Jan 12, 2022 Commissioners Court Budget Hearing

[Call to Order]

[00:00:12]

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: GOOD MOR MORNING. GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE PWOTD BOT 10 ACTION AND WOULD TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

A HEARING FOR THE 2022-2023 BUDGET.

NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON THE BUDGET.

BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION OR RAISE ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL TAKE SPEAKERS. I THINK WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE.

SO TIFFANY, IF YOU WOULD -- IF WOULD YOU CALL UP ANY SPEAKERS.

>> JUDGE, AFTER OUR LEAVE FROM YESTERDAY I MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY TO DO AN OPENING INVOCATION IF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR YOU. COME COMMISSIONER GARCIA WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS AND ON FRIDAY I AM GOING IN REVERSE ORDER OF THE NUMBERS FOR COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS INVOCATION BEFORE THE HEARINGS. AND SO IF THAT IS ALREADY WITH YOU, WOULD LIKE TO GIVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THE

OPPORTUNITY. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: ALWAYS A BETTER START TO THE DAY. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

SOVEREIGN FATHER, SO GOOD TO GATHER IN HARRIS COUNTY AND CONSIDER YOUR BUSINESS. GIVE US BUSINESS COME, GIVE US DISCERNMENT, GIVE US EARS TO LISTEN OR TO UNDERSTAND AND A MIND TO BE REASONED WITH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR US AND TO BE WITH US IN ALL THAT WE DO.

THESE THINGS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: AMEN THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> WHEN I DO MINE I WANT TO SAY FATHER, PER THE REQUEST GIVE US MONEY.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: WE WILL DO THAT TOMORROW.

TIFFANY, GO AHEAD. >> SPEAKER OF THE DAY IS CHRISTOPHER VIFF ERA SPEAKING ON CONSTABLES AND SHERIFF BUDGET. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY TODAY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

AND I AM SPEAKING OF THE SHERIFF AGENCIES BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE CONSTABLE BUDGET. I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS TODAY REALLY REVIEW THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET AND CONSTABLE BUDGET AND CONSIDER A NO INCREASE.

AND THAT IS A TOTAL FREEZE ACROSS BOARD WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE SHERIFF BUDGET INCREASED 9% OF OF THE TOTAL BUDGET AND HARRIS COUNTY ISN'T SAFER AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONSTABLES BUDGET HASN'T INCREASE $AT THIS TIME AND CONTINUES TO INCREASE ANNUALLY REGARDLESS OF RECENT INCIDENTS WHERE IN PRECINCT ONE, THE SHOOTING OF A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS SUSPECTED OF ERRATIC DRIVING.

INCIDENTS LIKE THIS SHOW THAT INCREASING THE BUDGET WILL DO IN GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT WILL JUST RESULTED IN MORE FRIVOLOUS SHOOTINGS FROM THE SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES OFFICE.

SO I'M HERE TODAY KNOW THIS IS THE INITIAL BUDGET PROPOSAL KICKOFF AND WE'LL HEAR WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FROM THE SHERIFFS AND THE CONSTABLES, BUT I BELIEVE AND THE COMMUNITY BELIEVES THAT IS MONEY THAT WILL BE PROPOSED SHOULD GO TO PRETRIAL SERVICES TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC DEF DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO SUPPORT COUNTY LIBRARIES AND GENERAL SOURCES THAT WOULD BENEFIT IT AND DECREASE CRIME SUCH AS HOUSING AND FOOD ESTABL ESTABLISHMENTS, SECURITIES, AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN A -- THE CRISIS THAT WE ARE WITH THE PANDEMIC LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS SO I WILL KEEP THIS SHORT, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS FREEZE THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET AND THE CONSTABLE'S BUDGET AND CONSIDER MOVING ANDAL KATEING THOSE RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC AND ALSO SHOWS TO DECREASE TIME. THANK YOU FOR TIME AND GOOD

LUCK WITH THE BUDGET. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL THE SPEAKERS WE WERE ABLE TO REACH TODAY.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. TODAY OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WILL BE TIMING THE PRESENTATION.

TEN MINUTES AND THEY WILL KEEP TIME.

HERE IS THE REASON, WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS TODAY THAN WE HAD YESTERDAY AND YESTERDAY WE DIDN'T FINISH UNTIL AROUND 8 8:00. AND FOLKS WERE -- WERE ABSENT FOR ABOUT THE SECOND HALF. SO WE WANT TO GIVE A FAIR

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HERE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS WE ARE HEARING FROM TODAY.

FIRE MARSHAL, CONSTABLE PRECINCT 1, PRECINCT 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, SHERIFF CIVIL SERVICE, SHERIFF PATROL, COUNTY CLERK, ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, DISTRICT COURT, COUNTY AUDITOR, PURCHASING. COUNTY ATTORNEY, IGA, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, OMV, HRM, COUNTY TREASURER AND COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR. I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO BE MINDFUL OF THE TIME TO GIVE A FAIR HEARINGS, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS TOWARD THE END.

I KNOW YESTERDAY WE WERE ALL PRETTY DISTRACTED AT THE END.

WE WILL GET STARTED. I AM NOT SURE WHO IS KEEPING THE TIME, BUT I AM TOLD SOMEONE FROM OCA AND OF COURSE THE DISCUSSION, HOWEVER LONG IT NEEDS TO BE.

BUT WE WILL TRY TO BE MINDFUL OF THE TIME AND IF WE CAN, TRY

[Fire Marshal]

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE ABILITY TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET. ONLINE ITCH OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF RODNEY REED. IF YOU CAN GO TO SLIDE TWO PLEASE, WE HAVE A SAYING, ONE MISSION, ONE GOAL FOR HARRIS COUNTY. ACCOMPLISH THAT WITH FIVE DIVISIONS SUPPORTING THE FOUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

WITHIN THOSE ARE MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY OFFICE DOES MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS AND INSPECTIONS BUT COORDINATE WITH THE 54 FIRE DEPARTMENTS, RESPOND TO RE REGIONAL HAZMAT, AND PARTNER WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND PART OF A MULTIPLE COUNTY TASK FORCE AND ALSO CONDUCT PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING THAT CONDUCT THE REGION'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO VARIOUS TYPES OF EMERGENCIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE THESE ARE THE SEVEN PRIMARY GOALS OF OUR AGENCY.

TO CONSIDER TO SEE THAT OUR GOALS REMAIN IN LINE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. NEXT SLIDE NOW THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN THE BUDGET.

OUR AGENCY MET AND EXCEEDED THOSE THAT SET FORTH.

AREAS ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND MONITORS.

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF SERVICE AS HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INCIDENTS. WE RESPOND TO CALLS WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. OVER 90% IS GREAT, STANDARD BY OPENING THE WEST SIDE STATION WE BROUGHT THAT CLOSER TO 97%.

THE OTHER OF LABOR AND BENEFITS KEEPING COSTS BELOW 84% IS BEING MONITORED AND ADDRESSED BY MY STAFF.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. FISCAL YEAR 2022, WE HAD MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I WON'T GO SPREE SPECIFIC DEPTH UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. THE OPENING AND STAFFING OF THE HAZMAT SITUATION HAS HAPPENED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COURT AND THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED BY HAVING HIGHLY SKILLED, TRAINED AND CERTIFIED HAZMAT TECHNICIANS THAT COVER OUR ENTIRE COUNTY AND ITS PARTNERS.

AMPLIFIED BY THE WORK OF CART TO MAKE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC AND INFORMATION UTILIZED BY OUR RESPONSE TEAM.

THE EXAMPLE IS AT ALSO A PROGRAM RUN BY OMB AND MAP THAT PRECINCT 2 OFFICERS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TASK FORCE. SUPPORT AND DIRECTION OF COURT HAS DIRECTLY RESULTED IN MULTIPLE LIVES BEING SAVED OR THE QUALITY OF LIFE BEING GREATLY MODIFIED FOR THE GOOD.

MANY THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING ARE COMPARED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT CONTINUED SUPPORT. NEXT SLIDE.

THIS TABLE REPRESENTS THE HIGH LEVEL OF ACTIVITY BY OUR DEPARTMENT. FROM THIS TABLE, YOU CAN SEE THE CALENDAR PROJECTIONS A PERFORMANCE GOALS ARE ON TRACK TO MEET AND EXCEED OUR TARGET GOALS.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY KPIS THAT FEED OUR END RESULTS THAT WE DO MONITOR AND MY STAFF REMAIN FOCUSED ON, THESE NUMBERS ARE CRITICAL THAT I AM ALLOCATING THE COUNTY'S FUNDING APPROPRIATELY AND WISELY. NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS MERELY AN EXPLANATION OF THE KPIS FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE.

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CONTINUE TO LOOK AT DELIV DELIVERABLES TO THE COUNTY AND THE PUBLIC WE SERVE. BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO SHOW AN INVESTMENT IN OUR PERSONNEL.

THIS REQUEST IS FOR MERIT-BASED PAY RAISES FOR EMPLOYEES TO DRIVE EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND INCENTIVE JOB PERFORMANCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND COURT MEMBERS THAT OUR OFFICE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INCENTIVE PAY PROGRAM THAT MOST OTHER COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DO.

OUR MERIT RAISES BY PERFO PERFORMANCES THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THE AGENCY'S MAJOR STRUGGLE DUE TO THE SIZE AND EXPECTATION TO SERVE OUR PUBLIC. WE HAVE SEEN A LOSS OF EMP EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT IN EXIT INTERVIEWS ARE DETERMINED TO BE PRIMARILY BASED ON PAY AND WORKLOAD.

SO WHAT WE DID, WE CONDUCTED AN ANALYSIS OF LIKE AGENCIES.

THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE WORKLOAD PER PERSON, WHICH IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS AND PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DIVIDE BY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.

WE SAW THE FOLLOWING: THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT CARRIES A PER STAFF MEMBER WORKLOAD OF 220.4 VERSUS HCFMO THAT CARRIES WORKLOAD OF 376.9. A 52.41% CASE DIFFERENCE.

IN COMPARING THE SIX FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE, WE FOUND THEIR AVERAGE WORKLOAD PER MEMBER 1 177.44.

AND HIGHEST 287.8 AND LOWEST 42.5.

BASICALLY WHAT THESE NUMBERS VALIDATE THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING WHICH IS LOSING EMPLOYEES FOR COMPARABLE FUND AND LEAVING WITH 75% LESS WORK LOAD.

NEXT SLIDE. OUR OFFICE HAS WORKED WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND REMOVED OUR REQUEST FOR THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND AND WE ASK FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 FUND.

NOT TO FUND BUT TO BE AWARE OF THE REQUEST AS WE WILL MONITOR THE FIRE CODE FEES THAT WERE APPROVED IN COURT.

OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS THOSE FEES GO INTO PLAY IN MARCH.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE THIS FINAL SLIDE SHOWS ROMP CARD ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GAAP ANALYSIS.

YOU SEE WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL ITEMS AS THE FMO PRIMARY ST STAKEHOLDER AND OF THE MOBILE HAZMAT TRAINING FACILITY AND THAT TO BE COMPLETED BY THIRD QUARTER.

WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE CONTINUED TRUST IN MY AGENCY AND THE AMAZING TEAM THAT WE HAVE. AND WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CHIEF. I WILL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

COMMISSIONER CAG LE, GO AHEAD KAINGZ KAINGZ I WANT TO SAY WE

ARE -- >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE: WE ARE PRIVILEGED AND HONOR TO HAVE YOU HEADING THIS ORGANIZATION.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: MR. GARCIA.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: HAVE YOU LAUNCHED THE SITE THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON THAT WILL SHOW HOT SPOTS AND WHAT IS IN

VARIOUS COMMUNITIES? >> WE ARE WORKING WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. YESTERDAY I SENT AN E-MAIL TO THEM. BUT, YES, SIR, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND ROLLING OUT, IF POSSIBLE, NEXT COURT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: I HOPE DO YOU A BIG ROLLOUT, A BIG PRESS EVENT SO PEOPLE THOUGH IT IS GOING ON.

A LOT IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU.

MARSHAL, I AM LISTENING, IF I TURN THE CAMERA OFF -- I GIVE MY STAFF A HARD TIME. IF YOU ARE IN HERE ALL DAY, YOU

TURN YOUR CAMERA ON ALL DAY. >> YES, SIR.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THE JUDGE HAS TO DO THAT.

I CAN'T DO THAT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THANK YOU, FIRE MARSHAL, FOR WHAT YOU DO.

A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE. I NOTICED IN YOUR BUDGETING AND TRYING TO GO AFTER A LOT OF THESE CHEMICAL STORAGE FACILITIES THAT AREN'T RECORDED SOMEWHERE.

CONTINUE TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THAT.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION NOW, BUT I AM GOING TO ASK IT TO EVERYBODY TODAY.

JUST SO YOU CAN BE THINKING. IF YOU HAD TO CUT SOMETHING, IF YOU HAD TO CUT SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE.

'CAUSE WHEN I OPERATED A BIG FOR 30 YEARS, I HAD TO ASK MYSELF EVERY TIME I DID A BUDGET.

IF I HAD TO CUT SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE.

JUST PONDER THAT. AND BE MINDFUL OF THAT BECAUSE

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BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: CHIEF CHRISTIANSON, JUST ON YOUR REQUEST RELATED TO THE FEES. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY EXPLAIN

THAT. >> DOES THIS GO BACK TO -- LET ME GO BACK TO THIS FOR YOU, JUDGE, FOR THE $131,000 FOR THE

SHORT BUDGET AND $213,000? >> JUDGE HIDALGO: I AM NOT SEEING THE PRESENTATION COME UP.

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE -- WITH THE FIRE CODE CHANGED, RIGHT.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND HOW THE NEW FIRE CODE AND FEES INTERSECT WITH THIS REQUEST?

>> IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH IT, ASK CHIEF REID AND SEE THE LANGUAGE COMPARABLE. CHIEF REED.

>> YES, MA'AM, WE WORKED WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND OMB, THE REASON WE CUT THE REQUEST THAT HE WITH INITIALLY FROM FOR THE FIRE CODE FEES AND THE NEXT SLIDE, TIFFANY.

THE REASON WAS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MULTIMONTH TREND OF THE FIRE CODE FEES TO SEE WHAT THAT WAS REALLY GOING TO GENERATE. WE JUST HAD WHAT THE CONSULTANT PROVIDED US IN ENGINEERING; HOWEVER, WITH THAT DISCUSSION, WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THAT -- CLOSE THAT CONSERVATIVE GAP THAT DIDN'T OVEREXTEND US THAT REDUCED OUR FISCAL 2022 COST.

BUT, AGAIN ASKED BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR AWARENESS AS WE MOVED INTO THE FISCAL YEAR IN THE EVENT THE REVENUES ARE NOT GENERATED AND THE EXPECTATION IS TO MAINTAIN THE SAME CONTINUED LEVEL OF SERVICE DELIVERY OUT OF OUR PREVENTION DIVISION. SO THAT IS WHY WE WERE ABLE TO CUT THAT OUT TO BE OVERALL GOOD TEAM PLAYERS TO THE COUNTY

BUDGET. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CHIEF REED. MY MATERIALS -- I DIDN'T READ IT CORRECTLY. I WAS PUZZLED.

THAT MAKES SENSE AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING THOUGHTFUL

ON THIS. >> YES, MA'AM.

AND OBVIOUSLY AS WE STATED, WE ARE LOOKING TO GIVE THOSE MERIT RAISES. PEOPLE ARE BEEN ASKING FOR VARIOUS THINGS AND I WANTED TO DETAIL HOW WE ISSUED THOSE AND WHAT THE WORKLOAD IS. OUR GREATEST CONCERN THAT WE WANT FIELD POSITIONS BUT WE ARE LOSING SEASONED EMPLOYEES AND NOT -- THEY LOVE WORKING HERE, BUT IT IS RECENTLY HAD AN EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY WAS DONE WITH HIM WORKING THOSE HOURS.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE HAVING TO CHOOSE.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: YEAH, I THINK FOR DAVE, SUCH LIMITED FUND, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE DEPARTMENTS ARE SHOWING THAT FOLKS ARE LEAVING FOR BETTER PAY.

THAT IS A GRAVE THING AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN RETAIN THOSE FOLKS JUST BRIEFLY, WHAT YOU SAY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ANOTHER KIND OF MERIT. SYSTEM, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE

THERE? >> YES, MA'AM, OUR OFFICE -- A COUNTY SYSTEM AND I AM NOT SURE WHO ALL PARTICIPATES IN THAT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF YOUR TEXAS POLICE COMMISSION CERTIFICATION. IF YOU HAVE A BASIC IMMEDIATE OR MOTHER. IF YOU HAVE A MASTER LEVEL, YOU GET SO MUCH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PER MONTH IN YOUR CHECK.

IF OFF MASTER'S DEGREE, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, GET THAT FUNDING. WE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM. OURS IS STRICTLY MERIT-BASED.

WE DO HAVE MASTER LEVEL NOT ONLY TECO OFFICERS.

TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT TO WORK AT OUR AGENCY NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THE TEC O, BUT YOU NEED THE TEXAS FIRE MISSION AND MOST OF OUR PEOPLE HAVE THE IMMEDIATE OR MASTER LEVEL FIRE CERTIFICATION AS WELL. IN ORDER TO MANAGE THE BUDGET, THAT WILL INCREASE OUR BUDGET, WE WILL PREFER TO GO THROUGH THE MERIT BASED AND EVALUATE ON JOB PERFORMANCE AND MEETING THE MISSION YOU JUJSZ JUDGE ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSTABLES. THANK YOU, CHIEF CHRI CHRISTIANTESEN, CHIEF REED. YOU EVEN SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE TEAM ON NEW YEAR'S. I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE OUT TO KEEP US ALL SAFE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO

APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU.

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BUT WHAT WE ASK WHAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT.

WHAT DO WE GO HOME AT NIGHT AND THINKING -- FOR THE COMMAND STAFF. AND ONE OF THINGS THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, WHO DID WE NOT REACH? WAS THERE A LIFE WE COULD SAVE AND WE DIDN'T REACH THEM.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER.

AND WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT QUESTION AND GIVE YOU SOMETHING

[Constables]

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU. WE WILL HEAR FROM CONSTABLE

ROSEN NEXT. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I AM SPEAKING FOR PRECINCT ONE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME CLEAR? >> YOU SOUND A LITTLE FAR AWAY, CHIEF. IT IS BETTER AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH.

THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATION. WE CONTINUE TO DIALOGUE OF RELATIONSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

WE SUBMITTED THE BUDGET WITH THE DOCUMENTS AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WITH REGARD TO ANYTHING PETITION PUT INTO OUR BUDGET REQUEST.

SO I'M HERE JUST TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

WE DID SUBMIT EVERYTHING. AND JUST REPRESENT THE

CONSTABLE OFFICE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: DID COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR, CHIEF GSHLINGZ

. >> NO QUESTIONS FOR ME.

>> JUDGE: QUESTION FOR DAVE BARRY.

BUT THE REQUEST FOR 45 BUSINESS VEHICLES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THIS CAN GO THROUGH CIP?

>> IF IT NEEDS TO. WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THE VEHICLES OFF THE STREETS TO MAKE THEM SAFER AND MORE

EFFICIENT. >> JUDGE, THE ANSWER IS YES.

WE HAVE THE ABILITIES TO USE COMMERCIAL PAPER TO FINANCE VEHICLES. AND OVER TIME, IT IS A TRANSMISSION PERIOD AND HEAD IN THAT DIRECTION.

I THINK I HAVE SEEN AND I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT GENERAL FUNDS ARE THE TIGHTEST BUCKET OF MONEY THAT WE HAVE AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT REQUEST IN THAT LENS.

AND ALSO HAVE BEEN DOING GOOD REPORT FROM THE SERVICES AND HAVING MORE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THE FLEET ACROSS ALL THE AGENCIES SO WE CAN GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THESE ONE-OFF REQUESTS.

>> JUDGE, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR DAVE RELATED TO SEVERAL OF THE CONSTABLES BUDGETS. SO THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A GOOD TIME TO ASK IT, IF THAT WILL BE ALL RIGHT?

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: GO TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE: I KNOW A NUMBER OF OUR CONSTABLES ARE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING THEIR VEHICLES.

YOU TOUCHED ON IT FOR JUST A SECOND.

PART OF IT IS THE CHIP TECHNOLOGY, HAVING TROUBLE WITH REGARD TO REPLACEMENT VEHICLES. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO TRY TO PUT IN FLAT LINE APPROACH TOWARD VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT SO YOU DON'T HAVE SPIKES AND OLD VEHICLES OUT THERE AND YOU AUCTION THEM OFF WHEN THEY STILL HAVE SOME VALUE SO THAT CAN GO BACK IN THE BUDGET. WHAT IS THE PROGRESS THAT YOU ARE MAKING WITH REGARD TO THE TREATING THE VEHICLES OF THE CONSTABLE AS A UNIT AS OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES AND WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CHIP

TECHNOLOGY DELAY? >> START WITH THE CHIP TECHNOLOGY DELAY. I DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT. WOULD NEED SOMEONE TO JUMP IN OTHERWISE, WE WILL GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU.

IN TERMS OF MANAGING THE FLEET, AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WE -- WHERE WE STARTED IS WE DIDN'T HAVE THE THEY ADMITTED IT EXISTED BUT NOT THE ACTIONS OF HERE IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY. WE MADE PROGRAM DRESS IN ANALYZING THAT DATA. UNIVERSAL SERVICES BROUGHT ON A CONSULTING FIRM TO LOOK AT THE REVIEW OF THAT DATA AND GENERATE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I THINK THAT WILL LEAD US TO BE ABLE TO BE SMARTER ABOUT WHEN WE BUY, AN WHEN WE SELL.

I THINK WE ARE FURTHER THAN WHERE WE WERE IN TERMS WE UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL PICTURE. WE ARE NOT ALL THE WAY THERE IN TERMS OF -- HEY, HERE IS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING AND THAT IS VERY MUCH A PRIORITY FOR THE

TEAM TO DEVELOP. >> FOR ME COLLEAGUES, A PILOT PROJECT FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK AND WE MOVED AWAY FROM

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INSTEAD OF THE ONE CAR THAT YOU WOULD ADD, YOU WOULD PLACE THE OIL AND THE TIRES ON A REGULAR MAINTENANCE.

AND REVIEWED THE ENTIRE FLEET AND HAD SOME SOFTWARE AND OTHER THINGS TO ASSIST US IN FIGURING OUT WHEN IT IS BEST TO RETIRE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE MAXIMUM VALUE BACK IN WHEN THEY WERE TOLD AND IT ENDED UP VASTLY IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND HAS REDUCED OUR COSTS BECAUSE WE ARE NO LONGER -- WE ARE NO LONGER BUYING WHEN EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART AND IT IS A DISASTER AND WE ARE HAVING BREAKDOWNS ON THE ROAD. AVERAGE AGE OF THE FLEET IS PRETTY STEADY AND WE SELL THE VEHICLES WHEN WE ARE TRACKING THE MARKET WHICH IS WHAT DAVE WAS LOOKING AT.

A COUPLE OF VEHICLES OUT HERE THAT ARE DUE TO AUCTION SOON AND WAITING WHENEVER THE PEAK DAUGHTER AND A CYCLE WHEN THAT OCCURS AND SO WE GET THE MAXIMUM DOLLAR IN AND THEN WE BUY SO THAT ALL VEHICLES ARE STEADY AND I KNEW WE WERE LOOKING TO DO THAT FOR OUR CONSTABLES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF AGING VEHICLES THAT ARE ON THEIR LAST LEGS AND YOU TREAT IT LIKE AN OIL CHANGE WHERE YOU REPLACE THE CERTAIN NUMBER OF VEHICLES A YEAR SO THE FLEET STAYS HEALTHY INSTEAD OF TREATING IT FOR THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE.

AND IT ENDED UP MAKING IT SA SAFER, BETTER, AND MAKING THE EMPLOYEES HAPPIER HERE AND CHEAPER.

AND THAT IS A GREAT DEAL. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WERE LOOKING AT THAT. AND BUDGET OFFICE IMPORTING THAT OVER TO THE CONSTABLES' VEHICLES.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: I WANT TO ECHO THAT.

I THOUGHT WE DECIDED ALREADY FOR THE VEHICLES ON ROTATION.

MR. BERRY, SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE, IN PROGRESS OR HAS BEEN DONE AND TAKES A MINUTE.

>> WOULD SAY THAT IS IN PROCESS IN TERMS OF HAVING A MULTIYEAR PLAN. WHAT WE HAVE NOW WE HAVE THE DATA AND ABLE TO SEE ACROSS THE FLEET WHERE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS TO BRING UP THE BOTTOM OF IT RATHER THAN LOOKING AT EACH REQUEST ONE OFF. WE ARE WITH THE FULL PLAN, NOT

ALL THE WAY THERE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THESE ARE MACHINES THAT I THINK WE SHOULD SET A STANDARD AND GIVEN BUDGET RESTRAINTS WE NEED TO SET THE BAR LOWER THAN WE WISH WE WO WOULD, BUT OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW. AND THE -- AND THE OTHER REQUEST FROM PRECINCT 1 IS VERY CLEAR.

SOUNDS LIKE POSITIONS THAT WERE CREATED DUE TO EMERGENCIES THAT NOW TURN OUT TO BE -- THEY HAVE BEEN FILLED THIS WHOLE TIME, AND THEY NEED TO BE PERMANENT SO THAT MAKES SENSE.

THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS ARE THE ISSUE SO WE WILL REEV

REEVALUATE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CHIEF.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE HEAD TO CONSTABLE 2.

HEAR FROM CONSTABLE GARCIA. >> HOPE YOU HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR. AND TO PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS WITH A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.

AS HE TOOK OFFICE JANUARY 1, 2021, MY ADMINISTRATION WAS PRESENTED WITH MANY CHALLENGES. WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE LAST YEAR, OUR DEPUTIES LACKED BASIC FUNDAMENTAL EQUIPMENT.

THE EQUIPMENT WE DID HAVE WAS OUTDATED.

OUR FLEET WAS DEPLETED. MANY OF THE OUR COMMUNITIES LACKED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES THAT HAD BEEN AFFORDED TO OTHERS. JANUARY 7, 2021, I REQUESTED FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT 13 VEHICLES, EIGHT DEPUTIES AND TWO DISPATCHERS. EVERYTHING WAS DENIED.

THROUGH OUR OWN ROLLOVER MONIES AND THROUGH OUR SEIZURE FUND, PURCHASES WERE MADE AND TODAY EVERY DEPUTY IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED WITH UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT.

THROUGH OUR ROLLOVER MONIES AND SEIZURE FUNDS WE PURCHASED 14 VEHICLES. AS OF TODAY WE ONLY RECEIVED THREE OF THE 14 VEHICLES WE PURCHASED.

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN UTILIZING THE OUTDATED, NEGLECTED, DEPLETED FLEET THAT WE INHERITED, MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS ONLY OF THIS YEAR WAS $149,000.

UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S ENTIRE LAST YEAR, MAINTENANCE COSTS WAS $119,000.

UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S LAST YEAR, FUEL COSTS WERE $87,000. BECAUSE OF A RISE IN FUEL COST AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE DEPUTIES PATROLLING OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN THE HISTORY OF

[00:30:04]

IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE GAP OF INEQUITY THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT CONSTANTLY TALKS ABOUT AND TO ATTEMPT TO PROPERLY PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO EVERY CITIZEN AND RESIDENT IN OUR PRECINCT, I AM REQUESTING EIGHT DEPUTIES AND TWO DISPATCHERS. IN WILL HELP IN OUR EFFORT TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY CONTRACT PATROL PROGRAM DUE TO LACK OF INCOME. TALK OF DUPLICATED FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. I GUARANTEE YOU NO SERVICES ARE BEING DUPLICATED. THE PRECINCT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE SERVICES PAY HARRIS COUNTY TAXES AS WELL AND SHOULD HAVE EQUABLE CONSIDERATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE COUNTY. PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.

OUR CITIZENS AND RUSS DENTS ARE AT YOUR MERCY COMMISSIONERS COURT AND I ASK THAT YOU NOT IGNORE THEIR PLEAS.

DEPUTIES ON THE STREET IS THE NUMBER ONE REQUEST OF OUR CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS. SINCE I TOOK OFFICE, I MADE EVERY ATTEMPTS TO BRING MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES TO OUR CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. WE ALSO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS HAVE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME DURING THE SAME PANDEMIC.

I AM REQUESTING HELP IN MY ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS WITH THE SAFETY AND SECURITY AFFORDED TO OT OTHERS. I HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT WE START THIS PAST YEAR NUMBER EIGHT OUT OF EIGHT PRECINCTS IN REFERENCE TO DOLLARS PER RESIDENTS. OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORKED VERY HARD AND SACRIFICE OF THEMSELVES WORKING EXTRA SHIFTS AND COME ON THEIR DAYS OFF SHOULD BE COMMENDED.

AROUND RIGHT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THE SERVICES TO OUR COMMITTEES.

I AM PROUD TO SHARE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH YOU.

RESTRUCTURING, TODAY WE HAVE 29 MORE DEPUTIES THAN THE DAY I TOOK OFF. WE CREATED A HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM AND SAVE 1,209,652 THIS COMING YEAR.

THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF PRECINCT TWO, WE HAVE A TRUE 24-HOUR DISTRICT PATROL. OUR CAL VOLUME HAS INCREASED BY 25% IN THE FIRST YEAR OVER THE LAST YEAR OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. WE ANSWER EVERY CALL AND DEFER NONE. IN JULY 2021.

WE CREATED A FOUR-MAN SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION.

SINCE JULY, THIS UNIT HAS SEIZED AND ASSISTED IN SEIZING 78,800,000 OF STREET VALUE ILLEGAL NARCOTICS, SEIZED 8 4 FIREARMS, FIRED 64 FELONY CHARGES AND ARRESTED 77 VIOLENT OFFENDERS. OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS WITH HIGHLY SKILLED AND HIGHLY TRAINED DEPUTIES, COMPLETED 8265 TRAINING HOURS, QUADRUPLING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S LAST YEAR.

IN CLOSING IN CONSIDERING BUDGETS, I ASK COMMISSIONERS COURT TO BE JUST WITH YOUR DECISIONS, HONEST TO THOSE YOU SERVE, COMPASSIONATE TO THOSE NEGLECTED AND IGNORED AND PRAY THAT GOD REMINDS EACH OF US THAT WE SERVE THE PEOPLE'S INTEREST AND NOT OUR OWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CONTACT TRACING. ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, GO AHEAD.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I GUESS YOU WORK WELL WITH

OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS? >> WE DO, COMMISSIONER.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS NO DUPLICATION OF SERVICES.

THESE CITIES THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THEY HAVE VERY SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

[00:35:02]

MUNICIPALITY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: I DIDN'T ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD DUPLICATION.

HAVING BEEN MAYOR OF A SMALL CITY.

I HAVE SEEN HOW WELL CONSTABLES WORK WITH CITY AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO CITIES. SO THAT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE QUESTION. SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT THAT GOING.

>> YES, SIR. AND I UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT DUPLICATION OF SERVICES, BUT I HAVE HEARD IT FROM OTHERS. AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING SERVICES AND I

APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S SUPPORT. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, I THINK CONSTABLE, I AM CLEAR I KNOW THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON THE HOMELESS OUTREACH PIECE, BUT MY QUESTION IS HAVE YOU -- AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR DAVE, WE PUT $60 MILLION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY TOWARD HOMELESSNESS AND I BELIEVE THAT IS GOING THROUGH SOME NONPROFITS.

PERHAPS THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND AND I FEEL LIKE I MADE THIS POINT BEFORE IS WHY CAN'T WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT THIS TASK FORCE THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND RECEIVED SO MUCH FUNDING IS OPERATING IN YOUR AREA.

IT SEEMS TO ME THERE IS A DISCONNECT THERE.

CONSTABLE, IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT OR MR. BERRY.

I AM JUST NOT SURE -- WE PUT SO MUCH INTO THIS ISSUE ALREADY.

SO DO THEY NOT HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE CONSTABLE'S PRECINCT?

>> SO, JUDGE, JUST WHAT I KNOW AND I KNOW BECAUSE I WALK WITH MY PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN MY PRECINCT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN TO OTHER -- YOU KNOW, OTHER DEPARTMENTS BUT IN MY PRECINCT, OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY IS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF. IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS NOT TAKING CARE OF THEM, I PROMISE YOU I WILL.

WE WERE REQUESTED A THREE-MAN UNIT.

WE WEREN'T GIVEN THAT. WE DID IT WITH ONE MAN.

WE HAVE A ONE MAN GUY. AND HE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

I GUARANTEE YOU OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THIS PRECINCT. WITH ONE PERSON, WE HOUSED 34 PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT JUST SENDING THEM TO A ROOM SOMEWHERE. THAT IS ACTUALLY GIVING THEM KEYS TO AN APARTMENT. WE HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS H HISTORICALLY. LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN KIND TO THIS. AND 34 MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A WHOLE LOT, BUT A HUGE NUMBER AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR HOMELESS CONSUMERS. WE TAKE THEM TO THE VA WHEN THEY NEED TO GO TO 9 VA. WE TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL, TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE IN MY PRECINCT.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS SIT WITH BUDGET AND WHOEVER IS RUNNING THIS PROGRAM AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ENCAMPMENTS ARE IN YOUR AREA AND ARE THEY OR NOT GOING. AND CAN THEY GO WITH THE EXISTING FUNDING ON HOM HOMELESSNESS.

BUDGET IS SO TIGHT. IF WE ARE GOING TO USE FUNDING TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT SHOULD BE TO DEAL WITH THE VIOLENT CRIME, BUT I ALSO HEAR YOU AND I THINK IT IS VALID AND IMPORTANT. WE CAN'T FORGET THE HOMELESS POPULATION. I KNOW THE WORK IS BEING DONE.

I ASK THAT OF MR. BERRY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION SO WE CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM IF THE CONSTABLE KNOWS THERE IS AN AREA AND HE IS HAVING TO HAVE HIS ONE DEPUTY DEAL WITH IT. WHY.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, MR. BE BERRY?

>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO BE SURE THE CONNECTION IS THERE BETWEEN CONSTABLE GARCIA AND THE FOLKS DOING THAT WORK.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, SEE IF YOU CAN RESOLVE IT. I MEAN I THINK IT SHOULD BE -- IT COULD BE -- IT CAN BE RESOLVED.

SO ANYWAY, WE WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AND THANK YOU, CONSTABLE FOR YOUR WORK AND CONCERN ABOUT ALL OF THESE

ISSUES. >> THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM CONSTABLE EAGLETON. OKAY.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO CONSTABLE PRECINCT 3.

[00:40:04]

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THANK THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR THE SUPPORT THEY HAVE GIVEN US AND THANK THE PRECINCT 3 STAFF WITH ALL CHALLENGES WE HAD TO ENCOUNTER AND WITH THAT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND GO QUICKLY WITH OUR PRESENTATION SO I DON'T TIE YOU UP ANY MORE TIME THAN NECESSARY.

ON SECOND SLIDE. I AM NOT GOING TO READ THAT ENTIRE MISSION STATEMENT, BUT AS WITH EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC THE BEST WAY WE CAN.

BEING ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT, HIGH MORALE STANDARDS AND STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. AND PART OF THE WAY WE DO THAT BECOME A RECOGNIZED AGENCY THROUGH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF WHICH IS AN ACCREDITATION WITH NUMEROUS STANDARDS WE HAVE TO MEET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO PROVIDE THAT PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

BRIEFLY, SOME OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.

OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

WE HAVE E. T. SERVICES INTERNALLY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RUNNING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

OUR COURT SYSTEM PROVIDES COURT SECURITY FOR THE JPS, BUT ALSO ENTAILS BUILDING NOT ONLY FOR THE JP COURT, BUT PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE ENTIRE COM COMPLEX.

THE PROCESS AND CIVIL DOCUMENTS AND WARRANTS WE RECEIVE, PROCESSING AND SERVING THOSE. OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PA CONTROVERSIAL. WE DO HAVE CONTRACTED PATROLS.

WE HAVE A DISPATCHER AND A COMMUNICATION CENTER THAT WE MAINTAIN -- TRY TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS THERE AS W WELL. WE HAVE A GENERAL PATROL AREA, AS WELL AS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTRACTS THAT WE OPERATE OUR SUPPORT, EVIDENCE STORAGE AND EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN UTILIZING EXISTING STAFF AND NOT A POSITION WE HAVE.

IT IS KIND OF A DOUBLE DUTY SITUATION.

WE CONDUCT OUR I CAN TERM AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION WITHOUT -- INFERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION WITHOUT RESOURCES THEM OUT AND RECORDS DIVISION. RECORDS AND REPORTING AND OF COURSE OUR TRAFFIC SAFETY. OUR TOLL ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONTROL WITH OUR PATROL SERVICES.

WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS INITIATIVES INCLUDING ROAD RAGE. DRIVER INITIATIVES TO CURB SOME OF THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN OUR PRECINCT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. JUST BRIEFLY, SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY OUTCOMES.

REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME AND REDUCING FEAR OF CRIME IN THE PRECINCT. AND WE HAVE INSTITUTED A CRIME ANALYSIS TYPE PROGRAM HAVING TRAINED SOME DEPUTIES IN ACTUALLY USING CRIME DATA AND HOT SPOT TYPE OF INFORMATION TO FOCUS OUR ACTIVITIES. PROBLEM SOLVING TYPE POLICING OR A COM STAT MODEL TYPE OF POLICING AND SOME REFER TO IT AS INTELLIGENCE POLICING AND WHAT WE GATHER THROUGH OUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND OTHER SOURCES TO COMBAT CRIME IN THE PRECINCT. MAINTAINING ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAY AND RECOGNIZE OUR RECOGNIZED STATUS THROUGH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION. THIS YEAR IS SOUR RENEWAL.

WE WILL BE IN NOVEMBER FOUR YEARS INTO THE PROGRAM.

IT TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING THAT PRETTY SOON.

AND THAT THAT IS BEST PRACTICES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AUDITED BY THE OUTSIDE AGENCY, THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLYING WITH BEST PRACTICES WHICH REDUCES LIABILITY ON THE COUNTY, THE AGENCY FOR TRAINING AND CONTINUE TO ACCRUE AND HIRE THE BEST AND MAINTAIN A HIGH -- HIGHLY DIVERSE WORK FORCE AND PREVENTION AND FOCUSED FOR THE COMMUNITIES, WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR CITIZENS TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE THE ISSUES AND WE DO THAT.

WE ATTEND COMMUNITY MEETINGS. WE ATTEND NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETINGS, HOME OWNER ASSOCIATION MEETINGS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. OUR PEOPLE FLEX THEIR HOURS, WORK OVERTIME AND DO IT IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR DUTIES.

>> IRD AND RESPOND TO PRIORITY NEEDS.

IDENTIFY AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE AT THIS OFFICE. IMPLEMENT CRIME REDUCTION

[00:45:04]

WE WORK WITH UNIVERSAL SER SERVICES, OUR STAFF WORKED WITH THEM TO DEVELOP THE DASHBOARDS WE USED TO TRACK DEPUTIES' ACTIVITIES AND CRIME IN THE AREA AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO RESPOND TO IT MORE APPRO APPROPRIATELY.

OUR "ARE YOU OKAY"PROGRAM AND THE SPANISH VERSION MUCH THAT HAS OVER 700 PARTICIPANTS. A PROGRAM OUR STAFF, IN ADDITION TO THEIR REGULAR D DUTIES, CHECK ON SENIOR CITIZENS WHO VOLUNTARILY SIGN UP FOR OUR PROGRAM.

AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM AND OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WE IMPLEMENTED FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO.

WE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TRAINING PROGRAM OR CERTIFICATION FOR OUR DEPUTIES TO MAKE THE FIRST RESPONDERS DOING A BETTER JOB OF INVESTIGATING CRIMES THEY RESPOND TO AND FOLLOWING UP ON CASES THEY TAKE EVERYTHING FROM BURGLARIES AND THINGS LIKE T THIS.

AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL LEAD TO BETTER POLICE SERVICES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION HELP REDUCE SOME OF THE REFERRALS THAT WE REFER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS IN ADDITION TO STANDARD TRAINING THAT THE -- THAT THE STATE REQUIRES FOR OUR OFFICERS.

WE REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE LITTLE OVER 100 ADDITIONAL HOURS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TRAINING ALONG WITH OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THAT PROGRAM. WE HAVE HAD COUPLE OF OUR STAFF BECOME CERTIFIED. AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION. THAT MEANS WE ARE TRYING TO ADHERE TO THE BEST PRACTICES AND FOLLOW STATE LAW AND CONDUCT OUR INVESTIGATIONS PROPERLY AND FAIRLY.

WE HAVE ALSO HAD SOME FOLKS GET SOME TRAINING, SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN USE OF FORCE AND CERTIFICATION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS SO ENSURE THAT WE ARE REVIEWING THOSE PROPERLY SO WE CAN CHANGE TACTICS OR PROCEDURES OR EXCHANGE TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND DOING IT WITHIN THE LAW.

WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED OUR 24-HOUR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE PRECINCT TO TARGET ILLEGAL DUMPING.

ILLEGAL DUMPING IS A LARGE PROBLEM IN THE PRECINCT.

AND WE ARE JUST EXPANDING AND TRYING TO COMBAT THAT THE BEST THAT WE CAN. WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF SEVERAL BILLS IN THE PRECINCT WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO RESOLVE A LOT OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS AND RECOVER LOTS OF STOLEN PROPERTY AND STOP COPPER THIEVES AND LOCK THEM UP.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ON THE KEY DEPARTMENT GOALS AND PROCESSES. WE TALK OF REDUCING VIOLENT CRIMES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS. PROPERTY CRIMES FOR 100,000 RESIDENTS AND WE OUTLINED SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, SPECIALIZED IN INVESTIGATION ISSUES AND, OF COURSE, MAINTAINING ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE. I THINK THAT GOES A LONG WAY TO RETAINING EMPLOYEES, KEEP THE MORALE HIGH, MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MAINTAINING THAT CERTIFICATION OF THE RECOGNIZED STATUS THROUGH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF DOES A LONG WAY IN DOING THAT.

OF COURSE OUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY TRAINING AND CRISIS CENTER INTERSECTION. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN 100% COMPLIANCE IN TRAINING OUR STAFF IN THAT AREA.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. >> CHIEF, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE

LEFT. >> THE LAST DEAL THEN.

THE BUDGET REQUEST ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR THE CARS WE PREVIOUSLY ORDERED BACK IN 2 2021.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE CHIP PROBLEM HAS DELAYED THAT AND I BELIEVE THAT MONEY WAS ORIGINALLY ROLLED OVER MONEY AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN OUR FUNDING. BECAUSE OF MAINTENANCE INCREASE AND CHARGES, WE GO ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE FIELD FUNDING.

FUEL FUNDING. FUEL BUDGET.

FUEL IS WAY OUT OF CONTROL. LET'S SEE HERE NEXT SLIDE IF YOU WOULD PLEASE AND THEN I SHOULD BE DONE.

THIS IS THE BUDGET REQUEST OUTCOMES AND I WANT TO SAY SINCE MY TIME IS UP, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION. AND I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

THAT I POSSIBLY CAN. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHIEF. THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?

[00:50:04]

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRENS PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU AS I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, YOU HAVE ZERO INCREASE IN FISCAL YEAR '23. GOOD JOB.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS ON THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING I WILL TELL YOU IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF MY NEW PRECINCT IS COMMON WITH YOURS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING WITH YOU SOON.

TELL THE CONSTABLE THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD WORKING WITH YOU IN THE PARKS AND OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.

WE BELIEVE IN CLOSE WORKING WITH OUR CONSTABLES ON OUR P PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING WITH

YOU IN THAT REGARD. >> YES, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I DO WANT TO SAY HOLDING COSTS AND HOLDING THE LINE IS OUR CHIEF CLERK.

SHE IS -- SHE SAYS NO A LOT WHEN WE WANT TO BUY STUFF.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WILL JUST NOTE THE -- THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED -- OBVIOUSLY THAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED. JUST DELAYS AND FUNDING WAS ALREADY APPROVED. AND THE OTHER TWO REQUESTS, SOUND TO ME THEY SHOULD GO -- AT LEAST THE FINAL ONE, THE THIRD ONE TO CIP. DAVE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT QUALIFIES FOR CIP AS WELL, THE FUEL.

>> JUDGE, WE CAN NOT TAKE FUEL EXPENSES OUT OF THE CIP.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND FUEL FUNDS. THE SAME ISSUE IS HITTING THE

DEPARTMENT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: WELL, YOU SEE SOME HEADLINES THIS MORNING SAYING INFLATION AT 7 -- YOU SAID IT IS UP FOR DEBATE, BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE A TRAIN FOR EVERYBODY IS SIMPLY -- I MEAN ALREADY SO MANY -- IS IT LIKE $20 MILLION JUST FOR A HEALTH CARE COST INCREASE.

WE HEAR YOU CHIEF. AND A BIG CHALLENGE ON MANY AREAS. THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESE

PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: WE WILL MOVE ON TO PRECINCT 4.

I SEE CONSTABLE HER MAN'S STAFF ON THE LINE.

>> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE YOU HERE TODAY. I AM JOINED BY.

I AM WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU AND TO REPRESENT CONSTABLE MARK HERMAN.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO BRIEFLY TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY THANK YOU. AS YOU ALL KNOW, LAST YEAR PRECINCT 4 SUFFERED ITS DARKEST DAY WHEN THREE OF OUR DEPUTIES WERE AMBUSHED AND SHOT AN DEPUTY WAS KILLED.

THE COURT CAME OUT SUPPORTING OUR MEN, WOMEN.

SUPPORTING OUR OFFICE AND THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

THAT DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. ADDITIONALLY GIVEN THE TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY SPEAK WITH EACH ONE OF YOU AS YOU WERE VISITING AND PAYING RESPECT TO DEPUTY ATKINS AT THE FUNERAL.

HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO HIS FAMILY AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR AGENCY AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE.

GO TWO MORE SLIDES. BACK UP ONE PLEASE.

ANY TIME WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OF THE BUDGET DISCUSS WHAT THE MISSION STATEMENT OF OUR DEPARTMENT IS.

THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT IS IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PRECINCT 4, BY WORKING WITH LAW ENFOR ENFORCEMENT, COMMISSIONERS COURT, OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTRACT HOLDERS TO REDUCE F FEAR, PREVENT CRIME, ENFORCE THE LAW, INCREASE MOBILITY AND TARGET VIOLENT OFFENDERS FOR PROSECUTION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS WAS PUT IN PLACE BY CONSTABLE HERMAN WHEN HE TOOK OVER AND THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNTY'S GOALS OF TODAY. NEXT SLIDE.

IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION, WE ENSURE THAT EVERY DECISION THAT WE AND OUR PERSONNEL MAKE ARE GROUNDED IN OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION AND ARE.

NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE.

AND AN EXAMPLE OF US WORKING TOWARD OUR MISSION.

I WANTED TO SHARE RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE COURT AS WELL. WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND IN EXPANSION OF THE DEPUTY PROGRAM HELPS US TO HAVE ACCESS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, REDUCE RESPONSE TIME, IMPROVE POLICE AND CITIZEN INTERACTION AND ASSIST IN REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME.

WE ALSO OPENED UP TWO COMMUNITY-BASED SUBSTATION M

[00:55:05]

ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ACHIEVE 100% OF OUR PERSONNEL TRAINED IN DEESCALATION, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND 100% OF OUR PERSON FELL IN ISSUED BODY WORN CAMERAS ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE PRISON AND CITIZEN SIDE. THE THING THAT THE COURT VALUES IS THE CONSENT OF TRANSPARENCY AND WE HAVE INCREASED TRANSPARENCY OF OUR ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN APP THAT IS GOOD TO NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC REALTIME IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THE PRECINCT 4 CONSTABLE'S OFFICE IS DOING ABOUT IT. NEXT SLIDE.

TO GET TO THE BUDGET REQUESTS. WE INITIALLY PROJECTED THAT OUR CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM WOULD EXPAND BY 12 DEPUTY POSITIONS.

WE HAVE CONFER MAKE GOING TO BE 14 POSITIONS.

70% OF THE COST OF THOSE WILL BE RECOVERED FROM THE CONTRACTED ENTITIES. WE ORIGINALLY SUGGESTED THAT THE IT WILL INCREASE BY FIVE SERGEANT POSITIONS.

WE HAVE CONFIRMATION NOW THREE POSITIONS.

SIMILAR TO THE DEPUTY POSITIONS, 70% WILL BE RECOVERED FROM THE CONTRACTED ENTITIES.

WE TRY TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH OUR REQUEST FOR '22, '23 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. THE ONLY REQUEST FOR '22 IS THROUGH REPLACEMENT OF OUR AUTOMATIC FINGERPRINTING IDENTIFY SYSTEM. IT IS OBSOLETE AND NEARING END OF LIFE AND WILL HAVE PLACEMENT FOR THE PROPER AND ACCURATE PROCESSING OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ARRESTED.

NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE.

PURCHASE SOME ADDITIONAL AND REPLACEMENT TASERS AND ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM AND LIKE MUCH SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THEY SUFFER WEAR AND TEAR OVER TIME AND A REQUEST FOR THE IDENTIFIED NEED OF 50 TASERS AND HOLSTERS AND BAT REGION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

LIKE SEVERAL OTHER AGENCIES, WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO ISSUES OF THE UPDATED AND NONWORKING PATROL CARS AND FLEET.

50 PATROL CARS TO -- PATROL CARS THAT HAVE BEEN TOTALED AND LOST DUE TO ACCIDENTS. WE ARE REQUEST CARS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE AND WE HAVE SEVERAL DOZEN CARS ON OUR RADAR APPROACHING THE $150,000 MARK. AND INTERESTED IN ANY OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE PAYMENT PLAN TO PAY FOR THOSE CARS INSTEAD OF ONE LUMP SUM ADDED TO OUR BUDGET.

NEXT SLIDE. >> FIVE MINUTES REMAINING.

>> ADDITIONALLY IDENTIFIED THE DEED FOR 30 IN-CAR COMPUTERS.

EFFORT NTDTS LOST DUE TO ACCIDENTS AND CANNOT HANDLE THE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND WE NEED A HANDFUL OF AMPUTEES TO PROVIDE US TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT.

AND THEY ARE SO VY AT THAT TAM IF WE DON'T HAVE A MDT IN THE PATROL CAR, IT IS NOT ABLE TO USE.

THEY ARE CERTAINLY VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THE LAST THING ON OUR LIST IS JUST THE REPLACEMENT OF NON-WORKING DESKTOP COMPUTERS WITH WARRANT AND TEXT SERVICES AND PROCESSING. WITH THE -- WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SUPERION, MANY CANNOT HANDLE THE PROCESSING THAT SUPERIORION DEMANDS. AND FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED FOR UPLOAD CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY AND SO EVERYBODY CAN GET BACK ON THE STREETS.

LASTLY I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CONSTABLES OFFICE. CONSTABLE HERMAN IS SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. WITH THAT THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR BUDGET TRANSPORTATION AND WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS OF COURT? CAPTAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT'S VERY CLEAR. I ALMOST WONDER -- COMMISSIONER, I ALMOST WONDER IF MR. BERRY SHOULD PUT

[01:00:04]

WE EITHER CAN AFFORD IT OR CAN'T AFFORD IT.

CERTAINLY A LOT OF -- A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT, URGENT REQ REQUESTS. AND I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT ALL OF THIS DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH FUNDING WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE, WHICH DEPENDS ON THE TAX RATE WE SET BUT YOU MADE YOUR CASE VERY CLEARLY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH CRIME IN GENERAL AND THE PROFESSION OF -- THE PERCEPTION AND REALITY OF INCREASED VIOLENT CRIME, WE HAVE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A PRESENCE AND WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. BERRY AND THE SERVICE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: MR. BERRY, WILL ANY OF THAT PUT ON CIP OR SOMETHING THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE BUDGET?

>> I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE. SO AS YOU KNOW THE OMD TEAM IS

DOING A TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: I HAVE SORT OF A RUNNING LIST WHEN PEOPLE SAY FOLKS ARE LEAVING BECAUSE OF PAY. AND THEY -- AND JUST -- THAT NUMBER IN MY HEAD ADDED TO THINGS LIKE THIS WHICH ARE JUST ABSOLUTE, BARE BONES AND THAT NUMBER IS QUITE BIG.

I AM THINKING IN MY HEAD, YOU KNOW WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THIS.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: MOVE ON TO CONSTABLE PRECINCT 5.

CONSTABLE HEAT. >> CHRIS BRANSON, ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH PRECINCT 5 AND I WILL BE PRESENTING TODAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GO OVER OUR REQUEST THAT WE DID SUBMIT TOTAL REQUEST IS JUST OVER $2.3 MILLION. 86% OF THAT REQUEST IS TO COVER PERSONNEL COSTS NOT FOR NEW POSITIONS BUT APPROVED FUNDED POSITION AND 27 POSITIONS. THIS IS NOT ANY NEW POSITIONS.

I WILL BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER FOUR OF POSITIONS ARE CLERICAL CONDITIONS. ONE IS TO ASSIST OUR CHIEF CLERK OF PROCESSING INVOICES AND PAYMENTS.

STARS IS, WE FOUND IT MANAGEABLE BUT TIME CONSUMING TO PROCEDURES IN STARS TO FILL ONE OF THE EMPTY CLERK POSITIONS. WE ARE REQUESTING TWO CLERKS TO FULFILL THE NEED OF SB 111. ANY TIME ANY CHARGES ARE FILED ALL EVIDENTIARY MATERIALS MOVED OVER TO THE OFFICE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT BUT AS WE GET FURTHER ALONG WE CAN MANAGE WITH TWO. IN OUR CIVIL DIVISION, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL CLERK.

THIS IS FILLING AN EXISTING POSITION PAPERS ARE STARTING TO INCREASE AND ROLL IN SO WE WOULD LIKE TO FILL THAT POSITION. HAVE THE FUNDS TO FILL THAT POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE -- JUST 2.3 MILLION AND ALLOW US TO FILL FEEL THE DEPUTY POSITIONS.

16 POSITIONS IN OUR DEPUTY RANKS, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FULL FISCAL YEAR, NEEDS THESE FUNDS TO FILL THE 23 POSITIONS.

AGAIN, THE REQUEST IS FOR 86% OF THE REQUEST IS FOR PERSONNEL EXPENSES AND, AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT NEW POSITIONS.

