[00:00:08]
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:04 AND I AM CALLING THIS FEBRUARY 8TH, 2022 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT TO ORDER.
JUST SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE -- LET'S START WITH THE PRAYER AND THEN I'LL DO THIS. COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THE PRAYER TODAY -- [INAUDIBLE].
>> COMMISSIONER YOUR MIC PLEASE.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THE INVOCATION, THE PASTOR WAS TO BE INTRODUCED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I WOULD HATE TO LEAP AHEAD OF HIM.
DO WE KNOW IF HE IS CLOSE BY? I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE PRIVILEGE OF HIM MAKING THE INTRODUCTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL JUST GO OVER THE -- TODAY, WHAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE THE REGULAR AGENDA AND SEVERAL SPEAKERS AND THEN THE BUDGET AS WELL AS RESOLUTIONS.
MY SUGGESTION IS WE START WITH THE RESOLUTIONS AND THEN WE TAKE THE NON-BUDGET SPEAKERS. THE REASON IS THAT THE BUDGET IS ITS OWN SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WE TAKE THE NON-BUDGET SPEAKERS AND THEN WE DO -- THEN WE MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET HEARING AND OPEN THE BUDGET HEARING AND HEAR THE BUDGET SPEAKERS.
DISCUSS THE BUDGET. VOTE ON THE BUDGET AND GO BACK TO THE AGENDA. DOES THAT SOUND REASONABLE? LET'S GIVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS A MINUTE HERE.
>> TOM RAMSEY: JUDGE, I HAD PUT ON THERE AND MAYBE WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT LATER, BUT AFTER THE BUDGET DISCUSSION, IF WE MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RIGHT AFTER THAT JUST AS A THOUGHT IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS TYPICALLY SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT WE COVER THERE.
AND AS A MATTER OF STANDARD GOING FORWARD, IF WE COULD CONSIDER THAT. WHETHER IT IS THIS MEETING OR FUTURE MEETINGS, THAT MIGHT BE WORTH CONSIDERING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S A GOOD THOUGHT.
OKAY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WAS JUST GOING OVER -- WE WILL DO RESOLUTIONS AND THEN THE BUDGET HEARING AND THEN THE REST OF THE AGENDA. COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
[Apostle Dr. R.C. Stearns of Living Water International Apostolic Ministries in Houston. ]
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD MORNING.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TO LEAD US IN PRAYER THIS MORNING. I WANT TO THANK APOSTLE STEARNS FOR JOINING US FROM LIVING WATER APOSTOLIC MINISTRY. HE HAS BEEN IN THE MINISTRY SINCE 1983 AND/OR DANEED -- AND ORDAINED BISHOP IN 1984.
A SPIRITUAL LEADER IN BIBLICAL STUDIES OR TEACHINGS AND HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF HIS CAREER AND IS THE FOUNDING PASTOR OF THE "LIVING WATER" APOSTOLIC -- LIVING WATER APOSTI -- APOSTOLIC AND THE VETERAN AND HANDICAPPED CARE MEN TREES -- MINISTRIES AND HE SERVED THE UNDER PRIVILEGED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS. HE PARTNERED WITH COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS IN HOUSTON AND GOODS 360 AND THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH BOSS -- APOSTLE, FOR JOINING US AND IF YOU CAN WALK UP TO THE MIC AND PLEAD -- PLEASE LEAD US IN PRAYER THIS MORNING.
>> LET'S BOW OUR HEADS IF WE CAN.
OUR LORD AND OUR GOD -FPBLT, OUR LORD AND OUR SAVIOR.
OUR SHIELD AND OUR PROTECTOR. WE WANT TO BLESS YOU THIS MORNING. WE WANT TO BLESS YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND THAT WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO.
SO, FATHER, AS WE GATHER TOGETHER AMONG THESE WHO WE ORDAINED TO GOVERN OUR CITIES AND OUR COUNTY, WE PRAY, GOD, NOW THE WISDOM OF GOD BE UPON THEM EVEN AS NEVER BEFORE.
GOD THAT THEY WOULD LEAD IN SUCH A MANNER, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD CALL OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES TO GLEAN WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THEM. THE PLACE UPON YOUR PEOPLE HERE AND UPON THESE GREAT LEADERS, THE SHIELD OF
[00:05:06]
PROTECTION FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY.THAT THEY WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A BOLD SPIRIT TO LEAD YOUR CITY TO GOVERN THIS CITY AND TO GOVERN THIS COUNTY.
I PRAY, GOD, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM, GOD, EMBOLDEN THEM AND TO LEAD THEM TO WHAT YOU DESIRE TO BE THAT THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTY, GOD, WOULD DO THAT WHICH YOU DESIRE TO DO.
AND SO FATHER I PRAY TO YOU THAT THE GLORY OF GOD WOULD REST UPON THESE AND THAT THE GLORY OF GOD WILL REST UPON THE COUNCIL. GOD THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND THAT THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTY. GOD WOULD ABOUND EVEN THE MOVE -- THEM MORE THAT THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE ARE THE DECISIONS OF YOUR HEART AND YOUR DESIRE.
YOU DECLARE, GOD, YOU KNOW THE THOUGHTS YOU HAVE TOWARD US THAT THERE ARE ABILITY TO BRING US NOT TO OUR RESPECTED END. EVERY DECLARED PLACE YOU HAVE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, I BIND OF THE THY ENEMY EVEN NOW THAT THEY WILL GO FORTH IN POWER AND THEY WILL GO FORTH IN MIGHT WITH THE AUTHORITY YOU DECLARE IN THEIR LIVES. FATHER, THE PEOPLE UPON THE SOUND OF MY VOICE WILL COME AS ONE IN AGREEMENT THAT THESE ARE THOSE YOU HAVE PUT IN PLACE.
GOD THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM WISDOM ABOVE WISDOM AND EVEN IN YOUR NAME AND EVEN IN THESE TRYING TIMES AND EVEN IN THE TIMES OF FAMINE, GOD GIVE THEM THE SPIRIT OF KNOWING HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN YOU AND HOW TO DEFEAT THIS THING THAT WILL COME AGAINST THIS CITY AND COME AGAINST THIS COUNTY TO BRING PEACE TO THIS PLACE AND BRING PROSPERITY TO THIS PLACE EVEN THOUGH. AND THOSE THAT LOOK UPON US FROM FAR, EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND EVEN FROM THOSE AFAR THAT THEY WOULD SEE, GOD, THE HAND OF GOD UPON THEIR LIVES. THAT THEY WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD THAT REST UPON THIS PLACE AND THAT REST UPON THIS CITY AND THAT WILL REST UPON THIS COUNTY.
SO AS YOU LEAD THEM, GOD, DO THAT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO CONCERNING THEM TO BRING THEM TO THEIR RESPECTED END THAT YOU ARE GLORY -- GLORIFIED AND YOU ARE CONSULTED REGARDING THEIR NAME. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
AND AMEN. >> LINA HIDALGO: AMEN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.
LET'S RECITE THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
FLAG [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.
TEXAS ONE STATE UNDERGOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.
[Departments (Part 1 of 12)]
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL START WITH OUR RESOLUTIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER.
I DON'T BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS ANY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU JUDGE. THIS FIRST RESOLUTION IS TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN JUST A POWER HOUSE ON LABOR ISSUES AND THAT IS CEOLE SPEIGHT. SHE WAS ONE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU WERE ON YOUR TOES. THIS RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE WHEREAS LONG-TIME COMMUNITY LEADER AND MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY AFL CIO COUNCIL, MRS. CEOLE SPEIGHT PASSED AWAY, JANUARY 24, 2022 TO BE REUNITED WITH HER HUSBAND OF 63 YEARS, JOSEPH WALKER SPEIGHT.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND, JOE, RAISED FOUR CHILDREN AND WERE BLESSED WITH OVER 20 GRAND AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
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WHEREAS CEOLE SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE IN PASADENA, TEXAS SHE JOINED THE UNION UNITED FOOD AND LOCAL 455 AND LATER WAS APPOINTED TO THE VOLUNTEERS AND PROGRAMS BIT WHERE SHE DEVELOPED AND ENCOURAGED PARTICIPATION AND PROGRAMS AND POLITICAL EDUCATION AND WHEREAS FOR OVER 40 YEARS SHE WORKED WITH UNION LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS AND CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. CEOLE HAS MENTORED MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROGRAMS. SHE WAS A GO-TO PERSON WITHOUT A DOUBT FOR CANDIDATES AND POLITICIANS AND SHE WORKED AT THE LOCAL AND THE STATE LEVELS AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE AFL SHR*PS CIO COUNCIL AND LEADERSHIP CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
MS. SPEIGHT WAS ADVISING HUNDREDS OF UNION ACTIVISTS AND ASPIRING POLITICIANS AND SERVING AS THE MOST HARD-WORKING EXAMPLE FOR ALL. AND WHEREAS IN HER PERSONAL LIFE SHE ENJOYED POLITICS AND HER EXTENDED FAMILY AND PETS AND LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AND THE PARENT AND TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
LITTLE LEAGUE AND MOTHER OF -- MOTHER FOR UMPTEEN YEARS FOR AREA DEMOCRATS, CHIEF COOK AND BOTTLE WASHER FOR 20 YEARS AND WITHOUT A DOUBT CEOLE WILL BE SO DEARLY MISSED AND ALWAYS RESPECTED AND REMEMBERED. BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT HONORS MS. CEOLE SPEIGHT TO THE MANY RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE FOR HER? >> WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON THE
[Appearances before court (Part 1 of 12) ]
LINE, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IS SHE
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALL RIGHT. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. THE LABOR FEDERATION WELCOMES THE INTRODUCTION ON THE LIFE OF CEOLE SPEIGHT.
SHE WAS A GROCERY CLERK WHERE SHE JOINED THE UNION AND STARTED TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE AFL/CIO.
SHE THREW HERSELF INTO THE FAMILIES AND THE WORK OF THE FEDERATION. LONG BEFORE THE COMPUTER ERA SHOE USINGED MICROFISCHE TO FIND PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE AND WENT TO THEM AND GOT THEM TO VOTE.
SHE WOULD TELL PEOPLE CAN YOU COME ON THURSDAY AND WE WILL HAVE SUPPER FOR YOU. SHE DID THIS ROLE FOR 40 YEARS AND MENTORED DOZENS OF MEMBERS AND POLITICIANS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN SEEKING ADVICE ON HOW TO WIN.
SHE WAS APPOINTED THE GOVERNOR WOMEN COMMISSION OF TEXAS.
CEOLE KNEW DEEP IN HER HEART THAT UNIONS BENEFIT US ALL.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN 2010 OUR --
>> THANK YOU, SIR YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> AS THE CEOLE SPEIGHT -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING ON HER BEHALF. SHE WILL BE MISSED, MAN.
I HOPE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT CAN JUST FILL ONE SHOE MUCH LESS BOTH OF THOSE THAT CEOLE HAS LEFT US WITH.
[Departments (Part 2 of 12) ]
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NEXT JUDGE AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT, IS ONE TO RECOGNIZE. IT IS A PHENOMENAL ORGANIZATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS ONE -- HOLD ON A SECOND. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE MY NOTES HERE RIGHT. THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THIS RESOLUTION READS WHEREAS IN JUNE OF 2019 THAT EASE HARRIS COUNTY ENGAGING IN HELPING COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL START TO HELP ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH EMPOWERING COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY AND TACKLE THE ISSUES THEY SEE AROUND THEM.
[00:15:04]
AND WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT HEALTH EQUITY IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST HARRIS COUNTY EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL, THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT MUCH-NEEDED PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE, EQUIP AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS BY RECOGNIZING THE -- THAT BUILDING GOOD HEALTH STARTS OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL. WHEREAS THROUGH A SIX-MONTH SERIES OF WEEKLY CLASSES, PARTICIPANTS LEARN THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, PERSONAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND MORE.
THEY DEVELOP INDIVIDUALS FOR A GROUP PROPBLG SKWEBGT THAT ARE AWARD DASH DARR PROJECT -- PROJECT THAT ARE AWARDED FUNDING. WHEREAS THESE PROJECTS COVER THE SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BY WORKING TO MAKE THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT REPRESENT THE VIE BRAN SEE OF THE PEOPLE YOU CREATING OPPORTUNITY HAD FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND ADDRESSING DIFFICULT HATE AND BULLYING ISSUES AT SCHOOL AND GUIDING STUDENTS TO GET LUCRATIVE JOBS IN INDUSTRIES IN THEIR BACKYARD HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORTS IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND COMMANDS THEIR RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF HEALTHY
[Appearances before court (Part 2 of 12) ]
EQUITY IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TWO FOLKS ON THE LINE, JUDGE. WE HAVE CASSIE JONES WITH TEXAS CHILDREN AND ANDREA SHILO.THEY ARE ON THE LINE. FIRST IS ANDREA SHILO.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING.
JUDGE HIDALGO AND ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS AND MOST NOTABLY, ADRIAN GARCIA. I AM ANDREA SHILO WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR THE EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL. IT IS MY HONOR AND DISTINCT PLEASURE TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF OUR CEO, TERRENCE, AND OUR TIRELESS TEAM WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORS IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION TO BRING EAC SQUARED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT WE CAN ALL BUILD A BETTER EAST HARRIS COUNTY AND A COUNTY AT LARGE.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LONG AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH TEXAS CHILDREN AND MOST NOTABLY OUR COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, ANDREA.
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO
IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. >> NEXT IS ASKS SEE JONES OF -- IS CASSIE JONES OF TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS CASSIE JONES, COMMUNITY COORDINATOR WITH THE TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WITH HEALTH PEDIATRICS.
IT IS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO BE HERE VIRTUALLY ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION AND MEMBERS OF EAST COUNTY SQUARE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND YOUR AMAZING STAFF IN PRECINCT 2 AND JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE DISTINGUISHED COURT FOR RECOGNIZING US AND OUR COLLABORATORS IN COMMUNITY.
OUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT TOGETHER WE MAKE A GREATER IMPACT THAN AN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION WE COULD GENERATE ON OUR OWN. WE HONESTLY BELIEVE IN THE UNIQUE CYNERGY FORMED BY OUR COLLABORATION.
IT IS NOT ABOUT AN OPTION TO DO THIS TOGETHER, BUT A NECESSITY TO STRENGTH -- STRENGTHEN THE EFFICIENCY OF HEALTH EQUITY THROUGH ACTIONS AND PROJECTS TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES AND IN TURN THE WORLD.
THANK YOU AGAIN. WE ARE HONORED BY THIS RESOLUTION AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING SUCCESSES FOR EAST
HARRIS COUNTY -- >> YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CASSIE, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S AND FOR ALL OF YOUR PHENOMENAL CARE FOR OUR BABIES THROUGHOUT THIS REGION. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I THINK WE
HAD A MINOR TYPO. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND ANDY YOU
[Departments (Part 3 of 12) ]
[00:20:04]
JACK SKWABG IT SAYS -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: IT SAYS AND
THROUGH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANT TO THANK THEIR LEADERSHIP AND IT GIVES US SOLIDARITY ON AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. THIS RESOLUTION HAS TO DO WITH BAIL BONDS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE DOING WHAT WE INTENDED -- INTENDED TO DO IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A UNIFIED VOICE ANDEN SCOURGE -- AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS WHO HAVE THE FULL AUTHORITY TO DO SO AND TO TAKE THE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO AFFECT THIS. THIS RESOLUTION READS IS -- READS WHEREAS THE CRIMINAL CASE BACK -- BACKLOG HAS THE NOMINAL PERCENTAGE OF BAIL BONDS AMOUNT THAT THE BONDS MEN COLLECT FROM DEFENDANTS AND WHEREAS INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOW RECORDS OUTLINING THAT THERE ARE BAIL BONDSMAN -- BAIL BONDS MEN IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT DO NOT COLLECT THE 10% REQUIRED TO PO*TS -- POST BOND.
SOME ARE COLLECTING AS LITTLE AS 1% OF A BOND SET BY A JUDICIAL OFFICER. WHEREAS THE HARRIS COUNTY BAIL BOND BOARD HAS BEEN GIVEN REGULATORY AUTHORITY BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND EVIDENCE IN THE TEXAS OCCUPATION CODE AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS OCCUPATION CODE SECTION 1704.101 ALLOWS THE BOARD TO SUPERVISE AND REGULATE EACH PHASE OF THE BONDING BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS THE TEXAS OCCUPATION CODE 1704.101 ALLOWS THE BOARD TO ADOPT AND POST RULES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE CHAPTER. AND WHEREAS ALLOWING VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO PAY LESS THAN 10% OF A SET BOND DOES NOT CONSIDER CONSTITUENT SAFETY. BREE IT RESOLVED -- BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT WILL TAKE ACTION REQUIRING A 10% MINIMUM BOND PAYMENT BY DEFENDANTS.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DID YOU GET A
SECOND? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOT YET.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO IT? I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. I WANT TO SAY ON A COUPLE OF CASES MY STAFF LOOKED AT, WE NOTICED THAT IN THE CASE OF JOSHUA SANDOVAL WHICH WE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST COURT MEETING, BANKER'S INSURANCE COMPANY, A FLORIDA BAIL BOND AGENCY POSTED A $500,000 FOR AN ASSAILANT ARRESTED AND CHARGED THREE YEARS -- THREE WEEKS LATER WITH ANOTHER CAPITAL FURTHER -- MURDER IN GALVESTON COUNTY.
OUR BAIL SYSTEM IS BROKEN, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THE FOCUS IS ON THE WRONG PARTY. A LOT OF THE FOCUS GOES TO THE JUDGES WHEN THEIR OPTIONS ARE FAIRLY LIMITED.
I THINK WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO IS ASK OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO CHANGE THE LAWS IN TEXAS SO THE SYSTEM IS BASED ON SAFETY FIRST. AN EXAMPLE IN 2017, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATED MONEY BAIL AND ADOPTED A PRE-TRIAL RELEASE SYSTEM BASED ON RISK -FPBLT.
I'M ASSUMING THE RISK WAS IF SOMEONE WAS A RISK TO SOCIETY OR THEMSELVES, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE OR WHO THEY ARE, THEY STAY IN. AND IF NOT, AN ASSESSMENT WAS MADE AND PROVISIONS WOULD BE MADE AND THE JUDGE WOULD MAKE THE DECISION TO LET THEM GET OUT.
THERE WAS A RECENT REPORT FROM THE JUDICIARY IN THE STATE AND ENGAGED WITH THOSE CONVICTED OF SERIOUS OFFENSES AND IT PROMPTED THE CHANGE. BY CONTRAST THOSE CHARGED WITH LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES FELL TO 2 OR 5% IN SOME CATEGORIES.
HOMICIDES DECREASED OVER THIS TIME.
EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE MURDER RATE IS LOWER THAN IT WAS IN 20 P -- 2016. THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN OUR SYSTEM IN TEXAS. I AM NOT GOING TO TRY TO ADD IT TO YOUR RESOLUTION. IT IS A SEPARATE ISSUE.
I AM HOPING WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GOES BACK IN SESSION THEY WILL LOOK AT THE NEW JERSEY MODEL THAT DOES PRIORITIZE THE PUBLIC AND THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED INSTEAD OF THE BAIL INDUSTRY THAT IS PROFITABLE TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 2 BILLION A YEAR. I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT YOUR
RESOLUTION. >> AND I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME
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TO THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, CHRISTIAN MENEFEE.THERE WAS SOME DEBATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE BAIL BOND BOARD ACTUALLY HAS THE AUTHORITY.
OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY DID PROVIDE AN OPINION SPEAKING TO THIS MATTER AND INDICATED THAT, YES, THE BAIL BOND BOARD HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SET THE RULES AND IMPLEMENT THE
CHAPTER THEY ARE GOVERNED BY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD COMMENTS AS WELL.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE ARE TWO THINGS COMMISSIONER ELLIS CONCERNING THIS. ONE I AGREE WITH AND ONE I DO NOT. SAFETY FIRST SHOULD BE THE ISSUE. PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK SHOULD NOT BE ON THE STREET NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE OR DON'T HAVE. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS RESOLUTION IS THE SECOND THING THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID WHICH IS THIS TAKES THE FOCUS OFF THE JUDGES.
I THINK THAT THIS IS THE PRECISELY WRONG ACTION.
WE HAVE JUDGES THAT ARE GRANTING REVOCATION OF BONDS.
THE REASON BONDS MEN ARE PUTTING 1% AND 2% BONDS OUT THERE IS BECAUSE THE BONDS MEN DON'T HAVE TO COME UP WITH A 98 AND 99% OF THE REST. THOSE OF US WHO ARE OLDER REMEMBER TV SHOWS OF DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER AND OTHER BONDS COLLECTING FOLKS. IT WAS THE BONDSMAN'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE SHOWED UP IN COURT.
IF THEY DIDN'T, THE BONDSMAN HAD TO PAY THE BOND.
THAT'S THE FORFEITURE. IF THE BONDS MEN NEVER HAVE TO PAY AND THERE IS NO FORFEITURE OF THE BOND, THEN OF COURSE IT IS FINE AND AND DANDY. THAT PRACTICE OF THE 99% AND THE 98% UNFUNDED WILL END QUICKLY WHEN THE JUDGES FOLLOW THE LAW AND MAKE SURE WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR COURT INSTEAD OF REVOKING THE BOND THEY FORFEIT IT AND IT IS THE BONDSMAN'S DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE SHOW UP IN COURT. AND WILL MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHEN TO SHOW UP IN COURT AND HOW TO SHOW UP IN COURT.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN THE BONDS MEN THAT POSTED THE BOND AND TOOK THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE THEY WOULD BE THERE, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO PAY.
I APPROVE THE SENTIMENT, BUT YOU I THINK IT IS THE WRONG FOCUS. THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE JUDGES WHO ARE REVOKING BONDS INSTEAD OF FORFEITING BONDS
WHICH IS THEIR DUTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> TOM RAMSEY: CLEARLY WE NEED BOND REFORM AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. I KNOW WE LOOK TO AUSTIN TO DO THINGS AND WE KNOW THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST SESSION PUT FORTH A BILL THAT NOT EVERYBODY HERE AGREED WITH. AND WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION WHEN THE EFFORTS ARE PUT FORTH AND IT MAY NOT BE PERFECT IN AUSTIN, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THESE STEPS ONE AT A TIME.
I AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE LEGISLATION AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS CORRECTING. I TOO INDEPENDENT OF COMMISSIONER CAGLE THINK THE JUDGES ARE A PART OF THIS AND I ALMOST ADD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, BUT IT IS ALMOST A SEPARATE ISSUE. THE SIMPLE REQUEST WILL BE THAT THE JUDGES NOT RELEASE DEFENDANTS WHO THE D.A. SAID SHOULD HAVE NO BOND. SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. WHEN THE D.A. GOES TO THE JUDGE AND SAYS, MAN, THERE IS NO BOND HERE, THAT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD THING. AS WE BUILD ON TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, WHEN THE L.A. LOOKS AT THE -- WHEN THE D.A. LOOKS AT THE ISSUE AND SAYS THIS VIOLENT OFFENDER AND OTHER ISSUES SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED, THEN THEY SHOULDN'T GO AGAINST WHAT THE D.A. HAS SAID.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LOOSE THREADS RELATED TO THE ISSUE AND THIS IS ONE PART OF IT, BUT WE DO NEED ACTION ON ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM SO THAT THE VIOLENT OFFENDERS ARE NOT OUT ON THE STREET. AND TO BOTH MY COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO PUT THE FOCUS ON EVERYBODY.
[00:30:02]
I HAVE BEEN PROUDLY -- FOR A BETTER PART OF MANY, MANY, MANY MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR COURTS AND ABOUT THE JUDGES.I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE LOW PERFORMANCE OF SOME COURTS AND WE -- IT WAS MY MOTION THAT BROUGHT THE FOCUS TO THE COURTS. SO I AM NOT TAKING THE ATTENTION OFF OF ANYBODY. I AM BRINGING EVERYBODY INTO FOCUS. IF YOU THINK -- IF YOU SUPPORT THE DASHBOARD AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS A FINGERPRINT ON THIS ISSUE, THEN I WOULD WELCOME YOUR VOTE ON THIS ITEM. BUT THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE THE FOCUS OFF OF ANYONE. THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BROUGHT UNDER SCRUTINY. JUST TO THE CONTRARY, NO ATTENTION HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF. THAT DASHBOARD HAS NOT COME DOWN AND IT WILL NOT STOP ME FROM SPEAKING ON THE CLEARANCE RATES. AND IT SHOULD HAVE OUR SUPPORT TO ADDRESS. IF YOU THINK THE PRACTICE OF PROVIDING 1% BAIL TO BOND OFFENDERS IS OKAY, THEN VOTE AGAINST IT. I AM JUST TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BAIL BOND BOARD TO HEAR US IN FULL SOLIDARITY THAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN BOND.
I WELCOME YOUR SUPPORT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE IF I MIGHT. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE POINT, MR. GARCIA. IF HE IS NEARBY AND IF HE IS ON THE LINE, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF HE WOULD WALK THROUGH BRIEFLY WHAT THE LAW DOES REQUIRE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT WHEN THE PERSON IS REARRESTED UNDER TEXAS LAW, THE BOND COMPANY ALWAYS GETS OFF THE HOOK.
WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO FIND HIM, COMMISSIONER MY READ POU -- MY READ OF YOUR RESOLUTION IS PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLENT, CHARGED WITH A PHYSICAL VIOLENCE OR UNWANTED SEXUAL CONTACT, BECAUSE IF WE GO BACK WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN THERE FOR MISDEMEANORS AND IT DOESN'T STATE THAT, BUT THAT'S
MY UNDERSTANDING. >> YOU ARE CORRECT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU NEARBY?
>> I'M HERE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW A COUPLE OF US ARE LAWYERS, BUT I DON'T PROFESS TO BE A CRIMINAL LAWYER. TELL US HOW BAIL BONDS WORK
UNDER TEXAS LAW. >> TO YOUR POINT IF SOMEBODY WERE TO MISS COURT OR COMMIT ANOTHER OFFENSE, IF THEY ARE ARRESTED, THE BAIL BONDSMAN IS OFF THE HOOK.
THEY DO NOT LOSE MONEY. A DEFENDANT WOULD NEED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND NOT BE FOUND FOR THAT TO COME TO
PASS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S TEXAS LAW. THAT'S NOT COUNTY LAW AND CITY LAW. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ON
THIS LEVEL TO STOP THAT? >> THAT'S STATE LAW.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: IF SOMEONE DOESN'T SHOW UP FOR COURT AND THE JUDGE AT THAT TIME DOESN'T ISSUE A FORFEITURE, YOU ARE SAYING THAT ALL THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THEY GET REARRESTED
AND THE BONDSMAN IS OFF? >> CORRECT.
>> CAN THEY REQUEST A FORFEITURE?
>> THE LAW PROTECTS THE BONDS MEN ON THE BAIL BONDS.
THEY MATE BE ABLE TO GET MONEY -- THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET MONEY FROM THE DEFENDANT IF THE DEFENDANT WAS ON THE HOOK. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GO AFTER THEM. THE BAIL BONDSMAN HAS DONE THEIR PART AS LONG AS THE PERSON GETS REARRESTED.
SO THERE IS -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: SO THERE IS NOT A FORFEITURE OF BOND? -- I AM CIVIL.
I REMEMBER BONDS MEN BEING INTENT TO MAKING SURE THAT
[00:35:02]
THEY HAD A GOOD RISK BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HAVE COLLATERAL AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF THERE WAS A FORFEITURE THAT THEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THEIR POCKET.>> THE LAW IS LIBERAL ON PROTECTING THEIR ASSETS.
YOU WROEPBT -- YOU WON'T FIND MANY BONDS MEN LOSING A LOT OF
MONEY DOING THEIR JOB. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO THE TV SHOW WE SEE THEM RUNNING OUT AND GRABBING THEMING -- THEM,
THAT'S TV. >> IF THEY WANT TO, THEY CAN HIRE A BOUNTY HUNTER. BUT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THEM BECAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFTEN DOES THEIR
JOB FOR THEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: NOT THAT YOU WOULD KNOW, BUT IS IT THAT WAY IN ALL OF THE STATES?
IS IT A STATE BY STATE ISSUE? >> IN KENTUCKY, COMMERCIAL BAIL BONDS MEN ARE ILLEGAL. IT IS STATE BY STATE.
YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND NATION BY NATION. IT IS US AND THE PHILIPPINE THAT'S HAVE THIS EUPBD -- THIS KIND OF A SYSTEM THAT IS PRIVATELY FUND FUNDED BONDS MEN.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IT IS A STATE LEVEL.
ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL YOU DON'T DO THAT.
AN ASSESSMENT IS MADE, RICH OR POOR AND HAVE IT OR DON'T HAVE IT. IF THEY THINK YOU ARE A FLIGHT
RISK. >> LINA HIDALGO: I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT TO GET THROUGH THIS MORNING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE I JUST PROPOSE THIS RESOLUTION THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS RESOLUTION IS BASICALLY THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OR MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR BOND -- VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO GET ON THE STREETS.
IF YOU THINK IT WILL MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO GET ON THE STREET, VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION.
[Appearances before court (Part 3 of 12) ]
>> JUDGE, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, TIFFANY.
>> WE HAVE FIRST ALEXI SPEAKING IN PERSON.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> MY NAME IS ALEXI SWIRTSKY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE OFFICER GALLOWAY'S SERVICE.
THAT IS THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY HE SERVED FOR 12 YEARS AS A MEMBER OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.
HE WAS NOT ONLY KNOWN FOR HIS BIG HEART, BUT HE WAS CARING AND KIND AND SELF-LESLIE -- SELF-LESSLY WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT TO MENTOR THE NEWER OFFICERS.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF CORPORAL GALLOWAY'S DEATH ARE UNACCEPTABLE. THE ASSAILANT WAS ON THE RUN IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR 25 YEARS AND WANTED FOR MURDER IN EL SALVADOR. HOW HAS SUCH AN ANIMAL BE ON THE STREETS -- SORRY. I SHOULD SAY CRIMINAL.
I SHOULDN'T SAY WORDS LIKE THAT.
IT IS ONE OF 57 MURDERS IN THE COUNTY AND WE ARE NECK AND NECK WITH CHICAGO. THAT'S NOT A RACE TO BE IN.
I SUPPORT COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY.
>> NEXT IS MARIO GARZA SPEAKING IN PERSON.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THIS IS ON
THE BAIL BOND TOPIC? >> YES, MA'AM.
HE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 4. >> MY NAME IS MARIO GARZA AND WITH THE PROFESSIONAL BONDS MEN OF HARRIS COUNTY ASSOCIATION. LET ME JUST START SINCE YOU ARE PASSING O'DONNELL IN 2019 AND NOW BEING HAMMERED ON IT BY THE COURT OF APPEALS OPINION IN THE DID -- DAVIES CASE. THEY JUST PASSED IN THE LEGISLATION AND I JUST FOUND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT ENFORCING 10%, IT CAN'T BE DONE. UNDER ARTICLE 1715 IN THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IT GRANTS AUTHORITY AND IT IS NOT TO REQUIRE THAT IT BESET IN ANY PARTICULAR MANNER AND THAT MEANS YOU ARE IMPOSING. IT CAN'T BE DONE.
YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD? THEN, HEY, BRING IT ON. I MEAN, NEXT MONTH WE WILL BE [INAUDIBLE]. IT WAGS COVID --
>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU. COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: BAIL BONDS MEN ARE PRIVATE ASPECT WITH REGARD TO THE SYSTEM. AND YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU POST BOND FOR SOMEONE, YOU PROCESS THE PAPERWORK AND POST THE BOND. IF THE BOND IS -- IF THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR COURT, THEN THE BONDSMAN IS ON THE HOOK FOR WHAT THAT BOND AMOUNT IS.
[00:40:04]
ARE WE SQUARE THERE? >> CAN I ADDRESS SOMETHING TO THIS EXPERT? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. THAT IS TRUE.
BUT THERE IS A LIMIT. SIX MONTHS -- WE HAVE SIX MONTHS TO HAVE THEM INCARCERATED ON A MISDEMEANOR. 9 MONTHS ON A FELONY.
WE HAVE A TIME LIMIT BEFORE WE HAVE TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE BOND WHICH IS WHY BONDS MEN HAVE TIME TO HIRE A BOUNTY HUNTER. SOMETIMES LAW ENFORCEMENT PICKS THEM UP. NOT ONLY THAT, THEM BEING IN CUSTODY WHAT I AM FINDING AFTER O'DONNELL IS JUDGES ARE REINSTATING BONDS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE BONDS MEN.
WE ARE NOT OFF THE HOOK. A BONDSMAN HAS TO GO THE EXTRA STEP TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT OF SURRENDER WHICH THE JUDGE
I CAN GO BEFORE A JUDGE AND SAY I WANT TO RUR -- SURRENDER THIS DEFENDANT SO HE CAN'T GET OUT.
THE JUDGE CAN REINSTATE BOND AND HE IS BACK OUT ON THE SAME BOND WITH NO CONTROL -- I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT AT THAT POINT. I GOT A BY BACK ON BOND I DO NOT WANT. BUT THE JUDGE POSED THAT DISCRETION TO PUT HIM BACK OUT.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED. I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS EXPERT IS, BUT I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 14 YEARS.
I WAS A PARALEGAL CRIMINAL AND CIVIL AND I HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP IN HARRIS COUNTY JAILS SIX TIMES.
HAVE I BEEN ON EVERY SIDE. THE CRIMINAL MENTALITY WHEN WE SET A JAIL SENTENCE, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND HOW DO THEY THINK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> YOU REPRESENT -- >> PROFESSIONAL BONDS MEN
ASSOCIATION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU ALL PLAN ON CHALLENGING THE ACTION IF IT IS TAKEN TO --
>> THE ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF OR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OR WHOEVER IS GOING
TO LITIGATE THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THE CITY HAS
ORDER MAKING POWER. >> WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. SEE YOU IN COURT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BONDS REVOKED? NOT REVOKED, BUT FORFEITED?
>> I HAVE A LOW FORFEITURE RATE.
BANKER'S INSURANCE DOES BACK ME.
I AM ONE OF THEIR BETTER AGENTS.
I HAVE WRITTEN SEVEN MURDER BONDS IN 14 YEARS.
IT IS A RISK-BASED ASSESSMENT.
I BOND OUT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
THAT RISK GOES UP BECAUSE THEY CAN BE DEPORTED.
IT IS ALL RISK BASED. ACTUALLY BY YOU LOCKING UP PEOPLE AND PAYTON% YOU WOULD -- PAY 10%, YOU WOULD NOT BE HELPING THEM. A LOT OF TIMES I DO AT 5% DOWN. WHEN THE DEFENDANT DOESN'T HAVE MONEY I AM THERE TO SAY BRING 5% AND WE'LL BRING -- BOND YOUR PERSON OUT AND YOU CAN DO THE REST ON THE PENAL PLAN. THERE ARE SIX BONDING COMPANIES DOING THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING.
IF Y'ALL WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND NAME NAMES I WILL. THEY ARE RIPPING PEOPLE OFF.
THERE ARE 80 BONDING COMPANIES.
YOU TAKE SIX OF US OUT OF 80 OF US AND YOU CAN'T PAINT US ARE THE -- PAINT US WITH THE BROAD BRUSH.
THAT'S NOT FAIR. SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU SAID YOU WILL NAME THEM.
WHO ARE THE SIX? >> HERE AND NOW? THREE OF THEM ARE FAMILY MEMBERS.
MUHARAS, ONLINE BAIL BONDS, ALL ACCESS AND THERE IS EXIT BAIL BONDS AND FEARLESS BAIL BONDS AND JVC BAIL BONDS.
THERE IS ONE MORE AND IT IS A FAMILY MEMBER WITH THE MUJERAS. THEY ARE BEHIND THESE BONDS THAT ARE BEING DONE. THE SAD PART ABOUT IT IS THEY ARE DOING THEM AT SUCH LITTLE PERCENTAGE AND THEN THE NEXT DAY TELLING PEOPLE THEY OWE THE REST.
THAT IS A FORM OF THE DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE IF I'M CORRECT. YOU ARE TELLING THEM ONE THING AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT. I COME FROM A POINT OF WHERE I'M NOT GONNA -- I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SITUATION, BUT IT IS A BUSINESS, BUT IT IS RISK-BASED.
IF I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT -- I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT YOU GUYS GOT.
IT IS ALL GUT. IT IS ALL WHAT I KNOW.
THEY CAN BE POOR AND I CAN STILL DO A BIG BOND.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW WE HAVE TO RUN.
YOU MENTIONED DE -- DE TEP -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES AND ANY OTHER PROBLEMS YOU SEE IN THE INDUSTRY?
>> A PROBLEM -- WELL, I MEAN IT IS LIKE ANY INDUSTRY.
IT HAS PROBLEMS. IS IT EXCESSIVE?
I I WOULDN'T SAY EXCESSIVE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR
KWROU -- FOR YOUR INPUT. >> TOM RAMSEY: I HAD THE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE OF MEETING OVER 150 PEOPLE MURDERED IN HARRIS COUNTY LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OUT OF JAIL AND THEY WERE.
[00:45:04]
YOU SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM, THEN WHAT'S YOUR SOLUTION?>> I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN FOR A YEAR, CRIMESTOPPERS. I ATTENDED THE MEETINGS.
THIS HAS BECOME PERSONAL TO ME.
WHAT WE SAW IS A MIXTURE OF THOSE 156, THERE IS A MIX TOUR OF PR BONDS, REGULAR ASSURE TEE BONDS.
THEY WERE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE A FREE BAIL AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT WAS PICKED UP. SOME OF THE REPEAT OFFENSE IN THERE, I MEAN, IF YOU TIME IT TO THE O'DONNELL -- MY SOLUTION IS THIS. THERE HAS TO BE BETTER VETTING IN THE PRE-TRIAL SERVICES DIVISION.
WHEN THEY PUT INFORMATION DOWN THAT THEY WORK SOMEWHERE, SOMEBODY SHOULD CALL THAT JOB.
WHEN THAT PHONE NUMBER IS LISTED, SOMEBODY SHOULD CALL THE PHONE NUMBER. THE VETTING OF THESE DEFENDANTS IS NOT BEING DONE. THEY ARE PUTTING DOWN WHATEVER THEY WANT. THEY ARE CALLING MY OFFICE AND ASKING IF I CAN GET A PHONE NUMBER FOR THEM.
PRE-TRIAL SERVICES CALLED MY OFFICE SAYING WHERE CAN I FIND THIS GUY? YOU BONDED HIM THREE YEARS AGO. DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM? ANKLE MONITORS WILL NOT GET AROUND BAIL BONDS MEN. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PLACE TO REPLACE BAIL BONDS WITH AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM.
THEY CUT THEM OFF. THAT HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE O'DONNELL. SOMEBODY CUT THEIR MONITOR OFF AND TWO DAYS LATER I GET A CALL FROM PRE-TRIAL SERVICES SAYING THEY ARE ON THE RUN. THEY GOT A TWO-DAY HEAD START. BETTER VETTING IN THE
PRE-TRIAL SERVICES DIVISION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I LIKE
THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS IMPORTANT -- I KNOW COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A COMMENT, BUT WHAT YOU ARE EXPLAINING AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO LIKE YOU SAID THERE ARE CERTAIN BAD ACTORS AND IT HAPPENS IN EVERY INDUSTRY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE RISK IS OF THESE BAD ACTORS THAT ARE GIVING THESE 1% TKAUB -- 1%, I JUST FEEL YOU DIDN'T FULLY FLUSH IT OUT.
>> THE BUSINESS MODEL THEY ARE USING IS JUST GET THEM OUT.
IT IS A ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL-TE BUSINESS MODEL.
TAKING MONEY ON THE LEFT AND HANDING IT OUT ON THE RIGHT ON THE FORFEITURES. LET POLICE PICK UP WHAT THEY CAN. WITH THE POLICE PROBLEM, THEY ARE NOT PICKING THEM UP. THERE IS -- SOMETIMES THE US MARSHALS GET IN ON IT IF IT IS A HIGH PROFILE ENOUGH CASE -FPLTS. GENTLEMAN.
YEAH. THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS TURN EM AND BURN EM. GET THEM OUT AND HIT THEM WITH WHAT THEY OWE IN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY ARE IN A POSITION OF VULNERABILITY. THEY ARE SCARED AND DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND THEY WILL SCRAM -- SCRAMBLE TO GET THIS MONEY THEY THEY WEREN'T TOLD THEY WOULD OWE TWO DAYS BEFORE. THEY THOLD THEY WERE GETTING A WHOLE BOND FOR 3%. THAT'S NOT GOOD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: BUT THEY ARE STILL OUT, RIGHT? THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO PAY AND GET OUT IS THE POINT?
>> YEAH. A BONDSMAN CAN GO BACK TO COURT AND SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT OF SURRENDER AND WHILE THE COURTS DON'T LIKE TO BE USED AS COLLECTION AGENCIES, SOME OF THESE BONDING COMPANIES WILL SAY THINGS UNTRUE.
IF THE DEFENDANT OWES YOU MONEY HE IS NOT GOING TO CHECK IN WITH YOU. HE IS NOT GOING TO DO WHAT HE IS SUPPOSED TO WHICH GIVES YOU A REASON TO SURRENDER THE BOND AND ISSUE A WARRANT. THE MONEY THEY PAID IS LOST.
IT DIDN'T PAY FOR THE LONG RELEASE OF THE PERSON.
AGAIN, THAT'S NOT WHERE I WANT MY INDUSTRY TO BE.
ALL WE EVER WANTED IN THE BEGINNING WAS TO HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE TO SAY, LOOK, THESE ARE THE PITFALLS THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD LOOK AT BEFORE DOING THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN. THE BONDSMAN IS ON 100% OF THE BOND. WE ARE ON THE HOOK FOR IT ALL. THAT'S WHY WE ASSESS OUR RISK. YOU CAN'T GO TO THE JAIL WITH 98% OF THE BOND AMOUNT. YOU CAN'T GO WITH -- WE'RE
GENERALLY IN A 10% RANGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS JUST HARD TO STOMACH. THE MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING CORPORAL GALLOWAY. HE WAS OUT ON BOND IN THREE COUNTIES. SOMEHOW IT WAS SET LOW ENOUGH FOR SOMEBODY TO PAY FOR THIS GUY.
>> AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T -- LET'S BE CLEAR.
I DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON MURDER BONDS.
MY BONDS WERE DRUG BONDS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DWI BONDS.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A BAIL SCHEDULE, THAT BOND WENT UP AS THEY GOT IN MORE TROUBLE. YOUR BEHAVIOR HAS CONSEQUENCES. WHEN YOU PULL THE SCHEDULE, VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
I MEAN AT SOME POINT EVEN THE COURT ZERO BONDED THEM.
WE ARE TALKING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE -- I THINK IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THE JUDGE PROBABLY THOUGHT THE PERSON COULDN'T MAKE BOND.
THEY ARE SURPRISED THEY DID. BECAUSE THE GUYS DOING THEM AT
[00:50:02]
3 AND 4%. I THINK SOMETIMES WE THINK IN NUMBERS AND OKAY THIS IS 250,000.THIS GUY IS NOT GONNA MAKE THAT.
HE DID. AND NOW YOU'RE MAD AT THE BONDSMAN FOR DOING IT? WE DON'T HAVE CRYSTAL BALLS.
WE DON'T KNOW. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE, AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN WE SHOULD VOTE ON IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO GET
THROUGH. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM GOING TO COME BACK TO THE SAFETY FIRST AS THE BIG FEATURE WE ALL AGREE ON. NOBODY SHOULD BE OUT ON A BOND IF ARE YOU A DANGER TO OTHERS.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS DIRECTLY AT THE FEET OF THE JUDGES WHO ARE GRANTING BONDS WHEN NO BONDS SHOULD BE GRANTED. SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY MAY BE IN THE SYSTEM THAT'S OUT THERE.
ONE THING EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT WITH IF YOU ARE HURTING YOUR NEIGHBORS OR KILLING YOUR NEIGHBORS YOU SHOULDN'T BE OUT. PERIOD.
HAVING SAID THAT, I LISTENED TO YOU AND THIS MAY SOUND STRANGE, BUT YOU SORT OF CHANGED MY DIRECTION I WAS GOING ON THIS BOND. WITH ALL DUE DEFERENCE OF THE DYE COT ME OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAVING PEOPLE VOTING AGAINST THE BOND. THAT WAS A FALSE DYE COT ME.
THAT WAS NOT THE POINT OF MY ISSUE OR A HASTY GENERALLALLIZATION MAY BE THE PROPER LOGIC.
WITH REGARD TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AS THIS ACTUAL RESOLUTION ASKS US TO URGE THE BAIL BOND BOARD TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND LOOK AT IT.
