[Call to Order]
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THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED. >>> I'D LIKE CALL THIS JANUARY 14, 2022 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION NERVES COURT TO ORDER FOR A HEARING OF THE PROPOSED SHORT FISCAL YEAR '22 AND '23 BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON THE BUDGET TODAY. I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER ELLIS
IS DOING THE INVOW CARE SHUCK THIS MORNING. >> I KNOW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME TO GIVE THE INVOCATION. JUDGE, I HAVE A SURPRISE. I HAVE BISHOP DIXON.
HE DID HIS FIRST [INDISCERNIBLE] AT 15 YEARS OLD AND YOU AND I OF COURSE WERE WITH HIM LAST NIGHT AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT LAST NIGHT THAT HE'S A [INDISCERNIBLE] TEACHER.
I KNEW THAT HIS GRANDFATHER WAS A PROMINENT PASTOR AND HIS FATHER WAS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER BUT REVEREND DIXON, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PRAYER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY [INDISCERNIBLE].
TO ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT COMMISSIONERS COURT, GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU EACH. AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS THE PROCEEDINGS FOR TODAY. FATHER AND GOD, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US TODAY TO HAVE HEALTH AND STRENGTH FOR THE AWARENESS OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO YOU ARE AND FOR THE AWARENESS OF THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR ASSIGNMENTS TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.
WE THANK GOD FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, FOR YOUR WISDOM, FOR THIS COURT, FOR THE OFFICERS WHO COMMAND THIS COURT. I PRAY TO GOD FOR YOUR GUIDANCE THAT ULTIMATELY THE DECISIONS ARE MADE THAT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
AND WHATEVER PERSONAL CONCERNS WE HAVE THAT ARE [INDISCERNIBLE] WE PRAY YOU LEAD US IN OUR PRIVATE PLACES WITH YOUR GRACE AND MERCY AND YOUR STRENGTH. WE KNOW YOU LOVE US.
WE ARE AMAZED THAT YOU CALL US YOUR CHILDREN. WE GIVE YOU HAVE THE GLORY AND
HONOR IN ADVANCE, IN THE NAME OF OUR CHRIST, AMEN. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BISHOP.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR HEALTH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
GOD BLESS OUR COMMISSIONERS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BISHOP DIXON.
[Additional Item]
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WE'LL TAKE ANY BUDGET-RELATED SPEAKERS.DO WE HAVE ANY THIS MORNING, TIFFANY? >> YES, MA'AM.
FIRST IS JACOB CLEMONS SPEAKING ON THE FLOOD CONTROL BUDGET. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
GO AHEAD. >> GO AHEAD. [INDISCERNIBLE].
>> YES, SIR. >> THIS IS [INDISCERNIBLE] BEST COMMISSIONER TO TALK ABOUTEN A DELL AND CONTROL FLOODS, THAT IS TOM RAMSEY. HE'S NO ORDINARY COMMISSIONER WHEN IT COMES TO FLOOD CONTROL. HE'S A PROUD AGGIE WITH A DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, NOT ANY OLD DEGREE BUT ONE WITH A PE, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER. TO THE STATE OF TEXAS HE'S ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BEST. I [INDISCERNIBLE] ABOUT THIS TALK ON FLOOD CONTROL AND ASKED WHAT INPUT HE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AND HE EMPHATICALLY STATED, STOP THE FLOODING.
HE CARES NOT JUST FOR HIS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS BUT FOR ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY CITIZENS.
HE HAS TAKEN CARE OF PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY SINCE THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE RESCUES IN
HURRICANE HARVEY. >> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? WHAT I WOULD LIKE SAY IS THIS: HIDALGO [INDISCERNIBLE] I-45 FREEWAY EXPANSION, THAT IS NO GOOD. IT'S NO GOOD. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE, MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, [INDISCERNIBLE] FREEWAY BECAUSE THAT WOULD JUST LEAD TO MORE FLOODING, [INDISCERNIBLE] THE AREA UPLANDS AND FLOODS TOO EASILY AND THE OTHER DAY I SAW WHAT WAS -- A FRIEND THAT WAS COMING TO AND IT WAS [INDISCERNIBLE] AND BEFORE I KNEW IT PEOPLE WERE PLOWING THROUGH THE 45 FEET ROAD [INDISCERNIBLE] DEEP WATER.
FLOODS ARE NO GOOD UP THERE. SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. NO MORE FLOODING UP THERE.
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[INDISCERNIBLE] OKAY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, AREN'T YOU PROUD TO BE A WELL-ORGANIZEDAGGIE WITH A [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> THANK YOU, JACOB. APPRECIATE THE ENCOURAGEMENT.
>> YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO ENGINEERING HARRIS COUNTY.
I BETTER LET YOU ALL DISCUSS MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
GOOD-BYE. >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? >> YES, SIR.
WE HAVE ONE MORE. >> I WANT TO BRING YOU SOMETHING ELSE, THE SPEAKERS.
>> OKAY. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARISSA HANSON AND SINCE SHE'S NOT SPEAKING ON ANYTHING RELATED TO THE BUDGET HEARINGS AND SHE HAS SPOKEN WITHIN THE LAST THREE MEETINGS SHE RECEIVES ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE, MA'AM.
>> IS IT MY TURN? >> YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT'S SAFE TO RISK THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH HAVING THIS CHEVRON MARATHON ON SUNDAY BUT SMALL ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE CONTROLLABLE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AREN'T.
WHY IS IT OKAY TO HAVE PERSONAL CONTACT AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES WITH RANDOM STRANGERS BUT NOT OKAY TO HAVE COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH SEPARATION OF 50 FEET? WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS? THE CHEVRON MARATHON IS SUNDAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE CROWDED TOGETHER RUNNING AND A LARGE EVENT BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT ISN'T SAFE? , I MEAN, THE LOGIC REALLY DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE, DOES
IT. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> YES, COMMISSIONER . >> I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. [INDISCERNIBLE] ABOUT PROCESS, JUST TO GET A SENSE OF OUR SCHEDULE, MR. BARRY IN PARTICULAR, WHEN WE FINISH THE HEARINGS TODAY, YOU'VE GOT TO SOMEHOW PUT TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATION AND WE'LL GUARANTEE MEET -- I GUESS THIS HAS TO BE DONE BY THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY BUT I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF THE TIMETABLE. I NOTICE A LOT TO BE ADJUSTED AND I WANT TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE AT AND WHEN WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING FROM YOUR SHOP AT
LEAST TO TRY AND DIGEST BEFORE WE GO. >> SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER . I'LL START AT THE END WHICH IS THE BUDGET IS SCHEDULED FOR ADOPTION FEBRUARY 8 AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THAT TIMING IS ACTUALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE TEAM NEEDS TIME TO UPLOAD THE BUDGET AND GET IT ALL SET UP BEFORE THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS ON MARCH 1 SO I WOULD NOT WANT TO GO PASS FEBRUARY 8 OR ANY MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO. IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE NOW, OBVIOUSLY THESE HEARINGS HAVE GIVEN ME AND THE TEAM A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AND WE'LL BE WORKING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSED BUDGET, YOU KNOW, TO START WITH. I THINK I'M GOING TO TRY TO [INDISCERNIBLE] A DAY OFF. I THINK FROM WHERE WE ARE IT'S GOING TO BE TEN DAYS UNTIL WE CAN PRODUCE A PROPOSED BUDGET, JANUARY 24TH, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MEETING, OF COMMISSIONERS COURT THE NEXT DAY BUT FOLKS WON'T HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME WITH THE PROPOSAL OR REALLY BEEN ABLE TO DIGEST IT FOR THAT MEETING. I CAN WALK THROUGH IT BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T FOLKS TO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT FIVE DAYS AHEAD OF TIME.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE FEASIBLE. >> JUDGE, IT'S A LOT FOR YOU ALL TO GO THROUGH.
I THINK TEN DAYS IS REASONABLE, YOU KNOW, I'D USUALLY LOOK FOR SOME SERVICE EVENT ON [INAUDIBLE] AND ENCOURAGE MY FOLKS TO GO OUT AND DO IT TO REMEMBER THAT STRUGGLE, YOU KNOW, [INDISCERNIBLE] USUALLY I PARTICIPATE IN A MARCH SOMEWHERE OUTDOORS, SOCIALLY DISTANCING AND I'M PLANNING ON DOING THAT. I WOULD SUGGEST FOR US WE STRIKE -- I THINK WE UNANIMOUSLY AGREE TO GO TO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR AND IF THE ADOPTION IS
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[INDISCERNIBLE] NO MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO AFTER IT, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING EITHER BEFORE OUR JANUARY 25TH MEETING OR AFTER THAT MEETING IN THAT MATTER SO WE CAN STICK WITH THAT FEBRUARY 8TH ADOPTION OR PEOPLE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE MEET ON THE 9TH BUT I THINK IT DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE ALL DAY BUT AS YOU SAY, JUDGE, WHEN THIS STARTED, YOU KNOW, BUDGET REALLY IS A REFLECTION OF OUR VALUES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WHETHER THE TWEETS OR THE FACEBOOK POSTS OR PRESS CONFERENCE, IT'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD. WE HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS. SO I WANT TO LAY IT OUT.IT CAN BE A LONG MEETING BUT WE NEED MAKE SURE WE DON'T JUST WALK IN AND, YOU KNOW -- SOMETIMES IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE KIND OF FEEL-GOOD MOTIONS AS PEOPLE USED TO CALL THEM IN THE LEGISLATURE. MAYBE I WAS GUILTY OF THAT SOMETIMES, TOO.
I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW I'VE BEEN AWAY SO LOCK BUT YOU MAKE A MOTION AND -- BEEN AWAY SO LONG.
BUT WE WANT TO HAVE IT ON THE WALL SOMEWHERE ALL IN FRONT OF US SO IT'S NOT JUST -- IF SOMEBODY DEVIATES OR WHATEVER IS RECOMMENDED AND THAT'S THEIR CALL WE KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES.
I THINK THAT MERITS A MEETING JUST TO FOCUS ON THIS AND I DON'T REALLY CARE WHEN, IF IT'S BEFORE, IF IT'S AFTER THE 25TH. I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO ALL THIS
ON THE 25TH, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. >> COMMISSIONER , JUST TO CLARIFY, OBVIOUSLY I'LL DO WHATEVER THE COURT WANTS BUT IF YOUR IDEA FOR THE MEETING IS TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WOULD NEED TO BE AFTER THE 25TH BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET IT BEFORE THE 24TH. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> I CONCUR WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS. BY THE WAY, I SEND GREETINGS, COMMISSIONER , FROM YOUR FRIEND TODD STAPLES. HE'S SOMEONE I GREW UP WITH HERE IN EAST TEXAS AND WE HAPPENED TO RUN INTO EACH OTHER, HAD A NICE VISIT, AND I JUST -- I WANT TO BRING THAT --
>> HE'S A GOOD FRIEND, TOM, WHEN I WAS FINANCE CHIEF I THINK IT WAS HIS FIRST SESSION IN THE SENATE BEFORE HE WENT ON TO GREATER THINGS AND HE WILL REMEMBER THAT BUDGET PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND FOLKS WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT WITH 16 RS, AND 15 DS, AND WITH MY PROGRESSIVE IDEAS THE BUDGET WOULD PASS UNANIMOUSLY BUT IT DID. WHICH MEANT I TEMPTERRED QUITE A FEW THINGS AND MAYBE THEY DID TOO. HE'S A GOOD FRIEND.