ADDITIONALLY WE ARE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR OUR MOBILE COMMAND CENTER THAT WE DID RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR COMMERCIAL PEER FUNDING ON THIS. AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT CARRIES OVER TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AS LONG AS -- AND AS WELL AS -- THIS IS NOT PART OF OUR BUDGET REQUEST, BUT WE ALSO HAD JUST OVER 1 MILLION IN COMMERCIAL PAPER APPROVED FOR VEHICLES. AND WE WOULD LIKE THAT TO CARRY OVER AS WELL. FINALLY THE CONTRACT CONTRACT FOR LEASED VEHICLES. COSTS HAVE INCREASED 34% WHICH

[01:05:04]

AND I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER CAGLE? CHIEF BRANSON, THE REQUEST IS CLEAR.

I AM -- WE ARE CHECKING WITH DAVE ABOUT THE POSITIONS.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE UNFUNDED PCNS ACROSS THE COUNTY WHICH ARE A CHALLENGE. SO, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS. BUT IT IS ALL VERY CLEAR.

AND, AGAIN, I WILL PUSH FOR THE CIP -- WHAT -- THE CIP, THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BE -- THAT FUNDING AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES PREVENTED YOU FROM RECEIVING THE MATERIAL AS WELL AS CONSTABLE EAGLETON. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. WELL, CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND THANK YOU TO CONSTABLE HEAP AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: CONSTABLE TREVINO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE OUR COMMISSIONERS AT THE CRIME STOPPERS YESTERDAY MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO GET RIGHT INTO OUR PRESENTATION. THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NOT JUST FOR PRECINCT 6 BUT THROUGHOUT OUR NATION. LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF AGENCIES AND SEEN A REDUCTION IN POLICE APPLICANTS AS WELL BUDGET PRESENTATION IN 2021, ONLY TWO OPEN POSITIONS. MY ORDER OF PRIORITY ARTICULATED THE NEED, THE D DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FOLLOWING REQUESTED POSITIONS REQUESTED ONE CAPTAIN POSITION, ONE VICTIMS ASSISTANCE DEPUTY, ONE COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEPUTY, TWO TRAINED DEPUTY COORDINATORS, THREE BUILDING SECURITY DEPUTIES, TWO INVESTIGATIVE DEPUTIES, TWO MOTORCYCLE PATROL DEPUTIES, TWO ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES PATROL DEPUTIES, AND THREE HOMELESS OUTREACH PATROL DEPUTIES BRINGING OUR TOTAL REQUEST TO 17 MUCH-NEEDED POSITIONS IN 2021 WHICH WILL HAVE ALLOWED US TO KEEP OUR CONTROL DEPUTIES ON PATROL TO DO THE JOB THEY WERE HIRED TO DO AND THAT IS TO PATROL, TO RESPOND TO CALLS TO SERVICE, INCREASE POLICE VISIBILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES; HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, ALL THE POSITIONS WERE ULTIMATELY DENIED.

I DO WANT TO ADD THAT 16 OF THOSE 17 POSITIONS REQUESTED IN 2021 ARE POSITIONS THAT PRECINCT 6 HAS NEVER ISSUED IN 50 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY BUDGET MANAGEMENT THAT IF WE HAVE ANY OPEN DEPUTY POSITIONS, DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE ANY NEW DEPUTY POSITIONS.

I TRUST THAT THIS IS A RULE THAT BUDGET MANAGEMENT WILL ADHERE TO STRAIGHT ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WHILE WE PRESENTLY HAVE OPEN DEPUTY POSITIONS THAT WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO FILL, THIS DOES NOT NEGATE THE NEED FOR THE 17 NEW DEPUTY POSITIONS THAT WE REQUESTED IN 2021 THAT WERE DENIED.

RECENTLY, THE MOST BIZARRE THING HAPPENED TO PRECINCT 6 THAT HAS HAPPENED TO SOME OF MY OTHER CONSTABLE COLLEAGUES IN RECENT MONTHS. WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM BUDGET MANAGEMENT ADVISING US THAT WE DID NOT HAVE FUNDING FOR 11 OPEN DEPUTY PCNS.

WHILE I WAS ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR ERROR IN THREE OF THOSE POSITIONS I I SD THAT WE CANCELLED DUE TO COVID.

BUDGET MANAGE AM DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW AND WHY SO MANY UNFUNDED DEPUTY PCNS. HAS TO NOT TO LOSE THOSE PCNS WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES OF THE 2022-2023 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET TO TRY TO FIND FUNDING FOR ALL THE EIGHT PCNS.

[01:10:06]

HOWEVER, WE ARE RESCINDING THE VICTIMS ASSISTANCE DEPUTY POSITION AND ONLY REQUESTING THE MUCH-NEEDED CAPTAIN POSITION A THIS TIME WITH FUNDING.

I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING A CAPTAIN POSITION WITH FUNDING WHO WILL NOT ONLY SUPERVISE AND MANAGEMENT MAJOR REFORMS TO ALL THESE NEW BUDGET PROCEDURES, BUT THIS POSITION WILL ALSO BE PART OF THE SOLUTIONS IN WORKING THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

IT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING AND MONITORING OUR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET. THIS CAPTAIN POSITION WILL PROVIDE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF EXISTING OPERATIONS AND REVIEW COSTS FOR PROPOSED EXPENDITURES AND CONDUCT PURCHASING AND CONTRACT REVIEWS FOR BUDGET PURPOSES.

IT WILL SUBMIT GRANT APPLICATIONS AND MONITORING, CONTROLLING, ACCOUNTING FOR AND REPORTING GRANT EXPENDITURES.

IT WILL MONITOR SPENDING AND GATHER MONTHLY REPORT AND STATISTICS FROM ALL DIVISIONS TO SHOW KEY PERFORMANCE MEA MEASURES WITH ALL DATA COMPILED IN A SPREADSHEET TO GENERATE ACCURATE METRICS. THIS DATA WILL BE USED TO DOCUMENT AND EVALUATE SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS OF HARRIS COUNTY BY BEING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT THROUGH BUDGET REPORTS. THIS CAPTAIN POSITION WILL HAVE AN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS AND SERVICES TO GENERAL ACCURATE REPORTS COMPLYING WITH AND MEETING THE MANAGEMENT DEADLINES.

THIS CAPTAIN POSITION WILL ALLOW FOR SPAN OF CONTROL AND IDENTIFYING TASKS TO BE ACHIEVED FOR PUBLIC TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY THAT OPTIMIZES EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THIS CAPTAIN POSITION WILL IMMEDIATELY TRANSITION TO MAKE SURE TO EXPEDITE OR RECRUITING NEEDS AND PROCESS APPLICANTS TO FILL OUR OPEN POSITIONS THIS WILL BE IN PART OF MANDATE AND CERTIFICATIONS TO COMPLY WITH ALL GUIDELINES. THIS CAPTAIN POSITION WILL SUPERVISE HR, TRAINING, RECRUITING AND OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS REQUIRED AND OTHER DESIGN STAFFING POSITIONS.

THIS INCLUDES MY REQUEST. ONLY ONE POSITION I AM REQUESTING THIS YEAR, A CAPTAIN POSITION.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS MUCH-NEEDED CAPTAIN POSITION.

I THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CONSTABLE TREVINO. ANY QUESTIONS?

COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE: I WAS

JUST WAVING AT THE CONSTABLE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CONSTABLE. WE WILL CIRCLE BACK WITH BUDGET ON UNFUNDED PCNS. I PERSONALLY DUG IN AND HAVE BOOKKEEPING ISSUES WITH TRANSITION FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET DIRECTOR. FOR EXAMPLE, WE LEARNED THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT THE FUNDING WE HAD ASKED PHIL JACKSON TO SET ASIDE FOR THE BILL CONSENT DECREE HAD NOT ACTUALLY BEEN SET ASIDE. ALL OF US ARE LEARNING THESE THINGS AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE MONEY IS NOT THERE, IT IS JUST NOT THERE. WE WILL DIG IN -- I WILL PERSONALLY DIG IN AND VERIFY AND SI HOPE THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER THAT IT IS. WE ONLY HAVE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE WILL TAKE ALL OF THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL FIGHT FOR EVERY DOLLAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I APPRECIATE THAT, JUDGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO CONSTABLE WALKER?

THANK YOU, CONSTABLE TREVINO. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: HEAR FROM CONSTABLE WALKER OR HER STAFF.

>> GOOD MORNING. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: GOOD MOR

MORNING. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: YES, MA'AM. WE CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE.

>> OKAY. THE FIRST PART OF MY PRESENTATION IS JUST THE INTRODUCTION TO PRECINCT 7.

SLIDE 2, PLEASE. AND THE SECOND IS THE PROGRAMS

[01:15:02]

AND WE HAVE A LOT -- WE HAVE A LOT OF -- MORE PROGRAMS THAT WE -- THESE ARE MAJOR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SLIDE 3 IS THE GOALS AND SERVICES OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THERE ARE SO MANY GOALS THAT THE COMMUNITY REQUESTS EVER US.

WE COULDN'T EVEN POST THEM ALL HERE.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE GOALS AND SOME OF THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AT PRECINCT 7. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

IN THE COMMUNITY, EVERY YEAR WE PARTICIPATE IN A WHOLE LOT OF PROGRAMS. WE DIDN'T NAME THEM ALL, BUT THERE ARE PROGRAMS WHERE WE INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WORK WITH YOUTH IN THE CITY AND WORK WITH THE SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ADDED HIGH WATER -- THE LAST TIME WE HAD EXTREMELY HIGH WATERS IN HOUSTON IT WAS QUITE A TASK AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HIGH WATER VEHICLES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE USE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE DO HAVE SOME EXTREME WEATHER AND WE ARE PROUD OF THAT.

AND THE LAST THING THAT WE HAVE -- THE BIG THING THAT WE HAVE, WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR VICTIM ASSISTANCE UNIT.

WE HAVE INCREASED IT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTICIPATIONS FROM THE CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR THE CITIZENS IN PRECINCT 7.

AND THE LAST VIDEO IS JUST OF SOME PICTURES SOME OF THE OFFICERS AND THE DIFFERENT TASKS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN.

AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF ALL THOSE THINGS THAT OUR -- WE ARE -- MOST OF THE PATROL OFFICERS AND CONTRACT OFFICERS, THEY ARE COMMUNITY OFFICERS AND THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS ABOUT THE -- THAT IS THE END OF THE VIDEO PRESENTATION.

AND I AM JUST -- I HAVE NO REQUESTS.

THE ONLY REQUEST THAT I AM ASKING IS THAT I -- I HOPE I GET THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET THAT I WAS SENT.

I AM QUITE SATISFIED WITH THAT IN CASE I AM ABLE TO GET IT.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: CONSTABLE WALKER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUDGET. YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING IN THIS SHORT FISCAL YEAR AND YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING IN -- IN TERMS OF AN INCREASE. JOB WELL-DONE.

APPRECIATE FOR WHAT YOU TO DO THE COMMUNITY.

I AGREE WITH THE -- WITH YOUR FOCUS ON THE VICTIMS IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THE OUTREACH YOU TO DO. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING

WITH YOU IN THE COMING YEAR. >> THANK YOU.

AND I AM SO PROUD TO HAVE THE STAFF.

BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THEY ARE THE ONE THAT DO THAT HARD WORK.

THE OFFICERS AT PRECINCT 7. THANKS A LOT.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE: JUST WAVING AT THE CONSTABLE.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COUNCIL MEMBER WALKER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND FOR ALL OF YOUR STAFF ACHED DEPUTIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: HEAR NEXT

FROM CONSTABLE SANDLIN. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. IF WE CAN MOVE -- IF WE CAN MOVE TO -- THANK YOU. INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET PACKET IS AN OUTLINE OF THE TEAM PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE. PRIMARY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE OR CIVIL, CRIMINAL WARRANTS AND INVESTIGATION DIVICTIMS WITH THE PATROL TO INCLUDE COMMUNICATION DIVISION TRA TRAINING, SUPPORT SERVICES. WITH STAFF OF 72 SWORN PERSONNEL AND 18 CIVILIANS, WE STRIVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF 154 SQUARE MILES WITH A POPULATION OF NEARLY 300,000 PEOPLE. OUR STAFF PROVIDES A WIDE ARRAY OF PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT, QUALITY, PROFESSIONALS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AND CARRYING OUT THE DUTIES OF THIS OFFICE.

GO TO SLIDE THREE. WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN PROVIDING THE SERVICES WHICH IS EVIDENT BY THE PERFORMANCE IN OUR POCKET.

AS A LEADER OF OUR AGENCY, EVERY DAY IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND WE WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

[01:20:01]

OTHERS HAVE INCREASED CALLS FOR PROPERTY DRUGAL ALCOHOL RELATED CRIMES. EVEN WITH THE LIMITED STAFF I HAVE PATROLLED ON THE STREETS, OVER 500 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED BY PRECINCT AND CHARGED WITH DWI IN 2021.

A 30% INCREASE OVER 2020. WE HAVE SEEN A SIMILAR INCREASE IN NARCOTICS RELATE AID REST WITH 79% OF THOSE BEING FELONY CASES. MANY INVOLVE WEAPONS POSSESSIONS 223 FIREARMS SE SEIZED ABOUT I MY DEPUTY.

DETERRING CRIME IS THE GOAL OF ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, CASE CLEARANCE IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.

OUR OVERALL CASE CLEARANCE RATE FOR 2021 WAS 84%.

IN TOTAL PRECINCT DATE RES OVERED TO OVER 60,000 CALLS OF SERVICE THIS PAST YEAR WITH THE VAST MAJORITY WITH THE COMMUNION THAT WE FOSTER AN MAINTAIN POSITIVE RELATIONS WITH THOSE WE SERVE. ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, I AM PROUD OF THE FACT WE HAVE RECEIVED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AND PRAISE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DELVE.

GO TO SLIDE 4, PLEASE. AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC, PRECINCT DATE IS FOCUSED ON NOT ONLY CORE DUTIES BUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THESE LISTED HERE ON SLIDE 4. 2021, PRECINCT HOSTED TWO MEDICATION TAKE BACK WITH 100,000 POUNDS OF MEDICATION BEING COLLECTED AND DESTROYED. WE COORDINATED AND PARTICIPATED IN FOOD AND WATER EVENTS IN 2021.

AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED WITH DISASTER STRIKES.

2021 HAD A RETURN OF NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND VISITED 162 NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES THROUGHOUT THE PRECINCT.

ONE OF THE LARGEST TURNOUTS WE HAD IN MANY YEARS.

WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER IN 2021 HOSTING SEVERAL BLOOD DRIVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. GO TO SLIDE 5.

THE MASS -- THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN OUR PACKET IS SOMETHING BE HAVE FOR YEARS.

SERVICE AND PROACTIVE WORK IS AMONG MY TOP PRIORITIES.

COMMUNITY REACTION TO THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICE IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. I BELIEVE THE KEY TO GAUGING OUR SUCCESS AND I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITIZENS IN PRECINCT 8.

I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORE THE PRECINCT UNIFORM AND WORK BEHIND THE SCENES ARE HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR BY OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES YOU SEE LISTED IN OUR BUDGET PACKET AND A FEW OF THESE ARE LISTED ON SLIDE FIVE.

GO TO SLIDE SIX. SLIDE 6 OF OUR PRESENTATION AN OVERVIEW OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN OUR SERVICE PACKET.

AS A RELATIVELY SMALL AGENCY, WE PROVIDE A VAST ARRAY OF SERVICES WITH A STAFF OF JUST 90 PEOPLE.

THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMAIN FULLY STAFFED AT ALL TIMES TO EFFECTIVELY MEET THE DEMANDS FOR THESE SERVICES.

WHEN AN OPENING -- WHEN OPENINGS OCCUR THROUGH ATTRITION, WE AIM TO FILL THEM AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUR OPEN DEPUTY POSITIONS AND ONLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO ONE OF THEM THROUGH A BUDGET SHORTFALL.

THE ALLOCATED BUDGET ONLY DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT EACH YEAR EXISTING EMPLOYEES EARN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES EITHER BECAUSE OF LONGEVITY OR INCREASED COLLEGE DECISION.

2021, CAREER LADDER INCREASES TOTALED OVER $130,000.

THIS COUPLED WITH RISING COST OF FUEL, VEHICLE REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR COSTS, WOMEN COSTS FOR THINGS LIKE IN-CAR AND D DESKTOP COMPUTERS ARE A FEW OF THE BUDGET STRAINS THAT EQUATE TO A SHORTFALL THAT PREVENT US FROM FILLING THESE OPEN POSITIONS. I AM ASKING THE COURT TO APPROVE THE BUDGET REQUEST IN THESE ITEMS WHICH ARE LISTED SEPARATELY AS FOUR LINE ITEMS. ALSO INCLUDED IN OUR LIST OF PROPOSALS AND REQUEST FOR THREE ADDITIONAL DEPUTY POSITIONS.

[01:25:02]

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER STAFFING TO APPLY FOR THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THE CITIZENS THAT SERVE, BUT THE DEPUTIES THEMSELVES TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE BACK-UP WHEN RES RESPONDING TO VIOLENT CRIMES. IN ADDITION, THE HAS 1 UNION WILL,000 RESIDENTS. OUR NUMBER STANDS AT 30.13.

NINE MOTIONS BELOW THE MEDIAN NUMBER THAT THE EAR THREE PRECINCTS HAVE. I AM ASKING TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THREE DEPUTIES PER YEAR TO BE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENT. LASTLY, I AM ASKING THAT THE COURT APPROVE FUNDING TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT RECONSTRUCTION AND THOSE IN MY HANKS.

MANY YEARS HAVE A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CRASH TEAM THAT IS CALLED UPON TO INVESTIGATE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

DEEM LEADERS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND SPENT MANY YEARS COLLECTIVE LEAVE SHARPENING THEIR SKILLS AND THIS TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WELL VEHICULAR CRIME SCENE OF THE DA'S OFFICE AND HAVE NUMEROUS CASES OF CRIMES SUCH AS INTOXICATED ASSAULT AND INTOXICATED MANSLAUGHTER. DESPITE BEING CALLED BY SUCH ACCIDENTS SCENES BY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN NEED OF THEIR EXPERTISE AS WELL, NONE OF THESE TERM MEMBERS GETS THE INSENSITIVE PAY FOR THOSE DECH DEPUTIES ABLE TO WORK THESE CASES. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN DEPUTIES WITH THAT VITAL SKILL SET.

I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET CURRENTLY TO PAY IT.

SLIDE 7. AS MENTIONED EARLIER THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED IS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.

ANY PUBLIC SERVANTS WILL TELL THAT YOU HELPING PEOPLE IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND WHAT THEY DO.

THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE FOR ME AND THE MEMBERS OF MY STAFF.

AND I AM HONORED TO PLAY A SMALL ROLE IN MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE DEMANDS WE FACE.

I SURGE YOU TO BEEN OUR PROPOSAL AND VOTE TO APPROVE FUNDING OUTLINED IN OUR PACKET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CONSTABLE FOR THE PRESENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CANCER S SANDLIN? THEY SAY HELLO.

CONSTABLE, THE INCENTIVE PAY. IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU GUYS HAVE A PARTICULAR STRUCTURE.

SO THE QUESTION IS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WHAT STRUCTURE DO WE USE FOR INCENTIVE PAY AND CERTAINLY NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU HAVE SOMETHING VERY DEFINED AND SO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO GET CLEAR GUIDANCE WHAT WE ARE AND ARE NOT DOING ACROSS THE BOARD.

I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.

IF YOUR DEPUTIES REACH THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL, THEY RECEIVE X, AND DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR IS INESSENTIAL FIVE PAY.

WHAT DO WE DO? WE NEED TO HAVE COMMUNICATION WHAT THES IS. AND MY ASK OF MR. BERRY.

AND -- YES, COMMISSIONER RA RAMSEY?

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: CONSTABLE, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE RECRUIT

SOMETHING IN. >> WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF APPLICANTS TO GET A GOOD O ONE, BUT I AM NOT GOING TO -- WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS OUR HIGH LEVEL OF APPLICANTS THAT WE ARE

LOOKING FOR. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY:

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COUNCIL CONSTABLE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

[Sheriff’s Civil Service]

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTABLE.

MOVE ON TO SHERIFF. START WITH SHERIFF CIVIL SERVICE AND THEN TALKING ABOUT SHERIFF PATROL.

[01:30:02]

>> WE ARE ON. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM YU TA, DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. I WILL BE PRESENTING THE CIVIL SERVICE BUDGET ALONG WITH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JERRY MILLER. PLEASE PROCEED WITH SPOT NUMBER TWO. THE MISSION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION PROMOTES PROFESSIONALISM AND THE RIGHT FOR APPEALS OF EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SET FORTH BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE, WE PROVIDE APPEAL HEARINGS AND PROMOTIONAL TESTING FOR THOSE IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. EXCUSE ME.

AND GO TO SLIDE 3 PLEASE. THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ADMINISTERED APPEALS HEARINGS IN A MANNER THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE AND PROVIDES BY THE RULES AND REGULATION OF COMMISSION. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE COMMISSION THIS YEAR WAS INCREASE NUMBER AND ARE SCHEDULE HEARINGS.

WE WORK FROM TWO DAYS PER MONTH TO FIVE DAYS TO ADDRESS THE BACK LOG OF APPEALS HEARINGS. THE PROMOTIONAL HEARING WAS DELAYED IN 2022. AND THE CIVIL SERVICE IS PREPARING THIS YEAR FOR THE IMPACT DUE TO THE RULE CHANGE -- DUE TO THE CHANGE OF RULES 16.

THIS CHANGE WILL INCREASE THE LABOR DUE TO THE NUMBER OF EXAMINATION AND ORAL INTERVIEWS THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR PROGRESS THIS YEAR -- SO SORRY, IN 2021 WAS -- WE DID 96 AHEAL HEARINGS WHICH AN INCREASE OF 34% FROM YEAR 2020. AND WE CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS OF THE APPOINTED COMMISSION AS WE PREPARE FOR APPEAL HEARINGS AND THEIR OUTCOMES.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ARE ASKING AN INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET OF 45 TO 60 K FOR A NEW POSITION.

THIS NEW POSITION WILL ADDRESS INCREASE OF LABOR FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR. IN ADDITION TO REPLACING A TENURED EMPLOYEE WHO INTENDS TO RETIRE IN 2022.

THIS WILL BE A TRANSITIONAL TRAINING POSITION UNTIL THE RETIME OF THE TENURED EMPLOYEE IN SEPTEMBER.

THAT PERSON WILL BE TRAINED EFFICIENTLY WITH EXCLUSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WITH THE INCREASE, WE HOPE THAT IT WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE INCREASE OF DEMAND OF ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES THAT WE EXPECT IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

WE WOULD LIKE THAT INDIVIDUAL TO BE HIRED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR TO PREPARE FOR THE PROMOTIONAL TESTING SEASON. AND THE NEW HIRE WILL BE FULLY TRAINED BY THE ONSET OF THE TENURED'S RETIREMENT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OH, THAT IS THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MYSELF AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

OPINION A QUESTION. YOU COMPARED THE NUMBER OF HEARINGS TO 2020. WOULD YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT

WOULD BE COMPARED TO 2019? >> I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME FOR 2019. THAT IS AVAILABLE AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. AS OF RIGHT NOW I DON'T KNOW

WHAT THE NUMBER IS IN 2019. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THE OTHER QUESTION I WILL ASK. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE NOT LOOKING FOR ANY INCREASE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE ASKING FOR A PERSON IN A POSITION. BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE IN

THE BUDGET. >> THE REQUEST FOR THE BUDGET

[01:35:04]

IT IS JUST IN PREPARATION REPLACEMENT OF SOMEBODY WHO WILL BE RETIRING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT -- >> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, YOU GUYS, FOR YOUR WORK.

[Sheriff]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, YOU TOO.

WE WILL HEAR NEXT ON THE SHERIFF'S IF A TROLL AND

DETENTION. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

I WANT TO START BY THANKING JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE ENTIRE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THOUGHT.

INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY. ACROSS THE NATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE REPORTED A RISE IN VIOLENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC. HARRIS COUNTY WAS NOT IMMUNE TO THIS TREND. SENSELESS VIOLENCE HAVE SHAKEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND TAKEN THE LIVES OF TOO MANY PEOPLE.

WITH YOUR REPORT, WE ARE TACKLING THE RISE IN CRIME THROUGH MULTIFACETED APPR APPROACHES.

MOVED CLOISTER TO A HOLISTIC TO RESPOND.

AND DATA, RESEARCH, TRANSPARENCY AND CONSTANT REVIEW AND TO FULLY ENGAGE COMMUNITIES AS CRITICAL PARTNERS. WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADDICTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SINCE THE ONSET OF OUR PAN PANDEMIC, MEDICAL STAFF HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND CARE IN THE STATE'S LARGEST JAIL IMPLEMENTING NECESSARY PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES AND AGGRESSIVE TESTING. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEST OVER 45,000 INDIVIDUALS WALKED THROUGH OUR JAIL AND ADMI ADMINISTERED 6700 VACCINES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO OUR JAILS. AND THAT IS ALL THREE DOSES.

WE HAVE MADE REAL PROGRESS ON EQUIPPING OUR DEPUTIES.

INVESTIGATORS WILDFIRE TRA TRAINING, TOOLS AND STRATEGIC OVERTIME TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND LEANED INTO OUR PARTNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY. COLLABORATION IS CENTRAL TO THE WAY WE LEAD. IT IS SEEN IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING HAVE BECOME MODELS IN TRAIN AN ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION.

AND WE ARE SO PROUD THAT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, OUR CONSTABLES ARE PARTICIPATING THE CORE PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS DEPUTIES WITH IPADS TO BETTER ADDRESS CRISIS SITUATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS WITH THE TOOLS, SKILLS AND SUPPORT TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO SUCCESS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH PATROL DISTRICT AND TO KEEP BUILDING TRUST. WE KNOW OUR WORK MUST BE AN EXTENSION OF OUR CORE VALUES AND IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO OUR COMMUNITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS.

SOME OF THE PROACTIVE STEPS TO ADDRESS THE RISE IN VIOLENCE.

COMMISSIONERS COURT HELPED US LAUNCH A JOINT CRIME INITIATIVE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES OFFICE.

TARGETS PEOPLE WITHOUT OUTSTANDING AGGRAVATED AND ASSAULT, BRINGING VIOLENT PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE AND PROTECTING VICTIMS FROM FURTHER ARM AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR REGION. YOU HELPED LARGE HARRIS COUNTY OF POLICING INITIATIVE THAT TARGETS THE MOST VIOLENT PRONE AREAS IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

AND HIGH VISIBILITY TARGETED ENFORCEMENT.

IT ALSO FOCUSES ON BUILDING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WHILE ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR DEPLOYING PERSONNEL AND OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES TO HOT SPOT AREAS.

SINCE THE INITIATIVES LAUNCHED ON DECEMBER 13, WE HAVE SEEN PROMISING, TO REMOVE VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND FIREARMS. OUR COMMUNITY POLICING UNIT C POP, OUR DEPUTIES HAVE STARTED TO ENGAGE IN KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THOSE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.

THEY PLAN TO KEEP THEM INFORMED THROUGHOUT THE 120-DAY INITIATIVE. ADDITIONALLY THE HOMELESS TEAM AND CRIME REDUCTION UNITS SPREAD ACROSS EACH OF OUR FIVE PATROL DISTRICTS. WE IMPLEMENT OTHER D DATA-CENTERED SUCH AS DAY TO CRIME, THAT SERVE AS THE COMPLEMENTS AND FORCE MUL MULTIPLIER TO THE CRIME

[01:40:04]

DESPITE THESE SUCCESSES, HUGE CHALLENGES REMAIN.