I THINK -- I WAS LEANING AGAINST IT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT PUT THE FOCUS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
HAVING TALKED TO YOU, I WOULD LIKE THE BAIL BOND BOARD TO LOOK AT IT AND GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE OR THE OTHER DIRECTION, BUT I THINK THE BAIL BOND BOARD OUGHT TO LOOK AT IT. WE ARE NOT TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO. WE ARE URGING THEM TO TAKE ACTION. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD PLACE TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DEBATE AMONG THOSE THAT ACTUALLY KNOW THIS INDUSTRY BETTER THAN I DO.
>> FOR THE RECORD, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR FILES.
THAT IS PART OF OUR LICENSING WHEN WE SWEAR AN OATH.
9 SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAN WALK IN AND ASK ME FOR ANY FILE AND SEE ANY RECEIPT THEY WANT TO SEE AND HOW MUCH I CHARGE. WELL, IT IS NOT A PUBLIC BOND.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS NOT EVEN ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL BAIL BONDS MEN. THIS RESOLUTION IS ONE WE ARE ASKING THE BAIL BOND BOARD TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS OF A 10% INMUM -- MINIMUM AND WHETHER THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INSTITUTED, WE ARE NOT. YOU ACTUALLY SERVE -- HATE TO SAY IT, BUT CHANGED MY VOTE FROM A NO DESPITE FALSE DYE COT ME TO A SUPPORT OF MORE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THE PROCESS. IT IS NOT THAT I THINK NECESSARILY THIS HAS TO BE DONE IS YOU, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE BAIL BOND BOARD TO LOOK AT IT.
IT IS ONE OF THE TOOLS OF TRYING TO GET PEOPLE --
>> I HOPE THAT TRANSPARENCY WILL SHIFT FOCUS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. WE DIDN'T GET HERE BY
ACCIDENT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND WE NEED MORE FORFEITURES AS OPPOSED TO RESROE -- REVOCATION VOCATIONS AND YOU HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES YOU CALL THE COPS TO SAY COME AND ARREST THIS GUY SO THE GUY IS OUT AND RUNNING ON THE LAMB AND Y'ALL THAT HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME --
>> I NEVER CALL THE POLICE. I CALL THE BOUNTY HUNTER OR SOMETHING I PAY FOR. IT COSTS THE TAXPAYER NOTHING. WE TAKE RECOVERY COSTS THAT ARE BROUGHT FROM ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTY.
I PAID A $4500 TRAVEL FEE FOR A $10,000 BOND.
SO I ALMOST PAID HALF OF THE BOND JUST TO HAVE THE GUY BROUGHT BACK FROM A COUNTY IN TEXAS.
THE TRAVEL FEE IS WHAT WE ASSUME.
WE ASSUME THE RISK. WE KNOW THAT AND DON'T COMPLAIN. WE EAT THE COST AND WE MOVE
ON. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THANK YOU
FOR CHANGING YOUR MIND. >> LINA HIDALGO: DO YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE GENTLEMAN?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS AN URGING OF THE BAIL BOND BOARD TO LOOK AT IT AND CONSIDER IT.
I DO WANT -- I DIDN'T WANT TO -- I DID WANT TO COME BACK TO SOME OF YOUR REMARKS ABOUT PRETRIAL.
THERE WILL BE A RECOMMENDATION LATER THAT WE WILL CONTEMPLATE OF CUTTING PRETRIAL SERVICES. YOU JUST MADE THE POINT THAT IF WE DO, IT COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO -- YOU MADE SOME GOOD POINTS TODAY.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO WORK WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES AND ACTUALLY COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS BETTER.
[00:55:08]
I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT THE OWE -- THE ONUS ON THE INDUSTRY. 4* I AM JUST SAY -- I AM JUST SAYING COPS, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, BAIL BONDS, PRETRIAL, PROBATION, EVERYBODY NEEDS EQUAL ATTENTION AND EVEN THEPUBLIC DEFENDER. >> I AGREE WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: QUICK QUESTION. HOW OFTEN HAS YOUR COMPANY HAD TO PAY THE FULL VALUE OF A BOND?
>> IN 14 YEARS I PROBABLY PAID ABOUT 15.
THE BIGGEST ONE I PAID WAS IN 2013 I PAID A $250,000 JUDGMENT. THE MOTHER HAD CASH COLLATERAL UP. SHE HAD 161,000 IN CASH COLLATERAL. RO*RD -- RODRIGUEZ --
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT THE NORM?
>> NO, 95% OF THE BONDS ARE WRITTEN WITHOUT COLLATERAL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COULD THE BOND BOARD -- MAYBE WE HAVE TO DIG INTO IT, BUT COULD SOMEHOW WE DO A DASHBOARD TO SEE THE LISTED BOND COMPANY MAYBE ONLINE OR --
>> ACTUALLY THAT IS ALL PUBLIC RECORD.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO IT WILL SHOW WHAT THEY PAY AND WHEN
THEY PAY? >> 062 REPORTS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK. IF YOU HAVE THEIR LICENSE NUMBER YOU CAN SEE THE FORFEITURES.
YOU CAN SEE WHO HAS LOW FORFEITURES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT WILL SHOW HOW MUCH THEY PAID?
>> IT WILL SHOWS THE ONE THAT'S BECOME JUDGMENTS, YES.
WE GET A COUNTY RECEIPT. WE GET A COUNTY RECEIPT FOR
THOSE JUDGMENTS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A MOTION?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I SECOND.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR, THE LANGUAGE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENT FOLKS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU FOLKS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME SAYING THE LANGUAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR, JUST GO TO THEM IS WHAT I SUGGEST.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO WITH YOU TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AND MAKE SURE WE ARE TALKING THE VIOLENT FOLKS CHARGED WITH SOME SEXUAL CONTENT SO WE DON'T GET INTO THE
MISDEMEANORS. >> LINA HIDALGO: PRESENTED BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES
UNANIMOUSLY. >> TOM RAMSEY: LET ME JUST SAY, CHRIS -- CHICKS -- COMMISSIONER, I AM VOTING I BECAUSE IF THERE IS EVER AN INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS CLEANING
UP, THIS IS ONE OF THEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE ANOTHER
RESOLUTION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT WAS IT,
[Departments (Part 4 of 12) ]
JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAVE A RESOLUTION TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER, I
WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE CORPORAL CHARLES GALLOWAY A WEEK AGO AND I AM HONORED ON BEHALF OF THE COURT WITH A RESOLUTION TO WRITE DOWN WHAT WE ARE ALL THINKING.
I WILL START WITH WHEREAS IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JANUARY 23RD , HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 5 CORPORATE CHARLES GALLOWAY WAS PHERSLESSLY -- PHERSLESSLY -- MERCILESSLY EXECUTED BOO I A CAREER CRIMINAL IN A TRAFFIC STOP.
CORPORAL GALLOWAY SERVED 12 YEARS WITH PRECINCT 5 AND CHOSE TO LEAD A MORE LUCRATIVE CAREER IN FINANCE TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE PUBLIC. HE EARNED 11 ACCOMMODATIONS.
IN ONE THE SUSPECT WAS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL CRISIS AND HELD THEIR OWN PARENTS HOSTAGE.
CORPORAL GALLOWAY WAS A MAN OF SERVICE, COURAGE AND KINDNESS AND HIS DEDICATION SHINED THROUGH TEACHING AND MENTORING YOUNGER OFFICERS. HE CHOSE THE NIGHT SHIFT SO HE CAN BE A RESOURCE FOR LESS TENURED OFFICERS POLICING THE STREETS AT NIGHT. AND WHEREAS CORPORATE DASH TKAORB CORPORAL GALLOWAY'S WATCH WAS ENDED TOO SOON AT THE HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO SHOULD NOT BE ON THE STREET, THE DEFENDANT EVADED THE LAW FOR 25 YEARS.
THE DEFENDANT WAS ABLE TO ELUDE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STATE OFFICERS AND BORDER PATROL OFFICERS UNTIL HIS PATH OF CRIME LEAD TO CORP -- CORPORAL GALLOWAY.
HE WAS KNOWN AS THE GLUE THAT BONDED HIS SHIFT.
HE WAS KNOWN FOR A COFFEE-LOVING, COMPANION SOUNDING BOARD THAT EVERYONE NEEDED AND WHEREAS CORPORAL GALLOWAY'S DEATH IS A REMINDER THAT ONE'S WILLINGNESS TO WEAR THE UNIFORM AND THE BADGE IS A SIGN OF COURAGE THAT MOST OF US LACK. IT IS A REMINDER THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER OUR PROTECTORS IN BLUE NEED OUR SUPPORT.
AND ALTHOUGH CORPORAL GALLOWAY'S WATCH HAS ENDED, HIS IMPACT WILL LIVE ON THROUGH HIS COUNTLESS DEPUTIES HE TRAINED AND THE INDIVIDUALS HE HELPED.
HE WILL BE MISSED BY HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, FELLOW
[01:00:02]
OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CORPORAL CHARLESGALLOWAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I WOULD MAKE THE REQUEST THAT SINCE CORPORAL GALLOWAY SERVED IN THE FORMER PRECINCT 4 AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIM DETECTIVELY -- DIRECTLY THAT YOU LET ME HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THE SECOND.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL HAVE TO ARM WRESTLE YOU FOR THIS ONE BECAUSE AS A FORMER NIGHT SHIFT OFFICER MYSELF, VERY FEW THINGS EVER GO RIGHT AT THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING.
HOW ABOUT WE CO-SECOND? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I'M GOOD
WITH THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR
DOING THAT. >> TOM RAMSEY: I THINK WE HAVE
SPEAKERS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
IT IS 12 YEARS I THINK THAT HE SERVED.
TIME AFTER TIME AND SHIFT AFTER SHIFT HE CAME HOME TO KATY WHERE I GREW UP. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO HOME THAT DAY. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE SEEING HIS DAUGHTER AND HIS SISTERS.
GOSH, IT IS JUST SUCH AN ENORMOUS TRAGEDY.
AS WE SAID THIS MAN WHO IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HIM WAS OUT IN THREE DIFFERENT COUNTIES. AS I SAID TO THE FAMILY THAT NIGHT THAT HE WAS KILLED AND HIS COLLEAGUES AND AS I SAY IT, WHEN I PRAY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY, I THINK THE BEST WAY FOR US ALL TO HONOR HIM IS TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF SERVICE AND HE LEAVES A CLEAR LEGACY BEHIND WITH EVERY SINGLE OFFICER THAT HE TRAINED. MAY WE REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AND HIS SERVICE IN THAT EXAMPLE.
[Appearances before court (Part 4 of 12) ]
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL TAKE
THE SPEAKERS, TIFFANY. >> FIRST IS LYNDSAY ERINSTEIN IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR THIS RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF CORPORAL CHARLES GALLOWAY. CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.
JUDGE HIDALGO TWICE LAST WEEK AND TWICE THIS MORNING *6 YOU -- YOU PUBLICLY STATED THE DEFENDANT WAS OUT ON MULTIPLE BONDS IN THREE COUNTIES TOTALING $1 MILLION.
ACTUALLY THE DEFENDANT WAS A WANTED FUGITIVE FOR 25 YEARS WHO HAD ABSCONDED FROM HIS PROBATION.
THE ORGANIZATION I VOLUNTEER FOR ALONG WITH HPD AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WARNED THE PUBLIC AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT OF THE RISING VIOLENT CRIME ESPECIALLY HOMICIDE IN 2019. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF IT COURT RESORTED TO CALLING US NAMES SUCH AS FEAR MONGERING.
I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE FINALLY TALKING ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME AND REPEAT OFFENDERS. I HOPE IT IS NOT BECAUSE IT IS ELECTION SEASON, BUT YOU ARE TRULY PUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AGAIN. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> NEXT IS MICHELLE HEINZ, AND SHE IS SPEAKING VIRTUALLY.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHELLE HEINZ AND I AM HERE TO HONOR CORPORAL CHARLES GALLOWAY, A BELOVED FATHER, BROTHER AND MENTOR. JUDGE HIDALGO, THIS IS NOT A SUPPOSED SPLASHY HEADLINE FOR POLITICAL POINTS.
THIS IS A MAN'S LIFE AND HIS LIFE MATTERED.
CORPORAL GALLOWAY PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE BECAUSE OF THE WEAK POLICY JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS ELLIS AND GARCIA SUPPORT AND ENDORSE. CORP PRAL -- CORPORAL GALLOWAY'S MURDER IS A RESULT OF YOUR DECISIONS SUCH AS VOTING TWICE TO DEFUND CONSTABLES $20 MILLION.
SPENDING MILLIONS PLANTING TREES BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE TREES PREVENT CRIME. CONSIDERING HARRIS COUNTY IS NUMBER ONE IN HOMICIDES, SURPASSING CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, YOUR FAILED LEADERSHIP IS A DISASTER.
YOU HAVE CREATED A SAFE HAVEN FOR MURDERERS AND YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE BAD DECISION THAT'S SUPPORT HARDENED CRIMINALS.
HOMICIDE RATES IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE PAST 30 YEARS. THIS IS UNDER YOUR WATCH AND THIS IS YOUR LEGACY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THE LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM IS TERRY ALBRITTAIN AND HE IS SPEAKING IN PERSON.
YOU HAVE A MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF COURT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY. THEY WANTED TO EXPRESS THEIR GRATITUDE FOR SO MUCH THAT WAS DONE BY SO MANY PEOPLE FOR HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE. CHARLES MEANT A LOT TO HIS FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE WHO PITCHED IN ON THE SERVICE AND CAME OUT AND VOLUNTEERED. IT SHOWED THE FAMILY HOW MUCH HE MEANT TO US ALSO. THEY GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT.
[01:05:04]
HPD AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE CHAPLAINS THAT CAME OUT AND MADE IT A MEMORABLE EVENT FOR THE FAMILY TO HONOR CHARLES. SECONDLY, THE FAMILY WANTED TO EXPRESS A GRATITUDE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THE EFFORT INTO CAPTURING THE SUSPECT. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS JOB FOR A LONGTIME, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU REACH THAT FAR INTO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO GRAB SOMEBODY.THE FAMILY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THAT RECEIVED THE GRATITUDE FROM THEM FOR HOPEFULLY
BRINGING THIS GUY TO JUSTICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU.
AS THE PASTOR SAID AT THE SERVICE, MATTHEW 5, BLESSED BE THE PEACE MAKERS. SO WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT THE CORPORAL, WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, BLESSED BE THE PEACE MAKERS. Y'ALL ARE OUT THERE MAKING PEACE WHERE THERE IS NOT ANY. THANK YOU.
>> ONE MORE THING, I FORGOT TO MENTION WAS THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE CITIZENS REALLY RALLIED IN SUPPORT OF CORPORAL GALLOWAY AND THERE WAS A COMMENT THAT CONSTABLE HEAT MADE SAYING THE THIN BLUE LINE IS NOT SO THIN ANYMORE.
THAT HIT ME WHEN I HEARD THAT AT THE SERVICE.
THANKS TO ALL OF THE CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY THAT CAME OUT TO
SHOW SUPPORT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
IT IS NOT LOST ON ME. EVERY SINGLE LAW ENFORCE -- ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND COMMISSIONER YOU SAY THIS FROM EXPERIENCE, BUT AS I SEE ALL OF THE FOLKS HERE, THE JOB IS HARD. BUT THIS LAYS THE CLEAR SACRIFICE THAT EACH OF THEM MAKES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED A SEPARATE VOTE ON THIS? WE ARE ALL -- A DIFFERENT SECOND. MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- CAN WE DO A JOINT SECOND WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE? IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD DO THAT.
>> TOM RAMSEY: WE JUST DID. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Departments (Part 5 of 12) ]
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COUPLE OFRESOLUTIONS. >> TOM RAMSEY: I HAVE ONE MORE
I THINK. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD,
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN I TALK ABOUT ENGINEERS AGAIN AND I I DON'T
WE DO IT BECAUSE IT IS GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
WE CONSIDER GEORGE WASHINGTON AS OUR FIRST -- NOT ONLY OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, BUT OUR FIRST ENGINEER.
I AM HERE CELEBRATING E WEEK, ENGINEER'S WEEK.
AND IF I MIGHT, HRELT -- LET ME TELL YOU ONE EAST TEXAS STORY BEFORE WE READ THE RESOLUTION.
I'M SORRY. WELL, I DON'T APOLOGIZE.
NOT MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER THE STORY OF NEW LONDON, TEXAS WHEN IN 1937 BECAUSE OF AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BLEW UP KILLING 295 CHILDREN AND TEACHERS. IT IS AMAZING THE STATE LEGISLATURE WITHIN WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS MANAGED A SPECIAL CAUSE SESSION TO PASS THE ENGINEER'S PRACTICE ACT.
BECAUSE THEY PASSED THAT WE HAVE STANDARDS NOW THAT REQUIRES WE ONLY HIRE IN HARRIS COUNTY PEOPLE THAT MEET CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS. I'M SO PROUD OF THAT ENGINEERING GROUP IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY SERVE US ALL. WE HAD THE GOOD OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING WHAT KIND OF GREAT JOB THEY DO.
THERE IS NO GROUP THOUGHT OF BETTER THAN A GROUP OF ENGINEERS FROM AN EPIC STANDPOINT IN ALL OTHERS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY ON THIS COURT'S SUPPORT OF THAT PARTICULAR GROUP. WHEREAS EACH YEAR FOR A WEEK IN FEBRUARY WE CELEBRATE ENGINEER'S WEEK OR E-WEEK TO PROMOTE STEM EDUCATION AND CELEBRATE THE BRIGHT MEN AND WOMEN. THIS YEAR'S ENGINEER'S WEEK BEGINS FEBRUARY 20TH. AND HARRIS COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES AND COUNTLESS BRIDGES AND THE FIVE FACILITIES AND THE FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES IN ALL THESE MEASURES WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY PROFESSIONALS AND ENGINEERS. AND WHEREAS TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER A PE, ONE MUST EARN A PWAFRP HRER'S DEGREE -- BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND WORK WITH A LICENSED PE AND PASS TWO EXAMINATIONS AND GET A LICENSE.
WE CELEBRATE THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR WORK AND WHEREAS ENGINEER'S WEEK IS NOT ONLY A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE OUR ENGINEERS, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR STEM EDUCATION. THE IMPORTANCE OF STEM IN THE 21ST CENTURY IS PARAMOUNT.
BY TAKING THE TIME TO PROMOTE STEM EDUCATION THEY ARE
[01:10:03]
WORKING TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION AS CREATORS AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS ARE BEHIND EVERY INCH OF ROAD PAVED IN HARRIS COUNTY THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PLAYGROUND WE ENJOY AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY FROM FLOODING. THEY ARE AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO HARRIS COUNTY. BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT CELEBRATES ENGINEERING WEEK.>> R. JACK CAGLE: IN HONOR OF MY FATHER, THE PE, I SECOND
IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF I CAN OFFER MY OWN ENGINEERING STORY AND IT IS MAURY LATED TO COMMISSION -- MORE RELATED TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND A PROFESSOR OF MATERIAL SCIENCE AT RICE.
THERE IS A STORY AND YOU WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN I WILL REMEMBER. ONE MORNING -- THERE IS A STATUE IN THE COURTYARD. ONE MORNING EVERYBODY SHOWS UP AT RICE TO FIND THE STATUE TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND.
NO APPARATUS WAS BROUGHT IN THERE.
AT LEAST THE RUMOR IS THAT NONE WAS.
IT WAS APPARENTLY A GROUP OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS THAT HAD SOME TIME ON THEIR HANDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT DONE. THAT'S JUST A CUTE ONE.
>> TOM RAMSEY: WE CALL THAT EXPERIMENTING.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THAT OCCURS EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE IS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
[Appearances before court (Part 5 of 12) ]
>> I. >> JUDGE, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER
ON THIS ITEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, TIFFANY. THANK YOU.
>> IT IS ALBERT CHANG OF THE TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND HE IS SPEAKING IN PERSON.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HELLO.
ALBERT CHANG AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COURT MEMBERS. I BRING GREETINGS FROM TEXAN GIN NEARS AND LAND SURVEYORS. IT IS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER.
LIKE COMMISSIONER CAGLE MY FATHER WAS IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING. I SERVE AS ONE OF THREE PUBLIC MEMBERS ON THE BOARD. I WAS JUST REAPPOINTED TO A SECOND TERM. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT BENEFITED FROM THE GREAT LIFE AN ENGINEER CAN PROVIDE.
MY FATHER WAS A CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL PE AND WORKED HIS CAREER BUILDING IS AND DESIGNING REFINERIES IN THE HOUSTON PETROL COMPLEX AND IN LOUISIANA.
WHEN WE TALK ENGINEERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, PE'S. THESE ARE ENGINEERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR LICENSE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ARE BORED. IT REPRESENTS THE MOST QUALIFIED AND ETHICALLY PROFESSIONAL IN THEIR
OPINION. >> THANK YOU FOR THE THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS.
>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR THAT YOU SERVE THERE. I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE REALIZE -- I THINK IT STICKS TO THE QUALITY WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. HAVING BEEN ANEN -- AN ENGINEER FOR 45 YEARS, WE CONSIDER THOSE ON THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION AS SOME OTHER KIND OF ORDER.
IT IS LIKE COAT WORTHY. YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB OF BEING SURE THE PUBLIC AND THEIR INTEREST IS PROTECTED IN
ALL CASES. >> WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GREAT BOARD MEMBERS LAST WEEK OR LAST QUARTER YOU ALL HONORED DANIEL AND I SERVED UNDER HIM AND OUR CURRENT CHAIRMAN IS A FANTASTIC ENGINEER.
OUR BOARD AND OUR STAFF ARE FANTASTIC.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALBERT, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> SO GOOD TO SEE YOU JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ENGINEERS HELPED BUILD THIS PLACE. MY DAD IS ALSO AN ENGINEER.
>> THAT'S GREAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO
MUCH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SINCE EVERYBODY HAS A STORY I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I WAS ON THE
TEAM. >> TOM RAMSEY: DO YOU TILL
HAVE THE SLIDER? >> RODNEY ELLIS: SOMEWHERE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE SLIDING CAPE?
SEE WHAT I COULD HAVE BECOME? >> THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL TAKE THAT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Departments (Part 6 of 12) ]
COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, WHEN WE ARE HAVING A MIXED SET OF RESOLUTIONS WHICH WHICH IS POSITIVE AND THAT WHICH IS SAD AND THAT WHICH IS ACHIEVEMENT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RESOLUTIONS NOW THAT WILL BE -- FOUR THAT WILL LIFT OUR SPIRITS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE FIRST ONE IS IN HONOR OF
[01:15:01]
THE ASSISTANT CHIEF TOBY HECKER WHO I BELIEVE IS ONLINE. THE CAPTAIN TOBY HECKER RECEIVED A PROMOTION TO ASSISTANT CHIEF.WHEREAS ASSISTANT CHIEF TOBY HECKER, WAS NOMINATED TO ATTEND THE PRESTIGIOUS FBI NATIONAL UH CADDIE -- ACADEMY BECAUSE OF THE PROVEN RECORD AS AN EXPERIENCED LEADER COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCE 34E7B9 -- LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY ARE A PROFESSIONAL COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MANAGERS AND NOMINATED BY THEIR AGENCY HEAD BECAUSE OF DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP QUALITY.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IN -- AN INTENSIVE AGO TKEPL I CAN IN -- ACADEMIC PROGRAM. THE PHYSICAL COMPONENT HAS A QUALIFIER AS A STARTER AND THE FAMOUS 6.1-MILE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. WHEREAS THE ASSISTANT CHIEF -- IF YOU LOOKED AT HIM YOU WOULDN'T KNOW YOU COULD RUN THAT AT THE TIME REQUIRE ETD -- REQUIRED.
HE DID IT. YOU IT IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. IS AND WE HAVE THE BEST AND THE BEST TRAINED. AND I THINK WE HAVE HIM
ONLINE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I APPRECIATE THAT SHOUTOUT. IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WUPBDZFUL -- WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. 11 WEEKS IS A LONGTIME FROM HOME, BUT LUCKILY I HAD A STRONG WIFE WHO COULD CONCENTRATE ON THE PHYSICAL ASPECT AND NOT WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE HOUSE. THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AND LEADING AN INVESTIGATION THAT -- INVESTIGATION IN VIOLENT CRIMES AND BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY CLASS THAT THAT WAS INFORM TIFF.
I WANTED TO BE THERE IN PERSON, BUT I HAD A MEETING WHERE D.A. OG WAS A SPEAKER. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY GET MORE FULLY ENGAGED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT WITH THAT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU, BUT BEFORE I DO I WOULD BE REMISS TO SAYING ABOUT CORPORAL GALLOWAY, IF WE CAN KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS.
GALLOWAY AND GUTIERREZ, IF WE CAN GET BACK TO OUR NORMAL LIVES, THEIR FAMILIES WILL NEVER GET BACK TO THEIR NORMAL LIVES AND IF WE CAN KEEP THEM IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
THIS YEAR. >> YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> LINA HIDALGO: CONGRATULATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
THIS RESOLUTION WILL GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS HE HAS A FAMILY THAT JUST ARRIVED -- HONOREES.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: OUR NEXT RESOLUTION IS FOR RAVEN WHITE WHO IS A RESIDENT OF KATY.
THE RESOLUTION TELLS THE STORY AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY.
WHEREAS MS. RAVEN WHITE A 9-REAR RESIDENT OF KATY IS A MOTHER AND TAX ACCOUNTANT AND SHE IS AN AVID READER WHO, QUOTE, SEES THE WORLD THROUGH BOOKS.
IN OTHER WORDS, SHE IS A FELLOW NERD.
AND SHE HAS DREAMED OF OPENING A BOOKSTORE OF HER OWN.
MS. WHITE BELIEVES THEY CAN BRIDGE GAPS AND BROADEN PERSPECTIVES. WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT NAME I THOUGHT OF A PLACE IN PRECINCT 2 THAT WAS BROWN SUGAR BARBECUE. I CAN SEE HOW THERE COULD BE A GOOD CYNERGY BETWEEN BROWN SUGAR BARBECUE AND BROWN SUGAR CAFE. IT WILL BE A GATHERING PLACE WHERE CULTURE MEETS COMMUNITY AND BROWN SUGAR'S MISSION IS TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND INCLUSION BY FIGHTING HATE ARE LITERACY AND LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE COURT COMMANDS MRS. RAVEN WHITE FOR HER WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE PUT THIS ON THE BOOKS FOR TODAY AS A MOTION.
[Appearances before court (Part 6 of 12) ]
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> RAVEN WHITE IS HERE TO
SPEAK IN PERSON. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE SHE
I AM RAVEN WHITE. I AM THE OWNER OF BROWN SUGAR CAFE AND BOOKS. WE WILL BE OPENING IN KATY, TEXAS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN -- I AM FROM CHICAGO SO I HAVE BEEN -- IT IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CULTURE THERE THAT I AM USED TO AND I JUST NOTICED WITHIN MY COMMUNITY A LOT OF TIMES WE
[01:20:01]
WILL LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN THINGS THAT I FELT SHOULD BE RIGHT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.WE WERE RECENTLY VANDALIZED AND I BELIEVE IT IS CHILDREN.
WE FOUND OUT FOR SURE THAT IT WAS AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUNISH THEM AND SO WE THINGS THAT BOOKS AND MEDITATION AND JUST BRIDGING THE GAP FORE FINDING -- FOR FINDING BETTER WAYS. WE ARE BRINGING A PLETHORA OF PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY SO EVERY RACE CAN LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER RACE AND IN THAT WAY WE ARE BRIDGING THE GAP.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AS YOU WERE TALKING IT JUST KIND OF BROUGHT THE MOVIE "YOU GOOD MAIL" --" YOU GOT MAIL" FOR THE LITTLE SHOP THAT WAS FIGHTING THE BIG BOOKSTORE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
WE FEEL MUCH MORE WELCOME AND WE REALLY DO HAVE THE
COMMUNITY. >> DO YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS?
>> WE DO. 5335 -- 5330 FRYE ROAD.
A RIBBON CUTTING ON 2/22. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU DON'T
MISS CHICAGO? >> WE APPRECIATE THE SUNNY DAYS. MY FAMILY DEFINITELY APPRECIATES WHERE WE ARE. THAT'S WHY IT BECAME HOME.
WE KNOW THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE MIGRATING LIKE US.
WE WANT KATY TO FEEL LIKE HOME AND THE BOOKSTORE TO FEEL LIKE
HOME IN THE COMMUNITY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND NOW THE
[Departments (Part 7 of 12) ]
NEXT TWO RESOLUTIONS GO BACK TO THE GREAT AMERICAN DIVERSION, FOOTBALL. YOU WHEREAS EMERY/WEINER SCHOOL SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST COUNTY AND ALONG WITH ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS EMERY AND IT IS WEINER, OR WEINER, BUT HAS FOUND SUCCESS ON THE GRID GRIDIRON. THE JAGUARS WON THE PRIVATE SCHOOL BASED SIX-MAN DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL CLASSIFICATION.MY LITTLE BOY WHO IS 6-FOOT 5 PLAYED 6-MAN FOOTBALL.
IN DOMINATING FASHION THEY BEAT THEIR OPPONENT BY 45 POINTS AND TRIGGERING THE MERCY RULE AND ENDING THE GAME EARLY -RPLT. THIS YEAR'S TITLE MARKS THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS EARNED BY EMERY/WEINER SCHOOL IN 2019, 2020, 2021, AND BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT CONGRATULATES HEAD COACH AND THE PARENTS AND PLAYERS OF THE EMERY/WEINER JAGUAR TEAM. I THINK WE HAVE SOMEBODY
[Appearances before court (Part 7 of 12) ]
AVAILABLE TO TALK. >> JASON RYMER IS ON THE LINE. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HELLO AND GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS JASON RYMER AND I AM THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE COURT AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR THE RESOLUTION.
ON BEHALF OF THE PLAYERS AND THE COACHING STAFF AND ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION AND ALL YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE ENJOY A TERRIFIC SEASON WITH THE 12-0 RECORD AND NEVER TRAILING AT ANY POINT IN ANY GAME. WE WERE LEAD BY 15 SENIORS WHICH IS THE LARGEST SENIOR LASS -- CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY. WE WERE PROUD TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: CONGRATULATIO. >> R. JACK CAGLE: FOR MY COLLEAGUES, SIX-MAN FOOTBALL IS REFERRED TO AS WEST TEXAS FOOTBALL WHERE HAVE YOU SIX GUYS AND IT IS AWESOME.
IT IS LIKE THE BEST OF BASKETBALL AND THE BEST OF FOOTBALL ALL ROLLED IN TOGETHER.
I ENJOY -- I WAS THE ASSISTANT TO THE ASSISTANT COACH IN MY SON'S JUNIOR HIGH TEAM WHEN HE WAS PLAYING SIX-MAN FOOTBALL.
THERE IS A LOT MORE STRATEGY INVOLVED.
COACH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE
LIFE OF THESE YOUNGSTERS TOO. >> LINA HIDALGO: COACH, HOW EXCITING. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> R. JACK CAGLE: OUR NEXT
[Departments (Part 8 of 12) ]
RESOLUTION IS ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT DEMONSTRATED PROWESS ON THE GRIDIRON AND IT IS -- I WILL GET INTO THE RESOLUTION, SIGH -- CYPRESS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL HAS BEEN ANCHORING THE BIBLICAL VALUES IN NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY AND ALONG WITH THEIR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM, CYPRESS CHRISTIAN[01:25:02]
SCHOOL STUDENTS AND COACHING STAFF ALSO ACHIEVED THE STATE'S TOP FOOTBALL THIS YEAR WITH A WARRIORS TEAM IN BLUE AND WHITE WINNING THE PRIVATE SCHOOL 11-MAN DIVISION AND BEATING THEIR OPPONENT 16-7. THEY HAVE BALL CONTROL OFFENSE AND THIS WAS THE SECOND FOOTBALL TROPHY TO COME HOME TO CYPRESS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AND THE FIRST IN 2017.NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT REC COG -- RECOGNIZES CHRIS HOGAN AND THE PLAYERS AND THE PARENTS OF THE 2021 WARRIORS FOOTBALL TEAM.
CONGRATULATIONS AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO FOLKS.
[Appearances before court (Part 8 of 12)]
>> COMMISSIONER, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO REACH CHRIS HOGAN FROM CYPRESS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS CHRIS HOGAN AND THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND DIRECTOR OF CULTURE ALT CCS. I ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF CYPRESS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL COMMUNITY TPABG -- FACULTY, STUDENTS, PARENTS AND THE GREAT VISION THAT SERVED OUR SCHOOL 45 YEARS AGO. WE WERE PROUD TO REPRESENT THE HOUSTON AREA AND BRING A TEXAS STATE TITLE BACK HOME.
OUR SCHOOL IS RECOGNIZED LAST YEAR BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS AND IT AWARDED TO THE BEST ALL-AROUND SCHOOL. WHILE THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR, THE MAIN POINT I WILL COMMUNICATE ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS WHILE OUR SCHOOL HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE SCHOOL WERE THE STUDENTS THAT WERE GRADUATING THAT WILL MAKE A HUGE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE OF THE VALUES THEY POSSESSION -- POSSESS AND THE FUTURE FAMILIES THEY PRODUCE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU AND YOU CAN COUNT ON US TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT --
>> SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND NOT JUST IN TERMS OF TEACHING AND THE SKILLS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT THE SKILLS OF LIFE.
>> YOU BET. IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE.
HRAOPB -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO
MUCH AND CONGRATS. >> THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S IT FOR THE RESOLUTIONS.
NEXT IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S RESOLUTIONS.
WE WILL JUST GIVE HIM A QUICK SECOND.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: SINCE HE IS NOT HERE CAN WE TAKE A QUICK
TWO-MINUTE BREAK? >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.
LET'S BREAK UNTIL 11:40 THEN. WE STILL HAVE TO DO HIS RESOLUTION. I WILL JUST START ADJOURNING WHEN FOLKS GET UP. IT DISRUPTS THE COURT.
SO LET'S JUST ADJOURN FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL 11:40 AND WE WILL DO THAT GOING FORWARD.
>> IT IS 11:43 AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT IS BACK
[Departments (Part 9 of 12) ]
IF SESSION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I KNOW YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION.>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOT AN ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE AN ITEM OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST WITH US. IT IS ITEM 257.
TWRO -- 257 IS AN ITEM UNDER MY AGENDA TO PROVIDE FOR A MURAL ON THE SIDE OF THE FORMERLY INMATE PROCESSING CENTER. IT IS MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT BUILDING IS LOCATED AT A POINT AND AT A LOCATION THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE POINTS OF TIME IN THE HISTORY OF HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS WHERE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS BACK IN THE EARLY 70S MURDERED JOSE CAMPOS TORRES BY BEATING HIM, HUNDRED -- HANDCUFFING HIM AND THROWING HIM IN THE BUFFALO BAYOU.
I I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS SUPPORT AND THE BOARD FOR THEIR COLLABORATION IN WORKING WITH ME AND COUNCILMEMBER GUY YEA -- GULLEGOS AND CISNEROS FOR THE VISION OF A MURAL -- NOT A MURAL -BGS, BUT A PLAZA THAT WOULD HONOR THE LIFE OF A UNITED STATES VETERAN AND IT TELLS THE STORY OF HIS SUBSEQUENT DEATH AND HE WAS A ROOKIE POLICE OFFICER THAT WENT TO THE POLICE CHIEF AND TO SHARE WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
[01:30:09]
I WANT TO THANK DR. PORSA AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BEAUTIFUL MURAL AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT IT SHOWS A BEAUTIFUL LIKENESS OF JOSE CAMPOS TORRES AND IT WILL BE ALONG THE TRAIL AND IT WILL CONNECT TO HIS HOME COMMUNITY AND WE WILL NAME THAT THE HOE -- THE JOSE CAMPOS TORRES BIKE TRAIL. AND WE ARE JOINED BY HIS SISTER. I WANT TO THANK JANE -- JANIE AND WE WERE JUST TALKING DURING THE BREAK THAT HER MOM HAS ENDURED THE MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT FAITHFUL -- THAT FATEFUL DAY AND THE NIGHT AND THE RIOT THAT HAPPENED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS AT THE RIOT WHEN IT HAPPENED. MY CHURCH.I WANT TO THANK POLICE CHIEF CALDWELL BECAUSE OF HIS LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZING THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE TO PROVIDE AN OUT REACH AND LEAD INTO ANY -- INTO OTHER PEOPLE THAT LEAD TO IMPORTANCE IN MY LIFE, MAINLY GARCIA AND OTHERS. JANIE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
HE IS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS. JOHNNY MATTA HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY RECOGNIZE WHAT HAPPENED AND TO PROVIDE HONOR AND RESPECT TO YOUR BROTHER AND MAKE SURE THAT STORY IS TOLD. GILBERT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL BECAUSE GILBERT IS PART OF A FUNDRAISING THAT WILL GO INTO THE MURAL.
[Appearances before court (Part 9 of 12) ]
JANIE? >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I FOLLOWED BY BROTHER BROTHER'S SPIRIT HERE THIS MORNING. JOE CAMPOS TORRES.
I FOLLOW HIM BASICALLY EVERYWHERE.
I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR GIVING US TIME TO HEAR US OUT. I AM HERE TO PLEAD FOR THIS RENDERING. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER WHO HAS HAD A HOLE IN HER HEART FOR SO MANY YEARS.
WE ARE ALL FAMILY OF A MILITARY BACKGROUND HE WAS A U.S. ARMY VETERAN AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
I AM HERE TO PLEAD THAT HE NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
>> THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS ON MAY 5TH, 1977, JOE CAMPOS TORRES WAS ARRESTED FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT. AND SUBSEQUENTLY HE WAS SO SEVERELY BEATEN WHEN HE WAS TAKEN TO THE JAIL FOR PROCESSING THEY WOULDN'T PROCESS HIM.
THEY SAID YOU NEED TO GO DOWN TO THE HOSPITAL.
HE NEVER MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL.
THEY TOOK HIM TO THE HOLE WHICH IS A PLACE WE ALL KNOW OF WHERE HE WAS BEATEN FURTHER AND THEN HE WAS THROWN INTO THE BAYOU. THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS WE THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT AND WE SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP US SAFE EVERY DAY. BUT THIS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THIS WAS ABUSE.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR AND CHIEF FINNER WHO MADE A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO THE FAMILY. WE INVITE YOU APRIL 2ND OF THIS YEAR AS WE CELEBRATE HIS LIFE.
THE CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE IS THE BEST WAY WE CAN CLEANSE AS A COMMUNITY. I THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. GO AHEAD.
>> HONORABLE JUDGE -- >> SIR, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
FOR THE RECORD. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IN
[01:35:03]
MARCH 17TH OF THIS YEAR -- OF THIS PAST YEAR COMMISSIONER INITIATED THIS WHOLE EFFORT TO SEE IF WE COULD MEMORIALIZE AND BRING BACK THAT STORY WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.IT WILL BE CALLED THE JOE CAMPOS TORRES TRAIL.
IT IS NOT JUST FOR JOE CAMPOS TORRES.
HIS MOTHER WAS VERY CLEAR AND -- I JUST WANT THE PLEASE TO DO THEIR JOB RIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER VICTIMS AND OFFICERS NOT FOLLOWING WHAT THEY ARE TAUGHT TO DO.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> LEAGUE OF UNITED IMMIGRANTS. >> [INAUDIBLE].
>> JUDGE IS YOUR MIC ON? >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
I WAS JUST THANKING YOU ALL AND THANKING THE COMMISSIONERS FOR BRINGING LIGHT TO THIS. JAMIE, SEND MY BEST AS WELL TO YOUR MOTHER AND GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A FAMILY.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. IT WON'T BRING HIM BACK, BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT TELLS AN IMPORTANT STORY ON SO MANY LEVELS, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH OVERALL THESE YEARS AND I WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY AND YOU FOR BEING INVOLVED. I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR.
I DID MAKE A CALL TO CONTEMPLATE THE IDEA OF THIS.
I WANTED IT TO COME TOTALLY AND ENTIRELY FROM THE FAMILY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP OF WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE THERE AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY FOR HELPING US CRAFT A BEAUTIFUL IDEA AND THOUGHT FOR YOUR
FAMILY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
COMMENT? >> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT -- LET ME SAY THAT THE MEMORIAL WILL ALSO BRING OUT OTHER CASES AND EVERY DAY THEY WILL GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES AND KEEP US SAFE.
PART OF THE ENTIRE PAVILION WOULD BE DEDICATED IN HONOR OF
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BEAUTIFUL.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND YOU HAVE BEEN SO PATIENT. THANK YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
YOU MAKE SURE YOU GET THE NOTICE OUT.
SOME OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IT.
I KNOW IT IS APRIL SECOND. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME OF DAY? HAVE YOU DECIDED? MORNING OR AFTERNOON?
>> 1 TO 3. >> R. JACK CAGLE: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE GREAT JOHNNY MATZA IS ONLINE.
>> WE HAVE TWO ONLINE SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: I ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR FROM JOHNNY.
>> JOHNNY MATA FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON COALITION.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS VERY POWERFUL.
EVERYBODY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD.
I WANT TO THANK KPWHEUGSER GAR -- I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THE R*ETS OF THE -- THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE.
IN THE PROCESS HIS CASE STARTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. AND WE SALUTE ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN POLICE WORK AND ENFORCEMENT.
AND THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO A CASE WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE AND OF COURSE YOU AND ALL OF THE OTHERS THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,
JOHNNY. >> LINA HIDALGO: JOHNNY, THANK
YOU SO MUCH. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JOHNNY, THIS
[01:40:02]
IS COMMISSIONER CAGLE. I WAS TALKING WITH YOUR NEPHEWTHE OTHER NIGHT. >> OWE -- OKAY.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT WORD.
WE SENT A PICTURE. YOU CAME OUT OKAY.
YOUR NEPHEW SPEAKS WELL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER FOR THIS ITEM. RICHARD MOLINA, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> HI THERE. THIS IS RICHARD MOLINA, NEPHEW OF JOE CAMPOS TORRES, JAMIE TORRES IS MY MOTHER.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM OF GETTING THIS AREA AND THE IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED TO MY UNCLE COMMEMORATED. FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO, WE ARE KIND OF AT A POINT NOW TO WHERE THIS IS STARTING TO BECOME A REALITY. LIKE THE OTHERS MENTIONED, WE WANT TO USE THIS SPACE AND NOT JUST AS A PHYSICAL PLACE TO PUT SOMETHING, BUT WE WANTED IT TO SERVE A PURPOSE FROM HERE ON OUT FOR YEARS TO COME TO KIND OF CREATE THIS DIALOGUE AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN 2022 MOVING FORWARD.
I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH MY WORK.
I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SPEAK AT THE POLICE ACADEMY TO CADETS TO KIND OF OPEN THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE HISTORY
OF POLICE BRUTALITY -- >> THANK YOU, SIR.
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING IN.
IS THAT ALL FOR THE SPEAKERS? IS THERE A MOTION?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. LET'S TAKE SOME PICTURES.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: AND JUDGE RAVEN HAS TO LEAVE.
CAN WE TAKE HER? SHE IS IN THE HALLWAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL TAKE THE PICTURE WITH RAVEN FIRST.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DON'T LEAVE, JAMIE.
[01:50:47]
LEAN -- >> LINA HIDALGO: NOW WE WILL
[01:50:48]
TAKE UP ITEMS RELATED TO THE BUDGET.WE NEED TO DO THE SPEAKERS FIRST.
YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU CAUGHT ME AS I WAS HAVING THAT THOUGHT. WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE NON-BUDGET SPEAKERS FIRST AND THEN WE WILL OPEN UP THE BUDGET HEARING AND HEAR FROM THE BUDGET SPEAKERS.
AND THEN WE WILL DISCUSS THE TKPWUPBLG -- THE BUDGET AND THEN FINISH THE AGENDA. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE WHAT YOU
HAD IN MIND, TIFFANY? >> WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE BUDGET, ON THE
LINE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU HAVE THOSE FIRST? THEN WE'LL START WITH THAT.
[Departments (Part 10 of 12) ]
FIRST WE ARE TAKING UP ITEM 269.BEFORE I DO THAT, THAT IS THE BUDGET ITEM.
IT IS FOR APPROVAL OF BUDGET FOR FLOOD CONTROL, TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND THE 2023 PLANNING BUDGET.
ITEM 266 FROM COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND ITEM 313 FROM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ARE RELATED TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND TOLL ROAD. WE WILL TAKE THOSE UP WITH ITEM 269. PER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, ANY PROPOSED CHANGES SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE ON THE VARIOUS ITEM.
I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY. AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 PLANNING BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS FIRST.
[Appearances before court (Part 10 of 12) ]
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THE COUNTY SIN INVESTING 60% OF THE -- COUNTY IS INVESTING 60% OF THE BUDGET THAT INCLUDES MASS INCARCERATION AND OVERPOLICING IN A BIASED JUSTICE SYSTEM.