>> WITHIN THE SPIRIT OF MR. STAPLES, I AGREE, WE NEED A MEETING WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND NOT HAVE 25 SPEAKERS ON THINGS OTHER THAN THE BUDGET. THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE BUDGET, SO A MEETING WITH THAT SPECIFIC, A SPECIAL MEETING, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH THAT LEVEL OF FOCUS I THINK WE'LL GET A LOT MORE DONE AND IT WILL BE A LOT BETTER PRODUCT WHEN WE GET
THROUGH. >> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD, COMMISSIONER CAGLE? OKAY. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> I'LL HAVE THE TEAM CIRCLE BACK WITH THE OFFICES ON SCHEDULING AND TO SEE IF IT'S AN ISSUE OR NOT. IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE -- OBVIOUSLY AFTER THE 24TH, AND FROM WHAT I HEARD, MR. BARRY SAID -- IF WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET IT ON THE 24TH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR A FURTHER DISCUSSION SO IT SOUNDS MAYBE CLOSER TO THE EIGHTH THAN TO THE 25TH. BUT WE CAN ALL DISCUSS ABOUT IT AND SEE WHAT CAN BE WORKED OUT LA JISLY -- LOGISTICALLY. I'LL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
>> JUDGE, I THINK THAT HAS TO BE IN PERSON, RIGHT. >> THE ONLY REASON THIS IS NOT IN PERSON IS THAT IT'S A HEARING. IT'S NOT A MEETING WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE BUT, YES, REMEMBER VIA THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER THAT CAME INTO EFFECT I
THINK LAST SEPTEMBER WE -- [CROSSTALK] -- >> IF THE COVID NUMBERS GO UP, LET'S HOPE THEY'RE GOING DOWN, IF IT'S LEGAL, I'M FLEXIBLE WITH A HYBRID, LIKE WE HEAR IT, LAY IT OUT, AND THEN SCHEDULE A TIME TO GO IN. I'M FLEXIBLE BUT I'M SENSITIVE, TOO. I THINK TWO OF US HAVE HAD IT, RIGHT? I'VE BEEN LUCKY BUT AS THE OLDEST ONE, AS THE SECOND OLDEST ONE.
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TOM, I FORGET. YOU MIGHT HAVE IT BY A YEAR. >> I DO BY A YEAR.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO GET IT. >> YEAH. OKAY.
WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND FIGURE OUT THE LOGISTICS. SO THAT IS THAT BEFORE WE START.
[Flood Control]
SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH FLOOD CONTROL. WE HAVE FLOOD CONTROL, POLLUTION CONTROL AND TOLL ROAD AND ENGINEERING TODAY. I BELIEVE ELLEN BLACK IS HERE.>> I AM, JUDGE. CAN YOU HEAR AND SEE ME? >> YES, WE CAN.
GO AHEAD, MR. BLACK. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
>> ONE SECOND. GO AHEAD. >> LIMITING IT TO TEN MINUTES TO
ALLOW TIME FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER. >> THANK YOU.
>> UNDERSTOOD. IT'S DOWN TO EIGHT MINUTES. GOOD MORNING, ALLEN BLACK WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. BEFORE I START I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK THE COURT FOR INTRUSTING ME WITH LEADING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. IT'S BEEN A HUMBLING AN AN HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO LEAD THIS WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATION WHERE OUR SUCCESS IS FOUNDED ON THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERTISE OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO I ALSO CALL MY FRIENDS. WE'RE 350 STRONG AND WE ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE DEDICATED TO MAKING THE LIVES OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS BETTER.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR MISSION IS PRETTY SIMPLE, TO PROVIDE FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION PRONGS THAT WORK WITH APPROPRIATE REGARD FOR COMMUNITY AND NATURAL SAM'S.
WE DELIVER THAT MISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UPDATED PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK THROUGH THE PROGRAMS WE'VE NOTED HERE AND WHILE OPERATIONS IS NOT SPECIFICALLY NOTED IT ACTUALLY FORMS THE UMBRELLA FOR OUR PLANNING AND ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION ANDINFRASTRUCTURE DIVISIONS. OUR AVERAGE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE IS THREE TO FIVE YEARS BUT WE CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR WAYS TO WORK CASTS IN PARALLEL AND SPEED THINGS UP. THAT IS UNLESS FELT FUNDING SOURCE PROHIBITS IT AND IT DOES PRETTY OFTEN. AFTER OUR PROJECTS ARE CONSTRUCTED THE NEW ASSETS TRANSACTION TO ROUTINE INFRASTRUCTURE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ON THE LEFT HERE YOU'LL SEE OUR PRIORITY OUTCOMES AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS KEY METRICS AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THEM ALL BUT THEY ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION, REDUCE THE RISK OF FLOODING AND STRUCTURES. THE SECOND ONE BRINGS FURTHER ALIGNMENT WITH THIS COURT'S PRIORITY TO INVEST IN FLOOD CONTROL [INDISCERNIBLE] THREE TIMES A YEAR AROUND 17,000 ACRES MOWED PER CYCLE. ON THE FLOOD WARNING SIDE WE REGULARLY INSPECT ALL OF OUR GAUGES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE REPORTING ACCURATE DATA TO OUR OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR PLANNING, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER TO DELIVER NEW INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS CURRENTLY FUNDED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE BOND PROGRAM.
WE LEAN HEAVILY ON CONSULTANTS AND 26 PERCENT OF THIS MONEY IS COMMITTED TO NWBE OFFICIALS.
WE REPORT MONTHLY TO COURT ACTUAL PAYMENTS AS WELL AND THAT PERCENTAGE IS HOLDING TRUE.
AS A CONSTRUCTION LAST YEAR WE AWARDED 150 SYMPTOMS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION BRINGING OUR TOTAL AND ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TODAY TO $478 MILLION ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THIS YEAR WE PLAN TO AWARD IF YOU $14 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL NEW CONSTRUCTION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
YOU CAN SEE HERE SOME OF THE TARGETS THAT WE TRACK ON DELIVERING OUR PRIORITY OUTCOMES. FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED A RECORD, NEAR RECORD NUMBER OF REQUESTS AND MORE THAN 2100 OF THEM AND WE'RE BEATING OUR GOAL WITH A RATE OF ALMOST 98 PERCENT. WE CONDUCTED 22 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS LAST YEAR KEEPING OUR COMMIT MEANT TO ENGAGE EARLY AND OFTEN WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM OUR PROJECTS AND AND TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PLANNING GOES INTO THIS EFFORT AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN STRONG. WE HOLD THESE MEETINGS TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS, THE LOCAL EXPERTS ON WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN IT FLOODS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE THE EXPERTS AS WELL ON THEIR DESIRED OUTCOMES SO OUR JOB IS TO MERGE THEM TOGETHER TO PRODUCE THAT DESIRED OUTCOME. NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE HAD THESE KIND OF RESOURCES LIKE WE DO NOW TO INVEST IN THIS KIND OF OUTREACH AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT.
ONE MEASURE THAT'S SHOWN HERE THAT IS NOT ON TRACK IS THE HOME BUYOUTS AND THERE'S A GOOD, ALBEIT FRUSTRATING. THE PACE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF OUR ORIGINAL HOME [INDISCERNIBLE] VOLUNTEERS AFTER HARVEY HAS
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SINCE DROPPED OUT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL FUNDS MOVE SO SLOW. THEY EITHER REBUILD OR SELL AND MOVE, EITHER WAY THEY MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM.REPLACING THOSE VOLUNTEERS WITH NEW ONES IS EQUALLY FRUSTRATING AND SO SO I CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS WITH MY STAFF AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH TEDA AND FEMA AND KEEP OUR DELEGATION INFORMED BECAUSE THEY APPROPRIATED THE MONEY AND WE WANT TO SEND IT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER MEASURES WE TRACK AS WELL SUCH AS TERP ESTABLISHMENT, RECRUITING, GETTING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS STARTED ON TIME WHICH 80 PERCENT IS GOOD, NOT GREAT, AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT WITH OUR CONTRACTORS TO IMPROVE IT BECAUSE IT'S TRULY A TEAM EFFORT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HERE'S OUR FUDGE REQUEST.
AS A REMINDER THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BUDGET DOES NOT IN OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUT RATHER THROUGH OUR OWN SEPARATE TAX REVENUE WHICH IS SET AT OVER 3.3 CENTS.
IN RECEPT YEARS THE PUDGE HAS HELD TO $120 MILLION FOR A 12-MONTH CYCLE, OR 70 MILLION FOR THE JUST FY. OVERALL TAKING CARE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT AND VITAL ASSETS, OUR EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTS 35 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET. WE ALSO LEVERAGE ALMOST 10 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET ON OTHERS WHO SUPPORT US. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL BASICS .8 MILLION TO OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO US SUCH AS RIGHTS OF WAY ACTION SESSION, LEGAL SERVICES, IT, FLEET AND PURCHASING, AND WE'LL ALSO SPEND $4.5 MILLION ON STAFF AUGMENTATION THIS YEAR THROUGH TWO DOZEN OR SO DIFFERENT CONSULTANT AGREEMENT.
THEY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT LARGELY IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOND PROGRAM. INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE IS THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET AT ABOUT 50 PERCENT. THAT'S NOT ALL JUST MOWING, WHICH COSTS US AROUND $21 MILLION A YEAR. IT'S ALSO IN MANAGING THE PROPERTIES, HERB SIDE, PLANTING TREES, PLANTING NEARLY 15,000 TREES. WE HAVE SEEN THE ABILITY, WHERE APPROPRIATE, REDUCE THE MOWING CYCLES WITH APPROPRIATE TREES AND IT HAS CARBON CAPTURE AND MORE AND WE'RE ABOUT TO REQUEST COURT AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO MEASURE NATIVE TREE PLANTING ON SOIL INFILTRATION WITHIN OUR RETENTION BASINS. LET'S HEAR THE OUTCOMES WE STRIVE FOR. MOWING REGULARLY, MAKING SURE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNING. OUR ENGINEERING PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON DELIVERY OF THE BOND PROGRAM AND AS YOU'VE HEARD ME STATE BEFORE, ALL BOND PROGRAM PROJECTS HAVE NOW BEEN INITIATED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR PLANNING GROUP CONTINUES TO STUDY PROBLEMS IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS AND KEEP THE PIPELINE OF PROJECTS MOVING, NOT JUST WITH THE BOND PROGRAM BUT LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT COMES NEXT.
WE SAY ALL THE TIME THE BOND PROGRAM IS A GREAT DOWN PAYMENT BOTHERS FAR MORE WORK TO BE DONE AND WORKING CLOSELY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK FORCE AND THE IRT WE CAN DELIVER A SMART AND EQUITABLE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS MY LAST. FINALLY, THERE'S OUR PURSUIT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. THE 750 SYMPTOMS, PREFERABLY MORE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND APPLY AT EVER OPPORTUNITY FOR ANNUAL GRANTS SUCH AS THE FEMA BRICK AND FMA PROGRAMS WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WHAT WE'RE SEEING SO FAR IN ORDER TO MOVE FUNDS FASTER MANY OF THOSE EXISTING PROGRAMS ARE BEING PROVIDED A LOT MORE MONEY WHICH IS GREAT. WE KNOW THE PROCESSES. THERE'S ALSO A LOT MORE OF ONE-TIME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'M WORKING CLOSELY WITH IGA, OMB, OCA AND INFRASTRUCTURE LOBBYISTS IN DC TO TRACK AND BE READY FOR. I OFTEN SAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T JUST WRITE BIG FAT CHECKS TO FLOOD CONTROL, INSTEAD THEY DROP FUNDS INTO ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TO MATCH THE RIGHT PROJECT TO THE RIGHT PROGRAM AND FOLLOW THEIR RULES AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM AND ADVOCATE AND FIGHT THOUGH THOSE FUNDS.
THAT'S MY COMMITMENT TO THE COURT AND TO OUR RESIDENTS. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'VE SPOKEN TOO LONG. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR
QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, ALAN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND I KNOW THAT WE GAVE SOME DIRECTION ON [INDISCERNIBLE] MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE AND THE DE-SALTING IS A MAJOR PART OF THAT. MY QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE A
COUNTYWIDE DESILTING NEEDS ASSESSMENT DONE YET. >> COMMISSIONER , THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. WE DID START ON THE STRATEGIC
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ASSET PLAN, PHASE 1, LAST YEAR, CONCLUDED THAT INITIAL REPORT IN THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OMB ON THE MANNER IN WHICH TO PROCEED WITH THE NEXT PHASE WHERE WE'LL BE DOING THE FULL COUNTYWIDE ASSESSMENTS. WE DO OF COURSE HAVE A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AND SO WHAT YOU'LL SEES IN SOME OF OUR ADDITIONAL REQUESTS IS THAT, YES, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE MAINTENANCE WORK BUT WE OF COURSE WORK WITH WHAT WE'RE PROVIDED AND ARE ABLE TO DO AS MUCH DESILT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AND ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS THERE AS WELL IS THE RECENTLY OBLIGATED FROM FEMA $250 MILLION FOR SEDIMENT REMOVAL TIED TO HURRICANE HARVEY.WE'LL USE THAT AND MATCH THAT UP TO WORK WE NEED TO DO IN THOSE AREAS TO GET MORE WORK DONE FOR
THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> GOOD DEAL.