NAVIGATING PANDEMIC SURGES AND THE CONTINUED SLOW PACE OF OUR LOCAL COURT SETTLE MAKES TH THINGS.

AND THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS HAVE BEEN FELT IN EVERY FACET OF OUR LIVES FOR TWO YEARS. OUR TEAM HAS RESPONDED TO SURGES IN COVID CASES AND WORKS IN COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE TO ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EVERYONE INSIDE THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. AMID ANOTHER SURGE, I AM PROUD THAT OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO PULL TOGETHER TO STAVE OFF POTE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC OUTBREAK WITHIN THE JAIL.

WE OWE AN ENDURING DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THE PUBLIC SERVANTS THROUGHOUT OUR AGENCY THAT REPORT FOR DUTY EVERY DAY.

I'M HERE TO SEEK A STRONGER INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE COUNTY JAIL IS ALREADY COMPLEX SITUATION HOUSING A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MAHOMESLESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

HOSING MORE MAXIMUM PRISONER. AND OUR COUNTY JAIL WAS DESIGNED WITH THE INTENT OF HOLDING PEOPLE FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL.

BECAUSE OF THE BACKLOGS, MANY DEFENDANTS ARE SPENDING MORE THAN A YEAR LIVING IN A FACILITY THAT SIMPLY WATT NOT MEANT FOR LONG-TERM STAYS. STARTED THE TRANSFER OF SOME INMATES TO CITIES OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY UNTIL WE CAN SEE THE FRUITS OF MORE EFFICIENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND REACH APPROPRIATE STAFFING LEVELS.

WE ARE STARTING TO DO THAT WITH YOUR HELP AND INVESTMENT.

IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME, COLLABORATION, FUNDING AND OUR BEST MOST INNOVATIVE THINKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR TEAM DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SEARCHING FOR VIABLE SOLUTIONS TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SAFE. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH A FORMAL PRESENTATION AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THAT IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE AGENDA THAT WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE AGAIN, JUST A RECAP OF SOME OF THE CORE VALUES THAT WE HAVE.

THIS LOOKS, FIRST, AT OUR 540 PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVES INVOLVES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROGRAM AND SERVICES.

SOME OF THE KEY AREAS I WANT TO POINT OUT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS COVERS DISPATCH AND COMMUNICATION.

OUR DISPATCHERS AND CALL TAKERS OUR EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTER FIELDED MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION CALLS LAST YEAR.

OF THOSE, APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION WERE 911 CALLS AND THEY STAYED QUITE BUSY. WE ARE A BUSY COUNTY.

WE ALSO PROTECT OUR ROADWAYS WITH TRAFFIC SAFETY.

CONDUCTED 800 INSPECTINGS OF COMMERCIAL TRUCKS ON OUR ROADWAYS JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE AND AVERT ANY SERVICE ACCIDENTS. IN TOTAL WE RESPONDED TO OVER 75 MOUNTAIN CRASHES. OF THOSE -- 75,000 CRASHES, 469 WERE FATALITIES. WE CONTINUE TO COMBAT THE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AROUND OUR COUNTY.

AND WE REMOVED A TOTAL OF 3200 IMPAIRED DRIVERS FROM OUR R ROADWAYS THANKS TO THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF PATROL AND OUR DWI UNIT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

A OVERVIEW OF OUR PROGRAM AND SERVICES.

PROGRAM 541. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LAST YEAR OVER 95,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROCESSED THROUGH OUR PROCESSING CENTER. THAT IS VERY HIGH VOLUME.

DAILY CHURN THAT IMPACTS OUR JAIL SYSTEM.

ALSO ON THE MEDICAL PROGRAMS, WE TREATED AND OBSERVED AND HAD OVER 110,000 ENCOUNTERS WITH DIFFERENT CLIENTS THAT WALKED THROUGH OUR JAIL AT ANY TIME MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY CARE AND MUCH ARE OF HARRIS HEALTH ESTIMATED TO HAPPEN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.

WE ALSO AGAIN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE TEAM THAT IS OUT CONSTANTLY ASSESSING FOR COVID, TESTING. AND ALSO OFFERING DOSES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND/OR INMATES. THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF BOTH THE COUNTY PRIORITY OUTCOMES AND SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVES. WE CAN MOVE ACROSS TO THE NEXT SLIDE. A LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE PUBLIC SHERIFF'S OFFICE'S IS DOING. NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT

[01:45:04]

WE ARE AN AWARD-WINNING AGENCY. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF OF POLICE AWARD FOR TELEHEALTH PROGRAM AND DESIGNATED MENTAL HEALTH LEARNING SITES BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT JUSTICE CENTER AND RECEIVE THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR 2021 INNOVATION AT WORK WITH THE TELE HELP PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HARRIS CENTER. WE ALSO LAUNCHED ICAD TRAINING A DEPUTY CRISIS PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS OUR DEPUTIES WITH THE COOLING SKILLS TO ARRANGE THE CRITICAL INCIDENT AND A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH. AND PROACTIVE.

SOME TALK ABOUT INTERVENE BUT MANY DO NOT EQUIP AND SHOW THEIR PERSONNEL HOW TO DO THAT. WE LAUNCHED IN COORDINATION WITH GEORGETOWN LAW, THE BYSTANDER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE NATIONAL PROGRAM. LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF INTERVENING WHEN NECESSARY TO PREVENT THEIR COLLEAGUES CAUSING HARM AND MAKING MISTAKE.

WE LAUNCHED THAT AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AND TAKES PERSONNEL TO PUT CLASSES LIKE THAT ON.

WE LAUNCHED OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT FOR HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES AND POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IT IS A VERY HIGH BURN-OUT, HIGH-STRESS AREA.

I BELIEVE THAT TEXAS LEADS THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF SUICIDE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. THIS IS A DEDICATED TEAM THAT IS ABLE TO MEET WITH OUR PERSONNEL ON -- ON A PRIVATE NATURE. BE ABLE TO OFFER COUNSELING AND DIRECT SERVICES IN REALTIME AND BE ABLE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS GOING ON IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE THAT MAY IMPACT THEIR WORK LIFE AND WE HAVE SEEN TREMENDOUS SUCCESS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. SEALS.

AND A LARGE NUMBER OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GARNER EVEN THROUGH THE CHALLENGE OF COVID

AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE. >> YOU HAVE THERE MINUTES

REMAINING, SHERIFF. >> THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDE, THE DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES. THAT, AGAIN, IS OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEA MEASURES.

THE METRICS THAT WE ARE UTILIZING.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO A MORE DATA DRIVEN AGENCY AND DEVELOP MORE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.

NEXT, PLEASE. >> I AM NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH PARTICULAR LINE. THE NEXT FIVE PAGES ARE DETAILED HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS DETAILED INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS FOR AREAS ACROSS OUR ENTIRE AGENCY.

BUT AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE KEY PRIORITY FOR US IS THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN JAIL PERSONNEL THAT YOU HELPED US AND MOVED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THAT PERSONNEL TO ADDRESS THE OVERTIME ISSUES AND MAKE SURE WE ARE REDUCING THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, INTRODUCING BURNOUT AND ATTRITION WITH THE HIGH STRESS AREA MAKING SURE TO KEEP YOUR PERSONNEL SAFE AND THOSE IN CUSTODY.

THE RISE IN CRIME FOR INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL AND NOT ONLY RESPONDING TO THE CALLS UP FRONT BUT DOING A THOROUGH JOB BY THE SENSE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND A FAST RESOLUTION AND EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION TO THEIR CASE.

AND THREE, MORE PATROL DEP DEPUTIES.

A GROWING REGION WHERE PEOPLE WANTS TO COME TO TEXAS AND HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH ATTRITION AND PEOPLE RETIRING.

GOT TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE FILLING NECESSARY SLOTS AND CONTINUE RESPONSE TO CRASHES AND HAVE A PRESENCE.

NOT ONLY ENFORCEMENT, BUT MAKE SURE THAT REMEMBER INVESTING IN PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION BEFORE IT MAYBE EVEN GETS TO AN ENFORCEMENT NEED. WE TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

WE ASK FOR MORE CONTROL. WE ARE NOT GOING TO ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF PROBLEMS. WE ARE TRYING TO BE PREVENTIVE AND RECOGNIZE THE BEST PRACTICES.

GUILT AHEAD AND PAUSE THERE AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU, JUDGE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. YOUR INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TEAM MEMBERS.

GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

[01:50:02]

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: JEFF, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: AS I REVIEWED THIS NOW, YOU BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES IN JAIL. THAT IS THE NEXT PHASE, THE NEXT CATEGORY. I DIDN'T -- I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A BUDGET REQUEST INCREASE FIRST FISCAL YEAR OF $63 MILLION AND CHANGE FOR 1935 PATROL OFFICERS.

WHAT IS THE PLAN 230R 1234R50EUR789S 12W4R50EU6R7BGD 12K34R50EUR7B89S 23 1250EU7B8GD 1234

. >> SO ROUGHLY A 30% INCREASE.

SO THE BULK OF THAT AND HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE JAIL. THE BULK OF THAT INCREASE IS APPLIED WHERE IN PATROL? .

>> YES, PATROL, YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY:

ADDITIONAL PATROLS? >> YES, ADDITIONAL PATROLS, Y

YES. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: A TRAGEDY IN TERMS OF WITH THE ADDITIONAL $63 MILLION.

WE HAD THE WORSE CRIME IMAGINE YOU BELIEVE THIS YEAR.

OVER 600 MURDERS COUNTYWIDE. A SPECIFIC STRATEGY TO GET THAT NUMBER DOWN. OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHERE THIS IS MORE LIKELY TO GO. SO THERE -- THERE A VERY STRONG -- IS IT $63 MILLION STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THIS 30% INCREASE IN

FUNDING? >> YES, SIR, THERE IS.

WE PROVIDED A LOT OF BACK-UP MATERIAL THAT IS NOT IN THIS SPECIFIC PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW BUT IT WILL BE MULTIFACETED WHERE WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND, IF YOU WILL, MAKE SURE WE ARE ALSO BEING STRATEGIC.

NOT EVERYBODY WILL REQUIRE A HAMMER AND A SOFTER APPROACH FOR INTERVENTION AND PREV PREVENTION.

FOR EXAMPLE, YEARS AGO WE EXPANDED OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM TO GO OUT TO EVERY CORNER MUCH COUNTY IN TERMS OF UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY OF SUBURBAN AREAS AND IT IS REALLY REAL AND HAPPENING AND A LOT OF NUISANCE CRIMES THAT IMPACT COMMUNITIES. ROADWAY SAFETY THAT I MENTIONED AS WELL. THE HIGH NUMBER OF FATAL CRASHES THAT WE INVESTIGATE. SO ALL THOSE REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT SEPTEMBER. WE KNOW IT IS A LARGE ASK TO RUN AN EFFECTIVE AND LARGE AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE MEDIOCRE AND TO BE ABLE TO EXCEL AND BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE THERE WHEN WE THESE US AND BE RESPONSIVE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND ALSO THAT WE ARE JUST NOT RESPONDING BUT ADEQUATELY INVESTIGATING THOSE CRIMES EFFECTIVELY AS WELL AND THEY ARE NOT JUST SITTING IN A

PILE SOMEWHERE. >> THANK YOU.

>> YES. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SHERIFF, HAVE YOU HAD TO PRIORITIZE THESE REQUESTS? COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND SOME OF THE REASONING BEHIND IT.

>> THE FIRST WILL BE THE JAIL OPERATION WE HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY OBVIOUSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPERATING

[01:55:01]

WE ARE NOT QUITE THERE YET AND WE KNOW IT IS A DIALOGUE WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND WE WANT TO BE DATA DRIVEN AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT JUST ADDING PEOPLE TO ADD PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE GETTING THERE. THAT WILL BE A HUGE THING AS WELL AS. INVESTIGATIVE POSITIONS BECAUSE YES AS WE RESPOND TO UPTICKS IN CRIMES, TO UPDATE THOSE CRIMES.

ONE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I DID LIST ON THERE THAT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR HOMICIDE CLEARANCE IS 54.7%.

OUR HOMICIDE TEAM SUSTAIN 8 9.1% CLEARANCE RATE.

PHENOMENAL WORK AND GRUELING, TIGER AND COMPLEX CASES.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING VERY RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF THE INVESTIGATIVE NEEDS AND THOSE INVESTIGATIVE POSITIONS WILL BE VERY CRITICAL AS WELL AS PATROL.

JUST -- WE ARE REACHING AN AGE, A TIME WHEN MANY PATROL DEPUTIES HAVE REACHED THAT AGE WHERE THEY CAN RETIRE AND MOVE ON. THEY WERE SOME -- HAIRTION TIMES THAT HAPPENED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE SET TO RETIRE AT SOME PO POINT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO BOLSTER THAT AND THAT PROVIDES A NEW WAVE FOR AGENCY.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE IMPAIRED DRIVING AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND I USE PATROL AS A BROAD CATEGORY AND ALSO INCLUDES DOING MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE ARE ALSO FINALLY BY BECOMING A MORE DATA-DRIVEN AGENCY THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT COMMITMENT AND THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU AND THIS COURT MADE TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY SAFE, WE ARE SEEING GREAT SUCCESS. WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING SOME REDUCTIONS IN CRIME, IN VIOLENT CRIME, AND WE ARE ACTUALLY MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. WE WANT TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE, BUT THOSE ARE THREE KEY UPDATES THAT WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON. WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF BUDGETARY CHALLENGES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: OKAY. ON JAIL POINT, I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS THE ONE TO RAISE THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT JUST A JOINT ON PAPER PLAN OF ACTION FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT AND MR. BERRY'S OFFICE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO JUSTIFY THE ANY SIGNIFICANT.

-- ANY ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS OF THE JAIL TO YOUR POINT BECAUSE ENORMOUS. JUST ENORMOUS DEMAND FOR FUNDS AND IT IS AN YOU ARE GENT SITUATION THAT WE CAN'T POSSIBLY TURN A BLIND EYE TO. BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

WITH IT. >> I KNOW A CONSULTANT THAT WAS JUST APPROVED TO REVIEW THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE ON THE BACKLOG IN THE SYSTEM. WE WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THIS LEVEL OF REVIEW SO WE CAN MAKE SURE AS A SYSTEM.

TALKING OF JAIL POPULATION AND NOT JUST A JAIL ISSUE.

AND THE NUMBER THAT STICKS OUT THE MOST IS POPULATION.

SO THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU AND THE COURT HAVE DONE TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG IS SIGNIFICANT. HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE THE FRUITS OF THAT WITH THE NEW ASSOCIATE JUDGES COMING ON BOARD AND WHAT HAVE YOU SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THINGS AND HOP HOPEFULLY THAT THIS PERFECT STORM JUST KIND OF MOVES PAST US AND WE CAN THEN RIGHT SIZE WHAT STAFFING SHOULD BE AND

REALLY GET TO A BETTER PLACE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: SHERIFF, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE SHERIFF BEFORE WE TAKE OUR BREAK?

>> SHERIFF, JUST GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: SHERIFF, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION.

WE WILL DIG INTO THESE SOME MORE.

I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: SO WE ARE MAKING GOOD TIME, EVERYONE.

WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH AT LUNCH.

SO I PROPOSE WE BREAK FOR AN HOUR FOR LUNCHTIME AND RETURN AND CONTINUE WITH THE BUDGET HEARINGS.

DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU GUYS? ALL RIGHT.

IT IS NOON. WE WILL BREAK UNTIL 1:00 TO SEEE LINE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED. NEXT IS -- IT IS 1:02 AND THE

[County Clerk]

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR, COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND ALL

[02:00:03]

THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO DIVE RIGHT INTO OUR PRESENTATION. THE PRESIDENT THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND MAKE SURE THAT RECORDS ARE ACCESSIBLE, MAINTAINED WITH TRANSPARENCY AND EASIER ACCESS. WE TREAT ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT AND PERFORM ALL OF OUR STATUTORIAL DUTIES WITH INTEGRITY AND HO HONOR.

I AM MOSTLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING INNOVATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY ALL OF OUR FROGS AND SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS.

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES, COURT RECORDS, AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT. INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS ARE L LISTED IN OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BELOW NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE COUNTY CLERK'S OVERARCHING ROLE IS TO RECORD ALL THE MAJOR EVENTS OF EVERYONE'S LIFE.

THOSE MAJOR EVENTS AND DOCUMENTS INCLUDE REAL PROPERTY DOCUMENTS, MARRIAGE LICENSE, VITAL STATISTICS, BIRTH AND DEATH RECORDS. LIQUORS ANIMAL MEETINGS AND ANIMAL BRANDS, COMMISSIONERS COURT RECORDS, PROBATE COURTS AND COUNTY CIVIL COURTS. NOT ONLY DO WE REPORT ALL THE PARTS OF YOUR LIFE THROUGH AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BUT MAKING SURE WE ARE GETTING WORLD-CLASS SERVICE WHILE DOING SO. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OUR OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY OUTCOMES.

TO ENSURE THAT STAFFING LEVELS MEET DEPARTMENTAL NEEDS, ENHANCE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE ODYSSEY COURT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHEN WE SUPPORT THE CIVIL, PROBATE AND MENTAL HEALTH COURTS. APPROVE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE ATTORNEY PORTAL ON THE COUNTY CLERK WEB SITE AND PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH EFFICIENT AND CONVENIENT WAYS TO FILE DOCUMENTS AND MAINTAIN THOSE RECORDS.

REDUCE CUSTOMER WAIT TIMES WHETHER IN-PERSON OR ONLINE.

OBTAIN SAFE AND ADEQUATE WORKSPACES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES. RECRUIT AND RETAIN TALENTED EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF WHO YOUR COUNTY CLERK IS AND THE WORK WE DO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

THESE ARE ALL OBJECTIVES UNDER OUR CCO CARES PLAN, CLIENT FOCUS, ACCESSIBLE, RESPONSIVE, EFFICIENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SAFE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

I AM HAPPY TO SHARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, THAT INCLUDES REBRANDING THE OFFICE, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON HOW IMPORTANT YOUR COUNTY CLERK REALLY IS. WE HAVE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION MARRIAGE LICENSE RECORDS DIGITALLY ON OUR CCO WEB SITE. SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED A PILOT PROGRAM OF EXTENDED HOURS TO ISSUE BIRTH CERTIFICATES TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. WAIVED OUT OF STATE FOR LOUISIANA RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY THE STORMS THIS YEAR.

WE IMPLEMENTED STEPS TO MAKE SURE COUNTY CLERK SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A MANNER FOR HE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS FOR OUR PUBLIC AND STAFF, SORRY. WE DIGITIZED ALL RECORDS ARCHIVED ON MICROFILM, AND BY DOING SO LARGE WAYS OF RETRIEVERS HAVE OPENED UP SPACE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO OUR COVID PROTOCOLS IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER.

WE IMPLEMENTED WEB SITE AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE MORE USER-FRIENDLY TO THE PUBLIC.

AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE U OF H, DOWNTOWN PROGRAMS, WORKS WITH MY ALMA MATER TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, RICE AND OTHER COLLEGE CAMPUSES HERE TO BUILD AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN NEW TALENT.

WE INITIATED FACT SHARING DATA, INITIATED AND LAUNCHED ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLANS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WE HELD OUR SECOND ANNUAL TOY DRIVE WITH THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER. ENHANCED OUR HIRING PROCESS.

WE MADE SURE WE STARTED EXPANDING OUR REACH IN WHERE WE WERE DOING RECRUITING FOR EMPLOYMENT.

SO BE SURE WE ARE BRINGING THE MOST EQUITABLE POOL OF CANDIDATES. LAUNCHED OUR PUBLIC NEWS LE

[02:05:04]

STRUCTURED OFFICE PLANS FOR TRAFFIC FLOW AND INITIATED RELATIONSHIPS. TAKEN ON SOME OTHER ROLLS AND LEADERSHIP, AND KNEW IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE TO NOT ONLY RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL HOURS BUT GO TO CONFERENCES WHETHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON TO MEET WITH MY COUNTERPARTS IN THE NATION TO INDICATE WHAT WE ARE DOING IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT CAN HE COULD BE CONTINUING TO AND IMPL IMPLEMENTING. WE CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED OUT OF ELECTION MANAGEMENT OPINION PARTNER THE WITH THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM FOR DISPLAY. AND AS A RESULT OF ALL THE HARD WORK OF MY OFFICE AND THE PRO ACTIVITY THAT WE HAVE DONE, I WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE MICKEY LELAND PUBLIC SERVICE OF TOP 30 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMANCE, GOALS AND PROGRESS.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE HEADED. THINGS WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED AND THINGS WHERE WE ARE GOING. FOR OUR COUNTY CIVIL COURTS, PROBATE COURTS, MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

WE HAVE APPOINTED A CHIEF DEPUTY.

FOR YEARS CHIEF DEPUTY OF ADMINISTRATION AND THE EFFICIENCY NEEDED TO BE THERE WE WERE ABLE TO APPOINT THE CHIEF DEPUTY OF COURTS. CREATED A BUSINESS ANALYST TEAM TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO THE COURT.

THIS IS HELPING TO CONVERT ALL OF THE RECORDS OF ODYSSEY WITH CIVIL, PROBATE AND SO FORTH. CONVERTED THE FORMER CIVIL COURTS DEPARTMENT FILE ROOM AND MADE IT A MULTIFUNCTIONAL TRAINING AND MEETING CENTER. TAKING NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPLEMENT ELECTRONIC NOTICES. ESTABLISHING MORE STREAMLINED COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURTS AND LEGAL COMMUNITY, A JUDGE, ATTORNEY, HOW THEY INTERACT WITH OUR OFFICE.

AND EXECUTED A CONTRACT WITH TYLER TECHNOLOGIES TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE ODYSSEY COURT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. WORKING WITH UT HEALTH TO IMPROVE THE WORKSPACE ALLOCATED FOR HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER. WE CONVERTED 38 MORE YEARS OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTY RECORDS FROM 1916-1999.

AND WORKING ON 1999 TO RECENT YEARS.

ADDED ONLINE ACCESS MARRIAGE LICENSE RECORDS.

IMPLEMENTING AN ONLINE SERVICE TO REQUEST CERTIFIED COPIES OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES. NOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ORDER THESE RECORDS ONLINE. TAKING NECESSARY STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING A MOBILE UNION.

BUT WE ALL KNOW ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS TEN ANNEXES, STILL REMOTE AREAS OF THE COUNTY WHERE THERE ARE SERVICE DESERTS AND THIS YEAR I WILL BE PRESENTING A PLAN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT TO TALK ABOUT THIS NECESSARY MOBILE UNIT RECORDS ON THE RUN. WE VISIT OTHER COUNTIES.

WE LEARNED WHAT IS NECESSARY AND WHAT WILL BE REALLY GOOD FOR HARRIS COUNTY. AND WORKING TO IMPLEMENT A CLERK E-CERTIFIED SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW FOR DIGITAL DOCUMENT PROCESSING GENERATING TAMPER EVIDENT DOCUMENTS, SIGNATURES, AND AUTHENTIFICATION OF THE CUSTODIAN RECORDS.

IMPLEMENT AN ONLINE SERVICE THAT WILL ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE BULK DATA OF PUBLIC RECORDS.

>> MADAM CLERK, YOU ARE APPROACHING ONE MINUTE.

>> THE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE DEPARTMENT GOALS AND PROGRESS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM WHERE WE OPENED OUR OFFICE ON TWO SATURDAYS.

THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS MUSEUM. I WORK TO PARTNER WITH MY COMMISSIONERS THIS YEAR TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE DISPLAY SOME OF YOUR HISTORICAL RECORDS. COMMISSIONER PRECINCT NOW AND THEN AND MANY OTHER ITEMS HERE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE INCLUDING ENHANCING THE ROCK STAR PROGRAM WITHIN OUR OFFICE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PRESENTATION, OUR BUDGET REQUEST.

THIS LAST YEAR, WE WERE UNDERFUNDED FOR 13 CLERICAL POSITIONS. WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE SEEN A TREMENDOUS RISE IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH CASES CAUSING AN INFLUX ON OUR STAFF. THERE HAS BEEN EXHAUSTION.

THERE HAS BEEN HIGH TURNOVER BECAUSE OF THE OVERTIME AND WORKING AND BEING ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF CASE WORK. AND WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD THREE SUDDEN DEATHS WITHIN A FOUR-MONTH PERIOD OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE THIS YEAR.

AND I KNOW THIS IS SIMILAR TO A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT INVOLVED COVID. AND SO SIMPLY THE FOCUS AND BUDGET FOCUS IS OUR PROBATE COURTS AND CIVIL COURTS.

WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST EMPLOYEES FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS AND HIGH TURNOVER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FULLY FUNDED

[02:10:03]

IN CLOSING AS I CLOSE IN PRESENTATION, IT IS BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY -- MY GREATEST HONOR OF THE LIFETIME TO SERVE AS COUNTY CLERK. AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TOP WORK WITH THIS COURT.

I SEEK YOUR SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL BLESSING TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CO COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND I AM WILLING TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: MADAM CLERK, YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

WHAT DO YOU CALL IT "RECORDS ON THE RUN?"

>> RECORDS ON THE RUN. YOU SAID TO GO SEE THE NEW INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: I WANT TO COMPLIMENT OF BEING ACTIVE WITH NAACO AND COUNCIL OF BLACK COUNTY OFFICIALS AND I HAVE SEEN YOU OUT AT THE MEETINGS. I COME AND ASK YOU WHAT I MISSED WHEN I AM WANDERING AROUND DOING THE BIKING TOUR OF VARIOUS PLACES. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMI

COMMISSIONER. >> GOOD TO SEE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY. YOUR EATIVITY.

I LIKE THE RECORDS ON THE RUN. IT IS A GREAT IDEA.

ALSO I APPRECIATE YOUR 15 YEARS NEARLY SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.

AND I CONSIDER YOU AN EXPERT IN MANY THINGS, INCLUDING ELECTIONS SO I WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT ON YOU AS WE SEEK GRID COUNCIL GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE THE

DETAILS YOU PROVIDE US. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE SAYS HELLO.

>> HI, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU SAY INCREASED DEMAND THERE. DOES THAT IMPACT YOUR OTHER REQUESTS AS WELL, MADAM CLERK. BASICALLY THE STAFFING REQ REQUESTS, HALF OF IT IS -- WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS UNDERFUNDED AND HALF IS THE MENTAL HEALTH INCREASE?

>> IT IS. IT IS BOTH.

HALF AND HALF. 2022, A NEW WING THAT WILL OPEN AT THE HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER ADDING 200 MORE PATIENTS AT THE FACILITY AND INCREASING THE WORKLOAD ON OUR STAFF WHICH IS REALLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT. BETWEEN THE ODYSSEY COURT PROGRAM THAT OUR CIVIL COURTS ARE USING.