INSTEAD OF ASKING WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME S HOUSING INSTABILITY, POVERTY AND DEBT.
WHAT WE NEED IS AN INVESTMENT. IT CAN FUND PROGRAMS LIKE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS ON PACE TO SERVE 34,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING STABLE HOUSING.
THIS IS WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE.
HARRIS COUNTY IS SPENDING 60% OF THE BUDGET TO INCREASE THE LEASING AND 3% TO HOUSING AND 4% TO HEALTH AND 2% TO LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS. THEY ARE VITAL IN KEEPING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY SAFE, BLACK, BROWN AND WHITE. I PLEAD THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT FREEZES THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE BUDGET. WE HAVE SEEN IT BALLOON 5%
ANNUALLY YET MIRED IN CRIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME
IS UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS DEBORAH ANDERSON OF APAC.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS DEBORAH ANDERSON AND I REPRESENT THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING, PLANNING ADVISORY COUNCIL.
AND THE 600,000 SENIORS AND WE NEVER KNEW HOW IMPORTANT IT WOULD BE THAN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE OUT REACH AND THE EDUCATION AND OF COURSE THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE MASKS, SANITIZERS AND IMMUNIZATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THE REQUEST IS NO SIGNIFICANT CUT IN BUDGET WOULD OCCUR IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
STILL THERE IS 10.7% AND THE BILL PROGRAM --
[01:55:09]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
DO YOU HAVE A FEW MORE WORDS YOU WANT TO WRAP UP WITH?
I REALIZE IN TIMES WHEN PWUPBLETTS ARE -- WHEN BUDGETS ARE TIGHT AND CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE, I JUST HOPE THEY WILL NOT BE SIGNIFICANT IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> NEXT IS MARK FIELD, HOUSTON PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
HE IS SPEAKING ON 266 AND 313.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARK DALEY, INTERIM PRESIDENT FOR HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY.
HHA PROVIDES AFFORDABLE HOMES TO LOW INCOME HOUSTONIANS AND HALF CHILDREN WHILE PURSUING A DECADE LONG EFFORT TO END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM SPEAKING AS ONE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE SIGNIFICANT CUT TO THE BUDGET FOR 22 AND 23 AS PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY. OVER THE YEARS WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND TIRELESS EFFORTS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AND TURN BACK THE TIDE. WE HAVE WEATHERED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO HOLD OUR OWN AGAINST HOMELESSNESS AND BEGIN TO MAKE PROGRESS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE RELIED ON THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO FALTER IN OUR DETERMINATION TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
I URGE YOU TO REJECT THESE CUTS TO CRITICAL SERVICES AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITH COMMISSIONER
GARCIA'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS MARIA TREVINO. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
MY NAME IS MARIA TREVINO. I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP HUGE CONCERNS I HAD WITH REGARDS TO THE SPECIFIC WAYS WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET.
IN PARTICULAR, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HOUSING AND INVESTMENT YOU CAN SEE $3.7 MILLION ARE BEING SPENT AND 79% OF THAT BUDGET GOES STRAIGHT TO SALARIES.
ONLY HALF A MILLION IS ACTUALLY BEING FELT BY THOSE BEING FACED BY HOMELESSNESS. AND THERE IS NO DATA SHOWING HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING SUPPORTED THROUGH HOMELESSNESS DURING THIS PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY THERE WERE BUDGET DECREASES AND THAT IS NOT TRUE. EVERY CONSTABLE PRECINCT SAW BETWEEN HALF A MILLION TO 3.9 MILLION AND I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING SO MUCH MORE AS THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND THE PAN TKEPL NICK --
PANDEMIC IS NOT GONE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CALL, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER 46 FROM HOUSTON HOMELESS COLLABORATIVE INK
INK. >> I AM ALLEN WATKINS AND I SEARCH AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE HOUSTON HOUSING COLLABORATIVE. I SERVE AS -- I ALSO SERVE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE WAY HOME.
IT EXPRESSES CONCERNS FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS THAT WILL RESULT IN CUTS AS IT SUPPORTS HOUSING AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW OR NO INCOME.
THESE SERVICES ARE KREUT TALL -- CRITICAL TO THOSE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND NONE MORE THAN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE HOUSTON HOUSING COLLABORATIVE IS A COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS GROUP WHO COLLABORATES TO SUPPORT POLICIES PRESERVATION OF QUALITY HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE FOR AND ACCEPTABLE TO ALL IN THE HOUSTON AREA. AND IN THIS INSTANCE WE ARE ADVOCATING THAT COMMISSIONERS' COURT MAINTAIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT SUPPORTS HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME.
IT WOULD EPL PACT -- IMPACT THE WORK OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. OUR REGION WAS SUFFERING.
ON YOU REGION -- >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M AFRAID WE HAVE TO STOP EVERYBODY AT TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS MARK SMITH FROM COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
I AM MARK SMITH AND THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS WHICH IS THE LEAD AGENCY OF THE WAY HOME, THE LOCAL RESPONSE TO THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM. I COME TO YOU TO EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 22 AND 23 AND WOULD RESULT IN CUTS TO THE BUDGET YOU HAD AND THEY ARE PEOPLE
[02:00:02]
WITH LOW AND NO INCOME. THEY ARE CRITICAL TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN HARRIS COUNTY. NO MORE SO THAN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.WE FEAR THESE CUTS WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CRITICAL SERVICES AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE MOST VULNERABLE AND PUSHING MORE PEOPLE TO HOMELESSNESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER CUTTING THE PROGRESS OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IN RECENT YEARS. THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM IN HARRIS COUNTY IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR OUR PERFORMANCE IN DECREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COUNTY BY HALF SINCE 2011.
THIS HAS ONLY BEEN POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE MANY DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK OF CUTS. WE ASK THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THESE CRITICAL SERVICES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER 48.
SABA BLANDING. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> MAY NAME IS SABA BLANDING AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2 FOR 16 YEARS.
OUR RESIDENT DESERVE SAFETY AND NOT FEAR-BASED.
I HOPE THERE IS MORE FUNDING TOWARD CLEAN STREETS AND SAFE TPHAUB *R NEIGHBORHOODS. WE NEED MORE INVESTMENT IN SERVICES. ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND LIBRARIES AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
WE NEED MORE INVESTMENT IN THE THINGS THAT ALLOW RESIDENTS NOT JUST TO SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE.
THE DATA SHOWS THAT IT IS THAT INVESTMENT THAT WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN CRIME. EVERY DOLLAR IS PRECIOUS.
INVEST EVERY PRECIOUS DOLLAR IN COMMUNITY SAFETY.
I CALL ON THEM TO REJECT PRE-TRIAL SUSPENSION.
OUR CITIZENS DESERVE MORE AND OUR TAX DOLLARS DESERVE MORE.
CRIME DOLLARS STARTS WITH PREVENTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER 50, JENNIFER HADAYA. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AIRLINE HOUSTON. WE WANT TO REDUCE POLLUTION.
I AM HERE TO URGE MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO REDUCE GASH -- I FULLY UNDERSTAND A DIFFICULT DECISION MUST BE MADE, BUT AT THE EXPENSE OF AIR QUALITY. AS AN EXAMPLE, JUST YESTERDAY WE HAD A -- AN EVENT IN MANCHESTER.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT CONTAMINANTS ARE FLOWING IN THE AIR. THEY ARE ON SIGHT AND MONITORING IN REALTIME. IT IS TO LIBRARY SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES WHILE WE ARE STILL IN A PAN TKEPL NICK -- PANDEMIC. THEY WILL HAVE A LONG-TERM IMPACT. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER A MORE BALANCED PROPOSAL THAT DOESN'T PUT OUR HEALTH, OPPORTUNITY AND CLEAN AIR AT RISK. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
>> NEXT IS ITEM 266 IN RELATION TO THE PWUPBLETT.
YOU HAVE -- TO THE BUDGET. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I CAN SYDNEY CARTER AND IN AEN IN -- MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. WE 266, PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES ARE A MORE COST EFFECTIVE OPTION TO REACH PEOPLE IN NEED AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL RATHER THAN AT THE EMERGENCY OR CRISIS LEVEL.
IT AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS' PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING AND MAKES ACHIEVING PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS.
IT IS A MEMBER OF THE COLLABORATIVE AND THEY HAVE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS FOR THE ONSET OF MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES AND PROMOTE THE PUBLIC'S OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL BEING. AT A TIME WE ARE FACED WITH HEALTH CRISIS FOR THE SECONDARY AND RAPIDLY DEVELOPED MENTAL HEALTH ENDEMIC IT IS NEEDED FOR MORE AND NOT LESS FUNDING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
WE URGE THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT TO REJECT ANY CUTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND MAINTAIN OR INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO IMPORTANT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 42, ALEXIS LOVING SEARCH HOMELESS SERVICES AND SHE IS SPEAKING ON ITEMS 266 AND 313 IN RELATION TO THE BUDGET.
HAVE YOU ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM ALEXIS FLEMING AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SURGE HOMELESS SERVICES.
WE HAVE HELPED THOSE WHO LIVE WITH POVERTY AND CRIME AND THEY HAVE FINALLY HAD GREATER STABILITY.
I AM HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS OF THE CUTS TO THE KEY DEPARTMENTS. PUBLIC SEVEN-DAY FORECAST --
[02:05:03]
PUBLIC SERVICES AND THE SAFETY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH ARE FAST ACHIEVED WHEN THE MOST VULNERABLE HAVE EASY ACCESS AND WITHOUT HEALTH, HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITY FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES DETERIORATE. THE COUNTY ASSESSMENT FOUND THE COST OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING LITTLE ARE FOR HOMELESSNESS. IT IS COMPARED TO PROVIDING HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICE THAT'S COST BETWEEN 17,000 AND 18,000 ANNUALLY. FUNDING PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES IS A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR ALL.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 52 EMILY WHITEHURST OF THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN SUCCESS CENTER -- ON THE WOMEN'S CENTER. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 22 AND 23.
IT WOULD RESULT IN THE CUTS TO KEY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT SUPPORT HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE] I JUST WANT TO TELL A STORY OF A WOMAN WHO WAS AT OUR -- A WOMAN AT OUR SHELTER RIGHT NOW.
SHE WAS A MOTHER OF FOUR AND LIVING IN HER CAR TO ESCAPE HER PARTNER'S EMOTIONAL ABUSE.
AND RIGHT NOW SHE IS TRYING TO GET HER GED AND SEARCHING FOR A HOUSE IN HER OWN NAME. SHE IS ACCESSING CHILD CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHOTHERAPY AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF SERVICE THAT'S WE PROVIDE WITH THE DOLLAR FIGURE THAT ARE BEING CUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A LEADING COST OF -- CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS.
WHEN WE THINK OF CUTTING HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, IT IS A DIRECT POINT OF IMPACT TO
SURVIVORS THAT RESERVE. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU FOR LISTEN --
>> THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA. DID YOU HAVE A FEW MORE WORDS
YOU WANTED TO WRAP UP WITH? >> YOU BET.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, UP TO 50% OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN DANGER WHO CALLED OUR 24/HOUR HOTLINE COULD NOT ACCESS IT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE REGION SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY. SINCE MARCH OF 2020 THE SITUATION HAS WORSENED. WE HAVE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP. WE DO NOT WANT THE INCREDIBLY ALARMING SPIKE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WE NEED THESE -- WE -- THESE ARE THE FUNDS WE USE TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND
CHILDREN AT OUR SHELTER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUDGE THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WE COULD REACH RELATED TO THE BUDGET LINE
LEAN I -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I ANT -- I WANT TO SAY WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND MR. BERRY AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR PROPOSALS TO PASS A RESPONSIBLE, ALL OF THE ABOVE BUDGET THAT ADDRESSES NOT JUST THE INCREASE IN CRIME, BUT ALSO THE NEEDS AND AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOMELESSNESS AND ON ENVIRONMENT AND ON BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES TO CONTINUE FUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON AT RECORD LEVELS. IT IS GIVING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH A B. THERE IS 70% OF THE INCREASE GOING TO JUSTICE. OVER TIME IN CERTAIN E.R.AS OF THE -- OVER TIME IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTY EXPERIENCING THE MOST INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE.
THERE IS GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON AND THE CONSTANT IS WITH A GUN.
IT IS HAPPENING WHERE THE LEGISLATURE JUST PASSED A LAW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OPPOSE PARTICULARLY IN METROPOLITAN AREAS SUCH AS HOURS WHERE WE ARE NOW SEEING THESE INCREASES. SO FOCUSING ON THAT AND FOCUSING ON, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SALARY INCREASES IN OVER TIME FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT. A QUARTER MILLION FOR PAY INCREASES AND 400 VEHICLES FOR SHERIFF AND CONSTABLES.
ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS FOR CONTRACTS, 35 MORE POSITIONS FOR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 10 ADDITIONAL BAILIFFS FOR THE COURTS. AND THEY ARE INVITED BY TWO OF
[02:10:05]
OUR COLLEAGUES. THEY ARE A DIFFERENT STORY ENTIRELY. I DON'T THINK THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS PROPOSAL GIVEN THE IMPACTS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT. TO ME IT SOUNDS DISPOPE YEN -- DISTOPIAN. HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE CUT IF THESE BUDGETS WERE TO PASS.SERVICES NO LONGER WOULD BE PROVIDED.
AND I QUOTE. TAU PWERBG -- TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT AND TESTING. CHRONICS DISEASE OUT REACH, DIABETES, TOBACCO CESSATION AND OBESITY.
HIV PREVENTION. CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS.
MOBILE HEALTH AND DENTAL SERVICES INCLUDING THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. THERE IS ALSO -- WE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO SERVE TWO ZIP CODES RATHER THAN OTHERS.
UNABLE TO PLAN FOR AND RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND/OR MANAGE THE HEALTH MEDICAL PLAN FOR HARRIS COUNTY. UNABLE TO MANAGE THE ENTIRE MEDICAL RESERVE CORE. UNABLE TO FILL THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PHYSICIAN AND DECREASE RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES.
REDUCTION IN PUBLIC INFORMATION.
SERVICES NO LONGER PROVIDED. RESPONSE TO ANIMALS RELATED COMPLAINTS -- ANIMAL-RELATED COMPLAINTS GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WOULD END AND 20,000 CALLS ARE RECEIVED ANNUALLY.
ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS WOULD END.
ENFORCEMENT OF JUDICIAL COURT ORDERS RELATED TO DANGEROUS DOGS WOULD END AS WELL AS RABIES CONTROL AND BITE CASES. I AM JUST PICKING AND CHOOSING HERE AS I SCROLL DOWN. 60% OF TOTAL SERVICE CALLS ORIGINATE FROM PRECINCTS THREE AND FOUR.
THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ANIMAL CONTROL INTO THEIR OWN HANDS. SERVICE NO'S LONGER PROVIDED.
MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE, TRAPPING AND TESTING FOR MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY.
INCLUDING VECTOR BORN DISEASES LIKE WEST NILE VIRUS.
ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS. ZIKA, DENGA AND MALARIA.
ALL OF THIS WOULD BE CUT. THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CHEMICAL RELEASES IN PART OF THE COUNTY. COMPROMISES THE ABILITY TO HAVE CHEMICAL RELEASES SUCH AS THAT ONE.
THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. THE PROPOSALS ALSO CUTTING SOME OF THE PROPOSALS FOR FLOOD PROJECTS.
THEY INCLUDE CUTTING THE LIBRARY BUDGET.
NEW PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE SO RECENTLY THAT THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT HASN'T EVEN HAD TIME TO ANALYZE THEM.
I POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE A POINT HAS BEEN RAISED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST ABOUT BRINGING PROPOSALS OF PLENTY OF LEAD TIME. IT JUST CANNOT BE POSSIBLY
TAKEN AS A SERIOUS PROPOSAL. >> JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE MEMBERS' WILLINGNESS TO TRY AND GET AT LEAST THE INITIAL AMENDMENTS IN AS WE DISCUSSED AND AS WE MET LAST SO WE CAN REVIEW THEM. OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE GO THROUGH A BUDGET DOCUMENT, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE DO.
ALL OF US TALKED ABOUT, IT IS A STATEMENT ABOUT OUR VALUES AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROCESS WILL BE THERE.
WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE WILL AMEND WHAT WE HAVE.
I DO WANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I WILL MAKE A QUICK COMMENT FOR MR. BERRY. WE COLLECTIVELY, THE FIVE OF US MADE A DECISION THAT WE WOULD CUT TAXES THREE YEARS IN A ROW. AND IT IS A GREAT THING TO CAMPAIGN ON AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CONS QUINCE -- CONSEQUENCES. I WANT TO GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT, MR. BERRY AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE LAW AS IT EXISTS NOW. FOR A DECADE, AT LEAST, I
[02:15:03]
HEARD 11 AND 12 YEARS, BUT AT LEAST FOR A DECADE IN THE PAST THIS COUNTY, PRIOR TO THREE YEARS AGO, THIS COUNTY KEPT THE SAME TAX RATE THAT GENERATED MORE REVENUE.THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS A CUT AND WHAT HAS NOT A CUT HAS CHANGED. YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DAN -- DAN -- DANIEL WEBSTER.
IT CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF A CUT AND WHAT IS NOT A CUT.
WALK US THROUGH HOW THE LAW WORKS AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE REMIND US, IF YOU DON'T MIND. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 2$00 MILLION THIS YEAR HAD WE ALL NOT DECIDED ON THE NICE CAMPAIGN SLOGAN. IT IS INTERESTING THAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR COMES TO THE SAME NUMBER, 200 MILLION.
>> CERTAINLY. I THINK THE BEST WAY TO SUM UP THE IMPACT FROM THE FREE TAX RATES CUT IS LOOKING AT THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL. SOME REVENUE WAS LOST EACH YEAR, BUT AS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD, HOW MUCH LESS DOES COMMISSIONERS' COURT HAVE TO APPROPRIATE? AND THAT NUMBER IS NORTH OF 200 MILLION ACROSS THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY BUDGET. THE SUPPORT IS A SMALL AMOUNT
OF -- AMOUNT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THIS YEAR?
>> I AM LOOKING ON A 12-MONTH BASIS.
IF THERE IS 200 MILLION MORE ACROSS THE BENEFITS.
I ASKED ABOUT THE LAW AND WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAW.
SENATE BILL 2 HAS BEEN IN EFFECT THESE LAST TWO YEARS.
IT IS NOT THE FIRST THREE THAT YOU MENTIONED.
IT SETS CONSTRAINS ON -- CONSTRAINTS ON WHERE COMMISSIONERS' COURT CAN SET THE RATE.
THE NEW RATE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO REFERENDUM.
THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL ELECTION.
AND WHAT WE FOUND AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT LAW AND NUMBER ONE WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS PURPORTED TO DO. MEANING THERE IS A NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IF FOUR MEMBERS OF COURT CAN'T SHOW UP TO VOTE.
OR IF COURT DOESN'T TAKE ANY ACTION.
AND THAT NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS NOT REALLY A NO NEW REVENUE RATE. IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE KEEPING REVENUE THE SAME. IT MEANS THAT REVENUE IS GOING DOWN BECAUSE THERE IS A COMPLICATED CALCULATION THAT WORKS OUT DIFFERENTLY. THE MOST A COURT CAN INCREASE REVENUE, ACCORDING TO THE STATUTE OUT -- STATUTE FOR THE COUNTY IS 3.5%. 8% TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND 3.5 FOR FLOOD CONTROL. WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE MATH, IT IS LESS THAN 3.5% BECAUSE THEIR BUDGET CALCULATIONS AND THE -- IT IS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT HARDER AND NOT EASIER.
THOSE ARE THE CONSTRAINTS WE ARE WORKING WITH.
I WOULD ADD TO THAT 200 MILLION THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS. IT IS DECISIONS MADE TO CUT TAXES AND IT IS ALSO THE FACT THAT WE ARE WORKING IN A FRAMEWORK WHERE RAISING REVENUE AT THE RATE OF INFLATION OR THE RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH IS VERY,
VERY CHALLENGING. >> RODNEY ELLIS: GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD BE IF YOU HAD NOT MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WOULD GO WITH THE LOWEST POSSIBLE DENOMINATOR IN THIS BUDGET, MEANING NO ADDITIONAL
REVENUE. >> TO -- IF YOU DON'T MIND I WILL CLARIFY THE ASSUMPTION IT IS IN.
IT IS THAT TAXES ON EXISTING PROPERTIES STAYS THE SAME.
THE COUNTY GETS NEW REVENUE ON NEW CONSTRUCTION.
YOU CAN LOOK AT ALL THE PROPERTIES IN THE COUNTY AND THEY WILL PAY THE SAME TAXES NEXT YEAR AS THIS YEAR AND WE WILL GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE NEW CONSTRUCTION.
I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO IT IS NO MORE THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE. THERE IS BETWEEN A 20,000,040,000,000 DIFFERENCE -- 2 MILLION AND 40 MILLION
[02:20:03]
DIFFERENCE. BETWEEN WHAT WE BRING TO THE CONSUMERS AND THE BUDGE -- BUDGE EUT.THEY WILL SUPPORT IT IN A VOTE.
>> IF WE USE A DIFFERENT ASSUMPTION AND NOT HAVE TO GO
TO THE VOTERS. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AS I STATED WHEN WE MET THE LAST GO AROUND.
I PUT MY NAME ON THE BALLOT FOR ABOUT 38 YEARS AND THAT'S VOTING ON ME AND NOT THE ISSUE.
MAYBE THEY ARE VOTING ON THE ISSUE WHEN THEY ARE VOTING ON US. IF SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT TO US, ANY OF US, AT SOME POINT WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO MAKE THAT CASE AND LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE ON IT AS OPPOSED TO JUST MOVING THE CHAIRS AROUND, SO TO SPEAK, ON THE SHIP.
AS WE GO INTO THIS PROCESS I RAN ACROSS A QUOTE ON ONE OF THE TALK SHOWS AND I GOOGLED IT TO PULL IT UP.
THIS WAS FROM ERIC ADAMS. HE IS THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK.
HE IS FACING A HOST OF ISSUES.
I KNEW WHEN HE WAS A STATE LEGISLATOR -- HE IS A BARREL PRESIDENT. HE SAYS VIOLENCE COMES FROM MANY RIVERS, GUNS. THE PANDEMIC, LACK OF COMMUNITY POLICING, LACK OF HEALTH AND HOUSING.
OUR JOB IS TO HELP ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE SOURCES.
WE CAN'T FOCUS ON ONE RIVER AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE CAN'T JUST INCARCERATE AND ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF THE INCREASED VIOLENCE ACROSS THIS NATION.
WE NEED LESS ACCESS TO GUNS ON THE STREETS AND MORE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EFFECTIVE POLICING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ACCESS TO HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, LESS HATEFUL AND DIVISIVE RHETORIC FROM OUR LEADERSHIP. WE CAN FOCUS ON PUNITIVE NATURES TO ADDRESS THE ITEMS. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE SYMPTOMS AS WELL. WE TRIED TO INCARCERATE OURSELVES OUT OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT DOESN'T WORK. I THOUGHT IT WAS INSIGHTFUL COMING FROM OLD ERIC. I WILL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE
PASS IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION WOULD BE -- COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A COMMENT, BUT THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE
WOULD BE THAT THE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: PROPOSED BUDGET BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE COURT ACCEPT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AS PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, DAVE BERRY, AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 PLANNING BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AS PRESENTED BY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVE BERRY.
THOSE WOULD BE THE TWO MOTIONS BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD A COMMENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANT TO HOLD MY SECOND BEFORE WE GO FORWARD. I HAVE AN AMENDMENT I WANT TO
SUBMIT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> TOM RAMSEY: IT ISY INTERESTING -- IT'S INTERESTING AS WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUDGET AND EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH DEMONIZING POINTS THAT REALLY WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET TO SOME COMMON GROUND.
I WILL GO THROUGH THE BUDGET AND DETAIL BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIS-- DISTORTIONS OF WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T.
I THOUGHT I WOULD SAY WHAT IT IS.
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO DO HERE TODAY IS ADOPT A SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET. A LOT OF THE CONFUSION WE ARE HAVING IN SOME CASES IS WE WANT TO ADOPT A 22, 23 ANTICIPATED BUDGET. WE DON'T GET INTO SETTING THE TAX RATE UNTIL SEPTEMBER. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TODAY FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS -- I AGREE WITH MOVING THE FISCAL YEAR TO OCTOBER. THAT IS A GREAT MOVE.
THIS IS A SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET. THE CURRENT BUDGET -- AND LET ME THANK MR. BERRY PUBLICLY. HE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO SAY THE LEAST. WE ARE TRYING TO STOP ONE YEAR AND GO INTO A NEW FISCAL YEAR AND THEN ANTICIPATE WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO NEXT YEAR. THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION GOING ON. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CAMPAIGN SLOGANS, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER IN EAST TEXAS WE USED TO SAY A
[02:25:01]
CHICKEN IN EVERY POT. SO THERE IS EVERYBODY RUNNING AROUND SAYING I WILL PROMISE YOU EVERYTHING.I WILL GIVE YOU THIS AND I WILL GIVE YOU THAT.
THE REAL HARD WORK OF DOING A BUDGET IS CAN YOU GET YOUR PENCIL OUT AND CUT BETTER YOU NEED TO.
I OPERATED A BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS.
THERE IS SOMETIMES I HAD TO CUT DOWN THE BONE AND IT HURT ME TO GO THROUGH THAT. YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
SOMETIMES I BRING THAT EXPERIENCE HEREY.
WHEN WE HAVE -- WHEN WE HAVE 600 MURDERS OUR TOP PRIORITIES ARE CRIME, CRIME AND CRIME. IF WE LOSE FOCUS ON THAT GOING INTO THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS, WE ARE NOT GONE -- GONNA DO BETTER. LET ME GIVE YOU MY SEVENTH MONTH BUDGET IN TERMS OF WHAT IT IS.
AND CLEARLY WHAT IT ISN'T. MOST OF THE STUFF MENTIONED AS BEING CUT IS NOT ANYTHING ON MY LIST.
AS I GO THROUGH THIS LIST I CAN DO -- WHAT IT DOES DO, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT 18% OF WHAT THEY ASK FOR. LETS UH DEFINE LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE USE TERMS LIKE JUSTICE AND SAFETY AND ALL OF THESE OTHERS.
I WILL DEFINE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
MY DEFINITION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE D.A., THE SHERIFF, THE CONSTABLES AND THE FIRE MARSHAL.
THAT'S PRETTY EASY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY -- IF YOU JUST PROVIDED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHAT THEY ASKED FOR -- NOW REMEMBER. THIS BUDGET ONLY PROVIDES 18% OF WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASKED FOR.
SO IF YOU ARE PROVIDING LAW ENFORCEMENT WHAT THEY ASK FOR IN THIS 7-MONTH BUDGET, THAT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 35 MILLION.
I SAID IS THERE ANYTHING THERE THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET THESE INCREASES ? I STARTED WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. IT IS REDUCED TO THE 25 -- THEY INCREASED THE BUDGET 25%.
I WOULD SAY WE DECREASE THE BUDGET OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT 15%. I THINK WE CAN DO WITHOUT COURT ANALYSTS. THAT IS 836,000 DOLLARS.
MAYBE WE CAN PICK THAT UP AND MAYBE OUR OWN OFFICES CAN, BUT WE CAN DO WITHOUT ANALYSTS. AND THEN WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THIS IS NO REFLECTION ON MR. PWEUR RE, BUT -- ON MR. BERRY, BUT RE-- WE REDUCED TO 2020 WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET. I AM YOU HAD SAYING 289,000.
SO THEN WE GO TO THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND WE CAN SEE THE GENERAL EXPENSES WILL HELP CURB SOME OF THIS.
THAT'S 5%. I REFLECTED ON THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS. 995,975.
THAT IS INSTEAD SEVEN-MONTH DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 12-MONTH DOLLARS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 7-MONTH DOLLARS. I DID LOOK AT ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. I THINK FROM OUR CONVERSATION AT THIS POINT THEY HAVE NOT MET THEIR GOALS.
THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECONCILIATION.
I DID CUT THAT. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, WE JUST HIRED A DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO HANDLE THAT. I THINK THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE WE CAN REDUCE THAT AND LIVE THROUGH THAT PERIOD WITHOUT THAT THERE. THAT IS 2,000,238 THOUSAND.
AND THEN WE GET TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE ARE RELATED TO SENDING THE SOCIAL WORKERS OUT ON 9-1-1 CALLS. AND DEALING WITH IT IN THAT CASE AND THEY ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE DEPARTMENT.
WE MOVED THE VETERANS OUT OF THERE AND WHY WOULDN'T WE MOVE THE EXPENSE? THA*SZ -- THAT'S 10%.
[02:30:01]
THAT'S 1,238,000. THEN THERE IS UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THIS IS NO RE -- REFLECTION ON THE GENERAL AND IT IS CUT 8% AND THAT IS 3,000,530 -- 3,000,530.I WILL GET BACK TO THESE CUTS IN A MINUTE.
I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEY DO AND I AM NOT SURE WHY THEY NEED IT? I UNDERSTAND THEY THEY CAN'T CUT THE WHOLE THING. THAT IS 196,415.
ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION AND WHEN WE TOOK IT AWAY FROM TWO DULY-ELECTED OFFICIALS I AM LOOKING AT THAT AND SAYING EVEN IF YOU GAVE THEM A NOMINAL INCREASE THEY SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH. THAT IS STILL AN INCREASE.
THAT IS STILL AN INCREASE OVER WHAT WE WERE SPENDING BEFORE.
AND I THINK IN TERMS OF THE DISTRICT COURTS WE HAVE ALL -- I MEAN, WE HAVE GOT DASHBOARD NOW AND WE ARE TRYING TO TRACK THE DISTRICT COURTS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE EVER NEEDED WE SURE NEEDED THAT.
I AM A BELIEVER IN IF YOU KWAPBT -- IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER, MAYBE WE NEED TO REMOVE SOME MONEY FROM YOU AND GET YOUR ATTENTION AND MAYBE YOU CAN GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. RIGHT NOW THE DISTRICT COURTS ARE DISMAL. CUTTING 25% WILL SEEM APPROPRIATE IN TERMS OF HOW DYSFUNCTIONAL THOSE PEOPLE ARE AND MR. BERRY IS WORKING CAREFULLY WITH THEM TO TRY TO GET IT WHERE IT IS. THE COURT OPERATIONS IS ANOTHER 5%. I WILL GIVE YOU A LIST OF HOW WE WILL PAY FOR IT. THAT WON'T BRING ANYTHING RELATED TO POLLUTION AND THAT WON'T BRING UP ANYTHING RELATED TO MOST OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER.
IT IS VERY MEASURED AND IT IS VERY LOGICAL.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT? WE ARE GOING TO GET 500 -- LET ME SAY IT AGAIN.
500 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE D.A. WHO WHOA HAVE NOT FULLY -- WHO WE HAVE NOT FULLY FUNDED HAVE PROVIDED WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR AND IT WOULD INCLUDE AT LEAST THAT MUCH MONEY.
AND OH BY THE WAY PHOEU -- MY PROPOSAL SUPPORTS SALARY INCREASES LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT.
AND IT SUPPORTS PENSION AND HEALTH CARE INCREASES.
SO THE SALARY BENEFITS AND THE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, THAT'S IN THERE. AND THEN A THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO HOME. OKAY.
THE NUMBERS ARE WE ARE CUTTING 362 POSITIONS.
BUT 300 POSITIONS IN THOSE GROUPS ARE NOT EVEN FIELD AND THEPBLG -- AND THEN THERE IS 62.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET FROM A 62 TO A THOUSAND AND THAT'S A DIS-- DISTORTION. LET'S DEBATE THE FACTS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO FULLY FUND. SAY IT, BUT DON'T TALK ABOUT WE ARE GOING TO QUIT DOING CERTAIN SERVICES THAT I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT. THAT'S NOT MENTIONED IN WHAT I AM REFERRING TO HERE. SO THAT IS IN GENERAL.
I HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND GETTING THESE DETAILS TOGETHER.
IT ALLOWS US TO GO THROUGH THIS SET A MONTH AND WORKING TOWARD WHEN WE SET A TAX RATE. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO DO IS ADOPT A 7-MONTH BUDGET AND I AM ADVOCATING THAT WE FULLY FUND WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ASKED FOR.
[02:35:03]
>> FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES I SECOND THE RAMSEY PROPOSITION AND THEN I MOVE MY PROPOSITION AND MY COMMENTS CAN BE BROKEN INTO FIVE PARTS AND THE FIRST PART DEALS WITH THE VOTE THAT WE ARE TAKING TODAY IS IN ESSENCE AND I THINK SOME OF THE RHETORIC IS THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE ARE REFLECTING WHAT THE CITIZENS AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY IS DESIRING. THEY DESIRE TO HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM SOLVED AND COMING OUT OF HARVEY AND COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC THEY DO NOT WANT THEIR TAXES INCREASED.
THEY WANT TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT AND THEY EXPECT US WHO ARE THE TAX SPENDERS TO DO THE SAME.
THE APPROACH TO PRECINCT 4 IN PART IS BECAUSE I HAD A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WITH THE NEW TRANSPARENCY AND THERE IS A LOT OF OPAQUENESS THAT IS THERE.
I CALL IT OPAQUE TRANSPARENCY.
AND SO I WENT TO A SIMPLER APPROACH.
MY THIRD POINT IS -- A COLLEAGUE CALLED ME -- I THINK HE MEANT TO INSULT ME, A CLOCK TURNER BACK ROOM.
I TURNED BACK THE CLOCK TO 2018 AND I TOOK THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD AT 2018 AND USED THAT AS THE BENCHMARK FOR WHICH I KNEW WHAT WAS IN THAT BUDGET.
I HAD GONE THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND SAT THROUGH AND WITH THAT 2018 BUDGET, THEN I ADDED 2 IT ALL OF THE REQUESTS THAT HAD BEEN MADE BY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. THERE IS A LOT OF TALK WHETHER WE SHOULD LISTEN TO OUR OWN HOMEGROWN COMMUNITY OR WHETHER WE SHOULD BE SMARTER AND UTILIZE THE POLICIES OF CHICAGO OR L.A. OR KING COUNTY OR OTHER PLACES.
AND WE HAVE LISTENED. WE HAVE DONE THE BEST PRACTICES OF CHICAGO AND WE EXCEEDED THEM.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE PATHWAYS OF THOSE BEST PRACTICES, BUT I HAVE VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED THEM AS BEING THE BEST PRACTICES AND HAVE ARGUE #ED -- I THINK I WAS CALLED A NEANDERTHAL FOR IT, BUT WE HAVE THE BEST PRACTICES WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE INSTEAD OF FROM HERE. AND IN REGARD TO TURNING BACK THE CLOCK WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE DRAW CONE YEN CUTS, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TIGHTENING THEIR BELT SINCE HARVEY, IT IS TO LIVE WITHIN THE MEANS WE HAD IN 2018.
YOU WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE EXPENSE -- AND THAT'S MY POINT. WHAT ARE THE EXPENSES THAT ARE THERE? IT IS THE EXPENSES OF MY PROPOSED BUDGET OR WHAT WE LIVED OFF OF THAT WE HAD DONE AND THAT WE HAD ENGAGED IN AND THOSE THINGS CUT WERE THE LAST THREE YEARS WHEN WE HAD EXPANDED THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE HAD A DISCUSSION ONE TIME AND MY COLLEAGUE LEANED ACROSS THE TABLE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, CACTUS, YOU HAVE -- ARE YOU NOT A POTBELLIED COMMISSIONER ANYMORE. I EARNED THE POTBELLY AND RODEN BRIDGE IS A GOOD THING AND NOT A BAD THING.
THE EXPANSION OF OUR GOVERNMENT INTO MANY AREAS THAT I CAN'T DISPUTE ARE GOOD, THOUGH GETS US OUT OF OUR LANE. IT IS OUR DUTY WITHIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE SHOULD BE THERE.
THE BASICS ARE NOT BAD. I KNOW THE PFM STUDY THEY ARE NOT BAD, BUT I -- ARE BAD, BUT I DISAGREE.
THEY ARE GOOD. YOU CAN'T WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT THE BASICS IN HAND.
OUR BASICS, POTHOLES, GETTING THEM FIXED, OUR ROADS AND OUR MAINTENANCE AND OUR PARKS AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IS YOU.
IN MY EXPANSION OF THE REQUEST FROM 2018 TO NOW THERE WERE SOME DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LIBRARY.
I INCLUDED THAT INTO THE BUDGET.
OUR BUDGET IS ONE THAT LOOKS AT THE SPANS OF GOVERNMENT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THAT IS BEING QUOTE UNQUOTE, CUT.
[02:40:07]
AND THAT IS THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE A DEBATE AS WE DISCUSS THE EXPENSE.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE FIRST PART OF THE 2 MILLION WOULD HAVE INCLUDED A NEW BASE. IT IS THAT YEAR IS 200 AND WE WILL HAVE AS PART OF THE -- LAST YEAR'S 200 AND THIS YEAR'S 200 AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS THAT THEY WILL COST HIM 600 AND AS PART OF THE ANALYSIS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LAST YEAR'S HUNDRED AND ANOTHER HUNDRED.
WE MAY BE UPWARDS OF A BILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S WHEN OUR ACTIONS AND I PARTICIPATED IN THEM AND I DE -- DENIED THE TAX SPENDERS.
THERE IS A TRANSPARENCY AND TURNING BACK THE CLOCK AND THE EXPANSION IS RHETORIC. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FANCY RHETORIC. IT IS DIS -- DISTOEP YEN.
AND I THINK YOU MISUSE DRAW CONE YEN.
WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH THE LIST OF HOW THE END OF THE WORLD WOULD OCCUR AND WE WERE GOING TO CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEBTS THAT WILL OCCUR, WE USE THE PHRASE PICKING AND CHOOSING. AND THAT IS AN ACCURATE PHRASE. SO WITHIN THE RHETORIC OF THE DAY. MY SIMPLE PROPOSAL THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WHILE GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN, LET'S GO BACK THREE YEARS AGO.
LET'S ADD WHAT WE NEED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT IS MY
PROPOSAL. >> TOM RAMSEY: I WILL SECOND THAT TO GET OUR PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THERE IS ALREADY A MOTION ON THE TABLE
THAT HAD BEEN SECONDED. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS A COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THE MOTION AFTERWARDS. I DO THINK WE SHOULD HEAR FROM DAVE AND MAYBE IT IS THE VERY FACTUAL IMPACT FROM THE FOLKS LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS FROM ALL OF THIS.
EVERYTHING I SAID IS ABSOLUTELY FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND FROM THE ANALYSIS AND COMMISSIONER
ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST AS A SUGGESTION, YOU TWO WILL PROBABLY BE OFFERING AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION THAT I MADE.
IT IS TO ADOPT A BUDGET AS PROPOSED.
IT IS JUST A SUGGESTION. I WOULD SAY THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I'M SORRY IF I OFFENDED YOU WHEN YOU SAY YOU ARE NOT POTBELLIED ANYMORE. BUT YOU ARE SLIMMING DOWN.
I THINK THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS TO BE A ROAD AND BRIDGE COMMISSIONER.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY IT CHANGED.
THAT LEAVES THE BIGGEST CITY IN TEXAS AND NOW IT IS SOMETHING CALLED UNINCORP -- UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.
I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET A ROAD TO A BETTER FUTURE AS OPPOSED AS A ROAD TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE IN THE STATE AND THE SENATE AND IT IS ABOUT A $91 BILLION BUDGET.
WE MANAGED TO PASS IT UNANIMOUSLY WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. 16 PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE AND 15 DEMOCRATS THERE AND IT IS CLOSE TO 250 BILLION.
[02:45:09]
THAT GIVES YOU SOME SENSE OF HOW THINGS CHANGE.AND EVEN THE THINGS THEY FUNDED THEY CAN DO SOME CUTS AND IT PUSHED TO US. JUDGE IF I MIGHT, I WILL RUN THROUGH MY ANALYSIS. WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRST ONE WHICH I APPRECIATE CAME IN AND YOU CHANGED IT A BIT.
100% CUT ON JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION AND COURT ANALYST OFFICE AND LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES AND RESERVE FUND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY AND YOU KILLED THE MWBE PROGRAM. PUBLIC HEALTH IS 20% AND DOMESTIC RELATION IS 49. PRE-TRIAL SERVICES 16 AND POLLUTION CONTROL IS 12. VETERANS ARE 28% AND THE DISTRICT CLERK IS 15. COMMUNITY S-FGSS -- COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE 10. THE COUNTY LICENSE CUT 100%.
THE D.A. IS 9% AND THE CONSTABLES I THINK ARE 13% AND MAYBE WRONG. THIS IS JUST A QUICK ANALYSIS OF COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S ALTERNATIVE BUDGET.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION IS 100% CUT.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 100%.
ECONOMIC AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 100% AND ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR 100%. SOMEHOW WE WILL DECIDE WHO WILL HOLD OFFICE. ENGINEERING 28% AND PUBLIC HEALTH 20%. LIBRARY IS 25.
LITERACY RATES WE CAN WORK ON THEM I'M SURE.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES 53% AND PUBLIC DEFENDER 68.
SHERIFF PATROL 15%, SHERIFF DETENTION 12%.
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME THERE MAY BE MORE DISCUSSION, BUT IF YOU WILL ALL MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THIS, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE YOUR TWO PROPOSALS JUST SO WE CAN KEEP GOING IF
THAT'S APPROPRIATE. >> IF YOU WANT TO HAVE DIRECTOR ROBINSON GET INTO THE NUMBERS.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN MAYBE YOU CAN HERE FROM --
OKAY. >> IS THERE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS? I RECEIVE -- I RECEIVED A CLEAR DOCUMENT THAT DIDN'T GO THROUGH A FILTER AS TO WHAT WOULD BE THREATENED BY THE PROPOSED CUTS. WE RECEIVED ANALYSIS FROM YOU.
THE LATEST ANALYSIS WE RECEIVED WAS 1,120 EMPLOYEES WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS AND THEN WE HEAR 60 -FPBLT WHAT IS -- WHAT IS THE -- CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THE LATEST ANALYSIS YOU HAVE AND THEN WE WILL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECTOR ROBINSON TO EXPLAIN WHAT SHE GETS.
>> HAPPY TO DO THAT, JUDGE. WE MAY HEAR AN AMENDMENT TO THAT. EACH OF COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S OFFICES HAVE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN WHACKERRING HARD -- WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD AND OUR COMPARISONS ARE CORRECT AND THAT IS THE ONLY SIS WE SHARED -- THE ANALYSIS WE SHARED WITH THE COURT EARLY THIS MORNING. ON THE TOPIC OF EMPLOYEE JOB LOSSES AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR WORKFORCE, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. I WILL START WITH COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S CURRENT PROPOSAL. THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER CIRCULATED THAT IS SLIGHTLY OVER 1100 FUNDED POSITIONS THAT WILL BE ELIMINATED. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD, ROUGH ESTIMATE WITH THE TIME WE HAVE HAD.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A NEW PLAN THAT IS IMPACTED. COULD SOME OF THE JOB REDUCTIONS BE REDUCED BY NOT BACK FILLING THE POSITIONS? I THINK THEY COULD. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE
[02:50:01]
HUNDRED THAT COULD BE CANDIDATES AND ON THE OTHER HAND IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE NONLABOR EXPENSES THAT CAN BE CUT. DIRECTIONALLY IT IS A SOLID NUMBER. WE HAVE HIGH LEVEL PROPOSAL THAT'S WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME WITH.I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING FOR DIRECTOR
ROBINSON TO ADD. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS AND KOUPB -- COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BARBIE ROBINSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT MUCH TIME TO ANALYZE IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY WHAT THE IMPACTS OF A 50 OR 30% REDUCTION IN OUR BUDGET WOULD MEAN FOR US. BUT I THINK, JUDGE, YOU PICKED A LOT OF THE HIGH POINTS. I WOULD JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT , FOR EXAMPLE, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIVISION THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES RELATED TO CHRONIC DISEASE AND PREVENTION AND WELLNESS.
WE ANNUALLY SEE APPROXIMATELY 53,000 RESIDENTS AND A LOT OF THEM ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COUNTY.
TO HAVE A CUT TO THE PROGRAMMING, MANY OF THOSE SERVICES WOULD COME TO AN END.
WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $152 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING. SO A 30% OR A 50% CUT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR YOU PROGRAM THAT'S ARE PARTIALLY GRANT FUNDED. WE HAVE MATCHING REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMING. HAVING A GENERAL FUND BUDGET CUT WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR A MATCH. IF DIRECTED TO DO SO I CAN DO A MORE IN DEPTH AND ROBUST ANALYSIS OF THOSE TWO PROPOSALS. BUT AGAIN WITH A 48-HOUR NOTICE IT IS TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF IN DEPTH IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT IS REQUIRED. I CAN JUST SAY GENERALLY THAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE MANY OF OUR SERVICES COMING TO AN END.