I WAS GOING TO ASK. I WAS REMEMBERING 200 MILLION AND YOU'RE SAYING IT'S 250?
>> YES, COMMISSIONER . $250 MILLION OBLIGATED AND ACTUALLY THE TOTAL COST TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS ABOUT $6.25 MILLION, SO A PRETTY GOOD RETURN ON THE INVEST MEANT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. GOOD. I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS -- I DON'T THINK I SAW THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION SO I DO WANT TO SEE A FINALITY TO THAT.
AND FORMAL RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS MOVING FORWARD AND THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO AND WITH ALL THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE PUTTING DOWN WE NEED A COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN IT, OTHERWISE IT'S THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER -- OR PUTTING IN BAD MONEY AFTER GOOD MONEY SO LET'S MAKE SURE NOT TO LET THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE DETERIORATED
SOONER THAN WE NEED IT TO. >> YES, SIR, COMMISSIONER . THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, ALAN. A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. SO HOW MUCH OF YOUR BUDGET, AND I THINK IT'S 100 -- YOU BASELINE $109 MILLION BUDGET, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS COMING FROM GRANT MONEY? HOW MUCH OF THIS IS COMING FROM YOUR TAXES? WHAT'S THE BREAKDOWN THERE?
>> COMMISSIONER , THE $120 MILLION BUDGET FOR A 12-MONTH CYCLE, THAT IS ALL FROM TAX REVENUE. THE GRANT FUNDING, THAT ALL GOES TOWARDS PROJECTS, TOWARDS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH THE BOND PROGRAM, AT LEAST THE LEVERAGE FOR THOSE PROJECTS, SO TOWARDS PROJECTS BUT THE 120 IS STRICTLY FOR O & M AND THROUGH TACK REVENUE.
>> 109 IS THE SHORT-YEAR BUDGET. >> I'M SORRY. NO.
THE SHORT YEAR IS 70 MILLION. BASICALLY $10 MILLION A MONTH, SEVEN MONTHS, COMES OUT TO
70 MILLION FOR THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR. >> SO HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU
SECURED IN GRANTS THAT YOU CAN APPLY OVER ON THE BOND SIDE? >> ON THE BOND SIDE FOR THE -- SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY WE SECURED MORE THAN $1.2 BILLION IN PARTNERSHIP FUNDS.
I SAY PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE IT'S A COMBINATION OF GRANTS AND ADDITIONAL PARTNERS COMING IN AND PITCHING IN THEIR FAIR SHARE BUT WE'RE OVER $1.2 MILLION, COMMISSIONER .
>> OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S A GOOD JOB.
JUST DOWN IN THE WEEDS A BIT, NITTY-GRITTY, AS YOU MANAGE THE PROJECTS, AND I KNOW ALL OF THEM HAVE A SCHEDULE, ARE YOU MEASURING AS A METRICS THE NUMBER OF REVIEW MEETINGS YOU HAVE ON CERTAIN PROJECTS? I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MAYBE FIVE-PLUS REVIEW MEETINGS ON PROJECTS AND SOMEONE IS DISCONNECTED THERE. EITHER WE IN FLOOD CONTROL HAVE ISSUES OR OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE ISSUES BUT WE SHOULD BE TAKING FIVE MEETINGS TO GET TO THE EARNED. ARE YOU MEASURING THAT AND WHAT CAN YOU DO TO I AM PROVE THAT?
>> COMMISSIONER , I'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT, NO, WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY MEASURING THAT METRIC. WE CERTAINLY CAN. I'M GOING TO PUT MY PROJECT MANAGER HAT ON BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I STARTED AT FLOOD CONTROL AND AGREE 100 PERCENT.
WE CAN'T HAVE THAT MANY REVIEW MEETINGS BECAUSE YOU'RE STARTING TO ENTER INTO THE IDEA OF DESIGNING BY REVIEW AS OPPOSED TO ANY CONSULTANTS, LETTING THEM DO THEIR JOB AND DO IT QUICKLY.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL LOOK INTO, IF I CAN REACH OUT TO YOUR STAFF FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF THERE'S SOME SPECIFICS THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE AND START TRACKING THAT AS WELL AS REPORT BACK TO COURT OUR MEANS TO REDUCE THAT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE PROJECTS DONE
QUICKER. >> SO ARE YOU SAYING 90 PERCENT OF THE PROJECTS, PEOPLE ARE BEATING THE SCHEDULE? ARE THEY RIGHT ON THE SCHEDULE? WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ESTIMATE?
>> ALL CASES RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE ARE ON SCHEDULE FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.
[00:30:03]
SOME OF THEM WILL BE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. MY GUESS IS SOME OF THEM ARE A LITTLE BEHIND SCHEDULE AS WELL BUT THAT'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY SOME OF THE RULES AND BARRELS THAT GET THROWN IN FRONT OF US WHEN WE INTRODUCE FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE EVE SEEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, I MENTIONED IT EARLIER IN MY SPEAKING REMARKS WHERE IF WE'RE USING LOCAL FUNDING WE CAN RUN ALL KINDS OF TASKS IN PARALLEL AND GET PROJECTS OUT FASTER BUT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL FUNDS AND REQUIREMENTS ARE PUT IN PLACE THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS WE CANNOT DO IN PARALLEL. WE HAVE TO FINISH ONE TASK COMPLETELY BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TASK AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO LEARN AS WE HAVE GOTTEN INTOSOME OF THESE NEW FEDERAL PROGRAMS. >> THOSE ARE NEW PROGRAMS. MOST OF THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS ARE PREDICTABLE. WE KNOW ABOUT THEM.
YOU CAN BUILD THAT INTO YOUR SCHEDULE AND I'M INTERESTED IN PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF CONSULT TENTS, THAT WE'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT CLIENT AND THAT THEY'RE BEATING OUR SCHEDULES AND SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH EXPECTATION, SO, PLEASE, FROM YOUR CHAIR, SET AN EXPECTATION, WE'RE GOING TO BEAT THE SCHEDULE. WE NEED THESE PROJECTS DELIVERED. WE NEED TO GET CONSTRUCTION OUT ON THE STREET.
>> I AGREE 100 PERCENT, COMMISSIONER , AND I'LL CONVEY THAT MESSAGE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID. YOU STEPPED IN AT A CHALLENGING TIME ON SHORT NOTICE AND YOU'VE DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF YOU AND THE [INDISCERNIBLE] ON THE [INDISCERNIBLE] ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S A MODEL FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IT'S TRANSPARENT.
WE CAN LOOK AT IT. I CAN ONLY THINK OF ONE ITEM THAT CAME ON THE AGENDA WHERE I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I WANTED IT TO GO BACK [INDISCERNIBLE] RENEWAL, BUT YOU'LL HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB. I THINK OTHER DEPARTMENTS HOPEFULLY WILL BE AS SENSITIVE TO THAT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MICROMANAGE IT FROM THE TABLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER . >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL OF THE WORK MOVING IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ON THESE REQUESTS WHAT MAKES YOU SELECT THESE VERSUS SO MANY OTHER NEEDS THAT FLOOD CONTROL? WHAT I'M GETTING AT WITH MY QUESTION IS: SO MANY OF YOUR WORK IS SORT OF CIP-LIKE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO PAY FOR IT WITH GRANTS AND THE BOND AND FEDERAL MONEY AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DETERMINES IN YOUR MIND WHAT GETS PRESENTED TO THIS GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND
WHAT DOESN'T? >> SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE, FOR THE QUESTION. THE WORK THAT IS PRESENTED AS PART OF OUR $120 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET IS LARGELY THE YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT WORK OF MAKING SURE THAT THE DISTRICT FUNCTIONS AND THAT THE DISTRICT'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED. AND THAT'S BEEN A BIT OF A CHANGE FROM HOW WE WERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE 120 MILLION WAS ABOUT E COLORADOLY SPLIT BETWEEN THE CIP AND A & M.
THE BOND PROGRAM EFFECTIVELY IS THE CIP PROGRAM RIGHT NOW WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO USE THE $120 MILLION IN O & M FUNDS TO A, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STAFF AND STAFF AUGMENTATION TO DELIVER ON THE BOND PROGRAM. AND ALSO TO START TRYING TO CATCH UP ON SOME OF THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AGAIN THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR DECADES NOW.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. SO THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE IS BASICALLY A
GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND THEN THE BOND IS YOUR [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> YES, MA'AM.
EFFECTIVELY THAT'S THE CASE. >> OKAY. GOT IT.
AND THEN -- CAN YOU COVER -- WHEN FOLKS ARE ASKED, ARE WE MOVING THE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS AS QUICKLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE, I TEND TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THEM -- IT'S ABOUT AS FAST AS THEY CAN GO AND WE'VE TRIED TO FIND CASE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT -- FIND WAYS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT. WHAT IS YOUR BEST ANSWER TO THAT?
>> I WOULD ALWAYS PREFER TO BE ABLE TO MOVE PROJECTS FASTER THAN WE CAN AND USUALLY THE REASON A PROJECT MIGHT MOVE SLOWER THAN A DIFFERENT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF RULES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A LARGE RETENTION WAYS BE AND THERE'S WETLANDS THERE. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL RELATED PROGRESS FOR SECURING AN INDIVIDUAL PERMIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 404 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT.
THAT TAKES OFTENTIMES 12 MONTHS. RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION CAN TAKE 12 TO 18 MONTHS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE JUSTIFICATION FOR CONDEMNING PROPERTY BEFORE WE START THAT
[00:35:02]
PROCESS AND SO REALLY IT'S -- THE RULES THAT WE HAVE TO AND WANT TO FOLLOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL OF THE LOCAL AND STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT TEND TO DIRECT AND DICTATE THE TIME IT TAKES TO MANY COMPANY INCOMPLETE A PROJECT.AGAIN, HAVING SAID THAT, WHEN WE'RE USING ONLY LOCAL FUNDS WE DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO TRY AND SPEED THINGS UP. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE WE'RE WORKING ON FINAL DESIGN AND WE'RE JUST BUILDING -- DIGGING A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND WE CAN BID A GENERAL MASS GRADING PROJECT TO START DIGGING A HOLE WHILE THE REST OF THE ENGINEERING CATCHES UP AND WE DO THAT ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS. EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE TAKE WE DO IMPLEMENT, AND I LIKE TO SAY EVERY SCOOP OF DIRT YOU TAKE OUT OF THE GROUND IS A REDUCTION OF RISK FOR FLOODING FOR THE RESIDENTS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE TRY AND DO TO SPEED THINGS UP.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. RIGHT NOW YOU CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT WE'RE ON TIME? I KNOW THERE'S FUNDING CHALLENGES BUT IN GENERAL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL ON TIME TO FINISH WITHIN OUR TEN-YEAR FRAMEWORK.
>> YES, MA'AM, WITHIN THE TEN-YEAR TIME FRAME AND THANK TO DO THE FLOOD RESILIENCE TRUST WE HAVE ASSURANCES THAT EVERY PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO PROCEED EVEN WHEN A PARTNER DOESN'T COME TO THE ABLE SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXECUTE EVERY ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING EVERYTHING AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM ON TIME. >> OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> ALAN, ONE LAST ONE.
WHAT IS YOUR BOND BUDGET THIS YEAR? YOU SAID IT'S 120 MILLION FOR
YOUR BASELINE BUDGET. WHAT'S YOUR BOND? >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER .
THE 120 IS STRICTLY FOR THE O & M. I DID RECEIVE OUR CASH FLOW EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND SO OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS WE'RE PLANNING TO SPEND
ABOUT $700 MILLION OF BONDS/PARTNER FUNDING. >> HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO LAST
YEAR? >> IT'S DOUBLE FROM LAST YEAR. >> THANK YOU.
>> SO WE'RE STARTING TO GET INTO THE STEEP PART OF THAT S CURVE OVER THE BOND PROGRAM.