OF COURSE ALL OF OUR COURTS ARE DEALING WITH INFLUX AND HAVING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECORDS WE MAINTAIN ARE IN PEACE, BUT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE AND EQUAL INFLUX IN TERMS OF WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE THIS YEAR AND WE NEED TO REALLY BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE BOARD

TO SERVICE THOSE COURTS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR THE PORTIONS THAT YOU MENTION THAT WERE UNDERFUNDED FOR THIS YEAR. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN

BY THAT? >> YES, THAT IS 13 TOTAL COURT POSITIONS. SEVEN ARE FULL-TIME CLERK 1 POSITIONS FOR TO BAIT COURT CLERK AND ONE FULL-TIME CLERK 2 POSITION. ON THE COUNTY'S CIVIL SIDE, THREE FULL-TIME CLERK 1 POSITIONS AND TWO OTHER F FULL-TIME CLERK 2 POSITIONS. SO IT IS THE MAJORITY OF PROBATE COURTS WHERE I TALKED OF THE INFLUX WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH AND LESS THAN THAT ON THE CIVIL COURT SIDE, BUT BOTH OF THEM HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE IF CONTINUING TO GO

UNFUNDED. >> SO YOU HAD THOSE POSITIONS? WE BEGIN WITH BUDGET, BUT I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

>> WE HAD THOSE POSITIONS, BUT THEY HAVE GONE UNFUNDED.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: RIGHT. WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY WERE POSITIONS THAT DON'T HAVE BUDGET ATTACHED TO THEM.

WE ARE TRYING TO ASSIGN JUST ZERO BUDGET LEVEL.

I WILL DIG IN JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

>> WE DID PROVIDE MORE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS TO MR. DELEON IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND SAY CAN YOU GIVE ME SOMETHING ADDITIONAL, WE ARE

HAPPY TO DO SO. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: SORRY, ONE LAST QUICK QUESTION. WHAT KIND OF RECORD SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE FOR -- IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS?

>> SO OUT IN THE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER, WE HAVE ACTUAL COURT CLERKS THAT ARE THERE. THEY ARE INTAKING AND STARTING THE PAPERWORK FOR ACTUAL PATIENCE.

SO WE HAVE ONE ON ONE ENCO ENCOUNTERS WITH THE PATIENTS.

WE ARE HAND INTAKE PAPERWORK PROCESS AND THAT IS HANDED OVER TO THE PROBATE COURT. WE ARE HANDLING THE COURT AND MAINTAINING THOSE AND MAKING THEM AVAILABLE DIGITALLY.

[02:15:01]

IN THE COURT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR COVERING ALL OF THAT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. ALL OF YOUR STAFF, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE PANDEMIC. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CLERK HUDSPETH BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR?

[Elections Administrator]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: HERE ARE FROM ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA. WELCOME.

>> FIRST OFF, THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SHARE OUR GOALS.

WE KNOW ALLOCATING RESOURCES FOR THE COUNTY IS NEVER EASY AND IT IS IMPORTANT AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION ON BEHALF OF THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU TO LINDSEY OVER AT THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR OUR FIRST YEAR AS AN ELECTION OFFICE. IT HAS BEEN GREAT GROWING AND TRANSITIONING. NEXT SLIDE, AS YOU CAN SEE THE MISSION OF OUR OFFICE IS TO SERVE THE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS BY PROMOTING ELECTION SERVICES IN AN EQUITABLE, SUCCESSFUL, SECURE AND TRANSPARENT MANNER.

I WON'T READ THROUGH THEM, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE INDEPENDENT PROGRAMS WE HAVE AND THE TEAMS THERE TO SERVICE THE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. 2022 TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK IS THE BUSIEST LE ELECTION YEAR IN HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 1986.

WE HAVE 11 ELECTIONS COMING UP AND THE GUBURNATORIAL ELECTION.

HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE 2018 WHICH IS THE YEAR HARRIS COUNTY HAD THE FLOOD BOND AND HAD SEVEN ELECTIONS THAT YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE. WE SUBMITTED 30 INDIVIDUAL ITEMS WE WILL BEGIN TRACKING AS PART OF THIS OUTCOME-BASED PROCESS. A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE SERVICES AND OUTCOMES WE ARE MEASURING ON THIS NEW BUDGET.

JUST AS -- THESE AREN'T JUST NUMBERS FOR US.

A SPREADSHEET. THEY REALLY IMPACT VOTERS AND SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ADA SERVICES AND EXPANDING ACCESS FOR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES.

NEXT SLIDE. LAST YEAR YOU ALL COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED A BUDGET TO HIRE A OUTREACH TEAM TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION IN HARRIS COUNTY.

HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT INVESTMENT REALLY PAID OFF.

WE HELD OVER 450 HE VOTER REGISTRATION EVENT INCLUDING REGISTRATIONS AT 70 EVENTS AT UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THIS YEAR WE PROCESSED 143,000 APPLICATIONS WHICH IS MORE THAN THE TWO PREVIOUS ODD YEARS LEADING INTO A MIDTERM. RAW REGISTERED VOTERS YOU USUALLY SEE THEM DIP TO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND NOVEMBER ARE SOME OF THE ODDER OFF YEARS AND YOU SEE THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2001 THAT WE HAVE SEEN A NET INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS. 11,000 VOTERS INCREASED IN AN ODD YEAR IS PRETTY PHENOMENAL. NEXT SLIDE.

LAST YEAR COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED BUDGET FOR ADVERTISING THAT TRANSLATED INTO VOTER REGISTRATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES ACROSS BROADCAST, RADIO, PRINT, DIGITAL AND 38 BILLBOARDS PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION.

EVERY PERSON REACHED IS ANOTHER POTENTIAL VOTER.

NEXT SLIDE. ANOTHER ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS IS POSTED TWO MAJOR ELECTIONS IN MAY AND NOVEMBER WITH NEW VOTING MACHINES. THE NEW TOUCHSCREEN MACHINES AND THE FOURTH JURISDICTION TO USE A JAIL AS A POLLING LOCATION BOTH VOTER ELECTIONS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION. AND I WILL CORRECT ON THE SLIDE HERE. IN MAY 2021, WE DIDN'T INCREASE THE RAW TOTAL. WE NEARLY DOUBLED THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TURNOUTS VOTE WITH A SMALLER POOL OF POTENTIAL REGISTERED VOTERS. SO I AM SURE YOU ALL HAVE REVIEWED THOSE NUMBERS. NEXT SLIDE.

BUT NOT JUST ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHTS.

NOT ABOUT WHAT Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY INVESTED THIS IS IMPROVING. WE ARE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS. THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE ELECTION WORKERS, PEOPLE ACTUALLY MAKING ELECTIONS HAPPEN. FROM THE SURVEYS WE MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS COURTS, WE FOUND OUT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO ISSUES AT THE POLLS, A CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT WE ARE HEARING, WHERE WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND NEXT SLIDE, THE RESOURCES TO KEEP INCLUDING. BEFORE GETTING INTO THIS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AGAIN COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULT POSITION THAT THE COUNTY IS IN ALLOCATING RESOURCES WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO REALLY THINK HARD ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO CREATE THE MOST SUCCESS FROM Y'ALL'S INVE INVESTMENT. FIRST ITEM HERE IS TO FILL CRITICAL ROLES IN OUR OFFICE AND INCREASE OUR CUSTOMER

[02:20:03]

IN BRANCH OFFICES FILLING THOSE ROLES WITH OTHER STAFF IN OUR OFFICE AND PREVENT SCHEDULING CONFLICTS AND STOP THEM FROM PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES. ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES HANDLING THE VOLUME OF REQUESTS AND PERFORMING GIS DUTIES.

JUST CRITICAL THINGS THAT KEEP THE OFFICE EVERYONEING.

NEW POSITION IN GIS WILL CREATE DISTRICT LINES FOR SUB PRECINCTS WITH 3600 IN OUR JURISDICTION.

SOMETHING THAT WE ARE BRINGING THE COUNTY UP TO COMPLIANCE.

ADDITIONALLY WE MOVE INTO AN ELECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

ASSIGN SYSTEM USING GIS AND WILL SLIGHTLY LOWER AND WE SPOKEN TO THE BUDGET OFFERS OF CONVERTING EXISTING POSITIONS OPPOSED TO NEW ONES. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND THE TRADE-OFFS IN FILLING THESE GAPS WHAT HAPPENED POSITIONS MAKE THE MOST SENSE. SECOND.

SECOND ITEM IS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT AND RECRUITMENT AND CHANGING OF ELECTION WORKERS AND IMPROVING POLL LOCATIONS

SELECTION. >> THE POSITIONS HERE WILL PROVIDE US FOR YEAR-ROUND RECRUITMENT.

WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO TRAIN -- EXCUSE ME, FEEL UP A WORKERS A JUDGES, THE SYSTEM OF RECRUITING AND TRAINING WORKERS WITH A RUSH. RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION IT DOESN'T PRODUCE THE BEST WO WORKERS.

RECRUIT THEM EARLIER AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TRAIN AND ON SPECIFIC AREAS THAT THEY NEED WORK ON SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE GET INTO OUR CALL CENTER ON ELECTION DAY BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE BETTER TRAINED EMPLOYEES WE REDUCE THE NEED FOR CALLS THAT FREE UP, RIGHT, THE JUDGES BEING ABLE TO HELP THE WORKERS INSTEAD OF BEING ON THE LINES WITH US. SO THE NEXT ITEM IS RELATE THE TO NEW ELECTION WEB SITE THAT YOU ALL GENEROUSLY GAVE US.

WITH THE RENT AND OVERHEAD COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ADDITIONAL WAREHOUSE WE WERE APPROVED FOR LAST YEAR.

THIS WAREHOUSE HELPED ALLEVIATE 50,000-SQUARE-FOOT DEFICIT.

IN ADDITION TO THE BRAND-NEW OVERHEAD STAFF AT THE WARE WAREHOUSE. THE WAREHOUSE OFFERS AS A DISTRIBUTION CENTER. THE FOLKS THAT LOAD, UNLOAD, TRANSPORT THE MATERIALS TO VOTING LOCATIONS.

AND PRESENT NEW VEHICLES AND TYPE OF WORK CONTINUES TO NEED EMPLOYEES DEDICATED FOR THE SAFE AND HEAVY OPERATION OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT. NEXT UP IS THE OFFICE OVERHEAD COST WHICH IS REALLY MORE OF A REALLOCATION OF THE 516 ELECTION ACCOUNT. COVERS ITEMS RELATED TO OFFICE OVERHEAD PREVIOUSLY CAPTURED IN THE ELECTION COST BUDGET WHICH THROUGH ITEMS OF NEARLY COST OF OUR ELECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND OFFICE SUPPLIES LIKE CELL PHONES AND SUCH.

WE ARE MOVING IN FROM TRULY THE ACCOUNT IT SHOULD BE.

AND LAST -- OR ITEM ON ME MERIT-BASED RAISES.

I KNOW THERE IS A BIGGER DISCUSSION TO GO ON.

KIND OF FOCUS IN THESE ME MERIT-BASED RAISES, WE ARE ASKING FOR OR FOCUSING ON 73 EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE LESS THAN $30 A YEAR. 75% THAT MAKE LESS THAN $20 PER HOUR, WHICH IS ACTUALLY OUR ELECTION JUDGES ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW. THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WILL BE MOST IMPACTED BY INFLATION, RENT INCREASES AND THE COST OF LIVING WE ARE SEEING. FOCUSING ON THE PEOPLE WHOSE RAISES DON'T MATTER THE MOST RUSHING THROUGH THAT TO GET THROUGH ALL THE INFORMATION. BUT WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO

TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR ISABEL LONGORIA FOR YOUR WORK.

I WANTS TO TOUCH BASE ON TWO THINGS THAT I MENTIONED AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE LAST ELECTION.

ONE WAS THE NUMBER OF SCANNERS -- I FORGET WHAT YOU CALL THEM, THE BALLOT -- WHERE YOU ULTIMATELY DEPOSIT THE BALLOT, AS WELL AS -- AND ALONG WITH THE -- THE, I GUESS, DEVICES TO FURTHER PROCEDURE TICKET PEOPLE'S BALLOTS SINCE THE DISCUSSION WAS THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE THEM -- OR JUST WALKING BY CAN SEE THE PERSON'S BALLOT.

SECONDLY IT IS THE WORK ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE A GOOD LEST OF ADA COMPLIANT LOCATIONS IN THE EVENT THAT SOME GO OFFLINE FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON AND KEEPING THEM WITHIN EACH PRECINCT AS CONSISTENT WITH OTHERS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS

HAD. >> WAS THERE A QUESTION IN THAT OR MAKING SURE WE KEEP THOSE PRIORITIES ON THE TOP OF THE

[02:25:01]

LIST. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: WHERE

ARE WE WITH THOSE THINGS? >> UNDERSTOOD.

ON SCANS AND THE COVID AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

LESS ABOUT MONEY BUT MORE OF THE ITEMS OUT.

IN MY UNDERSTANDING A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET MORE SCANS.

THAT IS WHERE WE FIND THE CRUNCH WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

PRIVACY SHIELDS, WE PROVIDE FOLDERS AND ENVELOPES FOR VO VOTERS TO KEEP THINGS COVERED FROM THE VOTING DUO TO THE SCAN. FOR EVERY DUO AND SCAN, THEY HAVE PRIVACY SHIELDS WITH THEM LOW COST ISSUES.

THE ADA FIXES ON COUNTY BUILDINGS.

I THANK YOUR TEAM FOR CONNECTING TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. I DON'T WANT TO JUMP THE GUN BUT FACILITIES AND ENGINEERING TO FIGURE OUT A COUNTYWIDE P PLAN. AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING ON THIS PLAN AND IT IS IN THE WORKS FOR EXACTLY HOW WE CAN REALLY BRING UP OUR COUNTY BUILDINGS TO CODE TO NOT AFFECT OUR VOTERS.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: GOOD, THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: THANK YOU -- I APOLOGIZE FOR EATING. THIS IS VEGAN, IF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER. ISABEL, YOU MENTIONED A RECORD NUMBER OF ELECTIONS, SINCE '96. MOST OF THOSE WILL BE REIMBURSED, RIGHT? I THINK MY STAFF HAD -- $6 MILLION. REIMBURSED AND MAY NOT GET THAT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. SOMETIMES IT COMES A LITTLE

LATE. >> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT ON THE COST OF ELECTION ON THIS NEW OUTCOME BASED -- ELECTIONS DON'T FIT FELT THATLY IN ONE BUCKET. WHAT WE SHARED AND WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOUR OFFICE, THE EIGHT ELECTIONS, YOU ARE RIGHT SPLIT OVER TWO FISCAL YEARS.

$16 MILLION TO HOST AND GET REIMBURSED.

THAT IS $10 MILLION TO RUN THE COUNTY.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: I DON'T WANT TO BEHAVIOR THE -- BELABOR THE POINT BECAUSE I WANT TO KEEP US ON SCHEDULE, BUT ELECTIONS COMMISSIONS WAS NOT BEING REIMBURSED WITH MONIES SUPPOSED TO GO BACK INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

>> YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: A SUMMARY OF THAT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET IT. SOMEBODY TOLD ME BUT I FORGOT.

>> THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT JUMPED ON THAT AND CLEAR. ALL THE MONEY THAT COMES FROM THOSE ENTITIES 100% IS BEING REIMBURSED INTO THE ELECTION

SERVICES FUND. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY THAT DIDN'T GO IN?

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT? >> THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE DONE -- PERHAPS WHAT IS DONE BEFORE THE ELECTION

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: I WANT TO KNOW -- I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT, BECAUSE IT WAS A STATE

LAW THAT REQUIRED IT? >> YES, SIR.

A STATE LAW THAT ANY TIME WE CONTRACTED WITH THE COUNTY THAT 1% OF THE FUNDS WILL COME -- 100% OF THE FUNDS WILL COME BACK FOR SECTION SERVICES. MISCOMMUNICATION OVER THE 10%, ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, ETC. THAT MONEY 30 YEARS BAG WAS NOT GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE ELECTION SERVICES FUND AND I DON'T HAVE THE LATEST UPDATE IN THE FISCAL K3WR50ER7 E8Z E8Z I DON'T BLAME WHOEVER WAS HANDED. PEOPLE WERE ROBBING PETER TO

PAY PAULETTE. >> I UNDERSTAND THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEARS AND HOW TO BE REIMBURSED.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT TODAY, SIR.

BUT ASK A NOTE TO HAVE STAFF REACH OUT.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: QUESTION WITH ALL THE ISSUES WITH THE LAST ELECTION.

DOES THIS BUDGET ADDRESS THOSE -- THOSE ISSUES THAT THE JUDGES BROUGHT UP WITH YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE GOT TO MODIFY OUR PROCESS A BIT GOING FORWARD.

DOES THIS BUDGET ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS IDENTIFIED IN THE LAST

ELECTION? >> I BELIEVE IT IS SLIDE 7 AND 8 WITH THE SURVEY RESULTS. THE EXACT ISSUE THAT IS JUDGES BROUGHT UP AND PEGGED TO WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE IN BUDGET AND BEEFING UP THE TEAMS TO HELP THOSE JUDGES WHO ARE OUR MOST

IMPORTANT ASSET. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: YOU WENT SOME TIME ON ADA. ARE YOU USING ENGINEERING FOR THAT. WHY ARE YOU HAVING TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO ANYTHING WITH ADA WHEN YOU HAVE ENGINEERING?

[02:30:01]

>> BECAUSE THE LAWSUIT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WAS AGAINST THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. WE DO SURVEY AND HAVE TO GO OUT AND DETERMINE WITH EVERY SINGLE ELECTION AND SEVERAL LOCATIONS IF THEY ARE ADA COMPLIANT AND HOW MANY RAMPS, CONES WE GET TO EACH LOCATION. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT -- TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINTS, LONG-TIM FIXES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP DOING THE SURVEYS FOR EVERY SINGLE LOCATION FOR EVERY SINGLE ELECTION.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: I WILL SAY WE HAVE EXPERTS FROM EN NEW ENGLAND ON ADA, AND USE OUR EXPERTISE IN THE COUNTY AND NOT

TO HAVE TO HIRE OTHER PEOPLE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE SAYS HELLO. ANY HER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA FOR ALL OF THIS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FEEDBACK ON JUDGES AND THE PRIVACY SCREENS AND ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON HOW THE STAFF WILL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS ANY -- ANY SNAGS FROM -- BASED ON PROJECTIONS FOR TURNOUT, THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME. BUT GENERALLY THIS IS VERY THOROUGH, HELPFUL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF IN ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND A BIG YEAR AND I AM CONFIDENT IT WILL BE A

GOOD ONE FOR YOU GUYS. >> YES, MA'AM.

[District Clerk]

HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: LET'S MOVE ON TO DISTRICT CLERK BURGESS. AND I THINK THE DISTRICT COURT

IS ON LINE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.

NEXT SLIDE. MY OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DUTIES ASSIGNED BY THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AS RECORDS KEEPER AND CUSTODIAN OF ALL COURT DOCUMENTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 75 HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT AND 16 COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS OF LAW. IT IS ALL NEW AND FILING FOR THESE REPORTS.BEF ANNUALLY AND OVER 350,000 CRIMINAL FINDINGS. NEXT SLIDE.

ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE VARIOUS ENTITIES WITH COURT DOCUMENTS, COLLECT FINES, FEES AND OTHER COURT COSTS AS OUTLINED IN THE STATUTE. SECURE TRIAL AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JURY SUMMONS AND PANELING PROCESS.

HISTORIC RECORDS AND PASSPORT APPLICATIONS.

AND IT IS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION, MAINTENANCE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE HARRIS COUNTY JUDICIAL SYSTEM. IF YOU LOOK DOWN TO SLIDE 6.

BEFORE I GET INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET REQUEST, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT MY TEAM'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2021.

DESPITE THE DIFFICULT SITUATION CAUSED BY COVID PANDEMIC, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY.

WE KEEP ALL OF OUR STAFF WORKING BY PROVIDING SOLUTIONS THAT ENABLED THEM TO WORK FROM HOME.

WE ROLLED OUT MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC SOLUTIONS MODERNIZING AND STREAM LINING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ALLOWS MUCH TO BE DONE WITHOUT HAVING TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM.

OUR E JURY SYSTEM WE INTRODUCED IN 2020, WE ARE NOW ABLE TO PREDICT A PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WILL SHOW UP FOR JURY SERVICE. FROM MAY TO DECEMBER 2022 93% OF PEOPLE WE EXPECTED ACTUALLY SHOWED UP IN THE DAY OF SER SERVICE. THE PERCENT SAGE OF LEFTOVER JOORTION AND DISPOLICE AFTER PARTICIPATING IN VOYEUR DIRE REDUCED TO 26%. AS JUDGES GAIN CONFIDENCE, OUR GOAL IS TO GET THIS DOWN TO 1 15%.

WE ACCEPT ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS TO MAKE IT EASIER ON TIME. WITH A CLICK OF THE BUTTON AND NUMEROUS PRINTED MATERIALS INTO SPANISH.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE MY STAFF WHO MADE THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS POSSIBLE.

THEY ARE VERY DEDICATED AND INNOVATIVE PUBLIC SERVICES.

EVEN AS WE HAVE ACHIEVED THESE MENTS TRUTH IT MY DEPARTMENT AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING UNDER TRYING TIMES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THE AFTEREFFECTS OF HARVEY, DISPLACING US FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER AND DISPLACING TEAMMATES OF FIVE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AND WE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PLACES TO CALL LARGE NUMBER OF JURORS IN ONE SESSION.

[02:35:01]

IN ADDITION TO OUR STATUTORY DUTIES ASSISTED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

AND THE SITE AND RELEASE DOCUMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN PROVIDING DATA AND BEING DEPOSED FOR THE ONGOING RUSSELL LAWSUIT.

COUNTLESS HOURS FOR THE MULTIPLE STUDIES THAT HARRIS COUNTY IN 2021 AS DIRECTED BY THIS COURT.

ALTHOUGH AS A CPA, I UNDERSTAND THE GOAL OF THE COURT TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT; HOWEVER, THE NEW BUDGET PROCESS IS VERY TIME CONSUMING AND REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES. AS YOU CONSIDER OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL. A LOT OF WHAT WE CAN DO CANNOT BE MEASURED. OUR GOAL TO REACH STATUTORY DUTIES. AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE EFFICIENTLY WORKED WITH OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES TO DEVELOP ELECTRONIC SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW US TO PROVIDE SERVICES REM REMOTELY. SOME OF THESE INCLUDE E PLEA, HE HEARING, E CHARGE, VIRTUAL HEARINGS AND E JUROR.

WE HAD TO RELOCATE TO NRG TO SAFELY CONDUCT JURY CALLS AND FOUND OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO BREAKDOWN AND RESET FREQUENTLY WHEN THE FACILITY WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO US.

BUT WE DID IT AND DID IS IT WELL.

WE SUCCESSFULLY SEATED JURIES MORE THAN ANY OTHER AND SEATED 20 GRAND JURORS WHEN MOST HAD NOT JURY CALLS.

I AM COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR JURY POOLS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS EFFORT. DIVERSE JURIES, MAKE FEWER INACCURATE STATEMENTS AND LEAD TO CONFIDENCE IN OUR JUROR SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE PAY INCREASE WILL ACHIEVE THE DIVERSITY THAT WE ALL WANT.

A $12 EMPLOYEE WON'T BE PAID FOR THEIR EMPLOYER IF THEY ANSWER THAT THE JURY SUMMONS. THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN JURY SERVICE. I SEE THE PAY INCREASE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. WITH PEOPLE UNEASY OF APPEARING AND OUR GROWING CASE BACKLOG, WE NEED WILLING JURORS NOW MORE THAN EVER. NOW IF YOU WILL ADVANCE TO SLIDE 8 I WILL MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET REQUEST WITH OUR PRIORITIES. OUR PROBABLE CAUSE COURT IS UNDER SEVERE STRAIN. WE DO NOT HAVE A LEAD FOR THE NIGHT SHIFT. WITHOUT AN EXPERIENCED LEADER ON THE NIGHT SHIFT, OUR SUPERVISOR IS CALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN ISSUES ARISE AND SHE HAS TO WORK HER DAY SHIFT. WE WANT A THIRD TEAM LEADER TO RESOLVE THIS ON GOING ISSUE NEXT DRAW OUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OUR TURNOVER.

HIGH AND COSTLY RESULTING IN MONEY LOWER.

THIS HAS US LOSE OUR HIGH TRAINED MEMBERS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I SAW AN AD OFFERING $17 AN HOUR TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS YOU ARE COURT CLERKS FREQUENTLY TELL US THE WORK IS TOO MUCH FOR THE PAY THEY RECEIVE.

WE START OUR ENTRY LEVEL SUPPORT STAFF AT $15.15 AN H HOUR. ASSISTANT COURT CLERKS AT $18 AN HOUR AND LEAD COURT CLERKS $20 AN HOUR.

22 EX-INTERVIEWS, CLERKS REPORTED LEAVING FOR HIGHER PAY EVEN THOUGH THEY LOVE THEIR JOBS.

ROLLOVER MONEY. THE TURNOVER IS EX-RBS EXPENSIVE AND WE NEED TO MAKE OUR PAY COMPETITIVE.

I URGE YOU FOR THE $1.2 MILLION I HAVE REQUESTED.

OUR THIRD REQUEST RELATES TO JURY OPERATIONS.

UNTIL THE JURY PAY INCREASE IS ADDRESSED WE CAN'T GIVE UP ON DIVERSITY OF JURY. AND TO KEEP THE REMAIN OF THE $200,000 GNAW PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED TO CONTINUE OUR OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. OUR FOURTH REQUEST IS RELATED TO THE CASE BACKLOG. THE FOCUS ON THE CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG IT AFFECTS ALL THE COURTS AND EVERY ASPECT OF OUR OPERATIONS. THE GROWING NUMBER OF ACTIVE

[02:40:01]

CURRENTLY DUE TO THE RECENT TURNOVER AND NEWLY AUTHORIZED POSITIONS FOR THE NEW DOCU DOCUMENTS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OPEN POSITIONS WE WILL FILL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WITH AN ADDITION APPEAR SUPERVISOR RETAIN THE 23 STATUTORY CORDS AND THE NEW ONE WILL BE AT THE SPECIALTY COURT AND THE NEWLY CREATED DOCU DOCUMENTS.

>> MADAM CLERK, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> URGENT NEED TO COMPENSATE OUR COURT CLERKS.

WE NEED OUR SUPPORT STAFF TO HAVE MERIT RAISES.

WE ARE ASKING FOR $450,000 FOR THESE STAFF MEMBERS THAT MAKE UP 70% OF OUR TOTAL STAFF. AND OUR FINAL REQUEST WAS HIRING SIX NEW CLERKS TO IMPLEMENT HOUSE BILL 766.

DELAYING IMPLEMENT ON THIS BILL WAITING FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION FROM THE TEXAS COURT ADMINISTRATION AND THIS CAN BE POSTPONED UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 2023.

FINALLY WE FACE CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENT THE LEGISLATIVE MANDATES AND OFFICES CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING.

HOUSE BILL 766 IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION MAKES IT NECESSARY FOR US TO REQUEST RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE CHANGES.

OUR I.T. TEAM IS STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT AS THEY ARE INT INTEGRALLY INVOLVED IF NOT FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR NEW LEGISLATION, RESPONDING FOR VARIOUS STUDIES, OFFERING REQUEST REQUESTS FOR DATA AND MAKING PROGRAMMING CHANGES AND MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND WEB SITE.

ADDITIONALLY MANY DIFFERENT HARRIS COUNTY AGENCIES ARE REQUESTING DATA TO CREATE DASHBOARDS.