IT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, ADD STRAEUF TIFF BACKBONE -- ADD STRAEUF TIFF BACKBONE FOR GRANT PROGRAMMING.
SO SUCH CUTS WOULD LIMIT AND HAMPER OUR ABILITY FOR
GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMMING. >> THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND FINALLY
COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I THINK SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS WHAT THE BASELINE IS I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE TALKING -- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BASELINE BEING THE BUDGET. YOU HAVE IT ON THE TABLE.
MY BASELINE IS STARTING FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WHAT IS OUR BUDGET TODAY. TO REFERENCE THE POSITION THAT'S HAVEN'T BEEN CREATED AND SAY WE ARE LOSING POSITIONS, I DON'T THINK THAT IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT.
WHETHER IT IS 60 OR WHETHER IT IS 70 OR WHETHER IT IS 80, IT IS NOT A THOUSAND. WHAT I JUST READ, 34 MILLION AND YOU AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON FRIDAY GOING THROUGH THE 34 MILLION DOLLARS. TO FULLY FUND AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS A SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS ON THE TABLE.
YOU ARE MAKING A PROPOSAL TO ADOPT A 7-MONTH BUDGET --
>> LINA HIDALGO: BOTH. ONE IS FOR A 7-MONTH BUDGET AND ONE FOR THE PLANNING BUDGET FOR 2023.
>> TOM RAMSEY: THE 7-MONTH BUDGET -- THE NUMBERS GET MIXED UP. SOMETIMES WE START SAYING WELL THERE IS A THOUSAND POSITIONS GONNA BE LOST, AND IT IS TALKING ABOUT THE 23 BUDGET WHEN IN ESSENCE THE 7-MONTH BUDGET. THE 7-MONTH BUDGET IS WHAT I'M REFERRING TO HERE. ANY AMENDMENTS TO THAT ARE PRETTY SIMPLE. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS I DEFINE IT, NOT WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT'S BEEN LISTED UNDER JUSTICE AND SAFETY, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFINED AS D.A., SHERIFF, CONSTABLE, FIRE MARSHAL AND THAT IS 35 MILLION IN THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS. SO APPARENTLY WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE TO I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW BEST HOW TO DEAL WITH CRIME AND THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR.
I HAVE GIVEN THEM SUGGESTIONS.
WE ARE OPEN FOR BUYS HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT -- WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS HERE IN TERMS OF OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE. TO SAY 35 MILLION CANNOT BE FOUND IN A SEVEN-MONTH BUDGET AS LARGE AS THIS ONE, I THINK IT IS -- WE ARE NOT TRYING VERY HARD.
WE ARE NOT DOING THE HARD WORK IS THE WORD THAT'S BEING THROWN AROUND. I THINK THIS IS OPEN, BUT IF WE ARE NOT -- IF THAT'S NOT AN OBJECTIVE, THEN, OKAY.
[02:55:05]
MINE WAS FOCUSED ON FUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NOT -- AND ALL OF THE OTHER -- MOST OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OBVIOUSLY FUNDING THE SALARY INCREASES AND THE PENSION INCREASES. IF YOU CAN CLARIFY IT.>> SURE. AND A COUPLE POINTS MADE.
FIRST TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF FUNDED POSITIONS BEING ELIMINATED. IT IS TO CLAIRE FACIAL COMMISSIONER RAMSEY -- CLARIFY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL YESTERDAY. WHILE THE 1100 FUNDED POSITIONS IS A GOOD ESTIMATE FOR THE FIRST PROPOSAL, FOR THE NEW PROPOSAL, THE NUMBER IS 465.
SO IT IS A SMALLER EFFECT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT ABOUT
HALF? >> A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF.
TO THE COMMENT OF ARE WE COUNTING IN THOSE NUMBER POSITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE ANSWER IS NO. WE ARE NOT INCLUDING THOSE.
IT HAS BEEN RAISED COULD WE ACHIEVE SOME OF THOSE EFFECTIVELY SAVING SOME LAYOFFS BY ELIMINATING THE OPEN POSITIONS? YES.
THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE.
BY THE SAME TOKEN WE HAVE GRANT MATCHES AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION THAT'S COULD PUSH THEM IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
I DO -- AND IT IS NOT MY PLACE TO QUIBBLE WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT, BUT I WILL SAY THIS ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM THAT WORKED HARD FOR THE BUDGET, WHEN WE GOT HERE HARRIS COUNTY HAD A FOUR-PAGE BUDGET.
THAT FOUR-PAGE BUDGET YOU CAN FIND AROUND PAGE 44 IN THE BUDGET BOOK. AND CERTAINLY THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER MATERIAL, BUT I DO WANT TO REALLY INSIST IT HAS BEEN LAID OUT CLEARLY AND IN SUMMARY LEVEL WITH A LOT OF DETAIL THAT FOLKS MAY FIND USEFUL.
I CAN TAKE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER
GARCIA. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF I MIGHT, DIRECTOR ROBINSON IF YOU ARE STILL THERE, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER'S DIVISION? WHAT DO THEY DO? YOU ARE MUTED, DIRECTOR
ROBINSON. >> AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED EARLIER. THEY ARE DOING TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION, FOR EXAMPLE THE HIV-AIDS PROGRAMMING AND THE TREATMENT AND SCREENING. SUPPORTING VULNERABLE MOMS AND BABIES WITH NUTRITION SUPPORT, ET CETERA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO PROBABLY AVOID THEM HAVING TO GO TO
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE REALLY AND REDUCING MORTALITY AND MORBID
TEE IN THE COUNTY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T KNOW IN THIS IS ACCURATE, BUT IN YOUR INITIAL PROPOSAL WE WERE SHOWING 53,000 RESIDENTS AND A 11% -- 22% IS IN PRECINCT ONE AND 38% IN PRECINCT 2. YOU WOULD HAVE 23% AND 12,000 WHO WILL NOT GET THE SERVICES.
I WANT TO STRESS IF I MIGHT -- THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON ON THE BROADER ISSUE, IT BEARS REPEATING AGAIN IN TERMS OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY WE INCREASED BUDGETS EVERY YEAR, 2021 AND 2022 AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET GREW $100 MILLION. FROM 680, BUT WE INCREASED THE BUDGET FROM 18 TO 19 AND OUR LAST BUDGET OF 2021 BY 13 MILLION. FROM 83 MILLION TO 96 MILLION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GO THROUGH THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE WHEN WE MAKE THESE CUTS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FEDERAL MONEY WE WOULD LOSE. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WOULD COME FROM. YOU SAID 150 MILLION --
>> THAT IS THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF GRANT DOLLARS WE HAVE.
AND THERE HASN'T BEEN AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS THAT WOULD GO
[03:00:03]
AWAY AND BE AT RISK AS IT RELATES TO NEEDING TO MATCH THOSE GRANTS. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT ANALYSIS.AND AGAIN IF THERE IS A 50 OR 30% CUT IN OUR STAFFING WE HAVE OUR -- YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BACK BACKBONE -- BACKBONE IF IT IS THE EVALUATION TEAMS. EVERYONE PLAYS A ROLE IN MAKING SURE WE ARE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE GRANTS. WE JUST DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO GIVE UH SPECIFIC NUMBER.
>> I DO WANT TO COMMENT THAT YOU DID A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF GIVING US MORE INFORMATION THAN I SAW WHEN I GOT HERE BECAUSE IT WAS REAL QUICK. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. I RECALL WHEN I CAME MY STAFF MADE ME COME TO THE BUDGET SESSION BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE.
AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAD A STAFFER THERE.
AND WHAT CAME OUT OF IT FROM THE OLD DAYS WHY WAS I SITTING THERE? IT WAS GOOD TO GET TO KNOW YOU. LAST POINT IS WHETHER TO CUT AND SLICE AND I WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS AND SUGGESTED SOME CHANGES ALONG THE WAY. BUT IF YOU THINK IT IS DIFFICULT IMAGINE DOING IT AND IT PUTS ONE IN A DISADVANTAGE. I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF INPUT.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE VANISHED AND I FORGIVE YOU FOR IT.
NOT THAT I LIKE IT, BUT I FORGIVE YOU FOR IT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS AND THEN I WILL HAVE A MOTION.
FIRST I WANT TO START WITH THIS.
THE BULK OF MY WORK, I DO PARTNER WITH THE VARIOUS CITIES IN MY PRECINCT. MY -- THE GREATEST PART OF MY ATTENTION IS ON MY PRECINCT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY. THAT IS WHERE I AM THE PRINCIPAL SERVICE PROVIDER FOR A FACILITATOR FOR SERVICE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS. IN ALL REGARDS.
ALTHOUGH WE DO HEAR AND WE RESPECT AND HONOR THE MAGNITUDE OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, IT IS 124 OF THE NUMBER.
IN THAT SAME TIME, THAT WAS IN 2021.
AND IN THE SAME PERIOD WE HAD 184 VICTIMS OF CRASH FATALITIES AND ALSO IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY. IN THE SAME TIME WE HAD 3,412 FATALITIES DUE TO COVID 19 EVERYBODY HAS MY ATTENTION HAS MY ATTENTION. I CAN'T GO IN AND SOLVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PROBLEMS. I WILL DO THIS TO DO WHAT I CAN. FROM THAT STANDPOINT WHAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS TALKED ABOUT, IT IS INTERESTING 2018 IS THE YEAR HE PICKS AND NOT 2009.
IN 2009 COMMISSIONERS' COURT LAID OFF DEPUTIES.
THEY LAID OFF CONSTABLE DEPUTIES.
THAT CAN BE ANOTHER YEAR TO USE AS A BASELINE.
[03:05:03]
IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING AND FLOOD CONTROL ARE MENTIONED, DO THESE CUTS HAVE ANY POTENTIAL IMPACT ON OUR BOND PROJECT AND ON THE ABILITY TO DO THEIR WORK.IF WE ARE CUTTING INTO THE GENERAL FUND I THINK THERE IS A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT WILL CREEP INTO THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT INTENDING IT.
IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT? I THINK THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION -- THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, YES. PARTICULARLY COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S PROPOSAL GOES DEEPER. I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A GREATER MAGNITUDE OF CUTS. WE WOULD SEE SOME REDUCTION IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING SOME OF THE HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF IF WE GET SOME MONEY AT THE END OF THE GLO AND THEY WOULD BE RE -- THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR ABILITY TO EXECUTE ON THOSE PRIORITIES. AND THEN YOU ALSO JUST HAVE THE QUESTION OF COUNTY SUPPORT STAFF.
FOR EXAMPLE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IT HAS AN AFFECT ON THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE REAL ESTATE.
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE IT AS THE BACK-OFFICE, BUT THE BACK-OFFICE IS IMPORTANT TO GET IN.
>> AND I SUSPECTED AS MUCH. LIFE IS LIFE.
AND CUTTING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND THE PRIMARY -- IT WILL MAKE THE PRIMARY HEALTH CLINIC FOR THE UNINSURED.
WE SAW WHEN THEY TOOK OUT I-10 BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS THAT OCCURRED OUT THERE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A HOSPITAL IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY, HOW THE AMBULANCE WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND AS A CONSEQUENCE THE TEENAGER AND THE AMBULANCE DID NOT SURVIVE THE RIDE OVER TO LBJ.
IF YOU ARE MOVING THE COLUMN FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, LET THAT BE THEIR CONSCIENCE. THE OTHER SIDE TOO IS THAT I MENTIONED TO FOLKS 1980 -- IT IS ACTUALLY 1981 AND BECAUSE I MENTIONED 2009. 1981 WAS THE LAST OIL BUST.
WE HAD A HORRIFIC HOMICIDE RATE BACK THEN.
WE HAD OFFICERS LOSE THEIR LIVES IN RECORD NUMBERS BACK THEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HARRIS COUNTY DID, BUT WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID WAS HAD A HIRING FREEZE. THEY STOPPED HIRING HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS AND THEY CANCELED ACADEMY CLASSES.
IN 2009, AS AS I MENTIONED, THEY LAID OFF DEPUTY CONSTABLES. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN 2019, 2020 AND 2021 AND THERE WILL BE MORE IN 2022 I'M HOPING IS THAT WE HAVE APPROVED THE HIRING OF SIX KNEW ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO ASSIST IN 22 DISTRICT COURTS TO GET RID OF THE HUNDRED-THOUSAND CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG.
WE HAVE EXPANDED JURY OPERATIONS INCLUDING THE RELOCATION OF NRG BANK TO THE NEWLY-RENOVATED JURY ASSEMBLY PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN. AND AN 11.9 H-L -- 11.9 MILLION-DOLLAR RENOVATION PROJECT.
RESPECTFULLY I PUT IN PLACE IN MY PRECINCT SHOT SPOTTER THAT COST MY BUDGET 780,000 FOR A THREE-YEAR PILOT PROJECT.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WOULD JUST SAY IF YOU CANCEL THAT
[03:10:02]
$300,000 CONTRACT TO YOUR OLD FIRM, YOU CAN BUY KWR*UP -- ONE YEAR OFF THE SHOT SPOTTER TECHNOLOGY AND HELP PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS MAKES THE DISPATCHING OF OFFICERS TO SHOOTING SCENES MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY.IT BROUGHT $134 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING TO PUBLIC SAVE -- SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGETS INCLUDING TWO NEW ACADEMY CLASSES FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
REMEMBER WE ONLY HAD ONE ACADEMY CLASS FOR THE LONGEST. SUPPORTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM INCLUDING THE MISDEMEANOR CASH BAIL REFORM THAT HAS ALLOWED THE COUNTY JAIL TO BE THE PLACE WE ALWAYS EXPECTED IT TO BE AND HOLD DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT PEOPLE.
IT HAS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. WE HAVE APPROVED $15 MILLION FOR BODY CAM -- BODY CAMERA AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT WILL EXPAND AND ACCELERATE THE PROVIDING OF DIGITAL AND AUDIO EVIDENCE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO THEY CAN DO THEIR PROSECUTION OF CASES MUCH MORE RAPIDLY. IT HAS PROVIDED THREE MILLION IN OVER TIME TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO FIGHT VIOLENT CRIMES AND ROUND UP DANGEROUS CRIMINALS.
2.6MILLION WAS PUT FOR MORE HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTIES TO ADDRESS VIOLENT CRIME HOTSPOTS. THERE IS 100,000 TO MAKE OUR PARKS SAFER BY PROVIDING LIGHTING SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN FEEL SAFER AND BE SAFER DURING EARLY-MORNING HOURS OR IN THE EVENING HOURS. WE LAUNCHED THE FIRST TARGETED FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM THAT HAS TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN RESPOND TO THE NON-EMERGENCY 9-1-1 CALLS RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE AND SOCIAL WELFARE ISSUES THAT CONSTITUTE UP TO APPROXIMATELY 40% OF THE 9-1-1 CALLS.
SO DEPUTIES CAN PAW -- PATROL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY WANT TO SELA ENFORCEMENT -- SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROLLING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE WOULD ROLL THIS BACK AND HAVE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO CALLS THAT THEY ARE NOT THE PREFERRED AGENCY IN RESPONSE.
WE PROVIDE FOR THE TPAU SILL STATION OF FREE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COPING WITH TRAUMA THROUGH A PROGRAM WITH UT HEALTH AND HOUSTON TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE CENTER. AGAIN, ANOTHER DIRECT INVESTMENT OUT OF MY BUDGET AND NOT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. WE ARE PROVIDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I WANT TO PROVIDE MORE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS HAVING DISCUSSION DISCUSSIONS -- DISCUSSIONS WITH MY STAFF, EVERYBODY WANTED ANOTHER PERSON NEXT TO THEM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME PEOPLE WANTED TO HAVE MORE MONEY TO TAKE HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. HE CAME UP WITH A PLAN THAT I PROPOSED AND IT DID NOT GET APPROVED, BY THE WAY.
SUD THAT PLAN IS THE AMENDMENT THAT I WANT -- THAT PLAN IS THE AMENDMENT I WANT TO MAKE TO COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S MOTION. THE IDEA OF THE AMENDMENT, MR. BERRY, IF YOU CAN HELP US TALK THROUGH THIS IS THE FACT THAT I HAVE VISITED WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, TEX-DOT, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, METRO. I BELIEVE TRAVIS COUNTY DOES IT. DALLAS COUNTY.
AND THAT IS THE CAPITALIZATION OF LABOR COSTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CIP.
WHEN THOSE JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE THIS IT FREED UP THE COSTS AND MOVED THE LABOR COST OVER TO THE CIP WHICH IS IN BUDGETING TERMS A MORE ACCURATE REFLECTION OF WHAT THE CIP COST IS. IF STAFF IS WORK -- WORKING ON CIP IT IS STILL A COST. IT SHOULD BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTE BELIEVE A TO WHAT THE CIP IS.
[03:15:02]
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND COMMISSIONER ELLIS' AND THE INITIAL MOTION AND THAT IS TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO CAPITALIZE CIP -RELATED LABOR COSTS WHERE LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE -- WHERE LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE AND LABOR COSTS APPROPRIATE TO THE GENERAL FUND AND ALLOCATE THE GENERAL FUNDS RECOVERED FROM THE LABOR CAPITALIZATION TO INCREASE THE HOURLY RAISED RATE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. ADJUST THE ADOPTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO CAPITALIZE 4.1 MILLION OF LABOR AND FISCAL YEAR.ALLOCATED THE FREED UP GENERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT A 3% RAISE FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND CONSTABLE AND DEPUTIES. IN ADDITION TO INCREASES IDENTIFIED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO IT IS NOT JUST A 3%. I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT. DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DO A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL QUALIFYING DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL CAPITALIZABLE LABOR COSTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED TO EXTEND A 3% RAISE TO ALL RANKS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. DIRECT THE OFFICE THE COUNTY ADD ELEVATOR TO CONDUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DEVELOP THE SAME PLAN THAT I PROPOSED YEARS BACK TO DEVELOP A FOUR-YEAR PLAN THAT WILL BRING AS CLOSE TO PAID PARITY TO ALL HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE. AND SO THAT IS --
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WOULD SUPPORT THIS COMMISSIONER -- CAN I JUST ASK YOU AND DAVE BERRY SOME QUESTIONS.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A COMMENT.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE SINCE WE'RE ON THIS TOPIC WHICH IS SO IT IS A 3% ON TOP OF THE 2% THAT IS ALREADY IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. SO LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD GET A 5% RAISE. MY ONE CONCERN FOR DAVE BERRY WOULD BE CATCHING EVERYBODY UP IN FOUR YEARS.
DO WE KNOW IF WE CAN AFFORD THAT OVER THE LONG-TERM.
>> YEAH. >> AND SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER GARCIA A COUPLE JUST TO MAKE SURE I CAN TRACK WHAT HE IS RECOMMENDING.
COMMISSIONER, IN TERMS OF THE CONCRETE BUDGET AMENDMENT IT WOULD BE TO MOVE SOME ENGINEERING LABOR COSTS EITHER TO MOBILITY OR TO ROAD AND BRIDGE BONDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND ARE CURRENTLY UNBUDGET #ED.
IS -- UNBUDGETED. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. >> THAT 1.4 MILLION AND 7 MILLION ARE DOABLE. WE DID SOME PROXIMATE MATH -- APPROXIMATE MATH. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY TOO THE 3% RAISE, IT COVERS DEPUTIES AND IT WOULD NOT
COVER OFFICERS -- >> RANKING OFFICERS.
THAT WOULD BE THE SUBSEQUENT PAY PLAN.
THAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF --
>> THAT'S MY CONCERN. THEN IF EVERYBODY HAS TO GET SHIFTED THEN -- I MEAN, BACK TO LIKE THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE, YOU KNOW 600 FOLKS, THEN YOU HAVE TO CUT MALARIA. MAYBE MALARIA IS THE
IMMUNIZATION. >> AND I WANT TO BE CAREFUL TO CALL THIS A PLAN. IT TAKES PLANNING.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THE REALITY FORECASTS ARE GOING TO BE.
WHAT I HAVE CONSISTENTLY HEARD THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IS A REVOLVING DOOR IN ALMOST EVERY ORGANIZATION.
IT IS HARD TO KEEP FOLKS. IT IS HARD TO RECRUIT THEM.
IT IS HARD TO RETAIN THEM. THE JAIL IS A DIFFICULT PLACE. I WANT TO -- THIS IS NUMBER
[03:20:02]
ONE MY EFFORT TO DO WHAT I WANTED TO DO YEARS BACK.BUT IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, I WANT TO THANK OUR FRONT LINE EMPLOYEES FOR THE PHENOMENAL JOB THEY HAVE BEEN DOING DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND DURING THIS CRIME SURGE THAT WE AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN FACING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WOULD BE PROUD TO SECOND THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER IF YOU WOULD LET ME.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN
COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> TOM RAMSEY: AGAIN, WE ARE ABOUT TO VOTE AND WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS ON THE TABLE.
SOME OF WHICH NOT ALL OF US COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
I THINK MR. BERRY COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDS IT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS, BUT WHAT THE HECK? LET'S JUST VOTE ON IT. LET ME BE CLEAR ON WHAT I PROPOSE. TO GIVE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, D.A., SHERIFF, CONSTABLES AND FIRE MARSHAL WHAT THEY ASKED FOR, NO AMOUNT OF TALKING OR AMENDMENTS IS GONNA ESCAPE THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.
WHAT THE CURRENT BUDGET DOES IS ONLY SUPPORTS THOSE PEOPLE 12%. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ONLY IS 18%. WE ARE SAYING YES TO 18% IN THE BUDGET. WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM. WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM.
I THINK WE SHOULD FULLY FUND AND SUPPORT IS -- SUPPORT.
ARE WE REALLY GOING TO ARGUE OVER APPRAISAL DISTRICT CUTS OR COMMISSIONERS' COURT ANALYSTS OR LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS? IS THERE ANYTHING THERE THAT CAN BE CUT? I AM HEARING NOTHING AND THAT IS JUST RIDICULOUS. THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE CUT, AND THAT MONEY SENT INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT IF WE REALLY WANTED TO. I STICK WITH I THINK I HAVE A REASONABLE -- THERE'S BEEN NO DISCUSSION ON LET'S CUT HEALTH. I WILL GET WITH YOU ON THE LEGISLATIONS AND THE 995,000 THERE.
THAT'S MY POINT. I JUST WANT EVERYBODY CLEAR ON WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON AND WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO SAY NO TO AS FAR AS LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS ASKED AND WE SAID NO TO MOST OF WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR. MR. BERRY, WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEEN THROWN OUT THERE WHICH I'M STILL DIGESTING. WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON
ENGINEERING TO DO THIS? >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, CORRECT ME IF I MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS BUDGET NEUTRAL TO ENGINEERING. THERE WOULD BE A SOURCE OF CAPITAL FUNDS, ROAD AND BRIDGE FUNDS.
IT WOULD REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND, BUT NOT THE OVERALL BUDGET. THERE WOULD BE FREED UP GENERAL FUNDS THAT WOULD GO TO THIS PAY INCREASE.
THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
THAT WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ROAD BONDS WE HAVE UNALLOCATED AND WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS A LITTLE SOONER, BUT IT WOULD NOT ACTUALLY REQUIRE CUTTING THE SERVICE LEVEL. THAT'S A FUND ACCOUNTING ISSUE. DID -- DID I GET THAT
CORRECT? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CORRECT.
VERSUS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S WOULD BE DISRUPTED ORIENTED, THIS IS BUDGET NEUTRAL AND IT IS AN ACCOUNTING APPROACH, AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT THE DIFFERENCE IS -- THE DIFFERENCES ON WHAT THIS HAS ON OUR AVAILABLE BONDS AND WHAT THE SCHEDULE GOING BACK
TO THE VOTERS WOULD BE. >> TOM RAMSEY: SO THIS IS PRETTY TYPICAL OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN WORKING WITH ENGINEERS AND WORKING WITH COUNTIES AND CITIES FOR 40 YEARS.
IS WHEN WE HAVE A BUDGET PROBLEM, WE ARE GOING TO START CUTTING INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE GOING TO STOP DOING -- YOU ARE TAKING THE BONDS AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
I SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. YOU SAID TAKE SOME -- CAPITALIZE THE BONDS AND TAKE THE MONEY WE WERE GOING TO --
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: CAPITALIZE THE SALARIES.
>> TOM RAMSEY: CAPITALIZE THE SALARIES, BUT TAKING IT OUT OF
THE BOND MONEY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.
>> TOM RAMSEY: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING --
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT HASN'T EVEN YET HAPPENED.
>> TOM RAMSEY: THAT'S RIGHT. THAT IS A PRETTY TYPICAL THING THAT WHEN WE GET DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE IS NOT MONEY TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN THEY DID REBUILD HOUSTON
[03:25:02]
THESE 10 PLUS YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID, YEAH, IT IS A LOCK BOX AND WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT AND DO PROJECTS.WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING? WE PAID SALARIES.
MUCH OF WHAT WAS PASSED UNDER REBUILD HOUSTON IS NOW PAYING FOR SALARIES. THAT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T CONSIDER -- SO THERE IS NOTHING IN THE BUDGET NOW THAT IS WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION OF CUTTING? I GUESS NOT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER
CAGLE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. BERRY, WOULD YOU USE A COMMERCIAL PAPER TO DO WHAT WE WILL CALL A SWAP OR A MANEUVER, A COUNTY MANEUVER? WOULD YOU USE COMMERCIAL PAPER OR WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
>> I THINK THE -- I THINK COMMERCIAL PAPER FOR ROAD BONDS AND THEN POTENTIALLY MOBILITY FUNDS AND TOLL ROADS AS WELL IF WE COOPERATE GET TO THE FULL 4.1 MILLION.
THERE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LEGAL CRITERIA, BUT THEY ARE
VERY SIMILAR. >> DO YOU KNOW IF THE COUNTY HAS DONE THIS IN THE PAST? HARRIS COUNTY?
>> IT IS NOT ALTOGETHER. UNIVERSAL SERVICES WILL CHARGE CAPITALIZED LABOR AND I.T. PROJECTS.
WE DO SOME OF THIS IN ENGINEERING NOW.
>> BUT IT IS A PRACTICE THAT THIS COUNTY HAS UTILIZED IN
THIS IS NOT A CUTTING EDGE FINANCIAL TECHNIQUE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES HAVE DONE
THIS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND STATES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IT DOES SAY HERE THAT HE IS SAYING -- CAPITALIZING CIP LEGAL COSTS WHERE LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFERRING THE CORY SPOPDING -- CORRESPONDING LABOR COSTS PROEP -- APPROPRIATE TO THE LABOR FUND. HE MENTIONED A DOLLAR AMOUNT IN HERE. COULD IT GO HIGHER?
>> AS I UNDERSTOOD THE MOTION, WE WERE GOING TO DO A REVIEW OF IS THERE MORE THERE. THE 4.1 MILLION IS A NUMBER I AM COMFORTABLE WITH ON A QUICK REVIEW, BUT IT COULD GO
HIGHER. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE THIS GOES IN, WHATEVER THE AMOUNT IS, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UNDER THE LAW THAT HAS PASSED, IT IS THERE. IT DOES NOT COME OUT.
WHEN IT IS THERE, IT IS THERE.
SKWAEU THAT IS CORRECT -- >> THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. WHEN IT IS IN THE ADOPTED
BUDGET IT CANNOT BE REDUCED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AS IMPORTANT IT IS IT IS BECAUSE OF BURNOUT FROM OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED 124 FATALITIES.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: 124 HOMICIDES.
184 FATALITIES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK WE HAVE AN ITEM COMING UP SHORTLY WHERE WE WILL TALK ABOUT OTHER FRONT LINE WORKERS, FOLKS IN HEALTH CARE AS AN EXAMPLE, WHO WILL BE IN AND OUT OF THE COUNTY JAIL AND THERE WILL BE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. I KNOW WE DID AN ITEM TO TRY TO BRING IN MORE SUPPORT FOR NURSES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US TO HAVE FRONT LINE WORKERS IN A HOST OF AREAS. I KNOW THERE ARE TREMENDOUS INEQUITIES IN TERMS OF HOW WE PAY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET TO MY MOTION ON THE BUDGET. AND THAT IS WE INCLUDE IN THIS STUDY ALL APPLICABLE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHOSE BASE PAY FOR THEIR POSITION IS LESS THAN 100K.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE REASON I AM DOING THAT IS I AM THINKING THOSE FOLKS ON THE FRONT LINE -- I WISH WE COULD DO IT FOR EVERYONE. BUT WE STARTED OFF THE DECISION COLLECTIVELY. I EXPECT A CAMPAIGN ON IT, AND THAT'S HOW THIS BUSINESS WORKS.
I WANT TO ADD THAT AS AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND IN 2019 WHEN WE WERE WORKING THROUGH THE FLOOD BOND YOU HAD AND WE WANTED TO GO TO A 10-YEAR.
WE DID STAFF AUGMENTATION WHERE WAS THAT PAID OUT OF?
[03:30:02]
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE STAFF AUGMENTATION IS PAID FOR THE BOND PROGRAM AND IT IS PRIMARILY PAID THROUGH THE
FLOOD OPERATING FUNDS. >> IT IS PAID THROUGH.
>> THEY ARE GOING TO RESPOND. >> AND SO MAKE SURE YOU HEARD IT AND I WILL PASS IT TO YOU. YOU JUST PHOEGSZ -- JUST
MOTION? >> I CAN ALSO GET COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION. IT WILL BE TO MAKE THIS APPLICABLE TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHOSE BASE PAY FOR THE POSITION IS LESS THAN 100K A YEAR AND I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. SO IT IS SO EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY ARE INCLUDED. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND WE CAN TABLE IT AND THEN GET TO THE MAIN ITEM.
>> AND I STILL HAVE A QUESTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A COMMENT AND ON THIS QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS ASKED 40U WOULD WE PAY FOR THIS GOING -- HOW WOULD WE PAY FOR THIS GOING FORWARD? I AM ASSUMING THAT IT IS THIS CAPITALIZED -- CAPITALIZATION STRATEGY THAT WILL COVER THESE SALARIES GOING FORWARD,
CORRECT? >> WELL, I WOULD NOT BE CONFIDENT SITTING HERE TODAY THAT CAPITALIZING LABOR WOULD FUND THE FULL PLAN THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS MODIFIED.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT DEGREES OF THE PLAN.
IT CAN MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS. WE CAN DO IT FASTER OR SLOWER. AS I UNDERSTAND THE VOTE IS TO HAVE A PLAN AND DISCUSS IT AND DEBATE HOW WE PAY FOR IT AND NOT -- WE CAN'T APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR FOUR YEARS ANYWAY.
IT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATION. SO THE 7 MILLION IS FOR THIS YEAR AND USING THIS AND THEN GOING FORWARD WE HAVE TO FIND SPACE IN THE BUDGET OUTSIDE OF THIS.
>> AND IF I MIGHT SAY AND I UNDERSTAND AND MAKING SURE WE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING IT IS 4.1 MILLION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 22 -- THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND 7 MILLION IN THE PLANNING BUDGET. THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE RAISE FOR DEPUTIES, BUT IT IS NOT THE ENTIRETY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COME BACK WITH SOME NUMBERS ON WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO ACHIEVE PARITY FOR ALL OF THE LOWER PAID COUNTY WORKERS. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE TAKE UP IN FUTURE BUDGET PROCESSES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER 8 -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE IS A LOT I THINK IS GOOD IN THIS PROPOSAL SITTING HERE AT 1:34.
THE TIMING IS A LITTLE ROUGH TO TRY TO DYE JUST -- TO DIGEST OR MAKING DECISIONS HERE AT THE TABLE.
MY BUDGET PROPOSAL INDICATED THAT WE NEED TO PAY THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PAY PARITY THAT WE HAD STARTED IN 2018.
WE PROMISED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH IS THE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFF THAT WE WOULD DO A SECOND ROUND AND THAT IS PART OF MY PROPOSAL WHICH IS WHERE WE WOULD END UP IF WE GET MY AMENDED BUDGET.
WE WOULD HAVE $46 MILLION LEFT OVER THAT COULD BE PUT INTO THE PIC OR PUT INTO GENERAL SALARIES ELSEWHERE.
EVEN WHEN YOU WERE A SHERIFF I WAS UH -- I WAS A PROPONENT FOR MCCORMICK AND SCHMIDT. I HAVE BEEN A BIG FAN OF -- [INAUDIBLE]. SO -- AND WE DID HAVE -- WELL, IT IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I'M READY TO DO THE 18 WHICH WE CAN DO IF AS TOM AND I HAVE INDICATED THAT WE DIG DEEP IN
[03:35:04]
SOME OTHER SPOTS. I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THE PAY PARITY. I AM A FAN OF THE PAY PARITY.WE VOTED FOR THE PAY PARITY ROUND ONE.
AND THAT IS AN ON GOING EXPENSE.
MY QUESTION IS, AND THIS IS ONE THAT WAS RAISED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE BORROW THE MONEY TO PAY A SALARY. AND THAT IS THE TROUBLE THE CITY OF HOUSTON GOT INTO TO COVER THE PENSIONS AND OTHER THINGS. IT APPEARS TO ME WHEN WE CAPITALIZE SOMETHING IT MEANS WE ARE PUTTING IT INTO THE BOND PROGRAM. THAT IS A PROCESS AND THAT IS A DIFFICULT ONE TO CLIMB BACK FROM AND IT CAN HAVE DIFFICULT COMPLICATIONS. I AM IN FAVOR OF THE PAY PARITY. IT IS ALL GRAND THEATER.
I HAVE NO EXPECTATION THAT MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE ADOPTED BY THE MAJORITY. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD NO EXPECTATION AND THAT HIS PROPOSAL -- I DO WANT TO COMMEND THAT IN THIS PROCESS WE HAVE HAD GOOD DISCUSSIONS. AND I THINK IT HAS SHOWED THAT WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES.
IT IS ABOUT TIGHTENING AND GUT WRENCHING WHEN WE DO THAT.
WE CAN GET EVERYTHING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ASKED FOR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD BY FOR INDICATE -- BIFORCATE THE PROPOSALS. IF YOU ARE MAKING A PROPOSAL THAT WE GO FOR PAY PARITY. IF YOU MAKE THE STAND ALONE I WILL SUPPORT THAT. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE PART AND PARCEL OF GOING INTO DEBT TOMORROW FOR IT.
THAT'S SOMETHING I NEED TO LOOK AT REAL QUICK.
AND/OR THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE TAXES IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
AND THERE IS AN ISSUE ON THE PAY PARITY ISSUE.
2018 WE VOTED FOR IT AND READY TO VOTE FOR IT AGAIN.
>> FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ARE YOU ALL PULLING YOUR ITEMS DOWN? I MADE A MOTION TO TABLE UNLESS YOU WANT TO PULL THEM DOWN.
>> I MAKE THE MOTION TO TABLE. >> SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO TABLE THE MOTIONS ON THE RESPECTIVE BUDGETS.
WE CAN GO AND VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
>> SAME FOR ITEM 266 AND 313? >> CORRECT.
>> MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR. WE WILL TABLE THOSE.
AND TO TAKE UP THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS AMENDED THIS IS WHAT I HAVE. IT IS A BIT LONG.
THAT COMMISSIONERS' COURT ADOPT THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AS PRESENTED BY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVE BERRY.
THAT THEY APPROVE THE 2023 PLANNING BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AS PRESENTED BY DAVE BERRY.
THAT THEY BE OPERATED FOR APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND. ALLOCATE THE GENERAL FUNDS RECOVERED FROM LABOR CAPITALIZATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. ADJUST THE UH DON'T -- ADJUST THE ADOPTED GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO CAPITALIZE THE LABOR IN SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND 20 MILLION IN 2023. ALLOCATE THE FREED UP GENERAL FUNDS FOR ALL HCO AND CONSTABLE DEPUTIES IN THE BUDGET AND DIRECT OCA TO DO A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL QUALIFYING DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL CAPITALIZABLE LABOR COSTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED TO EXTEND THE 3% RAISE TO ALL RANKS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
DIRECT OCA TO CONDUCT A SALARY ANALYSIS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL APPLICABLE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO IS BASE PAY FOR THEIR POSITION IS LESS THAN $100,000 AND DEVELOP A FOUR-YEAR PLAN THAT WILL BRING PARITY TO ALL EMPLOYEES -- ALL OF THOSE EMPLOYEES. DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER GAR SEE -- GARCIA AND SECONDED BY
THE FUNDING BUDGET IS JUST FOR THE COUNTY YOU CAN DELETE
[03:40:04]
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. >> I SAID FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND SO I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT COMMISSIONERS' COURT APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 PLAN -- PLANNING BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AS PRESENTED BY DAVE BERRY. IS THAT CORRECT?
DID YOU GET THAT? >> YES, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND WANTED TO ADD SINCE THIS WILL BE WITH THE BUDGET WORK I WANT TO MOVE ARPA THROUGH 2024 TO CREATE A HARRIS COUNTY WANTED FELON TASK FORCE TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IDENTIFY A SOURCE OF FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO TRANSITION THIS PROGRAM INTO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BEFORE THE ARPA FUNDING EXPIRES ASSUMING THE BUDGET.
THIS MOTION IS INCLUSIVE OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICES THAT WOULD WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND THE TASK FORCE THAT HELPED TO CAPTURE HIS MURDER HAS PHENOMENAL REACH AS WE HAVE JUST WITNESSED. BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY THERE IS A WARRANT OUT FOR SOMEONE JUST AS DANGEROUS AND JUST AS BAD.
THEY ARE GOING INTO A PILE AND THE IDEA OF THE TASK FORCE IS TO PROVIDE CONSTABLE PRECINCT BY CONSTABLE PRECINCT IN COORDINATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ATTENTION TO GO AFTER WANTED FELONS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GENERALLY IT IS A GOOD IDEA IN TERMS OF ARPA HAS IT GONE THROUGH THE STEERING
COMMITTEE? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT. WE ARE NOT SURE WHERE IT IS
AT. >> WE SHOULD PUT IT THROUGH THE STEERING COMMITTEE SO WE DON'T START A BAD PRECEDENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD PREFER THAT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I'M GOOD WITH THAT AS LONG AS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
THERE'S BEEN SOME MOTIONS MADE IN THE PAST.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: HAVE WE DONE SOME THAT HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE STEERING COMMITTEE?
>> THIS COURT HAS BROKEN ITS OWN RULES A COUPLE TIMES AND
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO -- >> WHAT I WOULD DO, COMMISSIONER JUST SO WE CAN GET THIS BUDGET OFF OUR BACK, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LIST OF WHAT THEY ARE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PASS THIS WHEN IT COMES UP IN TWO WEEKS, COMMISSIONER. I ANT -- I WANT TO LOOK AT THE LIST SO WE KNOW. WHILE WE ARE BRAINSTORMING WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF WHAT WE ARE NOT FUNDING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.
WE COME UP WITH IDEAS AND PROGRAMS. WHY DON'T WE LISTEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DO WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED US TO DO RATHER THAN, I KNOW! LET'S DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THAT'S ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT. WE ARE FUNDING 18% OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR. THAT LEAVES 80 SOMETHING PERCENT WE ARE NOT. WHY DON'T WE DEAL WITH THE 80 SOMETHING PERCENT. MAYBE THERE IS ARPA MONEY FOR THAT 80 SOMETHING PERCENT. I WENT THERE, COMMISSIONER, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE OFF AND TALKING ABOUT THINGS OTHER
THAN THE MOTION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL JUST SAY THAT AS A GENERAL RULE WE SHOULD TRY NOT TO FUND ON GOING EXPENSES. WHAT I HEARD EXPLAINED WAS IF YOU GO FUND SALARIES YOU HAVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY AND WHEN THE ARPA MONEY GOES AWAY YOU HAVE TO FIRE THEM OR MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE SHOW UP AND AT SOME POINT WITH ALL OF THESE BRIGHT IDEAS YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND SAY THESE ARE BRIGHT IDEAS AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR MONEY.
>> TOM RAMSEY: RATHER THAN GOING TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE WE SHOULD TALK TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS.
I BET THEY HAVE AN IDEA OR TWO ON HOW WE CAN HELP.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
>> AND I'M SORRY TO INTER SKWREBLGT -- INTER SKWREPBLT
[03:45:02]
TKAUB -- INTERJECT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND OUR FOLLOW-UP. I WOULD RATHER DO IT BEFORE WEVOTE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK TO BE HONEST TO DIGEST IT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
>> JUST A MINUTE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE BUDGET
>> LET'S GET INTO THE MECHANICS.
IT WOULD COVER DEPUTIES ONLY. IT WOULD BE 3% ON TOP OF WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET WHICH IS 1% IN THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR AND 1% IN THE FISCAL YEAR 23 SO A 4% INCREASE IN SHORT FISCAL YEAR 22 AND ANOTHER 1% IN FISCAL YEAR 23.
WE WILL NEED TO COME BACK WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATE AND THE EXACT LIST OF WHICH DEPARTMENTS ARE GETTING THE MONEY WHICH WE COULD DO BY FEBRD AND THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OF MECHANICS TO START OUT. IT PROBABLY WON'T BE THE FIRST PAY PERIOD OF THE YEAR. IT MAY BE THE SECOND.
SO WEIGH THAT OUT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU WANT
TO MAKE SURE -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> IT WILL TAKE US A FEW WEEKS
TO IMPLEMENT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK THAT'S FAIR. YOU DON'T WANT TO RAISE
EXPECTATIONS IF WE CAN'T DO IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUST AS A PART OF THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS IT TO SCRUB ALL COSTS, I BELIEVE THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO FREE UP SOME -- YOU MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES MOBILITY FUNDS. I HADN'T FACTORED THAT IN UNTIL NOW. I THINK THERE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S CONCERNS THROUGH MOBILITY FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR THIS.
THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. BERRY, ANY CONCERN ABOUT THIS ARRANGEMENT ON IT HAVING AN
IMPACT ON OUR BOND RATE? >> NO.
IT IS TO THE SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR BOND RATE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. SO THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. COMMISSIONER, I KNOW YOU HAD -- SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE MAIN MOTION OF THE BUDGET I MADE AND HIS AMENDMENT, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON HIS AMENDMENT
SEPARATELY? >> LINA HIDALGO: I READ THE WHOLE MOTION WITH HIS AMENDMENT.
MOTIONED BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY ELLIS.
ALL IN FAVOR? WE LOST COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
CAN WE JUST BREAK FOR LUNCH AND THEN RETURN --
>> WE CAN. NORMALLY WE DON'T LIKE TO LEAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND THEN BREAK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THEN WHILE HE COMES RIGHT BACK THERE IS -- ON THE BUDGET AND DAVE AND JAY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WE NEED TO STILL TAKE A VOTE ON THE HARRIS HEALTH BUDGET AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE COULD DO BEFORE WE BREAK. WE CAN'T MODIFY IT.
ALL WE CAN DO IS VOTE ON WHAT THEY PROPOSE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> TO CLARIFY I THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE YOU DO THAT.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SEND IT BACK AND REQUEST CHANGES. YOU CANNOT AMEND IT AT THE TABLE. IT IS UP OR DOWN OR SEND IT
APPROVED OR DENIED. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGE -GZ YOU WOULD HAVE TO SUGGEST IT BACK TO HARRIS HEALTH.
>> JUDGE, I'M SORRY. WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THE MOTION BEING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT MOTIONS SAID IN
BETWEEN FOR VERIFICATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO PROBLEM.
COMMISSIONERS' COURT ADOPT A SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY, THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND TOLL AUTHORITY AS PRESENTED BY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVE BERRY AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVE THE 2023 PLANNING BUDGET FOR HARRIS COUNTY AS PRESENTED BY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVE BERRY.
THAT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND OTHER SREL -- RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS CAPITALIZE CIP LABOR COSTS AND TRANSFER CORRESPONDING COSTS TO THE GENERAL FUND.
ALLOCATE THE GENERAL FUND RECOVERY FROM LABOR CAPITALIZATION TO INCREASE THE HOURLY WAGE RATE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. ADJUST THE ADOPTED GENERAL FUND TO CAPITALIZE $4.1 MILLION OF LABOR IN SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND 7 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2023.
ALLOCATED FREED UP FUNDS FOR 3% RANGE FOR ALL CHSO CONSTABLES AND DEPUTIES IDENTIFIED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET -- SKAUS ME, CONSTABLE DEPUTIES.