>> YOU KNOW THIS IS THE QUESTION ASKED LAST YEAR. 700 MILLION WAS THIS YEAR AND
WHAT IS IT NEXT YEAR? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> JUDGE, I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING YOU JUST SAID, ALAN. WITH THE -- ON THE FLOOD TRUST, THE [INDISCERNIBLE] BAYOU PROJECT, I THINK IT IS, P 118-25-26, I THINK, THAT IS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S ABOUT A YEAR, IF NOT MORE, BEHIND SCHEDULE; IS THAT ACCURATE OR
NOT? >> COMMISSIONER , I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T HAVE THE IMMEDIATE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME TO RESPOND TO THAT. I'LL PROMISE TO GET BACK TO YOUR
STAFF TODAY, THIS MORNING, ON THAT. >> YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF IT -- IF SOMETHING IS [INAUDIBLE] A MONTH BEHIND, THAT'S ONE THING. BUT A YEAR, GIVEN OR TAKE A
MONTH OR TWO, DOES THAT NOT RESONATE? >> THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR A PROJECT TO BE ONE YEAR BEHIND SCHEDULE. AND SO THERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT DELAYS DUE TO REQUIREMENTS FROM THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO SLOW US DOWNPOUR. WE CAN ONLY DO THINGS IN THE ORDER THEY ALLOW US TO AND AFTER THEY RELEASE GOVERNMENT FUNDS SO THAT PROJECT HAS EXPERIENCED SOME DELAYS DUE TO NO FAULT OF OUR OWN TEAM BUT DUE TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND BARRELS THROWN
IN FRONT OF US BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. >> BE CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT IN MIND WHERE THE DELAYS ARE OUT BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAY EVERYTHING'S GOING TO GET FINISHED ON SCHEDULE, I'M GOING TO BE HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND GREENS ARE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED AND NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION AND HAVE BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE EQUITY FRAMEWORK AND SO I'D LIKE HAVE A PUBLIC REPORT BACK ON P 118-25-26.
>> YES, SIR, COMMISSIONER . I'LL WORK WITH YOUR STAFF AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE MAKE THAT
REPORT. >> THANK YOU. >> QUESTIONS?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.
[INDISCERNIBLE] PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA. I GUESS MAYBE AFTER THIS BUDGET IS ADOPTED SO WE SEE WHERE WE ARE. THOSE TWO IN PARTICULAR, AND THE
[00:40:06]
COUPLE OF OTHERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEEN [INAUDIBLE] THAT HAVE GONE ON AND WITH THE 750 BEING TIED UP, WE MADE NO ASSUMPTION WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT BUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO HAVE OVERALL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THE EQUITY FRAMEWORK AND I CAN THINK OF OTHERS YOU BROUGHT UP, COMMISSIONER . SO WHETHER YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA OR I DO [INDISCERNIBLE] IF I PUT IT ON OUR STAFF WILL TALK AND WE'LL BE PREPARED.>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I COULD OFFER THIS COMING COURT DATE WE DO WHAT OUR MONTHLY BOND UPDATE THAT WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO COURT SO IT COULD BE UNDER THAT SO OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SEPARATE ITEM WE'LL BE HAPPY TO
WORK WITH YOUR STAFF ON THAT. >> BE PREPARED. THAT MAY BE A GOOD TIME, IF YOU
ARE READY NEXT WEEK, TO DO THAT. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR MORE BLACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU TO EVERY EMPLOY T AGREE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, ALL THE CONTRACTORS DO INCREDIBLE WORKDAY AND NIGHT AND SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND I LIKE YOUR PHILOSOPHY, EVERY SCOOP OUT OF THE GROUND IS FLOOD MITIGATION. I THINK WE ALL AGREE.
[Pollution Control]
THANK YOU, MR. BLACK. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> NEXT IS POLLUTION CONTROL.
I DON'T KNOW IF DR. [INAUDIBLE] IS ON THE LINE ALREADY. GOOD MORNING, DR. BABBET.
I THINK YOU ARE ON MUTE. >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD.
>> I WOULD LIKE SAY GOOD MORNING TO THE COMMISSIONERS, TEMPERATURE ELLIS, GARCIA, RAMSEY AND CAGLE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT POLLUTION CONTROLS BUDGET REQUEST AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE OFFICE OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN FORECASTING IN PREPARATION OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST I'D LIKE TO THANK MY STAFF FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THEY DO DID DAY AFTER DAY TO MAKE OUR PROJECT SUCCESSFUL. JOINING ME TODAY TO PRESENT IS MR. ANDREW BRADY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND POLICY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO POLLUTION CONTROL IS PROVIDING VERIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE OF REGULATED SUBS TO ACHIEVE CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION THROUGH THE WORK OF FIVE DIVISIONS WHO ORCHESTRATE INVESTIGATION AND MORE, AND TRANSPARENTLY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. POLLUTION CONTROL HAS FIVE KEY OBJECTIVES THAT INDICATE THE PROGRESS MADE OVER THE RECENT PAST.
WE HAVE PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED MONITORING AND TRANSPARENT DELIVERY OF DATA AS WELL AS DECREASE THE TIME BETWEEN INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS. WE STRIVE TO GAIN COMPLIANCE IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE TIME FRAME, BY MOVEMENT OF REPEAT AND SERIOUS VIOLATE ISSUES TO ADDITIONAL ACTION WHICH MAY INCLUDE ENFORCEMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I WON'T READ THIN TIRE SLIDE TO YOU BECAUSE IT CONTAINS A LOT OF INFORMATION BUT WHAT IT STRESSES ARE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY PROVIDING PROACTIVE AND INCREASED ACTIVITY IN INSPECTIONS, MONITORING, PERMANENT REVIEW AND EVEN UPDATING OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN VIOLATION NOTICES ISSUED, AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC INFORMATION AND OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, AND AN INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL COMPLAINTS. THE INCREASE HAS TRICKLED OVER INTO AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS THAT WE MAKE TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I WILL NOW TURN THE PRESENTATION
OVER TO AN R ANDREW BRADY. >> GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> YES. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS ELLIS, GARCIA, RAMSEY AND CAGLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. TODAY I'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR PERFORMANCE GOALS, LEADING INTO SPECIFIC FUNDING REQUESTS, AND HANDS IT BACK TO THE DOCTOR FOR CLOSING THOUGHTS BEFORE WE OPEN THE FLOOR TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. SO THE FIRST KEY PERFORMANCE ININDICATOR ON OUR LIST IS THE TIME FROM THE BEGINNING OF AN INVESTIGATION AND THIS IS WHETHER IT'S PUBLICLY REPORTED
[00:45:02]
COMPLAINT OR INTERNALLY INITIATED TO THE TIME A DECISION IS MADE TO ISSUE A VIOLATION OR NOT. WE REMAIN CLOSE TO OUR TARGET OF 30 DAYS, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL HELP US TO MORE EASILY REACH THAT TARGET. THE SECOND ON THE LIST IS THE PERCENTAGE OF COMPLETED WASTEWATER INSPECTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE OPERATOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE ISSUED PERMIT. THIS IS NOT A MEASURE OF OUR INSPECTION RATE RATHER IT'S A GAUGE OF HOW WELL FACILITIES ARE DOING AND ABIDING WITH THE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.OUR NOT TO INSPECT AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR IMPROVEMENT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT AS WE USUALLY FIND 90 PERCENT OR GREATER COMPLIANCE. THE THIRD KPI INDICATES THE PERCENTAGE OF ACTIVE OZONE AND CAMP AIR MONITORS. WE HAVE 12 OZONE AND 11 CAMP MONITORS. WE GENERALLY SEE BETWEEN 90 AND 100 PERCENT OF MONITORS PROVIDING REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY DATA TO THE WEBSITE. THE FOURTH KPI INDICATES THE TIME REQUIRED TO CLOSE OUT REPEAT AND EGREGIOUS PERMIT VIOLATIONS.
THESE REQUIRE COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WHILE THIS IS ACTUALLY A DIFFICULT ONE TO CONTROL WE'VE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME.
R, AS YOU CAN SEE. WE CAN ONLY COMMENT ON RENEWALS AND NEW PERMITS BUT WE REVIEW ALL PERMITS THAT APPLY TO SOLID WASTE, STORM WATER, OR AIR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
PER OUR BUDGET WITH POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES IS REQUEST $680,000 IN RECURRING NONLABOR FUNDS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES. FOR FY '22 FUNDING WHAT APPROVED TO HIRE EIGHT NEW POSITIONS AND BACK-FILL FOUR POSITIONS HOWEVER THE FUNDS WENT INTO THE GENERAL NONLABOR BUDGET INSTEAD OF INTO THE RECURRING LABOR FUND BUDGET AS THEY SHOULD HAVE TO TEMPORARILY FINANCE THESE POSITIONS, FUNDING WAS REALLOCATED FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET TO COVER THE APPROVED POSITIONS. NOW THAT'S THE CORRECTION IS MADE AND THE FUNDING ALLOCATION BUCKET ISSUE, SO TO SPEAK, HAS BEEN RESOLVED, THEY'RE ASKING FUNDS FOR REGULAR OPERATIONS DIRECTED TO THE FORECASTED INCREASES, LABORATORY OPERATIONS, TRAINING AND REGULAR NONCAPITAL EXPENDITURES. ITEM NUMBER 2, PCS IS REQUESTING $152,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR TWO ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONAL SUPPORT IS STEADILY INCREASING WORKLOAD IN REQUISITIONS PROCESSING, OPEN RECORD REQUESTS EITHER FROM INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT, ON-BOARDING, TO NAME A FEW. THREE, THEY ARE REQUESTING $381,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR ONE MANAGER AND THREE SPECIALIST POSITIONS THAT WILL DRIVE OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. FOR ITEM NUMBER 4, PCS IS REQUESTING $223,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR TWO SPECIALIST POSITIONS TO HANDLE DATA ANALYTICS, AIR QUALITY REPORTING, REPORT GENERATION AND DATA MANAGEMENT FOR OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS. FIVE, PCS IS REQUESTING $109,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR A COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR. THIS POSITION PLAYS A VERY CRITICAL ROLE IN DRIVING COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AGAINST POLLUTERS AND PERMIT VIOLATERS.
ITEM NUMBER 1 IN THE SLIDE PCS IS REQUESTING 300 DEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR ONE MANAGER AND ONE SUPERVISOR AND ONE SPECIALIST POSITION.
THE MANAGER AND SUPERVISOR ARE NEEDED TO MANAGE THE EXPANDING AIR QUALITY INITIATIVES IN PLACE AND ALSO ADMINISTERING OVER THE CONSOLIDATION OF AIR MONITORING INITIATIVES INCLUDING OUR STATIONARY CAMP AND OZONE SITES, OUR MOBILE RAPID AIR AMBIENT AIR VEHICLES AND THE DRONE PROGRAM.
SOLID WASTE SPECIALISTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTIONS OF LANDFILLS AND OTHER SOLID WASTE FACILITIES UNDER PERMIT. THERE'S CURRENTLY ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S EXPECTED TO PERFORM INSPECTIONS ON OVER 60 IDENTIFIED TIME ONE, 4 AND 5 FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY, AND THE LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE THE [INDISCERNIBLE] ALSO BE INSPECTEDDED.
ITEM NUMBER 2, REQUESTING $237,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS.
TWO, WASTE R WASTEWATER INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS, AND THEY ARE NEEDED TO HANDLE THE 470 SUPER PLANTS AND 480 INDUSTRIAL OUTFALLS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNTY.
THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL SITES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDED BUT WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES TO
[00:50:02]
CONDUCT THESE ALONG WITH PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS. ITEM NUMBER 3, THEY'RE ASKING $688,000 IN RECURRING LABOR COSTS FOR ONE SPECIALIST AND THREE FIELD INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS. THESE POSITIONS COMPRISE THE CORE OF OUR FIELDWORK AND I SUPPOSE WE WOULD CALL IT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUNDS FOR INVESTIGATIONS OF POLLUTION AND RESIDENT COMPLAINTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. STEM NUMBER ONE IN THIS SLIDE PCS IS REQUESTING $710,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR SIX SPECIALISTS AND ONE SUPERVISOR FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SECTION. THESE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ADD TO THE CAPABILITIES AND AVAILABILITY OF STAFF TO RESPOND TO EVENTS SUCH AS WE SAW WITH THE ITC FIRE. TWO, $197,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS, FOR ONE SPECIAL? AND ONE SUPERVISOR POSITION TO KEEP IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES AND CAPABILITIES. FINALLY, PCS IS REQUESTING $90,000 IN RECURRING LABOR FUNDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL DRONE PILOT TO SUPPORT THE AIR MONITORING PROGRAM. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO HEAR THE REQUESTS THIS MORNINGAND WE'LL NOW HAND IT BACK TO DR. BABBET. >> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE REQUEST PRESENTED WILL ALLOW US NOT ONLY TO EXHIBIT THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE NOW BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE DATA TO INFORM DECISION MAKERS AND GAIN COMPLIANCE OF THOSE NONCOMPLIANT FACILITIES. WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE'LL IMPLEMENT THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL MONITORS AND UTILIZE DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING PROGRAM. WE'LL EXPAND OUR CONCRETE BATCH PLANT PROGRAM WHICH STARTED OFF ACTUALLY AS AN UNFUNDED INITIATIVE IN FEBRUARY OF 2020, BUT THIS PROGRAM THAT WE INITIATED HAS COMPLETED OVER 140 INSPECTIONS OF CONCRETE FACILITIES. THIS PROGRAM NOW WILL EXPAND INTO THE AGGREGATE FACILITIES, ROCK CRUSHING AND ASPHALT FACILITIES SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF PARTICULATE MATTERS. WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT A NEW INITIATIVE THAT WILL LOOK
AT FLOATING ROOF TANKS -- [CROSSTALK] -- >> WHICH IS FORWARD-LOOKING INFRARED [INDISCERNIBLE] BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON OUR AIR QUALITY.
FINALLY, WE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE PEOPLE BUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO FIRST IS TO UTILIZE THEM TO STRENGTHEN OUR SURVEILLANCE NOW BUT EVENTUALLY WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD ADDITIONAL RAMS SO THAT WE HAVE ONE VEHICLE FOR EACH PRECINCT AND THEN THAT WAY WE HAVE THOSE ON THE READY FOR EMERGENCIES AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL SO FAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION AND WE'LL BE VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. DR. BABBIN, I REMAIN SO PROUD AND SO IMPRESSED AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM. YOU WERE ALMOST THROWN TO THE WOLFS WHEN YOU ASSUMED THE HELP BUT YOU'VE BECOME THAT DUCK IN THE WATER.
YOU LOOK SO COOL AND CALM ON TOP AND I KNOW YOU'RE PEDALING LIKE CRAZY UNDERNEATH.
I TELL YOU WHAT, THE ATTENTION TO WORK THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THE QUALITY OF LAND, AIR AND WATER HAS NOT ONE UNNOTICED. SO MANY COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH THAT.
I KNOW YOU'VE DEALT WITH A YOUNG MAN IN MY PRECINCT UP IN THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA [INDISCERNIBLE] A NEIGHBOR HE'S GOT YOU THERE THAT IS CHALLENGING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THERE'S NOT EASY ANSWERS FOR ANY OF THIS. BUT I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE NOT A BUREAUCRAT IN THE SENSE OF, WELL, WE HEARD ABOUT THAT AND WE'VE ALREADY CHECKED IT AND YOU GO OUT THERE AND TREAT IT LIKE IT WAS THE FIRST COMPLAINT EVER TO COME IN AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT TAKING [INAUDIBLE] TODAY BUT I THINK THIS HAS BEEN
[00:55:10]
GOOD MEAN, WELL-INVESTED, AND IT CONTINUES TO GIVE US A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS IN ANY OF YOUR WORK CAN YOU THINK 'THE POTENTIAL OF ANY BUSINESS MODELS THAT YOU CAN DEVELOP WHERE THERE'S SERVICE FOR FINE STRUCTURE THAT MAY EXIST BUT IS STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T REALLY COME BACK TO YOUR OFFICE. NOT THAT I WANT YOU ENTICE YOU TO ISSUE FINES, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS BUT FINDING WAYS TO HELP YOUR WORK PAY FOR ITSELF TO WHATEVER EXTENT THAT THAT CAN BE OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SUCH OPPORTUNITIES EXIST BUT IF THERE IS LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND
SEE IF WE CAN IMPLEMENT SOME OF THAT. >> I THINK FOR THE MOST PART THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAS PRO HICK TED US FROM GETTING -- PROHIBITED US FROM GETTING THOSE THINGS. WE DON'T ISSUE PERMITS BUT IF THERE'S A WAY WHEN WE DO ISSUE
FINES, MAYBE WE CAN TALK WITH THEM. >> MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON A RECAPTURE STRATEGY. MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT -- I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW TO GET THAT BACK TO YOU SPECIFICALLY VERSUS THE GENERAL FUND AND SO WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT THOSE RECAPTURE SITES AND SEEING HOW WE CAN RECONSTITUTE THEM IN A MORE -- IN A BETTER WAY TO INVEST INTO YOUR WORKING OPERATIONS.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, PROUD OF YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO [INDISCERNIBLE] I WON'T REPEAT THEM AGAIN. WE'VE GOT A FULL DAY. BUT I THINK THAT SO MANY WORTHY REQUESTS HAVE COME IN, YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN SO SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED.
IF WE DON'T DO IT HERE, WE PAY FOR IT IN TERMS OF THE COSTS FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND OTHER AREAS.
IT'S ONE THAT I'LL BE VERY KEY TO SUPPORT. I ALSO HOPE YOU WILL WORK WITH MR. BARRY TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES IN TERMS OF EQUIPMENT MAYBE, ARPA FUNDS COULD BE USED, BECAUSE IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I THINK MAYOR WHITE WAS PUTTING THOSE MONITORS UP AND THEN THE STATE BANNED IT.
THEY STOPPED IT. AND OF COURSE THEY DO LESS. IT'S IMPORTANT WORK AND THANK
YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE, PARTICULARLY AS I HAVE PARTICIPATED DIRECTLY IN SAMPLING THE AIR AND WATER IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BUILDING ON A TREMENDOUS LEGACY AND WHEN I FIRST SAMPLED WATER IN BUFFALO BAYOU BACK IN '72, IT WAS A DEAD BODY OF WATER AND TODAY IT'S WILDLIFE AND FISH. YOU ARE BUILDING ON THE LEGACY. IF YOU WENT THROUGH PASADENA IN 1973 YOU COULDN'T BREATHE. IT WAS HORRIBLE. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO ROLL YOUR WINDOW DOWN SO YOU'RE BUILDING ON A TREMENDOUS LEGACY, A LOT OF HARD WORK OF OUR INDUSTRY.
I THINK A LOT OF THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE CLEANING UP OF THE WATER AND THE AIR AND SO THANK YOU GOODNESS YOU'RE ABLE TO BUILD ON SUCH A GOOD LEGACY.
MY QUESTION HERE HAS TO DO WITH SUPER FUND SITES. HAVE YOU MET WITH TEXAS HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE, JACKIE MEDCALF. >> LAST FRIDAY.
>> THAT IS A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP THAT WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT MORE SUPER FUND SITES IN HARRIS COUNTY THAN WE WANT AND I AM NOT SATISFIED AT ALL WITH EPA REGION 6, AND SO I WOULD BE A WILLING PARTNER FOR YOUR OFFICE TO ENGAGE THEM.
[01:00:02]
WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OFF THE DIME. I'VE GOT SEVERAL SUPER FUND SITES IN MY PRECINCT THAT I WANT ATTENTION GIVEN TO AND CURRENTLY THEY'RE NOT, SO PLEASE ADD THAT TO YOUR INITIATIVES. WE'VE GOT GOOD PARTNERS LIKE TEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE TO WORK WITH, BUT I HOPE YOU CAN HAVE SOME RESOURCES THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THATPARTICULAR ISSUE. >> YES, SIR. WE DO WORK WITH TEXAS [INDISCERNIBLE] THIA, THE ACRONYM, WE WORK WITH THEM ON THE [INDISCERNIBLE] RIVER WASTE PIT SITE AND ALSO THE DILLON ROAD SITE AND A FEW OTHER SITES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED WAS AN ADDITIONAL PERSON FOR OUR SOLID WASTE POSITION. THAT IS ONE OF THE ASPECTS THAT THAT POSITION ALSO HANDLES. NOT ONLY DO THEY DO LANDFILLS AND MULCH FACILITIES AND ILLEGAL DUMPING BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF INFORMATION AND REVIEW FOR THOSE SUPER FUND SITES.
>> THERE MAY BE SOME RESOURCES WITHIN MY PRECINCT THAT I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU ON THAT
DIRECTLY. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR FOCUS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. >> DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
COULD YOU GIVE US SOME MORE DETAILS ON THE FLOATING ROOF TANK INITIATIVE?
I FIND THAT INTRIGUING AND IMPORTANT. >> SO IF YOU REMEMBER BACK WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HAPPENED WE HAD ABOUT 14 FLOATING ROOF TANKS THAT WERE COMPROMISED.
ONE ACTUALLY MOVED. IT LIFTED AND IT MOVED. IT HAD TO DO WITH THE IMBALANCE OF THE MATERIAL THAT WAS INSIDE THE TANK ITSELF. WHAT WE KNOW IS AS THE LEVEL OF THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK CHANGES, THAT TOP, IT WEAVES AND BOBBLES, SO IT RELEASES SOME OF THE CONTENTS OF THE VAPORS CONTAINED AT THE TOP OF THE SERVICE AND SO THOSE ARE CONSIDERED FUGITIVE EMISSIONS WHEN THAT HAPPENS. WE'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THAT CONTRIBUTION OF FUGITIVE EMISSIONS ARE TO THE DEGRADATION OF THE AIR QUALITY BUT USING TECHNOLOGY WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK TO SEE WHAT THOSE FUGITIVE EMISSIONS STREAMS LOOK LIKE AND BETTER HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE FACILITIES THEMSELVES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT QUANTITY OF EMISSIONS MIGHT BE. THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE INTO.
IT WILL BE A PILOT PROGRAM FOR US TO SEE HOW MUCH INFORMATION WE'LL BE ABLE TO GAIN BUT I'M VERY INTERESTED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE OVER 300 OF THOSE TANKS AND I KNOW IT DOES PRESENT
A DEGRADATION TO THE AIR QUALITY. >> THOSE WERE THE ONES INVOLVED IN ITC, RIGHT? IT'S THAT KIND OF TAKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT? OR SOMETHING ELSE? THE TANK FARM. WHAT IS THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK THERE? WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS BE ABLE TO DO? CAN YOU REQUIRE PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROGRAM OR HOW WOULD IT WORK?
>> FOR THE INITIAL PORTION OF IT WOULD BE OUR OBJECT VACATION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO DIVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HAVE TALKS WITH THE FACILITIES AS WELL AS THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, AND SEE
WHAT WE CAN HAVE AS BEST PRACTICES TO ELIMINATE THESE. >> MY OPINION IS WE NEED [INDISCERNIBLE]
[Toll Road Authority]
>>> . >>> . >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE? MR. BRADY.
[01:05:08]
>> TOLL ROAD. I THINK DR. DAVIN IS ON THE LINE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE [INDISCERNIBLE].
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO AS YOU HEARD THROUGHOUT THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COURT KNOWS THAT THE TOLL ROAD IS COGNITIVE FOR THE GOALS OF THE COUNTY.
NEXT SLIDE. IN JUNE OF '21 COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED A [INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH REALLY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION A BROADER REVIEW FOR MOBILITY AS OPPOSED TO A TOLL ROAD AND INCLUDED SUSTAIN ABILITY AND RESILIENCY AND [INDISCERNIBLE].
WE ARE IN LINE WITH NEW DIRECTION OF THE COUNTY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WHAT ALSO HAPPENED THIS PAST FY YEAR IS THERE WAS A RECOGNITION OF THE TOLL AUTHORITY AND ONE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES AS WE INCLUDED, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP, AND WE TALK ABOUT FUTURE O & M BUDGETS AND REACHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC IS CRITICAL AS THE COST OF OUR [INAUDIBLE].