WE HAVE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE DATA WE SHARE.

IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE IF THE DAY CUSTODIANS BE GIVEN THE DASHBOARDS.

WE DID NOT MAKE A REQUEST IN OUR BUDGET SUBMISSION AS SO MUCH IS ADDED TO OUR WORKLOAD IN THE LAST 60 DAYS BUT LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE ARE GIVEN FUND FOR TWO ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME I.T. FOR DASHBOARD AND INCREASING DEMANDS OUTSIDE OF

OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. >> MADAM CLERK, YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND MISS BURGESS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE IS, HOW MANY REVENUE POINTS, IF ANY, DOES YOUR OFFICE HAVE?

>> OH, GOSH, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER BUT A TON.

WE COLLECT A LOT OF FEES THAT GET ALLOCATED OUT TO OTHER AGENCIES SHOO, BUT WE ARE THE ONES COLLECTING THE FEES.

SOME GO TO THE DA. SOME GO TO THE SHERIFF AND TO THE LIBRARY EVEN. BUT THERE IS PROBABLY AT LEAST 40 DIFFERENT REVENUE CODES THAT WE ARE PROCESSING.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: OKAY. MR. BERRY, I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THIS TO SEE JUST WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME COST SHARING WHERE THE STATUTE DOESN'T RESTRICT IT THAT MAY HELP MISS BURGESS A BIT.

THAT IS NOT FOR YOU, THAT IS FOR MR. BERRY.

SECONDLY, MISS BURGESS, WHAT -- HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS OF HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE TO KEEP JURY SELECTION MOVING FORWARD IN SPITE OF NRG? HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY DISCUSSIONS? ANY PLANNING, ANY STRATEGY WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN THAT DISCUSSION?

>> WE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WE ARE NOT TAKING A CONVERSATION ON WHICH LOCATIONS TO VACATE NRG. WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN DO FOR JURY ASSEMBLY. APPEAR THAT DECISION RESTS BETWEEN YOU ALL AND THE JUDGES. BUT IT DOES REQUIRE A LOT OF PROGRAMMING CHANGES TO OUR ELECTRONIC JURY SUMMONING PROCESS BEFORE WE WILL BE READY FOR FEBRUARY 7, AND WE STILL DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING SO WE CAN'T EVEN START THOSE CHANGES YET. IT IS MAKING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE READY BY FEBRUARY 7 SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICATIONS YET.

BUT WE ARE COMMITTED THAT WE WILL DO OUR PART WHEREVER THAT LOCATION IS, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT AND MAKE IT WORK.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

[02:45:01]

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: I THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

YOU MENTIONED -- WE ARE STARVING FOR DATA HERE AT THE COURT. AND SHOWING WHAT THE DETAILS ARE -- AND KNOWING WHAT THE DETAILS ARE HAPPENING IN THE COURTS, WE ARE WORKING ON DASHBOARDS AND OTHER THINGS.

YOU HAVE INDICATED OBVIOUSLY IT IS A BURDEN FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

IT COSTS MONEY, BUT WITHOUT DATA, IT MAKES IT REAL HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON IN THE COURT SYSTEM. SO YOU ARE NOT TERRIBLY OPTIMISTIC OF PROVIDING THE DATA FOR THOSE DASHBOARDS?

>> WELL, WE AS CUSTODIAN OF THE DATA HAVE LIABILITY IF WE RELEASE DATA THAT SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED.

SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSE SOMETHING TELL US WHAT DAY YOU WANT, HOW YOU WANT IT DISPLAYED AND LET US MAINTAIN THE D DASHBOARD THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ARE WE RELEASING DATA THAT SHOULDN'T BE RELEASED. WE WOULDN'T NEED TWO EXTRA PEOPLE. WE WILL NEED ONE JUST WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITH THE NEW THINGS COMING ON US.

THE TIME WE SPENT GATHERING DATA TO OTHER AGENCIES WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME TO CREATE THE DASHBOARDS AND MAINTAIN IT OURSELVES. WE HAD SOME EXPOSURE THAT PUT OUR CREDIBILITY AT RISK FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY BECAUSE DATA WAS RELEASED THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE AND THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL LIABILITY AND LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DATA. WE DO.

WE KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR DATA THAN ANYBODY ELSE AND WE THINK WE SHOULD BE BUILDING THAT DASHBOARD AND MAINTAINING THAT

BECAUSE OF THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: ARE

YOU WORKING WITH -- >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: ARE YOU WORKING WITH. I ASSUME YOU ARE WORKING WITH

MR. BERRY ON THAT DETAIL. >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE GETTING ALL THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WANTING THE SAME DATA.

AND AND PROPOSING THIS AS A ALTERNATIVE INSTEAD OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES DOING DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: SOUNDS LIKE THAT BE MORE EFFICIENT.

GOOD IDEA. THE OTHER THING I APPRECIATE PUTTING ON THE TABLE. WE ARE ALREADY TOO LATE FOR

FEBRUARY 7. >> WE ARE.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

BETTER FIGURE IT OUT AND FIGURE IT OUT QUICK.

>> WE HAVE NOT GIVEN A VOTE ON WHERE.

WE ARE WAITING FOR THEM TO TELL US WHERE AND THEN WE WILL MAKE

IT WORK. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THAT IS ON US. I UNDERSTAND.

>> ONE FINAL POINT IF I CAN 2019 BUDGET HEARING, WE TOLD THE COURT $85 MILLION IN CIVIL FEES UNASSESSED OVER 20 YEARS AND WE WENT TO WORK COLLECTING THAT AND BILLING ON A REGULAR MONTHLY BASIS. COLLECTED OVER $5 MILLION TO DATE. IN THAT BUDGET HEARING WE WERE TOLD IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL COME TO OUR OFFICE AS A BUDGET ALLOCATION AND ASKING TO USE PART OF THAT M 5 MILLION TO FUND OUR ADDITIONAL REQUEST.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. MISS BURGESS, I WANTED TO -- I JUST -- I JUST REMEMBERED THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR EFFORTS WITH THE BAIL BOND DASHBOARD. AND I AM NOT SURE WHERE THAT DISCUSSION IS AT. WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THE PROGRESS OF THAT, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WITH JACK TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING.

THAT DASHBOARD IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL SO WE WILL KNOW JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE BAIL BOND INDUSTRY WITH BAIL OFFENDERING BEING ABLE TO MAKE CASH BONDS AND ENDING UP ON THE STREET AND WE NEED YOUR HELP MOVING THAT FORWARD.

IF YOU WILL KEEP TALKING TO JACK AN HELPING US GET THAT TO

THE PUBLIC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> AT THIS POINT OUR ROLE WAS ONLY TO PROVIDE THE DATA AND WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT.

THEY HAVE THE DATA THAT THEY REQUESTED.

BUT IF WE GO THIS OTHER DIRECTIONS AND START MAINTAINING AND CREATING THE DASHBOARDS, WE WILL GET

INVOLVED AT A DEEPER LEVEL. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: MADAM CLERK, THE REQUESTS ARE THOUGHTFUL. I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH ON HOW FLEXIBLE WITH THE JURY LOCATION DURING THE RODEO.

AS YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ANYBODY, THE CLOSER WE CAN GET TO CONSENSUS, THE BETTER AND EXTREMELY.

IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT AND FOR YOU TO TAKE THAT POSITION OF

[02:50:02]

THANK YOU. >> I WILL JUST SAY AT THIS POINT AND BEHIND THE 8-BALL AND LIMITED TIME TO GET PREPARED, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US TO GET READY FOR THE JURY PLAZA THAN GOING INTO A NEW SPACE. WHATEVER IS DECIDED WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO DELIVER AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU. MR. BERRY KNOWS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ARRIVE ON SOMETHING AND HE HAS OPTIONS THAT HE IS FINALIZING. AND THE FINALIZING THE RECOMMENDATION. THE POINTS YOU MADE ARE VERY CLEAR. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. TURN OVER ISSUE BECAUSE OF LOW SALARIES AND WHATEVER EVIDENCE IS VERY HELPFUL.

AS WELL AS THE UNIFED MANDATES. BUT, LOOK, THIS IS HELPFUL.

THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM. THIS STAFF MEMBER HAVING TO WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING RELENTLESSLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> AN HONOR TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[County Auditor]

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: OKAY. NEXT IS OUR HARRIS COUNTY AUDITOR. HEAR FROM MR. POST OR HIS ST

STAFF. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THE AUDITOR'S BUDGET PROCESS IS DIFFERENT THAN FOR ANY OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENT. THIS IS BASED ON STATUTES.

THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET IS APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT JU JUDGES. I THINK I HAVE SOME SLIDES.

IF NOT, I WILL JUST DESCRIBE -- >> I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY SLIDES,

MR. POST. >> OKAY.

THEN I WILL, I WILL DESCRIBE. THE WAY THE BUDGET WORKS FOR THE COUNTY AUDITOR IS WE PRESENTED TO THE DISTRICT JUDGES AND THEY CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO IT.

AND ACCORDING TO STATUTE, THE DISTRICT JUDGES NEED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE AUDITOR'S BUDGET.

NOW THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MY BUDGET FOR THE SEVEN MONTHS IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 3. AND ONCE THAT PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD AND THE JUDGES WILL TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON MY BUDGET.

AND MY BUDGET WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY JUDGE WILL ACTUALLY DO THAT.

AND IN FORM OF AN ORDER. AND THEY WILL INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND SET OF BUDGET.

I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER -- THE NEXT SLIDE IS GOING TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IN MY SE SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET.

WHEN I PREPARED THIS SLIDE, I SHOWED $15,544,000.

I AM EMBARRASSED BUT WE DID OUR INITIAL CALCULATION BASED ON 15 PAY PERIODS RATHER THAN 16. SO THE AMOUNT OF -- THAT I AM REQUESTING FROM THE DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET IS $16,528,300. THAT WAY WE WILL GET PAID 16 WE HAVE 212 IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE SAME NUMBER AS WE HAD LAST YEAR AND NOT ASKING FOR ANY INCREASES IN STAFFING.

THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET IS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND BU BUDGET. AND WE MAKE UP LESS THAN 1% 7/10 OF 1% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

SO WE ARE NOT A BIG PART OF THE BUDGET.

MY DEPARTMENT HAS GOT TWO MAJOR DIVISIONS AND AN ACCOUNTING DIVISION. WE KEEP THE BOOKS.

WE DO THE PAYROLL. WE PAY THE BILLS.

HEADED UP BY LESLIE IS WILKES GARCIA AND AUDITING DIVISION AND INTERNAL AUDITING OF THE COUNTY, FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.

WE ALSO ARE THE INTERIM AUDITORS FOR -- WE ARE DEVELOPING KING SERVICES. I HAVE A NICE SLIDE AND

[02:55:01]

AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD SPOT TO ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTION FOR MR. POST? HOW MUCH DID YOU SAYS IT GOING TO BE, MR. POST, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PRESENTS TO THE JU JUDGES? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN

INCREASE? >> WELL, I DO KNOW.

I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET -- WE HAD TO DO AN ANNUALIZATION.

BECAUSE COMPARING A SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET TO 12-MONTH BUDGET.

IF YOU ANALYZE THAT -- AMORIZE TO 12 MONTHS, WE ARE ASKING ABOUT A 4% INCREASE. THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT IS BENEFITS. NOW WE ACTUALLY BUDGET THE BENEFITS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT IS A PERCENT AND A HALF.

SALARY INCREASES FOR INCREASES IN ADJUSTMENTS 9/10 OF 1%.

NOT EVEN ASKING FOR A PERCENT THERE.

WE HAVE CONTRACT EMPLOYEES AND SOME AREAS THAT WE NEED SOME HELP SHORT-TERM AND THAT IS 1.35%.

AND THE REST OF IT IS JUST SOME SMALL INCREASES IN MATERIAL, SUPPLIES, TRAVEL TRAINING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT DOES COME OUT TO A 4% INCREASE ON AN ANNUALIZED BA

BASIS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THAT IS IN DOLLARS? ON AN ANNUALIZED. DIFFERENT CHARTS.

IT IS 1,072,000. JUDGE JUDGE LIKE A MILLION OR SO RECURRING BUDGET. I AM TRYING TO DO THIS MENTAL MATH. THANK YOU FOR -- THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS. SO THERE ARE NO OTHER QUES QUESTIONS, THANK YOU, MR. POST. THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH BACK THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WORKS FOR YOU AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS AFTER YOUR HEARING.

TO ALL THE WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

[Purchasing Agent]

NEXT IS PURCHASING. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I WILL MAKE MINE BRIEF AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GOT OUT HERE LATE LAST NIGHT.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK REMINDER.

I MENTIONED THE OFFICE OF PURCHASE AGENT IS TO ACQUIRE GOODS AND SERVICES ESSENTIAL TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER AGENCIES IN A TIMELY AND PRUDENT MANNER WITH QUALITY, VALUE AND, OF COURSE, ECONOMY. WE DO MUCH LIKE THE AUDITOR FOLLOW CERTAIN STATUTE AND COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TO ENSURE THAT WE FOLLOW THE CORRECT PROCESSES WE DO WHEN ACQUIRING GOODS AND SERVICES.

AS STEWARDS AS THE PUBLIC TRUST.

WE TO OBSERVE HIGH STANDARD OF INTEGRITY IN OUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO PREVENT ANY APPEARANCE OF INPRO-PRYRY.

AND WHEN I TOOK THE POSITION SEVEN YEARS AGO, OUR GOAL FOR EVERY ONE OF US TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.

WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC TRUSTS US AND TRUST THE WAYS IN WHICH WE DO OUR OPERATIONS.

THE GOALS WE SET TOGETHER IN THE PERFORMANCE METRICS, IT AND THAT SOME OF THEM DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE AGENDA BOOK.

BUT WE ARE TRACKING OUR AVERAGE PROCUREMENT.

THE NUMBER OF FORMAL PROCUREMENTS.

NUMBER SENT IN WBS. HOW MANY MWBS ARE BEING REWARDED. SOME OF THOSE ARE BEING TWEAKED AND WORKING ON THE METRICS TO FOLLOW-UP ON COURT.

SOME OF THE -- ONES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MET AN EXCEEDED ARE THE AVERAGE PROCUREMENT CYCLE TIMES REDUCING THOSE DOWN TO WHAT WAS INITIALLY PARTICIPATED AT 120 DAYS.

GOTTEN AROUND 90 DAYS. THE PROCUREMENTS ARE AT A SAME LEVEL AND HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR WITH THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN ONES WE HAVE ISSUED. OUR AVERAGE REVENUE GENERATOR FROM SURPASS PROPERTY. WE HAVE ANOTHER SURPLUS INCREASE THIS YEAR AS FAR AS REVENUE COMING BACK FROM THE

[03:00:01]

WE HAVE MORE TO GO THIS YEAR. AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE ONES WE THOUGHT OUT. SOME OF THE CHALLENGE ARE OF QUALITY STAFF AND OFFERING ADEQUATE TRAINING.

OVER 50% OF MY STAFF IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS ON THE JOB.

AND IT HAS BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE.

SOME OF IT FROM RETIREMENT. SOME OF IT BECAUSE FOLKS LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC AND PREVIOUS HARVEY AND OTHERS THAT CAME THROUGH.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AND REQUEST INCREASE OF TRAINING FOR SOME OF THOSE AREAS AND GETTING THOSE FOLKS UP AND RUNNING AND TRAINED. WE HAVE NEW INITIATIVES IN THE COUNTY SO PROCUREMENT WILL STAY HIGHER WITH THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS COMING THROUGH. SO LASTLY WHAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON, TWO REQUESTS WE PUT IN HERE.

ONE WAS FOR A POSITION FOR HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMS PRO KURM TEAM. I WILL SAY THAT -- PROCUREMENT TEAM. THEY HAVE MORE AND MORE NEEDS COVID PANDEMIC AND THESE WILL BE REIMBURSABLE AND WE INVOICED THEM FOR OUR SERVICES. I WOULDN'T SAY A WASH BUT REIMBURSABLE FOR THAT. AND A DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION TO ASSIST MYSELF AND OTHER DEPUTY DIRECTOR ON SPECIAL PROJECTS AND INCREASE OUR EFFICIENCIES OF THE PROJECT TO ALLEVIATE FROM MYSELF AND OTHER DEPUTY AS WE CONTINUE TO ROLL THROUGH THE YEAR. THOSE ARE REQUESTS THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD ASK. IF YOU HAD TO CUT ONE, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CUT. I WOULD CUT THE SECOND REQUEST FOR THE DEPUTY AND I WILL DEAL FOR IT.

BUT IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT.

WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, JUDGE.

I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO PRESENT. YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH MY

OPERATIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. DWIGHT, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO, ESPECIALLY ON BONFIRE.

GOOD TO SEE THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS NEW FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, I THINK IT IS A GOOD SYSTEM. I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENTS YOU AND YOUR WILLINGNESS OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO GO THROUGH THE BID AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS. I KNOW THAT WE LEFT THAT MEETING SAYING THAT WE PROBABLY SAVED A WEEK'S WORTH OF TIME.

JURY IS OUT. BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE CLOSER TO A 20 TO 30-DAY SAVINGS IN PROCESS WHICH WOULD MANY A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PRIME CONTRACTORS AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE MBDES AS WELL. WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK AND BEING RESPONSIVE AND ATTENTIVE

TO THE ISSUES. >> APPRECIATE IT.

IT HAS GONE A LONG WAY FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND PRECINCTS AS WELL. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH

SOMETHING THAT WE WENT THROUGH. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS. AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: I WANT TO THANK HIM.

HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND. LAST MINUTE I FORGET I SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH A GROUP OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHITECTS AND A NATIONAL GR GROUP.

COMMISSIONER, YOU HOPPED ON FOR A SECOND, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

ON SHORT NOTICE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE OPEN AND MORE INCLUSIVE. I THINK YOU PLAYED SOME ROLE OF PURCHASING ON HARRIS HEALTH AND DISPARITY.

AT SOME POINT I WILL ASK FOR THAT TO BE ON THE AGENDA AND SEE WHAT COOPS OUT OF. I KNOW I CAN ASK THE OTHER DEPARTMENT LATER, BUT YOU ARE MY GO-TO PERSON ON THIS.

>> THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A DRAFT REPORT IN CHRISTMAS AND I

[03:05:03]

I KNOW THEY HAD A DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS UNFORTUNATELY. SO THEY HAD KIND OF A SLOWDOWN FOR A COUPLE DAYS, COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT THEY ARE STILL ON

TARRING TO GET THAT ROLLING. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: I MEAN IT SEVERELY. YOU WORK HARD.

WHEN FOLKS HAVE ISSUES, I JUST GIVE THEM YOUR NUMBER.

I GUESS EVERYBODY GIVES THAT NUMBER UP -- NOBODY KNOW WHAT IS IT MEANS TO CALL AN OFFICE ANYMORE.

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

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. IF YOU COULD PUT ON WHY YOU ARE RADAR SCREEN, IF WE CAN START TRACKING THE NUMBER OF NEW VENDORS WORKING WITH THE CO COUNTY, IT WOULD BE GOOD.

JUST IN TOTAL. I THINK MY SPECIFIC FOCUS HAS BEEN GETTING MORE LOCAL FARMS INVOLVED AND JUST -- JUST UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T GET NECESSARILY A BAD ROUTINE BUT A RUT AND ROUTINE WHEN PEOPLE DO THE SAME THING EVERY PROCUREMENT ALWAYS HEALTHY SIGN WHEN WE ARE ADDING NEW PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS. IF WE CAN JUST TRACK THAT NECESSARILY ONCE A QUARTER OR TWICE A YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE

THAT. >> YES, SIR.

I WILL BE GLAD TO ADD THAT ON. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY:

APPRECIATE IT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: YES, SIR.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE SAYS HELLO. THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

I KNOW HOW HARD YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE TIME-SENSITIVE AND COVID-RELATED MEANS. THE NEW MANUAL YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

[County Attorney]

COUNTY ATTORNEY ON LINE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE.

THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO JUMP ON AND SPEAK TODAY. I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF FOLKS IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY EASE OFFICE.

YOU KNOW THIS WAS A GROUP THAT WAS INTEGRAL AND FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE OFFICE WHO WORK NIGHTS, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS TO SUPPORT COUNTY OPERATIONS DURING THE WINTER STORM.

DURING COVID RESPONSE. I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT FOLKS IN THIS OFFICE DO AND FORTUNATE TO SPEAK ON THIS TODAY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS SLIDE IS BASICALLY WHAT WE DO.

YOU KNOW, I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS A TAD BIT UNDERSTATED, BUT WE ARE TIED TO EVERY SINGLE PART OF OPERATIONS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTY. WE ARE WITH MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENTS TAKEN AN INCREASED ROLE OF POLICIES SOMETIMES WITH A SUBSTANTIVE PERSPECTIVE, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE. THINGS CAN'T GET DONE UNTIL WE DO A LEGAL ANALYSIS ON IT DRAFT WITH ALL PROCEDURES AN CONTRACTS. A SIZABLE AREA OF WORK WE DO WHICH IS ADVOCATING THROUGH THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COUNTY THROUGH COURT ROOMS AND REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS.

OF COURSE OUR STATUTES SAY THAT THE CHIEF OBLIIN THIS OFFICE IS DEFEND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, ELECTED OFFICIALS WHEN THEY ARE SUED. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE I WANTED TO LAY OUT THE BREATH OF CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT THE BODY THAT ACTS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.

AND THE OTHER 06 OR SO OFFICIALS IN HARRIS COUNTY EACH OF WHO HAD THEIR OWN AUTHORITY AND DARE TO SAY THEIR OWN PRIDE AND EGO, ME BEING ONE OF THEM AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ADVISING THESE FOLKS AND HELPING THEM THROUGH ISSUES ADDRESSING ISSUES WHENEVER THEY ARE SUED.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, AN ISSUE THAT RAISE RISES WITH THE COUNTY'S 18 THOUSAND IN-PLUS EMPLOYEES ANYWHERE NEAR THE L LAW, WE ARE TYPICALLY INVOLVED IN IT AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I THINK IT IS -- SOMETHING HAS TO DO THIS WORK. WHEN THE COUNTY GETS SUED, IT IS EITHER GOING TO BE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR AN OUTSIDE FIRM THAT REPRESENTS THE COUNTY.

WE CAN'T NOT RESPOND. WHEN KRINGTS ARE DRAFTED SPWB HAS TO REVIEW THE LEGAL LANGUAGE IN THE APRIL AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR AN ISSUE DOWN

[03:10:03]

THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EMPLOYEES, THERE IS ALSO BOARDS AND DIFFERENT COMPONENT UNITS THAT WE REPRESENT.

AS I AM SURE YOU ALL KNOW WE ARE THE COUNCIL FOR HARRIS HEALTH. AND IN ALL OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS AND A TEAM THAT PROVIDES THEM LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION ON THE DAY TO DAY ISSUES.

APPRAISAL DISTRICT. ALL THE BOARDS AND ECONOMICS THAT THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN TO CENTRALIZE AND BETTER ORGANIZE.

WE FIELD ALL THE LEGAL QUESTIONS AND HELP THROUGH THE LEGAL ISSUES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

OUR DUTIES HAVE OVER THE LAST YEAR EXPANDED AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF AREAS WHERE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR OFFICE HAS GROWN. THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS GROWING. WHILE OUR FTES HAVE KIND OF REMAINED THE SAME. COMMISSIONERS COURT.

YOU ARE MORE ACTIVE AND ALL INDICATION IS THAT YOU TEND TO CONTINUE THAT TREND WHAT COMES WITH EVERY SINGLE POLICY INITIATIVE. THE LEGAL QUESTION CAN YOU DO THIS. SOME OF YOU AT COMMISSIONERS COURT COURT. THERE IS GENERALLY SEVERAL DAYS WORTH OF WORK THAT GOES INTO US BEING COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO GET THAT ONE WORD ANSWER. BUT BEHIND THE SCENES AND YOU ONLY SEE AT COMMISSIONERS COURT WHEN ASK YOU THE QUESTION BUT A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT. THIS WORK HAS CREATED NEW DEPARTMENTS WITH INCREASED WORK LOAD FOR US.

AND IN MY OPINION A FULL-TIME JOB FOR A COUPLE OF ATTORNEYS TO SUPPORT THAT GROUP. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, THE EO.

ANY TIME THERE IS A NEW DEPARTMENT CREATED INCREASED WORKLOAD ON OUR OFFICE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THE POLICY PROPOSALS AND IF INDIVIDUALS IN THAT DEPARTMENT IS SUED. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THIS POINT IS, GENERALLY THE STATE PAYS MORE ATTENTION WHAT WE DO IN HARRIS COUNTY AND CAREFUL IN CROSSING ALL OF OUR TS AND D DOTTING OUR IS. SOMETHING THAT WILL BE DONE ANYWAY. AND BECAUSE OF THE PROFILE AND THE COURT AND THE NATURE OF OUR POSITIONS WE MAY LOOK OVER AT SIX OR SEVEN TIMES AND WE MAY HAVE TO TALK THROUGH THE ISSUES WITH YOU ALL A FEW TIMES AND WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND INCREASE WORK LOADS. EXPAND COUNTY OPERATIONS.

ONE INITIATIVE THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WAS THE EXPANSION OF THE FIRE CODE BIG SHOUT-OUT FOR FIRE MARSHAL WHO WAS SUPER INVOLVED WHEN YOU HAVE BOARDING HOMES WITH I WOULD TOO MANY PEOPLE AND FORCE THEM TO LIVE IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AND TO CALL OUR OFFICE TO QUICK TURN AROUND ISSUES MEANING WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING ON FILE IN A SHORT TIME PERIOD.

HEARING IN A SHORT TIME PERIOD AND SOMETHING THIS OFFICE WASN'T DOING PRIOR TO THE EXPANSION OF THE CODE AND OF THESE REGULATIONS. INCREASED DEMAND FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS. WHAT WE SEE HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. AS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

A PROFESSIONAL BODY. AS YOU EXPECT MORE THINGS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS, THEY EXPECT MORE THINGS FROM US AND EXPECT MORE THINGS MORE QUICKLY TO GET IT BACK TO YOU.

THAT IS CAUSED KIND OF AN INCREASE OUTPUT FROM OUR TEAM AND ALSO FROM A SHORTER TIME PERIOD FOR MANY OF THE HIGHER PROFILE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE MORE IN THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU ALL. AND, OF COURSE, WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF THE HIGH PROFILE ISSUES THAT COME UP THAT REQUIRE EXPERT ADVICE AND REQUIRE VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS EARLIER SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT HEY, WE HAVE THE SEGIS ISSUE AND SOME OF OUR SEG IS INFORMATION IS LEAKED OUT AND YOU AND I KNOW WE HAVE MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT OUR INVESTIGATION OF DATA ISSUES. NO SEGIS INFORMATION OUT THERE AND A RUMOR GOING AROUND AND SOMETHING THAT REQUIRED A TON OF MAN HOURS FROM OUR OFFICE TO GO IN AND GET IN THE WEEDS AND INVESTIGATE AND FIGURE OUT NOT ONLY OUR LEGAL LIABILITY BUT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO STAVE OFF ANY ISSUES THAT MIGHT OCCUR FROM RUMORS FLYING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE SO AS OUR WORK CONTINUES TO GROW, THERE

[03:15:06]

EVERY SIGH DOTTED AND HAPPENING ON A MORE QUICK TIMELINE.