THAT'S IT. AND DIRECT OCA TO DO A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL QUALIFYING DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL CAPITALIZABLE LABOR COSTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED TO EXTEND A 3% RAISE TO ALL RANKS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. DIRECT OCA TO CONDUCT A SALARY ANALYSIS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE HARRIS COUNTY REGION AND ALL APPLICABLE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHOSE BASE PAY IS LESS THAN $100,000 AND DEVELOP A FOUR-YEAR PLAN THAT WILL
[03:50:01]
BRING PAY PARITY TO ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES.THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION AND IT WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSE STPHED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR.
THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2. THIS NOW CLOSES THE PUBLIC HERRING -- PUBLIC HEARING. THERE IS ANOTHER -- VERY BRIEFLY WE NEED TO TAKE UP ITEM 268 AND REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION OF APPROVAL OF SHORT FISCAL KWRAER 2022 -- YEAR 2022 HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM.
PUBLIC HEARING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.
ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS? >> TO THE FOR THIS ITEM,
JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT CON --
IS THERE A MOTION? >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THIS WOULD BE A MOTION FOR UH PRO*FL OF THE SHORT -- APPROVAL OF THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA HARRIS HEALTH MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE NEED TO DO ONE ON THE 2023 BUDGET? I ONLY HAVE NOTES FOR THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 22 BUDGET?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE IS -- SO I HAD ONE MOTION RELATED TO THE BUDGET. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE BUDGET, BUT I JUST SENT IT AROUND.
I MOVE TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL COST IMPACTS AND SAVINGS OF SERVICE CONSOLIDATION IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY PARK, COMMUNITY CENTER ROAD AND BRIDGE AND FLEET OPERATIONS AFTER THE COUNTY ADD ELEVATOR ABIDES THE ANALYSIS, THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER HOW BEST TO PRIORITIZE THE COST SAVINGS TO THE VESTED SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE RE REDUCTION AND PREVENTION OF
ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE. >> COMMISSIONER WHAT ITEM IS
THIS WITH? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM ADDING
>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THAT -- I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SECOND THAT COMMISSIONER, AND FOR THE
RORTD -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: IT COMES BACK
TO US. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE WERE CUTS THAT WERE MADE FROM THE BASE BUDGETS.
IT IS NOT LIKE NO CUTS WERE IDENTIFIED.
>> IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE INEFFICIENCIES.
>> IT GOES IN LINE WITH AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE OTHER BUDGET, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CUT? I DON'T KNOW. IT IS JUST ASKING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DO AN ANALYSIS AND COME BACK AND DIRECT IT TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE REDUCED AND PREVENT THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: IS THAT MAKING YOU FEEL GOOD, COMMISSIONER? JUST CHECK THAT SMILE OUT.
LET'S VOTE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: OKAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR MOTION,
COMMISSIONER, ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL COST IMPACTS AND THE SAVINGS OF SERVICE CONSOLIDATION IN A MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER, ROAD AND BRIDGE AND FLEET OPERATIONS AFTER THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDES THIS ANALYSIS TO -- THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT SHALL CONSIDER HOW BEST TO PRIORITIZE THE COST SAVINGS TO INVEST IN SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE REDUCTION, PREVENTION AND ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN HARRIS
COUNTY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUST SO THE RECORD IS CLEAR, THIS IS BASICALLY A VOTE TO SAY THAT YOU THREE WILL RUN THE ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM AND ROAD BRIDGE
SYSTEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST EMAILED IT TO YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ IT OR
NOT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: IT IS SOMETHING I MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ JUST YET SINCE IT JUST CAME RIGHT NOW. IS THIS IT?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD OFFER -- I WILL VOTE FOR IT IF IT STAYS AS WORDED. IF YOU WILL CHANGE THE SHALL TO MAY I MAY CONSIDER VOTING FOR IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I CAN COUNT -- MAY IS ALL RIGHT WITH ME.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: WOULD YOU READ THE CONSOLIDATION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MACON DUCT -- MAY CONDUCT A STUDY TO IDENTIFY THE COST IMPACTS AND SERVICE CONSOLIDATION IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADD STRAEUGTS OF COUNTY -- ADMINISTRATION COUNTY PARK AND FLEET OPERATIONS AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDES THIS ANALYSIS AND THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT MAY --
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S THE MAY.
[03:55:02]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MAY CONSIDER HOW BEST TO PRIORITIZE THOSE COST SAVINGS TO INVEST IN SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE REDUCTION AND PREVENTION AND ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: TO BE CLEAR IT IS DIRECTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO CONDUCT THE STUDY, BUT THE COURT MAY
CONSIDER, COMMISSIONER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JAY, DO WE
HAVE ADEQUATE NOTICE OF IT? >> IT IS JUST ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I THINK THIS IS FINE NOTICE-WISE.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE IS THE MOTION NOW.
IF YOU HAD READ IT ANYMORE YOUR FACE WOULD CRACK.
>> TOM RAMSEY: YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON CONSOLIDATION AND CERTAINLY AS YOU LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES AND HOW YOU CAN SAVE MONEY DOING THIS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SIMPLY SAY THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING IN AS WE ADDRESS THE REDISTRICTING CHANGES, AT LEAST AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK -- YOU AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT THESE ISSUES THAN WE DO, BUT I GUESS AS MR. BERRY GETS INTO THIS AND IT IS INTERESTING THAT THIS SHOULD COME UP NOW.
AS WE LOOK AT -- I JUST GAVE PROBABLY 10 OR 15 EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE COULD CUT, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. RATHER THAN TALK ABOUT THAT, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN ESSENTIALLY PUT EVERYTHING IN THE COUNTY UP THROUGH ONE PERSON.
I CAN TELL YOU JUST FROM MY EXPERIENCES WITH OTHER COUNTIES AND OTHER PLACES YOU DOO NOT WANT -- YOU DO NOT WANT THAT BUREAUCRACY. I THINK OUR RESPONSE -- OUR FIRST-HAND RESPONSE TO ISSUES WITHIN THE PRECINCT, THAT'S NOT A -- THAT IS A PHONE CALL.
THE PHONE RINGS AND WE ANSWER IT AND DEAL WITH IT AND IT IS GOOD. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY GO AND LOOK AT THE
EFFICIENCIES. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT. >> TOM RAMSEY: I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND FRANKLY THE POLITICALNESS OF IT. IT CAN BE PAY BACK FOR SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD. IT CAN CERTAINLILY USED AS A THREAT AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IN SEPTEMBER. YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING HERE JUST TRYING TO REPRESENT PEOPLE AND BEST TAKE CARE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING ANYTHING THAT SPEAKS TO CONSOLIDATION OF PARKS AND ROAD AND BRIDGE. I HAVE SEEN THAT BEFORE, AND THERE IS NOTHING GOOD GOING DOWN THE ROAD, PARDON THE
PUN. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF I MIGHT, I WILL JUST READ IT AGAIN AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
IT IS PURELY VOLUNTARY. IT WOULD COME BACK TO US.
THE MOTION IS, I MOVE TO DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL COST IMPACTS AND SAVINGS OF SERVICE CONSOLIDATION IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY PARK, COMMUNITY CENTER, ROAD AND BRIDGE AND FLEET OPERATIONS.
AFTER THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDES HIS ANALYSIS, THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT MAY -- NOT SHALL, BUT MAY CONSIDER HOW BEST TO PRIORITIZE THOSE COST SAVINGS TO INVEST IN SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE REDUCTION, PREVENTION AND ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
IN NO WAY IS THERE A CONTROL ISSUE.
YOU HAD -- YOU AND I HAD A GREAT MEETING AND MIGHT I ADD 25-DEGREE WEATHER ABOUT A PARK WE HAD BEEN COMING WHERE THE LINE GOES DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK.
WE WORKED IT OUT. THERE MAY BE OTHER INSTANCES.
WE HAVE AGREED THAT WE WOULD TRANSFER PROPERTIES AND PRECINCTS ON A GIVEN DATE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE SOME OF IT. THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE AND I HOPE IT WILL BE WORKED OUT SO PEOPLE ARE NOT AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS RUSHING TO GET THE NEW AND FORGETTING THE OLD. IT IS ALL OUR PEOPLE.
IT DOES SAY MAY CONSIDER. AND I'M SURE THAT MR. BERRY AND HIS SHOP WOULD CONFER WITH EACH ONE OF US BEFORE THEY COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
[04:00:02]
>> TOM RAMSEY: I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS, WE SAY THIS MAY PART, AND THAT IS JUST THE REALITY OF IT AND WE CAN ALL JUST SAY IT. COMMISSIONER BERRY COMES UP WITH HIS OPTIONS OF CONSOLIDATION, AND IT IS BROUGHT HERE AND 3-2 APPROVE. I UNDERSTAND IT.
I CAN COUNT IT. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING -- I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC IN WHERE THIS IS HEADED.
MAYBE IT IS JUST -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU SAID YOUR 3 PRIORITIES WERE CRIME, CRIME AND CRIME.
I AM JUST SAYING IT APPLIES TO OUR BUDGETS, OUR BUDGETS, OUR
BUDGETS. >> TOM RAMSEY: EXACTLY AND THAT'S WHY I PUT IT ON THE TABLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS THAT YOU RECEIVED. SECONDED BY -- I GUESS I WILL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2. THAT SHOULD BE IT FOR THE
BUDGET, CORRECT, FOLKS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: THREE PRIORITIES, BREAK, BREAK, BREAK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 2:15 AND LET'S BREAK UNTIL 3:00 AND WE WILL START WITH THE AGENDA AND STARTING WITH THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 3:06 AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT IS
[Appearances before court (Part 11 of 12) ]
BACK IN SESSION. DO YOU HAVE THE SPEAKERS READYFOR US TO TAKE UP? >> YES, MA'AM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE THE NON--BUDGET
SPEAKERS. >> FIRST IS SPEAKER NUMBER 15 MARISSA HANSON SPEAKING ON ITEMS 12 AND 17 UNDER COVID-19. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> I SEE BY ITEM -- AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12 YOU ARE ASKING FOR 10.6 MILLION FOR A TWO-MONTH CONTRACT FOR COVID-19. I BELIEVE THE REAL PANDEMIC IS CRIME RIGHT NOW AND OUR THREAT LEVEL IS RED.
MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING IN OUR COUNTIES FOR NO REASON BECAUSE OF THESE FAILED BAIL REFORM POLICIES.
I BELIEVE THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS OPPOSED TO COVID DIVISIONS.
THE UP INS OF COVID INFECTIONS ARE DOWN TRENDING AND THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS PROOF -- PROVEN TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN A COMMON COLD. YOU REALLY THINK $10.6 MILLION FOR A TWO-MONTH CONTRACT IS MONEY WELL SPENT? I DON'T. YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GO THROUGH THIS COMMISSIONERS'
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> NOTHING FOR MURDERED
VICTIMS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 17, CELESTE LACONA WATURN.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO. I AM HERE TO DISCUSS 17 REQUESTED BY JUDGE GERALD JORDAN.
HE HAS TAKEN ON REGARDING UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR.
IN ADDITION TO THE FIGHT FOR BEHAVIOR HE HAS TALKED ABOUT BAIL REFORM. THERE IS AN AN AN INCREASE -- THERE IS AN INCREASE IN HOMICIDE AND OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. HE IS NOT EFFECTIVELY DOING THE VOTERS WHO VOTED HIM INTO OFFICE TO BE 100% COMMITTED.
AND NOT LET REPEAT CRIMINALS OUT ON ADDITIONAL BONDS.
PERHAPS IN12EUD -- INSTEAD JUDGE JORDAN SHOULD STEP DOWN SO SOMEBODY ELSE CAN STEP IN AND NOT COSTING THE TABGDZ PAYERS MORE MONEY -- TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I ASK HE RESIGN AND ANY MONIES GO TOWARD -- TO FUND OUR POLICE DIVISION. THANK YOU.
YOU DASH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 18, CHRIS OF NONE GRASSROOTS GROUP SPEAKING ON 18 UNDER COVID-19.
HAVE YOU ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> HAVE I BEEN WORKING CLOSELY -- I HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE AND HAPPY TO REPORT WE WILL BE PROVIDING RESETTLED AFGHANS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO VACCINATE AND ENROLL IN SCHOOL.
THIS IS URGENT SO THEY CAN ATTEND AS MUCH SCHOOL LEFT AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 4800 CHILDREN IN NEED OF THESE SERVICES.
THAT EFFECTIVELY LIMITS THIS FROM TAKING PLACE.
THERE IS HONOR IN THE MISSION.
WE NEED TO START THE JOURNEY IN AMERICAN LIFE.
[04:05:02]
I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT TO BE TACKLED BY ONE PERSON AND ONE NGO AND ONE COMMISSIONER COURT.I EXTEND AN INVITATION TO EACH OF YOU TO JOIN THIS TEAM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS OLGA AVILA SPEAKING ON WOULD -- SPEAKING ON 25 AND 161. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COURT.
MY NAME IS LIDIA AVILA AND I HAVE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 28 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS.
MOSTLY WORKING WITH INCARCERATED PATIENTS LIVING WITH HIV. I WILL BE 9 MONTHS SHORT OF OBTAINING THE 80 POINTS THAT WOULD HELP ME RECEIVE MY MEDICAL INSURANCE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO COME TO A PLACE OF WORK KNOW -- KNOWING I WILL NO LONGER BE PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY. THEY WILL CARE FOR OUR FAMILY AND I -- I AND MANY OTHERS DEDICATED YEARS OF SERVICE REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO COME TO WORK AND WAIT FOR THE BENEFITS TO DRASTICALLY CHANGE.
THE BENEFITS DO NOT COMPARE WITH THE BENEFITS WE RECEIVED THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY. I REQUESTED AN ALTERNATIVE ACTION AND MANY OF US ARE GONE IN THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
A REQUEST TO LEAVE THOSE WORKING AS SHERIFF OFFICE EMPLOYEES UNTIL THEY WISH TO RETIRE OR REQUEST TO GRAND -- GRANDFATHER THOSE. AS OF YET THE ONLY OFFER WE RECEIVED IS TO APPLY FOR THE CURRENT POSITION --
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 20, PERRY WOOTIN SPEAKING IN PERSON ON ITEMS 25 AND UN -- AND 161. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I STAND HERE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND IN REFERENCE TO THE PROCESS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE CIVIL SERVICE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, THE NURSES AND YOU -- AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. THE BAPTIST MINISTERS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AND I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
COMMISSIONER, IN THE TIME YOU WERE OVER THERE AND WE FOUGHT MANY DAYS TO GET CIVIL SERVICE. IF WE ALLOW THAT THING TO TAKE PLACE AND MAKE SURE TO TAKE AWAY THE CIVIL SERVICE FROM THE NURSES, THAT'S OPENING THE DOOR.
NEXT IS THE DEPUTIES. YOU DON'T OPEN THAT UP.
>> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THE BAPTIST MINISTERS ARE AGAINST IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> WE ARE AGAINST IT.
AND WE ARE GONNA HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: PASTOR, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IF THE TRANSFER OF NURSES FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE GO TO HARRIS HEALTH, THAT THEY WILL LOSE CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTION?
>> RIGHT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: RIGHT.
LET ME FOLLOW-UP WITH DR. PORSA ON THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, PASTOR AND THE SPEAKER AS WELL.
GLAD TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS.
>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU, PASTOR.
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 22, CYNTHIA COLE SPEAKING ON ITEM TWOZ 5 AND 161. HAVE YOU ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD -- YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE A MINUTE SO I HAVE A QUESTION.
WITH THE JAIL HOUSE TRANSFER, WHAT WOULD BE THE ACCOMMODATIONS TO THOSE EMPLOYEES UNDER JAIL HEALTH WHO ARE CLOSE TO THEIR RETIREMENT AND ELIGIBILITY? HOW WOULD THEY BE ACCOMMODATED? THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHO CAN CONFIRM WHEN HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMS MET WITH THESE
EMPLOYEES? >> LINA HIDALGO: DAVE, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU KNOW TOP OF MIND OR SOMETHING WE NEED TO
DISCUSS IN COURT? >> I MEAN -- I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE FROM HARRIS HEALTH IS ON OR WAS GOING TO JOIN.
IT PROBABLY MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO ADDRESS THE NEW
BENEFITS PACKAGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN ADDRESS IT THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE WILL ASK THEM.
[04:10:04]
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 23, SANDRA BAILEY SPEAKING IN PERSON ON SHERIFF ITEM 161. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I AM EMPLOYED AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND BEEN THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS. I AM ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE TAKE OVER OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. THE REASON I AM STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE A GROUP OF DEDICATED EMPLOYEES, PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE WORKED AT HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SOME OF US 30 YEARS AND ARE ABOUT TO LOSE OUR BENEFITS.
WE ARE ABOUT TO GO TO A SYSTEM THAT IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW. WE DON'T HAVE OUR PENSIONS.
PEOPLE ARE GO -- GOING TO LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE AND POTENTIAL FORGETTING HEALTH INSURANCE AND GOING TO A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT SUPPORTIVE YOU OF -- OF ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE ON WITH BEING GRANDFATHERED IN AND KEEPING UP WITH OUR CIVIL SERVICE. WE HAVE BEEN THERE EVERY DAY FOR THESE PEOPLE AND FOR THE DETAINEES.
WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND ARE ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL WITH THEM. WE HAVE BEEN THERE DURING THE FLOODS. WE HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THE HURRICANES HAPPEN. NOBODY CONSIDERS WHAT MEDICAL IS AND WHAT WE DO FOR THESE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 24. ADADAYO SPEAKING ON ITEM 161 UNDER SHERIFF. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK. [INAUDIBLE] I HAVE BEEN WALKING THERE FOR THREE YEARS AND I AM -- [INAUDIBLE] ALL TRUE. NOW WE WILL LOSE THE BENEFITS AND THE INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE GONE. I FEEL WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION AND EVERYTHING, THE PAY RAISE WILL CHANGE. AS YOU ALL SAID [INAUDIBLE] WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY PAINFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 25, LYNNWOOD MAROW SPEAKING FOR ROBIN FOSTER ON ITEM 161 OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE JUDGE HIDALGO.
I AM WOODLAND MA ROW -- MAROROW.
ALL OF NOW KNOW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IN A CRISIS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE MEDICAL STAFF. THEY HAVE THE WORST JOB OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THEY HAVE INMATES WHO THROW BODILY FLUIDS ON THEM AND MASTURBATE IN FRONT OF THEM AND ASSAULT THEM.
YET THEY STAY AROUND AND HUNG ON EVEN WHEN THEY CAN GO AND GET A BETTER JOB BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE RETIREMENT THAT THEY WORKED SO MANY YEARS FAR -- YEARS FOR.
THEY HAVE WORKED DURING THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES. THEY DESERVE MORE THAN HARRIS HEALTH. HARRIS HEALTH TURNOVER IS FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER MEDICAL PROVIDER IN HARRIS COUNTY. HARRIS HEALTH CANNOT KEEP ITS STAFF BECAUSE OF MISMANAGEMENT --
>> THANK YOU. >> TOM RAMSEY: I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
>> THEY CANNOT KEEP ITS STAFF BECAUSE OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CREATING A PUNITIVE HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
HARRIS HEALTH HAS BEEN CLOSING NEEDED NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, YET THEY WANT TO TAKE OVER INMATE CARE IN THE JAIL. THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO DO INMATE CARE IN THE JAIL. INMATE CARE IN THE JAIL IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT IS IN ANY HOSPITAL.
GIVING INMATES HEALTH CARE IN HARRIS COUNTY IS PREDICTED TO CAUSE -- COST MORE FOR A PRIVATIZED SERVICE -FPLTS -- SERVICE. THEY WILL TURN AWAY SICK AND INJURED INMATES AND REFUSE TO GIVE THEM CARE.
HOW CAN HARRIS HEALTH TREAT INMATES IF THEY CAN'T TREAT THEM NOW. IF HARRIS HEALTH TAKES OVER, THE SHERIFF IS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THESE INMATES. IT DOESN'T SWITCH TO HARRIS HEALTH. I FAIL TO SEE HOW THAT IS BENEFICIAL. IS THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEES ARE RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES. HARRIS HEALTH AND THE
[04:15:01]
SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS DIED TO -- LIED TO THESE EMPLOYEES SAYING THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTION.THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION DISAGREED WITH THEM ON THE 3-1 DECISION. MANY OF THE FORMER NURSES AND THE DOCTORS HAVE LEFT THE OFFICE AND IN THE PACKET I GAVE YOU I SHOWED MONTH BY MONTH AND THEY THINK THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR BENEFIT AND WHY SHOULD THEY STAY AROUND. THEY ARE LEAVING QUICKLY.
HARRIS HEALTH EMPLOYEES CAN BE DISMISSED WITH A TWO-PATIENT COMPLIANCE. AS SOON AS THE INMATES LEARN ABOUT THIS, THEY WILL TAKE OVER.
HARRIS HEALTH CLAIMS THERE CAN BE CONTINUITY OF CARE AND THEY CAN. THEY ARE ALREADY -- THEY HAVE ALREADY PUT THE COMPUTERS AND THE JAILS SO THEY CAN PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF CARE. THEY WILL LOSE SEEN KWR-R TEE -- SENORITY AND THEY WILL START OVER AS A NEW EMPLOYEE AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ALL THESE YEARS AND GIVES THEM GOOD SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE? YOUR MICROPHONE IS OFF,
COMMISSIONER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WE HAVE TWO AGENDA ITEMS HERE THAT ARE RELATED TO THIS.
ONE IS 25 AND THE OTHER ONE IS 161.
IS THERE AN AN OBJECTION TO THAT PORTION OR IS THERE AN
OBJECTION TO THE 161. >> YOU VESTED THEM SO THEY CAN GET SOME RETIREMENT. AS YOU KNOW 80 POINTS IS THE MEDICAL RETIREMENT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO GET.
THERE IS AN EMPLOYEE NAMED ROSE WASHINGTON WHO HAS BEEN HERE FORECLOSE TO 30 YEARS. SHE WILL BE AND SHE TRIED TO TALK TO HARRIS HEALTH AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE
HAVE TO SAY. >> IS -- SO IS 25 OKAY OR IS 25 NOT OKAY. I THINK THE 25 IS WHERE THEY SAY IF YOU ARE NOT 100% VESTED WE WILL VEST YOU NOW.
>> THAT'S NOT OKAY. IF THEY DON'T GET A RETIREMENT THEY DON'T GET THE MEDICAL YOU PROVIDE.
MOST OF THEM WILL NOT GET THAT. IT IS THEIR BATTLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF DR. PORSA IS ON THE LINE.
>> WHAT DOES 25 DO? >> WHY DON'T YOU APPROACH THE MIC AND THAT WAY WE CAN HEAR YOU ON THE LIVE -- LIVE
STREAM. >> IT IS ALREADY APPROVED AND IT PROVIDES CLARIFICATION. IT IS THE MEDICAL EMPLOYEES AND THEIR PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS TODAY.
>> THIS IS RETIREMENT. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ISSUES HERE, BUT IN TERMS OF INVESTING AND PENSION BENEFITS OR SERVICE TODAY. 25 ALONG WITH THE PRIOR COURT ACTION TAKES AIR -- CARE OF THAT ISSUE.
>> THAT'S ONLY IF YOU SIGN ON WITH HARRIS HEALTH OR
UNIVERSITY HOUSTON. >> PERHAPS WE WILL HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU. >> SEE SAID THERE IS STRIPPINGS ATTACHED -- STRINGS ATTACHED TO 25.
>> YEAH. THERE ARE A LOT OF STRINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS.
THANK YOU. >> WILL YOU BE HERE A BIT LONGER OR WERE YOU PLANNING ON LEAVING?
>> I CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WHY DON'T WE TRY TO GET DR. PORSA ON THE LINE AND LET US KNOW WHEN HE IS WHILE WE HAVE THESE FOLKS
[04:20:03]
HERE SO WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. >> JUDGE, WE HAVE DR. PORSA.
HE IS LOGGED INTO THE MEETING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS WANTED TO FLAG THIS ITEM. I THINK WE ADJOURN AGAIN -- IF FOLKS NEED A BREAK, JUST LET ME KNOW, BUT OTHERWISE OUR --
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK THE QUESTION WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS RAISED. I THINK WE CAN ENGAGE DR. PORSA TO TRY TO GET SOME DETAILS.
I HAVE A PARTICULAR QUESTION. >> ARE THERE SPEAKERS WE NEED
TO GET OUT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE GENTLEMAN AND THE FOLKS NEED TO LEAVE? YOU DON'T? LET'S FINISH THE SPEAKERS
THEN. >> JUDGE, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR OFFICE, MORE IMPORTANTLY AND WE ANTICIPATE IT COMING ON THE NEXT COURT AGENDA AS AN ADDENDUM.
IT IS A PARTIAL SOLUTION. WE ARE HAVING SUBSEQUENT
CONSEQUENCES. >> SO WE CAN MAKE WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE SOLUTIONS DONE WHILE WE VOTE FOR IT.
>> THAT I WILL DEFER TO DAVE ON.
>> WITH THE TRANSITION COMING UP MARCH 1ST I THINK WE
NEED TO RESOLVE IT. >> CAN WE EXPLAIN WHAT THESE TWO ITEMS ARE, 25 AND 161 AND WHAT EXACTLY THEY DO AND WHAT IS -- WHAT REMAINS TO BE ADDRESSED SO IT CAN BE MADE
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, DR. PORSA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS AND I HAVE HR HERE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HR SITUATION AS WELL AS HE DOES.
ONE IS IN REGARD TO THE INVESTING OF THE EMPLOYEES AND IT IS TO HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.
THAT WAS THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT.
THE COUNTY HAS ALLOWED THEM TO BE FULLY VESTED BEFORE THEY TRANSITION. AND I HEARD THE COMMENT ABOUT THE STRINGS. THERE ARE NO STRINGS ATTACHED. ONCE THEY TRANSFER TO HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM OR FOR THE PHYSICIANS TO THE PROVIDERS OF UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON THEY ARE VESTED AS THE COUNTY IS PROVIDED TO THEM. THE OTHER OPTION THEY HAVE IS TO APPLY FOR OTHER POSITIONS WITH THE COUNTY OR NOT APPLY FOR THE POSITION. I AM NOT SURE -- THE GENTLEMAN. ONCE YOU BECOME A HARRIS HEALTH EPL PROVIDE -- EMPLOYEE, THE COUNTY HAS DECIDED TO VEST THE INDIVIDUALS.
THE OTHER ITEM IS THE LOCAL AGREEMENT AND THAT IS BASICALLY BETWEEN THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE COUNTY ON HOW -- THE SERVICE THAT'S ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDED AND HOW THE SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO 161 IS THE MECHANICS OF HARRIS HEALTH BEING THE ENTITY THAT THESE FOLKS NOW WORK FOR.
AND IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUE.
DID YOU CATCH THAT, DR. PORSA?
>> THEY WILL LOSE HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS,
JUDGE. >> DR. PORSA REFUSED TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS. HE HAS REFUSED TO TALK TO US.
THEY HAVEN'T ANSWERED ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.
THESE PEOPLE ARE IN LIMBO AND PREPARED TO BE LAID OFF ON MARCH 1ST UNLESS YOU EITHER POSTPONE THIS UNTIL WE CAN WORK OUT? OF -- WORK OUT SOME OF THESE DETAILS OR VOTE AGAINST IT. WE HOPE YOU VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO WORK FOR HARRIS HEALTH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: HE IS HERE NOW AND IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR CONVERSATION AND WE ARE ALL PRESENT WHICH YOU WOULDN'T GET BECAUSE OF POSTED MEETINGS.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN UNTANGLE.
DR. PORSA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> JUDGE, LET ME ALLOW OMAR REEVE TO COMMENT AND THEN I
WILL COMMENT. >> I HAVE MET WITH THE GENTLEMAN STANDING AT THE PODIUM HERE AT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. WE HAD A MEETING.
[04:25:02]
HE AND ANOTHER YOUNG LADY MET WITH MYSELF AND SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM HERE AT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.AND WE DID ATTEMPT TO ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE POSED TO US. WE MAY NOT HAVE ANSWERED ADEQUATELY ENOUGH, BUT WE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS POSED DURING THE MEETING. WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS. WE ANSWERED MULTIPLE QUESTIONS ON THAT DAY. AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN POSED AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS.
OMNI HARRIS AND THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE COMING OVER AND WILL HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS ON DAY ONE.
DAY ONE THEY WILL HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS WHEN THEY COME OVER.
THIS GOES THROUGH ON MARCH 1ST AND THEY WILL HAVE THE SAME BENEFITS THAT ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS IT IS NOT THE SAME BENEFITS, CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? THERE ARE LOWER BENEFITS THAN IF THEY WERE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY AS OPPOSED TO HARRIS HEALTH.
>> JUDGE, OUR BENEFITS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A RICH BENEFIT PROGRAM.
IT IS MUCH MORE ROBUST. AND THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES
AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL SAY. >> LET ME RESPOND TO THE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE TO THE GENTLEMAN.
I HAVE NEVER, EVER, EVER BEEN INVITED TO ANY MEETING BY THIS
GENTLEMAN. >> WE INVITED THEM TO COME TO OUR OFFICE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT.
WE WENT TO THEIR OFFICE AND TALKED TO THEIR STAFF.
>> IT IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS' TIME TO SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A PATH
FORWARD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DR. PORSA, THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS. YOU DID SAY AN ITEM IS COMING UP. IS THAT ON YOUR AGENDA THAT WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR AND AS OF MARCH 1, COMMISSIONER IT IS HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYEES AND THEY GET THE SAME BENEFITS THAT I AND THE REST OF THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM RECEIVES. AND THEY HAVE TO CREATE A DIFFERENT SEGMENT THAT IS GOING TO BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY. THEY WILL BE TREATED LIKE ALL HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYEES.
>> AND COULD YOU JUST WALK THROUGH OUR BENEFIT, WHILE MAKING A TRANSITION TO HAVE YOU ALL HANDLE HEALTH CARE IN THE JAIL. AND FIRST OF ALL IS THE QUALITY OF THE CHAIR. IT LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. AND I WILL BE KIND ABOUT THIS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALISM WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED.
THAT'S ON THE PATIENT SIDE AND JUST BECAUSE OUR COMPUTER AND OUR ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD IS AVAILABLE DOES NOT MEAN IT IS A CONTINUING OF CARE. THEY ARE PROVIDING THE CARE TO THE JAIL AND THEY WILL NOT BE PROVIDING THE CARE INSIDE THE JAIL. WE HAD A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THE DETAINEES. THAT'S ON THE DE -- THAT'S ON THE DETAINEE SIDE. THAT'S THE VAST ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH THAT THEY SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE. RIGHT NOW AT THE JAIL AND THEY ARE A JAIL NURSE. AT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM THERE IS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY AND THERE ARE LADDERS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE STAFF. IS IT EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW? NO.
DO I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT IT IS BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW? YES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> ON JUNE 28TH, THE AP
NEWS SERVICE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: NOW WE HAVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT HAS A A QUESTION AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK UNLESS YOU WANT TO CONCEDE YOUR TIME,
COMMISSIONER? >> TOM RAMSEY: A QUICK QUESTION TO THROW OUT HERE. THE ISSUE IS HAVE WE BEEN ABLE
[04:30:10]
TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES NO LONGER BEING A COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR THOSE BENEFITS AND NOW THEY ARE A HARRIS HEALTH EMPLOYEE WITH SOME AS I'M UNDERSTANDINGLOWER LEVEL BENEFITS. >> LOWER LEVEL.
YES. >> TOM RAMSEY: WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MITIGATE THE TRANSITION AND WHY WOULDN'T WE HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA AT THE SAME TIME.
WHEN YOU SAY, JAY, DON'T WORRY.
IT WILL BE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
YOU ARE VOTING ON SOMETHING WITHOUT KNOWING THE REST OF
THE STORY. >> IN TERMS OF THE ILA, THE ILA IS -- AGAIN IT IS A STRUCTURE BY WHICH THE FUNCTIONS ARE GOING TO GET MOVED OVER.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE THERE IS CANDID -- CANDIDLY A DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN WHAT HARRIS COUNTY OFFERS.
THERE IS A DIFFERENTIAL VERSUS FROM RETIREES.
WHEN I SAY WE I KNOW SHANE HAS WORKED ON THIS WITH OMAR REID TO PATCH THAT DIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT IT SPEAKS TO.
SO OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SHANE ON A PROPOSAL -- IT WOULD BE AN UH DEN -- AN ADDENDUM OR A SEPARATE AGREEMENT TO THE ILA. AND SO WE EXPECT THAT TO BE READY BY THE NEXT MEETING. I THINK SHANE IS ON IF HE
WANTS TO ADDRESS IT. >> THERE IS A QUESTION FOR THOSE -- FIRST OF ALL WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE JAIL AND HEALTH CARE DO A TREMENDOUS SERVICE.
THEIR WORK IS HIGHLY VALUED I THINK BY EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS TRANSITION. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS IN SOME OF THE ASPECTS.
LET'S START WITH THE FACTS AS DR. PORSA SAID.
THERE IS A SALARY AND BENEFITS ARRANGEMENT AT HARRIS HEALTH WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN AT THE COUNTY.
THE SALARY SCALE IS DIFFERENT.
THE RETIREMENT IS DIFFERENT. THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS DIFFERENT, THOUGH THEY CERTAINLY HAVE IT.
IT IS TRUE THAT IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS, WHICH I RECOMMEND AND THERE ARE GOOD REASONS, THERE IS A DIFFERENT SALARY PACKAGE. IT IS A FACT OF THE TRANSITION. A SEPARATE REQUEST IS WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PUT IN MANY GOOD YEARS OF SERVICE, RIGHT? SHOULD THEY KEEP THE BENEFITS WHICH THEY HAVE? ON THE PENSION SIDE I DO BELIEVE THEY HAVE DEALT WITH THAT WHICH IS FOLKS WILL GET TO KEEP THEIR MATCH EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT HIT THE FULL EIGHT YEARS. THEY WOULD KEEP THE BENEFIT OF THEIR COUNTY MATCH. ON THE RETIREE HEALTH CARE SIDE, I THINK THERE IS NO, THAT WE KNOW OF, MAGIC SOLUTION. FOLKS THAT ARE NOT CLOSE TO RETIREMENT MAY GET A BETTER SALARY BENEFIT.
SOME ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER AND SOME ARE SLIGHTLY WORSE.
THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR THEM, BUT THEY HAVE TO KEEP AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY CAN.
WHAT JAY IS REFERRING TO IS A NARROW ISSUE.
ARE THERE FOLKS CLOSELY DIVESTED TO RETIREE HEALTH
CARE? >> I THINK YOU MENTIONED ONE THAT WAS A MONTH OR TWO AWAY. CAN WE HAVE A SPECIFIC SOLUTION FOR THAT? THAT'S THE ONLY QUALIFIER.
IT IS FOR FOLKS THAT ARE CLOSE TO INVESTING IN THE COUNTY MEDICAL AND CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM OUT? THE REST OF IT IS THE FACT OF THE TRANSITION.
SKPWH -- AND HARRIS HEALTH IS ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AND THE NEEDS QUALIFY THE NEED TO DO THE WORK.
>> HARRIS HEALTH HAS REFUSED TO HIRE SOME OF THEM.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SURVIVORS.
CAN THIS ALL BE BROUGHT TOGETHER NEXT TIME AND MAYBE WITH SOME NUMBERS OF THERE WERE 250 -- 255 THAT WERE NOT HIRED AND THE OTHER 245 WERE OFFERED WHATEVER IT IS.
>> IT POPPED INTO MIND THE NUMBERS.
[04:35:02]
ALL IN ALL I BELIEVE THERE WERE 500 OR A LITTLE LESS.THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL EMPLOYEES AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT TKPWE -- NOT GET HIRED IS LESS THAN 15, 1-5. AND THERE ARE SOME QUALIFICATION ISSUES AND WE DO NOT WANT TO BRING FOLKS OVER WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: OF THOSE 15, DO YOU KNOW IF THEY WILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OTHER POSITION WITH THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE? >> IT IS TO THE JUST THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT IS OTHER POSITIONS IN THE
HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I DO THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA. I ADVOCATED FOR THE PREVIOUS COURT AND THEY VOTED TO HAVE HARRIS HEALTH TAKE OVER THE HIT CARE IN THE JAIL. IT JUST MAKES SENSE.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT ADD GNAWS -- ADNAUSEAM.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN UNDER THIS COURT, BUT I WANT TO ASK IS THERE A REASON WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS TODAY? I WAS FOR IT ON THE PREVIOUS COURT. IS THERE A PROBLEM AND IS THERE A REASON WHY WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT TODAY AS OPPOSED TO
TWO WEEKS FROM NOW? >> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO TRANSITION ON MARCH 1. THAT IS UP TO THE
COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
IF THEY WANT A MEETING, MAYBE WHAT THEY WANT IS A MEETING WITH YOU. OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WANTS TO MEET WITH ME. THEY KNOW MORE ANSWERS THAN I FOE. IF IT MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD, I WILL HOP ON A ZOOM OR COME IN A ROOM.
THAT MAY BE WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.
IT IS THE COURT'S DECISION. I AM COMFORTABLE THAT SOMETHING CAN COME. THEY WILL HAVE TO PERFORM.
IF THERE IS NOT A FIT OVER AT HARRIS HEALTH, I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THEY CAN DO AT HARRIS HEALTH OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THE BENEFITS MAY BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE FAMILY'S HEALTH CARE PLAN. WE WILL PULL THAT ON THE AGENDA. I HOPE IT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE GET OVER HERE, BUT THAT IS A SEPARATE DISCUSSION.
AT SOME POINT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
>> THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO FIND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AT HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
>> MY NOTES TELL ME THAT 250 EMPLOYEES WERE VESTED IN THE COUNTY PENSION PLAN IN OCTOBER AND YOU ARE WORKING TO MAKE OFFERS TO OTHER POSITIONS AND TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE 10 OR 11 PEOPLE INVESTING IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM. THAT'S WHAT MY NOTES ARE TELLING ME. YOU THINK THAT IS CORRECT? 10 OR 11 EMPLOYEES WITHIN TWO YEARS OF RETIRING IN THE
HEALTH SYSTEM? >> COMMISSIONER, I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT. THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. >> YOU CAN ADDRESS THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO -- >> I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE CAN IF SHANE IS ON THE LINE SO I KNOW THE NUMBERS.
>> AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAVE COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS,
THIS IS SHANE, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT. WHEN IT COMES TO PCP RS THE COURT PASSED AND ANYBODY THAT WAS NOT VESTED, ASSUMING THEY WERE THERE TO APPROVE THE ACTION ON DECEMBER 2ND.
EVERYBODY NOT VESTED WHICH IS THE 250 THE COMMISSIONERS TALKED ABOUT, BECOMES AUTOMATICALLY VESTED ON MARCH 1ST IF THEY GO TO WORK AT HARRIS HEALTH.
>> ON MARCH 1ST. >> THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WE JUST ASKED THE QUESTION -- FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THAT I APPLAUD DR. PORSA FOR -- AND
[04:40:04]
US TO GET FOLKS VESTED. WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE AT THE BRINK OF GETTING THE 80 POINTS?>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IT IS THE RETIREE HEALTH CARE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY REFERRED TO AWHILE AGO.
THERE ARE STATUTE OUTS WE HAVE TO OVERCOME.
THERE ARE STATUTE OUTS THAT GOVERN RETIRING HEALTH CARE FOR COUNTIES AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON TO BRING A SOLUTION OF THAT ON THE FEBRUARD AGENDA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I I WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT THOUGHT IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERN WE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. I KNOW THERE MAY BE SOME URGENCY TO GET THIS DONE AND RESOLVED BEFORE MARCH 1ST, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE MAKING THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS THAT WE TAKE CONSIDERATION OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED AND LET IT BE SERVED IN THE SYSTEM.
CIVIL SERVICE, WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS AND COMPARABLE SALARIES ARE THINGS WE ARE DOING.
I HAVE VOTED FOR THIS EVERY TIME IT HAS COME UP.
OLD COURT, MIDDLE COURT, TODAY'S COURT AND FUTURE COURT, BUT I AM NOT READY TO VOTE WITH THE PEOPLE NOT BEING IN THE SAME ROOM AND HAVING EVERYTHING WORKED OUT.
I EXPRESSED THIS TO LYNNWOOD BEFORE AND MAYBE NOT TO YOU ALL, BUT I DO THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE PEOPLE TREATING THEM ON THE OUTSIDE AS THEY ARE ON THE INSIDE, AND MAYBE IT IS YOU GUYS. YOU EXPAND YOUR SERVICES, BUT DON'T WANT ANYBODY LEFT BEHIND.
I I WANT TO BE LIKE THE MARINES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: CAN WE DO THIS NEXT COURT WHEN THE WHOLE THING IS BROUGHT TOGETHER AT ONCE?
>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO ISSUES HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ON AS WELL. ONE ISSUE, AGAIN, JUST A FACT THAT THESE SALARIES AND BENEFITS AT HARRIS HEALTH ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE AT HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HARRIS COUNTY. SOME ARE BETTER.
SOME ARE WORSE. THAT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME. IF WE NEED TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION, I THINK A GOOD AMOUNT HAS BEEN PROVIDED, BUT WE CAN DO THAT. ANOTHER ISSUE IS RETIREMENT.
PEOPLE KEEPING WHAT THEY HAVE AND WE HAVE SOLVED THAT WITH RE-- RETIREMENT. I AGREE THAT THERE IS A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON THE BRINK OF INVESTING IN MEDICAL THAT WE SHOULD SPECIFICALLY TRY TO TAKE CARE OF. IN MY MIND THAT IS THE ONLY REAL OPEN ISSUE IN TERMS OF SALARY AND BENEFITS AND IN TERMS OF THE TRANSITION. THE REST IS JUST --
>> AND CIVIL SERVICE. >> WELL, I MEAN -- OWE 8 -- OKAY. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE TEAM AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEIR REUS -- HARRIS HEALTH AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND COUNTY ATTORNEY THEY WERE WORKING ON THIS FOR NINE MONTHS.
THE ISSUE IS THOSE FOLKS ON THE BRINK OF HEALTH CARRIE
TIRE MEANT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHEN YOU SAY -- WHAT OTHER FOLKS ARE YOU TALKING.
>> RETIREE HEALTH CARE INVESTING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: CIVIL SERVICES HAS A DIFFERENT TITLE AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION TO DR. PORSA IF YOU ARE STILL ON. THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> YES, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT IS YOUR DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM FOR FAIR AND OBJECTIVE COUNCIL AND DETERMINATION AT THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM?
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS OMAR REID.
WE DO NOT HAVE CIVIL SERVICE HERE.
WE DO HAVE A CULTURE AND PROCESS IN PLACE.
EMPLOYEES DO HAVE A RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED AND THEY ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO FILE A GRIEVANCE.
THE GRIEVANCE GOES TO AN APPEAL PANEL.
WE HAVE A ROBUST DUE PROCESS SYSTEM HERE.
YOU HAVE A ROBUST DUE PROCESS SYSTEM THAT IS INSTALLED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT REPRESENTS US HERE.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER IF I MIGHT, THEIR SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE A THIRD PARTY AS OURS DOES.
WE APPEAL TO A THIRD PARTY THAT HAS NO INTEREST, NO DOG IN THE FIGHT. THEIR UH SYSTEM YOU -- THEIR SYSTEM YOU APPEAL TO THEM THAT IS QUITE DIFFERENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I HAVE SPOKEN TO CYNTHIA COLE ABOUT THIS. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOPE WORKING TO PUT THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE AND NEGOTIATE. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, OF THEM BUILDING A MORE TRANSPARENT SYSTEM FOR
[04:45:08]
DISCIPLINE REGARDLESS IF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS OR NOT. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO VISIT ON THAT.>> COMMISSIONER, YOU ALL VOTED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY FOR HARRIS HEALTH. THE ATTORNEY WORKS FOR HARRIS HEALTH, YET YOU PAY HIM AND HE GETS COUNTY BENEFITS.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? WHY CAN'T THESE WORK -- THESE NURSES WORK FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND STAY UNDER COUNTY
BENEFITS? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I HAVE NO IDEA. I WON'T SPEAK ON THAT, LYNNWOOD BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ON
THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE? >> [INAUDIBLE]
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THAT LAST QUESTION SKWAED -- ASKED IS A
VERY GOOD QUESTION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I HAVE NO
IDEA. >> R. JACK CAGLE: LOOK IT UP.
>> THIS IS CHRISTIAN, THE KOUPB -- COUNTY ATTORNEY.
ALL ATTORNEYS IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE EMPLOYED WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH OFFICE. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE EMPLOYMENT WITH ANOTHER AGENCY THEY ARE ALSO EMPLOYED WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHICH IS COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ENTITLE -- ENTITLES THEM TO THE
BENEFITS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE QUESTION IS CAN THEY STAY EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASSIGNED TO HARRIS HEALTH? THAT WOULD BE THE WAY --
>> SO TO BE CLEAR, THE DIFFERENT -- I MEAN THAT IS A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL -- AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PROPOSAL THAN WHAT THE COURT HAD WHICH IS HAVING HARRIS HEALTH TAKE OVER. THAT ARRANGEMENTS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS IF THAT IS THE -- IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO TAKE
THAT IS A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND I WOULD JUST FIGURE OUT WHO WE WANT THEM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO.