THERE'S ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS. THERE'S SEVERAL PROGRAMS, 23 SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOLL ROAD AND ADMINISTRATIVE, INCLUDING THE NWB PROGRAM THAT WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY-WISE INITIATIVE. TOLL OPERATIONS, [INDISCERNIBLE] TRAVELING PUBLIC ON OUR ROADWAYS, NONTOLL FACILITIES SUCH AS [INDISCERNIBLE] GOOD REPAIR AND HAVE A GOOD VIABLE FUTURE AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
OBVIOUSLY ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT OF OUR $4 BILLION CAPITAL PROGRAM, [INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH [INDISCERNIBLE] WE DO A FACILITIES MAINTENANCE REVIEW AND WE TARGET THE CRITICAL AREAS OF THE FACILITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FUNCTIONING ROADWAYS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS WE TALK ABOUT GOALS AND OUTCOMES WITH A BUDGET THAT WE'RE ASKING TODAY ONE THING I WANT TO PUT ON THE RADAR IS THE [INDISCERNIBLE].
DURING THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR THEY'LL BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTRONIC TOLD CONVERTING FROM A CASH SYSTEM TO ELECTRONIC. THERE IS SOME BUSINESS DECISIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT IT. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE [INDISCERNIBLE], WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS DECISIONS THE TOLL ROAD WILL TAKE TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CREDIT CARD OR BANKS AND PREVIOUSLY PAID WITH CASH CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE FUTURE TOLL ROAD IF WE REMOVE THE OPTIONS OF CASH, WHEN WE DO. BUT THERE'S A COUNTER BALANCE TO THAT AS IN ONCE YOU PROVIDE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES, YOUR COST OF COLLECTION DOES GO UP. THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL FOCUS AND WE'LL DO THAT TO THE BUDGET OUTCOME AND THE KPI PROCESS TO MAKE SURE IF WE INVEST IN A STRATEGIC INITIATIVE THAT IS MEASURED AND THE OUTCOME IS MEASURED AND MAKE SURE IT HAS A POSITIVE OUTCOMES TO NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC BUT THE O & M. [INDISCERNIBLE] SIX OF THE SEVEN COUNTIES DON'T FOCUS ON CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE. SIX OF THE SEVEN FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH TIES INTO THE COUNTYWIDE GOALS OF GOVERNANCE.
AS WE DELIVER CAPITAL PROJECTS AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES AND [INAUDIBLE] WE CREATED DASHBOARDS. WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET OUTCOMES AND USING DATA FOR A CERTAIN OUTCOME TO EITHER PROVIDE A BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE OR EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM.
[INDISCERNIBLE] DASHBOARDS. THEY'RE VERY TRANSPARENT AND AS OUR O & M BUDGET GOES UP OR DOWN OR SWAYS, IS IT QUANTIFIABLE OR MEASURABLE IN SOME DASHBOARD THAT IS REALLY TRANSPARENT AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT [INAUDIBLE] WE TRACK ALL 23 SERVICES ON A KPI OR ON A DASHBOARD BUT THE KEY HERE [INDISCERNIBLE] WHEN SOMEONE TRAVELS THROUGH THE TOLL SYSTEM,
[01:10:06]
HOW ACCURATE ARE IMAGES AND THE TRANSACTION THAT GOES THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO, CHARGE SOMEONE, THAT THAT TRANSACTION IS ACCURATE AND SO WE WERE TARGETING A 96 PERCENT GOAL ON THAT AND WE'RE AT 7.8 PERCENT. OUR CUSTOMER CALL CENTER [INDISCERNIBLE] BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC AND THE CHANGING CONDITIONS OF [INDISCERNIBLE] IT HAS IMPACTED THE COST CENTER SERVICES LEVELS. I'M NOT READY TO PROVIDE BAD NEWS OTHER THAN THE KPIS BECAUSE IT ONLY MAKES IT BETTER. WE CAN BE STRATEGIC IN THE APPROACH. THE GROWTH, 94 PERCENT, IS WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO GET.STATISTICS A STARTING GOAL. I HAD STANDARD IS 98. AFTER WE GET TO 94 WE'LL ADJUST THAT TO 98. OUR COST CENTER SERVICES LEVELS, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN CUSTOMERS ARE CALLING US NOW ONLY 70 PERCENT ON AVERAGE, AND IT FLUCTUATES, CAN GET THROUGH DEPENDING ON CALL VOLUME. THAT WILL BE A FOCUS ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO CALL, ESPECIALLY WITH BILLING AFTER THE FACT, THAT WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE CALLS AND CAN EITHER ANSWER QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE COLLECTION.
WE TALK ABOUT MEASURING INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS, SO WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT CARD THAT WE'RE TARGETING. WE'RE 4.4 NOW. [INDISCERNIBLE] TAG FULFILLMENT, QUARTER OF A COST OF [INDISCERNIBLE] TO THE AGENCY SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY MEASURE FOCUS ON PROVIDING TAX TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE IT LOWERS O & M COSTS AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO [INDISCERNIBLE] AND WE'LL BE MEASURING OUR [INDISCERNIBLE] COMPLIANCE, AND THE ASPIRATION, 34 PERCENT, JUST FOR THIS YEAR, FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WE'VE AWARDED 40 PERCENT OF SCOPES AND WE'LL BE TARGETING ACTUAL MONEY PAID AS WELL. WE'RE ABOUT 40 PERCENT. THESE ARE THE FIVE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT WE'LL BE SHARING ON A DASHBOARD. WE DO HAVE MORE SHOULD THE COURT WANT TO TRACK MORE BUT THESE ARE KEY TO THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND THAT'S WHY I FOCUSED ON THOSE AS OPPOSED TO RELATING TO ANY TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION THAT WE'LL TRACK THROUGH THE PROJECT CONTROL PROCESS THAT WE'RE SETTING UP IN 2022.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE'RE ASKING ABOUT BUDGET REQUESTS.
WE'RE REQUESTING A FLAT BUDGET. COSTS ARE GOING UP. IN THE FUTURE BUDGETS WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET IMPACTS OF WHAT ELECTRONIC TOLLING IS AND WHAT THAT MAY DO.
[INDISCERNIBLE] WE NEED TO BILL. WE CAN BILL OVER A SEVEN-MONTH PERIOD.
WE CANNOT BILL 347 BUT WE NEED TO FILL THE POSITIONS ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK AT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVELS. WE DO HAVE DATA, DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS, WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BODIES ANSWERING THE PHONES. WE HAVE HIRING CHALLENGES.
WE HIRED 199 CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE LAST YEAR. WE LOST 233.
SO THERE IS TRAINING ASPECT THERE AND [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BUT WE WILL LIKELY HAVE TO FILM OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO A LOT OF THE 347 POSITIONS BUT BEFORE ASKING YOU FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING WE WANT THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE DECISION THAT INCREASES OUR COSTS POTENTIALLY AND CLARIFIES THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS NEEDED. IN SHORT, WE'RE KEEPING A FLAT BUDGET. WE'RE JUST PRORATING THE SEVEN MONTHS UNTIL WE GET FURTHER INFORMATION ON ELECTRONIC TOLLING IMPACTS ARE. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> YOU HAVE A BIG JOB OVER THERE AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU ALL HAVE DUG IN AND I APPRECIATE THAT. WITH THE BRIDGE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HAVING TO DE-POLL.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> GOOD JOB. I GOT TO PARTICIPATE ON THE
[01:15:02]
CUSTOMER SIDE OF YOUR PROGRAM THIS PAST WEEK. THEY DIDN'T KNOW ME FROM ADAM.I GOT EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE. IT'S GOOD WE TRY AND USE OUR OWN SERVICES BUT THEY DO A REALLY, REALLY GOOD JOB, VERY PATIENT, VERY HELPFUL. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT -- IF YOU CAN PROGRAM. OBVIOUSLY THE PRIORITY THIS NEXT YEAR IS TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE CHANGE ORDER OUT AT THE BRIDGE ON TRACK. YOU HAD NEGOTIATED I THINK A GOOD SOLUTION AND COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. NOW WE'VE GOT TO MANAGE THAT SOLUTION. SO PLEASE STAY ON TOP OF THAT IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, AS YOU USE MANY CONSULTANTS, IF CONSULTANTS ARE MISSING SCHEDULES AND I KNOW YOU'RE A FAIR GUY BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS A LONG TIME. YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS SO YOU GIVE PEOPLE A REASONABLE TIME PERIOD BUT IF SOMEONE'S MISSING A SCHEDULE, WOULD YOU LET ME KNOW.
>> YES, SIR. >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW JUST TO KNOW THOSE SORTS OF ISSUES.
NOT TO DO ANYTHING PUNITIVE BUT JUST AN AWARENESS OF THOSE KIND OF ISSUES BECAUSE NOTHING IS MORE OF A PRIORITY, IT SHOULD BE, FOR OUR CONSULTING FOLKS FOR BEING SURE THEY HIT YOUR
TARGETS. >> ON THE CAPITAL PROJECTS SIDE, ONE OF THE PRIORITIES WE PUT TOGETHER [INAUDIBLE] WAS PROJECT CONTROLS PROCESS THAT SPECIFICALLY IS TO TARGET THAT.
TIME IS MONEY. IF SOMETHING DOESN'T GET ACCOMPLISHED IN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME IT COSTS THE COUNTY ADDITIONAL MONEY. THIS WAY IT'S ABOUT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND THE MORE INFORMATION YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAPITAL PROJECT THE BETTER YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR PROCESS AND IMPROVE YOUR TEAM AND EXPLAIN TO COURT WHY ANYTHING MISSED A MILESTONE OR WHY THERE WAS A COST EFFECT TO THAT. WE HAVE A PROCESS TO GET BETTER
OF THAT AND WE'LL KEEP YOU FULLY INFORMED OF THAT PROCESS. >> THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
DID I HEAR THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON YOUR -- WHAT IS IT? YOUR IMAGE REVIEW?
>> CORRECT. YES, SIR. FOR OUR CUSTOMER CALL CENTER WE HAVE A SHORTFALL OF RESOURCES. WE HAVE A LOT OF OPEN RESOURCES. WE HAVE A CHALLENGE OF RETENTION THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND WE HAVE IMAGE REVIEW. AS WE NOW COLLECT PAYMENT AFTERNOON THE FACT THAT REQUIRES AN IMAGE REVIEW WHERE THEY LOOK AT THE IMAGE WHERE BEFORE WE USED TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE SOMEONE WITHIN 48 HOURS AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH VIEWERS NOW WITHIN 21 DAYS YOU GET TO CHARGE AND THAT LEADS TO STATUTORILY ISSUES.
THAT LEADS TO YOUR O & M COSTS GOING UP TO COLLECT. IF IT'S AN EASY TAG, A QUARTER OF THE COSTS IF IT GOES THROUGH AN IMAGE PROCESS. WE NEED TO GET THE IMAGE
REVIEWERS IN PLACE SO WE CAN COLLECT REVENUE. >> TWO THINGS, MAYBE THREE.
ONE, I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A BROADER CORD NATIVE STRATEGY -- COORDINATION ON [INAUDIBLE] $10 MILLION SHORTFALL TO YOUR OPERATIONS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM ON CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME IN PARTICULAR. BUT ALSO WITH OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE EMPLOYED TO EMPOWER WHERE WE ARE FINDING INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE -- AT ONE POINT WERE -- THE PROBLEM THAT FOLKS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT BUT NOW WE'RE GIVING THEM JOBS AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR LIVES BACK IN GOOD ORDER AND I WANT TO KEEP THAT UP AND I THINK YOUR IMAGE REVIEW PROCESS WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT PLACE. IT WOULD HELP US CREATE JOBS, VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THEM WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY SUBJECTED TO, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL ABUSE BY THEIR ABUSIVE SPOUSES, SO I WANT TO WORK WITH
[01:20:08]
YOU TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM, CREATE JOBS, AND MAKE THOSE TOLL ROAD EMPLOYEES VERSUS, YOU KNOW, OUTSOURCING. I THINK THERE'S A GOOD BUSINESS MODEL THERE TO INTERNALIZE THAT AND REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD BECAUSE I'LL BE MAKING A MOTION ON THAT. I'M NOT SURE HOW YOUR DOLLARS SHAKE UP BUT WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. LISTEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS WITH TXDOT. THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT -- YOU'RE NOT GOING [INAUDIBLE] RELATIONSHIPS YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, THE RESPECT THAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, AND PEOPLE RESPECT YOU, ROBERTO. I DON'T SAY THAT TO INFLATE YOUR EGO.BUT YOU HELPED US MOVE FORWARD AND I THINK IT'S GIVEN TXDOT A LOT OF COMFORT THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ENGINEERING AMONGST THE LAWYERS AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU ON YOUR EFFORTS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER . I'LL HAVE STAFF REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICES ON THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
>> I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT A LOT. THERE'S A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY
THERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT. >> DIRECTOR, THANK YOU.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE CALL CENTER ISSUES, THE SERVICE LEVEL.
WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE THERE? I THOUGHT YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT COVID BUT I DON'T SEE THE CONNECTION, IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH PARAMETERS, CERTAINLY SOMETHING PUBLIC
HEALTH CAN ADDRESS. >> IT'S ABOUT TRAINING. WHEN WE BRING ON NEW EMPLOYEES THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRAINING PROCESS AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC EIGHT THE OCCUPANCY LEVELS, IT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE TRAINING CLASS.
WE CAN ONLY TRAIN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW TO COME THROUGH AND WE'RE LOSING MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE TRAINING IN THE PROCESS SO WE'VE STOOD UP TWO CALL CENTERS [INDISCERNIBLE] TO EASE CONCERNS BUT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE STRATEGY KNOWING PROBABLY THE PANDEMIC AND OCCUPANCY LEVELS PROBABLY WON'T CHANGE FOR A WHILE AND WE HAVE TO ADOPT PROPERLY AND MAKE SURE WE GET THE PROPER NUMBER TRAINED AND STAFFING. IT'S TRAINING FOR CREDIT CARD COMPLIANCE AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT PROCESSES ARE WHEN PEOPLE CALL IN WITH THE PERSONAL INFORMATION. THAT'S THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE, JUDGE.
>> I'M THINKING BACK WHEN WE TRAINED OUR ARMY OF CONTRACT TRACERS FOR EXAMPLE, A BIG SPACE AND THEY'RE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND EVERYONE WEARS A MASK, KIND OF LIKE THE JURORS, SO IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THE SOLUTION IS JUST TO HAVE THIS LEVEL OF SERVICE.
I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT PERSONALLY FROM SEVERAL FOLKS SO I HAD THE OPPOSITE EXPERIENCE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD. I THINK HE FELL INTO THE 30. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE CHATTED ABOUT THIS WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM ALREADY, AND IF NOT, I THINK IT'S WORTH HAVING ANOTHER CONVERSATION AND I DON'T THINK IT'S AN INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, FAR FROM THAT.
>> I AGREE, JUDGE. WE'LL BE REACHING OUT AND WE'LL HAVE TO THINK 0U89 THE BOX, ADJUST TO THE CONDITIONS, BUT THE ONE THING THAT REAL REALLY TRANSPARENT, WE'LL PUT THE METER
OUT THERE AND YOU CAN TRACK PROGRESS. >> THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGED.
THAT IS MUCH BETTER THAN NO DATA. THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I'M GLAD YOU POINTED IT OUT. I THINK IT'S FIND A BIGGER TIME OF CONFERENCE ROOM, A SOLUTION, AND WE HAVE PLENTY. MAYBE THE ONE THEY USED TO TRAIN THE CONTRACT TRACERS BECAUSE I WENT TO SOME OF THOSE TRAININGS, AND IT WAS PROPERLY DONE BUT IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE. OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, YOU BLEW THEE AWAY LAST TIME WHEN YOU SAID YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THE -- USING THE TOLL ROAD FOR BIKING AND FAMILY FUN.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON A LOT OF CREATIVE THINGS AND THAT'S EXCITING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [INAUDIBLE] START SHRINKING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE [INDISCERNIBLE]
[01:25:06]
WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY THAT WOULD INCLUDE ADDITIONAL BIKE LANES AND, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD-FRIENDLY AMENITIES WHERE THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE LANES GO AWAY, HAVING SUSTAINABLE RESILIENCE, INCORPORATING BIKE LANES MAYBE AND MAYBE SOME RENEWABLE OPTIONS WHEN WE DO THAT. I THINK THERE'S EXCITING THINGS. IF YOU LIKE THE BIKE LANE ON THEBRIDGE, I THINK [INDISCERNIBLE] VERY PLEASING. >> GREAT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. YOU JUST REMINDERRED ME, MY
CHIEF OF STAFF IS ASKING ABOUT THE HOV BIKE LANES. >> WE REACHED OUT TO THE REGIONS TRANSIT STATION, SIR, AND WE'LL REACH BACK OUT TO THEM AND SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING WITH THE ASSESSMENT. THE NORMAL PROCESS -- WE'LL DO THE REVIEW FOR THEM, IF NOT.
>> GOOD. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, LET ME MENTION WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE I'M DRIVING ON I-45 ON A SUNDAY AND IT'S BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. IT'S LIKE A MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
AND THE HOV LANE IS VACANT. I PUSHED METRO TO OPEN THEM UP ON THE WEEKENDS AND THEN THEY DID AND IT WORKED BUT THEY WERE LIKE IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEN THE IDEA OF USING THE HOVS FOR BIKE LANES BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL ACCESSIBLE. YOU DON'T NEED STAFF THERE TO OPEN THE GATES OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, SO WE MAY HAVE AN HOV BIKE LANE FROM DOWNTOWN TO GREENS POINT IN THE MIDDLE OF I-45. THAT WILL BE INTERESTING.
ANYWAY, WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES. HOPEFULLY THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE
[INDISCERNIBLE]. >> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. THAT'S THE STANDARD IN OTHER CITIES. THERE THERE'S A ROAD, THERE'S A BIKE LANE.
AND IF IT'S A HIGHWAY THEN IT'S NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY. WITH SAFETY PROVISIONS OBVIOUSLY. IT WILL BE EXCITED ONCE ALL THESE THINGS COME THROUGH.
THE KEY IS TO PLAN FAR AHEAD ON THE LAUNCH, YOU KNOW. >> WE'LL BE COORDINATING WITH THE OFFICE, JUDGE, AS WE LAUNCH IT AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS [INAUDIBLE] THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF THE TOLL ROAD AND
MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND IT. >> WHAT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
ALL ELECTRONIC AND GIVING MORE SPACE BECAUSE -- >> AS WE GET TO A TOLL PLAZA WE HAVE FOUR LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. BECAUSE OF THE CASH BOOTH YOU REALLY WIDEN AND YOU GO UP TO I THINK TEN, 12 LANES IN SOME AREAS, SO IT REALLY WIDENS AND ALL ELECTRONIC TOLLING IS YOU STRAIGHTEN THE LANES AND NOT WIDEN, SO THAT CREATES IT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, IN THE ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY, IS THERE A FLOOD CONTROL BENEFIT.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BIKE LANE. [INAUDIBLE] WE'VE BEEN REALLY CREATIVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEFINITION OF SUCCESS OF A PROJECT.
IT'S NOT JUST BUILDING THE LANES. IT'S HOW CAN YOU COMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY AND MORE. THOSE ARE THE AREAS OF [INDISCERNIBLE] AND YOUR OFFICE ON WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THAT ADDITIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY, THOSE ADDITIONAL SPACES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT CREATIVE ATTITUDE.
THIS WILL CLEARLY BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE BRIDGE IN TEXAS. [INAUDIBLE] WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THE BIKE LANES OR -- I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SO MANY ENVIRONMENT ISSUES, SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. >> WE HAVE A SCOPE OF WORK [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE TO CONNECT
[01:30:04]
THE BIKE LANES. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SCOPE THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY WHERE IT HAS IDEAS ON HOW TO CONNECT SOME OF THESE BIKE LANES.>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M GLAD YOU LOOKED AT NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WHICH IS WHERE THERE'S THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY.
MORE MONEY GOES OUT ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS COME THROUGH AND I'LL LET PUBLIC HEALTH KNOW ABOUT THE TRAINING ISSUE.
[County Engineer]
>> THANK YOU. >> I SEE LLOYD SMITH UPON THE LINE, SO WE'LL GO TO
ENGINEERING. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, FIRST LET ME SAY IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO ADDRESS ALL OF YOU ALL AND EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR THE CONFIDENCE YOU ALL PROVIDED ME WITH SERVING AS THE INTERIM COUNTY ENGINEER.
TODAY I'LL BE WALKING THROUGH A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU'VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, TALK ABOUT HOW OUR GOALS AS A DEPARTMENT, OUR OBJECTIVES, OUR MEASURES ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY GOALS. I'LL COVER SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES GOING FORWARD IN THE COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THEN FINALLY A DISCUSSION OF OUR FOUR BUDGET REQUESTS IN TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THESE ARE RESTATEMENTS OF OUR DEPARTMENT VISION AND MISSION.
I'LL POINT OUT IN THE MISSION THAT WE ARE DELIVERING BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES. TRADITIONAL INTERCEPTIONING, PUBLIC WORKS DEPOSITION IS FOCUSED ON INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO BUT I CONSIDER THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS IN TERMS OF DELIVERSABLES FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, BESIDES THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING OVER 150 COUNTY BUILDINGS, SO THE FACILITIES' MAINTENANCE STAFF, A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE FUNCTION, AND THE THIRD LEG OF THE THREE LARGEST FUNCTIONS IS OUR PERMITTING REGULATION DUTIES AND YOU'LL SEE ME COME BACK TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND SOME POINTS RELATED TO THOSE THREE KEY AREAS AS I GO THROUGH IT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS A LITTLE BUSY. ANOTHER THING ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS THAT WE SERVE SEVERAL GOALS.
MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ARE FOCUSED ON ONE OF THE EIGHT PRIMARY GOALS.
THOSE THREE FUNCTIONS THAT ARGUABLY SUPPORT THREE DIFFERENT GOALS OF FLOODING RELATING TO PERMITTING, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, AND THEN LARGELY TRANSPORTATION SERVED BY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DUTIES. IN FACT THAT'S PROBABLY 90 PERCENT OF WHAT WE DO.
BUT WE ALSO SERVE THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH FUNCTIONS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION. WE SERVE HOUSING THROUGH SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, HOUSING GOALS WITH DESIGN SERVICES ON THEIR SUBDIVISION PROJECTS AND WE SERVE PUBLIC HEALTH IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY'RE A PARTNER WITH US AT THE PERMITTING OPERATION BUT THE COUNTY ENGINEER WAS APPOINTED BY COURT TWO YEARS AGO TO LEAD THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE FOR THE COVID. THE TRIANGLE REPRESENTS EXHIBITS THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE OVERALL BUDGET, AND MY POINT HERE, AN EXAMPLE WITH TRANSPORTATION, OUR GOALS ARE OBJECTIVES, OUR MEASURES ARE ALIGNED ACCORDING TO THE HIERARCHY THAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT BY MR. BARRY AND HIS TEAM OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I'M GOING TO QUICKLY ROLL THROUGH THESE. THEY'RE MORE INFORMATIONAL THAN THEY ARE INFORMATIVE. IT GOES INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW THE TRANSPORTATION GOAL IS SUPPORTED BY SERVICES OR FUNCTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN VARIOUS PLACES IN OUR DEPARTMENT. PROPERTY ACQUISITION SERVICES, NOT ONLY SERVES TRANSPORTATION, IT SERVES AS THE TRANSACTION AGENCY. WE SERVE BREATHE OUR OWN PROJECTS AS WELL AS THOSE OF OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES. ROAD AND BRIDGE PROGRAMS, VARIOUS TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION, AND UTILITY COORDINATION ACTIVITIES, ALSO A MAP TO
[01:35:06]
TRANSPORTATION. THE NEXT HALF IS THE GOVERNANCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.WE OFFER DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
WE'RE A LARGE DEPARTMENT OF NEARLY 700 PEOPLE SO THERE'S CERTAIN FUNCTIONS AND CERTAIN MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE COMMON TO ANY ORGANIZATION OF THAT SIZE.
THE FACILITIES ORGANIZATION IS A DISCRETE DIVISION. IT ONCE WAS A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY. IT CAME TO THE COUNTY RIGHT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN UNDER OUR SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT. I'LL MOVE INTO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS ILLUSTRATES SOME OF THE SECONDARY FUNCTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE ELSEWHERE. NEXT SLIDE. AGAIN, THESE ARE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES AND MEASURES. KPIS THEY'VE BEEN CALLED THAT MAP UP TO THE SERVICES.