OF COURSE WHENEVER THOSE PROJECTS GET PUT TOGETHER AND GOING OUT FOR BID AND BEING DONE, THEY ARE DONE ALONG THE WAY ENSURING THAT THEY GET HERE PROPERLY.

THERE IS A REAL ESTATE TEAM AND THEIR WORKLOAD HAS JUMPED TO THE ROOF AS A RESULT OF THAT. WE HAVE SEEN 171% INCREASE IN OUR EMPLOYMENT CASES. PART OF THAT IS COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER IS VERY INTENTIONAL OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND A FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE HOTLINE IN 2020 AND LED TO REPORT IN VARIOUS FOLKS AROUND THE COUNTY AND WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH COVID. MORE LAWSUITS AS WELL.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT UPTICK IN EMPLOYMENT INVESTIGATIONS.

LOOKING THROUGH THE ISSUES AND LAWSUITS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY AND ITS DEPARTMENTS IN THOSE LAWSUITS.

>> COUNTY ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.

>> I SHOULD GET TO IT. SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CASES BECAUSE ONE OF THE MAJOR POLICY GOALS OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS BEEN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND, OF COURSE, WE BROUGHT THOSE COLLECTIONS IN HOUSE, WORK THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NOW DOES AND WE COLLECT $27 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY LAST YEAR. AND AS I MENTIONED WITH ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL, OUR CONTRACTS THAT WE DRAFT THAT WE REVIEW THAT WE ADVISE ON IS ALSO GONE UP THROUGH THE ROOF BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO TIMING ACTUALLY WORKED OUT WELL BECAUSE WE HAVE SUBMITTED ALL OF OUR BUDGET INFORMATION. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS WE CAN TALK THROUGH, BUT IN SHORT, MOST OF WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE FTES.

LOOKING FOR 30 ADDITIONAL FS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF MORE OUTPUT FROM THE OFFICE AND QUICKER TIMELINE AND FT ES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY STAGNANT AND GOT A FEW LAST YEAR AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO MORE THAN WE WERE IN THE PAST. WHENEVER WE GET A CALL FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL, FOR EXAMPLE. SERIOUS ISSUES.

A BUILDING NOT UP TO COMPLIANCE THAT CAN RESULT IN A MASS SIEVE FIRE. WE NEED A LAWSUIT FILED.

THESE AREN'T THE TYPES OF THINGS TO SAY NO TO.

WE HAVE TO SAY YES AND KEANE THE WORK GOING, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO COME TO YOU ALL SAYING WE NEED ASSISTANCE.

WE NEED ADDITIONAL POSITIONS BECAUSE OUR FOLKS ARE WORKING HARD AND THEY WERE WORKING HARD AND THEY NOW HAVE TAKEN ALL ADDITIONAL DUTIES. I THINK MY TIME IS JUST ABOUT UP. BUT I WILL SAY AS ALWAYS, IT IS A PLEASURE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WORK AL ALONGSIDE YOU ALL TO HELP YOU GET THE THINGS DONE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TOY AND PUSH ALL THE POLICY INITIATIVES.

AND WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTYED A FOR'S OFFICE AND WE ARE -- COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND FINALLY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK OF YOUR OFFICE. I REALLY WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING FAIRLY NEWCOMERS TO THIS WORLD, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE JUMPED IN, FLAT-FOOTED AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. AND IN PARTICULAR, I LIKE THE PROGRESS THAT YOU ARE MAKING WITH I-45.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS.

I HOPE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GUIDE US TO A BETTER PLACE.

AND DRAG TXDOT ALONG WITH YOU. I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT I AM PROUD TO SEE YOUNG AND BRIGHT TALENT BEING A PART OF FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY AND OBVIOUSLY THE JUDGE AND YOURSELF AND OTHERS ARE PART OF THAT FUTURE. A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF YOUR WORK, YOUR OFFICE'S WORK AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THE ISSUES MY OFFICE RAISE ON OCCASION AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATION OBJECT THOSE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: MR.

[03:20:03]

TWO ITEMS. VALUE WORK ON COLLECTIONS.

I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINE WHAT THAT IS.

AND CERTAINLY YOU ARE SAVING US MONEY BY MAKING THOSE COLLECTIONS. SO WE OUGHT TO KNOW THAT PARTICULARLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET.

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY ADDS UP -- ENDS UP SAVING US MONEY AS WELL.

AND THEN THERE IS PARTICULAR INITIATIVES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL. I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL, BUT THE NUMBER OF SUPER FUND SITES THAT ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND THEY ALL NEED A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER. AND I KNOW YOUR OFFICE WILL BE DOING THAT. I WILL BE GETTING WITH YOU ON A COUPLE OF, THREE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THEIR ATTENTION ON. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTITUDE IN TERMS OF ENGAGING, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE THING HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

APPRECIATE YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER.

ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL, THE INDIVIDUAL YOU MET WITH ON THE SUPERFUND SITES, I MET WITH THE SAME DAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND I FEEL WE FEEL THE SAME ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: MR. M MENOFEE, I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES, YOU HAVE BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

I KNOW YOUR TEAM IS LISTENING BECAUSE ALWAYS LISTENING WHEN WE START OUR PROCESS. I HAD THE NUMBERS A LITTLE OFF.

A LITTLE UNDER $200 MILLION A YEAR WE HAD OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, SOMEWHERE UNDER $600 MILLION IF WE DECIDED TO DO WHAT THIS COURT DID THE PREVIOUS 12 YEARS BUT WE DIDN'T. I DON'T WANT TO RELITIGATE THAT, BUT THE EFFORT THAT YOUR TEAM AND YOU PUT INTO THIS PRESENTATION -- AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS I THINK HELPS US TO GET A SOBERING IDEA OF HOW MUCH MORE WE HAVE TO DO AND UNLESS SOMEONE COMES UP WITH SPECIFIC IDEAS WHAT TO CUT AND THE NUMBERS MATCH. ONE THING I LEARNED IN SECRETARY AGGREGATED SCHOOLS WHEN I WAS YOUNG IS HOW TO COUNT. I'M PRETTY GOOD AT THAT.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE A CASE AND THE PUBLIC AND PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY PAID FOR AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT LOOK, YOU ALL DO A JOB JOB. WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE MONEY BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE UNLESS WE GO AFTER THE RAINY DAY FUND AND HOPE WE IT DOESN'T RAIN OR GET A SNOWSTORM AGAIN. BUT SOME EFFICIENCIES, BUT HELPS TO MAKE THE CASE FOR US TO MAKE DECISIONS WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE CYCLES OF ELECTIONS WE ARE GOING THROUGH NOW OR THE FUTURE AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD BE A FORWARD-THINKING COUNTY WITH NEW IDEAS. A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE JUST KICKED DOWN THE ROAD CAN'T JUST BE KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT PARTICULARLY SINCE YOU BEING THE NEWEST FACE AND THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY GOT HERE.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: I ECHO THE COMMENTS. WE HAVE DONE -- WE ALL SEE YOUR WORK, BUT YOU DID A THOROUGH JOB OF PRESENTING THE INCREASE IN DEMAND VERY CAREFULLY. SO AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ALLOCATE AND IF SO WHERE TO PUT IT, I THINK MY QUESTION FOR THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE MAKING SUCH CLEAR REQUESTS WITH THE DATA TO BACK THEM UP IS SORT OF -- HOW CAN YOU SHOW THAT YOU CAN'T GET THERE THROUGH EFFICIENCIES. I THINK THAT IS THE NEXT LOGICAL QUESTION. BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, EVEN IF WE END UP WITH THE SAME RATE.

NOT THE SAME REQUEST THAT EVERYBODY IS ASKING BUT IT IS WELL ARTICULATED. I APPRECIATE IT.

AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, INNO INNOVATION, COMMITMENT TO YOU AND YOUR FULL TEAM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE.

[Intergovernmental and Global Affairs]

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: WE WILL HEAR NEXT FROM IGA.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

I AM THE DEPARTMENT TEE GOVERNOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR 11 MONTHS. I JOINED THE COUNTY.

UNFORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MANY OF NEW PERSON SINCE I JOINED DURING COVID TIMES, BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOUR STAFF AND LOOKING FORWARD FOR THAT CONTINUED COLLABORATION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET TO YOU TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE.

IF WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

I AM GOING TO BE CONCISE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE MANY

[03:25:03]

THE MISSION PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ADVANCING THE COUNTY'S SLEDGE I HAVE IT AGENDA AND THE NEEDS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WITH REGARD TO GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ON STATE SIDE, FEDERAL SIDE, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

IN TERMS OF OBJECTIVES, AGAIN, THE OBJECTIVES GO HAND IN HAND WITH -- WITH THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

I LIKE TO FOCUS ON FOUR -- FOUR OBJECTIVES.

ADVANCING POLICY GOALS. AGAIN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM. AND THE EIGHT PRIORITY OUTCOMES THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED.

SECONDLY, ROBUST ENGAGEMENT. THAT ESSENTIAL SURE THAT DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION AND THAT'S WITH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.

COUNTY OFFICES, YOUR OFFICES. AND EXTERNALS THAT WE WORK WITH. THIRD, COMMUNICATE COUNTY PRIORITIES. AGAIN THAT IS THROUGH THE REPORTS THAT WE TRY TO SEND OUT TO YOUR OFFICES AND OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. AND FINALLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE FOCUSING A LOT MORE RIGHT NOW IS ENHANCED ACCESS TO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A SHARED ONE WHERE WE TRY TO FILTER ALL THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SHOWING ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE -- THAT THE COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR AND HOW TO BETTER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE IN TERMS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. I WILL FOCUS ON A FEW ON THE STATE SIDE. WE HAD A REGULAR SESSION AND THREE SPECIAL SESSIONS THIS YEAR.

THE REGULAR SESSION, WE WERE ABLE TO PURSUE 49 POLICY INITIATIVES, ALIGNED BY THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF INITIATIVES THAT IGA AND LEGISLATIVE PURSUED. 49 POLICY INITIATIVES.

MORE THAN DOUBLED WHAT WE PURSUED IN THE 86 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. OF THOSE INITIATIVES.

12 MADE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

ONE WAS VETOED AND 11 SIGNED INTO LAW.

ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, WE MANAGED THE INTRUSION UP TO $40 MILLION IN EARMARKS IN THE FY '22 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROP APPROPRIATIONS BUILD. AND WE ARE STILL PURSUING THAT.

ON WRDA WE MANAGED TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANT FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WHICH IS AN ONGOING ISSUE, AS YOU KNOW.

CHANGES AND CHALLENGES THAT HAVE IMPACTED IGA'S WORK IN THE LAST YEAR IN ADDITION TO COVID OBVIOUSLY, WE -- MULTIPLE STAFFING ROTATIONS AND VACANCIES HAVE BEEN PROBABLY THE MAIN THING AND CHALLENGE AT THE SAME TIME.

WE CURRENTLY -- OUR OFFICE HAS SIX PEOPLE AND TWO OF THE POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY VACANT OVER THE PAST TWO, THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN 100% STAFF TURNOVER. EVERYONE IN OUR OFFICE IS PRETTY MUCH NEW AND IMPACTED THE WORK OF OUR OFFICE.

A LOT OF JUST -- A REAL WORK STAFF OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT INCREASED NEED FOR FEDERAL ENGAGEMENT WHICH HAS ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD AND DUE TO THE STAFF VACANCIES AND ADDED WORK LOAD ON THE FEDERALIZED SIDE. WE ARE A BIT MORE REACTIVE THAN PROACTIVE AT TIMES BECAUSE WE ARE STRETCHED PRETTY MUCH THIN.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE PERFORMANCE GOALS OF THE NATURE OF OUR WORK IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY. I THINK IN OUR CASES MEETING OUR TARGETS WITH ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

COMMUNICATION WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS AND OVER OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS. BUDGET REQUEST WHICH IS PRETTY

[03:30:05]

WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO SENIOR SPECIALS.

AND WE ARE ASKING TO RECLASSIFY THE JUNIOR POSITION WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE ONE SENIOR POSITION DEDICATED ENTIRELY TO FEDERAL ISSUES AND, AGAIN, WE FULFILL THAT NEED TO HAVE A MORE DEDICATED FEDERAL FOCUS FROM IGA AND BEING ABLE TO BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE ON THAT FRONT.

AND I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS IT.

WE ARE OPEN TO QUESTIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MISS NARVAEZ. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I ASKED MR. BERRY TO HELP US IDENTIFY UNFUNDED MANDATE AND IF HE HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO HIS OFFICE TO FIND THAT OUT SO WE CAN UNDER STAND WHAT THAT IMPACT FOR THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO BE THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY, WILL DO. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR IGA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THOUGHTFUL IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A STRONG ENOUGH TEAM GOING FORWARD. GOING INTO -- IS IT NEXT YEAR?

ALL RIGHT, NEXT YEAR. >> THANK YOU.

[Office of County Administration]

-- >> JUDGE HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE WILL HEAR NEXT FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

IS DAVID BERRY. THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST YOU PUT IN ME AND MY TEAM. THANK YOU TO THE TEAM OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT WHERE I AM STILL ACTING DIRECTOR AND THANK YOU TO THE 4,000 OR SO EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT TO MY OFFICE. AND I THINK AS WE HEARD THESE PRESENTATIONS, IT IS ACTUALLY GOOD THAT WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THAT IT IS CLEAR IN SO MANY CASES HOW MUCH HAVE BEEN ASKED OF OUR EMPLOYEES THIS YEAR AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE DELIVERED. AND I WANT TO GIVE MY PRESENTATION TO THAT. AND THEN FIND A WAY TO -- FINALLY TO DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKE THE PRESENTATIONS BOTH THAT WORK FOR ME AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND INDEPENDENTLY APPOINTMENT DEPARTMENT HEADS. WE HAVE MUCH CHANGE TO TACKLE.

SOME OF IT QUITE OVERDUE, BUT YOU BEING MY PARTNER AND OUR PARTNER, IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

SO IF YOU CAN TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE PLEASE HERE.

I WILL HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.

THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IS STILL RELATIVELY NEW. COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED OUR TRANSITION PLAN IN AUGUST 2021.

SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE BEEN EXECUTING ON IT.

WE PROVIDE SOME SERVICES TO THE COUNTY WHICH ARE HARD TO DESCRIBE. BUT WE PREPARE THE AGENDA FOR COURT MEETINGS. HELP MANAGE THOSE MEETINGS.

WE OVERSEE AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF 18 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

AND I MENTIONED ABOUT 4,000 EMPLOYEES ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND WE DO STRATEGY AND PLANNING WHETHER THAT IS DEVELOPING AND TRACKING THE COUNTY PRIORITY OUTCOMES, ADMINISTERING THE ARPA PORTFOLIO AND INITIATIVES LIKE SUSTAINABILITY.3 NEXT PAGE PLEASE.

OUR OBJECTIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

OUR FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONERS COURT IN IMPLEMENTING ITS VISION FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE DONE THAT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE IS TO LOOK FOR A CLEAR AND SHARED DEFINITION OF SUCCESS. WE SEE THAT IN THE PRIORITY YOM

[03:35:01]

WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF HIRING TO DO AND BUILDS OUT TALENTED AND HIGHLY-EFFECTIVE TEAM.

WE FILLED POSITIONS OF PRETRIAL SERVICES, SUSTAINABILITY, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, CHIEF OF STAFF.

WE ARE ON TRACK FOR A NUMBER OF KEY HIRES THIS MONTH AS WELL AND A LOT OF WORK MOVING 30 DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING IT TO HAVE A MORE EFFICIENT WAY THAT INVOLVES MANY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING UNIVERSAL SERVICES, BUT A LOT OF -- THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT AN SAVE EVERYONE AND ISN'T AS SIMPLE AS -- AS FLIPPING A SWITCH, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE 40 OR 50 USERS OF SOMETHING, IT TAKES TIME BUT I THINK THAT WORK IS IN A TIME OF SCARING RESOURCES, IT HAS TOO PROCEED AND WE HAVE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE COUNTY TO DO BUSINESS.

NEXT PAGE, PLEASE. AND FINALLY, WORKING AS ONE COUNTY TO BETTER SERVE EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC INSTEAD OF BEING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ACTING AS ONE COUNTY MEETING TOGETHER REGULARLY WHICH IS A LITTLE BING BUT HAVEN'T HAPPENHAVING INTERNAL COMMUNICATION THAT GO OUT FOR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT INITIATIVES GOING ON THAT CROSS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS PROJECT ACCESS THAT DIRECTOR ROBINSON, 311 GENERAL NORIEGA.

AND THE MEDICAL CONFERS TO L1 HEALTH.

ALL ARE WHAT MY OFFICE TO MOVE FORWARD AND DEVELOP THE TIME AND ENERGY FOR THE ARPA PROGRAM WHICH IN A TIME OF RELATIVELY LEAN BUDGETS HAS BEEN A WAY TO MAKE REALLY IMPACTFUL INVESTMENTS TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THE ASSISTANCE IN THE RENTAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED.

I WANT TO SOUND A NOTE AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM NEXT PAGE TOO. THERE ARE REAL CHALLENGES.

SUPPORTS OUR EMPLOYEES DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN THE NEEDS OF OUR SERVICES NEVER HAVE BEEN HI HIGHER.

SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT AND TRY TO MAKE IT A TOP PRIORITY EVERY DAY. WE HAVE MULTIPLE TRANSITIONS OCCURRING AT ONCE. A LOT OF CHANGE.

FISCAL YEAR CHAIN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR STRUCTURE AND ALL OF THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN. AND IN MY OPINION, IT CAN'T WAIT. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE SURE TO KEEP FOCUS. FINALLY DOING MORE WITH THE SAME. I THINK -- AND, AGAIN, THE PRESENTATIONS OF THIS COMMENT IS, WE ARE ASKING COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE WE HAVE -- WE DON'T HAVE LESS RESOURCES AND SOME ARE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE.

SOME OF THAT MEANS TOP PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGET, BEING CREATIVE AND FIND MORE WAYS TO DO THINGS.

NEXT PAGE, PLEASE. I WILL BE VERY BRIEF ON OUR BUDGET ASKS. ONE IS THAT AS PART OF THE TRANSITION PLAN, RECEIVED ALLOCATION TO BRING ON OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS DUE TO PROCUREMENT TIMELINES.

THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED. I WANT TO BRING ON A SEARCH FIRM TO HELP WITH ONE OR TWO OF THE LAST POSITIONS TO FILL.

AND THE OTHER IS BRINGING OUT SOMETHING TO LOOK AT THE COUNTY PRO KURLD PROCESS. I THINK WE HAVE IMPORTANT WORK TO DO THERE TO SPEED IT UP. AND COURT DIRECTED US TO DO A SECURITY ASSESSMENT FOR COUNTY BUILDINGS.

THAT REQUEST IS IN HERE AS WELL AS HAISHING A SECURITY MANAGER WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT FOR PROVIDING SECURITY SERVICES BUT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE ASSESSMENT AND COORDINATING THE WORK OF THE MANY AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SECURITY.

AND I WILL TURN TO THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION, AND FIRST START THERE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN

ADDRESS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, MR. BERRY. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET HEARINGS YOUR WORK IS CLEARLY NOTICE $.

THE LAYER OF INFORMATION INCREDIBLY HELPFUL.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BERRY.

[03:40:01]

YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: MR. BERRY, I APPRECIATE THE SUM SUMMARY.

YOU ARE THE PERSON THAT I TALK TO NEARLY EVERY OTHER DAY AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T PREDICT THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR AT LEAST

TAKING ME CALL. >> THE IS SING THINK THAT YOU MENTIONED. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME OF DOING A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE WILL REALIZE EFFICIENCIES. THERE WILL BE INHERENT SAVINGS AND THUS FAR WITH RARE EXCEPTION, EVERYBODY WHO HAS COME FOR US ASK FOR MORE MONEY. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO YOU IF A QUIET MOMENT -- I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE MANY OF THOSE -- BUT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN TO DO REALIZE THOSE EFFICIENCIES.

PARTICULARLY HERE IN BUDGET. I THINK THE JUDGE SAID IT EARLIER. WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

WE DO NEED TO SEE EFFICIENCIES AND SEE WHERE WE CAN DO MORE WITH LESS. I THINK I ASKED ONE OF PEOPLE I RESPECT THE MOST THE FIRE MARSHAL BECAUSE I THINK SHE GETS IT AND ON TOP OF HER GAME TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN HER ENTIRE BUDGET THAT SHE CAN DO WITHOUT.

SO I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD BE HAVING THOSE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FOLKS GOING FORWARD.

BUT APPRECIATE -- APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.

AND LOOK FORWARD TO RESULTS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: MR. BERRY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB. YOU PULLED TOGETHER TALENTED PEOPLE. THOSE WHO WERE NOT GOVERNMENT AND YOU PUT TOGETHER A GREAT DEAL.

WE WENT THROUGH THE P FC PROCESS.

SOME OF THE ITEMS WE DON'T WANT TO TOUCH.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THREE TO TANGLE IN THIS BUSINESS AND THAT IS NOT ALWAYS TO DO. WE CAN SEE THAT THIS OUT OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING HAS GIVEN ME, AT LEAST, A MUCH CLEARER VIEW OF WHAT DEPARTMENTS DO AND DON'T DO.

AND SOMETIMES I SEE A LITTLE -- IN THERE.

AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD THINGS. BUT I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS I COMMEND YOU AND IT IS MOSTLY STRESSFUL. MOST IN ELECTED OFFICIAL -- DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO DO.

BECAUSE WE ARE KIND OF IN THE BUSINESS OF PROBLEM SOLVING.

SO YOU GOT TO WALK THE TIGHTROPE, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO. COMMISSIONER GARCIA -- SORRY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAD YOUR COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: MR. BERRY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

WE ARE ASKING DEPARTMENTS QUITE A BIT TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TO HELP US TRACK PROCESS. AND SO IT OCCURRED TO ME WE HAVEN'T ASKED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DO ANY OF THAT. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK THROUGH. AS YOU AND I HAVE SUPPOSEEN I AM VERY ACTION AND I KNOW THAT A LOT IS COMING AT YOU.

AND THAT IS THE JOB YOU SIGNED UP FOR.

SO GOD BLESS YOU, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DASHBOARD OF WHAT HAS COME TO YOU. WHAT QUEUE IT IS IN.

THE RESULTS ASSOCIATED WITH. AND THE -- AND YOU KNOW, WHERE -- WHERE THAT IS. HOW WE ARE TRACKING THAT.

AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP AT LEAST ME UNDERSTAND BECAUSE ITS -- IT IS OCCURRING TO ME THAT JUST LIKE I BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF THE 97 MILLION THAT APPARENTLY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

AND WHEN YOU WERE ON BOARD, IT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND SO THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DEBATED THE IDEA OF A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. THE IDEA WITH AS TO STREAMLINE GOVERNMENT AND MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND ALL THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE RELATIVELY NEW.

[03:45:03]

WHEN DID YOU -- >> MIDDLE OF AUGUST.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: AUGUST OF LAST YEAR -- OF '20?

>> '21. FIVE MONTHS AGO.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: GO GOTCHA.

FOR SOME REASON I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALREADY IN THAT ROLE A BETTER PART OF THE YEAR. BUT NONETHELESS, YOU KNOW, I -- I THINK THAT WILL HELP US KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE AT ON YOUR FRONT AND BACK CORNER. AND WHAT SHELF IT IS IN AND WHERE IT IS AT. AND THEN ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CHART OF YOUR OFFICE. EVERY BUDGETED POSITION THAT YOU GOT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT WITH NAME AND ROLLS AND RESPONSIBILITY.

>> TOTALLY. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: GOOD.

THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

[Office of Management and Budget]

ARE YOU PRESENTING THAT ONE AS WELL.

>> I AM. AND I THINK I CAN BE VERY

BRIEF. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: OKAY, THANK

YOU. >> NEXT PAGE PLEASE.

THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET PROVIDES. WE PREPARE AND RECOMMEND THE BUDGET. WE ALSO DO REVENUE PROJECTION AND HELP MANAGE THE CIP AND SMALL GRANTS TO MEASURE FINANCING AN INVESTMENT. NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.

OUR OBJECTIVES MAKE THE BUDGET A REFLECTION OF COURT'S POLICIES, VALUES. TO THE SERVICE LEVEL OF EVERY BUDGET. SUPPORTING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. SUPPORTING DEPARTMENTS.

ACTUALLY RUN THEIR OPERATIONS AND RUNNING HIGH QUALITY FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICES FOR ALL AGENCIES AND EASE. NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.

WHAT HAS THE TEAM ACHIEVED OVER LAST YEAR? AND I AM VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEM.

THEY HAVE IMPLEMENTED AN OUTCOME BUDGETING PROCESS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OVER TIME.

WE HAVE WORKED DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE A STANDARDIZED SETS OF SERVICES OF COSTS. OVER 90% OF DEPARTMENTS WITH THE SERVICE BUDGET THIS YEAR. WHICH NOW MAINTAIN THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES. WE CONTINUE WITH THE FISCAL YEAR CHANGE WHICH IS VY CAL TO THE LONG REVENUES AND BUDGET.

MAINTAIN AN AAA CREDITED UNION, REFUND THE 21 MILLION IN PWOPDZ AND ANNUAL SERVICES OF 400,000 AND WILL GROW AT TIMES WHEN WE DO MORE PICTURES. AGAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGES. I HAVE BEEN DOING TWO JOBS FOR LAST FIVE MONTHS. A STRONG LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING IN NEED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING DONE. WE HAVE A HIGHLY MANUAL BUDGET PROCESS. HARRIS COUNTY SORT OF NEVER HAD THE LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD YOU EXPECT. WE HAVE A NEW SOFTWARE PROCURED IN TIME FOR THE NEXT FULL BUDGET PROCESS.

AND DOING PERFORMANCE-BASED MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE-BASED IS A NEW WAY OF WORKING AND WE SLIP INTO IT SAYING HOW MUCH WORK IS THERE TO DO.

THERE IS A LOT, BUT THE QUESTION WE HAVE TO GET TO IN OUR BUDGETS, HOW DO WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO ACHIEVE THE BEST OUTCOME. TAKES A WHILE AND STARTING TO TAKE PLACE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE. WE DO THE NOT HAVE ANY BUDGET REQUESTS THAT MAKE IT A SHORTER PRESENTATION.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE 12 NEW EMPLOYEES WORKING ON BUDGET PERFORMANCE. ONLY FOUR OF THOSE WERE NET NEW POSITIONS WHICH WE WERE GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. AND EITHER REDEBT I HAD EMPLOYEES. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE IF HE IS AND COMMENTS.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION FOR MR. BERRY -- WE HAVE HRM ON NEXT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> QUICK QUESTION, MR. BERRY. I KNOW YOU HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE OUTCOMES. BUT I NOTICE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY RELATED TO OUTCOMES NOT AVAILABLE.

WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY, I AM SORRY, I DON'T

HAVE ANY DATA? >> TWO THINGS.

I THINK THEY NEED SUPPORT AND ON THE TEAM ADDED OEM AND

[03:50:01]

THAT DATA TO DO IT. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: OKAY.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. BERRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOU YOUR TEAM. EVERYONE IS WORKING SO INCREDIBLY HARD BUT SHOWS IN THE BUDGET HEARINGS AND SHOWS IN A LOT OF WAY WE ARE PROFESSIONALIZEING AND CREATING MORE EFFICIENT PROCESSES. WITH YOUR WORK SHOWS.