I THINK WE ARE TREADING SOME TOUGH TURF HERE.
WE ARE ABSORBING -- ABSORBING A LARGE AMOUNT OF LIABILITY AND MOVING IT OVER TO THE HARRIS SYSTEM IN TERMS OF THE TRAINING OF THE MEDICAL STAFF AND IF YOU KEEP THE SHERIFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EQUATION THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES WHO
IS RESPONSIBLE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF I MAY, FIRST OF ALL, I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT IDEA AT ALL.
IT SHOULD BE WHY IS HARRIS HEALTH ENGAGED AT ALL? IF THE IDEA IS TO TRANSITION AS THE PROVISION FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN BE A PRIVATE ENTITY. THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN BE ANY AGENCY AND NOT NECESSARILY THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.
HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM FOR ME AS THE CEO OF HARRIS HEALTH FROM THE BOARD TO YOUR POINT TO ACCEPT THE LIABILITY THAT THAT WAS SURE TO COME AND THE THIRD LARGEST JAIL IN THE COUNTRY AND TO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUPERVISE THE STAFF IN THAT CARE, I CANNOT -- I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT AND I SERIOUSLY HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT.
>> IT FEELS A LITTLE LIKE WE ARE GOING IN CIRCLES.
I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS BEEN ON THE SAME PAGE FOR A LONGTIME. THE TRANSITION NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. WE HAVE REITERATED THAT.
WALKING BACK ON HARRIS HEALTH, IT IS A NONSTARTER BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL CROSSED THE BRIDGE ALREADY TWO OR THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE IF IT MEANS THE START GETS BUMPED, IF IT TAKES A COUPLE MORE WEEKS, PERHAPS YOU BRING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES TOGETHER. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO BE 100% HAPPY. THE POINT IS TO GET AS CLOSE AS WE CAN BECAUSE THIS TRANSITION NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND ALSO THESE WORKERS ARE JUST AS ESSENTIAL AS THEY GET.
IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO TRY TO GO BACK AND IRON THINGS OUT BEFORE WE PASS A PIECE AND SAY TRUST US.
WE WILL PASS THE OTHER PIECE. COMMISSIONER ELLIS? IS THERE SOME HARM IN DELAYING IT?
>> YES, COMMISSIONER. THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTRACTS
[04:50:08]
THAT WILL KICK IN ON MARCH 1. RO*D R*D YOU DID THIS IN -->> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU DID THIS IN DALLAS.
>> YES, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN THIS COURT FIRST VOTED ON IT, IT JUST SAT THERE AND AND WE ASKED WHAT CAME OF THAT AND IT NEVER MOVED.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAR IDEA.
AND IS THERE A CONTRACT HAVING TO BE DELAYED?
>> I'M SURE YOU HAD HRAOPB -- >> LINA HIDALGO: DO -- DOING IT ON FEBRUARY 22ND WE WOULD NOT MEET THAT DEADLINE? WE COULD STILL AIM FOR MARCH -- I MEAN TODAY IS FEBRUARY 8TH, RIGHT? IT IS NOT -- TODAY IS NOT FEBRUARY 22 *BD. WE WILL THINK -- 22ND.
WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT. MAYBE WE CAN COME BACK AND IF WE CAN WAIT UNTIL THE 22ND AND STILL BE ON THE TIME
HRAOEUP. >> TOM RAMSEY: IT IS COMPLICATED TO GO FROM CIVIL SERVICE TO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. THIS IS HARD.
WE CAN DO THIS, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING ON THE SHEET OF PAPER.
WHAT I I HAVEN'T HEARD IS YOU CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF HARRIS HEALTH AND YOU ARE NO LONGER OPERATING ON THE COUNTY.
A THIS WAS DONE IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND GOING FROM CIVIL
SERVICE IS A DIFFICULT STEP. >> WHAT I WANT TO USA SURE YOU IS THAT WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS WITH COUNTY HR AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> EVERYBODY BUT THE
EMPLOYEES. >> AND MANY, MANY, MANY TOWN HALLS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WITH 100%.
>> ANYWAY, JUST TO SAY HAPPY TO TRY TO GET IT ON ONE PIECE OF PAPER, BUT WHAT CAN BE DOABLE AND WHAT IS NOT DOABLE HAS BEEN SORTED THROUGH. THERE IS ONE NARROW OPEN ISSUE
AND -- >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT DOABLE.
IT IS TO SPELL IT OUT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND I WOULD LIKE THE COMPANIED -- I WOULD LIKE THE RESPECTED PARTIES TO LOOK AT THIS WITH NO EXPECTATIONS THAT WE CAN DO IT.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT IS A POTENTIAL RETIREMENT
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW MANY YEARS DO YOU HAVE ON YOU RIGHT NOW? NO.
HOW MANY YEARS DO YOU HAVE? >> YOU ARE 12 YEARS AWAY FROM
RETIREMENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: TO 12 IS RETIREMENT AGE OR RETIRE MEANT.
IT IS THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO REPRESENT A SMALL GROUP OF HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES OR I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS FOR THE TERM OF YOUR CAREER OR MAYBE YEAR TO TWO YEARS. AND YOU CAN WORK OUT A
[04:55:02]
NEGOTIATION. >> I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT. THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM IS STATUTORY. THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO -- I DON'T WANT TO RAISE ANY FALSE EXPECTATIONS HERE FROM FOLKS.
IT WAS A DIFFICULT PROCESS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW VIABLE THAT COULD BE.
>> OR AT A MINIMUM, DR. PORSA, IF THERE IS NO ENTITY TO APPEAL TO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT IF WE COULD CONSIDER -- IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE A DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM THAT IS 98% THERE AND MISSING AN ASH -- -- TRAITOR. AND MAYBE THEY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT VOICE. MAYBE IT IS SOMETHING INCLUDE. I ASK THEM TO THINK THROUGH WHAT COULD BE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THE RETIREMENT ELEMENT COULD BE ADDRESSED.
AND I THINK THERE IS SOME STRUCTURE EDITION PALESTINIANARY SYSTEM AND ALTHOUGH IT MISSES A KEY ELEMENT. IF IT CAN BE ADDRESSED MAYBE WE ARE CLOSE -- CLOSER TO A POINT WHERE THERE IS AS MUCH COMFORT TO THE TRANSITION AS CAN BE GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
>> I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST WE HEAR FROM ALL OF THE SPEAKERS AND HAVE THEM COME UP WITH THE BEST ESTIMATE THEY CAN OF WHAT IT WILL COST IF IT IS DELAYED.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS ISSUE AND OTHER ISSUES THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AS MUCH AS YOU CAN RUN DOWN IT WILL HELP AND LET'S TAKE THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 27,
[Appearances before court (Part 12 of 12) ]
MARILYN RODRIGUEZ SPEAKING ON ITEM 161 UNDER SHERIFF.YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FORGIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A NURSE HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. I CURRENTLY WORK AT THE JPC BUILDING, BUT I HAVE WORKED FOR FIVE YEARS AT HARRIS COUNTY AND STARTED WORKING AT 1200.
WE COME IN HERE EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT.
WE COME IN LOYALLY. AND WE CARE FOR THESE INMATES TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND WE HAVE SOME PRETTY AWESOME AND AMAZING, STRONG NURSES AND PROVIDER THAT'S GIVE THEIR ALL EVERY DAY AND EVERY NIGHT. EVERY TIME THEY ARE HERE.
THROUGH THE BEST OF CONDITIONS AND THE WORST OF CONDITIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BRING IN HARRIS HEALTH THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR THE INMATES FOR THE PATIENTS THAT ARE IN THIS FACILITY? THAT'S OFFENSIVE. WE ARE NURSES.
AND WE KNOW HOW TO DO OUR JOB BETTER THAN MOST.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WORKED FOR 20 YEARS. THEY HAVE GIVEN THE BEST MEDICAL CARE IN THE IN PATIENT WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES.
HARRIS HEALTH IS NOT THE CORRECT HEALTH SERVICE AT ALL. HARRIS HEALTH HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY USING THE WORKFLOW AND PROCESSING PATIENT CARE. IT IS COMPLETED AND TESTED IN MANY WAYS. IN MY OPINION HARRIS HEALTH IS NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE OVER THE LARGEST JAIL IN TEXAS.
BUT IT TAKES OVER THE BUDGET THAT WILL GO UP AND THE PATIENT CARE WILL BE AFFECTED IF THEY ARE ABLE TO START OUR JAIL. THIS IS NOT THE TRANSITION AND EVERYONE IS LOSING THEIR JOB. PENSIONS AND MEDICAL COVERAGE
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS VICTORIA TAMARIO
SPEAKING ON THE SAME ITEM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
[05:00:06]
I AM ONE OF THE NURSES AND SOME OF MY FELLOW CO-WORKERS HAVE BEEN THERE WERE -- FOR 20 YEARS AND THEY CONSIDER IT THEIR SECOND HOME. I AM AGAINST THE MERGE DUE TO THE FOLLOWING THREE REASONS. LOSS OF OUR PENSION, THE MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION DEDUCTIBLE WILL RISE WHICH WILL DISADVANTAGE THE CURRENT STAFF.THE LOSS OF THE HOLIDAY PTO COMP TIME AND SICK TIME THAT MAKE UP OUR BENEFITS THAT SHOWS APPRECIATION.
THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THE MERGER TREMENDOUSLY AND THE SENSE OF LOYALTY IS DIMINISHING.
A GREAT NUMBER OF STAFF ARE ASSIGNED BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF THEIR POSITIONS AND THE LACK OF KPHAOUP LOCATION FROM -- AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
EMPLOYEES HAVE BILLS TO PLAY AND FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF.
SO AN ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IS A DETRIMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 31 SPEAKING ON THE SAME ITEM.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> I AM AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND FOR SIX YEARS AND A SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 30 YEARS.
MY WHOLE CAREER I BELIEVED I WAS A CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE WHO HAS PROTECTION AGAINST FORCED RETIREMENT AND OUT SOURCING THEY STATED THAT HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE SEPARATED ON FEBRUARY 28TH.
THEY ARE POSITIONED AND THERE IS ONLY ENTRY LEVEL COMMUNICATION AVAILABLE FOR THE CLERICAL STAFF AND YOU NEVER HAVE I WITNESSED OR FELT SUCH DISRESPECT FOR HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES AND CAN'T BELIEVE COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGREED TO THE TAKE OVER OF MEDICAL CARE AT THE JAIL AND WILL PAY HARRIS HEALTH FOR THE SALARIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING.
>> NEXT IS SPEAKER 34 OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SPEAKING ON THE SAME ITEM. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS MARIE AND I AM ONE OF THE HEAD NURSES AT THE SHERIFF'S'S -- OFFICE. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE TRANSITION, TAKE OVER, GET AWAY, WHATEVER ADJECTIVE YOU WANT TO LABEL IT WITH IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT SOMEBODY OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO LOSE.
I PERSONALLY HAVE ELDERLY IN-LAWS AND A MOTHER WHO RECENTLY DIED. MY SICK TIME WAS UP.
I AM GOING TO LOSE A COMBINED TOTAL OF 700 HOURS WITH THIS TAKE OVER. IT IS NOT FAIR AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE STAFF'S CONCERN.
HR KEEPS SAYING WE ARE GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HARRIS HEALTH BEING HERE. MY PROBLEM IS SEW *R NO -- IS NO ONE IS TALKING TO THE EMPLOYEES.
>> THAT'S ALL FOR AGENDA-RELATED AND NOW TO
NON-AGENDA RELATED. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO
MUCH. >> FIRST IS JACOB CLEMENTAGE.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> H*EU -- HI, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE. WE ARE HAVING IT THIS FRIDAY AND HERE IS A BIRTHDAY SONG. IT IS COMING.
>> THIS IS FOR YOU. >> ♪ I WILL TELL ABOUT YOU A GUY IN TOWN WHOSE HEART IS GOOD AS GOLD ♪ ♪ HE HELPED HIS NEIGHBORS BEAT THE COLD ♪ ♪ THAT IS NOT THE FIRST THING
[05:05:02]
HE HAS DONE ♪ ♪ AND HE SAYS WITH YOUR LIFE THAN WITH YOUR LIPS ♪ ♪ THAT'S MATTRESS MATT ♪ ♪ AND HE IS OUR GUY ♪ ♪ WORKING LESS AND HE PROVES IT DAY AND NIGHT ♪ ♪ IT IS MATTRESS MAC, HE'S OUR GUY. ♪ WE WILL SLEEP LIKE KING ANDWELL, YOU KNOW -- >> THANK YOU, SIR, YOUR TIME
IS UP. >> NEXT IS BRENDAN COONEY SPEAKING IN PERSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> TKPWAFRPBLG -- GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM BRENDAN COONEY.
POTENTIAL PROGRESS IS A LOW COST AND EASY TO SET UP INTERIM USE AS STRAW DOME PROPOSAL.
IT WOULD BE DIVIDED TO THREE SECTIONS.
EACH OF THE SECTIONS WILL DE DIVIDED INTO MUNY 12 -- MINI 12 BY 12-FOOT AREAS IT WILL CONTAIN AN INSTRUMENT FOR THAT SECTION. 100 VIOLINS IN ONE SECTION AND 100 KEYBOARDS IN ANOTHER SECTION AND 100 DRUM SETS IN ANOTHER. GROUPS OF PEOPLE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE THREE SECTIONS AND WOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET FAMILIAR AND PLAY WITH THE INSTRUMENTS.
THE INSTRUMENTS WILL CHANGE ONLY -- CHANGE COMPLETELY EVERY COUPLE MONTHS. IT WILL BE PROGRESS SPORTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO THROW A FOOTBALL OR PITCH A BASEBALL OR KICK A GOAL.
IN THAT MOMENT THEY ARE THE STAR.
IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR LONG-TERM CRIME
PREVENTION. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS JOSEPH BALLARD.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM A TAXPAYER. IT BREAKS MY HEART AND IT ANGERS ME SO. WE PAY TAXES AND HE IS LOOKING FOR PROSTITUTES ALL DAY LONG. I COUNTED HIM AGAIN AND IT IS 3:45. SO HE HAS BEEN STEALING MONEY FROM 11:00 TO 3:45 IN THE TOLL ROAD.
I TALKED TO THE PROCEDURES. >> THANK YOU.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO INVESTIGATE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: AN -- CAN WE GET YOU TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THE COUNTY TOEFRPB'S --
COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> LET ME FINISH.
Y'ALL SIT HERE AND TALK -- CAN SOMEBODY LET ME FINISH?
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL HAVE THE ATTORNEY CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.
OKAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE SINCE 9:00.
YOU TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT
WHAT I PAY IN TAXING -- TAXES. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU WILL
VISIT WITH THE GENTLEMAN? >> NEXT IS NONAGENDA SPEAKER.
GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> HEY, GUYS. I AM ALEX STEIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TO UNMUTE MYSELF.
I AM HERE TALKING BECAUSE I WANT TO POINT OUT LINA HIDALGO AND WHAT YOU DID BY DISRESPECTING AT GALLOWAY'S SERVICE. FOR HIM TO PASS UH -- AWAY AND YOU NOT TO HAVE ENOUGH RESPECT TO SIT IN THE RIGHT SEAT.
TO ACT LIKE YOU ARE A COUNTY JUDGE YOU CAN SIT IN A SPECIAL POSITION AT AN OFFICER'S FUNERAL JUST SHOWS THE KIND OF LACK OF INTEGRITY THAT YOU HAVE.
AND EVERYTHING YOU DO IS BASED ON SOME SORT OF CLOUT CHASE OR CLOUT RACE. YOU CAN TELL THAT YOU ARE USING YOUR TIME IN THE COMMISSIONER'S SEAT FOR
[05:10:01]
POLITICAL GAIN FOR ANOTHER HIGHER POSITION.THE FACT YOU CAN'T SHOW RESPECT TO A DEAD OFFICER SHOULD BE A GOOD EUPBDATION GASH GASH INDICATION FOR SKOPB TEUFP WENT -- CONSTITUENTS THAT SHOWS YOU CANNOT TAKE A BACKSEAT ON THE WORST DAY OF SOME PEOPLE'S'S FAMILIES LIVE, THE BURYING OF THEIR SON OR FAMILY MEMBER.
IT JUST SHOWS THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP WE HAVE IN HOUSTON AND IT SHOWS THE DIRECTION WE ARE GOING IS NOT A GOOD
TKREGS -- GOOD DIRECTION. >> THANK YOU.
>> IT IS LIKE A -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR
CALLING IN. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 9, CHIVAS WATSON. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> CAN YOU HAUL HEAR ME? CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? I AM ASKING MY TIME NOT BE STARTED YET. AM I HEARD?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> PLEASE START MY TIME NOW.
GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM CHIVAS WATSON WITH 512 IN THE MEDICARE FOR ALL COALITION.
LAST NIGHT ON FOX I HEARD THE BIT AROUND COMMISSIONERS WANTING A SAFER HOUSTON FOR ALL.
THE SCALES DO NOT COMPARE. THOSE WOULD ARE WITHOUT HEALTH CARE OR WITHOUT IMPOSITION AND HELP RESPONSES ARE OF THE MILL -- MILLIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THE MILLIONS. JUST LIKE THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE AGGRESSIVE POLICING AND AGGRESSIVE PROSECUTION.
WE NEED A PATIENT VALUE-CENTRIC MODEL IN HOUSTON AND NO OTHER OPTION THAN MEDICARE FOR ALL.
MY BROTHER IS CHARGED WITH A CRIME HE IS INNOCENT OF AND EXPERIENCING SEVERELY INEFFECTIVE COUNSEL, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. HE CONTRACTED COVID-19 AND HAS NO HEALTH INSURANCE AS A FELON AND EXOFFENDER.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO ELIMINATE DISPARITIES AND CREATE SOLUTIONS. FIRST OFF, PASS A RESOLUTION FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL. I HOPE YOU ALL HEAR ME AND LET'S TALK ABOUT IT PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT IS RAYLIN. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU. I LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY MY WHOLE LIFE. TPH-PL CALLING IN FAVOR OF USING THE COUNTY BUDGET FOR UNIVERSAL SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE. IT IS SHAMEFUL WE LIVE IN THE EPICENTER OF HEALTH CARE, YET FOR MANY OF US HEALTH CARE IS INACCESSIBLE. PEOPLE TAKE UBER TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD AN AMBULANCE AND GO WITHOUT MEDICAL CARE. I WATCHED THIS COUNTY STRUGGLE BECAUSE OF THE DEEP-ROOTED MEDICAL DISTRUST THAT COMES FROM A LACK OF HEALTH CARE. YOU WANT TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME AND POVERTY AND RACIAL INEQUITY, THIS IS A WAY TO DO IT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WE TOOK MONEY FROM POLICE AND -- WE GAVE MONEY TO POLICE AND IT DID NOT WORK. WHAT BETTER COUNTY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN HEALTH CARE ACCESS THAN OURS.
NEXT IS NONAGENDA SPEAKER NUMBER 11, IRA DENVER.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I AM CALLING TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO PLEASE ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MEDICARE FOR ALL. IT WOULD MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER. YOU GOT AN EXAMPLE AND THERE WERE BENEFITS BETWEEN HARRIS HEALTH AND THE COUNTY.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING DISSATISFIED AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH CARE PLAN.
IT CAN BE ELIMINATED BY MEDICARE FOR ALL.
EVERYBODY CAN HAVE THE SAME COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> NEXT IS STEPHANIE VILLANUEVA.
YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
OVER -- >> OVER 1 MILLION ARE UNINSURED. I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET AND HEALTH COSTS FOR RETIREES SAYS IT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND IT COSTS 414 MILLION THAT REPRESENTS A 50% INCREASE FROM JUST FIVE YEARS AGO. IMAGINE IN THE RECOVERY HEALTH BENEFITS. AS A COUNTY YOU WILL SAVE MILLIONS AND THAT'S WHY I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
[05:15:04]
OF MEDICARE FOR ALL. I HEARD THE CONVERSATION RIGHT BEFORE THIS AND IT IS WILD. YOU WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AS A COMMISSIONERS' COURT IF YOU HAD A SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE.IT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE] BUT IT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE IN SUPPORT
OF YOUR COUNTY AND HOW -- >> THANK YOU.
YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR
CALLING. >> NEXT IS FORMER COMMISSIONER STEVE RADACK. HAVE YOU ONE MINUTE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU.
TWO MINUTES AGO I CAME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ASK FOR THE RES -- RESIGNATION OF THE COURT.
I LEFT AND ADRIAN GARCIA DECIDED TO MAKE COMMENTS THAT I WAS ON THE SAUCE EARLY THAT DAY.
IT IS IRONIC THAT HE WOULDN'T DO IT TO MY FACE.
IT WAS INTERESTING HOW WE TALKED ABOUT HIS CAREER AT HPD AND SAYING MY CAREER WAS SHORTER.
I LEFT, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT HE WOULD REFER TO CERTAIN THINGS LIKE HIS CAREER VERSUS MINE.
THE TRUTH IS I WAS PROMOTED BEFORE FIVE YEARS.
YOU WERE THERE FOR ALMOST 25 AND ALTHOUGH TAKING MANY EXAMS YOU NEVER MADE IT. AND THEN MR. ELLIS YOU DECIDED TO REFER TO ME -- [INAUDIBLE] SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS TO YOU. WHAT SITS --
>> THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: TAKE CARE STEVEY BOY.
>> IS IT OVER OR NOT? >> R. JACK CAGLE: DO YOU WANT TO FINISH? THIS IS CAGLE.
ARE YOU DONE? >> I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH AND I WAS REFERRING TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND TALKING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND I AM SAYING WHAT IS SICK IS HIS PLAN WITH BAIL BOND REFORM WENT WAY OVER BOARD AND SITTING THERE AND PUSHING THAT PLAN THAT HAS KILLED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. YOU WONDER WHY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGET IS GOING UP. IT IS ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING STABBED AND SHOT BY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE IN JAIL AND THE REAL PROBLEM IS THIS. PEOPLE HAVE TO STAND UP TO CRIMINALS. I BELIEVE IN A FAIR, JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WE WERE ABLE TO
REACH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
LET ME GO OVER THE CORRECTIONS HERE.
ITEM 12 ON PAGE 2, THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION. AND THAT IS CRIMINAL COURT LAW AND NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM. CORRECT 17.
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. ITEM 97, THERE IS A CORRECTION -- THERE IS A MISSPELLING OF ATASKACEDA.
120 IS REPLACE PRECINCT 3 WITH COUNTY WIDE.
THIS IS FOR COUNTY WIDE PAYMENTS FOR THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM. ITEM 122 IS A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND NO ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ON THAT ITEM.
ITEM 128, AN -- A LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR FOOD INSPECTION AND NO ACTION. AND ITEM 130, THE HEART FUNDING, NO ACTION IS REQUESTED ON THAT ITEM.
ITEM 131 IS A CORRECTION. REMOVE THE FOLLOWING WORDING FROM THE ITEM'S LANGUAGE. ACCESS HARRIS COORDINATED CARE
[05:20:04]
PHYSICIANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR 9 MILLION 125THOUSAND AND 684 FOR THE CONTINUATION OF FIVE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ROLES THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2024.
AND FUNDED VIA ARPA LOCAL RYE COVER REFUNDS -- RECOVERY FUNDS. WE NEED TO REMOVE THE FOLLOWING. AND 62,582.03 IN GENERAL FUNDS AND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. VERY -- VARIOUS ITEMS 143, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 154, 155, 157 AND 160 -FPBLT THESE ARE ALL CONTRACTS WE NEED THE FOLLOWING MOTION.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONTRACTS YOU -- CONTRACTS WITH THE REQUIRED TKPUPBDING AL -- FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AND POSITIONS BEING MADE THROUGH A SEPARATE ITEM.
>> EACH OF THESE ITEMS IMPLY THAT'S THERE IS A FUNDING OR PHYSICIAN REQUEST. WE LOOK AT THE CONTRACTS AND THE CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND DO ONE TRUE UP.
THIS IS IMPLEMENTING THE LONG-STANDING PRACTICE AND
TRUE UP EVERYTHING AT ONCE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MOVE ON IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY ELLIS.
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED?
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> LINA HIDALGO: I TESTIMONY 172, THE PUBLIC FACING BAIL DATA DASHBOARD, THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS NO ACTION. ITEM 288 IS NO ACTION.
I MEANT TO PULL 234 TO 238. >> WE ARE STILL NOT DISCUSSING WHAT WE ARE PULLING. WE WILL GET THERE 288 IS NO ACTION. THOSE ARE ALL THE CORRECTIONS ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS? SO NOW LET'S DISCUSS THE CONSENT AGENDA EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 301? DO PEOPLE NEED TO GO BACK FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM TAYLOR? 302, EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND QUAN
>> ONE QUICK SECOND, PLEASE. NO PROBLEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: 303 IS APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND MONTY AND RAMIREZ, LLC.
ANOTHER ATTORNEY AGREEMENT THAT COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS
>> FINE. >> LINA HIDALGO: 306 -- AND FOR THOSE TWO YOU WILL SELECT THE COUNSEL, RIGHT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, JUDGE. CHRISTIAN MENEFEE MENTIONED THAT IN PREVIOUS TIMES ATTORNEYS AND LAW FIRMS ARE VETTED AND SELECTED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EXCLUSIVELY. THE COURT'S ROLE IS JUST ESSENTIALLY APPROVE IT OR NOT APPROVE IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: 306. THIS IS FOR ON TEX-DOT AND SO WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 306.
307 IS JACKSON WALKER LLP. IT IS A SPECIAL COUNCIL.
>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: 308 IS ANOTHER ATTORNEY AGREEMENT. I'M PHRAU MEN -- IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCESS HARRIS.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT? >> NO.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DID WANT TO COME TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND I KNOW THERE ARE MWBE FIRMS INVOLVED AND I APPRECIATE THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THAT ISSUE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND 314, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ARE YOU MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
[05:25:02]
CORPORATION BOARD. >> I DON'T NEED TO GO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. SO THE ONLY EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM WE HAVE IS THE TEXDOT ITEM.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION.
TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM 12 WAS PULLED. NO ACTION IS REQUESTED NOW, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. THAT IS TRANSFER TO THE COVID-19 DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS IT?
>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 13.
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU FLAGGED THIS ITEM, PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> TOM RAMSEY: I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 17 WAS FLAGGED BY TWO DIFFERENT MEMBERS, 1 AND 4, BUT PULLED FOR NO ACTION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO SAY JUST A REQUEST THAT THEY -- THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE WORK WITH JUDGE JORDAN AND THE OTHER JUDGES AND WHATEVER OTHER ENTITIES ARE APPROPRIATE, I THINK THE IDEA HAS MERIT AND I DID TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT AND SOME OF THE OTHER JUDGES. SO WE'LL SEE IF SOMETHING CAN BE WORKED OUT TO DO A POWER PROGRAM.
IT IS NOT A MOTION. IT IS JUST A REQUEST.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SOUNDS LIKE DAVE HAS THAT.
>> NO PROBLEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO ACTION ON THAT ONE. WE'LL TALK TO THE JUDGES ABOUT EXPLORING THE IDEA. ITEM 18 I HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON COVID. ITEM 42.
AN INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO
IMPROVEMENT TO OAKS ROAD. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: 130 IS FUNDING FOR THE HEART PROGRAM. THIS ITEM WAS ALSO FLAGGED FOR NO ACTION. DO FOLKS NEED TO DISCUSS IT?
I'M ASSUMING THIS IS NOT GOING TO COME BACK AS A TRANSMITTAL. IT WILL COME BACK FOR
DISCUSSION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: EVEN IF IT IS A TRANSMITTAL WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
>> TOM RAMSEY: WE DON'T VOTE ON IT.
>> FUNDING IS NEVER ALLOCATED AS A TRANSMITTAL.
LEAN -- >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 131.
WE MADE THE CORRECTION. IT WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS 3 AND 4. DO YOU STILL NEED TO DISCUSS IT? 131 IS --
>> R. JACK CAGLE: 3 HAS A MOTION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I THINK THE MOTION ADDRESSES MY CONCERN.
THIS IS A GRANT THAT RUNS OUT AT SOME POINT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE KEEPING TRACK OF WHEN THE GRANT FUND ENDS THAT THE OBLIGATIONS END.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS IT THAT? IT SAYS THE ITEM PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED RULES? ARE WE LOOKING AT THE SAME
ITEM? >> THE QUESTION THERE AND I'M LOOKING AT MR. BERRY, WE HAD A LOT OF THESE ON EVERY AGENDA AND WE HAD GRANTS AND WE SAY WHEN THE GRANT RUNS OUT THE POSITION GOES AWAY. WE HAVE A RUNNING TAB THAT WE CAN CONSIDER AND I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO OUR DEPARTMENT LEADERS. THEY KNOW WHEN THE GRANT RUNS OUT IN JULY AND SO WE HAVE UNTIL JULY.
A MOTION IS REQUESTED FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE A QUARTERLY REPORT ON THE STATUS OF GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS AND WHEN THEY EXPIRE.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? >> I BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE.
IF WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING SIMILAR --
>> TOM RAMSEY: ANYTHING SHOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SHOULD WE VOTE ON THAT UNDER 131?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST MAKING A POINT, IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS POSSIBLE, CAN YOU MAKE A REQUEST INSTEAD OF US VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE?
>> TOM RAMSEY: I THOUGHT HE SAID HE COULD GET US THERE.
>> JUDGE -- I'M SORRY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FOR A REGULAR REPORT ON GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS, THERE
ARE KNOWN DATES. >> THERE IS NO VOTE NEEDED ON THIS IF MR. BERRY IS NEEDED FOR THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE REQUEST IS FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE A REGULAR REPORT ON GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS. DAVE HAS GOT THAT?
>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL PULL 131 OFF OF THE LIST OF DISCUSSION ITEMS.
>> EXACTLY. >> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS ITEM 132. APPROVAL OF ARPA FISCAL
[05:30:02]
RECOVERY FUNDING AROUND $3 MILLION FOR THREE POSITIONS FOR PRODUCT OF NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE EFFORTS.COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> TOM RAMSEY: THAT HAS THE SAME -- IT IS TIED TO THE SAME UPDATE ON GRANT FUNDING SO I'M FINE ON THAT. SAME ON 133.
AND THE SAME ON 134. >> LINA HIDALGO: GOT IT.
NEXT IS 161 WHICH WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS.
THAT IS THE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 167, DISCUSSION ON THE DETAILS OF THE MARCH PRIMARIES. WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT, AND WE WILL TAKE IT ALONG WITH ITEM 262 UNDER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S AGENDA. 171, AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR THE GENERAL ORDER BOND PILOT PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER CAGLE? DO YOU NEED TO DISCUSS THAT STILL?
>> R. JACK CAGLE: NOT ANYMORE, YOUR HONOR.
MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: 186. TEMPORARILY TRANSFER GENERAL FUNDS TO FUND THE COST OF FOUR GRANT POSITIONS FOR THE LEAD-BASED PAINT ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLAGGED THIS ITEM.
186. >> TOM RAMSEY: THERE WAS JUST -- WE GOT A CURRENT LEAD-BASED ABATEMENT PROGRAM, AND I KNOW THIS IS TIED TO A PRAOEF -- PREVIOUS -- I HAD A
COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: 216.
A RENEWAL ELECTION COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?
>> LINA HIDALGO: 230. VARIOUS GROUPS FOR APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND MITIGATE NONAPPEARANCES TO MISDEMEANOR COURT FOR THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY
BOTH FLAGGED THIS ITEM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I JUST NEED
TO VOTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED --
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?
>> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR AND MOTION CARRIES 3-2. ITEM 241.
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR VIOLENCE INTERVENTION. HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. COMMISSIONERS CAGLE AND RAMSEY FLAGGED ITEM 241. DO YOU NEED TO DISCUSS IT?
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS THE SOLE SOURCE EXEMPTION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON 241.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> NO.
NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES 3-2.
ITEM 245. AN AGREEMENT WITH EDUCATIONAL RESULTS PARTNERSHIP FOR THE CUSTOMIZED EQUITY INTELLIGENCE
PLATFORM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ANOTHER SOLE SOURCE EXEMPTION QUESTION, BUT IT MAY BE DOING SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT THERE IS ALSO SOME SECURITY QUESTIONS ON IT FOR ME. I JUST NEED TO VOTE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
IT IS THE PURCHASING ITEM, 245.
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR.
SO THE MOTION CARRIES 3-2. THAT WAS 245.
260. JUST TO NOTE 257 WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION, BUT WE DISCUSSED THAT ALREADY.
THAT WAS THE JOSE CAMPOS MURAL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL DISCUSS THAT, THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE'S REPORT. 261.
>> TOM RAMSEY: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: 262 WE ARE DISCUSSING ALONG WITH ITEM 167.
263, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I KNOW YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS. TAKING EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS BEFORE THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. 266, THE PROPOSAL TURNED BUDGET AND WE DISCUSSED ITEM 266. 2 SECONDS 9 -- 269 IS THE BUDGET. WE ALREADY DEALT WITH THAT.
270. 270 IS A TRANSMITTAL BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADD STRAEUGSZ ON THE -- ADD STRAEUGSZ -- IT IS A CLEAN ENERGY STRATEGY REPORT.
I KNOW THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF THIS HAS A REPORT. WE WILL FLAG THAT FOR DISCUSSION AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA FLAGGED IT.
ITEM 310, AN AGREEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
[05:35:02]
MACHINES CORPORATION FOR ENABLING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ACCESS INITIATIVE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU FLAGGED ITEM 310. DO YOU NEED TO DISCUSS THAT>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 312. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THE QUORUM OF COMMISSIONERS' COURT MEMBERS.
>> PLEASE. >> LINA HIDALGO: 313, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND IT IS -- I THINK THIS IS THE BUDGET-RELATED ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO PULL 234 AND 238 FOR A BRIEF DISCUSSION 234 TO 238. 234, 235, 236, 237 AND 238.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: 234? >> RODNEY ELLIS: TO 238.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.
HERE ARE THE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 306. ITEMS THEY -- 13, 18, 42, 161, 167, 186, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238.
260, 261, 262, 263, 270, 312. THAT'S IT.
THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSION ITEMS. DOES ANYONE -- ANY ADDITIONS ? WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGENDA.
TWO OF WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN UP RELATED TO THE BUDGET.
THE THIRD ONE IS AN ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ABOUTED BY -- REQUESTED BY THE COUNTY CLERK.
CAN WE TAKE THAT ONE NOW REAL QUICK, JAY? DOES IT MATTER? SO THAT WOULD BE ITEM 305.
I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE RECORDS ARCHIVES PLANNED FOR THE SHORT FISCAL YEAR 2022.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR ORGANS THIS ITEM -- FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I MOVE WE CLOSE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A MOTION ON ITEM 305 TO APPROVE THE RECORD ARCHIVE
PLAN FOR YEAR 2022. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SECONDED. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. I HAVE READ ALL OF THE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION. IF THERE ISN'T ANY ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL ITEMS 1 THROUGH 314 WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF ITEMS VOTED ON AND THE DISCUSSION ITEMS WE JUST LISTED?
>> TOM RAMSEY: MAKE A MOTION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. LET'S START WITH ITEM 13.
AND THAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH ITEM. AN AMENDMENT WITH THE AGREEMENT OF TEXAS STATE HEALTH SERVICES TO EXTEND THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. IS DIRECTOR ROBINSON ON THE LINE? OR SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> TOM RAMSEY: DIRECTOR THIS TERM GOES THROUGH MARCH OF
>> TOM RAMSEY: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DATE?
>> THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANCE. THAT IS THE DATE THE STATE
PROVIDED. >> TOM RAMSEY: SO THAT IS A STATE-PROVIDED DATE? THAT'S THE ONE THEY PUT INTO
>> TOM RAMSEY: OKAY. THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A MOTION ON THAT ITEM? MOTION ON ITEM 13.
IS THERE A SECOND? MOTIONED BY ELLIS AND SECONDED BY GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?
[05:40:01]
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? I AM IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS ITEM 18 WHICH IS THE BROAD COVID ITEM. JUST BYWAY OF AN UPDATE, THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO LOOK BETTER ON EVERY COUNT.
IT IS POSITIVITY RATE AND THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE NOW COMING WAY DOWN. CERTAINLY POSITIVITY AND HOSPITALIZATIONS IS COMING DOWN AND THE CASE COUNTS ARE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. THE PROJECTIONS ARE WE ARE THREE WEEKS AWAY FROM HAVING AN ICU BED AND UTILIZATION RATE OF 15% WHICH WOULD PUT US IN ORANGE.
THE NURSES ARE STILL BEING USED BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL POPULATION IS STILL HIGH. EVEN THOUGH IT IS COMING DOWN. THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS FEBRUARY 19TH AND THEY WILL NEED MORE TIME TO MOBILIZE. AND THE ISSUE IS CONTINUING TO BE IN THE HOSPITALS AND IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS BEING RESOLVED ON THE WAY TO BEING RESOLVED.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS DISTRIBUTED THE HEALTH KITS THEY HAVE RECEIVED PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND THE DIFFERENT GROUPS WE MENTIONED.
THAT'S THE EXTENT OF MY UPDATE.
THERE ISN'T A LOT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: FOR CLARIFICATION, WE ARE STAYING AT FULL RED UNTIL NEXT
COMMISSIONERS' COURT? >> LINA HIDALGO: PROBABLY IF THESE NUMBERS HOLD. JUST BASED ON THE HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS ARE THE ONE THAT'S ARE HOLDING US BACK. IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE HOSPITALS ARE HAVING TO HAVE 600 FOR SURGE STAFFING.
IT IS IMPROVING. IT WAS JUST VERY HIGH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM IS NEEDED. I JUST HAD THAT UPDATE FOR MY COLLEAGUES. ITEM 42, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT ON IMPROVEMENTS TO OATES ROAD.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER GUY YEA -- GUIL LE -- GUILLEOS AND I ARE WORKING ON THOSE IN PRECINCT 2 INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT HAS NEEDED A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT WILL IMPROVE THE OATES ROAD CORRIDOR.
IF YOU WANT TO FEEL WHAT IT MIGHT BE LIKE TO RIDE ON MARS OR THE MOON, GO DOWN THE ROAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE, BUT I IMAGINE THAT IS CLOSE TO IT. IT IS HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.
FREIGHT, EVEN FREIGHT VEHICLES, HAVE TO TAKE THEIR TIME TO NAVIGATE OATES ROAD BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION IT IS IN. THIS IS JUST SORT OF THE CASE STUDY FOR WHY I ARGUE FOR MORE FUNDING FOR THE ROADS OF PRECINCT 2. THIS PROJECT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMBINED 2.2 MILLION THAT WILL GO TO OVER LAY, AND THE REALITY IS THIS ROAD NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REDONE, BUT TO DO THAT IT IS A $40 MILLION PROJECT FOR ONE ROAD.
PROGRESS IS PROGRESS AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER GULLEGOS AND HIS STAFF WORKING WITH MY STAFF AND I TO ADDRESS THIS. I KNOW THE FREIGHT COMPANIES OUT THERE WILL WELCOME THE IMPROVEMENTS AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THE RESOURCES TO COMPLETELY RE-DO THE ROAD.
>> TOM RAMSEY: THIS -- IS THIS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO. >> TOM RAMSEY: IT IS NOT
NECESSARILY IN THE CITY? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO.
WE ARE URGING THE CITY TO GO FORWARD ON THE TIP BECAUSE THEY WILL GET MORE CREDIT IF THERE IS A LEAD APPLICANT FOR IT. IT IS SORELY NEEDING MAJOR, MAJOR INVESTMENTS. PROGRESS IS PROGRESS AND WE'LL
[05:45:03]
TAKE IT ANYWAY WE CAN GET IT. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I MOVE ON THE ITEM.>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GAR SEE -- GARCIA AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON ITEM 42.
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. LET'S SAVE 161 FOR THE END.
I KNOW THEY ARE RUNNING DOWN SOME INFORMATION.
167 IS THE MARCH PRIMARY UPDATE.
AND -- IS THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR ON THE LINE? TIFFANY, ANY SENSE IF ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA IS
SHE'S COMING, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME,. >> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GOOD AFTERNOON ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA.
THANK YOU, TIFFANY. >> I HAVE A KWAOEUBG -- I HAVE A QUICK PRESENTATION HERE TO ORGANIZE OUR THOUGHTS AND HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT.
WE HAVE BOTH HAD A LONG DAY SO I WILL GET TO IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND SORRY, COMMISSIONER LONGORIA, TO BE CLEAR IT IS 167 ALONG WITH ITEM 262.
THEY ARE BOTH RELATED TO THE MARCH 1ST PRIMARIES.
GO AHEAD, ADMINISTRATOR. SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
>> NO PROBLEM. TO GIVE YOU CONTEXT WE ARE ROLLING. WE ARE SIX DAYS AWAY FROM THE START OF EARLY VOTING FOR THE MARCH PRIMARY.
SOME KEY THINGS THERE. WE HAVE VOTING FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M. ON THE SUNDAY OF EARLY VOTING.
IT WILL BE FROM NOON TO 7 P.M.
INCONSISTENCIES ARE FEBRUARY 21ST IS A STATE HOLIDAY, PRESIDENT'S DAY. THAT MEANS NO VOTING CAN OCCUR ON STATE HOLIDAYS. THERE WILL BE NO VOTING ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 21ST. KEEPING IN MIND WITH THE EXPANDING VOTER ACCESS IN HARRIS COUNTY WE WILL OFFER EXPANDED HOURS FROM 7 A.M. TO STEPB P.M. ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24TH WHICH IS THE SECOND TO LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING. THE LAST DAY IS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25TH. ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY MARCH 1ST AND THE CANVASSING DEADLINE IS INTERESTINGLY SHORTER BECAUSE OF THE PRIMARY WHICH IS MONDAY MARCH 10TH. TO TALK ABOUT THE LOCATION WE ARE APPROVING THE EARLY-VOTE LOCATION.
AS BACKGROUND ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS FOR THE PRIMARIES, THE PARTIES HAVE THE OPTION TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO HAVE COMPLETELY SPRAOEUT LOCATIONS -- SEPARATE LOCATIONS AND IF THEY HAVE SEPARATE EQUIPMENT ON ELECTION DAY AND IF THEY WANT TO DO A JOINT PRIMARY.
THIS YEAR THEY KEPT WITH THE ELECTION DAY BEING SPLIT.
SO WE WILL SHARE LOCATIONS. ONE LOCATION, BUT TWO PARTIES. IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN YOU WILL WALK TO THE LOCATION AND GO TO THE ROOM OR LINE THAT CORRESPONDS WITH YOUR PARTY.
BAILS -- BASED ON THE MACHINES WE HAVE 375 ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS. EFFECTIVELY, 750 SITES.
EACH OF THOSE 375 LOCATIONS IS DOUBLED SINCE YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. 90 OF THE SITES WILL BE EARLY
VOTING SITES. >> EARLY VOTING, THERE ARE 90 EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS. YOU SCAN -- YOU CAN SEE THE EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS. NOW IT IS CONSISTENT WITH 90
LOCATIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD
COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I JUST WANTED TO SPHAEUBG SURE YOU -- MAKE SURE YOU HEARD THAT THE K BRANCH PUBLIC LIBRARY HAD AN EMERGENCY TO THEIR FACILITY AND WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE FOR US FOR THE EARLY VOTING AND WANT TO COMMEND ED -- COMMEND EDWARD MELTON.
THIS WAS ALL ON SHORT NOTICE WITH REGARD TO THE CLOSURE OF THE FACILITY. WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
WAS NOT VOTING. >> YOUR STAFF WAS GENEROUS IN NOTIFYING US. AND WE CONFIRMED THE KATY
[05:50:02]
CIVIC CENTER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THAT'S THE TOP LINE THERE. THAT IS CONSISTENT THROUGH THE NOVEMBER 2021 ELECTIONS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR STANDARD FOR THE COUNTY WIDE ELECTIONS WE HAVE AND THAT COMES FROM USING NATIONAL STANDARDS TO SAY HOW MANY VOTERS SHOULD BE SERVED IN THE -- AND THE NATIONAL STANDARD IS FLOATING AS YOU SEE THERE.