THE POINT OF THESE THREE SLIDES IS REALLY TO SHOW YOU THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUR DIVERSE ON RAPINGS AND HAPPENED THEM INTO THE SERVICE AREAS AND THE OBJECTIVES AND THE GOALS THAT THE COURT HAS SET AND ARE READY TO GET THE NEXT STEPS IN MEASURING AND REPORTING ON THESE AS WE GO FORWARD.
NEXT SLIDE, I WANTED TO FOCUS ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOLLOWED BY CHALLENGES.
THESE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS. IT'S IN YOUR MATERIALS SO I'LL GET A HIGHLIGHTER HERE. UNDER THE GOVERNANCE AND -- NOTE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THERE THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THE PAY LAND, WORKING ON PROJECTS, BIKE INITIATIVES, MAJOR BRIDGE PROJECT, LINKING PRECINCT 3 AND PRECINCT 4 AND AT THE TOP BEEF DONE IT WITH INCREASED RELIANCE TO THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND E-BUILDER AND OTHER SYSTEMS TO BRING THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT UP A NOTCH AS WE'VE GONE ALONG. HOUSING, WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORTED, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE GOVERNANCE IN CUSTOMER SESH AS A LOT OF BULLETS. I'LL POINT OUT WE COMPLETED 1400 VISITED REPAIR PROJECTS AS PART OF THE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE. WE ARE MANAGING CURRENTLY 32 SIGNIFICANT DESIGN AND BUILDING PROJECTS MANAGED BY ARCHITECT PROJECT MANAGERS THAT REPRESENT 150 MILLION IN OUR PORTFOLIO.
LITTLE FARTHER DOWN, WE'VE GOT ASPECTS OF OUR OPERATIONS AND PERMITS HIGHLIGHTED THERE.
54,000 INDEPENDENT PERMIT ACTIONS REQUESTS WERE SUBMITTED LAST YEAR GENERATING REVENUE.
THIS WAS A RECORD YEAR. WE HAVE NEVER HAD AS MANY PERMIT APPLICATIONS COME THROUGH THE DOOR AT THE PERMIT OFFICE AS WE DID IN CALENDAR YEAR 2021. NEXT SLIDE.
TALK ABOUT OUR CHALLENGES. IN MANAGING THE ROAD AND BRIDGE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, REDISTRICTING IS A CHALLENGE. IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THE COURT MEMBERS, YOUR OFFICES, AND THE BUDGET OFFICE, ALL OF US, WE'VE WORKED HARD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS REPORTING ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF IT BUT WE ARE FACING SOME HEADWINDS, I'LL CALL THEM, IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE ACTIVE ROAD PROJECTS ON THE SAME PATH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A LITTLE MORE GENERIC. IT HAS DIFFERENT ACRONYMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. WE'RE ALWAYS DEALING WITH NEW PROJECT INPUTS, DIFFERENT PROJECT TYPES THAT COME TO US. IN THE PAST, HARVEY GRANT MONEY OR FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS RELATED TO COVID. IN COMING HERE WE'RE ANTICIPATING PROJECTS COMING TO US FOR ARPA AND THE FOR THE FOR PROJECTS UNDER THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
ANOTHER INHERENT BUILT-IN CHALLENGE IS WE SERVE A LOT OF CLIENTS, NOT ONLY THE FOUR PRECINCT COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE FLU THE BUILDING PROJECTS BUT PARTNER AGENCIES AS WELL. WE HAVE TO JUGGLE SOMETIMES COMPETING RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS OR WORKLOADS FROM THOSE. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS OUR BUDGET REQUESTING.
BEFORE I COME TO THIS I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE CORN TEXT ON THE OVERALL SIZE OF OUR BUDGET. TIFFANY, COULD YOU GO THROUGH SLIDE 14 WHERE IT SHOWS THIS.
ANOTHER UNIQUE THING ABOUT OUR BUDGET IS WE DO USE A MIX OF GENERAL FUNDS AND MOBILITY
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FUNDS. THE ROUGH PERCENTAGES ARE THAT ARE ONE-THIRD OF OUR PEOPLE ARE USING MOBILITY FUNDS TO OFFSET THEIR SALARIES AND ONE QUARTER OF OUR TOTAL SPENDING OF THE 102 MILLION IS UNDER THE MOBILITY FUND. IF IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ACCOUNTING COMPLEXITY BUT IT ALSO IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THAT WAS A POLICY ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR AT BUDGET TIME. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.>> YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, LEFT. >> BREAKING DOWN THE DIFFERENT BUDGETS YOU SEE HERE.
THE LARGEST SINGLE LINE ITEM, FACILITIES, 45 MILLION. NEXT IS ROAD AND BRIDGE, A QUARTER OF OUR SPENDING. NEXT LARGEST, ACTIVE SERVICES PERMITTING.
I'LL GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH OUR REQUESTS. THIS ONE HERE, THE REQUEST YOU SEE HERE ARE IN TWO CATEGORIES. THE FIRST THREE ITEMS UNDER THE TOP CATEGORY ALL HAVE TO DO WITH OUR ANTICIPATED WORKLOAD IN THE COMING HERE. WE HAVE A MUCH GREATER CONSTRUCTION LOAD ANTICIPATED, HENCE, THE NEED FOR INSPECTORS AND CONTRACT RESOURCES RELATED TO PROJECT INSPECTION. 1111 FANON, THE SECOND PART, REPRESENTING THE THIRD QUARTER LARGEST OFFICE BUILDING THAT CAME INTO OUR PORTFOLIO AND ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE. NO POSITIONS WERE REQUESTED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE SO WE REALLOCATED AND MOVED STAFF AROUND FROM EXISTING DUTIES TO KEEP IT GOING BUT THIS COMING HERE WE'RE ANTICIPATING MORE MOVE-INS, QUITE A BIT OF REMODELING AND REFRESHING IDEAS UNDERWAY AND WE HAVE CHALLENGES TO KEEP THE SERVICE LEVEL AND THE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR AT THE SAME LEVELS IN OUR REAMERICANNING PORTFOLIO THAT WILL NEEDS ATTENTION RELATIVE TO HOW WE ALLOCATE STATE. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR STANDING IN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM. IF THAT NEW BUILDING IS OUR THIRD LARGEST, WHAT'S THE
LARGEST? >> THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER AND THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE BUILDINGS ARE THE TWO LARGEST BUILDINGS IN SQUARE FOOTAGE. TO GIVE YOU SOME CAME, COMMISSIONER , YOU'RE IN THE ADMIN BUILDING ON PRESTON NOW AND THE OFFICE SQUARE FOOTAGE IN
THIS BUILDING IS ROUGHLY TWICE HAS THAT. >> THAT BUILDING IS IN PRETTY
GOOD SHAPE? >> IT'S OVER 30 YEARS OLD. IT IS IN DECENT SHAPE.
IT'S IN NEED OF -- I RAN INTO A CREW THIS MORNING WORKING ON UPGRADING SECURITY AND ACCESS SYSTEMS. IT HAS SOME SPECIAL CHALLENGES IN THAT IT IS NOT PART OF OUR CENTER TRAM PLAN. IT HAS INDEPENDENT BOILERS AND AIR-HANDLING SYSTEMS AND SEVEN GENERATORS AND 11 ELEVATORS. IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FACILITY THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE
OF ITS LIFE AS OPPOSED TO A BRAND NEW FACILITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> HELLO. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR. >> APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. JUST A QUICK UPDATE, WHILE YOU'RE ON THE PHONE, YOU MENTIONED REDISTRICTING. WE ABOUT HAVE OUR PLAN ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND CERTAINLY AS WE TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR 6,000 LANE MILES, WE SET UP A NEW MAINTENANCE CAMPS FOR THOSE 6,000 MILES. THEY HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE'RE RELOCATING PEOPLE, AS WE FIGURE OUT THE EQUIPMENT AND FOR THOSE 6,000 MILES, AS WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAINTAIN THE NEARLY 70 PARKS AND CERTAINLY BUILDING ON HOW THE PARKS WERE MAINTAINED PREVIOUSLY SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE THINGS I GUESS THAT WE AS ENGINEERS KNOW YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND AT SOME POINT WE'LL HAVE A COST BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT PROCESS EFFECTIVELY. WE ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT COST IS BECAUSE THAT'S HELP TESTIMONY AND ANTICIPATING WHAT REVENUES WE'LL NEED TO SET ASIDE.
DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER IN TERMS OF WHAT REDISTRICTING IS COSTING ENGINEERING IN TERMS OF SETTING UP? AGAIN, I'M ASKING A QUESTION. IT'S NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION.
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IT'S A MANAGEMENT DETAIL AND BEING SURE WE HAVE MONIES BUDGETED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.>> WELL, LET ME ANSWER IT IN TWO PARTS, COMMISSIONER . FROM OUR SUPPORT TO THE COURT MEMBERS IN WORKING THROUGH THIS, WE HAVE REDEDICATED TWO PEOPLE FULL TIME, PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. WE HAVE SOME TASKS THAT FALL TO US LIKE RESHUFFLING THE 65 PERCENT OF THE ROADS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD LOG WILL HAVE A NEW PRECINCT DESIGNATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF MECHANICAL THINGS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH. ON THE MAINTENANCE COMPONENT, OUR EFFORTS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY BEHIND BUT AT AN EARLIER STAGE.
THE FULL DEFINITION RESOLUTION OF BORDER ROADS IS UNDERWAY. WE ANTICIPATE THAT PROBABLY TAKING THROUGH THIS MONTH BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION, AS WE GET TO FEBRUARY AND INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET YEAR, THERE ARE PRESENTATIONS TO DO TO THE COURT.
MR. BARRY WILL BE PRESENTING OPTIONS FOR YOUR MOBILITY FUNDING ALLOCATIONS, FOR OTHER ASPECTS OF IT AND WE ANTICIPATE SERVING YOU AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WITH DATA ANY OTHER WAY WE CAN TO GET THROUGH THIS PERIOD AND MAKE IT AS CLEAR AND AS FAIR AND AS FORWARD-LOOKING AS POSSIBLE. WE WANT TO GET OUR FOLKS OUT OF DISTRACTION AND BACK TO WORK ON
GETTING THE PROJECTS MOVING. >> WE'LL HAVE OURS ON A PIECE OF PAPER WITH NUMBERS FULLY DEFINED BY MID-FEBRUARY SO WE'RE WELL ALONG THE WAY. WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA ON THAT. WE'VE GOT AT LEAST AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PLAN WILL BE, THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS BETWEEN PRECINCT 3 AND PRECINCT 4 AND OUR STAFFS HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK ALMOST TO ACCOMPLISH THAT SO WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS. APPRECIATE IT. >> ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD,
COMMISSIONERS? >> YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I HOPE THAT IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, BY THE WAY, ABOUT ROADS AND CAMPS, THERE'LL BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT OPTION OF TRYING TO -- IF WE DON'T HAVE [INAUDIBLE] TO CONSOLIDATE, OBVIOUSLY ONE WAY TO SAVE MONEY WOULD BE WE DIDN'T HAVE FIVE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS, 5 HR DEPARTMENTS, AND I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS A SENSITIVE AREA BUT ONE WE TALK ABOUT SAVING MONEY THAT CERTAINLY OUGHT TO BE IN THE MIX
AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, FOR THE PRESENTATION OF ALL OF THE WORK AND MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS
ABOUT TAKING THIS ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MA'AM.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR SMITH? OKAY.
THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. MR. BARRY OR COUNTY ATTORNEY, JUST BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, I
BELIEVE THAT'S ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS FOR TODAY. >> [INAUDIBLE].
>> GREAT. A BIG THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS FOR ARRANGING ALL OF THEIR WORK AROUND OUR GOALS FOR SUCH THOROUGH [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT CONCLUDES --
>> I WANT TO SAY I'LL BE VERY FLEXIBLE ON THAT DATE TO MEET. I KNOW YOU GET ENTIRE COUNTY AND [INAUDIBLE] A SEASON WHEN FOLKS ARE BUSY BUT I'LL CERTAINLY BE FLEXIBLE WITH WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU. AS MUCH AS I LOVE ALL OF YOU, I DON'T CARE TO SEE YOU ANY MORE THAN IS NECESSARY BUT I THINK THIS BUDGET IS SO IMPORTANT THAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A
MEETING TO JUST FOCUS ON THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
IT'S 11:52, AND OUR SPECIAL MEET
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.