[Human Resources & Risk Management]

HRM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM JOINED BY OUR CHIEF TALENT OFFICER SAKITA DOUGLAS WHO WILL BE GIVING PART OF THE PRESENTATION. NEXT LIED.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT STATEMENT REFLECTS COMMISSIONERS COURT STATEMENT OF CULTIVATING A DIVERSE WORK FORCE. ALTHOUGH HR M COVERS THE GOAL AREA AND WE PROVIDE HUMAN RESOURCES AND MISMANAGEMENT TO HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. TO THE RIGHT THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

NEXT SLIDE. THESE ARE OUR KEY OBJECTIVES THAT HELP US REACH THE PRIORITY OUTCOME OF CULTIVATING DIVERSE HARRIS COMPANY WORK FORCE. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, SAKI TA WILL GO OVER SOME OF THESE.

WE NEED TO DEEP OUR EMPLOYEES HEALTHY AND ONE WAY TO STRIVE TLO DO THIS THROUGH OUR WE W WILLNESS AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND INDEPENDENT.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT CHANGES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AS YOU ALL KNOW AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AS PART OF THE CREAKS OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. HRM BECAME ITS OWN DEPARTMENT IN 2021 AND WE CONTINUE TO TRANSFER OUT OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. ALSO POINT OUT IN 2020, COMMISSIONERS COURT DID APPROVE CHIEF TALENT OFFICER POSITION.

AND THIS FISCAL YEAR SAKITA DOUGLAS INTO THE ROLE.

AND SHE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY AND SHE CAN GO OVER SOME OF THINGS SHE IS WORKL CHANGES WE FACE.

>> THANK YOU, SHAIN. I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO COME AND PRESENT TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PROVIDE SOME PERSPECTIVE. HUMAN RESOURCES AS BUSINESS FUNCTION EXISTS FUNDMENTALLY FOR THREE REASONS.

WE DO A LOT OF THINGS BUT THE THREE TEN NETS OF HUMAN HUMAN RESOURCES IS TO, ONE, MITIGATE RISKS.

TWO IS TO CONTROL COSTS. THREE HELP LEADERS AND THE FUNCTION THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DRIVING THROUGH PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOR. EVERY SINGLE THING WE DO HAVE A HR PERSPECTIVE TOUCHES ONE OR MORE OF THOSE THREE TENTANTS.

TO THAT END ROAR WE HAVE CHALLENGES, NOT UNIQUE IN THE CHALLENGES AS AN EMPLOYER. WE ARE IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT FROM A WORKPLACE MOMENT, AS WELL AS THE TALENT MARKETPLACE. AND AN EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET THAT HAS ONLY BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION SPECIFIC TO HUMAN HUMAN RESOURCES IS WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 90 DEPARTMENTS.

AND ACROSS THOSE DEPARTMENTS, NO STANDARD HR BUSINESS PROCESSES ACROSS THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT ALSO CREATED -- CREATES DIFFICULTY OF HOW TO GET THINGS DONE FROM AN HR PERSPECTIVE. A LACK OF PHARMACY OF JOB TI TITLES THAT DIRECTLY TIES TO A BROADER TRANSPORTATION STRETCH AND PHILOSOPHY. RISING COSTS.

INFLATION IS A REAL ISSUE AND RISING COST IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE AND PENSION COSTS AS WELL. MORALE ISSUE, IMPACTS IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE IN TERMS OF COVID.

THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING FROM AN EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE AND FROM A HR PERSPECTIVE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS IN STORE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO A FEW OF OUR GOALS AND SOME OF THE PROGRESS REFLECTIVE OF THE WORK UNDER WAY.

MY POSITION WHICH WAS A NEW POSITION WAS CREATED LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR TALENT EXECUTIVE TEAM AND SPENT AN

[03:55:09]

ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS OF INITIATIVES IN 2022.

WE KNOW THAT THE DATA SUPPORTS THAT ONE OF WAYS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED, ENGAGED, HEARD AND ACKNOWLEDGED POP WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING OUR VERY COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WELL CURRENTLY UNDER WAY IS A SALARY WITH THE EXTERNAL MARKET IN TERMS OF A COUNTYWIDE COMPENSATION STUDY. THAT WORK IS UNDER WAY AND NOT COMPLETED YET AND APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY AND THAT DATA IS PROVIDED NOT ONLY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BUT MEMBERS OF THE COURT AS WELL. OUR PROGRAM IS LED BY SHAIN AND THE BENEFITS OFFICE. WE ARE SEEING PHENOMENAL NUMBERS WITH HEALTH EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS INCLUDING DIABETES PREVENTION. LAST BUT NOT LEAST IN TERMS OF OUR SUPPORT FROM A COVID PERSPECTIVE AND OUR PEOPLE PERSPECTIVE IS, WE HAVE WITH OVER EIGHT COVID PROJECTS ESTIMATED AT $62 MILLION. WITH FEMA OBLIGATED TO $30 MILLION OF THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD? THE FIRST STEP -- AND WE ARE WORKING ON THIS. WE ARE KIND OF FLYING THE PLANE A BIT AS WE BUILD IT. INTEGRATED HR MODEL THAT ALL THE HR VERTICALS ARE ALIGNED IN THE WORK WE DO.

CREATE STANDARD HR BUSINESSES PRACTICES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY TO BETTER FOR SAND ENSURE THE SUCCESS IN HR IN EVERY SING 8 DEPARTMENT. IN AN.

SYMBOLIZE TALENT ACQUISITION OF TRAINING OF TALENT.

TALENT WELL AND DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES AS WELL.

AND LASTLY, ADDING SOME SYS SYSTEMS. I THINK EVERYONE IS AWARE. I CERTAINLY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY OF THE OFFICERS ON THIS CALL THAT THERE ARE -- THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY FROM AN HR PERSPECTIVE.

ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IS TO BRING IN ELECTRONIC ONBOARDING TO MAKE TRAFFIC ICIER FOR ALL. AND USE OF DATA TO MAKE DECISIONS TO CREATE A BETTER CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE AND CERTAINLY A BETTER EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS BRINGING IN EXECUTIVE COACHES AND MANAGEMENT AS PART OF A PRIORITY AND PART OF OUR WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES IS A REQUIRED TO AND NEED SUPPORT AT THE DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE REAL COST TO TURNOVER.

A COST TO HIRING. A LOT OF WORK WE ARE DOING AND SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS IN TERMS OF THE COST OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE ASKING THE COURT TO MAKE INTO N HUMAN RESOURCES WILL PAY FOR THEMSELVES AS WE WORK PROACTIVE THREE MITIGATE TURN OVER AND DOING SO, LOOKING AT THE EMPLOYEE LIFE CYCLE END TOO END.

WE DIDN'T GET HERE OVERNIGHT. IT WON'T BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT AND MULTIYEAR WORK. WE DEVELOP OUR BROADER HR STRATEGIC PLAN AND ROAD MAP FOR ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE, THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WITH THAT IN MIND, FROM A TALENT ACCESSORY PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE ADDITION OF THREE TALENT ACCESSORY -- THREE TALENT ACCESSORY MAN MANAGERS.

ESSENTIALLY TO BE BETTER MANAGE AND SUPPORT THE NEARLY 90 COUNTIES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. WE ARE ALSO ASKING TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION ANA ANALYSTS TO ENSURE WE DEVELOP A CONSECUTIVE COMPENSATION STRATEGY AND PHILOSOPHY.

[04:00:01]

>> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU AND MISS DOUGLAS AS WELL.

ONE IS I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE DOING A PAY DISPARITY STUDY. HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU ON THAT?

>> WE ARE TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY IN AND ENGAGED A CONSULTANT IN

ASSIST CAN US WITH THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL POSITIONS OR CERTAIN POSITIONS?

>> THE STUDY IS ALL POSITIONS BUT LET ME CAVEAT.

WE DON'T HAVE THEM LOOK AT 12,000 FOLKS.

COLLECTED A GOOD SAMPLE, 500 TO 6,000 POSITIONS AND TIE ALL BY

50 OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: ARE YOU LOOKING AT LAW ENFORCEMENT? .

>> WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT HAVE DONE OUR SEPARATE LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVEY AND THAT ONE I WOULD SAY 80% TO

9 0% COMPLETE ON A THAT ONE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: GOOD.

I JUST MET WITH A GROUP LAST NIGHT AND HOW ACCURATE THIS IS, ACCORDING TO THEIR PERSPECTIVE, POSITIONS TO POSITIONS.

COMPARABLE POSITIONS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT THERE IS IN SOME CATEGORIES LIKE A $40,000 DISCREPANCY. SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT. I TRY TO ADDRESS IT WHEN I WAS SHERIFF. I DID NOT HAVE A FRIENDLY COMMISSIONERS COURT WHO WOULD WANT TO HEAR THAT AND INVESTIGATE THAT FURTHER ALL THE PAID DISPARITY STUDIES WERE ME AND GOT VERY LITTLE SUPPORT FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THAT. BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE IS A REVOLVING DOOR.

EVEN SMALLER AGENCIES ARE PAYING BETTER THEIR WE.

AND IT IS R VERY, VERY ENTICING TO DO LESS WORK, LESS INTENSIVE WORK FOR MORE MONEY. AND SO I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HEAR THAT. SECONDARILY, THE -- HOW -- I JUST HEARD MR. BERRY SAID HE IS HIRING A CONSULTANT TO FILL ANOTHER POSITION IN HIS OFFICE. WHY WOULD THAT NOT BE?

>> SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SEARCH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, CANDIDLY, SIN THE OPTION OF ADMINISTRATION APPROVED. I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT SEARCH FOR NEARLY SIX MONTHS AND WORK TO LEVERAGE THE EXPERTISE OF THE THIRD PARTY FIRM THE THAT

POINT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: JUST

OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT MOTION. >> THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OF HEALTH AN OPPORTUNITY.

ALL OF THE OTHER OPENINGS, WE FILL THESE OPENINGS WITH THIS

TEAM INTERNALLY. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND GOOD TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS: THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE REPORT.

SHAIN GOOD TO SEE YOU. MISS DOUGLAS, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU BEFORE, BUT I HEARD SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU.

MY GUESS IS THAT WOMEN AND MINORITIES, THERE WILL BE SOME DISPARITY THERE. JUST GUESS.

WE WILL SEE. GOOD TO DO THE DATA AND COME BACK EVEN IF WE CAN NOT PAY COMPETITIVELY, WE AT LEAST OUGHT TO HAVE MORE EQUITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO PAY PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AND HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LOOK TO ME SOME PEOPLE CUT A BETTER BARGAIN.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANY -- NECESSARILY WASN'T A CONSCIOUS BIAS BUT AN UNCONSCIOUS BIAS. I THINK BY HAVING THE DATA, IT WILL LET US KNOW. I THINK I ALREADY TOLD MR.

[04:05:01]

SOMETIMES I AM CLOSER AND GET TO ME QUICK FROM SOMEBODY COMING IN FROM WHATEVER. AND LUCKILY USUALLY TURNED OUT MUCH MORE THAN I ASKED FOR AND A CHALLENGING PAUSE OF AN AGING WORK FORCE, BRINGING WOMEN WITH FAMILIES, MILLENNIALS.

AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS AND PEOPLE GO HOME AND FOUND THEY CAN DO SOME THINGS ON ZOOM, THEY NEVER WANT TO COME TO BACK IN. IT IS A REAL CHALLENGE AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKELESS OF THE -- REGARDLESS OF THE TIME TABLE, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE PEOPLE.

IF IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET IT RIGHT, I CAN BET THAT THERE ARE INEQUITIES AND WE NEED TO CORRECT THEM BEFORE WE LOSE SOME PEOPLE. MR. BERRY, JUST DON'T STUDY IT TO DEATH. SOME OF THESE I AM INVOLVED IN I SIT BACK AND THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE.

I WISH I COULD HAVE SAID TO SOME OF THEM JUST GIVE ME WHAT YOU GAVE TO OTHERS AND THAT WAS JUST MY LUCK WHEN I DID THAT AND I WAS SHOCKED. I SAID THAT PERSON IN TIER THAN

-- >> JUDGE IF I CAN CHIME IN REAL QUICK AND PIGGYBACK ON COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S REMARKS.

PLEASE GIVE A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT WE PAY THE WOMAN IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE IT JUST REMINDED ME THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THINK THAT FOUND WAS THAT THE FEMALE BUS DRIVERS IN MY PRECINCT WERE FAIL LESS BY, BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO MISS WORK MORE. THEY TEND TO BE THOSE WHO KEEP THE HOUSE TOGETHER WHEN OTHERS ARE.

AND GOING TO MEETINGS. AND GOING TO SCHOOLS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND BEING PUNISHED FOR BEING A RESPONSIBLE CARE PROVIDER AT HOME.

>> YES, SIR. ALL THE POSITIONS TO THIS SURVEY SO WE KNOW WHO IS IN WHICH POSITION AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PULL THAT ANALYSIS. YES, SIR.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: TRYING TO ESTABLISH -- THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

THE PRESSURE ON HR DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS EXTRA ORLANDO.

MORE THAN ANY OTHER GROUP, I WOULD SAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS AS YOU GET US THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT LET ME -- LET ME ASK YOU, DO WE KNOW WHAT OUR TURN OVER

RATE IS IN EACH DEPARTMENT? >> GO AHEAD, SAKITA.

>> I AM SORRY, SHAIN. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE ARE WORKING ON THIS IN TERMS OF EXTRACTING THE DATA.

WE HAVE THE ANALYTICS TO PULL IF.

IN FACT I HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING OF THIS VERY ISSUE.

WE CAN LOOK AT IF NOT ONLY BY DEPARTMENT BUT LOOKING AT IT IN TERMS OF AGE GROUPS. LOOKING TO OBVIOUSLY PULL OUT RETIREMENTS AS -- OUTSIDE OF THE DATA, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND LOOKING FOR TRENDS AS WELL.

ALSO -- I WILL ALSO ADD WE DO NOT CONSISTENTLY ACROSS COMPANY COMPANY DO EXIT INTERVIEWS. AND WE ARE HOPING THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO CREATE SOME FRAMEWORK TO GATHER SOME EXIT

DATA AS WELL. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: YOU READ MY MIND. YOU ALWAYS DO AN EXIT INTE INTERVIEW. YOU ARE ALWAYS GUESSING.

THIS REASON OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO OR I REMEMBER SOMETHING WHEN IT MAY NOT BE ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD HAVE GUESS. SO UNLESS YOU TALK TO PEOPLE ON WHY THEY ARE LEAVING THE -- UNLESS THEY CAN BE COMFORTABLE WITH TALKING TO YOU. SO CERTAINLY HR HANDLING THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. BUT I THINK EXIT INTERVIEWS ARE IMPORTANT. I THINK WE CAN DO ALL THE STUDIES ON ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WANT TO, BUT WE OUGHT TO BE ENCOURAGING OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE HIRING.

[04:10:01]

AND FAIRLY. WE ARE GOING TO HIRE FAIRLY AND DO THOSE KIND OF THINGS. WHEN WE START DOING THAT AND PROVIDED. I THINK WE WILL GET.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH MISS DOUGLAS.

I ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID AND INTERESTING TO HEAR ALL THIS. THANK YOU.

[County Treasurer]

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: WE WILL HEAR NEXT FROM THE COUNTY TREASURER.

>> WELL, I AM YOUR COUNTY TREASURER.

MY BUDGET IS AROUND $1.2 MILLION AND JUST UNDER THAT STAYED THE SAME FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AND I HAVE NO BUDGET REQUESTS THIS YEAR.

DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU.

>> WHY NOT. THANK YOU, DYLAN.

APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> I TRIED TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME BACK. I KNOW SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS

LIKE TO TALK A LOT. >> DYLAN, TELL YOUR SISTER I

MISS HER. >> EVERY TIME I SEE HER, SHE BRINGS YOU UP. YOU CERTAINLY MADE AN

IMPRESSION. >> GOOD JOB ON THE PROJECT THE

OTHER DAY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I HEARD FROM TED CRUZ'S OFFICE ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.

THAT KIND OF SURPRISED ME. >> THAT'S GOOD.

>> I KNOW SOMEBODY CALLED ME FROM FT. BEND COUNTY AND THEY WILL FOLLOW UP YOUR LEAD ON THAT AND THE COUNTY AROUND THE

STATE. >> I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. ALL OF YOU TOOK AN ISSUE ON THAT AND ALL WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: I ECHO THAT, TREASURER.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND A BIG

THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL. >> THANK YOU THAT WAS EASY.

[Tax Assessor-Collector]

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. >> JUDGE HIDALGO: FINALLY HEAR FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR ASSESSOR AND HER STAFF.

GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, MARCUS HAMILTON PRESENTING ALONGSIDE ON BEHALF MISS BENNETT AND THE TAX OFFICE TEAM.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE THE COURT AND TO PRESENT THE STATUS OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR FUNDING REQUEST. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PORTFOLIO MANAGERS, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TEAM FOR ALL THEIR HELP AND GUIDANCE WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

NEXT SLIDE FROM THE OFFICE OF ANN HARRIS BENNETT, HARRIS COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR. OUR MISSION THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN TO KEEP STAFF HEALTHY AND SAFE WHILE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE PROCESS WHICH HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING NAVIGATING PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS AND OFFICE SHUTDOWNS DUE TO COVID AND ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT BRINGS ABOUT. WE KNOW MANY OTHER DEPTH HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME CHAL CHANGE.

REGARDLESS OF THE CHALLENGE. WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUR WORK BY PROVIDING CORE VALUES, COMMUNITY, TEAMWORK, INNOVATION AND INTEGRITY. WE BELIEVE THESE VALUES ARE IN HARMONY WITH THE COUNTY'S VISION AND GOALS FOR GOVERNANCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. TAKE US THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS

AND PERFORMANCES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM SENIOR BUDGET ANALYST HERE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO TALK BUT TO THE TAX OFFICE, WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, AND HOW WE SERVE THE PUBLIC. AS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE TAX OFFICE CONSISTS OF THREE MAIN PROGRAMS OF VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION, PRIVATE LICENSES AND TAXI COLLECTING. AS WE PROCEED TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I WANT TO INFORM YOU OF GOALS AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES WE HAVE SET. AND THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE THEIR SEEING IS SOME OF THE THINGS THEIR WORKING ON IN THE QUEST TO PROVIDE OUR STANDARD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.

ADDING ADDITIONAL LOCATION WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN PERFORM BASIC AUTOMOTIVE TRANSACTION. MAKING COMMENTS TO THE CURRENT

[04:15:04]

REDUCING THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS AND INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AS NEEDED TO BETTER SERVE EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS. NOW ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF OUR EFFORTS TO OBTAIN THESE GOALS AND SIMILAR CHALLENGES WE FACE.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE SLIDE. FIRST THE TAXPAYER ADVOCACY GROUP CREATED HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE GROUP UP AND RUNNING VERY QUICKLY AND I WILL GO INTO GREATER DETAIL ABOUT THIS LATER IN MY PRESENTATION. SECOND IS THE ADDITION OF THE VIRTUAL TAX SEMINAR. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT TAXPAYERS WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS TO STILL DO SO SAFELY. SO WE PIVOTED FROM OUR NORMAL PROCESS AND BEGAN TO OFFER VIRTUAL TAX SEMINARS ALONG WITH SOME OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE IMPLEMENTED CHANGES.

TAXPAYERS COULD SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS ONLINE.

TAX SEMINARS ARE CONDUCTED IN PERSON AND ONLINE AND TO SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL PROPERTY TAX CONSULTATION IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO MEET IN PERSON DUE TO CO COVID-RELATED CONCERNS.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE ON THE PERFORMANCE WE HAD JUST RECENTLY. WE DRIVE TO INITIATE AND PROVIDE ALL RESIDENTS TO DOCUMENTATION SERVICES.

WE WANT TO ASSESS AND COLLECT TAXES IN A TIMELY MANNER, AN EFFICIENT AND MANAGER AND OF ALL EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WHO DESIRE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE.

OPTIMIZE ALL RESOURCES AND MINIMIZE WASTE THROUGH EFFICIENCIES OF THE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT.

AND PERFORMANCE GOALS WE SET HAVE DRIVEN US TO DRIVEN US THROUGH BACKLOG TRANSACTION AND INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PROCESS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR IN THE PANDEMIC.

WE REDUCE CUSTOMERS AND IN PERSON WAIT TIMES BY ALLOWING THEM TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS ONLINE AND OPEN UP THE CYPRESS HILL LOCATION WHICH IS BIGGER THAN THE PREVIOUS LOCATION THAT WE HAVE. AND NOW IT A GREAT TIME TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE TAX -- THE TAXPAYER ADVOCACY GROUP.

THE GROUP OF FOUR STAFF MEMBERS THAT INITIATE TAXPAYERS TO HELP THEM PROVIDE SAVINGS AND EXEMPTIONS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. THIS GROUP HELPS TAXPAYERS WHO ARE APPROACHING DELINQUENCY OF A PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENT PLAN THAT ALLOWS TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES OVER A AMOUNT OF TIME AND SAVE ON THE PENALTY ASSESSMENT. SINCE THE GROUP'S INCEPTION IN MARCH OF 2021, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE OVER 13,000 CALLS WITH 1 900 ACCOUNTS ENTERING INTO A PAYMENT PLAN AND OVER 6600 ACCOUNTS BENEFITTING FROM INTERACTING WITH THE ADVOCACY GROUP. AS WE TRANSITION TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THE PRESENTATION BACK TO MARCUS

HAMILTON. >> THANK YOU, TYREL.

LIKE OUR MOST DEPARTMENTS, BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS REC RECRUITMENT OF WALL FILED WORKERS IN A COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET. SO ALL OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

WE HAVE BROKEN DOWN OUR REQUEST BY LABOR AND NONLABOR.

OUR LABOR REQUESTS ARE ASKING FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT 20 EXISTING PCNS. I KNOW YOU HEARD THAT BEFORE.

NOT COVERED BY BASELINE BUDGET. THESE ARE NOT NEW POSITIONS.

THEY ARE WITH THE TAX OFFICE FOR -- IN MOST CASES FOR YEARS.

SO WE ARE HAVING THAT SAME ISSUE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING. 16 OF THESE POSITIONS ARE IN AUTO SERVICES. TWO POSITIONS AND PROPERTY TAX AND TWO POSITIONS IN ADMIN SUPPORT.

LISTED ON THE SLIDE ARE THE DETAILS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PERMANENT POSITIONS. NEXT SLIDE.

FOR OUR NONLABOR REQUEST, WE ARE ASKING FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE HIRING AND TRAINING OF 28 CONTRACT WORKERS.

ALSO REFERRED TO AS TEMPS. BECAUSE THESE WORKERS ARE TEMPORARY WORKERS, FUNDING IS ALLOCATED IN OUR NONLABOR

[04:20:02]

THREE OF THESE TEMPS ARE IN THE TAXPAYER ADVOCACY GROUP THAT ITORO JUST SPOKE ABOUT. WE WANT TO CAPITALIZE ON THE SUCCESS WE ARE SEEING THROUGH THE INITIATIVE.

A GROUP THAT IS PROACTIVE IN REACHING OUT AND COMING BASE IT IS TAXPAYERS. THESE TEMPORARY WORKERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE TAX OFFICE OPERATIONS AND CREATE A PIPELINE OF TRAINED CANDIDATES FOR PERMANENT POSITIONS AS THE POSITIONS BECOME AVAILABLE. WE UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON COUNTY RESOURCES AND THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT ALLOCATION DECISIONS BEFORE THE COURT.

THEREFORE THE GOAL OF THE TAX OFFICE IS TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE WITH THE RESOURCES WE ARE GIVEN.

AND NOT ADD ANY ADDITIONAL BURDEN OR PHYSICIANAL STRAIN.

WE TRY OUR BEST NOT TO MAKE FINANCIAL REQUESTS AND ONLY DO SO WHEN WE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER OPTIONS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS THE COURT MAY HAVE. JUDGE JUDGE THANK YOU, MR. HAMILTON. MR. AKPAFFONG.

DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS?

THE POINTS YOU GUYS -- >> GIVE MY REWARDS TO MISS

BENNETT. >> WILL DO.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: THE POINTS YOU MAKE ON THE RETENTION ISSUE IS NOTED ON THE PCN AS WELL. SO I -- I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THE WORK.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER PARTICULAR STRAIN AS WELL BECAUSE YOUR WORK NEEDS TO CONTINUE.

FOLKS ARE EAGER TO -- NOT NECESSARILY TO PAY THEIR TAXES BUT TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND YOUR FOLKS HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH FRONT-LINE WORKERS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? TOMORROW TOM JUST QUICKLY I KNOW THAT A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS STRUGGLED BY DOING THE QUA QUARTILE.

PAYING THEIR TAXES AND SOME OF THEM ARE RELATED TO THEIR OWN PROTOCOLS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AND YOU CAN'T WAIT OUTSIDE AND GET -- IS THAT FREEING UP AT ALL RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU CAN GET PEOPLE THROUGH THAT, SOCIAL DISTANCE THEM OR HAVE THEM WAIT OUTSIDE OR WHAT?

HOW IS THAT WORKING? >> WELL, WE HAD TO BE INNOVATIVE AND USE TECHNOLOGY. AND THAT IS WHAT ITORO TOUCHED ON WHERE WE MADE IT WHERE WE HAVE VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS FOR THOSE WHO NOT JUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR -- IN-PERSON, BUT TAKE CARE OF YOU VIRTUALLY. SO WE ARE DOING APPOINTMENTS

THAT WAY TOO. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: PEOPLE WOULD CALM ME AND HAVE A PROBLEM WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT -- CALL ME AND HAVE A PROBLEM WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH VIRTUAL AND NOT USED TO PAYING THEIR TAXES WHETHER THAN GETTING IN THEIR CAR AND GO TO OUR OFFICE.

WE NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VERY TECH

SAVVY. >> I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE FOCUS ON THOSE -- MAYBE THE MILLENNIALS WE HEARD ABOUT THAT WE WILL USE THE TECHNOLOGY SO WE CAN FREE UP THE IN-PERSON FOR THOSE WHO PREFER THAT.

>> WE DO OUR BEST TO RESPECT THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT IN PERSON. AND WE HAVE -- I EVEN NOTICED IT MYSELF THAT THE OFFICER WILL PAY ATTENTION OR WHOEVER GREETS THEM AT THE DOOR PAYING ATTENTION IN RESPONSES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHICH YEAR THE -- THE FIRST PART OR SECOND PART. BUT HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN WHEN WE FIRST KICKED OFF.

COVID TRANSACTIONS TICK UP. WE ARE DOING A LITTLE MORE IN PERSON NOW THAN WE DID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY WORKING ON IT.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY: THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE HIDALGO: SO THAT SHOULD IT BE FOR QUESTIONS.

LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE -- THE FINAL DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND GREETINGS AS WELL TO MISS BENNETT AND GRATITUDE TO HER AND TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

TOMORROW WE HAVE THE ANALYST OFFICE, UNIVERSAL SERVICES,

[04:25:03]

SO IF COUNTY APPLICANT ADMINISTRATOR, COUNTRY ATTORNEYS AND MEMBERS OF COURT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE TODAY FOR KEEPING YOUR PRESENTATIONS TO TEN MINUTES. I THINK IT WAS PRODUCTIVE AND VERY USEFUL. THANK YOU TO MY COL DESIG DESIGNATION. 3:27.

3:28 AND TODAY'S ME

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.