORCE MORE COUNTIES TO PAY TO HOUSE PRISONERS ELSEWHERE. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 50. TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS -- AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. AND AM A LEADER IN THE THIRD WORLD. I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED ME AS A [03:50:08] RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE BAIL. THE END RESULT WAS THE FACT THAT I LOST MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND I WAS INCARCERATED FOR A CRIME THAT I DID NOT COMMIT. THE ONE GLARING THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS PEOPLE DON'T ADDRESS THE FACTS. THE ELEPHANT FROM THE ROOM. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE JUDGE IS DOING. THE JUDGES ARE BEING INCOMPETENT. THAT IS THE WAY TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. BAIL IS A MECHANISM AND A SYSTEM THAT IMPACTS NEGATIVELY POOR PEOPLE AND DISPROPORTIONATE PEOPLE OF COLOR. THAT IS TWO DIFFERENT SEPARATE ISSUES SO YOU BRING THOSE ISSUES TOGETHER TO INFLAME THIS NUMBER 393 SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE. THERE SHOULD BE NO SUPPORT. YOU SHOULD BRING 393 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THEN YOU WONDER WHY VIOLENCE KEEPS GOING ON. WHY VIOLENCE KEEPS INCREASING. IF YOU KEEP SENDING PEOPLE TO PRISON OR YOU TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY WHAT IS THE END RESULT? WHEN ARE YOUR PEOPLE GOING TO REALIZE THAT YOUR IN ACTIONS OR THE INABILITY TO COMPREHEND THE PROBLEM. CASH BAIL CREATES THE PROBLEM. IT IS -- IT STRAINS PEOPLE. PEOPLE LOSE HOMES AND FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CASH BAIL. THE JUDGES ARE INCOMPETENT FOR -- I'M AGAINST FOR MURDERING PEOPLE -- BEING LET OUT. BUT THOSE TWO DON'T GO TOGETHER. SO YOU'RE TRYING TO BRING THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND SAY YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. YOU NEED TO HOLD THE JUDGES ACCOUNTABLE AND THEN ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS OF CASH BAIL. HOW IT'S IMPACTING NEGATIVELY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS IMPACTED PEOPLE OF COLOR, POOR PEOPLE AND IMPACTED ME AND SO I HEAR WHAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING. 100 AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED AND I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 51 ON PAGE 9 CLARA CRABER. HELLO. MY NAME IS CLARA AND I'M CALLING IN TODAY AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT TO SPEAK AGAINST ITEM 393. I'LL OUTLINE A FEW MEASURES. FIRST, HB2 AND SB6 WOULD HURT CHARITABLE BILL FUNDS. AFTER THAT THEY CONNECT THEIR CLIENTS RETURN TO COURT. THEY FIND THAT 90% OF THEIR CLIENTS RETURN TO COURT AND NEARLY ONE THIRD HAVE THEIR CASES DISMISSED. THEY DO NOT CHANGE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE RELEASED. THOSE RELEASED ON PERSONAL BONDS ARE UNLIKELY TO COMMIT CRIME. THAT LEADS ME TO MY THIRD POINT. IT WOULD MAKE US LESS SAFE. WHILE SOME ELECT -- THAT RECENT BAIL REFORM HAS NOT INCREASED CRIME. IT IS STILL UNCLEAR IF CRIME IS INCREASING IN HARRIS COUNTY LONG-TERM OR IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS WORSENED MANY OF THE UNDERLYING ISSUES. GIVEN THESE FACTS THE ONLY WAY TO ACTUALLY STOP CRIME FROM RISING IS TO ADDRESS THE [03:55:03] IMMENSE SUFFERING. DETAINING MORE PEOPLE WOULD DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE. PEOPLE OFTEN LOSE THEIR HOUSES, JOBS, CHILDREN AND VITAL CONNECTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE OF THIS PRETRIAL DETENTION INCREASES THE FACT. -- BY CONTRAST WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA BAIL REFORM THAT DECREASES PRETRAIL DETENTION REDUCES IN THE LONG-TERM. ABOVE ALL I URGE YOU TO LEGISLATE ON THE BASES OF DATA RATHER THAN EMOTION. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO ARREST AND INCARCERATE OUR WAY OUT OF SOCIAL ISSUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 53 IRIS HOUSE WITH TOP. HELLO MY NAME IS IRISH AND I'M CALLING TODAY TO ASK THE COURT TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM 393 WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE SUPPORT OF THE SB6 THE JOAN HUFFMAN BILL. -- THEY ARE TRYING TO PASS HB2 AND SB6 AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL ONLY ADD TO THE ALREADY -- PROBLEMS WITH BAIL SYSTEMS HERE IN TEXAS. THESE BILLS AND RESOLUTION WILL ONLY ENRICH THE PREDATORY BAIL INDUSTRY. UNDER THESE NEW LAWS MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE WILL PLEAD GUILTY TO CRIMES THEY DIDN'T COMMIT. MORE POOR PEOPLE WILL SIT IN JAIL AS WEALTHY PEOPLE BUY THEIR WAY OUT. THESE BILLS HARM FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AND TAXPAYERS. HB2 AND SB6 -- PEOPLE ARE IN JAIL WAITING FOR PRETRIAL SERVICES. COSTING TAXPAYERS $2.4 MILLION A DAY. THESE BILLS WILL INCREASE THE COST BY TRAPPING MORE TEXANS IN THE INNOCENCE OF PRETRIAL DETENTION. AS I HEARD THE -- THAT KILLED THE PEOPLE THAT WAS ALREADY OUT ON SEVEN FELONY COUNTS. WELL WHAT ABOUT THE POLICE KILLING PEOPLE? WOULD THEY GET RIGHT BACK OUT? SOLELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MONEY? IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY WE CANNOT GET OUT. BUT IF WE GOT MONEY WE CAN PAY OUR WAY OUT. THAT IS WHAT THE RICH DO. THEY BUY THEIR WAY UP UNDER THE TABLE WITH GETTING LAWS PUSHED AND DON'T GO FOR WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED AND BE RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE THEN YOUR POSITION WOULD BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION AND I WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT. SO WE CAN BE FOR THE PEOPLE OR ARE YOU GOING TO BE FOR THE MONEY. THE WAY THE COMMISSIONER IS PUSHING IT IT'S ABOUT MONEY. HE IS TRYING TO SAY THE PEOPLE GOING TO JAIL JUST COMING OUT -- KEEP COMMITTING CRIMES DON'T MAKE SENSE. HE IS CONTRADICTING HIMSELF. SO IF HE WANTS TO PUSH THIS THEN THAT IS HIS POSITION ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 54 AMANDA MARZULO. HELLO. THANK YOU JUDGE HILDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES AT THE CAPITAL FOR WELL OVER A DECADE AND I'M TESTIFYING IN OPPOSITION TO THE RESOLUTION FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS BUT THE BIG ONE THAT I SUBMIT TO YOU IS THAT THIS BILL IS NOT READY FOR [04:00:01] YOUR FULL CONSIDERATION. THIS IS AN ANOMALY. IT WAS PASSED IN AN UNUSUAL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE STAKEHOLDERS WERE UNABLE TO MEET AND IRON OUT A LOT OF DETAILS IN THE BILL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. -- TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA JIM ALLISON TESTIFIED IN THE HOUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO IN THE SENATE DUE TO COMPETING SCHEDULES BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS BUT THAT HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS BILL WOULD AFFECT CITATION AND RELEASE FOR CLASS C MISDEMEANORS IN A SPECIAL NONVIOLENT OFFENSES. ALSO AN UNFUNDED MANDATE. -- HOW THE BILL MIGHT REQUIRE THE ARREST OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ACCUSED OF A TRAFFIC VIOLATION BECAUSE THERE IS NO MECHANISM FOR THEM TO POST BAIL WITHOUT THAT ARREST. AND THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT NORMALLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND WORK THROUGH BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIMETABLE AND THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THIS BILL WAS UNLIKELY TO PASS IN THIS PARTICULAR SPECIAL SESSION WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET. I REACHED OUT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ASKED TO GO THROUGH SOME PARTICULAR ITEMS WHICH WOULD BE HARMFUL AND WE JUST SAID WE HAVE CONFLICTING SCHEDULES. A LOT GOING ON AND WE'RE UNABLE TO MEET WITH YOU AND THAT IS PRAGMATIC. BUT THAT MEANS THIS BILL IS NOT READY FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT. SO PLEASE HOLD OFF AND WITH THAT I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD THE FOLKS THAT ARE -- I DID SAY MAKE IT HIGH SO IF YOU WANT TO STAND AND IF YOU WANT TO SIT YOU CAN GET ON THE CHAIR THAT WILL BE RAISED. I'LL TAKE IT IF IT MEANS IF I CAN STAND FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. GO AHEAD, LUCINDA. SPEAKER NUMBER 55. GO AHEAD PLEASE. HI. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH ROSSI. I'M ALSO PART OF THE LITIGATION TEAMS THAT HAVE CHALLENGED THE CASH BAIL SYSTEMS. AND TESTIFYING TODAY AGAINST THE RESOLUTION. 17 LAWSUITS CHALLENGING THESE. WE AS AN ORGANIZATION HAVE LEARNED TO IDENTIFY BAIL SYSTEMS THAT DEVASTATE FAMILIES AND CAUSE WIDESPREAD CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS THAT LEAD TO LENGTHY AND COSTLY TRIALS. SOME OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS IS THEY PROHIBIT JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES FROM RELEASING ON BOND. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE BILL REQUIRES THE DETENTION OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY CASH BAIL. AND IT'S THIS RESTRICTION THAT IS A CORE PROBLEM OF MOST OF THE CASH BAIL SYSTEMS WE HAVE CHALLENGED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. INCLUDING HARRIS COUNTY AND BECAUSE OF IT PASSING THIS WILL EXPOSE MUNICIPALITIES. THE BILL NOT ONLY VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION BUT ALSO RESULT IN TREMENDOUS HARM TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE A YEAR. THEY LOSE HOMES AND CARS AND EVEN CUSTODY OF THEIR KIDS. WE'VE SHARED WITH YOU MANY STORIES OF 17-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WHO WERE CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES AND STUCK IN JAIL BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT PAY CASH BAIL. EVERYONE AGREED THEY SHOULD BE RELEASED ON PERSONAL BOND AND THEY WERE. THEY WOULD HAD BEEN STUCK IN JAIL UNDER THIS. AFTER INCURRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES -- IT WAS STRUCK DOWN. THEY SUFFER FROM THE EXACT SAME CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS THAT WE CHALLENGE [04:05:08] HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE 17 LAWSUITS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT IT INCREASES CRIME RATE AND JAIL POPULATIONS AND ASSOCIATED COST. IT IS UNSAFE, UNFAIR AND EXPENSIVE. IT OPPOSES -- EXTREME HARMS ON POOR PEOPLE AND BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY AND IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. WE URGE YOU NOT TO ENDORSE THESE AND TO WORK TO ENSURE -- YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT WE COULD REACH ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, LUCINDA. YOU'RE WELCOMED. SO THAT WAS COMMISSIONER'S RAMSEY'S RESOLUTION. ITEM 393. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- ANY THOUGHTS ON THE DISCUSSION. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR AREA OF HEARING PART OF THE CONVERSATION COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ANY THOUGHTS ON MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS? ESPECIALLY WHILE THE BILL IS YET -- LAW AND THE BILL -- THERE IS STILL SOME SAUSAGE TO BE MADE OUT OF THAT BILL. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE ENDORSING BUT YOU HEAR OF ALL PEOPLE JUDGE FIELDS WEIGH IN. HIS REMARKS REALLY HIT SOME NERVES WITH ME. ANY THOUGHTS BECAUSE I AM WORKING ON SOME AMENDMENTS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE AT RIGHT NOW? YOU SIT HERE. THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE PERSON THAT CAME HERE OR CALLED IN THAT DIDN'T MAKE A GOOD POINT. SOMETIMES YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS NUMBER OF SPEAKERS AND SAY WELL I WISH WE HAD THAT TWO HOURS BACK. I DON'T. I LEARNED MORE IN THIS TWO AND A HALF HOURS ON THESE ISSUES BECAUSE YOU HEARD A LOT. THE PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT REPRESENTED TOTALLY HERE TODAY ARE THE VICTIMS OF CRIME IN HARRIS COUNTY. I'LL JUST DISAGREE WITH YOU. FROM MY BACKGROUND -- I HAVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVOCATES -- AND THAT WAS NOT DIRECTOR OFFED MY PEER. WHEN I LOOK AT THIS ISSUE WHEN I TALK ABOUT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND WE GET TO ALL DECIDE IF THIS IS MEANINGFUL OR NOT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID EARLIER IN THE DAY THIS MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN HELPED TWO PEOPLE. WELL TALKING TO THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME IN TERMS OF BEING SHOT OR LOSING FAMILY MEMBERS IF IT HELPS TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE GREAT BUT IF THERE ARE MORE TO BE DONE IN THE HOUSE THEN CERTAINLY WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. I WOULD SAY IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT MY RESOLUTION ON SENATE BILL 2 IS THERE. BUT MAYBE THE VOTE WOULD BE SIMPLY I DO WANT TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. AS IT IS WRITTEN. AND MAYBE THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE WE'VE GOT ON WORK TO DO IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE COMMENTS THAT WE GOT TODAY FROM A BROAD SPECTRUM OF FOLKS BOTH THOSE THAT ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND THOSE THAT DID NOT WANT TO SEE A SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD NOT WORK. BECAUSE I'M NOT ADVOCATING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT WORK. BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK COMMISSIONER CAGLE? I SECONDED THE MOTION. ANY BILL LIKE THIS WHICH HAS THE SUPPORT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IS GOING TO HAVE COMPONENTS THAT -- IT'S AN ELEMENT OF COMPROMISE THAT THEY DID OUT THERE IN THE LEGISLATURE. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THERE ARE PIECES OF IT THAT I WISH WERE NOT THERE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE UNDER COMPULSION. [04:10:03] WE CAN TALK ABOUT STATS ALL DAY LONG BUT YOU CANNOT GET AROUND 127 PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ON THIS EARTH ANY MORE THAT ARE GONE. AND YOU CANNOT GET AROUND PEOPLE LIKE SOME OF THOSE WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER TODAY WHO WERE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND WE NEED TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION WE CAN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT . MY GOODNESS, THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT MAYBE SB6 NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK BUT WE JUST GOT THROUGH VOTING -- WE VOTED ON A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO TAKE OVER DEPARTMENTS AND WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT DEPARTMENTS THEY WILL BE TAKING OVER. SUPPORTING THE PROCESS IN THIS INSTANCE IS A GOOD THING. IF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WANTS TO PULL IT TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE -- I'M NOT PULLING IT. IT'S THERE. A I'VE SECONDED IT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THE ITEM WHILE I WORK ON MY AMENDMENTS SO THAT I CAN BRING THOSE BACK A LITTLE BIT LATER. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS LATER BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT SOME AMENDMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT AND WE CAN BRING IT BACK UP. ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO THAT. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS? THERE IS ONE JUDGE. IT'S 81. THIS IS NOT A RESOLUTION. JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT. OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A 2021 INTERNATIONAL DATA CORPORATION SMART CITY'S NORTH AMERICANA WARD. WHEN OUR FOLKS DO STUFF LIKE THIS I PUT THIS IN THE CATEGORY OF WE ARE SETTING A STANDARD TO OTHERS MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE IN TERMS OF BEST PRACTICES. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA NOTING THAT I JUST WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO IT. AND GEORGE I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT U.S. AND GENERAL NORIAGA HAD A GOOD BIT OF WORK ON THIS. I WANT TO THANK THEM AS WELL. THAT'S GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. ANY OTHER RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER? OKAY. SO WE WILL TAKE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS LUCINDA. [Appearances before court (Part 2 of 2)] YES, MA'AM. WE'RE REACHING THEM NOW. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOMED. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA. IF YOU DON'T MIND, YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO LET ME PULL THIS UP REAL QUICK. I HAVE ONE SPEAKER. GO AHEAD. SPEAKER NUMBER 4 ON PAGE 1 MOLLY COOK. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. THIS IS MOLLY COOK . THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A COMMENT. I WANTED TO CALL IN AND URGE YOU GUYS ON THIS UTP COMMENT. A SURVEY THAT WAS PUT OUT THAT MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY THE I-10 PROJECT. WE ARE VOTING TAKE AWAY THE PROJECT AND TAKE AROUND THE FUNDING. WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR COMMENTS IN THE AREA WHERE YOU CAN WRITE IS REJECT THIS ENTIRELY. THE SURVEY IS MORE OF THE SAME FROM TEX-DOT. IT'S NOT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IT'S BULLING US. SO WE ARE LETTING TEX-DOT KNOW THIS IS NOT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. HOW CAN THEY THREATEN TO PULL AWAY FUNDING WHEN THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS STRETCH OF ROAD IN TEXAS. AND THERE SHOULD BE A THIRD OPTION THAT SAYS WE WANT A PROJECT THAT IS FUNDED THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND INCORPORATES THE ROBUST FEEDBACK THAT THE MOST IMPACTED PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN. SO WE URGE YOU GUYS TO STAND WITH US AND CALL THEIR BLUFF. THERE IS NO WAY THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE AWAY THE FUNDING. THEY'VE SPENT $503 MILLION ON IT. VOTE GET RID OF THE PROJECT AND THEN FILL IN THE BOX AND SAY WE REJECT THIS SURVEY. THIS IS NOT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. [04:15:01] AS ALWAYS I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FURTHER. THANK YOU. SHOULD I GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA. I HAVE MORE SPEAKERS. THAT IS UP TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. SPEAKER NUMBER 1 LEANN CHONG WITH ARTS ACCOUNTABILITY HOUSTON. GO AHEAD. HI. MY NAME IS LEE AN CHONG AND I'M AN ARTIST AND ORGANIZER. I AM ASKING IF THE COUNTY WILL CONSIDER USING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO BOTH BOLSTER THE ARTS COMMUNITY. MY GROUP IS IN HOUSTON. THE ARTS WERE AMONG THE FIRST INDUSTRIES TO CLOSE DURING COVID-19 AND THEY WILL BE THE LAST TO FULLY REOPEN. AND NOT ONLY THAT ARTISTS ADD A LOT OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY BY HOSTING EVENTS OR CREATING EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND BE TOGETHER. SO I ASK THAT THE COUNTY CONSIDER THIS AS A STIMULUS FUNDING AND I DON'T NEED TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT ARTISTS HAVE LOST A LOT OF INCOME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES. THE REVENUE STREAM -- SUFFERED ONE OF THE DEEPEST SHORTFALLS IN HISTORY. AS ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU FORGIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 2 GAYLE COOK WITH THE CITY OF SEABROOK. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS GAYLE COOK. I'M SPEAKING IN REFERENCE TO ITEM 125. THE CITY HAS WORKED WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP PROJECTS WITHIN OUR MUNICIPALITY. THIS WOULD NOT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE SHORT-TERM SO PROGRAM INTRODUCTION THROUGH THE ENGINEERING PHASE HAVE BEEN A TRUE PARTNERSHIP IN EVERY WAY. AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN FORMING RELATIONSHIPS TO ENABLE A STRAIGHT LINE APPROACH TO GETTING THIS PROJECT TO THE FINISH LINE AND WHERE THEY ARE AT TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO CALL IN & ON BEHALF OF OUR STAFF AND COUNCIL TO TELL YOU THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO CALL IN. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THIS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR AREA OF CITIES HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP. EXCITED TO DO THE WORK AND TO SUPPORT THE VISION OF SEABROOK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 8 GENESIS SANCHEZ. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. HELLO. THIS IS GENESIS -- SANCHEZ. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE QUICKLY THAT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF -- EDUCATIONAL FUND. THAT FACILITATES FULL LATINO PARTICIPATION IN OUR DEMOCRACY. I WANTED TO OFFER INPUT IN REGARDS TO AGENDA ITEM 248 IN REGARDS TO RESDISTRICTING. IT'S A PROCESS THAT IS COMING UP AND THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON THE LAST AND WE WANTED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT IS TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE. TO OFFER LATINOS AND OTHER UNDER REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE AND BE HEARD. THE TAX ATTORNEY HAS STARTED TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT POINTS TO THIS TYPE OF PROCESS. LATINOS IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE OF SIGNIFICANT GROWTH. OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS LATINOS HAVE MADE UP MORE THAN 50% OF THE GROWTH HERE IN TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY SAW SOME OF THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE GROWTH WITH A 32% [04:20:04] INCREASE IN THE LATINO POPULATION AND BECAUSE OF THIS GROWTH WE BELIEVE LATINOS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE RESPONSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT THE PRECINCTS SHOULD BE DROWN IN THE WAYS -- THAT KEEP COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WITH SHARED INTEREST. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE INPUT TODAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 5 ANDREA GUTIN WITH HILSC. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. I'M THE LEGAL DIRECTOR. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. -- IMMIGRANT INCLUSION, EQUITY -- DEVELOPING HOLISTIC IMMIGRATION SERVICES. WE HAVE A CRIME VICTIM'S WORKING GROUP THAT IS MADE UP OF PROVIDERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WITH EXPERTISE WORKING WITH IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF CRIME. I TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF THE CREATION OF THE LAW -- AND I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE AGENDA ITEM ON THE RFP GUIDE BOOK. IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE NEED. WE'VE MAINTAINED WAIT LISTS IN THE PAST AND SOME HAVE STOPPED TAKING CASES DUE TO A LACK OF CAPACITY. I WANT TO KNOW IF THE IMMIGRATION CASES CAN TAKE A LONG TIME. OVER FIVE YEARS. I WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING FUNDING FOR THIS KIND OF WORK. WHEN NONPROFITS TAKE ON A CLIENT. THAT CASE CONTINUES FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO PROCESS THROUGH OUR SLOW AND COMPLEX IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. I ALSO SUPPORT THE CHANGE IN LANGUAGE FROM THE NOVEMBER 2020 ORDER. THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE TIES SERVICE TO WHETHER A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE BASED ON THEIR STATUS. WHILE SURVIVORS OF CRIME ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS AS A VICTIM OF CRIME SOME MAY HAVE BETTER CASES FOR FAMILY BASED ADJUSTMENT TO BECOME A PERMANENT RESIDENT. THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. THEY MAY ALSO NEED ASSISTANCE RENEWING WORK AUTHORIZATION. SO IMMIGRATION LAWYERS SERVING THIS POPULATION NEED FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST RELIEF OR BENEFIT IS FOR A PARTICULAR CLIENT. IF LAWYERS' HANDS ARE TIED THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND THAT IS WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS CHANGE IN LANGUAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 6, MEDIA CANTU. HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MEDIA CANTU. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I'VE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR ABOUT 18 YEARS. I'M CURRENTLY WORKING AT THE HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL. I WAS PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS. I'VE ASSISTED OVER 20,000 VICTIMS OF CRIME. I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO CONSIDER -- THIS IS MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME. WHEN AN IMMIGRANT BECOMES A VICTIM OF CRIME THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO THEIR HEALING PROCESS. THEY ARE NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF THE CRIME BUT THE LACK OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM DUE TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. IT IS VERY HARD TO START HEALING AND SURVIVE THE CRIME BECAUSE OF IT. I'VE HEARD VICTIMS TELL ME THEY DO NOT RECORD THE ABUSE OUT OF FEAR OF BEING REPORTED. [04:25:02] BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED NO ONE WILL BELIEVE THEM IF THEY CALL THE POLICE. THEY ARE SO AFRAID OF THE ABUSER CONTACTING THE AGENCIES TO HAVE THEM DEPORTED. THEY ARE SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES AND ALSO IN FEAR OF DEPORTATION. THEY ARE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SURVIVE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND IN SOME CASES THEIR CHILDREN AND TO MAKE ENDS MEET. YET THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING LEGAL STATUS IS LONG AND EXPENSIVE. SIX HIGH SCHOOLTEACHERS WERE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY THEIR TEACHER. THE VICTIMS ARE STILL NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THE SCARS OF THE ABUSE BUT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE IMMIGRATION STATUS. IT CAN TAKE UP TO FIVE YEARS. THEREFORE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE WHICH IMMIGRATION RELIEF IS BEST SUITED. SURVIVORS WANT TO BREAK FREE OF THE CYCLE OF ABUSE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN PASSING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAKER NUMBER 9 MARLA LOPEZ WITH EDUCATION OF FUND. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR HEARING US TODAY. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 248 ON RESDISTRICTING. WE WORK WITH LATINO YOUTH PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA IN KATY CYPRESS AREA. WE WORK WHY COLLABORATION WITH -- ASIAN-AMERICAN YOUTH AND FAMILIES HERE IN HOUSTON. TODAY -- SINCE THE WINTER STORM AND THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE PANDEMIC A LOT OF THE YOUTH HAVE STRUGGLED USING THEIR VOICE IN THE CIVIC PROCESS. I WANT TO ASK THAT THERE BE AVENUES FOR US TO PARTICIPATE FAIRLY AND OPENLY. THAT THERE BE ENOUGH TIME FOR US AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE WITH THESE -- TO REVIEW PROPOSED MAPS AND PROVIDE INPUT. SOME FOLKS MENTIONED HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WE HAVE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE EXTREME NEED FOR LEARNING THE LANGUAGE -- AS WELL AS ASL INTERPRETATION FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND WE WANT TO AVOID THE COMMUNITIES BE -- TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT WILL DIMINISH THEIR VOICES. THAT INCLUDES GEOGRAPHIC AREAS HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST AND EVEN THE SOUTHWEST AREAS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER THAT ARE REPRESENTED FAIRLY. TO PLEASE REQUIRE THAT THE MAPS BE VIEWED BEFORE AND AFTER ANY HEARING THAT THERE BE HEARING FOR EACH PRECINCT AREA AND THAT THE PROCESS BE FAIR AND OPEN IN TERMS OF TIME TO REVIEW, ACCESS TO LANGUAGE AND DISABILITY -- SUCH AS VIRTUAL OPTIONS, LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION, ASL AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INCLUDING THIS ITEM AND FOR HEARING OUR TESTIMONY TODAY. MY NAME IS MARLO AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE THIS PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN PERSON. JUAN CARDOZA. YES. GO AHEAD. I'LL MAKE THIS AS QUICK AND DYNAMIC AS POSSIBLE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR HOUSTON IN ACTION. A COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION THAT IS PROMOTING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS. OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WORK ON A HOST OF ISSUES. ISSUES THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT TODAY AND MANY OTHER COMMISSION COURT MEETINGS. [04:30:01] EACH DEPENDS ON OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO LIFT UP THEIR VOICES AND INCLUDE THEM IN THE CRITICAL DISCUSSIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES. TEXAS HAS A LONG HISTORY OF EXCLUDING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FROM THE POLITICAL PROCESS SO THAT IS WHY WE COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE RESDISTRICTING PROCESS. HOUSTON IN ACTION AND OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS SINCE 2019 AND WE BRING TO YOU TODAY SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL AFFORD THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. SO TO BEGIN WITH WE CALL UPON THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE DRAFT MAPS ARE DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT BEFORE CREATING THIS HIGHLY CONSEQUENTIAL MAPS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS INPUT ON HOW THE MAPS ARE DRAWN. WE RECOMMEND FOUR OF THOSE HEARINGS ONE PER PRECINCT AND WE WOULD LIKE AFTER THE MAPS ARE DEVELOPED THE COUNTY HOLD AGAIN FOUR HEARINGS SO THAT COMMUNITY GROUPS AND HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN RESPOND TO THOSE MAPS. LIKE THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER STATED WE WANT THOSE MEETINGS TO BE ACCESSIBLE. SUFFICIENT WRITTEN NOTICE BEFORE THOSE MEETINGS. WE WOULD LIKE THOSE MEETINGS TO INCLUDE A VIRTUAL OPTION AND TO BE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS HOURS AND ALSO TO PROVIDE FOR LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED PEOPLE. ANOTHER IS TO CREATE A WEBSITE WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN VIEW AND DOWNLOAD MATERIALS ABOUT THE MAP DRAWING PROCESS AND ALSO SUBMIT THEIR OWN MAPS. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE TIME LINE FOR WHEN THESE MEETINGS WILL HAPPEN AND WHEN DECISIONS WILL BE MADE ABOUT THE PRECINCT LINES AND MAPS. THE CURRENT CRITERIA OF DON'T INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SO WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER KICKING OFF SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROCESS WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT. I CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTION. YOU ALSO WORK FOR PRECINCT ONE. IS THIS PART OF IT? NO, SIR. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND I'M NO LONGER EMPLOYED BY PRECINCT 1. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU BACK. THANK YOU. SPEAKER 58 ON PAGE 11. GO AHEAD PLEASE. HI, THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WHAT I WANTED TO REFER TO IS NUMBER 395 THE REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE ON THE PATROL OFFICERS BY AT LEAST 50 FOR PRECINCT 3. I'M A NINE-YEAR RESIDENT. MY CONCERN IS BOTH FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE REGRESSION OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC MAKE UP OF THE GALLERIA AREA. IN THE LAST YEAR I WOULD SAY THE AREA HAS VISIBLY CHANGED. WE HAVE HAD THEFT OF OUR MAIL. HOMELESS LOITERING. STREET RACING NIGHTLY. GARBAGE IS ON THE STREETS WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SEEN FOR YEARS AND INDIVIDUALS WALKING AROUND THE GALLERIA. THE RECENT SHOOTING IN THE GALLERIA FOOD COURT. THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CRIME IS VISIBLY ON THE INCLINE AND I'M CONCERNED AS A RESIDENT AND IF IT GETS TOO BAD I CAN MOVE MY FAMILY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY BUT I LOVE THIS AREA AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CITY HAS PUMPED A LOT OF MONEY IN THIS AREA FOR THE BUS LANES TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE. THERE ARE OVER 25 HOTELS IN THE AREA AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER AND THEY SEE THIS DAILY AND THEY THEN GO BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TELL THEIR FRIENDS ABOUT IT. IT WILL PERPETUATE ITSELF. IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU CAN VISIBLY SEE IT CHANGING IT'S GOING TO CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND NOT ONLY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE TAXPAYERS BUT FOR THE CITY'S INVESTMENT. IT WILL BE IN JEOPARDY SO PLEASE CONSIDER INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PATROL OFFICERS BY AT [04:35:06] LEAST 50. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. JUDGE, ON OUR LIST SPEAKER NUMBER 57 PRICILLA TUCKER SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN PERSON. I'M NOT SURE SHE SHOWED UP. PRICILLA TUCKER. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT PERSON IS NONAGENDA RELATED. WALTER PRETHROW. PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. I DON'T THINK THEY ARE HERE. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO STILL HAS NOT SPOKEN? WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER HERE IN PERSON. GO AHEAD AND SPEAK. I'M CALLING HER UP. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS -- AMATULA CONTRACTOR. M GAUGE IS A MUSLIM AMERICAN ADVOCACY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY TO EXPRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS. I SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF 2019 AND A GREAT DEAL OF 2020 ENSURING THAT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY WERE COUNTED IN THE 2020 CENSUS ALONG WITH THE PROMISE THAT THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITIES WOULD BE REFLECTED. OUR ORGANIZERS SPENT DAY IN AND DAY OUT SIDE OF MOSQUES TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS AND MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLETED THEIR CENSUS. EVEN THE FAIR PROCESSES. IT CAN HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS. IT CAN LEAD TO PUBLIC DISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND FUEL ADVOCACY FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL RESDISTRICTING PROCESSES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. NEXT YEAR IN 2020 DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION WE HAVE A MEANINGFUL CHANCE TO ELECT OFFICIALS WHO BEST REPRESENT OUR CONCERNS. THE COURT RECOGNIZED THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY BY COMMEMORATING EID. AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO GOOD ON THIS PROMISE AND COMMITMENT BY ENSURING THAT WE'RE INCLUDED IN THE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD. FOR THESE REASONS I CAN YOU TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE PUBLIC TRUST AND PREVENT FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS FROM CORRUPTING THE PROCESS AND EASIES THE JOB FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WHO WILL BE GETTING OUT THE CENSUS SEVERAL DECADES FROM NOW. YOU CAN COMMIT TO THE FAIR PROCESS TODAY BY ENSURING THAT ANY CONVERSATIONS MOVING FORWARD ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IN AN ACCESSIBLE WAY. INCLUDING DIGITAL SPACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE. A COMMITMENT FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT HAVE DIRECT KNOWLEDGE AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GENERALLY THIS IS SUCH AN ISSUE THAT ENDS UP IN LITIGATION SO THERE IS LITTLE THAT WE'VE BEEN ADVISED TO SAY BUT I WANT TO SAY EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED I SUPPORT AND COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU. JUDGE, WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER ON THE LINE. SPEAKER NUMBER 12 MICHAEL STENBRIDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON. Y'ALL HAVE HAD A FULL PLATE TODAY. I AM FROM JERSEY VILLAGE AND WE FLOOD EDIT WAS UP TO MY BELT. WE HAD TO EVACUATE BY RESCUE BOAT. WE LIVE ON EAST JERSEY BETWEEN THE LAKE VIEW BRIDGE AND BELTWAY 8 WHERE THE BAYOU FLOWS. WE'VE SEEN SOME WORK GO ON NORTH OF LAKE VIEW UP -- TOWARDS SENET. WE NEED IT CUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE DO FLOOD BAD AND THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS [04:40:01] GOING ON FEMA RELATED. LIKE A GOLF COURSE PROJECT AND POSSIBLY E127. AND MY WIFE AND I ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NEW WATER THAT IT MIGHT BRING DOWN HERE. WE DID TRY TO GET AN ELEVATION FROM THE CITY -- WE'VE BEEN ASKING AND BEGGING FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS NOW AND WE WERE ON THE ORIGINAL LIST AND THEN PASSED OVER FOR OTHER GROUPS OF HOMES THROUGH DIFFERENT -- SO WE'RE SITTING HERE -- WE DON'T HAVE AN ELEVATION. WE'RE WAITING FOR THE BAYOU TO BE CUT. WE'RE WORRIED. THIS IS NOT A CRITICAL CALL. THIS IS A SUPPORTIVE CALL. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF YOU. I THANK YOU JUDGE HILDALGO FOR FIGHTING FOR THE $1.25 BILLION THAT YOU AND THE COMMISSION GOT BACK FROM THE STATE OR HUD. WE HAVE WENT THROUGH PROJECT RECOVERY AND THEY JUGGLED US AROUND FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. SENT US UP TO GLO TO AUSTIN AND THEN SENT US BACK AND SINCE WE APPLIED FOR RECONSTRUCTION THEY SAID NO BECAUSE OUR HOME IS HALFWAY BETWEEN A FLOODWAY AND FLOOD PLAIN. WE'RE STILL SEEKING -- PROJECT RECOVERY WAS DOING MORE RECONSTRUCTION. WE ASKED LIZZY FLETCHER FOR HELP. THEY BOTH GOT STONEWALLED. AND LIZZY FLETCHER PUSHED THROUGH THE "WALL STREET" PROJECT. THOSE PIPES ARE REALLY BIG. SO WE'RE CONCERNED. SO BASICALLY WE JUST NEED -- AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND WE'RE INTERESTED IF ANY OF THE MONEY CAN BE USED FOR HOME ELEVATIONS. MAYBE THE COUNTY CAN HELP US. BASICALLY -- WE JUST ARE TRYING TO GET AN ELEVATION. 7 -- AN ELEVATION. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. JUDGE I THINK SOMEONE FROM PRECINCT 4 WILL TRY TO HELP COORDINATE THEM. I THINK SOME OF THE PROJECTS WITHOUT A MAP IN FRONT OF ME BUT I THINK SOME OF THOSE ARE OUT OF OUR -- -- AND THAT RIBBON CUTTING THAT YOU AND I DID ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO. SIR YOU'LL EXPECT A PHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE FROM PRECINCT 4. THEY WILL HELP TO COORDINATE YOU TO GET YOU ASSISTANCE. OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CAGLE. THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. ARE THOSE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA. BUT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS OUT. LET ME START GOING THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION [Executive Session (Part 1 of 3)] ITEMS. THESE ARE ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. THERE IS ITEM 416. FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT -- OF UNIVERSAL SERVICES. DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE? JUDGE, I DON'T NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE APPOINTMENT BUT PART OF THAT DEALS WITH SALARY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY. OKAY. WE'LL KEEP THAT FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON SALARY. YOU WANT TO SPLIT IT. I'M GOOD ON VOTING ON THE FIRST PART. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND. I MOVE TO VOTE ON GENERAL -- NORIAGA'S APPOINTMENT AS DEPARTMENT OF DIRECTOR AND WE WILL DISCUSS THE SALARY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND. JUST A NOTE THAT THE ITEM NEEDS TO BE CHANGED INSTEAD OF SAYING -- IT SHOULD SAY MAJOR GENERAL -- [04:45:06] IS YOUR MICO. NO. I WAS SAYING THAT INSTEAD OF SAYING GENERAL IT SHOULD READ MAJOR GENERAL RICK NORIAGA RETIRED. AND WE'LL COME BACK LATE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THE SALARY. SO COMMISSIONER -- MADE THE MOTION. AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JAMES? CONGRATULATIONS MAJOR GENERAL. RETIRED. LIKE YOU'RE RETIRED -- YOU'VE BEEN WORKING LIKE A MULE SINCE YOU GOT HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND TO OUR COUNTY. PROUD OF YOU. JUDGE. MAJOR GENERAL NORIAGA IS A MODERN MAJOR GENERAL WHO IS AN EXPERT. YOU CAN ASK THE GENERAL WHAT THAT IS A REFERENCE TO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. IT'S BEEN 10 MONTHS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND VISION AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. NEXT ITEMS ON THE APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT BELT. DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT? SO WE WON'T ON THAT ONE. ITEM 418 APPOINTING LYNDON ROSE TO THE HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY. 419 AN EXECUTIVE SESSION THE BROAD COUNTY ATTORNEY ITEM FOR CONSULTATION REGARDING CONTEMPLATION IN PERSONAL MATTERS. JUDGE, THERE'S NO NEED TO GO BACK ON THAT ITEM. THANK YOU. ITEM 420 REQUEST FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF APPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES BY BAKER -- HOSSLER ON DATA -- WE NEED TO GO BACK ON THAT ONE AND IT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN CONJUNCTION WITH 422 WHICH WE ALSO NEED TO GO BACK ON. OKAY. GOT IT. 421. EXECUTIVE SESSION ON RETAINING LINE BARGER AS SPECIAL COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK ON THAT ONE. OKAY. 422 WE'LL GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION PER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S ADVICE. 423. JUDGE -- ON 423 -- AND 248 ARE THE SAME ITEM. NOT ANY DISCUSSION ON 248. THERE WOULD BE NO ACTION ON 423 AND WE DON'T NEED TO GO BACK. SO 423 IS NO ACTION. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS THE DECISION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. POSITIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. 423 IS THE ITEM ON THE STATUS OF THE RESDISTRICTING CRITERIA. CORRECT. AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO FIGURE OUT THE PROCESS. WE CAN. I WOULD. WE'LL GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 423. SO WE KNOW WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE AND WHERE TO GO NEXT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO ACCOMMODATE THE PUBLIC. OKAY. HERE ARE THE ITEMS THAT FOLKS HAVE FLAGGED FOR [Departments (Part 3 of 5)] DISCUSSION. ITEM 3. FREE PUBLIC WIFI. DO WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT? THAT WAS PRECINCT 3 FLAG. NO. ITEM 7 APPROVAL OF $6 MILLION FROM THE PICK FUND FOR COVID RELATED EXPENSES. PRECINCT 2 AND 3 BOTH FLAGGED THAT ONE. THAT WAS NUMBER 7. CORRECT. JUST CLARIFICATION -- THAT WAS THE -- I DON'T THINK -- JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS -- WE RECOMMENDED A MOTION SO [04:50:09] THERE MAY NOT NEED DISCUSSION. WE'LL FLAG IT FOR DISCUSSION. ITEM 8 AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AN AMENDMENT FOR A GRANT. COMMISSIONER CAGLE. WE JUST NEED TO TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM 8. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 3-2. JUDGE. CAN WE HOLD ON FOR A SECOND. 3-2 -- ITEM 9 IS AN AGREEMENT ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR THE ARPA FUNDING. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? I'M SORRY -- JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION. I HAD THAT DOWN AS A TRANS -- TRANSMITTAL THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE A VOTE. THAT IS CORRECT. IT'S WRITTEN AS A TRANSMITTAL. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE ACTION. SO JAMES CAN MARK IT AS NO ACTION. NO VOTE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. LET'S FLAG IT AS NO ACTION. ITEM 11. THE COVID UPDATE. ITEM -- $23 MILLION FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU FLAGGED THAT ONE. YES. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THIS ITEM OUT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT SO MUCH OF MY PRECINCT IS WITHOUT SIDEWALKS. THIS PROJECT WILL BE BRINGING SIDEWALKS TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA. EARLIER WHEN I CAME IN -- IN 2019 WE DID A PEDESTRIAN FATALITY ASSESSMENT AND IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE HOW MANY CASUALTIES HAVE OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE PRECINCT BUT IN PARTICULAR HERE AND THE REASON THAT WE LOOKED AT THIS WAS SOMEBODY BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION OF THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN KILLED OR INJURED AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO TRAVERSE HIGH CAPACITY LANES BECAUSE THERE IS NO SIDEWALKS. AND THERE IS MASSIVE OPEN DITCHES. SO I JUST WANTED TO APPLAUD MY TEAM AND I WANT TO THANK OMEGA ENGINEERING FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS BUT THIS IS A TRUE LIFESAVER FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I WISH I COULD DO MUCH MORE AND FASTER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNTY. WE DID A SIMILAR LOOK. WE CREATED A SIDEWALK ON CALL CONTRACT WITH A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR SO WE HAD A CONSULTANT LIKE YOU'RE DOING HERE BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH BIDDING SMALL PIECES OF SIDEWALK. WE COULD DO A LOT. YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT BUT IT'S WORKING WELL. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO 94 IS NOT ON THE DISCUSSION. CORRECT. THAT CAN BE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 110 APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. JUST AN ITEM -- A DISCUSSION ON THIS. IT'S BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS FLOODING. AND WE HAD A TEMPORARY PUMP AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE A WAY TO TRY TO PROTECT THAT PAVILION. NOW WE'LL HAVE A TRUE STORM WATER BACK UP SYSTEM. AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED AND DON'T KNOW WHY WE DIDN'T DO THIS SOONER BUT GLAD IT'S DONE AND WE'VE REMOVED THE TEMPORARY PROCESS OUT OF THE WAY AND PUT IN SOMETHING MUCH MORE STABLE AND CONSISTENT FOR THE PAVILION. IT'S AN HISTORICAL BUILDING AND GLAD TO HAVE THIS -- IN PLACE TO PROTECT IT. IT'S HARD TO PROTECT IT BUT THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY. [04:55:06] THANK YOU. SO WE'LL PUT THAT ONE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM 125. DRAINAGE FACILITIES. WE SPOKE -- GAYLE COOK CALLED AND SPOKE ON IT. I'M PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. WORKING AND SUPPORTING OUR VARIOUS CITIES AND GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING WITH WITH THE CITY OF SEABROOK. IT WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT SEABROOK BUT IT WILL SUPPORT TAYLOR LAKE VILLAGE. NASSAU BAY. THE CLEAR LAKE AREA. SO VERY PROUD OF THIS. SO THAT ONE CAN GO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. 142. GREENS BAYOU WATERSHED. I'LL WANTED TO POINT OUT THE COLLABORATION. IN LINE WITH OUR WORK ON PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS ONE -- TEX-DOT AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. GREENS IS -- NEEDS A LOT OF ATTENTION BUT GLAD THERE IS COLLABORATION TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS DONE RIGHT. THANK YOU. ITEM 144 IS -- THAT 142 IS ON THE CONSENTS AGENDA. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THESE ARE THREE OF THE BOND PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD. EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE NEED TO GET THOSE BOND PROJECTS DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. AND ALSO THE SECOND ONE 145 IS TO A PORTION OF LAPORTE THAT IS KNOWN AS LOMAX. LONG NEEDED ATTENTION IN SERVICES SO GLAD THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY THERE TO GET THESE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. GREAT NEWS. LOMAX WILL BE WITHOUT NO MORE. THAT ALSO GOES ON THE CONCEPT AGENDA. ITEM 152. PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT FOR BAY WOOD STORM WATER DETENTION BASIN. AND JUST THAT I MET -- EARLIER WHEN WE WERE HAVING OUR PRESS CONFERENCE I MADE AMENS TO OUR FORMER HOUSTONIAN JEFF BASES ON FOR HIS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH INTO SPACE. WELL THIS PARTICULAR ITEM -- I HAPPEN TO MEET WITH THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM DIRECTOR AND HIS STAFF. AT ELLINGTON AND ONE THIN THAT THEREFORE POINTED OUT IS THAT BECAUSE ELLINGTON IS WORKING TO BECOME A SPACE PORT THEY'VE BEEN CERTIFIED AS SUCH BUT THEY ARE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE WORK IS VERY EXCITING AND IMPRESSIVE. ONE OF OUR DETENTION BASINS COULD ATTRACT WILDLIFE WHICH COULD BE HARMFUL TO THE JETS COMING IN AND OUT AND TO THE POSSIBILITY OF -- JETS CAN WITHSTAND SOME OF THIS BUT THE SPACE VEHICLES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO MANUFACTURER OUT THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MUCH MORE SENSITIVE AND SO ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY THAT WILDLIFE COULD MAKE THEIR HABITATS IN THE POSSIBLE LINE OF THE RUNWAYS IS CRITICAL SO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT GOES TO ADDRESS THAT AND SO ONCE I GOT THAT BRIEFING -- OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS AS ANOTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT BUT ONCE I GOT THAT BRIEFING IT GIVES THIS PARTICULAR ITEM A WHOLE DIFFERENT APPRECIATION. WHAT WILL THEY DO TO KEEP IT FROM TRACTING BIRDS. YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT A DROP BOTTOM. IT HOLDS TOO MUCH WATER. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. -- YOU LIVED IN HOUSTON AND COME BACK JEFF BEZOS. BRING BLUE ORIGIN TO HARRIS COUNTY. ITEM 157 IS NEXT. THE PROJECT REPORT ON THE PROJECT. I DON'T NEED THIS SEPARATE. JUST MAKE THE POINT. THAT IS SUCH A BIG DEAL. WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT. [05:00:01] BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE HOMES AND YOU TELL THEM THE OLD 500 YEAR LINE IS NOW THE NEW -- 100 YEAR LINE IMPACTS FOLKS. THEIR INSURANCE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE THOSE TIDAL WAVES SITTING HERE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND WE NEED TO BE SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING. $5,000 A MONTH OR YEAR. A YEAR. 159 AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE. THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? NO. I'M IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2. ITEM -- 182. FUNDING RELATED TO THE TRANSITION OF ELECTION I.T. CYCLES. COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS MADE A MOTION AND GARCIA A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 3-2. NEXT IS ITEM 184. THE CREATION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. OUTLINING THE STRUCTURE AND -- WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER AGENCY. ] MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 3-2. ITEM 187. THAT IS -- I'LL TELL YOU WHERE THE REFERENCE OF THAT COMES FROM. IT WOULD BE AKIN TO WHAT YOU HAD YOUR PHOTOS TAKEN AT OVER THE WEEKEND. IT'S A REMOTE REFERENCE TO THAT. THAT IS WHY I'M LAUGHING. 187 IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU FLAGGED THIS ONE. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? NO. NO. MOTION CARRIES 3-2. I'M IN FAVOR. THAT WAS ITEM 187. NEXT IS ITEM 192. APPROVAL OF FIVE POSITIONS OR THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR FOR IT SERVICES. SO MOVED. SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. OPPOSED. NO. NO. I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 3-2. NEXT IS ITEM 204. AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDER ESTABLISHING A SURVIVORS SERVICES AND IMMIGRATION LAW PROGRAM. SECOND. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND OF RAMSEY BOTH FLAGGED THIS ITEM. I WANT TO SAY HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED WITH IT. THIS IS GOING HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME. THIS IS GOING TO HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME. THIS IS GOING TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT BETTER ENGAGE VICTIMS OF CRIME. THIS IS GOING TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE DOING HORRIBLE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE ITEM AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT ON THE AGENDA. I ONLY PULLED IT JUDGE. I HOPE THIS IS ONE OF MANY VICTIM RELATED INITIATIVE THAT'S WE'LL PURSUE. SO, THAT IS MY SPORT. ALL RIGHT. I'LL MOVE ON IT. [05:05:04] I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT WAS ITEM 204. ITEM 209. AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE LITERACY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AND RELATION TO PROJECT GRAD. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU, JUDGE. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A MINUTE THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE BUDGET TO HELP ENGAGE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY JUST LIKE WE MET WITH JOHNNY COMMISSIONER CORTEZ -- HE IS GOING TO DUKE UNIVERSITY. AND THANKFULLY HE IS GETTING A FULL RIDE BUT OTHERS WHO HAVE BIG DREAMS LIKE HIM AND HAVE THE CAPACITY LIKE HIM MAY NOT HAVE THE FAMILY RESOURCES TO DO IT. THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS GOING TO HELP US DO THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM THAT THESE WILL BE ALL IN PRECINCT 2 SINCE IT'S MY BUDGET. SO SO EDWARD -- -- IS THAT GOING TO BE ACCURATE? WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO REACH? MR. -- THIS IS EDWARD MELTON. CONFIRMED. THIS PILOT PROJECT WILL BE IN PRECINCT 2. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND ALSO CONGRATULATIONS ON LARRY -- GETTING THAT RECOGNITION TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. OKAY. SO WE'RE LEAVING THAT ONE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND BEFORE I FORGOT -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS AN ITEM THAT I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT WAS I THINK WE PASSED OVER IT AND THAT WAS ITEM 188 I BELIEVE. 8 YES. THE PEOPLE -- SAW A REPORT. ITEM 188. PEOPLE -- REPORT. I'LL MAKE THAT ONE FOR DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM 288. THAT IS APPROVAL FOR $4 MILLION FROM THE PICK FUND FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE WINTER STORM. PAGE 26. COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU HAD FLAGGED THAT ONE. I'VE GOT A MOTION ON THIS ITEM. THE MOTION READS MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT CONTINGENCY PICK FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF DEPARTMENT 202 TO PAY FOR EXTRAORDINARY ONE TIME EXPENSES RELATED TO COVID-19 RESPONSE AND THE FEBRUARY 2021 WINTER STORM THAT WERE INITIALLY PAID FROM THE SHERIFF'S FUND. THIS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED OR CALCULATED AS A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ADOPTED BUDGET. THE SHERIFF'S EXPENSES WILL BE REVIEWED. AND THOSE THAT FIT THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED BELOW MAY BE MOVED TO THE PICK FUND DEPARTMENT 202 UP TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT 540. COVID RELATED OVER TIME EXPENSE -- -- WINTER TOMORROW RELATED OVER TIME EXPENSE. WINTER STORM OVER TIME EXPENSE. INCREASE EARMARK COST DUE TO COVID $2,000,602,000. AND COVID TESTING AND SCREENING OF PERSONNEL $350,000. UTMB TESTING OF INMATES FOR COVID. $692,600. I WONDER IF WE SHOULD PUT IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. WE'RE IN FAVOR OF THIS. [05:10:06] I WOULD TOSS IN A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT PRIOR TO THE DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS IT WOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT DISQUALIFY OURSELVES FOR ANY OTHER COVID REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE MIGHT BE -- ENTITLED TO. SO MOVED. IS THIS MOTION ALSO FOR ITEM 7? YES. SO A MOTION AND AMENDMENT FOR ITEM 7 AND 228. CORRECT. MOVING THESE EXPENSES OUT OF THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET TO PICK WON'T DISQUALIFY THEM FROM REIMBURSEMENT SO I MIGHT SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TOGETHER WITH THE RISK MANAGEMENT TEAM REVIEW THEM BUT WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT BEFORE WE TRANSFER THEM. AND THESE WERE APPROVED FOR COVID RELATED. THE USUAL REIMBURSEMENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR IS ARE DOTTED AND OUR TS ARE CROSSED. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT ON THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR. YOU'RE ALREADY COMFORTABLE THAT YOU'VE DONE YOUR REVIEW. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE REVIEW. WE DID AND INITIAL REVIEW AND WE'RE HAVING ONGOING CONVERSATION. WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOPED IN TO IT. LET ME ASK THE QUESTION DIFFERENTLY. DO YOU LIKE MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OR DO YOU THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARY? WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AMENDMENT. IF YOU WANT TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE THE POINT I WAS MAKING IS WE'RE LOOPED INTO THE PROCESS SO WE REVIEW THIS AS DAVID MENTIONED. THAT IS AS CLEAR AS MUD. COMMISSIONER GARCIA ARE YOU STILL OKAY WITH MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. LET'S KEEP IT. DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON THAT. SO MOVED. SECONDED. ARE YOU CLEAR ON THE OF MOTION, JAMES? IF IT'S THE SAME MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SPOKE AND THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE ADDED. IT IS. ALL IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM 247 IS NEXT. TO FUND A MODEL PROGRAM EXTENSION FOR AFTER HOUR COURT PROCESSES AND I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. WE CAN PULL IT LATER. ITEM 254. TRANSMITTAL OF THE TRAFFIC STOP DATA. I'M SORRY WHAT WAS THAT? 254. 247 I HAVE A QUESTION. DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK IT NOW? IT MAY BE QUICK. WE'RE TRYING THIS NEW -- TODAY. THIS IS AN ITEM FOR AFTER HOUR COURT PROCESSES AND I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT, DAVE? WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT JUDGE AND WE'VE ALSO COMMUNICATED WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED BEFORE IT GETS SUBMITTED. I'M OKAY WITH THIS ITEM AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE HISTORICALLY THERE HAS NOT BEEN THAT MUCH COMMUNICATION SO IS THAT GOOD TO HEAR. WE'RE WORKING ON IT. WE'LL GET THERE. OKAY. LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE HELPFUL. SO WE'LL KEEP IT ON THE CONSENT. YES. 247 IS ON THE CONCEPTS AGENDA. NEXT IS 254. TRANSMITTAL. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME POSSIBLE ACTIONS. SO WE'LL HAVE TO DO SOME MOTIONS HERE SO WE OUGHT TO FLAG THIS ONE FOR DISCUSSION. NEXT IS 276. [05:15:01] REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF ELECTION'S ADMINISTRATOR. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 3-2. ITEM 290. SUPPLIES FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? I'M NEVER. MOTION CARRIES 3-2. ITEM 296. A RENEWAL OPTION FOR HURRICANE HARVEY RECOVERY DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. PRECINCT 2 FLAGGED THIS ITEM. YES. JUST TO POINT OUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND WE JUST WANTS TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THERE ARE 25 FIRMS ATTACHED TO THIS. AND PRECINCT 2 IS BENEFITING FROM IT. EXCITED THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS MOVEMENT. AND SEE THE SHOVELS GET IN THE GROUND. THAT IS GREAT NEWS. SO I'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. 