NEXT SLIDE. TURNOUT INFORMS SOME OF OUR DECISIONS AND TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW WE ESSENTIALLY ALLOCATED THE MACHINES AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU WILL SEE, WE TRIED OUR BEST TO DETERMINE WHAT WE THINK MIGHT BE CLOSE TO THE TURNOUT AND THEN SAID WHATEVER TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE WE WILL PLAN FOR 120%. IT IS AN INTERESTING -- WE WILL SEE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONSISTENTLY HAS 138,000 AND 185,000. IT IS 150,000 REPUBLICAN VOTERS TURNING OUT FOR EVERY PRIMARY GOOD, BAD AND INDIFFER RENT. THEY HAVE A LITTLE MORE SWING. YOU CAN SEE THE LOW THERE FROM 53,000 AND 410,000. WE ARE TAKING IT DOWN THE MIDDLE. WHAT WE KNOW IS WHAT DRIVES TURNOUT IS NOT NECESSARILY A PRIMARY ITSELF.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS NATIONAL INTEREST IN THE RACES AND WHETHER THERE IS A COMPETITIVE RACES IF YOU WILL.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY YEARS.
THERE IS A LOT OF ATTENTION AND ENERGY AND CAMPAIGN MONEY. THERE IS MORE EXPECTED TURNOUT FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL YEARS. WE ARE PLANNING FOR MORE OR LESS IN THE 150,000 RANGE. NEXT SLIDE.
>> THIS GOES DEEPER INTO THE LOCATION.
THEY HAVE TO AGREE ON THE SHARED LOCATIONS.
THIS YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW METHOD.
THIS THE FIRST PRIMARY UNDER THE EA'S OFFICE WHERE WE HAD EACH PARTY SUBMIT AND WE STARTED THIS BACK IN AUGUST IF NOT SEPTEMBER AND WE ASKED EACH PARTY TO SUBMIT THEIR PRIORITY LOCATION OR TOP LOCATIONS FOR THE COUNTY.
ANYTHING WHERE THEY SELECTED ONE TOGETHER WAS A BIPARTISAN LOCATION. THE HISTORIC USE AND THE ADA COMPLIANCE AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE UNIVERSITY IS WHAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND IN ITSELF CALCULATES THE MAIL BALLOT VOTING AND TRANSPORTATION AND WE WERE ABLE TO SETTLE ON THESE 375 LOCATIONS.
IT IS PART OF OUR CONTRACT THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO AGREE ON THE CHANGE. MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN SEE FOR EARLY VOTING, THE TOP IS YOU IS OUR DRAFT MAP AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF DOTS AND WE SEE THE HISTORIC VOTING.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION.
ALL EYES ARE ON THIS ONE. LET'S PUT IT OUT THERE.
IN THE 2020 PIE MARIES WE -- PRIMARIES WE HAD CONCERNS FROM VOTERS AND YOU ALL OF THE LINES IN THE LOCATION AS IT IS TIED TO THE ALLOCATION OF MACHINES.
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICES DID A 50/50 SPLIT.
YOU GOT THE SAME NUMBER OF MACHINES.
WE ARE MUCH MORE SOPHISTICATED THIS YEAR.
WE TOOK ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND SAID, OKAY, LET'S LOOK AT TURNOUT ESTIMATES BY PARTY. THE MAXIMUM LOAD PER HOUR AND NOT JUST AN AVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT AT PEAK TIME, HOW MANY MACHINES MIGHT WE NEED. ALL PREDICATED ON A 95% -- 95%
[05:55:06]
OF VOTERS WILL HAVE TO WEIGHTLESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.IF YOU ARE WAITING IN LINE WITH A COUPLE PEOPLE AHEAD OF YOU THAT IS NOT A LONG WAIT TIME ON YOUR END.
THAT FIRST DAY IN VOTING AND THE LAST DAY OF VOTING, PEOPLE WILL STOCK UP. WE ARE PROJECTING THE PEAK TIMES. AND IN ADDITION TO WHICH, AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL, BUT WHERE WE HAD MORE THAN 20 VOTING MACHINES, WE ARE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL SCAN FOR EARLY VOTE AND ON ELECTION DAY WHEN WE HAD MORE THAN 25 VOTING MACHINES WE ARE ADDING IN AN EXTRA BALLOT BOX OR SCAN.
WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE VOTING.
ON TOP OF ALL THAT, THE PARTIES HAVE THESE ALLOCATIONS. THEY RETURNED COMMENTS ON PERHAPS HISTORICALLY WHERE THEY THOUGHT MORE MACHINES MIGHT BE USED AND HISTORICALLY OR BASED ON THE CHAIRS.
WE ARE MAKING SURE WE INCORPORATE OUR PARTIES EARLY AND OFTEN. NEXT SLIDE.
THESE ARE TOP LINES. IN THE 2020 PRIMARY WE USED 6,700 MACHINES AND THIS YEAR THERE ARE 8,000 -- 8,200.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH WE INCREASED THE AVERAGE LOCATION FROM 8.4 IN THE 2020 PRIMARY TO 10 AND 11 IN THE 2022 PRIMARY. TURNOUT IN 2020, AGAIN, PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, A BIG YEAR WAS 524,000 AND 271,000 OF WHICH WAS ON ELECTION DAY ALONE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT TOTAL RANGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ONE SECOND, ADMINISTRATOR.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: SO YOU'VE MET WITH BOTH PARTIES AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU GOT THE MACHINES DISTRIBUTED. DID THEY AGREE WHERE YOU PUT THE MACHINE MACHINES IN -- IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY ARE
ANTICIPATED? >> I MET WITH THE PARTIES EVERY WEEK, EVERY WEDNESDAY AND TO GET THEIR INPUT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THEY HAVE UNTIL NOON ON THURSDAY TO RETURN COMMENTS, BUT EARLY VOTE ALLOCATIONS WE ARE PACKING UP THE EQUIPMENT AND DELIVERING IT TO THE
LOCATIONS TODAY. >> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE HAD PEOPLE GO ONLINE, BUT THE VOTING LOCATIONS WERE NOT UP ON MONDAY.
WERE THE VOTING LOCATIONS THERE NOW?
>> IT IS A CATCH TO -- CATCH 22.
WE HAVE THE DRAFT POSTER UP AND WE CAN TAKE THE DRAFT WATER MARK OFF WHEN YOU APPROVE THE LOCATIONS AND WE WERE DOWN TO JUST FINAL HRAOEUDZING TWO ROOMS TODAY WHICH I THINK WE HAVE DONE IN THE NICK OF -- FINALIZING TWO ROOMS TODAY WHICH WE HAVE DONE IN THE NICK OF TIME.
WE CAN UPDATE AND WORK WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO UPDATE THE WEBSITE THAT TAKES A LITTLE MORE CODING TIME TO
UPDATE. >> TOM RAMSEY: NRG, AND IF YOU TOUCH ON THAT AT SOME POINT AND STAFFING, AND TOUCH ON THAT AT SOME POINT. I KNOW IN OUR LAST ELECTION STAFFING WAS AN ISSUE. TRAINING WAS AN ISSUE.
THAT DROP OFF AFTER THE VOTING.
YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF LONG LINES AT NRG.
I I GUESS WE ARE NOT HAVING NRG BECAUSE OF RODEO.
YOU MAY BE COVERING THAT UP. THOSE ARE TWO OR THREE THINGS YOU CAN TOUCH ON AS YOU FINISH UP.
>> I HAVE A WHOLE SLIDE ON THAT.
IT IS JUST TO REMIND FOLKS THAT SOME OF THE LOCATIONS ARE SMALL. IT IS A SMALL ROOM, BUT IT HAS A LOT OF VOTERS. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY MACHINES WE THROW AT IT AND ALTERNATES WE WILL SEE A LINE BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE VOTING THERE AND IT IS SIMILAR TO OTHER PARTS. THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY.
ANOTHER POPULAR LOCATION WHERE THE ROOMS ARE SMALL AND WE WILL GIVE THEM EVERY SPH-PB WE -- EVERY MACHINE WE CAN CRAM IN THERE. I WILL BE WATCHING THE WAIT TIMES AND MONITORING VOTERS AND WE HAVE EXTRA EQUIPMENT TO DEPLOY IF WE CAN SEE A SPIKE PAST WHAT WE ARE ARTS PATING.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAVE A
QUESTION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,
[06:00:02]
ADMINISTRATOR FOR YOUR WORK. TWO QUESTIONS.ONE IS THAT IF YOU HAD TO PREDICT WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST LIKELY COMPLAINT YOU WILL GET -- WHAT IS THAT COMPLAINT LIKELY TO BE REGARDLESS OF LOCATION? AND SECONDLY I KNOW THE STUFF ABOUT HAVING ADDITIONAL SCANNERS TO DEPOSIT THE BALLOTS AT LOCATIONS.
YOU INDICATED THAT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE COST AND THE LIMIT OF THE EQUIPMENT, BUT HAVE YOU DONE A WORK IN MOTION STUDY TO -- HAVE YOU ASSESSED THAT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO DO AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THE OPERATIONS IN THE VOTING CENTERS.
IN A HEAVY TURNOUT ELECTION, HAVE YOU DETERMINED WHAT THE SCANNER WILL DO TO YOUR INTERNAL OPERATIONS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MAY HAVE INCLEMENT WEATHER TO CONTEND
WITH. >> I'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF THOSE QUESTIONS. ON THE SCANNERS, YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS THE BIGGEST ELECTION WE WILL HOST AS AN EA OFFICE ON THESE NEW MACHINES.
WE HAVE DONE THE COUNTY WIDES. THE COUNTY WIDE LAST MAY AND THE COUNTY WIDE LAST NOVEMBER.
WE WILL NEVER BE THE TURNOUT THAT WE SEE FOR THE PRIMARY.
AT THE BIGGEST VOTING LOCATIONS, AT THOSE -- FOR THOSE RACES THE SCANNER WOULD HAVE THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE. BUT IT WASN'T 20 OR 30 AND BACKED UP TO INFINITY, IF YOU WILL.
THAT'S WHY I AM TRYING TO GET TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION I WANT TO FOCUS THAT THREE TO FIVE PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO FINISH UP THE SCAN IN RELATION TO 20 OR 25 PEOPLE BEING AT VOTING MACHINES. THAT WILL MATCH THE CHECK IN AND THE CHECK OUT. WE WILL BE WATCHING.
THIS MARCH WILL BE AN EXCELLENT TEST FOR US OF BEING ABLE TO MATCH THE NUMBER OF SCANS TO THE NUMBER OF DUOS.
AND LIKE I SAID WHERE WE HAVE MORE THAN TWEPTD DUOS AND ADDING -- 20DUOS SHOULD ALLEVIATE THAT PRESSURE.
THIS WOULD HELP US MOVING FORWARD.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF A TEST ON ELECTION DAY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SOME
WORK IN ADVANCE ON THIS. >> YES, SIR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE ALLOCATIONS JUST WHILE WE ARE ON THAT TOPIC.
I SEE THE CAL -- CALCULATION OF PEAK TIME AND ASSIGNING THINGS BASED ON 95% OF THE VOTERS WAITING LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES AT THE PEAK HOUR. WHERE DOES THE PROJECTED TURNOUT FIT IN? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED LIKE IN 2018 THE TURNOUT WAS 150,000 FROM BOTH PARTIES.
FOR THIS YEAR WE SEEM TO BE WORKING OFF 150,000 PER PARTY TURNOUT. CAN YOU SQUARE THAT FOR ME?
>> WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO CALCULATE IN THE WIDE RANGE.
FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL THERE IS NO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
THAT TENDS TO BE A LOWER TURNOUT.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION AND NOT A LOT OF NATIONAL MONEY COMING IN TO ORGANIZE AND DO THE MONEY CAMPAIGNS. THAT'S WHY THERE WILL BE A MID-RANGE TURNOUT THAN THE HISTORIC HIGH OR LOW.
IF THERE WILL BE 150,000 PERHAPS FOR EACH PARTY AND THEN WE SAY FOR OUR PURPOSES WE SAY 60% OF THAT ON ELECTION DAY. 60% ON EARLY VOTE.
THAT'S WHERE WE SAY WE PLAN FOR 120% OF WHAT WE THINK IS A REASONABLE PROJECTED TURNOUT. AND THEN YOU TAKE THE NUMBER, THE 60% OVER THE EARLY VOTE AND PER LOCATION TRY AND TEASE IT OUT A LITTLE FURTHER AND SAY NOW WE ARE GOING TO BREAK IT UP. THAT 60% AND WEIGH IN ON WHO HAS MORE DEMOCRATIC AND MORE OF A 50/50 SPLIT TURNOUT AND THEN LOOKING AT THE PEAK HOURS AS YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED FOR
[06:05:01]
THE ELECTIONS WE POSTED -- HOSTED IN 2021, WE PUT CHARTS UP EVERY NIGHT WE REPORT THE EARLY VOTER TOTALS SHOWING THE PEAK TIMES OF VOTING. FOR EXAMPLE WE KNOW THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTE IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST DAYS OF VOTING WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE READY AND WANT TO GET VOTING.TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT ANY ISSUES WITH WEATHER OR WHATEVER AFTERWARDS. WE HAVE THE LAST DAY OF EARLY VOTING AND AS IT WEIGHS OUT, THE MID-MORNING HOURS AND WHAT WE CALL THE SCHOOL DROP OFF. WE ARE TRYING TO GUESS WHAT THE PEAK IS GOING TO BE SO WE CAN HAVE THE PEAK NUMBER OF MACHINES AND NOT JUST AVERAGE MACHINES NEEDED FOR LOCATION.
DOES THAT HELP? I KNOW IT IS A LOT OF NUMBERS SO I AM TRYING TO BREAK IT DOWN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AVOID WHAT HAPPENED IN -- WAS IT 2020 PRIMARY WITH THE TSU LINES.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF WE HAD THE SITUATION LAST YEAR.
I SAW THE 2018 NUMBERS AND I KNOW THERE WAS NO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THAT YEAR, BUT YOU ARE ESTIMATING A LOWER TURN OUT THAN THAT YEAR. THAT'S A FLAG FOR ME.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL, BUT THERE WASN'T
A PRESIDENTIAL THEN EITHER. >> I BELIEVE THERE WAS A SENATE RACE THAT YEAR. IT MAY NOT BE A PRESIDENTIAL IN 2018 -- I HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THIS, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE BIG TICKET RACES AND IT WAS TURNING OUT ACROSS THE
STATE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE AT BREAK TIME, I JUST REALIZED. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 5:20 AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE? THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 5:23 AND COMMISSIONERS' COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. COMMISSIONER LONGORIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. ARE YOU STILL ON THE LINE?
ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNEW SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE WE WOULD BE BACK AT 5:20.
>> LINA HIDALGO: TIFFANY, DO YOU SEE HER ON?
IT SHOWS SHE IS ON. >> APOLOGIES.
I GOT CAUGHT IN THE RESTROOM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: TMI.
>> SORRY. TO CLARIFY, JUDGE, I WILL JUMP IN IT. THE RACES IN 2018 WERE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7 AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 29 THAT HAD SOME REALLY BIG NATIONAL INVESTMENTS AND INTENTION -- INVESTMENT WHICH IS WHAT BROUGHT OUT THE HIGHER TURN
OUT IN 2018 TO YOUR QUESTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH CDL DRIVERS WE HAVE A BUNCH AND THEY CAN MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE IF YOU
NEED COMMERCIAL DRIVERS. >> THANK YOU.
JUDGE, I CAN JUMP AHEAD. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING ALL OF THAT. I NEVER FORGET THAT 2020 PRIMARY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> AND YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT NOT JUST WITH TSU, BUT WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DILIGENT ABOUT WATCHING EVERY ELECTION AND MAKING SURE IF AND WHEN THE LINES POP UP THAT WE DEPLOY EXTRA RESOURCES BE IT VOTING MACHINES, CLERKS AND MY STAFF TO PROCESS THE LINES. WE'RE WITH YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE EARLY INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL ELECTION DAY. I BROKE MYSELF OF THAT HABIT.
I USED TO WAIT TO DO IT ON ELECTION DAY.
I JUST THINK WE WOULD BE WISE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EARLY VOTING
I DO MY BEST. I WILL SAY CERTAIN PROVISIONS AT SENATE BILL 1 PROHIBIT ME FROM ENCOURAGING VOTERS ON SOLICITING VOTERS TO TAKE ACTION WITH MAIL BALLOTS SO WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH OUR WORDING, BUT THE MESSAGE IS WELL-INTENDED AND WE DO WHAT WE CAN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: KPHEGSER RAMSEY -- COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> TOM RAMSEY: I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT ON ELECTION DAY WHEN THE MACHINES ARE TURNED IN AND THE VOTES BEGIN TO COUNT, ARE YOU STILL DOING THE NRG -- OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T DO
[06:10:03]
NRG. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENT PLAN FORTHE PRIMARY ELECTION? >> I'M SORRY.
THAT'S THE PART I AM SKIPPING AHEAD TO NOW.
DASH -- DASH TIFFANY, IF YOU COULD HIT THE NEXT SLIDE.
NRG CANNOT BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE RODEO.
THE RODEO IS BACK ON AND WE ARE OUT OF NRG.
FROM THE FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL AND THE ELECTION JUDGES IN OUR SUR -- SURVEY, HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
THEY WILL BE SPREAD OUT AROUND THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE THEM CON EURBL IFED TKAOB -- WE HAVE THEM CONFIRMED. THEY HAVE 32 CHECK OUTLINES ON TOP OF THE 30 AND WE HAVE OUR VOTER REGISTRATION OUT REACH TEAM WHICH IS NOW PIVOTED TO BEING A RECRUITMENT TEAM ON ELECTION NIGHT. THEY ARE REACHING BACK OUT TO THE SRO REPBLG -- TO REGISTRARS TO HAVE THEM DROP OFF AT THE LOCATIONS AND HAVE THERE BE MORE PEOPLE AND MORE HANDS TO HELP TAKE THE EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE CARS AND PROCESS THEM AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
ON TOP OF WHICH THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF TRAINING THOSE FOLKS. SO INSTEAD OF GETTING A CRASH COURSE ONE HR-BGS -- ON ELECTION NIGHT.
IT IS MORE THAN GIVING THEM THE TRAINING AND THEIR POSITIONS AND THOSE THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING WITH US AND THEY ARE PREPARED WITH THE DROP OFF. THAT'S IN RESPONSE TO THE FEEDBACK FOR YOU ALL AND THE ELECTION JUDGES OF 2021.
WE ARE TRYING A DIFFERENT SYSTEM AND IT WILL RETURN SOME BETTER UPDATES. IN ADDITION TO WHICH AS FAR AS WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH THE EQUIPMENT TO SPEED UP THE DROP OFF PROCESS AND SO INSTEAD OF NRG, YOU DROP OFF THE EQUIPMENT AND WE OPEN THE SCANS AND DRIVES.
IT IS TO THE -- IT IS TO DROP OFF EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THEM TRANSPORT THE VOTING MACHINES WITH THE BALLOTS AND HARD DRIVES TO ELECTION TECHNOLOGY CENTER AND THEY WERE TRAINED IN OPENING UP THE MACHINES AND WILL PROCESS THE VOTES AT THE ELECTION TECHNOLOGY CENTER WHERE WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL EQUIPMENT. WE ARE NOT -- I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. WE ARE NOT TRANSMITTING VOTES OR RESULTS FROM THE DROP OFF SITES.
THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN AND PROCESSED AT THE SAME LOCATION SO WE DON'T TRANSMIT ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR?
>> THAT WAS INPUT WE GAVE TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANYTHING ELSE ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA?
>> A FEW MORE THINGS. NEXT SLIDE, TIFFANY, SENATE BILL 1. I WOULD BE REMISS AND TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE HEADACHE WE HAVE TO SOLVE GOING INTO THIS ELECTION.
AS A REMINDER THIS IS THE FIRST OF SENATE LAWS IN EFFECT. WE CAN ALREADY FEEL IT.
THIS MONTH UH -- THIS MONTH ALONE WE HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF CALLS TO THE CALL CENTER THAT IS MORE THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN PAST ELECTIONS. YOU CAN SEE 5,000 OF THOSE CALLS ALONE ARE ABOUT MAIL BALLOTS.
YOU KNOW FROM THE NEWS WE HAD TO REJECT 11% OF THE MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS ALONE AND WE STARTED TO RECEIVE MAIL BALLOTS BACK THAT WE WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO THE VOTERS BECAUSE EVEN ON THE MAIL BALLOTS THEY DON'T CONTAIN THE ID NUMBER AND THAT IS A HIGHER RATE WITH AN UPDATED NUMBER ON. WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE MAIL DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE VOTING IN PERSON AND SO WE ADDED THE STAFF AND ANSWERING CALLS FROM JUDGES AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THAT'S THE END OF SB1. THEN I WILL GET TO AMENDED
ITEMS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS -FPLTS. WHEN YOU HAVE TO REJECT A MAIL IN BALLOT HOW DO YOU LET THEM KNOW?
>> WE SEND THEM A LETTER TO LET THEM KNOW WHY THEIR MAIL IN APPLICATION IS REJECTED AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.
WE IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE CALL CENTER. WE GIVE THEM A PHONE CALL.
MOST DON'T GIVE US THEIR PHONE NUMBER.
[06:15:01]
IF WE HAVE THEIR NUMBER, WE CALL THEM.THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMEND IF YOU CAN HELP US THAT IF YOUR CONSTITUENTS CALL, REMEMBER THEM, WHEN IN DOUBT, FILL IT OUT. PUT BOTH ID NUMBERS IN ON -- ON THE APPLICATION. THE MAIL BALLOTS ARE DIFFERENT. IF WE SEND THEM BACK EARLY ENOUGH IN THE PRO IS SUCCESS -- PROCESS AND THEY CAN BASICALLY SEND IT BACK IN A CORRECTED INDEPENDENT -- ENVELOPE. SBC IS OUR SIGNATURE VERIFICATION. IF THEY NOTICE THE NUMBER IS INCORRECT AND DOESN'T MATCH, THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN CORRECT THE ISSUE IS IF THEY COME IN PERSON TO THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE. THERE IS DISKREPL PEN SEE -- DISKREPL PANSY -- DISCREPENCY AND FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS AND FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES WE ANTICIPATE
SEEING A HIGHER REJECTION RATE. >> CAN YOU PUT IT IN A LETTER TO TALK ABOUT WHY IT IS REJECTED?
>> BECAUSE OF THE ANTI-SOLICITATIONS, I AM RETICENT TO AND VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION I SEND OUT TO MAIL BALLOT VOTERS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IN COMPLIANT
WITH THE SOLICITATION LAW. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I ASSUME YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO THEY WILL -- TO TELL THEM?
>> NO. >> RODNEY ELLIS: INTERESTING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU MENTIONED YOU ARE GETTING A HIGH NUMBER OF CALLS AND THAT'S JUST THE MAIL BALLOT RIGHT NOW. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT YOUR CALL CENTER FOR ELECTION DAY OR EARLY VOTING.
I HAVE BEEN OUT BLOCK WALKING AND THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF APG TKPWER AND -- ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AMONG FOLKS.
NUMBER ONE, HOW THEY ARE REQUIRED TO FILL OUT THE MAIL BALLOT AND NUMBER TWO, THEY ARE GETTING THE APPLICATION REJECTED AND NUMBER THREE IS WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION? ARE 24E 130ESED TO -- ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO VOTE TWICE? THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION OUT THERE AS TO WHAT VOTING WILL BE LIKE IN HARRIS COUNTY GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
ARE YOU DOING TOWN HALLS WORKING WITH THE PARTY OFFICES AND YOU CAN EDUCATE AND TRAIN FOLKS ON HOW YOU UNDERSTAND
ALL OF THESE NEW CHANGES? >> WE ARE DOING A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE VIDEOS UP ABOUT FILLING OUT YOUR MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION.
WE ARE FINALIZING A VIDEO TODAY ON HOW TO FILL OUT THE ACTUAL MAIL BALLOT ENVELOPE. PUTTING THE ENVELOPES IN THE RIGHT ENVELOPES. AS FAR AS LOOKING INTO THAT, WE CAN EBGDZ -- EXPLORE THAT IN OUR CAPACITY.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD A TELE-TOWN HALL.
IF YOU CAN HOST THE TELE-TOWN HALL THROUGH YOUR OFFICES I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE MYSELF ELIGIBLE FOR YOUR OFFICES.
I RUN INTO A STICKY GRAY AREA WHERE WHAT I SAY COULD COUNT AS SOLICITATION, WHAT I SAY AND HOW I SAY IT AND INVITING PEOPLE TO THE TELE TOWN HALL. THE PROACTIVE MEASURE COULD BE CONSUMED -- CONSTRUED AS SAW -- SOLICITATION.
I AM IN A LAWSUIT TO DRAW THE LINE HARDER.
THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE IS NOT ONLY AN INCREASE IN ISSUES SO I CAN JUST INCREASE MY CALL CENTER TO BE AVAILABLE AND BE
CAREFUL OF THE STEPS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE AND MEMBERS, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF DOING WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS ELECTION, THE FIRST ONE AFTER SENATE BILL 1 IS IN PLACE OR DONE FAIRLY, EVEN IF IT MEANS FAST TRACKING ARPA MONEY IF AVAILABLE, THERE ARE ONE-TIME
[06:20:11]
EXPENSE COSTS AND I WOULD FAST TRACK IT.I WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT TO YOU, ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR.
YOU KWAN -- YOU CAN RUN IT BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR TELL ME. IT MAY NOT HAVE THE RIGHT, BUT I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO VOTE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.
I TOOK A LOT OF CRITICISM IN CREATING YOUR OFFICE.
GLAD YOU WEREN'T DEFUNDED TODAY.
YOU MENTIONED THE LIBRARIES AND GLAD THEY WILL STILL BE AROUND. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ADMINISTRATOR LONGORIA, I THINK THE MESSAGE I AM HEARING FROM YOU IS YOU FEEL PREPARED.
IF YOU DETERMINE THAT'S NOT THE CASE, I ECHO WHAT YOU COMMISSION -- WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID.
I ALWAYS SAY THE STEERING COMMITTEE, BUT SOUND THE ALARM BEFORE WE END UP WITH EGG ON OUR FACE ON PRIMARY ELECTION DAY. OKAY?
>> YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS ITEM -- IT WAS A DISCUSSION ITEM 167 AND I BELIEVE 262, DOES THAT REQUIRE ACTION, COMMISSIONER?
>> THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR. >> JUDGE I NEED A MOTION FOR
177. >> AND I HAVE TO UPDATE YOU THAT FROM THE LIST Y'ALL HAD, WE HAD TO DO SOME REPLACEMENTS AS MENTIONED EARLIER AND SO I NEED TO ADVISE Y'ALL OF THE EARLY REPLACEMENTS SO YOU CAN VOTE ON THE COMPLETE LIST.
IT WILL GO QUICK. ON PAGE 2 FOR THE EARLY VOTE SIDE AT CCISD LEARNER SUPPORT CENTER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS IT SOMETHING YOU CAN SEND OVER?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU NEED TO WRITE IT UP? DO YOU WANT TO SEND IT OVER TO THE JUDGE I WILL MAKE THE
MOTION. >> CAN YOU HELP US OUT IF YOU NEED A VERBAL UPDATE OR JUST RESUBMIT ONE?
>> ISABEL, IF YOU CAN JUST SEND IT OVER TO US AND THEN THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. WE WILL HAVE IT.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND LET THE COURT KNOW YOU MADE REVISIONS AND IT CAN BE PUT BACK INTO THE
WE HAVE ONLY MADE A COUPLE. >> JUST GIVE IT BACK TO THE JUDGE SO THE JUDGE CAN DO THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL VOTE LATER?
>> LATER. ADMINISTRATOR, WE WILL VOTE ON THIS LATER WHEN YOU SEND US THE WRITTEN UPDATE SO WE CAN
ALL LOOK AT IT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: NO RUSH.
WE'LL BE HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE MAKING GOOD TIME TODAY, ACTUALLY. 186 IS LEAD PAINT FOR THE
[Departments (Part 11 of 12) ]
ABATEMENT PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.>> TOM RAMSEY: THIS MAY BE AN EXAMPLE, BUT MAYBE NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE. WE ARE PULLING MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO TEMPORARILY FUND THIS UNTIL WE GET THE GRANT. ON THESE KINDS OF THINGS THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ANTICIPATE AND WE WOULDN'T END UP IN THIS POSITION, BUT WE WOULD PULL MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO BRIDGE. WE HAVE A STANDARD PROGRAM AND I THINK WE VOTED ON 133. WE ARE ADDING A BRIDGE TO A GRANT. IS THERE A WAY WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF ANTICIPATING WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND?
>> I CAN COMMENT ON THE FINANCIAL ISSUE.
IN THIS CASE I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN EASY WAY.
A LOT OF THE GOVERNMENTS USE GRANT ANTICIPATION NOTES TO DO THIS. WE ARE FORTUNATE NOT TO BE IN THAT SITUATION. SOME COME IN BEFORE AND SOME COME IN AFTER. OVERALL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IT IS NO NET FINANCIAL IMPACT. I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THIS ONE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF WE DID GRANT ANTICIPATION NOTES WHICH
>> RODNEY ELLIS: TO THE EXTENT WE HAVE IT IF IT CAME OUT OF THE PIC IT IS BETTER TO USE CASH RATHER THAN WHIPPING OUT THE CREDIT CARD AS LONG AS WE GET THE MONEY BACK?
>> I AM NOT SURE I AGREE. WE WANT TO DISCUSS IT, BUT YES IF WE HAVE THE RESERVES BETTER THAN TO NOT BORROW MONEY.
[06:25:05]
>> MR. BERRY I MENTIONED THIS TO DR. HOLLOWAY AT CSD BUT THE CBDG AND APPARENT HEALTH GRANT POSED THE CHALLENGE THAT THEY GET A LETTER TODAY SAYING YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED, PWRUT -- BUT THEY CAN'T STATE -- START WORKING UNTIL THE MONEY HITS.
NOW YOU WILL ASK FOR A VARIANCE ON THE GRANT.
NOW THEY ARE BEHIND THE SUBMITTED PROGRAM SCHEDULE.
I SUGGESTED AND I THINK I SPOKE WITH YOU ABOUT IT, ABOUT
US CREATING A CASH FLOW FUND. >> HAS ANY WORK BEEN DONE? IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THERE IS A $2 MILLION AMOUNT FOR GRANT ANTICIPATION. IT IS A HIGH LEVEL OF WHAT IT CAN LOOK LIKE. WHAT WE NEED NOW IS A TEST
CASE. >> WE CAN LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS AND IS $2 MILLION GOING TO BE
ENOUGH? >> WE CAN DO MORE INTERNATIONALLY. THAT IS A VERY SHORT-TERM ISSUE. WE WANTED TO EXTEND IT TO PARTNERS. I WILL GET WITH DIRECTOR ROBINSON ON OUR TEAM AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT WAITING ON
GRANTS TO GIVE A RESPONSE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS
>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY GARCIA.
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THIS IS FOR 186.
234 THROUGH 238, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF ALLEN IS ON THE LINE.
ALLEN, JUST TELL US WHAT THESE CONTRACTS ARE.
>> YES, SIR. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THESE ARE FIVE AUTHORIZATIONS TO NEGOTIATE THAT WERE SELECTED THROUGH AN ADVERTISED REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION PROCESS.
THEY ARE TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE THE DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE $250 MILLION FEMA SEDIMENT REMOVAL PROGRAM.
>> AND ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS?
>> THE AGREEMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN PREPARED YET.
THE WORK WILL BE PERFORMED OVER A SERIES OF YEARS AS THEY DESIGN AND THEPBL -- AND THEN THE PROJECTS GO TO CONSTRUCTION AND THEY DESIGN WHEN THE CONSULTANTS WILL NEED TO STAY ON BOARD TO HELP WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AS WELL. IT WILL BE SEVERAL YEARS.
>> WOULD A GOOD GUESS BE ABOUT 5 MILLION EACH?
>> THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD APPROXIMATE -- APPROXIMATION.
BUT WE WILL HAVE TO GET INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS OF EACH OF
THE CONSULTANTS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS MONEY IS
COMING FROM WHERE? >> THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING COMES FROM FEMA. IT IS ROUGHLY A $250 MILLION PROGRAM. YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE STATE MATCH FOR THOSE APPROPRIATED WITH THE HARVEY-RELATED PROJECTS. THE TOTAL COST TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS $6 MILLION.
AND THERE IS A -- >> AND THERE IS A TIMETABLE AND WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD SO WE DON'T RUN THE RISK OF
LOSING THE MONEY. >> FEMA IS MAKING SURE WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND WE NEED TO MAKE THE TIMETABLES.
WHEN DID YOU SEND OUT THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
[06:30:07]
>> THE SOQ'S WERE IN EARLY JANUARY.
THE TEAM THAT IS THE SELECTION COMMITTEE THAT SCORED THESE SOQ'S AND WAS COME PRIZED OF ONE MEMBER FROM FLOOD CONTROL AND TWO FROM THE KOUPB TAOEP -- COUNTY ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT. THEY COMPLETED THOSE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND THUS MOVED FORWARD WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE HIGHEST SCORING AND THE MOST QUALIFIED CONSULT -- CONSULT TEPTS FOR THE WORK --
CONSULTANTS FOR THE WORK. >> I WANT TO MAKE A POINT.
DWIGHT, WHAT CAN WE AND CAN WE NOT DO IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION OF THE MINORITY WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS WITH FEDERAL MONEY. I AM RAISING THE ISSUE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY SAY I AM SUPPOSED TO START TRIG -- TREPL HREUG IN MY -- TREBLING IN MY BOOTS.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENCOURAGE EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITH THE
FEDERAL MONEY. >> YOU ASKED THE QUESTION IF WE WERE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO LOOK FOR OPTIONS TO ADD A GOAL OR SOMEWAY TO ENCOURAGE MWBE PARTICIPATION ON FEDERAL PROJECTS.
WHAT I GOT WAS THAT ALL COURT MEMBERS SAYING WE COULDN'T SET A SPECIFIC MWBE GOAL. HOWEVER THERE IS AN UH -- ABILITY TO PUT LANGUAGE IN THE RFP SO WE CONSIDER PAST TRACK HISTORY AND UTILIZATION OF MWBE START FIRMS AND HAVE THAT AS A CAPACITY OF A VENDOR. AS FAR AS A SPECIFIC GOAL I DON'T HAVE ONE YET, COMMISSIONER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO SOME LANGUAGE THAT IS PART OF THE EVALUATION AND CRITERIA, THE SUCCESSFUL MBE'S AND MWBE'S.
AND YOU CANNOT COME UP WITH A GOAL.
YOU CAN INCLUDE LANGUAGE AND THEY CAN GET LANGUAGE AS PART OF THE CRITERIA? I STILL NEED TO GET IT FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION. I AM TRYING TO GET THE LAPPING WEDGE DARK -- I AM TRYING TO GET THE LANGUAGE.
>> I KNOW SOME OF US HATE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS GO GO GO -- GOING ON. THEY HAD A STATEWIDE REFERENDUM WHERE THEY ARE LIMITED ON WHAT THEY CAN DO.
THEY HAVE BEEN INNOVATIVE AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE TO FIND RACE NEUTRAL METHODS. AND THEN I WANT TO STRESS THAT IF WE HAD KNOWN WHAT YOU KNOW NOW IN DECEMBER, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE HAD ANY LANGUAGE ADDED TO THE CONTRACTS.
I WANT TO STRESS TO MR. BERRY THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS PUSHING SO HARD. AS MUCH AS I HATE TO DO THIS AT THE TABLE, BUT IF I DIDN'T DO IT WE HAVE THE NUMBERS WE HAD TO PASS. ALLEN, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND DWIGHT, WE SHOULD PUSH OUR DEPARTMENT THAT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO. IT WAS TYPICAL FOR ME TO BELIEVE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL FROM MY VANTAGE POINT PROMPTED ME TO PUSH FORWARD. IT WAS IN 83.
WHEN PEOPLE CAME UP WITH NUMBERS BASED ON WHAT THEY WERE DOING ON TRANSPORTATION. IT IS NOT MONEY COMING OUT OF FEMA, BUT TRANSPORTATION MONEY.
AND SINCE WE DIDN'T DEFUND THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, IF THERE OUGHT TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE CHANGES IN FEDERAL LAW AND SPENDING $650,000 TO DO IT AND IF WE CAN'T WE SHOULD ASK OUR LEGISLATIVE FOLKS TO AT LEAST
[06:35:06]
MAKE THE CASE. AS FLOOD CONTROL DID FOR THE COST RATIO BUSINESS, BUT I WANT TO STRESS THAT.I MOVE THESE ITEMS. >> TOM RAMSEY: I WANT TO SECOND THAT, COMMISSIONER. I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT ALLEN AND YOU GET WORK AND GRANTS FROM FEMA AND YOU HAVE TO CROSS YOUR T'S AND DOT YOUR I'S.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT IS REQUIRED. I AM LOOKING AT THE FOLKS WE NEGOTIATE WITH AND IT IS A ROBUST GROUP OF SUBS, MWBE SUBS AND SO IT WOULD BE ODD AND I KNOW TYPICALLY WHEN I WAS IN IT -- YOU TEND TO HAVE SUBS YOU CANDY PENNED ON.
WHETHER THEY BRING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU, I SEE THAT AND IT IS IN THE HANDS OF THE CRIME AND IT MAY TO THE BE WHERE WE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE WOULD WANT IT TO BE HAD WE KNOWN IN DECEMBER AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE WE
CAN BE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAD A COMMENT AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALLEN, THE -- ARE YOU IN COMMUNICATION
WITH THE INCOUPLING DIRECTOR. >> YES AND I SPOKE WITH DR. PETERSON REGARDING THIS AND THERE IS A ROBUST PROCEDURE AND PROTOCOL FOR THIS AND AS A RESULT SHE HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT, HEY, SHE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE PRO IS SUCCESS AND WE NEED TO KEEP THE BUSINESS MOVING FORWARD.
>> I I WILL BE ENCOURAGING HER TO DO A GOOD AUDIT BEFORE SHE INHERITS IT. I JUST HAVE TO SAY -- I HAVE FELT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RAMP UP IN THESE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS WHEN THE APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DILIGENT AND ACCURATE IN OUR WORK AND IN MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS NOT A RAMP UP IN ACTIVITY JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW BOSS COMING INTO TOWN.
DWIGHT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS DIFFICULTY IN THE TRADITIONAL GOALS, IS THERE A WAY TO ENCOURAGE THE END GOAL OF AN MWBE PROGRAM WITH LANGUAGE THAT INDICATES, YOU KNOW -- MWBE PARTICIPATION PREFERRED -- IS THERE A JOINT VENTURE PREFERRED? IS THERE A CREATIVE WAY TO WORK WITHIN THE LAW THAT WE HAVE JUST NOT DONE?
>> WE ARE PULLING IT AND WE ARE LOOKING IF THERE IS ANY RESPONSE FROM ME MA. I AM JUST BEING HESITANT ON HOW I APPROACH IT, COMMISSIONER, FROM THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I DON'T WANT A SITUATION WHERE WE GET DOWN THE ROAD IN FIVE YEARS AND GET AUDITED AND IT IS PULLED BACK. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
I CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT, COMMISSIONER.
AS OF TODAY I WAS WORKING WITH THE CITY TO GET THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY ARE DOING AND SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO USE THE SAME LANGUAGE. I HAVEN'T STOPPED THE PROCESS ON THAT. I ENCOURAGE THAT YOU REACH OUT.
[06:40:13]
THEY HAVE A HUD SECRETARY ON THEIR TEAM AND I WOULD WORK TO GET PERSPECTIVE IN WHAT IS THE AVAILABLE FRAMEWORK TO GET THEIR -- I THINK US FIGURING -- TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK TO HELP US THINK THROUGH IT. IF YOU VISIT THEY MAY BE ABLETO HELP. >> I THINK AFTER THE QUESTION CAME UP IT IS HELPFUL. IT CLEARLY LAYS OUT IF THIS WORKS UNDER YOUR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS.
NECESSARY FOR THE REQUIRED JOB.
YOU CAN ADD UTILIZATION OF MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS. YOU CAN SEE MWBE ROLES AS YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST YOU CAN HAVE MBE AND MWBE'S AND HAVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MBE'S. ONE REASON I FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING THE MOTION IS THEY ARE ALL GOOD FIRMS AND THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONGTIME. THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS OTHER WORK THEY WILL GO AFTER. I WANT US TO PAUSE AND SOMEBODY SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO START TREBLING -- TREBLING AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TRANSPORTATION SPACE. IT WAS 14 TO 18%.
THAT WAS NOT FEMA MONEY. WHEN YOU COME 38 YEARS AFTER, THE MOST DIVERSE DID A PROGRAM AND YOU KAEL CAN CALL AROUND AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN NEW ORLEANS OR SOMEBODY THE SAME DREDGING. I ASSUME MIAMI, L.A. TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. I WOULD SAY THAT THE SENSITIVITY COMES ABOUT BECAUSE WE ASK.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DREDGING CONTRACTS AND PULL THE NUMBERS
IF THEY CAN FIND THEM. >> AT THE SHIP CHANNEL?
>> IF NOBODY ASKS. THE GOVERNMENT NEVER SAYS YOU CAN'T ASK WHEN IT IS OVER WITH.
LOOK, I WAS GOING TO BE PREPARED.
I WILL JUST COME IN AND SAY NO AND IF -- TRANSPARENCY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I HOPE WE HAVE THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND MAYBE IT CAN HELP US WITH THIS.
THEY CALLED THE PERSON AND REPORTED THE PERSON WHO WAS NO LONGER THERE AND YOUR OFFICE SENT ME.
I HOPE WE CAN GET THAT DONE SOON.
>> IT IS THE GOVERNMENTAL LINE OF EQUITY AND THEY HAVE A LOT
OF GOOD MATERIALS. >> IS THERE A MOTION ON THESE
>> THE LAST ONE SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL THE DAY WITH THESE GREAT RESOLUTIONS WE ALL HAD.
ONE REASON WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUT UP MONEY TO CREATE THE DISPARITY IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO TO INCREASE CAPACITY IS ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS KWH -- AND THEY BUILD THE BUILDINGS THEY TEACH IN. MR. BERRY, I AM GOING TO WANT TO FAST TRACK SOME ARPA MONEY ABOVE WHAT WE PUT UP.
I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SAY THEY DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
[06:45:03]
IT IS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.I DON'T CARE IF IT IS KATY OR CYPRESS OR WHATEVER SCHOOL DISTRICT. IF THEY DON'T DO IT, IT WILL
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> I SECOND IT.
>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
I HEARD COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND FIRST, BUT.
>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT WAS FOR ITEMS 234 THROUGH 238. THE NEXT ITEM WE VOTED ON, BUT I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AS YOU SAY ON ITEM 255 WHICH IS THE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS ITEM.
THIS IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GAP ANALYSIS. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HIT CLOSE TO HOME AFTER THE WATSON AND GRINDING EXPLOSION WHEN THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WERE AWAKENED AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY LIVED NEAR A FACILITY THAT COULD EXPLODE.
WE ARE GONNA DO A PRESS EVENT ON THIS.
THE POINT IS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNMENT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED FOR FOLKS TO KNOW WHERE IS WHAT.
JUST YESTERDAY WE HAD ANOTHER FLARE EVENT.
I KNOW WE ARE TO SOME DEGREE INVOLVED IN THIS.
TO THANK THE DIRECTOR OF DATA SCIENCE AND VISUALIZATION FOR THE BUDGET OFFICE, HE IS THE PERSON THAT WAS KEY TO MAKING THIS USER FRIENDLY. I THINK THAT IT IS VERY USER FRIENDLY AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT IT.
THEY PULLED OUT ALL OF THE STOPS AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD.
>> WHEN WILL IT BE ON THE LINE SO PEOPLE CAN TAP IN.
>> IT SHOULD BE SOON IF IT IS NOT ALREADY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. WE HAD SO MANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT I WOULD SAY HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO THAT WE SHOULD REALLY DO A PUBLIC LAUNCH YOU.
ALL OF US CAN PROMOTE IT. >> I THINK I WILL ADD IT TO
THE NEWSLETTER. >> IT IS NOT LIVE YET.
WE'LL WORK WITH EVERYBODY'S OFFICES.
IT SHOULD BE ANY DAY NOW. THANK YOU TO CHIEF CHRISTIANSON AND EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THIS.
[Departments (Part 12 of 12) ]
NEXT ITEM IS 260, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.THIS IS AN ITEM AND I JUST WANT TO BE SURE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE PFM REPORT AND INCLUDING AND NOT INCLUDING THE CONSTABLES' DATA.
THREE OF THE CONSTABLES EACH PAID 8,521.
THIS IS NOT TO PAY FOR THEIR LABOR.
IT IS TO HIRE A WRITER TO HELP WRITE THE REPORT.
AND IT IS TO PUT IT IN TO PUT IT IN SUCH A QUALITY THAT THEY WILL CONSIDER.
THEY TOOK THE MONEY OUT OF THEIR SEIZED ASSETS FUNDS.
AND SO IN ORDER -- OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE CONSTABLE REPORT. AND I THINK IT IS WORTH CONSIDERING REIMBURSING THE CONSTABLES AT LEAST WHAT THEY PULLED OUT OF THE SEIZED ASSET FUNDS.
>> SO YOU ARE SAYING YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF YOUR
BUDGET? >> I DID NOT SAY THAT.
>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEY DID NOT -- THIS IS A REPORT THAT THEY DID ON THEMSELVES. THIS IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT
REPORT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THIS IS A REQUEST -- I THINK, COMMISSIONER FROM PFM AND FOR THEM TO DO A REPORT, I
THINK THE ISSUE HAD -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT WASN'T MINE. WAS THAT YOURS?
MR. BERRY? >> NO COMMISSIONER.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DATA REQUESTS MADE FOR LOTS OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND THE APPROACH WAS TO REPAIR THIS REPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE DATA REQUEST FROM PFM.
THERE IS NO STP -- THERE IS NO REQUEST.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU ARE ASKING US TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF
[06:50:01]
THE GENERAL FUND? I THOUGHT YOU PAID FOR IT OUTOF YOUR BUDGET. >> MAKE A MOTION?
>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A MOTION FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THIS REPORT.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> NO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: TPH-PL UH -- I AM OPPOSED AND THAT MOTION
FAILS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PFM PROCESS, IF THERE IS A COST TO THEM FOR PULLING THE DATA I WOULD BE FOR THAT.
>> I THINK THE ATTITUDE WAS THEY WANTED TO AND THEY DID SUBMIT A REPORT. THEY SAID THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT SCOPE OF SERVICE OUT OF OUR PFM --
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU WANT TO ASK THEM.
JUST ASK THEM. >> WHERE IS THE SPECIFIC DATA
ASKS? >> AT LEAST THEY GET THE FACTS
RIGHT. >> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY CONTRIBUTED AND IT WAS AN 11-YEAR-OLD SHOT LAST WEEK.
IT WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE PRECINCT AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE
>> LINA HIDALGO: 261, DISCUSSION ON REDISTRICTING
ISSUES. >> TOM RAMSEY: I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME. I APPRECIATE MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF DETAILS WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO THE EFFORTS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE STAFF AND THE DETAILS ON THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THE OTHER THINGS WE WILL BE TRANSFERRING. IT WAS SWAPPING THE ROGUE CAMPS AND MOVING FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.
THIS AGENDA DID INCLUDE FROM PRECINCT 3 AND PRECINCT 4.
THE OBJECT -- THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET THINGS GOING BY MARCH 31ST. THE EFFORTS ARE TAKING PLACE AND EVEN TRANSFER OF THE EMPLOYEES ON THIS AGENDA AS WELL. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE NOT TO IMPACT THE EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S THE ONLY POINT HERE.
I AM NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT AND HOW MANY PROJECTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR FOLKS WERE DOING THE HARD WORK OF MAKING THIS SEEMLESS AND TO NOT IMPACT THE
CONSTITUENTS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I WANT TO KPHEPD THE ROAD -- COMMEND THE ROAD AND BRIDGE CREWS OF PRECINCTS 3 AND 4. WE HAD THE WINTER STORM EVENT.
THE OLD FOUR AND NEW THREE CREWS.
THEY WORKED THE BRIDGES AND THE ROADS THAT THEY ALREADY KNEW. WHAT YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IS WHEN YOU SWITCH PRECINCTS AND IF YOU KNOW WHICH BRIDGE ICES EVERY TIME THAT'S A NEW LEARNING CURVE.
THE CREWS WENT WHERE THE SPERPBTS WAS.
EXPERIENCE WAS. WE WERE ABLE TO SEND EVERYBODY INTO A YELLOW ALERT MODE AS OPPOSED TO AN ORANGE AND RED MODE BY ABOUT 10:00 THAT NIGHT.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE CREWS FOR WORKING WHERE THEY WERE
NEEDED. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
[06:55:07]
WHEN ICE COMES DOWN, IT DOESN'T KNOW IF IT WAS ON ONE, TWO, THREE OR FOUR. IT IS HARD HERE THE WAY THESE LINES HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN DRAWN.IT IS THE HIGHEST POINT TO THE NORTH TO THE LOWEST ON THE SOUTH. I HAVE EVEN ON OUR WEBSITE THAT IT IS THE LARGEST IN TERMS OF GEO GRAPHIC SPACE.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS DRAWING THE LINES TO FIND SOMEWAY TO CONSOLIDATE SERVICES.
I AM HOPING WE CAN DO SOME IN A PRECINCT AGREEMENT.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM MY ABILITY TO WIN OR LOSE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT KEPT 8% OF THEM IF IT IS A MATTER OF THESE ARE THE FOLK, I OPT NOT TO DO THAT. OTHERS MAY HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. I APPRECIATE YOU VISITING WITH ME, BUT SHE CAN -- CANCELED IT.
IT WAS RAIN, BUT I DIDN'T THINK OF THE COLD.
>> TOM RAMSEY: IT WAS COLD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WITH TWO BALD HEADS THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF THINKING TO DO IT ON THAT DAY. WE ADD DISCUSSION AND I WAS PERFECTLY WILLING. IF WE COOPERATE -- COULDN'T AGREE ON HOW TO DIVY UP THE PARK AND THE MAIN THING TO MAINTAIN IS ON YOUR SIDE, YOU COULD STILL MAKE THE FACILITY. I SAID IT THAT DAY AND I SAID BY THE WAY IF I GOT SOME EQUIPMENT THAT WILL HELP YOU DO IT, I'M SURE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE LINE GOES.
YOU GOT ME? WE KEPT OUR EYE ON THE
PRECINCT FOUR EQUIPMENT. >> YOU DID.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I APPRECIATE YOU.
I LOST SOME MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND THERE WAS NOT TO ANY OF US. YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO WORK WITH ME AND NOT GET ME EVERYTHING I WANT.
YOUR STAFF WOULDN'T GET ME EVERYTHING I WANT, BUT IT IS ENOUGH AND I HOPE GOING FORWARD AND I DREAD THE THOUGHT THAT A SLIGHT OF HAND AND SOMEBODY COMMENTING ON A POT BELL -- POT LEGALLY OR TWO.
AT THE END OF THE GAME -- AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU GET OVER IT. HOW CAN I GET ALONG WITH FOLKS I HAVE LITTLE IN COMMON WITH WHEN IN REALITY I HAD A LOT IN COMMON WITH THEM. AT THE END OF THE DAY I HOPE THAT'S THE CASE HERE. IS WE GOT SOME ISSUES TO SORT THROUGH. THE AGREEMENT WAS THE TRANSFER WOULD BE MARCH 31ST. THERE WOULD BE SOME CASES WHERE THE OFFICE SAID NO WE STOPPED THEM IN TWO WEEKS.
IF WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE OF THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY, IT IS THEIR MONEY TO MAKE SURE THEIR SERVICE WOULD DO THAT.
IF SP-B NEEDS MORE -- IF SOMEBODY NEEDS MORE TIME OR IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BORROW THE EQUIPMENT, SURELY WITH FOUR DIFFERENT ROAD CREWS THERE ARE TIMES WE CAN SHARE THE EQUIPMENT. I HOPE THE PROCESS OF REDISTRICTING FORCES US THAT IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO CONSOLIDATE THAT WE OUGHT TO SHARE SOME OF THE SERVICES AT EACH PRECINCT. I THINK THAT IS COMMON SENSE.
CALL IT EFFICIENCY OR CALL IT BEING NAY -- NEIGHBORLY.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO MOVE FORWARD -- MOVE TOWARD. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
ANYTHING ELSE TO DISCUSS ON THE ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: 263, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> I'M SORRY. NO ACTION ON 261?
>> LINA HIDALGO: CORRECT. >> JUST A QUICK OPTION AND I
[07:00:12]
MENTIONED IT EARLIER IN THE MEETING, BUT CONSIDER PUTTING EXECUTIVE SESSIONS UP AFTER WE DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT ONLY BECAUSE TYPICALLY EXECUTIVE SESSIONS HAVE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. FOR US TO LEAVE THE ROOM AND GO INTO SESSION AND COME BACK, THAT IS SOME IMPORTANCE.NORMALLY WE DO THAT AS THE LAST THING *FPL -- IT IS JUST US AND FOUR PEOPLE ONLINE. IT IS JUST AN OPTION.
I KNOW WHEN A LOT OF CITIES I WOUBG -- I WORKED WITH AND CITIES I AM A PART OF, THEY SEEM TO DO IT EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER. IT IS JUST TO PUT THE ISSUES UP FRONT. JUST A THOUGHT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS JUST A THOUGHT.
COMMISSIONER, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT I WORK WITH WHEN I WAS AN INVESTMENT BANKER USUALLY DID IT AT THE END WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE WHO WERE A LITTLE QUICKER. WE TEND TO BE A LITTLE LONGER. I WOULD HATE FOR US TO GO THROUGH THE RESOLUTIONS -- YOU GOT ME? AT LEAST I WILL NOSE AROUND AND SEE WHAT OTHER BIG COUNTIES OR COUNTIES THAT TEND TO BE LOQUACIOUS WITH THE DISCUSSION -- OR A BIT MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THE DISCUSSION. I HATE TO MAKE THEM WAIT ANY
LONGER. >> MAYBE IT WAS THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE HAD FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SITTING AROUND FOR US UNTIL 10:00 AT
NIGHT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT WAS AN EXCEPTION. I WAS CHATTING WITH SOMEBODY EARLIER AND ONLY FOUR OF THEM CAN BE IN THE ROOM UNDER THE RULES, BUT THEY ARE DOING THE VIRTUAL AND THEY USED TO MEET ONCE A WEEK AND NOW THEY ARE MEETING TWICE A WEEK.
COMMISSIONER TOLD ME THEY HAVE GONE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
I SAID IN CALIFORNIA? I THOUGHT YOU WERE EFFICIENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I JUST WANT TO RAISE A POINT THAT WE ARE
DOING SO GOOD. >> TOM RAMSEY: SO KEEP GOING?
CONSIDERED. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE IS A
MOTION DAB -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IT WAS GOING TO MEET ONCE A WEEK INSTEAD OF EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I LOVE YOU ALL, I PREFER TO JUST LOVE ON YOU TWICE A MONTH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR POSSIBLE DISCUSSION LATER. NO ACTION ON 263.
270, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. WELL, THAT IS A PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
RIGHT? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM NOT SURE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON THIS.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS FOR US IS WHEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE CONVINCED ME TO SERVE ON P3.
I ASKED TWO EARLY QUESTIONS WHEN I FIRST SERVED ON THAT BOARD. WE WERE QUICKLY MOVING TO PROCUREMENT FOR A 10-YEAR COMMITMENT.
I SAID HOW DO WE DO MW BECOMES -- MWBE? AND THE ANSWER WAS WE DON'T DO THAT.
THE SECOND QUESTION I ASKED, HOW DO WE -- WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT TO PROCURING CLEAN ENERGY? THE ANSWER WAS, WET -- WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AT THE MOMENT. LET ME MAKE A MOTION HERE AT THE TABLE TO HAVE US RECONSIDER OUR MEMBERSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE AND THE NEW SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR FOR WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRATEGY ALONG WITH OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND TRADITION ENERGY. AS I MENTIONED IN 2020, I WAS PROUD TO LEAVE THE EFFORT TO GREEN UP OUR ENERGY PROCUREMENT BY PURCHASING RENEWABLE ENERGY CRITICS TO GET US TO RENEWABLE STATUS. WHAT WE KNEW WAS THIS WAS JUST THE FIRST STEP AND WE NEEDED TO MAKE THIS A MORE RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE COUNTY. AT THE IT IS A COMPLETE
[07:05:07]
OVERALL -- OVERHAUL OF THE ENERGY STRATEGY.WHEN I SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL WE ARE PROUD WE ARE THE ENERGY CAPITOL -- CAPITAL OF THE NATION.
I AM PROUD TO BE THE ENERGY PRECINCT OF THE COUNTY, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ALSO SHARE IN THE TITLE OF BEING ENERGY CAPITAL. THEY WILL HAVE A COST EFFECTIVE AND SMART ENERGY ECOSYSTEM P-L AND THERE IS A LOW FLEXIBILITY TO OPTIMIZE AND USELESS RETAIL ENERGY PROCURED FROM THE GRID WITH ENERGY RESILIENCY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. DO DOING SO IN THE RETAIL STRATEGY THEY CAN TRANSITION FROM A COSTLY, EXPENSIVE TO A HIGH VALERIE SOURCE. HIGH VALUE RESOURCE.
AND THEN ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS I SAT IN AS ONE OF THE FIRST AS COMMISSIONER, I SAT IN TO TALK ABOUT SO SMART THAT L.A.
COUNTY IS DOING. AND WHY CAN'T HARRIS COUNTIES DO THIS? THROUGH A HAPHAZARD EFFORT AND GETTING ON P3 AND I WAS AFTER THIS SO SMART DESIGNATION.
WE HAD TO GO THROUGH YOU WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW.
WE ARE ON THE PATHWAY WITH THAT.
WITH THE NEW SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR WE WILL TAKE MORE INTO THE REALITY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND MY TEAM IN PARTICULAR.
I WANT TO THANK KRISTEN LEE AND FRANCIS NUGENT ON MY TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. I JUST THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING SO VALUABLE. TO PUT THE LARGEST COUNTY ON A SMART ENERGY PLATFORM AND THEN WHO KNOWS WHAT IT CAN DO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. IT GETS THEM SMARTER AND CLEANER. OUR SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR, LISA, WILL -- IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS
JEW -- A FEW WORDS. >> DO YOU WANT TO PRESENT STP.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> TOM RAMSEY: THE ONLY QUESTION, RENEWABLES, GOT THAT. AS WE HAVE TYPICALLY HYBRID SYSTEMS TO ENSURE WE USE CLEAN FOSSIL FUELS AND COUPLED WITH SOLAR AND COUPLED WITH -- I MEAN ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE. RELIABILITY IS THERE TOO AS WE SAW LAST YEAR. THAT IS A PART OF THIS STP.
>> YES. DURING THE WINTER STORM WE HAD TO RUSH TO FIND A GENERATOR AND GET IT PLUGGED INTO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY WERE ABOUT TO GO BLACK.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COUNTY JAIL AND TO OTHER FACILITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR OPERATIONS. AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT. WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS PART OF THE FRAMEWORK. AS WE MOVE FORWARD MY TEAM AND MS. LYNN IS WORKING TOGETHER. I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE ECOT.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO RELIABILITY IN E R-RBG CO --
[07:10:04]
I AM LISA AND THE DETECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY.COMMISSIONER GARCIA PULLED OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLEAN ENERGY, BUT I WILL REKWREUT -- REITERATE SOME OF IT.
IT IS MEANT TO HAVE A FLEXIBLE PATHWAY TO ACHIEVE CLEAN POWER. AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA ELUDED WE WENT FROM PURCHASING A FEW WRECKS AND JUAN -- AND 100% OF OPERATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER INTERESTING SHOWCASE PROJECTS THAT IS INCREASING FOR THE SERVICE CENTER WHICH IS DESIGNED TO BE AN ENERGY FACILITY AND COMBINING THE GEO THERMAL SYSTEMS AND ON SITE SOLAR AS WELL TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO ENERGY GOALS.
THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY BEEN LOOKING AT SHORT-TERM AND MEDIUM-TERM ASS TO MAKE GREATER IMPACT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A 1 TO 2 TO 3-YEAR THAT WILL BEGIN IN 2023. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DID -- THAT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
WE ARE LOOKING AT LONG-TERM PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES WITH NEW ASSETS. AND TO UPBLG -- TO INCREASE RESILIENCY THERE IS ON SITE STORAGE TO RE-- REDUCE RELIANCE ON THE POWER. THE EFFORT CAN BE PRIORITIZED AROUND COMMUNITY ASSETS AROUND YOUR PRECINCTS THAT CAN SERVE AS RESILIENCY HUBS. WE REALLY HOPE THIS IS A WAY FOR HAYES REQUIRE COUNTY -- FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO DRIVE DOWN THE COST WITH THE VOLUME PURCHASE AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE COMMUNITY RENEWABLE ENERGY LOOKS LIKE.
WE WANT THEM TO BE A LEADER AND DEVELOPING NEW GREEN POWER GENERATION AND INTEGRATING COST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
THE GOAL IS TO SHARE THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW ENERGY ECOSYSTEM ACROSS THE COUNTY WITH THE PUBLIC WE SERVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, MS. LYNN AND COMMISSIONER THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I'M GLAD YOU TOOK AN INTEREST IN THAT. A NUMBER OF MAYORS WENT TO THE LAST, AND I CALLED MATT CHASE AND HE WILL REC -- RECTIFY.
I WENT TO DURB BI AND ONE IN MEXICO -- DURBIN AND ONE IN MEXICO. ONE IN EUROPE.
HOPEFULLY THE NEXT WILL BE IN CANADA.
MAYBE CLOSER. WE OUGHT TO BE A TREND CENTER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO NACO UBGS, BUT I AM GOING THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK.
I LOOKED AT YOUR TRANSMITTAL AND MY STAFF ADVISED ME THAT HARRIS COUNTY IT WILL BE 256 MILLION KILOWATTS AND THERE IS 24,000 HOMES AND THEY CONSUME 86 MILLION KILOWATTS ANNUALLY AND NRG PARK HAS AN ADDITIONAL 77 MILLION KILOWATTS. EASY THEY WILL JOINTLY BID FOR SOLAR AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY AT LOWER COSTS.
DEPLOYING ON SITE TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON THE GRID AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP US CATCH UP AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON SOURCES 92% OF ITS ENERGY FROM SOLAR AND WIND POWER. I HOPE IT WILL PUT US IN GOOD STED SO IF SOME OF US DECIDE TO GO TO THE NEXT CLIMATE
CHANGE CONFERENCE. >> IS IT IN EGYPT?
THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
>> R. JACK CAGLE: YOU COMMENTED ON THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE BUY
[07:15:05]
GREEN ENERGY FROM OTHER SOURCES YOU LET US KNOW WHAT THE ADDED COST WILL BE. THE SECOND FEATURE YOU MENTIONED THE FACILITY IN PRECINCT FOUR IS IN ADDITION TO HAVING A NET ZERO PLATFORM.AND IT IS ABLE TO STAY IN OPERATION.
WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED BY JOHN BLOUNT, I WAS RESISTANT.
HE SAID IF WE WENT WITH THE GEO THERMAL AND SOLAR THAT WOULD HAVE INCREASED THE UP FRONT COST AT 40 P-RGS OF THE FACILITY. 40% OF THE FACILITY.
THERE IS ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO MAKE THE BUILDING FREE TO THE TAXPAYERS. IT IS CALCULATED WITH THE RISE AND THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY THAT THAT FACILITY IS FREE TO THE TAXPAYERS OVER 12 YEARS. INSTEAD OF THE ANTICIPATED 20 YEARS. AND THEN AFTER THE FIRST 12 YEARS WE GENERATE REVENUE IN ADDITION TO HAVING A RESILIENT BUILDING THAT CAN GO THROUGH THE PROBLEMS. I WENT INTO THAT ADVENTURE KICKING AND SCREAMING.
12 YEARS TO THE TAXPAYERS IS NOT A BAD DEAL.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO WHEN WE BUILD THE BUILDING IS WE BUILD THE CHEAPEST THING WE CAN AND WE HAVE LONG ON GOING COSTS OF ALL OF THE SIV OF THE ENERGY GOING OUT OF THE BUILDING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT IS EXCITING.
IT IS A TRANSMITTAL SO WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? ITEM 312.
>> TOM RAMSEY: QUICKLY. TIS THE SEASON.
WE ARE ALL OUT THERE. IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A GOOD REMINDER OF WHERE WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS AS OFFICIALS TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY AND WHETHER WE INTERACT WITH FOLKS, JUST THOUGHT A FRIENDLY, NOT SPECIFIC QUICK REFERENCE ON THE QUORUM AND IT IS NOT MEANT FOR ANYTHING OTHER AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE ARE HERE FOR FOLKS AND WHEN THEY LOOK AT US AND WE INTERACT IN A CERTAIN WAY, WHETHER IT IS WITH THEM OR EACH OTHER, I THINK THE QUORUM IS A GOOD MOVE. THIS IS YOUR QUARTERLY DECORUM REMINDER AS WE GO INTO A VERY HEATED AND HOT PRIMARY
SEASON. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY THE PHRASING OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS ONE THAT I SAW NOT LONG AGO. NO OTHER COMMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE GOING TO TKPWA BACK UP.
I THINK IT WAS A DISCUSSION ITEM.
NO ACTION ON THAT ONE, FOLKS. WE ARE GOING BACK UP TO TWO ITEMS THAT WE WERE KIND OF HOLDING BACK ON.
ONE IS ITEM 161, THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. DAVE, PERHAPS YOU CAN GO OVER WHY THE TRANSITION IS IMPORTANT AND THEN DAVE AND JA -- JAY IF YOU CAN MAYBE NOT ADDRESS THEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IF DR. PORSA IS AROUND.
>> I AM, COMMISSIONER. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU,
DR. PORSA. >> JUDGE, IF I COULD BRIEFLY COMMENT WHY THIS MAKES SENSE FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE AND THEN DR. PORSA CAN TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES. GIVE ME A QUICK FACT.
SOMETIMES UP TO A HUNDRED DETENTION OFFICERS ARE DEALING WITH INMATES GOING ELSEWHERE FOR CARE.
WHETHER IT IS OTHER HOSPITALS OR OTHER FACILITIES.
IF WE CAN GET TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN -- THAT DR. PORSA AND THEIR TEAM CAN PROVIDE TELE MEDICINE IT CAN FREE THEM UP TO DO THEIR JOB. THE SHERIFF HAS A GOOD JOB AND THE TEAM HAS A GOOD JOB. THEY ARE RUNNING A HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING HEALTH CARE FOR 9,000 PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE REASON THE COURT WANTED TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION AND IT IS STILL TRUE. I AM HAPPY TO ADDRESS SOME OF
[07:20:02]
THE SALARY AND BENEFIT QUESTIONS.I SPOKE WITH DR. PORSA AND IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR THEM TO FRAME WHAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO WORK WITH HARRIS HEALTH ARE GETTING. THEY ARE ALSO GETTING ANOTHER SET OF OPPORTUNITIES. I WILL LET HIM DO THAT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF I CAN PIGGYBACK BEFORE DR. PORSA COMES ON, I UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE IS DIFFICULT AND I RESPECT THAT. I THINK, FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM DR. PORSA, A GREAT DEAL OF THE AREAS OF DISCOMFORT HAVE BEEN ADDRESS #ED. I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE TOOK A VOTE TO VEST EMPLOYEES.
I'M EXCITED THERE IS A SOLUTION TO GET THOSE AT THE BRINK OF MEDICAL RETIREMENT AND IT MAY NOT BE CIVIL SERVICE BECAUSE THAT IS LEGISLATIVELY CREATIVE.
MAYBE THERE IS ANOTHER DEGREE OF SUPPORT THAT CAN BE PROVIDED, THE EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION TO LET THEM KNOW AND WE WILL TRY TO GET THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST AND IT USED TO BE A LOT OF THINGS RELATED TO CARE AND I AM NOT A DOCTOR. I -- IT IS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS THAT WRAP AROUND SO THAT THE EMPLOYEES AREN'T OUT THERE HANGING IN THE WIND IN THE EVENT OF SOMETHING CHALLENGING OCCURRING.
AND THEN POLICEMEN ENJOY BEING ON THEIR -- ON PATROL THEIR ENTIRE CAREER. THAT'S VERY FEW.
MANY HAVE WANTED TO DO BIKE PATROL, WORK IN PARKS, WANTED TO BECOME INVESTIGATORS, WANT TO MOVE UP THE RANKS AND WANTED TO GO TO COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THIS RELATIONSHIP WILL ALLOW FOR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE -- I THINK IT WILL ADD YEARS TO THEIR CAREER.
YOU WON'T JUST BE WORKING INSIDE THE CONFINES OF THE KOUPB TEEN JAIL. YOU COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MIGRATE THROUGHOUT THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND HAVE MORE VALUED EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITY TO STAY MOTIVATED WITHOUT MINIMIZING THE POTENTIAL OF BURNOUT TAKING PLACE. I HEARD THE STAFF'S CONCERN EARLIER AND I THINK WE ARE CLOSE TO ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS. FROM DR. PORSA'S STAND -- STANDPOINT, FEW PEOPLE REALIZE THAT DR. PORSA WAS WORKING IN THE COUNTY JAIL HERE IF HARRIS COUNTY AND THEN HE WENT TO WORK IN THE DALLAS COUNTY JAIL AND THEN ASCENDED TO PARKLAND AND NOW IS OUR CEO HERE. THAT IS A RARE OCCURRENCE.
ONE OF THE REASONS I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE I USE -- I LOOK AT HIS CAREER AND WHEN I INHERITED IT, HE WAS 20 PLUS YEARS INTO HIS CAREER.
YOU -- AND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE DAY HE WOULD SAY GOODBYE.
IT IS HARD TO FIND THAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS GONE TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND DONE HIS RESIDENCY, BUT WANTS THAT JOB IN A JAIL. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO KEEP THE TALENT FRESH AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE CARE FOR THE INMATES WHO DEPEND ON IT.
I'M MORE EXCITED ABOUT IT BEING NEW.
[07:25:07]
IF IT WEREN'T DR. PORSA I WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE -- I SHOULDN'T A LITTLE MORE, BUT I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED.DR. PORSA HAS BEEN THERE. HE UNDERSTANDS IT AND HE GETS IT AND HE HAS LIVED IT. WE HAVE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THIS AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, SHERIFF, COUNCILMAN, COMMISSIONER.
I WANT TO THANK ONE OF YOUR SUCCESSERS -- SUCCESSORS.
THE SHERIFF HAD TO AGREE TO DO THIS.
ULTIMATELY IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY AS IT WAS YOURS.
I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN THIS CAME UP.
I THINK I MADE THE MOTION AND I THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK SECONDED IT. I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN IT CAME UP. AND THEN SOMEHOW DIDN'T GET PASSED ALONG TO DR. PORSA THAT WE VOTED ON IT.
HE DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS. AND I AM NOT SURE HIS BOARD WAS ALL THAT KEEN ON DOING IT.
I KNOW I MADE A COUPLE OF CALLS BECAUSE THE COURT HAD VOTED ON IT AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
IT WAS LIKE EVERYBODY WAS FOR IT UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO DO IT. DR. PORSA YOU NAVIGATED IT.
THERE IS QUESTION WHETHER WE WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD TO VOTE ON THE TAX RATE TOO.
I MEAN, IT IS THEIR MONEY BASED ON IF IT IS VOTED ON, BUT IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IT, DR. PORSA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT BEYOND IT.
BUT YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR IT. THIS COMMISSIONERS' COURT MANDATED YOUR BOARD TO DO THIS.
AND THEY HAVE DECIDED TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU, K -- THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT RESONATED WITH ME.
I WORKED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL FOR 12 YEARS.
BOTH DURING MY RESIDENCY AND AFTER MY RESIDENCY.
I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I MOVED TO DALLAS TO BECOME THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS COUNTY JAIL.
I SAY ALL OF THIS BECAUSE MY JOURNEY STARTED INSIDE THE JAIL. THE REASON I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THIS TRANSITION AND MOVE UP AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY IS BECAUSE THE JAIL AT THE TIME WAS BEING -- THE MEDICAL FACILITY OF THE JAIL WAS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL IN HOUSTON. IT WAS NOT A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ENTITY. IT DOES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO YOUR POINT, THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM DID NOT ASK FOR THIS.
I WILL BE CLEAR. THE POTENTIAL OF BEING ABLE TO SOME DAY BE ABLE TO BE AT THE JAIL WAS ATTRACTIVE TO ME.
IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I TRANSITIONED TO HOUSTON.
IT WAS JUST TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT AND IT IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING AND IT IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF UNKNOWNS AND I GET ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I AM NOT THE TYPE THAT FEARS THOSE TOUGHER THINGS.
I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS WILL BE BETTER FOR NOT JUST THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL, BUT IT IS BETTER FOR THE EMPLOYEES. YOU HEARD -- I THINK YOU HEARD BRIEFLY FROM MR. BERRY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
[07:30:02]
ALREADY WORKING ON IS ESTABLISHING A TELE-HEALTH VIRTUAL CARE IN THE JAIL. EVERY INMATE THAT HAS TRANSFERRED OUT IS ONE OFFICER THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HIS OR HER POST. THAT'S A LOT OF SAVINGS.I LOOK FORWARD TO WHERE I CAN COME BACK TO YOU AND SHOW YOU THE I'M ACCOUNT PA THAT YOU HAVE HAD NOT JUST IN THE QUALITY AND CARE AND IMPACT OF THE LIVES OF THE EMPLOYEES INSIDE THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WHO BY THEN WILL BE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYEES, BUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I AM POSITIVE WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THESE THINGS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU SAID IT.
CHANGE IS HARD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE DIFFICULTY OF THE CHANGE. THE DIFFICULTY OF THE TASK SHOULD NOT AND DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UNDERTAKING. THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS TRANSITION OF THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE HARRIS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WAS SUGGESTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT THREE YEARS AGO AND THEN AGAIN MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.
WE WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR BOTH THE EMPLOYEES OF HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE DETAINEES IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THEM.
I AM COMMITTED TO THEM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TRANSITION WILL MEAN THAT THINGS WILL NOT BE THE SAME.
IT IS GOING TO CHANGE. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL BE WORSE. IT JUST MEANS IT WILL BE DIFFERENT. WE WON'T HAVE SOME OF THE PERKS THAT WILL BE OFFERED. BUT WE WILL ALSO OFFER MANY ADVANTAGES AND PERKS THAT ARE NOT BEING OFFERED BY HAIR -- HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE. HARRIS HEALTH ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RECOGNITION IN THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR.
THAT IS KNOWN AS THE MAGNET STATUS.
TKHR -- THERE ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF THIS DESIGNATION.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF THE MEDICAL CENTERS.
THEY HAD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH UT HEALTH AND THE TPHOL COLLING OF MEDICINE.
I AM REALLY, REALLY PROUD AND EXCITED AND HAPPY TO SAY THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT WILL PROVIDE THE POSITION SERVICES AT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL BY GRANTING THE JAIL PROVIDERS THE FACULTY POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MEDICAL SCHOOL. THAT DOES NOT EXIST TODAY.
THEY PROVIDE UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO THE EXISTING NURSING AND PROVIDER STAFF AT THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF LEARNING AND GROWTH POTENTIAL.
HARRIS HEALTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN DALLAS GENERAL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT WHICH IS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN IS NOW OFFERING AN EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM TO OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AT HARRIS HEALTH.
I WANT TO EPL TPAU -- EMPHASIZE OF RECEIVING THE APPROVAL TODAY AND WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
THERE WILL BE MANY NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS IF NOT APPROVED TODAY AND APPROVED MARCH 1. I WILL NAME A FEW OF THEM.
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON MEDICAL BOARD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPROVE THE PROVIDER SERVICES AGREEMENT AND WITHOUT THE TIME AND APPROVAL OF THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BY THE COMMISSIONERS' COURT. THEY ARE WAITING SO THEY CAN CALL AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT. THE ABILITY TO TIMELY IMPLEMENT AGREEMENTS AND CRITICAL SERVICER -- SERVICES INCLUDE LAB SERVICES, DIALYSIS SERVICES ARE ALL CONDITIONS UPON COMMISSIONERS' COURT APPROVAL OF THE INTER LOCAL TKPWREUPLT. INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT.
THERE IS ANXIETY AMONG THE 173 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ALREADY -- THESE ARE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL EMPLOYEES WHO ACCEPTED OFFER FROM HAIR RIGS HEALTH -- HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM ON APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT. THE ISSUE OF THE HESITANCY OF THE 70 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOT YET ACCEPTED OFFERS EBGSZ TENDED -- EXTENDED TO THEM AND THE CONFUSION THAT BECOMES REALITY. AND POSTPONING THIS VOTE TO FEBD
[07:35:05]
WOULD MEAN THAT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM WOULD HAVE SIX DAYS TO ON BOARD THE STAFF TO THE HARRIS HEALTH EMPLOYEE STATUS. OUT OF THE 352 -- THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT WAS POSED EARLIER TODAY.OUT OF THE EXISTING 352 FULL TIME POSITIONS THAT HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TODAY, ONLY 28 PEOPLE HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR ANY POSITIONS. ONLY 28.
AS OF TODAY WE HAVE NOT TURNED ANYONE AWAY.
THOSE WHO WERE NOT OFFERED A POSITION THEY WERE SEEKING WERE OFFERED OTHER POSITIONS INSIDE THE JAIL AND NOT A SINGLE PERSON WAS LEFT FOR AN OFFER OF SOME KIND.
WE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT THAT IS CLEAR AND BENEFITS THE QUALITY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
AT THIS POINT I WILL ASK OMAR REID, THE LEADER OF OUR HR TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL SOME OF THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE HAIR -- HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF
OFFICE EMPLOYEES. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED WITH THE PRESENTATION COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A QUESTION AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
GO AHEAD, OMAR. >> I WANT TO ENUMERATE SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE SYSTEM. BASE SALARIES ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT THE JAIL.
OUR NURSING TARGET IS 75% OF THE MARKET BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVENESS SO RIGHT AT 75%.
WE HAVE AN ANNUAL MERIT INCREASE.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS WE OFFER ARE CHILD CARE AND FAMILY CARE BENEFITS THROUGH CARE.COM. WE HAVE DAY ONE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT WE HAVE DAY ONE STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS AND WE PAID $200 PER MONTH. WE RECENTLY EXTENDED THE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WHO WORKS FOR HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM WE WILL START TO PAY ON THE CHILD LOAN. WE HAVE PAID PATERNITY LEAVE.
WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT ON MARCH 1ST THAT IS FOUR WEEKS FOR THE BIRTHING PARENT AND ONE WEEK FOR THE NON-BIRTHING PARENT AND BENEFITS OF $10,000 TO $15,000. OUR EMPLOYEES -- WE HAVE EMPLOYEE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION PLANNING. WE THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL HERE AT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING ON THE EMPLOYEES OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH -- HAIR KRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO SHARE IT WITH THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ELLIS AND THEN CAGLE.
>> TOM RAMSEY: MY BROTHER HAS WORKED AS A DOCTOR -- AUDIO]. THEY SUPPORT -- [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE]. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I ASK YOU YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO DO THIS ANYWAY.
[INAUDIBLE]. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MAKE SURE YOU
[07:40:36]
WALK THEM THROUGH IT SO THEY UNDERSTAND IT.[INAUDIBLE]. I'M PREPARED TO VOTE ON IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION.
I WILL DO ONE BETTER. I AM GOING TO GO INSIDE THE
JAIL. >> RODNEY ELLIS: PERFECT.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I AM VERY ENCOURAGED, BUT NOT SURPRISED.
THAT IS THE ILLUSTRATION THAT -- WE HAVE ALL DECIDED AND THIS WILL BE DECIDED YEARS AGO WE THOUGHT THAT THE -- WE THOUGHT THE GREEN PASTURE -- [INAUDIBLE]
>> COMMISSIONER I APOLOGIZE. I JUST ADD NOTE THAT THE LIVE STREAM -- TIFFANY IS THAT CORRECT?
[Executive Session ]
[07:45:42]
>> LINA HIDALGO: WELL. WE WERE DISCUSSING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. ON -- IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE LAWSUIT AN EXTRA 30 DAYS.
MOTIONED BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY RAMSEY.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND NOW BEFORE THE STREAM WENT DOWN WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE JAIL. COMMISSIONER CAGLE WAS MAKING
A POINT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE FINAL POINT WAS TO MAKE SURE -- [INAUDIBLE]
>> COMMISSIONER CAN YOU GET IN THE MIC, PLEASE.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU. VERY RARELY DO I HAVE THE ISSUE OF NOT SPEAKING LOUD ENOUGH, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE THE INTERNET GOING. MY FINAL POINT THAT I WAS MAKING WHEN THE INTERNET/FACEBO/ WHATEVER IT IS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HURRY BEFORE IT GOES DOWN AGAIN.
>> R. JACK CAGLE: THE VIRTUAL WORLD IS WE HAVE TO BRING THAT FLOCK ALONG WITH US OR THE UNDER SHEPHERDS ALONG WITH US WHO ARE WORKING IN THE JAIL AND THEY PUT IN THEIR BLOOD AND SWEAT AND TEARS IN THE PROCESS.
I I HAVE -- I HAVE HEARD THEIR CRY.
MY MOTION AND MY REQUEST IS I HEAR FEBRUARY 22ND MAY MAKE IT A LITTLE ROUGH, BUT I WOULD URGE THAT WE GIVE A WEEK IN THE PROCESS AND HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING IN SEVEN DAYS AND LET DR. PORSA WORK HIS MAGIC IN TERMS OF VISITING IN THE JAIL AND WE ALLOW THE TWEAKS TO BE DONE AND WE VOTE
ON IT ALL AT ONCE TOGETHER. >> LINA HIDALGO: DR. PORSA CAN YOU COMMIT TO MEET WITH THESE FOLKS AT THE JAIL AND TAKE A PICTURE IF YOU NEED TO. I'M KIDDING, BUT NOT REALLY BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW THAT IT HAPPENED.
>> I'M HAPPY TO DO IT AND HAPPY TO TAKE PICTURES.
I'M HAPPY TO DO IT. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE ISSUE THAT'S WERE BROUGHT UP TODAY ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVANT ISSUE AND THE RETIREMENT ISSUES, THOSE ARE NOT ISSUES WE HAVE CONTROL OVER.
I CAN TALK WITH THEM AND LISTEN TO THEM AND SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT I AND HARRIS
HEALTH CAN DO ABOUT IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S FINISH UP THE QUESTIONS AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND GARCIA AND RAMSEY. CAN YOU COMMIT TO BRINGING BACK A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW WE WILL FIX THE RETIREE MEDICAL ON THE LIMITED NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE ABOUT TO
RETIRE? >> WE WILL BRING A PROPOSAL OR A COUPLE OF OPTIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE FOLKS ON THE CUSP OF INVESTING -- VESTING AND RETIRING WITH MEDICAL.
AND HOW WE CAN DO RIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
ELLIS AND GARCIA AND RAMSEY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK YOUR BOARD FOR THEIR COOPERATION ON THIS. I WAS TOLD YOUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER WENT TO THE JAIL TO SEE FOR HERSELF.
JUDGE, YOUR RECENT POINT, WE WENT TO THE BOARD AND IS IT FAIR TO ASSUME THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO GO? >> YES, SIR.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: HOW MANY HAVE BEEN OVER?
>> THREE IN THAT MEETING AND I THINK ONE PREVIOUSLY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO THEY WENT AS A GROUP.
THERE WAS SOME RELUCTANCE, BUT AFTER BEING IN THE JAIL SHE WASN'T -- SHE WAS EVEN MORE COMMITTED TO IT THAN BEFORE.
>> IT WAS LAST FRIDAY AND THERE WERE THREE OF THEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
GARCIA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: DR. PORSA, I KNOW YOU CANNOT CREATE CIVIL SERVICE AND NOR AM I TRYING TO GET YOU THERE, BUT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO WORK AND WE AN -- WE CAN VISIT AND DISCUSS IT.
THE IDEA OF A MODIFICATION TO YOUR DISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR SOME INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR, IF YOU
[07:50:06]
WILL? IT DID RESONATE WITH ME THAT IF YOU'RE THE -- IN THEORY YOU ARE THE RECOMMENDER OF TERMINATION AND THEY APPEAL BACK TO YOU AFTER THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THAT DOES RESONATE WITH ME TO BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO APPRECIATE.COULD WE VISIT TO SEE IF THERE ARE IDEAS WITHIN WHAT YOU CAN DO AND SOME MODIFICATION TO YOUR SYSTEM?
>> WITHIN WHAT WE CAN DO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ABSOLUTELY. IF THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO BETTER FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES AND WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION,
OF COURSE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER
RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: I MADE A MOTION AND I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS SECONDED IT ON MOVING FORWARD TODAY. I AM STICKING WITH THAT.
HERE IS WHY. I TRUST DR. PORSA TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HIS NEW FOLKS THAT ARE NOW PART OF HARRIS AND I TRUST COMMISSIONER BERRY TO WORK THROUGH THE FINAL DETAILS. LISTEN, IF WE THINK WE WILL GET EVERYTHING SOLVED BEFORE THE END OF MARCH OR THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, IT IS GONNA BE A TRANSITION.
WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS TALKED ABOUT AND WHAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS TALKED ABOUT AND THAT IS ALL PART OF THE GOOD FAITH EFFORT ON THEM TRUSTING DR. PORSA AND DAVID BERRY.
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. WE DO NOT NEED TO DISRUPT THIS COMPLICATED PROCESS MAYBE MORE THAN IT ALREADY IS.
>> JUDGE I WANTED TO -- >> IS IT OUT AGAIN?
>> NO. WE ARE GOOD TO GO ON THE INTERNET. I WANTED TO POINT OUT TWO QUICK THINGS. ONE IS WE ALREADY SEVERED THE -- THE COUNTY SEVERED CONTRACTS RELATED TO AMBULANCE SERVICES AND CRITICAL CARE SERVICES AS IT RELATES TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AND BUILDING ON THIS THROUGH A WHOLE SERIES OF STEPS OF WORKING WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND THE JAIL FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
IT WOULD BE A CHALLENGE FOR US TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE 22ND AND THEN HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO DO EVERYTHING AT THAT 11TH HOUR. IT PLACES A LOT OF STRAIN.
DR. PORSA MADE A POINT THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS WAITING ON US TO -- OR WAITING ON Y'ALL.
AS IT RELATES TO THE RETIREE HEALTH ISSUE, WE ARE -- WE WILL BRING SOMETHING FORWARD ON THE 22ND TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THAT IS NOT INCUMBENT ON THE ILA ITSELF. THE ILA IS REALLY ABOUT ESSENTIALLY ON CONTINUING ON THE PROCESS TO CODIFY THE AGREEMENT AND MOVING FORWARD SO WE CAN BE READY TO GO BY MARCH 1. IT WOULD PUT US BEHIND THE 8
BALL. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK YOU HAVE THE WIN, JA DARKS -- YAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OPPOSED? >> I AM A NO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR WITH THE COMMENTS EVERYBODY MADE. IT PASSES 4-1.
>> THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: LET ME SAY I AM STILL A BIG FAN OF THE PROCESS AND THE GOAL AND THE
DIRECTION AND DR. PORSA. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THANK YOU, JAY AND TEAM.
THE FINAL ITEM TO DISCUSS IS 167 AND THAT IS THE ITEM ON THE MARCH PRIMARIES. HERE THERE IS -- WE ALL RECEIVED THE UPDATED LIST. IT INCLUDES FREEMAN BRANCH LIBRARY AND EXPRESS GALLERIA AND THE VISITOR CENTER AND THE MEDICAL CENTER COMMONS, BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND.
THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE ALL POLLING LOCATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR INCLUDING FOUR ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS FREEMAN BRANCH LIBRARY HOLIDAY EXPRESS GALLERIA, KATY VISITOR CENTER AND JOHN MCGOVERN MEDICAL
CENTER. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND EBGD -- SECONDED BY GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND THANK YOU TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR AND EVERYBODY WHO PUT THIS LIST TOGETHER.
>> JUDGE, I STILL HAVE ITEM 262 SINCE THAT WAS ALSO THE
ELECTION ITEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S ITEM, CORRECT?
>> TOM RAMSEY: WE'RE GOOD. >> SO NO ACTION?
>> TOM RAMSEY: NO ACTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT ARE THE
[07:55:01]
ASTERISKS ON THE CHART? OH HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND MCGOVERN MEDICAL CENTER. THOSE ARE THE FIVE.THANK YOU, JAY. ANYTHING ELSE?
YES? >> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT IT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: ACTUALLY I DID WANT TO -- I DID WANT TO MAKE A NOTE BEFORE WE FINISH. AND THAT IS RICK RAYCRAFT PASSED AWAY RECENTLY, IN JANUARY IN FACT.
I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET HIM, BUT AS FAR AS THE STORIES , I MEAN, HE DID A LOT FOR THIS COUNTY.
I THOUGHT WE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE HIM.
I THOUGHT WE MIGHT ADJOURN THE MEETING IN HIS HONOR.
HE DIED ON JANUARY -- I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAID SOMETHING AT THIS COURT.
COUNTY ATTORNEY IS FINE AND CLERK'S OFFICE AND DAVE? ALL RIGHT. IT IS 7:2 SAY -- 7:28 AND WE ARE ADJOURNING IN HONOR OF RICK RAYCRAFT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.