296. NEXT IS ITEM 333. AN APPROVAL OF AN AWARD -- I CAN'T PRONOUNCE THESE -- ZOLERS -- HZ FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY. COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED THIS. YES. JUDGE. JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE AS WE WORK TOWARDS EFFICIENCY -- THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS PAYING ATTENTION TO. THIS AWARD OR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WAS AWARDED IT WILL -- APPROXIMATELY THREE MAYBE FOUR YEARS AGO. AND YET ENGINEERING HAS JUST BROUGHT THIS ITEM TO US. EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT TRYING TO GET IT MOVING FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THAT IS JUST -- INCREDIBLE SLOW ROLLING. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S INTENTIONAL. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S INCOMPETENCE. DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS -- THERE IS NOTHING UNIQUE, FAR-REACHING FROM THIS. SO I JUST HAD TO -- THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKING THIS LONG. DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE IS HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. BUT WE'RE WATCHING THESE ITEMS AND SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT. I'M NOT GOING TO LET THESE THINGS HAPPEN. ACTUALLY -- 14 MONTHS -- TO BRING THIS ITEM -- TO COURT AND A YEAR AND A HALF -- NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. THAT IS CRAZY. IT WAS ADVERTISED IN MAY 2020 -- AWARDED IN DECEMBER OF 2020 AND JUST COMING FORWARD. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ITEM WHICH IS NOT EXTRAORDINARY WHY IT HAS TAKEN SO LONG SO I WANTED TO POINT THIS OUT AND AGAIN -- I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR WATCHING THESE ITEMS BECAUSE THIS JUST CAN'T HAPPEN ANY MORE. THERE IS A PRACTICE IN DALLAS THAT MAY BE A SOLUTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND AFTER COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS DONE LET'S TALK ON THIS. AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER ENGINEERING THING THAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TOO BECAUSE SOMETHING I'VE BEEN HOLDING BACK FOR A WHILE, YOU STARTED DOING IT AND I WANTED TO VISIT WITH YOU ON THAT ONE. THIS IS JOHN. I DO WANT TO GIVE SOME INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE. THIS IS NOT AN ENGINEERING PROJECT. IT'S A CSD FEDERAL GRANT PROJECT AND BECAUSE OF THAT THERE IS EXTENSIVE FEDERAL REVIEW OF [05:20:08] WHAT IS DONE AND THAT IS THE LENGTH. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIME ENGINEERING HAD IT AS OPPOSED TO THE TIME CSD HAD IT. PURCHASING AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAD IT. WE HAD IT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS WHEN WE WERE DOING THE REVIEW AND NEGOTIATING. SO WE NEED TO WORK ON THE PROCESS AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH DAVID BERRY AND GET THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED BUT IT'S NOT JUST AN ENGINEERING ISSUE. IT'S A GLOBAL ISSUE AND IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED WHEN THERE ARE FEDERAL GRANTS FUNDS INVOLVED. I GET IT, JOHN BUT TO STAY SILENT ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS AND NOT TO BE -- WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT WE WANT TO GET THINGS DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. SO I JUST HOPE THAT WE ALL TAKE THIS AS A LESSON LEARNED. AND IDENTIFY PROBLEMS IN ADVANCE. BRING THEM TO THE COURT WITH A SOLUTION BECAUSE WE NEED FOR GET THESE PROJECTS DONE AND SITTING ON THE MONEY DOESN'T DO ANYONE ANY GOOD SO, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. I HAVE A SIMILAR CONCERN WITH CSD AND WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM THIS WEEK. THIS IDEA OF THERE IS AN ISSUE THEY NEED TO BRING IT. AND COMMISSIONER DAVID BARRY IS LOOKING AT THIS PROCESS. WE'VE PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR HIS TEAM AND SHOWN THE ISSUES AND HE IS GOING TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE GROUPS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXPEDITE THIS. IT'S A VALID CONCERN. A COMPLICATED ISSUE BUT THERE IS A WAY TO IMPROVE IT. I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES IT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOHN. ITEM 386. SORRY JUDGE. THAT IS JUST FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. 333. -- 386 -- FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL. I READ THE RESOLUTION. NOT ONE WITH ALL OF THE POISON PILL STUFF THAT I CAN SUPPORT. I WON'T ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ONE THE WAY IT IS DRAFTED. I GAVE AN ALTERNATE RESOLUTION. MORE OF A REDO. YEAH. JUDGE. I WILL READ IT. I JUST WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CABLE -- CAGLE. WE INCORPORATED THAT. AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WE REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND DIDN'T GET ANYTHING UNTIL TODAY BUT I WILL MOVE ON THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INCORPORATING. SOME OF THE POISON PILLS I JUST COMPETENT. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. OPPOSED. NO. I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 394. REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION ON THE PROCESS OF APPOINTING THE HARRIS COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE. WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. DO YOU WANT TO DO IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? ALL RIGHT. 395 -- REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION TO INCREASE PATROL OFFICERS PRECINCT 3. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT. ITEM 399 JAIL SAFETY AND OPERATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT ONE TOO. ITEM 400. REQUEST FOR CONFIRMATION -- THAT ALL FUNDS SPENT FROM THE TRUST MEETS STATUTORY CRITERIA. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT. 401. -- WE'LL FLAG THAT FOR DISCUSSION. ITEM 402. REQUEST FOR TIME AND DATE OF RELEASE OF CRIME AND JUSTICE DASHBOARDS. WE REALLY COVERED THAT PREVIOUSLY. ON OUR EARLY AGENDA ITEM. SO WE'LL PUT NO ACTION. ITEM 404. COMMISSIONER CAGLE IDENTIFYING THE OVER 20 DEPARTMENTS REFERRED TO IN THE COUNTY JUDGE [05:25:05] BACK UP. JUDGE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ALTHOUGH I HAVE GOT A REQUEST THE COUNTY ATTORNEY DOES NOT YET KNOW WHAT THESE ENTITIES ARE GOING TO BE. AND SO DISCUSSING WHAT IS OR IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE LIST -- I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUE ME. THAT IT WAS PREMATURE TO VOTE ON IT. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. JAY -- IF YOU ARE STILL THERE -- COMMISSIONER, YES. THE CONVERSATION IS THAT THE LAST COURT MEETING THE COURT HAS ASKED US TO GET THROUGH AND WORK WITH MR. BARRY AND BE PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITION PLAN AND IN THAT PLAN WILL BE A FULL LISTING AND WE'LL GO THROUGH IT IN FULL DETAIL SO, THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT. SO AT THE NEXT MEETING WHEN WE PRESENT THE FULL PLAN WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH AS MUCH ANALYSIS ABOUT EACH DEPARTMENT. AND IT WILL BE UP TO THE COURT TO MAKE THE DECISION. THIS IS MY SIMPLE REQUEST. WHAT THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE SO WE KNOW SO WE CAN LOOK AT IT. YES AND THEY WILL BRING IT BACK AS PART OF THE TRANSITION PLAN. BUT NOT TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT COURT. AS SOON AS THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE LET US KNOW. SO YOU WILL SEND THE TRANSITION PLAN AHEAD OF THE COURT AS SOON AS IT CAN BE DONE. LAW LIBRARIES? IS THAT ITS OWN DEPARTMENT. THAT IS PART OF WHY WE NEED A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. AS SOON AS YOU HAVE IT READY PLEASE SEND IT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COURT. ABSOLUTELY. JUDGE. THANK YOU. SO COMMISSIONER CAGLE THAT IS 404. NO ACTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT UNTIL NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT. [Executive Session (Part 2 of 3)] I KNOW PREVIOUSLY I SAID 419 -- A CATCH ALL ITEM. WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION RELATED TO A PERSONNEL MATTER AND WE'LL BRING THAT UP. SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT. 419? YES. OKAY. SO WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO -- THE DISCUSSION AGENDA. ITEM 419. IT'S AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM. GOT IT. AND 427. [Emergency/Supplemental items] WE'RE ASKING NO ACTION BE TAKEN AND SO IT SHOULD BE PULLED. ONE SECOND. LET ME GO IN ORDER. BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN IN ORDER. SO WE HAD JUST GOTTEN DONE WITH -- -- WE HAD PUT 419 AS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM BUT NOW TAKING 419 TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND JAMES GOT THAT. 404 IS A NO ACTION. NEXT IS 427 NEXT ON THE LIST. YES. THAT IS A NO ACTION. WE'RE ASKING THAT TO BE PULLED. OKAY. 427 IS NO ACTION. WAIT. JUDGE. IT SHALL PUT ON THE AGENDA AND I FLAGGED IT FOR DISCUSSION. SO THEY MAY NOT WANT US TO TAKE ACTION ON IT BUT WE COULD DISCUSS IT. THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS NOT RUN BY MY OFFICE AND IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW WE RUN COURT. I'M OKAY WITHHOLDING IT FOR ANOTHER TIME BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING RESOLVED. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING TO VOTE ON BECAUSE WHAT WAS PROPOSED -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS PROPOSED. THAT MAKES TWO OF US. WE'LL PROBABLY IN A FEW -- THAT IS MY DISCUSSION. MAYBE WE CAN GET IT FOR THE NEXT COURT SESSION. I'M A NOT PLANNING ON #HAVING -- WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SO, I'M A NOT SURE -- JUST GET IT TO US WHEN YOU'RE READY. WHAT IS THE [05:30:06] HURRY? A RESOLUTION REGARDING VOTING RIGHTS. ALL IN FAVOR? WE WERE PRAISING THESE FOLKS THAT WERE IN THE FORUM. MAYBE AFTER SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAD BEEN MADE A COUPLE OF YEARS A GO WITH THIS COURT THAT MAYBE WE HAVE CHANGED OUR MINDS ABOUT THE UGLY NAMES. I THINK IT WAS CALLED -- THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED WAS A -- BAG OF TRICKS. BUT NOW IT'S -- I'M SOME WHAT SUPPORTIVE OF FOLKS USING PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE BUT I CANNOT VOTE FOR THE -- I WOULD LIKE TO FEEL VINDICATED. YOU WERE FOR IT BEFORE YOU WERE AGAINST IT. IT'S A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. SO MOTION COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED. I'M IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 3-2. SEE HOW EFFICIENT I AM. I HAD ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE SPEECH WORKED UP ON THAT LAST ONE WHERE I WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE RECORD. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS AGENDA. JAMES DO YOU NEED CLARIFICATION? YES, MA'AM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDER DISCUSSION IS ITEM 393. ONE MOMENT. THE SENATE BILL 6 RESOLUTION. CORRECT. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT, JAMES. AND HOW ABOUT ITEM 186. NO A ON THAT ONE. THAT IS THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE ITEM. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND JUDGE IF YOU WANT TO GO OVER THE CORRECTIONS. YES. SO HERE ARE THE CORRECTIONS. ITEM 6 ON PAGE 2 -- PRE-- REQUEST NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM. ITEM 183 ON PAGE NEVER MIND. THAT WAS JUST A NOTE FROM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ITEM 245 ON PAGE 27. THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS A DISTRICT CLERK REQUEST NO ACTION BE TAKEN. ITEM 259 ON PAGE 28. THE PURPOSE SHOULD SAY CASE RELATED TRAVEL. ITEM 260 ON PAGE 30 THE DATES SHOULD BE AUGUST 1ST TO AUGUST 5, 2021. THE PURPOSE SHOULD ALSO SAY CASE RELATED TRAVEL. ARE WE TO CHANGE THE PURPOSE TO SAY CASE RELATED TRAVEL. ITEM 297 ON PAGE 35 RENEWAL ITEMS. THE JOB NUMBER NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED TO SAY 20-0165 SO WE'RE REPLACING THE FIRST ONE WITH A ZERO. ITEM 301 ON PAGE 35 AT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT. CHANGE THE AMOUNT FROM $4,000,086,000 TO $1,000,586,704. ITEM 375 ON PAGE 44 THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION BE TAKEN ON THAT ITEM. IT'S AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT'S IT. AND [05:35:02] JUDGE -- ITEM 395 DELETE THE WORD BAIL BOND. WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THAT ITEM. CORRECT. SO I FIGURED WE WOULD DO IT THEN. ANYTHING ELSE, JAMES? NO, MA'AM. [Additional Item] SO WE NEED A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL NEVER. OPPOSED IN MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. IT'S TIME FOR A BREAK. SO LET'S -- I WOULD SUGGEST A 30 MINUTE BREAK. I'M GETTING MY SECOND WIND NOW: OKAY. SO WE'LL BE BACK IN 15 MINUTES AND WE'LL GO TO THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. >>> IT'S 5:10 AND CONGRESSMAN'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. AND THE FIRST ITEM FOR DISCUSSION... >> IS THERE AN ECHO? >> I DON'T HEAR AN ECHO. ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS. I'M LOOKING AT OUR TECH FOLKS IN THE COURTROOM SO THEY COULD FIX THE ECHO. >> I'M GETTING A LOT OF HOT AIR IN HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE GETTING ALL WOUND UP IN HERE. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY CALM. >> SO, WE'LL TALK ARE YOU GUYS WORKING ON IT? >> I THINK IT'S OKAY NOW. >> IT COULD BE THE PODIUM MIC. >> WHAT ABOUT IT, LUCINDA? >> THE OTHER ONE IS OFF TOO. >> MINE'S OFF. >> OKAY. WE'LL JUST DEAL. >> WELL... >> OKAY. IT SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SO, ITEM 11 IS THE BROAD [Departments (Part 4 of 5)] COVID-19 ITEM AND I WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU ALL THAT WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE DELTA VARIANT, ACCORDING TO THE C.D.C., THE LATEST NUMBERS FOR THE DELTA VARIANT AND THIS IS DATA FROM THE TWO WEEKS ENDING JULY THIRD, IT'S SURELY MUCH WORSE NOW, IS THAT THE DELTA VARIANT MAKES UP 58.9% OF CASES IN OUR REGION, REGION SIX WHICH INCLUDING TEXAS THAT'S UP FROM 34.2% IN THE END OF JUNE. SO, THE DELTA VARIANT IS WIDESPREAD LOCALLY. WE JUST GOT INFORMATION THIS MORNING FROM THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, 90% OF THEIR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED. AND YOU KNOW, COUNTY-WIDE NUMBERS ARE SIMILAR. OVER ALL, WE'RE SEEING THE IMPACTS OF THAT 30% OF ELIGIBLE FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT HAD THE VACCINE THAT ARE AROUND 45% OF FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT HAD, OR T 30% OF ELIGIBLE FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT HAD ANY SHOT AND 40% OF FOLKS THAT HAVE ONLY HAD ONE SO FAR. SO, WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED. THE HOSPITALIZATION TRENDS ARE UP. CASES ARE UP. POSITIVITY IS UP THEY'RE EITHER INCREASING RELATIVELY LINEARLY, OR IN THE CASES IN SOME COURT OF QUADATIC FASHION. WE'RE WATCHING WITH THE BAYLOR FOLKS AND THE UT HEALTH FOLKS TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE NEXT FOR US. BUT IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT SCHOOLS STARTS AGAIN VERY SOON. >> JUDGE, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE GENERAL BED COUNT AS AN INDICATOR. YOU READ ALL KINDS OF MATERIAL, BUT APPARENTLY, [05:40:01] PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATIONS, IT SEEMS TO BE LESS SEVERE, I THINK THERE'S ROUGHLY 530 FOLKS WITH COVID IN HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITALS. AND I THINK THE NUMBER OF BEDS ARE ROUGHLY 14,800 SOMETHING, SO IT'S UP, IT'S UP FROM A COUPLE OF HUNDRED. BUT AT LEAST, IT HASN'T APPEARED TO BE A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR HOSPITALS. >>> WE NEED TO GET THE COMMUNITY VACCINATED IS BASICALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THAT. PUBLIC HEALTH IS WORKING VERY THOUGHTFULLY ON IT. AND I'LL KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED IF THINGS CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. BUT, OF COURSE, THE CONCERNING PART OF IT IS YOU KNOW, JUST THE IMPACT THIS HAS ON THE BROADER COMMUNITY. AND THE ECONOMY. YOU KNOW. FOLKS JUST DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE AS MUCH WHEN THE VIRUS IS UP AND WE SAW THAT ON WALL STREET THIS WEEK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON COVID? OKAY AND THAT'S NO ACTION, JAMES. >> NEXT IS ITEM 188 PEOPLE SOFT. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANTED TO TO BRING THIS ITEM UP BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT PEOPLE SOFT IN 2019 WHEN WE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS IT MAY HAVE BEEN LATE 2019 EARLY 2020. WE HAD EMPLOYS WHO WERE NOT GETTING THEIR PAYCHECKS. I THINK WE FOUND THAT WE WERE PAYING VENDORS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID NO INVOICE FOUND FOR THOSE PARTICULAR THINGS. AND SO WE COMMISSIONED GUARDER TO ASSESS THAT ORGANIZATION AND ASSESS SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE SOFT AND THERE WERE FIVE AREAS THAT THIS WORK WAS TO COVER AND THEY WERE THE BUSINESS BENEFIT, THE BUDGET, EXECUTION, ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND CLIENT SATISFACTION, AND I WANT TO CHECK TO SEE IF MAJOR GENERAL'S ON THE LINE? YES, SIR, I'M HERE. >> MAJOR GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND JUST, I WASN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CALLS WITH GARDENER AS THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THIS I THINS THAT GARDENER MAY HAVE ASSIGNED SOME KIND OF LETTER GRADE TOLL HARRIS COUNTY'S PERFORMANCE WITH THE PEOPLE SOFT IMPLEMENTATION. DO YOU KNOW THOSE GRADES WERE? >> YES, SIR. LAST WEEK THE CHIEF'S OF STAFF, THE OFFICES OF THE COURT RECEIVED THE INITIAL BRIEF BY GARDENER WHO AS YOU ARE AWARE SINCE 2016 HAVE CONDUCTED NUMEROUS ERP ENGAGEMENTS AND EVALUATIONS AND SO FORTH. AND SO, THEY DID, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CUMULATIVE OF ALL FIVE WAS THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVED AN F GRADE FOR THE ROLLOUT. >> WOW. IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? >> ACCORDING TO ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS FROM THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THEY DID THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, IT APPEARS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AT. >> WITH THE MORE PRESSING ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORTH IN THE REPORT, WHERE ARE WE TODAY WITH THOSE ITEMS? >> TODAY, COMMISSIONER, FIRST I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SUE WHO WAS BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTY A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE I ARRIVED AND SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ON THE STABILIZATION PHASE OF PEOPLE SOFT ALONG WITH THE REENGAGEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE AND DOUGH VOTED A LOT OF TIME AND SUPPORT FROM HER TEAM'S EFFORT. WE'RE RAPIDLY REDUCING THE ENHANCEMENT AND [05:45:01] REPORTING BACKLOG. BUILDING NEW INTEGRATIONS, WE'RE COMPLETING A LOT OF TECHNICAL UPGRADES AND ROLLING OUT CELL SERVICE FUNCTIONS. AS AN EXAMPLE WE EXPECT BY THE END OF DECEMBER TO HAVE OVER 70% OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY TO BE ENTERING THE TIME REPORTS EELECTRONICLY. AND E-SUPPLIER, FOR EXAMPLE, IS GOING LIVE JULY THE 24TH. I WILL SAY BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM INSTALLATION DELAYS, WE'RE ABOUT 13 SOFTWARE RELEASES BEHIND SCHEDULE. SO, WE PLAN TO HAVE AND BRING THAT SOFTWARE CURRENT BY MAY OF 2022. AND, WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON INTEGRATIONS LIKE E-BUILDER, FOR ENGINEERING WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THEM. UNIFIER. WE'RE STILL IN THE STABILIZATION PHASE BUT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE. >> THAT'S HELPFUL. AND, WE'RE MONTHS AWAY FROM THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, YOU JUST INDICATED THERE'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL HIT THE NEW FISCAL YEAR OF MAY OF NEXT YEAR. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IN TERMS OF NEW COSTS THAT THIS COURT WILL HAVE TO PONY UP FOR? >> I THINK WHAT THE COURT NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT WE'RE EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CREATING A SHORTENED FISCAL YEAR TO ROLL OUT THE NEW FISCAL YEAR CALENDAR. THAT PARTICULAR IMPACT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF INTERNALLY THAT WE'RE STILL EVALUATING WHAT THE GAP OR S.W.A.T. ANALYSIS OF THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE DOWNSTREAM REPORTING SYSTEMS AND INTERFACE SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE EVALUATING RIGHT NOW ALONG WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING AND OTHERS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT. WE'RE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE COST AND MAKING THE CHANGE AND EXPECT TO HAVE AN ESTIMATE SOMETIME BY MID-AUGUST TO BRING BACK TO THE COURT. AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COURT'S STAFF AND SO, WE MAY HAVE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN SEPTEMBER. NOW >> NOW, GARDENER, SOME FINDINGS WERE THAT THERE WERE BUSINESS DEFICIENCIES. RESULTED IN RE-TUESDAYING OR ELIMINATING NECESSARY RESOURCES AND TIME FOR TRAINING, TESTING, AND OCM ACTIVITIES, THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE MAINTAINING SHADOW SYSTEMS, HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT ON OPERATIONAL COST. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN FUNCTIONAL COST ANALYSIS AND DATA VALIDATION. THEY IDENTIFIED THERE WAS NO CLEAR BUSINESS OWNER OR SPONSOR OF THE PROJECT THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE PROJECT MANAGER WAS ALLOWED TO CONTROL ALL FOUR MAJOR PILLARS, SCOPE, TIME, COST AND QUALITY. WHICH APPARENTLY ISN'T THE RIGHT APPROACH. THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE PROJECT REPORTING WAS SUPERFICIAL AND DID NOT ADEQUATELY REPRESENT CURRENT STATUS OF DELIVERABLES. AND THEY IDENTIFIED THAT DUE TO MISSED DELIVERY ON SPECIFIC FUNCTIONALITY, THAT REQUIRED ORGANIZATIONS TO RE-WORK POLICIES AND PROCESSES WITHOUT IN I CHECKS OR BALANCES AND THEY IDENTIFIED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DENTS HAVE STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS. AND THEN THE LAST FINDING WAS THAT THE WELL, ONE OF THE LAST FINDINGS WAS THAT MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS DISCUSSED THAT BUSINESS TRANS ACTIONS TAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER TO EXECUTE, SOUNDS A LOT LIKE SUPERAN. IT WITH THOSE FINDINGS, DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS WORK? >> WELL, AS I MENTIONED, COMMISSIONER, MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING FOR SUSTAINABILITY [05:50:02] OF OPERATIONS ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS BUDGET YEAR BASED ON THE RESOURCES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND SO, I THINK AS WE MOVE INTO THE END OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE'LL HAVE A MUCH BETTER VALUATION OF THE RESOURCES REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN THE EFFORT. >> GOT YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, MAJOR GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU TO GARDENER FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS THIS IS DIDN'T EXPECT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE FINDINGS. I DID NOT EXPECT TO GET A FAILING GRADE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PEOPLE SOFT. AND IN YOUR ESTIMATATION, PEOPLE SOFT IS A TECHNOLOGY THAT I THINK IS NEARING IT'S USEFUL LIFE CYCLE. IS THAT ACCURATE? >> WELL, FROM WHAT WE'RE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE UNTIL 2031 AND WE'RE KIND OF ON, WE ARE ON A ONE-YEAR RENEWAL IF YOU WILL, IN OTHER WORDS, EACH YEAR THEY WILL LET US KNOW IF THEY WILL CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS. AND SO, AT SOME POINT WITHIN THE NEXT 5 YEAR PERIOD SORE SO, THE COURT WILL NEED TO DETERMINE WETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO BE HELD AT THE MERCY OF ORACLE'S BUSINESS DECISIONS. >> THAT'S ALMOST LIKE MY LIFE INSURANCE TELLING ME THEY WILL LET ME KNOW IN A YEAR IF I'M COVERED. THIS IS NOT COMFORTING. GENTLEMEN WILL YOU PLEASE COMMIT TO SOME THOUGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS COURT. >> YES, SIR. I WILL TELL YOU ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THAT THE LESSONS LEARNED THAT HELPED US WITH UNDERSTANDING ON THE FRONT END, THE AMOUNT OF GOVERNANCE, RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP REQUIRED, I THINK OUR 311 ROLLOUT AS AN EXAMPLE. MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE TRAINING COMPONENTS IN ON THE FRONT END, WHICH THE COURT HAS CONSIDERED TODAY ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS GOING TO SERVE US WELL INTO THE FUTURE. WHEN WE MOVE AS WE ARE WITH NEW APPLICATIONS, THINGS TO THE CLOUD, WHICH WILL BE A HEAVY LIFT FOR THE COUNTY. WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT FROM THIS EXPERIENCE TO DO BETTER FOR THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD. >> ON THE COST OVERRUNS, DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATION BUT DO WE UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE'VE SPENT THAN WE SHOULD HAVE HAD WE DONE THE RIGHT THINGS ON THE FRONT-END? >> I THINK BASED ON THE THREE CHANGE ORDERS, WHAT THEY MENTION IN REPORT, THAT APPARENTLY, IT EXCEEDED THE ORIGINAL BUDGET BY NEARLY $8 MILLION. GOT IT. MAJOR GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRIEFING ON THIS. >> GENERAL, THIS IS TOM RAMSEY >> YES, SIR? >> HAVING ROLLED OUT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF SOFTWARE CHANGES WITHIN A FOR-PROFIT INDUSTRY, I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT, I GOT A FEW SCARS FROM THAT PROCESS. AND IF I WERE GOING TO DIAGNOSE WHAT I JUST HEARD, YOU GOT AN INCREDIBLY DYSFUNCTIONAL SOFTWARE SYSTEM. AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT A 10 YEAR LEAD ON WHEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE OR HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE. AND I'M CURIOUS, SO ANYBODY ELSE THAT USED PEOPLE SOFT IN THE COUNTRY, THEY HAD GREAT EXPERIENCES AND IT WAS ONLY US THAT HAD BAD EXPERIENCES? >> NOT NECESSARILY, COMMISSIONER. >> AND I JUST KIND OF AFFIRMS, WHENEVER WE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTATION, GETTING IT WITH OUR STAFF, I COULD USUALLY GO PICK UP THE PHONE WITHIN 20 MINUTES, I WOULD HAVE 100 EXAMPLES OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD PROBLEMS. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT A REAL SOFTWARE PROBLEM. AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON TOP OF IT TO CORRECT THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND GET THIS THING LINE OUT IN THE FUTURE. >> YES, SIR. [05:55:04] >> THANK YOU. >> AND, GENERAL, YOU'LL HAVE COMPETENT PEOPLE THIS TIME AROUND TO IMPLEMENT THAT, RIGHT >> I THINK THE TEAM THAT WE BROUGHT IN WITH SUE AND INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE WITH THE ORACLE TRAINING, HAVING THAT SKILL SET INTERNALLY WILL HELP US A LOT MOVING FORWARD. >> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. >> SO, I'LL JUST MOVE ON THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO MOVE ON IT, OR IF IT REQUIRES A MOTION? JUDGE? >> I DON'T THINK SO, COMMISSIONER. LET ME JUST TAKE A LOOK. BUT IT IS IT'S JUST A TRANSMITTAL, SO, IT'S JUST NO ACTION THERE. NO NEED. BUT IT IS DISAPPOINTING. AND YOU KNOW YOU POINTED IT OUT ALL ALONG, AND WE KIND OF HERD THE SNAGS BUT TO PUT IT ALL IN ONE PLACE. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE CAME IN TOO LATE TO DO MUCH ABOUT IT, IT WAS ALREADY GOING, BUT KNEW IT WAS OUTDATED SOFTWARE. A LOT OF THE SNAGS WERE SIMPLY THAT NOBODY WAS WILLING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS OR TALK TO THE STAKE HOLDERS. >> AND THERE'S NO EARLY PLANNING ON IMPLEMENTATION. >> EXACTLY. THANK YOU, GENERAL FOR TAKING THE REIGNS ON THIS, I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT IS 254 ON PAGE 28. THAT'S THE TRAFFIC STOP REPORT. >> YES, JUDGE, ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THE DASHBOARD SHOWS RACIAL PROFILING DATA WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS THE DASHBOARD. AND IT ALSO COMPARES VIEWS WITH OTHER COUNTIES AND ALLOWS USERS TO ACCESS RAW NFKS ABOUT TRAFFIC STOPS. OVERALL, THE ANALYSIS DOES NOT SHOW SIGNIFICANT RACIAL INEQUALITY IN RATES OF TRAFFIC STOPS, IT'S IN SEARCHES AND CONTRABAND DISCOVERY, BUT THE DATA ALSO DOES NOT SHOW ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS. HOWEVER SEVERAL KEY FINDINGS WERE IDENTIFIED BY JED, REGARDING RESULTS AND GAPS IN DATA. ALL HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO PERFORM A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN A DRIVER IS MALE COMPARED TO FEMALE. HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ISSUE MORE CITATIONS OF WRITTEN AND VERBAL WARNINGS TO SPECIFIC RACIAL GROUPS. HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES USE FORCE AGAINST BLACK AND WHITE DRIVERS. SO, I KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE UNDERSTANDING THE DATA SINCE WE COLLECT IT THERE'S A COST TO THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE AGENCIES AND THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN HELPING TO MOVE THIS DATA TO A BETTER PLACE AND I WANT TO THANK THE ANNUL CYST OFFICE FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE WORK IN TRYING TO NEIGHBORING HEADS OR TAILS OF THIS DATA. WITH THAT, I GOT A COUPLE OF MOTIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS TO DIRECT THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO HELP SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS. AND TO MOVE THAT JAD WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO COLLECT MORE RELEVANT DATA AS THE WORK GROUP DEEMS NECESSARY. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> FOR CLARIFICATION, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE THE TWO THAT WERE UNDER PUBLIC EDUCATION WHICH WERE HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SHOULD INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY IN COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION PROCESSES AND AN ON DEMAND TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AND I THINK THERE WAS ONE OTHER RECOMMENDATION WHICH WAS FOR IMPROVE TING DATA WHICH WAS ANOTHER COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA LOVES AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE COMMISSIONER DETAIL FOR REPORTS. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE CLEAR ON WHAT THE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE. >> CAN I CLARIFY, ALSO, BECAUSE [06:00:03] I SEE A COUPLE VERY CLOSELY RELATED BUT IN MY SUMMARY THEY SAY THEY NEED ADDITIONAL VARIABLES ON TRAFFIC STOPS AND OUTCOMES MADE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE INTERACTION RESULTED IN A CITATION OR A WARNING. THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE INTERACTION, AS WELL AS, JUST MORE INCIDENT-LEVEL DATA. AND THAT'S ON THE DATA COLLECTION SIDE COMMISSIONER CAGLE, AND ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SIDE, I ALSO HAVE PROVIDING DEPUTIES WITH INFORMATION ON FILING COMPLAINTS OR COME MENDATIONS EASY ACCESS ONLINE METHODS TO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS AND SUBMITTING THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO THE RELEVANT ENTITY BY MARCH OF EACH YEAR. >> I GUESS I'M USING THE SLIDE AND YOU'RE GOING FROM THE REPORT. >> YEAH. >> SO, THE MOTION >> SO, ARE WE USING THE MOTION PART OR THE SLIDE PART? >> I WAS USING A COUPLE OF MOTIONS TO TIE IT ALL IN TOGETHER WITHOUT ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO THE SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS. BUT I'M HAPPY TO AMEND IT IN ANY WAY NECESSARY. LET ME READ MY MOTIONS AGAIN. >> I THINK THE MOTIONS SAY DO THE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> SO, THE QUESTIONS IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE ONES ON THE REPORT OR THE ONES ON THE SLIDES? >> IT'S THE SAME. >> IT'S THE REPORT. >> THE SLIDE IS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE REPORT. >> I'LL SECOND IT. >> AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WAS WHAT YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE, IS TO WORK WITH THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO COLLECT MORE RELEVANT DATA. THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THIS IS A 71-PAGE REPORT. BEFORE YOU GET TO THE ATTACHMENTS, SO THEN, DO THE SLIDES I HAVE A LITTLE HESITANCY, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE SLIDES ON FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND SAYING I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING ON THAT 71-PAGE REPORT. WOULD YOU HORRIBLY MIND IF WE WAITED A LITTLE BIT. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE THINGS THAT WERE ON THE SLIDES AS A SUMMARY. >> LOOK, THE REPORT IS ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE GOING BY. SO, I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU TIME UNTIL WE COME TO IT AGAIN. THAT WILL BE AWESOME. THANK YOU. >> BECAUSE THAT'S 71 PAGES. >> AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S USEFUL FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TO BRING OUT THE SPECIFIC ACTION ITEMS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF CONFUSION. >> SO, TO UNDERSTAND, ARE YOU GOING TO... >> I'LL WAIT UNTIL THE END OF COURT. >> AS MAYOR, AND WE HAD A PD AND WE HAD TO SUBMIT A REPORT EVERY YEAR, AND IT WAS PRETTY STANDARD, IT YOU LOOKED AT IT, YOU TOOK IS SERIOUS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT. I KNOW YOU DID AS SHERIFF. DOES THIS GO IN A GOOD WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO WITH THE REPORT? >> YES. I MEAN BECAUSE THIS IS ULTIMATELY TAKING THAT REPORT AND ALLOWING OUR TEAMS TO LOOK AT IT UNDERSTAND IT, AND THEN WORK TO EXTRAPOLATE FROM IT ANY PARTICULAR FINDINGS THAT WE AUTO DISCUSS AS A BODY. BUT THAT WAS THE FRUSTRATION FROM ALL MANY AGENCIES, I SHOULDN'T SAY ALL BUT MANY AGENCIES IN THAT WE WERE GOING THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF DATA COLLECTION FOR THE STATE JUST TO SUBMIT THE REPORT AND NOT BEING TOLD, YOU'RE DOING GOOD OR BAD, YOU GOT A BEST PRACTICE GOING. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR TEAMS ARE DOING >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DATA FILL. IT'S A GOOD STATE LAW. >> WE HAD A WORKSHOP, WE TOOK THE REPORT, YOU COULD SUBMIT IT TO THE STATE AND YOU WOULD BE DONE WITH IT AND NOT THINK ABOUT IT. BUT WE ACTUALLY HAD A PUBLIC MEETING WHERE WE WENT THROUGH THE DAY AND TALKED ABOUT IT AND HAD CONVERSATIONS. SO THIS IS KIND OF DOING THAT. >> EXACTLY. >> CAN I ASK A CLARIFY QUESTION? >> IF BY SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS WE'RE NOT VOTING ON SPECIFICS RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY WE'RE JUST MOVING TOWARDS GETTING SPECIFICS DONE, THEN LET'S JUST VOTE ON IT AND MOVE ON. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY, I WANT TO DO SPECIFICALLY THINGS ON ITEM, PAGE, 32, ITEM F, THEN [06:05:03] I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ON THOSE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS AND GO THROUGH THE REPORT BUT, I THINK WHERE YOU'RE GOING IS, HERE WE GOT THIS REPORT THEY GOT GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS LET'S GEM THEM TO WORK ON IT, GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND HAVE THEM BRING IT BACK. >> IT THINGS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK I'M COMFORTABLE WITH GOING FORWARD TODAY. >> JIM, ARE YOU ON THE CALL? >> >> I'M HERE. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. AND EVERYTHING THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA OUTLINED IN THE MOTIONS WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AND BY THE WAY, THE REPORT HAS ALREADY TAKEN ON SOME POSITIVE MOVEMENT FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECOMMENDATION RELATED TO THE COMPLAINTS OR COMMENDATIONS, ONE OF THE CONSTABLES HAS ALREADY DONE THAT. THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE THE CARDS EXPLAINING TO PASSENGERS OR TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY INTERACT WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS ON HOW TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND HOW THEY'RE DOING HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED. AND THE DASHBOARD, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW, THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING ADDRESSES ALL 254 COUNTIES, IT'S NOT JUST HARRIS COUNTY. THAT WILL ALLOW EVERYBODY ALL OF THE PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO COMPARISONS, AND IT'S ALL DATA PROVIDED TO PEOPLE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT SO, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS AND ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD DO TO SUPPORT THESE MOTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. >> AND JUST AS -- THANK YOU FOR THAT DOCTOR. AND JUST AS WE WERE DISCUSSING, YOU WILL BE BRINGING THIS BACK TO US ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SHARE THE SUCCESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS? >> YES. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS THAT DID IN FACT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO WORK WITH BUDGET AS WELL AS IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL DATA POINTS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WANTED TO CONNECT, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOME COST TO UNIVERSAL SERVICES WE DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BE UNIMPENDING WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO DO THAT. AND BECAUSE THERE WERE LIMITS IN TERMS OF THE DATA, TO GET THE FULL PICTURE WE WANTED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS. ON THE TRANSLATION SERVICES, WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THE TOOLS NECESSARY SO THAT THEY COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THE DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK. IF THEY CHOOSE. AND I SAY THIS AGAIN, IF THEY CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> VERY GOOD. >> SO IT SOUND LIKE ITS WHAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER CAGLE THAT THEY WILL COME BACK BECAUSE THESE ARE THE REQUIRED HEARINGS >> SO, LET'S TAKE THE ITEM UP NOW. >> SECOND. >> MOVE ON THE ITEM WITH THE MOTIONS I MADE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. NEXT IS ITEM, SB 6 ARE YOU READY TO DISCUSS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> NO, LET'S DO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> NEXT IS ITEM 394, WHICH IS THE GULF COAST PROTECTION >> I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THAT BARRIER. AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A MAJOR PROJECT THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TRACKING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, THOSE APPOINTMENTS TO THAT BOARD ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. THE GOVERNOR'S ALREADY MADE HIS APPOINTMENTS. [06:10:03] I THINK OTHER COUNTIES HAVE I JUST WANT TO BE SURE WHOEVER HERE COUNTY IS APPOINTS THAT BOARD IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEONE WHO CAN REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GATES AND THE DIKE AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WE VET AND REVIEW, BUT TIME'S IS GOING AND WE NEED -- I WOULD PUT THAT IN THE CATEGORY OF AN URGENT MOVE, AT LEAST BY THIS NEXT COURT, WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOME CONVERSATION RELATED TO THAT. >> WOULD THAT BE A MEMBER OF THIS BODY POTENTIALLY THAT COULD SERVE ON THE BOARD BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN ENGINEER AMONGST US. >> FAIR POINT. THE PLAN, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN THIS SPACE FOR AWHILE TO SEE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE IDEA WOULD BE TO HAVE SOMEONE BY THE NEXT COURT. SO WHAT I COULD DO IS MAKE SURE THAT MY STAFF REACHES OUT TO EVERYBODY. AND, THAT WAY WE MAKE SURE AND BRING SOMEONE BY THEN AND JUST LET US KNOW IF THERE'S. >> IN MY PRECINCT 14 WHEN SOMEBODY COMES UP WITH A GOOD IDEA THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK, WE USUALLY GIVE THAT PERSON THE JOB. >> I AGREE. GOOD POINT. >> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? >> JUST IF I MAY, THIS MAY BE A DUMB QUESTION, BUT THE CURRENT LAW REQUIRES THAT SO, YOU ALL GET TO APPOINT ONE INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, BUT, THE CURRENT LAW REQUIRES THAT IN MAKING HIS APPOINTMENTS, THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPOSED TO CONSULT, IT SAYS SHALL CONSULT WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I WANTED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THE GOVERNOR HAD CONSULTED WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN NAMING IT'S APPOINTMENTS? >> NO. >> I MUST HAVE MISSED THAT PHONE CALL. >> NO. >> OKAY. >> CAN YOU, JUDGE? >> YEAH. >> MAYBE, YOU, JUDGE, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON IT? >> WELL, REAL QUICKLY JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE LAST ONE. COMMISSIONER CAGLE YOU'VE GOT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, DID YOU GET A CALL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T. >> I DID NOT GET A CALL. >> RODNEY, I KNOW HE'S GOT YOU ON SPEED DIAL, SO HE MUST HAVE CALLED YOU? >> NO, MUST HAVE MISSED THAT ONE. >> SO THOSE 11 INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALL THE COUNTIES INVOLVED THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT GETS TO APPOINT. >> THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTED SIX INDIVIDUALS. AND A TEMPORARY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SO THE GOVERNOR GETS TO APPOINT TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM HARRIS COUNTY, ONE TO REPRESENT THE COURTS AND ONE TO REPRESENT INDUSTRY AND ONE TO REPRESENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. SO, THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED SALLY OUT OF LEAK CITY, AND MAYOR BECTELL, ROGER OUT OF GALVESTON. BOB MITCHEL, AND LAURIE OUT OF SEA BROOK. AND NICOLE SUNSTRUM. SO THOSE APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE AND ANNOUNCED IN JUNE OF 22 OF THIS YEAR. >> DO WE KNOW OF ANY OTHER ENTITIES THAT THEY HAVE APPOINTED? >> NOT THAT I'VE SEEN. AND TO BE CLEAR IT'S YOU ALL, GALVESTON, CHAMBERS COUNTY, JEFFERSON COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY GET TO PICK ONE. >> AS I READ THE STATUTE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONTROLS THE REWARDING OF CONTRACT ISSUES. >> I RAISE THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE BE SENSITIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE APPOINTED, BECAUSE DIVERSITY WILL MATTER. I ASSUME HARRIS COUNTY, I HAVEN'T READ IT IN AWHILE, I THINK HARRIS COUNTY WILL HAVE TO PICK UP A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THE COST, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S RIGHT. AND YOU CAN'T HAVE THE MAJORITY OF VOTING MEMBERS ON THE BOARD. >> AND I CAN ASSURE THAT THAT, ISSUES AS IMPORTANT AS THAT PROJECT IS, WE KNOW WHAT YOUR MWB WECHLT NUMBERS WERE HERE ONCE WE DID A STUDY TO LOOK AT THEM. AND WE WANT TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO PUT TOGETHER CONSENSUS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BALLOT, I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET IT PASSED. THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED IN AND OF ITSELF CREATES PROBLEMS. EVEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET FEDERAL MONEY. EVEN OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS SAY WHY WOULD THEY PUT MOB INTO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE [06:15:04] GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONTROLLING IT. I HOPE SOME OF THOSE THINGS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET IT FUNDED OR IF YOU JUST WANT TO SAY YOU DID SOMETHING. >> THE COHORT HAS COMPLETED THEIR FINAL REPORT. SO THIS PROJECT IS CUED UP. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, NOW'S THE TIME TO ENGAGE ON ALL THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO US. BECAUSE AS YOU READ THE LIST THAT'S ON THERE, THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY. AND WHOEVER WE APPOINT, HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> IT'S A VOTE. >> IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COURT? >> YES. >> JUST AS DIVERSE AS THIS STATE IS, I FOR ONE WILL BE VERY SENSE ACTIVE TO THAT ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAKEUP IS SO FAR, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS INCLUDED INTO THE DECISION MAKING EVEN IF MOST OF THE DECISIONS DO COME OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. >> YES. >> AT LEAST WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN RAISE EQUITY ISSUES. >> >> AND SO, I GUESS HOW WE GOT HERE WAS THAT THE THE QUESTION WAS DID THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONSULT? DIDN'T GET ANY CONSULTATION, I KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE REPORTED HAVE SOME RELATIONSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE THERE I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE OFFERED SOME CONSULTATION, I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH THAT, BUT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ADVISORY FOR SOME OTHER FOLKS AS WELL. BUT THAT WASN'T CONSULTATION. I GOT THE LETTER TELLING ME WHO HE APPOINTED. >> THAT WAS THE CONSULTATION. >> I GUESS SO. >> AND GUNTHER, THAT'S NOT OUR ROGER GUNTHER? >> YES, IT IS. THEY'RE GOING BY HOME ADDRESS VERSUS WORK. >> OKAY. >> SO, PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> SO, DO WE HAVE ACTION ON THIS ITEM? >> NO ACTION ON ITEM 394. >> 395, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CRIME TODAY, THIS WAS ONE OF THE THIRD OF THE INITIATIVES. THE REASON THAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN OVERLY SIMPLE BUT ADDING MORE THAN 50 OFFICERS TO WORK IN THE UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TO GO OUT THERE AND ARREST PEOPLE IT'S TO PROVIDE PROTECTION WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS BEING SEVERELY IMPACTED. THERE'S NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER I'VE TALKED TO OR A PRECINCT AREA OF MINE THAT I GO INTO THAT THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE. SO, WITH GREAT DISCRETION, BE IS THE SHERIFF OR THE CONSTABLES, WORKING WITH OTHERS, I THINK IT'S URGENT THAT WE GET MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET. THIS IS IN THE CATEGORY OF WE DO A LOT OF THINGS WITH THAT SINGLE-MOM WITH TWO BABIES IN AN UNDERSERVED, CRIME RIDDLED NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS PROTECTION AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, TO DO THAT. >>> JUDGE, IF I MIGHT? COMMISSIONER DO WE HAVE A COST ON THIS? >> I DO NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC BUDGET ESTIMATE FOR YOU NO. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT PUTTING MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BUT, I THOUGHT JAY, AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE LIKE COST FACTORED INTO THESE ITEMS? >> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. UNFORTUNATELY, JUST THE STATEMENT OF 50 DOESN'T GIVE MR. BERRY ENOUGH DIRECTION IN TERMS OF ALLOCATION OF FUNDS BUT YOU COULD GIVE GENERAL DIRECTION BUT WE CAN'T MOVE DOLLARS AROUND. >> I WOULD LIKE TO REFER TO BUDGET AND LET THEM WORK IT UP BECAUSE THE OTHER PERIMETERS THAT YOU TOUCHED ON, ALTHOUGH, I COMPLETELY AGREE AS A FORMER SHERIFF I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT, THAT SINGLE MOM WITH TWO BABIES, HOW DO WE PROTECT THOSE PARTICULAR SINGLE [06:20:02] PARENTS AND WHETHER THIS IS A SINGLE SINGLE PARENT INITIATIVE I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE WORKED OUT FOR AWES AS WELL AS THE SHERIFF TO GIVE US DIRECTION ON THIS AS WELL. >> CAN I THROW SOME HISTORY IN HERE? >> JUDGE, WE DID SOMETHING AWHILE BACK THAT RELATED TO OUR PARKS TO WHERE THE WE ALL WERE HAVING A PROBLEM MUCH NOT HAVING ENOUGH PATROL OFFICERS IN OUR PARKS. AND SO, WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING WAS WE EACH GOT ASSIGNED, I FORGET HOW MANY IT WAS, MAY BE IT WAS 10 A PIECE AT THE TIME, PATROL OFFICERS TO GO TO EACH COMMISSIONER TO BE PLACED WITHIN THEIR PRECINCT IN THEIR PARKS IN THE AREA THEY FELT TO BE MOST IMPORTANT. AND SOME PUT THEM IN PARKS AND SOME IN COMMUNITIES, SOME IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SOME PUT THEM IN CONSTABLES, AND SOME DIVVIED THEM UP. I THINK PRECINCT TWO PUT THEM INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I KNOW PRECINCT FOUR, I PUT IN THE PARK'S PATROL. AND WE EQUIPPED OUR OFFICERS OUT OF OUR BUDGET WITH MICS AND WITH LITTLE MOTOR SCOOTERS AND ATVS SO THAT OUR TRAILS CAN BE PATROLLED. AND WE UTILIZED OUR CONSTABLES FOR THAT. THIS INITIATIVE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS TALKING ABOUT MAY ACTUALLY BE SOMETHING THAT PRIOR PRECEDENT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD THING WHEN WE SAY, OKAY, HE'S WANTING 50 OFFICERS, THERE'S FOUR OF US AND WE EACH GET 12 OFFICERS AND ALLOCATE THEM WITHIN THE NEEDS OF OUR PRECINCT. >> THAT'S 48. >> THAT'S 48? >> JUST SAYING. >> WHERE EVER THAT MAY COUNT, BUT TO GIVE -- BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I COULDN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I COULD GIVE YOU A GOOD GUESS BUT I COULDN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WHERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE RIGHT NOW BUT I COULD TELL YOU WERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE IN PRECINCT FOUR. MAYBE BY USING THAT PRIOR PRECEDENT TO WHERE WE EACH TAKE HOT SPOT FOLKS AND WE UTILIZE THOSE FOLKS THAT WE FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE IN THOSE, MAY BE WALKER NEEDS A BOOST OR MAY BE, CONSTABLE DIAZ NEEDS A BOOST BUT EACH OF US WITHIN OUR OWN PRECINCT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIGURING OUT WHERE THE HOT SPOTS ARE AND PUT THEM IN THERE >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> I WOULD LIKE METRICS WITH IT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. BECAUSE AS OPPOSED TO 50, MAYBE IT'S 40, MAYBE IT'S 400. MAYBE IT'S, IF THERE'S A NEED FOR MORE, MAYBE THEY HAVE OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS OPPOSED TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, MAYBE WITH THE VARIOUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, BUT OTHERS I WOULD LIKE METRICS AS OPPOSED TO. >> I THINK MAYBE WE NEED A PAY INCREASE INSTEAD OF MORE PEOPLE MAYBE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE BEST FOLKS AND SUPPORT THEM. >> SO, WE'LL KEEP THEM. >> BECAUSE WE GOT SOME SPOTS TO FILL NOW. >> I WOULD ASK THAT THIS BE RUN THROUGH BUDGET JAD, THE RELEVANT FOLKS AND THEY THINK ABOUT WE LIMITED FUNDS. WHAT ARE WE DOING, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL STUFF WE COULD DO ON CRIME WE'VE DONE ALREADY AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET OVER THE TIME WE'VE BEEN IN COURT. SO THAT WAS FIRST, SECOND, FOURTH, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. AND THEN WE'VE DONE THIS INITIATIVE WITH THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLES RECENTLY, THE MASSIVE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT, ASSOCIATE JUDGES, VISITING JUDGES. IT'S NOT ABOUT -- I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE -- I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THOUGHTFUL INITIATIVES. PART OF WHAT LED TO MASS INCARCERATION AND SO MANY OF THE TERRIBLE STORIES WE HEARD THIS MORNING, FOLKS LOCKED UP IN RATES, WE ALL HEARD ABOUT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE INCARCERATED THAN TO GO TO COLLEGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS WAS A KNEE JERK INVESTMENT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IS THIS THE BEST THING TO DO, WHAT ARE THE METRICS AND WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THESE FOLKS AND BRING [06:25:02] BACK SOMETHING THOUGHTFUL. >> SEE, THE REASON I INITIATED THE CONVERSATION WE'LL CALL IT STEP ONE AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH, MR. BARERY'S OFFICE. BUT I WAS VISITING JUST QUITE BY CHANCE, CONSTABLE GARCIA, AND HE WAS DESCRIBING WHAT'S GOING ON ON BROADWAY RIGHT NOW, AND IF THERE WAS EVER A HOT SPOT ON PLANET EARTH IS THERE. I WAS MEETING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER PAL LARD, HE WAS DESCRIBING THE SITUATION ON THE BELTWAY AND 59 IT'S HORRIBLE. >> THERE'S NO DOUBT THE SITUATION IS HORRIBLE. >> I THINK THERE IS A RESPONSE THAT'S WORTHY OF SOME CONVERSATION, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO ADDRESS CRIME AND IT'S NOT ABOUT LOCKING PEOPLE UP AS MUCH AS IT IS PROTECTING. WHEN SOMEBODY SEE AS POLICE CAR DRIVE BY THEIR HOUSE THAT OFFERS ENCOURAGEMENT OR COMFORT TO PEOPLE. YOU DIDN'T ARREST ANYBODY, IT'S JUST A MATTER IF YOU'RE WORKING TOWARD A CERTAIN END. I WOULD OBVIOUSLY LIKE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION IF PAYING MORE MONEY, IF THAT GETS US SOMETHING, OKAY. BUT, I THINK THERE'S VISIBILITY ISSUES HERE THAT WOULD BE ARE WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION. >> I DON'T MEAN TO BE SPEAKING FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, BUT I THINK IN PART IT'S SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA USED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN HE WAS SHERIFF, AND THAT'S THE COMMUNITY POLICING WHERE YOU HAVE A POSITIVE POLICE FORCE PRESENCE. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY LEAD TO MORE ARRESTS BUT PEOPLE WILL BE LESS PRONE TO COMMIT A CRIME WHEN THEY SEE THAT POLICE OFFICER. CHICAGO USED TO DO IT ALL THE TIME WITH THE BEAT COPS, WHERE THE COP WOULD WALK UP AND DOWN THE STREETS. >> THERE'S A NUANCER PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A POLICE CAR DOING DOWN THE STREET WHEN THEY DON'T NEED IT. NEW YORK HAS 40,000 POLICEMEN AND HAVE A DEDICATED FUNDING STREAM FOR 40,000 COPS. WHEN I WAS SHERIFF, I WANTED 40,000 DEPUTIES, THIS COURT WOULD NEVER PAY FOR THAT. SO, IT'S ALL A MATTER OF WHAT INVESTMENTS CAN BE DONE AND SHOULD BE DONE AND I LIKE THE IDEA, I THINK WE POSE IT TO DEPUTIES, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE MORE, A PARTNER OR AN INCREASE IN YOUR PAYCHECK. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE. BUT THE POINT OF HAVING A POLICE OFFICER ON EVERY CORNER IS ADMIRABLE, BUT NOT SUSTAINABLE. THERE'S JUST NO WAY WE COULD EVER DO THAT REGRETFULLY AND I RECOGNIZED THAT WHEN I WAS A SHERIFF. I JUST TRIED TO GET MY NUMBERS UP TO HELP SUPPORT MY GUYS AND GALLS OUT ON THE STREET WITH THE CALL VOLUME THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS DEALING WITH AT THE TIME. SO, DO COMMUNITIES WANT TO SEE A PATROL CAR DRIVING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THEY DON'T NEED ONE? WITHOUT A DOUBT. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO YOU CREATE SUCH A PROGRAM THAT'S SUSTAINABLE? >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION BUT NOT IN A VACUUM. A QUICK FIX WOULD BE BECAUSE I'M TALKING TO SOME CONGRESS PERSON OR COUNCIL MEMBER OR CONSTABLE OR WHOEVER, MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY, HERE'S THE SOLUTION, GIVE ME MORE MONEY. BUT MAY BE IF WE JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH, LOOK AT THE DATA AND RESEARCH, AND LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY. SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE THAT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST AND WHAT HAS NOT WORKED AND HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE. JUST AS YOU MADE REFERENCE TO NOT BEING HERE EARLIER, WE COULD PAY FOR IT, IN FACT, THE PUBLIC WOULD PROBABLY RUN MOST OF US OUT. WE COULD PUT A PATROL CAR ON EVERY BLOCK WE COULD REVIEW WHAT WE DO WITH OUR CONTRACT DEPUTY CONTRACT. BUT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. YOU KNOW, THE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE OF THINGS COMING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT HOST ISSUES. THE FACT THAT WE GOT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST BAD PEOPLE, I GET THAT. WE HAVE A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. WE HAVE SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR EITHER, [06:30:02] BY THE WAY. AS OPPOSED TO THE QUICK FIX STUFF THAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD, THE NUMBER COULD HAVE BEEN 400, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FIVE OR A PAY RAISE OR WHAT ELSE? >> IT'S A PRETTY MODEST ASK AND WHEN I SEE HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE SPENDING DOING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WITH VERY LITTLE BACKUP OR DATA. >> WELL, WE CREATED A WHOLE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TIME AND GO THROUGH ALL THE DETAILS, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE EX-NUMBER OF DOLLARS, KIND OF. WE'LL KNOW ABOUT THAT IN A FEW MONTHS. I PUT THIS ON HERE BECAUSE -- >> AFTER A YEAR-LONG PROCESS, EVERY COUNTY LARGER THAN 300 PEOPLE HAS A COUNT ADMINISTRATOR. >> THE EXPERTS THAT STUDY COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT IT. IF WE COME AND SAY THERE WAS A YEAR-LONG STUDY. >> SECOND STUDY, I MIGHT ADD Z WHICH WE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR I MIGHT ADD. IT CAME BACK AND SAID IT WAS THOUGHTFUL AND SAID THIS IS WHAT WE DO. LET'S GIVE THEM THE SPACE TO BRING SOMETHING BACK WHICH THEY HAVE. I WANT TO MAKE INSURE THAT MY LEGACY IS NOT A HAMMER THAT LOOKING BACK, YOU KNOW, IN 10-20 YEARS I WILL REGRET THAT WE LED TO A MORE VIOLENT AND LESS JUST SYSTEM. SO, LET'S -- IT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA. LET THEM RUN IN THROUGH, THEY'VE BROUGHT ENOUGH PROPOSALS, WE SHOULDN'T FEEL RUSHED TO DO SOMETHING WITH NO BACKUP. BUT, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, COMMISSIONER, COME ON, YOU HAD A CITY MANAGER, EVERY COUNTY HAS A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. WHEN YOU THE CONFLICT. >> SO, THIS ITEM WOOL REFER TO THE BUDGET OFFICE? >> EXACTLY. >> IF I MIGHT MAKE ONE COMMENT >> IS THAT KIND OF LIKE YOU'LL COME BACK AT SOME POINT IN FOREVER OR NEXT MEETING? >> AT THE COURT'S DIRECTION. WE'LL COME BACK WHEN YOU WANT US TO. AND IF THERE'S NOT AN APPETITE TO DO ANYTHING, TELL THEM. DON'T WASTE TIME. >> DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THERE'S AN APPETITE. >> SOME OF THIS GOES TO THE FISCAL PIECE OF THIS, RIGHT? >> >> IF I MIGHT MAKE A SUGGESTION, AND I THINK WE COULD DO THIS BY NEXT COURT, IF WE CAN'T WE'LL LET YOU KNOW. WHAT I HEAR IS A DESIRE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT COULD BE ADDING NEW PERMANENT PATROL DEPUTIES. THAT HAS SOME CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING SOURCE. AND I WANT TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT ON THAT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS WE COULD LOOK AT AND GET THEM ON THE TABLE, WORK THROUGH THEM AND SEE WHAT WE THINK CAN HAVE THE HIGHEST IMPACT AND BRING THEM BACK TO COURT. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THIS DISCUSSION. AND THIS SHOULD BE ONE OPTION ON THE TABLE, ADDING PATROL DEPUTIES BUT WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE OTHERS FOR THE COURT TO EVALUATE. TELL ME IF I'M WRONG >> THIS IS A DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD BEFORE AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT, AND WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING ON IT, WHICH IS WHY WE GAVE FUNDING TO THE MOST VIOLENT OFFENSES EARLIER, WE GAVE $15 MILLION TO THE TECHNOLOGY. I MEAN, THIS ISN'T A NEW DISCUSSION. SO, YES, CONTINUE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING WHICH IS CONSIDER MANY OPTIONS, MORE DEPOSITION, BETTER PAY FOR THE BEST DEPUTIES, MENTAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE. AND I KNOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS AND WE'LL COME BACK AND BRING BACK WITH THE INFORMATION, AND IT'S NOT ALL GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW BUT WE'VE DONE A LOT AND WE GOT TO KEEP WORKING ON IT. >> I WANT TO STRESS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT PREPARED IN THREE WEEKS, DON'T DO IT. I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S A SENSIBLE WAY TO GOVERN IF EVERY TIME I THINK OF AN IDEA, THROW IT ON THE AGENDA AND SAY, IN TWO WEEKS WE'LL DISCUSS IT. >> I SAID IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT COURT OR NEXT YEAR, EITHER WAY, I'M GOOD WITH, I JUST NEED TO KNOW SO THAT I COULD COMMUNITY INDICATE WITH FOLKS THAT MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW. >> WE DON'T CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS TOPIC WHICH WE HAVE BEEN. AND GIVE YOU A REPORT BACK OF WHEN WE THINK WE COULD BRING YOU ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS. I DO WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT COST [06:35:01] IMPACT WE'RE HEADING INTO TAX RATE SEASON. WE'RE GETTING INITIAL APPRAISAL NUMBERS OUT OF HCAD THEY'RE NOT AS BAD AS THEY COULD BE BUT THEY'RE NOT SHOWING THE SAME GROWTH AS WE'VE SEEN IN PAST YEARS WHICH IS HARDLY THAT SURPRISE. WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SET THE TAX RATE LIKELY IN MID-SEPTEMBER. SO, WE HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCES, THINGS RELATED TO COVID. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS FLEXIBILITY ON ADDING PERMANENT POSITIONS AT A MINIMUM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC, I WANT TO KEEP ON THE TABLE OPTIONS BETTER FIT FOR US LATER. >> IF YOU HAVE MORE MONEY, YOU HAVE MORE OPTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, YOU COME UP WITH OPTIONS ON WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO PAY FOR. >> THAT'S RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, AND WHAT WE HAVE THE LEAST OF IS RECURRING GENERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT PERMANENT POSITIONS THAT'S THE HARDEST REVENUE FOR US TO RAISE AND THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE PAST BUT WE BUDGETED 99% OF THAT PROJECT THE REVENUE WHICH I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT TO BUDGET ALL OF IT. WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON OPTIONS WITHIN OUR FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. >> AND JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I GET THE GIST THAT YOU ARE A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH SOME OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE $3 MILLION INITIATIVE WE CAME UP WITH FOR VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS CRIMINALS. THAT CAME THROUGH A DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH THE SHERIFF, MAKING SURE THAT THE CONSTABLES WOULD BE A PART OF THE STRATEGY, WE THOUGHT THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT, AND TALKED ABOUT IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME ON HOW THAT WOULD WORK. AND I DIDN'T BRING IT TO THIS TABLE UNTIL I WORKED THROUGH IT. I DID A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE OUT OF MY BUDGET TO DO THE PILOT FOR SHOT SPOTTER TO SEE IN IT WOULD WORK. IT'S WORKING, IT WORKED AND I TOOK THE FUNDS OUT OF MY BUDGET BUT I COORDINATED THE VISION AND THE COORDINATION WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IF YOU WANT TO DONATE 50 DEPUTIES TO SOMEBODY, TAKE IT OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, BUT YOU KNOW, THOSE WILL BE ONE-TIME COSTS IF THERE'S NOT REVENUE TO SUSTAIN THEM. SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE PROCESS THAT I'M SUGGESTING IS A PROCESS THAT I GO THROUGH TO WORK THESE INITIATIVES UP. AND I DON'T JUST BRING THEM TO THE TABLE BECAUSE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT. >> AND I DIDN'T BRING IT HERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT. I RESENT YOU SAYING THAT. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I'M A METHODICAL ENGINEER WHEN IT COMES TO MANY THINGS. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE'S A LACK OF FOCUS ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THIS IS HOW I COMMUNICATE THAT. NOW, YOU COULD SAY THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THIS THAT HAVE LACK OF THOUGHT IN MY OPINION, I GUESS I NEED TO START POINTING THOSE OUT. BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THEM BUT TYPICALLY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WE COULD DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO PROTECT, PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION, THERE'S ALWAYS A SMARTER WAY TO DO IT. OTHER THAN WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATED. SO, MR. BERRY'S GOING TO TAKE IT AND LOOK AT IT, I'M ASSUMING HE'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHERS. AND WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES. AND, IF THE CHALLENGE IS I NEED TO PAY FOR IT IF WE DO IT, IT'S ABOUT THAT POINT THAT OUR PRECINCTS ARE IN THAT MUCH OF A RISK. SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. BERRY, I GUESS AND TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. >> WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS, THE ROMANS WOULD CALL THIS THE THIRD SOLUTION. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S A NEXUS BETWEEN PATROL ON THE STREETS AND TRAFFIC. AND IF THERE IS A NEXUS BETWEEN PATROL AND TRAFFIC WE COULD ALLOCATE THOSE TO THE PRECINCTS TO PUT PATROL CARS ON THE STREETS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, LET'S LOOK AT THAT AS A POTENTIAL FUNDING FORCE THAT WOULD THEN BE DIRECTED TO THE STREETS AND REQUIRE THE BUDGET [06:40:08] TO LOOK AT THAT. AND JUDGE, YOU MADE A COMMENT EARLIER, IN MY MIND'S EYE AND MAYBE IT'S MY DAYS OF BEING AN OLD JUDGE, BUT, YOU HAD FEWER AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU HAD FEWER PEOPLE SPEEDING WHEN THEY KNOW THERE'S A COP DOWN AT THE END OF THE ROAD. NOT THAT YOU COULD PUT A COP ON EVERY CORNER, SO YOU ALWAYS MOVE THEM AROUND. BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE PATROLLING, THERE IS THAT CALMING EFFECT AND IT'S ALSO I THINK THAT THE ADDAGE THAT I HEARD, I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SAID THAT THEIR JOB WAS TO BE THE FLASHLIGHT. YOU WANT TO SHINE THAT LIGHT TO BE SURE THAT THE CRITH CRITTERS IN THE BASEMENT. I WANT TO TOSS MAYBE A FUNDING SOURCE THAT COULD APPLY TOWARDS PATROL, WHICH MAY ALLOW US TO HAVE MAYBE SOME IMPACT OF AT THIS TIME WHEN WE'RE HAVING A CRIME PANDEMIC AS SOME HAVE CALLED IT. YOU KNOW SOME SORT OF A RESPONSE. >> AND ALL I'M SAYING IS THERE'S LIMITED RESOURCES. SO, I WANT TO DO WHATEVER'S GOING TO BE THE MOST EFFICIENT AGAINST THE CRIME PANDEMIC. AND I WANT THESE GUYS TO LOOK UP WHAT THAT IS. >> IF SOMEONE IS THAT COMMITTED, COMMISSIONER, CAGLE, UNDER THE LAW THAT PASSED YOU COULD CERTAINLY PUT AN ITEM ON THE BALLOT AND JUST GO TELL THE VOTERS, WE COULD GO OUT THERE AND PUT ONE EVERYWHERE, PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, THOUGH, AT THE END OF THE DAY. THAT'S WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO. >> AND WE DO OUT OF OUR BUDGET PAY FOR SOME CONSTABLES THAT GO INTO OUR PARKS. >> THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. >> THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING IN PRECINCT FOUR THAT WE'RE PAYING OUT OF THE BUDGET AND I MAY NEED DO MORE OF THAT. >> WE ALL DO THAT. I DID WANT TO SAY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THAT APPROACH, EVEN WHEN YOU PULLED TOGETHER A SMALL GROUP TO TRYING TO GET US TO USE THE BODY CAMERAS, LOOKING AT WAYS TO SAVE MONEY MAKES SENSE AS WELL. IT'S NOT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SO MUCH A CRITICISM AS IT IS AN OBSERVATION. I MEAN, FROM MY YEARS IN GOVERNMENT, WE THINK OF A LOT OF THINGS, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE'RE BRAIN STORMING, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD TO PUT THEM ALL ON THE TABLE AND THEN ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO BITE THE BULLET AND COME UP WITH THE REVENUE TO PAY FOR. THAT'S THE SPIRIT IN WHICH I WAS MAKING THE COMMENT. >> WE'RE ALL WORRIED ABOUT CRIME. NO MATTER HOW HIGH ON THE HORSE PEOPLE GET, WE HAVE HAVE THAT CRIME TO DEAL WITH. >> SO, REFER TO BUDGET WITH URGENCY BUT BE THOUGHTFUL. >> URGENT BUT THOUGHTFUL. >> JUDGE, IT'S GOING TO BE REFER TO THE BUDGET OFFICE? >> CORRECT. >> WITH URGENCY AND THOUGHTFULNESS. >> ITEM 399 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I HAD JUST, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A BIG EVENT WITH THE THE DEATH AND THEN 11 SHERIFF'S OFFICERS FIRED. AND REALLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN BRIEFED BY ANYBODY ON IT. AND I I KNOW, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THIS IS SENSITIVE INFORMATION. TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD SIT. >> SHOULD THAT BE SOMETHING, WE COULD BE SUED. >> SHOULD WE BRING THAT UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? I DON'T WANT US TO SAY SOMETHING IF THERE'S LITIGATION. >> I IMAGINE THERE'S STILL AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON. >> THAT'S RIGHT, WHENEVER THERE'S A CUSTODIAL DEATH IN THE JAIL, THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION APPOINTS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO COME IN AND DO AN INVESTIGATION. RIGHT NOW THERE'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION BY THE DAS OFFICE AND WE WILL LIKELY BE SUED ON THIS MATTER AS WELL. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A PRIVILEGED ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IF YOU REACH OUT AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND WE COULD LOOP THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN ON IT THAT AS WELL. >> CAN WE DISCUSS IT IN [06:45:02] EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> ON THIS MATTER, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS MATTER. SUFFICE IT TO SAY, THERE'S NOTHING ANYBODY CAN SAY WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY INVESTIGATING RIGHT NOW. NOBODY KNOWS BECAUSE WITH AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. >> WE DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE IT. >> YOU WOULD HAVE TO POST THAT WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT. >> WHAT YOU JUST COMMUNICATED WAS MY WHOLE POINT. >> GOT IT. >> SO, NOW WE'VE COMMUNICATED, WE'RE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN BE TO DO ANYTHING MORE OF THIS WE'RE CROSSING THE LINE. BUT WE'VE COMMUNICATED, THERE'S A RESPONSE THAT'S BEING INVESTIGATED. WE'LL GET BACK AT SOME POINT. >> YEAH. >> AND THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. >> AN INDEPENDENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WHICH IS... >> HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT? >> YES. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER INVESTIGATION ENTITIES OR JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON? >> THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING. >> THE JAIL COMMISSION APPOINTED HPD BECAUSE YOU NEED AN OUTSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> NOBODY CALLED IN THE FEDS, THE DOJ OR ANYBODY? >> NOPE, NOT THAT I KNOW OF. >> KEEP TALKING AND YOU'LL GET THEM. >> SO, I ALSO HAD A SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE, BUT I GUESS I'LL HAVE THE STAFF FOLLOW UP. >> THAT'S FINE, JUDGE. >> OKAY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM? >> NO, JAMES, NO ACTION. >> THANK YOU. >>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> THERE IS A, WE'RE ALL FULLY AWARE THAT WHEN WE TRANSFER FUNDS OUT -- >> WHICH ONE IS THIS? >> THIS IS 400. AS WE TRANSFER WOUNDS OUT OF HARRIS COUNTY AUTHORITY, IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR FLOODING NEEDS, IS JUST, WE NEED TO BE, AND I THINK YOU KNOW THIS, COMMISSIONER BERRY, WE GOT TO CROSS OUR T'S AND DOT OUR IS, EVERY NICKLE THAT COMES OUT AND DOES DRAINAGE WORK WE GOT TO TIE THAT IN CASE SOMEBODY AND THEY PROBABLY WILL AT SOME POINT WANT TO CONFIRM THAT IN FACT, THE TRANSPORTATION IS TIED TO THE DRAINAGE AND THE DRAINAGE TO THE TRANSPORTATION SO WE DON'T GET OURSELVES INTO A SITUATION DOWN THE ROAD. WE DID $230 MILLION, AND $40 MILLION A YEAR, SO, WE'RE -- ARE YOU SATISFIED, WE GOT A PROCESS THAT ACCOMPLISHES THAT? >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS DAVID BERRY SPEAKING, I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN AND AT THE PROJECT LEVEL, SOMEONE FROM HECTRA AND SOMEONE FROM COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO LOOK AT THE LEGAL ASPECT AND SOMEONE FROM BUDGET MANAGEMENT WILL LOOK AT IT. I'M DOING THIS AS YOU ARE, VERY CONFIDENT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF MOBILITY FUNDS BECAUSE THERE IS A TRANSPORTATION NEXUS. BUT WITH THE FULL EXPECTATION, SOMEONE'S GOING TO POKE AT IT AND TRY AND FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. >> TIEING ALL THAT $230 MILLION AND THAT $40 MILLION A YEAR. >> DOWN TO THE PROJECT? >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THAT YOU CAN. >> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THIS THEN? >> NO, JAMES. THIS WAS ITEM 400. >> ITEM 401, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> AND I TOUCHED ON IT, DAVID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD ONE CONVERSATION AT LEAST, I KNOW THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS FULLY INVOLVED WITH SETTING UP THE NEW STRUCTURE, BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS THEY WERE ALL ORGANIZED THEY WERE ALL SET UP UNDER CERTAIN STATUTES AND WHATEVER, I'M NO ATTORNEY, BUT I SUSPECT IS GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED, JUST BEING SURE THAT AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE CROSS OUR TS AND DOT OUR IS AS WELL. >> YOU HAVE THOSE RUN BY ELECTED OFFICIALS SOME CREATED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN THE PAST ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS WE'LL GOING TO LOOK AT EVERY DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE WHETHER IT'S APPROPRIATE TO MOVE DUTIES AND WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT IT'S ALSO WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE TO MOVE THESE DUTIES VERSUS OTHER [06:50:05] DUTIES, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN APPROPRIATE SETUP. >> AND YOU HAVE HYBRIDS, LIKE THE COUNTY ENGINEERS WHO HAS HIS ENGINEERING SEALED. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME INDEPENDENTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE. AND THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT REQUIRE INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION ALLEY MAYBE >> PER THE STATUTES, AND PER THE CONSTITUTION. >> WE WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IT, NOT PFM WHO MAKES THEIR RECOMMENDATION SHALL. >> THAT'S RIGHT, I'LL BE LOOKING AT IT, AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PUT IN THE AGENDA, HE WANTS A GUARANTY THAT I'LL BE LOOKING AT IT SO, I'LL GUARANTY THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT IT. >> YOU COULD LOOK AT DALLAS COUNTY, TARRANT COUNTY, EL PASO COUNTY, BEXAR COUNTY, I'M ASSUMING. >> I'M ADOPTING A PRACTICE OF NEVER ASSUMING THAT ANOTHER COUNTY GOT IT RIGHT AND WE'RE DOING A SURVEY AND NOTICING DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE IT. WE WILL RELY ON SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT STATEMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS. AND CERTAINLY DON'T RELY ON THE WAY HARRIS COUNTY WAS DOING IT. BECAUSE I COULD ASSURE YOU THEY DIDN'T DO. >> I HAD THAT JOKE IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS ONLY BE APPROPRIATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE COURT. >> OKAY. SO THOSE ARE ALL THE DISCUSSION ITEMS, WE STILL HAVE A 393. >> JUDGE FOR ITEM 401 IS THERE ANY ACTION? >> NO. MENEFEE COMMITTED TO LOOKING AT IT. THE ONLY DISCUSSION ITEM LEFT IS 393 AND WE WILL BRING THAT UP AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO, THE [Executive Session (Part 3 of 3)] EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: >> 416 TO DISCUSS THE SALARY, THAT'S A PERSONNEL MATTER. 419, COUNTY ATTORNEY ITEM. 420, THE DATE OF PRIVACY ITEM. 421 DELINQUENT TAXED COLLECTION, 422 THE RELEASE OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION, 423 IS ABOUT REDISTRICTING. AM I MISSING ANY? >> ALL RIGHT T IT'S 6:27 AND WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> NO, BREAK? >> SO, WE'LL MET AT 6:35 FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> ALL RIGHT. 6:35 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. (MEETING IS ON BREAK BEFORE EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> IT'S 8:15 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. LET'S START WITH ITEM 416 WE NEED A MOTION TO SET THE GENERAL'S SALARY ALONG WITH A $550 CAR ALLOWANCE. >> WE'VE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> WE JUST MADE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR GENERAL NOREAGA'S SALARY. ALL IN FAVOR. >> (CHORUS OF AYES). >> MOTION CARRY IT IS UNANIMOUSLY. >> IT WAS TO SET GENERAL NOREAGA'S SALARY AT HIS CURRENT SALARY ALONG WITH THE $550 FOR CAR ALLOW WEDNESDAY. >> ITEM, 419, NO ACTION. THAT WAS THE BROAD COUNTY ATTORNEY ITEM. >> ITEM 420, THAT GOES WITH ITEM 422. TIME 420 THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH BAKER HOSTETLER >> MAKE A MOTION. >> IS THERE A SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? >> (CHORUS OF AYES). [06:55:02] >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT OFFICE WERE ABLE TO GET THE COLLECTION FEES DOWN TO 15% AS I UNDERSTAND THAT WILL ALSO BE AN AGREEMENT THAT $1 MILLION WILL GO FOR A NOT FOR PROFIT, AND THE COUNTY WILL PUT IN SIMILAR AMOUNT OF MONEY TO TRY AND HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE DELINQUENT AND MOST VULNERABLE. BUT EVEN WITH THAT, I'M STILL CONCERNED THAT THE DELINQUENT FEES, THE FEES FOR THOSE LATE ON THEIR PROPERTY, 19,000 IN MY PRESCENT AND 9600 IN PRECINCT 4 IT WILL GO FROM 49% TO 45%. >> SO, 44% AS OPPOSED TO THE 49ISH% BY GOING DOWN THE 5%. >> CORRECT. >> THAT'S A BIG BREAK TO 5%. I FELT LIKE THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IN PLACE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DID ON THE OTHER COLLECTION ITEM THAT CAME UP. BUT I KNOW WE HAD A DISCUSSION AT THIS TABLE, IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT THE MOTION WAS TO TALK ABOUT A PROCESS FOR US TO PAY FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, POSSIBLY TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE IF WE COULD DO IT. THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER RATTICK MADE A MOTION FOR ON THE TOLL ROAD COLLECTION AND I SECONDED IT. I THINK THE FEES YOU ALREADY PAY, YOU GIVE US IF YOU ARE LATE ON JANUARY THE 15TH AT 12:01 A.M., WHAT IS IT 12%? >> THE INITIAL FEE, AND I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I THINK IT'S 6% AND YOU PAY 1% A MONTH. >> I THINK IT'S 10%. >> YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. >> BUT IT'S PRETTY HIGH ANYWAY I WOULD PREFER TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE, I KNOW IT'S A POSSIBILITY. WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, THAT'S A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURE AND YOU GOT TO MAINTAIN IT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH BRINGING IT IN-HOUSE BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET OFF THIS ADDICTION WHEN THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN GOING TO ONE VENDOR, HOW LONG, MR. BERRY? IS IT THE 80S OR THE '90S? >> I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 30 YEARS. >> IS INTEREST ANY MWBE PARTICIPATION IN THIS? >> NO THERE'S NOT. >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE CRACK, IN IN SOME WAYS, HOW DO YOU BREAK THE ADDICTION. BUT IF ANYTHING IS THAT RATE UNDER THE LAW IN TEXAS IS A BIG PROBLEM. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE BRING IT IN-HOUSE AT OUR TAX COLLECTION DATE, OUR DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION DATE. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO BRING IT IN-HOUSE AND I FOR ONE WOULD FAVOR THE COUNTY PICKING UP THE TAB EVEN IF WE CAN'T DO IT WITH FEDERAL MONEY TO DO IT. THAT DECISION WAS MADE UNDER THE LAW, THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED IT. THIS WOULD BE TAXPAYER RELIEF. OR THEY COULD CHANGE THE LOSS OF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A RATE LET THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY COLLECT IT ON THOSE TERMS AS WELL. AT LEAST WE WOULD PUT THAT MONEY INTO SOME COMMUNITY SERVICES. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPETITE IS HERE AT THE COURT. NOR AM I CLEAR WHAT THE MOTION WAS WHEN WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME BUT I KNOW HERE WE ARE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS LATER, BACK ESSENTIALLY AT THE SAME PLACE WE WERE THEN. I THINK WE WOULD GOT THAT 15% LESS BUT NOT GOT THE MILLION DOLLAR AND THAT'S A PLUS. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. AS FAR AS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH GETTING OFF THE CRACK, AS YOU REFERRED TO IT, I THINK WE'RE REALLY ON OUR WAY BECAUSE MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT WE DEVELOPED A PLAN TO TRANSITION AND THAT THE BUDGET [07:00:01] MANAGEMENT IS HELPING TO LEAD THAT TRANSITION ALONG WITH THE COUNT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S SOME PROCESS LOOKING AT MOVING AWAY FROM THAT CONTRACT, WHICH I SUPPORT. MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOO FAST, IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING. NOT DONE RIGHT, IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. SO MY POSITION AND WHAT I BELIEVE THAT I VOTED FOR LAST TIME WAS A PLAN TO MOVE IN THAT PROCESS AND I, IN MY MIND, I'M RECALLING THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE WAS GOING TO BE AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR ON THIS ALONG WITH BUDGET OFFICE, IT MIGHT BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND BUT I BELIEVE WE VOTED ON A PLAN TO MOVE IN THAT TRANSITION. I RECALL SOMEWHERE THAT IT WAS ENVISIONED THAT IT WAS BE SOMEWHERE AROUND THREE TO FIVE YEARS IS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE SO THAT WE COULD BUY THE SOFTWARE, HAVE THE ATTORNEY CAPACITY, WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK OUT THINGS WITH ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT, THAT'S WHAT I RECALL US HAVING PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. THAT ASIDE, MY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MORE MONEY CAN WE PUT INTO THIS FUND THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO SUPPORT MORE FAMILIES OR SUPPORT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS, BUT SUPPORT THEM MUCH MORE? AND I THINK THAT -- I DON'T THINK THE SOFTWARE WOULD BENEFIT FROM ARPA, BUT THE FAMILIES DEALING WITH DELINQUENT TAX ISSUES COULD BE DEALING DUE TO COVID, I SUSPECT THAT WE COULD MAKE THAT ARGUMENT. MR. BERRY, I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR OFFICE TO RESEARCH AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THIS FUND IF IT'S POSSIBLY AND ARPA DOLLARS IN PARTICULAR. BECAUSE, I THINK WE HAVE A ONE-TIME OPPORTUNITY. ALTHOUGH, WE COULD BUDGET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY UNTIL 2026, SO, I WOULD ASK FOR A THOUGHT PROCESS AND A PLAN ON HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE COULD PUT INTO THIS THAT WOULD BE PRACTICAL TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES THAT EXIST WITH MORE DOLLARS. >> YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> JUDGE, I HEAR THAT WE HAVE THREE ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT RIGHT NOW FROM THIS DISCUSSION, ONE IS THE UNDERLYING CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN NOTICED FIRST OF ALL TODAY, I WOULD MOVE ON THAT CONTRACT AND LIKE FOR US TO VOTE ON THAT SECONDLY. THE SECOND ONE IS THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA RAISED IS TO DEFER TO THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE COUNT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO USE ARPA FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR FOLKS THAT ARE CAUGHT IN THE PINCH OF THIS PACKS RELIEF. THE THIRD MOTION, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT IS OTHER THAN THAT THE FACT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS ANGRY AS HECK AND AIN'T GOING TO TAKE IT NO MORE. OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THE THREE OF HE IS THORAX I'LL MOVE THE FIRST ONE AND I'LL SECOND THE SECOND ONE. >> SECOND THE THIRD ONE SO WE COULD VOTE ON IT. >> I'M NOT GOING TO SECOND THE THIRD ONE. I'M STILL CONFUSED ON IT. >> WELL, THE THIRD ONE IS TO SAY THAT BY THE 2022 DELINQUENT TAX PENALTY, THE 2022 DATE IN WHICH WE SET THE TAX PENALTIES THAT HARRIS COUNTY EITHER BE RUNNING TAX CORRECTIONS IN-HOUSE OR BE RUNNING A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR TAX COLLECTION SYSTEM TO BE ADOPTED. >> THAT INCLUDES THE MWBE COMPONENT. >> THE QUESTION S WE HAD A MOTION ALONG THOSE LINES PRIOR. >> CAN WE RESEARCH WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY PASSED BECAUSE I KNOW WE PASSED SOMETHING AND BRING THAT BACK TO COURT. >> I THINK YOU DESCRIBED IT EARLIER, COMMISSIONER. >> I REMEMBER BEING GLAD THAT WE WERE DEVELOPING A TRANSITION THAT WAS STRUCTURED, METHODICAL, WE WERE GOING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO TAKE IN OUR DATABASE. I REMEMBERED ALL THESE PIECES, SO I THOUGHT WE HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE. >> THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE THAT, IF WE HAVE WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS DESCRIBED, WHAT'S THE MINIMUM THAT WE NEED TO DO TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT THREE MONTHS AGO. >> WAS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING ALSO? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION IF [07:05:01] WE'RE GETTING THERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO WANT INTO A BLACK HOLE AND NEVER COME OUT. >> MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PASSED A AND WE'RE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION TO PUT OUT AN RFW WITH THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND THE TAX OFFICE AND US WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AN RFP FOR AN IT SYSTEM. AND EVALUATE WHAT WE CURRENTLY USE, SEE IF THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE WANT TO PURCHASE FROM THE OWNER OR WOULD WE GO TO ANOTHER IT SYSTEM. THE ACTUAL COLLECTIONS PIECE WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COURT HAD NOT MADE A DECISION ON YET. SO, THE IT PIECE WAS NOT THE COLLECTION'S PIECE. >> BUT THE SOFTWARE'S AT THE HEART OF THE COLLECTION. >> THE SOFTWARE IS THE BASIS FOR EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. >> SO, WHAT I'LL DO IT, I DON'T MIND HOLDING IT, I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEBODY TO PULL WHATEVER WAS VOTED ON. IT'S ONE THING I COULD DO IN AUSTIN, SOMEBODY AT SOME POINT WOULD GO PULL THE MINUTES. >> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AS WELL. >> TELL ME WHAT I SAID, THAT I DIDN'T REMEMBER. >> JUST SO THAT I'M CLEAR, IN THE PART OF THE HEART IS THE SOFTWARE. AT THE REAL CORE OF IT IS THE FACT THAT IF SOMEBODY'S LATE ON THEIR TAXES, THEY ALREADY HAVE THE INCENTIVE STATUTORIALLY THAT HARRIS COUNTY CHARGES 6% AND ONE% THERE AFTER >> I THINK IT'S 10% ON JANUARY THE 15TH AT 12:01 THEN 1% A MONTH, COMPOUNDED THAT'S WHAT GETS IT TO THE 21ISH. >> IT'S A HEFTY AMOUNT SO THAT THERE'S ALREADY AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES ON TIME. >> CORRECT. >> AND THEN ON TOP OF THIS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE PERCENTAGE IS COMPOUNDED WHICH IS QUITE LARGE, ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE THE FIRM THAT COLLECTS AN ADDITIONAL 15%. >> IT WAS 20%. >> IT WAS 20%. >> UNDER THE 3307, 3308 AND 3311 STATUTE, A THIRD PARTY COLLECTOR IS ALLOWED TO COLLECT AN ADDITIONAL UP TO 20% FEE. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S ONLY ALLOWED FOR BY THIRD-PARTY COLLECTORS. >> SO, WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS A BIG STEP. BECAUSE WHERE IT USED TO BE 20% NOW IT'S 15%. >> IT COMES OUT TO CLOSE TO 50%. NOW WE ARE CUTTING IT BACK AND GIVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH A FUND BECAUSE THE TAX COLLECTIONS ARE DONE THROUGH A SOFTWARE. I THINK, THE GOAL IS THAT EVENTUALLY FOR FOLKS TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THESE EVEN THIS 45% PENALTY WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, AS CLOSE TO EXTORTIONARY AS ONE GETS, SO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS HOW DO WE SET OURSELVES IN A VERY CONCRETE PATH TO GET THERE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAD. >> IF THAT ARPA, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS, OR NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHO IF HE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD TURN THAT DOWN EVERYBODY'S WORRIED ABOUT PROPERTY PACKS COLLECTION. HOW HARD IS IT TO DO IT, MOST PEOPLE, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE YOU PAY, YOU'LL PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. YOU GOT ME? SO, IF YOU'RE ALREADY LATE AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT HOUSE, IT WAS AN UNFAIR LAW WHEN IT PASSED, BUT ITS THE LAW ONLY IF YOU GET A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR. >> SO, I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION, JACK. >> AND I'LL SECOND YOUR'S. >> WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS, WE COULD DANCE AROUND IT, MY COLLEAGUES, ALL DUE RESPECT, BUT THE ISSUE OF WHETHER YOU BRING IT IN-HOUSE OR HAVE SOME COMPETITIVE PROCESS FROM KEEPING ONE ENTITY FROM HAVING A MANOPOLY. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT AS PRESENTED. >> I'LL MOVE. >> COMMISSIONER, YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR MIC ON. >> I MADE THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND. AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A MOTION TO EXPLORE ARPS FUNDS. >> THE FIRST ONE WAS TO ADOPT THE CONTRACT AS PRESENTED ON ITEM 421. MOTION, BY CAGLE, SECOND BAY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, [07:10:01] ALL IN FAVOR. (CHORUS OF AYES) >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> DOES THE FUND HAVE A NAME? >> YOU COULD CALL IS THE DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS RELIEF FUND, AND WE'LL KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. >> OKAY, SO THAT FUND, WHETHER TO STUDY WHETHER ARPA FUNDS CAN BE APPLIED TO IT AND THEN THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WOULD THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT OFFICE RECOMMEND SO THAT WE COULD PROVIDE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT FUND. >>> AND I SECOND THE MOTION. >> AND BRING THAT BACK, 30 DAYS? >> 30 DAYS FOR WHAT? >> TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE ARPA FUNDS CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS RELIEF FUND AND HOW MUCH CAN THEY PROVIDE FOR SIGNIFICANTLY FOR FAMILIES JUST TO BRING BACK IN THE SECOND COURT IN AUGUST. >> YOU MIND REREADING THAT MOTION, PLEASE. >> TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE ARPA FUNDS CAN BE APPLIED TO THE DELINQUENT TAXPAYERS RELIEF FUND AND HOW MANY MORE FUNDS DOES BMD RECOMMEND SO WE COULD PROVIDE MORE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES TO BRING BACK THE ANSWER AT THE SECOND COURT IN AUGUST. >>> THAT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> CORRECT. >> ALL IN FAVOR. >> (CHORUS OF AYES). >> OPPOSE? >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> I'LL MAKE A THIRD ONE. NOT THE ONE IN-HOUSE, BUT I DO WANT TO MOVE THAT WE ASK THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO FIND OUT, OR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WETHER OR NOT IT'S LEGAL TO USE ARPA FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY AT THE HEART OF WETHER OR NOT WE COULD BRING IT IN-HOUSE OR WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH OUR OWN MONEY IT DO IT. SPHERE SECOND. >> SO, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DID YOU GET IT, JAMES? >> IT WOULD BE CLEARER IF YOU WOULD REREAD. >> I MOVE THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT OFFICE FIND OUT WETHER OR NOT WE COULD USE ARPA FUNDS TO PURCHASE A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION. >> THANK YOU. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> (CHORUS OF AYES). >> OPPOSED? >> I'M IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> THEN THERE'S ITEM 422, NO ACTION. THAT IS THE DATA COLLECTION RELATED TO O'DONNELL AND FINALLY, ITEM 4 23SHGS THE REDISTRICTING CRITERIA, I KNOW THERE WAS A CLEAR FICK INDICATION THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE HEARD. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT. >> SECOND. >> MY QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION IS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE FROM THE COUNT ATTORNEY AND THAT WE'RE ALL UNDER COMMON UNDERSTANDING AS TO ITEM FOUR OF THE REDISTRICTING CRITERIA WHERE IT SAYS COMMISSIONER PRECINCT SHOULD BE DRAWN IN THE MANNER HELD WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY WITHIN THE LAST DECADE THAT MEANS THERE WILL NOT BE PAIRING OF INCUMBENTS? >> YES, WE COULD BE SURE OF THAT. >> I SUPPORT THAT. >> I SUPPORT THAT. >> SOUNDS GOOD. >> WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, I'LL MOVE THE CRITERIA. >> I DO WANT TO SECOND. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CURRENT ADDRESSES. JUST SO SOMEBODY DOESN'T MOVE RIGHT BEFORE THE DEADLINE AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE EVER WE LIVE NOW. >> I WOULD COMMIT THAT I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE FROM NOW UNTIL WHENEVER WE ULTIMATELY DECIDED. >> I THINK THE KEY WORD WAS PAIRING. WHICH IS NOT BASED ON ELECTION. >> ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON ITEM 423, ALL IN FAVOR? >> (CHORUS OF AYES). >> OPPOSED? >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ITEM 423 AS PRESENTED. >> DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? >> IT WAS IN A RECORD THAT WE COULD NEVER FIND. >> ITEM 248 WAS A CONJUNCTION WITH 423 AND I SHOW ITEM 248 BEING APPROVED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> YES, 248 IS APPROVED. [07:15:06] >> SO ITEM 243 IT'S JUST FOR PRESENTED. >> ELLIS MOTIONED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> SO, THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS I HAVE, JAMES, ARE WE TO MAKE A MOTION ON ANY ITEM WE DIDN'T ALREADY VOTE ON? >> JUDGE, THERE'S ONE THAT WE [Departments (Part 5 of 5)] HADN'T MOVED ON. IT'S 393. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> WHICH IS SENATE BILL 6. >> I HAVE AN AMENDMENT AND IT IS A BIG AMENDMENT. AND, SO THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO PULL IT, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF DEBATE OVER WHERE WE BELIEVE WE'RE AT WITH THIS. >> IT MAY JUST BE A SEPARATE RESOLUTION, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, I TRIED TO COMPLETELY REWRITE IT AND WE JUST ENDED UP VOTING ON YOUR ORIGINAL. >> YEP. >> SO IT MAY BE THAT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. >> GOTCHA, SO, I HAVE A SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION. >> HAVE YOU GIVEN COPIES TO OUR STAFF YET? >> IT JUST WENT OUT. AND I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF WORKING ON THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IT RAIDS WHERE AS VIOLENT CRIMES INCREASE THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY, A PHENOMENON, NEARLY EVERY JURISDICTION IN THE NATION IS EXPERIENCING AS WELL AS EXISTING BACK LOG IN CRIMINAL COURTS THAT HAS IT'S ROOTS DAMAGED IN THE FACILITIES CAUSED BY HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE SIGNING OF HOUSE BILL 1927 BY GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS HELPED TO PUT GUNS IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS. AND WHEREAS A BACK LOG IN CASES IN THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEMS HAS DENIED PROCESS PART OF THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE REGARDING A DISCUSSION OF A SO-CALLED BOND PANDEMIC, GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS A RISE IN CRIME THAT SOMEHOW IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO FELONY BOND REFORM THAT'S NOT BEEN ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED IN HARRIS COUNTY. QUOTE, THIS GROSS OVER SIMPLE FICK INDICATION OF THE ISSUE IS NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM, IT'S MAKING IT WORSE BY SKEWING THE PUBLIC'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION, DROWNING OUT SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH POLITICAL HIGH PURPLELY. AND WHEREAS VIOLENT CRIMES BY ALL OFFENDERS PUTS OUR COMMUNITY AT RISK, AND HARRIS COUNTY IS COMPELLED TO RESPOND TO BOTH IMMEDIATE SOLUTION SHALL SUCH AS CLEARING THE BACK LOGS IN CRIMINAL COURTS AND FUNDING SMART ON CRIME APPROACHES AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS SUCH AS ADDRESSING DISPARITIES THAT ARE A ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME. WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT RESPONDED TO THIS NEED BY MAKING SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS IN SAFETY INCLUDING $3 MILLION TO THE OVERTIME IN THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY HAS TAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO ADDRESS THE CRIMINAL COURT BACK LOG CHUING APPROVING EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKETS, ASSOCIATE JUDGES, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OVERTIME, AND OTHER PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS THE FIRST CALLED SPECIAL SESSION OF THE 87TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, HAS BEEN CONSUMED BY ITEMS PLACED ON THE CALL BY THE GOVERNOR THAT RESOLVE NO REAL PROBLEM BUT CAUSE REAL HARM TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THEIR VERY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. AND WHEREAS WHILE THE STATE OF TEXAS CAN OFTEN BE A VALUABLE PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, IT TOO OFTEN CHOOSES TO INTERVENE INTO THE AFFAIRS OF LOCAL OFFICIALS WHILE THE SYSTEMS FOR WHICH IT IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH AS CHILD PROTECTIVE SYSTEM, AND THE ELECTRIC GRID HAVE LANGUISHED WITH DEADLY RESULTS. THEREFORE, BE IS REVOLVED THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT CALLS UPON THE LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS REAL ISSUES FACED BY REAL PROBLEMS BY [07:20:01] THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. >> SECOND. >> I WOULD ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THAT? >> LET'S VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION FIRST. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER HE WILL MADE A SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR? >> (CHORUS OF AYES). MOTION CARRIES 3-2. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE MADE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. I'M OPPOSED, THE MOTION FAILS. >> DID YOU CATCH THAT JAMES? >> YES, MA'AM. >> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO GO OVER, JAMES? >> I'M GETTING MY SECOND WIND NOW. >> YEAH, I JUST HAVE ONE CLAIRICAL QUESTION ON ITEM 395, IT THEY HAD ASKED TO DELETE THE WORDS BAIL BOND, THE ITEM WAS REFERRED TO BUDGET OFFICE? >> YES. >> I'LL GO AHEAD AND DELETE THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S IT? >> LUCINDA, ALL RIGHT, IT'S 843 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.